The Nihilist

SETTING: We open with a frantic Ralph on the phone. He's telling someone he committed a murder. Who he killed is the question, and he's petrified. Sometimes it’s the murder you didn’t commit is the one that gets you in trouble. Crime doesn’t pay unless you get away with it. Nihilist is the story of a Ralph Fardela, who sees no way out of his miserable life, miserable career, and an even more miserable marriage. After failing in his suicide attempts, his best friend, Tom, does all he could to help Ralph turn things around. Even with Ralph's failed visits to a psychiatrist, failed attempts at reconciliation with his wife, Beth, failed attempts at life, nothing works. He thinks he's done. Tom says suicide is not an option. “Besides, why kill yourself, you should kill Beth” jokes Tom. When one night, a drunken, stoned, selfish, and demanding Beth, ridicules and demeans Ralph, it is for the last time. Ralph kills her in the bathtub and tries to make it look like an accident. After the police investigation, it would appear Ralph has gotten away with the perfect murder. Tom takes Ralph sailing and introduces him to two beautiful ‘Working Girls.’ They completely change Ralph's’ outlook. 2 At the same time police Detective Brody, a persistent homicide police officer, smells a rat. His gut tells him there is much more to Beth’s death then a simple slip and fall and is unrelenting in getting Ralph for the murder. People think they can commit a perfect murder. It’s not that easy. Ralph sees a future, a future without his wife, Beth. Unbeknownst to Ralph, during her failed pregnancy, Beth took out a $250,000 life insurance to protect her yet unborn child and left Ralph as the second beneficiary. With the double indemnity clause for accidental death, Ralph inherits double the money, $500Grand. That inheritance looks bad for Ralph. It changes his life. $500 grand richer. Ralph sits poolside at a luxury Mexican resort. Ralph sips his fancy umbrella drink and is approached by a Mexican policeman and Detective Brody. They ask him if he knows Marla. She was found hanging onto a buoy in the bay, bruised, battered, barely alive and left for dead. “Why” asks Ralph? Brody replies, “She finally recovered consciousness and says she knows you.” 3 “Would you please come with us,” asks Brody? “This is Mexico, you can’t arrest me here,” says Ralph. “You should have checked. We have an extradition treaty with Mexico. You should have gone to Canada.” “Too cold.” "Fardela, you’re under arrest for the murder of your wife, Beth Fardela and attempted murder of Marla O’Shaughnessy, leaving the scene of a crime, maleficence, assault, kidnapping and torture. I'm sure we'll find other charges." As they cuff him. “Can I at least finish my drink,” asks Ralph. “No” is the only reply as they go off.