Breakdown Page #5

EARL:

(flatly)

Nice car.

Jeff is in an awkward position. He’s got a half-full

upside-down bottle of oil in his hands. If he lifts it

now, he’ll spill on the engine. He turns his gaze back

to the engine, decides to keep pouring.

JEFF:

Thanks.

Earl steps around to the open passenger window, peers in.

Jeff watches him, wary.

(CONTINUED)

13.

CONTINUED:

EARL:

Air, C.D., leather --I guess you

sprung for the whole nine yards.

JEFF:

I guess.

EARL:

Then again, out here, what you

really need’s a C.B. radio.

JEFF:

Is that right?

The oil bottle empties out. Relieved, Jeff pulls it away

and screws back on the crankcase cap. He shuts the hood

with a thunk and moves around to the side of the car to

remove the gas nozzle from the tank. Earl blocks his

path.

EARL:

’Course, if you use a C.B., you

gotta have a handle.

Jeff says nothing. This is not a friendly conversation.

EARL:

How about Sh*t-for-Brains?

(beat)

You damn near killed us back

there, boy.

JEFF:

Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.

You pulled out in front of me.

EARL:

The hell I did. I saw what

happened.

Looking past Earl, Jeff sees Amy come out of the minimart

with a bag of groceries. He speaks carefully,

anxious to avoid a confrontation.

JEFF:

How about if we just forget it,

okay? I’m sorry it happened. I

don’t want any trouble.

EARL:

(snorting)

Yeah. I bet you don’t.

(CONTINUED)

14.

CONTINUED:

Earl glares at Jeff before turning away. He passes Amy,

gives her a broad smile.

EARL:

Howdy, ma’am. Caught this fellow

tryin’ to steal your Cherokee.

Amy takes in the situation. She nods politely. Earl

continues into the mini-mart. She approaches Jeff,

puzzled.

AMY:

What was that about?

JEFF:

Nothing. Guy in the truck.

Thinks I tried to hit him.

Jeff glances apprehensively at the man in the pickup, who

has not moved during the scene. He looks back at the

mini-mart.

JEFF:

C’mon, let’s go.

AMY:

You want me to drive?

JEFF:

Later. Just get in.

AMY:

Is something wrong?

JEFF:

No, let’s just go.

Jeff climbs in behind the wheel. Amy glances at him and

gets in the car. Jeff keys the IGNITION and pulls away.

INT. CHEROKEE -DRIVING -DAY

As Jeff steers back onto the highway, he glances in the

rear-view mirror, sees -

MIRROR POV:

Earl coming out of the mini-mart, staring after the

disappearing Jeep.

(CONTINUED)

15.

CONTINUED:

Jeff shifts in his seat, relieved to be getting away from

there. Amy watches the speedometer as it climbs to 75,

then 80, then 85.

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