DUST
(C) 2001 YAIR PACKER
WRITESFE REGISTERED
FADE IN:
EXT. DIRT ROAD. SUMMER. DAY
A car stands on the side. The hood is up.
Greg Rowland
(27) stands by it. Greg wears a suit and a
tie. He looks
down the road. A car approaches followed by a
cloud of
dust. Greg walks to the middle of the road
and waves at
the car.
GREG
(yells)
Stop. Please stop.
As it draws nearer we see it is an old car.
Betty Sheldon
( 25 ) sits there. Greg goes to her.
BETTY
Got a gun and it's pointing at
you?
GREG
I just want a ride. My car broke
down.
BETTY
No tricks mister. Where to ?
GREG
Alton's Place.
BETTY
Who you got there ?
GREG
Clarice Eddison.
BETTY
OK. Get in.
(beat)
Better lock your car.
Greg goes to his car. He closes the hood and
opens the
front door. Takes out a bunch of roses
wrapped in a towel.
He locks the car and enters Betty's car.
INT. BETTY'S CAR ON THE WAY. -- DAY
GREG
You really have a gun?
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2.
BETTY
Never had one.
(beat)
There's a bottle of water in the
back.
Greg turns and takes the bottle. He drinks.
GREG
Thanks.
Betty points at the flowers.
BETTY
The towel looks dry, Better wet
it.
Greg unwraps the roses. He put them on the
floor. Opens
the window. Puts the towel and the bottle out
of the window
and pours water on the towel. He brings the
towel and bottle
back in and closes the window. Picks the
roses and wraps
the towel around them.
GREG
Thanks. I guess the towel was dry
after three hours.
BETTY
Where you from ?
GREG
Points End .Florida.
(extends his hand)
I'm Greg
BETTY
(shakes his hand)
Betty
She points at the flowers
These for Clarice?
GREG
You know her ?
BETTY
Sure.
GREG
The flowers are for her parents.
First meeting.
(beat)
The parents I mean. Lunch.
BETTY
Clarice's father owns a service
station.
GREG
Yeah. I know.
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3.
BETTY
So why didn't you ask him to come
for your car ?
GREG
Didn't want to start on the wrong
foot. I'll tell him right after
lunch.
Betty switches on the car's radio. Music.
Betty hums.
BETTY
Too loud for you Greg?
GREG
No. Fine.
BETTY
You ever dance?
GREG
Sure.
Betty stops the car.
BETTY
Let's dance now.
EXT.DIRT ROAD. DAY
Betty gets out of the car. She takes off her
shoes and
puts them on the car. She dances.
BETTY
Come on Greg. The sand is just
fine.
Greg gets out of the car.
GREG
Listen Betty. I'm late.
BETTY
The song'll end soon. Come on.
Greg takes the roses from the car and starts
walking. Betty
continues to dance.
EXT. DIRT ROAD. DAY
Greg walks. His coat is on his arm and he
holds the flowers.
His tie is loose. Betty's car comes behind
him. It stops.
BETTY
Come in. It's too far and too hot
to walk.
Greg gets in.
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4.
INT. BETTY'S CAR. DAY
BETTY
Your shoes are dusty.
GREG
So?
BETTY
You aiming to marry Clarice ?
GREG
If her parents approve of me.
BETTY
That's a tall order seeing that
Clarice is their only child.
GREG
We love.
BETTY
Still you got to get through
Phyllis
first.
GREG
Who's Phyllis.
BETTY
Phyllis Eddison. Your future
mother-
in-law.
GREG
What do you mean?
BETTY
Dusty shoes is a sure thing to
make Phyllis hate you. She won't
give you a second chance.
Betty opens the glove compartment and takes
out a box of
tissues. She drops it on Greg's lap.
BETTY (CONT'D)
Here.
Greg pulls out a few tissues. He bends down
and begins to
clean the shoes.
BETTY (CONT'D)
You won't make a good job this
way. Take it off.
Greg takes off one shoe. A cell phone rings.
Greg takes
the phone out of his coat's pocket and opens
it.
GREG
Yeah... I'm on my way only the car
broke... What do you mean' again?
(MORE)
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5.
GREG (CONT'D)
I had it fixed only a week ago...
This girl gave me a ride so I'll
get to you...
Greg covers the phone with his hand.
GREG (CONT'D)
(to Betty)
How long ?
BETTY
15 minutes.
GREG
(on the phone)
I'll be with you... Oh you heard ?
Yeah... Her name is Betty...Of
course I'm in the front seat...Why?
Don't be stupid... No. I won't
Clarice... Yes. I got it right
here in my pocket. It was stuck
between the mattresses... Bye
love.
Greg closes the phone and puts it on the
seat. He takes a
tissue and begins to wipe the shoe.
BETTY
She wanted you to sit in the back
right ?
Greg is taken back.
GREG
No... Yes.
(beat)
She loves me.
BETTY
Don't give me that. Trust a man to
think with his heart.
GREG
Meaning?
Betty stops the car.
GREG (CONT'D)
Not again?
Betty takes the shoe from his hand and the
box of tissues.
BETTY
Give me your other shoe. You're
getting the dust off your shoes
and putting it on your pants.
(beat)
I'll do it.
GREG
But...
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6.
BETTY
Give.
Greg gives her the other shoe. Betty gets out
of the car.
She opens the back door and takes out the
bottle of water.
She pours water on a tissue.
BETTY (CONT'D)
You want to sit in the back? Be my
guest. I don't mind.
Betty cleans the shoe with the wet tissue.
GREG
I don't.
BETTY
Next thing you know you're married
and she sniffs your shorts to see
if you fucked around.
Greg laughs.
BETTY (CONT'D)
No joke. Phyllis does. She had
four husbands since Clarice's
father
died 6 years ago soon after she
had her 18 birthday party. Didn't
trust them.
GREG
You got it wrong Betty. 6 years
ago Clarice was 16.
Betty gives the shoe to Greg.
BETTY
It's still a little wet so wait
before you put it on.
Betty takes the other shoe and wets another
tissue.
GREG
I said that Clarice is 22.
BETTY
If you say so
(beat)
I might be wrong.
GREG
Might?
BETTY
Listen Greg.All I know is that her
father died a week before
graduation. Maybe she was a hell
of a student and graduated when
she was 16. It's not such a big
issue.
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7.
GREG
It is.
BETTY
OK. So Clarice is 22.
Betty gives him the other shoe.
BETTY (CONT'D)
Here.
GREG
Thanks Betty.
Betty gets in and drives.
INT. BETTY'S CAR ON THE WAY. -- DAY
BETTY
You sure can't wait to get to
Clarice.
GREG
I am ?
BETTY
It shows.
(beat)
The bulge in your pants. If I see
it you can bet Phyllis will too.
GREG
What bulge?
Greg looks at his pants. He laughs.
GREG (CONT'D)
It's not what you think.
BETTY
Good.
GREG
It's just something that belongs
to Clarice.
BETTY
Whatever it is I suggest you put
it somewhere else. Believe me you
don't want Phyllis to tell you to
take it out because it ruins the
shape of the pants.
(beat)
What is it ?
GREG
Panties.
BETTY
Clarice's?
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8.
GREG
Sure.
BETTY
You got to put them somewhere else
where it won't be obvious.
(beat)
How about putting them on.
GREG
What?
BETTY
Put them on top of yours. No one
will spot it. Not even Phyllis.
Greg does not respond.
BETTY (CONT'D)
Just an idea.
GREG
I will not.
BETTY
OK.
GREG
Clarice's mother can't be that
bad.
(beat)
She's not a monster.
BETTY
She's a woman and a mother. It's a
lethal combination if you are
meeting her for the first time. A
hound can take lessons from her.
Greg looks at her.
BETTY (CONT'D)
What?
GREG
Why do you care so much about
Phyllis' first impression of me?
BETTY
Because I would hate it if you
lost Clarice just because you
didn't
expect Phyllis' reaction to certain
matters. You also had that look
when you stopped me.
GREG
What look ?
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9.
BETTY
It wasn't raining but still you
looked lost like a wet cat and I'm
a sucker for lost animals.
Greg looks at his watch. He rubs his palms.
Betty looks at
him.
BETTY (CONT'D)
You nervous?
GREG
No.
BETTY
Good for you. Clarice'll be there
?
GREG
Sure.
BETTY
Don't bank on it. Phyllis might
decide to see you first on your
own. But don't woory .Just hold on
and it'll be over before you know
it.
GREG
Stop the car Betty. Please.
BETTY
Don't tell me you feeling sick ?
GREG
No. Please.
Betty stops the car. Greg gets out.
BETTY
Where you going Greg?
GREG
Be right back.
Greg goes between the trees. Betty gets out
of the car.
EXT. DIRT ROAD. -- DAY
Betty stands there. She looks around. Greg's
cell phone
rings. Betty does not answer. It keeps
ringing and she
picks it up. She opens it.
BETTY
Yeah... Greg's here. He'll be right
back. You want to hold... OK?
Greg comes back.
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10.
BETTY (CONT'D)
He's coming...
(to Greg)
For you.
Greg takes the phone.
BETTY (CONT'D)
Your pants looks much better now.
GREG
(on the phone)
Yeah... Of course I have my pants
on... Nothing was wrong with
them...I tell you I don't know...
So now you don't believe me?... I
I don't have an idea why Betty
said what she did... Her name is
Betty so how the hell do you want
me to call her ? Listen Clarice.
It's hot and I'm tired and
hungry...
Wait. I'll explain when I get
there because I don't feel like
standing in the middle of nowhere
and giving your fucking mother a
report... I meant a fucking
report
... Shit.
(to Betty)
She hang up on me.
(beat)
Shit.
BETTY
By the time you get there she'll
calm down. I can come with you...
GREG
No. Please.
Betty enters the car and starts it. Greg just
stand there.
Betty gets out.
BETTY
You coming?
GREG
Yeah.
Greg gets in the car. Betty drives.
INT. CAR. DAY
GREG
Listen Betty.
BETTY
No more talk until we get there ?
GREG
But...
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11.
BETTY
You 'll say things that you'll
regret later. So shut the fuck
up.
Greg sits quietly. Suddenly he opens the
window. He picks
up the roses and throws them out with the
towel.Betty
switches on the radio. Music. Betty hums.
GREG
I wouldn't mind if you danced.
BETTY
Thought you were hot, tired and
hungery ?
GREG
It can wait.
Betty stops the car.
BETTY
You sure?
Greg gets out. He walks away and dances.
Cloud of dust
covers him. Betty gets out of the car and
joins him. They
are both enveloped in the cloud of dust.
END.
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