Chasing Sleep Page #3

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Hi, this is Celeste, calling for Eve. We're worried about you. You don't come in. You don't call. No, seriously, we just want to make sure you're OK. Don't worry about your students. Marie's covering for you. But give us a call, OK? Bye.

ED:

That's the school where Eve works. She's a piano teacher at Franklin High.

Then there's a message for Ed.

MRS MASTRIONI:

(on machine)

Hello, Mr Saxon. This is Mrs Mastrioni from the University. You didn't show up for your morning class and I'm calling to see if you'll be in for your other classes so that I can make the proper arrangements. I assume you remember how to use the phone.

ED:

Damn.

DERM:

You're a teacher too?

ED:

A professor at the University.

The next message is Derm.

DERM:

(on machine)

Hello, this is Detective Derm from the Seattle Police Department...

Derm takes a small pill box from his overcoat, while the machine plays in the background.

DERM:

That's me. Do you have a glass of water?

ED:

Sure.

Ed goes into the -

INT. KITCHEN

- and fills a glass for the detective.

INT. LIVING ROOM

When he comes back, he sees Derm casually looking over the woman's magazines on the coffee table. Derm picks up a filled-in New York Times Sunday Crossword and looks it over.

DERM:

Your wife did this?

ED:

Yes.

DERM:

Smart woman. The acrostic, too.

Ed hands Derm the water.

DERM:

Thank you.

Meanwhile the next message comes on. It is a girl from Ed's class.

SADIE:

(on machine)

Hello, Mr Saxon? This is Sadie, from your creative writing class. Anyway, you didn't show up today and I just wanted to see if you were OK and, you know, if there was any reading or anything you wanted us to do. My number is 323-4854. I hope you're alright. Bye.

DERM:

A student?

ED:

Yes.

DERM:

Do they call you often?

ED:

No, but they all have my number.

The next message is from Susie.

SUSIE:

(on machine)

He, Ed. I just wanted to find out what happened last night. If Eve ever showed up, or what happened. Call me at work, 672-5695.

ED:

I thought she might have gone over there last night. Excuse me, I better call the University.

The next message is Detective Derm again and it plays behind Ed's conversation.

ED:

Hi, Mrs Mastrioni?

MRS MASTRIONI:

(over phone)

Yes.

ED:

This is Ed Saxon.

MRS MASTRIONI:

Oh, yes. Didn't make it in today, huh?

ED:

I guess not.

MRS MASTRIONI:

There were students waiting for you.

ED:

Yes, I know. It's a personal matter.

MRS MASTRIONI:

A personal matter, huh?

ED:

That's right.

MRS MASTRIONI:

So you'll be in tomorrow.

ED:

Yes, tomorrow.

MRS MASTRIONI:

Or you'll call.

ED:

Or I'll call, yes. Hello? Hello?

Ed hangs up, having been hung up on. He turns around to see Derm standing right by, listening to his call.

The next message is from George Simian, a man who works with Eve. His cautious voice makes it known that it is weird that he is calling. Ed pays special attention to this call.

GEORGE:

Hi, Eve. This is George, from school. You didn't come into work today and I just wanted to make sure everything was OK. I guess I'll see you tomorrow.

DERM:

Who's that?

ED:

Some guy she worked with. P.E. teacher, I think.

DERM:

I see. Mr Saxon, does your wife have an address book?

ED:

Yes.

DERM:

Could I see it, please? And a picture, if you have one.

ED:

Certainly.

Ed heads into -

INT. EVE'S ROOM

- and picks up the small address book from the desk.

INT. LIVING ROOM

He hands the address book and takes a picture of Eve from his desk, removing from the frame.

DERM:

Great.

Derm flips through the address book and a business card falls out. Derm picks it up and looks it over.

DERM:

George Simian. Is that the same George that called?

ED:

Yes.

DERM:

This address, this George Simian lives on Capitol Hill, where we found your wife's car.

ED:

Really?

DERM:

May I borrow this?

ED:

I suppose.

DERM:

I'll call the numbers in here and see what I can turn up. Try no to worry, Mr Saxon. I'll be in touch.

ED:

Yes, thank you.

Derm leaves. Ed shuts the door and locks it.

The phone rings and Ed picks it up.

ED:

Hello.

SADIE:

(over phone)

He, Mr Saxon?

ED:

Yes?

SADIE:

Hi, it's Sadie Crumb, from your creative writing class.

ED:

Oh, yes. Hi.

SADIE:

Are you OK? Is this a bad time to call?

ED:

No. It's alright.

SADIE:

I was, I don't know, wondering if you were sick or something, when you didn't come to class.

ED:

No, well, a little.

SADIE:

Do you need anything? I mean, I could bring you something.

ED:

No, I don't think so.

SADIE:

Really, it's no problem. Have you eaten?

ED:

No, but...

SADIE:

I can bring you something to eat. It's no problem. Some soup or something.

ED:

Really, I don't know if it's a good idea.

SADIE:

Oh, I'm sorry.

ED:

No, don't be. It's just that I don't feel too well.

SADIE:

That's OK. I used to volunteer at a hospital.

ED:

Really?

SADIE:

Yeah, I was a candy striper.

ED:

You're kidding.

SADIE:

What I mean is, I'm used to it. You know, sick people.

ED:

Yeah? OK.

SADIE:

Where do you live?

ED:

4523 East Street.

SADIE:

I'll be there soon.

ED:

OK.

SADIE:

Oh. Do you not eat meat, or anything?

ED:

No. I eat anything.

SADIE:

Great. Bye.

Ed hangs up the phone. He walks into the -

INT. BATHROOM

He looks in the mirror. His hair is a mess and he is unshaven. He looks tired. He turns on the shower.

INT. BEDROOM

Ed takes off his clothes and walks back into the -

INT. BATHROOM

He puts his hand under the water. It isn't warm yet, so he picks up his toothbrush and puts some paste on it.

Then he hears a piano playing, behind the sound of the shower. It can hardly be heard.

ED:

Eve?

INT. EVE'S ROOM

He looks around Eve's room quickly. There is no one there. Ed goes back to the -

INT. BATHROOM

He comes back into the bathroom. The music has stopped and all that can be heard is the shower filling up the tub.

The water is about ankle-deep.

ED:

Damn.

Ed reaches into the drain and pulls out a clump of Eve's hair. He throws it into the toilet and then gets in the shower. The drain is obviously still clogged up. He is up to his knees in soapy water.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

As Ed comes out of the shower, he sees that it is completely dark. There is a knock on the door.

ED:

Hold on! One second!

Ed grabs Eve's robe from the back of the bathroom door.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Ed answers the door.

SADIE, 18, is the kind of girl who always has something to say in class, who has always done her homework and who has definite ideas about her future and the future of the planet. She is innocent and na�ve, nice and well-mannered. But also pushy and manipulative, used to getting her way.

SADIE:

Hi, it's me.

ED:

Oh, hi.

SADIE:

Are you OK?

ED:

I didn't think you'd be here so fast.

SADIE:

It's almost eight.

ED:

Oh. I seem to be having a little trouble with time.

SADIE:

I know what you mean. I'm one of those people who is always late.

ED:

Come in.

SADIE:

I hope you don't mind me coming over like this. It didn't occur to me that it might be a little strange until after I hung up. It's just, well, at my high school, I went to boarding school, and we were pretty close with our teachers.

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