NEIGHBORS

by Robert Healy

Rocks like embryos in blood. Rocks pulsing, enlarging, meshing together and bubbling. Running red and rippling. There are a million rocks to grab and one explodes. Webs of ash and rubble blight the sky.

--

JANE (In a whisper)

What have I become?

JANE (Growing louder)

What have I become?

She weeps and watches the windows.

--

Her husband returns home. His name is MARK. He wraps his arms around JANE and kisses her gently.

MARK (Softly)

Hi.

...

How was your day?

JANE (Somberly)

It was good. I organized the furniture.

MARK

Mmm. How did you organize the furniture?

JANE

By color.

MARK

Are you feeling better?

JANE turns away.

MARK

Only two months to go.

JANE's emaciated body reels.

MARK

Did you see Janice or James today?

JANE

Yes. They waved to me in the window.

MARK

Did you go say hello?

JANE

No. I think it was raining.

MARK

Oh.

...

Well, I'm going to make some dinner. Do you want anything?

JANE

Hmmm. Maybe later.

MARK

Okay. You should try to eat something tonight.

JANE

I will.

The night passes. JANE moves from the couch to the bed long after MARK has gone to sleep. He rolls over and attempts to cuddle her but she is a mummy. He rolls back over and returns to snoring. JANE lies awake, with a grimace on her mind.

--

THE NEXT DAY, MARK is at work. The house appears to be empty. There is a knock on the door. Slowly, from the bedroom, JANE appears, dressed for bed. Checking through the Ring she sees JANICE and JAMES. They're waving into the camera.

JANE reluctantly travels to the front door and unlocks it for her neighbors.

She gives a tight smile.

JANE

Hi, you two.

JANICE

Jane! It's so good to see you! We've been wondering how you've been and thought we'd stop by.

JAMES

It was great to see you at the block party last week.

(A pause for a smile from them both.)

JANE

Oh, yeah, you know. I couldn't stay for long because I had this, uh.., other thing I was working on, but, yeah, it was great to see you guys.

JANICE

Oh, awesome. I'd love to hear more about this other thing.

...

Mind if we come in?

JANE

It's, uh, confidential; private; personal.

JANE sighs softly and lets them into the house.

--

JANICE and JAMES are exploring, JANE is brooding at the kitchen table.

These villains are in my house, she thinks. These villains are in my house. What kind of nefarious ploys are they plotting?

We see JAMES stop by a room and stare into it. He pauses and beckons JANICE. They stare into the room.

JANE

Hi. Can I grab you guys anything to drink? Water?

JANE

Oh, I'll take a coffee if it's not too much to ask.

A pause as JANE stares into JANICE's soul.

JANE

No problem. Mark? I mean, um, James?

JAMES

Ha. Nothing for me, thanks.

--

In the kitchen the coffee grinder whirs.

JANICE

What was that about?

JAMES

What?

JANICE

Her calling you Mark.

JAMES

Oh, yeah... I don't know.

JANICE

Weird.

The coffee grinder has stopped.

--

IN THE KITCHEN. All are gathered around the island. JANICE tenderly sips her coffee.

JANICE

Okay, well, thanks for letting us stop by.

JAMES

Yeah, let us know if there's anything you need, food or anything.

JANICE

Yeah, you know, nutrition is so important to the health of the fetus.

Not to mention yourself.

A chuckle from JANICE and JAMES.

JANE

So I've heard. Thanks for stopping by. I'll see y'all.

A quiet wave and a small smile. JANE closes the door.

--

The evil is gone. The house can breathe again.

--

Where do we go from here, JANE thinks. They've been inside my space. I must burn things. I must restart.

JANE appears fraught and frantic, and returns to the kitchen table to fester. She pulls out her phone.

She scrolls on social media. She visits JANICE's page. View story. "Lovely day for a walk" or some bullshit.

Excuses. All they care about is attention. They just want to know the scoop before they kill me. I know they're planning it, and I know they've got help.
It's because I don't return their phone calls.

--

LATER, MARK is home from work.

MARK

Hey. I must've just missed Janice and James. He shot me a text half an hour ago.

JANE

Yes, they were here.

MARK

Did you have fun?

JANE

It was enjoyable. I'm glad I saw them.

MARK

How was the rest of your day?

JANE

It was fine.

MARK

Did you eat anything? Janice said she recommended Lean Cuisine? Have you heard of that? You'd still be very healthy.

JANE

They put poison in those things.

MARK

Why would they put poison in them? It's just food. You need to eat, Jane.

JANE

I do eat. Just not when you're looking.

MARK is silent.

MARK

Have you talked to your mom at all?

JANE

Not in a while. I think she's pretty busy.

MARK

I'm sure she'd love to talk to you. She's always given good advice.

JANE

Yeah. I'll try tomorrow.

MARK

Okay.

(A sigh.)

I love you.

JANE

Love you too.

Why can he not just understand me? Doesn't he understand what they're trying to do to us? We need to save ourselves.

--

JANE, LATER, whispers through the hallway.

JANE

Where are you?

She trickles down the hall and into that room. She stands at the doorway and stares at the walls.

MARK appears behind her.

MARK

Ready for bed, hun?

He cradles her neck with his elbow. She flinches but allows the elbow to stay. MARK pretends to be oblivious.

MARK

Say goodnight, now.

We see inside the room. The walls are littered with poorly framed photos of empty ultrasounds.
On the floor—there is no floor—there is dirt, raw earth. Three white crosses protrude from the dirt, perfectly straight and aligned in a row. At the corners of the room you can see bones, like digits of the house.

JANE screams into the room and spits on the crosses.

MARK gently pulls her away and closes the door.

MARK

Only two months to go.

Goodnight.