Red Planet Page #4

JUD:

Jud Crandall. I live just across the road.

RACHEL:

I'm Rachel. Thanks again for saving

the wandering minstrel boy, here.

JUD:

No harm, no foul. But you want to watch

out for that road. Those damn trucks go

back and forth all day and most of the

night.

He leans over toward ELLIE.

JUD:

Who might you be, little Miss?

ELLIE:

I'm Ellen Creed and I live at 642

Alden Lane, Dearborn, Michigan. (Pause)

At least, I used to.

JUD:

And now you live on Route 9 in Ludlow,

and your dad's gonna be the new doctor

up to the college, I hear, and I think

you're going to be just as happy as a

clam here, Ellen Creed.

ELLIE (to LOUIS)

Are clams really happy?

They all laugh--even GAGE.

RACHEL:

Excuse me, Mr. Crandall--I've got to

change this kid. It's nice to meet you.

JUD:

Same here. Come over and visit when

you get the chance.

As RACHEL, carrying GAGE, moves away:

ELLIE (worries)

Daddy, do I really have to have the

stingy stuff?

LOUIS:

No-I guess not.

ELLIE:

Yayyy!

She goes belting off.

JUD (amused)

I guess your daughter there ain't

going to die after all.

LOUIS (also amused)

I guess not.

JUD:

House has stood empty for too long.

It's damn good to see people in it again.

SOUND:
A truck engine, gearing down.

EXT. A MOVING VAN

It blinks and comes lumbering into the Creed's driveway.

EXT. LOUIS AND JUD

LOUIS:

Hey--they actually found the place!

JUD:

Movin' in's mighty thirsty work. I

usually sit out on my porch of an evening

and pour a couple of beers over m'dinner.

Come on over and join me, if you want.

LOUIS:

Well, maybe I----

RACHEL (voice)

Louis, what's this?

EXT. RACHEL AND GAGE

GAGE has been changed, and RACHEL is following him as he explores

the nearest edges of the new homestead. They are fairly close to

the wreckage of the tire swing, and here is the head of the path

ELLIE has already glimpsed.

EXT. LOUIS AND JUD

They cross to the van. The FIRST and SECOND MOVERS are just

climbing out of the van.

FIRST MOVER:

You Mr. Creed?

LOUIS:

Yes. Just a second.

EXT. RACHEL AND GAGE, AT THE HEAD OF THE PATH

She's holding GAGE on her hip now, and both of them are looking at

that strange (and oddly enticing) path which disappears into the

deepening twilight. LOUIS and JUD join them.

LOUIS:

The movers--

RACHEL:

Yes--I know. This path, Louis? Where does

it go?

LOUIS:

I don't have the slightest idea. When I saw

the house, this field was under four feet

of snow.

RACHEL (smiling)

I bet Mr. Crandall knows!

JUD nods. He smiles, too, but underneath the smile we sense that

he is serious.

JUD:

Oh, ayuh! I know. It's a good story, and

a good walk, too. I'll take you up there

sometime, and tell you the story, too--

after you get settled in.

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