THE COMMUTER

written by

Noah Sanchez
And
Cleo Caserta

Address
Phone
E-mail
FADE IN:

INT. BROOKLYN SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT

An empty subway station, the ceilings are decaying, the tiled
walls are cracking, humming and buzzing fill the space, and
the room glows yellow from old fluorescent lights.
Silence. A short row of turnstiles FILL the frame. Still and
stationary. Until... A sudden and aggressive THUD smacks one
of the metal bars.
SONYA, Early 20s, wearing a party outfit, her arms limply
grip the turnstile for support. She kicks one leg out to gain
momentum and swings herself over the bar.
One attempt. Two attempts. On the third swing, she hops over
the metal bar but catches her foot in the process. She makes
a loud THUD-
She falls towards the floor, but puts her hands out in front
and catches herself by her fingertips, stopping her fall
inches from the floor.
CUT TO:

INT. TRAIN PLATFORM - NIGHT

She weaves in between the columns, running along the edge of
the platform. She walks to the middle of the platform and
walks heel to toe, with her arms in a t-pose.
An empty bench comes into frame. Arms still out to her side,
she looks down for a long moment.
She sits down. Legs, sprawled out, arms crossed, head back,
looking up at the ceiling. She drifts off and closes her
eyes. Someone begins humming a tune.
MATCH CUT TO (GLITCH BETWEEN):

INT. MODERN TRAIN CAR - NIGHT

Sonya is sitting down on a train bench, in the same position.
The humming continues.
THE HUMMER (20s), a distinguished man wearing a suit, a grey
newsboy hat and a pair of dark sunglasses walks by Sonya, he
pauses for a moment and looks down, analyzing her and then
continues walking away joyfully, still humming.
 2.

Sonya's eyes OPEN. She takes a pause to look around and then
focuses on The Hummer. She watches as he walks out of the
car, SLAMMING the door behind him- Sonya stands up and looks
around.
She looks at the door The Hummer walked through, turns her
head and squints. Then she looks around, observing her
surroundings, a perfectly ordinary R160 train car with light
blue seats, polished metal doors, grey walls and a speckled
black floor. The train is in motion, speeding through a
tunnel. After a second she walks towards the door.
She reaches the other side of the car, opens the gangway
door, and walks out.

INT. NEXT TRAIN CAR - SECONDS LATER

She enters and watches The Hummer walking across the car. He
opens the door and walks through, closing it behind him. She
sprints through the moving train- nearly hitting one of the
metal bars.
She opens the same door, letting it close behind her.

INT. THIRD TRAIN CAR - SECONDS LATER

She enters the car and sees The Hummer sitting down on a
train bench, staring forward and humming to himself. She lets
the door close and begins walking forward, approaching the
man.
SONYA
(slightly slurred)
Hey, do you know what the next stop
is?
(beat)
What time is it anyways?
She WAVES her hand in front of his face to grab his
attention.
SONYA (CONT'D)
Hello??!
The Hummer stops humming, looks up at her, then looks back
down and stares straight ahead. He resumes humming.
SONYA (CONT'D)
Tsk, forget about it.
 3.

She makes a sour face and walks off, trailing through the
train. She approaches the other side of the car, pulls the
door open and walks through.

INT. BETWEEN CARS - CONTINUOUS

Sonya looks behind, peeking through the small window on the
door, back into the previous car. Hummer remains seated in
the far back corner. She turns around and opens the sliding
door into the next car.

INT. MYSTERY TRAIN CAR - CONTINUOUS

The door slides shut behind her. Another ordinary train car.
Sitting up ahead, on a bench is MYSTERY, early 20s, a scruffy
looking man in a suit and holding a bottle of beer. He looks
up at her, smirks and raises his beer in the air. She starts
walking towards him.
MYSTERY
(ironically)
Finally!
She pauses and looks at him with a puzzled look on her face.
SONYA
(slurring slightly)
And you are?
MYSTERY
Well I'm... me!
(crossing legs)
You technically just walked in on
me, not the other way around.
But... Welcome!
A short beat. She stares at him, nearly shaking her head in
confusion.
SONYA
What?! Who are you? And who was
that guy?
Just-
(grabbing the bar above)
what's the next stop!?
MYSTERY
It's Complicated...
The train SCREECHES flush out his voice.
 4.

SONYA
What?
MYSTERY
IT'S COMPLICATED!

SONYA
What- what's complicated? Where's
the train going?--
The train pulls into a station. Sonya looks out the window
and reads a sign that says, PLACEHOLDER STATION.
SONYA (CONT'D)
Wait- Wait. This me! My stop!
MYSTERY
(smirking)
Oh, is it?--
The train stops, the doors open.
SONYA
Okay bye, thanks for nothing!
She walks past Mystery, who has a smug look on his face. She
walks out of the car and the very moment her foot touches the
platform we:
CUT TO BLACK

INT. MODERN TRAIN CAR - NIGHT

Sonya wakes up, laying down on a bench in the same train car.
The train is moving through the tunnels again.
Mystery Breaks down into a sudden and heavy laughter.
MYSTERY
Y'know- It's not that easy. If it
were, we wouldn't be here right
now, would we?
She jolts upward and looks around, grasping her surroundings.
Directly across from her is Mystery. He laughs to himself.
SONYA
What the hell, what the- How am I
here-
MYSTERY
I know, I know. Relax, it's normal.
 5.

SONYA
No-what the- I was just leaving! I
just want-home to go home--
MYSTERY
Okay- just--
SONYA
No- what the FUCK just happened?
What did you do to me?
MYSTERY
OKAY-SHUT UP-FOR ONE SECOND.
(A beat)
Thank you!
(Sips Beer)
Listen, I can help you--
SONYA
Are you drinking right now???
MYSTERY
JUST LISTEN. If you wanna get outta
here, you've gotta at least trust
me. And if you don't, you don't
have much time left--
SONYA
What- the fuck are you talking
about?!
MYSTERY
Just cause this...
(flailing arms and beer)
Whole thing looks like a train-
doesn't mean it is. It's not just--
SONYA
OH!- OHHHHH- you're fucking- you're
like HIGH too?! So you like- SUIT
UP for the train? Like your perfect
tweaker attire?
He looks up, staring directly into her eyes.
SONYA (CONT'D)
(laughing)
You just come from Men's warehouse?
He stares up at her coldly.
SONYA (CONT'D)
I think- I think. You should get a
GREEN suit.
 6.

A short beat.
MYSTERY
You want my help or not?
SONYA
(sarcastic)
Y'know- I'm- I'm good. Thank you.
Yeah.
MYSTERY
Alright.
Mystery stands up and stretches, making a sigh noise as he
does.
MYSTERY (CONT'D)
Later, Ms. Death Wish!
Mystery laughs to himself, he walks off towards the door to
the next car. Sonya stands and watches, breathing hard. He
takes a sip and then grabs the handle.
SONYA
Well, um- You never even answered
my first question!
She stands up and follows slowly. Mystery turns around to
look at her.
MYSTERY
(enthusiastically)
Wouldn't let me!
He looks forward, opens the door and walks out. She chases
after Mystery and runs towards the next car.

INT. PARTY CAR - SECONDS LATER

The train car is PACKED with people. They all hold red solo
cups. People talk in small groups and UPBEAT music blasts,
bouncing off the walls.
LUCY, 20, party outfit, holding a red solo cup, greets her at
the door.
LUCY
Sonya! SONYA! Holy shit come in!
What took you so long?
 7.

SONYA
LUCY?! What- what are you doing
here?
LUCY
Um- I invited you.. Why would I NOT
be here?
Before Sonya can respond, she sees Mystery pushing through
the crowd in front of her. She pushes her way past Lucy and
moves up ahead, chasing Mystery.
As she pushes through... something is off. The ceiling and
surroundings cut in and out from cold metal interiors, to
wooden and cozy home-like surfaces.

INT. PARTY HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

RANDOM, 20, Grabs her by the shoulder.
RANDOM
HOLY SHIT! When'd you get here?
SONYA
What? Oh um- hey? Like not even a
minute ago--
Random cuts her off.
RANDOM
Perfect! You gotta try this then.
Random shoves a red solo cup in her face.
SONYA
Wait- I'm sorry what's your- what's
your name again?
She lowers the drink.
RANDOM
Seriously?
SONYA
I know- but I'm okay thank you--
RANDOM
No I'm serious! Owen made this.
It's the BEST drink I've EVER
fucking had! You’ll have the best
night of your life!
 8.

SONYA
The hell did he put in it then?
Random looks down into the drink and back up. She shrugs.
Sonya aggressively sighs. She quickly, yet subtly, peeks over
into the drink.
SONYA (CONT'D)
I drink this, you'll let me carry
on?
RANDOM
(smiling)
Only if you want to.
She takes the cup from her hands and sips. Random stares with
an anticipating smile.
SONYA
(turning away)
Y'know, it's not bad.
Sonya walks away, squinting at every sip. Once out of
Random's view, she makes a sour face and throws the cup onto
the ground, splashing onto nearby people.
Sonya walks further into the crowd, chasing Mystery. She
begins to stumble after a few steps, her breath gets faster
and her mouth hangs open like a drooling baby.

INT. PARTY HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Lucy catches up to her and grabs her by the arm. Sonya whips
her head around.
LUCY
Woah- where you going?
SONYA
(pointing)
That-guy! I can't leave without
him.
LUCY
(looking ahead)
Who? What guy, what's he wearing? I
can go talk to him for you.
SONYA
What? NO- I mean, he's in like- a
suit.
 9.

LUCY
(smirking)
A SUIT? Didn't know you like a man
in uniform--
SONYA
(shaking her head)
NO! NO, Not like that- I-
Sonya sees Mystery walk out through the sliding doors.
SONYA (CONT'D)
(aggressive)
I'M LOSING HIM!
Sonya walks further, stiffly and clumsily. PUSHING and
SHOVING her way through. As she's about to open the doors-
Lucy catches up.
LUCY
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
SONYA
He just left!
LUCY
You're leaving just to FOLLOW SOME
GUY?!
SONYA
Guess I am.
Sonya turns away, reaching for the door handle.
Lucy GRABS her hand, stopping her in her tracks. Sonya turns
back around, she shoots daggers at Lucy.
LUCY
Just stay here.
SONYA
(heavily slurred)
I'm fine. Okay??
LUCY
Girl. You sound like a total wreck-
SONYA
I'M FINE!
Sonya RIPS Lucy's hand off of her own.
 10.

Sonya GRIPS the handle and slides it open. The SCREECHING

sounds of the train FLOOD into the car.
LUCY
Sonya, please. Just collect
yourself for a SECOND!
Lucy stares at her. Sonya doesn't take her seriously. She
stands still for a brief second- pretending to think about
Lucy’s words.
SONYA
(pretend typing with her
fingers)
I'll text when home.
Lucy soullessly looks back.
LUCY
Alright. Bye.
Sonya looks back outside the opened doors as her hand stays
firmly gripped around the handle.
She turns back to Lucy.
SONYA
I'm fine--
Lucy is gone. Lost in the crowd.
Sonya turns back and walks through the doors. The doors slide
shut behind her.

EXT. TRAIN GANGWAY - CONTINUOUS

She reaches her hand out, trying to grab the handle across
the gap, but her glance drifts off. BRIGHT, GOLDEN light
moves her attention to the outside. She stares, enamoured at
the sunrise over the Brooklyn skyline.
The Train goes back in the tunnel and the humming starts
again. Sonya walks across the gap and opens the door to the
next car.

INT. F TRAIN CAR - CONTINUOUS

She walks through, the doors shut behind her.
The car is quiet. Empty. Dim. Tunnel sounds groan around her.
The train screeches faintly on the tracks.
 11.

Her eyes start to blur. Her breath quickens. Her vision WARPS
into a psychedelic haze. Her heart THUMPS loudly.
She stumbles on her first step. She takes another and falls
backwards. GASPING. Her hands break her fall and she lands in
a crab pose on the floor. She freezes.
Her eyes close- then OPEN.
Sonya POV: Mystery, bent over, hands on his knees, GAZES
directly into her eyes above.
MYSTERY
Hey there!
(beat)
Oh cmon don't look at me like that.
I tried!
He stands up with a heavy groan and walks away. He approaches
The Hummer, who is sitting on a bench and sits beside him,
leaving an open seat in between the two.
Sonya stands up... unbalanced.
MYSTERY (CONT'D)
(to Hummer)
You do anything else?
Hummer looks over to his right, giving Mystery a nasty look.
He continues humming.
Sonya stumbles towards them.
Mystery looks up at Sonya as she approaches. Hummer continues
staring into space.
Sonya POV: Approaching the bench, Mystery SLAPS the empty
seat between them and takes a long, deliberate sip of his
drink, locking eyes with her.
Her ears FLOOD with muffled, almost violent sounds-her own
ragged breathing, choking, suffocating. The world feels
distant, drained of clarity.
She SLIPS-her body lurches forward- CRACK.
Her head SMASHES against the bench- ending her POV.
She collapses to the floor, sprawled out, motionless.
Beat.
The train lurches to a stop. The doors hiss open.
 12.

Hummer and Mystery rise. Mystery places his drink on the

floor beside Sonya's lifeless corpse.
Both men walk out of the train.
CUT TO BLACK.
TRAIN ANNOUNCER (V.O)
Stand clear of the closing doors,
please.
(ding dong)