The Rapture Page #2

SHARON:

Operator 134, what city please?

(Pause, as she

types in the name.)

Is that a business or residence?

(Pause.)

Hold for the number.

(Pause.)

This is operator 134. What city?

(Pause.)

Can you spell that?

(Pause.)

Is that D as in Dick?

(Pause.)

Please hold for the number.

Cut to:

INTERIOR:
TELEPHONE COMPANY VENDING-MACHINE ROOM. DAY.

Coffee break. Move through the room. Everyone sits alone,

recovering from the phones. SHARON enters staring into space.

Behind her are a group of workers, talking quietly but

passionately. At first, SHARON doesn't listen. Bits of the

following drift into consciousness.

WORKER #1

Hi, Wayne. It was much stronger last

night, wasn't it?

WORKER #2

By a factor of five.

WORKER #3

It was almost like the first time,

I mean, it was that clear.

WORKER #1

And the horn, the sound of a horn,

that was new.

WORKER #2

One note, a very clear tone. I found

it on my piano; it's B flat.

WORKER #1

What do you think?

SHARON has leaned back in her chair to eavesdrop.

WORKER #3

I think it's going to happen, and

soon. Have you been praying?

WORKER #2, facing SHARON'S back, sees her leaning in and

puts a finger to his lips.

WORKER #2

Yes, as much as I can.

The other two glance over their shoulders at SHARON. She

looks over her shoulder and sees them look at her. She pulls

her chair forward.

WORKER #3

What does The Boy say?

WORKER #1

Not yet.

Cut to:

INTERIOR:
SHARON'S APARTMENT. NIGHT.

She is in bed with RANDY. Under the sheet, he strokes her.

She comes, pushing his hand away.

SHARON:

Tell me a story.

RANDY:

Hmmm.

He tries to start again.

SHARON:

No, no, no. I already know that

story. Tell me something new.

He thinks about it.

RANDY:

I've done things for money.

SHARON:

Like what?

RANDY:

Things I wish I hadn't.

SHARON:

Like what?

RANDY:

I killed a man once.

SHARON:

For how much?

RANDY:

For a thousand dollars.

SHARON:

That's not very much money.

RANDY:

It was a lot then. All I can say

now is, I wish I hadn't.

SHARON:

Why?

RANDY:

'Cause it stays with me. I mean, I

killed a man. I took his life, his

only life. That's bad.

SHARON:

Did you know him?

RANDY:

No.

SHARON:

Well, why did the people who paid

you want him dead?

RANDY:

There are some questions you don't

ask. After that, they offered me

another job, the same kind of job,

better money.

SHARON:

And did you do it?

RANDY:

No. But I think about that killing a

lot. I think, you know, if we weren't

taught that killing is bad, would I

still feel as bad?

SHARON:

I don't know.

RANDY:

You don't know. Are you scared of me

now?

SHARON:

Did anyone pay you to kill me?

A long pause.

RANDY:

That was not a good year. 1975, that

was my best year. I was nineteen.

What was your best year?

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