Kansas City

Kansas City

A short film to accompany the feature film "Gas Man"

Denny Rothwell

FADE IN:

EXT. FIELD – MIDDAY

A single car drives across a long, straight, unremarkable road in the middle of a massive field of wheat. The opening credits show superimposed over the sky, and Fats Domino's song "Kansas City" plays. Eventually we see GABRIEL (24) and JACKSON (26) sitting in the front seat of the car. They are brothers, but Gabriel is fun-loving and wild, whereas Jackson is much more reserved and responsible. They love each other but also think the other needs to seriously rethink their life. Gabriel is driving, and Jackson is playing on his phone. Gabriel reaches to switch the radio station.

GABRIEL

Alright, Jackson, that's it. The new rule is no music even more old-fashioned than you.

JACKSON

Hey, I liked that song!

GABRIEL

Dude, you can barely hear what the guy is saying. I'm not listening to something recorded on a potato.

He finds a country station.

Now this – this is real music.

COUNTRY SINGER

(Singing on radio) Fords, Chevys, Toyotas too, I like trucks and I also like you.

GABRIEL

So beautiful...

He turns it up. There's rustling in the backseat. NANCY (74), the boys' rowdy grandmother, spent all of last night partying and is just now waking up.

NANCY

Sweet hopscotching Christ, can you idiots keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep.

JACKSON

Well, grandma, the rest of us have decided that it's acceptable to wake others up at two in the afternoon.

GABRIEL

Don't diss it 'til you try it, man. Last night was lit.

JACKSON

Because nothing quite screams "lit" like being woken up at four A.M. because your grandma brought six drunken gamblers to your room.

He sighs and sits back. He looks into the rear view mirror and is visibly shocked.

JACKSON

Gabriel, I am going to ask this question once and only once, and if I don't get a good answer immediately, you're going to be flying home.

GABRIEL

K.

JACKSON

Why is there a lobster in the car?

The camera reveals that there is indeed a lobster in a tank in the backseat.

GABRIEL

Oh, that's Reginald. He's cool.

JACKSON

Gabriel – did you seriously not consider the ramifications of keeping a lobster in the car?

GABRIEL

What? Reginald is chill. Right Reginald?

Reginald does not answer.

JACKSON

First, if the tank tips, there will be water all over the car. Second, we need to feed it. Third-