CELIADid you ever love me?

(Cody shrugs lightly. The girl wipes her eyes.

The sound of several tires driving on the gravel outside shatters the deafening silence of the room. Again, headlights flash through the window, shining on CELIA’s aged face like a spotlight. This time they are accompanied by the red and blue flashes of sirens.

After a moment a LOUDSPEAKER can be heard from outside. The voice is low and thick with a Mexican accent.)

LOUDSPEAKERCody Laughlin! Are you in there?

(CODY and CELIA don’t move, they just stare blankly.)

LOUDSPEAKER (CONT’D)Laughlin! Release your captive, Celia Vasquez, come quietly!

(CODY looks over his shoulder, to CELIA who is staring into the headlights.)

CODYThey’re here for you.

CELIAFor us.

CODYI am sorry... About all of this.

CELIAYou know, I was looking at that painting over there.

(CODY looks at the painting.)

I’ve spent every day of my life in the middle of this damn desert- sixteen years. Not once have I seen a sunset that looks anything like that.

(sniffs)Life always looks so beautiful in a small frame on somebody’s wall, captured there... frozen. But it isn’t like that at all. It isn’t that simple.

(pause)It’s a lie... the colors in that picture...

CODYCelia-

CELIAYou aren’t sorry. You’re just you. Who you always were. Who you’ll always be.

(Cody opens his moth to speak, but a word won’t come. Just a final sigh of surrender. The two share a silence. Their world in crumbles around them.

CODY stands, slides the pistol into the waistband above the rear of his jeans.)

CODY(motioning to the mess on the bed)

You better pack the rest of your clothes.

CELIA(standing slowly)

I don’t want them anymore.

(CODY walks to the table, pours another shot.)

CODYOne more drink?

(CELIA shakes her head, straightens her gown, looks out the window. The LOUDSPEAKER whines with feedback.)

LOUDSPEAKERPlease put down all firearms and make your way to the door!

CODYOne helluva misunderstanding.

2.