G.F.

[El Crab]

CUT TO:

EXT. WHEAT FIELD, HEIM FARM, MISSOURI, DAY

The date appears in white lettering:  July 16th, 1874

Heim and an older man work quickly in the field.  They 
are covering the crops with blankets and sheets.  The 
old man is Heim's father, JACOB.  He looks at Heim.

		JACOB
	This isn't enough.

Jacob looks towards the house.

A younger man runs out of the front door with an armful 
of sheets.  He is Heim's younger brother, BILLY.

		JACOB
	Is that it?

Jacob shakes his head before Billy can respond.  He knows 
the answer.  

		JACOB
	What about in town?

		BILLY
	Mason's store has been 
	picked clean.

Jacob walks a few paces away.  His shoulders slump.

All three of the men in the field look up at the road.

A black carriage moves slowly up the road, adjacent to 
the field.  A pretty young woman in a dark dress drives 
the carriage.  She looks directly ahead, her eyes cast 
slightly downward.  She holds a bible against her chest.

A portly old man in preacher's garb sits next to her.  
He clutches the reigns.

The carriage stops.  The preacher hands the reigns to 
the young woman.  She hands him the bible.  The preacher 
stands up in the carriage.  He raises his arms into the 
air, and shouts to everyone and to no one.

		PREACHER
	When I shut up the heavens so
	that there is no rain, or command
	the locust to devour the land, or
	send pestilence among My people, 
	if My people who are called by My 
	name humble themselves, and pray 
	and seek My face, and turn from 
	their wicked ways, then I will 
	hear from heaven, and will forgive 
	their sin and heal their land.
				

Heim stares at the figures in the carriage.  Jacob walks 
to his horse and returns with a shotgun.

		JACOB
	Move along, father.  

The preacher sits back down in the carriage.  He again 
exchanges the bible for the reins with the young woman.

The carriage jerks and moves again.  The woman leans 
forward and peeks at the men in the field.  

The carriage moves over a rise, out of sight. Heim stares 
blankly at the now-empty road. He takes his hat off.

		JACOB
	Ok, back to work. Those
	'hoppers are still coming.

Heim still does not move. He still stares down the now-empty 
road where the carriage once was.

		JACOB (cont.)
	Son.

Heim snaps out of his daze and turns to look at his father. He 
nods and puts his hat back on.

The three men get back to work.	

[El Crab]

Anyone?