Cellular Page #18

BACK INSIDE THEO'S CAR

He hasn't told anyone he fears being spotted by the police

but he regularly checks his rearview mirror.

HIS POV - REARVIEW MIRROR

Watching the van following but not too close.

ANGLE ON THEO'S CAR - DEEP IN THE WINDING CANYON

THEO:

These mountains kill the

transmission. He's gone.

(beat)

How's it feel to finally be alone

with me?

Theo is deliberately making dramatic turns that toss Lenore

around as she continues to stare at the loaded gun.

LENORE:

Use both hands on the wheel!

Goddam it!

HER POV - THE TWISTING CANYON FLASHING BY

Rock slides after recent storms have narrowed the road.

TIGHT ON THEO:

In total control of the situation now. He's been

manipulated long enough. Now he's pulling the strings.

Then he hears a SIREN. It echoes off the canyon walls. It

could be coming from any direction.

THEO:

It could be a fire. This is

Malibu.

LENORE:

No, there's a police car way back

there. See it, in the distance

coming around the turn? The van

is blocking it now.

THEO:

What's Nels' number?

LENORE:

259-7881.

THEO:

Dial him up. We need him to run

interference.

Theo watches as she dials -- and since they're much higher

in the canyon now the call goes through.

LENORE:

(into phone)

Nels, don't let that cop pass you.

NELSON (V.O.)

What am I supposed to do?

She again holds the phone so Theo can speak.

THEO:

If he pulls me over he gets all

the proceeds plus Lenore here.

NELSON:

And if you ditch us we get zilch.

THEO:

Sure, I end up with some cash.

And a lot of bonds I don't know

how to dispose of.

ZOOM IN - TIGHT ON REARVIEW

We can clearly see Nelson at the wheel and the Haitian

beside him.

THEO:

You're going to have to see to it

that both lanes of this road get blocked.

NELSON:

The f*** I will!

THEO:

It's in your interest, Nels, since

the additional passenger in my

trunk -- an LAPD officer is

probably carrying a few bullets in

him traceable to the piece you're

carrying.

(to Lenore)

Tell the man.

LENORE:

Lose the hardware now.

NELSON:

We'll toss it when we make the

blind curve.

EXT. WINDING ROAD - DAY

Narrowed by the rock slide. As the van hits a blind spot

where the cops won't see, the Haitian throws a canvas bag

holding the guns out into the canyon underbrush.

BACK TO THEO, LENORE

THEO:

(into phone)

You researched me. You know where

I live. She'll be waiting for you

there along with your split.

NELSON:

There's two police cars now.

THEO:

Tailgate me. I'll jam on the

brakes. You go into a spin to

avoid an accident and cut them

off.

NELSON:

You want us to get ourselves

killed?

THEO:

From what I can see you're a

pretty fair wheelman. There's a

hairpin coming up -- that's the

place for it. The cops'll plow

right into you.

NELSON:

And I end up in a f***ing neck

brace for life!

THEO:

Then you can sue the cops.

Collect from both ends. Tighten

your belts. Here it comes.

(to Lenore)

Ready?

LENORE:

(yells into phone)

Nels, do what he says!

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY

As Nelson's van now speeds forward to tailgate Theo's

Chrysler. Behind the van the two police cars now appear

around the curve, sirens blasting.

They're reluctant to try to pass on these twisting

rock lined roads with traffic coming around blind curves

from the other direction. And there's nowhere to pull over.

Then Theo jams on the brakes. The van veers to the left to

avoid total disaster plowing into the canyon wall and

blocking both lanes.

The first police car can't avoid hitting the van broadside.

The second police car rearends the first.

It's a total pileup as Theo predicted -- a perfectly

orchestrated accident.

Then a camper coming from the Valley approaches and passes

Theo -- rounds the bend and compounds the accident --

smashing into the disabled van from the opposite side.

Nelson and his Haitian friend are sandwiched between wrecks.

Meanwhile Theo speeds on ahead.

INT. THEO'S CAR - DAY

Theo watching in rearview. Lenore is turned around, looking

back.

LENORE:

Do you think they'll walk away?

THEO:

Ask them.

He passes her the cell phone.

LENORE:

(into cellular)

Are you okay? Nels -- answer me!

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