Diabolic Fiction

“Harvey Wallbanger”

short film script

FADE IN:

INT. HARVEY’S APARTMENT
CLOSE-UP on blank section of wall covered by a sheet with a hole roughly cut out of it. After a moment, a hammer enters the frame and knocks a 2-inch hole in the wall that sits at knee height.

SFX O.C: faraway, woman’s muffled scream.

Slow dolly out to REVEAL Harvey. He is in a wheelchair parked sideways against the wall. Cloth is hung in front of the wall except for a small section cut away so he can work on the hole. He has replaced the hammer on a makeshift tool belt at the side of his chair. He seems to be inspecting the newly formed hole. The furniture has been pushed into another room, leaving the living room empty.

CLOSE-UP on the hole. Bits of pink insulation peek out. Harvey uses his fingers to smooth the rim of the hole and push back some of the insulation. He is HUMMING while he makes his inspection.

MONTAGE of Harvey taking great care in forming and smoothing the hole.

CLOSE-UP on Harvey’s mouth. He is perspiring and his tongue is wagging under the exertion. He is also breathing heavily.

CLOSE-UP on the hole. The light catches a bit of insulation and “winks” as it REFLECTS off a tiny metal shard.

HARVEY
(giggling)
You naughty little girl.

CLOSE-UP on Harvey’s finger as it is about to push deeper inside the hole. He suddenly stops.

HARVEY
I don't know if I want our relationship to move too quickly. After all, I made you, so that makes me kind of like your father. Or am I your God? I still haven't finished wrestling with the ethical dilemma yet. Can you wait?

CLOSE-UP on hole. The light REFLECTS again.

MEDIUM SHOT of Harvey against wall.

HARVEY
Oh thank you. All the others wouldn't wait for me. They couldn't handle a long-term relationship.

C.U. of Harvey’s mouth.

HARVEY
They all fell apart before my eyes, you know.

FADE OUT on Harvey’s smile.

FADE IN:

INT. APARTMENT BEDROOM
WE see over Harvey’s back that he is staring into a mirror, adjusting his tie. He is wearing a full tuxedo. Harvey’s phone rings three times before the answering machine picks up.

ANSWERING MACHINE
(Woman’s voice)
We’re not in, but if you leave a message, I’m sure we’ll get back to you-
(woman and Harvey’s voice in unison, happy)
-as soon as humanly possible.

Alternate between SLOW ZOOMS on the answering machine and Harvey slowly tying his bowtie while CHERYL leaves her message.

CHERYL
(from speaker, sympathetic)
Harvey? Please pick-up. It’s Cheryl. Come on Harv’. No one’s seen you for weeks. You’ve got to get out. We missed you at the funeral. Shirley’s parents were very upset. They still don’t understand why you weren’t there. Tom has been running interference at work, but Mr. Collins is asking when you’ll be back. I miss her, too, we all do. But please, Harv’, for me, call someone. Anyone, just so we know you’re OK. I’ve been thinking of dropping by, but I know how you guys hated that. Think about it. Take care.

CLOSE-UP on Harvey’s black shoes. He bends over and ties them. Then propels his wheelchair out of frame.

RETURN to MEDIUM SHOT of the wall. Harvey turns sideways up against it. He reaches into a pouch on the side of his chair and pulls out a dozen red roses. The roses get tangled in the spokes of the wheels as he rolls along toward the new hole.

HARVEY
(disappointed)
Oh damn.

He lays them beneath the hole.

HARVEY
For you, my dear.

HOLD on hole and flowers.

HARVEY
I hope you like them.
(pause)
May I?

Harvey lays the flowers beneath the hole. HOLD on CLOSE-UP of hole and flowers.


Slow ZOOM on hole while Harvey carefully inserts a finger into the hole.

HARVEY
So soft.
(pause)
I wonder how far this goes back...how deep?

Harvey’s finger slides in until his knuckle stops at the wall.

SFX O.C: dog’s muffled growling.

HARVEY
I'm used to your bite. It once drove me crazy, but now it just tickles.

Harvey inserts a second finger, and then a third.

SFX O.C: distant, high-pitched giggling.

HARVEY
Does this hurt?

SFX O.C: distant, woman’s sigh.

CLOSE-UP on hole. The light REFLECTS.

HARVEY
Well, my sweet, I must go take care of something. But I'll be back. I think I've made a decision regarding your virtue. Ta-ta.

SLOW DOLLY away from wall to a LONG SHOT. Harvey pulls a rope and the cloth parts like the curtain at a theater revealing hundreds of sloppily-patched holes across the wall.

Harvey rolls toward an old hole that is still open. He reaches down and pulls a small container of patching material and a spatula from his tool belt. He begins filling it in.

HARVEY
No time for you. You're no good to me anymore. I've got a new girl in my life.

From inside the hole we see Harvey looking toward the new hole he just fondly inspected. He WINKS as a bell CHIMES. The screen immediately goes BLACK.