MARC MORGENSTERN PRODUCER - DIRECTOR - WRITER Click Here

OPEN 'TIL MIDNIGHT One week ago, a Burglar broke into the pharmacy chain store “Open ‘Til Midnight” to steal cigarettes and batteries. During the process, the Burglar steals Jerry, the shift supervisor’s knapsack, which carries his laptop and a rough copy of a screenplay he’s written. Jerry’s life is now in a downward spiral, his only breath of fresh air is the hope of a promotion off the night-shift. Alas, Jerry is denied his promotion because of the burglary. Today, armed with a new high-tech security system, Jerry leads Nikki and Carson into the darkened corners of night-shift. Nikki, the sometimes drugged up overachiever certainly can’t concentrate on her work because she not only has a very important exam in the morning, but her boyfriend Dexter has just broken up with her. Carson, the out of work actor and underachiever also doesn’t have his mind on work. It’s his last night, for he is off to a career in acting. Soon after the store is closed and the workers are quiet, Jerry notices through the surveillance cameras that the Burglar has again snuck into the store to cause more havoc. In the chaos that ensues, several shots are fired and Nikki ends up being captured. Soon after, Carson follows Nikki’s lead and he himself is detained. Jerry, having the chance to escape, denies his freedom to try to save his co-workers and find out where is his screenplay. He subsequently uses the items in the store to fool, distract, set on fire and capture the Burglar. They’ve won, or have they? The Burglar is in chains and tied up in the pet supply aisle. But what do they do with him now? Jerry is furious, he won’t call the police, is now in possession of the gun and forces each of the night crew to take turns watching him. Nikki goes first so she can study for her exam while she watches him. The Burglar tries to figure out an escape route. Nikki, seeing an opportunity, questions him for her thesis that is due in less than a week. The Burglar ends up manipulating Nikki and there’s an escape attempt. Jerry foils the escape, but it doesn’t go by unnoticed, a passing Cop catches a glimpse of the incident and wants to investigate further. All the crewmembers must work together, for now they’ll be in big trouble should the policeman find out about the Burglar. They’re all now assessories after the fact. Before they’re discovered, the cop is called away on a real emergency. Close call. It’s Carson’s turn to watch the Burglar. Events now unfold as we find out that they know each other. Although not good friends, Carson, drunk at a party mentioned that the store he works in would be really easy to rob. Carson didn’t expect Roland, the burglar, to actually do it. The Burglar threatens vindication unless he is let go. Jerry finally realizes the connection between Roland and Carson. The weapon is pulled and something beyond anyone’s comprehension happens. For their mutiny, Dexter, Carson and Nikki get tied up to argue while Jerry watches the Burglar, trying to get work done. Jerry’s prods and interrogates him until the Burglar finally confesses a most horrible secret. He’s read the screenplay. Feeling he’s done Jerry a favor, he tells him the major problems with the screenplay, all to Jerry’s angst, for he feels he could be right. Coming to the realization all could be fine if they just ended everything right then and there, Jerry decides to let Roland and the others go. Could losing the screenplay be the greatest thing that has happened to him? As the night is coming to an end and all seems to be all right with the world, Ira, the store manager shows up ready to call the cops and jeopardize everyone’s fate. When a struggle ensues, The Burglar ends up getting the gun again with the final bullet still safe in the chamber. He can only think of one thing, to squash the bug that annoyed him all night long. He’s going to kill Jerry. In a high energy melee, the Burglar is shot and killed. When the Police come to investigate, the only salvation is that Ira will lie for them, so they can go about their lives. When Ira comes through, Nikki goes off to her exam, Carson goes to his audition, Jerry is promoted, but most importantly, he now has a killer movie to write.