"Higher Than Usual" - screenplay by Derek Paterson.
This is an excerpt (first 20 pages) of a completed screenplay.
"Higher Than Usual" - screenplay by Derek Paterson.
FADE IN:
EXT. CITY - DAY
Morning rush hour. Roads in and out of the city are choked
with traffic. Hardly anything's moving. A chorus of HORNS
as drivers lose patience.
EXT. STRETCH OF NEW FREEWAY - DAY
MADLY REVVING ENGINES interspersed with ear-splitting sounds
of SHRIEKING METAL and multiple COLLISIONS...
Two cars race side by side like competitors in a demolition
derby. Above the ROAR of engines and the BANGS as they
collide again and again, the drivers SCREAM at each other.
Incoherent, primal rage sounds.
In one car, a CATHOLIC NUN in traditional black habit with
white headgear.
In the other car, a mild-mannered BALD LITTLE GUY with glasses
who could maybe become an assistant librarian if he took a
"Boost Your Self-Confidence" correspondence course first.
They glare at each other across the narrow gap. Mouthing
obscenities. Neither willing to give way to the other.
Their cars SMASH through lines of road maintenance barriers.
The drivers don't even notice, they're so intent upon trying
to kill each other.
LOOKING AHEAD: the new freeway is incomplete, the road just
ends with a sheer drop. Workers stare in amazement at the
oncoming cars. What the hell, these crazies ain't going to
stop! The workers drop tools and RUN FOR THEIR LIVES.
The maniac drivers glance ahead and REALIZE...
The two cars sail over the edge and plunge to destruction
below. BLAM! Twin fireballs and columns of greasy smoke.
No survivors.
The workers slowly edge forward and look down. Then look at
each other in disbelief.
EXT. SKY SHOT - DAY
The Sun is bloated and too bright.
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2.
RADIO ANNOUNCER (FILTERED)
...And as if the traffic situation
in the city isn't bad enough, the
temperature continues to rise. It's
going to be a hot one, folks.
Remember and put on your sun blocker.
(beat)
There have been several reports of
angry confrontations across the city,
as tempers fray and people encounter
growing frustration...
Loud, mindless electronic TRANCE MUSIC plays over the top of
the radio announcement as we cut to...
INT. MACAULEY'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY
Monday morning breakfast with the Macauley family -- or most
of it. Meet MARTIN MACAULEY, 40, a lower management exec
who's reached the zenith of his career and knows it.
His two kids, SARAH and DANNY, are with him. Sarah's in her
early teens, just discovered boys; she'll soon be breaking
hearts all over town. Danny is a couple years younger, more
interested in electronic games than girls. The trance music
comes from Sarah's personal stereo headphones, turned up
real loud.
MACAULEY
What I like most about having you
stay the weekend? The way my brain
turns to mush.
Sarah takes off her headphones.
SARAH
Look upon it as a musical education.
MACAULEY
I should tie you to a chair and make
you listen to some real music.
SARAH
Don't tell me. The Eagles. Bob
Dylan.
MACAULEY
Scared you might actually enjoy it?
SARAH
I'm scared of anyone who has ABBA's
greatest hits in his CD collection.
Macauley observes how slowly Danny is eating.
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3.
MACAULEY
Hey Dan-o, stop chewing your food,
shovel it in and gulp it down like a
real man. Can't be late for school
again. Your mom gets one more call
from your teacher, she'll boil me in
a pot.
Danny eats faster.
SARAH
You make her sound like the Wicked
Witch.
MACAULEY
Five bucks says you can't tell me
who played the Wicked Witch in the
movie.
SARAH
Do you have any idea what five bucks
is worth these days? Make it twenty
and I'll think about it.
MACAULEY
You just priced yourself out of the
market, princess. I'll do the dishes.
Go get your school things. Full kit
inspection by the door in one minute.
Sarah and Danny exit. Macauley piles the dirty dishes in
the sink, on top of others already stacked up. Later!
INT. MACAULEY'S CAR (MOVING) - DAY
Cruising through Suburbia. Sarah's up front with Macauley,
Danny's in the back seat playing with his Game Boy or similar
electronic marvel. Beeps and buzzes from the device. Danny
sways from side to side, avoiding deadly hazards.
SARAH
Couldn't you take the day off? Spend
it at home with us?
MACAULEY
You mean you want to take a day off
school so you can lie in bed damaging
your eardrums. Not a chance.
SARAH
Aw, come on. We'd go see a movie or
something.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
MACAULEY
You know I can't. Bills to pay,
sweetie.
SARAH
Yeah, I know.
MACAULEY
Besides which. The Wicked Witch.
SARAH
Don't call her that!
MACAULEY
Oops, I forgot, sorry.
SARAH
Yeah, right.
EXT. SCHOOL - DAY
They pull up to the school entrance. The place is deserted
aside from a handful of kids who've already been dropped
off. The kids look lost and confused. There are no teachers
or caretakers around.
INT. MACAULEY'S CAR - DAY
Macauley and Sarah look at each other, surprised. Danny's
still lost in game heaven.
MACAULEY
What gives? Is school closed today?
SARAH
Nobody told me.
MACAULEY
(to Danny)
Hey Dan-o, school holiday today?
DANNY
I wish.
MACAULEY
I'm not leaving you here if nobody's
around. Call your mother. Tell her
school's out, I'll drop you at the
house.
SARAH
Why don't you call her?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.
MACAULEY
I-I'm t-too s-scared.
Sarah rolls her eyes. She pulls out her phone, punches in
the number, waits for an answer.
SARAH
(into phone)
Mom, it's me. We got a problem.
Something's up with school. No
teachers.
(she listens)
Mom, it's no joke. We're there right
now. Some kids have been dropped
off, they can't even get into the
building.
(she listens)
Dad's got to go to work. Hold on.
(to Macauley)
She says she's going out this morning.
MACAULEY
I hope it isn't anything important.
She offers Macauley her phone.
SARAH
You talk to her.
With a sigh, Macauley takes the phone.
MACAULEY
(into phone)
Look, it can't be helped. We'll be
there soon.
He hangs up, gives the phone back to Sarah.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
There, that wasn't too hard, was it?
SARAH
Dad!
MACAULEY
What did I do?
They drive away from the school.
EXT. LAUREN'S HOUSE - DAY
A two story McMansion in the suburbs. Macauley's car pulls
up. Sarah and Danny get out. Their mother, LAUREN, comes
out to meet them. Late 30s, attractive, hostile.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.
Lauren ushers the kids inside. Sarah waves to Macauley, he
waves back. Lauren approaches the car, looking none too
happy. Macauley rolls down his window. He can feel the
chill wind blowing.
LAUREN
What gives? My mother's here, we
were going shopping together.
MACAULEY
Something's wrong at the school.
Maybe you can give someone a call.
I just didn't want to leave them
there.
LAUREN
So you decided to dump them on me?
A beat, as she realizes how that sounds.
LAUREN (CONT'D)
Forget I said that. You probably
did the right thing.
She turns and walks back to the house, goes inside, closes
the door. No friendly wave for Macauley.
Macauley stares thoughtfully at the house that was formerly
theirs. He puts the car in gear and drives away.
EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY
Suburbia gives way to the business district.
INT. MACAULEY'S CAR - DAY
Macauley talks to his secretary BARBARA on his phone (the
phone's clipped to the dash so his hands are free).
MACAULEY
(into phone)
...I worked on the expense estimates
again last night. They're completely
screwed. I'll have to have another
meeting with Accounts and spell it
out for them.
BARBARA (FILTERED)
You have a thirty-minute window just
before lunch. Will I try to slot
something in?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.
MACAULEY
(into phone)
That's great. I'll be there soon.
BARBARA
See you then.
He ends the call...
...And HITS THE BRAKES as a homeless BUM comes from nowhere
and almost DIVES in front of him. The Bum collapses over
the hood and BANGS on Macauley's windshield with his fists.
He mouths obscenities at Macauley.
Macauley locks his doors and rides out the storm. The Bum
pushes off and lurches across the street, waving his arms
like he's trying to shake off insects.
MACAULEY
Goddamn animal.
He looks around. The street's deserted.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Never a cop around when you need
one.
He drives on.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
A chrome and glass temple.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - PARKING LOT - DAY
Macauley parks and gets out. He looks up at the sky, wipes
his arm across his forehead. Man, it's hot. He takes off
his jacket and drapes it over his arm.
INT. RECEPTION DESK - DAY
The receptionist, DONNA, 20s, smartly dressed, looks up as
Macauley comes in carrying his briefcase.
DONNA
'Morning, Mister Macauley.
MACAULEY
Hi Donna. Great weather we're having.
She shivers as if she's freezing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.
DONNA
I thought it was a little cold this
morning.
Macauley heads for the elevator, not even hearing her reply.
He presses the button.
INT. MAIN OFFICE AREA - DAY
One of those infuriating "open plan" designs guaranteed to
give zero privacy and maximum distraction. Management execs
occupy glass-fronted goldfish bowl offices off the main area.
Phones ring and people talk constantly.
INT. OUTSIDE MACAULEY'S OFFICE - DAY
BARBARA, 50s, pleasant yet formidable, sits at her desk
outside Macauley's office. She looks up as Macauley arrives.
BARBARA
An exciting morning ahead. You have
the weekly project meeting at nine.
Team leader meeting at ten.
Forecasting at ten-thirty. Accounts
say they can make eleven but if that
doesn't suit, how does four-thirty
sound?
MACAULEY
Eleven is fine. How about coffee
and bathroom breaks?
BARBARA
You don't have time.
MACAULEY
I was thinking maybe I could drink
coffee on the run and pee into the
empty cup when I'm finished.
BARBARA
As long as you don't expect me to
get rid of it for you, no problem.
MACAULEY
I'll just pour it back into the coffee
machine, no one will notice.
INT. MACAULEY'S OFFICE - DAY
Macauley switches on his PC. He opens his briefcase and
takes out papers, spreads them across his desk. His PC beeps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.
Macauley types a password and opens his email.
INSERT MACAULEY'S MONITOR:
His email software says, "You have over 1,000 new mail items."
The email subject lines include,
Subject: DEATH IS UPON US
Subject: DYING IS THE ONLY ANSWER
Subject: EMBRACE GOD BEFORE ITS TOO LATE
Subject: DO WE DESERVE TO LIVE?
Subject: SUICIDE IS PAINLESS, JOIN ME
BACK TO SCENE
MACAULEY
What the f--?
Barbara enters.
BARBARA
I take it you've seen your mail?
MACAULEY
What is this junk?
BARBARA
It started flooding the system about
an hour ago. Some of it's from
outside, but most is internal.
MACAULEY
Another damn virus?
BARBARA
Can't say for sure. You ask me,
it's a plea for help, some people
around here need counseling. But we
knew that already.
She looks at the papers on his desk.
BARBARA (CONT'D)
I'm going to the Copier Room. Want
me to take anything?
Macauley gives her a couple of sheets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.
MACAULEY
Just these. A dozen each for the
Accounts meeting. Thanks.
Barbara exits.
Macauley picks up his phone, dials, waits for an answer.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
(into phone)
This is Martin Macauley in Technical
Services. My mailbox is jammed with
1,000 new items, and most of them
are junk. What can you do about it?
INT. SYSTEMS SUPPORT ROOM - DAY
A darkened, windowless computer room filled with hardware.
MIKE, early 20s, wire-framed glasses, ponytail, your typical
systems geek.
MIKE
(into phone)
What do you mean, what can I do about
it? You can still open your mailbox
and process mail, can't you?
INTERCUT
MACAULEY
Sure, I could spend the rest of my
day deleting junk mail, but shouldn't
you guys be doing something about
it?
MIKE
Do you want me to close down your
mailbox?
MACAULEY
No! I just want you to clean out
the crap and leave the rest.
MIKE
There are two things stopping me
from doing that. One, I have people
calling me every minute of the day
because they've forgotten their
password, or because they don't know
what they're doing, or because they're
just plain stupid. Two, I have better
things to do with my time than clean
up your mess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.
MACAULEY
What did you say your name was?
MIKE
I'm Mike.
MACAULEY
Who's your manager, Mike?
MIKE
Josh Allenby. He's on 2-1-6 just to
save you from looking it up.
MACAULEY
Thank you.
INTERCUT ends.
Macauley hangs up then dials 2-1-6. He waits for an answer
but no one picks up. He slams the phone down.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Shit.
INT. SYSTEMS SUPPORT ROOM - DAY
Mike types commands into his terminal, humming happily to
himself.
Slowly PAN AROUND until we see, lying on the floor, face
down... a body. A pool of blood spreads out from the head.
A computer keyboard lies nearby, the bloody murder weapon.
INT. MACAULEY'S OFFICE - DAY
Macauley exits his office, locking the door behind him.
INT. OFFICE - COFFEE MACHINE - DAY
Macauley drops coins into the slot, presses a button. The
machine WHIRRS through its routine.
DEXTER approaches, 30s, office clerk. His hair's mussed up,
his breast pocket is ripped, his tie is askew. Macauley
takes this all in, and smiles uncertainly.
MACULEY
Jesus, what happened to you?
DEXTER
We got one of them!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.
MACAULEY
One of who?
DEXTER
One of those bastards from Accounts.
He tried to buy a coffee from our
coffee machine. From our machine!
We've got him in the john. He's not
going to get away with it this time.
Macauley smiles, Dexter must be joking.
MACAULEY
You feeling all right, Dex?
Dexter draws himself up and gives Macauley a paranoid look.
DEXTER
Never felt better.
Dexter exits to spread the good news. Macauley looks toward
the men's room. Two male office workers hurry inside. The
door swings shut behind them.
Macauley glances around, not sure what's going on. He
approaches the men's room... and stops.
THUDS, GRUNTS, muffled YELLS from inside. Someone's taking
a beating.
Macauley backs off and returns to his office.
His coffee cup sits in the coffee machine, forgotten.
INT. MACAULEY'S OFFICE - DAY
Just as he unlocks his office door, the sound of LAUGHTER
reaches him. A crowd of office workers has gathered around
a window.
Macauley goes to investigate.
MACAULEY
What's going on?
No one answers. Macauley pushes through the crowd and
receives hostile, angry looks from everyone. He keeps pushing
until he reaches the open window.
MACAULEY'S POV: looking down into the parking lot. A
computer system plus display and keyboard lie in an empty
parking space. They look like they exploded.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.
Macauley can't believe it. He looks at the office workers.
They stare back at him, giving nothing away.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Who threw that system out the window?
No answer.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
I said, who threw that PC outside?
The crowd appears resentful.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
It's no use pretending you don't
know. The system unit has a serial
number. The owner can be traced.
The crowd closes in around him, wordless and threatening.
Slowly, steadily, they push him toward the window. Macauley
tries to resist. They keep coming. There's no way he can
stop so many people.
BARBARA (O.S.)
Mister Macauley?
The crowd REACTS like kids with their hands caught in the
cookie jar. They calm down and begin to disperse. Macauley
pushes through at last until he's able to reach Barbara.
BARBARA (CONT'D)
The weekly project meeting, Mister
Macauley. It's just about to start
upstairs... Are you all right?
Macauley's hot and flustered. He combs his fingers through
his hair. Straightens his tie.
MACAULEY
Thanks, Barbara.
BARBARA
What on earth's going on, Mister
Macauley?
MACAULEY
Can you call the Security desk for
me, please? Tell them a window has
been broken. And they'll find what's
left of someone's PC in the parking
lot.
Barbara bursts out laughing. Then covers her mouth when she
sees Macauley isn't laughing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.
BARBARA
I'm sorry, Mister Macauley. You
can't be serious?
MACAULEY
I am serious. Also ask them to check
the men's room on this floor. Tell
them I said so.
Macauley exits, leaving Barbara puzzled.
INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY
Macauley enters. He's surprised to find only one guy sitting
at the table.
MACAULEY
Are we early, or is everyone else
late?
The guy glares at Macauley and shakes all over with suppressed
anger. He pushes his chair back violently so it topples
over. He's so stressed he might just EXPLODE at any moment!
He marches out of the room without saying a word.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Yeah, I love you too.
Macauley sits alone for a short time, glancing at his watch
and at the door, expecting people to arrive.
INT. MAIN OFFICE AREA - DAY
As before, but with far fewer people -- now less than half
the staff are at their desks. Those who remain have their
heads down. Hardly any phone calls now.
As Maculey walks back to his office he attracts hostile
glances. No one says anything, but there's an attitude in
the air that makes Macauley uncomfortable and wary.
INT. MACAULEY'S OFFICE - DAY
Macauley picks up his phone, dials a number. No answer.
Tries another number. No answer. Tries a third...
MACAULEY
(into phone)
Jerry! Jerry, thank God someone's
around. This place is starting to
look like a ghost town. Hey, what's
happening? How was your weekend?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.
INT. JERRY'S OFFICE - DAY
Macauley's buddy JERRY, same age, stares blankly ahead as if
his eyes aren't in focus. Throughout what follows, Jerry's
responses are flat, like HAL9000 on a bad day.
JERRY
(into phone)
Hey Mac. Pretty much same as usual.
Great weather we're having, isn't
it?
INTERCUT
MACAULEY
Sure. Hey, what happened to the
nine o'clock meeting? Did someone
cancel and forget to tell me?
JERRY
I don't know.
MACAULEY
Well, I was there, only nobody showed
up. Just Anderson, and he walked
out as soon as I sat down. What's
with him?
JERRY
Is Anderson causing you problems?
MACAULEY
No, he's just behaving like an
asshole, that's all. Nothing new
there.
JERRY
He's from Systems Support, isn't he?
MACAULEY
He's got a serial port installed in
the back of his head, so I guess he
must be. Jerry, you know what just
happened here? Some nutjob threw
his PC out the window.
JERRY
Did you ask him why he did it?
MACAULEY
The hell with that, Security can do
the asking, I'm not paid enough to
deal with these people. Half are
new contractors I don't even know.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.
JERRY
Maybe he had a good reason.
Outside Macauley's office, Barbara returns to her desk.
MACAULEY
Yeah, right. Gotta go, Jerry. Talk
to you over lunch, okay?
JERRY
Okay, Mac.
They hang up. INTERCUT ends, stay with Jerry. The area
outside his office is empty, chairs are overturned, papers
scattered across the floor. Jerry stares blankly ahead as
if all this is normal.
INT. MACAULEY'S OFFICE - DAY
MACAULEY
Barbara, spare me a second?
Barbara enters.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Where's everyone disappeared to? Is
there a project meeting this morning?
BARBARA
If there is, nobody told me.
MACAULEY
Find out, will you? What did Security
say about the window?
BARBARA
No one's answering. I'll try them
again in a minute.
She exits back to her desk. Picks up her phone, dials.
MACAULEY'S MONITOR: he opens a new email...
TO: SECURITY.DESK Security Desk
FROM: MACAULEY.RM R. Martin Macauley, MGR
SUBJECT: Damage to company assets
BACK TO SCENE
Macauley types feverishly. Halfway through, he looks up and
notices Barbara's gone again. He continues typing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.
INT. MAIN OFFICE AREA - DAY
It's deserted like the Marie Celeste. Macauley steps out of
his office and looks around, puzzled.
MACAULEY
Barbara?
No response. He locks his office door and walks up and down,
looking in other offices. The whole place is empty. Greatly
puzzled, he heads for the exit leading into...
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Macauley looks left and right. No one in sight. He heads
along the hallway. As he nears the doors at the end of the
hallway we hear a hubbub of voices... angry, confused,
shouting, pleading.
Macauley stops. In the distance, the CRASH of breaking glass!
Then a door SLAMS shut. We hear running FOOTSTEPS. Macauley
takes a step back, not sure if someone's going to come
charging through the doors.
Then nothing -- no movement, no noise. Dead silence.
Macauley stands absolutely still... then turns and runs back
the way he came.
INT. MAIN OFFICE AREA - DAY
Macauley enters. He heads back to his office... and stops
as a telephone RINGS on a nearby desk. He goes to the desk,
snatches the receiver up.
MACAULEY
(into phone)
Hello?
(beat)
Hello!
He listens. No reply. He puts the phone down. After a
couple of seconds it RINGS again. He angrily snatches the
receiver up and hears...
TELEPHONE VOICE (FILTERED)
You have to get me out of here.
They're coming...
(beat)
Oh, my God.
(beat)
Get out! Get out while you can!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.
DEAD TONE. Macauley hangs up. He looks around, wondering
if this is some crazy joke.
MACAULEY
(shouts)
Hey, is anyone there?
He spins round--
DEXTER stands with a dozen other office workers who all stare
at Macauley, who doesn't dare move. Every man bears fresh
scars and wounds, still bleeding. Their clothing's ripped,
their hair's mussed up.
DEXTER
Where were you when we needed you?
MACAULEY
What happened?
DEXTER
Aren't you one of us any more?
Macauley swallows hard. And lies--
MACAULEY
Of course I am!
Dexter and the other office workers relax and grin.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
What happened to you?
DEXTER
We got those bastards from Accounts.
Some got away, but we'll hunt them
down. Teach them they can't use our
coffee machine.
Macauley nods; he's obviously dealing with lunatics.
One of the office workers whispers into Dexter's ear.
DEXTER (CONT'D)
Harris had problems logging on this
morning.
The office worker nods confirmation.
DEXTER (CONT'D)
We've had enough. We're not going
to take any more.
MACAULEY
Any more what?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19.
DEXTER
Password problems. Terminal problems.
Network problems.
The office workers nod agreement and GROWL angrily.
DEXTER (CONT'D)
Systems Support think they can dick
us around. Pull the plug whenever
they like. Make fools of us. Not
any more. We're going to get them,
like we got those bastards from
Accounts.
The office workers bare their teeth. One picks up a chair
and throws it. Another sweeps a PC and monitor off a desk.
They're working themselves into a frenzy.
DEXTER (CONT'D)
Are you with us?
MACAULEY
Damn right!
DEXTER
Let's go get them!
Dexter and the CHEERING workers sweep past Macauley, taking
him along with them. Like it or not, he's part of the mob.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
The mob heads for the stairs. Other workers join them from
adjoining areas. No words are spoken -- it's as if the other
workers know exactly what's happening. The crowd swells in
size.
Macauley looks around for a way out of this but they're all
around him, he's trapped, he has to go with the flow.
INT. STAIRWAY - DAY
The mob climbs upstairs, Macauley with them. A strange kind
of CHANTING begins -- an incoherent "HUH HUH HUH" sound
repeated over and over. A primitive tribal sound.
INT. SYSTEMS SUPPORT AREA - DAY
The mob bursts out of the stairway, looking for a fight!
A battle erupts as support geeks run out of their offices
and charge the mob.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20.
They're armed with chairs, heavy manuals, computer keyboards,
anything they can get their hands on. The two groups TEAR
INTO EACH OTHER, displaying a primitive and terrifying
ferocity. SCREAMING, HOWLING, CHANTING, YELLING.
Macauley, terrified, slides along the wall while the fight
rages all around him. An enraged geek reaches for him, but
Dexter and other office workers grab the geek, drag him down
and proceed to kick him to death.
Macauley reaches the door. Pushes through...
INT. STAIRWAY - DAY
Macauley runs downstairs, leaving the sounds of fighting
behind. The noise fades...
INT. LANDING - DAY
He stops on the landing. Looks through a door's frosted
window. Cautiously opens the door.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
He creeps along the hallway, looking back over his shoulder.
Somewhere in the distance a telephone RINGS constantly. No
one answers.
INT. MACAULEY'S OFFICE - DAY
Macauley runs inside, grabs his car keys out of his briefcase
and exits fast.
His PC BEEPS.
MACAULEY'S MONITOR: his email software flashes a new message,
he now has OVER 2,000 NEW MAIL ITEMS.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Macauley hurries toward the elevator. He presses the button
several times and looks both ways along the hallway.
PING! The elevator arrives, the doors slide open. He steps
inside without looking... and recoils in horror when he sees
what's waiting for him.
Barbara hangs from the neck by a knotted cluster of MEN'S
TIES of various colors and patterns that form a makeshift
noose attached to the overhead vent grill.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.
The elevator's motion causes her to slowly turn around until
we see her face... battered, bloody, horribly bloated.
Macauley stumbles back into the hallway and collapses against
the wall, gasping. The elevator doors slide shut.
Holding onto the wall, he follows the FIRE EXIT signs to the
nearest stairs. He reaches the door, pauses to look through
the frosted glass window.
INT. STAIRWAY - DAY
From the other side of the window, Macauley's distorted face
looks through.
He pushes the door open an inch, and listens. Doesn't hear
anything. Opens it some more...
He freezes when he hears the sound of clicking FOOTSTEPS.
He pulls back, afraid. A female office worker comes running
downstairs. She takes the stairs fast as if she's being
chased, but no one comes after her. She vanishes... her
footsteps fade.
Macauley waits a moment, then opens the door, steps through.
He descends, pausing every few steps to look and listen.
He reaches the next landing down and hurries past the door.
Heading down...
INT. RECEPTION DESK - DAY
Macauley walks past the empty reception desk. On the way he
passes a door that leads to a private staff bathroom. The
door lies open a few inches.
Donna lies on the bathroom floor, skirt hitched up, pantyhose
torn. Blood's spattered on the bathroom floor and walls.
Macauley stares in horror.
FOOTSTEPS make him spin round. Two men with blood-spattered
shirts skid to a stop and stare at him, wild-eyed and panting.
Macauley raises his keys as a makeshift weapon.
MACAULEY
Stay back from me! Don't come any
closer!
He retreats toward the exit. They stare after him, but don't
follow. Macauley stumbles through the door and outside...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - PARKING LOT - DAY
Macauley heads for his car. He unlocks it, climbs in, slams
the door and locks it.
INT. MACAULEY'S CAR - DAY
Relief washes over him. No sign of anyone following...
BANG! Something heavy hits the car roof and bounces off.
He doesn't want to look, but has to... He opens his door
and looks back--
HIS POV - a woman's body lies on the ground, arms and legs
twisted by the impact.
Macauley looks up at the office tower. She must have fallen
from one of the windows above.
He puts a foot out of the car, intending to check the body...
but changes his mind. He starts the engine and drives out
of there fast.
INT. MACAULEY'S CAR (MOVING) - DAY
Macauley drives through deserted streets. There's no other
moving traffic in sight, just cars at the side of the road,
some with their doors lying open, abandoned. No sign of any
pedestrians either.
He's not just puzzled, he's scared. He takes out his phone,
clips it onto the dash, hits a button. RINGING tone...
INT. LAUREN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Sarah picks up the ringing phone.
SARAH
(into phone)
Hello?
INTERCUT
MACAULEY
Sarah, it's Dad.
SARAH
Hey, Dad. You forget something?
MACAULEY
No, I'm...
(MORE)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
(beat)
Yes, I forgot something. Is she
there? Can I talk to her?
SARAH
You can say her name, you know. The
sun won't fall out of the sky. Hold
on.
Sarah passes the phone to Lauren.
LAUREN
To what do I owe this pleasure?
MACAULEY
I have had one hell of a morning.
You wouldn't believe--
LAUREN
I'm sorry, you'll have to speak up,
I can't hear you. It sounded like
you imagine we're still married.
Sarah looks unhappy but doesn't say anything.
MACAULEY
Lauren, listen to me. Something
funny is going on. And I do mean
funny. Is everything okay with you?
LAUREN
If that means, have I been seeing
someone else since our divorce, the
answer is yes.
MACAULEY
Dammit, that's not what I asked. Is
everything okay with you and the
kids? Where's Dan-o?
LAUREN
Danny is--
Macauley HITS THE BRAKES!
MACAULEY'S POV: looking across the street, into a doorway.
Something's lying there. It could be a body. Whatever it
is, it's slowly DRAGGED into the deeper shadows of the doorway
until it disappears.
Macauley drives on. Phone conversation continues.
MACAULEY
Jesus.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24.
LAUREN
I said Danny's next door with Mom.
What the hell's wrong with you?
MACAULEY
What's wrong with me? I'm driving
through empty streets, that's what's
wrong with me.
LAUREN
You're not making any sense.
(beat)
Have you been drinking?
MACAULEY
For Christ's sake, no, I haven't...
He takes a breath. Calms himself.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Actually, I haven't had a drink since
you threw me out. Can you believe
that? The shock made me teetotal.
LAUREN
I don't want to have this
conversation. Can I go now? Do you
want to talk to Sarah again?
INTERCUT ends.
Macauley HITS THE BRAKES again! And stares ahead...
A car sits right in the middle of the street, its windshield
smashed. Macauley looks closer and sees a blonde girl sitting
in the front passenger seat, her head bowed.
Macauley stares. Not sure what to do.
LAUREN (FILTERED)
Mac? Mac, are you still there?
MACAULEY
(into phone)
Listen, I'll talk to you soon. Stay
in the house, will you? It's
important. Keep the kids in the
house.
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
Macauley gets out his car (he leaves the engine running).
He looks around as he approaches the other car. The street's
deserted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25.
INSERT: views of nearby buildings. No people, no movement.
Macauley reaches the car. Opens the passenger door--
--and jerks back as the girl (ALICIA, 14) screams and
thrashes. She's terrified! He retreats several steps.
MACAULEY
Hey! Hey, it's okay! I'm not going
to touch you!
She calms down and stares at him, suspicious.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Are you on your own? Is there anyone
with you?
ALICIA
Leave me alone!
MACAULEY
That's a good idea! Who was driving?
Who was driving your car?
ALICIA
My dad.
MACAULEY
Where is he?
ALICIA
They took him!
MACAULEY
Who took him?
Alicia brings her knees up and curls into a frightened ball.
Macauley looks around again. Still no one else in sight, no
movement anywhere.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Is he going to come back?
No answer.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Is your dad going to come back for
you?
ALICIA
Just leave me alone.
MACAULEY
Look, maybe you should come with me.
(MORE)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
I can take you home. Or drop you
off anywhere you like. Okay?
ALICIA
Get lost, you pervert!
MACAULEY
Hey, I've got a daughter your age.
She'd go nuts if she heard you say
that.
Alicia softens. Maybe he isn't a perv after all.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Trust me, you get to my age, the
only things you're interested in are
food and TV. All I'm doing is
offering you a lift home. If you
think your dad's coming back for
you, that's okay, stay and wait for
him.
Alicia doesn't respond.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
You have to give me a yes or a no.
I'm not hanging around here all day.
Still no answer. Macauley shrugs.
MACAULEY (CONT'D)
Have it your own way.
He turns and walks back to his car. Behind him, Alicia gets
out. She looks up and down the street, then follows Macauley.
They reach opposite sides of his car at the same time.
ALICIA
Do you know where Greenglades is?
MACAULEY
I think so. It's not too far off my
route. That where you live?
ALICIA
Yes. Swear to God you won't do
anything vile to me?
MACAULEY
I swear to God I won't do anything
to you, anything at all, except drop
you off at your house. I won't even
stop for pizza.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.
Alicia almost smiles. They both get in the car.
INT. MACAULEY'S CAR - DAY
MACAULEY
I'm just thinking...
ALICIA
I knew it.
MACAULEY
Maybe you should leave a note for
your dad. So he knows you're OK.
Alicia shakes her head.
ALICIA
That's okay.
MACAULEY
What d'you mean it's okay, if he
comes back here and you're missing
he'll worry about you.
She looks at him, eyes deep-set and filled with pain.
ALICIA
He's not coming back.
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