Breakdown Page #12

EARL:

You gotta be the dumbest

motherfuck yet. You think we

picked you out of the blue? New

car, Massachusetts plates -probably

be days before anyone

misses you. Hell, you shoulda got

the bumper sticker that goes with

it:
’Rich A**holes Looking for

Trouble!’

He tucks the pistol in his belt. Jeff looks at him,

seething.

Jeff tries to squirm free. Earl sees it and belts him

across the temple. Jeff slams into the passenger door,

wincing.

EARL:

I’d have loved to see the look on

your face when that car seized up.

(mimicking panicked

driver)

Help, help, I ain’t got no power!

Earl laughs. Jeff has come to rest with his back against

the door. By contorting his arms, he is able to draw the

letter opener from his pocket.

He manipulates the letter opener into position and begins

cutting the duct tape that binds his wrists.

(CONTINUED)

69.

CONTINUED:

Steering with one hand, Earl reaches into the envelope,

pulls out a packet of bills and waves it in Jeff’s face.

Jeff saws faster at the duct tape.

EARL:

You know what I’m gonna do first

with your money, boy? Well, do

you?

Jeff glares at him.

EARL:

(fluttering bills

under his nose)

I’ll give you a hint. Only one

thing smells better than money.

You wanta guess what?

Earl laughs obscenely. He riffles the bills under his

nose again, then stops abruptly, frowning. He looks down

at the bills.

EARL:

What the hell?

Earl stares at the bills. Jeff works feverishly behind

his back. Earl pulls out another packet, then another,

examining the bills.

EARL:

These are... it’s nothing but

singles...

(erupting)

You lyin’ sonofabitch!

There is a RIPPING SOUND. Jeff wrests his hands free and

lunges across the cab. He plants the letter opener in

Earl’s shoulder!

EARL:

Aaagghh!

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD -DAY

The pickup veers across the center line on the narrow

mountain road. It swerves back, over-correcting wildly,

and drifts for the opposite shoulder.

INT. PICKUP -DAY

Jeff seizes the pistol from Earl’s waistband. Earl

flails and knocks the pistol from his grasp.

(CONTINUED)

70.

CONTINUED:

The pistol flies onto the floor.

Earl uncorks a vicious backhand. Jeff’s head snaps

sideways. He grabs Earl by the arm and twists sharply.

Earl howls!

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD -DAY

The pickup careens back and forth across the treacherous

roadway.

INT. PICKUP -DAY

Jeff gropes on the floor. His hand closes around the

pistol and he swings it at Earl --crack! Earl’s nose

erupts! Jeff reaches across and jams his foot on the

brake.

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD -DAY

The PICKUP SCREECHES and comes to a halt straddling the

road.

INT. PICKUP -DAY

Jeff swings the pistol into Earl’s face --crack! Earl

tries to fend off the blows. Jeff creams him again -crack!

INT. TOW TRUCK -DAY

A TOW TRUCK DRIVER traveling in the opposite direction

pulls to a stop. He gawks at the two men struggling in

the pickup.

INT. PICKUP -DAY

Jeff aims the pistol at point blank range. Earl is a

bloody wreck. His head lolls groggily.

JEFF:

Where is she, goddammit? What’d

you do with her?

Earl sneers. Jeff is about to slug him again when he

notices the two truck parked across the road, the driver

staring out.

(CONTINUED)

71.

CONTINUED:

Jeff swears and wrestles Earl into the passenger seat.

He seizes the roll of duct tape and binds Earl’s wrists,

then passes the tape under his legs so Earl is

effectively hog-tied.

He then slams Earl back in the seat, circles his neck

twice with tape and wraps the free end around the base of

the passenger side headrest. Earl begins to gasp for

air.

The Tow Truck Driver gets out and approaches.

TOW TRUCK DRIVER

Hey! You there!

Jeff gets behind the wheel and throws the pickup into

gear.

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD -DAY

The Two Truck Driver leaps out of the way as the pickup

surges forward, tires smoking. He stares open-mouthed

after the departing vehicle.

INT. PICKUP -DAY

Jeff drives, one hand on the wheel, the other brandishing

the pistol at Earl.

JEFF:

Where is she?!

EARL:

(barely able

to breathe)

F*** you!

Jeff swings the pistol. There is a crack of exploding

teeth! Earl’s mouth erupts with frothy blood!

JEFF:

You like that? How about this?

Jeff hits the brakes. Earl is thrown forward, letting

out a strangled cry as the duct tape chokes off his

windpipe.

JEFF:

Four wheel anti-lock brakes, you

sonofabitch! You want to try ’em

again?

(CONTINUED)

72.

CONTINUED:

He hits the brakes again, harder.

protrudes from his lips, choking.

Earl’s tongue

His face is red.

JEFF:

How about an emergency stop? You

want to try that, Earl? Where is

she?

EARL:

I don’t know!

JEFF:

F*** you, you don’t!

He slams the brakes again. Earl’s eyes bulge

sickeningly. He is being choked to death.

EARL:

Stop!

JEFF:

Is that what you want? You really

want me to stop? ’Cause I bet

this baby stops on a dime!

CUT TO:

INT. POLICE CRUISER -DAY

Traveling in the opposite direction, Sheriff Boyd is

returning toward town. As he rounds a bend in the road,

he sees -

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD -DAY

The Ram driving erratically and weaving back and forth

across the road.

INT. POLICE CRUISER -DAY

The sheriff reacts.

SHERIFF BOYD:

What the hell?

EXT. HIGHWAY -DAY

As the Ram passes, Sheriff Boyd throws the cruiser into a

SCREECHING 180-degree turn. He flicks on the SIREN and

takes off in pursuit.

73.

INT. DODGE RAM -DAY

Jeff glances in the rearview mirror. The cruiser is on

their tail, SIREN WAILING, lights flashing. He swears

and pumps the brakes in a series of rapid bursts.

JEFF:

End of the line, Earl! How about

it? You gonna tell me?

EARL:

She’s with Billy.

JEFF:

Yeah? Where’s that?

EARL:

I don’t know! Driving around!

Jeff hits the brakes again.

INT. CRUISER -DAY

Sheriff Boyd jerks the wheel to avoid a collision with

the pickup as it slows and accelerates in rapid spurts.

SHERIFF BOYD:

(on radio)

Repeat, I am in pursuit of a Dodge

Ram pickup. Request back-up,

repeat, request back-up!

EXT. HIGHWAY -DAY

The cruiser pulls up alongside the pickup...

INT. CRUISER -DAY

Boyd reacts in amazement to what he sees -

SHERIFF BOYD:

Jesus Christ -

(on radio)

Dispatch! Suspect identified as

one Jeffrey Taylor, repeat,

Jeffrey Taylor!

Boyd taps his brakes, falling back behind the pickup.

INT. PICKUP -DAY

Jeff is wild-eyed.

(CONTINUED)

74.

CONTINUED:

JEFF:

Where were you taking the money?

EARL:

(losing it)

To the truck stop...

JEFF:

Where?

EARL:

Main highway... Texaco...

Jeff has the information he needs. He slams on the

brakes!

INT. CRUISER -DAY

Sheriff Boyd swerves to avoid a crash as the RAM

SCREECHES to a halt in front of him!

EXT. HIGHWAY -DAY

The cruiser skids to a stop. Jeff leaps from the pickup

with the pistol in his hand. He rushes toward the

cruiser. Sheriff Boyd hops out, levels his service

revolver.

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