Friday, February 25, 2011

Lead On, Macduff



Hey there, horror kids. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where your most violent fantasies become sins of the flesh, right here, where the hardboiled action is non-stop, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 15 of FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE, detective Chet Ordesky and CDC agent Beck Driver get into a fight. Meanwhile, science genius nerd Frankie Stein visits dead cheerleader Vita Heck in his tree house, where she announces she wants to go on a 'date' ... and then, to make matters worse, Frankie's friend Josh announces that he can't keep their secret any more, and wants to turn himself in ...


EXT. FRANKIE’S HOUSE - FRONT DOOR - DAY
Chet and Beck stand on the front stoop.
Chet RINGS the bell.

BECK
Nobody’s home.
Let’s come back later.

CHET
Hold on a sec.
Maybe she’s taking a shit.

BECK
That’s disgusting.

CHET
Haven’t you ever been
uncoiling a sidewinder
and the doorbell rang?

BECK
First of all, I’m a petite flower.
I don’t DO ‘side-winders.’

CHET
Well, excuse me, big-city gal.
I guess your shit doesn’t stink.

BECK
You got THAT right.

He RINGS the bell again.

CHET
I know what your problem is.

BECK
Oh? And what would that be?

CHET
You need to get laid.
(off her look)
I can tell it’s been a long time.

BECK
That’s none of your fucking business.

CHET
Look. Your cheeks
are turning red. I’m RIGHT.

BECK
(looks at this belly)
'Time to make the donuts' --

CHET
Hey. No need to be nasty.

BECK
You can dish it out,
but you can’t take it?
Small-town HICK.

CHET
Bitch.

BECK
Asshole.

CHET
WHORE.

BECK
Fat FUCK.

They stare at each other a long beat.

CHET
I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t have gotten personal with you --
(beat)
The wife and I’ve not been --
(beat)
I’ve been sleeping on the couch.

BECK
Oh, wow. That sucks.

CHET
Yeah.

Pause.

BECK
You’re right.
It’s been awhile,
and I get -- defensive.
(beat)
Sorry.

CHET
(nods)
Whattaya say we get some coffee
and come back later?

BECK
(glimmer of a smile)
Lead on, MacDuff.

CHET
Who’s MacDuff?

BECK
Never mind --

INT. FRANKIE’S BASEMENT LAB - DAY
The electronic equipment near the workbench is gone.
In it’s place is a gerbil in a cage.

A child’s chemistry set is displayed.
We see an X-box and a stack of videogames.

FRANKIE
My god, how dull.
(sighs)
Should work.

He SNAPS a padlock shut on a big cabinet.
Shuts off the lights. Goes to the stairs.

INT. FRANKIE’S KITCHEN - DAY
Frankie opens up the fridge.
Starts searching for a snack.
Then hears a car door SLAM outside.

FRANKIE
Mom --

He hurries out the back door.
Julie walks into the kitchen.
Puts down her bag. Sighs.

INT. TREE HOUSE - DAY
Shayla lays on the futon
watching a soap opera on TV.

SHAYLA
NO. She’s -- pregnant --

The door opens.
Frankie walks in. Closes it.

SHAYLA
You’re home -- early.

FRANKIE
Had an emergency
I had to take care of.
(beat)
What are you watching?

SHAYLA
As The -- World Turns.

FRANKIE
Soap opera --

SHAYLA
I want to -- go on -- a date.

FRANKIE
A date?

SHAYLA
(points at the TV)
Like -- them.
(beat)
Want to go -- outside.
Feel -- cooped up.

FRANKIE
Okay --

SHAYLA
R-really?

FRANKIE
Yeah, sure --

Frankie’s cell phone RINGS.
He answers it.

FRANKIE
Hello?

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
Josh weaves through
the throng of kids
on their way to class
talking on his smart-phone.

JOSH
Where are you?
You weren’t in chem lab.

FRANKIE
I had a -- emergency --

JOSH
Don’t tell me.
I don’t want to know.
(beat)
I can’t take it anymore, Frankie.
I’m gonna turn myself in.

FRANKIE
NO. You CAN’T do that --

JOSH
I can’t sleep at night, Frankie.
Can’t eat. I can’t take it anymore.

FRANKIE
I need to talk to you.
I need to meet with you.

JOSH
I don’t see the point in --

FRANKIE
Josh, PLEASE.
We can’t talk
about this on the phone.
Meet me at Benny’s
in half an hour, okay? Please?
I need to talk to you.

JOSH
I dunno, it seems --

FRANKIE
Josh, we’ve been friends
since we were SIX.
I gave you your
first copy of PLAYBOY --

JOSH
(sighs)
Okay, okay.
I’ll meet you there.
(beat)
But then afterward,
I’m turning myself in --

2 comments:

  1. OMG, Chet... crude, much? Not really into impressing women, are you? Haha! Maybe that has something to do with you sleeping on the couch? I got to sleep on the couch one time... I never want to see Tina that pissed again... whew!!

    So... are Chet and Beck going to get together? Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm...? Come on, you can tell me... I won't tell anyone....just whisper in my ear... ;)

    Nice, Frankie... as long as "la polizia" don't ask to see what's in the big cabinet... I'm sure that little kiddie chem set will fool them...

    Oh no... this is not good... not good at all! Shayla watching soaps... that can lead to all sorts of crazy ideas... like dating! Okay, you two... you know you can't be seen in public, right? Hello!

    Hey... I know what? They could move to another city, where no one knows them!... Gonna have to get rid of Josh though... he knows too much... maybe you could get him to stand in front of the bus, Frankie? Just sayin', dude... :(

    Oh wow.... I can see things coming to a head here real soon... this is gonna get messy, isn't it, Carole? AWESOME!! Bwaahaahhaa!!!

    Oh no... it's Friday... no more for two whole days! OMG!!! What am I going to do? Lol!!

    Have a great weekend, sweetie! See ya 'round FB... Looking forward to Monday! ^_^

    XOXOXO <3 <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmmm. Methinks you're right. Something BAD might have to happen to Josh ...

    (Whoops!)

    Luv ya ... <3!

    ReplyDelete