Short film — psychological thriller
Everything
An interrogation that keeps folding back on itself, until the story Jay is telling stops matching the room he is telling it in.
Written by Sara Dhandore
FADE IN:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
A RECORDER sits on a table.
The DETECTIVE presses RECORD.
Silence.
Across from him sits JAY, early 20s. Calm. Almost too calm.
DETECTIVE
So tell me what happened.
Jay stares at the recorder.
A beat.
JAY
I came home with Mira.
CUT TO BLACK.
TITLE: EVERYTHING
INT. MIRA'S APARTMENT - EVENING
Warm light.
The front door opens. MIRA enters, laughing. Jay follows, carrying bags.
MIRA
You bought all that?
JAY
You said you were hungry.
MIRA
Well yeah..
They walk inside. Everything feels ordinary.
A BROKEN PICTURE FRAME lies on the floor.
MIRA
Did you leave it like this?
Jay looks at it.
JAY
No.
A faint THUD comes from the bedroom.
They both stop.
Silence.
Another sound.
Mira looks at Jay.
MIRA
Did you hear that?
JAY
Uhh yeah....
A THUD heard again.
MIRA
Call the police!
Jay takes out his phone and calls the police.
CUT.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
The recorder is still running.
DETECTIVE
And then?
Jay doesn't look at her.
JAY
I called the police.
The detective watches him.
DETECTIVE
Immediately?
JAY
Immediately.
The detective writes something down.
DETECTIVE
What did you see?
Jay pauses.
JAY
I don't know.
A beat.
DETECTIVE
You just said you called the police immediately.
Jay looks up.
JAY
I did.
DETECTIVE
I asked what you saw.
Silence.
Jay looks at the recorder.
CUT.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - LATER
The detective sits forward.
DETECTIVE
How long have you known Mira?
JAY
A long time.
DETECTIVE
And you were close?
Jay smiles faintly.
JAY
She's the kindest person I've ever met.
DETECTIVE
I didn't ask if she was kind.
Jay's smile disappears.
JAY
No.
The detective studies him.
DETECTIVE
Who would want to hurt her?
JAY
Nobody.
A beat.
JAY
Nobody. She doesn't have enemies. I wasn't the one who hurt her.
DETECTIVE
Interesting.
Jay looks at him.
DETECTIVE
I didn't say she was hurt.
Silence.
Jay's face drops.
CUT TO BLACK.
INT. MIRA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
A doorbell rings.
Mira opens the door. The detective stands outside.
DETECTIVE
Miss Mira?
She looks confused.
MIRA
Yes?
DETECTIVE
I'm the detective following up on your case.
Mira hesitates.
MIRA
My case?
DETECTIVE
May I come in?
She slowly steps aside.
MIRA
Sure.
INT. MIRA'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Mira and the detective sit opposite each other.
DETECTIVE
So how many people know about what happened here?
MIRA
What happened?
DETECTIVE
The robbery.
Mira stares at her. Then laughs nervously.
MIRA
The robbery?
The detective nods.
MIRA
That was months ago.
DETECTIVE
Months?
Mira's expression changes.
MIRA
Yes.
A beat.
MIRA
The case was closed.
The detective leans forward.
DETECTIVE
Closed how?
MIRA
They caught the guy.
Silence.
DETECTIVE
You're certain?
MIRA
Of course.
The detective looks around the room.
DETECTIVE
Then why would someone tell me it happened tonight?
Mira's face changes.
MIRA
Who?
The detective pulls out his phone. He shows her a photograph.
JAY.
DETECTIVE
Do you know him?
Mira looks at the photograph.
MIRA
Jay? Yes.
The detective waits.
MIRA
He's my neighbor.
The detective's expression changes.
DETECTIVE
Your neighbor?
MIRA
Yeah.
A beat.
MIRA
Why?
The detective doesn't answer. Instead-
DETECTIVE
When was the last time you saw him?
Mira thinks but doesn't reply.
CUT TO BLACK.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
Jay sits exactly where we left him.
DETECTIVE
You said you came home with Mira.
Jay says nothing.
DETECTIVE
You said you knew her.
Nothing.
DETECTIVE
You said you called the police.
Jay looks up.
DETECTIVE
There is no call.
Silence.
JAY
Maybe I forgot.
DETECTIVE
You forgot calling the police?
Jay smiles.
JAY
It was a long night.
The detective pushes the photograph toward him.
It's a photograph of Mira's apartment building.
DETECTIVE
You don't live in that house.
Jay looks at the photograph.
DETECTIVE
You've never lived there.
Jay's smile disappears.
DETECTIVE
So let's try again.
A long silence.
DETECTIVE
Tell me what happened.
Jay looks directly at him.
JAY
I came home with Mira.
The detective stares at him.
JAY
She was scared.
DETECTIVE
Jay-
JAY
I was there.
The detective realizes something.
DETECTIVE
Jay she's just your neighbour.
Jay smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
CLICK.
The recording continues.
He looks up with a smirk.
Jay's voice.
JAY (V.O.)
She's my everything.
Jay sees Mira sitting opposite him.
Zoom in on the empty chair in front of Jay.
Silence.
CUT TO BLACK.
The recorder clicks off.
FADE OUT.
END