SOUND:
THE SLOW SQUEAK OF AN OLD PULLEY HAULING UP A HEAVY WEIGHT, UNDER.
DANIEL (cont’d):
Then he would have the guy hauled up off the floor. His arms would bend all
DANIEL (cont’d):
the way backwards until they were over his head.
SOUND:
THE SQUEAKING STOPS.
DANIEL (cont’d):
(his voice trembling with emotion) The Hangman would leave the guy suspended there while he interrogated him. Kim was yanked up off the ground so hard that his shoulders dislocated. But The Hangman left him up there anyway. When he didn’t get the answers he wanted – he’d cut off a part of the prisoner’s body. If the guy looked at him funny, he’d cut out his eye. . .if he talked back, he’d cut out his tongue. I heard a story of one guy who was reckless enough to give him the finger. . .
PA:
(with disgust). . .so he cut it off.
DANIEL:
His hand, Pa. . .the Hangman cut off his whole hand.
PA:
Dear Lord.
DANIEL:
He’d quote some Bible verse to justify why he was doing it. . .which was ironic considering he looked like the devil himself wielding that blade.
PA:
And Kim?
DANIEL:
His foot. His right foot. . .because he tried to escape once. It didn’t come off cleanly either. It was horrible, Pa. There was blood everywhere.
PA:
Did Kim live?
DANIEL:
He lived. . .but I don’t think he survived. He wasn’t the same after that – the light had gone out of his eyes. You could tell it was a struggle for him to just get through each day.
PA:
Thank God you never had to go through that.
DANIEL:
But what I saw last night. . .Pa, it was him. . .The Hangman. And he was right out there in that field. (scared) I can’t get away from him, Pa!
PA:
Daniel. . .you’ve been through an unthinkable, horrifying experience - something no human being should ever have to endure. But the mind has a way of coping with these things. Trust me - you will come to realize it’s in your
PA (cont’d):
past. (a beat, then gets an idea) You know what I think?
DANIEL:
What?
PA:
I think you need to put your mind on something else. . .empty your head of all those bad experiences and start filling it up with. . .well, with your life again. You should go into town tomorrow and talk to Merle Bass about getting a job at the hardware store.
DANIEL:
Merle Bass. . .he’s a veteran, isn’t he?
PA:
Korean War.
DANIEL:
I remember they always had a big article on him in the paper every Veterans Day. I had his wartime experiences memorized by the time I was in high school.
PA:
Spent some time in a POW camp himself. Eventually led missions for the Navy Seals rescuing our guys from the camps.
DANIEL:
(chuckles) When we were kids, we used to call him “Bass The Hard-Ass.”
PA:
Yeah. . .adults used to call him that too. But I’ll tell you what: hard-ass
PA (cont’d):
or not, Merle’s a fair man. He’ll treat you right if you work hard.
DANIEL:
What if he’s not looking for help?
PA:
Well, Merle owes me a favor. Little matter of a poker loss he couldn’t make good on. (chuckles) Just drop my name and I think you’ll see the “Help Wanted” sign come out whether he’s hiring or not.
DANIEL:
Okay. I guess it’s a start. Thanks, Pa.
PA:
Hang in there, kiddo. Your nightmares will be over soon.
MUSIC:
TRANSITION.
NARRATOR:
The next day, Daniel goes into town to see Merle Bass about a job at the hardware store. It’s Daniel’s first trip into town since his return, and he finds the familiar sights and sounds comforting. Bass is just as Daniel remembers him – yet another thing about being home that he finds comforting. . . and a little intimidating.
SOUND:
MERLE MOVING BOXES AS HE MOVES INVENTORY AROUND.
DANIEL:
Uh, excuse me. Mr. Bass?. . .
MERLE:
(breathing heavily) Yeah?
DANIEL:
Hi, I’m Daniel Conway. I’m looking for a job. . .
MERLE:
Sorry. Not hiring.
DANIEL:
Uh, my pa said he thought you might have something for me. . .
MERLE:
What’s your pa’s name?
DANIEL:
Frank Conway.
MERLE:
(a beat) No shit. (chuckles with some contempt) That sneaky old bastard.
DANIEL:
I’m sorry?
MERLE:
Your dad’s a helluva poker player. I know, ’cuz he likes to remind me every time he comes in here. (a beat) So you’re Conway’s boy. Just came back from Viet Nam, didn’t you?
DANIEL:
Yes, sir.
MERLE:
Yeah, you’re a veteran all right. . .none of these punks in town ever calls me “sir.” See a lot of action over there?
DANIEL:
Yes, sir. More than my share. At least until my platoon got captured. . .ended up in a POW camp.
MERLE:
Saw the inside of a couple camps myself in Korea.
DANIEL:
I know.
MERLE:
I’m sure you do. That damn article they print every Veterans Day. Told them not to make a big deal out of it. I’m not the only one to survive the camps.
DANIEL:
If you don’t mind my saying so, sir, you are a hero.
MERLE:
(his anger rising) Balls! They should be writing about the guys who died over there. They were heroes!
DANIEL:
(not sure what to say) Yes, sir.
MERLE:
(recovering, he grunts as if to say, “So there!”, then. . .) So, can you start tomorrow?
DANIEL:
(surprised, but pleased) Uh, yeah. . .sure! Tomorrow’s great!
MERLE:
Good. Delivery truck comes at 6:15. Be here at 6. . .AM. You can work a half day. We can talk about your pay after I see how well you unload the truck.
DANIEL:
Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it! You won’t regret it.
MERLE:
Make sure I don’t. (a warning) 6:00. . .no later!
DANIEL:
(going off-mic as he exits) Yes, sir! I’ll be here!
MUSIC:
TRANSITION.
SOUND:
FADE UP ON PA HAMMERING, UNDER.
DANIEL:
(fading up to an ongoing conversation). . .and then he offered me the job! Said he wants me to start tomorrow!
PA:
Well, that’s just fine, Daniel. I told you he’d be willing to hire you.
DANIEL:
Yeah. (a beat) Doesn’t seem like he’s changed much.
PA:
Still a hard-ass.
DANIEL:
(laughs) Yeah.
SOUND:
HAMMERING INTENSIFIES, THEN STOPS.
DANIEL:
You need help fixing this fence?
PA:
(a bit winded) That’d be great. You mind going down to the cellar and getting me some nails?
DANIEL:
Sure thing, Pa.
SOUND:
DANIEL WALKING AWAY.
PA:
(calling after Daniel) They’re on the workbench. . .
DANIEL:
(off). . .in empty baby
