After Life (2009)

Scene 3:

At the police station

(Paul comes up to Tom, the police captain, asking to see Anna.)

Policeman (Police): Mr. Coleman, I heard about your girlfriend. I’m sorry.
Paul Coleman (P): Is Tom in?
Police: The captain just stepped out (5). He won’t be long. You can wait in his office if you want.
P: Um, no, thanks. I’ll just grab a drink.
(Paul goes to grab a drink and sees Anna’s crashed car.)
Tom (T): Are you OK?
P: Yeah. No, I’m fine. I’m fine.
T: I just found out. I’m so sorry, man. Look, if there’s anything you need at all …
P: I need to see Anna.
T: What do you mean?
P: The funeral director said I couldn’t see her because I wasn’t family. Please talk to him, Tom. You know, pull some strings (6) or show him your badge or something.
T: I can’t do that, Paul.
P: I fucked up, man.
T: Are you sure you’re OK?
P: Huh? Yeah. I always fuck everything up.

Vocabulary

1. scare the life out of: to terrify or surprise
2. turn down: to refuse or reject a request
3. buy someone off: here it means to bribe
4. attendant physician: an attending physician who supervises an emergency
5. step out: to leave briefly
6. pull some strings: to use one’s influence

(By Huang Daohen)