By Damaris Chanza

INT.  – EMPTY WHITE ROOM WITH ONLY A RED BOX SITTING ON A WHITE TABLE - DAY 

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Ali wakes up on the ground, disoriented and confused.

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ALI

Hello? Is anybody here? Where am I?

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Ali runs around the room frantically, trying to find an exit until she notices the red box.

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INTERCOM

(Robotic voice with no apparent origin)

Solve it.

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ALI

(Yelling up at the ceiling)

Who is that? Who are you? Why am I here?

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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Ali picks up the box and throws it across the room. 

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ALI

Let. .  . Me . . . Out!

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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ALI

I don't want to solve it. I just want to go home.

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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Defeated, Ali walks to the red box and begins treating it like a Rubik’s Cube, but nothing happens.

She bangs it on the table a few times but nothing happens.

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ALI

It's just a box there is no solving this.

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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Ali tries sitting on the box, kicking it, and punching it, but nothing happens.

Bored and out of ideas, Ali starts tapping on the box, and it starts to roll until it gets to the center of the table where it opens up.

She looks inside, but it appears empty.

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ALI

It’s solved now let me go home. 

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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ALI

I just did. The box is open; there is nothing in it.

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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ALI

Who are you? Tell me why I'm here!

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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Ali puts her hand in the box, but to her surprise, it doesn't have a bottom.

She pulls out a crumpled piece of paper with a list on it – ingredients. 

She puts her hand in the box again. This time she pulls out a plate of sliced Taylor ham, a bottle of ketchup, a plate with a single fried egg, a bowl of shredded cheese, a set of salt and pepper shakers, and a plate with a bagel – the ingredients on the list. She places all of them on the table.

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ALI

What's going on? You want me to make you a sandwich?

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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ALI

I am not your maid or your servant. Let me out of here!

 

After a loud sound, a white door frame appears.

Ali runs toward it, but there is no opening, so she slams against it and gets knocked down.

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INTERCOM

Solve it.

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Upset, Ali gets up and walks toward the table – she notices the crumpled piece of paper is not perfectly flat and includes instructions as well as ingredients. She followed them meticulously.

Reorganize the food on the table, making space around where you want to work.

1. Take the plate with the bagel and place it in front of you.

2. Put ketchup on one side of the bagel.

3. Put the Taylor ham on top of the ketchup.

4. Sprinkle some cheese on top of the Taylor Ham.

5. Put the egg on top of the cheese.

6. Shake some salt and pepper onto the egg.

7. Place the other side of the bagel on top completing the puzzle.

As soon she completes the puzzle, the box gobbles up the food and closes its flaps, then shrinks until it disappears along with the plates and bowls. Colors flood the walls until they reach the door frame. With a creaking sound, the door swings open, revealing an intercom.

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INTERCOM

You solved it.

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The intercom sinks into the ground. 

Ali runs to escape, but she bumps into a short crazy-haired woman wearing a chef's coat and holding a microphone.

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WOMAN

(Speaking into the microphone distorting her voice to sound robotic)

Never forget your mise en place.