Remembrance Photo: The Screenplay

by Michael Hoffman

PARTMENT - NIGHT

  Chan unlocks the front door, enters, crosses the room, switches on a single lamp. Richard steps inside, removes his coat. Chan returns to Richard. She kisses him: deep, long.

  CHAN

  Get me a drink.

  Chan points to a bottle of whiskey on a corner table and disappears down the hallway. Richard retrieves the bottle and follows.

  CHAN'S BEDROOM

  Richard enters. The room's dark. Richard places the bottle on the nightstand, picks up a framed photograph. He steps to the window, turns the photo toward the moonlight. He can barely make it out. An old family portrait.

  CHAN (O.S.)

  (a whisper)

  Confess.

  From the corner of the room.

  CHAN (O.S.)

  (softly)

  You must confess, Richard.

  Richard stares into the darkness. A sudden FLASH, moonlight reflected off steel.

  CHAN (O.S.)

  Confess your sins.

  Chan emerges, a butcher knife raised above her head. She lunges at Richard.

  Richard shoves Chan against the wall. The nightstand overturns. The whiskey bottle hits the floor, spills its contents.

  Chan lunges again, cuts Richard across the stomach. Richard recoils. He punches Chan hard in the face. Chan drops to the floor. Out cold. A trickle of blood seeps from the back of her head.

  The room is silent. A DOG barks in the alley below. Richard holds his side, his shirt red with blood. He steps backward, out of the room.

  CHAN'S LIVING ROOM

  Richard grabs his coat, dashes out the door.

  EXT. CHAN'S A