The Darkness of the Road

Damn window.

Great.

Oh, come on.

Sleep, little angel.

You know what, honey?

Let's go to the beach first.

See the sunrise.

A fresh start for both of us.

We might even get a new car when I start working.

Hey, baby.

I need to get a few things.

Do you need to go the bathroom?

You sleep.

I'll be right back.

Hello?

Sir?

Hello?

Sir?

Ma'am?

Anybody here?

I just... I need to get a few things for my trip.

Sir?

Sir?

Is there anything...

I...

Don't do that.

He don't like it if you wake him up.

He gets really angry.

I wasn't... I just...

Sure looked like you were.

What can I do for you?

Hey.

You deaf?

No.

No, I'm not.

I'm... we just need a few things.

Care to be more specific?

Yeah, of course.

We need toothpaste.

Yeah.

Well, we got all this.

Let me go get it for you.

No, that's OK.

I don't need to bother you.

I can get it myself.

Oh, no, no.

It's no bother at all.

You know, if I was your boyfriend,

I'd be doing the shopping for you.

It's just me and my daughter, my baby.

You and your daughter?

Hey.

Where's the baby daddy?

I don't mean to be rude, but I really

should just get on the road.

Well, actually, that is rude.

It's just... there's a storm headed this way.

Yeah.

Well, then you better be careful since you're alone

with your girl and all.

Hey, we have any more coffee?

Old man, we have any more coffee?

Guess not.

Can you add $10 for gas as well?

And that sticker over there, the one on top.

Top?

Yep.

You like bumper stickers, huh?

I saw your bumper when I went outside.

Yeah, you got a lot of nice ones.

My favorite one is Jesus loves you,

but everybody else thinks you're an asshole.

I think that's funny.

Can you just tell me how much all of this is?

$66.42.

How much?

I thought you said you weren't deaf.

May I use your restroom while you finish up?

Yeah, of course.

Right back there.

Make a left right through that door.

Hey.

You'll need that.

Thanks.

Sorry.

No, don't worry.

He just didn't tell me that anybody else was back here.

Who didn't it tell you?

The clerk.

He must have thought that...

Never mind.

May I?

I'm Iris, by the way.

Siri.

Hey, what's going on back there?

We ain't open 24/7.

OK, I'll be right there.

This ain't no 7-Eleven.

I overheard you saying you're about to hit the road.

Yeah, I better get going if I want to make it before sunrise.

Any room for an extra passenger?

Oh.

I don't know.

I really can't.

Sorry, honey, I took so long.

But I'll make up for lost time, OK?

Oh, come on.

It sounds like the starter connection.

Excuse me?

The starter.

I don't...

Pop the hood.

OK, give it a shot.

You're going to need a new starter.

Hey I'm sorry about earlier.

I didn't know if I...

I totally get it.

Have a safe trip.

Iris?

Funny, huh?

That thing is as wrinkly as an old man's nut sack.

Yeah, I know.

Should've given it to me for free.

Maybe they did.

Wait.

Where'd 20 bucks come from?

Don't worry.

They still got $46.42 from you.

Oh, you can keep it.

I don't want to feel like I stole from those people.

I can surely bear that burden.

Oh, you have a tattoo.

That's cool.

I got my first year of college.

Same year I lost both of my parents in a car accident.

That's awful.

I got really depressed, so I got this tattoo

to remind me that there's got to be more than just this.

What were you doing in there anyway?

Taking a piss, getting away.

The only two things you can do in a place like that.

Away from what?

The usual.

Asshole boyfriend, shitty job, bad cable.

I just had a break from all that shit.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

I have a friend in Venice Beach, so I thought, what the hell?

Change of scenery could be really good for a human being.

I used to be a paralegal, but then Eve got sick

and I lost my job.

It's been really hard to get back on track.

And what about your daughter?

She's been sleeping most of this trip,

but she's going to love it when we get there.

Are you excited to see...

Shit.

What the fuck was that?

I think you should...

Eve!

Where is she?

Fuck.

OK, OK.

Wait, wait, wait.

Just let me see what's going on, OK?

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Oh my god.

Come on, please.

Give it a try.

Damn it.

Stop, stop.

The gas station.

Hey, come back here.

Damn it.

Siri!

Siri!

Siri?

Siri, is that you?

Answer me.

What happened?

Something hit me.

What was it?

I don't know.

I couldn't see it.

It's so dark.

There's nobody else out here but us.

Here.

Let me help you.

Wait, where are you going?

We need to go back to the car.

It's freezing out here.

Stop, please.

The gas station.

The gas station, that creep, and that old man.

God, I have to get back there.

That gas station is at least 20 miles away.

We need to get back...

Are you listening to me?

Eve is six, and she's sick.

She's very sick, and now she's alone with those two men.

And I just need you to stop telling me