163. The Edge - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY


• ELLEN looks out over the city from her cubicle's large picture window.


• The city spread hundreds of feet below as the bright sun sparkles off the surface of the buildings around her.


• Construction cranes rise past the window from the lot far below.


• White clouds float across the deep blue sky above.


• She smiles and turns back to her her work.


• There is a a loud whistling sound and she turns back to the window just in time to see a huge, out-of-control wrecking ball careening towards her window.


• ELLEN
• You've got to be kidding.


• The ball smashes through the window and glass explodes into the office.


• A thousand shards fly towards her and then everything stops.


• She exhales softly.


• A chunk of concrete with rebar sticking out of it is frozen in the air, inches away from her head; the wrecking ball is frozen halfway through the window and wall, and a wall of now-frozen glass floats a hairsbreadth away from her face.


• She sits for a moment in frozen shock.


• She slowly pushes her chair back and it moves with some resistance.


• Standing, she pushes up on her tiptoes to look around the office: everything and everyone are frozen.


• She turns around and starts.


• A WOMAN is sitting at the edge of her desk, just beyond the reach of exploding glass.


• She is dressed in a breathtaking red evening dress, her hair flowing around her shoulders and a simple pendant around her neck.


• WOMAN
• Hello Ellen.


• ELLEN
• Who are you?


• WOMAN
• You can call me Neco.


• ELLEN
• Why has everything stopped.


• NECO
• You're in the edge. The edge of a moment. And it really hasn't stopped, it's just moving very slowly. No one else will even realize it; it's all going to be over in a split second.


• ELLEN
• The edge? The moment? What are you talking about?


• NECO
• You're about to die.


• Ellen, nods, not processing.


• ELLEN
• Some bedside manner you have. How do you know? Who are you.


• NECO
• Shh, enjoy thiS, this last moment, before the world goes dark.


• ELLEN
• I'm going to die? Why would I enjoy this?


• NECO
• Yes, you are going to die; would you rather be miserable?




• ELLEN
• I can't, I'm not ready, there are literally thousands of things I've never experienced. No one's proposed to me, I haven't seen Italy. Italy! I haven't even had gelato.


• NECO
• I'm sorry.


• ELLEN
• Who are you? Why can't you change anything.


• NECO
• I'm so very sorry.


• Ellen begins to cry.


• Neco notices the glass beginning to move slowly, almost imperceptibly.


• She carefully walks over to the chair.


• The closer she comes to Ellen, the greater the difference between the two seems.


• Neco carries with her an ancient grace and she towers over Ellen.


• She takes Ellen by the hand and pulls her into her lap, holding Ellen gently.


• Ellen cries, shaking.


• ELLEN
• Why do I have to be in, on, whatever, on this edge? Why couldn't have been painless? Instant, no regrets, no knowledge.


• NECO
• Do you have regrets?


• Ellen tries to regain control.


• ELLEN
• There's so much I'm going to miss; but I don't really want to think about what I'll regret. You didn't answer my question.


• Neco looks at her for a moment and then begins to sing, a beautiful, haunting melody.


• The debris and wrecking ball inches closer, becoming faster.


• Ellen notices now.


• She closes her eyes and listen to the lullaby.


• ELLEN
• You're Death.


• Her eyes open, looking for confirmation.


• Neco keeps singing, stroking Ellen's face.


• The debris comes faster and faster.


• ELLEN
• Please.


• Neco's lullaby becomes a soft, powerful chant.


• ELLEN
• Please.


• Tears pour from Neco's eyes.


• Time catches up and the chunk of concrete smashes into Ellen, followed by the wrecking bar.


• Ellen is pinned to the floor, dying.


• Neco has disappeared.


• Ellen gasps, dying, as the office workers swirl frantically around her.


• A firefighter walks to her, and kneels beside her.


• He begins singing the chant.


• Ellen's eyes flutter and then she dies.


• The firefighter makes a strange gesture above her and whispers a blessing in a language older than earth.


• He nods, stands, and walks away through the destroyed office.


• FADE TO BLACK.