· · ·
turning to page one
turning to page one
A steel door rattles open. Mert leads Tommy outside to a gate, unlocks it. Tommy looks around.
TOMMY
Out here?
MERT
That's what the man said.
Mert swings the gate open, sends Tommy through, turns and heads back inside. Tommy proceeds out across a loading-dock access for the shops and mills. Some vehicles parked. The place is deserted. He stops, sensing a presence.
TOMMY
Warden?
Norton steps into the light.
NORTON
Tommy, we've got a situation here.
I think you can appreciate that.
TOMMY
Yes sir, I sure can.
NORTON
I tell you, son, this really came
along and knocked my wind out. It's
got me up nights, that's the truth.
Norton pulls a pack of cigarettes, offers Tommy a smoke. Tommy takes one. Norton lights both cigarettes, pockets his lighter.
NORTON (CONT'D)
The right decision. Sometimes it's
hard to figure out what that is.
You understand?
(Tommy nods)
Think hard, Tommy. If I'm gonna
move on this, there can't be the
least little shred of doubt. I have
to know if you what you told
Dufresne was the truth.
TOMMY
Yes sir. Absolutely.
NORTON
Would you be willing to swear
before a judge and jury...having
placed your hand on the Good Book
and taken an oath before Almighty
God Himself?
TOMMY
Just gimme that chance.
NORTON
That's what I thought.
HIGH ANGLE FROM PLATE SHOP ROOF (SNIPER POV)
-- a rifle scope pops up into frame, jumping Tommy's image into startling magnification, framed in the crosshairs.
THE SNIPER 200
rapid-fires a carbine -- BLAM!BLAM!BLAM!BLAM! -- his face lit up by the muzzle flashes. Captain Hadley.
TOMMY
gets chewed to pieces by the gunfire. He smacks the ground in a twitching, thrashing heap. Eyes wide and staring. Dead. Surprise still stamped on his face. Silence now. Norton turns, strolls into darkness.