Down by Lakeshore Drive

By

Kenneth Oms

FADE IN:

EXT. LAKESHORE DRIVE - DAY

A young girl, teens, wearing a red cardigan is seen walking

on a bridge. Slung over her left shoulder is a black tote

bag. Her right hand is seen gracing over the safety rail.

The girl stops and looks out toward the highway next to her.

She checks her cellphone. Shaking her head, she frowns, and

continues walking.

A vehicle slows down next to her. The girl does not notice,

but the car keeps the same pace as her. The car accelerates

and drives past her. It pulls over to the shoulder of the

road and idles.

The girl stops walking. She sees the car ahead of her. She

smiles and walks over to it. The passanger side window rolls

down as she approaches. The girl, holding her tote bag

across her chest, leans into the car and giggles.

EXT. THE OUTSIDE OF A DINER - NIGHT

JACK RIGS, a scruffy looking man in his mid 20’s, steps out

of the front lobby entrance. He walks up to a large wooden

bulletin board, and stands in front of it. Hands inside of

his jean’s pockets, he stares.

A sudden gust of wind makes the papers tacked onto the

bulletin board FLUTTER. Jack reaches for a plain white paper

in the middle of the board. He rips it free in one fluid

motion. Jack holds the paper in front of him.

INSERT - FLYER, which reads:

"Missing" in bold lettering.A black

and white picture has been printed

underneath the heading. The picture

is that of a teenage girl. Smiling,

her hair is tied into a ponytail,

her front teeth have a slight gap

between them.

JACK

Just today, huh? I’ve got some

time.

With his free hand Jack reaches into the front pocket of his

jacket. He retrieves a pack of cigarettes, taps the bottom

of the pack, and pops a cigarette into his mouth. Jack

lights it, takes a drag, and exhales the smoke.

2.

Cars are heard driving past in the distance. There is a

buzzing coming from the OPEN sign hanging from the diner

entrance. Its blue and red fluorescent lights flicker, fade,

and come back. Jack tosses his cigarette and goes into the

diner.

INT. DINER - CONTINUOUS

KYLE FINCH, early 20’s wearing a green beanie, sits across

from Jack. Kyle rests his arms on his booth. He shakes his

head.

KYLE

You look like shit.

Jack rubs his temples. He grabs the white porcelain mug

across from him and takes a sip. He sets it down and rubs

his temples again.

JACK

Yeah, well, fuck you too, buddy.

Kyle sighs. He leans forward and puts his elbows onto the

table.

KYLE

I’m not trying to bust your balls

or anything, man. I just don’t

think you have a good hobby is all.

I mean look at yourself. Seriously.

Look. At. Yourself.

He points at the window next to them. Jack looks at his

reflection. Through the window a semi-truck drives by. The

headlights flash past, and Jack grimaces.

KYLE

See? it hurts to look at you.

JACK

(rubbing his eyes)

Fuck you.

KYLE

Man, I’m serious. Even if we found

one of these kids. Wait, let me

rephrase that, even if YOU find one

of those kids. What would you even

do?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

JACK

Wel-

KYLE

Let me answer that for you.

Nothing. Neither of us are built to

intimidate if you know what I mean.

Besides, this good Samaritan shit

died in like the 90’s. Welcome to

the age of the internet, where you

upload shit on 4chan, and hope to

god Anonymous sees it.

JACK

Drink your damn coffee before it

gets cold.

Kyle reaches for his cup, lifts it, and holds it a few

inches away from his lips

KYLE

I’m serious. Get a new hobby.

Jack fishes out a cigarette from his front pocket. He cups

the lighter with his right hand, and flicks the metal groove

with his left thumb. He looks up at Kyle.

Kyle has his head tilted to a side. His lips are twitching

between smiling, or laughing.

Jack exhales after a drag. He rests his cigarette on the

table’s ashtray.

JACK

The hell’s the matter with you?

Kyle points at the lighter.

KYLE

(mid-laugh)

What the fuck is that?

Jack looks at his lighter. It’s pink with fake bedazzled

jewelry glued to it. He smiles and shakes it a bit.

JACK

Hers.

KYLE

No shit. The only thing she didn’t

get in the divorce?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

JACK

Watch it.

KYLE

Just sayin’.

Kyle rests his face into his hand.

KYLE

Alright my bad. I’ll try to be more

judgment free Rigs. Now about the

whole detective shit..

Jack reaches into one of his jacket’s pockets, and tosses a

crumpled up paper onto the table. It skids across and Kyle

stops it with a smack of his hand. Jack looks around the

restaurant.

Most of the booths and tables are empty. Besides Jack and

Kyle, there is a family of four sitting four booths across

from them, and a few truckers who sit by themselves on

stools.

JACK

Back in the day this place use to

be crowded. Remember?

Kyle rolls his eyes. The paper remains unopened and pinned

under his hand.

KYLE

Jesus, kill me now. Back in the

day? Sounding like a grandpa, man.

But yeah, I remember, but that was

like ten years ago.

JACK

(holding his mug of coffee)

Clermont was a small town back

then. Nothing but Orange Groves.

You could even see the stars at

night.

KYLE

Lame. But I remember man. Where are

you getting at?

Jack points at the paper under Kyle’s hand.

JACK

Never used to see so many of those

back in the day. Now we have an

entire bulletin board full of them.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

Kyle unfolds the crumpled paper under his hand. Despite the

crinkles coursing throughout it - the words MISSING are

still legible. Kyle shakes his head and sets the paper down

on the table.

He runs his hands through it to make it flat. With his

knuckles he tries to iron out the wrinkles.

Jack sets his mug down without taking a sip. He starts to

tap his fingers on the table. The cigarette flickers.

Kyle throws his hands up.

KYLE

No fucking way. First off, she was

just on the news. Second, vigilante

shit is illegal. Especially during

an ongoing investigation. I mean,

at least I think it is.

He smacks his hands on the table. The table shakes. The mugs

and silverware make an audible DING noise.

KYLE

(shaking his head)

For all we know this girl could be

camping out at Crooked River

Preserve. She probably got into an

argument with her ’rents over

something stupid, and is camping

out with her boyfriend or

something.

JACK

Wel-

KYLE

(holding an index finger up)

No dude, listen. She’s only been

missing like a day.

JACK

Exactly! What’s the harm then? If

it turns out to be nothing - then

it’s nothing. Besides, the news

said she was last seen by the

bridge on Lakeshore.

KYLE

The one where people cast off?

Jack nods. He taps the flyer.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

JACK

We have a chance to do something,

so why shouldn’t we?

Kyle nods. He crosses his arms around his chest.

KYLE

Alright then, why?

JACK

Why? Well, I don’t know. The news

said her bus stop was around the

bridge that runs past Lake

Minnehaha. You know anything can

happen if you’re walking quite a

way.

Leaning forward, Kyle rests his arms on the table. His face

is blank. His eyes stare directly into Jack’s.

KYLE

No. Not why it happened. I want to

know why you want to look for her.

Jack reaches for his cigarette and takes a drag. He exhales

the smoke. Grinding his teeth together, Jack smudges the

cigarette against the ashtray.

JACK

Because I’ve been going nowhere.

That’s why.

He stares out the window.

JACK

I just. I don’t know.

(he sighs)

I know what it’s like to be lost,

and I know what it’s like to lose

someone.

FLASH BACK TO

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY (ONE YEAR AGO)

Jack opens the front door, steps into his home, and closes

the door behind him. He scrapes the bottom of his shoes

against the welcome mat, and drops his keys into a glass

bowl that rests on a table near the front door. The keys

clang against the glass and it rings throughout the house.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 7.

Voices whisper hushes and shush at one another. Jack leans

against the front door. Using the doorknob to steady

himself, Jack tries to stand. He takes a slow step forward.

Walking past the dining room, then the living room, Jack is

at the door to the master bedroom. Bed springs are squeak

softly. A slow squeak that picks up more momentum in

seconds.

WOMAN

I don’t care anymore, let him see,

keep going - don’t stop.

Jack’s ears twitch at the sound of deep grunts. His hand

firmly grasps the golden doorknob. Jack’s breathing gets

heavy. Moans permeate through the door.

WOMAN

Don’t. Worry. Just, God, keep

going. He won’t do anything. He

never does anything. He won’t ever

do anything.

BACK TO PRESENT

Letting go of the cigarette, Jack rubs his ring finger. Kyle

leans back into the cushion of the booth. Jack shakes his

head and looks at Kyle.

JACK

I just want to do something for

once. I’m tired of people

dissapearing, of only being able to

see their faces on photographs, but

never again in person.

Jack taps the flyer.

JACK

I want to prove that something can

be done about it. I want to prove

that, I, can do something about it.

KYLE

Shee-eet.

Kyle adjusts his beanie. He scratches at his scalp and looks

out the window.

KYLE

Man, I already felt bad about not

wanting to help the little girl.

Jack smiles. The waitress comes by, but he waves her away.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

KYLE

You just had to get all

philosophical and shit didn’t you?

JACK

I knew it would get you.

KYLE

Now I have your "I have to find

meaning in my life" conflict

weighting on my mind.

They both laugh. The family sitting a few booths away gets

up and leaves. A cash register PINGS somewhere in the

restaurant. Besides a few truckers murmuring, Jack and Kyle

are the last customers.

JACK

Sorry.

KYLE

Don’t sweat it dude. So what do you

think happened? Lost track with a

boyfriend?

JACK

I wouldn’t rule out the

possibility.

KYLE

Yeah man. Back when we were in high

school, we would have done anything

to get laid.

Jack laughs. His hands begin to drip with sweat. He begins

to stack up sugar packets with shaky hands.

JACK

Did you ever hear about operation

be mine?

KYLE

I’m willing to play Watson for you

Sherlock.

(lifting his hands up)

But don’t drag me into some

government conspiracy bullshit, or

I’ll walk home right now.

JACK

You idiot. Don’t you watch the news

at all?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 9.

Kyle stares back at Jack. His tongue is hanging from his

mouth.

Jack sighs. He smacks his own face with one of his hands.

JACK

I’ll take that as a no then?

Kyle shrugs.

JACK

Operation Be Mine was a local

police sting. They caught 23

pedophiles in the area alone.

Jack looks over his shoulder, and then looks around the

restaurant. The waitress is seen talking to the truckers. He

leans forward towards Kyle.

JACK

(whispering)

The fuckers thought they were

meeting girls that were 13 years

old, or younger. Hell, the news

even reported some of them worked

for Disney. They caught them all on

Lakeshore.

Across from Jack, Kyle averts making eye contact with him.

He instead decides to scratch at his chin and look to the

side.

KYLE

Shit man.

JACK

One of the guys..

(looks over his shoulder)

One of the guys showed up with a

fucking happy meal from Mcdonald’s

man.

Kyle jumps in his booth. He smacks his hands against the

table. His eyes are wide and his face is pale.

KYLE

Get the fuck out of here. That’s

some dateline NBC kinda stuff. That

happens in real life?

Jack nods.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 10.

KYLE

I feel like i want to throw up.

JACK

Do you remember a few years ago,

when we graduated, the coach?

SNAPPING his fingers Kyle jumps in his booth.

KYLE

Yeah! he got fired for messing

around with the girls he coached.

JACK

My point is, this place is crawling

with people like him. So when it

comes to Angie Joe anything could

have happened to her.

KYLE

So what do we do? Seems unlikely

that we’ll find her.

Jack taps a finger to his chin. He makes a low humming

noise.

JACK

We go for a drive.

He rushes out of the booth. Jack drops some money onto the

table, and leaves.

Kyle squanders to get out of his booth. He runs after Jack.

The trucker and the waitress watch them leave. The door

RINGS twice.

INT. JACK’S CAR - CONTINUOUS

Kyle squints and leans forward. He tries to look through the

windshield. The road ahead is narrow, large pine trees

surround them on both sides, with large curbs that appear

through a night fog.

Tires screech and the engine screams through the night. Jack

drums his fingers against the steering wheel.

KYLE

I have a bad feeling.

Jack does not look at Kyle, he keeps staring at the road.

Kyle wraps his arms around himself.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 11.

KYLE

I’m worried. What if we find her?

JACK

Then we do what’s right.

KYLE

And what exactly is that?

JACK

We take her to her home.

Kyle makes a clicking noise with his mouth.

KYLE

I don’t think that’s a good idea.

She ran away for a reason right?

JACK

Well, it doesn’t really matter.

That is where she belongs.

Kyle looks out the passenger seat window. He rests his elbow

on the door, and lays his head onto his arm.

KYLE

I’m starting to feel like you don’t

even care about the girl, dude.

You’re just in this for yourself.

Jack continues to look straight ahead.

EXT. TOP OF BRIDGE - NIGHT CONTINUOUS

Jack slams his door after stepping out of his car. Kyle

follows. Jack’s car, a black Toyota Camry, is parked on the

shoulder of the highway. It is blocking a paved drive way

that leads down and under the bridge.

Both men walk over to the safety railing of the bridge. Kyle

kicks a small pebble. It flies off the bridge and into a

small river.

KYLE

I can’t see anything.

Jack leans over the railing.

JACK

We’re going to have to go down and

take a look.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 12.

Kyle turns around. He leans back against the rail. Tilting

his head, he looks up at the sky.

KYLE

Dude, I thin-

JACK

Well, God damn!

Kyle spins around.

KYLE

What?!

JACK

Quick, give me a light.

Patting himself down, Kyle starts to turn his pockets inside

out. He stomps his feet and shrugs.

KYLE

I don’t have shit!

JACK

Hand me your phone!

KYLE

Shit, right! The flashlight app.

Kyle pulls out an Iphone from his pocket. His thumbs tap

against the glass screen for a few seconds. The Iphone’s

camera light turns on. Kyle leans over the railing, and

points the light at the river.

A red cardigan is seen floating on shallow water. It is

caught on a few branches, so it stays put despite the

current pressing against it.

JACK

Fucking knew it!

KYLE

Wait a second.

Jack runs off into the direction of the paved road. Kyle

stays put. He watches Jack follow the spiral road to get

underneath the bridge. Kyle turns his phone’s light off.

KYLE.

We don’t even know if that’s hers, man.

13.

EXT. UNDER A BRIDGE - NIGHT CONTINUOUS

KYLE

(whispering)

Fuck dude what do we do.

Both Kyle and Jack stand on a concrete side walk under a

bridge. In front of them is a parked black Mercedes. The car

rocks back and forth.

Besides the occasional sound of a car passing a squeaking

sound is heard. It has a constant rhythm. Clothes are

scattered by the vehicle.

JACK

This isn’t what I wanted. I guess

you were right.

KYLE

(whispering)

Shh! dude what do we do?! we have

to get the fuck out of here.

Jack takes a step forward while shaking his head. Kyle slaps

his arm. Jack looks over at him, and sees him shaking his

head.

He takes another step.

KYLE

What the hell are you doing?!

JACK

I have to make sure.

Kyle steps in front of Jack. He pushes Jack backward.

KYLE

Are you insane? If its her she’s

just getting some nookie. Also,

whoever owns that car could also

own a gun, and unless you’re

Superman, all it takes is one, to

put you down. Let’s get the fuck

out of here.

JACK

No.

He slaps Kyle’s hand away from him and steps towards the

car. His foot steps echo as he walks onto the concrete.

Pebbles skid across the ground.

Kyle’s hand grabs onto Jack’s wrist.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 14.

KYLE

Don’t take it this far. Mystery

solved, she’s in that car and we

both know it.

JACK

I have to know Kyle.

KYLE

Why?! just let it go.

Crickets chirp near them. To their left is the shore of a

canal, and behind them a large forest of pines.

JACK

I can’t.

KYLE

I know you’re doing this as some

fucked up way to prove to Linda

you’re not a fuck up. I knew it

from the moment you laid the flyer

out onto the table. This isn’t the

way to get her back.

JACK

Yes it is! You just don’t

understand. I need this. I need to

be recognized don’t you get it?

It’s the only way.

Kyle lets go of Jack’s wrist. His gaze falls to the ground.

KYLE

Have it your way man. I’m your

friend dude, and I’m telling you

this as such. If you feel like you

have to be recognized for

something, anything, just to be

with someone - then they aren’t

really worth it.

Kyle shrugs and turns away. He walks up a grassy hill and

towards the highway.

Jack watches Kyle leave. He turns and looks at the car. He

takes a step closer.

He’s a few inches away from the back window. Condensation

drips from the fogged glass. Two shapeless entities danced

behind the glass. Shadows wrestling under a bridge with no

moonlight.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 15.

Jack stares at them. He pops a cigarette into his mouth, but

his lighter doesn’t light. He drops the cigarette on the

ground, stomps it, and walks way.

FADE OUT

THE END