EXT. MAKESHIFT DESERT CAMP- EARLY EVENING
At the beginning of this scene James thinks back to various recent interactions with Luke. James’ mind makes memory Luke repeat them until James settles on the one he likes best. His idealized version of their friendship. Scene starts more distant tense and slowly grows towards camaraderie
JAMES, in his 20s and clean shaven with cropped hair, detours from following railroad tracks in the desert into a small ad hoc army campsite. The landscape is a conflation of Southern California and Zakho Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort. A small tent stands among the desert brush. Various camping debris litter the site and give the impression of recent settlement.
LUKE, mid 20s and clean shaven with cropped hair, begins to dig a shallow fire pit in the center of the clearing. Or *TBD fire activity (or setting up tent). Example: James approaches and picks up a small trovell; he bends down and works in concert with Luke to remove dirt from the pit. The tight space makes the effort of James more hindering than helpful as Luke must work to avoid hitting his hands.
Luke and James dig in silence for 20 seconds. James Looks up at Luke. James re-enters the campsite as if coming upon it for the first time. Repeat *TBD fire activity
LUKE
(*TBD)
. . . job pays enough to get your shit together, settle down. I made sure to hire a few of the boys as back-up. You’ll be required to take a second pair of eyes with you. We can’t afford any more liabilities. All you gotta do is inspect charge placement and make sure she drops cleanly.
James looks up at Luke. James re-enters the campsite as if coming upon it for the first time. Repeat *TBD fire activity
LUKE
(*TBD)
. . . best to lay the TV flat. against the floor or wall and watch for scuffing in the corner. Got any foam or blankets? We can wind the cord around padding and hold it down with tape.. . . Looks good, we might still catch the game. Speaking of, I meant to ask you: I heard there’s a few company seats left, are you free next Saturday? . . . Actually, shit, I totally forgot I have to drop kid somewhere, let me get back to you on that.
James looks up at Luke. James re-enters the campsite as if coming upon it for the first time. Repeat *TBD fire activity
LUKE
(*TBD)
(friendly reminiscence, humor)
. . . you turned the shower on halfway and out came this steaming, fruity smell. I swear, you should’ve seen your expression. Even your ass was covered with red kool aid. Like in that movie; those guys must’ve called you “Carrie” for months. Damn, those were some good times.
JAMES
Those were.
[End Loop Cycle -prank conversation may happen during prep]
LUKE
(affectionate reflection on past)
We were such cherries. (pause chuckling) Man, you should have seen your face.
JAMES
I washed kool aid from my hair for a full week. Never asked you how you pulled that off.
LUKE
Powder in the shower head.
Genius in simplicity my friend, genius in simplicity.
JAMES
(humor, warmth)
Do you remember those guys and the ID-10T forms? I think we had more simplicity than genius at basic.
LUKE
(responds with a short laugh)
Basic is the word. Doesn’t take a GED to be a grunt. (pause)
Remember when we short sheeted the cots before Carlos came back drunk off his ass. It took him 20 minutes to figure out how to get into bed.
JAMES
Hey now, I just supervised.
LUKE
Haven’t seen any of those guys since my wedding. Heard Keenan has a kid now.
Either at this point or sometime in the above conversation, the fire has been finished and the men relax before it during a few seconds of silence.
LUKE
Meant to ask about the first thing you did, back in Montana. I got home, went upstairs, sat on the bathroom floor and flushed the toilet again and again. (pause) It felt so good.
JAMES
I probably took a shower and signed up for an anti-smoking program or something.
LUKE
(a warm sarcasm)
Yep, those things will kill you.
Pause
LUKE (CONT’D)
(more to himself, reflective)
Sorry It took awhile to call. I got caught up in my dad’s company and things . . . just, got busy real quick.
Jesse enters to sit between the two men and is still as she gazes past the fire into the distance.
JAMES
(shrugs)
You did, eventually.
James pokes the fire. The two sit in silence for a bit.
LUKE
(forcing lightness, a jovial tone, trying to recapture the previous atmosphere)
Hey now, remember when we went to . . .
JAMES
(Interrupts. focusing on the fire)
You went to Fitchburg, right?
Jesse briefly stirs between Luke and James
LUKE
Yeah I did. . . had to. Saw her family.
JAMES
I don’t know what to say. I wanted to go. (Pause) Look just, I mean, just come to Montana. It’s nice in Spring. Melting Snow floods the Missouri. Hell, we can kayak right to the door of any bar on the banks.
LUKE
(closing his eyes, tired)
James.
LUKE (CONT’D)
My old man’s expecting me. Says, he’s got a few halfway good. jobs. I’ll put in a good word. . .
Pause. James turns his head to really look at Luke past Jesse. Luke also looks at James directly.
JAMES
Not your fault.
LUKE
(countering quickly)
Not yours.
All is still. Luke and James look at each other intently as if really seeing each other for the first time. Eventually the tension/self-consciousness gets too much and they burst into laughter. Jesse gently smiles between them.
EXT. MAKESHIFT DESERT CAMP- EARLY MORNING
SCENE transitions to exact same position for Luke and James. The fire is out and Jesse is gone. In the ashes of the fire is Arlene’s book (the scrapbook James kept of his mother that Jesse died retrieving). Luke finds the book while cleaning debris from the fire. [this is a moment of magic-realism where he does not seem surprised]. Luke cleans off the book.
In the daylight the vulnerability and camaraderie of night has diminished. Although it is back to business as usual, a sense of understanding and affection between James and Luke remains.
LUKE
Check in when you get back from the job, yeah? I’ll wait for your call.
vs.
You’ll call with your report right?
vs.
I’ll be waiting for your last report
vs.
I’ll be waiting for your report on the bridge.
Luke carefully returns the book to James and then lingers with his hand on James’ shoulder
[exact parallel shot to present day Luke at oil refinery]
[exact parallel shot to present day Luke at oil refinery]
JAMES
yeah, course.
James turns to follow the desert tracks away from camp. Luke is about to say something but clearly hesitates.
LUKE
and James . . . take care.
JAMES
I know, I know.
James leaves the camp and returns to the present through the desert railroad tracks.
END
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