Stonemaiden (2) The man who was murdered, I'm fairly certain that I was the last person who saw him alive. JASON Is this a confession? MEL No! I just... God I don't even know for sure... SHE collapses into a chair opposite JASON'S desk, HE looks her over appraisingly. JASON O.K., why don't we back up a bit. How long have you known him? SHE studies her fingernails, fighting back tears provoked by a myriad of emotions. MEL I arrived on the island yesterday afternoon. I met him yesterday evening... Christ, I didn't even know his name... SHE breaks down into sobs briefly, but battles to regain composure. MEL Captain something very strange is happening here, I'm not sure what it is, but I am frightened. JASON Alright Miss Talat, one thing at a time 23. INT./AFTERNOON, THE OLD NEO-CLASSICAL HOUSE POV from behind two wing back chairs in the otherwise empty drawing room, CU two delicate feminine hands with fingers intertwined connect the two chairs, PULL BACK to reveal the YOUNG MAN standing before them, his posture implies subordination... YOUNG MAN I led her to him, I am sure she suspects nothing. VOICE What about him? YOUNG MAN (smiles with satisfaction) He reacted just as you said he would, I wouldn't be surprised if he contacts her tonight. WOMAN And after? YOUNG MAN (expression becomes uncertain) She went to the police station... I didn't dare go in because she would have recognized me... (the two hands jerk back each concealed behind it's respective chair) But I'll find out tonight, Jason has asked me to accompany him to the crime scene in case there is something we have missed. VOICE What time? YOUNG MAN 7:00 p.m. WOMAN Then you don't have very long. YOUNG MAN (a proud smile returns) Everything is already prepared, just as you instructed me. The two hands extend once more the fingers just brushing each other casually. WOMAN Good, we will be waiting. The YOUNG MAN nods dutifully and bows out... 24. INT./AFTERNOON, MELINA'S ROOM MELINA'S POV as she enters, HER attention is drawn to a large fruit basket sitting on the table. PULL BACK, she closes the door and tosses her bag on the bed before going to have a casual look at the card, when she opens it she catches her breath. CU the card says "Compliments of Sojourner Travel". PULL BACK, still holding the card MELINA goes to the phone and dials room service... MEL Yes, this is suite 108 can you please ask VanGo to bring me some coffee... for one, thank you. SHE kicks off her shoes, then opens the French doors to her small balcony. SHE gazes over her shoulder at the fruit basket then approaches it slowly. With tentative fingers SHE unties the bow and peels away the colored cellophane what she sees causes her to jump back. CU, a snake slithers curling around the various fruit. There is a knock at the door and she jumps, SHE looks at the door, hen back at the basket, the snake has vanished. SHE brings her hands to HER face and takes a deep breath letting it out slowly. There is another knock, SHE shudders and moves to the door... MEL Yes I'm, coming. SHE opens the door casually but is taken aback when she sees not VanGo but another young man of roughly the same age behind the coffee cart, with her rattled nerves her tone is almost accusative. MEL Who are you? ROOM SERVICE Room Service, Ma'm, you did order coffee? MEL I asked for VanGo. R. S. (blushing) I'm sorry Ma'm, he didn't come in today... MELINA realizes her behavior might be misunderstood and steps back from the door with a smile... MEL It doesn't matter, bring it in please. As HE wheels the cart in SHE picks up her bag, starts to pull out a 5,000 Drachma bill but thinks better of it opting for a 500, HE smiles appreciatively as SHE hands it to him and turns to go... MEL Wait a moment, did you happen to deliver that fruit basket? ROOM SERVICE No, Ma'm. MEL Is there anyway I can find out who did? R.S. You might ask the head maid or the Concierge. MEL O.K., thank you. R.S. Yes Ma'm. HE exits and SHE closes the door behind him, leaning against it thoughtfully. 25. INT./LATE AFTERNOON, PROFESSOR'S ROOM The PROFESSOR shuffles through his various files and notes which he has laid out throughout the room. HE finds what he was looking for, an odd shaped piece of butcher paper, and pausing to put on his reading glasses HE moves to the table where HE sits to take a closer look... OVER HIS SHOULDER we see that there is a rubbing on the sheet, probably taken from some stone edifice at the archeological site... PULL IN, it is a face of Medusa surrounded by an unusual script... CU, we notice the face bears a striking resemblance to Melina... PULL BACK SHARP, we see the PROFESSOR'S expression as he realizes the significance of this "coincidence". HE stands and goes to the phone... PROFESSOR Yes operator could you please ring me the Appolonian Resort... Thank you. HE stands and paces impatiently as HE waits for the operator to ring him back. HE is obviously troubled as if he doesn't want to believe what he already suspects. The phone rings and HE pounces on it... PROFESSOR Yes hello... Oh... Yes may I please have miss Talat's room please... Oh she is, hmm, can you please leave a message for her it is quite urgent. Please ask her to call Professor Kostikyan the moment she returns, at the Kiara Pension room 9. Oh did she happen to mention what time she might be returning?... I see, urgent yes, thank you. HE sets the phone down with a grim expression, then goes to his bed and begins to spread out all of the recent local papers. We pan the headlines: the snake phenomenon, the murder, a lunar eclipse expected in two days... 26. EXT./LATE AFTERNOON, THE SHRINE OVERLOOKING THE SEA We follow MELINA as SHE makes her way down the narrow path, SHE pauses a moment and shudders as if struck by a chill, the last time she was there was just an hour before the estimated time of death... SHE sees JASON and another MAN examining the site but she is still too far away to make out who the other might be. Both MEN turn in surprise as SHE approaches. MELINA stops suddenly as SHE recognizes JASON'S companion... MEL You... HE stands awkwardly a moment, JASON looks from one to the other. JASON Do you two know each other? MELINA blushes slightly, better not mention that she was following him earlier. MEL He helped me with my bag at the airport, but slipped away before I could say thank you. HE smiles uncomfortably, JASON teases him... JASON That's strange, not that he helped an attractive woman, it's just that usually they have a hard time getting rid of him. But don't worry, I know my men well, he's basically harmless. MEL So you are a police officer. MAN Yes, but I wasn't spying on you. MELINA winces a bit, was that an indication that HE had noticed her earlier? JASON however has other questions. JASON What are you doing here miss... MEL Please call me Melina, I asked for you at the station house and they told me I could find you here. JASON (sardonic smile) As you can see security on the island is top notch. So what can I do for you? MEL (glances warily at the other MAN) I wanted to talk to you about something, I can wait until you have finished here. JASON That's alright, I've seen what I came for. Mario why don't you head back to the station and start the paper work, I'll be in later to check it over. MAN Kala... Nice to meet you, again... MELINA smiles politely but something in his tone makes her uncomfortable. JASON watches HER watching HIM leave... JASON Miss... Melina, are you hungry? I could eat a mule, it's been one of those days, if you don't mind telling me what ever it is with my mouth full. Don't worry about my trying to wine and dine a confession out of you, it's just a little local joint that working stiffs like me can afford. MEL No I don't mind. JASON Good, if you did I might be less than my usual charming self. 27. INT./EVE., KOUTOUKI JASON eats with relish a variety of local specialties, MELINA picks at a salad. It is a small room 3m X 6m, and every chair is occupied. A plump woman scurries from table to table gathering and depositing small plates of local tappas. A small radio bleats out some popular Greek ballad that is barely discernible over the din of conversation. JASON (chewing) It may not be much to look at but the food is great, try some squid? MEL No, thank you, since this morning I haven't had much of an appetite. JASON No problem, I'll eat for both of us, but why don't you tell me what is eating you. MELINA extracts the invitation and the "Compliments of..." cards from her bag. MEL I hadn't mentioned before the circumstances of how I came here, it didn't seem important at the time, but now... SHE hands him the invitation, HE wipes his hands on the table cloth and takes the wrinkled card by the corner. HE reads it raising an eyebrow. JASON Maybe I should have you pick my lotto numbers this week. MEL I'm beginning to wonder whether it was luck or a curse. This morning I tried to call that number, at which I confirmed my reservation four days ago, the number was out of service. So I went to the phone company to check if they had changed the number, they had never heard of any Sojourner Travel, when I asked for the address of who ever had the number last they told me I should go to the police... JASON So why didn't you? Sorry, tell me why you thought it important now. MEL When I returned to my room this afternoon there was a basket of fruit, with this... HE examines the card, again holding it by the corner, again the eyebrow goes up... JASON So this mystery company which gave you this free vacation then vanished is sending you presents from the hereafter... What do you think I should do with these? MEL I thought maybe you could ask around, find out at least who delivered the basket if not who sent it. Lets face it you are a local, there is a much better chance of people talking to you, a tourist woman asking questions might not go over real well. JASON You think there is some connection to the murder. MEL It just seems too much of a coincidence not to warrant checking into. JASON Do you have some reason to believe someone might want to set you up? MEL In my line of work I encounter a lot of troubled individuals, I always hope that I do my job well enough so that all will be satisfied... But I just don't know... JASON O.K. Melina, I'll look into it. If you don't mind I'd like to send the cards to Athens for some forensics work, maybe they can fill in a couple of the blanks. SHE extends her hand, HE regards her a moment before taking it. MEL Thank you Captain. JASON Don't get the wrong idea, you are still my prime suspect. But I think it is alright for you to call me Jason, I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of each other before your week is up... 28. INT./NIGHT, PROFESSOR'S ROOM The PROFESSOR is in a bath robe and slippers. HE checks his watch and shakes his head before heading for the bathroom. He examines his beard in the mirror before reaching for the shower curtain, just as he starts to pull it back the phone rings, he rushes out to answer it... PULL IN slowly on the bath tub. PROFESSOR VO Yes! No it's not too late, thank you for calling. It is terribly important I speak with you... CU, through the partially open shower curtain we see that the tub is full of snakes. PROFESSOR VO No trouble at all, I'll be there in 15 minutes. 29. EXT./NIGHT, THE CENTRAL SQUARE MELINA leans against the pedestal of a bust of some long dead hero. HER features are drawn in the pale light of a street lamp. The PROFESSOR stands two steps behind her, she speaks without turning around... MEL Does anyone else know what you have just told me? PROFESSOR No, but I think maybe we must go to the police, you could be in grave danger. MEL (softly) Seven murders, seven days... (her lips pull tight, something between a smirk and a grimace) And what is supposed to happen if this legend is carried out? PROFESSOR Well the legend says that Medusa's power will be released, she will be released from the land of the shades to avenge herself and her sisters for Athena's spite. MEL (turns slowly) Do you believe it, Professor? PROFESSOR I just read the signs, but if another murder victim is discovered tomorrow I will be convinced that someone believes it. 30. INT./NIGHT, CAVE LS, we see a young mans nude body stretched out on the cold damp stone. Standing over him are two nude women, from behind they are identical, they hold hands, their free hands holding torches. DISSOLVE TO: 31. EXT./NIGHT, SAIL BOAT ON OPEN WATER Another detail emerges from Melina's unconscious. A LITTLE GIRL and her FATHER lean against the stern of the boat watching the full moon rise over the water. As HER father tells her a story about the moon SHE glances over her shoulder and nods. SHE moves slightly away from her father's side and we see HIS head struck from behind by a wooden oar. HIS body slumps over the rail... CU, we see tiny hands pushing his legs up and over... PULL BACK, as the LITTLE GIRL shrieks... LITTLE GIRL Mommeee!!! 32. INT./NIGHT, MELINA'S ROOM SHE bolts upright sobbing. Rocking herself SHE tries to catch her breath and pull herself together. She looks at her watch, it is 1:20 a.m., she picks up the phone but just as the operator comes on the line she sets it back down and stares at it rocking back and forth. 33. INT./A.M., HOTEL LOBBY Just as MELINA approaches the reception JASON turns around as the ROOM SERVICE BOY points in her direction. When SHE sees him she stops and grows pale, waiting for JASON to approach her. MEL There was another murder wasn't there, I saw a dream last night I was going to call the station but it was so late... JASON Slow down, we haven't got a body, yet. No body no crime. MEL Thank God... So then why...? JASON We had an anxious Greek mother file a missing persons report on her son this morning. He works here, and as I found out you were the last person to ask about him. MEL (stunned) VanGo... (breaks down) Oh, Christ, he was just a kid! JASON Let's not jump to any unpleasant conclusions just yet, I would prefer to remain under the impression that I have only one murder to suspect you of. MEL Oh he's dead... I can feel it... JASON I don't know about that, but I feel pretty damn sure that there is a lot more that you aren't telling me, and I think it's time we remedy that. HE takes HER by the elbow and leads her out the door. 34. EXT./A.M., RESORT GARDEN JASON marches MELINA to a bench and sits her down. JASON I'm all ears. MEL What I have to tell you is going to sound crazy... Just promise me you'll let me finish before you call anyone to institutionalize me. JASON I suppose I can allow you that one concession. MEL This story goes way back... I have two sisters, we were triplets actually, I was born first for whatever that is worth. When we were 10 years old our family came on a sailing holiday to Kiara. Our parents were drowned, they said it was an accident but... I had totally blocked the incident until last week, the same morning I received that invitation I had this dream again... I hadn't seen it for years and suddenly there it was again, but only part, I awoke before I... After the incident my sisters and I were separated, I was adopted quickly, but my sisters were... special. That was the last time I saw them, the day my new parents took me away. We didn't say anything, just looked at each other, I didn't talk at all for almost six months, they said it was due to the shock. Yesterday, before I came to your office I met a man, a Professor of paleontology, who's life's work has been study of a specific legend, the revenge of Medusa. Most of the details are immaterial, but he had discovered a tablet in Libya which described a very specific chain of events which mark the realization of the legend... It is way too strong to be a coincidence. I met with him again last night and he revealed to me everything he had discovered. I saw the dream again last night, only this time in it's entirety, there are going to be three more murders Jason, and both of us are in danger. I know how this must sound, but if you don't believe me let me take you to the Professor. This chain started then... we murdered our parents Jason, in cold blood. We had to be rejoined for the legend to be carried out... they're here, my sisters, I'm sure they sent the invitation... Oh God I'm scared... HE stares at her with a mixture of disbelief, horror, but at the same time he is drawn by her pain. HE takes her hands and gently raises HER to her feet. JASON Listen, you go back to your room and don't leave it for any reason. Try to contact that Professor and arrange a meeting for this afternoon, I have a few things to take care of at the station, but I'll return as soon as I can. 35. INT./DAY, POLICE STATION JASON examines a fax, it is the forensics report form Athens. No prints on either of the cards accept hers, the paper common and available at any stationary store, the printing letter quality laser... in short nothing to go on. JASON Mario, did you manage to find out anything about that fruit basket? MARIO No Captain, the concierge said someone had just left it on the counter while he was away, when he saw it he sent it to her room with the maid. JASON Damn... This thing may be more than we can handle, I thought about calling in Athens, but I'd just like a few more facts... MARIO Do you think she did it? JASON Sure would be convenient if she did, but it's all circumstantial. No weapon, no motive... She is a psychologist so she could be cunning enough to set up this free vacation business, but why? Has working with loonies gotten on her nerves to the point where she put together this whole crazy scheme just to blow off a little steam knocking off some strange guy after screwing him? No police record, excellent employment record. I just don't know, and the not knowing is the worst. She came to me, since she didn't run that should imply innocence, but what if she wanted to use that to throw suspicion away from herself, reverse psychology right, play the victim. My instincts are normally dead on, but here I'm drawing a blank. I have no idea if she is really just a victim of circumstance, Or if she's taking me for a ride. MARIO Well if she is taking you for a ride she'll have to falter at some point. JASON That's right, and I intend to be there when she does. 36. INT./DAY, THE OLD NEO-CLASSICAL The two WOMEN are slow dancing to an old gramophone when MARIO enters carrying a large squirming sack which he places gently in one corner... VOICE Did things go as expected. SHE moves to the sack and opens it, removing a large python which she drapes lovingly around her neck, as in all prior scenes we never see THEIR faces. MARIO Right on schedule. WOMAN And the Captain? SHE changes the record on the gramophone. MARIO He still suspects her, but it is clear that he is weakening. VOICE That's nice. WOMAN We must prepare to receive our guests tomorrow is going to be such a busy day. The two WOMEN resume their dancing, the snake still draped around them. MARIO looks at them expectantly. VOICE You can go now, you'll be rewarded later. WOMAN Yes, much later... 37. INT./DAY, PHONE COMPANY JASON sits in the DIRECTOR'S office, the two MEN sip ouzo and exchange some local gossip...
Copyright © 2000 Victoria King |