I'll Get You, My Pretty, And Your Little Book, Too!
INT. DODGE MINIVAN (MOVING) - DAY
The rented 2007 Dodge Caravan creeps forward, caught in a Memorial Day back-up on I-95 . DAD drives and MOM sits in the front passenger seat. Dad fidgets nervously, obsessively glancing at the portable GPS sitting on the dashboard. Mom is relaxed, slouched in the passenger seat reading the paperback, Take the Cannoli: Stories of the New World by Sarah Vowell.
An iPod Nano connected to a power outlet sits in a cubby below the radio console. "Pull My Hair" by Bright Eyes plays over a staticky radio frequency.
The family is dressed in casual summer clothing matching the summer like temperature outside the air conditioned minivan; except for LAUREN who is dressed in a long-sleeve gray Bucknell shirt, worn blue jeans, and sneakers.
Lauren sits in the passenger side bucket seat directly behind Mom, playing with her pink Nintendo DS. JESSIE sits behind Lauren, quietly flipping through the pages of a children's book. LULU is across from Jessie in the third row seat singing loudly to her cloth "Colonial Betsy" doll; the words are mostly unintelligible and the song unidentifiable.
Surrounded by traffic, the minivan comes to a stop.
DAD
Wow. This is not good.
He nervously taps the steering wheel four times and glances at the GPS.
DAD
(continuing)
It still estimates a 12:46 PM arrival at Reagan National.
He looks at Mom. She does not look up from her book.
DAD
(to himself, barely audible)
"Brutal. I'm going to pull my hair. Talk about a fitting name for a song."
He abruptly picks up his iPod and advances to the next song before turning down the volume completely on the dash panel. He looks back at his twelve-year-old daughter.
DAD
Lauren, you've been playing on your DS long enough. I want you to read your book for awhile.
He looks forward as the traffic begins to creep forward again.
LAUREN
But, I'm pretty much done with my book.
The minivan moves slowly with traffic.
DAD
So, what does 'pretty much done' with a book mean?
LAUREN
What do you mean?
DAD
Are you finished with your book or not?
LAUREN
What book?
DAD
(exasperated)
The book you're 'pretty much done' with.
LAUREN
Yeah? I am.
DAD
Lauren, what book is it?
LAUREN
Oh, Lunch Money. [By Lauren Clements]
DAD
Haven't you . . .
LULU
(yelling/singing unintelligibly)
DAD
Lulu! Quiet! . . . Haven't you read that before?
LAUREN
Yes.
Surrounded by traffic the minivan stops.
DAD
(looking at Lauren)
Then why are you reading it again?
LAUREN
What do you mean?
DAD
Why are you reading the same book twice?
LAUREN
I'm not.
LULU
(yelling/singing unintelligibly)
JESSIE
Dad! Lulu's not being quiet! I can't concentrate!
MOM
Lulu, inside voice.
DAD
Lauren, you just said "yes," you had already read it.
LAUREN
I did already read it. I mean, I've read it before today.
Dad takes a deep breath.
DAD
Okay. Have you finished it?
LAUREN
No.
DAD
I want you to put your DS away and read it now.
LAUREN
Okay.
Dad turns the volume back up. The radio plays The Whitsundays singing "It must be me . . ." Lauren leans over putting away her DS and looks for her book in her bookbag. Dad and Mom look at each other. He roles his eyes and sighs. She smiles.
CUT TO:
Overhead of red Dodge Caravan surrounded by cars and trucks, slowly moving forward in the middle of a three lane highway.
LULU (V.O.)
(screams)
JESSIE (V.O.)
Lulu! I can't concentrate! Dad make her stop!
PULL BACK TO REVEAL:
The red Dodge Caravan in a traffic jam winding as far as the eye can see.
DAD (V.O.)
(optimistically)
Hey, I think it might be picking up, up here.
"I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!" ~ The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz (1939)
