Common Walls--by Michael Raymond

Synopsis—Common Walls

Writer:	Michael Raymond	Genre:	Psychological Thriller
Subject:	Original Screenplay	Circa:	Present-day
Title:	"Common Walls"	Locale:	Seattle (urban environs)

Theme
The effects of unwanted noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress—reducing one's quality of life.

Logline
A man is tormented by and obsessed with the late-night noise in his apartment building—and becomes convinced that he has accidentally eavesdropped on a murder committed by one of his neighbors.

ACT I
MARTIN BROOKS is a hotshot software developer - a man in his thirties working at an interactive CD-ROM company with a bunch of overworked Generation Xers. He is a man obsessed with finding the perfect balance between work and leisure—as well as the perfect living environment. Although he is certainly still young-at-heart, his priorities are starting to change, as he begins to look forward to a future life of domesticity (owning a home, starting a family, etc.) with his live-in lover KERI ALTMIRE.

Keri works as a Museum Technician and is a young, very liberal-minded woman, who long ago abandoned a very fractured and traumatic life from an upper crust family in California. In short, Keri has been to hell and back—and now enjoys her life with Martin in the very tolerant and idyllic Pacific Northwest.

Martin and Keri have moved into an apartment, planning to save up to buy the "perfect" house. However, Martin is beset by some pulling forces and conflicts: Pressure from his boss to work longer hours, his relationship with Keri, and the unexpected discovery that he has a collection of eccentric neighbors, who keep very late hours and make a variety of strange and disturbing noise. In fact, on one particular night—Martin becomes convinced that he has overheard a murder being committed in the apartment next door.

ACT II
Martin's assertions of overhearing a murder are quickly refuted by everyone that he confronts regarding the matter—including the police. However, the incessant late-night noise begins to turn Martin into an insomniac, affecting virtually all aspects of his life.

Martin's efforts to solve his sleeping disorder (earplugs, white noise machine, confrontations with his neighbors, etc.) prove to be ineffective, as he becomes less interested in sleeping and more preoccupied with the goings-on in the other apartments—particularly the unit where he suspects the murder was committed. However, all other aspects of his life begin to suffer, as well. Martin's relationship with Keri is strained, he is in danger of losing his job, and his emotional well-being begins to deteriorate. Martin becomes increasingly irritable, resulting in extreme emotional responses and behavior. He has even begun a dangerous new pastime—prowling around (and even breaking into) his neighbors' apartments.

Paradoxically, when Martin discovers terrible news about his own hearing (and loses his job)—he finally attempts to make things right and climb out of his emotional abyss. However, he and Keri make an astounding and chilling discovery: Martin may not have imagined the murder after all.

ACT III
Martin and Keri face their greatest fear, resulting in a climactic and nightmarish confrontation. The emotional denouement results in: (1) Martin and Keri finding out if one of their neighbors is indeed a killer, (2) Martin and Keri facing some difficult choices regarding their relationship, (3) Martin coming to terms with how he wants to balance his professional and personal life, and (4) The final consequences of Martin's long road back from his emotional and physical anguish—it is an outcome that is full of irony. In the end, Martin finds his elusive peace-n-quiet, but becomes well-acquainted with the old adage: "Be careful what you wish for—it just might come true."

Michael Raymond
7719 - 27th Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98117
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