THE METAL TOMB

Written by

Venisia Gonzalez

Based on, The Metal Tomb by Venisia Gonzalez

3929 W 242nd St Apt. 34, Torrance, CA 90505

Email: venisiagonzalez@hotmail.com
(424) 350-6736
INT. CAR TRUNK - NIGHT

SARAH FLINN, early 20’s and athletic, gasps for air as she
gropes along the interior space of the trunk.

SARAH
Help! Somebody please, help me!

Turning her body, she feels for the tail lights. She searches
for the edging, gripping the cloth with her fingertips. She
tugs until she hears a TEAR. She punches into the opening.
Her knuckles crack from the impact against the hard plastic.

She can see a road, grass, and a distant lamp post. She turns
moving her hands inward, feeling for anything useful to pry
open the trunk. She moves her feet feeling and listening for
a reaction – there it is: a CLANK of metal rubbing alongside
the trunk.

She uses her left foot to edge off her right shoe, bending
her leg to slip off her sock, sliding it back in place. Using
her toes, she reaches to grip the smooth metal, using her
heel to push it toward her fingertips. Her fingers pull the
metal object into her hand and she brings it to her chest
exhaling in relief.

INT. CAR TRUNK - EARLY MORNING

Sarah’s ears perk and her eyes widen at the sound of a

BARKING dog. She bangs with the tire iron on the roof of the
trunk.

SARAH
Help, someone help me please!

EXT. OUTSIDE CAR TRUNK, ON SIDEWALK

GENTLEMAN
Hello? Is someone there?

Sarah stretches her fingers through the tail light opening.

SARAH
Yes, I’m trapped here Please, help
me, I’m in the trunk.

INT. CAR TRUNK

Her fingers feel the wet nose of a dog and she hears it
sniffing at the opening. It barks toward the GENTLEMAN and
she feels the touch of a human.
 2.

GENTLEMAN
Oh my God. Hold on.

He speaks to someone detailing his dog’s discovery and a car.

He gives an address and pleads for their immediate help.

GENTLEMAN
What’s your name? I have 911 on the
phone and they’re sending help.

SARAH
My- my- my name is Sa- rah. Sarah
Flinn.

GENTLEMAN
Hold on, Sarah. Help is coming.

Sarah hears other voices closing in. Sirens RING in the

distance, moving in closer. Doors SLAM and SHOUTING is all
around her.

GENTLEMAN
Over here, officer. Over here.

Sarah’S ears RING from the loud POUNDING on the trunk. She
cannot focus on her rescuer’s voice. The sound of CRUNCHING
metal surrounds her with a rush of crisp air. Her eyes sting
from the light and she throws her hands over to shield them.
Salvation is now hers.

INT. HOSPITAL - HOUR LATER

Sarah staring at the ceiling tuning the nurses and doctors

out, focuses on the events. She remembers leaving class,
riding her bicycle towards the library, and then awaking in
the trunk. She remembers her rescuers's voice and how it
seemed familiar.

OFFICER JACOBS
Sarah, can you hear me? Do you know
who put you in the trunk?

OFFICER JACOBS, mid-40’s, and husky build, is a detective

with the Nashville Police Department.

SARAH
Sorry, what did you say?

OFFICER JACOBS
Do you know who put you in the
trunk?
 3.

SARAH
No, but who found me?

OFFICER JACOBS
A man walking his dog. Do you have
any enemies? Did you notice anyone
following you?

SARAH
His voice, his voice seems familiar
to me.

OFFICER JACOBS
Who’s voice? The person who took
you?

Officer Jacobs hands the NURSE his card, ordering OFFICERS to

stand guard over Sarah. He’ll need to speak with her again.

EXT. UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - LATE AFTERNOON

Police comb over the university asking students if they saw

anything suspect yesterday. Officer Jacobs shows a photo of
SARAH to those he questions.

INT. CLASSROOM

OFFICER JACOBS waits on PROFESSOR CONROY’s lecture to finish.

PROFESSOR CONROY, mid-50’s, slender physique, is a professor

of Psychology at the University of Tennessee. He is known for
his friendly attitude amongst students.

As the classroom clears out, Officer Jacobs approaches

Professor Conry.

OFFICER JACOBS
Professor Conroy?

PROFESSOR CONROY
Yes, may I help you, officer?

OFFICER JACOBS (DETECTIVE JACOBS)

Jacobs. Detective Jacobs. Do you
know this girl?

PROFESSOR CONROY
Yes, that is Sarah Flinn. She’s one
of my students. Why? Is everything
okay?
 4.

DETECTIVE JACOBS
She was found this morning. It
appears she was taken, perhaps from
campus, against her will. Do you
know if she has problems with any
students? Has she mentioned
anything?

PROFESSOR CONROY
Oh my God! No, not that I can think
of. Sarah has never said anything.
She gets along with everyone. Is
she okay?

DETECTIVE JACOBS
Yes; fortunately she was found. I
cannot say anything else. Did you
notice anything out of the ordinary
yesterday during or after class?
Anything can help shed light on
what’s happened.

PROFESSOR CONROY
No, not that I can think of. Sarah
left class after turning in her
paper. We’re discussing the Effects
of Paranoia in today’s society.

INT. HOSPITAL - SARAH’S ROOM - EVENING

Sarah is lying in her bed, dreaming of “his” voice when she

hears the door CREAK open.

PROFESSOR CONROY
Hello, Sarah. How is your paranoia
now? Do you still believe it’s a
fantastic idea?

SARAH
You, it was you! You put me there,
but why?

PROFESSOR CONROY
Do you still think I lack the
ability to motivate you?

SARAH
Why would you trap me and then
pretend to find me? How could you?

PROFESSOR CONROY
You wanted to believe, I led you.
 5.

SARAH
You gave me fear and distrust.

PROFESSOR CONROY
I gave you meaning and faith to
believe in that dark place you
refuse to acknowledge. I helped
you.

SARAH
I fought you and now I’m supposed
to thank you? For what? Letting me
out after you put me there. No, no
I owe you nothing. Did you scare
me? Yes. Did you win? No. Salvation
is mine.

PROFESSOR CONROY
How do you suppose you will find
salvation my dear, naive, Sarah?

The curtain opens slightly.

DETECTIVE JACOBS
Hello, Professor.

Sarah’s door opens revealing other officers waiting with

handcuffs.