shrine to the prophet of americana

#fiction (1 posts)

2 character introductions in search of a story

I:

EXT. - TACO BELL DRIVETHROUGH - DAY

A beaten-up 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA is 2nd in line for the window

INT. - INSIDE THE COROLLA - CONTINUOUS

The car is driven by JACK, a sloppy 28-year old man. The passenger seat and footwell are full of discarded fast food wrappers and trash.

Jack watches a smiling, attractive female EMPLOYEE lean out the takeout window to deliver an order to the PICKUP ahead.

Jack checks himself out in the rear view mirror and adjusts his hair. This does not make him any more stylish.

As the pickup ahead drives off, Jack turns his attention to his car and hurriedly rummages through the passenger side mess.

Jack reshuffles the pile so the top layer is all Taco Bell bags. Satisfied, he sits up and pulls forward.

II:

EXT. - OAK STREET - DAY

A residential avenue, lined with trees and well-kept bungalows. The sound of children’s playful shrieks.

We pan down the street, taking in the houses. Each styled differently, but all a variation of “bobo twee”.

We pass a house with beautiful NATURAL LANDSCAPING

A house with a rusted metal SCULPTURE GARDEN

A house with a tire swing in the yard and a HAND-PAINTED SIGN facing the street: “Slow down, we love our kids”

A house with SALVAGED COPPER GUTTERS

And then

EXT. - OAK STREET - NED’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Ned’s house has a chain link fence, a concrete front yard stained with motor oil, and faded, detaching vinyl siding.

ANOTHER HAND-PAINTED SIGN: “Speed up, I hate their kids.”

Tagged: fiction screenwriting