Secrets and Tyres
INT. CAR, TRAVELLING AT SPEED. NIGHT
(Alex, an athletic 18 year old boy, is driving fast. He has a
white knuckled grip on the steering wheel, looking
steadfastly out the front window. Daniel, a dark and
handsome 17 year old boy, is in the passenger seat, upset.)
DANIEL
Slow down
(Car speeds up.)
DANIEL
Please...
ALEX
You... You can't just say crap like
that!
DANIEL
I know... I, I'm sorry... Just slow
down, ok? You'll get us both
killed.
ALEX
(snaps)
Isn't that what you want?
DANIEL
What? No... Of course not.
ALEX
(continuing to accelerate
as his anger builds)
But it is, isn't it? That's what
you said. That you don't want to be
here anymore.
DANIEL
(looking towards Alex.
Speaking quietly)
That's not... I don't...
ALEX
(Angrily looks at Daniel)
You don't what?
DANIEL
(Towards the side window)
Not you.
Alex glances to Daniel, unsure. Daniel is turned towards the
side window. Alex grips the wheel tighter, willing himself
to calm down, blushing slightly.
ALEX
Tell me why.
DANIEL
(sneaking glances at
Alex)
I... Can't.
ALEX
It makes no sense. You have
everything...
DANIEL
(mumbles)
Not everything.
ALEX
(cont'd)
Popular. Top grades. Great family.
Good looking... (clears throat) Any
girl you could want.
DANIEL
(peering at Alex)
You wouldn't understand.
ALEX
(still accelerating,
looking more at Daniel
than the road)
Try me! You think I don't care?!
Won't understand?! Do you have any
idea? I've been... We've been best
mates for 9 years.
DANIEL
I shouldn't have said...
ALEX
(shouting over him)
Don't you dare! You don't get to
tell me you want to kill yourself
and then tell me I wouldn't
understand!
DANIEL
I can't... It's just too much...
And if people found out... I'm...
It's not... My parents... And I...
ALEX
(turned towards him,
eager to hear)
You can tell me. I know we don't
really talk about this kind of
stuff but you can tell me anything.
DANIEL
(turns towards the
window)
...I
(Horns blare. Both boys turn to look out the window and see
headlights coming towards them. Alex spins the wheel,
veering the car off the road. There is a crash.)
EXT. DITCH AT SIDE OF ROAD. NIGHT.
(The car is lying on it's side. Daniel, covered in cuts, is
pulling Alex free of the car. He is deeply wounded, unable
to move on his own. His eyes are open but is struggling to
breathe. There are onlookers at the top of the ditch.
Someone has called an ambulance.)
DANIEL
(pleading)
Please... Alex, stay with me, man.
(Daniel has Alex's head in his lap and is bent over him
holding the cut to stop the bleeding.)
DANIEL
I'm so sorry. I don't want to lose
you... I don't want you to die.
(Alex lifts his hand to Daniel's shirt front and clasps it,
looking Daniel dead in the eye. Daniel leans down to hear
him.)
ALEX
(almost inaudibly)
Tell me why.
DANIEL
(crying)
I'm... I'm gay.
(Alex smiles faintly, then pulls his shirt closer until their
lips meet.)
ALEX
(faintly)
I'm glad.
(Alex closes his eyes. Daniel grips him, head lowered over
him, sobbing uncontrollably.)
DANIEL
(softly)
I'm sorry...
(Sirens are heard and red and blue flashes over the scene.)
THE END