FADE IN

INT. MALL ELEVATOR - AFTERNOON

Silence.

A jittery woman with whitening hair and wandering eyes taps frantically against her right knuckles, not taking in the presence of the person beside her.

A well groomed man is in the same frame, standing beside her. His youthful but tidy look indicates that he must be in his late twenties. He has a briefcase by his side, the handle wrapped tightly around his right hand.

The man doesnt say anything about the woman just yet, silence filling the audio for an additional ten seconds before the woman sighs deeply. Dramatically, at that. 

A beat.

BUSINESSMAN
What's got you so jumpy?

WOMAN
Excuse me?

BUSINESSMAN
Youve been actin' like youve got
ants in your pants the entire time
we've been in here, it's off
putting.

WOMAN
Wow. Having a completely normal
reaction to being stuck in an
elevator on new year's eve is off
putting? Good to know.

The woman's voice lowers itself down to a normal speaking voice as she searches for something in her purse. The man is looking straight forward, as still as a statue.

WOMAN (CONT'D)
I don’t suppose you have anywhere
to be tonight, given your foolish
question.

BUSINESSMAN
You supposed correctly. Im just
waitin' around here while my wife
acts like a cleaning maniac to
welcome the new year. Though, im
guessing youre quite the opposite?

The woman finally retrieves what she'd been searching for in her purse, pulling out a case of Marlboro Reds and taking one of the cigarettes out. She offers the open box to the man, who gladly accepts.

After a few seconds of the woman light their cigarettes with a lighter she conveniently had in her purse, she takes a deep inhale before exhaling and speaking.

       WOMAN
Yeah, I have a banquet i have to
attend at 9:30 tonight and waited
'til the last minute like an idiot
to find an outfit. Every shop here
is either closed or filled with
horrendous clothing.

A pause.

The woman turns her head towards the young man.

WOMAN (CONT'D)
You said you have a wife, right? It
wouldn't be possible that you'd
know where she shops?

BUSINESSMAN
And how do you know that my wife's
sense of style isnt absolutely
horrible?

A failed attempt at a joke. The woman doesnt laugh and is getting increasingly irritated. The man wipes his own smirk off his face as he returns to his nonchalance.

BUSINESSMAN (CONT'D)
There's a store not too far from
here. It's family owned and my wife
tells me it's catalog is incredibly
versatile. i'm sure you'll find
something there, it's called Three
Chic Boutique.

WOMAN
Oh my, ive never heard of that
before. Thank you! I'll be sure to
stop there as soon as this dang
elevator starts moving.

And as if on cue, the mechanical parts of the elevator
audibly start back up. The woman smiles to herself as she puts the cigarrete out and leaves it on the ground. When the doors open on the second floor, she sighs of relief.

WOMAN (CONT'D)
Guess this is the end of the road
for us, huh? Tell your wife she's
amazing when you see her.

BUSINESSMAN
Will do, miss. Happy new year!

The woman repeats the phrase back to him, soon disappearing from frame.

As soon as the elevator doors close, the man's friendly demeanor does an immediate 360 as he scoffs and kneels on the ground, opening up his briefcase. He tosses the cigarette and puts it out while simultaneously changing his shirt and jeans into an all black attire, standing back up and putting
a clown mask over his face.

The elevator bell dings as he kicks the briefcase to the corner of the elevator and walks out, raising an AR-15 over his head and shooting three real bullets towards the ceiling, the previously calm atmosphere erupting into a fury of chaos as people shriek, run, and beg.

The man walks across the room, the velocity of the shot slowing down as it begins to fade out. 

Another bullet goes off, the ring lingering.

CUT TO BLACK

THE END.