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Another Man’s Trash

Another Man’s Trash
by Jace Daniel (b. 1969)

FADE IN:

EXT. STREET ALLEY – DAY

A garbage truck idles.

Full garbage cans line the alley. It’s trash day.

The GARBAGE MAN picks up a can of trash. Dumps it into the back of the truck. A couple stuffed trash bags follow.

This guy is GARY, thirties. Not particularly fond of his job.

His first name is embroidered onto the breast pocket: “GARY”

EXT. ANOTHER STREET ALLEY – SAME

A large dumpster overflows with trash.

The garbage truck’s forklift picks the dumpster up from the ground.

INT. GARBAGE TRUCK – CONTINUOUS

Gary sits in the driver’s seat. His lonely cockpit.

Dashboard personalized with taped cut-outs of pretty girls.

Gary maneuvers the truck’s controls, lifting the dumpster from the ground.

He stops. Stares through the windshield. He’s seen something.

EXT. STREET ALLEY – CONTINUOUS

Gary gets out of the idling truck.

Walks around to the front of the truck.

Stands on his tiptoes. Peeks into the dumpster.

EXT. STREET ALLEY – IN THE DUMPSTER – CONTINUOUS

Trash. Banana peels. Food scraps. Used packaging.

And partially buried beneath a soggy piece of cardboard…

…a lock of LONG RED HAIR, connected to a HUMAN HEAD with NO BODY. We can’t see its face.

EXT. STREET ALLEY – CONTINUOUS

Gary’s eyes go wide. He grabs the edge of the dumpster and pulls himself up like a gymnast.

EXT. STREET ALLEY – LATER

Gary cradles the redhead under his arm like a football.

Picks up an empty bag from the ground.

Places the redhead in the bag.

Looking both ways, Gary climbs back in to the idling truck.

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – NIGHT

A small dining table, covered with newspapers and magazines.

INSERT – DINING TABLE CONTENTS, which show:

— Fashion magazines, with some pages cut out
— Scissors
— A newspaper dating ad with the headline: “LONELY?”

BACK TO KITCHEN

Gary sweeps his forearm across the table, clearing it of its contents.

He carefully removes the redhead from the bag. We still can’t see its face.

Gary positions the redhead in the center of the table. Like a crystal ball.

Fixes its hair a bit. Gazes into its eyes. Ponders.

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE – NIGHT

Gary stands at the counter with a pile of beauty items:

— shampoo
— a make-up kit
— a pair of cheap gaudy earrings

The STORE CLERK rings up the items.

INT. APARTMENT – BATHROOM – NIGHT

Gary stands at the sink. Faucet running.

The redhead is IN THE SINK. We can’t see its face.

Gary pours shampoo into his hands.

Massages the redhead’s scalp, working up a lather.

INT. APARTMENT – BATHROOM – NIGHT

Gary holds a BLOW DRYER. It’s on.

The redhead sits propped on the bathroom counter. We can’t see its face.

Gary blow-dries the redhead’s hair.

GARY
You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The reddest hair…

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – NIGHT

Gary sits at the table. Sorting through the make-up kit. Lipstick, blush, eye shadow, mascara, etc.

The redhead sits on the table in front of him, hair done. We can’t see its face.

Gary takes the two gaudy earrings and and sticks them into the redheads earlobes. The earrings JINGLE.

GARY
Ears that will always listen.

Earrings done. Gary chooses an eye shadow. Opens it.

While we see Gary’s face, we only see the back of the redhead. It will be this way throughout the script.

Gary begins to apply the eye shadow to the redhead.

GARY (CONT’D)
The greenest eyes…

Gary sets the eye shadow aside.

He picks a bright red lipstick.

Begins applying the lipstick to the redhead.

GARY (CONT’D)
The reddest lips.

Lipstick done. Gary stands back, admiring his work.

GARY (CONT’D)
You’re my dream come true.

EXT. STREET ALLEY – DAY

Just another day at work. Gary hates it.

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – NIGHT

Gary sits at the table eating a TV dinner.

The redhead sits propped on the table.

Gary stares into its eyes.

EXT. STREET ALLEY – ANOTHER DAY

Same ol, same ol’. Gary empties trash cans into the back of the garbage truck.

INT. PIZZA PARLOR – NIGHT

Gary stands at the counter. Picking up his pizza.

Reaches into his pocket. Pulls out some loose change.

Slaps the change on the counter. Counting every nickel.

A stack of TAKE-OUT MENUS sits on the counter next to his change. He grabs one and looks at the back.

INSERT – TAKE-OUT MENU, which shows:

About 8 advertisements for local companies and services. Laundry, insurance, a barbershop, etc.

One ad in particular catches Gary’s eye. A simple ad that reads:

“NEED COMPANY? MEET YOUR SOULMATE. 1-800-666-FRND”

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – NIGHT

Gary sits at the table, eating a piece of pizza.

He stares into the redhead’s eyes.

He’s been talking to it. Telling it about his day.

GARY
I’ve been thinking about quitting this trash job. There’s better ways to make money. You and me. We can be rich.

Gary shows the take-out menu to the redhead.

GARY (CONT’D)
We can start an escort service. These people are making hundreds of dollars a day. Just to be company.

Gary takes a bite of pizza.

GARY (CONT’D)
If we book enough clients, I can quit my job as a trash man. Whaddya say?

Gary stares into the redhead’s eyes. Gary nods.

GARY (CONT’D)
Good. I’ll put the ad in the paper tomorrow.

INSERT – GARY’S NEWSPAPER AD, which shows:

The Classified section of a newspaper. Gary’s ad takes up only a small corner of it. It reads:

“NEED COMPANY?
CALL FOR A FACE-TO-FACE APPOINTMENT
666-RDHD”

EXT. APARTMENT – FRONT DOOR – NIGHT

A FAT MAN knocks on Gary’s door.

Gary opens it.

EXT. APARTMENT – FRONT DOOR – ANOTHER NIGHT

A BALD MAN knocks on Gary’s door.

Gary opens it.

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – DAY

The redhead sits on the table.

A MUSTACHED MAN hands Gary a stack of 100-dollar bills.

EXT. STREET ALLEY – DAY

Gary tosses some full trash bags into the truck.

He’s smiling. On top of the world.

INT. PIZZA PARLOR – NIGHT

Gary pays for his pizza with a 100-dollar bill.

Throws a 20-dollar bill into the tip jar.

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – LATE MORNING

Gary sits at the table with the redhead, counting his cash.

Beside him is a cup of coffee, a clipboard, and a pencil. He’s logging the week’s earnings.

GARY
Twenty-one, twenty-two…
(beat)
That’s twenty-four hundred dollars in less than one week.

Gary stands up and kisses the redhead on the forehead.

GARY (CONT’D)
I can quit my job now. We’re going into business together. You and me!

And then…

…KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Somebody’s at the door.

Surprise. Gary looks at the redhead.

Then looks at his watch.

Again…

…KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

GARY
That’s odd. The next appointment’s not until four.

Gary gets up from the table.

EXT. APARTMENT – FRONT DOOR – CONTINUOUS

A TALL MAN stands at the door.

Gary opens it.

TALL MAN
I hear you’ve got a redhead that provides outstanding companionship.

GARY
Indeed I do.

TALL MAN
Does she accept walk-ins?

Gary opens the door wide, inviting the Tall Man in.

GARY
Sure, come in. I’m Gary.

TALL MAN
You can call me John.

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS

The redhead sits on the center of the table.

Gary and the Tall Man walk in.

GARY
Here she is.

The Tall Man’s eyes go wide. He studies the redhead’s face.

TALL MAN
Where’d you find her?

GARY
I used to be a trash man. Found her in a dumpster. Nobody wanted her. But after a little T.L.C., she’s as good as new.

The Tall Man stands back, looking at the redhead.

TALL MAN
She reminds me of somebody.

GARY
Who?

TALL MAN
Somebody who wouldn’t listen. Somebody who wouldn’t shut up.

Gary smiles.

GARY
Well, you won’t have that problem with this one. The best listener money can buy. And she’ll never talk back or cut you off in the middle of a sentence.

TALL MAN
Have you informed the authorities about finding her? The police? I’m sure somebody’s concerned. Surely there must be a search for a missing woman —

GARY
(shaking head)
Not a soul. I’ve told nobody.

The Tall Man almost smiles.

GARY (CONT’D)
What would be the point, anyway? One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And business has been incredible. There will always be a human demand for companionship.

The Tall Man nods, humoring.

GARY (CONT’D)
With this gal, I’ve got the securest job town!

Gary pats the redhead on the top of the head.

GARY (CONT’D)
If things continue this way, I’ll be able to retire a lot earlier than I ever would have collecting trash.

The Tall Man’s getting worked up. He looks into the redhead’s eyes.

TALL MAN
How much time do I have?

Gary looks at his watch.

GARY
Tell you what. I’ll let you have two hours with her. I’ll only charge you for a quickie.

EXT. APARTMENT – FRONT DOOR – DAY

Late afternoon. A SHORT MAN knocks on the door.

INT. APARTMENT – KITCHEN – DAY

We can’t see the redhead at this angle.

We hear the Short Man APPROACHING the kitchen.

SHORT MAN (O.S.)
I’ve heard great things about her. Great listener. Not too talkative. And the price is right.
(beat)
And I love redheads.

The Short Man enters the kitchen, holding a wad of cash.

Drops his money. Horrified by what he sees on the table.

SHORT MAN
Where’s the redhead?

The Tall Man enters the kitchen.

TALL MAN
She’s gone on vacation.

The Tall Man joins the Short Man in the kitchen. They both stare at the HUMAN HEAD propped on the table.

For the first time, we see IT’S NOT THE REDHEAD.

TALL MAN (CONT’D)
But this one’s just as quiet. His name is Gary.

Gary’s disembodied head sits on the table where the redhead once was. Eyes and mouth wide open.

FADE TO BLACK.

Adapted from this and shared here.

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