Living Space
Page 4
FRANCINE:
Here we go again.
DEREK:
(AFTER A PAUSE TO ESTABLISH THAT THE SOUND ISN’T STOPPING) Doesn’t it usually stop by now?
FRANCINE:
It’s the end. (FRIGHTENED) He’s going to kill us now.
ANNOUNCER:
We’ll return to Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories – after this.
ANNOUNCER:
And now back to Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories and the conclusion to “Living Space.”
NARRATOR:
Derek Weathers is a young man with a head full of pop- culture references. He remembers only too well the scene in Goldfinger where a mobster and his vehicle are crushed into a cube by the force of a car compactor. Up until now, Derek has never given a moment’s thought to how that poor bastard must have felt in those final moments, as the thick metal panels turned what had once been a living, thinking person into a mess of blood and pulp you could simply wash away with a hose. He might think about it now (due to) the concern he feels for himself and the love of his life - a life that may not last much longer...
SOUND:
THE MOVING WALLS UNDER DEREK AND FRANCINE’S DIALOG THROUGHOUT SCENE, GRADUALLY GROWING LOUDER AND MORE OMINOUS.
FRANCINE:
This is it!
DEREK:
I’m not gonna let you die, Francine!
FRANCINE:
It’s too late, Derek!
DEREK:
Lay flat on the floor!
FRANCINE:
What? Why?
DEREK:
I’m going to try to shield you!
FRANCINE:
It’s not going to work! You know it’s not going to work!
DEREK:
I don’t care! I have to try this! (GRUNTS AND STRAINS)
SOUND:
SOMETHING BREAKS INSIDE DEREK.
DEREK:
(SCREAMS)
FRANCINE:
Derek!
DEREK:
My shoulder! It’s broken!
FRANCINE:
It’s no good, Derek! Just hold me!
DEREK:
AAAaaahhh!
FRANCINE:
I didn’t mean to- I-
DEREK:
It doesn’t matter, Francine! I just want you to know... in another life... I mean, if I could’ve had another chance... I’d take that job, any job!
FRANCINE:
I love you, Derek!
DEREK:
I love you too, Francine!
SOUND:
THE MOVING OF THE WALLS IS NOW A ROAR.
DEREK:
(YELLS IN TERROR)
FRANCINE:
(SCREAMS)
SOUND:
WITH A SUDDEN PAINFUL GRINDING OF GEARS, THE WALLS STOP MOVING.
DEREK:
What the hell?
FRANCINE:
What’s happening?
DEREK:
I- I-
SOUND:
THE WALLS MOVE AGAIN, BUT WITH MORE OF A HISSING SOUND, TO INDICATE THAT THEY’RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT NOW.
FRANCINE:
It’s reversing! The walls are reversing!
DEREK:
We did it! What the hell did we do?
FRANCINE:
I don’t know, but we’re alive, Derek! We’re going to be all right!
DEREK:
(HOOTS WITH JOY) I think you’re right Francine – we’re not going to die!
FRANCINE:
(LAUGHS WITH RELIEF)
SOUND:
THE WALLS SETTLE BACK INTO THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE WITH A FIRM “THUD”.
DEREK:
We’re alive... but we’re still trapped in here.
FRANCINE:
I don’t care about that. So long as we’re OK, we can figure anything else out.
DEREK:
You’re right. I think I need to go to the hospital though.
SOUND:
FROM OUTSIDE THE ROOM, THE FAINT SOUND OF KEYS TURNING IN A LOCK.
DEREK:
You hear that?
SOUND:
THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN.
WINKLER:
Hello again.
FRANCINE:
(HYSTERICAL ANGER) Winkler! You bastard!
WINKLER:
Yes.
FRANCINE:
I’m gonna kill you!
WINKLER:
Don’t.
DEREK:
Francine, Francine! Stop. He has a gun.
WINKLER:
You should listen to him, Miss Spinetti. If you attempt to harm me, I will shoot you.
FRANCINE:
Shoot us! You nearly crushed us to death!
WINKLER:
Yes. I did. And now..?
FRANCINE:
Now what?
WINKLER:
Precisely. Do you wish to go free?
DEREK:
You’re... letting us go?
WINKLER:
I didn’t say that, Mr Weathers. I asked if you wished to go free.
DEREK:
Yes! Yes, very much! God, yes! What do we have to do?
FRANCINE:
What do you want from us?
WINKLER:
I simply require an answer...
DEREK:
An answer to what?
WINKLER:
An answer to a straightforward question: If I let you both go... will you tell anyone about what has gone on here?
FRANCINE:
What?
DEREK:
Tell anyone? No! God, no!
FRANCINE:
No, no, no way!
WINKLER:
I see.
DEREK:
Mr Winkler, I swear- we swear... that if you let us go, no-one will ever, ever know about this place.
WINKLER:
Then... you won’t go to the police?
FRANCINE:
No!
DEREK:
Not a chance, no way! I promise you, sir... there is no way we would ever turn you in or tell anyone about you or this place!
WINKLER:
(WITH A TINGE OF REGRET) Ah, I’m afraid you made the same mistake that Marcus made.
DEREK:
Marcus? Who’s-
FRANCINE:
What mistake?
WINKLER:
You were wrong about me. They were all wrong about me. You see, I want to be caught.
FRANCINE:
You w-
WINKLER:
Yes, I want to be caught oh so desperately. I’m sorry, but the two of you are of no use to me now.
DEREK:
No, wait!
WINKLER:
I promise it’ll be quick this time.
SOUND:
THEY RUN TO THE DOOR AND START HAMMERING.
DEREK & FRANCINE:
(YELLING AND PLEADING HYSTERICALLY)
SOUND:
THE WALLS MOVE, THE SOUND IS LOUDER AND MORE SUSTAINED THIS TIME.
FRANCINE:
(JUST HAS TIME TO SCREAM BEFORE...)
SOUND:
THE WALLS SLAM TOGETHER. A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
MUSIC:
Sting. Then into Fangoria Theme.
ANNOUNCER:
“Living Space” was written for radio by M.J. Elliott. Heard in the cast were: