THE COMPANION
by Robert Kriel
Short Film
Email: [email protected]
"The Companion"
An original story
by
Robert Kriel
FADE IN:
INT. PSYCHIATRIST'S OFFICE -DAY
An old fashioned room, bookcases filled with books line the
walls.
The PSYCHIATRIST (50's), balding, with thick glasses on
studies JAMES (25), short and scrawny his whole posture looks
pathetic as if close to a nervous breakdown.
James looks around nervously, shifting uncomfortable in his
chair he don't look the psychiatrist in the eyes.
PSYCHIATRIST
So James, tell me, this voice in
your head. What does it say to you?
James pulls his face into a frown, shrugging his shoulders.
JAMES
It keeps on asking my permission.
PSYCHIATRIST
Why and what for does it ask your
permission?
James's face scowls, he hesitates before speaking.
JAMES
I'm not allowed to say!
PSYCHIATRIST
Who stops you from telling?
JAMES
I, I can't say anymore.
PSYCHIATRIST
Is somebody threatening you?
James speaks in a raised voice.
JAMES
I don't want to talk about it!
PSYCHIATRIST
Okay, okay let's talk about
something else.
James nods.
2.
PSYCHIATRIST
How are things at work? Are they
treating you any better?
A nervous laugh escapes his mouth. He shakes no.
PSYCHIATRIST
Is there anybody that you can go to,
to maybe help better your situation?
JAMES
They're all the same. No one gives
a shi..
A buzzer goes off. The psychiatrist stops the buzzer.
PSYCHIATRIST
Sorry James, that is all we have
time for. Same time next week?
JAMES
Yeah, sure.
CUT TO:
INT. JAMES'S OFFICE -DAY
A small office with a desk and a computer in one corner.
There is barely space to move the boxes on boxes of
paperwork occupies most of the space.
James sits behind the computer capturing data.
CANDY, late twenties, blond hair, wearing a sluttish dress
stands in the doorway. With her is KEVIN(30's) stocky built
bald shaved head.
CANDY
Hey, nerd boy! You know those paper
things that I kinda like mislaid
and you gave me another copy?
JAMES
Invoices!
CANDY
Yeah those things. You know I kinda
mislaid them again. Could you be a
darling and make me another copy?
James is irritated but just nods yes.
Kevin moves to the front.
3.
KEVIN
Oh yeah, while you busy with that.
Here is a couple more invoices that
I forgot about and now needs to go
out urgently.
Kevin slaps a box on his desk that makes him look even smaller.
James stares at them, he nervously/irritated rubs the side
of his head.
CANDY
We kinda like need it before lunch!
They laugh as they leave.
Frustrated he rubs his head. Digging into the box.
LATER
BRANDEN(27), tall and strong enters the office just as James
finish the pile of invoices.
BRANDEN
Hey Jamie boy.
JAMES
James!
BRANDEN
What?
JAMES
My name is James!
BRANDEN
Yeah, what ever. Hey listen you
know that box of invoices that
Kevin gave you?
JAMES
The one I just finished?
BRANDEN
Yeah that's the one.
JAMES
Yeah, what about it?
BRANDEN
The thing is, Kevin made a mistake.
That box must be processed only
next week.
4.
JAMES
So what you're saying is that I
should reverse all the transactions
captured from that box?
BRANDEN
Yeah seems like it. But then...
He brings a similar box into the office.
BRANDEN
This is the actual box that needs
to be captured.
Branden leaves.
James looks at the box, tears of frustration runs down his
cheek. He digs in.
A unknown demon voice speaks to him.
DEMON (VO)
James why do you let them do this
to you?
James slaps his head twice.
JAMES
Go away. I have a lot of work to
finish off.
DEMON (VO)
Are you a fucking whuss or what?
James ignores the question.
DEMON
Come on James let me deal with
them. I'll show them who's the
fucking boss around here!
JAMES
No! Now leave me alone.
DEMON
Hah! You're a looser.
CUT TO:
INT. CAFETERIA -DAY
The place is buzzing with people. James sits alone at a
table having lunch.
5.
DAN (50's), fat and short approaches James face red with anger.
DAN
What the hell is wrong with you
James?
JAMES
Excuse me sir!
DAN
You're behind schedule on your work
and now you've gone and made a mess
of the invoice system.
JAMES
But sir! Kevin made...
Dan hits the table out of anger.
DAN
Damn it James! Don't blame others
for your incompetence. You will
work late to finish the mess and
don't expect any overtime for this.
Dan leaves.
As soon as he is out of site Candy, Kevin and Branden sits
down at his table. Kevin takes an aggressive stand towards
James.
KEVIN
Hey, what bullshit are you telling
the boss?
James doesn’t answer.
KEVIN
Hey don't make me look bad okay.
He prods James with his index finger.
KEVIN
You'll watch your mouth if you know
what's good for you!
He takes James's milk carton emptying it on his pants.
Everybody laughs at him.
Shyly he leaves.
CUT TO:
6.
INT. JAMES'S OFFICE -DAY
James is swamped with work. His fingers double times on the
keyboard.
Candy and Branden walks in.
CANDY
James I'm going for a meeting in
the conference room. I forgot to
type up these letters, please
finish them for Dan, leave them on
my desk I'll take it to him later.
James is pissed the veins in his head swells up.
JAMES
I'm behind schedule as it is. I
can't do this as well!
CANDY
What do you mean you can't do it?
JAMES
You got to do it yourself!
Branden steps in. Slapping James behind his head knocks him
off his chair.
BRANDEN
Don't you raise your voice at her
you little dick wart.
James just lies on the ground cowering.
BRANDEN
Now do as you're told you useless
fucking looser!
They leave.
James whimpers softly.
DEMON (VO)
Are you just gona lay there and
cry? Huh, you are the looser they
say you are.
JAMES
Please go away!
7.
DEMON (VO)
You know what James? I'm never
going away so you better deal with
it. Just let me deal with them for
once and for all, for all that is
human, be a man!
James rolls onto his knees.
DEMON (VO)
Come on James I can make it better.
I can help you deal with this
problem. I can make you the man you
want to be. Just let me help...
James clasps his ears.
JAMES
Okay, okay, okay! Help me then if
that is what you can do!
DEMON (VO)
At last.
James goes quiet. After a few seconds he lets out a deep
wicked laugh.
As he looks up his eyeball changed entirely to black.
He continues to laugh as he walks out.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM -DAY
The room has no windows with one door leading in and out. A
oval table with chairs around it centers the room.
Candy, Kevin, Branden and Dan and MEGAN (23) dark hair, sits
around it.
James walks in his old nervous self-replaced with confidence.
DAN
What are you doing here? Don't you
have work to catch up?
The others snicker.
DEMON-JAMES
Dan, Dan, Dan you fat old fuck!
They all look up shocked. Dan realizing what he said
staggers out of his chair.
8.
DEMON-JAMES
Why don't you shove the job up your
constipated ass?
Dan stutters from anger as he comes closer to James.
DAN
Why you little...
James grabs him across the face, in one swift move he lifts
him off his feet smashing his head against the wall.
On impact it shatters like and egg spraying the wall and
James with bloody pieces of scull and brain matter.
The women scream hysterical.
Branden rush him grabbing his arm. James's free hand's index
finger turns into stinger.
James jabs the stinger into Branden's forearm.
Branden staggers back clutching his arm. Seconds after this
his eyes rolls back in his head froth runs from his mouth.
Branded dies convulsing on the floor.
Kevin charges him with a chair. James blocks the blow
shattering the chair.
Straight fingered he jams his hand in under Kevin's ribcage,
closing his hand he jerks upwards. Flesh muscle and veins
tears open disemboweling him.
The woman stands scared shit less in the back.
Blood drips from his hand as James studies the carnage.
DEMON-JAMES
Don't be scared ladies. You would
have died eventually!
INSERT ON HIS HAND
James closes his hand in a fist. Opening it reveals a fly
sitting on his palm.
It flies off.
BACK TO SCENE
The fly heads off to Megan. She swats at her ear when the
fly crawls into it.
9.
She shakes her head violently. Running around the room as if
possessed.
Screaming madly she hits the floor rolling around. Maggots
gush from her ears, nose and mouth. Hands on her throat she
suffocates.
Candy gathers strength making a run for the door.
James grabs her arm as she passes.
She screams banging her free hand against his body. He
doesn't move.
Smoke rises from her arm, his hand burning into her flesh.
Flames leap from her arm. James looks at it for a few
seconds before letting her go.
The flames spread rapidly; she tries to shake it off but as
far as she goes she ignites the room. Flames spreading quickly.
James laughs as flames consumes the room.
He leaves locking a wooden door and a steel safety door on
the outside.
He leaves.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT -DUSK
Firemen, police and paramedics run around the parking lot to
the smoldering building.
AMBULANCE
James sits in a nearby ambulance. A paramedic is attending
to his hands. They are shredded and bloody. James looks his
usual nervous.
An INSPECTOR (40's), still in shape with silver streaks in
his black hair, makes his way to the scene. He is greeted
halfway by INSPECTOR GOLDWAY (30's), good looking young man.
INSPECTOR
Goldway, what in God's name
happened here?
GOLDWAY
We're not sure chief, five bodies
so far none recognizable.
He winks towards James.
10.
GOLDWAY
He's the only survivor.
The inspector looks at his hands.
INSPECTOR
What happened to him?
GOLDWAY
Tried to save them.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM -DAY
FLASHBACK
Smoke rises from the closed doors. James with a fire
extinguisher in his hands tries to break down the steel
safety door.
His hands all bloody and blood marks against the steel
frame, as he tried to open the door.
Firemen run in with hoses. The leading FIREMAN jerks James
away from the door.
FIREMAN
Stand clear sir.
Other firemen use cutting equipment to cut open the door.
FIREMAN
How many inside?
James shakes his head.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT -DUSK
The inspector and Goldway walk to the ambulance.
INSPECTOR
Are you okay son?
JAMES
Yes sir!
INSPECTOR
What happened here son?
11.
JAMES
I don't know sir. I was capturing
data when the smoke alarm went off.
When I came here I saw the smoke
coming from the inside. I tried to
save them but...
INSPECTOR
It's okay son. I know you tried
your best.
JAMES
Is there something I can do to help?
INSPECTOR
No son, you go home and get some
rest. We will handle it from here.
Shyly he agrees. James gets up and leaves.
INSPECTOR
(to goldway)
What a mess?
JAMES LEAVING
For some time James looks to be himself, nervous and rather
pathetic.
Just out of the inspector's line of sight. He straightens
up, the nervous look replaced with confidence.
The devilish grin back on his face as a giggle rumbles in
his throat.
FADE OUT.
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