Beltway Breakdown by David Holton

"Beltway Breakdown" unfolds on a bus trip from Raleigh to D.C., where Ernie, a veteran driver facing forced retirement, deliberately sabotages the journey to undermine his young successor. When the bus breaks down, the diverse group of passengers—including Ernie's daughter and her transgender partner—each find themselves stranded at a personal crossroads. As tensions rise, characters confront...
"Beltway Breakdown" unfolds on a bus trip from Raleigh to D.C., where Ernie, a veteran driver facing forced retirement, deliberately sabotages the journey to undermine his young successor. When the bus breaks down, the diverse group of passengers—including Ernie's daughter and her transgender partner—each find themselves stranded at a personal crossroads. As tensions rise, characters confront their prejudices and fears, exploring themes of change, identity, and generational divides. This character-driven drama reveals the transformative power of empathy in the face of life's inevitable transitions.
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Beltway Breakdown

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CHARACTERS
ERNIE: Intercity bus driver & Jasmine’s father. Male, Black, 50s.
PAULY: Bus mechanic & Jasmine’s godfather. Male, 50s. (Double cast with SERGEANT STARK.)
THE BOSS: Depot manager. Female, 20s/30s. (Double cast with OFFICER NEWMAN.)
DAMIEN: Driver-trainee. Male, 20s.
JASMINE: Ernie’s daughter. Female (she/her), mixed Black/White, 20s.
CINDY: Jasmine’s life partner. Transgender female (they/them), 20s.
MANUEL: Attractive newlywed from Barcelona. Male, speaks Spanish, 30s.
MARIA: Attractive newlywed from Barcelona. Female, speaks Spanish, 30s.
JOHN IRONS: Homeless veteran with PTSD & a Purple Heart. Male, 40s.
LOUISA MAY: Young girl with a buzz-cut & a plush dinosaur. 10 years old.
SERGEANT STARK: Highway Patrol. Male, 50s. (Double cast with PAULY.)
OFFICER NEWMAN: Highway Patrol. Female, 20s/30s. (Double cast with THE BOSS.)