Mimic Page #5

JOSH:

Hey. I'm a short guy. Waddaya want?

Two cops -- WOYCHEK and RICE -- approach, in no real hurry.

PETER:

Peter Tyler, DOH. You gentlemen were

the first on the scene?

WOYCHEK:

(gestures to Rice)

We were both on patrol, saw this paint

mess. Then I looked through that cellar

window. We both did...

PETER:

You gone in?

WOYCHEK:

No. We waited.

PETER:

Good.

Peter peeks through a narrow cellar window on the floor.

Through the oily, smeared window, a ghostly array of PALE

FACE AND HANDS appears, startling him.

PETER:

(to Josh)

Get the EMT's in there, now.

CUT TO:

LATER:

PARAMEDIC AMBULANCES rush in. Sirens at full blast.

Stepping out of the building across, Manny walks next to

Chuy, who holds his hand. The old man carries a box full of

shoes.

Chuy looks back at the cop circus, amused.

MANNY:

C'mon Chuy, we're gonna be late.

(discreetly crossing himself)

Cops are bad news. Don't look at them.

He gently pulls his grandson's hand and moves briskly away.

JOSH:

uses an iron bar, and breaks a padlocked cellar door. A heavy

stench emanates from inside. The cops cover their noses.

INT. CELLAR

Peter and Josh enter a dingy, dungeon-like cellar,

illuminated only by bug zappers and emergency lights. Every

door and window has been nailed shut or sports a heavy-duty

padlock. Peter and Josh walk through the dismal scene.

In sharp contrast with the dirt-smeared walls, we see shiny

metallic SEWING MACHINES and swatches of cloth appliqued with

a FUNNY BUNNY cartoon character.

Josh examines the label stitched into the collar. It reads:

PROUDLY MADE IN USA.

PETER:

Jesus.

His light hits a group of quivering, skeletal CHINESE

IMMIGRANTS, standing in a tight group against a wall.

WOYCHEK:

(from the outside)

They look real sick, don't they?

CUT TO:

INT. STAIRWELL, MUSEUM - DUSK

Carrying boxes full of terrarium material, Susan and Siri

ride an antiquated cage-steel elevator. No floor buttons,

just an old-fashioned hand-activated lever.

SUSAN:

...as long as they're ready for the

opening I don't care, just tell them

that.

SIRI:

I'm on it. Don't worry.

(Beat)

Look, Susan...I don't mean to pry,

but... I kinda overheard you and

Peter.

SUSAN:

(Smiles ironically)

Watch your step, Siri. Your grant

could be on the line here.

SIRI:

I just...well, I had this cousin in

Delhi. She was having problems, too.

She, ah...

SUSAN:

What?

SIRI:

She used a baster.

Susan looks at her.

SIRI:

Not a big one. I mean, it was like a

turkey baster.

SUSAN:

Oh, Jesus.

She tries to stop the elevator at the fourth floor, but

it rises just a little too far.

SUSAN:

Come on, darlin'...

Susan has to jimmy the lever till the elevator falls

level to the floor.

SIRI:

(continues)

She kept it under her bed. Thing is,

it kinda worked. I mean, she had to

hide it from her husband, but...

A pair of young boys, RICKY and DAVIS, sit on the floor

outside Susan's lab door. A crumpled paper bag and a shoe

box sit beside them.

SUSAN:

What's this?

SIRI:

Oh, right... They been here since noon.

I told them you're real busy.

Susan smiles at the boys, who stand when they see her.

SUSAN:

Hello.

RICKY:

You the bug lady, right?

Siri chuckles.

SUSAN:

(smiles)

I suppose so.

Ricky raises and shakes the paper bag.

RICKY:

We're here to deal.

INT. MOUNTING ROOM - DUSK

SUNLIGHT slants in to illuminate an incredible array of live

and mounted dead INSECTS, trapped in turn-of-the-century

glass fronted cabinets. Davis puts his nose up against one,

fascinated.

SUSAN:

Metaxonycha Godmani, Trigonopelastes

Delta. Field Butterflies. Have you been

upstate?

She examines the boys' findings, mostly rag-tag specimens

of battered butterflies.

DAVIS:

Avenue B.

SUSAN:

(sadly)

I guess they got lost in this city.

RICKY:

So, you wanna buy em?

DAVIS:

There's extra wings in the bag.

Siri lingers in the background.

SUSAN:

You guys have done a nice job. How bout

five dollars?

RICKY:

(dismayed)

That's it?

DAVIS:

(to Ricky)

Show her the weirdbug.

He indicates the shoebox-

RICKY:

Cost a dollar just to look.

DAVIS:

It's a great bug. We kinda broke it a

little...

Siri impatiently points at the wall clock-

SUSAN:

Fellas, I'll tell you what...ten dollars

for everything. Plus a killing jar, some

tweezers and mounts so the next bunch you

catch will be in better shape.

DAVIS:

Deal!

RICKY:

You crazy! That's the best!!

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