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"Trapped In The Dark" - screenplay by Derek Paterson
This is an excerpt (first 20 pages) of a completed screenplay.
"Trapped In The Dark" (working title) - screenplay by Derek Paterson.
FADE IN:
INT. FARRAH'S APARTMENT - DAY
Neo modern, a bachelorette yuppie's pad with a great view
over the city.
Sounds of a running shower from along a hallway.
The bathroom door lies ajar.
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
In the shower, FARRAH HENDERSON, 20s, nude blonde perfection
under steaming water.
A cellphone rings, playing a dinky tune. Farrah turns her
head, hearing it.
She turns off the water, steps out, reaches for a towel and
the ringing cellphone. She towels one side of her head dry
and holds the phone to her dry ear.
She stands in front of a full-length mirror, wipes the steamed
glass so she can see her face. She smiles at herself, and
towels her body with one hand while talking on the phone--
FARRAH (into phone)
Look, I'm on my way, I'm stuck in
traffic. We'll talk about it soon
as I get there, okay?
She tosses the phone onto a pile of towels. She leans toward
the mirror, turns her head from side to side, sticks out her
tongue.
She wipes the mirror further down so she can see her body.
She turns side-on, slaps her flat stomach. Turns round and
bends over, sticking her butt out at the mirror.
FARRAH
You can look, but you can't touch.
EXT. FARRAH'S OPEN TOP CAR ON THE HIGHWAY (MOVING) - DAY
Dressed in a dark business suit, wearing shades and black
leather gloves, her loose hair streaming behind her, Farrah
cuts a swathe through traffic, changing lanes like a pro.
EXT. OFFICE BLOCK - DAY
A sliver of glass and chrome rising above the city.
INT. SEVENTH FLOOR ELEVATORS - DAY
An elevator door slides open, Farrah steps out carrying a
designer purse and a slim attaché case.
INT. SECRETARY'S DESK - DAY
ANN, 20s, pretty but not quite in Farrah's league, looks up
and smiles hello as Farrah approaches.
FARRAH
Hey ya.
After Farrah passes by Ann's smile fades. She moves papers
and folders from one pile to another, slapping them down.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Farrah enters, puts her purse and attaché case on her desk,
takes off her shades and gloves.
She switches on the laptop on her desk. Four Post-It notes
are stuck to the screen. She picks each off in turn, reads
it, screws it up and tosses it in the trashcan.
She sits down, opens her desk drawer and puts her shades,
gloves and cellphone inside, closing the drawer.
She reaches into her purse, opens a compact mirror and applies
a touch of lipstick while Windows boots up.
GEORGI appears in the doorway, an intense Eastern European
yuppie, 20s. He leers at her, drinking her in.
FARRAH
That's close enough.
GEORGI
You like my after-shave?
FARRAH
It's burning the back of my throat.
What is it, battery acid?
GEORGI
It's 25 dollars a bottle, is what it
is. But we'll discuss how it turns
you on later. The boss wants to
talk to us, and I mean right now.
Farrah snaps her compact mirror shut, sticks it in her purse.
FARRAH
I'm ready.
She exits, pushing Georgi aside, then closes and locks her
door.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Georgi sniffs the air as he hurries after Farrah.
GEORGI
I like your perfume.
FARRAH
Not just my perfume.
GEORGI
You're right. I like everything.
FARRAH
You can look, but you can't touch.
You know what happens if you touch?
GEORGI
What happens?
FARRAH
Bad things.
INT. SAM'S OFFICE - DAY
SAM WESTON, 40s, a slick business shark, stands with his
arms folded, staring out the window.
Farrah enters without knocking, Georgi follows her in and
closes the door. Farrah sits down. Sam doesn't turn round.
SAM
I've canceled your appointments and
cleared both your diaries. As of
this moment you're on special
assignment. You talk only to me.
Georgi shows surprise. Farrah's eyes narrow.
FARRAH
Zateshi-Yodin?
Sam turns, smiles.
SAM
Zateshi fucking Yodin. The merger's
going ahead. But a couple of board
members listened to me, thank God.
They want us to make sure those Japs
don't fuck us in the ass.
FARRAH
Just me and Georgi?
SAM
Yep. You monitor New York and
Indonesia. Georgi watches London-
Paris-Berlin. You see any indication,
any indication at all, you pick up
the phone and you let me know.
FARRAH
And you'll do what?
SAM
We've got a team of ninja lawyers
standing by in Tokyo. They'll hit
the exchange commission with a lawsuit
that'll peel Zateshi-Yodin wide open,
let everyone see what's going on.
FARRAH
They won't like that.
SAM
No, I don't imagine they will. But
that's the board's problem. Ours is
making sure we don't get caught with
our pants down.
FARRAH
When?
SAM
Tonight.
FARRAH
When tonight?
SAM
It's a timing thing, the proposal
must be put before the commission
before trading opens. They say
they're still drafting last-moment
changes. Pearl fucking Harbor all
over again. So... when news of the
deal breaks around three a.m.--
FARRAH
Three a.m.?
SAM
--around three a.m., I expect to see
a spike. If there's any movement
before then, we're under attack.
It's no longer a merger, it's a
goddamn takeover bid.
FARRAH
So Zateshi-Yodin eat us up. So what?
SAM
You'll have to learn Japanese.
FARRAH
I'm already taking classes. You
know what I mean.
SAM
Sure, you'll be okay, so will this
department and most of the division.
But they'll make changes. You might
not like them. They may not be as
generous with wage rises and bonuses
as I am.
GEORGI
I heard Jap dick tastes like sushi.
FARRAH
Oh come on, you "heard"?
SAM
Sounds more like personal experience
to me.
FARRAH
You been hanging around in geisha
bars, Georgi? Turning tricks for
lonely businessmen?
GEORGI
"Turning tricks"? Does that mean
what I think it means?
Farrah and Sam laugh.
FARRAH
So, tonight, three a.m.
SAM
Of course the company will show its
appreciation of your support,
especially given the antisocial hours.
Farrah glances at Georgi who nods, no problem.
FARRAH
When do you want us to start?
SAM
Half an hour ago. The sooner you
get a fix on trend lines, the better.
Georgi, any questions?
GEORGI
I have friends in London. Can I
pull them in on this?
SAM
Absolutely not. Word leaks out we're
expecting a double-cross, kiss your
bonus goodbye. And your desk. Is
that understood?
Farrah gets up.
FARRAH
If there's a leak it won't come from
us.
Sam gives them business cards.
SAM
My secure cellphone number and my
home number. You talk only to me.
To no one else.
Farrah nods, opens the door and exits.
GEORGI
What if we get hungry? Can we call
out for pizza?
SAM
No one's to know you're here. The
night guy on the security desk will
know. That's all. Keep it that
way.
GEORGI
No pizza. How about Chinese?
Sam stares at him, cold and hard.
Georgi grins and exits.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Farrah sits down at her desk and types on her laptop.
Georgi appears in the doorway, leers at her.
GEORGI
You need any help, you let Georgi
know.
Without looking at him--
FARRAH
You'll be the first, I promise.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
Mid-day, bright sunshine.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Farrah has taken off her jacket. She leans forward with
elbows on the desk and chin on her hands, bored as hell.
Georgi appears in the doorway.
GEORGI
You want a coffee?
FARRAH
Have you locked your office?
GEORGI
Everyone's gone to lunch.
FARRAH
Lock the door. Your laptop, too.
Georgi shrugs and leaves. Soon he's back again.
GEORGI
Any other orders?
Farrah taps on her keyboard. The screen goes black. She
grabs her purse and exits, pushing Georgi aside.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
She closes and locks the door, takes the key with her.
FARRAH
Anything happening on the European
markets?
GEORGI
Some interesting trading going on
with the South African rand.
She heads for the vending machines, Georgi follows her.
FARRAH
For Christ's sake don't take your
eye off the ball. Zateshi-Yodin is
listed under the zees.
GEORGI
But we're listed under "R," no? I'm
watching us and them. Don't worry
your pretty little head.
Farrah stops, stares into space for a second, turns to him.
FARRAH
Did you just say my "pretty little
head"?
GEORGI
Have I offended you?
FARRAH
Do you have to ask?
GEORGI
Remember I'm a foreigner. It's so
hard to get a grasp of the language.
Those subtle nuances, you know? So
hard to get my lips around.
He puckers his lips as if trying kiss her long distance.
FARRAH
I bet that gets you lots of Jap dick
at the geisha bar.
GEORGI
You can be so cruel.
INT. VENDING MACHINES - DAY
At the coffee machine, Farrah counts out quarters and reaches
for the slot, but Georgi takes hold of her hand.
GEORGI
Let me buy. I insist. A gentleman
must always treat a lady. In my
country this signals commencement of
the mating ritual.
He inserts money into the machine.
FARRAH
It's gonna be a long day.
INT. SAM'S OFFICE - DAY
Sam's on the phone. The door lies open.
SAM
--I'm fine with that in principle.
Send me your update and I'll look it
over. No guarantees, all I'm
committing to is looking at it.
Over his talking, the irritating squeak of a wheel that badly
needs oiled.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SAM'S OFFICE - DAY
A janitor's cart moves past Sam's door, its wheel making all
the noise. It's loaded with mops, brushes, plastic bottles
of cleaning fluid.
SAM
Hold on a second, will you?
Sam gets up, comes to the door, speaks to the unseen guy
pushing the cart.
SAM
I see you again during business hours,
I'll call your supervisor and get
your ass fired. Get that damn thing
out of here.
Sam slams the door and goes back to his phone.
The cart starts moving again, squeaking like fingernails on
a chalkboard.
INT. VENDING MACHINES - DAY
Farrah and Georgi sip their coffees.
GEORGI
It's a beautiful thing to see a young
bride in traditional costume, so
pretty, so fertile, the future of
her family depending entirely upon
the deep well of her womb--
The squeaking wheel intrudes. Farrah winces. Georgi looks
at her with concern.
GEORGI
What is wrong? Are you having a
stroke?
The squeaking wheel gets louder. They both look round.
The janitor's cart rolls toward them, its unseen owner in no
hurry at all.
GEORGI
Hey! Get out of here, we're trying
to have a conversation, you peasant!
The cart squeaks past without pause. The noise fades with
distance. Georgi deliberately raises his voice...
GEORGI
Maybe if he got up out his lazy bed
earlier and did his job when he's
supposed to, eh?
Farrah sticks a finger in her ear and wiggles it.
FARRAH
I don't know who's worse, him or
you. Come on, let's see what's
happening in the world. You can
tell me about fertile brides later.
They head back to their offices.
GEORGI
Their life together begins by drinking
coffee together, strong and rich,
made with special beans which are a
symbol of--
FARRAH
Fertility.
GEORGI
Have I told you this before?
FARRAH
Lucky guess.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Farrah stares at her laptop screen, sips her coffee.
Wall Street stock market analysis -- columns of scrolling
figures translate into bar charts, line graphs.
That squeaking wheel noise again, coming from outside.
She gets up and closes the door, sits back down.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
Late afternoon. Dull sky.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Sam appears in the doorway carrying a coat over his arm and
an attaché case.
SAM
Just thought I'd say goodnight.
FARRAH
It's the middle of the afternoon.
SAM
Brooksby wants to play a round of
golf. Who am I to say no?
FARRAH
That's like a business meeting, right?
SAM
I wish. It's fifty bucks a hole and
the old bastard plays off scratch.
FARRAH
Have fun. Make sure you tip-toe
past Georgi's office in case you
wake him up.
Sam grins and exits.
Farrah drums her fingers on the desk. She occasionally taps
a key on her laptop, looks at line graphs and pie charts and
stock figures. She sighs with boredom.
INT. ELEVATOR - DAY
Sam steps inside, turns to face the doors, presses a button.
He waits. The doors don't close. He presses the button
again. Nothing happens.
SAM
Ah come on...
The elevator doors slide shut. Sam watches the numbers
change.
7, 6, 5, 4...
He glances at his wristwatch. Back to the numbers...
2, 1, P, M
Bing, the elevator doors slide open revealing a dark corridor.
A sign on the facing wall says "Maintenance Level"
Sam peeks out, looks left and right.
He presses a button. Presses it again. Nothing happens.
Angry, he presses it a dozen times. Still nothing.
He flips open the hatch revealing the emergency phone, pulls
this out -- the cable's cut! He puts the phone back and
slams the hatch shut. Takes out his cell phone and thumbs a
number.
SAM (into phone)
This is Sam Weston. I'm calling
from Maintenance Level. The elevator
seems to be stuck down here.
(he listens)
I pressed Parking Level. That's the
only button I pressed.
He presses the button again.
SAM (into phone)
It's still not working.
The squeak of a cart wheel...
SAM (into phone)
Look, I just want someone to make
this thing go up to Parking. Or
tell me where the stairs are. It's
pitch dark down here.
The squeak grows louder. Still holding his cell to his ear,
Sam peeks out, looks left and right.
THE LIGHTS go out. Sam's left in the dark, with only a faint
spark of light coming from somewhere along the corridor.
SAM (into phone)
For Christ's sake, the lights just
went out. What the hell are you
doing up there?
(he listens)
Of course I'm going to wait. I
haven't got a choice. You have to
get someone down here to fix this.
The squeaking cart wheel is very close.
Sam feels a little unnerved. He steps all the way back to
the elevator wall, and lowers his voice...
SAM (into phone)
What d'you mean there's no one
available? Who am I talking to, an
answering machine?
(he listens)
I don't care about shift changes!
This is an emergency. Give me your
supervisor, right now.
INT. MAINTENANCE LEVEL ELEVATOR - DAY
Looking into the elevator, at Sam looking out. He slowly
lowers his phone.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Georgi appears in the doorway, angry as hell.
GEORGI
What did you say to Sam? What did
you say?
FARRAH
Beats me, what did I say?
GEORGI
You told him I was asleep!
FARRAH
I was just kidding.
GEORGI
It's a joke to you maybe! You got
seniority! You earn thirty thousand
a year more than me! Joke to you
but not to Georgi!
Farrah gets up, walks right up to him.
FARRAH
You don't know what I earn and I
don't know what you earn, so shut
your trap. I was kidding, Sam knew
I was kidding, the only one who
doesn't know is you. It's one of
those "subtle naunce" things.
GEORGI
So you say. That's what you're
telling me.
Georgi turns to leave but Farrah grabs his arm.
FARRAH
No, wait. You're right, Georgi, I
admit it... I wanted to get you fired
and take over your job.
Georgi's eyes widen in horror--
FARRAH
Oh, wait! I've already got a better
job! With better salary, better
career prospects, a bigger office.
Now tell me, why would I want to get
you in trouble with Sam?
GEORGI
I don't know.
FARRAH
What did he say? His exact words.
GEORGI
He knocked my door! "Farrah told me
you were asleep!" That's what he
said.
FARRAH
And were you?
GEORGI
Was I what?
FARRAH
Asleep?
GEORGI
No!
FARRAH
Then what's the problem?
GEORGI
He's going to play golf.
FARRAH
He told you that? My God!
GEORGI
What?
FARRAH
"Golf" is a code word, it means you're
fired.
GEORGI
Now you're making a fool of me.
FARRAH
I'm just trying to make you smile.
GEORGI
Well, I don't like your sense of
humor.
Georgi exits. Farrah sits back down, taps her keyboard.
FARRAH
Then fuck off back to Europe, you
asshole.
GEORGI (O.S.)
I heard that!
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
Afternoon turns into evening, daylight begins to fade, lights
are switched on.
INT. VENDING MACHINES - DAY
Farrah buys herself a coffee.
Ann walks by with her coat on, heading home.
ANN
G'night.
FARRAH
Hey, have fun.
ANN
Working late?
FARRAH
Just tidying up a couple of things.
Ann keeps walking.
Farrah sips her machine coffee and makes a face.
FARRAH
Christ, that is the worst--
Ann touches Farrah's arm, startling her. Farrah spills coffee
on the carpet.
ANN
Oh God I'm sorry.
FARRAH
No hard done, 'cept to the carpet
tile budget. What's up?
ANN
I need to ask you something.
FARRAH
Ask. I'm always here for you.
ANN
Me and Allan... we split up.
FARRAH
Allan? Allan in... accounts? Hey
that's rotten news, I'm sorry.
ANN
Before we had a parting of the ways,
we exchanged a few home truths.
FARRAH
About what?
ANN
I think you know.
FARRAH
Maybe you could spell it out for me?
ANN
Do you enjoy making me feel
uncomfortable?
FARRAH
Don't pin this on me, you're doing
it all by yourself.
ANN
I understand why Allan would want to
sleep with you. I mean, look at
you. You're hot, I'm not.
FARRAH
Thank you.
ANN
What I don't understand is why you'd
ever want sleep with him.
FARRAH
Look. We worked together on a
project. One night we had a drink.
That's all there is to it. These
things happen.
ANN
Feelings just aren't part of the
Farrah Henderson equation, are they?
FARRAH
Oh, I'm sure I felt something while
he was fiddling around down there.
Not exactly prize-winning, if you
catch my drift, but he scored points
for enthusiasm--
Ann nudges the coffee cup, spilling it down Farrah's blouse.
Farrah gasps in shock, then recovers and glares.
FARRAH
One bill for a new blouse, coming
right up.
ANN
Paying it will give me pleasure.
Just drop it on my desk next time
you're passing by, won't you?
Ann exits, shoulders back, head high.
Farrah watches her go, and grins.
INT. SEVENTH FLOOR LADIES ROOM - DAY
At a sink, Farrah takes her blouse off. Her bra's skimpy
and provocative. She turns from side to side, admiring her
profile in the mirror.
She runs water onto paper towels and dabs at the coffee stain.
She holds the blouse up to inspect it, shakes her head. No
better than before.
The squeaking of a cart wheel makes her look round, just as
the door bangs shut to cut the sound off.
FARRAH
Hey!
She hurries to the door, wrenches it open.
FARRAH
This is the ladies' room, you jerk!
A MALE EMPLOYEE walks by, shrugging into his coat. He stops
and stares in wonder at Farrah's assets.
FARRAH
Sorry!
She slams the door shut and leans back against it, laughing.
Her laughter dies, her expression becomes thoughtful.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE GEORGI'S OFFICE - DAY
Georgi sits at his desk flipping through a bundle of printout
paper, comparing printed numbers with his laptop screen.
The squeaking wheel noise makes him look up.
He gets up, comes to the door, looks up and down the corridor.
The corridor's empty. But that damn squeak is coming from
around here somewhere.
Farrah arrives, arms folded across her wet blouse.
GEORGI
What happened to you?
FARRAH
I got caught in the rain.
GEORGI
You were outside?
He turns and looks out the window.
GEORGI
But it's not raining.
Farrah unlocks her office door, enters, closes the door.
Georgi shakes his head. He'll never understand women.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Farrah puts on her jacket and sits down. She types on her
laptop keyboard. Back to checking the figures.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT
A black obelisk against the night sky, defined only by its
lights, many of which are off.
INT. MAINTENANCE LEVEL CORRIDOR - DAY
Water pipes and electical cables adorn the walls and ceiling.
The janitor's cart rolls along, its wheel squeaking, its
owner unseen. The cart is covered with a plastic sheet, and
under the sheet is a man-size lump.
As it turns a corner, Sam's leg and arm flop out from under
the sheet. The unseen cart owner doesn't speed up or slow
down, he maintains the same slow pace. The wheel squeaks
continually.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - DAY
Farrah looks out her window at the brightly lit city.
Georgi knocks on her door. His other hand's hidden behind
his back.
She doesn't look round. He knocks again. She turns and
beckons.
He opens the door and grins.
FARRAH
Make it fast.
GEORGI
I'm a bad boy.
FARRAH
You want me to spank you, is that
it? What is it with you guys? The
moment you meet a powerful woman...
Georgi pulls a brown paper bag from behind his back. He
puts it on the desk, invites Farrah to look inside. She
cranes her neck and looks--
Food cartons with Chinese labelling, a bag of prawn crackers.
FARRAH
Where'd you get this?
GEORGI
Guy on the security desk owes me a
favor. I got him a good deal on a
laptop for his daughter. She needs
it for her physics degree.
FARRAH
Sam will have your guts for this.
GEORGI
No, no, the guy got them to bring it
over in a big box, like it's a
business package or something. Nobody
knows we're ordering in. Just you
and me.
FARRAH
Look Georgi, I'm going to be honest
here. I'm not going to sleep with
you just because you bought me a
coffee or sneaked in Chinese food.
GEORGI
We'll discuss lovemaking later.
Though I confess my disappointment.
Let's eat.
FARRAH
What if Sam drops in to check on us?
GEORGI
You're more clever than me. You can
do the explaining.
A distant phone RINGS.
GEORGI
That's my phone! Quick, hide the
evidence!
He exits in a hurry.
Farrah peeks into the bag, takes out a carton and chopsticks.
She opens the carton, inhales, smiles.
FARRAH
Hide the evidence, no problem.
She eats.
INT. GEORGI'S OFFICE - DAY
Georgi enters and picks up the ringing phone.
GEORGI (into phone)
Hello? This is Georgi. Hello?
INT. MAINTENANCE ROOM - NIGHT
The throb and hum of operating machinery and pumps.
The janitor's cart lies abandoned in a corner.
An old table supports a phone, an antique PC, a fax machine,
a printer -- all grubby with age.
There's a also a uniform cap and a plastic I.D. badge stamped
"SECURITY" and bearing the photograph of a man identified as
FRANK MORINO, 50s, wearing a security uniform and the cap.
The telephone receiver cable extends O.S. held by the unseen
cart owner's hand.
INT. GEORGI'S OFFICE - DAY
GEORGI (into phone)
Hey Frank is that you?
He listens... and as he listens he becomes unsettled.
GEORGI (into phone)
If it's you, say something.
INT. MAINTENANCE ROOM - NIGHT
The unseen cart owner's hand lowers the receiver back into
its cradle.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Farrah feasts on noodles and rice. Georgi appears in the
doorway looking slightly puzzled.
FARRAH
Started without you, sorry. S'good.
You got anything to wash it down?
GEORGI
Coffee or water?
FARRAH
Evian.
GEORGI
I'll see what I can find.
FARRAH
Who was on the phone?
GEORGI
Don't know. I think it was an
internal call. They hung up.
FARRAH
Your security guy?
Georgi shrugs, and exits.
FARRAH
Hey! Don't you want any of this?
No answer, he's gone. She shrugs and eats, keeping one eye
on her laptop screen.
A distant phone RINGS.
Farrah looks outside for Georgi.
FARRAH
Ffffff...
She moves to the door.
FARRAH
Hey Georgi! Your phone!
She puts the carton down on her desk and exits.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE GEORGI'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Farrah turns the handle -- the door's locked.
She looks around puzzled -- the ringing's coming from
somewhere else.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SAM'S OFFICE - NIGHT
It's Sam's phone -- Farrah tries his door, it's locked. The
ringing stops. She heads back to her office.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Her phone rings just as she gets back, she snatches it up.
FARRAH (into phone)
Yes...? Mrs. Weston, hello! It's
Farrah... Yes, Christine, thank
you... That's right, Farrah
Henderson... This is unexpected...
Sam? No, he left hours ago.
Farrah sits down, pulls the carton toward her, takes up the
chopsticks.
FARRAH (into phone)
He said he was going to play a round
of golf with Mr. Brooksby... That's
right, Ken Brooksby.
She eats a mouthful of food, listening.
FARRAH (into phone)
Mrs. Weston, Christine, I'm thinking
maybe you should try the 19th hole.
The clubhouse. You know how it is,
loser buys the first round, winner
shows he's a good sport by buying
the next round. Next thing you know
you've got a dozen guys...
Every light on the floor goes out, plunging the office into
darkness.
Emergency lighting kicks in, the tiny bulbs just casting
enough light to see by. The brightest thing in the area is
her laptop screen.
FARRAH (into phone)
Uh-huh... Uh-huh... Yes of course
I will, Christine... Very nice
talking to you, too. Goodbye.
She hangs up and stares at the dead lights.
FARRAH
What. The fuck. Is going on?
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE FARRAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Farrah stands in the doorway, looking around. Darkness
everywhere except for the emergency lights, her laptop and
the glow of Georgi's laptop in his office.
Her laptop BEEPS. She hurries back to her desk.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
The laptop display says, "Network Connection Lost."
Farrah snatches up her phone, dials. Ringing tone. She
pushes the carton of Chinese food away, spilling it.
FARRAH
Come on, pick up you assholes!
She slams the receiver down -- snatches it up, dials again.
Ringing tone, over and over. She bares her teeth.
She dials again.
INT. MAINTENANCE ROOM - NIGHT
The phone rings and rings. No one answers.
INT. FARRAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Farrah listens to the ringing tone.
FARRAH
Fuck!
She slams the receiver down. Picks up her purse and heads
for the door.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE FARRAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
She pulls her door shut and locks it.
INT. SECRETARY'S DESK - NIGHT
Farrah picks up the phone receiver, listens, slams it back
down.
INT. VENDING MACHINES - NIGHT
No sign of Georgi. Farrah walks on.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SEVENTH FLOOR MEN'S ROOM - NIGHT
Farrah raps loudly on the door.
FARRAH
Georgi! You in there?
No answer. She pushes the door open.
FARRAH
Georgi! Pull your pants up and get
out here.
No answer.
FARRAH
We lost the network! System support
won't answer their goddamn phone.
No answer.
FARRAH
I'm going downstairs.
No answer.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE GEORGI'S OFFICE - NIGHT
She slaps a Post-It note on his door.
INT. SEVENTH FLOOR ELEVATORS - NIGHT
Farrah presses the button. No response. She presses it
again... and again. No response.
FARRAH
You have got to be kidding me.
She marches to the stairway.
INT. SEVENTH FLOOR STAIR EXIT - NIGHT
She pushes the door open--
INT. STAIRWAY - NIGHT
--and exits onto the stairway landing.
It's spooky as hell out here, deep shadows broken only by
sparks of emergency lighting.
Farrah looks down the stairway.
FARRAH
Georgi?
Her voice echoes down the stairwell.
She takes a deep breath and descends, skipping lightly down
the steps, holding onto the rail with one hand, her purse
with the other.
...Onto the landing below.
...Down the next flight stairs.
...Onto the landing below.
The stairs go on and on, floor after floor...
INT. BOTTOM OF STAIRS - NIGHT
Two doors, one marked RECEPTION, the second FIRE EXIT. A
sign warns that opening the fire exit door will set off an
alarm.
Farrah descends the stairway. She pulls open the door that
leads to--
INT. GROUND FLOOR CORRIDOR - NIGHT
At either end are doors leading to stairways. Farrah just
came down one of those.
In the middle are two elevators, sitting idle with their
doors open. To one side of the elevators are doors to Male
and Female toilets.
Facing the elevators is the main entrance, a double set of
external and internal glass doors that form an "airlock"
containing the reception desk.
The windows of an enclosed security control room overlooks
the reception desk and the elevators.
Inside the control room, working monitors show camera views
of the outside entrance.
The corridor and the control room are poorly lit by emergency
lighting.
Farrah walks along the corridor, approaching the security
control room. Her clicking footsteps echo, the only sound.
She reaches the control room, peers through the windows. No
one seems to be inside.
She raps on the glass. No response. She raps louder. Still
no response.
There's a button with a sign, "PRESS FOR ATTENTION." She
presses the button. A BUZZER goes off inside the control
room. She presses it again and again. No response.
She walks to the airlock doors. Tries the handles. Locked.
She peers through the glass. It's pitch dark outside the
building.
She looks up and down the corridor. No people, no sounds,
nothing.
She walks to the Ladies Room and goes inside.
INT. GROUND FLOOR LADIES ROOM - NIGHT
Sterile ceramic tiles and mirrors. Main lights are out,
just a low wattage glow from the emergency light.
Farrah takes off her jacket, hangs it on a hook. She inspects
the coffee stain on her blouse.
FARRAH
Fucking bitch...
She reaches into her purse, takes out lipstick and a bottle
of perfume. She applies lipstick, smacks her lips, pouts at
her reflection. She drops the lipstick into her purse, opens
the perfume bottle and puts a dab behind each ear. She smiles
at herself.
FARRAH
Looking pretty good, for two o'clock
in the fucking morning.
She turns and tilts her head as if she's heard something.
She walks into the middle of the room and stands there for a
moment, listening.
She walks over to the wall and stares up at the air vent.
Just a whisper of air coming through the vent.
INT. GROUND FLOOR CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Farrah opens the Ladies' Room door, steps out.
She looks up and down the corridor. Empty.
She walks to the Men's Room door. Stops, and listens.
(She has left her purse in the Ladies' Room.)
INT. GROUND FLOOR MEN'S ROOM - NIGHT
The door opens an inch, Farrah peeks inside.
She opens it a little more. There's an inner privacy wall,
she can't see inside.
A whimpering noise, like a child crying.
Farrah's eyes widen. She pushes the door open until she can
slip through.
The door's on a spring, it swings shut behind her. She turns
at the last moment and stops it from banging -- closes it
slowly so there's no noise.
She creeps to the end of the wall and peeks round.
Georgi lies face down on the floor, naked, tied up and bloody.
There's hardly an inch of him that isn't angry red and purple
welts. The whimpers are coming from him.
He turns his head and stares at Farrah with terrified eyes.
His breath comes in shuddering gasps.
Farrah opens her mouth to speak -- Georgi shakes his head,
no! He lifts his head, wincing with pain, and nods/jerks
toward the nearest stall.
The stall door is closed. There's someone inside.
Farrah silently demands to know who's in there?
Georgi shakes his head.
She takes a step toward him -- Georgi shakes his head again,
warning her to go back.
The toilet flushes, startling her.
end excerpt
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