[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
