based on a true story

by Christopher Blizzard

FADE TO:
EXT. BUSY STREET – DAY

We see a 4-door sports sedan pull out of a driveway onto a busy two lane road. It cuts across two lanes of traffic to get into a left turn lane and makes a u-turn into the other direction. On the corner where the u-turn takes place there is a gas station. The car continues past the station.

CUT TO:
INT. CAR – DAY

We see a woman and a man. The man is driving and the woman is in the passenger seat. The woman is about six months pregnant and is wearing a heavy winter coat. The man is also wearing a winter jacket and a floppy winter hat that needs replacement and does nothing to enhance his image.

SHONA

Hey, you just missed that gas station. Why didn’t you stop? That gas light is still on.

CHRIS

Basically because I’m an idiot. We’ll stop at the next one. It’s just over the next hill.

20 seconds pass and they drive along in silence.

CUT TO:
INT. CAR – DAY

Image of the gauges on the inside of the car. It is picking up speed to about 45 miles an hour when all of a sudden all the engine lights come up – orange, red, everything. The tachometer drops to zero.

CUT TO:
INT. CAR – DAY

Camera on both of their faces from outside. Man is scowling, woman looks concerned as well.

CHRIS

Or, I could run out of gas right now.

SHONA

Great.

The woman is rolling her eyes at the man.

CUT TO:
EXT. CAR – DAY

Car pulls over, rolls to a stop and turns on its hazards.

CUT TO:
INT. CAR – DAY
CHRIS

I guess I’ll be right back.

SHONA

Uh-huh.

CUT TO:
EXT. CAR – DAY

Man gets out of car, crosses behind it with cars whizzing by, climbs over the girder and starts a walk of shame back to the gas station.

DISSOLVE TO:
BLACK