Presently Absent By Zachary Gottlieb 827 N. Laurel Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 310-880-9000

113 Pages·2010·0.21 MB·English

by  Zachary Gottlieb

Presently Absent
By
Zachary Gottlieb
827 N. Laurel Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
310-880-9000
INT. MATHESON APARTMENT - MORNING
A modest but well-furnished apartment in the Flatiron
District of Manhattan. BILL (34) and SARAH MATHESON (32), a
handsome couple, lie in bed together.
SARAH
Are you gonna make sure you get
paid today?
BILL
I’m definitely gonna try.
SARAH
Good. You need to stand up for
yourself, honey. Laying you off is
one thing, but to keep you on and
not even pay you? It makes my blood
boil.
BILL
Right. But what if I press my point
and I do get laid off? You think it
would be easy to find something
else?
SARAH
I don’t know, baby; but at least
you’d be doing something.
She beckons him over for a hug.
SARAH
Where would you be without me, huh?
BILL
(considers)
Probably in a ditch somewhere.
SARAH
Exactly. Now go get ready for work,
or you will be fired.
INT. MATHESON APARTMENT - LATER
The pair come out of their bedroom to find LYLA, their 3 year
old, curly-haired gemstone, lying fast asleep under the
Christmas tree. Sarah walks over and picks her up, together
with her blanket.
2.
SARAH
Sweetie, we’ve discussed this.
Santa doesn’t come with presents
until the night just before
Christmas, so you really mustn’t
keep doing this.
LYLA
(rubbing her eyes)
But what if he comes early this
year, and I miss my chance?
SARAH
Santa never comes early, sweetie.
He’s too busy.
LYLA
Is that true, Daddy?
Dressed for work, Bill is rooting around in the fridge for a
piece of fruit.
BILL
It sure is. The old man has a lot
of countries to visit.
LYLA
But why does he always have to
visit our one last?
Bill and Sarah look at each other, unable to keep this up.
Noticing something wrong with Lyla’s doll, Bill takes it from
her hands.
BILL
What happened to little Maggie,
sweetie?
LYLA
Her eye came out. She’s old.
BILL
She is old. Because before you, she
belonged to Mommy, and before
Mommy, she belonged to Mommy’s
Mommy, and before Mommy’s Mommy --
SARAH
Bill.
Bill glances at her, sheepishly, while sitting down and
pulling Lyla on to his lap. He inspects Maggie, the thread of
whose button-eye has come loose.
3.
BILL
Anyway, poppet, I think Maggie just
needs to be taken a look at by
Nurse Ratched over there, who has a
bunch of things to help dolls get
better.
Preparing her and Lyla’s breakfast, Sarah raises an eyebrow
at Bill, who returns an innocent smile.
LYLA
Do you have any dolls, Daddy?
BILL
Well of course I do. What exactly
is it that you think you are?
Bill lifts her up with both arms and shakes her, playfully,
causing her to squeal with delight.
BILL
My rag doll! Who could come apart
at any second! Whose eyes might
fall out! Whose hair could all fall
out!
Lyla continues to shriek even louder, as Sarah looks on,
amusedly. Bill finally brings her down and hugs her tightly.
He readies himself for work.
BILL
Well, that’s my fun gone for today.
(kissing them both)
You don’t need to worry about
dinner tonight, honey. I’ve got
handball with Lucas, so I’ll just
grab pizza or something.
SARAH
Mm, sounds healthy. But y’know, I
think Lyla and I might want
something to eat ourselves, so I’ll
probably just go ahead and make
dinner anyway.
BILL
(heading out)
You know what I mean. Love you
guys.
The door shuts. Sarah smiles to herself, basks in the moment.
4.
SARAH
Do we love him back?
Lyla nods, earnestly.
SARAH
Love you back.
INT. STEAMSHIP, THE ATLANTIC OCEAN - NIGHT
We’re in the small hold of an antiquated steamer, panning
across scores of huddled bodies and expressionless African
faces, completely dead to the world, glistening with sweat.
The reinforced door is swung open and two men step inside.
The first is BAKWAN (41), a muscular brute of a man, who eyes
the passengers with palpable contempt. KWESI (26), lanky with
handsome features, walks behind, carrying a jug and cup.
BAKWAN
You see, Kwesi, the thing about
this game is that you need to pack
out these boxes. High risk, high
rewards, my friend.
KWESI
Yes. But I don’t understand why we
must keep them squashed in here for
the entire journey. It’s hot.
Kwesi begins handing the cup around, filling it once for each
of the captives.
BAKWAN
Why not, my friend? You think ‘dem
roaches should breathe our air?
‘Dem low quality roaches don’t
deserve each other’s air. But what
can one do?
He emits a bellowing laugh, as Kwesi still attends to the
cramped occupants. His eye catches that of AFI (18) -
attractive beneath her bedraggled exterior - who stares at
him, wide-eyed, while gulping from the cup.
BAKWAN
(noticing the exchange)
I suppose you feel warm wid ‘dem,
eh, Kwesi? You wan’ me leave you
‘ere?
5.
KWESI
No, I do not. I think it’s
shameful.
Bakwan slaps him across the ear, causing him to spill water
over Moses (13), a lithe boy whose eyes convey a spirited
defiance, despite his apparent sickliness. He lifts his arm,
licks water off it. Keeps his gaze on Bakwan.
BAKWAN
I de lash you, boy! Dis be my boat,
my roaches, my water.
He smashes the jug from Kwesi’s grip.
BAKWAN
You no show me respect, I kill you.
I go let the sea do it. Now get out
of here.
Kwesi bends down to pick up the jug, but Bakwan violently
kicks it away from him.
BAKWAN
I said get out of here.
Taking a last look at the roomful of zombies, he leaves.
BAKWAN
Now you all listen to me, kiddies.
You all have debt to pay, you
understand? Yo dreams, yo hopes; yo
parents’ hopes, yo parents dreams’ -
- De gone now. All of aam, as far
away as Nigeria. You belong to me
now. Until yo debt be paid.
Most of the bodies remain motionless; their expressions,
empty. Afi, however, is greatly distressed by these words,
and shoots Bakwan a look of total revulsion. He picks up on
it.
BAKWAN
(approaching her)
You got something a say, roach?
Maybe you wanna begin workin’ off
some a that debt already, eh?
He squishes her cheeks between his fleshy fingers, puts his
face right up to hers.
6.
BAKWAN
I tell you this now, bitch. My
world is not a pretty one. And
pretty things do not last long in
it.
Moses, sitting next to Afi, struggles to his feet.
MOSES
Leave my sister alone. Leave her
alone this second, or I’ll make you
pay.
BAKWAN
Ha! Little runt wanna make me pay.
Moses stumbles forward, swings at Bakwan with all of his
might. Bakwan absorbs the hit, and with his free arm, grabs
Moses' throat, tightly, while maintaining focus on Afi.
Afi’s look of resignation swiftly turns to one of terror as
she listens, helplessly, to her brother’s gargling. She
writhes to get out of Bakwan’s grip, but he’s too strong.
BAKWAN
Tush, tush, my friends. Mek we play
a game to get us in a better mood,
eh? Why don’t we call it, “Happy
Families.”
Afi gives up thrashing. A moment of silence, punctuated by
sounds of straining from her brother. Staring pure hatred,
Afi spits directly into Bakwan’s face.
He erupts in anger, pulling Moses towards him and then
thrusting him back into a mass of tangled limbs.
He snatches a handful of Afi’s hair, and begins dragging her
over to the door of the hold.
AFI
(screaming)
Let me go! Let go of me! Help me,
someone, please! Moses!
BAKWAN
I told you, didn’t I, roach? Didn’t
I tell you?
Moses gets to his feet and heaves himself as quickly as
possible towards his sister.
7.
BAKWAN
Now we de play a different game --
She continues to howl in agony, but Afi is unable to break
free. Moses reaches her as she is halfway through the door,
wrapping himself around one of her legs.
Bakwan lugs them through the threshold, then removes Moses
from his sister by squeezing his skull with his bare hands.
Once he has let go, Bakwan shoves Moses back into the hold.
The door slams shut, and Moses collapses against it, sobbing.
INT. DIGBY’S TOY STORE, MANHATTAN - DAY
A toy store in the same neighborhood as Bill’s apartment,
with few customers for the time of year. Bright neon sale
signs draw attention only to the lack of patronage in a
typically bustling district.
Bill, the store manager, disappears into the stockroom,
emerging again with a bullhorn. He vaults on to the store
counter and addresses the few children and parents present.
BILL
Friends, Romans and customers, lend
me your ears! I will give them back
to you, this I promise. To
celebrate the thriving economic
upswing that we’re currently
experiencing, I’m about to take
measures to increase even further
this flurry of consumer spending
that has caused our wallets and
purses to fly open at the scantest
whiff of a deal. Starting now, you
can take another 20% off our
already bargain-cellar prices.
HAROLD CAMPBELL (51), the store owner, has been listening to
this speech from the corner. He now approaches the counter.
HAROLD
(under his breath)
Bill --
BILL
And 50% on all dolls and stuffed
animals.
He notices Harold and steps down to the floor.
8.
BILL
Oh, hey, Harold. I’m glad you’re
in; I’d been meaning to speak to
you. Do you mind if we talk in your
office for a minute?
HAROLD
(stern)
That’s fine.
BILL
Great.
HAROLD’S OFFICE
HAROLD
Are you out of your freakin’ mind?
BILL
What do you mean?
HAROLD
What the hell makes you think you
have the authority to cut prices in
my store?
BILL
Nothing makes me think I have the
authority, Harold; but whatever
this is of yours, it sure ain’t a
store right now. The only thing
we’re selling in this place is warm
air to bums.
HAROLD
Look, Bill; I know you probably
came in here to ask me why you
haven’t been paid recently.
BILL
I did.
HAROLD
Well, so I’m gonna give it to you,
no frills. You’ll certainly get
what you’re owed, but otherwise...
I’m sorry, pal, but I don’t think
I can afford to keep you on any
longer.
Bill takes a moment to absorb this.
9.
BILL
I’ve run this store for you for the
past 5 years. You’re a disgustingly
wealthy entrepreneur. What do you
mean you can’t afford to keep me
on?
HAROLD
(defensive)
What do you know about my financial
situation? Alright, fine. Times are
tough, but maybe I could still pay
you. The thing is, Bill, I just
don’t want to. Besides, you pull
stunts like --
BILL
You know what, Harold? Save it for
the next guy. You’re such an ass.
Bill strides out of the office, into the main store area.
Harold calls out from behind him.
HAROLD
You said it yourself, Bill: we’re
not selling anything!
He snatches a stuffed animal and heads towards the exit.
BILL
(under his breath)
Damn right.
Ignoring the clerk’s attempt to get his attention, Bill
leaves the store.
INT. STEAMSHIP, 180 MILES OFF THE COAST - DAY
We’re in the bridge of the dilapidated vessel, where several
crew members are idling, smoking marijuana, and talking
nonsense. Bakwan is currently holding court.
BAKWAN
...Den I smack ee on the batty,
push ee on the wall, and riiide
that poon poon till I thump finish.
The crew members all roll around laughing at this. One of
them accidentally pushes his blazing joint into Bakwan’s leg.