Alex
Chris, I need you to do something for me.
Chris
Hey man, what’s up? I’m going on vacation today.
Alex
I know. You’re supposed to meet Sally at the airport, right?
Chris
Yeah. I’m just about to leave.
Chris
How did you know that? I haven’t seen you in months.
Alex
It doesn’t matter. You have to do something for me.
Alex
Let’s call it a treasure hunt.
Chris
What? You’re not making sense.
Alex
Open your front door.
Chris opens his front door.
He’s about to close it when he looks down.
There’s a cellphone lying on the step.
Chris
Alex, what is this?
Alex
Do you have the cell?
Chris picks the cellphone up.
Chris
Yes, I have it. Is it yours?
Alex
No. But it’s better if you don’t ask questions.
Chris
Are you ok? You’re acting weird.
Alex
Someone’s going to text you. You have to answer.
Chris
Why? What’s going on??
The burner cellphone in Chris’s hand pings.
Chris
Hello? Who is this?
Chris
What? Is this a joke?
K
Only if you think your friend Alex’s life is a joke.
Chris
What does that mean? Who are you? Where’s Alex?
Chris switches to his own cellphone.
Chris
Alex? Tell me this is a joke. Are you okay?
Alex
Just do what they say, Chris. Please.
K
Are you ready to help us now Chris?
Chris
I’m ready to call the police. Where’s Alex?
K
There’s a coffee shop three blocks away.
K
If you want to see Alex again, go there. Don’t contact Sally.
Chris
Wait a minute, where’s Sally? Is she safe?
Chris
If you’ve done anything to her…
K
Get to the coffee shop, Chris.
Chris steps outside his house and stares around him.
Nothing seems out of place. His fingers hover over his cellphone.
Chris
Sally? Where are you? Are you okay?
Sally
On the way to the airport, like you should be!
Sally
Can’t talk now. See you there xx
Chris gets no response. He hesitates, then starts walking, then running.
When he reaches the coffee shop, he’s out of breath. The burner cell pings.
Chris
Who are you? What do you want from me?
K
You’re going to make a little delivery for us.
K
It’s time sensitive. You’re up against the clock now, Chris.
Chris
A delivery of what? To where?
K
There’s an envelope on a table in the coffee shop.
K
The man sitting at the table is going to get up and leave now.
K
Get the envelope and take it to the subway stop on the corner of eighty-fourth.
Chris
Then what? What’s in the envelope?
K
No more questions. Just do it.
Chris hesitates then turns around and scans the tables in the coffee shop.
There are multiple men sitting alone at more than one of the tables.
Alex
Chris? Where are you?
Chris
Alex! Are you okay?
Alex
If you do what they tell you to I will be.
Chris
I’m in the coffee shop.
Chris
I don’t know who I’m supposed to be watching.
Alex
Don’t panic. Just keep looking.
Chris
Wait! There’s a man leaving.
Chris
I see something on the table!
Chris
I’ve got the envelope.
Alex
Now get to the train station around the corner. Run.
Pocketing a thick, padded envelope, Chris rushes out of the coffee shop.
He pushes past customers and out to the street.
A cop walks past and Chris slows to a walk, his heart thundering.
The cop nods and Chris nods back.
Once he’s past, Chris breaks out into a sprint.
Alex
There’s a train arriving in 5 minutes. Don’t miss it
Chris
Alex, what’s in this envelope?
Chris
When are they going to let you go?
Alex
When you’ve taken the envelope to the right place.
Alex
Don’t miss that train, Chris!
Chris runs into to the train station.
He catapults himself up to stairs to the platform.
Just as he gets there, the train pulls in. He dashes through the closing doors.
The train pulls out of the station.
Alex
Did you get on the train?
Chris
Yes. What’s in this envelope?
Alex
Put the envelope on the seat next to you.
Alex
Someone will take it. Don’t react.
Chris bites his lip then pulls one corner of the envelope open very slightly.
The envelope is full of cash. More than he’s ever seen.
Chris glances around nervously then places the envelope on the seat.
Chris
Do I have to be with it the whole time?
Chris
Can’t I get off the train?
Alex
Stay until I say so.
Chris
Will they let you go now?
Several people crowd around Chris to get off at the next stop.
When Chris looks down, the envelope is gone.
There’s a package in its place.
Chris
Alex? WHAT’S GOING ON?
Chris picks up the package.
It’s securely wrapped, but Chris knows what has to be inside.
He tugs it open, then hurriedly rewraps it. His heart is pounding.
Alex
Do you have the package?
Chris
Yes. I’m freaking out. Is someone watching me?
Chris
Do you know what’s in this package?
Chris
It’s full of drugs, Alex. What are you mixed up in?
Alex
Get off the train at the next stop.
Chris
I don’t like this. What if someone catches me?
Chris
How am I going to explain this?
Chris
Wait a minute, the next stop is near the airport…
Chris
I can’t go to the airport with this!!
Alex
You won’t. Someone else is going to do that.
Alex
All you have to do is get off the train with the package. Then they’ll let me go.
Chris
Okay. We’re coming into the station.
Alex
Turn left out of the station.
Alex
There’s an empty parking garage.
Chris enters the garage. It’s dark.
He can make out a black van parked in the back.
Alex
Do you have the package?
Alex
Hold it up so they can see it.
Chris holds up the package.
The van door slides open and Alex stumbles out.
The door closes behind him.
He drops to the ground, sagging against a concrete pillar.
Chris stays still, holding the package up.
Chris gets a new incoming text.
K
Put the package on the ground, Chris.
Chris puts the package on the ground.
The van starts moving and Chris runs to Alex.
Alex’s head is in his hands.
Tires squeal and they both look up.
The package has gone and the van is pealing out of the garage.
Chris
They’re gone. It’s over.
