Breakdown
Scene 4
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Tom’s Gran Torino moves down a two-lane road that winds through a rural landscape.
INT. TOM’S CAR
Tom drives, Denise rides shotgun.
DENISE
And every night this mist would rise up from the lake and strangle the birds from the trees.
TOM
My god. That’s awful.
DENISE
Isn’t it?
TOM
It’s a miracle you’ve turned out as normal as you have.
There is a brief stretch of silence. Tom concentrates on driving. Denise looks out the window.
DENISE
Did you watch it yet?
TOM
You know I don’t have a DVD player. I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy. VHS all the way.
DENISE
You can get a DVD player for like fifty bucks you know.
TOM
Why don’t you get one for like fifty bucks?
DENISE
I’ve had mine for three years. And believe me, it cost more than fifty bucks.
TOM
Miss moneybags.
DENISE
I’ll tell you what. When we get back I’ll cook you a nice dinner and we can watch it at my place together.
TOM
I’ll have to get it back from Dave.
DENISE
You lent it to Dave?
TOM
He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
DENISE
You wouldn’t have done that if you knew how much it meant to me.
TOM
I know. I know. I’m sorry. I really am. I’ll call him and tell him to not let it out of his sight.
She looks out the window suddenly.
DENISE’S POV
In the distant field a goat is standing on top of a cow.
BACK TO SCENE
DENISE (CONT’D)
Oooh. Do you see that?
TOM
I’m trying to keep my eyes on the road, here. I can’t be gazing off into the distance.
(beat)
What was it?
DENISE
It was just like in the movie. A goat standing on top of a cow. It’s got to be some sort of sign, Tom. It’s just like in the movie.
TOM
The Gray Rainbow.
(beat)
You’ve never told me about it.
DENISE
There’s nothing to tell. You simply have to see it. You’ll be able to see where it was filmed first. That’ll be fun for you.
TOM
Bagoda Bay, eh?
DENISE
Bagoda Bay.
TOM
A girl who likes scary movies. I hit the jackpot when I found you.
DENISE
You sure did.
EXT. ROAD
Tom’s car approaches a sign that reads “Welcome to California.”
INT. TOM’S CAR
TOM
We made it.
DENISE
I could kiss you. If you weren’t driving.
TOM
No need to worry. There’s no one like me behind the wheel.
Denise lunges toward Tom and kisses him. He jerks the wheel.
TOM
Oh, shit.
EXT. ROAD
Tom’s car swerves into the other lane, narrowly avoiding an oncoming car. The oncoming car sounds the HORN and takes the shoulder to get out of the way.
INT. TOM’S CAR
TOM (CONT’D)
Holy shit.
DENISE
Sorry.
TOM
Be careful, for chrissakes.
EXT. GAS STATION
Tom’s car is parked at the pump.
INT. GAS STATION
Tom is at the counter paying for gas and buying bottled water. An EMPLOYEE, a man with long, greasy hair, works the register.
EMPLOYEE
Anything else for you?
Tom takes two packages of peanuts from a counter display and adds then to his purchases. He waves a fly away.
EMPLOYEE (CONT’D)
(to fly)
Knock it off, Roland. Don’t bother the nice man.
TOM
‘Scuse me?
EMPLOYEE
They like my tie.
INSERT - EMPLOYEE’S TIE
His tie is a thin strip of beef jerky. A fly is crawling on it.
BACK TO SCENE
The employee bags the groceries.
TOM
Armani?
EMPLOYEE
Slim Jim.
Tom throws his money on the counter, takes the bag, and walks off.
EXT. GAS STATION
As Tom walks to his car, his cell phone RINGS. He looks at the display.
INSERT - CELL PHONE
The display reads “Denise Calling.”
BACK TO SCENE
Tom answers.
TOM
(into phone)
Hey, where are you?
MYSTERIOUS VOICE (V.O.)
Have you seen it yet?
TOM
(into phone)
Seen what?
MYSTERIOUS VOICE (V.O.)
Cross the threshold. You’ll flatten out nicely, yes.
Tom hangs up. He checks the car for Denise, but she is nowhere to be seen.
TOM
Denise?
Tom walks toward gas station. The women’s room is around the back of the building.
EXT. WOMEN’S RESTROOM
Tom knocks on the door.
TOM
(calling out)
Denise? You in there?
He pushes the door slightly open.
TOM (CONT’D)
Denise?
There is no answer. He pushes the door open a bit more. Suddenly, a deer bursts out of the restroom with loud BANG. Tom jumps back, collects himself, and enters the restroom.
There is a NUDE WOMAN, nondescript and young. She covers her breasts and pubic area with her hands. Her hair is disheveled and her makeup is smeared. She steps back as Tom approaches.
TOM (CONT’D)
I’m sorry.
NUDE WOMAN
Don’t go.
TOM
I’m looking for someone.
NUDE WOMAN
Don’t watch it. Don’t watch it and don’t go. If you’ve already seen it, fight it. Fight it and don’t ever go.
TOM
It’s very important. She’s about this tall. Brown hair.
The Nude Woman lunges at him, suddenly turning violent.
NUDE WOMAN
(with venom)
You’re not listening to me!
She claws him across the cheek. Tom pushes her away and runs out the door with his hand over his cheek.
EXT. GAS STATION
Tom inspects his hand.
INSERT - HAND
It is bloody.
BACK TO SCENE
Tom has deep red scratches across his cheek.
Tom walks around the premises calling for Denise.
TOM
Denise! Denise!
ROAD
He trots to the shoulder and looks both ways. He notices the a sign on the roadside.
SIGN
The sign reads, “Welcome To Bagoda Bay.”
