1 EXT.--NIGHT SKY
Autumn evening FULL of STARS. Music plays over
as credits roll.
DISSOLVE TO:
2 EXT.--DAY LAURENS, IOWA
It is a hot day in early September in Laurens, a small
rural community in north central Iowa. The main
drag, all of four blocks, is bookended by a giant
grain elevator and a John Deere dealership. No cars
on the road.
CUT TO:
3 EXT.--DAY SMALL HOUSE & NEIGHBORING HOUSE
At the neighboring house, DOROTHY, a rather
large woman, 50ish, with bleached blond, cropped
hair is sunbathing in a chaise lounge. She is wearing
bermuda shorts, a tank top and eye protectors over
her eyes. Next to her is a small table with a plate on
it. Out of the other house, which has chipped siding
and faded, peeling window frames, comes ROSE
(late 30s, brown hair in a pixie cut, stocky, in jeans
and a cotton shirt). The door slams and Rose heads
down the walk. Dorothy doesn’t move a muscle or
remove her eye protectors.
DOROTHY
Hey Rose.
Rose doesn’t break stride but yells over...
ROSE
Hey Dorothy.
Rose exits and we remain on the two houses and
Dorothy sunbathing. After a moment, Dorothy
reaches over and feels the plate next to her. She lifts
the protectors and checks out the table...sees she’s
out of treats, gets up, grabs the plate and heads into
her house. As the screen door slams shut behind her
we slowly move in on the house Rose came from.
We might be hearing footsteps as we move closer.
The sound leads us slowly toward the rear of the
house. As we continue moving closer we hear a short
peel of rubber followed by a thudding sound and a
sound like a stick dropping. We hold on the house
in silence.
CUT TO:
4 EXT.--DAY HOUSE AND NEIGHBORING HOUSE
As before. Dorothy comes back out carrying the
plate now filled with treats. Munching all the while
she settles back into the chaise lounge and resumes
sunbathing.
DISSOLVE TO:
5 EXT.--DAY LATER--SMALL TOWN BAR IN LAURENS
A small brick storefront bar. Two windows with
neon beer signs are on either side of a red door with
a window in the shape of a tilted martini glass. The
door opens and BUD, a stocky 70ish man in jeans,
a cotton shirt and construction boots emerges. He
looks down the street. Not seeing anyone he turns
and sticks his head back in the door of the bar and
yells in...
BUD
I’m goin’ over there.
He lets the door close and heads off down the street.
Another man, SIG, late 60’s, 6’0", 265 lbs., in bib
overalls and a seed cap, comes out the bar door
holding a long-neck beer bottle and watches Bud
walk away.
SIG
We’re waitin’.
CUT TO:
6 EXT.--DAY LAURENS RESIDENTIAL STREET
Bud is striding down the street past small and
weatherbeaten houses. The yards are mowed and
dotted with lawn chairs and picnic tables. He
approaches the house we saw earlier. He turns up
the walkway, reaches the front door and starts
knocking somewhat angrily.
BUD
Alvin! Alvin Straight!
CUT TO:
7 EXT.--DAY THE NEIGHBOR’S YARD
Dorothy doesn’t move a muscle when she hears the
knocking. She yells across the yard to Bud.
DOROTHY
Rose left a couple of hours ago.
CUT TO:
8 EXT.--DAY SMALL HOUSE
Bud jumps. He hadn’t seen Dorothy until she spoke.
BUD
Did you hear me hollerin’ for Rose? I’m
not lookin’ for Rose.
DOROTHY
I ain’t seen Alvin today.
BUD
Did I ask....
Bud stops for a look at Dorothy who still has the eye
protectors on. He shakes his head in exasperation.
He resumes knocking on the door.
BUD
Straight. ......you’re late!!
Not getting any response he heads around to the
backyard and finds no one. He goes up to the back
door and starts knocking.
BUD (cont’d)
Alvin?!
CUT TO:
9 INT.--DAY KITCHEN
From inside the darkened kitchen we see Bud
through the door window, knocking.
BUD
What the hell Alvin!
At a break in his knocking on the door we hear an
off-camera voice.
ALVIN
Come on in Bud.
Bud, startled, reaches down, opens the door and
enters. He stands blinking and flustered, letting his
eyes adjust to the darkened room.
BUD
Where the hell are you Alvin? I can’t
see a damn thing.
ALVIN
I’m right here Bud...watch your step.
Bud’s eyes adjust and he follows the sound of Alvin’s
voice to the kitchen floor right at his feet. ALVIN
STRAIGHT is stretched out on the floor. He is in
his 70s, a lean man, weathered face, bald with a full,
scruffy white beard. He is wearing a plaid cotton
shirt, worn jeans and black cowboy boots. There is a
wooden cane lying on the floor next to him.
BUD
What the hell’s goin’ on? What in god-
damn hell are you doin’ on the floor
Alvin? What’r ye nuts? You’re supposed
to be down at Davmar’s one hour ago.
At this point a shadow falls on them and Dorothy
fills the door frame.
DOROTHY
What’s going on....
She sees Alvin on the floor.
DOROTHY (cont’d)
(panicking)
Oh my god Alvin!
ALVIN
(with resignation)
Hey there Dorothy.
Dorothy makes a beeline for the phone, and picks it
up.
BUD
What the hell are you doin’?
DOROTHY
(breathlessly)
What’s the number for 911?
Bud rolls his eyes.
ALVIN
(with authority)
Dorothy, put that phone down.
She doesn’t move. Her face flushed, bosom heaving,
she looks back and forth between Alvin, Bud and
the phone. Bud strides over to her and yanks the
phone out of her hand.
BUD
I gotta call the bar and tell them we’re
not comin’.
Dorothy grabs the phone back, wild-eyed.
DOROTHY
Bud Heimstra are you crazy? We have a
stricken man here.
Bud hesitates and looks over at Alvin, assessing his
condition.
BUD
You stricken Alvin?
Dorothy starts dialing.
ALVIN
Dorothy, PUT THAT PHONE DOWN!
Dorothy hesitates. Bud tries to wrestle the phone
from her. We hear the front door slam and Dorothy
and Bud freeze. Rose enters the kitchen from the
front of the house.
ROSE
Dad? What’s all the.......yelling?
She stops short. She takes in the scene...Bud and
Dorothy at the phone and her dad on the floor.
ROSE (cont’d)
What have you...........done to my dad?
BUD
Oh for cry aye.
ROSE
Dad?..........are you........?
Rose starts to cry.
ALVIN
(exasperated but forcefully)
I just need some help gettin’ up.
CUT TO:
10 EXT.--DAY PARKING LOT
We see Rose helping Alvin get out of the passenger
side of their car. Once standing, Alvin won’t move.
Rose is tugging on his arm. He is not budging and
he’s shaking his head.
ALVIN
I’m not goin’.
ROSE
Dad.....
ALVIN
I’m not goin’.
ROSE
Dad....you promised me.
After a pause Alvin nods.
ALVIN
Alright Rosie.
They slowly make their way across the hot parking
lot to the Doctor’s office.
CUT TO:
OMIT SCENES 11, 12, & 13.
CUT TO:
14 INT.--DAY EXAMINING ROOM
The nurse and Alvin enter the examining room. She
turns to him and hands him a robe.
NURSE
O.K. Mr. Straight, you need to take off
all your clothes except your underwear
and put this robe on.
ALVIN
(gruffly)
Just bring me the doctor.
CUT TO:
15 INT.--DAY DOCTOR’S RECEPTION, LATER
Rose is standing in front of a series of bird paintings.
ROSE
I see you like birds. I build.......bird-
houses........for bluebirds.
NURSE
Oh, that’s nice.
ROSE
Yah.....Pete sells my birdhouses........at
the.....Ace.
NURSE
Oh...I’ll look for them next time I’m
in.
CUT TO:
16 INT.--DAY EXAMINING ROOM
Alvin leans against the examining table as he pulls
his pants to a close and fastens his belt. He is shirt-
less. His skin hangs loosely off his rib cage. He has a
serious farmer’s tan: lily white chest and shoulders
and arms with nut brown face, neck and hands. A
middle-aged DOCTOR GIBBONS is standing
looking over some notes.
DOCTOR GIBBONS
So you’re not sure just how long you
were on the floor?
ALVIN
(shaking his head)
I remember my cane slippin’...and
losing my balance....
(he pauses, concentrating)
...next thing I knew Bud Heimstra was
banging on my kitchen door.
The doctor nods at this account and writes something
in his notes. Alvin sits on the examining table
and looks around. He takes in the foreign room:
bright fluorescent lights, slick pastel Formica
surfaces, matching pastel framed art, bio-hazard
warnings and medical equipment. He looks back to the
Doctor and catches the man watching him with a
look of concern on his face.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Somethin’ the matter Doc?
The Doctor switches to an attempt at a smile.
DOCTOR GIBBONS
Listen Alvin, sometimes it’s my job to
tell people things they don’t want to
hear. I’m concerned about you. I think
you need an operation on those hips.
ALVIN
No operations.
DOCTOR
Well...this morning you fall and can’t
get off the floor...that’s your hips Alvin.
You’ll have to use a walker to get
around now.
ALVIN
(barks)
No walker.
DOCTOR
Fine...a second cane then. You say
you’re not seeing too well. That could
be a diabetes-related problem. I would
like to run some...
ALVIN
No!
The doctor looks back down at his notes and up at
Alvin.
DOCTOR GIBBONS
I can see and hear that you smoke. I
would guess you’re in the early stages of
emphysema. And Alvin you have
circulation problems. I worry about your
diet and unless you change some things
quick, there will be some serious
consequences.
Alvin doesn’t say anything. He just stares at the
Doctor.
CUT TO:
17 INT.--DAY KITCHEN
ALVIN sits at the kitchen table and takes a deep
drag off of a Swisher Sweet. Two canes are propped
up against the table. Rose looks on. She stands in
the middle of the kitchen holding a birdhouse, fret-
fully watching Alvin. She holds the birdhouse out to
him.
ROSE
It has a.........red roof.
Alvin looks at the birdhouse and smiles at Rose.
ALVIN
That’s another pretty one Rose.
He continues smoking. Rose, pleased at his
response, turns smiling to do a few dishes. She sets
the birdhouse down.
ROSE
I want to paint the.......next roof...
(she blurts)
...blue.
Alvin smiles again.
ALVIN
That’s a good idea.
Rose turns to the window and thinks for a while
with a smile on her face. As she reflects, her smile
begins to fade.
ROSE
What did the.......Doctor say?
Alvin puts out the Swisher Sweet.
ALVIN
Said I’m goin’ to live to be a hundred.
Rose smiles at this. Alvin stands, puts on a cream-
colored Stetson and heads to the back door.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Time to cut the lawn.
ROSE
I can......cut it for......you...Dad.
Alvin is navigating the door with his two canes in
hand. Says gently back over his shoulder.
ALVIN
I got it sweetheart.
Rose turns, clears the table and takes dishes over to
the kitchen sink. Out the window over her shoulder
we see Alvin cross the backyard and mount a Rehds
riding mower. She sets the dishes in the sink, then
gets distracted by the birdhouse.
CUT TO:
18 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S BACKYARD
Alvin tries to start the mower. No luck. He performs
a slow, painful, laborious dismount. Then in a quick
move he turns and bangs the mower with his cane.
ALVIN
Damn!
CUT TO:
19 INT.--DAY LAURENS ACE HARDWARE
A group of locals are in the store. SIG, BUD, PETE,
mid-60s, 6’0", lean, gray and wearing slacks and a
red Ace vest, and APPLE, early 60s, short, bald and
talkative. He is wearing a short-sleeve shirt and a tie.
He’s concentrating on his right boot. He frowns as
he works it up and down with his toes. His attention
is split between working the shoe and watching
the Weather Channel which is on the television over
the counter.
APPLE
(all the while
stomping his foot)
Looks like another low comin’ out of
the panhandle of Texas. That’s where
they all come from. You know in the
winter that’s where we get all our big
dumps.
PETE
Apple I doubt very much if we’ll be
getting snow this week.
Sig giggles.
SIG
And here comes Alvin Straight. He’s
not movin’ too well.
PETE
Well he took that bad fall.
BUD
An hour late! I found the darn fool on
the kitchen floor.
SIG
He looks like he ain’t gonna make it to
the door. If he was a horse they’d shoot
’im.
PETE
(scolding)
How old are you now Sig?
Apple has his shoe off and is digging inside of it
with his hand. He looks up at Pete’s remark.
APPLE
He’s 70 in September..."Oh the days
dwindle down to a precious few..."
SIG
You can shut up any time Apple.
Alvin enters. They turn their heads, nod hello. Bud
scowls.
PETE
Mornin’ Alvin. What can I do for you?
Alvin approaches the counter and opens his mouth
to speak but is interrupted by...
APPLE
Local forecast!
CUT TO:
20 INT.--DAY HARDWARE STORE TELEVISION
The Weather Channel. The local forecast runs with
the accompanying music. Conversation stops
abruptly and they all turn to watch the local forecast
together. There is the potential for thunderstorms
later in the day with a possible tornado watch.
PETE
And what can I do you for Alvin?
ALVIN
Plugs for the Rehds. Won’t start.
CUT TO:
21 EXT.--LATE DAY ALVIN’S BACKYARD
Alvin is changing the plugs, smoking Swisher
Sweets. Rose is sitting on aluminum lawn chair
painting the roof of her birdhouse blue. A storm is
moving in. Alvin looks up to the sky.
ALVIN
Storm comin’...not mowin’ today.
CUT TO:
22 INT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S LIVING ROOM
Alvin and Rose are watching Storm Watch on the
Weather Channel.
CUT TO:
23 INT.--NIGHT THE TELEVISION IN ALVIN’S LIVING ROOM
WEATHER PERSON
Severe thunderstorm warning and tornado
watch continue until 9 PM for all
of west central Iowa. The National
Weather Service advises seeking shelter
in basement rooms. Avoid all windows...
CUT TO:
24 INT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S LIVING ROOM
Rose and Alvin sit by the window watching the
lightning. A big bolt cuts through the sky to the
ground.
ALVIN
I love a lightning storm.
ROSE
Me....too Dad.
The phone rings. Rose is reluctant to leave the show
at the window and lets it ring 3 or 4 times. Finally
she gets up and leaves the room to answer the phone
in the kitchen.
ROSE
(off camera)
Hello.........this.......is Rose.
Yah...yah...Uncle......Lyle?
Alvin’s expression changes to a frown as the light of
the TV plays off his face. He does not turn his head
or speak but he is listening and reacting to Rose’s
conversation.
ROSE (cont’d)
Oh.......no. When? O.K. Ah..ah...I’ll
tell him. Yah. O.K. bye.
Rose comes back in and sits down. She doesn’t say
anything and neither does Alvin for a bit. We see
another big crack of lightning out the window. The
Storm Watch continues off screen.
WEATHER PERSON
(voice over)
A tornado has been sited in Ida
County. Sac, Calhoun and Pocahontas
Counties are all under tornado watch...
ROSE (cont’d)
That was Bobby...Uncle Lyle had a....a
.....ah...stroke.
On the word "stroke," a bolt of lightning brilliantly
illuminates Alvin’s face. Then he sits stonefaced in
darkness looking out the window. He doesn’t respond.
ROSE (cont’d)
Dad?
CUT TO:
25 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S HOUSE
Alvin’s house is being buffeted by a fierce
midwestern electrical storm.
CUT TO:
26 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S YARD
Alvin is mowing the lawn.
CUT TO:
27 INT.--DAY ALVIN’S HOUSE, KITCHEN
Rose is standing at the kitchen window talking on
the phone. Over Rose’s shoulder Alvin crosses back
and forth through the window frame riding the
mower. Rose is talking to one of her brothers.
ROSE
No Bobby he....didn’t say much......They
both been so......stubborn. No......no it
was longer. I remember...It was July 7,
1988. Bobby, I always remember.....the
dates.
Through the window we see Alvin stop the mower.
He sits and stares. He lights up a Swisher Sweet.
ROSE (cont’d)
I....don’t know...what......he’ll do.
Rose hangs up and looks back out at Alvin sitting
on mower.
CUT TO:
28 INT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S LIVING ROOM
Rose is sitting in the dark looking out the window at
the freshly mown lawn. She hears a noise and turns.
There is Alvin, with two canes, silhouetted in the
doorway to the kitchen.
ALVIN
Rose honey, why don’t you come in here
and join your dad for a cup of coffee.
Rose looks puzzled. This is not a common invitation
from Alvin.
ROSE
Dad..........we’re not going to move
again are we? You always set me down
for a coffee when you tell me we are
going to move again.
Alvin laughs a little. Rose is clearly wary.
ALVIN
No honey...we’re not breaking camp.
Rose sighs in relief and smiles. Alvin pauses, clearly
uncomfortable.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Unless you make so many bluebird
houses we run outa room.
ROSE
(taking her
father seriously)
Dad..oh jeez..I can stop making them...
ALVIN
Easy honey. Your pa was just makin’ a
joke.
Rose is relieved. Alvin pauses and draws a breath.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Rose. I’m goin’ to get back out on the
road. I’m goin’ to go see Lyle.
ROSE
But Dad....how are you.......?
Alvin turns and starts to hobble toward the kitchen.
ALVIN
I haven’t quite figured that out yet.
He moves off into the kitchen.
CUT TO:
29 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S BACKYARD
From around the side of the house comes Rose hauling
a large piece of aged plywood. She talks as she
wrestles with the large board. She is speaking to
Alvin who is on the back stoop with a wrench and a
ball joint. She is also reasoning aloud with herself.
ROSE
One...Your eyes are bad....That is why
you don’t drive your car because you
cannot see the signs anymore.
Rose turns and looks directly at Alvin. He is letting
her vent.
ROSE (cont’d)
One...Your eyes are bad.
Rose walks back around the corner of the house and
returns with another large piece of old plywood. As
Rose enunciates her reasons she ticks them off on
her fingers.
ROSE (cont’d)
Two...Lyle is in Wisconsin which is 317
miles away. You can’t take any bus
straight to Mt. Zion. You’d have to stay
overnight in Des Moines....and.....then
there’s no bus to Zion.
Rose eyes Alvin again. She vanishes around the
corner one more time. Alvin continues working on
the ball joint, adding oil to loosen the bolt. Rose
comes around the corner again.
ROSE
Three....Your hips. You can’t hardly
stand for two minutes and when you
do stand up after you are sitting down
this is the sound you make when you
stand... "aaaaaraaaaarrrrhhgggg. " That is
your arthritis sound.
Alvin chuckles at her impersonation of him. She is
almost finished with her tasks. Her talking slows as
she gets to the last of her rant.
ROSE (cont’d)
Four....You are 73 years old. You were
born when Calvin Coolidge was
President of America.
Rose sits down next to Alvin on the stoop. She is
hot, tired, worried and upset. Her voice almost
breaks as she finishes her speech.
ROSE (cont’d)
You are 73 years old......And I can’t
drive you there.
ALVIN
Rosie....darlin’....I’m not dead yet.
This subdues Rose. Alvin looks at her for a beat,
turns and moves to a stool with the wrench and ball
joint. He begins screwing the ball joint to a beam.
ROSE
(tired and exasperated)
What are we building?
CUT TO:
30 INT.--NEXT DAY GROCERY STORE
Rose is pushing a grocery cart down the aisle. She
checks a list in her hand.
ROSE
Coffee.
Rose places eight large cans of Folgers into the cart.
She counts as she deposits them.
ROSE (cont’d)
One...two...three...four...five...six...
seven... eight.
She checks list again.
ROSE (cont’d)
Wieners....
Rose places several large packs of wieners in the cart.
ROSE (cont’d)
One...two...three....four...five.....six.
She reaches back into the cold meat case.
ROSE (cont’d)
Braunschweiger.
Rose makes faces in incremental disgust as she
counts.
ROSE (cont’d)
One......two........three.......four....
She hates braunschweiger. She checks her list again.
She moves down the aisle and into the next one. She
pauses before a display.
ROSE (cont’d)
Bug juice.
Rose throws insect repellent into the cart.
ROSE (cont’d)
One.
She checks her list and nods in satisfaction, heading
to the checkout counter.
CUT TO:
31 INT.--DAY GROCERY STORE CHECKOUT COUNTER
Rose is loading her purchases onto the counter.
BRENDA the checkout girl looks on with a curious
expression. Brenda is 20ish, cute, a little hefty.
Very cheerful.
BRENDA
(a statement)
Havin’ a party.
Rose looks at her blankly.
ROSE
Oh......Jeez I love parties.
BRENDA
Yah, me too.
ROSE
So where’s it at?
Brenda is confused.
BRENDA
Where’s what at?
ROSE
Your party.
BRENDA
I’m not havin’ a party. I thought you’re
havin’ a party.
ROSE
I am?
BRENDA
Well yah...look at all that braunsweiger.
ROSE
Yah it’s a lot of braunschweiger.
Brenda starts to ring up the braunschweiger.
ROSE
It’s for my dad.....for his.....trip. My
dad.......He...is going to.......Wisconsin.
BRENDA
Oh Wisconsin! A real party state.
Rose is keeping an eye on her items. She makes a
"yuk" face.
ROSE
I hate braunschweiger.
Brenda, still checking, nods in assent and makes a
sour face.
CUT TO:
32 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S BACKYARD
Rose comes walking out of the house with groceries.
She sets them on the picnic table and heads back
into the house. Alvin loads the groceries into the
now finished trailer. The back door of the house
opens and a big sheet of foam rubber flies out the
door followed by Rose. She hauls it over to the trailer
and sets it in. She fusses over its arrangement.
CUT TO:
33 INT.--DAY ACE HARDWARE
Pete, Sig, Apple, & Bud are in the store. They are
watching the Weather Channel. Sig has a toothpick
in his mouth. Apple is sitting on a stool. Alvin and
Rose enter.
PETE
Morning Alvin. How are you today
Rose?
Alvin nods. Rose smiles.
ROSE
(blurts)
My.....dad....is going to see.....his
.....brother. I keep askin’ him how....he’s
goin’ to get there.....but he doesn’t
say.....nothin’.
Alvin throws a look at Rose. She smiles.
PETE
Your bluebird houses are selling well
Rose. I’m gonna need some more from
you.
SIG
Taking a trip Alvin eh?
ALVIN
Yup.
Apple is sitting on a stool with one shoe off. His
hand is inside the shoe.
APPLE
Well if you’re traveling by car you
know my wife’ll get those AAA trip tix.
Those babies’ll tell you where every
piece of construction is all along the
"I" system.
PETE
I don’t suspect Alvin’ll be takin’ your
wife along with him Apple.
ALVIN
Oh Lord.
BUD
You can take my wife.
Alvin chuckles and then sets one cane against the
counter. With his other cane he makes his way down
the store aisle to the gas cans. He grabs one 5-gallon
container and heads back to the counter.
SIG
Where’s your brother at Alvin?
Alvin sets the can on the counter. He turns to walk
back down the aisle.
ROSE
Mt. Zion. Sixty-three miles east of the
Missi.....ssippi.
PETE
Sixty-three miles, eh Rose?
APPLE
Did you know that the Mississippi..the
old mighty Mississipp..is the single
most profitable waterway in the world?
Did you know that the Japanese harvest
pearls outta the river down to
Prairie du Chien....pearls!
SIG
And carp.
PETE
And walleye...need help there Alvin?
ALVIN
No thanks, Pete.
Pete and Sig exchange a glance and look at Rose.
She smiles. Alvin picks up another 5-gallon gas can.
SIG
What’s doin’ at your brother’s Alvin?
The Straight family reunion?
Alvin gives Sig a look.
ALVIN
You could say that.
Alvin puts the other gas can on the counter.
SIG
(goading Alvin)
Alvin you got three 5-gallon cans.
Fifteen gallons of gas there. Just what
you gonna do with that much gas?
Rose is getting nervous with Sig’s prying ways. She
knows that this is a sensitive area for Alvin. She
looks to the TV.
ROSE
Local forecast!
The whole gang stops and watches as the Weather
Channel gives the local forecast.
CUT TO:
34 INT.--DAY THE TV SCREEN
The local forecast runs and the radar is looking
clear.
CUT TO:
As soon as it is over they look at each other to
remember where they were in conversation.
SIG
Ahh....so what you need so much gas
for Alvin?
Alvin returns to the counter. This time he has two
medium-sized Styrofoam coolers. Alvin stops and
looks long at Sig.
ALVIN
Sig, you are one nosy sonofagun.
BUD
You got that right.
Sig clamps his jaw. Alvin turns back to Pete.
ALVIN
Pete, I’d like to buy that from you.
Alvin points to a contraption used in hardware
stores to grab things on high shelves. Pete sees what
he’s pointing to and gets a possessive jolt. He turns
to Alvin.
PETE
Jeez Alvin.
ALVIN
Well?
Pete eyes the grabber. He looks down the aisle to the
other end of the store where he’s got another grabber
hanging.
PETE
I do have two of them...I guess I could
sell you that one.
ALVIN
Five bucks would seem about right.
PETE
(puzzled)
Those things are hard to come by Alvin.
It would take me two months to get
another one on order. That’s a damn
good grabber. Jeez...I can’t let that grabber
go for less than.....jeez......00.
ALVIN
(considering, not
too happy)
OK. Ring her up.
Pete pulls down the grabber and longingly works it a
few times and sets it reluctantly down on the
counter. Alvin smiles. Pete starts ringing up Alvin’s
items.
PETE
Three 5-gallon gas cans at .89. Two
Styrofoam coolers...
The beautiful bells and clicks and hammers of the
old cash register are the only sounds in the room.
PETE
Two coolers, 99 cents and
one....one...Alvin...
ALVIN
Ring it up Pete.
PETE
With tax that’s .25.
Alvin fishes out a large black wallet held to his belt
by a chain. He pulls out two twenties and a five and
hands them to Pete.
SIG
What you need that grabber for Alvin?
Alvin turns to him.
ALVIN
Grabbin’.
Apple has his arm up to his elbow digging in his
boot. Suddenly he feels something.
APPLE
Hah! It’s a nail!
CUT TO:
35 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S BACKYARD
Alvin and Rose are in the backyard. Alvin takes a can
of W-2 lubricant. He sprays the hitch holder on the
trailer. Then he laboriously makes his way across the
lawn to the riding mower. He sprays the hitch ball on
the mower. Rose is confused. Alvin then mounts the
lawn mower. He begins backing it up to the trailer.
Awareness finally crosses Rose’s face. Her jaw drops.
ROSE
Oh.....jeeez Dad. Oh jeez......Dad.
CUT TO:
36 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S BACKYARD
Alvin is seated on a chaise lounge smoking a Swisher
Sweet. He is looking at his mower/trailer rig. A
mosquito coil burns beside him, casting a warm glow on
the scene. Rose is lying on the ground on a blanket
looking up at the stars. It is a beautiful autumn
evening.
ROSE (cont’d)
...that trailer is too heavy for that...it’s a
lawnmower. You are going to....drive....a
lawnmower to...another state.
ALVIN
Now Rose you gotta cease with your
worryin’. You get that from your
mother.
ROSE
But Dad....you....can’t.
ALVIN
Rose...."can’t" doesn’t live here.
Alvin takes a puff of cigar.
ALVIN
It’s gonna be fine Rose.
ROSE
Dad....please. I will find someone to
drive you to Wisconsin. Pete........you
like Pete.....Pete...he is a good driver.
ALVIN
Now, Rose, sweetheart......
Rose is starting to tear up. She is so worried about
what he is doing. He reaches down and takes her
hand.
ALVIN (cont’d)
I been on the road plenty. Didn’t your
mom and I haul you kids all around
the country?
Rose nods, close to tears. She counts.
ROSE
One, Wisconsin...Two, Minnesota...
Three, Wyoming but not long...Four
was Oregon. We had goats. Five.....New
Mexico and......six.....good old....Iowa.
ALVIN
Remember when we traveled...you and
your sister and brothers...
Rose nods and the reminiscence makes her happy.
ALVIN (cont’d)
We sure saw a lot. We all liked travelin’.
ROSE
Yeah.
(smiling at first but
then the worry returns)
But this is different Dad.
ALVIN
It is Rose...it’s easier..I’m not luggin’
seven kids in the back.
Rose nods. Her emotions are confused.
ROSE
But Dad.....you will be all alone. Won’t
you be lonely?
ALVIN
Rosie...sometimes a man likes bein’ a
little lonely.
Rose ponders this notion. A new anxiety creeps in.
ROSE
I will be alone......here...
This stops Alvin. He realizes he hadn’t really thought
about that and it makes him feel both bad and a little
worried. He hides his concern.
ALVIN
And you’re going to be just fine.
Dorothy is next door and she can’t keep
her nose out of our business. She’ll be
over here seven times a day.
Rose laughs.
ROSE
Wait ’til she hears about.........this Dad.
They both share a laugh.
ALVIN
Rose I got to go see Lyle. I got to make
this trip on my own. I know you
understand that.
ROSE
I guess so....
ALVIN
Look at that sky Rose...full of stars
tonight.
CUT TO:
37 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S BACKYARD
POV a sky full of stars.
CUT TO:
38 INT.--DAY GROCERY STORE
Dorothy is at the checkout counter. Brenda is
checking her out.
BRENDA
One bag of potato chips, two boxes of
powdered donuts, one bag of corn
nuts, six pack of Coca-Cola, two
Snickers, three Hostess Sno-Balls...
DOROTHY
Give me a couple packs of Salem lights
will ya hon?
Dorothy glances out the window of the store just in
time to see Alvin passing on his mower hauling the
trailer.
DOROTHY
Well....I don’t believe my eyes.
Brenda looks up and glances out the window. She
sees Alvin passing on the mower. She doesn’t miss a
beat in her checking.
BRENDA
Oh yah. He’s goin’ to visit his brother
in Wisconsin.
DOROTHY
On a lawnmower?!?!
BRENDA
Yah...
DOROTHY
Great party place, Wisconsin.
CUT TO:
39 INT.--DAY HARDWARE STORE
The Weather Channel is STILL on. Pete, Sig and
Apple are watching. As they watch they hear a noisy
engine approach out front. They turn to the store-
front window. Alvin pulls into frame hauling the
trailer behind his riding lawn mower.
SIG
(stunned)
Crimenetto.
All three exit the hardware store after Alvin.
CUT TO:
40 EXT.--DAY LAURENS MAIN STREET
The three hardware regulars trot alongside Alvin as
he passes out of town.
APPLE
Alvin just what are you settin’ out to do
here?
BUD
Oh for da cry eye Alvin.
APPLE
Alvin you are gonna get blown right off
the road is what I’m afraid.
SIG
(running out of breath
and stopping, bending over,
hands on knees, wheezing)
Oh....
(puffing)
... jeez Alvin.
All three stop and watch as Alvin moves slowly out
of town.
PETE
(to no one
in particular)
He’ll never make it past the Grotto.
CUT TO:
41 EXT.--DAY IOWA COUNTY HIGHWAY 314
Tight shot of very, very slow yellow center line
moving through frame to the tune of Steppenwolf’s
"Born to Be Wild" a la Easy Rider.
CUT TO:
42 EXT.--DAY IOWA COUNTY HIGHWAY 314
Wide shot from behind and then beside Alvin which
takes in expansive landscape. A beautiful sunny day.
America at five miles an hour.
CUT TO:
43 EXT.--DAY IOWA COUNTY HIGHWAY 314
Close shot Alvin happy to be on the road. Diggin’
the pig farms. Music plays over.
CUT TO:
44 EXT.--DAY SAME HIGHWAY
Alvin passes a farmhouse. A farm wife is hanging
clothes on a clothesline. She gawks. A boy gawks. A
dog chases after Alvin. Alvin holds out his hand
with a wiener in it. The dog sticks with him for
awhile. We ride along with the two of them for a
bit. Alvin turns to dog.
ALVIN
Go on home now.
The dog looks a little crestfallen but realizes Alvin is
right. He wheels and heads back home.
CUT TO:
45 EXT.--DAY SAME HIGHWAY
A farmer in the field on a John Deere tractor cutting
third crop hay. The mower and tractor are on in parallel
tracks heading in the same direction. The field
tractor passes him and he and the farmer exchange waves.
CUT TO:
46 EXT.--DAY SAME HIGHWAY
Alvin sees a sign that says, "Only Five More Miles to
The Grotto of West Bend Iowa."
CUT TO:
47 EXT.--DAY SAME HIGHWAY
Alvin is approaching the outskirts of the town of
West Bend. His reverie is interrupted by a distant,
building sound. A huge truck approaches and flies
by Alvin with a deafening roar. It completely rattles
lawn mower, trailer, and Alvin. Alvin’s hat is blown
off. He has to stop the mower, get out his canes, do
the slow dismount. He struggles down through a
ditch into a field. He retrieves the hat, goes back
down through the ditch. He climbs back up out of
the ditch onto the road and mounts the mower. Real
time. Just as he sits down, the tractor dies. Alvin
hauls himself off the mower again and pops the
hood. Shaking his head he gets back on the mower.
DISSOLVE TO:
48 EXT.--DAY
Alvin is sitting on the mower in the same spot. He
reaches back into food locker, grabs a cold wiener.
He sits and eats.
DISSOLVE TO:
49 EXT.--DAY
Alvin is sitting on the open back door of the trailer
looking back down the road. He sees a bus
approaching. He waves it down and the bus stops.
The side of the bus has written large "SUN-RAY
TOURS."
CUT TO:
50 INT.--DAY INSIDE TOUR BUS
The doors of the bus pop open to reveal Alvin
standing there with his two canes, wearing his
Stetson.
ALVIN
I’m having some engine trouble.
The busdriver cranes his neck to look beyond Alvin
and spies the lawn mower and trailer.
BUSDRIVER
What the heck are you driving there.
ALVIN
A Rehds.
The busdriver is puzzled by this answer.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Can you give me a lift into town?
BUSDRIVER
I can get you as far as the Grotto. This
is the SUN-RAY Tour.
ALVIN
I’d appreciate that.
Alvin climbs on board.
CUT TO:
51 INT.--DAY ALVIN’S POV OF PASSENGERS
The bus is filled with senior citizens, mostly women.
Each occupant is wearing a name tag bearing "SUN-
RAY TOURS" and their name.
CUT TO:
52 INT.--DAY BUS
Alvin just gazes at the passengers.
CUT TO:
53 INT.--DAY BUS, ALVIN’S POV
A sea of white, blue and pink hair and wrinkled
faces. One lady pops up and snaps his photo. She
then turns and snaps a photo of the lawn mower
and trailer.
CUT TO:
54 INT.--DAY BUS
Alvin moves down the aisle toward a seat. His canes
are hanging one from each arm as he grips one seat
back after another. Some of the women cringe slightly
as he passes. One old lady leans over to another.
OLD LADY #1
My Edward loved his riding mower.
CUT TO:
55 EXT.--DAY WEST BEND GROTTO
The bus pulls up to the Grotto, a fantastic, magical
tourist attraction. The old people begin to get out of
the bus.
CUT TO:
56 INT.--DAY BUS
Alvin sits patiently waiting for everyone else to leave
the bus. People give a variety of looks as they file
out. Alvin watches them as they walk into the
Grotto. As the last person disappears through the
entrance, he stands and slowly exits the bus.
CUT TO:
57 I/E.--DAY GROTTO
Pan of the interior wall of the Grotto. It is a beauti-
fully detailed structure of pieces of rock and crystal.
The stations of the Cross are represented on the two
sides of the interior walls. Alvin sits on a bench in a
courtyard inside the Grotto looking at what he sees.
The bench is situated under a spreading oak tree. In
the background we see the group from the bus with
the tour guide talking through a megaphone.
TOUR GUIDE
...The Pastor of this Catholic Parish
began his work on the Grotto in 1912
and continued it until his death in
1954. All this work you see before you
was done by hand...
An old gentleman (WENDELL) breaks from the
group and approaches Alvin. Wendell is wearing a
seersucker suit with a bow tie. He is walking with
one cane. He walks up to Alvin sitting on the bench.
WENDELL
May I share the bench? As you can see
I have a little arthritis myself.
ALVIN
Be my guest.
Wendell sits, gets himself situated and leans forward
on his cane.
WENDELL
This was one fellow who had quite a
bit of time on his hands.
ALVIN
A lot of work.
The tour guide in the background has made some
comment which causes all the women to start
giggling. Alvin and Wendell turn at this.
ALVIN (cont’d)
So how’s it traveling with a hen house?
WENDELL
Well I’ll tell you. My wife passed away
in ’87. After she was gone I spent a lot
of time alone. Oh there were women
who came out of the woodwork trying
to cook and clean for me. I managed to
keep myself unattached and they finally
stopped coming around. Then things
got pretty quiet. I got to missing
things.
ALVIN
My wife passed in 1981.
Wendell nods and they sit quiet for a moment.
WENDELL
My daughter tricked me into one of
these bus trips a couple of years ago. It
was The House on the Rock if I’m not
mistaken. A very interesting structure
that. I was the only man on that bus. It
was a singular experience.
ALVIN
I bet.
They share a chuckle.
WENDELL
I was pleasantly surprised at how much
I enjoyed all that femininity. I discovered
how much I missed it. Since then
I make one of these bus trips every
other month. I rather enjoy the
attention.
ALVIN
I live with my daughter Rose. Of
course, it’s different from being with
my wife, but it’s a comfort to have a
woman around.
WENDELL
There’s not a man born who doesn’t
enjoy being fussed over.
ALVIN
You wouldn’t a had your way with any
of these fillies now wouldja?
Wendell pauses and chuckles.
WENDELL
It is a wonder how invigorating a
tumble with a maiden can be.
ALVIN
If there’s a maiden on that bus I’ll dance a
jig.
WENDELL
(chuckling again)
See those three over there? They’re
Dominican nuns.
Alvin begins laughing and Wendell joins in.
Without rising from the bench Alvin moves his
feet in a jig. The two fellas laugh again. They hear
an outburst of giggles from the gaggle of gals and
look their way. One of the women waves to
Wendell. He waves back. The two men sit in
silence for a while.
WENDELL (cont’d)
That’s an interesting attachment to
your lawn mower.
ALVIN
You mean my trailer.
WENDELL
Is that what that is? Why would you
attach a trailer to a lawnmower?
ALVIN
I’m takin’ a trip. That’s where I bunk.
WENDELL
A trip on a lawnmower? That’s an
interesting means of conveyance. A bit
hard on the hips isn’t it?
ALVIN
No worse than a tumble with a maiden.
The two laugh again.
ALVIN
It’s not too bad. A little rough on the
dismount.
They laugh some more. It subsides.
WENDELL
And what’s your destination?
ALVIN
Mt. Zion.
WENDELL
Wisconsin?
ALVIN
Yup.
WENDELL
I admire your gumption.
Two women have broken away from the crowd and
approach the bench.
FIRST WOMAN
Oh Wendell. The tour guide has so
much to say. We hate to see you miss
this.
Wendell turns to Alvin and winks. Woman number
two reaches down and flicks some lint off of Alvin’s
shoulder. Alvin smiles at her.
ALVIN
Thank you.
The woman blushes. Wendell stands and turns to
Alvin.
WENDELL
Bon voyage my friend.
ALVIN
Adios.
Wendell and the two women walk away.
CUT TO:
58 EXT.--DAY HIGHWAY 314
Alvin tight as he rolls along the highway at a surpris-
ingly fast speed. He is holding on to his hat. Pull
back slowly to reveal Alvin on the bed of a pickup
sitting on his lawn mower as it rolls back into
Laurens.
CUT TO:
59 INT.--DAY LAURENS ACE HARDWARE
The Weather Channel is on. The locals all turn their
heads as Alvin passes through their view out of the
window.
SIG
Told ya that mower wouldn’t make it
mor’n a few miles. Alvin (shakes his
head), he’s got more brass than
brains.
PETE
(almost to himself)
Hardly out a full day.
APPLE
Least he’s not hurt. Old timer like that
on the road. There’s no tellin’.
Pete, Apple and Sig stand looking as Alvin passes.
Alvin looks straight ahead.
WEATHER PERSON
(off camera)
...and now for your local forecast.
Contrary to their previous actions when the local
forecast is announced, Pete, Sig and Apple do not
take their eyes off of Alvin. They walk to the
window as he passes out of frame. They peer down the
street after him.
CUT TO:
60 INT.--DAY ALVIN’S KITCHEN
Rose is sitting at the kitchen table with Dorothy.
Between them is a large bowl of potato chips and
they are each drinking a large glass of milk.
Dorothy’s hair is now bright red.
ROSE
...so the man in a pick up...he brought
my...my dad back.
DOROTHY
Oh...I must’ve been at the beauty
parlor. What kinda pickup?
Alvin enters kitchen from inside the house, passes
by them and on out the back door. He is carrying a
pump action shotgun under his arm. He has a
little trouble with the canes, the gun and the back
door. The gals stop talking until he goes out the
door.
ROSE
A Ford.
Dorothy’s eyes are glued to Alvin as she watches him
through the kitchen window crossing the lawn.
DOROTHY
What’s your dad doin’ with that gun?
ROSE
I.....don’t know. My dad...he got
medals in the war for sharpshootin’....
But his eyes ain’t so good now.
All through this we see Alvin out in the yard. He
begins to put his canes down and prop himself up
against a picnic table.
ROSE (cont’d)
Once he shot....a cougar....right
out....of a tree....it was up above me
and my......brother Bobby.
Through the window we see Alvin pick up the shot-
gun and raise it to his shoulder. The two women
unconsciously rise up out of their seats and move
toward the window to see what is going on. Alvin
pumps the shotgun and fires. The women can now
see the target -- the Rehds lawnmower explodes.
Alvin pumps once more and finishes it off.
DOROTHY
Jeez.
CUT TO:
61 INT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S LIVING ROOM
Alvin and Rose are watching the TV news. Alvin is
gluing coins onto the hatband of his Stetson.
ROSE
What.....are those Dad?
ALVIN
My Mexican coins.
ROSE
Remember...I was born in New
Mexico....June....20...1960. The
Mexican coin is a........peso........Why
are you gluing pesos on your hat?
ALVIN
Ballast.
ROSE
(repeating with
some confusion)
Ballast.
CUT TO:
62 EXT.--DAY JOHN DEERE DEALER IN LAURENS IOWA
Pan across flat Iowa landscape to huge John Deere
sign. The camera moves down to find a herd of
the huge, green titans of farm machinery; the John
Deere tractors. We first see the biggest farm tractors
John Deere makes, some more than a story tall
with air-conditioned cabs, CD players and onboard
global positioning computers. As the camera
moves the vehicles get smaller, until the shot
comes to rest on the spanking new John Deere
Riding Mower, sparkling in the summer sun. As
the camera rests on the riding mower we see Alvin,
leaning on his two canes, gazing longingly at the
mower.
CUT TO:
63 INT.--DAY JOHN DEERE DEALERSHIP
Two salesmen stand sipping coffee from official John
Deere mugs. The older man is Tom. He is late 50s,
greying and stocky and short. A seasoned tractor
salesman who has seen it all. He is wearing a John
Deere sports shirt, yellow with green JD logo over
his breast. With Tom is his young, energetic sales
rookie, Andy. Andy is a big kid, just off the family
farm, a little soft but full of sales gumption. He
works on straight commission. He too is wearing a
John Deere shirt and hat, which is a bit small for his
great melon of a head.
ANDY
That’s the LD 155 right Mr. Hillenbrandt.
TOM
As I told ya’...Andy I’d rather ya didn’t
call me "Mister Hillenbrandt." Tom is
fine. People hear you call me Mister
and they’ll think I’ve actually become a
real businessman. Pretty soon they’ll all
be calling me Mr. Hillenbrandt and I’d
have to sell my implement business and
move to someplace where folks call me
"Tom" again.
ANDY
Sorry...T...T...Tom...it’s just that I’ve
been calling you Mister Hillenbrandt
all my life...
TOM
Well you’re out of school and a workin’
fool like the rest of us now Andy and
you can start usin’ first names. And one
other thing...that’s not the LD 155,
that’s the LT 155.
Alvin enters the showroom, where there are more
riding mowers.
ANDY
(confidently)
Would you like to me to handle this
one...Tom?
TOM
Sure. It’s Alvin Straight. I’m sure you’ll
do just fine Andy.
Andy walks over to meet Alvin as he enters the door.
As he leaves Tom ducks his head and leaves the
showroom. He turns and looks at ALICE, the gray
haired woman who is his bookkeeper. She crosses
herself and raises her eyes to the heavens. Alvin is
looking at another model of riding mower as Andy
saunters over.
ANDY
Good morning. I’m Andy Laufenberg.
Anything I can help you with today
sir.
ALVIN
Well Andy Laufenberg...I’m looking to
get a riding mower. I want good
power -- comfortable ride.
ANDY
Well sir this is the one to look at. It’s
the John Deere LT 155....
Andy nervously reaches for a pamphlet.
ANDY (cont’d)
It’s got a 15 horsepower Kawasaki
engine. Cast iron cylin...
ALVIN
Japanese?
ANDY
(flummoxed)
No ah sir...no I’m not. I’m mostly
Dutch.
ALVIN
The engine. Kawasaki. A Japanese
engine?
ANDY
Yessir.
Alvin grunts.
ANDY (cont’d)
They...the Japanese make a very fine
engine. The LD 155...
ALVIN
LT.
ANDY
Beg your pardon?
ALVIN
LT...LT 155...says here right on the
side.
Andy is flustered and begins fumbling with the
pamphlet.
ANDY
And you’re right sir...similar models. By
Gish that is the LT 155. Same engine
looks like and...it’s...got....air
cooling...electronic ignition...right here
with that key....It’s got a hydrostatic
drive transmission.
ALVIN
And what would that be?
ANDY
Good question and I’m sure I can get
that answer for you...
Andy looks over his shoulder to search for Tom.
Tom and the bookkeeper wave and turn back to
some papers.
CUT TO:
64 INT.--DAY JOHN DEERE DEALERSHIP / BOOKKEEPER’S OFFICE
ALICE
How’s he doin’?
TOM
Young salesmen are a painful thing to
witness. You add Alvin to the mix and
we may have to call the paramedics.
Alice giggles. They continue to watch Andy and Alvin.
ALICE
Shouldn’t you rescue him now?
CUT TO:
65 INT.--DAY JOHN DEERE DEALERSHIP
Andy is still struggling.
ANDY
It’s also got disc breaks...Mr...ah...Mr...
ah...sir.
ALVIN
Straight. Mr. Alvin Straight.
ANDY
Well Alvin. Disc brakes on a lawn
mower. Isn’t that something?
ALVIN
You’re young enough to be my grand-
son. Proper thing would be to call me
Mr. Straight. If a buck private called
me Alvin I made him shovel slop.
ANDY
Right Mr. Straight. I’m a bit new at
this and....and...well--
Tom crosses the showroom to them. Alvin nods.
Andy looks relieved.
ANDY
Just talking to Mr. Straight here, Mr.
Hillenbrandt... ah...well...he’s interested
here in a LT 155.
TOM
Mornin’ Alvin.
ALVIN
Tom.
TOM
Alvin the LT 155 runs about 00
dollars. What ya lookin’ to spend today?
ALVIN
Not that much.
TOM
Follow me Alvin. Andy, Alice has some
paperwork you need to fill out.
ANDY
(dejected)
OK Mr. Hillenbrandt.
TOM
You did fine Andy. Didn’t he Alvin?
ALVIN
Pleasure doing business with you Mr.
Laufenberg.
Andy walks away dazed and confused.
TOM
Can you follow me around back Alvin? I
got something that might fit your needs.
CUT TO:
66 EXT.--DAY REAR OF JOHN DEERE DEALERSHIP
The back lot of the dealership is an elephants’
graveyard of tractors and implements and parts. If
the front of the dealership is the color of John Deere
green, the back is the color of rust. Tom and Alvin
wind their way through the backlot talking as they
go.
TOM
I set you up with that old Rehds that
we had the last time didn’t I, Alvin?
ALVIN
That you did.
TOM
That ran about 5. Same price
range?
ALVIN
Generally.
TOM
You tradin’ in the Rehds today?
ALVIN
I don’t think so Tom.
Tom nods. He decides not to ask more on the
subject.
TOM
Pete tells me that you tried usin’ the
rider in an interesting way. Still
planning to do that?
ALVIN
Still planning to Tom.
TOM
I know better than to talk Alvin
Straight out of anything he sets his
mind to. But I have to tell you Alvin
that you have always struck me as a
smart man....
ALVIN
That’s appreciated.
TOM
...Until now.
Alvin chuckles. They come around a large John
Deere field tractor and there sitting amongst the
heaps is an old John Deere riding mower. Strong,
simple and still green with a golden-yellow, tractor-
style seat. Alvin looks at it.
ALVIN
What year?
TOM
’66. Has the Kohler engine. We’ve used
it for parts but I always order and
replace them when they arrive. The
guts are good.
ALVIN
How fast will it go?
TOM
’Bout five miles an hour...more down-
hill. It’s got the old transmission.
Nothing fancy.
ALVIN
What are you askin’ Tom?
Tom pauses and sighs. Looks around the lot.
TOM
Alvin, we’ve done business before. I
know you’re an old horse trader from
way back and I don’t much feel like
sparring with you today. Hard to find a
price on a riding mower that’s near 30
years old. Your guess is as good as
mine....I guess I’d just like to ask you
what you’re willing to pay.
Alvin takes a look at the mower.
ALVIN
It’s a good machine?
TOM
It’s a good machine, Alvin.
ALVIN
I’ve got three hunnert and 25 dollars
Tom. And there’s no fiction there.
TOM
That sounds fine with me Alvin. Let’s
go and you can settle up with Alice.
ALVIN
One last thing Tom. You can tell a little
something about a machine this old by
who’s run it. Do you know who owned
it?
TOM
Sure do Alvin. Me.
CUT TO:
67 INT.--DAY JOHN DEERE SHOWROOM
Tom and Andy watch Alvin drive away on his
mower.
TOM
Well congratulations, Andy.
ANDY
Thanks...Tom...but you sold it.
TOM
No sir...you spotted the customer and
brought him in...I just cleaned up. You
go on and see Alice. Three percent on
5 dollars outta be enough for a
pitcher of beer tonight...but there’ll be
more where that came from.
Andy walks away while Tom continues to watch
Alvin drive away down the road.
TOM (cont’d)
(to himself)
It’s worth it to tell everyone you sold it
to Alvin Straight.
CUT TO:
68 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S BACKYARD
Alvin and Rose are in the backyard repeating the
good-bye. Alvin is perched on the John Deere
mower and Rose is standing next to him arguing.
ROSE
But Dad I was.......right. You ran into
trouble.........the first....day.
Alvin is determined but gentle.
ALVIN
The only mistake I made was my
equipment. I’m going to be fine now
Rose. Nothing runs like a.....
Alvin pats the mower...he looks expectantly to
Rose...She is puzzled....she looks back at him...what
is he talking about?
ALVIN
A Deere...Rose...Nothin’ runs like a Deere.
Rose nods, still not quite sure what they’re talking
about. Alvin motions his head in the direction
of Dorothy’s house. Rose looks over.
CUT TO:
69 EXT.--DAY DOROTHY’S HOUSE
Dorothy ducks out of the window where she has
been watching Alvin and Rose.
CUT TO:
70 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S BACKYARD
ALVIN
I gotta go just to give her something to
chew on.
Rose smiles.
ALVIN (cont’d)
You know I gotta do this Rose.
Rose tries to smile through her anxiety, and nods.
CUT TO:
71 EXT.--DAY LAURENS DINER
OMIT
CUT TO:
72 INT.--DAY ALVIN’S BACK PORCH
Rose is sitting at her workbench painting a bird-
house. She frowns and shakes her head.
ROSE
God.....I am.....so worried....about.......
our dad. Please God....don’t let nothin’
.......bad....happen....to him.
CUT TO:
73 EXT.--DAY IOWA HWY 314 AT GROTTO SIGN
Alvin tools on by the point where he broke down
before, tips his hat at sign. Secures his hat nice and
snug. Here comes that ominous sound of an oncoming
truck. Alvin shows no fear. The truck booms by,
rocking trailer, mower and Alvin but THE HAT IS
ROCK SOLID. Alvin smiles.
CUT TO:
74 EXT.--DAY THE GROTTO
Alvin drives past the Grotto and smiles.
CUT TO:
75 EXT.--DAY IOWA HIGHWAY
Alvin is moving down the shoulder and slows to a
stop. He pulls out his box of Swisher Sweets and
lights up. He sits for a moment and considers the
landscape around him: a vast expanse of flat corn-
fields and the road stretching into the horizon ahead
of him. The mower is idling and there is no other
sound. He is content.
CUT TO:
76 EXT.--DAY
Alvin slows down as he is passing a small woods on
the side of the road. He comes to a stop and considers
the woods. He makes his laborious dismount and
stretches. He goes around back of the trailer, reaches
in and gets his grabber and a tarp. He heads into the
woods and begins grabbing some wood. This is no
simple task since he’s walking with the two canes.
After grabbing a large piece of wood while placing it
on the tarp, his hand slips off one of his canes. He
tries to catch himself but falls face down on the
ground. He doesn’t move.
CUT TO:
77 EXT.--DAY CLOSE SHOT OF ALVIN
Cut close to Alvin’s face. There is fear in his eyes and
his breathing is labored. After collecting himself he
looks around for his canes.
CUT TO:
78 EXT.--DAY ALVIN ON THE GROUND
He reaches out and gets a hold of his canes. With all
his might he slowly struggles back to his feet. Still
shaking he uses one cane to retrieve the grabber.
With the grabber he gets the stick that had undone
him and loads it onto the tarp and drags it over to
the trailer. He puts the sticks into the back one by
one. He climbs aboard and pulls back onto the
shoulder and heads off down the highway.
CUT TO:
79 EXT.--LATE AFTERNOON CAMPSITE IN A FARMER’S FIELD
Alvin pulls off the road onto a dirt track leading
into a field. He is in the wide open, no trees, no
farm buildings. He takes a look at the surroundings
and pulls off the track where the ground is slightly
higher. He does the slow dismount off the Deere
and stretches, rubbing his lower back. He goes about
setting up for the night. He opens the trailer and
pulls out an aluminum frame chaise lounge and
some of the firewood he had gathered. He slowly
gathers twigs & leaves for kindling for the fire. He
opens up the food locker at the front of the trailer
and pulls out a few items. He puts a few hot dogs
and some bread and cheese on a plate. He sits down
on the camping chair and proceeds to eat with little
ceremony. It is not quite magic hour.
DISSOLVE TO:
80 EXT.--MAGIC HOUR FARMER’S FIELD
Alvin has built a fire. He sits in his lawn chair
drinking coffee and smoking a Swisher Sweet. His
canes are lying across his lap. The night is very quiet.
Alvin listens to the quiet and the occasional rustle of
small field animals. He looks to the horizon where
the sun had set.
CUT TO:
81 EXT.--MAGIC HOUR
The sky is royal blue with a band of gold at the
horizon. Higher up the sky is navy blue and there
are a million stars as you can only see in a clear
country sky. Alvin sits back and enjoys his smoke.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
82 EXT.--DAY HIGHWAY 18
Alvin going down the road. He sees a small figure
up ahead. A car whizzes past Alvin. The figure ahead
sticks out a thumb. The car passes by. Alvin
approaches the figure, sees it’s a young, tough-
looking girl CRYSTAL. She has dark hair under a
baseball cap. Somewhere between 13 and 17 years
old. Heavy eye makeup, bad tattoo on her shoulder.
She is wearing a tank top, cut-offs, high-top sneakers
with tiger-striped laces, and a backpack. Alvin nods
in acknowledgment as he passes her. She coldly
returns his gaze.
CUT TO:
83 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S CAMPSITE
Alvin is eating a raw hot dog. He has built a campfire.
CUT TO:
84 EXT.--NIGHT SAME HIGHWAY WIDE SHOT
Crystal is walking along.
CUT TO:
85 EXT.--NIGHT SAME HIGHWAY CRYSTAL’S POV
Crystal spies Alvin’s campfire in the field along the
road. The lawnmower and trailer are clearly visible
and she remembers him from the road.
CUT TO:
86 EXT.--NIGHT SAME HIGHWAY
Crystal considers. Her face is unreadable...her inten-
tions are unclear. She cuts off the road into the field
and heads toward the campsite.
CUT TO:
87 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S CAMPSITE.
Alvin barely looks up as Crystal walks into range of
campfire light. Neither of them say anything for
some time.
CRYSTAL
I couldn’t get a ride.
Alvin nods his head. Doesn’t say anything for a bit.
ALVIN
Hungry?
CRYSTAL
Whatya got?
ALVIN
Wieners.
CRYSTAL
Wieners?
ALVIN
Grab a stick and cook one.
He points to the fire. She hesitates...looks at Alvin for
a bit longer. Alvin just keeps looking at the fire. Finally
she looks around, finds a stick and leans toward Alvin
to take a hot dog. She hunkers down holding the stick
with the hot dog over the fire. She casts occasional
glances at Alvin. More silence. She looks over to the
mower and trailer. Her expression darkens.
CRYSTAL
What a hunk of junk.
ALVIN
Eat your dinner missy.
Startled a bit at his abruptness she falls silent. She
nibbles on her hot dog and then realizing how hungry
she is she begins to eat faster. She polishes off
the hot dog. Alvin notices this.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Get yourself another.
She’s relieved at this offer and gets another hot dog,
puts it on the stick and holds it over the fire. They
sit, not speaking, listening to a chorus of crickets
and peepers.
CRYSTAL
How long you been out on the road?
ALVIN
I’ve traveled just about all my life.
CRYSTAL
I like being out on the road.
ALVIN
It’s different for a girl alone.
CRYSTAL
(defensively)
It doesn’t have to be different for a girl.
Alvin just nods his head. Doesn’t speak or look at her.
CRYSTAL (cont’d)
Where you from?
ALVIN
Laurens.
She nods, and sits quietly.
CRYSTAL
You got a wife back there?
ALVIN
Nope.
CRYSTAL
Kids?
ALVIN
My wife Frances brought fourteen kids
into the world. Only seven made it....
My daughter Rose lives with me.
No comment for a while.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Frances died in ’81.
Quiet for a time.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Where’s your family?
Now she’s not talking.
ALVIN (cont’d)
You runnin’ away?
She still doesn’t answer. Alvin leans back and draws
on his cigar. He looks at the girl.
ALVIN (cont’d)
How far along are you?
Crystal looks away from the fire into the darkness.
CRYSTAL
Five months.
Alvin nods. More quiet. Alvin gets up, walks out of
firelight with his grabber and comes back with a log.
He throws it on the fire and works the embers for a
bit.
ALVIN
My daughter Rose that lives with
me...she’s what some people would call
a little slow. But she’s not. She’s got a
mind like a bear trap for facts and
keeps everything organized around the
house. She was a real good mom....had
four kids.
He pauses looking into the fire. Crystal watches him
expectantly.
ALVIN (cont’d)
One night.......someone else was
watchin’ the kids...
DISSOLVE TO:
88 INT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S KITCHEN
We see the shot of Rose sitting alone in the kitchen
that we saw before. She is at the kitchen table smoking
a cigarette and thinking.
ALVIN
(continuing in
voice over)
There was a fire. Her second boy got
burned real bad. Rose didn’t have nothin’
to do with it.
He pauses.
ALVIN (cont’d)
(continuing in
voice over)
...but...because of the way Rose is... the
state said she wasn’t comp’tant to care
for the kids and took them all away.
DISSOLVE TO:
83 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S CAMPSITE
ALVIN
Not a day passes she doesn’t pine for
those kids.
Crystal looks away from him into the fire. He looks
back to the fire, coughs.
ALVIN
Well, I’m headin’ to see my brother Lyle.
CRYSTAL
Huh?
ALVIN
I said I’m goin’ to visit my brother Lyle
in Mt. Zion.
CRYSTAL
Where’s that?
ALVIN
In Wisconsin. Just over the state line.
CRYSTAL
(nodding)
Oh....Cheddar Heads.
Alvin laughs at this and Crystal smiles, too.
ALVIN
Aren’t those just about the dumbest
things you ever saw a person put on
their head?
She nods and laughs.
CRYSTAL
I hear that’s a real party place,
Wisconsin. Guess I’ll never get to find
out.
They sit in silence. Alvin looks away from the fire.
ALVIN
I haven’t seen my brother in ten years.
Alvin picks up the hot dogs and takes one out of the
pack. He proceeds to eat it raw.
CRYSTAL
You’re eatin’ a raw hot dog!
ALVIN
(smiling)
I like ’em straight up.
Crystal makes a face. Alvin munches slowly.
CRYSTAL
Ten years is a long time.
Crystal shivers with a chill. Alvin notices this.
ALVIN
There’s a blanket in the trailer.
Crystal leaves firelight. She rustles about in the trailer.
CRYSTAL
(offscreen)
What the hell kind of boom box is
this?
ALVIN
Eight track stereo...watch your god-
damned language.
CRYSTAL
(offscreen)
Are these videotapes or what?
ALVIN
That’s music girlie.
CRYSTAL
They’re huge!.....I never seen anything like
this.
We hear some rattling and the sound of the tape going
in. A sweet Patsy Cline ballad floats out of the trailer
and into the night air. Smiling, Crystal comes back
into the light with a blanket around her shoulders.
CRYSTAL (cont’d)
Figured it out.
ALVIN
Good girl.
They sit for a while and listen to the music.
CRYSTAL
Your brother.
ALVIN
Lyle and I had a falling out.
CRYSTAL
Over what?
ALVIN
I can’t say as I recall.
CRYSTAL
Well that’s pretty stupid. You haven’t
seen him in 10 years because of a fight
and you can’t remember what the fight
was about?
ALVIN
You got some rude habits girl.
Crystal is taken aback. She is quiet, thinking.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Maybe I do recall.
Quiet for a while.
ALVIN (cont’d)
People do lots of stupid things,
knowing they’re stupid.
He looks at her. She looks up.
CRYSTAL
Sorry.
They both stare into the fire for a while.
CRYSTAL
So why are you going to see him now?
ALVIN
He’s sick.
Crystal is poking the fire with the stick. Alvin picks
up another stick and he starts poking the fire.
CRYSTAL
My family hates me. They’ll really hate
me when they find out....
ALVIN
You didn’t tell them?
CRYSTAL
No...no one knows...not even my
boyfriend.
ALVIN
Well that doesn’t strike me as fair
treatment of your people.
CRYSTAL
I can take care of my own problems.
There is a pause as they watch the fire. Then Alvin
speaks.
ALVIN
Don’t let pride make you dumb. I
should know.
She’s listening.
ALVIN (cont’d)
They may not be happy. But not so
much that they want to lose you...or
your little problem.
CRYSTAL
I don’t know about that.
ALVIN
Well a course neither do I but a warm
bed and a roof sounds a mite better than
this...eating hot dogs on a stick with an
old geezer traveling on a lawn mower.
She giggles a bit and then falls silent. After a
moment, Alvin stirs.
ALVIN (cont’d)
When my kids were young I played a
game with them. I’d give each of them
a stick. One for each of ’em, and I’d tell
them to break it. They’d do that easy.
Then I’d tell them to make one bundle
of all the sticks and try to break that. A
course they couldn’t. I used to say that
was family, that bundle.
Crystal listens in silence.
ALVIN (cont’d)
Sleep in the trailer if you want. I’ll be
just fine here in my chair.
CRYSTAL
No, I’ll be fine sleeping out here.
Looking at the stars helps me think.
Alvin nods. He begins to struggle to his feet. Crystal
stands to help him. After a moment of hesitation
Alvin accepts her arm. He stands, nods, smiles and
moves slowly to the trailer. Crystal sits down alone
to watch the fire. We hear the sounds of Alvin settling
into the trailer. A bit of silence.
ALVIN
(from offscreen)
Sweet dreams.
CUT TO:
90 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S TRAILER
Alvin’s trailer door is open to the night air. We
slowly push into the dark rectangular opening of the
trailer.
FADE IN:
91 EXT.--SUNRISE
A wide establishing shot of the Iowa landscape at
sunrise.
CUT TO:
92 EXT.--SUNRISE ALVIN’S CAMPSITE
Alvin crawls out of the trailer. Crystal’s gone. Next
to the cold campfire is a bundle of sticks bound
with a tiger-striped shoelace.
CUT TO:
93 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
A series of dissolves:
Alvin is tooling down the road.
DISSOLVE TO:
94 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
He passes a pig farm.
DISSOLVE TO:
95 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
He passes a sheep farm.
DISSOLVE TO:
96 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
He passes a dairy farm.
DISSOLVE TO:
97 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
He passes a buffalo farm.
DISSOLVE TO:
98 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
He passes an ostrich farm.
DISSOLVE TO:
99 EXT.--MAGIC HOUR HWY 18
Alvin comes upon a concrete animal (yard ornament)
manufacturer. He pulls off and sets up camp
alongside.
CUT TO:
100 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S CAMPSITE
Alvin is eating, thinking, enjoying the evening in the
company of a menagerie of small concrete animals
surrounding him in the campfire. The light of the
fire plays off their faces.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
101 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
Cornfields on either side of the highway. The corn is
high in the field, topped by swaying golden tassels.
CUT TO:
102 EXT.--AFTERNOON HWY 18 ON THE
APPROACH TO WEST UNION, IOWA
Alvin has had to pull into a busy four lane highway
on the outskirts of a medium-sized city. There is no
shoulder as there has been out in the country. The
traffic is heavy. Drivers pass, some angry, some
curious. A squad car pulls up behind and turns on its
lights. Alvin is oblivious. Frustrated, the POLICE
OFFICER (young but not a rookie) gets on the
loudspeaker...
WEST UNION POLICEMAN
(very loud)
Please pull your vehicle off the road.
Alvin jumps and looks around. He sees the police
car and pulls into the parking lot of a Computer
Cosmos store. He sits patiently on the mower waiting
for the officer. The officer approaches.
WEST UNION POLICEMAN
May I see your driver’s license sir?
Alvin looks at the guy and laughs. The officer looks
off, takes a deep breath.
WEST UNION POLICEMAN (cont’d)
Have you been drinking today sir?
ALVIN
No sir.
The Cop thinks for a minute, looks at heavy traffic
passing by, looks at Alvin, his mower and trailer.
WEST UNION POLICEMAN
I’m going to have to ask you to step
out...uh...get off of the lawn mower, sir.
Alvin goes into the slow dismount. Officer regards
this and reaches to assist. Alvin jerks his arm away
from the officer.
WEST UNION POLICEMAN (cont’d)
Sir, would you just walk a straight line for
me?
Alvin looks at his canes, looks at the officer and
proceeds to walk a straight line.
WEST UNION POLICEMAN (cont’d)
Sir, can you do that without the canes?
ALVIN
Nope, I’ll tip over.
The Cop looks down.
WEST UNION POLICEMAN
OK Sir. I don’t believe you have been
drinking but I’m gonna have to ask you
to stay here at Computer Cosmos for
another hour or so...just ’til traffic dies
down. That would be best for you and
the other cars. Alright?
Alvin nods and hobbles back to the mower. He
mounts and the cop watches this. The cop then gets
into his squad car and takes off.
DISSOLVE TO:
103 EXT.--DUSK THE COMPUTER COSMOS PARKING LOT
Alvin sits and waits. Cars whizz by.
DISSOLVE TO:
104 EXT.--DUSK RED ROAD ON HWY 18
Alvin is once again on a country road. A car passes
him. The woman driving gawks at him as she passes.
Moments later we hear off camera a screech of
brakes and a heavy thud. We see Alvin react to the
event up ahead.
CUT TO:
105 EXT.--DUSK RED ROAD HWY 18 ALVIN’S POV
Up ahead a blue Japanese subcompact is parked at a
strange angle across the shoulder of the road. The
engine is still running. Smoke rises from the hood.
The driver car door opens and a hefty woman with a
bouffant hairdo, stretch pants and a tunic gets out.
Alvin’s POV slow approach. He watches her as she
walks around to the front of the car, and looks down
to the ground. She looks up to the heavens and then
begins pounding her open hand on the top of the
car hood.
CUT TO:
106 EXT.--DUSK RED ROAD HWY 18
Alvin reacts to the scene as he approaches.
CUT TO:
107 EXT.--DUSK RED ROAD HWY 18
Alvin drives up to the woman. Alvin executes his
slow dismount. The woman glances briefly at Alvin
but barely registers his presence because she is so
distraught.
ALVIN
Can I help Miss?
DEER WOMAN
No you can’t help me. Jesus, Mary and
Joseph. No one can help me.
Alvin moves around to the front of the car. He notes
that the car has quite a few dents. We see that the
woman has struck a nice eight point buck. Alvin’s
face shows relief. All the while the woman rants and
paces.
DEER WOMAN (cont’d)
I’ve tried driving with my lights on. I’ve
tried sounding my horn. I scream out
the window. I roll the window down
and bang on the side of the door and
play Public Enemy real loud...I have
prayed to St. Francis of Assisi...St.
Christopher too, what the hell! I have
tried everything a person can do and
still every week I plow into at least one
deer. What is it?
Alvin shakes his head. She now begins walking
around the car, the mower and Alvin. She flails her
arms.
DEER WOMAN (cont’d)
I have hit 13 deer in seven weeks driving
down this road mister and I have
to drive this road every day 40 miles
back and forth to work. I don’t know
what to do...I have to drive to work
and I have to drive home...
She pauses. Takes a deep breath and looks out over
the flat landscape. She turns and pats the deer carcass.
DEER WOMAN (cont’d)
He’s dead.
She starts to cry.
DEER WOMAN (cont’d)
And I love deer.
She turns and climbs back in her car. She backs up
and sprays gravel as she accelerates away. Her front
fender falls off and she runs over it. Alvin watches
her drive away, then looks down at the deer.
CUT TO:
108 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S CAMPFIRE
Alvin is eating a large piece of meat. Behind Alvin
we see a full set of antlers mounted on the front of
the trailer.
CUT TO:
109 EXT.--MIDDAY HWY 18 IOWA FLATLANDS
Alvin is driving along a particularly desolate stretch
of road. His eye scans the horizon. He is wary. He
slows the mower and brings it to a stop, the engine
idling. We see Alvin’s face tight. He sees something.
CUT TO:
110 EXT.--DAY HWY 18 IOWA FLATLANDS ALVIN’S POV
The Iowa horizon is a large dark mass. An occasional
burst of light races through the black clouds. A
breeze blows dirt along the field. Alvin’s gaze searches
for shelter. There are no farms near. He cannot
outrace the storm. He spots a small outbuilding
alone in the field. It is an old granary, used by
farmers to store corn.
CUT TO:
111 EXT.--DAY
Alvin turns off the highway onto a narrow rutted
field road used only by the farmer to get to his crops.
It is pot-holed and uneven. Alvin stops at the entry
to the road. Moving as quickly as he can, Alvin
secures everything that could blow away on the
mower and the trailer. Then he mounts the mower
and races for shelter. As he’s heading to the granary
the sky darkens dramatically and the winds hit.
He puts his head down into the gust, holds onto his
hat and lets out a holler, carrying all the speed a
riding mower can. He bounces across the field and
closes on the granary. Just as a large crack of
lightning, rain and the full gust of wind sweep in, Alvin
makes it into the sanctuary of the granary. A smile
crosses his face as he revels in the race before the
storm and the pleasure of watching the thunderstorm
from beneath a strong roof. He shares the granary
with a flock of pigeons who have taken shelter
as well. Alvin sits looking out on the storm, relaxed
and content on his perch aboard the mower.
DISSOLVE TO:
112 EXT.--DAY IOWA COUNTY HIGHWAY
A warm afternoon. Alvin is making his way down a
lonely stretch of Iowa highway. The perforated,
yellow center line passes slowly below him. Suddenly
Alvin hears a strange, whirring sound. A moment
later he is startled by a strangely helmeted, goggled,
bicyclist speeding by him.
CYCLIST #1
On your left! Thank you.
ALVIN
What the......?
Another whir and another cyclist passes.
CYCLIST #2
On your left. Thank you.
And then a trio of cyclists. Another rider approaches
pedalling a recumbent bicycle.
CYCLIST #3
Comin’ by on your left. Thank you!
ALVIN
What in the hell....?
Alvin pulls his rig over to the side of the road and
watches as a large herd of cyclists, numbering more
than a hundred riders, engulfs Alvin and his rig.
One rider slows to gawk at Alvin and nearly causes
an accident. Other cyclists wave as they churn by...a
few yell greetings.
CUT TO:
113 EXT.--DAY AERIAL VIEW OF IOWA ROAD
We see a swarm numbering hundreds of bike riders
passing Alvin parked on the road.
DISSOLVE TO:
114 EXT.--DUSK IOWA ROADSIDE PARK
Alvin pulls over for the evening to make camp at a
county park. Also at the wayside are many of the
cyclists who passed Alvin earlier. Pup tents abound.
Riders, dressed in skin-tight, brightly colored spandex
cycle togs, are spread about the park eating,
drinking out of squirt bottles, stretching, hydrating,
swapping massages and just plain preening. Alvin
pulls into the park. Heads turn as Alvin passes
through the crowd. A few onlookers begin clapping.
Alvin, a bit of a showman, doffs his Stetson to even
more applause. He pulls over to an open patch of
campground and brings the John Deere to a halt.
He begins his arduous dismount. A cyclist looks on.
CYCLIST #1
That’s the same sound we make when
we dismount.
CUT TO:
115 EXT.--NIGHT CAMPSITE
Some cyclists, mostly younger, are gathered around
Alvin’s campfire and trailer. STEVE is in his early
30s, an earnest, likable fellow with a neatly trimmed
beard.
STEVE
So you’re averaging about twenty miles
a day?
ALVIN
’Bout that. She’ll go five miles an hour
if I push ’er. I stop when my hips start
barkin’.
The other talkative cyclist is RAT. He is early 20s,
bleached cropped hair and he features a smattering
of tattoos. He talks like a skateboarder.
RAT
Wow man, five miles an hour.
Rat looks up to see a ball flying in his direction. He
snags it and tosses it back offscreen. He’s not exactly
paying close attention to Alvin.
STEVE
So you’re thinking about five weeks to
get to your brother’s place in
Wisconsin?
ALVIN
I haven’t given it a schedule. That
would sound about right.
RAT
Oh man.....I could not handle five
weeks on a lawn mower.
ALVIN
And I couldn’t handle sittin’ on one of
them seats for more’n an hour....if that.
You all walk like you got a case of
baboon butt. Seems my ride is a bit
more comfortable.
The cyclists laugh. Rat catches the ball again.
RAT
So why the lawnmower?
Rat tosses the ball.
ALVIN
Can’t drive. My eyes. Don’t like other
people drivin’ me where I want to go.
RAT
I can totally dig that.
Alvin smiles and rises to get more firewood. Steve
notices the difficulty he has walking and gets up to
help.
STEVE
Can I ask how old you are Alvin?
ALVIN
Seventy-three.
RAT
Oh man. Seventy-three years old. Bad
eyes, bad hips.
ALVIN
Eyes, hips....diabetes....circylation.
Can’t hardly believe it myself. I’m older
than I ever thought I’d be.
Two young spandex-clad women walk by. Alvin follows
them with his eyes.
ALVIN (cont’d)
You don’t think about old age when
you’re young. Shouldn’t.
STEVE
When d’ya know you’re getting old?
Alvin stirs the fire.
ALVIN
The first time I felt old was when I saw
a buddy die in the war. I got old that
minute.
The group around the campfire is silent for a while.
STEVE
There must be something good about
getting old.
Alvin ponders a moment, stirring the fire.
ALVIN
Hard to imagine anything good about
goin’ blind and lame at the same time.
But still...at my age...you’ve seen most
everything life has to dish out. You can
separate the wheat from the chaff. You
know to let the small stuff fall away.
RAT
Cool man.
Rat snags the ball one more time. Someone offscreen
yells
BIKE RIDER
(offscreen)
Sally’s in my tent.
Rat laughs and throws the ball back. Still smiling
and looking off...
RAT
What’s the worst thing about being old
Alvin?
Alvin stirs the fire. The embers rise on the flames.
Alvin watches the embers float up into the night sky
and stars.
ALVIN
The worst thing about being old is
remembering when you were young.
Again the group around the fire falls silent. They
listen to the night sounds.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
116 EXT.--DAY HWY 18
Alvin is moving out of the prairie and approaching
the Mississippi Valley terrain. Corn is being harvested
in the fields and the leaves have begun to turn
colors. He begins to climb gently rolling hills. As he
does the mower begins to show signs of strain. He
pulls off the road half way up one of these gentle
hills to lash his shift lever into low gear.
CUT TO:
117 EXT.--DAY CLERMONT, IOWA HOUSE ON FIRE
Close shot of an inferno. A house is burning down.
CUT TO:
118 EXT.--DAY CLERMONT, DANNY RIORDAN’S FRONT PORCH
Five people are sitting in aluminum chairs sitting
watching the fire. They are drinking beer. They do
not seem alarmed by the house burning down across
the street.
CUT TO:
119 EXT.--DAY CLERMONT IOWA
Wide shot reveals that volunteer firemen are burning
down the house as a firefighting exercise.
CUT TO:
120 EXT.--DAY DANNY RIORDAN’S FRONT PORCH
Everyone is clearly enjoying watching the house
burn down and the firefighters scurry about.
DANNY RIORDAN is the owner of the house on
whose porch everyone is gathered. He is mid-50’s
shortish and stocky, and wears khaki bermuda shorts
and a Hawaiian print shirt. His wife DARLA
RIORDAN is of similar build and age and has a full
head of blond, bouffant hair. She wears white capri
pants and a bright yellow shirt. Their friends
JOHNNY AND JANET JOHNSON and VERLYN
HELLER have joined them for the festivities.
Johnny and Janet are about the same age as Danny
and Darla and have known each other since high
school. They all have a strangely youthful air about
them. Johnny and Janet are both very quiet, small
and neat. Verlyn is quite a bit older and a farmer.
He is very tan and rugged looking. At the same time
he bears a certain air of refinement.
DARLA RIORDAN
Criminy sakes alive. You can feel the
heat all the way over here.
JOHNNY JOHNSON
Makes you appreciate what a volunteer
fireman has to do.
DANNY RIORDAN
That Rumelthanger place was an eyesore.
DARLA RIORDAN
Remember old man Rumelthanger?
What a dirty old cur...never bathed.
The smell that came off that man. I tell
you, it was enough to make a girl faint.
DANNY RIORDAN
You always had an inclination to faint
Darla.
Darla blushes at this.
JANET
You know. There really is something
about watching a fire that causes you to
sort of go off...like it’s hypnotism.
VERLYN
Time was when all civilization did was
stare at the fire.
They are happy. It’s like the fourth of July and they
are all feeling like kids watching a house burn down
on a warm autumn afternoon. Shouts of volunteer
firemen in the background.
CUT TO:
121 EXT.--DAY BURNING HOUSE
Shots of firemen battling the blaze. A small crowd
has assembled next to the house to watch the show.
The firemen turn and wave to the assembly. A wife
is taking pictures. We hear a clattering sound
intrude upon the scene. It is not coming from the
fire.
CUT TO:
122 EXT.--DAY RIORDAN’S FRONT PORCH
Darla’s attention is drawn from the fire by the
rattling sound. She looks up the hill.
DARLA RIORDAN
What’s that noise?
One after another they turn their heads to the
direction of the hill.
VERLYN
Now what in the sam hill do you suppose...
Down the hill, barely under control comes Alvin on
the mower.
JOHNNY JOHNSON
What on earth....?
DARLA RIORDAN
(to Danny)
Honey bun...is that a lawnmower?
JANET
It’s going too fast for a lawnmower.
Isn’t it Danny?
DARLA RIORDAN
And what on earth is drivin’ that
thing?!
CUT TO:
123 EXT.--DAY CLERMONT HILL ALVIN ON MOWER
Alvin is barreling down the hill, foot stamping on
brake, no response. The steering becomes more difficult.
CUT TO:
124 EXT.--DAY RIORDAN’S FRONT PORCH
VERLYN
That sure as hell is a lawnmower....
with an old Indian on top.
JOHNNY JOHNSON
He doesn’t look like he has that thing
under control.
DANNY RIORDAN
(he begins heading over
to the scene and over
his shoulder he adds)
...nothing runs like a Deere.
CUT TO:
125 EXT.--DAY CLERMONT HILL ALVIN ON THE MOWER
Wide shot of Alvin careening down the hill, picking
up even more speed.
CUT TO:
126 EXT.--DAY ALVIN’S POV
The road moves back and forth. Burning house fast
approaching. Look to road bed flying by beneath the
mower. This is much faster than Alvin or the mower
has ever gone.
CUT TO:
127 EXT.--DAY CLERMONT HILL ALVIN ON MOWER
Alvin picks up speed. His hat threatens to blow off.
Water is streaming from his eyes. Amazingly he
makes it to the bottom of the hill without rolling
the machine. As he comes to a stop the front porch
gang reaches him.
CUT TO:
128 EXT.--DAY BOTTOM OF THE HILL
Alvin is sitting on the mower catching his breath
and composure. He wipes the tears from his cheeks.
Some of the volunteer fireman turn their attention
from the burning house to the activity at the bottom
of the hill.
DANNY RIORDAN
Mister are you O.K.?
Alvin is a little shaky. Nods in answer to Danny’s
question.
JOHNNY JOHNSON
Jeez Mister you’re lucky she didn’t roll
on you.
ALVIN
(a little short
of breath)
I think the belt’s shot.
DANNY RIORDAN
I wouldn’t be surprised. You don’t have
brakes on that trailer do you?
Alvin shakes his head.
DANNY RIORDAN (cont’d)
Mister I worked for John Deere for
thirty years so I can tell ya you shouldn’t
be hauling a rig like that behind a
riding mower. At least not down a hill
like that.
Alvin doesn’t really respond. Danny softens a little.
Considers the situation.
DANNY RIORDAN (cont’d)
I’m Danny Riordan.
He extends his hand. Alvin reaches out.
ALVIN
Alvin Straight.
DANNY RIORDAN
Well Alvin...let’s get you and this rig off
the road and see what the damage is.
Alvin goes through the slow dismount under the
watchful eyes of Darla and Janet. Danny and Verlyn
start to push the mower and trailer and are joined
by a couple of the volunteer fireman. Alvin brings
up the rear, moving slowly.
CUT TO:
129 EXT.--DAY BEHIND RIORDAN’S HOUSE
Guys are pushing Alvin’s rig into the backyard. They
roll to a stop alongside a small separate garage.
DANNY RIORDAN
Well let’s have a look at this mower.
This is what? ’65 ...’66?
ALVIN
’66.
Danny is looking under the hood. He notices a
small pool of oil forming under the mower.
DANNY RIORDAN
Well I can tell you right now Alvin you
won’t be going anywhere tonight. Aside
from your drive belt being busted,
you’ve got transmission problems.
Where were you hoping to get to?
ALVIN
Mount Zion.
DARLA RIORDAN
Mount Zion, Wisconsin? Past Prairie
du Chien?
JOHNNY JOHNSON
That’s 60 more miles of hills.
DANNY RIORDAN
That’s across the Mississippi. What’s in
Mount Zion Alvin?
ALVIN
My brother lives there.
JANET
Why didn’t you take your car?
ALVIN
Don’t have a driver’s license.
DARLA RIORDAN
Couldn’t your brother come to visit
you?
ALVIN
He’s had a bad stroke.
VERLYN
Where are you coming from?
ALVIN
Back a piece.
DANNY RIORDAN
West Union?
ALVIN
Nope.
JOHNNY JOHNSON
Hawkeye?
Alvin just shakes his head.
DARLA RIORDAN
Not New Hampton. You didn’t come
that far?
Alvin gets a small smile.
ALVIN
Nope.
Janet jumps in thinking she’s got it.
JANET
Mason City!
Alvin shakes his head again.
VERLYN
You’ve come a long way haven’t you?
Alvin looks at Verlyn and nods.
ALVIN
Yes I have. From Laurens, Iowa.
DARLA RIORDAN
Laurens?
VERLYN
That’s west of the Grotto. How long
have you been on the road?
ALVIN
What’s the date today?
JOHNNY JOHNSON
October 8th.
Alvin thinks for a minute. Counts on his fingers.
Looks up.
ALVIN
5 weeks. I left Laurens on September
5th.
DANNY RIORDAN
You been bunking in that?
Alvin points his thumb over his shoulder at the trailer.
ALVIN
That’s my rolling home.
They all swing their heads and look again at the
trailer. Darla and Janet look at each other. They
share a "Holy Cow" look.
DANNY RIORDAN
Where’ve you been settin’ up camp?
ALVIN
In the fields. I’d just pull off the road
every evening. I don’t travel at night.
DARLA RIORDAN
Weren’t you scared staying out there
alone at night? There’s a lot of strange
people everywhere now.
ALVIN
Ma’am, I fought in the trenches in
World War II. Why should I be scared
in an Iowa cornfield?
DANNY RIORDAN
Well why don’t you bivouac right here
in our yard tonight? We got a bathroom
out here in this garage you can use.
ALVIN
I appreciate that. I believe this machine
is in agreement with you.
CUT TO:
A130 EXT.--LATE AFTERNOON RIORDAN’S YARD
Alvin, Danny and Darla are rigging up a lean-to of
plastic tarp and tree limbs. The lean-to extends out
from the garage.
ALVIN
Sure is nice of you folks to help me with
this.
DANNY RIORDAN
Well...there’s a lot of rain in the
forecast and you don’t want to be stuck in
your trailer.
Darla is on a stepladder attaching a red wooden
fish to the top of the post.
DARLA RIORDAN
I do a little woodwork art. I thought
you might like some fish on your tent.
ALVIN
My daughter Rose builds birdhouses.
DARLA AND DANNY
(in unison)
Oh that’s nice.
CUT TO:
130 EXT.--NIGHT RIORDAN’S BACKYARD
Alvin is perched in the doorway of his trailer
smoking a Swisher Sweet.
CUT TO:
131 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S POV: BURNT OUT HOUSE
Alvin is gazing out into the night. He looks over at
the smoldering house. A few orange embers in the
ashes and one fireman on watch. The fireman lights
a cigarette.
CUT TO:
132 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S POV: RIORDAN’S HOUSE
Lights turn out one after another.
CUT TO:
133 EXT.--NIGHT ALVIN’S POV: THE SKY
The stars and the moon in a beautiful clear autumn
(still dark blue) sky.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
134 EXT.--DAY RIORDAN’S BACKYARD
Four men are standing around looking at Alvin’s
mower: Danny, Alvin and two guys from the local
John Deere dealer. HARALD AND THORVALD OLSEN
(they are both tall and skinny with big
adam’s apples. They have bright blue eyes and very
ruddy red cheeks. They are prematurely bald). They
are twin brothers and bicker like an old married
couple. Can’t agree on anything.
HARALD
I tell you Thorvald it’s a ’65 John
Deere 110.
THORVALD
It’s a ’66 Harald. I fixed one just like it
three years ago. That was a drive belt too.
HARALD
’65.
THORVALD
’66!
DANNY RIORDAN
(to Alvin)
They’re twins. Siamese, separated at the
opinion.
Alvin chuckles.
DANNY RIORDAN (cont’d)
It’s a ’66. Ask Mr. Straight.
They both look to Alvin. Each of them still sure
they’re right.
ALVIN
’66.
Harald kicks the ground. Thorvald smirks. Blows his
nails and shines them on his shirt.
DANNY RIORDAN
So Olsens. How bad is it?
ALVIN
I can’t be dawdlin’ here. I gotta get
back on the road.
The twins look at the lawn mower and then at each
other. Thorvald turns back to Alvin who is waiting
expectantly.
THORVALD
Well you know about the transmission.
The belt is shot, you blew a head gasget,
you’re in bad need of oil, and your
right side tires are bald.
Alvin takes this in.
ALVIN
Is that all?
HARALD
Well it wouldn’t be a bad idea to
remove the blade assembly...As best as I
can tell ...you’re not mowin’ any lawns.
CUT TO:
135 INT.--DAY RIORDAN’S KITCHEN.
Darla is kneading bread. She is up to her elbows in
dough. Danny walks in, grabs a beer from the fridge
and sits down at the kitchen table. He lights a
cigarette. There is a small TV on the kitchen counter.
The Weather Channel is on.
DARLA RIORDAN
Storm rollin’ in.
Danny sits lost in thought. He doesn’t react to her.
DANNY RIORDAN
It’s going to cost him a bundle to fix
that mower. I don’t think he’s got that
kinda money.
DARLA RIORDAN
Mmmm.
DANNY RIORDAN
I wouldn’t drive that old thing to
Excelsior. It’s a lawn mower for god’s
sake.
DARLA RIORDAN
Mmm Hmmm.
DANNY RIORDAN
He was damn lucky he made it to the
bottom of that hill. He could’ve been
killed. Easily coulda’ been killed.
DARLA RIORDAN
Yah. Ah huh.
DANNY RIORDAN
He’s none too strong. Did you see how
he can’t walk without those canes?
DARLA RIORDAN
(still kneading)
Uh uh.
DANNY RIORDAN
The hills just get worse the closer you
get to the Mississippi.
Darla stops kneading her bread and smiles. With
dough up to her elbows she walks over to Danny
and kisses him on the forehead.
DARLA RIORDAN
Go ahead and drive him honey. Mt.
Zion can’t be a half day. That’s fine.
Darla goes back to her dough as Danny keeps
thinking.
DARLA RIORDAN (cont’d)
....You’re a good man Danny Riordan
....That’s why I married you despite
what my mother said.
Danny smiles, gets up from the chair and stands
behind Darla.
DARLA RIORDAN (cont’d)
Now shoo.
CUT TO:
136 EXT.--DAY RIORDAN’S BACKYARD
Alvin is sitting in the open door of his trailer. He
looks around to make sure he is alone. He pulls out
his wallet and looks inside.
CUT TO:
137 EXT.--DAY RIORDAN’S BACKYARD
Alvin’s POV of inside of wallet. A couple of twenties
and a ten and a few singles.
CUT TO:
138 EXT.--AFTERNOON RIORDAN’S BACKYARD 138
Alvin closes up wallet, puts it in his pocket. He
lights up a Swisher Sweet and gets pensive.
CUT TO:
139 EXT.--DAY BACK DOOR RIORDAN’S HOUSE
Alvin knocks on door. Danny comes to the door.
ALVIN
I’m in need of a phone.
DANNY RIORDAN
Why sure...come on in.
ALVIN
I’d like to call my daughter and give
her an account of my recent travels.
DANNY RIORDAN
Sure, sure. Come on in.
He opens the door wide to allow Alvin past.
ALVIN
If it’s all the same to you I was
wondering if you have one of those phones
without a cord.
DANNY RIORDAN
The door’s wide open...come on in.
ALVIN
I can talk from out here.
Danny smiles, goes back in and returns with a
portable phone.
DANNY RIORDAN
Here you go. You