Episode 11

INSIDE - The Ship

They all are cramped as heck in the box—imagine that one art trend of being trapped in a box lol. Earl gets PTSD from being in the box. (He also has claustrophobia). His eyes are starting to get hazy and he starts to pant, he starts to curl up, bringing his knees to his face and shuts his eyes tightly. Then a sudden transition to a younger Earl on his phone.

MARGOT : “Earl, I’m heading to work now, love you!”

EARL : “Uh-huh..”

Margot looks at Earl with an eyebrow raised, she pats his head.

MARGOT : (Playful and joking) “Hey now young man, I didn’t buy you a phone for you not to say I love you back!”

Earl smiles and lowers his phone.

EARL : “Bye mom, love you too.”

She smiles, going over and kissing his head.

MARGOT : “See you soon!”

EARL : “Wait—are you sure you want to wear that?”

Margot tilts her head and looks over to him.

MARGOT : “What do you mean?”

EARL : “Well, on that material, it looks like spill stains will blend out more.”

Margot starts laughing

MARGOT : “Oh don't be silly, I’m not that clumsy.”

Earl gives her a look but then shrugs, smiling.

EARL : “If you say so..”

MARGOT : “(Laughs) Bye!”

She closes the door and walks through her white-picket fence door. Then transition into her entering the train and standing, holding the handle thingy. When the train stops she walks off and transitions to her walking into the employee break room. She walks over to the coffee machine and waits for her coffee to pour, looking out the window and at the empty work office (she got to work early). She sees the janitor enter the building and nods at her, greeting her and walking into the hallway, Margot waves back with a smile and she hears a tiny beep. She reaches for a paper cup and she starts to pour the round coffee pot into the cup in her hand. She hears a broom dropped in the distance and she jumps a little, accidentally pouring some coffee onto her outfit.

MARGOT :  (Sighs) “..Darn it. After I just told Earl too..”

She puts her cup and coffee down on the counter and she goes to reach for a paper towel, but the roll wasn't refilled, she opens the cabinets, but no napkins or anything. 

MARGOT : (disappointed) “Awh, what?”

She looks back over to the hallway she saw the janitor head over to. She walks over and she sees him walking over to the mens bathroom. 

MARGOT : “Uhm, sir?” (she calls out)

He doesn't hear her and he goes into the room, using the bathroom. She heads over and stands in front of the bathroom, she doesn't want to head inside. She shrugs and decides to wait, but when she turns around she sees the janitors rolling cart holding open a closet. She peers over to the door and spots paper towels, she looks back over to the bathroom, and right back at the paper towels. 

MARGOT : “He wouldn’t mind..right?”

She heads into the closet, accidentally bumping the cart a little, letting it roll away slightly so it doesn't hold open the door. She walks in and she hears the door close behind her with a click. 

MARGOT : “Huh? Did that lock?”

She walks up to the door and tries to open it.

MARGOT : “Weird..I don’t remember there being a lock..Well!”

She reaches for the paper towels, which are on the top shelf, so she tries to reach for it, but she accidentally knocks over bleach. She flinches and immediately steps away, putting her hand on the shelf right next to her for support to stand the farthest she can from the spilled bleach,

MARGOT : “Well that’s not good—”

She accidentally knocks over a window cleaner bottle onto the floor and they make a chemical reaction, emitting toxic fumes. 

MARGOT : (Panicked and uncontrollable coughing) “Oh gosh—cough—out..I gotta get..cough cough”

She starts to cough and she covers her mouth and nose. She hurries to the door and tries her keycard. Transition to outside the door, you can hear the access denied being replayed over and over. Transition back to Earl on the couch, playing a game on his phone. He suddenly gets a call and he picks up.

EARL : “Hello? .. Yeah, that’s me. .. ..What?”

Cut to black. Back to reality.

FENNECO : “Earl.” He doesn't respond. (a little louder) “Earl.”

She softly puts her hand on his shoulder. 

FENNECO : “Earl, are you okay?” 

She tilts her head in concern. Earl shakes his head softly.

EARL : (almost hyperventilating) “No..no. I’m not—I’m not okay. I don't—I don’t want to be in here.”

Fenneco is taken a little aback by how he’s acting.

FENNECO : “But..you said you were fine earlier..is it because of the crate?”

She receives no response. She doesn’t know what to do.

FENNECO : “I..I don’t know how to help you.”

EARL : (vulnerable) “No one does.”

Fenneco feels bad, and she hesitates, but she softly pats his head. 

FENNECO : “..Blub blub.”

He freezes at the sound of that, and he starts laughing.

EARL : (Laughing, caught off guard) “Seriously? Again? You just sound silly.”

FENNECO : (She relaxes, and leans back.) “But you laughed.”

EARL : (Smiles and furrows his brow) “Only because of how ridiculous you are.”

FENNECO : (a little confused) “..You treat it like a good thing.”

EARL : (a statement) “..I guess it is.”

Slowly, he raises his head from his arms, he leans his chin on his arm and they stare at each other.