Director’s Cut

They’re driving down yet another long dusty road in New Mexico and the radio has finally died on them. Lincoln breaks the silence.

“You know when this is all over…” Michael turns to face him, half listening. ”I’m going to write a book”
Michael smiles, “Sure, and this from a guy whose never read one..”
“I’ve read books” Lincoln pretends to look hurt by the suggestion.
“So name one” taunts Michael.
Lincoln screwed his face up in concentration.
“I read tons at school,” he then replied indignantly
“You’re reaching” Michael goaded, a smile deepening on his face
“Let me think for chrissakes”
Michael couldn’t help the smug look on his face
Then with a flash of a smile Lincoln plucked a name out of mid air “Huckleberry Finn”
"All of it?" Questioned Michael
“Well the bits I needed to”
“That’s not the same as reading the whole damn book bro”
“I’ve read other stuff, read a lot when I first got to Fox River” he added as if in explanation
But Michael was enjoying himself now, “What’s the last one you read?”
Lincoln half grimaced, “you’re gonna laugh”
“Try me “replied Michael
“Bridget Jones’ diary”
Michael stifled a laugh “you’re kidding right, a chic flic?
“Yeah well a guy in Gen Pop gave it to me when they transferred me to Death Row, when you know… once it got closer…”he tailed off and they both fell silent , lowering their heads as they remembered again what they were running from.
Lincoln continued his musings
“Not bad though about this English woman..”
“Well I’ve never read it, but a girlfriend made me watch the dvd a while back” Michael shook his head with the memory of both the film and the girl.
Silence again as the road slipped by.
“My book could be kinda similar” murmured Lincoln
Michael turned again with incomprehension written across his face
“It could? Which bit precisely?”
“You know, the diary bit” then adding quickly
“When she adds up what she’s done at the end of every day,
though I’m not bothered about the calories stuff and we haven’t touched any alcohol yet” he sighed wistfully. Lincoln couldn’t remember the last real drink he’d had.

“So I guess mine would be more
Shot at, Twice
Car crashes 4”
Michael smiled and getting into the game added – “FBI agents chasing us -3”
Mobile phones trashed – 6”
“Yeah, something like that” Lincoln replied
Michael looked back out of the window then turned back to Lincoln “You might need some help, writing the book?”
“Yeah I’d get one of those ghost writers; they have all the fancy words”
“Would I get a mention” questioned Michael
Lincoln half smiled as he realised where Michael was going with this.
“Nah, perhaps a bit here and there” he added mischievously refusing to look away from the road.
“Yeah right, but without me it wouldn’t be much of a story Linc. You’re in prison. Then you’re dead” Michael had let those words pass his lips without thinking, caught up in the absurdity of the conversation, but the true horror of what he had just said made him again seek the sanctuary of staring into the darkness, his face colouring up with shame.
“Nah something else would have happened to save me, bound to, I’m the hero of the book after all…” Lincoln’s voice was seemingly unconcerned.
Michael was relieved Lincoln had ignored his crass remark. Then after some seconds of thought.
“Well it wouldn’t matter if I’m not mentioned, since I’m going to write a book as well.”
“Geez no Mikey I've seen the books you read. ‘How the Hoover Dam was built’ kind of books” Lincoln rolled his eyes to underline how poor he thought Michael’s reading choices were.
“Hey there are people out there who would appreciate having the complexities of the escape plan explained to them.” Michael almost pouted at this point.

There was silence again for a few minutes.
“It wouldn’t be just a book, there would be a film, film rights are where the money is nowadays” added Lincoln with a knowing assurance.
“Right Mr Hot Shot Entertainments lawyer” joked Michael
But Lincoln was now deep in thought.
“I wonder who they would get to play me? He’d have to have a great body, and charm, Hmm George Clooney?”
Michael almost sniggered.
“No, I know, that guy who played the gladiator?” suggested Lincoln
“Russell Crowe?” answered Michael
“Yeah that’s the guy! “
“He’s Australian, isn’t he, he can’t play you”
“Well he played an Italian in that gladiator film” responded Lincoln
“Roman” stated Michael matter-of-factly
“Sorry?”
“He played a Roman not an Italian” repeated Michael with a sigh
“Geez Michael like it matters.” Lincoln shook his head in disbelief.
“Well actually, if we’re being accurate I believe the character’s estates were in Spain so he may have been a Spanish soldier fighting for Rome, it happened a lot back then” replied Michael with great satisfaction and now lost in his own internal recollection of the film..
“You’re such a pedant Michael” quipped Lincoln
It was Michael’s turn now to sigh “ I wish I’d never taught you that word Lincoln , you’re so smug when you use it!”
Lincoln turned his face from the road and smiled at his younger brother.
“Takes one to know one?”


“So who would play me, you know in this film of yours?” asked Michael a couple of miles down the road.
Then answering his own question “Ideally, it would have been someone like Gary Cooper,James Stewart or maybe Cary Grant? someone with a bit of class…”
“They’re all dead bro” deadpanned Lincoln
“I know that, but any of those would just be perfect” sighed Michael
“Matt Damon? he’s played geeks before hasn’t he ?” asked Lincoln with a wicked grin on his face
He’s only 5ft tall!” exclaimed Michael indignantly
“So ?”
“Well then you’d need a dwarf to play you Linc, or the comparable heights wouldn’t be right! Someone like Tom Cruise, he’s a shorty.” Michael grinned.
“Okays well Jim Carey then for you, he’s tall!” Lincoln smiled at his own suggestion
Michael just stared at him. “You better not be serious bro” then thumped him playfully on the arm.
Just then a cop car cruised by, both officers turned and stared into the brother’s car. They both pull their caps further down over their faces and try to look casual. The car overtakes them and moves ahead quickly.
Michael looks at Linc “Think they recognised us?”
“Hell no, we look nothing like Russel Crowe and Jim Carey…” smiled Lincoln.


The End