FADE IN

EXT. STREET. NIGHT

SUBTITLE: VADO NEW MEXICO

A SQUAD CAR pulls up outside an APARTMENT BLOCK. A lone COP, male, forties, exits the vehicle and looks up at the building.

INT. APARTMENT. FRONT ROOM. NIGHT

From behind a thick set of curtains a MALE, mid-thirties, wiry, sneaks a PEEK at the street. He is called Jay. He sees the cop car.

INT.APARTMENT BLOCK. COMMUNAL HALLWAY. NIGHT

The Cop's feet walking up the stairs.

INT. APARTMENT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT

Jay nods to another MALE, 30, big with a nasty looking broken nose. BROKEN NOSE, fixes the zip on his pants and takes a scantily clad, terrified, YOUNG WOMAN, 21 into a back room. Jay turns over an upturned table and chairs, kicks some broken glass under the couch and turns up the TV to LOUD.  

INT. APARTMENT BLOCK. COMMUNAL HALLWAY. NIGHT

The Cop's almost at the top of the stairs.

INT. APARTMENT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT

Jay stands behind door. He takes a deep breath.

EXT. APARTMENT BLOCK. COMMUNAL HALLWAY. NIGHT

A hand knocking on the door. It opens. Jay smiles at the Cop.

COP
Evening, sir.

JAY
Yes, officer? 

COP
There's been a call about a disturbance coming from this apartment.

JAY
No, nobody here has called.

COP
The caller wasn't from this apartment, sir.
(beat)
Is everything alright?

Jay doesn't answer.

COP(CONTINUED)
Sir.

JAY
Eh?

COP
Is everything alright?

JAY
Yes.

COP
The caller said something about a woman screaming.

JAY
No, no woman in there. Just me.
(beat)
(a half smile)
My wife's at the hospital. Graveyard Shift.
(beat)
(a more confident smile)
You must do a lot of those, Officer. 
 

The Cop's looking through Jay into the apartment. He's not happy. 

COP
Do you mind if I come in, sir?

JAY
(slightly hesitating)
I'd rather not. Kids are asleep.

COP
You said it was just you in there.

JAY
I mean't just me and the kids.
(nervously)
Sleeping so sound I forgot they were there.

COP
TV's loud. Not wake them?

JAY
Sound sleepers. Like their Old Man.

The Cop looks in the room some more.

COP
Listen, what's your name?

JAY
Adrian. It was probably the TV they heard.

COP
Look, Adrian. A call has been made about a disturbance in this apartment. I just want to check, I have to, the dispatchers will be on my ass all night if I don't give them a result, yeah. Then they'll call my sergeant, he'll haul me into the office and I'm bang in trouble. It's happened before.
(smiling)
I know everything will be alright, just the TV like it always is. I just wanna make sure. In, out, thirty seconds. Gone.

Jay glances into the apartment.

JAY
Okay, but be quiet; kids.

Cop puts a finger to his lips.

INT. APARTMENT. BEDROOM. NIGHT

Broken Nose holds his hand over Young Woman's mouth.

INT. APARTMENT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT

Cop walking around the apartment. He checks around, nothing untoward. His boot crunches on glass.

JAY
Clumsy kids.

COP
I know that.

INT. APARTMENT. BEDROOM. NIGHT

Tears run down Young Woman's face. 

INT. APARTMENT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT

Jay's a little nervous.

JAY
Officer, I have work to...

COP
(seeing the closed door)
What's that room?

JAY
Kids.
(beat)
I'd rather you don't go in there.

COP
Why?

JAY
Sleeping.

COP
You open the door then.

JAY
Please. They'll be up all night if you wake them. I have work to do, I'll never get it done and then I'll be in trouble with my supervisors too.

INT. APARTMENT. BEDROOM. NIGHT

Young Woman tries to shout. The hand around her jaw tightens. She struggles but Broken Nose is too strong for her.

INT. APARTMENT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT

The Cop approaches the bedroom door.

COP
(to Jay)
Go on, open it.

INT. APARTMENT. BEDROOM. NIGHT

Young Woman sees a glass on a small table. It's in reach. She kicks it hard. It smashes against the wall.

INT. APARTMENT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT

The Cop hears it. It's all he needs. He pushes past Jay and opens the door and freezes. Young Woman struggles even more. The Cop goes for his gun. His eyes roll as a blade bursts out of his throat from behind. He makes a gargling sound as his hands scrape at his throat. She makes a muffled scream.

Jay pulls the blade out and nods to Broken Nose. The Cop falls to the floor.

He places his huge hand over her nose as well as her mouth and suffocates her. She's dropped to the floor beside Cop.

Jay takes a mobile phone from his pocket. He dials.

JAY
(into phone)
Hugo It's Jay. We need a new girl.
(beat)
By tomorrow. The Limey's are comin'.

FADE OUT