TITO (CONT'D)
You're not mad at me. You're just
mad that you aren't doing your job
like you promised.
This gets a laugh out of Jill. Tito smirks, proud of his
courage to speak his mind to big scary Franklin's face.
Franklin reels back. Tito flinches and cowers away;
anticipating the worst. Just as Franklin is about to go off
he stops himself. He takes a deep breath, nods, turns around,
and walks away.
Tito looks over at Sumi. She shrugs. Jill's mocking smirk
turns into a smile of approval. They all trail behind
Franklin.
Just over the hill, only seconds later, they all spot a herd
of deer. Franklin turns around slowly and puts a finger to
his lips.
They all nod and crouch down near a bush. Franklin slings his
rifle from his shoulder and extends his hand to Tito.
Tito gives a questioning look of surprise. Franklin nods and
offers a smile. Unsure of himself, Tito slowly grabs the
rifle and gets into a position to shoot it.
Franklin pulls out his revolver pistol from his jacket and
motions with his hands that he will go out further to get
close enough to shoot one.
The herd of deer peacefully graze the grass, unknowing of
Franklin creeping up on them in the tall grass. Tito's hand
is shaking while it rests on the trigger.
His breath is uneven and sweat beads his brow as he looks
around for the best target. Franklin is mere meters away from
a doe and he looks back at Tito to give him a thumbs up.
The first bullet will scatter the deer, so they are trying to
coordinate their shot together. Tito shakes his head. He
isn't ready yet.
He closes his eyes and tries to calm his nerves. He breaths
in and out slowly to even his breath. He opens his eyes and
locks in on the largest buck in the field.
His hand is still shaky, his finger still quivers on the
trigger. Doubt seeps into his expression and his once even
breath shakes out of rhythm again.
Out of the corner of his eye he sees Sumi making the same
goofy face he was making earlier in his periphery. Jill puts
a hand on Sumi to stop her and mouths:
77.
JILL
(mouthing)
What are you doing!?
Sumi just shrugs and smiles. Tito smiles too. Everything
stops shaking and for a brief moment, Tito has a moment of
clarity; he gives Franklin the thumbs up and they both take
the shot.
The doe drops dead. The herd scatters. All but two deer
leaves the vast field empty. The doe is lifelessly lying on
the ground.
The buck remains unfazed. Tito missed his shot. A guttural
high pitched bleat echoes in the empty field as the buck
raises its antler crowned head towards the setting sun.
The large lethal antlers aim towards Franklin as the buck
rears back to charge at him.
Tito tries to take aim again, struggling to follow the buck
as it moves quickly towards Franklin.
Franklin fires all the rounds in his chambers, panicking, and
yelling for help as the empty clicks of his gun ring out.
Many of the bullets have left holes in the buck, but it does
not deter it from continuing to charge at Franklin.
Just as it reaches mere meters from Franklin, a single shot
between its shoulder blades and through the heart deters its
trajectory, making it collapse beside Franklin.
There is along stretch of silence. A sigh of relief. A moment
of laughter.
Sumi and Jill are still left in suspense and they hesitantly
make their way out from the bushes. As the girls turn the
corner to see the empty field, Tito holds up the doe's head
and uses his hands to puppet its mouth.
TITO
(goofy voice)
Hungry?
Sumi pukes at the sight of the bloody deer. Jill puts a
comforting hand on her back and glares at Tito.
TITO (CONT'D)
(genuinely concerned)
Oops... sorry.
CUT TO:
78.
EXT. FOREST VILLAGE - NIGHT
Sound of lips smacking, fire crackling, and laughter fill the
air. Two large carcasses are being rotisseried over separate
fires.
Jill and Franklin are handing out strips of meat off of them
as they cut the outer cooked layer off.
Sumi and Goh sit by Tito as he tells the exciting story to
the group of feasting villagers.
TITO
And I used my God given precision,
straight between the blades, right
through the heart; just in the nick
of time with the deadly bucks
antlers only centimeters away from
Franklin's throat!
The crowd rolls their eyes, but in a gleeful mood from the
food, give a half hearted applause to Tito's story.
TITO (CONT'D)
Guys it's true!
RANDOM VILLAGER
Yeah yeah. We appreciate you
carrying the deer back to camp for
us but ya ain't foolin us. We know
it was the soldier who did the God
given precision part.
Tito slouches in defeat, baffled that no one will believe his
(mostly) true story.
SUMI
I believe you.
Tito blushes. Sumi smiles. Franklin steps away from cooking
and moves up close to the group gathered by Tito.
FRANKLIN
It's true. He really did save my
life. And quite frankly, all of
your lives too. He shot the bigger
deer. Gotta give credit where
credit is due. He led the hunt.
Tito looks up at Franklin, surprised by his support. Franklin
winks and walks off. The crowd stands to cheer Tito and
chants his name. His heart swells with pride and tears of joy
brim his eyes.
79.
Jill has just finished helping to serve and is sitting alone
off in a corner, enjoying her share of food. Franklin notices
and goes over to join her.
FRANKLIN (CONT'D)
You got all these people who look
up to you. How come you sit alone
when you eat?
Jill shrugs.
JILL
What if I want to?
Jill gives a mean glare to Franklin.
FRANKLIN
(awkward cough)
Oh...
He scoots away and gets up to leave; but stops when he hears
her chuckle.
JILL
Just kidding. You can stay.
Franklin sits back down, this time closer to her.
FRANKLIN
Ha ha. You're lucky I'm in a good
mood and can take a joke.
JILL
Yeah, you weren't really good at
that earlier today were ya?
Franklin looks at Tito who is surrounded by praise and Sumi's
adoration.
FRANKLIN
It turned out okay.
Jill nods.
JILL
He's the youngest. We don't have a
lot of men around here. Mostly old,
wounded, or teenage boys. Tito gets
picked on the most for being the
smallest. He's always felt like he
had something to prove...
Franklin nods.
80.
FRANKLIN
Yeah... I had a feeling. When I
stopped myself and looked into his
eyes I saw it. A flicker of what I
once was.
A beat passes. They sit and eat in silence, watching Sumi
laugh at Tito's even more extravagant account of the same
story. Franklin notices Goh fidget with his bandage on his
stump.
FRANKLIN (CONT'D)
Have you considered what I said
earlier?
Jill squints to recall what he is refering to and it dawns on
her, causing her to laugh.
JILL
About your live organ donor
sacrifice? You can't be serious.
Franklin doesn't laugh.
FRANKLIN
Goh's leg is looking rough. Sumi is
going deaf. Bach needs my eyes.
There's plenty more who need parts
of me.
Jill shakes her head.
JILL
What got that sick thought in your
head?
FRANKLIN
I told you... my guardian angel-
JILL
Listen. I'm a Jew. I believe in
angels... but that story sounds
questionable.
Franklin shakes his head.
FRANKLIN
I can prove it to you. Every time I
try to take my life, he steps in to
intervein.
The angel appears abruptly beside Franklin. This time, it
does not startle him. Franklin stares down the angel with
distain and doesn't react to its sudden appearance.