A Chase Story

The Fight

[to the next morning as Ryder is driving with the same look. He looks over at Chase who nervously grins. A sign comes up showing a junction with only left and right turns. Ryder grabs the map and gives it to Chase.]

Ryder: Well, here you go, navigator. Just follow my route on the map, son.

Chase: Okay.

[They pass another sign pointing right to Idaho and left to California.]

Ryder: Here comes our junction.

[Chase looks at the map from Lake Destiny to L.A., torn.]

Ryder: Okay, Chase, now this is it: left or right?

[Chase still can't decide.]

Ryder: Come on, Chase!

[Finally, Chase at the last minute makes his decision.]

Chase: Left!!!

[The car scrapes the center divider as they barely make it up the left ramp. Chase looks back, then sighs. Ryder looks angry. Chase nervously smiles.]

Chase: How about a song, Ryder?

[Ryder gets angrier.]

Chase: A game? A game! Yeah! Yeah, a game! Okay! Uh, man or woman?

[Ryder gets even angrier.]

Chase: Man? Man! Okay! Uh, Walt Disney!

[Ryder swerves the car to a scenic overlook and stops the car. He fumbles with the seat beat, gets out and stomps over to the stone wall at the edge of the overlook, fuming. Chase sighs, realizing that his stepdad is on to him and resolves to tell him what's going on. He gets out of the car and goes over to him.]

Chase: Ryder, listen, about my directions...

[Ryder turns his back on him.]

RChase: Will you listen to me? I gotta tell you something, Ryder!

[Ryder turns his back again.]

Ryder: Why bother? I'm probably too stupid to understand anyway, right?

Chase: Oh, forget it!

[Chase gives up and walks back to the car. He kicks a tire and then leans on the hatchback. The car rolls forward and leaves Chase sprawling in the dirt.]

Chase: Hey, hey, hey! The car!

Ryder: What? Now you want to drive too?

Chase: No, Ryder! The car! Look!!

Ryder: Oh, the car!

[They begin chasing after the car as it rolls down the mountain highway.]

Ryder: What'd you do now, Chase?

Chase: I didn't do anything, Ryder! I only touched it!

[The car goes under a low underpass and knocks their equipment off. Ryder steps on a skateboard and Chase joins him. They catch up with the car and Ryder manages to grab the door handle.]

Ryder: You locked it!

Chase: I locked it? It's your door. You locked it!

[Chase goes around to the other side and gets in.]

Ryder: Well, you distracted me!

[Chase rolls down the window and pulls Ryder half into the car.]

Chase: You should have put the brake on!

Ryder: Why don't you just put it on yourself?

[Ryder attempts to set the brake, but it comes off in his hand.]

Chase: See? You ruin everything!

[The car has dislodged the retaining fence and Ryder is being shaken by the posts as the car rolls over them.]

Ryder: Well, you ruined the vacation!

[The car sails into the air and bounces on some rock formations.]

Chase: I ruined it?

[car bounces.]

Chase: I never...

[bounce.]

Chase: ...wanted to go...
[bounce.]

Chase: ...on this stupid...

[bounce.]

Chase: ...vacation!!!

[The car make a final dive into the river]