280. 8mm - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. OLD VOLKSWAGEN VAN - DAY


• REGGIE sits back in his seat as his van bounces along the highway.


• It's a windy day and he keeps his hands tight around the steering wheel as he guides the van.


• He sees NIKKI standing at the side of the road, small against the trees behind her.


• She is a striking figure, a loose knit cap perched on her head, loose strands of hair whipping across her face.


• She wears a dusty brown jacket, a plain white t-shirt, a short jean skirt, and boots.


• A large backpack sits at her feet.


• She sticks her thumb out at him.


• He makes a face, considering.


• The van gets closer and closer.


• REGGIE
• Ok.


• He slows down and stops by her.


• She walks to the window and looks at him for a long moment.


• NIKKI
• You look safe enough.


• REGGIE
• Book by its cover?


• NIKKI
• I've got a pretty good sense of things.


• He unlocks the door.


• REGGIE
• LA?


• NIKKI
• Yeah.


• She gets in, tosses her backpack in the back, and shuts the door behind her.


• NIKKI
• Nikki.


• She sticks out her hand.


• Reggie shakes it.


• REGGIE
• Reggie. Out camping?


• NIKKI
• Ahhh, something like that.


• He eyes the road, then pulls back onto the highway.


• Nikki looks over at him, almost shyly.


• NIKKI
• I, um...could we stop by the beach before?


• Reggie contemplates.


• REGGIE
• Sure. Staying away as long as possible eh?


• Nikki self-consciously touches a bruise on her neck.


• NIKKI
• Something like that.


• The van picks up speed.


• Reggie opens his mouth to say something, then glances at Nikki.


• She's staring out the window, in a different world.


• Reggie turns back to the road and keeps driving.


• EXT. HIGHWAY - LATE AFTERNOON


• The van travels down the highway as forest turns into brown hills.


• EXT. HIGHWAY - LATE AFTERNOON


• Reggie spots an exit and heads off the highway.


• INT. OLD VOLKSWAGEN VAN - LATE AFTERNOON


• Reggie pulls into the small beach parking lot.


• It's completely isolated.


• He looks around, the keeps driving, down a small hill and onto the sand.


• Nikki laughs quietly.


• NIKKI
• Nice.


• She rolls down the window and pulls herself out of the van, climbing up onto the roof.


• EXT. BEACH - SUNSET


• Reggie follows her, pulling himself up the side of a beat-up old Volkswagen van parked out on the sand.


• Nikki's boots are the first things he sees as he comes up to the roof.


• He sits next to her and the watch the ocean.


• NIKKI
• So what's your story?


• REGGIE
• Nothing that exciting. I grew up in India, my parents were these crazy hippies; but I suppose if you're growing up with that, it feels normal. Oh, I guess you probably meant what I do.


• She shrugs.


• REGGIE
• I'm an artist, just trying to make it; don't really want to get famous, just want to make my art and effect people.


• NIKKI
• Noble.


• REGGIE
• Ah, we're a dime a dozen. How about you?


• Nikki shrugs, she looks over at the sea.


• NIKKI
• I love quiet beaches like this. You notice how in music videos, stuff like this always gets shot in that really boxy 8mm or 16mm? Kinda overused, but I love it.


• They sink into silence, they sun is touching the horizon, igniting the ocean.


• Reggie looks over at her after a while.


• REGGIE
• You in film?


• She throws her head back and laughs.


• NIKKI
• No, no, not me. But...I want to see the world through 8mm, all grainy and slightly sepia...mysterious and beautiful.


• REGGIE
• Wow.


• NIKKI
• I have my moments. Wish it could stay like this forever.


• REGGIE
• Why don't you just move someplace where you can sit on the beach...and do whatever it is you do?


• NIKKI
• Why don't you?


• REGGIE
• Eh, point taken.


• NIKKI
• I really don't want to go back - guess I don't have a choice. Sometimes things feel so empty.


• He looks over at her and nods.


• She catches his eye, then scoots over and puts her head on his shoulder and they watch the sun sink below the horizon in silence.


• Darkness floods the beach.


• REGGIE
• I guess we should go.


• Nikki nods, stealing a long glance at the beach.


• The two crawl down and back into the van.


• Reggie starts the car up and it rocks its way back across the sand and onto the street.


• INT. OLD VOLKSWAGEN VAN - NIGHT


• Reggie drives through the dark, the glow on the horizon a shining beacon of LA's urban sprawl.


• He looks over at Nikki, she is curled up in her seat, a hand wrapped around a seatbelt, sound asleep.


• EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT


• The old van pulls onto the 101 as it enters LA city limits.


• INT. OLD VOLKSWAGEN VAN - NIGHT


• Reggie reaches over and gently shakes Nikki.


• NIKKI
• Mmmm.


• REGGIE
• Hey, we're here' in LA, where're you heading?


• NIKKI
• Um, just drop me off on the Boulevard.


• REGGIE
• Uh, any more specific?


• NIKKI
• Close to Wilcox is fine.


• REGGIE
• You sure? I can take you to your place - I'm in Hollywood too, it's no trouble.


• NIKKI
• Wilcox is fine.


• She leans back against the window, staring at the city lights that spread around them.


• INT. OLD VOLKSWAGEN VAN - NIGHT


• Reggie pulls up to the corner of Hollywood and Wilcox.


• A group of street kids stand at the corner, a MUSCULAR YOUNG MAN eyes the van.


• He sees Niki and raises his hand in an almost primitive signal of ownership.


• Nikki looks over and smiles at Reggie.


• NIKKI
• Thanks.


• Reggie eyes the young man.


• REGGIE
• Hey, if you need anything.


• Nikki shakes her head.


• NIKKI
• Don't. It's Ok, thanks for the ride.


• REGGIE
• You sure?


• NIKKI
• Just drive away, go change lives and one day I'll read about you.


• REGGIE
• If that guy is...you know, you can stay with a friend of mine, we can work something out.


• NIKKI
• That's sweet, but you really can't help.


• REGGIE
• Why does everyone always say that? Come on, I'll help you find that beach, you let down your guard for just a second...but enough for me to know this isn't right. Come on, I can guess who that guy is, no one deserves that.


• NIKKI
• Maybe we say it because it's true. Now go.


• She grabs her pack and pulls it forward with a grunt, then opens the door.


• Reggie looks over at her.


• Nikki sees the look on her face.


• NIKKI
• Darlin', just go.


• Reggie purses his lips, then shakes his head.


• REGGIE
• You be well.


• NIKKI
• You too.


• She leans in, kisses him on the cheek and hops out of the car.


• The young man pulls the pack and opens it, grabbing a package from the outer pouch and nodding approval.


• He puts his arm around Nikki possessively, challenging Reggie.


• Reggie shakes his head and puts the van in gear.


• Nikki nods at him and waves, a small, subtle motion.


• He drives away, watching the group in the rear view window.


• They become smaller and smaller until the city lights wrap around them and they are only tiny dots on the mirror.


• Reggie looks over his shoulder, then shakes his head and drives on.


• FADE TO BLACK.