In The Dark
a screenplay by Mike Mariano
Copyright 2001

FADE IN

INT.  BEDROOM - NIGHT

ANGLE ON A DIGITAL CLOCK, slowly coming into focus.

3:25 a.m.

After a moment, it becomes obvious that the readout of the digital clock is the 
only light visible, and the rest of the room is in total darkness.

A PHONE RINGS and a light flashes just to the right of the clock.  After the 
second ring, a WOMAN stirs.  Her hand fumbles past the clock and grabs the 
phone.  She answers.

						DANA:
Hello?

A man pants, out of breath, on the other end.

Hello?

						JOSH: (V/O)
Dana...

						DANA:
Josh.

						JOSH: (V/O)
Dana, it backfired.

						DANA:
It what?

						JOSH: (V/O)
It backfired; Corey's still alive.

						DANA:
					(getting up:)
Oh my God...

						JOSH: (V/O)
I'm so sorry Dana; I thought I could take him. (swallows)
But listen, now he knows.

						DANA:
He knows?

						JOSH: (V/O)
He knows the plan, and he knows you were in on it.

Dana leans forward, sighing.  Her SILHOUETTE can be seen faintly through the 
BLINDS in the window behind her.

						JOSH: (V/O)
Listen, what you have to do is get out of there.  Get someplace safe.

						DANA:
But what about-

						JOSH: (V/O)
Don't worry about me; your boyfriend is after you.  Once you know you're safe, 
then give me a call.

						DANA:
OK...

						JOSH: (V/O)
See you soon.

Dana hangs up.  She gets up and opens the closet next to both the DOOR and THE 
LIGHT SWITCH.  The light switch is illuminated, but disappears as Dana opens the 
closet door in front of it and grabs her jacket.  She closes the closet.

From another part of the room, the FLOOR CREAKS.

Dana stops cold.

						DANA:
Corey?

No answer.

Dana puts on her coat.  She opens the door.

The adjoining room is only a little bit brighter than total darkness, but it is 
still bright enough to outline the MAN standing in her doorframe.

Dana GASPS.

The Man THROWS her onto the bed and shuts the door.  He goes to attack her, but 
Dana throws out her foot and KICKS him in the side.  He falls.  Dana gets up and 
starts for the door.

FROM DANA'S POV: The door and the light switch come closer, then shoot skyward 
as the Man clutches her leg and drags her to the ground with him.

Dana thrashes against the Man.  She looks up and pulls the PHONE down on the 
floor with her.  She presses an autodial.  It rings...

						DANA:
Come on, Josh...

Suddenly a cell phone begins ringing, muffled.  Dana turns.

The Man's pants pocket glows green, lit with a cell phone.

						DANA:
No...

She hangs up and the ringing stops.  The Man removes the phone from his pocket 
and slides it to her.  She picks it up.

INSERT OF PHONE: The cell phone's display reads "Josh's Cell."  Dana looks up at 
him.

						DANA:
Josh, why...?

A pause.

						JOSH:
You know, for the longest time I thought I was jealous of Corey.  I wanted to be 
who he was, wanted what he had.  But now that he's dead, I know Corey's nothing 
special.  And neither are you.

Josh lifts Dana and begins to strangle her.  Dana struggles in the darkness.  
Slowly, she reaches down and GRABS THE DIGITAL CLOCK.  She brings it up slowly 
over her head and BASHES JOSH with it.  She breaks free.

Josh pants, looking around for Dana.  Silence.  Then a JINGLING of keys.  Josh 
starts after it.

Dana rushes him at the same instant, spraying him with MACE.  Josh recoils, 
hitting the blinds.  He sends the cord circling around his head.  He grabs 
DANA's wrist.

						JOSH:
Dana...

						DANA:
Let go of me...

She kicks him.  He releases her and she starts for the door.

Josh starts after her, but he TRIPS on the digital clock on the floor.  His feet 
fly from under him, and his neck SNAPS in the blinds.

The blinds race to the top of the window frame as Josh slumps to the floor.  He 
is silent.

Dana waits for a moment.  Wary, she FLICKS ON THE LIGHT.

Josh lies, dead on the floor.

Dana, exhausted, flips off the switch.

BLACK OUT.