INT. 1999 CHEVY LUMINA - OREGON - MIDNIGHT

It was a moist, late summer night in the middle of nowhere. Year 2022. Rarely any buildings. Nobody on the roads. JARED, a 26-year-old man, is playfully swerving his car. He’s on the phone with his MOM. Her muffled voice yells through a cheap speaker that hangs from the rearview mirror.

MOM (V.O.)

Fired? For what?

JARED

(rolls eyes)

From selling tickets.

MOM (V.O.)

...You fuck up! This is the third job this month. I tried for an entire week to get you that interview, and this is the thanks I get. Getting fired on the first night for selling tickets wrong. How!

JARED

I got into a fight, Mom.

MOM (V.O.)

You’re about to be in another one when you get home!

JARED

He deserved it! He called me-

MOM (V.O.)

(interrupts)

And I’ve called you worse. At least your father ain’t around anymore.

JARED

Then you would still be stuck with two of us.

MOM

Jared! Your father was a good man.

JARED

(snickers)

Yeah. Good at wiping cells.

MOM

Just get home, you little shit.

EXT. FUNKELY MINNESOTA - OUTSKIRTS - EVENING

As Len approaches the town, she is stopped by the town’s HITCHHIKER, a slim man always in the same outfit. He tips his cap for Len and gives her a yellowish smile.

HITCHHIKER

Why are you so far out of town? Getting curious again.

He smacks her on the shoulder.

LEN

I would have been here sooner if the bus-

HITCHHIKER

(interrupts)

Bus. Bus. Bus. People rely too much on those oily karts. We got legs. We might as well use them.

LEN

I surely did. How’s the-

HITCHHIKER

(interrupts)

Kaboom!

The Hitchhiker flaps his arms.

HITCHHIKER

Legs don’t do that.

Slight pause.

LEN

I’m going to head into town.

HITCHHIKER

You better. Curious souls like yourself don’t do well walking on the side of the road.

The Hitchhiker tilts his hat. The camera follows Len as she walks away and pans back to the Hitchhiker.

HITCHHIKER

Have a good evening, Lennox.

EXT. FUNKELY MINNESOTA - CENTER - SAME

Len walks into the center of Funkely and notices that the town is decorated for the Fourth of July. She is startled by a sudden POP from a firecracker lit by a couple of kids. They stand in front of the local grocery market. The owner, Mr. Krause, runs out of the store and yells at the kids.

MR. KRAUSE

Get! Get! You little shits.

The kids laugh and run off. The firecracker leaves a stain on the sidewalk. Mr. Krause tries to wipe it off with his shoe, which makes it smear.

MR. KRAUSE

Damn. Those little fucks, they’ll-

Lennox interrupts Mr. Krause with a cough.

MR. KRAUSE

Oh! Excuse my language. I didn’t know I had a customer. How can I help you today, miss?

Mr. Krause turns around and finally recognizes Len.

MR. KRAUSE

Lennox! Is that you?

LEN

It’s Len, Mr. Krause.

MR. KRAUSE

Oh, golly, that is you.

Mr. Krause hugs Len, which causes Len to stiffen. He finally lets go and gestures towards his store.

MR. KRAUSE

Come. Come. I just got a new shipment in.

Len holds her arms up and takes a step back.

LEN

Actually, I wanted to ask if you-

MR. KRAUSE

(interrupts)

I just got a new shipment of strawberries. Oh, and your brother’s favorite, lavender chocolate.

Mr. Krause walks into his store. Len quickly follows after him.

1. INT. HOCKEY RANK - CENTER OF ICE

Two hockey players stand with their knees bent in the center of the rink, both looking directly at the ice. A REF skates across the ice and stands between the two hockey players. The Ref’s movement suddenly becomes very slow, as if time had stopped.

BEAR, the hockey player on the right, spits onto the ice.

BEAR

You want that puck?

The player on the left, named BUG, looks up.

BUG

You betcha.

BEAR

(snickers)

You sure about that? Your form is looking a little rusty.

Bear slaps his stick on the ice.

BUG

I’ve been playing for a year, and I haven’t missed a puck yet.

BEAR

Got to love the youth, thinking since you got the good knees and a back that doesn’t crack, that stealing a puck from a veteran is like stealing candy from your homeroom teacher. But kid. You ain’t getting that puck today.

Bug slaps his stick on the ice.

BUG

I mean, I can see some gray sticking out of your helmet, but I never said you couldn’t get the puck. You probably could have if you were against a player your age. But sir. I ain’t your age.

BEAR

That’s true. I’ve got you beat by ten years.