Liam is drinking alone at a bar.
He’s waiting for his girlfriend, Jessa, to show up.
But she’s over an hour late.
So he’s staring across the street…
Hoping she’ll come out of her high-rise office building.
And doesn’t even notice the hooded stranger sitting on the other side of the bar.
The stranger is watching him carefully.
Just then, Liam’s phone buzzes.
Jessa
I’m going to die in 10 minutes.
Liam
Wait, you’re serious?
Jessa
I’m trapped in an elevator.
Jessa
At my office building.
Liam
Did it break or something?
Jessa
No, it’s something way worse than that…
Jessa
I was late to meet you, so I rushed into the elevator.
Jessa
I didn’t look around me or anything.
Jessa
And then it plummeted down 20 floors!
Jessa
Like, way too quickly.
Jessa
It felt really dangerous.
Jessa
And then I got a creepy text message.
Jessa
Some unknown number.
Jessa
He told me that in 10 minutes…
Jessa
The elevator would fall the rest of the way down.
Jessa
That’s 40 stories, Liam!
Jessa
I know. I tried to get out of the elevator.
Jessa
But this guy must be controlling it or something.
Jessa
Because the buttons don’t work.
Liam
Try prying the doors open.
Jessa
Ugh, they won’t budge.
Jessa
There’s no other way out!
Liam
Did anyone in the building see you leave?
Jessa
Everyone is gone for the night.
Liam
Well, try yelling and banging on the doors.
Jessa
I just did. I don’t think there’s anyone out there.
Jessa
No one seemed to hear me.
Jessa
The unknown number told me that if I tried to call the police…
Jessa
He’d make the elevator drop immediately.
Liam
Okay, I’m calling them.
Jessa
There’s another thing.
Jessa
He said I’m not allowed to call anyone.
Jessa
And that the only person I can text is you…
Jessa
They said you had to be the one to save me.
Liam
Okay this guy is pissing me off.
Jessa shares the contact with Liam.
Liam
I’m texting this pyscho.
Jessa
Don’t waste your time.
Jessa
Just get me out of here before time runs out.
Liam
Are you sure I shouldn’t also call the police?
Jessa
He’ll drop the elevator and kill me if you do.
Liam
But how would he know if I called?
Jessa
He’s monitoring this elevator somehow…
Jessa
So I’m sure he’s monitoring you.
Liam looks around him at the bar.
There are a bunch of other customers.
Could one of them be this monster?
Jessa
Liam, we don’t have time to figure out how he’s doing this.
Jessa
I just know he’s dangerous.
Jessa
And we only have 8 minutes left!
Liam exits the bar and crosses the street.
He reaches the office building.
Liam reaches the elevators.
Jessa
I’m in the south elevator on the 40th floor.
Jessa
So take the north elevator up to the 50th floor.
Jessa
You can access the south elevator shaft there.
Liam gets in the elevator.
He presses the button for the 50th floor.
The elevator starts to go up.
Liam
So what else did he say?
Liam
Did he give you any clues about who he is?
Jessa
All he said was that he wanted to get even with you.
Liam
Even with me? For what?
Liam
I’m trying to think who it could be…
Jessa
We only have 6 minutes.
Liam
Okay, I’m coming as fast as I can!
Liam
It’s going to be alright.
Liam
I’m going to save you.
Liam
Because Jessa, I love you.
The elevator reaches the 25th floor.
It still has 25 more floors to go.
Liam uses the time to text the unknown number.
Liam
Why are you doing this to my girlfriend?
Unknown number
How are you feeling today?
Liam
Just tell me who you are.
Unknown number
I can’t do that.
Unknown number
It wouldn’t be any fun for me.
Unknown number
But maybe if you save Jessa, I’ll tell you.
Unknown number
You shouldn’t yell at me.
Unknown number
Especially since you’re the reason this is happening.
Liam
What did I do to you?
Unknown number
Deception is an ugly thing.
Unknown number
Isn’t it, Liam?
Liam looks up at the floor display on the elevator.
He’s moves past the 30th floor.
Liam
How did I deceive you?
Unknown number
You told me you loved me.
Unknown number
You promised to be faithful.
Unknown number
And you lied.
Liam
Just tell me who you are!
Unknown number
Haven’t you been able to figure it out by now?
Unknown number
It’s your ex-girlfriend.
Unknown number
And Jessa’s best friend.
Unknown number
You know who it is, Liam.
Unknown number
You cheated on me.
Unknown number
With Jessa.
Unknown number
And now you’re dating her?!
Unknown number
I’m going to make you sorry that you did that.
Unknown number
Maybe. But you know what’s even worse?
Unknown number
That you’re still cheating.
Unknown number
Now you’re cheating on Jessa. With Ruby.
Unknown number
Maybe I should tell Jessa what you did…
Liam
It only happened a few times!
Liam
And I love Jessa. This will crush her.
Unknown number
I’ll tell you what…
Unknown number
Keep following my instructions…
Unknown number
Jessa will continue to give them to you.
Unknown number
And maybe then I won’t share your secret.
Liam
Anything. I’ll do anything.
Unknown number
Good choice.
Liam
I did what Jessa told me.
Liam
I just got off on the 50th floor.
Unknown number
Alright. You have 4 minutes now.
Unknown number
After that, Jessa dies.
Unknown number
Tick tock.
Unknown number
Tick tock.
Unknown number
Hurry up, Liam.
Liam
Okay, but what do I do next?
Frustrated, Liam sends a text to Jessa.
Jessa
The unknown number texted me.
Jessa
He said that there’s a utility closet to the right of you.
He opens it and goes into it.
Jessa
Open up the ventilation shaft.
Jessa
Crawl until you reach the vent panel!
He comes across the vent panel.
Jessa
Then you can climb into the elevator shaft.
Liam punches the vent panel.
Jessa
2 minutes and counting!
Liam punches it even harder.
Liam peers out into the elevator shaft.
He sees an elevator that’s 10 stories below.
That must be where Jessa is trapped.
Liam quickly slides into the elevator shaft.
He starts climbing down the metal framework.
But then he catches himself, clinging onto the wall.
Liam finally reaches the top of the elevator.
Liam searches around frantically.
Liam
I can’t find anything!
Unknown number
Did you find Jessa?
Unknown number
Or did you figure out the truth?
Liam
What are you talking about?
Unknown number
I’m Jessa, Liam.
This time, it’s from Jessa’s number.
Jessa
I know what you did.
Jessa
You’ve been cheating on me for months.
Jessa
So I staged this whole thing.
Jessa
Unknown number was me all along.
Jessa
It was my turn to deceive you.
He tries to shimmy up the wall…
To climb back across the vent panel.
Because if he can just make it there…
He can crawl back to safety — to the utility closet.
And flattens Liam against the wall.
In the lobby of the office building, in front of the elevators…
The stranger from the bar stands with a small smile on her lips.
Because she has a secret.
She just sent both elevators up to the top floor…
She pulls down the hood that was obstructing her face.
And as she walks out of the building…
Her smile spreads into a full-fledged grin.
