EXT. CATHY'S CAR – NIGHT
The Jeep climbs out of the rocky desert terrain and settles on the dirt road, heading back toward civilization.
Joel is behind the wheel. Cathy in the passenger seat.
INT. CATHY'S CAR – CONTINUOUS
Joel looks at Cathy and smiles.
JOEL: Thanks. This was fun.
CATHY (smiles back): Better than getting shot at?
They both chuckle — their first shared memory.
JOEL: Yeah, for sure...
Silence. It gets awkward. They gaze out the windows.
JOEL: So...
Cathy shoots him a glance.
JOEL: About that boyfriend thing back there...
CATHY: I just wanted to get Dad off my back, okay? He's always on me with this boyfriend stuff.
JOEL: Sure...
Both turn back to their views of the road and the desert outside.
CATHY: I'm way out of your league.
JOEL: Right... And I'm seeing someone, so...
CATHY: That Asian chick at IT?
JOEL: Lin.
Cathy stares at the terrain passing by.
CATHY: You like her?
JOEL: Eh, yeah... she is sooo smart. You have no idea what she's capable of.
CATHY: Right... (beat) Must be nice to be with someone who gets your niche.
JOEL: It is.
The car rounds a corner of the road.
CATHY: Shit!
JOEL (sincere/surprised): Oh God!
The car screeches to a halt.
In front of them are two cars smashed into each other.
One person is lying motionless on the ground. Several others inside the wrecked vehicles. Some screaming, some lifeless.
Joel takes a deep breath. Then, both he and Cathy kick into gear at the same time.
He turns the car across the lanes, blocking the road from behind, headlights illuminating the scene, hazard lights on.
CATHY: I'm calling 9-1-1.
She places her phone on the dashboard. Whirls around:
CATHY (puts on latex gloves that came out of nowhere): Grab the first aid kit above your head. (he does; she puts on a reflective vest) And your vest, it's in the door, and the headlamp, it's there too.
She opens the door, steps outside. Turns on her own headlamp that also came out of nowhere. This car has more survival gear than the ones following the President.
JOEL: Give them our location, I know first aid, I'll check -
She looks at Joel, surprised. Then, into phone:
CATHY: We're on Indian route sixty-one fifty, ten minutes west of Gray Mountain, just south of the Wind Mesa junction...
Joel kneels next to the person on the ground. Checks airways, listens, and watches for breathing.
YOU ARE READING
Love/Survival
Storie d'amoreOn paper, 20-year-old twins Cathy and Matt have everything going for them. Their mom is a Brazilian supermodel, and their dad is a decorated Navy SEAL. In reality, though, Mark, their dad, is retired with PTSD, and their mom, Sabrina, split long ago...
