Screenwriting - 'Swifty'

SWIFTY

Written

by

Catherine Quinn

11 October 2021

Draft #08

Email: cquinn2@pipeline.sbcc.edu

Phone Number: (360)305-8042

INT. MILES' ROOM - DAY

MILES BENNETT(18) slouches on his bed, headset on, in his dark room. The TV screen lights his face as he plays a racing video game. High school diploma, memorial pamphlet, and a photo of Miles with a man and a car on the wall.

ANNE BENNETT(40s), knocks softly before opening the door, she mumbles something, but Miles doesn't acknowledge her.

Anne sighs before marching over to the window and opening the blinds. Sunlight fills the room. Miles shields his face.

MILES

What the hell, Mom?! You're ruining my game!

ANNE

Miles you can't just ignore me! I went easy on you all year! You don't even leave your room anymore!

Miles closes the blinds and sits back down to his game. Anne opens the blinds again then grabs the controller from him.

ANNE (cont'd)

What would Dad say about you wasting your life away like this?

Miles stares up at her for a moment, eyebrows furrowed.

MILES

Dad isn't here.

ANNE

You think I don't know that?!

Miles grabs the controller from her and turns back to his game. Anne softens. She goes from anger to sadness.

She reaches down to unplug the console, Miles begins to object, but shrinks back when he sees the look on her face. She picks it up and walks to the door, he watches.

ANNE (cont'd)

Do you remember Mr. Wilson? I told him you'd make yourself useful this summer. I expect you to make good on my promise. this is mine until you do.

She leaves, Miles falls back on his bed, groaning.

EXT. MR. WILSON'S FRONT PORCH - DAY

Miles approaches the door but it opens before he gets there. Miles jumps back, startled. CLIFF WILSON(56) stands there.

MILES

Oh, uh, hi Mr. Wilson. My mom sent me over to-

CLIFF

Your father is rolling in his grave right now hearing you call me that. Call me Cliff.

MILES

Oh...okay? do you need me to mow your lawn or something... Cliff?

Cliff laughs and pushes past Miles. Miles follows him.

CLIFF

I can mow I own lawn, kid. I have something else for you to do.

INT. CLIFF'S GARAGE - DAY

Miles raises his eyebrows as Cliff pulls a dusty drop cloth off of a 1980s VW Vanagon. He gestures to the car, Miles squints his eyes and looks at him, confused.

MILES

You want me to... wash your car?

Cliff chuckles again. Then reaches inside the van window.

CLIFF

No. I want you to meet SWIFTY.

MILES

Swifty? Does that thing even ru-

CLIFF

Sure doesn't! But that's where you come in.

He grabs a notebook from inside and tosses it to Miles. Miles catches it and opens it, running his fingers across the handwritten pages of text. Miles looks up to Cliff, who leans casually on the van.

MILES

You want me to fix that piece of trash...

He points to the van.

MILES (cont'd)

...with this piece of trash?

He holds the notebook out in front of him, letting the pages fan open.

CLIFF

That, "piece of trash" has every bit of information you need to get this thing up and running.

He firmly slaps the van a few times before opening a hatch at the back of it. Miles scowls, flipping through the pages.

MILES

and you expect me to understand this?

CLIFF(O.S.)

I expect you to figure it out.

Cliff comes back with a toolbox and drops it in front of Miles, he jumps. Cliff gives a slight patronizing smile.

CLIFF

and don't expect me to give a good report to your mom until you do.

Miles narrows his eyes, staring intensely at Cliff. Cliff hits the van again, chuckling. He turns to walk inside.

CLIFF (cont'd)

Better get started, kid!

INT./EXT. CLIFF'S GARAGE - DAY

Miles fumbles around near the engine referring to the book. Frustrated, he pricks his finger on something. He steps back, wincing and yelling.

He kicks the tire in anger then yells in pain again. mumbling curses under his breath, Miles grabs the book and throws it across the garage before walking out.

INT. MILES' ROOM - DUSK

Miles slams his door hard as he walks into his room, causing the photo of him and his dad to fall off of the wall. He sits on his bed holding his injured hand.

He does a double take at the photo on the floor. He picks it up and stares at it, then falls back on his bed, groaning.

INT/EXT. CLIFF'S GARAGE - DUSK

Miles approaches the open garage and finds Cliff working.

CLIFF

You ready to get to work?

Miles nods. BEGIN MONTAGE. Cliff showing Miles innerworkings of the van. Miles watches closely, holding a flashlight. Both working on different parts of the van. Miles works under the van, Cliff hands him a tool. They laugh and sort through tools and parts. Grease smeared on their faces, they sit inside Swifty and start it. Shocked, they look relieved before pulling out of the garage.

INT. VAN(MOVING) - DAWN

Cliff drives while Miles rests his head on the edge of the open passenger side window, feeling the wind with his hand.

EXT. MOUNTAIN VIEWPOINT - SUNRISE

They get out and stand in silence, in awe of the view. Cliff reaches into his back pocket, holds out a Polaroid photo of two young men in Swifty, one is Cliff. Miles inspects it.

MILES

That's my-

CLIFF cutting him off ( ) Swifty was your old man's pride and joy. Until you came along, that is. He logged every adjustment he ever made to in that old book. and this-

Cliff nods his head forward, gesturing to the view.

CLIFF (cont'd) was his favorite place to take it. Miles looks at Cliff, who stares straight ahead.

CLIFF (cont'd) said he felt invincible up here. Like nothing could touch him.

Miles looks down at the photo. His eyes get watery.

CLIFF (cont'd)

I've never met anyone with his kind of passion for life. I always hoped it would rub off on me... It didn't.

Cliff turns and nudges Miles on the shoulder.

CLIFF (cont'd)

You have it though, kid. I see it.

Miles looks up at him, lips pursed, He tries to wipe away the water in his eyes before Cliff sees.

MILES

I'm nothing like hi-

CLIFF cutting him off ( ) Oh, come on! It's in your blood!

Cliff smacks his shoulder, harder this time. Miles winces then slightly smiles.

MILES

I guess so.

CLIFF

Miles, you have so much of him in you. and now-

They face each other, Miles stands up a bit straighter.

CLIFF (cont'd) -you have this.

Cliff tosses the keys to Swifty to Miles. He catches them and stares as they dangle in his hand. He looks up to Cliff, eyes wide. Cliff smiles.

CLIFF (cont'd) (sarcastically)

You do know how to drive, right?

Miles smiles back. Cliff pats Miles on the back as they turn to walk to the van.

CUT TO:

the van driving down the road, off into the distance.

FADE TO BLACK

THE END