Time for a screenplay

Together with my two friends I created the life performance. I like performing and explore myself by art so I saw in it a great experience.  I wrote the screenplay based on Edgar Allan Poe short story "The Tell-Tale Heart". It is a history about a first - person narrator who suffers a disease (nervousness). He lives together with an old man. After sometime the narrator murder the man. He dismembers the body and puts the pieces under the floorboards. However pangs of conscience cause that he breaks down and confesses.

My story is similar, but there is different ending than in the original Edgar Allan Poe from 1843.

Beat of heart

Characters:

Elena
Helena
Rebecca

I Scene

It is light. Elena is in the room. She is reading some magazine. To house back her roommate, Helena. The girl is very nervous for Elena. She is screaming at the beginning she came to the room. Elena with ask Helen what’s going on.

HELENA –You are capricious and spoiled like rotten. I hate you.

ELENA – OMG, HELENA!!! What are you talking about?

HELENA – You know exactly what I mean.

ELENA – Oh, you mean money?

HELENA – What the hell you have done with our money which was intended for a rent. I have just met the owner of our house and he told me that we have to settle our bill until next Monday. But I gave you that cash yesterday, so where are they? I don’t have more money. You are immature.

ELENA – No I am not. I needed that money to be beautiful. See that clothes, they are mine.

HELENA – Be careful, Elena I am losing my patience!!!

A loud music. Elena comes up to the books shelves. Helena is walking with nervous movements. She is looking at Elena with hatred. At the same time is searching in the room the crime tool. Music dies away. Helena grab knife and come closer to Elena. She falls on the floor, the music become louder.

II Scene

Helena touches Elena’s bloody body and started to recite poem.

I killed her.
Pretty dramatic sentence but not for me.
Her eyes now are so red.
Beautiful bloody red.

She wasn’t my close friend.
So I killed her with no fears and pain.
That exciting feeling of having the power was worth it.

So now what I feel?
Freedom.

Next Helena is drawing some painting on the easel.  Her movements are very passionate. Suddenly appears knocking on the door. That is Rebecca (a friend). Helena hides the body in the wardrobe. Wash her hands. Rebecca comes to the room and in astonishment look around the room.

REBECCA – What the mess you have here? Why are you still at home? We were arranging to meet! Come on! Let’s go for some shopping.

They leave the room together. Loud and funny music.

III Scene

In the evening Helena comes back to her house. She goes to bed with indifference like she forgot about the previous accident. The room is dark, however suddenly Elena is walking to the Helena as a ghost. Helena sleep and Elena want to strangle her. The girl wake up and stand immediately. She is screaming and running out from the ghost.

ELENA – So you are scared now?

HELENA – But... What are you doing here? You should be dead.

ELENA – Yes, but I am a ghost now.

HELENA – Disappear!!!! Get out!!! I don’t want to see you.

ELENA - Why? You wanted to see me while I was dying. Was it fun for you?

HELENA – NO, no, no.

Elena disappears and leaves Helena in despair. She goes to bed, but shaken.

IV Scene

It is a begging of the next day. Sun is shining. Rebecca ring to the doors. Helena wake up and slowly come to the doors. Rebecca enter the room us the policewoman.

REBECCA – Hi, I am going to work, but I would ask you a favour. Could you.... Ooo what happened to you? You look awful.

HELENA – Hi Rebecca. No, nothing happened I am only tired. OK, come on and have a sit.

Soft beats of the heart.

REBECCA – So, do you buy me gingerbread and some cakes for my cousin because they are going to visit me tomorrow morning and I have no time to go to grocery.

HELENA – Okay, fine, no problem.

The heart beats louder. Helena is nervous, but in the same time Rebecca indifferent for noises.

HELENA – Do you hear that?

REBECCA – No, what’s going on?

Heart beat

HELENA – I can’t stand it anymore! I killed her!

REBECCA – What are you talking about? Who?

Helena shows the body in wardrobe.

REBECCA – Poor Elena, what have you done to her?!

Helena takes knife and kills herself.

REBECCA – O my God! Help! I need help!

Rebecca runs out calling the help.

The end