Blogs » Adrian of Death - Contest Entry
Adrian of Death - Contest Entry
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ESTABLISHING - CITY SKYLINE
EXT. FUNERAL HOME - NIGHT
MOURNERS trickle in quietly.
Across the street, ADRIAN GLOVER, regular guy, mid twenties stands undecided whether to go inside. He’s naturally shy, borderline distant and sometimes a bit hostile. He wears a small crucifix on a thin chain around his neck.
INT. FUNERAL HOME - NIGHT
A closed casket with a picture of a very old BLIND MAN.
OTHERS pay their respects. Adrian enters and stands at the back of the room in an attempt to avoid inane conversation.
It doesn’t work as a mourner in his early forties, JAMES LANG, approaches.
JAMES
How did you know my father?
ADRIAN
I didn’t. I helped him across the street right before he died.
JAMES
How’s that for irony.
(beat)
I’m surprised he accepted help? He was the most stubborn blind man on earth. It’s very nice of you to pay respects considering you didn’t know him. I’m James.
The man holds out his hand. Adrian looks at it for a moment - hesitant.
To avoid an awkward moment Adrian shakes his hand.
ADRIAN
Adrian.
JAMES
Thanks for coming, Adrian.
(beat)
I need a cigarette, if you’ll excuse me.
(beat)
Why don’t you join me?
ADRIAN
I don’t smoke.
James heads outside.
Adrian approaches the closed casket, makes the sign of the cross, kneels and closes his eyes.
When Adrian opens his eyes, the room is empty except for a DARK MAN at the back of the room.
DARK MAN
Are you praying for that man’s soul? Who are you kidding?
ADRIAN
What?
DARK MAN
You still don’t know? Or are you in denial?
ADRIAN
What are you talking about?
DARK MAN
You have a purpose.
Suddenly, GUNSHOTS ring out.
Adrian opens his eyes. The scene is back to the way it was.
A WOMAN enters covered in blood.
WOMAN
Somebody help, he’s been shot.
FADE OUT.
EXT. CITY STREET - MORNING
Adrian, on his way to work, wears a suit and carries a briefcase.
ADRIAN (V.O.)
I hope she’s there today. She looks especially good on Fridays.
INT. SUBWAY STATION - MORNING
Adrian walks down the stairs into the station. Despite the large crowd of COMMUTERS he manages to touch nobody.
As he approaches the turnstile, NICKI, early twenties and beautiful, comes from his right and heads for the same turnstile. They stop right before they bump into each other.
ADRIAN
Excuse me.
Suddenly, Adrian’s eyes light up. It’s her.
NICKI
I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I’m in a fog - allergy medication - it knocks me out.
She SNEEZES in his face.
NICKI (CONT'D)
I’m so sorry.
Adrian smiles and wipes her sensuous snot from his cheek.
ADRIAN
It’s okay, really. I’m Adrian.
Adrian holds out his hand but Nicki’s hands are full so she just shrugs her shoulders.
ADRIAN (CONT'D)
That’s okay, allow me.
Adrian swipes his card paying for Nicki. She casually throws her hair back as they pass through the turnstile.
NICKI
Thank you.
ADRIAN (V.O.)
What I would give to run my fingers through her hair just once.
INT. SUBWAY STATION - PLATFORM - MORNING
Nicki finds a spot to wait for the train. She leans against an I beam about a foot from the platform edge.
Adrian stops about ten feet away.
Other COMMUTERS wait patiently for the train.
ADRIAN (V.O.)
Talk to her. Don’t be such a chicken shit. What’s the worst that can happen? She rejects you horribly, so what? What’s the big deal? Be a man! Go over and say hello. She’s way out of my league. But she did smile at me before. Who knows, she could be my future wife. We would have beautiful children. And we could grow old together and sip homemade lemonade on the back porch of our country ranch.
Nicki yawns and smiles at Adrian. He smiles back.
ADRIAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Again, she smiled at me.
(beat)
Man it’s hot in here.
Adrian wipes the sweat off his brow.
ADRIAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Focus. You gotta make a move. Stop standing here like a taco and go over and talk to her.
Nicki leans against the I beam and closes her eyes.
Suddenly, a TRAIN approaches.
ADRIAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Hurry up. Just go over and say hi.
Adrian heads over to her as the train pulls into the station. He’s finally making a move.
As he approaches he notices she is leaning over. She’s passing out.
The train approaches as Nicki leans over the edge of the platform.
ADRIAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Oh my God, no!
Adrian picks up the pace as the train bears down on Nicki.
Nicki leans further off balance. She’s falling.
Adrian rushes over, reaches out and grabs Nicki’s hand just as the TRAIN smacks into her face throwing her back into the I beam.
The force of the I beam against the back of Nicki’s head splashes blood across Adrian’s face as he falls to the platform away from the train.
Nicki bounces off the I beam and falls forward between the platform and the train.
Her body is squeezed, twisted and yanked under the train before she pops back up as the train finally SCREECHES to a stop.
Horrified, the other COMMUTERS run off.
Adrian, shocked, sits up covered in blood. He looks up and sees Nicki wedged between the train and the platform.
CUT TO:
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Adrian walks the Blind Man across the street to a bus stop on the corner where the Blind Man sits alone. Suddenly, a car veers off the road and runs the Blind Man down.
CUT TO:
EXT. FUNERAL HOME - DAY (FLASHBACK)
James Lang smokes a cigarette when an armed ROBBER runs from a bodega past him.
The bodega OWNER chases him, gun in hand. He raises the gun and FIRES. The Robber FIRES back.
Caught in the crossfire, James collapses to the ground as several bullets pass through him splashing blood on a woman.
BACK TO:
INT. SUBWAY STATION - PLATFORM - MORNING
Adrian starts to crawl away when-
NICKI
Help.
Adrian stops and looks over his shoulder.
NICKI (CONT'D)
Somebody help me, please.
Adrian crawls over to her. She’s barely conscious, blood covers her face and thickens her hair.
NICKI (CONT'D)
Am I gonna die?
Adrian looks down and notices Nicki’s legs under the train about ten feet away. The train and the platform are holding her torso together.
ADRIAN
Yes.
Adrian runs his fingers through Nicki’s bloody hair in a feeble attempt to comfort her as she WEEPS.
FADE TO BLACK.