Mouse Trap

**yes, i'm aware that that is a rat above**

-unedited (written for a play/screenwriting class I took two years ago)

FADE IN:

EXT. THE NIGHTWELL'S RESIDENCE - NIGHT

A mulberry Victorian mansion sits behind a tall black cast-iron fence with a wrap-around porch, a porch swing, and three hanging baskets of red roses. Attached to the wall are a well-lit black lantern and a black mailbox. And concealing the windows are thick black curtains.

Adjacent to the home is a two-car garage with two black vehicles parked outside on the driveway. Lighting up the pathway to the porch steps are outdoor path lights, luminous enough to notice the freshly green lawn-mowed grass.

INT. THE NIGHTWELL'S RESIDENCE/KITCHEN - NIGHT

MICHELLE, a middle-aged ginger, dressed in a red floral dress and wedge sandals, pulls out a pan of honey-glazed ham from the oven.

She sets the pan on the counter filled with desserts by the magnet and picture-infested silver refrigerator with two water dispensers on each door.

MICHELLE

(groans with a grin)

Mmm. The ham is to die for. Honey, take a look at this!

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Middle-aged and blond pixie-haired NICOLE stands in front of the television, round silver-rimmed spectacles tucked in her hair. She is wearing a green long-sleeved v-neck and dark blue skinny jeans with a pair of black ankle boots.

Her eyes fixate on the tv as she rests her right elbow on top of her left forearm.

INSERT - NICOLE'S LEFT INDEX FINGER THAT HAS A SILVER RING WITH AN EYE ENGRAVED IN IT AS SHE FIDDLES WITH HER SILVER LOCKET NECKLACE.

BACK TO SCENE

Her face glows from the television light penetrating through the screen.

REPORTER (O.S.)

It has been three weeks since the disappearance of the Mayor of Baldwin, Mayor Trevor Rodrigo, who was last seen at home with his wife in bed, asleep. Some residents suspect that Rodrigo has been taken as a hostage by a past Common Place resident since he and an East Islip doctor, who has yet to be identified, was involved in a scandal back in the summer of 2018 after ignoring the cries of inhabitants of Common Place in Baldwin, who complained they were getting sick from the water supply in their neighborhood. The residents were informed that Mayor Rodrigo collaborated with the Suffolk County doctor to discuss plans of treatment in the future but was later scammed and never received any aid.

(pause)

Authorities have not slept a wink since the incident occurred. No trace of evidence has been found yet in Rodrigo's home. Officers of the Baldwin Police Department are doing everything in their power to make sure that Mayor Rodrigo returns home safely in the arms of his wife.

CLOSE UP OF NICOLE'S AGLOW CONCENTRATED FACE.

FOOTSTEPS PAD against the hard-wood floor as Nicole remains in her trance.

REPORTER (O.S.)

If you or anyone you know have information on the whereabouts of Mayor Rodrigo, relating to the case, do not hesitate to call the Department of--

The sound of a button CLICKING, pulls Nicole away from the black screen.

OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF MICHELLE'S BACK

to the camera as she faces Nicole.

MICHELLE

You, Mrs. Nightwell, were supposed to help me tonight.

NICOLE

(frowns; lets go of her locket)

What are you talking about? I did everything you told me to do. I set up the table and I bought wine for the occasion.

(smiles)

And might I add darling, you told me to go into town to make an urgent appointment with the exterminator to take care of our pest problem some time tonight.

MICHELLE

(scoffs, rolling her eyes)

Don't even remind me. The sooner we get rid of the thing, the sooner we can go back to our normal lives.

Michelle and Nicole gaze into each other's eyes, leaning to kiss before they are interrupted by the voice of an adolescent.

ELLE (O.S.)

(in disgust)

Ugh! Shouldn't you guys be in the kitchen or something?

Nicole and Michelle break eye contact with one another and shift their focus to their teenage daughter, ELLE, a sixteen-year-old with long auburn hair and freckles splattered over her voice.

Dressed from head to toe in black, a sullen-looking Elle stands at the top of the L-shaped staircase, resting her hand on the hand-carved flower-patterned rail. The chartreuse lepidopteran-themed wallpaper brings out the diagonal arrangement of the sepia photos of people from the Victorian-era, trapped in the bubble glass that sits under the golden frame. Hanging above the bottom staircase is a brass chandelier with cut-crystals, leaving light streaks along the ceiling.

NICOLE

(astonished, but never changes her dull face)

That's very sexist, coming from you, Gloria Steinem.

(takes glasses out of hair, places them over her eyes)

What happened to the old Elle, who would get detention for flipping off male teachers because she didn't smile when she was told?

ELLE

(walks down the steps)

Okay, first of all, they deserved it. I mean, why should I smile for anyone who holds one gender to more standards than the other? Besides, you are preparing a rather ravishing meal for the new neighbors, aren't you?

Elle takes one step down from the last step, meeting her moms on the same level in the living room.

MICHELLE

(smiles and holds her arm out for a side hug)

Honey, you look beautiful.

ELLE

(beams and gently leans into Michelle's arm)

Thanks, mom.

Elle drops her smile, returning to her frown as she begins to walk away until Nicole wraps her hand around Elle's wrist. Elle stops in her tracks and looks at Nicole.

NICOLE

(stares intensely at Elle)

Did you remember our deal?

ELLE

(still monotonous, but sarcastic)

Of course. How could I forget the one thing that gives me a reason to wake up in the morning?

The room grows hushed. Nicole untangles herself from Elle.

MICHELLE

Elle, we're serious. I know you've never shown any interest in the family business. We're fine with that. We just want to make sure you are making the right decision about leaving home for the real world.

The world shows no mercy for the weak.

Elle looks down at the carpet and CHUCKLES.

ELLE

Don't you think that's a bit hypocritical of you to say?

Elle raises her eyebrows, batting her eyelashes in confrontation.

Nicole clenches her jaw and parts her lip to speak, but Michelle beats her to it.

MICHELLE

(retorts with a grin)

The ham is on the counter. I need you to take it to the dining room and set it on the table.

(pause)

Use two hands; it's hot. Don't wanna burn yourself, do you?

Michelle makes room for Elle to exit the room. Elle rolls her eyes and departs.

CUT TO:

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

CLOSE UP ON ELLE'S HAND HOLDING A FORK

as she stabs the last piece of ham on her plate.

TRISH (O.S.)

Michelle, everything was delicious.

Elle shoves the ham in her mouth and chews.

NICOLE (O.S.)

(says in monotone)

My wife is a natural. Isn't she?

Nicole is sitting at the end of the shaker dining table while her new neighbor, DR. BRENNER, a 61-year-old neurosurgeon with a black walrus mustache and downturned lips, sits at the other end.

One dish of garlic string beans sits across from top to bottom from a big bowl of mashed potatoes, followed by a big pan of macaroni and cheese. In the middle of the flag is two clothed baskets of buttered buns on both sides of the table. The last dish on the table is pre-cut slices of juicy ham on a plate in front of Dr. Brenner, who reluctantly reaches for a slice of ham with a toasting fork.

MRS. BRENNER/TRISH (58) has glowing skin that goes well with her jet black hair. She is wearing a long-sleeved blue dress.

MICHELLE

Thank you, Trish. That's very kind of you.

Michelle drinks a sip from her glass of white wine.

NICOLE

(to Dr. Brenner)

So, where did you say you guys were from?

TRISH

We are from East Islip.

MICHELLE

(brings her glass down to her chest)

East Islip?

Trish nods as Michelle glances at Nicole with a sinister beam. Nicole sides eyes Michelle with a solemn expression.

MICHELLE

(laughs)

Well, isn't that something? You know I grew up there when I was a teenager.

TRISH

Really? Did you go to Islip High?

MICHELLE

(rolls her eyes and shakes her head nonchalantly)

No, my parents sent me to an all-girl private school. They thought I'd be better off there than public school because it would take my mind off of boys. Obviously, as you can see, my mind was on other things.

Michelle looks at a blushing Nicole as she grabs Nicole's hand and squeezes it. Nicole fakes a smile and struggles to lift her lips upward as she caresses Michelle's hand.

Elle sees that Trish’s plate is empty, so she gets up from her seat. Chair SCRAPES against the floor. She extends her arm across the table.

ELLE

(to Trish)

I can take that.

TRISH

Oh, no. You don’t have to do that.

ELLE

It’s not a problem.

TRISH

Oh, okay.

Trish collects her knife and fork from the linen napkin. She puts the utensils on the plate and hands them to Elle as she exits the room.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Elle walks past the trashcan where two white aprons hang on the white-painted wall above.

She sets the dishes in the sink where a pile of other dishes remain. The plates and silverware collide with the dishes in the sink, CLINKING and CLATTERING loud enough to drown out the conversation of her moms and their guests.

The doorbell RINGS.

NICOLE (V.O.)

Open the door. He's here.

Elle looks up from what she is doing and removes her hands from the sink. She transfers the excess dish water to her black jeans as she leaves the kitchen to open the door.

CUT TO:

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Nicole swirls her half-empty wine glass on the table as she watches Dr. Brenner conversate with Michelle and Trish.

A look of disdain crosses her face while doing so.

Dr. Brenner throws his head back in laughter and grins.

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. (FLASHBACK) EAST ISLIP - NICOLE'S CAR (NOT MOVING) - DAY

A CLOSE UP on a photo of Dr. Brenner smiling in a lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck.

PULL THE CAMERA BACK TO reveal a file of information on Dr. Brenner with his photo in it.

MICHELLE (O.S.)

(to Nicole)

Are you sure it's him?

TWO SHOT of Nicole and Michelle sitting in their seats, seatbelts unfastened.

NICOLE

I know that smug look anywhere.

(pause)

He may think he has everyone else wrapped around his finger, feeding them lies. But he isn't fooling me. It's time for him to pay for what he did to that patient and his family. The next time I see him, he and his family will be the one covered in blood and I'll be the one to end their suffering.

END FLASHBACK:

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

The doorbell RINGS.

ELLE (O.S.)

Moms! The exterminator's here!

Michelle and Nicole's eyes meet.

Nicole breaks her gaze with her wife and smiles, looking down as she slides her chair out, SCRAPING the floor.

NICOLE

(frown turns into a smirk)

If you'll excuse me, I'll be right back.

CUT TO:

The door swinging open to the exterminator, ALEX, a thirty-one-year-old, hands tucked in the pocket of his navy blue utility jumpsuit. A black beanie matches his black Zappa mustache.

ALEX

Same problem, huh.

NICOLE

What'd you think I called you over for? Dinner?

ALEX

(chuckles)

Speaking of dinner, are you guests here?

NICOLE

Yes, they are.

ALEX

(grins)

Should I greet them or should we get down to business?

NICOLE

I think we'd better get down to business. I doubt they'd be delighted that their hosts have a mouse in their house.

CLOSE UP

Of Alex's index finger that has the same silver ring with an eye engraved in it as Nicole does. He takes the same hand that has the ring on his finger and lifts it up to adjust his beanie.

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

The room is pitch black before a light SWITCHES on to reveal Nicole and the Alex walking down the steps of the basement.

Nicole uses the rail to prevent herself from falling.

NICOLE

Alex, you are a life saver. Thank you for coming over. I didn't think you'd come since it's night.

ALEX

It's no biggie, I'm used to coming over here whenever you call me up about a mouse. Where do you think he came from?

Alex and Nicole make it to the basement floor. In the middle of the room are a washer and dryer machine and a laundry chute with a laundry basket with wheels. Next to the chute and basket is a shelf filled with gallons of detergent, packs of toilet paper and paper towels, two grey bins, boxes of light bulbs, and two tool boxes.

Under the staircase is a room with a door.

Nicole leads Alex to the room as she stops in front of the red door. She reaches into the back pocket of her skinny jeans and takes out a gold key.

CAMERA FOCUSES IN ON NICOLE'S FACE.

NICOLE

(unlocks the door; opens the door to darkness)

I think you know where he came from.

Nicole reaches her hand into the darkness, and a SWITCH turns on to discover that there is a conscious man in pajamas tied to a chair as countless mouse traps surround him.

CAMERA PULLS AWAY FROM NICOLE'S FACE AND PANS TO THE LEFT WHERE MR. RODRIGO appears to be restrained. His mouth is duct-taped and he is sweating with bloodshot eyes.

Alex's eyes widens as it changes to red.

ALEX

I can't believe this.

He runs to Mr. Rodrigo and pulls the duct tape off of his face.

ALEX

(laughs)

I can't believe you actually caught him yourself.

(pokes Rodrigo's face)

He's a big one.

RODRIGO

(pleading)

No! No, don't do this! Please!

PULL INTO Nicole's face, focus on the protruded veins under her eyes and her sclera turning red. When she opens her mouth, fangs slowly start to come out from teeth. Alex watches from behind as his eyes glow yellow.

FADE TO BLACK.