What Should Have Been The Perfect Murder (Script) Not finished... for a WtW Comp

[Scene 1]

A Saturday morning at 10:00 am. Max is typing at his computer, currently troubleshooting code for his new part time job at the local computer store. He is in his own world, headphones in and peaceful music plays through them.

MAX types at his computer, mouse clicking every so often, along with the printer releasing pages of code. Front door slams. MAX is unaware of JUSTIN arriving back to the flat.

JUSTIN dumps his surfboard on the rack, grabbing a towel that lies over the side of a chair, he heads up the stairs. Passes his new flat mate’s room, the door being left open he pokes his head in.

JUSTIN: Yo dude what are you doing?

MAX feels his presence and removes one headphone from his ear.

MAX: Just coding. Did you just wake up?

JUSTIN (sniggers)

JUSTIN: No actually (says with sarcasm) I was a normal person and got out of the house instead of being a nerd over a computer screen. (smirks)

MAX processes what JUSTIN has said. Doesn’t pick up on sarcasm.

MAX: What did you do? Nature Walking?

JUSTIN (throws back head, laughs.)

JUSTIN: No! How dumb are you! What do you think when you see this?! (grabs sleeve of his wet suit.)

MAX: I don’t know what that is. I mean its clothing but what its for I do not know.

JUSTIN: Hahahah you are really as dumb as I thought! (rolls eyes)

MAX stares silently at his computer screen

JUSTIN (walks over towards MAX)

JUSTIN: Who's that? (points in the direction of a photo frame) 

MAX (opens his mouth to speak) JUSTIN (interrupts)

JUSTIN: Is that you? 

MAX again opens mouth to speak, JUSTIN (obnoxiously interrupts) 

JUSTIN: Oh hey, you are the shorter one right. Older bro I am assuming. (nodding to the other person in the picture)

MAX: Mmhm (nods head.)

JUSTIN: Well kinda obvious that you are related, you both look like nerds. In fact, he looks even freakier than you do!

JUSTIN walks out of the room, laughing as he leaves.

MAX sits at his desk, with a sad smile on his face. 

MAX: Wish you were still around big bro (sadly smiles as he says this, looking at the picture frame.)

[Scene 2]

Saturday afternoon, about 15:00. JUSTIN is at the bench, textbook opened but his phone is his main focus. MAX is making a sandwich in the same room.

MAX: What are you studying?

JUSTIN doesn’t hear him, still messaging his friends.

MAX (sighs, taps JUSTIN on the shoulder.)

JUSTIN: Dude! Why would you do that!?

MAX rather taken back, (jumps back a few steps)

MAX: Well, (swallows) you didn’t answer my question.

Meanwhile, LEAH slips in through the front door, unnoticed by JUSTIN and MAX.

JUSTIN (rolls eyes) Oh ok then, (sarcastic tone) I am listening.

MAX (swallows) straightens glasses, moves bread on his plate, aligning each piece.

JUSTIN: Dude hurry up and spit it out! Are you trying to mess with me?

MAX Doesn’t make eye contact with JUSTIN (soft tone) My question (pauses) was what do you study?

JUSTIN (eyebrows raised, smirks) That’s what you wanted to ask.

MAX: Yes

JUSTIN: I am studying to be a Physical Therapist in Sport. (smirks and proudly states this)

MAX: Well you don’t seem to be studying.

JUSTIN: What is your problem! (stands up yells angrily) Are you trying to make me hate you more then I already do?!

MAX taken back, starts buttering the toast, evidently nervous at the shouts.

LEAH: Um is everything going okay in here? I could hear you from out the front.

JUSTIN (sighs, spinning around on the kitchen stool) You will not believe this guy he is insane.

MAX (ears cock at familiar voice) Oh, hi Leah. (doesn’t look up)

JUSTIN (confused) Wait you know this freak?! (talking to LEAH)

LEAH: Max is what I think you meant to say Justin.

JUSTIN: And you know his name!?

LEAH: What you don’t? You have been flatting here already for two weeks and I came last night! (shocked tone)

JUSTIN (snarls at both of them mainly MAX) Unbelievable. (stalks out of the room.)

[Scene 3]

Around 19:00, LEAH is cooking a light dinner for her and JUSTIN, JUSTIN is texting his friends on the couch.

LEAH (feeling uncomfortable, breaks silence.) You know, you really should treat Max a bit nicer.

JUSTIN (glances up) Why are you so protective over this Max guy? You only just met him last night.

LEAH (sighs) True. But you did not even know his name until I told you. Why judge him? (stirs diced chicken on the fry pan)

JUSTIN: (rolls eyes, annoyed at her persistence.) Leah just piss off. LEAH (glaring at her brother at this remark) JUSTIN (glances at LEAH feeling her glare.)

JUSTIN: Just chill out a little, there is no need to get so worked up about how Max and I get on. Besides you really shouldn't be telling me how to behave, don't forget what your currently doing.

LEAH: (eyebrows burn with anger, her eyes pierce through JUSTIN, she turns off the cook top.) 

LEAH: Don't ever bring that up Justin. (says through gritted teeth.) It was you who had the idea and used me as the person to get your dirty work done! (glares again at her brother with outrage, stalking out of the kitchen and slamming the door.)

JUSTIN sits stunned at the bench, not expecting Leah's outburst. 

JUSTIN Oh Mum, (says aloud) Why did I do it?

[Scene 4]

LEAH annoyed with JUSTIN puts on her shoes and shuts the door front door behind her. She begins to walk down the garden path and up the hills. (Night has now steadily approached.)

LEAH (glances down at her phone) Where is he? (mutters under breath)

LEAH stands underneath the fig tree at the top of the hills. (reloads her messages to see if he has left her a message.)

LEAH: Of course he's late.

MAN: I don't think that's the right way to be talking to the person you're trying to get out of debt from Leah.

LEAH: (jumps in fright spinning around.) Oh it's you! 

MAN: Yes Leah, your intelligence is killing me. Do you have my payment?

LEAH looks guiltily at her pocket and reaches into it. Yes (she says grabbing an envelope.) Its all here.

MAN reaches out to grab it from LEAH and rips it open, skimming through the green paper notes. 

MAN: Very well. You know this meeting place now. I expect to see many more of these. (begins to walk away from LEAH)

LEAH: When can this stop?

MAN: Until your brother realises that he needs to turn himself in. Tell him when he stops playing these games with me, your mother will return.

LEAH: Is she alive? (fists are clenched in her coat pocket. 

MAN: Alive yes. But forever tortured? Also yes. (smiles at the look of fear on LEAH'S face.)

MAN (walks away but turns head back towards LEAH) Oh and tell Justin something from me, (says in a overly nice tone) your uncle. He should have never left your mother's side at your fathers funeral, he says eyes narrowing with an evil gleam. 

LEAH shudders at the memory of the funeral. Of the day her mother disappeared.

MAN: Murderer's should never play games Leah! You were always the smart one, at least that's what my brother always told me. His golden little girl. (says with a laughing cackles that echoes through the hill tops.) I would have thought you would have told your brother that when he told you his plans to protect his mother. How unfortunate it was that I found out, for you would never know be a thief along with an accomplish to murder.