Elle

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1 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - HALLWAY -- DAY 1

The eyes of MARTY, a cat, indifferently observe some rathernoisy struggle. Male GRUNTS. A woman’s SMOTHERED SCREAMS. TheSHATTERING of glass. After a few moments, the cat gets bored

and wanders away.

Looking down a tastefully decorated hallway, a MALE FIGURErises into view. He cleans his genital area with a scrap offabric - torn panties, though from this ANGLE, it’s hard tomake that out clearly. He drops the cloth contemptuously onthe floor and walks toward us. He straightens the black ski-

mask he wears over his face as he clears the frame... PUSHING

DOWN the hall, discover MICHELLE LEBLANC lying on the floor.

Face down, skirt hiked up above her waist. There’s a littleblood, on her legs and on the rug.

At first, it seems she might be dead, but she’s just inshock. Her limbs begin to move, slowly, clumsily. As if herbrain were having trouble communicating with the rest of her.

She stands. Her breasts are exposed where her bra has beenpulled up. Her torn dress exposes an old cesarian scar. Shepulls her bra down, holds her dress closed. She notes afallen but unbroken vase on the carpet. She returns it to itsproper place on an end-table.

2 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER 2

Michelle sweeps up a broken crystal ash tray with a broom anddust-pan. Her movements very deliberate, as if she were onauto-pilot.

3 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - UPSTAIRS BATHROOM -- DAY 3

Michelle peels herself out of her ruined dress. She shoves itvery deliberately into a waste-basket.

4 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - UPSTAIRS BATHROOM -- MOMENTS LATER 4

In the tub, Michelle takes an inventory of injuries. A fewbruises and minor abrasions. She sees a curlicue of blood

floating in the soapy water. She erases it with her hand.

5 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE -- BEDROOM -- DAY 5

Wearing a bathrobe, hair still wet, Michelle sits on her bed,

phone in one hand, a Sushi take-out menu in the other.

2.

MICHELLE (INTO PHONE)

...Yes, I’d like two pieces of the

Hamachi, as well... and what

exactly is the “Holiday Roll?”

6 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - ENTRYWAY -- DAY 6

Michelle opens her front door and lets in her 19-year-oldson, VINCENT, a bear of a young man with scrappy facial hair,

a back-pack on his shoulder. She greets him with a brief hug

VINCENT:

I know I’m late. They kept me at

work a f***ing extra hour.

(walking on with her, he

sees something’s amiss)

Are you ok? You look like you got a

black eye starting.

MICHELLE:

I fell off my bike.

VINCENT:

That bike?

The young man nods to a brand new-looking bike they’repassing leaned against the entryway wall.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

It doesn’t look like you’ve been

riding it at all.

MICHELLE:

(gestures to her face)

And you see why.

7 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE -- DEN -- LATER 7

They’re sitting at the coffee table eating Sushi. Vincentuses the chopsticks in conjunction with his fingers. Michelleisn’t eating at the moment, she’s watching his Iphone. (We

glimpse a Youtube snippet, a child at Sea World.) Vincentwatches his mother, expecting a big laugh. But as the videoends, Michelle looks merely confused.

MICHELLE:

So, the kid was scared of the

penguin?

VINCENT:

The music’s what makes it so great.

3.

MICHELLE:

It’s arguably cruelty to animals.

VINCENT:

Nah- you think?

(takes back his phone)

Sorry I was late. We’re shorthanded

at work.

MICHELLE:

You’ve managed to avoid mentioning

what this job actually is.

VINCENT:

It’s entry level, I told you. Butthere’s a path to management. I’m,

like, an assistant manager.

MICHELLE:

Is this a MacDonald’s or something?

VINCENT:

(amazed she guessed)

But it’s a management position. LikeI said... I brought you a present.

Quickly changing the subject, Vincent hops up, pulls a goldgift box from his back-pack with great pride.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

It’s from Josie, really. It was all

her idea.

Michelle smiles thinly. She opens the box. Inside, a FRAMEDPHOTO. Vincent is stiffly posed before a cheesy back-drop,

beside a massively pregnant girl (JOSIE).

MICHELLE:

You look quite handsome.

VINCENT:

We're going to go back and takeanother picture after the baby'sborn. You can put 'em side by side.

It'll be like a before and after.

He moves a candle stick on the mantle to the side to make

room for the photo.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

Josie's got all kinds of ideasabout interior decorating. Ofcourse, she's never had her own

place to decorate. Till now.

4.

Michelle lowers her head, knowing where this is going.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

She'll be able to try her hand alittle bit, I guess, now that we'regetting our own place.

She watches him sit back down, going back to eating Sushi,

using the chopsticks in conjunction with his fingers.

MICHELLE:

How much are you going to need forthis new apartment?

VINCENT:

I didn't ask you for money.

MICHELLE:

Did I jump the gun?

VINCENT:

I was going to ask you to co-signthe lease but I wasn't going to askyou for money, necessarily.

MICHELLE:

Are any of Josie's other paramoursmoving in with you too?

VINCENT:

No.

(realizing that came offlike an answer respectingthe question...)

No! Why would you say somethinglike that?

Vincent spills some Wasabi on his lap. Michelle gets up toget him another napkin.

MICHELLE:

You don't know anything about thismanifestly dysfunctional girl.

Except that she was raised byunwashed idiots in a commune.

VINCENT:

It was an Arts collective.

In passing, Michelle moves the candlestick back in front ofthe photo.

5.

MICHELLE:

She didn’t see toilet paper untilshe was ten! By her own admission.

She returns to her chair, gives him the napkin.

MICHELLE (CONT’D)

I suppose it’s progress she nowsuddenly wants the most bourgeoislife imaginable- you’ve reallynever wondered about this? Why sheglommed onto you? What she’s after?

VINCENT:

(cleaning himself up)

What could she be “after”? I don't

have money.

MICHELLE:

I do.

VINCENT:

You know I can't listen to this.

You're insulting my family.

MICHELLE:

(hands him napkin)

Your father sets his jaw just likethat when he's laying down the law.

It doesn't work for you yet. Giveit some time.

VINCENT:

(hurt, embarrassed)

I don't know what's with you today.

She looks at him, thinking about telling him. Then:

MICHELLE:

I’ll give you three months rent. Oncondition I look at the placefirst.

VINCENT:

I didn’t want to pressure you. Ifyou really don’t feel...

MICHELLE:

You won. When you strike oil, stopdrilling.

Vincent smiles, goes back to eating sushi, ditching thechopsticks. Michelle watches him with a slight smile.

6.

8 EXT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE -- NIGHT 8

Michelle waves goodbye to Vincent as he drives away. Far downthe street, a few Xmas lights twinkle.

9 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - GARAGE -- NIGHT 9

Michelle rummages through a tool box until she finds a HAMMER.

10 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT 10

Michelle makes a sweep of the house, holding the hammer. Sheconcernedly checks the pantry door. It’s slightly warped soit takes an extra shove to close it all the way.

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