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Tell-Tale

This is loosely inspired by my favorite short story Edgar Allan Poe The Tell-Tale Heart, and has been

a passion project of mine for years now.

It follows an unnamed narrator who insists on his sanity aftermurdering his wife whom the narratorinsists has a "vulture eye". The murder is carefully calculated, and the murderer hides the body by

dismembering it and hiding it in attic. Ultimately the narrator's guilt manifests itself in the hallucination

that the wife's heart is still beating.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY - Park.

City lights. The soaring bridges and glowing windows of New York City. The SOUNDS of early morning

birds.

EXT. near a lake.

A party of bohemian types in the park.

A man and a woman in their 20's ...Laura is working in the garden.

Martin, intelligent good-looks, and Laura, a patrician beauty, a woman amongst girls. He's been making

her laugh.

Scene 1: Initial meeting

Establishing shot.

Martin

Here is your scarf

Laura

Oh thanks

Laura

I hope you haven't been watching me; I'm not very good at sketching.

Martin

Uh, I was just walking down here. It is very good.

http://wiki/Murderhttp://wiki/Dismembermenthttp://wiki/Dismembermenthttp://wiki/Murder

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Laura

Thanks

Martin

You were sketching something.

Laura

It is just basic scenery. You can look at it, if you want.

Martin

Can I?

Laura

Though it's not very good. .

Martin

Oh, I wouldn't say that. I think that's... that's good.

Laura

I uh... uh... - It's not very good. . But I love sketching. Most of the

time, I have all these thoughts bouncing around in my head. But with

a brush in my hand, I let my thoughts flow andtake shape and a form.

Martin

I think you can probably make some money selling it.

Oh no, I dont think so.

Martin

Are you an artist?

Laura

No, of course not.

I'm not an artist.

Martin

Well, what do you do? -

Laura

I volunteer for animal rescue/shelter.

Martin

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That's great!

Laura

Yeah, it is.

Martin

What's your name? -

Laura.

Laura

What's yours?

Martin

Martin

Laura

What do you do?

Martin

What I do? What I do? Um... I am entrepreneur.

Laura

Oh! That's fantastic.

Martin

It's a wonderful job of mine.

Laura

Are you with any company?

Martin

Yes I am actually. They are called blueman groupLaura

Oh, that's fantastic!Laura

How old are you?

Martin

How old do you think I am?Laura

Twenty eight

Martin

You think I am twenty eight.

Laura

Sorry, so how old are you?

Martin

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Twenty six.

Martin

How old are you?

Laura

How old do you think I am?Martin

21Laura

No 20

Scene 2: Next day

Cut to:

Laura

Wait, wait, stop.

Laura

You have a lady bug in your hair.

Martin tries to blow it off.Laura

Wait wait. It means good luck.

Laura

Make a wish and then you know ..blow.Martin closes his eyes and makes a wish

Laura

wait, what is your wish?

Martin

If I tell you, then it is not going to come true.

Laura

No, all you have to do is say it out loud.

MartinOkay.

Laura

Tell me. Please.

Martin

I wish I could spend more time here talking to you.

LauraHmm.

After walking for a while...

Scene 3: Next day 2

Martin

It just makes you feel... Peaceful here.

Looking at a building

Martin

They really do seem at peace.

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Laura

Why dont you sketch me with the building?

in the background? (She

smiles at him)

Laura hands over sketchpad.

He looks up at her, surprised, and we CUT TO:

Laura

The last thing I need is another picture of me looking like a china doll.

As your friend, I expect to get what I want.\

She poses on the divan

Laura

Tell me when it looks right to you.

Martin

Uh... just bend your left leg a little and... and lower your head. Eyes to

me. That's it.

Martin starts to sketch. He drops his pencil and she stifles a laugh.Laura

I believe you are blushing.mr big artist.

Scene 4: Next Fall

Cut to:

Next fall. Laura and martin are engaged.

TIGHT ON Martin as his eyes come up to look at her over the top edge

of his sketchpad.

PUSH SLOWLY IN ON Lauras FACE...

Martin

Morning, Laura.

LauraI like a man who dresses up on a holiday.

Martin

Business.

LauraAnd on our vacation.

Martin

Do you forgive me?

Laura

How about these? Aren't they beautiful?

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Martin

I told the Blanchards we'd do their stupid party.

Martin

All your hard work. I'll call them and cancel.

Laura

No, we can still go to the party.

Laura

I can do my work tomorrow.

Scene 5: Next fall/Move in

INT. inside VILLAGE APARTMENT, LATER.

Later, Martin and Laura dance. They move well, in sync, looking into each other's eyes. He slides his

hand down the silk of Lauras dress until it rests in the small of her back

Close on their hands. Their fingers slowly entwine as they lose themselves in each other...

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. NIGHT, PRESENT.

Close on Lauras face...

Laura In front of the mirror

Martin

That's a pretty dress.

I wouldn't have thought of it.

Laura

You were thinking the red?

Martin

- The black, actually.

Laura

- Well, it's backless. It could be chilly tonight.

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Laura and Martin go for a walk. Outside walking down the street

Scene 6: towels misplaced.

Next day. Early Morning.

Int. Inside the Apartment.

INT. DRESSING ROOM -. Laura sits alone at her dressing table.

The mood is subdued. Across the room, martin sees Laura. Martin walks in.

Martin

Come with me.

Laura

Isn't it a little early for this?

Martin

Everything in here as it should be?

The towels are not proper in the restroom. Martin is very particular about things.

Laura

I don't know why I forgot.

Martin

Well, we all forget things. Thats what reminding is for.

Laura

Thank you.

Cut to:

Laura is in the kitchen. Laura is preparing dinner. Martin walks in.

Martin

What's for supper?

LauraLamb with rosemary and the peach chutney,

new potatoes and baby peas.

Martin

Sounds great.

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Laura

I was going to make that herb bread that you like.

Martin

I can hardly wait.

Scene 7: doctor

Ext. outside the apartment.

Martin is talking with a neighbor outside his house. Martin walks in.Laura is fixing up the flowers.

Martin

Nice-looking man, the doctor.

Laura

- Doctor?

Martin

- He says I have a beautiful house.

Martin

When was he in here?

Martin

Yesterday while I was in town?

Laura- Martin, I don't know the doctor.

Martin

- Sure you do.

Martin

Young, good-looking.

Martin

He says you've been staring at him from the window all day.

INT. Inside Apartment.

Martin hits her.

Scene 8: Laura alone

Cut to: Next Day

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Laura at central Park. Laura Sitting on the floor. Laura throwing stones into the river.

Scene 9: breakfast scene/Mother

Cut to:

Int: Inside the Apartment.

Laura brings him breakfast. At dining table. Laura speaks.

Martin

I'm sorry we quarreled.

Martin

You want something. I know my princess. Im waiting.

Laura

Mrs. Clark called from the animal rescue.

Laura- She said they could use me full time now for volunteer position.

Martin- You already volunteer three mornings a week.

Martin

And I support that because I know your love for animals.Martin

Maybe you can take up a paid position. What about our home.

Don't you love our home as much?

LauraHas your dinner been late to the table even once?

Martin

Oh, I can remember not so far back it was late.

By two days.

Laura

That was six months ago.

Laura

My mother was all I had. I'll never forgive myself for not bringing her to live with us.

MartinYou shouldn't beat yourself. You always treated her with love.

Laura

She died, Martin.

Martin

How could I not go to her funeral?

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If you had told me, I would have taken you, given me a chance to pay my last respects.

Martin

But you sneaked off inexplicably.

Laura

I didn't sneak off.

Martin

- Need I remind you how I worried?

Laura

- No.

Laura

You reminded me enough the night I came back.

Martin

- You aren't suggesting I enjoyed that?

Laura

- Oh, God, no.

LauraThat would make you a monster.

Martin

If I didn't know you better,

I'd think you were provoking a quarrel so you'd be unable to go out with me later

today.

Martin

Don't you think?

Cut to:

Scene 10: fight regarding money

INT. INSIDE APARTMENT.

Laura finds money withdrawn from her bank account.

Martin comes up behind her, careful to keep his distance.

INT: Inside living room. We see Couple arguing, going back and forth.

Laura

U know martin, Money is missing from our joint savings account. Just talk about what happened.

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I know it is you.

I dont know what is in ur head unless you tell me.

MartinI dont know I dont want to know

Laura

How do you not know, you dont have thoughts

Laura

All you have to do is say it out loud

Martin

I dont want to say something that isnt true

Laura

Then dont.it is living hell here.we have been saving money for a while now.

Martin

Iam not doing this right

LauraThen when

Laura

You are never here.you are outside.

Martin

What

LauraIam alone

Laura

I have no idea where you are

Martin

You dont need to know

Laura

That is right, you dont need to knowLaura

Let us not know anything

Martin

That is not what am saying

Laura

Just act normal

Martin

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I cant always be here

Laura

Tell me why

Martin

Because I cantLaura

Thats it, you cant

Laura

You are so pathetic

Martin

Stop

Laura

Stop u did this, not me.

Laura

It is always meLaura

What did I do than, everything we argue, and I feel like iam disciplining a 5 year old.

Laura

Where are you going?

EXT. CAR - NIGHT.

Martin walks out to the car, stops and looks back at the house. Grabs a hammer from inside the car.

Int: INSIDE HOUSE

Martin comes in, hits her.

Int: INSIDE CLOSET.

Martin grabs a blanket from closet.

INT: INSIDE KITCHEN.

Puts blanket over her.

INT: ACROSS HALLWAY

Martin carries the body across the hallway into the closet.

INT: INSIDE CLOSET

He grabs a ladder puts her in the attic. He calls ray-his buddy.

Scene 11: talks with Rey

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EXT: TIMES SQUARE

Ray goes into the alley to answer the call.

Martin

Rey

Whats up?Martin

Its done

K we talked about

Martin

We talked about Laura

Martin

Just like u said

Rey

Say again

MartinI need your help.

Rey

Just hold on.

Rey

Alright what are you talking about?Martin

We were fighting again

Martin

She started screaming .I remembers what u told me.

Rey

You are not making any sense.

Martin

When you first told me, I didnt think I could.

I didnt think I could. Then the screaming.

Rey

Taylor, what happened

MartinI hit her

She is deadRey

This is really a sick joke

Martin

I was remembering in the bar I told about Laura.

I was drunk, I was messing with u

Martin

I put her in the attic

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Rey

Taylor, just tell me it is a joke

Right now

or else iam hanging up/Rey

Hello

Martin

What is wrong with you?

Rey

You are talking about murder, Taylor

Martin

It was your idea

Rey

We were drinking

It was just talk,

I actually didnt think u were actually psychoticMartin

It is done

I cant undo it

Martin

Please dont leave me, do this alone.

Rey

You are alone

Rey

Iam hanging up

MartinI would never have done this if it wasnt for you

Rey

What am I supposed to say?

Martin

rey.i cant fix this on my own

Martin

Iam going to screw it up

Martin

I messed up, I should have told you

Martin

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Iam sorry, she was screaming, I couldnt take it.

Martin

I snapped

I need u.Martin

I dont know what to doMartin

We will do it together we wont get caught.

Martin

rey

No

Rey

Iam not coming

Rey

Dont call me againMartin

rey

rey

INT. inside apartment.

Martin falls into chair, holds his head. With a "New Yorker." magazine beside him.

He does not know what to do.

Int: Inside apartment

Martin is washing blood stained floor. Martin hears a noise, he looks up.

Martin goes upstairs. Martin opens the closet door. Blood is dripping from the attic.

Martin brings in the ladder. Martin falls down from the ladder. Martin looks at the mirror. He is

hallucinating.

Martin goes into the restroom to wash his hands. Martin goes into kitchen.

Scene 12: Lauras friend

Martin hears the doorbell.

Jenny is at the front door. Jenny is Lauras friend.

Lauras friendSo you are alive

You are alright

Martin

Yea

Martin

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Laura is not here

Lauras friend

She just called me 20 mins ago.

MartinShe left

Lauras friendHer car is still here

Martin

She must have walked

Martin

What are doing?

Lauras friend

Calling her

Martin

What did you want me to tell me?

She left

Lauras friend

Why would she leave, with any other stuff?

Martin

It was fight, she stormed out

Lauras friend

Didnt come home again Taylor

Lauras friend

Cant just get that one right Taylor, can you.

MartinThat is none of your business

Lauras friend

It is,

Every time she calls hysterically because of you

Martin

By tomorrow it will be nothingLauras friend

Why not just leave

You dont love her

Lauras friendWhy stick around.

Just walk away

Lauras friend

Leave her alone

It is best thing you can do

Martin

Like I said by tomorrow I will be nothing.

Lauras friend

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Sure

Lauras friend

Can I trust you to call me when she gets back?

I didnt think so

Scene 13: Cop

Cut to:

INT. inside the apartment.

Martin notices a cop car outside his apartment. He panics. Martin opens the bottom right drawer of

his desk, props up his feet and lights a cigarette.

Martin wearing sunglasses.

We don't yet see what the cop is describing initially-

Cop

Good evening sir

Martin

Can I help you?

Cop

We received some complaints from the neighbors about the noise

MartinNo iam sorry about that

Everything is fine

Cop

Do you mind if I look inside

Martin

There is no really need, like I said

Cop

It is fine right

Martin

Yes

Cop

Then it should be alright if I look

Martin

Sure

Cop

Are you arguing with ur wife?

MartinGirlfriend

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Cop

She still in the house

Martin

No she left

CopHow bad was the argument?

MartinYou are here

Martin

It was an argument

Cop

Your neighbors reported some noise other than the yelling

Martin

I was angry

Martin

I never touched her

Cop

I didnt say you did

Do you mind if I look upstairs?Martin

I told you no one else is here

Martin

Iam sorry if I wasted your timeCop

Iam not accusing you of anything

Cop

I just have it to see it for myself

Martin

Of course

CopYou can wait down here

Cop

I will just take a quick here and I will be out of here

Martin

I dont have time to wait, I have to go somewhere

MartinI dont know what you are looking for

Cop

Take a step back and let me see both your handsCop

Alpha 220 requesting a 1078Cop

Take a seat over here for me sir

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