Awoken By A Ghost (Part One)
INT. ARNOLDS APARTMENT - MORNING
ARNOLD: 26 years old, dark hair, pale skin, timid, average height and build
Arnold rises from bed after sleeping 7 minutes beyond his alarm. As he goes to the bathroom his hair is a mess and there are dark lines underneath his eyes. He stubs his toe getting out of the shower and cuts himself while shaving.
INT. ARNOLDS APARTMENT KITCHEN - MORNING
Arnold enters the kitchen and empties the contents of his Corn Flakes box. It is empty except for the dozen IOUs his flat mate has left in it.
Frederick his co-tenant has left a note. “Sorry about the Cornflakes box. I was extra hungry today. I’ll have to return the favour some day. PTO.” Arnold turns over the page of the notebook: “I’m in a tight spot as far as rent goes. You know how it is. Would you mind covering my share of the rent again? Thanks, Frederick.”
Arnold pours the milk left in the milk carton into his breakfast bowl and proceeds to spoon it into his mouth.
Arnold goes to put on his tie. He realises that it has been partially stained from having coffee tossed at him from the previous day. Before closing the apartment door he remembers his keys
INT. ARNOLDS APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY - MORNING
Arnold greets his neighbour, Mrs Pinkelman in the hallway
MRS PINKELMAN: 82 years old, white hair, frail and thin, five foot one inch tall
ARNOLD : Good Morning Mrs Pinkelman
(in an upbeat manner)
Mrs Pinkelman : Burn in hell
EXT. OUTSIDE THE APARTMENT BUILDING - MORNING
On stepping out of the apartment building, the rain starts pouring down. Arnold has no umbrella and runs to the subway.
INT. SUBWAY STATION - MORNING
While waiting in line to buy a ticket, Arnold is bumped out of the way by an old lady.
OLD LADY: Out of my way, shorty
INT. DELICATESSEN - MORNING
Arnold goes to a delicatessen to buy a sandwich. Arnold is greeted by a new female employee, with the name tag Greta.
GRETA - early thirties, five foot three inches tall, tightly cropped dark hair, looks like she smokes forty cigarettes a day.
GRETA: Ok sunshine, what’ll it be?
ARNOLD: Can I have a BLT please?
Greta proceeds to slice open a baguette, fill it with mayonnaise, bacon, lettuce and tomato.
GRETA: Would you like ketchup with that?
She doesn’t wait for a response. Arnold is intimidated.
GRETA: And chocolate?
She proceeds to sprinkle the sandwich with chocolate.
Greta then hands the sandwich to the cashier.
The cashier, an elderly woman named Rose charges Arnold for the BLT plus $1.50 each for the chocolate and ketchup. Arnold doesn’t protest
INT. ARNOLDS WORKPLACE -MORNING
Arnold greets his fellow employees there, of whom there were seven. Each of them responds with varying levels of enthusiasm. Arnold sits down at his desk and starts working.
AGATHA: 28 years old, very thin, five foot five inches, dark hair, brown eyes, temperamental.
A co-worker named Agatha approaches him quietly from behind. She proceeds to pour flour onto his head followed by some water. She then works her fingers through his head. Arnold is too intimidated by Agatha to protest.
MR KRONAUER: Arnold’s Boss, sixty three, Six foot tall, white hair, pale skinned, blue eyes, slightly overweight.
MR KRONAUER: Palmer, my man
ARNOLD
Yes Mr Kronauer?
MR KRONAUER: It’s time for a talk
Arnold follows Mr Kronauer into his office.
INT. MR KRONAUER’S OFFICE - MORNING
Behind Mr Kronauer is a book case, packed with books. There are numerous archive boxes on the floor and his desk has scattered files and documents.
MR KRONAUER: To be fair, I’m a bit worried about you Arnold. You don’t seem to be yourself. You’ve been here four or five years and you work hard but something is not quite right.
Mr Kronauer takes a long look at Arnold who still has some flour and water in his hair. He stands up and moves out from behind his desk. He then stands behind Arnold and straightens his collar
MR KRONAUER: You’re a good employee Arnold but you really ought to fix your collar over that tie
MR KRONAUER: (Mr Kronauer sits down again)
That’s better.Is there anything you want to get off your chest Arnold?
ARNOLD: Well sir. Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m well-liked by the rest of the staff.
MR KRONAUER: Poppycock! Everyone loves you. They all have good things to say about you. Why Johnson always raves about you.
ARNOLD: Johnson left over a year ago sir.
MR KRONAUER: Yes, well there is Huttlechip
ARNOLD: Douglas Huttlechip hardly has a harsh word to say about anyone. He’s timid and hardly talks. He hardly counts.
MR KRONAUER: Point proven. Of course he counts. Everyone counts.
ARNOLD: Apart from Douglas, I feel let down.
MR KRONAUER: What about Florentina?
ARNOLD: She set fire to my car. She hardly counts.
MR KRONAUER: How are you so sure it was her?
ARNOLD: She was caught on CCTV. She even performed cartwheels afterwards
MR KRONAUER: I think you’re missing the point, Arnold. Everyone in this office loves you. If you want me to haul them all in here I will. Do you want me to do that?
ARNOLD: No sir
MR KRONAUER: Arnold, have I ever told you that I enjoy fishing?
ARNOLD: Yes sir. Many times.
MR KRONAUER: Arnold, everything in life is like fishing. I enjoy the fresh air, the scenery and nature all around. Sometimes you wait five minutes, sometimes hours for a fish to bite. Sometimes they come in clusters. Do you see my point Arnold?
Arnold didn’t follow
MR KRONAUER: There are plenty of fish in the sea Arnold, sometimes you have to wait it out. Now get back there and earn your dough.
ARNOLD: Yes sir
After Arnold resumes work, Alfredo, a co-worker enters with six sharp knives in his hands.
ALFREDO - 36 years old, Mexican parents, Five foot four inches tall, Dark hair, moustache .
Alfredo throws all six knives in Arnold’s direction. They go past Arnold and form a perfect outline on the notice board behind him.
Vince Donovan - Six foot two inches tall, Brown hair, 31 years old, well groomed, wearing blue suit and yellow tie.
VINCE DONOVAN: Very impressive shooting Alfredo
Pats Alfredo on the shoulder
ALFREDO: I missed
Alfredo storms out of the office
INT. JACOBI’S RESTAURANT - EVENING
Arnold goes to the restaurant that is known as Jacobi’s. He glances at his wristwatch which reads 8:15pm
WAITER: Would you like to be seated sir?
Arnold follows the waiter into the dining room area and takes a seat.
WAITER: Would you like to order sir?
Arnold glances at his wristwatch. It is now 8:30.
Bertha enters
BERTHA: 50 years old, thirty pounds overweight, short curly hair
BERTHA: I’m not sure if this is the right table. Are you Arnold Theodophilus Palmer?
ARNOLD: Yes I am and you must be Bertha
Bertha sits down and begins playing with her phone.
BERTHA: Well, I have to say that I’m a little disappointed. I was expecting someone better looking and with a perfect physique. You’re no James Bond.
ARNOLD: I’m sorry to disappoint you.
BERTHA: Well you should be. At least tell me a few jokes and make me laugh. I do like a good comedian.
ARNOLD
I don’t know any jokes
(timidly)
BERTHA: Can you perform a handstand?
ARNOLD: No
BERTHA: Do you know any card tricks?
ARNOLD: No
BERTHA: Can you at least hop on one leg?
ARNOLD: Well, I can try
BERTHA: Oh my god, you’re completely dull as well.
WAITER: Would you like to order madame?
ARNOLD: Oh, I don’t think she’s had enough time to read
BERTHA: You go ahead and order first, Arnold.
During the entire conversation Bertha had been playing on her phone.
WAITER: Sir, would you like to order?
ARNOLD: Yes. Can i have the prawns to start with, and the Carbonara?
WAITER: Madame?
BERTHA: Don’t mind me. I’ve found a new date and he’s a total studmuffin. No offence but I’ve got better things to be doing.
Bertha leaves.
WAITER: Sir, do you plan on staying?
ARNOLD: Yes I’ll stay
WAITER: Would you like to order some wine? I could recommend the Dom Perignon. It’s only $2,500 a bottle. You won’t get a better price anywhere in the city.
ARNOLD: No, I think I’ll pass
An attractive woman, of a similar age unexpectedly sat down in the recently vacated chair opposite Arnold. Her hair is wet and she’s breathing heavily
FALLULAH: Dark hair, Five foot six inches, slim, blue eyes, wears a white blouse with a floral pattern, cotton trousers and comfortable shoes.
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: Don’t tell me you were going to order without me.
Arnold was momentarily stunned. The attractive woman was currently smiling at him.
ARNOLD: What would you like?
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: I’ll have the same as what this lovely gentleman is having and a bottle of your finest Dom perignon. I hear it’s incredible.
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: So Arthur, tell me about yourself
ARNOLD: My name is Arnold
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: Well I was close. Come on, dish the beans.
ARNOLD: You really don’t want to hear my life story. You’ll be asleep in no time.
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: Try me.
For the next fifty seconds Arnold proceeds to tell her his entire life story.
ARNOLD: So, tell me about you.
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: Well my name is Fallulah. I’m a receptionist for a very successful oil company. I never went to college, but I do like numbers, especially if there’s six zeros behind them. I was originally from Albuquerque, Arizona.
ARNOLD: Isn’t Albuquerque in New Mexico?
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: Well, some of it isn’t. Anyway, I don’t have much luck with men. I’ve had a lot of failed relationships until you came along. One guy tried to chuck the tv at me. A bit of a waste of a 80 HD inch screen. Another guy was incredibly sweaty. Holding hands was like you were dealing with a bar of soap. Sex was like making love to a wet fish. Of course, everything is looking up now that you’re here.
Arnold closed his eyes then, opened them again and she was still there. He tried pinching himself but she was still looking at him with a warm smile on her face.
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: What are you doing?
ARNOLD: How are you so sure that I’m not the serial killer that’s on the loose at the moment?
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: That’s because you couldn’t be. Haven’t you heard that the Phantom Killer is a woman.
(She says with a wink)
FALLULAH/ANDREA FIDDLESTONE: (Upon seeing Arnold’s shocked reaction)
I’m only kidding. You’re safe with me. The Phantom Killer has only killed women up to this point
FALLULAH: So, after we’re finished here, what do you say we go back to your place and you can show me your extensive music collection?
ARNOLD: Why not?
EXT. THE STREET (ON THE WAY HOME) - NIGHT
Walking down the street, Fallulah grabs Arnolds hand and holds onto it. Two strong men come from behind Arnold and one of them clocks him over the head with the butt of his gun.
MOBSTER NO 1: Get over here
He pushes Arnold down an alleyway
FALLULAH: Leave him alone
MOBSTER NO 2: Did he harm you
FALLULAH: No, no he didn’t
MOBSTER NO 2: Do you know who this is?
(before pausing for a reply)
This is Mr Big’s girlfriend. Do you know who Mr Big is and what he would do to you if he found out you were playing around with his girlfriend?
At this point Fallulah starts to run away.
MOBSTER NO 2: Don’t worry, she won’t get far
The mobster then aims his gun at Arnold
Gunshots are fired but the two mobsters fall to the ground. Arnold looks up to see a gunman, presumably the Phantom Killer, seven yards away.
PHANTOM KILLER/ORMANDO:Wears a hat, spectacles and a trenchcoat, 52 years old, five foot ten inches tall, browm trousers and heavy black shoes.
The killer points the gun at Arnold but it jams and he runs away. His shoes make a loud and distinctive clacking noise
Arnold climbs to his feet but sees no sign of Fallulah. Arnold notices his clothes have bloodstains on them.