Young Writers Society

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DUSK

A perfect summer night, everything quiet and still. TESSA (21) and LANDON (24) sit together on a porch swing, away from everyone and everything except the chirping of crickets and the blowing of the wind.

Tessa buries her head in Landon’s shoulder. Beer bottles lay beside them. Landon’s is long empty, but Tessa still has a little bit left. She sits up, and takes a swig.

LANDON

I’m worried they’re not going to come home.

Tessa turns to him.

TESSA

You can’t say that. Maybe they lost their phones...

LANDON

It’s been three days, Tessa.

TESSA

What have the cops said?

LANDON

Nothing. Nobody’s seen anything. Nobody’s heard from them, nothing since they got in that car...

Tessa takes his hand.

TESSA

Your parents are going to be okay. I know it.

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY

Tessa stands behind the counter of a convenience store, at work. No one is there. She steals a glance at her phone. There’s a news notification. “BODIES OF MISSING COUPLE FOUND.”

Shaking, she clicks. “The bodies of TARA and BRIAN TURNER were discovered by a hiker in Portage Park.... they were reported missing last week by their son, LANDON...”

Tessa takes a deep breath and puts down her phone. After a moment, she picks it up again, and goes to her text history with Landon. Nothing. Then, one appears. “I’m numb.”

Tessa writes back. “I’m off in an hour. I’ll come right over.”

She puts her phone down again and scans the store. Still, no one is there. Then, she realizes something.

TESSA

(to herself)

Portage Park?

She recalls a memory.

EXT. PORTAGE PARK - MORNING

Some days earlier. A perfect summer day. Tessa, carrying a bag and a coffee, walks towards a picnic bench in a secluded part of the park. She sits. She takes out a notebook and a coffee shop pastry, and starts to write a poem.

She gets a few lines in when she notices Landon coming the opposite direction, out of breath. He sees her, and stops.

TESSA

Landon? What are you doing here?

LANDON

I was just taking a walk.

TESSA

I thought you said you couldn’t hang out today because you weren’t feeling well.

LANDON

Yeah, I just wanted to get some air. Help me feel better. What are you doing here?

TESSA

It’s such a nice day, I thought I’d come work on poetry.

Tessa scoffs.

TESSA

You don’t look sick.

LANDON

Yeah, it’s a head cold.

He sits next to her on the bench.

LANDON

If you want to hang out, we can. I just need to go home and shower first.

TESSA

No. It’s fine. I just want to know why you lied to me.

LANDON

I started feeling better this morning, and I didn’t want you to think I was mad and making it up.

He tucks a stand of hair behind her ear and gives her a loving look.

LANDON

Okay?

TESSA

Okay.

He looks over at her notebook.

LANDON

What are you writing?

She moves the notebook away.

TESSA

It’s a work in progress.

The memory fades.

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - SAME

Back at the convenience store, Tessa sits with the memory for a moment longer. Then, she laughs it off. At that moment, a CUSTOMER comes in, and Tessa puts on a professional face.

TESSA

Hi, welcome in.

EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY

An hour later. Tessa leaves at the store after getting off her shift. She doesn’t get far when she sees Landon waiting for her.

LANDON

Hi.

TESSA

Hi.

He doesn’t say before he kisses her deeply. After a moment, Tessa pulls away.

TESSA

Landon, I don’t know-

He kisses her again. Tessa pulls away a second time.

TESSA

I don’t even know what to say.

He looks around. It’s quiet, but still, he leads her down a residential street.

INT. LANDON’S CAR - DAY

They sit in the car, parked along the street.

TESSA

Why would anyone want to hurt your mom and dad? I just don’t understand that.

There’s a long silence.

LANDON

Can you stay over tonight?

TESSA

Of course.

LANDON

I don’t want to be alone.

Tessa eyes something on her side of the car. A dark smudge. She picks at it, and when she looks at her finger, it’s red. Blood. Landon’s watching her.

TESSA

What happened?

LANDON

I cut myself with my pocket knife. Stupid accident.

TESSA

Ouch. You have to be careful.

Landon gives her a tight look and starts the car. As he does, Tessa looks at her finger again, and out the window.

INT. LANDON’S HOUSE - LANDON’S BEDROOM - MORNING

Tessa and Landon lie in bed. She’s awoken by the doorbell ringing. Tessa sits up and looks over at Landon, still fast asleep. The doorbell rings again. Landon opens his eyes.

TESSA

I’ll go see who it is.

INT. LANDON’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MORNING

We understand that this is his parents’ house, from the decor to the photos of Landon on the wall.

As Tessa walks to the door, she remembers again.

INT. LANDON’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - FLASHBACK

Some time earlier. Landon’s parents, TARA and BRIAN, 40s, warm and friendly, wait as Landon leads Tessa in. Everything’s nervous and awkward, but there’s a warmth to the scene.

LANDON

This is Tessa. Tessa, these are my parents.

TESSA

Nice too meet you.

TARA

Tessa, I hope you like Italian food.

TESSA

Yes, m’am, it’s my favorite.

TARA

Good, because that’s on the menu tonight.

INT. LANDON'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - SAME

Back to present. Everything is dark and cold. Tessa opens the door to find two DETECTIVES.

FIRST DETECTIVE

Hi, is Landon Turner home?

TESSA

Yeah, he’s down the hall. I can go get him-

FIRST DETECTIVE

In a minute. You’re the girlfriend, I assume?

TESSA

Yeah. I’m Tessa Langley.

SECOND DETECTIVE

May we come in?

TESSA

Of course.

Tessa leads them inside and they all sit.

SECOND DETECTIVE

As you know, Mr. and Mrs. Turner were discovered yesterday, and we want to ask you and Landon some questions, okay?

TESSA

Okay.

At that moment, Landon appears in the hall.

FIRST DETECTIVE

Landon, have a seat.

He does.

FIRST DETECTIVE

First things first, we have a warrant to search your house, okay? Second thing, we’d appreciate it if you both came with us down the station for questioning.

LANDON

About what? Am I being charged with something?

FIRST DETECTIVE

No. We just want you both to come down to the station.

Close on Tessa. She’s distant. The memories of running into Landon at the park and the blood flash through her mind.

FIRST DETECTIVE

Can you do that for us?

Tessa takes a deep breath.

FADE OUT.