Day 17 Assignment

[Joe Donato]

Joe’s Act 3 reaction to midpoint

I don’t always know when I’m writing where the midpoint and the reaction scenes begin and end, and how much the placeholders hold tight. This scene wasn’t even in the outline like this, but it just flowed out as I was writing, and I think it is a uniquely strong reaction to my midpoint from my protagonist that I wasnt expecting. It is a great scene for the trailer, and for the two actors. I even thought of a comedian that I think would be perfect for the protagonist.

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!

Chuck begins to drive.

INT. TESLA

the Kid watches the RV drive away. He winces and puts his head back in surrender to the elements. Then he opens his eyes again and watches the RV drive away.

He sees the passenger side window open and Ruth’s arm waving a small cooler bag. She drops it as they drive off. His demeanor changes.