FROM BLACK,
SAM (O.S.)
Well? How is it?
EXT. PARK - DAY
The screen opens like an eye to a man staring at us. He’s SAM, 33, regular average man. He’s staring at LUCY, 30, the type of lady that catches men’s attention. They’re seated on a picnic mat, surrounded by food, drinks and small chops. It’s a date.
SAM
Well?
Lucy munches a mouthful of rice and swallows as Sam watches expectantly. She gives him a thumbs up and he erupts in joy, stretching over to hug her.
LUCY
Careful, careful, before you knock over the other food.
Sam retreats but is still excited.
SAM
You know honey, I honestly can’t wait for this food venture to fully launch. With my business acumen, the secret ingredient and of course, your blessing, there is nothing stopping it’s success!
Lucy smiles at him warmly, nodding her head as he speaks. She looks around and over her shoulder.
SAM (CONT'D)
I can just feel everything coming to place, honey. This, your trip, the baby...
Lucy shoots him a sharp look.
SAM (CONT'D)
I’m just glad we’ve gotten to this point. You, me, just... Life.
He opens a glass of wine and fills two cups. Lucy keeps staring around.
SAM (CONT'D)
(Handing her a cup)
Let’s toast to the moment. I know things between us haven’t been ideal these last few weeks, but like a Phoenix, we’ve risen from the ashes of our problems and we will soar.
They both laugh at his melodrama and cheer.
LUCY
Well aren’t you gonna taste mine?
SAM
Damn, I forgot.
Lucy chuckles and unwraps a meatpie from a napkin.
LUCY
Some of us are natural cooks. We don’t have to put any secret ingredients for our food to be breathtaking.
SAM
Oh, please.
Lucy hands Sam the meatpie. He carefully bites at eat, eating it piece by piece as she watches and chuckles. He sucks his fingers.
LUCY
Well?
SAM
This is the best meatpie I’ve ever eaten.
Lucy laughs, stands up and courtesy's as Sam claps. She sits back down. They both stare at their surrounding, taking it in.
SAM (CONT'D)
So, are you excited about the trip?
The question rattles Lucy. She doesn’t respond, just stares away blankly.
SAM (CONT'D)
Honey?
Lucy slowly moves her head until her eyes meets Sam’s.
LUCY
You really can’t wait for me to go right?
SAM
What are you talking about? I thought we were already past this?
LUCY
Past what?
SAM
(Gesturing)
Past this. This back and forth. I just want us to-
LUCY
-Why did you even bring me here, Sam?
Sam is perplexed.
SAM
What do you mean why? We’re celebrating. We are...
(his Voice tails off)
We’re thankful.
Lucy begins to shake her head as she fights back tears. She swiftly picks up her handbag, gets up and starts to walk away. Sam immediately goes after her.
SAM (CONT'D)
Honey wait...
But Lucy keeps walking. She walks a couple of steps away before Sam pulls her back.
LUCY
(Turning around)
WHAT!?
Sam lets go of her.
SAM
What is your problem?
LUCY
My problem?
SAM
Yeah. Cause last time I remember, you were the one that agreed to this whole arrangement. Nobody forced you.
LUCY
How dare you! How dare you, Sam! Is it a crime to bring my sister to my home?
SAM
Honey-
LUCY
Is it a crime to leave my younger sister alone with a husband who claims to love me?
SAM
Honey-
LUCY
You got her pregnant, and now you just want us to whisk away to America and come back with a kid and pretend its mine. What kind of asshole-
SAM
Lucy!
Lucy pauses. Her breathing is fast and deeper. Sam looks like he’s also about to burst into tears, but then his face hardens.
SAM (CONT'D)
Oh please. Spare me with your victim mentality.
She’s speechless.
SAM (CONT'D)
Was it a crime for you to stay at home for once? Was it a crime to just be a normal wife? You’re not the only doctor in the world. We didn’t make love for weeks.
A beat. They stare into each other’s eyes.
SAM (CONT'D)
Is it a crime to bear me children?
That breaks Lucy.
LUCY
You take that back.
SAM
(Nonchalantly)
Look what has happened has happened. We can’t change the past-
LUCY
-Take that back, Sam.
SAM
We just have to deal with the future as adults.
Lucy gives Sam a death stare. He knows how damaging what he said is. Sobbing mildly, she looks at her watch and back at Sam.
LUCY
Well, it will kick in any moment now.
SAM
What?
LUCY
Did you honestly think you could just ruin my life and then continue as if nothing happens?
SAM
What are you talking about?
Fear slowly creeps into Sam’s face.
LUCY
I took some toxicants from the lab today. We culture them to fight anti-bodies in coma patients. Injected into a normal body, it releases some toxins that pollutes the blood, leading to convulsion. You’ll choke on your own tongue.
Sam points a finger at her, trying to shush her. He doesn’t believe it.
LUCY (CONT'D)
I put 5 grams into the meatpie you ate.
LUCY (CONT'D)
LUCY (CONT'D)
(She begins to weep)
I ate one myself.
Sam rushes at Lucy and grabs her hand. She begins to sob.
SAM
(In shaky breathes)
Tell me your joking.
Lucy is now crying. She tries to speak but words can’t come through the tears.
SAM (CONT'D)
Lucy please tell me you’re joking!
He grabs her other hand, bundling them together into his right fist. Lucy continues to weep. He looks deep into her eyes, searching for answers.
LUCY
(Through tears)
I’m sorry. I’m sorr-
SAM
How could you do this to us?
He squeezes her hands hard.
LUCY
You’re hurting me. I’m sorry.
He releases her and paces back and forth. Lucy just stares at him. Pity falls over her as she watches him slowly panic. She walks towards him and tries to console him but he pushes her away. Realizing what she has done, she tries to hold him still again but he pushes her away.
LUCY (CONT'D)
Listen, I, I, I don’t know what I was thinking. I, I...
SAM
You WHAT?
Lucy looks at her watch.
LUCY
There’s an antidote in the car. I, I, brought it along in case.
Sam stares at her with eyes full of hatred.
LUCY (CONT'D)
It’s in the car. I’m sorry...
Sam dashes past her towards the car. Lucy races after him.
EXT. PARK - DAY - CONTINUOUS
A sedan is parked idly by a wall. Sam dashes into frame and runs head straight to the car but its locked. He turns back to Lucy who’s behind him, trying to catch her breath.
SAM
Give me the keys.
LUCY
(Sobbing)
I’m sorry. Just listen to me.
SAM
Give me the damn keys!
She brings it out of her bag and dangles it by her side. She looks straight at Sam tearfully.
LUCY
Do you still love me?
SAM
What? Are you fucking crazy?
LUCY
Just tell me.
Without saying a word, Sam walks to her and snatches the key from her hand. He turns and rushes to the car. He opens it and frantically searches the dashboard and front area.
SAM
Where is it!?
Lucy tries to point it out.
LUCY
(Tearfully)
It’s in the glove compartment.
Sam opens the glove compartment and brings out a tube containing a liquid. He opens the container and gulps the liquid. He takes a moment to catch his breath. Lucy just stares at him from outside. A beat. Sam makes a HARD gulp. He begins to choke as bubbly bile starts oozing out of his mouth. He turns to look at Lucy who’s staring at him apathetically. He stretches his left hand out towards Lucy but she doesn’t move. Outside the car, Lucy watches as Sam continues to convulse.
LUCY (CONT'D)
The pie wasn’t poisoned. After all you’ve done to me Sam, I still thought there was a way out. I wanted you to just show remorse. Even an apology would have been a enough.
Sam falls to the ground beside the car. He continues to clutch his neck as he convulses.
LUCY (CONT'D)
I left the poison in the car hoping you might just maybe beg me. But no, you only care about yourself, Sam.
Sam is now lying motionless on the ground. He’s stopped convulsing.
LUCY (CONT'D)
Enjoy your trip to hell.
Lucy turns around and walks away, leaving Sam’s body and the car behind. A couple of meters away from Sam she stops, takes her phone out of her bag and dials a number. A moment later someone answers. Lucy clears her throat.
VOICE (O.S.)
Hello?
LUCY
(Flirtatiously)
Hey you.
VOICE (O.S.)
You finally called back.
LUCY
Mmmhmm.
VOICE (O.S.)
Have you thought about my request?
LUCY
Yep. I’ll go out with you.
VOICE (O.S.)
Cool. Where would milady like to go?
LUCY
(Laughs)
Well. There’s this park I’ve been hearing about. We could hang out there...
VOICE (O.S.)
Okay. Is that what you want?
LUCY
Mmmhmm.
VOICE (O.S.)
Awesome. So I’ll pick you up by 5?
LUCY
Mmmhmm.
VOICE (O.S.)
Cool.
FADE OUT:
FROM BLACK,
LUCY (O.S.)
Well? How is it?
EXT. PARK - DAY
The screen opens like an eye to another man staring at us. He’s AKIN, 30. He’s the man on the previous phone call. He’s seated facing Lucy as he eats a meatpie. Lucy seats opposite him, her hands clamped in expectation as he chews. They’re seated on a picnic mat surrounded by food, drinks and small chops. It’s another date. Akin eats the pie completely and after swallowing the last piece, gives her a thumbs up. She lets out a cute smile.
AKIN
This meatpie is to die for.
Lucy shoots him a look. She lets out a sly laugh. Akin begins to choke. He clutches his neck as bubbly bile starts oozing out of his mouth. He stretches out to her for help but she gets up and moves back, creating a distance between them. He keeps clutching his neck until he stops moving. Lucy turns around and walks away calmly. She picks out her phone and dials another number.
FADE TO BLACK:
FADE IN
INT. LUCY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
CLOSE UP on a tv in the middle of a sitting room. A newscaster reads out a broadcast. We PAN around the room to reveal Lucy seated on a couch. She watches the TV without blinking.
NEWSCASTER
“Today’s news at 6. A third body has been found dead at the National Capital Park. The victim, Akin Samuel, was found lying dead at a picnic along with his belongings. He was survived by his parents and siblings. The Capital Police Authority have identified a lady, simply referred to as Lucy, as a primary suspect. Miss Lucy is said to have matched her victims on the popular dating app, KONJI. Speaking to Capital News, the lead detective has revealed that Miss Lucy is a diagnosed Schizophrenic. She would match her victims on the app, and then invite them to dates where she would cook up various scenarios in her head. She would then eventually poison them with meatpies.”
The camera pans to reveal Lucy still seated in the couch watching the TV. She has a meatpie in her hand. She takes a bite as the camera slowly PULLS AWAY from her. Her hand drops to the side and the pie falls and rolls away. Sorta like Snow White with the apple. The camera settles in an angle. Lucy’s body drops to the floor in a THUD.
FADE OUT: