Somewhere in Nebraska
Somewhere in Nebraska, the movie script:
FADE IN:
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN NEBRASKA - DAY
Who knows exactly where we are, but it's definitely somewhere
in Nebraska. The easiest way to tell this is because of a
SIGN on the side of the road that reads, "YOU ARE IN ______".
Someone has kindly written "NEBRASKA" on the blank line.
The sides of the road should have whatever Nebraska would
have on the sides of the road (who knows what crazy stuff
goes on there) to make this look authentic. Maybe some
statues of famous Nebraskans, like Joe, or Fred, or someone
like that?
Anyway, it's definitely Nebraska, there's stuff on the side
of the road, and nothing's happening.
FADE TO:
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN NEBRASKA - NIGHT
We're in the same place as before, only it's now nighttime.
It's still definitely Nebraskan. We begin to see a CAR
appear off in the distance, although at first all we can see
are headlights. The camera holds steady for about eleven
minutes as the car continues to approach. Finally it passes
us.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
RODRICK is driving. GUNTER is in the passenger's seat. "Why
Are We In Nebraska" by The Nebraskan Signs is playing on the
radio.
GUNTER
(pointing out his window)
Hey, wasn't that it?
Rodrick looks over, straining to make anything out in the
dark.
RODRICK
I don't think so. Wasn't it
supposed to be a few miles after
the last You Are In Nebraska sign?
GUNTER
I don't know, I wasn't paying
attention either.
I gave up on these crazy Nebraskan
accents after the first few
minutes. It's like a North Dakotan
accent mixed with a Welsh accent.
And maybe a little bit of South
Korean thrown in just to keep
things interesting.
Rodrick nods, not really listening. Would you listen to
stuff like that? I didn't think so.
GUNTER (CONT'D)
So I tried to tell them that if
they could just talk with a little
less of a South Korean kinda
accent, and maybe a little more
northern France, they'd be ten
times as interesting and fifteen
times as easy to understand.
That's when they gave me that
potato.
Gunter looks into the back seat to check on the POTATO. It's
safely buckled into the CHILD SEAT, and appears to be
sleeping.
GUNTER (CONT'D)
Aren't potatoes supposed to be an
Idaho thing anyway? Why's Nebraska
trying to get all up in Idaho's
business? That's just not right.
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN NEBRASKA - CONTINUOUS
Their car drives off down the road. Camera PANS over to the
side of the road, where a small patch of POTATOES is creepily
watching the car disappear off into the distance. They don't
say anything, and we can only guess what they're thinking.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
EXT. NEBRASKA MOTEL - EARLY MORNING
We can tell that this is the Nebraska Motel because of the
large Nebraska Motel sign out front. We're probably still in
Nebraska because of the way the motel is named after the
state. It wouldn't make much sense to put a Nebraska Motel
over in Montana, would it? I don't know, there are some
weird states out there where they do some weird things.
Maybe we shouldn't linger on this shot too long so that the
audience doesn't start to wonder about these things
themselves. Let's just have it up long enough for them to
assume that the motel is in Nebraska, and not so long that
they start to wonder about where else it might be.
INT. MOTEL HALLWAY
The muffled sounds of "Why Are We In Nebraska" by The
Nebraskan Signs (this better be a good song, we're playing it
a lot) can be heard.
A NEBRASKAN COUPLE is walking down the hallway. We know
they're from Nebraska because they have shirts that say they
are. They also look like they would talk with a North
Dakotan/Welsh/South Korean accent.
The couple is bopping their head to their state-mandated
favorite song, "Why Are We In Nebraska" by The Nebraskan
Signs, which they can hear through the walls from room 217.
INT. ROOM 217, NEBRASKA MOTEL - EARLY MORNING
The song is blasting now that we're in Rodrick's room.
Rodrick's ears are bleeding a little bit because of the sheer
volume of the song. He's sitting on the edge of the bed,
peeling a potato.
RODRICK
(turning to someone off
screen)
Yeah, so, you like this song?
Yeah, I can't stand it, but I don't
think we have a choice as long as
we're here in Nebraska -- we just
have to keep playing it, over and
over and over again.
Rodrick looks at the stereo hatefully, and then back to his
potato peeling.
RODRICK
So, do you know where we're
supposed to be going?
No answer.
Rodrick turns around.
ANGLE ON - OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM
Behind Rodrick we can now see who he's talking to. It's a
giant pile of potatoes that are taking up a good third of his
motel room.
RODRICK
Come on, there has to be one of you
that has some clue where we're
headed. Or what, you want me to
believe you're all from Idaho and
don't know your way around? Yeah,
right...
The potatoes maintain their heroic but dangerous silence.
FADE TO BLACK.
TITLES: What happens next?
TITLES: Be sure to catch the next exciting episode!