· · ·

fall into my hands. Maybe it's

'cause I'm Irish.

ANDY

I wonder if you could get me a rock-

hammer?

RED

What is it and why?

CONTINUED: (2)

ANDY

You make your customers' motives a

part of your business?

RED

If you wanted a toothbrush, I

wouldn't ask questions. I'd just

quote a price. A toothbrush, see,

is a non-lethal sort of object.

ANDY

Fair enough. A rock-hammer is about

eight or nine inches long. Looks

like a miniature pickaxe, with a

small sharp pick on one end, and a

blunt hammerhead on the other. It's

for rocks.

RED

Rocks.

Andy squats, motions Red to join him. Andy grabs a handful of dirt and sifts it through his hands. He finds a pebble and rubs it clean. It has a nice milky glow. He tosses it to Red.

RED (CONT'D)

Quartz?

ANDY

Quartz, sure. And look. Mica.

Shale. Silted granite. There's some

graded limestone, from when they

cut this place out of the hill.

RED

So?

ANDY

I'm a rockhound. At least I was, in

my old life. I'd like to be again,

on a limited scale.

RED

Yeah, that or maybe plant your toy

in somebody's skull?

ANDY

I have no enemies here.

RED

No? Just wait.

Red flicks his gaze past Andy. Bogs is watching them.

CONTINUED: (3)

RED (CONT'D)

Word gets around. The Sisters have

taken a real shine to you, yes they

have. Especially Bogs.

ANDY

Tell me something. Would it help if

I explained to them I'm not

homosexual?

RED

Neither are they. You have to be

human first. They don't qualify.

(off Andy's look)

Bull queers take by force, that's

all they want or understand. I'd

grow eyes in the back of my head if

I were you.

ANDY

Thanks for the advice.

RED

That comes free. But you understand

my concern.

ANDY

If there's trouble, I doubt a rock-

hammer will do me any good.

RED

Then I guess you wanna escape.

Tunnel under the wall maybe?

(Andy laughs politely)

I miss the joke. What's so funny?

ANDY

You'll know when you see the rock-

hammer.

RED

What's this item usually go for?

ANDY

Seven dollars in any rock and gem

shop.

RED

My standard mark-up's twenty

percent, but we're talkin' about a

special object. Risk goes up, price

goes up. Call it ten bucks even.

ANDY

Ten it is.

CONTINUED: (4)

RED

I'll see what I can do.

(rises, slapping dust)

But it's a waste of money.

ANDY

Oh?

RED

Folks who run this place love

surprise inspections. They turn a

blind eye to some things, but not a

gadget like that. They'll find it,

and you'll lose it. Mention my

name, we'll never do business

again. Not for a pair of shoelaces

or a stick of gum.

ANDY

I understand. Thank you, Mr...?

RED

Red. The name's Red.

ANDY

Red. I'm Andy. Pleasure doing

business with you.

They shake. Andy strolls off. Red watches him go.

RED (V.O.)

I could see why some of the boys

took him for snobby. He had a quiet

way about him, a walk and a talk

that just wasn't normal around

here. He strolled like a man in a

park without a care or worry. Like

he had on an invisible coat that

would shield him from this place.

(resumes playing catch)

Yes, I think it would be fair to

say I liked Andy from the start.