Smoke Signals

    Excerpt from Becoming Emily by Brad Havens (formatted to fit this blog post)  INT. BAR - DAY  Joe stands at the bar with a brand new, unopened bottle of whiskey and a shot glass in front of him. Jillian stands to one side, pretending to clean and ignoring Joe.  Joe looks from the bottle to the clock. It’s not quite ten in the morning. He fidgets, looking at his phone, putting it back on the bar. Watching the TV. He looks from the clock to the bottle and back again.  INSERT CU - CLOCK turns 10AM  Joe shrugs and picks up the bottle.                                                                             JOE                           Double digits. Fuck it.  He cracks the seal on the bottle and starts to pour himself a shot.                                                                             JILLIAN                           Hey, Joe - you catch that game last night?                                                                             JOE                           W

  Excerpt from Becoming Emily by Brad Havens (formatted to fit this blog post)  INT. JOE’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT  Joe comes out of the bedroom, pistol in hand.  Mary Anne is upright, kneeling on the couch, gripping a pillow tightly in her hands like she’s strangling it. Joe watches her writhe, seeming to fight with herself as she straightens, still kneeling on the couch. She pantomimes holding a gun against the pillow and says in a husky voice:                                                                             MARY ANNE                           I told you shut the fuck up, bitch.  She shoves the pillow into her crotch, grinding against it as she tilts her head back.                                                                             JOE                           What the hell are you doing?  She seems to jolt out of it for a second, Joe sees tears pouring down her face. He moves to put a hand on her shoulder.                                                 

Excerpt from Becoming Emily by Brad Havens (formatted to fit this blog post)  INT. POLICE STATION - INTERVIEW ROOM #2 - SAME  The Girl sits comfortably as she can in the stiff chair, staring off, randomly skimming her gaze across the room. She seems almost relaxed in her composure. She becomes more attentive, looking to the mirror at one side of the room. Taking a deep breath, she turns her head slowly from the mirror to the door.  The door opens and Joe steps halfway in. He freezes. They stare for a long moment, eyes riveted to each other.  Joe recovers himself and steps all the way into the room, letting the door close behind him. He moves cautiously, bringing the cup of water to her, leaving it on the table within her reach. The stare at each other.  Joe remembers the chair and sits down to face her. He notices the blood on her chest.                                                                             JOE                           I’m Lieutenant Detective Joe Merrit. I’m lea