19 Nocturne Boulevard - CHILLIN' - Reissue
b'
When eccentric recluse Simon Strong, who lives in a perpetually chilled state, vanishes (leaving some rather suspicious remains behind),
his only known associate\\u2014a teenage delivery girl\\u2014is interviewed by the police!
Cast List
Amber Sorensen - Krystal Baker
Simon Strong - Joel Harvey
Det. Phyllis Jermyn - Julie Hoverson
Det. Howard Upton - Reynaud LeBoeuf
Music:\\xa0 Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com)
Recorded with the assistance of Ryan Hirst of Neohoodoo Studio
Editing and Sound: \\xa0 Julie Hoverson
Cover Photo:\\xa0 (courtesy of Stock Xchange.com)
"What kind of a place is it?
Why it\'s a police station, can\'t you tell?"
********************************************
Chillin\'
This didn\\u2019t actually begin with me choosing to adapt another Lovecraft story (in this case "Cool Air").\\xa0 Frankly, I really liked the 1999 short film, and have a soft spot for the version made for Night Gallery back in the 70s, so I never really considered Cool Air as a priority for adaptation - it had already been done well.\\xa0 Plus it was kind of low hanging fruit - one of the simpler, more straightforward stories to adapt.
Previous to this, I had produced Within the Walls of Eryx, and even before that, while studying screenwriting, I had practiced adaptation by playing with The Thing on the Doorstep, turning it into an hour-long screenplay that I eventually re-wrote into an episode of 19 Nocturne Boulevard.
Nope, this started when my niece Krystal and I went to see the film Juno.
We enjoyed the movie, and leaving it I decided I wanted to write a sassy teenage character, and started clicking through plots in my head that I could slap her into.\\xa0 The irony of sticking a character HPL would undoubtedly loathe into one of his stories did not escape me, and when "Cool Air" crossed my mind, it basically started to write itself.
I hammered out the script in less than a week and sent it to Krystal and asked if Amber sounded reasonably authentic, since Krystal was right about that age herself.\\xa0 Her response was "Could I please play her?" \\xa0She did, and did a great job.\\xa0 I really love working with and encouraging kids in the arts.
Sig and Laurie (mentioned in the story as Amber\'s folks, but in reality my own dad and stepmom) came to watch the recording session with Krystal and be supportive, and Laurie at least can be heard in the bloopers in the end.\\xa0
I also owe great thanks to my friend Robyn who helped with the punk rock details.\\xa0 She knows rock history back and forth and I knew I just needed the right comment or two to make the character really pop.\\xa0
The story adaptation is extremely loose - in the original, a writer moves into a flat below a doctor who keeps his rooms unnaturally cold, and finds out that the doc has maintained his life, long past standard death, by keeping himself perpetually chilled, presumably at least in part to prevent decay.
Rather than going the doctor/science route for my version, I went with magic and reanimation.\\xa0 I did work a little hint into the story that Simon might be considering some further hocus pocus to preserve himself, but which might involve harming Amber, and he decides he can\'t.\\xa0 On the other hand, Amber\'s slightly guilty concern about having her backpack possibly searched and her disregard for the missing "spooky books" might just indicate that she\'s not quite ready to let go yet.
The original story "Cool Air" is also notable in that a female character is actually quoted as speaking - the landlady of the flats.\\xa0 Of course, this is only so she can be a terrible ethnic stereotype, but at least she actually talks, and may be the only female in all of HPL\'s major works who does.\\xa0
Stay tuned at the end of this for a short clip of the German version of Chillin\' (retitled "Eiskalt") from Contendo Media!!!
********************************************
CHILLIN\'
Cast:
Olivia (host)
Amber Sorensen (16), punky teen
Simon Strong (60s), aged punk rocker
Det. Howard Upton (30s), tough cop
Det. Phyllis Jermyn (30s), nice cop
Bouncers
OLIVIA \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Did you have any trouble finding it?\\xa0 What do you mean, what kind of a place is it?\\xa0 Why, it\'s a police station, can\'t you tell?\\xa0
MUSIC\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 MODERN COP DRAMA STING
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 THUNK OF TAPE RECORDER TURNING ON.\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM - WHIR OF TAPE RECORDER.\\xa0 OCCASIONAL SCUFFLE OF CHAIRS
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Name?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [mocking] Sorensen. Amber.\\xa0 S-O-R-E-N-S-E-N.\\xa0 O-N is Norwegian.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [said a million times] O-N is Norwegian, E-N is Danish.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 So you\'re Danish?
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0[disgusted noise] Do I sound Danish?\\xa0 Uch.\\xa0 Like my great great great great great was.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Then why--?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I understand.\\xa0 My name gets misspelled all the time.\\xa0 Let\'s move on.\\xa0 Present are detectives Howard Upton and Phyllis Jermyn [pronounced "german", pause] J-E-R-M-Y-N, and Amber Sorensen, with an E-N.\\xa0
UPTON \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Age?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I have the right to remain silent.\\xa0 I have the right to an attorney.\\xa0 If I cannot afford one, one will be ... assigned?\\xa0 Allotted?\\xa0 I should know this - I watch enough Law and Order.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sigh] We don\'t read witnesses their rights.\\xa0 That\'s for suspects.\\xa0 Age?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sullen] You got my I.D.\\xa0 What does it say?
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Hmm.\\xa0 You don\'t look 21.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sympathetic] You really don\'t.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Fine.\\xa0 So it\'s a fake - I want to speak to the D.A., like trade my information in return for a slide on the bogus I.D., can I\\u2011\\u2011??
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 PHONE BEEP
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh, turn that off.\\xa0 Not just silent, either.\\xa0 Off.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 PHONE BEING TURNED OFF
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 We\'re really not interested in prosecuting you.\\xa0 We just want to know about Simon Strong.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The alleged Simon Strong.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Dude.\\xa0 He was the full meal deal, you know.\\xa0 I watched videos of his band, from like before I was born, and it was totally him.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Then who was the deceased?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Like I said, it was him.\\xa0 What?\\xa0 Do you ride the short bus?
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It couldn\'t be him, because you said you spoke with him recently, and--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [cutting him off] \\xa0Let\'s start at the beginning.\\xa0 How did you meet Mr. Strong?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [miserable] \\xa0He hates being called Mister.\\xa0 [deep breath, blas\\xe9 lies] \\xa0I was making a delivery--
MUSIC
\\xa0
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 HEAVY METAL/PUNK MUSIC FADES INTO THE BACKGROUND, AMBER BECOMES VOICE OVER.
AMBER [v.o.]\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 --of, some box or other.\\xa0 I got inside, took the wrong turn--
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 MUSIC IS MUFFLED BY DISTANCE, BUT CLEARLY LOUD
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 AMBER\'S HEAVY BREATHING UP CLOSE - SOUNDS LIKE ECSTASY, BUT IT\'S JUST PANIC AND EXERTION.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh, shit!
AMBER [v.o]\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I was supposed to go to the manager\'s office--
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 HEAVY FOOTSTEPS APPROACH AT A RUN
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 AMBER\'S BREATHING QUICKENS.\\xa0 HER FOOTSTEPS TAKE OFF QUICKLY.
BOUNCER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [off] Get back here, dogmeat!
AMBER [v.o]\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And I just knocked on the wrong door.
SOUND \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0HEAVY FEET ARE DISTANT, BUT APPROACHING.\\xa0
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 AMBER\'S FEET GET CLOSE.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 SLAM OF BODY AGAINST DOOR.\\xa0 POUNDING ON DOOR
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Let me in!\\xa0 They\'re after me!!!\\xa0 Please!\\xa0
SOUND \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0POUNDING CONTINUES.\\xa0 HEAVY FEET GET CLOSER
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Please!\\xa0 I - I\'m having a heart attack!\\xa0 Let me in or I\'ll totally die!
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 SLIDING DOOR OPENS
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Whoa!
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 STUMBLING STEPS FORWARD, BODY FALLS, SLIDING DOOR SHUTS.\\xa0
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 MUSIC CUTS OUT COMPLETELY.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh. \\xa0Shit.\\xa0 Look, I\'m--
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 SCUTTLING ACROSS WOOD FLOOR
SIMON \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0[filtered, mechanical sounding]\\xa0 Look into the camera please.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Camera--?\\xa0 Oh.\\xa0 [shivers slightly]\\xa0
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 A COUPLE OF HESITANT FOOTSTEPS
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Hi!\\xa0 Look, can you just tell me how to get out of here?\\xa0 There\'s no need for --
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [filter] What was that about a heart attack?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh, that.\\xa0 That was - that was bullshit.\\xa0 [joking] \\xa0I had it removed - years ago.
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM [CUTS IN SUDDENLY]
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Was your relationship with this Mister Strong, sexual?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Ew!!!\\xa0 He was like my great grandad\'s age - like, even older than you!
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [coughs away a laugh]\\xa0 You say you made the delivery and just happened to "make friends" with Strong?\\xa0 Everyone else says he was a complete recluse.\\xa0 Didn\'t like people.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Nah.\\xa0 He liked people, but he was really sick.\\xa0 I mean, like ill, not deviant.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [on filter]\\xa0 Step through.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 DOOR SLIDES OPEN
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0COOL ROOM - THE HUM OF A HEAVY FREEZER UNIT
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [gasps at the cold]\\xa0 Whoa!\\xa0 Um, can I just go?\\xa0 I promise not to try any --
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [unfiltered, but rough and almost a whisper]\\xa0 What WERE you trying?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I ... really just wanted to hear the band, but your guys caught me.\\xa0 I mean, I assume since you\'re here, they\'re yours--
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I own the club, yes.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [after a slight silence]\\xa0 Okay, is it just me or is your heater broken?\\xa0 [brr noise]
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [dry chuckle]\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [noticing something] Dude!\\xa0
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 A COUPLE OF EXCITED FOOTSTEPS
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Can you watch, like, the whole entire club from here?
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR SHIFTS
SIMON \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0[disinterested] I can--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Omigod!\\xa0 Do you have sound?\\xa0 Is there a button?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 --but it gets boring after a while.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 They\'re totally bumping uglies in the bathroom, right there!\\xa0 Look!\\xa0 Look!
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 SWITCH
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [annoyed]\\xa0 Hey!
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM CUTS IN
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Sick?\\xa0 What kind of disease did he have, Ebola?\\xa0 The state of that body--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 We really shouldn\'t go into that yet, Howie.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What time is it?
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What?\\xa0 Why?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Just asking.\\xa0 You made me turn my phone off.\\xa0 I have a curfew.\\xa0
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Would you like us to call home for you?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [shrug]\\xa0 Nah.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And your parents, they approved of all this?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 My folks are...\\xa0 Cool.\\xa0 They don\'t care--
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Like they don\'t mind that hair cut?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Sig and Laurie let me do dumb stuff cause they know I won\'t do anything stupid.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Like spending all your time hanging out in a bar?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It\'s a club.\\xa0 And, for a rocker, Simon was pretty uptight about underage boozing and ...stuff.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [leaps on it] Stuff?\\xa0 What kind of stuff?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What?\\xa0 Stuff.\\xa0 Just ... stuff.\\xa0 Dude, you need to switch to decaf.\\xa0 Or valium.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Did you ever see this man with any illegal substances?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Well, he had all kinds of medications - being sick and all, and I [sounding mock sorry]\\xa0 I guess I forgot to look them all up in the handy dandy book of all things illegal.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I thought prescription pills were the latest thing these days.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Only with the kind of freak whose parents go to shrinks and who have time to sit around and stare at carpet lint.\\xa0 I got better things to do.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Like what?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Plus it\'s dangerous.\\xa0 You know what viagra can do to--\\xa0 What?
JERMYN \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0What kinds of things do you like to do?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I-- like music, I write. I function as a higher organism.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 She means what do you plan to do with your life, Amber Sorensen with an E-N?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Actually I was just--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What do you want, a mission statement and a business plan?\\xa0 Dude, I\'m 16.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I knew what I wanted to do at 16.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [muttered] But your ass is so tight it whistles.\\xa0
JERMYN \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0[tries not to snicker]
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Hmm?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [louder] I bet your dad was a cop.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 So?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Nothing.\\xa0 Just you seem like maybe you grew up with it.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Are you gonna follow in your folks\' footsteps?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [flat and sarcastic] Oh, yeah.\\xa0 Weddings are my life.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 We don\'t want to keep you here all night - curfew, and all that.\\xa0 What was wrong with your friend?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Simon said he had some kind of wasting thing --
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COOL ROOM
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Munoz syndrome.\\xa0 I have to carefully regulate my body temperature.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 So you\'re, like, Mr. Freeze?\\xa0 Not exactly Ahh-nold, there, string bean.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And I have to avoid excitement.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [pause] \\xa0That\'s a hint, eh?\\xa0 Can I at least get out without going through the American Gladiators?
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 SLIDING DOOR OPENS
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Thanks.\\xa0 Hey, if you get completely bored or anything, my I-M is--
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 No.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Um, ok.\\xa0 You just seem kinda lonely.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 HER SLOW FOOTSTEPS
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 WHEELCHAIR SHIFTS AGAIN
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Perhaps you could come back tomorrow, during the day.\\xa0 I could use someone to run errands for me.\\xa0 The pay would be reasonable.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Could I watch the band?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You could watch from here, but you\'d have to dress warmly--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I\'ll bring a parka!
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Are you adopted?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [flabbergasted] What?\\xa0 Whoa!\\xa0 I think there are some low-flying non sequeters in here.\\xa0 Did you see where that came from?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Uh... no.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You call your parents [checks notes] um, Sig and Laurie.
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Doh, everyone does.\\xa0 [slow and condescending] Those are their names, Billy.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Most kids your age still call their folks mom and dad.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Maybe most kids your age.\\xa0 Most of us would rather be cremated.\\xa0 [shrugs] mm.\\xa0 Except to their face.\\xa0 The folks still like to think we\'re all the same little rugrats they knew and love.\\xa0 [snort]
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 So you make a point of lying to your folks?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 There\'s that non-sequeter again.\\xa0 You should really get a bug zapper.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You probably think of it as "humoring them" rather than lying.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Two faced is two faced.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 If you can\'t be two-faced, you shoulda found a better one to be stuck with.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Look here--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I bet you never get to play good cop.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Howie, maybe we should take a break.\\xa0 Get some water.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [growl] I\'m fine.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Would you get me some?\\xa0 Amber?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Uh, sure.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [annoyed noise]\\xa0
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 STOMPS OUT, DOOR SLAMS
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Wow.\\xa0 Where do I get one?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Don\'t be fooled - I\'m not always the good cop.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You say you don\'t do drugs.\\xa0 We could test you--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [disgusted noise] pssh.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 --and go through your backpack--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [worried] Huh?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But I\'m going to trust you on that, because you walked right past one of our drug dogs on the way in, and I don\'t think you\'re the type to get caught in a stupid lie.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [thinks, then] You think I\'ll get caught in a smart one?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Let\'s just agree that I won\'t underestimate you, and you do me the same favor.
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COLD ROOM
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 DOOR SLIDES OPEN
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You can leave it there.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 FOOTSTEPS
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Hey.\\xa0 Wassup?
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 WHIR OF WHEELCHAIR TURNING
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [annoyed] What?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Just making conversation.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 "Wassup" isn\\u2019t conversation.
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0It is if you answer.\\xa0 Besides, with most of my friends, I-M-H-O, O-M-G, L-O-L is conversation.\\xa0 Wassup is practically a monolog.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [snort, then painful noise, trying not to cough]\\xa0 Well.\\xa0 [dismissive] Now that that\'s settled--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [overly casual] If you want me to go, just say.\\xa0 [shrug] I got stuff to do.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 a MOMENT, then FOOTSTEPS GO AWAY
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [calling] You... you wanted to watch the band?
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 DOOR OPENS, FOOTSTEPS
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Your water.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 WATER BOTTLES GET SLAMMED DOWN, ONE BY ONE
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Thank you. Howie.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [makes disgruntled noises]
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Yeah.\\xa0 Cheers, Howie.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [disgusted noise] Huh.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Look, my parents actually like me to use their names - makes them feel like they\'re helping me assert my personhood or something.\\xa0 I do it to humor them.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Fine.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [trying to sound unconcerned] We need a physical description of the alleged Mr. Strong.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Watch a video of Madness Machine on Youtube.\\xa0 Then figure older.\\xa0 A bunch older.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 How very...specific. \\xa0How tall was he?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 That\'s kind of a pickle.\\xa0 I never saw him stand up - he was always in his bumper car.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The mechanized wheelchair.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 He had to avoid exerting himself\\xa0 [thinking]\\xa0 OK, so imagine classic Simon, then really thin - like even more than heroin-chic, maybe almost to starving third world skinny.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Could it have been faked?\\xa0 Perhaps something in the way he dressed?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Doubtful, Phyllis.\\xa0 He usually kicked it in jams.\\xa0 Not much to hide behind.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Speak English.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sounding british-ish] \\xa0The subject in question had a strong tendency to desport himself in capacious yet abbreviated trousers, much as those the predominant choice of American surfboard riders lean toward.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [Snicker]
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You mean he wore shorts.\\xa0 In that cold?
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COLD ROOM
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 If it bothers you, I could put something else on.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Yeah, \'cuz like you\'re so tasty, Bubba-Ho-Tep, that I\'m gonna totally jump on you if you keep wheeling around half-naked like that.\\xa0 [beat]\\xa0 Nah - it\'s kinda creepy, but I\'ll adjust.\\xa0 Like having a weird uncle.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [wheezy laugh]\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But a cool one.\\xa0 I mean - not just [brr], but cool.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I must be, since you\'re neglecting your social whirl to spend time here in this arctic wasteland.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh, yeah - I have to sneak out the window to get away from the endless line of bimboons waiting to take me to the prom.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Bimboon?\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It\'s like someone in a boy band,\\xa0 The guy equivalent of a bimbo.\\xa0
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [laughs]\\xa0
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 He scooted around in a wheelchair, wearing shorts, and you didn\'t think that was odd?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Duh.\\xa0 Of course.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But you never told anyone about him?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 He\'d\'a been pissed.\\xa0 Plus people woulda thought - you know - creepy stuff.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What if he decided to try something?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Beep beep.\\xa0 I can outrun a wheelchair.\\xa0 At least as far as the stairs.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And what if he could really get up?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I doubt it, Billy.\\xa0 He didn\'t have any little blue pills.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [flustered] I didn\'t--\\xa0 I meant get up and walk.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Yeah you did.\\xa0 You\'re the one who\'s all worried he\'s gonna go perv on me.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 If you were my daughter--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Get out of the way of the door.\\xa0 One of us would probably be dead.
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COLD ROOM
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The bottles - it\'s all for your illness, right?\\xa0 Like the meth lab in the bathroom?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [shocked]\\xa0 It\'s not a--!
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Doh, yeah.\\xa0 I was kidding.\\xa0 So is it a big secret experiment thing?\\xa0
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I - I keep tracking down recipes for preparations and elixirs that ... that might help me.\\xa0 Some seem to work for a little while, but nothing ... lasts.
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [snap] Howie.\\xa0 Did you have any more questions?
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What about his hair?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [snapped back] What?\\xa0 It looked pretty much the same.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 A-ha!\\xa0 Too clever for his own good.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Not every guy over 50 needs canned hair, Billy.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And this guy claimed to be THE Simon Strong.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I already told you he was.\\xa0 I didn\'t even know who that was that first time, cause like I\'d never heard of him before, but soon as I could, I googled him and voy-la!
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Vwa-la.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [whispered] Beep Beep.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 For the record, Simon Strong was the lead singer and songwriter for a punk band called Madness Machine in the mid to late 1970s.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 American punk band.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Who cares?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [earnest] It\'s important - British punk was British punk and American punk was--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But you\'d never heard of this band before you met Strong?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sigh]\\xa0 Pre-cisely.\\xa0 Funny sort of six degrees thing, though - once I saw the band name, it clicked, \'cuz my grandad had one of their albums in his LP collection.\\xa0 Serious.\\xa0 How\'s that for whoo-OO-oo [spooky noise]?
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [disbelieving snort] Your grandpa listened to punk?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Duh.\\xa0 He willed his tattoos to science.\\xa0 Stay back from the door, Billy.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You said you met Mr. Strong --?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Halloween night.\\xa0 That\'s why they had such a cool band in the house.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 About nine months, then.\\xa0 And how often did you see him?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Most days.\\xa0 I did his shopping and stuff and stopped in for a chat.\\xa0
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COOL ROOM
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Are you a retard?\\xa0 The Sex Pistols were totally the Monkees of punk.\\xa0 They were a made band.\\xa0 Their manager put them together.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [teasing] I suppose you met him too?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Once.\\xa0 How much respect can you have for a guy who also created Bow Wow Wow?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Bow Wow What?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You must ride the short bus.\\xa0 Beep beep, Billy, don\'t stand in the way of the door.\\xa0 [wheezy chuckle]\\xa0 The Ramones, now, they were the real thing.\\xa0 They lived punk.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0 \\xa0You\'re pretty feisty for an old crip who\'s s\'posed to keep frosty.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [dry chuckle]
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 When our people searched the "residence" over the club, they found a number of, um - unusual items.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Like?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The enormous refrigeration unit that apparently kept the place fairly, um--
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Meat locker-ish.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [wry]\\xa0 So he was cool.\\xa0 So?
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 According to electric company records, he was using enough energy to be frozen.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And?\\xa0 What, didn\'t he pay his bill?\\xa0 It\'s his business what he does with his juice.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 There are a lot of things you can do with that much juice.\\xa0 Things, for instance, that the narcotics squad would be very interested in.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [exasperated] Beep beep.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I am getting really sick of--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Amber.\\xa0 Can you shed any light on the occult paraphernalia he apparently collected?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It\'s not like I had the run of the place.\\xa0 We\'d just hang in the main room - where all the video consoles are.\\xa0 He talked about some old books, though.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Did you ever see anyone else with him?\\xa0 Did he talk about other visitors?
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Oh, heck no.\\xa0 He didn\'t like people to see how sick he was, but like, since I already knew, he had somebody to talk to, right?
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COOL ROOM
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 DOOR SLIDES SHUT
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Hey!\\xa0
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [anxious] You\'re late.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [aping his wiped out voice] "Hi Amber, so glad to see you."
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I was exp-- [slight chuckle, sigh] \\xa0I am.\\xa0 Yes.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You worried about me or your [singsong] Special Delivery!?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It\'s here?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 No, it\'s a phone book I wrapped up and sent the long way, let\'s see, through - wow.\\xa0 Egypt and London?\\xa0 That\'s tight!
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Open it, please.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 \'kay.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 PAPER UNWRAPS FROM LARGE BOOK.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh, jeez - you got so ripped off.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What do you mean?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 This is such a gag gift.\\xa0 It\'s like from that movie - "I\'ll swallow your soul!\\xa0 I\'ll swallow your soul!"
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Give it here.\\xa0 [pause]\\xa0 Ah.\\xa0 No, this is the real thing.\\xa0 The dark jewel of any occult collection.
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0[sniffing] Ok, so it smells older than Bruce Campbell, but still --
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I need to be alone.\\xa0 Come back next Wednesday.
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 He did burn incense and drink weird stuff.\\xa0 I figured it was alternative medicine, or maybe Kabbalah - that\'s all the rage with the red carpet crowd, right?
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Did he ever say what was wrong with him?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Mun-yoes syn-drome, Billy.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Stop calling--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But what is Munoz syndrome?\\xa0 Did you ever, say, Google it?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Well, yeeah.\\xa0 There were a couple - but they had longer names, and were like degenerative eye diseases, so I figured, you know, that wasn\'t it.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Did you ever ask him?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Well, right off I asked if it was catching, and he said no, so I figured that\'s all I care about, and if wants to talk about it he\'ll say.
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COOL ROOM
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Munoz syndrome is extremely rare.\\xa0 I contracted it almost thirty years ago--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Ooh!\\xa0 Let me guess.\\xa0 When you [reporter voice] "vanished from the public eye"!
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Where--?
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Wikipedia.\\xa0 Shh.\\xa0 I\'m shushing.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 My band was in New Orleans, when this came on.\\xa0 Normal medicine couldn\'t help, so I turned to the uh, folk practitioners.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Like Voodoo?\\xa0 No wonder you\'re buying all creepy books and incense.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It\'s a lot more serious than movie voodoo, but that\'s close.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And the cold?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It slows my metabolism.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0 \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Mine too - Brr.
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 THE HUM OF THE FREEZER DIPS FOR A MOMENT
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [gasps and holds his breath until the power returns]
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Wha--?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [very tense]\\xa0 The wiring\'s getting old.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 So get a new fridge.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 No, the building\'s wiring.\\xa0 Between music and lights and all, it carries quite a load.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You should move, then - and before summer.\\xa0 Seriously.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 How can I go anywhere?\\xa0 I have to stay a constant level.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I dunno.\\xa0 [thinking] \\xa0Hey, ice cream truck - I once saw this movie where they were carting a corpse around in the back--
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [strong]\\xa0 No.\\xa0 No.\\xa0 Tomorrow, maybe you could look at generators.\\xa0
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But he was well off - according to the IRS.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 He spent a buttload on his creepy books and exotic bags of dirt and stuff.\\xa0 [catching herself]\\xa0 Or, that\'s what he told me.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And he trusted you to carry around these expensive packages?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I didn\'t know what they were.\\xa0 I\'d probably have freaked and got all paranoid.\\xa0 He said other people were after them, too.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [eager] Other people?\\xa0 Do you think they might have taken the books after Strong disappeared?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Tscha.\\xa0 He didn\'t disappear.\\xa0 He\'s dead.\\xa0 Beep Beep.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [takes in an angry breath]
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Ok, let\'s go back--
UPTON \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0No, let\'s talk about this.\\xa0 You\'re saying that the corpse you discovered in that - what you call "the cold room" - was the person you knew as Simon Strong.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It had to be.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Then pray explain to me how it could be that that body had been dead for well over a decade?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [shrug, statement]\\xa0 You\'re wrong.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 So all our experts are wrong.\\xa0 And you know better.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [trying] Your experts obviously aren\'t familiar with Munoz Syndrome.\\xa0 That\'s all.
UPTON \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Right.\\xa0 So you know better.\\xa0 You know what I think?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [warning]\\xa0 Howie...
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 No, Phyl.\\xa0 Not this time.\\xa0 I\'m getting tired of this little girl, trying to live in a dream world.\\xa0 She needs a dose of harsh reality.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [hysterical laughter]\\xa0 Harsh reality?\\xa0 [can\'t stop laughing]\\xa0 You don\'t have a clue how harsh reality can get.\\xa0 [breaks down into tears]
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 COLD ROOM
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Turn the thermostat down a bit, would you?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Down?\\xa0 Dude, my eyeballs are already icing over.\\xa0
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [pause] Maybe you shouldn\'t come here any more.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [upset]\\xa0 What?\\xa0 [beat, then blas\\xe9]\\xa0 And lose the school credit I\'m getting for looking after the elderly and infirm?\\xa0 Uh-uh.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [slight wheezing laugh, turns into cough, then deep breath]\\xa0 I... I probably won\'t last much longer.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 No way!\\xa0 You\'re fine!\\xa0 Well, not fine, but\\u2011\\u2011
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It\'s been coming for a long time.\\xa0 And the elixirs aren\'t working any more.\\xa0 Nothing is working.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The book can\'t--?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I thought there would be things I could ...bring myself to do, but it\'s not worth it.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 It\'s always worth living.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 When I\'m gone, take it and burn it.\\xa0 Promise?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 If you can\'t use it, sell it!\\xa0 Use the money to get more colder.\\xa0 You\'ll be fine.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 No.\\xa0
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 POWER DIP, THEN HUM RETURNS
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [long shaky breath]\\xa0 I always think it will be the last one.\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I\'LL buy you a generator.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Have you seen the gas prices recently?\\xa0 Cooling takes too much energy - even if you get one, I won\'t be able to afford the gasoline.\\xa0
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [still breathing in little gasps, coming down from a crying jag]
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 WATER BOTTLE OPENED
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Drink.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 PLASTIC BOTTLE SET ON TABLE
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [annoyed] Are you through?\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [cough, sniff]
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 So, here\'s what I think is going on.\\xa0 This guy has been trying to establish himself as Simon Strong, famous recluse and mysterious celebrity.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 That\'s too dumb even for the short bus.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Oh, yeah?\\xa0 Dumb to the tune of half a mil a year.\\xa0 Between the club, which the real Strong did purchase in December of 1979, and the royalties on his old music - particularly the musical um, chunks, or segments--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Riffs.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Yes, whatever, that people used in their own--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Sampled.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [deep annoyed sigh] During the 80s and 90s-- [waits, but there is no interjection] --he had pots of money rolling in.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Which he spent on books and crud.\\xa0 I told you.
UPTON \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Kid, no one spends that much on books.\\xa0 Did you ever actually see these books, or did you just bring him book-shaped packages?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [silent for a beat]\\xa0 No, I guess I never actually saw them.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I say he\'s been salting it away, staying around long enough to move everything to the Caymans and then - Voy-la - take a powder.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But the body--
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sadly] WAS the real Simon Strong.\\xa0 Dental records have confirmed it.\\xa0 But Amber, he\'d been dead for a very long time.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Which explains the cold.\\xa0 The fake didn\'t want the - uh - deceased stinking up the place.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [muttered] Yeah, easier to freeze the whole place, than just pack a corpse in a chest freezer.
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Are you up to telling us how you discovered the body?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [very subdued] Sure.\\xa0 I got to the club, and everything was dark.\\xa0 I freaked-- Well, I got really worried, and ran up to his room.\\xa0 The body was just... there... and it was...
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 --In an advanced state of decomposition.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Yeah, that.
MUSIC
\\xa0
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 NO SOUND OF FRIDGE, JUST DISTANT STREET NOISES.\\xa0
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 DOOR SLIDES OPEN WITH DIFFICULTY.
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0[Grunts] Dammit, open!\\xa0 damm---it [squeaks through]\\xa0 Simon!\\xa0 Simon? \\xa0[almost chokes] What is-- oh jeez!
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 HESITANT FOOTSTEPS
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 SQUISHY MOVEMENT NOISE
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What the he-e-e-ll?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [Almost inaudible]\\xa0 Turn off the flashlight.\\xa0
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 CLICK FLASHLIGHT OFF
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I\'ll get you some ice, I\'ll ---
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Damage is done.\\xa0 Don\'t go.\\xa0 I wasn\'t sure if I wanted you here or not -- for this.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Can I--?\\xa0 Do you need--?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Don\'t... touch me.\\xa0 Please.\\xa0 Just listen.\\xa0 Listen!\\xa0 Take the books and burn them.\\xa0 I need to know you will.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Yeah, sure.
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 I- I\'ve willed the club to you.\\xa0 Don\'t get your hopes up, the police aren\'t going to .... [trails off]\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Simon!\\xa0 [breaking down] I don\'t want you to die.\\xa0 You can\'t die! [etc., sobbing]
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 This isn\'t -- I... haven\'t... been living...\\xa0 for a long time.\\xa0 Let me go.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 No!
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Shh!\\xa0
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [controls herself] Shushing. [gasp]
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 In 1977, I O.D.ed on heroin and, [gasping cough] -- I... died.\\xa0 It was never reported because a local Bocor brought me back...
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [small voice] \\xa0Like a zombie?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sigh, not quite a chuckle] \\xa0I knew you\'d understand.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 But we can do it again, right?\\xa0 Bring you back?
SIMON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [dying, trailing off]\\xa0 Beep Beep.\\xa0 Get out of the way of the door, Billy....
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [sobs]
MUSIC
\\xa0
AMBIANCE\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 INTERVIEW ROOM
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Guess I\'m glad it ain\'t him - the ... borscht.\\xa0 But he was cool.\\xa0 For an old dude.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 If he contacts you in any way--
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 [dryly sarcastic] Oh, sure.\\xa0 I\'ll be right on the phone to you.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Do you understand the meaning of accessory to fraud?\\xa0 Harboring a fugitive, maybe?
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Well, I do watch a lot of TV.\\xa0 Besides, it\'s not like I\'m getting anything out of it.
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The club has been transferred into your name, Amber Sorensen with an E-N.\\xa0 The heirs of the real Simon Strong will probably contest it.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Pff.\\xa0 Don\'t care.\\xa0 Are we done?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You\'ll have to wait a few minutes while your statement is typed up.\\xa0 Once you sign it, you\'re good to go.
AMBER \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Sure.\\xa0 Hey, did your CSI guys really not find any books or anything at the scene?
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Nothing of any importance.\\xa0
UPTON\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 And no clue to his offshore account.
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Hmm.\\xa0 Oh well.\\xa0 [grunts with effort]
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 CREAK OF LIFTING A HEAVY BACKPACK ONTO HER BACK
JERMYN\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You going to be OK without a coat?\\xa0 It\'s a bit chilly out tonight.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 DOOR OPENS.\\xa0
SFX\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 OFFICE NOISE.\\xa0
SOUND \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0COUPLE FOOTSTEPS
AMBER\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Really?\\xa0 [laughs]\\xa0 Nah.\\xa0 I\'m cool.
SOUND\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 FOOTSTEPS LEAVE.
MUSIC\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 MODERN COP THEME, FADE OUT
CLOSER
OLIVIA\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Now that you know how to find us, you\'ll have to come back.\\xa0 Maybe next week?\\xa0 Don\'t be a stranger - we have enough of those already... \\xa0
********************************************
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