    
Pepper Writing Co.
|
In
the Eyes of a Neon Tetra
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE - MORNING
J.C. STARR, 20, stands behind a desk in a run-down office. There is
a long line-up of people. A sign reads "Claims Department." MRS. STAMFORD
leans over the counter.
Mrs. Stamford (loud) J.C. Mrs. Stamford (interrupting) J.C. A SKINNY MAN approaches the counter. He coughs and spit shoots out at
J.C.
Skinny man J.C. Skinny man He coughs and spits again. JC gives him a form.
J.C. A VERY LARGE MAN steps up. In slow-motion, he reaches out his hand towards
her shirt. J.C. steps back. His arm stretches closer. J.C. steps back
further. The hand stretches closer. J.C. trips and knocks over a cup of
coffee.
MRS OLIVE, her supervisor, looks up.
Mrs. Olive INT. BUS - 5 PM
On a packed bus, J.C. hangs onto a railing. A LITTLE BOY holds his MOTHER'S
knee next to her. The SOUND of WATER is heard. J.C. looks down. The boy
has peed on her shoe.
EXT. J.C.'S APARTMENT - MINUTES LATER
J.C. walks up the steps of a low-rise building. She passes ROLF THE ROCKER,
an oversized Scandinavian. He is rifling through dot matrix computer printouts.
INT. J.C.'S LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
JAMES LOCK lies on an old couch, watching fish in an aquarium. In the
corner NINKA KERCHEV, J.C.'s grandmother, rocks in a rocking chair. The
only decoration is a large poster of Siberia.
J.C. enters, holding her shoe. She dumps it in the garbage can.
J.C. (to Ninka) Ninka keeps rocking.
J.C. She sinks into a chair.
James J.C. James J.C. James J.C. throws them at him.
James J.C. James J.C. James shrugs, watching the fish.
J.C. James J.C. They look over at Ninka, still rocking in her rocking chair. Ninka lets
out a fart.
J.C. She heads to the kitchen. The SOUND of CUPBOARDS OPENING AND CLOSING
is heard.
James looks out the window.
EXT. STREET - SAME TIME
Rolf the Rocker strides down the street towards a phone booth. He pushes
open the doors. One swings back in his face.
INT. KITCHEN - SAME TIME
J.C. rams carrots down a juicer. The NOISE is like an electric DRILL.
INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME James J.C. enters with a glass of carrot juice. She takes a big gulp.
James J.C. chokes on the juice.
James J.C. James J.C. James They both look over at Ninka, rocking in her chair.
J.C. James (whispering) He clutches it.
J.C. James (whimpering) J.C. goes over to the phone. Just as she reaches for it, it rings.
J.C. (answering) INT. PHONE BOOTH - SAME TIME
Rolf J.C. Rolf J.C. Rolf He lets out a long laugh.
INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
The laugh echoes in the room.
INT. PHONE BOOTH - SAME TIME
Rolf starts gagging. He slams down the phone just before he throws up.
Rolf INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
J.C. (whispering) James J.C. strokes Ninka's hand.
J.C. INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The room glows with the light from the tank. Gran sleeps in her chair.
INT. JAMES' BEDROOM - NIGHT
James sleeps. His stereo plays underwater FISH SOUNDS.
INT. J.C.'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
J.C. lies awake in bed.
J.C. She gets out of bed.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
J.C. stares in the bathroom mirror. She inspects her eyebrows. She tweezes
a few hairs.
INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
J.C. washes dishes.
INT. HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
J.C. tidies the shoes.
INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
J.C. sweeps the floor.
INT. BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER
J.C. cleans the mirror. She notices an eyebrow hair. She begins tweezing.
INT. BATHROOM - DUSK
J.C. puts down her tweezers and heads to the kitchen table, where she
falls asleep.
INT. KITCHEN - MORNING
James shakes J.C.
James J.C. lifts her head up. She has no eyebrows left.
Part I Part II Part III
I already filed my claim. Why should I do it twice?
It appears the original claim was misplaced.
I can't say exactly what happened....
It's just so stupid.
It's in your best interests to fill in another form. Next!
I gotta get on EI.
Please fill in this form and our agents will
process it to see if you're eligible.
I need cash now.
Next!
It's not time for coffee yet, J.C.
Do anything exciting today, Granny?
My day was a blast too.
Aren't you going to ask me about my day?
Aaaaagh.
Georgina ate Claude. I watched the whole procedure.
Ugh.
Yes, it was a trifle gory. Still, when it comes down to it,
it's really just another manifestation of life's circularity.
(beat) Did you get me any report cards?
How kind. I thank you.
This time, don't fill them out two weeks ahead.
I was just being my honest self. I'm under no pretense of
looking for work. I welcome them to cut me off if life brings that.
I'm being supported for a higher purpose. Isn't that so, little fishies?
If they ever find out I'm aiding and abetting...
That's right, eh Gran? Can't have me losing
my job or we'd all starve, wouldn't we?
Your Gran is gonna last forever. She's a human pickle.
She probably understands you.
God, I'm starving...
James watches the fish from the couch.
Think I'll buy another Neon Tetra. Joshua
will be lonely now Claude is gone.
Sometimes I feel like getting in there myself.
You always do that to yourself. Didn't your mother
ever tell you it was bad to drink so fast?
James, I only have fifteen minutes to drink
this before the vitamins die. So lay off.
Yes, but you still have thirteen minutes and twenty seconds left.
How do you know, fishface? You don't even own a watch.
Yes, but I have a supreme understanding of
human actions in a spatial context. Plus, we
have Miss Metronome in the corner.
I've been thinking about buying a new couch. That
pattern's too close to something my mother might like.
Not my couch....
In fact, I'm going to call United Furniture Warehouse right now.
Noooo.
Can I have a quote on a four-seater, newly upholstered,
fully-loaded, self-cleaning, triple-butted couch?
It's me.
Huh?
Where do you get off buying a new couch?
Did you forget about your student loan?
I, uh, I....
You recognize me now! Your old friend
the debt collector…
God, I hate my job.
It's him again. I think he's very, very angry....
He does have a point. One must resolve one's debts.
Don't worry, Gran. I won't let us get evicted.
One guppy, two guppy, three guppy, four...
J.C., have you forgotten the government needs you?
Next: Part II - The TV or the Telephone? >
< Part I, Part III >