US DESERT – CANYON TERRAIN – DAY
Matt is holding a sniper rifle, Mark a pair of binoculars.
BAM!
He fires a shot across the vast, winding canyon.
MARKS'S POV THROUGH BINOCULARS
The bullet hits in the middle of a small rock, blowing it up.
MARK
MARK: Nice. Very clean.
The sound of an engine approaching...
Mark turns back to his binoculars.
MARKS'S POV THROUGH BINOCULARS
A Jeep rounds a curve in the road on the other side of the canyon. Cathy is driving. Joel in the passenger seat.
MARK
stares back at Matt.
MARK: You think you can hit that?
Matt replies with a confused look.
Puts his cheek against the rifle. Looks through the scope.
MATT'S POV THROUGH SCOPE
He can see the car. Cathy. And Joel next to her.
MATT
follows the car with his scope.
MARK: What's your caliber?
MATT: Six point five, Creedmore.
MARK: Car is fitted with B6 Armormax. What's the penetrating force of that, six hundred yards out?
MATT: Uh... enough to make a dent, but it won't get through?
MARK: Correct. Now, are you going to take the shot?
Matt gazes at his dad, even more surprised.
MATT: You want me to...?
MARK: Let's see what this guy is made of. Try not to hit the tires or the windows. It's safe, just looks bad. Aim for hood on passenger side.
Matt can't believe it. Still, he gets down. Aims. Hesitates.
MARK: Target is getting away, son...
Matt lies still. Still aiming. Still not pulling the trigger.
Cathy's Jeep is approaching a cover in the terrain.
MARK: Stand down.
Mark grabs the rifle from Matt. Takes a standing aim against the rock. Breathes ONE deep breath. PULLS THE TRIGGER.
YOU ARE READING
Love/Survival
RomanceOn paper, 20-year-old twins Cathy and Matt have everything going for them. Their mom is a Brazilian supermodel, and their dad is a decorated Navy SEAL. In reality, though, Mark, their dad, is retired with PTSD, and their mom, Sabrina, split long ago...
