The Artist

written by

Brandon Ingram

Contact: bingramproductions@gmail.com
FADE IN:

EXT. ABANDONED HOUSE - DUSK

DETECTIVE MARSHAL walks up to the door of the abandoned
house. Detective Marshal, early 40s, is a slightly burly man
wearing a black sports coat over his button up and tie, with
brown pants to follow.
The Detective opens the half-rotted door of the abandoned
house and is greeted by a foul smell that hits hard.

The reaction of the Detective is of the foul smell trying to

overcome him, as he involuntarily squints his face.
As the Detective is closing the door behind him, OFFICER
LANGLEY, late 20s, comes up to greet him at the doorway in
the abandoned house.
OFFICER LANGLEY
Not the best smell is it?
DETECTIVE MARSHAL
Well, Langley, can't say I ever got
used to it.
OFFICER LANGLEY
You're reaction wasn't as bad as
Shepherd's...
Officer Langley points his thumb behind him, as if Shepherd
is in the adjacent room he is pointing to.
OFFICER LANGLEY (CONT’D)
He ran outside... blew chunks right
near where you came in at.
DETECTIVE MARSHAL
All from the smell?
Officer Langley looks a bit shaken.
OFFICER LANGLEY
No... The smell's nothing compared
to what's in there.
DETECTIVE MARSHAL
I guess I should get in there then.
Detective Marshal starts to walk toward the other room, but
Langley holds his hand up to stop him.
 2.

OFFICER LANGLEY
Hold on detective. There's
something you need to see first.
The Officer points the Detective to a table near them.
OFFICER LANGLEY (CONT’D)
This guy ain't like the others.
DETECTIVE MARSHAL
All of these nut jobs are the same,
Langley.
OFFICER LANGLEY
This one's on something else, sir.
Detective Marshal begins walking over to the table as Officer
Langley is talking.
OFFICER LANGLEY (CONT’D)
You're gonna need your gloves.
Detective Marshal gets to the table.
As he is putting on his gloves, its revealed that what is on
the table is a slightly stained, sealed envelope.
The writing on the envelope reads "Open Detective Before
Entry".
DETECTIVE MARSHAL
Jesus Christ, this guy's into
theatrics?
OFFICER LANGLEY
Sir, you have no idea. This one's
different.
Detective Marshal opens the envelope with his gloved hands.
He pulls out a stained, folded letter with splotches of dried
blood on it.
Detective Marshal looks back at Officer Langley, who is as
pale as a ghost by this point.
Detective Marshal unfolds the letter and begins reading it
aloud.
DETECTIVE MARSHAL
“I felt nothing ‘til I saw it. No
one would understand. No one would
know how it feels — only me. I have
a bond with it, much like the rest.
(MORE)
 3.
DETECTIVE MARSHAL (CONT’D)
An artist always has a bond with
their work. Mother had a bond with
her work, but mine is different.
She would struggle with where the
next stroke of the brush would be;
with my brush, I had no problem
such as that. She struggled with
the long nights on the same work; I
have a new piece every night.
Mother was good — I am great. Where
she struggled to have her art
displayed at the town’s gallery,
mine will soon be displayed to the
public nationwide. She lacked the
knowledge of what the people truly
wanted. She had to go bigger,
bolder than landscape paintings.
She needed to reach humanity
itself. That’s where we truly
differ; why I’m successful, and why
she died penniless and unknown. You
have to show the people the beauty
of themselves to catch their
attention. This is truly art. Not
anyone can do it though. I would
say no one other than me can
capture the beauty of it all. So, I
ask you this: Did I capture your
attention? Do you see the true
beauty within?”
Somewhat shaken by this letter, Detective Marshal then says:
DETECTIVE MARSHAL (CONT’D)
Signed, The Artist.
Detective Marshal looks at Officer Langley almost with
confusion.
Officer Langley looks more horrified than confused.
OFFICER LANGLEY
(shaken)
Jesus Christ.
DETECTIVE MARSHAL
What?
DETECTIVE MARSHAL (CONT’D)
(slightly agitated)
What is it Langley?
Langley is just frozen there, not wanting to move.
 4.

Detective Marshal moves past Officer Langley and starts to go

into the other room with the letter still in hand.
When the Detective reaches the entrance to the other room, he
is stopped by the sight of which he sees.
The Detective's face is in shock as he looks upon what we
cannot see.
Officer Langley comes up behind him, seeing the sight that we
are not able to see as well.
Langley looks sick from the sight.
He quickly turns around, as vomiting can be heard coming from
him.
The Detective remains there, motionless by the sight that is
in front of him.
DETECTIVE MARSHAL (CONT’D)
(somewhat horrified look
by what he sees in front
of him)
Oh my God.
CUT TO BLACK.
END.