Scripts
12/16/23,
Night Shift – Episode 6
By David Hanson
Word count: 2,281
| Narrator | Years went by since that fateful night Adam Montgomery had killed the previous COO and became the new one. Fetching nourishment for his company’s bosses and enjoying the rewards that came from such work. |
| Boss #1 | Well done, Mr. Montgomery. Right now, however, we need far more nourishment than before. The economy is absolutely kaput right now and we need more brainpower to think of a way out of this crisis. |
| Adam | More…so I suppose that means extra workers on the night shift? |
| Boss #2 | Yes. Is that a problem? |
| Adam | Of course it won’t be. You’ll see, sir. (later, sfx of elevator doors opening and footsteps) (thinking to himself) One, two…blast, they requested four workers? Whatever, they’ll all be on this floor at any rate. It’ll be a tight squeeze in the elevator or I’ll just have to kill someone out of sight so they don’t notice. |
| sfx: Typing of a keyboard and shifts of paper | |
| Marcus | I suppose Angela is handling the mathematics for the report on floor 39? Right, Lily? |
| Lily | Correct, Marcus. She says that management doesn’t allow those documents to leave that level because they tend to get lost in transport. I think that’s just an excuse for poorly trained runners. |
| Adam | (thinking) There’s one on another floor? That will make things complicated. Five, five…damn it. Well, whatever, the one downstairs doesn’t need to know. It’ll just be the same as my predecessors on the night shift. |
| Paul | Drat… how long do you reckon all this will take? |
| Audrey | Four hours, Paul! If we’re lucky. |
| Evan | (upset in a whiny way) Four hours? Oh, I’ll be dead by that time! |
| Audrey | Oh, quit your whining, Evan. It’s just work. |
| Evan | (defeated) Thanks, Audrey. Ever the optimist… |
| Narrator | Adam observed all of this with little to no interest. He just knew he had to keep an eye on his and the bosses’ food before preparations were due. However, a complication soon arose. |
| Lily | I’ll just go and check in on Angela. I’m sure she’s probably so engrossed in her work that she’s forgotten to have a snack. |
| Adam | (frustrated) Really? I better go after her and make sure nothing will be amiss. Last thing I want is a loose thread walking around before I go home to that new girl the boss is sending me. |
| Narrator | Adam went after her in pursuit — after so many years working as the COO he knew from prior experience that he was better off not letting his presence be known to the night shift workers before he prepared them for the bosses. When he got to the 39th floor, he found that this ‘Angela’ didn’t make a habit of using as few lights as possible. |
| sfx: elevator ding and doors opening | |
| Adam | Damn it. Where could she be?
(sfx: a door opens and footsteps can be heard) (in his thoughts) There she is, just have to make sure the other isn’t going to go looking for her or anything. [sfx: gentle footsteps] Wonder if she has even met with her yet. No one’s in that room, maybe here- Hey, where’d she go? I could’ve sworn she went down this hall. |
| Narrator | Confused, Adam went along the hall silently, trying to see if she had ducked into a room but found she was nowhere to be found. Having instead hit a dead end, he went back along a path that led back to the elevator only to see her coming back the exact same way he came in.
She entered the elevator, documents in hand. |
| Adam | (calmly) Hold the door! (sfx: jogging inside) Thanks. |
| Angela | You’re welcome. Um, I wasn’t expecting anyone else on this floor. You’re on the night shift as well? |
| Adam | Sort of. I’m the security ‘round here. I was…just doing the routine patrol. Wasn’t expecting someone on this floor. |
| Angela | I’m not surprised, they asked to come in at the last minute just a mere hour before the shift started. |
| Adam | Yeah, the bosses have that sort of tendency.
It’s…efficient to see the worth of something just before you need it. Like food, you won’t know what it’s worth until it’s almost dinner time |
| Angela | I can agree with that. (sfx: elevator door opens) Right, um, are you heading this way? |
| Adam | No, I have somewhere else to be. |
| Angela | Okay – see you later if I do, then. (sfx: door shut) Did you guys know that the building’s security was around these floors? |
| Paul | News to me that we had any guards around here. |
| Audrey | If we did, I sure wasn’t aware of them. |
| Evan | Normally the ones outside, stay outside, right…? Never saw them inside during the day shift. |
| Angela | Mm…perhaps being more crowded during the day means they’re not needed til nightfall. Anyway, here’re some of those numbers you guys will need for the project, I just finished copying them from downstairs. Can’t understand myself why the spreadsheets can’t come up here themselves… |
| Marcus | Thanks. Er, a guard, though? Strange. I wonder what he’s doing all the way up here. |
| Evan | I-I prefer having him here. Makes me feel safe in case any intruders come in or something… |
| Marcus | Wimp. I want to go see him, just so I know who it is that we’re dealing with. (sfx: walking in hallway) If I was a security guard, where would I be if not out in the open. Here? Here? In here? Or perhap- oh! Hello there, you must be the security. I wasn’t expecting someone like you to be on this floor. |
| Adam | Comes with being on the night shift. |
| Marcus | Uh…hey, what’s that in the bottle? |
| Adam | Want to try it? |
| Marcus | Uh, I just to- |
| Adam | I insist. You know what? Talking with you is inefficient. (sfx: forceful grab) |
| Marcus | Hey! Wait, wha- (sfx: forced to drink; electric saw starts up) |
| Adam | Heh… Ha…Ahahahaha…! |
| sfx: keyboards typing | |
| Evan | Hasn’t Marcus been gone for too long? |
| Angela | Hmm…well, perhaps he’s chatting with the up security at the water cooler… weird, I never asked for his name, nor did he introduce himself… I could check for him as I must get back to the math department. |
| Paul | If you must. I personally don’t see why, I think when she gets back up here, we’ll have all the numbers that we need – and if not, it’s not like it’s a big deal to deal with it next time. |
| Angela | True. I suppose it’s not a big deal. Still, it isn’t like him to be gone for so long. |
| Audrey | Checking downstairs on your sister? I’ll come along with you. |
| Evan | M-must you go? Marcus is missing and we don’t know anything about this security guard and it’s late and scary! |
| Audrey | Well then, since you’re so concerned, why don’t you go along with her then? |
| Evan | (panicked) ME?! |
| Audrey | Yes, YOU. |
| Evan | O-oh noo…we’re doomed if that security guy finds us. |
| Angela | Nonsense. Think logically, we have no reason to assume the security guy is a threat. It’s a big building, it’s easy to make your presence unknown but it’s a safe company. I’ll go and look around. |
| Audrey | That’s settled, then. Here, an alarm, activate it if you run into anything. And for God’s sake, Evan, relax, you’re always so on bloody edge. This whole experience might toughen you up properly. |
| Angela | This won’t really be needed but thank you. [sfx: walks out] |
| Paul | Look at her confidently going. She’s a lot braver than you. |
| Evan | We’re a goner…! |
| Audrey | Get moving, you! |
| Evan | GyaaaAAaaaAHH~! [sfx: fades as gets up from chair and slams door; walking on office carpet]. U-um, d’you have any idea on where they might be? |
| Angela | No clue. Could be here, here, or- wait, what’s this? Ew! Fleshy… |
| Evan | I-it’s…it’s blood! |
| Angela | I don’t like the look of this. [sfx: door knob wiggles] (whispers) Quick! Back, back! We have to get out of |
| here. Look, the elevator is clear…for now. Let’s just make sure the coast is clear. | |
| (Evan whimpers) | |
| Angela | Blast it. Well, if he’s nowhere to be seen, we have to get the others and get the fuck out of here. [sfx: running] Hurry! |
| Paul | Gyah! |
| Adam | [sfx: gun getting cocked and screams] Right, no one move. |
| Paul | Wh- ga- let..let go… |
| Adam | Back into the elevator people. Good. Refreshments? This’ll be your only warning, drink this and this will all be nothing more than a bad dream. |
| Evan | Y-y-yes sir! [sfx: collapses] |
| Audrey | No! Evan! You bastard- |
| Adam | I said don’t move! Or the blood bath will really get messy, or maybe that’s what you want. Been a while since I’ve been able to go all out. |
| Audrey | Damn bastard. |
| Angela | I can’t believe this. Where the hell is Marcus? Did you shoot him? |
| Adam | I’d say something sarcastic, but I think you lot are smart enough to figure it out. It’d be more efficient to show you. [sfx: the splatter of flesh; other characters scream in terror] Now drink this and it’ll be painless when it’s your turn. |
| Paul | [sfx: struggling out of Adam’s grasp] Piece of shi- [sfx:
gets punched] U-ugh |
| Adam | No you don’t… [sfx: strangling] Right, whatever, this’ll be more efficient [sfx: gunshot]. Gunshot wounds aren’t exactly tasty, but they get the job done.
Ahahahahaha…! |
| Angela | Monster! Well, whatever… I-I guess with all of us in here, you won’t be able to kill everyone before someone finds out someone like you is operating in this place. |
| Adam | (angry) What? You’re not Lily?! Damn it, you must be twins or whatever. I’ll just have to take care of you two first and then deal with her. |
| Audrey | (angrily) Oh no, you won’t hurt her or her sister! [sfx: a struggle ensues] Can’t get us without your gun, huh? |
| Angela | (angry and crying) This is for Marcus, this is for Evan, and this is for Paul! [sfx: three punches, Adam groans] |
| Adam | Heh, you haven’t won yet…. YUH! [sfx: struggle intensifies] |
| Audrey | AUDREY
Fucking bastard. I’ll wring your neck! [sfx: elevator stops, starts going in opposite. Adam punches Audrey in the stomach] Gyah! |
| Angela | ANGELA
(in her head) Shit! It just had to go in the other direction. |
| ADAM
You could’ve chosen the more efficient method. [sfx: shoots both] Right…time to prep the meal…wait a minute. Damn, I forgot to press for UG, I’m going back up. Oh well…just means I can take care of a loose thread quickly. |
|
| sfx: elevator opens | |
| Lily | AAAAAHH! |
| ADAM
Damn, she’s quick. [sfx: footsteps] Right, come out, come out wherever you are. Can’t hide forever… |
|
| Lily | LILY
Eat shit! |
| Adam | Fuck! [sfx: a wall is stabbed] A knife?! Damn, guess you girls really do carry around self-defense weaponry nowadays. |
| Lily | (thinking and panting) Shit, have to keep running [Sfx:
knocking down of machinery, gun fire] |
| Adam | Damn it! Missed. Bloody hell, she made it to the elevator. |
| Lily | (crying) I’m sorry, you guys, I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Angie….(gasps) Oh no! He’s coming. I’ll…no, I can’t just run. I don’t know what he’s capable of. If I try to get out, he could just hack the elevator, and I can’t…I can’t just touch your bodies. Hide. I have to hide! Make it look like I ran! [sfx: hits the button hard, runs out] |
| Adam | [(arrives) sfx: pulls a metal latch down, screwdrivers getting inserted into screw] Damn, she got away. Whatever, just gotta change the settings on how fast the elevator door closes and call down for the front door. |
| Lily | Shit…I knew it, I knew he’s thought of everything. [sfx: sits and cries) |
| Narrator | Adam searched the lower floors, but couldn’t find Lily. She had evaded capture entirely. Yet his hunger overtook his hunting instincts. He delivered the food as he should to the bosses. |
| (scene changes to the underground bunker) | |
| Boss #2 | Well done, Adam Montgomery. Though we could’ve sworn we put on the menu a course of six ingredients. |
| Adam | I apologize, sirs, but the sixth one had somehow evaded capture. She’s probably already left the building. There’s a possibility that if she gets the police involved, they could trace it all back here. If she’s even sane enough to speak, last I saw of her, I think the meal preparation left her in a state of shock. |
| Boss #3 | It does not matter. Even if tonight’s events were to get out, then all we’d have to do is claim that this Lily Giddeon is insane and merely thinks she saw this happen. The human brain is a feeble thing, the sort of shock she would’ve received upon seeing the meal prep will leave her quite unable to speak to properly to defend herself |
| Adam | Heh, makes sense. You’re right, who would believe her? What she’d say would only just sound like fantasy. |
| Boss #1 | Yes. Good work, Mr. Montgomery. But if it were to get out, well, no matter, we’ve been here for years and years. We have our ways of avoiding such troubles. |
| Narrator | When Lily got out, the shock left her unable to speak for days and days. It took her a week before she told the police of what she saw happen at the company. They didn’t believe her at first, but by the time they took action, they couldn’t find a trace of evidence. When Lily went to see the building again, the floor she had seen this all take place on was now totally different looking. Instead, she was taken to an insane asylum.
As for Adam and the bosses, they kept low for a while, and had the UG button on the elevator rewired to sending the elevator down even further into the earth, just in case… |
02/10/24
The Bartender – Episode 1
By David Hanson
Word count: 1,273
NARRATOR
Sarah Callan is the landlady of a set of commercial buildings at a mall strip. She had recently filled a vacancy with a bar, the first business that was being opened by the two co-owners. The man operating the financial side of things was a veteran of the food trade, but the co-owners who was the one to concoct the bar was a rookie, a man about her age, and total wreck named Kenneth. Absentminded and shy, it was no surprise to her that he was routinely late whenever he arrived at the bar to oversee its preparations before the bar’s opening night.
SARAH
[sfx: car door opening] Right, only five minutes late and…oh, hello there, you’re the electrician, yeah?
ELECTRICIAN
Yeah, I am. Are you the owner? I could’ve sworn we’d agreed that I could start work at 8:50. The carpenters are here too – we’re all waiting for the go ahead.
SARAH
Sorry, I’m just the landlord. You likely talked to Robert but he’s not coming in today, the one who should be here overseeing you lot for construction is Ken [in giggling amusement] whose running late as per usual. (like she notices something) I bet… Ah, there he is.
NARRATOR
They looked to see a beaten-up car from the 2000s pull in. Sarah sighed in amusement as they saw the parts where the paint was peeling off. Kenneth, or Ken as he preferred, shuffled sheepishly to open the door, embarrassed at how late work was starting.
KEN
Sorry, sorry I’m late. Right, um…there! Sorry about that, sir…
TECHNICIAN
Right. Well, I won’t charge ya. Have the key for the breaker box?
KEN
Yeah, right here. Let me know if you need anything. Er, right…morning, Ms. Callan.
SARAH
Morning, Ken… Let me guess, you forgot to set your alarm clock last night.
KEN
Yeah. Then I – well – got distracted reading an article over breakfast and by the time I was nearly finished, I realized what time it was!
SARAH
And yet you’re planning to be the owner of this place? Buddy, I don’t know if you know this but most businesses don’t get by on someone who arrives just at opening time and still has to do all the maintenance and inspection of the facilities before serving customers can begin.
KEN
What’s the worst that could happen?
SARAH
Let’s see…working overtime hours to make up for all the missed maintenance and administrative tasks…bills that might be paid past their due dates…bad word of mouth in the newspapers for never opening the bar on time…health inspectors if you miss some key spots…written down for general lack of professionalism…complains from workers who can’t get into the building on time…oh, and no business, which means no money, which means no…
KEN
[quiet frustration] All right, all right. I get the bloody picture…
SARAH
Glad someone does.
KEN
[sfx: door opening] Bleh. Walking Doomsday Mouthpiece. [sfx: walking] I suppose this is what I was lacking all morning, the sight of the bottles and tools of my craft. At least you lot don’t judge me, or backtalk, mock me, or push on me this notion of punctuality.
SARAH
Punctuality that might keep you in contact with said bottles.
KEN
Don’t you have anything better to do?
SARAH
Well, since work hasn’t really started yet, no; and you’re in the same position.
KEN
It’s too early in the morning for this crap…
TECHNICIAN
‘Scuse me, sir. A word.
KEN
Huh? Yeah, what’s up? [internally] Oh, thank goodness. At least here there’s no mind games.
TECHNICIAN
So the circuits in your break box aren’t really in the best shape. If there’s ever a power outage or surge I have a feeling some wires might get fried.
KEN
Um…isn’t that why you’re here?
TECHNICIAN
That’ll cost you extra, pal. You only hired me to inspect and install the wires for the refrigerator and lights. Unless you have the money to pay me, I’m only telling you what needs to be done. Capiche?
KEN
Er- u-uh…yeah, sorry.
SARAH
Oh, dear oh dear…
TECHNICIAN
Another thing, here’s the cost of the backup system for the water valves to the emergency generator.
KEN
W-what! That much?! So expensive…is it really necessary?
TECHNICIAN
Well, duh. At the moment the water pressure is only kept up by the main power supply.
SARAH
Oh, here we go.
KEN
Yeah, but…when the power goes out, surely the water pressure going with it isn’t a surprise.
TECHNICIAN
Dude, do you WANT your business to burn down if a fire starts?
KEN
I…I- I don’t understand…
SARAH
He means that when the power goes out it affects the water pressure which means the sprinklers won’t be effective if a fire breaks out.
KEN
Um…
TECHNICIAN
Whatever, your landlord there can explain better than me. Time’s money. Thirdly, later I’ll need to cleanup and assess the emergency power switches. So if you could make sure that area is cleaned up before I start work, that’d be swell.
KEN
Yeah…s-sure I can.
TECHNICIAN
Actually, if I could look at the space I have to work with that’d be great.
KEN
U-um…right. Uh. [sfx: walking, lost]
SARAH
[outloud yet thinking] Hmm… [naturally happy, feign realization] Oh! Right, I forgot that Ken wasn’t around when I explained to Robert where the emergency power knobs are. It’s a room in the janitor’s closet behind the bar.
KEN
Oh – er- y-yeah, it is! [whispers to Sarah] So, um, where would that be.
SARAH
Y’know, you could’ve just played along but ohhh noooo…
KEN
Don’t patronize me…
Sfx: gate opens, door opens]
SARAH
This way.
TECHNICIAN
I see.
SARAH
He’ll get to work right away.
KEN
Hey, I could’ve handled that.
SARAH
Sure you could. Listen, it was on the map of the building you received. How did you not know it was there? Whatever, you’re struggling just talking to construction workers, with that type of fumbling how’re you supposed to serve guests?
KEN
Ever heard of acting?
SARAH
Sure…I’ll believe that when you can tell a more convincing lie. Right, so tell me: Have you already figured out the prices for the drinks and the bottles? Because if I asked for a particularly complicated drink, I’d expect you’d know what to do on the bill.
KEN
W-well, yeah, of course I would!
SARAH
All right, here’s a scenario: I ordered a special citrus drink, five ingredients, full pour of spirit, highball, special garnish- no, wait, make that two garnishes on it. It was off the menu. How much?
KEN
Uh, well…let’s see: you probably asked of course for regular soda water, which would make sense but then…um, what kind of spirit was it?
SARAH
Isn’t the default ‘well’ drinks? C’mon, c’mon! Those have fixed prices don’t you know?
KEN
W-w-well, yeah! I suppose that makes sense. Still, do those five ingredients include bitters or a liqueur…?
SARAH
I said spirit, as in once full on pour of liquor, and didn’t mention ANY other spirits.
KEN
O-oh, then I guess…well, wait, so: spirit, citrus, sweetener…what’re the other two ingredients?
SARAH
Are you seriously blanking on what I’m trying to tell you? I said it’s an extra citrussy drink.
KEN
Um…so I’m guessing that means we’re talking about a split base of citrus juices?
SARAH
Wow! Took you long enough.
KEN
Ugh… Whatever, what was the fifth?
SARAH
Take a wild guess.
KEN
Uh…well…
NARRATOR
Uh oh! It looks like Ken is a bit speechless. Not that Sarah didn’t see this confusion coming. As you can see, he’s not exactly attentive to a lot of things other than drinks, but clearly even THAT he stumbles with.
