84/94

HALLOWEEN NIGHT - 1984

A red SUV pulls into the parking lot of a prestigious office building. Employees are drunkenly passing in and out of doors. Mostly husbands sending their wives home to relieve the sitter so they can then continue to consume copious amounts of drugs and alcohol. Welcome to the American Dream.

A beautiful Black woman dressed as Miss America and her young daughter decked out in Ghostbusters threads exit the vehicle and head into the building through a back entrance. This is Kayla and Zoey. They pass by a man doing a line of cocaine off a woman's breasts and make a beeline to an empty office.

The space is filled with dark leathers and woods. You get the feeling that whoever's office it is – they're a person of status and power. A large desk sits in the center with a throne of a chair resting behind. Kayla pulls it out and instructs Zoey to sit underneath. She is not to come out for any reason - mommy has to talk to her boss about something important.

Kayla leaves the office and pauses at the door before setting off into the party. Zoey sits underneath the large wooden desk and begins inspecting her Halloween loot. She's startled when the party-goers cheer as Rockwell's Somebody's Watching Me begins to play.

HALLOWEEN MORNING - 1994

Zoey, now a young woman, stands in front of a gravestone. She’s dressed in business attire, her lengthy hair straightened and pinned back. Behind her is a young girl, Camila, who, despite the gender norms of the 90s, is dressed as Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Zoey stares at the grave showing little emotion.

“Zoey, I’m going to be late!”

The proclamation snaps Zoey out of her daze, “What time is it, Cam?”

“Time for you to get a watch.” Camila quips.

“Camila, I love you, but today is not the day.”

Zoey and Camila get into the car and head on their way. The duo pulls up to Orange River Elementary School. Kids are dressed in various costumes – some as their heroes and others as monsters. Camila adjusts her red headband to position the eye holes to where she can see clearly.

“Don’t forget you’re taking the bus home with Tara. You’ll go trick or treating with her family tonight. I’ve got a shift at the mall, and I’ll pick you up after that.” Camila smiles and asks, "Can you bring me pizza from Sbarro's?" Zoey grabs Camila and gives her a squeeze. "You got it, Raph. Now hurry, or you'll be late!"

“Yesssss!” Camila exclaims as she high-fives Zoey. “Good luck at your interview, Zo! I know you’re going to kill it.” Camila hops out of the car and runs to get to class. Zoey watches as Camila disappears into the building. A pair of tears fall from her eyes as she shifts the car into drive and takes off.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT - 1984

The office door opens, and Kayla is pushed in by a man dressed as Ronald Reagan. He takes off his mask and begins kissing her neck. "Perfect timing as always. Becky just left." Kayla pushes him off and forcefully tells him, "We need to talk."

"Is this about your promotion? Kayla, look, I was outvoted – there are multiple partners. I don't have the final say."

"Chris, when are you going to tell your wife about us?"

"When the time is right."

"And when will that be?"

"I don't know, babe. It's complicated." He continues to get handsy, and she pushes him off again.

"What's complicated? You fell out of love with her and in love with me. At least that’s the line you’ve been feeding me the last six months."

"She's pregnant."

"Well, this is quite a predicament we have here. You promised me a promotion and a husband. But it seems like you're not willing to do either, so I'll handle things myself."

"What does that mean, Kayla?"

"I'm sure your wife and the partners would like to know about us. Since you don't have the guts to tell them – I will."

HALLOWEEN MORNING - 1994

Zoey pulls into an office parking lot and sits in the vehicle for a moment to gather her thoughts, purse, and resume. She adjusts her makeup in the rear-view mirror and heads into the building. Zoey informs the receptionist that she's there to interview for the executive assistant position. The receptionist looks her up and down and tells her to take a seat. Zoey asks to use the restroom and is directed to the end of the hall.

Zoey takes a few deep breaths as she stares at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She opens her purse, and inside is a tape recorder, a little black book, and a gun. Zoey hits the record button, takes one last deep breath to compose herself, and heads out. As she opens the bathroom door, she is startled by the receptionist, who informs her that Mr. Chandler will see her now.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT - 1984

Kayla is pushed hard against the front of the desk. She tries to fight back – she gets in one solid slap across Chris’s face before he pins her arms to her side.

"You're not going to tell anyone a fucking thing!" he yells as he pushes Kayla on top of the desk. The struggle knocks a little black book with the initials C.C. in gold to the ground.

Chris rips off her costume, undoes his pants, and forces himself inside Kayla. Zoey buries her head in her hands as her mom cries out for someone from the party to save her, but it's no use. Her screams are muffled by the party’s debauchery going on outside the office door. A terrified Zoey stays under the desk just as she was told.

HALLOWEEN MORNING - 1994

The receptionist leads Zoey into Mr. Chandler's office. He is the managing partner of his law firm by day and the ideal husband and father by night. At least that's the story the diplomas and family photos that line his office walls paint of him.

"Happy Halloween, Ms. Thomas. May I call you Zoey?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Chandler." Zoey hands him her resume.

"Great, and please call me Chris.” He briefly skims the document.

“Ok, Zoey, let's get down to it. I’d like to know more about you to make sure you’re the right fit for our team. Things that your resume won't show me.” He sets her resume down on his desk. “What should I know about you that's not on that paper?"

"My mother was an assistant and went on to become a paralegal, so I practically grew up in a law office. I hope to follow in her footsteps."

"So, this is in your blood - I love it! Here’s a question for you. The partners and I have hectic schedules, and we need someone to keep us organized. How would you go about doing that?"

"I know it's a bit old school, but I'd get all the partners something like this." Zoey pulls a weathered black book out of her purse and places it on Chris's desk.

"It allows you to keep detailed notes. It tracks meetings and events, but it's small enough to be carried in your jacket pocket."

Chris's demeanor changes. He sees the gold lettering and picks up the book to inspect it and its contents. He flips through it briefly and then places it in his shirt pocket.

"Where did you get this?"

"Your office."

"My office? I haven't seen that book in years."

"10, to be exact." Zoey pulls out the gun and brings her finger to her lips instructing Chris to keep quiet.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT - 1984

Kayla lays on top of the desk and sobs as Chris stands behind her and zips up his pants. He leans over and whispers in her ear, "As if I'd ever leave my wife for a colored girl." He makes his way to the door and looks back at Kayla, who is now slumped over on her hands and knees in front of the desk.

"Oh, and you're fired. Pack your stuff up tonight. If you come back here or near my wife, I'll make tonight look like… well, a holiday." He laughs to himself. "Happy Halloween, Kayla. "Chris shuts the door and re-enters the party unphased by what just transpired.

HALLOWEEN MORNING - 1994

"I don't know who you are or what you want, but…"

"I’m Kayla Richards’s daughter. I was there the night you raped her. I hid under your desk – the same one you're sitting behind now. But I’m done hiding, and you’re going to pay for what you’ve done.”

“I don’t know what you THINK you know, but I can assure you that nobody is going to take your word over mine – you need real evidence. So, unless you want to spend the rest of your life in prison, I suggest you put that gun back in your purse and get out of my office.”

“Like DNA evidence?”

Chris laughs to himself, “Good luck with that.”

“Would your illegitimate child’s DNA work?”

“What are you talking about?”

Zoey takes out a picture of Camila and hands it to Chris.

“That’s your daughter.”

Chris looks at the picture and then back at Zoey.

“My mother tried her best to love Camila, but she saw you every time she looked at her, and it slowly destroyed her. I basically raised Camila, and I became her official guardian the day after my 18th birthday. That’s when my mother killed herself - Halloween 1992.”

“I’m sure there’s a way we can work this out for everyone.”

“I can’t think of one that doesn’t involve a bullet in your head.”

“How about $500,000 for a new life? I have $20,000 cash in my safe. Take that for now, and I’ll meet you at Owl Park later tonight with the rest.”

Zoey looks at him for a second. He can see she’s considering his offer.

“Think about it, Zoey. If you kill me, you’ll end up dead or in prison. What happens to Camila then? Do you want her in the system? I’m sure you know what would happen to her in there. This money can give both of you a fresh start.”

“I’ll meet you at the back entrance of the park at 10:00. That will give you time to take your kids trick or treating. Unless there’s a company party tonight that you forgot to invite me to?”

“No - no party. This is smart, Zoey. This is the right move for everyone.”

Chris goes and gets the money out of his safe and puts it on his desk. Zoey puts the cash in her purse and leaves.

NOVEMBER 1ST, 1994

Zoey and Camila pull into a gas station. Zoey’s hair is cut short, and the SUV is filled with clothes and other belongings. Zoey walks in to pay for gas, but the attendant is mesmerized by the local news anchor reporting on the station's busted tv.

“Local lawyer and pillar of the community, Chris Chandler, was found dead in his car this morning at Owl Park. A couple jogging discovered the body around 6:30 AM. Police suspect foul play…”

“Can I get $10 on 6?” Zoey asks a bit impatiently as she hands the man a $20 bill.

“Yes, sorry. It’s not every day something like this happens here.”

He hands Zoey back her change. “You’re all set.”

“Thanks.” Zoey begins to walk out, and as she opens the door, she looks back and tells the attendant, “You’d be surprised by all the darkness in this town,” and leaves.

THE END