CANTIGA BAY
SYNOPSIS
Maroot, an Army Ranger full of demons from a past war experience, hides out in the mountains of Central California working as a handyman at a local resort motel.
Our story opens as Maroot encounters a motorcycle club at the local general store who are in the area for a weekend camping trip. They are all from the same hi-tech company in Santa Cruz and are well-educated. One of the riders, Gretchen, is an attractive and intelligent woman. There is an immediate attraction between the two. Maroot informs the group the campground they are seeking is closed and suggests a spot only known by locals. Cantiga Bay is a secluded lake, a little hard to find and 40 miles away. They invite Maroot to show them the way.
When the group arrives at this gorgeous mountain lake, they are disappointed to discover four motorhomes already taking up the small remote camping area.
The members of the RV party, five men and one woman, are there to spend the weekend with Senator JT Corde who is running for Governor of California. These members are important financial supporters for the Senator. The Senator wants votes and money while they want to know what the Senator will do for them in exchange for their support.
Disappointed the lake site is no longer available, one of the bikers suggests the RV camp look like covered wagons from the old west set up in a circle and they should ride their bikes one time around them “yelling like Indians” before exiting the area. Most of the other riders think the idea is childish but they decide to go along anyway for the excitement, except Maroot.
The Senator and his attorney friend Frank Ellis are just around the corner from their camp shooting skeet out over the lake. Frank wants the Senator to give him an important position when his team wins the election. JT on the other hand, remembers Frank as an alcoholic and womanizer. When they hear the approaching motorcycles, both run back towards the camp as the bikers ride around the outside of the RV perimeter laughing and yelling. Suddenly one of the Harley’s backfires with a loud bang. Startled, the Senator quickly whips around and fires his shotgun. Frightened, the motorcyclists quickly escape returning to the hilltop overlooking the lake. As the bikers discuss what just happened, one of their wives falls off her bike, dead. Maroot quickly examines her and discovers she was shot in the back.
As the dust settles and the frightened RV campers emerge from their motorhomes, no one really saw what happened except Frank and the Senator. Afraid to say anything, the Senator keeps his mouth shut. Frank takes it upon himself to explain that one of the savage bikers fired off a gun causing the Senator to point his shotgun into the air, fire, and singlehandedly scare off the bikers. He tells them the Senator is a real hero and probably saved their lives. With humility, the Senator looks up at the group and manages a smile.
The nearest help is 40 miles away and the sun is about to set over the mountains. One party has a shotgun, but the other party holds the high ground on the only road leading in and out of the area. They also have Maroot… who unfortunately, decides he doesn’t want to get involved.
— End of Act One