A Slap in the Dark

by Fleedleflump

The author has placed a warning on this post for language.

INT. (PROBABLY)
Darkness is all we see - perhaps a hint of movement - shadows in the dark.

FEMALE VOICE
You shouldn’t have done that.

A match flares to life, blinding us briefly, then illuminating a man’s face - mid-thirties, bruised eyes (closed), nose twisted at an unnatural angle. Fresh blood trickles from an unseen wound above the hairline.

FEMALE VOICE
Did you think I’d be an easy target? Did your little-dick friends egg you on?

The match lights the wick of a candle and is shaken out. In flickering, orange light, only the bloodied side of the man’s face is visible.

FEMALE VOICE
I know what you did. So eager to buy me a drink. So eager to sidle up to me like an odious toad. You!

A hand springs forward, slapping him. The man moans and his eyelids flicker. The one covered in blood refuses to open, but the other slowly spreads, half-visible in shadow, then opens wide.

MAN
Wha… what?

He looks around, shakes as though struggling.

MAN
Fuck? What the fuck?

FEMALE VOICE
No. Not today. Not for you. Not how you want it, anyway.

MAN
Where am I?

FEMALE VOICE
A hell of your own making, Darren.

MAN
(struggling some more)
Fuck you talking ‘bout? My name’s Henry.

FEMALE VOICE
Liar! I saw you, Darren. I know you spiked my drink. I know what you were going to do, but I’m not stupid, Darren. I’m smart. I’m smarter than you. I got you first, you pig!

His nostril flare as he struggles some more. He’s looking at the source of the voice, and something is frightening him.

MAN
Look, miss you got the wrong man. I’m just some bloke. I was just havin’ some drinks with me mates. I saw some fit birds at the bar, and bought ‘em some drinks. I didn’t mean nothing by it. I ain’t never spiked nobody’s drink, alright?

FEMALE VOICE
You think I’m stupid? I am not a victim, Darren. You can’t gaslight me. I know what you did, and now I know what I’m going to do to you.

MAN
Fuck’s sake, you crazy bitch, I told you my name’s Henry! Now let me go and maybe I won’t say nothing. I just want-

FEMALE VOICE
Liar!

The hand snaps forward again, slapping into his face.

JUMP CUT. The scene hasn’t changed, but now it’s a different face - older, perhaps mid sixties, mostly grey beard. Blood has collected in the wrinkles around his eyes and coloured some of his beard. His expression holds something like sorrow.

OLDER MAN
I’m sorry, my dear, but I really am telling you the truth. I did offer to buy you and your friends a drink, but it was meant innocently.

FEMALE VOICE
I know what you did, Darren. I know you spiked my drink. I know what you wanted, what you all want.

OLDER MAN
(a tear falls from his eye)
I’m so sorry if I upset you, but I promise you, I did not spike your drink.

FEMALE VOICE
Liar! I know what you want.

OLDER MAN
Forgive a foolish old man his folly. Since my beloved wife died some years ago, I have been lonely. Perhaps, somewhere in my stupid, deluded mind, part of me thought I might get somewhere. But I am not mad, or a threat. I just thought I might help you enjoy your evening. I wouldn’t know how to go about tampering with your drink, even should I wish to.

FEMALE VOICE
The only thing you’ll get from me is a blade where you don’t want it.

OLDER MAN
I truly hope it doesn’t come to that. You are a beautiful young lady with a life ahead of you. It would be such a shame to see it wasted behind bars.

FEMALE VOICE
No!

The hand snaps forward and slaps.

JUMP CUT. Now it’s a teenage face - perhaps fifteen, a little spotty. Tears and snot are streaming down his cheeks and chin while his lower lip quivers.

TEENAGE GUY
I swear, miss, I don’t know who Darren is! I only go there ‘cause it’s the only pub that lets me and me mates in.

FEMALE VOICE
I saw you looking at me! I know what you were planning. There’s no mixed agenda with you, Darren. You only want one thing, and you’ll do anything to get it.

TEENAGE GUY
(Sniffs)
Of course I was looking at you - you’re well fit! That’s what me and me mates do - we hang out and check out the views. I never do anything about it though. I mean, who’s gonna wanna do anything with me?

FEMALE VOICE

Liar! I know what you were doing, I know what you want. But I got you first, Darren, and I’m going to make sure you never hurt a woman ever again.

TEENAGE GUY
(Sobs)
I’m sorry, miss, I’m sorry. Don’t hurt me, okay? Don’t-

The slap connects and he yelps

JUMP CUT after jump cut - through ten more slaps, ten more ‘liar!’s, and ten more battered faces with increasing speed. It culminates in a piercing female scream, and the candle blows out. We’re left in darkness, listening to heavy breathing as it slowly calms. And eventually ceases.
A match flares, briefly blinding us, and lights a candle before being shaken out. A well-groomed face is illuminated - a neat, short black beard and intense blue eyes. He looks … interested.

DOCTOR GOSFORD
Do you remember me at all, Jenny? I’m Doctor Gosford.

JENNY
Shut up, Darren. You can’t fool me. I know-

DOCTOR GOSFORD
Yes, you know what I did, you know what I want. But I’m sorry to say, Jenny, that you’ve suffered a break. It’s what happens when the real world is too much for you to bear. You’ve hurt people, Jenny. You’ve hurt innocent people.

JENNY
Liar! I know you spiked my drink, Darren. I know you. If I hadn’t turned the tables on you, I’d be in the alley next to your apartment building by now, torn and weeping, damaged and broken. You … You’re a fucking predator!

DOCTOR GOSFORD
(eyes shining with tears)
Jenny, please listen. You need to come back to me. I can only help you if you can find your way to a place where you accept your reality.

JENNY
No. You need to accept your reality. I bested you. I clonked you over the head, and now you’re the helpless one. A knife will be the last thing you see.

DOCTOR GOSFORD
Look around you, Jenny. Look at me. I’m not injured. You haven’t tied me up. Look at the room we’re in - it’s my office, not some dark dungeon you’ve dragged me to.

The darkness fades back, slowly revealing an office room behind the man. He’s wearing a pale grey suit and sitting behind a dark red timber desk. The camera pans down to see two slim hands shaking, resting on legs clad in soft grey tracksuit bottoms. Then our view shifts out of Jenny’s perspective and flips so we can see her face - wan, blinking, confused.

JENNY
No, I … I bested you.

DOCTOR GOSFORD
(kindly tone)
You certainly bested some men, my dear, which is why they brought you back to me. If we can help you here, it may help when it comes time for your defence.

JENNY
I … You can’t fool me!

Two orderlies enter the room and take one of Jenny’s arms each. She flinches but appears too confused to fight.

DOCTOR GOSFORD
We can talk again tomorrow, Jenny. Get some rest. It’ll help settle your reality.

The orderlies steer Jenny from the office and the doctor’s assistant pokes her head in from the next room.

DOCTOR’S ASSISTANT
The next one will be here in a few minutes. What do you want me to do with Jenny?

DOCTOR GOSFORD
(sighs deeply)
Up her dosage and put her in room four - right at the end. Use the restraints - I don’t want her to hurt herself.

DOCTOR’S ASSISTANT
(nodding and leaving room)
Okay, Darren. I’ll get it done.

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