Gus Pearson Simmons Script

Gus Pearson Simmons
Plot:

Gus Pearson Simmons or GPS is just a regular guy who
lives entirely in the trunk of a car. He pops his head
out to give directions, but otherwise we leave him to
his own devices. Please don’t ask questions about Gus
Pearson Simmons. It’s better for everyone if you don’t
ask questions about Gus Pearson Simmons.

Characters:
● Gus Pearson Simmons- Vaguely a cat (but is he just
method acting for his lead role in Cats the musical?It’s hard to say). Theatrical and Idiosyncratic, but
in a hard to pin down way.
● Driver- The most uptight of this friend group, but
still not super uptight. Very matter of fact.
● Passenger- A bit more of a loose individual. Presents
cool and aloof, wears sunglasses. Constantly is
swapping out their sunglasses.
● Backseat- A voice of reason character, not
characterized very heavily.
● This song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbpP3Sxp-1U
● And this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzUJuyXpOQ

Game:

Everyone in the car (except one person) acts like
having GPS in the trunk is a completely unremarkable
and socially accepted thing to do. But he’s way too
strange and inscrutable to just brush off.

Shotlist:
● Put Filming Document Here
Script:
[Lines in PURPLE are delivered expressionless, breaking
character]

Part 1:
[In media res]
[Everyone is wearing band t-shirts. They look like they’re ready
to go to a concert]
Driver: Can you believe we got the last three tickets to the
concert tonight? It’s crazy.
Backseat: Yeah [enter name here later], thanks so much for
driving us. You know how bad the train is on the weekends
[everyone nods in agreement]. And especially with the…
[GPS pokes his head out from the trunk]
GPS: Take a left at the next traffic light.
[GPS realizes Backseat is there]
GPS: Oh hello there.
[GPS leaves, Backseat awkwardly waves hello, visibly confused]
Driver: (concentrating) Ok. Left turn, so I’ve got to change
lanes, and…
Backseat: (confused) Hey… who is that?
Passenger: (unaffected) Who’s who?
Backseat: (confused, higher energy) What do you mean who’s who,
a guy just came out of your trunk and told you (gestures to
driver) to turn left at the next traffic light.
Passenger: Relax, dude. That’s just Gus Pearson Simmons.
Backseat: (quizzically) And he’s in the trunk because…
[GPS pokes his head out from the trunk. He’s eating from a can
of cat food]

GPS: You can just stay on this road for another few...
[Passenger interjects, Gus slowly sinks]
Passenger: God, Gus, we know… [To Driver]. He’s been really
assertive lately- should we get him looked at?
Backseat: Okay. Can someone please explain what’s going on with
this guy.
Driver: I don’t know what there is to say, that’s just Gus
Pearson Simmons- he gives me directions.
Backseat: I’ve been in your car before and I can almost
guarantee that he wasn’t here.
Driver: He came with the car- it was in the fine print of the
contract. But apparently, having Gus here makes me 25% less
likely to get into an accident. It’s great for my insurance
bill.
Backseat: So… he just lives in your car- that sounds all good
and legal.
Driver: Gus takes care of himself. During the winter, I think he
eats the stray cats that sleep under the car- judging by all the
bones that pile up in the tailpipe. I don’t ask too many
questions though- I respect his right to keep his work and his
life separate.
Passenger: [Mildly Menacingly] Please don’t ask questions about
Gus Pearson Simmons. It’s better for everyone if you don’t ask
questions about Gus Pearson Simmons.

Part 2:
Backseat: [Reset] I know you’ve always been interested in … [a
moment] a particular subset of Japanese culture. But having your
[pause] trunk person be a catboy is really something else.

Passenger: [Cheery!] No. Gus and I do community theater together
on Thursday nights after work- I could have sworn I’ve told you
about him already. We’re doing Cats the musical this year- Gus
is playing one of the lead roles.
Backseat: [Somewhat sarcastically, gesturing] Oh I can’t imagine
why, [tonal shift] so he does get to drive your car for his own
personal things.
Driver: [a bit offended] Absolutely not- do I see his name on
the lease?
Passenger: He takes the subway most of the time. If the
weather’s bad he’ll take an Uber.
Backseat: So you do pay him.
[GPS pokes his head out from the trunk]
GPS: Keep left in 500 feet.
[Gus Leaves]
[Pause]
Backseat: [Indignant] Well, if you’re not going to give me an
answer then I’ll ask him myself. Hey Gus! [knocks on trunk].
[Gus emerges, clearly intoxicated]
Gus: [Sings] Jellicle songs for jelllicle cats, Jellicle songs
for jelllicle cats, Jellicle songs for jell… jell…. [Loses
steam]. [Frustrated] I just want my art to mean something real…
[Passenger looks at Driver]
Passenger: I think he’s self actualizing.
Driver: I was about to say the same thing.

Passenger: [A bit exasperated, this is a common occurrence]I
guess we have no choice then [Suddenly pulls out a spray bottle
and sprays Gus]
[Gus hisses, and leaves]
[A moment]
Driver: [Somewhat Menacingly] Please don’t ask questions about
Gus Pearson Simmons. It’s better for everyone if you don’t ask
questions about Gus Pearson Simmons.

Part 3:
Passenger: You know, my sister went on a few dates with Gus… he
ghosted her though.
Driver: Oh, so this is the Petco incident you were talking
about.
Backseat: I’m sure that makes things pretty weird between you
two, considering all this [gestures around the car].
Passenger: Yeah, it sucks, but we keep it all strictly
professional - we’ve both agreed that it’s for the best.
[Gus Returns, entirely non-cat-like]
Gus: That’s your exit coming up.
Backseat: Weren't you just…
[Gus has already left][Tonal Shift- Breakdown of the Game Starts
Here]
Backseat: Wasn’t he just.
Driver: What?
Backseat: I could have sworn he was…

Passenger: [A bit confused] Who are you talking about?
Backseat: [Emotively] Gus Pearson Simmons! The person we’ve been
talking about nonstop for the last five minutes, who lives in
your trunk but only sometimes and has an unhealthy relationship
with community theater and tells you where to drive.
Passenger: I have no idea who that is.
Driver: Yeah, if someone was living in my trunk, I would know.
Backseat: But… he was here! I saw him! Look! [Opens the trunk.
There’s nothing in there]
Backseat: There’s… nothing…… it’s just a regular trunk...
Passenger and Driver: [Menacingly][In unison] Please don’t ask
questions about Gus Pearson Simmons. It’s better for everyone if
you don’t ask questions about Gus Pearson Simmons.
[Long and Awkward Pause in complete silence. Google Maps
announces that they’re arriving at their destination- afterwards
it’s like nothing ever happened]
Passenger: [Excitedly] Oh we’re here! We should be able to catch
the end of the opener.
[Everyone Exits car and moves out of the frame. Camera stays on
the car]
Backseat: We might even have time to grab a bite to eat
beforehand. And it was so easy to find parking too.
Driver: We got super lucky, especially with [fade out] the
construction going on in this area lately, did you hear…
[Pause]
[Heavily Muffled Music Fades in From the Car] [The Final Chorus
to Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat from Cats the Musical] [This
goes on for an uncomfortably long time, until we cut to black]

[Credits]