Halloween 2014 entries

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  • Halloween 2014 entries

    Welcome to this year's fun DDPro Halloween short script contest!

    There are 14 entries, sorted into random order by internet magic.

    The Haunting of Silver Oaks
    Heart of the Dragon
    Echoes In The Mist
    Killing Fool
    Life Is But A Dream
    Pledge Night
    She Works Hard For The Money
    Pyro
    The Clown At The End of the Road
    The Mask, the Crypt and the Urchin
    Norma Rae
    Chase in the Woods
    Hallowed Bean
    The Touch

    If you don't like the Code windows (which preserves formatting) select Thread Tools and Show Printable Version

    Shout if you detect any errors in your entry, I'll correct ASAP. The board's potty mouth filter changes bad words to asterisks, I've modified these slightly so the reader will at least know what's being said.

    As suggested previously, consider making notes as you read each entry, maybe award star ratings for character, dialogue, setting, etc. Treat every entry as the winner -- until you read something better that pushes it further down your pick-list.

    Once you pick your 1st, 2nd and 3rd top choices, PM or email these to me ([email protected]). I'd appreciate receiving them in the format:

    1st - title
    2nd - title
    3rd - title

    Please don't vote for your own entry. If this were allowed, everyone would do it, so it's pretty pointless.

    Voting deadline: midnight on Friday 31st, Halloween!

    After the vote results are announced, reader feedback is invited for discussion and improvement. Please hold your comments until then, in case it influences voting (unlikely, but who knows).

    Enjoy!

    For posterity, the results are here and the discussion thread is here.
    Last edited by dpaterso; 09-24-2015, 11:14 PM.

  • #2
    Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

    Code:
    The Haunting of Silver Oaks
    
    FADE IN
    
    INT. SILVER OAKS RETIREMENT HOME - ROOM 117 - NIGHT
    
    Cut paper Jack-o-lanterns and black cats are taped to the
    darkened room walls. Shivering in the bed, PEGGY WINSTON,
    94, pulls the blanket under her chin. Her eyes dart.
    She's certain she heard something, but the only noise is
    the singular beeping of her heart monitor.
    
    A white fog begins to seep under the door. A LOW MOAN
    comes from beyond it.
    
    Peggy's eyes are wide now. The beeping increases.
    
    THE DOORKNOB -
    
    ... slowly turns. Fog fills the room as the door creaks
    open. THE APPARITION appears through the fog, a
    disembodied skull above flowing robes approaches the bed.
    A skeletal hand reaches for her -
    
    Peggy tries to scream, but there's no sound. The heart
    monitor beside the bed goes to a fevered pitch, a double
    beat stutters, and then - silence. Life flees from
    Peggy's eyes and she collapses.
    
    The fog disperses as orderly PACO RODRIGUEZ, a stout 29,
    and nurse COURTNEY McCLURE, 36, in scrubs, rush to the
    bedside and administer CPR with practiced speed.
    
                            COURTNEY
              Mrs. Winston! Mrs. Winston can you
              hear me!
    
                            PACO
              Oh man. She finally went.
    
    Courtney slams her hand on the intercom.
    
                            COURTNEY
              Code Three! Room one seventeen. We
              need an ambulance, stat!
    
                            PACO
              She don't need nothing but an
              undertaker.
    
                            COURTNEY
              Shut up, dammit.
    
    She wheels away from him.
    
                            PACO
              Are you crying?
    
                            COURTNEY
              She's... just been here so long.
    
                            PACO
              She told me fourteen years.
    
    Paco sniffs the air.
    
                            PACO
              You smell something? Something
              sweet?
    
                            COURTNEY
              Yeah, and the room is so clammy.
              It's not this cold in the hallway.
    
                            PACO
              Something's not right. I'm calling
              somebody.
    
    BRIAN CUSSLER, 47, fit and tan, wearing a sport coat and
    khakis, enters tentatively.
    
                            BRIAN
              I just heard. She's really gone?
    
    Nods from Paco and Courtney.
    
                            COURTNEY
              You're working late.
    
                            BRIAN
              End of the month reports, it's all
              due to corporate tomorrow.
    
    Two Paramedics arrive. They check the body, one brings
    out a defibrillator.
    
                            BRIAN
              No resuscitation, she had a DNR.
    
    The room grows solemn.
    
    
    EXT. SILVER OAKS RETIREMENT HOME - NIGHT
    
    The ancient green Chevy van pulls into the handicapped
    space. The door opens and a small Peek-A-Poo puppy jumps
    out, begins yipping it's way to the nearest tree.
    
    From the driver's side comes FRED, 63, luxurious hair,
    fit, wearing a tailored cream blazer and an ascot.
    
                            FRED
              Scruffy! Come back here, dammit.
    
    Behind him VELMA, 64, a pudgy woman in an oversize
    sweater and giant blackrimmed glasses shakes a finger.
    
                            VELMA
              I told you - you've got to keep
              him on a leash.
    
    SHAGGY, 66, eases from the van, green t-shirt and brown
    corduroys, his thin hair in a ponytail. Gray goatee.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Like, you just need the magic box.
    
    He pulls a giant green and orange box from the van.
    Shakes it. 30 yards away the scampering dog stops in mid-
    air and does a 180. Comes at full clip back for a treat.
    
    The pup passes DAPHNE, still a knockout at 64. Styled
    silver hair, pink capri pants under the purple miniskirt.
    
                            DAPHNE
              Nothing stops `em like a Scooby
              Snack.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Millions satisfied. Millions sold.
    
    He flips a treat to the pup. Pops one in his mouth.
    
                            VELMA
              And you gave away the royalty
              rights for nothing. Nothing!
    
                            SHAGGY
              Nothing? No way! It was like, ten
              pounds of prime sinsemilla!
    
                            FRED
              Com'n gang, let's go find Paco.
    
    
    INT. SILVER OAKS RETIREMENT HOME - ROOM 117 - NIGHT
    
    Paco and the Mystery Incorporated team examine the now
    empty room. Velma unpacks a laptop and plugs it in.
    
                            PACO
              She was fine in yoga class, then
              four hours later, her heart rate
              goes to one eighty and she's gone.
    
                            DAPHNE
              Something must have really scared
              her.
    
                            PACO
              Could be. Silver Oaks is supposed
              to be haunted by a resident who
              died here long ago.
    
                            FRED
              Ghosts and spooks are our bread
              and butter.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Speaking of food --
    
    Velma examines a thin layer of powder on a side table.
    
                              VELMA
              Is this dust?
    
                            PACO
              Shouldn't be, housekeeping hasn't
              been through yet, but the room was
              just cleaned on Tuesday.
    
    There's a TREMENDOUS BOOM. The building shakes. Everyone
    jumps.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Zoiks! What was that?
    
                            PACO
              Demolition. Peggy was the last
              resident on this wing. They're
              tearing it down for the new tower.
              That might be your dust.
    
    Velma, Fred and Daphne share a knowing look.
    
                            VELMA
              Didn't take long to find that
              motive.
    
                            FRED
              Shaggy why don't you and Scruffy
              see what you can find out about
              the construction.
    
                            PACO
              The contractor's office is right
              across from the kitchen, you can
              find him --
    
    Shaggy and Scruffy are already out the door.
    
                            DAPHNE
              By the kitchen? They'll find him.
    
    
    INT. SILVER OAKS RETIREMENT HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT
    
    Shaggy stands in front of a giant pantry filled with
    enough institutional food to feed a nursing home. He
    grabs a cookie from a giant box, tosses one to the pup.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Who knew old people liked
              gingerbread cookie and sweet
              pickle sandwiches, too?
    
                            SCRUFFY
              Yip.
    
    Shaggy opens another box, pulls out a skull mask just
    like the Apparition. Then a small projector.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Like, I think we just got a
              nibble.
    
                            SCRUFFY
              Yip. Yip!
    
    The door opens, Brian steps in. Surprise!
    
                            BRIAN
              Hey! What are you doing in here?
    
                            SHAGGY
              Just getting a little pre-midnight
              snack, snack.
    
                            BRIAN
              So you're hungry? How `bout I feed
              you that projector?
    
    Scruffy GROWLS. Brian takes a step towards Shaggy and the
    dog latches onto Brian's ankle. He HOWLS. Shaggy and the
    projector make a run for it.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Get him Scruffy Poo!
    
    Brian kicks the dog loose. The ball of fluff flies across
    the room. Smacks the wall with a sickening THUD and a
    YELP of pain. Shaggy skids to a stop.
    
                            SHAGGY
              Scruff?
    
    He goes to the dog, drops to a knee next to the lifeless
    pup. Turns to see Brian approaching with a large cleaver.
    
                            SHAGGY
              You killed my dog, dude! I ought
              to --
    
    The cleaver slashes. Blood splatters on the far wall.
    
    
    INT. SILVER OAKS RETIREMENT HOME - ROOM 117 - NIGHT
    
    A full moon through the window. Velma is cranking through
    webpages on her laptop. Fred and Paco examine a hole in
    the ceiling. Daphne touches up her make-up.
    
                            PACO
              A lens? Like a camera?
    
                            FRED
              Or a projector.
    
                            VELMA
              This says Silver Oaks is owned by
              a limited liability corporation
              and the sole stockholder is named
              Brian Cussler.
    
    She holds up the laptop to show his photo.
    
                            PACO
              Can't be. Brian's just the General
              Manager.
    
                            VELMA
              It also says rooms in the new
              tower are going to be five times
              what Mrs. Winston was paying.
    
                            DAPHNE
              No wonder he wanted to scare Mrs.
              Winston away.
    
                            FRED
              He did more than just scare her.
    
                            DAPHNE
              Yeah, that's weird - nobody ever
              dies on our cases.
    
    The lights dim. The door closes, locks. Fred leaps to it.
    
                            PACO
              Oh sh*t. It locks from the outside
              so residents don't just wander
              off.
    
    The white fog begins to seep under the door.
    
                              DAPHNE
              That smell --
    
                            PACO
              Its honeysuckle or something.
    
    The door opens in a waft of fog. The Apparition enters.
    
                            FRED
              It's a projection!
    
    He charges through the fog and out the door. Then
    staggers back, a butcher's knife buried hilt deep in his
    chest. His eyes wide, then rolling back as he collapses.
    
    Daphne screams and goes to a karate stance, just as a
    throwing knife buries itself between her eyes.
    
    Paco steps in front of Velma as the Apparition enters the
    room, a solid physical being rather than a projection on
    the fog. A bloody cleaver in it's right hand.
    
    The Apparition stops. Pulls the mask from his face.
    
                            BRIAN
              You've done well.
    
                            PACO
              I haven't done anything.
    
    Paco balls his fists. A loop of cable passes over his
    head. It's Velma with the laptop cord as a garrote. She
    tightens the cord and he loses consciousness. Falls to
    the floor.
    
                            BRIAN
              I wasn't talking to you.
    
    He takes Velma in a bear hug.
    
                            BRIAN
              It's over Aunt Velma. No more
              meddling kids.
    
                            VELMA
              I thought it would never end.
    
    She begins to sob.
    
                            VELMA (CONT'D)
              All those damn dogs. Those first
              four Great Danes - f***ing things
              crap like Clydesdales. Then it was
              collies. But that Peek-A-Poo was
              the last straw.
    
                            BRIAN
              Your pet dander allergies.
    
                            VELMA
              It was horrible. And that idiot
              Shaggy, thinking they all could
              talk. It's been years of this!
    
                           BRIAN
              Moronic.
    
                            VELMA
              People thought he was stoned all
              the time. Oh no - he really was
              just that stupid. We could have
              been rich!
    
    Brian looks around.
    
                            BRIAN
              I'll go get a gurney. The concrete
              guys will start pouring the tower
              footings at dawn.
    
                            VELMA
              You know anybody who wants a van?
              It's been on TV.
    
                                                   FADE OUT

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

      Code:
      The Heart of the Dragon
      
      INT. PETROGLYPH CAVE, CANADIAN ROCKIES - LATE MORNING
      
      Flickering light illuminates ancient Native American artwork
      on the rock face -
      
      Drawings, done with bold colors and flowing SHAPES, which
      almost seem to leap out from the wall -
      
      But these are not the traditional paintings of hunters and
      their prey. Not celebratory in any way. Instead, they are
      almost fearful: Stick figures fleeing a giant, dark, smudged,
      massive shape lost in the shadows of the upper wall.
      
      A feminine HAND reaches up to touch the figures.
      
                          ELDER (O.S.)
                No!
      
      The ELDER steps between the outstretched hand and the rock
      wall. Dressed in traditional Native American clothing, his
      ancient eyes plead with the young woman there with him:
      
      CALLIE JAMES(20s) is dressed in the long-sleeved khaki
      uniform of the RCMP NAPS (Royal Canadian Mounted Police
      division for the National Aboriginal Policing Services). She
      draws her hand back. Nodding with respect.
      
                          ELDER (CONT'D)
                They are very delicate. That is why
                we do not use torches.
      
      He gestures behind her, to the YOUTH squatting on the ground,
      holding a small mirror to reflect the sunlight from the
      cave's entrance onto the wall. The kid's got on present day
      clothing, a clashing contrast with his tribesman.
      
                          CALLIE
                I should have brought a flashlight.
      
                          ELDER
                This is better. The colors are
                more... alive with sunlight.
      
      Callie now moves her hand in the opposite direction of the
      tribe's flight. To where a lone figure stands.
      
                          CALLIE
                Who is that?
      
                          ELDER
                Matunaagd. "He who fights".
      
                          CALLIE
                What was he fighting?
      
                            ELDER
                      (almost as if in fear)
                  A shape changer. Bad. Very
                  powerful. Matunaagd was then
                  chased. But he received help from
                  The Wise One, who turned him into a
                  fish. Then the Evil One turned into
                  a snake to try and catch Matunaagd.
      
      The elder reaches out a hand to show a nearby scene --
      
      A small red fish swims around a whirlpool - which is pulling
      a snake down into the depths.
      
                            ELDER (CONT'D)
                  But Matunaagd swam around and
                  around - to create a whirlpool, and
                  sucked the Evil One down into a
                  cave below. Then The Wise One shut
                  the crack. Trapping him there.
      
                            CALLIE
                  Wow. "Harry Potter" stuff, huh?
      
      The old man's eyes remain hard as they lock with hers.
      
                            ELDER
                  There is dark magic in this world.
                  It is not a game or entertainment.
      
      Her gaze drops. Then she glances back up to the drawings.
      
                            CALLIE
                  So, which one is the shape changer?
      
      The Elder motions his head toward the youth. The boy tilts
      the mirror back, moving the sunbeam up, up... until it
      reaches the giant, dark, black shape there on the upper wall -
      
      A Dragon.
      
                                                        CUT TO:
      
      
      EXT. ROCKY COUNTRYSIDE - NOON
      
      A Jeep bounces over the path. Callie's on her cell phone.
      
                            CALLIE
                  It went well. We got to know each
                  other and they showed me around.
                  They've had problems recently with
                  some illegal mining on their land.
                  I'm going to take a look around.
      
      
      EXT. DRY RIVER BED - LATE AFTERNOON
      
      Over the RADIO, an announcer DRONES on.
      
                          ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
                ...this is the driest summer on
                record. Ever. Severe drought
                conditions for all provinces. Water
                tables are at an all time low.
      
      Meanwhile, Callie spots something ahead -
      
      A truck with a trailer, pulled way up into the brush. She
      stops the jeep and gets out. There's a tarp over the top.
      
      She pulls it back. It's loaded up with all sorts of high-end
      portable mining equipment, metal detectors...
      
      And a half-full box of explosives. She starts hiking down the
      dry river bed. Tracking.
      
      
      EXT. DRY RIVER BED - LATE AFTERNOON
      
      The ground is broken, with cracked fissures everywhere.
      Callie comes upon a large opening in the floor of the river
      bed - large enough for a man to go in. There's cigarette
      butts and burnt matches. The passage goes down. So does she.
      
      
      INT. FISSURE
      
      It's dark. And tight. Her flashlight soon is the only
      illumination. The walls are ridged vertically and are marble
      smooth. Almost like bones. She follows it ever downward.
      She finally encounters water, rushing swift and knee deep out
      of a crack in the rock. She wades on in, then changes her
      mind. She turns back - but slips. She goes down and is
      immediately swept away by the force of the water. Ahead - a
      solid rock wall. She reaches that spot - and disappears.
      
      
      INT. UNDERGROUND CAVERN
      
      A waterfall tumbles from the ceiling to fill a pool. There's
      a LARGE SPLASH as Callie drops in from above.
      
      She desperately tries to reach back up to the lip above her.
      It's out of her reach. No way to climb, the walls are smooth.
      
      She turns, playing the flashlight against the walls - and
      sees a dark opening just above the waterline. An exit.
      
      
      INT. CAVE PASSAGE
      
      Callie has been following a gradual upward incline. A reddish
      glow seems to be coming from somewhere ahead. She hurries.
      
      
      INT. RED CAVERN
      
      Passages come into here from all sides of the cavern. The
      source of light is from a small alcove in the rock - like a
      small fireplace with a chimney going up.
      
      A cooking pot sits in there. And next to it, a very old
      Native American woman, HURIT. The old eyes lift from the pot
      and focus on Callie. For a moment, she seems about to speak -
      FOOTFALLS SOUND. The old woman drops her head.
      
      OTKON enters. He seems of the same tribe as the old woman.
      Hard to tell his age, maybe thirties. Jet black hair unbound.
      His face is... beautiful. If that could be applied to a man.
      Perfect. There is nothing feminine about him, though.
      
      He looks to the old woman. She doesn't look up. Doesn't move.
      
      It's as if he suddenly realizes Callie is there. He locks
      eyes with her. For a long moment, neither one of them moves.
      
                          OTKON
                Wiyo.
      
      Then he slowly looks her over. Fully. Carefully. Admiring her
      lines and form. He is unabashedly interested. He's thinking.
      
                          OTKON (CONT'D)
                You look... delicious.
      
      His gaze moves back to lock her eyes in with his stare.
      Callie doesn't speak, doesn't move. Almost as if hypnotized.
      
                          OTKON (CONT'D)
                I am sorry. That is not the word?
      
      A smile now. Showing teeth.
      
                          OTKON (CONT'D)
                Beautiful. Yes, that is the word.
      
      He takes a step closer, drinking her in with his eyes. He
      holds her with that penetrating gaze. Callie doesn't move.
      
                          HURIT (O.S.)
                Wàbizì ikwe...
      
      The voice causes him to turn. A hiss escapes from between his
      teeth. He shoots Hurit a hard look, teeth bared, going from a
      smile into something else. Something much harder.
      
      Hurit's interruption has another effect, allowing Callie to
      dazedly throw off Otkon's spell. Her eyes begin to refocus.
      
      Otkon senses the change. He shrugs unconcernedly, his gaze
      suddenly takes on a look of urgency, searching the walls and
      the many dark entry ways around them.
      
                          OTKON
                How did you get here?
      
                          CALLIE
                I found a fissure and followed it
                down. I slipped --
      
                          OTKON
                A way out? Where??? Show me!
      
      He grabs her arm, almost forcing her to lead the way.
      
      
      INT. UNDERGROUND CAVERN
      
      With Callie in the lead, they arrive at the cave. He grimaces
      at the sight of the water.
      
      Tentatively, he moves toward the pool. But there's something
      about it - he can't bring himself to get near the edge. He
      approaches and repeatedly falls back. He HISSES at the water.
      He hunches over as in anguish. Then he bolts back the way
      they came, seeming to have no need of Callie's flashlight.
      
      
      INT. CAVE PASSAGES
      
      Callie, flashlight in hand, follows at a much slower pace.
      From somewhere ahead, a SCREAM OF ANGUISH sounds. Scared,
      Callie covers her light and waits in the semi-dark. Ahead,
      the SOUNDS of scratching. She carefully tiptoes forward.
      
      
      INT. ENTRANCE TO BLACK CAVERN
      
      She stops at a particularly dark opening. There's a sort of
      mist that forms and spills out from the darkness in there.
      
      Callie crouches against the rock wall beside the opening,
      unsure, when there's a SOUND - a combination of SHRIEK/GROAN
      coupled with FLESH TEARING/RUBBING. It's eerie.
      
      Callie uncovers her flashlight.
      
      
      INT. BLACK CAVERN
      
      It's only illuminated for a split second. There's just an
      impression of what's in there --
      
      No Otkon. But there are bones - human bones. Skeletal
      remains. And an extremely large snake, slowly writhing
      between the ribs in one of the empty chest cavities.
      
      Callie's scream is accompanied by her dropping of her
      flashlight. It hits the rock floor and the bulb shatters.
      
      
      INT. RED CAVERN
      
      Callie stumbles back into the chamber, completely terrified.
      The old woman looks at her. Silent --
      
                           CALLIE
                 What is he... that?
      
      The old woman struggles, as if learning how to speak again.
      Her eyes go unfocused as she loses herself in a memory.
      
                           HURIT
                 I was intended for a man in my
                 village. A good man who loved me.
                 It would have been a good marriage.
      
      A frown.
      
                           HURIT (CONT'D)
                 But this stranger came. He was
                 beautiful. Exciting. Dangerous.
      
      She returns her attention to Callie.
      
                           HURIT (CONT'D)
                 I wanted to be with him. More than
                 anything. More than one who loved
                 me. Because I was stupid. Selfish.
      
      Hurit again glances toward the dark. Hugs herself tight.
      
                           HURIT (CONT'D)
                 The Wise One shut me in here for my
                 sin. I am bound to Otkon. I cannot
                 die while his heart holds my soul.
      
      She then extends her arms, palms up, toward Callie.
      
                           HURIT (CONT'D)
                 I have tried.
      
      There, on her arms, are the ugly scars from crudely slit
      wrists. Thick and wide. Obviously fatal wounds. And yet, here
      she is. Still alive.
      
                          CALLIE
                We need to get out of here. There
                were men... If we can find them -
      
      Hurit shakes her head.
      
                          HURIT
                Two men were here. They would not
                go without the heart. So Otkon took
                the Breath of Life from them.
      
                          CALLIE
                Without what heart???
      
                          HURIT
                Otkon's heart...
                    (thinking, hope surging)
                If you would save yourself from my
                fate, find a way to destroy it.
      
      She gestures to an incredibly large ruby stone set in the
      rock above the fireplace. There is a very dim pulsing light
      emanating from it.
      
      Callie rushes over, trying to dislodge it. But rock surrounds
      it on all sides, overlapping it. She can't get it out.
      
                          HURIT (CONT'D)
                The men... their things are here.
      
      She rolls away a stone to reveal a hidey hole. The men's
      explosives, cords and a detonator and are there.
      
      Callie gathers up the explosives. She begins working
      feverishly, planting the explosives and hooking up the cords
      to the detonator.
      
      The sound of SLITHERING is heard, coming from all around.
      
      Both Hurit and Callie look with dread toward the entrances.
      No way to tell which one the sound is coming from.
      
      Callie begins reeling out line. Hurit moves, achingly, to a
      standing position.
      
      A mist begins to pour into the cavern.
      
                          HURIT (CONT'D)
                He is here.
      
      At the same time, Otkon APPEARS at one of the openings. Not
      fully human, not snake, either. His skin is jet black and he
      seems to be sprouting leathery wings. He ROARS.
      
      Time has run out. Both Callie and Hurit are still in the
      cavern. No time to run from the blast. Without any
      hesitation, Callie hits the detonator.
      
      There's a burst of movement from Hurit as the CAVERN EXPLODES-
      
      
      INT. RED CAVERN - MUCH LATER
      
      There's nothing to be seen but rubble. From above, a thin
      SHAFT OF SUNLIGHT spears down from a hole in the ceiling.
      Some of the rocks on the floor tremble, then fall to the
      sides. Hurit, face down, slowly pushes herself up...
      
      Underneath her is Callie, shielded from the blast and the
      falling rocks by Hurit's body. Callie's wounds are bad, but
      not life-threatening --
      
      Hurit's are. But she looks to Callie, then up to the sunbeam
      shining from above. Her face drinks it in.
      
      Then she falls over. Callie scrambles to her, tries to lift
      her up. Hurit reaches a hand up to Callie's face.
      
                          HURIT
                Thank you, Daughter. I am free.
      
      She sighs. And doesn't take another breath.
      
      Callie sobs, sitting there with her. Finally, she looks up
      toward the light and begins to crawl up to reach the opening.
      
      
      EXT. DRY RIVER BED - DAY
      
      Callie emerges into warm daylight. She looks back down the
      way she came. A halo of light surrounds Hurit's body.
      
      Taking her bearings, Callie sets out across the country.
      
      As she moves past the horizon, there is a sudden trembling of
      the earth and the hole is sealed. Dark thunder clouds appear
      from seemingly nowhere and blessed rain begins to fall,
      becoming a torrent. Soon, the dry bed becomes a creek. Then,
      it becomes a raging river. As the rain continues to descend,
      a thin shaft of sunlight breaks through the clouds,
      brightening the air above the grave site for just a moment.
      
                          THE END

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

        Code:
        Echoes In The Mist
        
        FADE IN
        
        EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT
        
        Misty, poor visibility.
        
        The sound of an approaching CAR ENGINE gets louder.
        
        Headlights bathe the road and the trees on either side.
        
        SCREECHING TIRES.
        
        AN ALMIGHTY BANG.
        
        The unmoving headlights continue to bathe the trees.
        
        The car engine noise abruptly stops.
        
        A low-budget car crash. 
        
        
        EXT. SCOTTISH COUNTRY FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
        
        The only house for miles, set among dark, bleak moors.
        
        Chinks of light visible at the windows.
        
        They're what attracts ADAM, a young American tourist who 
        staggers towards the farmhouse, injured.
        
        God but it takes him forever to navigate the uneven path, 
        and then he's at the door.  He can hardly hold himself up.  
        He BANGS weakly on the door with his fist.
        
        A window curtain is pulled aside.  JOSEPH, white bearded, 
        stares out at Adam with suspicious eyes.  Adam waves feebly.
        
                              ADAM
                  Help... need some help here! 
        
        BOLTS are pulled, the door CREAKS open.
        
        Joseph looks Adam up and down.  He's a damn mess, clothing 
        torn, face and hands bloody. 
        
                              JOSEPH
                  What's happened to ye?
        
                              ADAM
                  I had an accident.
        
        Joseph points off into the night. 
        
                              JOSEPH
                  The hospital is that way. 
        
                              ADAM
                  Jesus you gotta be kidding me, my 
                  car's a total wreck.  Don't you 
                  have a phone?
        
        MAGGIE appears behind Joseph, much younger, could be his 
        daughter.  Her gaze searches the night before coming to 
        rest on Adam.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  We dinna have a phone.
        
                              ADAM
                  For Christ's sake, how can you not 
                  have a phone!
        
        He slumps against the wall, exhausted.  That was his last 
        spark of energy, used up.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Help him inside!
        
        Joseph gives her a look that says ARE YOU SURE?  Maggie 
        nods quickly, YES DO IT. 
        
        Joseph pulls Adam's arm around his neck and takes his 
        weight, he walks him into the house, holding him up.
        
        Maggie closes the door behind them.
        
        
        INT. SCOTTISH COUNTRY FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
        
        Joseph deposits Adam in the bigger of two high-backed chairs 
        facing the fire burning in the grate.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Ask him what happened.
        
        Maggie disappears into the kitchen.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  Are you awake, lad?
        
        Adam opens his eyes.
        
                              ADAM
                  Yeah.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  What happened?
        
                              ADAM
                  My car.  I swerved off the road.  
                  Hit a goddamn tree.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  That wasn't so clever.
        
                              ADAM
                  I didn't mean to do it!
        
        Maggie returns with a bowl of water and a clean kitchen 
        towel.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  I'm going to clean your face, all 
                  right?
        
                              ADAM
                  I can do that.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Dinna be daft.  How can you when 
                  you can't see your face?
        
        She cleans his face and hands.  Adam lets it happen, 
        watching her while she works.  She ignores his scrutiny.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  He drove into a tree.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  That wasn't so clever.
        
                              ADAM
                  What are you, a comedy double act?
        
        Maggie finishes up and turns to go back to the kitchen.  
        She holds Joseph's gaze for a second.  He nods and sighs.
        
        Maggie exits to the kitchen.
        
                              ADAM
                  You really don't have a phone?
        
                              JOSEPH
                  Was it just you?
        
                              ADAM
                  Was it just me, what?
        
                              JOSEPH
                  Were you traveling alone?  Was 
                  there anyone else in your car?
        
                              ADAM
                  No, yeah, I was alone.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  That's an interesting accent you 
                  have.
        
                              ADAM
                  I'm an American.  My name's Adam 
                  Harrington, I'm from Pennsylvania. 
        
        Joseph chuckles. 
        
                              JOSEPH
                  A Yank, is it?  Overpaid, oversexed, 
                  and over here!
        
                              ADAM
                  Very funny.  That's seventy years 
                  out of date, by the way.  Is she 
                  your daughter?
        
                              JOSEPH
                  Was anyone else involved in your 
                  wee argument with the tree?
        
                              ADAM
                  I didn't see any other cars, if 
                  that's what you mean.  And before 
                  you ask, I was driving on the right 
                  side of the road.  The left side, 
                  that is.  On the left.
        
        Joseph stares at Adam, his brows furrowing.  Serious. 
        
                              JOSEPH
                   Did you see anyone else?
        
        Maggie stands in the kitchen doorway, arms folded, watching 
        Adam, who becomes guarded.
        
                              ADAM
                  I don't know what you mean.  No, I 
                  didn't see anyone.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  Think, now.  You've had a nasty 
                  experience.  Maybe it rattled your 
                  brain.  Made you forget things.
        
                              ADAM
                  I didn't hit my head!  I fell when 
                  I got out the car.  Ended up in a 
                  ditch.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  You'll have to go and look.
        
        That was directed at Joseph.  He nods, sighs, and heads 
        for the front door, taking his coat off a hook.
        
                              ADAM
                  What, why do you need to look?
        
        Joseph shrugs his coat on, opens the door and exits, closing 
        it behind him.
        
                              ADAM
                  Why does he need to look?  It's 
                  like I said.  I hit a tree.  I was 
                  alone in the car.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Would you like a cup of tea?
        
                              ADAM
                  You can tell me why he's--  Yes 
                  that would be nice.  Thank you.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  The kettle will be boiling in a 
                  minute.
        
                              ADAM
                  Why don't you have a phone?
        
                              MAGGIE
                  We don't want one.  We don't have 
                  a television either.
        
                              ADAM
                  Are you some kind of, I don't know, 
                  Scottish Amish people?
        
                              MAGGIE
                  You look shaken up, Mr. Harrington.  
                  You should see a doctor.  You'll 
                  stay here with my father.  I'll go 
                  to the farm down the road and use 
                  their telephone.  It's not far.
        
                              ADAM
                  God, I'm sorry for putting you to 
                  so much trouble.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  You're not.
        
                              ADAM
                  I guess my date's going to be stood  
                  up.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Your date?
        
                              ADAM
                  I met a Scottish girl.  Don't laugh.  
                  On the internet.  You know what 
                  that is?
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Just because we don't have a 
                  telephone doesn't mean I'm stupid.
        
                              ADAM
                  Sorry!  Jesus, I didn't mean to 
                  insult you.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Do all Americans blaspheme as much 
                  as you do?
        
                              ADAM
                  Most of us don't.  I'll try to 
                  keep it under control.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Is that why you're here?  To meet 
                  this girl on the internet?
        
                              ADAM
                  Yeah.  Does that sound weird?
        
                              MAGGIE
                  In the old days people used the 
                  lonely hearts column in the 
                  newspapers.  They had to wait days 
                  for a response, if any.  What's 
                  weird about getting to know someone 
                  in real-time?
        
                              ADAM
                  I'm sorry for assuming...  Let's 
                  just go with I'm an idiot, okay?
        
                              MAGGIE
                  You were going to meet her tonight?
        
                              ADAM
                  We were going to meet at a Halloween 
                  party!  Of all the stupid God-damn 
                  things to happen--  Sorry.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  I'll get your tea. 
        
        Maggie exits into the kitchen.
        
        Adam looks around.  Old display cases contain China plates, 
        ornaments, little figurines.  Framed B/W photos of what 
        could be a younger unbearded Joseph with a woman his own 
        age, and a young girl.  Maggie?
        
        Adam closes his eyes, relaxes in front of the fire.
        
        Joseph enters just as Maggie brings the cup of tea.
        
        A look passes between them.  Adam can't help but notice.
        
                              ADAM
                  What?
        
        Maggie offers him the cup, he takes it.
        
        Joseph takes off his coat and hangs it on the hook. 
        
                              ADAM
                  It's like I said, isn't it?  Just 
                  my car.  I wasn't even driving 
                  that fast.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  Aye, just like you said.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  I'll go to the Armstrongs and call 
                  the doctor.  I won't be long.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  All right. 
        
                              ADAM
                  Thanks.  I mean really, thanks.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Do you have her phone number?
        
        It takes a moment, then Adam catches on.  He fumbles in 
        his pocket.  Maggie offers to hold his cup of tea while he 
        looks.  Adam brings out his wallet, opens it, searches, 
        finds a folded piece of paper.
        
                              ADAM
                  Her name's Fiona.
        
        He gives her the paper, she gives him the cup of tea. 
        
                              MAGGIE
                  I'll tell her you're all right.  
                  And you'll call her when you can?
        
                              ADAM
                  That would be great.  I really owe 
                  you for this.
        
        Maggie puts her coat on.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  You owe us nothing, we'd do the 
                  same for anyone.  Just rest until 
                  I get back.
        
        At the door, she pauses.  She looks back at Adam.
        
                              MAGGIE
                  You saw her, didn't you?
        
        Adam looks at Maggie, he's about to deny it--
        
                              MAGGIE
                  Tell me.  Did you see her?
        
                              ADAM
                  She came right out in front of me.  
                  I just couldn't not hit her.
        
        Adam looks away, filled with painful memories.
        
                              ADAM
                  I thought she must be underneath 
                  the car.  That's how I got hurt.  
                  But when I moved it, nothing.
        
        Maggie shakes her head, no. 
        
                              MAGGIE
                  She's been dead ten years now.
        
        She exchanges a sad look with Joseph.  Then says softly,
        
                              MAGGIE
                  That's why we don't have a 
                  telephone.  She keeps calling.  
                  She won't leave us alone.  Or a 
                  television.  We'd be watching 
                  something and there she is, in the 
                  background, waving.  Asking us to 
                  join her.
        
        Adam gapes, hardly able to believe it.
        
        Maggie exits, closing the door behind her.
        
                              ADAM
                  This is a joke, right?
        
        Joseph sadly shakes his head.
        
                              JOSEPH
                  I only wish it was.  I'll get us 
                  something stronger to drink, eh?
        
        Joseph exits into the kitchen. 
        
        A gust of wind blows.  The fire abruptly goes out.
        
        Adam stares at the suddenly dark grate, puzzled.
        
        Joseph returns, with a whisky bottle and two glasses.
        
        He stops and stares at Adam's empty chair.
        
        FADE TO BLACKNESS

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

          Code:
          KILLING FOOL
          
          FADE IN:
          
          INT. HOUSE - STUDY - DAY
          
          Dark, with shutters over the window and old, chipped
          furniture. On the wall, a disturbing bulletin board covered
          in newspaper clippings.
          
          The clippings feature missing women, similar in age and
          physical characteristics.
          
          A MAN (30s) surveys the board with grim satisfaction. He
          wears a T-shirt that shows off powerful biceps.
          
          He shifts his gaze to a PHOTO in his hand: it shows a young
          WOMAN in profile, browsing in a bookstore, unaware her
          picture is being taken. She resembles the missing women.
          
          
          INT. HOUSE - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT
          
          The Man now wears a long-sleeved flannel shirt. He leads the
          Woman into the house. He holds a grocery bag; she carries a
          large handbag.
          
          The room is plain with dim lighting. A heavy wooden table and
          chairs, a couch. A glass-topped table holding some kind of
          collection rests against the wall.
          
                               MAN
                     I guess you weren't expecting a
                     cabin in the woods.
          
          He gives the thick door a hard shove to close it behind them.
          She shoots a nervous glance that way. Tries to shake off a
          sudden sense of unease.
          
                                WOMAN
                     It's nice. Simple. Have you been
                     here long?
          
                               MAN
                     Belonged to my father. Make
                     yourself comfortable.
          
          He goes to the kitchen, partly open to the main room. His
          back is turned to the Woman as he unloads the groceries.
          
                               MAN
                     Thanks for coming on such short
                     notice. After I saw you last time,
                     I was like, sh!t, why didn't I ask
                     her out?
          
          She clunks her heavy bag down on the table. The top of a wine
          bottle protrudes from it.
          
                              WOMAN
                    Sophie's been ragging on me to
                    lighten up. Be more spontaneous.
                    I'm so wrapped up in work, I'm
                    starting to talk in SQL. "Where'd
                    you put the Harry Potter?"
                        (computer voice)
                    "Select Rowling from bookshelf."
          
          She wanders toward the display case.
          
                              WOMAN
                    So I picked up something at the
                    joke shop and I was all set to pull
                    an April Fool's prank on her
                    tonight.
          
          Sound of running water in the kitchen.
          
                              WOMAN
                    Then you and I ran into each other
                    and I thought, whatever, the joke
                    can wait till next year.
          
          She stares down at the collection that's preserved under
          glass.
          
                              WOMAN
                    Where'd you get all these different
                    feathers?
          
                              MAN (O.S.)
                    From birds. Take a look around the
                    rest of the place if you like.
          
          She frowns at his response, but continues on into a
          
          HALLWAY
          
          Past a small bathroom. She peers into a bedroom, oddly
          sterile and empty, just a bed and dresser over a bare floor.
          There's one more room with the door partly closed. She pushes
          it open and steps into the
          
          STUDY
          
          She stops dead at the bulletin board. Her mouth falls open as
          she scans the "missing woman" headlines.
          
          The Man laughs just behind her.
          
          She spins around. He looms in the doorway, holding a knife.
          She stumbles backwards into the room.
          
          He looks down at the knife, back up at her.
          
                              MAN
                    Oh jesus, wow, it's okay, my
                    brother must've done this. He knew
                    I was gonna ask you over if I saw
                    you. Every year we try to out-prank
                    each other. I got him good last
                    year.
                        (laughs)
                    Took him weeks to dig himself out
                    of that one.
          
          Her eyes are fixed on the knife.
          
                              MAN
                    I was chopping the veggies. Sorry.
                    You all right?
          
          She nods her head uncertainly.
          
                              MAN
                    Think I would've told you to look
                    around if this was real?
          
                               WOMAN
                    I can't believe he would think this
                    was funny.
          
                              MAN
                    I guess you don't have brothers.
          
          KITCHEN
          
          The Man slices meat at the counter. He handles the knife with
          speed and dexterity.
          
          The Woman, seated on a stool, watches his hands but avoids
          eye contact. Barely able to suppress the sense of fear and
          foreboding that's come over her.
          
                              WOMAN
                    I thought your place would be
                    filled with all your sci-fi novels.
          
                              MAN
                    Oh, I've got them in boxes. In the
                    basement. With the teeth.
          
          The Woman looks up sharply. He smiles.
          
                                 MAN
                      Gotcha.
          
          She chokes out a fake laugh.
          
                                WOMAN
                      Have you ever read "Crime and
                      Punishment"?
          
                                MAN
                      Don't think so.
                                WOMAN
                      It's about a guy who commits a...
                      crime. But he messes up...
                      overlooks some details. And he
                      can't live with the guilt. It
                      drives him insane.
                                MAN
                      Fools get what they deserve.
          
          She slides off the stool.
          
                                WOMAN
                      I brought wine. Let me get it.
          
                                MAN
                      No corkscrew.
          
                                WOMAN
                      I've got one. For emergencies like
                      this.
          
          MAIN ROOM
          
          She throws a furtive look back at the kitchen. The Man is out
          of view. She gets out her cell phone.
          
          PHONE DISPLAY: "NO SERVICE"
          
          ON THE WOMAN, approaching panic. She shoots another glance at
          the kitchen. Sound of chopping.
          
          She steps silently to the front door. Tries to open it, but
          [u]it's locked with a dead bolt.[/u]
          
                                 MAN (O.S.)
                      Find it?
          
          Her face fills with dread as she turns toward the kitchen.
          She can't fully suppress the quaver in her voice.
          
                                WOMAN
                      Amazing how easy it is to lose
                      stuff in my bag.
          
          She hefts her bag over her shoulder. Her gaze shoots around
          the room as she seeks an escape.
          
          KITCHEN
          
          The Man puts on a chef's apron. He smiles to himself. Picks
          up his knife and sharpens it.
          
          BEDROOM
          
          The Woman struggles to open the window. [u]Finds it nailed shut.[/u]
          
          MAIN ROOM
          
          The Man walks slowly toward the hallway.
          
                                MAN
                      Been watching you for a while. I
                      kind of lied about knowing your
                      friend Sophie. Figured you'd feel
                      better about talking to a stranger
                      if you thought she knew me.
          
          BEDROOM
          
          The Woman scans the room in desperation.
          
          BATHROOM
          
          The Man steps inside the bathroom. Looks around.
          
                                MAN
                      That was good advice she gave you,
                      though. "Be more spontaneous." I
                      f***ing love it.
          
          BEDROOM
          
          The Man enters. Notices the closet door, slightly ajar. He
          walks over to it, grabs the knob and yanks it open.
          
          [u]A shape with a horrifying ghostly face and black hooded cape
          lunges out at him.[/u]
          
          Shocked, he staggers backwards. [u]She slams the wine bottle
          into the side of his head.[/u] The blow knocks him out.
          
          She pulls off the mask. Shaking with fear and rage.
          
          She kneels and shoves the mask back into her bag. Digs into
          his pocket and extract the keys.
          
          
          INT. MAIN ROOM - NIGHT
          
          The Woman fumbles with the key in the front door lock.
          
          Suddenly the door is shoved open from outside. She jumps
          backwards.
          
          The BROTHER, the Man's identical twin, enters. He still wears
          the T-shirt he had on when he prepared the bulletin board.
          
          The Woman stares at him in shock.
          
                                 WOMAN
                    Oh my god.
          
                              BROTHER
                    Hi there. Have you seen my brother?
          
                              WOMAN
                    Did you really pull that horrible
                    prank on him?
          
          The Brother laughs.
          
                              BROTHER
                    The serial killer bulletin board?
          
                              WOMAN
                    And the bolted door. The window
                    nailed shut.
          
          He laughs harder.
          
          She shakes her head and moves past him out the door.
          
                              WOMAN
                    Apologize to your brother when he
                    wakes up.
          
                              BROTHER
                    Should I tell him to call you?
          
                              WOMAN
                    That's the last thing he'll want to
                    do.
          
          She hurries away.
          
                              BROTHER
                    You might be surprised.
          
          He shuts the door. Turns around to find his twin staggering
          in from the hall, rubbing his head.
          
                                MAN
                    She gone?
          
          The Brother nods.
          
                              MAN
                        (pissed)
                    Thanks a lot, bro.
          
                              BROTHER
                    I owed you one.
          
                               MAN
                    My murder clippings, man. You know
                    I hate it when you take them out of
                    the album.
          
                              BROTHER
                    I'll put `em back.
          
                              MAN
                    While you're at it, file the teeth
                    in the basement.
          
                                                          FADE OUT.
          Last edited by dpaterso; 10-25-2014, 02:02 AM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

            Code:
            Life Is But A Dream
            
            EXT. ROAD - DUSK
            
            MAC, a thuggy looking 20 year old white-boy swags down the
            street, a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth. The tightly
            packed residential area to his right doesn't interest him, so
            he gazes over at some KIDS in the concrete park to his left.
            
                                KIDS
                          (singing)
                      Row, row, row your boat, gently
                      down the stream...
            
            He watches as they row their concrete bench.
            
                                KIDS (CONT'D)
                          (singing)
                      Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
                      life is but a--
            
                                WOMAN (O.S.)
                      Hey!
            
            Mac jumps, startled. He looks over at a run-down house to his
            right and spots the 40 year old WOMAN who yelled.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      You got a light?!
            
            He snags a lighter out of his pocket and heads over to the
            woman. His eyes gaze up to some scarecrows hanging from her
            balcony. He's lost in a bit of trance.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      Hello?
            
            She holds out her hand. Mac breaks his trance.
            
                                MAC
                      Sorry... here ya go.
            
            He hands the lighter to her and she lights up a joint. She
            takes a deep inhale and then blows the marijuana smoke in his
            face. Mac doesn't hate it.
            
            She slowly reaches her hand up to his mouth and pulls out his
            cigarette. She ashes it on the fence post and tosses it to
            the ground.
            
                                WOMAN
                      I hope you brought an extra pair of
                      lungs.
            
            She turns around and struts up her stairs. She motions with
            her finger for him to follow. He smirks.
            
                                MAC
                      Yes ma'am.
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            The house is a bit outdated. Old furniture, old grand-father
            clock, old windows, old wall-paper, old -- you name it... Mac
            steps inside the house, but the woman gently pushes him back
            with one hand.
            
                                WOMAN
                      I just put new carpets in.
            
            She points to his shoes. He notices the brand new white
            carpets on the floor and obliges by taking them off.
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER
            
            Mac and the woman sit close together on the couch. A baggie
            full of weed sits on the coffee table. Mac COUGHS as he blows
            out some weed smoke. The woman LAUGHS as her hand creeps up
            his thigh.
            
                                WOMAN
                      First time, honey?
            
                                MAC
                      No. I'm a bit of a pro.
            
                                WOMAN
                      Pro, huh? Well... I got this crazy
                      pill the other day...
            
            She stands up and heads into the kitchen.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      That will make all your problems go
                      away...
            
            She vanishes into the kitchen completely. Mac leans to gaze
            into the kitchen, making sure she isn't looking. He scoops
            the giant bag of weed off the coffee table and quickly shoves
            it into his pocket. The woman re-appears in the doorway
            seconds later... with a knife.
            
            Mac quickly jumps up and leaps over the couch... he CRASHES
            to the floor.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      Settle down, sweetheart.
            
            She SHAKES a pill bottle in one hand.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      These pills are best served on a
                      cold, hard knife.
            
                                MAC
                      What?
            
                                WOMAN
                      It's more thrilling that way,
                      honey.
            
            She points to the couch with the knife. 
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      Just relax.
            
            Mac debates for a moment, but obliges and plops back down on
            the couch. The woman points the knife at Mac with a wicked
            smile, offering him the first turn. He shakes his head and
            points to her.
            
            The woman casually drops a few pills on the knife and then
            slowly inserts the knife into her mouth. She sucks the pills
            off the knife, then pulls the knife out of her mouth, even
            slower.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      See?
            
            She holds out the knife and plops more pills on it. Mac
            shifts uncomfortably in his chair. He eyes the knife
            carefully. She starts rubbing his shoulder with her free
            hand..
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      Just relax...
            
            She holds the knife up against his throat.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      Take it.
            
            He takes the knife.
            
                                MAC
                      I'm not really into these kind of
                      drugs.
            
            She sensually kisses him just below his ear.
            
                                WOMAN
                      You'll love it. I promise.
            
            Mac brings the knife up to his mouth.
            
                                MAC
                      F*** it.
            
            He shoves the knife into his mouth, and quickly pulls it out.
            He SCREAMS from the thrill of it. The woman gives his
            shoulders another hard rub.
            
                                WOMAN
                      That wasn't so bad, was it?
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER
            
            The woman dances around the living room with a fake partner
            as old songs BLARES through some stereo speakers. Mac is
            drowning in the couch. She motions with her finger for him to
            come join her on the imaginary dance floor. He tries to
            stand, but struggles, and falls back down on the couch.
            
                                WOMAN
                      Just enjoy it, sweetie.
            
            Mac nods slowly. The room starts spinning. The woman toys
            with the radio and now BLASTS some RAVE MUSIC. The room
            starts pulsating to the song. The room is not a bland old
            fashioned house anymore, but instead it's colorful, and neon.
            
                                MAC
                      Whoa...
            
            The room spins some more... and then blackness.
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - BASEMENT - LATER
            
            Mac lies motionless on the basement floor. CLUNK. CLUNK.
            CLUNK. Footsteps are heard coming down the stairs. FLICK. On
            come the lights. Mac stirs.
            
                                WOMAN
                          (quiet, distant)
                      Wake up...
            
            Mac opens his eyes, blinded by the light. He looks around,
            while rubbing his eyes. He notices some scarecrows sitting in
            the corner of the basement.
            
                                MAC
                      What... what the hell happened?
            
            She smiles and motions for him to follow her up the stairs.
            CLUNK. CLUNK. CLUNK. Slowly up the stairs she goes. 
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
            
            The woman steps into the living room. Her brand new white
            carpets are covered with red stains. Mac enters the living
            room... and his face drops.
            
                                MAC
                      Is that... is that...
            
                                WOMAN
                      Blood.
            
            Mac's face turns white.
            
                                MAC
                      What... what happened?
            
            He tears up a bit.
            
                                MAC (CONT'D)
                      What the hell did you do!?
            
            He storms over to the phone. It's an old-fashioned rotary
            phone. He sticks his finger in the nine slot hole and spins
            it.
            
                                MAC (CONT'D)
                      What the hell did you do!?
            
            CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK, the phone dials the 9.
            
                                WOMAN
                      I told you not to be careful with
                      my new carpets.
            
            Mac sticks his finger in the one slot and spins it. CLICK.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      But you wouldn't listen...
            
            Mac picks up the phone and SLAMS it against the wall. He
            charges at the woman and grabs her by the neck.
            
                                MAC
                      What the f*** did you do!?
            
            Silence.
            
                                MAC (CONT'D)
                          (louder)
                      What the f*** did you do!?
            
            After no response he lets go of her neck and storms away. He
            flings open the front door and it SMASHES against the wall.
            
            
            EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
            
            Mac storms down the stairs and back on to the main road. He
            walks at a brisk pace. As he looks over his shoulder, to make
            sure the woman isn't following, he notices a LITTLE BOY
            sitting on the cement park bench. One dim streetlight
            illuminates the bench.
            
                                LITTLE BOY
                      Row, row, row your boat, gently
                      down the stream... merrily,
                      merrily, merrily, merrily, life is
                      but a --
            
                                MAC
                      Hey!
            
            The little boy looks at Mac as Mac approaches.
            
                                MAC (CONT'D)
                      Where are your friends?
            
                                LITTLE BOY
                      You said you wanted them to come
                      play with you.
            
            Mac's face turns a ghostly white again.
            
                                MAC
                      Where... where did I take them?
            
            The boy slowly turns and points to the balcony of the woman's
            house. Mac turns and looks. In place of the three hanging
            scarecrows, are three hanging kids. Mac faints.
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER
            
            Blackness.
            
                                WOMAN (O.S.)
                          (distant)
                      Are you there?
                          (beat)
                      Sweetheart? Can you see me?
            
            Mac blinks. The woman stands over him.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      Are you feeling okay?
            
            She waves her hands in front of him. Mac abruptly wakes up
            and jumps off the couch. He points accusingly at the woman.
            
                                MAC
                      What the hell did you make me
                      take!?
            
            She smiles and gently grabs his arm. He rips it away.
            
                                WOMAN
                      What's the matter, dear?
            
                                MAC
                      You... you made me kill them! 
            
            She looks confused.
            
                                MAC (CONT'D)
                      The little kids! You made me do it!
            
                                WOMAN
                      What kids?
            
                                MAC
                      The singing kids!
            
            He runs to the front door. He doesn't notice the spotless
            white carpets.
            
            
            EXT. HOUSE - DUSK - CONTINUOUS
            
            He BARGES out the door and looks up at the balcony. He
            points.
            
                                MAC (CONT'D)
                      See!
            
            The woman follows behind, calmly.
            
                                MAC (CONT'D)
                      See! They're... they're...
            
            Hanging from the balcony are three scarecrows.
            
                                WOMAN
                      You've had a bad trip, honey.
            
            He backs away and eases his way down the stairs.
            
                                MAC
                      You're crazy, woman!
            
                                WOMAN
                      I think you might be the crazy one,
                      my dear.
            
                                MAC
                      F*** you!
            
            He turns and walks away. She cautiously reaches her hand back
            inside her door to grab something as Mac storms down the
            stairs.
            
                                WOMAN
                      Hey kid...
            
            Mac turns towards her. BANG! Shotgun spray hits him square in
            the chest and blows him backwards. Blood splatters across the
            pavement. She smiles with the shotgun in her hand.
            
                                WOMAN (CONT'D)
                      I'm not too fond of thieves.
            
            She casually walks over to his body, bends over and reaches
            into his pocket. She pulls out the giant bag of weed he
            stole. As she walks away she WHISTLES. *whistling* Row, row,
            row your boat gently down the stream... merrily, merrily,
            merrily, merrily, life is but a-- *whistling*
            
            CRASH!
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY
            
            The woman shoots straight up in her bed, sweating profusely.
            A shattered lamp lay on the floor next to her bed. She
            quickly throws off the covers and STOMPS out of bed.
            
            
            INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            She stares in horror at the red stains all over the white
            rugs.
            
                                WOMAN
                      Oh no, oh no, oh no...
            
            She walks on past the stains, a tear drop streaming down her
            face. She heads to the front door, grabs the door knob,
            silently says a prayer and pulls it open.
            
            
            EXT. HOUSE - DAY
            
            She steps out onto her porch and looks up at the balcony.
            Overhead are three hanging.... scarecrows. Behind her we see
            empty red wine bottles littering the floor.
            
                                WOMAN
                      Phew. Just a bad dream.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

              Code:
              Pledge Night
              
              FADE IN:
              
              EXT. NIGHT
              
              Three college girls stare at a condemned hospital.
              
              HEATHER, goth look, smiles.  JENN, rich girl fashionista,
              looks at KATIE, freshman nerd.  Katie swallows hard.  She is
              terrified and can't hide it.
              
                                     JENN
                           You can still back out.
              
              Heather reaches over and strokes Katie's hair.
              
                                     HEATHER
                           Well?
              
              Katie looks the hospital up and down.  The accessible
              windows and doors are boarded.  The second and third story
              windows are busted out.
              
              She stammers her words.
              
                                     KATIE
                           There's no way in.
              
              Heather produces a hammer from her black cargo pants.  She
              hands it to Katie.
              
              Katie looks at the hammer, but it's the pentagram tattoo on
              Heather's hand that catches her attention.
              
              Katie slowly takes the hammer.  Heather laughs.
              
                                     JENN (O.S.)
                           This one is loose.
              
              Katie turns to see Jenn pulling a board.  Jenn stops.  She
              puts her hands on her hips.
              
                                     JENN
                           Any day nerd.
              
              Heather and Katie walk over to the boarded window.
              
                                     HEATHER
                           This will do.
              
              Katie stares at the boards.  Heather and Jenn smile at each
              other.
              
              Katie shakes as she lifts the hammer.  She smashes it
              against a board.
              
              Heather bursts out laughing.
              
                                  JENN
                        You have to pull the boards off you
                        dumbass.  I thought all you nerds
                        were smart?
              
              Katie nods.
              
              She struggles to pry the boards loose.  One comes off.
              
                                  HEATHER
                        Speed this sh** up dork.
              
              Jenn shakes her head in disgust.
              
              Katie ignores them.
              
              The next board is loose.  She pulls it off by hand.
              
                                  HEATHER
                        Good enough.
              
                                    JENN
                        Here.
              
              Jenn hands Katie a flashlight.
              
              She takes it.  Then looks at the window.
              
                                  HEATHER
                        Remember, something from the
                        children's burn unit.
              
                                  JENN
                        Yeah something I'd like.
              
              Katie looks at her.  She nods.
              
              They stare at each other for a few seconds.  Jenn motions
              with her head toward the window.
              
                                  KATIE
                        Sorry, it's just so dark in there.
              
                                  HEATHER
                        Move it or this pledge night is
                        over.
              
              Katie looks around.
              
                                    KATIE
                          I thought there would be other
                          girls.
              
              Jenn and Heather look at each other.
              
              Heather softens up.
              
                                    HEATHER
                          Look kid we know you're from the
                          foster homes.  Those other girls
                          are candy asses.
              
                                    JENN
                          Yeah you're like a bad-ass.
              
              Katie, encouraged by the support, climbs through the window.
              Heather and Jenn are delighted.
              
              Katie's arm thrusts back out the window.  Thumb up.
              
                                    JENN
                          Bring me something nice!
              
              Heather shakes her head in disbelief.  Jenn shrugs.
              
              
              INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
              
              Katie stands in an empty room.  Light comes through the
              opening of the window.
              
              Katie stumbles to the door.  She opens the door and walks in
              to the
              
              HALL.
              
              It's completely dark.  She turns the flashlight on.
              
              It illuminates a picture of a man.  She screams.
              
              Hand holding her chest she slowly looks around.
              
              The whole scene looks like a typical abandoned building.
              
              Katie sees the stairwell sign.
              
              She walks down the hall.  She stumbles and kicks trash and
              broken bottles.  A rat runs by.  She jumps.  She runs to the
              door.
              
              The door has a painted pentagram matching Heather's tattoo.
              
              Katie opens the door and walks into the
              
              STAIRWELL.
              
              It's just as dark and nasty as the hall.
              
              She climbs the stairs.  She moves the flashlight ahead and
              behind.
              
              She reaches the second floor.  The light flickers.  She
              shakes it.  The light burns bright.  Another pentagram on
              the door.
              
              Katie heads up the next flight of stairs.
              
              A gush of wind startles her.  She moves the light wildly
              about.  She hurries up the stares.
              
              She reaches the top.  The pitter patter of little feet on
              the stairs below.  Katie looks back.  She shines the light
              down the stairs.
              
                                    KATIE
                           Hello?
              
              No answer.  She slowly turns around and looks at the door.
              
              Pentagram number three stares back at her.
              
              Katie slowly opens the door.  She enters the
              
              HALL.
              
              The place is a mess.  Charred furniture and broken
              glass.  She walks down the hall.  She stops in front of a
              double door.
              
              A half melted sign reads "Burn unit".
              
              She reaches out to push the doors.  A small child's laugh
              stops her.
              
              She spins around.
              
                                    KATIE
                           Hello?
              
              The flashlight goes out.
              
              In the darkness Katie smacks the light repeatedly.  It comes
              back on.
              
                                     KATIE
                           Okay guys, not funny.
              
              No answer.  Katie turns back around and bursts through the
              doors.
              
              
              INT. BURN UNIT - NIGHT
              
              Katie looks around.  The outside moonlight comes through the
              busted windows.
              
              She wanders around.  She kicks the trash.  She shines the
              flashlight into the corners.
              
              The light shines on a small something.  Katie walks over to
              it.
              
              She picks up a small, stuffed pink rabbit.
              
              She smiles.
              
              Katie turns around and heads back.  She goes through the
              doors into the
              
              HALL.
              
              She walks quickly and confident.  She gets near the door and
              hears a small child crying.
              
              She looks around.
              
                                        KATIE
                           Not scary!
              
              Katie swings open the door.  She walks into the
              
              STAIRWELL.
              
              She grabs the railing and runs down the stairs. The crying
              becomes loud.
              
              Katie stops. Her light goes out.
              
                                        KATIE
                           Dammit!
              
              It comes back on. On the steps sits a SMALL GIRL.
              Her back to Katie.  Her head bent down.  She is crying into
              her hands.
              
                                  KATIE
                        Are you Okay?
              
              The girl continues to cry.
              
                                  KATIE
                        Are you lost?
              
              The girl doesn't answer.  Katie moves to her.
              
              Suddenly the girl turns around.  Her face is half burnt skin
              and half skeletal.  Her eyes black voids.  She points at the
              rabbit.
              
                                  SMALL GIRL
                        Mine!
              
              Katie's light goes out.
              
              EXT. NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
              
              Heather and Jenn stand looking up at the hospital.
              
              Katie's scream pierces the quiet night.
              
              They both look at each other and smile.  Jenn reaches out to
              Heather.  A pentagram tattoo, similar to Heather's, is
              seen.  Both tattoos glow red.
              
                                  HEATHER
                        That should keep them satisfied.
              
              The girls leave the scene, arm in arm.
              
              END

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                Code:
                SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY
                
                EXT. HELEN'S DINER - NIGHT
                
                A neon sign reading "EAT AT HELEN'S" casts a pink glow over 
                the parking lot.
                
                The diner has huge picture windows, inside we see - 
                
                INT. HELEN'S DINER - NIGHT
                
                It's packed. And noisy.
                
                Silverware scrapes on plates, CUSTOMERS chatter. Steam and 
                sizzle waft in from the kitchen.
                
                A lone, frazzled waitress - JANIE, 24 - hurries from table to 
                table. She started the day with a neat ponytail and creases i
                her pale blue uniform. Now her hair droops, and her uniform
                looks slept in. 
                
                At one table, a portly MAN, 40, holds up a glass, shakes it
                so the ice cubes rattle. 
                
                                      PORTLY
                          Refill over here. 
                
                Janie turns at the sound. Across the room, at the counter, a
                sour-faced WOMAN snaps her fingers and points to her plate. 
                
                                      SOUR-FACE
                          I said extra gravy. You call this extra?
                
                Janie turns back, to Sour-Face. Portly doesn't like that one
                bit; slams his glass on the table. 
                
                Around the diner, more SNOTTY CUSTOMERS join the fray.
                
                "I've been waiting for five minutes!"
                
                "I dropped my fork. Bring me another one."
                
                "Where's the goddam waitress?"
                
                "We want our check."
                
                "We want dessert."
                
                "We want service. NOW!"
                
                Janie doesn't know which way to go.
                
                SMACK!
                
                She startles. Looks down.
                
                A LEERING CUSTOMER holds up the hand he just used to slap her 
                on the ass.
                
                                      LEERING
                          I just wanted your attention,
                          honey. 
                
                INT. HELEN'S DINER - LATER
                
                The diner is empty, dark.
                
                Janie droops over the counter, exhausted.
                
                The cook, HAL, 40's balding, strolls out of the kitchen, a 
                cigar dangling out one side of his mouth.
                
                                      HAL
                          Rough night, huh.
                
                Janie wearily lifts her head. Tries to muster a smile. 
                
                                      HAL
                          How were the tips?
                
                Janie reaches into her pocket. Holds her fisted hand out over
                the counter and opens her fingers. 
                
                A single crumpled bill flutters onto the counter, followed by
                the plunk of few quarters, and some cheap bastard actually
                left her a dime. 
                
                Hal shakes his head.
                
                                      HAL
                          And they'll be back again tomorrow
                          night.
                
                He looks at his cigar.
                
                                      HAL
                          Damn, I hate regulars.
                
                Hal heads for the door, gives Janie a pat on the shoulder as 
                he passes.
                
                She smiles at him, wipes a tear from the corner of each eye. 
                
                                      HAL (O.S.)
                          I'll lock up. 
                
                INT. BREAK ROOM - NIGHT
                
                Janie drags herself into the small breakroom, goes straight 
                her her locker. She opens the door.
                
                The locker contains a paperback book, a worn purse, and a 
                sweater on a hook.
                
                She puts on the sweater, slings the purse over her shoulder. 
                As she reaches for the book, she spots a picture hanging over
                the locker. 
                
                It's a picture of a smiling woman in a pink waitress uniform,
                red hair teased high and piled atop her head. 
                
                                      JANIE
                          Oh, Flo. I wish you were here.
                
                She shuts the locker door. Turns away.
                
                We close on the photograph of Flo. It shakes just slightly. 
                Just the tiniest tremble. 
                
                INT. HELEN'S DINER - THE NEXT NIGHT
                
                Same crowd, same noise, same demands on poor Janie.
                
                She's on her hands and knees cleaning up spilled milk, and 
                trying not to cry over it.
                
                                      WHINY CUSTOMER
                          Where is that waitress?
                
                ACROSS THE ROOM...
                
                We see her from behind first.
                
                The big red hair, pink uniform, white sneakers.
                
                She glides into the restaurant, surveys the clamoring 
                customers and general mayhem.
                
                                      FLO
                          Your waitress is right here. 
                
                EXT. HELEN'S DINER - NIGHT
                
                The neon lights in the sign flicker. Burn out. Come back on - 
                but only to read:
                
                EAT HELL
                
                Silence
                
                For
                
                An
                
                Agonizing
                
                Beat.
                
                Then,
                
                SCREAMS AND SHRIEKS OF TERROR
                
                We zoom in toward the diner just in time to see blood 
                SPLATTER onto the window and - 
                
                PORTLY MAN staggering past, clutching his throat.
                
                Leering's face SLAMS against the glass, his body slides to 
                the floor.
                
                The double front doors rattle - Sour Face is trying in vain 
                to escape.
                
                From inside the diner, there's a faint cry of [i]"No, please. 
                I'll tip. I'll tip."[/i]  and then, [i]"AUGGGGGH!"[/i]
                
                
                INT. HELEN'S DINER - LATER
                
                Bodies are strewn across the floor and draped over booths.  
                
                One DEAD CUSTOMER lies on his back on a table, a fork 
                sticking out of his throat, eyes staring blankly at -
                
                ANOTHER DEAD BODY, hanging from the light fixture, swaying
                back and forth. 
                
                Janie, her face dotted with flecks of blood, stands in the 
                center of the diner, gazing in shocked silence at the
                destruction. 
                
                Hal tiptoes in, hands over his head in a gesture of
                supplication. 
                
                                      HAL
                          Is it over?
                
                Janie nods.
                
                                      HAL
                          You okay?
                
                Janie shakes her head.
                
                                      JANIE
                          I thought she'd just say "Kiss My
                          Grits."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                  Code:
                  Pyro
                  
                  INT. JUVENILE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER - DAY
                  
                  ELLE PEARSON (25) fresh-faced, name badge pinned to her
                  business suit, toting a briefcase, scurries down the gleaming
                  hallway, checking the numbers on the exam room doors.
                  
                  An ORDERLY (30s) pauses from mopping the tile floor.
                  
                                        ORDERLY
                            New here?
                  
                                       ELLE
                            Oh, hi. Yeah, I'm looking for three
                            fifty-one.
                  
                  The Orderly points down the hallway.
                  
                                        ORDERLY
                            Turn left, third door on the right.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            Thanks so much.
                  
                  Elle hustles away.
                  
                  HALLWAY - EXAM ROOM 351
                  
                  Elle takes a deep breath, knocks, reaches for the doorknob.
                  
                                        MALE VOICE (O.S.)
                            Elle, hold on a minute.
                  
                  Elle's supervisor, DR. SHELTON COLBY (mid 60s) approaches.
                  
                                        DR. COLBY
                            I'm really sorry about this, but we
                            just got a call that there's been a
                            terrible accident involving our young
                            patient and her family.
                  
                  He hands Elle a file folder.
                  
                                        DR. COLBY (CONT'D)
                            We have another patient waiting, a
                            twelve year old boy.
                  
                  Elle flips through the file.
                  
                                        DR. COLBY (CONT'D)
                            It'll be the same test regime.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            Pretty extensive eval.
                  
                                        DR. COLBY
                            Yeah, I know. And if you're
                            uncomfortable, I can put someone
                            else--
                  
                                        ELLE
                            No, I got it.
                  
                                          DR. COLBY
                            You sure?  This one's pretty tough.
                  
                  Elle knocks on the exam room door.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            I'll have the report ready by tonight,
                            Dr. Colby.
                  
                  INT. EXAM ROOM - DAY
                  
                  A stark white space with a table and two chairs in the center.
                  
                  Elle flashes a smile, then searches the room for her young
                  patient.
                  
                                          ELLE
                            Devon?
                  
                                          DEVON (O.S.)
                            Yeah.
                  
                  Elle jumps out of her skin...
                  
                                          ELLE
                            Sh**!
                  
                  She whips around.
                  
                  DEVON BATES (12), gangly adolescent with piercing blue eyes,
                  large ears poking out from under a baseball cap, creeps from
                  behind the open door.
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Sorry about that.
                  
                                       ELLE
                            Uh, no. It's okay.  Hi Devon, I'm
                            doctor--
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Ellen Mary Pearson. Twenty-five.
                            Only child. Graduated May, two
                            thousand ten from St. Luke's College.
                            Hometown... Lakeview, Michigan.
                            Single mom. Current address, six-
                            six-eight, Kirtland Ave.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            Looks like somebody was on my
                            Facebook?
                  
                  Devon gives a devilish grin, then holds up his cell phone,
                  speed dials.
                  
                  A MUFFLED RINGTONE coming from inside Elle's briefcase.
                  
                  Elle opens the briefcase, pulls out her RINGING cell phone.
                  
                                        ELLE (CONT'D)
                            That's a private, unpublished number.
                            How did you--
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Just gotta know where to look, doc.
                            Simple, really.
                  
                  Elle places an evaluation packet on the table.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            Would you please take a seat, Devon,
                            so we can get started.
                  
                  Devon straddles the chair, staring at Elle's breasts.
                  
                  Elle places six colored blocks on the table, two red, two
                  yellow, two blue.
                  
                                        ELLE (CONT'D)
                            Okay, Devon. After I arrange three
                            of these blocks in a row, please
                            choose the next block that you think
                            should be placed in the row to begin
                            repeating the pattern.
                  
                  Elle creates a row of blocks - red, yellow and blue.
                  
                  Devon scoops up the remaining blocks, and stacks them - red,
                  yellow, blue - each turned exactly forty-five degrees to the
                  other.
                  
                  Ellen scribbles on the evaluation sheet.
                  
                                        ELLE (CONT'D)
                            Okay, now I'm going to show you a
                            series of images.
                  
                  She produces a stack of cards from the briefcase.
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Holtzman ink blots.
                  
                                          ELLE
                            Uh, yes.  That's right.
                  
                  Elle peels off the first card, holds it up for Devon.
                  
                  Devon leans in, studies the card.
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Um, let's see... Looks like twelve
                            burning birthday candles on a cake.
                  
                  Elle's winces slightly, slips the card under the stack, jots
                  down a note. She pulls another card, holds it up.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            How about this one?
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Let's go with flames shooting from
                            the roof of a house.
                  
                  Elle swallows hard.   Makes a note, then pulls another card.
                  
                                        DEVON (CONT'D)
                            Easy. Did you ever see the photo of
                            that monk who dumps gas on himself,
                            and then sets himself on fire?
                  
                  Elle slams the card on the table, clenches her jaw.
                  
                                        DEVON (CONT'D)
                            You okay, doc? You seem upset.
                  
                  Elle exhales deeply, forces a smile.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            No, Devon, I appreciate your concern,
                            but I'm not upset. I just want to
                            make sure you're answering the
                            questions as honestly as you can
                            with the first thing that enters
                            your mind.
                  
                                          DEVON
                            Got it.
                  
                  He taps his forehead.
                  
                                        DEVON (CONT'D)
                            It's all comes from right here.
                  
                                         ELLE
                            Good.   Let's continue.
                  
                  Elle displays another ink blot to Devon.
                  
                  Devon studies the card, pretending that he could really give
                  a sh**.
                  
                                          DEVON
                            Butterfly.
                  
                  Elle smiles.
                  
                                          ELLE
                            Okay, good.
                  
                  She returns the card to the pile.
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Wait, can I see that again?
                  
                  Elle hesitates, then retrieves the ink blot, holds it up.
                  
                                        DEVON (CONT'D)
                            Strike that. I'm gonna have to say
                            a bomb exploding over--
                  
                                         ELLE (O.S.)
                            Stop!  That's enough.
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Sure thing, doc. You know, I'm no
                            shrink, but you seem to be unusually
                            troubled by my answers.
                  
                  Elle collects her briefcase.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            Excuse me for one minute.  I need to
                            call Dr. Colby.
                  
                  Devon tips his ballcap.
                  
                                        DEVON
                            Sure thing, boss.
                  
                  Elle hurries for the door.
                  
                                          DEVON (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                            Hey, doc?
                  
                  Elle turns.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            What is it, Devon?
                  
                  Devon balances on the chair back, flicking a CIGARETTE
                  LIGHTER.
                  
                                        DEVON (O.S.)
                            Will you ask Doc Colby for me, if
                            the little girl and her family got
                            out okay?
                  
                  Elle peers at the junior sociopath - then a terrifying moment
                  of recognition. She bolts from the room.
                  
                  EXT. PARKING GARAGE - DAY
                  
                  Chinning her cell phone, Elle leaps into her SUV.
                  
                  INT. SUV - DAY
                  
                  Elle cranks the ignition, jerks the car in reverse.
                  
                                        ELLE
                                (into phone)
                            C'mon, answer.
                                (beat)
                            Bobby, call me as soon as you get
                            this message.
                                (voice cracking)
                            Please, honey.
                  
                  SQUEALING TIRES as the SUV fishtails around a tight corner,
                  then races past the pay booth ATTENDANT.
                  
                                           PAY BOOTH ATTENDANT
                            Hey.  Stop!
                  
                  EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
                  
                  The SUV weaves through slower traffic.
                  
                  On the horizon, a thick PLUME OF BLACK SMOKE, rises high
                  into the air.
                  
                  SIRENS.
                  
                  EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
                  
                  A line of POLICE CARS blocks the road.
                  
                  Elle slams on the breaks, abandons her SUV, runs through a
                  line of yellow police tape, toward a BURNING HOUSE.
                  
                  A COP steps in front of Elle.
                  
                                        COP
                            You gotta keep outta here.
                  
                  Elle gives the Cop an adrenaline-fueled shove, screams.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            That's my house.
                  
                  She blows past the cop.
                  
                  EXT. ELLE'S HOUSE - DAY
                  
                  Paramedics race a badly burned BOY on a stretcher away from
                  the burning house.
                  
                  Elle sprints up to her unconscious son.
                  
                                        ELLE
                            Bobby!
                  
                  She tries to embrace Bobby, but is restrained by a SHERIFF'S
                  DEPUTY.
                  
                                        ELLE (CONT'D)
                            Oh God, please no.
                  
                  EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
                  
                  Devon strolls down the sidewalk, pauses in front of a movie
                  theater.
                  
                  On the FLASHING MARQUIS above the entrance:  Special Halloween
                  Presentation. A Nightmare on Elm Street.
                  
                  Devon reaches into his pocket, gives his lighter a few FLICKS,
                  then steps inside the theater.
                  
                                                                       FADE OUT:

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                    Code:
                    The Clown At The End Of The Road
                    
                    EXT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - DAY
                    
                    The weathered remains of a once fast food restaurant sit on
                    the street corner of a small southern town. It looks like
                    it's suffered fire, and the passing of time. The logo still
                    visible, raised on a long pole above the establishment, an
                    iconic `F' with `Freddy's' written below that.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I remember the season was fast turning
                                 from summer to autumn, in this small
                                 town, when Freddy's Burgers seemed to
                                 just pop up over night.
                    
                    
                    EXT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - DAY
                    
                    The restaurant in better days, before the fire. A large crowd
                    of small-town folk, southerners, gathering outside of it.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Everyone had become excited about its
                                 opening weeks earlier.
                    
                    FLASHCUT: Flyers for `Freddy's Burgers' blowing in the wind,
                    one can be seen in full view, blown up against a mesh wire
                    fence, a blurry image of a clown at its center.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 There had been flyers everywhere, they
                                 seemed to have come with the wind.
                    
                    PETER, a typical boy of ten, stands on tiptoes amongst the
                    gathered crowd around restaurant, trying to get better view.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I was just a skinny kid back then, and it
                                 all seemed so exciting to me.
                    
                    A clown, FREDDY, waves from the front of the restaurant,
                    behind the long tape ribbon that separates it from the
                    gathered crowd. He has a gleeful face, with a wicked grin,
                    appearing somewhat salacious in his nature for it.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 They weren't just excited about the
                                 burger joint, but Freddy too, he was fast
                                 becoming a celebrity around these parts.
                    
                    Freddy reaches across ribbon, ruffling a young boy's hair.
                    
                    Freddy approaches the MAYOR, a well dressed man in his
                    fifties, shaking the man's hand as he cuts the ribbon.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Even the mayor turned up to open the
                                 restaurant.
                    
                    The town folk rush for the front doors of the burger joint
                    while Freddy steps inside, beckoning them in with a laugh.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Come on everyone, come get your mouths
                                 `round a burger.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 It all seemed innocent enough, something
                                 exciting happening in a town where
                                 nothing exciting ever happens.
                    
                    
                    INT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - DAY
                    
                    Three fast food workers stand behind the counter, looking
                    spiritless in contrast to Freddy, behind them, his face full
                    of glee, and joyful abandon, with a wrapped burger in hand.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Who wants to try the first burger!?
                    
                    He throws the burger into the crowded restaurant, several
                    desperate hands reaching out to catch it.
                    
                    Freddy laughs manically as he hops over the front counter.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Don't worry, there's enough for all!
                    
                    People watch, enviously, around a man as he bites into the
                    first burger, nodding with approval, making a mess of face.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 But it was soon to prove something other
                                 than innocent had arrived in our small
                                 town.
                    
                    Peter watches Freddy uneasily from across restaurant, a
                    sinister glint in his eyes, his teeth rotting, laugh wicked.
                    
                    
                    INT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - NIGHT
                    
                    The restaurant's full to the brim with people, singles,
                    couples, families, all eating burgers, along with the ever-
                    present Freddy, a fixture in his establishment.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Freddy's quickly became very popular.
                    
                    FLASHCUT: A `closed for good' sign in the window of what was
                    a small, and humble, cafe.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 And all the other eateries in town were
                                 forced to close.
                    
                    FLASHCUT: Playground equipment dumped, discarded, at the
                    edges of the woods, long grass growing around it.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 People seemed to forget that the land
                                 Freddy's was built on was suppose to be
                                 for a children's playground.
                    
                    FLASHCUT: Freddy stands in a dim warehouse with the mayor,
                    who's mouth is watering over a briefcase of cash on table.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 There was rumor that the mayor took a big
                                 payout to consent to the lease of the
                                 land.
                    
                    The young Peter sits in the restaurant with his mother and
                    father, a wholesome looking family eating a burger meal.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O)
                                 But all that was forgotten in favor of
                                 Freddy's mouth watering burgers. Freddy's
                                 had become the place to be.
                    
                    Freddy approaches the table, Peter tensing up as Freddy
                    ruffles his hair, dirty white gloves on his hands.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 How ya doin', Sport?
                    
                    
                    EXT. BACK OF RESTAURANT - NIGHT
                    
                    Peter's out back of the restaurant amongst the squalor,
                    kneeled over vomiting into one of the many trash cans.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 But I just couldn't keep the burgers
                                 down, they didn't taste right to me, they
                                 seemed somehow unnatural.
                    
                    
                    INT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - DAY
                    
                    Freddy stands middle of his restaurant amongst his patrons,
                    wiping his nose with his sleeve, he looks worse than he ever
                    has before, dirty and disheveled, clothing stained dark.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 It wasn't just the burgers either, it was
                                 Freddy, the way he looked, and behaved,
                                 the horrid stench that came from him.
                    
                    
                    EXT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - NIGHT
                    
                    Late night and town folk move in on the restaurant like
                    zombies, all morbidly obese, a sickly sweat in their faces.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 The town folk were getting heavier and
                                 heavier, they'd flock to Freddy's at all
                                 hours, anytime they were hungry.
                    
                    
                    INT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - NIGHT
                    
                    Freddy stands over a table with a very large middle-aged
                    WOMAN as she talks to him through a mouth full of burger.
                    
                                              WOMAN
                                 Now you must tell me what you put in your
                                 patties, Freddy!?
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Now that would be telling.
                    
                                               WOMAN
                                 Oh, Freddy.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Only the primest cuts, my dear, only the
                                 primest.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I could see what others couldn't.
                    
                    Freddy at his most ugliest, smiling to himself, something
                    insidious, and evil, lurking deep within his eyes.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 A demon clown.
                    
                    
                    EXT. TOWN - NIGHT
                    
                    Peter rides his bicycle through town late at night, the
                    streets quiet around him. There's a deep worry in his face.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I was worried late one night when my
                                 parents didn't come home.
                    
                    He brings his bicycle to a stop, staring across the road.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I knew only one place they could be.
                    
                    Freddy's restaurant across the road, the lights on inside,
                    the big `F' logo glowing at the top of its poll.
                    
                    
                    EXT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - NIGHT
                    
                    Peter stands at the window, staring in at what's the very
                    unusual sight of an empty restaurant, and it unsettles him.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 But it was empty...
                    
                    Peter moves around back of the restaurant.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I heard voices so I checked around back.
                    
                    He peers around the corner, something catching his attention.
                    
                    A large truck with two trailers, the kind used to transport
                    cattle, or sheep, idles behind restaurant. Freddy silhouetted
                    in the large fog of its exhaust emissions in the cold air.
                    
                    Freddy yells at a seemingly faceless man in overalls, a
                    clipboard in the man's hand, before walking out of view.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Hurry up and get the last of this stock
                                 on the truck before it gets restless!
                    
                    A platform leading up into the truck's trailer, the fattened
                    townsfolk walking up it in some hypnotic state. The town's
                    mayor among the fated, he having become morbidly obese.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 They're running late for processing!
                    
                    Peter's suddenly startled, Freddy in front of him, reaching
                    out with one of his dirty white-gloved hands.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Hey, come here, kid!
                    
                    Peter bolts, sprinting away from restaurant, right past his
                    bike, across the road, and into the cover of the woods.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I ran as fast as my legs would carry me.
                    
                    
                    EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
                    
                    Peter runs through the dark of the woods, breaking through
                    low lying twigs, scratching at face, drawing blood across.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I didn't stop, and I didn't dare look
                                 back in case he was behind of me.
                    
                    He arrives out other side of the woods, stopping startled,
                    watching in horror as a distance below the truck makes its
                    way down a long windy road, headlights cutting through mist.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 With that Freddy disappeared into the
                                 night, along with half the town.
                    
                    
                    EXT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - DAY
                    
                    The restaurant, now burnt out after a fire.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 The next day I found Freddy's burnt out,
                                 but couldn't find my parents, and never
                                 did.
                    
                    
                    INT. RUSTY CAR - DAY
                    
                    A man's at the wheel of a rusty old car, making way down a
                    long highway. This is the grown Peter, a relatively clean-
                    cut man at a glance, but there's something a little frayed
                    around the edges here, something dark that rests in eyes.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I grew up and became a traveling
                                 salesman, making my way down through the
                                 long stretch of small southern towns.
                    
                    
                    INT. QUAINT STORE - DAY
                    
                    Peter stands at counter of a small town `mom and pop' style
                    store, talking to an elderly man about the axe he examines.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Selling merchandize to local stores, tool
                                 supplies mostly.
                    
                    
                    EXT. STREET - DAY
                    
                    Peter stands in the street staring aghast at something.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Then one day on the road I found
                                 something that horrified me...
                    
                    Across the road is another Freddy's restaurant, burnt out,
                    and long weathered, just like the previous one had been.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 It was another Freddy's... burnt out, and
                                 abandoned, just like the last one.
                    
                    
                    INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
                    
                    A dingy motel room, and there's a large road map pinned to
                    the wall, red drawing pins marking a clear trail across it.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Seems they made a trail through the
                                 south, popping up in small towns, then
                                 vanishing again, leaving only a carcass
                                 of itself behind.
                    
                    
                    INT. CAR - DAY
                    
                    Peter driving a long highway, intensity in his eyes,
                    appearance more weary than it has been previous.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I searched the road for years, but could
                                 never find another one actually in
                                 operation.
                    
                    Driving slow down a dilapidated street in a small town,
                    boarded up shops, empty sidewalks, rubbish littered.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Just the emptiness they leave behind.
                    
                    
                    INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
                    
                    Peter lays awake in the motel bed, eerie moonlight cast over
                    him from the window.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Sometimes I would go years without
                                 finding another, then I would hear
                                 whispers in my travels.
                    
                    
                    EXT. STREET - DAY
                    
                    Peter walks down street, past rows of store fronts, with a
                    bag of merchandize, when something stops him in his tracks, a
                    wrapper, small and yellow, blowing down sidewalk towards him.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Usually it wasn't much, but I would take
                                 anything that kept my hopes from dying.
                    
                    It blows to his feet and he kneels down to pick it up, rising
                    back up while examining it, an `F' logo printed all over it,
                    and it looks very much like it could be a burger wrapper.
                    
                    
                    EXT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - DAY
                    
                    Peter stands across the road in a trench coat, as he looks at
                    a Freddy's restaurant which is in full operation.
                    
                    His hands moves out from behind his trench coat, and he lets
                    a small axe drop to his side.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 Until one day I finally caught up with
                                 them.
                    
                    The restaurant reflected in Peter's burning eyes.
                    
                    
                    INT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - DAY
                    
                    Peter stands at the counter of the restaurant, the axe hidden
                    inside of his trench coat. A GIRL behind counter approaches.
                    
                                              GIRL
                                 What can I get you, Sir?
                    
                                              PETER
                                 I'm here to see, Freddy.
                    
                    And she points past Peter, he turning to Freddy standing
                    across the restaurant at a table with a customer, a little
                    older now, that same horrid grin across his face though.
                    
                                              FREDDY
                                 Only the primest cuts, only the primest!
                    
                    Peter removes the axe from his trench coat, letting it fall
                    to his side with his arm as he moves across the restaurant.
                    
                    The patrons already starting to gasp as Peter nears.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 I'd finally found him.
                    
                    Freddy turning in horror as the axe goes into his chest,
                    people screaming as the blood sprays all over the place.
                    
                                              PETER (V.O.)
                                 The demon clown.
                    
                                              The End

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                      Code:
                      [B]"The Mask, The Crypt and the Urchin"[/B]
                         
                      Through a haze, distorted lens. Convex images.
                                    
                      [B]In V.O.[/B]
                      
                      I see spiders.  Dangling. They're everywhere.  I glide.  This is scary. 
                      This is kid-heaven. 
                      
                      [B]INT. "THE CRYPT" - A PARTY STORE - DAY
                      [/B]
                      The distorted haze clears very slowly. 
                      
                      [B]ANGLE ON:[/B]
                      
                      A small urchin in torn up pants. This is the Kid. 
                      
                      He's clearly mesmerised by this store and its contents.   
                      
                      We've been hearing his impressions. He's the "I" in the above V.O. 
                      
                      "Inbetween Days" by The Cure hums quietly over the store deck.
                      
                      As Grahame, a Goth, wakes from behind  his counter.   
                      
                                                GRAHAME
                                  Ugh... you again.  
                      
                                              KID
                                  Here's my dollar.
                      
                                              GRAHAME
                                  I sold it.
                      
                      Kid frowns.
                      
                                              GRAHAME
                                  Okay, maybe I didn't.
                      
                      Grahame waits.
                      
                                              KID
                                 You'll keep it? 
                      
                                              GRAHAME.
                                  Got five dollars?
                      
                                              KID
                                  I only have one.
                      
                                                GRAHAME
                                  No deal.
                      
                      Door jingle.  Meet the Fat Kid.  Waddling.
                      
                                              GRAHAME 
                                 Store policy. No down payments.  
                      
                                              KID
                                  You took deposits last year.  
                      
                                              GRAHAME
                                  Five dollars or forget it.
                      
                      The Fat Kid suddenly before the counter.  Eyes up Grahame.
                      
                                             GRAHAME
                                 Yeah? 
                      
                                             FAT KID
                                 Three plastic spiders.
                      
                                                GRAHAME
                                 Two dollars.
                      
                                             FAT KID
                                 Three for two! 
                      
                      Grahame sighs.  Takes the money and slams the register.
                      
                                             FAT KID 
                                 Going to Chad's party?
                      
                                             CLERK
                                 Who's asking?
                      
                                             FAT KID
                                That's for me to know. 
                      
                      Grahame folds his arms.  Fat Kid motions to the window
                      display.
                      
                                             FAT KID 
                                 How much for the inflatable 
                                 Skeleton?
                      
                                             GRAHAME
                                 Which skeleton? Skeletor? 
                      
                                             FAT KID
                                 Yeah! You stupid? 
                      
                                             GRAHAME
                                 It's not for sale.
                      
                                            FAT KID
                                Oh yeah? Well how much for the alien then?
                                
                      The [I]Urchin[/I] stares up.  Puzzled.
                      
                      [B]EXT. SIDEWALK - LATE AFTERNOON[/B]
                      
                      Grahame walking. 
                      
                      Queen: "We are the Champions" hisses via his Walkman.
                      
                      Home beckons.
                      
                      [B]INT. STORE - EARLY MORNING[/B]
                      
                      Grahame tidying the store window.  Conscientious.  We see
                      the [I]ghoul [/I]mask.
                      
                      [B]INT. STORE - LUNCHTIME[/B]
                      
                      Grahame eating a sandwich. The Police: "Walking on the Moon"
                      thumps out of the deck.
                      
                      Door jingle. Fat Kid strides up to the counter.
                      
                                            FAT KID
                                I'll take that dusty ole [I]ghoul[/I] mask.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                It's not for sale.
                      
                                               FAT KID
                                Tis.
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                Tis not.
                      
                      Fat Kid lunges.  Too slow.  Grahame has his arm.
                      
                                            GRAHAME 
                                Want to lose it?
                      
                                            FAT KID
                                I'll tell your boss!
                      
                      Grahame releases the arm.
                      
                      Fat Kid leaves.  Grahame's boss passes him on door.
                      
                                               BOSS
                                Who was that? 
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                Just a slug.
                      
                                            BOSS
                                Sold much today Grahame?
                      
                                            GRAHAME 
                                Three spiders.
                      
                                            BOSS
                                That [I]ghoul[/I] mask hasn't sold since
                                last year.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Hmm. 
                      
                                            BOSS
                                Strange. We sold all the rest in
                                days, Dracula went, Frankenstein
                                went, even Elf Man went.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Hmm. 
                      
                                            BOSS
                                Sell it by tomorrow! 
                      
                      Grahame seems anxious.
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                               What if I bought it?  
                      
                                            BOSS
                               I thought you were saving up for 
                               Skeletor?
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Not any more it seems. 
                      
                                               BOSS
                                Huh.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Talking to myself.
                      
                                            BOSS
                                Got to watch that Grahame!
                      
                      Boss disappears behind the black curtain into the rear.  Door
                      jingles. Goths Trudy and Trixie slink in.
                      
                                               TRUDY
                                Hi Grahame.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Hi True.
                      
                                            TRUDY
                                You going to be at Chad's party?
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                Probably.
                      
                                            TRUDY
                                Bringing Skeletor?
                      
                      Grahame glances over his shoulder.
                      
                                              GRAHAME
                                Of course. 
                      
                                               TRUDY
                                Cool.
                      
                                            TRIXIE
                               Hi Grahame.
                      
                      Grahame rolls his eyes.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                See you there then?
                      
                                               TRUDY
                                Maybe.
                      
                      [B]EXT/INT. WIDE SHOT OF STORE SIGN "THE CRYPT" THEN TRACK SLOWLY DOWN[/B]
                      
                      We see Grahame lounging over the counter through the store window. 
                      
                      He's thumbing through audio cassette tapes.
                      
                      Slides A-ha in: "Take on Me" breezes out.
                      
                      No door jingle! 
                      
                      Fat Kid appears as if from nowhere.
                      
                                            FAT KID
                                I want that [I]ghoul [/I]Goth-Boy!
                      
                      Fat Kid opens his hand.  A crumpled ten dollar bill unfolds
                      slowly.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Sold it yesterday.
                      
                                            FAT KID
                                I just saw it in the window.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                You imagined that it was there.
                      
                                            BOSS
                                What's all this?
                      
                                            FAT KID
                                He won't sell me the [I]ghoul[/I] mask.
                      
                      Grahame seems nervous.
                      
                                            BOSS
                                Is that true Grahame?
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                I haven't taken it down yet.
                      
                                               FAT KID
                                Liar.
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                It's all true.
                      
                                                 BOSS
                                   Listen kid.  The [I]ghoul[/I] mask is not for
                                   sale today.
                      
                      Fat Kid pushes his lip out.  Storms off. Jingle. 
                      
                                                 BOSS 
                                  You kids! 
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                  He's that car dealership owner's kid. The one   
                                  where you bought a clapped out Datsun.
                      
                                               BOSS
                                   Mark-up twenty-five percent extra next time he shops.   
                      
                      The boss slaps Grahame's shoulder hard.  Seconds later.
                      
                                               BOSS (O.S.) 
                                   Grahame! If you don't want the
                                   Skeletor, better put that price tag
                                   back on. Try ten dollars.
                      
                      [B]EXT. SIDEWALK - LATE AFTERNOON[/B]
                      
                      Grahame walking home. The wheezing via the Walkman is: "The
                      Reflex" by Duran Duran.
                      
                                               KID
                                   Is the [I]ghoul[/I] still in the window? 
                      
                                                GRAHAME
                                   No.   okay. yes. Where'd you come from anyway kid? 
                      
                                                 KID
                                   Over there.
                      
                      The Kid points towards a lot filled with trash. Skips away.
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                   Hey kid... you know Trudy?
                      
                                               KID
                                   I do if you keep the [I]ghoul[/I]. 
                      
                                                 GRAHAME
                                   Hmm... [I]smart ass[/I].
                      
                      [B]EXT. THE CRYPT - STREET FRONTAGE - DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN               
                      [/B]
                      Bucket. Suds.  Grahame wipes the window.  A Goblin dappled
                      in ectoplasm.
                      
                      Sponge on.
                      
                                             KID
                                 What you doin'?
                      
                      Grahame drops his wiper.  The Kid looks wan.
                      
                                             KID 
                                 Is the Crypt open?
                      
                                                 GRAHAME
                                To sprites.
                      
                                                 KID
                                 Ugh?
                      
                                                 GRAHAME
                                 Come on.
                      
                      [B]INT. STORE - MOMENTS LATER[/B]
                      
                      Grahame tiptoeing back out of window. He has the[I] ghoul[/I] mask
                      and wipes away the dust, it is [I]slightly[/I] faded. He places it
                      over the kid's face.
                      
                                             KID
                                 Eeeeeee.
                                     (muffled)
                      
                                                 GRAHAME
                                 Now scram.
                      
                      Silence.
                      
                      [B]EXT. SIDEWALK - MOMENTS LATER
                      [/B]
                      The Kid trotting down the street, passes the Fat Kid... growls
                      at him... [I]ghouls-on[/I] down the street.
                      
                      INT. THE CRYPT - EARLY EVENING
                      
                      Grahame staring at the skeleton.
                      
                      Remembers something.  Scribbles:
                      
                      "Boss -- five dollars --  Ghoul mask --  Grahame."
                      
                      Door jingles.  Trudy.  Pan down her side... the kid is there.
                      
                                             TRUDY
                                 So you're to blame.
                      
                                             GRAHAME
                                 Is there a problem?
                      
                                             TRUDY
                                 That depends.
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                Huh.
                      
                                               TRUDY
                                You paid for it? 
                      
                                               GRAHAME
                                Kind of.
                      
                      Grahame slams the register shut.
                      
                                            TRUDY
                                Still going to Chad's party?
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Probably not.
                      
                                            TRUDY
                                That's a real shame.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                How do you know this kid?
                      
                                            TRUDY
                                He's my brother.
                      
                      She smiles and approaches Grahame.
                      
                                            TRUDY
                                He's talked about you since dad died.
                                You kept a mask back for him last
                                year.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                I kept his dollar.
                      
                                            TRUDY
                                No you didn't... your boss did.
                      
                                            GRAHAME
                                Why are you looking at me like that?
                      
                                             TRUDY
                                Shame about the party... but you
                                need to get Skeletor out of the
                                display window.
                      
                      Grahame seems puzzled.
                      
                                            TRUDY 
                                I'm buying it for you. We don't
                                have much money, mum hasn't worked
                                for a while, she's been ill.
                      
                      The Kid in window. Toppling the inflatable skeleton and
                      drags it by an inflated right leg.
                      
                                           GRAHAME
                               Needs some air. I usually do it on
                               Tuesdays.
                      
                                           TRUDY
                               I've got a old car pump back home.
                      
                                           GRAHAME
                               So we're going to Chad's party
                               [I]together[/I] True?
                      
                                           TRUDY
                               Like hell we are... We're going to my
                               party, [I]together[/I]!
                      
                      The Kid stares up at Grahame. He opens his hand, a ten 
                      dollar bill unfolds slowly.
                      
                                                                     [B]  FADE OUT.[/B]
                      Last edited by The Road Warrior; 10-26-2014, 10:47 AM. Reason: request for minor edits/on typos and formatting.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                        Code:
                        Norma Rae
                        
                        A female zombie's rotting face fills the screen.
                        
                        Hold on that ravaged face..................................
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  She was beautiful.
                        
                        INT. MEETING HALL - NIGHT
                        
                        NORMA RAE, the zombie, stands behind a lectern on a stage
                        surrounded by a few other zombies and humans.
                        
                        Some of the zombies wear muzzles, their jaws working beneath
                        the taut leather as they chew imaginary flesh. The zombies
                        are leashed to their human handlers.
                        
                        The ones without muzzles, including Norma, are docile.
                        SARAH, 30s, a human, holds onto Norma's bent-the-wrong-way
                        elbow as she interprets Norma's grunts to the crowd.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  ...need to remember that the specials
                                  are still your brothers and sisters,
                                  your husbands and wives, your friends
                                  and neighbors...
                        
                        The crowd watches intently, some in tears, others with
                        furrowed brows. A few signs in the audience: "Unions NOW!",
                        "Softies are people 2".
                        
                        And in that crowd:
                        
                        DAVID, 20s, who only has eyes for Norma; a beatific smile on
                        his face and arms wrapped around himself like he's holding
                        himself in.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  She was different. Everyone could
                                  see that.
                        
                                              NORMA
                                  Unnh!
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  ...and though they may not be able
                                  to speak, they can communicate with
                                  us if we choose to communicate with
                                  them.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  And we all loved her.
                        
                                              NORMA
                                  Guhh!
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  So contact your representative, tell
                                  him or her that you support the
                                  legislation currently making its way
                                  through Congress, that we can't wait
                                  forever for them to give the specials
                                  the opportunity and protections that
                                  we've given to other minor--
                        
                                               HECKLER
                                  Burn them!  Each and every one of
                                  them!
                        
                        All eyes turn to see: A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN at the back of
                        the audience, standing with a bible in her hand.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  Violence is not the--
                        
                                              HECKLER
                                  They're not human! They have no
                                  rights!
                        
                        TWO SECURITY GUARDS take hold of the heckler...
                        
                                              HECKLER (CONT'D)
                                  Softie lovers! All of
                                  you...Abominations in the eyes of
                                  the Lord!
                        
                        And escort her out.
                        
                        David watches the still shouting heckler leave the hall and
                        the door slams shut behind her.
                        
                        He and the audience turn their attention back to the front.
                        
                        Norma sways and GRUNTS and saliva drips from a mouth with no
                        teeth.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  She's not an abomination.   She's an
                                  angel.
                        
                        INT. MEETING HALL - LATER
                        
                        The meeting is over and now the mingling begins. People
                        hold coffee and donuts, Lookie Lous approach the leashed
                        zombies with caution, while the docile ones, never far from
                        their handlers, are touched and looked at with awe and morbid
                        curiosity.
                        
                        Norma, still being held by Sarah, holds court among a few
                        admirers.
                        
                        David makes his way towards them.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  ...that Norma was also a survivor of
                                  the Burning of Brooklyn and what
                                  better way to honor those fallen by
                                  allowing specials to work and
                                  contribute to society? Tax breaks
                                  and credits to corporations willing
                                  to--
                        
                                              DAVID
                                      (to Norma)
                                  Hi! It's me, David.  Great job.
                        
                        Norma GRUNTS.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  Thank you, Mister...
                        
                                              DAVID
                                  David. Remember? I was at the rally
                                  in the Bronx last week.
                        
                        He waits for Sarah to recognize him.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                      (no clue)
                                  Ah, yes. I remember now. Yes.
                                  Well, we're glad you came out to see
                                  us again--
                        
                                              DAVID
                                      (to Norma)
                                  You know, I was thinking since our
                                  last conversation, I've got some
                                  good ideas on--
                        
                        Norma GRUNTS.
                        
                        Sarah uses that as her cue to start herding Norma out of the
                        Hall.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  Very good to see you, Mr. David.
                                  Make sure you contact your congressman
                                  and come vote in November!
                        
                        They expertly sidestep David and the following crowd separates
                        them.
                        
                        He watches them leave, that beatific smile on his face.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  She likes me.
                        
                        INT. BAR - NIGHT
                        
                        It's a dive, populated by a couple of alcoholics and others
                        of dubious character.
                        
                        David drinks his beer.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  She looked at me and smiled. I don't
                                  know...she's important and I'm
                                  just...I'll talk to her. I'll find
                                  out where she's staying and I'll
                                  talk to her, let her know how I feel.
                                  I can help her. And then we can--
                        
                                                 BARTENDER
                                  Out!  Goddamn softies!
                        
                        David looks up, sees BARTENDER with a baseball bat in hand
                        come around the bar.
                        
                        A ZOMBIE shuffles through the door.
                        
                                              CUSTOMER
                                  Knock his f***in' block off!
                        
                        Bartender sticks the barrel of the bat into the Zombie's
                        chest.
                        
                        Zombie MOANS.
                        
                                              BARTENDER
                                  We don't serve your kind in here!
                                  Get the f*** out!
                        
                                                 CUSTOMER
                                  Hit him!
                        
                        David slides off his stool.
                        
                                                 DAVID
                                  Hey, now.  They have rights, too,
                                  you know.
                        
                                              CUSTOMER
                                  Softie lover! Hit him!
                        
                        Bartender shoves Zombie towards the door.
                        
                        David grabs Bartender's arm.
                        
                                              DAVID
                                  You can't just--
                        
                        Bartender wheels on David.
                        
                                                 BARTENDER
                                   F*** off!
                        
                        He turns back to the Zombie.
                        
                        David grabs Bartender.
                        
                        Bartender whirls and PUNCHES David.
                        
                        David's nose explodes in blood and the Zombie MOANS louder.
                        
                        He collapses against the bar as Bartender gets ready to swing
                        the bat at the Zombie.
                        
                                               BARTENDER (CONT'D)
                                   No one tells me what to do in my
                                   place.
                        
                        Bartender swings with the bat and the Zombie's head THWACK!
                        flies right off.
                        
                        David YELLS and rushes Bartender.
                        
                        Other customers jump in and David soon disappears underneath
                        fists and boots.
                        
                        EXT. STREET - NIGHT
                        
                        Raining.
                        
                        David's face is swollen and blood drips from his wounds as
                        he hunches against the rain, hurrying along the sidewalk.
                        
                                               DAVID (V.O.)
                                   I'll tell her. I'll tell her and
                                   we'll stop them. Just the two of
                                   us. We'll show them.
                        
                        INT. HOTEL HALLWAY - NIGHT
                        
                        Sarah's tired as she walks down the hallway, ice bucket in
                        hand, heading towards their room.
                        
                        She puts the card into the door lock...
                        
                                                 DAVID (O.S.)
                                   Excuse me.
                        
                                                 SARAH
                                   OH!
                        
                                               DAVID
                                   Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.
                                   Is Norma in there?
                        
                        Sarah gives him a quick once over.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  Are you okay?
                        
                                              DAVID
                                  I'm fine. I just wanted to talk
                                  with Norma. I think there's a few
                                  things that she should be aware of--
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  I appreciate your enthusiasm, but
                                  we'll be doing a breakfast meeting
                                  at the--
                        
                                              DAVID
                                  I really need to talk to her now.
                                  It's important.
                        
                        Sarah opens the hotel room door.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  If you don't mind, I think it can
                                  wait--
                        
                        David pushes her into the room, forcing himself into
                        
                        INT. HOTEL ROOM
                        
                        Sarah stumbles and drops the ice bucket.
                        
                        Two twin beds.  Norma's on one of them, handcuffed to the
                        frame.
                        
                        Norma MOANS.
                        
                        David looks at Sarah.
                        
                                              DAVID
                                      (incredulous)
                                  You've handcuffed her.
                        
                                              SARAH
                                  I need you to leave.
                        
                                              DAVID
                                  You can't do that to her!
                        
                        Sarah heads towards the phone.
                        
                        David grabs her.
                        
                                              DAVID (CONT'D)
                                  Why are you treating her this--
                        
                        Sarah punches and scratches at him.
                        
                        Enraged, he PUNCHES her and she falls back against the wall.
                        
                        He continues his attack until she drops unconscious on the
                        floor. Not satisfied, he kicks her repeatedly in the head,
                        each kick angrier than the next.
                        
                        David stops.  Breathing heavy.
                        
                        Sarah's motionless, blood soaks the carpet.
                        
                        He looks at Norma.
                        
                        Norma stares back. Toothless mouth working, like she's trying
                        to talk to him. Or eat him.
                        
                        He sits next to Norma on the bed.
                        
                        Norma MOANS.
                        
                                                 DAVID (CONT'D)
                                  Don't.  It's okay. It's all right.
                        
                        He caresses her hideous face.
                        
                        She gums his hand as he slides it down her face, into her
                        mouth...Norma sucks on his fingers...
                        
                        His hand continues to slide down...
                        
                        He grabs her leg...works his hand between her legs...
                        
                                              DAVID (CONT'D)
                                  We're together now.
                        
                        His hand is between her legs and he moves his hand back and
                        forth.
                        
                        Norma is silent.
                        
                        He continues to shove his fingers into Norma...
                        
                        FADE TO BLACK
                        
                                                DETECTIVE (O.S.)
                                  That it?
                        
                                                DAVID (O.S.)
                                  That's it.
                        
                        INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
                        
                                              DAVID
                                  Can I see Norma now?
                        
                        Contempt flits briefly across Detective's face and he stands
                        up and he walks out of the interrogation room.
                        
                        INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
                        
                        David sits on the bed next to Norma, the body of Sarah at
                        his feet. His back is to us as we enter the room.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  You wouldn't understand our love...
                        
                        We creep up on David...
                        
                        And we see him remove his hand from between Norma's legs,
                        his fingers wet with Norma's juices...
                        
                        He sticks his fingers in his mouth, sucking on them, one at
                        a time.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.) (CONT'D)
                                  We consummated our love and then I
                                  waited.
                        
                        INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
                        
                        David turns to look at the one way mirror on the wall.
                        
                        CLOSE ON DAVID'S FACE as he looks at us.
                        
                                              DAVID (V.O.)
                                  As I wait here while you whisper
                                  behind your closed doors, waiting
                                  for your judgment, waiting for your
                                  ignorant condemnation...waiting for
                                  Norma's love to infect my
                                  blood...waiting for it to reach my
                                  brain...I wait.
                                      (beat)
                                  Wait to become soft.
                        
                        FADE TO BLACK

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                          Code:
                          CHASE IN THE WOODS
                          
                          FADE IN:
                          
                          INT. BAR - NIGHT
                          
                          Three work colleagues sit round a table, each with a
                          drink. EMMA (mid 20s), PHIL (mid 20s) and KEVIN (mid 20s)
                          The story is shown through Kevin's point of view.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                     For finally finishing that long, boring
                                     project. Let's splash our bonus. Cheers!
                          
                                               EMMA AND PHIL
                                     Cheers!
                          
                          The three CLINK their glasses together and sip.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                     Hey Emma, I've been wondering.
                          
                                              EMMA
                                     Not this again.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                     Do you fancy going out with me?
                          
                                              EMMA
                                     Over your dead body!
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                     Don't you mean over my dead body?
                          
                                              EMMA
                                     Yeah that's what I said, over your dead body.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                     No that's not... never mind. I don't know why you
                                     won't go out with me?
                          
                          Kevin looks at the window beside him to see his
                          reflection.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                     I'm not that bad looking.
                          
                          Kevin faces Phil.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                     Tell her Phil.
                          
                          Phil coughs after sipping his beer.
                          
                                            PHIL
                                   Sorry mate, girl's made her decision. You're
                                   with me in the single train.
                          
                                            KEVIN
                                   Whatever, I'll try again tomorrow Emms.
                          
                          Kevin swigs his pint.
                          
                          EXT. BAR - NIGHT
                          
                          Drunken Kevin stands opposite Emma and Phil.
                          
                                             PHIL
                                   You sure you're alright walking back? You look
                                   hammered.
                          
                                            KEVIN
                                   Nah, nah, nah, I'm fine. Five pints won't knock
                                   me down. Haha.
                          
                                            PHIL
                                   Okay, just make sure you get home safe. Text me
                                   when you get back.
                          
                                            KEVIN
                                   Yeah sure... mom.
                          
                                            PHIL
                                   See you tomorrow mate.
                          
                          Phil and Emma turn and walk away from Kevin.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                   Yeah... see ya.
                          
                          EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
                          
                          Drunken Kevin ambles towards the direction of the woods.
                          
                          INT. WOODS * MOMENTS LATER
                          
                          Drunken Kevin ambles inside the dark woods.
                          
                                              KEVIN
                                           (singing)
                                   Oh Emma... sexy Emma... why won't you let me bang
                                   you tonight?
                                   Is it because you think my junk isn't big
                                   enough?
                                   Well let me tell you... you're right.
                          
                          Kevin laughs... then collapse. His eyes gradually close as
                          he falls asleep and snores.
                          
                          SERIES OF SHOTS:
                          
                          -- Kevin coughs and opens his eyes.
                          
                          -- Kevin takes a piss against a tree.
                          
                          END SERIES OF SHOTS.
                          
                          Kevin falters along the dreary woods. His hand covers his
                          eyes.
                          
                                               KEVIN
                                             (groggy)
                                    Awww... my head.
                          
                          Kevin uncovers his eyes and takes out a cigarette and
                          lighter, lights the cigarette and puffs.
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    Jeez it's cold.
                          
                          Kevin checks his phone: 01:30am.
                          
                                               KEVIN
                                    Sh**... 01:30. Have to be up in five hours.
                                    Bloody life.
                          
                          Kevin lowers the phone and takes another puff... then trips
                          over and falls.
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    Aw! What the f***?
                          
                          Kevin turns the flashlight in his phone. He points it at
                          the obstacle he tripped over...
                          
                          Phil is lying on the ground, dead with his widen eyes and
                          his neck covered in blood with a gaping hole, Adam's
                          apple missing.
                          
                          Kevin SCREAMS and crawls back in fear, breathing heavy.
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    Phil? Phil!
                          
                          Kevin trudges towards Phil and looks over him.
                          
                                               KEVIN
                                    No... what the f***. Who... who did this?
                          
                          Kevin shouts at the woods as he looks around...
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    Who the f*** did this? Eh! Who the f***
                                    slaughtered my friend?
                          
                          Kevin looks to his right, Emma stands in the distance,
                          staring menacingly with blood splatter on her face and t-
                          shirt, hands covered in blood whilst holding a large
                          kitchen knife by her side.
                          
                                               KEVIN
                                    Emma?
                          
                          Emma SCREAMS and runs towards Kevin.
                          
                                               KEVIN
                                    Oh sh**!
                          
                          Kevin gets up and runs away, still carrying his flash lit
                          phone.
                          
                          Kevin looks over his shoulder. Emma chases.
                          
                          Kevin trips over and falls, looking back, Emma draws
                          nearer. Kevin scampers to his feet and sprints.
                          
                          Kevin zigzags through trees, glance back, Emma follows.
                          
                          As Kevin continues, he turns off the phone's flashlight,
                          facing near full darkness.
                          
                          Kevin dashes towards one of the trees and hides behind
                          it, holding his breath.
                          
                          Kevin looks past the tree on his left... nothing but trees.
                          He looks to his right... Emma, looking round. Kevin moves
                          round the tree to remain hidden.
                          
                          As Emma drifts further away, Kevin creeps away
                          cautiously... a twig on the ground SNAPS. Kevin sees Emma
                          facing his direction.
                          
                          Kevin sneaks towards another tree and sits by it, holding
                          his breath.
                          
                          Footsteps gradually become louder and LOUDER. Emma
                          lurches by one of the trees to the side, close to Kevin.
                          
                                             EMMA
                                    Come out come out wherever you are Kevin.
                          
                          Emma licks her lips.
                          
                                             EMMA
                                    Let's go on that date you always wanted.
                          
                          Emma laughs wickedly.
                          
                          Kevin shuffles steadily to the other side of the tree.
                          
                          Kevin looks ahead and notice a lit filled street in the
                          near distance with a couple of cars driving past.
                          
                          Kevin looks past the tree bark to see Emma further away,
                          back turned.
                          
                          Kevin gently stands up and tiptoes away from the tree,
                          facing the direction of the street.
                          
                          Kevin glances over his shoulder, Emma still searches,
                          facing away.
                          
                          Kevin scrapes his leg on a branch and YELLS in pain. A
                          mighty gash through his torn trouser. Kevin spots Emma,
                          charging towards him.
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    F***!
                          
                          Kevin limps frantically towards the street in the
                          distance. He looks behind, Emma rapidly pursues.
                          
                          Kevin faces ahead, nearing the street. He glances back,
                          Emma's gaining.
                          
                          Kevin views the street approaching nearer.
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    Come on! f***ing come on!
                          
                          Kevin appears closer and closer. His breathing becomes
                          heavier as he looks back, no one behind him.
                          
                          Kevin looks ahead... Emma appears right in front of him,
                          shocking Kevin to a stand still as he gasps.
                          
                          Emma pushes Kevin towards the ground and sits on top of
                          him. Kevin SCREAMS...
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    Get of me! Get off!
                          
                          Kevin tries to fight Emma off with his hands, but Emma
                          grabs one of his hands, pins it to one side and stabs the
                          knife through Kevin's hinge joint on the same arm. Kevin
                          SCREAMS in agony.
                          
                          Emma grabs Kevin's other hand, pins it the other side...
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    No, no, no, no no!
                          
                          Emma stabs the knife through Kevin's hinge joint on that
                          arm. Kevin SCREAMS in torment.
                          
                          Emma removes the knife and stares towards Kevin with her
                          sinister eyes and displays a smirk.
                          
                                             EMMA
                                    I told you... over your dead body.
                          
                          Emma licks her lips as she takes out a bloody Adam's
                          apple from her pocket and wriggles it in front of Kevin.
                          
                                             KEVIN
                                    No! Don't do it! Don't!
                          
                          Emma raises her knife and holds back Kevin's head to the
                          ground, causing Kevin to look up into the night sky.
                          
                                                KEVIN
                                    No! Nooo!
                          
                          The sound of the knife jab, Kevin CROAKS... his croak
                          slowly fades into silence as his eyes gently close.
                          
                                                                            FADE OUT.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                            Code:
                            HALLOWED BEAN
                            
                                                                             FADE IN:
                            
                            EXT. SMALL TOWN MALL - NIGHT
                            
                            From above, the last shoppers meander to their cars. DISTANT
                            CONVERSATION and LAUGHS. The edge of the parking lot is
                            swallowed by thick black woods but for one beacon of light.
                            Closing in on the light reveals
                            
                            
                            EXT. THE BEAN - NIGHT
                            
                            A small wooden shack topped with a coffee bean shaped sign:
                            THE BEAN.
                            
                            Halloween pumpkins grin from the ledge of a drive up window
                            through which we catch glimpses of LILY (21), in a hippie
                            costume, as she cleans.
                            
                            
                            INT. THE BEAN - NIGHT
                            
                            Faint RINGING is heard above the LOUD MUSIC. Lily flicks the
                            radio off and grabs her phone.
                            
                                                 LILY
                                      Hey you...yeah, I'll be done in
                                      fifteen minutes.
                                          (beat)
                                      Did you find a costume? Let me
                                      guess. The Joker?
                                          (laughs)
                                      Surprise huh? Okay. See you in a
                                      few... Love you.
                            
                            Lily resumes rinsing coffee machine parts at the sink.
                            
                            SCRATCHING is heard on the wall outside.
                            
                            LILY stops and cocks her head. In stealth mode she moves to
                            the back door and checks the lock.
                            
                            METALLIC CLANG of something hitting concrete outside.
                            
                            She peeks around a wall to the front window and spots her
                            phone. As she contemplates how to get it the doorknob
                            RATTLES.
                            
                            Lily's panic reaches maximum just as HEADLIGHTS blind her
                            through the window. She spots the blue security light
                            flashing on top of the car and she rushes to the window.
                            
                            She frantically waves as a mall cop drives up. A creepy,
                            crazy clown in a mall cop uniform stares up at her.
                            
                            
                            INT/EXT THE BEAN - WINDOW - NIGHT
                            
                                                MALL COP
                                      Happy Halloween!
                            
                                                LILY
                                          (anxious)
                                      God, I'm glad you're here. I heard
                                      a loud noise out back-
                            
                            He removes the clown mask to reveal a dough-faced ALBERT(23).
                            
                                                ALBERT
                                      Hey, hey relax. Didn't see nothin'
                                      drivin up but let me do a little
                                      look see round back.
                            
                                                   LILY
                                      Thank you.
                            
                            As he pulls away Lily sees the distant mall lights begin to
                            shut down. A lone car sits at the edge of the mall.
                            
                            Brief POV from across parking lot through binoculars. Someone
                            watches Lily.
                            
                            
                            INT/EXT THE BEAN - WINDOW - CONT'D
                            
                            Moments later Albert pulls up again.
                            
                                                ALBERT
                                      Nothin. Maybe an animal?
                            
                            A relieved Lily leans out the window.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      Guess I freaked myself out again.
                            
                                                ALBERT
                                      Just the same I'll wait and take
                                      you to your car. Bout done?
                            
                                                LILY
                                      That's sweet of you, but I'll be
                                      okay. MARK will be here any minute.
                            
                                                ALBERT
                                      No worries. You and Mark going to
                                      Jasmine's party tonight?
                            
                                                   LILY
                                      Yeah, you?
                            
                                                ALBERT
                                      Yup. That Mark sure is a hoot. He
                                      kills me with his jokes. Guy should
                                      be a stand up or somthin.
                            
                                                 LILY
                                      Yeah, a real riot. It can get old
                                      sometimes.
                                          (beat)
                                      Hey, I like your clown outfit by
                                      the way. Really creepy.
                            
                                                ALBERT
                                      Oh thanks...
                            
                            Albert spots the car Lily saw earlier parked in the shadows.
                            
                                                ALBERT (CONT'D)
                                          (sarcastic)
                                      Guess we got some late night
                                      "shoppers" I better check out.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      Okay, see you later.
                            
                                                   ALBERT
                                      Peace out.
                            
                            He flashes the boy scout sign in an attempt at coolness.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      You really are a Bozo.
                            
                            
                            INT. THE BEAN - NIGHT
                            
                            Lily locks the window and smiles as Albert drives off.
                            
                            MOMENTS LATER
                            
                            A MONSTROUS FACE fills the window in front of Lily. Pus oozes
                            over a right eye sewn shut with string. A hairy mole dangles
                            from the nose and the lips are pulled into a grimace around a
                            mouthful of metal teeth. A dagger flashes in the moonlight.
                            
                                                MONSTROUS FACE
                                      I'll get you bitch! Get out!
                            
                            Lily's blood curdling SCREAMS fill the night air. In an
                            instant the monster face is peeled away to reveal MARK (20),
                            a handsome college athlete.
                            
                                                MARK
                                      Stop Lily! It's me! Open up!
                            
                                                LILY
                                          (tearful)
                                      You sh**! You f***ing scared me to
                                      death. Not. Even. Funny.
                            
                                                MARK
                                      I'm sorry babe. Really. Open up.
                            
                            Lily slides the window open and wipes her eyes. MARK grabs
                            her hands and kisses her cheek through the window.
                            
                                                MARK (CONT'D)
                                      Sweetie, I was just playing--
                            
                                                 LILY
                                      You went too far. Again.
                                          (beat)
                                      It's too much with these pranks.
                            
                                                   MARK
                                      I'm sorry.
                            
                            Lily is mad and does not answer.
                            
                                                MARK (CONT'D)
                                      Hey, don't let it ruin the night.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      Yeah, forget it. I didn't get much
                                      sleep and I get edgy here alone--
                            
                                                MARK
                                      You shouldn't be. You remembered to
                                      bring my little gift in your purse?
                            
                                                LILY
                                      It doesn't make me feel safer.
                            
                                                MARK
                                      Look, you don't want end up like
                                      that girl in the coffee shop in
                                      Alaska, right? You need to have
                                      that protection.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      I feel uncomfortable having it. Can
                                      we talk about something else?
                            
                                                MARK
                                      Okay, how about how hot you look in
                                      your flower child outfit.
                                      Bet everyone's been flirting with
                                      you tonight. Or just Albert?
                            
                                                LILY
                                          (flustered)
                                      What?! Seriously?
                            
                                                MARK
                                      Well a hot girl like you--
                            
                                                LILY
                                      Look Mark, this jealousy thing has
                                      to stop. Albert adores you.
                            
                                                MARK
                                      He just bugs me hanging out here
                                      all the time.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      It's his job!
                            
                                                MARK
                                      Uh huh. Takes it a bit too serious.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      Ugh. Look, give me ten more minutes
                                      to close up. And no more scratching
                                      on the walls and trying to scare me
                                      to death!
                            
                                                MARK
                                      Sure. I'll be in the car finishing
                                      some homework.
                            
                            He gives her a quick kiss and she slides the window shut.
                            
                            
                            EXT. THE BEAN - NIGHT
                            
                            Mark turns away from The Bean and spots Albert talking to the
                            unknown car seen earlier.
                            
                            Albert gives a friendly wave over to Mark who waves back with
                            a clenched jaw and steely eyes.
                            
                            
                            INT. THE BEAN - NIGHT - LATER
                            
                            Lily puts the coffee machine back together and shuts off the
                            light.
                            
                            As she nears the back door she hears a SCRAPING and THUMPING.
                            She stands frozen in the dark. She peers toward the window.
                            
                            Nothing but darkness.
                            
                            She rummages for her phone and fumbles it to the ground where
                            it hits with a CRACK on the concrete. She picks it up
                            relieved to see the screen still on.
                            
                            More SCRAPING and THUMPING. Louder this time.
                            
                            Lily crouches and tries her phone but the screen is locked.
                            
                                                 LILY
                                       Oh please god. Please.
                            
                            A car door SLAMS. Lily freezes and listens for an eternity.
                            
                            Silence.
                            
                            Lily scoots quietly to the front window and slowly rises to
                            peek out. She sees Mark reading with the light on in his car.
                            He has his monster mask on again.
                            
                            Relieved she stands up and shakes off the fear.
                            
                                                  LILY (CONT'D)
                                       You little sh**. You better not be
                                       playing games with me again.
                                           (beat)
                                       Get a grip girl.
                            
                            
                            EXT. THE BEAN - NIGHT
                            
                            Lily exits the back door and locks up.
                            
                            
                            EXT. MARK'S CAR - NIGHT
                            
                            She runs catlike to Mark's car and sneaks up on the driver
                            side. She pops her head in the open window and kisses him on
                            his mask.
                            
                                                 LILY
                                       Nice try again. But you can't trick
                                       the trickster. I knew it was you.
                            
                            He continues to read.
                            
                                                 LILY (CONT'D)
                                       Mark, come on, enough with the--
                            
                            She rips his mask up to reveal a bloody mess of an
                            unrecognizable face.
                            
                            Lily lets out a piercing SCREAM.
                            
                            At the same time a DARK FIGURE appears from the blackened
                            woods behind The Bean. They wave a large gun of some sort.
                            
                            Lily ducks behind Mark's car. She shakes uncontrollably as
                            she rummages through her purse dropping things on the
                            asphalt.
                            
                            The figure continues toward the car, jumps out from behind it
                            and aims at Lily.
                            
                            A deafening POP, POP.
                            
                                     DARK FIGURE                              MARK
                            No, Lily stop!                     Stop, wait!
                            
                            Lily sees it all in SLOW MOTION.
                            
                            The figure drops his gun and it floats toward her. A long
                            skinny RED BALLOON twisted with care and fashioned into the
                            shape of a machine gun.
                            
                            A THUD. The figure drops to the ground topped by Albert's
                            clown mask.
                            
                            The driver's door opens and a bloodied and made up Mark jumps
                            toward Lily and grabs her gun.
                            
                                                MARK (CONT'D)
                                          (accusatory)
                                      Lily, what have you done?
                            
                            A pool of dark blood rapidly seeps from beneath the figure.
                            Lily leans in and pulls the clown mask up. Albert winces
                            beneath.
                            
                                                ALBERT
                                      We were just playing around Lily.
                            
                            Fading fast.
                            
                                                ALBERT (CONT'D)
                                      Mark said you'd think it was funny.
                                      Just a joke.
                            
                            Lily places her hand on Albert's cheek and turns to Mark.
                            
                                                LILY
                                      No Mark. What have you done?
                            
                                                                             FADE TO BLACK.

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                            • #15
                              Re: Halloween 2014 entries [in progress]

                              Code:
                              THE TOUCH
                              
                              FADE IN:
                              
                              On a nondescript painted sign--"Quick Mart"--perched above
                              the entrance of a small convenience store. TILT DOWN to see--
                              
                              
                              EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE -- DAY
                              
                              --a few random pedestrians wander down a suburban sidewalk
                              beside a small strip of shops.
                              
                              A pleasant, mildly sunny day. Much like any other day.
                              
                              One pedestrian, a MAN, 30ish, strolls toward the convenience
                              store. T-shirt and jeans. Seems tired, as if he just woke up.
                              Rubs his eyes.
                              
                              
                              INT. CONVENIENCE STORE -- MINUTES LATER -- DAY
                              
                              At the checkout counter, he hands a bill to the WOMAN at the
                              register. His purchase, a small bottle of pills, sits on the
                              counter between them.
                              
                              The Woman opens the cash register, places the bill inside,
                              removes a handful of coins.
                              
                              She hands the coins to the Man.
                              
                              [u]CU: Her fingertips touch his palm.[/u]
                              
                              Her face instantly registers shock. As if a wave of pain shot
                              through her.
                              
                              The Man reacts with surprise. What's wrong?
                              
                              The Woman's mouth opens in a scream that never comes. All
                              energy drains away. She falls backward onto the floor behind
                              her.
                              
                              The Man, stunned, scurries around the counter to the area--
                              
                              BEHIND THE REGISTER
                              
                              --where the Woman lies awkwardly on the hard flooring,
                              motionless.
                              
                              The Man's face goes agape with fear. He kneels on the floor
                              next to her. All jittery, indecisive agitation. Hesitantly,
                              he grabs her wrist to check for a pulse.
                              
                              An OLDER MAN in his 50s appears behind him. Apparently
                              another employee at the store. He sees the supine Woman.
                              Alarmed, he reaches to push the Man aside.
                              
                              [u]CU: The Older Man's hand touches the Man's bare arm.[/u]
                              
                              The Older Man's face jolts with surprise. His mouth drops
                              open. He falls over onto his side. Unmoving.
                              
                              The Man glances back and forth, back and forth at the two
                              bodies. This can't be happening...
                              
                              He reaches for the other man's face. Tries to detect
                              breathing with his fingers. No sign of life.
                              
                              He scrambles to his feet. Panic rising.
                              
                              He glances at his arm, his hand. What's happening? His eyes
                              dart around wildly.
                              
                              He moves toward the--
                              
                              ENTRANCE
                              
                              --and pushes open the door as he anxiously glances over his
                              shoulder at the counter area where the two bodies lie.
                              
                              
                              EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE -- CONTINUOUS
                              
                              He accidentally barges into an OLD WOMAN just outside.
                              Reflexively, he grabs her by the arm for balance.
                              
                              [u]CU: The Man's hand clutches her bare arm.[/u]
                              
                              The Old Woman's face seizes with shock. She weakens in his
                              grip.
                              
                              The Man hastily releases her. She falls limply to the
                              pavement.
                              
                              Nearby, several onlookers take notice of the commotion. An
                              assault? They SHOUT aggressively at the Man.
                              
                              He staggers away, down the--
                              
                              SIDEWALK
                              
                              --frantic with fear and confusion.
                              
                              Along the sidewalk, various onlookers stare fearfully at the
                              agitated man. All these gazes cutting into him.
                              
                              His eyes bulge with animal panic. He starts to break into a
                              run down the sidewalk.
                              
                              But a small, curious crowd has spontaneously gathered,
                              blocking his path. No room to push through.
                              
                              All those eyes, those faces.
                              
                              A BURLY MAN rushes him from his blind side. Grabs him in a
                              bearhug-like grip to subdue him.
                              
                              [u]CU: The Burly Man's arms wrap around him.[/u]
                              
                              The Man jerks free from the grip. Get away!
                              
                              Simultaneously with the sharp movement, the Burly Man's face
                              freezes in pain. He collapses to the sidewalk in a heap.
                              
                              A crowd surrounds the Man at a safe distance. Accusatory
                              eyes, terror, rising outrage.
                              
                              The Man holds up his arms in a tentative gesture of
                              surrender. His eyes plead for help.
                              
                              He doesn't see the SHOPKEEPER emerge from a nearby store,
                              gripping an aluminum baseball bat.
                              
                              The Shopkeeper swings the bat forcefully, SMASHES it against
                              the back of the Man's head.
                              
                              The Man pitches forward. His face thuds onto the pavement.
                              
                              The Shopkeeper closes in. Bludgeons him with the bat.
                              
                              Another blow.
                              
                              Another.
                              
                              Another.
                              
                              Several onlookers rush in. Pull the Shopkeeper away.
                              
                              Others move in for a closer look at the fallen man.
                              
                              He lies facedown, inert, in a spreading puddle of blood.
                              
                                                                               FADE TO:
                              
                              The flashing blue and red lights of a police cruiser, pulled
                              over to the curb.
                              
                              
                              EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE -- DAY
                              
                              Nearby, a uniformed COP kneels before the body of the Old
                              Woman lying near the entrance. She's dead.
                              
                              
                              EXT. SIDEWALK -- SAME
                              
                              Meanwhile, COP #2 checks the pulse of the immobile Man, still
                              facedown on the pavement.
                              
                              [u]CU: The officer's fingers touch the Man's neck.[/u]
                              
                              He retracts his hand, unharmed.
                              
                              There's clearly nothing that can be done.
                              
                              The officer turns his attention to the body of the Burly Man,
                              lying grotesquely splayed out a dozen feet away.
                              
                              
                              INT. CONVENIENCE STORE -- MOMENTS LATER
                              
                              At the register area, the first officer kneels beside the
                              body of the Older Man. Checks for vital signs. It's another
                              corpse.
                              
                              The body of the Woman--the first victim--lies nearby.
                              
                              She stirs.
                              
                              The Cop notices the sudden movement.
                              
                              She's alive.
                              
                              The Woman painfully struggles to push herself into a sitting
                              position. Tenderly touches her woozy head.
                              
                              The officer moves to tend to her.
                              
                              Trying to right herself, she reaches for his arm.
                              
                              [u]CU: Her hand touches the Cop's wrist.[/u]
                              
                              His face reacts in pain and shock.
                              
                              He falls backward. Instantly lifeless.
                              
                              The Woman stares with dazed surprise at her hand. Her eyes
                              fill with horror and--
                              
                                                                           CUT TO BLACK
                              
                                                              END

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