MHBarcus at 2016-06-14 16:38:16:
Scene #8
EXT. INTERSTATE - NIGHT
A GREYHOUND BUS cruises along U.S. Interstate Highway 80 West in the middle of a night. Its LED SIGN flashes: “CHI TO LAX”.
INT. GREYHOUND BUS - SAME
In the front row of the bus, KATE, early 20’s, sleeps heavily, leaning against the window and using a jacket as a pillow. The seat next to her is empty, save a hoodie and pair of headphones.
Across the aisle, BUS DRIVER takes three long blinks. The last is too long, but he jolts back awake, jostling the steering wheel.
The bus speeds over the highway rumble strip for a second, vibrating through Kate’s makeshift pillow and awakening her. She blinks awake, noticing the empty seat beside her. Then, internally, she notices something else. With a frustrated roll of the eyes, Kate reaches under her seat and rifles through her purse. She pulls out a TAMPON, which she slips into her jeans pocket as she rises from her seat.
Kate unsteadily makes her way down the bus aisle toward the lavatory in back. Up front, the bus driver loses concentration again and slides into the rumble strip. The low buzz stirs a handful of the rows and rows of sleeping passengers. Kate reaches the lavatory door, but it is locked: “IN USE”. She knocks softly.
KATE: (softly, to the door) Melissa?
No response. Kate tries again.
KATE: (a bit louder) Melissa? I really need to use the bathroom.
An angry BUS PASSENGER gives Kate a harsh “SHH!” and death stare. Kate pulls her phone of out her other pocket. In its soft glow we see Kate typing furiously. INSERT OF TEXT TO MELISSA: “Let me in. The Cincinnati Reds are playing downtown and it’s pouring and the ground crew needs to get a tarp down b4 the infield gets soaked.”
Through the door, Kate hears a sound somewhere between a sniffle and a laugh. She tries the door again, but nothing.
Kate’s phone buzzes with a message from Melissa. Kate sees that the response is a screenshot of a Facebook profile relationship status: “MARCUS RYAN’S RELATIONSHIP STATUS HAS CHANGED FROM ‘IN A RELATIONSHIP’ TO ‘SINGLE’.”
Kate hears another sound from the lavatory and she moves her ear closer to the door. She hears the muffled sounds of sobbing. Kate steps back and composes a text response.
INSERT OF TEXT TO MELISSA: “Fuck him. We’re trying to start something big and if he can’t support that, then his loss. We’re going to rock so hard in this new city. You and me. Sistas 4 life. [heart emoji] [flexing muscle emoji] [heart emoji]”
Pleased with her response, Kate sends the message and then types a new text: “Now please let me into the bathroom before I bleed out on a fucking Greyhound bus.”
Through the door, Kate hears Melissa getting up and---
Back up front, the bus driver is now soundly asleep. Through the windshield we see the bus sliding into the lane to its left. Through the driver’s window we see the bus inching closer to a passing SUV.
BWAAAAAAHHHH! The SUV slams on its horn. The bus driver jolts awake and swerves hard right to avoid the collision, then back left to stay on the road. Passengers scream. In the back, Kate is thrown sideways with each serve until the bus steadies and she’s sprawled across a row of seats and angry passengers.
Kate climbs off of a bus passenger’s lap, apologizing. As she stands back up in the aisle, she hears a *squish* and looks down. In quick glow of a passing freeway light, Kate sees a puddle running from out under the lavatory door just touching her shoes. She hops away quickly and lifts her phone again.
INSERT OF TEXT TO MELISSA: “See you in Denver.” Melissa responds: “See you in Denver.”
Kate makes her way back up to her seat past grumbling, bleary-eyed passengers. She sits and grabs Melissa’s jacket pulls it over her lap. She reaches underneath and unzips her pants. She props herself up on one elbow and---
EXT. INTERSTATE - SAME
The bus roars past a SIGN: “DES MOINES: 38 MILES, DENVER: 614 MILES”