Act 2 – Beat Sheet

#10 Norah’s House

EXT. NORAH’S DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

• The door closes behind her.

• Norah strides quickly onto the porch, facing Adrian.

• Adrian is covered in blood, her hands trembling, eyes wide with terror, her breath uneven.

• ADRIAN (incoherent, on the verge of breakdown): It all happened so fast… I— I don’t know what happened. What do I do… Norah, what do I do…

• Her voice shakes, almost breaking into sobs, words stumbling out in fragments.

• Blood drips from her sleeve onto the ground.

• Norah stops, immediately cupping Adrian’s face in her hands.

• Her palms press against Adrian’s cheeks—gentle but firm.

• NORAH (low, steady): Look at me.

• Adrian gasps for air, eyes darting, until Norah’s gaze nails her still.

• NORAH: Calm down. Breathe.

• They are inches apart. Norah’s voice is the only anchor pulling Adrian out of chaos.

• Adrian’s lips tremble; she slowly nods, surrendering to Norah’s control like a child.

EXT. NORAH’S DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

• Norah helps Adrian toward the car parked out front.

• Adrian is still trembling, her hands restless, muttering nonstop:

• ADRIAN (panicked): I don’t know… I don’t know…

• Norah says nothing, presses her against the car door to steady her, then pulls open the rear door.

• The interior is dark. A cold streetlight spills in, revealing Dominic slumped in the back seat, soaked in blood.

• Norah leans inside, movements sharp and precise:

• She pulls open Dominic’s collar, checking the wound.

• Her hand hovers beneath his nose, testing for breath.

• Her fingers press against his neck for a pulse.

• Every motion is calm, almost clinical—like a doctor.

• Silence.

• Norah slowly straightens, her gaze cold, exhaling.

• NORAH (softly): He’s gone.

• Adrian crumples to the ground as if struck.

• Norah grips her shoulder, steadying her, her voice low and firm:

• NORAH: Look at me. We’ll handle this. But you have to stay calm.

• Tears well in Adrian’s eyes; she can only nod, surrendering herself to Norah.

EXT. NORAH’S DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

• Norah finishes checking Dominic’s wounds and pulse, then lifts her head slowly.

• Her face remains steady, but her voice is gentle.

• NORAH: Are you okay? Is your arm okay?

• Adrian shakes her head frantically, blood dripping from her sleeve.

• ADRIAN: I’m fine, I’m fine—(breathing hard) But Dominic…

• Norah pauses for a beat, looking at her.

• NORAH (firm but soft): He’s gone. I’m sorry, Adrian…

• Adrian freezes, struck like lightning.

• The next second, she squats down completely, her back against the car door, collapsing.

• ADRIAN (muttering, frantic): No… no, no, no…

• Her breathing quickens, chest heaving, eyes unfocused.

• She claws at her sleeve, her throat making dry, broken sounds.

• NORAH: Adrian—

• Adrian suddenly pitches forward, vomiting onto the ground.

• The sound slices through the night.

• Norah crouches beside her, one hand at the back of her neck, the other stroking her back, soothing softly.

• NORAH (sharp but soothing): Breathe. You have to breathe. I’m right here.

• Adrian’s face is streaked with tears and vomit, her body shuddering out of control.

• She looks nothing like the calm woman she was before.

• Norah holds her close, guiding Adrian’s forehead to rest on her shoulder.

• Her voice is low, steady in the night:

• NORAH: I’ve got you.

Rational Chain of Logic:

• Dominic is dead. Norah checked his breathing and pulse → confirmed no vital signs. Resuscitation is meaningless.

• Calling the police would destroy Adrian. She is covered in blood, with clear signs of a gunfight. If the cops come → Adrian is the prime suspect. And since Adrian is already involved in drug/underworld dealings, one background check and she’s finished.

• Norah and Adrian’s hidden relationship: Norah knows Adrian’s identity, her weakness, even her dealings. Her first instinct is to “protect Adrian”—but the only way is to cover it up.

• The body is the greatest risk. If it’s found, police will trace everything back → both Adrian’s and Norah’s secrets will be exposed.

EXT. NORAH’S DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

• Adrian crouches on the ground, vomiting, gasping for air.

• Norah crouches beside her, gently patting her back, her voice calm and steady.

• NORAH (firm, calm): Listen to me. We gotta get rid of the body. We can’t have the cops finding out about this—not here, not like this.

• Adrian looks up, terrified, vomit still on her lips.

• ADRIAN (hoarse): What? We are going to get rid of Dominic?

• (She can barely say his body.)

• NORAH: If they see him like this, they’ll pin everything on you. The drugs, the guns—all of it. Do you understand?

• Adrian breathes hard, then nods numbly.

• Norah cups her face with both hands, forcing her to meet her eyes.

• NORAH: We take care of it. Tonight. And nobody will ever know.

• In Adrian’s eyes, a flicker of complete surrender.

EXT. NORAH’S HOUSE – NIGHT

• Adrian leans against the car, her arm soaked in blood, breath still trembling.

• Norah crouches in front of her, eyes sharp.

• NORAH: What happened?

• ADRIAN(incoherent): I— I don’t know… it was so fast…Guns everywhere… he— Dominic—I didn’t mean— I don’t—

• NORAH(sharply, but gentle):Okay, okay. Shhh. You don’t need to explain. Not now.

• Norah stands, strides quickly inside.

• Adrian stays at the doorway, staring blankly at the blood on her hands, breath rapid.

• Moments later, Norah returns with iodine, gauze, and bandages.

• She sits under the porch light beside Adrian, taking her arm.

• NORAH: Hold still.

• She tears open the gauze, cleaning the wound with precise, practiced motions.

• The iodine stings; Adrian gasps, her shoulders jolting.

• Norah smiles faintly, gaze focused—as if tending to something she cherishes.

• NORAH: You’re tougher than you think.

• Adrian lifts her eyes, dazed, meeting Norah’s gaze.

• The air is thick with blood, yet strangely intimate.

• Norah’s fingers linger—not only stopping the bleeding, but brushing lightly across Adrian’s skin.

• Her eyes reveal a tenderness, a desire she can’t hide.

• Adrian’s breath slows, soothed by the calm and closeness.

• Her eyes flicker with dependency, tangled with unease.

EXT. NORAH’S DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

• Blood still stains the ground, the air heavy with iron.

• Norah pulls a thick blanket and moves toward the car’s passenger seat.

• CLOSE UP — She spreads the blanket over Dominic, swift and efficient.

• She tucks his arms inside, wrapping him completely.

• Norah looks up, voice calm, almost commanding:

• NORAH: Come and help me out.

• Adrian freezes, trembling, eyes darting.

• But slowly, she steps forward, gripping Dominic’s legs.

• Together, they count—

• NORAH: One… two… three.

• MEDIUM SHOT — They hoist Dominic’s heavy body.

• Adrian nearly buckles, breath ragged, but Norah steadies her.

• They reach the trunk.

• CLOSE UP — The blanket-wrapped body slides inside.

• With a heavy thud, Dominic vanishes into darkness.

• Both women press the trunk shut.

• INSERT — Click. The latch locks.

• Their bloodstained hands linger on the trunk a beat too long.

• Breaths heavy, mingling in silence under the yellow light.

#11 Disposing Dominic

EXT. HIGHWAY – NIGHT

• The car roars down an empty stretch of highway.

• Only the engine’s growl and the rush of wind.

INT. CAR – NIGHT

• Adrian sits in the passenger seat, draped in Norah’s old coat.

• Her hands still tremble, forehead resting against the window, staring into the void.

• The trunk behind them is silent—a black abyss.

• Norah grips the wheel, jaw tight, eyes fixed forward.

• Occasionally she glances at Adrian, but says nothing.

• Only the dashboard’s glow illuminates their faces.

INT. CAR – NIGHT(later)

• Silence. Headlights cut through darkness. Adrian’s tear-streaked face reflects in the glass.

• ADRIAN (voice shaking, words spilling faster)It’s all my fault.I should never have trusted him…No— I should never have let him go there.I shouldn’t even be dealing drugs, god—

• She buries her face in her hands, nearly sobbing.

• ADRIAN: My whole life is a mistake. Everything I do just ruins people.

• Her cries echo in the cabin.

• Norah grips the wheel, eyes forward, silent.

• ADRIAN(hysterical): I’m poison. I should’ve—

• NORAH(firm, cutting through):Stop.

• Silence. She turns, locking eyes with Adrian.

• NORAH:Look at me.This isn’t on you.Dominic made his choices. And you’re still here. Alive. With me.

• Adrian trembles, tears streaking down.

• NORAH:(soft, almost seductive): Don’t waste yourself on guilt. You belong to yourself. And right now— you belong with me.

• Norah lays her hand gently on Adrian’s thigh, steadying her tremor.

• Adrian stiffens—then doesn’t pull away.

• They reach a shallow pit.

• Wind howls. The air is ice.

EXT. DESERTED PLAIN – NIGHT

• The car enters a barren wasteland, silent and vast.

• Wind rattles the dry grass, no light for miles.

• Norah pulls over.

• They step out, the cold wind tossing their hair.

• MEDIUM SHOT — Norah opens the trunk. She and Adrian lock eyes, no words exchanged.

• CLOSE UP — Together they drag Dominic’s wrapped body out.

• It thuds onto the earth, heavy and final.

• WIDE SHOT — In the darkness of the plain, two silhouettes drag the body forward—

• a silent ritual in the night.

EXT. DESERTED PLAIN – NIGHT

• Dominic’s body buried.

• Both women filthy, dripping sweat, covered in dirt.

• Adrian collapses to the ground, gasping, hands caked in soil.

• Norah stands, steady but breathless, wiping sweat from her brow, eyes lingering on Adrian with something unreadable—

• coldness, exhaustion, and dangerous affection.

#12: Car Sex

EXT. DESERTED PLAIN – EDGE – NIGHT

• Norah pulls out a crumpled pack of cigarettes.

• NORAH: You want a cigarette?

• Adrian, dirt-streaked and shaking, lets out a bitter laugh:You bet I need a fucking cigarette.

• Norah lights two, slips one between Adrian’s lips.

• The flame flares—illuminating their battered faces.

• They sit side by side, silent, smoking.

• Smoke drifts into the wind, vanishing like nothing happened.

• Adrian exhales slowly. Then—laughs.

• It grows louder, manic, tinged with despair.

• ADRIAN(choking on laughter): What a weird fucking day.

• Norah watches her—pained, yet faintly smiling.

EXT. DESERTED PLAIN – NIGHT

• The cigarettes burn low, embers falling into the dirt.

• Adrian’s laughter fades, tears mixing with it.

• Norah reaches out, brushing dirt and tears from Adrian’s cheek.

• Her touch lingers—tender, possessive.

• Their lips meet. Urgent. Desperate.

• The barren plain swallows them whole.

INT. CAR – NIGHT (PARKED IN THE PLAIN)

• The door slams shut. Darkness.

• Only moonlight and the occasional glow of a cigarette.

• Their bodies entwine, frantic.

• Hands clawing, breath ragged.

• INSERT — HAND slaps against the fogged-up window, leaving a print.

• Outside: silence.

• Inside: breath, whispers, fabric, desire.

INT. CAR – LATER

• Windows misted. Adrian lies on Norah’s chest, drained, strangely calm.

• Norah strokes her hair, eyes filled with dangerous devotion.

• NORAH(soft): It’s all gonna be okay. I’ve got you.

• ADRIAN(hoarse, clinging): I always come back to you. No matter what… I always do.

• Norah kisses her forehead. Silence.

INT. CAR – NIGHT (DRIVING BACK)

• The road stretches into darkness.

• Adrian stares out the window, lost.

• Norah drives, then chuckles softly.

• ADRIAN: What?

• NORAH(shaking her head, smiling faintly): Nothing. Just think it’s a hella night.

• She takes Adrian’s hand.Their fingers interlace.

• WIDE SHOT —The car disappears into the night, carrying their silence, their laughter, and their secret.

Estimated Runtime:

#10: 6–8 min
#11: 6–7 min
#12: 5–6 min

Overall Act 2 length: 18–21 minutes