Setting: Sunday December 1st, 2002: around 8:00 am: South Ravine of the Mountain Highland Ridge near the Ridgetop lodge.
Characters: Eileen Wise (Magnadoodle), Paul Woodland (Rhode Island), Elizabeth Springer (Hopeless Grace) and Lynn Bridge (Rebecca)
From a point just above the tree line, two figures can be seen making their way down an overgrown trail in the south ravine near Ridgetop lodge. As we zoom in on the pair we see that it is detective Eileen Wise being led by Paul Woodland. The walls of the ravine are rather steep but the trail meanders down along a currently dry creek bed which makes for cautious but adequate travel.
Paul: (Stopping a moment to take a breath. As he exhales the air forms a cloud of mist in the crisp autumn air) �It�s not too much further to the cabin detective. [pauses to take another deep breath] The trail is a little rough in this one spot, but levels off again another twenty yards from here. The cabin is nestled in a small hollow among a stand of tall pine trees a bit beyond that.�
Eileen: (Taking the moment to rest on a rock, mist also forming from her breath) �Whew!, that�s good to know Paul. I guess I shouldn�t have skipped so many workout sessions at the sports center. I�m not in as good of shape as I thought!�
Paul: (Sits on the rock next to her) �Well this is the easy part. Wait until we have to go back uphill!�
Eileen: (Grimacing) �Ugh! Let�s not think about that right now! I just hope we find something to make this trip worthwhile!�
Paul: (Getting back up and continuing on) �Well, the hard part�s almost over. Might as well get it over with.�
Eileen: (Lets out a slight sigh and continues on with Paul) �You said �[huff]�there�s a fire road near the �[huff]�cabin?�
Paul: (maneuvering around a large boulder) �Yes ma�am,�[huff]�But it winds down around the bottom of the ravine�[huff]�and then after a mile or so�[puff]�joins up with the old mountain road that leads back around south to town�[huff]�or north on to Chatland, the next town over.�
Eileen: �Well, maybe we should have�[huff]�went that way then?�
Paul: �We could have�[huff]�but that would have taken over an hour to drive�[puff]�all the way around the mountain and up the rough road.�
The pair pause for a moment to catch their breath as they come around a final outcropping and see that the trail levels out. Ahead can be seen the edge of the stand of pines and the hollow where the cabin should be. After a short rest they move toward the trees, Eileen motioning with a finger over her mouth to Paul indicating not to talk as they approach. After a short walk into the trees they see the cabin come into view. They look at each other surprised as they both note a thin stream of smoke coming from the cabin�s chimney.
Eileen: (In a whispering voice) �It looks like someone is home��and something tells me it�s not Goldilocks or the three bears.�
Paul: (Also in a whisper and a bit intrepid) �I don�t understand who could be in there. That old place hasn�t been used for many years now.�
Eileen: (Begins to move quietly toward the cabin and still whispering) �Well I think we had best find out. [Stops and turns to Paul] I think you had better wait here and watch the front door. I am going to move around the cabin and see if there is another door or any windows around the back.�
Eileen slowly and quietly walks toward the side of the cabin, careful not to make a sound. She creeps up to and around the dilapidated old building to find two windows on each side and one in the back, but no other doors. As she tries to peer into each window she finds that all of them are boarded up from the inside blocking any view in. After examining the building she checks around the area and finds no signs of any sort of transportation nearby. Satisfied with her preliminary reconnaissance she returns to Paul, informing him of her findings.
Eileen: (In a low but serious tone) �O.K. Paul, here�s the deal. I can�t see inside, but I�m pretty sure there is someone in there. It may just be someone camping or something, but I think it best if we proceed cautiously. I don�t see an ATV or anything around the immediate area, but you hearing one down here yesterday, along with the tracks I found at the scene of the abduction concerns me. I don�t want in any way to put you in harms way, but if you could stay close by the front door I will knock and find out who�s in there. Just keep alert and if there is any trouble, take cover and let me handle it, O.K.?�
Paul: (A bit nervously) �Of course Detective. I�m here if you need me.�
Paul stands by the nearest large pine about 20 feet from the cabin and watches as Eileen walks up to the door. She listens for a moment, seemingly not hearing much and then knocks firmly on the door. She leans against the wall of the cabin next to the door and suddenly from within can be heard shuffling and movement! A moment later there is the sound of muffled screams and the sound of a door slamming!
Eileen: (In a bold, commanding voice) �JASONVILLE POLICE! OPEN THE DOOR!�
Getting no response and still hearing muffled screams from within Eileen slams her body into the door in an attempt to break it down! The door creaks, but does not give. Again she slams her body against the door but again it holds! Paul, having heard the screams as well, runs up and hurls himself at the door with Eileen. A loud crack emanates from the portal and after many attempts and nearly a minute, it finally gives. Eileen draws her gun, the second time in her career, and rushes in.
Eileen: (Shouting out to Paul as she cautiously but quickly rushes in) �WAIT HERE AND STAY OUT OF THE DOORWAY!�
Paul ducks to the side of the door as Eileen enters. She is only inside a moment when suddenly there is the piercing sound of an engine starting in the woods behind the cabin many yards away! Paul barely has time to move as Eileen bolts out the doorway and rounds the cabin. She races to the sound of the motor but is too late! She sees a solitary form, dressed completely in black and obviously a woman, racing away on an ATV with a side car attached. She chases the fleeing vehicle for a moment, but it soon disappears among the trees and down the old fire road, only the roaring sound of the ATV can be heard fading as the suspect gets away. Eileen quickly holsters her gun, relieved that she didn�t need to use it and grabs her radio.
Eileen: (Breathing heavily, flicks the volume up on her radio up and depresses the button) �Detective Wise to dispatch, come in dispatch.� (there is no answer, only static. She moves back toward the cabin, frustrated, trying again) �Dispatch, this is Detective Wise, come in please.� (again, only static)
Eileen angrily replaces her radio, quickly moving back to the cabin. As she heads for the battered doorway she sees that the back window has been opened, giving the intruder her escape. Suddenly realizing that the person making the muffled screams must still be inside, she races around and inside the cabin!
Eileen: (In a take charge tone as she rounds the front of the cabin) �Paul, I am pretty sure it�s safe inside now. Please come in and help me look for whoever made those screams, but please don�t touch or move anything unless I tell you to.�
Paul: (A bit slow to respond, but recovers quickly) �Of course detective. I...I guess I�m just not used to this sort of excitement.�
Eileen quickly looks around the main room of the cabin and notes a door that is closed. She motions to Paul and heads over to open it, afraid of what she may find, but praying for the best.
Eileen: (Cautiously opening the door) �Hello?��is anyone���
She suddenly falls silent as she opens the door fully to see Elizabeth tied to a rolling chair and gagged, her eyes closed and her body unmoving��Eileen gasps a sigh of relief as she sees Elizabeth is breathing and she quickly reaches into the dark, dusty and cobweb ridden closet, wheeling Elizabeth out. She begins untying Elizabeth and Paul moves to help her, obvious concern etched across his features.
Paul: �Is she all right detective?�
Eileen: (Checks Elizabeth�s pulse as Paul continues to untie her) �She seems stable, just unconscious. I�m guessing she passed out from the shock of what just occurred. Help me get her outside in the cool air Paul, maybe that will help.�
Paul and Eileen together easily get Elizabeth outside and gently lay her on the blanket of autumn leaves of the forest floor. Eileen checks over Elizabeth for injuries, thankfully finding none. She gently shakes Elizabeth and speaks in a soothing tone.
Eileen: �Elizabeth��Can you hear me Elizabeth?�
Paul: (In an equally soothing voice) �Come on Elizabeth, wake up. Let us know you�re all right.�
A moment later Elizabeth begins to move. Slowly at first, as if waking from a deep sleep.
Elizabeth: (Blinking her eyes slowly and groggily as if they are assaulted by the light) �Ungh! Wh-Where am I?�
Eileen: (In the same soothing voice) �It�s all right Elizabeth. You�re safe now. Do you know where you are?�
Elizabeth: (Still quite groggy, as if in a stupor) �L-Laura? Is that you? It�s so��b-bright in here.�
Paul: �No Elizabeth, it�s not Laura. It�s Detective Wise and me Paul from the lodge. You�re going to be all right now.�
Eileen: �Take a moment and relax Elizabeth. You�ve been through a lot.�
Elizabeth�s eyes suddenly flare and her arms struggle and flail in an apparent act of fear. Paul and Eileen move to keep her from hurting herself and a moment later Elizabeth passes out again, lying limp on the forest floor.
Eileen: (In a concerned tone) �We have to get her back to the lodge. She is obviously in shock, and we need to get her to the hospital. [looks to Paul with obvious frustration] As I expected, my radio signals can�t make it out of the ravine and over the ridge. [thinks for a moment] I suppose we could do this one of two ways. We could use the cot inside as a makeshift gurney and try to carry her back ourselves or one of us can go back to the lodge and phone for help. My only concern with one of us staying is that the assailant may return, perhaps with help. But taking her up ourselves will be difficult to say the least. [looks to Paul questioningly] What do you think?�
Paul: (Pauses, thinking over the two options) �Well, I think we could manage carrying her up. It may take a while and a bit of work, but as long we are careful around the one difficult area we should do all right, and I am concerned about someone coming back.�
Eileen: �Yes, that probably is the best course of action. Stay with Elizabeth a moment while I do a quick check of the cabin for clues, then I will come back here and stay with her while you bring out the cot.�
Paul: (Kneels down by Elizabeth, putting his jacket over her for warmth) �Yes Ma�am.�
Eileen re-enters the cabin, looking around the main room. She sees little of obvious evidence. Upon moving into what appears to be a simple kitchen she finds a single water glass sitting on a rickety table, next to a bottle of water. Looking closely she can see the faint outlines of fingerprints. She removes a standard plastic evidence bag from her vest, placing the glass inside and then into the largest pocket on the vest. Satisfied, she decides this will do for now and that she will investigate further after Elizabeth is returned to safety. She returns to Elizabeth and Paul, bringing a dusty blanket from the cot to wrap around Elizabeth. Together, she and Paul begin the long task of carrying the incapacitated Elizabeth up the half mile trail and back to the lodge.
End of scene 3
