TWO BIRDS (1:3) : SLEDDING

written by

Sean Quinn

02/23/23

941-626-1101

spq09@my.fsu.edu

1 Int. LITTLE FLOWER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS – DAY 1

A class of young women are in their uniforms as MARY and TONI watch the clock. There’s frost on the windows from the cold air outside.

A nun drones on about the war of 1812 and burning the white house down. MARY and TONI (MARY’S little sister) are both staring out the window, looking for something between all of the snow on the ground.

The bell rings. The entire class of girls shout and reach for their books while the nun tries to remind the class of their homework.

There is a truck parked a few blocks out from the school, but visible from the classroom window.

2 ext. LITTLE FLOWER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS – DAY 2

We hear a line through the schools PA system.

Secretary

“And whoever is getting picked up in that truck away from school, please report to the monsignor’s office Monday morning!”

MARY and TONI walk the wrong way to round the block, but they take the long way to SONNY’S truck a few blocks away from the school. It’s them. They’re the culprits.

3 INT./EXT. SONNY’S TRUCK – day 3

ANTOINETTE TROJECKI

Hi Sonny!

Sonny

Hey Tone!

Mary

I thought I’d bring my little sister along I hoped youse wouldn’t mind?!

Sonny

Nah! Nah! Nah! Hey. I’ve got an idea.

SONNY helps MARY and TONI into the cab of the truck.

MARY

Where are we going?

SONNY

I told yas, I’ve got an idea.

4 Ext. ALMOND STREET – DAY 4

SONNY parks his truck next to the family house. He fumbles around in his glovebox for the keys to the family car and starts it up.

Toni

Sonny! Where are we going?

Sonny

Crazy! Wanna come?

TONI starts complaining about his non-answer as MARY gets in.

Mary

Come on Sonny… where are we going?

Sonny

We’re playin’ hooky.

Sonny puts the car in drive and the trio laughs as they head out of town.

5 Ext. Frozen parking lot – day 5

TONI

So this is crazy?

SONNY

Yes. Yes it is.

SONNY floors the gas pedal. The car screeches over the icy asphalt.

TONI laughs and MARY screams in fear as SONNY turns the steering wheel hard, sending the car into a full skid.

Cue montage of the three drifting around the parking lot, music to be decided toni and sonny are thrilled, but Mary is mortified.

6 Ext. ALMOND STREET – DAY 6

The car slowly pulls to a stop in front of MARY and TONI’s house. TONI thanks SONNY, steps out, and runs inside.

MARY remains in the passenger’s seat, glaring at SONNY.

MARY

What was that?

SONNY

What was what?

MARY

(voice starting to rise)

Do youse think at’s any way to treat a woman?

SONNY

(matching her tone)

What are youse talkin’ about?

MARY

You could’ve gotten me killed!

Sonny

Oh, c’mon! You ain’t never been sledding before?!

MARY

Not in a friggin car!

MARY starts to angrily get out of the car. Sonny gestures for her to slow down. MARY’S shoes make hard clacks against the concrete.

SONNY

Oh, c’mon! I don’t even get any points for making your sister laugh?! C’mon Mar!

MARY sort starts to slow on her way to the door. She smiles thinking about how hard TONI had been laughing. She turns around and leans on the passenger side of the car.

Mary

I don’t think TONI would like anyone calling her a “woman”. And nobody’s ever called me Mar.

He’s got her.

SONNY

What? You don’t like Mar?

MARY

I didn’t say that. It’s that I’ve just never had a nickname before.

SONNY

You like Mar.

Mary

I didn’ say ‘at.

SONNY grins at MARY’S softening. There’s a warmth glow in the air. SONNY pats the driver’s seat.

SONNY

C’mon, hop in.

MARY gets back in the car.

MARY

Where are we going?

SONNY

Crazy, wanna come?

MARY smirks at the thought of letting this wild animal cart her around town. The two drive out to Boathouse Row and sit by the Schuylkill River. There’s warm conversation about everything from politics to religion to history.

7 INT./EXT. MARY’S HOUSE – NIGHT 7

Once again the car pulls to a stop in front of 3219 Almond Street, but SONNY pulls in too fast and his front bumper gets tangled up in another car’s rear piece.

SONNY exits the car and starts jumping up and down on the two pieces, trying to jostle the cars enough to unhook them.

SONNY slips and get latched in between the cars, letting out a pained yelp.

The two keep trying to free his leg but to no avail, MARY runs into the house, explaining the situation. BLANCHE (MARY’S mother) is screaming at her as MARY dials 911. (This should probably be set to a doo-wap track over the bedlam)

A fire engine arrives to free SONNY from his retro-motor prison. Onlookers emerge from their homes to see what is going on. The entire neighborhood is out, gawking. BLANCHE is mortified as she and MARY look on next to one another.

BLANCHE

(despondently, against the glow of the fire engine light)

It was such a quiet neighborhood before he showed up.

Firefighters pile out of the unit. We get a distant, rising shot of the whole scene, complete with guys hooking various pieces of equipment up between the two cars (the song continues to play as we cut to credits).

Needs more content and a complete cleaning up, potential B-Plots:

1.) Turtle in the glovebox

2.) Fender bender: “Purgery? I just got out of jail for murder!”

3.) Popop beating up “the other guy”

4.) TONI on American Bandstand.

5.) Nuns watching from the school roof.