Rebel Treasure second post

INT. BEN’S CAR – DAY
Pulled up to the pump at a turnpike gas station, Ben rolls down his window.

                                                   BEN
(to the attendant)
Fill her up.

                                       ATTENDANT
Didn’t I see you on Jeopardy?

                                      BEN
(startled)
Why, yes.

                                     RILEY
(from the backseat)
What are you, psychic? That won’t be aired til next month.

                                      ATTENDANT
Oh, I was there. I could have been a contestant but messed up too.

The attendant steps away.

                                       BEN
But there really was a Gray Whale.
I have an ancestor, Alonzo Turner, who commanded her.

A figure across the gas-pump island, catches Ben’s attention. It’s AGENT SADUSKY. Sadusky touches two fingers to his temple in salute. Ben ignores him.

                                       RILEY
Hey, isn’t that that FBI agent?

Before Ben can answer, the attendant returns.

                                       ATTENDANT
That’ll be…uh…30 dollars.

Ben whips out two bills, and returns his gaze to straight ahead.

MOMENTS LATER
Agent Sadusky watches Ben’s car as it exits the gas station, and smiles.

ON THE ROAD
Ben’s grim focus remains riveted on the road ahead.

                                       BEN
He’s been following me, off and on.

                                      RILEY
Officially?

Ben doesn’t answer. Riley tries again.

                                      RILEY (con’t)
What gives? You cheat on your taxes or something?

Riley switches his inquiring gaze to Abigail.

                                     ABIGAIL
Non-officially, just letting him know that he’s still suspect.

                                    RILEY
Suspect? Suspected of what?
(dawning comprehension)
Not that missing shipment?
(Abigail nods)
I thought that was a government snafu.

                                       BEN
You got that right. I was the one to identify that particular section of the treasure trove as being from the defunct Confederate Government at the end of the Civil War.

                                             RILEY
And anything Confederate got turned over to the US Government. So?

                                             BEN
They interpret my long time identifying it as an indicator of personal interest.

                                             RILEY
Meaning?

ABIGAIL
He’s a person of interest.

Ben’s knuckles whiten as his grip tightens on the wheel.

DISSOLVE TO:

[next pt 3]

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