falling asleep at the wheel

8/2/2019 Falling Asleep at the Wheel

1/24

FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

a short spec script

by

Ran Cartwright


2/24

2

FADE IN

INT. DONS CAR - NIGHT

DON, a young middle aged man, drives a rural road, State

Route 46, heading to East Palestine, Ohio. A female hand

suddenly rests on his shoulder from the back seat.

Frightened, Don glances in the rearview mirror, then looks

over his shoulder.

ON DON - Back seat passenger POV. Dons eyes go wide.

FEMALE GHOST (o.c.)

(soft)

Kiss me.

Don screams.

EXT. OHIO STATE ROUTE 46 - NIGHT

Dons car runs off the road, crashing, rolling over, a tire

squeaking as it turns slower and slower.

ELSEWHERE, NEARBY ALONG THE ROAD, a female figure in white

with long blonde hair, casually walks by along the side of

the road.

FADE TO BLACK


3/24

3

ACT ONE

FADE IN

EXT. CEMETERY, DONS GRAVE - DAY

A small group of people are gathered at Dons grave for the

graveside services.

PRIEST (o.c.)

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...

TIME FADE -

ELSEWHERE, A CEMETERY ROAD NEAR GRAVE, two of Dons

friends, RICK JENNINGS and GARY OLSEN, approach Ricks car

as they leave Dons grave site, the services just ended.

Rick shakes his head.

RICK

Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!

Gary nods.

GARY (v.o.)

Rick was right - unbelievable;

guess it always is when it's a

good friend and you're not

expecting his death.

Rick approaches the drivers side, Gary the passengers

side. They look at each other across the car roof.

GARY

Falling asleep at the wheel...

so said the police report.

(shakes head)

Bull...

(thinking aloud)

Ashes to ashes...

Rick looks back at the grave. A beautiful young BLONDE

WOMAN (Female Ghost) stands at the casket, her head bowed.

The casket glistens in the hot August sun.


4/24

4

RICK

Whos that?

GARY

What?

Rick nods.

RICK

Her.

Gary looks.

GARY

(soft)

I dont know. Never saw her

before. Shes a looker though.

RICK

(soft)

Yeah,...

(nods)

...she is.

Rick climbs into the car. Gary pauses, his eyes on the

young Blonde Woman, then climbs into the passengers seat.

ELSEWHERE, AT THE GRAVE, the young Blonde Woman slowly

looks toward the car.

INT. RICKS CAR - DAY

Rick and Gary stare out the windshield.

RICK

How about a cup of coffee?

Gary slowly nods.

GARYYeah...

Rick starts the car and puts it in gear.


5/24

5

EXT. DONS GRAVE - DAY

The young Blonde Woman watches the car drive away.

EXT. CEMETERY GATE - DAY

Rick and Gary pull up to the gate, pause for traffic, then

pull out of the cemetery and disappear down the road.

EXT. BARBS RESTAURANT ON MAIN STREET IN TOWN - DAY

People walk by on the side walk, going about their business.

Ricks car suddenly appears and turns into an alley beside

the restaurant.

EXT. PARKING LOT BEHIND BARBS RESTAURANT - DAY

Ricks car pulls into the parking lot behind the

restaurant. Rick and Gary climb out and start toward the

restaurants rear entrance.

GARY

Falling asleep at the wheel.

Thats nonsense.

Rick nods.

RICKYeah. It is.

Gary pulls the door open, then pauses.

GARY

The cops just dont want to

admit it.

A moment silence as they stare at one another, then they

disappear inside the restaurant.


6/24

6

INT. BARBS RESTAURANT

A small town restaurant with booths and a long dinner bar

with barstools. Some patrons are at the bar, others in

booths. Ceiling fans slowly turn.

Rick and Gary make their way to the front of the restaurant

and take a seat in a booth where they have a window view of

the Main Street sidewalk and daily commercial business.

A pretty young WAITRESS shows up with pad and pen.

WAITRESS

Can I help you?

Smiling, Rick and Gary look up.

RICK

Ah, coffee. Black.

GARY

Me too. The same.

WAITRESS

Anything to go with the coffee?

Rolls, pie, coffee cake...?

RICK

No thanks.

Gary shakes his head.

GARY

Naw.

The Waitress smiles.

WAITRESS

All rightie. Be right back

with your coffee.

The two friends nod and smile as she turns away.

Rick watches the departing Waitress as Gary takes out a

cigarette, lights it, then drags a clear glass ashtray in

front of him.


7/24

7

RICK

So, what are you doing these days?

GARY

Working on a new book. A

followup to my last one.

RICK

Ghost Stories of Columbiana

County, Ohio.

GARY

Yeah. Im calling this one More

Ghost Stories of Columbiana

County, Ohio.

Rick chuckles.

RICK

Why am I not surprised?

The Waitress suddenly reappears, interrupting as she places

steaming coffee cups in front of them.

WAITRESS

There you go.

RICK

Thanks.

Gary nods. The Waitress smiles and winks as she turns away.

RICK

Well, what do you think?

GARY

The waitress?

Rick chuckles, momentary glancing at the departing waitress.

RICK

No, not her.

(looks at Gary)

I mean Don and his so-called

accident.


8/24

8

Rick sips his coffee, his eyes on Gary. Gary shakes his

head.

GARY

I dont buy it.

RICK

Neither do I.

GARY

On that curve between New

Waterford and East Palestine?

It was no accident.

RICK

You're thinking the same

thing I am.

GARY

The girl, you mean.

RICK

Yeah, that's what I mean.

GARY

You know, it's ironic...

(stubs his cigarette)

...all that ghost hunting

bullshit back in our schooldays...

ON Rick as he glances out the window just as the young

Blonde Woman walks by outside. She turns her head, peering

in at Rick, and smiles.

GARY (o.c.)

Whod have ever thought that

the ghost out on 46...

Ricks snared by her sudden appearance; his thoughts wander.

TIME AND VOICE FADE -

Gary shakes Rick by the shoulder.

GARY

Hey! Rick! Hey man!


9/24

9

Rick shakes his head, comes back to reality, and glances at

Gary.

RICK

Huh? Wha...?

GARY

Are you all right? You spaced

out there for a sec?!

Rick, still gathering his thoughts, glances at his coffee.

RICK

Yeah...yeah. Im fine. Well,

anyway,...I hate to drink and

run; gotta be headin' home.

Rick starts to rise from the booth; he glances at Gary.

RICK

The traffic to Enon Valley...

Ah, want me to drop you

off someplace?

Gary, suspicious, raises his eyebrows.

GARY

No, No, its all right. I can

walk home from here.

Rick downs the rest of his coffee, digs into his pocket for

money and lays it on the table.

RICK

For the coffee.

GARY

Sure.

Rick hurriedly turns toward the front door.

GARY (o.c.)

Hey Rick!

Rick stops, turns. Gary gestures toward the back of the

restaurant.


10/24

10

GARY

You parked out back.

A momentary pause, then...

RICK

Oh...yeah.

He nods, then starts toward the back of the restaurant.

Gary watches, sees Rick beginning to hurry as he nears the

back door.

EXT. BARBS RESTAURANT - DAY

The door swings open against the outside wall with a bang.

Rick hurries into the parking lot and to his car.

INT. BARBS RESTAURANT - DAY

Gary shakes his head, sighs, grabs the money and rises from

the booth. He walks to the cash register. The Waitress

steps up. Gary hands her the ticket and money.

WAITRESS

Will that be all?

GARY

Yeah; keep the change.

WAITRESS

Thanks and have a good day.

Gary nods and starts toward the front door as the Waitress

rings up the charge. He leaves the restaurant.

EXT. STREET CORNER - DAY

Rick pulls up to a red light at a street corner.


11/24

11


Rick glances out of the corner of his eye, sees the young

Blonde Woman standing there on the sidewalk. She smiles and

stares back at him.

The light changes. Rick watches her while slowly pulling

forward, then around the corner.

EXT. STREET CORNER - DAY

The young Blonde Woman, still smiling, watches Rick drive

away.

EXT. STATE ROUTE 46 ENTERING NEW WATERFORD, OHIO - DAY

A sign along the road - Welcome to New Waterford. Ricks

car passes the sign, heading toward the only street light

in the tiny crossroad village.

EXT. STREET LIGHT AT NEW WATERFORD INTERSECTION - DAY

Ricks car pulls up to the red light.


Rick waits for the light to change. His eyes drift to a

nearby road sign announcing the route number.

INSERT: OHIO ROAD SIGN.

A black number 46" on a white Ohio shield.

BACK TO SCENE.

Rick taps his fingers on the steering wheel as he glances

at the street light.


12/24

12


The light changes. Rick drives on.


Leaving New Waterford, Rick follows the curve in the road.

His eyes go wide and he leans forward, noticing a hitch

hiker, the young Blonde Woman. As Rick nears, she begins to

turn, sticking out a thumb.

EXT. OHIO STATE ROUTE 46 - DAY

The young Blonde Woman turns, sticking out her thumb, hitch

hiking. She smiles as Rick approaches in his car.

END ACT ONE

FADE OUT


13/24

13

ACT TWO

FADE IN

INT. GARYS STUDY

Cluttered - books lying here and there; printed manuscript

pages in disarray; an overflowing wastepaper basket; a

couch haphazardly draped in blanket with pillow.

A storm outside; theres thunder. Lightning flashes through

a window.

Gary sits at his desk, lit by a small desk lamp, typing on

his computer, working on a manuscript. Next to the computer

- a telephone and book.

INSERT: THE BOOK

The title reads: Ghost Stories of Columbiana County, Ohio.

The author: Gary Olsen.

BACK TO SCENE.

Gary stops typing, lights a cigarette. A flash of

lightning; Gary glances at the window, then continues

typing. He reads in VOICE OVER what he writes, cigarette

dangling from the corner of his mouth.

GARY (v.o.)

The legend is an old one, the

same kind of ghost story youd

find in any rural American town.

The legend is of a young woman...

(pause)

...in her early twenties. She

walks along a road, is hit by

a drunk driver, and her ghost

haunts the site of her death.

(places cigarettein ashtray)

Here, the road in question is

State Route 46 between East

Palestine and New Waterford.


14/24

14

The phone rings. Gary glances at the phone, then continues

typing. The phones recorder kicks in and takes a silent

message.

GARY (v.o.)

The story isnt complex. People

see the ghost walking along the

road near the bridge where...

TIME FADE -

Gary typing - he stops, lights another cigarette, then sits

back and stares at the screen. His stare becomes distant,

not focusing.

GARY

(soft, dreamy)

Ashes to ashes...dust to dust.

A peel of thunder interrupts him. He glances at the window.

Theres a flash of lightning.

INSERT: WINDOW

In the flash of lightning, a silhouette of a female stands

at the window outside, her long hair wind blown.

BACK TO SCENE.

Gary lays the cigarette in the ashtray and slowly rises

from his desk chair, his eyes on the window.

The thunder continues to roll. Another flash of lightning

illuminates the window. Theres no one there.

Gary shakes his head, turns to the phone, hits the message

button. The voice in the message is distraught.

JACKIE (o.f.)

Hello Gary, this is JackieJennings, Ricks wife...


15/24

15

INT. FUNERAL HOME - NIGHT

Several are gathered for calling hours. The door opens;

Gary enters. He peers around, turns to the guest book,

signs it, then starts through those gather toward the

casket.

Hearing the voice of the Funeral Home DIRECTOR, Gary stops.

DIRECTOR (o.c.)

...the look on his face...like he saw

something that frightened him to death.

Gary sees the Director talking to the mysterious young

Blonde Female. The Blonde Female nods, then turns away. Her

eyes catch Gary in a lingering glance. She smiles, then

disappears amidst the people.

Gary approaches the Director.

DIRECTOR

Ah, Mister Olsen.

They shake hands, Gary scanning the crowd, trying to find

the Blonde Female.

GARY

Who was that young woman

you were just talking to?

DIRECTOR

To tell you the truth, I dont

know. She never told me her

name and I neglected to ask.

I presumed she was a friend of

the deceased.

GARY

(distracted)

Yes, well...

ELSEWHERE IN THE ROOM, Ricks wife, JACKIE JENNINGS, sees

Gary and makes her way to him just as the Director turns

away.


16/24

16

JACKIE

Gary, Im so glad you made it.

Im sorry I couldnt make

Dons funeral.

They hug.

GARY

Sorry you had to make this

one.

Gary glances around the room, then turns back to Jackie.

GARY

Youre going to think Im crazy,

but theres this woman that...

well...

His words trail off as he attempts to find a way to tell

Jackie.

JACKIE

What woman?

Gary glances around the room again, then turns back to

Jackie.

GARY

Never mind. Shes gone.

CLOSE ON Ricks open casket.

MATCH CUT:

EXT. RICKS GRAVE - DAY

CLOSE ON Ricks closed casket.

Gary, Jackie, the Priest, a few others are gathered as

grave side services are held.

Gary looks past those gathered. In the distance he sees the

young Blonde Woman walking amidst the graves. He slips away

from the service and goes after her.


17/24

17

ELSEWHERE IN THE CEMETERY, winded and frustrated, Gary

stops his pursuit and peers about. The Blonde Woman is

gone.

JACKIE (o.c.)

Gary...?

Gary turns to find a questioning Jackie standing behind

him, no more than ten feet away.

JACKIE

Was she the one you were talking

about last night at the funeral

home?

GARY

You saw her?

She nods.

JACKIE

Yes. Long blonde hair. Long white gown.

He sighs and nods.

GARY

Yeah, thats her.

JACKIEAll right. Whats this all

about?

TIME FADE -

ELSEWHERE IN THE CEMETERY, Gary and Jackie slowly walk side

by side.

JACKIE

So this ghost walks along the

road hitchhiking. If you dontpick her up, youre dead.

Gary nods.


18/24

18

GARY

Thats about the size of it.

But with a new twist I hadnt

counted on. Apparently shes

not restricted to the site of

her death.

JACKIE

And you saw her at the funeral

home last night and that was

her we saw here in the cemetery.

GARY

And at Dons funeral and in

town on main street where

Rick saw her.

JACKIE

Sorry, Gary, but it does sound

rather crazy.

They stop walking as Gary turns to face Jackie.

GARY

Maybe so, but Im going to

test the theory.

EXT. STATE ROUTE 46 - DAY

Garys car heads toward New Waterford.

EXT. STATE ROUTE 46/STATE ROUTE 7 INTERSECTION - DAY

Garys car pulls up to the stop sign.

INT. GARYS CAR

Gary glances up and down Route 7.

GARY(soft, thinking aloud)

Ashes to ashes...

He crosses the intersection and continues toward New

Waterford on 46.


19/24

19


Garys car continues toward New Waterford.

EXT. STATE ROUTE 46 ENTERING NEW WATERFORD, OHIO - DAY

ON the Welcome to New Waterford sign along the road.

Garys car passes by.


Garys car pulls up to the red light. He glances at the

Ohio 46" road sign while waiting on the light to change.

GARY (v.o.)

Two miles; straight ahead; two

more miles. Ashes to ashes.

INT. GARYS CAR

His breath is short, rapid. He grips the steering wheel,

his knuckles white. His eyes are glued to the road ahead.


The light changes.

GARY

Well, this is it.

He drives on.

EXT. STATE ROUTE 46 LEAVING NEW WATERFORD - DAY

Gary tops a rise in the road, sees the curve with the short

span of the bridge.

GARY (v.o.)

Three quarters of a mile...

nothing's there, nothing at all.(mutters)

Falling asleep at the wheel Hell.


20/24

20

He sighs, then starts to laugh, but stops as he notices a

young Blonde Woman walking along the road. He leans forward

over the steering wheel.

GARY

Well, Ill be damned.

Gary stares as he draws closer to the bridge. His fear

rises; sweat trickles down his forehead. His mind plays

tricks on him. He hears her voice, soft and ethereal.

BLONDE FEMALE (v.o.)

Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust...

Gary chuckles as his bravado begins to rise in challenge to

the young blondes presence.

GARY

Well, baby, you going to kill

me if I don't pick you up?!

(shakes head)

I don't think so. You're just

a legend; one of those stories

told around campfires all over

this damn country! You can just

keep on walking, honey.


The girl turns, sticks out a thumb as Gary passes her by.

At that instant...

INT. GARYS CAR - DAY

Gary's eyes locked on hers.


A gleam in her eyes, she smiles as Gary passes.


21/24

21

INT. GARYS CAR

Gary glances in the rearview mirror, sees the young Blonde

Woman walking along the road. He smiles, then chuckles

again.

GARY (v.o.)

So much for that. Falling

asleep at the wheel. Maybe...

He breathes a sigh of relief, laughs to himself, and shakes

his head.

GARY

Whew! Damn! For a minute there...

tempting fate...

He reaches for the car radio. A hand suddenly grasps his

wrist.

Gary stares at the hand in wide eyed terror. The hand is

female, dried of death, shriveled and decayed. Finger bones

show through cracked and peeling skin. And it protrudes

from the sleeve of a white moldy dress.

FEMALE GHOST (o.c.)

You didn't stop for me.

Gary still staring at the hand.

GARY

You can't be real! You can't

be real!

FEMALE GHOST (o.c.)

I am and Im here for you.

Kiss me.

Gary slowly turns his eyes to the ghost seated in the

passengers seat.

A dead moldering face stares back - parched and cracked

skin clings tight to her skull, the skull showing through

at several places. Long blonde hair hangs matted and

stringy in thin strands from dried skin atop her skull.


22/24

22

The left eye shines bright in its socket while the right

eye hangs on her cheek. Her lips are shriveled back and

nearly gone; jaws crack open and squeak like a rusted door

hinge.

FEMALE GHOST

Kiss me.

The grinning skull leans toward Gary. He reels in terror,

sits back, trying to push away from the dead thing.

Face to face, the dead things shriveled lips touch Garys.

He closes his eyes, feels the car lurch sideways.

EXT. STATE ROUTE 46 BRIDGE - DUSK

The car glances off the bridge guard rail, then leaves the

road.

INT. GARYS CAR - DUSK

The car bounces off the road as the dead thing presses Gary

back in the seat, the cold kiss of death on his lips. The

car suddenly lurches sideways and begins to roll.

EXT. OPEN FIELD OFF STATE ROUTE 46 - DUSK

Garys car rolls in the field, bounding end over end, dirt

careening through the air, then finally comes to rest.

ELSEWHERE IN THE FIELD, an apparently unharmed Gary finds

himself standing there, staring back at the bridge.

Three cars are pulled off the road, their headlights

glaring. People run toward him, then pass by as though he

isnt there.

He turns and sees his car several yards away, lying upside

down, steam from the ruptured radiator pouring into the

air. The people gather around the wreck as Gary hesitantlyapproaches them.

PASSERBY

Look at his face. Damn, looks

like hes scared to death.


23/24

23

Gary joins them, sees himself lying on his back half out of

the car. His eyes are open, staring, lifeless. His face

covered in blood, he wears an expression as if he had seen

something horrible.

FEMALE GHOST (o.c.)

Don't concern yourself. Youre

at peace.

Gary turns to find her standing next to him, no longer the

face of death he had seen in the passenger's seat. She

smiles and he smiles back, realizing she was right.

Confused and uncertain, though not frightened, Gary feels

his own arms, head, chest.

GARY

Im warm...no pain, no blood,

I feel...fine...

RICK (o.c.)

Well, you look no worse for wear.

Gary spins around to see Rick and Don approaching, both

smiling. Behind them stand hundreds of others on the gentle

sloping hillside. Don offers a hand.

DON

Good to see you again, Gary.

GARY

Eh, ye...yeah.

...shaking hands.

FEMALE GHOST

Yes. Welcome.

She kisses Gary's cheek, then turns away. Don, Gary, and

Rick watch as she walks toward the bridge.

RICK

Well, someone else will be

joining us soon.


24/24

24

Somewhere far off theres a siren.

GARY (v.o.)

Police, maybe an ambulance.

They're coming to get me.

He smiles.

THE END

FADE TO BLACK

falling asleep at the wheel

Documents