Landlord - Act 2 / Part 2

Landlord BacT two, Part two Exterior Canaan doom road night.
Ava runs in the dark, frantic and exhausted, not knowing
where she's going. A car pulls up from behind her.
Ava turns, waves wildly, face stained with tears. The car stops.
The driver rolls down the window. It's Missus White. Doctor
Daniels sits in the passenger seat. Missus White steps out
of the car, concern on her face.
Goodness, Please, I.
Need your help.
Missus White turns to doctor Daniels. He nods, get in
dear gently. Missus White takes Ava by the arm, guides
her into the back seat, slams the door shut. Interior
hospital lobby day Meeka fidgets in her seat. She's a
nervous wreck. A young mother across from her nurse is
a newborn baby. It's a sweet, tender moment. Instinctively, Mika smiles.
Flashback two, the horrifying image of the leeches sucking from Max.
Back to scene. Mika averts her eyes, suddenly disgusted. The
lobby door opens as David enters from outside.
What did the cops say?
They don't know what happened. No sign of Brandon, just
his car.
David sits next to her, visibly anxious and stressed.
This is so fucked and we thought we were escaping.
What does that mean.
I'm saying, mess up. Shit happens no matter where you go.
We don't know what happened.
Whatever happened, it's not good and it's my fault. I
never said that.
You didn't have to, Mika. I'm the one who screwed up,
lost everything and moved us here right.
Mika looks into David's bulging, bloodshot eyes. His chest heaves
up and down. He's like a stranger.
My fault that you need to surrogate.
I'm sorry about Brandon, I really am, but there's something
else going on with you.
David's phone ding on his phone a stock update bro
Coin trends severely downward.
Can you stop with the phone for two seconds?
I rate? David stands up and kicks his chair across
the room.
David.
Other hospital visitors, including the mother and newborn, quickly move
away from the scene. Security walks over.
Oh, my fault.
David storms out of the hospital before the security guards
make him. Mika has left shaken. The nursing mother approaches her.
My ex was like that.
It only gets worse. We're going through a lot. He's
not normally like this. They've all got a monster side
to them, and if you have kids, run.
The mom finds another seat elsewhere. From behind, a female
nurse touches Mika's shoulder.
You can see her now.
Interior hospital room day. Lying in a hospital bed, Ava
stares at the ceiling. She's in shock. Mika stands by
her side, touches her arm.
Her family has been informed. Doctor says she's stable, but
we'll understand war once the shock wears off.
She wasn't hurt, no, just severely dehydrated. She was fine
last night.
You'd be surprised how the body responds to stress.
The nurse leaves the room. As Mika looks into Ava's distant,
blank brown eyes. Something is wrong. As she comes closer,
Mika notices Ava's eyelashes wriggling like insect tentacles. The hairs
on both the bottom and top waterlines moved toward each
other in a mesmerizing formation. Entranced, Mika holds her breath.
She's unable to take her eyes off the grotesque scene.
Ava blinks, her eyelids make a small squelching sound. Mika
looks again. Ava's eyes have returned to normal. Exterior the
bungalow garden day, a sweltering fall day. Mika selects flowers
from a blooming bush. She holds up the bouquet to admire.
Super Day three hundred and twenty five. Mika picks up
the water hose to spray the garden. Nothing comes out.
It's broken. Annoyed, she tosses it to the side. Missus
White and Doctor Daniels go by on their daily walk.
That green thumb of yours is giving me a run
for my money.
Mika smiles gratefully.
You both still coming by tomorrow to help with the
root cellar.
And we'll be there.
I'm making my famous lemon bars a fair bribe, I
promise you.
Missus White spins Doctor Daniels around, heading home.
And keep those marigolds moist.
Interior living room day, A very pregnant Denise thirties, wholesome
and motherly, SIPs a diet soda from the sofa. She's
in a staring match with Max, the cat, whose eye
twitches drool seeps from his open mouth. Uncomfortable, Denise looks away.
Mika enters from the kitchen with a bouquet in a vase.
Sorry about him, he hasn't been the same since he
fell into the creek.
She brings the flowers to Denise, who takes them happily.
Nica, these are beautiful.
I thought you might like the smell of them. Maybe
the babies will too. I'd love to see the nursery.
David's working in there right now. Don't know what he'll
do when the twins move in. Is he excited? Hard
to tell. He hasn't been the same since Brandon disappeared.
Sometimes he seems really excited, And then.
My husband was the same way with our first But
once the baby was here, it just clicked. I swear
he turned into super Dad overnight. He could hardly wait
for the next one.
Denise touches her stomach.
Oh, they always kick when I'm here.
You think they consent?
I do want?
Mika considers for a moment, Not right now. Interior office day. David,
sweaty and disheveled, hunches over at his desk. The blinds
are closed. A half built NIKEA crib sits in the
corner on his computer screen. Several windows are open, crypto
prices and stock market charts. Half rin emails. An article
with Brandon's photo reads, bro Coin flounders all hype without
its hype man. David doesn't even look up as Mika
walks in.
Denise just left. Who Denise the surrogate?
You didn't tell me she was coming.
It's so stealing.
Here she opens a window. David winces as sunlight pours in.
Did you make the surrogacy payment?
What do you mean?
The agency called? They said the installment is late.
I'll pay it tomorrow.
It's forty five days late.
I said I'll pay it.
Mika stares at him. He stares back, barely recognizable anything else.
The hose is broken again.
What do you want me to do about it?
Fix it? Or call you hannas you've got his number.
The computer screen catches Mika's eye as she notices the
picture of Brandon. David quickly turns off the monitor.
I need to work, Mika Nagny. Later.
Frustrated, Mika's storms out interior bedroom night. It's late. Mika
gets out of bed as David sleeps interior office night.
At David's computer, Mika looks through the various tech articles
and news. Nothing she doesn't already know She's about to
give up when an email pops up with the subject
urgent interior bedroom. Moments later, Mika's storms in, turns on
the light and yanks the blanket off David. He's groggy
and confused. Mika holds up a piece of paper in
front of him. What's that?
Broquyne's value is shit? Dogecoin? Isn't this worthless? Your lies
and recklessness have put my investment at risk. I'm not
going to tolerate any more of your dilatory tactics. The
time for excuses is over.
David hops out of bed, lunges at the printed email
and Mika's hand. She dodges him, continues reading out loud.
Make this right, or I swear to God I will
tear your life apart.
Enough.
David slumps onto the floor.
Why is this guy saying this? What did you do?
It wasn't me, It was Brandon.
You're going to blame the guy who's been missing for months.
He made promises to investors that he couldn't keep. I
had no idea. It was smoking mirrors, all of it.
So what does that mean?
It means I'm broke?
What about our savings?
David opens his bank ap on his phone shows Mika
the balance.
That's it. It's enough for two months, maybe.
The reality of the situation fully hits Mika.
David, We're about to have two kids, babies relying on us.
What do you think of it?
So fucking stress?
You convince me to do this surrogacy, then you gamble
everything and don't tell me.
I was scared.
I told you not to trust him again.
I know, I know.
She stops herself before she can say anything. She'll regret.
Useless, pathetic. I know.
You're a coward.
Interior Bart Station night flashback. Late night underground at the
Bart train station. It's mostly empty, super two years ago.
Mika and David stumble down an escalator. Tipsy and laughing,
they head to the ticket machine, where David struggles to bypasses.
He presses all the wrong buttons.
How do I we're gonna miss the last train.
I told you we should have taken an uber here.
Let me do it.
Mika playfully pushes him away and takes his credit card.
Interior Bart Train night flashback. The train doors are about
to close. Mika and David push through just in time.
There's no one else inside. Nice an empty car.
Thank god, I think I make buke.
They sit in a center row. David puts his arm
around her. The car door opens as a teen couple
enter from an adjoining car. The teen girl wears sunglasses
as the teen boy yanks her by the arm. The
tension between them is palpable. David doesn't pay them attention,
but Mika watches closely.
Hey, I think I know that kid really. Yeah, he
was one of my students a few years back, got
expelled for what he brought a gun to school crazy.
Without warning, the boy reaches a handback and slaps his girlfriend.
Her glasses fly off her face and land on the
aisle floor. Hey, Mika immediately stands up. David pulls her
back down.
We've got to do something.
We till the next stop.
You're really gonna sit there and watch this?
There's nothing we can do.
Let go with me.
Mika walks up to the couple directly. The girl looks away,
not sure if.
You remember me. I was your teacher at Harden.
The team looks her up and down with disdain.
I don't know you fuck off?
Are you okay?
The girl won't look at her.
I can help you.
The boy gets up. He's inches from Mika's face.
Did you hear me? I said, go sit the fuck down.
Mika turns to a bewildered David, who's still seated. Your
man isn't gonna do shit, are you? David looks like
a deer in headlights, can't even respond. Mika heads to
the intercom located at the end of the train car.
She pushes the button to speak to the train operator.
Before she can get through, her head is forcibly jerked
back as the teen yanks her ponytail, sending her backwards.
David stands up, but remains at a distance Mika. Mika
lunges at the intercom again. This time, the team abs
her by the neck. Meca fights back, kicks him in
the groin. He tackles her to the ground and they scuffle.
Stop it Stop.
The boy takes out a switchblade. Mika doesn't even see
it as he stabs her. She gasps looks down at
the wound in her lower abdomen. She falls to her knees,
shocked by the profuse bleeding. The teen stabs her again.
David runs over to her. Finally, the train comes to
a stop.
Come on.
The team grabs his girlfriend as the train door is open.
The couple run out of the train.
Three car Fremont train now morning platform two.
David cradles Mika as her vision goes black and the
train fills with the screams of horrified riders. Interior bedroom
night Back to present. Mika is exhausted from reliving the trauma.
I knew what you were before we left San Francisco.
Having kids with you was a mistake.
David looks like he wants to cry. He meets the
eyes of Max, who sits in a corner. Max breathes loudly,
his mouth agape. Interior cellar Same. Below the floorboards of
the bungalow. In the darkness, we hear excited, irregular breathing,
then it stops. Interior bedroom Same. Mika looks down at David,
so what now we go to bed? She takes a
pillow off the bed throws it to him. Interior Missus,
white cellar. Day. It's dark and dank, old antiques and
decaying furniture. David, soiled with dust and sweat, picks up
a box to bring up to the house. He trips,
sends the box flying. Super Day three hundred twenty six.
Doctor Daniels peeks in, shines a flashlight below.
It needs some help.
I'm fine.
As he picks up the items from the fallen box,
he notices a pair of raggedy, stained Gucci slippers. Interior
Missus White's sitting room day the Halloween spirit is alive
and well in Missus White's house. Carved pumpkins, cobwebs, fake
skeletons adorn the room. Mika sorts through old photographs on
the floor. Missus White carries in a tray of mulled
wine and cups.
David isn't very handy.
Is he.
I told you.
Missus White pours Mika a cup of the warm wine.
I bet tricker treaters love your house, my dear.
We haven't had a tricker treater since nineteen eighty eight.
Doctor Daniels wheels in, holds up the grimy slippers like
a victory prize, David behind him.
I used to wor these every day.
I'm sure you can get them cleaned.
He can't. They're cursed.
It's true time I wore him. I murdered a man.
That's his blood right there.
Ooh, it wasn't murder. He was an intruder. You did
what had to be done. You're a hero far as
I'm concerned.
Wait, you're serious.
About ten years ago? I was making a castle role
for the neighborhood pot luck, like I always do. Had
it cooking in a cast iron skillet. Tastes better that way.
I go to take it out of the oven, and oh,
it was perfection. That's when I saw a deranged young
man climbing through the kitchen window. He meant to rob us.
Of course, these criminals think elderly folks are low hanging fruit.
That was this mistake. Before he could finish worming his
way through, I took that hot skellot and brought it
down on his head, crushed it again and again. I
don't know how many times his teeth smashed all over
the kitchen counter. They sounded like hard little candy tap dancing,
and by the end of it, I couldn't tell what
was castle role and what was his brain.
The room is painfully silent after this gruesome revelation.
Wow, that is very, very horrible.
I'll say it again. He did what had to be done.
The police agreed.
But I could never bring myself to wear these again.
And missus White is right. You protect at your home
and your.
Family, because shoots David appointed. Look, Missus White catches this.
Family is the most important thing. You too will understand
that soon enough. You'll do anything to protect those precious babies.
Mika holds up an old photo. It's an image of
two Victorian era families standing next to each other.
Is this your family?
Missus White takes the sebatone picture nods.
We don't like to think about those days, do we. Brother.
Doctor Daniel says, nothing still in Reverie over his slippers,
Missus White points to a wiry, sneering teen boy.
Recognize this little pissant.
Wow, it's Johannas David looks over at the photo.
What was he like?
Hmm?
Lazy, spoiled, only sixteen and already corrupted by greed and malice,
the typical Leathemol family traits.
He broke my legs for fun.
But why Doctor Daniels made friends with a little Jumash
boy in the village, A nice boy. The leithe Molds
didn't like that.
Johanna's a bigot. What a shock.
Day Johanna saw them playing together. Pushed my baby brother
into the creek. He's been in that chair for since
even worse, The leath Malt blamed the whole thing on
that true Marsh boy, what.
You is this?
Can't find anything online about his family?
Get off the phone and listen to what I tell you.
We missed.
I'm so sorry. I was just dying to bitch slap him.
What you was this? Can't find anything online about his family?
David looks at his phone. Missus White rolls her eyes.
Get off the phone and listen to what I tell you. Anyway,
that lie gave the leath Malts the perfect reason to
run the too Marsh off the land for good. Over
one hundred and sixty men were killed, including people in
my family. But after it was all said and done,
the lathe Malts were finally able to purchase the land.
Mikhn d even look at each other. Overwhelmed, Missus White
gets up from her seat.
More mulled wine.
Exterior Missus White's house night. Missus White walks David and
Mika out.
Thank you again.
Yes, the least we could do. You're the reason why
my garden is thriving.
Can't say I'm eagerly awaiting the next cellar adventure.
You know, most of these old bungalows were built with cellars,
not ours. Oooh, I wouldn't be.
So sure, missus White smiles, closes the door.
Yeah they're nuts.
Interior Hallway Day. Mika stares down the hall, her eyes
searched for something. She peeks in the hallway closet. It's
just hanging coats. Super Day, three hundred and fifty two. David, excited,
runs out from the office.
Do you hear that?
Hear?
What?
Never mind?
Come here, I want to show you something.
Interior Office Day. The two Ikea cribs are fully built,
though wobbly. David looks to Meka for a reaction.
What do you think?
She's not impressed.
I know there's a lot more we have to do,
but I figure it's to start.
At least when the babies arrive to a shitty house
with a freaky landlord and unemployed parents, they'll have somewhere
to sleep.
Meka walks away before David can say anything.
I'm trying, Mika.
Interior Kitchen Day, A cloudy, rainy day. At the counter,
Meka browses teaching jobs on her laptop. Super Day three
hundred and fifty six. The doorbell rings. Mika looks out
the window, where a distraught woman with a child stands
at the door. This is Gina Evans thirties and Mattie
Evans three. Gina pounds on the door. David emerges, who
is that?
I have no idea.
Interior front door. Moments later, Mikus stands behind David as
he opens the door. Gina looks confused to see their faces.
Where the hell is my husband?
Interior living room day, Gina is on the sofa as
little Mattie chases the cats around. Mika sits nearby with David.
I called, emailed, texted nothing, never said he moved, just
vanished that the police know nothing.
Were you guys broken up?
I mean it's complicated. Maddie and I have been with
my mom and Vermont.
Maybe he had a drug problem. DVD and explained the
erratic behavior.
Gina looks at her son, pained.
As soon as we moved in, the drinking started.
I didn't stop to think anything of it until he
stopped going to work. Turns out he got fired and
never told me.
I know how that goes.
Tim and I had our problems, but we both wanted
to make it work.
Moved doubt because of Johannes.
What do you mean, come on, you must have noticed
the guy's a freak. Well yeah, well, when Tim lost
his job, that fucker wouldn't leave us alone. He started
showing up unannounced, calling constantly.
Always lurking.
He's terrifying. Tim didn't want to say anything or cause
any problems.
Maddie runs past his mom, pretending to be an airplane.
The cellar was the last straw. Wait, you haven't seen it.
Interior hallway day. Gina opens the closet. She moves the
hanging coats out of the way. There's a door latch
on the floor in the back. Mika and David watch, shocked.
This whole time, Narnia is real.
Gina pulls the creaky door open. She motions to the
steps leading down into the dark cellar. Maddie watches, scared.
He clings to Gina, I'm not going back down there.
Interior cellar. Moments later, Mika climbs down the rickety stairs,
followed by David. They use flashlights to look around. It
breaks on the cellar floor a makeshift pallette of blankets.
Someone has been sleeping here recently, David look. David walked
to the corner where Mika stands. She points to a
pile of animal bones. Some trash is littered in the
corner as well, use tissues, band aids. And what's this?
He holds up a string attached to a wad of
soiled cotton. Mika puts her hand to her mouth. He
realizes it's a used tampon.
Oh God, no.
David throws it across the room, disgusted.
What the hell is going on?
Exterior Bungalow night. Gina holds Mattie by the hand as
Mika walks them to their car. Gina takes out her
cell phone.
Here's a picture of him. Well, you let me know
if you see anything.
Gina shows her a photo of Tim carrying baby Mattie
on his back. Tattoos cover his arms. Quick flashback Johannes's party.
A brittle man gives Mica a lego piece. His haunted
eyes plead with Mika. It's tin. Back to present. Mika
is inwardly disturbed by her sudden realization.
Of course, deep down, you know you should leave.
She lifts Maddie into his car seat.
I'll be glad you don't have kids.
When I went down into that cellar, I found baby
blankets and toys.
God, knows what Johannes wanted with.
Them Again, Mika represses internal panic. Interior, Bedroom night, Mika
paid the room. David sits in a chair.
How do you know it was him?
I just do David. He had the same tattoos, same face, everything,
just sixty pounds.
Later, Jesus.
Missus White was right. Missus White, she knew about the seller,
she knows more.
She's nice, but she's a kook.
So what should we do? Go to the cops.
We can't prove anything.
Then we should leave, move out?
What about the lease?
It's almost up.
We can't afford to move.
So you don't want to ask, Missus White. You don't
want to go to the police, and you don't want
to leave. What the hell should we do?
Then?
The first thing we should do is confront yourhannas. Work
it out directly.
That's your plan.
We can't be afraid of him.
You don't have to do that.
Do what.
There's confronting shit, and then there's being dumb and cornering
that cycle is dumb.
David is offended. Mika doesn't care. She turns out the
lights and gets in bed.
I'm talking to missus White tomorrow.
Interior living room night. David lies on the sofa, made
up as a bed. He stares into the darkness, thoughts
racing exterior bungalow night. Johanna's truck sits outside in the dark.
The engine idols exterior Missus White's garden day, a lovely,
vibrant garden of flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Mika and Missus
White sit at a table under the patio Wanning super Day,
three hundred and fifty seven.
So you found the cellar?
We think Johannas has been sleeping down there.
Missus White SIPs her tea before answering.
Course he has what pick up your draw from the floor, Dear.
I came here for answers, please, and.
I don't know if you're ready to hear them.
I can't bring children into that home. If it's dangerous
too late, you.
Won't let you go.
The blood from Mika's face.
Where's David?
Exterior Johannas's home. Same. David walks up to Johannas's front door. Nervous,
he takes a deep breath, knocks exterior Missus White's backyard. Same.
Mika is confused by Missus White's question.
David is running errands. What do you mean, Johannas won't
let us leave.
He's got to eat.
Enough with the allegories and the metaphors.
Exterior Johannas is home. Same David peeks through the window.
All the lights are off. He goes back to the
door and slowly reaches for the knob. Exterior Missus White's backyard.
Same Mika waits for Missus White to respond.
Johannas was always a greedy son of a bitch, But
after the chumash will run off, he personified the very
worst of his character. Wasn't long before we all realize
he had because something else?
What like a killer?
A leech?
This isn't the time for jokes.
Do I look like I'm clowning around?
Missus White's face is hard and serious.
Johanness is a leech, a big, fat, thirsty leech. And
I'm not talking in metaphors. Here, drink your tea.
Interior Johanns is home. Same David is inside the house.
It's empty, stale, quiet. This makes David even more nervous.
Johannas, it's me, David.
He walks slowly surveys the house. It's worse than daytime.
Dark oily stains in the carpets. A groan comes from
a room upstairs. Startled, David takes out a small switchblade
from his pocket. He clings to the knife as he
makes his way up the stairs.
Johannas, we need to talk hallway.
The groaning returns louder. David looks down the hall, where
he notices a door at the end. He's drawn to it.
David's heart thumps in his chest and all the way
to his ears. As he gets closer to the door.
He tries to calm as irregular breathing. As he swings
the door open, David is shocked by what he sees.
He lets out a whimper. In the closet, a dozen
emaciated corpses in various stages of decomposition lean against a wall,
chained together. It's a horrific scene. They're illuminated only by
the natural light. Some of the corpses stir they're alive.
A male corpse extends a bony hand towards David. David
is frozen in fear. The sound of his own name
confuses him. He turns on his phone's light puts it
on the man. David immediately recognizes the man as Brenton
exterior Missus White's backyard. Same Mika rubs her face, tries
to digest Missus White's revelation.
Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Johannas is
a human leech. Why is he sneaking around our house?
Johannas is tied to that creek behind the bungalow, the
same way an umbilical cord connects a baby to its mother.
That creek is his life source. Without it, he can't replenish.
He can't reproduce, reproduce. If you don't believe me, ask
your friend who the pretty girl we brought to the hospital.
This startles meek out.
Afa, What does she have to do with this?
Doctor Daniels and I are the ones who found her.
You saw it in her eyes, didn't you? How did
you know? Ask Gaba what happened that night we picked
her up? On Canaan doom Scared to death them.
Interior Johannes's home closet. Same David frantically tries to loosen
the ties on Brandon's hands and feet. He notices huge
bite marks on Brandon's neck, arms, thighs. The site makes
him more frantic.
That's sick, monster Urry, I'm here, buddy, You'll be okay,
bro Cord, Yeah, it's gone to shit. We'll talk about
that later though.
Finally the ties are loose enough to get Brandon's fragile
limbs out From elsewhere, the pained groaning sounds return. It's
joined by voices of men arguing. David looks towards the noise, conflicted.
The groans grow louder as he makes.
The decision, I'll be right back, okay, don't't don You're
getting out of here, All of you.
The ones who are alive, look to him, too weak
to understand. David follows the groans that have evolved into screams.
Then the screams abruptly stop. Sweat drips down David's face
as he fumbles with his phone. He dials nine one one,
but the call fails. No bars. At the opposite end
of the hall, a door opens. The voices are coming
from there. Exterior Missus White's backyard. Same Missus White refills
Meeka's cup with more tea.
But what does he want from us? If he's really
a leech, that means he wants to drink your blood.
But it's better for him if you're alive.
What the hell does that mean?
As his tenants, you're his dead slaves. He'll deplete you
of your energy and resources until there's no left by
your flesh. At that point, you're only good to eat.
But don't worry. As long as you work and produce,
you'll avoid the dinner plate.
Mika is speechless. Missus White blows on her hot tea.
Ollo None of the previous tenets seem to make the cut.
Interior Johanns' is Home Hallway, saying, David puts his ear
to the door, where you can hear the muffled voices
of Johannes and Fred.
He's not yours to take. You can't hold your food
to yourself, watch yourself.
I'm tired of your crap.
You will respect me, boy.
The groans have stopped, but the sickening, monstrous sounds of
flesh tearing and ripping apart replaced them. Exterior Missus White's backyard, same.
Mika stands to leave, zips up her coat.
Where did you say your husband was?
Why are you so worried about him?
Interior johannes Is Home Hallway, Same unable to help himself.
David must look. He cracks open the door a little
more to reveal just a sliver of the horror in
the room. Johannes and Fred, enlarged and gorged and bloody,
fight over the remnants of a carcass like wild animals.
David is already in his grip. He's got the same fuzzy,
dazed stare they all get. Johannes will use him for
a time, but when he's done, they'll toss David to
the side like old chicken bones.
David watches in horror, Too stunned to move or even breathe,
He drops his phone. Johannes and Fred immediately halt their
gruesome meal look to the crack door. Johannes roars savagely
as he throws the bl boody head of the carcass.
The headlands at David's feet. He looks down to see
the eyes of Tim Evans staring back at him. David
screams him, keep doing it. Interior, Missus White's Backyard Day
In disbelief, Mika struggles to find words.
This isn't why I came.
You came here for answers, and that's what you got.
I don't believe, you believe makes no difference.
Missus White shakes her head as Mika runs to the
side gate. End of BAC two excellent. Hopefully there's going
to be lunch