Cellular Page #7

THEO:

A price on everything.

LENORE:

I wasn't always like that. I

don't think I was.

THEO:

I'm about ten blocks from the

school.

LENORE:

I have no right to ask for help.

I've never thought of anybody but

myself.

THEO:

That makes two of us.

LENORE:

(suddenly)

You're breaking up. I can't hear

you. Theo?

There's heavy static on the line.

THEO:

There are cables overhead. Hang

on. It'll clear up.

LENORE:

I've lost you. You're gone. I

can't hear anything.

Suddenly another voice comes on. As often happens, the

cellular has picked up another call in progress.

CALLER:

Somebody's on our f***ing line!

FEMALE CALLER:

How long have they been listening?

THEO:

Lenore, hang on.

CALLER:

Mister, get off of our call!

THEO:

This is an emergency so you get

off!

FEMALE CALLER:

Don't tell us what to do. You've

got some nerve! D*ckhead!

THEO:

Lenore, are you still there? Is

it a right or left off Wilshire?

LENORE:

Make a right. You can't miss it.

THEO:

I'm making my turn. I see the

school up ahead.

THEO'S POV - THE PARKER SCHOOL - its yard now full of

students.

The voices on the crossed line still remain, giving Theo a

hard time.

CALLER:

This sh*t happens all the time.

I'm switching to Air Touch!

THEO:

Good idea. Get lost!

FEMALE CALLER:

Rude a**hole.

She hangs up. The line is clear again.

There are school buses already loading up. The day's

session has ended.

CAMERA WHIP PANS AROUND - car doors slamming, buses pulling

out. Mothers are car-pooling, picking up groups of kids,

all of whom are in uniform. Vehicles are departing, none of

them a black Mercedes.

THEO:

Lenore, I'm here. I'm getting

out.

LENORE:

I can hear you again, clearly.

THEO:

Great. Stay with me. There must

be a hundred kids out here.

Theo is out of the car which he leaves double parked.

Camera races with Theo as he enters the school yard.

THEO:

I don't see any Mercedes.

He looks around, trying to find any dark girl with a

ponytail. He sees one and catches up with her.

THEO:

Are you Rachel?

The girl looks at him suspiciously and keeps walking. She's

obviously been trained not to talk to strangers.

THEO:

Does she have a red ribbon on that

ponytail?

LENORE:

That's not her.

Whip pan to another prospect.

THEO:

Does she wear glasses?

LENORE:

No.

THEO:

I've got to ask somebody.

Theo approaches a group of boys.

THEO:

Anybody see Rachel Oberfeld?

2ND BOY

She always gets picked up by her

driver. For dance class.

Stuck-up little b*tch.

THEO:

Is she gone?

Then Theo realizes a female teacher has come up behind him.

TEACHER:

May I help you?

THEO:

Did Rachel Oberfeld leave?

TEACHER:

Of course she did. What business

is that of yours?

A uniformed security guard is approaching. This schoolyard

is well patrolled.

SECURITY GUARD:

Any trouble?

TEACHER:

He's asking about the Oberfeld

girl.

LENORE:

(on cellular)

What's happening?

THEO:

(into phone)

She's gone --

LENORE:

Don't say anything. Don't alarm

them. Just go!

THEO:

I'm trying to.

SECURITY GUARD:

Is that your Chrysler double

parked out there?

THEO:

Yeah. I'll move it.

LENORE:

(over cellular)

They've got her. There's nothing

you can do but go.

Theo is already exiting the school yard. The teacher stares

after him suspiciously. The security guard follows him to

the curb, watches him get in.

INT. THEO'S CAR - DAY

Theo pounds his fist on the dashboard in total frustration.

THEO:

I f***ing blew it!

He sees the guard copying down his license plate.

THEO:

He's copying down my license --

for all the good it'll do him.

LENORE:

It's not your fault, Theo. You

tried.

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