REINDEER GAMES

                        RUDY
           He did love you, you know. Nick.
           He did love you.

                        ASHLEY
           Who wouldn't.

So cold. But Rudy doesn't pause.

                        RUDY
           Maybe this is where you wanted him,
           Ashley. At the bottom of a ravine,
           dead as ice with a burnt-up heart.
           Maybe. But it didn't happen. 'Cause
           what you did for him was make him
           the happiest held ever been. You
           showed him hope and taught him mercy.
           And he died a peaceful man. You
           wanted to destroy some convict ...
           and all you did was save his soul.
           Remember that. Love your money and
           remember that.

Ashley shivers, a touch shaken. But steels herself:

                        ASHLEY
           Merry Christmas, Rudy.

                        RUDY
           I'm glad it was me.

                        ASHLEY
           Merry Christmas.

                        GABRIEL
           Get in the car.

Gabriel hauls him up. Marches him to the trailer. Rudy stops at the
ramp. Gabriel pushes. Rudy doesn't move.

                        GABRIEL
           Get in the CAR!

                        RUDY
           How'd you know my name...

He turns back to Ashley.

                        ASHLEY
           What?

                        RUDY
           Rudy. How'd you know my name?

                        ASHLEY
           What are you talking about?

Rudy looks at Gabriel. He's frowning. To Ashley:

                        RUDY
           You said Merry Christmas, Rudy.

                        ASHLEY
           I ... you told me your name was
           Rudy. You told me a million times,
           back in the truck, telling me
           you weren't Nick--

                        RUDY
           No--

                        ASHLEY
           You were screaming you weren't
           Nick! And we just didn't fucking
           believe you!

                        RUDY
           But I never said Rudy.

                        ASHLEY
           You said it a million times!

                        RUDY
           I never told you my name.

He stares her down. Then stares at Gabriel.

                        GABRIEL
           Ash?

                        RUDY
           How'd you know my name was Rudy.

                        GABRIEL
           Ash?

                        RUDY
           How'd you know my name.

Ashley stares daggers. Shakes her head ruefully--

                        ASHLEY
           Men.

--and pulls a handgun, SHOOTING Gabriel in the heart.

Gabriel falls to his knees in the snow, his mouth a ring of shock.
Blood spurts through his red coat. He stares at Ashley,
incredulous.

She steps forward and PUTS another bullet in his neck. Gabriel
falls still.

Ashley's breath frosts in the cold.

Rudy watches her. Finally, she meets Rudy's eyes. They stare each
other down for a long moment, before:

                        RUDY
           Where is he.

A silence.

No one moves.

And finally, the CRUNCH of footsteps from around the side of the
trailer. And WHISTLING. "Silver Bells."

A shadow moves across the snow behind the trailer, and soon steps
into Rudy and Ashley's view.

It's Nick Mason.

Alive and well.

                        NICK
           Merry Christmas, Rudy.

Ashley smiles. Her muscles-and-mustache man pen pal is here.

                        NICK
           I missed you, beautiful.

                        ASHLEY
           I missed you too, Nicky baby.

They share a passionate kiss. Ashley malts at the sight of him,
embracing happily. Then turns to Rudy:

                        ASHLEY
           For your information. I never
           fuck the wrong guy.

Rudy just stands there, his mind playing catch-up.

                        NICK
           Oh, hey. Have you two been properly
           introduced? Sweetness, this is Rudy
           Duncan, I did almost a year with
           him in the Mountain. Read him all
           your letters, talked about you all the
           time, made him feel like he really
           knew you.
                 (turns to Rudy)
           My friend ... wantcha to meet Millie
           Bobek. 'Member Millie Bobek, dontcha?
           My girlfriend fore I went in? Worked
           at that bar in Motor City, where I
           manslaughtered that guy? Hell. Didn't
           talk about her much once the Ashley
           letters started coming, I guess.

Rudy doesn't notice it's started to snow.

                        NICK
           Millie here used to serve drinks to
           these gunrunning truckers, real big
           talkers, talking bout a real score
           one day. I was in the Mountain, man,
           what the hell, why not let her get
           friendly with 'em? Let her tell 'em
           an idea she had, 'bout writing guys
           in prison. Getting one who could
           show 'em a sure thing.

                        RUDY
           She set them up. All of them.

                        NICK
           Why not have her pretend to find me?
           Pretend to write me and reel me in?
           Tell her new trucker-man she'd pose as
           some sister of his named Ashley?

                        RUDY
           And you set me up.

                        NICK
           Always wanted to rob that casino,
           Rudy. way back when I worked there.
           What better way than to get some guys
           to rob it for me.

Nick shrugs. Prods Rudy up the ramp. Into the trailer:

                        NICK
           Paid the Alamo ten bucks to put the
           shiv in me. He's a lifer, what does
           he care. Paid a hospital guard fifty to
           put out the story I was dead. Once the
           wound healed up ...
                 (notes cash-sacks)
           Got out of the Mountain this morning.
           And tonight I'm  a rich man.

                        RUDY
           How'd you know I'd do it.

                        NICK
           Do what?

                        RUDY
           Walk outta there and tell her
           I was you.