Suspicious Minds

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In Chapter 20 of FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE, science genius nerd Frankie Stein moves his dead cheerleader girlfriend Shayla Petrie into his backyard tree house, but the plot thickens when his childhood former flame next door Vita Heck recognizes Shayla. Meanwhile, local cop Chet Beverage and CDC agent Beck Driver interview Vita's mother about the dead rat Frankie brought back to life ...


INT. TREE HOUSE - NIGHT
A surprisingly large room. Carpeted.
A futon in one corner.

Table and two chairs in another.
A small boombox. Small love seat
in front of a portable TV.
Half-size refrigerator.

The door OPENS.
In walks Frankie and Shayla.

She pulls down her hoodie.
Looks around. SQUEALS with joy.

SHAYLA
So -- CUTE.

FRANKIE
I thought you might like it.
(phone VIBRATES in pocket)
Hold on a sec --
(pulls it out, answers)
What’s up?
(listens)
Brilliant. Thanks.
See you tomorrow. Bye.

He CLICKS it shut.
Gestures to the couch.

FRANKIE
Have a seat. Take a load off.

Shayla smiles. Goes to the couch. Sits demurely.
Pats the cushion next to her invitingly.
He sits down. She takes his hands in hers. Leans in --

SHAYLA
Love -- nest.

And they kiss.

IN THE WINDOW we see Vita’s face. HORRIFIED.

OUTSIDE
Vita pulls away from the window.

VITA
(whispers)
Shayla?

EXT. VITA’S HOUSE - DAY
A bright, sunny day. Birds are chirping.
The wind whistles through the trees.
All that’s missing is ‘The Beaver.’

Chet and Beck stand at the
front door, side by side.

He takes off his shades.
Slips them in his shirt pocket.
RINGS the doorbell.

CHET
Remember, let me do the talking.

BECK
(bristling)
Of course --

PEGGY (O.C.)
(faint)
Just a minute --

The door OPENS. Peggy’s smile fades. Disappointed.

PEGGY
Officer Beverage. Nice to see you again.

CHET
(tips his hat)
Mrs. Heck --

PEGGY
Please. Peggy.
(beat)
Are you here -- about the rat again?

CHET
Yes, Ma’am.
(gestures to Beck)
This is Beck Driver, from the
Center For Disease Control.

PEGGY
Oh, dear --

CHET
Nothing to be alarmed about.
We’re just trying to --

BECK
This is going to sound strange,
but do you know of anyone doing any
medical experiments in the neighborhood?

PEGGY
Medical experiments?

BECK
Yeah. Believe it or not, the rat
was brought back from the dead --
and we’re looking for the person
who did it.
(conspiratorial)
It’s a major medical breakthrough.

CHET
You’d be doing your duty
for your country, Mrs. -- Peggy.

Peggy blinks. Looks at them.

PEGGY
Well, there’s young
Frankie Stein next door.
They say he’s a genius.
Has a laboratory in his basement
and everything.

BECK
A -- basement lab?

PEGGY
Oh, yes. His mother Julie
isn’t allowed down there,
but she’s told me he does all
kinds of top-secret
things down there.
(brightly)
I hope that’s helpful.

BECK
That’s VERY helpful. Thank you.

INSIDE THE HOUSE
Standing in the doorway to the
kitchen is Vita. Listening.

VITA
(whispers)
I’ve got you NOW, Frankie Stein --

She grabs her backpack
and heads toward the door.