Two Winters Past

INT. HOUSE. DAY.

KAY pulls MIRANDA to her feet and up the stairs. MIRANDA has trouble walking. She is crying.

KAY: I need to know if you have rope. Stop crying. He promised he won’t kill you if you cooperate, but I need to tie you up. I’ll undo it when we leave.

KAY takes MIRANDA to the back bedroom.

MIRANDA: How could you do this, Stacy?

KAY: My name isn’t even Stacy. I made that up. Everything was a lie. He sent me in to find your food.

MIRANDA: Even what you said about your father?

KAY turns away.

KAY: Don’t talk about him. Give me the rope.

MIRANDA: Did that man kill your father?

KAY: Give me the goddamn rope!

MIRANDA points to a desk. KAY rifles through the contents until she comes up with a pack of shoe laces.

KAY: This is all you’ve got? Lay down on the bed. On your stomach.

KAY roughly ties MIRANDA’s hands behind her back and her feet. MIRANDA is crying.

KAY: Please stop crying, okay. If he gets mad, he doesn’t always listen to me. We’re going to eat and move on. I’ll untie you before we leave.

KAY watches MIRANDA, who does not look or respond. 

KAY goes down stairs to the back yard.

EXT. YARD. DAY.

VIC has ignited the grill.

KAY: It works?

VIC: No, I used two sticks. Get in there and bring me something to cook.

KAY: She has water too. She boils it every morning.

VIC: I don’t give a shit about water. I’m hungry.

KAY goes inside.

INT. PANTRY. DAY. 

KAY enters the pantry. She gasps when she sees shelves piled with cans. 

Closeup of KAY's fingers running over the labels. 

KAY selects several cans and runs back outside.

EXT. YARD. DAY.

KAY: She has so much! I don’t remember the last time I saw so much food! I’ll go find a can opener and some pots!

KAY goes inside. We stay with VIC. He watches the fire. KAY returns a moment later with two pots and a can opener.

KAY: We’re not even going to be able to carry everything!

VIC: Maybe we could stay here a few days. Get rid of the old woman, live like a king and queen. What do you think of that?

KAY: (Fearful) You said you wouldn’t kill her.

VIC: We can’t leave her tied up there, she’ll piss all over the place.

KAY: What about New York?

VIC: Who gives a shit where we stay? I’m sick of old looted farm houses with the windows busted. If this lady has propane, we can have hot meals all through next winter.

KAY: You promised you wouldn’t kill this one.

VIC: I do what I do to keep you alive, so you’d best be happy about it. Got me?

KAY: (Looking down) Yes, Vic.

VIC: That’s better, now get this cooking.

KAY opens cans, mixes contents between the two pots on the grill.

VIC: Shut off them other burners if you ain’t going to use them. No sense wasting the heat.

VIC sits in lawn furniture, puts his feet up on picnic table bench.

VIC: This probably what your daddy told you he’d find, didn’t he?

KAY looks sad, does not look at VIC.

VIC: I’m the one that delivered. You’re better off this way. That man was weak, and he was stupid.

KAY: Please stop.

VIC: What was that?

KAY: Please stop talking about him.

VIC stands, taut like a predator, eyes with no emotion. He stands close behind KAY. 

KAY focuses on the food. A single tear rolls down her cheek. VIC is motionless. KAY whimpers. 

VIC yanks her pants down and shoves her forward over the grill. She struggles to keep from being burned. 

VIC fucks her roughly, but is done quickly. He groaning like a beast when he finishes. KAY fights back tears. 

VIC backs away slowly.

VIC: You don’t tell me what to do.

VIC sits. KAY dresses, continues cooking, doing her best not to cry.

VIC: How long do I have to wait?

KAY: It’s almost finished.