The Anchor is Dead (Pilot)
Written By: Jasmine Shiffer & Ivan Jimenez
Contact: ivanjime234@gmail.com
ANCHOR 1 sits at a news desk.
ANCHOR 1
Good evening everyone, welcome to the 6 o’clock news. Our first story for tonight concerns the infamous inflatable rat.
A media box appears with a picture of the rat.
ANCHOR 1 (CONT'D)
You may have seen him on your street corner, but never again, because someone has destroyed him. The rat exploded unexpectedly this morning, and authorities are investigating the incident.
She pauses for a drink of water - from a clear glass so we can see it fizzing a bit - and Anchor 1 begins to choke. They cough, gasp, claw at their throat, really ham it up, then they get up and stagger off set, collapsing with just their feet still in the frame.
There is a moment of stunned silence. The camera shakes and we hear someone laughing. Cut to bars and tone.
ANCHOR 2 is pushed onto the set (we don’t see who did the pushing, but we understand Anchor 2 has been forced to take over). He looks back in uncertainty, then down at the body. Then he straightens up, walks over and takes a seat. He sniffs the water suspiciously, then looks up.
ANCHOR 2
Breaking news everyone, this is just in. Your regular primetime news anchor has been violently murdered live on air. It appears there is a poisoner on the loose in the studio. But worry not, you’ll still get your news tonight. Some of you may know me from my 3 a.m. special, I’ve been training for this job for SO many years. Sydney will not be missed.
In other news, famous model Bella Hadid has reportedly died on the streets of Manhattan. Witnesses suspect-
Anchor 1’s ASSISTANT enters, visibly upset.
ASSISTANT
How could you say that?
ANCHOR 2
Excuse me?
ASSISTANT
I was her assistant for TEN years and now she’s dead on the floor. And you’re talking about Bella Hadid. No one gives a fuck about her. Sydney is DEAD.
ANCHOR 2
Ahhhh, yes, I’m aware, but there’s news to be-
ASSISTANT
Sydney is the only news. You knew her too. She was kind, she was sweet to me. She was RESPECTED by the studio, by the industry. And you come in here all high and mighty, the new primetime anchor-
ANCHOR 2
Exactly. The new primetime anchor. I’m doing my job. I’m a professional. Unlike Mr. Nice Guy, oh she’s so sweet to me. Shut up.
ASSISTANT
Listen, I just LOST my job. I lost my boss. She’s right there. She’s-
ANCHOR 2
I’m sorry can we fix my frame a little. You’re not getting my good side and god these lights. Yeah you.
The camera shifts a little.
ANCHOR 2 (CONT'D)
A little more.
ASSISTANT
Ummm
The camera shifts again.
ANCHOR 2
That’s good.
Anchor two gives a signal to restart the programming. A media box appears with a photo of Bella Hadid.
ANCHOR 2 (CONT'D)
Regarding the death of Bella Hadid a well-known TV personality is under suspect for her murder-
The assistant runs in front of Anchor 2.
ASSISTANT
STOP. My GOD this is NOT the time for Bella Hadid. Sydney is gone, we watched her die.
The media box switches source to show Anchor 1 in her final moments.
Anchor 2 gets up and hauls the assistant out of the way.
ANCHOR 2
Don’t you dare ruin this for me, don’t you dare ruin it. This is my BIG BREAK. I waited and waited for this job. “Anchor 1” just wouldn’t get out of the way.
The assistant runs back behind the desk and seizes the glass of water
ASSISTANT
You see this?? It’s POISONED. It caused DEATH. You want to try some?
ANCHOR 2
What?
ASSISTANT
Exactly. There’s a murderer. Somewhere here. Hiding. Don’t you care?
ANCHOR 2
This is my only chance and you’re fucking it up. I need this. Move.
Anchor 2 shoves the assistant and sits back down.
ASSISTANT
(starts crying)
She never noticed me. I did everything she asked for ten years. Ten years I brought her coffee. Ten years I did her dirty work. And she never even looked me in the eye.
ANCHOR 2
No one cares.
ASSISTANT
I loved her.
ANCHOR 2
Oh please. She was fucking me the whole time. And now it’s my day.
The assistant is stunned.
ASSISTANT
Oh my god.
ANCHOR 2
What.
ASSISTANT
You did it. You killed her.
ANCHOR 2
What???
ASSISTANT
Of course. You’ve always wanted to take her place, you never cared about her.
ANCHOR 2
You think I’m a murderer? You’re fucking crazy YOU must’ve killed her.
ASSISTANT
What? No. You did.
ANCHOR 2
No, I didn’t.
Their shouts get heated, they’re about to physically fight.
Then, Anchor 2 puts a hand to their ear. They’re getting a message.
ANCHOR 2
Wait, wait, I’m getting something. We have earlier footage from the studio. Footage of the murderer, I’m hearing. Let’s take a look.
CUT TO:
B roll: We see the cameraman, in ominous low light, come from behind their camera and put poison in the water glass. He/she is laughing softly the whole time. They come back around and adjust the camera, so we know the poisoner is the camera operator.
CUT TO:
Anchor 2 and the assistant sit stunned. They stare at the camera.
ANCHOR 2
It was you.
ASSISTANT
You killed Sydney.
The assistant runs at the camera and the frame drops. We hear sounds of hurried footsteps, shouts, and we switch to Camera 3 to see Anchor 2 and the assistant chasing the cameraman down the hall. They catch him/her and drag them back into the studio.
ASSISTANT
How could you do it? HOW could you
kill her?
Anchor 2 readjusts to the new camera angle.
ANCHOR 2
Yes, ah, what do you have to say for yourself?
The cameraman struggles, but they hold him fast.
CAMERAMAN
I did you all a favor.
ASSISTANT
What?? Oh you sick-
CAMERAMAN
She was a killer. She got that model, what’s her name?
ANCHOR 2
Bella Hadid?
CAMERAMAN
Yeah yeah and that big rat, you know? She blew it up.
ASSISTANT
How do you know?
CAMERAMAN
I SAW her do it. And both of you were next.
A tense beat. The Anchor 2 snaps out of it and addresses the camera. The assistant drags the cameraman off set.
ANCHOR 2
Breaking news. Sydney’s killer has been caught, our very own studio camera operator, and it looks like he did our city a favor. “Anchor 1” herself seems to have been involved in the murder of Bella Hadid and the destruction of the inflatable rat, but she will no longer menace this studio or the city streets. Make sure to tune into primetime tomorrow for the best coverage with THE best anchor.
The camera begins zooming out slowly. Anchor 2 smiles greatly directly into the camera as if all their problems from the day have suddenly resolved themselves perfectly. The news Jingle song fades in. The camera fades to black.
- The End -
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