Feb 3, 2023
Thanks for your patience! Winter is tough.
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This episode includes graphic violence, archiac psychiatric attitudes and terminology, gaslighting, and misogyny. It was written intentionally to emulate the style of Italian "GIALLO" thriller films of the 1970s and 80s.
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Hot chicks in peril, black leather-gloved killer, faces through plate glass, badly-dubbed voices, and lots and lots of the red stuff!
Written and produced by Julie Hoverson
Cast List
Dr. Silver - Anthony D.P. Mann
Jessica - Julie Hoverson
Adrienne - Robyn Keyes
Dana - Kate Waterous
Chris - Tanja Milojevic
Inspector Gules - Glen Hallstrom
Manager - Dru Williams
Voice on Phone - Lord Blood-Rah
Cop1 - Desmond Reddick (Dread
Media)
Cop2 - Miguel Guerreiro (FearShop.com)
Coroner - Jack Kincaid (Edict Zero)
Detective - Caretaker (Graveyard Show)
Music: Professor
Kliq
Editing and Sound: Julie Hoverson
Cover: Brett Coulstock
"What kind of a place is it? Why it's a psychiatrist's office, can't you tell?"
________________________________________
WHEN YELLOW CASTS A CRIMSON SHADOW
Cast:
[Opening credits - Olivia]
Jessica
Dr. Silver
Dana
Adrienne
Chris
Detective Gules
Manager
Voice
Cop1
Cop2
Detective
Coroner
OLIVIA Did you have any trouble finding it? What do you mean, what kind of a place is it? Why, it's a psychiatrist's office, can't you tell?
MUSIC
SOUND LOW MUSIC PLAYS
SOUND DOOR OPENS
JESSICA Dr. Silver?
JESSICA Mm. He told me to come to you if I.... needed anything.
JESSICA Oh. Yeah. Thanks.
SOUND DOOR SHUTS QUIETLY, SHE CROSSES ROOM AND SITS
JESSICA Since I moved to Florence, I've - I've been doing really well. Sleeping. Even without the drugs.
JESSICA My doctor back home said I could cut back some - once I started feeling better.
JESSICA Dr. Gelb. Joan Gelb?
JESSICA Go... on?
JESSICA Oh! Yes. [very down] The dreams.
JESSICA Well, I came here to attend university. And be closer to my father.
JESSICA No. He's on diplomatic attachment in the Netherlands - [amused] but I don't understand any Dutch.
JESSICA So I found a room with three other girls from the college. They're all models. To pay for their classes. Well, except Dana - she just models for fun... Sorry. That's probably not important.
JESSICA Can I have a piece of paper?
JESSICA No, no! It helps me concentrate. Please?
SOUND PAPER RIPPED FROM NOTEBOOK, PASSED OVER
JESSICA Thank you.
SOUND PAPER FOLDED, TORN - UNDER THROUGHOUT
JESSICA So, Dana, Chris, and Adrienne - are all gorgeous. I'm the mouse. [heavy sigh] Don't get me wrong - they're all very nice.
JESSICA They've all got legs all the way up to their shoulders!
JESSICA [startled, laughs, relaxes a bit] I like that. But, they're nice - really nice.
JESSICA Yes... [trails off, sighs, then absently] The dream.
JESSICA You're going to think I'm horrible!
JESSICA [gulps, long breath] In the dream, I come home. Our apartment is on the top floor, so I walk up and up the endless stairs. It's the type that goes round and round an open space. [her voice slowly picks up an echo, as if in a stairwell] You know, where you can look all the way down to the ground floor - as long as you don't have to worry about vertigo?
SOUND [under] FOOTSTEPS ECHOING UP THE STAIRWELL
JESSICA And the door was ... open.
JESSICA [under] Hello?
JESSICA I pushed it the rest of the way, and went in. And everything was red. Red on the walls. I couldn't understand. All I could think was - did we repaint?
JESSICA And then I looked up and saw the light fixture. It was red too. Red and dripping. [slowly] Slowly dripping.
JESSICA [hollow, numb] No. [coming back] Can I have another piece of paper? I'll trade you.
JESSICA It was... part of my therapy.
SOUND PAPER RIPS, PASSED OVER, MORE FOLDING BEGINS
JESSICA Thanks. [deep breath] I went into the next room. [half a chuckle] Out of the foyer into the frying pan. [lame laugh] You must think I'm awful, to be able to joke at a time like this!
JESSICA Adrienne was in the sitting room. [trying not to choke up] Dead. She was - all cut up, and the mirror next to the kitchen door was smashed and bloody. I could see my reflection in the shards ....sticking ...out of her ...eyes.
JESSICA [tinny] [screams]
JESSICA [trying to be chipper] Yes. Just that. Just... seeing her dead.
JESSICA Yes?
JESSICA I'm not jealous!
JESSICA [brightening] Really? But it was so bloody.
MUSIC
SOUND HER FOOTSTEPS ECHO UP ENDLESS STAIRWAY
SOUND HEAVY FOOTSTEPS BELOW
SOUND HER FOOTSTEPS STOP
SOUND A COUPLE OF HEAVY FOOTSTEPS, APPROACHING
SOUND HER FOOTSTEPS, RUNNING UP THE STAIRS
SOUND SHE PAUSES AGAIN
JESSICA [heavy breathing, trying to be quiet and listen]
SOUND NO FOOTSTEPS
SOUND THUMPING SOUNDS APPROACH - SETS OF FOUR
SOUND TURNS OUT TO BE A BALL COMING DOWN THE STAIRS
SOUND SHE CATCHES THE BALL
JESSICA [sigh, chuckle]
CHILD [strangely bland] My ball!
JESSICA [gasp, almost a scream] Oh! [more normal] I've got it.
SOUND HER STEPS BEGIN AGAIN
MUSIC
SOUND DOOR OPENS
DANA [lecturing] I only eat chocolate off a man.
JESSICA [gasp]
CHRIS Ha! What a line to come in on! Dana was just explaining her perfect diet plan.
ADRIENNE It makes perfect sense - work up a sweat, then have all the chocolate you want!
JESSICA You girls.
DANA Don't tell me you wouldn't, if you had a chance?
JESSICA Well...
CHRIS Maybe she doesn’t like chocolate!
ADRIENNE Maybe she doesn't like men.
JESSICA I like chocolate! My father sent me some cocoa - the good Dutch kind.
DANA I'm surprised you like men any more, Adrienne, after all that bastard Alberto put you through.
ADRIENNE Don't get me started. [beat] You should really be allowed to shoot men when you're through with them.
CHRIS I'd have a trail of bodies stretching to the sunset.
JESSICA Are there any more of those apples?
DANA Catch!
SOUND CATCHING AN APPLE
CHRIS What would we do when we run out of men?
ADRIENNE [bitter, haunted] Not all men, just the ones who want to track you down and torment you.
DANA He didn’t!
CHRIS Again?
JESSICA [bites into apple, then chewing] What?
DANA You should tell her.
ADRIENNE It makes me sound like such a victim.
DANA Why do you think she never does bikini shots?
CHRIS She's moved three times in the past year - but he always finds her.
DANA She's got the scars to prove it.
MUSIC
SOUND SOFT MUSIC PLAYS
SOUND DOOR SLAMS OPEN, HURRIED FEET ENTER
JESSICA It happened again!
JESSICA I'm - I'm so sorry to burst in here like this--
JESSICA But I - I can't concentrate on anything today--
SOUND PAPER RIPPING FROM NOTEBOOK
SOUND SHE SNATCHES THE PAPER, FLAPS IT
JESSICA Thank you. Are you sure it's ok?
JESSICA [chuckles] No, I mean-- [sighs] Thank you.
SOUND SHE SITS, BEGINS FOLDING
JESSICA I feel like such a fool.
JESSICA No! That's the weird part - it was the same dream!
JESSICA Well, it started the same. Going up the stairs, and the blood on the light, and ... [almost a whisper] Adrienne.
JESSICA It was all the same - except the ending.
JESSICA It didn't. I mean - it went on, from where I woke up before.
JESSICA I was staring at myself in the mirror shards - but then I realized it wasn't me. Not Jessica. Not this time - that was different.
JESSICA I think it was.... the killer!
[NOTE - now the voices in the consulting room are tinny, as the scene plays out underneath]
SOUND [repeat of Jessica's scream from the first dream, which trails off into a weird noise of breathing]
SOUND FOOTSTEPS WALK SLOWLY THROUGH SQUISHY BLOODY PUDDLE
JESSICA I can smell the blood. It's everywhere.
JESSICA Yes.
SOUND DOOR PUSHED SLOWLY OPEN, FOOTSTEPS MOVE INTO DRY SPACE
SOUND SQUEAK AS KNIFE IS CLEANED OFF - LEATHER AGAINST METAL
SOUND FOUR TAPS OF KNIFE AGAINST WOOD
JESSICA It was Dana's room. And she was sleeping.
JESSICA [slightly confused] I don't know. Dana sleeps late.
JESSICA I - I'm not sure. I'm not... thinking in the dream, just seeing and feeling... and smelling. I can't see a face - even in the mirrors - I just knew it was the killer looking back at me, but I couldn't tell you what he...I...looked like.
JESSICA Boots. Black. Leather gloves. I move toward Dana's bed...
SOUND CREAK OF THE LEATHER GLOVES
JESSICA [offhand] Oh, Adrienne wasn't stabbed - at least... that wasn't how she died. She was strangled.
SOUND CREAK OF LEATHER
DANA [gasps, awakens, tries to breathe]
SOUND CLAWING AT LEATHER, SHAKING OF BED, POUNDING
JESSICA Oh, no. That would be too quick. I let up just in time - she's out.
JESSICA Yes. I tie her to the bed frame. Up and down.
JESSICA A scarlet negligee. She got it after one of her modeling shoots - the picture is on the wall over the bed. Huge. Her. Posed in red. Enticing.
SOUND [tinny] CRUMPLE OF PAPER
JESSICA [coming out of it] I-I- can I have another piece of paper?
SOUND PAPER TORN RATHER CLUMSILY OUT OF NOTEBOOK - RIPS IN HALF
SOUND TEARS ANOTHER PIECE, SHE SNATCHES IT AWAY FROM HIM, BEGINS FOLDING
JESSICA A box. I feel like I'm in a box.
JESSICA Maybe next time.
JESSICA A little. After Dana woke up.
JESSICA [evasive] I just... killed her.
MUSIC ESCALATES
SOUND STABBING - SETS OF FOUR
DANA [Screaming, begging, gurgling]
SOUND SPLATTER
DANA [gurgling]
SOUND A COUPLE MORE KNIFE STABS
DANA [death rattle]
SOUND DRIPPING
SOUND WIPING KNIFE WITH GLOVES AGAIN
MUSIC
SOUND FOOTSTEPS IN STAIRWELL, STOP FOR A SECOND
SOUND FAR AWAY, DOOR OPENS
JESSICA [sigh]
SOUND TWO STEPS
SOUND DOOR NEARBY SLAMS OPEN
SOUND FEROCIOUS DOG!!!!!
JESSICA [screams, then smothers it]
SOUND SCRABBLING OF DOG NAILS ON TILE FLOOR
JESSICA Mrs. Amarelo! Mrs. Amarelo! Please!
MUSIC
SOUND TEAPOT WHISTLING, TAKEN OFF, WATER POURS
JESSICA [talking loudly to someone in another room] She really needs to keep that dog on a shorter leash. She's lucky I didn't jump back and fall down the stairs.
SOUND DOOR OPENS, SLIPPERED FEET IN
DANA [half awake] Mm. Coffee?
JESSICA [silly!] Cocoa. [gasp] Oh!
DANA You don't like it? It's imported French lace.
JESSICA I'm just not used to--
DANA And red is such a good color on me.
ADRIENNE [calling from the other room] --she's just shy.
SOUND FOOTSTEPS COME IN
ADRIENNE [close] Haven't you ever wondered, Jessica?
JESSICA [disturbed] Wondered... what?
SOUND A COUPLE OF STEPS
DANA Mmm?
ADRIENNE What it would be like with a woman?
JESSICA [disturbed] Um - no. Uh, I don't even know anyone who does--
ADRIENNE Anyone who you KNOW does, anyway.
JESSICA Um... I guess.
SOUND DOOR SLAMS OPEN
CHRIS [freaking out, out of breath] Oh, god!
SOUND DOOR SLAMS SHUT, BODY THUMPS AGAINST IT
ADRIENNE What's wrong? Sit down!
SOUND DOOR LOCKS
JESSICA Cocoa?
CHRIS Thanks! [sips, then shudders in a breath]
ADRIENNE What happened?
CHRIS [gasping it out] On the street. A gun! It was so loud!
DANA Someone was shot? I'm phoning the police.
ADRIENNE Give her a minute! She's nearly hysterical!
CHRIS No! No! Call them! The sooner I tell, the sooner he'll be caught!
JESSICA Did you see the guy?
CHRIS Uh-huh! [yes]
MUSIC
SOUND LOW MUSIC PLAYS
SOUND PAPER FOLDING
JESSICA I have this awful feeling--
JESSICA That this is all... some kind of premonition.
JESSICA It would make so much sense.
JESSICA Like what?
JESSICA [concentrating] Mmm, no. None of us really reads the papers. Magazines, yes, but they don't come out that often. [beat] And they all kind of look the same.
JESSICA What? [half a chuckle] No!
JESSICA [laughs a bit]
JESSICA [quiet, sad] Yes.
JESSICA Longer.
JESSICA Yes.
JESSICA Chris. [numb] Chris was in the hall. She must have heard the commotion with Dana. I... feel like the killer was - ummmm - surprised. Like he didn't expect her to be there.
JESSICA I don't know. Just that he - I - had to chase her down.
JESSICA I came out of Dana's bedroom--
[office voices go tinny]
SOUND SQUISHING FOOTSTEPS, WIPE FEET AND STEP ONTO TILE
SOUND DOOR OPENS
CHRIS Dana? What? Oh, god! [screams]
JESSICA I hesitate, stunned. Just long enough for her to run back into her room.
SOUND DOOR SLAMS
SOUND HEAVY FEET RUN, SLAM INTO DOOR
CHRIS [muffled] No! No!
SOUND SLAM INTO DOOR, WOOD CREAKS AND CRACKS
JESSICA There's such a - a rush as the door gives way.
JESSICA She's pressed again the window, outlined in light from the pink and red neon across the street.
JESSICA Silk. A blue slip--
JESSICA Yes. Why?
JESSICA I saw it in the hall.
JESSICA Chris? She has long straight blonde hair.
JESSICA Yes.
SOUND WINDOW SLAMS OPEN
JESSICA I raise the knife and she screams again, trying to climb out the window.
JESSICA We're six stories up. That's why there's all those stairs.
JESSICA Better. I set the knife aside again--
SOUND LEATHER ON METAL
JESSICA --and take her by the throat. The black leather of the gloves looks strange in the neon pink glow - especially against her pale white throat.
JESSICA Like a fiend. She strikes and kicks, but it is all in vain. [coming out of it] The killer must be a man.
JESSICA That's what I meant.
SOUND RIPS PAPER OUT OF NOTEBOOK
JESSICA Thanks.
SOUND TAKES IT, STARTS FOLDING
JESSICA A knife.
JESSICA A shrew.
JESSICA Cranes are peaceful. I haven't been feeling very... peaceful.
JESSICA Don't you have another appointment?
JESSICA Oh. All right.
JESSICA Where was I?
SOUND STRANGLING NOISES UP AGAIN
SOUND HAND POUNDING AGAINST GLASS
[voices go tinny again]
JESSICA Right. Then she passed out.
SOUND STRUGGLE STOPS, SQUEAK OF HAND SLIDING DOWN PANE
SOUND ROPE PASSING THROUGH HANDS
JESSICA I took the cord from the blinds and wrapped it around her neck.
JESSICA It wasn't tied that tight.
JESSICA Then I cut her a little. Not deep. Just enough to see red - just enough for the blood to flow. Shoulders. Thighs. Chest. It took a long time for her to wake up again.
JESSICA It's not blue any more. Now it's wet and dark in strange rivulet patterns. So is the floor.
JESSICA Her eyes open - and once again I see my own reflection twice in one face. And this time I can almost make out who I am. If it weren't for that darn pink neon, I might be able to.
JESSICA [dismissively] Maybe. She tries to scream. But I already gagged her. [little sigh] She was asleep a long time.
JESSICA I pull her up by her hair - her long blonde lovely hair. The word "tresses" pops into my mind.
JESSICA She squirms and tries to escape. Her eyes plead with me. But I don't waver. I show her the knife and she closes her eyes. I run the hilt of the knife over her forehead and she squeals - when really all I want to do is press her eyelids open.
JESSICA I just want her to see. She was always a big one for seeing things.
JESSICA The window.
JESSICA Not yet.
JESSICA As soon as her eyelids flutter open, I turn her toward the window and slam her face into it, shattering the glass. Something breaks in her, too, and I hear her muffled agony.
JESSICA I don't know, since as soon as the glass is gone, I push her out.
JESSICA She dances so prettily.
JESSICA No, the music from the club with the neon is very loud, and no one ever looks up.
JESSICA I don’t know. I woke up.
JESSICA What do you think?
JESSICA Of course, if you think it's important.
SOUND SCRIBBLING ON A CARD
JESSICA You're sure you don't mind if I call you?
MUSIC
AMB STREET, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE AROUND
SOUND JESSICA'S STEPS, HURRYING
SOUND A STRANGE TAPPING NOISE - SETS OF FOUR - GETTING CLOSER
SOUNDS SHE SPEEDS UP
SOUND THE TAPPING GETS CLOSER
SOUND SHE SPEEDS UP MORE
JESSICA [gasping]
SOUND GRAB AND FLING OPEN DOOR
SOUND FEET RUN INTO BUILDING
SOUND DOOR SLAMS SHUT
JESSICA [breathing heavily]
SOUND TAPS GO PAST OUTSIDE
JESSICA [sighs, almost laughs]
MANAGER [off slightly] Scotomaphobia?
JESSICA [gasps]
SOUND THUMP AS SHE RECOILS
JESSICA What? Mr. Cramoisie? You - you startled me!
SOUND CIGARETTE CRUSHED OUT
MANAGER The fear of going blind.
JESSICA Huh? Me?
MANAGER I saw you run from the white stick. [chuckles] And I don't know a word for fear of a blind man.
MUSIC
SOUND DOOR OPENS TENTATIVELY
JESSICA [clearly worried] Hello?
ADRIENNE Jess? Is there something wrong?
JESSICA [sigh of relief] No. Nothing. Glad to be home.
SOUNDS STEPS COME IN, DOOR SHUTS
SOUND REMOVING COAT, ETC.
DANA I was just putting on some tea - want some?
JESSICA No, thanks. Save me some water, though?
ADRIENNE You and your cocoa. Come in here - we’ve got company.
SOUND A FEW SLOW STEPS
JESSICA Oh? Hello.
GULES Ah. This must be your other roommate. Very pleased. Four such lovely ladies, [slightly ominous] all alone.
CHRIS This is Detective Gules. That is Jessica. Sit down Jessie.
JESSICA Detective?
SOUND CHAIR CREAKS AS SHE SITS
CHRIS He's investigating - um - [whispered] what I saw yesterday.
GULES We suspect the murder she witnessed was gangster-related, and are concerned for her safety. Your safety, too. This isn't a very secure building. You don't even have grilles on the windows.
DANA Pssht! We're six floors up! Who needs grilles! Here, Jess. Water--
SOUND MUG SET DOWN
DANA And your precious cocoa.
SOUND TIN
SOUND SPOON DROPPED INTO MUG
DANA [to the room, teasing] I wouldn't dare measure it for you.
JESSICA [laughs] That's perfect, Dana, thanks.
SOUND MIXES UP THE COCOA
GULES I'm trying to convince Chris to let me take her into protection. [getting darker] We want to make sure she stays where we can put our hands on her.
MUSIC
SOUND PHONE PICKED UP
JESSICA Hello?
VOICE [harsh whisper] Four girls. Could be three. Or one.
JESSICA Who is this? You're scaring me.
VOICE Will it be you?
JESSICA I'm hanging up now!
SOUND PHONE SLAMMED DOWN
DANA [worried] Jess? Who was that?
JESSICA A heavy breather. You know the type.
DANA I didn’t even hear the phone ring.
JESSICA Oh? Umm... I must have picked it up just as it was starting. Who did you think it was?
DANA Oh, Michel. My brother. He's been asking for money again.
JESSICA What's wrong this time?
DANA Same old shit. Someone's going to break his legs. Someone's going to kill his dog. [disgusted noise] He ran through his half of the inheritance years ago.
JESSICA And you don't feel sorry for him?
DANA I felt one hundred thousand dollars sorry for him, and that was in the first month after he flushed all his cash down one toilet and another. Since then. [shrug] Not so damn sorry.
MUSIC
SOUND SNORING [Dr. Silver]
SOUND PHONE RINGS
SOUND PHONE PICKED UP
JESSICA [on phone, hysterical] Doctor? Please? Something terrible has happened!
JESSICA [on phone] You have to come, Doctor! I need help! [backs off and screams]
SOUND [on phone] PHONE DROPS, THUMPS A FEW TIMES.
SOUND BED CLOTHES FLUNG OFF
MUSIC
SOUND DOC'S FEET COMING UP THE STAIRS, QUICKLY
JESSICA [moan]
JESSICA D-doctor?
JESSICA A nosebleed. I - I get them sometimes.
JESSICA Uh-huh.
JESSICA I didn’t want to wake anyone.
JESSICA [small laugh] That would be nice.
SOUND DOOR OPENS
JESSICA You're invited.
SOUND A COUPLE OF STEPS, A SLIGHT SQUISH
MUSIC
JESSICA [sips, then] The dream was sooo bad this time.
JESSICA Then I found these--
SOUND SLAP OF LEATHER GLOVES
JESSICA And suddenly everything started to be so real. But it can't be, can it?
JESSICA I hoped I would wake up, and the gloves would be gone, but here they are.
SOUND GLOVES CREAK
JESSICA It's really good isn't it? Is it too hot for you?
JESSICA My father sent it. From the Netherlands. He's always somewhere else. I mean somewhere else from where I am, anyway. Did I tell you how my mother died?
JESSICA She committed suicide when I was 5. I found her. Dr. Gelb says that's why I can't sleep. She says I can never forget my mother's dead eyes.
JESSICA They looked at me, but they weren't really her any more, you know?
JESSICA [briskly] But this is all beside the point. I'm so glad the girls are heavy sleepers. So we can talk.
JESSICA [very important] I finally saw myself in the dream.
JESSICA I mean, I, in the killer's eyes, saw me - Jessica. Do you know how frightening that could be? The idea that I could not only watch myself be butchered, but that I would somehow be behind the eyes of the one doing it?
JESSICA [sips]
SOUND SETS DOWN CUP, PICKS UP PIECE OF PAPER, STARTS FOLDING
JESSICA Somehow, when I have a piece of paper in my hands, the dream fades into something that might have been on the television.
JESSICA [beat, then] Once Chris was dead, the killer must have pulled her back in. She was on the bed, starred with glass in the dark. Pink stars, catching the neon.
JESSICA I watch his black gloved hand push open my own bedroom door. I'm lying on the bed, tossing in my sleep.
JESSICA The knife in my - his - hand leads me to the bed. To the woman. To me.
JESSICA [agreeing] I know.
SOUND [off slightly] DOOR SLAMS OPEN
JESSICA What?
COP1 [off] Oh my god!
COP2 [off] [trying not to hurl]
SOUND HER SQUISHY, STICKY BARE FOOTSTEPS
JESSICA [way too calm, calling] Chris? Did you call for the police? [to the police] You should have knocked.
COP1 What the hell? What... the ... hell!
COP2 Is all that...blood?
JESSICA What? Oh, the nosebleed. Sorry, I should have changed into something fresh. Would you like some cocoa?
COP1 [calling back over his shoulder] Watch where you step!
MUSIC
SOUND GURNEY AFTER GURNEY BEING WHEELED OUT BEHIND THEM
SOUND DOG BARKING DOWN THE HALL, KEEPS GOING
COP1 It's bad, sir.
COP2 You might want some shoe covers.
DETECTIVE Who could have done such an awful thing?
COP2 Someone crazy. Truly out of his mind.
DETECTIVE Or her mind.
COP1 Do you have any reason to suspect a woman?
DETECTIVE [shrug] I suspect everyone. How many bodies?
CORONER Four bodies. And one clinging to life.
DETECTIVE And the smell?
CORONER Rotting flesh. [long sniff] Been lying here several days, if I don't miss my guess.
MUSIC
end