Coffee and A Slice By Catherine McManus

Catherine McManus, 2011

Catherine McManus 2210 Whitaker Street Savannah, GA 31401 508.826.1844 cmcman20@student.scad.edu

FADE IN: INT. DINER - NIGHT ELLEN, a very pretty waitress in her early twenties, sits on a stool in a light blue one piece uniform watching the news. The diner is empty except for her, and the cook, STEVE, in the kitchen. Words flash across the bottom of the television screen: WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN CAMBRIDGE APARTMENT. NEWS REPORTER Earlier this evening, a woman was found strangled to death in her Cambridge apartment. The Boston Police Department believe she is the latest victim of the killer who has come to be known as the "Charles River Killer." Her name has yet to be released. The bell connected to the door of the diner rings. Ellen looks up to see TIM, an attractive man in his mid-twenties. He wears a black pea coat and leather gloves. He sits at a table facing the television. Ellen rips her eyes away from the news to get his order. ELLEN (She talks with a slight Boston accent) Hi, what can I get for you? TIM (He talks with a slight Boston accent) Well... He looks down at her beat up name tag. TIM (CONTD) ...Ellen, I guess Ill have a cup of coffee with one sugar and a slice of the pecan pie. She quickly scribbles his order on her notepad. ELLEN Alright. Just a minute. As she goes behind the counter to grab his order, Ellen peaks her head into the kitchen, only accessible through a doorway. (CONTINUED)

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2.

She sees Steve watching a sports program. ELLEN Hey, if everythings cleaned up back here, you can leave. Ill close up. STEVE (He talks with a thick Boston accent.) Are you sure? I just heard someone walk in. ELLEN They just want pie. Really, its fine. You have the early shift tomorrow and were not open much later. Its not a problem. STEVE As long as you dont mindELLEN I dont. STEVE Ill leave through the back. ELLEN See you Sunday, Steve. STEVE Yup. Thanks, hun. Ellen returns to the area behind the counter and grabs Tims order. A slamming door is heard as Steve leaves O.S. She brings him his order and sits down on the stool she occupied before as she continues to watch the news. Another beat passes as Tim digs into his pie and coffee. TIM So why is it that a girl like you is working on a Friday night? ELLEN Someone has to pay for school.

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3.

TIM I see. Harvard girl? She turns to him. ELLEN Terrier girl. TIM Thats too bad. ELLEN And what is that supposed to mean? TIM I was an Eagle. ELLEN And to think, you actually seemed like a decent person. They laugh in unison. ELLEN (CONTD) I dont even know why we hate one another. TIM I think a lot of it has to do with hockey andELLEN And the fact that everyone I have ever met from BC is kind of a snob. Theres a pause. He looks down at his designer jacket. Smiles. TIM Are you calling me a snob? She returns his smile. ELLEN Most definitely. TIM Im Tim, by the way. Parker. Tim Parker. Tim reaches out to take her hand. She does the same.

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ELLEN Ellen York. INT. DINER - NIGHT - LATER Tim and Ellen now sit at the same table talking and laughing. They are the only ones in the diner. TIM Are you kidding me?! ELLEN I dont kid about stuff like that. TIM Youve lived in New England all your life and you dont like the Patriots? ELLEN Fact. TIM I dont understand... I just.. They both laugh. Beat. Tim spills his coffee. Ellens face changes. She is tense. TIM (CONTD) Shit! Sorry about that. ELLEN Oh, dont worry about it. Ellen is panicked. She quickly gets up to grab a rag and cleaning supplies. TIM Are you sure? You look like youre gonna have an aneurysm. She takes a deep breath to calm herself. Suddenly shes back. ELLEN No. Yeah. Im fine. Let me just clean this mess up for you. (CONTINUED)

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5.

Both Tim and Ellen stop the conversation when the previous news reporter comes back on the screen. Ellen continues cleaning. NEWS REPORTER Boston Police are now releasing new information on the most recent murder. It is believed that 23 year old Sarah Stanton was killed sometime last night in her apartment. The television screen now shows a picture of a hooded figure wearing a black jacket. Their features cannot be seen. NEWS REPORTER (CONTD) However, witnesses, along with security tapes from three of the other murders, are now identifying a man they saw leaving the building around the time of the murder. Anyone with information is urged to contact police. A shiver runs through Ellens body in disgust. She turns the TV off. ELLEN Do you want another coffee? TIM UhELLEN Hold that thought. What time is it? Tim pulls out his phone and checks the time. TIM Two minutes til one. Why? ELLEN I have to close up, but I can get you a coffee to go. TIM Thatd be great. She gives Tim his check, takes his cup, and rushes over to pour the rest of the pot into a to go cup along with some sugar.

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She puts the cleaning supplies away and puts the mug and pot in the sink. Tim lays down the money he owes on the table. TIM (CONTD) Whats the rush? Ellen sets Tims coffee on the table and grabs the money. She puts the right amount in the register and heads back with the change. TIM (CONTD) Its yours. ELLEN Thanks. Ellen pockets the money. TIM Do you maybe want to go somewhere and talk or maybe, I dont know, hang out or something? Tim takes a sip of his coffee to hide his nervousness. Beat. ELLEN I cant. I would, but I have a huge orgo test on Monday. I have to study, and I already called a taxi... TIM Yeah, you should probably do that. She grabs her jacket and gloves from the counter and puts them on, then she grabs her purse. She turns off the lights as they walk out. Ellen locks the door. EXT. DINER - NIGHT- CONTINUOUS Outside its frigid. Ellen stands on the curb sinking into the warmth of her jacket. Tim stands next to her.

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ELLEN You dont have to wait with me you know. TIM Yeah, but with that murderer out there and everything, I was wondering if you wanted a ride home. ELLEN You dont have to do that. Are you sure? TIM Yeah... I mean no... Ellen gives Tim a perplexed look. TIM (CONTD) Its just that I dont have a car... I didnt think youd say yes, but you should save your money. Let me walk you home. ELLEN I live over the bridge. TIM I like walking. ELLEN Alright. Tim takes a deep breath. TIM Alright. The pair start walking. EXT. MIT BRIDGE - NIGHT As Tim and Ellen cross the lengthy bridge it is mostly quiet, with the exception of the few passing hoards of drunk college students. ELLEN I love this weather.

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TIM Why? Its wicked cold. Ellen takes in a deep breath. ELLEN Yeah, but cant you smell it? TIM Smell what? ELLEN The snow. Tim looks around them. TIM Theres no snow on the ground. ELLEN Yeah, I know, but theres a storm coming. You can smell it in the air, sense it? You know? TIM No, not really. ELLEN Try it. Tim looks at her like shes crazy, but he plays along with her, taking in a deep breath. ELLEN Smell anything? TIM It smells like the city. Ellen stares at the sky. TIM (CONTD) Well, it wasnt in the forecast. ELLEN Not everything they say in the news is true, especially here. TIM But at least its sort of accurate.

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CONTINUED: ELLEN Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see. TIM What? ELLEN Something my dad used to say. EXT. BOSTON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - NIGHT TIM How much further? ELLEN I actually live just a few complexes down.

9.

Tim holds his hand to his head. He stops, feeling dizzy, as Ellen keeps walking. She then turns around and walks over when she notices he is not by her side. ELLEN Hey, are you alright? TIM I just all of the sudden got a headache. ELLEN Do you want to come up? I can give you some medicine or something. TIM I cant. I dont want toShe touches his face in a nurturing way. Tim is caught off guard. ELLEN Dont be stupid. Come up, have some medicine. I have something that will kick its ass. He gives her an unsure look. ELLEN I wont take no for an answer Tim, so come on. Its getting cold just standing here.

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TIM Alright. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT When Ellen unlocks her apartment it is surprisingly nice, nicer than expected for a student who is waitressing and paying bills for school. There is a couch and a flat screen TV, a well kept kitchen. Tim, still holding his head, looks around her home. Ellen sits him on the couch and then heads to the kitchen to get him some medicine. TIM Nice place. ELLEN Thanks, but its not technically mine. I house sit during the school year for a friends parents. They live in Connecticut. She brings out a prescription bottle and hands him two pills and a glass of water. TIM Are you sure these are okay to take? ELLEN Yeah. Ive given them to other people before, and theyre fine. Tim takes the pills and downs them, placing the glass on the coffee table near the couch. TIM This is the worst headache I have ever had. ELLEN Do you usually get them? TIM Never, and if I do, not like this. Tim takes a deep breath.

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CONTINUED: ELLEN Okay, well just relax for a bit.

11.

Tim sways back and forth, obviously trying to stay awake. TIM I just- I-ITim falls over on the couch and blacks out. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT - LATER Tim wakes up in a panic. It is still dark outside; he hasnt been out for too long. Tim sits up holding his head. He sees Ellens face hovering above him. She sits by his side at the couch. ELLEN Hey. TIM Hi. What happened. ELLEN You passed out for a few minutes. He attempts to sit up. Ellen pushes him back down. Tim doesnt resist. ELLEN I dont think so. TIM Some powerful shit you gave me. Ellen gets up and walks around the couch so Tim cant see her. ELLEN I paid a lot for it; it should be. All of the sudden Tims breath is cut off. Ellen has wire wrapped around his neck. Tim squirms on the couch. Finally, he sees the glass on the table. He reaches for it and slams it into Ellens head. Ellen falls holding her head. Shes not bleeding. Tim gets up from the couch holding his bruising neck. He looks at the prescription bottle. Its medication for schizophrenia. (CONTINUED)

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TIM You fucking bitch! He kicks her in the stomach repeatedly. TIM You drugged me! You drugged my fucking coffee! Flashback to Ellen putting the sugar like substance in Tims cup. TIM (CONTD) And you gave me those Goddamn schizophrenic pills! Tim takes a deep breath, calming down a bit. TIM (CONTD) You crazy little bitch. Tim looks at Ellen on the floor for a moment, turns his back, and walks away. Ellen looks up at Tim and kicks him. Hard. Tim falls to the floor, bringing with a falling knife She immediately gets up and goes to grab her wire. Before she can, Tim tackles her to the ground and hits her. She hits him back. They struggle on the floor. Tim is on top overpowering her. He has a knife and starts to drive it toward her chest. Ellen resists with all her strength. The knife is about to hit her when she drives her foot into his pelvis. He immediately stops his advance, but he still holds the knife, folding it in towards his body. She quickly gets up and kicks him in the gut over and over. Then she notices blood. It is starting to pool by her feet. The knife has dug into Tim. Ellen backs away to avoid the forming pool blood. She is panicking. Her breath is heavy. She paces back and forth. Her hands on her head. She still wears her black gloves.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: ELLEN I know! I know! Its all messed up! I can fix it!

13.

She runs over to Tim, avoiding the blood, and checks his pulse. Tim is dead. ELLEN Fuck! She paces the room and finally settles in a corner, bringing her knees to her chest. ELLEN I didnt do it right! Ive made such a fucking mess! She sits for a moment sobbing and rocking back and forth. Suddenly, she composes herself as if someone flicked a switch. Ellen grabs her things. She puts on her black jacket with her hood and keeps her gloves on. She shuts the door, which we notice is damaged by the lock and handle. She exits the building. EXT. BOSTON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS-NIGHT Ellen walks down the street in her black jacket with her hood up. Its snowing outside. INT. DINER - NIGHT A YOUNG WOMAN sits in the empty diner watching the news. NEWS REPORTER It is believed that the Charles River Killer struck again last night. Timothy Parker was found stabbed to death in an apartment on the Boston University Campus. The resident found the body early this morning after coming home from a business trip. Police still have no leads. Ellen walks over to the young woman with a coffee. (CONTINUED)

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ELLEN Here you are, hun. The young woman reaches for the coffee and spills it all over the place. Ellen tenses. YOUNG WOMAN Oh, my God! Im so sorry! ELLEN Dont worry about it. Now let me get you another coffee and something to clean up that mess. FADE OUT. THE END