Work Text:
"mortuary"
written by
mino
FADE IN:
INT. SECLUDED ATTIC, QUIET STORAGE ROOM - NIGHT
There are piles and piles of boxes scattered around the area. The items and memoirs seem untouched and littered with cobwebs. On few of these boxes; one medium and large, two tape recorder–one labeled WILL and TOM–sit alone with no one to turn them on.
There is thunder outside. Suddenly, there's a click from the TOM tape recorder, which begins playing a prerecorded message.
TOM'S TAPE
Hey, Will. This is Tom. I hope you're not busy, because I've been thinking about getting you a present. You seem really down these days. I hope you can forgive whatever I did.
Silence.
What do you like? What did you say you'd like? I... I can't remember. Uh was it the Beetles? No, that... that's a insect. The Beagles? Um.
(nervous chuckle)
I can't remember. I...
The tape stutters a bit, and the static swells. A soft piano melody plays.
TOM'S TAPE
You haven't been back for a while. I, uh... I miss you. I know you'd say I'm just desperate. I'm not. A-At least, I feel like I'm not.
I wrote down my thoughts like you said to do. I... I think it's helping. Because I'm starting to remember. Do you want to hear them?
Nobody answers.
TOM'S TAPE
I suppose that's a yes. I remember Delilah. I remember how we would mark one of the trees with our initials: T + D. I remember smiling. I remember her beautiful smile.
...I never see you smile.
As TOM'S TAPE progresses, the voice gets more raspy and the audio more fizzy.
TOM'S TAPE
You have to tell me, Will. Why don't you ever smile? Is it because of me? Is it because of me, you're not smiling?
(getting more garbled)
Was it my fault? Tell me, Will. Tell me, Will. I'll listen.
The static rises to a crescendo. The ghosts are listening now.
The presence is clear now as the tape sputters and slurs on the recording.
TOM'S TAPE
(between stutters and uneven pauses)
I'll listen to every word you say.
TOM's words seem to hang in the air. There is no response, no answer, nothing in return. With that, the TOM tape recorder seems to falter; losing coherence as it descends into a empty dissonance for a couple of moments.
The next time TOM speaks, his voice sounds very hoarse; an sort of discerning cacophony to his words as he speaks.
TOM'S TAPE
Barnes.
There is soft labored breathing as TOM takes a moment to pause.
TOM'S TAPE
Please answer me. Please, if you're there, answer me.
A beat.
A soft little click, from the WILL tape recorder, ebbs in the room.
WILL'S TAPE
Tom? Tom, I–
TOM'S TAPE
Barnes? Barnes, are you–?
WILL'S TAPE
It's me.
TOM'S TAPE
It's you.
TOM begins to laugh.
WILL follows him.
Both take in the moment.
TOM'S TAPE (CONT'D)
Welcome home. Welcome home.
FADE OUT.