Room With A View

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Friday. 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, Frankie and Josh move Frankie's dead girlfriend Shayla to her new 'home' in Frankie's tree house, but start to freak out when she starts remembering who she is ... just as Vita sees them out her bedroom window next door ...


INT. FRANKIE’S BASEMENT LAB - NIGHT
Frankie sits at his workbench
eating a sandwich watching the news.

He smiles.
Softly SLAPS the table.

FRANKIE
Willis is a suspect?
NICE.

Shayla lies on her ‘bed’
leafing through a fashion magazine.
She looks up, quizzical.

SHAYLA
What?

FRANKIE
Nothing, nothing --
(beat)
So you ready for the big move?

SHAYLA
(smiles)
Room with -- a view.

FRANKIE
Great.
You’re gonna love it.

Shayla cocks her head.
Thinking.

SHAYLA
Starting to -- remember.

FRANKIE
(scared)
Oh? Like -- what?

SHAYLA
Used to be -- cheerleader.

FRANKIE
R-really?

SHAYLA
Something -- else --

FRANKIE
Oh?
Wh-what’s that?

SHAYLA
Another -- boyfriend.
Funny -- huh?

PUSH IN ON Frankie’s face.
Freaking out.
He swallows.

FRANKIE
H-hilarious.

INT. HOSPITAL - NURSE’S STATION - NIGHT
Very quiet at this late hour.

Julie Stein wears a nurse’s uniform,
sits at her desk
at the corner of two corridors.

A PLEASANT-FACED LARGE NURSE (40’s)
walks up to her.

PLEASANT-FACED LARGE NURSE
I’m going down to the
cafeteria to get coffee.
Can I get you anything?

JULIE
I’d LOVE a coffee.
These double-shifts are
KILLING me.
Thanks --

Pleasant-Faced nods.
Walks off.

Julie picks up the phone.
Dials a number. Listens.

JULIE
Hello, Frankie --

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. FRANKIE’S BASEMENT LAB - CONTINUOUS
Frankie’s on the phone.
Shayla watches TV in the background.

FRANKIE
Hey, mom.
What’s up?

JULIE
I’m so sorry, but
Tami called in sick.
I have to do a
double-shift again tonight.

FRANKIE
That’s okay, mom.
I’ll just nuke a
couple of Hot Pockets.

JULIE
Great.
How was school today?

FRANKIE
Uh -- fine.
School was -- great.

JULIE
Are you okay?
Is something wrong?
You sound funny.

FRANKIE
(looks at Shayla)
No.
Everything’s -- fine.
Just -- tired, that’s all.

Shayla raises her arms
in the air. SHOUTS.

SHAYLA
KILL, KILL!

JULIE
What was that?

FRANKIE
Something on TV --
(gestures to Shayla to shush)
Sorry you have to
work late again.

JULIE
(sighs)
Yeah, me too.
At least I get overtime.
See you in the morning, honey.

FRANKIE
Bye, mom.
Good night.

JULIE
Love you.

FRANKIE
Love you. Bye.

He hangs up.
Looks at Shayla.

FRANKIE
I’m sorry, my love --
but you need to be quiet
when I’m on the phone, okay?

SHAYLA
Sorry.

FRANKIE
What are you watching?

PUSH IN ON Shayla’s face.
Smiling sweetly.

SHAYLA
Real -- Housewives.

EXT. FRANKIE’S BACKYARD - NIGHT
Dark and deserted at this late hour.
Frankie stands near the
back door with Shayla,
who wears a hoodie over her dress,
the hood pulled up and
tied almost completely shut.

SHAYLA
Hard to -- see.

FRANKIE
Don’t worry.
It’s just for a couple minutes.

Josh appears from around
the corner of the house.

JOSH
Coast is clear.

FRANKIE
Great.
You stay here,
keep an eye out.

SHAYLA
Who’s -- that?

FRANKIE
A friend.
He’s helping me move you.
(to Josh)
Keep an eye on the
windows next door,
and if you see anyone,
give the signal.

JOSH
Okay.
Just hurry it up, okay?
I don’t wanna get busted.

FRANKIE
(to Shayla)
C’mon, let’s go.
He takes her by the arm,
and they walk toward
the back of the yard.

Shayla shuffles slowly,
stiffly, zombie-like.

They approach a big,
old oak tree in a far corner.

SHAYLA
(looks up)
It’s -- beautiful.

ANGLE ON --

A TREE HOUSE nestled fifty feet
up in the big, thick branches.

Quite large, and beautifully made.
It’s been there for awhile,
almost completely hidden by leaves.

FRANKIE
Gestures proudly.

FRANKIE
It’s something, huh?
Me and my dad built it
when I was a little kid.
I designed it.

SHAYLA
I -- LOVE IT.

FRANKIE
Shhh.
We don’t want to wake
the neighbors.

INT. VITA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Vita lies in bed studying.
She hears something.

Cocks her head.
Goes to the window.

Looks out.
Eyes grow wide.

VITA
Frankie?
And who’s that with him?