by D L Jones
TRE looks over at the mouse cage to see the once limp mouse running on the pinwheel like nothing happened. TRE's phone rings and it’s the assistant telling TRE he has a call in his office from CHAUNCY Peters
INT. Office - 4:35 pm
TRE walks back into his office and answers his phone, putting it on speaker.
CHAUNCY (V.O.)
Heey, TRE... It’s almost time, your flight is an hour, right? I'm about an hour away from the airport so I was trying to time things out, so you won’t be waiting too long.
TRE
Yep it leaves at 8, and I'm all packed, just have to finish up a little work here and I'll be heading straight to the airport. Damn it’s going to be good to see you again.
CHAUNCY (V.O.)
Yea, same here. What's it been? 10 years?
TRE
10 years. REBECCA still mad at me?
CHAUNCY (V.O.)
Naa... well... yea, she should've been mad at me. I'm the idiot that decided to sleep with my hot neighbor the night before the wedding.
TRE
But I'm the one that knew and pretty much did a documentary on the outcome without your knowledge. But seriously, I never thought anyone would see what I wrote or recorded besides my professor. Who knew that it was going to be the thing that my life since has to thank. I owe you and I really want to try to make it up to REBECCA.
TRE looks over at the wall where he has the report he wrote 10 years ago framed.
CHAUNCY (V.O.)
No worries, that was 10 years ago, me and Becca is over it and have moved on... was close for a minute though. Becca is a good woman and I've tried to make sure she is a very happily married woman ever since that situation.
TRE
Like you said, that was 10 years ago. 10 years! You have been married for 10 years so you must be doing something right.
CHAUNCY (V.O.)
Yea I guess I have... for the most part—
TRE
Well I hate to cut this short, but I need to wrap some things up here before going to the airport.
CHAUNCY (V.O.)
Ok, Talk later.
TRE presses the button on his phone to hang up. He then starts gathering some papers and folders from various spots in his office
MICHAEL walks into the room and puts 2 small plain white cardboard boxes on the table. The boxes are about 4 inches by 4 inches.
TRE looks at the boxes and MICHAEL leaves the room.
EXT. The HD shop parking lot - 4:20 PM
CHAUNCY walks through the parking lot and pulls out the key remote to his car. He presses the button and the car chirps.
He then gets in the car and roll the window down as he sees RODNEY PEBBLES running towards him. RODNEY, the 21-year-old white male is quite deceptive as even though his appearance looks to be that of a physically fit young man, he is always winded due to the fact that he is a heavy smoker. He always has a cigarette in his mouth, like a fashion accessory, weather he is smoking it at the time or not.
RODNEY
MR. Peters! Wait! MR. Peters!
CHAUNCY
RODNEY... you better stop with those cigarettes, you can’t even run 20 feet without almost passing out.
RODNEY stops in front of CHAUNCY's car and bend over putting his hands on his knees. Taking a deep breath which ends in heavy coughing.
RODNEY
MR. Peters, I know the store is going to be closed the next couple of days, but remember you suggested having security here to keep watch over the store? Can I come in and do that? I could really use the money
CHAUNCY
You plan on throwing a party in my store?
CHAUNCY looks at RODNEY sideways
RODNEY
NO SIR! I just need the money
RODNEY patiently looks on as he awaits a response from CHAUNCY.
CHAUNCY looks at RODNEY sideways a few seconds more.
CHAUNCY
OK, yea you can do it. Just make sure you don't run all the equipment, be easy on my electric bill.
RODNEY throws his fist in the air with excitement then tries to calm himself.
RODNEY
Thank you, sir, thank you, Thank you!
RODNEY turns around and runs back to the store, stopping half way and coughing a few times
He then pulls out a cigarette and lights it as he walks the rest of the way back.
CHAUNCY
You better hope no one breaks in... you don't have the lung capacity to keep a puppy off the sofa, never the less a person from breaking into the store!!!
CHAUNCY starts his car and drives away.
INT. The Peters residence front hall - 5:30 PM
CHAUNCY enters his house and take a quick look for his wife, not seeing her, he yells out to her as he is gathering things and putting things away.
CHAUNCY
Becca! Did you want to ride with me to pick up TRE? I’ll be leaving in about an hour.
REBECCA
You coming home tonight to try again?
CHAUNCY
Girl you wore me out this morning, I think I need a day to recoup.
REBECCA
Recoup my ass!
REBECCA PETERS Walks into the living room wearing the usual fitness ware. REBECCA is very into fitness. She is also a stay at home wife and spends most of the day doing something exercise related, and it shows. Her physique is always pleasant to most people.
She kisses Chancy and sits down in front of him. She picks up a tumbler that was sitting on the coffee table.
She takes a sip
CHAUNCY
You going to miss those drinks when you are pregnant.
REBECCA
I don't drink as much anymore.
CHAUNCY looks at REBECCA sideways as REBECCA returns a sideways look.
CHAUNCY
So, you coming with me? Figured both of us together would make him extremely uncomfortable, you would get a kick out of that.
REBECCA
That does sound fun, watch that skinny inconsiderate little nerd sweat...
I really don't want to see him though, if I can get through this weekend without seeing him at all, I will be happy...
In fact, that is my goal.
CHAUNCY
Aww Becca, he's going to think you don't like him....
well He already thinks that...
I'm thinking in his mind, seeing you would be more surprising than not seeing you.
REBECCA
So, I can really avoid him the entire time?
CHAUNCY opens the refrigerator and grabs a bottle of water and starts to drink, ignoring REBECCA's last question. He then opens the cabinet and grab a couple cookies from the box and walks over to the table.
REBECCA walks over to CHAUNCY.
REBECCA (CONT'D)
So, what's this I hear about you needing to recoup?
REBECCA leans in real close to CHAUNCY and takes a cookie out of his hand as he was about to put it in his mouth. She kisses him and he acts uninterested, returning a quick kiss and walking around to the other side of the table.
Frustrated, REBECCA throws her hands down and starts to walk away.
Just as she gets to the door, she feels her body lift off the floor as CHAUNCY lifts her.
He then tosses her in the air, spinning her to face him.
She lets out a small yell.
He catches her and passionately kisses her.
He then sits her on the table and begins to undress her.
EXT. Airport pickup area - 9:45 PM
TRE is standing in front of the airport with a few bags and a backpack. He keeps looking at his phone and at the cars as they pass, expecting CHAUNCY to show up.
CHAUNCY's car pulls up in a rush and CHAUNCY hops out and pops the trunk.
CHAUNCY
What is up! Man, it’s been a long time, let me help you with those...
Chancy grabs a bag and tosses it in the trunk
TRE
CHAUNCY Peters, took you
long enough but it is good to see you
CHAUNCY grabs a second bag and reaches for TRE's backpack
TRE (CONT'D)
I got the backpack, can’t let this out of my site
CHAUNCY
Top secret huh? Excuse me MR. award winner...
CHAUNCY closes the trunk and gives TRE a quick hug as he rushes him to the car.
TRE
Ahhh, I'm MR. award winner now? Man, I’m still the same ole TRE. But yea we do need to hurry. I have a conference call with some very important clients in China in a few hours.
CHAUNCY
Thought we were going to hang out, have a few drinks
They both get in the car and CHAUNCY drives off.
TRE
Oh, we will, this is more of an update. Should only last about 10 minutes, they just like to do these meetings face to face... well video conference.
CHAUNCY
Man, it’s good to see you TRE. You have been a busy man since college. I see you haven't made any times for a marriage or kids huh?
CHAUNCY looks at his watch then reaches in his pocket and pulls out a pill and pops it in his mouth.
TRE
Nope, no time for that kind of stuff yet. What is that you on? Blood pressure meds?
CHAUNCY makes a turn onto the motorway and accelerates the car.
CHAUNCY
Oh, nothing like that. Doc got me on these pills. Me and Becca been trying to get pregnant.
TRE
Viagra? I know it’s been 10 years, but we haven't got to that age yet... have we?
CHAUNCY
I don't know about you, but that age is no time soon for me, never a problem in that category.... Becca wants a child, we've been trying for about 3 years. My Swimmers aren't cooperating.
TRE
I see, yea that's rough. Thought you never wanted kids
CHAUNCY
I used to think I didn't, but you know.... people's mind changes about some things as time pass. But yea, at first Becca was having some issues and that has been taken care of
TRE
And now?
CHAUNCY
Now it’s me, Doc has me on this medication, have to take a pill 2 times a day for 3 weeks. Becca doesn't even know.
TRE
She still thinking it’s her?
CHAUNCY looks down at the gas gauge and notice the Gas light is blinking
CHAUNCY
Yea, I hate lying to her about it, but I just couldn't face her knowing things aren’t working up to par on my end.
TRE
(Singing)
MEN, MEN, MEN, MEN
CHAUNCY
Ha ha.... Shut up TRE. I'm going to pull over here to get some gas
TRE
Is that place even open?
EXT. Abandon gas station - 10:20 PM
The car pulls into the parking lot of the gas station, which looks like it has been closed for some time. The lights are still on inside.
CHAUNCY gets out of the car and walk through the front door.
Once inside, CHAUNCY looks around, doesn't see anyone.
CHAUNCY
HELLO!?!
CHAUNCY looks behind the counter, no one is there, so he heads back towards the front door.
KIDNAPPER #1
No one has been here for a few days!
CHAUNCY looks to see where the voice is coming from. There's a man holding TRE in a headlock from behind. It was a large white male wearing women’s stockings to hide his face. He also had a very long beard, went down to about mid chest and was a mixture of blonde and grey.
KIDNAPPER #1 lifted his free arm, showing a sawed-off shotgun. He pointed the shotgun at CHAUNCY.
KIDNAPPER #1 (CONT'D)
The car keys, they in your right or left pocket?
CHAUNCY
Left
TRE
We don't have any money, you're wasting your time
KIDNAPPER #2 walked into the store, also wearing stockings on his face. He was carrying a pistol and some wire ties.
He tied TRE's hand behind his back then linked a few wire ties together and wrapped them around TRE's ankles.
Kidnapper #1 then let go of the headlock and pushed TRE onto the ground, putting Duct tape on his mouth.
CHAUNCY looks over and notice a third person sitting at a table, also wearing stockings on his face.
CHAUNCY
What do you want—
Just then Kidnapper #2 punched CHAUNCY in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.
He then kicked CHAUNCY a few times in the stomach. He tied CHAUNCY up the same way as he tied TRE. Then reached in his pocket and got the car keys.
CHAUNCY looked over to see that KIDNAPPER #3 was standing over TRE with a chloroform-soaked towel in which he used to put TRE to sleep.
He then saw an arm appear in front of his face holding a towel that soon smothered him.
CHAUNCY went to sleep...
INT. unknown room - 12:00 PM
CHAUNCY and TRE awaken shirtless and shoeless to see that they are locked in a room. It looks like a bedroom that had double French doors as the entrance to the room. The Doors were missing but replaced with 4x4 wooden beams. A make shift cell.
TRE
Are we in here alone?
CHAUNCY
I don’t know... HELLO!! HEY!!
TRE
HEY!!! ANYONE HERE!?!
CHAUNCY
LET US OUT! PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING FOR US!!!
They heard some heavy footsteps coming from down the hall of what appears to be an old condemned house they are in.
KIDNAPPER #1
SHUT THE FUCK UP IN THERE!!
The Kidnapper poked his head in just to say that. Still wearing the stockings on his face and CHAUNCY recognized the beard to know it was the same guy as before.
CHAUNCY
Shit! What are we going to do? I've been hearing about these guys on the news... at least I know they aren’t killers.
TRE
Is that our stuff over there... just outside the wooden bars?
CHAUNCY
Yea, looks like they went through it and just tossed it against the corner
TRE
My backpack! Think you can get to that?
CHAUNCY
Let me try
CHAUNCY reaches for the backpack but it is just out of reach.
TRE puts his leg between the make shift bars and was just barely able to touch the backpack enough to slide it a little.
CHAUNCY was now able to reach it and he pulled it closer to the bars.
CHAUNCY (CONT'D)
Now what?
TRE unzipped the backpack and pulled out a small cardboard box.
TRE
This is what I've been working on...
CHAUNCY
What?!? How does this help us?
TRE opens the box and inside were a lot of little vials. Each vial contained a liquid and a built-in syringe. Each vial was a single dosage and delivery mechanism for some type of drug.
TRE
Ok, what I need you to do is really concentrate on getting out of here.
CHAUNCY
Will you explain to me what that shit is—
TRE
Just think about all you want to do is get out of this place and get to safety
CHAUNCY
That's what I want dammit!
TRE
Ok... keep that thought!
TRE takes one of the Vials and sticks CHAUNCY, squeezing the chemical into his arm. He takes another vial and do the same to himself.
TRE then zips his backpack and puts it on, both shoulders, and firmly tighten the straps.
CHAUNCY
What did you just do? I feel fucked up.
