Two Winters Past

EXT. SCHOOLYARD. NIGHT. 

School building dominates the background, beige brick, glazed in a kiln. Granite stairs lead to heavy double doors. LOGAN walks up the stairs, and we follow him inside.

INT. AUDITORIUM. NIGHT.

LOGAN passes through a small foyer to the auditorium beyond. All light is from candles, arranged around the room to illuminate the seats enough to be safely passed.

The stage and walls have been decorated with religious iconography of varying stages of artistic ability.

Only a few BARABAS are in the auditorium. They are praying, but each look up in turn, see LOGAN, and stare. He ignores their attention and takes a seat in the center of the front row. All others resume their prayer.

CLOSEUP on LOGAN, his lips working in prayer.

MED SHOT looking over LOGAN's shoulder. His eyes are closed. STOKES enters, looking around the auditorium. STOKES spots LOGAN and comes down the aisle.

STOKES sits beside LOGAN, looking at LOGAN. LOGAN continues to pray.

In the background, someone whispers, but the words are unintelligible. Another person coughs. One person gets up and exits. STOKES looks another and nods. That person exits as well.

LOGAN: (eyes closed) Conversation is disapproved here.

STOKES: I asked for you to see me.

LOGAN: I figured it could wait.

STOKES: A new Barabas h as been selected to lead.

LOGAN: (eyes open) Who?

STOKES: Come to my chamber.

LOGAN: Is it secret?

STOKES: It’s you.

LOGAN: (disbelieves) Who would vote for me?

STOKES: I said selected, not elected.

LOGAN: (gasps) He doesn’t even know me.

STOKES: He knows you worked for Symons.

LOGAN: Symons threw away half our strength to burn Hancock and walk away empty-handed. No one will listen to me. He said Symons would beat the Devil.

STOKES: He said no such thing. You were in his visions all along. That is his current story.

LOGAN: Who knows?

STOKES: Only who absolutely needs to. I’m sure the interrupted supplicants will be talking soon. A secret bar is said to be hidden in the basement. Invitation-only, and you get to enjoy the scavenged liquor from around town.

LOGAN: Seize it and burn it.

STOKES: You can do that tomorrow. Tonight is a danger, so come to my chamber. There is more troubling news you must decide on soon.

LOGAN and STOKES exit the auditorium.

EXT. SCHOOL YARD. NIGHT.

Two BARABAS armed with machetes flank STOKES and LOGAN as they cross to a metal garage across the road. BARABAS stop to watch as they pass.

STOKES takes LOGAN to the side door, they enter the building.

INT. GARAGE. NIGHT.

A little moonlight highlights the edges and smooth surfaces of whatever is hidden in the garage. STOKES leads LOGAN up a metal staircase to the second floor.

INT. APARTMENT. NIGHT

STOKES and LOGAN enter. STOKES locks the door behind them. Stokes’s apartment is sparsely furnished. Drapes are heavy, lights are low.

STOKES: Election We planned an election this week, but it was called off.  Only a few men know there was a selection, but I think the word has spread. In the service this morning, he mentioned you would be home. Two and two may have been put together.

LOGAN: Any talk of challenge?

STOKES: It won’t come to that. It's worse. Damascus has arrived.

LOGAN: I did not see an army when I came down the road.

STOKES: Pullers were attacked a few days ago, said they saw a column of 300 men on the march. We lost three men before the Padre called for a retreat. Camp fires can be seen in the mountains.

LOGAN: You sent scouts? 

STOKES: I did not feel comfortable sparing more than two.

LOGAN: What is our strength.

STOKES: We have less than 100 fighting men I would count on. The two you brought in today would make another twenty we can put in the ranks.

LOGAN: Spears? Archers? Guns?

STOKES: Tartell has his men training with bows, and we have spears for all and more.

LOGAN: Be we do not have enough men to hold the walls.

LOGAN stands.

LOGAN: There is nothing we can do until we know what we are up against, Stokes. I cannot go another minute without sleep.