Breakdown Page #18

YARD:

Amy and Jeff run for the Ford F100 utility truck --an

aging blue-collar workhorse equipped with side-mounted

toolboxes and a lumber rack bearing a ladder.

IN FORD:

Jeff keys the ignition. The ENGINE SPUTTERS. Amy whips

around to see the Peterbilt bearing down from the side.

AMY:

Jeff, go! Go!

(CONTINUED)

104.

CONTINUED:

Jeff turns the key. The ENGINE CATCHES! He throws the

Ford in gear and floors the gas.

The Ford shoots out of the Peterbilt’s path!

HIGHWAY:

The FORD PEELS OUT of the driveway and joins the road,

spewing exhaust. It’s an old vehicle that doesn’t

maneuver well.

IN FORD:

Jeff mashes the gas pedal. The ENGINE STRAINS,

BACKFIRING. Amy looks back, sees the Peterbilt joining

the road.

AMY:

Can’t this thing go any faster?!

A SHOTGUN BLAST SHATTERS the passenger WINDOW! Amy

screams as glass showers the cab. Jeff swerves wildly.

JEFF:

What the f***?!

He swivels his head right, sees -

FIREBIRD:

kicking up a cloud of dust as it pulls alongside the Ford

on the right-hand shoulder.

The driver, Billy, is levelling a shotgun through the

window.

JEFF:

cranks the wheel.

JEFF:

Get down!

IN FIREBIRD:

Billy triggers a BLAST!

105.

AMY:

yelps as the passenger-side MIRROR DISINTEGRATES! She

whips around, sees -

CADILLAC DEVILLE

pulling even with them on Jeff’s side. The drive, Al,

leers as he spins the wheel and creases the Ford -CRUNCH!

JEFF:

raises the PISTOL and FIRES!

HIGHWAY:

The Ford is sandwiched between the Cadillac and Firebird

as they race down the highway with the Peterbilt in the

rear.

JEFF:

lets out a cry as they carom off the Cadillac. Blood

flows in a trickle down his neck. Amy sees it,

panicking.

AMY:

Jeff!

JEFF:

It’s glass! Use the rifle!

Amy raises the rifle, thrusts the barrel awkwardly out

the window and aims at Billy. She FIRES wildly --BANG!

BILLY:

grins as the SHOT WHISTLES past harmlessly. He reloads

the SHOTGUN, snaps it shut and RETURNS FIRE --BLAM!

HIGHWAY:

The BLAST hits the Ford’s side-mounted toolbox. The door

flies open. Tools scatter on the road!

106.

BILLY:

veers away, swearing, as hammers and chisels and power

tools hit the asphalt and bounce up into his path.

The front end of the extension ladder comes free from the

lumber rack and hinges into his path, SMASHING the

WINDSHIELD!

BILLY:

Sonofabitch!

Billy swears and jerks the wheel, steering away. He

glances up suddenly, sees Jeff aiming the pistol.

The PISTOL FIRES!

Billy slams backward against the headrest, hit in the

face. There’s blood everywhere. The car careens toward

the shoulder.

HIGHWAY:

The Firebird hits a mound of earth, flies through the air

and lands with a CRASH!

IN PETERBILT:

Red sees the crash, scowling. He presses the gas and

pulls closer, taking Billy’s place alongside the Ford.

IN FORD:

Amy sees the Peterbilt advancing. Whipping her head to

the other side, she sees Al raising a pistol.

AMY:

Look out!

Al jacks the trigger --BLAM! BLAM!

ON PETERBILT:

a STRAY BULLET SLICES the hydraulic brake line running to

the trailer. The HOSE HISSES and whips through the air!

IN PETERBILT:

Red swears and lets the truck fall back, swearing. Up

ahead is a long, curving downgrade. He taps the brakes.

There is a jolt as the trailer bumps the tractor.

(CONTINUED)

107.

CONTINUED:

RED:

Sonofabitch -

He realizes:
The trailer’s got no brakes.

HIGHWAY:

The Peterbilt descends the grade, letting out a RAPIDFIRE

BLAT of BACKFIRES. It’s gaining speed, bearing down

on the Ford.

IN FORD:

Amy turns in the seat, terrified. The truck looms

closer. Jeff keeps the gas pedal on the floor.

JEFF:

Hang on!

They are flying into a hairy curve.

IN PETERBILT:

Red struggles to stay in control. Every time he applies

the brakes, the unchecked trailer jars the cab forward.

The Peterbilt races into the curve.

Red has no choice. He has to pump the brakes and risk

jackknifing or the truck will fly off the road

altogether.

He hits the brakes!

HIGHWAY:

The huge TRUCK SCREECHES on the asphalt, tires smoking,

cab and trailer folding at right angles!

Then, unexpectedly, the trailer disconnects from the cab!

IN CADILLAC:

Flanking the Peterbilt, Al glances to the side and sees

the trailer come untethered from the cab.

Now the trailer is an unguided missile, weaving drunkenly

back and forth across the blacktop.

Al tries to swerve away. The trailer streaks toward him.

Al SLAMS on the BRAKES, screaming!

108.

HIGHWAY:

The trailer piles into the Cadillac. There is a huge

IMPACT as trailer and Cadillac are reduced to scrap

metal!

And just as this is happening...

PETERBILT:

blasts into the rear of the Ford, jarring it forward with

a CRUNCH of METAL and taillights!

JEFF:

slams against the wheel. Amy is thrown against the

dashboard. The Ford is being propelled downhill by the

Peterbilt.

HIGHWAY:

The two vehicles are now locked together, gaining speed

as they hurtle down the grade.

JEFF:

jams the pistol through the rear pass-through window and

FIRES at Red in the truck. BULLETS PING off the grille.

The GUN CLICKS empty.

IN PETERBILT:

Red hits the brakes, but it’s no use. The bumpers are

meshed. The two vehicles plunge downhill, skidding

sideways.

Up ahead, a concrete bridge spans a deep gorge.

HIGHWAY:

The Peterbilt and Ford fly onto the bridge. The big

truck glances off a railing. The vehicles suddenly come

unlocked.

The FORD plows into the concrete railing with a CRASH!

The PETERBILT creams it from behind and caroms away,

SKIDDING the length of the bridge before SMACKING the

opposite railing!

109.

INSIDE ROAD:

Jeff grimaces. In front of them, the concrete railing

has broken away. Debris falls 300 feet to the bottom of

the gorge. The Ford’s right front tire hangs in the air.

Jeff looks at Amy. She looks wildly adrenalated, eyes

wide.

JEFF:

You all right?

Amy looks back at him. She expels a long breath and

nods.

Jeff forces his upper body through the driver’s window

and looks over the Ford’s roof at the Peterbilt.

JEFF’S POV -PETERBILT

It’s facing them, 50 yards away on the bridge. The

engine is dead. STEAM HISSES from the crumpled radiator.

One tire is shredded.

There is blood on the broken windshield.

BACK TO JEFF:

sitting in the driver’s window. He squints toward the

truck, searching for any sign of Red. There is none.

AMY (O.S.)

Jeff...

JEFF:

Yeah?

AMY (O.S.)

Jeff... I can’t get out...

Jeff drops back into the cab. The dashboard is crushed

against Amy’s legs. She tries to wriggle free.

JEFF:

What is it?

AMY:

(wriggling)

It’s just... I can’t get out...

JEFF:

What do you mean?

(CONTINUED)

110.

CONTINUED:

AMY:

I mean I can’t get out!

Jeff blinks. He climbs out of the Ford, runs around to

Amy’s side and yanks the door. It comes open with a

CREAK of METAL.

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