Second Chances
1)	Ext. DESERTED HIGHWAY.
It's almost noon in December.  The sun is shining bright through the blue sky.  Liz (23) is walking down the Interstate 5 in northern California.  She is carrying two duffel bags of her belongings.  Cars pass her by without hesitation to stop.  Liz still reaches her right arm out, and points her thumb in the air.  As drivers ignore her, she becomes frustrated.
2)	Int/Ext.  CAR PASSING BY ON THE HIGHWAY
Noel (25) is driving down the Interstate 5 from Sacramento.  As he is on long stretch of highway, he notices a young woman trailing down the highway alone with two duffel bags.  As he notices her, for a moment, he loses concentration, as he passes by her.  Liz, already frustrated, gives Noel the finger.  Noel regains focus, and pulls over to the side of the road.  Liz sighs in relief, and runs towards the car.
Liz walks towards the passenger side window.
LIZ
You know that you should never pick up hitch-hikersŠ
Noel is lost for words
LIZ (CONT'D)
(cracks a smile)
ThanksŠ
3)	Int.  DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY
NOEL
So where are you going?
LIZ
Well I'm going down to Santa Monica to live with my aunt.
NOEL
OhŠ
Where were you living before?
LIZ
IŠ ummmŠ
I'm leaving my home from Baker City.
NOEL
Where is Baker City?
LIZ
It's up in Oregon, near the borders of IdahoŠ
NOEL
IŠ ummŠ uhhhŠ
LIZ
Forget itŠ
I'm trying to forget about itŠ
Silence
NOEL
Sorry.
LIZ
Nothing to be sorry aboutŠ
So where are you going?
NOEL
IŠ really don't knowŠ
LIZ
What do you mean, you don't know?
Like emotionally?
NOEL
No noŠ wellŠ I guess that tooŠ
I've been kinda driving for almost two weeks now.
LIZ
Where have you gone in those two weeks?
NOEL
HmmŠ  A bunch of places I guess.
I've just been driving all this timeŠ
sleeping in my carŠ eating whatever I can find for cheapŠ
An awkward silence breaks
LIZ
Oh shit, I didn't even get your name.
NOEL
I'm Noel, and what's yours?
LIZ
It's Elizabeth, but you can call me Liz.
4)	Int. DRIVING IN THE CAR
Noel and Liz have been on the road for a couple hours, and there is an awkward silence between them.  Liz looks out the passenger side window watching all the scenery, as Noel watches the road.  Every so often, Noel glances at Liz while she is not even paying attention.
LIZ
Hey do you have any CD's or anything?
If we're gonna be mute the whole time, we could at least enjoy some tunes.
NOEL
Oh yeah, uhhhŠ check the back seat, there's a wallet of CDs there.
You can pick whatever you want.  I don't know if you listen to anything I doŠ

LIZ
Well, we'll just have to see about thatŠ
Liz reaches into the back seat.  Noel takes a glance at Liz's chest as she is occupied looking for the CD wallet.  Noel turns his head away, for feeling like a creep.
LIZ
AhŠ Found it! Now let's see what you gotŠ
Liz flips through the pages of CDs.  She pauses on one page which has the "Best of Van Morrison".  She pulls out the CD and inserts it into the Dash player.  She scrolls through the tracks to play "Sweet Thing".  She begins to cry uncontrollably.
NOEL
(Softly)
HeyŠIt's not really a sad songŠ
LIZ
I know I knowŠ
Just brought back some memoriesŠ
NOEL
Heartbreak?
LIZ
Something like thatŠ
NOEL
I'm sorryŠ
LIZ
It's ok, it's not your fault.
5)	Int.  STILL DRIVING
A few hours have passed.  Noel notices a sign advertising a diner up ahead.
NOEL
Hey are you hungry?
LIZ
I'm starvingŠ
NOEL
There's a diner up ahead, we can stop there for a bite.
LIZ
(nods her head)
6)	Int. Diner
Noel and Liz are served the special of the day.  Liz paws at her meal, and begins to stuff her face.
LIZ
(Embarrassed)
Sorry, I just haven't eaten all dayŠ
NOEL
(Shrugs his shoulder)
It's coolŠ That's why we're hereŠ
LIZ
You don't think it's disgusting that a girl stuffs her face like me?
NOEL
Hey I don't judge peopleŠ
People who do that are way too self conscious.
LIZ
I think everyone is at least a little self-conscious.
NOEL
Well yeah, but people always compare themselves to people that are in movies, or TV, or magazinesŠ it's almost a fetish.  They forget who they are, and end up miserable for not being the people they can never beŠ
LIZ
(Sarcastically)
That's a nice way to look at society.
By the way, how is that not judging people?
NOEL
Well like you said, we're all at least a little self-conscious.
Both smile at each other
LIZ
So explain to me why you've been driving around for two weeks?
NOEL
I was living in an apartment, while working in a local bookstore getting paid minimum wage.  I couldn't afford living, so I got whatever I had left or needed, and took off before I had to pay rent.  I've been driving around looking for inspiration to write a novel.
LIZ
So what have you written so far?
NOEL
Nothing reallyŠ
I just wrote a few poems, coz I couldn't get any ideas really.
LIZ
Can I hear some?
NOEL
UmmmŠ
I'm not really comfortable reading them to anyone just yetŠ
LIZ
Oh c'monŠ
I promise that I won't laughŠ
I'm sure it's goodŠ
NOEL
I'd rather notŠ
LIZ
OkŠ whatever thenŠ
7)	Int.  BACK ON THE HIGHWAY
Noel and Liz resume driving down the highway.  They are halfway to their destination.
NOEL
So what's with the heartbreak?
LIZ
I was in loveŠ  Just felt so right.  His name was Tommy.  I met him at the day care center for orphaned kids.  We were both volunteers that had plans to get married and build our own center for helping kids.  I lost everythingŠ
NOEL
I'm sorryŠ
LIZ
(Wipes her eye)
It's okay, it's not your faultŠ
8)	Int/Ext Pulling up to the Gas Station
The car is low on fuel, so Noel searches for the nearest gas station.  He pulls into an almost abandoned, but functioning gas station.  He begins to pump gas
LIZ
I'll be right back, I'm just gonna use the phoneŠ
Liz contacts her aunt in Santa Monica.  She inform her aunt that she will arrive soon.  As she hangs up, Liz begins to cry again.  She walks slowly to the car.  Noel Finishes pumping gas, and notices Liz's tears trickling down her cheeks.
NOEL
Was that your boyfriend you called?
Liz nods her head no.  Noel reaches into the back seat to get a tissue for Liz.  Liz appreciates Noel's care.
9)	Int. LOS ANGELES
It's almost sun set.  Noel and Liz are in the vicinity of Los Angeles.  Noel and Liz have been silent since their stop at the gas station.  Noel tries to break the ice again.
NOEL
Hey, have you ever been to the beach?
LIZ
Once, when I was a kid, but I guess I'll be seeing it more often now.
NOEL
How about if I take you to the beach?
We can get some dinner or somethingŠ
LIZ
(Sudden pause)
okayŠ
10)	Ext. Beach
The sun is setting.  Noel and Liz arrive at the beach as they stare into the glittering ocean.
LIZ
Wow, it's so beautiful.
Just so different, now that I'm a little olderŠ
Liz closes her eyes as the wind breezes through her hair.
NOEL
Wanna walk with me to the pier?
LIZ
OkayŠ
11) Ext. Beach
It's night time.  Noel and Liz walk around the beach and have dinner at a local restaurant.  They enjoy the time with each other.
11)	Ext.  PARKING LOT AT THE BEACH
Night.  Noel and Liz are sitting on the hood of the car listening to the waves crashing and watch the bright moon above.
LIZ
Don't you have like a girlfriend or anything?
NOEL
(Mumbling)
ummmŠ
LIZ
SorryŠ I didn't mean to pry intoŠ I meanŠ shitŠ
NOEL
No it's cool, I'm just not that good at meeting people.
LIZ
Well you didn't seem so bad to me since you picked me up.
NOEL
I figured that women only see me as "just a friend".
They are not really interested in guys like meŠ
Besides, I don't think anyone will fall for a guy with no money or home.
LIZ
I think what you're doing is excitingŠ
You're doing something at leastŠ
You have to take risks, or that someone may just pass you byŠ
And you may never know itŠ
NOEL
I'm just trying to find what I really want to do.
Kinda looking for my second chance, if there is one.
LIZ
I think we all get second chancesŠ we just have to realize it when it comes around.
NOEL
Is that why you're coming down here? To start againŠ fromŠ Tommy?
LIZ
Well I guess I haven't told you the whole storyŠ  Tommy proposed to me last year.
(flashback) V.O.
He took me out to dinner and proposed to me that night.  We decided to walk downtown after dinner.  The night was perfectŠ We were crossing the street when a drunk driver didn't see the light turn.  Tommy pushed me out of the way, but he was killed instantlyŠ  He was everything to me, and it was taken away from me in a heartbeat.  I died that day with him.
Liz tears up uncontrollably
NOEL
I'm sorryŠ I'm so sorryŠ
LIZ
It's okay, it's not your faultŠ
After almost a year,
My mom told me that I should move on, and start againŠ
My aunt called to tell me that she has an extra room in California.
Liz finds comfort into Noel's arms as she spasms in pain and tears.
12)	Ext. BEACH PARKING LOT
Morning rises.  Noel wakes up with Liz in his arms the same from last night.  Noel wakes Liz.
NOEL
I think I should take to your aunt's house now.
LIZ
(Nods to agree)
13)	Ext. AUNT'S HOUSE
Noel pulls up to the driveway.  He takes out Liz's duffel bags and walks her to the front steps.  Noel looks down at Liz, but cannot find any words to say.  Liz closes her eyes and begins to embrace Noel.
LIZ
(Still hugging Noel)
I hope you'll find what you're looking for.
She lets go of Noel, and Noel walks back to his car.
14) Int. AUNT'S HOUSE
She walks through the front door with her aunt waiting.  She walks up the stairs to find her empty room.  She drops her bags and begins to look out the window.
15) Int. DRIVING
Meanwhile, Noel is back on the road.  He reminisces about the time he has spent with Liz.  He realizes that he's fallen for Liz.
He stomps on the brakes and turns the car around.
The End.