Manicure
FADE IN: INT. BARREN ROOM - NIGHT
A lonesome TV illuminates STEWART (27, hairless, wearing a navy blue jumpsuit). He sits on the floor, furiously biting his fingernails. A low STATIC and SQUEAKING noise drowns all.
INT. ZEHRS - DAY
Stewart carries a crooked grin. With glossy eyes, he stares at the face of LAURA (20), who is focused on scanning Stewart's groceries and does not notice him. Stewart snaps out of his trance. His eyes find their way to Laura's hands, especially her red fingernails, as they rest on the conveyer belt.
Stewart's hand slowly reaches for Laura's. He softly touches it. Laura shoots her eyes towards Stewart, who looks shocked. He gives an awkward smile and points at a rack of pliers beside her.
INSERT - SIGN
It reads: "FREE COMPLIMENTARY PLIERS!"
BACK TO SCENE
Laura turns her head to look at the rack of pliers. She grabs one and puts it in his grocery bag. She returns the awkward smile. The low STATIC and SQUEAKING noise is heard. Stewart quickly looks down.
INSERT - STEWART'S HANDS
Stewart's fingernails slowly grow.
BACK TO SCENE
Stewart anxiously holds back his hands, stopping himself from biting his fingernails. He hurriedly grabs his groceries and runs.
INT. BARREN ROOM - NIGHT
The TV shows a man showering his girlfriend with gifts. Stewart is on the floor. He crafts something while viciously biting his nails. A picture of Laura rests on the floor near him. The low STATIC and SQUEAKING is heard, overwhelming all.
INT. ZEHRS - DAY
Stewart walks up to Laura's till. He is holding a box wrapped in newspapers. He sets it down on the conveyer belt.
Laura opens the box. She reveals figurines that all don the same uniform as her, infantile drawings of her, and some loose change taped to a picture of Stewart and Laura together that is clearly fake.
Laura gives Stewart a very uncomfortable smile. Stewart gives an embarrassed smile back, which quickly turns into a frown. He shakes his head no, slowly backs up, and then runs away.
INT. BARREN ROOM - NIGHT
Stewart is hunched over biting his nails, wearing only his boxers. Surrounding him are pictures of Laura, bottles of Elmer's glue, and a shoebox full of hair. On the floor lies his jumpsuit, all cut up.
The TV shows a cowboy holding a girl close as he brandishes his pistol, a biker with a woman riding on his motorcycle, and greasers sweet-talking some ladies as they hold cigarettes in their mouths. The STATIC and SQUEAKING noise muddles their voices.
INT. ZEHRS - EVENING
Carrying a bundle of weeds with him, Stewart struts in front of Laura's till. He assembles a wide stance. Showing off his freshly modified jumpsuit, Stewart extends the bouquet of weeds at Laura. She puts her hands up and shakes her head. Stewart lowers the bouquet. He pauses for a second, closes his eyes, and presses his lips together as if waiting for a kiss.
Laura simply smiles back. Stewart takes off his wig and backs away.
EXT. ZEHRS - NIGHT
Stewart sits at a picnic table by the entrance. He sees Laura exit the building. She walks past him. Laura notices Stewart and smiles awkwardly. Stewart gets up and starts to walk beside her. He places his hand awkwardly on her shoulder.
They both converse as they walk towards a bus stop. Stewart shudders and notions that it is cold. He points at an apartment complex nearby and guides Laura there.
INT. BARREN ROOM - NIGHT
Stewart opens the door. The room is dark, the only light emanating from the TV. This light now illuminates a couch that was never there before. Stewart takes Laura's jacket and guides her to the couch. She sits and stares at the TV while it plays different kissing scenes from movies.
Stewart sits beside Laura, putting his arm around her. Laura does not look away from the TV. Stewart inches closer towards Laura. He grabs her. The low STATIC and SQUEAKING noise starts and becomes overwhelming.
INSERT - STEWART'S HANDS
Stewart's fingernails slowly grow again.
BACK TO SCENE
Stewart lets go of Laura and gets up frantically. The noise is no longer bearable. He goes to bite his nails but holds back his hands. To escape, he barges through a door that was never there before. He closes it behind himself.
A BLACK SCREEN
Stewart rummages around. With a CLICK, a dim yellow bulb lights his face.
INT. UNFINISHED CLOSET - NIGHT
Stewart aggressively tries to bite his fingernails, but his nail beds' soft tissue prevents him from biting any further. He looks around for something. Stewart turns his head, his eyes widen, and he gasps in excitement.
INSERT - BRAND NEW PLIERS
The tag is still on them as Stewart's fingers envelop it.
BACK TO SCENE
The low STATIC and SQUEAKING noise continues. Stewart picks up the pliers with one hand. He crouches down andturns his back to the door. He slowly brings the tip of the pliers to the fingernail of his index finger.
The plier's pincers grab the nail and roughly bends it upwards.
The nail breaks in half from all the force. Blood starts to leak down the finger.
Stewart grabs the remaining end of the nail and tries again.
The pliers grab hold, now moving from side to side. With a sudden motion, Stewart jerks the pliers.
The noise is gone.
Stewart basks in the newfound silence as he begins to tear every nail from his hands. The door behind him opens, revealing Laura standing over him. Stewart turns to look at her. Crimson flows from where his nails once were. He smiles in content.
Suddenly the low STATIC and SQUEAKING noise resurfaces. With maddened eyes, Stewart looks for the suspect.
INSERT - LAURA'S RED FINGERNAILS
Laura's nails slowly grow.
BACK TO SCENE
For a moment, Stewart looks at Laura.
He instantly tackles her to the ground, nipping at her fingernails.
INT. BARREN ROOM - NIGHT
Stewart and Laura's bodies contort in and out of knots. Stewart's teeth CLASH as he bites into the air, trying to get at Laura's fingernails. The low STATIC and SQUEAKING noise intensifies. The light from the TV begins to flash as its channels change rapidly.
Stewart throws Laura into the wall. With a THUD, she hits a light switch. Ceiling lights turn on, brightening the whole room, overpowering the light from the TV.
Laura's head falls off and rolls onto the ground. Stewart stands still as it reaches his feet.
He looks down.
INSERT - MANNEQUIN HEAD
With a painted smile and a wig hanging off its head, it resembles Laura.
BACK TO SCENE
Breathing deeply, Stewart looks around the room. All the previous sets painted on the walls are revealed, along with scattered pictures of Laura, which all seem to be taken without her notice. Stewart collects himself and walks out of his room, closing the door behind him.
EXT. BUS STATION - NIGHT
Stewart walks past the actual bus station close to his apartment.
EXT. ZEHRS - NIGHT
Stewart walks past the picnic table of the Zehrs and goes through the main entrance.
INT. ZEHRS - NIGHT
Stewart sees Laura. He stops and waits in the line leading to her till. He cannot suppress his wide grin.
Stewart walks up to Laura, slow and relentless. As the blood from his fingertips continues to pour onto the white tiles of the store. Stewart leaves a trail of velvet in his wake.
The Customers take notice and start to panic.
Laura is too focused on scanning the groceries of her customer. She does not notice the commotion. Laura reaches for the last object on the conveyer belt.
Stewart reaches for her hand.
As their hands meet, Laura notices Stewart.
With force, she slaps his hand away. Laura looks at Stewart in utter disgust.
A BLACK SCREEN
"MANICURE"
THE END.
Cover Photo by Francesco Artibani.
