The Lamplighter, a cheery little place with a flickering neon gaslight and a parking lot of white gravel, sits next to a rural highway overpass. It is the only building across the street from a strip mall on the very edge of town. On the other side of the highway is nothing but wheat fields.
Raven’s car, a dark rental sedan, pulls into the lot and backs into a spot near the street. Tom and Raven get out of the car. They slowly start walking around the parking lot, checking license plates.
What are we looking for again?
RAVEN
I’ll remember when I see it. Just
let me think.
TOM
Are you sure we should be doing this?
RAVEN
Fine time to be having second thoughts.
I thought you were into this.
TOM
That was different. Those guys were
bastards. The world was better off
for losing them. But this feels like…
like murder.
RAVEN
Far, far too late now.
She walks quickly, turning her head from side to side, looking for the right car. Tom struggles to keep up.
You tape him, now you’re bugging her
car. You know, she’s never even going
to get this far.
RAVEN
But we’re doing it anyway. I didn’t
get where I am by believing that
every plan is going to go smoothly.
TOM
(under his breath)
But where are you?
RAVEN
Here we go.
Raven steps around to the side of Kara’s car, a large white four-door. Raven takes a small box, about the size of a pack of cigarettes, out of her jacket pocket.
Play lookout for me, would you?
He turns and stands facing the Lamplighter, acting casual. Raven crouches down, attaches the box somewhere on the underside of the car.
(standing)
There. Ready?
Tom nods.
RAVEN
How about a kiss for good luck?
She turns her cheek to him, and he grudgingly gives her a peck. They walk toward the bar, not even holding hands.
INT. LAMPLIGHTER - NIGHT
The interior of the Lamplighter is a cross between a seedy bar and a tex-mex restaurant, full of people. Pool tables and a jukebox dominate a corner by the car, while booths and tables fill the rest of the space.
In a small alcove in the corner, a man in his mid-twenties stands at a pay phone. From the necklace he wears, three glass eyes on a string, we assume that this is THE EYEBALL KID. He’s talking animatedly into the phone.
Look, I don’t know what he told
you, but you better get down here
before she does!… The woman is a
fucking machine, that’s what she is!…
Right. Well, get your ass down here
right now!
He hangs up. All traces of anxiety fall away as he does. He picks up the phone, plugs in a few coins.
Hey… it’s the Kid. I just got off the
phone with him… on his way, just like
you wanted… Yeah, I got it, stay out
of the way, let them confront each
other… I understand. All right. I’ll
call you when we have a winner… shit,
there she is.
He sees Raven and Tom enter the bar, puts the phone down quickly, picks up his drink and moves out into the crowd.
Raven turns from side to side like a surveillance camera as she walks in, familiarizing herself with the surroundings. She spies something over in the corner.
(to Tom, behind her)
Get us some drinks. I’ll be over there.
She points to the rear corner. Tom wordlessly head off toward the bar. Raven walks straight over to Eyeball, sitting in a booth by himself.
The Eyeball Kid, I presume.
He looks up at the mention of his name, his face awed and frightened at the same time, extending his hand.
Correct as usual, King Friday. You’re
Raven?
RAVEN
Come on over here.
She nods toward a booth in the far corner. He picks up his drink and follows her to it. They sit facing the rest of the bar.
Nice necklace.
EYEBALL
Hm? Oh yeah. Cool, huh? Got it for
the job. I read that people are
distracted by stuff like this. Can’t
remember what you look like. And
afterward it’s easy to pitch.
RAVEN
I don’t read much.
EYEBALL
So what was wrong with sitting over
there?
RAVEN
Lesson One. Sit close to an exit. You
should know that.
Eyeball looks around and only now notices that the emergency exit is directly behind him. He smiles at her.
You’re staring.
EYEBALL
Sorry. I just can’t believe I’m sitting
here talking to Raven White.
RAVEN
Raven Airheart. I never changed my
maiden name.
EYEBALL
Really? So that’s your family name.
Navaho, is it?
RAVEN
Good. My grandfather’s, actually. He
was a pilot for the Air Force in World
War Two. Flying was the thing he loved
most, so he came to be called Heart In
The Air. He flew for the same country
that stole his ancestor’s homeland.
EYEBALL
(wincing)
Ooh. It probably doesn’t help to say,
But I’m sorry about that.
RAVEN
Remembering helps. Most people don’t
even do that. But I still think we’re
owed a shitload of rent.
Eyeball isn’t sure how to respond to this. Fortunately, Tom walks up to the table, carrying two drinks. He sets one down in front of Raven as he sits next to her.
Tom, meet The Eyeball Kid.
TOM
Ah, the rookie. Very good.
EYEBALL
So how does it feel being married
to a legend?
TOM
It has its moments.
Raven stands, downing half her glass as she does.
Shucks, guys, I’m getting embarrassed.
I’ll scout around and see if we can
find our game for tonight. Be back
in a second.
She leaves. Tom and Eyeball watch each other warily for a moment, sipping through drinks.
So… I heard you’re from around here.
TOM
That’s right. Grew up just a few miles
down the road.
Uncomfortable silence. Finally, Tom lets out a large sigh.
You don’t like this, do you? You don’t
want her doing this.
TOM
No. But I think it’s the only way
she can get through this, to come
out on the other side.
EYEBALL
I was just going to ask about that.
I heard about what happened that
night… she’s not the same, is she?
TOM
No. I think… I think who she used
to be, who she really is, got lost
somewhere. I guess I’m hoping that
after tonight things will go back
to the way they were before.
EYEBALL
So what was she like?
TOM
(remembering, smiling)
She was… incredible. On one of our
first dates, she took me to one of
those camping stores, and she asked
me to help her get a thirteen-foot
canoe down from the wall. I kept
asking her, “What do you need a
canoe for?”. But instead of taking
it to the counter, we walked right
out the door with it.
EYEBALL
You mean, you just left?
TOM
That’s right. Even got one of the
employees to hold the door open for
us.
EYEBALL
They never thought anyone would try to
steal it.
TOM
That’s one of the things that attracted
me to her. She has a way of knowing
exactly what she can get away with.
I think that’s one of the reasons
she does her job so well.
EYEBALL
Sounds like she was an interesting
person to know.
TOM
She was, and still is, sometimes.
But you should have seen her then.
Every so often the armor falls away
for a minute and I can almost see her
there, behind it. But most of the
time I’m just waiting for it to
happen. So you tell me. Does that
make me noble or a hopeless idiot?
EYEBALL
Here she comes.
They stop talking as Raven comes back and leans on the table.
Got her.
She nods toward the far side of the room, at a group of about ten people talking and laughing at a large, round table. Among them is an attractive woman, about the same age as Raven and Tom. She is KARA BRENNAN. Tom does a barely perceptible double-take.
They haven’t gotten their food yet,
so we’ve got time to finish our
drinks.
(she sits)
You boys have time to get acquainted?
EYEBALL
Yeah. Tom was just talking about the
canoe incident.
As they speak, Tom is the only one paying attention to Kara, who is getting up from her table. She walks down a hall with a sign labeled “Restrooms” next to it.
Well, Tom, don’t go giving away all
our secrets. Tom?
TOM
Hm? Oh. Sorry. I was just…
He looks into Raven’s eyes. Just stares for a minute, trying to see if she’s really there. They reveal nothing.
Would you excuse me for a second?
He abruptly stands and moves away from the table.
Has he been drinking much tonight?
RAVEN
A little, but don’t worry. Tom’s
mostly just talk. He pretty much
stays out of the way.
Over Raven’s shoulder, we can see Tom moving toward the restrooms. He stops, looks back, as if deciding something. For an instant, he is standing directly between Raven and the doorway, all three forming an EXACT LINE. Then he turns and continues on his way.
INT. RESTROOM HALL
Tom moves down the short hallway, which contains three doors. The one directly ahead is labeled “Women”, the one on the right “Men”, and on the left “Employees Only”. Between the men’s and women’s rooms is a drinking fountain. He looks around and, so as not to appear suspicious, leans down to drink from the fountain.
A woman comes out of the restroom and passes by him. He turns his head and, as just before the door swings shut, can see Kara touching up her lipstick in the long mirror over the sinks. He stands up, wiping his lips. The door opens, and Kara, her purse slung over her shoulder, almost runs into him. She stops and stares at him.
Kara?
An uncertain moment passes, then Kara smiles.
Tom? I haven’t seen you in… God!
How are you?
TOM
Great. Great. Can we talk for a
second?
Kara’s a little apprehensive of Tom’s sudden appearance.
Well, I’m with my friends right now…
TOM
Seriously. It’s important. I’m afraid
I’ve got some… really bad news for
you.
Kara starts trying to skirt around him and get back into the dining area.
All right. Just come back to the
table with me…
Tom grabs her arm.
No. We can’t go out that way.
KARA
What are you doing?
TOM
Please, just let me explain…
(he gets an idea)
Do you have a Walkman in your bag?
KARA
Yeah. Why?
Tom digs around in his pockets and pulls out the tape Raven made of her meeting with Jake.
You’ve got to listen to this. Right now.
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