"I AM NOT A WEIRDO"

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"I AM NOT A WEIRDO"

A Thriller
by Thomas Holler

EXT - OUTSIDE ABIGALE'S HOUSE
Outside of a large, old house a moving van is being
unloaded. The house is all white with old brick, old
architecture and even old creepy statues scattered along the
property. It's a very old house. On the truck two men are
unloading the last of some boxes, the older of the two is
Abigail's father Richard, he's being helped by Abigail's
close friend Bryce.
On the walkway to the house two more men have stopped.
Douglas and Grant, both have boxes in their hands. Both have
stopped dead in their tracks and are staring, eyebrows
furled at one of the unnerving statues along the walkway.
They stand face to face with an especially creepy statue.
GRANT
God...how soon before these things
come to life and kill you?
DOUGLAS
Don't put that in my head.
GRANT
So Abby lived here when she was a
kid? These things must have given
her nightmares.
DOUGLAS
Nah, my girl doesn't get
nightmares. She smiles when she
sleeps.
Abigail sneaks up behind them while they're inspecting the
statue.
ABIGAIL
Do you want me to get those boxes
for you?
DOUGLAS
Sorry Munchkin. We were meeting the
neighbors
Grant picks up his box and heads inside.
ABIGAIL
Oooo...want me to introduce you.
This is Bert and that's Ernie and
Crispy over there. I named them
when I was really little.
Obviously.
DOUGLAS
You were a brave kid, huh?
ABIGAIL
Actually all these statues used to
scare me when I was a kid.
2.
DOUGLAS
Yeah. (duh)
ABIGAIL
But then my dad told me these were
here to guard the house. They keep
the badguys away.
RICHARD
We'll see about that.
Richard shoots Douglas a snarky look to go along with his
snide remark as he walks past with the last of the boxes.
ABIGAIL
He hasn't really warmed to you
moving in here with me.
DOUGLAS
Oh, I noticed.
ABIGAIL
I am his little girl and this is
our family house, it means a lot to
him.
DOUGLAS
He gave it to you.
ABIGAIL
I know. He knows. Just give it
time, let him get used to it.
Bryce politely walks up behind Abigail.
BRYCE
Hey, Abby. The truck's unloaded, I
was actually thinking about getting
going.
ABIGAIL
Noooooo. Stay, I have to pay you
back with pizza for helping me.
BRYCE
Thanks but how about you owe me.
Buy me lunch on Monday.
ABIGAIL
Deal.
The two hug.
ABIGAIL
Thank you. You're the best.
DOUGLAS
It was nice meeting you Bryce.
Thanks for helping out.
3.
Bryce moves in, the two shake hands and lock eyes.
DOUGLAS
Appreciate it.
BRYCE
Don't mention it. Nice meeting you.
Bryce heads off to his car. Douglas picks up his box and
heads inside with Abigail. Bryce looks back. The front door
closes. The statues stay still.
INT - KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM
Inside the house Richard is in the kitchen with Abigail
cleaning up after their pizza dinner while Grant and Douglas
are going through boxes in the living room.
GRANT
Where's your playstation? Let's
hook that shit up.
DOUGLAS
Don't unpack anything. Do you see
how weird he's being about this?
Douglas looks back at Richard.
DOUGLAS
I am going to wait until he leaves
before I really, y'know. Move in.
GRANT
Yeah he doesn't want you here, he
kept asking about you when we were
unloading. Like he was pumping me
for information.
DOUGLAS
What's he trying to dig up dirt on
me?
GRANT
Yeah but look, if you were moving
into my family house with my
daughter I'd hate you too.
DOUGLAS
So would I but I'd at least hide it
better.
Richard looks back at Douglas, they catch eyes for a second.
Richard takes a hard look at Douglas and shakes his head in
disapproval. He turns away. Douglas and Abigail catch eyes,
they look at each other from the across the room. They both
smile.
DOUGLAS
Whatever. He'll get over it.
4.
Abigail walks in from the kitchen.
ABIGAIL
I need you to run down to the
basement and get my big serving
plate.
DOUGLAS
What does that even look like?
ABIGAIL
It's this big plate.
DOUGLAS
Ok...
ABIGAIL
And get my crystal pitcher, but
only if it's clean.
DOUGLAS
Come with me, I don't even know
what these things are.
ABIGAIL
Noooo, I never go in the basement.
Douglas and Grant share a look.
DOUGLAS
Ok.
INT - BASEMENT
Douglas walks down the stairs to the cellar-like basement,
it's large and very old. Very dank and poorly lit, its full
of old shelves and columns of boxes. Douglas's face twists,
something stinks. He hold his nose and rushes downstairs, he
see's a shelf of boxes marked 'dishes' by the side wall and
goes through several boxes before finding a big plate. He
finds the pitcher but it's covered in cobwebs, he discards
it and runs back upstairs. He hands Abigail the plate, he's
out of breath.
INT - LIVING ROOM
ABIGAIL
Where's the pitcher?
DOUGLAS
Covered with spiders, its dead to
us. Now I know why you wouldn't go
down there. It smells like SHIT!
ABIGAIL
Eww I wouldn't know, that's not why
I don't go down there. I don't go
down there because it's scary.
5.
Douglas smiles at her. God she's cute.
ABIGAIL
Do you want some cake?
DOUGLAS
I want some alone time.
Abigail smiles coyly.
ABIGAIL
Cake first.
Douglas and Abigail join Richard and Grant in the kitchen
and start carving up the cake. Later they're saying goodbyes
at the door. It's night time. Grant says goodbye to Douglas
and hugs Abigail, it's a warm goodbye and in stark contrast
to the cold goodbye that Richard offers. After hugging his
daughter goodbye Richard darts out the door without so much
as an acknowledgment towards Douglas. Douglas and Abigail
kiss as the door closes. The lights downstairs turn off, the
light in the bedroom turns on.
INT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Inside the bedroom Abigail is sleeping alone, the room is
very dark. It's eerily quiet. Abigail wakes up, she's
expecting to have someone beside her.
The house is silent except for sounds of movement coming
from downstairs in the kitchen. Curious, Abigail gets up to
see what Douglas is doing down there. The house creeks with
every step as she creeps her way to the door. Just as she's
about to open it Douglas bursts through the doorway,
startling them both.
DOUGLAS
GAHHHHHHH!!!
ABIGAIL
AAAAAHHHHH!!!
DOUGLAS
What are you doing out of bed?
ABIGAIL
I was trying to find out what you
were doing out of bed.
DOUGLAS
I got up...I keep hearing noises.
ABIGAIL
Houses make noises.
6.
DOUGLAS
Which I am not used to hearing
because I lived in the city. I
can't get used to this kind of
quiet.
Abigail goes over to her bedside table and turns on a loud
fan, the sound drowns out all the other noise. She climbs
back into bed.
ABIGAIL
Come on. Help me get back to sleep.
Douglas climbs back into bed and wraps Abby up in his arms,
the two fall asleep.
INT - KITCHEN - MORNING
Close up on Abigail's face. She's staring at something that
disturbs her. Her face wears an expression of confusion and
pained disgust. She's staring downward at a note she see's
on the counter.
Quick cuts show a angry collection of written phrases.
"I'll smash your brains out"
"You'll be fucking dead"
"...die die die die die die dead"
Douglas rounds the bottom of the stairs into the kitchen.
DOUGLAS
Hey Sweety.
He startles Abigail who quickly reaches down and crumples up
the piece of paper.
DOUGLAS
Sorry. Are you ok?
ABIGAIL
Are YOU ok?
DOUGLAS
Yeah, why?
ABIGAIL
You'd just tell me if something was
bothering you, right?
DOUGLAS
Of course Abby. What's wrong?
Douglas laughs as he says that, he always has a way of
diffusing things. The note may have been morbid and weird
but that's not who Douglas is. Abigail doesn't see any of
that anger in him, not in that moment.
7.
ABIGAIL
...nothing. I trust you.
DOUGLAS
Good to know.
Douglas looks at the expression on Abigail's face, he knows
there's something on her mind but she's seems like she wants
to move past it. He asks once more.
DOUGLAS
Are you sure you're ok?
ABIGAIL
Are you sure you're ok? Like,
really ok?
DOUGLAS
I am good. You?
She doesn't answer, she just hugs him.
DOUGLAS
I love you.
ABIGAIL
I love you.
Douglas leaves the room, Abigail takes one more look at the
crumpled piece of paper in her hand, it still makes her
tense. She opens the drawer to the garbage and goes to throw
it out.
INT - LIVING ROOM
A week has passed, the once scattered living room looks
settled, the boxes are all put away. Douglas has moved
himself in. His game system is hooked up in the living room,
his belongings have woven their way into the house. This
looks like a shared home.
Douglas is playing his game, Abby walks in. Just as she does
she sees on screen that Douglas is playing a violent game
and is in the middle of a massacre.
ABIGAIL
Oh!
DOUGLAS
Hey.
ABIGAIL
Hi. I wanted to ask you something.
DOUGLAS
Ok, hit me.
ABIGAIL
Did you eat all my cookies again?
8.
DOUGLAS
No. What do you mean again?
ABIGAIL
This is the second time it's
happened.
DOUGLAS
The second time you lost your
cookies?
ABIGAIL
The second time my cookies have
mysteriously vanished from the
cupboard that I always leave them
in.
DOUGLAS
Well that is weird because I didn't
touch them.
ABIGAIL
(sarcastically)
Oh, ok. I believe you. They must
have eaten themselves.
DOUGLAS
No, because then there would be one
left.
Abigail smiles.
ABIGAIL
Smart ass.
DOUGLAS
Baby, re-trace your steps. Where
was the last place you saw those
cookies?
ABIGAIL
In the cupboard.
DOUGLAS
Well then this is weird.
ABIGAIL
I am not mad. I don't actually
care, I just think it's funny that
you're so embarassed by it.
DOUGLAS
I am not mad either, I just think
it's weird that you keep losing
cookies.
ABIGAIL
I think you ate the cookies.
9.
DOUGLAS
I think you ate the cookies and
just forgot.
ABIGAIL
Whatever. Tell you what, I am going
to let you off the hook on this one
because I can tell you're sticking
to your story.
DOUGLAS
Ok crazy girl. I am going to the
store soon anyway, I'll get you all
the cookies I can carry.
ABIGAIL
Just make sure you get the kind I
like.
DOUGLAS
Baby, come with me. Let's get
something nice for tonight.
ABIGAIL
Are you going to cook for me
tonight?
DOUGLAS
Mm-hmm.
ABIGAIL
Mmmm then you're forgiven.
DOUGLAS
Alright. Let me just finish this
and I'll come get you when I am
ready.
ABIGAIL
Oh. Okay.
Abigail leaves the room to the sound of the game unpausing
and the massacre continuing.
INT - KITCHEN
A pot boils on the stove.
DOUGLAS
Ok, throw them in.
Abby is holding two large lobsters.
ABIGAIL
I am having second thoughts.
Douglas laughs.
10.
DOUGLAS
I knew this was going to happen. I
told you in the store, I knew you'd
bond with them by the time we got
home.
ABIGAIL
Arrrgggg...I really want lobster
too.
Abby looks at the two lobsters, all tied up and at her
mercy.
ABIGAIL
Uggg...why did I name them?
DOUGLAS
Why don't you give them to me and
leave the room?
ABIGAIL
Noooo. I know what you're going to
do with them.
DOUGLAS
I am going to cook them. That's why
we bought them Abby, you were so
excited in the store.
ABIGAIL
I knowwww. I am being weird.
DOUGLAS
Can I have them?
ABIGAIL
No.
Douglas's body language registers frustration but on his
face is a big smile. He can't get mad at that.
DOUGLAS
You know we can't keep two pet
lobsters, right? They would just
die anyway.
ABIGAIL
Why can't we just let them go? We
can take them to the lake.
DOUGLAS
Abbbbbyyyyyyyy....this is adorable
but I really don't want to do that.
This was my dinner too, I was
psyched about it.
11.
ABIGAIL
But think about how mean that is.
Peter and Pepper will thank us, we
can save them. It'll be like a
Disney movie. The first half of the
movie will be about how they got
caught and forced to survive in
that aquarium at the restaurant.
Watching their friends being chosen
one by one and eaten in front of
them.
DOUGLAS
This is dark.
ABIGAIL
Yeah! And then it gets really dark
when a young couple comes into the
restaurant and chooses both of
them. At least they get to die
together; they think.
DOUGLAS
Jeez.
ABIGAIL
But then at the last minute the
couple looks at them and see's how
in love they are and how scared, so
they decide to let them go. They
give them a new life in a
beautiful lake with lots of food.
All because they had a last minute
change of heart.
DOUGLAS
I am not sold. Do you even know for
sure that they're a boy and girl?
Abby doesn't.
ABIGAIL
(unconvincingly)
Yes.
DOUGLAS
Abby you're cute, but I still want
to eat these guys.
ABIGAIL
Oh come on, you love animals as
much as I do.
DOUGLAS
Yeah?
ABIGAIL
And I don't see you being able to
eat Petey and Pepper, now that...
12.
Douglas takes them away from Abby and puts them right into
the boiling pot in one cold motion.
DOUGLAS
Wanna bet ?
Abby is shocked. She can't believe that Douglas could be
that callous.
The pot screams.
INT - DINING ROOM
Douglas and Abigial sit across from each other at the table,
not speaking. Douglas is enjoying his lobster, Abby hasn't
touched hers.
INT - VAN - DAY
Douglas is in the passenger side of a cable maintenance van
being driven home from work by Grant.
GRANT
You're such a dick though!
DOUGLAS
You would have thrown $60 worth of
lobster into the lake?
GRANT
Yeah, maybe. It would have been a
romantic moment.
DOUGLAS
Ok, its worth noting that Abby did
eventually eat Petey.
Grant smirks and shakes his head at Douglas, the van pulls
into the driveway.
INT - GUESTROOM
Abigail is in the guestroom hanging shelving with a hammer
and nails when outside of the window she sees Grant's pull
in. Hammer in hand; she heads downstairs to meet Douglas.
The camera lingers on the room as she walks out of frame. It
holds there silently for moment, not following her. From out
of frame...
SMASH!!
From off camera we hear the sound of something smashing and
glass breaking.
INT - HALLWAY
Abigail is staring slack jawed at the sight of the broken
remains of a large picture that hung in her hallway of her
and her father together. Half of the picture is still
13.
hanging on the wall, the rest is laying broken on the
ground. Glass is everywhere.
She's utterly confused and completely unnerved.
The back door opens and Douglas walks through.
DOUGLAS
Hey. You alright? I heard
something...oh, shit. What did you
do?
Douglas looks at the scene around him, he sees Abigail
standing beside a shattered picture frame holding a hammer.
ABIGAIL
I didn't do anything. I heard it
smash and then found it like this.
DOUGLAS
Oh, becuase with that hammer...
ABIGAIL
It was upstairs with me putting up
shelves in the guestroom.
DOUGLAS
Heh...
ABIGAIL
Like, what the hell?
DOUGLAS
Sorry Sweety?
ABIGAIL
Did you do this?
DOUGLAS
No.
ABIGAIL
Honestly?
DOUGLAS
Yeah. Abby I didn't do it.
ABIGAIL
Then what happened?
DOUGLAS
I don't know.
Douglas inspects the crime scene, the picture is broken
apart. Half the frame still sitting firmly on the wall, it
didn't just fall.
14.
DOUGLAS
I don't know Abby. It looks like it
just fell apart. I don't know.
ABIGAIL
My dad made that frame. I loved
that picture.
DOUGLAS
I am really sorry.
ABIGAIL
(exacerbated)
Douglas...
DOUGLAS
I know Baby, that sucks.
ABIGAIL
Are you sure you don't know how
this got broken?
DOUGLAS
I am sure.
ABIGAIL
It just fell apart?
Douglas shifts, his eyebrows furl in bemused frustration. He
picks up on the accusatory tone in her voice.
DOUGLAS
Maybe your dad just built a shitty
frame.
Abigial is speechless for a minute.
ABIGAIL
Why were you coming in from the
back door?
DOUGLAS
Because I was going to surprise
you.
ABIGAIL
With what?
EXT - BACKYARD
The back door opens and Douglas shows Abigail his surprise,
he's set up a backyard picnic. On the patio table are lit
candles and two places set. Both have a paper plate and a
bag beside them. Abigail turns back towards Douglas who's
holding a nice bouquet of flowers.
ABIGAIL
Were those for me?
15.
DOUGLAS
Nope, these are for me. Grant gave
them to me.
Abigail smiles.
DOUGLAS
Yes Baby, these are for you. Grant
made me feel really bad about the
lobsters.
ABIGAIL
Nice. Points for Grant.
DOUGLAS
Aaaaand I got us these.
Douglas reaches into the bags on the table.
DOUGLAS
Veggie wraps. We aren't eating
anything with names tonight. I got
extra tomatos on yours.
ABIGAIL
I name my tomatos.
DOUGLAS
Well, that's really cute.
Douglas breaks into a big smile at that thought.
DOUGLAS
Anyway the only thing I was missing
was a bottle of wine. I was hoping
I could sneak in and grab one
without you noticing.
ABIGAIL
Ahhhh...well, maybe that's when you
accidently bumped my picture and
didn't notice.
There's a desperation in her voice, like she's offering a
concession for Douglas to explain away the broken picture
without admitting fault.
DOUGLAS
Yeah. Maybe.
Douglas gives Abby her wrap and kisses her, the pair sits
down at the table.
As they do the camera starts to pull back, back along the
open backyard and into the forest that surrounds her house.
As we pull deeper into the forest it gets thicker, the
daylight isn't able to break though and it get darker. From
the dark of the forest we hang on the house.
16.
INT - HALLWAY
Douglas sweeps the broken glass into a dustpan and into a
bin. He then reached into the bin and pulls out the
photograph that was housed inside the frame. There's a large
hole right where Abby's head used to be. Like it was struck
with something.
INT - NIGHT - BEDROOM
Another dark, quiet night outside. There's a tension in the
room, Douglas is sitting on the bed, flipping through a
magazine, Abigail is folding laundry. Her back turned
towards Douglas.
ABIGAIL
I don't know why you can't just say
you did it. It bothers me.
DOUGLAS
I didn't even know you had a diary
until you accused me of this just
now.
ABIGAIL
How did it end up in the nightstand
on your side of the bed?
DOUGLAS
I have a SIDE of the bed? I didn't
know that. I just plop down
wherever.
ABIGAIL
Stop trying to be funny right now.
DOUGLAS
I am not. None of this makes sense,
if I wanted to read your diary I
wouldn't put it in some nightstand
beside the bed. I'd put it back
EXACTLY where I got it from.
ABIGAIL
I am not even saying you read it.
It just drives me nuts that you
won't just admit you moved it. This
didn't even need to become a fight.
DOUGLAS
Well then lets not make it one.
Lets just say we have ghosts and
forget about it.
ABIGAIL
Stop making me sound crazy. I write
in my diary every night and I put
it back in my dresser when I am
finished.
17.
Douglas sees something in her eyes and hears it in her
voice, she's freaked out. She sounds like someone under a
lot of stress.
DOUGLAS
One time I came home to work to
find my TV remote in the fridge.
Sometimes I put things in weird
places and don't even notice. I am
sorry I don't remember moving your
diary, maybe I did. I definitely,
100% did not read it.
ABIGAIL
I don't want to fight; Douglas. I
just want to know that you're
always telling me the truth.
DOUGLAS
I always am. Are you ok with me
living here? You seem...frazzled.
ABIGAIL
I feel frazzled. I just want this
to work.
DOUGLAS
I want this to work.
ABIGAIL
Then just tell me you moved my
diary.
Douglas looks at his woman and considers his answer for a
second. Then takes one on the chin.
DOUGLAS
I moved your diary.
Abigail looks at her man, there's doubt in her eyes.
INT - DOUGLAS IS RUNNING UP SOME DARKLY LIT STAIRS
Douglas is racing up the dimly lit stairs leading to the
basement, his face is red and turning purple. He makes it to
the top of the stairs and bursts through the door. Loudly
inhaling fresh oxygen the first chance he gets.
DOUGLAS
5 seconds! New record!
ABIGAIL
Close the door! You're letting the
smell up here.
Douglas kicks closed the basement door and drops the box on
the floor. Abigail opens the box and digs around inside,
pulling out some old dolls.
18.
ABIGAIL
Yay!
DOUGLAS
That's what you sent me down there
to get?
ABIGAIL
I am thinking about putting some of
these up on the shelves in the
guest room. Just to jazz it up a
little.
DOUGLAS
God help whoever stays in that
guest room.
ABIGAIL
What do you mean?
DOUGLAS
Those dolls are going to straight
up murder whoever's in that room
with them.
She hold up a stuffed rabbit.
ABIGAIL
Mr. Crayon isn't a murderer.
Douglas pulls out of the box a particularly creepy looking
doll.
DOUGLAS
This one most certainly is.
ABIGAIL
That's Patty Pancakes and yeah, I
wouldn't turn my back on her.
DOUGLAS
What guests are we expecting
anyway?
ABIGAIL
Your parents? When are they coming
to see the place?
DOUGLAS
They'll fly out once we're more
settled. Is your dad thinking of
staying here?
ABIGAIL
No way. Not with you living here.
DOUGLAS
Phewwwww...
19.
ABIGAIL
Bryce might spend a weekend down
here this month.
DOUGLAS
With his girlfriend?
ABIGAIL
No girlfriend. You can invite Grant
down.
DOUGLAS
Or we can go somewhere. We can get
out of this house for a while,
we've been cooped up. It's making
us both crazy.
ABIGAIL
I want to but I can't take a whole
weekend off.
DOUGLAS
One night then. Tonight.
ABIGAIL
I want to get dressed up!
DOUGLAS
Ok, where do dressed up people go?
ABIGAIL
There are so many nice places on
the pier, we can go for a walk
along the water after, it's so
beautiful out.
DOUGLAS
Should I assume they have really
good fish down by the pier?
ABIGAIL
(excitedly)
Oh MY god!
DOUGLAS
Go get dressed up Pretty Girl.
Abby leans in and kisses Douglas before springing out of the
room and up the stairs, her adorable enthusiasm brings a
smile to his face. That smile disappears when he looks down
to the doll he's holding, it's Patty Pancakes. Her
corpselike eyes look back at him.
EXT - RESTAURANT
Douglas and Abby are sitting down in a beautifully lit and
lively little restaurant on the lake. The lights on the
boats behind them look like fireflies on the water. A server
brings their food, Abby has a light pasta dish, Douglas has
20.
a big halibut placed in front of him. The skin looks crispy
the meat looks mouth watering, Douglas is almost in
disbelief at how good it looks.
DOUGLAS
Oh God. Y'know what? I never take
pictures of my food but this is too
damn photogenic not to share.
Douglas takes out his phone and snaps a pic.
DOUGLAS
Speaking of photogenic.
Douglas snaps a few pictures of Abby. The camera loves her
smile. Her smile fades some.
ABIGAIL
This is the you I like.
DOUGLAS
You've been so ominous lately.
What's up?
ABIGAIL
I feel like I am still learning
you.
DOUGLAS
Well, yeah. When you move in with
someone you go through this
re-discovery period, right? That's
normal.
ABIGAIL
I know.
DOUGLAS
So is it like...I am messy or...?
ABIGAIL
No! It's nothing like that...well,
yes you are messy but I knew that
when I asked you to move in. It's
just...honestly, I found a note you
wrote to yourself once. It looked
like something you wrote to
yourself when you were feeling
annoyed. It was angry, and it was
weird to see because I never see
that side of you.
DOUGLAS
What are you talking about? The
angriest I ever get is when I am
losing at video games and you see
that all the time. What did the
note say?
21.
ABIGAIL
I couldn't even tell you. I only
read a few lines of it and then
crumpled it up. It was so angry and
violent. It scared me Douglas.
DOUGLAS
A note? Like a handwritten note?
ABIGAIL
Yes.
DOUGLAS
Abby the only handwritten notes I
leave lying around would say
like..."buy laundry detergent" or
"dentist 12:30, Monday". I can't
think of anything I'd write that
would have freaked you out.
ABIGAIL
It's not just the note. Its other
little things like moving my diary
and finding the broken picture of
me and my dad, and sometimes I hear
angry shouting...
DOUGLAS
I am a little floored right now.
ABIGAIL
I didn't want to bring this up
tonight, I am sorry.
DOUGLAS
I had no idea any of this was going
on. Abby I didn't write any angry
notes. I don't know what you saw
but it wasn't from me. The
yelling...that could be me. I don't
know. Video games.
ABIGAIL
That note was written on the paper
we keep in the kitchen.
DOUGLAS
What? Heh...
That one stumps Douglas, its disturbing.
DOUGLAS
Well maybe your dad wrote it about
me. I mean he hates me, any note he
wrote about me would be angry and
hate filled and scary. Right?
22.
ABIGAIL
Not this kind of angry and it was
just sitting out on the counter and
he hasn't been here since we moved
in. We would have noticed it before
if it was his, right?
DOUGLAS
I wish you told me about this right
away, then I probably could have
explained it.
ABIGAIL
I should have asked you about it
but I wanted to just sweep it under
the rug and forget about it.
DOUGLAS
I am sorry you saw something that
freaked you out. That wasn't me.
Abigail smiles.
ABIGAIL
Lets forget about it.
DOUGLAS
Oh, I know just the thing for that.
Douglas motions for the waiter.
DOUGLAS
Can we see a wine menu please?
Again Abby smiles. The two settle in, the tension of the
last few days starts to fade and two young lovers fall for
each other all over again.
EXT - BOARDWALK
Abby and Douglas walk arm in arm along the beautiful
boardwalk at night, the reflection of the moon dances off
the water. The two are tipsy, giggling and holding each
other tightly for stability as they stumble along.
ABIGAIL
You walk like a penguin.
DOUGLAS
Because you keep tripping me.
ABIGAIL
Lets swim home.
DOUGLAS
Nuh-uh, I can't let you ruin your
dress.
23.
ABIGAIL
I'll take it off.
DOUGLAS
Ok, lets swim.
Abigail grips Douglas by the shirt and pulls him in for a
long kiss in the moonlight.
DOUGLAS
I love you Abby.
ABIGAIL
Take me home.
The two lovers kiss and then climb into a cab. Upon getting
home their house is black, completely dark. The pair fumble
their way to the door, finally getting it open. Douglas
picks Abby up in his arms and carries her inside. The camera
stays outside the house, the light in the window turning on
just barely cuts through the black of the night.
INT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Abigail and Douglas are in bed, it's dark. The two lovers
spoon. It's very, very quiet.
INT - BEDROOM - MORNING
Douglas wakes up alone. He gets to his feet and puts on some
clothes, he looks around the room. He's very aware of
Abigail's absence. Stepping out of the bedroom he sees
Abigail standing at the end of the long hallway. She's just
come out of the guestroom and she's holding something. She's
trembling, he sees tears in her eyes.
ABIGAIL
Why are you doing this?
DOUGLAS
Abby?
ABIGAIL
Why Douglas?! Why did you do that??
DOUGLAS
What did I do??
ABIGAIL
ARE YOU SICK? Am I supposed to
laugh at this? Did you think it
would be funny? PLEASE tell me you
thought this would be funny.
DOUGLAS
Abby you're scaring me. I didn't do
anything.
24.
Abigail throws what appears to be the leg of a doll at
Douglas.
ABIGAIL
Stop saying that!
DOUGLAS
I don't know what this is!
ABIGAIL
You're sick! YOU'RE SICK!
Douglas is panicking, he sees the open door beside Abigail
and moves for it. She jumps back, that she was afraid of him
just then gives him a moment's pause before he continues
through the door. Inside the room Abigail's dolls have been
torn apart and arranged in sick, deranged sexual positions.
Strange writing is everywhere on the walls, violent things.
Douglas' face goes white.
DOUGLAS
Abby...what is this?
ABIGAIL
...what?
DOUGLAS
Did you do this?
ABIGAIL
WHAT? You sick bastad!
Abigail attacks Douglas, Douglas pushes her off.
DOUGLAS
Abby stop. Please! Please!
ABIGAIL
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
DOUGLAS
ABIGAIL YOU'RE SCARING ME! Will you
please talk to me?
ABIGAIL
What is that???
DOUGLAS
I don't know.
ABIGAIL
What do you mean you don't know?
Stop saying that! Douglas stop
saying that! You did this!
Douglas takes a step back, he's trying to defuse the
situation before it explodes and he loses her forever.
25.
DOUGLAS
Calm down, baby. Please.
ABIGAIL
I am freaking out right now
Douglas.
DOUGLAS
I know...maybe we can get a doctor.
We can get help. I think we need
help.
ABIGAIL
We? We need help? We?
Abigail is holding something, it's the crumpled up letter
from before. She holds it out for Douglas to take. He looks
at it. His heart drops. The letter is incoherant, violent,
scary writing. This came from the mind of someone sick.
DOUGLAS
Abby...
ABIGAIL
Get out. Get OUT!
DOUGLAS
Abby no. We can figure this out.
ABIGAIL
I need you gone! I don't feel safe
around you right now. I need you
gone.
Tears stream down her face.
ABIGAIL
Please.
DOUGLAS
I am scared to leave you alone.
ABIGAIL
I am scared of you.
That crushed Douglas.
ABIGAIL
I need you to go.
Douglas hesitates, this is the hardest decision he's ever
been faced with. He backs away.
DOUGLAS
I love you.
Douglas goes to leave.
26.
DOUGLAS
I am going to get help. I am going
to go get help and them come right
back. Please be here. I love you
Abby. Please..we can fix this.
She's cold to his pleas. He takes his keys and he leaves.
Once out the door he sprints to his truck. Abigail is left
alone in the house.
EXT - NIGHT
Douglas runs to his car and gets in, he peels out and races
into the night to find help.
EXT - GRANT'S HOUSE
Grant is sitting in his living room eating a bowl of cereal,
he hears the sound of a speeding vehicle getting closer and
closer to his house, out the window he sees Douglas's truck
pull in. He came in so fast he overshot the driveway and
ended up in the middle of Grant's front lawn. Seeing this
Grant runs to the front door where he's met by Douglas.
GRANT
What the F...
DOUGLAS
I need your help.
GRANT
With what? What is it?
Douglas's eyes become pained.
DOUGLAS
I think Abby is sick.
INT - DOUGLAS'S SPEEDING TRUCK
Grant is in the passenger seat of Douglas' truck, Douglas
speeds out off of Grant's lawn and races back towards Abby's
house. Grant is holding the letter.
GRANT
Jesus Christ...Abby.
DOUGLAS
It's not her fault. She's sick.
GRANT
Sick how?
DOUGLAS
I don't know!
GRANT
This is so fucked up.
27.
DOUGLAS
I need you to help me to calm her
down. Just help me talk to her.
GRANT
We should get her father.
DOUGLAS
His phone's off. I messaged him to
meet us there.
GRANT
When did this start?
DOUGLAS
When I saw her in the kitchen a
couple weeks ago, she looked
scared.
GRANT
What did she say?
DOUGLAS
Nothing, she shook it off.
GRANT
What do you think she was scared
of?
DOUGLAS
Last night she told me it was
because she found that note.
Douglas falls quiet, eyes never off the road.
GRANT
What else?
DOUGLAS
Just weird little things. She said
she found broken photos and heard
shouting. She's been accusing me of
all these strange things lately.
Then this.
GRANT
We'll get her help.
They drive, not speaking another word. Pulling onto the
lonely road leading up to Abby's house their car is SMASHED
from behind by another vehicle, they spin out just outside
the driveway. Abigail's father Richard's car screeches to a
stop in front of them. Richard steps out of the car and
points a shotgun at Douglas's head.
Douglas and Grant are in a daze after the collision, when
they finally come to they're faced with a shotgun and an
ultimatum.
28.
RICHARD
Turn around. Never come back.
DOUGLAS
Richard!
RICHARD
If you ever come near my daughter
again I'll kill you. I swear to
god. You're done around here.
Leave.
DOUGLAS
Abigail needs help
RICHARD
That's why I am here. She told me
all about you; you piece of shit.
GRANT
Jesus Christ put your gun down.
RICHARD
You get him out of here. You get
him away from my daughter or I'll
shoot you both.
DOUGLAS
I am not leaving! Abby NEEDS help.
She's sick Richard.
GRANT
Douglas we have to go.
DOUGLAS
No! Richard listen to me, Abigail
did this. She did all of this.
Douglas feels dizzy from the collision, things around him
slow down and fall silent. He doesn't hear Richard and Grant
shouting at each other. His eyes are moving towards the
house, he sees Abby looking out the window. He snaps out of
it.
DOUGLAS
Abby!
Douglas stumbles out of the car and attempts to walk to the
house.
RICHARD
GET BACK IN YOUR CAR!!
Douglas ignores him. Richard responds by belting Douglas
across the face with the butt of his gun. Douglas falls to
the ground at Richard's feet.
29.
RICHARD
What were you doing with my
daughter? What kind of game were
you playing?
Blood spews from Douglas's mouth, Grant runs over and tries
to pick him up.
GRANT
Alright! We're gone. We're leaving.
Grant helps Douglas to his feet, Douglas locks eyes with
Richard and his shotgun.
RICHARD
I knew you were no good.
Douglas has had enough, he charges Richard and takes him off
his feet. The two wrestle around and the shotgun goes off,
no one is hit but everyone is startled. The fighting doesn't
stop, the gun goes off again. This time too close to Grant.
Grant pulls Douglas off of Richard, Richard responds by
pointing his gun at Douglas's head. Everyone can see in
Richards eyes that he's going to pull the trigger. Douglas
braces.
ABIGAIL
Stop! Dad, stop. Just let them go.
Abigail runs over crying, as much as she's afraid of Douglas
she still loves him. He's madly in love with her still.
ABIGAIL
Grant, get him out of here.
DOUGLAS
Noooo!!
Douglas sits bloodied on his knees, he's trying his hardest
to hold everything together.
DOUGLAS
Abigail, I am not leaving you!
ABIGAIL
I am scared of you.
That hurt him more that the car crash or getting gun butted
on the nose.
GRANT
C'mon man.
Grant picks his friend up and gets him into the passenger
side of their car. As they peel out the back bumper falls
out, broken glass sprinkles the road behind them as they
drive away. Douglas' eyes are glued to Abigail as they pull
away, she's crying in her father's arms. Douglas' eyes
30.
close.
INT - NIGHT - GRANT'S LIVING ROOM
Grant helps Douglas get to the couch where he collapses.
Grant tosses him a washcloth to clean himself up with, he
heads into the kitchen to get first-aid supplies. Douglas
starts to wipe the blood from his face, wincing in pain as
he does. Grant re-enters with the first-aid kit, he puts it
on the table in front of Douglas and sits down. He struggles
to find the right words to say. What do you say to someone
who just has his life torn apart?
GRANT
We'll go back. We'll give it some
time, let her calm down. Then we'll
go back.
Douglas doesn't respond.
GRANT
Should we call the police?
DOUGLAS
They'll believe her.
GRANT
I don't even know what we'd tell
them. How would you explain this?
DOUGLAS
I don't know. I don't know what
happened.
GRANT
You didn't see this coming at all?
DOUGLAS
THIS? Did I see THIS coming?
GRANT
Or any indication that something
was wrong with her?
DOUGLAS
Nothing's wrong with her. Something
happened. She's sick. Maybe she was
always sick and just never told me.
Maybe she was on medication, maybe
she stopped taking it.
GRANT
Wouldn't her dad have known if she
needed medication?
DOUGLAS
He probably does.
31.
GRANT
Then why wouldn't he have told you?
DOUGLAS
Because he's a piece of fucking
shit.
Douglas's face begins to bleed again as he gets more
animated.
DOUGLAS
Fuck!
Grant gets up and leaves the frame, the shot stays tight on
Douglas, in the background we hear Grant going though the
fridge. He comes back with two cans of beer and hands one to
Douglas. Douglas presses the cold can to his swollen face.
GRANT
I am sorry man, I don't know what
to say.
DOUGLAS
...fucking dolls.
GRANT
Why do you think she'd do that?
What would compel someone to create
a scene like that?
DOUGLAS
You should have seen her face,
that's when I knew she wasn't well.
The look in her eyes. She really
thinks I did that, she's scared of
me.
GRANT
You know what that means? She woke
up sometime in the night while you
were sleeping and crept into the
other room, tore it apart, wrote
violent things all over the wall,
did...sexual things with those
dolls and then waited for you to
wake up so she could act like she
thought you did it.
DOUGLAS
She wasn't acting. She really
thinks I did it.
GRANT
That's even scarier Douglas.
DOUGLAS
Jesus, Abby. Are you really crazy?
32.
GRANT
What if she is Doug.
DOUGLAS
Then she'll need my help.
Douglas takes note of Grant's reluctant expression.
DOUGLAS
I was going to propose to her.
I AM going to propose to her.
GRANT
Dude, don't think like that right
now. Think about how you're going
to get her help, because I really
don't know what you can do.
DOUGLAS
Find a doctor.
GRANT
Doctors won't see her unless she
wants to be seen.
DOUGLAS
I'll talk to her.
GRANT
Her dad said he would kill you if
you showed your face again.
DOUGLAS
We'll see if he meant it.
Grant cracks open another beer.
GRANT
I think you should walk away; dude.
Sorry. I mean this is some shit.
DOUGLAS
That's not an option. I can't
GRANT
She's bad news Dude. She's crazy.
Not just girl "crazy", actual
crazy. You can never be comfortable
around her after this. You'll never
sleep again, god knows what you'd
wake up to if you did. IF you wake
up!
Douglas falls quiet.
GRANT
I am sorry to say this to you but
it needs to be said. This girl just
(MORE)
33.
GRANT (cont'd)
showed you a HUGE red flag...fuck
that, this girl just showed you a
room full of dolls that she
molested. There is no clearer "stay
away" sign. That's FUCKED. I didn't
want to say this before but I am
scared shitless of her now.
Douglas doesn't respond.
GRANT
The wrong woman will fuck up your
life, this girl might shorten your
life. Is any of this getting
through to you?
DOUGLAS
No.
Douglas pours some of his beer into the cloth and wipes up
some of the dry blood on his face. Grant falls quiet and
sits back in his chair, he sips on his beer.
INT - GRANT'S LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Grant is passed out in his chair, beer bottles are all over
the table in front of him. Douglas is sitting up, he's been
awake all night. The morning sun is just starting to set.
Douglas has been up waiting, when the sun breaks he can't
wait anymore. He gets up and takes the car keys from off of
the table in front on Grant and makes his way out the front
door. Outside the truck is parked haphazardly, half on the
driveway and half on the front lawn. The back of the truck
is smashed in, the bumper is dangling. Douglas pays it no
mind, he climbs in and starts the engine, the bumper drags
along the ground as he pulls away.
It's a long drive to Abagail's house outside the city, it
takes a nervous hour and a half for him to finally reach the
lonely turnoff onto Abigail's road. When his car makes the
turn Douglas notices a police car pull up behind him. Soon
he's flanked on either side by police cruisers demanding him
to pull over. When Douglas complies he's told to get out of
his vehicle.
POLICE OFFICER
STEP OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH YOUR
HANDS UP!!
DOUGLAS
What did I do?
POLICE OFFICER
STEP OUT NOW!
Douglas steps out of his truck and is immediately tackled
and hand cuffed, he's violently picked up and thrown into
34.
the back of the police car.
INT - POLICE INTERROGATION ROOM
Douglas looks exhausted, he's sitting in a chair being
grilled by a no nonsense cop named Officer Henry.
OFFICER HENRY
Last night Abagail was attacked in
her room while she slept.
DOUGLAS
What?
OFFICER HENRY
Last night after you had your
altercation with her and her father
where you were asked to leave for
doing...unsavory acts, she was left
alone in her house where she claims
someone hit her in her sleep.
DOUGLAS
Her father left her alone?
OFFICER HENRY
He's the one who found her the next
morning, with a broken eye socket
and a mild concussion.
DOUGLAS
How could she do that to herself?
OFFICER HENRY
Herself?
DOUGLAS
She's sick. You have to help her.
OFFICER HENRY
We are helping her. Infact we're
looking at the prime suspect in
this assault right now.
DOUGLAS
I wasn't there.
OFFICER HENRY
No, according to your statement you
were with your friend Grant all
night. Yet when we found you, you
were alone speeding towards
Abagail's house.
35.
DOUGLAS
Its still my home. All my stuff's
there.
OFFICER HENRY
Any dispute over your belongings is
between you, her and the courts.
The property belongs to Abagail,
any attempt to access her property
will be considered an intrusion.
DOUGLAS
Where's Abigail?
OFFICER HENRY
Do you think I am going to give you
that information? We're going to
serve you with a restraining order
that says you have to stay at least
50 feet away from her at all times.
DOUGLAS
If you really think I did it then
why don't you just arrest me?
OFFICER HENRY
The only reson you aren't in one of
those cells right now is because
she didn't see her attacker.
DOUGLAS
Are you sure there was an attacker?
OFFICER HENRY
Are you asking me if I think she
broke her own orbital bone and then
went back to bed?
(he stares hard at Douglas)
No. I don't think that. I think you
did it, I think you have a key, I
think you came back in the middle
of the night and I think you hit
her with something with the
intention to kill her.
DOUGLAS
But I'd know I am the most obvious
suspect. You really think anyone
could be that stupid?
OFFICER HENRY
Not stupid. Like you said, sick.
DOUGLAS
What now?
36.
OFFICER HENRY
Like I told you, we don't have
enough evidence to press charges.
You can go.
Douglas stands up to be let out of the room.
OFFICER HENRY
Make sure your leave your new
address with our detectives before
you leave, and make sure you never
go anywhere near that girl or her
house again. I am serious.
DOUGLAS
How do I get my things?
OFFICER HENRY
Call a lawyer.
A buzzer sounds and the door out of the room opens, Douglas
leaves. Still trying to process everything that's taken
place. He's led out the front door back to his truck.
Douglas gets into his truck and drives. He has nowhere to
go, he lost his home and his woman who he's worried sick
about but can't go near for risk of being thrown in jail. He
punches his steering wheel, he screams and he cries.
INT - A DINGY BAR - MID-DAY
Douglas sits slumped in a bar stool, his nose bandaged
sloppily, he's drunk. The bar he's in is a dive, the kind of
bar you can walk into at 11 am and get drunk with a group of
sad strangers in. A sombre tune plays in the background.
Douglas sits; his eyes staring forward but vacant, locked on
something unseen. He's lost in his thoughts, playing the
last few days over and over in his head. His empty drink is
refilled.
INT - A DINGY BAR - EVENING
Douglas is in the same spot hours later. Douglas' eyes sit
fixated on a payphone in the corner.
INT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE
Abigail is sitting at her coffee table, she's not alone. The
police weren't lying, her face has suffered a fracture. Her
eye is blackened and her cheek is swollen but in that
typical Abby way, she still looks cute. Her phone rings,
unknown caller. She knows it's Douglas, she tenses and then
answers against her better judgement.
Silence.
DOUGLAS
Abby?
37.
ABIGAIL
Why are you calling me?
DOUGLAS
What do you mean why am I calling
you? Two days ago we were in bed
together. Our bed.
ABIGAIL
The police told you not to contact
me.
DOUGLAS
They told me you got attacked. Abby
what happened?
Abigail doesn't answer.
DOUGLAS
Abby how did you get hit?
Abigail doesn't answer.
DOUGLAS
Abby they think it's me. Can we
please talk?
ABIGAIL
No Douglas. I don't ever want to
see you again.
DOUGLAS
DON'T SAY THAT! Abby, goddamn it.
We both know it isn't ME who hit
you last night.
ABIGAIL
...what?
DOUGLAS
I love you so much Abby. How could
you honestly believe I'd hit you?
You KNOW I didn't. You know it!
ABIGAIL
Stay away from me.
DOUGLAS
I can't Abby. You're sick and
you're hurting yourself.
Abigail starts to shake. A voice calls to her.
DOUGLAS
Is that your dad?
ABIGAIL
Its Bryce. Bryce is with me, he's
here to keep me safe from you.
38.
Douglas falls silent.
ABIGAIL
You were my biggest mistake. I was
so wrong about you. I want to
forget you. I never want to see you
again.
Abigail hangs up. Douglas holds the phone to his ear in
stunned silence until the dial tone stops.
INT - GRANT'S LIVING ROOM
Douglas wakes up on Grant's couch. His head is pounding, his
eyes are bloodshot, he's disheveled, hungover. It hurts to
move. Douglas fumbles around at the coffee table in front of
him, it's littered with garbage. He finds a half empty
bottle of water and downs it, he manages to get to a sitting
position.
Douglas struggles to his feet.
Standing up now Douglas can see out the window into the
front yard, his truck is parked right in the middle of
Grant's front lawn. Grant's garden doesn't look so good.
DOUGLAS
Shit.
GRANT
Yeah shit.
Douglas turns to see Grant, he's carrying a cup of coffee.
GRANT
Drink some fucking coffee. Idiot.
DOUGLAS
I am sorry.
GRANT
What the fuck were you doing
driving last night?
DOUGLAS
I don't know.
GRANT
DRINK!
Douglas drinks his coffee, he takes a seat.
GRANT
What happened?
DOUGLAS
I went home. I went to Abby. I got
arrested, they told me she got
(MORE)
39.
DOUGLAS (cont'd)
attacked last night. They think
it's me. She has a broken eye
socket.
GRANT
The...seriously?
DOUGLAS
She didn't see her attacker.
GRANT
It's hard to see imaginary people.
DOUGLAS
How would she even do that? Break
her own eye socket?
GRANT
She punched herself?
DOUGLAS
Hard enough to break the eye
socket?
GRANT
Maybe she hit herself with
something, or maybe she threw
herself into a wall.
DOUGLAS
She hits herself in the face with
like...a rock, then she gets back
in bed and waits for someone to
find her? Why?
GRANT
I don't know.
DOUGLAS
Are we really thinking she's that
far gone?
GRANT
...I don't know.
Douglas's leg bounces with nervous anxiety.
DOUGLAS
I talked to her.
GRANT
Really? When?
DOUGLAS
I called her from the bar. She said
I was a mistake. Bryce is with her.
40.
GRANT
Well, she's his problem now.
DOUGLAS
Fuck you.
GRANT
I am sorry. I know this sucks, in
fact this is honestly the shittiest
thing I've ever heard but
seriously, I don't want you going
back to her.
DOUGLAS
FUCK YOU! Only a couple days ago I
had a life with her. You think I
can let this go? She BROKE her
fucking EYE!
GRANT
What can you do? She thinks you're
trying to kill her. Her dad put a
gun to your head and told you to
keep away and the police are
watching you.
DOUGLAS
Still though...
GRANT
Go back to work, give it time.
DOUGLAS
Fuck work.
GRANT
Doug. Step away from this for a
bit.
DOUGLAS
Step away? She smashed her own
face!
GRANT
That's MY point. She smashed her
own fucking face. This is a bad
situation, back the hell away. I
know you love this girl and I know
your heart is broken and I know
you're worried about her but you
need to leave that girl alone.
She's psycho. She's legit psycho.
Stay away from that girl.
DOUGLAS
It's easy to say that.
GRANT
Stay AWAY from that girl.
41.
DOUGLAS
I can't.
GRANT
Stay the FUCK away from that girl.
Douglas doesn't respond.
GRANT
Don't fuck your life up. Stay AWAY
from that GIRL.
INT - COFFEE SHOP
Douglas pick up his order at a coffee shop and sits by the
window. He's wearing a pair of sunglasses and his beard has
grown in a little. Its bright by the window, he puts on a
cap. He sits looking out the window, eyes trained on the
door of an office building across the street. He watches
people coming in and out, smiling. It's striking to him how
carefree they all seem, its something Douglas is envious of.
Then she comes out of the door.
Douglas' face saddens. She still has a bruise over her eye,
it's been touched up with makeup but it's noticeable. Her
coworkers hug her meaningfully, as though they all know
what's happening and are being extra supportive of her. A
few of them walk her to her car, they're keeping an eye out
for anyone suspicious. For the first time it occurs to
Douglas that there are people out there who think that he's
a predator. A complete psycho who attacks helpless women. He
pulls his hat down lower on his face and breaks his stare
with the window. He tries to look casual, he takes a sip of
coffee. Outside the window Abby hugs her coworkers goodbye.
She takes one last look around before getting into her car
and driving away. Douglas watches her pull away.
EXT - ABBY'S DAD'S HOUSE
Abby's car pulls into a small driveway outside of a modest
one floor house. Inside the car she collects her things,
before reaching for the door handle Abby stops herself and
pulls down the overhead mirror. She see's her scar, it's
looking more pronounced than before. The makeup has worn off
a little. She starts to touch it up with some powder she
takes from her bag.
HONK!!
The sound of a carhorn behind her startles Abby, powder is
flung into the air. Filling her lungs. She starts to choke
and quickly exits the car.
BRYCE
Abby!
Bryce emerges from the truck behind Abby's and runs to her.
42.
BRYCE
Are you ok?
ABIGAIL
Yeah, pfffffffffttttt...
That horn just made me jump and I
got makeup in my mouth.
BRYCE
My fault, sorry.
ABIGAIL
It's ok.
Abigail hugs him.
ABIGAIL
Thank you so much for coming.
BRYCE
Of course Abby but...I don't think
you should be doing this.
ABIGAIL
I know. My dad keep's saying that.
BRYCE
Your dad might be right.
ABIGAIL
My dad hasn't slept since I've been
staying here. He stays up all
night, everytime a car's headlights
pass by he has to look out the
window. If I want things to go back
to normal then things have to go
back to normal.
BRYCE
Yeah but...
ABIGAIL
I haven't heard from him in weeks
and we changed the locks.
BRYCE
I don't like it.
ABIGAIL
I need to go home.
Bryce can see she means it.
Off camera a door swings open. The pair turns to see
Abigail's father Richard. He has a concerned look in his
face.
INT - RICHARD'S HOUSE
43.
Inside Richard's small home boxes are everywhere, they're
being filled by Abigail and Bryce. Richard isn't helping,
he's actively trying to get her to stay.
RICHARD
One more week!
ABIGAIL
Will one more week actually make me
any safer?
RICHARD
Yes!
ABIGAIL
Ok. I get it, I am scared to go
back too but I have to. I haven't
been alone in weeks. I need to be
by myself, I need to be somewhere
where I can just cry and process
everything that happened. I need to
go home.
Richard relents.
RICHARD
I am going to be checking on you,
keeping an eye out for anything.
I'll drive past every couple hours.
ABIGAIL
You don't need to do that.
RICHARD
It's happening.
BRYCE
Abby?
Abigail turns her attention to Bryce.
BRYCE
I think we're good here, we can
probably get this in one trip.
Abby gives her father one last reassuring look before
picking up her box and heading out the door.
On the drive up the men keep suspicious eyes on every car
that passes.
INT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE
Inside the house Abby waits with the boxes in the front
hallway, Richard and Bryce are going through the house. They
look under every bed and inside every closet. Bryce rushes
back up from the basement holding his nose.
44.
ABIGAIL
Told you.
Bryce takes a second to catch his breath.
BRYCE
I didn't see anything down there.
Shelves, boxes, a cot, Christmas
decorations, lots of garbage.
Richard emerges from one of the rooms and comes down the
stairs.
RICHARD
I think we should do one more
sweep, you check all the rooms I
checked and I'll check yours.
ABIGAIL
You both looked everywhere. I saw
you look underneath the dresser,
he's not a hampster; dad.
RICHARD
Just for tonight maybe I should
stay on the couch.
ABIGAIL
I love you dad. No.
RICHARD
Then let him.
BRYCE
I don't mind.
ABIGAIL
Thank you, but no. Please.
Bryce and Richard share a concerned but defeated look.
Eventually both giving Abigail a strong hug and well wishes
before departing. Abigail closes the door, alone in the
house for the first time since the attack.
INT - ABIGAIL'S BEDROOM
Abigail settles into her bed, it's dark and very quiet.
She's visibly nervous. She's holding a pair of scissor
defensively, as a security blanket. A means of protection.
She hears a car approach, the sound startles her and she
jumps out of bed and heads to the window. She's shaking.
As the car pulls around the dark corner she feels relief
when she recognizes that it belongs to Richard. Her dad's
doing just what he said, he's keeping watch. She heads back
to bed and forces her eyes closed.
Darkness.
45.
INT - ABIGAIL'S BEDROOM - MORNING
Abigail is up early despite only getting a few hours of
sleep the night before. She looks out of her bedroom window,
its a beautiful day. Abigail puts on a pair of slippers and
heads out into the hall. Out in the hall she stops in her
tracks, down the hallway is a room that still scares her.
Its the room where she found the dolls torn apart, the
twisted writing that littered the walls has been hastily
rolled over with a coat of paint. Abby hurries down the hall
and closes the door, that room still unnerves her. The house
is very quiet.
Abby heads downstairs to the kitchen. She's startled to see
the pantry doors wide open, her body freezes. Something
about it looks wrong, the boxes of food on the shelve are
all empty. A box on the counter looks torn into. Nothing
else on the scene seems off. Abigail eventually finds a
granola bar out of the pantry and closes it. Soon she's off
to work.
INT - ABIGAIL'S OFFICE
Abigail walks across her company's busy main floor to her
office, the crowds and familiar faces provide comfort for
Abigail now. She feels safest at work when she's surrounded
by coworkers. Abigail says her hellos while dropping off her
things at her desk, she collects her favorite coffee mug and
heads for the kitchen.
BRYCE
Oh good. You made it.
ABIGAIL
Hello.
BRYCE
Hey Abby.
ABIGAIL
Yeah, I made it. Sort of, I didn't
really sleep.
BRYCE
But you did it. You made it through
a whole night alone in that big
house.
ABIGAIL
Yup. I am a big girl.
BRYCE
Hey, don't dismiss that
accomplishment Abby. I know I was
(MORE)
46.
BRYCE (cont'd)
against it last night but what you
did, spending a night in that house
alone...it was one of the bravest
things I've ever seen.
ABIGAIL
Thank you.
Abigail pours herself a cup of coffee, then offers Bryce a
refill on his. He extends his cup, taking her up on the
offer.
ABIGAIL
Hey while you were going through
the house last night, do you
remember grabbing a snack from the
kitchen?
BRYCE
No. Your dad was the one who
checked the kitchen. Why?
ABIGAIL
Nothing. I just....I just forgot to
buy groceries I guess.
BRYCE
Well why don't I help you with that
after work?
Abigail hesitates, she's careful to keep her distance with
people at the moment. Still feeling like she needs to be by
herself for a while, to put the pieces of her life back
together before moving on.
BRYCE
Come on. We'll load up. I'll make
dinner.
ABIGAIL
Bryce...
BRYCE
I am not asking for a date. I just
want to help.
ABIGAIL
Ok, dinner actually sounds amazing.
Thanks Bryce.
BRYCE
Anytime.
Abigail heads back to her desk, Bryce takes a minute to
enjoy his coffee before heading back. He wanders over to the
window. Directly across the street is same coffee shop
Douglas was seen loitering at earlier.
47.
INT - THE COFFEE SHOP
Douglas, unshaven and wearing a baseball cap pulled down to
his large aviator sunglasses sits watching the world on the
other side of the coffee shop window. It's late in the day,
people are leaving. Abby exits the building across the
street with Bryce, Douglas's jaw tenses. Douglas puts his
coffee down and get up out of frame. Outside Abby and Bryce
are about to cross the street towards the coffee shop.
The door chimes announce their entrance into the small
coffee shop, the gleeful pair walks straight up to the
counter. Behind them Douglas's seat is empty. They place a
quick order and leave together. Douglas comes back into
frame, now with his coat on. He throws down some change from
his pocket to cover his bill and leaves.
INT - DOUGLAS'S TRUCK
Douglas is sitting inside an old black truck, watching from
a distance as Abby and Bryce load groceries into the car.
INT - ABIGAIL'S KITCHEN
Abigail and Bryce are eating the last of what looks like an
incredible meal, Bryce starts to clean up.
ABIGAIL
I feel like I should help you with
that.
BRYCE
You don't look like you'd be much
help.
ABIGAIL
Food coma. Please tell me there's
not dessert.
BRYCE
There's dessert.
ABIGAIL
Damn you.
Bryce brings the plates with him back to the kitchen and
returns carrying two big, frosting covered cupcakes.
BRYCE
Now you're in trouble.
ABIGAIL
How did you know I love chocolate?
BRYCE
You're a girl.
Abby joyfully bites into her cupcake. It's perfect. She
needs a moment.
48.
ABIGAIL
Yes.
BRYCE
Aaaaaand I found something else
back there but I need to run it by
you first.
ABIGAIL
What?
Bryce holds up a bottle of wine.
ABIGAIL
Oh. Did you want a glass?
BRYCE
Well...that sort of depends on
whether or not I am driving home
tonight.
ABIGAIL
Ahhh...
BRYCE
Yeah...Obviously I'd stay on the
couch. I thought maybe it would be
fun to share the bottle and make it
a late one tonight.
ABIGAIL
That would be fun, it's just...
BRYCE
I am putting the bottle down. It's
ok Abby, I get it.
ABIGAIL
Space is just a thing for me right
now.
BRYCE
Alone time. I get it. It's ok.
ABIGAIL
Sorry.
BRYCE
Don't be.
INT - DOUGLAS'S TRUCK
Parked between trees, tucked away in the shadows Douglas'
beat up black truck is almost invisible. He's nervously
shaking his leg, attention never leaving the view he has of
Abby's house. Finally he sees movement, the front door
opens. He sits witness to Abigail and Bryce hugging and
saying their goodbyes. Bryce heads to his car and starts it
up. Douglas breathes an intense sigh of relief.
49.
DOUGLAS
Phewwwwww.
Fuck.
Thank god.
Bryce heads off down the road, Douglas waits. After a minute
Douglas says one more thank you and starts to drive away.
Just as he's making his turn he takes one last look back at
the house in the rear view mirror.
Something catches his eye. His brakes slam and the truck
comes to a stop.
In the rear view mirror Douglas sees something running
towards the house. He sees a figure rushing towards Abby's
side window. It's so dark Douglas has trouble following it,
he can hardly make out what it's doing. What is it doing?
Did it just go in the window? Did something just go inside
the house?
Douglas gets out and looks around. He can't see the figure,
he's starting to panic. He moves closer, aware of the
dangers that come with his being spotted. The window is
open, it looks like something pushed it open and crawled
through. Douglas can't believe this, he staggers forward,
his stagger becomes a full stride rushing towards Abigail's
side window where he sees a handprint on the ledge.
He listens and hears Abigail singing upstairs. She doesn't
realize she isn't alone insdie. Douglas acts. He enters
through the window.
INT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE
Inside the house, Douglas skulks quietly forward. He's
trying to avoid Abigail, he knows how dangerous this is. He
can't be seen. He ducks down and surveys the lower floor
while Abigail listens to the radio upstairs. Douglas hears
a creak in the hallway and very carefully investigates. It's
so dark, he can hardly tell if there's someone there or not.
He feels it though. Someone's there, someone's staring back
at him.
Something catches his eye, movement from the top of the
stairs. Its Abigail! She sees him, her face turns white. She
screams.
ABIGAIL
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!
Douglas motions for Abigail to calm herself, out of the
corner of his eye he sees movement in the hallway again. He
turns his attention away from Abigail back to the darkness
in the front hallway.
From out of that darkness a figure stands up, and runs out
the front door. Douglas jumps back, startled by what he just
saw. He turns back to Abby.
50.
DOUGLAS
Abby. Call the police!
Douglas dashes out the front door after the mystery figure.
EXT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE
Douglas chases the figure out the front door, in the
background he can still hear Abigail screaming. Outside of
Abigail's house is almost pitch black, once you're away from
the houselights there's little illumination. Surrounding her
house is a thick wooded area, Douglas sees the figure race
into the forest. He follows it into the darkness but looses
sight as it whips through the trees and becomes invisible in
the night. He gives up his pursuit.
Douglas collects himself and then heads back towards Abby's
house. He hesitates for a second, tempted to make a break
for it, but realizes the only way to clear his name is to
face the police and explain his side of the story. He's
compelled to tell them about Abby's stalker. Douglas starts
towards the house.
BANG!!!
Gunshot.
The tree beside Douglas's head explodes. Douglas hits the
ground on instinct, when he gets up he sees Richard taking
aim at him with his shotgun.
DOUGLAS
Richard! Put that gun down. I am
coming out.
Richard fires again and misses, this time leaving no doubt
that he's aiming to hit Douglas.
DOUGLAS
Richard!!!
RICHARD
I told you I'd kill you if I ever
saw you again.
He levels his gun at Douglas, its staring him dead in the
eye. Douglas doesn't call Richard's bluff, he runs into the
trees. Another blast from behind him sends him to the dirt.
Douglas can hear sirens. The lights of the police cars
threaten to give away his position.
POLICE
Put your weapon down!
Richards gun is still locked on Douglas's hiding place, he
doesn't lower it when ordered.
POLICE
Put that gun down now!!
51.
Richards reluctantly lets go of his shotgun, never once
taking his eyes off Douglas. Not until the police tackle him
to the ground. Officers approach the edge of the forest,
their flashlight piecing though the blackness. Douglas hides
against the stump of a tree.
POLICE
Is anyone there? Come out!
Douglas is conflicted, his primal instinct is to run but he
thinks about Abby. He need to tell someone that she's being
stalked. Someone is doing all this to her, to them. They
need to know.
POLICE
Last chance. Come out!
DOUGLAS
Ok...I am coming out.
The police train their guns on Douglas as he emerges from
the dark forest, he's brought down and handcuffed. On the
porch a tearful Abigail watches the police take him and her
father away.
INT - LIVING ROOM
Bryce is in Abby's home. He walks from the kitchen to the
living room carrying two steaming cups of tea. Inside the
living room Abigail is sitting with the police. The lead
officer is that same one who interrogated Douglas earlier.
Bryce hands Abigail the tea then offers some to the officer.
BRYCE
Officer Henry?
Officer Henry waves off Bryce's offer of a tea.
OFFICER HENRY
We have him on criminal
trespassing, but these waters are a
bit murky given your former living
situation.
ABIGAIL
No they're not, I told him I didn't
ever want to see him again.
OFFICER HENRY
You still have his things.
ABIGAIL
What?
OFFICER HENRY
Why do you still have his things?
ABIGAIL
I don't want them.
52.
OFFICER HENRY
You see why a jury might be
sympathetic to someone breaking
into a house to get his own things
back.
ABIGAIL
He attacked me!
OFFICER HENRY
We weren't able to prove that. We
weren't able to lay a single charge
in that case, in a court of law
that means it didn't happen.
BRYCE
And what about this other thing
that he's saying? That he saw
someone.
OFFICER HENRY
You mean this mysterious figure
that he conveniently can't give a
description of because it was too
dark? I wouldn't lose sleep over
that. Frankly it's not the first
time we heard that from someone.
BRYCE
So where is he?
OFFICER HENRY
Right now he's behind bars until he
sees a judge but unless we have
something that can keep him there
then he's probably going to get
away with a fine and some
probation. Are you sure you didn't
notice anything last night as you
were leaving?
BRYCE
I didn't see anything.
OFFICER HENRY
Miss...maybe it would be better if
you stayed with someone for a
while.
BRYCE
I am staying with her.
ABIGAIL
When are you letting my father go?
OFFICER HENRY
Actually Douglas refuses to press
charges against your father. He'll
be out later today.
53.
The room falls quiet.
OFFICER HENRY
Well, we'll be leaving. If I were
you I'd think about finding
someplace else to live. He's...
ABIGAIL
No.
OFFICER HENRY
Keep an eye on her.
BRYCE
I will.
OFFICER HENRY
We'll be in touch.
The officer sees himself out, leaving Abigail and Bryce
alone. Abigail is staring into dead space, in thought. Bryce
lets her have her silence.
ABIGAIL
I want a gun.
BRYCE
What?
ABIGAIL
I need a gun.
BRYCE
Abby. He's in jail.
ABIGAIL
He won't always be.
BRYCE
He has a restraining order against
him now. He can't come anywhere
near you.
ABIGAIL
He's crazy. He doesn't care. Bryce
I am not moving, so he's always
going to know where I live.
BRYCE
Maybe we should move you back to
your father's. Just for a bit.
ABIGAIL
Fucking asshole.
BRYCE
Sorry?
54.
ABIGAIL
Douglas. Not pressing charges
against my dad, I know what he's
doing. He's manipulating me. He's
trying to get me to trust him.
Piece of shit.
BRYCE
Abby?
ABIGAIL
What?
BRYCE
That night, when Douglas was in
your house. What do you think he
wanted?
ABIGAIL
Honestly? I think he wanted to kill
me.
BRYCE
I don't get why he told you to call
the police.
ABIGAIL
Because I scared him. I saw him
before he could get to me.
BRYCE
Did he look scared?
ABIGAIL
Yeah. I caught his ass and he knew
it. So he made up some bullshit
story and ran.
BRYCE
If he came here to hurt you then
why not hurt you? When you started
screaming, why run? Why not attack?
ABIGAIL
What the hell are you saying?
BRYCE
I am just trying to figure this
out.
ABIGAIL
Be honest with me. Do you believe
Douglas? At all. Do you think
someone else did all of this?
BRYCE
No. No! This isn't a movie. Real
life doesn't have twists like that.
(MORE)
55.
BRYCE (cont'd)
Your ex-fiance actually IS just one
of those sick stalkers you read
about, that's why this is
happening. That's the only reason
this is happening.
ABIGAIL
I need a gun.
BRYCE
We'll talk to your father when he
gets out. If you still want one, he
has lots.
Abigail gives him a half smile.
BRYCE
I am sorry Abby.
ABIGAIL
Why? It's not your fault.
INT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Bryce and Abigail are on the couch, the light of the
television is the only thing illuminating the room. Abigail
is curled up in the corner of the couch hugging a cushion.
It's a bright night outside, the light coming in from the
windows casts long shadows throughout the room. Bryce and
Abby sit stoically, both staring at the tv. Half focused on
what they're watching and half lost in thought. Their
shadows stretch along the length of the room and up to the
ceiling. Unmoving.
Their shadows are joined by a third shadow. It moves into
frame and stops, it's placed near the window. Somewhere in
the blackness something is there, staring at the couple
watching TV in the dark. Neither Bryce nor Abby notice. The
shadow lingers for a few moments then disappears as it
blends back into the blackness of the room.
Abigail yawns.
ABIGAIL
Yawwwww..my god.
BRYCE
You should go to bed.
ABIGAIL
Good idea. Where are you going to
sleep?
BRYCE
Right here.
ABIGAIL
I have an extra bedroom.
56.
BRYCE
I am good here.
ABIGAIL
It helps. You being here.
BRYCE
This was fun.
ABIGAIL
(Yawns again)
I know, I waaaaaaawwwwwwwww. Excuse
me.
BRYCE
Go to bed. Go sleep.
ABIGAIL
Thank you. Goodnight.
BRYCE
Goodnight Abby.
Abigail hugs Bryce and then goes to a linen closet and hands
him a pillow and a blanket, she heads upstairs. Bryce pulls
the cover over himself and closes his eyes.
INT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Bryce is asleep on the couch. Someone is standing behind the
couch looking down on him. Obscured by darkness.
INT - JAIL
Douglas is being led through a hallway by a couple of
officers to a small room with a table. Sitting at the table
is his public defender. Douglas takes a seat across from him
and the two are left alone.
LAWYER
Hello Douglas, my name is Alister
Cross. I'll be defending you.
Douglas doesn't answer.
LAWYER
I've been looking over your case, I
think we'll be able to get you out
of here. Your crazy ex-fiance
accused you of torturing...dolls
and then locked you out of the
house you shared together, when she
refused to give you your stuff back
you took things into your own
hands. Stupid? Yes, but not 'jail
time' stupid. Now, according to the
police report she made claims of
violence occuring but you were
never charged?
57.
DOUGLAS
I didn't do it.
LAWYER
Good. The police apparently didn't
think so either because I don't see
any charges laid. That's very good.
Now we just have to convince the
judge that you were only in her
house to get your things back so
that you could move on and finally
forget about the crazy bitch.
Douglas shoots him a look.
LAWYER
Hey, looks like that aren't going
to help you get out of here. We
need to convince this judge that
you want nothing to do with this
girl.
DOUGLAS
There was someone else in that
house. I want them to find him,
keep Abby safe.
LAWYER
She's safe and you staying behind
bars isn't keeping her any safer.
Is it?
DOUGLAS
No.
LAWYER
Well then. You made up that
intruder story because you were
scared, you got caught and were
worried about getting in trouble so
you pulled something out of your
ass. The mysterious stranger
excuse, oldest one in the book.
DOUGLAS
And then why did I chase after
someone I just made up?
LAWYER
You didn't. You ran because you
knew she was going to call her
father and his shotgun.
DOUGLAS
They won't believe me.
58.
LAWYER
Are you kidding me? No one believes
you now. If you go in there and
tell that judge that you broke into
your ex's house to chase out some
faceless figure then all you'll do
is convince him that you need to be
kept out of the public and held
here indefinitely. I ask you, is
that what you want?
DOUGLAS
...I was just there to get my
stuff...
LAWYER
Exactly, I think we can get time
served plus probation. Plus,
obviously you'd have to agree to
never be within a few hundred feet
of her or her property again.
DOUGLAS
Just her?
LAWYER
And her father probably but we'll
consider that a blessing.
DOUGLAS
Get me out of here.
LAWYER
I'd like you to make a statement.
You were alone in that house with
Abigail, you saw no one else.
Judges are like mothers, they give
points for honesty.
DOUGLAS
Honesty?
LAWYER
...Is Abigail safer with you behind
bars?
DOUGLAS
No.
LAWYER
Well then.
The lawyer slides a pen and paper across the table to
Douglas, urging him to write his statement.
LAWYER
You were alone. You just wanted to
get your things back.
59.
DOUGLAS
(Reluctantly)
I was alone.
INT - ABIGAIL'S KITCHEN
Richard is sitting at Abigail's table, he's staring
contemplatively into his coffee mug.
RICHARD
I wish I'd killed him.
ABIGAIL
Don't say that.
Abigail is sitting with her father, Bryce is leaning against
a wall with coffee in hand.
RICHARD
I wish it wasn't so damn dark that
night, I couldn't see him.
ABIGAIL
Thank god. You'd still be in jail
if you hit him.
RICHARD
I would have gone to jail for the
rest of my life just to know that
piece of shit wasn't going to be
out there anymore.
ABIGAIL
Don't say that! He's not worth it.
RICHARD
That judge made me sick. Letting
him lie like that. I should go find
him.
ABIGAIL
No! He just got out of jail and
there's a restraining order against
him now. He can't come here.
RICHARD
You think that sick bastard cares
about a restraining order?
Richard looks up at Bryce.
RICHARD
I am coming with you.
ABIGAIL
You can't.
RICHARD
To hell with that.
60.
BRYCE
I am with Abby, you two can't be
anywhere near eachother.
ABIGAIL
Dad, just stay away. You're not
going back to jail because of him.
BRYCE
I have his things all packed, I
won't be there long.
ABIGAIL
What if he won't come to the door?
BRYCE
Then I'll leave his shit on his
front lawn.
RICHARD
You're taking a gun.
BRYCE
No. Thank you.
RICHARD
If you don't want me coming with
you then you're taking a gun.
BRYCE
I am not plannig on needing one
Richard.
RICHARD
No one does.
Bryce nods the comment off and puts his cup in the sink.
BRYCE
I think I am going to head out.
ABIGAIL
Now? It's 9am.
BRYCE
Yeah, and hopefully he'll stil be
sleeping.
EXT - DRIVEWAY - BRYCE'S U-HAUL
Abigail hands Bryce the last of Douglas' things. The
finality of it brings a tear to her eye, Bryce notices but
says nothing. Before Bryce can get into the truck Richard
corners him and shoves a gun into Bryce's hands. Bryce takes
the gun and tucks it in his waistband. He gives Richard a
knowing nod.
BRYCE
Abby, this will be behind us soon.
61.
She puts on a smile, Bryce shuts the door and drives off
with the last of Douglas packed in his truck.
EXT - DOUGLAS' HOUSE
Bryce pulls into a the driveway of a small, one level house
in a dingy part of town. Bryce sits for a second collecting
his thoughts, he pulls the gun out of his waistband and
looks hard at it. Bryce has a moment of clarity and decides
to put the gun away into his glove compartment. Bryce steps
out of car door, heads to the back door of his u-haul and
opens it. He starts pulling Douglas' things out of the truck
and putting them on the font lawn, hoping to just drop off
Douglas' things and leave without confrontation. That's
wishful thinking, Douglas comes bursting out of the front
door.
DOUGLAS
HEY!
Bryce doesn't answer him, he keeps pulling Douglas' things
out of the truck.
DOUGLAS
You want to tell me what the fuck
you're doing?
BRYCE
Douglas, I am just giving you your
things back.
DOUGLAS
Why are YOU giving me my things
back?
DOUGLAS
Would you rather have Abby's dad do
this?
DOUGLAS
Where's Abby?
BRYCE
Douglas...I don't want to get into
this.
DOUGLAS
Stay away from her.
BRYCE
Are you kidding me?
DOUGLAS
It's funny how this worked out
isn't it? I am out of the picture
and no less than a month later you
move right in.
Bryce doesn't answer him, he stares a hole through Douglas.
62.
DOUGLAS
I know it was you Bryce.
BRYCE
What?
DOUGLAS
I know it was you. The note. The
dolls. I know it was you. How did
you do it? Did you have a key all
along? Did Abby give you a house
key?
Douglas' teeth grit, his hands ball into a fist. Bryce takes
notice, he glances towards the truck, gauging how much
distance is between him and the glove compartment.
DOUGLAS
When I caught you in that
house...what were you doing there?
Why did you come back?
Douglas is getting more and more animated.
DOUGLAS
Abby turned you away, I was there.
I saw you leave!
BRYCE
You were watching us?
DOUGLAS
What were you doing sneaking back
into her house? What were you going
to do to her?
Bryce sees how angry Douglas is getting, he starts to back
his way towards the truck. Douglas follows him.
BRYCE
I wasn't IN her house. YOU were the
one who snuck into her house.
DOUGLAS
Yeah, I did. After I saw someone
climb through her window.
BRYCE
Oh yeah? You saw that while you
were stalking us?
DOUGLAS
YES!
BRYCE
You really are sick.
63.
DOUGLAS
I am getting real tired of hearing
that.
Bryce backs right up to his truck and reaches for the door.
DOUGLAS
You running away?
BRYCE
No!
Bryce dashes into his car, Douglas follows him. Douglas
grabs a hold of Bryce and forcibly pulls him out of the car.
DOUGLAS
We're not finished talking!
Bryce responds with gun pointed right at Douglas, Douglas
takes a step back.
BRYCE
You're crazy and you're dangerous.
You're going to leave Abby alone or
I swear to god I'll kill you.
DOUGLAS
Shoot.
BRYCE
Take your shit, never come back. If
you do I'll be there waiting to put
a bullet in you. I won't let you
hurt her.
BRYCE
Hurt her? All I've ever done is
protect her. I've taken it on the
CHIN for that girl. I've been
arrested, shot at, beat up and
arrested again all because some
psycho wouldn't leave us alone. You
know what the worst part is? I
didn't believe her. I thought she
was making it all up. She wasn't
was she?
BRYCE
No. She wasn't.
DOUGLAS
You're going to have to kill me.
Bryce is genuinely temped to do it, instead he backs up to
his truck. Never lowering his gun. He makes it to his truck
and gets in.
64.
DOUGLAS
You ruined my life. This won't ever
be over.
Bryce doesn't respond, he pulls out of the driveway and
speeds off. Douglas' things spill out of his truck as he
leaves.
Inside the truck Bryce is shaken and confused as to what
just happened.
EXT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - FRONT PORCH
Abigail is sitting outside on her patio furniture, nervously
awaiting Bryce's return. Beside her is her father Richard,
neither is speaking. Both are sitting silently, waiting,
contemplating. The sound of a car coming up the lonely road
leading to her house catches both of their attention.
Abigail see's Bryce's truck come into sight, she gets up and
walks to the driveway to meet him. Concern is registered on
her face.
Bryce pulls into the driveway, he takes a second to collect
himself for Abby's sake and exits the vehicle.
ABIGAIL
Hey. How did it go? Was he home?
BRYCE
No. Thank god.
ABIGAIL
Oh...
BRYCE
I left him his things. It's done.
ABIGAIL
Ok. That's that, I guess.
BRYCE
That's that Abby. I promise.
ABIGAIL
Well, lets celebrate! I've been in
baking mode all morning just to
take my mind off things. How does
wine and cake sound? Or pie. Or
cupcakes. I went a little
overboard.
BRYCE
Wine sounds about right.
ABIGAIL
I'll set the table.
Thanks again Bryce, you've been
amazing.
65.
Bryce smiles back at her, the two hug and Abby heads back
inside her house. Richard is sitting on the porch watching.
Bryce walks over to him.
RICHARD
He wasn't home?
BRYCE
No. Lucky.
RICHARD
I guess you didn't need that gun.
Bryce doesn't really answer, he just nods off the question
and moves to follow Abby into the house before Richard's
next question stops him in his tracks.
RICHARD
Can I have it back? The gun?
BRYCE
I was thinking maybe I should hang
onto it.
This time Richard doesn't respond. He looks at Bryce
quizzically.
BRYCE
Just incase.
Richard nods, giving his approval. Bryce heads into the
house. Richard is left on the porch, he sips on his coffee
and looks out at the area around the house with watchful the
eye of a guarddog.
EXT - DOUGLAS' DRIVEWAY
Douglas is sitting on a chair in his driveway, his things
are all over the place. Broken and spread out everywhere.
He's drunk.
Grant's pulls up in his car, slowly swirving around all
Douglas's shit still laying in the road. Grant gets out and
walks over to Douglas, he sits down on the nearby overturned
dresser.
GRANT
Bryce came over, huh?
Douglas looks at him with furled eyebrows.
GRANT
Abby called me, I told her where
you were living so she could give
you back your shit.
DOUGLAS
Abby called you?
66.
GRANT
Just breifly, to get get your new
address. She said she'd send Bryce.
I was hoping by the time I got here
you'd have your playstation hooked
back up. Is that it laying in the
road? Fuck me. What happened?
DOUGLAS
He brought a gun with him.
GRANT
Oh. Did you get shot?
DOUGLAS
No.
GRANT
Did he?
DOUGLAS
No.
GRANT
Ok. Still, though. Fuck.
Douglas acknowledges him with a sip of beer.
GRANT
Listen, I'll call Abby. I'll talk
to her, I'll get her to pay for
your shit. This isn't fair.
DOUGLAS
I'll call her.
GRANT
You don't have her number anymore
and I am not giving her new one to
you, don't even ask.
DOUGLAS
Why is she ok with you having it?
GRANT
I think it's because she knows I
won't let you do anything stupid.
It's one more person to call for
help if she needs it...which she
won't, because you're going to
leave her alone.
DOUGLAS
...yeah.
GRANT
Goddamn it, I really wanted to play
video games.
67.
Douglas's game system lays in the middle of the road, inside
out.
DOUGLAS
Well, not happening. What else do
you got?
GRANT
I have two cases of beer. Wanna
just do that?
INT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE
The basement door slams shut, Abigail and Bryce are both
overcome with the stink.
ABIGAIL
See? That's what I am saying, just
keep this door shut.
BRYCE
That smell is getting worse.
Abigail you should call someone.
ABIGAIL
Uggg, I know but I just don't have
the money for that right now.
BRYCE
Well...then I'll see if I can find
what's causing it.
ABIGAIL
You don't have to, there's nothing
down there I need.
BRYCE
That's not the point, something
that smelly can't be healthy. Maybe
you have a dead raccoon or
something down there.
ABIGAIL
OMG don't say that!
Abby shivers at the disgusting thought of a dead raccoon
rotting in her basement.
BRYCE
Look, if it's a dead raccoon I can
take care of it but if that stink
is caused by some sort of gas leak
or mold then we need to call
someone in here ASAP. When are you
driving your dad back?
68.
ABIGAIL
In a bit, we're going to have
dinner near his place and then I
have to go grocery shopping after.
BRYCE
Perfect. That gives me enough time
to find out what's stinking it up
down there and air out the house a
little before you get back?
ABIGAIL
Do you think you can air it all out
in a couple hours.
BRYCE
Well...take your time.
ABIGAIL
You're welcome to come eat with us.
BRYCE
No, I think you two could use the
alone time. I've been tagging along
a lot lately. Besides, I wanna get
this done.
ABIGAIL
Bryce. You're the best. I owe you.
BRYCE
Its fine.
ABIGAIL
No. It's not, I really owe you. I
think about it a lot. You've been
amazing to me. So amazing that I
don't think I can ever pay you
back.
BRYCE
Abby, you really don't need to. I
am not here to be nice, I am here
because I like hanging out.
Abigail smiles.
ABIGAIL
I just feel like I am putting a lot
on you.
BRYCE
You're not. I've told you from day
one I wanted to help. You never
asked me for anything, I always
offered.
Abigail gets teary eyed.
69.
ABIGAIL
I hope asking you to get a dead
raccoon out of my basement is the
last thing I'll have to ask you to
do.
BRYCE
I hope it's not.
EXT - DOUGLAS'S DRIVEWAY
Douglas and Grant are sitting on lawn chairs in Douglas's
driveway. His furniture has been drunkenly arranged behind
them. Douglas's living room is in his driveway. There are a
lot of empty beer bottles on the ground.
DOUGLAS
Fuck Abby!
GRANT
Dude. It feels so good to hear you
say that.
DOUGLAS
She bottles shit up. Why can't she
just be open from the beginning?"Oh
what's that Abby? You found a
creepy letter that I wrote? Let me
see it. Oh, I didn't write this.
This looks like Bryce's writing".
Y'know what I mean?
GRANT
YES! That fucking letter.
DOUGLAS
That letter really freaked her out.
GRANT
So...do you still think she wrote
the letter herself?
DOUGLAS
No. I think Bryce did.
GRANT
Why though?
DOUGLAS
To get her to break up with me.
GRANT
And the dolls. You think he broke
into her house...
DOUGLAS
No. I think he had a key.
70.
GRANT
Even still, why do THAT? Why
mutilate dolls?
DOUGLAS
To make her scared of me.
GRANT
But WHY? Of all the ways to get a
girl to dump her guy, why THAT? Why
not frame you for having an affair
or spread lies about you? This is
literally the riskiest, least
logical plan of attack.
DOUGLAS
It worked.
GRANT
He got lucky. What if you found
that letter, or what if you found
those dolls first?
DOUGLAS
Then I would have thought it was
Abby and I would have confronted
her about it. But then she would
have thought it was me and I would
have looked crazy. Either way he
gets what he's after. I am gone and
he's the big hero keeping her safe
while keeping me away.
GRANT
It's just a really fucked up plan.
DOUGLAS
YES!
GRANT
Like, he's either really stupid or
really psycho.
INT - ABIGAIL'S GARAGE
Bryce is wearing a gas mask, taking deep breaths. Behind him
are sharp tools of all kinds. In his hand is a large garbage
bag. Bryce goes over to a shelf full of household chemicals,
he inspects a few of them before pulling a bottle of bleach
off the shelf. Next he heads over to a wall of tools and
selects a old sharp knife and a claw hammer.
Bryce stalks in through the side door leading back to the
house, still wearing the gas mask he walks the long hallway
back to the kitchen where he sees Abby, she's alone. Richard
is in the other room with the TV on. Bryce walks into the
kitchen, Abby doesn't see him. She's busy putting together a
shopping list. Bryce slowly walks up behind her and stops.
He stands there for a few seconds, observing Abby.
71.
BRYCE
Hey.
Abby spins aroud to see him, she doesn't react remotely
scared.
ABIGAIL
Oh, wow. Good thinking.
Bryce takes off the mask and put his tools down on the
table.
BRYCE
Yeah, I am thinking it should
protect me from the smell. I hope.
ABIGAIL
That must be my dad's I didn't even
know we had that.
BRYCE
I hope you don't mind if I punch a
few holes in the wall. I can check
for mold that way, maybe spray some
bleach into the opening.
ABIGAIL
Honestly, whatever you need to do.
BRYCE
You guys are leaving soon?
Richard enters the kitchen, he sees the tools and gas mask
on the table.
RICHARD
Jesus. What the hell are you doing
with that.
ABIGAIL
Bryce offered to take on that smell
in the basement?
RICHARD
What smell?
BRYCE
Have you not smelled it down there?
Richard looks at then quizically and them moves toward the
basement before he's stopped by Abby.
ABIGAIL
DON'T. You'll let the smell up.
Richard opens the door but quickly slams it shut again. His
face contorts in disgust.
72.
RICHARD
What the hell is that?
BRYCE
I am thinking it's probably a dead
animal.
RICHARD
Hand me a flashlight and some
gloves. Abigail, where's a garbage
bag.
ABIGAIL
No! You're not doing this right
now. We don't have time.
RICHARD
Nonsense. We need to deal with
this.
BRYCE
Seriously Richard, it's ok. I got
it.
RICHARD
Abby, how the hell did you let it
get like that?
ABIGAIL
It wasn't that bad before.
RICHARD
Well why the hell didn't you do
anything about it?
ABIGAIL
EXCUSE ME? I've been a little
distracted.
RICHARD
Well, forget the dinner. I'll stay
here and deal with this.
ABIGAIL
No. You'll be at it all night.
BRYCE
Seriously, Richard. I can do this.
I'll take a look down there and see
if I can find anything. If it's
something I can't handle I'll call
you. Plus this way I can air it out
a little before Abby gets back.
ABIGAIL
Dad. I know you want to help but
it's ok. Bryce is here.
Richard is frustrated but relents.
73.
RICHARD
Well are you ready to go?
ABIGAIL
Yes, let me just change my shoes
and get my grocery bag.
RICHARD
I want you to call me once you have
a look what's down there.
BRYCE
You got it.
ABIGAIL
Ok, I'll meet you in the car.
Abigail runs off to get her shoes. Richard gives Bryce a
defeated but thankful look and heads out the front door.
Abigail comes back with her running shoes on, ready to
leave.
ABIGAIL
Oh my god. Thank you so much.
BRYCE
No problem.
She hugs him, he holds her for a moment. They let each other
go and their eyes catch. Bryce looks into those eye's of
Abby's and reads her, there's affection there and a deep
appreciation but that's all she's ready for. He takes a
knowing step back.
BRYCE
Drive safe Abby.
ABIGAIL
You stay safe. If you find any dead
raccoons down there...lie to me and
tell me you didn't.
BRYCE
Promise.
Abby heads out the door leaving Bryce alone to his task.
Once alone the house takes on an ominous feel, it's so
incredibly quiet out there in the country, the woods that
surround the house cast all kinds of creeping shadows that
infiltrate the house and dance along the walls at all hours
of the day. In the quiet every sound is amplified.
Bryce heads back to the table where he left his supplies. He
pick up the bleach and smells it, then goes to the kitchen
sink to find an empty spray bottle, he opens the top and
starts to pour the bleach inside.
A crashing sound comes from the basement, the sound of
something being dropped or hit, it's enough to stop Bryce in
74.
his tracks. His eyebrows furl, he keeps perfectly still and
listens as intently as he can. After a period of time
hearing no further sounds from the basement he brushes it
off as nothing. Bryce finishes with the bleach and starts to
gear up, he slips his hammer into his belt and puts the
knife into his pocket. He takes the bottle of bleach and the
gasmask and walks to the basement door.
He's about to open it when he stops himself and decides to
first head to the front door and open it, then he opens a
window in the living room. He heads back to the basement,
puts on his gasmask, takes a few deep breaths and opens the
door. The entrance to the basement is dark. He starts down
the stairs and closes the door behind him.
EXT - DOUGLAS' DRIVEWAY - EVENING
It's getting dark, Douglas and Grant are deep into their
second case of beer. Grant is passed out in his chair,
Douglas is sitting awake, sipping on his beer.
Contemplating. Staring off into the distance.
Douglas looks depressed, wistful. He turns to say something
to Grant.
DOUGLAS
Hey, did you...
Douglas turns to notice that Grant is totally out. He tests
him again.
DOUGLAS
Grant!
Grant doesn't even twitch. Douglas's eyes go to Grant's
pocket where he sees the outline of Grant's cell phone. He's
tempted but hesitates. He knows that on that phone is
Abigail's number and a chance to talk to her. He's not
oblivious to the fact that calling her would be a big
mistake, he knows it's in his best interest to just leave
this alone and forget about it but he obsessed. That
obsession is hard to fight.
Finally giving in, Douglas carefully reaches into Grant's
pocket and manages to get his hands on his cell phone
without waking him up. He opens it and searches through the
contacts, he doesn't see anything under 'Abby' or 'Abigail'.
He looks through the recent phonecalls, aside from a bunch
of work numbers and friends he sees an unknown phone number.
Douglas knows it's her. He holds his glare at the number for
some time, his leg nervously shakes while he mulls over in
his mind all the reasons he shouldn't call the number. Logic
and reason lose out, Douglas gets up and walks a few feet
away from the sleeping Grant and does something stupid. He
presses the number, he selects 'call'. The phone rings, it
actually startles him. He's breathing heavy now, scared that
she'll answer, scared that she won't answer.
75.
The phone rings and rings, his expression turns to
disappointment as it seems less and less likely that Abigail
is going to pick up her phone. Douglas is about to take the
phone out of his ear when all of a sudden the ringing stops.
DOUGLAS
(Nervously)
Hello?
There's no answer, only the peculiar sound of breathing,
scraping, movement. Someone is listening on the other end
but isn't saying anything. It's eerie and unsettling.
DOUGLAS
A...Abby?
What Douglas hears on the other end of the phone sounds like
pained breathing. He can make out the sounds of moaning,
gargling and even a slight whimper. Suddenly the breathing
gets louder, like someone now has the phone to their ear and
is breathing right into the receiver. Douglas looks very
unnerved.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Hhhhhhh...Huunhhhh...Hhhhhelp.
DOUGLAS
What?
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Hhhhhhh...hhhhhhhh...hhhhhhhhh..
DOUGLAS
Abby?
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Help me. Help me.
DOUGLAS
...Bryce?
BRYCE
(voice on the phone)
Help me.
There's a thud. The phone smashes on the ground, Douglas can
still hear his breathing but it's softer. More pained.
Douglas's face goes white.
Douglas turns around, his truck is behind Grant's. Boxed in.
He makes a quick decision and sprints back to Grant. Not
concerned with waking him anymore he doesn't even attempt to
be subtle or gentle. He frantically rifles throught Grant's
pockets trying to find his car keys. Grant comes to and
instinctively puts up some resistance.
GRANT
Hey, whaaaa?...
76.
Douglas doesn't have time to explain.
DOUGLAS
Give me your keys. GIVE ME YOUR
KEYS!
Grant is in no state to fight back, he gives up his keys and
falls off his chair trying to hold onto Douglas. Douglas
pushes him aside and rushes to his car, he gets in and steps
on the gas pedal mere seconds after starting the car. He's
off, tearing down his street.
In the rearview mirror he sees Grant slumping down the
driveway with his hand outstretched, wondering what just
happened.
EXT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE
Douglas speeds down the lonely road to Abby's house, Grant's
phone still to his ear. He screams into it.
DOUGLAS
Bryce! Can you hear me? I am here.
I am here!
Douglas pulls into Abigail's driveway and parks the car, he
doesn't jump out immediately. This is still a dangerous
place for him to be, he doesn't understand what's happeneing
right now. A part of him is screaming at himself to turn
back around, to not get himself caught up in any more
trouble. Movement in the house catches his eye.
The front door opens, Bryce falls through the doorway,
barely standing. Proped up by the doorframe. Dougas watches
from the car, in disbelief. Still unsure of what's taking
place in front of him.
Bryce looks ragged, he's holding his stomach, breathing
hard, he's slumped over. Douglas can tell that's he barely
on his feet. Bryce raises his head, he and Douglas lock
eyes. He starts to walk towards Douglas's car, his arms
falls limp from his side. Douglas sees red, lots of red.
Bryce is covered in blood.
Bryce stumbles a few steps forward and collapses, Douglas
jumps out of the car and runs over to him. He gets down on
the ground over top of Bryce, Bryce is barely conscious.
DOUGLAS
What happened?
Bryce can't answer, his breathing is slowing. Douglas checks
out Bryce and can see that's he's been stabbed with
something, he can see the open wound. Blood is pouring out
of him like a faucet, it's bad. Bryce won't survive this
unless the bleeding stops. Douglas presses his hands to the
wound.
77.
DOUGLAS
Bryce! What happened?
Bryce tries to answer but can't. The blood is still pouring
out of him. Douglas realizes he needs to do something.
DOUGLAS
Hold on!
Douglas runs into the house, he immediately sees a trail of
blood going from the front door to the kitchen where he sees
the house phone off the hook, laying in a pool of blood.
Douglas follows the blood from the phone, he finds it
leading to the open basement door. The smell coming from the
basement hits him. He has no time to investigate further. He
races back to the kitchen and grabs some hand towels. He
pulls out the kitchen drawers and finds some duct tape. He
takes the tape and the towels and runs back to Bryce.
DOUGLAS
Hold on.
Douglas presses the cloth to Bryce's wound, then winds the
duct tape around his torso. He's not a doctor. All he knows
to do is to wrap that duct tape on as thick and he can, like
he's trying to fix a leaky pipe. Just keep winding it around
and around until the red stops pouring out. Bryce is trying
to talk.
DOUGLAS
What is it? I can't hear you?
Where's Abby?
Bryce looks him dead in the eyes.
DOUGLAS
Bryce. WHERE'S ABBY?
Bryce can't answer. Douglas leaves his side and rushes back
into the house, he's covered in Bryce's blood.
DOUGLAS
ABBY!!!!!!!!
No answer.
DOUGLAS
ABBBYYYY!!!!!!!!
No answer. Douglas darts room to room, looking for her. He
sees no sign of her, he's starting to panick. He goes back
out to Bryce.
DOUGLAS
Bryce. I need you to listen to me.
I need you to to tell me, is Abby
here?
Bryce shakes his head 'no'.
78.
DOUGLAS
She's not here? Are you sure?
Bryce nods. Douglas can't wait any longer, Bryce is dying in
front of him. He lifts Bryce to his feet, Bryce can barely
stand. With one arm around him Douglas helps to get Bryce
into the backseat of the car where he slumps over. Douglas
runs around to the drivers side and starts the car. He peels
out.
Racing down the highway, Douglas is trying to keep Bryce
consious while they speed towards the hospital.
DOUGLAS
Stay awake. Don't close your eyes!
I need you to stay with me.
Bryce isn't responsive but he's consicous. The two are
maintaining eye contact through the rearview mirror.
DOUGLAS
What happened to Abby? Is she ok?
Bryce barely is able to nod. Douglas registers relief.
DOUGLAS
Did someone do this to you?
Bryce goes to answer but as soon as he opens his mouth he
coughs up blood, the sight almost causes Douglas to swerve
into oncoming traffic.
DOUGLAS
Holy shit!
Bryce starts to convulse.
DOUGLAS
BREATHE! Hold on! Bryce, hold on!
The convulsing stops, Bryce's eye's shut.
DOUGLAS
BRYCE!
He's still breathing but he doesn't respond.
DOUGLAS
Hold on. We're going to get you to
a hospital.
Bryce's head tilts back, he's loosing consciousness. This
scares Douglas.
DOUGLAS
Hey...Hey!!!
It's no use, Bryce has lost too much blood. He's out.
Douglas puts the pedal to the floor.
79.
EXT - HOSPITAL
Douglas's car comes to a screeching halt outside the
hospital, he runs to the backdoor and pulls out Bryce.
Douglas has to physically carry him through the parking lot
and into the front door of the hospital.
INT - HOSPITAL
Once inside doctors and nurses rush to aide the bloody pair.
NURSE
What happened?
DOUGLAS
I don't know. He had some kind of
an accident.
The nurse tries to get through the mess of tape holding
Bryce together but can't.
NURSE
We need to cut this off. Where is
the wound?
DOUGLAS
Right under his ribcage on his
right side. I didn't know what to
do.
NURSE
Are you his friend?
Douglas hesitates to answer.
NURSE
We're going to get him into an
operating room right now. You can
sit in the waiting room. Someone
will want to come talk to you soon.
With that Bryce is thrown onto a gurney and rushed down the
hallway. Douglas is left alone, covered in his enemy's
blood. He's confused, knowing that the only way he can get
any answers is to wait; he heads to the waiting room and
drops himself down into a chair.
Douglas sits waiting, he's nervous. People are looking at
him, he can feel their whispers. He sees the nurse he was
just talking to speaking with people at the reception desk.
She points towards Douglas, with that the woman at reception
picks up the phone and makes a call. Douglas shifts
uncomfortably in his seat. He puts his head into his hands
and feels a cold wetness hit his face, Bryce's blood is
still all over him.
Douglas gets up and finds a washroom, he goes to the sink
and starts to wash the crimson red off of his face. The
white sink changes color, Bryce begins to frantically obsess
80.
with getting the blood off of him. It sticks to his skin, it
covers his clothes and it makes him look like someone who
just committed a murder.
Douglas comes back to the waiting room, the blood still on
his clothes. He sits back down. Still aware that he's being
watched.
Time passes.
Douglas has fallen asleep, he's awoken by the stern voice of
the nurse who helped him.
NURSE
Sir?
DOUGLAS
...yes?
NURSE
We've stabalized your friend but
he's lost a lot of blood. We're
optimistic at this point but very
cautious.
DOUGLAS
Is he awake.
NURSE
He's in and out.
DOUGLAS
Can I see him?
INT - HOSPITAL ROOM
Bryce is laying in a hospital bed, he looks pale. He has all
sorts of fluids hooked to his veins, a monitor is keeping
track of his heartbeat. Douglas approaches cautiously, this
is still the man who pulled a gun on him only hours earlier.
These two are the furthest thing from friends, yet here he
is looking completely vulnerable and Douglas feels genuine
relief that he's being taken care of.
He approaches the bed, Bryce is sleeping. His heart monitor
beeping steadily, calmly. Douglas isn't sure what to do.
DOUGLAS
Bryce.
No response.
DOUGLAS
Bryce?
There's a flicker underneath Bryce's eyelids.
81.
DOUGLAS
Bryce if you can hear me I need to
know what happened?
Bryce seems to react, barely.
DOUGLAS
I need to know. Did Abby do this to
you?
This time there's no reaction.
DOUGLAS
Bryce? BRYCE?
No reaction, Douglas is about to give up and head back out
of the room when Bryce's heart monitor begins to beat
faster. Suddenly Bryce is awake.
DOUGLAS
Bryce?
Bryce looks like he's coming out of a daze, he catches eyes
with Douglas.
BRYCE
Where's Abby?
DOUGLAS
I don't know.
Bryce's eyes widen.
BRYCE
There's someone in the house.
DOUGLAS
What?
BRYCE
There someone in the HOUSE!!
Where's Abby?????
Bryce is animated, he tries to get out of the bed but the
mix of drugs and blood loss are too much for him, he passes
out and falls off of his bed. Douglas rushes to catch him.
DOUGLAS
Bryce? Bryce what did you mean?
Its no use, Bryce is completely out. The nurse comes running
into the room.
NURSE
What happened? What did you do?
DOUGLAS
I didn't do anything. He fell.
82.
Douglas goes to back out of the room.
NURSE
Hey. Where are you going? You do
not get to leave, we have questions
for you.
DOUGLAS
What?...
She goes for the intercom and call security. Douglas doesn't
wait around. He leaves the room and runs back to his car.
Running right past security. Douglas makes it outside and
makes it to the parking lot, he finds his car and gets in.
As he starts the car he sees security come out the front
door looking for him, too late though. Douglas speeds away.
He can't believe what's just happened, he takes a second to
process everything. Someone's in the house? He has to get to
Abby. His car drives into the evening, speeding through
traffic towards Abby's house.
EXT - ABBY's HOUSE
Abby's car is in her driveway. Abby is standing beside her
porch, her groceries are spilled all over the ground. She's
dropped both of her bags in shock, her face is completely
white. The front door of her house is open, on the porch is
a pool of blood.
ABIGAIL
Bryce?
Against her better judgement and out of concern for her
friend she climbs the bloody stairs on her porch and enters
her house. Inside she finds a scene of absolute horror, her
skin crawls, her heart drops. Inside she follows a trail of
blood leading from the doorway to her kitchen and down to
her basement. She starts to shake. She knows its Bryce's
blood and has absolutely no doubt about what happened.
Douglas was here. Douglas attacked him.
She goes to pick up the phone but it's covered in blood, the
feeling of her friend's blood in her hand causes a visceral
reaction with her, she drops the phone and falls backwards.
She end up falling into a ball in her hallway, she has
trouble catching her breath and has a mini panic attack.
This scene is too much for her, this is her worst nightmare
come true.
ABIGAIL
Bryce!!
Abigail sees the lights of an approaching car outside her
house, she collects herself and gets to her feet. She hears
the sound of a car door open. Abigail gets to her front door
83.
and sees Douglas get out of Grant's car. He's wearing bloody
clothes, he looks wild, there's a frantic air to his
movements.
DOUGLAS
Abby!
Abby slams the door shut and locks it.
DOUGLAS
Abby wait! Abby let me in! Abby
you're not safe, let me in!
Douglas slams on the door, each thud echos though the empty
house. Each time he slams against that door Abby jumps.
DOUGLAS
Abby please. You have to listen to
me. Bryce told me that...
ABIGAIL
LEAVE!!!
Douglas tries to turn the door knob, Abigail backs away.
She's terrified, in a daze. Her body is numb. Abby continues
to back up until she hits the hallway wall. She keeps
walking backwards along the wall. Outside Douglas screams
for her attention.
ABIGAIL
Abigail please. Please I am not
here to hurt you! You need to
unlock this door, you're not safe
in there. Bryce was attacked.
There's someone in there with you!
There's someone in the house!
Abigail backs along the wall until she reaches the basement
doorway, insinctively she starts to back down the stairs,
creating as much distance as she can between herself and
Douglas. She backs down the staircase into the dark
basement. Douglas' pounding on the door gets quieter with
each step. Abigail reaches the bottom and steps into the
basement.
The basement is in a complete state of disarray, there's
open food containers everywhere, soiled newspapers littered
all over the ground, crazy writings everywhere. Abby's
attention is broken, away from the sound of Douglas's
frantic pleas upstairs. She looks around the dark room and
she sees feces, puddles of urine, dead rats, discarded and
rotten food.
ABIGAIL
God! Gaaaaaaaaakkkkk!!
She almost throws up.
84.
Abigail is horrified, the scene is too much for her to take
in. She wanders the room in a daze. Abigail stumbles upon a
cot, dirty clothing, trinkets, pictures, a living space.
Someone was living here. While Abigail surveys the scene
something behind her stirs in the darkness.
Abigail senses a presence behind her and turns. Standing
behind her is an old women, she's haggard, her hair is wild,
she's looks desperate, her eyes are widened, intense and
untethered, her clothes are filthy and tattered, there's a
patheticness to her. The smell coming off of her is
powerful. The women ambles towards Abigail, Abigail jumps
back.
BASEMENT WOMAN
Why are you down here?
Abigail is taken a back at the question.
BASEMENT WOMAN
You aren't supposed to come down
here.
The women starts towards Abigail again.
BASEMENT WOMAN
I don't bother you.
She gets close enough to touch Abigail, Abigail reacts by
pushing her away and creating distance between the two. The
woman's eyes furl, trying to make sense of Abigail's
aggression and fear.
BASEMENT WOMAN
What are you geting mad about?
The woman is growing agitated.
BASEMENT WOMAN
I don't bother you!
She takes a step forward towards Abigail who's being backed
up against the basement wall.
BASEMENT WOMAN
You never come down here. You could
let me have it.
ABIGAIL
What are you talking about? Why are
you in my house?
BASEMENT WOMAN
I like it here. Why can't I stay?
ABIGAIL
Get out!!
85.
BASEMENT WOMAN
Why? So you can bring more of those
boys here? INTO THIS HOUSE? .
Abigail's stomach drops.
ABIGAIL
What?
BASEMENT WOMAN
I see them! They keep coming down
here looking for me.
Abigail's eyes are drawn down to the fresh red stains on the
floor behind the woman, a puddle of blood trailing off up
the stairs. The woman follows Abby's stare and realizes what
she's looking at.
BASEMENT WOMAN
See! He came down here looking for
me.
ABIGAIL
Bryce? What did you do?
BASEMENT WOMAN
He came down here with this!
The women produces the old knife that Bryce walked into the
basement with. There's blood on it.
BASEMENT WOMAN
You're trying to kill me.
Abigail backs away and tries to circle past this knife
weilding woman who's eyes are getting more and more
aggressive.
ABIGAIL
Get away from me. Let me leave.
BASEMENT WOMAN
You want to kill me.
Abigail runs for the stairs.
BASEMENT WOMAN
You want to kill me!
The woman cuts off Abigail and takes a swipe at Abigail, her
knife punching right through Abigail's arm when she's tries
to block the blow. Abigail's scream and the blood startle
the woman, Abby's fallen back into the shelve of dishes.
Abigail flings a large glass bowl towards the woman and
makes a break for the stairs, kicking the woman to the
ground as she runs past, knocking the knife from her hand.
Abby slips on Bryce's blood as she rounds the corner.
86.
Abigial struggles up the stairwell, Bryce's blood sticking
to the soles of her shoes, making her slip and lose her
footing as she climbs upwards. The maniac is right behind
her. As Abigail reaches the top of the stairs she jerks to a
stop, the woman has a hold of her foot and won't let go.
EXT - ABIGAIL'S FRONT PORCH
Douglas' head is resting against the door, somewhat
defeated. He's muttering to himself.
INT - HALLWAY
Abigail is fighting and clawing to get her legs free, she
finally lands a kick to the Basement Woman's jaw that
staggers her enough for Abigail to break free. Abigail makes
a sprint to the front door, not more than a step behind her
is a completely unhinged maniac, solely focused on killing
Abigail. A foot away from reaching the door Abigail is
pounced on, sending the both of them crashing into the door.
EXT - ABIGAIL'S PORCH
Something SLAMS into the door, jerking Douglas backwards.
DOUGLAS
Whoa. Abby?
The sound of Abby's sweet little voice screaming in agony
and fear cuts through the locked door and into the night.
DOUGLAS
ABBY! Abby hold on!
Douglas throws himself against the door, slamming his body
into the thick door. He's determined to break through. He
wouldn't care if this was a steel vault, Abby's on the other
side of that door screaming. He's GOING to break through.
INT - HALLWAY/OTHER SIDE OF THE FRONT DOOR
Abigail is screaming in horror, she can't belive what's
being done to her. The camera pans along the length of her
arm to her hand, bleeding, in the mouth and teeth of the
Basement Lady. She's biting down hard on Abigail's hand,
Abigail tries to pull herslef free but the woman only bites
down harder.
Douglas pounds on the door from the other side. The weight
of the two women up against the solid oak door make it
unlikely he'll smash his way through.
There's a pause in his pounding. Then suddenly a slam,
louder and stronger than before. As if the door is being hit
with something heavy and hard. The boom on the door startles
the woman for a second, giving Abby the time and leverage
she needs to land a punch on this woman with her free hand.
87.
Abby catches the woman right in the side of the head.
The woman's head snaps back and she releases her grip on
Abby's hand, once free Abigail kicks the woman off of her
and into the wall. It doesn't buy her much time, the woman
is right back on top of her. Abigail fights her off and
makes a break for the stairs.
EXT - FRONT PORCH
Douglas is slamming Abigail's front bench against the door
until is breaks apart, the door is hardly damaged.
DOUGLAS
Fuck! Abby I am coming!
Douglas, steps away from the porch, since everything
happened this house has been designed to keep him out. The
windows are closed from the inside, and barred up. He can't
get through them. Douglas runs around the side of the house,
towards the window he once saw someone crawl through. He
runs around the driveway, not noticing the third car sitting
in the driveway.
As Douglas rounds the corner his shoulder explodes.
Douglas goes down, there's a ringing in his ears. That was
loud. His shoulder has a hole in it, it's pouring blood. He
puts his hand to it and squeezes, the pain brings him back.
RICHARD
Are you dead?
Douglas gets up to run but falls back down again from the
pain and blood loss, a second bullet whizzes past his head.
Douglas manages to get to his feet and make a break for it.
Richard chases him, gun held out in front, aimed at Douglas.
As Douglas runs he can just feel that gun aimed at his back,
he knows the trigger will be pulled any second. He swerves
left, away from the house and into the trees.
INT - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY/ABIGAIL'S ROOM
Abigail makes it to the top of the stairs only two steps
ahead of the women, she gets through the doorway of her room
and slams the door shut on the Basement Woman, the woman
sticks her hand into the doorway, catching the door before
it can close. She doesn't show any indication of how bad
that must have hurt. Abigail slams the door on her hand
again and again before she finally pulls it back. The door
slams shut and Abigail locks it.
Outside of the room the woman in a frenzy, she scratches and
kicks at the door, screaming threats at Abby.
Abby scans the room, she runs to the window and sees
something that makes her smile with relief. She see's her
father running towards the house, gun in hand. Abigail bangs
88.
on the window and screams, he doesn't look up. Abigial
fumbles with the latch and get the window open, the woman at
the door never letting up.
Abigail goes to scream out to her father.
ABIGAIL
Dad!!!!
BLAM!!
The gunshot completely drowns out Abigail's scream, she
jumps. She doesn't know what he's shooting at. Richard aims
the gun towards the trees and fires again.
Abigail tries to scream out to him again as she witnesses
him turn away from the house and towards the woods, her
screams are again overpowered by gunshots. Richard disppears
into the trees and Abigail's heart sinks. Then she has an
unnerving feeling, it's silent. The woman isn't pounding
away at the door anymore. Abigail doesn't hear anything.
Maybe she's gone. Abigail strains to hear...anything. She
steps closer to the door, still nothing, she step forward
again...the house is silent.
SMASH!!!
Bryce's sledgehammer comes breaking through the door.
Abigail scans the room for a weapon, she remembers the
scissors she kept by her bed.
Another smash, the door spinters at the top, leaving a large
hole. Abigail's arm is still bleeding, her finger has almost
been bitten right off.
Another smash of the hammer. The door is coming apart,
Abigail makes eye contact with the woman through the hole in
the door. The woman pulls back and hits the door again. It
won't hold up much longer. Abigail runs over to a towel she
sees on the floor and wraps it tightly around the wound on
her arm. She runs and grabs a t-shirt from off a chair to
wrap around her bloody hand and finger.
SMASH!!
ABIGAIL
Aaaahhhhh! Fuck!
SMASH!!
The door is all but down, the woman will be in the room
soon. Abby stands up with the scissors in hand. She's scared
but steely eyed, Abby's excepted that's she going to have to
fight for her life. She's locked in.
SMASH!! The door gives way and the mad woman from the
basement bounds wildly into the room.
89.
ABIGAIL
Arrrggg! You bitch!
MADWOMAN FROM THE BASEMENT
You're trying to kill me.
The Madwoman suddenly, very suddenly, weirdly suddenly takes
a swing at Abigail with the sledgehammer. Abigail sidesteps
the blow and thrusts forward with the scissors, plunging
them into her attacker's hip.
The Woman shrieks, staring dead into Abigail's eyes. Like a
wounded animal. Abigail tries to pull back her scissors but
the woman grabs a hold of her wrist. Abigail can't break her
wirey grip. The woman shrieks again but Abby shuts her up
with a punch, it doesn't keep her quiet for long. The woman
pulls the scissors from hip and lunges right at Abby, Abby
narrowly ducks the woman and darts through the battered door
into the hall. The small woman catches up to her almost
instantly. Abigail dodges another scissors attack.
The woman has her cut off from the stairs, Abigail makes a
run for the room she hasn't set foot in since Douglas left.
Her guestroom at the end of the hallway where she found her
dolls. Abigail makes it through the door and slams it shut.
Abigail's stitched up dolls line the room.
The woman thumps on the door for a while and then stops and
just stands outside the door breathing heavily. Listening.
Abigail can hear her breath on the door. Abby looks around
the room, aside from a few sewing needles and a clunky,
heavy sewing machine there isn't much in the way of a
weapon.
The moon shines in through the window. New plan. Abigail
pushes her table up to the wall and climbs on to reach the
window. Abigail pushes on the window with all her might but
it just won't open. Abby finds some fabric nearby and wraps
it around her hand, she punches and pounds on the window
fearlessly until the glass shatters. Abigail pulls herself
up to the window. She tries to protect herself from the
glass using the fabric but she's still getting cut all over.
It's about a 3 story drop to the ground but there's a chance
that Abigail can shimmy over to a spot where she can drop
down safely, if she can just get out the window. That's not
easy. The window is tiny and as little as Abigail is she's
having a hard time pulling herself up and through on what
little strength she has left.
BOOM!!!
An incredibly loud shotgun blast rips through the night.
Abigail jumps, it startles her badly.
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!!
90.
She covers her ears, she's jumpy and at the end of her rope.
The shooting stops, Abigail picks her head back up. It's
quiet. She hears nothing but crickets. Abby's face twists.
ABIGAIL
ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHH!!!!
Back inside the woman has broken through the door, and is
holding onto Abby's foot with one hand. With the other hand
she's stabbing Abigail in the backside with a piece of
broken glass.
Abaigail comes tumbling back down, right on top of her. Both
women are hurt in the fall, Abigail starts to stir first.
She crawls for the door and makes it out into the hallway.
The woman awakens and walks out the door, following Abby.
Abigail stands to meet her. The woman charges her and the
two collide, tumbling down the staircase. Abigail hits the
landing with a hard thud.
ENT - NIGHT - THE WOODS OUTSIDE ABIGAIL'S HOUSE
Richard cocks his shotgun, expelling a used round. He
reaches into his pocket and finds more slugs to load into
his gun. Richard levels his gun at something out of frame
and pulls the trigger.
The tree beside Douglas' head explodes.
DOUGLAS
FUCK!!
Douglas is squeezing his bloody shoulder, Richard took a
chunk out of it. Douglas tries to plead.
DOUGLAS
RICHARD!
The trunk of tree explodes again, Douglas makes a run for
it. Richard is slow and a terrible shot, it's the only thing
keeping Douglas alive. A shot rips past him and Douglas hits
the ground.
RICHARD
I told you if I saw you back here
I'd kill you. I meant it.
Douglas' shoulder is killing him.
RICHARD
I am not letting you leave this
forest. I'll bury you out here.
Douglas lifts his head just enough to spot Richard's gun
looking back and forth. He isn't sure where Douglas is,
Douglas keeps low.
91.
RICHARD
I never liked you. I knew you were
an asshole, Abby loved you but you
never had me fooled. I knew you
were no good. I didn't know you'd
be this bad but I knew you were no
good.
Richard fires blinly into the night, the shot was only aimed
a couple feet from where Douglas is hiding.
RICHARD
Goddamn it. Tell me what you wanted
with her. Tell me why you did all
this.
Another shot. Closer this time.
RICHARD
How could you hurt someone you said
you loved? You tell me the truth
and I'll let the police have you. I
won't even kill you.
Two more blasts in quick succession.
RICHARD
Please! I just want to know. I want
to hear you tell me the truth.
One final blast sends the log Doulas is hiding behind
splintering into Douglas' face. He has nowhere to hide, the
barrell of Richard's shotgun is locked onto him. Douglas
stands up.
RICHARD
Were you going to hurt her?
Richard is shaking, as angry as he is it's still a long
bridge to cross to take a human life. He wants to hear
Douglas admit he was planning on harming his daughter, he
wants Douglas to make killing him easier.
DOUGLAS
Never.
Richard grits his jaw.
DOUGLAS
Richard, listen to me. Someone IS
after Abby. I don't know who. I
thought it was Bryce but it wasn't,
I thought it was Abby but it
wasn't.
Richard looks like he's going to be sick.
92.
DOUGLAS
Goddamn it. If you're going to
shoot me then do it! But you need
to get back home to Abby right now!
There's someone in the house
Richard. Someone is in there with
her, I heard her scream. We need to
go find Abby!
Click.
That sound stops Douglas cold, Richard shudders. The impact
of that sound hangs in the air for a moment. Richard pulled
the trigger.
DOUGLAS
What the fuck? What the FUCK
Richard!?
Richard panicks and quickly reaches for the slugs in his
pocket, he manages to fumble a few into his shakey hand.
Douglas doesn't waste a second, he runs at Richard. Uphill.
Richard cocks the gun, expelling the spent round and finds
the chamber to re-load the gun. Douglas is fast. Richard
can't quite get it to lock. Inches away Douglas is about to
pounce. Richard's weapon snaps into place.
BOOM!!!
The shot fires wide, at the last possible second Douglas
slaps the barrell away from him. The gun flies away on the
re-coil. No longer a factor.
Richard loads up a haymaker but Douglas lands one first, a
right hook to Richard's body makes his side go numb. Richard
stumbles back like he was just hit with an electric bolt to
the ribs. Douglas isn't about to let him have a moment to
collect himself, this isn't that kind of fight. There's no
sport in this, these two men are deadly serious. Douglas
wants to put Richard down hard so he can get to Abby,
Richard wants to kill Douglas so he can't go anywhere near
Abby.
Richard takes a blow to the jaw, if he wasn't fighting for
his daughter his knees would buckle. Instead he manages to
keep a grip on Douglas and pulls him to the ground. The two
roll around, Richard trying to put Douglas in a rear naked
choke he won't wake up from and Douglas trying to pound
Richard in to submission. Douglas is bigger and stronger but
he's missing a good chunk of his shoulder and he's been
bleeding out ever since he ran into the woods. Richard
manages to lock his forarm underneath Douglas's chin. He
pulls back with Douglas' neck in a vice. Douglas thrashes
like a desperate animal, fighting for air. Even without his
full strength Douglas is too much to hold onto. He kicks
back and sends the both of them tumbling down the hill. They
hit a tree and break off their death grip on one another.
93.
Douglas is the slower of the two to get up. Richard takes
that time to find himself a weapon. A thick tree branch.
He's going to brain Douglas with it. Richard lumbers over to
Douglas, lifts the log into the air and brings it down onto
Douglas. Douglas saves his life by getting an arm up to
deflect the blow but the heavy club comes down right on his
injured shoulder.
Douglas' arm goes numb and electric shocks rock through his
body, his head gets heavy, he feels dizzy an starts to black
out. Another shot right to the shoulder with no resistance,
the swing was so hard that it broke the log in two. The pain
overloads Douglas' senses, he doesn't even notice when he
teeters over and hits the ground. He tries to move but his
body betrays him, the shooting pain emanating from his
shoulder causes his body to lock up. Douglas feels drunk,
his head spins. Richard discards the broken stump.
RICHARD
This is it.
Douglas gets to his knees, still in a daze. Richards sneaks
around behind him.
RICHARD
You should have stayed away like
you were told.
Richard snatches Douglas around the neck again with a rear
naked joke, this time Douglas is too weak to fight him off.
Richard locks it in, he rolls to his back with Douglas
arched on top of him. Gasping for air.
RICHARD
Just go. Don't fight. Just go.
Douglas tries to wrench Richard's arm from around his throat
but he can't free himself, he can't even pull free a single
breath of air. Douglas thrashes, Douglas struggles and digs
his fingernails into Richard's face but for all his fighting
he can't get a breath. We see panic in his eyes. His face is
turning bright red, the veins in his head strain and
threaten to burst. Douglas starts to fade.
RICHARD
Just go.
INT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE/THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS
Abgail comes to. She's battered and bleeding, her head is
split open. On the landing beside her is the old woman from
the basement. She looks unconscious. Abigail kicks her off
and frees herslef from underneath the woman's frail body.
Abby collects herself for a second. Right infront of her
across the hallway is the front door and freedom. Abigail
tries to pull herself to her feet but collapses back to the
floor in pain, her ankle is twisted and swollen from fall.
She collects herself and pushes through the pain, crawling
on her stomach, pulling herself forward inch by inch. She's
94.
determined to make it outside, to find help and escape.
EXT - THE WOODS
Douglas is fading. He's hardly able to get an arm in the air
let alone fight off Richard's grip around his throat.
Richard can't look, he turns away and closes his eyes. He
doesn't want to watch Douglas die.
Douglas' arms start to fall, Richards can feel Douglas
giving in. He holds on.
ABIGAIL
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Richard hears his daughter scream, it overpowers the quiet
of the night. It's desperate and pained tone make Richard
jump. He loses concentration, just enough for Douglas to get
a much needed breath of oxygen. Richard doesn't notice, he's
distracted by the sounds of Abigail shouting from the house.
She sounds like she's in trouble. Douglas gets his arm free
and not allowing Richard a second to recompose himself he
hammers his elbow down into Richard's face. Richard's grip
releases, Douglas kicks him off and draws air. Gasping and
coughing, trying to catch his breath.
Richard almost killed him, he almost killed Douglas with his
bare hands. Whatever doubts Douglas had about how far
Richard was willing to take it are gone. This is for keeps.
The two lunge for one another, they slam into each other.
This time the larger Douglas ends up on top. He gains top
position on Richards and starts to drop bombs on him, he
unloads everthing he has left. Fist after fist after fist
with his one good arm, some blows are deflected, some miss
their mark entirely and some land. What it lacks in
precision, Douglas's attack makes up for in brutality. In
the background Abby screams for someone help her.
Richards stops fighting back, Douglas lands a couple open
blows. Richard is out, tempted as Douglas is to end this
fight for good he can't do it. In his heart he has no hate
towards Richard, they're both just protecting Abby in their
own ways.
Abby.
Douglas props Richard up against a tree, taking one last
second to make sure Abigail's father will be ok. He's beaten
up and wobbly but he'll live.
Abby screams again.
RICHARD
Go.
Douglas, bleeding and barely on his feet runs for the house.
95.
INT - THE FRONT DOOR
The front door is half open, with one hand Abigail is
clinging to the door frame, with the other she's clinging to
the door itself. She's desperately trying to pull herself
outside the door but something is pulling her back inside
the house.
Abigail strains, slowly able to pull herself forward. She's
giving everything she has, suddenly her strength starts to
fail her. The little extra she needed to pull herself free
just isn't there.
ABIGAIL
Noooooooooo!!!!
Abigail is pulled back inside the house. The front door
slams.
Inside the house the woman is cutting off Abigail from the
front door, Abby is crawling away from her; towards the
living room. She has so little left but finds herself
driven by instict to create space between herself and the
Crazy Basement Woman. The Woman locks the front door. Then
starts towards Abigail who can't crawl away fast enough.
The woman hovers over Abigail. Breathing and grunting, she's
mad at Abby. Mad at her for trying to kill her, mad at her
for acting like a victim, mad at her for being beautiful,
mad at her for being scared. The Woman stomps down loudly on
the floor, just barely avoiding Abigail's body. Abigail
flinches, it amuses the woman.
MADWOMAN FROM THE BASEMENT
You were going to kill me and burn
my body. I heard you talking at
night.
ABIGAIL
What?
MADWOMAN FROM THE BASEMENT
You'd whisper into the basement and
tell me to leave. You said you were
going to light a fire and burn me
alive.
ABIGAIL
You're crazy! No one said anything.
No one knew you were there.
MADWOMAN FROM THE BASEMENT
I won't let you cut me to pieces.
EXT - Douglas has reached the back of the house, still
clutching his shoulder, his shoulder still pumping blood
through his hand. The front door is locked, inside he hears
two voices. One is weak and afraid, Abigail. One
is...unsettling and unfamiliar.
96.
DOUGLAS
ABBY!!!
Abby hears him from inside the house, for the first time in
a LONG time she calls out to him.
ABIGAIL
DOUGLAS!!!
Douglas is overcome with emotion, the woman he's so madly in
love with just called out his name for the first time in
months. Unafraid. Calling out to him for help.
Anger.
Deep, black anger boils up inside of Douglas. All of it
directed at whoever is in there hurting his girl. Douglas
slams against the back door with a strength not previously
seen. It's an alarming sound. The Basement Woman reacts with
fear. Abigail eats it up. She savours the look of dread on
the woman's face, Douglas is like a monster to her.
Smashing, angry, vengeful, coming for her. The woman
shrinks, she doesn't seem so intimidating anymore. She turns
to look at Abby, Abby is smiling.
The woman lashes out at Abigail, she jumps on top of Abigail
and starts pounding her.
MADWOMAN FROM THE BASEMENT
Tell him to leave! Tell him to go
away!
Douglas hears Abby shouting and fighting for her life
inside, he can't waste any more time on the back door. Its
too solid, it isn't budging. He runs around the side of the
house, where he was headed earlier before he got shot by
Richard. He checks every entrance, every window and finds
the window that Bryce left open to air out the house, the
one leading to the living room. Nearby the window Douglas
can hear the struggle clearly, inside he can only make out
shadows. His eyebrows furl. His expression turns deadly
serious. His veins bulge and his teeth clench. There's no
fear when climbing through the window. Only rage.
Douglas pulls himself up and through. He's inside.
On the floor Abigail is clutching her head in her hands,
desperately trying to sheild herself from the blows of what
looks to Douglas to be a frail, wirey, disgusting, smelly,
dirty, crazy old woman.
That bitch is in trouble.
The woman stops and notices Douglas standing across the
hallway looking at her. Fists clenched, ready to destroy.
Abigail raises an eye and see's Douglas. They make eye
contact.
97.
She looks relieved, she's so happy to see him. It's a look
on her face that he has missed every second of ever day
since this all started. She's his girl. She will not feel
one more ounce of pain, he's here to make damn sure of that.
DOUGLAS
It's okay baby.
She smiles. Douglas looks the Basement Woman dead in the
eyes.
DOUGLAS
Get off her.
The woman is hesitent. She thinks about it then slowly
stands up. Outside, off in the distance we hear the sound of
sirens.
DOUGLAS
Good. Now lay on the ground and...
MADWOMAN FROM THE BASEMENT
I won't let you cut off my hands!!!
Well...he really, really, really wasn't expecting her to say
that.
DOUGLAS
...what?
The woman snaps and makes a final charge at Douglas. He's
not a five foot-nothing, 100 lbs Abby. He's a big dude and
he's pretty damn pissed off. He doesn't back away an inch,
the woman's charge is met with a charge of his own. One that
culminates in one big right hook.
The Basement womans' screaming stops the second that hook
connects, she drops to the floor like a dead fish. She's
done. She done! Abigail can't belive it. Douglas can't
believe it. He runs over to Abigail and picks her up in his
ams and carries her out the front door. The police sirens
close in on the house. Douglas puts her down gently on the
porch. The two smile at each other once more, then Douglas
gets down on his knees and puts his hands over his head.
POLICE
POLICE! GET ON THE GROUND!
Police and sirens and lights are everywhere.
EXT - DRIVEWAY
Out in front of Abigail's house are a dozen police cars
along with an ambulance. Abby is being treated for her
battle scars. Richard is sitting down with one of the
paramedics who is shining a light into his eyes, checking
for signs of a concussion. The Basement Woman is sitting in
98.
the back of a police cruiser. Douglas is having to be
restrained from getting to her, he's screaming at her. His
shoulder has been heavily bandaged up.
DOUGLAS
THE SHIT YOU PUT ME THROUGH! LOOK
AT ME! LOOK AT ME! WHAT WAS WITH
THE DOLLS? YOU PSYCHO!
In the back of the cruiser he isn't getting any response,
she's ranting and raving, staring off into space and
speaking to people who aren't there. There's no conversation
to be had with her.
DOUGLAS
YEAH, TALK TO YOURSELF. PRETEND YOU
CAN'T HEAR ME YOU CRAZY BITCH. YOU
FUCKED UP MY LIFE.
The officers surrounding Douglas pull him away. He won't
stop shouting. Venting.
DOUGLAS
WHY? WHY US? WHY THE FUCK DID YOU
CHOOSE US?
Douglas is pulled away from the woman and over to the lead
investigator.
OFFICER HENRY
I suppose you feel like you're owed
an apology.
DOUGLAS
Sorry doesn't even begin to cut it.
OFFICER HENRY
Fine. I don't have an apology for
you anyway, you were a logical
suspect, and you should have called
us when you found Bryce with a
knife in his stomach.
DOUGLAS
So you could arrest me for it? I
saved his life.
OFFICER HENRY
You risked Abigail's life by not
calling us.
Douglas knows he's right. He was selfish, he chose to race
off to Abby on his own because he was scared of the police
not believing him. Scared of getting in more trouble.
DOUGLAS
Is Bryce going to be okay?
99.
OFFICER HENRY
Probably.
DOUGLAS
Do you know who she is?
OFFICER HENRY
She's Abigail's neighbor. She was
in the system, she has advanced
schizophrenia but she was on
medication. Her family was supposed
to be looking after her, making
sure she took her pills. When we
contacted her daughter she didn't
even know he mother had been
missing for weeks.
DOUGLAS
What was she trying to do?
OFFICER HENRY
I don't even think she knows the
answer to that.
DOUGLAS
Did you ask her why she butchered
all those dolls?
OFFICER HENRY
There is no 'why' Douglas. She's
out of her mind. She's very, very
sick. I don't think she 'chose'
you, I don't think she had a plan,
I don't think she has any idea
what's going on around her.
Douglas just can't wrap his mind around that.
DOUGLAS
If she was so out of her mind then
why did she hide? How did she know
to keep quiet when she was down in
that basement? She knew she wasn't
supposed to be in that house. Don't
tell me she didn't know what she
was doing?
OFFICER HENRY
I think she found her way inside
your home and got lost in the
basement. I think she forgot where
she was and who she was. I think
she was terrified of you. I think
she grew to hate you. The truth is,
she's just crazy, and crazy doesn't
have a motive.
Douglas looks at her, he sees how batshit insane she is and
feels defeated. It all feels for nothing now.
100.
OFFICER HENRY
She'll spend the rest of her days
in a hospital. Doped up. Locked
down.
DOUGLAS
Good. Bitch.
OFFICER HENRY
One other thing.
DOUGLAS
What?
OFFICER HENRY
Abigail still has a restraining
order against you.
DOUGLAS
Are you kidding me?
OFFICER HENRY
It's for the best. She's going to
need some time with this. Time
alone will do her good, in the
meantime I'll talk to her about
having it lifted.
Douglas can see Abigail sitting on the porch with the
medics, she's still being patched up. She's beaten up, she's
shaken, she's tense around people. This girl's had enough.
DOUGLAS
Can I say goodbye.
OFFICER HENRY
Quickly. We're taking her to the
hospital.
Douglas heads over to Abigail, on the way there he crosses
paths with Richard still seated on the ground, still wobbly.
RICHARD
Douglas.
Douglas looks down at him.
DOUGLAS
What Richard?
RICHARD
I am sorry I tried to k...
Douglas nods and tries to walk away, Richard grabs him by
the arm.
DOUGLAS
Douglas...
101.
RICHARD
Fuck you Richard.
Douglas pulls his arm free and walks past him.
Abigail is alone now. He goes to sit with her on the porch,
he moves slowly. Mindful of what tension there might still
be between them. Abigail's fingers are taped up with gauze,
her shoulder is heavily bandaged, her head is wrapped up and
she still looks cute. Douglas sits down beside her. She
doesn't object.
DOUGLAS
How did we not notice?
ABIGAIL
That's all I keep thinking about.
DOUGLAS
I was in that basement, a bunch of
times. I never saw anything.
ABIGAIL
Officer Henry thinks she snuck in
at night and left early in the
morning.
DOUGLAS
I guess there's no point in asking
how she got in and out, there was
always a window open. Old house, no
air conditioning...
ABIGAIL
God she smelled.
DOUGLAS
It was her poop...it was her poop.
I am just realizing that now. Ew.
ABIGAIL
These last few weeks have been...
DOUGLAS
They've been weird.
ABIGAIL
I thought it was you.
DOUGLAS
I thought it was you.
ABIGAIL
You thought I smashed my own face
with a rock?
DOUGLAS
Yeah. I actually thought that.
102.
ABIGAIL
We were so awful to you. Oh my god.
DOUGLAS
Yeah, that sucked.
The pair falls quiet.
ABIGAIL
So that whole time you thought I
was a psycho but you just kept
coming back?
DOUGLAS
I tried really hard to let you go
Abby, but I couldn't.
ABIGAIL
I was scared of you.
DOUGLAS
That's ok. I was scared of you.
When you were yelling at me with
those dolls in your hand. That was
the scariest moment of my life.
ABIGAIL
Why did she do that to the dolls?
DOUGLAS
In my head I see her skulking
around the house one night, out of
her mind crazy. I see her walking
into that room and seeing all these
freaky dolls looking at her and I
bet she just lost it. But who
knows.
ABIGAIL
She doesn't even know. She's
batshit.
Douglas perks up.
DOUGLAS
Abby I heard about the fight you
put up. I am so fucking proud of
you...
Douglas catches himself swearing.
DOUGLAS
I am sorry...but I am so fucking
proud of you.
103.
ABIGAIL
(enthusiastically)
We went AT it, that was a full on
fight to the finish. That bitch BIT
me.
DOUGLAS
Ewww. That woman is basically a
raccoon. She gets in the house, she
makes a mess, she bites you.
ABIGAIL
I have to get shots!
DOUGLAS
I should hope so.
ABIGAIL
Doug, she came at me with a
sledgehammer. And a knife.
Douglas smiles, not because she was attacked, because she
survived. She fought. He really is so fucking proud of her.
DOUGLAS
Your dad almost strangled me to
death.
Abigail smiles.
DOUGLAS
You don't seem shocked.
ABIGAIL
He'd kill you before he let you
hurt his little girl again. He said
that all the time.
DOUGLAS
He meant it. My shoulder's fine
btw.
ABIGAIL
I was going to ask about that. Was
that dad too?
DOUGLAS
Yeah. I need stiches.
ABIGAIL
Me too.
The pair share one last moment.
ABIGAIL
I am sorry I thought it was you.
104.
DOUGLAS
I am sorry I thought it was you. I
am sorry I thought it was Bryce.
He...
Douglas' thought is interupted when he sees a tear fall from
Abby's eyes. Bryce.
DOUGLAS
They think he's going to be okay.
ABIGAIL
They're going to take me to see
him.
DOUGLAS
Oh. Good.
ABIGAIL
Things are kind of fucked up right
now Douglas.
DOUGLAS
Yeahhhh.
ABIGAIL
Obviously, we have a talk coming. I
just don't know when it'll be.
DOUGLAS
I get that.
ABIGAIL
Can you give me space and let me
figure all this out?
DOUGLAS
Yes.
ABIGAIL
Can you?
DOUGLAS
You're safe now Abby. Yes.
He means it.
The paramedics are back, they usher Abby into the ambulance.
Douglas stands up, he walks over to the ambulance door as
Abby steps in. They catch eyes, she's crying.
Douglas smiles at her.
DOUGLAS
Crazy basement ladies, huh?
Abby laughs, she wipes the tears from her eyes.
105.
ABIGAIL
They're the worst.
The ambulance doors close, the wheels spin in the gravel
driveway. The ambulane pulls away and drives off down that
lonely road. Douglas takes one last look at the lunatic in
the backseat of the police car, the woman who ruined his
life. She's staring right back at him.
He wants to be big enough to not hate her, to see her as a
victim of her own psychosis, to understand that it wasn't
her fault...but Douglas is still Douglas.
The crazy women looks at him.
He flips her off.
Fade out.
The END.