Twas The Night…

INT. FIREHOUSE KITCHEN, BRAMBURG STN 2 – EVENING

HANK (V.O.)
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring--not even a mouse.

SAM BRACZNYCK sits down at the table in the firehouse kitchen with his cup of coffee.  MIKE BOSTON walks up behind him and drops a piece of paper from a message pad in front of him.

SAM
What's this?
MIKE
Message from Troy.  He's knocked off sick today.  Said something about "We Knee".
SAM
I'd hope that boy has one. Last I knew, he was a he.
MIKE
No, man. It's from that damn video game his old lady got him.

JOLENE "HALOGEN" PIZAMIGLIO enters and grabs a soda out of the refrigerator before sitting at the table.

SAM
Any excuse for that boy to try to get out of coming to work.
HALOGEN
Troy's not coming in?
SAM
Knocked off sick.
HALOGEN
Damn, man, we're running shorthanded this shift.
MIKE
Looks like us three unless Kat can swindle some more folks in.
SAM
Hell, they'd probably do it for her. Hank hates to give out overtime. Kat's ass is on the block for this one, not mine.
MIKE
You really blame her, though?  This weather is shitty enough.
HALOGEN
Yeah, Hippie, if it weren't for all the down line calls that the vollies had early this morning, there'd be absolutely nothing to do.

Sam and Mike nod in agreement as EMILY "HUSH" LONGILIERE makes her way to the table.

MIKE
Well, there's half of the "gruesome twosome". Where's JAFO?
HALOGEN
She's back in Maryland for the holidays.
MIKE
Sucks to be her.
SAM
Could be worse. She could be stuck up in Wisconsin like Hector and Julio. They've got snow up to their scrotums up at Ft. Henry.
HALOGEN
Don't curse her like that, Samuel!
MIKE
Yeah, Sam, she could be kneecap deep in ice.
HALOGEN
Exactly.
SAM
At least she get to spend it with her kid.
HALOGEN
Where's Nikki?
SAM
Tending to a "sick" Troy.  Who are we kidding? She's playing that damn video game with him.

Sam gets up from his seat and exits the kitchen toward the apparatus bay. As he passes by the window, stockings are seen hanging on the wall around the window.

HANK (V.O.)
The stockings were hung around the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

INT. FIREHOUSE APPARATUS BAY, BRAMBURG STN 2 - EVENING
Sam enters the apparatus bay from the kitchen and opens the bay door. He then sits down on the bumper of Engine 1 and lights a cigarette, taking a long drag.  While Sam leans back against the engine, the STATION PHONE RINGS. With a groan, Sam gets up to answer the phone.

SAM
(into phone)
Bramburg station 2, Bracznyck.
(pause)
Hey, pumpkin, what's going on?
(pause)
Oh? What did you get?
(pause)
Cool. You getting the little ones ready for Santa to come?
(pause)
All right, you have fun.
(pause)
I love you, too. Bye.

Sam hangs up the phone and flips his cigarette out of the open bay door. Sam goes back to the engine and sits on the bumper, taking another cigarette out of his pack. Hush enters the apparatus bay from the kitchen and walks over to the engine, placing her arm around Sam.

HUSH
Hmmmmmmmmmmm?
SAM
That's what I'm hoping not to do tonight. Remember where we were this time last year.
HUSH
Ugh!
SAM
Exactly. It's always "nice" to go to a double fatal on Christmas eve, then go back on Christmas day to do the investigation.

Hush gives Sam a kiss on the cheek and a light hug before starting toward the kitchen. She tugs on his arm as she starts walking.

SAM (CONT'D)
I'll be down in a minute, Emily.

Hush smiles and walks down the stairs to the station's kitchen, with Sam watching her depart the apparatus bay. When he watches her close the kitchen door behind her, Sam turns and looks forward out of the engine's bay.
 

EXT. BRAMBURG STATION 2 - NIGHT
Shot of Bramburg Fire Department station 2 at night.

INT. FIREHOUSE CLASSROOM BRAMBURG STN 2 – NIGHT

HANK (V.O.)
The children were nestled, all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Sam, Mike, Halogen, and Hush lay scattered through the station's classroom, using tables and chairs for makeshift beds. Sam snores loudly, covered by one wool blanket, while using a second one for a pillow. Halogen sleeps soundly on a table using her bunker coat as a blanket.

HANK (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Momma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

Mike sits up and hoists the suspenders of his bunker pants over his shoulders and makes his way through the dark classroom. He enters the office and makes a sharp turn into the upstairs bathroom of the small fire station, closing the door behind him.

MIKE
(sighing, through door)
Oh, yeah, about a gallon of soda and water.

The TOILET FLUSHES as Mike makes his way from the bathroom back into the dark classroom to the chairs he set together to sleep on. He lays down as the STATION FIRE TONES sound followed by the DISPATCHER.

DISPATCHER (O.S.)
(over radio)
Attention all firefighters, 108th Station 1; rescue squad is needed on Airport Road for an accident with unknown injuries. Attention all firefighters, 108th Station 1; rescue is needed on Airport Road for an accident with unknown injuries. Time out, 0105.

Sam, Mike, Halogen, and Hush stir and start waking up as the STATION OVERHEAD SIREN sounds. Hush walks over and turns on the light switch for the classroom.

HANK (V.O.)
When from out on the ground arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Sam, Mike, Halogen, and Hush exit the classroom into the apparatus bay.

INT. FIREHOUSE APPARATUS BAY BRAMBURG STN 2 – NIGHT

HANK (V.O.)
Away to the window I flew with a flash, tore open the shudders and threw up the sash.

Halogen jogs over to the button to open the engine's bay as Mike and Hush climb in the back of the engine's cab. Sam enters the passenger seat of the cab as Halogen returns and climbs into the engineer's seat of the engine. Halogen releases the parking brake and starts to pull the engine out of it's bay in the station.

SAM (O.S.)
(over radio)
Dispatch, Engine 2 is on the way.
DISPATCHER (O.S.)
(over radio)
Engine 2 on the way.

Engine 2 turns out of the station's driveway onto one of the main streets in Bramburg.

INT. ENGINE 2 CAB – NIGHT

Halogen reaches up and rubs her eyes as the engine approaches the accident scene. She looks over at Sam and back at the scene.

HALOGEN
Sam, I know it's late. Just please tell me that those are not DEER up ahead.
SAM
Can I lie to ya?
HALOGEN

Sure, it's Christmas.
SAM
Those aren't deer. They're housecats wearing styrofoam.
HALOGEN

That's what I thought.

Sam reaches over and picks up the radio microphone.

SAM
(into radio)
Dispatch from Engine 2
DISPATCHER (O.S.)
(over radio)
Engine 2.
SAM
(into radio microphone)
Can we get animal control over here on Airport Road. There are several large deer in the road. Engine 2 on scene.
DISPATCHER (O.S.)
(over radio)
Engine 2 on scene. Will call animal control for several large deer in the road.

EXT. AIRPORT ROAD ACCIDENT - NIGHT
Halogen parks Engine 2 so it is obstructing traffic as Sam, Mike, and Hush climb out of the cab. Sam scratches his head before putting his helmet on. Sam has a puzzled look on his face as he makes his way over to the POLICE OFFICER trying to maintain control of the scene.

HANK (V.O.)
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

Scattered along the road are eight (8) male deer wandering on the street outside of a semi with an open livestock trailer. The truck collided with a small hatchback car, banging the car up pretty good. The car is facing against the direction of traffic with its airbag deployed.

SAM
All right, what the hell do we have here?
POLICE OFFICER
Merry Christmas to you too, Sam. Looks like one of Santa's freaking roadies fell asleep at the wheel and Bambi's brothers got loose.
SAM
Lovely.

Sam walks over to Mike, dodging deer pellets left on the road as he reaches him.

SAM (CONT'D)
Freaking Bambi got the god damn runs. What you got for me, Mikey?
MIKE
Truck driver's not complaining of any injuries.

Sam looks up toward the cab of the truck.

HANK (V.O.)
With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.

Sam goes over to the car, looking over at Halogen and Hush.

SAM
(to Halogen)
What do we have here, ladies?
HALOGEN
Forty year old female pretty shaken up. Said the truck blind sided her while she was turning onto Airport Road.
SAM
Just freaking beautius. Think it's going to be a refusal?
HALOGEN
Airbags deployed, I doubt it.
SAM
Okay, you and Hush get her packaged for the bus when they get here.
HALOGEN
108th hasn't rolled yet?
SAM
Not yet. We'd see them by now.
HALOGEN
Got it, boss.

Sam makes his way back to the engine. He notices Hush hurriedly climbing up to the pump panel to retrieve the spine board from under the deluge gun of the engine.

SAM
Hush, take your time. No sense in another person getting hurt.

Hush slows down and easily removes the spine board from its resting place. She smiles at Sam while she reaches into one of the rear compartments of the engine and retrieves a cervical collar and a set of head blocks. Sam lets out an exasperated sigh as he sits down on the front bumper of the engine and pulls his pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket. As Sam takes a long drag of his cigarette, NICK (older, white haired man with a white beard and a good middle age spread) the truck driver comes over and sits next to Sam. The two start talking as Sam takes his helmet off and places it on the bumper next to him.

NICK
Rough night?
SAM
Rough several nights. Mother Nature really has it in for us this year.
NICK
Pissed her off that bad, eh?
SAM
Somebody must have. Went from a hot summer to a really rotten winter. We've been working ourselves to death the last few nights.
NICK
Almost makes you want to stay home.
SAM
Almost. Being back at the station with a hot cup of joe would work just as good, though.
NICK
Yeah, but this time of year, you should be with your family. I'm sure they miss you.
SAM
They do, but they understand. Besides, I've got some family with me tonight.
NICK
(chuckling)
I noticed that little lady was a little sweet at you.
Sam cracks a grin.
SAM
That she is, sir. That she is.
NICK
Well, sorry to bug you, Mr. Bracznyck. You've got someone in that car to take care of, and I have all these deer to get back together.

Nick stands and takes his leave from Sam. He starts to call for the deer and wrangle them to the trailer.

HANK (V.O.)
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:  "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Sam extinguishes his cigarette and gets up from the bumper of Engine 2 to help the older man retrieve his deer.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

EXT. AIRPORT ROAD ACCIDENT - NIGHT
A large, black lab sniffs around Engine 2 for a few minutes. It starts at the rear driver side tires of the engine and makes his way to the pump panel before climbing into the open door at the back of the engine cab. The dog then makes himself comfortable in the center two seats of the back of the cab and lays down to sleep.
Sam closes the back door of 108th Medic 1 and starts toward Mike and Halogen on the curb. He reaches into the pocket of his bunker coat and pulls out a cigarette and his lighter. Sam lights his cigarette and watches as the ambulance pulls away from the accident scene.

HALOGEN
(exhausted)
Time to go home yet?
SAM
Yep, let's go and get us some shut eye. Night ain't over yet and I can already feel it.

Sam, Mike, and Halogen walk to the Engine. When they get to the rear bumper, they hear Hush squealing and "baby talking". They also hear a loud, rhythmic thumping coming from the back of the engine cab.

HUSH
(cooing)
Awwwwww....goodboy...such A good boy.

Sam makes his way around the engine and looks in the back of the engine cab. He sees the dog rooting his nose under Hush's hand, begging for attention.

SAM
Well, Hush, I don't know whether I should be happy for you of jealous of him.

Hush looks at Sam, then at the dog, the back at Sam. She blows a raspberry at Sam and pulls the door to the back of the cab closed.

MIKE

Well, looks like I'm sharing the back seat with another dog. God I love this game!

Sam and Halogen look at Mike with shocked expressions.

HALOGEN
Don't look at me. I'm just driving.

Sam and Halogen make their way to the front of the engine cab and climb in.

SAM (O.S.)
Dispatch, Engine 2 is clear from Airport Road. 108th transporting one to St. Jonah.
DISPATCHER (O.S.)
(over radio)
Engine 2 clear, 108th transporting one to St. Jonah.

Halogen starts the engine lumbering down the road back to the station.

EXT. BRAMBURG STATION 2 – NIGHT

Engine 2 backing into it's bay at Station 2

INT. FIREHOUSE APPARATUS BAY BRAMBURG STN 2 - NIGHT
Mike, Sam, Hush, Halogen, and the dog climb out of Engine 2. Mike, Hush, and Halogen make their way back to the classroom while Sam and the dog remain in the bay.

SAM
(to humans)
I'll be in there in a minute. I'm going to get some coffee.
(to dog)
Looks like it's just us. What are we going to do with you when the shift is over?

The dog just sits by Sam, its tail thumping on Sam's boot.
Sam stands and starts down the stairs toward the station's kitchen, with the dog following close behind. Sam gets most of the way down the stairs when he stops suddenly as he hears something strange on the station roof.

HANK (V.O.)
As dry leaves that before the wild winds fly, when they met with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the housetop the coursers they flew, with a sleight full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

Sam starts back up the stairs, almost tripping over the dog. He stops about two-thirds of the way up the stairs when he sees a familiar face.
The face he sees is the truck driver from the call they just returned from.
Nick is now in a Santa Claus suit covered by a fair amount of soot. He has a pipe in his mouth and takes a few puffs as he fills the stockings hung around the window outside the classroom.
Sam just watches with his jaw dropped.

HANK (V.O.) (CONT'D)
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; a bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the now. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a round little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

Nick turns his head toward Sam and winks.

HANK (V.O.) (CONT'D)
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

Sam slowly makes his way to the top of the stairs.

NICK
Looks like your family just grew by one, Sam. Nikki will love him. You got that sweet little lady in there. I think she likes you.
SAM
(shocked)
You're...
NICK
In the flesh, sorry about the mess on Airport Road. I'm not really used to driving a truck, you see.
(deep chuckling)
You've been too hard on yourself this time around, Sam. Tiara's in a much better place, now. You just have to let her go, you're going to be fine.
SAM
I've trying to, but...
NICK
You've been trying too hard to, son. You put too much on your plate trying to let her go.
SAM
I know.
NICK
You've got a couple of ladies that want you to know that they can't take her place, but they don't want to see you tearing yourself apart.

Sam takes a ragged sigh and leans against the wall.

NICK (CONT'D)
I've got to finish my rounds, not much time left. Just think about what I said.

Nick smiles and places one more item in Sam's stocking. He then places his finger alongside of his nose and nods.

HANK (V.O.)
And laying a finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they flew like the down of a thistle.

Sam lets out a sigh and starts back down the stairs, talking to the dog as he opens the kitchen door.

SAM
Well, let's get you something to eat and me a cup of coffee.

INT. FIREHOUSE CLASSROOM BRAMBURG STN 2 – NIGHT

Sam enters the darkened classroom with the dog in tow. Sam makes his way back to the table that he was using as a makeshift and lays down. The dog lays down on the floor between Sam's table and Hush's table.

HANK (V.O.)
And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight...
SAM
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Sam pulls the blanket back up over him and tries to go back to sleep.
.
END OF EPISODE

This special blog entry/episode of Cavalry is ©2008 John Broyles.  All Rights Reserved.  This is also covered under the copyright for The Cavalry Is Coming and Gains and Losses.