MAN 1 ON C.B. RADIO: Breaker, breaker one-nine.
Smokey report. We got a bear...
MAN 2 ON C. B: Breaker one-nine.
Any takers. Breaker.
MAN 1 ON C.B: ...I-40. His 20, mile marker 2-4-3.
Anybody out there? Copy. Over.
(PHONE RINGING)
MAN: Hello?
WOMAN: Lewis.
No!
...for the first time I see myself through somebody else's eyes.
Yeah. Yeah. It's completely claustrophobic.
Big surprise. And we're like, "Okay..."
MAN 3 ON C.B: Aren't we supposed to get a hell of a downpour?
- Two hundred mile slipper-slide. - MAN 2 ON C.B: Anybody out there?
MAN 1 ON C.B: Yeah, they had a speed trap set up.
WOMAN: (ON PHONE) No one ever said freshman year'd go by so fast.
MAN: At least Colorado has seasons.
Berkeley's like summer all year.
Yeah. It's late. I'm not keeping you on the phone, am I?
No. No, not at all.
So, what's... You know, what's David doing this summer?
- I don't know. Who cares? - What?
Sorry. I didn't tell you before. I just
felt a little strange, you know?
You what... I don't understand.
We broke up. He...
He's been acting serious and weird.
Serious and weird, how? He was getting all serious and weird?
I mean I told you what he was like, and...
- Wait, hold on. - Lewis, it's 3:00 in the morning.
- I got a final tomorrow. - I'm sorry.
I'll be quieter.
Lewis?
I'm sorry. So, what happened?
He kept looking at me, as if, you know,
he totally thought that he knew me,
which he so obviously didn't.
And he started crying.
Which sort of sealed the deal, you know?
- You made him cry? - I broke up with him.
Wouldn't you cry?
(CHUCKLES) Listen, Venna, you're cute, but you're not that cute.
I was kidding.
Well, I'm not in the mood to go home.
Wish I had a car, then I could
just get there gradually.
Decompress a little bit, you know?
If you had a car, you could stop by Colorado and pick me up.
We could have an adventure. The two of us and a windshield.
- I have a car. - No, you don't.
Yeah. Didn't I tell you?
- No! - Yeah, well, like, I got one.
- Sexy choice. Yeah. - Yeah?
Vintage 1971 Chrysler Newport.
LEWIS: (ON PHONE) I've changed my plans. I'm no longer flying back.
- I bought a car, so I'm driving. - WOMAN: By yourself?
LEWIS: No. Actually, I was thinkin' about picking up Venna.
Mom?
MOTHER: Sorry. It's... Sorry.
That's great, Lewis.
- What's the matter? - Your brother just called.
He was arrested again. Drunk and disorderly.
- Where, in San Diego? - Salt Lake City.
- (SIGHS) - Don't worry. It's not your problem.
LEWIS: What did Dad say? MOTHER: You know your dad.
He didn't even want to talk to Fuller.
Said if he hadn't grown up yet, it was never going to happen.
LEWIS: Fuller! MOTHER: I know.
- I miss him, too. - (LEWIS SIGHS)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(SIREN WAILING)
LEWIS: Listen, before you start writing anything...
- License, please. Registration. - My brother's in jail.
And I haven't seen him in almost five years.
So, I'm like driving 200 miles out of my way just to help him out.
That U-turn, it was based on a whole, like, good deed scenario.
I'm also writing you up for a broken taillight.
I have one of those?
MAN: Look, I'm aware of how frustrating
the prison system in this country must be for you.
Repeat offenders, the unrehabilitated...
I watch American Justice, with your host, Bill Kurtis.
But I'm different. I'm reformed.
You know, I'm strong. I'm...
Officer Wilkins, this is my... Listen, this is my pledge to you.
You will not be seeing me again.
Two strikes are enough for Fuller Thomas.
Hey.
You look tall. Taller than me.
- How's it goin'? - (CHUCKLES)
Well, a lot better now. (LAUGHS)
Kid. Hey.
You came all the way to Salt Lake just for me?
Well, technically, you are still my brother.
(CHUCKLING)
Hey, this is my brother.
I can't get... Look at you, man!
- WOMAN: Mr. Thomas! - Thank you for coming.
- You're welcome. - Thank you.
- Sign out, please. - (CHUCKLING) You're welcome.
Listen, I'm supposed to be picking up a friend.
- And I'm running kind of late, so... - Uh-huh?
I just, uh, well, I just wanted to see how you're doin'
and take you wherever it was you needed to go
because I sort of need to hit the road.
- Yeah, where are you goin'? - Um, Boulder, Colorado
- and then I'm goin' home. - Oh, perfect.
- Yeah, that's great! - Wait, what?
FULLER: With the exception of the seat spring piercin' my ass,
this ride's excellent.
So, who's this friend you're pickin' up?
Her name is Venna. She's a friend of mine from back home.
Wait, the blinker? That girl from the Heights?
The one who was like all day long? (LAUGHING)
No, she's not like that all day. You haven't seen her in years.
Okay. You're fuckin' her?
(SCOFFS)
Well, what question's more legit than that?
- We're just friends, okay? - Okay, you're not fucking her.
- But you want to. - You don't know what you're talking about.
Oh, I don't? I don't know what I'm talking about?
All right, here's how it is.
Um, she's always dated guys from the right side of the 'burbs.
You were always left on the sidelines. You get your scholarship to Berkeley.
She's off to the University of Colorado. Right?
You don't understand.
You guys have been talking on the phone a lot
and now she realizes that you have the warm fuzzies for each other.
You're not lettin' on, even though you scrambled and bought this car
just to pick her up.
No, you're still playing the neutered boy "friend"
who's like, always there for her
because you're nice... Whoa, whoa, whoa!
What are you doing?
So, you're still good, or need me to drive, or...
No more bullshit small talk.
About me, my relationships, or my car.
- Okay. - (CAR DOOR OPENS)
No, I swear. I'm barely slowing the car in Denver.
I'll give him a seven-mile-an-hour chance to jump and roll.
You did your mom
a big favor, and she's happy now.
And this time tomorrow, you'll be here with me,
and it'll be a whole new level of stress to deal with.
Okay, well, I'm gonna get goin'. I guess I'll see you tomorrow.
- Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. - All right.
- Good-bye. - Good-bye.
(CHUCKLES, HOWLS GLEEFULLY)
- (C.B. STATIC) - Downsizing?
Gas company just lets a talented man like you go?
- Just like that? - Yep.
Well, that sucks. But this job kicks ass, huh?
Got your trailer here, and now you're workin' kind of outside.
You got a view.
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)
- What is this? - C.B. Radio. Olive branch.
- Check it out. - You put a hole in my car.
I talked him down to 40 bucks. (LAUGHS)
FULLER: Breaker one-nine, breaker one-nine.
We need a westbound, come on.
You got Black Sheep here ridin' front door with, uh,
Mama's Boy.
We're barrelin' down on ol' Eye-8-Oh eastaway, just wonderin'
if you could see any bears from your rockin' chair, over.
TRUCKER 1: Roger, you got a 40-mile clear shot, 'cept for Jamestown.
Got yourself a Kojak with a Kodak at 1-8-5.
All right, no cops till Jamestown.
Free to speed like a motherfucker for like the next 40 miles or so.
TRUCKER 2: Aren't we supposed to get a hell of a downpour?
We got a 200-mile slipper-slide. Come on?
GRAVELLY-VOICED TRUCKER: Doesn't matter, not from this rocking chair.
Some people like it when it rains.
It's gonna rain hard tonight.
- Keeps everybody inside, you know. - What the hell's with this guy?
Howdy!
You got Black Sheep here, with Mama's Boy. Who we got? Over.
Could I please get a better handle than Mama's Boy?
No.
Yo, Rain Man, what's your 20?
- Hey, can you do a woman's voice? - What?
Do a girl. Say...
"Hey, Black Sheep, this is, uh, Miss..."
- No. Forget it. - Come on, man.
You did a girl when we pranked, uh...
- Oh, yeah, Mr. Schramm. - (CHUCKLES) Yeah.
- That was good. - No, I was nine.
That was what I sounded like then.
This is like a prehistoric Internet, or something.
Come on! You fuck with someone in a chat room.
- It's the same thing. - No, forget it.
Come on, man! (GRUNTS)
Say, "Hey, Black Sheep, this is Candy Cane."
Just say it. You'll be amazing.
(SCOFFS)
(IN WOMAN'S VOICE) Hey, Black Sheep, this is Candy Cane.
I been lookin' for ya all day.
(CHUCKLING) That was horrible.
Howdy there, Candy Cane. This is Black Sheep.
I'm right on schedule.
Now, say, "I'll see ya later on tonight, honey."
Go, go, go!
So I guess I'll be seein' ya later on tonight, that right?
You got it. I'm pullin' over right now
and I'll see your beautiful ass in the P.M.
(STATIC)
- So, what was that about? - Just wait.
GRAVELLY-VOICED MAN: Candy Cane, come on.
(LAUGHING) I knew it! These guys are so fuckin' horny.
Get him goin'. Get him all worked up, and then in the middle of it,
say, "Hey, guess what? I'm a dude."
(LAUGHING) No way. I can't do that.
Come on, man! Come on.
Come on, man, it'll be fun.
Come on, just do it.
Do it.
(IN WOMAN'S VOICE) Hey there, who's this?
(STATIC HISSING)
- Rusty Nail. - Nice. Nice.
Well, Rusty Nail, I hope you're doin' better than I am.
Man, this drive, it seems like it's takin' forever.
- Roger that, Candy Cane. - Aw, you got him. You got him!
You know what makes it easier sometimes, is pretendin' the person
that I'm talkin' to is right next to me.
So, why don't you pretend that I'm sittin' there with you
just the two of us and the windshield?
- (LAUGHING) - All right.
- Go, go! Tell him what you look like. - Shh.
So, I'm 5'10", I got dirty-blond hair down to my shoulders.
I got blue eyes, really soft skin.
Wow, man. This is turning me on.
And if I were there, Rusty Nail, you know what I'd do?
- Tell me. - Awesome!
I'd make you feel good.
You would?
If I were there and I asked you to, would you unbutton my blouse?
Sure.
Well, then I'd just take it off, so now what?
- What do you want to do with me? - (FULLER LAUGHING)
- I've never really done this before. - This is so classic!
I'd take off your bra.
Ooh. Okay. You take that off.
(INTERFERENCE AND STATIC)
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. We can't lose this guy! Go.
I couldn't hear that, Rusty Nail.
(STATIC CONTINUES)
Rusty Nail? Sweetheart?
(GROANS)
That was almost so good!
- Damn! - What, did we lose him?
Yeah. Shit!
Hey, man, you're a gifted C.B. Prank caller when you commit to it.
(CHUCKLING) "I'd take off your bra."
(BOTH LAUGHING)
LEWIS: Hey. Hey, don't park in a handicapped space.
There's spaces all over the place.
Yeah, I know. That's my point.
Dude, I'm gonna gimp it. I'm not just gonna run in there.
God! Just sit here. I'll work us a deal, okay?
One more goddamn maid knocks on my door askin' about towels...
MAN: Sorry, Mr. Ellinghouse. That won't happen again.
Sorry, my ass! Where's your boss?
I want the real manager. The white one.
The one whose first language is fuckin' English?
- Can you understand that? - Hi. Could I get a room for the night?
You can disturb me all you want. I love towels.
- Not done here, friend. - I know that, amigo. I'm just...
I haven't slept in two days. You'd best not mess with me.
- You just take care of your own shit. - Peace.
Tomorrow mornin', you mark my words, asshole...
...a long talk with your manager.
Your brown ass is gone.
Fuckin' punk.
What a dick. (EXHALES)
RUSTY NAIL: Candy Cane.
Candy Cane.
Hello? Candy Cane?
- Did you see that fat fucking guy? - Shh. Listen.
Hello, Candy Cane. Are you there?
- You are kidding me. - Can you believe that?
- Have you talked to him yet? - No.
- I haven't said anything. - (CAR DOOR SLAMMING)
Anybody out there know Candy Cane? Come on.
What?
Tell him you want to meet up. Tell him you want to get together.
You're turnin' in for the night.
You want to see him later at the Lone Star Motel
in Table Rock, Room 17.
Do you just love prison so much?
We're in 18. I mean, you saw that prick, right?
What, the giant?
The prick is in Room 17!
Nah, I can't do that.
Come on! That guy sucks, okay? He body-checked me on the way out.
- Yeah, I know. I saw that. - What? You saw that?
And you're not jumping at this extraordinary opportunity
to exact some much-deserved revenge?
- Are you crazy? - (C.B. WHINING)
Come on! Do it!
- (CHUCKLING) Calm down. - This is amazing!
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(IN WOMAN'S VOICE) Rusty Nail. Hey, there.
Candy Cane. I thought I'd lost ya.
Well, I guess fate wouldn't allow that.
Glad to know you're thinkin' about me.
Listen, I'm pullin' over for the night.
You wouldn't be interested in gettin' together later, would ya?
I thought you were meeting with Black Sheep.
Well, that was the plan, but how about I blow him off
and take a chance with you?
- God. - I love you, man. This is so great!
Relax.
But I'm not sure that I'd be what you'd expect.
Please.
Well, you are a man, aren't you, with a soul and a heart?
- That's all I'd expect. - (WHISPERING) Great.
(THUNDER CRASHING)
Listen, I'll be at the Lone Star Motel
in Table Rock, if you're interested.
Pink champagne.
Tell him that you like pink champagne.
And if there's any way you could bring some pink champagne,
it's my favorite.
That was good.
What room?
(C.B. WHINING)
Room 17. Midnight. You got that, baby?
I got it.
I can't wait.
- That was mean. - I know! I know! This is awesome!
That guy sucks, okay? He totally body-checked me on the way out.
ANNOUNCER: All you do is put... LEWIS: Do you miss home?
Yeah. I miss
Mom's chocolate chip cookies.
Playin' football with Dad, Sundays.
Goin' to... Oh, wait. That's somebody else's childhood.
What I meant was, "No."
You should call sometimes.
You know, when you don't need bail money.
Yeah, but how often is that?
- I'm serious. - I call.
Yeah, I know exactly what he says every time he hangs up the phone.
That I'm the world's biggest loser.
That's comin' from a plumber.
That's comin' from a guy who wears
a full-length lime green jumpsuit to work every day.
They don't need me. I don't need them.
It works like a charm if you repeat it enough.
Listen.
(CHATTER ON TV CONTINUES)
(VEHICLE DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
Hit the TV.
Oh. It's Rusty Nail! It's him!
- Shh. - (KNOCKING ON DOOR)
MAN: Who the hell is it?
RUSTY NAIL: I brought the drink.
(FULLER STIFLING LAUGHTER)
This is amazing!
(SLOW KNOCKING)
I brought the pink champagne.
MAN: Is this a goddamn joke?
I swear to fucking God.
(SLOW POUNDING)
RUSTY NAIL: What are you... Are you Black Sheep?
MAN: Why don't you come over here?
(RUSTY NAIL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
MAN: Are you fuckin' with me, standing in the dark?
This prick is such an asshole!
Show me your face. What was that?
(THUMPING)
(CHOKING, GAGGING)
That was weird.
Hey, you know what I think?
I think someone might have gotten hurt.
No. No, we would have heard that.
We did. That was a gasp.
Bet that Rusty Nail guy got hurt.
No, it wasn't a gasp. That was a laugh.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Hey, where are you going?
What, are you calling Mom?
- Front desk. - Hi, we just...
We just heard some disturbance from the room next door, in Room 17.
"Yeah, hi, this is the drama queen from Room 18."
That's hard to say. It was like a thud.
What are you... (SIGHS)
No, we think someone might have been hurt.
And we thought you'd want to check that out, maybe.
All right. Thank you.
You know what's gonna happen now, right?
Prick's gonna kill the night manager.
(PHONE RINGING)
(RINGING CONTINUES)
(RUSTY NAIL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello?
Guy said everything's fine.
All right. Thank you.
The guy said everything's fine.
What'd I tell ya? (SCOFFS)
FULLER: Good mornin'. MAN: How are you today?
FULLER: Pretty good. How are you?
MAN: Where are you boys from? FULLER: Originally, New Jersey.
- What are you doin' here? - We're drivin' cross-country.
- My brother... Yeah, Lewis. - Your brother?
- Where is he? - In the room. I don't know.
We had a little incident here last night. Did you hear anything?
Any sounds, or anything out of the ordinary?
Yeah, actually, next door I heard some sounds.
- Next door? - Yeah.
- Could you describe those sounds? - Yeah, sure.
They were like, uh...
(MAKES GASPING, CHOKING SOUND)
No, wait.
(GASPING, CHOKING)
Like that.
- What's goin' on? - All right, this is Lewis.
There was a "sitchy-ashun" last night. That's all I know.
So after you heard these sounds, did you look out your window?
- Did you open your door? - No, sir.
- What happened? - After you closed your door,
around 10:15 p.m.,
you didn't see anybody else until I knocked on your door this morning?
That's right. Well, we did call the night manager, because we were,
uh, concerned, right?
- Right. - Oh, yeah. Yeah. He mentioned that.
And he also said that one of you had an altercation with the victim.
- Which of you was that? - Wait. The night manager said what?
Apparently one of you had words with the victim, in the motel office
- when you were checkin' in? - No, no. We never met...
- What? - Ellinghouse.
Ronald Ellinghouse. He was staying in Room 17.
The huge guy? Yeah, I met him.
- But he's... He's not the one... - What happened to him?
It wasn't comely.
I'm sorry. I don't know what that means.
He was found early this mornin' lyin' face down
on the highway median.
So, you're saying that the...
The huge guy is the victim.
You have no idea who might have visited Mr. Ellinghouse's room last night?
No, sir.
I wish... I wish we could be more helpful, but I...
- Is he dead? - Coma.
You know what I'm thinkin'?
I'm thinkin' that a little look-see might "refreshify" your memory.
Takin' a look-see at what?
(HEART MONITOR BEEPING)
(VENTILATOR PUMPING)
Ripped his jaw,
clean off.
SHERIFF: That is the pain in my ass.
My own personal file of ongoing shit that I got to deal with.
And now, guess what?
Now, I got me another one.
Mr. Ronald Ellinghouse,
layin' two inches from dead in my jurisdiction.
Why? Because you sorry-ass punks thought you'd have some fun.
Fuck!
I'd keep you retards in custody if I thought it would help answer
one of the hundreds of new questions I got.
But, no. All you know is his damn C.B. Handle.
And maybe he drives a truck.
Do you understand the kinds of shit I got to grapple with now
because of what you assholes did? You!
You got out of jail when?
Yesterday?
I want you outta here. This is like an old-fashioned western.
I want you out of Wyoming before the sun goes down.
I can't believe it. I can't believe you told them that
we invited Rusty Nail back.
They could have thrown me back in jail.
A man is half dead because of what we did.
Oh, bullshit.
(SIGHS) Bullshit!
What, you order 10 pizzas for your neighbor,
a delivery guy gets there and your neighbor opens up with an AK-47.
- Is that your fault? - Yeah, maybe it is.
Fine. Be the martyr all you want.
No, that's not what I'm doin'.
I'm trying to figure how I'm gonna drive away after what we've done.
Do what I do.
Just remind yourself that in 100 years, you're gonna be dead.
It's the closest thing I've got to a philosophy.
No, you know what? I'm taking you to Denver, and that's it.
(CHUCKLES) Great.
(CLEARS THROAT) Eastbound, looking for a westbound
for a bear report?
(STATIC)
MAN: (FAINTLY) Not a soul. Never any Smokeys on that...
RUSTY NAIL: Candy Cane...
Candy Cane.
- Hello. - Hey!
- Candy Cane. - Hey!
- I'm asleep. - Hey, Candy Cane!
Candy Cane?
Jesus.
Anybody out there know Candy Cane?
Or Mama's Boy?
Baa, baa, Black Sheep.
- What are you gonna say? - Hey, Russell.
This is Black Sheep. Go to 23.
Hey, Black Sheep.
(EXHALES)
Do you know where I can find Candy Cane?
Hey, uh, what is your deal?
I mean, seriously.
I'm looking for Candy Cane.
So, you've been driving around all day
looking for a voice?
I think that you can tell me where to find her.
- Tell him it was a joke. - I talked to Candy Cane
about last night.
And she said that she's not interested.
- No! - She's not interested in you...
- Don't do this. ...or your pink champagne.
I need to find Candy Cane.
You need to find
a highly-qualified psychiatrist,
not a psychologist. You're gonna need some drugs.
You're gonna have to find a damn good lawyer
because the cops are all over your ass.
- Goddamn! - Give it to me.
(IN WOMAN'S VOICE) Hey, there, Rusty Nail, you hear this?
(IN NORMAL VOICE) That was me, all right? I'm a guy.
It was just a joke.
Apologize.
- Right. - No, just do it.
- Apologize to him? - Yeah.
- I'll do it. - No.
Listen, you sick fuck,
you pathetic, lonely walkie-talkie,
freak show motherfucker, you're not getting anything from me.
Know why? I have something more powerful than your psychosis.
It's called a volume knob.
And the only thing I need to make you go away is to turn it counterclockwise.
Got that? You copy that?
You know, Black Sheep, you really ought to get that fixed.
Get what fixed?
Your taillight.
- Do you see anything? - Yeah. Cars and trucks.
- Just drive. Just be cool. - Oh, my God.
- Did he follow us from the motel? - I don't know. I don't know.
- As long as we keep drivin', we're safe. - Oh, God.
- What? - Look.
- Oh, come on, come on! - I know. But it's okay.
I saw a sign. "Gas at Laramie."
There'll be a phone there, and I'll call Sheriff Ritter.
Oh, good.
- Laramie. That'll be good. - We'll be all right.
- Oh, my God. Oh, God. - Okay, just stay cool.
- Oh, shit! - Keep cool.
Will you stop telling me to be cool?
You're makin' me like, crazy. Get the map.
- Okay. All right. - Fuck! We're not gonna make it to Laramie.
Wait, take the next exit. I think there's a town there.
- How far is it? - I don't know.
How far is it?
My cuticle to my knuckle. I don't know. Twelve miles.
- We might not make it twelve miles. - Take this exit right here.
- (TIRES SCREECHING) - (AIR HORN BLASTING)
Yes! Yes, you're a genius!
I'll pay, you pump. Or do you want to pay? I don't care.
- I'll pump. - Okay. Okay.
(BEEPING)
(LINE RINGING)
Table Rock, please. Rawlins County Sheriff Department. Yeah.
(VEHICLE APPROACHING)
(THUMPING TIRES)
(SOFTLY) Oh, my God.
(REMOVING GAS NOZZLE)
Hey.
- Hey. Hey. - (INDISTINCT)
(WHISPERING) Hey. Hey!
(DOOR OPENS)
WOMAN: Sheriff Ritter is not available.
At the tone, please record your message.
When you have finished recording,
you may hang up or press one for more options.
Please wait for the tone.
(BEEPS)
CASHIER: You just got the gas?
Oh, right.
(CASH REGISTER RINGING)
(WHISPERING) Come on, come on, come on! Come on.
Come on. Get in the car, get in the car! Come on.
- What? - Go, go, go, go!
FULLER: He's in there, man. LEWIS: Was that him?
Did you see him?
FULLER: Keep driving, keep driving.
Go! Yeah!
- Whoa! - (HORN BLASTING)
Oh, my God!
FULLER: Can you see an on-ramp? LEWIS: No!
Okay. Damn it! The guy's comin' after us.
- Oh, no. - Okay, we're not gonna panic.
- We got a full tank of gas. - Shit!
- Right. - We missed the on-ramp, man!
Ooh, mailbox.
Whoa.
No, no, no, no!
FULLER: Shit!
No.
MAN: Lewis! Lewis!
- He said Lewis! - Stay the fuck back, man! We got a gun!
And I got a MasterCard.
- Thanks, man. We thought... - You really scared us.
- Yeah. - It wasn't the mustache, was it?
My old lady keeps telling me to shave the thing.
No, no. It wasn't the mustache, man.
What the... We're not hip... What is that thing, your club?
- My tire thumper? - Yeah.
Shit. Just checkin' pressure.
Yeah, pressure. Yeah, the pressure thing.
Are you boys all right to get back to the main road?
Yeah, we're fine. Now that we're not murdered.
Thanks a lot for this, man. That was nice of you.
- Y'all have a good night. - Sorry about that.
(BOTH PANTING, LAUGHING)
Fuckin' Fu Manchu.
I've never felt like more of a pussy in my whole life.
- Oh, my God. - (TRUCK BACKING UP)
Hey, what kind of range is there on a C.B?
Uh, I don't know. Maybe
five miles?
Well, hey, you know, I think we should get to a phone.
Call the cops in Table Rock,
leave a message and let 'em know that Rusty Nail's in the area.
Shh.
What the hell is that?
(RUMBLING)
Go!
Go, go!
He's right on us!
Oh, man, he's right on our ass!
- No, don't use that! - 9-1-1!
We need some help. Please! Is anyone out there?
Goddamn it!
Come on! Fuck!
Yeah! Yeah!
Whoo!
Tree! Tree!
- (SCREAMING) - (CRASHING)
- You okay? - Yeah.
- (STARTING ENGINE) - I'm okay. Let's go. Come on.
(TIRES SPINNING OUT)
Yeah, come on, come on. Come on, let's go!
- Let's go, let's go. - Shit!
It's not goin' anywhere!
- Come on! Come on! - Shit!
- (HORN BLASTING) - Shit!
All right! Come on! Go, go!
Come on! Go, go, go, go!
- (INDISTINCT YELLING) - (ENGINE SPUTTERING)
Shit!
Oh, no! No!
Come on! Don't kill us, man!
We apologize!
Don't kill us, man! We were just playin' with you, man.
Why?
Just... Just for a laugh.
A laugh?
Just for fun.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, I was just playin' with you, man.
(COUGHING)
(RIPPING OFF PAPER TOWELS)
VENNA: So, where are you now?
LEWIS: We're about 10 miles outside of Laramie.
We had some car trouble, and we're gonna be a little late.
That's all right. Is everything okay?
Yeah. No, I mean, it's been a long drive.
- All right. See you then. - All right.
(CHUCKLES)
They fixed the taillight.
LEWIS: So, why don't you just come home with me?
Blow off Denver and come home with me.
FULLER: No, I'm okay.
LEWIS: Listen, I don't want to tell Venna what happened.
I don't want to ruin things. Freak her out, you know?
(KNOCKING)
Hey.
(SIGHS)
(DRUMMING ON CAR HOOD)
The color's not great, but it's spacious. It's a big car, you know?
I love it.
(WHISTLING)
VENNA: When did you get it? LEWIS: I've had it for a while.
- It doesn't look too beat up. - No.
No, actually, I think the dents add some character.
- Actually, I was talking about Fuller. - (CHUCKLES)
- Hey! - Hey.
- So, it's been a while. - Yeah.
So. Well, have you named it yet?
Well, we were thinkin' either Tad
or "Lewis' Shitty Newport."
(MOUTHING) Hey! She's hot!
- VENNA: Hey. - Have a good summer, Vee.
Guys? My friend Charlotte.
She'll be my roommate next year.
- These are the infamous Thomas boys. - Oh, Lewis, right?
Yeah. Nice to finally meet you.
And, look, I'm Fuller. I'm Lewis's older, somewhat troubled brother.
And you're definitely goin' with us, right?
(CHUCKLES) I kind of have to go back to San Antonio.
Isn't San Antonio on the way to New Jersey?
- It was nice to meet you. - You're breakin' my heart, leaving like this.
- I'm gonna miss you. - Me, too. Miss you.
- I love you. Be safe. - I love you, too.
FULLER: That's so Charlotte.
Wavin' and drivin' off like that.
So, are you guys ready for an adventure or what?
Oh, completely.
Yeah! Yeah, sure.
Shotgun? You want it, you gotta call it.
VENNA: Shotgun.
Hey. Welcome to Nebraska.
See this hat I got you?
(CHUCKLES)
(CAR DOOR SLAMMING)
So.
I want to tell you how much I appreciate you doing this.
Picking me up.
It's pretty much the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me.
This is the part where you kiss the girl.
Well, historically.
Hey, Lewis. You're blushing.
Thank you.
- Hey, the room's this way. - Yeah, but the bar's this way.
- Here's to... ...Nebraska!
To states? All right.
Ah, look what Uncle Fuller found.
Three tequilas.
All right. (MUMBLING)
Well, I can, uh, tie a knot in a cherry stem with my tongue.
- Shut up! - Uh-huh.
All right, choose your weapon.
Let's see what you're made of.
And... Go.
- Done. - Mmm-hmm.
(CHUCKLES) Still medaled.
- Bronze. - Not even close.
It's straight. It wasn't even bent.
May I have three more shots of tequila,
- and some matches, please? - MAN: What's your name, sweetheart?
Come on, what's your name? Hmm?
Oh, what's your name, sweet thing?
I'm just here to buy drinks. You can call me whatever you want.
How 'bout I call you Peaches? Do you like Peaches?
- No, not really. - You don't like Peaches?
- Hey, what's goin' on? - What?
- Is this your bitch? - Excuse me?
Excuse me, I said,
is this your bitch?
'Cause if it is, you better shut your bitch up.
Hey, look at me, campus boy. Huh? Did you hear what I said?
Look me in the face.
You better shut your bitch up.
(SHOUTING) Bitch, shut up! Are you mouthin' off again? God!
Damn it! You can't turn your back for one minute, you know.
I owe you one. (SHOUTING) Now, come on!
Back on the truck with you, Daisy!
Drunk in the bar! Now, come on!
Goddamn it!
Gentlemen.
(SIGHS)
Careful, those are expensive.
Ohh.
What?
LEWIS: Hey.
Hey!
Hey.
LEWIS: I got a plan.
- And what's your plan? - Let's never go back there again.
I can't wait to never go back there.
(CHUCKLING) Yeah.
I'll be in my presidential suite.
Excellent. We're gonna head to our...
- Our spinning hotel room. - Okay. See you later.
Good night.
I get the orange one!
This one.
Hey! See, I told you this was a good place.
Adult channels.
Good. Hey, are you in the mood for
a story, or, like, a collection of scenes?
She isn't a Navy SEAL.
God! Takes me right out.
FULLER: Hey, Venna's great, man.
She's got...
I mean, you guys... You guys are just friends, right?
I mean, that's what you said.
Right? You're just hangin' out, and...
'Cause if you're anything more than that,
you tell me right now, and I'm gonna just... I'll...
(IMITATES TRUCK BACKING UP)
...off.
You know? (CHUCKLING)
Great.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Oh, we never got those last drinks.
Yeah, um...
You know, if we're gonna get an early start,
we should probably just crash and go to bed.
Yeah. But, hey...
I'm a licensed bartender.
Yeah, I'd show you my license, but my hands are full, so...
Where's your better half?
He's busy. Snoring.
Well, you know, I really don't think that I can drink anymore.
I disagree. And I'm a professional.
(ICE RATTLING)
VENNA: You know what's amazing?
Nobody knows where we are right now.
Just kind of
out there.
Floating.
If anybody wanted to find us for some strange reason,
they couldn't.
What am I talking about?
- I have no idea. Here, try this. - (SIGHS)
That's good.
- Yeah! - Yeah.
Is Lewis okay? He doesn't normally drink so much.
Yeah, he's totally fine.
(MUSIC PLAYING ON TV)
(PHONE RINGING)
Fuller, get the phone.
(RINGING CONTINUES)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hello.
RUSTY NAIL: Now I thought you said there was no girl.
- What? - You said there was no girl.
Fuller.
Listen, there... There isn't any girl.
Then, what's she doing in the other room with your brother?
(KNOCKING)
He's out there!
- He's watching us! - Rusty Nail?
- He just called me. - Who's Rusty Nail?
He called you on the phone?
Yeah, just now. He knew you were in here. He's watching us!
- There's somebody watching us? - He just called.
What did he say?
He said, "I thought there was no girl." And what you were doing
in the room with her, which is an excellent question.
We're gettin' out of here, so put on your shoes.
I already paid for this room.
- Just do it! - How scared am I supposed to be?
(PHONE RINGING)
Much more than usual.
(RINGING CONTINUES)
(SCREAMS)
Okay, there's nobody behind us. Can somebody please talk to me?
He knows we're brothers. How does that happen?
All right, we're goin' to the police, we're gettin' off the highway,
- then we're goin' home! - Lewis, goddamn it!
Something weird happened to us before we picked you up.
I didn't wanna tell you 'cause I didn't wanna freak you out.
Tell me what?
- You want the short version? - Talk to me.
There's this sick guy.
- He put this guy in a coma. - Sick how?
This Rusty Nail guy did something?
- Because of something that we did. - What did you do?
(TIRES SKID)
Hey, man, what the hell are you doing?
He wants us to look in the trunk.
There were signs spray painted back there,
"Look in the trunk."
Signs? What makes you think they're for us?
Look.
What's going on here?
That's a pretty elaborate thing to do, paint those signs.
- No, no, no! No! - What? God!
- Don't open it! - Why?
What if there's a head or a body in there, man?
Oh, man, could be a bomb.
Think a bomb's a reason not to open the trunk?
He's in the trunk!
I say we don't open the trunk!
I'm not getting back into the car till I know what's in the trunk.
What are you doing?
Oh, shit.
FULLER: Okay, we plug it in, and we don't talk on it.
We just listen.
And whatever he says, we just... We just go straight to the police.
I'm not going to go anywhere
until somebody tells me why I should be afraid of a radio.
(C.B. STATIC)
RUSTY NAIL: Candy Cane, are you there?
Oh, that's right.
I don't mean my Candy Cane.
I mean yours.
Venna?
- How does he know my name? - We're not getting into it with this guy.
Let him talk all he wants. Just tell me where we're going.
You know when a corpse can't be identified?
No next of kin. No one to claim the body.
What they do is, they cut off all the fingers.
All 10 of them.
And then they cut off the jaw.
They cut off the person's jaw
and they put it all in a jar.
They put it in a jar with some number on it.
(WOMAN WHIMPERING)
(SOBBING)
Oh, my God, that's Charlotte.
- What? - That's Charlotte.
- That girl? Your roommate? - Yeah, yeah.
Hey, what the hell do you want?
I want you to go to the State Line Truck Stop parking lot.
- I'll find you there. - CHARLOTTE: Venna, please help me!
And if you go to the police,
I will take her apart piece by piece.
Good morning.
FULLER: Hey, he's back. We're here.
Okay, here's what I want. Fuller, Lewis.
I want you two to head inside.
Take a seat at the counter.
Order six cheeseburgers each.
What about Venna?
She stays put.
But you two are going in naked.
Naked?
If we go in there dicks hangin',
they're just gonna call the police.
Aw, come on. It's just for fun.
Bullshit, I'm staying here.
Just stay up front. I want you to keep the car running.
And if you see anything, honk the horn and drive.
God, I can't fucking believe we're doing this.
Billy, come on. Get in the car.
Sissy.
(GIRLS GIGGLING)
Now they know what it feels like
to be the brunt of the joke.
Your heart pounding.
Face burning hot.
Now they know what it feels like
to be the fucking punch line.
They told me what they did to you, and I'm very, very sorry.
Well, it's a little late for that, isn't it?
I bet your friends had a really good laugh
seeing me standing there in the rain, holding my bottle.
I think sometimes people don't know what they're doing, you know?
They don't think what they say or how they act can really affect anyone.
Well, that's a lesson your friends are gonna have to learn the hard way.
You wanna see Charlotte alive again?
Here's what you're gonna have to do.
Twelve cheeseburgers, please.
You want fries with that?
(SIGHS)
Is this a fraternity stunt?
Because if this wasn't my restaurant...
A man's gonna kill our friend if we don't come in here like this.
- I'd say it was a pretty good one. - (HORN HONKING)
- We're not joking, man. - Oh, shit!
(MAN LAUGHING)
LEWIS: Man, we should be going to the cops.
VENNA: We're not going anywhere till we find out what he wants.
Right up here. This is where we turn.
That's what he said.
(TURNS ENGINE OFF)
RUSTY NAIL: You out there?
We're here.
Something special's waiting for you.
I'd say it's about 100 feet up the road.
So, get out of the car.
Wait. I'm not walkin' one foot out of this...
We don't have a choice. We're doing what he says.
- What? - He's got Charlotte. Get out of the car.
- Wait! Goddamn it! - Get out of the car!
LEWIS: What the hell is this?
FULLER: Wait, how many feet did he say?
- A hundred. A hundred. - Huh?
Do you hear or see anything?
This is it.
Shh.
(RUMBLING)
Whoa!
Hi. Uh...
- He's not slowing down. - He's not gonna stop.
- What's he doing? - He's not gonna stop. He's not gonna stop!
- He's not slowing down! - Run! Car! Go!
(HORN BLASTING)
Run! Run!
LEWIS: Whoa, whoa, wait.
FULLER: What the hell is he doing?
(TRUCK ENGINE REVS)
LEWIS: He's coming. Let's go! Let's go!
Let's go! Come on! Let's go!
Run! Run! Run!
Run!
Turn left!
(VENNA SCREAMS)
LEWIS: Keep going!
That way!
Get down! Get down!
FULLER: Let's go! Go! Go! Go!
LEWIS: Let's go! Come on!
Come on!
(INDISTINCT YELLING)
Go! Run!
Turn, quick!
Venna?
(STATIC OVER TRUCK P.A.)
(SLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
(WHISPERING) Lewis!
Venna?
(SOBBING) Lewis.
Lewis.
Lewis!
Venna.
(SCREAMING)
Fuller!
- Venna? - Lewis?
Fuller?
- Lewis! - Venna?
- You guys okay? Oh, man. - What?
- Hey, Venna. - Did you see that?
- Yeah. - I was sitting back there.
- Venna. You can come out. He's leaving. - He tried to back up.
- Venna? - You let her out of your sight?
- Venna? - Lewis, goddamn it!
- You let her out of your sight? - Where the hell were you?
I was over there, man! Back there!
- Venna! Venna, come out here! - VENNA: Lewis!
Lewis, help me, please!
(SCREAMING)
Lewis!
Stop, you gotta leave her alone! Please.
- We'll do whatever you want. - Lewis!
You don't feel like meeting me at a motel later, do you?
We'll do whatever you want!
Meet me at the next town. Medford. Room 17. Midnight.
Do not be one minute late.
Lewis, gas tank! Come on!
And if there's any way that you could bring a bottle of pink champagne...
What are you doing?
- Come on, goddamn it! - That's my favorite.
Venna.
Seven miles. Hey!
Come on!
Hey! Hey! He said not to call the cops!
Keep a lookout. Don't worry. I've done this before.
What?
(MUSIC PLAYING IN BAR)
Hey, man, we're runnin' out of time.
(ENGINE SPUTTERING)
God damn,
- thing won't start. - (CONTINUES SPUTTERING)
Uh, hello.
Hey.
- Hey. - Need some help?
No, I think we're fine. Damn Ford won't start.
- And he wonders why I drive a Chevy. - No shit.
(CHUCKLES)
Come on. Come on.
I got some jumper cables. I'll hook you up.
No, no, really. I think we're all right.
It's just flooded, right? You'll get it started.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Just take it and turn it all the way off...
- Right. ...then on.
Want me to show you? You gotta hesitate it for two seconds.
(ENGINE STARTS)
- There it is. - All right, perfect.
Hey, you're the man. Thanks a lot.
Where the hell you goin'? That's my truck!
Everything's going to be all right.
We're gonna get Venna.
And we're gonna find Charlotte.
Everything's... Everything's gonna be okay.
Don't you think?
(ELECTRICAL TAPE RIPPING)
(SLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
Okay, motel. Motel.
(TIRES SKID)
- FULLER: Which one? - He didn't say. Shit!
Venna?
MAN: Hold on.
- Venna! - I said hold on!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Help you?
- Is this your room? - Yeah. What of it?
Oh! Oh! Oh!
(SOBBING)
(MEN LAUGHING)
What's the problem here?
- Shit! - What did we miss?
Hello, police.
Yeah. I'd like to report some dead bodies.
MAN: Your name, sir?
(TIRES SKIDDING)
Hello?
- LEWIS: Hello? - (KNOCKING)
(BOTH PANTING)
Come on.
Hello?
- (WHISPERS) It's unlocked. - Comin' in.
- Hey, we're comin' in. - We're comin' in.
(WHIMPERING)
Venna? Hello?
- Venna? - Hey.
Oh, the switch.
(PHONE RINGING)
- Hello? - RUSTY NAIL: Nice, isn't it,
being on the receiving end?
- Where the hell's Venna? - Who?
Look, I'm not kidding. Where's Venna?
You see, you might not be kidding, but I am.
- What did he say? - That's the point.
- Get it? - No, believe me,
you made your point, all right?
And we're sorry. We told you that.
Hey, Lewis, you know what I think is a real kick?
Pretending the person that I'm talking to is right next to me.
- Right next to me. - What?
What the fuck is he talking...
Not what you expected, is it?
That's not what I expected when I came to room 17, neither.
You guys sittin' right next door
listening through the wall.
That's what you did, right? You listened through the wall.
What do you want?
I just want to enjoy this for a second.
We gotta call the cops.
No. If we call the cops, he'll kill her.
- Well, what the fuck, man? - You...
I think you should go outside.
- See if you can see in his room. - Are you crazy?
Just do it! I'll keep him on the phone. Go out there now. Go.
Shit!
- You still there? - Oh, yeah, I'm here.
Why don't you come on over? Your Candy Cane's waiting.
Listen. We learned our lesson, all right?
- Oh, is that right? - Yeah. Yeah, that's right.
So, this is what we're gonna do, okay?
You're gonna give us back Venna,
then Charlotte and we're gonna walk away from this whole thing.
And we're not gonna tell anybody, all right?
And we sure as hell won't tell the cops.
(RUSTY NAIL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(GRUNTING)
Watch this. It's gonna be hilarious.
(WHIMPERING)
Don't!
Don't open the door!
Don't open the door! Don't open the door!
(GASPING)
(SCREAMS)
Come on!
(YELLING) Wait! Shit!
Lewis!
(TRUCK ENGINE STARTS)
Fuller, where are you?
- Fuller? - (GROANS)
Fuller, come on. Let's get you off this.
- Aah! Don't! - What?
Pipe! Jesus, there's a pipe in my leg! (GROANS)
(SIRENS WAILING)
We've got a body in here!
We've got a possible 839! Search every room!
Oh, jeez! What is he doing?
- Come on, come on, come on! - (INDISTINCT YELLING)
Sheriff's Department! Open up! Kick it open!
Clear the door!
- (WHIMPERING) - Twenty-four, clear!
(SCREAMING)
Move! On the ground! Now!
- Watch it! - Twenty-three, clear!
All right, let's go!
Police!
- Come on, come on, come on, come on! - Twenty-two's clear!
Come on, put your foot... Put your feet on this!
Twenty-one, clear.
(FULLER GRUNTING)
Oh, jeez! Jeez!
- Twenty, clear! - Come on, get out!
Sheriff's Department! Open up!
Nineteen, clear!
- Venna. - What?
You gotta stop 'em from opening the door! Go!
Sheriff's Department! Open up!
OFFICER: Show me your hands!
(GRUNTS, YELLS)
Help, Lewis!
Don't move! Don't move!
- Lewis! - Just freeze right there!
- Lewis! - That's my brother in the back.
Get back on the ground! Get on the ground!
Don't you shoot!
- Don't shoot! - Stay with the girl!
(GROANS) Hey!
Pull!
- No! No, no, no, no! - Freeze!
Shoot the truck! Shoot the truck!
FULLER: It's not gonna stop!
Run!
(GROANS)
Jeez!
Oh, God!
I'll be all right. I'll be all right.
(WOMAN SOBBING)
(SIREN WAILING)
Yes, sir.
- Excuse me. - Yeah.
Did you figure out who that guy was?
He's just some trucker named Jones.
Looks like he drove for some ice company in Wyoming.
Ice company?
What's goin' on?
RUSTY NAIL: Breaker one-nine, come on.
Breaker, breaker. Lookin' for a break.
Westbound I-80. How's that storm lookin'?
Is it rainin' out there?
Hello?
I'm lookin' forward to this storm.
Keeps everyone inside.
Washes everything clean.