int. Site 43 dormitories - early morning:
[We open in to a windowless bedroom, where Phillip Deering sleeps. He tosses and turns in his slumber a few times, indecipherable mumbling able to be heard.]
SFX:
[The blaring of an alarm from a clock on Deering’s nightstand.]
[Deering groans from underneath his covers, and reaches his hand outwards. It lands on the nightstand, and fumbles around for a few moments, before making contact with the clock and finally - mercifully - silencing the alarm.]
Cut to:
[A POV shot of Deering’s bathroom, where the running of water can be seen in the sink. Deering looks up from the sink, and in the mirror he sees a hideous grey creature in lieu of his own reflection.]
[The creature mutters incomprehensibly, the slits where its eyes and mouth are supposed to be fluttering in sync with its noises.]
[Deering shows no adverse reaction to the creature's presence. Instead, he grabs his toothbrush and begins to apply toothpaste to it as he speaks.]
Deering:
(Casually)
Mornin’, Doug.
[“Doug” ceases its muttering, and stares at Deering for a moment before speaking. Its voice is deep and gravelly, with a slight echo effect applied to it.]
Doug:
Hello, Phillip.
[Deering hums, and begins brushing his teeth. Doug continues speaking as Deering does so.]
Doug:
Your teeth are filthy and crooked, Phillip. No amount of care will fix them.
[Deering stops brushing. He speaks towards Doug as if it’s a conversation that they’ve had numerous times before.]
Deering:
(Indifferent)
You and I both know that’s not true, Doug. Site 43’s dentist gave me a clean bill of health during my last checkup.
[Doug sneers.]
Doug:
… And when was that, Phillip?
[Deering sighs.]
Deering:
(Mildly annoyed)
I told you the last time you brought this up, it was two months ago. You were there, Doug.
Doug:
(Unrelenting)
You declined to do an X-Ray, Phillip. What if you have a cavity, and they missed it because of your stubbornness?
Deering:
(More annoyed)
I can’t do X-Rays, Doug. You screamed and freaked out the one time we tried.
[Doug does not respond.]
Deering:
That’s what I thought.
[Deering goes back to brushing his teeth.]
Doug:
(Insitently)
You should call the dentist, Phillip.
[Deering ignores him.]
Cut to:
Int. Site 43 Hallway - Day:
[Site-43's logo can be seen on the nearby wall as Deering walks down the corridor.]
[He is joined a few moments later by a man in a scruffy lab-coat, with an unkempt hair and beard. The other man stumbles for a second, before he walks in sync with Deering.]
Man:
Deering, you got a minute?
[Deering does not respond to the man at first. As the two continue walking, they pass a wall mirror, where Doug watches the both of them placidly.]
Doug:
Get away from him, Phillip. His bad luck might rub off on you.
Deering:
(Casually)
Shut up, Doug.
[The other man stops in place and swivels towards the mirror. He ends up tripping, cursing to himself before shooting back up to his feet.]
Man:
(Annoyed)
What’s that thing saying about me this time?
[Deering can only bring himself to chuckle.]
Deering:
Nothing that he hasn’t said about you before, Wettle. …What do you need?
[Wettle huffs in indignation, but decides to drop the matter.]
Doug:
He’s not worth your time, Phillip.
Wettle:
It’s, uh…
[Embarrassment creeps into Wettle's face and voice]
Wettle:
(sheepish)
Well, it’s about my computer.
[Deering sighs, though there is a small smirk on his face.]
Deering:
You didn’t use the CD drive as a cup-holder again, did you?
[Wettle huffs and stamps his foot once.]
Wettle:
(Indignant)
I only did that once, five years ago! Why does everyone think I do that all the time?
[Both Deering and Doug look pointedly at Wettle. Wettle sighs and slumps.]
Wettle:
Alright, fair enough. [shakes his head] No, one of the doohickeys inside of it is fried, and I need you to look at it.
[Deering folds his arms against his chest.]
Deering:
(Pensively)
Well, I’m going to need you to be more specific than “doohickey”, first of all…
Doug:
It’s not worth your time, Phillp.
Wettle:
It’s the… It’s…
[Wettle balls his hands and lets out a groan]
Wettle:
(Aggravated)
The thing you put those old disks in; the wiggly ones.
[Deering pauses, an incredulous look on his face.]
Deering:
(Baffled)
…The floppy disk drive? Why the hell does your computer have—?
Wettle:
[Defensive anger)
Hey. Hey. I don’t needle you about the things your job requires, Deering.
[Wettle sighs]
Wettle:
(Calmer)
Look, you’re the only JM that doesn’t try to avoid me like the plague. Can you just… please look at it?
[Deering doesn’t answer, a thoughtful look on his face as the camera zooms in on it.]
Cut to:
INT. Site-43, Wettle's workstation - day:
[Deering is kneeling in front of a taken-apart tower PC.]
Doug [offscreen]:
This work is beneath you, Phillip.
Deering:
(Amused)
I know! This guy somehow managed to put the floppy disk in sideways!
Doug [offscreen]:
(agitated)
No, Phillip. Your job. It is beneath you. You could be doing so much more, and yet you’re wasting yourself and your potential doing things like this.
[Deering stops what he’s doing, and turns behind him, seeing Doug glowering down at him from an installed mirror.]
Deering:
(firmly)
I’m Janitor and Maintenance Tech, Doug. And I’m quite happy about it.
[Doug sneers.]
Doug:
Are you, Phillip?
Deering:
(unhesitant)
Yes, Doug.
Doug:
You’re wasting what little time you have left, Phillip.
[Deering turns away from the mirror and back to Wettle’s computer.]
Doug:
What do you have - in your life - to live for, Phillip?
[That makes Deering pause. He looks down at his hands.]
Cut to:
[A POV shot of Deering’s hands. On his left ring finger, there is an engagement ring, which the camera zooms in on.]
Cut to:
[Closeup of Deering’s face. He gives a soft smile.]
Deering:
(Content)
Plenty…
Cut to black
FIN