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Midnight
By Topher Rhives
FADE IN:
INT. MORGUE - BASEMENT.
We open to a darkened room, one solitary light hangs overhead
A man sits on the chair a lit cigarette hangs loosely between
his finger. And instant camera sits on his lap.
He is DANTE JORDAN, 29, with haphazardly combed black hair
and a medium build.
In front of him lays a corpse on a metal cart a white sheet
conceals it's identity.
Dante grabs a hold of a string that is the light switch. He
aims his camera at the body. He pulls the string. Darkness.
A moment passes and a flash illuminates the room.
Dante gasps and jumps back, dropping the camera.
The camera spits out a photos.
Dante picks up the photo and sets it on a counter.
He then begins pacing around the body. It's of KYLE GARN,
29, shaved head and well maintained build. A bullet hole
lays dead-smash in the middle of his head.
DANTE
10 years, now, right? No wait 11.
11 fucking years since I last saw
you. Mr. Kyle Garn, Breckerville's
top athlete, 4.0 GPA, always a staple
of the honour roll, and all around
nice guy. Yeah, that's how the papers
put it. I loved how they churned
out this bullshit about you in hopes
of whoring you out in hopes of getting
you recognized and this little
shithole town a name for itself.
(beat)
You, my friend, were a asshole, simple
as that. Yeah, kicking the shit out
of me during lunch just for kicks.
Real nice, yeah, real fucking nice.
You were a stand up fucker. And now
here you are. Dead at 29, a name of
the past, a nothing.
(MORE)
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2.
DANTE (CONT'D)
(beat)
How'd you go?
He picks up a piece of paper and looks at it.
DANTE (CONT'D)
Suicide. What is life being a prick
to you too? A simple cop out, and
nothing more. You're pathetic.
(beat)
Well, I'd better get you prepped.
MONTAGE: Dante prepares the body for the funeral.
He prepares to bring it upstairs, then stops. He rushes
over and grabs the Polaroid, and stuffs it into his pocket.
He then grabs the records on Kyle. He pulls out a lighter.
DANTE (CONT'D)
I'm sorry, Kyle Garn, you say. Never
heard of him, ma'am.
He burns the papers.
He then drags Kyles body out the back door.
CUT TO:
EXT. FUNERAL HOME - NIGHT.
He continues to drag him up a flight of stairs and finally
into the passenger seat of his car. Dante starts the vehicle.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR - NIGHT.
They sit in the car for a moment.
DANTE
You ready? We're going on a little
drive.
He begins to drive. He turns towards Kyle and offers a
cigarette.
DANTE (CONT'D)
Light? Oh, not a smoker? Eh, that's
alright. It's an acquired brand
anyhow.
They drive off.
DANTE (CONT'D)
Dead at 29, wonder why you did it.
(MORE)
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3.
DANTE (CONT'D)
I mean you had everything going for
you. You had a wife, and a son or
daughter, I'm not sure what I heard.
Why throw it away?
He turns up a dirt road heading into the mountains.
DANTE (CONT'D)
I bet you were a wife beater. She
left you. Am I right? Perhaps you
were a horrible father. Did you
even love them? Is someone who is
capable of such cruelty even capable
of love?
He switches gears.
DANTE (CONT'D)
I bet you're wondering where I'm
taking you right about now. You
remember Johnny? Johnny Phillips?
That kid you use to throw around in
the locker room? He's rich now.
Yeah, that's right, fucking rich.
Haha, he made it. He was and will
always be better then you.
The car pulls up to an overlook. Farmland stretches miles
below.
DANTE (CONT'D)
Here's the spot.
He gets out of the car.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOOKOUT POINT - NIGHT
A full moon hangs overhead, farmland stretches from miles
below.
Dante pulls Kyle out of the car and props him against a rock.
DANTE
It's a beautiful site, isn't it?
Makes you glad to be alive...
(beat)
Er, you know what I mean, right.
KYLE
I know what you mean.
Dante takes a drag.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
DANTE
Yeah, a fucking artistic masterpiece.
(beat)
Wait, how the hell am I talking to
you.?
KYLE
How are you talking to me? Well
let's see, this is quite a simple
answer. Oh what was it? Let's see.
Oh! That's right: You're utterly
fucking insane.
Dante glares over at him.
DANTE
Even in death you're a prick?
KYLE
To you, yes I am.
DANTE
At least I'll be burying you tomorrow.
KYLE
Yeah, about that. You burned all
the documentation, oh, and you stole
a corpse. Isn't that illegal?
DANTE
It is.
KYLE
And burning documents. Fuck man,
you're just pilling on the years
you'll serve.
DANTE
If anyone finds out.
KYLE
The hell's that suppose to mean?
DANTE
You're family requested a closed-
casket funeral.
Kyle motions for a light.
DANTE (CONT'D)
I thought you didn't smoke...
He hands him a cigarette and Kyle lights up.
KYLE
I didn't.
(MORE)
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5.
KYLE (CONT'D)
(beat)
Dammit, closed-casket, that's just
insulting. Why?
DANTE
Why? Why? You blew your fucking
brains out.
KYLE
Oh, right.
DANTE
Can I ask why?
KYLE
No, let's just go.
DANTE
Come on, it's not going to hurt you.
KYLE
I'd rather not.
DANTE
Why not?
KYLE
It's really none of your business,
let's just go.
Dante sits up and so does Kyle. They get into the car.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR - NIGHT. -- CONTINUOUS
They drive in the car.
DANTE
So, are you hungry?
KYLE
Me, hungry? I'm fucking dead.
DANTE
Well I'm not, so would you mind a
quick pit stop?
KYLE
No, I've got all... eternity, if you
will.
(beat)
You on the other hand, my friend
have until midnight to straighten
things out with me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.
DANTE
Midnight, come on, that's just
bullshit.
They pull into a drive-thru.
KYLE
Hey, it's you're fucked up mind, not
mine.
DANTE
I know, your's is splattered on some
wall.
KYLE
Oh fuck you. If I were alive I'd
kick the shit out of you.
DANTE
Can you hold it for a sec, I'd like
to order.
He pulls up to the ordering mic.
EMPLOYEE (O.S.)
Hello and welcome to Wendy's, how
may I help you?
DANTE
Yeah, I'll take a number 5 with a
coke.
EMPLOYEE (O.S.)
Will that be all?
DANTE
Yes.
He pulls up the pickup window and the employee opens the
window.
EMPLOYEE
Thank you for... shit man, what
smells?
Dante turns to Kyle.
KYLE
What the hell?
DANTE
It's my friend over here. He's sick,
the stupid fucker hasn't showered in
weeks.
KYLE
Oh come on.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.
EMPLOYEE
Well hope he feels better. Anyhow
it'll be 5.50.
Dante hands him the change, the employee hands him his food.
He drives off.
KYLE
A stupid fucker? You could of said
I got hit by a skunk or some shit
like that.
DANTE
I could of, but I didn't.
He eats while he drives.
KYLE
You know why I kicked your ass in
high school, right?
DANTE
Yeah, I was the weird little fuck
and an easy target.
Kyle turns towards him.
KYLE
That's bullshit. You want to know
something, I could give less of a
damn how "weird" you were.
DANTE
Bullshit.
KYLE
The point is you made a point to
stand out, you made a big deal about
yourself. You came off as cocky.
DANTE
Me, cocky. Ha!
KYLE
Like one of those people who says
they're a non-conformist simply to
appeal to a smaller crowd.
He stops the car and gets out.
KYLE (CONT'D)
Where are we?
They are parked in the center of football field.
CUT TO:
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8.
EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY
The two get out and walk around. Kyle picks up a football
and throws it to Dante.
KYLE
Good catch, you should of tried for
the team.
DANTE
Yeah, I should of, but you know,
that whole "non-conformist" thing
He throws it back.
KYLE
I take it you were one of those arty
type, right.
DANTE
If you mean like drama club and shit,
no. I never really cared for school.
KYLE
No one actually does.
(beat)
God, being hear brings back memory's,
you know the cheers of the crowd.
That charged feeling you get when
the minutes tick down...
DANTE
Sounds nice.
KYLE
It was.
DANTE
So will you tell me now?
KYLE
I can't say.
He gets back into the car and Dante follows.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR - NIGHT. -- CONTINUOUS
Dante sits in the driver seat, Kyle in the passenger.
KYLE
Here, let me drive for a sec.
DANTE
Alright.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.
They get out and switch sides. Kyle begins to drive.
DANTE (CONT'D)
So where are we going???
A pause.
KYLE
You'll see.
They turn off the main road and into a small winding road
that is covered in overgrowth.
The two sit silent in the car.
Outside the overgrowth grows thicker.
DANTE
I think we're losing the road.
KYLE
We're not.
DANTE
We're driving in the woods..
KYLE
Trust me.
DANTE
But
KYLE
For fuck's sake, trust me!
They drive into a meadow, a decrepit house sits in the middle.
They park the car outside next to a swing set and see-saw.
They exit the car.
CUT TO:
EXT. MEADOW HOUSE - NIGHT
Dante looks around, the place is vaguely familiar.
KYLE
You know this place, don't you.
Dante looks towards him and then at the house. He's silent
for a moment. A tear run downs his eye.
DANTE
Yes.
He walks over and takes a seat next to the swing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.
DANTE (CONT'D)
Linda and I use to come down here
when we were little. It sounds stupid
now, but back then this is where
we'd go to...
KYLE
Escape your troubles?
DANTE
Yeah.
KYLE
I know.
DANTE
You knew about Linda?
KYLE
Tell me more.
DANTE
But you knew.
KYLE
It's important that you say it.
DANTE
Alright, this place, we use to come
here, all the time it seemed.
(beat)
And as we grew older, I found myself
falling in love with her. She was
intelligent, care-free, and beautiful.
(beat)
Then one day, she started hanging
out with this guy, some Kyle...
He looks towards Kyle.
DANTE (CONT'D)
That was you? Wasn't it?
KYLE
Yes, it was.
DANTE
What happened to her?
KYLE
There's more to the story, go on.
You went to this house one last time.
DANTE
I recall something... yes, I came
here one night, I think last year.
(MORE)
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11.
DANTE (CONT'D)
I think I was drunk, I'd just found
out that I had stage five cancer...
I had a gun and a note. I remember
walking up to the stoop...
Kyle pulls a note out of his pocket.
KYLE
And leaving this note.
Dante begins to shiver, he takes the note.
DANTE
Where did you get this note?
KYLE
Linda found it.
Dante begins to cry.
DANTE
No, it can't be.
KYLE
She also found something else...
DANTE
What?
A pause.
DANTE (CONT'D)
What? What the fuck did she find!?
KYLE
Calm down.
DANTE.
Tell me!
KYLE
You need to calm down.
DANTE.
Please.
KYLE
Your body.
Dante stops and stares.
DANTE.
No.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.
KYLE
That night, you shot yourself.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGUE - BASEMENT - EARLIER
The photo that was thrown on the floor, earlier develops,
revealing to be Dante.
CUT TO:
EXT. MEADOW HOUSE - NIGHT
Dante and Kyle sit on two of the three swings.
KYLE
Yes, she found your body and the
gun.
DANTE.
Oh god.
KYLE
She took the gun to herself, she
loved you, you know that.
DANTE.
I had no idea. But you two, you had
a life together, kids and a future.
KYLE
No we didn't. We lost our child
before it was born. She had a
miscarriage.
(beat)
When you killed yourself, that was
too much for her.
DANTE.
And you?
KYLE
I've been dead for a few years. I
came down here to help you. The
body on the table was yours, but in
order to ease you into this you saw
my body.
(beat)
I'm sorry about what I did in high
school.
DANTE.
Yeah, I forgive you, don't worry
about it. Oh, I'm so sorry about
Linda.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.
LINDA (O.S.)
Don't be.
Dante turns to see LINDA, 29, brunette hair and wearing casual
dress.
DANTE.
Linda.
Linda and Dante kiss. And the three of them stand up.
KYLE
It's time to go now.
The door opens to a brilliant white light, he walks into it.
DANTE.
Linda, I, I love you.
Tears run down his eyes.
LINDA
I know.
They embrace, and arm in arm, walk into the light.
FADE OUT:
THE END