Breakdown

EXT. DOWNTOWN BAGODA - DAY

Tom trudges down the street.  The neighborhood is quiet and clean.  It is a sleepy area with few people on the street.  In the distance the SOFT ROAR of the ocean and the distant CALL OF SEA BIRDS can be heard.

Tom approaches a brick building.  A sign out front reads “Bodega Police.”

INT. POLICE STATION

Tom seated at the desk of OFFICER LEARY, a man in his late thirties.  He is athletic but not particularly handsome.

TOM

What about a missing persons report?

OFFICER LEARY

Too soon to file one.

TOM

She hasn’t been missing for twenty-four hours, I know.  I watch movies, too.

(beat)

Maybe I should go back to the gas station and wait.

OFFICER LEARY

Oh, I wouldn’t do that.

TOM

Why not?

OFFICER LEARY

People disappear from there all the time.

(beat)

But there’s nothing to worry about.

TOM

You mean you find them?

OFFICER LEARY

Oh, heavens no.  We’ve never found a single soul.

The sound of a duck QUACKING interrupts the brief silence.  Officer Leary shoots a glance toward the jail cell in the b.g.

TOM

Then what do you recommend I do?

OFFICER LEARY

You need to find a spiritual center.  All of life, it seems, revolves around loss.  This girl . . .

TOM

Denise.

OFFICER LEARY

Denise.  Is it possible for you to envision your life without her?

TOM

It’s only been forty-five minutes since I’ve seen her.

OFFICER LEARY

But it only takes a second for someone to disappear forever.

(beat)

Are you familiar with the teachings of the Reverend Scooby Beschamel?

TOM

(utterly confused)

Who?

OFFICER LEARY

Scooby Beschamel.

He turns a framed photograph on his desk so that it faces Tom.  The photo is of an overly-coiffed man who weighs upwards of three-hundred pounds.

OFFICER LEARY (CONT’D)

Beschamel has this to say about loss--

He is interrupted by a loud series of QUACKS.

He turns toward the jail cell angrily.

OFFICER LEARY (CONT’D)

God damn it, Dennis.  If you can’t keep it down.

More QUACKS.  Officer Leary springs from his chair and takes his nightstick from his belt.

JAIL CELL

A white duck is inside the cell.  Officer Leary rattles his nightstick against the bars as he yells at the duck.

OFFICER LEARY (CONT’D)

(with growing rage)

I’m in the middle of an important conversation here, Dennis.  This man has come to me in need of help and if you don’t have the decency to keep you opinions to yourself, I’m going to have to ask Judge Watson for a transfer to Sunnyvale.  And you know what they do to guys like you in Sunnyvale, don’t you?  Am I being perfectly clear here, Dennis?  Do you comprenday-voo exactly what I’m laying down?

He collects himself and puts his nightstick back on his belt.  He walks calmly back to the desk and sits.

OFFICER LEARY (CONT’D)

Sorry about that.

He cocks his head to indicate the duck’s jail cell.

OFFICER LEARY (CONT’D)

Town drunk.

TOM

Look.  I’m going to be on my way.  I’ll check back in . . .

He consults his watch.

TOM (CONT’D)

Twenty-three hours and seven minutes if I still haven’t found Denise.

Tom stands.  Officer Leary follows suit and stands with military precision.  He offers his hand.  Tom gives it a tentative shake.  Officer Leary responds with enthusiasm.

OFFICER LEARY

It’s been a real honor to meet you, sir.  I wish you the best of luck with your search.  And if there’s anything I can do, I mean anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask.

TOM

Can you help me find my girlfriend?

OFFICER LEARY

Out of the question.  Regulations, you see.  My hands are tied, I’m afraid.  You’ll never see her again, I can assure you.

Tom turns around.  A NERVOUS MAN, gaunt and jittery, is standing directly behind him.  He wears a bucket hat and has a thin mustache.

TOM

Jesus.  You scared me.

NERVOUS MAN

Sorry, so sorry.  Didn’t mean to.

Tom begins to walk toward the door.  The nervous man is ahead of him.

NERVOUS MAN (CONT’D)

(to himself)

Gotta touch the door before I die.  Gotta touch the door before I die.

He reaches the front door and touches it.

NERVOUS MAN (CONT’D)

Too late.  I died.

Tom stops.  Nervous man exits.  Tom turns to Officer Leary, reclining behind his desk.  Officer Leary shrugs.  Tom shakes his head and exits.

EXT. POLICE STATION

Tom exits and descends the steps.  On the sidewalk, lying face down, is the nervous man.  Tom moves toward him.

TOM

Hey.

He puts his hand on his shoulder.

TOM (CONT’D)

Hey there.  Are you all right?

The Nervous Man rolls over.  His hair and mustache are white and his face is that of a corpse that has been withered by centuries of death.

NERVOUS MAN

I died.

Tom backpedals away.  Nervous Man gets up and walks toward him.

NERVOUS MAN (CONT’D)

I didn’t touch the door in time.  You didn’t help me.

Tom begins to walk away.

NERVOUS MAN (CONT’D)

(calling after him)

Wait.  I can help you find your girlfriend.

Tom stops.

TOM

I don’t believe you.

He begins to jog away.

NERVOUS MAN

(calling out)

She lived on a lake.  Every night the mist would rise up and strangle the birds in the trees.

Tom stops.

TOM

How do you know that?

NERVOUS MAN

I was the mist.