Five Miles: Final Concerns

PG:13

I forgot to add the scene headings last time. These are the final scenes before Act 2 commences.

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Scene 4: A Motel Away

>CUT TO:

INT. MOTEL ROOM- CONTINUOUS

Meanwhile, in a motel near a lake. Treck and Maria stay in the bedroom with a king-size bed. They have arrived not too long ago. It's far away to get away from the kids, but not too far to be unable to reach.

Treck recognizes Maria is stressed.

TRECK: Are you okay?

[Beat.]

MARIA: I am.

TRECK: The popping veins in your forehead and a long face suggest otherwise.

MARIA: (sighs) I'm worried about the girls, Treck. We are leaving them on a day like this. I worry something is going to happen to them, like getting killed.

Maria walks to the bed and lies on it, exhaling longfully. Treck walks in front of her. He is at the edge of the bed.

TRECK: I feel the same way, dear.

MARIA: I know Esmeralda is mad at us for pulling this off instead of just letting her catch up a few days ago for not coming down to listen.

TRECK: That girl is seventeen. She is going to be a senior next year! She's not going to disregard looking after her younger sister.

MARIA: I just hope she stops bullying Elaine. I never thought she would do this. I thought-- we thought-- she knew better.

TRECK: She better sort it out then. She never showed outrageous behavior at home.

MARIA: Yeah... People say it's the parents' fault-

TRECK: But Es has a conscience. She is old enough to know right from wrong. If she was much younger, we could tell her why it was wrong and try to find ways to improve the behavior.

[Beat.]

TRECK: We can always call and check in with Esmeralda. I already texted her that we were already here.

MARIA: She is probably on her computer to notice.

TRECK: ...We need to take that away from her. She probably picked something up from that. Get her back to reading books briefly.

MARIA: I never saw Esmera watching anything naughty, especially when I checked her history. Even when I walk in, she does not watch anything concerning. She doesn't buy anything. Esmera also works.

TRECK: I don't want her to be constantly glued to that thing. She can still read posts or comments. You never know.

MARIA: (sits back up) ...Let's discuss it more with her when we get back. Let's use this time like before we had kids and relax. (winks)

Treck grins.

>CUT TO:

Scene 5: Hayden's Concern

INT. TEAM NADOHEADS' RED TRUCK

Jordon, Pauline, and Hayden have been on the road for quite a bit. There have been quiet conversations here and there.

HAYDEN: ...What's the time the storms are supposed to start again?

PAULINE: After one. There's already a watch. PDS too.

HAYDEN: Those are rare... We never really had one last year.

PAULINE: Clearly.

HAYDEN: ...What about you, Jordon?

JORDON: A few times.

PAULINE: They're calling this another one-day outbreak.

[Beat.]

HAYDEN: So many tornadoes in one day... including violent ones.

Jordon becomes visibly annoyed. Pauline is still chill.

JORDON: Calm down, Hayden. When we see a violent one, we will take extra precautions. (pause) We will not panic.

HAYDEN: There will be a lot of people becoming temporary storm chasers with their phones.

JORDON: For someone older, you're asking and stating too many childish claims. You've been with us for a year now.

[Beat.]

HAYDEN: We've never seen a strong one. Are you guys scared?

-

[Dual Dialogue]

Jordon: L-O-L, no.

Pauline: Maybe. I try to maintain composure.

-

[Beat.]

HAYDEN: ...How are you not scared? You guys are college-aged.

JORDON: (trying not to lose his temper while driving) Hayden, I have been storm chasing after high school as a fun, paying hobby. Paulie has been studying meteorology. We've known each other since high school. You know this already.

HAYDEN: I know... I also know we have never encountered an EF-

JORDON: Hayden, enough. We also don't know if we get fours and fives. National Weather Service measures the damage. We can only guess what we encounter.

PAULINE: Y'all are underestimating an EF2.

Hayden looks out the window and sees the cities.

HAYDEN: This place is so populated-

JORDON: We will be fine. You better not behave like this when we livestream.

HAYDEN: I'm trying not to. That's why I'm asking now...

JORDON: That's fine. Just shut up and try not to panic when we do go.

PAULINE: He is not wrong. Whenever a tornado occurs, people come out, watch, and film.

JORDON: I know, Paulie. We have to avoid populated areas as much as possible.

HAYDEN: Just got to enjoy the grace period before it starts.

JORDON: Yeah...

> FADE OUT.