Deadline - A Screenplay

Act 2

INT.LENA'S HOUSE - DAY

LENA is pacing around the living room, CAL sits on the couch. CAL is hunched over with her head in her hands.

LENA CHRISTIE
(Very hurt/distressed)
I can't fucking believe this.

CAL remains quiet.

LENA CHRISTIE
What the fuck were you thinking, bringing us into this bullshit? Ryan is dead, Cal! What are you going to fucking do?

CAL sits up abruptly, glaring at LENA.

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
(Snapping)
I don't know!

CAL sighs, rubbing her face with her hands.

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
(Quietly, tired and upset)
God, I don't know.

LENA CHRISTIE
(Still rightfully pissed)
You wanted to get involved. You wanted to take on a killer and now look what happened!

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
I fucking know! Christ, I know. This shouldn't have happened.

LENA CHRISTIE
And what have you learned from this? What did you manage to actually do?

CAL hunches back over, she shivers wither from anger or silent crying. The world will never know.

LENA CHRISTIE
(Louder)
What did you learn?

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
Nothing! Nothing, alright? Fuck, you don't think I care about this situation? Ryan was my friend, Lena. Knew him since we were children. Now he's gone, and I can't do fuck all about it. I lost him and Davey in the space of a week. You don't think I know that? That I'm not constantly thinking about it? It's tearing me apart.

LENA faces her body away from CAL, hurt and venting.

LENA CHRISTIE
This has to stop. Your investigation? Stop it. It's already cost too much.

CAL gives no indication of hearing her, much less understanding.

LENA CHRISTIE
Fuck this. I never wanted any part of this and now one of the only good things about this godforsaken town is gone. I'm out. For real this time.

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
Lena -

LENA CHRISTIE
(cutting across)
No.No you don't get to talk your way out of this. I'm done, now get out.

CAL looks shocked but gets to her feet. She slowly puts her jacket back on in hopes that LENA would change her mind. LENA doesn't. CAL leaves the house in a hurry.

EXT. THE STREET - DAY

CAL huddles in her coat against the cold, hurriedly walking out of LENA's house. She hits the end of the road and pulls out her phone, quickly going through her contacts and calling a number. After a few rings, there's an answer.

BLAIR
Cal?

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
We need to talk.

EXT. A PARK - AFTERNOON

CAL and BLAIR sit together, CAL hunched over once again and BLAIR trying to hide any form of emotion and failing. BLAIR awkwardly pats CAL'S back.

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
It's my fault. All of this.

BLAIR
You didn't go out of your way to kill them.

CAL LAUGHLIN-LEE
No, but I pushed Davey away. I started the investigation and it got Ryan killed. God, if I never accused Davey on cheating on me we wouldn't be in this mess. They'd be alive.