Reel Tales of Horror: Conversations on a Subway

[Dale]

Reels Tales of Horror
Episode #1: "Conversations on a Subway"
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“CONVERSATIONS ON A SUBWAY”


FADE IN:

EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT

The city is dark and quiet. Fog rolls in from the south, creating a hazy film in the air. Through this film walks LEONARD (30).

He is a man of average build, clean shaven wearing a nice business suit.

Leonard walks through the night, not paying any attention to prostitutes and homeless people he passes. The scene is eerily silent as Leonard continues walking.

He passes a small pawn shop, in the window is a television report. CLOSE on the TELEVISION as Leonard keeps going. The reporter is a young woman in her twenties.

NEWS REPORTER
Due to the recent spike in gas prices, many people are using alternate routes. Some suggestions would be carpooling, buses, and the subway. Though if travelling at night, the latter two can be somewhat dangerous.

She moves on as the CAMERA begins to fade out.

NEWS REPORTER
In other news, we have reports of another extreme case of domestic violence in the area. That makes seven in the past four months.

CUT TO:

INT. SUBWAY STATION – NIGHT

Leonard waits for the Subway to arrive. He looks sad and tortured. A few other stragglers wait near him as the Subway finally arrives.

INT. SUBWAY – NIGHT

Leonard enters the Subway, which is already carrying about a dozen passengers. He takes a seat near the back, by himself. As he does he notices an older man, around mid-fifties, sitting a few feet ahead of him. The man stares at Leonard strangely, giving him a chill down his spine.

Leonard works on something he has pulled out of his briefcase, lost in his own thoughts. The sound of the Subway is the only thing that reminds him of where he is at. Until –

GEORGE
Hi, there.

Leonard looks up to see someone’s waist at his eye level. As he looks up further he realizes it is the strange older fellow. Leonard politely smiles.

LEONARD
Hi.

Awkward BEAT.

The man continues standing, Leonard trying to ignore him.

GEORGE
Mind if I sit?

Leonard looks at the empty seat, pausing for a brief moment. He then shakes his head.

LEONARD
Public Subway, isn’t it?

GEORGE
(ignoring the rudeness)
I suppose it is.

George takes a seat, continues to look at Leonard. Leonard just keeps writing away on his briefcase.

GEORGE
So, uhh, What’s your name friend?

Again, Leonard looks up to make sure he is talking to him.

LEONARD
Leonard.

BEAT.

GEORGE
(realizing he’s not going to ask)
Name’s George. Nice to meet you.

Holds out his hand. It stays out for an awkwardly long time before Leonard reciprocates the gesture.

GEORGE (cont.)
Gas prices, eh? Sheesh...

Again, no response.

GEORGE (cont.)
You a business man? Banker?

LEONARD
(impatiently)
What? Yeah, I’m a banker.

GEORGE
That’s great. Take the Subway often?

LEONARD
Yeah, I guess. Just don’t like paying for gas anymore. Rather pay the surcharge.

GEORGE
I hear ya. Ridiculous! But, what can we do?

Leonard shrugs.

GEORGE
Nothin’, that’s what. Damn Government’s got us by the balls!

Leonard looks very uncomfortable now. George laughs loudly, his voice raspy from years of smoking.

LEONARD
So, what is it that you do...
(trying to remember)
G...George?

GEORGE
Not much. I’m a Problem-Solver.

Leonard takes a moment to weigh the seriousness of the answer.

LEONARD
That is a real profession?

GEORGE
Sure is.

LEONARD
What exactly do you do?

GEORGE
Solve problems.

Leonard smiles to himself. Stupid question gets a stupid answer.

GEORGE (cont.)
You got a problem? I got a solution. No matter how big. I’ll figure out a way around it...hell, sometimes straight through it. But no matter what, I guarantee to make it go away. I suppose I’m kina’ like a therapist. A psychiatrist.

LEONARD
Okay.

The Subway begins to slow as people begin standing up, ready to exit.

LEONARD (cont.)
Well, this is my stop. It was nice meeting you, George.

GEORGE
Yeah, definitely. I’ll see you around.

The last statement lingers for a moment until Leonard eventually stands and exits.

EXT. LEONARD’S HOME – NIGHT

He walks up the large staircase. CLOSE on his KEY entering the keyhole. The door unlocks.

INT. LEONARD’S HOME – NIGHT

Leonard enters and tosses his briefcase on the dining room table. He looks around the dark house, searching. He sees a NOTE on the refrigerator.

CLOSE UP on the note. It reads:

Lenny,
Have to work late again tonight. Sorry, I won’t be home for dinner. Don’t wait up.
Liz

Sadness fills Lenny’s eyes as he reads the note. He crumples the note in his hand and tosses it in the garbage.

INT. SUBWAY STATION – NIGHT

Again Leonard stands waiting for the Subway. His sadness still there, same as the night before. After a brief moment, the familiar sound comes as the Subway train approaches.

INT. SUBWAY – NIGHT

Leonard walks toward the same seat as last night. Sitting next to his seat is George, smiling brightly.

GEORGE
We have got to stop meeting like this.

Leonard chuckles to himself.

BEAT.

GEORGE
So, how are you doing?

Leonard doesn’t respond. George eyes him.

GEORGE (cont.)
Is something wrong, my friend?

LEONARD
Just marriage problems.

George smiles proudly.

GEORGE
Normally, that would be my cue. You said the magic word.

Leonard looks puzzled.

GEORGE (cont.)
Problems. Would you like to talk to me about them? Maybe I can help.

LEONARD
I’m not real open to discussing my personal life with a stranger. Especially not for a fee.

George extends his hand.

GEORGE
Hi, my name’s George. And I’m a problem solver.

Leonard smiles, loosening up just a bit.

GEORGE (cont.)
No fee, can’t charge a friend, ya’ know? Wouldn’t be right. So why the long face?

LEONARD
I...I think my wife’s cheating on me.

GEORGE
Ooh...

LEONARD
I’m sure you hear that one a lot, eh?

GEORGE
Relationship problems definitely lead the pack, that’s for sure. As a matter of fact, I just spoke to someone about a week ago. Similar situation to you.

LEONARD
What did you tell him?

GEORGE
Well, all situations are different. Variables.

LEONARD
Variables?

GEORGE
Ah, just mathematical mumbo. Mind if I ask you a few routine questions? It usually helps in these sort of cases.

Leonard shrugs and nods.

GEORGE (cont.)
What makes you think she is cheating?

LEONARD
Lots of things. For instance, she is always “working late”. She seems distant, reserved. I just don’t see her much anymore.

GEORGE
I see. Any ideas of whom she might be cheating with?

He shakes his head “no”.

GEORGE (cont.)
Okay. How long have you been married?

LEONARD
Eleven years.

GEORGE
Previous record?

LEONARD
I’m sorry?

GEORGE
Has she cheated before?

LEONARD
Not that I know of, no.

George considers this.

GEORGE
Assets?

LEONARD
What?

GEORGE
Car, house, boats. In the event of a divorce, what would you be fighting over. Do you have a prenup?

Leonard shakes his head, overwhelmed.

LEONARD
No, no prenup. House, two cars, nice boat we keep out at Lake Dawson. Pretty good chunk of change in the bank. Why?

GEORGE
Just assessing the situation. Variables, Leonard.

George thinks. Long BEAT.

Leonard begins to look uncomfortable as he waits for George to speak again.

LEONARD
It’s okay. Thanks for listening though.

Leonard looks away shamefully as his tears begin to well up. George snaps out of his thoughts and notices Leonard’s sad state.

GEORGE
You really love her, don’t you?

LEONARD
(Beginning to break down)
Of course! We’ve been married for eleven years. I can’t even imagine her being with another man, it makes me sick!

George looks worried.

GEORGE
Leonard you are not...suicidal are you?

Leonard looks shocked at the question. He had not even considered the option.

LEONARD
What? No!

GEORGE
Good. That is not the answer. You need to convert these feelings of loneliness and betrayal into something constructive. We need to FIX your problem.

Another long BEAT.

LEONARD
I’m open to any suggestions at this point. I don’t know what to do.

The last sentence lingers in the air for a few moments. The subway lights flicker in a creepy manner. George's face appears to change, just for a moment in the dark. The face seemed to change shape.

GEORGE
To be perfectly frank, Leonard, I only see one thing you can do. Only one option.

LEONARD
I’m listening.

The subway lights flicker again. His face changes for the worst again, but only for the split-second.

GEORGE
You have to kill your wife, Leonard.

Leonard’s eyes widen in horror.

LEONARD
I what? Are you insane?!?

George remains completely calm, rational.

GEORGE
As much as you may not think right now, I am very good at what I do, Leonard. This is the only available option for this case.

LEONARD
This case? This is my life we are talking about. And you are God damn crazy!

GEORGE
It’s the truth, Leonard. Do you know what will happen to you if or when she leaves you? Do you know what your life will become?

LEONARD
Listen, sure I say I “can’t live without her”, but kill her? What does that solve? Her being dead doesn’t help me one bit. Unless I’m looking for an execution, which as surprising as it may be, I am not.

GEORGE
Take my hand Leonard.

He holds his hand out to Leonard. He looks at it and then back to George...is this guy crazy?

GEORGE
Just take my hand.

LEONARD
You know, I think I’m gonna’ pass. I think I’m going to find a different seat as well.

Leonard begins to get up, now George speaks with a newfound tone of urgency.

GEORGE
Leonard, listen to me! Just take my hand for five seconds. If you want to move after that, fine. You will never have to talk to me again. But before you go, please just take my hand.

Leonard hesitates as George puts his hand very close to him.

Leonard reaches out and firmly grips George's hand. The Subway begins to SHAKE violently all around Leonard, but his eyes do not stray from George's. Leonard see's dozens of images, all spliced together lucidly. They are rapid, blurry and incoherent.

-- His wife getting in a taxi, bags packed.

-- Him purchasing a gun from a run-down pawn shop.

-- His wife on THEIR boat, with another man, enjoying some champagne.

-- Leonard on his couch, looking very defeated as he eats a TV dinner.

-- Leonard now puts the gun just below his chin. Pulls the trigger.

Now the images increase ten-fold, just one long blur. Until it stops on one last vision.

-- Leonard lies in a hospital bed, connected to all sorts of BUZZING machines. He lies completely still in a vegetable-like state. The only thing he can move is his eyes. He looks around the room as everyone goes about their routines.

Leonard let's go of George's hand and falls down into a seat. He is trembling and covered in sweat.

GEORGE
You see? That is the OTHER option. The option that involves you doing nothing. Letting what happens, happen.

LEONARD
How...how in the hell did you do that?

George doesn't answer. He just smiles strangely at Leonard. Leonard finds his eyes and his smile mesmerizing.

LEONARD (cont.)
So...what should I do?

GEORGE
Take control of your destiny, Leonard. Do not let things "fall as they may". You control your path. Not anyone else. You.

LEONARD
I'll go to prison!

GEORGE
(whispering)
No need to make a scene.
(BEAT)
I'll tell you what. Go home tonight, see your wife. Talk to her. Tomorrow night, when I see you on this Subway, if you are still convinced she is with another man, we'll talk about what to do next. Deal?

George extends his hand to shake on the deal. Leonard considers this. He wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead.

LEONARD
Okay. Deal. But no offense, I'd rather not shake on it.

George laughs loudly, causing some passengers to stare. The Subway slows as it comes to a stop. Leonard stands to exit.

LEONARD (cont.)
Who are you?

GEORGE
(smiling, voice eerily robotic)
I'm George. I'm a problem solver.

LEONARD
Right.

Leonard exits and heads home.

EXT. LEONARD'S HOME - NIGHT

Leonard again walks up the stairs to his door.

CLOSE on the keyhole again, as the key is inserted.

INT. LEONARD'S HOME - NIGHT
Leonard enters, placing his briefcase on the table. He looks around the dark house, not seeing any sign of life.

LEONARD
Sarah, are you home?

Nothing. He sighs as he notices a red light blinking in the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

The red light illuminates the entire kitchen in a creepy red glow. It's the ANSWERING MACHINE.

Leonard presses a button on the interface.

VOICE (O.S.)
(robotic)
You have ONE new message.

BEAT.

SARAH (O.S.)
Lenny, it's Sarah. I have to work late again, I'm sorry. Been a hectic week. Anyway just wanted to let you know. Tomorrow I'll be home early, we...we need to talk. I have something important to tell you. I'm sorry, don't wait up tonight. Goodbye.

CLICK. Leonard looks at the machine for a long time, his eyes becoming damp.

CUT TO:

INT. SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT

Now on day three. Leonard waits for the Subway train. He seems impatient. Anxious to speak with George.

The familiar sound comes from down the long dark tunnel as the Subway approaches.

INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT

Leonard enters the Subway, looking toward his seat. The entire back-end is empty.

No George.

Leonard takes his seat, desperately searching the rest of the train for his mysterious new confidant. He is nowhere to be found. Leonard frowns sadly.

He puts his briefcase on his lap and opens it, making sure nobody is watching.

Inside is a small, black 9MM PISTOL. He quietly removes the clip. It is loaded. He puts it back in and gently sets it back inside his briefcase. Underneath it is a picture of him with Sarah. They look happy.

He slams the briefcase closed as we --

CUT TO:

EXT. LEONARD'S HOME - NIGHT

As Leonard walks up his stairs, he notices all the lights are on. She is home.

CLOSE on the keyhole. His key enters it, but doesn't turn.

BEAT.

Leonard takes a long deep breath and turns the key, unlocking the door.

INT. LEONARD'S HOME - NIGHT

Leonard holds his briefcase, not placing it on the table as we are accustomed to seeing. He slowly enters, peeking around the doorway for his wife.

There is the sound of glass CLANKING together resonating from the kitchen. Leonard creeps into the kitchen to see the back of his wife Sarah as she uncorks a bottle of red wine.

LEONARD
Hi.

Sarah spins around surprised.

SARAH
You scared me Lenny.

LEONARD
Sorry.

She begins pouring wine into two glasses.

SARAH
Want some wine?

He nods and takes one of the glasses. They both take a seat at the Dining Room table, just next to the kitchen. Leonard sets the briefcase right next to his seat, not straying too far from it.

SARAH (cont.)
How was work?

LEONARD
Fine, I guess. So what did you want to talk to me about?

SARAH
(builds up courage)
Well, I've doing a lot of thinking lately. Soul searching.

Leonard's face is plastered with dread. He knows what's coming.

LEONARD
And?

SARAH
And I've thought a lot about us. About me and you. About our past, our future and about right now. We just seem so distant anymore. Things don't seem the same as they used to be.

Leonard doesn't speak. She watches him, waiting for SOME kind of reaction, but get's nothing.

SARAH (cont.)
I've been seeing someone.

Leonard now shows reaction. His eyes are filled with hatred and disdain.

SARAH (cont.)
It's not what you think --

LEONARD
(exploding)
Not what I think?!? So what should I think, Sarah? That all these nights you've been working late, you've been sleeping with another man? Is that what you're saying?

She begins to respond, but he cuts her off.

LEONARD
I can't believe I was such a fool! Damn it Sarah. Why do you put me in situations like this?

SARAH
Situations like what Leonard? You haven't even let me explain!

He slams the empty glass of wine on the table hard, shattering it. Sarah jumps, frightened. Leonard’s eyes gleam in a strange, non-human way.

LEONARD
There is nothing to explain! I get it...I do. Need the excitement, the change of scenery. Well now you have to --

Leonard thinks about the irony of what he is about to say. He even smirks slightly.

LEONARD (cont.)
You have to live with yourself. Your conscience. You back me into a corner and you expect me to remain calm? Remain civil?

SARAH
You are impossible to talk to, Leonard. That's the PROBLEM!

LEONARD
That is one of many in our relationship. Don't try to blame me for this!

SARAH
You're right, Leonard. We do have a lot of PROBLEMS. So does everyone. Every couple has PROBLEMS. But they work through them, which is something you don't seem to be interested in.

Leonard shakes his head, tired of listening. Blood drips on the dining room table, distracting Sarah from her argument.

SARAH (cont.)
Lenny, you're bleeding.

Leonard looks at his hand. The broken glass has sliced it pretty bad. He heads toward the sink.

LEONARD
I think this is one PROBLEM we cannot fix, Sarah.

SARAH
Will you let me explain?

Leonard doesn't respond as he starts the water. It runs over his open wound, filling the sink with blood-infused water. CLOSE on this scene as Sarah speaks.

SARAH (O.S.)
I met someone. I've been talking to him for about a week now. He's a good listener, it was nice. I told him about our...our situation. He listened to me for hours, never becoming bored. Always giving me advice, which he was very good at. I thought it was all just chance. But now I know it was more than that. It was more than just a coincidence. I met him on that Subway for a reason. It was fate, Leonard. It has changed my life. He helped me realize so much.

PAN UP from Leonard's hand to see his face. His eyes are wide with surprise.

SARAH (O.S.)
He showed me what I must do. I'm sorry Leonard, I love you.

BOOM!

Leonard's eyes now show remorse and pain. PAN DOWN to see blood soaking through his shirt around his heart. He slumps over nearly completely into the sink.

CLOSE on the water as it still runs, now even more red from the blood pouring from his gunshot wound.

FADE OUT.

THE END.

[Dale]

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~Mr. Vincent

[Cristo]

Ha ha ha ha.

That was great. I love it. Best TV episode ever. The ending was dark and funny at the same time. Wow...my one question. What exactly was this mysterious guy's objective? Although I might never find that out...

[Movie Lord Productions]

Very good. Way to start off the series, and I will be interested in seeing the remaining episodes.

[SCF]

I loved it. Once I read "I've been seeing someone" "but its not what you think", it instantly clicked.

Who wrote this?

[Hanelle]

I did, I'm glad you liked it

[Legend]

Wow, that was great. I had a suspicion that the two were connected somehow at the beginning...it was kind of reminding me of Phone Booth, as that was just on TV. Anyhow, the ending and the whole episode was just great.

[Dale]

Since I will be writing for this show -- I found it a must to read your episode and I was pleasantly pleased with it. I think it was very well written. It is definitely the way you want to start a new television series. I couldn't find any flaws with and overall it was great. Great work, y2gatti.

~Mr. Vincent

[iamthebatman]

Jul 23, 2008 20:09:35 GMT -5 Dale said:

Since I will be writing for this show -- I found it a must to read your episode and I was pleasantly pleased with it. I think it was very well written. It is definitely the way you want to start a new television series. I couldn't find any flaws with and overall it was great. Great work, y2gatti.

~Mr. Vincent

I'm next. ;D

I will read this after I finish CS2.

[boust]

Sorry, I didn't finish reading it until this morning. But, wow! That was very well done. The pacing was excellent and I loved the ironic/humourous ending. Although I sort of predicted that Sarah wasn't having an affair (but seeing George) it was still very enjoyable to read - very suspenseful too!

[Hellish]

This was great ^_^

Can't wait to see what everyone else does.

[Dale]

Congratulations, y2gatti -- you have currently tied Barrett with the highest rated episode on Movie Reels with a rating of 7.0.

~Mr. Vincent

[Jester- PsychoBunnyProductions]

..... WOW! Great little twist at the end. love it. Are you writing any more eps Y2gatti?

[Hanelle]

Thanks for all the good feedback I think there was talks about going through everyone who wanted to write one and then starting back w/ the first writer, so I'm not 100% sure.