“Doc” Spruell
EXT. RUSSELLVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT – DAY
In a Boy Scout uniform, Hugh kicks up dust with his shoe as Doc’s plane crests tall pine trees in the distance.
EAGER SCOUT
He’s back.
Hugh watches the plane do a loop and land to scattered APPLAUSE from eight other SCOUTS. Dick is with them in his Sunday best.
Doc exits the plane with his rattled passenger, NERVOUS SCOUT. Doc dips his hand in his vest to check his POCKET WATCH and smiles.
DOC
Who’s next?
Hands go up, but Doc’s smile fades when he sees
DOC
(teases)
Dick, what do you say?
DICK
Doc’ Spruell, I know how you drive. Doc spies another victim.
DOC
Your turn, Billy.
BILLY
That’s okay —
DOC
Oh, c’mon, don’t be a chicken.
Doc coaxes squeamish BILLY HESTOR (13) into the plane.
Hugh sulks as the plane disappears over distant pine trees.
As the sun sinks, the scouts stroll restlessly.
Hugh angrily twiddles his hair as he searches the sky.
HUGH
Where’d he go?
DICK
You know your daddy.
An ODD SOUND disturbs the quiet. Dick’s smile vanishes.
NERVOUS SCOUT
Look!
Little Hugh
Hugh turns. He stares at DISTANT PLUME OF SMOKE on the horizon.
INT. FORD TRUCK – MINUTES LATER
The truck lurches onto a highway shoulder.
Dick throws open the door. He looks at Hugh.
DICK
You stay here, you hear me.
Dick sprints toward a FIRE encircled by SHOUTING MEN.
WAILING AMBULANCE arrives.
Hugh can’t resist — He slides to the open door.
EXT. COTTON FIELD – A MOMENT LATER
Work boots trample tilled soil. Men rush past as Hugh gazes at
FIRE
As the flames cough oily smoke at the sunset The smoke shifts and reveals
PLANE CRASH
Smoke and flame engulf the small propeller airplane.
SHOUTING MAN
(to another man)
We couldn’t get to the boy.
As Hugh moves around the crash he sees BURNED CORPSE on the ground — one arm juts skyward. Hugh stares in confusion.
Then it hits him — The plane’s fiery reflection in Hugh’s eyes.
