Read THE GORGE screenplay for Free Online Page B

the second raft.

    CUT TO:

    EXT.FOREST—CONTINUING
    Farrengalli watches from the woods. From his POV, Ace is looking through the backpacks, strewing clothes and gear around. Ace prowls in Castle’s backpack, finds Samford’s toboggan.
    Ace holds it up so Castle can see.

    ACE
    This your partner’s?

    Castle says nothing. Ace tosses it on the fire, where it throws off oily smoke. Castle clenches his jaw. Farrengalli hears noises in the trees above and ducks low.

    CUT TO:

    EXT. CLEARING IN WOODS—CONTINUING
    Ace dumps out one of the backpacks. Climbing gear spills out.

    ACE
    Climbing shit.

    Ace pulls the cell phone out of Castle’s backpack, checks it. Clara holds Castle’s Glock as if it’s a snake.

    ACE (CONT’D)
    No fuckin’ bars. Deader’n a mule’s dick.

    He tosses the phone down, pulls out a magnesium flashlight with headstrap, switches it on and nods approvingly. He sticks the Maglite in his belt, points his gun at Raintree and Dove.

    ACE (CONT’D)
    Take off them life jackets.

    BOWIE
    They can’t get on the water without jackets. It’s suicide.

    ACE
    They ain’t coming. You are.

    DOVE
    (to Clara)
    You can’t leave us out here to die.

    CLARA
    I’ve got my own problems.

    ACE
    (to Dove)
    Sorry, good-lookin’, but it’s hard to keep two women satisfied.

    DOVE
    Asshole.

    Ace slams the backpack to the ground and storms up to Dove. He’s momentarily forgotten Bowie and Castle.

    ACE
    Goddamn it, don’t nobody around here know their place? You took the apple from the snake and fed it to the world. You’re to blame for all of this.

    Raintree steps protectively in front of Dove.

    ACE (CONT’D)
    Nice move, Tonto. Now load these packs in the raft or I’ll blow a hole in both you and your squaw.

    Raintree doesn’t budge or blink.

    CLARA
    (to Raintree)
    Don’t get him riled up.

    CASTLE
    One more notch on his belt won’t matter, Raintree. He’s already facing a death sentence.

    ACE
    That’s where you’re wrong, Haircut. I’m facing eternal life.

    Ace waves the gun, Raintree loads a couple of the packs into a raft. Ace and Clara snap on life vests.

    BOWIE
    (to Ace)
    They’ll just slow you down. I know the river.

    ACE
    A hero man, huh? Well, let’s see how much faith you got. Take off your jacket.

    Bowie hesitates, then removes his life jacket.

    ACE (CONT’D)
    Just in case you’re thinking of dunkin’ us.

    As they start to leave camp, Bowie dragging the Muskrat, Ace pauses.

    ACE (CONT’D)
    Wait a sec. Wasn’t there two rafts, Clara?

    Clara, weary and dragging, shrugs. Dove points at Castle.

    DOVE
    Didn’t you hear the shot? He sank it.

    Ace grins at Castle.

    ACE
    Crackin’ under pressure, huh? Just wait ‘til the angels track you down.

    Ace waves his gun and spreads his arms like a fired-up evangelist.

    ACE (CONT’D)
    I seen it. Hell will break open and the river will turn to fire. The lost and the wicked will drown in their own sin. The world will be washed in blood.

    As Ace builds to a manic crescendo, Castle leaps for him, aiming for his knees. Ace calmly levels the Python and squeezes off a shot. The bullet slams into Castle’s shoulder and he plummets to the ground.

    ACE (CONT’D)
    Couldn’t wait for the angels, huh?

    The suddenness of the attack leaves the others stunned. Ace waves Bowie toward the river, and Clara follows, sharing a glance with Dove first.

    CUT TO:

    EXT. GORGE LEDGE. TWILIGHT.
    The creatures perch at the lip of the cave, the sunset red as blood behind the clouds. The rain falls in thin needles. The Samford-thing tests its wings, ragged clothes hanging from its body. From the dark cave comes the chaos of clicking claws, fluttering wings, and squeaks.

    CUT TO:

    EXT. CLEARING IN WOODS. SUNSET.
    Rain. Castle sits propped against a tree, semi-conscious. His shirt is off. Raintree and Dove tend his wound, which is a big gash. Dove yanks off her shirt, leaving only her wet suit.
    Dove tears her shirt into strips and winds the strips