X-MAN SCREENPLAY by BRIAN R. LUNDIN (ereader for comics txt) 📕

the other evening.

LOUISE
Please come in.

INT. HOUSE FRONT ROOM

Louise led them into a large front room and motioned them to sit.

RINGO
What happened?

LOUISE
Well, I left the Melony Fitness Center about 4:00pm and drove to my shop on 47th Street. After closing the shop I came home, did a little puttering around the house and went to the garage. I didn’t hear anyone come in and suddenly the lights went out and I was knocked unconscious. After a while, I don’t know how long, I awaken and this man was raping me, I tried to get him off me but he was too strong and he put a big knife at my throat and told me to shut up or he would cut my throat. He then put a filthy rag in my mouth and I tied a pair of pantyhose around my neck and began choking me. I had nearly passed out when I heard someone come into the garage. The man got off me and I saw him run out the garage when I came to my senses I recognized GEORGE PEPPERS my next door neighbor who drove me to Provident Hospital. The police brought me home, took a report and processed the garage for evidence.

EVETTA
What did he look like?

LOUISE
I really didn’t get a good look at him, but I could tell he was a small man, but strong, but I keep getting this impression that I’ve seen him somewhere.

EVETTA
Let us know if you think of anything, no matter how small. In the meantime we’ll check with the hospital for additional information.

RINGO
Let’s search the back yard first, and then the garage.

EXT. BACKYARD

The large back yard lawn was well kept and manicured and had a security camera on a post aimed at the building. There was an expensive-looking covered propane barbecue cooker and a wheeled wooded cart sat next to the cooker that contained tongs and other grilling items, we continued to the one car-garage. Ringo glanced through a basement window into a room that contained a pool table, a large plasma television and other furniture. Pots of colorful flowers lined the redwood deck and along the edges of the yard were planted flowers and a circular bird feeder hung from a tree branch.

INT. GARAGE

We entered the garage, a tool holder containing various tools rested in a corner. A BMW took up most of the floor space and a ten-speed bicycle hung on two brackets on a wall. A set of weights was in a box on a worktable and a Melony flyer. A garden hose was neatly wrapped around a hose holder attached to the garage wall.

EVETTA
Anything on the security camera?

LOUISE
I doubt it, it’s not working.

On the dusty cement of the concrete floor, amid countless faint impressions left by shoes, I spotted the outline of a small shoe print and a large X drew in the dust.

RINGO
Call Turner and tell him to get over here right away and tell him that we’ve got something.

A half-hour later Charley Turner arrived and made impressions of the shoe print and the X.

TURNER
Seems the same size of the impression we found in White’s bedroom, a little man, I’d say about five feet. Let’s see if we can get a comparison.

RINGO
Let’s talk with Mr. Pepper.

I and Evetta walked across the alley a man was placing garbage into the can.

EXT. 4916 VINCENSE AVENUE

EVETTA
Mr. Pepper?
MR.PEPPER
Yes?


George Pepper was fifty-five years old and a big man well over six feet we identified ourselves.

RINGO
We’re investigating the rape of your neighbor, what happened?

MR.PEPPER
My garage is directly across the alley from Mrs. Johnson and I usually watch out for her when she comes home. Well, the night of the incident I was cleaning out some of the junk in my garage when I saw this little guy in her yard, he didn’t look like her type and he seemed to be sneaking around. I saw the garage light go on and I heard Mrs. Johnson humming some song, well anyway, shortly thereafter the lights went out and I heard what sounded like a struggle coming from the garage, I got a tire iron and went to investigate and I saw this little asshole raping Mrs. Johnson and had something tied around her neck, when he saw me he jumped off her and waived a big knife at me, but before I could crack him with the iron and he ran out hard dick and all. I helped Mrs. Johnson to her feet and took her to the hospital.

Evetta taking noted.

RINGO
Did you get a good look at him?

MR. PEPPER
Sure did, he was a little fuck, I don’t think he was five feet tall, light brown skin but well built, like someone who works out.

EVETTA
Think you could identify him.

MR.PEPPER
I’m pretty sure I can.

RINGO
You’ve been a great help, Mr. Pepper, I’ll have a detective take you to our office and hopefully you can pick this pervert out.

EXT. 4916 FORRESTVILLE

As Ringo and Evetta headed to their car an excited Louise ran from her house.

LOUISE
I remembered where I saw him; he’s a member of my health club.

INT. MELONY FITNESS CENTER-12 APRIL 2008

An attractive black female receptionist greeted Ringo and Evetta her name tag read JULIE. She was wearing a white see-through, low-cut blouse that showed her black athletic bra, in a seductive voice she said.

JULIE
Hello there, here for a workout?

Evetta flashed her badge.
EVETTA
Not today, but I’ve got a question for you, can you check your records and see if a Louise Johnson and a Cynthia White is one of your member?
Julie flashed a big smile at Ringo.

JULIE
Sure.
Julie turned to her compute.
Here they are Louise Johnson, joined the club in 2007, White joined in February this year.

EVETTA
Can you tell us the last time they were here?
Julie typed in a few keys and scanned the computer screen.

JULIE
White two weeks ago, Johnson two days ago.

EVETTA
Thanks!
Julie was looking at Ringo and smiling. Evetta put her arms under Ringo’s and they walked to the weight room.
EVETTA
Not your type!

RINGO
(smiling)
Yes, mama

INT. WEIGHT ROOM
LEE a personal trainer was sitting on a workout bench sipping water from a bottle. She smiled and rose when she saw Ringo and Evetta

RINGO
I didn’t know you worked out here.

LEE
Yeah, I split my time between the one in River Oaks and here. Guess you’re not her for a workout.
RINGO
Not today Lee got a question for you. Do you know these women?
Ringo showed Lee a photograph of Louise and Cynthia.

LEE
Yes, that’s Louise; I worked her out a couple of times. The other woman I’ve seen her but I don’t know her name she was in the aerobic class.

EVETTA
What kind of person is Louise?

LEE
Kind of bossy, very intense. She was an adrenaline addict and she pushed her body to the limits.

RINGO
Did she associate with anyone in here?

LEE
A couple of times I saw her in the Health Bar with a little guy I don’t know his name.

RINGO
What about White, ever see her with anyone?
LEE
No I would see her come in do her workout and leave s seemed like a nice girl. She and Ronald Burke was in the s same class and I remember seeing them leave together a couple a weeks ago, that’s him over there standing at the bar talking with the lady.

I looked at the man. He was tall and muscular with a small waist and powerful looking arms and legs. He was very dark skinned but had sharp, attractive features.

LEE
Real ladies man, real smooth and got a line of bullshit from here to Gary.

EVETTA
Ever try the bullshit on you?

LEE
(winking at Ringo)
Hell yes, but only once, I like real men, like the Ringo, not boy toys.

RINGO
You’re going to make me blush.

EVETTA
Go on, you look cute when you blush. Thanks Lee, see you later.

INT. RECEPTIONIST DESK
RINGO
(flashing an enormous smile)
One last request.

Julie rose from her seat, revealing well-muscled legs and a shapely body.


JULIE
Anything for you detective.

Julie leaned across the counter revealing her large breast and smiled at Ringo and ignored Evetta.
RINGO
Is there a little man registered, good lookin good physic?

The receptionist bent over her computer displaying a well-rounded ass. Evetta looked at Ringo and shook her head.
JULIE
That’s sounds like Esau Sneed he joined the club two years ago.

EVETTA
(excited)
Got an address and phone number.

JULIE
(still bent over)

EVETTA
(Harshly)
Printout please!
Adjusting her low cut top Julie typed on the compute and in a moment gave Ringo the printout.

EVETTA
How often is he here?

JULIE
Two or three times a week, work out in the weight room generally but he’s weird seems like he high all the time.

Ringo leaned across the desk and looked down Julie’s low cut blouse.

RINGO
Here’s my card it got my cell and home number, give me a call the next time he’s here and maybe we can have dinner sometime.

Smiling Julie slowly slid the card in her bra.

JULIE
Sounds like a winner to me, I certainly will call and take you up on that dinner.

As we were walking away Evetta looked at me and rolled her eyes.
EVETTA
You’re the biggest bullshiter I know.

RINGO
I learned from the best.

INT. QUADRANGLE APARTMENT- 14 APRIL 2008-EVENNG
The doorman ranged John’s apartment and announced that a Monique Brown had arrived; Ringo was at the door and watched as she walked from the elevator. She carried a large bag, but still had the grace of an African princess. She wore a white pleaded skirt and a green pleated blouse, gold earrings danced from her ear lobes


MONIQUE
Dinner time, I’m counting on the fact that you have probably not had a good, old-fashioned, soul food meal in a while.

RINGO
Good guess.
MONIQUE
Show me the kitchen and get out the way and get a bottle of the Chianti out and let it breathe.

Ringo did as ordered and sat down on the kitchen island chair and watched her as she unpacked the bag. A sudden cool breeze blew through the slightly opened window and captured the scent of her perfume.
RINGO
Like Miles?
MONIQUE
Heck yeah, got “Porgy and Bess?

Ringo put the CD on and watched as Monique began placing microwave food containers on the island counter, she removed a lid.
MONIQUE
Smothered chicken and gravy, steamed rice and vegetables, home-made buttermilk biscuits.

RINGO
This is a treat a toast!


MONIQUE
To home cooking.

We changed our wine glasses.
RINGO
To the chef.

Monique slowly sipped the wine, humming her approval. MONIQUE
I know white wine is supposed to go with fish and chicken, but the gravy makes the meal unique, so the red is fine.

Ringo got the silverware and plates out the cabinet