Scene 4

Question 0

You got better things to do?

Answer 0

Let’s just go ahead. Now what happens when he leaves Texas?

Question 1

All right, now read it back to me.

Answer 1

I’m not reading it back to you Lee. You can read it when we’re finished. I can’t spend all night on this.

Question 2

Is he ready to leave Texas yet? I didn’t know we were that far along. He’s not ready to leave Texas.

Answer 2

He’s right at the border.

Question 3

No, see this is one a’ the crucial parts. Right here. We can’t rush through this. He’s not right at the border. He’s a good fifty miles from the border. A lot can happen in fifty miles.

Answer 3

It’s only an outline. We’re not writing an entire script now.

Question 4

Well ya’ can’t leave things out even if it is an outline. It’s one a’ the most important parts. Ya’ can’t go leavin’ it out.

Answer 4

Okay, okay. Let’s just-get it done.

Question 5

All right. Now. He’s in the truck and he’s got his horse trailer and his horse.

Answer 5

We’ve already established that.

Question 6

And he sees this other guy comin’ up behind him in another truck. And that truck is pullin’ a gooseneck.

Answer 6

What’s a gooseneck?

Question 7

Cattle trailer. You know the kind with a gooseneck, goes right down in the bed a’ the pick up.

Answer 7

Oh. All right

Question 8

It’s important.

Answer 8

Okay. I got it.

Question 9

All these details are important.

Answer 9

I’ve got it.

Question 10

And this other guy’s got his horse all saddled up in the back a’ the gooseneck.

Answer 10

Right.

Question 11

So both these guys have got their horses right along with ‘em, see.

Answer 11

I understand.

Question 12

Then this first guy suddenly realizes two things.

Answer 12

The guy in front?

Question 13

Right. The guy in front realizes two things almost at the same time. Simultaneous.

Answer 13

What were the two things?

Question 14

Number one, he realizes that the guy behind him is the husband of the woman he’s been- (gesture)

Answer 14

Oh. Yeah.

Question 15

And number two, he realizes he’s in the middle of tornado country.

Answer 15

What’s “Tornado Country”?

Question 16

Panhandle.

Answer 16

Panhandle?

Question 17

Sweetwater. Around in that area. Nothin’. Nowhere. And number three-

Answer 17

I thought there was only two.

Question 18

There’s three. There’s a third unforeseen realization.

Answer 18

And what’s that?

Question 19

That he’s runnin’ outta’ gas.

Answer 19

…Come on Lee.

Question 20

Whadya’ mean “come on”? That’s what it is. Wrote it down! He’s runnin’ outa’ gas.

Answer 20

It’s too-

Question 21

What? It’s too what? It’s too real! That’s what us’ mean isn’t it? It’s too much like real life!

Answer 21

It’s not like real life! It’s not enough like real life. Things don’t happen like that.

Question 22

What! Men don’t fuck other men’s women?

Answer 22

Yes. But they don’t end up chasing each other across the Panhandle. Through “Tornado Country.”

Question 23

They do in this movie!

Answer 23

And they don’t have horses conveniently along with them when they run out of gas! And they don’t run out of gas either!

Question 24

These guys run outa' gas! This is my story and one a' these guys runs outa' gas!

Answer 24

It's just a dumb excuse to get them into a chase scene. It's contrived.

Question 25

It is a chase scene! It's already a chase scene. They been chasin' each other for days

Answer 25

So now they're supposed to abandon their trucks, climb on their horses and chase each other into the mountains?

Question 26

They aren't any mountains in the Panhandle! It's flat! | Goddam these crickets! Shut up out there! This place is like a fuckin' rest home here. How're you supposed to think!

Answer 26

You wanna' take a break?

Question 27

No, I don't wanna' take a break! I wanna' get this done! This is my last chance to get this done.

Answer 27

All right. Take it easy.

Question 28

I'm gonna be leavin this area. I don't have time to mess around here.

Answer 28

Where are you going?

Question 29

Never mind where I'm goin'! That's got nothin' to do with you. I just gotta' get this done. I'm not like you. Hangin' around bein' a parasite offa' other fools. I gotta' do this thing and get out.

Answer 29

A parasite? Me?

Question 30

Yeah, you!

Answer 30

After you break into people's homes and take their televisions?

Question 31

They don't need their televisions! I'm doin' them a service

Answer 31

Give me back my keys, Lee.

Question 32

Not until you write this thing! You're gonna write this outline thing for me or that car's gonna wind up in Arizona with a different paint job.

Answer 32

You think you can force me to write this? I was doing you a favor.

Question 33

Got off yet high horse will ya! Favor! Big favor! Handin down favors from the mountaintop.

Answer 33

Let's just write it, okay? Let's sit down and not get upset and see if we can just get through this.

Question 34

Yer not even gonna show it to him, are ya?

Answer 34

What?

Question 35

This outline. You got no intention of showin it to him. Yer just doin this cause yer afraid a me.

Answer 35

You can show it to him yourself.

Question 36

I will, boy! I'm gonna read it to him on the golf course.

Answer 36

And I'm not afraid of you either.

Question 37

Then how come yer doin it?

Answer 37

... So I can get my keys back.

Question 38

There. Now you got yer keys back. Go ahead. There's yer keys. Now what're ha gonna do? Kick me out?

Answer 38

I'm not gonna kick you out, Lee.

Question 39

You couldn't kick me out, boy.

Answer 39

I know

Question 40

So you can't even consider that one. You could call the police. That'd be the obvious thing.

Answer 40

You're my brother.

Question 41

That don't mean a thing. You go down to the L.A. Police Department there and ask them what kinda people kill each other most. What do you think they'd say?

Answer 41

Who said anything about killing?

Question 42

Family people. Brothers. Brothers-in-law. Cousins. Real American-type people. They kill each other in the heat mostly. In the smog-alerts. In the brush fire season. Right about this time a year.

Answer 42

This isn't the same.

Question 43

Oh no? What makes it different?

Answer 43

We're not insane. We're not driven to acts of violence like that. Not over a dumb movie script. Now sit down.

Question 44

Maybe not. Maybe you're right. Maybe we're to intelligent, huh? We got heads on our shoulders. One of us has even got an Ivy League diploma. Now that means something don't it? Doesn't that mean something?

Answer 44

Look, I'll write this thing for you, Lee. I don't mind writing it. I just don't want to get all worked up about it. It's not worth it. Now, come on. Let's just get through it, okay?

Question 45

Nah. I think there's easier money. Lotsa places I could pick up thousands. Maybe millions. I don't need this shit. I could go to Sacramento Valley and steal me a diesel. Ten thousand a week dismantling one of those suckers. Ten thousand a week!

Answer 45

No, really, look, I'll write it for you. I think it's a great idea.

Question 46

Nah, you got your own work to do. I don't wanna interfere with your life.

Answer 46

I mean it'd be really fantastic if you could sell this. Turn it into a movie. I mean it.