By: Laura Lee Cochran 2022
FADE IN:
INT. KITCHEN - EVENING
WARM LIGHTING AND ATMOSPHERE. LINDA (30's), cutting VEGETABLES with a KNIFE on a CUTTING BOARD smiling. MATEO (30's) Comes up behind Linda and wraps his arms around her.
LINDA
Hey, I'm cooking here.
MATEO
I'm sorry, I just can't help myself
Mateo turns his head to kiss Linda's neck, she pulls back laughing
LINDA
Well, you're going to have to if you want something to eat.
MATEO
What if I want something that's off the menu?
LINDA
(laughing)
You're just going to have to wait.
MATEO
You know patience isn't one of my strengths.
LINDA
Then pick up a knife and help me chop these vegetables. The faster we get through dinner the faster-
Mateo immediately picks up a KNIFE and begins to help chopping. Linda laughs and nudges Mateo with her shoulder.
LINDA (CONT'D)
So how was work today?
MATEO
(dismissive)
I wasn't able to make it in today.
LINDA
Oh. How come?
MATEO
I just had something I had to get figured out.
LINDA
Like what?
MATEO
Why aren't you the curious cat today?
LINDA
I'm just concerned.
Linda opens up the CABINET and grabs OIL to add to the POT. She twists the TOP, and stops mid way.
LINDA (CONT'D)
I got a call today you know?
Linda twists the TOP off and pours the OIL into the POT. She then continues to cut VEGETABLES.
MATEO
You did?
LINDA
I did.
MATEO
Who from?
LINDA
Your boss.
MATEO
(sarcasm)
Ah, he must have called about my promotion because of my outstanding work ethic.
LINDA
(play into his sarcasm)
Oh for sure. You're the hardest worker they've got.
Linda laughs slightly and picks up the CUTTING BOARD and scrapes the VEGETABLES into a POT, Mateo joins.
LINDA (CONT'D)
No but seriously, he said you hadn't been in for over a week.
Linda grabs a SPOON and begins stirring the POT. She then walks to the FRIDGE to grab SAUCE. Mateo follows and stands next to her.
MATEO
He did, did he?
Linda is leaned walks over to the FRIDGE and opens it. She leans down to look inside.
LINDA
Yeah. It came as a shock.
Linda stands up straight to look at Mateo.
LINDA (CONT'D)
Mateo, I thought you loved your new job? You're finally getting to design like you always wanted to.
Linda goes back to searching in the FRIDGE for INGREDIENTS.
MATEO
I know, I know. It's a great job, something just came up so I wasn't able to go. That's all I promise. And I still have my freelancing, so no need to worry right?
Linda pops out of the FRIDGE holding the SAUCE she needed.
LINDA
Mateo, you quit freelancing cause it wasn't bringing in enough money.
Mateo push his arms on Linda's shoulders to calm her.
MATEO
Listen, I'll be back tomorrow and everything will be fine.
LINDA
Are you sure? Will you even have a job waiting for you when you get back?
Linda shakes his hands off and walks to pour the SAUCE in the POT.
MATEO
Linda, Linda, Linda. How you worry that pretty little head of yours too much. If you keep at this you're gonna develop worry warts!
Mateo comes over to Linda to tickle her laughing. She pushes away laughing but he pulls her closer. She sets the SAUCE down. They look at each other, as Mateo brings her even closer. He puts his hand on her face and kisses her. Then the DOOR BELL RINGS. They both look in the same direction and then glance at each other.
LINDA
You didn't invite anyone to dinner did you?
MATEO
No did you?
Linda shakes her head.
LINDA
I'll go check who it is, you just continue in here.
Mateo nods and goes over to the OVEN to stir the POT with a SPOON.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Linda walks through a doorway into the LIVING ROOM. THE ROOM IS VERY NEAT. SHE PASSES A COUCH BY DODGING IT. THEN SHE APPROACHES THE FRONT DOOR. SHE LOOKS THROUGH A WINDOW IN THE DOOR. Her face drops. She then quickly opens the door. To her surprise POLICE OFFICER 1 (40s) and POLICE OFFICER 2 (40's) stand at the door.
EXT. FRONT DOOR - CONTINUOUS
POLICE OFFICER 1
Ma'am, are you Linda Evans?
LINDA
Yes, that's me.
POLICE OFFICER 2
We are here to inform you about your husband.
LINDA
My Husband?
POLICE OFFICER 2
Yes, Mateo Evans.
LINDA
Oh my, what did he get himself into?
POLICE OFFICER 2
Ma'am, We-we found your husband's body.
LINDA
You what?
POLICE OFFICER 2
Is it okay if we come in? That way we can talk?
LINDA
(laughing as if it's a joke)
That's impossible.
The police officers give each other a quick glance.
LINDA (CONT'D)
My husband is in the kitchen as we speak.
The police officers look at her shocked. Police Officer 1 goes to speak, but has nothing to say.
LINDA (CONT'D)
If you don't believe me you are welcome to come in and see for yourselves.
Linda motions them in to the house.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Linda begins to walk through her LIVING ROOM, as she walks the LIGHTING FADES TO EERIE COLOR and the tidy LIVING ROOM we once saw is NOW REVELING A MESS. The police officers walk in with caution and follow Linda.
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
The KITCHEN is now empty, no Mateo in sight, only the dinner is there sitting on the eye. Linda walks in and motions over to the OVEN, where Mateo was.
LINDA
Mateo, tell these officers you're okay.
For a moment there is silence, the police officers are confused, Police Officer 1 reaches his hand towards his TASER, but Police Officer 2 motions his hand to stop. Police Officer 1 obliges.
LINDA (CONT'D)
They think they found your body. Can you believe that?
Linda listens to a Mateo that isn't there.
LINDA (CONT'D)
Exactly. It doesn't make sense. They must have the wrong house.
Linda turns to the police officers.
LINDA (CONT'D)
See officers. Here is my husband alive and well.
POLICE OFFICER 1
Ma'am, no one is there.
Linda turns to the OVEN as if listening to Mateo, then turns back to the officers
LINDA
(to Mateo)
I don't know.
LINDA (CONT'D)
(to police officers)
Are you blind, he's right there, cooking?
Focus POT of food overcooking. The police officers look over to the OVEN, and back to Linda, confused.
POLICE OFFICER 2
Are you okay? Do you need to talk, or maybe have somewhere you could stay?
LINDA
Am I okay? No I'm not okay. I have two police officers coming into my house claiming my husband is gone when he is right in front of them. I think that's a normal thing to be upset about.
POLICE OFFICER 1
I understand your frustration.
LINDA
You don't understand a thing.
POLICE OFFICER 2
Ma'am I'm sure you loved your husband dearly, but he's not in this room. We discovered his body this morning.
LINDA
No.
POLICE OFFICER 2
He was missing for a week, remember? You were the one who called in a missing persons report.
LINDA
You're lying.
POLICE OFFICER 2
And today at 5:34, we found him at-
LINDA
(yelling)
I don't want to hear it!
Linda puts her hand up to the police officers and breathes heavily. She is looking at the ground, trying to see the reality, and what she sees in front of here. She is distraught.
LINDA (CONT'D)
I-I. I don't understand. He's right there. Why can't you see him.
LINDA (CONT'D)
(to the police officers, desperate)
I promise he's still here! He never left, he's just been skipping out on work that's all! He's going to start back tomorrow! He said he was!
POLICE OFFICER 1
Ma'am-
Police Officer 1 comes to Linda to comfort her, reluctantly in fear. Linda smacks his arms away.
LINDA
You don't know what you're talking about! You don't! He's right here! My Mateo is right here!
Linda looks to the POT in desperation. When she does, Mateo smiles IN WARM LIGHTING of the KITCHEN-unlike the EERIE color that shows on Linda and the others. He stirs the POT with a SPOON. He turns his head slightly in concern for Linda. He moves his hand to comfort her, she holds her hand up to him as well. It's then when HE FADES AWAY. As he fades away, the WARM LIGHTING FADES again to EERIE LIGHTING. Linda walks up to the POT and stirs the SPOON. She sees that it is overcooked.
LINDA (CONT'D)
It's overcooked.
POLICE OFFICER 1
Huh?
LINDA
Mateo was just here, but it's overcooked. He was right here, I know he was. Then why, why is it overcooked?
Linda continues stirring the POT and looks to the police officers in utter grief. In that moment, she is overcome with emotions. She's, in a way, accepted what happened to Mateo enough to feel the grief she's been hiding from. She bursts out in tears. Her tears drop into the POT.
POLICE OFFICER 2
Let's take you somewhere you can get some rest. Okay?
The two police officers lead Linda as she continues crying. Police Officer 1 turns off the stove and moves the POT over to the other eye and the two of them go to walk her out of the kitchen. Linda looks at the OVEN one last time, and stops. The police officers stop as well, confused.
LINDA
I wish you two never came. You made my Mateo leave.
POLICE OFFICER 1
He was never here to begin with.
LINDA
Doesn't matter. It felt like he was. And now even that is gone.
She wipes her tears and then walks with the police officers out of the KITCHEN.
FADE OUT: