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Inconsiderate To Self (SHORT)
by Emily Schoener (eschoener@gmail.com)

Rated: R   Genre: Drama   User Review: ****
Another partial from a while back. There's about 30 more pages elsewhere.. Initial feedback?


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



FADE IN:

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
                                                            
Footsteps echo through an alleyway. Tiny drops of water
drip onto the pavement from rusted storm drains that
decorate the low buildings.
                                                            
                       MAN
Come back here! We ain't done.
                                                            
An attractive YOUNG WOMAN falls onto the pavement. Her
dress is dirty and torn, like she had survived the wilds of
an African jungle. A MAN walks slowly towards her. We
cannot see his face, but his mouth seems to be twisted in a
sick grin.
                                                            
                       MAN
Thought your pretty ass could get
away from me huh?
                                                            
As the Man reaches out for SARAH, she coils back. His hands
are dirty and there appears to be no lack of grime under his
fingernails. He grabs a hold of her dress and pulls hard,
tearing it in one swift motion.
                                                            
                       MAN
Don't be scared sweetheart.
                                                            
                       SARAH
Please...
                                                            
The Man pushes Sarah down on her back and starts to undo his
belt buckle. She tries to get up, but he returns her
struggle with a fist against her lip. Blood trickles down
from the now open wound onto her chin and continues down her
neck. He reaches out with his hand, dabs his finger in the
blood and licks it off.
                                                            
                       MAN
You gonna treat me real good,
right?
                                                            
He positions himself on top of her and starts thrusting. Her
screams violate the quiet streets.
                                                            
 
INT. CHURCH - NIGHT
                                                            
Several groups of people are standing around talking in a
small room. A sign just inside the door reads: AA MEETING
7-8:30. A young man in his early 20’s stands on the

2.

sidelines. This is PAUL BURNACH, tall and pale, but wise
beyond his years. The type of lonely, anti-social guy
people didn’t expect much out of as a teenager, but the one
who ends up being a famous millionaire later on with legions
of old buddies fighting over who was friends with him back
then.
                                                            
Paul observes the chatting people.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Hey shit-face. You ready to roll?
                                                            
LIDON SPEAS emerges from the bathroom behind Paul. Lidon is
a tall, attractive, all-american man. He is Paul’s best
friend.
                                                            
                       MAN
Just a minute.
                                                            
Lidon cranes his neck to try to see what Paul is looking at.
                                                            
                       PAUL
All of these people have no idea
what life is really about.
                                                            
                       LIDON
How do you figure?
                                                            
                       PAUL
Just look at them. Where do they
go from here? Home? To their
broken families, if they have one.
This is it. They have hit rock
bottom. Up from here? Bullshit.
The bottom is the bottom.
                                                            
                       LIDON
So you include yourself in this
category?
                                                            
Paul shakes his head in disgust.
                                                            
                       PAUL
No man. I'm nothing like these
guys.
                                                            
 
EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT
                                                            
Paul, Lidon and a few other young men exit the church. Paul
and Lidon walk the in the opposite direction of the group.
                                                            

3.

                       LIDON
Stomachs acting up again. Gotta
change the diet dude.
                                                            
Paul stops walking.
                                                            
                       PAUL
What was that?
                                                            
                       LIDON
What's what?
                                                            
Paul motions for Lidon to be quiet. Both men stand still.
Nothing unusual is heard. Passing cars, honking horns,
typical city noises though not overbearingly loud.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Come on, I don't hear anything.
                                                            
 
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
                                                            
The Man lifts himself off of Sarah and grins.
                                                            
                       MAN
You’re not so bad ya know that?
Even for a dumb bitch.
                                                            
Sarah winces in pain as she tries to move herself. He takes
a swing at Sarah and hits her directly in the temple. Her
upper body teeters for a moment before hitting the street
with a sickening thud. The Man laughs and starts off down
the street.
                                                            
 
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
                                                            
Paul and Lidon are still walking.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Dude, how far did you park?
                                                            
                       PAUL
Would it kill you to have some
patience?
                                                            
                       LIDON
Yes. So how far did you get with
Rachel?
                                                            
                       PAUL
Not now ok?
                                                            

4.

                       LIDON
I was just asking.
                                                            
Paul stops walking and peers down an alleyway. Lidon walks
ahead a little further before realizing that Paul isn’t with
him.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Again? First you hear noises and
now what? Ghosts? Gobins?
Ghouls? No wait,I’ve got it! The
thing that goes bump—
                                                            
                       PAUL
Will you can it? Come here.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Uh uh. I'm scared.
                                                            
                       PAUL
Lidon, stop. I think there is a
woman down here.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Ooooooh... Spidey sense acting
up? Probably some drug laced
whore.
                                                            
Lidon walks over to the entrance to the alley. There is a
shape on the ground that is hard to make out. It looks like
a woman in a dress.
                                                            
                       LIDON
See? Passed out drunk. Whoever
it is. Can we go? My stomach is
killing me.
                                                            
Paul starts to advance down the alley.
                                                            
                       LIDON
I’m telling you, it’s obviously
just a crack head who took a
little too much.
                                                            
Lidon reluctantly follows Paul. As the men approach the
shape, it becomes clear as to what it is. Lidon reaches
down to pick up the dress as Paul scans the alley for signs
of life.
                                                            

5.

                       LIDON
Ok, so someone forgot their dress.
                                                            
                       PAUL
It’s ripped.
                                                            
                       LIDON
So it fell out of the garbage.
Seriously Paul. The super hero
complex has got to go. We are just
mere mortals I am afraid.
                                                            
                       PAUL
Fuck you.
                                                            
Paul snatches the dress from Lidon and looks around one last
time before walking back towards the street.
                                                            
 
INT. PUBLIC RESTROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Sarah is washing herself in the sink. In this light, we can
see that she is the type of woman who has the potential to
be gorgeous, but she either does not realize her potential,
or is just too lazy to do anything about it. Wearing only a
slip, she receives nasty looks from the few other women in
the restroom. As she scrubs at the blood on her mouth, an
attractive WOMAN of 30 leans against the sink next to hers
and stares.
                                                            
                       WOMAN
Long night?
                                                            
Sarah looks up at her and smiles quickly.
                                                            
                       WOMAN
You a working girl?
                                                            
                       SARAH
No, I’m not.
                                                            
                       WOMAN
Too bad. You got the looks to be
successful at it.
                                                            
                       SARAH
I’m not sure how to take that.
                                                            
                       WOMAN
I’m Rebekah.
                                                            
Sarah dries off her own hand before taking REBEKAH’s.
                                                            

6.

                       SARAH
Sarah.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Not from around here are you?
                                                            
                       SARAH
No.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
I see. You need a place to crash
or something?
                                                            
                       SARAH
No I’ll be fine. But thank you.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Oh come now, don’t be stupid. My
place is right up the block. A
place called Whispering Willows.
The name sounds nicer then it is
but I have an extra room and
clean sheets. That’s better then
most around here.
                                                            
                       SARAH
I don’t know. I really should—
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Should what? Doesn't look like you
have much of a choice at this
point.
                                                            
Sarah shys away from the fact that she is so transparent to
this woman.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
I insist. Come on.
                                                            
 
INT. WHISPERING WILLOWS - NIGHT
                                                            
LOBBY
                                                            
Sarah looks around at the half-rotting apartment building.
Rebekah walks over to a row of rusting mailboxes to retrieve
her mail.
                                                            
                       SARAH
What were you doing hanging out in
that bathroom?
                                                            

7.

                       REBEKAH
What are you doing running around
the streets in a slip?
                                                            
Suddenly self-conscious, Sarah covers herself. Rebekah
smiles knowingly and thumbs through her mail.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
All junk these days.
                                                            
Rebekah moves past Sarah to a door which, when opened,
reveals a dimly lit stairwell. She motions Sarah to go
ahead of her.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Elevator's been broken for months
now.
                                                            
 
INT. WHISPERING WILLOWS - NIGHT
                                                            
STAIRWELL
                                                            
The lights flicker eeringly as the women slowly make their
way up the stairs.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Landlord is too much of a deadbeat
to do anything about it. I reckon
this place'll be shut down within
the year. I'm on the 4th floor.
                                                            
 
INT. PAUL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
Paul is stirring a strange looking concoction on the stove.
He stares at it blankly, his mind obviously somewhere else.
Behind him, the dress sits on the table. The apartment is
all one room and untidy. Lidon plops down on a ragged
looking sofa-bed and turns on the TV.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Mind if I crash here tonight? My
neurotic roommate is back from
vacation and I am trying to avoid
her for as long as possible.
                                                            
Paul doesn't respond. It isn't clear if he heard Lidon at
all because he just continues stirring in his zombie-like
state.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Paul?
                                                            

8.

                       PAUL
Huh? Sure whatever.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Thanks dude.
                                                            
Lidon burps loudly and settles into the bed. Paul pours his
liquid into a cup and puts in the freezer.
                                                            
                       PAUL
I'm going to jump in the shower.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Uh huh.
                                                            
Lidon turns up the volume on the television in an attempt to
drown out other noise.
                                                            
 
INT. REBEKAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
The apartment is modest, but almost disturbingly clean. One
gets the feeling that it would pass even the most stringent
white glove inspection with flying colors. Sarah is
noticably uncomfortable.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Relax. I will set you up in the
guest room and you can go to sleep
if you like. We can talk in the
morning.
                                                            
                       SARAH
Thank you. I'm sorry it's just
that I-
                                                            
Rebekah stands extremely close to Sarah and puts her finger
on Sarah's lips to silence her.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Whatever it is, it's ok.
                                                            
Sarah sits on the couch as Rebekah slids in and out of the
extra bedroom with an assortment of linens and pillows. When
she is finished, she stands in the middle of living room,
slightly winded.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Well, you are all set. I put out a
few pairs of my pajamas too if you
want something to sleep in.
                                                            

9.

                       SARAH
Thank you. Do you mind if I take a
shower?
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Of course not. Second door to the
right.
                                                            
Sarah gets up and walks out of sight. Rebekah frowns after
her, unsure of what to make of the situation.
                                                            
 
INT. PAUL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
Lidon yawns and looks at his watch. It reads: 11:30pm. He
clutches his stomach and winces in pain. He gets up slowly,
walks to the bathroom and bangs loudly on the door.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Paul you almost done? My stomach
is acting up again.
                                                            
Lidon listens at the door.
                                                            
                       PAUL
Paul? Come on dude.
                                                            
He tries the doorknob. To his surprise, it isn't locked. He
opens the door cautiously.
                                                            
                       LIDON
Paul?
                                                            
Lidon opens the door all the way to reveal Paul slumped over
the bathtub, shower still running. His back looks scalded
from the hot water. There is a trail of green foam hanging
from his mouth and his wrists are bloody. Lidon falls to his
knees.
                                                            
 
INT. REBEKAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
Rebekah is sitting watching TV. The clock on the wall reads:
11:30pm. A loud noise is heard from the bathroom as if
something had fallen. Rebekah mutes the television and goes
to the bathroom door. She knocks gently.
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
Sarah honey? Is everything all
right?
                                                            
Rebekah attempts to turn the knob on the door. Locked.
                                                            

10.

                       REBEKAH
Hello?
                                                            
Rebekah goes to the kitchen table to retrieve her keys and
unlocks the bathroom door. A cloud of steam drifts out of
the bathroom as Rebekah steps inside. The curtain to the
shower is closed. Rebekah slowly pulls back the curtain to
reveal nothing. Noticeably relieved, Rebekah spins around
only to see Sarah hanging from a pipe in the corner of the
bathroom behind the door. Rebekah screams and tries to run
out of the room, only to slip, fall and hit her head on the
sink.
                                                            
 
EXT. PAUL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
Sirens are heard approaching. Lidon immerges quickly from
the house, getting his sleeve caught in the process. As he
yanks his arm free, the metal from the door digs into his
arm. A police car skids to a stop in front of the house,
lights illuminating Lidon's face. The POLICE OFFICER gets
out of his patrol car slowly, stretches, spits, and then
reaches into the car to grab a notepad.
                                                            
                       POLICE OFFICER
What's this about?
                                                            
Lidon looks at the man incredulously as an ambulance pulls
up.
                                                            
 
EXT. REBEKAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
The lights from an ambulance siren fade off into the
distance. Rebekah is sitting on the sidewalk with an ice
pack on her wounded head. The same Police Officer walks up
to Rebekah.
                                                            
                       POLICE OFFICER
What's this about?
                                                            
                       REBEKAH
I don't know. She was a girl I
met... She looked tired. I just-
                                                            
                       POLICE OFFICER
      (disinterested)
Well, I am going to need a
statement from you. Would you
mind taking a trip with me down to
the station?
                                                            

11.

                       REBEKAH
Yes. I mean, no. Fine. Let's
go.
                                                            
 
INT. ST. JOHN'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT
                                                            
Lidon sips a cup of coffee. Next to him a YOUNG WOMAN with
an infant stares at him. He glances at her and smiles
quickly.
                                                            
                       YOUNG WOMAN
Long night huh?
                                                            
                       LIDON
Huh? Yeah.
                                                            
                       YOUNG WOMAN
Me too. My husband overdosed.
Damn bastard. I am always telling
that man, 'honey, lay off the
pills for a day or two will ya'? I
mean, heroins ok in moderation,
but every day? Ya got to be
kidding me.
                                                            
The young woman rocks her baby gently.
                                                            
                       YOUNG WOMAN
      (whispering)
You don't got anything on ya do
you? I'd sure appreciate it.
                                                            
Lidon moves slyly to the next chair over. The woman
continues to rock her baby.
                                                            


FADE OUT.


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From Ada Arkham Date 1/2/2008 ****
Your stuff is consistently very good.


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