Reluctant Party

FADE IN:

EXT. COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND- DAY
An empty park except for three people. One park worker and two hooded men. We only see the backs of the two men sitting on a table. They are both wearing black hoodies, cargo shorts, and flip-flops. Their scythes lay on the freshly cut grass. A loud old lawn mower starts off screen.

TODD(30’S, tall, lanky, with freckles and red shaggy hair) during his off time sits and talks with another death worker. ADAM (40’s chubby, with a dyed blonde goatee).

TODD
So I took my pants off.

Begin Flashback:

INT. CORPORATE OFFICE-DAY
Todd continues to explain his off topic story while we see Todds orientation day of being a new death worker.
Todd walks through various check points of a new death worker orientation, Todd is now in all white scrubs.

ADAM (V.O.)
You took your pants off?
Todd holds onto his jeans as he walks down an all white hallway
TODD (V.O.)
(hesitantly)
Well...yeah.

Death workers they look like normal nurses except in all black scrubs. They examine Todd, they check his eyes, mouth and arm pits.
Todd walks into a giant stadium room and grabs a seat.

ADAM (V.O.)
Who takes their pants off to die?

End flashback.

EXT. COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND- DAY
In the foreground, the park worker mows the giant grass fields, in the scorching heat.

TODD
I didn’t take them off to die. I just thought
(hesitant)
It would feel more comfortable.
ADAM
Yeah, but--

The man mowing the lawn suddenly stops and grabs his chest. The man falls to the ground convulsing, shaking his head vigorously, he starts to foam at the mouth. Gurp. Flurp. Blurpl. Durp.
The man...is stiff as a board.
Todd looks at the dying man stunned.
Adam casually gets up from the table and grabs his scythe.

ADAM
We’re not done with this.
Adam walks towards the deceased man with an annoying long drawn out pace.
Then slowly turns around to look at Todd.
ADAM
No one takes off their pants to die!

Todd doesn’t share the same apathy as Adam; a heart attack like that leaves Todd hyper-ventilating. He gets up and starts to run down the street.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CORPORATE OFFICE-DAY
The poster image in the hallway shows Death in his robes face hidden in shadow. Death is in a captain Morgan stance planting his foot on what looks like his office desk.
Poster title: “I want you to stop giving people the idea of reincarnation. It’s propaganda!”
Todd runs right passed it.

INT. MARABEL’S OFFICE-DAY
Marabel’s office looks like a normal principal office oddly enough, except she has a giant mirror behind her making the room look twice the size. Todd busts open the door and rushes to Marabel planting his hands on the desk.

TODD
You gotta get me the fuck out of here.

MARABEL, DEAD BUT HAPPY is a skeleton with whatever skin she’s sown back on, its a leather-face nightmare, but still somehow gorgeous. Marabel manages to have a full head of white hair that always looks amazing. She doesn’t flinch when Todd causes a ruckus.

MARABEL
(straight faced)
You should’ve thought about that before you died.

Marabel smiles or what resembles a smile.
Todd stares at Marabel annoyed.
Marabel leans back in her chair and sighs.

MARABEL
I can’t help you.
(beat)
The way that you want. But what do you have...two More people today?
(beat)
Maybe one of them will “ascertain” some will for you to enjoy your new job.

Marabel looks at some paperwork.

MARABEL
Oooo...ones a writer...see there ya go!

Marabel closes the file and waves away Todd with it. Todd walks awkwardly out the room.

TODD
Do you still have my pants?

OVER BLACK:

Birds chirp. A sprinkler starts. Leaves rustle.

FADE IN:

EXT. LOWER-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD-DAY
A non-active lower class neighborhood, with off-color lawns, and beat down vehicles parked on grass.
Melvin (45), makes small talk to his wife Gloria (38), in a very depressing tone from inside the house that cant quite be heard.
Melvin opens the door and slowly starts to walk to his red pick-up truck. Melvin looks like a modern day troll, with a bolo tie, and rockin’ a respectable cul-de-sac bald hair do.
Gloria shuffles for the door with frustration, in a bright pink robe, and even brighter pink hair curlers.

GLORIA
Don’t forget the damn kids have practice tonight, don’t get too fucked up.

Todd sits on the porch steps looking at Melvin’s wife in disappointment. They can’t see him.
Melvin nods, dusts off the hood of his truck...proceeds to put on his beat-down red cap, and struggles into the driver’s seat.

TODD (PRE-LAP)
Following him is an empty gesture. Can’t I just assume he’s got a bad case of alcohol poisoning and give him the touch of death?
(beat)
Probably too much paper work.

I/E. MELVINS RED PICK UP TRUCK-DAY
Todd sits in the back seat of the red pick-up truck. Todd’s scythe RATTLES in the truck bed. Eventually the truck pulls up to a run-down bar.

TODD
(to the camera)
A bar solves no problems. The idea that he must “graze” the watering hole in hopes for organization is useless. He is going to drink his lights out, and I have watch that?

Melvin slowly gets out the truck and slams the door shut.
Melvin mumbles to himself something we can’t hear as he walks into the bar.
Todd sees a manuscript on the floor of the truck.
Todd shifts in the back seat of the truck and the sounds of CRUSHING and CRUNCHING water bottles fills the vehicle.

TODD
(to the camera)
...meh...maybe I’ll just stay here...it’s getting cozy.

A water bottle crunches.

TODD
(to the camera)
I’m going to talk to some one tomorrow about my placement.
(looks up thinking to himself)
There’s gotta be a better location. A better region with nice weather. Or at least a partner. Why don’t we have partners? I guess--

Melvin gets thrown out the bar.
THUD.
Todd’s face lights up.
A giant BARTENDER (40s) with two tattoo sleeves walks out of the bar.

BARTENDER
(in a reluctant voice)
3 years, Melvin, 3 years...you gotta pay your tab dude... your smile isn’t enough anymore.

The bartender walks off. SLAMMING the door
Todd says nothing--gives a quick glance at the camera--then slowly watches Melvin struggle to get up and get into his truck.
Melvin looks straight ahead for a beat, then looks in his rearview mirror. Melvin’s eyes meet Todd’s and for a moment Todd believes that he sees him.
Suddenly Melvin starts his car.
Todd snaps out of his gaze and picks up the manuscript, he begins flipping through the pages.

TODD
(looks at the camera)
He must not be a Two-shot-Scott type of fellow.

The truck peels off onto the road and Todd accidentally drops the manuscript.

I/E. MELVIN’S RED PICK UP TRUCK- DAY
Melvin starts driving alarmingly faster.
Todd braces himself for a possible wild turn.

TODD
I—I don’t know where he is going.
(beat)
But DAMN His back seat is overflowing with water bottles.

The truck stops. The manuscript slides under the back seat.

INT. INSIDE PICK UP TRUCK - BEACH - DAY

TODD
(to the camera)
(annoyed)
Fuck is this? Can I go home now?

Melvin takes a deep breath and screams.
Melvin gets out of his truck.
SLAM.
Todd stays in the car for a moment watching Melvin slowly walk to the shore of a lake.

TODD (O.C.)
Well how about this for subverting expectations, a lake.

Todd reaches down looking for the script but cant find it.

TODD
(scoffs, still reaching)
I wish they gave me a rule book.
(beat)
I got the robe, the scythe,

Todd raises his foot to the camera

TODD
These gorgeous sandals,
(struggling)
But no book.

With a grunt, Todd sits back up with the manuscript in his hand and gives a ta-dah hand motion.
(to the camera)
(shrugging)

TODD
I just wanted my jeans back.

Todd sits in silence for a moment looking out the dirty truck window.

TODD
(sighs, then looks at the camera)
I don’t think I can live here for five years.

EXT. LAKE SHORE-DAY
Melvin starts to skip rocks. He tosses one and fails.
SPLUNK.
He raises his hands to the air.

I/E. MELVINS RED PICK UP TRUCK- MID DAY
TODD
(smirks)
I’m supposed to expect a paper soon
Todd shuts his eyes in pain remembering Marabel’s voice.

MARABEL (V.O.)
Don’t worry you’re regional so it shouldn’t be hard
(beat)
Kill em.
(beat)
And move on.
TODD
(bemused)
Worst instructions ever...
(beat)
(to the camera)
Can I at least go somewhere that will have less deaths? 1 to 2 a year... that’s my max

.

Todd shivers at the idea at death while looking at Melvin.

EXT. LAKE SHORE-DAY
Intercut between Lake shore ext and interior of pick up truck.

MELVIN
What makes you So lucky?

Todd amazed, pauses expecting someone to respond.

MELVIN
Mocking me with your bigger responsibilities.

Melvin grabs a bigger rock, tosses it in the lake, and rubs his throwing shoulder.
(grumpy)
(waves his hands in dismiss at the lake)
Ahhh...
End intercut.
Todd steps out the truck. Todd has the manuscript in his hand. As Todd closes the door the script fades away and transports back to it’s original spot.
Todd looks back at the truck.

TODD
No..no..wait. Is it happening? Now?

Todd starts to walk towards Melvin, reaches a hand out then stops.

MELVIN
Something so huge and complex
(scoffs)
Laid upon me..and...and all I can do is envy. What is a lake?

Todd’s fear switches to curiosity.

TODD
Is he talking to me?

In that moment, a family of ducks slowly start to land in the water.
Melvin steps into the lake. He stands there waist-deep.

MELVIN
(dipping his fingers in the water)
Nothing more than a once great glacier, lying dead upon us.

Todd turns around looking clueless.

TODD
(to the camera)
Us?
MELVIN
I’m jealous, yes jealous! I don’t fucken care. I wish
(beat)
I could bring shelter like you do.
(points at the ducks then all around him)
I wish I could provide a good life like you. I wish I could see the responsibilities I have and willfully handle the mundane with fucking goddamn pride.
(scoffs)
Jesus.

TODD
(uncomfortable)
(to the camera)
Christ...
MELVIN
Well lake. Today you’re going to help one more soul.

Melvin slowly walks deeper into the lake.
Neck deep.
Only the bald top of his head is visible now. Then...
Melvin disappears gone into the water.
Bubbles slowly rise to the surface of the water.
Bloop.
It’s like Melvin never existed--fading into a new world.
Todd stands shocked at the shore. His jaw is slightly open. Todd starts to hyperventilate a bit, but he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
Todd Exhales...
Wind picks up forcing Todd to adjust his hoodie.
Todd slowly reaches into his hoodie front pocket and pulls out a small notebook.
The notebook shows Melvins picture he has a big cheesy smile, and looks 20 years younger, but still has that thinning hair.
Todd walks back to Melvin’s truck, its locked now, and looks at his manuscript through the window on the floor.
Todd moves to see a letter opened in the passenger seat.
It’s a letter to a publishing company, and in the first sentence Todd can see it says
Insert: Letter saying “Thank you for your interest in publishing with us, but we will not be moving on with your manuscript. This does not disqualify you from other opportunities but...”
Todd walks briskly away from the truck then stops. Todd looks at Melvin’s picture.
He Lingers on the big cheesy smile.
Then Todd looks out to the lake.
Nothing but a placid lake. The ducks start to fly away.
We can now see behind Todd there is a slightly busy street, a few cars pass by back and forth.
Todd still looks numbly at the lake, but behind him we see a man, walking jovially down the sidewalk in a black hoodie, cargo shorts, and gorgeous flip-flops.
Then another man dressed in a black hoodie slowly walks up to Todd.
It’s Adam.
Adam lets his scythe rest on his shoulder like a baseball bat...he looks at Todd... And wonders what he is looking at then locks his eyes on the lake as well.
Adam lets out a deep sigh, nods slowly, and nudges Todd with his scythe.
Todd looks at Adam and then his notebook again. Then the truck. Then the notebook.
Melvin’s smile glares right back at Todd.
Todd signs at the bottom of the death re-po form, and flips the page to another person.
Todd and Adam walk away together in stride.

ADAM
So did you not have underwear on too? Or...?

Todd gives Adam an annoyed look then laughs.
They laugh together. Another death worker walks passed them and nods. Then another.
Todd looks across the street to see another death worker slowly walking into a house.
Death workers walk all around town filling cars, business, and sidewalks.

FADE TO BLACK:

THE END.