Post by pleasestandby on Oct 26, 2021 20:24:49 GMT -6
The outside of 8241 Primrose Lane comes into view with picture perfect weather setting as a backdrop. We linger on the outside of the home for an uncomfortable amount of time, interrupted briefly by that sound that a baseball card shoved in bicycle spokes. The teen paperboy speeds through the streets of….
He speeds through the streets and doesn’t bother stopping as he hucks a rubber band wrapped newspaper towards the front lawn. The sound of the ball card fades away as does the boy. A few more anxious seconds pass and the paper combusts. As the flame sways from side to side, we transition to the inside of the house where Robert is working frantically inside of the family’s kitchen.
APPLAUSE
He moves from stove to center island and back again, multitasking to the best of his abilities. In one hand, a pan tossing meat and veggies into the air. In the other, various ingredients gripped between limited finger space. Among his panic, he seems to miss the sound of the backdoor opening and closing as well as son Will stepping into the scene.
APPLAUSE
Robert: Feel fine! Thanks!
Will: It’s just that I’ve never seen you cook before. I mean, there was that one time, but I think you almost burnt the house down along with the….meatloaf? Was it meatloaf?
LAUGHTER
Will: Isn’t mom supposed to be at work for another oh, I don’t know...five hours? Why are you starting dinner this early?
Robert: You say five hours like it’s a lot.
Will: Fair enough.
The door swings open once more as Abby steps in, waving her hand in front of her face to try to brush aside the smoke that’s began to fill the room.
APPLAUSE
Will: What gave it away?
Robert: Shuuuuuut it.
LAUGHTER
Robert: Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve got this!
In his next turn, a pivot back towards the island, Robert plants an open palm against open flame and lets out a shriek of pure agony.
Will and Abby: DAD!
The two rush around the kitchen towards their father who is bent over cradling the injured hand. They move to each side of him for support and look to the door they came from.
Abby: That doesn’t look good! We need to get you to a hospital!
Robert: NO! I have to finish!
Will: Are you nuts?! You’ve got to get that checked out ASAP!
Robert: I’m fine! I’m fine!
The smell of burning flesh fills the room. Will and Abby look to each other in a panic which is followed up by a hard swallow from Will.
Abby: We’re going!
Robert: The food!
Will: We can grab takeout!
Robert: You really don’t think she’ll notice?
Will: ...not at all.
The trio rush back out the rear and we hear a series of car doors open and close. The camera remains focused on the inside of the home where the smoke inside the home has grown thick, almost pitch black. Eventually, the camera zooms out to show the windows turning from crystal clear to bright yellow.
Monitors beep and bright lights shine down inside a dated-looking hospital where Robert is sprawled out on a bed awaiting the next step of his visit.
Robert: I shouldn’t be here, guys. I’m perfectly fine!
Abby: You sure about that?
Robert’s hand has gone from red and peeling to black and rotten. The wrinkles and valleys along its surface are as deep and jagged as the most weathered terrain.
LAUGHTER
A knock comes over the door, but the visitor on the other side doesn’t wait for a response and the door gives way to an attractive male doctor approximately in his early forties.
Doctor: So, how we feeling?
Just as soon as he can utter his first question, the lights in the room grow dim and begin to flicker. At first, they do so slowly and gently, but eventually give out altogether as the area loses any last trace of illumination. When they do eventually come back on, both The Walkers and the doctor are nowhere to be found. Instead, they’re replaced with mannequin look-alikes standing in the same positions their human counterparts did previously.
LAUGHTER
?: Sometimes, you gotta know when to tag out, don’t you? Recognizing the right time to get out of there is vital. Man, I’m telling ya, the things that people are willing to do for love will never cease to amaze and inspire me. Don’t let me keep you though, just adding in my two cents. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain..
The scene fades into 8241, in the kitchen of The Walkers’ home. Robert scurries around the kitchen moving plates and bowls full of “homemade” food over to the table. Once more, the back door flies open and Robert slides into place alongside the spread with perfect timing.
Robert: Surprise!
Alice: You remembered!
Robert: Of course! How could I forget?
Alice: You didn’t have to go to all this trouble?
Robert: I didn’t? Wish I would’ve known that ahead of time..
LAUGHTER
Robert: What do you mean?
Alice: Your hand.
Robert freezes and the scene shakes vigorously before flashing back to...the ship. The head of the household finds himself lit ablaze in one instance and as the scene continues to shift, he’s left alone in his wounded state. In a still form just like the present, his nose begins to drip thick red. Also in the present, his nose does the same. He reaches a tightly bandaged hand to his nostrils and wipes it away.
Robert: Hope you like meatloaf.
LAUGHTER
APPLAUSE
CREDITS ROLLING