Day 19 Assignment

[Joe Donato]

I’ve been confused about where the turning point begins and ends, because it changes a little bit each time i re-read it. I find I’m very non-linear and have to move forward into Act 4 to find out where my moments of dramatic change really land right. For now, Its at least at 20 percent, so I’m moving on, and I’ll let everything else get fixed in the rewrite.

EXT. HIGHWAY ON HILLY TERRAIN – EVENING

The kid speeds down the highway in his Saturn. Las Vegas city lights appear in the distance.

A state highway patrol car approaches in the opposite lane. The sirens turn on as it approaches him. But then it passes.

He breathes a huge sigh of relief as a mix of sweat and a tear rolls down his face.

INT. RV – NIGHT

CHUCK

What am I supposed to do, just sit here and rot? I don’t get a chance to redeem myself?

RUTH

If you go hitchhiking at this hour, and leave me all alone?

CHUCK

Are you absolutely sure you’d prefer to stay here?

Ruth looks around.

RUTH

Everthing we own is right here. We took a gamble and packed it all up and sold everything else. Are you absolutely sure you should leave me here alone?

BANG, RUSTLE from outside. The RV shifts a little bit.

CHUCK

That! What the hell was that?

SNORTING and other Pig sounds from outside.

Chuck opens a small window and shoves his head out to see a pack of wild pigs, ravaging the leaking septic system tank.

CHUCK

Shoo, get!

He spies a scorpion crawling up the side of the RV. He pulls his head back in and shuts the window, letting the hogs win.

CHUCK

I don’t know what’s next. Coyotes, I suspect.

RUTH

Can they get in the cabin?

CHUCK

Not the pigs or coyote, but a mouse or other small rodent, or a snake chasing a mouse or other small rodent might crawl through the holes.

He locks the window tight.

RUTH

(shaky voice)

Well, when I was growing up on the farm, we never worried about rodents in the summertime because it wasn’t cold enough to make them want to escape the outside.

CHUCK

OK. Lets go with that.

He wipes sweat from his brow. He looks around. He opens the fridge. He grabs the last can of beer.

CHUCK

I could’ve sworn we had at least one more bottle of water.

RUTH

Maybe it got lost in the crash.

CHUCK

Did the fridge pop open? Is there anything else missing?

RUTH

All I know is I didn’t drink it. Would’ve had to pee hours ago if I did.

CHUCK

Are you sure you don’t blame me? Are you really sure?

She looks right at him.

RUTH

(stoic, gingerly)

Oh sweetheart, I dont’ blame you. How could you have stopped this? How could you have known? You were defending us. And you were so brave. I don’t blame you at all.

Chuck straightens his spine and takes a guzzle with pride.

As he does, Ruth turns away wincing, and punches a pillow. She returns to the gingerly look just in time before he looks back her way.

He crawls into the bed with her and puts his arms around her.

CHUCK

OK, here’s the plan. Lets try to get some sleep, and in the morning, if we’re still alive, first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot, we’ll walk to the main road and flag down help.

RUTH

And if he comes back before then?

CHUCK

Why would he come back? he won.

RUTH

OK, I’ll try to go with that.

They lie down, but their eyes are wide open. The hogs are still digging away outside.

CHUCK

You don’t deserve this.

RUTH

Nobody deserves this.

CHUCK

Not even me for failing you?

RUTH

Are you here? right now, in my arms? Talking to me? Then guess what, you haven’t abandoned me. therefore you haven’t failed me. You only failed yourself.