Chappaquiddick Page #7

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TED:

That’s Camelot.

They continue to stare into each other’s eyes but now with anuncertain tension.

MARY JO:

You ready to go back to the party?

TED:

I’d rather go for a walk on thebeach with you.

MARY JO:

I’d like that.

Mary Jo stands up, nude from the waist down. She quicklygrabs her pants and slides each leg into them as she walks,

not bothering with underwear.

Ted follows behind closely, fastening his belt buckle as hehops into the driver’s seat.

The tires spin as Ted guns the accelerator. The car swervesonto the main road, leaving the field deserted except for afew empty beer bottles.

EXT. CHAPPAQUIDDICK ISLAND - SCHOOL ROAD - NIGHT

From overhead, Ted’s Oldsmobile cruises along a paved street.

The headlights pierce through pitch black darkness. The brakelamps ignite, casting a red haze over the brush behind them.

33.

This time, instead of taking a right turn, the car continuesstraight. Headlights from a nearby POLICE CRUISER shine ontoTed and Mary Jo as they pass through the intersection.

They don’t seem to notice. Ted SLAMS on his brakes.

TED:

Sh*t!

MARY JO:

What?

TED:

I missed the turn!

The police cruiser continues along the main road, driving inthe opposite direction of Ted’s car. The driver, DEPUTYSHERIFF “HUCK” LOOK, 40, looks in his rear view mirror.

The dopey smile on his face disappears as he notices theOldsmobile stopped behind a cloud of dirt.

Sheriff Look pulls over to the side of the road. He steps outand fumbles with his hat. He walks towards the car.

SHERIFF LOOK:

You folks having some car trouble?

The reverse lights come on. Sheriff Look reacts, puzzled.

Suddenly the car GUNS IT BACKWARDS, barrelling towards the

sheriff. Ted gives the wheel a hard turn to the left.

The black sedan takes off forward towards the fateful dirt

road. Sheriff Look, dumbfounded, only catches a glimpse oftwo shadows in the front seat, the license plate, and anelaborate, floral decoupaged LUNCH PAIL on the rear dash.

The headlights pass over a sign reading "FERRY" with an arrowpointing back the opposite direction. Beneath the sign, Lookstands in the intersection, uncertain of what he just witnessed.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - DIKE ROAD - CONTINUOUS

The seats rattle as Ted speeds down the bumpy road. Mary Joturns around to see Sheriff Look staring back.

MARY JO:

I think that was a policeman back

there, Teddy.

TED:

I don’t stop for the police.

Ted turns off the headlights. The car is now surrounded bynothing but darkness.

34.

MARY JO:

Ted, what are you doing?

TED:

Hang on. We’re losing him.

Ted looks into his rear view mirror. Sheriff Look disappearsinto the black distance.

The car continues bouncing wildly as Ted speeds down the nowinvisible dirt road. Mary Jo tenses up.

MARY JO:

Teddy, come on. You can’t see.

TED:

We’re almost home free.

Mary Jo looks through the windshield. Not even the hood ofthe car is visible.

BAM.

The car jolts upwards.

MARY JO:

(scared)

Ted.

TED:

All right, all right, I hear ya.

Ted flicks back on the headlights. Blinding. Their eyesadjust. The headlights pass over a small cottage with anamber porch light to the right. DIKE HOUSE.

Ted’s focus returns to the road. He leans back into his seat.

Holds the wheel with one hand and rests his arm on the openwindow frame. His bleary eyes glance down at Mary Jo as shecurls up close to him.

Ted looks back to the road and stares out. The backgroundbecomes even more of a blur as the car picks up speed.

Staring. A look of contentment crosses his face. Staring.

CUT TO:

EXT. CHAPPAQUIDDICK ISLAND - DIKE BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS

The car leaps off Dike Bridge in a horrific forward roll andcrashes upside down into the water. It slowly sinks below thesurface.

The ripples drift away returning the pond to an eerie silence.

35.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS

Mary Jo hangs upside down by her seatbelt, unconscious. She

bleeds from a gash on her forehead. Water rushes in from all

sides around her.

The CRACKS on the windshield continue to splinter, expanding

until the glass gives way.

A SURGE OF WATER SPILLS INWARD.

Within seconds Mary Jo's head is completely submerged. The

water chokes her back to life.

Mary Jo flails wildly, turning towards the empty driver's

seat. She glimpses Ted’s legs escape out the window.

UNDERWATER MARY JO SCREAMS.

She frantically tears at her seatbelt. Somehow, it unclasps.

The car still upside down, Mary Jo turns over and heads

towards the floor to keep herself upright. She pushes to theback seat to find the last remaining air pocket. She’s waistdeep.

She coughs up a fistful of water from deep in her lungs. SheHYPERVENTILATES unable to fully catch her breath.

BELOW THE SURFACE

Mary Jo’s bare feet hover just above shards of razor sharpglass.

Unaware, she puts all her weight on her feet for the firsttime. The glass pierces deep into her skin.

BACK ON MARY JO:

She SCREAMS and retracts both her feet in pain. She squeezesboth knees into her chest and holds back fresh tears.

MARY JO:

Ted!

EXT. POUCHA POND BEACH - NIGHT

Ted sits on the beachhead with his chin resting on his knees,

staring out. He doesn't move.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - UNDERWATER - NIGHT

Mary Jo braces herself against the rear passenger window. Shegrabs the door handle and pulls with all her strength.

Nothing budges.

36.

She wades over to the rear driver’s side and grabs the otherhandle. The door CREAKS as she tries to force her way out.

Still nothing.

MARY JO:

TED!

Mary Jo pulls herself into the front seat. Here, she’s neckdeep in water. Her two sandals and a FLORAL LUNCH PAIL float

past her, but she remains focused on an escape.

She feels beneath her for the passenger door handle. Grabs onto something and pulls as hard as she can.

Her hands slip from the handle. Bright red from exertion. Shelooks around, trapped.

MARY JO (CONT’D)

TED!!!

EXT. POUCHA POND BEACH - NIGHT

The beach is empty and silent. Ted is gone.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - UNDERWATER - NIGHT

Mary Jo resurfaces in the back seat, pinching her nose. Withher other hand she holds the two sandals.

She shivers as she puts on her right sandal. The other floatsaway in front of her. She stands with her full weight on thecar for the first time.

It CREAKS loudly, then settles.

Mary Jo's eyes dart around with concern. She presses againstthe edge and tries to slow her breathing below a panic.

EXT. DIKE ROAD - NIGHT

A pair of fine leather shoes, soaking wet, SQUISH along a

gravel road. With each step, water seeps through the tongue,

reflecting the amber hues of a nearby porch light.

Ted slows his gait. A bright light illuminates his face.

He looks over towards it, squinting. A “WELCOME” mat sits

below the front door of the Dike House.

He turns back towards the road and continues out of frame.

Everything around the Dike House remains still as the sound

of Ted’s squishing shoes recedes into the distance.

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