INT. OFFICE - DAY
John exits an elevator and walks over to a glass door. He notices the receptionist didn’t come in for work. The cubicle looks abandoned. He uses his access card to get into the door. He walks through the office and sees a ton of empty chairs and sleeping monitors. He walks, with his hands in his pockets, into his office. He goes to close the door but HECTOR DOS SANTOS stops the door from closing all the way shut. Before John can completely turn around, Hector grabs him.
Hector is a bright-skinned Brazilian man with curly, gelled hair and a stocky body. He has rugged facial hair.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
(Panicked)
Did you see the news!?
JOHN EZEKIEL
(Uneasy; sarcastic)
Good morning to you too.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
Did you see the news?
JOHN EZEKIEL
If you’re referring to the things in the sky-.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
So you did see them?
JOHN EZEKIEL
Only on the news. I haven’t seen it up close-.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
(Hurries to John’s CPU)
Come take a look at it.
John steps back and watches Hector turn on his computer. Hector sees the login page open up. He looks back to John expectantly.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS (CONT’D)
Come on. Look at it.
JOHN EZEKIEL
(Sighs)
Alright.
John sits in his chair and enters his login.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.
The desktop page opens. Hector slides into John, above his keyboard, and takes over the computer. John sits back as he watches Hector open up the internet and then a news site. He watches Hector’s face, which is on the verge of sweating, despite the A/C blasting cold.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS (CONT’D)
(Steps to the side)
Here. Look.
Hector points at the screen and then places both hands on his hips. John nervously slides up to his monitor and studies the image. He looks at Hector, who signals for him to look at the video. John studies the image.
...
JOHN EZEKIEL (CONT’D)
(Panicked)
Yoooooo....
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
Exactly! Tell me I’m not crazy! I think this is the second coming!
John tries to voice something but waves his hands around and sighs.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS (CONT’D)
That’s what they look like, right? That’s God, right?
JOHN EZEKIEL
(Shaking head)
Shhhh I don’t know.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
Come on, man. I’m freakin’ out over here. I’m bout to leave and get my family and go.
JOHN EZEKIEL
Chilllll, chill. It can’t be that. That doesn’t make sense. That was a vision about whatever he was going through. It wasn’t for us.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
But how do you know that?
JOHN EZEKIEL
Because it says Jesus will come back, riding on a cloud. I haven’t seen Jesus. Have you?
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
No, but I don’t think this is that. I’ve had chills all morning. It’s like a darkness is all over downtown, and I don’t want to get caught in this!
JOHN EZEKIEL
(Reaching for him)
Hector, Hector! Calm down.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
(Shoving him)
No. No! (Points) Don’t turn back! You can’t turn back now!
JOHN EZEKIEL
Hector. Easy. Breathe.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
(Breathing; hyperventilating)
Man... man... Ugh... I can’t breathe.
JOHN EZEKIEL
(Rising)
Hector. Look at me.
Hector alternates looking at John and at the news. He continues to hyperventilate.
JOHN EZEKIEL (CONT’D)
(Approaching cautiously)
Just calm down.
Hector points at the news and lets out a cry. His eyes water. John closes the internet.
JOHN EZEKIEL (CONT’D)
(Turns back to Hector)
Breathe. (Takes a deep breath). Breathe.
Hector imitates John and breathes. John grabs Hector’s arms and they continue to breathe with one another.
JOHN EZEKIEL (CONT’D)
I’m here, Hector. I’m right here. Don’t jump to conclusions. I’m right here.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
(Deeply breathing)
Okay... (Nods) Okay.
JOHN EZEKIEL
The police will handle whatever this is. I’m sure it’s just a scare tactic or a prank. Just calm down.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
(Nodding; breathing)
Okay... okay.
They continue breathing until Hector calms down fully. Hector then hurries to the trash can and throws up in it. John comforts him by rubbing his back.
JOHN EZEKIEL
Let it out, man. Just let it out.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
(Head hovering bin)
I’m sorry, man. I’m just a little freaked out.
JOHN EZEKIEL
(Humored)
A little?
The both chuckle.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
I’m sorry, man. I gotta get ahold of myself.
JOHN EZEKIEL
Don’t make this out to be something that it’s not. It’s just a prank.
Hector nods. He sets the trash down and begins to breathe.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
My bad... I’ll take that out.
JOHN EZEKIEL
Drink some water too. You gotta calm down.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS
I know, I know. I jus-.
Hector’s phone rings. He answers.
HECTOR DOS SANTOS (CONT’D)
Hello? ... Hey ... Well, I’m still work, I jus-... I know, I know. I was jus-... Just calm down. Wait. Calm down.
Hector leaves the office and takes the trash with him. He instinctively closes the door as he walks away. John stares at the door for a moment. He returns to his desk and reopens the internet. He watches the news.