The Big Tomorrow
Scene: It is a clear starry night, three-quarters moon. Norwood
Fitzmeyer sits under a maple tree on a grassy knoll in the back yard of
his house, wiping his rifle with an oil rag and drinking Rebel Yell
whiskey straight from a 2-liter square glass jug. He has a clear view
into his bedroom where his estranged wife, Lila, and his best friend,
Herb, are having a romantic tryst. The windows are closed, but there is
no curtain. In natural light there are only some moving shadows.
Looking through the rifle's night scope, we can see considerable
detail, all in shades of green. Note: Entire sequence is interlaced
with close-ups from inside the bedroom which Norwood could not see, but
could imagine. Close-up shots are in B/W grayscale to distinguish them
from night scope shots in green tint.
Norwood strokes the rifle, drinks, and sings softly to himself:
"it was long ago you sent me away/but it seems like just yesterday/as I
stand here outside
your window tonight/drinking the blues away."
Norwood sights through the night scope into the bedroom, singing:
"what are those shadows I see?/are they you and me or you and he?/No
matter, sweetheart/we'll soon be together/again in the big
tomorrow."
Norwood watches the green night scope figures of Lila and Herb engaged
in lovemaking and sings:
"Take a deep breath my beloved;/ It will be your last,/ as I stand here
outside/ your window tonight,/I promised your end will be a
blast."
Sounds of gunshots as Norwood fires repeatedly into Lila and Herb.
Glass shatters. Blood sprays against walls. Skull and brain fragments
hit wall. Lila and Herb die. Norwood lays the rifle down on the grass,
leans back against the tree, drinks whiskey from jug, hums, sings to
himself:
"it was a moment much like any other,/ as I squeezed my finger back/
and let loose your fate:/ No fear: no rage: no anger: no hate./just the
crisp report /of the almighty power/ saluting at my command."
Sounds of police sirens approaching, lights in neighbor's houses turn
on, people shouting. Norwood finishes the whiskey and stands, holding
Magnum pistol, singing:
"So here I stand,/ as the sirens approach,/shaken,/ but to remorse not
stirred,/as I guzzle down one last shot/ of liquid courage,/aiming to
blow those old blues away."
Sounds of cops running into house and into back yard. Norwood calls out
loudly:
"Farewell my beloved,/ 'til we meet again in the big tomorrow."
Norwood raises pistol, puts muzzle in mouth. Police searchlights find
Norwood, lighting him up against tree as Police shout "Freeze", Norwood
pulls trigger and blows hole in head. Blood, brains, skull fragments
collide with tree trunk. Norwood collapses.
