Attachment: “The Attachment Is Real”: “Be Careful Who You Love Dead or Alive”

Copyright © 2018 by Terrance Nathan.

Library of Congress Control Number:                 2018906478

ISBN:                  Hardcover                  978-1-9845-3197-1

                            Softcover                    978-1-9845-3196-4

    eBook                         978-1-9845-3195-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 07/02/2018

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EXT. NEW YORK CITY - DAY

FADE IN:

A coyote howls as the moon retreats behind the clouds. Seconds thereafter, the sun pivots to the forefront. A derelict FERAL CAT masterfully leaps onto a crumbling ledge. It mischievously dabs its mitts through an oriel window. The mettlesome feline ogles into an apartment. The paltry unit is bestrewed with paperbacks. The opportunistic tom slyly makes its way in.

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

A giant horsefly funnels its way through a skanky sink. All of a sudden, the hideous mite is drawn to a spectrum of lights. The bizarre glare emanates from a vintage projector. The makeshift machine conveniently lies on top of a stack of worn manuscripts. Suddenly, the machine plays. The tom aggressively backs away.

FERAL CAT (OS)

(aggressively hissing)

A timeless newsreel explodes into view. Disturbing grungy images of World War I flutters across the screen. The reel skips. Seconds later, a beautiful damsel blows kisses toward a gritty battalion. Suddenly, a rare silent film eerily appears. The horsefly buzzes and then stamps onto the screen. It reacts harshly to the feature. All of a sudden, the bug suicides to the floor. The pest lies beside a host of other deceased insects.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

A young Caucasian male frolics between the sheets. His movements mimic a lovemaking motion. The bed rocks as his sexual gyrations increase. A slew of unfinished manuscripts tumble on top of a primitive answering machine. The books somehow activates the apparatus. The mannish male reaches his climax. He sighs and then wipes the sweat coursing from his brow.

ANSWERING MACHINE (VO, microphone filtered)

Jade Weary! This is your mother calling once more. Food for thought about the upcoming harvest. Father really needs you this year my love.

He glances and then points at the ceiling.

JADE

Ahh … I know. I know this already, woman.

ANSWERING MACHINE

(VO, microphone filtered, CONT’D)

You know he had to idle more helpers. He’s very stressed. And how do I know this? He’s drinking professionally again. Call Mother, babe. Bye, love.

He turns and then aims a kiss at an empty pillow beside him.

JADE

(Screaming sarcastically at the answering machine)

The strife of an only child manifests its ugly rear end once more.

As he turns away, the pillow mysteriously shifts.

INT. LIVING AREA - DAY

An unnatural tone murmurs through the projector. Suddenly, a worn slice of film strip zooms through the junky machine. All of a sudden, the tacit film returns. The feature magnificently introduces the legendary silent film goddess Joan Cassidy. Her unconventional beauty is striking. Jade enters the room.

JADE

(stretching)

Good morning to me, and good morning to you, Joan.

Joan magnificently plays out her scene. Surprisingly, the scene ceases. The feature mysteriously shifts in Jade’s direction. His back is turned. Joan abandons her male counterpart and then glares at Jade.

JADE

(walking toward the fridge)

Please, please let there be food in this place.

Jade frowns as he spies into the icebox.

JADE

Pop tarts, it is.

Jade sits at the kitchen table. He devours his treat as he opens his laptop. For reasons unknown, he’s fixated with the beautiful screen siren that is Joan Cassidy.

JADE

(humorously lip-synching)

He’s a fool and undeserving of a blissful wet kiss that only your lips can unearth. If there were no more sun, then your beauty would substitute its purpose. Bam! That’s how I would have acted it out.

Jade snaps his fingers and then points at the screen.

JADE

Joan, my sweetie, me and you together would’ve set old Hollywood ablaze.

Suddenly, Jade’s chair mysteriously veers. He’s startled. Jade ponders and then cautiously peeks underneath the table. The feral cat wearily capers forth.

JADE

You spooked me, little buddy. I was beginning to question my digs. Not worthy enough for a dumb ole alley cat as yourself, huh?

Moments thereafter a vintage pocket watch rattles across the table. The initials JC is magnificently molded within the timepiece. Jade stubbornly ignores the watch. Just as he turns his head, the archaic piece shifts.

JADE

(looking at the silent feature)

You’re getting stronger, Joan.

Jade slides the remainder of his meal underneath the table. The puss sniffs and then devours the snack.

JADE

(gesturing toward the cat)

I’ve got to fly, bud. My kingdom is your litter box. I don’t mean that literally.

Jade nods toward the projector. He blows a kiss at Joan.

JADE

(pointing at the feline)

Watch over my queen, Heathcliff.

Jade buries his prized clock within his pocket. An antique bike sits against a decrepit bookshelf. Jade carelessly carries the two-wheeler. Pieces of the bike slip to the floor. He unwittingly slams the door as he exits. A loud series of thumps screech from the wall.

JADE

(yelling)

Sorry, Miss Robinson! I forgot. It won’t happen again.

Jade snickers.

JADE

(whispering)

Until tomorrow, at this time.

The lifeless horsefly still lies among the pile of deceased insects. Suddenly, the fly begins to wiggle. The mite ambles into an upright position. Moments thereafter, it soars and then latches on to the screen. The bug reacts hysterically to Joan’s image.

INT. HERITAGE APARTMENTS CORRIDOR - DAY

Jade ushers his bike into a dilapidated elevator. The lift lies just beyond his apartment door. All of a sudden, a HUNCHBACK MAN leaps from the shadows. He grabs