Highway of Tears

Last Cigarette

EXT. WOOD CABIN - LATER

Miles and Chloe are sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. The windows are blocked with whatever they can find.

MILES

You know earlier in the woods. When you said why you stuck with me?

(Beat)

Was that really the only reason? Because you reckon I'm good at killing people.

CHLOE

I realize what I said earlier about why I came with you was insensitive and ungrateful. But no, it's not the only reason I followed you.

MILES

Is it my aftershave, what?

CHLOE

I guess I didn't really think about it, the gun goes off and you're drawn to someone you feel safe with. Your gut makes the decision.

MILES

So I guess it is because I'm good at killing people.

CHLOE

I didn't mean it like that. Look, I know you've heard what Shauna and Roxie have been saying at the back the van. I don't care about what you've done. It doesn't change who you are.

MILES

Chloe stop, you need to know that you're gonna want nothing to do with me after this. What that cop said was right, I escaped from prison last night and I was guilty of what they put me away for

CHLOE

I don't care..

MILES

My father used to beat me from the age 9. I was weak and frail because of it, when I went to school I was the easiest target.

Every day, I did everything I could to make myself stronger than my father. At 17 I killed him in cold blood.. But that's not it.

(Beat)

The next morning I brought a gun to school and I shot the other pieces of shit that did exactly what my father did to me.

(Beat)

I've spent the last 9 years of my life next to the worst people you can think of, molesters, torturers.. A place just like school just so much worse.

Miles starts to tear up.

MILES (CONT'D)

If there's a hell I'm going to it. If there's a reason to like yourself, I don't have it.

(Beat)

You need to stay as far as you can away from me because I'm no different from any other psychopath you've met tonight.

Chloe holds Miles' hand.

CHLOE

That's not true, you're the only reason I'm alive right now. We still might not even survive this night. So the idea of you trying to make me stay away from you is stupid.

MILES

What do you mean by that?

Miles stares into Chloe's eyes. They both lean in and starts kissing each other.

They become passionate. They get carried away and start ripping each other's clothes in front of the fire.

EXT. WOOD CABIN - LATER

Miles and Chloe are asleep, Chloe is in her bra and Miles is shirtless. There's a full canister of gasoline next to them.

Dreton is holding the revolver he's just taken from Miles with the pistol tucked in the back of his jeans. He also has a stick with a rag doused in gas on the end of it.