Chasing Sleep Page #5

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He hangs up.

DERM:

She hasn't been in today.

ED:

My God.

DERM:

She hasn't called here at all?

ED:

No.

DERM:

Any messages?

He points to the answering machine. It is blinking, full of messages.

ED:

I must have been asleep.

DERM:

That happens.

ED:

I was up late last night.

DERM:

I understand. Why don't we listen to these messages?

ED:

Alright.

Ed pushes the button on the machine.

The first message is from Eve's work.

CELESTE:

(on machine)

Hi, this is Celeste, calling for Eve. We're worried about you. You don't come in. You don't call. No, seriously, we just want to make sure you're OK. Don't worry about your students. Marie's covering for you. But give us a call, OK? Bye.

ED:

That's the school where Eve works. She's a piano teacher at Franklin High.

Then there's a message for Ed.

MRS MASTRIONI:

(on machine)

Hello, Mr Saxon. This is Mrs Mastrioni from the University. You didn't show up for your morning class and I'm calling to see if you'll be in for your other classes so that I can make the proper arrangements. I assume you remember how to use the phone.

ED:

Damn.

DERM:

You're a teacher too?

ED:

A professor at the University.

The next message is Derm.

DERM:

(on machine)

Hello, this is Detective Derm from the Seattle Police Department...

Derm takes a small pill box from his overcoat, while the machine plays in the background.

DERM:

That's me. Do you have a glass of water?

ED:

Sure.

Ed goes into the -

INT. KITCHEN

- and fills a glass for the detective.

INT. LIVING ROOM

When he comes back, he sees Derm casually looking over the woman's magazines on the coffee table. Derm picks up a filled-in New York Times Sunday Crossword and looks it over.

DERM:

Your wife did this?

ED:

Yes.

DERM:

Smart woman. The acrostic, too.

Ed hands Derm the water.

DERM:

Thank you.

Meanwhile the next message comes on. It is a girl from Ed's class.

SADIE:

(on machine)

Hello, Mr Saxon? This is Sadie, from your creative writing class. Anyway, you didn't show up today and I just wanted to see if you were OK and, you know, if there was any reading or anything you wanted us to do. My number is 323-4854. I hope you're alright. Bye.

DERM:

A student?

ED:

Yes.

DERM:

Do they call you often?

ED:

No, but they all have my number.

The next message is from Susie.

SUSIE:

(on machine)

He, Ed. I just wanted to find out what happened last night. If Eve ever showed up, or what happened. Call me at work, 672-5695.

ED:

I thought she might have gone over there last night. Excuse me, I better call the University.

The next message is Detective Derm again and it plays behind Ed's conversation.

ED:

Hi, Mrs Mastrioni?

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