Shifter (2020) - full transcript

Ten, nine, eight

When I was little I
had an old music box.

One day it got knocked off the
shelf

and one of its sides split open.

I could see the inside; all
the gears and mechanics.

I took it all apart, examined
every piece,

and then put it all back
together again.

When my dad saw what I
had done, he asked, "Why?"

I said, "Because I realized I
could."

Holy shit.

Hello?



Hey, it's Theresa.

- Huh?
- From work.

Oh, okay.

Um, I was thinking
about going out tonight

and I was just wondering
if you wanted to join me.

Tonight?

It's kinda late for that.

Yeah, um, I'm
just celebrating, so, um...

Is it your birthday or
something?

Uh, um.

You're right, yeah, it's,
it's probably too late,

so just nevermind.

Um, sorry.

Hey, what can I get ya?



Oh, um, champagne, please.

Thank you.

Did you get stood up?

Oh, uh, um, no, I'm
not waiting for anybody.

I didn't think so.

I've seen, seen you a
few times around here.

- Always alone.
- Oh.

You from around here?

Um, kind of, just outside the
city.

Ah, the farmland.

You're a country gal.

Not really, um, my dad
just thought he was a farmer.

And he wasn't?

He was not.

What's he do now?

Nothing.

Uh, listen, it's getting
kinda loud in here.

You know, my place is just up
the street.

You know, we can talk a bit if
you want

or we can kinda go there
and have some drinks.

Oh, um, actually I think
it's getting pretty late.

I better go.

Seriously?

Yeah, I think so.

Can you believe this bitch?

You're right.

The world isn't ready.

Here's kitty, you're so cute.

I love you so much.

Kitty!

So, what'd you
tell him, can you tell me?

I mean, what can I tell him?

I mean, he's
the one screwing it up,

so it's on him.

Yeah, but it's just hard
to talk to him sometimes

right as he gets in.

But did you highlight it for
him?

- Of course I did.
- Yellow or orange?

Okay, it's yellow.

Maybe it's because it
was yellow and he just...

You know you have...

- Thought maybe that...
- To do the orange one.

I specifically said, "Gary,
sign all of these um, yellow."

Hey, um, Theresa.

That was you that called
last night, right?

Um, oh, uh, yeah.

So, did you go out?

Uh, oh.

Um...

Well, happy birthday or
whatever.

Happy birthday.

Heard about the stunt

you pulled the other day.

You know, you may be smart,
Chaney,

but you can sure do a lot of
stupid shit.

These machines are dangerous!

They'll rip your damn arm
off if they get the chance.

God dang it.

If someone's wrong with
one of 'em you call me,

and then I call the people
who know what the hell

they're doing and they
will fix the machines.

You are not allowed to
crawl inside the damn thing

and try to fix it yourself.

I...

No, I don't wanna hear it.

Pull another stunt like that

and I'll rip your damn arm off
myself.

Okay, I may be small, but
I can rip a damn arm off.

Now, get back to work.

Miss Theresa,
I brought tomatoes!

So, how are things down at the
factory?

Fine, I guess.

Got any weekend
plans?

Just some work around here.

Now, a girl like you needs
to go out on the weekends,

find yourself a nice man.

I have plenty to do around
here.

Well, it must get lonely
sometimes

being here all by yourself.

You need to find somebody and
bring 'em in

and help get this place
up and running again.

Hm, you know, when I was
a kid, about 10 years old,

my friend lived in this house.

Now, this was way before
your family moved in.

Must be 1967, '68, somewhere
along there.

But she swore that this place
was haunted.

She said they would
hear sounds and screams,

but they never knew what the
source was,

but one night they saw a, oh,

an apparition right
here in this very room.

Said they'd never seen
or heard nothing like it.

Have you seen or heard anything?

Of course not.

Well, they heard
something because they moved

out of here mighty quick.

Now, you know if you ever need
anything,

I am happy to help.

Actually, if you could please
hand me...

Toodaloo.

Hi, uh, you can just
go ahead and have a seat

and we'll be right with you.

You still tinkering with old
junk

in that barn like you used to?

It's good to see you again, T.

Listen, I know it's been quite a
while

since your dad's funeral.

I'm real sorry I missed it.

I had to work, you understand
that, right?

You see, when his dementia
kicked in

I had to find work elsewhere.

That's just a fact.

I swear I woulda helped out if I
could've.

I was sure praying for you
though.

You do this all the
time.

Not all the time.

Yeah, all of
the freaking time, yes.

You're like ,
I'm Blake the flake,

Sam, here's my workload.

I need to take a break for
a family emergency dinner

for homework, I got a new
porno mag to read through...

Okay, okay, okay, I know, I'm
sorry.

It's just I really need
to get this project done.

I'm pressed for time and
the deadline's coming up.

I just really need this, please.

Sure, Blake.

Quantum physics,
that's heavy stuff.

Hello?

Hey, uh, is
this Theresa Chaney?

Um, yes.

Oh, great, hi,
Theresa.

How's it going?

Uh, who is this?

Oh, dammit, I'm
sorry.

This is Curtis Mathers.

Oh, hey, Curtis.

It's been a long time.

Yeah, too long.

Um, look, so, I'm going
to be the city tomorrow,

and I thought that just
well, I thought of you,

and I thought maybe, you
know, if you were free

maybe we could uh, you know,
go out for a drink or whatever.

Oh, um, uh.

It's okay if you
can't.

No, I mean, uh, I'd love to.

Theresa Chaney, is that you?

It's me, it's me.

Wow, you look, wow.

Well.

Would you like to, yeah.

You seem a little nervous.

Everything all right?

Oh, I just um, I don't go
out on dates very often, so.

What?

A towering inferno like you?

A what?

A towering inferno,
'cause you're tall and hot.

Oh.

Just loosen up, we're gonna
have fun.

What have you been up to?

Um, well, um, you know, a
little bit of this and that.

Actually, lately, I've...

Oh, yeah, I meandered around
too,

and then after college
I got job and everything

just sort of fell into place.

But you're a smart girl,
you will get there.

Where did you go to college?

Um, I didn't go because of my
dad.

Ole' oddball Owen Chaney.

How is he doing?

Uh, he passed away.

Um, right after high
school he got really sick,

and I took care of him until the
very end.

That sucks.

Yeah, I never wanna be a
burden like that to anybody.

Goddammit, I uh, I'm sorry,
I um, I have to take this.

Sorry, that was just a little
work thing.

What the hell?

Okay, yeah, uh.

I know, so, I have a friend at
the office

and he was really
needing his ring resized.

Said he was a pickle, a
friend of mine he's a freak.

And I didn't tell him that.

And uh, hi, guy, who does that?

It's a race, that's all.

My guy.

Anyway, what were you saying?

I have to go.

I don't know
how long it's gonna be.

I cannot do this again with you.

No, I cannot.

I can't, I'm sorry.

Okay, well, I can't do
this right now, okay?

Wait.

Hi, hi, hi.

How are you?

Yeah.

Don't ever let me do that again,
okay?

Bernard.

Bernard.

Isn't that weird?

Are you eating all of those
tomatoes?

What are you looking at?

Huh?

Huh, kitty?

I love you, yes I do.

I love you and I hug you and
I squish you and I kiss you,

and I'm gonna bop you in the
nose.

You're the cutest

little kitty in the world.

Even though you have a stinky
booty.

Were you
drinking that night?

No.

Drugs of any
kind; prescribed or otherwise?

No.

Any chance
that you're pregnant.

- No.
- Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Okay.

Are you putting in extra hours
at work?

- I guess.
- Mm hm.

Ah, it's stress.

- Stress?
- Stress.

I knew it as soon as I walked
in.

You see, blackouts can
be caused by any number

of different things, including
stress.

So, let's start from there.

You need to give yourself a
break.

You need to get some rest.

I don't know, go for a walk,

get outta town for a day.

It'll be good for you.

You know sometimes we just need
to relax.

Hi, kitty, come here.

Yeah.

Hi.

You the best kitty, yes you are.

Not feeling well?

What's wrong?

What the fuck?

I just, I still don't feel well,

so I don't think I'll be
able to come in tomorrow.

Well, it's been almost
a week now, Chaney.

You're out of sick days.

It's gonna start affecting your
paycheck.

Break time's over, Chaney.

Oh, kitty, you're so cute.

Yes you is with your furry
little feet.

Little kitty, oh yes you are,
yes you are, you're so cute.

Uh, can I help you?

Uh, uh, sorry.

No, I'm sorry, I just,
I don't like people

seeing my work before it's
finished.

I just get paranoid that
people won't take me seriously

- until I've got it all...
- You've got

it all figured out.

Yeah.

I know the feeling.

Well, yeah, you know,
it's my capstone project

and my senior show is coming
up and I just don't know

if I'm gonna get it done on
time.

So, are you writing a paper or
something?

Um, it's not ready for that.

What's not ready?

Oh, are you okay?

I have to go.

Shit.

I don't now what your
problem is, Chaney.

You used to be one of our best
employees,

but now it's like your
work ethic is deteriorating

and it is getting worse
everyday.

I just don't know what to do
about you.

Your production's down, it's
causing everything to slow up.

What's going on with you?

What do you need?

What's happening?

You're gone all the time.

I don't know what to do.

Your production is down.

It's cramping you up.

Everything is slower.

You can't afford, I just don't
know what to do about you.

What's going on?

Your production is down.

What's happening?

It's causing everything to slow
up.

I have to go.

You're not going
anywhere.

Then I quit.

Calm down, Theresa.

I know you took it really
hard when your dad died,

it's time to move past that.

You need this job.

I have to go.

Okay, I think I understand now.

Um, the device
took us out of our freezer

and so our temporal existence is
melting.

I just need to put us
back where we belong.

And now we wait.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no.

Your turn.

So, it's ready now?

Uh, what?

Oh, what you were working on.

I guess it's ready to be
written?

Um, there have been
some developments, yes.

Okay, well, I look
forward to reading it,

whatever it is.

Hey!

Hey!

- Hey.
- Hi.

Um, I was just wondering if
you know, you wanted to um,

go out for coffee sometime?

Oh, um, yeah, sure.

Okay.

Um, how about, how about
tomorrow afternoon?

We could just meet here.

Okay, okay, yeah.

- Okay.
- Okay.

- I'll see you then.
- Cool, okay.

One, please.

The theater
asks that you please

remain quiet at all times during
the film.

Mommy.

Just watch the movie,
honey.

Mommy!

Surprised to hear
from you,

Miss Theresa, how are you?

Theresa, you there?

Yes, um, I'm here.

Oh, good, there you
are.

How about that weather today,
huh?

Yeah, um, um, I was just
wondering...

Yes, dear?

Um, I was wondering if
maybe you wanted to come over.

Come over?

Yeah, I can make tea or we
could um,

I don't know.

Oh, well, I have
got a lot to do around here.

Tomatoes are calling my
name, you know how it is.

Okay, yeah, no, um, no
worries.

Sorry.

I don't remember this.

I do.

So, you must be ahead of me
then?

Yes.

How long do I have before the
next one?

Not very long.

Need some help?

Uh, sure.

So, you um, you disappeared.

No, I just mean that I hadn't
seen you at the library

in a while and we were supposed
to...

Oh, yeah, I'm sorry.

I, I've just had a lot going on
lately.

Yeah, well, um, it's getting
kinda late.

Wait.

Do you maybe want to go out
for drinks or something?

So, how's your capstone project
going?

Um, I graduated nearly a year
ago.

Oh, right.

What are you doing now?

I'm just kinda taking life
as it comes at the moment.

I could take up quantum
physics as a hobby like you.

It's not a hobby.

What is it then?

A curse.

Then why do it?

Because I realized I could.

Sorry, um, I should probably go.

Are you okay?

Yeah, sorry.

Yeah, just like I was saying.

I was thinking about an
old girl the other day.

Well, well, well, what's up,
country gal?

Please just let me through.

Just please let me through.

I don't think so.

Hey, man, just let her
through.

I don't need your help, Blake.

Oh, wait a minute.

Oh, oh, my bad.

I didn't know.

This you?

Hey, uh, you need to
watch out for this one.

Just let her through.

All right.

Hey, it makes so much sense.

Dang, you see what I'm saying
right there.

You should really put some ice
on that.

I'm fine.

- I'm fine.
- It'll help it feel better.

You shouldn't have done that,
you know?

Done what?

I could've gotten past him on
my own.

Yeah, but, you didn't have to.

Are you okay?

Um, there's just a
lot going on right now,

and it can be overwhelming.

Um, I don't have a lot of
friends, so.

No one to talk to.

What's going on?

I built something, a device.

Okay.

And I used it on myself.

And now I, I've lost control,

and...

My body, it's...

It's like it's deteriorating.

And it just hurts.

It hurts so much.

What, what hurts?

What, is it the device hurts or?

No, no.

I don't understand.

Are you in danger?

Are you okay?

Is it, what is the device?

Just forget I said anything.

You can't understand.

Just nevermind.

Theresa, I want to understand.

Just explain it to me and I'll
do my best.

It's just too much and
I can't be a burden, so.

Theresa?

Who are you?

What are you doing in our house?

No.

Hey, um, is Blake here today?

Blake the flake?

No, she quit weeks ago.

Do you know where she is?

Nope.

Uh, did she leave any
messages for anyone or?

Who are you?

Oh, hi.

Hello.

Um, I've come by a few times
in the last couple of months,

but I guess you weren't here.

Oh, I brought you a whole
new batch of tomatoes.

Uh, well, I can just put 'em out
here

if that's okay with you.

Are you sick or something?

I mean, or maybe
it's the birthday blues.

It was your birthday last week,
wasn't it?

I, I don't know.

Are you okay?

Do you need me to help?

I'd be happy to help with
anything.

- Help?
- Sure!

Good ole Martha's always here
for you.

You want to help me?

Well, of course.

I'll help you in anyway I can.

Oh, my God.

Dad?

I'm home.

Thought I'd make grilled cheese
tonight.

How are you feeling today?

What is it, Dad?

Oh.

I will be right back to
help you get cleaned up.

You can't do this, Ed, not now,
please.

I'm sorry, T, I really am.

After all he's done for you?

I gotta go where the work's
at.

There's work here, I
just,

I just time to figure things
out.

I ain't got time to wait,
T.

Dad was behind on the mortgage
as it is,

without you we could...

Look, I got my own stuff to
worry about.

This is how it's gotta be.

Please, I can't, I
can't do this on my own.

I am not going to be like you.

I am not going to end up like
this.

The hell, T?

Ow!

What was that for?

Hey, Theresa!

Theresa, what's wrong?

Your face, do you need help?

There's only one person
who can help me now.

It's okay.

Don't be scared.

I'm you, but I'm ahead of you.

The device works.

You did it, but you can't use
it.

I know you want to, but you
can't.

Not now, not in this way.

Because if you do then you'll
lose everything and everyone.

But it doesn't have to be that
way.

You can erase this pain.

You can fix this.

I need you to make this right.

Dammit.

Bernard.

Bernard!

No.

No.

No, no.