Next Page #6

Cris takes it, turns, and notices LIZ COOPER sitting by

herself at a booth, circling items in the classified section.

He recognizes her as the future mother of his future child.

Cris gazes at her face, which is both childish and mature,

shy yet indomitable.

She turns, scowling, from the staring stranger.

Cris approaches Liz and gives her that smile that always

works.

CRIS:

Mind if I join you?

LIZ:

(prickly)

Yeah, actually I do.

Cris seems disconcerted.

SNAPBACK TO:

The Donut Girl gives Cris his order. He approaches Liz again

and tries a different opening line.

CRIS:

Is that cruller any good?

Liz looks at him like he’s hopeless. He notices that she’s

reading the used car ads.

SNAPBACK TO:

The Donut Girl gives Cris his order. He approaches Liz.

34.

CRIS:

Shopping for a car?

LIZ:

What business is it of yours?

SNAPBACK TO:

The Donut Girl gives Cris his order. He approaches Liz.

CRIS:

Rough day?

lIZ

I don’t want to talk about it.

SnAPBACK TO:

The Donut Girl gives Cris his order. Discouraged after all

that rejection, he approaches Liz -- and bobbles his coffee,

spilling it on the floor. He’s mortified, but she smiles at

him.

SNAPBACK TO:

The Donut Girl gives Cris his order. Now confident he’s found

the right approach, Cris approaches Liz and deliberately

bobbles his coffee. But not in the exact way he did before.

When it falls, it splashes on her shoes.

LIZ:

Aw Christ! Look what you’ve done!

CRIS:

I’m so sorry. I’m a spaz.

LIZ:

Yeah, you are.

She wipes her shoe with a napkin.

LIZ:

It looked like you spilled it on

purpose.

CRIS:

Why would I do that?

LIZ:

I don’t know. To impress me?

35.

CRIS:

Look, I’m sorry. If I could, I’d do

it over.

Disgusted, she hands him a stack of paper napkins.

CRIS:

Here.

She watches as he sops up the coffee and carries dripping,

soggy tissues to the trash. The miserable expression on his

face finally wins the smile he’s been working for.

Int. Donut shop - night - a few minutes later

They’re sitting across from each other, laughing.

Liz

Divorce, bankruptcy, repossession.

Yeah, I’d call that a bad year.

CRIS:

Well, Liz, your luck’s about to

change.

LIZ:

How’s that?

CRIS:

You met me.

LIZ:

And what are you, a leprechaun?

CRIS:

An angel, actually. And we always

reward the people who help us.

LIZ:

Great, what do I have to do?

CRIS:

You don’t have to do anything.

Cris glances outside and sees the old Chevrolet drive by

without stopping. He checks his watch. It’s 8:23.

CRIS:

But I could use a ride.

She knows she shouldn’t.

36.

Int. JEEP CHEROKEE / on highway - nIGHT

Going fast. Johnny Cash on the CD.

LIZ:

When does the luck kick in?

CRIS:

It already has.

LIZ:

I don’t feel anything.

CRIS:

Not even a tingle?

LIZ:

Son, I haven’t had a tingle in

eight months.

He waits for the other shoe to drop.

Liz

(can’t hold it in)

Since my worthless no-good d*ckhead

of a husband ran out on me.

CRIS:

Then you’re way overdue. For a

reversal of fortune.

Brake lights flare on the cars ahead. They pass an exit.

CRIS:

Any kids?

LIZ:

Thirty.

(off his look)

I teach fifth grade.

CRIS:

I mean of your own.

She shakes her head.

CRIS:

I guess that’s good. Considering.

LIZ:

No, that was the problem. - I

couldn’t get pregnant.

37.

Traffic is backed up.

CRIS:

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.

LIZ:

You didn’t. I’m just running off at

the mouth. - That’s why I was in

Vegas. To see another doctor.

Flashing yellow lights - a barricade. Cris is getting

nervous.

CRIS:

He didn’t want to adopt?

LIZ:

No, he had to have a Randy Junior.

Flashing blue lights - parked cop cars.

LIZ:

What, is there an accident?

The place is crawling with state troopers. Cris is looking

around for a way out.

SnAPBACK TO:

one MINUTE EARLIER - one mile back

LIZ:

When does the luck kick in?

CRIS:

It already has.

LIZ:

I don’t feel anything.

Brake lights flare on the cars ahead.

CRIS:

(urgent)

Take this exit. Quick!

LIZ:

Why?

CRIS:

Just take it!

38.

The dotted lines on the road are now solid.

LIZ:

It’s too late!

CRIS:

No it’s not!

Cris grabs the steering wheel and jerks it to the right,

sending them over some speed bumps onto the off ramp.

LIZ:

Let go! Are you out of your mind?!

She slams on the brakes and they screech to a stop on the

right shoulder of the exit ramp.

LIZ:

Get out!

Cris scrambles for an explanation. Looks, sees a quieu of

brake lights from the roadblock now backed up past the exit.

CRIS:

Traffic was piling up. You didn’t

see it?

LIZ:

GET OUT!!

CRIS:

We could’a been stuck there for

hours.

LIZ:

I don’t give a flyin’ goddamn! You

don’t grab the steering wheel!

Cris pauses for a beat. Takes a different tack.

CRIS:

You’re right. I’m sorry. I

panicked. I get phobic sitting in

traffic. It won’t happen again, I

promise.

LIZ:

Damn straight, cause you won’t be

in the car!

She waits for him to exit.

39.

CRIS:

How ‘bout at the next gas station?

Please. I’ll fill up your tank.

Liz sighs, exasperated, and continues down the exit ramp,

passing a sign that says, WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA.

ext. road block - NIGHT

Cavanaugh and Ferris drink coffee as troopers examine every

passing vehicle.

Ferris

You’re wasting time here.

CaVANAUGH

How long have you been in law

enforcement? About six months?

FERRIS:

Long enough to know we’re not gonna

catch him by surprise.

CAVANAUGH:

What, you think he’s got some kind

of radar?

FERRIS:

Interesting idea. It’d explain a

whole lot.

CAVANAUGH:

And Area 51 would explain my

missing tennis shoes. But that

doesn’t mean they’re on a flying

saucer.

Ferris comes to a decision.

FERRIS:

In this case, it does.

Cavanaugh knows he’s about to hear something wild.

Ext. Gas station/mini-mart - night

Gasoline flowing. Liz, still in a snit, sits impatiently

behind the wheel, watching in the mirror as Cris crosses

behind the car and knocks on her window. Grudgingly, she

lowers it. He holds out a lottery card.

40.

CRIS:

I am really really really really

sorry.

Indulging him, she takes it. When he walks away, she deigns

to look at it. She tries to resist but can’t. Gets out a

nickel and scratches the card. Wins $250. What the...?

CHUNK. The pump shuts off.

BEHIND THE CAR:

Cris takes out the nozzle and twists on the cap. Behind him,

Liz strides by in a huff.

Liz

Get in the car. I’ll be back in a

minute.

Cris smiles to himself as she proceeds toward the mini-mart.

exT. roadblock - NIGHT

Cavanaugh considers what Ferris has just told him.

CAVANAUGH:

I’d call your proof a little iffy.

FERRIS:

Look, from your own experience,

this guy can’t be punched, shot,

surprised, captured, or confined.

So either he’s got something

special, or you’re an idiot.

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