Paul on bleachers

...as Paul looks up with a slight start, jarred from his

reading to find WARDEN HAL MOORES standing before him.

HAL

I interrupt?

PAUL

I'm just about done.

Paul stows the file as Hal settles onto the bleachers.

PAUL

How's that pretty gal of yours?

HAL

Melinda's not so well, Paul. Not

so well at all. Got laid up with

another headache yesterday. Worst

one yet. She's also developed this

weakness in her right hand.

PAUL

Doctor still think it's migraines?

Hal gives a slight shake of his head.

HAL

I'll be taking her up to Indianola

next day or so for some tests. Had

X-rays and the like. She is scared

to death. Truth to tell, so am I.

PAUL

If it's something they can see

with an X-ray, maybe it's

something they can fix.

HAL

Maybe.

He pulls a letter, hands it to Paul.

HAL

This just came in. D.O.E. on

Bitterbuck.

Paul glances toward Bitterbuck, scans the letter, nods.

PAUL

You didn't come all the way down

here just to hand me a D.O.E.

HAL

No. I had an angry call from the

state capital about twenty minutes

ago. Is it true you ordered Percy

Wetmore off the block.

PAUL

It is.

HAL

I'm sure you had reason, but like

it or not, the wife of the

governor of this state has only

one nephew, and his name happens

to be Percy Wetmore. I need to

tell you how this lays out?

PAUL

Little Percy called his aunt and

squealed like a schoolroom sissy.

(Hal nods)

He also mention he assaulted a

prisoner this morning out of sheer

petulance? Broke three fingers on

Eduard Delacroix's left hand.

HAL

I didn't hear that part. I'm sure

she didn't either.

PAUL

The man is mean, careless, and

stupid. Bad combination in a place

like this. Sooner or later, he's

gonna get somebody hurt. Or worse.

HAL

You and Brutus Howell will make

sure that doesn't happen.

PAUL

Easy enough to say. We can't watch

him every minute, Hal.

HAL

Stick with it. May not be much

longer. I have it on good

authority that Percy has an

application in at Briar Ridge.

PAUL

The mental hospital?

HAL

(nods)

Administration job. Better pay.

PAUL

Then why's he still here? He could

get that application pushed

through...hell, with his

connections, he could have any

state job he wants.

Hal has no answer. Paul look off toward Bitterbuck.

PAUL

Tell you what I think. I think he

just wants to see one cook up

close.

Hal follows Paul's gaze, takes his meaning.

HAL

Well, he'll get his chance then,

won't he? Maybe then he'll be

satisfied and move on. In the

meantime, you'll keep the peace.

PAUL

Of course.

HAL

Thank you, Paul.

Hal rises, slapping yard dust off his trousers.

PAUL

You give Melinda my love, okay? I

bet that X-ray turns out to be

nothing at all.

Hal walks off looking like he's got the weight of the world

on his shoulders. Paul looks at the letter again...