Flat Out
A short screenplay/story by Richard Gillespie
We open on a screening taking place in one of those small rooms some ad agencies have for reps to show directors reels. Our main character, Jack Banister, is showing a reel to Bob, an agency producer at GDBJ, an ad agency in Chicago. The light is dim but we can make out their shapes being silhouetted by the light coming from the monitor. Jack occasionally points out some relevant fact about the current commercial rolling on the screen to Bob.
Jack: That was a three day shoot in Vancouver. We fought the weather each day but pulled it off.
Bob: Looks nice
Jack: You would never know the weather sucked. Butch is great at pulling it out of his ass if necessary.
No weather cost for the agency.
Bob: That's how we like it.
As the reel ends Bob flips on the overhead light.
Jack: Well, what do you think about Butch's work?
Bob: Nice, maybe right for some Allstate work. I'll keep him in mind.
Jack: Hey. I'll leave his reel just in case you will need it. Okay?
Bob: Yeah, good idea. Check back later in the week. A project maybe coming my way.
Jack: No problem, I'm off to Detroit tomorrow but will be back on Friday. A bunch of
car work starting to hit the fan.
Bob: Flying over or driving?
Jack: Driving. The agencies are so spread out I'll be in the car alot. At least it will be my car.
Bob: Well, good luck, be safe.
Jack: Thanks Bob and I'll call you on Friday.
We see Jack exiting the elevator on the lobby level. He says hello to a few people he passes as he exits the building. He flags a cab and hops in. The cab pulls away from the curb. The camera holds on the cab until it gets fairly small in the frame.
It's later that evening and we see Jack brushing his teeth over the sink as he looks at himself in the mirror.
After rinsing he sticks his head out the bathroom door and yells to his wife Charlotte
Jack: Honey, Char?
Charlotte off camera: Yes Jack.
Jack: I'm hitting the sack as I want to get up early and get a bunch of shit done before heading out. Okay?
Charlotte: Okay Honey.
It's the next day, Tuesday, and we see Jack entering the apartment parking garage. Carl, the parking garage attendant is there with Jack's car, waiting. Jack slips Carl a few bucks.
Jack: Thanks Carl. I'm running a bit late.
Carl: Where you heading Mr. Banister?
Jack: Detriolet.
Carl: Detriolet, funny Mr. Banister
Jack gets into his car, a nice late model BMW, and we see him pull out of the garage as Carl steps into view as he watches Jack drive off.
Fast forward a few hours as Jack cruises down I-94 toward the Motor City, probably around Jackson,
Michigan. A Peter Tosh cd is cranking on the car stereo. Jack's head is moving with the beat and he's singing along with Peter. The sun is starting to set. It's November and it gets dark around 6:00 PM.
All of a sudden the steering wheel starts to shake violently and Jack fights the wheel
Jack: Oh shit! What the fuck! Oh no. Fuck!
We see Jack steer the BMW to the shoulder. He jumps out and surveys the car. Back tire flat as shit.
Jack: Fuck, fuck, fuck! shit!
We see Jack stand shocked for a moment, head shaking.
Jack: Great, change a fucking tire on the interstate, getting dark, next exit unknown. Fuck.
Whatever.
Jack walks to the trunk to get the tools to get the dirty deed done. We see Jack scrambling in the trunk
searching for the jack and lug wrench
Jack: Fuck! Where's the lug wrench. Come on, show up fucker. Shit! I'm fucked!
Jack stares out into the impending darkness knowing Detroit is still far off. Cocktails and dinner at the
Golden Mushroom doubtful. As Jack ponders the situation a car pulls onto the shoulder behind him. It appears to be an older model Chevy, burgundy, well used. Out steps a man, in full camouflage dress, face totally black out, he approachs Jack.
Jack to himself: Fuck, what's this.
Jack's mind jumps to the possibilities, not good.
Man: What's wrong?
Jack: Flat tire, no lug wrench.
Man: Well, lets look in my trunk, maybe I'll have one.
Jack to himself: Oh fuck, is this it.
Man opens trunk and Jack sees several guns laid in trunk. His worst fears overwhelm him.
Man: Seems I do not have a wrench either. I can give you a ride to the next exit. There's a service station up there.
Jack: Okay great, that would be appreciated.
Jack is nervous about getting into the car but what are the alternatives.
Jack: Have you been hunting?
Man: Yeah, deer hunting, didn't get shit, my names Mickey.
Jack: I'm Jack, Jack Banister, nice to meet you.
Mickey exits I-94 and pulls into the station. Jack breathes a sigh of relief.
Jack: Thanks Mickey.
Mickey: I'll wait just to see if they can help.
Jack: Okay, If you want.
We see Jack approach the station and talk with the mechanic on duty. Jack is informed they can go out and change the tire but not until the current job is done, probably an hour or so. Either he can wait or leave the keys with them. Jack goes back to Mickey's car
Jack: They can do it, no problem. I'll have to wait a bit.
Mickey: How long?
Jack: An hour or so.
Mickey: Fuck that. I live pretty close. Come over for a beer and meet the wife. I'll get you back here in an hour.
Jack ponders the idea. Mickey seems okay.
Jack: Okay, I'll leave my keys with the mechanic.
Jack heads back to the service bay. We then cut to Mickey and Jack pulling up to Mickey's trailer.
Mickey: Well it's not much but it's home for now
It's your typical trailer trash sort of place. Junk laid around and a slight smell of garbage. Jack has the look of, oh well, an hour won't hurt. They enter the trailer. Mickey places his 12 gauge inside the door, At the kitchen sink is Betty, Mickey's wife, cutting up some chicken, going at it pretty hard with a large knife. She doesn't even turn around.
Betty: Where the fuck have you been? Looking for a job?
Betty wheels around
Betty: Hunting, get anything? Shit no. We can't even bring that home. Who's that? Your gay boy.
Mickey: It's Jack, had a flat tire out on 94. Thought I'd bring him over for a beer.
Betty: Fucking Samaritan aren't you Mickey. Beer? You mean my beer.
Betty takes a hit off the half-pint of Old Crow on the counter and continues cutting the chicken . She actually has a pretty face but hardened over the years. Her blonde hair still attractive. Mickey pulls two Buds from the fridge and hands one to Jack. Mickey takes a swig of Betty's bourbon.
Betty: Fuck you that's mine
Jack is becoming uneasy with the escalating friction between Betty and Mickey
Betty: Hunting, how about getting a job asshole, what's it been, 9 months. You just suck off me, you and your fucked up daughter. Can't do shit. Weakasses. Did Jack-ass pay you for saving his ass?
Mickey: No!
Betty to Jack: Let's see your wallet. You look like you ain't hurtin.
Jack: What? My wallet?
Betty opens a kitchen drawer and pulls out a revolver pointing it at Jack
Betty: Yeah, your wallet slick ass. Gimme.
Jack reaches in his coat pocket and hands his wallet to Betty.
Jack: Okay, take 50 bucks.
Betty: 50 bucks, my ass, you have $300. I taking $200 for my sweet hubbies kindness.
Jack: Jesus, I need that for my business trip. Please.
At that moment Mickey's daughter April runs into the kitchen with one of Mickey's shotguns in her grasp.
She's shaking and on edge. That deer in the headlights look.
April: I can't take it any longer, the fights, the threats, it's driving me crazy. You hate me and my dad.
Betty: Put the gun down you little worthless bitch
Betty points the revolver at April
Betty: I'll kill your ass. Put it down.
Mickey: For God's sake Betty, April, stop it.
Jack: Come on, lets calm down, this is crazy. You're scaring the hell out of me.
Betty: Shut up fuck. April you gutless wonder, you don't have the balls.
April squeezes the trigger on Mickey's Remington and Betty's body receives the shock of a 16 gauge blast. As she falls ,her grip on the 38 magnum's trigger tightens. Two rounds are fired. Mickey is hit and goes down. Jack, in shock staggers forward, drops down to check Mickey's vitals. Betty is stone still with massive bleeding. No hope.
Jack: Oh my God, oh my god. We have to get him to hospital, call 911. Maybe we can save him.
April: He's as good as dead, no way.
Jack: Where's the phone?
April: We don't have a phone.
Jack: What are you saying?
April: It's over mister.
Jack: What do you mean?
April: Listen. I just killed that bitch and they will send me to prison for a longtime. I can't let that happen.
She deserved to die but they won't care.
Jack begins to fear for his own life as he realizes April plans on killing him to cover this up.
April: Let's see, you are caught by my dad pumping Betty and a multiple murder happens. My dad shoots you and Betty with the shotgun and Betty shoots Mickey with the 38. Clean and simple
We view this version as April tells her story. Jack on the couch rolling around with Betty. Mickey storming in. A tussle insues and blasts
from guns go off.
Back to reality, Jack bolts through the trailer door knowing his fate is at stake. Jack flees through the night
Hoping to escape April.
We see Jack frantically running down the road. April is now driving Mickey's Chevy in hot pursuit, shotgun hanging out the window, headlights picking up Jack as he runs for his life, weaving left and right. A shot is fired. Jack goes down. April struggles to get Jack's body in the car's trunk. Aprils contemplates what to do with Jack's body. She will just dump it back at the house according to plan and just head out. She notices the tank is close to empty. The gas station is not far away and she remembers Jack has a few dollars left in his wallet. She retrieves the money from Jack's jacket. She drives into the station and tells the attendant, $15, please.
Attendant: Hey, is this your dad's car? He was here recently with a guy who had a flat out on 94.
April: Oh yeah. He's back visiting my dad.
Attendant: If you are going back maybe you can give him the keys. I went out and fitted the flat I'm
about to close up.
April: No problem. Where's the car?
Attendant: About 2 miles west.
April: Thanks.
We see April pulling back to trailer, going inside, packing a small bag. Her plans have changed. When she departs the trailer she hops on an old bicycle and heads out. Pedaling down a few dark roads where she reaches the frontage road adjacent to the interstate. She carefully crossed both lanes of traffic until she reaches the BMW.
Next we cut to April pulling up to the Canadian entrance booth in the BMW.
Border Guard: Good evening, my I see your ID.
April hands over her drivers license.
Border Guard walks around car
Border Guard: You have a Michigan license but the car has Illinois plates.
April: Oh, my Dad is visiting from Chicago and he's letting me use his car tonight. Going to visit some friends in Windsor.
Border Guard: Okay, have a great night.
Camera sees the BMW pull away from the booth into the Canadian night.
Cut to an overhead shot of Mickey's car back at the trailer park. As the camera moves closer to the trunk we heard sounds and some movement coming from within. We pause on that for a moment.
Quick cut to Jack bolting up in bed, hard breathing, sweat poring from his body, Gasping for breath.
Charlotte: Jack! Are you alright?
Jack: Oh my God, I just had this terrible nightmare. I thought I was dead. Wow.
Charlotte comforts Jack as they lay still.
Cut to Jack entering the apartment parking garage. Carl, the parking attendant is there with Jack's car. Jack slips Carl a few bucks.
Jack: Thanks Carl, I'm running a bit late.
Carl: Where you heading Mr. Banister?
Jack: Detroilet
Carl: Detroilet, funny Mr. Banister
Jack gets into the car, there's a pause. Jack exits the car, goes and opens the trunk. We see his arm
searching for something. He finds the lug wrench and car jack. The trunk slams, we cut to to black.
