FADE IN:
EXT. DARK ROAD – NIGHT
It is a dark, gloomy night. A dense fog has set in as the rain has subsided. A late Autumn chill fills the air. On the side of a dark, residential road rests an ’89 powder blue Chevy Cavalier with its headlights illuminating the puddled – filled asphalt surface. The car sits idle. The driver’s side slowly opens. Emerging from the vehicle is eighteen – year – old Josh Hillis. He is six feet tall, slender, with a dark-brown crew cut. He wears a plain, white T – shirt, Wrangler jeans and boots. His hazel eyes peer down the road fifty feet before him, where a young girl lay motionless on the street.
JOSH (V.O.)
I knew she was dead. I didn’t have to walk back down there to find out. She hadn’t moved in five minutes… Man I’d wish Stan would pick up his phone…
Down the road, Jenny’s body had landed so that half of it crashed into a puddle of mud on the side of the road. Her legs extended out into the street. Her strawberry – blonde hair, tightly reserved in a high ponytail, had now become soaked in thick mud. Her head rested upon her forearm. A few of her decorated fingertips had become chipped as they dug into the street. Her thick, red – framed glasses rested on the side of the road by her hands.
JOSH (V.O.)
I’ll need to get her off the side of the road. I know nobody ever comes down this street but, just my luck, some poor old shmuck will. And then what? Won’t he call the cops? I hate thinking on the fly like that… when is Stan gonna call me back?
Josh dropped his shoulders, sighed and then proceeded to travel down closer to her body. The cold breeze brushed across the nearby trees as he crept closer to her.
JOSH (V.O.)
Not even a twitch since she fell to the ground. It must’ve been such an impact that… well… that was it. Crazy, when you think about it. A person can live for eighteen years, deal with tremendous joy or sadness, but all it takes is one moment to –
Josh approaches Jenny and begins to crouch before her. Suddenly, a loud rattling sound attacks his ears. His eyes widen as he returns to an upright position. His head snaps back to the vehicle. Josh stands in horror as he observes the headlights on the car blink. The car proceeds to shut itself off as smoke billows from the hood.
JOSH
Shit!
Josh rushes over to the Cavalier, turns the ignition key inside the car and pops the hood. As he lifts it and places the hood into the uprights, more smoke billows from inside.
JOSH (V.O.)
Perfect, just perfect… Stan really needs to call me back.
Josh scurries over to the driver’s side of the car, opens the door and reaches into the middle console to retrieve his phone.
JOSH POV
The battery level on the phone is at ten percent.
JOSH (V.O.)
This cannot get any worse. Making one call might kill the battery. I forgot my cord. I know Stan hates texting, but I have to.
Josh opens a text session with Stan and types into it.
IT’S ME. PLEASE CALL ME BACK OR COME TO QUARRY LANE. EMERGENCY.
Josh then slides the phone into the right pocket of his pants.
Josh rushes back down the road, returning to Jenny. He crouches, retrieving her glasses from beside her left knee. He runs the fingertips of his left hand over the frame. He sighs once again.
JOSH (V.O.)
It didn’t have to end up like this. I thought we were getting along well. She was even changing the stations on the radio playing different songs she liked. She seemed like she was having fun.
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. DARK ROAD – TEN MINUTES EARLIER
Josh continues down the dimly lit backroads. Jenny sits in the passenger seat. It’s quiet in the car now. Jenny then sits up in her seat and leans into the car stereo, turning the tuner knob to the right. She plays some Top 40 music at a low volume. She chuckles, Josh smirks.
JOSH
What’s so funny?
JENNY
Nothin, you’re just so quiet. Sorry – had to turn on the radio. You mind?
JOSH
No, I don’t.
JENNY
(gently places left hand on Josh’s right knee as he drives)
Nothin against you. I like the quiet sometimes. Hard to get that back at the house. Your Dad loves playing his rock music.
JOSH
He blares AC/DC in the basement and plays drums along to it.
JENNY
(puzzled)
He blares who?
JOSH
Never mind… We’re really glad you’ve been staying with us.
JENNY
Yeah, it’s been cool. My Mom and Dad love to take a two – week vacation to Turks and Caicos every year in Nov. It’s weird.
JOSH
It’s cheaper to take it then.
JENNY
Yep, makes sense. They’re cheap as shit… Can’t believe it’ll be two weeks tomorrow.
JOSH
(smiles)
I know – it’s gone by fast. Where did you go last year?
JENNY
My Nana’s. She passed away last May, though.
JOSH
(softly)
I’m so sorry.
JENNY
It’s ok, she was sick.
As Josh continues to steer the vehicle down the long, winding road, the wipers intermittently glide across the windshield. Josh travels with low beams on despite the fog.
JENNY
You know your way around here pretty good, huh?
JOSH
We’ve lived here all our lives.
JENNY
Oh yeah? Your, um, parents from around here… too?
JOSH
(quietly)
My dad, yeah…
Jenny turns down the music on the car radio and places her hand back onto Josh’s knee. Josh glances down at her hand with a furrowed brow.
JENNY
I didn’t mean to – I know your mom’s not…
Jenny notices Josh’s puzzled look and removes her hand from his knee.
JOSH
It’s ok. You can’t miss what you never had.
JENNY
But I see how close you are to your sister. That’s cool.
Josh peeks over towards Jenny as he navigates the road further.
JOSH (V.O.)
Don’t look at her stomach. Yes, you can see her stomach because the top she has on doesn’t cover all of it. Her unzipped jacket doesn’t help, either. And the jeans that girls wear now – they’re barely pants because the holes are so gaping… I’m not looking, I swear!
JOSH
Tracy and I are close, yes. Literally ever since birth.
JENNY
Must be cool to have a twin. You shared a womb. You have a special bond. My best friend Theresa and I are like that. We can, like, use our own special language and basically read each other’s minds, but we’re not blood related.
JOSH
We’re lucky to have Stan.
JOSH (V.O.)
We sure are. Don’t have any idea where we’d be without him. He always helps out in times like these. Things would get a lot worse for us if he didn’t.
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!
