Before we get to the story, a little explanation.

My wife and I were taking our first road trip without our kids, and as I drove, the story wrote itself. Many of the normal things that C&S did, our family did as we cruised Route 66 back 11 years ago.

This story was written to be a fourth season episode, somewhere after "Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat" which I had not seen when I started. Of course, some elements showed up in "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock". Rather than re-write the whole thing, I thought it might be interesting to hear how people think it was handled.

The opening chapter, Sinnerman, is based on the song "Sinnerman" done by Nina Simone. I had not heard it for a few years and as I listened, it wrote the opening to this story.

By the way, this episode started as a production script, then as spec script and then modified yet again for here. I just didn't have the heart to rip the production elements from the Sinnerman. We tried to tie the action to the song.

This is the first piece of fiction I have ever written. Any feedback would be appreciated. Help me out, leave something in the reviews. Love it or hate it. And maybe why? Please. Thanks!

EXT: UNKNOWN LOCATION - NIGHT.

Close up on Casey, illuminated only by light on phone.

CASEY: We need an extract immediately! A half click North of my position! Out!

PULL BACK.

Music overdub; Nina Simone – "Sinnerman" 'Oh Sinnerman, where are you gonna run to?'

Man running down the street. Just enough light to make out that it is Casey.

Music overdub; "Sinnerman" 'The rock cried out, I can't hide you.'

Hostile Men chasing Casey, firing weapons, close but ineffectual.

Casey turns and returns fire with a machine gun. Three fall. Casey turns and continues running.

PULL FURTHER BACK

Hostiles in foreground in pursuit of Casey in the distance. Moroccan style houses frame shot.

INT: UNKNOWN LOCATION – WELL LIT

Sarah and Chuck, running around corner, both with side arms. No Tranq gun for Chuck.

Close Up on Chuck and Sarah shows they are disheveled, sweating and showing minor facial scratches.

Music overdub; "Sinnerman" 'I run to the sea, it was bleedin'.'

Close up on Chuck and Sarah. They are leaning on each other, eye to eye, and against the wall. Breathing hard. Together.

SARAH: Do you have the chip?

CHUCK: Yeah.

Taps flak jacket pocket between two flashbangs.

CHUCK: Do I look as bad as you?

Chuck gently strokes the scratches on Sarah's face.

SARAH: (sarcastically) That's a great thing to say to your girlfriend!

She points to his arm. Blood is staining his shirt.

SARAH: Are you hit?

CHUCK: No, it just nicked me.

Sarah checks her gun clip.

SARAH: I'm out. You?

CHUCK: And you said I carry too much.

Chuck slaps a full clip into Sarah's hand.

From off-camera, loud yelling and running footsteps are heard in the distance.

CHUCK: Who are those guys?

SARAH: (smiling) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?

CHUCK: Very good! Let's just hope its Casey and not the Federales waiting for us outside.

Pause.

CHUCK: Kid?

SARAH: Yeah?

CHUCK: I love you.

SARAH: I love you too, Butch.

Sarah kisses a scratch on Chuck's face and pulls him away from the wall towards the other end of the hall.

PAN BACK. Down the hall. Several guards are in pursuit.

Chuck reaches the double doors at the end of the hall, with Sarah close behind. Chuck pulls door open and Sarah rushes by.

EXT: NIGHT

Sarah emerges onto balcony. She hops over the wall.

Angle from street as Sarah lands on an awning and rolls to the ground in a crouch.

Music overdub; "Sinnerman" 'I run to the sea, it was boilin'.'

Close up on Sarah as a guard immediately sets upon her. She loses her gun and they fight close quarters.

PAN UP TO BALCONY

Chuck is about to follow Sarah when the guards inside begin firing at him. He has to move to other side of the balcony, unable to jump.

INT: SAME HALL - continuous

Guards rapidly approaching, continuously firing. Most shots hit wall by Chuck's head.

EXT: ON THE BALCONY - continuous

Chuck crouches, holding gun pointing upwards. He takes a quick peek. He pulls back. Readies himself, lowers gun and faces back inwards.

INT: THE HALLWAY - continuous

He fires seven well-placed shots at the walls hurting no one. Debris showers over guards forcing them to drop to the floor. He tosses in a flashbang.

EXT: ON THE BALCONY - continuous

Chuck sees a wire running diagonally from above him to the ground. He tests it, removes his belt, wraps it around the wire, steps up onto the top of the balcony wall and slides to the ground. [ NO FLASH ]

A very loud explosion can be heard from the hallway above.

EXT: ON THE GROUND

Chuck grabs a pole holding up the awning.

The guard, back to Chuck, lands a solid blow to Sarah's face, sending her to the ground.

OFF CAMERA, Chuck yells "Sarah!"

Music overdub; "Sinnerman" 'I cried'

The guard turns towards Chuck…

Music overdub; "Sinnerman" 'POWER!'

…and is rewarded with a blow to the head with the pole.

TIGHTER SHOT on Chuck as he bends down over Sarah and turns her over. There is blood all over her face. She is unconscious, but alive. He struggles to pick her up as Casey arrives from behind.

CLOSE UP on Casey

CASEY: I've called in for an extraction. They should be waiting for us around the corner.

Casey hands his machine gun to Chuck and picks up Sarah. He begins to run to the street corner with Chuck covering the rear.

PAN BACK to show Casey's followers have caught up. They fire at our heroes. Chuck turns enough to return fire and continues running. He sees Casey has been hit, stumbling, dropping Sarah. Chuck hands the gun to Casey and picks up Sarah. Chuck continues to the extraction point, leaving Casey. Casey is moving, slowly, limping, firing.

Site of waiting chopper. Hearing the gunfire, the extract team is on the ground heading towards Chuck. He urges them around the corner.

CHUCK: (yelling) Casey is down.

Pause.

CHUCK: Around the corner. No man left behind and all that.

Chuck hands Sarah off to the remaining chopper crew. He grabs a machine gun from the chopper, checks it and heads back towards Casey. Protect Sarah Mode.

INT: CHOPPER

The pilot is getting the chopper ready to take off. The sound of the blades slowly turning can be heard. They speed up.

EXT: BY THE CHOPPER

The extract team has Casey, grabs Chuck, and they all climb/fall into the chopper as it lifts from the ground.

Close up on Chopper crewman firing Gatling gun at the guards on the ground. Casey looks jealous.

EXT: Silhouette of unlit Chopper against clearing, moonlit night sky.

INT: CHOPPER

CASEY: How is she?

Close up on Chuck. No response, just grim-faced.