FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM – PRE-DAWN
POLLY, a beautiful woman in her mid-20’s, is frantically packing a duffle bag. She is harried, unsure of what to take- she packs and unpacks several items.
NASH
(O.S.)
Let’s go!
POLLY
Coming!
POLLY grabs items out of the nightstand. There is a photo on the nightstand of Polly and Nash holding each other and smiling. It catches her attention. She stops and picks up the photo, brushes at it with a finger. She places it in the duffle on top of the pile.
NASH strides in the room, frantic. He is in his late 20’s/early 30’s and has a stubble of beard. He wears old-fashioned plastic-framed glasses. He’s dressed for cold weather, his coat flapping open.
NASH
What the hell are you doing?
POLLY
(startled)
I’m going as fast as I can!
She turns to rummage through the closet, tossing out shoes and boots. NASH throws up his hands in frustration. He spies the photo packed in the duffle and pulls it out, throwing it down. The GLASS BREAKS. POLLY turns.
POLLY
Nash!
NASH
You don’t need stupid shit like
that!
POLLY stops, taken aback. NASH picks up POLLY’s duffle and grabs her by the arm.
NASH
(grimly)
We gotta go.
POLLY follows NASH out of the room, glancing backward at the smashed photo of the lovers lying on the floor.
INT. FORD TRUCK – PRE-DAWN
POLLY is hunched up inside the truck shivering. NASH drives. As they leave town, the intermittent street lights make their skin look pasty.
POLLY stares out the window, watching as they pass familiar streets and businesses.
POLLY
(V.O.)
We left at first light, in a truck
Nash said a guy sold him for six
hundred dollars. At four a.m. he told
me get dressed, we were leaving.
INT. TRUCK- PRE-DAWN
POLLY looks over at NASH, who is grim, both hands on the wheel, white knuckles. She reaches over and puts a hand on his arm, but he ignores her. She lets her hand drop and turns back to the window.
POLLY
(V.O.)
He didn’t even give me time to make
Coffee, said we’d stop on the road.
The truck was slow to heat up, but
I didn’t want to complain. I figured
Nash had enough on his mind.
INT. BEDROOM – PRE-DAWN
POLLY is sleeping in the half-light. There is suddenly a commotion O.S., a door BANGS open. She wakes, groggy.
NASH
(O.S.)
Polly!
POLLY sits up in bed, confused. She turns on the bedside lamp as NASH enters the bedroom. He is bedraggled, his hair wet, coat open. He is panicked.
POLLY
Nash?
NASH goes directly to her and grabs her by both arms.
NASH
Come on! Get up! We have to get
out of here!
POLLY
Why? Wh-?
NASH
We’ve gotta go! Now.
NASH stops, looks POLLY in the eyes, he is holding both her hands.
NASH
Teddi’s dead.
POLLY
Oh my God.
NASH turns, pacing, running a hand through his wet hair. He is afraid, his eyes begin to tear.
NASH
I killed her!
POLLY is up like a shot.
POLLY
What?! Nash, what are you-
NASH goes to her, puts his hands on her arms again, as if beseeching her. He seems out of his mind with fear.
NASH
I hit her. With the car! It was
an accident. She just ran out and-
I didn’t see her. Until it was too
late!
POLLY takes hold of him, trying to focus him.
POLLY
Did you call the police?
NASH pulls away, pacing again.
NASH
Ponce was there. He saw the whole
thing!
POLLY
Teddi’s husband?
NASH
People like Ponce don’t wait for the
police to take care of things. They
take care of things themselves. In
their own way.
POLLY and NASH turn to each other. There is fear on both their faces.
NASH
We have to go.