MIDNIGHT

Written by
Ashton Trumble

EXT. NEW YORK CITY - LOWER EAST SIDE - BOWERY APARTMENTS NIGHT
The street in front of Bowery Apartments is dark and seedy.
The building itself is not much better.
KIM, mid-twenties, walks briskly across the sidewalk and
through the main entrance.
CLOSE ON: FLYER ON DOOR: NOTICE: DUE TO RECENT EVENTS,
PLEASE EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AFTER 12:00 A.M. AS FRONT
DESK WILL BE UNMANNED AFTER THIS HOUR.
INT. BOWERY APARTMENTS - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Dimly lit, spartan interior. A battered GRANDFATHER CLOCK
sits next to the stairwell. Kim glances at it. Eleven fiftyfive.
Kim tightens her scarf around her neck and makes a beeline
for the elevator.
INT. ELEVATOR CAGE - CONTINUOUS
Kim slides the elevator gate open and steps inside. She
slides it halfway closed when Rob SMASHES his hand against
the gate.
Kim jumps back and SCREAMS. ROB, mid-twenties, enters.
ROB
Mind if I join you?
Rob steps inside the elevator cage and SLAMS the gate shut
behind him.
KIM
Jeez, Rob. You scared the life out
of me.
ROB
Sorry, Kim.
(beat)
Happy New Year.
Kim steps around Rob to the control panel.
KIM
Which floor are you again?
Rob inches toward Kim. She backs away.

2.
ROB
Youre not going to wish me a Happy
New Year?
KIM
What floor, Rob?
The roof.

ROB

Kims eyebrows furrow.

The roof?

KIM

Robs nods. Kim pushes the button.

CUT TO:
INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT - CONTINUOUS
Gears GRIND and SCREECH. The elevator struggles up the shaft.
BACK TO:
INT. ELEVATOR CAGE - CONTINUOUS
Rob steps even closer to Kim.
ROB
Its a nice place to watch the
fireworks.
KIM
Arent you worried about being out
this late? Didnt you see the sign
on the door?
ROB
Meh, even serial killers party on
New Years.
The lights FLICKER and the elevator JERKS to a halt.
CUT TO:
INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT - CONTINUOUS
The elevator JOLTS against its steel cables.
BACK TO:

3.
INT. ELEVATOR CAGE - CONTINUOUS
Kim and Rob stumble against each other. Kim grabs the wall
for balance.
The lights go out, leaving Kim and Rob in total darkness.
KIM
What the hell?! No. No way. This
isnt happening. Its got to be
some kind of prank.
Doubt it.

ROB

KIM
What do we do?!
ROB
Do you have a phone?
KIM
We dont get service in here!
Rob turns on his phone. He kneels in front of the control
panel and shines the screen on the buttons.
KIM (CONTD)
Oh. That works.
Kim shines her phone screen onto the control panel.
KIM (CONTD)
I think we should try to call for
help.
ROB
Really, Kim? I was going to suggest
a game of I Spy.
Kim recoils. Rob pushes the Emergency Alarm button.
Nothing. Again several times. Still nothing.
KIM
Push it again.
ROB
Ive been pushing it.
Kim slinks down against the wall, visible only by the glow of
her phone.
Rob BANGS on the elevator doors.

4.
ROB (CONTD)
(shouting)
Hello! We need help! Please!
KIM
No ones going to hear you. People
are either out partying or locked
in their apartments for the night.
ROB
Can you shut up for a second?
Rob runs his fingers along the side of the control panel.
ROB (CONTD)
These screws are loose.
What?

KIM

Rob wedges his fingers into a gap between the control panel
and the wall. He tugs at the panel until the top half breaks
loose.
See?

ROB

Rob shines his phone onto the inner wiring of the control
panel.
ROB (CONTD)
Lemme see your phone.
Rob holds both phones with one hand to illuminate the wiring.
Kim sits with her eyes closed and her head against the wall.
KIM
Hey Otis, hows it going over
there?
Rob opens his mouth to respond, but stops.
ROB
What the...
He reaches for a wire and holds it up. It has been sliced
straight through the middle.
ROB (CONTD)
Kim, we have to get out of here.
Rob struggles to his feet. He attempts to pry the elevator
doors open.

5.
ROB (CONTD)
If I could just squeeze my fingers
through these doors...
KIM
(amused)
Kind of hard to do that once youre
dead though, right?
Rob freezes. His face contorts in confusion. He turns around.
Kim stands before him holding a butcher knife.
KIM (CONTD)
Lets find out.
GRANDFATHER CLOCK (O.S.)
DONG! DONG! DONG!
Kim?

ROB

Kim STABS Rob in the stomach.

GRANDFATHER CLOCK (O.S.)
DONG! DONG! DONG!
Robs eyes are shocked and pleading as Kim retracts the
knife.
KIM
Sorry, Rob. Its nothing personal.
This is just who I am.
Kim repeatedly drives the knife into Robs gut.
GRANDFATHER CLOCK (O.S.)
DONG! DONG! DONG!
Rob grabs for Kims shoulders and hair as he collapses to the
ground. He coughs up spurts of blood.
GRANDFATHER CLOCK (CONTD)
DONG! DONG! DONG!
Kim is coated in blood. She uses her scarf to wipe the excess
off her cheeks and lips. She glances down at Rob as he takes
his dying breaths.
KIM
Hey, you were right. Serial killers
do party on New Years.
FADE TO BLACK.