ORIGINAL SCREEN PLAY “MANEATER”
[all three character sketches of Madison]
Original screenplay and art
MANEATER
BY: @laurabell
EXT. TRAILER - NIGHT
A blanket of moonlight shines upon a rusty trailer.
INT. TRAILER - NIGHT
The glowing moonlight seeps in through the white sheers that brush the floor of a somewhat messy bedroom.
A large Cindy Sherman-like portrait hangs on the wall over an empty bed.
On the nightstand, the clock reads 11pm. Beside it, a phone PINGS. The phone PINGS again... and again...
The toilet flushes. Moments later MADISON walks in from the bathroom. She unlocks her phone and clicks off a recent text from ‘Georgia’ to read a string of recent texts from ‘Nate’:
-- ‘Hey, you up?’
-- ‘Can’t remember what your beautiful body looks like. Pics? Don’t worry about clothes ;)’
--‘I know you like to stay up late... wanna hang out??’
-- ‘Hello? You up?’
Madison rolls her eyes with a grin. She replies: ‘Sorry in the shower’.
PING. Nate immediately replies: ‘Pics? ;)’.
Madison replies: ‘You’d be so lucky... Why don’t you come round instead?’.
Suddenly - SLAM! Something hits the side of the trailer. Madison doesn’t flinch.
[image of the Cindy-Sherman like portrait above Madison’s bed]
[photo of Madison]
[photo of Madison]
EXT. TRAILER — NIGHT
SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! With a hooded sweater obscuring his face, a menacing BOY throws three eggs hitting the front door.
The silver moon illuminates a group of BOYS laughing as they spray paint Madison’s trailer. They finish, drop the paint canisters and reach into their bags.
Stepping back, “MANEATER” is revealed to have been spray painted on the exterior of her trailer.
The boys hurl more eggs at the front door, which splatter.
A bright pair of headlights appear behind them.
BOY 1 Shit!
The boys laugh as they jump into their car and speed off into the night, passing the other approaching car.
The street light flickers as the car pulls up outside the trailer.
GLENNI steps out; she has long blond hair that is pinned up. She wears no make up and is wearing a green sweater vest and jeans. She grabs her purse from the dashboard before walking towards the front door.
INT. KITCHEN — NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
Madison is now wearing a pink silk dress with a pearl necklace. Her nails are painted dark purple.
Standing at the stove, she is following an apple cobbler recipe out of a cookbook while intermittently snapping a rubber band. There is a bowl of ripe red apples on the counter. The front door opens behind her, Glenni walks inside.
GLENNI
Idiots! They should be scared of
you. Not vandalizing us.
Madison turns, chuckles and continues cooking and snapping the rubber band.
Glenni plops down in a chair and takes off black leather boots. And pulls out a few french hair pins to loosen her updo. Some pins fall out of her hand and to the floor.
GLENNI (CONT’D) You be killin’ ‘em. Hot date
tonight?
MADISON (laughs and nods)
I’m in raw form. Why you think I look fabulous?
Glenni walks over to Madison and teasingly fingers the silk. Glenni‘s nails are painted white.
GLENNI
This feels like raw silk. How
carnivorous of you?
Glenni takes an “obligo” cookie out of the cookie jar and sits on the counter top.
MADISON (eye roll)
These pearls were my great-great grandmothers and the dress is vintage.
GLENNI
Didn’t your mother ever teach you
not to roll your eyes?
MADISON
My mother never taught demon
children, she only birthed them.
GLENNI
How long has that stick been stuck
up your ass?
MADISON (smirks)
A while.
GLENNI
Try Eons. And when was the last
time some boy came over for dinner?
MADISON
Bert Biota, remember him?
(shrugs and smiles)
I told him to drink 128 fluid ounces of pineapple juice 24 hours prior to our date too. Just like last time!
GLENNI
Yum.
Madison smirks.
GLENNI (CONT’D)
vegan if someone consents to eaten alive? Let's say, if I you to eat me, like my leg. Would that still fit inside your definition?
MADISON
Is that what you want Glenni? For
me to eat you alive?
Glenni nods.
MADISON (CONT’D)
No, I wouldn’t eat your leg. You’re
too skinny.
GLENNI
But when you swallow his guts and
rip apart his heart...
(makes a disgusted face)
I mean, you‘re going full-on carnivore tonight, right?
MADISON
You already know the answers to
these questions.
GLENNI
Oh, it’s a simple question! Do you
even consider this a cheat day or something?
MADISON
Cheating on who? I fit into my own
personal definition which includes humane meat [and] semen. Who cares? It’s a net positive cruelty-free act.
GLENNI
Words have lost their meaning if you’re now calling yourself a vegan. You make no sense.
MADISON
I have five senses, thank you very
much. Be honest, you just want to know my body count.
GLENNI
It’s murder, Madison.
MADISON
To each their own.
GLENNI
Mask off, baby doll.
MADISON
If plants feel pain the way you
keep telling me they do, there is no escaping suffering in the wake of my survival. Besides, the belief in total eradication of slaughter is an unrealistic utopia.
GLENNI
Your love for animals comes from
your beast-like heart.
MADISON
Honest hypocrites don’t justify.
GLENNI
Denial.
MADISON
Why do you seem to care so much? I
don’t get that. Read more, Glenni. Get out, See the world; leave this small town, my god.
GLENNI
Read what?
MADISON
How’s ‘bout this cookbook?
Madison throws a copy of the “stir the pot” cookbook to Glenni. She catches it and begins to turn through the pages. Madison snaps the rubber band.
GLENNI (taps picture)
Her! I know her.
MADISON
Yeah, her. The whole town knows
her. They both laugh.
Madison walks into the dining room with a platter of food with Glenni left sitting on the counter eating a cookie and reading the cookbook.
[photo of Madison and Glenni in the kitchen]
INT. DINING ROOM — NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
With the cookbook under her arm, Glenni follows Madison into the dining room from the kitchen where she is setting the table.
GLENNI
Tasty.
(points)
Tender heart tarts? I saw an article
in vague about these.
MADISON
From that same cookbook! I am
telling you, it’s a cult classic.
GLENNI
These were the tarts that were
found next to the body of the
president’s son on the
island of Wal decades ago.
MADISON
Yes, Cameron Antoinelli‘s piece,
years ago. That article in Vague I showed you? Previously tarts sold for $250 at Maximilian Norlin‘s Sunday brunch menu.
GLENNI
Until every housewife in Nebraska
was making them for dessert.
MADISON
They are delicious. And vague
delivers trends across the nation.
But the killer was never found.
GLENNI
They suspected a woman.
MADISON
What’s new? Besides, what husband couldn’t use a little reminder of the power we women hold? I love that it began to be trendy among housewives in the Midwest.
GLENNI
If they are a good husband, they’ll live.
MADISON
That’s the spirit.
GLENNI
Even though legend has it she hand
delivered these tarts to her rapist the day after — she got expelled from college.
MADISON
For what he did to her.
GLENNI
(nods)
These taste similar to the original.
MADISON
They are splendid.
Glenni begins reading the cookbook while Madison‘s staring at the clock; tarts all around.
GLENNI
These look mouth watering
(points at recipe in cookbook)
Madison taps fingers. The cuckoo clock sounds.
MADISON
I am so hungry that I could eat an
entire elephant.
Madison and Glenni both reach for another tart.
GLENNI
I’d imagine elephant meat to be
tough.
MADISON
I’d be surviving like any other
animal would.
GLENNI
Have you heard about that incident
with that mother elephant?
MADISON
The villagers threatened her calf,
and she snapped, consuming the man who posed the greatest danger — yeah...
GLENNI
It's a tragic outcome, a reality of
the dangers of human environmental encroachment.
MADISON
It's a stark reminder of the
consequences of our actions on the environment. Trying to impress me?
Glenni reaches for the bowl of apples on the table. Madison goes to stop her.
MADISON (CONT’D)
Woah! Don’t eat those.
Muffled footsteps grow louder.
MADISON (CONT’D)
I think I hear something.
The footsteps get even louder.
MADISON (CONT’D)
I think it’s him.
Madison glances at her watch as there is a knock at the door.
MADISON (CONT’D)
That must be Nate. Go!
Glenni runs to the pantry, hair flowing at her waist. She grabs a giant box of a chocolate exterior cookie with white creme filling — the box has “obligos” written on the outside. She has the cookbook in her hands as well.
MADISON (CONT’D)
I wouldn’t if I were you. I hope
you know what you’re doing.
(points to the cookie box)
Glenni’s long hair is down, hanging long with a center part.
GLENNI
Oh, get gone, already. I am
leaving, you know. And I won’t eavesdrop...
(takes a cookie from box)
...Too much...
Glenni begins to walk away.
GLENNI (CONT’D)
(smiling)
...Tell me when it’s over.
MADISON
Bye.
Another KNOCK. A man’s muffled yelling.
Glenni disappears down a dark hallway while Madison opens the front door.
INT. FRONT DOOR — CONTINUOUS
Madison swings open the door to Nate, who is pointing at the egg smeared across the door.
NATE (teasing)
You didn’t have to decorate just for me.
MADISON
Oh, if it isn’t the colossus of
Rhodes himself.
Nate pulls a fresh flower bouquet from behind his back and hands it to Madison.
MADISON (CONT’D) Well, well, well — you haven’t
heard?...
Madison points at the graffiti.
MADISON (CONT’D) ...I eat men.
Madison playfully snaps her teeth.
NATE (laughs)
Oh, I’ve heard.
MADISON
Don‘t laugh too hard, you could
choke.
Madison turns to him and puts both hands around her neck — they both smile.
MADISON (CONT’D)
Come in.
Madison steps aside and Nate enters.
INT. DINING ROOM — CONTINUOUS
Nate follows Madison to the dining table. The freshly baked apple cobbler is sitting aside.
NATE
It smells amazing in here. Is that
apple?
Nate approaches the cobbler, licking his lips. He reaches out to touch the apple oozing down the side.
Madison slaps his hand.
MADISON
Watch out, I could really tear your
world apart.
NATE
I doubt that but I’ll let you try.
Madison pulls out the chair for Nate lights the candles on the table, she begins to plate up their meals. They sit.
Madison raises her glass.
MADISON Cheer to — me, trying.
Madison and Nate clink wine glasses and Nate begins eating. Madison doesn’t take her eyes off Nate. She starts snapping the rubber band. It snaps.
Pushing her meal aside, Madison slides the cobbler and begins to cut slices into it.
NATE
This tastes amazing. Is there
anything you can’t do?
MADISON
We’ll have to see.
NATE
I haven’t been able to stop
thinking about you. It’s like, every time,
my heart skips a beat.
MADISON (flirty)
Only a beat? I bet I could change that.
NATE (flirting back)
I’m sure some nudes would do the trick. You’ve never tried that.
Madison watches Nate finishing the food on his plate.
MADISON
Please, excuse me. I won’t be long.
Madison strokes Nate’s shoulder as she leaves the room.
Alone, Nate’s attention turns to the appetizing cobbler. The temptation proves too strong. He slides it closer and scoops a slice onto a clean plate, and takes a large spoonful. Nate’s eyes close as he relishes the intense flavor. He quickly eats up every crumb. As he swallows the last bite, his face seizes up... something is horribly wrong. Nate clutches his purple neck as he struggles to breathe.
Moments later, Nate’s eyes roll back as his face plummets onto the table, revealing Madison standing in the doorway behind him with a satisfied grin eating a tender heart tart.
EXT. PARK PAVILION — DAY
Madison and Glenni walk on the yellow cobble stoned road leading to a grassy knoll. They sit for a picnic they brought with them.
MADISON
I was up quite late last night.
GLENNI
I know, right.
Glenni wafts the air towards her direction.
MADISON
He looked like a Greek god; how
could I resist?
GLENNI
You smell different.
MADISON
Well, like Lady Macbeth, my perfume
covers the stench of my sins.
Madison tugs at her red above-elbow length maroon gloves.
GLENNI
No, really, what perfume are you
wearing?
MADISON
Chanel number 5.
GLENNI
It reminds me of my grandmother.
MADISON
I get that a lot. It reminds me of
the sins of an orphan named Gabriella.
GLENNI
I don’t even want to ask about the
leather wrapped handles on that picnic basket.
MADISON
Then don’t.
GLENNI
I mean, I am just saying...
MADISON (interrupts)
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat the fruit”.
GLENNI
Who said that?
MADISON
It is a spell written in an ancient
grimoire. It acts like a mirror, helps to reflect unverified inner personal messages back to the listener.
Glenni holds up a spoon filled with yellow curd.
MADISON (CON’T)
(Waves spoon/ silly)
Don’t make me curse you!
GLENNI
Spooky. Have you held this up to a
mirror and said ‘I call this cheese?’
MADISON
It‘s good! Have you even tried it?
GLENNI
It is a tasty custard spread, sure.
It is rich and delicious, I’ll give you that.
(smells it)
But it sounds like false advertising. When someone says cheese, I think cow milk.
MADISON
Call if whatever you would like.
It’s from that one cookbook you like, with that article in vague.
They begin eating.
MADISON (CONT’D)
Look at you! Your first fully ever
conscious vegan meal. Thanks for coming with me today, even though you can be quite annoying.
GLENNI
Conscious?
MADISON
I mean, I am sure you‘ve had
accidental vegan meals.
(chews and swallows)
Take last night when you
binge ate an entire box of Obligos.
Glenni stops chewing and looks up at Madison.
GLENNI
Obligos are vegan?
MADISON
Yup, the crème filled center was
soy. Surprised?
GLENNI
Shook!
MADISON
Did you know been listening to Fiona Apple since elementary school?
GLENNI
Do men call you insufferable?
MADISON
Her music hit harder than my
father did. And of course they do. Look at me. Pure panic.
The girls giggle as they eat through their picnic.
EXT. RIVER — DAY
Madison and Glenni are standing behind an arched branch looking over the bank of the river.
GLENNI
Is this what you wanted to see?
Madison put her arm around Glenni.
MADISON
(smiling)
Yeah, this is it... I’ll have to be leaving soon.
And I just wanted to stop by one more time. I love this spot.
GLENNI
Where are you going?
MADISON
I am thinking about Huat? Wanna
come?
GLENNI
Ugh, I don’t want to have to
move... again.
MADISON
We might have too.
There is a pause as they reflect, looking at the river flowing by under the arched branch.
They hug.
MADISON (CONT’D)
Once is too much and a thousand is
never enough.
GLENNI
I am glad we came.
They hug.
INT. TRAILER LIVING ROOM — NIGHT
Madison sits in the dark, engrossed by the cookbook ‘Stir The Pot’, which is being reviewed on her TV screen. She stands up
INT. HALLWAY — CONTINUOUS
Madison moves through the creepy, dimly lit hallway.
INT. ROOM — NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Madison reaches a doorway, revealing her room. Hidden off to the side is a massive refrigerator.
She opens up the fridge doors and it lights up her face.
We see jars containing men’s body parts littered around the inside. Behind her, more jars of lips, eyes and fingers being pickled lined the inside of her basement walls.
Delighted and unfazed, she pulls out a container of ground meat and heads upstairs, whistling as she exits.
INT. KITCHEN — NIGHT
Madison begins cooking and rolling up meat patties to fry on the stove. Glenni enters.
GLENNI
Now, this smells about right! Oh, I
am so excited!
MADISON
Thanks for all your help, by the
way.
GLENNI
The worst part was using that
pressure washer to get the spray paint off. Then, I had to repaint the exterior. And that wasn’t even the worst part.
Glenni bows.
GLENNI (CONT’D)
Please, sing my praises even more.
MADISON
Set the table, would you?
As Glenni sets the table — KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK. Glenni listens out for a BEAT.
INT. HOUSE, FRONT DOOR — NIGHT
Glenni peers through the peephole.
She opens the door to the TWO POLICE OFFICERS, who are standing outside with stern expressions.
GLENNI
Hello.
OFFICER ONE
We’re looking for Madison Lanza. Is
she home?
GLENNI
Well, I don’t know if —
OFFICER ONE (stern)
—we just have a few questions for her. It won’t take up much of her time.
Glenni struggles to read the severity of Officer One’s expression.
GLENNI
We’re just about to eat dinner.
MADISON (O.S.)
Let them in, there’s plenty of food
to go around. Glenni smiles.
GLENNI
Please, come in.
Glenni waves them in, Officer two smiles back, and they follow her inside.
INT. DINING ROOM — NIGHT
Glenni leads the officers through the house, who sneakily scan the shadowy pockets of the room as they enter. They perch on a chair at the table while Glenni continues setting it.
Retrieving two plates, Glenni makes room for the officers to sit at the table.
MADISON
(approaching holding
spatula)
Evening, officers. Hope you don’t mind
if I continue to eat?
OFFICER ONE
Madison?
Madison holds out her hands to shake their hands with a warm smile. They oblige.
OFFICER TWO
Strong grip, my girl.
MADISON
I’m no one’s girl — Officer.
(waves her free hand)
Don‘t make me blush.
The officers‘ posture remains stiff, unrelaxed.
While they get settled, Madison retreats to the kitchen and returns with food platters for the table — burgers and a side of coleslaw.
GLENNI
(smirking)
The coleslaw is dairy-free and vegan.
OFFICERS TWO
So you’re both vegan? I presume?
GLENNI
Me, no. Just the coleslaw.
These burgers are too good to give up...
Officer One side-eyes Officer Two with a hint of suspicion.
GLENNI (CONT’D)
(eyes her friend)
Can you believe this woman
here still thinks she’s vegan?
MADISON
Pardon my friend, you’ve caught me
at a bad time.
Madison takes a big bite of her burger.
MADISON
(Eats while talking)
Humane meat
OFFICER ONE
(bluntly)
Do you know a man named
Nate Westley Reynolds?
Glenni and Madison don’t look up from their food.
GLENNI
The one with all those rape
allegations at the University?
OFFICER TWO
The very same.
Madison looks right into Officer Two’s eyes.
MADISON
I have. In fact, I was with him
last night. I am assuming that
this is why you guys are here?
OFFICER TWO
Is he here now?
MADISON
Last night isn’t the same, Officer.
OFFICER ONE
Can you confirm when it is you last saw him?
MADISON
Has he done something wrong?
OFFICERS TWO
Please, just answer the question.
MADISON
Maybe midnight.. last night
OFFICER ONE
—where?
MADISON
He came round for a late night snake. My apple
cobbler went down a treat - it was to die for, if I do say so myself.
GLENNI
Has something happened?
OFFICER ONE
His parents have reported him
missing. He missed his flight to Huat.
OFFICER TWO
Do you know if he went anywhere
after you saw him? How did he seem when he left?
MADISON
No. He seemed happy.
GLENNI
Hide your men or she‘ll eat them
right up.
Madison and Glenni share a giggle.
Officer Two shoots Glenni an intimidating look.
Officer One stands. He paces the room, entitled for clues that could point him to Nate’s whereabouts.
MADISON
What can I say? I am a wild woman
boys. They usually leave happy, alright.
OFFICER ONE
I am going to need you to be more
specific do you have any idea where he could have gone after?
MADISON
(Shrugging)
Home, I assume.
He was tired.
(Pause)
Are you all hungry?
OFFICER ONE
I‘m fine, thanks... Tired, you say?
MADISON
He ate a little too much, he
practically fell asleep at the table!
Madison holds up the plate of burgers. Officer Two takes one. Officer Two eyes Officer One and shrugs.
GLENNI
Coleslaw?
OFFICER TWO
Oh, why not?
Officer one watches in disbelief as Officer two begins to eat.
Officer one steps closer to Madison.
OFFICER ONE
What did you do last night after he
left?
MADISON
(finishing chewing)
I had the best night’s sleep of my life.
OFFICER ONE
Alone?
MADISON
Unfortunately.
OFFICER ONE
When you saw Mr. Reynolds last, do
you recall talking about anything of importance?
MADISON
Well, now that I think about it, he
mentioned he was scared to go back to Huat with his family. After all, the girl who accused him lives there.
Officer Two looks up with a mouthful of food.
OFFICERS TWO
Georgia Adams?
MADISON
Isn‘t it a shame how she tarnished
his blossoming reputation? Some people are easily misunderstood.
Madison glares at Officer Two.
Office One notices Madison’s copy of ‘Stir the Pot’ by Georgia Adams. He frowns, as if thinking whether this could mean something.
They all continue eating in silence.
MADISON (CONT’D)
You guys don’t think that maybe she
had something to do with his disappearance, do you?
GLENNI
In my opinion, she really needed a
therapist After what happened? And so publicly?
GLENNI (CONT’D) It’a insanity.
Officer one takes a deep breath, staring at Madison for a long BEAT.
OFFICER ONE
(pulls out business card)
If you hear anything from Nate, or anything else about Georgia, please give us a call.
Officer one hands the business card to Madison. As he does, he takes a second to glance at Madison’s freshly painted red French tip manicure.
MADISON
You know I will...
(grabs the card)
With a blank expression, Officer one nods.
OFFICER ONE
Rest assured, we will find Nate.
It’s hard to decipher whether Officer One’s tone is a warning to Madison or a reassuring remark.
MADISON
Oh, I have no doubts.
Officer One slaps officer Two on the back mid-bite. Officer Two coughs and stands up with a half finished plate.
OFFICER TWO
Those burgers were heavenly, I’d love the recipe. Thank you ladies...
MADISON
(Smiled)
It’s a family secret. I’d tell you, but then your other friends may have to come hunting around here again.
Officer Two laughs and shakes their hands before Glenni leads both the officers back to the front door.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT — MOMENTS LATER
Madison listens as the door closes. Glenni soon returns and sits down at the now-unkept on the table.
MADISON
I have dessert! And, it‘s vegan!
GLENNI
Is it really vegan? Or is it
‘vegan’ like you?
Glenni LAUGHS before tasting the pudding.
GLENNI (CONT’D)
This is incredibly unlike those
avocados or whatever I saw you put into this when you were making it a few days ago? Chickpeas?
MADISON
Put it this way, it‘s from the very
same cookbook.
GLENNI
I could have guessed. I’m sure
Georgia would be delighted to know. Madison takes a bite of her pudding.
MADISON
So, yes; it’s vegan. Just like me.
GLENNI
You are not vegan. Common!
MADISON
Yes. I. Am.
MADISON (CONT’D)
Shut the fuck up or I’ll kill
you too... Madison cracks a smile.
MADISON (CONT’D)
...I wonder what you’d taste like.
They laugh.
MADISON
Harm reduction, Glenni. You know he
did it.
GLENNI
Speaking of, did you
notice the way the officer was eying that cookbook?
MADISON
Of course, it’s almost funny how he
thought he was being subtle.
GLENNI
Did he seem a little suspicious?
MADISON
Oh I have no doubt he’ll be back
eventually. But we’ll be long gone before then. Let’s go. I think it’s time.
Madison smiles.
MADISON (CONT’D)
...And we’ve got many more recipes
to try out for her next cookbook...
Madison moves to the stove and turns the gas on full. She then swipes a half-drunken bottle of vodka from the kitchen counter and splashes it over the electrical outlets.
Madison and Georgia depart, leaving the hissing blue flames.
The camera pans around the room and lands on the cookbook left behind - “Stir the Pot“ by Georgia Adams. The camera moves past the cookbook, drifting out of the window.
TRANSITION TO:
EXT. TRAILER - NIGHT — MOMENTS LATER
Madison and Glenni are standing in the moonlit field, looking toward the trailer. Madison lights a match and hurls it at the trailer, which immediately sets alight.
Madison and Glenni jump into Glenni’s car, warmed by the rising flames. Madison pulls it from her pocket. She opens ‘Georgia’ from her recent contact list and texts: “We’re on our way”.
Glenni ignites the engine and drives off into the darkness... the blazing fire shrinks in the rearview mirror.
THE END