Day Five

Day Five
Yaejin Park


MADISON, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES 2006 MAY

INT, - HOME- DAY

KARL, a sixteen year-old boy preparing for SAT subjects test, is looking out the window. The alarm clock rings and his day starts.

A pair of bare feet is shown rushing up the stairs, leading the owner of the feet, Mother, to Karl’s room. She knocks on the door hard.

MOTHER
Karl, wake up!
(knocks the door three times more)
It’s seven o’ clock already!

KARL
(mumbling)
I am awake. I will be down stairs in a bit.
(hears his mother going down stairs)

INT, -HOME- DAY

Karl goes downstairs for breakfast.

MOTHER
Now, listen. I will be home late again tonight, so you should study hard, and I want to…

Karl pretends to listen and plays around with his breakfast.

MOTHER
…see you working even after I come back from work. Got it?
KARL
(stands up)
Got it.

Karl grabs his bag and rushes outside.

EXT, -IN FRONT OF KARL’S HOME- DAY

Karl stares around, and he sees…



SERIES OF SHOTS:

A) A middle-aged woman walking her dog

B) Children waving good-bye to their mothers

C) Houses

D) ** The house in front of Karl’s

Karl frowns a little and stares at the house. A hand shows up slowly behind Karl’s shoulder and grabs on Karl’s shoulder.

KARL
AAARGGH!!
(turns around and sees CHRISTOPHER)
Christopher! What did you do that for?!

CHRISTOPHER
Surprised?
(grins and then leans on a tree)

Karl gives a sarcastic sigh and rolls his eyes at the same time. They wait for the bus in silence.

INT, -IN FRONT OF LOCKER, SCHOOL- DAY

Christopher and Karl walk in to the school building and meet ANNIE, their friend, waiting for them in front of the locker.

ANNIE
(smiling)
You guys are always late.

CHRISTOPHER
Class didn’t start yet, in case you haven’t noticed.
(opening his locker)

ANNIE
Anyways…how are your SAT studies going? I studied like mad over the weekends. I think this part of…

KARL
(ANNIE’S voice dims out, and KARL is thinking)
It has been three years since then already…



EXT, -FRONT YARD- DAY

KARL’S brother is arguing with MOTHER in a loud voice.


BROTHER
(slightly unstable on his feet; has a bottle of alcohol in one hand)
This is my life! I am just a helpless loser that has ruined his future! Just let me deal with it and it will end someday!

MOTHER
I knew that you would fall this way. I knew it when you started to fail in school! And don’t you dare talk to me that way, young man!
(stands with arms crossed)

BROTHER
Oh, now I don’t have the freedom to talk as I usually did, do I?
(takes a swig from the bottle)
Then I will just leave! I will leave and find some place where nobody cares about how I talk!
(turns back violently and walks out to the street. Very unstable)
(mutters) Some mother I have…

A truck is coming and KEVIN does not notice. KARL runs toward KEVIN.

KARL
(running)
MOVE!!!!!!

A loud THUNK and the sound of wheels screeching is heard. KARL shuts his eyes tight and turns his face away.

KARL
(runs toBROTHER’S body and then falls on knees. Holds BROTHER’S body)
Kevin? Kevin? (shakes the body a little and then starts to cry silently)

INT, -IN FRONT OF SCHOOL LOCKER- AFTER THE FLASHBACK

In KARL’S flashback, KARL’S own voice fades away and he, instead, hears ANNIE calling his name.


ANNIE
(waves her hand in front of KARL’S face)
Karl? Hello? Knock-knock. Your soul still in there?

KARL
(suddenly returns from his flashback)
Hmm? What?

ANNIE
(sighs and looks at her watch)
Gosh, we’ve only got one minute ‘till the bell rings!

All three students start to run.

INT, –INSIDE THE CLASSROOM- DAY

The students, including KARL, are waiting for the teacher

STUDENT 1
I wonder how I did on the test I took last week.

STUDENT 2
(sighs deeply)
I don’t want to know. I will burn it as soon as I get it.
(laughs sarcastically)

STUDENT 3
(looks out the door)
Hey, hey! He’s coming!

The teacher struts in with a large stack of paper in his hands

TEACHER
Well, good morning, class. Before we start on any lessons today, I just want to say that I am totally disgusted by your scores. We only have two A’s, and the rest are crawling on the floor.
(passes out the packet)

As paper is passed out to each student, they moan, groan, and mumble. Two students crumple the paper and put it in their bags.

KARL sees his score on the paper and gives a relieved sigh




TEACHER
Now then,
(turning around and holding up a board marker)
today we will learn about…

Camera shows KARL and then fades away.

INT, –POLICE STATION- DAY

SHARON, a young, new woman police officer, is sitting with her head down

Another police comes to wake her up.

POLICE 1
Sharon?
(taps SHARON’S shoulder gently)

SHARON
(staying in the same position)
I am not sleeping.

POLICE 1
Yeah…I thought you weren’t. So…
(pulls up a chair beside SHARON and plops down on it)
What are you going to do about Moore?

SHARON
He’s only a robber. I don’t care what happens to him now. My job was done right after he was thrown into that cell.
(Raising her head and then standing up sluggishly)
If you’ll excuse me…

SHARON goes into one of the stalls in the restroom, and the view is moved to KARL’S front yard as the stall’s door is slammed shut.

KARL, with backpack slung to one side, rushes into home.

KARL goes upstairs to his room and throws his bag near his desk. He drags himself near his desk and takes out his books for studying.

The view of KARL studying during day is faded away and is placed with KARL getting ready for sleep way past midnight.



INT. –CHRISTOPHOER’S HOME- PAST MIDNIGHT

Everything looks green (as if looking through glasses that lets one see in green light)

KARL
(thinking)
What the…?

KARL sees a pair of black gloved hands moving. He is in the hand’s owner’s view.

CHRISTOPHER is snoring on his bed.

The hands approach CHRISTOPHER…

CHRISTOPHER
(waking up with a snort and looks around)
Wh…who…what?
(sees the hand’s owner and backs up against a wall)
Wha…what?

One of the gloved hands reaches somewhere and brings up a knife. The knife reflects the moonlight and is shiny

KARL
(thinking)
What the… Hey! Chris! Run!

CHRISTOPHER remains in the same position and the black gloved hands approach closer in slow speed

KARL
(thinking)
Shoot! Can’t you hear me? Oh God, Chris! No!!

The view is turned to CHRISTOPHER’S shadow on a wall. The black gloved person stabs the knife into CHRISTOPHER’S chest.

INT. –HOME- DAY

Screaming, Karl awakes. He looks all around his room, looks at his hands, and then gives a sigh of relief.


EXT. –FRONT YARD OF THE EMPTY HOUSE- MORNING

A crowd of police and people in the neighborhood are gathered around CHRISTOPHER’S body (covered in white sheet except for his head), including Sharon.

POLICE 1
(slowly rowing his head sideways)
I didn’t expect any crime like this in our city.

SHARON
(looking down sourly at the body)
Who is this? Looks like a normal highschool boy…

POLICE 2 puts yellow tape that says “Crime Scene” on the entrance of the front yard.

KARL opens the door of his house and sees the crowd. He approaches them carefully, trying to look what is in the circle.

Few people from the neighborhood leave and the camera is focused on CHRISTOPHER’S body.

KARL sees CHRISTOPHER’S face and is appalled.

INT. –SCHOOL HALLWAY- DAY

As KARL walks unstably into the hallway, he sees…

SERIES OF SHOTS:

A) Students in groups whispering

B) One girl crying and her friends trying to calm her down

C) One teacher praying in the corner with tear-stained face

D) Annie staring at him with swollen eyes

KARL’S breathing becomes faster and he runs to the restroom.

KARL goes into one of the restroom stalls and slams the door behind him. He sinks down on the corner and starts to sob.

The scene fades out and camera shows a light stand and the alarm clock in KARL’S room.

Camera shows KARL sleeping on his bed with a pillow stained with his tears.


INT. –ANNIE’S HOME- PAST MIDNIGHT

KARL is in the black-gloved person’s view. He sees ANNIE concentrating on her studies.

KARL
(thinking)
Annie? No…no…! Please…run away!

The hands approach ANNIE from her back with a rope. ANNIE turns around and sees the owner of the black gloves.

The camera view is moved to the window of ANNIE’S room, and ANNIE’S scream is heard.

Sudden view change to the front yard of the empty house


EXT. –FRONT YARD OF THE EMPTY HOUSE- MORNING

The police, including SHARON, and the neighbors are gathered around the gate. ANNIE’S body is covered all over with a white sheet.

POLICE 1
(frowning and arms crossed)
Two murders in two days… I bet it’s the same person, and it is very possible that someone here might have done it.

SHARON silently watches the body. She turns her view to KARL’S house

Camera focus on KARL’S home and others made blurry.

EXT. –PORCH OF KARL’S HOME-/ INT. –HOME- MORNING

KARL is crouched in the corner of his room with his face buried in his hands. He hears the doorbell ring. He goes downstairs swaying side to side.

POLICE 3 knocks on the door again gently.

KARL opens the door and just stares at POLICE 3





POLICE 3
Good morning, sir. As you see…
(pointing out to the crime scene)
…there was a murder around here, and if you don’t mind, I would like to ask you a few questions.
(takes out a notepad and a pen)
Where were you and what were you doing at 4:00 AM?

KARL stares at the ground.

POLICE 3
(checks KARL’S face worriedly)
Sir?

KARL
I was…sleeping.
(looks up with tearful eyes)
I am sorry. I cannot answer any questions right now. Have a nice day.
(shuts the door)

POLICE 3 shrugs and sighs. He walks back to the crime scene and starts to talk with SHARON.

SHARON
(glancing at KARL’S home)
So what did the boy say?
(turns her view back to POLICE 3)

POLICE 3
(grinning slightly)
You were watching, eh? Well…he didn’t say anything. He just said that he can’t answer anything right now. He seemed like he was about to burst into tears… (trails away and is heard in small sound)

SHARON starts to glare at KARL’S house again.


INT, -CLASSROOM- DAY

KARL is in his seat, palms flat on the table and his head tilted sideways. Two students talk about the murder.

STUDENT 4
(spinning a pen in his hand)
Hey, did you hear? There was a second murder while we were sleeping.

STUDENT 5
(writing on her paper)
Yeah…my parents are thinking about moving to New York. They are scared that they might find me in bed, murdered.

STUDENT 6
(slamming his fist on his desk)
This should stop, you know. Hey, look around. No one’s joking around in school anymore. I hate this atmosphere! Why should we be tense just because of a mad criminal?

STUDENT 3
(glancing at the glass on the door)
Hey, back to your seats. He’s coming.

TEACHER comes in quietly and walks in big, slow steps to the front of the class.

TEACHER
(sighing)
As you already know, Annie has been murdered last night.

One of the students dissolves into tears

STUDENT 6
(hits his hands hard on his desk and stands up. Chair is knocked down. Yells)
Why do we have to start class this way? We are already exhausted because of all the grieving we have done.
(lets his face drop and starts to sob)
I hate this place… I hate this world…

The sound fades away and KARL is sitting in the same position. Tears roll down his cheeks.


INT. –HOME-NIGHT

KARL picks up a photo of him, CHRISTOPHER, and ANNIE together.

KARL
(smiling tearfully)
You guys really went…there is no more Annie or Christopher beside me. No more Annie or Christopher beside me to talk or laugh.

KARL puts the picture down next to his stack of books. He lies in the bed and starts to fall asleep.
INT. –STUDENT 1’S HOME- NIGHT

KARL is again in the view of the black gloved person. STUDENT 1 sleeps.

KARL
(thinking)
Please…avoid…


As the hands approaches STUDENT 1’S neck, KARL looks away and he is awake.


EXT. –IN FRONT OF THE EMPTY HOUSE- DAY

KARL opens the door and sees the crowd of police and SHARON. He looks away and walks to where the bus stops. SHARON calls KARL

SHARON
(scans KARL from head to feet)
Are you this student’s friend?

KARL
(without looking)
No, and I think this is none of your business.

SHARON
(lips curl)
Unfortunately, it is. You, kiddo, will have to cooperate with the police…or you wouldn’t be too happy, and neither would we.

The bus arrives.

KARL
(puts a foot in the bus)
Well, thank you for your advice. Hope I don’t have to help because I can’t!
(stomps into the bus)

SHARON
(whispers)
Well, we’ll see about that.

INT. –CLASSROOM- DAY

TEACHER is carrying on with the lesson. KARL falls asleep during class


TEACHER
…and so, the general conquered the country in 1893…
(turns around and notices KARL sleeping)
Karl?

KARL does not move. The TEACHER taps on KARL’S head.

KARL wakes up

KARL
(pulling his head up)
Hmmph…yeah?

TEACHER shakes his head and frowns.

TEACHER
(looks at everyone)
Look…I know we have had tragedies here recently…
(glances at STUDENT 6)
…and I know that we have the big test tomorrow. It is my job, a teacher’s job, to help you guys get the highest point possible.
(turns around and wipes his eyes )
Let’s not make it hard for anyone, okay?

The bell rings and students pack their bags.

INT. –HOME- NIGHT

KARL is studying and pokes his thigh with a pencil to stay awake.

The scene fades away and KARL is seen sleeping with his head down on his desk.

INT. –STUDENT 6’S HOME- NIGHT

KARL has his vision in STUDENT 6’S home. One of the hands is holding an iron pipe. STUDENT 6 is cramming for the exam.

The hands approach STUDENT 6

STUDENT 6
(turning around suddenly)
How…did you get here?
(stands up)
So…it…it was you the whole time.

The hand holding the iron pipe thrashes down on STUDENT 6

STUDENT 6 blocks with this hands by grasping the black gloved-hand.

The other black gloved hand beats on STUDENT 6, and he is hit with the iron pipe.

The sound of the hitting with pipe is connected to the sound of MOTHER knocking on the door.


INT. –HOME- DAY

KARL opens his eyes from the sound of door knocking

MOTHER
(constantly knocking)
Wake up! Today is the test day!
(goes back downstairs)

KARL puts his clothes on. Camera closes up on the wound on his arm. KARL goes outside.


EXT. –IN FRONT OF THE EMPTY HOUSE- DAY

SHARON, police, and the neighborhood is crowded again.

SHARON
I am very suspicious of that boy.

POLICE 1
(taking notes on his notepad)
You mean the one living in front of this house?

SHARON
Then who else? He is the only one I didn’t find out anything about yet.

KARL runs along and SHARON notices his wound.

SHARON
(eyes following KARL as he runs)
Was there, by any chance, a fight recently?

POLICE 1
A fight? No. Strangely after this mad guy started killing people, there wasn’t much fight. Why?

SHARON
(staring down at the body)
…Nothing. Can I see the victim’s hands?

POLICE 1
(looking at SHARON and then the body)
Sure.
(lifts a part of the white sheet up)

SHARON sees that STUDENT 6’S fingernails are brown.

She stares at KARL’S front yard.

SHARON
(wrinkles her forehead)
Hey, give me your glasses for a sec.
(snatches POLICE 1’S glasses from his hands)
Aha…
(tosses back the glasses to POLICE 1)
Get me the brown parts of the fingernails. I think I know who did this.

POLICE 1
(squats down)
Are you sure?

SHARON
(smiling)
Positive.

INT. –SCHOOL GYM- DAY

KARL takes a seat and the TEACHER starts to explain the instructions

TEACHER
(scribbles the date and other information)
Please be sure that you have filled in the bubbles completely…

The sound trails away

KARL closes his eyes and does a very quick review by muttering.

Test packets are passed out and KARL flips through it.



KARL
(gapes at the test booklet)
I’ve never been taught this…never…
(flips through more pages)

The scene fades out.

EXT. –SIDEWALK- AFTERNOON

KARL walks down the sidewalk to home, dazed. He sees.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

A) Children going back home

B) Cars moving

C) Adults returning home

He arrives at the porch of his house.


INT. –HOME- NIGHT
As soon as Karl arrives home, he collapses on to his bed and sleeps until past midnight.

INT. –HOME- NIGHT

The sound of his mother talking is heard with SHARON.

MOTHER
…that is just outrageous!

SHARON
Outrageous or not, this is the truth.

KARL sits up on his bed and rubs his eyes. He goes downstairs and sees SHARON, POLICE 1 and POLICE 3.

SHARON
(takes a handcuff)
You are arrested for being held responsible for the murder of the four students.

KARL
(takes a step back)
Wha…What do you mean I am held responsible?

SHARON
(puts handcuffs on KARL’S wrists)
Just like I said, you are the criminal.
Take ‘im away.

KARL is dragged to the police car and is driven to the police station.


INT. –POLICE STATION- NIGHT

KARL
(pushed down to a seat by two police)
You have no proof! You can’t do this!

SHARON
(tosses a black glove and papers filled with charts)
Do you still deny?

KARL
What do these things have to do?
(squirms around)

SHARON
This glove…
(picking up the black glove)
…was found in your front yard. I’ve tested it…
(tosses one of the papers)
And there was dried blood on it, some of them four days old, and some of them from today afternoon. Oh, and most importantly…
(holding up another paper)
…the last victim had your blood on his fingernails. Noticed that wound of yours by any chance?

Camera close up on KARL’S wounds.

KARL
(gapes at the wound and then looks SHARON)
I didn’t do this! I swear!

SHARON
You’ll be put in the cell here for tonight.
(motions to POLICE 1 and 4)
Put him in.


INT. –CELL- NIGHT

KARL sits in the corner of the cell and looks around nervously.

KARL
Murder? Me? Is it a murder to dream about committing murder unwanted?
(laughs and breathes in at the same time)
This isn’t real. It can’t be.

KARL then notices the guarding police dozing.

Camera shows KARL’s shadows.

KARL bites his wrist and blood flows out.

Camera turns back on KARL. He is smiling faintly


INT. –POLICE STATION- NIGHT

SHARON comes back to the station and finds the guard dozing

SHARON
(hits police on his head)
Why on earth are you dozing, you idiot?

GUARD
(leaps on his feet and wipes his drool)
I…uh…I…

SHARON
Shut up.
(glances at KARL)
What the…?

GUARD
(turns around)
What…I…? No…

SHARON picks up the phone and calls for an ambulance.


KARL is moved to the surgery room in the hospital.



INT. –SURGERY ROOM-

KARL is breathing and there is a heart beat monitor next to him. Doctors are working in haste.

DOCTOR 1
(grabbing a packet of blood)
Check the heartbeat.

DOCTOR 2
It’s becoming slower. Hurry!

KARL opens his eyes slightly and sees the doctors moving around. A tear rolls down his face, and his breathing becomes faster.

The heart beat monitor gives a long beeping sound.

Few doctors shake their head and one of them pulls up a white sheet above KARL’S head.

INT. –WAITING ROOM IN HOSPITAL-

One of the doctors walk out to the waiting room. MOTHER is there.

DOCTOR 1
I am very sorry. Your son couldn’t make it. He had already lost too much blood and there was a heart attack.

MOTHER
(sinks on her seat)
Oh, Karl…
(starts to cry out loud)

SHARON watches behind the door.

INT. –SHARON’S CAR- DAY

SHARON drives back to the station. On her way, she sees KARL’S school and stops by.

EXT. –ATRIUM OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING- DAY

The pictures of the victims are put up, and students and teachers are crying, praying, or sitting dazed. SHARON walks through the atrium and sees…




SERIES OF SHOTS:

A) Three students crying in front of the pictures

B) Teachers and a few students praying

C) Several boys looking dazed.

SHARON returns to her car and drives back.

INT. –POLICE STATION-

SHARON trudges slowly to her desk and sits down on her chair. POLICE 4 comes in.

POLICE 4
(putting her hand on SHARON’S shoulder)
Are you okay? You seemed dazed.

SHARON keeps her silence

POLICE 4
Bad news, but erm…there was another robbery while you were gone, and we are told to get the robber.

SHARON
(staring at the ceiling)
That is nothing…nothing compared to what I’ve seen today.

POLICE 4 looks confused and goes out of the station.

Scene fade zoom out and then fade out.

Career Essay

My Path to “Real” Life

No job, other than electrical engineering, suits me. Electrical Engineering is a job that involves researching and testing modern technology, such as cell phones and laptop computers. This particular job, in present, is becoming a job that make people prosperous, and that is the type of career I have been looking for.

My own meaning of success is making a large quantity of money, and becoming an electrical engineer is my first step toward the goal “success.” As a girl born in a family who majored in physics and or have jobs related to physics, I know I have much more advantages in applying for this career than anyone else I know of. My father is an astronomer, my mother is a physicist, and my sister has majored in electrical engineering. They provide me information on what is required to get in an engineering college, such as the grade I need to get in physics and math classes, and what I need to know in school, especially those two classes. Because of my family’s effect, I have started studying physics since I was in middle school. My path to electrical engineering is wide open.

I am interested in science and math, but that does not necessarily mean that I cannot do anything else. I know three languages, Korean, English, and French. Although I am living in Korea, I have been taught these three languages. Fluent I have become in English and Korean, and I am still in progress in French. Musical instruments cannot be an exception from all the education I received. I have learned how to play flute for almost six years, which allowed me to make articulate sounds. Taking language classes and music lessons made another section of knowledge in my head other than math and science.

My knowledge on math and science are not the only factors that would make me an electrical engineer. My personalities also qualify me as an engineer, which I am proud of. I can pour my energy and drill into one specific goal, which is useful when I am proving a theorem in mathematics or physics. People like me are “So single-minded and easily caught in some project or campaign that they can easily block out other areas,” (Keirsey 3). In other words, I have the ability to drill into one specific goal. I had had one more testing, and this test came up with a similar result. My result was “Investigative,” (Holland and Powell 4) and almost all jobs related to science were under that section, including engineering. These were my tested results on my personality. After testing, I matched a lot of jobs that are related to science, and engineering was one of them.

Today, the 21st century, technology is water to this world. As more technologies are forming and developing, more people with my future career are needed. The rate of “Overall engineering employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average (Engineers).” The world always wants the most comfortable way, and electronics are always involved in this. I will get what the world wants, and that would make me successful.

Engineers develop with technologies. A person who works in that area has to learn and learn until she can quit or retire, because people “Find that the technical knowledge can become outdated rapidly (Engineers),” and this is one of the reasons why I put interest in this career; I have thirst for knowledge on modern electronics. The reason why technology becomes old so quickly is because new suggestions on electronics are being suggested. For example, “There are more researches on wireless communication. Physicists and engineers are looking for a cell phone’s memory chip that can hold more memories. They are also trying to develop cameras on cell phones so that they can show more clear pictures than they do now,” (Park) which naturally makes people learn more by having this job.

What process do I have to go through to become an engineer? Engineering is mostly about physics and math, but I cannot become an engineer by simply concentrating only on those two particular subjects: “Courses in English and humanities are required (Engineers),” which means that I also need to learn how to speak English fluent enough. After receiving these required educations, I need, at least, a Bachelor’s degree to become a real engineer. Then I can get a Master’s degree, and then a Ph.D. The difference among these three degrees is the amount of yearly payment an engineer can receive. Ph.D. gives the most, almost $80,000 a year.

Working toward a career I want is like a big journey. I am only in the “packing” stage, where I get all advices I need. With experienced family beside me and skills on physics and math, I am supported until I get the job I want so much. Three years later, I would be having my first step toward electrical engineering.