Always With You

EXT. OUTSIDE OF A SPORTS BAR - NIGHT

PAIGE, A young, attractive woman in her mid 20's WALKS OUT of a sports bar and PUTS ON her jacket with her keys in hand. JAKE, her boss, a guy in his mid to late 30s, FOLLOWS OUT behind her and LOCKS THE DOOR.

JAKE

"Good job today Paige! Rough end to your first week, I promise the guys aren't this rowdy, but you handled it like a pro. Took me by surprise."

PAIGE

"I've had rougher. And, my older brother Sam played a lot of sports growing up... So, a lot of rowdy guys were always at our house... so I can deal with this much..."

Paige SMILES, but there is a hint of pain that fills her eyes. She quickly LOOKS down at her shoes.

JAKE

"(picking up on her look) Well... I can definitely tell, I was a little worried when first hiring you, but after tonight, I'm relieved. I really needed the help here."

PAIGE

"(raising her head and eyebrow) Worried?"

JAKE

"(with his arms up) No offense. No offense. But, it's a sports bar. A lot of guys come here.. and you appear softer than you are... again, no offense."

PAIGE

"(laughs) It's fine. I get it. Thanks again for hiring me, even If you were worried."

JAKE

"(chuckles) No, I couldn't have asked for anyone better, truly heaven sent..."

Jake and Paige STAND FOR A MOMENT OF AWKWARDNESS, not knowing what else to continue the conversation.

PAIGE

"Well, I should really be getting home."

JAKE

"You sure you don't need a ride. I feel a little uncomfortable with you walking this late at night."

PAIGE

"It's fine. I'm a few blocks down. Plus, you see I can handle myself."

JAKE

"Still, you are a young woman and it's been crazy latel--"

PAIGE

"(cutting of Jake) It's okay, I got my protection."

FLIP. Paige pushes a button on a part of her keychain and a small blade flies out.

PAIGE

"See you tomorrow Jake!"

She TURNS AROUND and QUICKLY WALKS AWAY toward her apartment before Jake can say anything further. Jake, in his last-ditch effort to make sure she is safe...

JAKE

"At least text me that you made it... (too himself) don't know what that's supposed to do..."

PAIGE

"(pretending not to hear him) I'll make sure I do. Bye."

Paige STICKS HER KEY-CHAIN INTO HER POCKET. She TAKES HER PHONE OUT. TIME READS 3:01AM

CUT TO:

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Jake WALKS in the opposite direction to his car. A HOODED MAN SITS IN A CAR WATCHING PAIGE LEAVE. He ROLLS UP HIS CAR WINDOW AND DRIVES OFF. There is a single picture of Paige alongside a notebook with notes of a detailed schedule open in the passenger seat.

CUT TO:

EXT. DARK STREET - NIGHT

Paige WALKS QUICKLY down the street not looking at the street in front of her but GLANCING AT HER PHONE. She GOES TO HER CALL LOG AND FINDS THE NAME, SAM (Big Bro), and CALLS HIM. The phone goes straight to voicemail.

SAM (V.O.)

"Hey, you reached Sam, you know what to do."

BEEEEEP.

PAIGE

"Hey Sam, finished my first week! Not going to lie, it was brutal, but your baby sister handled it well!"

Paige STARES OFF for a moment while still holding the phone to her ear.

PAIGE (cont...)

"Anyway, I just wanted to hear your voice, I love you... and I miss you!"

CLICK. She HANGS UP and STICKS HER PHONE BACK IN HER POCKET. She continues down the street toward her apartment. In the dark street there's no one in sight, which doesn't seem to bother Paige at all. She ZIPS UP HER JACKET, chilled by the cool night, and TAKES A LEFT at the intersection. THEN A RIGHT into an alleyway.

CUT BACK TO:

INT. CAR - NIGHT

The Hooded Man in the car PARKS HIS CAR on the street. HE GRABS A BLACK BAG IN THE BACKSEAT, PULLS IT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND OPENS IT. there are a pair of gloves and some black clothing in the bag. He PUTS THE GLOVES ON. He GOES INTO THE BAG ONCE MORE AND GRABS A SMALL WOODEN BOX. HE OPENS THE WOODEN BOX. Five syringes are neatly lined in the box with three empty spots missing. He PULLS OUT ONE, STICKS IT IN HIS POCKET, AND PLACES THE BOX BACK IN THE BAG HIDING IT underneath the clothes. He STEPS OUT OF THE CAR AND DISAPPEARS between two buildings leaving his car door unlocked.

CUT TO:

EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT

Paige COMFORTABLY WALKS down the familiar alleyway. The alleyway is behind buildings with dumpsters lined up on one side, while the other side is a high wooden fence that stretches from intersection to intersection. No one can be seen in the alley, no homeless, just your normal dirt and trash from living in a big city.

INTERCUT:

EXT. BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS - NIGHT

The hooded man CREEPS in the narrow path between the two buildings. He REACHES THE END OF THE BUILDING before TAKING A GLIMPSE around the corner of one building. Paige is about 50 feet away from him.

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT

RUSTLE. RUSTLE. Paige STOPS AND QUICKLY SWINGS HER HEAD in the direction of the sound. She sees nothing. She TAKES A MOMENT and SCANS the location. A cat JUMPS out of one of the dumpsters with a rat in its' mouth and RUNS OFF. She TAKES A DEEP BREATH OF RELIEF.

PAIGE

"Disgusting..."

She TURNS BACK AROUND a little less comfortable than she was before. She QUICKENS HER PACE AND WALKS toward her apartment.

EXT. BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS - NIGHT

The Hooded Man CONTINUES TO WAIT for Paige as she moves closer to him. He CONCEALS HIMSELF. TAKES THE SYRINGE OUT of his pocket and TAKES OFF THE CAP in one smooth motion. He TWIRLS THE SYRINGE IN HIS HAND in a sinister manner.

EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT

She TAKES HER KEYS OUT OF HER POCKET and WALKS past the first building unknowingly of what's waiting for her.

EXT. BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS - NIGHT

The HOODED MAN lets Paige walk a few steps in front of him before CREEPING OUT.

END INTERCUT:

EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT

The Hooded Man TIP-TOES behind PAIGE. He's as quiet as a mouse, and just as he is in reaching distance of her, He LIFTS UP THE SYRINGE FOCUSING on his victim. SCHEUK. He STEPS ON a random piece of trash. Paige TURNS AROUND IMMEDIATELY. He LUNGES AT HER. She attempts to RUN. He GRABS her quickly.

PAIGE

"(Screams) Ah--"

He THROWS her onto the ground before she makes too much noise. Her keys fly out of her hand just out of reach.

HOODED MAN

"Shhhh... I don't like a woman who's too noisy."

She GLANCES AT HER KEYS AND TURNS AROUND to face him.

PAIGE

"Who are you? Why are --"

She NOTICES THE SYRINGE AND PANICS.

PAIGE

"Help! Someone Hel...."

HOODED MAN

"(He lunges again) I said... shutup!"

Paige KICKS HIM in the leg and CRAWLS toward her keys. He HOLDS ONTO HIS LEG just for a second. ANGER FILLS HIS FACE. She is inches away from her keys, her trusty swiss army knife. HE PULLS HER BY HER HAIR. Paige's head JERKS BACK.

PAIGE

"(screaming) Owww.... Help... Ahhh..."

The Hooden Man PLUNGES THE SYRINGLE NEEDLE into her neck with force, silencing her screams. He LETS GO, STANDS UP, and WATCHES HER as the drugs take their course. Everything is spinning for Paige. She to REACH HER HANDS OUT for her only choice of survival: Her Keys!

HOODED MAN

"(chuckles and with a matter of factly tone of voice) No one is coming for you... You'll live forever with me."

He WALKS TOWARD HER KEYS, PICKS THEM UP, and EXAMINES THEM. FLIP. The knife flies out.

HOODED MAN

"You should try Mace... well, too late."

He TAKES THE KNIFE, SQUATS ON TOP OF HER.

HOODED MAN

"WHHHHIFFFFFF. (smelling her and letting out a sigh) Ahhhh... You smell so nice..."

He TRACES HER FACE WITH THE KNIFE while Paige's vision becomes more and more blurred.

HOODED MAN

"I know, I said I don't like noisy women, but I just didn't want you to go making a scene... can't have anyone interrupting. You have such a beautiful voice. I can't wait to hear how you'll use it lat--"

FWOOSH.... CLANG....CLATTER... CLATTER. The Hooded Man is suddenly SENT FLYING and landing in a pile of rubish. Rattle. Rattle. The Hooded Man struggles, but gets up. Paige's STRUGGLING TO SEE but unable to move, failing to FIGHT OFF UNCONSCIOUSNESS. The sounds of a fight fill Paige's ear. The Hooded Man's tone of voices changes.

HOODED MAN

"(frightened) Who ar...what... wait, Wait, WAIT... AHHHH!!"

BANG... BAM... THUD. In Paige's obscure vision, the Hooded Man lays lifeless, bloody, eyes open. He's breathless. She's not able to move or react but she internally panics. A pair of feet WALK TOWARD HER and they SQUAT DOWN in front of her. She sees just his chin down as she continues to fall into a drug-induced slumber.

SAM

"I love and I miss you 2 Paige.... but it's not time for me to see you yet. Know, I'll always protect you, baby sis... And I'm always with you."

Paige's eyes close.

CUT TO BLACK:

END