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Day 15 Assignments
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OK I confess, I did not outline this scene. I just rolled with the conflict, knowing what needed to happen on a dramatic level. So in that sense, the ending WAS outlined… in my head. A bunch of interesting stuff happened because of that, that is staying true to the outline and the “shift in meaning”. I also found myself breaking one of my initial rules that i was going to try to obey: not having the antagonist talk until the very end. But then this scene happened, and it feels good. I was reading facts about Jaws, and how many people are surprised to learn that the shark doesn’t get revealed until the midpoint of that movie, but nobody is complaining about that. The movie still works despite that. It’s actually a strength of the movie. So in that sense, waiting until halfway through the movie to reveal him to the protagonists was an accomplishment enough. I think it’s time to show the shark, lest I’m tempted to “jump the shark”.
INT. RV – CONTINUING
RUTH
Who is he, do we know him?
CHUCK
Never seen him before in my life.
RUTH
Maybe he needs help.
CHUCK
Oh he definitely needs help. Maybe he should have thought of that before he unleashed his zombie car. You know, the one we just destroyed.
RUTH
Maybe we should try to hide?
CHUCK
Maybe we should run him off the road into a ravine.
RUTH
Dear God Charles! It’s just a kid!
CHUCK
A kid that’s been terrorizing us for the past 2 days. I’m sure he’s over 18. 18 year-olds have no legal claim to being “just a kid”. Wish I had a gun.
RUTH
What?
CHUCK
So I could take out his tires.
RUTH
Of course, of course. That’s sooo your style.
CHUCK
Fine, you can mock my ignorance about cross country road rage all you want but I’m not afraid of stupid confused college kid.
RUTH
Maybe you should be. The confused ones are the worst kind!
CHUCK
Are you really going to sit there and try and pretend you’re not terrified right now! Especially after these past few years? What kind of a husband would I be if I just sat there and tolerated that kind of harrassment?
The Tesla is much closer now.
CHUCK
You know its people like him that made me retire early. They’re taking over! There’s no harmony in the workplace anymore. They may be taking our jobs, but I’m not letting them take our leisure! The roads are still ours. I’m not going to hide, I’m not going to run! I’m not going to be treated like a plaything anymore. If someone has to teach this kid a lesson it might as well be us.
The kid’s Tesla is right behind them and is dangerously close: tailing the RV at 70 mph.
Chuck slows down on purpose.
INT. TESLA – CONTINUING
The kid is furious. Weaves left and right. He slams the horn.
CHUCK
Look at him. He’s seriously agitated now. My driving must be gettin’ under his pimply hormone-raged skin.
RUTH
I know that feeling!
The kid veers into the other lane and he drives up next to the RV.
Chuck does not speed up.
CHUCK
Oh good. We finally get to see his inexperienced entitled little face and his 1st-world problems.
RUTH
Charles you have NO IDEA what’s going in that kid’s head. Please be the adult here.
CHUCK
Oh, you don’t think I’m being the adult huh? I Tell you what, I’ll give him a lecture right now.
The kid is driving right next to them now. Chuck observes him calmly.
CHUCK
Well, I don’t see any guns. That’s not like your kind is it?
Chuck rolls his window down, but from the RV driver’s seat, Chuck is too high to see the kid.
CHUCK
I know you’re in there! Apparently your parents never taught you manners huh?
INT. TESLA – CONTINUING
The kid watches and listens to Chuck from the video feed from the right side of the car.
CHUCK
I’d tell you to call me but I decided its better to just destroy my phone along with your zombie car, especially now that you’ve taken it over. I already cancelled all my credit cards. But I got cash now. But you know what else? I’m not afraid no damn punk Gen Z. Got that?
THE KID
(to himself)
OK, boomer.
The kid turns a hard right, right into the side of the RV and holds that position.
Chuck fights to stay on the road. The two cars veer all over the road as Ruth wails and wails.
Chuck is smiling, and still has the window open.
CHUCK
I might be old and drive an outdated gas guzzler, but you know what kiddo? I’m still bigger than you! Get off my road!
Chuck holds his position as the road curves right.
The Tesla can’t compete. It veers into the desert sagebrush, and flips.
KID IN TESLA
The kid’s face turns white and wide-eyed with genuine fear as he spins out of control in a cloud of dust.
it crashes into a cactus, pinning the kid’s door shut. He sees the RV stopped.
CHUCK IN RV
CHUCK
This.
(puts it in park)
Ends.
(turns keys)
Now.
(opens door)
KID IN TESLA
He sees Chuck approaching as he continues to struggle to get the car to move. Chuck continues to approach with a disturbingly casual stroll.
He gets to the passenger side of the Tesla and peers in. He mockingly makes a gesture to the kid to roll the window down.
The kid just shakes his head no.
Chuck sighs and puts his hands up in a mocking “you win, I surrender” pose. Then looks around. Nothing but desert in all directions.
He starts to walk around the car, examining it.
He tries to pry open the gas tank plug. But no success.
He climbs onto the back bumper and bounces up and down. He starts singing.
CHUCK
Born to be willld! Boooorn to be wiilld!
He jumps off.
INT. TESLA
The Kid watches as Chuck approaches each of the cameras and smashes them with a rock, one at a time, filling the kid with an unhealthy mix of rage and helplessness.
With all his screens black, and all kinds of warnings on the car going off, the kid looks through all the windows, but has no idea where Chuck went.
He finally starts to open the window. All he hears is the soft stillness of the desert wind. And then
THUMK
Chuck appears not unlike a Twilight Zone gremlin on the wing of a plane.
the kid jumps, giving Chuck affirmation that he can scare him straight.
CHUCK
Now you listen to me. Leave us the hell alone. Yes that’s a damn threat you worthless waste of otherwise perfectly good stardust! Save it for your video games.
The kid just sits there, staring at him stonefaced.
CHUCK
You got anything at all to say for yourself?
The kid remains silent and becomes eerily stoic.
CHUCK
Nothing at all?
KID
Kill me.
CHUCK
What?
KID
Kill me. I want you too. Just like you killed my car. That was everything I worked for for the past 2 years. Now I got nothin. Nothing to live for. Especially with the world you’re leaving us.
Chuck takes a step back, banging into the cactus.
KID
I mean, you’re killing us all anyway. Instead of dying slowly over time, why not just take me out right now. It’s poetic justice!
CHUCK
You’re serious?
KID
I think so.
CHUCK
Now you listen to me punk, I got a wife and it’s my one mission to get her to the coast so she can see her family and start retirement. I’m damned if I’m gonna let you mess with my head after everything we’ve been through!
CHUCK
It’s nonsense. You’re delirious from all this dry air.
KID
I’ll tell you what. I’ll make a deal with you.
CHUCK
Wha?
KID
If you make it to the coast, you win, and I’ll leave you alone. But if you don’t… I win.
CHUCK
You win what?
KID
I just win. Because you lose.
CHUCK
You need help kid.
KID
Then help me. Help me get out of here.
Chuck hesitates.
KID
Don’t trust me do you?
CHUCK
Hell no. Trust has to be earned.
KID
Yeah, that goes both ways don’t it?
Chuck leaves him.
KID
(continuing; yelling)
You can’t kill me? And you can’t help me? OK boomer! It’s on!
CHUCK
I’m not a boomer you moron.
Chuck walks back to RV.
INT. RV
Chuck climbs into driver’s seat and starts the car.
RUTH
You’re leaving him stuck like that?
CHUCK
He’s delerious! He can’t be trusted. Once you have a signal again, we’ll call the police, they’ll come and get him.
RUTH
Does he have water?
CHUCK
I’m not going back there to check!
Chuch begins to drive.
INT. TESLA
the Kid watches the RV drive away. He sees the passenger side window open and Ruth’s arm waving a bottle of water in the air. She drops it as they drive off.
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