15th Place Winner at the NYC Midnight Writers Short Screenplay Contest

FADE IN: EXT. PROMENADE. NIGHT

The scene opens to the dim yellow light of a lamppost over a the dark wooden floor of a promenade by a lake. Thomas and Emily run in their sports clothes and stop buy the edge of the water. They hug and kiss. Thomas starts taking pictures of Emily with his pro Canon camera. As he is taking a picture, he notices movement near a red and white striped vertical pillared buoy far from the promenade. Thomas tilts his head from the phone before taking another picture.

EMILY

What is it?

THOMAS

Nothing. I could swear I saw some movement back there by the buoy.

He smiles at Emily.

EMILY

Must be the wine making you see things, come on Mr. Photographer let’s go home and call it a day.

Thomas and Emily run back the same path they came from. Thomas looks back towards the buoy once more.

INT. THOMAS’S STUDIO. DAY

Thomas is sitting on his office chair, photographs on his desk, pictures of him taking pictures of others behind him, on the wall. He is busy but takes a moment to pickup Emily’s picture, on his desk in a thick golden frame, and looks at it for a bit. His assistant enters the room and brings him some fancy coffee:

ASSISTANT

Have you heard the news? They found a body strapped to that red and white buoy by the promenade this morning. A man, mid thirties. Apparently a dentist that arrived in town a couple of years ago.

Thomas looks at her in silence. The phone rings. It’s Emily. Thomas signals to his assistant to leave the room.

(continued....)