    
Pepper Writing Co. |
In the Eyes of a Neon
Tetra
Part I
Part II Part
III
EXT. STREET - EVENING
J.C. gets off the bus and passes her neighbour, MR. FITZGERALD, as he fights with his lawnmower.
Mr. Fitzgerald
Jesus Christ!
He throws the lawnmower into the bushes.
INT. APARTMENT - EVENING
James lies on the couch. Gran rocks in her chair.
James
So you see, I picked two females and three males.
However, I wasn't to know at the time that in fact,
all but one were female. And very fertile.
J.C. enters.
James
Soon after, my aquarium was swarming with small fry.
I was a father. (To J.C.) By the way, Gran and I
really appreciated being poisoned with paint fumes
while we slept. My fish have been acting up all day.
J.C.
The place needed painting. You've had lots of time
to do it, instead of boring Gran with your fish stories.
James
She wasn't bored at all. In fact, she was
fascinated. Weren't you, Gran?
Gran keeps rocking.
James
My fish are more interesting than your job. Oh, I
almost forgot. You had another call today from your
friend the debt collector. He said he's going to be
paying a house call very, very soon.
J.C.
Oh God. We might have to move. And I've just painted as well.
There is a knock on the door.
J.C. (whispering)
It's him...
INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - SAME TIME
ANEXIA LUFF and LESLEY TRUNK, two young girls, lean against the wall.
Anexia (loud)
Open up, J.C., I heard you already.
The door opens a crack.
J.C.
Anexia, Lesley, I thought you were someone else.
The two girls push their way in.
Anexia
Like your landlord?
J.C.
At this point, the landlord would look like my fairy godmother.
Anexia
You been avoiding us.
Lesley
We hear you have a job.
Anexia
You should have told us.
Lesley
Thinkin' you're above welfare now, aren't you?
J.C.
Actually, it's just I'm very busy. You see, we
have to move and I have to clean. The new
people are coming. Real soon.
She grabs Comet and throws it around the living room.
Anexia
That stuff causes cancer in lab rats. I'd be
careful with it if I were you.
J.C.
Oh, you can never get enough of this. I put it on
my toast sometimes. Hee hee.
Anexia
Let's split. There's weird stuff happening here.
Lesley follows her to the door.
Anexia
Your apartment smells like major fish.
Lesley
And your eyebrows are ugly.
They slam the door. J.C. looks at the aquarium. She looks at James. His eyes are closed. She sprinkles Comet in the tank. The fish rush to the top.
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
J.C. stares out the window at her neighbour's overgrown lawn. She picks up a pair of scissors from the table and cuts pieces of her hair. Then she drops the scissors in her pocket and exits.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
She glides down the hallway.
EXT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
On hands and knees, J.C. crawls around the lawn, cutting blades of grass. She cuts faster and faster until patches of cropped lawn appear.
EXT. APARTMENT - DAWN
She finishes cutting.
INT. OFFICE - MORNING
The same line-ups. Rolf the Rocker stands at J.C.'s counter while she checks his claim. Mrs. Olive looks over her shoulder.
Mrs. Olive.
What is that?
J.C.
Huh?
Mrs. Olive (pointing)
Under the space for occupation, you've written guppy.
J.C.
Huh?
Mrs. Olive
Guppy. Look...guppy. Redo it, J.C.
J.C. (to Rolf)
Uh....what is your occupation, sir?
Rolf
Debt collector.
J.C.
Can you spell that?
Rolf
No.
J.C.
D...e...b...
Rolf
Look, I hate my job, get it, and I had to leave.
J.C.
I'm sorry, but first I have to get your occupation.
Rolf
Credit collector. Account collector. I harass lonely
seniors and divorced housewives and malnourished
students and addictive personalities and other freaks
of nature. All before 8 am. Got it?
J.C. (slowly)
What about government employees?
Rolf
If they haven't paid their bills, yes.
J.C. continues with his form.
J.C.
Reason for leaving?
Rolf
How many times do you have to hear it? I hate my job!
J.C.
Did it make you sick?
Rolf
Sick like you'd never believe. I haven't eaten solids in four months.
J.C.
I'm sorry, but "I hate my job" is not included
under our Just Cause for Leaving list. It's highly
unlikely you will qualify for benefits.
Rolf stares at her.
J.C.
Sir, sir... Did you hear what I said? It's....
Rolf
W hat happened to your eyebrows?
J.C.
Uh, I shaved them.
Rolf
What?
J.C. (louder)
I shaved them.
Rolf
Why?
J.C.
Insomnia.
Rolf
And why would you have insomnia?
J.C.
Because I hate my job.
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
James' P.O.V. All the fish in the aquarium are dead. James gets his coat and hat from the closet. He wraps a scarf around his neck and heads outside.
EXT. BEACH - DAY
J.C. and Rolf push Ninka in her wheelchair towards the ocean. They reach the water. They leave Ninka at the shore while J.C. and Rolf run into the water, wearing their clothes.
FADE OUT.