Man's Unfinished Journey

EXT. - RURAL MISSOURI - DAY

The car pulls onto the interstate. A green sign tells them TULSA...183 MILES. A sheaf of papers flies out the window of the car.

INT. - TIM'S CAR

Sophie sits backwards in her seat, pulling school things out of her backpack, naming them, and flinging them out the window.

SOPHIE
...Vocabulary quiz...P.S.A.T. application....Spanish Workbook..."Man's Unfinished Journey"....

TIM
Is that a good idea?

SOPHIE
Don't worry, it's biodegradable.

But she's run out of school stuff to throw.

SOPHIE
Shit.

TIM
What?

SOPHIE
Shit. I have to do this now. I have no choice.

TIM
There are places you can go.

SOPHIE
Listen, I don't want to talk about it. I've got to figure some things out.

Tim is silent. Sophie thinks, decides, and nods.

SOPHIE
I'm sorry. I've got it figured. It's fine.

CUT TO:

EXT. - GAS STATION/MINI-MART

Tim screws the gas cap back on his car and goes inside the
gas station's mini-mart to pay for the gas.

INT. - GAS STATION/MINI-MART

The chinless mini-mart CASHIER looks Tim over as he enters, then returns her attention to a person crying on a radio call-in show. Sophie is already inside, trying on baseball caps, backpack over her shoulder.

SOPHIE
Tim, check it out.

She models cap -- THESE COLORS DON'T RUN over an American flag.

TIM
Very nice.

SOPHIE
You with me?

She puts a jumping trout cap on his head and slides a pair of dark sunglasses over his eyes.

TIM
I'm here. How do I look?

Sophie takes his head and kisses him hard on the lips.

SOPHIE
Good.

Tim has been taken completely off guard.

SOPHIE
Okay?

TIM
You sure about that?

SOPHIE
You know, I don't see why I should have to tell my father what I do. I don't know why I can't be trusted to live my own life. What gives them the right to control us? Why do they want to? What do they know that we don't know? I can take care of myself. Am I right?

TIM
Sure.

SOPHIE
Give me your hand.

He does. She takes it and sticks it in his pocket, pointing under his jacket.

SOPHIE
Follow me.

Sophie walks quickly toward the Cashier at the front of the mini-mart, pulling a gun from her backpack.

SOPHIE
All right, this is a stick up! Get your hands in the air and keep quiet!

The Cashier doesn't believe what she's seeing. Neither does Tim. He begins to take his hand out of his pocket, but realizes that it's supposed to be a gun.

He's part of the hold up. He's terrified.

Sophie goes behind the counter and points the gun behind the Cashier's head.

SOPHIE
Open the register.

CASHIER
Yes, ma'am.

A muscle-bound MAN wanders in from a back room behind Sophie to see what all the noise is about. Sophie doesn't see him.

TIM
(threatening with his hand/gun)
Hold it!

Sophie spins around and takes over.

SOPHIE
Hands up! Come out here where I can see you!

The Man does as she says.

SOPHIE
Thank you.

She grabs the cash from the register and shoves it in her backpack.

SOPHIE
Is this it? This is all the cash?

CASHIER
A few credit card receipts. You're only the seventh customers this morning.

Sophie takes the gun taped under the counter and adds it to the bag.

CASHIER
The safe's empty...

A van pulls up to the gas pumps outside. Tim eyes it uneasily.

TIM
Sophie--

CASHIER
...I'll show you if you want.

SOPHIE
No. Thank you.

A siren sounds.

COP'S VOICE
"Pull over, buddy!"

Tim wheels in its direction, his hands flying out of his pockets.

It's the pinball machine -- "High Speed." Tim looks at it, his face drained of color.

COP'S VOICE
"You're under arrest!"

SOPHIE
All done. Let's move out. Thanks.

Sophie and Tim head for the door as the pinball machine plays its theme song.

SOPHIE
(over her shoulder)
Really, thanks.

They run out of the mini-mart, jump into the car, and pull away in a cloud of dust, Sophie behind the wheel.

INT. - GETAWAY CAR

Sophie lets out a yell as the car hits the highway. She is ecstatic.

SOPHIE
Business! That was amazing!

TIM
What the hell was that?

SOPHIE
That was a stick up! That was great!

TIM
Why'd you do that? Are you crazy?

SOPHIE
That was great. You were great -- "Hold it!"

Tim considers the complement.

TIM
You just involved me in a robbery without asking?

SOPHIE
I didn't plan it out. It just happened.

TIM
You brought a gun!

SOPHIE
I didn't know what else to do. Come on, Tim. You didn't like that?

TIM
We left Bedford without any money?

SOPHIE
My father flushed my money down the fucking toilet! I needed the cash. You don't have any. No one else was going to help us.
(waving the loot)
They can spare it.

Tim shakes his head in disbelief.

SOPHIE
Come on, that was cool. Admit it. "Hands up!"

She takes her hands off the wheel and puts them in the air. Tim grabs the wheel.

TIM
Pull over.

SOPHIE
Don't tell me you never stole anything.

TIM
Pull over. Stop the car.

Sophie guides the car toward a rest stop off the highway.

CUT TO:

EXT. - REST STOP - DAY

The car pulls into the rest stop, a patch of grass with a few vending machines and a water fountain. Sophie counts the money from the robbery as she climbs out of the car.

TIM
I can't do this.

SOPHIE
(counting)
Seventy-three... Seventy-four. Do what? Seventy-four.

TIM
We risked our lives for seventy-four dollars?

SOPHIE
We should have robbed someplace where people actually go.

TIM
We shouldn't have robbed any place!

SOPHIE
What else was I going to do?

TIM
I don't know. Get a loan.

SOPHIE
From who, Tim? Your parents, my father, Mitch, Bank of America? Nobody.

TIM
Forget it, I can't do this. I'm going home.

He finds the car key on his key ring.

TIM
You want a ride?

SOPHIE
I'm not going back.

Tim stops walking.

TIM
Ever?

SOPHIE
If I went home, my father would have me locked up. I escaped. I'm out. I'm staying out.

TIM
I thought this was a day trip to Oklahoma.

SOPHIE
We'll keep going.

Tim flips his keys in his hand.

SOPHIE
I'm not going back. This is real life. This is what everybody spends all their time waiting for. What's at home for you anyway? Parents? High school? Why go back?

TIM
I'd get to go to jail for robbing that mini-mart.

SOPHIE
Yeah.

TIM
How could you involve me like that?

SOPHIE
I got a little crazy. Call it kidnapping.

TIM
Let's go.

SOPHIE
What? Really?

TIM
Really.

He tosses her the keys.

TIM
You drive.

Almost Gone

INT. - TIM'S HOUSE - MORNING

The doorbell at Tim's house rings. Mrs. Thompson calls from the kitchen--

MRS. THOMPSON
Tim! Get the door!

Tim answers the door toothbrush in hand, mouth filled with toothpaste. Sophie is standing on the front stoop, looking scared, a backpack over her shoulder.

SOPHIE
Hi, Tim.

TIM
Hi. What's going on? I was just getting ready. Come in.

SOPHIE
I'm sorry. I wouldn't do this. We've got to go.

TIM
(concerned)
What?

SOPHIE
My father found out about me. We've got to go. He had a fit. Do you have any money?

TIM
Wait. Calm down.

SOPHIE
I'm sorry. This is stupid.

TIM
What did he do?

SOPHIE
He just freaked out.

A siren sounds in the near distance. Sophie tenses.

MRS. THOMPSON (V.O.)
Tim! Who is that?

TIM
(calling)
It's for me!

MRS. THOMPSON
(approaching)
Who is it?

She enters the front hall and comes face to face with Sophie -- the counselor and counseled.

MRS. THOMPSON
(surprised)
Oh, hello.

Sophie looks at Tim.

SOPHIE
This is your mother?

MRS. THOMPSON
I'm his mother. Can I help you, Sophie?

TIM
(understanding)
The clinic.

SOPHIE
(to Mrs. Thompson)
How could you tell my father that I'm pregnant? You ratted on me.

MRS. THOMPSON
We call parents when we think a client may endanger herself.

SOPHIE
You fucked up my life.

MRS. THOMPSON
Come to the clinic if you have a problem. This is my home. I want you to leave.

SOPHIE
Fine.
(to Tim)
Let's get out of here. Enough of this.

TIM
Okay, hold on--

SOPHIE
I'm leaving. Are you coming or not?

MRS. THOMPSON
(closing the door on Sophie)
Please go now.

TIM
Just wait a second.

SOPHIE
Forget it, I'll catch a bus. Thanks, Thompsons. Good-bye.

Sophie storms away. Mrs. Thompson closes the door after her. She looks at Tim.

MRS. THOMPSON
Don't you have to get to work?

TIM
No.

MRS. THOMPSON
(not hearing him)
And don't forget the interview, two o'clock.

TIM
She needs a ride.

MRS. THOMPSON
What?

TIM
I'm going with her.

MRS. THOMPSON
No, absolutely not.

Tim grabs his keys off the front table.

MRS. THOMPSON
If you can't listen to me, there's no reason for you to be here. We've been through this before.

One too many times. Tim meets his mother's stare.

TIM
You know, what do I get out of living here anyway? Tell me.

MRS. THOMPSON
Why should you get anything? Why should you be any different than anyone else in this family?

Tim puts his jacket on.

MRS. THOMPSON
If you can do better, go. Don't talk, do it.

Tim looks at her for a moment, then walks out the front door, leaving it swinging behind him.

INT. - TIM'S CAR

Tim climbs into his car and starts the ignition.

SOPHIE
Hi.

Sophie is slouched down in the passenger seat. Tim pulls the car onto the road with a screech, saying nothing.

CUT TO:

EXT. - MAIN ST.

Tim's car speeds through Bedford.

INT. - TIM'S CAR

Tim looks serious as he drives. Sophie is still slouched down in her seat.

SOPHIE
I don't believe that's your mother.

TIM
Maybe I'm adopted.

Tim looks at Sophie curiously.

TIM
You all right?

SOPHIE
I'm fine. I don't want my father to see me. Let's just get out of this town.

TIM
We're almost gone.

Sophie sits up a little and looks back at the town receding into the distance.

Pancho Villa

INT. - PANCHO VILLA'S - DAY

The kitchen of Pancho Villa's, Mexican fast food restaurant. Tim stuffs and wraps a burrito and passes it up front. Other KITCHEN STAFF sweat in paper uniforms over greasy beef, beans, and chicken. CASHIERS holler dinner orders from up front.

From the back door, Sophie watches Tim. She collects herself, putting on a smile, and calls out--

SOPHIE
Tim! Ole!

TIM
(pleased to see her)
Sophie. Hello.

SOPHIE
Look at you in that outfit. So fine.

TIM
How's business?

SOPHIE
Fine...What's that smell?
(sniffing the air)
Smells...like hand lotion!

Tim waves her away with a smile.

TIM
Everything's okay then? With the test?

SOPHIE
(losing her smile)
No... I need a favor. Can you give me a ride to Oklahoma tomorrow?

TIM
Oh, wow... Mitch isn't going to--

SOPHIE
I asked him. No.

A bland-looking man with a moustache in a short-sleeved work shirt comes through the kitchen carrying a cash drawer full of money. This is the MANAGER.

MANAGER
Tim, back to work.

TIM
(to the Manager)
Just a second.

MANAGER
No, this second.

He exits. Tim ignores him.

SOPHIE
I'll go. Meet me tomorrow morning at school. Nine o'clock. You'll be home before curfew, all right?

TIM
Okay, I'll be there.

SOPHIE
Thanks, Tim.

Tim stares after her as she goes. The Manager interrupts his thoughts--

MANAGER
I'm going to have to think twice about your next raise. This isn't play time you know.

TIM
I need tomorrow off.

MANAGER
Tomorrow? Saturday. Who's going to cover for you?

TIM
Nobody, I know. It's slow anyway.

MANAGER
No way.

TIM
What do you mean, "No way?"

MANAGER
You get a girlfriend and you think that you own the world?

TIM
This is important.

MANAGER
Everyone has something better to do than go to work.

TIM
One time. I've been working for you here two years.

MANAGER
You've got a shift scheduled, you work it. That's your job.

TIM
All right... I quit.

MANAGER
Come again?

TIM
I quit.

The Manager looks at Tim like he's a piece of shit.

MANAGER
You'll come back Monday asking for your job back. If I rehire you, it'll be at starting salary. Minimum wage. Try to pay your car insurance with that. You can't quit.

TIM
I do. I quit. I've had enough of this.

He turns to leave. The Manager grabs his arm.

TIM
Let go.

Tim shakes the Manager off and walks out of the kitchen, throwing his paper hat on the dirty floor behind him.

EXT. - PANCHO VILLA'S PARKING LOT

Tim walks out of Pancho Villa's jangling his keys nervously in his hand. Before getting to his car, he makes a quick, determined detour to an immaculate black Honda sports car parked nearby -- the Manager's car.

Tim slowly draws a key across the side of the Toyota, leaving a clear, paintless line. He looks around, walks back to his car, and drives away.

Fifteen

INT. - BIOLOGY CLASS - NEXT DAY

The next day in biology class. Students are milling around; Ms. Crandall isn't there yet. Tim sits drums on his desk with two pens. Mitch creeps up behind him and shakes his chair--

MITCH
Hey, have fun yesterday? Where's Sophie?

TIM
Hi.

MITCH
You have fun? What did you do with her? Did she tell you all about me?

TIM
Yesterday? I drove her to Erie and back.

MITCH
Sure you did, Timmy. You know what I think? I think you fucked her.

Mitch tilts Tim's desk back slightly.

MITCH
Was it good? Did you do good?

TIM
Take it easy, Mitch.

MITCH
Why isn't she in school? You put her out of business? Is that it?

TIM
Nothing happened and I don't know where she is.

MITCH
Bullshit. I know what happened. But I don't care. You can have her. Take her. She's yours. Like a curse.

Mitch steps to the other side of the room. Tim catches his breath, shaken.

TIM
She's supposed to be your girlfriend.

MITCH
What?

TIM
She's your girlfriend.

Before Mitch can respond, Ms. Crandall enters, carrying a stack of papers.

MS CRANDALL
Sorry I'm late. I was grading the last of these.

She begins handing the tests back. Mitch backs off Tim and sits down.

MS. CRANDALL
Not good, people. Photosynthesis -- plants make carbohydrates using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. Remember?

Tim meets Mitch's stare.

MS. CRANDALL
I know this isn't my fault because few people did very well -- Tim Thompson, Sabrina Adams, Sophie Elliot...

Mitch breaks the stare and slumps back in his seat.

MS. CRANDALL
Let's go over the answers and see what got the rest of you confused...

CUT TO:

INT. - WOMEN'S CLINIC - WAITING ROOM - DAY

Sophie is in the waiting room of a small women's clinic. A copy of Parenting magazine is spread on her lap. She stares at a TEEN MOTHER who smiles weakly back. A NURSE calls Sophie's name...

INT. - OFFICE

Sophie enters an empty counselor's office and looks around. The counselor opens the door. It's Mrs. Thompson, Tim's mother. Sophie doesn't know or recognize her.

MRS. THOMPSON
Hello, sit down.

Sophie sits in a green plastic chair.

MRS. THOMPSON
I'm Claire. What can we do for you...
(checking a file)
Sophie?

Sophie hesitates, and then speaks--

SOPHIE
I'm pregnant. I took a test and I'm pregnant.

MRS. THOMPSON
(still looking at the file)
Sophie Elliot. Are you Luke Elliot's daughter?

SOPHIE
Shit. You can't tell my father about this.

MRS. THOMPSON
You're about sixteen, Sophie?

SOPHIE
Fifteen.

MRS. THOMPSON
(checking a box)
Not married... Do you feel that you are prepared to be a mother?

Sophie doesn't respond.

MRS. THOMPSON
Do you want to raise the child yourself?

SOPHIE
What? No. What about an abortion?

Mrs. Thompson sighs.

MRS. THOMPSON
Sophie, listen: The clinic does not consider abortion an appropriate method of family planning.

SOPHIE
What?

MRS. THOMPSON
What don't you understand?

SOPHIE
I think I need an abortion.

MRS. THOMPSON
This is all I'm authorized to tell you:
(reciting)
The clinic does not consider abortion an appropriate method of family planning and therefore does not counsel or refer for abortion.

SOPHIE
Authorized?

MRS. THOMPSON
Have you told your father about this? There's no place in Missouri that will talk to you unless you talk to your father first. We have a parental consent law here.

SOPHIE
What? Am I supposed to do it myself?

MRS. THOMPSON
Of course not. We'll be glad to help you through your pregnancy. There are plenty of couples willing to adopt healthy babies.

SOPHIE
(standing up)
Stop it. I'm leaving. Good-bye.

Sophie exits, slamming the door behind her.

CUT TO:

EXT. - CLINIC/ALLEY - DAY

Sophie comes out of the clinic and ducks into an alley, hyperventilating. She chokes, heaving as if to throw up, miserable.

Home

INT. - THE THOMPSON HOUSE - NIGHT

A Sears family portrait hangs on the wall of the Thompson living room. Tim, age twelve, looks trapped between his falsely smiling parents.

Tim arrives home in his complete Pancho Villa's uniform, exhausted. His father, MARK THOMPSON, is sitting in the living room with a big teetering glass of scotch, watching PBS. Tim's entrance doesn't register on him.

CLAIRE THOMPSON, Tim's mother, is washing dishes in the kitchen.

TIM
Hi.

MRS. THOMPSON
We expected you home for dinner. There's no food left.

Tim takes a small bowl of leftover spaghetti out of the refrigerator. He fingers a grocery receipt stuck to the refrigerator door under a magnet.

MRS. THOMPSON
Just a reminder of the costs. Oh, listen, Mr. Brooks says he may have room for an extra stock boy.

TIM
(plucking at his Pancho's uniform)
I already have a job.

MRS. THOMPSON
You'll have two. I made an appointment for you at the store for Saturday afternoon.

TIM
I have school. I have a job. I don't have time.

MRS. THOMPSON
This isn't up for discussion. You live in this house, right?

Tim looks at her.

MRS. THOMPSON
Got that, Tim?

Tim shuts himself into his room without answering.

INT. - TIM'S ROOM

Tim stares out at Bedford through his closed bedroom window. He takes a deep breath, trying to shake off the day, opens the school roster, and picks up the phone.


CUT TO:

INT. - THE ELLIOT HOUSE - BATHROOM

In the Elliot bathroom, Sophie empties the contents of a tiny dropper into a small glass tube.

The phone rings. Sophie's father, LUKE ELLIOT, shouts from the other room where he is watching "America's Most Wanted."

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
(calling)
Sophie! Phone!

Sophie doesn't hear him. Following the directions unfolded on the back of the toilet, she continues the pregnancy test. She inserts a piece of plastic with two white dots on it into the glass tube and checks the clock on the wall.

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
Damn it, Sophie, the phone's ringing!

SOPHIE
Pick it up!

The sound on the TV from the other room comes down.

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
(answering the phone)
Hello?...Hold on.
(calling angrily)
Sophie! What do you think?

Mr. Elliot is at the bathroom door.

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
I never get calls at night. It's for you. What are you doing in there?

SOPHIE
Take a message. Please.

Mr. Elliot rattles the doorknob.

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
You're mother used to do this.

SOPHIE
Dad, please just take a message.

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
Yeah.

The clock marks a minute. Sophie looks at the two dots soaking in the tube. The bottom one is beginning to turn red.

SOPHIE
Shit.

Mr. Elliot is right at the door--

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
You're all the same.

Sophie jumps, frightened.

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
Get out, I need the bathroom.

SOPHIE
(eyeing the clock)
Two minutes.

MR. ELLIOT (V.O.)
Now.

The bottom dot is redder still. Sophie picks up the test. She can't carry it with her... She puts it in the trash and covers it with toilet paper, then opens the door. Mr. Elliot is standing there, frowning.

SOPHIE
Who was it?

MR. ELLIOT
He didn't say. Said he'd see you tomorrow.

SOPHIE
Okay.

MR. ELLIOT
Answer your own calls from now on.

SOPHIE
Okay.

MR. ELLIOT
Good.

Sophie walks past him and into her room.

Drug Store

EXT. - MAIN ST., ERIE - DAY

The car pulls into Erie, a town almost identical to the one they just left.

SOPHIE
Wait here a second, alright? Thanks.

Sophie runs into the drug store.

INT. - DRUG STORE - MOMENTS LATER

A small, quaint drug store. Sophie enters, fingers a few magazines, scans the shelves, then strolls up to the register and shoves a home pregnancy test across the counter. The CLERK, a clean-cut man in his forties, shakes his head.

CLERK
I can't sell you this.

SOPHIE
What?

CLERK
Not to a minor. I can't.

SOPHIE
You're making that up. Where does it say that?

CLERK
(gesturing backwards)
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Sophie looks around in disbelief.

SOPHIE
What's the problem?

CLERK
Is there something else I can help you with? Otherwise, I have to ask you to go.

SOPHIE
You won't let me buy this.

CLERK
No ma'am, I cannot.

SOPHIE
All right.

She picks up the box and walks out of the store.

CLERK
Hey!

The Clerk reaches below the counter and turns on a alarm. The ringing is so loud that he scrambles to turn it off right away.

CUT TO:

EXT. - MAIN ST., ERIE

Sophie hurries her pace out on Main St. Tim is leaning against his car waiting.

SOPHIE
(urgently)
Time to go, Tim.

TIM
What's the problem?

SOPHIE
Double time.

Tim jumps behind the wheel and pulls away...

INT. - TIM'S CAR

Tim watches the Clerk in the rear view mirror shouting after them.

TIM
What's he want? What'd you do?

SOPHIE
We're not allowed to do anything.

TIM
What happened?

SOPHIE
Nothing happened.

Sophie sinks in her seat.

SOPHIE
What are the chances for not getting along with so many people?

TIM
You know, we have a drug store in Bedford.

SOPHIE
Yeah, my father runs it.

TIM
That's your father?

SOPHIE
Listen to you, Mister My-Mom-Gave-Me-Condoms.

Sophie reaches into her jacket pocket...

SOPHIE
I took something for you.

TIM
Took?

She pulls out a Hustler magazine and a bottle of hand lotion.

TIM
That's very thoughtful.

SOPHIE
For when you get lonely at night.

TIM
Right.

SOPHIE
It's natural.

TIM
Thanks. I know.

He gestures at the home test.

TIM
You really think you're pregnant?

SOPHIE
No... Don't worry about it.

TIM
From Mitch?

SOPHIE
Don't worry. Just drive.

No Cop, No Stop

INT. - AT THE LOCKERS - LATER
 
Students crowd at their lockers, stuffing their bags with the night's homework, eager to leave school as quickly as possible.
 
Tim does the same, but slowly, watching Sophie through the crowd.
 
Sophie slings her backpack over her shoulder and heads for the exit.  Mitch chases after her.
 
MITCH
Yo, Soph.  Wait up.  We're a couple, remember? 
 
SOPHIE
I remember.
 
MITCH
What do you want?
 
SOPHIE
I need a ride to Erie.
 
MITCH
You don't have to buy that test.  You don't need it.
 
Tim heads for the exit, listening in as he passes by.
 
MITCH
I don't want to even talk about it anymore.  It's a jinx.
 
SOPHIE
(calmly)
I'm not going to get pregnant by saying the word.
 
She said it.  Mitch looks around nervously.
 
SOPHIE
Forget I mentioned it.  It's not your problem, okay?
(sing-song)
Good-bye.
 
She heads for the door.
 
MITCH
Sophie, wait. 
 
She walks quickly out of the building...
 
EXT. -  PARKING LOT
 
...and into the parking lot.  Mitch runs after her.
 
MITCH
Sophie!  Hold on!
 
Sophie looks for an escape.  She sees Tim from biology class getting into his car, a light blue Plymouth Reliant.  Mitch is approaching. 
 
Sophie climbs into Tim's car.
 
INT. - TIM'S CAR
 
Tim looks at her, startled.
 
SOPHIE
Hi, Tim.  Go.
 
TIM
What?
 
SOPHIE
Foot on the pedal.  Go, go, go.
 
EXT. - PARKING LOT
 
The car pulls away just as Mitch reaches the curb.  Sophie gives Mitch the finger.
 
INT. - TIM'S CAR
 
Tim quickly cleans the car for his guest as he drives, stuffing loose papers into the ash tray.
 
TIM
Where are we going?
 
SOPHIE
One town over -- Erie.  Is that a problem? 
 
TIM
No.  I mean, I've got work. 
 
SOPHIE
Can you be late?
 
TIM
(looking in his mirror)
Are we being chased or something?
 
Sophie looks back toward the high school.  Mitch is kicking the curb.
 
SOPHIE
Nope.  Guess he lost interest.
 
She grabs a paper fast food chef's hat from the back seat and puts it on.  It says PANCHO VILLA'S across the side.
 
TIM
What's the trouble?
 
SOPHIE
No trouble.  None that breaking up won't solve.
 
She crumples the hat in her hand.
 
SOPHIE
God, what am I going to do now, go on dates?
 
EXT. - INTERSECTION - DAY
 
The car coasts toward an empty intersection.  The light is red.
 
INT. - CAR
 
Sophie opens Tim's glove compartment and peers inside...
 
TIM
Don't do that--
 
Sophie pulls an unopened box of condoms out of the glove compartment.
 
SOPHIE
Well, look here.
 
TIM
(embarrassed)
My mother put those there.  Just in case.
 
SOPHIE
Uh-huh.  You haven't gotten much use out of them.
 
TIM
Nope.
 
Tim steps on the accelerator and drives through the red light.
 
SOPHIE
Hey, cowboy, that light was red.
 
TIM
No cop, no stop.
 
Sophie smiles, impressed.

Biology

INT. - HALL - DAY
 
In a long corridor, Sophie joins the throng of STUDENTS pushing past each other trying to get to class.  She tears a flyer advertising an S.A.T. training course off the wall, as if by habit.
 
A handsome older student swoops up from behind and kisses her neck.  This is MITCH.
 
SOPHIE
(without looking)
Hi, Mitch.
 
He walks down the hall beside her.  She hands him the crumpled S.A.T. flyer.
 
MITCH
Have fun at the principal's office?
 
SOPHIE
They want to know why I won't join the softball team.
 
Mitch glances over at CHEERLEADERS practicing the Bedford High anthem in a empty classroom.
 
MITCH
(attempting to be casual)
So, did you get it?
 
SOPHIE
It?  My period?  No. 
 
MITCH
Get it, okay?
 
She pushes open a classroom door.
 
SOPHIE
Whatever you say.
 
Mitch follows her into...
 
INT. - CLASSROOM
 
Biology class.  STUDENTS are clustered in groups of two and three, frantically quizzing each other in preparation for a test.  A human skeleton watches over the panic from the corner of the room.
 
Mitch and Sophie's entrance goes unnoticed, except by one person, studying alone.  This is TIM. 
 
Tim looks up from his notes and watches as Sophie slowly crosses the room and takes the seat in front of him. 
 
SOPHIE
Hi, Tim.
 
TIM
Hi.  Sophie.  How's life?
 
SOPHIE
Never better.
 
She glances at Mitch across the room.  He's not watching.
 
TIM
Big test.
 
Sophie flips her wrist.  An index card with miniature lists and cell diagrams slides from the sleeve of her jacket -- a cheat sheet. 
 
SOPHIE
I'll get by.  You?
 
TIM
I...ah...studied this time.
 
SOPHIE
Oh. 
 
The door of the classroom slams shut.  The teacher, MS. CRANDALL, enters the room with long strides, sets a huge caffeine addict's mug of coffee on her desk and begins passing out the test.
 
MS. CRANDALL
Put your name on the top right hand corner of every page.  Failure to do so is an automatic F. 
 
Sophie tucks the cheat sheet into her sleeve.
 
MS. CRANDALL
Eyes on your own test.  If you have a question, raise your hand.
 
Tim and Sophie get their tests, and set to work.  Sophie copies from the answers in her sleeve.  Tim answers from memory. 
 
Ms. Crandall slowly walks up and down the rows of desks, surveying the students. 
 
Sophie gives Tim a grin and pulls her cheat sheet a little further out of her sleeve.  She doesn't see that Ms. Crandall has moved onto the back of their row. 
 
Ms. Crandall takes slow steps looking from student to student. Sophie, oblivious, continues cheating. 
 
Ms. Crandall looks at Sophie with suspicion and anticipation.  Over Sophie's shoulder, the cheating is almost visible...
 
Another step.  Sophie is doomed. 
 
TIM
(loudly)
Ms. Crandall?
 
Sophie jumps and stuffs away the evidence of her cheating.
 
MS. CRANDALL
Yes, Tim, what is it?
 
TIM
(pointing to the test)
Is this supposed to be chloroplast or chlorophyll?
 
MS. CRANDALL
Ah, yes.
(to the class)
On question nine...
 
Most of the class has to turn a page to get to the question.
 
MS. CRANDALL
...change "chlorophyll" to "chloroplast."  Got it?  Question nine.
 
Sophie mouths "Thank you" to Tim.  He gives a short, seated bow.
 
MS. CRANDALL
My mistake.

Fade In

FADE IN
 
EXT. - RURAL ROAD - NIGHT
 
Beside a rural road, somewhere in western Missouri, a convertible Mustang sits motionless, its front end wrapped around an old oak tree.
 
INSIDE THE MUSTANG
 
Reflected in the mirrored sunglasses of one of the passengers, flames burst from the hood of the Mustang.  A police siren sounds in the distance.
 
A fly lands on the wide collar of a second passenger.  The siren grows louder.
 
Then, drowning out the siren's whine, the Mustang EXPLODES into a bright, orange fireball.  Flames reach up and singe the high branches of the oak.
 
A police car arrives at the scene.  Two POLICE OFFICERS emerge from the car, guns drawn.  A secondary explosion keeps them back from the Mustang.
 
OFFICER
(returning his gun to his holster)
Look's like we got 'em.
 
The other officer sifts through debris next to the car.  He picks up a burning twenty dollar bill and gestures toward the bodies burning hideously in the wreckage.
 
SECOND OFFICER
Read 'em their rights.
 
The officers share a small chuckle. 
 
FIRST OFFICER
Damn shame, if you ask me.  Look here.
 
He holds a smoldering, melted, but readable I.D. card, picked from the rubble.  On it, BEDFORD HIGH SCH...SOPHIE ELL...a picture of a smiling high school girl.
 
FIRST OFFICER
She's pretty, see?
 
SECOND OFFICER
Yeah...if you like your meat well done.
 
More chuckles.  The sound of the burning car rises and fades as we--
 
HOLD ON THE I.D. and
 
DISSOLVE TO:
 
INT. - PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY
 
...the I.D., unmelted, before the fire. 
 
MS. GREEN, the principal's bespectacled and balding secretary, copies the number from the I.D. into a record book, then hands the I.D. back to SOPHIE ELLIOT.  Sophie is fifteen, tough, prettier than on the I.D., and very much alive. 
 
MS. GREEN
...If you behave this way at work, you get fired.  We're trying to prepare you for the real world.
 
Sophie slips the I.D. into her jeans pocket.
 
MS. GREEN.
We're going to have to call your parents again.
 
SOPHIE
(correcting her)
My father.
 
MS. GREEN
No more tardies, no more disruption in class, respect for school property.  Am I understood?   We're not here for your amusement. 
 
Ms. Green waves Sophie away and motions to a long line of STUDENTS--
 
MS. GREEN
Next!.. And no talking!

Intro

Here's a screenplay I wrote a while back.  I'll be posting a new scene every so often. Enjoy the read.