1) Rachel answers her door dressed in silk for Philip, who is investigating a case for "Big Sal". 2) They attempt to roleplay as film noir characters but Philip becomes frustrated. After arguing, Philip says they are done with their relationship. 3) However, Rachel convinces Philip to try roleplaying again by resuming their film noir dialogue, implying they will reconcile through continuing their intimate roleplay.

1. The Lady in C49
By
Jacob Ethington

2. FADE IN:
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
The film is in black and white.
A KNOCK on the door echoes through an apartment along with
SEXY JAZZ MUSIC. The apartment a few stark light sources
with a single bed, an intricate dresser are all that can be
seen in the apartment with the light sources. A woman in her
20s, RACHEL, dressed in a silk dress and a fur scarf,
answers the door. PHILIP, also in his 20s, dressed in a
trench coat is standing in the hallway outside the door.
Rachel’s voice is sexy in its own right.
RACHEL
I’ve been expecting you.
Philip on the other hand sounds vaguely like Humphrey
Bogart.
PHILIP
Big Sal told me you might be able
to help me with the case.
RACHEL
I might be able to help you out.
Come on in.
Rachel glides over to the bed and sits down. Philip walks
into the room nervously.
PHILIP
Well, what do you know about Harry
Marlowe?
RACHEL
Who can say? Sometimes he exists,
sometimes he doesn’t.
PHILIP
What do you mean?
RACHEL
Sometimes he’s Richard Parker,
other times he’s Eddie Powell.
PHILIP
Aliases. That would explain the
bank account-

3. 2.
Philip looks around the room, admiring the set up, but
suddenly gets angry. His voice suddenly shifts out of the
Humphrey Bogart imitation.
PHILIP (CONT’D)
Fuck this!
Rachel’s voice shifts out of sexy.
RACHEL
I think it was working!
Philip rushes to the side of the bed and turns on the lamp
on the night stand. The night stand has an iPhone plugged
into a clock radio. He pulls the iPhone out and the sexy
Jazz music comes to an end.
PHILIP
I wasn’t feeling any more into it,
all right?
RACHEL
I was dammit!
PHILIP
What was wrong with how we did this
before?
RACHEL
Nothing! Nothing at all. But after
three years, I had to spice things
up-
PHILIP
You did? I was out in that hallway
for half an hour before trying to
sound like Philip Marlowe. I tried
too!
RACHEL
And you were doing good!
PHILIP
You know how you would be good? If
we would try out my fantasy!
RACHEL
The last time we tried to bring the
sheep in here, the landlord almost
threw me out! And don’t even get me
started on the clown-

4. 3.
PHILIP
Come on! It’s not my fault the
clown canceled because of a bar
mitzvah!
RACHEL
But the goat was all on you!
PHILIP
I’d rather be staring into that
goat’s eyes than deal with you
right now!
Rachel runs forward and kicks Philip in groin. He collapses
onto the ground, shriveling up into the jacket, wincing.
RACHEL
Want to look into my eyes now?
PHILIP
I think we’re done here.
Philip crawls on to the bed, throwing the trench coat off.
Rachel sits down next to Philip. He’s still wincing.
RACHEL
What do you mean by "done"?
PHILIP
I don’t know Rachel. But I think
we’re done with this for tonight-
RACHEL
No. I’ve been thinking we’re done
for a lot longer than that.
PHILIP
Oh. What a fucking shame.
Rachel sighs. She pulls out a cigarette and lights it up.
After a deep inhale, she crawls across the bed to plug the
phone back in. The SEXY JAZZ MUSIC resumes. She shuts off
the light on the night stand. Rachel shifts back into the
sexy voice.
RACHEL
Detective, I have a favor to ask.
Philip arcs his head up, staring at Rachel, bewildered.
RACHEL (CONT’D)
What are you waiting for detective?

5. 4.
PHILIP
What are you doing?
RACHEL
Something new.
PHILIP
What?
RACHEL
There’s only one way you’re going
to find out.
She gestures with her hands in a "talking" gesture. Philip
stares, and then realizes what she means. He switches back
to the Bogart voice.
PHILIP
Ma’am, what are you doing?
RACHEL
Detective, I was wondering if you
could inspect this dress.
She unzips it slightly. She grimaces a bit.
RACHEL (CONT’D)
And... And I was wondering if you
know anything about sheep.
PHILIP
Honey, I’m not concerned with wool
right now. Only silk.
Philip runs his hand over the dress and smiles. Rachel
smiles in return.
FADE OUT