<< OUTSIDE - GAYMON'S HOUSE -- NIGHT >>

Erika stands on the curb, peering into the dark as a man walks towards her from under the cover of the large trees near the building. She flinches as the sparse street lights illuminate him eerily.

ERIKA

“Mr. Gaymon?"

GAYMON

“Yes, Erika, hi. Call me Bill.”

          Erika sighs relieved. They shake hands as they approach one another.

ERIKA

“Hi, Bill, nice to meet you.”

GAYMON

“Yes. Nice to meet you, it's right this way.”

          He speaks in an overly pleasant tone. She points out the small black numbers on the building as she follows him towards the apartment.

ERIKA

“It was hard finding the building, the numbers are so small.”

GAYMON

“Yes. It can be tricky when all the buildings look the same.”

          They walk to the tall wooden fence of a small ground-level patio and he opens the gate. A slight rush of wind sweeps through the small patio area swirling leaves around the base of a very vintage looking green leather salon chair.

The entire structure of The Chair, from pedestal base to armrests, is made of ornate, yet slightly rusted, gold. Intricate flowers are designed into the adjustable dual footrest, and large height adjustment lever arm.

The Chair sits in the middle of the concrete patio strangely equal distance away from the apartment and fence. The single back porch light shines from the door illuminating The Chair like a spotlight, causing the green leather to slightly glow.

The lever arm points upward; angled like the guillotine arm of an old school paper cutter.

ERIKA

“Oh, it's outside…”

          Erika tries to hide her concern behind her smile. Bill speaks quickly as if eager to please.

GAYMON

“Oh well, it's fine out here. It didn't rain.”

          Through the glass patio doors, a slender man stands looking out at them. He smiles awkwardly and waves, then folds his arms and holds one of his fists to his mouth nervously.

Erika smiles back as Bill stands a few feet behind The Chair. Erika looks quickly past the man inside at their living room, which is full of moving boxes, then back to The Chair.

She begins to inspect The Chair; working the height adjustment lever, and looking at some odd cuts in the upholstery as Bill talks quickly, gesturing brightly.

GAYMON

“Tim and I just got all new furniture for the shop. It was overdue for an upgrade. We've been getting rid of all the old furniture and this is the last of it, so we're really glad to have it gone.”

ERIKA

“Oh, you have a salon?”

GAYMON

“Yeah, we're thinking about opening another one.”

ERIKA

“Cool. Yeah, I just thought it would be good to make some extra money so I'm going to start doing hair myself.”

GAYMON

“Oh, that's great.”

          Erika steps back and nods to herself.

ERIKA

“Ok. This'll be good.”

          She takes some money out of her pocket and hands it to him. Without looking at the money, he smiles and pockets it.

GAYMON

“Ok, let me help you to your car.”

          He begins to lift The Chair up on one side and it scrapes loudly against the pavement. Erika quickly takes the other side.

ERIKA

“Oh, wow, it's heavy.”

GAYMON

“Yeah, pretty indestructible…”

(quickly adding)

“that's how they made them in the old days.”

          Struggling under the weight, the two of them carry The Chair out of the back fence and down to the car slowly. At the car, they rest The Chair down slowly, and Erika opens the back car door.

Bill starts to lean The Chair into the car top first. Erika opens the passenger side door, lets down the passenger seat, and adjusts it forward all the way to the dashboard. Bill pushes The Chair, but the arms won't clear the door.

ERIKA

“It might not fit.”

          Bill's eyes widen. He becomes focused with determination and begins to talk quickly.

GAYMON

“Oh, try to push the driver's seat forward a bit, and I'll twist it.”

          Erika goes around the car to the driver's side, and adjusts the seat forward. Bill has The Chair halfway through the door.

GAYMON

“Now open the other door.”

          Erika opens the other back door.

GAYMON

“Yes, now pull it on your side... turn it left.”

          They turn The Chair carefully on its side and slowly the base fits just inside the door with just enough room to see through the back window. He pushes the door shut forcefully.

GAYMON

“Whew, there we go.”

          He's sweating profusely as he smiles widely. Erika shuts the door on her side looking relieved.

ERIKA

“Thanks.”

GAYMON

“No problem.”

          Erika walks over and shakes his hand.

ERIKA

“Ok. Bye.”

GAYMON

“Goodbye.”

          Erika takes out the keys, gets in the car, and starts the ignition. Suddenly TIM runs toward the car from the house.

TIM

“Wait!”

          Erika looks up, alarmed. Bill gives Tim a shocked, slightly angry look. Tim reaches the car with a brown paper shopping bag in his hand, panting.

TIM

“We almost forgot.”

          He gives Bill a knowing look and pulls out a small brown leather satchel from the bag. Bill exhales and smiles. Erika rolls down the window.

GAYMON

“Oh yes, this came with it. Uh, it's a very old chair, you know, vintage set. Should stick together.”

          Erika nods nervously as he hands her the kit and shakes her hand through the window.

ERIKA

“Thanks.”

GAYMON

“You're welcome. Hope you enjoy it.”

          Erika smiles, blinking in her attempt not to react to their odd behavior. She rolls up the window and drives away.

INSIDE ROBBIE'S CAR

From the rearview mirror, Erika watches as Tim rests his hand on Bill's shoulder and holds his arm close as she leaves.

Erika looks away from the mirror with an involuntary shudder, and flips on the radio. Lauryn Hill's 1998 song "Can't take my eyes off of you" is playing, hauntingly echoing the 1960's.

RADIO (V.O.)

“...You're just too good to be true/

Can't take my eyes off of you…”

<< OUTSIDE - CENTREVILLE HALL -- NIGHT >>

ERIKA LUGS THE CHAIR HOME in another painful 80’s montage of her life.

OUTSIDE THE BUILDING

-- At the curb, with the satchel slung across her body, Erika strains to pull The Chair out of the car.

-- On the sidewalk, She slowly drags The Chair up the walkway toward the dorm doors by rolling it on its base. She is sweating and stopping every few moments, breathing hard.

INSIDE THE BUILDING

-- In the lobby, she drags it as quietly as she can toward the elevator, and stops. A sign on the elevator reads OUT OF ORDER. A painful look of defeat comes over her face.

-- In the stairwell, gripping it by the arm handles from behind, she drags it up the stairs one stair at a time. It scrapes heavily against each step. Up the first flight...up the second flight...

-- Further up the stairs, she drags it up a flight, rests at the landing then looks up miserably at the next flight of stairs.

-- In the hallway, sweating, and struggling, she labors to drag it down the hall, with the satchel hitting her in the side with every step.

<< INSIDE - KELLY AND ERIKA'S DORM ROOM -- NIGHT >>

Erika pulls The Chair through the door trying not to scrape loudly. Her bedside lamp is the only light on. She closes the door gently, but her desk chair makes a scuffing noise as she pushes it aside and pulls the salon Chair near her dresser.

Kelly turns over in bed, but doesn't wake up. Erika exhales. She takes the satchel kit off, places it on the dresser, kicks off her shoes, and collapses on the bed. She breathes for a moment, then sits up.

<< LATER >>

Erika, in her nightgown and head wrap, turns off her bedside lamp. She yawns, looking exhausted, as she gets into bed and rolls over facing the wall.

Everything is quiet. After a moment, a small, slow, creaking noise comes from the corner near the dresser. The Chair, which was facing the dresser, turns slowly on its swivel to face Erika's bed, then stops.

Neither Erika nor Kelly wake up.