[Sam nods. He asks quietly:]
SAM: Why do you consider me your enemy?
[Redford frowns. He says in disbelief:]
REDFORD: Because your girlfriend stabbed me in the back with lefty scissors.
SAM: She's my wife now.
REDFORD: Congratulations.
SAM: I'm saying before that. Six weeks ago. From day one. What'd I do wrong? I'm trying to understand.
SAM: *in summation* Why don't you like me?
REDFORD: *long pause* Why should I? Nobody else does.
[Sam runs up to Redford and pokes him as hard as he can in the scissor cut with his finger. Redford screams.]
[Scouts and scout masters everywhere stop what they are doing and look to the chapel tent. Across the compound, Commander Pierce comes out of his tent, alerted.]
[Sam whips the binoculars out of Redford's hands, turns away, and sprints. No one moves anywhere except Sam dashing toward the marina. Redford shouts at the top of his lungs:]
REDFORD: He's here! The fugitive! Stop him!
[An emergency alarm sounds. The entire camp swings into action. Two teams of scouts playing capture-the-flag descend from both sides and cut Sam off from the dock. They wear red and yellow jerseys over their uniforms.]
[Suzy jumps out of the boat onto the dock. Sam sees her beyond the blockade of scouts. She waves her arms. Sam throws up his hands. He sprints in a new direction, onto a wide field.]
[There is a small, pink flag on a thin stick stuck in the ground at the center of a plastic ring. Sam grabs it as he runs past. He looks back and sees:]
[A mob of fifty scouts chasing him. He circles in a giant figure eight trailed by the huge group. He races up a hill and stops at the top.]
[Sam looks down at the approaching scouts and hundreds of others watching. A dark cloud rolls in casting a giant shadow over the entire camp. Sam throws the little flag down at his pursuers like a javelin. It sails in an arc and pokes down into the gra**. There is a thunderclap. Sam looks up into the sky.]
[A bolt of lightning strikes him.]
[Sam is thrown ten feet through the air and lands on his back. The tennis ball can explodes nickels. The mob of scouts stops with a jolt. They look terrified. Sam sits up. He is covered in black soot. His shoes are on fire. He shakes them off his feet.]
[Suzy runs through the crowd of scouts and drops down on her knees in front of Sam. She looks astonished. Sam says quickly:]
SAM: I'm OK.
[Suzy helps Sam to his feet. Sam raises Suzy's smoldering binoculars to his eyes. Skotak and the rest of the troop join them.]
CUT TO: A binocular shot of a ladder leaning against a high fence. Sam shouts:
SAM: Follow me!
[Sam leads Suzy, Skotak, and the rest of the troop fly at a sprint to the fence, climb the ladder, and pull it up after them. A bugle plays a cavalry charge. The mob bolts after them.]
CUT TO: Split-screen. On one side of the frame, we see Captain Sharp, Scout Master Ward, and Becky wearing their operator head-phones. On the other side, we see Commander Pierce, Secretary McIntire, and the commander's entourage inside the command tent. Commander Pierce says into his field-telephone:
COMMANDER PIERCE: Captain Sharp, we've located the missing troop. They just fled camp. We're in
[more]
COMMANDER PIERCE: *cont'd* pursuit. They're accompanied by a twelve-year-old girl in knee-socks and Sunday-school shoes.
CAPTAIN SHARP: Stand by, Commander Pierce.
[Captain Sharp spins around in his chair and flips a switch on a two-way radio. He says into a microphone:]
CAPTAIN SHARP: Jed, re-route to St. Jack Wood. Tell Social Services the boy's been spotted at Fort Lebanon.
JED *V.O.*: Roger that. Will comply.
[Captain Sharp sets down the microphone. He turns to Becky.]
CAPTAIN SHARP: Becky, notify the Bishops: Suzy's there.
[Becky nods. Captain Sharp turns to Scout Master Ward.]
CAPTAIN SHARP: Randy? You monitoring?
[Scout Master Ward is already on his feet. He peels off his head-phones.]
SCOUT MASTER WARD: Affirmative. I'm on my way.
[Becky plugs a cord into a socket and says:]
BECKY: Hello! Mr. Bishop?
[Captain Sharp looks out the window with a sense of dread.]
[INT. BISHOP HOUSE. DAY]
[Mr. Bishop listens on the telephone with a strained look on his face. Mrs. Bishop watches him intently.]
MR. BISHOP: Oh, dear God.
[Mr. Bishop grabs Mrs. Bishop by the wrist. He says grimly:]
MR. BISHOP: Get the boys.
[Mrs. Bishop raises her megaphone to her mouth. She shouts:]
MRS. BISHOP: Let's go! Right now!
[INT. SEAPLANE. DAY]
[A deHavilland Beaver in heavy rain and turbulence. Jed speaks into his radio while piloting the aircraft. Social Services sits beside him in the pa**enger's seat. She looks queasy but determined.]
JED: Tower control, this is Jed. Confirm co-ordinates for new destination: alpha-two-two-seven-one-fiver. Looking pretty soupy up here. Wouldn't mind setting down before the pot boils over.
JED: *to Social Services* Hang on, Social Services.
[Jed presses the yoke forward, and the plane dips hard. Social Services braces against the dash.]
[EXT. MOTORBOAT. DAY]
[Scout Master Ward steers his outboard through the open channel. The boat crests high over deep swells, flooding over in waves. Scout Master Ward is drenched. He does not flinch or even appear to notice.]
[EXT. FOREST PATH. DAY]
[Sam, Suzy, Skotak, and the rest of the troop scramble through the woods as fast as they can. There are flashes of lightning and pounding thunder. Suzy trips on a root, and Sam pulls her to her feet. Sam trips on a rock, and Suzy pulls him to his feet.]
[INT. COMMAND TENT. DAY]
[The commander's entourage is frantically packing up their portable telephones, P.A. system, folding tables, collapsible chairs, etc. One of them wraps a tarp around boxes labelled Fireworks.]
[INSERT:A transistor radio. The announcer says urgently:]
WEATHER MAN *V.O.*: Once again: storm waters have just breached the dam at Black Beacon
[more]
WEATHER MAN *V.O.*: *cont'd* Reservoir. A flash flood alert is in effect. Take immediate precautions.
[Commander Pierce and Secretary McIntire listen to the report. Secretary McIntire says gravely:]
SECRETARY MCINTIRE: That's coming our way.
[Captain Pierce nods, worried. The capture-the-flag scouts in soaking jerseys gather, winded, outside the tent. One of the team captains stands in the entrance breathing heavily.]
[Commander Pierce points to him:]
COMMANDER PIERCE: You find them?
TEAM CAPTAIN: No, sir.
COMMANDER PIERCE: *to the entourage* Prepare to mobilize to higher ground.
[Secretary McIntire hands Commander Pierce an envelope with red-and-white stripes on it. Commander Pierce rips it open. He reads:]
COMMANDER PIERCE: St. Jack Church is the designated storm shelter.
COMMANDER PIERCE: *to Secretary McIntire* Notify all scouts to muster outside my tent on the double.
[INSERT:The St. Jack's Church poster box. Another mimeographed page is stapled to the bulletin board. The heading is now Summer Pageant, 1965. It reads:]
Benjamin Britten's
“Noye's Fludde”
Performed by the
Choristers of St. Jack Wood and New Penzance 8pm Tonight
[PERFORMANCE CANCELLED]
[OMIT]
[INT. EPISCOPAL CHURCH. DAY]
[The set for the ark stands on the platform behind the altar. There are candles and garlands in place, but also stacks of cardboard boxes and gallons of distilled-water. Numerous animal costumes hang from a rolling garment rack. An old nun crosses the aisle carrying a large, metal coffee dispenser. Two young priests cross in the opposite direction carrying folding cots. Voices shout urgently off-screen:]
VOICES *O.S.*: More sandbags! We need dry blankets! Wake up the Deacon!
[Sam, Suzy, Skotak, and the rest of the troop slowly poke their heads in from the side door and creep up the stairs to the choir loft.]
[EXT. SCOUT FESTIVAL. DAY]
[The entire brigade of scouts stands a**embled in formation in the rain. The last two stragglers come running and hurry into their positions. They all wear rain slickers or canvas ponchos. Commander Pierce, Secretary McIntire, and the commander's entourage emerge quickly from the command tent. Commander Pierce shouts:]
COMMANDER PIERCE: Attention, company! Prepare for --
[Commander Pierce hesitates. He points down to the marina and says to Secretary McIntire:]
COMMANDER PIERCE: Who's that?
[Secretary McIntire and the commander's entourage turn to see:]
[Scout Master Ward speeding toward the dock in his motorboat. He leaps to shore, throws a line over a post, and sprints up to the a**embly. He salutes Commander Pierce. Commander Pierce frowns and asks with quiet ferocity:]
COMMANDER PIERCE: You call yourself a Khaki Scout?
SCOUT MASTER WARD: *hesitates* I'm sorry, sir?
COMMANDER PIERCE: *enraged* Where's your goddamn troop? They could get k**ed out there!
SCOUT MASTER WARD: *surprised* You don't have them?
COMMANDER PIERCE: *disgusted* You're a liability to us.
SECRETARY MCINTIRE: *in explanation* The incident may affect our insurance premiums.
[Commander Pierce looks at Scout Master Ward's breast pocket.]
[INSERT:A name-tag that reads Scout Master Ward next to a patch with a picture of a snow-capped mountain. It says K.S.N.A. Leadership underneath.]
[Commander Pierce says bitterly:]
COMMANDER PIERCE: I'm field-stripping you of your command.
[Commander Pierce rips the patch off Scout Master Ward's uniform and throws it aside. He holds out his hand, palm up. Scout Master Ward looks stricken. He reaches into his pocket, takes out his scout pocket-knife, and hands it Commander Pierce. Commander Pierce puts it into his own pocket. He shouts:]
COMMANDER PIERCE: Attention, company! Prepare for emergency evacuation!
[Secretary McIntire leans close to Commander Pierce. He whispers discreetly:]
SECRETARY MCINTIRE: Sir, do you have your medicine?
[Commander Pierce hesitates. He holds up a finger.]
COMMANDER PIERCE: I'll be right back.
[Commander Pierce strides back into the command tent. Secretary McIntire looks to Scout Master Ward, uneasy. Scout Master Ward stares down at the ground.]
[The flash-flood explodes out from the woods.]
[Gushing water pours down the hillside, cuts a swath through the center of the camp, and tears down everything in its narrow path. The command tent suddenly becomes a tiny island at the center of a rushing river.]
[The company is taken aback. Scout Master Ward stiffens, watchful. The totem pole creaks and sways, then falls cleanly onto the command tent, splitting it down the middle. Inside, something sparks, pops, then blows up. The tent bursts into flames.]
[Secretary McIntire does not react. He stands perfectly still, watching the fire. Scout Master Ward taps him, grabs him, and shakes him. Secretary McIntire looks at him blankly. Scout Master Ward makes a snap decision. He turns to the company and shouts:]
SCOUT MASTER WARD: Hold your position!
[Scout Master Ward runs ahead, splashes into the raging flood, wades through it against the current, dodging branches and debris, then pulls himself up onto the fallen totem pole and walks balancing on it to the burning tent. He disappears inside.]
[Secretary McIntire and the vast company watch, riveted.]
[Scout Master Ward comes out the opposite side of the tent onto the other end of the fallen totem pole carrying Commander Pierce over his shoulders. He descends back into the water, trudges through it, and steps up onto the embankment. The company looks deeply, permanently impressed. Scout Master Ward hollers:]
SCOUT MASTER WARD: Company Secretary! Status report, sir!
[Secretary McIntire hesitates. He stirs to attention and says enthusiastically:]
SECRETARY MCINTIRE: All accounted for, Scout Master!
SCOUT MASTER WARD: Supply and Resources! Call it out!
[Cousin Ben gives an A-OK sign near the front of the a**embly. He shouts:]
COUSIN BEN: Affirmative, sir!
SCOUT MASTER WARD: Fall in! We're going to run for it, boys! Let's move!
[The entire company follows Scout Master Ward with Commander Pierce over his shoulders at a fast jog out of the camp.]
[INT. EPISCOPAL CHURCH. DAY]
[The room has now been converted into a full-fledged refugee center. Families from the town-ship huddle in pews with bags and piles of their wet belongings. Priests and nuns distribute towels and sandwiches to frightened children. Dogs and cats prowl nervously. Sandbags are stacked in low walls outside the doors and windows. The rain beats on the roof, and lightning continues to flash through the stained gla**.]
[A side door opens. Captain Sharp comes in from the storm with Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. Lionel, Murray, Rudy, and the two old fishermen follow closely behind them. They slam the door. Captain Sharp looks around frantically.]
CAPTAIN SHARP: Who's in charge here?
[Another side door opens. Scout Master Ward jogs in with Commander Pierce still over his shoulders and the entire company behind him flooding into the room. Captain Sharp yells to him:]
CAPTAIN SHARP: Randy! What happened?
[Scout Master Ward goes over to Captain Sharp and turns his back to him, jogging in place.]
SCOUT MASTER WARD: Take the commander off of me.
[Captain Sharp helps Commander Pierce down off Scout Master Ward's back and into a pew to rest. Secretary McIntire a**ists them. Mr. Bishop strides up the aisle yelling to the left and right:]
MR. BISHOP: Suzy? Sam?
SCOUT MASTER WARD: *shaking his head* They ran away again.
[Mr. and Mrs. Bishop grimace, unbelievably frustrated. Scout Master Ward addresses the scouts:]
SCOUT MASTER WARD: We're going back out. I need volunteers.
[Hands raise. Scout Master Ward pa**es out walkie-talkies as he chooses his squad:]
SCOUT MASTER WARD: You, you, you, you --
[Becky steps in front of Scout Master Ward with her hand raised. Scout Master Ward hesitates.]
SCOUT MASTER WARD: -- and you?
[Becky takes a walkie-talkie. She looks at Scout Master Ward with admiration and asks, concerned:]
BECKY: Are you all right?
SCOUT MASTER WARD: *warmly* Of course, I am. Come on.
[Scout Master Ward leads Becky by the arm through the crowded church as they begin to gather supplies: extra flashlights, a flare gun, coils of rope.]
[Captain Sharp looks up to the choir loft. Eleven children dressed in animal masks sit quietly in a row. Captain Sharp does a double-take. One of the animals is an otter wearing Sunday-school shoes and binoculars around its neck. Next to her is the male of the species in a sash with numerous small, embroidered patches on it.]
[The front doors open. There is lightning, thunder, wind, and rain. Social Services enters. She takes off a wet cape with a red lining and hands it to an acolyte in a robe. Jed presses the doors shut behind them. Social Services asks immediately:]
SOCIAL SERVICES: Where's the boy?
[Captain Sharp hesitates. He says reluctantly:]
CAPTAIN SHARP: We don't know yet.
SOCIAL SERVICES: That's not acceptable.
CAPTAIN SHARP: *pretending to be irritated* What do you want me to say, lady?
CAPTAIN SHARP: *to no one in particular* Somebody get Jed a cup of coffee.
[The acolyte runs to the coffee dispenser with a cardboard cup. Social Services charges over to Captain Sharp.]