The Trunk

FADE IN:

EXT. YARD - DAY

STEVEN  (40s) orderly, businesslike and arrogant, opens the trunk of his expensive SUV. JULIE (10), his innocent daughter, optimistic, joyful and sweet, hands him her backpack. He puts it in the trunk. He closes the trunk by pressing a button. As it slowly closes, they go get inside the car, each to a separate side of the vehicle. Right before the trunk closes, a person sneaks in and enters the luxurious vehicle. The SUV drives away.

TITLE CARD: THE TRUNK

INT. STEVEN’S SUV - DAY

Steven is driving. Julie sits on the passenger seat. They both look serious and nervous. There’s no music, they are driving in complete silence.

STEVEN

Tell me again the number one rule.

JULIE

Don’t talk to strangers.

STEVEN

That’s right. And that includes everyone. Be careful of your classmates too.

JULIE

But how will I make new friends?

STEVEN

Friends will come later. Do you have your seatbelt on?

JULIE

Yes.

Julie moves his seatbelt to show his dad. Meanwhile, the guy in the trunk peeks in the background. His eyes are wide open and completely void of emotion. He doesn’t have any hair. His forehead is covered in blood. He disappears again as he lowers his head.

STEVEN

I have to get some gas.

Steven turns his lights on and turns to enter a gas station. The turn is sudden. We hear a light THUMP in the back, but neither Steven nor Julie notice it.

EXT. GAS STATION - DAY

Steven gets out of the vehicle and starts to pump gas. Julie stays in the car. Steven looks her way as he pumps gas to make sure she’s safe.

The guy in the trunk peeks to see where they are, just for a second.

PETER (30s), a scruffy looking man, with kind eyes but a messy appearance, notices the guy peeking in the trunk. He’s also pumping gas but on the other side of the station. He owns an older car, small and with the paint falling off.

Peter sees Steven getting in the car, while the guy in the trunk peeks again.

Peter gets in his car and drives off.

INT. STEVEN’S SUV - DAY

Steven is driving again. Complete silence. Julie looks out the window.

EXT. INTERSECTION - DAY

They reach a red light and stop. Peter’s car stops next to him.

Peter rolls down his window and starts yelling and gesturing, pointing towards the trunk at Steven and Julie.

INT. STEVEN'S SUV - DAY

Julie notices Peter.

JULIE

Dad, there’s a man trying to tell us something.

Steven turns around and sees him. He notices his car and his appearance instead of focusing on what he’s gesturing. He doesn’t roll the window down and just turns around.

STEVEN

This is exactly what I’m talking about. These guys think that we’re stupid. Ignore him, it’s just a lie.

Julie keeps looking at him. Peter keeps pointing at the trunk, honking to try to get the father’s attention.

Julie turns around to see the trunk. There’s nothing. No movement, no sound coming from back there.

JULIE

Maybe he’s trying to help us.

STEVEN

He’s not.

The green light is on. Steven drives away fast.

INT. PETER’S CAR - DAY

Peter yells frustrated at Steven’s car as it drives away.

PETER

Fuck! You idiot!

Peter keeps driving behind him. He takes out his cellphone and calls 911.

PETER

Hi, there’s a man in someone’s trunk.

(beat)

The license plate is PZL886.

(beat)

It’s a guy and a little girl. I tried to warn the driver but he didn’t listen to me. The guy in the trunk is a middle aged man.

(beat)

He’s got blood on his face--

Right as he says that last line, Peter sees that Julie is trying to roll the window down, but Steven immediately rolls it up again. He focuses his attention on Steven, who is angrily saying something at Julie.

Peter’s eyes widen.

Peter floors the gas.

INT. STEVEN’S CAR - DAY

Steven is pressing the window button on his side of the car and rolling the window up.

STEVEN

I told you not to do that, someone could drive down and grab you.

JULIE

But it’s hot.

STEVEN

I’ll just turn on the...

As Steven moves his hand to get the AC, Peter’s car comes closer and closer until he rams them from the back.

Steven looks at his mirror. Julie looks at him concerned.

STEVEN

Fuck! It’s that guy. I told you he was dangerous.

Steven speeds up. Julie is about to cry.

Steven takes out his cellphone and starts dialing 911. Right in this moment, the guy in the trunk peeks to see what happened. He ducks down right when Steven looks at his mirror to check where Peter’s car is.

STEVEN

Hello? There’s a maniac trying to...

Peter’s car is getting closer. Steven turns the car quickly to avoid him but loses control and crashes against the side of the road.

INT/EXT. STEVEN'S SUV/SIDE OF THE ROAD - DAY

Steven gets down from the car and goes around to the passenger side to check on his daughter and make sure that she’s okay. While he walks, the man inside the SUV moves from the trunk to the floor of the backseat. Steven looks disoriented, and doesn’t notice this.

EXT. SIDE OF THE ROAD - DAY

Peter pulls over behind Steven’s vehicle and gets down of his car.

He walks up to Steven’s SUV and opens the trunk.

PETER

Are you oka...?

The trunk is empty. He looks confused, but then is interrupted by Steven, who comes running at him.

STEVEN

What the fuck are you doing?!

Steven punches Peter. Steven positions himself on top of Peter and keeps punching him over and over again, releasing all his pent-up anger.

While they’re struggling on the floor, the man inside the SUV goes from the backseat to the front seat. We hear the ENGINE RUNNING and then he drives away.

Steven turns around quickly as it drives off.

STEVEN

Julie!

Steven stands up and tries to chase the vehicle, but it’s gone.

Steven looks back at Peter, who’s all bloody on the floor. He’s completely alone.

CUT TO BLACK.