A houseboat. Finegan Fine

One of the men tosses down a couple chair backs they intend to use as

paddles. The men climb down, the portly one first, being assisted from

the window by the slender one who holds onto his hand so he won’t drop

down too suddenly. Then the slender one jumps down, taking the line

with him. The bottle raft then pushes off from the side of the

building. The women behind him look alarmed, as they are clearly being

left behind.

______________________________

The bottle raft is half way between the houseboat and the high-rise.

The two men are on either side, paddling unevenly, so the slender one,

who is more energetic, has to pause now and then to allow the portly

one to move his side of the raft forward. Else, they tend to go in a

circle.

Suddenly, the radio, which is still in Finegan’s hand, crackles.

I think this is the button here. Hello?

Finegans says,

I’m with you. Are they sending the raft back

for you?

A frantic woman says,

They left us! Those were the only bottles we

had. They left us!

Finegan says,

I’ll be over to pick you up shortly. Is there

anyone else there, stranded?

The woman replies ,

Just the 3 of us. He kept saying the coast

guard would come if we got in trouble. Kept

saying it was all arranged.

Finegan says,

24

I want to see those two closer to shore before

I come for you. Don’t want them chasing after

me, if you follow my drift.

______________________________

The houseboat is approaching the broken window, which has one of the

women half out already, seated on the edge, ready to jump. In the

distance we see the bottle raft, very near shore. The men are standing

and pointing toward the high-rise, obviously angry that they were not

picked up in similar manner.

______________________________

Three women are seated on boxes to the rear of the houseboat, eating

peaches. One has one shoe on, one shoe missing. She is still seething.

I’m giving that man my notice!

Barney is sniffing up the skirt of one of the women and gets batted

away. It’s been awhile since they’ve bathed. Finegan is at the paddle

wheel, moving the houseboat up the coastline.

______________________________

The sound of clapping and singing, and a guitar, are heard floating out

over the water. A blazing bonfire can be seen, and people dancing,

hoedown style. This is a party, celebrating or just having fun.

The three women from the high-rise are seated on boxes at the front of

the houseboat, and Joey is at his usual place on the roof, pacing back

and forth, watching for trees or objects under the surface. They will

moor for the night here. The houseboat is not even noticed at first by

the party, gliding up to an open spot along the water’s edge to the

side of the party, anchoring with the grappling hooks, and finally

plopping down the gangplank.

About this time their approach is noticed and a couple comes over to

greet them. The camp mistress is stout but friendly, her man thin as a

pole and quiet. Finegan introduces himself.

Finegan Fine here, trader. I’ve got some

passengers who need directions to any

government base that can help them locate their

relatives.

The camp mistress smiles.

You’re kidding, right? We have those?

25

Finegan has made this statement only to impress on his women passengers

that they need to make their own way and not expect help. He shrugs,

acknowledging the situation. The camp mistress addresses the

passengers.

Where you from?

One of the women points out across the water toward what is now ocean

in the direction of what used to be Florida. The camp mistress is used

to traffic from Florida.

Ummm . . Well most from Florida went up to

Atlanta, but I’d not advise it.

The passengers look puzzled over this statement, so the camp mistress

explains.

Well, the riots and all. Heard about those.

Best to stay away from the cities. They got