SOUND
THEY OPEN THEIR DOORS, CLIMB IN, SLAM
SOUND (cont’d)
THE DOORS, START THE ENGINE AND DRIVE OUT OF THE LOT.
CUT TO:
INT. – JIM’S CAR.
JIM
Now where are they headed?
SOUND
JIM STARTS HIS CAR.
JIM
One way to find out. . .
SOUND
JIM’S CAR DRIVES OFF AFTER THE VAN.
MUSIC
EPISODE SCORE UP.
FADE DOWN.
ANNOUNCER
We’ll return to Dreadtime Stories. . .
after these words.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
MUSIC
THEME.
ANNOUNCER
Now back to Dreadtime Stories and. . .
“The Late Shift.”
MUSIC
EPISODE SCORE.
THRU TO!
SOUND
IN THE VAN – FRONT SEAT – MOVING.
THE HUM OF THE ENGINE. OCCASIONAL TRAFFIC PASSING. BEHIND THE FRONT SEAT, FROM THE CARGO AREA, WE HEAR THE MURMURING OF WEAK VOICES, MALE AND FEMALE (CONTINUING).
VOICES (off)
Order, please. . .
VOICES (cont’d)
Next. . .
Exact change. . .
Chicken tenders. . .
hot wings. . .
Yes, ma’am. . .
No, ma’am. . .
Self-serve. . .
No credit cards. . .
Thank you. . .
DRIVER #2
Manny?
DRIVER #1
Yeah?
DRIVER #2
Don’t it get on your nerves?
DRIVER #1
What?
DRIVER #2
The creeps.
DRIVER #1
Put on some music.
SOUND
PUSHING A BUTTON. THE THROBBING MUSIC RESUMES FROM DISTORTED, BASS-HEAVY SPEAKERS, VIBRATING IN THE VAN’S CARGO AREA. THE VOICES CONTINUE AS AN UNDERLAY.
DRIVER #2
I can still hear ’em.
DRIVER #1
You get used to it.
DRIVER #2
If they’d shut up for a while. . .
SOUND
THE MUSIC CLICKS OFF. DRIVER #1 BANGS HIS HAND ON THE WIRE MESH BARRIER BEHIND THE SEAT.
DRIVER #1
(calling) Hey, knock it off back there!
SOUND
THE VOICES SUBSIDE.
DRIVER #2
That’s better.
SOUND
OUTSIDE, A HORN BEEPS AS A CAR PASSES.
DRIVER #1
Watch it.
SOUND
THE VAN SWERVES AND DRIVES ON.
DRIVER #2
Manny? Look in the side mirror.
DRIVER #1
What for?
DRIVER #2
I think there’s a car followin’ us.
DRIVER #1
You think or you know?
DRIVER #2
He’s been on our tail since the market.
DRIVER #1
Turn at the corner.
DRIVER #2
It’s a dead-end.
DRIVER #1
That’s the idea.
SOUND
THE VAN SLOWS AND CORNERS. DRIVING ON.
DRIVER #2
He’s still there.
DRIVER #1
Maybe he’s lost.
DRIVER #2
(doubtful) Maybe. . .
DRIVER #1
Pull over. Let’s help him out.
SOUND
THE VAN STOPS. BEHIND THEM, JIM’S CAR PULLS OVER, IDLING. DRIVER #2 SETS THE HAND-BRAKE AND SWITCHES OFF THE VAN. DRIVER #1 OPENS HIS DOOR AND CLIMBS OUT.
DRIVER #2
What if he’s a cop?
DRIVER #1
In a beat-up Toyota? Gimme the tire iron. Under the seat.
SOUND
FUMBLING FOR A TIRE IRON.
DRIVER #2
I’ll watch your back.
DRIVER #1
Watch this. Time to go to school.
SOUND
FOLLOWING DRIVER #1 AS HE WALKS BACK TO THE CAR. SHOES ON PAVEMENT. CRICKETS.
DRIVER #1
You lost?
SOUND
JIM’S CAR WINDOW ROLLS DOWN.
JIM
(from inside his car) Sorry?
DRIVER #1
Lemme give you a hand, college boy.
JIM
That’s all right.
DRIVER #1
I insist.
SOUND
THE CAR DOOR OPENS. JIM GETS OUT.
JIM
Didn’t I see you, before?
DRIVER #1
Before what?
JIM
Back on Pico, at the Stop ’N Start.
DRIVER #1
What about it?
JIM
You dropped off an old friend of mine.
DRIVER #1
Did I?
JIM
Haven’t seen Juano lately. What’s he up to?
DRIVER #1
You must think you’re a pretty big man. Following people around in the middle
DRIVER #1 (cont’d)
of the night, asking questions. . .
JIM
The only thing I want to know is –
SOUND
DRIVER #1 SWINGS THE TIRE IRON. JIM GRUNTS AND FALLS. THE TIRE IRON HITS THE PAVEMENT AFTER HIM WITH A CLANG.
DRIVER #1
(calling) Paulie! Get ridda this piece of crap.
DRIVER #2
How?
DRIVER #1
Shoot him with a trank. Then put him in with the rest of the creeps.
MUSIC
EPISODE SCORE.
THRU TO:
SOUND
IN THE BACK OF THE VAN – MOVING – LATER.
FADE IN THE RUMBLE OF THE ENGINE.
A TRUCK BLASTS ITS HORN AND PASSES.
NARRATOR
He came to in the back of the van. The wheels were humming and there was a sweet, sickening smell in the air. It reminded him of high school biology class – and something else. He tried to remember what it was. After a while he heard voices. They slipped in and out of a dream. The tranquilizer was wearing off. . .
SOUND
JIM COMES TO AND TRIES TO SIT UP IN THE STEEL INTERIOR.
JIM
(groans) What in the –?
VOICES
Going home. . .
Soon. . .
Yes, soon. . .
JIM
Who are you?
VOICES
Soup of the day. . .
Coming right up. . .
Take your ticket. . .
Yes, sir. . .
Please, sir. . .
Right this way. . .
JIM
Where are we?
VOICES
Heading home now. . .
Room for you, too. . .
It’s coming. . .
Be here soon. . .
JIM
Where?
VOICES
Here. . .
Always here. . .
Soon. . .
Yes. . .
Soon. . .
JIM
(low) Can you understand what I’m saying? We have to get out of here – now.
VOICES
So cold. . .
Let us rest.
Yes. . .
rest. . .
Good to rest. . .
SOUND
A FIST BANGS ON THE WIRE PARTITION.
DRIVER #2
(off) Cool it back there!
SOUND
THE VOICES QUIET DOWN.
CUT TO:
IN THE VAN – FRONT SEAT.
DRIVER #1
Step on it, kid. We’re runnin’ late.
DRIVER #2
It’s coming up.
DRIVER #1
Look in the map book.
DRIVER #2
I think I see the sign.
DRIVER #1
Shouldn’ta let you drive. . .
DRIVER #2
There. “Tiny’s Self-Serve Gas. We Never Close.”
DRIVER #1
Pull up to the booth.
SOUND
THE VAN SLOWS, TURNS IN AND STOPS.
THEY OPEN THEIR DOORS AND GET OUT.
ATTENDANT
Finally!
DRIVER #1
What’s happening, vato? [vaah-toe]
ATTENDANT
You bring my relief?
DRIVER #2
Sure did.
ATTENDANT
A nice one?
DRIVER #1
Special, just for you. Give him the nice one, Paulie.
DRIVER #2
You got it.
SOUND
OPENING THE VAN DOOR.
DRIVER #1
(low) How’s the college boy?
DRIVER #2
(low) Havin’ sweet dreams.
ATTENDANT
You’re not giving me a dude, are you?
DRIVER #1
Relax. Introduce him to the swing shift.
SOUND
DRIVER #2 HELPS A YOUNG WOMAN OUT OF THE VAN. HER FLAT SHOES ON THE METAL FLOORBOARD AND THEN THE PAVEMENT.
DRIVER #2
You’re up, sweets.
GAS STATION GIRL
(dazed) Which pump, please? No credit cards. . .
DRIVER #1
Ain’t she fine?
ATTENDANT
Whoa.
DRIVER #2
You don’t like her?
ATTENDANT
(sniffing) Pew. She reeks.
DRIVER #1
So? She sits behind the glass.
ATTENDANT
She’ll stink up the booth. Tiny says clean uniforms.
DRIVER #2
Give her yours. You’re goin’ home.
ATTENDANT
No way. I’d have to wash it.
GAS STATION GIRL
Exact change only. Free air and water. . .
DRIVER #2
Might be worth it.
ATTENDANT
How come?
DRIVER #2
You get to put it on her.
MUSIC.
EPISODE SCORE (DARK).
SOUND
BRIDGE THRU TO:
IN THE VAN – MOVING AGAIN – LATER.
AS A SIREN PASSES.
THE VAN SLOWS AND TURNS INTO ANOTHER LOT.
DRIVER #1
Roll your window down and talk to the plastic chicken.
SOUND
VAN WINDOW ROLLING DOWN.
FAST-FOOD GUY
(from a tiny speaker) Welcome to El Polio Muerto. Take your order? Chinken tenders, hot wings. . .
DRIVER #2
Sounds good to me!
DRIVER #1
On the way out.
FAST-FOOD GUY
That you guys?
DRIVER #2
Big as life.
FAST-FOOD GUY
You’re late.
DRIVER #2
Good help’s hard to find.
FAST-FOOD GUY
Come around to the side.
SOUND
THE VAN DRIVES SLOWLY THRU THE LOT.
DRIVER #2
Get him ready.
DRIVER #1
(calling) Wake up back there, Chicky-Boy!
CHICKY-BOY
(off, groggy, from behind them) Take your order. Chicken tenders. . . chicken wings. . .
