Tarnished Armor
Part 121

Outside of the roadside bar.

A few people mill around.

Belinda’s car pulls up.

Adrian jumps out of the car. Liza rolls down her window. Adrian turns to her.

Adrian: You remember what I said. Stay in the car.

Adrian goes to the people outside of the bar.

Adrian: What’s going on?

Man: You don’t want to go in there.

Adrian: What happened?

Man: Well, the old man got a few good ones in, but there’s no way he’s going to make it through this fight.

Adrian runs towards the bar. Liza opens her door.

Belinda: Liza!

Belinda opens her door.


******


Inside the bar.

The trucker quickly throws a punch to Adam’s eye and an uppercut to Adam’s chin. Adam tries to throw a punch. The trucker grabs Adam’s hand and bends Adam’s arm behind him. Adrian enters.

Adrian: Chandler!

The trucker clubs Adam’s left ear.

Adrian notices the bartender on the phone. He goes over and hangs up the phone.

Liza enters.

The trucker throws Adam to the floor and kicks him in the ribs.

Liza: Adam!

Adam turns his head towards Liza and looks at her, horrified.

Adam: No!

Adrian hurries over to the fight.

The trucker looks at Liza for an instant.

Then Adrian lifts the trucker off the ground. Adrian turns to Liza.

Adrian: Get out of here. And take Adam with you.

Liza hurries to Adam. She looks at his face, and then touches his chin.

Liza: Adam?

Adam: You go.

Belinda enters.

Adrian throws the trucker to the ground.

Adam struggles to get to his feet.

Liza tries to help him.

Adrian lifts the trucker off the ground and throws a strong uppercut to his chin.

Liza turns to look. The trucker gets up. Adam stands. Liza turns back to Adam, and then gets a sudden stunned look on her face. Adrian kicks the trucker’s feet out from under him.

Liza slowly turns and faces the trucker.

Liza: You’re ... no.

Liza begins to back away.

Liza: You --

Adam: He’s nobody.

Adrian turns to Belinda.

Adrian: Get them both out of here.

Belinda: Adrian?

Adrian: Just do it.

Belinda goes to Adam and Liza, and leads them out of the bar.

Adrian: Okay, tough guy. How tough are you?

The trucker struggles to get to his feet.


******


Outside of the bar.

Belinda opens the door. Liza helps Adam out of the bar.

Liza leads Adam to the car. Adam leans against it.

Liza is shaking. She turns to Adam.

Liza: What were you thinking?

Adam turns his face away from her.

Liza: Oh, Adam.

Adam: Two grown men. It took two grown men. And you were ...

Adam turns to face Liza.

Adam: I’m so sorry. I thought I could ... and I couldn’t ...

Liza looks back towards the bar.

Adrian strides out of the bar.

Adrian: Get in the car.

Belinda opens the door to the back seat.

Adam looks towards the bar.

Adrian: Get in.

Adam looks at Liza. She’s still staring at the bar. Belinda goes over and touches Liza on the shoulder.

Liza looks at Belinda. Then she gets in the car.

Belinda helps Adam into the car, so that he’s sitting next to Liza.

Adrian opens the passenger’s seat and gets in. Belinda goes to the driver’s seat and gets in.

The car pulls away.


******


Belinda’s car.

Adrian and Belinda are in the front seat. Liza and Adam are in the back.

Adrian: That’s two hundred bucks so the bartender forgets our faces.

Belinda: Does someone want to tell me what went on back there?

Adrian: What happened was my man Adam had a game plan. And I’m a little late and he totally blows his cool.

Liza looks at Adam. Adam doesn’t speak.

Adrian: It was supposed to be a warning. That’s all. A warning. And then you systematically destroy his life. Wasn’t that what you said? But what happens? Tarzan can’t wait ten seconds.

Everyone is silent for a moment.

Adrian: And you, Liza. Did I not tell you to stay in the car?

Adam: Leave her alone.

Adrian: You people are so damned intent on doing your own thing. I’m surprised you’re not dead.

Liza touches Adam’s ear. He winces.

Liza: Sorry.

Adrian: You should be. Because this is the last time I’m saving your sorry hides.

Adam turns to Liza.

Adam: I’m sorry.

Adrian: An apology from both Chandlers. This must be some kind of record. But I want them in writing.

Liza and Adam glance at each other. Then they both look away from each other.