This is the first film script I’ve ever written! It was an adaptation of a short story I wrote for the first assignment of my final year of undergraduate studies. The time limit was 15 minutes.
2022 © D.E. Kendall
Interrogation
Cast List
Karla Carlisle: thirties, detective, failed last case
Annie Wyatt: seventies, retired librarian, grandmother
DC Greene: detective, Karla’s colleague
DCI Warner: detective chief inspector, Karla’s superior
FADE IN:
1 INT. CID HEADQUARTERS. MORNING.
Small interview room located within bustling, chaotic Northfort Police Force CID headquarters. The windowless interview room is dingy and stale, with a battered laminate-top table and two tired, plastic chairs.
KARLA rushes through double doors, accidentally splashing coffee over her blouse.
DC GREENE
Alright there, Carlisle?
KARLA
Been better.
Karla throws takeaway cup into nearest bin and makes futile attempt to brush coffee stain from her blouse.
DC GREENE
Still in Warner’s bad books?
KARLA
Yep.
DCI WARNER appears behind Karla, startling her with his booming voice.
DCI WARNER
Good morning, Carlisle. Nice of you to join us.
KARLA
Sorry I’m late, Sir. I–
DCI WARNER
There’s a Ms Wyatt in the interview room.
She allegedly has info on the Pavilion case. Take her statement, then report back to me.
KARLA
Yes, Sir. Right away.
DCI Warner exits.
DC GREENE
The Pavilion case, huh?
(silence)
DC GREENE (CONT’D)
(smug)
After messing up the Nesbitt burglary,
I’m surprised you’re still here.
Exasperated, Karla doesn’t respond and hurries to the interview room; pausing a moment to straighten her blouse before entering.
KARLA
Good morning, Ms Wyatt.
ANNIE is seated across the table, facing the door – which is usually where the detective would sit.
ANNIE
Morning, love. Don’t mind if I sit
here, do you? Only, there’s a bit
of a draught by the door.
KARLA
(masking irritation with false smile)
Not at all. I’m DC Carlisle.
I’m here to take your statement.
ANNIE
Where’s your pad and pen?
KARLA
We use recording devices.
Karla indicates the black, rectangular box on the table against the wall.
ANNIE
I see. Very modern of you.
KARLA
Do you consent to having your statement recorded, Ms Wyatt?
ANNIE
‘Course, love.
KARLA
Thank you. This is now recording.
Please state your name clearly.
ANNIE
Mrs Annie Muriel Agnes Wyatt.
KARLA
Thank you. Now, Mrs Wyatt, I understand
that you wish to make a statement regarding a recent art theft?
ANNIE
Yes, dear. I would.
(silence)
KARLA
Please, go ahead.
ANNIE
Right, well, I know where a painting is.
KARLA
(looks at her watch)
Please, continue.
ANNIE
(speaking into recorder like a phone)
I know the location of that stolen painting. The one by that French artist. Man or Mon, something or other.
Karla sits bolt upright, suddenly engaged in interview.
KARLA
Can you describe the painting?
ANNIE
(sits back in chair)
Yes, dear.
KARLA
Well?
ANNIE
(leans forward again)
It’s a landscape, I think. There’s flowers and a bridge, it’s quite pretty.
KARLA
(eagerly)
And where did you see this painting,
Mrs Wyatt?
ANNIE
Soda.
KARLA
Excuse me?
ANNIE
Soda water, dear. Removes coffee stains.
‘Course, running cold water over it is best when it’s a fresh stain.
KARLA
(confused) Thanks?
Please return to your statement. Where did you see the painting, Mrs Wyatt?
ANNIE
Please, call me Annie.
KARLA
Of course. Annie, could you tell me where you saw the painting?
ANNIE
Please.
KARLA
I’m sorry?
ANNIE
You didn’t say please. There’s nothing less ladylike than forgetting one’s manners.
KARLA
(exasperated)
Alright. Please, Mrs- Annie, tell me where you saw the painting, please.
ANNIE
Don’t overdo it, dear.
Karla rolls her eyes and leans back in her chair, running hands through her hair in frustration.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
I saw the painting through a neighbour’s window when I returned recycling to her front porch after she put it in my bin. The cheek! She oft-
KARLA
(intrigued)
Are you certain you saw the painting?
ANNIE
Well, yes. It’s definitely the one from the news. I noticed it again last night, when I was out front calling Felix. She’s moved it to the porch. Felix is my cat, by the way. He’s-
KARLA
Were you able to get good look at it?
ANNIE
Betty’s porch? Why yes, dear. She just had it-
KARLA
(through gritted teeth)
Not the porch, the painting.
ANNIE
Oh, I see. Yes, love. As I said, it’s a lovely painting. I’d buy it in a second if I saw it at a car boot. It’s of a bridge and some flowers. I think they call it landscape, but it’s not really a landscape, because-
KARLA
Thank you. What colour is the frame?
ANNIE
It’s gold. If I were to describe it, I’d say it was splendid. That’s what they say, isn’t it? In antiques programmes. Everything’s always ‘splendid’ or-
KARLA
Yes, thank you Mrs Wyatt. Could you disclose your address, please? For the recording.
ANNIE
(loudly, as if to someone hard of hearing)
It’s Annie. Of course, love. My address is 123 Honeyville Drive, Northfort, NF01 6HD. Lived there since I married George in ’65.
KARLA
Thanks. And you tell me your neighbour’s-
ANNIE
Her address is 125 Honeyville Drive-
KARLA
No, no, I just need you to tell me their name and whatever information you can share about any suspicious behaviour.
ANNIE
(settling in as if telling story)
Batty, I mean, Betty, which is how she’s known, is Mrs Bettina Hamley. She married Harold in ’64. What a nice man he was. Good friend of my George. They worked together at Spencer and Holt for nigh-on thirty-five years. They’re no longer with us, sadly. My George passed three years ago, and poor Harry had a tough old time with that miserable boot. He died of a-
KARLA
I’m sorry, Annie, but time is of the essence. I need you to tell me more about Betty. Is she an art enthusiast? Has she been acting strangely of late?
ANNIE
She’s known as ‘batty Betty’. Everything she does is odd, dear.
KARLA
Could you elaborate, please?
ANNIE
Well, I’m pretty sure she’s been feeding Felix, because a few nights last week he didn’t come home, and I saw her with cat food in her shopping bag when I bumped into her in Sainsbury’s the other day. Which is really strange, as she doesn’t have a cat! And I heard from Glenda that she-
KARLA
(pinching the bridge of her nose)
Mrs- Annie, I need a coffee. Would you like anything? Coffee? Tea? (under breath) Valium?
ANNIE
Tea would be lovely. Thank you, sweetheart.
Karla walks out of the interview room and straight out of the fire exit to the covered smoking area.
2 EXT. COVERED SMOKING AREA. LATE MORNING.
Taking her time as if resetting her composure, Karla takes a packet of cigarettes from her blazer-style jacket, takes out cigarette, replaces packet, then takes out lighter, lights cigarette and inhales deeply.
DC GREENE
(startling KARLA)
How’s it going?
Karla purposefully blows a cloud of smoke upwards, then takes another deep, restorative drag of her cigarette.
DC GREENE (CONT’D)
(also blowing smoke into air)
That bad, huh?
KARLA
The woman won’t shut up. Seriously, I can’t get a straight answer. Fancy tagging in and taking over for me?
DC GREENE
(blowing smoke through a smirk)
Not a chance!
KARLA
How can I get her to answer questions without going on about her cat, or Sainsbury’s? If I mess this one up like that rotten interview for the Nesbitt case, Warner’s going to fire me; or worse, demote me. It was my fault that scumbag got away scot-free; I forgot to turn that damn recorder on.
DC GREENE
(flicks butt to ground then stamps on it)
Just tell her you’ll arrest her if she doesn’t get on with it.
KARLA
(stubs cigarette out on outdoor ashtray)
Very funny.
DC GREENE walks back into building through fire exit door. Karla takes a deep, calming breath before following DC Greene through fire door and back to interview room.
3 INT. INTERVIEW ROOM. MIDDAY.
ANNIE
(wafting hand in front of her nose)
Phooey, you smell like a pub in the seventies.
KARLA
(subtly sniffing her blouse)
My apologies. Where were we?
ANNIE
You were getting me a cup of tea.
KARLA
Sh- sugar! Sorry, I’ll just-
ANNIE
Never mind, dear. Must be stressful.
KARLA
What must be stressful?
ANNIE
Having to work here, with all these men. I understand your choice to wear that revealing blouse and needlessly high heels.
KARLA
(confused)
What?
ANNIE
It’s obvious. You’re trying to-
KARLA
Look, Mrs Wy-, Annie, I need to take your statement as I’m very busy and-
ANNIE
Say no more. I’ll get to it. My daughter, Ellen, says I talk too much. Actually, she reckons I’m-
KARLA
Mrs Wyatt…
ANNIE
Annie. Right, well, as I was saying, Betty has been acting shifty.
KARLA
(checks the recording device is still on)
Can you elaborate on that?
ANNIE
Please. Well, last Thursday she crept out of her house and into a shady-looking car with a bespectacled man who was at least twenty years her junior. I know all five of her children; four of them live in Oz, and I know most of her friends; she doesn’t have many, and I’ve never seen him or his car before. Mind you-
KARLA
Could you describe the car, please?
ANNIE
Yes, sweetheart, I can.
KARLA
(looks at watch)
Go on, then.
ANNIE
It was a black Merc-
Mobile phone rings in Annie’s handbag.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
(shuffling through handbag)
Sorry about this.
KARLA
No problem. So, you were-
ANNIE
(answering mobile phone)
Hello?
Karla leans back in chair, runs hands through hair, lets out a mini growl of frustration under her breath. She then leans forward to rest her arms on the table and hides her face in her arms as Annie continues speaking to someone on the phone.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
(speaking into mobile phone)
Yes, sweetheart. It’s in the fridge. No, no, not that one. Yes, that’s th- I’m at the station now. Yes. Yes. Of course. I know. It’s in the- I have. Yes. You promised you wouldn’t- If you eat my last-
Karla sits upright, and rests her head on the sling of her propped-up hands, to watch Annie.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
(still talking on the phone)
I warned you, if you ate my last éclair again I wouldn’t- Yes. I mean it. Aaron, listen to me. No, listen. Aaron Henry Evans, if you don’t- I took you in because your mother- I am not putting up with- No! Right, that’s it. If you hang up young man, I’ll-
Call is ended and Annie slowly puts mobile phone back into handbag.
KARLA
(feigning nonchalance)
Everything alright?
ANNIE
That boy really gets up my nose, Detective. I take him in since Ellen couldn’t stand his behaviour and look where it’s got me. Aaron eats me out of house and home and for what? All I ask is that he minds Felix for me while I’m at bingo and doesn’t let him out. Now batty Betty is stealing him away from me, and-
KARLA
(sarcastically)
Sounds stressful.
ANNIE
(not detecting sarcasm)
Oh, it is, believe you me. Could I get that cup of tea now?
KARLA
(smug)
Please?
Without waiting for a response, Karla stands up, then swiftly leaves the interview room.
4 INT. OFFICE KITCHENETTE. EARLY AFTERNOON.
Karla navigates through the bustling office to the small, grubby kitchenette in the corner. She hurriedly clicks the grimy kettle on to boil, finds a mug in the cupboard and inspects it, wiping the mug with a paper towel before she fishes a teabag out of a near-empty jar, sniff-checks milk already on the counter, grimaces, then makes tea.
DCI WARNER
You haven’t briefed me about that statement for the Pavilion case yet.
KARLA
I know, Sir. Still working on it.
DCI WARNER
(stern)
Good grief, Carlisle, what’s the hold up?
KARLA
She’s a talker, Sir. It’s difficult to get a straight answer. But I think we’re on the right track. She’s ID’d the painting and the woman whose house it’s in, which is our first positive lead.
DCI WARNER
(sarcastically)
Remembered to turn the recording device on, have we?
KARLA
(looking down at tea while stirring it)
Yes, Sir.
DCI WARNER
(pouring himself a sludge-like coffee)
Good. You’ve got five minutes before I pull the plug.
KARLA
But, Sir-
DCI WARNER
Five minutes.
DCI Warner strides away with his coffee. Karla weaves her way back through the office to the interview room.
5 INT. INTERVIEW ROOM. EARLY AFTERNOON.
Karla places mug of tea on table and returns to her seat, checking the recording device again.
KARLA
Your statement please, Annie.
ANNIE
(clasping mug for comfort, visibly nervous)
Nobody’s going to find out about this, are they?
KARLA
What do you mean?
ANNIE
If anyone at bingo finds out I snitched on Betty, they’ll shun me.
KARLA
I thought you said Betty wasn’t very popular?
ANNIE
She isn’t, but that’s why I don’t want anybody to know I’ve ratted her out. Rumour has it she’s friendly with the lady who owns the bingo hall. I’ve never-
KARLA
(in a calming tone)
You have nothing to worry about, Annie. Your statement is completely confidential. Now, could you give a more detailed description of the vehicle you saw collecting Betty, please?
ANNIE
I’m still entitled to the reward though, aren’t I?
KARLA
(confused)
Reward?
ANNIE
Well yes, obviously there’s going to be a reward. Like with that Garden Museum heist in America. Millions on offer for that one. Can you imagine? If I got that sort of money I’d buy a-
KARLA
(exasperated)
Annie! Focus, please. Can you give a more detailed description of the vehicle you witnessed outside your neighbour’s property? And when exactly did you see the Monet painting through her window?
ANNIE
Yes, sorry love. It was a shiny black Mercedes E-Class, I think, I only know that because Aaron told me when we rode in one on the way to George’s funeral. Come to think of it, I heard yesterday that Mrs Tibbs died. She was ninety-nine! Apparently, Betty used to help her with a bit of shopping and that. She was wearing all black that day…
KARLA
So, what you’re telling me is that your neighbour got into a black car, while dressed all in black, around the time of her friend’s funeral?
ANNIE
Well, yes, I suppose I am.
KARLA
Alright. So, when did you notice she’d acquired the Monet?
ANNIE
I’m sorry love, the what?
KARLA
(speaking loudly and clearly)
The Monet. The painting, the one on the news. When did you notice it through the window?
ANNIE
(pensive)
I first noticed it about fifteen years ago. I remember telling George that I’d-
KARLA
(in disbelief)
I’m sorry, what?!
ANNIE
I said, about fifteen years, dear.
Karla is in shock, stands up, runs hands through hair.
ANNIE (CONT’D)
Well, when I saw it on the news, I thought I’d better inform the police about it. Who knows how-
KARLA
(through gritted teeth)
That painting was stolen in the Pavilion Gallery art heist two weeks ago.
ANNIE
I thought it worth a mention, you know?
Karla turns to repeatedly bang forehead against the wall.
FADE OUT