RADIO STATIC STARTS STRONG THEN FADES

OUT-POST OPERATOR: THIS IS OUTPOST 11 OFF OF 5 REQUESTING BONES. BONES YOU THERE?

ZIVA: BONES ON, WHERE’S THE DROP?

RADIO RETURNS, FADES

TAPE RECORDER CLICK, CAR DOOR SLAMS SHUT. CAR IGNITION TURNS OVER. SOUND OF SEAT BELT BEING BUCKLED

ZIVA: KIT, TOWELS, ALCOHOL, AND… NIGHTSTICK. OKAY, ALL SET. (BEAT) TODAY WE’VE GOT A HALF HOUR DRIVE AHEAD OF US… SHOULD TRY FOR 20… HOPE THAT KID CAN HOLD LONG ENOUGH. GUN SHOT. I’VE ALREADY PULLED ENOUGH POISONED LEAD FROM PEOPLE THIS MONTH TO START MY OWN PENCIL FACTORY. WISH IT WERE DIFFERENT, BUT… WE’VE ALL GOT TO MAKE A LIVING SOMEHOW. ALAS, I AM NOT CUT OUT FOR TOXIC-PENCIL-FACTORY OWNERSHIP… NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEED FOR PENCILS OUT IN THE WASTES. NO, IT IS MY JOB TO PULL OUT TAINTED-BULLETS, COURTESY OF THE RATTLERS, AND PATCH UP PEOPLE SO THEY CAN GET MORE BULLET HOLES. LIKE PATCHING UP TIRES FROM CONSTRUCTION ZONES. THE WORK NEVER STOPS, AND SO, I NEVER STOP. AS IF IT WERE THAT SIMPLE.  

I THINK IT’S THE ALL THE NEW GANGS OUT HERE CAUSING TROUBLE. EVER SINCE THE FIRST POLICE STATION GOT ABANDONED, DESPERATE KIDS HAVE BEEN ROLLING WITH THE WRONG TYPE OF COMPANY. (SCOFF). SO MUCH FOR OUR GOVERNMENT.  ALTHOUGH, RUDY, OUR RAILROAD CONDUCTOR FRIEND, WAS SAYING THAT THE NEW LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD WAS PLANNING ON CLEANING UP THE MIDWEST. WHATEVER THAT MEANS. LAST POLITICIAN TO STEP FOOT IN THESE PARTS GOT MORE THAN A FEW GANGS TO SHOOT UP HIS ENTOURAGE. AND NO SOUL FROM THE EAST COAST HAS COME FOR US SINCE. 

DON’T GET ME WRONG, I’M ALL FOR CHANGE, BUT… I GOT TO WONDER, IF THE PEOPLE WHO ABANDONED US IN THE FIRST PLACE WANT TO HELP US NOW… AFTER A FULL DECADE OF NOT LIFTING A FINGER, SOMETHING HAS TO HAVE CHANGED OUT THERE. RIGHT? (BEAT) MAYBE I’M JUST THINKING A LITTLE TOO DEEPLY ABOUT IT. HECK IT’S  PROBABLY A PLOY TO GET VOTERS. STILL, IT’D BE NICE TO HAVE SUPPORT GETTING SOME OF THE… MORE DANGEROUS ASPECTS OF THE WAISTS TAKEN CARE OF. 

TODAY, THE ROAD IS CLEARER THAN USUAL. THE AUTO-SEMIS ARE KEEPING TO THE SLOW LANE, AND I HAVEN’T SEE A WHEAT STALKER IN AWHILE. OVER ALL, I’M HOPING IT’LL BE A SAFE DRIVE BOTH WAYS. THE SUN IS JUST STARTING TO SET NOW. THE RED SPILLING FROM OUR STAR TO THE SKY, LIKE OIL ON WATER. IT’S BEAUTIFUL AND… REMINDS ME I SHOULD PROBABLY GO FASTER. IF THIS CASE TAKES TO LONG, I MIGHT HAVE TO STAY THE NIGHT, OR RISK THE ROADS. NOT SURE WHICH IS SAFER. IF THE WHEAT STALKERS OR THE ZON-DRONES DON’T GET ME I’M SURE AFUA WILL KILL ME BEFORE I HAVE TIME TO CLOSE THE FRONT DOOR. (LAUGH). I CAN SEE HER NOW, ONE METAL ARM OVER HER HEAD READY TO SMACK THE SENSE INTO ME… SHE NEVER WOULD, OF COURSE, BUT SHE’S A BIT LIKE A FIREWORK. SHE STARTS WITH A BANG, AND THEN THE SPARKLING WATER WORKS BEGIN. NO, I SHOULDN’T WORRY HER… PROBABLY SHOULDN’T TEASE HER SINCE I KNOW SHE LISTENS TO MY CASE REPORTS WHEN I’M OUT OR SHE’S WORKING ON A NEW LIMB. I LOVE YOU, AFUA. MY BEAUTIFUL BIO-MECHANIC FIREWORK. 

CLICK OFF, CLICK ON

LEWY, FROM 11, SENT THE COORDINATES TO MY SATELLITE PHONE… BUT NOW THAT I’M HERE, I’M STARTING TO REGRET NOT BRINGING A LITTLE MORE FIRE POWER. I’M COMING UP ON… WHAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS A SAGGING SHACK. THERE’S BLOOD ON THE DOOR FRAME. A HAND PRINT. MY LUCK THIS BULLET WILL BE LODGE IN HIS GUT. MY TEN YEARS TRAINING WON’T BE ENOUGH TO SAVE HIM IF THAT’S THE CASE.  SPECIALLY IF IT’S POISONED. MAYBE HE’S JUST  A BLEEDER… HOPEFULLY. THAT OR HE’S LOST AN ARM AND, THEN AT LEAST I KNOW A GOOD BIO-MECHANIC TO SET HIM UP WITH. (A BEAT) SORRY. 

CLICK OFF, CLICK ON

HE’S BREATHING… GOOD SIGN, SORT OF. NO MORE THAN… GOD, SIXTEEN, SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD. PASSED OUT HE SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE KID, BUT… LOOKS LIKE HE WAS IN A LOSING FIGHT WITH A WOOD CHIPPER. ABRASIONS ON HIS FACE, HANDS, AND WHAT I CAN SEE OF HIS ARMS. ( HUFF OF AIR) I WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE BULLET. LOOKS LIKE HIS GUT CAUGHT IT. (GRUNT) NO EXIT WOUND. RUN A QUICK TEST AND… B NEG. RARE ONE. I’VE STARTED HIM ON A SALINE DRIP, PREPPING BLOOD, AND I’LL USE MY GOOD FRIEND NESSY TO KEEP HIM UNDER. 

ELECTRONIC CHIME. SOFT WHIRLING NOSE

NESSY: HELLO, PLEASE STATE WEIGHT IN KILOS. 

ZIVA: ESTIMATED 58 KILOS.

NESSY: RECORDED. PLEASE STATE  AGE AND GENDER

ZIVA: SIXTEEN YEARS AND MALE

ELECTRONIC CHIME

NESSY: O2 LEVELS WILL BE MONITORED. PLEASE KEEP CLIENT IN SAFE RANGE.

ZIVA: NO PROMISES. PREPPING INCISIONS SIGHT NOW. (SARCASTIC) AH, LOVE THE SMELL OF ALCOHOL IN THE EVENING. (BEAT) THE BULLET WANDERED OFF. FROM SCANS OF HIS ABDOMEN IT LOOKS LIKE THERE’S INTERNAL BLEEDING STEAMING FROM THE SMALL INTESTINE. MISSED HIS COLON LOOKS LIKE. NESSY, CURRENT TOXICOLOGY REPORT?

NESSY: NO SIGNS OF KNOWN POISON. LIVER FUNCTION NORMAL. RENAL FUNCTION NORMAL. 

ZIVA: SCREW THE BULLET THEN. WASN’T DIPPED, I’M NOT GOING AFTER IT. JUST ANOTHER PATCH JOB THEN. JUST OPEN THIS UP A BIIIIIT WIDER, AND TIME TO START SEWING. (HUMMING). AND… ANOTHER JOB DONE. NESSY, BEGIN REVIVAL PROTOCOL. (PAUSE) AND HERE’S MY LEAST FAVORITE PART ABOUT MY PRACTICE OUT HERE. WHAT TO DO WITH OUR YOUNG FRIEND. I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE HIM HERE… ESPECIALLY IF WHOEVER SHOT HIM PLANS ON COMING BACK. AHHHHHHH, WERE TAKING HIM. SCREW IT. NESSY, HELP ME LIFT HIM.

NESSY: SORRY, COMMAND NOT RECEIVED.

ZIVA: BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT A LIFTER, I LIFT YOU. HELL. I’VE GOT TO PULL HIM INTO THE TRUCK. I’LL BE BACK FOR YOU, NESSY, AND THE TAPE.

SCUFFLE CLICK OFF. CLICK ON.

ZIVA: (HUFFING) I… NEED… TO WORKOUT. MY GOD. (HUFFING) (A BEAT) OKAY. KID’S IN THE CAR. NESSY IS… IN THE CAR, YES. RIGHT, DRIVING. WE’RE DRIVING NOW. I SNAGGED HIS WALLET. WE’VE GOT… AN OLD LOTO TICKET. CREDIT CARD… THREE OF THEM… ALL WITH DIFFERENT NAMES, VERY HELPFUL. AND….THAT IS A HUGE WAD OF CASH. WHY WOULD A KID HAVE…. OH ZIVA WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN OURSELVES INTO.

CAR BREAKS, CAR SHIFTS TO PARK

ZIVA: HE HAS A RATTLER TATTOO. OH, I AM ABSOLUTELY SCREWED IF ANYONE SAW ME. 100 PRESENT SHAFTED. (GASP) SOMEONE’S BEHIND ME. THEY HAVE THEIR HIGH BEAMS ON AND THEY DON’T SEE LIKE FRIENDLY COMPANY. 

CAR DOOR LOCKING

ZIVA: SOMEONE’S GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. A MAN… TWO MEN, AND THEY HAVE GUNS. GUN, HA, ONE IS A HARPOON! JESUS. WE’VE GOT TO-

SOUND OF METAL TWISTING

ZIVA: (GRUNT) (WHIMPERING BREATHING) THEY HARPOONED THE TRUCK. (WHISPERED) IT’S A HANDHELD. IF I CAN DRIVE OFF BEFORE THEY SECURE IT I MIGHT HAVE A-

TAPPING ON GLASS. AUTOMATIC ROLLING WINDOW.

MAN: MISS. 

ZIVA: Y-YES.

MAN: WE WERE WATCHING YOU BACK THERE. COULDN’T SEE ALL YOU DID, BUT MUST BE A PRETTY EXPERIENCED DOCTOR. MANAGED TO SAVE A PIECE OF SHIT LIKE THAT.

ZIVA: IT’S WHAT I DO. SAVE PIECES OF SHIT. LIKE A CATTLE FARMER.

MAN: FUNNY. (A BEAT) HAND HIM OVER.

ZIVA: I CAN’T DO THAT. 

MAN: MIND COMING OFF YOUR HIGH-HORSE, MISS. 

ZIVA:YOU EVER HEARD OF THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH?

MAN: THE HIPPA WHAT?

ZIVA: HIPPOCRATIC OATH. IT IS THE OATH THAT I TOOK AS A DOCTOR. I WILL PREVENT DISEASE WHERE I CAN, AND THE WAIST SEEM TO HAVE A DISEASE. I’VE BEEN NOTICING PEOPLE ARE ENDING UP WITH BULLET HOLES, MANY OF THEM DIPPED IN POISON. HAPPEN TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOW IT SPREADS?

MAN: (LAUGHS) I MIGHT HAVE AN THOUGHT OR TWO ABOUT THAT.  NOW… I DON’T MEAN TO QUESTION YOU, DOCTOR, BUT I’M GUESSING YOU TOOK THAT OATH BACK WHEN THINGS WERE A BIT MORE NORMAL THAN THEY ARE NOW, RIGHT. YOU THINK THAT IT MIGHT NOT APPLY ANYMORE.

ZIVA: I THINK IT APPLIES MORE THAN EVER, SIR. MORALITY, SHOULDN’T CHANGE BIASED ON THE ENVIRONMENT. 

MAN: THAT’S A SHAME. DOC, COULD’VE KEPT YOUR MORALS FOR SOMEONE BETTER THAN THIS KID. 

GUN SHOT.

(A BEAT)

GUN SHOT. BEAT. SERIES OF GUNSHOTS.

MAN: NELSON, WHAT THE-

METAL SCREECHING (AT DISTANCE). FOOTSTEPS RUNNING AWAY. MAN SCREAMING

ZIVA: (BREATHLESS) WHEAT STALKER. SHIT!

METAL SCREECHING (CLOSER). ENGINE TURNING OVER.

ZIVA: (HEAVILY BREATHING) OH MY… THERE’S I CAN’T. (A BEAT). 

CAR ACCELERATES, METAL RATTLING MUFFLED

ZIVA: COME ON, COME ON, COME ON! PLEASE DON’T FOLLOW. (PAUSE) SHIT, THE TAPE

CLICK OFF. CLICK ON.

ZIVA: I’VE BEEN TALKING TO THIS THING FOR THE LAST TWENTY MINUTES WITHOUT IT HEARING A THING. (DEEP SIGH) WE MADE IT OUT, ALTHOUGH THE HARPOON GUN IS STILL HANGING OUT OF MY BUMPER LIKE A TALE. THE GUY WHO APPROACHED ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS A RATTLER. MAYBE THE KID IS DEFECTING? DOESN’T MATTER. I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE THANKFUL TO SEE A WHEAT STALKER, AND I HOPE I NEVER SEE ONE THAT CLOSE AGAIN. THE ONLY REASON WE’RE ALIVE RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE IT SAW THAT GUY AND HIS PARTNER. IF IT WOULD’VE TAKEN A LOOK INSIDE…(A BEAT)

THE KID STILL HASN’T WOKEN YET. I’M NOT SURE I WOULD’VE WANTED HIM TOO. (SIGH). I WAS INCHES AWAY FROM DEATH. THAT MAN AND HIS FRIEND, NELSON. THE WHEAT STALKER. IF THAT GODFORSAKEN THING WOULDN’T HAVE SHOWN UP I’M NOT SURE I WOULD’VE SURVIVED. THAT… THAT THING… ALL THE NOISE PROBABLY ATTRACTED IT OVER. FUCK.  I’VE NEVER SEE IT UP CLOSE BEFORE. LOOKED LIKE A SCARECROW, BUT AS TALL AS A LAMP POST. IT JAW WAS A COMBINE. ONCE SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THE WHEAT STALKERS WERE MADE TO IDENTIFY WHEAT, BUT THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE CODE THAT THE BIG WIGS DIDN’T FEEL LIKE FIXING. AS LONG AS THEY WERE MAKING MONEY IT DIDN’T MATTER IF A PERSON FROM THE WASTES GOT KILL ONCE IN AWHILE. NOT LIKE THERES ANYONE OUT HERE TO INVESTIGATE.

WAS HE RIGHT? (A BEAT). I KNOW WHAT YOU’D SAY AFUA. THAT IT’S GOOD TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, BUT I COULDN’T PROTECT THEM. I’M NOT EVEN SURE IF I HAD THE ABILITY TO SAVE THEM THAT I WOULD’VE. THAT MAN HELD A GUN TO MY FACE. HE WOULD’VE KILLED ME AND THE KID WITHOUT BLINKING.  THIS IS THE KIND OF WORLD WE LIVE IN. HELL, I’M DELUDING MYSELF IF I SAID IT WAS NEVER LIKE THIS, EVEN BEFORE THE FEDS LEFT THE WAIST TO CRUMBLE. THE SECOND OIL KING STARTED SPONSORING SEATS IN THE SENATE WE WERE DONE FOR.

AND THIS KID. I HAVEN’T COME INSIDE YET. I CAN SEE YOU, AFUA, FROM THE LIVING ROOM WINDOW. LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE WHERE I LEFT YOU A FEW HOURS AGO, WELDING AND LISTENING TO CLASSIC ROCK PROBABLY. WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN I DRAG HIM INSIDE. YOU’RE NO STRANGER TO ME FINISHING UP CASES ON YOUR WORKBENCH. BUT I DON’T THINK HE HAS ANYONE. ALL HIS HAS ARE SPENT-STOLEN CREDIT CARDS, A WAD OF CASH THAT MIGHT LAST HIM A FEW MONTHS, AND ENOUGH GUMPTION TO SURVIVE THE WORST OF HIS INJURES. 

WELL, SHE DOES PICK UP ALL THE STRAY CATS. MAYBE SHE’LL GIVE ME THIS

CLICK OFF.