The Elevator Page #2

Thank you. And one here.

Another signature?

Yes, for our administration.

You'll enjoy this for the rest of

your life.

Do you know where the lift is?

Yes, don't worry about me.

Give my regards to your mother.

-Thanks, I will.

You forgot your pen.

How silly. It's a dear souvenir.

I wouldn't want anything to happen

to it.

Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

Did you say something?

-No, I didn't.

I thought you said something.

It's 3 am. Two more hours

to go.

Would you like a drink?

What?

I hope you can keep a secret.

My best friend in the early

morning.

I don't drink.

They could have warned me

about that.

In that case, I'll drink alone.

What do you do in your free time?

Women?

I'm engaged.

-Really?

We're getting married next month.

Don't you have other things to do?

When I was a sailor, I had a girl

in each port.

I was very busy back then.

I've been immune to penicillin ever

since.

What's wrong?

-I thought I heard a sound.

You're just nervous.

I would be too.

You're getting married next month.

No, I heard a sound.

It's rats.

They once found a lift full

of dead rats.

Dozens of them, inside.

If you want excitement, find

another job.

The lift!

There's someone here.

-The lift's going up.

That's strange.

The stairs! We'll catch him

by surprise.

It's on the 10th floor.

It stopped. It's at the 15th floor.

Isn't that the restaurant floor?

-Maybe he's hungry.

Are you alright?

Kees!

There's something down here.

There's a man down there.

Help!

Get me out! Quick!

Shall I get some soap?

The lift!

The lift!

It's stopping.

Kees, where are you?

Vice was even worse.

I remember a psychopath.

He'd picked up a girl.

And he gave her a sleeping pill.

He cut her up with a chainsaw.

A Black and Decker, I believe.

He cut her in half.

I skipped lunch that day.

You get used to it.

Not all crazy people are locked up.

It may be routine for you...

but I don't experience these

things terrible every day.

It's unbelievable.

They told me this lift was

absolutely safe.

And look what happens.

It's not the first lift accident.

And it won't be the last.

I don't like lifts. I prefer

the stairs.

I suffer from claustrophobia when

I'm in an enclosed area.

That's why I'm a police man,

not a criminal.

I'd rather put others in a cell

then myself.

Do you know how many people get stuck

in lifts every year?

No idea. 100? 200?

Ah, Smit. I just asked

this gentleman...

how many people get stuck

in lifts each year.

-A quarter of a million!

Each year!

Those are the facts.

Did you go to the hospital?

-The night watchman can't tell us much.

He's in shock.

It could be days before he

can talk.

That won't help us.

He did say there was someone else

in the building.

They were going after someone.

In the building? A burglar?

-That's all I could get out of him.

That might have something to

do with it.

We'll check if there were signs

of burglary.

We'll have to wait until our friend can

give a full statement.

He's our only witness.

And the blind man?

Mr. Vink. He must have fallen in

the lift shaft yesterday.

He had just bought a holiday house.

Looks like an accident.

Was there a mechanic?

He started this morning. He must

be almost finished.

Are you doing ok?

Why? Who are you?

Mieke de Beer of the New Review.

The New Review?

I've seen it in people's cat litter box.

-Our readers are everywhere.

Aren't you a bit late?

I took pictures this morning.

I thought no one was allowed in.

-That's what almost everyone thought.

Impressive.

Are you from Rising Sun?

-No, from the lift company.

That's something else.

For your readers?

For my private collection.

I heard you've been here all day.

That's correct.

What was that?

Air circulation in the shaft.

It makes the cables shake.

Nothing to worry about.

Are you back again?

I asked you to leave.

Alright, I'm done.

Artistic tie. It was a pleasure,

gentlemen.

She's cheeky.

Sorry, rules are rules.

They were wondering how you

were going.

I checked all the electric circuits.

Yes, the electric circuits.

That's generally...

where failures are located, but

everything's working.

We can't say that about

the victims.

The door locks are also working

correctly.

I couldn't check everything yet,

of course.

I should go into the shaft.

But that would take days.

-Would the lift be out of order?

Of course.

I read about a car accident

the other day.

A collision, because the traffic lights

weren't working.

Guess what. What did they

find, Smit?

Two mice.

They found two mice...

hidden in the relay box. Nothing

was working anymore.

I don't think we have a problem

with mice.

Why not? I wouldn't be surprised.

A lift doesn't move on

its own or does it?

No.

What do you want?

I thought you were the best choice

to ask for a lift.

Do you always break into cars?

It depends. Only when

they're locked.

Where do you want to go?

-To the city centre.

You're lucky. That's where

I'm going.

It's not a matter of luck.

You look so serious.

What's wrong with that lift?

Didn't you talk to the police?

-Of course.

Preliminary conclusion.

"Tragic accident. Under investigation.

We're taking measures to prevent

this in the future."

Good for the front page.

There must be more to it.

They would have told you.

-You're the expert.

I'm very honoured.

People aren't decapitated without

a reason.

A loose relay?

-What gave you that idea?

The janitor talked about a problem

with the lift last week.

This is a different problem.

-A shame.

Why?

-I'd have had a good story.

You call that good?

Do lift accidents happen often?

Traffic is a lot more dangerous.

Lifts have security systems.

Maybe we don't hear about all

the accidents.

A conspiracy?

Cigarette?

-No, thanks.

You have a nice wife.

Have you been married long?

-Almost ten years.

That's long.

Have you been a lift mechanic

for long?

Have you been a journalist

for long?

Isn't it boring to go up and down

in a lift shaft all day?

Come and see me so we can do

it together.

Ok, I'll shut up.

So you read it yourself.

Only my own articles.

Thanks. It was nice.

You're welcome.

Do you live here?

If you live here.

No, this is where my office is.

I still have to work.

I thought you lived here.

-Why would I live at my work?

If you find out anything about the

lift, give me a call.

Your wife's learning fast.

We're being beating.

Have you both been practicing?

-No, she's got talent.

Look at that.

We're having a night out.

Stop worrying.

It's not your fault.

These things happen.

What do you want to drink, Felix?

I'll have a beer.

Another mineral water for you?

I'd prefer...

-No, that makes you gain weight.

A mineral water then.

I had to change all his pants.

We need to cheer Felix up tonight.

He's taking it too personally.

I don't understand it.

Two red wine, a beer and a

mineral water.

Are you two doing alright?

The two of us? Why?

Are you sure there isn't

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes