A Serialized Work of Fiction
Little Earthquakes
Installment Three
EXT. EMERGENCY ROOM — NIGHT — PRESENT
Elena is still staring blankly at the night sky. Adam is walking up behind Elena. He places his hands on his daughter's shoulders.
Elena quickly turns around, startled, and almost punches her father in the face before catching herself.
ADAM
(Backing up.)
Whoah.
ELENA
(Upset.)
Dad, don't EVER sneak up on me like that.
ADAM
I'm sorry, zemer.
A female figure approaches just past Adam's shoulder.
REBECCA (32)
(Off screen)
Elena?
ELENA
Rebecca?
Both women hug. It's obvious that they haven't seen each other in quite some time from their deep hug.
Once they separate, Rebecca turns to Adam and extends her hand for a handshake.
REBECCA
Hi, Mr. Markaj.
ADAM
Hi. It's been a long time. How are you doing?
REBECCA
I'm doing well, thanks. Yourself?
ADAM
I'm okay.
(Pause.)
I'll let you two catch up.
Rebecca turns to face Elena directly.
REBECCA
I haven't seen your mom. Is everything okay?
ELENA
No. My mom is fine. My uncle had a stroke today.
REBECCA
I'm sorry to hear that. I remember how close you were to him.
ELENA
Yes. They caught it early.
(A bit fidgety.)
Do you want to take a walk?
REBECCA
Yeah. It's good to see you.
ELENA
Wait. Why are you here? At the hospital, I mean.
REBECCA
I am in town to visit my mother and I was catching up with an old colleague who works here.
ELENA
Where do you live now?
REBECCA
I've been in Chicago for a couple of years.
ELENA
Social work?
REBECCA
Yes. I miss working cases directly even though it was draining.
ELENA
Oh.
REBECCA
I'm a director now. The youngest that they've ever had.
ELENA
That's amazing! You deserve it.
REBECCA
Thank you.
ELENA
I remember how patient and kind you were with me when...
CLOSEUP ON REBECCA (32).
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. DORM ROOM — NIGHT — APRIL 2012
CLOSEUP ON REBECCA (18).
REBECCA
Elena, please. Let's go to the ER.
ELENA
Okay. Okay. Should we tell the RA?
REBECCA
RA? No. We need to get off campus.
The young women slowly walk out together. We see them leaving a building with a sign that reads THORN HALL.
They walk to a local gate leading to the street.
Once outside, Rebecca pulls out her cell phone and dials.
REBECCA
Hi. I need a cab at Laye University by the Thorn Hall gate. Uh-huh, okay.
CUT TO:
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — NIGHT — NEW HAVEN, CT.
Rebecca and a still shocked Elena walk in. Once at the triage desk, Rebecca leans in.
REBECCA
(Low voice.)
My friend has been sexually assaulted. She needs an exam.
The ER Unit Clerk calls someone from her desk phone. We don't hear what is said.
A nurse comes through the secured doors and escorts the girls to a private examining room. Elena and Rebecca are left entirely alone in the sterile, fluorescent-lit room.
Elena sits on the left side of the exam table, still fully clothed in her outfit from her date.
The camera lingers on Rebecca who is now sitting on the vinyl chair to the left of the table holding Elena's hand.
Then we see a victim advocate and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner enter the room with the girls.
SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER
(To Rebecca.)
I'm going to ask you to wait in the hallway for just a little bit, and then we'll check back in.
ELENA
No, please. I need her with me -- she promised to stay with me.
REBECCA
Elena, I'll be just outside the door. I won't leave you.
Rebecca and the Victim Advocate walk out.
Elena starts to cry and shiver.
Rebecca wavers and is shaken as she's forced to leave her friend.
Then we see the nurse bagging Elena's clothing and Elena in a hospital gown following the bagging.
After a beat, we see the nurse swabbing Elena's mouth.
After completion of the full exam, Rebecca and the Victim Advocate are allowed to reenter the room.
VICTIM ADVOCATE
Elena, the detectives are outside. Are you still up for this right now?
Elena looks over to Rebecca. Rebecca nods affirmatively.
VICTIM ADVOCATE
You can choose to do this on another day.
ELENA
I'll do it now but I need her here.
VICTIM ADVOCATE
Yes, of course. That is your right.
Then we see two male detectives enter the exam room. We see the names on their badges up close: Det. Morello and Det. Brady. Both detectives are in their late thirties.
Elena is now dressed in teal sweatpants and a purple hoodie.
CLOSEUP ON ELENA (18).
MATCH CUT TO:
EXT. BRONXVILLE STREET — NIGHT — PRESENT DAY
CLOSEUP ON ELENA (32).
ELENA
I don't know if I can ever thank you enough.
REBECCA
You were my friend and, even if you weren't, it was the right thing to do.
ELENA
I'm sorry that I was a crappy friend afterwards. I owe you an apology.
REBECCA
It's okay. It was a lot to process.
ELENA
Regardless, I'm sorry for pushing you away. I couldn't have survived that night without you.
(Pause.)
When I was in the waiting area earlier, there was a news story about Ken Fox's case. It's been 14 years and it still got under my skin.
REBECCA
Elena, I have to tell you something. They interviewed me for that news special.
Elena looks surprised.
REBECCA
I know it's tough having it brought up again but I think you'll want to see it.
ELENA
Why? So I can hear people feel sorry for poor Ken Fox again? So random people who don't know shit about my life will talk about how I just wanted money from the Fox family? No. No, thank you!
Elena briskly walks away from Rebecca to head back to the hospital.
REBECCA
Elena, wait!
CUT TO:
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — KAS'S ROOM — NIGHT
Dillon is sitting by Kas's bed. Kas is asleep from the sedative. Dillon leans in and caresses his cheek.
DILLON
Stay with me, baby. I need you so much.
Just past Dillon, we see Elena lingering at the crack in the curtains. Dillon feels eyes on him and turns around.
DILLON
Come in, sweetie.
ELENA
He's so lucky to have you.
DILLON
We're both lucky. Your uncle loves hard. It's part of why I fell in love with him.
Elena is closer now and goes to sit on the second chair by Kas's bed.
ELENA
I was so glad when he met you. I had never seen my uncle so happy. He was glowing when he said he wanted to introduce you to us.
Dillon smiles his boyish smile.
DILLON
So was I. That was some first meeting.
He chuckles in a subdued manner.
ELENA
Tell me that story again.
DILLON
I was walking out of a gay bar on 9th Avenue.
CUT TO:
INT. GAY BAR — NIGHT — JUNE 2010
Dillon is walking out of a gay bar as Kas is approaching the gay bar.
HOMOPHOBIC JERK
Hey, faggot.
DILLON
Excuse me.
Kas turns to look at the stranger.
HOMOPHOBIC JERK
Keep it moving, bro.
KAS
I'll do what I want, faggot.
HOMOPHOBIC JERK
Oh, you're one of them mouthy faggots.
KAS
That's what your father told me.
(Makes a blowjob motion with his hand toward his mouth.)
Dillon watches in nervous awe.
The stranger swings to punch Kas. Kas ducks, then decks him. Pressing his advantage, he grabs his left shoulder and knees him in the stomach. The stranger doubles over, grunting in pain.
KAS
Next time you're tempted to be an asshole, remember that you might be messing with a tough faggot.
Kas turns to Dillon whose jaw has dropped.
KAS
Hey, handsome. You want to buy me a drink?
DILLON
Hmm, okay. Just not here.
CUT TO:
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — KAS'S ROOM — NIGHT
Elena and Dillon laughing by Kas's bed.
Kas stirs with unintelligible mumbling.
DILLON
Hey, handsome. You want to buy me a drink?
Dillon and Elena erupt in laughter again. Kas looks baffled through weary eyes.
CUT TO:
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — WAITING AREA — NIGHT
Iris and Adam are sitting huddled together, watching Adam's cell phone screen. We move closer to see what they're watching.
The video then fills the frame and we're watching a reporter interviewing Rebecca Chang. The ticker reads "The Unsolved Murder of Kenneth J. Fox".
GREG GRANT
Ms. Chang, you were instrumental in the sexual assault case brought against Kenneth Fox by your friend Elena Markaj. In 2012, you were accused of receiving a cut of the settlement for testifying.
REBECCA
Greg, that was a blatantly false rumor to discredit Elena and to discredit me. Society has a way of being unrelenting towards victims but lenient on assailants. I have stood by my testimony for 14 years. Ken Fox raped my friend in the comfort of his home. That's a fact.
GREG GRANT
Ms. Chang, how do you feel about the coldblooded murder of Ken Fox?
REBECCA
I don't feel anything.
The news camera zooms closer in on her face as she continues in her stony demeanor.
REBECCA
I'm sorry for his family's loss but I can't mourn a monster.
FADE OUT.
