Hard Rain

FADE IN:

RAIN:

Falls from low grey clouds. Down below we see...

THE RIVER:

Muddy, slow and powerful, overflowing its banks. In the near

distance is...

THE RESERVOIR:

Filled to the maximum, water thundering out of two open gates.

We close in on...

THE DAM:

There's a Dam Control Office in the middle of the dam. We

MOVE OFF the reservoir and head out over...

THE TOWN OF HUNTINGBURG

We see "NO FEAR" spelled out in stones on one man's roof. We

go down and into...

EXT. STREETS OF HUNTINGBURG - DUSK

Storefronts are sandbagged and closed. A sign on one store

reads:
GONE FISHING. A sign on another: HEY LOOTER. NOTHING

OF VALUE HERE. TRY NEXT DOOR. And on the next store: HE'S

LYING.

A CHURCH:

Beautiful, old, ringed with a five-foot-high wall of sandbags.

The floodwater is up to the first level of sandbags.

CARS AND PICKUP TRUCKS

Loaded down, are heading out of town on streets covered in

the first water of the flood.

A STATUE:

On an island in the middle of the street. It's Civil War-

era, of a general on a horse, sword held high. The floodwater

is over the curb, lapping at the base of statue's pedestal.

Near the statue stands...

THE SHERIFF:

50s, with soft edges and friendly eyes. He's talking into

his radio mike.

SHERIFF:

So, are we all going to die?

EXT. RESERVOIR DAM

HANK, the dam control officer, is on the radio with the

Sheriff.

HANK:

Not right now. But I'm gonna have to

let out a little more.

EXT. MAIN STREET

WAYNE and PHIL, two deputies, 30s, are near the Sheriff,

shoring up a sandbag wall that has partially collapsed.

PHIL:

I think my best was when I turned

twelve. My Dad set up a treasure

hunt. It was really cool.

(off Wayne's disdainful

look)

Well, it was.

Wayne shrugs a "whatever" and pulls a sandbag up out of the

water. There's unpleasant-looking muck all over his arms. He

drops the sandbag back into the water and shakes off the

crud with disgust.

WAYNE:

This blows.

PHIL:

My most awful birthday was sweet

sixteen. I had mono. How about you?

What was your worst?

WAYNE:

You kidding? You think I could've

possibly had a birthday worse than

this? What kind of loser do you think

I am?

SHERIFF (O.S.)

Don't answer that, Phil.

The Sheriff walks over.

SHERIFF:

Hank says he's gonna open another

gate. We're gonna get another rise.

They turn at the sound of honking. The MAYOR drives up.

MAYOR:

Gentlemen. Hey -- happy birthday,

Wayne.

Wayne nods. Phil stiffens. They do not like this guy.

MAYOR:

(to the Sheriff)

Mike, I gotta say, what you're

doing... I don't know if I'd be here,

considering.

SHERIFF:

(good-natured)

Well, you would be if you wanted to

get the last couple of paychecks

some bastard owed you.

MAYOR:

(grins, then:
)

I just want you to know I think the

people 'round here made a big mistake.

Phil grumbles to himself.

PHIL:

"The people"? You're the one who

screwed him.

MAYOR:

Sorry, Phil?

PHIL:

(blushes)

I, uh --

SHERIFF:

(to Mayor, saving

Phil)

You know, Bob, as much as I'd love

to stand here all day talking about

how great I am, if you don't get

moving I'm gonna have to haul your

sorry ass off to jail.

MAYOR:

(laughs)

Okay, okay, I'm going. Keep up the

good work, boys. It's appreciated.

The Mayor rolls up his window and heads off.

WAYNE:

Whaddya say we go torch the f***er's

house and blame it on looters. Or

how about we put a dead cow in his

living room. He comes back after

it's been in the water a couple of

days. Hello!

SHERIFF:

(shakes head)

You wanna know how to get the best

revenge on the Mayor and his boys?

You do exactly what we're doing. You

protect the town. You protect it

better than they would. Better than

they ever could.

WAYNE:

(thinks, shrugs)

I think the dead cow's better.

SHERIFF:

(ignores Wayne)

Any looter that comes in here is in

for a big surprise, cause as long as

I'm still wearing this pointy thing...

(indicates badge)

...nobody's taking anything from

this town.

INT. BANK VAULT

Nervous assistant bank manager WELLMAN is hurriedly tossing

stacks of money into two canvas bags.

A MAN'S SHADOW

Washes up on Wellman.

CHARLIE (O.S.)

Do you think you could go a little

faster, pal?

WELLMAN:

I -- I'm going as fast as I can.

SECOND SHADOW COMES UP

TOM (O.S.)

Well, it's not fast enough.

Wellman is about to speak, then sees something, gulps.

A SHOTGUN:

Is held by one of the men, pointed at the floor.

WELLMAN:

Sweeps the money off the shelves and into the bags.

SECOND MAN (O.S.)

That it?

WELLMAN:

Yes. We don't keep any of our --

THE TWO MEN:

Ignore Wellman, grab the canvas bags and stride off.

EXT. BANK - DAY

CLOSE ON the lower half of the front doors as they fly open.

Out come TWO MEN in long dark raincoats.

WELLMAN:

Runs up, stopping in the open door.

WELLMAN:

Hey, wait!

VERY CLOSE ON THE TWO MEN

As they slowly turn to face Wellman. We just see their faces,

shielded from the rain by hat brims. Meet...

TOM AND CHARLIE:

Tom, 30, handsome, with an easy smile. Charlie, 50, with a

tough, red face.

CHARLIE:

Excuse me?

WELLMAN:

Looks nervous for a second, then holds up a clipboard.

WELLMAN:

You forgot to sign.

TOM AND CHARLIE:

We see, for the first time, by their hats and uniforms, that

they are armored car drivers. There's an armored car parked

at the curb, on the other side of a low wall of sandbags.

Charlie sighs, goes back to Wellman and perfunctorily signs

the form. Then he and Tom go to the sandbag wall. Tom holds

both bags in one hand and the shotgun in the other. Charlie

doesn't want to get wet.

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