Blogs » "Termination by Medicaton"
"Termination by Medicaton"
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TERMINATION BY MEDICATION
by
David Eby
223 E. Main St.
Terre Hill, Pa 17581
(717) 519-7624
dmeby11@gmail.com
TERMINATION BY MEDICATION
FADE IN:INT. TARGET HOUSE - NIGHT
A lean 17 year old is tied up with with a burlap bag forced
over his head. He is weakly struggling with the ropes on a
tall metal stool only illuminated by a single bulb in a
dimly lit basement.
The 17 year old EVAN LAUNCHER sits in darkness. Fear grips
him.
Dust and dirt choke the room. Plaster is ripped from the
wall, strewn over the drab cement floor. We see his
attacker watching Evan's every move from a dark corner of
the basement.
The masked man strides toward Evan. Evan instinctively
stops straining against his ropes, sensing someone is
coming.
EVAN
Why are you doing this!
The man laughs and cocks his gun, smirking. Evan strugglesand twists against his ropes, yelling in horror.
EXT. STREET - DAY
EVAN and his "friend" TYSON walk home from school. Evan is
irritated, as if Tyson's very presence annoys him.
It's cold, grey and overcast. Wind gusts endlessly swirl
leaves up the sidewalk. Evan shoves his hands deep in his
coat pockets.
EVAN
I've been looking forward to this
break for so long.
TYSON
Yea.
Evan grudgingly decides to make more small talk.
EVAN
Were you at the game last night?
2.
Tyson's shakes his head no, his gaze returns to the
sidewalk.
EVAN
(smiling)
Ah it was great.
(beat)
Two overtimes.
A truck rumbles by with high school kids hanging out the
window and several in the back.
EVAN
(to the truck)
Yo what up!
The kids in the truck jokingly flick off Evan, going crazy.
The truck roars past them, beeping the horn and yelling.
Evan and Tyson walk by a restaurant that looks like it has
been abandoned for months.
EVAN
Hey what's that doing there?
TYSON
The building?
EVAN
No..over there.
A conspicuously hid bag is seen stashed under some benches.
Despite the persons attempt at hiding it, the bag still
sticks out like a sore thumb.
EVAN
(squints)
Let's check it out.
Evan is intrigued, and eagerly makes his way toward the
duffel bag.
EXT. ABANDONED RESTAURANT - DAY
Evan starts heading across the parking lot leaving Tyson on
the sidewalk, assessing the situation.
EVAN
(shouts over
shoulder)
Come on'
3.
Tyson glances back toward the sidewalk.
TYSON
It's getting dark.
Tyson frowns and shrugs, running to catch up with Evan who
is already at the duffel bag on the other side of the
parking lot.
TYSON
What.
Evan crouches over the duffel bag, starting to open it.
Tyson stands nearby shaking his head.
TYSON
What is all this!
Evan opens up the blood stained duffel bag to reveal dark
clothing, a gun, and paper with list of addresses.
EVAN
Wow..I don't know.
(beat)
Let's get out of here. This is
creepy.
TYSON
Hey what's that?
(beat)
Let me see that.
Evan hands Tyson the paper with the list of addresses. The
first two have been crossed off.
EVAN
(standing up)
They seem familiar for some
reason.
EVAN (CONT'D)
Yea! Those two missing person
cases..it was at those houses! I
think the case was closed or
something.
TYSON
I don't know. This is so weird.
Tyson stealthy pockets the paper of addresses, while Evan is
busy zipping up the duffel bag.
4.
EVAN
Let's go.
Evan and Tyson head across the abandoned parking lot. Tyson
gives the duffel bag one last look before they reach the
sidewalk.
EVAN
(reflecting)
That's strange.
Evan and Tyson part ways.
EXT. RANDYS HOUSE - NIGHT
Establishing shot. Teenagers are everywhere. Four kids are
seen carrying a keg into the house.
INT. RANDYS HOUSE - NIGHT
Neon lights illuminate a room full of partying kids. Kids
grind and dance to blaring music. The football "jocks" all
hang around the keg at one end of the room.
Evan is among them, blowing off steam about his "girlfriend"
who is seen chatting with friends in the other corner.
EVAN
She didn't even tell me, I found
out by Kayla the next day.
(long beat)
Fuckin' whore.
Evan takes a long sip from his beer.
Girls are seen dancing and grinding on each other, laughing.
RANDY
Forget her. Look around you.
Evan smiles and nods in agreement.
SHOT MONTAGE:
Various girls are seen dancing and grinding to the beat.
Evan's girlfriend looks at the girls with a sickening look.
The camera pans over to Evan and his friends, checking out
the scene. We see more people joining the party.
Evan grinds up on a girl right in front of his "girlfriend."
5.
ASHLEY looks with disgust at Evan, and pushes her way
through the crowd. Her friends follow her out.
EXT. RANDYS HOUSE - NIGHT
Establishing shot of house. The party has died down, and
several people can be seen leaving.
INT. TYSONS HOUSE - DAY
Evan slowly pulls up and parks beside Tyson's house. He
knocks at the door and a very surprised Tyson comes and lets
him in.
TYSON
Hey. Come in.
Tyson was watching the History Channel and it's droning on
about life and society in the Middle Ages.
DREW MCKNIGHT
(on TV)
And as the Black Death continued
to decimate rural towns and
villages; trade, and Europe's
economy seemed to come to a stand
still. One local..
Tyson turns off the TV and they both sit down in the living
room.
EVAN
Aw you got rid of your 64?
TYSON
Yea..like 3 years ago.
EVAN
Ohh.
Evan is trying his best to fight the awkward tension quickly
filling up the room.
EVAN
So I was thinking maybe you and I
could try and find out what this
whole thing is really about?
Tyson stares at his cell phone, as if the answer to Evan's
question was on his cell phone screen.
6.
EVAN (CONT'D)
We could stake out the bag, and
see if anyone comes for it.
EVAN (CONT'D)
It's probably pointless, but
something just doesn't seem right
about this whole thing.
TYSONS GRANDMA
(from next room)
Tyson. Time for your medicine.
TYSON
Grandma! Okay, sure.
EVAN
Oh do you have that report for Geo
by any chance?
Tyson walks into kitchen where his grandma is.
TYSON
(shouts)
Yea in my room. Up the steps,
first door on the right.
Evan pauses at the top of the steps, suddenly fearful and
anxious. Tyson's voice can no longer be heard from the
kitchen.
FLASHBACK:
We see a very young Evan peering up in fear at the stairs.
He takes a few steps.
A dark figure is seen at the top of the stairs. Young Evan
turns and runs out of the house.
Flashbacks end. Evan hasn't moved from the top of the
steps.
INT. TYSONS ROOM - DAY
Evan opens Tyson's door and immediately recoils. The
ceiling fan is slowly rotating, endlessly stirring up bits
of torn paper littered throughout the room. Candles are
seen burning throughout the room.
Evan shakes his head in confusion.
7.
Strange gratified symbols are drawn on the walls in black
marker. Evan slowly picks his way through the room to
Tyson's dresser. Papers and letters are heaped on top of
it, rustling slightly every now and then from the fan.
Numerous pills and small, orange medication bottles are
strewn about the dresser. Lithium, and other neuroleptic
drugs are clearly seen.
Evan begins picking up some letters from the dresser and
starts reading them. We see that the writing is very messy
and written in diary form by Tyson.
Tyson steps through the door and watches Evan for several
seconds before Evan realizes it.
TYSON
Can I help you?
Startled, Evan whirls around to see Tyson watching him. Evan
hastily tosses the letter onto the dresser.
TYSON
(smirking)
It's therapeutic.
EVAN
What the hell do you do in here?
(beat)
And what are all these..
TYSON
Sacrifice dead chickens to the
gods.
Evan ignores Tyson's comment and walks over to a grouping of
candles and smells them.
EVAN
(provoking Tyson)
Goatblood Butterscotch..nice.
Irritated, Tyson tosses the report to Evan, then slumps down
behind his computer.
Evan turns and stares at the strange symbols drawn on the
walls.
EVAN
Whatever dude.
Tyson doesn't say anything, pretending Evan isn't there.
8.
EXT. ABANDONED RESTAURANT - DAY
Evan and Tyson silently walk to the abandoned restaurant.
The sun can be seen grudgingly slipping past the horizon,
bathing the town in a warm, orange glow.
Evan sighs, wondering why he still agreed to do this.
TYSON
Those pills are just for headaches
I get sometimes.
EVAN
(starts to jog)
Lithium?
(beat)
Follow me.
Evan starts heading across parking lot toward the duffel
bag.
Tyson runs up to catch up with Evan. Evan crouches behind
some dumpsters on the other end of parking lot, and motions
for Tyson to do the same.
Tyson decides to hide out several feet behind Evan where the
parking lot meets the surrounding wooded area. Both settle
down and wait..
A cell phone ring cuts through the silence, making both boys
jump.
TYSON
(on the phone)
Yea...now? Okay....no sure
whatever it's no problem..Bye.
TYSON
That was my grandma..I have to
quick run home for a bit, but I'll
be back.
Before Evan can respond, Tyson jogs across the parking lot
to his house. Evan watches him go, vowing this is the last
thing he ever does with Tyson.
Evan, crouching at the fringes of the woods, continues to
squint in the direction of the duffel bag, now fast
disappearing in the fading light.
Evan punches the dumpster.
9.
EVAN
What the fuck is wrong with me.
A slight rustle. Evan whirls around, his entire body tense.
Evan strains to see against the darkness. A branch snaps
behind him. Too late..
Bang!
Evan crumples to the pavement. A dark figure rushes past
Evan's crumpled body and grabs the duffel bag.
EXT. ABANDONED RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Evan lays unconscious beside the dumpsters. Tyson is seen
walking back toward Evan. He notices Evans lifeless body
sprawled out on the parking lot, and sprints toward him.
Tyson kneels beside Evan and tries to cautiously shake him
awake.
TYSON
Evan..Evan...
Evan gently stirs, sits up and groans, leaning against the
dumpster.
(long beat)
Evan looks up at Tyson crouching over him.
EVAN
(wincing)
Hey..what took you so long?
TYSON
I got held up..but we should get
you home.
EVAN
This is bad.
Evan is now visibly grateful for Tyson's company.
EVAN
This is crazy.
(beat)
I don't know.
Evan shakes his head.
10.
TYSON
So did you happen to see who did
this to you?
EVAN
No.
TYSON
Not even a glance or your just not
sure?
EVAN
I don't know, I was sitting there,
and then all of a sudden it
happened.
Tyson helps up Evan, and they both walk slowly across the
parking lot.
Evan is regaining consciousness, still a little foggy.
EVAN
Remember Harvey's place on
Haloween 3 years ago?
TYSON
(chuckling)
Oh yeah.
(long beat)
EVAN
I wish this was a practical joke.
Evan and Tyson reach the sidewalk.
EVAN
Mind if I stop by tomorrow
sometime?
TYSON
Sure.
Evan shakily makes his way home. Tyson continues on to his
house several streets down from Evan's.
INT. TYSONS HOUSE - DAY
Evan arrives at Tyson's and without hesitation lets himself
in.
11.
Evan limps to the Living Room where Tyson is half
sitting-half laying on the sofa, watching the History
channel.
EVAN
Hey..What's up.
Tyson turns off the TV and motions for Evan to come sit
down.
TYSON
How are ya feeling?
EVAN
(grinning slightly)
A lot better.
(beat)
So I called the cops about..
Tyson sits up straight in his seat.
TYSON
(gripping his
chair)
You what?
EVAN
Called the cops.
TYSON
Why'd you do that?
TYSON (CONT'D)
The cops don't need to know.
EVAN
Well they couldn't do anything
anyway.
(beat)
Fuckin' thought I was making shit
up.
Tyson is visibly relieved, and leans back in his chair.
TYSON
So what now?
EVAN
(looking around)
Is your grandma away?
TYSON
Yea..for the weekend.
12.
EVAN
Oh..yet she called you last night?
TYSON
Yea she left this morning.
EVAN
Oh okay.
TYSON
I guess we can't do much else
then.
(beat)
EVAN
(frowns)
Nah.
Tyson nods and turns on the History Channel again. Evan
stares at the TV in a daze, then slowly gets up.
EVAN
See ya.
Evan leaves Tyson's house, and several seconds later, his
dark blue Camaro is seen leaving the driveway.
Title: One Month Later
EXT. LOCKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
Establishing shot of school. It's a hot, lazy mid
afternoon. Kids miserably trudge to class.
INT. CLASSROOM - MOMENTS LATER - DAY
Students slowly make their way in and sit down. Evan, Randy
and some other football players take the back row.
The teacher starts calling off names.
TEACHER
Marsha.
MARSHA
(overly excited)
Here!
TEACHER
Anthony.
13.
ANTHONY
Yea.
Evan and Randy burst up laughing at something, drawing the
teachers attention.
TEACHER
(cautioning)
Boys.
The teacher looks down at her podium and continues
attendance.
TEACHER
Randy.
RANDY
You look fine today ma'm.
Muffled laughing is heard scattered throughout the room. The
teacher doesn't look up from the podium.
TEACHER
Christine.
CHRISTINE
Here.
The teacher looks up from the podium searching the room.
TEACHER
Tyson..?
(beat)
Evan do you happen to know if he
dropped?
At the name of Tyson, several girls try to hold back from
laughing.
Evan's face turns bright red, not knowing what to say.
EVAN
Umm..no, I don't know.
We see Randy and his other friends give him quizzical looks.
INT. EVAN'S CAR - NIGHT
It's evening and Evan is driving to the movies. It's
steadily raining, with ominous dark storm clouds lurking on
the horizon.
14.
The steady pounding of the rain, and wiper blades against
the windshield is interrupted by a cell phone ring. We see
that Randy is the one calling.
EVAN
(on the phone)
Hey what's up?
RANDY
(on the phone)
Yo.. we just got here. We're
gonna be in the lobby.
EVAN
(on the phone)
Okay sounds good. I'll be there
in like 5 minutes.
RANDY
(laughing)
Say hi to Tyson for me.
EVAN
Shut up. That was one day.
RANDY
(on the phone)
Whatever, I'll see ya soon.
EXT. MOVIE THEATER - NIGHT
Evan pulls into the movie complex parking lot. The downpour
hasn't let up. People run frantically to and from their
cars.
Evan dashes to the front entrance.
INT. MOVIE THEATER - LATER - NIGHT
Evan, Randy and four of their friends are seen coming out of
their movie laughing and joking around.
RANDY
(saying to no one
in particular)
Yea I know. It'd be nice to see
Tom Cruise play a normal role for
once.
The group ambles to the lobby. The two girls head for the
restroom, while the guys wait in the lobby.
15.
Evan walks over to a TV monitor, watching a trailer for an
upcoming release. Randy joins him.
EVAN
That's sick.
Both continue to watch the trailer in silence.
RANDY
(troubled)
Hey that whole thing last
month..what exactly happened with
that.
EVAN
(laughing)
What you want Tyson's number?
Randy isn't in a joking mood.
EVAN (CONT'D)
It was nothing really.
Flashbacks of the duffel bag incident with Evan and Tyson.
We see the duffel bag..a hidden beauty about it.
EVAN (vo)
There it was. All alone. I
couldn't help myself.
Evan and Tyson peer into the duffel bag, like kids looking
into a candy jar.
EVAN (vo)
It was wrong. Something was
wrong.
A dark figure sneaks up on a frustrated Evan.
EVAN (vo)
I was helpless.
We see Tyson running towards Evan in slow motion.
The flashbacks end, and were back in the movie theater.
RANDY
You know Greg, right?
EVAN
Your cousin, up on Maple?
16.
RANDY
Yea. He's been missing since
yesterday afternoon.
(long beat)
Those bodies were found within
days.
Evan lets this sink in.
EVAN
(angry)
I should have done something.
(beat)
All the fuckin' evidence was there
in that bag.
Evan walks over to the wall and smacks his hand against it.
RANDY
It's not your fault.
(long beat)
Fuck this.
Evan and Randy silently stare at the TV screen.
The two girls come out of the bathroom giddily laughing and
join the other guys in the lobby. The group motions to Evan
and Randy from across the lobby that they're ready to leave.
INT. EVAN'S HOUSE - LATER - NIGHT
Evan is in his room. It's dark. His laptop reveals an
intense and physically exhausted Evan.
Evan begins typing, bringing up pictures of aerial maps and
photos of Lockwood. Also on his screen is news footage from
the infamous missing persons case months ago.
Evan leans back and wearily rubs his eyes.
He stares at the ceiling for several seconds then an idea
dawns on him. He leans forward, rubbing the sleep from his
eyes.
EVAN
(whispers)
It's a pattern..
Evan flips through some papers on his messy desk. Addresses
from the missing persons case and Greg's address are
scribbled on a paper.
17.
We see Evan write 212 New Street and circle it.
Evan excitedly picks up his cell phone and dials Randy's
number. Randy doesn't pick up, so Evan grudgingly decides
to leave a message.
EVAN
(on phone)
Hey. I figured some stuff out
that might interest you. We don't
have much time.
Evan pauses slightly, gathering his thoughts.
EVAN
(on the phone)
Call me as soon as you get this.
Evan, exhausted but satisfied, closes his computer and flops
to bed.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Evan discretely pulls up several houses down from the target
house. We see that it's 212 New Street. He slips on
sunglasses, and reclines in the driver seat.
Hours pass, and darkness settles in. Evan is about to give
up when a figure is seen sprinting down the sidewalk in the
direction of Evan's car.
Evan straightens up, peering over the windshield.
The sprinter dashes past Evan's car, and continues up the
street. The street lights cast symmetrical splashes of
orange against the dark street.
A pin drop could be heard on the deathly quiet street. The
dark, empty houses all seem to eerily stare down at Evan in
his car.
Just as his hand is going up to start his car he freezes. A
figure can be seen scrambling up to the house.
EVAN
(whispers)
This is it.
Like a cat on a hunt, Evan slips out of his car, resting the
door against the hinge. Taking a deep breath, he slowly
makes his way to 212 New Street.
18.
EXT. TARGET HOUSE - NIGHT
Evan carefully picks his way through the dark and forlorn
street. He peeks out behind a tree at the target house,
which is now directly across the street from him.
He dashes across the exposed street, adrenaline pumping, and
quickly moves to the back of the house. Evan tiptoes around
to the cellar door.
Somethings not right. Evan frantically turns from side to
side.
Nothing.
As Evan reaches for the cellar door, a shadow slowly creeps
over the door. Evan freezes, paralyzed with fear.
Before Evan can react, a burlap bag is forced over his head.
Evan immediately recoils from the pungent smell but is
unconscious seconds later.
INT. TARGET HOUSE - NIGHT
Evan is dragged down the cellar and into a dimly lit
basement.
The masked man ties Evan to a stool, gags him and steps back
into the shadows of the spacious basement.
Evan begins to stir and tries to weakly struggle against his
ropes.
The masked man strides toward Evan. Evan instinctively
stops straining against his ropes, sensing someone is
coming.
EVAN
Why are you doing this!
The masked man laughs and cocks his gun, smirking. Evan
struggles against his ropes and screams in anguish.
EVAN
You won't get away with this. Just
let me go!
The masked man rips off the burlap bag over Evan's head. He
circles around Evan cocking his gun.
19.
Evan erupts into a coughing fit, then hungrily takes several
long breaths of air, taking in his surroundings.
Tyson stops, turning to face Evan, and takes off his mask.
Evan recoils instantly. A wave of nausea, rage, and
bewilderment sweeping over him.
EVAN
Ty..Tyson?
Tyson erupts into a psychotic laugh.
EVAN
You?
(long beat)
All of it was you?
TYSON
You just couldn't help yourself.
(beat)
Fucking Curious George.
EVAN
(trying to stay
calm)
Tyson wha..
TYSON
(enraged)
Shut up!
TYSON (CONT'D)
Look around you. I'm in control
now. I make the decisions!
EVAN
Relax...calm down, I just wanna
figure out what's going on here.
Those pills weren't for headaches
were they?
(long beat)
Of course they weren't.
Tyson explodes in rage, unloading six bullets point blank
into Evan's chest. Evan gets thrown back in the stool, with
the ropes holding up his sagging body.
Tyson remains emotionless. Staring at Evan's body as if it
were nothing more than a piece of furniture.
Tyson slowly shuffles out of the blood soaked basement.
20.
INT. TYSONS ROOM - DAY
It's the next morning. It's very cheerful and bright with
birds chirping in the distance. Tyson is seen on his bed,
very still, laying face down, naked.
Dried up foam is seen at the corners of his mouth. His body
has an unnatural bluish hue to it.
There are numerous prescription medication bottles and pills
laying on Tyson's body and on the bed around him.
It is apparent that he overdosed on his prescription drugs
and died sometime in the night.
SHOT MONTAGE:
A graveside service. High school kids are uncontrollably
sobbing. Everyone is emotional. We see that its for Evan.
Ashley, Evan's "girlfriend" cries bitterly in her pillow in
her room.
Three football players silently pass around a bottle of
Vodka in a parking lot.
Randy lays awake in bed. Lost. Confused. Detached.
Camera slowly zooms unto Tyson's face. It's perfectly
serene and peaceful. An "amused" look can almost be seen.
FADE OUT.