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Here’s my movie script so far… it needs tweeking… and yes this work is copyrighted by me, anyone else copying this without expressed hand-written consent by myself will be shot, hung and quartered… barring that, they’ll just be sued.
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Hanging in the Balance…
It was the time of year that one who walked outside would
look into the sky, shiver and toss on a jacket. But, where I was going I didn’t
think I’d be that cold. I’m not a
violent person. I cross my “t’s” and dot my “I’s”. I’m the type of person that
you could pass in the street and not give a second glance.
I usually don’t hang out in places like this. I usually
don’t get mixed up with people like that. I wouldn’t be in this mess if Harry
was around. Mind you, that’s how I got mixed up in this situation to begin
with. That’s how I met Bill.
During the war, I was your typical grunt. Tell me where to
go, what to do and it would get done. Harry and Bill were my commanding
officiers at the time. Corporal Harry Sampson. A rough and tumble kind of guy
with firey red hair and a personality to match. He was in his late 30’s at the
time, Dutch-Irish and a man that saved my life more times than I cared to
count. I’d take a bullet for that man, luckily during that time I didn’t have
too.
We were on routine patrol when the skies opened up, not in
rain, but a hail of bullets and blood. We were pinned down and desperately
hanging on. Our radio operator got off one call for help and our location and
his head exploded. I didn’t expect to live that day…
But, like an angel, or maybe a devil, Brigadier-General
William MacLeod, was in our neck of the woods and with fire and brimstone, and
a few well placed grenades, the enemy was flushed out and routed.
The general was an imposing figure to be certain. A man of
his late 40’s at the time, Scottish decent. He and Harry hit it off famously,
being from the same ‘island’ and all. They told each other stories of glorious
battle during the war over drinks and of even more glorious conquests.
Being the grunt of the group I ended up being the
bartender/waiter for many of their sessions and even joined in a few. The war
passed by rather quickly after that… Then we went about our ways.
I tried not to think about the war, because as they say:
“War is Hell, son”. Ain’t that a fact, sir.
Fifteen years later I was living comfortably in the suburbs,
alone. Neighbours didn’t bother me, I even ended up getting a job as an
accountant. I was wondering downtown after a hard day crunching the numbers
when I stopped into a local pub that had been there for years.
I wasn’t really paying attention when a loud, booming voice
shouting at me.
“What in BLOODY Hell are you doing dressed like that, Grunt!
Stand at attention when I’m addressing you!” the menacing voice blared at me.
Maybe I was tired… maybe it was all the years in the service
but, I’ll be a son of a bitch and stood rigid at attention eyes forward and
saluted.
The whole bar erupted in laughter.
Slowly looking around, (still at attention mind you), I
noticed the bartender, with the biggest shit eating grin on his face, laughing
so hard tears were coming down his face. He motioned me over.
The gentleman at the bar was none other than
Brigeadier-General William MacLeod! The years had been kind to him. He was in a
fancy bartender’s outfit in his late 60’s but still as fit as ever. He tossed
me a drink.
We chatted about the old days. He retired shortly after my
campaign and settled down in civilian life and opened a bar.
“Aye, the best bar in town so the papers say and my
costumers as well. I’ve had a packed house everyday for neigh, going on ten
years now.”
I chatted about my life, being an accountant, Bill nodded
and poured me another drink.
“Did ye hear about Harry?” Bill inquired.
That perked up my ears, I had lost contact after the war. I
tried getting a hold of him through normal channels and even a few I had dug up
while in the military but I couldn’t get ahold of him.
“No, what about him? Last I heard he was still in the
military…” I replied.
“Ack! Laddie, did a grenade blow up too close to your ear and give ye brain
damage?” Bill said.
I shook my head no… Bill continued.
“No, that little skirmish you guys were tangled in all those
years ago was no coincidence… It was a setup. Harry was playing for both
sides…” Bill stated.
“I… I … can’t believe that he saved my ass more times than I
care to remember.” I stammered.
“’Tis true lad. Of course I didn’t just happen to be in the
neighbourhood that day either mind you. I was sent by Intelligence to flush him
out. But, he gave me the slip soon after you left, and I got word that he died
in a napalm explosion. Thing is, his body was burned beyond recognition and
well, dental records weren’t that great back then. I was made to retire from
the military because I failed to bring him in… But, enough about the past,
let’s toast to the future.” Bill’s smile returned and poured me another drink.
It was a lot to take in. I stumbled back home and into bed.
I was just getting into a deep sleep when the phone rang.
“Hello” I answered groggily.
“Hello” a woman’s voice replied. “I have a favour to ask of
you.”
“If this is Mrs. Schafter, you can call back during regular
business hours… it’s 3am…”
“This isn’t Mrs. Schafter, it’s a friend. I have a favour to
ask of you.” The woman’s voice was insistent.
“What could be so important to wake me up at 3am?” I
inquired.
She only spoke one word, but it was enough to wake me up,
“Harry”
“Where and when?” I asked.
She relayed the information.
It was going to be a long night.
—————-
Bill took a long drag of the cigarette and peered intently
at the smoke slowly billowing from the charred tip. He let it slip through his
fingers and fall to the ground. How long had it been, since he had seen the
Grunt? Or even uttered the name Harry for that matter?
He shook his head to clear the cobwebs and ran his fingers
through his salty hair. Too long… Time has flown by.
Bill walked to the front door of his bar. “The best bar in
town” the papers raved. Bill didn’t mind the attention. He was after all
retired. Emma had passed away years ago and she had wanted him to be happy.
Absentmindedly he said to himself, “There are two kinds of
people that come to my bar. Did you know that? There are those that want to
celebrate life and those that want to drink their sorrows away. Do you know
which one you are here for?”
A voice replied: “Do you?”
Bill slowly turned around and smiled. “I was wondering how
long it would take for you to show up.”
“Care for a drink?” Bill walked over to the bar and reached under
the counter.
“You won’t need that.” the voice replied brandishing the
shotgun that was under Bill’s bar.
Bill sighed, straightened up his jacket.
A shot rang out.
Before I could meet with Harry, I had to clear up a few
matters with an old friend. My pastor had been in the war. While she wasn’t an
avid fighter she was a comfort for one’s soul be it his last breathe or to ease
his mind during the senseless slaughter that one did in a war.
“Bless me father for I have sinned.” I said.
“How many times do I have to tell you, it’s Mother. Bless me
Mother, for I have sinned… You were just as stubborn back then as you are now.”
Sheila stated exasperatedly.
I chuckled and said. “I always knew which buttons to press.”
“That you most certainly did.” Sheila gazed into my eyes and
sighed..
“There are only three reasons why you would come to see me…
One, you want to take me out to dinner. Two, you are in trouble and need
sanctuary. Three, you have something on your mind. Which is it?”
Sheila was always a mind reader. I always wondered why she
wasn’t a physic on those late night talk-shows… but everyone has a calling I
guess. Sheila’s was helping people.
I sighed. “It’s Harry.”
Sheila was taken aback. “Harry’s dead… I can even show you
his grave…”
“Funny thing is that I ran into Bill yesterday. He had some
interesting things to say about Harry.” I was still trying to ponder what Bill
had told me when Sheila broke my train of thought.
“Well, I might as well tell you what he told me…” Sheila sat
on the ground and motioned me to sit beside her. “Since he’s dead, I guess I
can finally tell you what he told me…”
Staring off into the distance, Sheila began her tale.
“I had only been in the army for about six months when Harry
came to talk to me…He, like many others, was having some pretty hard
adjustments to the war.”
Flashback to the war…
“Padre. I have seen and done many horrific things. When I
meet my maker, will I goto Heaven or Hell?” Harry asked sullenly.
“Well it all depends on our actions and of course, our
faith… But what is really troubling you?” Sheila asked seriously.
“Do you feel this war is right? Is it just?” Harry asked
seriously. “Are we truly fighting for the right side? I don’t know maybe I’m
just too tired and am rambling”
Sheila looked worried at Harry. “Maybe it’s best that you
rest for the night. Come talk to me tomorrow.”
*End Flashback*
Sheila sighed. We stood at Harry’s grave. It read. “A simple
man lay here, with a heart of gold.” Sheila took a cigarette that I offered her
and took a drag and handed it back to me.
She continued her story. “He never came back after that
night. As far as I know, he was sent on recon to some remote sector.
Communications were crossed and the site was napalmed. Nothing survived. Rumors
spread that Harry was going in undercover to that zone. Others said that he was
a double agent.”
“What do you believe?” I asked her.
Sheila thought a moment, stood up, smiled and replied: “I believe
that I’m hungry and you’re taking me out to dinner.”
“I know the best bar in town… Care to join me?” I asked.
(not sure if I want to add this or not)
“You mean Bill’s pub? Sure why not I could use a burger.”
She stated.
In WoW news… I beat Vael. I should say, We as a guild beat him, but it was the strat that I found that beat him… Did I get any credit? nope. Luckily their wasn’t any Mage loot so its all good. We then worked our way until the Fourth boss to get to the third boss.. but it was 3am and we wiped. All in all it was fun, enmasse AoEing… PS… World server crashed Hardcore… we’d better get a month free.
Anyhow, Read the above over and lemme know what you think,etc. All comments welcome and appreciated.
We’re going Ol’School, you can’t touch this
I was cleaning out my closet, when I happenanced (sp) upon a very old collection. Floppy disks that held some of the best games of the time. The year was 1996-1997. I remember them well. Games like:
Battle of Britain, X-Wing, TIE Figher, LucasArts Classic 1 with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Monkey Island, Zak McCracken, Haunted Mansion, X-Com: Terror from the Deep.
To name a few… Ah I remember them well. I even found my first programming program that I used. Turing! If only I could find the Star Wars Movies I made, with music as well 
Geekage here I come.
Vx Out…
)
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