Max rolls his eyes and shrugs.
MELISSA: Only Alex said his car was in the shop so he told me where he lived and to just pull up, honk and he’d be right out. Sounded pretty safe to me.
Max visibly scoffs at her notion.
Melissa eyes Max doubtfully.
MELISSA: Are you sure you aren’t Alex?
MAX: What?
MELISSA: You wouldn’t just be pretending to not be Alex because I wasn’t what you were expecting, would you?
MAX: No. I wouldn’t.
MELISSA: Because if you want to call this whole thing off, that’s fine. Just tell me and I’ll leave. But don’t lead me on and don’t play games.
MAX: I said I’m not Alex.
MELISSA: Okay.
(Pause)
Have you known Alex long?
Max seems to think a moment before answering.
MAX: I’m just helping him do some work around the place.
MELISSA: Is that what you do for a living? A handyman, I mean?
MAX: No!
MELISSA: Well what do you do?
Max takes a long pause, seeming to struggle with his thought.
MAX: I’m over at the Madisonville Psychiatric Hospital.
MELISSA: The insane asylum?
Max looks at her, obviously offended.
MAX: It’s a facility for the mentally disturbed.
MELISSA: Well then you know all about the escape then.
MAX: The escape?
MELISSA: Yeah, it was on the radio today. A couple of days ago one of their patients escaped. They say he’s really dangerous.
Max looks bothered by this news.
MELISSA: But then, you probably heard about it.
Max is getting very annoyed.
MAX: What, you think I didn’t hear about it?
MELISSA: Well what happened?
MAX: I don’t know!
MELISSA: Sorry, I just thought that…
(Pause)
Wait, you know what? It’s really scary but, I think I saw him.
MAX: Who?
MELISSA: The escaped lunatic. I think I saw him this morning on my way here. He was standing outside my car just staring at me.
(She shudders)
Ewww, it gives me the creeps just thinking about it.
Max rolls his eyes.
MAX: It wasn’t him.
MELISSA: Oh yeah, how do you know?
A fury begins to burn in Max’s eyes as he gets up and begins to pace.
MAX: You see, you report this shit to the media and suddenly everywhere people turn they see a maniac on the loose! What do you think, this guy’s gonna walk around in broad daylight and show everyone how crazy he is?
(Pause)
He’s too smart for that.
MELISSA: So do you know who it is?
MAX: What? No! Look, what the hell’s with all the questions here? I wasn’t there when it happened okay? I don’t know anything about it.
Melissa winces as he screams.
MAX: What am I supposed to have all the answers? Am I? AM I?
Max puts his hands on his head. He starts to shake as his hands curl up into two fistfuls of hair. He lets go and his face reddens as he erupts at her.
MAX: Dammit!!!
He storms off into the kitchen and slaps a box of Boo Berry off the counter sending it spilling onto the floor. He steadies himself next to a counter and then thunders his fists down onto it while letting out a short shout of fury.
Max opens up one of the drawers and pulls out a large slicing knife. He brandishes it while looking around.
Melissa listens from the living room to what appears to be mild grunting and groaning.
In the Kitchen a snarling Max pulls his shirt sleeve up, puts the blade to his forearm and starts to cut into his flesh. He grits his teeth and saliva drips down his goatee as he slices deeper.
Melissa gets up and walks toward the kitchen area, but doesn’t dare enter.
MELISSA: Are you okay in there?
She listens for a moment, but there is no answer. As a matter of fact the grunting and groaning has stopped and all is silent.
MELISSA: Max?
Still nothing.
She looks back at Max’s glass of water sitting on the coffee table.
MELISSA: You didn’t touch your water, should I bring it in?
No answer.
Silence.
Melissa has had enough and hurries toward the front door. Just before she reaches it she hears Max’s voice.
MAX: Where do you think you’re going?
She spins around to see Max standing at the kitchen entrance, his hands are closed into fists and he is scowling at her.
MELISSA: I don’t think Alex is going to show.
MAX: You’re not going anywhere!
Melissa turns and races toward the front door but Max is too fast for her and grabs her by the back of the neck. She screams as he spins her around and throws her to the floor. She gets to her hands and knees and scurries into the Kitchen.
Max is right behind her.
◆◆◆
FLASHBACK
FRIDAY
Early Afternoon
The man we know as Max is walking with purpose down the sidewalk. His shirt is tucked in and buttoned to the top. He scowls as he reaches the white Victorian house and moves down the walkway to the front porch.
He knocks on the door. There’s no immediate answer. He turns and scans the neighborhood before knocking again more forcefully.
Still no answer.
Max walks to the front window and tries to look in. As he is looking, a husky white haired man in his late 40’s opens the door and steps out onto the porch. He has a very friendly demeanor.
WHITE HAIRED MAN: Yes? May I help you sir?
MAX: What’s your name?
WHITE HAIRED MAN: Alex.
MAX: Do you live here?
Alex smiles.
ALEX: Why yes, yes I do.
MAX: How long have you lived here?
ALEX: Not long. Why do you ask?
Max looks around the porch.
MAX: I spend some of my childhood in this house.
ALEX: Oh really?
MAX: Yeah, I used to live here.
ALEX: Is that so? How long ago did you move out?
Max is in deep thought.
MAX: It’s been awhile.
ALEX: The reason I ask is because I know a lot about this house. Several different families have lived in it through the years. Did you live here long?
MAX: Long enough. I’m in from out of town. This is the first time I’ve been back in…
(Thinks a moment)
…over twenty years.
ALEX: That’s quite a hiatus. Are you back in town for a reason?
MAX: My father’s funeral.
ALEX: Oh. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.
MAX: It’s alright. I didn’t really know him. We had a strained relationship.
Alex is very concerned by this statement.
ALEX: Oh I am so, so sorry to hear that. That’s one of the true tragedies of the world, a father and son having a difficult relationship.
Max walks to the edge of the porch and scans the yard.
MAX: I guess I’m looking for some closure and it brought me here.
ALEX: Well what can I do to help?
Max turns to Alex and approaches him as he speaks.
MAX: Would it be asking too much if I could see my old room?
Alex appears hesitant.
ALEX: Well…
Max waves him off.
MAX: Ahh, that’s okay. You don’t know me. I shouldn’t be putting you in an awkward position like this.
Max begins to leave the porch.
ALEX: No, no. Come on in here.
MAX: Are you sure it’s okay?
Alex smiles confidently.
ALEX: Absolutely.
Alex enters the house followed by Max, who stops before he enters and scans the immediate are
a.
Alex shuts the front door behind Max who has made himself quiet at home peering around corners and up the stairs. Alex begins to ramble as Max continues looking around the house.
ALEX: You’ll have to forgive me if I seem overly interested in your predicament, but I can relate to you. I also had a difficult relationship with my father, but I was able to rectify the situation. I’m sorry that you were unable to achieve such a solution while he was alive, but perhaps revisiting some old ghosts will be just what the doctor ordered for you.
MAX: Maybe.
Max picks up a picture of a man with his arm around a woman. He doesn’t recognize either of the people. He picks up some other knick knacks and inspects them as Alex continues.
ALEX: You know, family is really all you have in life. It’s the only thing you can depend on. One should never be without family. That’s my motto.
MAX: Is that so?
ALEX: Which room was yours?
Max looks up the stairs.
MAX: Upstairs.
Alex and Max begin up the stairs as the one-sided conversation continues.
ALEX: I have a theory about family. What do most people think about when they think family?
Max Shrugs.
ALEX: Blood relatives, right?
As Alex speaks, Max is looking at several pictures on the stairwell landing wall.
ALEX: But, what about the spouse? The spouse isn’t a blood relative, yet they are typically considered the most important member of a family. This is the basis of my theory. Does a family member have to be blood related? I don’t think so. A family member can be anyone. This theoretically means that one can actually pick and choose who their family is.
Max is obviously uninterested when he speaks.
MAX: Interesting theory.
ALEX: Oh, listen to me rambling on and on! I have to be getting ready soon. Believe it or not, I have a date this morning!
MAX: A date? This early?
ALEX: Well it’s our first date and I wanted her to feel as safe and secure as possible.
MAX: What’s the lucky girl’s name?
ALEX : Melissa. Isn’t that beautiful?
Max rolls his eyes.
MAX: Sure.
Max is continuing to look around and looks noticeably irritated by Alex’s constant rambles, but Alex is so caught up in the conversation that Max’s annoyance goes unnoticed. There are a few more pictures on the wall of people other than Alex, which Max is taking a slight interest in. He even straightens one that is crooked.
ALEX: Melissa and I seem to have a lot in common. But most importantly we seem to share the same morals and values which are so important if you are to start a family together. And I know I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself here, but I think she might be the one!
MAX: How fortunate for you.
Alex begins to notice the frustration in Max.
ALEX: Oh, I’m sorry. Here I am rambling again. Going on and on about my hopes and dreams when you’re here trying to gain some closure on the strenuous relationship you had with your father.
Max gnashes his teeth before taking a breath and calming himself.
MAX: It’s okay
ALEX: Did your troubles with your father begin in this house?
Max turns at looks at a bedroom door.
MAX: In this room to be exact.
Max opens the door and steps in. He looks around the grey room, taking it all in. Alex follows.
There is a music box on the table. Max opens it and it begins to play a cheerful melody.
Max sets it down and lets it play.
MAX: This room was my prison.
ALEX: Well it’s not anymore.
MAX: No, it’s not.
ALEX: You’ve taken the first step, uh. Oh my. I’m sorry, I never even asked you your name.
MAX: No, you didn’t.
ALEX: I think it’s very admirable…heartwarming that you care enough about your father to come back on the day of his funeral to show your final respects and to make amends. And to come back here to the house you lived in together, where I’m sure you spent most of your time with him. That’s love, that’s what that is. Good old fashioned love.
Max’s face begins to distort, almost as though he appears he may start to cry. He covers his mouth attempting to hold back his emotion before he finally succumbs and begins to laugh. He tries to stop laughing but can’t and laughs harder.
ALEX: Are you laughing?
Max laughs more before finally getting control of himself. He is still laughing a bit as he begins to speak, but steadies himself as he goes and eventually becomes angry.
MAX: Love? Respect? Amends? You don’t seem to understand, Alex. I hate my father. With a passion! The only reason I’m came back to this town today is so that after that son of a bitch is in the ground, I can spit on his grave!
ALEX: You don’t mean that!
MAX: Oh yes I do!
ALEX: You can’t be speaking of your father in that manner. A father and son’s relationship is vital! He’s your father! He’s your family!
Max nods and approaches Alex as he speaks.
MAX: Yes he is. I’ll give you that. He’s my family whether I like it or not, because he is my own flesh and blood! Because unlike your bullshit theory, that is the only kind of real family there is! Flesh and blood! That’s it!
ALEX: No, no, no. You’re wrong! What about a spouse? A wife? A wife isn’t true flesh and blood, but she is as much of a family member as anyone else!
MAX: A wife? Let me tell you what a wife is. A wife is nothing more than an object you breed with to produce your own true flesh and blood.
ALEX: No! You are wrong sir! And you’re wrong to speak about your father that way. I don’t care what happened between you two, he’s still your father and you cannot speak about your father that way in my house! How dare you sir! HOW DARE YOU!
Max looks down at a metal vase sitting within his reach, picks it up and smashes Alex across the face with it.
Alex falls onto the bed, unconscious.
CHAPTER 5
FRIDAY
Afternoon
Dr. Grimm holds his cell phone to his ear as he walks quickly down the steps of the back exit of the Madisonville Psychiatric Hospital. He reaches the bottom of the stairs and snaps his phone shut in frustration.
DR. GRIMM: Where is he?
Dr. Grimm glances around nervously as he finally reaches his car. He immediately lifts up the door handle, but it’s locked.
He lets out a breath, sets his folders down on the top of his car and reaches into the pocket he normally carries his car keys in.
The pocket is empty.
Dr. Grimm quickly begins reaching into his other pockets and patting himself down before finally realizing that he must have left his keys in his office.
DR. GRIMM: Shit!
After sneaking back into the hospital undetected, Dr. Grimm makes a point to take one of the back stairwells that should be quiet at this time of the day. He marches up the stairs.
DR. LEWIS: Dr. Grimm!
Dr. Grimm stops dead in his tracks and clutches his chest, startled by Dr. Lewis standing on the landing above him.
DR. GRIMM: Dr. Lewis!
DR. LEWIS: Boy, you sure are wound up tight! I thought you weren’t here.
DR. GRIMM: I’m not here!
(He speaks discreetly as he walks up the stairs to the landing above.)
At least I’m trying not to be here.
He stops when he reaches her, wondering why she’s hanging out in the stairwell.
DR. GRIMM: What are you doing here?
Dr. Lewis, a woman in her late 40’s with medium length auburn brown hair holds up a cigarette.
DR. GRIMM: I thought you quit smoking.
DR. LEWIS: I did and then my husband left me.
DR. GRIMM: Left you?
DR. LEWIS: Yeah, two days ago. He called me and told me to have dinner on the table when he got home or I could find a new husband
. I told him to shove it and I haven’t seen him since.
DR. GRIMM: That’s rather extreme.
Dr. Lewis shrugs.
Dr. Grimm turns to continue up the stairs and then quickly turns back to Dr. Lewis.
DR. GRIMM: Um…did you buy any chance listen the voicemail I left you about the patient in room 4113, John Bromley?
DR. LEWIS: He’s to be kept in total isolation until you say otherwise. Yes I got it.
DR. GRIMM: He is to have contact with no one else. I don’t want anyone else going near that room, do you understand that? Can you make sure of that? No one! He is very dangerous.
Maniac on the Loose Page 2