Chappaquiddick Page #19

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INT. VALIANT - DIKE ROAD - NIGHT

Gargan hunches over the steering wheel. Hands at ten and two.

He glances at Ted in the rear view mirror.

GARGAN:

Ted. Where the hell are we going?

TED:

The car has gone off the bridge.

Down by the beach.

(beat)

Mary Jo is in it.

Markham looks to Gargan for how to react. Gargan just stepson the gas. There’s nothing to say.

The car barrels down the road, everyone in total silence.

EXT. DIKE BRIDGE - NIGHT

The Valiant slowly rolls over the bridge. Gargan and Markhamrubberneck, searching the surrounding waters for the crashsite. They see nothing out of the ordinary.

39.

Ted continues to stare ahead, unengaged.

GARGAN:

Where the hell is it?

TED:

It's down there.

The Valiant reaches the other side of the bridge, onto a man-

made peninsula with reinforced wooden sides.

Gargan turns the car around. The headlights shine across thewater and onto the Dike House, the amber hues still visible.

Gargan and Markham's shadowy figures emerge from the vehicle.

They step in front of the car, their silhouettes between thetwo head beams.

They both look down to scan the murky water eight feet below.

Markham first catches a glimpse of the car's shadowy visageunderneath the surface.

MARKHAM:

Holy God.

Markham hobbles with great vigor to the water’s edge,

prepared to dive in for a heroic rescue. He's more than alittle drunk and his knee injury hinders him immensely.

Gargan ably grabs Markham by the tail of his sport coat.

MARKHAM (CONT’D)

We gotta save her!

GARGAN:

Paul, we don’t know how this couldplay out. Going back to the partyin soaking wet clothes limits ouroptions.

Gargan starts to unbutton his dress shirt. Markham follows.

EXT. DIKE BRIDGE - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER

The current flows at a slow pace, in stark contrast to theraging river seen before.

Markham overlooks this from the water’s edge, silhouetted bythe headlights and wearing only his underwear. Gargan, nowshirtless, unfastens his belt and removes his pants.

Markham, determined, takes a flying leap off the peninsula.

He crashes into the water with a drunken belly flop.

40.

Gargan’s head snaps up with concern. He sprints into actionand takes a running jump. He flies over Markham and landsmuch closer to the car.

Gargan cuts through the channel. He arrives at the submergedvehicle not knowing where to start. Far behind him, Markhamflops around with big splashes making little headway.

Gargan steadies himself on the back tire. He stretches hisarm below the surface for a door handle. It’s out of reach.

He takes a deep breath, pushes off the car and dives below.

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