SCENE 10
INT. POLICE STATION — LATE EVENING
LOBBY
Wintry winds whip against the station’s lobby windows and doors.
From deserted lobby we see the emergency dispatch bullpen behind double paned security glass. One person mans entire room.
DISPATCH BULLPEN
Call monitors light up as Christmas trees but only CARLY CHANG (30’s) is there to pickup. The year’s first major blizzard has stranded fellow dispatchers from reaching the station.
An experienced shift supervisor, Carly still can’t keep up with the incoming volume. And she’s got to pee.
CARLY: 911, what’s your emergency?
MALE VOICE (desperate, O.S): I am going mad. Help me.
CARLY: Repeat again, please.
MALE VOICE (O.S.): Did you hear that?
Carly pauses. This isn’t first time she’s dealt with mental health issues.
CARLY: I want to help. Whom am I talking with?
MALE VOICE (deepens, O.S.): Manny.
CARLY: What phone number are you calling from, Manny?
Silence.
CARLY (CONT’D): Manny, give me your callback number in case we’re disconnected.
MALE VOICE (O.S.): Manny has no phone.
CARLY: Where are you calling from?
MALE VOICE (O.S.): Help me. Please! ‘Cuz I can’t help myself!
CARLY: Manny, I’m here to help. What is your location?
MALE VOICE (O.S.): Here.
Carly swivels her chair around, scans the room. No one. Only Carly.
MALE VOICE (stern, O.S.): Don’t hang up on me.
CARLY: Tell me exactly where you are Manny.
Line is silent.
Room plunges into near darkness.
MALE VOICE: I’m here Carly. Let me help you.
Sounds of CHOKING, a STRUGGLE — compete with storm’s fury.
LOBBY
Parking lot lights glow through filter of blizzard’s white out. Reveal tracks of melting snow across lobby’s tile floor.