[An apartment, one of those high rise apartments where the main window opens out to a ledge. In the main room is a woman who is staring intently at a mostly blank piece of paper in a typewriter. A knock comes from the front door. She gets up and answers the door.]
MAN
[Enters apartment. Behind him in the hall is a man dressed in rags and handcuffed. He is being led by another man wearing a three piece suit and carrying a brief case and a rather oversized scyth. The suited man is saying something along the lines of “If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided …”] Excuse me. [He walks over to the window, opens it and starts to climb out on the ledge.]
WOMAN
[Is now starring at the scene outside the door, and is ignoring the MAN]
MAN
[Now out on the ledge. He turns to face the WOMAN] Well?
WOMAN
Hello? What?
MAN
Well?
WOMAN
Sorry, just watching some bum being arrested by a man with a rather large knife—
MAN
Scyth.
WOMAN
What?
MAN
It's not a rather large knife, it's a rather large scyth.
WOMAN
Whatever. Oh, nice view, huh?
MAN
I'm going to be appreciating it more in a few seconds.
WOMAN
Well, what are you waiting for?
MAN
Pardon?
WOMAN
What are you waiting for?
MAN
You're not going to stop me?
WOMAN
No.
MAN
No “Wait—don't jump?” [WOMAN shakes her head.] Or “It's always darkest before the dawn?” [She is still shaking her head.] Not even “You have so much to live for?”
WOMAN
Nope. Why should I? I have problems of my own without having to worry about yours. So, enjoy the view. [Starts back towards the desk]
MAN
Aren't you even going to ask me why?
WOMAN
[Sitting at desk] Nope. [Stares at paper in typewriter furiously]
MAN
It's because I have writer's block.
WOMAN
You're jumping because of writer's block?
MAN
It's a very bad case of writer's block.
WOMAN
Listen, if I killed myself everytime I had writer's block—
MAN
You'd be dead?
WOMAN
Don't be such a wise ass.
MAN
Is there any other type?
WOMAN
Just enjoy the view. I'm busy. [Goes back to staring at paper]
MAN
With what?
WOMAN
I'm writing a novel.
MAN
I tried that once.
WOMAN
And?
MAN
I'm here.
WOMAN
That's good. Now go. I'm busy.
MAN
With writer's block?
WOMAN
Shut up. Now go. I'm busy.
MAN
Uh, before I go, I could help. [No response] You know, read what you have, and make, oh, a few suggestions. [Again, no response] Or maybe just take in the grand view you have in a first hand way.
WOMAN
You have my blessings.
MAN
[Climbs back into apartment, goes to desk and rips paper from typewriter]
WOMAN
Hey! Give that back!
MAN
[Reading] “It was a dark and stormy night.” It was a dark and stormy night?
WOMAN
[Trying to get paper back] Well, it was.
MAN
Should have jumped. [Goes back to window and climbs out]
WOMAN
[Runs after MAN] Hey, give me back my novel!
MAN
[Is about to jump when he is stopped by WOMAN] Hey!
WOMAN
My novel!
MAN
[He keeps the paper out of her reach. She tries to grab it. Somehow, she climbs out to the ledge. In the ensuing stuggle, he accidently causes her to slip and fall. He looks down as she falls.] Sorry. [Slowly climbs back into window. Looks around and sees typewriter. Sits at desk, puts paper into the typewriter and types a few words. Pulls paper out, balls it up, and discards it. Puts another paper in, types …]