"Faded"

                           by

                    Gregory Thompson

FADE IN:

INT. SIDEWALK - DAY

MARK and ELLIE stroll along holding hands.

They laugh at a joke, but still keep STRIDING.

                         ELLIE
            We still watching Hitchcock
            tomorrow night?

                         MARK
            It's a date.  You want me to bring
            them over to your place?

                         ELLIE
            No, I'll come after work.

                         MARK
            I'd like to see your place.  You
            realize I haven't been over there yet.

They pass a bum sitting against a building.

                         ELLIE
                   (shrugging)
            I know, but I just find it better
            to come over here since it's on my
            way home.
                   (snuggling)
            I tell you what.  I'll wear that
            red dress.

                         MARK
            You know I like that red dress.

                         ELLIE
            With nothing on underneath.

Mark sarcastically TILTS his head to the sky, thinking.

                         MARK
            Let me think...mmm...okay.  You
            talked me into it.

                         ELLIE
            So what are you going to do for the
            rest of the afternoon?

                         MARK
                   (laughs)
            Think about you in that red dress.

                                                            2.

                         ELLIE
            ...With nothing on underneath,
            remember...

                         MARK
                   (grinning)
            I know...
                   (changes tone)
            Probably just watch a movie or
            something.

They EMBRACE.

                         ELLIE
            See you tomorrow.

                         MARK
            Bye.

Mark WALKS off and Ellie watches him.  She WAVES.

Next, Ellie GOES around the corner.

EXT. ADJACENT SIDEWALK - CONTINUOUS

Ellie walks along

INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

PAUL, Ellie's husband, is pouring over a set of black and
white photographs that he had just taken out of a manila
envelope.

On the pictures is Ellie with Mark.  Eating, laughing,
holding hands.  Paul is disappointed.

Ellie approaches the car.

When Ellie opens the door and gets in, he puts on a smile
and dumps the pictures on the side of the seat.  Everything
is fine.

                         PAUL
            Hi honey.

                         ELLIE
            You ready?

                         PAUL
            What took you so long?  I've got to
            get back to the office in forty
            minutes.

                                                            3.

                         ELLIE
            I saw some pretty shoes.

                         PAUL
            Mmmm.

Ellie turns on the radio with her left hand.

He notices something about Ellie's hand and grabs it.

                         PAUL
            Where's your wedding ring?

The bum STRUGGLES by the car window.

                         ELLIE
                   (slightly nervous)
            Oh!  It's right--

She SEARCHES a couple spots before bringing it from her
jean's pocket.

                         ELLIE
            --here.  I went tanning today and
            took it off so I wouldn't look
            goofy with a white ring on my hand.

                         PAUL
                   (not fully believing)
            Okay.
                   (changing subject)
            Let's go. I want to beat the lunch
            crowd.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. SIDEWALK - MOMENTS LATER

Mark exits a restaurant/deli with a sandwich.  He takes a
bit and SEES something across the street.

A flickering Ellie walks along, where he and her had been
moments before.

When she walks around the corner, Mark is CREEPED out, but
decides to follow.

He HUDDLES against the building and peeks around the corner.

Ellie MOVES along with surprising speed and suddenly
FLICKERS out.  Mark RUBS his eyes and when he opens them

Ellie is standing by a car, reaching for the handle...

                                                            4.

Then she and the car disappear.

Mark doesn't know what to think and CAUTIOUSLY takes a bite
of his sandwich, thinking it might diappear also.

                                            FADE INTO:

INT. MARK'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Mark walks in, dumping his keys and jacket on the adjacent
stand.  As he walks away from the door, a MENACING SHADOW
skitters away from the main window.

Next, he kicks his shoes off and heads to the

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Living room.  Mark turns on the TV and pops in a horror movie.

He FLUFFS the pillows and relaxes.

                                           SLOW DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

The credits are scrolling and Mark is asleep.

                                            FADE INTO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

Mark is sprawled out.

Moments later, he BOLTS up, frightened.

He glances around him.

After rubbing his eyes awake, he gets up.

Mark walks into the kitchen, but

JUMPS back.  He BELTS out a scream.

In front of him is a ghostly figure of a man.  It just
stands there.  The face is blurred.  It shimmers in the hall.

Further back, against the wall is another figure.  It hides
in the shadows, but can clearly be seen HOVERING.

Mark PLANTS himself against the wall.  He smiles.

He PEEKS back around the corner and sees nothing.

                                                            5.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

He PEEKS his head out and still sees nothing.

He crosses the hall into the bathroom.  He slowly puts his
hand on the knob and opens it.

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

And there is the first figure standing by the tub.  Face is
still blurry.

Behind Mark, the second figure RUSHES by.

Mark WHIRLS.  Nothing.  When he turns back into the
bathroom, it's empty.

                         MARK
            Ridiculous.

He SPLASHES cold water on his face.  Mark is awake now and
leaves.

INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Mark is putting the finishing touches on a sandwich.

With food and drink in hand, he

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Goes into the living room.

As he WALKS by the TV, he notices a pile of scattered movies.

In the pile are numerous horror movies, all very recognizable
form their titles.

Mark REALIZES this is what's causing his hallucinations.  He
KICKS them.

                         MARK
            Sheesh...!

After sitting, Mark takes a bite of the sandwich.

The second one continues to LURK in the background.

A light wind BLOWS the napkin to the floor.

Mark WHIPS his head around and sees the two ghosts.  He
FREAKS OUT, knocking his food to the floor.

                                                            6.

EXT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

He DASHES out of the house and jumps into his car.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

He LOWERS his head to the steering wheel, trying to catch
his breath.

His hand turns the key.  The car STARTS easily.  Mark raises
his head and CHECKS his rearview mirror.

And the ghosts are in the back seat.  Sitting side by side.
The first ghost's face is even clearer.

                         MARK
            What the hell!

EXT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

Mark JUMPS out, keeping an eye on the car, though no one is
in there now.

He LOOKS in all directions.  No one is watching him.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

He checks the car once more and gets in when he thinks it's
safe.

Mark puts his hand on the gearshift.

The BUM appears inches from the window.  He RAPS one knock.

Mark is STARTLED and GRABS the door handle and recklessly
jumps out, hearly knocking over the bum.

                         MARK
            Who are you!?

                         HAROLD
            I'm Harold.

                         MARK
            What are you doing here!?

                         HAROLD
            You'd think I'm crazy.  But I was
            following something that was
            following you.

                         MARK
                   (calming)
            You ARE crazy.

                                                            7.

                         HAROLD
            I saw two of THEM following you.

Mark STUMBLES back, as if fainting, but catches himself.

                         MARK
            Them?

                         HAROLD
            You didn't see them?

                         MARK
            No.

                         HAROLD
            But you saw them earlier...?

                         MARK
            Yes...

                         HAROLD
            Is that why it's been a little crazy?

Mark NODS.

                         HAROLD
            Could I have some water?

                         MARK
            Sure.

Mark goes into the house and returns with a glass of water.

Behind Harold are the two figures.  One closely following
and the second hiding further back.

                         HAROLD
            They're behind me, aren't they.

The shadows disappear.

                         MARK
            They were.

Harold takes the water from Mark and drinks it in one gulp.

                         MARK
            I've been seeing them all day.

                         HAROLD
            Just them two?

                                                            8.

                         MARK
            Yeah.  I thought it was because I
            watched some scary movies last
            night, but they just keep appearing.

                         HAROLD
            I know.

                         MARK
            You know?  How?

                         HAROLD
            I have a gift.  Or a curse to some
            people.  I am a supernatural
            visionary.

                         MARK
            A what?

                         HAROLD
            A ghost seer.

                         MARK
            That's your gift?  I thought
            everyone could see ghosts.

                         HAROLD
            Only special ones.

                         MARK
            I have special ghosts?

Harold only NODS.

                         HAROLD
            One of the ghosts is your guardian.

                         MARK
            My guardian?  Like an angel?

                         HAROLD
            No.  He's not an angel.  Just a
            being that watches over you.

                         MARK
            Right.  And you're the Pope.

                         HAROLD
                   (loudly)
            And the other ghost is evil!

Mark smiles.

                                                            9.

                         MARK
            Harold!  I've had quite enough
            happen to me today and I don't need
            some bum instructing me on some
            guardian I might have!  I watched
            some bad movies last night and my
            mind is paying me back! Goodbye!

                         HAROLD
            Can you see their faces!

                         MARK
            No, I can't.

                         HAROLD
            Then you need to know something
            right now.  Just listen for a
            minute.  After I'm done, you can
            leave and forget what I said, but I
            have to tell you.

Once again, Harold CHECKS the street.

                         HAROLD
            One of those ghosts is the image of
            a real person that will harm you.

                         MARK
            Harm me?  Why?

                         HAROLD
            That I don't know.

                         MARK
            But why do I have a guardian?

                         HAROLD
            He's trying to show you it's face.
            The guardian doesn't have the power
            to tell you everything.  You have
            to either figure out who it is or--

Mark waits for Harold to continue.  When he doesn't,

                         MARK
            Or what?

                         HAROLD
            Or let it happen.

                         MARK
            Why the blurry faces?

                                                           10.

                         HAROLD
            The closer the man gets to actually
            hurting you, the clearer the
            ghost's face will get.

                         MARK
            It has been getting clearer.

                         HAROLD
            Just be careful.

                         MARK
            So which ghost is which?

Harold shrugs.

                         HAROLD
            That's all I know.  You'll have to
            figure that one out on your own.

                         MARK
            Thanks, I guess.

A concerned Harold watches Mark go into the house.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

He quickly goes through the living room, expecting something
to be there, but it's empty.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

He picks up the phone and punches in a number.

                         MARK
            Hello?

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            Mark?  I told you not to call after
            five.  I have to leave.

Mark sees the clock.  '4:58'

                         MARK
            It's only two til.  I have to talk
            to you.

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            Make it quick.

                         MARK
            I've been seeing these strange guys.

                                                           11.

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            Ghosts?

                         MARK
            Yeah.  I almost hit this buy and he
            told me one of them is going to
            hurt me.

There is silence on the other end.

                         MARK
            Ellie?

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            Mark.  I've been seeing ghosts too.

                         MARK
            How many?

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            Two, why?

                         MARK
            Can you see their faces?

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            Just on one--

                         MARK
            Where do you live?

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            I'm going out, Mark.  I won't--

                         MARK
            Where do you live!  You're in danger!

                         ELLIE
                   (voice through phone)
            427 Williams.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. ELLIE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

                         MARK
            Okay, Stay there.  I'll be right over.

                                                           12.

She hangs up the phone, then immediately tries to dial
another number.

                         ELLIE
            Come on Paul, pick up...

But there's seven rings and she gives up.

EXT. ELLIE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

A shadow walks up to the house.

INT. ELLIE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The doorknob JIGGLES.  The door opens and in walks Paul.

                         ELLIE
            Hey, I just tried to call you.

He has other intentions, as indicated by his eyes.

Ellie unabashedly steps closer.

                         ELLIE
            What's wrong?

Paul takes a short step forward and STABS Ellie with a
butcher knife once in the stomach.  She DROPS to the floor.
Paul DRAGS her GAGGING body over in front of the sofa.

EXT. ELLIE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Through the window, Paul's shadow STABS the knife through
the air repeatedly.

She SHRIEKS.

INT. ELLIE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

He WHIZZES the blade into Ellie's chest and PLUNGES it twice
more.

Quick SOUNDS of SUCTION as blood SPURTS out.

Ellie's screams gradually fade as a last defining GURGLE
signals that she's dead.

Paul drops the knife and walks out.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. MARK'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER

Mark races around a corner and

                                                           13.

INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

PULLS up to a house.

Mark sprints to the front door, which has been left open.
He slows and cautiously

INT. ELLIE'S HOUSE/FOYER - CONTINUOUS

PEERS inside.

When he thinks it's safe, he enters the house.

                         MARK
            Ellie?

He moves through and

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Checks the bedroom.

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Then the bathroom.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Lastly, he approaches the living room and sees legs splayed
out from behind the couch.

                         MARK
            No...Ellie...

He DIVES around the couch and there is

Ellie, BLOODY and horrendously CUT.

                         MARK
            Ellie...I'm so sorry...

As he is ROCKING her, he notices some pictures sitting on a
table and bookcase.

CLOSE UP of pictures.  They are of Ellie and Paul.  Curious,
but still sad, he picks one of them up and takes it out of
the frame.

He TURNS it over and, written on the back is '5th Wedding
Anniversary'.

He CRUMBLES it up and BLAZES it at Ellie.

                                                           14.

Mark goes back to the foyer and sees more pictures.  He
swipes them off the shelf, then SEES

Both ghosts again.

The first one's face is crystal clear and Mark compares it
with the picture.

The second ghost, who's staying far away, still cannot be seen.

A door opens behind Mark.

The two ghosts disappear.

Paul stands in the doorway holding a baseball bat.

                         MARK
            I didn't know.

Neither man moves.

                         MARK
            Did you do this?

Paul CREEPS toward Mark.

                         MARK
            I didn't know, I swear.

Mark makes his way around the couch as Paul STALKS him.

The BLADE gleams to Mark's attention.  While keeping an eye
on Paul, Mark kneels down and GRABS the blade.

Paul takes that opportunity to STRIKE, SWINGING the bat down.
Mark rolls to the side, the bat hitting the sofa.

                         MARK
            I saw that you were the one who was
            going to hurt me.

Paul PIVOTS towards Mark again.

Mark SWIPES the knife once, but it doesn't phase Paul.

The two men STUDY each other for a moment and before Mark
knows it, he's caught in the corner of the room.

Paul catches the vulnerability and HITS Mark in the arm with
the bat.  Mark RAISES his arm to protect himself and Paul
hits Mark in the leg this time.

                                                           15.

                         MARK
            You've already killed Ellie...but I
            won't let you kill me.

Mark STUMBLES to the floor and as Paul HOISTS the bat over
his head to strike again, Mark PUSHES the knife into Paul's
stomach.

The bat is RELEASED.

Paul DOUBLES OVER on top of Mark.  Paul's breathing stops.

Mark SHOVES Paul over and stands, still NURSING his leg and
arm.  He LIMPS across the living room, looking at Paul, then
at Ellie.

There is a picture of her and Paul at her head.  Paul sees
this and STOMPS out.

A ghost APPEARS in the living room and walks to the door,
with it's BACK TO CAMERA.

EXT. ELLIE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Mark LIMPS out of the house, exhuasted.  He makes his way to
wards his car.

                         HAROLD
            Don't you think you should stay and
            wait.

Mark TURNS and sees Harold standing.

                         MARK
            You...

                         HAROLD
            Yes.

                         MARK
            Wait for what?

SIRENS are faint, but drawing closer.

Harold and Mark LOOKS towards the sirens, then back at each
other.

                         HAROLD
            It's the right thing to do.

Mark SLUMPS to the sidewalk.

                         MARK
            I know.

                                                           16.

AS CAMERA ROLLS BACK,

                                            FADE OUT.