Messed Up (Screenplay)
Written by Joseph Lal

Cast: 
Diane
Joseph
John
Detective

Props:
Pill box (Prescription medicine bottle)
Trenchcoat (for detective)
Knife
Beer bottle
Radio
Notebook (spiral bound)
Fake blood (optional)

Scene: Cafe

Diane: You’re a good friend to John. you’re probably helping him to cope a little better.
Joseph: He lost his job too.
Diane: When?
Joseph: Yesterday. Transamerica's been cutting back. He got laid off.
Diane:They wouldn’t have laid him off. He’s the best they’ve had. 
Joseph: He was. Ever since Kate died he hasn’t been the same. Not as productive.
Diane: (Gathering her things to leave) That’s so stupid. They could show a little understanding. 
Joseph: I know.
Diane: What about you? He’s not dragging you down into depression with him is he?
Joseph: I’m fine. 
Diane: You’re taking your medication still?
Joseph: I haven’t had too lately.
Diane: Did the doctor tell you to stop?
Joseph: I don’t need pills. I’m not sick. I’m not crazy.
Diane: (Stands  up) If John’s lost his job now too, you may be all that he has left. He needs you 100%. Hang in there. Tell him I send my love.

Scene: Joseph's Bedroom

Joseph sits down, grabs his notebook and begins writing. He takes out a pill box from his pocket, looks at it for a second, and then puts it back. He turns on the radio, writes some more, and then begins scanning stations until he finds something of interest.
Radio: Payment has been made. All transactions finalized. Time of detonation 7:45am, 9705. Location 600 Madre octavio Normandy Trinidad graveyard opening Madre evergreen radio Yugoslav. San Francisco. Range 1/2mile. This message repeats.
(Joseph begins to write down what he hears)

Scene: Living room later that day

(John walks in. Joseph is visibly disturbed, sitting on the couch drinking a beer)
Joseph: I’m sorry to hear about your job. 
(John plops down on the couch and doesn’t respond.)
Joseph: I talked with Diane today. She told me to send you her love and her condolences regarding Kate.
(John doesn’t speak)
Joseph: What’s the matter? 
John: I lose my wife and my job in the span of 6 weeks, and you’re asking me what the matter is? I’m messed up. You’re messed up. We're all messed up.
(John gets up and starts walking away.)
Joseph: John. Wait. 
(John stops)
Joseph: Were you listening to the radio today?
John: Yeah. Why?
Joseph: I heard something kinda strange. I wrote it down. (Picks up notebook) Payment has been made. All transactions finalized. Time of detonation 7:45am, 9705. Location 600 Madre octavio Normandy Trinidad graveyard opening Madre evergreen radio Yugoslav. San Francisco. Range 1/2mile. This message repeats. It repeated itself for about five minutes, and then it stopped. 
John: So what?

Scene: Police Station.

(Joseph sits across from a detective)
Joseph: I think it has to be some sort of terrorist transmission--some sort of communication. I think the part where it says 9705 means September 7th 2005. I still don’t know what 600 Madre octavio Normandy Trinidad graveyard opening Madre evergreen radio Yugoslav means. It must be some kind of code.
Detective: (Begins writing down on his notebook) You think someone’s planning a terrorist attack on September 7th at 7:45am somewhere in San Francisco?
Joseph: Yes.
Detective: But no specific location.
Joseph: No. I don't know.
Detective: (Sighs) You are aware that in the event information of this nature...results in--
Joseph: (angered) I know what I heard! I’m not making this up. I didn’t have to come here.
Detective: Ok. Ok. Calm down sir. I’ll open up an investigation with information you’ve provided. Thank you.
(Joseph huffs and exit’s the office. He takes out his pill box from his pocket, looks at it, and quickly puts it back)

Subscript: One week later 9:00pm September 6th

Scene: In a car driving in San Francisco 

(Joseph picks up John)
Joseph: How’d the interview go?
John: Interview?
Joseph: Yes.
John: Oh. It was...uh…cancelled. 
(Joseph pulls over the car.)
John: What are you doing?
Joseph: Do you still think about her everyday?
John: Yes. 
Joseph: Do you still have nightmares about the day she died?
John: What’s going on Joseph?
Joseph: I went to the police and told them what I told you about what I heard on the radio a week ago. They looked at me like I was the terrorist. I think they’ve been tapping my phones. They visited me the other day. They found out about my medication. Nobody believes me now. They think I’m crazy. Thousands of people could die tomorrow morning. (Pauses a second) 600 Madre Octavio Normandy Trinidad Graveyard Opening Madre Evergreen Radio Yugoslav. The first letter of every word. M-O-N-T-G-O-M-E-R-Y. 600 Montgomery. It’s an address. 
John: 600 Montgomery is my old work address.

Scene: Outside the Transamerica Building

John: What exactly are we looking for?
Joseph: I don’t know. 
John: Joseph, let’s get out of here.
Joseph: You think I’m crazy too don’t you?
John: Why would they broadcast their plans over the radio?! Huh? Did you ever think of that?! Don’t you think someone else would have heard the transmission too and reported it?
Joseph: They could have used a transportable small scale broadcast. I’ve read about them. They transmit up to 300 feet.
John: (Sarcasm) So they set up a tower 300 feet away from our apartment in Richmond sending instructions about a bombing some 20 miles away?! Why wouldn’t they just call each other by phone, write letters, email each other the information about the bombing.
Joseph: Because all those forms might be traced by the government. But if you have a temporary small scale radio broadcast and just tell your accomplice to drive by at a certain time, turn on their radio, write down the information and keep driving--
John: --You didn’t answer the question Joseph. Why would they broadcast within 300 ft of our apartment. There’s just you and me there. 
Joseph: I…I don’t know. (Pause)
John: I talked with Diane two days ago on the phone. She told me you haven’t been taking your pills.
Joseph: I don’t need any pills! I know what I heard!
John: You may or may not be crazy, but my best friend isn’t stupid! There was no transmission. There are no terrorists. There is no bomb. It‘s all in your head! You haven‘t been taking your medicine! 
(Joseph falls to his knees defeated.)
John: They have side effects. Don’t they? You stopped taking them because you didn’t want to be depressed around me. I’m messed up, but you’re messed up too. (Pause) Let’s get out of here. Okay?
(Joseph slowly nods his head in agreement)
After a pause, John jokingly adds: Maybe you’re right. Maybe 88.1 was desperate to get more people to listen to their station. I don't know anyone that listens to blugrass anyways.
(Joseph laughs and pauses from getting up).
Joseph: Yeah...it was 88.1. That was the station. (Pause)
John: Are we going now or what?
Joseph: (fakes a chuckle) Funny thing is...I don't remember telling you, or anyone which radio station I heard the transmission on.
(Joseph slowly turns toward John to see the detective walking towards them. John quickly grabs Joseph and whips out a knife to his neck)
Detective: Easy! Easy. (Opens his trenchcoat) I'm unarmed. Drop the knife John.
John: Don't move. I'll kill him!
Detective: It's over. I heard your whole conversation. You're right Joseph. John here was transmitting a radio frequency for one of his hired workers to pick up and record. He hired someone to bomb the building. But it's over now. We caught them in the act. 441 Bissell Ave. Right John? (John gives a look that shows that he knows the detective isn't bluffing. The detective slowly starts walking forward) The FBI has been on their tail for some time now. Once they caught up with them. They ratted you out pretty fast. We have the bomb. It's over now.
John: Stop Moving! You're lying.
Detective: Think about it John. How else would I know to come here? (Pause) Angry ex-employees. 
John: Listen just shut up or I'll--
Joseph: --kill your best friend?
John: You're talking about right and wrong aren't you? Both of you. When Kate died, everyone died. The drunkard died instantly like she did in the wreck. There was no one...nothing. There was no Kate, and there was no one to pay either. What does right and wrong have to do with anything?(Pause) The last dream. It wasn't of her dying. It was worse than that. She was alive, on the beach that night I met her at the bonfire...sitting...staring at the waves...at peace...a slap in the face. And now, you're all i have left. And you're almost as crazy as I am. I'm messed up.
Joseph: (After a longer pause) I'm messed up.
(John turns Joseph around to see him face to face, and then stabs himself in the heart)
John: We're all messed up.
(John dies)