JIMMY STREET By Katie Allgeier

Katie Allgeier 75 College Avenue Greenville, PA, 16125

FADE IN: INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM JAMES and EMMA sit cross-legged, looking at each other, knees touching, on a miniscule rug placed on the equally miniscule open space of flooring between two armchairs. EMMA Just say it. JAMES I dont have anything to say. EMMA Just say it. You know you want to. Just say its all my fault. JAMES (sighing) I mean that wouldnt be wrong. EMMA What? How do you figure? James gives Emma a skeptical look. CUT IN: FLASHBACK INT. EMMAS BEDROOM. Emma sits at her computer scrolling through apartment listings. She is incredibly frustrated. She clicks on a random apartment in her frustration, and an alert pops up that she has bought the apartment. She sits back for a moment, horrified, looks around furtively, then closes her computer and runs away. CUT IN: PRESENT INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM EMMA Well I panicked, James, what was I supposed to do? Oh, oh wait, I know. (clears throat) (In a deeper voice, animatedly) You should have asked for (MORE)

2 EMMA (CONT.) pictures, Emma. If you had asked for pictures we might not be in this mess. (In her normal voice) Well did you ever think that maybe, since he lied to us about the size of the apartment, he would have just sent us fake pictures too? (Deeper voice) Oh no, I didnt think of that. Youre right Emma; Ill stop blaming you now. (In her normal voice, standing up) Good idea. Now, I will graciously give you the bed to sleep in, and I will sleep on the floor, or perhaps on this lovely chair. You are welcome. She offers her hand to James, who reluctantly accepts her help and rises. He stands in place and peers around at their things. JAMES Do you know where our shower stuff ended up? EMMA (peering around) Erm

The two look around for a moment, before realizing that the shower things are nowhere to be found. The two exchange a look, Emma apologetic and James barely controlling his anger. CUT TO OPENING CREDITS.

3 FADE IN: EXT. TWO GENTLEMANS CAF DAY

James and Emma sit outside at a table, drinking tea and staring at their computer screens. JAMES What about this one? Studio apartment, good neighborhood, amenities included EMMA Any wasp nests or ghosts? JAMES Not that theyve listed. EMMA Add it to the list. Will we be able to check it out this week? JAMES Yeah, hes free tomorrow at three. Should I say we can go? EMMA Might as well. Emma checks her watch, and then stands up in alarm. EMMA (shocked) James, we have to go! The tour on 23rd is in ten minutes!

4 JAMES (calmly, without looking away from his screen) Its not till 3:30. The owners dog had a last minute vet appointment. EMMA What? Why didnt you tell me? JAMES I did, last night at dinner. You werent listening. EMMA (Sitting down, deflated) Oh. Well then. She sucks on her soft drink straw for a moment. How did your first day of classes go? JAMES It went well. I think my drawing instructor is going to be a piece of work, but everyone else seems okay. EMMA (looking gloomy) I wish I had started already. I still have another week before orientation.

5 JAMES (Pointedly) Thats alright, that just gives you more time to look for apartments. Emma sticks her tongue out at James. He smiles at his laptop screen, then closes the laptop and begins packing up. JAMES Well, if were going to make it to 23rd on time we should probably go now. EMMA (Irritated) Isnt that what I just said? The two walk away up the sidewalk, bickering lightly. EXT. 23rd STREET APARTMENT DAY

James and Emma stare up at the exterior of a dingy-looking apartment. The cement front stairs are crumbling, and the front porch railing is crusted with rust. The wind is blowing ominously, and somewhere in the distance a dog is howling. As the two stare, a black cat walks in front of them, up the crumbling steps, sits down and stares at James and Emma. JAMES Should we knock? EMMA (Looking wary) Be my guest. I just hope youre up on all your shots.

JAMES (also wary) Looks can be deceiving He approaches the steps just as a hunched, withered old woman, the LANDLADY, bursts out of the screen door. Her wispy gray hair blows about in the breeze as she stands in the doorway. She grimaces out a smile, revealing rotting, mossy teeth. LANDLADY (Looking the two up and down) So youre the ones who called. She sucks her teeth. I suppose youll do. Where are you from? JAMES Wisconsin. LANDLADY (Noticeably brightening) Oh youll do nicely. Come on in. The group climbs the stairs and enters the house. INT. 23rd STREET APARTMENT DAY There is center of The Emma stay

The interior of the apartment is dark and gloomy. one window on the far wall, a single chair in the the room, and cracks running through the ceiling. Landlady continues into the room, while James and close to the doorway, squinting around.

7 LANDLADY As you can see this is the most spacious studio apartment. Good lighting, well-located James sniffs and wrinkles his nose. JAMES Whats that smell? Emma sniffs as well, then grimaces. LANDLADY (uncomfortable) Smell? Dont know what youre talking about. Maybe youre just not used to the smells of the city. Landlady laughs. JAMES (sniffing again) No, theres definitely something EMMA (Sniffing) Its chemical-y She notices a dark red spot on the floor near the chair. She points to it. EMMA What is that?

8 LANDLADY (nervously) What is what? Oh, thats um, thats just a shadow. Nothing but a shadow. So, its lovely, isnt it? Now if youll come through here She guides them through to an equally dim kitchen. There are several overhead cupboards, a sink, and an ancient refrigerator. LANDLADY So you can see youll have a nice kitchen. This is your refrigerator Emma moves to open the refrigerator. LANDLADY (loudly Dont open that! Emma jumps back in surprise. LANDLADY (nervously) Ahem. Just some things left in there from the last tenant. Nothing to worry about. Just trying to maintain their privacy. Emma moves away from the refrigerator. At the same time, James moves to cupboards and opens one. A rag stained with what looks suspiciously like blood falls out onto the floor. The Emma and James stare down at it, then at the landlady, who grins sheepishly.

9 CUT TO EXT. CITY STREET James and Emma are walking quickly away from the apartment. JAMES (in a low voice) Im pretty sure someone was murdered in that apartment. EMMA (Low voice) Oh you think? Well, we can definitely scratch that one off the list. Where is the next one? James consults a list in his pocket. JAMES The open house on 28th is going on. We can check in there. EMMA (muttering) It cant get any worse than that. INT. 28th STREET APARTMENT James and Emma are inside the apartment, which is also being explored by two other couples. It looks clean and bright, well kept. They speak with a harried, crazedlooking HOMEOWNER. HOMEOWNER (jovially, and rather wildly) Welcome! My name is Johnathan. Feel free to look around! Holler if you have any questions.

10 JAMES (peeking around the apartment) It seems nice. No bleach smell, anyway. EMMA No suspicious stains either. I like this guy, too. He wouldnt be bad to rent from. JAMES Yeah, but did you notice the price? Its way below any sane price. There has to be a catch. HOMEOWNER walks over to the couple. HOMEOWNER Everything okay? Everything look good? Anything wrong? EMMA No, everything seems perfect actually. HOMEOWNER (ecstatic) Really? Delightful! Thats lovely, it really All at once, a tremendous noise issues from the floor above the apartment. The couple living upstairs is having a row.

11 WIFE (from upstairs; with a strong Puerto Rican accent) How you think you gonna come back here so late? You been out with Valeria again? Hmm? HOMEOWNER looks heartbroken. His shoulders slump and he looks near tears. HUSBAND (From upstairs, muffled) Why you think I been with Valeria? I been out with Jose and Alex, baby! WIFE Ay, not that line again! The argument continues in the background of the scene. EMMA Errm, how often does that happen? HOMEOWNER (still near tears) Oh, once every few (sniffs -- Hours. James and Emma both raise their eyebrows and, when the Homeowner turns away, quietly sneak out the door with the rest of the couples.

12 EXT. CITY STREET James and Emma walk down the sidewalk, dejected. EMMA (Dramatically) Were never going to find an apartment here. Well be stuck with some house of horrors! JAMES Settle down, well find somewhere. Its only been two apartments. Something catches his eye on the sidewalk. James stoops, picks it up, and begins to read. It is a handwritten posting for an apartment on Jimmy Street. JAMES Jimmy Street? (He looks up at Emma) Does that even exist? EMMA (Shrugging) How should I know, I got here when you did. She spots something over James shoulder. EMMA Apparently it does. She points to a hand painted wooden sign above them. It reads Jimmy Street. Below the sign is a paper notice;

13 Inquire within. James turns and reads the sign, then turns back to Emma with a might-as-well shrug. EMMA (Sighing) I mean it couldnt hurt.