…following on
from # 2 SHIPS IN THE NIGHT…
17 INT CAB. NIGHT
MATT drives.
TRACY sits in the passenger seat studying him.
TRACY
Why'd you
change your mind?
MATT
Lousy judge of
character, I guess.
TRACY
Leaping to the
conclusion I was a 'runner'?
MATT smiles but
before he has a chance to respond:
TRACY
Or leaping to
the conclusion that I'm not a liar.
MATT
Guess I'll find
out soon enough.
TRACY
Guess so. (A
BEAT)You get many runners?
MATT
Not too
many…but…too many. Had a couple tonight.
TRACY
Two in one
night!?
MATT
No, a 'couple'.
As is boy and girl. About your age. Lovers.
TRACY
Lovers! What's
love, ay? Ya know the answer to that one. GQ?
MATT
'Fraid not. (A
BEAT) Matt.
TRACY
Complex and convoluted,
ay, Matt! Love?
MATT laughs,
looks at her.
TRACY
What?
MATT (LAUGHS)
Hadn't picked
you as someone who would use a word like 'convoluted'.
TRACY
Love it.
con-vol-oo-ted...You know how you fall in love with particular words?
Mellifluous… love
that word…sounds so…mellifluous (LAUGHS) Convolve… convolution… convolvulus…you
know what that is?
MATT
Flower?
TRACY
Yes, from the
Latin 'convolvere'…
MATT (INCREDULOUS)
You do Latin at
school!?
TRACY
No, it's a game
me and my boyfriend and I play on google - just, you know, searching randomly
for…you know, when things just happen by chance. Fate. Whatever. Like you
giving me a ride. Serendipity. Or me taking you for a ride!
MATT (LAUGHS)
You got a pause
button, Tracy?
TRACY
Nup, just fast forward,
Matt.
The muffled
sound of a rooster crowing emanates from the pocket of Matt's jacket. MATT
takes it out, looks at the screen, puts it back in his pocket.
MATT
Mind if I ask
you a question?
TRACY
'Long as I can
ask you one.
MATT (NODS)
Deal. (A BEAT)
How can your dad know you all your life and not know he's your dad?
TRACY
Duh! He's a
man! Clueless!
MATT nods,
smiles to himself.
TRACY
Do
passengers…like…tell taxi drivers all sorts of personal stuff? You know, like
secrets and shit? (MATT NODS) But if you
had a choice, they'd keep their mouths shut, right?
MATT smiles.
TRACY zips her mouth shut, pauses a moment before starting up again.
TRACY
I guess some
people just like to talk about themselves, ay?
MATT
Most
people…
TRACY looks out
the window thoughtfully, her forehead creased with worry. MATT watches her for
a moment.
MATT
You like to
talk about yourself?
TRACY shrugs
('I don't know'), closely followed by a tentative nod ('I guess, maybe!'),
closely followed by a shake of the head ('no'). MATT smiles.
MATT
I don't know…I
guess, maybe…and no?
TRACY (LAUGHS)
Okay, yes,
because I find myself pretty fucking fascinating… And no because I get bored
shitless being fucking fascinated by myself.
MATT
Too much of a
good thing?
TRACY
Too much of
something. Way too much! You ever get, like, you know, bored with being
fascinated by yourself?
MATT
When I was
young..(A BEAT) maybe.
TRACY
How old are
you, Matt? (A BEAT) Old enough to be my dad, I reckon.
MATT
I'm not. (A BEAT)
Your dad, I mean.
TRACY bursts
out laughing. MATT smiles.
MATT
Least I don't
think I am! What's your mum's name?
TRACY
Merily.
MATT
As in merrily,
merrily, merrily, merrily, gently down the stream?
TRACY
But with only
one r. And 'gentle's' not a word I'd use to describe mum!
MATT
Nup, don't
remember any Merily.
TRACY
Can you
remember all the women you've slept with?
MATT raises his
eyebrows; doesn't answer.
TRACY
Maybe there's a
little Matt out there somewhere with your genes. Or a little Matilda. Wondering
who her dad is. You ever think about that?
MATT shakes his
head, looks of at TRACY - whose slef-confident banter is now tinged with
vulnerability.
TRACY
What would you
do if a young woman turned up on your front doorstep one day and said, “Hey,
dad!”?… Would you be…like…all excited or would you be more like…“Oh shit!”?
MATT
A young girl
like you? Woman!
TRACY bites her
lip nervously, shrugs. MATT looks at her. She becomes self-conscious.
TRACY
Don't suppose
you want another daughter, ay?
The muffled
sound of a rooster crowing again. MATT ignores it. TRACY’S attention focuses on
the ringing phone.
TRACY
What if it's to
tell you you've won Lotto? And you miss out on...?
MATT
You still at
school?
TRACY
Another year or
so.
MATT
Good student?
TRACY
Not 'good', but
I do well in exams.
MATT
Any idea what
you want to do when…?
TRACY
…I grow up.
Actress. I think. Yeah… actress! Be so cool to get paid pretending to be
someone else.
MATT looks at
her, smiles - definitely enjoying her company now. TRACY’S next line has a
flirtatious edge to it.
TRACY
Reckon I'd make
a good actress?
MATT
Yeah,
but…you're so full of questions I was thinking…maybe… journalist, private
eye…therapist…
TRACY (LAUGHS)
Shrink! That'd
be a joke! (A BEAT) Wanna know why?
MATT
You're going to
tell me anyway, right?
TRACY laughs,
looks at MATT for a moment.
TRACY
When I was 13
my mum sent me to see a therapist. I called her The Rapist. But she didn't get
anywhere with me…The Rapist…so then mum sent me to see The Shrink. And she's
not getting anywhere either.
MATT
Why do you need
to see a shrink?
TRACY
Well The Rapist
thought it was pathological and The Shrink thinks it's just
obsessive-compulsive.
MATT
What is?
TRACY
I'm a
nymphomaniac.
MATT is dumbfounded,
tries to think of something to say but nothing occurs to him. The beginnings of
a smile appear at the edges of TRACY'S lips. When MATT glances at her, TRACY'S
smile broadens and becomes a laugh.
TRACY
I'm not a
nymphomaniac. Promise. I'm a pathological liar. At least that's what The Rapist
thought. The Shrink thinks its just compulsive.
MATT
There's a
difference?
TRACY
Mega.
MATT
So you can't
stop yourself lying?
TRACY
If I want to.
It's just mostly I don't want to.
MATT
What kind of lies?
TRACY
Oh, telling
taxi drivers that I've lost my wallet…that I'm a nymphomaniac.
MATT
So, you haven't
lost your wallet? (A BEAT) And you're not a nymphomaniac?
TRACY
No, one of
those is not a lie.
MATT
Which one?
TRACY
If I told you,
you wouldn't believe me.
MATT
Because you're
a pathological liar?
TRACY (GRINS)
Right.
MATT looks at
her, smiles, shakes his head.
TRACY
If I lived in
Cronulla, would you've given me a ride even if you thought I was going to do a
runner?
MATT
Probably.
TRACY
So it's not
losing eighty bucks worries you most, ay?
MATT
Nah! I'm a
millionaire, driving a taxi for fun…ay!
TRACY
Lucky you got a
fun-loving passenger.
MATT
Who shouldn't
be out looking for fun at this time of night.
TRACY (SMILES)
Yes dad! (A
BEAT) So, what are you looking for late at night, GQ?
MATT
A good night's
sleep.
TRACY
I guess that's
an age thing. (A BEAT) Plenty of time for sleeping when you're dead, ay? You
think a lot about being dead? D'ya reckon it'd be worse being boiled alive in
oil or bitten to death slowly by carnivorous ants?
MATT laughs,
shakes his head.
TRACY
Or being stuck
in a taxi with a motor-mouth like me?
MATT
I reckon the
boiling oil'd be less painful.
TRACY laughs.
Again, the muffled sound of a rooster crowing emanates from MATT'S jacket
pocket.
TRACY
I don't want to
be rude or nothing, but seems like you've got cock in your pocket that wants to
get out
MATT
It's a rooster.
TRACY
What ya doing
with a rooster in ya pocket? (MATT LAUGHS) Ya not going to let it out?
MATT
How old are
you, Tracy?
TRACY
Old enough for
your to not get into trouble if you let your…rooster out!
MATT looks at
her. It is difficult to read his thoughts.
TRACY
You ever get
girls…women…you know, offering to pay their fare with sexual favours?
MATT
You make a
habit of talking to taxi drivers like this?
TRACY
Only when I
haven't got any money to pay my fare. (A BEAT) Just joking, Matt.
MATT
You could get
yourself into a lot of trouble joking like that.
TRACY
Yay! Trouble rules,
ay! (A BEAT) But if I wasn't joking, would you be able to resist…the
temptation?
MATT looks at
her, his face giving nothing away.
TRACY
Has it ever
happened to you? What would you do if a young woman offered…?
MATT
Don't, Tracy!
You talk this way with total strangers, dressed like that…
TRACY (ANGRY)
Stop trying to
be my fucking father.
MATT holds up
his hands: OK. She looks out the window, plays with her hair nervously. MATT
watches her.
TRACY
Sorry, but…I've
had a shit night.
MATT
Me too.
TRACY
Bet mine was
shittier than yours.
MATT
Mine's been
pretty shitty.
TRACY
Even before I
got in? (A BEAT) You probably think I'm mad, ay?
MATT
As a cut snake.
TRACY
Really?
MATT
No, a little
unusual, maybe…
TRACY (DELIGHTED)
Loveable?
MATT smiles but
says nothing.
TRACY
My friends
think I'm peculiar. At least I think they do, but its heaps hard to know what
other people really think, ay! And just coz they say they think something
doesn't mean they do, know what I mean!
MATT
Do you think
you're peculiar?
TRACY (SHRUGS)
Don't feel
peculiar. I just feel…me…
MATT
It's everybody
else that's peculiar?
TRACY
Yes.
MATT nods. The
muffled sound of a rooster crowing emanates from Matt's sport's jacket pocket
again.
TRACY
Who's driving
you crazy this time of night apart from me?
MATT does not
want to pursue this line of conversation. TRACY zips her mouth shut, looks at
the pocket of MATT'S jacket. The ringing stops. She looks at MATT'S face, his
jaw clenched tight. Suddenly she leans over, reaches into the pocket of MATT'S
jacket, extracts his mobile.
TRACY
Hey, same as
mine.
MATT (ANNOYED)
Give it to me,
Tracy!
MATT reaches
for his mobile. TRACY slides out of reach, holds up her mobile in one hand,
Matt's in the other: Identical.
MATT (ANGRY)
I'm serious.
Give it to me.
TRACY laughs,
shakes her head, looks at the LCD screen. The smile disappears from her face.
She looks at MATT. He can't hold her gaze, looks away. TRACY reads:
TRACY
'Please dad,
talk to me'.
MATT'S
breathing is deep, rapid.
TRACY
That's one
minute ago. This one's five minutes ago. (SHE READS)”I need to tell you
something…” Hello! Juliet needs…
MATT holds out
his hand, snaps angrily at her.
MATT
Give me the
fucking phone…
TRACY slides
further out of his reach, continues reading:
TRACY
“…something
important.” Hello! Your daughter has something important to tell you at 2 in
the morning and you don't want to know…
MATT swerves on
the road as he reaches out to grab his phone. The cab screeches to a halt.
TRACY, oblivious to being thrown up against the dash when the car suddenly
stops, ploughs on:
TRACY
Twenty minutes
ago. (READS) “I'm sorry I hung up on you”. What kind of a fucking father are
you?
MATT, a little
out of control, wrestles with TRACY to get his phone back. He succeeds, but his
grip is not firm and it drops to the floor - along with Tracy's phone and her
hand bag. TRACY is shocked and hurt by this moment of anger in MATT - a moment
that he is already regretting.
MATT
I'm sorry,
Tracy…So so sorry…
TRACY plays
nervously with her hair. Tears well in her eyes.
TRACY
What if she's
in trouble?
In a highly
emotional state TRACY picks her hand bag up from the floor, puts into it the
items that have fallen out.
TRACY
What if she
feels she can’t cope?
TRACY
If she needs
her daddy?
TRACY'S eyes
fill with tears as she retrieves her mobile.
TRACY
Why are you
driving me home when you daughter needs you?
MATT wants to
say something, but he is at a loss what! He reaches out to her. TRACY recoils,
holds up her hands.
TRACY
Fuck off!
She opens the
door, gets out of the cab.
MATT
Don't! Please,
Tracy!
TRACY walks
away from the cab. MATT opens his door.
18 EXT. CAB. ROADSIDE. NIGHT
TRACY walks
fast from streetlight into shadow. MATT runs after her, stops, calls out.
MATT
Please! I'm
sorry, Tracy. I…
She stops,
turns, looks at MATT from the shadows, expecting something. MATT shakes his
head. He has no understanding of what is going on. He is in unchartered
emotional territory.
MATT
I don't
know...I'm so fucking...I don’t know...lost!? I even thought of asking…but no I
can…
MATT looks at
TRACY, immobile in the shadows. Frozen. The silence is deafening. Then the soft
sound of TRACY crying.
MATT
Tracy?
He takes a
tentative step towards her. Then another. He is close to her now. She looks up
at him, her eyes filled with her need. She leans toward MATT. He opens his
arms. She falls into them, holds him tight. MATT'S face is a battleground of
emotions. Suddenly TRACY yelps like a wounded animal, pushes him away, turns
and run off. MATT shouts after her.
MATT
Please…Juliet…
She is gone.
MATT stands alone in the dark, shaking. He tries to control his deep rapid
breathing; puts his wounded hand on his heart, sees that his knuckles are
bleeding again. He wipes his moist eyes, walks back to the cab, around to the
driver's side, looks at the crack in the window. It has grown a couple of
inches and now has three small branches, tributaries. He reaches into his
pocket for his mobile. It is not there. He remembers, moves to the open
passenger door, reaches down and picks it up from the floor. He opens the
keypad, types 'J', then 'U', pauses. Nothing happens. He types 'L', pauses,
then 'I'. He is puzzled now. The mobile rings but it is not the crowing of a
rooster. It is the distinctive sound of Tracy's mobile. MATT presses the
appropriate icon. Onscreen, the image of:
A naked young
man with curly red hair, his hands joined to conceal his genitals. It is BLUE,
the young red-headed man from the opening sequence. The frozen image comes to
life.
BLUE
Babe!
He opens his
arms wide, revealing a codpiece in the shape of an elephant's head - replete
with big ears and, of course, a trunk!
BLUE
Love you heaps!
…to be
continued…
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