Date Preperation. Version I

Fade in:

INT. BASEMENT - DUSK

A pair of hands come up from a sink basin, the water cloudy.

The hands slowly massage THE MAN's face, eventually wiping the water way when he moves them down.

The man looks apathetic and tired, slight wrinkles have begun to form on his forehead and his eyes are drawn in surrounded by dark circles.

He appears again, although very distorted. He looks at himself in a grimy, tarnished mirror, the front of a medicine cabinet.

He reaches out and opens the medicine cabinet. There are several bottles of pills, many of which are empty, a few rolls of gauze, a case of band aids, a razor, a stick of deodorant, a tooth brush, a tube of toothpaste and nothing else.

His hand reaches for a bottle of pills, he takes a few, puts the bottle back and closes the cabinet.

Looking at himself again, he throws the pills into the back of his throat and swallows.

WIDE ON BASEMENT

The room is dimly lit by one lightbulb hanging down by a wire in the center of the room. There are only two windows in the room, both very small, at the top of the exterior wall. The windows are both covered in scum and can not be looked through.

It is a small room with only a few objects - a counter with a sink and faucet, six drawers and the medicine cabinet above. There is a twin sized bed with one pillow and one sheet, both are gray. Near the middle of the room is a table with a single chair. Against the wall is a cabinent and in the corner is a stair well leading upstairs.

A car speeds by outside, the noise muffled. Two more cars speed by with sirens blaring. Several gunshots are heard until they are out of hearing range.

The man is unfazed by this. He reaches into a drawer in the sink counter and removes two white pieces of cloth, they are both a little dirty and have a few stains. He also takes out 2 black leather, fingertipless gloves and places them on the counter by the strips of cloth.

The man walks over to the table. On the chair is a black vest. He puts it on over his faded white t-shirt and tucks a necklace behind his shirt, holding it by the pendant so that it is unclear what it is. He zips up the vest and then grabs the suitcase on the table.

He walks over to the bed, puts the suitcase down on the matress and picks up a long, heavy, trenchcoat. He puts this on as well, straightens it out and grabs the suitcase again.

The man now walks back to the sink counter. He ties the white cloths around his knuckles and then puts the gloves on. He picks up the suitcase once more and slowly walks up the stairs until he is out of view.

A lightswitch is flicked and the room goes black.

EXT. A RUN DOWN SLUM - NIGHT

A yellow street light flickers outside a dilapidated building with no lights on.

Light appears out of two windows at the bottom of the building.

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

The man loudly fumbles down the stairs, he is clearly in a hurry.

He is no longer wearing his trenchcoat and does not have his suitcase with him. He is clutching his left arm which is clearly bleeding.

He rushes over to the sink counter and turns a handle. It squeaks and water begins to pour from the faucet. He opens up both bottom drawers of the counter and removes a bottle of vodka from one and a pair of pliers from the other.

He takes a swig of vodka then pours some on the pliers. He reaches into his pants and takes out a lighter. He holds a flame under the pliers and rotates them over the flame for a few seconds.

The man takes the pliers to his left arm, shoves them in a small hole and removes a bullet. The man grimmaces and then drops the bullet in the sink.

He opens up the medicine cabinet and removes some gauze. He wraps his arm up and tears it off. He puts the gauze back and takes a handful of pills from one of the bottles. He throws them all back into his mouth and takes another swig of vodka. The man closes the medicine cabinet.

He washes his hands briefly and wipes his face. He turns the faucet off.

He walks over to the bed and takes off his vest, necklace, and shoes, leaving them all on the floor.

The man looks around the room then walks to the hanging light. He reaches into his pants pocket and removes a roll of money bound together with a rubberband. He looks at it and gives a short, tired laugh. He throws the money onto the table.

The man reaches up and grabs the light. He turns the bulb until the room goes black.

A few footsteps are heard. The man gives a loud sigh and then the matress springs make some brief noise.

FaDE OUT.
THE END