《H*llmark: But Murder and Aliens》Scene 2 - Chris: Janitor's Report
Advertisement
INT. HUMAN CITY A POLICE PRECINCT - LATER
A distraught man in a sweaty janitor's uniform bursts into the lobby of the police precinct of Human City A. JANITOR BOB (53, balding) rushes to the reception desk. The receptionist, OFFICER KAREN BRUBERT (36, blonde), looks down her nose at him.
OFFICER BRUBERT
(annoyed)
Can I help you, sir?
JANITOR BOB
(panting)
I'd like...gasp...to...report-hah-a crime!
OFFICER BRUBERT
Right...Why didn't you just call 911?
JANITOR BOB
I-I left my phone. Back-back at the office where the, where the...
OFFICER BRUBERT
Where the what, sir?
JANITOR BOB
The slime ball alien thing took over my boss!
Officer Brubert blinks at him. After a moment of prolonged silence, she sighs and presses a button underneath her desk. She leans into a microphone.
OFFICER BRUBERT
Security, we have a code coco in the lobby-
Janitor Bob lurches over the reception desk, covering the mic with his hand.
JANITOR BOB
W-wait! I'm not lying! It really happened, I swear! Please, you gotta get somebody, that thing could be comin' for us all-
OFFICER BRUBERT
(angry)
Sir!
JANITOR BOB
(embarrassed)
S-sorry.
He pulls his hand back.
JANITOR BOB
But, please, you've got to believe me! There's a monster out there!
A well-decorated officer, DETECTIVE CHRIS (32, handsome) enters from a nearby hallway. He's buttoning his detective coat over a starched button down shirt and a bright red tie. Seeing the commotion by the front desk, he ventures closer, frowning.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(concerned)
Is there a problem?
Officer Brubert and Janitor Bob both turn to face him. As the noise crescendos, Detective Chris raises a hand.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
One at a time, please. Officer Brubert, you first.
OFFICER BRUBERT
This man-
Officer Brubert points at Janitor Bob.
OFFICER BRUBERT
Came into this precinct and started jabbering nonsense about his boss being abducted by aliens or something-
Advertisement
JANITOR BOB
(offended)
It's not nonsense!
OFFICER BRUBERT
Oh, please-
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Officer Brubert, you know we take every report made to this precinct seriously.
OFFICER BRUBERT
(scoffing)
With all due respect, detective, you can't seriously think that this craziness is worth humoring!
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Well, why not?
OFFICER BRUBERT
(sputtering)
Wh-what-This is a police precinct, not some psych ward! We are busy around the clock!
Chris looks around. Aside from the three of them, the precinct is empty. He turns to Janitor Bob with a smile.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(kind)
I think we've got enough time to hear you out, sir. What's the issue? And can I get your name?
The janitor slightly relaxes his shoulders.
JANITOR BOB
Bob, sir. Thank you for givin' me the time o' day...Er, night.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
No worries. It's my job. Why don't you tell me about this report of yours?
(to Officer Brubert)
Make sure you get this down. As an *official* report.
OFFICER BRUBERT
(sighing)
Yes, sir.
When she starts typing on a hidden keyboard, Detective Chris gestures toward Janitor Bob.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Tell me what happened. Who was there?
JANITOR BOB
Well, it was just me, Ms. Smith, and her client. Something Roberts. Can't remember her first name.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
I see...And, Ms. Smith, this is...The owner of Smith's Law Firm? Rebekah Smith?
JANITOR BOB
(nodding)
The very same, sir. She, uh...Well, she's the reason I'm here tonight.
The detective frowns and glances over at Officer Brubert. She's spacing out, idly picking at her nails. Chris clears his throat, glaring. Flushing ever so slightly, Officer Brubert begins typing again.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
What happened to Ms. Smith, Mr. Bob?
JANITOR BOB
(pained)
Well, that's just the thing. I don't...know.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(sighing)
Sir, you can't just come in here claiming something terrible had happened to your employer - who happened to be one of the most renowned lawyers in all of Human City A - and then say you don't know.
Advertisement
OFFICER BRUBERT
(smirking)
Told you...
The detective grimaces, but doesn't reprimand her.
JANITOR BOB
W-well, it's not that I don't know, it's just...I'm a little confused, is all. You see, what happened to Ms. Smith...it wasn't natural.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Let's get to the point. Are you saying she was murdered? Did somebody-
Janitor Bob shakes his head roughly.
JANITOR BOB
Nothin' like that, sir. She was-she was...
He leans forward.
JANITOR BOB
(quietly)
Possessed.
Detective Chris pulls back, drawing himself up. A look of anger and indigence flashes over his face.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(angry)
A ghost call?
JANITOR BOB
I'm tellin' the truth! I was walkin' by her office when I saw her scream and then this *thing* jumped into her mouth-
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Oh, that’s enough.
Detective Chris grabs Janitor Bob by the arm and starts dragging him toward the front door. Officer Brubert shakes her head as she watches them go.
OFFICER BRUBERT
(muttering)
Thought every report was worth listening to...
Janitor Bob protests, trying and failing to dislodge his arm.
JANITOR BOB
Please, you've got to believe me! She went and killed that girl! She could be anywhere now!
Detective Chris pauses. Janitor Bob nearly slams into him, unbalanced. Janitor Bob gingerly pulls his arm away and rubs it.
JANITOR BOB
She was like some sort of monster, stretching out like cheese. Got her hooks real good into that poor girl. Smiled at her dying body, that horrible thing.
Detective Chris turns around. He steps closer to Janitor Bob in a mildly threatening manner, his face calm yet stern. Janitor Bob retreats half a step, cowering.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
So you're telling me that a respected lawyer who's worked tirelessly for 7 years to make this city a better place is a murderer?
JANITOR BOB
(shaking his head)
No, sir. I've known Ms. Smith a long while. She wouldn't do somethin' like that. It was...it was that *thing* that got up inside of her.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(snarling)
Get out!
Janitor Bob quickly rushes past the detective, scurrying out of the precinct. Sighing, Detective Chris looks up at Officer Brubert.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(tiredly)
Did you get any of that?
OFFICER BRUBERT
(incredulous)
Yes, sir, I did. But...are you really going to...?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
I have to try...I've known Becca-Ms. Smith ever since we were kids. If something happened...
He trails off, looking into the distance.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Send the file to my computer, Brubert. I'll be back.
OFFICER BRUBERT
Where are you going?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
To check things out for myself.
The detective buttons up his coat fully before exiting the precinct.
Officer Brubert sighs.
OFFICER BRUBERT
I'm never taking the night shift again.
Advertisement
- In Serial880 Chapters
The Sovereign's Ascension
As a lawyer back on earth, Lin Yun had never lost a case. He owed his success to three things: two blessings he received at birth (a photographic memory and the ability to comprehend anything he studies) and an indomitable will he forged himself.While on a trip in Shandong province, he decided he would pay a visit to Mt. Tai. Just as he was cresting the peak, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and his vision went black.Upon waking up, he found himself in the world of Profound Amber occupying the body of a sword slave who had shared his name. The last thing he remembered before dying was the image of a sword piercing his chest.Through the memories his body retained the sword slave’s life, Lin Yun came to understand the brutality of this world. If he sought respect, he would have to earn it through strength. The weak found no compassion here.Refusing to leave his fate in the hands of others, Lin Yun set out to become a sovereign. No man or beast would stop him from achieving his destiny.With his sword in hand, he would overcome any obstacle.
8 8624 - In Serial49 Chapters
The Syndicate
For as long as he can remember, Ronnie Nolan has loved superheroes. He’s inspired by their feats of heroism, and still has a sense of awe every time he sees one spring into action. After a violent event awakens abilities in Ronnie, he’s given the opportunity to join the Syndicate of Heroes, the organization he has always admired.Taran Webber grew up as superhero royalty, and saving the world is in his DNA. He strives every day to be stronger, faster, and better than before. He’s committed to the cause and no stranger to sacrificing for the greater good. But at what cost? When a disaster strikes the inner workings of The Syndicate, Ronnie and Taran will need to work together with their friends to save the day. (This book contains LGBT themes, violence, and a brief depiction of assault)
8 190 - In Serial9 Chapters
A Titan's Crusade
Erik Thayne spent most of his life being brutally ridiculed and tormented for his weight and physical appearance, among other things. A social pariah and diagnosed with an eating disorder no one has an explanation or treatment for, Erik spent years trying to overcome his issues with his personal image and escape the ridicule and vicious torment of his peers. After years of dedicated effort, and a fresh start in a town away from his childhood and adolescent tormentors, he had finally begun to truly realize what he'd been striving for all along. Only, fate apparently has other plans because in the blink of an eye, Erik found himself snatched from Earth and taken to another universe, another world, where he is offered the chance to be more than he'd ever imagined. Now, he has to fight to restore the Balance between Chaos and Order on a world of swords and magic, in a universe governed by the System's laws, which resemble those of RPGs from Earth. Erik learned to embrace the things about himself that others taught him to hate, using them to reforge his physical identity into something more removed from his old self-loathing. But can he learn to embrace the darkest parts of his mind just as he did the reviled aspects of his body and become who he needs to be to succeed in the task set before him? It might just prove easier to stalk in the dark as a monster than to walk in the light as a man... *This is my first time publishing anything I've written to a public audience. Due to formatting issues, I forwent traditional stat-screens for something a little less problematic, delineating stat screens by separating them from regular text with horizontal lines in a lighter-grey coloration. Let me know if you like them or not. Criticism is entirely welcome, but please don't hate on my work after only reading 1 chapter. This is a writing project I intend to complete but I have committment problems so we'll see how long this goes on. Also, fair warning, as the description implies, the main protagonist is intended to be someone who has been treated cruelly, developed antisocial tendencies, and ultimately has to question his own humanity--or lack thereof. This story is not intended to be brutally dark but I will definitely be trying to follow a darker theme. It is intended to be violent and some scenes later in the story might be...alarming. There will likely also be some light, non-graphic (think more implied with crude jokes and conversation than actual details, there will be no full-blown sex scenes)relationship scenes planned later and if you're opposed to either a bisexual or gay main character, stay away. I haven't yet decided which way he's going to swing but the odds on him being straight are relatively miniscule, and I've always wanted to write a story about a gay man who basically looks like a lumberjack because who doesn't like giving conventional stereo-types the middle finger? This will NOT be a harem story, and I have no intention to focus on romance over action--it's a consequence of character development where I'm concerned, not the be-all-end-all of the story. The cover-art does not, in any way, belong to me. It was an image titled the Druid King (by duskanmarkovic according to the file name) which I found on Google Images. Until I can get something commissioned, this is the best stand-in image I could find.
8 106 - In Serial32 Chapters
One Septendecillion Brass Doorknobs
The cogs and circuits of the great machine of inter-connectedness are once again in motion. A Thing is missing. In fact, several things are missing, and they have to be returned to their rightful owners. After a whole month of peace and quiet, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency has two whole new cases to solve. And what a fine pair of cases they are. The journey will start close to home and venture beyond the Earth, far into the cosmos. It will connect an old professor (and his young friend), a paranoid billionaire, world’s worst mercenary and a band of mysterious twenty-somethings in a cool van. Yes, the Rowdy Three are also there. Yes, there is more than one cool van in this book. (You can’t go wrong with a cool van) Read on to discover more of Dirk’s past and Amanda’s future, of the successes and errors of Black Wing supervisor Adams, of unspoken feelings and disappearing music boxes and meanings lost in translation. Oh, and could there be someone watching this all from behind the reality curtains?.. [This is my version of DGHDA Season 3, written not as an imitation but as a tribute to Douglas Adams’s Dirk Gently novels. Yes, it is full novel length. You have been warned…]
8 134 - In Serial79 Chapters
WTF
When This Fella Went To Fight With This Fish What They Found Was That Friendship Was The Force Which Tethered Fates Warmly Together Forever. It's about magical fish, magical dudes, destiny, love, gang fights, cults, and aliens. Title says it all. A rewrite of an idea I started during writathon. Enjoy!
8 108 - In Serial3 Chapters
Kehidupan Sempurna
Simpang siur kehidupan dan mencari erti kasih sayang yang sebenar. Ada kalanya cinta itu hadir tanpa dipaksa dan ada kalanya datang kerana dipaksa. Dan cinta yang sempurna akan datang dan tidak akan pergi dan itu juga sebaliknya.
8 155
Prev Chap
Next Chap
Chap List
Boy
Girl
