Day 13 Assignments

[Joe Donato]

I find it very gratifying/satisfying that, as I am fleshing out scenes, I discover new ways to deliver on the purpose of the scene, either through plot points, new characters, or dialogue. they often feel more organic/easier than the tangled web that is my initial outline. That affirms my faith in my writing process. I believe these experiences will help encourage me on a subconscious level to confidently “submit to the blank screen” with much less hemming and hawing.

Here’s Act 2, scene 1:

EXT. FARMER’S MARKET – DUSK

Ruth drives the RV to the edge of the road. The long stretch of highway just a few hundred feet away. Chuck opens a gourmet root beer and unwraps a large beef stick.

CHUCK

Ok, according to that other RV guy, there’s a Walmart in about 100 miles, and there’s a gas station in about 20 miles, which is the way were going anyway,

(he points)

that way in case you forgot.

The Mother/son Electric car pulls up in front of them. Ruth waves and signals to her to go in front of her. She waves back while gleefully talking/singing to the car speakerphone.

RUTH

That woman is driving her son to the airport to pick their father so they can spend their first summer in 4 years together ’cause he’s been overseas in Iraq all this time! and she bought that dog for him to help keep that poor boy sane. God bless ’em, I hope nothing stands in their way!

Chuck listens, in between gulps and bites.. until he becomes transfixed on what appears to be the Zombie car steadily approaching.

RUTH

Chuck? Chuck are you listening?

Chuck just points with a trembling finger.

Ruth watches as the Zombie car abruptly turns around and beelines right towards the Zombie car, going East.

Ruth pedals to the floor and follows them… East!

CHUCK

Oh Dear God, what are you?

RUTH

We have to warn her! We have to do something! But are you with me on this?

CHUCK

Do I have a choice?

RUTH

I don’t know do I?

CHUCK

Yes, we can just worry about our own asses and get as far away from that zombie car as possible!

CHUCK

I can’t let anything happen this RV! I can’t let anything happen to you! If that zombie car takes us down, you think I could live with THAT on my conscience?

RUTH

And what if something happens to them, you really think I wanna start retirement with that on my conscience?

Chuck looks at her, struggling with the gamble, she looks back (as much as she can while driving)and sees his devotion. She sighs.

CHUCK

OK I guess we’re doin’ this, but just for the record, now YOU’RE the one being stubborn!

RUTH

That, I can live with.

CHUCK

OK, Ok, God help us.

RUTH

What’s the plan?

CHUCK

Huuhh?

RUTH

What should I do? Tell me what to do?

CHUCK

Really? Ok, huh, I guess we gotta outrun the zombie car and pull up next to her.

RUTH

You mean I’m supposed to drive up to her in the oncoming traffic lane??

CHUCK

(devilishly)

Yesss!

(then more stoic)

so long as there’s no oncoming traffic of course. Do you think you can muster up the courage to pull that off?

He’s interrupted by Ruth flooring it.

She shoots past the zombie car. It doesn’t even notice them.

Chuck signals to woman to roll down her window. She does.

CHUCK

You have to turn off your phone!

WOMAN

What?

CHUCK

You have to turn off your phone!

RUTH

Turn off your phone!

The woman now looks nervous.

CHUCK

That car behind you is an automated car and it’s locked into your phone and it’s pursuing you. If you shut off your phone, and pull over, it will leave you alone and find someone else.

Woman looks at the zombie car in her rearview. She looks at her son who is sleeping in the back seat with the dog cradled in his arms.

she looks back at Chuck and Ruth. Not knowing what to think, she pushes a button on her steering wheel.

CAR VOICE

Who do you wish to call?

WOMAN

Police.

CAR VOICE

Dialing 911. Sorry, that number is not in service.

WOMAN

WHAT?

CAR VOICE

That number is not in service.

Chuck holds his phone out the window.

CHUCK

See! Mine is shut off! Shut yours off. It might be taking over your entire car system!

WOMAN

What? That’s insane!

CHUCK

Why else would 911 be out of service?

WOMAN

Why would anyone even do that?

CHUCK

It’s malfunctioning! Its nothing personal!

The zombie car speeds up.

CHUCK

Look. I have an idea. Take the next exit. We won’t follow you. You can get away from both of us!

The boy wakes up. He looks nervous. The dog barks defensively.

The woman floors it, and starts to pull away from the RV.

As she does, Chuck grabs the edge of the steering wheel and turns it so that the RV moves into the other lane, now acting as a buffer between the zombie car and the woman’s car.

Zombie car tries to pass the RV. Ruth swerves to block the Zombie car until the woman is further away, WAILING with every turn.

Zombie car starts to tap at the bumper. Ruth won’t let it pass.

RUTH

I can’t keep this up much longer.

CHUCK

Hopefully you won’t have to.

Up in the distance the woman has takes the exit.

CHUCK

Keep going straight. Can you promise me you’ll keep going straight?

RUTH

What, no! That car will take her down.

CHUCK

Maybe not, but even if it does, with us out of the picture, the woman might take our advice once she sees that car chasing her.

RUTH

That’s a bit of a stretch. What if you’re wrong? We won’t have time to turn around!

CHUCK

Well, maybe we won’t have to.

Chuck turns his phone on. He drips sweat as it powers up.

CHUCK

If you were right then we’ll be the bait again!

The zombie car slows down a little bit.

the RV passes the exit. Chuck watches, as the RV starts to accelerate again, totally ignoring the exit.

CHUCK

It worked! It’s chasing us again.

RUTH

Woohoo! Wait. Oh bloody hell!

CHUCK

Just a little bit further!

The zombie car speeds up, heading right for them.

CHUCK

Go faster!

RUTH

For how much longer?

CHUCK

Uhhh, 10 seconds. We’ll count together OK?

Ruth floors it, wincing and very tense.

RUTH

Ahhhhahhahahahyahay.

CHUCK

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five

He shuts off his phone.

CHUCK

Four, three, two,

The zombie car stops accelerating.

CHUCK

OK, it worked! Pull over. Let it pass.

Ruth pulls over, the zombie car continues to drive past.

RUTH

YOU’RE DRIVING!

CHUCK

Sure thing.

CUT TO:

RV. HIGHWAY. SAME.

They’ve switched places. Chuck turns the car around and they drive West, into the setting sun.

INT. RV

Chuck looks at the gas gage. It’s approaching EMPTY. The “low gas” alert DINGS.

RUTH

Running low huh?

CHUCK

We should make it.

She sighs heavily.

RUTH

This ONE time, if we run out of gas… you have a good excuse.

CHUCK

You have my blessing to turn your phone on. Look for a gas station with that app the way you do.

RUTH

It’s not so hard to use. I can probably teach you.

CHUCK

You know my thumbs are too big to do that right.

RUTH

And what if the zombie car comes back.

CHUCK

Oh we’re ready for it now. I say bring it on!

They hear a car approaching from the East. They turn to see the Zombie car appear and whips past them, heading West.

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Joe Donato. Reason: forgot to paste the last line