Dead Or Alive

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In Chapter 10 of FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE, police officer Chet Beverage interviews Adelle and Brub Petrie about their missing daughter Shayla. Meanhwile, down in his basement lab, Frankie prepares to bring Shayla back to life ...


INT. PETRIE HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Brub and Adelle sit on the couch.
Chet Beverage sits across from them
on a big, overstuffed chair.
Jots down notes.

CHET
And you say she’s never late for dinner?

BRUB
NEVER. Our daughter is a model citizen.
She was PUMPKIN QUEEN --

ADELLE
(dabs her eyes with a tissue)
And the head cheerleader --
(sniffles)
We’re so WORRIED about her.

She HONKS on her tissue.

CHET
Oh, I know. I haven’t missed a game.
She’s -- lovely.

BRUB
You need to FIND her, officer, NOW.
Something TERRIBLE could have happened to her.

CHET
Well, we can’t file a missing persons report
until twenty-four hours have passed --

BRUB
But we can’t WAIT twenty-four hours --

CHET
Not to worry, Mr. Petrie. I can still do
little unofficial snooping around on my own.

ADELLE
Oh, THANK GOD. Thank you, officer Beverage.

CHET
Please. Call me Chet.
(off her weak smile)
Is Shayla dating anybody right now?
That might be a good avenue to explore --

BRUB
Yes, she is. Willis Grubb, that low-life.
Crazy girl broke up with Brent Brock,
the football captain --

ADELLE
AND prom king --

BRUB
To go out with HIM.

CHET
I see.
(stands up)
Well, thank you for letting us know.
I’ll go check on Willis, and tomorrow
we’ll start our investigation.
Don’t worry, we’ll find your daughter,
dead or alive --

ADELLE
(BURSTS into tears)
DEAD or alive?

Brub GLARES at him. CLENCHES his fists.

BRUB
GET OUT. Get out RIGHT NOW.
You’re upsetting my WIFE.

CHET
Ohmigosh, I’m so sorry. I, I -- didn’t mean --
(beat)
I’m gonna go now.

He nods. Hurries out the door.
Brub rushes over to Adelle.
Tries to comfort her.

BRUB
Don’t worry, my little flower.
They’ll find her.

PUSH IN ON Adelle’s face. Now livid.

ADELLE
They fucking BETTER.

INT. FRANKIE’S BASEMENT LAB - NIGHT
Shayla lies on the workbench.
All the blood has been cleaned off.
She looks almost peaceful.

A scarf now drapes where the
side of her head was smashed in.

Wires have been attached to

various points on her body.
He attaches one on her right temple,
then her left. Done.

FRANKIE
Now it’s time to find out
if we have chemistry --