In Their Eyes

-8-

The jukebox finishes its selection. The mechanical arm replaces the 45 and selects another. The place fills with music again.

Trish and Darry are at a table in the back. Alex comes walking back to them. Beverly steps up to them with a coffee pot.

"You kids wanna piece of pie, coffee, or something?", she asks.

They shake their heads no, staring at 2 state troopers at the counter, conferring with the manager.

"Let me know if you change your minds.", she says.

"You think they believe us?", Trish asks. "All they have to do is drive out to that church. They'll believe every word.", Darry says.

"I dont know if i would.", Alex says. Both look up at Alex. "Sounds too much like somebody's bad dream.", Alex says.

    "You dont think thats it, do you? We're dreaming?", Trish asks. Darry doesnt answer.

   The juke box fills the silence.

   "Maybe we are having one of those dreams like in the twilight zone where we are already dead.
     You know? We died out on the road and we just dont know it?", Trish asks. "I wanna be home. In my room. In my bed.
     Ripping up every Tales from the Crypt and Fangoria i own.", Darry says. He looks at Trish. He tries to smile.

    He looks so fragile. "We will get home, you know?", Trish says. He nods, feeling foolish.

    "Jeepers, Creepers, where'd you get those peepers? Jeepers, Creepers, where'd get those eyes?", the juke box plays.

    Sinatra. Darry's blood runs cold. Face suddenly ashen.

    He stares across the diner at the juke box. Trish and Alex watching him strangely.

    They try to follow his line of sight.

    "Gosh all get up, how'd they get so lit up...", the song continues.

   He stands up and looks down at Trish and Alex.

    "Gosh all get up, how'd they get that size?", the song continues some more.

    "Darry?", Trish calls for him. He moves now. He moves through the diner as if drawn by the melody.

    "Golly gee, when you turn those heaters on. Woa is me, got to put my cheaters on...", they listen to the song.

    Trish watches him from the table. Trish starts wondering if hes gone out of his mind.

    Patrons stop their eating to watch him as he passes by in some confused trance.

The song continues to play in the back.

Darry is at the Juke box. He stares down into its glow. Darry starts to believe he must be losing his mind.

His own striking eyes even more beautiful in the golden glow of the machine.

The song goes instrumental. He looks back at Trish and Alex.

The troopers are now at their table. Trish looks back at Darry. He moves back quickly.

Officer Robert Gideon is a tall, powerful looking Native American. Strong face and piercing eyes.

His partner Officer Natasha Weston is a capable looking woman of 30 or so.

"I was just telling your sister, we're running the plates and we've got a unit on their way out to the old church.", Officer Gideon says.

"Darla Cleeway and Kenny..."

"Brandon", Trish says, finishing Darry's sentence.

"Found their car all smashed up 'bout 20 years ago? Am I remembering this right?", Officer Gideon says.
Darry nods as does Alex. "Those bodies would be nothing but bones by now.
You 2 said he still had skin on him and a ring on his finger.", Officer Gideon says.

"What are you trying to say, Officer?", Alex asks. "Not saying anything-", Officer Gideon start but is cut off.

"I told you, i grabbed one of them! It was hard. Like petrified wood! Like he perserved them or something. I dont know.", Darry hisses.

"Well then how do you know they were even real bodies?", Officer Gideon asks.

Darry and Alex both are thrown by this. Both stares at the officers.

"Look, all im trying to do here is get the facts straight-"

"And we are telling you the facts! This guy drives a old dark truck and it nearly killed us!", Darry hisses, cutting Officer Gideon off.

"We saw him throw a body down the pipe, that dumps into a cellar under that old church.", Alex says.

"We saw the body. He was a guy about our age and he was still alive, except that he had been split from his neck to his naval and then sewn back up again.", Darry adds to Alex.

"Now, this guy must have a hundred, maybe two hundred bodies down there, and we have seen them!", Alex says.

"Hey-Hey-Hey", The manager comes out, hearing them raise their voices.

He doesnt like this grizzly talk, loud enough for people to hear.

"I mean, this guy must be the Heavyweight champ of all serial killers.", Darry says, lowering his voice.

Its at this time that Officer Natasha Weston is the first to notice people standing from their tables and moving to the restaurant windows.

"Dont believe us? Just drive out to that church and see for yourself.", Darry hisses.

"No one is saying youre lying, Darius-"

"Its Darry. Darius is my name, Darry is for short.", Darry cuts Officer Gideon off again.

Theres a quite a crowd at the windows now and all 3 see it.

"And i said we were doing everything we know how to do", Officer Gideon says.

They step past Officier Gideon towards the dining area. Waitress Beverly just coming back in the front doors.

She looks directly at Trish. Her eyes and facial expression shows fear and they all 3 could see it...