INT. D.C. APARTMENT - DAY
Morning sunlight creeps through the shades on the window, illuminating the floor. There are open Chinese takeout boxes everywhere and stacks of papers and files on the cluttered coffee table. A laptop is left half-open in the midst of the stack, purring softly.
CU: There is a small picture frame on the end table beside the couch. In it, a mid-20s couple is holding one another smiling wide in what looks like a park.
Suddenly, a shrill buzz cuts through the sleepy air as a cellphone alarm sounds. RHYS BECKETT stirs awake on a brown leather couch, rubbing his eyes.
CU: The cellphone reads 8:30 AM with "WORK" bouncing frantically on the screen.
RHYS drowsily reaches for the phone and taps the alarm away. He sits up, takes a glance around his surroundings, almost as if he is unsure of where he is. Then, he reaches for the remote buried between the couch cushions and clicks on his television.
MS: A news anchor's talking head appears on screen. RHYS gets up to walk to the bathroom while the anchor continues with the morning's breaking stories.
ANCHOR We're receiving reports this morning that members of the Senate were unable to reach a consensus over the President's proposed Social Security Plan, leading officials to believe that tomorrow's vote will once again be postponed. We're still awaiting comment from the White House on how the postponement will affect the contents of the Bill going forward. When we come back, is D.C.'s designer drug epidemic reaching new heights? Correspondent Lacie Danvers has more on the story.
RHYS brushes his teeth in the mirror, smiling mockingly at his messy appearance, before turning on the shower. He turns back to the mirror.
RHYS (huffs)
Epidemic, huh?
He takes off his clothes and steps into the shower.
INT. D.C. APARTMENT - HALLWAY - DAY
RHYS exits his apartment, beanie on and jacket in hand as he prepares to go to work. He is locking his apartment door when the elevator dings in the distance. The doors slide apart and out steps KATIE, a cute late-20s brunette. She's dressed in chic sporty leggings and a jogging sweater that cant quite hide how well-endowed she is and a headband. She has headphones in but quickly takes them out as she approaches RHYS.
KATIE Hi, Rhys. Long time no see.
RHYS, oblivious to her presence as he fiddles with his lock, turns around.
RHYS Hmm? Oh, hey Katie. Uh, yea my bad. Lot of late nights recently. Work stuff, ya know. How ya been?
KATIE Can't complain. Haven't gotten much sleep lately though. I-I mean I've just been having trouble sleeping lately, so my doctor suggested I start exercising more. Figured I'd start today with a run.
RHYS You and me both.
KATIE looks him up and down, a smirk forming on her lips.
KATIE You sure you wanna go like that?
RHYS What? OH! Sorry, no I meant with the whole not sleeping thing. I'm just so-so busy lately that I'm either not laying down till like 5 a.m. or straight pulling all- nighters, which, if you haven't noticed by now, I am clearly way too old for.
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1.
KATIE (chuckles)
Oh I noticed...Well, if not sleeping is the game, I'd be happy to stop by sometime. We can keep each other company. Whaddaya say?
RHYS hesitates. KATIE looks up at him, a little flustered.
RHYS Uh-uh, yeah sure! I gotta run, but I'll see you later okay?
He starts off down the hallway toward the elevator.
MS: KATIE watches him for a moment before opening the door across from his and going inside her apartment.
>CUT TO:
INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY
RHYS walks through the front door of his publication's building, bundled tight from the cold, coffee in hand. His face is sullen, disinterested. As he buzzes through the second door with his badge, he sees his Editor, JACK, mid- 40s, marching towards him pointing at the coffee cup.
JACK That from the cart on 6th Ave?
RHYS Nope. 8th.
JACK DAMNIT! You know I like the one on 6th!
RHYS Yah, I DO know. Which is why I purposely go four blocks out of my way every morning to the one on 8th so you won't steal my fucking coffee.
RHYS walks past JACK to his desk with JACK following behind.
2.
JACK Hey, don't get mad at me cause I prefer to start my day with quality, not that watered down bullshit. But, I'm actually surprised to see you here at all to be honest. I thought you'd submit remotely again this week. Figured you were still sulking.
RHYS I am not sulking.
RHYS unbuttons his coat and sits down at his cubicle.
JACK Fine. Brooding then, whatever you wanna call being holed up in that musty apartment for the last two and a half weeks.
JACK leans in, looking around to make sure he isn't overheard.
JACK Well? Have you heard from her at least?
RHYS (irritated)
No Jack, I haven't heard from her. Any other personal questions you wanna ask or can I get to work now?
JACK Don't be a dick alright? I'm just checking on you. And yes actually, where's that Senate piece you owe me? I don't know if you've taken a break from your "Fortress of Solitude" long enough to notice, but the real world's still going to shit. The vote will most likely get postponed to next week which makes your original angle stale. The Hill is your beat, so I'm gonna need something else to fill the page by Wednesday's meeting, otherwise it's both our asses.
3.
RHYS (sighs)
I know, alright. Don't worry, I'll figure something out.
JACK Oh, I'm sure you will. I'd hate to have to fire you on you're first week back.
JACK picks up the coffee cup and takes a sip as he walks away.
JACK (murmurs)
Ugh, horrible.
RHYS, annoyed but not exactly surprised, watches him walk away with his cup. He turns back toward his laptop and begins his research.
>CUT TO:
INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - AFTERNOON
CU: The small digital clock on RHYS' desk reads 1:30 PM.
RHYS looks around the office cautiously as other reporters chat with each other and make their way out the building to lunch. He looks once more at the clock, then carefully opens a cabinet on the floor and retrieves something from inside.
CU: It's a small prescription pill bottle. The label reads Fentanyl. There is no patient name, but the description reads ANXIETY.
He slides the bottle into is pocket and stands up, heading towards the Men's restroom.
INT. MENS RESTROOM - AFTERNOON
RHYS opens the nearest stall and steps inside.
MS: His face and demeanor have changed. He is no longer calm and collected but manic looking, as he frantically fiddles with the bottle cap.
>CUT TO:
4.
As he attempts to open the cap, he hears the bathroom door swing open, startling him. The cap pops off and many of the small white pills fall straight into the toilet below.
RHYS (whispers) SHIT! CU: The inside of the bottle only has three pills left.
Annoyed, he quickly tosses the pills back down his throat, flushes the evidence in the toilet, and hurriedly exits the restroom.
> CUT TO:
INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - AFTERNOON
We see RHYS march up to his desk and quickly grab his coat from the back of his chair.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - AFTERNOON
RHYS is standing in the alleyway smoking a cigarette, bundled tight as he hides from the wind chill. He pulls his phone out from his coat pocket to check the time. It's 2:25 P.M
RHYS (shivers)
Where the fuck is this kid?
Suddenly there is a short screech of bike tires coming to a halt. A YOUNG MAN, barely 25, gets off the bike and walks it toward the alleyway. He is dressed in a blue bubble jacket, grey sweat shorts, and a beanie, with a heavy-looking backpack. RHYS has a confused expression as he looks the YOUNG MAN up and down.
RHYS Shorts? You're shitting me? You do realize it's like 30 degrees right now, right?
RHYS pulls his wallet from his back pocket as the YOUNG MAN unzips the backpack.
5.
YOUNG MAN Hmm? Oh, nah I barely noticed. I'm from Connecticut, bro. This pussy cold don't even phase me. How much you need fam? I gotta say you ran out pretty quick.
He laughs as he pulls a black binder from the backpack and opens one of the flaps. Inside is full of pills, all different shapes, sizes, and colors. RHYS hands him the $200 cash from the wallet.
RHYS Same as before, just the scripts. I, uh, lost the last bottle somewhere.
YOUNG MAN Oh Fasho, bro, no worries. Well as long as the money's good, you can "lose" it as much as you want.
The YOUNG MAN flicks through the bills with his thumb before tucking the money in his inside jacket pocket. He packs the binder back in the bag and picks up his bike. He checks his watch.
YOUNG MAN Ahh SHIT!
RHYS (startled)
What, what!?
YOUNG MAN I'mma be late for class again, fuck...I'll catch you later bro! Hit my line if you need me.
Without another word he jumps onto the bike and dashes off down the street. RHYS, surprised, watches him leave before exiting the alley.
RHYS (sarcastic)
Okay, "BRO"... HE heads down the street back toward his building.
MS: In the distance a black sedan cooly pulls away from the curb across the street from the alley.
6.
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