Five Miles: Large Wedge Has Touched Down

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. The script was already completed. I just need to transfer to Vocal's style. I'm just trying to find my purpose in life. I think I'm about to pull the fake it until you make it and do whatever I can.

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Rating: PG:13

- Swearing

Scene 1: Monster Wedge on the Ground

EXT. NORTH OF MOBILE ALABAMA- THREE HOURS LATER

TIME ON SCREEN: 6:58 P.M.

Jim is driving next to a massive tornado that is rain-wrapped. They can't see anything, but they can see curtains of rain being dragged into the thing. Norra is still on her laptop.

NORRA: The supercell is miles long, and I can't see the edge of that thing. The rotation is evident on radar. (points to radar): Look at that hook-echo! That's not hail! That's debris!

JIM: Check the correlation coefficient.

Norra obeys and switches to the correlation coefficient. She sees a lot of .2 CC (green-to-blue) for miles on end (based on scaling).

NORRA: If the winds don't kill us, the debris will.

[Beat.]

NORRA (CONT'D): We need to keep an eye out for debris, Jim. I don't see anything launching at us, but we're not safe from here. Even without the visible funnel, it's gusting worse than a derecho.

JIM: The tornado is moving southeast. This has been on the ground for over twenty minutes. It already hit Semmes. Mostly everything was leveled there.

NORRA: This line of storms has produced multiple tornadoes. Quite a few have been violent.

JIM: It reminds me of the cell that dropped the Greensburg tornado.

Jim looks out the window and back to the car. There is dirt and leaves hitting the card despite having some distance.

JIM (CONT'D): Norra and those attending, I'm going to turn out of the storm. I feel uncertain here. (urgently) Mobile, Alabama, this is heading to you. Take cover now!

NORRA: There have been reports that the storm has been destroying first-floor storm shelters in homes and towns. The only place to seek shelter is underground and hope it doesn't hit your place. Basements are getting damaged.

Jim's walkie-talkie goes off. He takes it off his belt and places it by his mouth while still driving.

JIM: (talking in walkie-talkie) Yes? (pause) I'm turning away from the storm. I don't feel safe.

The boss on the walkie-talkie is a bit more audible now.

BOSS (O.C.): (walkie-talkie) Good. You better get your asses outta there.

JIM: (still talking in walkie-talkie) Give me a moment.

Jim puts his walkie-talkie on his lap as he does a U-turn on the van. North will take them into the tornado, and so will the right and south, so the only way is to turn around. Norra watches from the rear-view mirror.

JIM (CONT'D): Sorry, Nor. The tornado's vortices has struck Taylor and Sky's vehicle.

Taylor and Sky are Jim and Norra's co-workers while working for the Weather Channel.

NORRA: Are they okay?

[Beat.]

JIM: It's unknown, but by the videos, they were directly hit. I doubt they will be okay.

Norra sighs. She turns back around and faces the front, slumping in her seat a little.

NORRA: Just hope that there are people that can hear our message and take cover.

[Beat.]

JIM: Power might be out in already-impacted areas, and possibly sirens, but there are streams, phones, and radios to send out the warnings. (he points to the tornado behind them) That's El Reno's brother right there.

NORRA: No kidding.

They are later bombarded by rain and hail as they move away from the tornado. The winds are still bad.

JIM: I believe we are still too close.

NORRA: Floor it.

Scene 2: Evacuating The Shelter

BACK TO:

INT. PUBLIC STORM SHELTER- SAME TIME

Hayden and Pauline are standing side by side. Pauline is watching the livestream.

HAYDEN: Are we going to press charges on Jordon?

Pauline shakes her head while staring at her phone.

PAULINE: No.

[Beat.]

PAULINE (CON'D): We have bigger things to worry about.

She shows Jim and Norra's footage while watching the Weather Channel.

PAULINE (CONT'D): The tornado is rain-wrapped and massive. It already struck a Weather Channel team. It can destroy first-floor-storm shelters and basements.

HAYDEN: Oh, jeez.

He looks directly at Pauline.

HAYDEN (CONT'D): We need to warn these people.

Meanwhile, Esmeralda and Elaine are leaning against the wall next to each other, awkwardly silent. Treck and Maria are more focused on talking to Sassiere.

ELAINE: What are your parents like?

Esmeralda whips her head at Elaine.

ESMERALDA: Huh?

[Beat.]

ELAINE: I was saying what are your parents like?

ESMERALDA: Oh. My mom works at a jewelry shop while my dad works at a vet. They're nice-- can be crazy at times. I thought they'd catapult me with a tree for what I've done. Mostly, Mom. She watches kids' animated movies a lot.

ELAINE: (monotonic) Cool. (pause) Both of my parents were songwriters. Dad is country while Mom is rock.

ESMERALDA: (shocked) Rock and country? Aren't they two opposing genres?

Elaine hums while gesturing 'sort of' with her hand.

ELAINE: So and so.

ESMERALDA: Which genre is your favorite?

ELAINE: Rock.

ESMERALDA: Yeaaahhh!

Esmeralda gives Elaine a fist bump. Elaine doesn't ease up from the awkward tension as she fist bumps her back.

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): The songwriters produced a singer.

ELAINE: (a bit puzzled) Hm?

ESMERALDA: The talent show two years ago. I remember watching you sing. You have a beautiful voice.

ELAINE: (shocked) You were there?

ESMERALDA: Yeah. My cousin was in the talent show, and my parents thought it was a great time for a family outing. Didn't disappoint, though.

[Beat.]

ELAINE: You also have a nice singing voice in chorus.

ESMERALDA: How the heck can you hear my voice from the other side of the row?

[Beat.]

ELAINE: You were trying out for the lead-intro singer role.

ESMERALDA: (realizes) Oh. (pause) I didn't get the part.

ELAINE: Yeah, Spencer got the part. He's got a sucker for a voice. One line is all it takes.

Esmeralda and Elaine snicker a bit.

ESMERALDA: I'm surprised you didn't try out for that role.

ELAINE: I had a sore throat. I lip-synced that day. A few days actually.

[Beat.]

ELAINE (CONT'D): This is the first time in a while that we have a civil conversation.

Esmeralda raises her brow.

ESMERALDA: In a while? All the time, I've been mean to you.

ELAINE: You only started during this year, Esmeralda.

[Beat.]

ELAINE (CONT'D): We met for the first time when I was a new student during our freshman year.

Esmeralda's eyes widen, remembering the past. She mumbles something as she massages her brow.

ELAINE: You were the first one to greet me and show me around. Even though you looked shy and nervous, you made me feel welcomed into the school. I thought we were going to be great friends. What happened?

Esmeralda inhales deeply, regret hitting her hard again.

ESMERALDA: I-I don't know.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): You never made me mad. You weren't one of the ones that hurt me. Even if you did piss me off- I can't recall-- you didn't deserve what I've done to you. (pause) What abomination came through my head? A mutation from loneliness and insecurity? When I saw you with a bunch of friends, talented too, I saw something I lacked.

ELAINE: Pain and jealousy are devils. No one says you can't be insecure. People work on it every day. Some people try to mask it and let it build, then take it out on people. I'm insecure. I always try to work through it. The more you work on it, the easier to cope and build your confidence.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA: Thanks, Elaine. I'm very sorry for what I've done... I want to change things. Is it possible to... reconcile?

ELAINE: (pleased) We can try. (pause) I thought you were going to ask me to make out.

ESMERALDA: What?! No! I'm not into you like that! My sister already said the same thing!

ELAINE: Your sister seems like a savage. (she turns to Sassiere) I like her.

ESMERALDA: Her name is Sassy. What did you expect?

They hear a whistle blow, calling everyone's attention from a cop. Pauline and Hayden are standing by the male cop.

COP: Everyone, we're evacuating the building due to an approaching storm.

LADY CITIZEN: What? Why? I thought this was a storm shelter.

COP: The strength of the tornado is more than what the shelter can handle. All of us need to hurry out. Drive west to escape the tornado or find a shelter with a basement. If you know the place, the better.

Meanwhile, the tornado crosses over Pauline's probe, which picks up the wind speed.

Pauline receives a notification of wind speed from her phone. Hayden is looking at her phone.

PAULINE: 313 miles per hour.

Due to the silence, people heard her. People look at her. This causes a panic. Sassiere starts to get scared and whimpers. Maria comforts her.

ESMERALDA: (angrily whispers) Said that too loud.

ELAINE: (whispers) Oh my, God.

COP: With that, hurry out! Watch for debris and fallen trees! Go! Now!

Elaine and Esmeralda get closer to Maria and Sassiere while Treck is heading to Hayden and Maria.

SASSIERE: Where is he heading?

MARIA: He met them before entering the storm shelter. They said one dude destroyed their vehicle.

Treck comes back with Hayden and Pauline.

TRECK: They're coming with us.

Scene 3: Finding Shelter

CUT TO:

EXT. PUBLIC STORM SHELTER

Elaine, Esmeralda, Sassiere, Treck, Maria, Pauline, and Hayden rush out of the storm shelter. Many people are ushering. People are driving out to head west.

They look to the northwest. It's dark with mixed turquoise color. They can see a mist of rain. Lightning (possible power flashes) can be seen.

MARIA: I can't see anything.

PAULINE: It's rain-wrapped. We need to leave.

They enter the vehicle. Treck driving with Maria on the front passenger side, Pauline and Hayden in the middle, and Elaine, Esmeralda, and Sassiere in the back.

They leave the Public Shelter and turn left. They see Jordon still on the side of the road, filming.

HAYDEN: That guy is completely nuts.

PAULINE: He has nowhere to go.

HAYDEN: He's probably livestreaming.

He is-- viewers are not a fan of Jordon now.

MARIA: Should we let him in?

TRECK: We have no room...unless you want to place him in the trunk.

Sassiere is panting, panicked. Esmeralda sets a hand on her knee, reassuring her.

Pauline looks at the storm front. She recognizes the supercell's appearance. She looks at the storm clouds, going a bit too fast for her liking. She sees the rain bands getting pulled in. It's not even raining yet, but it's windy.

PAULINE: We only got a few minutes.

SASSIERE: How big is it?

PAULINE: Five miles.

Everyone pales.

TRECK: That's too big...

SASSIERE: Are we goin' west?

PAULINE: (looking at maps on her phone) With the amount of traffic, we can't get far. There's water in the east. North is closer to the path. South has a lake.

HAYDEN: What if we can gain ground, then move west?

PAULINE: It's a fast-moving tornado. With the debris from the previous storms today, it will hinder our progress.

HAYDEN: Not every road is full of debris.

PAULINE: The EF4 that hit us didn't stop even when crossing the bay.

TRECK: How fast is this tornado moving?

PAULINE: From observations and Weather Channel recordings, it's moving between forty to sixty miles per hour.

The traffic lights flicker and go out. Vehicles ahead of them honked their horns. Some went to the other side of the road to speed ahead. Other than the ones from the public shelter, others are driving away from the storm.

TRECK: Yeah, I can't get out of here in time.

PAULINE: We need to go to a basement and hope.

ESMERALDA: Our house is a bit north and has a basement.

MARIA: It's destroyed, Es. It won't provide protection.

ELAINE: Mine won't, either. (pause) What about Barton Academy? It has a basement.

ESMERALDA: You've been down there?

ELAINE: Yeah, for paranormal investigations.

ESMERALDA: I always heard of it but never tried it.

TRECK: It will take us closer to the storm. We will also have to break and enter.

ELAINE: It wouldn't matter. It'll be destroyed anyway.

PAULINE: There's no time to ponder. Pick it. Go!

EXT. BARTON ACADEMY- LATER

Treck puts a gas on it and drives to Barton Academy. A former tornado has knocked out some of the gates and some parts of the school.

TRECK: Better than nothing.

Treck parks by the damaged gate. All of them leave the van. They can hear the wind, thunder, and a roar from the storm.

HAYDEN: It's close.

PAULINE: The other storm didn't do a good enough job. It only damaged the upper levels.

While the chaser and family usher to the entrance, Maria grabs a tool in the vehicle's compartment for emergencies. Maria goes up to the nearest climbable window and smashes it. The alarms blare, shocking everyone.

ESMERALDA: (jokingly) We're going to jail.

TRECK: Doesn't matter.

ELAINE: (to Esmeralda) Is this the reason why your mom works at a jewelry store?

Esmeralda chuckles despite her nerves.

MARIA: Never thought of doing that and never will.

They see some debris start skirting by the school as soon as they get in.

SASSIERE: Is it close already?

HAYDEN: It's over 300 miles per hour in winds. I learned that looks can be deceiving.

Elaine starts leading them to the basement. She opens the door and lets them inside.

ELAINE: Hopefully, the ghosts don't mind us.

They get inside the basement. They notice it's under six inches of water. Esmeralda and Pauline use their phone's flashlight to help people see.

MARIA: Ah, great. It's flooded.

TRECK: The pipes must've burst after the tornado hit part of the school.

ELAINE: Or the soil.

HAYDEN: Too late to turn back now.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA: Where should we hide?

Elaine sees a door open and goes inside it.

ELAINE: This one. Stay on the door's side of the wall. We're still in the innermost part.

All of them enter. Treck shuts the door a little.

MARIA: As much it's flooded, get on your knees and cover your head with your hands. We will get out of here as soon as the storm passes.

Everyone gets on their knees and covers their heads with their hands.

SASSIERE: At least it's enough to cool off during a hot day.

TRECK: It doesn't smell like gasoline. Don't light a lighter, though.

ESMERALDA: By the way, Elaine, anything cool happened in here while investigating?

ELAINE: We heard footsteps and some doors opening. Possibly some weeping. It could be one of my friends screwing with us or a draft. We stayed on one floor the entire time.

SASSIERE: How can you do a ghost investigation inside a school?

ELAINE: It was summer and was permitted.

BACK TO:

Scene 4: Jordon Gets Scared

EXT. PUBLIC STORM SHELTER- SAME TIME

Jordon stayed at the public shelter. It's vacant.

He was still standing in the same spot, filming on his phone. The wind and rain can be heard even without being there. There is also a low rumble, which can be felt in the ground. Power flashes were also seen.

Jordon points to where the rain-wrapped tornado is located, which he 'sees'.

JORDON: A lot of green. It's destined to head here.

[Beat.]

JORDON (CONT'D): Gosh, the wind roaring. I can feel the rumbling through my feet.

He then notices a power flash a long way off to the left of him, startling him.

JORDON (CONT'D): Was that lightning?

[Beat.]

JORDON (CONT'D): I don't hear a thunderclap.

[Beat.]

JORDON (CONT'D): We should've heard it now.

He notices another power flash to the right of him, much farther than the one he saw on the left.

JORDON (CONT'D): That ain't lightning.

He turns to his phone's camera, so people can see his dumbfounded and unnerved face. The wind picks up and increases in intensity.

JORDON (CONT'D): How big is this tornado?

He turns the phone around to read the chat. The chat tells him it's five miles, very big, EF5, death. Some of them urge him to take cover.

JORDON (CONT'D): Five miles? Are you kidding? No wedge can get that big.

The sky darkens rapidly as the storm is less than two minutes away from him. The wind is already pulling surviving trees down. He looks around. Now, scared.

He looks back at the front. He sees something floating around in the air. As he focuses on it, it's a truck. He starts to back up.

JORDON (CONT'D): Oh... Shit...

He turns to the left and starts running into the shelter.