Sleep State

Written By

Teresa Quiroz

tnquiroz@tlu.edu
INT. JAMIE'S APARTMENT - MORNING

SCREEN IS BLACK

AUDIO: TRAIN HORN GETTING CLOSER

JAMIE LIVELY, a 26 year old woman, opens her eyes, startled

awake by the noise.

She wakes up to see that she is standing in front of her

window looking out at the train passing by. She is wearing
pajamas and her hair is messy.

After she has noticeably calmed down, she yawns and turns
around to get ready for work.

SERIES OF SHOTS - Jamie getting ready for work

A) Jamie brushes her teeth

B) Jamie changes into new clothes

C) Jamie makes a cup of coffee

D) Jamie grabs her bag and a set of keys

INT. OFFICE - DAY

Jamie is sitting by her desk, typing on her computer.

MITCHIE, Jamie's friend and fellow intern, walks into the

room and sits in the desk next to Jamie's.

Mitchie turns to Jamie and notices the untouched COFFEE CUP

at the edge of Jamie's desk.

MITCHIE
She-Devil's late again? I guess she
really doesn't know her own schedule.

Jamie doesn't look away from her computer and continues

typing.

JAMIE
That's why she hired me.

MITCHIE
I'd hate to work for her. She treats
you like shit.

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 2.

JAMIE
The pay is good.

MITCHIE
Yeah, tell that to your studio
apartment.

Mitchie turns to her computer and finally turns it on to

start working, but then turns back to Jamie.

MITCHIE (CONT'D)
Oh, Donna from finance wants to go to
Shady's this Friday.

JAMIE
I don't know. I'm pretty busy.

MITCHIE
Oh, bullshit! We're going!

Jamie sighs.

JAMIE
I woke up standing by my window this
morning.

Mitchie visibly tenses and edges close to Jamie.

MITCHIE
Oh, shit. You're sleepwalking again?

JAMIE
Yeah.

Speak of the She-Devil and she shall appear. CARLA RICHARDS,

Luis & Co.'s famous accountant, enters the room. Jamie and
Mitchie visibly sit up tighter.

CARLA
Jamie, I need you to run downstairs
and pick up a few packages for me.

She doens't bother looking at her as she continues waking to

her office. Jamie gets up from her chair ready to follow
orders, but Carla interrupts her.

CARLA (CONT'D)
Oh, by the way. I need you to clear up
your lunch schedule. You'll be joining
me at the Harrison & Claude meeting. I
think it's time you start jumping in

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 3.

on these things.

JAMIE
Really?

Carla just gives her a look and walks into her office. Jamie
shares a triumphant look with Mitchie as she leaves the room.

INT. BAR - NIGHT

Mitchie and Jamie are sitting at a bar. Jamie is droning on

about work and Mitchie looks bored about it.

JAMIE
...and then Carla brought up their
accounts payable and you should have
seen the look on the dude's face. He
was like so offended...

Mitchie suddenly sees someone and interrupts Jamie. DRAKE, a

handsome man who screams money, approaches the ladies.

MITCHIE
Jamie, this is my friend Drake. Drake,
this is Jamie.

DRAKE
(To Jamie) Nice to meet you.

JAMIE
Nice to meet you, too.

EXT. BAR ENTRANCE - NIGHT

Jamie and Drake walk out of the bar, the couple obviously
have gotten close. Mitchie walks out with a few PARTY GIRLS.
She walks up to the two.

MITCHIE
Are you coming with us to Lucky's Bar?

JAMIE
It's late. I should really go home.

DRAKE
I can take you home, if you'd like.

From behind Drake, Mitchie shares a knowing look with Jamie,

all big smiles and teasing.

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 4.

JAMIE
That'd be great, actually.

DRAKE
Cool.

MITCHIE
Alright, then. I'll see you two later.

Jamie and Drake begin walking in the opposite direction.

Mitchie looks at the retreating couple for a moment before
turning around and catching up with the party girls.

INT. JAMIE'S APARTMENT HALLWAY - NIGHT

Jamie and Drake walk up to her apartment door.

JAMIE
This is me.

A beat.

JAMIE
Would you like to come in?

DRAKE
Of course.

The two walk in. The door closes.

INT. JAMIE'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Jamie wakes up in her bed, clutching her head in her hands

due to a headache. She is groggy. She sits up in bed and
wipes her eyes. Feeling something off, she looks down to see
her red stained hands. The white shirt she is wearing is also
stained red.

She looks around the room, then notices Drake's bloody body
lying on the floor next to her bed. She let's out a yelp,
covering her mouth with her hands. Then, she pulls them away,
inspecting them. Her eyes move from her hands to the
apartment window, as the train passes by. We see the look of
realization on her face, thus beginning her downward spiral.

INT. JAMIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Jamie is still sitting in her bed, her arms wrapped around

her knees. She's a mess. Drake's lifeless body is still on
the floor.

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 5.

Jamie gets up and throws a sheet onto his body.

EXT. APARTMENT ROOF - NIGHT

Jamie is dragging Drake's body wrapped in sheets. The city is

eerily quiet, with the exception of a few passing cars. Jamie
stuffs the body in a small shed full with some tools that
haven't been used in years. She closes the door and locks it
with a lock, throwing the key off the building.

INT. JAMIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Jamie spends the rest of the weekend in her apartment

freaking out. She paces and cries. She sits down and stares
blankly. She makes a lot of coffee. As night turns to day,
she sits, sipping at her coffee, never sleeping a wink.

INT. OFFICE - DAY

Jamie sits at her desk, but instead of typing away, she is

fighting sleep. Mitchie walks in, taking a seat at her desk.

MITCHIE
Oh my god, Jamie. You look like shit.

JAMIE
Thanks. I just didn't get enough sleep
last night.

MITCHIE
Yeah, I can tell. Oh! Tell me all
about your night with Drake. I texted
him but he didn't answer. You didn't
scare him away, did you?

Jamie looks slightly panic-stricken as she answers.

JAMIE
It was just a one night stand thing,
really. He was gone by the time I woke
up.

MITCHIE
Boo. I was hopping you two would hit
it off. Oh, by the way...

Mitchie leans in, lowering her voice.

MITCHIE (CONT'D)
Becca hooked me up with some addy at
the bar. You want some?

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 6.

JAMIE
Oh, uh, no thanks.

Mitchie shrugs, leaning away.

MITCHIE
Well, if you change your mind...

Carla walks into the room. She pauses when she gets to
Jamie's desk, looking around.

CARLA
Where's my coffee?

Jamie realizes she forgot it and immediately stands up.

JAMIE
I'm so sorry! I'll get it right away!

Carla looks at her irritated and walks into her office. Jamie
grabs her purse off her desk and rushes out the office,
Mitchie watching her as she goes.

MONTAGE - JAMIE MESSES UP AT WORK

-- WORK - Jamie can't get the printer to work.

-- WORK - Jamie is falling asleep at her desk.

-- APARTMENT - Jamie stays up, drinking her coffee and

exercising.

-- WORK - Jamie sits at her desk, slapping herself slightly

and blinking wildly.

-- WORK - In the breakroom, Jamie downs 2 energy drinks while

her coworkers stare.

-- WORK - Jamie walks into her office building, pauses, then

walks out. She walks back in with a coffee in her hand.

END MONTAGE

INT. OFFICE - DAY

Jamie is sitting at her desk, her face leaning on her hand.

She stares at nothing. Carla walks in, grabbing the coffee
from Jamie's desk, and takes a sip. She coughs, and stops,
turning to Jamie angrily.

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 7.

CARLA
What the hell is this? Did you forget
my fucking order?

She slams the coffee cup onto the desk, coffee sloshes
everywhere. Jamie sits up straight, stunned. Carla turns
around, stomping to her office and shutting the door.

Mitchie looks at Jamie, whispering.

MITCHIE
What's wrong with you lately? You
never mess up like this.

Jamie keeps her head down, the bags under her eyes are more
noticeable now.

JAMIE
I don't know. I just haven't been
sleeping well lately.

Carla's door bursts open and she comes rushing out, slamming
a handful of papers onto Jamie's desk. Jamie flinches.

CARLA
All these numbers are fucking wrong!
What, you can't do your job right
anymore?

JAMIE
I-

CARLA
Save it. Go home for the day. You're
no use to me like this.

JAMIE
But the Harrison & Claude meeting-

CARLA
I'll be going alone. Leave now.

Carla leaves. Jamie sits in her desk, stunned and defeated.

INT. JAMIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Later that day, Jamie is sitting in her apartment, head in

her hands. She grabs her laptop and searches "drugs that help
stay awake." One of the first searches that pops up lists
Adderall. She sits there for a moment and we see her make her
decision.

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INT. MITCHIE'S APARTMENT DOOR - DAY

Jamie rings the doorbell to Mitchie's lavish apartment.

Mitchie opens the door and greets Jamie with a smile.

MITCHIE
Jamie! Come in! Come in!

Jamie walks into the apartment, taking in the gloriousness of

it. Micthie leads her to a dining area.

MITCHIE
Do you want anything to drink? I've
never asked that before, I hardly have
visitors.

JAMIE
Sure. Uh, can I use your bathroom
first?

MITCHIE
Of course! It's next to the bedroom.
I'll make some tea in the meantime.

Mitchie walks into the kitchen. Jamie looks around and walks
past the living room and into the hall. She walks into
Mitchie's bedroom quietly and begins rifling through
Mitchie's bedside drawers. She finds nothing and walks into
the bathroom.

Jamie opens the medicine cabinet and quickly begins reading

the prescription bottles. Finding nothing, she begins opening
drawers and checking cabinets. In the cabinet underneath the
sink, she opens it to find a black, bloodied sledge hammer.
She sucks in a deep breath and slowly reaches out to grab it.

MITCHIE
You weren't supposed to see that.

Jamie quickly snaps up, turning to look at Mitchie. Her eyes

are cold and unwavering, she's never seen her like this.
Jamie swallows roughly, slowly processing it.

JAMIE
You...

MITCHIE
Yeah, me. Looking for these?

She pulls out a small bag filled with pills.

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 9.

MITCHIE (CONT'D)
You could have just asked me for them.
I was literally going to give them to
you. Now look what you did.

JAMIE
What?

MITCHIE
You ruined my plan! You were supposed
to get fired first. I had the drug
tests set up at work and everything...

Jamie looks confused and horrified at the same time.

MITCHIE
Oh, well. I guess I could still take
your job if you somehow end up dead. I
didn't want it to come to this...

Jamie tries to run, but Mitchie lunges for her, grabbing her
hair. Mitchie tackles Jamie to the ground and the two wrestle
around. Jamie continuously tries to escape, but Mitchie
manages to pull her away each time. Mitchie climbs on top of
Jamie, who is weak with fatigue.

Micthie wraps her hands around Jamie's neck, choking her.

Jamie kicks her legs and struggles under Mitchie's grip.
Mitchie presses down harder while Jamie gasps for breath.
From the corner of her eye, Jamie spots the sledgehammer in
the cabinet under the sink. She reaches her arm out to grasp
the hammer. She nudges the hammer towards her with her
fingers until she is able to firmly grasp it in her hand.

She takes the sledgehammer, and knocks it into Mitchie's head

with a hard swing. Mitchie falls off of Jamie's body,
releasing her. Jamie coughs, now being able to breathe.
Mitchie is stunned for a moment, then tries to attack Jamie
again. Jamie gets up and hits Mitchie in the head again. And
again. And again.

Jamie has blood splattered over her face and hands, and she's
breathing hard. She stops, let's go of the hammer, and stares
at Mitchie's lifeless body, sensing a moment of deja vu.

Jamie stands up and leaves the bathroom. She slowly walks to

Mitchie's bed and lies down in it, laying face up. She stares
at the ceiling for a moment, wondering what feels worse:
wondering how she killed a man in her sleep or knowing she
killed a woman while she was awake.

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 10.

Her eyes flutter closed, and Jamie does what she hasn't been
able to do for a while: she sleeps.

FADE TO BLACK

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