(Disclaimer, this is a true and very sad story.)
Fade In:
The Petermann Household – mid afternoon
In a suburban Ohio town, a girl learns the tragic news of a
beloved family members death.
CLAIRE, a girl 14 years of age, is dropped off by her
carpool group, as her father is at work, and her mother is on her way to pick
up the older sister, Danielle. She walks inside and starts looking around.
CLAIRE:
Gigi, Sipsee! I’m
home!!!
Two dogs, one tan and one black, both mutts and very fluffy,
come into view and beg for CLAIRE’S affection. CLAIRE obliges by sitting on the
floor and petting them enthusiastically. She then stands, moves to a couch to
sit on. She flips on the TV and begins to enjoy a mind-numbing episode of Spongebob
Squarepants.
Fade out:
Fade in:
CLAIRE is still sitting, but the show is now Boy Meets
World. She looks completely unaware of the world.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
CLAIRE reacts startled and looks out the window.
Outside stand two cops. One is looking through notes, and
the other one is talking to the first. CLAIRE sinks down, worried that there
are two cops. She quietly moves towards the house’s side door. She merges, and
sneaks to the side. She is hoping to hear a bit of the conversation. However,
she is immediately spotted.
COP
1:
(He
welcomingly waves her over)
Hey
there!
CLAIRE:
Hello,
is there a problem?
COP
2:
Are
your parents home, sweetie?
CLAIRE:
No,
just me at the moment
COP
1:
Well,
can you give us a phone number where we could reach one of them?
CLAIRE nervously walks over to them
CLAIRE:
(whispers)
Yes
CLAIRE give them her father’s phone number.
Can
I know what is going on?
COP
2:
We’ll
contact you guys in a few minutes.
The cops leave. CLAIRE runs inside immediately and calls her
mother.
DEBRA:
(over
the phone) Hello!
CLAIRE:
Hey,
so there were just some cops here. You on your way home yet?
DEBRA:
Nope,
still waiting on Danielle. But it shouldn’t be too much longer.
CLAIRE:
Alright,
well I’m gonna try to call Dad
DEBRA:
Okie
dokie. I love you, bye!
CLAIRE:
Love
you too bye.
MONTAGE SEQUENCE. Several cross cuts of CLAIRE trying to get
ahold of her father. CLAIRE starts to look very frantic as the scene
progresses.
Suddenly her father, DOUG, a fit man in his late 40’s in a
work suit, walks in.
CLAIRE:
I’ve
been trying to call you!
DOUG:
Oh,
sorry I haven’t had my sound on. You ok?
CLAIRE:
Yea,
but there were some cops here. Did they call you?
DOUG:
Um
(picks up his phone) yes, yes they did. I should call them back.
DOUG moves to the kitchen table and sits as he listens for
the cops to answer. CLAIRE leans in the doorway.
DOUG:
Hello
officer, how can I help you? Yes I am sitting down, why?
There is a muffled sound from the phone. DOUG’s demeanor
changes to sadness.
DOUG:
No,
you can’t tell me that.
CLAIRE:
Dad?
DOUG:
(Holds up a finger to make CLAIRE
wait) Ok, thank you officer. I’m going to call my wife now
CLAIRE:
Dad, what is going on?
DOUG:
Hang on, I’m gonna tell you and
Mom at the same time.
DOUG presses the speed dial to call DEBRA. There is an
ominous wait as both DOUG and CLAIRE are silent. DEBRA answers the phone.
DOUG:
Hey
Deb… Are you sitting?... I know she’s not there yet… Deb? Danielle’s gone!
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