BURYING THE PAST
Short Film
Email: [email protected]
an 8-10 minute screenplay about a guy who recieves a call for help from his ex-girlfriend claiming to have car trouble. When he arrives however he finds out that "car trouble" is indeed a dead body in the boot. The protagonist is then forced into helping her despose of the body while in the process dealing with his own past.
BURYING THE PAST
Written by
Gregory Gould
[email protected]
Copyright  May 2006
INT. OFFICE CUBICLE NIGHT
A single cubicle is lit in an otherwise dark open plan office floor.
BEN sits at his desk, talking on his mobile. He’s 30ish, clean cut, wearing a white business shirt and black pants. His tie is loosened and his sleeves are rolled up. Tattooed on his inner left forearm is a deadly looking dagger and snake.
A spreadsheet of tables and figures stare at him from a computer screen. With his free hand he operates a computer mouse.
BEN
(into phone)
No, roses sound fine...yes really
...well if you want the tulips...
(rolls his eyes)
No, I’m not just agreeing with you...
of course I know...I am the groom.
BEN clicks the mouse.
SFX: The computer beeps offensively.
An error box appears on the screen. BEN frowns, clicks the mouse harder.
SFX: Another beep.
BEN (CONT’D)
Damn!
(into phone)
No, not you honey. It’s this damned...look
can we talk about this when I get home?
(glances at his watch)
Soon . . . yeah I know . . .ok . . .
BEN hangs up, frowns at the computer screen. His eye is caught by a photo wedged just under his computer screen:
Two figures sitting on a couch. One we recognize as BEN in casual attire, the other is HOLLY, a beautiful brunette woman in her mid twenties. HOLLY hugs BEN, smiling big for the camera. BEN shies away, cringing.
EXT. PARKING LOT NIGHT
BEN, briefcase in hand, strides across an empty car park towards a lone, late model silver sedan.
SFX: His mobile rings.
BEN sighs, glances at his watch, answers the phone.
BEN
(into phone)
I know, I’m on my way now-
BEN stops dead, stunned.
BEN (CONT’D)
Gwen?
EXT. ROADSIDE NIGHT
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. BEN’S CAR NIGHT
An old brown Kingswood is parked on the side of an out of the way road, surrounded by trees and crisp night air.
GWEN leans casually on the back of the car smoking a cigarette. She’s in her late 20’s, looks as if she’s on her way out to a nightclub. She could give a guy whiplash. Closer though we see that she’s a little frazzled and worn, her mascara runs, her lipstick is smeared.
A car approaches down the road. GWEN squints into the lights as Ben’s car slows and pulls up a few feet behind the Kingswood.
INTERCUT AS REQUIRED:
BEN’S hands are locked on the steering wheel. The engine still runs. His eyes are fixed upon Gwen, wary.
GWEN takes a step forward, hand up to shield her eyes from the headlights.
GWEN
Ben?
BEN kills the engine, cuts the lights.
SFX: Ben’s mobile rings. He checks the phone’s display: Holly.
BEN glances back to Gwen.
GWEN peers through the windscreen, an expectant look on her face.
BEN pushes a button on his phone. The ringing immediately ceases. BEN opens his door.
EXT. ROADSIDE NIGHT
BEN approaches GWEN who stands behind the Kingswood. He walks warily, hands in pockets.
GWEN
Hey.
BEN
Hey.
A beat.
GWEN
You got here pretty fast.
BEN
Yeah. Traffic was good.
GWEN
Oh, good.
A beat.
BEN clears his throat, gives the Kingswood a quick scan, puzzled.
BEN
So . . . what’s the problem?
GWEN hesitates, opens the Kingswood’s boot. BEN edges a little closer, peers inside. His eyebrows rise. He looks from the boot to Gwen, back to the boot.
BEN
Jesus Gwen. When you said “car trouble” I
thought you meant a flat tyre or something.
GWEN
This is car trouble.
BEN
This is a fucking body in a boot.
GWEN
You don’t call that car trouble?
A beat.
GWEN (CONT’D)
(shrugs)
I didn’t think you’d come.
BEN
Jesus . . .
BEN shakes his head.
GWEN
I need your help, Ben.
BEN
You need a lawyer.
GWEN
Hey, I didn’t do this.
BEN
(sarcastically)
Obviously.
A car approaches down the road. Headlights fall across BEN and GWEN. BEN squints into the lights. GWEN nervously shuts the boot.
The car zips past, never slowing. Its taillights fade away.
BEN takes a step towards his car.
BEN
Look. I can’t be part of this.
GWEN
Hey, wait. You can’t just leave.
BEN hesitates, half turns, keeps going.
BEN
Sorry.
GWEN grabs BEN by the arm, hands clenching around his tattoo, desperate at first, then softer.
GWEN
(soft)
But you said I could always count on
you, Ben.
BEN turns, looks at her hand on his arm. Now, closer, we can see the letters “GWEN” on the dagger’s hilt. GWEN looks him in the eye.
GWEN (CONT’D)
You said you’d always be there for me.
BEN looks to Gwen, then the boot.
BEN
This isn’t what I meant.
GWEN lets his arms go, suddenly angry.
GWEN
(bitter)
So what, you didn’t mean it then? You’re
just going to leave me again? Huh? Is
that it?
BEN shakes his head, starts walking away.
GWEN (CONT’D)
You can’t just leave, Ben. I know things
about you. Things your new girlfriend
might find interesting.
BEN halts.
BEN
You wouldn’t.
GWEN
Oh, come on. You know I would.
BEN turns around, fuming.
BEN
You know that was an accident.
GWEN
The hit was an accident Ben. The speeding
away afterwards wasn’t.
BEN marches towards GWEN.
BEN
You can’t do this. Not now.
GWEN stands her ground, defiant. There’s a tense stand off.
GWEN
I just want a little help, Benny.
GWEN runs a finger across BEN’S tattoo, smiles.
GWEN (CONT’D)
Just like I helped you.
(seductively)
Just like old times.
BEN frowns. He knows he’s being played. GWEN smiles. She knows she’s got him.
BEN looks from the boot then to Gwen once more.
BEN
Fuck!
INT. KINGSWOOD NIGHT
BEN drives. Keys jingle in the Kingswood’s ignition. His eyes are focused hard on the road. GWEN looks out the passenger window, cool and calm.
There’s an awkward beat, then:
GWEN
You’re looking good.
BEN
(short)
Thanks.
BEN flicks the dial on the radio. It’s broken. He rolls his eyes – of course.
GWEN
So, how’s Holly?
BEN
(sighs)
I’m not gonna do this.
GWEN
What?
BEN
This.
(motions between them)
I’m not gonna do this.
GWEN
Just making conversation.
GWEN lights a cigarette, blows a line of smoke out the window. BEN gives her a sideways glance, sighs, reluctantly turns to her.
BEN
Holly’s fine. Ok?
(hesitates)
We get hitched in a few weeks.
GWEN ignores him, shrugs – whatever. BEN tries again:
BEN (CONT’D)
So, how’s...Gavin...isn’t it?
GWEN gives Ben a wry, cunning grin. BEN frowns, perplexed, but quickly gets it.
BEN (CONT’D)
No.
GWEN nods, raises her eyebrows.
BEN (CONT’D)
(groaning)
No.
GWEN smiles innocently.
BEN (CONT’D)
Fuck, Gwen!
GWEN
(amused)
What!
BEN jabs a thumb over his shoulder.
BEN
That’s Gavin? You killed your fucking boyfriend!
GWEN
What? Who’d you think it was?
BEN
Shit, I dunno. I didn’t want to know.
(whacks the steering wheel)
Shit!
GWEN
He deserved it.
BEN
He deserved it! What do you mean “he
deserved it?”
GWEN
You wouldn’t understand.
BEN
I wouldn’t...you know what? I probably
wouldn’t? I never did get you, did I Gwen?
(softer)
I never got us.
GWEN
Us? What’s to get? You made me laugh,
I made you cum.
BEN
I made you laugh?
GWEN
Yeah. You made me laugh.
BEN
(sarcastically)
Nice.
A beat.
GWEN
(softer)
You know it was more than that.
A beat.
BEN
(wryly)
I guess. I mean, at least I’m not in
the trunk.
GWEN smiles at BEN. Their eyes meet, share a brief moment of attraction. BEN can’t help but wryly return Gwen’s smile. They both begin to chuckle, then laugh.
GWEN takes a drag of her cigarette, blows another line of smoke out the window. BEN watches her closely, his eyes softening for a moment. They quickly harden again. He grips the steering wheel, eyes fixed back on the road.
GWEN sees this out the corner of her eye, grins to herself.
EXT. BUSHLAND NIGHT
The Kingswood is parked on a dirt road by the side of a clearing. A few feet away, BEN stands waist deep in a freshly dug grave, shovelling away. He’s sweating a lot.
GWEN paces the grave’s edge, smoking and fidgeting with her fingernails.
BEN
You could help you know.
GWEN raises an eyebrow, gives him an as-if look. BEN throws down the shovel, pulls himself up the grave’s edge. With a sigh he lays back, looks to the sky.
GWEN
What are you doing?
BEN
I’m a banker, not a gravedigger.
I need a rest.
GWEN seems about to retort but instead draws long puff on her cigarette. She sits herself next to Ben, lays back. Their feet dangle into the grave.
GWEN
I’m glad you came.
BEN
(sarcastic)
Let’s not make it a regular thing.
GWEN
(smiling)
You got to admit, we always have a good
time together. A lot of crazy shit.
BEN
Yeah, a lot of laughs.
GWEN
You ever miss us?
BEN frowns, considers.
BEN
Sometimes.
GWEN throws her cigarette away, sighs.
GWEN
So, you wanna fool around?
BEN
What?
GWEN rolls onto her side, leans in close to BEN. She smiles seductively, runs a finger up and down his tattoo.
GWEN
All this excitement, it’s a real turn on.
BEN
You’re sick, you know that right?
GWEN cocks an eyebrow, stares into his eyes.
BEN folds his arms across his chest.
BEN
I’m getting married.
GWEN
She wouldn’t have to know. It can be
our little secret.
GWEN leans in. They start to KISS. BEN frowns, but doesn’t stop. Things progress. GWEN’S hands slide down BEN’S chest, unbuttoning his shirt. BEN’S hand moves up GWEN’S body, slowly at first then more rushed as his blood starts to pump.
GWEN straddles BEN. Things start getting heavy. Hands grope at clothes. The kissing gets vigorous. BEN lifts GWEN’S shirt off, revealing a lacy black bra. GWEN kisses her way down BEN’S chest, her hands fumbling for his belt buckle.
BEN face is a picture of dilemma, caught between ecstasy and guilt. GWEN manages to get his belt free, pulls it off roughly.
BEN’S senses kick in. He pushes GWEN away. She falls roughly to the side, stares shocked and annoyed. BEN shakes his head as if to clear his mind.
Both pant hard.
A beat.
BEN swallows.
BEN
Let’s just get this over with.
BEN gets up, starts buttoning up as he walks away. GWEN scowls, grabs her shirt out of the dirt. Her eyes narrow menacingly at Ben’s back.
JUMP CUT:
BEN and GWEN struggle to remove GAVIN from the boot of the Kingswood. GWEN fumbles with the feet, BEN with the torso.
GAVIN emits a soft moan. BEN stops.
BEN
What was that?
GWEN
What?
BEN and GWEN stare at each other, BEN puzzled, GWEN annoyed.
GAVIN moans, louder.
BEN
Jesus Christ!
BEN and GWEN both jump back, nearly shitting themselves. BEN hits his head on the boot door. GAVIN’S body hits the edge of the boot, flops to the ground with a thud.
BEN stumbles, rubs his head, cringing.
BEN
I thought you said he was fucking dead!
GWEN
I thought he was!
GAVIIN groans, shuffles.
BEN
He’s still alive?!
BEN laughs ironically. He staggers, overwhelmed.
BEN (CONT’D)
(a touch of hysteria)
He’s alive. Your murder victim is
still alive!
BEN stumbles away from GAVIN, shaking his head in disbelief.
GWEN frowns down at GAVIN. Her eyes harden.
JUMP CUT:
A blast rings out. BEN spins around to:
GWEN standing over GAVIN’S dead body. She holds a small silver pistol in her hand.
The blast fades away.
BEN stares at her, stunned. GWEN turns to him, a cunning look in her eye.
GWEN
Problem solved.
JUMP CUT:
BEN leans against the Kingwood’s driver door, staring ahead in shock. He turns to:
GWEN. She leans over GAVIN’S body, now lying next to the grave. She searches Gavin’s pockets, pulls out a wallet, grabs out some cash, shoves it in her purse, throws the wallet in the grave. She turns to Ben.
GWEN
Hey, look on the passenger floor for a box
of lime, will ya.
BEN turns in a daze, stares at the box of lime on the passenger floor.
GWEN (O.S)
Hey, we ain’t got all night.
BEN eyes are drawn to:
The keys dangling in the Kingswood’s ignition.
GWEN (O.S)
Come on! Don’t just stand there.
Pass us the box.
SFX: BEN’S mobile beeps. He looks down at the display, frowns.
He turns, watches as GWEN starts rolling GAVIN’S body into the grave. He looks back to the keys.
JUMP CUT:
GWEN stands up, dusts off her hands. She smiles, pleased with herself.
SFX: An engine starts, a car door closes.
GWEN’S head snaps around, shocked.
GWEN
What?
INT. KINGSWOOD NIGHT
INTERCUT WITH:
EXT. BUSHLAND NIGHT
BEN’S hands are locked on steering wheel of the stationary Kingswood. The car idles, stationary. He looks in the revision mirror.
INTERCUT AS REQUIRED:
GWEN
Ben, what the hell are you doing?
BEN’S hands tighten on the steering wheel. He shoves the gear stick into first.
GWEN smiles, amused.
GWEN
You can’t just leave, Ben. Not this time.
BEN scowls.
GWEN (CONT’D)
Let’s just get this over with so you
can go back to Holly. I won’t tell her
our little secrets. I promise.
A beat.
BEN fidgets in the driver’s seat. He looks to the road ahead then at Gwen in the revision mirror. He looks at the gear stick.
GWEN (CONT’D)
Come on, Ben.
GWEN stares at the idle Kingswood, patiently smug.
SFX: gears crunch.
GWEN frowns.
The Kingswood starts rapidly reversing towards her.
GWEN
Ben!
JUMP CUT:
SFX: A dull, sickening THUD.
BEN slams on the brakes. He stares at the road ahead. After a long beat he calmly puts the gear stick from reverse into first, drives away.
EXT. BEN’S HOUSE MORNING
Ben’s grey sedan pulls into the driveway of a modern suburban home.
EXT. BEN’S FRONT DOOR MORNING
BEN checks himself in reflection of the door’s glass panel. He straightens his tie, winces as he pats the hair down on the back of his head.
He looks at his tattoo, shakes his head, rolls down his sleeve.
BEN reaches for the door handle but it opens before he can get there. HOLLY stands at the door in her nightie, an angry yet concerned look on her face. She looks Ben up and down.
HOLLY
Where the hell have you been?
BEN
(smiles)
I’ve been thinking.
BEN pulls out a bouquet of tulips from behind his back, hands them over. HOLLY looks at them, perplexed.
BEN (CONT’D)
I think I like the tulips.
ENDS.
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