The Hitchhiker

SCENE opens on a car as it speeds down a desolate road. The sun is blazing. Classical music is blaring. Inside the car, Gloria and her husband, Markus, are driving home after a business meeting. From their attire, you can tell that the couple are successful, but things do not seem particularly harmonious in the car. Markus sits silently, gazing out the window, while Gloria obsessively dissects the potential deal they just negotiated. She turns off the stereo when it clear he isn't listening. 'The client is almost convinced,' she continues. 'He just needs a little push.' Markus says nothing. 'Maybe next time,' Gloria adds, glancing at him sideways. 'I should just go on my own!' Again, her husband doesn't respond. Up ahead, they notice a teen girl standing on the side of the road. She has her thumb sticking out and a small suitcase by her feet. Awkward and gangly, the girl seems very out of place, looking nervously at the car as it approaches. 'We should give her a ride,' Markus says suddenly, speaking for the first time. Gloria looks at him like he's crazy. 'Are you kidding me?' She scoffs. 'You know we need to get home and work on this deal. We don't have time for this now!' Markus takes a deep breath before turning to face his irritated wife. 'I want to give her a ride,' he says again sternly. Rolling her eyes, Gloria relents and pulls over. Markus rolls down his window and the nervous girl peers inside at them. 'Would you like to ride with us?' He asks. She glances past him at Gloria, who is trying to conceal her irritation. 'It's ok sweetie,' she says. 'We're not going to bite. My husband just wants to give you a ride ... so please ... get in if you're going to get in, ok?' The girl nods nervously and walks around to get in the backseat. As she does this, Markus unbuckles his own seat belt and starts to get out of the car. 'What are you doing?' Gloria whispers, grabbing his arm. Markus stares at her coldly. 'I'm going to sit with her,' he replies before storming out and slamming the car door. CUT TO TITLE PLATE The trio drive silently, as Gloria fumes in the front seat while Markus sits back with the girl, staring at her lustfully. She seems aware of this and very awkward. 'What's your name?' He asks. She tells them it's Andi. Well, Andrea ... but all her friends call her Andi. 'How old are you, Andi?' Gloria asks, checking the rear view to keep an eye on her husband. She tells them she is 19. Gloria shakes her head. This one is young. Markus starts to casually rub Andi's thigh, as he asks her more questions about where she is headed. She tells them she is from Oregon. She's going to a music festival in San Diego. But she missed the bus and all her friends left already. She's almost made it there herself hitchhiking. It's the most rebellious thing she's ever done! The couple exchange glances, as Gloria tries to silently sway her husband from pushing things further. 'You both look really dressed up,' Andi says, squirming. 'Are you going to a party or something?' Gloria coldly responds that they are business partners. They just came from an important meeting. 'Oh, I thought you were a couple,' Andi mutters. Gloria rolls her eyes again. 'We are,' she replies. Markus inches himself closer to the nervous teen. ''We'll take you as far as our house,' he whispers in her ear. Her eyes darting back and forth between him and the angry woman in the front seat, Andi nods nervously. 'That would be really super,' she says. CUT to the car pulling into the driveway of their estate. Gloria storms out of the car first, her heels stomping on the ground as she goes inside the house. Markus follows, leading Andi out by the hand. 'You can come in,' he says. 'To eat and relax.' Andi hesitates, trying to wriggle out of Markus' hand. She tells him that he's been very kind. But, she should probably find another ride before it gets too dark. Besides, his wife doesn't seem very happy that she's here. 'My wife is fine,' he says. 'We do this all the time.' Keeping a firm grip on her, he leads her into the house. Gloria is nowhere to be seen when they enter, so Markus invites Andi to sit on the couch. He stares at her for a few minutes in uncomfortable silence before asking if she would like a beverage. She declines. 'He's European,' Gloria says, suddenly storming back into the room. 'So, he doesn't really understand what you're saying half the time!' She has changed from her business suit into something much more revealing and Andi can't help but stare at her. 'I'm surprised you're both not naked yet,' she says as she sits down beside them. Markus smiles. 'You know I like that lingerie,' he says. Gloria spreads her legs. 'Well, if this is going to be a competition, then I'm going to give you a competition.' Andi looks at them both in shock. Who did she accept a ride from? Markus starts to undo his tie eagerly, laughing. Andi tries to slide between them to leave