THANKS FOR THE BIKE

Written by
Jashwa Riesenbach

4 Draft: 4/3/06
TH
 Jashwa Riesenbach
josh@riesenbach.us
FADE IN:

INT. ASHLEE'S HOUSE - EARLY MORNING - LIVING ROOM

ASHLEE (15) is sitting on the couch alone watching The

Power Puff Girls. She laughs at something on the show.

STATIC SHOT:

EXT. ASHLEE'S HOUSE

There is snow on the ground and it is lightly snowing.

Through bay window, Ashlee sits on the couch watching the
same cartoon. The garage door is half open. BOB (16) sneaks
up to the house. He ducks under the garage door and walks
over to Ashlee's bike which is leaning against the wall.
The bike is white and pink. It has tassles hanging from the
end of the handlebars. Bob takes the bike and ducks back
out of the garage. He hops on the bike and rides off
quickly. The cartoon Ashlee is watching cuts to the
credits. Ashlee stands up and walks into the kitchen as she
hums The Power Puff Girls theme song.

INT. ASHLEE'S HOUSE - KITCHEN

Ashlee turns around and walks over to the pantry. She opens
the doors and looks around inside. Ashlee spots Pop-tarts
and takes a pack out of the box. She turns around and walks
back over to the island. She walks to the door from the
kitchen to the garage. She turns the knob. Ashlee turns
back towards the kitchen and pauses. She turns back towards
the door, opens it, and walks into garage.

INT. ASHLEE'S GARAGE

The garage is dark except for a small amount of sunlight

shining through the door. Ashlee looks at the partially
open garage door. She feels around for the garage door
opener on the wall. She finds it and presses the button.
The garage door begins to close and the garage light turns
on. She looks at the place on the wall where her bike once
stood. Ashlee stumbles over to the wall. The garage door
closes completely. Ashlee collapses against the wall then
slides down the wall to the ground. She cries hysterically.
The garage light automatically turns off. Ashlee's weeping
can still be heard.

EXT. DAVID'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Bob rides up to the apartment on Ashlee's bike. As he gets

to the walk, he hops off the bike as he's riding. He walks
the bike down the walk and drags it up the stairs. He
stands in front of the door waiting.

BOB
Oh...

Bob rings the doorbell. He waits for an answer but does not
receive one. Bob rings the doorbell. He leans against the
door and tries to look through the peephole into the
apartment.

INT. DAVID'S APARTMENT - FRONT HALL

DAVID (16) looks through peephole.

FISH EYE LENS: Bob tries desperately to look through the

peephole.

David steps back from the door. He laughs and opens the
door quickly. Bob falls face first onto the ground. David
stands over Bob, looking down at him with a huge grin on
his face. Bob rolls over and stares up at David.

BOB
Dude!!! Stop fucking around!

DAVID
Oh, come on. Learn to take a
fucking joke.

BOB
I don't have time for this shit!
 Look...

Bob swings his arms and rolls to his feet. He runs out the
door and pulls Ashlee's bike into the hall.

BOB
Look at this.

Bob stands next to the bike smirking. David watches

Bob with a puzzled look on his face.

DAVID
What is it?

BOB
It's a bike, dumb ass.

DAVID
Screw you. I mean, come on...

David reaches out towards the handlebars. He runs his

fingers through the ribbons that hang off the handlebars.

DAVID (CONT'D)
Ribbons? There are ribbons on the
handlebars.

Bob stands back from the bike defensively.

BOB
It's not mine.

DAVID
What ever helps you sleep at
night.

David chuckles and looks at Bob as if he doesn't believe

the bike is not his.

BOB
It's not! I stole it from Ashlee.

DAVID
 Ashlee rides that?!

BOB
That's not all she rides.

Bob winks at David while at the same time intentionally

twitching his whole face.

DAVID
Yeah I know.

David pretends to rethink his thoughts.

DAVID
I mean... like I know you... just
forget I said that.

Bob begins to move towards David aggressively in an attempt

to intimidate him. David reaches his hand out and places it
on Bob's shoulder.

DAVID
So you were about to tell me about
how you stole it from Ashlee.

BOB
Okay. So I was walking by her
house, right?

DAVID
Yeah...

BOB
And I notice that her garage door
is open.

DAVID
And you think to yourself, "Hey. I
think I'll steal Ashlee's bike
today."

With a blank look, Bob looks at David.

 BOB
Pretty much.

David shakes his head back and forth.

DAVID
You are one fucked up kid.

BOB
Why?

DAVID
Ashlee dumps you, so you steal her
bike? That's fucked up.

BOB
Oh come on, I'm joking around with
her. Anyway, I need you to do me a
huge favor.

David hesitates. He looks Bob dead in the eye.

DAVID
What is it?

Bob stops leaning on the bike and starts to walk towards

the door. He puts his hand on David's
back.

BOB
Thanks man, you’re my he-

DAVID
(INTERRUPTING)
I never said yes. What do you need
me to do?

BOB
It's nothing really. Just like I
don't have anywhere to put the bi-

DAVID
No.
 BOB
Please dude. Don't you have a
closet or something you just throw
it in.

DAVID
No!

BOB
So I save your life and this is
how you pay me back.

David looks at the ceiling trying to remember the

particular incidence that Bob is talking about. He looks
back at Bob pretending to recall the story.

DAVID
Okay. I'll do it. But only cause
I'm a nice person.

BOB
Thanks, man. You're my hero.

David walks turns away from Bob and the door.

DAVID
You fag.

David starts walking down the hall.

DAVID (CONT'D)
Grab the bike.

Bob takes the bike. He runs to catch up with David then

follows behind him. They reach the end of the hallway.
David grabs the rope hanging from the ceiling and pulls
down the attic stairs. David walks to the top and pulls the
pull-string of the attic light.

INT. DAVID'S APARTMENT - ATTIC

David stands at the top of the stairs. Bob is standing at

the bottom of the stairs, deep in thought. David looks down
at Bob.

DAVID
You coming or are you just gonna
stand there all day.

BOB
No, no. I'm coming. I was just
thinking about something. You live
in an apartment.

DAVID
I sure hope you weren't thinking
about how observant you are.

BOB
Can you be serious for one second?

DAVID
I can try.
BOB
So yeah... you live in an
apartment. How and why, exactly,
do you have an attic?

David stares deeply at Bob, then looks around the attic,

then back down at Bob.

DAVID
To store bikes in. Man, I don't
know.

Bob picks up the bike and walks up the stairs.

BOB
Where do you want me to put it?

David points at a spot about 10 feet in front of the small

attic vent. Bob walks over to the spot, bike under arm. He
sets the bike on the ground and puts down the kickstand. He
walks over to the stairs where David is standing. David
swings his hand towards the stairs and bows at Bob. Bob
walks down the stairs. David turns off the light and
follows Bob down the stairs. Some light shines in through
the vent and the stairs. The stairs shut leaving only the
light from the vent, creating a spotlight on the bike.

INT. ASHLEE'S GARAGE

Ashlee rests against the wall where her bike was rocking
back and forth. She mouths rapidly about her bike. A single
TEAR drops from her eye and rolls down her face. She wipes
it away violently.

FLASHBACK: INT. ASHLEE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - 1994

There is a Christmas tree with no presents under it. Three

empty stockings hang from the mantel of the fireplace.
Above the mantel there are four annual family portraits.
Ashlee's DAD sits in the Lazy Boy with his feet up. He is
wearing a robe and slippers. He is smoking a pipe and
reading the newspaper. Ashlee enters the room. She walks
over to the Lazy Boy and stands in front of Dad.

ASHLEE
Hi daddy!

DAD
What do you need?

Ashlee sways back and forth with a sweet, innocent smile.

ASHLEE
Can you get me a-

DAD (PASSIVELY)
No.

Ashlee pouts and trys to look intimidating.

ASHLEE
But daddy! I need a bike!

Dad moves the paper from in front of his face so Ashlee can
see him and removes the pipe from his mouth so she can hear
him.

DAD (IRRITATED)
No!

Ashlee leaves the room. Dad goes back to his pipe and
paper. Ashlee sits right outside the doorway crying. Dad
ignores it.

FLASHBACK: INT. ASHLEE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - 1997

There is a Christmas tree with no presents under it. Three

empty stockings hang from the mantel of the fireplace.
Above the mantel there are seven annual family portraits.
Ashlee's Dad sits in the Lazy Boy with his feet up. He is
wearing a robe and slippers. He is smoking a pipe and
reading the newspaper. Ashlee enters the room. She walks
over to the Lazy Boy and stands in front of Dad.

ASHLEE
Hey, daddy.

DAD
What do you want?

Ashlee smiles at Dad.

ASHLEE
A bike.

DAD (PASSIVELY)
No!

Ashlee gives Dad a real angry look.

ASHLEE (IRRITATED)
But...

DAD (IRRITATED)
NO! I’m not gonna tell you again.

Ashlee snatches the newspaper from Dad and throws it at the

ground. She runs out of the room as the newspaper floats
down to the ground. Dad attempts to look where Ashlee went,
but can't because the Lazy Boy is in the way. He gives up
immediately, picks up the paper, and continues to read.
Ashlee sits right outside of the doorway ringing her hands.

FLASHBACK: INT. ASHLEE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - 2000

There is a Christmas tree with no presents under it. Three

empty stockings hang from the mantel of the fireplace.
Above the mantel there are ten annual family portraits.
Ashlee's DAD sits in the Lazy Boy with his feet up. He is
wearing a robe and slippers. He is smoking a pipe and
reading the newspaper. Ashlee enters the room. She walks
over to the Lazy Boy and stands in front of Dad.

ASHLEE
Hey, Dad.

DAD
Yes?

ASHLEE (IRITATED)
Bike this year?

DAD (PASSIVELY)
Nope.

Ashlee pulls a lighter out of her back pocket and sets the
newspaper on fire. She strolls away, content. Dad blows at
the fire frantically until it goes out.

DAD (ANGRY)
What the hell do you think you're
doing? Get back here young lady!

Dad puts down the footrest of the Lazy Boy and leans
forward to get up. He looks back and sees that Ashlee has
already gone. He leans back in the chair. Dad reads the
remains the newspaper as if nothing has happened.

FLASHBACK: INT. ASHLEE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - 2002

There is a Christmas tree with no presents under it. Three

empty stockings hang from the mantel of the fireplace.
Above the mantel there are twelve annual family portraits.
Ashlee's DAD sits in the Lazy Boy with his feet up. He is
wearing a robe and slippers. He is smoking a pipe and
reading the newspaper. Ashlee enters the room. She walks
over to the Lazy Boy and stands in front of Dad.

ASHLEE
Yo.

DAD
No bike.

Ashlee stands and stares at Dad with rage in her eyes.

INT. ASHLEE'S GARAGE - DARK

Ashlee sits against the wall rocking back and forth with
the exact same rage in her eyes as in the preceding
flashback.

Pull though roof to outside Ashlee’s garage

EXT. ASHLEE’S GARAGE – NIGHT

The wind is blowing strong and snow is falling hard. The

wind howls.

EXT. DAVID’S APARTMENT – VERY EARLY MORNING

The grass is green, the trees have leaves, and there is no

snow to be found.

Pull through roof to David’s attic

INT. DAVID'S APARTMENT - ATTIC - SUNRISE

The room is completely dark. As the sun rises, sunlight

creates another spotlight on the bike.
The bike is covered in dust and spider webs.

Pull through floor of attic into David's room

INT DAVID'S APARTMENT - DAVID'S ROOM

David lies in his bed resting his head on his palm. He

watches a courtroom drama.

PROSECUTER (O.S.)
Answer the question! Did you or
didn't you kill James Smith for
the sole reason that he stole your
car.

DEFENDANT (O.S.)
Yeah. But I couldn't let him do me
like that. Nah'mean? I loved that
car. He can't just take my baby
and expect to get away with it.
The son of a bitch had it comin’.

David's phone rings. He picks up the remote and points it

at the screen. He hits the mute button repeatedly but the
TV won't mute. He grabs his phone and runs over to the TV.
He smacks the front of the TV several times. He finally
hits the power button. David opens his phone and looks at
the screen. The screen reads "Bob C." David answers the
call.

DAVID
Hello.

BOB (FRANTIC &

SLURRED)
I--------Ash-------Water-------
Me...

DAVID
(INTERRUPTING)
Bob, I can't understand a word you
are saying. Calm down and then try
to tell me. Okay?

BOB (FRANTIC &

SLURRED)
Can't---------Time---------FUCK
Small gurgling sound is heard through phone then everything
goes silent.

DAVID
Bob? Bob?! BOB?!!!

The phone beeps. David looks at the screen which says "Call
Lost".

DAVID
Fucking phone!

David calls Bob's cell phone. Bob's answering machine

immediately starts playing. David hangs up.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - MATH CLASS - NOON

David sits in the front of the class. MR. WEGGERTS knocks

on the door.

MRS. DUNNING
Megan, get the door.

MEGAN gets up and opens the door. Mr. Weggerts enters the
room and walks over to David. He leans on David’s shoulder.

MR. WEGGERTS
(WHISPER)
Hi. Can I talk to you for a few
minutes in my office?

DAVID
Um... Yeah, that's fine.

David starts to walk towards the door without any of his

books. Mr. Weggerts stops him.

MR. WEGGERTS
You may wanna take your things
with you. You probably won't come
back in a while.
David walks back to his seat and picks up his books. He
walks back over to Mr. Weggerts and they walk out of the
room.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - MR. WEGGERTS' OFFICE

Mr. Weggerts opens the door for David. David walks into the
office and Mr. Weggerts follows. OFFICER RILEY is standing
in front of Mr. Weggerts' desk. Mr. Weggerts walks past
David and Officer Riley. He sits down behind his desk.
Officer Riley sits down. David stands, watching them.

MR. WEGGERTS
You can sit down, if you like.

DAVID
No, I'm fine.

Officer Riley leans forward in his chair.

OFFICER RILEY
Son, sit down.

David sits down.

MR. WEGGERTS
We've heard that you were friends
with Bob Crunstann.

DAVID
Yeah, what about it?

MR. WEGGERTS
Well, it appears I have some bad
news.

Mr. Weggerts looks down at the desk for a few seconds. He

looks back up at David.

MR. WEGGERTS
Earlier today we received word
that Bob is no longer with us. He
was found face down in creek by
 the cannons.

David sits and stares at Mr. Weggerts. He starts to say

something, then stops himself. He turns to Officer Riley.

DAVID
How did this happen? Why?!

OFFICER RILEY
Well to be honest, David, we were
hoping you could help us answer
that. Apparently you were the last
person Bob talked to before he
died. What did you guys talk
about?

David zones out. He looks back at Officer Riley.

DAVID
I don't know.

OFFICER RILEY
What do you mean you don't know?
You had to talk about something.

DAVID
We did. I don't remember!

David stands up and runs out of the room. Officer Riley

starts to follow after him. Mr. Weggerts grabs Officer
Riley's arm, stopping him from leaving.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY

David runs down one hallway. He gets to the end and turns
down another, then another, then another. The bell rings
and David's legs give out from under him. He lies on the
ground and watches all the people walk by. Nobody stops
walking until they reach there next class. All the class
room doors shut and David is alone in the hallway again. He
lies on the ground with a blank stare.

INT. CHURCH – MORNING

Bob lies in a casket in the front of the church. People sit
in the pews. David enters the church. He walks up to Bob
and puts his hands on the edge of the casket. Bob’s mother
cries in the front row. David looks back at her. Then back
at Bob. He goes and sits down in a seat at the back of the
church. The minister walks up to the front of the church.

MINISTER
Hello. My name is Father…

Ashlee is crying a few rows behind David. David looks back

at her. He ignores it and tries to bring his attention back
to the ceremony. Ashlee gives out a single loud weep, then
goes back to her normal sobbing. David stands up and slips
back to the row behind Ashlee. He slides over to be
directly behind her. David leans forward so his head is
next to Ashlee’s.

DAVID (WHISPER)
Hey there, Ash.

Ashlee mindlessly stares at the minister.

ASHLEE (MONOTONE)
Hi, David.

DAVID
If there’s anything you wanna talk
about, I’m sitting right there.

David points at his seat and pushes on Ashlee’s seat to

stand up. He starts to stand up. Ashlee reaches back and
grabs his hand. David turns back to her. She snaps out of
her stare and looks up at David. She is no longer upset.

ASHLEE (PUZZLED)
Have you seen my bike?

David looks sick.

FLASH TO:
DREAM SEQUENCE: INT. DAVID’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

The attic stairs are closed. They open. View moves slowly
up the stairs to the attic. The attic is dark. Light bursts
into the room through the vent recreating the spot light on
Ashlee’s bike. View moves backwards down the stairs very
quickly. The stairs slam shut.

INT. CHURCH – CONT’D

Ashlee is shaking David’s arm.

ASHLEE
Hello? My bike? Have you seen it?

David nods his head back and forth, still staring at the
same place. He looks back at Ashlee.

DAVID (DEFENSIVE)
Huh? No! I don’t think so. I
didn’t even know you had a bike! I
gotta go. Bye.

David hurriedly pulls his arm away from Ashlee and runs out
of the church. Ashlee makes nothing of it and brings her
attention back to the ceremony.

EXT. CHURCH – LATE MORNING

The front doors of the church fly open. David runs out of
them and down to the side walk. He walks down the sidewalk
with his head down and his hands in his pockets.

EXT. CONVINIENT STORE – NOON

David walks down the street with his head down and his
hands in his pockets. He comes to a convenient store. Out
front of the convenient store, four teens sit on the sides
of the bed of a pick-up truck drinking soda and smoking
cigarettes. David turns his head to the side so he can see
the teens. He turns back to the ground and walks a few more
steps. He stops and picks his head up. He looks at the
teens in the truck. David jogs over to them.
 DAVID
Hey.

JACK
Yo.

DAVID
Aren’t you Ashlee’s friend, Jack?

JACK (JOKING)
What’s it to ya?

David steps back thinking he’s over stepped his boundary.

DAVID
I’m sorry. I just came from my
best friend’s funeral, so I’m a
little-

JACK
You were friends with that ass
hole?!

David climbs onto the edge of the truck.

DAVID
Well I wouldn’t call him an
asshole, but-

TEEN
You’re wrong. Did you here what
happened with him and Ashlee?

JACK (17) glares at TEEN. Teen pulls back into their shell.
David looks at Teen, then back at Jack.

DAVID
Kinda. He told me that she dumped
him but he never said why.

JACK
That lying son of a bi… He dumped
 her. And, you wanna know why?!

David opens his mouth to reply.

JACK
Sex. He dumped her cause she
wouldn’t fuck him. She’s fucking
15! Mother fucker got what he
deserved. I swear to god if I
could I’d bring him back to life
just so I could kill him myself!
But the important thing is he’s
gone.

David looks extremely uncomfortable. He steps off the edge

of the truck and turns to walk away.

JACK
Wait!

David stops dead in his tracks and turns back to Jack.

JACK (CONT’D)
Why did you walk over here?

David turns away and starts to walk back to the side walk.

DAVID
It was nothing. Don’t worry about
it.

JACK (HOSTILE)
Answer me. Now!

DAVID (ALARMED)
What’s the deal with Ash and her
bike? She seems way-

JACK
Last thing her dad bought her
before he died. You would be too.
Now get.
Frightened, David scurries off. He puts his head back down
and his hands back in his pockets.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL – HOMEROOM – MORNING

David sits in a seat in the back of the class room.

Students are talking separately amongst themselves. The
TEACHER sits behind her desk. Ashlee kicks the door open
from outside the room. Teacher jumps to her feet.

TEACHER
Excuse me! But, what-

Ashlee points at teacher then flings her hand to her waist.

As a natural reaction the teacher stops talking and falls
to her seat. Ashlee storms over to David. She points at him
then raises her arm.

ASHLEE
Up!

David casually stands up. He holds his thumbs in his side

belt loops. The entire class stares at them.

ASHLEE
I know you have it!

DAVID
Look, I don’t know-

ASHLEE
Shut up!

Ashlee grabs David’s collar. He laughs. She swings her fist

violently across her face sending him flying to the ground.

ASHLEE
Get up!

Ashlee kicks David gently. He quickly struggles to his

feet. David’s lip is already starting to swell.

ASHLEE
 Where is it?!

DAVID
Where is what?

Ashlee gives another blow to David’s face. He stumbles and

looks back at Ashlee. Blood trickles from his nose as a
single tear falls from his eye.

ASHLEE
Where is my bike?!!! I better have
it back by tomorrow morning!

DAVID (STUGGLING)
You will. I swear.

ASHLEE
Good. That’s probably your safest
bet.

Ashlee pushes David down into his seat. She storms back out
of the room and slams the door shut. Teacher runs to the
phone and dials recklessly.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL – FRONT DOOR

Ashlee walks out the front door and stomps away from the
school.

INT. DAVIDS APARTMETN – ATTIC – NIGHT

David sits on the top stair looking at the bike.

DAVID
Guess I’m taking you to school
tomorrow.

David shuts off the light and walks down the stairs.

INT. DAVID’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

David shuts the stairs and walks to his room.

INT. DAVID’S APARTMENT – DAVID’S ROOM

David collapses on to his bed. He hugs his pillow to his

face. He cries into the pillow.

FADE OUT:

INT. DAVID’S APARTMENT – DAVID’S ROOM – MORNING

The doorbell rings. David rolls over and grabs the clock.
He stares at it for a few seconds then blinks his eyes a
few times. He opens his eyes really wide and tilts his head
back. He stares at the clock. It reads 5:30. David buries
his head back into his pillow. The doorbell rings a
rapidly. David slowly pulls himself to the edge of the bed.
He stands up and puts on a robe.

INT. DAVID’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

He walks, still half-asleep, to the front door. He looks

though the peephole.

FISHEYE LENS: Ashlee stands pushing the doorbell

repeatedly.

David opens the door. Ashlee is standing furious with a

small purse. She reaches into her purse and pulls out a
large hand gun. The handgun is much larger than the purse.
She points it at David’s face. David quickly comes to.

ASHLEE
It’s morning.

DAVID
I was going to bring it to school.

ASHLEE
It’s morning.

DAVID
Yeah, I know. Would you put that
thing away?
Ashlee motions with the gun for David to walk back towards
David’s room.

ASHLEE
Take me to it.

DAVID
Okay. Hold your fucking horses.

Ashlee pulls back the hammer on the gun.

DAVID
I get it. It’s back here.

David walks turns around and walks down the hallway to

where the attic stairs are. Ashlee follows, keeping the gun
to David’s head the entire time. David pulls down the
stairs. He turns around and the barrel of the gun is
staring him strait in the face. Startled, he backs up.

DAVID
It’s up here.

Ashlee motions with the gun for David to go up the stairs.

ASHLEE
After you.

David and Ashlee walk up the stairs. David turns on the

light. Ashlee sees the bike. She shoves David out of the
way and runs over to the bike. David watches her. Ashlee
embraces the bike. She looks back at David.

DAVID
There. We cool now?

Ashlee smiles. She points the gun at David’s head again.

She pulls the TRIGGER. The gun shoots a bullet strait
through David’s forehead. Blood splatters on the wall
behind him. Blood pours from the hole in which the bullet
entered. There are speckles of blood on Ashlee’s face. She
giggles then walks her bike down the stairs.
INT. DAVID’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

Ashlee slowly walks the bike down the hall. Blood flows
down the stairs one step at a time like a slinky. At the
edge of each step the flow momentarily stops until enough
blood accumulates for the blood to push over the edge.
Ashlee walks the bike to and out the front door.

EXT. DAVID’S APARTMENT

Ashlee leaves the door open. She gets on the bike and rides
away from the apartment grinning.

INT. DESERT – DESERTED ROAD – LATE AFTERNOON

A tumbleweed rolls across the road.

FAST MOTION: Ashlee rides by on her bike.

FLASHBACK: INT. ASHLEE’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – 2002

(CONT’D)

Ashlee stands and stares with rage in her eyes. She

crouches down then slides back up between Dad and his
newspaper. Ashlee looks at Dad with a puppy-face.

ASHLEE (SWEET)
Please_____ reconsider.

DAD
I said no! Now piss off!!!

SLOW MOTION: Dad backhands Ashlee across the face. She

falls to the floor between the Lazy Boy and the fireplace.

Ashlee slowly looks up at the fireplace tools. She presses

her finger at the hooked point on the end of the fire poker
then quickly recoils from the pain. In a single motion,
Ashlee jumps to her feet, grabs the handle of the fire
poker, and spins it backwards over her shoulder at Dad. The
hooked point on the end of the fire poker digs into the top
of Dad’s head. Ashlee turns back to Dad and follows the
fire poker with her eyes to the point at which it punctured
 Dad’s scalp. She swings slowly by the fire poker around Dad
so she stands in front of him. Dad is blinking and moving
his eyes all around but can not move any more than that.
Ashlee reaches into Dad’s right pocket with her left hand
and pulls out his leather wallet while keeping her right
hand on the handle of the fire poker. Dad opens his eyes
wide in astonishment. Ashlee grips tight on the handle of
the fire poker and rips it with great angst out of Dad’s
head. As she does this, she gives out a sort of growl.
Pieces of bone and brain cling to the bloody end of the
fire poker. Dad stops moving his eyes. He is dead. Ashlee
tosses the fire poker to the side of the Lazy Boy without
the fireplace. As the fire poker hits the ground, blood
splatters onto the floor where it hits. Ashlee opens the
wallet. In the wallet there is a PICTURE of Dad holding
Ashlee high in the air by the waist. Ashlee pays no
attention to the picture. She looks into the pocket of the
wallet that holds the bills. The pocket holds several
hundreds of dollars in mostly large bills. Ashlee removes
all the money. She snaps the wallet shut and flings it into
her Dad’s lap. Ashlee bends down with her hands on her
knees. She leans in towards her dad so her lips sit softly
next to Dad’s ear. She has a big, close-mouthed smile.

ASHLEE (SWEET
WHISPER)
Thank you for the bike, Daddy.

Ashlee leans back slightly, turns her head to the side, and
kisses Dad’s lifeless cheek in a stream of blood. She pulls
back revealing a lips-print of blood.

INT. DESERT – DESERTED ROAD – SUNSET

FROM BEHIND ASHLEE: The sun creates a reflection on the

road and sand. The top half of the sun sits on the horizon
with the road ending in the center of it. Ashlee rides off
towards the sun. The sunlight engulfs her.
1
PICTURE - Ashlee’s arms and legs are relaxed but extended. The picture is from circa 1994.