HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE
an original screenplay by
Tristan Alan
VROOOOM!!!!!
PECK (V.O.)
Woah!!! Hold on there Lil' Bit,
slow down!
FROM BLACK, CUT TO:
EXT. OLD DIRT ROAD - NIGHT
LIL' BIT slams her foot on the break. The car THUMPS to a
halt, and her and PECK jerk to a halt with it.
She's a cute, 16 year old, with a low cut shirt that says,
"I'm looking to party hard" and glasses and a hair-bun that
say she's going to study harder.
PECK, a balding 40 something, pushes up his glasses and
clutches at his heart.
PECK
Jesus Christ, Lil' Bit! I said slow
down, not give me a heart attack!
LIL' BIT
I'm sorry Uncle Peck, I- I panicked.
PECK
That's fine dear. Just ease up on
the gas this time, all right?
Lil' Bit blushes.
She looks up at Peck, nods, and smiles.
LIL' BIT
Okay.
Lil' Bit eases on the gas.
Speedometor reads: 9MPH.
PECK
Well sure, take your time, but how
about we get home before next year?
LIL' BIT
(blushing)
Oh, sorry.
The Speedometer rises faster, hitting 15 MPH.
She looks over at Peck, who motions for her to keep going.
She hits the gas a little harder now - 20MPH. Lil' Bit looks
over, and Peck motions her on again.
The engine's slow rumble becomes a louder roar. The
speedometer climbs to 25MPH, then 30MPH, 35MPH, then--
2.
JOSH
(V.O.)
Y-you okay?
INT. MOVIE THEATER - EVENING
SUPER: 1979.
Lil' Bit - thirties, snaps out of a trance.
Josh, 20 - sits down next to her, bearing popcorn and a soda.
LIL' BIT
Sorry, I was... caught in thought.
Josh sets down the soda, and tilts the popcorn toward Lil'
Bit in an offering gesture, smiling.
JOSH
That's okay.
(beat)
Are-- are you crying?
Lil' Bit reaches up to her face, feels it's wet, and wipes
away a single tear.
LIL' BIT
Oh, don't worry about it.
Beat. Josh taps his feet nervously, and fidgets with his
clothing.
LIL' BIT (CONT'D)
You can hold it if you want.
JOSH
(startled)
What..?
Josh looks down to see Lil' Bit's outstretched hand
My hand.
want.
LIL' BIT
You can hold it if you
JOSH
Oh, okay.
(beat)
Sorry. I'm kind of, I...I'm not
used to...I just-- oh boy. Usually
I'm with girls my own age. I, um-not that you're old, you just...You're-LIL' BIT
(chuckles)
Relax. It's okay.
3.
Josh nervously laughs with her.
He exhales.
Josh looks at the trailer playing up on the screen, and then
back at Lil' Bit.
JOSH
So, do you, uh, daydream often?
LIL' BIT
Today's...
(beat)
This is the anniversary of my Uncle's
passing.
No.
JOSH
Oh my-- Oh I'm so sorry, I-LIL' BIT
Really, it's okay.
Josh, hand shaking, picks ups his soda and takes a sip.
So..
JOSH
Were you two close, then?
LIL' BIT
Oh, yes. You could say he was...
like a father to me.
EXT. OLD DIRT ROAD - NIGHT
Speedometer: 40MPH. Lil' Bit pulls her hair out of its bun,
her hair blows in the wind.
LIL' BIT (V.O.)
You could say he was the only real
male figure I had growing up.
Lil' Bit looks at Peck and smiles.
her knee and smiles back at her.
Peck puts his hand on
CLOSE ON: Peck's hand gently squeezes, his thumb brushes
across her bare skin.
JOSH (V.O.)
I see. He sounds like a really,
really great guy.
Peck's hand travels up her leg.
speedometor climbs to 45MPH.
LIL' BIT
He...
Lil' Bit stiffens.
(V.O.)
The
4.
INT. MOVIE THEATER - EVENING
LIL' BIT
He was-The lights begin to dim as Lil' Bit trails off. She smiles
at Josh and holds out her hand. He takes it, smiles at her,
and the two look back at the screen.
The theater goes dark.
CLOSE ON: The movie theater screen lights up.
With big bold letters the title pops on screen: HOW I LEARNED
TO DRIVE.
CUT TO:
