Rated MA
(I wrote this way back in the past of 2009. It's a script for a short film that as yet hasn't been shot.)
**
Int: Corridor. A plain clothes detective CHRIS ANDERSON, walks down it with purpose. In one hand is a pile of manila folders, the other a coffee cup. CHRIS wears a shield on his belt that reads ‘FTPD ANDERSON 1875’. He looks a tad stressed. CHRIS is met in the hallway by FRANK B LYMAN, another detective, holding similar folders + badge ‘FTPD LYMAN 1919’
FRANK: What’s up Chris?
CHRIS: Oh hi Frank.
FRANK: You seem stressed
CHRIS: Nah not really. What have you got?
FRANK: B&E. Crazy girl broke into a house. You?
CHRIS: Double homicide
FRANK: Wow! That’s…
CHRIS: I know. Better not keep her waiting
FRANK: Hey if you want to run good cop/bad cop, I’m just up the hall
CHRIS: Thanks Frank. Oh who won the game?
FRANK: Giant’s baby
CHRIS: Dammit!
Int: Doorway. CHRIS stands at the door to ‘INTERVIEW ROOM #4’. CHRIS takes a deep breath, readies himself and walks into the room
Int: Security Camera POV. CHRIS enters the room and looks up at the security camera
CHRIS: Detective Chris Anderson of FTPD. Commencing interview at 11.25pm with suspect.
Int: A plain room, table in centre of the room with two chairs. Sitting on one chair is SCARLET, a pretty young woman with auburn hair. SCARLET has blood splattered all over her. There are flecks on her face, blood spray on her top and the backs of her hands are all red. She is handcuffed and her hands rest uneasily on the table
CHRIS: Hi
Awkward silence as SCARLET keeps her eyes down as CHRIS takes a seat
CHRIS: Oh-kay. Let’s get this underway shall we?
SCARLET: Where’s my lawyer?
CHRIS: On the way I believe. Until they get here, I though we’d have a little chat
SCARLET: Could you take these off?
SCARLET raises her cuffed hands
CHRIS: No…sorry. Let’s begin shall we? Something easy, what’s your name?
SCARLET: No comment
CHRIS: Um this isn’t a press conference. No comment doesn’t work in here even though it’s an interview room…funny that. Here it’s either you exercise your right to silence or you can answer my questions. Do you understand?
SCARLET: Yes
CHRIS: So, what’s your name?
Silence
CHRIS: Okay. Well how about I tell you what I know and if you want to correct me or add something then feel free to jump in.
SCARLET: Can I have some water?
CHRIS: Sure, but this is a give and take type situation. I will get you some water but I’d like you too tell me your name….No. You will get some water soon but after I talk to you for a bit, sooner if you tell me your name.
CHRIS deliberately takes a sip from his coffee cup, the silence continues
CHRIS: Also I’d like to advise you at this time of your rights, just in case the arresting officers didn’t go over them…
SCARLET interrupting: When does my lawyer get here?
CHRIS: I don’t know. (Muttering) Gonna be one of those nights.
CHRIS opens a folder
CHRIS: You were arrested at the scene by Officers…Jacob & Williams, after they were called by neighbours to Grim Street. You were found in the bedroom near both of the victims. Did you know either of the victims?
SCARLET: Yes
CHRIS: Which one?
SCARLET: Both!
CHRIS making notes: Really? How?
SCARLET: No comment
CHRIS glances up at her; she realizes her mistake and lowers her head.
CHRIS: So you were at the scene, in the vicinity of the victims. Is any of that blood yours?
SCARLET: No
CHRIS: So it’s the victim’s blood?
SCARLET: Yes
CHRIS: How did it get all over you?
SCARLET (stopping herself): No….
CHRIS: Have you been fingerprinted?
SCARLET: I think so…
CHRIS: Good, we’ll check that against the murder weapon. Anyway you were arrested in the vicinity of the victims, you’re covered in the victim’s blood…I find it strange
SCARLET: What?
CHRIS: That you’ve got nothing to say
SCARLET: Is my lawyer here yet?
CHRIS: I’ll go and check
SCARLET: Could I have some water…please?
CHRIS: Sure.
CHRIS turns to camera POV and speaks
CHRIS: Interview suspended at (get an accurate time via editing, several takes saying 11.30pm 11.31pm etc)
CHRIS turns to SCARLET and leans in: And while I’m gone I’d have a long hard think young lady.
Int: CHRIS exiting the interview room, exhales and shakes his head. CHRIS reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of cigarettes. He goes to put one in his mouth then notices the ‘No Smoking Sign’. FRANK exits a room
FRANK: Un-be-funking-levable!
CHRIS: What’s going on Frank?
FRANK: Must be a full moon. My crazy blonde bitch, not only breaks into a house, she ransacks the place! Turns the kitchen & the bedrooms upside down! Breaks the chairs…Why? No reason. But it gets better. Psycho girl wants to press charges!
CHRIS: On who?
FRANK: Well the residents of the house caught up with her and gave her a damn good kicking! Now officially, I’m appalled and will follow it through her complaint
CHRIS: Unofficially
FRANK: She got what she deserved! It’s rare that people get to extract punishment on those who wrong them. Hey, you’re not on the death sticks again are you?
CHRIS: No…yes, still carry a pack but haven’t had one yet
FRANK: Good
FRANK takes the packet off him. CHRIS gets a pager
CHRIS: The lab results are in. Would you pop in and see mine, she’s doing my head in.
FRANK: Really?
CHRIS: Yeah. She’s clammed up. But maybe the lab results will loosen her tongue
FRANK: If I go back into mine I think I’ll slap the blonde off her! I’ll have a chat to yours
CHRIS walks off as FRANK crushes the cigarettes and throws them into the bin.
Int: FRANK walks through the door and into the room. FRANK spins the chair backwards and sits with chin on his arms looking at SCARLET
FRANK: I can get you out
SCARLET: What?
FRANK: I can get you out. Straight out the front door, no questions
FRANK puts some handcuff keys on his side of the table. SCARLET goes to reach for them
FRANK: Not so fast ‘red’. It’s not that easy. I’ve got something you want and you’ve got something…I want
SCARLET: You’re sick!
FRANK: No just practical. You do something for me and I’ll do something for you.
SCARLET: You want to…in here
FRANK: Red I’ve done it in the supply cupboard, the cells, the back of a squad car. But never in here…so today could be your lucky day, mine too.
SCARLET: I…I can’t
FRANK: Can’t. Or won’t?
Silence
FRANK: Seriously it’s like eight minutes out of your day. After that you can leave
SCARLET: Just like that
FRANK: Just like that!
Silence
SCARLET: …Okay
FRANK: Well best you start making with the nudity
SCARLET stands up, a little self conscious. She’s unsure of what do to, due to the hand cuffs. SCARLET begins to unbutton her top. FRANK walks up to her and stands right in her personal space. They locks eyes, she flashes a sexy smile. FRANK leans right on in and whispers
FRANK: Are you ready?
SCARLET: Yes
FRANK: Then sit down you filthy whore
SCARLET looks shocked
FRANK: I don’t sleep with prison bitches!
SCARLET launches at FRANK but he easily catches her handcuff chain and raises her arms above her head
SCARLET: You bastard!
FRANK throws SCARLET back into her chair
FRANK: This isn’t some soap opera red, where a quick blowjob will make everything go away. You’ve done something serious. Look at you you’re covered in blood!
Int: Interview room. CHRIS enters with an item wrapped in plastic. CHRIS turns to security camera POV
CHRIS: Detective Chris Anderson of FTPD. Recommencing interview at (insert proper time via edit). Detective Frank Lyman of FTPD also present
SCARLET: I want my lawyer!
CHRIS: On the way, stuck in traffic, not here yet, I don’t know. Do you recognise this?
CHRIS throws the red wrapped item onto the table. It looks like a hooded jumper, splattered in blood.
SCARLET: I’m not answering any more questions until my lawyer gets here
FRANK mimicking: I’m not answering any more questions until my lawyer gets here
CHRIS: That’s enough Frank. Now Miss. Do you recognise the item before you? Yes? No? Well I put it to you that this was what you were wearing when you killed the old lady
SCARLET: I DIDN’T KILL HER! HE DID!
CHRIS: Who did?
SCARLET: My boyfriend
CHRIS: Forensics found this stuffed in the garbage. Judging by the hair they found around the collar it’ll match yours. So from what we can gather you were wearing this at the time of the murders
SCARLET: I didn’t kill her
FRANK: Then who did?
SCARLET: My boyfriend did
CHRIS: Then how about you start talking
SCARLET: I just wanted her out of the house. She…she was very controlling
FRANK: Who?
SCARLET: My grandmother
CHRIS & FRANK look at each other in surprise
SCARLET: She was always very strict. Be home at this time. Don’t do this, don’t do that. I just wanted her out of the house
FRANK: Or out of the way
SCARLET
That wasn’t the plan! Brad was just supposed to scare her y’know. Make her want to leave and go into a retirement home. It was a good plan; she gets scared then moves to the home
CHRIS: Brad’s your boyfriend?
SCARLET: …Yes. It was a good plan…it just went wrong
FRANK: I’ll say
SCARLET: Shut up you bastard!
CHRIS: Then what happened?
SCARLET: Brad went in to scare her. He’s good like that with his big eyes. But she hit him. He just snapped. He tore into her. He was like an animal…there was so much blood. It wasn’t the plan. That wasn’t the plan
CHRIS: So you hit him?
SCARLET: Yes
CHRIS: Several times
SCARLET: Yes
CHRIS: With this
CHRIS places a plastic wrapped axe on the table
SCARLET sobbing: Oh god
CHRIS: Judging by the blood splatter on your clothes and hands this is the murder weapon. The two blank spots on the handle, here and here, will match your hand prints. Plus with the fingerprints…
SCARLET: It was self defense! He attacked me! He’d just killed my grandmother and was coming after me! I had to…
FRANK: You could’ve run
SCARLET: Bastard!
Scarlet snatches up the axe and holds it poised to strike. CHRIS & FRANK draw their weapons
CHRIS: Put the weapon down!
FRANK: Drop it!
SCARLET: I hate you!
CHRIS: Put the weapon down. Now!
Int: Interview room. A young legal type woman, JILL WOODSMAN, enters the room. CHRIS & FRANK whirl around and point their weapons at her then back at SCARLET
JILL: Whoa!
CHRIS: Who are you?
JILL: Jill Woodsman. Why are you pointing guns at my client?
FRANK: She started it
JILL: Scarlet…I’m here now. Put the axe down
SCARLET drops the axe and collapses in a sobbing heap. JILL heads over to console her as CHRIS & FRANK put their guns away
JILL: It’s okay sweetie. Just calm down.
CHRIS: Miss Woodsman…could you tell me your clients full name?
JILL: It’s Scarlet Riding-Hood
CHRIS: Miss Riding Hood as an officer of the Fairy Tale Police Department, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of Brad Wolf and as a co-conspirator in the murder of Amber Riding-Hood. You are also under arrest for the direct violation of the happily ever after code. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to legal consul.
Roll Credits
**
Epilogue
CHRIS & FRANK standing in the corridor
FRANK: God job today Chris
CHRIS: Thanks for your help Frank
FRANK: Anytime. Now it’s your turn to help me with Goldilocks
THE END, FADE TO BLACK
**
Notes:
*Chris Anderson is a reference to Hans Christian Anderson. 1875 is the year he died.
*Frank B Lyman is a reference to L Frank Baum the man who wrote the Wizard of Oz. Lyman was his first name. 1919 is the year he died
*Officers Jacob & Williams is a reference to Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm
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