Fade in on:
Ext.  county road 81 -night.
The rain falls in torrents.  Lightning FLASHES, illuminating the road.  Water flows across the twisting road, carrying fallen leaves.
A metal highway sign reads 'COUNTY ROAD 81.'
More lightning FLASHES, illuminating a handmade cross tied to a guard rail.  Carved on it is: 'Bob Grady  RIP  2002'
Thunder ROARS in the distance.
A car races down the road.  It's driven erratically.
Tires SCREECH as it takes a turn too quickly and disappears from view.
A steel highway sign, further down the road reads:  'PENNSYLVANIA BORDER 6 MILES'
On the side of the road, along a sharp turn, is a tree trunk.  Nailed into it is another cross, older than the first.
A crash is heard.
Carved into the cross is: 'HAL BROWN  1995'
Further down the road, along some broken guardrail, are several old, withered bouquets of flowers.
Quick electronic BEEPING is heard.
RINGING of a telephone is heard.
Female voice (v.o.)
You have reached 555-8764.  I can't come to the phone right now so please leave a message at the beep.
BEEEEEP
Tonya (v.O.)
(slurred)
Mom, it's me...  I was, I was coming over tonight to see you.  Could you--?  Could you please pick up? 
Past a turn, a car rests in a ditch alongside the road.  It's badly damaged.  It's the car from before.
Its lights are on.  Its engine RACES.
TONYA (V.O.)
Mom, please pick up.  My car was in an accident.  I need help, Mom.  Please?
Int.  Car.
TONYA McPHEE (25) sits in the driver's seat.  Light from the headlights bounces off some brush and back into the car, lighting her up a little.  She bleeds from a gash to her head as she talks on the phone.
Tonya
There was this deer.  It jumped in front of my car...  Where are you?  Please Mom...  I'm serious.  I not..  I'm not looking for money from you this time and--
Lightning FLASHES, lighting up the inside of the car.  She looks at the passenger seat.
A nearly empty vodka bottle sits on the dirty passenger seat.  Next to it is an open pill bottle.
Tonya
And I'm not drunk or anything.  Please, Mom....Please.
BEEEEEP.
She looks at her phone.  Tears, mixed with eyeliner, roll down her face.
TONYA
(sobbing)
Mommy, please...
The phone slips out of her hand.  She fuddles, trying to catch it.
She wipes her forehead with her hand, smearing the blood.  SHe sees this on her hand.
TONYA
Fuck...
Groggy, she fuddles for the map light and turns it on.
She looks at herself in the rearview mirror.
Lightning FLASHES in blinding light as thunder ROARS loudly.  It was very close.
Startled, she shuts her eyes and SCREAMS until the light and noise fade away.
She looks in the mirror and sees herself crying and trembling.  Mascara runs from her baggy eyes.
She looks so old and tired.
She picks up the pill bottle.  A few pills fall out as she raises the bottle up.  She empties the bottle in her mouth.
She raises the vodka bottle to her lips and finishes it in one gulp.
Lightning FLASHES.  A large dog-like animal stands on the hood of the car, staring at Tonya.  It BARKS and SNARLS angrily at her.
Tonya SCREAMS.
The BARKING continues.
The drivers' door swings open.  Rain pours in as a cloaked figure reaches in and grabs her.  She fights him, SCREAMING.
The figures pulls her out of the car.
Fade to black.
Fade IN ON:
Ext.  Forest floor -day
Tonya lays on the ground, wrapped in a an old blanket.
She rolls over, GROANING.  Sunlight hits her face and she frowns.  The gash on her head is covered with some GOO.  
Frowning, she slowly opens her eyes and sits up.
She looks around and finds herself in the middle of the woods under a small tarp.  The trees are beginning to turn.
She slowly stands up.  She feels the gash and looks at the goo on her fingers.  She rubs them together.
A backpack and blanket are a few feet from her.  She steps over to them.  She looks around again before reaching for the backpack.
GRRRRRRR!
She spins around and finds herself face-to-face with--
A SNARLING RED DOBERMAN PINSCHER!  
Frightened, Tonya steps back and trips over a root.  She falls on her ass, with a heavy THUD.  She SCREAMS.
She crawls away.  The Doberman follows, keeping pace with her.
TONYA
Good dog!  Good dog!  Sit!  Oh crap!
She backs herself against a tree trunk.
TONYA
Somebody help me!  Somebody?
The Doberman is inches away from her.
Sawyer (v.O.)
Good!  You're awake!
Tonya and the Doberman look off to the side.
SAWYER (65) looks at the two as he walks up to the tarp.  His wet grey hair hangs limply past his shoulders, resting on a threadbare poncho that barely covers his torso.  
He wears no pants or footwear.
He carries a water skin in one hand and a towel in the other.
SawYER
Wasn't sure if you were going to make it or not.
He takes a pair of pants from the backpack and puts them on.
SAWYER
Hell, half the night I knew you weren't dead because of all the vomiting noises you were making.
Tonya tries crawling away from the Doberman.  The Doberman BARKS once.  Tonya jumps.
SAWYER
Sawyer, get away from her.  She doesn't want to play.
The Doberman trots over to Sawyer and sits next to him.
SAWYER
Here...
He tosses the water skin to her.
SAWYER
Drink this.
TONYA
What is it?
SAWYER
Water.  You're all dehydrated.  And you need to flush out all that garbage in your system.
He takes off the poncho, revealing his doughy tanned body.
ToNYA
Where am I?
SAWYER
Where?  You're in my camp, about a half mile from your car.
He takes a loosely-fitted shirt from his pack and slides it over his head.
TONYA
My car?
She drinks from the skin.
SAWYER
You drove it into a ditch last night, remember?
TONYA
Crap...
SAWYER
Yeah.  Sawyer found you and came and got me.  She's good at finding people who need help.
TONYA
Your Doberman finds people who needs help?
SAWYER
(points to Doberman)
Not her--
(points past her)
Her.
Tonya glances over her shoulder.  A LARGE BLACK DOG stands right next to her, inches from her face.
Tonya leaps away from the Black Dog, startled.  She drops the water skin.  Water pours out.
TONYA
Aaaah!
SAWYER
Damn...
He hurries to the water skin and picks it up.  It's nearly empty.
SAWYER
You can fill this up now.  Stream's about thirty yards that way.
He points in the direction he came and gives her the skin.
SAWYER
Take the water from below the surface, but not from the bottom.  Get less crap in it, that way.
Tonya slowly stands up, staring at the Black Dog.
Sawyer looks at the Black Dog.  There's something hanging from her mouth.
SAWYER
What's that in your mouth?
TONYA
What?
He steps over to the Black Dog, which turns its head away.
SAWYER
What's that?
He grabs the Black Dog's snout and turns it toward him.
He pulls some brown fur from the Black Dog's lips.  The fur is mixed with a black substance
SAWYER
(angry)
What's this?  Rabbit?
He smells it and grimaces.
SAWYER
Been on the highway again?  Huh?
Tonya watches in shock as Sawyer pries the Black Dog's jaws open and smells her breath.
SAWYER
Been eating road kill again, haven't you?  Haven't you?
The Black Dog WHINES.  Sawyer releases her muzzle and smacks it on the snout.
POP!
The Black Dog YELPS.  Tonya winces.
SAWYER
You forget what happened to your brother?  Standing on some damn highway, eating road kill?  Now he's the road kill!  Remember?
He smacks the Black Dog again.
SAWYER
Go sit with your sister!  Now!
The Black Dog hurries next to the Doberman.
SAWYER
(to Tonya)
They're like kids.
TONYA
(apprehensive)
Yeah.  Umm.  Listen.  I have to get going.  If you can just show me... You know.
SAWYER
(beat)
Going, huh?  Okay.  Stream's about thirty yards down the hill there.
TONYA
I meant the road.
SAWYER
The road.  That means you're not getting me water?  I pull you out of your car.  Babysit you all night.  Get you three skins of water.  Two just to wash the vomit off you.  And you're not going to return the favor?
She reaches into her pants pocket and pulls out some money.
TONYA
I got like forty bucks here.  You can have it.
She holds her money out.  He walks up to her.  He extends his hand and takes the water skin.  He continues walking.
She looks at him surprised.
Tonya
You don't want it?
Sawyer
I don't need your money.  I have money.  What I don't have is water.
She watches him walk downhill.
After a moment, she looks down.  The Black Dog stands right next to her.  She looks around.
The Doberman can't be seen.
TONYA
(to Black Dog)
You want my money?
The Black Dog BURPS and licks her face.
Ext.  FOREST STREAM.
Sawyer is crouched by the stream.  He has one arm up to his elbow in the water.
Tonya walks up behind him, making a lot of noise with each step.
Tonya
Listen, I'm sorry about, you know--
Sawyer turns his head slightly, watching her from the corner of his eye.
Tonya
I'm just...  I don't know.  I'm just having a messed up time right now and--
He stands up and faces her.  He holds a full water skin in his now wet hand.
TONYA
Thanks for helping me out...  I don't even know your name.
Sawyer
It's Sawyer.
He walks past her, up the hill.  He ties up the skin.
TONYA
Sawyer...?
She follows him and has more trouble making her way up hill than he does.
TONYA
But...but didn't you call your dogs Sawyer?
Sawyer
That's right.
She struggles to keep up with him.
TONYA
So you named your dogs after you?  Both of them?
SAWYER
That's right.
TONYA
Isn't that kinda, you know, conceited?
SAWYER
This coming from a girl who played God by trying to end her own life?
She stops in her tracks.  He keeps walking.
Ext.  Sawyer's camp.
Sawyer rolls his blankets up, singing WALTZING MATILDA.
SawYER
(singing)
--Up jumped the swagman and seized him with glee/  And he sang as he tucked jumbuck in his tuckerbag--/
Both dogs lay nearby.
Tonya walks up the camp, slightly winded.  Sawyer continues singing to himself.
She stops a few feet away from him.  She looks pissed.
Sawyer
(singing)
--You'll come a waltzing matilda with me/  Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda.../
He casually places the blankets in his pack.
Tonya stares at Sawyer.  She points to Sawyer and opens her mouth, about to say something.
Sawyer
(singing)
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.../
(spoken)
Well?
TONYA
Well what?
SAWYER
You want to say something.  I can hear the vein in your forehead throbbing.  You better say it before your head fucking explodes.
TONYA
(beat)
Alright...  Thanks for saving my life.  Alright.  I said it.  Thank you.  But you have no right being nasty to me--!
SAWYER
Bullshit!  You tried killing yourself and I saved your life.  I Sat up all night and babysat you.  I kept you warm and hydrated.  Twice you threw up on Sawyer--
Tonya and the Doberman look at each other.
SawYER
I can be as nasty as I want.
TonyA
If I was such a fucking chore then why'd you save me in the first?
SAWYER
Because that's what I do.  I preserve life!  Taking life when you don't have to is wrong.  Even when it's your own.
He closes up his bag and hangs it on a low tree branch.
Sawyer
It's amazing how people like you put so little value on your life-- 
TONYA
You don't know me--
SAWYER
I know everything about you, Sweetheart.  You spend years fucking up your life just so you can justify ending it... I knew a guy who lost his wife of fifty years and his only son to a car accident when he was seventy two years old. 
He picks up two well burned candles and places them in the backpack.
Sawyer
A year later, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Doctors gave him less than six months to live.  Six months.  And rather than just wash down a bottle of pills with cheap vodka, he decided to do something about it.  He wanted to live at least two more years.
She's listening closely.
SAWYER
Despite all the shit that happened to him, he wanted to live to see seventy-five.  He exercised.  He ate right.  He saw every doctor he could afford just so he could reach that magical number.  No one was going to stop him.  Not the doctors.  Not those funeral directors that were knocking on his door.  He decided that his life was worth fighting for and when...
She looks at him in anticipation.
SawYER
Why am I telling you this?  You tried killing yourself.
He grabs a wooden staff, leaning against a tree and walks off.  He points in a slightly different direction.
SAWYER
Your car's about half a mile that way.  It's the one in a ditch wrapped around a large rock...  Let's go, dogs.  We're going to town.
The Doberman runs after Sawyer and walks beside him.
After several steps he looks around and stops.  He turns around and sees the Black Dog standing next to Tonya.
SAWYER
Sawyer, let's go.
He takes a few steps and looks back.
The Black Dog isn't moving.
SAWYER
We're going for breakfast...!  Pancakes!
The Black Dog WHINES and licks Tonya's hand.
Sawyer SIGHS.
SAWYER
Sawyer is inviting you to join us in town for pancake breakfast.  Would you like to come?
Ext. Langdon township library -day.
It's a nice little library in rural America.
Louise (V.O.)
What do you mean you have nothing?
Stewart (v.o.)
I have nothing.  I have the same reading as yesterday--
Int.  Library.
The library is empty.  Chairs are neatly arranged underneath the tables.  A large wall clock reads 9:50.
Louise (O.S.)
This is the third time, Joseph.  You said you knew divining.
Stewart (O.S.)
I do--
A rear room, a children's reading room, is roped off from the public.  Children's furniture lines the floor.  Cartoony illustrations of popular literary characters fill the walls.
Stewart COLEMAN (40) sits behind a cluttered librarian's desk, examining something.  He's a scrawny-looking man, wearing a tightly-knotted tie.
LOUISE PARKINSON (50) looks over his shoulder.  She wears a perpetual scowl on her face.  Around her neck is a simple leather choker.  A small runestone hangs from it.
Stewart
But the signs are unclear.  We have to try again later, or try some other methods--
Louise
If I wanted to hear 'try again later,' I could've used a magic eight ball.  Look again.
Stewart leans over the desk.  A cat lays dead on a tray, vivisected.  Its intestines hang half out of its body.  
Blood is everywhere.
Stewart gently pokes around its insides.
Stewart
Within three days.  South of here.  Near the orchards.
Louise
You keep saying that.  We need more.  What'll it take?
STEWART
We also have the lay line that run south of here.  Maybe we can match that with what I'm getting here.  Can't Frank bring in some from the other chapters--
Maybrick (o.S.)
You know my father won't do that.
Stewart and Louise look up, startled.
LEONARD MAYBRICK (35) steps into the room.  He's a wholesome-looking guy.  He wears a policeman's uniform.
MayBRICK
He doesn't trust anyone when it comes to this kind of power and you can't blame him for not wanting to share the elemental with anyone.
Louise
Leonard!
Maybrick
Morning Stewart.  Louise.
Louise nods to him.
Stewart
(nervous)
Morning Len.  How are you?
MAYBRICK
I'm good.  I'd be better if I didn't spend the last hour talking to Jim Sarandon's little girl, Tara, about her missing cat, Cookie.
He casually steps up to the desk.
Louise
This cat was a stray.  You know that's--
He picks up a pet collar from the desk.
Louise
All we use...
He looks at a small name tag on the collar. 
COOKIE.
Louise
It was needed.
MaybRICK
This one in particular?  An eight year old girl's pet?  Why not just go to the shelter?  Pick up some real strays?
Louise
They want twenty dollars for a cat!
MAYBRICK
That's not much, considering what you'll get.
Stewart
The cats aren't telling us anything.  We need more.
Louise
We need something bigger.
maybrick
No!
Stewart and Louise look at him, startled.
MayBRICK
Stewart, why don't you clean that mess up and open the library.  There's some kids waiting to come in.
Stewart quickly puts everything into a box and scurries out the room.
MaybRICK
You put me in a real bad spot when you do this, Louise.  As a member of the Quentinus Order, I know that certain... rituals must be done.
Louise
Of course--
MAYBRICK
But as the Chief of Police, I'm not gonna let you steal other people's pets for--
Louise
But your father--
MAYBRICK
My father would not want to expose himself or anyone else here and you don't make decisions in his absence.  Do you understand me?
Louise
(beat)
Yes...
MAYBRICK
Good.  Next time you need to do any divining with animals, or any sacrifices, you get your own animals.  
He starts leaving.
Maybrick
And do it in the woods, not in town property...  It's probably the--
He points up to the ceiling.
MAYBRICK
Air conditioners that's messing up your readings.
She stares as him as he walks off.
Ext.  langdon main street.
Quaint shops line the street of this idealistic town.
The Woodchuck Diner sits on a street corner.  Tables and chairs line the curb.
Tonya sits at one, smoking.  The Black Dog rests at her feet.  The Doberman sits on the other side of the table.  Leaning against a chair is Sawyer's staff.
Sawyer steps from the Diner, carrying two plastic trays with food.  He puts them on the table and sits opposite Tonya.
Sawyer
I asked the waitress if the blueberry pancakes--
He takes two plates of food and puts them on the sidewalk.  The dogs eat.
Sawyer
Were made with fresh blueberries.  You know what she told me?
He sits down and puts a plate of pancakes in front of him.
SAWYER
She told me that the cook opened the can of blueberries this morning.
He looks at her and takes a bite of his food.
She's not paying attention.
SAWYER
I guess it doesn't take much to work in this place, huh?
She takes a last drag on her cigarette.
SAWYER
So what do people do around here for fun?  Anyplace around here that's interesting?
She drops the cigarette between her feet and steps on it.
SAWYER
Or am I going to die of old age waiting for an answer from you?
TonYA
Hey, I didn't ask for your help last night, okay?
Sawyer scoops a lot of food in his mouth
SAWYER
(while chewing)
I know you didn't!  She did!
He points to the Black Dog as she finishes eating.
SawYER
She saw that you needed help and she got me to help you.
TONYA
She told you I needed help?
SAWYER
It wasn't like she was barking--
(loud)
Timmy fell in the well!  He needs help!
(normal)
She saw you needed help and she got me 'cause she know I don't like people dying.
Tonya stands up.
TONYA
Next time, I'll try not to do it around you then.
SAWYER
Why are you being such a fucking bitch?
TONYA
I have problems, alright--?
SAWYER
(condescending)
Really?  You have problems...?  I never met anyone with problems before.  Can I have your autograph?
She storms off.
The Black Dog BARKS.
SAWYER
Where the hell are you gonna go?  Gonna buy yourself another car?  Pimp it with a boulder like the last one?
She flips Sawyer the bird without even looking back.
The Black Dog looks at Sawyer and WHINES.
Sawyer
(to Black Dog)
Well, what the fuck am I supposed to do?
Tonia turns the corner and disappears from sight.
The Black Dog takes a few steps in her direction.
SAWYER
Don't even think it.
The Black Dog WHINES.
Ext.  Side street
Tonya storms down the narrow street.  Low fences separate her from numerous back yards.  Jungle gyms and toys litter the backyards.
A YOUNG GIRL sits on a swing, holding a doll.  She waves at Tonya.
Tonya waves back.
Tonya
Your Daddy around, Lizzy?
The young girl shakes her head.
Tonya keeps going and eventually end up behind a...
LARGE WHITE HOUSE.
The backyard is a garden of weeds and rusty patio furniture.
She enters the backyard and climbs up cinder block stairs to a back door.  She pulls on the door.  
It's locked.
She searches her pockets.
Tonya
Where're my--?  Crap, they're in the car!
She tugs on the door, rolling her eyes.
TONYA
(sighs)
Figures.
She trods down the stairs and walks around the house.
Three white trash guys sit on the front steps, LOU, BERT, DANNY.  CHARLIE flips hamburgers on a large charcoal grill made from an old oil drum.  They have beers in their hands and a cooler nearby.  
The front yard is cluttered with weeds, garbage and old furniture.
Tonya walks around them, going up the stairs.  The four watch her, but don't move.
Charlie
Hey Tonya...
The four GIGGLE.
She tries the door.  It's locked.
She presses the door bell.  A faint BUZZ is heard.
Charlie
Missus Carlson ain't in.  She went food shopping.
She SIGHS.  The four GIGGLE.
Bert
I hear it was your birthday, Tonya--
She gets a disgusted look on her face.
She walks down the stairs.  The four LAUGH out loud.
Bert
You still wanna celebrate?
They continue laughing, elbowing each other like schoolboys.
Danny
C'mon, don't be like that, Tonya...
He gets up and walks over to her.
Danny
We're just funnin' with you.
She stops and looks at him.
DANNY
Hey, I got a gift for you--
(grabs crotch)
Want me to unwrap it for you?
Danny and his friends BURST OUT LAUGHING.
Tonya kicks him in the groin.  He falls to his knees, dropping.
Lou, charlie & bert
Whooooa!
Tonya
Next time make it a man's size...
Tonya starts walking away.  Danny grabs her by her pant waist and yanks her toward him.
DANNY
(pained)
Bitch!
Tonya rakes her nails across Danny's face, cutting him deep.
He SCREAMS and swings the bottle at her.  She blocks it with her hand.  He releases the bottle and grabs her hair.
ChARLIE
Get her, Danny!
Bert
Get her, man!
She SCREAMS as he pulls her to the ground.  Lou, Charlie and Bert gather around the two, HOOTING and HOLLERING.
Danny rolls on top of Tonya.  He raises his clenched fist to her and--
The Black Dog leaps on top of him, knocking him over, SNARLING.  The guys jump back, startled.
CHARLIE
Oh shit!
Lou makes a step toward Danny when the Doberman lunges, dragging him down.
Charlie and Bert look at each other nervously.
Charlie pulls out a hunting knife from a belt sheath.  He slowly approaches Danny and the Black Dog as Tonya gets up.  Tonya tries stopping him but he easily shoves her to the ground.
He raises his knife, waiting for the right moment and--
CRACK
He's hit in the head by Sawyer's staff.
SAWYER
Don't you ever raise a weapon to my girls--
Charlie rushes Sawyer.
Sawyer jabs him in the gut with the staff--
Charlie 
Oof!
Sawyer follows up by spinning around and gracefully CRACKS him on the side of the head with the staff.
chARLIE
Ugh!
Charlie falls.
Bert grabs Sawyer from behind and picks him off the ground.  Sawyer GRUNTS.
Tonya tries breaking Bert's grip.
TonYA
Let him go, you fat fuck!
SAWYER
Get back, girl...
TONYA
Let him go!
SAWYER
Get back!
Charlie staggers up and grabs Tonya.
TONYA
Don't touch me Charlie McCafferty!
Bert turns around, facing the nearby barbecue grill.
BERT
Gonna burn, old man!
He carries Sawyer over to the grill.  He starts leaning over, bringing him closer to the flames.
Sawyer
(to Bert)
Asshole, one thing you have to learn--
With his left hand, Sawyer, grabs on Bert's arms locking them against his chest.  He then extends his right hand toward the grill.
SAWYER
Never--
He thrusts his hand into the fire.  Bert sees his, amazed.
He pulls out a fistful of coals.  His entire hand is engulfed in fire.
SAWYER
Piss--
He raises it over his shoulder, toward Bert.  
Bert struggles, trying to keep away from it, but can't.  He tries letting Sawyer go but the old man has a tight grip on him.
Sawyer's burning hand gets closer to him.
SAWYER
Me off!
He presses his hand into Bert's face.
Bert SCREAMS in agony as his skin burns.  Smoke rises from his face.
Bert lets go and staggers back.
Sawyer walks toward Charlie.
Charlie lets Tonya go and looks at him, amazed.  
Sawyer's hand and lower arm are engulfed in flame...
He smiles sinisterly.
Charlie waves his knife at him, trying to scare him.  
Sawyer keeps approaching.  He waves his hand around.  The flame arcs.
Charlie runs off.
He turns to Lou and Danny, still fighting the dogs.
SAWYER
Heel!
Both dogs run to Sawyer's side.
Bert and Danny stagger up and look at Sawyer.
SAWYER
Good time for you assholes to run.
The two look at each other and scurry off.
SAWYER
(to Tonya)
What else do you do for fun around here?
She takes a step away from him, staring at his hand.
SAWYER
What?  This?  Doesn't hurt a bit.
He steps over to the grill and places his hand in the fire.
SAWYER
Thank you, my friend.
He pulls his hand out.  It's no longer burning and completely unaffected.  
He turns to Tonya as the fire in the grill flares up and extinguishes.  
All that remains in the grill is ash.
SAWYER
Why don't we go somewhere and talk?
EXT.  LIBRARY.
Stewart paces back and forth behind the library.  There's a picnic table nearby.  An attache rests on top of it.
Louise and FRANK MAYBRICK (60) walk around the library.  The three see each other and hurry together.
Frank wears the same choker that Louise wears.  He's a portly man with a well-trimmed beard and mustache.
Stewart
(excited)
Frank, Louise, thank the gods you could make it here so quickly--
Louise
This better be important, Stewart.
Stewart
It is.  It is!  About twenty minutes after Louis and Len left the library this morning--
Louise
I was telling Frank about Len.
Frank
I'm having dinner with my son tonight.  I will discuss the problems you're having with him--
Stewart
That's not why I called you!  That's not why I called you--
He walks over to the picnic table, frantically motioning for the others to follow.
Stewart
About twenty minutes after Louise and Len left me, at about 11:30, something felt...something felt wrong.
Frank
Wrong, Stewart?  How so?
Louise
This better not be one of your vague premonitions--
Frank holds a raised finger to her face.  She shuts up.
FRANK
Louise, please.  Tell us about it, Stewart.
Stewart
It started with a tingling but then I smelled something sweet in the air, but not really smelled it.  Kind of like smelling it in my head.  Do you know what I mean?
FRANK
Your mother was like that--
Stewart
Yes!  Yes, she was!  She would smell something sweet.  Like mango--
Louise
Mango?
Stewart
Whenever she smelled mango, or something sweet, it meant that elemental forces were at work.
FrANK
Could it be the water elemental?  Could it be here already?
Stewart
That's what I thought. So I did a quick oil divination spell on it--
He takes a rack of test tubes from the table.  Five tubes are filled with clear fluid.  A sixth has a dark fluid.  All six have twigs in them.
Stewart
To see what it could be.  Look!
Frank
Is that it?
Louise
We found it!
Stewart
No we didn't!
Frank
No?
He puts the rack on the table--
Stewart
No.  We're looking for a water elemental--
He takes the dark test tube and a clear test tube from the rack and holds the clear one to Frank.
Stewart
This is the water vial.  If the water elemental was born, this would've changed color.
He puts the clear tube down and holds out the dark tube.
Stewart
This is fire!
Louise
Fire?
Frank
How can this be?
Louise
Are you saying a fire elemental was born here?
Frank takes the vial and opens it.  He SNIFFS it and makes a face.
Stewart
Not born.  Summoned!
Frank
It's fire, alright--
Louise anxious leans toward the tube.  She sniffs it.
Frank
Sulphur.
She makes a sour face.  She waves her hand at the tube.  Stewart pulls it away from her.
frank
Any idea where?
Stewart
It was a small one, so I don't think it was far from here.  Could even be in the town limits.
FRANK
(to Louise)
Who do we know who can summon a fire elemental?
Louise
Fire?  Well, there's you.  Carl Hallowell.  Stephanie Hallowell--
FRANK
No.  Not Stephanie.  Not fire.
Louise
Then Carl.
FRANK
I'll give him a call.  Louise, call the others.  I need everyone at my house in one hour.  Mandatory attendance for top and middle tiers...  The kids can come if they can make it.
Louise
Is this a formal meeting--?
FRANK
Yes.  And tell everyone to bring their kits.  We may be doing an all nighter...
He looks at Louise.
frank
Go on.
She scurries off.
FRANK
Excellent work you're doing Stewart.  We'll need you to keep working on this--
Stewart
Keep working on it?
FRANK
You're the one who discovered someone using elemental magic.  You're in sync with the user right now--
STEWART
But I'm working--I'm at work.
FRANK
Close the library for the rest of the day--.  Tell everyone it was a gas leak.
STEWART
Close the library?  But I can't--
FRANK
Stewart!  Who was it that helped you when you had problems with your wife?  Tell me.
STEWART
(meekly)
You did.
FRANK
And who helped you when you had that car accident three years back and you nearly lost your home in the lawsuit?
STEWART
(meekly)
You did.
FRANK
Damn straight.  The Quentinus Order did.  We're like a family.  We look after each other.  Your library doesn't.  And we don't ask for much back.  This is too important to simply ignore... If you want, I can summon a few skunks into the air vents--
STEWART
No!  No!  That won't be necessary.  I'll close the library.  
FRANK
I knew I could count on you, Stewart.  I'll see you there.
He smiles and leave.  Stewart stands there, very flustered.  He SIGHS.
Ext.  roadside fruit stand.
Tonya sits on the bench by a roadside fruit stand, smoking a cigarette.  The Black Dog lays on its back, wiggling in grass.  The Doberman sits nearby.
Sawyer walks up, eating an apple and carrying a paper shopping bag.
Sawyer
Here.  You need to eat something.
He gives her the bag and sits next to her.
She pulls a water bottle out of the bag and opens it.
ToNYA
So how did you do that trick back there at the house?
SAWYER
Trick?
TONYA
That thing with the fire?
Sawyer
That was no trick.  Do I look like a stage magician to you?
TONYA
But how did you--?
SAWYER
What?  Did you think that was like some card trick?  Slight of hand...?  That was channelling.
TONYA
Channelling?
SAWYER
I channel elemental forces.  Water.  Fire.  Earth.  Wind.
TONYA
(beat)
Elemental...  How?
SAWYER
How?  It's easy...when you're a druid.
The two become silent.  Tonya has a "you're-crazy" look on her face.  She drinks some water.
Sawyer keeps eating his apple.
She takes another drag on her cigarette.  Her expression changes to one of doubt.
He keeps eating his apple.
SAWYER
Mm-hmm...
TONYA
So... You worship trees?
SAWYER
I worship life.  And protect it.
TONYA
Life?
SAWYER
Thousands of years ago, before Christianity--hell, before Judaism--there were pagans.  They worshipped everything around them.  Trees.  Water.  The Sun.  The moon.  Stars.  Life.  Death.  You name it, there was a god for it.  The priests who worshipped all these gods were druids.
TONYA
And you're one of them?
SAWYER
Any weirder than worshipping a guy who died on a wooden cross?
TONYA
Jesus performed miracles.
SAWYER
And my fire 'trick' doesn't count?
TONYA
Do it again.
SAWYER
Would the Apostles ask Jesus to make more wine?  Elemental magic isn't to be used for entertainment purposes.  There's repercussions for abusing it.
He sees the disappointed look on her face.
SaWYER
You want to see a magic trick, though?  How about I pull a rabbit out of my hat?
Tonya
You're teasing me.
SAWYER
Look behind you.
She glances back and does a doubletake.
There's half a dozen rabbits right behind her, nibbling at grass.  She looks at them amazed.
TONYA
Oh my God!  You didn't do this!
SAWYER
(gets up)
Pain in the ass...
He takes few steps.
Sawyer
Let's go.
Tonya
What?
SAWYER
Just come on.
She follows, drinking water.
TONYA
What's going on?
SAWYER
You don't wanna see my next trick.
TONYA
What next trick?
SAWYER
Making the rabbits disappear.
He SNAPS his fingers.
TONYA
Disappear?
The Doberman and the Black Dog rush the rabbits, chasing them into brush.  Sawyer and Tonya slowly walk along.
SAWYER
I answered your questions--
She tries looking back where the dogs were.  He pulls at her arm, preventing her from doing so.
Sawyer
Now I need you to answer mine...  What happened last night?
Tonya
Last night?
SAWYER
With what you tried--
She stops walking.
TONYA
Wait a minute!  I don't know what you're thinking but I didn't--
(half whisper)
I didn't try killing myself.
SAWYER
You didn't?
TONYA
No, I...  Look, I'm going through a real bad time right now.  I lost my job and--why am I telling you this?
SAWYER
You have anyone else to tell?
She glares at him.
TONYA
I had too much to drink and I accidentally took a vicodin with it.  Maybe two.
SAWYER
(beat)
Listen, I'm here in Langdon to catch an event, but I don't know the area.  I need a guide--
TONYA
A guide?  You saw my car--
SAWYER
Don't need the car.  You can show me around on foot.
TONYA
On foot?  Langdon Township is pretty big.  And then we got the village to the west.
SAWYER
Sweetheart, I travelled six states in the past four months.  This town is so small it doesn't even show up on the local map...  Show me around, get me where I have to go, and I'll put a few bucks in your pocket and maybe give you some direction in your life.
The SQUAWK of a police car is heard.  The two turn toward the road and see a police car pull up.
TONYA
(muttering)
Shit...
Maybrick steps out of the car.
MayBRICK
How's it going, Tonya?
He puts his hat on and struts over to the two.
MAYBRICK
Been hearing your name a lot today.  Lizzie McAnn found your car this morning on route eighty-one and called it in.  And just a little while ago, we hear that you and some stranger--
(looks at Sawyer)
Attacked some guys outside your boarding house.
TONYA
We didn't attack anyone.
MAYBRICK
Not what Danny Jones told me.  Him, Lou Barry and Bert Cooper are all at the county clinic right now.  He said that you and some old guy attacked him and Lou with dogs--
Sawyer
Dogs?
MAYBRICK
Bert has burns all over half his face.  Said some guy turned into fire and threw a fireball at him like the Human Torch.
Sawyer CHUCKLES.  Tonya and Maybrick look at him.
MaybRICK
Something funny?
Sawyer
Fireballs and attack dogs...  The young lady and I were together all morning.  Saw them briefly before, those boys.  They were drinking and barbecuing.  That one that got burned probably got drunk and tripped into the grill.  They didn't look so stable when we left.    That's all... Fireball.  Shit.
He CHUCKLES.
MAYBRICK
And the dogs?
SAWYER
(shrugs shoulders)
Strays?
He looks at Maybrick's neck.
He wears the same choker as Louise and Frank.
SawYER
A couple of boys got a little drunk and clumsy.  Starting teasing some stray dogs and one falls into a barbecue grill.  You think they're going to admit to that?
Maybrick stares at him suspiciously.
Maybrick
You're not from around here, are you?
SAWYER
Just passing through.  The name's George Green.
MAYBRICK
What brings you to Langdon, Mister Green?
SAWYER
I'm a writer.  Travel guides.  I'm writing a piece on orchards in this region.  I'm paying Tonya here, to show me around.
MAYBRICK
I see.  You have any I.D., Mister Green.
SAWYER
Somewhere.  In my other poncho.
Sawyer and Maybrick stare at each other.
MAYBRICK
Could bring you in for questioning. 
SAWYER
Question me about throwing fireballs?
The two stare at each other some more.
Maybrick turns to the side.
MAYBRICK
Is that your dog?
Sawyer and Tonya look.  The Black Dog is eating something.
It's a bloody rabbit.
SAWYER
Not mine.
MAYBRICK
I see.
He starts walking over to her.
MaYBRICK
So she won't have any tags saying she's yours?
Sawyer
Nope.  Not the rabbit, either
The Black Dog runs back into the brush.
Maybrick turns around.
MAYBRICK
(beat)
You're paying Tonya to show you around, eh?
He looks down his nose at her.  She fidgets nervously.
MAYBRICK
Just make sure that's all you pay her to do.
He walks back to his cruiser.
MAYBRICK
Enjoy your stay in Langdon, Mister Green...  Stay out of trouble, Tonya.
He climbs into his cruiser and drives off.
Tonya
Shit.
Sawyer
You can say that again.  We have to head back to my place.
TONYA
Your place?  The woods?
SAWYER
He knows where you live.  He doesn't know about the camp.
He starts walking.
TONYA
What about the dogs?
He looks past her, where he last saw the dogs.
SAWYER
Sawyer!  Heel!
(to Tonya)
They'll catch up.
The two walk off.
The Doberman races out from the brush.  The Black Dog trots out afterwards, carrying the rabbit.
Ext. county road.
The police cruiser drives down the road.
MAYBRICK (o.S.)
That's the name he gave me, Dad--
Maybrick talks on his cellphone as he drives.
MAYBRICK
George Green...  He said he writes travel guides and he was doing a piece--
Frank Maybrick paces his den in his home, holding a phone to his ear.
He steps up to his desk and scribbles onto a note pad.  He hands it to BILL CONWAY (25), who types onto a laptop.
It reads:  'GEORGE GREEN.'
MAYBRICK (V.O.)
About the local orchards.  That's all he told me...
Bill types GEORGE GREEN into his computer.
FrANK
Did you ask him for ID?
MAYBRICK (v.o.)
I can't if he isn't doing anything.
FRANK
Did you get any vibe off him?
MAYBRICK (V.O.)
I don't get vibes, remember?
Frank SIGHS and rolls his eyes..
FRANK
What did he look like?
MAYBRICK (V.O.)
Look like?  Caucasian.  About sixty-five years old.  Five foot ten--
Maybrick drives his car through the center of town.
MaYBRICK
Inches tall.  Shoulder-length grey hair.  Tan skin.  No discernible marks.  He wore a beige cotton--
FrANK (V.O.)
Will you stop talking like a cop and just tell me what he looked like?
MAYBRICK
He looked like Rip Torn, Dad.  Rip Torn from that movie 'Dodgeball.'
FRANK (V.O.)
What?
MAYBRICK
Dad, I have to go--
FRANK (V.O.)
Wait a second--
MAYBRICK
Dad, we'll talk later.  I'm working, remember?  Bye.
He hangs up his phone and pulls the car in front of the town hall/police station.
Frank tosses his phone on the desk.
Bill
I think I found something, sir.
Frank steps around his desk.  He looks at the computer screen.
On the screen is THE GREEN MAN, a sculpture of a man's face, surrounded by leaves.
FraNK
The Green Man?
BILL
The Green Man is also known by some as Green George--
FRANK
Or George Green...
BILL
There are over a hundred and sixty thousand references to 'George Green--'
He types into the computer.
Bill
But by adding the word 'writer' to the search, we get--
The AMAZON.COM web page pops up on the screen.
Bill scrolls down to a book. 
BILL
'Secrets to a Natural Life' by George Green--
The back cover has an old photo of Sawyer on it.
FrANK
'Author of 'A Druid's Guide to the Northeast...'  Aww Hell...
BILL
You know who this George Green is?
FRANK
His name isn't Green...
Ext.  forest.
Sawyer and Tonya walk through the forest.  She drinks from a water bottle.  The dogs run around nearby.
Frank (v.O.)
It's Sawyer.
In the background is a roadway.
SAWYER
And what did that cop mean by not paying--
TONYA
Don't go there!
SAWYER
Don't--?
TONYA
I'm serious.
SAWYER
(beat)
Serious, huh?
The two continue walking.  She casually drinks from her water bottle.
SawYER
Well, keep drinking that water.  You need to clean out your system.
Tonya
My system?
SAWYER
All that crap you ingested.  The alcohol.  The pills.  Junk food.  Tobacco.
They continue on their way.
Tonya
Fine...  Why are we going this way?  Wouldn't the road be faster--?
Sawyer
Faster yes.  Safer no.  That cop is bad news.
TONYA
Tell me about it--
Sawyer
Did you notice that necklace he was wearing?  That choker?
TONYA
That little stone?  A lot of people around here wear them.  I always thought it was kind of gay.
SAWYER
He's part of the Quentinus Order.
TONYA
The what Order?
SAWYER
Quentinus Order.  It's a small off-shoot group of druids.  Started sometimes in the twelfth century--
TONYA
Druids like you, right?
SAWYER
Not like me.  Not at all.  The order I'm from believes that nature is precious and should be protected.  The Quentinus Order thinks that nature should be controlled--
TONYA
Controlled?
SAWYER
Enslaved.  Plants, animals, the sun.  Everything.  Those jackasses think they can do what they want and the gods will protect them... This changes everything.
TONYA
What do you mean?
SAWYER
I didn't tell you why I'm here, did I?
TONYA
You said you were writing a book on apple orchards--
SAWYER
That was something I just told Barney Fife back there.
TONYA
Why are you here?
SAWYER
To witness an event that happens once every four hundred years.  I'm surprised we aren't ass-deep in my kind right now.
TONYA
What is it?  What event?
He looks at her.
SAWYER
What's it mean?  Kid, you have the opportunity to a miraculous event.  The birth of an ondine.
TONYA
A what?
SAWYER
A water elemental.
The two walk over a crest and out of sight.
Ext.  FrANK MAYBRICK'S HOME -afternoon.
Leonard Maybrick enters through the front door.  The foyer is large and elaborately furnished.  A winding staircase leads to the second floor.
He sees Stewart in the dining room.  Papers and various other items clutter the large table.
Maybrick watches quietly from the doorway as Stewart reads through pages of notes and uses a compass and protractor to draw lines along a large county map.  He looks up and sees Maybrick.
STEWART
Oh, hi, Len.  Didn't see you come in.
MayBRICK
(walks in)
Didn't want to disturb you, Stu.  You looked busy.
STEWART
Yeah.  Your father's having all of us working on this, right now.  He's out back.  Sarah Wiley's there, too.  And Louise...  The Callowell's are at the field, preparing to scry.
MAYBRICK
No more pets, I hope.
STEWART
No.  No pets.  Greg Nugent caught a young deer--
MAYBRICK
A deer?
STEWART
Caught it on his property.  We'll be using that tonight.
MAYBRICK
(sighs)
Any luck with the elemental?
STEWART
Frank...your father...is having me look for the outsider.  The one who used the fire elemental power.
MAYBRICK
Sawyer?
STEWART
Yes.  Sawyer--
(turns to map)
It's hard for me to find him.  Those from the Middlefort Order, like he is, like to hide their camps from their enemies.
He circles an area of the map with his finger.
Stewart
I'm picking up small fluctuations in this area, south of town.  Ripples in the life forces there.  It's not much--
MAYBRICK
(points on map)
Tell everyone to look in that area.
STEWART
County Road 81?
MAYBRICK
There's a '94 Ford Escort in a ditch, there.  Start searching there.
He walks away, gently patting Stewart on the back.
He walks through the kitchen.  Bill sits at the counter, typing into his computer.
MayBRICK
Bill...
Bill
Hey, Len.
Maybrick reaches for up a coffee mug and picks up the coffee pot.  The pot is empty.  He puts it and the mug down.
He walks to a set of french doors. 
Bill
Hey, I got this parking ticket--
Maybrick opens the door.
Maybrick
Pay it.
Ext.  Frank MAYBRICK's backyard.
Maybrick steps onto the back patio and looks around.
THREE PEOPLE stand around a patio table in tunics.  They place dry leaves into small elaborate censers.  Thick smoke rises from them.
Nearby, a WOMAN in a tunic holds brass divining rods ahead of her.  She slowly moves around.
Louise stands in the middle of the elaborately landscaped backyard, by a stone podium.  Her tunic is slightly more decorative than the others'. 
On top of the podium is a crystal bowl, She pours water into it from a copper urn.
Maybrick slowly makes his way toward her.
She prays to the bowl; her lips move as if whispering.
Maybrick
My father know you're using his vessel?
She looks at him surprised and embarrassed.
Maybrick
Last time I heard, only the high priest could use it.
Louise
(beat)
Your mother used it all the time--
MAYBRICK
My mother was married to him.  You are not.
Louise
(snippy)
You father left me in charge here.  He's busy elsewhere--
MAYBRICK
At Greg Nugent's.  I heard.
LOUISE
Everyone's been here all afternoon, working hard.
Maybrick
(accusing)
Doesn't mean you can break the rules--
LOUISE
I've been working very hard, Leonard.  Doing more than my share.
Maybrick takes the urn from her.
MAYBRICK
Uh-huh.
LOUISE
In case you've forgotten, I'm the only one here who can summon and command animals.
MAYBRICK
Uh-huh.
LOUISE
I have four falcons looking for Sawyer.  They should be--
Ext.  SAWYER'S CAMP -late afternoon.
The Doberman and the Black Dog sit next to each other, eating something.
They're eating large brown birds.
Louise (v.O.)
Reporting back to me any minute now.
Sawyer stirs a pot over a small fire.  He casually looks to the dogs and CHUCKLES.
He pours the pot's contents into a small wooden cup and walks toward the stream.
Tonya sits up to her shoulders in the stream.  Her clothes are neatly piled up on a nearby rock.
She looks very cold and uncomfortable.
Sawyer
Feeling any better?
tonya
This water is freezing.  How long do I have to be here?
SAWYER
A little while longer.  It's part of the process.
He gives her the cup.
Sawyer
This'll warm you up.
She takes it from him, careful not to expose her breasts to him.
Tonya
What process?  A symbolic cleansing or something.
SAWYER
(sits on rock)
A little.  It's more of a dedication process.
TONYA
Dedication?
SAWYER
Why did you agree to come with me?
TONYA
Why?
SAWYER
Six or seven hours ago, you didn't even know who I was.  Now, you're sitting bare-ass naked in front of me--
She slinks a little lower in the water.
Sawyer
Why?
Tonya
Why?  What?  You don't want me to be here--?
SAWYER
No.  No.  You're welcome to be here.  I need to know why you want to be here.
He sits down next to her clothing.
Sawyer
Kid, I've been travelling a long time.  A real long time.  Seen a lot of good.  Seen a lot of bad.  Most of it, I've seen alone.
The Black Dog and the Doberman trot up to Sawyer.  He pets the two of them.
SAWYER
Alone, except for these two.
He pulls a long brown feather from the Black Dog's jowls.  He drops it.
SAWYER
I've trained three apprentices--
The feather glides away.
Tonya
And I'd be the fourth?
SAWYER
That depends.  I've trained three.  And I've started training so many others I stopped counting decades ago.  People start following me--kids start following me--for the wrong reason.  Boredom.  Runaway from home.  A lot did it thinking it was gonna be like playing Dungeons and Dragons, or some shit...  Why do you want to do it?
The two look at each other.
Sawyer
The sun's going down in about two hours.  Stay in the water until then--
tonya
Two hours?
SAWYER
If you can't stay in that water another two hours, I don't see you staying with me very long.
He walks off.  She watches him leave, confused.
EXT.  GREG nugent's house -dusk
The setting sun casts a red light over Greg Nugent's spacious home.  Behind it, in the distance, is a small barn.  Two horses wait in the adjacent corral.
Frank, GREG NUGENT (45) and WILMA NUGENT (45), walk to the barn.  They each wear tunics.  Frank carries a fancy leather attache.
wilma
We found her yesterday.  She was eating some apples that fell from my northern spy trees.
Frank
How are your trees doing this year?
Wilma
Much better than last year.  No moths or worms at all, thank the gods.
FRANK
This has been a good year for all of us.  You and your apples.  Jessica Doyle getting that scholarship to medical school.  The Walshes had healthy twin boys three weeks ago--
GrEG
We been meaning to visit, but we heard to hold off until they settled in.
They step up to the barn door.  Greg unlocks it.
Wilma
We thought of inviting them to the cider press--
Frank turns to her, smiling.
frank
Welcome the babies into the family at the cider press.  Wonderful idea!  We are all truly blessed.
Greg opens the door.  The three look inside.  Frank's smile fades.
Frank
Well, not all of us.
Inside the first stall is a DOE.  It is tied to a support beam with a length of rope.
It sees them and starts jumping around.  It tries running but is jerked back by its tether.
It falls to the barn floor and quickly gets up.
FRANK
Good size.  Nearly an adult.
GREG
Nearly full grown.
Frank sets his attache on an old table and opens it.
It's filled with ceremonial daggers and other ornate tools.
FRANK
She'll be fine.  The gods are truly smiling on us.
He pulls the longest, most ornate dagger, from the set.  He holds it up to the light and examines it.
He wipes a smudge from the blade.
FrANK
Truly smiling...
He steps toward the doe.
It jumps around in a panic, limited only by its tether.
Frank slowly steps toward it, SHUSHING it.
GREG
Do you need a hand, Frank?
FRANK
(gently)
It's been a while, but I think I got it.
He grabs onto the tether, and slides his hand down, toward the deer.
The deer SNORTS and struggles.
The deer struggles, trying to get away, as Frank slowly moves toward it.
Greg and Wilma watch, a few feet back.
He raises the dagger toward the deer's neck.
Outside, the horses nervously jump around, rearing up.
Inside, the deer tries rearing up.  Frank holds the tether around its neck.  It struggles to free itself.
Frank slashes the deer across the neck.  Blood sprays all around.
The deer falls to the ground, struggling.
Blood drips from its mouth.  Its breathing is labored.
Frank gracefully slices the deer from stem to sternum.  Its insides slide out, on the ground.
Frank reaches into the deer.
Frank
Alright, let's see what you can tell us...
Ext.  SAWYER'S CAMP. -night.
Sawyer sits by his small fire, stirring the pot.  
Tonya walks up, brushing her wet hair, followed by the Doberman and the Black Dog.  The Doberman breaks rank and trots over to Sawyer.  She gives him a 'nose-nudge.'  He scratches her neck.
Sawyer
I see you've been making friends.
(to Tonya)
Soup'll be ready in a few minutes.  Would you like some?
Tonya
Yeah...
She sits down opposite Sawyer.  The Black Dog lays down next to him.  He scratches her between the ears.
She gives him her cup.
SAWYER
So, what've you been thinking?
TONYA
I don't know.  I mean--why me?
SAWYER
Why you?
TONYA
Why me?  You asked me before why I'd want to go with you?  Why do you want me to go with you?
He fills the cup with soup and gives it back to her.
He fills a cup of his own.
SAWYER
Because you're a stray.
TONYA
A stray?
SAWYER
A stray.  You're a stray.  These two girls are strays.  I was a stray.  When my teacher found me, I was living out of garbage cans just outside of Brownsville, Tennessee--
TONYA
What?  You were a bum?
SAWYER
I was a pharmacist.  Inherited the drug store from my father who got it from his father.  I ran the business and Katherine, my wife, ran the house...  One day, I come home from work and my dinner's not ready.  I go looking for Katherine and found her in the bedroom.  She had died from cervical hemorrhage brought on by a miscarriage.  I didn't even know she was pregnant. We'd been trying for over seven years to have kids...
He gently stokes the fire.  Sparks fly around.
Sawyer
Three years later, I was without my drugstore.  Without my home.  I lost my family.  My friends.  Spent my nights drinking cheap hootch and my days rummaging through garbage cans.  Merritt found me in an alley with a broken leg.  I tried hanging myself from one of those fire escapes.  The knot slipped and I fell, fracturing my left femur.  He nursed me back to health and gave me a reason to live.
TonyA
This water elemental is your reason?
SAWYER
Everything is my reason.  Life!  Life is my reason.  I protect it.  Nurture it.  I live it!  It's a powerful force.  Only problem is, there are assholes out there willing to screwing up for the rest of us for their own damn needs.
He takes a gulp of his soup.
TONYA
But if you protect life, then why'd you let the dogs eat those rabbits and those birds.
SAWYER
Dogs can't eat pancakes all the time.  I protect life.  But I also protect the life cycle.  Animals get eaten, plain and simple.  It's the way of life.
TONYA
Oh...  What about those other druids with that water elemental thing?
SAWYER
If those sons of bitches get their hands on it, they become dangerous.  They'll abuse it.  Use it like a weapon.
TONYA
But it's just water--
SAWYER
So was Katrina.  Only these assholes will control it.  They can decide who gets rain and who doesn't.  Who suffers drought and who gets the floods.
TONYA
And you can stop them?
SAWYER
I got some tricks up my sleeves--
The Black Dog and the Doberman leap to their feet, BARKING and jumping around.  Sawyer and Tonya look around startled.
TONYA
What's going on?
SAWYER
I'm not sure.
He rushes to his bag and pulls out several items.  He gives four candles to Tonya.
SaWYER
Light these!
She fumbles with the small fire and lights the candles.
Tonya
Okay.  Now what?
Sawyer unrolls a large uneven swatch of leather.
SAWYER
Bring 'em here!
She puts the candles around the leather.  Laying on the swatch are several small animal bones, stones, and twigs. 
Sawyer
Those sons of bitches were scrying!  They sacrificed something big!
Sawyer tosses the bones and sticks around the swatch, haphazardly.  The candles flare up and grow dim with no rhyme or reason.
TONYA
What's going on?  Is that thing being born?
Sawyer concentrates on the sticks and bones.
Tonya
Sawyer?
Sawyer
Kid, ask me all the questions you want later.  Just be quiet now!
The sticks and bones lay in a messy pile on the leather.  Sawyer MUTTERS something beneath his breath as he gently nudges things around.
Tonya looks around, frantic.  The dogs WHINE at some unseen enemy.
The wind HOWLS kicking up leaves.  It blows the candles out and abruptly stops.
It is very dark.
The forest is eerily silent.
Something is heard running through the woods.
Hooves.
A LOT OF HOOVES!
Tonya
Sawyer?
SAWYER
(whisper)
Relight the candles.
TONYA
Candles?
SAWYER
(whisper)
Do it!
She reaches around and grabs the candles.  She struggles to light them with the remains of the camp's fire.
The HOOVES grow louder and more intense.
She lights one candle--
TONYA
(to herself)
Yes...
And immediately lights the second with it.
The hoof STOMPING abruptly stops.
She gets up and spins toward Sawyer as the candles glow brighter.
Her eyes bulge as her jaw drops.
TONYA
(to herself)
Oh shit...
Sawyer stands very still, his back to her.
There's something in front of him.
Tonya
Sawyer?
She cautiously walks up to him.  She stops a few feet from him and GASPS.
Sawyer gently pets a deer.  It's ghostly white and translucent.  It's eyes are brilliant green (like they were caught in high beams).
SAWYER
They killed her so they could find the water elemental.  They cut her open and examined her insides out while she was still alive.
TONYA
What is she doing here?
SAWYER
She doesn't understand what happened to her.  She doesn't know she's dead...
TONYA
What do we do?
SAWYER
We help her.  Get me my bag.
She puts the candles on the ground and gets the bag, hanging from the tree.  She gives it to Sawyer.  He pulls out a wooden bowl and puts it on the ground.
Sawyer
Get me my water skin and two small bones from my kit over there.
The deer 'flickers.'
SAWYER
Hurry.  We can't lose her.
Tonya grabs the water skin and two bones.
tonya
Why not?
SAWYER
If her spirit dissipates here without her moving on, she'll haunt these woods.
TONYA
What do we do?
SAWYER
I'm trying to explain death to this deer...  Put the bones in the dish and add a little water.
She tosses the bones in the bowl and splashes some water in it.  The deer stirs nervously.
SAWYER
No sudden moves.  You're scaring her.
Tonya steps back slowly.
Tonya
(mumbling)
I'm scaring her?
She watches Sawyer pet the deer's neck.  He whispers something to the deer and gently blows air in her nose.
SAWYER
There's some berries in that bush by that big rock over there with some deer shit next to it.  Get me a handful. 
She takes half a step and stops, confused.
Tonya
Of the berries or the shit?
SAWYER
Both!
TONYA
You want me to pick up deer shit?
SAWYER
Would you rather--
He turns to her.
His face is ghostly pale and desiccated.  His eyes glow green, like the deer's.
Sawyer
We switch places?
Tonya's eyes bulge as she hurries off.
She finds the bush and sees the shit by her feet.
Tonya
Oh man...
She puts the candle down and picks a handful of berries.  She hesitates before picking up deer shit.
Tonya
(to herself)
God damn...
(wrinkles her nose)
Oh, God damn...
She hurries over to Sawyer.
Sawyer
Put it in the bowl--  
(she does so)
Find me a green leaf and two dry--
The deer flickers again.
Sawyer
 Brown leaves.  Hurry!
She hurries over to a nearby tree and does a double-take.    In the distance, she sees the headlights of several cars driving along the nearby road.
The cars stop.
Tonya
Oh shit...
SAWYER
The leaves, Tonya!
Watching the cars, she plucks a leaf from a tree and quickly grabs two off the ground.
She hurries over to Sawyer.
SaWYER
Put a brown in the bowl.  Then a green.  Then the other brown.  Hurry.
She does so, keeping an eye on the deer.
SAWYER
Get back and keep quiet now.
TONYA
Fine by me.
She returns to the tree and watches the cars.  The headlights are shut off.  VOICES are faintly heard in the distance.
She looks back to Sawyer who's still with the deer.
Sawyer gently strokes the deer's neck as he WHISPERS to it.
Tonya nervously looks at Sawyer and then down the hill.
Tonya
(to herself)
Oh man.  Oh man.  Oh man.
She does a doubletake at the two dogs.
TONYA
Come here, you two.
The Doberman and the Black Dog walk over to the Tonya.  She crouches down to them.
tonya
I don't know if you guys understand me, but you gotta do something.  Go down there and stop those people from coming up here.  Okay?  Go slow down those people.
The two dogs head downhill, disappearing the dark.
TONYA
Nice training.
Ext.  County road.
Flashlights focus on several kerosine lanterns resting on the hood of a car.  They are primed and lit.
Frank (o.C.)
Forty years of planning are finally coming to fruition, my friends--
The lanterns' glow lights up several faces.  Frank stands apart from the others.  He wears the same tunic he wore earlier.  The others present wear less elaborate tunics.
Louise, Stewart, Maybrick and four others are present.
Frank
Forty years for us and centuries for our order.  The water elemental's being born tonight and we will be ready for it.
Louise and Stewart each have large backpacks.
Frank takes a lantern and climbs over a guardrail.  Louise follows right behind him.  The others follow, a few feet apart.  Maybrick takes up the rear.
FRANK
After tonight, the Quentinus Order will get the respect its always deserved.  We'll demand it.  No longer will we wait for table scraps from the others.  After tonight, we'll never have to.
The finish climbing over the guardrail--
The WAIL of a car siren is heard.  Everyone spins around, startled.
The parking lights on the first car FLASH on and off and the WAIL continues.
On the hood of the car is an animal.  In the dim light, it resembles a deer.
StEWART
Is that the deer--?
Greg Nugent holds his lantern higher as Maybrick draws a pistol from a belt holster.
Greg
The one we used for scrying--?
Frank
(angry)
It's not the deer!
The animal jumps off the car and runs behind it.  As it passes the car's flashing rear lights, it becomes apparent that it's the Doberman.
The group stares at the car.
Frank
That's not the deer!  Let's go.
He continue into the woods.  The rest follow.
Suddenly, a black shape races from the darkness and cuts through the group, knocking them around.  They SCREAM randomly.
FRANK
The vessel!  Protect the vessel!
Everyone regains their balance. 
Greg
What was that?
StEWART
A bear?
LoUISE
Where did it come from?
Frank
Forget that!  Who has the vessel?
LOUISE
I have it.
FRANK
Is it okay?
LOUISE
Yes.  Yes.
FRANK
Anything happens to that vessel and we're sunk.
StEWART
What was that thing?
MayBRICK
Dogs.  They were dogs.
Greg
You sure, Len?
FRANK
That was our friend Sawyer--
He continues on his way.
FrANK
Playing games with us.  Let's go.
The others follow.
Ext.  SAWYER'S CAMP.
Tonya watches the lanterns in the distance.  Fear grows on her face.
Tonya
Sawyer, how much longer--?
She turns and sees that Sawyer and the deer are gone.
TONYA
Shit!
She looks around the camp.
She's all alone.  She walks around the camp.
TONYA
Sawyer?
She grabs a candle and looks around.
TONYA
(softly)
Sawyer?  Where the fuck, man?
She looks down and sees the wooden bowl and Sawyer's bag.
Frank and the others arrive at the camp.  There's no one there.
Stewart
What's this?
FrANK
Might be Sawyer's, camp.  He should be somewhere near.
The group slowly moves around the camp.
ARTHUR crouches down and examines the ground.
He looks at deer prints.
Arthur
There's deer prints all over.  They look fresh.
Louise
You don't think it's a ghost deer--
Frank
If I hear one more mention of a ghost deer, I'm going to beat someone to death with a rock--
Maybrick
Dad, look.
Maybrick points into the woods with his lantern.
A figure stands in the distance, by several burning candles.
The group approaches the figure.
It's Tonya!
She stands next to a large rock.  On top of it is Sawyer's wooden bowl.
Tonya
That's far enough.
Everyone stops.
Frank
Where is he?
TONYA
He's busy.  He left me to protect the water elemental.
FRANK
Water elemental?  You?  Protecting the water elemental?
He slowly steps toward her.
TONYA
We found it, like, four hours ago.
FRANK
And how are you going to protect it?
She holds a small pill bottle in her hand.
TONYA
With this.
She holds the bottle over the bowl and POPS the top off with her thumb..
Tonya
Sawyer said if you jackasses tried taking this water elemental to poison it.
Louise
Frank...?
Maybrick
(inching toward her)
Tonya, you don't know what you're doing.  Put that bottle down.  We'll talk about it--
Tonya
Shut up, Lenny!
MAYBRICK
Tonya, I'll bust you and I'll make sure--
Stewart holds his lantern up.  He stares at the wooden bowl.
An expression of realization grows on his face.
TONYA
Step back and shut the fuck up!  You're not a cop here.  You're one of them!
StEWART
Frank?
TONYA
Sawyer's said it's better to kill this thing off than to let you get your hands on it.
Frank
Girl, Sawyer only told you half the story.  He's a crazy old man who thinks he alone decides what's right for the world.  Think of all the good this elemental can do.  If we could harness the power--
They slowly spread out, trying to circle her.
StEWART
Frank?  That's a--
Tonya
Sawyer told me what you want it for.  You're not getting it--!
She quickly looks around at everyone.
ToNYA
And if any of you pricks try getting behind me, I kill the elemental!
She waves wildly to those behind her.  The group slowly gathers where she can see them.
TONYA
So all of you stay right where I see you until--
Stewart
Frank!  That's a wooden bowl!
Everyone looks at Stewart and then the bowl.
Louise
Wooden bowl?
Frank
(beat)
You can't keep a water elemental in a wooden bowl.
Maybrick grabs her by the back of the neck.  She WINCES in pain.  She drops the pill bottle.
It's empty.
MayBRICK
The bitch is making fools of us.
Sawyer (O.S.)
You jackasses have been doing that for centuries--
Everyone turns and sees Sawyer standing nearby, holding his staff.  He takes a few steps toward them.
Sawyer
She's just reminding you of it.  Now let go of her.
Frank
Where's the elemental?
He steps toward Sawyer.
SAWYER
Where it's safe.
FRANK
Give it to us and we'll let you go.  You're outnumbered.
Sawyer grins impishly.
SAWYER
I'm out numbered?
RUSTLING is heard in the forest.
SawYER
You don't think I'm here without friends?
The others look around, startled.  The noise comes from everywhere.
The brush moves, as if something pushed it.
SAWYER
A pack of coyote--
Arthur and another of Frank's followers draw hunting knives as they nervously look around.  
They jerk their heads around, trying to hone in on the RUSTLING.
SAWYER
I've been keeping company with for a while.
Louise
Frank, do something!
Frank
Don't you control animals?
SAWYER
These babies are only listening only to me tonight!  And they're all out of falcons for dinner.
The RUSTLING continues.
It's getting louder.
ArtHUR
Frank?  They're getting closer...
Frank
There's no coyote...  It's just his dogs.  He's got them running around.
Sawyer
Do I?
Everyone's jumping at every SNAP and CRACK they hear.
Maybrick drags Tonya toward Sawyer.  He draws his pistol and holds it inches from Sawyer's head.
Maybrick
Call your dogs, old man!
SAWYER
Kid, I'm sure that even an apprentice like you knows what happens when you kill a high druid.
StEWART
High druid?  Frank, you didn't tell us he was a high--
SAWYER
Eternal damnation in a pit so dark that Loki, himself, is afraid to visit.
Everyone looks at Frank nervously.
Frank
He's not one of us.
SteWART
But a high druid--?
Sawyer
Odin will chain you to Yggdrasill's trunk.  Vines will borrow into your skin, travelling through your veins-
Maybrick and Sawyer stare at each other.
SawYER
Your screams will be heard for centuries as Odin's ravens feed on your eyes--
Maybrick shakes a little, nervous.
Frank
He's bluffing!  Kill him!
SAWYER
(to Frank)
You'd sacrifice one of your own?  Just like that?
(to Maybrick)
You're about as disposable to him as a paper cup.
Frank
Do it!
MaybrICK
Dad, I--
Sawyer
Dad?  You're willing to sacrifice your own boy--?
Maybrick jerks Tonya next to him.  He presses the gun against Tonya's head.  She GASPS.
Maybrick
You think Odin's going to give a shit about some town whore?
Everyone looks at each other.
It's a Mexican stand off.
MayBRICK
Do you give a shit about some town whore?
Sawyer looks at her.
Tears run down Tonya's cheeks.
He looks at Maybrick...
And SNAPS his fingers.
The Doberman and the Black Dog come out of the woods and stand next to Sawyer.
MAYBRICK
The dogs.  This guys' got nothing.
Maybrick shoves Tonya into Sawyer.  He catches her and holds her, being protective.
He lowers his pistol.
Frank
Is this the best a high druid can do?  Just two dogs?
Sawyer
Just two dogs?  When I said coyote--
He SNAPS his fingers.
SaWYER
I meant it!
Two LARGE SNARLING COYOTE leap from the darkness and on top of Maybrick.
They tackle him as one bites down onto his gun hand.
He SCREAMS.
The others look around, panicky, as several MORE COYOTE appear from the darkness, attacking them.
Frank looks around horrified.
The druids SCREAM in blind panic.
SAWYER
(to Tonya)
They won't hurt you.
He steps toward Frank.  Frank sees this and starts backing away.  SCREAMING is heard
FRANK
It doesn't have to be like this, Sawyer--
Sawyer swings his staff, hitting Frank across the jaw--
CRACK--
And knocking him down.
More COYOTE rush in, attacking.
The Doberman and Black Dog stay next to Tonya, WOOFING softly.
Sawyer walks up to Louise and Stewart.  They see him and back up, cowering.
SAWYER
Which one of you pieces of shit is holding the containment vessel?
They both look at him.
SawYER
Keep pissing me off, okay--?
Stewart
(points to Louise)
She has it!
Louise
Stewart!
Sawyer gestures 'give it to me.'  
Louise takes off her backpack and pulls an ornate crystal jug from it.
Sawyer strikes it with his staff, shattering it.
CRASH
A mist SPRAYS around and quickly dissipates
She GASPS.
He turns his back to them and walks away.
Louise
That's it?  You're going to leave us?
Sawyer
No... Not alone.
MORE COYOTE leap from the darkness, attacking the rest.  SCREAMS are heard.
Sawyer picks a lantern up from the ground and talks to Tonya.
Sawyer
You're not ready to see this.
He takes her arm and leads her away, picking up his bag on the way out.
The dogs follow the two as the coyotes continue attacking the others.  
The SCREAMS slowly fade out.
Ext.  pond. -morning.
It's a very peaceful scene.
A few deer drink from the water.  They slowly walk away, passing Tonya who sits under a tree, wrapped in a blanket.
Both dogs lay next to her with their heads on her lap.
The two suddenly get up and walk away.  Tonya gets up and follows.
The dogs lead her along the water and, eventually, to Sawyer.  He sits on a rock, facing the water.
SaWYER
You're awake.  Good.  I was going to get you up a little while ago--
He slowly raises his hand.
A MONARCH BUTTERFLY sits on it.  Its wings slowly open and close.
Sawyer
But I decided to take a butterfly break.
She smiles at this.
ToNYA
I didn't miss it, did I?
SAWYER
I wouldn't let you miss this.  We have about ten minutes left.  Maybe fifteen.
He points to the water's edge.  His leather swatch lays on the ground.  Twigs and bones lay on it.  A silver bell lays next to it.
Tonya
Listen, about what happened last night--
She sits down next to him and lets the blanket slide to her side.
SAWYER
It was pretty nasty, I know.  Mother Nature can be a real bitch when she has to be--
TONYA
Yeah, but you called those coyote--
SAWYER
I did no such thing.  They were in the area and they saw what was happening--
TONYA
You didn't call them?
SAWYER
I can't.
TONYA
But you said last night--
SAWYER
I say lots of things when I want to scare the shit out of people.  I can barely get these two to come when I call them.
He points to the dogs.
TONYA
But where'd they come from?
He points across the pond.
A dozen coyote stare at them.
With them is a TALL MAN in a beige robe.
Sawyer pats his chest a few times.
SAWYER
Pat your chest.  Just do it.
She looks at him briefly before turning to the Tall Man.  She taps her chest a few time.
The Tall Man pats his chest.
SaWYER
It's a sign of respect.
Tonya
Those are his coyote?
SAWYER
They travel together.  He calls himself the Tree Walker... Now look toward that large rock by the Concolor Fir--
TONYA
Concolor--?
SAWYER
That big pine tree.  To the right.
TONYA
Pine tree?
Fifty yards from the Tall Man is a large Concolor Fir.  Sitting underneath it, almost rolled up in a ball, is another ROBED FIGURE.  His face is hidden by his hood.
SAWYER
He's been popping up at events like this for eighty years.  Never let's anyone get near him.  Never says a word.
TONYA
Eighty years?
SAWYER
We don't even know his name...  That's the path that he took.
TONYA
Listen.  Before this thing gets started, I have to tell you something.  About me.
SAWYER
Oh...
TONYA
There's some stuff you don't know about me that you should know...  Back in Langdon, I was, well...
SAWYER
You had a reputation?
TONYA
I was the town slut...  Last week, I turned twenty-five and I celebrated by getting really wasted and ended up in the parking lot of The Langdon Grill House, sucking off guys for cocaine.
Tears roll down her cheeks.
SAWYER
I see....
TONYA
Cops caught me and arrested me for prostitution and possession.  And when my boss found out, he fired me for it and I spent the last couple of days drunk and stoned.  I was trying to get to my mother's when I had my accident and you found me. 
SAWYER
You know, you don't have to tell me this--
TONYA
I didn't--I wasn't trying to kill myself killing.  I Just got--my life is shit, you know?  How, I mean, how would it get better as long as I was here?
SAWYER
Do you think it's going to automatically get any better out there...?  I'm not going to make your life any better.  I'm not your father--
TONYA
I haven't seen my father in, like, ten years--
SAWYER
You have to want to make your life better and then you have to actually do it.  Start completely over.  Give yourself a new name if you want.  That's what I did.
TONYA
You gave yourself a new name?  It wasn't always Sawyer?
SAWYER
I actually shortened it...  It used to be John Sawyer Mellencamp.
The two look at each other.  After a second, Tonya smiles and muffles her GIGGLING.  Sawyer smiles.
SaWYER
Hadn't used that joke in a while.  Wasn't sure if it would still work.
Tonya
It worked.  You got me.
SAWYER
Does he still put out records?
TONYA
He put out a 'best of' album a couple of years back.
SAWYER
That's good.
TONYA
(beat)
So no one knows who you are?  Were?
SAWYER
Just you and a handful of others.  And you never ask a druid where he comes from.  It's rude.  And no one will ever ask you.
The two sit quietly, looking around.
Only one coyote is seen in the distance.
The Robed Figure sits at his spot, blending in with the tree.
A strong breeze blows through.  The butterfly flies from Sawyer's hand.
Sawyer
Butterfly break is over.
He stands up and walks toward his swatch.
SAWYER
We should get ready.
She steps next to him.
SAWYER
You're going to--
He picks up the bell and gives it to her.
SAWYER
Welcome it.
TonYA
What?  Me?
SAWYER
Why not?  You're here.
TONYA
Yeah, but you?  You're--
SAWYER
I'm here, too.  That's enough for me.
TONYA
What?  What do I do?
He nudges her to the water and stands next to her.
SAWYER
Slide over a bit.  Get next to the water... like this.
He crouches down and places one hand in the water.
SawYER
You put one hand in the water...
She does so.
Tonya
Okay... Now what?
SAWYER
Now we wait.
TONYA
For what?  For it to be born?
SAWYER
Oh, it was born a few hours ago.  Now it's becoming aware.
TONYA
Aware?
The two remain still.
She looks around.  The Tall Man is seen with his hand in the water.  He holds a bell.
The Robed Figure is perched by the shore, with his hand in the water.  He holds a bell with his other hand.
The water churns with fine bubbles.
TONYA
Is that it?  What do I do?  What do I do?
SAWYER
It's becoming aware of itself and it's surroundings.  When the time comes, you ring the bell.
TONYA
How will I know?
SAWYER
You can wait until the others ring theirs.  It's not a race...  Any second now.
RINGING is heard.  It comes from numerous locations.
Tonya looks around, surprised.  She sees the two druids RINGING their bells.
SAWYER
Well?  Ring it!
She RINGS the bell, anxiously looking around.
She sees other DRUIDS along the water's edge, RINGING bells.
Sawyer
It's learning what it can do.
Fish leap from the water and SPLASH back down.
The two watch the water churn.  Little whirlpools form in the water and are quickly replaced by small water spouts.
The whirlpools dissipate and the water grows calm.
Tonya looks around...
Nothing else is happening...
Things grow very quiet.
Time passes.
Tonya
Is that it?
SAWYER
What the fuck d'you expect?  A Tsunami?
TONYA
(beat)
Well, yeah...
He smiles and casually shakes his head.
SAWYER
We better start packing.  You can stop ringing whenever you want.
She immediately stops RINGING the bell and stands up.
Sawyer
I thought as much.
Faint RINGING is still heard in the distance.
He turns to his leather swatch and rolls it up.
TONYA
How can that be it?  You were making it sound like that thing could've destroyed the world.
SAWYER
That's a newborn.  In another hundred and fifty years, it could take out the entire east coast.
He stands up, swatch in hand.
tonya
Hundred fifty years?
He places the swatch into his bag and throws the bag over his shoulder.
saWYER
It's not so long when you think about it.  These trees will still be here.  These rocks.  That pond.  Nothing will change.
He pulls a small pouch from his bag and takes the bell from her.
TONYA
We won't be here.
SAWYER
And that butterfly won't be alive in a month.  Doesn't stop him from eating, flying and fucking.
He puts the bell in the pouch-- 
Sawyer
When elementals are born, they act differently--
And the pouch in his bag.
SAWYER
There's no guidelines or rules.  Legends say the last fire elemental born lit the night sky until the sun came up.  One water elemental announced its birth with a spire of water higher than the eye could see.
Tonya
And what did we get?  Ripples.
SAWYER
When the Berlin wall came down, do you know what people saw?  They saw a wall come down.  Walls come down every day, but this wall meant more.
He slips his backpack over his shoulders.
SawYER
Those ripples mean more than you could know.  Five, ten years down the road, others will ask you about today.  And they'll listen to every word you have to say.... 
He CLAPS his hand once.
SAWYER
Let's go Sawyer!  We're leaving!
The dogs jump up and run ahead.
Sawyer
And don't play with the skunks!
He holds his hand out, gesturing for her to follow the dogs.  She and Tonya walk together.
SAWYER
You're young.  You have plenty of time to see miracles.  Did you ever see a real mermaid?
Tonya
A real...?  No.
SAWYER
Me neither, but I'm looking forward to it.
The two disappear from view behind brush.
TONYA
(beat)
You suck.
SAWYER
I know.
The RINGING of a single bell is heard.
The Robed Figure is still at the water's edge.  One hand remains in the water.  The other RINGS a small bell.
There is no one else around...
He is all alone...
Everything is serene and picture perfect...
The water in from of him suddenly EXPLODES in a BOILING FRENZY!  A shape pops up from the surface.  It is--
a DEER composed of water!
The Robed Figure falls back, startled.  His hood falls off his head, revealing him to be A VERY OLD MAN.  He quickly covers his head.
The deer looks at him with wide-eyed innocence.  Its body ripples
It shakes itself, as if to dry itself off.  Water sprays everywhere.
It returns its attention to the Robed Figure and blinks its eyes.
Final fade out.