MASQUERADE  

by  

Cindy L. Keller

                                       
                                 skyburg@hotmail.com

                                                         1.                                  

FADE IN:

AGAINST A BLACK BACKGROUND

A series of still shots: A lit candle, jack-o-lantern,  Ouija game. Points of a pitchfork pierce up through the picture and rake across the screen. Demonic LAUGHTER.

INT. SUBURBAN APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Lamplight leads down to dark-haired SUSIE (20s). She is on the bed, absorbed in a paperback book. She’s wearing colorful flannel pajamas and fuzzy slippers.

EXT. FARM - SUMMER - NIGHT

Moonlight lights the tops of cornstalks. 

Super: “1930”. 

A flash of white between the stalks.

NORA (20s) in a white dress, runs through the cornfield. She glances behind her for a brief second, continues to run.

QUICK RHYTHMIC HEARTBEATS pace the way through the cornstalks. The edge of the cornfield opens up to reveal a dirt road ahead.

Nora’s bare feet pound through the grass. One foot reaches the  

DIRT ROAD 

as she glances behind her again. WHUMP! She comes to an abrupt stop. Nora’s face is frozen in shock. 

A pitchfork impaled in her abdomen.

Nora falls forward. 

The pitchfork handle sinks into soft earth. Nora’s feet   elevated from the ground.

                                                   2.

INT. SUBURBAN APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT 

Susie shivers, turns the page in the book.

INT. BARN - DAY - 1930

LUCA (30s, dark hair) beneath a blanket, asleep in a pile of straw. BOOM! Sunlight bursts into the room. 

                      VOICE (OS)
          There he is!

Luca wakes. He appears frightened as a MOB of men in cowboy hats snatch him up. Luca is fully dressed in gypsy garb. The men take Luca from the barn.  

EXT. BARN - DAY

A rope binds Luca’s wrists. His hands are fisted, and tense against the rope, there’s no room to move.

                      LUCA
          What are you doing! 

Luca faces the mob of people.

                      MOB
          Kill him! -- Kill the gypsy 
          scum! 

                      LUCA
          What have I done? What have
          I done!

One end of the rope is knotted around Luca’s wrists. The other end is knotted securely on a horse’s saddle. 

A MAN slaps the horse on it’s rump.

                       MAN
          Ye-ah!

                                                     3.

Luca is quickly pulled down to the dirt --

into a cloud of dust, a few feet behind the thunder of hooves striking earth. 

INT. SUBURBAN APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT

BILL (20s) enters the room. His long hair is wet and combed. A towel hangs down from around his waist. 

Susie is really into reading her book. 

Bill inches toward her, then in one movement, leaps next to her on the bed, startles her.

                      BILL
          Hey, hey, chicky poo, wanna
          fool around?

Bill CLICKS his tongue and winks his eye (motioning for her to join him).

                      BILL
          All fresh and clean.

Bill’s smile, warm and inviting. His eyes roll from her -- to his side of the bed. 

Susie’s eyes say -- yes. She closes the book and sets it on the nightstand. On the cover of the book: A pitchfork. Above the pitchfork, the title: “LUCA”. A CLICK of the lamp. The room is dark. 

INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY

A mid-size family store with fully stocked shelves.

The petite Susie struggles with a cart. She stops and grabs a case of beer.

                      SUSIE
          This should be fun.    
          
GLORIA, 20s, with a little pizzazz, in a mini-skirt, leather jacket, stands beside Susie.

                                                     4.

                      GLORIA
          So... what’s he like?

SCREAMS fill the air at the end of the aisle. A frantic little GIRL (7) slides around the corner and enters the aisle. She quickly reclaims her footing, runs closer. 

A LAUGHING BOY (10) in a Devil mask rounds the corner, a few feet behind the little girl. The boy passes by. Another SCREAM is followed by girlish GIGGLES. 

Susie gives Gloria a remember when look and smiles. 

                      SUSIE
          I really don’t know him all
          that well. He’s stopped in
          a couple of times before work.
          He seemed pretty nice.

Susie puts the beer in the cart.                                                                                       
                                         
                      GLORIA
          Nice? What I meant was, what 
          does he look like? Is he cute?
            
Susie attempts to move the cart, one wheel won’t budge. She gives it a kick.                                                      
                                       
                      SUSIE 
          Stupid cart.

                      GLORIA
          You’re not answering me.

Susie’s attention snaps back toward Gloria. 

                      SUSIE
          Sorry. Picture a lumberjack.
        
                      GLORIA
          A lumberjack? I thought you
          said he works with Bill? 
          
                      SUSIE
          He does.
          
Gloria appears confused. She tries to shake it off.

                                                     5.

CHECKOUT AREA 
          
Halloween displays. A magazine rack. Susie fights to push the cart toward the checkout. Gloria doesn’t bother to help her. Susie notices the magazines. 

                      SUSIE
          By the way, I’m done with
          your book.

                      GLORIA
          So, what’d you think of it?

                      SUSIE
          That was creepy, and to know
          that really happened... Whooh!
          -- I wanna be old when I die.
          
Gloria nods in agreement.

                      GLORIA
          Me, too.

Susie leaves the cart, lifts the beer to the counter.

                      SUSIE
          I don’t understand why he      
          killed her though. I thought 
          he loved her.
          
                      GLORIA
          Probably money. I had a feeling 
          something like that was gonna
          happen right from the very
          beginning. 

                      SUSIE
          You did?          
                                                    
A female CASHIER (20s) rings up the beer. 

                      CASHIER
          Seventeen ninety-five. 

                      GLORIA
          You didn’t?

                                                     6.

The cashier waits patiently.

                      GLORIA 
          Susie, you’re simply too naive
          for your own good. If someone
          was to smile at you, you’d
          think they were nice.

The cashier smiles at their conversation. Susie notices her smile, and digs through her purse for money.
                                                     
                      SUSIE
          I would not. -- It’s just 
          there wasn’t any actual proof.
          There was no judge, no jury.
          They just killed him. -- Dead.
          
The cashier looks interested. 

                      CASHIER
          Who?

                      GLORIA
                (to cashier)
          It’s a book.

The cashier shrugs.

                      SUSIE
                (to cashier)
          It wasn’t just a book.
                (to Gloria)
          He was a human being.

                      GLORIA
          Well, that’s how they did
          things back then. Gypsies
          weren’t real people.

                      SUSIE
          What?  

From behind Susie and Gloria -- a female voice.

                      FEMALE (OS)
          Can you continue that after
          you pay her? I’m in a hurry.  
      
                                                    7.

Susie looks behind her.

                      SUSIE
          Sorry.

Susie pays for the beer, takes it. Gloria and Susie go toward the door. 

                      SUSIE
          I don’t think he did it. I
          
                      GLORIA
                (interrupting)
          Who else could have it been?                                                                 
                                                    
Gloria and Susie go out the door.   

INT. METAPHYSICAL BOOKSTORE - DAY   

OLIVIA (30s, owner of the bookstore) rings Susie’s purchase.

                      OLIVIA
          Conjuring spirits?

                      SUSIE
          Having a party. 

Olivia smiles.

                      OLIVIA
          That’s always fun. Your  
          total’s twenty-five
          twenty-one.

Olivia lifts a Ouija game from the glass counter, puts it into a bag. Inside the counter: stones of various shapes and colors, tarot cards, crystal balls. Susie pays for her purchase.

                      OLIVIA
          Thank you. You come back and
          see us real soon now.

Susie nods and turns to leave.

                                                     8.                                                                                        

EXT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

The misty air in a streetlight reaches down to a deserted dirt road.  

Shadows stretch across the apartment like arthritic fingers that cling to the building. A deep set flickering light comes from inside a window. Moving toward the window, the light. 

INT. - APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 

DRIFTING INTO a dark room, past chunky shapes of furniture, toward the light in the adjoining room.

DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT

Four people sit around a table that’s lit by candlelight.

The glow illuminates their faces. Notice all eyes, closed. It’s Susie, Bill, Gloria, and CHUCK (20s). 
 
Susie’s wearing a gypsy-like babushka, hoop earrings.  

Bill in his paint-speckled painters whites.

Gloria looks sharp, perfect hair and make-up. She’s dressed to impress.  

Chuck, a man’s man, gripping onto a beer. He’s wearing a baseball cap, orange hunting vest that doesn’t pull together because of his beer belly, and a thermal underwear shirt.     

Flickering light flashes on the walls, reveals another couple. RON (20s) wearing a cowboy hat, and DEBBIE (20s). They watch over the group at the table between sips of beer, and seem amused by what they see. 

On the table: beer and cola bottles. The ashtray in front of Chuck is overflowing with crushed butts. 
                                                   
Susie opens her eyes. Her face is child-like, innocent. She forces out a BREATH and looks around.

                                                     9.

                      SUSIE
          Let’s try someone else.
                                                     
                      CHUCK
          How bout Paul, your neighbor?
  
                     SUSIE
          We could -- if he was dead.

Ron reaches over and nudges Chuck. Chuck’s glare stabs through Ron for a brief second. Ron’s hands go up, sorry. Chuck shakes it off, focuses back on the table.

                      CHUCK
          Hey, he might be. His ol lady
          could’da found out about that
          blonde. -- Anyone seen him
          lately? 

Bill LAUGHS.

                      BILL
          Tell it like that! 
                                                     
                      SUSIE
          Come on, now.                                                     
                                                                    
                      CHUCK                    
          Okay, okay, sorry.

                      SUSIE
          There is someone that I’d
          like to hear from.

Susie looks to Gloria -- Gloria shrugs knowingly.

                      GLORIA
          Who knew that wasn’t coming? 

                      BILL
          What? -- I mean who?

                      SUSIE
          His name was Luca. He was a
          gypsy.

                                                    10.                                       

                      GLORIA
          He was a murderer.
                                                    
Bill’s puzzled glare lands on Chuck’s wide eyes. 

                      CHUCK
          Hey, man, she’s your wife,
          so it’s up to you.

Bill turns to find Susie’s face, her expression. It says -- oh really now. Chuck LAUGHS.

                      CHUCK
          Why don’t we just drink some
          beers and give the spirits a
          rest?

                       RON
                (musically)
          A scared again, naturally.

Ron moves up behind Chuck, struts like a chicken. 

                       RON
          Ba Ba Ba Bak!

The girls LAUGH. Chuck is cool to the humiliation, but something’s not quite right. Something in his eyes tell us he’s pissed.   

                       CHUCK
          Someone needs to tell this
          guy to chill out before he
          gets his feelings hurt.
          
Ron bolts up, ready to fight.

                       RON
          Oh, yeah? By who?

Chuck’s rises from his seat.

                       CHUCK
          I’ll show you who.

                                                    11.

                       BILL
          Hey, hey, hey! We’re all
          friends here. Come on, Chuck
          sit back down. Let it go.

Chuck studies the situation.
                                                    
                      BILL
          Chuck? 

FLASHBACK - ROOM AT THE HAUNTED HOUSE

Chuck and Ron stand in the center of a polka-dotted room. 

Someone in a GORILLA costume sneaks into the room, behind Chuck and Ron.

One of the dots tilts up, reveals a FACE. The camouflaged person eyes Chuck and moves away from the wall.

Chuck’s eyes widen. He didn’t see that coming.

The gorilla sticks his face in front of Chuck. Chuck YELLS out and runs for the door.

Ron LAUGHS.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - BACK TO PRESENT DAY

Ron LAUGHS as Chuck sits back down. 

                       CHUCK
          Funny boy always tryin ta punk  
          me out. No more. Let’s do this.

                      SUSIE             
          Alright then, everyone join 
          hands and close your eyes.

The group complies.

                      SUSIE 
          We’re looking for the spirit
          of Luca.

                                                    12.
 
                      GLORIA
          The murderer in the book.

Susie glares at Gloria.

                      GLORIA
          I was only trying to help.  
          You know how many Lucas there
          are?                                                                                      

Bill looks to Chuck, finds him wiggling his fingers toward the center of the table, poking fun at Susie.

                      CHUCK
          Eenie, meanie, chili beanie.
          The spirits are about to speak.

                      SUSIE
          Ssshhh!                      

Chuck makes a face -- sorry. 

Susie closes her eyes. The group closes their eyes.  

                      SUSIE
          Luca, this is your chance. The 
          chance you never received in
          life to speak out. Come to us
          Luca. Come to us and help us
          clear your name.                                           
                                                                                                    
Chuck’s eyes are closed a few seconds. He opens one eye -- then two -- finds nothing. He looks relieved.  

                      CHUCK
          See, this stuff doesn’t work.                                                   

The group open their eyes to see Chuck slugging down his beer. Who wouldn’t know, is written all over their faces. 

                      SUSIE
          It could have --

                                                   13.

BACK TO THE LIVING ROOM

The curtains puff out. A black cloud-like shadow rolls in through the open window.

                      SUSIE (OS)
          -- if you would’da given it
          a chance.  
                                             
The shadow stretches into the room.

                      CHUCK (OS)
          I’ve been giving it a chance
          for the last hour. Ain’t no
          spirits coming here.

                      BILL (OS)
          Who were you trying to get
          a hold of anyway?

BACK TO THE DINING ROOM
                          
Luca’s face appears on the wall. He eyes the group as

the group eye Susie, awaiting her response.

                      SUSIE
          A gypsy that killed his lover.

Gloria points an accosting finger at Susie.

                      GLORIA
          There, you said it! He killed
          her!

Susie shakes her head in disagreement. 

                      SUSIE
          I don’t think he did.

                      GLORIA
          But he did!         

                      SUSIE
          So where’s the proof?

                                                    14.

                      GLORIA
          In the book, Susie. 

Gloria looks to the others, explains.

                      GLORIA
          He was poor. Met a woman
          who had money --

It’s obvious that Gloria has made her point to Chuck and Bill, they nod, shrug in agreement.
                                                    
                      SUSIE
          -- and was killed by a mob
          wearing cowboy hats --  

Susie glares at Ron. Ron inches back.                                                    

                      GLORIA
          -- that was after they found 
          her in the cornfield. Stabbed
          through the belly and propped        
          up on a pitchfork like some
          kind of scarecrow.

Susie shakes her head in disagreement. 

                      SUSIE
          I don’t believe it.
                                          
                      GLORIA
          Hummm

                      SUSIE
          He loved her. I wish he 
          would’ve come through.

                      RON
          Maybe he didn’t want to be in
          the same room as a chicken.
          Bawk Ba Ba Bawk!

Ron’s LAUGHTER is too much for Chuck, he’s had enough. He stands. 

                      CHUCK
          Outside! Now! Me and you.

                                                   15.

                      RON
          Lead the way big boy.

Luca smiles and fades away.

Chuck and Ron leave the room.

                      BILL
          Aw, Hell.

Susie glares at Bill.                                  

                      SUSIE
          Do something! 
                                          
Bill gets up and follows behind Debbie.

                     GLORIA
          Testosterone.          

An OS NOISE (breaking glass). 

                      SUSIE
          Aaahhh!

Susie gets up, goes to the

LIVING ROOM

and CLICKS on the lamp. It lights the floor, the broken vase, silk wildflowers.

                      SUSIE
          My mother’s vase.

Bill and Chuck enter the apartment and close the door.

                      BILL
          What is it with you two? 

Chuck shrugs.

                      CHUCK
          It’s a long, long story.

Bill sees Susie squatting to pick up the broken vase.

                                                    16.

                      BILL
          What happened? 

                      SUSIE
          You tell me.

Bill looks around, finds a breeze entering through the open window.                                             

                      BILL
          Probably the wind.
                                                
BILL

centered at the window, closes it.

Susie watches Chuck move past her, going toward the dining room.
                                                
                      SUSIE
          And where’s Ron?    
                                      
                      BILL
          He’s sittin this round out.

Susie joins Bill at the window, looks out.

INT./EXT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ron’s laid out on the ground. He sits up, rubs his left eye. Debbie squats next to him. 

Susie turns from the window, to face Bill. Bill is expressionless. 

                      SUSIE
          Is he alright?

                      BILL
          He should be. Chuck only
          popped him once.

Bill turns from the window. 

Debbie helps Ron get up.

                                                   17.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 

Bill picks up a piece of the vase and drops it quickly. Blood forms on his cut finger. 
                                                                          
                      BILL 
          Damn! 

Bill lifts the cut finger to his mouth.

                      BILL       
          I could use a little help.
                                            
Susie goes to Bill.

                      SUSIE
          What’d you do?

Bill looks to Susie. She mothers him. They leave the room. 

EXT. - COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT

A black Ford moves down the road. We hear 50s MUSIC coming from inside of it.

INT./EXT. CAR - CONTINUOUS 

Debbie snuggles up to Ron as he drives. 
                                                   
Something outside catches her eye.

It’s a lighted sign: “What a ride the Devil take you on”, above the lighted area on the sign: “FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH”.

                      DEBBIE
          That’s where I got baptized.

Ron looks out the window, toward the church.

                      RON
          Now, look at you -- you lush.

                                                  18.

Debbie frowns at Ron smile. 

                      DEBBIE
          Shut the hell up.

EXT. PARTY STORE - NIGHT 

Debbie waits in Ron’s idling car, listening to LOUD 50s MUSIC. 

Ron exits the building carrying a bag. His left eye now  swollen shut. A hand reaches out and jerks him to the side of the building.
                                                
The bag falls to the sidewalk. CRASH! A puddle of beer oozes out of the bag.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS 

Debbie sits in the car listening to MUSIC. The driver’s door opens. She turns to look. Her eyes widen.

                      DEBBIE
          Get outta my car!

Luca’s in the driver’s seat. His eyes are wild. 

                      DEBBIE
          Did you hear me? Get out!
                                                  
Luca tilts his head and smiles at her. Debbie reaches for the keys in the ignition, but Luca is quicker. He turns the key, revs the MOTOR. 

Debbie tugs on the door handle. It doesn’t move. She tries the window handle, it doesn’t budge. In desperation, she frantically pounds on the door.    

                      DEBBIE
          Help! Help! Somebody help me!

Debbie SCREAMS.

Luca’s diabolical LAUGHTER forces Debbie face him.

                                                    19.

Luca looks at the steering column. He’s geeked up, ready for excitement.                       

                      LUCA
          Let’s see how fast this 
          little pony’ll go.

The MOTOR revs. Luca drops the shifter into “D”. Tires SQUEAL as they are jolted by the quickness of the car. Luca looks to Debbie and smiles.

                      LUCA
          Now you can scream.

Debbie SCREAMS. Luca LAUGHS.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - CONTINUOUS 

The Ford SQUEALS down the road. SCREAMS come from both inside and outside of the vehicle.

A rope is tied to the back bumper. The rope is taunt. The car is obviously pulling something. 

The car turns onto a dark road, sends a cloud of dirt and gravel from the rear tires. Chuckholes in the road.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS 

Debbie and Luca bounce in their seats from the chuckholes the car hits.

Luca veers the wheel off to the right.
                                                    
A BLACK SCREEN

CRASH!

EXT. CAR - COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT

The aftermath of the crash. Steam HISSES as it slivers up between the smashed grill and a tree. A large branch is on the hood. It extends into the vehicle through a hole in the windshield. 

                                                   20.                                           

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS 

The tree branch has speared into Debbie’s chest.

Blood oozes from the corner of her mouth. Luca sniffs it, savors the smell, then licks it away. 
                                                                       
                       LUCA
          Come to Pa Pa.          

Luca grasps Debbie’s cheeks firmly as he sniffs her face, enjoys the smell... then inhales deeply. Luca’s eyes quiver with delight.

Debbie’s body arches as her soul is pulled out from her nostrils and enters Luca. 

Luca loosens his grip, lets Debbie’s head fall back against the seat. Debbie’s cheeks are burnt, swollen with blisters. Dark marks, the size of fingerprints, are centered inside her blistered skin.    

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT 

Luca moves toward the back of the car.

Ron is on the ground. His hands are bound with rope and tied to the back bumper of the car. Ron wiggles up toward the bumper, reaches for the knot above him. 

Luca pounds his fist once on the car.

Ron’s body convulses. 
                                                    
Luca removes the bumper from Ron’s neck. Blood spurts out of Ron’s mouth and the deep cut on his neck.  

EXT. FIELD - NIGHT

Luca stands beneath a full moon -- looking up. His arms reach up to the Heavens. He LAUGHS insanely. 

Debbie’s body droops down around the branch that lifts her above the weeds. Behind Debbie, Ron, in the same position.   
                                                    21.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Gloria and Chuck at the table. Alone. The Ouija board is on the table. Gloria is fiddling with it.   

Chuck seems to be interested in Gloria almost as much as his beer, but she’s not paying him any attention. Gloria sips her cola. Chuck puffs on a cigarette.   

                      CHUCK
          So, how long you known Susie? 

                      GLORIA
          She’s been my best friend 
          since I was about five.

Gloria looks around -- where is Susie? 

                      CHUCK
          Ya know, if I would’a met you 
          on the street, I never 
          would’a took you to be one
          of them kooks who’s into 
          this stuff.

That statement struck a cord. Chuck’s got Gloria’s full attention now.

                      GLORIA
          What do you mean by that? 

Chuck shrugs.

                      CHUCK
          Spooks. 

He reaches for his beer.                                            

                      CHUCK
          This is the only spirit I 
          believe in.

Chuck lifts his beer in a toast.

                      CHUCK                
          Reach out and touch faith.

                                                  22.
          
Chuck takes a swig of his beer then chases it with a drag on his cigarette. It’s evident Chuck’s thoughts are somewhere else now. Cigarette smoke oozes from his mouth. 

                      CHUCK
          Reach out and touch faith...                            
                                                                             
                      GLORIA
          Ya know, I read somewhere  
          that they use nicotine in
          pesticides.

Chuck snaps back to the present. Conversation?
                                                                                         
                      CHUCK
          Huh? Well, I guess it’s lucky    
          for me that I’m not a bug.                                       

Chuck smiles, happy with his comeback. Gloria doesn’t seem to be. She’s frowning.
                                                   
                      GLORIA
          Hum...

Gloria looks at the wall. The clock. It’s eleven-thirty. Time to leave. She rises from her seat.                                                                                            
                                                                                       
                      CHUCK
          Ya know, I used to believe in
          this stuff when I was a kid.
          Shoot, I was even an altar boy.
          What a joke.

Gloria’s face shrivels. 

                      GLORIA
          So, what happened to you?

Chuck smiles, sort of embarrassed, but not really.

                      CHUCK
          You got a boyfriend?  
                                                  
                      GLORIA
          No.

                                                    23.

                      CHUCK
          Want one? 

Beneath the clear circle on the Ouija oracle is the word “NO”.

Chuck looks down. He smiles and points at the game.
                                                    
                      CHUCK
          I guess that answers my 
          question. Does that answer
          my question?

Gloria looks at the Ouija board, rolls her eyes.
 
                      GLORIA
          Susie! 

Susie and Bill enter the room. Bill’s hand is bandaged.
 
                      SUSIE
          Yeah. 

                      GLORIA 
          I’m gonna get going. I’ve
          got a class tomorrow.

                      SUSIE 
          Ah, Gloria, already? We didn’t
          even get a chance to use the
          Ouija.

Gloria nods.
                                           
                      CHUCK
          What? You a teacher?                                 

                      GLORIA
          No, I’m taking a few classes. 

                      CHUCK
          Honey, you don’t need any
          class. You got plenty of that.                                                   
                         
Gloria ignores the comment. Chuck shrugs.

                                                    24.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Susie leans to Gloria as they walk toward the door.                                                     

                      SUSIE
          I’m really sorry about tonight.
          I didn’t know he was like that.         
                                                  
                      GLORIA
          It’s alright, Sus. I’ll see ya
          tomorrow.

They continue to the door.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - NIGHT 

Bill and Chuck at the table. Bill begins to clean up.

Susie enters, shivers from a chill.

                      SUSIE
          It’s getting cold in here. -- 
          I hope Ron and Debbie made it
          home alright. Ron was gettin
          pretty well lit.

Chuck shakes his fist proudly.                                                    

                      CHUCK
          You mean pretty well lit up.

                      SUSIE
          Maybe I should call.

Susie goes to the phone, makes a call -- waits. 

                      SUSIE
          There’s no answer.

                      BILL
          They probably went somewhere.

Susie looks at the clock. It’s eleven-forty-five.

                                                   25. 

                      CHUCK
          Yeah, like the hospital.

Susie hangs up the phone.

EXT. FIELD - NIGHT

PARAMEDICS close the back door to the ambulance.

SHERIFF JONES (40) stands with, and focuses on a horror struck WOMAN (20s). Her eyes are a million miles away. A young MAN (20s) wraps an arm around her. Jones reaches over, pats the man on his shoulder.

                      JONES
          You should take her home.

The man nods. Jones goes to his sedan.

INT. JONES CAR - CONTINUOUS

Jones looks out across the field, searching, finds nothing, knowing. Headlights flash behind him.

Jones looks to his rear-view mirror, eyes the tow truck as it pulls away with Ron’s car.

INT. BOOKSTORE - BACKROOM - NIGHT

Smiling eyes on a photograph belong to VIVIAN (60). She sits at a table. A crystal ball centered before her.

Olivia sits beneath light at the table, going over paperwork. The room is a small apartment (kitchen, bedroom, living room all in one). A tall floor lamp is also on by the sofa.                     

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT 

Susie and Bill in bed. 

Susie’s having difficulty sleeping.

                                                    26.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - SUSIE’S DREAM

A moonbeam enters through the picture window. It shines down to Susie. Susie is nude. She sits in a wooden chair, and looks out the window like it is a giant television screen.

There’s movement outside the window. A shadowy figure leaps the width of the lawn in slow motion. It comes a few feet closer, then slips behind a tree.

INTERCUT DREAM - SUSIE AND THE SHADOWY FIGURE

The yard is still. 

The shadowy figure comes out of hiding, zigzags up the lawn from tree to tree, coming closer, pausing just a second behind each tree.

Susie appears calm as she sits in the chair.

The shadowy figure’s image is sharper now, not human. Thick thighs and a tail. He zigzags closer, and ducks behind a tree that is right outside the window. 

CRASH!

A strong wind blows Susie’s hair back. Glass fragments blast around her as she dips her head to brave through the storm.

The wind stops. 

The stillness reveals a jagged, gapping hole in the windowpane.

Susie’s shoulders heave as she tries to catch her breath.
                 
Suddenly a demon head, ten times the size of Susie’s, bursts in through the hole in the window.

The horned head dangles in mid-air, just inches in front of her. Saliva oozes from his mouth, drips off his chin.

                                                   27.

Susie is frozen, staring into the eye of the storm. The demon never loses eye contact with her. He tilts his head and smiles. 

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT - BACK TO PRESENT

Susie springs up in bed. She looks around.  

Bill is sound asleep.

Susie cuddles close to him.

INT. CAR - DAY

Jones looks over death photos of Debbie and Ron. He stops at the photo of Debbie’s cheek. The symbol appears to be burned into her skin, it’s a pitchfork with dots above the prongs.

                      JONES (VO)
          Damn it Smit. Why’d you have 
          to take your vacation now?

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY

Sunlight lights the room. Susie is cuddled next to Bill. They are both asleep. LOUD ROCK MUSIC begins to play. Susie is startled awake. Bill covers his head with a pillow.                                      
                                                  
                      SUSIE
          Bill...

Susie nudges Bill.

                      SUSIE
          Bill!

                      BILL
          Susie, for cryin’ out loud!
          Turn that down!   

Their eyes meet.

                                                    28.

                      SUSIE
          I didn’t turn it on.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Susie and Bill get up, cautiously move toward the door.                          

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 

The window is shut. The door is closed and locked. The music STOPS.  

                      BILL
          Probably a short.                                          
                                                           
Bill shrugs, leaves the same way he came in. Susie goes to the

KITCHEN 

to the coffee maker on the counter. She moves to the sink and fills the pot with WATER.

                      SUSIE
                (mumbling)
          Probably a short, he says. I
          hope the building doesn’t 
          burn down.

Susie jumps. She is startled, surprised.                             
                                 
                      SUSIE                                                
          Bill!   
                                                                        
Susie turns around. Bill’s not there. Susie looks around some more and decides it’s imagination, foolishness. She finishes filling the coffee pot.

A shadow catches the corner of her eye.  

Susie looks around some more, questions herself.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY

Sheriff Jones gets out of his sedan. He pauses for a moment, forces out a BREATH.

                                                    29.

Tunnel vision, from the road -- to a tidy home.

Jones walks toward the house.

EXT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Jones is on the stoop. The door opens, reveals a WOMAN in her 40s just inside.

                      WOMAN
          Sheriff.

                      JONES
          Ms Hoskins?

                      WOMAN
          Yes.

                      JONES
          I’m here about your son, Ron.
          May I come in? 

A concerned Ms. Hoskins opens the door, lets him in.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

The table is set for a romantic dinner for two. There are wine goblets, a candle holder containing a white tapered candle.

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Susie sits on the floor with the Ouija board in her lap.
                                       
The plastic oracle moves swiftly across the board, stopping briefly at different letters.

                      BILL (OS)
          Honey, I’m home!

Susie puts the Ouija board under the bed and gets up.

                                                    30.

INT. APARTMENT - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Susie takes lasagna from the oven while Bill washes his hands at the sink.

                      BILL
          I don’t know what I’m gonna
          do about Chuck.

FLASHBACK - CHUCK’S DAY AT WORK

A paint-chipped house in suburbia.

Chuck stands next to a ladder that’s propped against the house, and guzzles a beer. He bends over to drop the beer bottle and pick up a paint bucket and BELCHES loudly.

Midway up the ladder, Chuck dips his paintbrush into the can. He loses his grip on the can. It drops.

Paint floods across a sheet of plastic beneath him.

BACK TO PRESENT DAY

                      BILL
          He can’t seem to make it
          through the day without gettin
          hammered. And Ron, he was a
          no show. Didn’t even call.

Bill takes a towel from the counter and dries his hands.
                                             
                      BILL
          Chuck said he was gonna go 
          over and apologize. 

Susie turns from the stove to face Bill.
                                             
                      SUSIE
          I don’t believe it. You heard
          how Chuck went on and on this 
          morning about how that wasn’t
          the real him at the party.

Bill changes his tone.
                                                   31.
                     
                      BILL
          I know, and it’s true. He is a
          good guy, Sus. He’d do anything
          for ya. It’s just he’s lettin
          the booze get the best of him.
                                                   
Susie shakes her head in disgust.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - NIGHT 

Susie and Bill are at the table finishing their supper by candlelight when the phone RINGS. 

Susie answers the phone.

                      SUSIE
          Hello. Yeah, hang on.
                (to Bill)
          It’s Chuck.

OS KNOCK. Susie turns into the direction of the noise. She hands the phone to Bill, leaves the room.

                      BILL
                (into the phone)
          Hey Chuck. What’s up? So
          did you razz him about work?

LIVING ROOM

Susie opens the door to find Sheriff Jones on her stoop.

DINING ROOM

Emotion drains from Bill’s face. He slips down into a chair as Susie and Sheriff Jones enter the room. Jones is carrying an 8 x 10 envelope.

                      SUSIE
          Bill, we have company.

                      JONES
          I’m afraid this isn’t a
          social call.

                                                    32.

                      SUSIE
          Bill? Are you alright? What’s
          going on here?

Susie turns from Bill to face the stone-faced Jones.

                      JONES
          Mind if I sit?                                                   

Jones doesn’t wait for an answer, he sits down. Susie moves to the table, stands behind a chair.        

                      JONES
          You had a Halloween party
          last night?

                      BILL
          Yeah, I know what this is 
          about. I just got the --
                
                      JONES
          -- So did you perform any 
          rituals? Sacrifice any souls?

Bill’s face shrivels with confusion. 

                      BILL
          What?

                      JONES
          Someone did!

                      SUSIE
          What are you talking about?

Jones opens an envelope, takes the death photos from inside and throws them on the table in front of her.

                      JONES
          They were here last night?
          At your party?

Susie GASPS when seeing the photos.

                      BILL
           Of course they were. They
           were friends.

                                                    33.

                      SUSIE
          They’re... they’re dead?   

Susie’s eyes roll back. She drops to the floor in a heap.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

The room is lit by the table lamp. Sheriff Jones sits on the sofa with Bill and Susie.

                      JONES
          The guy’s one sick individual.
          It’s very possible he could be 
          from one of the institutions
          that were forced to close.

Bill nods in agreement.

                      BILL
          Thanks to our great and  
          powerful governor.   

Jones nods in agreement, rises from his seat. 

                      JONES
          Well, Mam, I’m glad you’re 
          feeling better. I know it’s not
          much, but if it’s any comfort,
          I want you to know that I will
          get this guy. 
          
Susie nods, cuddles close to Bill. Sheriff Jones takes a business card from his shirt pocket, hands it to Bill.

                      JONES
          If you think of anything, see
          anything, call me.

Bill nods.

                      JONES
          We gotta get this guy locked 
          up and off the streets.

Jones turns for the door.
                                                   34.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - SUBURBS - DAY

An automobile moves down the road, passes a church.

The sign in front of the church: “FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH” The message below reads: “Give in not to temptation”.

INT. FLOWER SHOP - DAY

Susie enjoys the aroma of a red rose.
                                                                                             
                      SUSIE
          He was all apologizing for the 
          way he acted at the party. 
          Said he really liked you and 
          he wanted to see you again.

Gloria is at Susie’s side.   
                                                
                      GLORIA
          I don’t think so. 

Gloria moves away from Susie, looks at the different flower arrangements. 

                      GLORIA
          Maybe we should get a live
          arrangement. 

                      SUSIE
          He seemed sincere.

                      GLORIA
          Sus, no. The guy’s a
          womanizer, and he’s got a 
          temper.
                                                  
Susie shrugs, maybe Gloria’s right.

                      GLORIA
          He’s lucky he was with us
          when they were killed. He’d
          be my first guess as a
          suspect.    

                                                    35.       

                      SUSIE
          Really?

Gloria shakes her head, yes. She moves to the counter and browses through a book of arrangements.

A man in an Italian suit reaches the counter, turns to the CASHIER (20s). It’s Luca. A single red rose in his hand. He pays for the rose.

Luca turns toward Susie as she approaches the counter. He hands her the rose.

                      LUCA
          I overhead you speaking about
          your loss. This is for you. 

Susie appears flabbergasted, but takes the rose. 

                      SUSIE 
          What? -- Well, why thank you.

                      LUCA
          Such a beautiful lady should
          never know the feeling of
          sadness.

                      SUSIE
          Well, actually they were
          friends of my husbands. I
          barely knew...

Luca places his finger on Susie’s mouth as if to quiet her. He tilts his head and smiles. 

Luca turns away, moves toward the door.

Gloria notices Susie eyeing Luca.

                      SUSIE
          That was nice. 

                      GLORIA
          No, Susie -- that was odd.

Luca leaves the shop.

                                                    36.                      

EXT. FLOWER SHOP - DAY

Gloria and Susie go toward Gloria’s car. 

INT./EXT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

Susie sits in the passenger seat of the car. She sniffs the rose, loses herself in its sweet smell. 

Gloria reaches for the key dangling from the ignition. A MUFFLED VOICE stops her. She turns toward the driver’s window.                                                  

A WOMAN’S face is pressed against the glass. 

                      WOMAN
          Do you know Jesus?

Gloria GASPS.

Susie sees that Gloria is speechless, so she leans toward the woman. She’ll handle this.

                      SUSIE
          We’re kind of in a hurry.

Susie notices Gloria rolling her eyes, shrugging off the scare. Susie GIGGLES under her breath. 

The woman is gone.

                      SUSIE
          I’m kinda thirsty. What about
          you?  

Gloria nods. 

                      GLORIA
          Yeah, I’ll stop at the gas
          station. I’ve got to get gas,
          too. I’m about on empty.

Gloria reaches for the key. 

                      WOMAN (OS)
          He died for you!
                                                   37. 

Susie jolts toward Gloria. The woman is outside her window now. The woman leans in, points at Susie.                                             

                      WOMAN
          He died for YOU.

                      GLORIA
          Jesus!

Gloria starts the MOTOR, puts the car into gear. 

The woman watches the girls drive away.

EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY

Gloria’s car is among a string of others parked along the roadway. 
                                         
A small group of people have congregated at a grave to say their final good-bys. Among them, Susie, Gloria, Bill, and Chuck.

Susie tugs on Bill’s arm, calling attention to Sheriff Jones.

Jones is looking at different faces in the crowd, jotting down notes. 

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Moonlight shines on Susie and Bill. They are in bed, asleep. Susie is tossing and turning, MOANING.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT - SUSIE’S DREAM 

Two bodies beneath the sheet on the bed. There are MOANS of passion. They are making love.

Moving closer we can see that it’s Susie in gothic make-up, with the demon. She kisses him passionately. 
                                                   
The demon melts into Susie’s body, they become one.

Susie -- glowing -- alone in the bed.

                                                    38.

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - BACK TO PRESENT DAY 

Bill wakes and turns to Susie.

                      BILL
          Those moans for me?  

Bill kisses Susie’s neck. Her eyes open.
                                              
Bill kisses her body.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT - SUSIE’S DAYDREAM 

Susie’s face is painted with thick gothic make-up. Horns protrude from her head. Her head tilts to one side. She eyeballs Bill as he kisses her belly. Her hand tightens into a fist.

Bill’s back jolts into an arch. His eyes and mouth are wide. 

In Susie’s hand -- Bill’s BEATING heart. She lifts it to her mouth and takes a bite. Her eyes roll back.                       

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - BACK TO PRESENT DAY

Susie’s eyes open wide in fright. She shoves Bill.

                      SUSIE
          Get off me!

Susie gets out of bed, leaves the room, and closes the door behind her. 

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - LATER

Bill sits on the bed, alone. He’s beneath the beam of light from the lamp. Susie eases the door open. She goes to him.  

                      BILL
          I’m sorry.

They kiss. The kisses become passionate.
                                                    39.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Susie sits on the couch, reading a magazine. The rose is in a vase, on the coffee table.

Bill enters the room. He’s a sad site, messy hair, sloppy clothes. 

                      BILL
          What’s for breakfast?
                                                                                                                                                          
Susie looks up from her magazine.

                      SUSIE
          Broken hands?

                      BILL
          No. A sprained brain.

Susie smiles. She sets down the magazine and gets up.

INT. APARTMENT - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS 

Bill sets a carton of orange juice on the counter and gets a glass. Behind Bill -- Susie cooks scrambled eggs. 

Bill pours orange juice into a glass. Susie sneaks up to him and tickles his sides.

                      SUSIE
          Boo!

The juice spills. Bill turns around -- questioning.

Susie smiles, moves away from him.

                      BILL
          What are you doing?

                      SUSIE
          Being scary. I got ya, huh?  
                                                 
Bill smiles.

                                                    40.                                                                                                     
                                                    
                      BILL
          No, but I’m gonna’ get you.
                                                        
Bill moves toward Susie -- she LAUGHS. The smoke detector SIREN goes off. Susie looks around the room.
                                                                                                                                                          
                      SUSIE
          Your eggs!

Smoke rises from the pan on the stove.

                      BILL 
          You are sooo lucky.   

Bill turns and leaves the room. Susie goes to the stove. 

                      SUSIE
          Phew!                                                                                                                   

Susie scrapes the eggs into the trash. The smoke detector NOISE CONTINUES. BANGING from another room.

INT. APARTMENT - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 

Bill, on one knee, holds up a hammer, ready to strike.

A 9 volt battery on the floor, the smoke detector next to it with an empty battery compartment. Bill SMACKS the detector with the hammer, smashing it. The SIREN STOPS.  
  
Susie looks at Bill. 

                      SUSIE 
          Is it a short?

Bill gives Susie a look of surprise.

EXT. HOUSE - SUBURBS - DAY

Plastic is laid out on the grass, along the paint-chipped house.

A ladder is propped against the house. Bill is up the ladder by a second story window, scraping loose paint.
                                                    41.                                                     

Sunlight shines on the pointed prongs of a pitchfork. It is at the base of Bill’s ladder. The points are raised.

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY 

Susie sits on the floor with the Ouija board in her lap.

EXT. HOUSE - SUBURBS - DAY

Luca steps up on the ladder. A pitchfork in his hand. He moves toward an unsuspecting Bill.

                      SUSIE (VO)
          Luca -- Luca, where are you? 
          
The foot comes off of the ladder, back to the ground. 

Bill is none the wiser.

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY

Susie on the floor, waiting on an answer from the Ouija board, gets one. The planchette flies off of the board and into the wall. Susie GASPS. 
                                                    
Susie throws the game box into the closet, and looks around the room. The phone RINGS.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 

The phone is RINGING.

Susie moves to the phone and answers it.                                                                                          

                      SUSIE
          Hello. -- Hello?                                                    

Susie looks puzzled. There’s no answer. She hangs up the phone. Something in the living room catches her eye.

                                                    42.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Susie lifts a framed picture from the floor.

The glass inside the frame is shattered. It’s a photo of Susie and Bill.  

INT. APARTMENT - BATHROOM - DUSK

Susie is bent over the bathtub, scrubbing it. She senses something that makes her look up.
                                            
Crossed legs in black pants, leaning on the doorframe, half in -- half out.

Looking up to see a scarlet cloth tied at the hip, a white pullover shirt with balloon sleeves. A blurred face comes into focus. It is Luca. He blows her a kiss.

Susie blinks.
                                            
The bathroom doorway is empty.                        

Susie shrugs -- imagination? CRASH! 

Pieces of shattered mirror drop to the floor. 

Susie’s reflection in the shattered mirror -- behind her -- the demon’s face. Susie SCREAMS -- turns around. 

Susie is alone. She turns back to the mirror. Her reflection is in a whole mirror. The mirror fogs over.
A message appears on it: “GUILTY”.

The floor is spotless. There are no signs of a broken mirror.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - DUSK

Susie hangs up the phone. A car HORN (OS) gets her attention. Susie moves to the

LIVING ROOM  

and goes to the door. She leaves.
                                                    43.

EXT. METAPHYSICAL BOOKSTORE - DUSK

Sheriff Jones opens the door. A bell CHIMES as he enters.

INT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

Sheriff Jones looks around the room as he moves into it. It’s obvious that he is not liking what he sees. He shrugs it off when he sees

Olivia enter the room through a curtained entryway.

                      OLIVIA
          Hello. Is there something I
          can help you with?

                      JONES
          Mam, I’m investigating a 
          double homicide. 

                      OLIVIA
          The young couple?

                      JONES
          So, you’ve heard.

                      OLIVIA
          Bad news travels fast in these
          parts.

                      JONES
          Yes, Mam, it does. The murderer
          left us some kind of clue. Some
          sort of strange symbol. I was
          wondering if you might be able
          to help me?

Olivia moves closer to Sheriff Jones. He lifts his notebook from inside his shirt pocket and flips the pages until he finds what he’s looking for.  

On the pad: a drawing of a three-pronged pitchfork with dots above the prongs.

                                                    44. 

                                                                                                                                                           EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DUSK

Susie goes to Gloria’s idling car and gets in the passenger side. They drive away.

INT. BOOKSTORE - DUSK

Olivia selects a book from the bookcase, and takes it to Sheriff Jones.

INT. GLORIA’S CAR - DUSK

The girls move down a country road. A streetlight comes on and sends light down through naked limbs. 

Gloria turns a corner. A church sign comes into view: “FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH”, below it, a message: “The Devil is a trickster”.    

                      SUSIE
          Am I losing my mind? I don’t
          know. Guilt, innocence,
          murder. It’s gotta be true... 
          Turn down that next street.

                      GLORIA
          Sus, you’re scaring me. 

                      SUSIE
          I’m scaring you. He’s scaring
          me. All I wanted to do was to
          give him a chance to clear his
          name.   

MONTAGE - THE DEATH OF SUSIE’S DOG

-- Susie (8 years old) leaves the yard. She latches
   the gate. A dog rushes to the gate to see her off.
   Her hand gets a lick. She leaves.

-- The gate is open. 
                                                   
-- Susie (8 years old) stands before a dirt mound.
   Two pieces of wood form a cross bearing the name: 
   “BUDDY”.
                                                   45.

BACK TO PRESENT DAY

                      SUSIE
          I know what it’s like to be 
          accused of something. It’s not
          a good feeling, especially
          for an eight year old girl.

Gloria looks at Susie. She is looking out the window.
                 
Passing by “St. Mary’s Catholic Church”. Lit storefronts.
                                                           
The billboard on the front of a store reads: “METAPHYSICAL BOOKSTORE”.

INT. BOOKSTORE - EVENING

Olivia and Sheriff Jones are staring at an open book.

                      JONES
          So you’re telling me that
          we’re dealing with some kind
          of cult?

Jones looks up from the book. His eyes meet Olivia’s.

                      OLIVIA
          No, I didn’t say that. What I
          said was that the symbol in
          question is a demon symbol.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - EVENING

The girls pull over and park in front of the building. 

Gloria stops to look in the store window.

EXT. STREET ACROSS FROM BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

Luca is beneath a streetlight. He backs out of the light, into a darkened entryway and watches

Gloria and Susie across the street.

                                                   46.
                                            
                      LUCA 
          Humm...

Gloria stops at the window, looks in.

                      SUSIE
          Come on.                                                   

Susie doesn’t wait. She opens the door. A bell CHIMES.

INT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

Following in, behind Gloria and Susie, finding Olivia at the counter with Sheriff Jones. 

The girls walk up to the counter. Susie looks at Sheriff Jones, then to Olivia.

                      SUSIE
          Can I speak with you in 
          private?

Olivia nods, looks to the sheriff.
                                
                      OLIVIA
          Excuse me for just a moment.
                                      
Olivia walks off with Susie. Gloria goes to the sheriff.

                      GLORIA
          So Sheriff, have you caught
          the guy that murdered our
          friends yet?

Jones looks at Gloria, up and down.

                      JONES
          Not yet, and the two of you
          would be wise to be inside
          your own homes soon. He’s
          still out there somewhere.

Luca looks into the window, unnoticed.

Jones notices Susie’s back is to him.

                                                    47.

                      SUSIE
          I think I have a ghost.

Jones LAUGHS. 

                      JONES
          Now I’ve heard it all. Ghosts
          AND demons. I sure will be
          glad when it snows.

Jones LAUGHS some more. Gloria shrinks in embarrassment. 

                      JONES
          Miss Mam?

Olivia turns toward him.

                      JONES
          If you see any demons around
          here that’s responsible for  
          the murders, send them my way.

Olivia shrugs, she will, she guesses.

Sheriff Jones turns away goes toward the door.

Gloria looks around the room at the tubular cylinders filled with incense, a display of colored candles. 

A bell CHIMES. The sheriff is gone. 

Olivia goes toward the bookcase.

                      OLIVIA
          You know they can’t harm you.

                      SUSIE
          They can’t?

Olivia shakes her head no, selects a black paperback book from the bookcase. 

                      OLIVIA
          I’ve heard this is a good one.
          Everything you might want to
          know should be in this book.

                                                    48.

Gloria looks into the glass counter at the pentacles, stones of varying shapes and colors, Tarot cards, crystal balls, and jewelry. 

Susie follows Olivia to the counter.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT

Sheriff Jones drives down a deserted dirt road. Nothing but trees and darkness around his car. DING! DING! DING! DING! His car slows.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

Sheriff Jones shakes his head.

                      JONES
          I should’da known. My day.
          Demons. Ghosts. Now a train.

INT./EXT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

The car’s headlights light up boxcars as the train slowly moves down the tracks. 

Sheriff Jones lights a cigarette. He rolls down his window, waits.
  
Jones lifts a cell phone from the passenger seat, and makes a call.

                      SMITY (VO)
          Hello?

                      JONES
          Hey, Smity. You know, you’re a 
          hard guy to get a hold of.

                      SMITY (VO)
          Well, I AM on vacation.

                                                    49.

                      JONES
          Sorry to do this to you, Smit, 
          but I need you to catch the 
          next flight back. There’s been
          some trouble here. 

                      SMITY (VO)
          Trouble?

                      JONES
          Murders. A couple a kids. The 
          guy skewered em. Left em 
          hangin up in a field, just a
          few feet off the road. 

                      SMITY(VO)
          Anything?

                      JONES
          Nothing. Unless you want to 
          count some demons and ghosts.

                      SMITY (VO)
          What?

The train’s caboose comes into view, a few boxcars down. 

                      JONES
          Never mind. It’s just talk.
          Halloween and all. So I can
          count on seeing you tomorrow?
          -- Good. I’ll fill you in then.

Sheriff Jones flips the phone shut and sets it on the seat. He looks out the windshield just in time to see the caboose pass by. 

Jones squashes his cigarette out in the ashtray. 

A large hand reaches in through the open window and snatches Jones by the neck. Before he can react, he’s pulled out of the car.  

Jones feet dangle a couple feet off the ground. He tries to free himself from the hand around his throat, but cannot. The hand belongs to the demon. He smiles at the terror in Jones’ eyes.
                                                    50.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Susie and Gloria enter, and close the door behind them.

                      SUSIE
          I’m home. 

Bill meets the girls by the door.
                                                 
                      BILL
          Where have you two been?

                      GLORIA
          I’ll never tell.                                                    
                                                   
                      SUSIE
          We were at the bookstore.
                                             
There is an OS NOISE. Susie looks to Bill. 

                      BILL
          It’s Chuck. He’s feeling pretty
          bad about Ron tonight. 

Susie looks at Gloria -- Gloria shrugs.
                                                    
                      BILL 
          What’s in the bag?                                                   

Susie opens the bag and pulls out a book and candle. 

                      BILL
          Sus, don’t you have better 
          things to do?
                                         
Gloria seems put off. She moves toward the dining room.

                      SUSIE
          Bill, I think something’s
          going on here. 
                                                                           
Bill looks confused.    

                                                    51.

                      BILL
          Well whatever it is, it isn’t 
          going on in the kitchen. My
          belly’s empty, Sus. I need
          some food.

                        SUSIE
          I think we have a ghost.
                                                     
Bill looks into Susie’s eyes. 
                                            
                      BILL
          What? Susie.  

Bill looks at the black paperback book.

                      BILL 
          What’s that?
          
                      SUSIE 
          A book that’ll get rid of it.

Bill LAUGHS, surrenders to his wife’s foolishness.

                      BILL
          Ahh, alright. I guess I can
          make myself a sandwich. 

Bill kisses Susie on her forehead.

                      BILL
          Go get em, baby girl.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 

Gloria has a hard time ignoring Chuck as they sit at the table. He looks drunk, depressed. Chuck puffs on a cigarette with one hand, rests his other around a beer.  
                                     
                      CHUCK
          What a way to go. Poor guy.                                           
          
                      GLORIA
          Debbie died too, ya know. And 
          I thought you might be glad. 
          You couldn’t stand him.

                                                    52.
          
                      CHUCK
          Standin him doesn’t have
          anything to do with it. He 
          was my buddy.

Susie and Bill enter the dining room.
                                   
Chuck looks toward them. He squints to see through the rising smoke of his cigarette. It’s perched between his lips. Chuck’s beer bottle is tipped flat. Beer floods the table.   
                                                  
                      CHUCK
          Hey, hey good lookin’ what
          cha got cookin’?

Susie focuses on the mess and frowns. 
  
                      SUSIE
          I’m not cookin nothin.

                      CHUCK 
          Huh? 

Susie ignores his comment. She heads for the 

KITCHEN 

Bill follows behind her. 

                      BILL
          Why so rude? He was only
          trying to make conversation. 
                                              
                      SUSIE
          He’s drunk again, and making
          a mess.

Susie grabs a towel. Bill takes it from her and gives                                                    
her a look -- I’ll do it.
                                                                                                      
Bill exits the room. Susie waits a few seconds then follows behind him.

                                                    53.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Bill soaks up the beer mess with the towel. Chuck looks at Susie.

                      CHUCK
          Err -- ah -- sorry bout
          the beer.                                            

Susie makes like it is no big deal. Bill walks past                                                     
her, carrying the dripping-wet towel.
                                                   
                      SUSIE
          Gloria, let’s go to my room.

                      CHUCK
          What cha gonna do in there?

Bill enters the room.  

                      BILL
          Yeah, what are you going to
          do in there?

Susie smiles.

                      SUSIE
          Girl stuff. No boys allowed.

Gloria gets up from the table. Chuck takes her by her arm. Gloria just looks at him.                                               
                                                 
                      CHUCK
          You hurry back here, cutie
          pie. I think I’m takin you
          home with me.

Gloria smirks at Chuck. Chuck LAUGHS.

The two girls exit the room. Bill sits down at the table.                                                                                                                                                         
                                                    
                      BILL
          Hey, Chuck, could you lighten
          up a little?

                                                    54.

                      CHUCK
          What? I’m just having fun.
          You don’t have to bust my
          balls or anything. It’ll be
          alright.

                      BILL
          She’s not that kind of girl. 

Chuck LAUGHS.                                                    

                      CHUCK
          Ya’ mean she’s not a hooker?

Bill looks amazed.                                                    

                      BILL
          No, she’s not a hooker! 

                      CHUCK
          I think all women are hookers
          if the price is right.

Bill’s hand goes to his forehead. He has an instant headache.

Chuck chugs down his beer. He reaches beside his chair and takes another bottle from the case, opens it.
                                        
                      BILL
          Damn!                                                                                                      

                      CHUCK
          Shoot! I couldn’t get laid if I 
          was in a whorehouse with a fist
          full of fifties.

                      BILL
          And you wonder why?

Chuck looks at Bill and shrugs his shoulders. 

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Gloria and Susie sit on the bed, look through the open book in Susie’s hands.

                                                    55.
                                       
                      SUSIE                             
          It says here that we’re
          supposed to tell the spirit
          to go away -- that it’s not 
          wanted here. We’re supposed to
          do that in every room.
                                                
                      GLORIA
          Okay. 

                      SUSIE
          Then we’re supposed to 
          sprinkle salt around every 
          door and window to keep it
          out.      
                                              
                      GLORIA
          What about the candle?
                                                  
                      SUSIE
          It doesn’t say.

Gloria looks at Susie.

                      SUSIE
          I’ll burn it anyway.

Susie reaches for the bag on the bed. She takes the candle from it.                                                      

                      SUSIE 
          Ready?

Gloria nods.  
                                                   
                      GLORIA 
          Ready.

Susie lights the wick on the candle.

                      SUSIE
          Here we go. -- Go away! 

Gloria smiles.                                           

                      GLORIA
          Go away!

                                                    56.  

                      SUSIE
          You’re not wanted here! 

                      GLORIA
          You’re not wanted here!
                               
The two walk in a circle around the room.

                      SUSIE AND GLORIA
          Go away! You’re not wanted 
          here!

BACK IN THE DINING ROOM 

Bill turns in his chair.

                      BILL
          What the hell? 

                      GLORIA (OS)
          Go away! You’re not wanted
          here!

                      SUSIE (OS)
          You’re not wanted here!

Chuck looks hurt -- in a drunken sort of way.

                      CHUCK
          Hey, man, I can take a hint.
          
Chuck rises out of his chair. Bill grabs his arm, trying to stop him. 

                      BILL
          Hold up, man! Hold up! 

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Gloria and Susie’s faces are lit by the glow of the candle.                                                 
                                                    
                      GLORIA
          Go away!     

                                                    57.

                      SUSIE
          You’re not wanted here!
                                                    
Bill enters the room. 

                      BILL
          Susie, what the hell?                                                                                                     

Susie looks at Bill, then turns away and continues to walk with Gloria. Chuck stumbles toward Bill.

                      CHUCK
          Hey, Bill, I’m outta’ here.                  
      
Bill looks at Chuck.
                                                  
                      BILL
          You’re not going anywhere.                          
          You’re too drunk.

Bill stares a hole into Susie.

                      BILL
          Sus, tell him he’s not
          going anywhere.

Susie and Gloria move in a circle around the room.       

                      SUSIE                     
          Go away! You’re not wanted           
          here!
                                             
                      SUSIE AND GLORIA
          Go away! You’re not wanted
          here!      

                      BILL
          Susie! 
 
                      CHUCK
          Bill, Susie, I want to thank
          you for your hospitality.
        
Susie turns her head to look at Bill as she and Gloria move past the boys. 

                                                    58.

                      SUSIE
          I can’t talk now. We’re
          ridding the house of evil
          spirits.

Bill’s eyes widen. Chuck turns away.

                      CHUCK
          Just let me get my beer,
          and I’ll be out your way.

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Chuck collects what’s left of his beer. Bill sits down at the table. 
                                        
                      BILL
          Sit down, man.

Chuck -- pouting.

                      CHUCK
          If your woman doesn’t want me
          here, I’ll go. It don’t hurt 
          my feelings none.

                      BILL
          It’s ghosts, Chuck. 

Chuck looks confused.

                      BILL
          They’re trying to get rid of
          a ghost, not you.                                           

                      SUSIE AND GLORIA (OS)
          Go away! You’re not wanted 
          here!

Chuck’s confusion disappears. A smile erupts on his face. He sets his beer on the table.                                                    
                                                  
                      CHUCK
          Oh, I get it! It’s Halloween! 
          Ghosts! 

                                                    59.

Chuck stumbles toward the living room.
                                                                                                        
                      CHUCK
          Hey, Sus, want me to kick
          their ass?
                              
Chuck turns toward Bill.

                      CHUCK
          Ya know, Bro, I will kick
          their ass for ya, cos I 
          love ya like that. 
                                                    
Bill is amused by the whole situation. He smiles. 

Chuck moves to the dining room table, back to his beer. The girls chanting gets LOUDER.

                      SUSIE AND GLORIA (OS)                      
          Go away! You’re not wanted
          here!  

Chuck opens a beer and takes a quick drink, then sets the bottle on the table and stumbles away. 

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Chuck bounces off stereo as he moves past it. 

                      CHUCK
          Ah, excuse me.

Chuck opens the front door, kicks air out of the doorway.

                      CHUCK
          Go on now, git! And don’t
          ever think bout coming back. 
          Git!

EXT. APARTMENT - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

A dark figure runs across the width of the lawn. 

                                                    60.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - SAME  

Chuck is in the open doorway.                                                                                                   

                      CHUCK
          How was that? Hey, Sus,  
          they’re gone now.
             
Chuck LAUGHS. CRAZIER LAUGHTER OS gets his attention. He leans out the door, smiles.

                      CHUCK 
          Kids. 

EXT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS 

Moving closer to the door. Faster and closer to the door. Susie appears next to Chuck. She is holding a container of salt. She sprinkles some salt around the doorframe.  

Chuck notices something outside. He shoves Susie to the side and slams the door shut. Before we make it to the door we hit an invisible wall and fall back. 

Prongs of a pitchfork slam into the ground. There is a loud GROWL.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS         

Susie and Chuck are on the floor. Chuck is staring at the door with an open mouth. Susie gets up. She’s pissed.

                      BILL (OS)
          Chuck, I think you’ve had 
          enough for the night. 

Susie shakes her head in disapproval at Chuck’s drunkenness. 
          
                      SUSIE
          Humh, not the real you, huh?

                                                    61.
          
Susie sprinkles some salt on Chuck for good measure, then moves to the window.

The lights go off. The apartment is black.

                      SUSIE
          Hey!

EXT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Sparks ignite from the sharp prongs of the pitchfork as it SQUEAKS across the window, like fingernails on a chalkboard. 

SIDEWALK - CONTINUOUS

A MAN walks his dog. He turns his head, looks at the apartment.

EXT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

A dark figure at the apartment window.
                                               
                      MAN (OS)
          Hey there. What’re you doin?

The dark figure turns. The pitchfork in his hands glistens from the glow of the moon.

The dark figure steps away from window. It’s the demon. He hurls the pitchfork.

SIDEWALK - CONTINUOUS

The man runs away with his dog in his arms. He falls forward. The pitchfork is impaled in his back.

The dog runs off.

                                                    62.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 

The lights come on. Susie, Gloria, Bill, and Chuck look at each other.

                      BILL
          It’s gotta be a short.

Susie shakes her head in disbelief. The others look around the room.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAY

A cute LITTLE GIRL (7) with blonde curls, in a dress,  is sitting on the curb with her back to us. 

Chuck is stumbling drunk, holding onto a beer bottle. He doesn’t know the child. He approaches her. The little girl is holding something to her eye. 
                                                   
                      CHUCK 
          What do you have there?

The little girl swivels around.
                                            
                      LITTLE GIRL
          A kaleidoscope! Wanna’ see?

                      CHUCK 
          Sure.

Chuck takes the kaleidoscope from the child and lifts it to his eye. He twists the cardboard tube in the sunlight.                                                                                                   
                                                    
A myriad of colored shapes is re-directed.
                                                    
Chuck smiles.

Suddenly, tiny specks appear on the colors. They start multiplying like amebas.                                                     

Chuck tries to twist the tube. It appears to be jammed. He frowns.

                                                    63.

BUZZING of angry hornets is heard in the distance. The black spots begin a spiral dance to the sound.

                      CHUCK
          What the...                                            

A whirlpool starts within the tube and grows larger with every whorl. The BUZZING gets STEADILY LOUDER.

                      CHUCK (VO)
          I can’t move my arm! 

The swirling swarm turns and grows.

                      LITTLE GIRL (OS)
          Wrong! You can’t close your
          eyes and pretend that you
          don’t see.

The swarm bound within the kaleidoscope zero in on their exit... The eyepiece.

The little girl LAUGHS insanely.

The whirling swarm moves closer yet, until... 
                                                    
The black eyepiece slaps against his eye.

Chuck YELLS.

Chuck realizes he is looking into his empty beer bottle. He throws it down and looks around.

There is no little girl.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Susie HUMS out a happy tune as she vacuums the floor.

The vacuum cleaner bumps against the apartment door -- sucks up dirt -- salt.

The photo of Susie and Bill is in a new frame, on the wall.

                                                    64.

EXT. HOUSE - SUBURBS - DAY

Bill has a cell phone to his ear. His face shows that he is amused.
                                            
Bill watches Chuck rush by him carrying a ladder. 

Chuck props the ladder against the paint-chipped house, then turns to Bill.

                      CHUCK
          You workin or are you just 
          gonna stand around all day
          thinkin you look pretty?

Bill flips the phone shut.

                       BILL
          What’s gotten into you?   

Chuck’s all about work. He’s already half-way up the ladder.                       

                       CHUCK
          Let’s just say I opened my  
          eyes. It’s a new day on 
          this gravy train, and there
          ain’t no room for booze. Do
          me a favor though. Let me
          know if you see any bees,
          alright?

Bill appears a little puzzled. He quickly shrugs it off.

                       BILL
          Hey, well alright then! Let’s
          make some money.

Bill smiles and picks up a paint bucket. 

INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - DAY

Gloria and Susie play rummy at the table. MUSIC plays. STATIC cuts through the music.

                                                    65.

                        SUSIE
          Darned short.

The phone RINGS. They both get up. Susie goes to the phone. Gloria leaves the room.  

The MUSIC quiets as Susie answers the phone.
                      
                       SUSIE
          Hello. -- Hello?                                                 

EERIE ORGAN MUSIC comes from the receiver. Susie hangs up the phone. 

                      SUSIE
          Another prank call.

                      GLORIA (OS)
          So, what’s the caller ID say? 

Susie checks the caller ID on the phone.

                      SUSIE
          Unavailable.

Gloria sits down at the table.

                      GLORIA
          Well...                                                     

The phone RINGS.

Susie looks at Gloria. An evil grin appears on Susie’s face. She answers the phone.

                       SUSIE
          Hello. -- You again, huh? You
          know I could call the phone
          company and find out who you
          are. Are you a light sleeper? 

                      GLORIA
          Give me that.
                                                   Gloria takes the phone. 

                                                   66.

                      GLORIA
          Listen up, Bub! Quit calling
          here! Leave her alone!

Gloria hangs up the phone.

                      GLORIA
          That should do it. Now that
          he knows you’re not alone
          maybe he’ll stop.

Susie shrugs. 
                                                                               
                      GLORIA
          Are you a light sleeper? Sus,
          no wonder he calls back.

Susie focuses on the cards in her hand.

                      SUSIE
          You didn’t give me a chance to
          finish what I was going to say.

                      GLORIA
          Which was?

Susie looks up from her cards.

                      SUSIE
          I’d pay the little fucker a
          visit. Rip out his heart.

Gloria appears shocked by what Susie just said.

                      GLORIA
          Sus, you’re losing it.

                      SUSIE
          I’ve already lost it.

The phone RINGS.

                      GLORIA
          Let me.

Gloria answers the phone.

                                                    67.

                      GLORIA
          Hello. 
                                                  
Gloria looks relieved. 

                      GLORIA
          Okay, I’ll tell her. 

Susie eyes Gloria as she hangs up the phone.

                      GLORIA
          That was Bill. He’s gonna be a
          little late. You’re lucky, you
          know. He’s one of the good ones.
          Doesn’t mess around, always 
          calls if he’s going to be late.
          
                      SUSIE
          I know. He is my strength. 

The phone RINGS again. MUSIC blares from the stereo. An OS CRASH from another room. Gloria’s eyes are wide. Her chair wobbles and tips her out on the floor. 

                      GLORIA 
          Oouu! My arm. 
                                    
Susie helps Gloria up.

LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Susie cautiously looks around the room as she turns the stereo off. Gloria is behind her, holding onto her shoulders with both hands.

HALLWAY  

Gloria and Susie inch down the hall.

                      SUSIE
          Hey Mister ghost, I’m not
          scared of you! 

BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Susie stands in the doorway -- half in -- half out -- and flips up the light switch. POP!

                                                    68. 

Red light flashes on -- and off -- like a strobe light. The toilet seat lifts up -- and slams down repeatedly. 

Susie turns around quickly and bumps into a wide-eyed Gloria. 

LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Gloria and Susie leave the apartment in a hurry.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - EARLY EVENING

Susie opens the door. The bell CHIMES.  

INT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

Susie enters.
                                                    
Olivia straightens items behind the counter.

                       SUSIE (OS)
          Please, you gotta help me!
     
Susie moves quickly toward her.
                                
They meet -- half way.

                       SUSIE
          I did what the book said. It
          didn’t work. 

Olivia comes out from behind the counter. She looks at DENISE 17, behind the counter. 

                       OLIVIA
          Denise, I’ll be in the back.
          
Denise nods. 

                       OLIVIA
                (to Susie)
          Come with me.

Olivia puts her arm around Susie and walks her behind the counter.

                                                    69.                  

INT. BOOKSTORE - BACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS 

Olivia moves to the sofa, motions for Susie to sit. 

                      OLIVIA
          Sit down.

Susie and Olivia sit on the sofa. 

                      OLIVIA                
          What’s troubling you?

                      SUSIE
          I need help, and fast. I don’t
          know what to do.

                      OLIVIA
          I’ll help you if I can. 
          
                      SUSIE
          I was in here the other day.
          You remember me? 

Olivia nods, she remembers her.

                      OLIVIA
          You’re the one with the  
          ghost, right? 

                      SUSIE
          Yes. That book you gave me, 
          it didn’t work. He’s still 
          there. I think he wants   
          something. I think he wants me! 

                      OLIVIA
          You?                                                   
        
Olivia studies Susie. Is she telling the truth?

                      SUSIE
          I need help. Please!

A pause of SILENCE. Susie searches Olivia’s eyes for a glimpse of hope. Olivia stands, turns away.

                                                    70.
                                                     
Olivia stands at the wall looking at a framed picture with longing in her eyes. It’s the picture of Vivian. 

                      OLIVIA
          I wish I knew what to tell you,
          but my Grandmother was the one  
          who dealt with the spirits.
          I only own this store.
                                                    
Susie goes to Olivia and looks at the picture.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - EVENING

SMITY (40s) walks cautiously toward Jones’ abandoned sedan.

The driver’s window is down. A cell phone is on the
passenger seat.

Smity looks around the scenery, every inch of it.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - BACK ROOM - EVENING  

Susie watches Olivia look at the photo of Vivian.             

                      SUSIE
          What would she do?                                

Olivia faces Susie.

                      OLIVIA
          Let me get my coat.

INT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

Olivia selects a paperback book from the bookshelf. She puts it into her coat pocket. 

                      OLIVIA
          Denise, I’m leaving. Keep an
          eye on the store for me. 
                                                                                                 
Denise nods.

                                                    71.

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

Susie’s car pulls up in the pouring RAIN. Susie and  Olivia exit the car and run toward the apartment.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Susie and Olivia enter. They remove their coats and hang them on the coat rack.

Susie goes to the lamp, CLICKS it on.
                               
Olivia sits on the couch and thumbs through the book.

                      OLIVIA
          I’m going to need candles.
          Yellow, blue, green, and red. 
          And the black one you just
          bought. Bring incense, too.                                                                     
                      
Olivia moves the magazines off the table to the sofa.

INT. APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - LATER

The room is lit by lamp light and the candles on the coffee table. The candles are positioned green for north, red for south, yellow for east, blue for west. Olivia sets the incense on the table, lights it.

Susie stands next to Olivia. She watches her light the black candle and place it in the center of the candles.

Olivia reads from the open book.
                                                 
                      OLIVIA
          We bind you spirit from this
          place. You are not wanted
          here.

Olivia turns to Susie and takes her hand.

                                                    72.

                      OLIVIA
          Say it with me. We bind you
          spirit from this place. You
          are not wanted here.

Susie nods.

                      OLIVIA AND SUSIE
          We bind you spirit from this
          place. You are not wanted here.
          
The DOOR opens. Bill enters -- behind him, Chuck. Bill frowns. Chuck finds humor in Susie’s situation and smiles.

                      BILL
          What’s going on?
                                                                                          
Susie moves a little like she is going to Bill. Olivia pulls her hand back.

                      OLIVIA 
          Don’t let go of my hand.

Bill appears confused and getting angry.
                                                    
                      BILL
          Susie. 

                      OLIVIA (OS)
          No, don’t let go. Say it
          again. We bind you spirit...

Susie is torn.  

                      BILL
          Susie!

Bill moves to Susie and tugs her arm free from Olivia. 

                      BILL
                (to Olivia)
          Excuse me, I want to speak
          with my wife.

Bill escorts Susie out of the room.

                                                   73.
                                         
Chuck leans on the door. There is a KNOCK. He opens the DOOR. Gloria enters. Her arm is in a sling. She looks around the room. 

                      GLORIA
          Is everything alright? 
                                               
Chuck’s eyes question Gloria’s arm.

                      GLORIA
          It’s a sprain.  
          
Chuck nods it off. Gloria notices Olivia.

                     GLORIA
          Hi. Aren’t you that woman 
          from the bookstore? 

Olivia nods.

                      OLIVIA
          Olivia.

Gloria goes to her, leaves the front door open.

                      GLORIA
          I’m Gloria. I take it Susie
          brought you here. She told
          you what happened? 

Gloria notices the candles.

                      OLIVIA 
          We were doing a binding.

Susie and Bill enter the room. Bill looks upset. Susie looks like a scolded child.

                      SUSIE
          I’m sorry, but it looks
          like we’re done here.  
 
                      OLIVIA 
          What? Are you sure?

                      BILL
          Yes.

                                                    74.

                      GLORIA
          Sus? -- Bill, I saw it, too.
 
Bill rolls his eyes.

A burst of wind surges through the room. Everyone looks around.

                      CHUCK
          Oh, shit!

Chuck falls back against the wall, looks around in disbelief.

Luca is in the room, in the center of everyone.

Susie stumbles into a dumbstruck Bill. 

Chuck’s legs give out. He falls down to the floor and smacks his head on the wall.

                      CHUCK
          Ow, shit! -- Shit!                      

Gloria grabs Olivia’s arm. Olivia stands tall.

                      GLORIA
          The rose.

                      OLIVIA
          We bind you from this place.                                                     
          You are not wanted here.
        
                      LUCA 
          I see it differently. 

Susie in a trace-like state inches toward Luca. Bill notices Luca’s glare on Susie. He grabs her arm and gives her a shake.

                      BILL
          Sus!

Susie snaps out of the trance and clings to Bill.
                                                                                                       
                      OLIVIA 
          You must leave here!

                                                    75.

                      OLIVIA
          Everyone join hands!

The group huddle together and join hands.

                      CHUCK
          We’re not afraid of you!
                                                                                                     
Luca’s face distorts into a grotesque blur. 

Luca’s hands begin to tremble. 

The floor beneath Luca’s palms begins to quake.

The group balance against the tremors, and grip tighter to one another.

A vein plunges up on Luca’s forehead. It slices his skin open as it ripples across his face and down his clothing, creating a jagged gap.     

The group looks on in horror.

                      OLIVIA
          Go away! We bind you!
                                                              
Goat-like hoofs kick Luca’s clothing away from it’s feet. It’s the demon. He is angry. His black, bull-like horns slice through the air as he moves his head and grits out a grimacing smile. He points at Susie.                                  

                      DEMON
          She belongs to me!

Bill puts his arms around Susie. 

                      BILL
          The Hell if she does!

The demon LAUGHS.

                      OLIVIA 
          Be gone!  

The demon LAUGHS. He swings his hand through the air in front of him.

                                                    76.

Olivia is on the floor. Chuck helps her up. 
                                                   
                      OLIVIA
          We bind you from this place!

The demon LAUGHS.

                      DEMON
          You bind me? By what right?

The demon moves closer. STOMP-CLIP, STOMP-SLIP, STOMP-CLIP.

The group join hands.

                      BILL
          A husband’s right!

The group look at each other and nod that they are in complete agreement. Bill kisses Susie on her cheek.                                                

                      SUSIE
          We bind you from this place!

The demon looks confused. 

                      BILL,SUSIE,CHUCK,GLORIA,OLIVIA
          We bind you from this place!
          You are not wanted here!

In a fit of rage, the demon swings his arm out in front of him. WIND surges through the room. The group stand together holding hands, committed. Papers fly around the room. The STEREO flips over.

Papers fly out the open door. The wind stops. The room is quiet. 

Olivia rushes to the door and closes it quickly.

Everyone looks at Olivia.

                      BILL
          What the Hell was that?
          
Olivia has a worried look on her face.

                                                    77.
                                        
                      OLIVIA 
          A lost soul. He’s gone now.
                (pointing at the door)
          Somewhere out there.

The group look at the door and move in the opposite direction.
                                                     
DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS  
           
Gloria, Susie, Olivia, and Chuck stand around the table. Bill joins them, sets a six pack of beer on the table.

                      BILL
          What was that thing? 

Chuck looks at the six-pack of beer and makes a face. It’s not what he wanted.
                                            
                      CHUCK
          Bill, you got any Coke?           

Olivia welcomes the beer, takes one. 

                      OLIVIA
          A spirit that attached
          itself to your wife.

Bill gives Chuck a look, surprised he didn’t want a beer.

                      BILL
          Sorry, I forgot. Help yourself. 
                                                                                                       
                      GLORIA 
          Was that the Devil?

Chuck cowers at the thought of the Devil, exits the room for the kitchen.

                      OLIVIA 
          No. He was just trying to 
          scare us. 

                      GLORIA
          Well, I think it succeeded.

                                                   78.
                                           
Olivia steps back from the table.

                      OLIVIA
          It’s gone now. I really need
          to get back to my shop.

Susie looks to Bill.

                      SUSIE
          I gave her a ride here.
                                                    
Bill nods. He looks to Olivia.

                      BILL
          I’ll take you.

Bill looks to Chuck as he enters the room.

                      BILL
          Hey, Chuck, will you keep
          an eye out here for me?

Chuck frowns, twists open the cola cap.

                      CHUCK
          Me? Why’d you have to go
          and ask me that for? What am 
          I going to do if that thing
          comes back? We should leave.   

Chuck looks at Susie.

                      CHUCK
          Sus?

Susie looks to Bill with questioning eyes.

                      GLORIA 
          Susie, you can stay with me.

Bill makes a face, not a good idea. 
                                          
                      CHUCK
          I’ll take her to my place.
          
Bill nods. Chuck looks to Gloria.

                                                    79.

                      CHUCK
          You can come, too.

Gloria smiles and shakes her head -- no. Chuck shrugs.
                                                     
LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Olivia gets her coat. Susie hugs her.

                      SUSIE
          Bless you!

Olivia is still worried, she give Susie a half-hearted smile. Bill and Olivia exit the apartment. 
                                                    
Susie watches from the open door as Bill and Olivia move through the rain toward the car.

Susie closes the door.

BACK IN THE DINING ROOM 

Chuck and Gloria stand by the table. Gloria is staring straight ahead, lost in thought.   
                   
                      CHUCK
          Want me to pinch cha?

Gloria gives Chuck a look -- yeah, right! Chuck shrugs.

                      CHUCK
          Can’t blame a feller for tryin.

BACK IN THE LIVING ROOM  
        
Susie looks at what is left of her living room.
The stereo is tipped over, magazines strewn about,                                                
Luca’s clothing. Olivia’s book.

                      SUSIE 
          She forgot her book.                                 
                                                                                                  
Susie picks up the book.

                                                    80.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - NIGHT

Bill’s tires SPLASH through puddles of rain as he pulls up to the curb.                     

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

                      BILL
          I feel like -- you know, the
          way I treated you -- I just
          wanted to say...

Olivia nods. She knows.

                      OLIVIA
          You’re welcome.                                                   

Olivia opens the car door, gets out, and goes to the bookstore.

INT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

The bell CHIMES. Olivia moves into the store where Denise is ringing up the last customer -- a MAN (20).

                      OLIVIA 
          Denise, do you think you 
          could close up for me?

Denise looks concerned, but smiles and nods.

Olivia doesn’t look well. She looks tired, sickly, and worried, plus she’s soaking wet from the rain.

                      DENISE
          Sure.

                      OLIVIA
          If you need me, I’ll be in 
          the back.  

                      DENISE
          Alright.

                                                    81.

Denise gives the customer his change, a few bills and some coins, then hands him his bag.  

The bell CHIMES as the customer leaves.

INT. BOOKSTORE - LATER

Denise puts on her jacket.

                      DENISE
          Olivia, I’m leaving now!

                      OLIVIA (OS)
          Okay. Don’t forget to lock 
          up.
                                                 
Denise goes toward the door.

INT. BOOKSTORE - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

The tall floor lamp is on in the otherwise dark room. Olivia is beneath it, on the sofa, reading a book. 

CRASH!  

Olivia jumps, looks around the room for the source of the noise. 

The curtain to the bookstore moves. The demon hunches to enter the room. Olivia SCREAMS.

                      DEMON
          Frightened? You should be.

Olivia gets up from the sofa and frantically moves around searching for safety. 
                                                                                                      
The demon advances toward her.

                      DEMON 
          You weren’t expecting me?

Olivia flags him away.

                                                    82.   

                      OLIVIA
          Be gone!

The demon tilts his head in amusement. 

                      DEMON
          Be gone! Be gone! Is that
          all you can say?                                           

The demon GROWLS.
                                                  
                      DEMON 
          It appears that you’ve
          stepped out of bounds...

The demon swings his head. His horn stabs through the lamp shade. He shakes it off with one jolt. 

                      DEMON
                (continuing)
          Get my point? You’ve been
          playing games with no clue
          to the rules.
 
The demon swipes the lamp, knocks it down.

                      DEMON 
          She’s mine! 
       
The demon points at her. His face changes to Luca, then back to the demon.

                      DEMON
          She found me! She called me!
          You! You and the man try
          to change her! She’s mine! 

The demon advances toward her.

Olivia backs away, moves to the kitchen area of her room and grabs a knife from the counter. 

                      DEMON
          Silly woman, you can’t 
          hurt me.

                                                   83.

The demon lashes out, knocks the knife from her hand.

Olivia crouches against the cupboard, frozen with fear. A billowy fog builds in front of her.

The ghost of Vivian (60) in black, steps out from the fog. 

                      VIVIAN
          Leave her!
                                            
Olivia trembles with fear. 

                      OLIVIA 
          Grandmother?

The demon’s face changes to Luca.

                      LUCA
          Help me!

Luca’s face disappears back into the demon. The demon GROWLS.

                      VIVIAN
          Luca, my brother, he cannot
          bind your spirit! Your spirit
          belongs to you! Use your 
          freewill to choose! Choose now!

The demon spins around, fights an internal battle.

A ray of light enters through the ceiling. It shines down on the demon. 

Many, many, many SPIRITS rise from the demon and go toward the light.

Olivia’s eyes are wide in disbelief.

Luca stands next to Vivian -- a free man.

The demon faces them. He is extremely pissed off. 
                                                    
                      OLIVIA
          Luca leave! Leave now!

                                                   84.

Luca vanishes before their eyes. 

Vivian turns toward the demon.

                      VIVIAN
          Enough! 

A dark fog builds up around Vivian and blocks Olivia from the demon’s view.

                      VIVIAN (VO)
          You’re going back to Hell
          where you belong!

The demon lashes out toward Olivia and misses her by only a fraction of an inch. Olivia GASPS and grasps her chest.                                  

                      VIVIAN (VO)
          I said leave her! 

The demon bends at the waist as he is pushed out of the room by the dark fog. 

Olivia’s hair has turned white. She huddles against the cupboard GASPING for air and clinging to her chest. 

A levitating shadow enters through the curtain and floats through the room, toward Olivia.

Vivian appears next to Olivia. 

                      OLIVIA
          Grandmother?

                      VIVIAN
          Yes dear, it’s me.
                                                   
                      OLIVIA
          I don’t feel so good. 
                                                   
                      VIVIAN
          It’s alright. You’re with me
          now. 

Olivia’s eyes go empty.

                                                    85.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAY

Susie’s smiling eyes look around. She is at her car. 

It is a beautiful autumn day. The sun is shining. The trees full of rich colored leaves.

INT. SUSIE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS

Susie is about to start the vehicle when her cell phone RINGS. She takes a phone from her purse.                                   
                                                                                         
                      SUSIE
          Hello.

                      BILL (VO)
          Hi, Hon. Just calling to      
          check up on you. You alright?

                      SUSIE
          Yeah, I was just leaving.

                      BILL (VO)
          You are? Where you off to?

                      SUSIE
          The bookstore. That lady that
          was over the other night, she
          forgot her book. I was gonna 
          take it back, and say thank 
          you.
          
                      BILL (VO)
          I’ll see you in a little 
          while then. I love you.

                      SUSIE
          I love you, too. 

Susie smiles as she puts the phone in her purse.                                          

Susie turns the key in the ignition. The MOTOR starts. She turns the RADIO stations and finds some MUSIC. Satisfied with the music, she puts the car in drive.

                                                    86.                                                   

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - CONTINUOUS

Susie’s car moves down the road. A SIREN.

INT. GLORIA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY  

Gloria sits at the kitchen table studying. Her pencil strums the book as she reads.

The words in the book begin to blur.

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY - GLORIA’S DAYDREAM

Beat up furnishings. Newspapers and plates of half-eaten food on the coffee table. Chuck is nestled in the corner, sleeping in a recliner, with a beer bottle in his hand.

Gloria enters and closes the DOOR behind her.

The beer bottle drops from Chuck’s hand. A baby CRIES. Chuck wakes, notices Gloria.
                                                  
                      CHUCK
          It’s about time you got home.
          Now you can take care of him.

HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

The CRYING gets louder as Gloria moves down the hall. She stops at a door.

BABY’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The room is dark and gloomy. Gloria goes to the window and pulls back the curtains. Sunlight brightens the room.

Gloria goes toward the crib.

                      GLORIA
          Hey, don’t cry baby, Ma Ma’s
          home.

                                                    87.

Gloria looks into the crib.

                      GLORIA
          Hi, sweetie!

A DEMON BABY looks up from the crib.

                      DEMON BABY
          What up, hook!
    
Demonic LAUGHTER.

INT. GLORIA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - BACK TO PRESENT 

Blurred words come quickly into focus.

Gloria faces shrivels in disgust.

                      GLORIA
          Ew! Ew! Ewww!

She closes the book. 

                      GLORIA
          Hey, Mom, I’m going out for
          a while!

Gloria stands.                                                  

EXT. HOUSE - SUBURBS - DAY

Chuck is dressed in painter whites. He’s on a stepladder that’s leaning on a house. He gets down from the ladder and moves it a foot or so. 

The ladder rests partly on a window frame.                                                    

Chuck climbs up the ladder. He’s close to the window frame. The demon face appears in the window.                                                   

                      CHUCK
          Aaahhh! 

The ladder wobbles.

Chuck falls.
                                                    88.       

Bill, in painters whites, comes around the corner of the house. His expression shows he’s questioning Chuck’s scream.                                                      

Chuck looks dumbstruck, sitting in a pile of paint chips. 

Bill smiles.

                      BILL
          Lying down on the job now?
                                                    
Chuck gives Bill a look -- wise guy, then looks at the window.

The demon is gone.

INT. SUSIE’S CAR - DAY   

A SIREN wails LOUDER. Susie looks into her rear-view mirror. An ambulance is coming. 

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - CONTINUOUS 

Susie’s car pulls over to the side of the road. The ambulance speeds by.

She pulls back onto the road. A BOY with a football  runs into the street in front of her car. Susie’s car stops abruptly. 
                                                    
                      BOY
          Sorry. 
 
The boy runs up on the curb.                                                                                            

                      SUSIE
          Watch what you’re doing!

Susie’s car starts down the road again. She turns a corner and heads down another street. 

                                                    89.

INT. SUSIE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                                                                           
                                    
Susie drives slowly, looks out the passenger window.

The bookstore has a “CLOSED” sign in the door. Denise comes out of the building, a sweater draped over her arm. 

EXT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

Susie walks up to Denise as she locks the door.  

                      SUSIE 
          What’s going on?

                      DENISE
          Just collecting my things.
          
                      SUSIE
          You’re not open today? 

                      DENISE
          No. You didn’t hear? 

Susie shakes her head.

                      DENISE
          She’s gone.
                                                   
Susie looks confused.

                      SUSIE
          The owner?

Denise nods.

                      SUSIE                      
          Where’d she go?

Denise stares a hole into Susie.

                      DENISE
          She’s dead.

Susie’s hand moves to cover her open mouth.

                                                    90.

                      SUSIE
          Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.

Denise checks the locked door.

                      DENISE
          Me, too.

Denise turns and walks off. 

INT. SUSIE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS

Susie takes a cell phone from her purse -- makes a call.
                                                 
                      SUSIE
          Bill, I’m here at the 
          bookstore. I can’t give that
          lady her book back.                                                    

                      BILL (VO)
          Susie, you’re not making any
          sense. What’re you talking
          about?

                      SUSIE
          The lady that was over at our
          apartment -- she’s dead.

                      BILL (VO)
          What? Sus, are you alright?

                      SUSIE
          I wonder what happened?  

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! on the driver’s side window. Susie GASPS -- turns. Gloria’s face is pushed against her window.

                      GLORIA
          Do you know Jesus?

                      SUSIE
          Shit!

Gloria smiles at her. 

                                                    91.

                      BILL (VO)
          What’s going on!

                      SUSIE
          They say they come in threes.
                                   
Gloria comes around the front of the car and gets in the passenger seat.

                      GLORIA
          What’re you doin?

                      SUSIE
          The owner died.

Gloria looks to the bookstore. She GASPS and grabs Susie’s arm. Susie looks at what Gloria is staring at and her jaw drops. 

EXT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS

Denise is back at the door. She is digging through her purse, looking for something.

An eerie shadow moves across the front of the store.

BACK IN SUSIE’S CAR 
                                               
                      SUSIE 
          Oh my God!

                      BILL (VO)
          What? What is it?

                      SUSIE
          Oh my God. Bill...

                      BILL (VO)
          That’s it! Susie, stay right
          where you are! I’m on my way! 

BACK AT THE BOOKSTORE 

Denise puts a key into the lock on the door.

                                                    92.

The shadow drops off of the wall. It lands on the sidewalk and moves toward her.                                            
                                                 
                      SUSIE (OS)
          Hey! Get out of there! 

Denise turns her head, looks around for the source of Susie’s voice.

EXT. HOUSE - SUBURBS - DAY

Chuck is working on the house. He’s painting it with a paintbrush and taking his time to make it nice. We can tell he gets paid by the hour.

Bill rounds the corner of the house. He is running.

                      BILL
          Susie’s in trouble!

Chuck drops the brush.

The MOTOR starts as Chuck makes it to the van. Bill is behind the wheel, ready to go. Chuck gets into the van.

INT. SUSIE’S CAR - DAY  

Susie and Gloria keep their eyes on the bookstore as they fumble their way out of the car. 

EXT. BOOKSTORE - DAY                                                                                                  
                                                  
Denise’s feet (the last of her body) being drug around the corner of the building. Denise SCREAMS.

                      DENISE (OS)
          Help me!

EXT. STREET - SUBURBS - DAY

Bill’s van speeds down the road, past the Freewill Baptist Church.

                                                   93.

The sign in front of the church: “FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH, If we don’t listen to God’s whispers, why be surprised when he’s forced to yell.”

Bill’s van speeds by Smity’s parked sedan. Smity’s MOTOR starts. He follows them. His SIREN blares. 

EXT. BOOKSTORE - DAY

Susie and Gloria round the corner of the building toward the sounds of demonic LAUGHTER.

                      SUSIE
          Oh, my God! 

Bill and Chuck rush up to Susie and Gloria.

                      GLORIA
          They’re around the back!
 
                      SMITY (OS)
          Hold it right there!

No one listens. They move toward the back of the store. 

EXT. ALLEYWAY BEHIND THE BOOKSTORE - CONTINUOUS                                               

Denise is on the ground. She is motionless. A dark shadow levitates above her.

                      SUSIE 
          Somebody do something!

Chuck steps forward and kicks into the air.

                      CHUCK
          Git!

Bill, Susie, and Gloria all look at Chuck. Chuck shrugs  at his own embarrassed. 

Susie boldly takes a stand. 

                      SUSIE
          You get away from her! 

                                                    94.

Smity comes around the corner just in time to witness the demon stepping out from a thick, dark cloud.

                      DEMON 
          Well, Miss Susie, I thought 
          that might get your attention.

Chuck looks frightened. He turns and runs past a fear-struck Smity. 

The demon LAUGHS and steps toward Susie.

                      DEMON
          Are you ready to join me?

                      SUSIE
          Me?   

Bill steps in front of Susie. 

EXT. STREET - ST. MARY’S CHURCH - DAY

Chuck runs up the steps that leads to the door.

EXT. ALLEYWAY BEHIND THE BOOKSTORE - DAY 

The demon stands his ground. He’s focused on Susie. 

                      DEMON
          You can’t stand in her way.

Bill shields Susie. Her head pops around his shoulder to view the demon.  

                      SUSIE
          You go to Hell!

                      DEMON
          Perhaps -- when you’re by my 
          side. 

The demon advances toward them. 
               
                      BILL
          You’ll have to go through me.

                                                    95.

Smity draws his weapon, points toward the demon, but he’s shaking so bad that it drops to the ground. He looks around in embarrassment, picks it up, points again.

The demon smiles.

The demon grabs Bill by his throat. 

Bill is lifted off of the ground. He swings his fist at the demon’s face -- it connects, but doesn’t phase him.

EXT. ST. MARY’S CHURCH - DAY

Chuck comes out of the church carrying a full bucket of water. Some water spills as he moves from the church.

EXT. ALLEYWAY BEHIND THE BOOKSTORE - DAY

Bill fights to free himself from the demon’s hold, but  is unable to. 

The demon looks into Bill’s face. He enjoys seeing him like this. He grins.

Susie moves to go to Bill, but Gloria grabs her arm and pulls her back. 

There is a SNAP as the demon tips his wrist and forces Bill’s head to one side. 

                      SUSIE
          Noooo!

Life drains from Bill’s eyes.

Bill’s limp body falls to the ground.

A BANG, sounding like a revolver, echoes through the trees. A broken branch drops to the ground. 

Smity looks at the gun in his hand, as the demon focuses on Susie.

                                                    96.

                      DEMON
          Who’s your daddy?

Gloria GASPS. Susie rushes to the demon. She pounds her fists on him. The demon grabs her hands and holds them snugly. Susie struggles to get free.

                      DEMON 
          You’ve forgotten my lovely
          I’ve tasted your sins. 

                      SUSIE
          Fuck you!

Chuck glares at Smity, his gun, as he moves past him, going toward Susie and the demon.   

                      DEMON
          They run through your veins
          like a river on fire.

                      CHUCK (OS)
          Well then, somebody oughtta 
          put that fire out -- 

Chuck stands with the bucket of water. He heaves the water toward the demon. 

                     CHUCK
                (continuing) 
          with holy water! 

The water soaks the demon and Susie.

The demon SCREAMS out as a black cloud rises from his feet. The cloud builds up around him. It consumes him. There is a LOUD SIZZLING within the cloud. 

Smity shoots rounds into the air. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Denise sits up. She is confused, dazed. Her head is spinning wildly, yet she is numb to her surroundings. She tries to focus, but is unable to.  

The SIZZLING QUIETS as the cloud descends to the ground. The demon is gone. A pile of soot marks the last place where he stood. 
    
                                                   97.

Smity bobs around excitedly, not knowing what to do.                                                                   
                                            
Susie kneels by Bill. Cradles his lifeless body in her arms.                           

FADE TO BLACK

EXT. GRAVEYARD - COUNTRY - DAY

It is an overcast day.

A pair of dark glasses hide Susie’s eyes, but the tissue she wipes her nose with is the giveaway that she has been crying.                                       
                                                     People have come to say their final good-bys to Bill before the closed casket is lowered into the ground. 

A WOMAN (40s) goes to Susie. 

                     WOMAN
          He’s going to be missed.

Susie nods in agreement.

                      WOMAN
          I’m so sorry.

The woman hugs Susie. Susie needs that. She breaks down a little, yet tries to hold herself together. 

                      WOMAN
          If you need anything --
          anything at all.

Susie nods.

The woman moves away and goes to the casket. She places a flower on top of it.

An arm reaches around Susie’s shoulder. It’s Gloria.

                      GLORIA
          Hey, my friend, you’re gonna
          be alright.

                                                    98.

Chuck is next to Gloria.

                      CHUCK
          We’re gonna see to that.

A man in a black suit walks by the casket. His black fedora hides his face as he drops a red rose on the casket. 

Susie notices the man.

The man looks up at her. It’s Luca, behind him -- Debbie and Ron. Luca dips his head, nods.

Susie looks to Gloria, then back to the casket. 

Luca, Debbie, and Ron are gone.

EXT. GRAVEYARD - LATER

People go to their cars.

Chuck and Gloria walk Susie to an automobile. She gets into the passenger side.

                      GLORIA
          Sus, I’ll give you a call
          this evening.

Susie nods.
           
A WOMAN (40s, and an older version of Susie) gets into the driver’s side of the car. 
                                                    
The car moves away.

                      CHUCK
          Hey, would you like to go
          somewhere? Maybe get some
          coffee?

                      GLORIA
          Why not?

                                                   99.

EXT. RESTAURANT - WINDOW - NIGHT

Chuck and Gloria sit inside, at a table, sipping on coffee. We can tell they have been there for a while. Their plates have leftover crumbs from their meal and napkins on them. 

Gloria sets down her cup.

Chuck takes the bill.

EXT. RESTAURANT - FRONT DOOR - CONTINUOUS
                                                 
Chuck and Gloria come out of the building. He takes her hand and tries to lead her. Gloria pauses -- gives Chuck an I’m sorry look.

                      CHUCK
          But I thought...

                      GLORIA
          It’s kinda late. I think we
          should end this night right
          here. 

Chuck looks confused.

                      CHUCK
          Why? Did I do something
          wrong?

                      GLORIA
          No, Chuck, you didn’t do
          anything wrong.

                      CHUCK
          You sure?

Gloria nods, pauses for thought.

                      GLORIA
          Chuck, have you ever had a 
          girlfriend before?

Chuck smiles.

                                                   100.

                      CHUCK
          You wantta be my 
          girlfriend?

Gloria smiles, shakes her head no. Chuck looks disappointed.

                      GLORIA
          I meant a girl -- friend. As
          in I want to be your friend.

Chuck pauses for thought.

                      CHUCK
          What does that mean exactly?
          Can I kiss you?

Gloria smiles, kisses Chuck on his cheek.

                      GLORIA
          I’ll be talkin to ya.

Gloria turns and walks away.

Chuck shouts after her.

                      CHUCK
          Wait! When? -- Soon?

Gloria smiles and waves.

                      CHUCK
          Or I could call you?

Gloria pauses at her car. She smiles and nods at Chuck.
     
                      GLORIA
          Sure.

Gloria gets into her car.

Chuck smiles a huge smile.

                      CHUCK
               (to himself)
          Sure, we could go shopping or 
          something. -- I don’t believe
          I just said that...

                                                   101.

Chuck watches Gloria drive by and wave at him. He waves back.

                      CHUCK
          She loves me!  

Chuck goes to his car.

A BLACK SCREEN

Super: “NEXT FALL”. 

Pointed, shiny prongs of a pitchfork pierce up through the darkness like its paper, and rip a fraction of it open.

INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

Susie moves through the kitchen in a hurry. A car HORN OS. 

Super: “ONE YEAR AFTER BILL’S FUNERAL”. 
                                                     
A dog follows on Susie’s heels.

                      SUSIE
          Saity, you be a good girl.
          I’ll be home soon.
                                                    
Notebooks and a couple school books are stacked neatly on the kitchen table. Susie takes them and hurries out of the room.

THE BLACK PAPER SCREEN

The pitchfork carves it’s way across the darkness. An amber glow rises from below, filling the jagged gashes with the light of Hell. 

EXT. HOUSE - DAY 

Susie exits the house and closes the door. She checks the lock. Satisfied it’s locked, she leaves.

                                                   102.

INT. GLORIA’S CAR - CONTINUOUS

Gloria watches Susie rush down the walkway, and head toward her car. 

Gloria smiles at Susie as she opens the door and gets in. 

                      GLORIA 
          All set?

                      SUSIE
          Ready and willin, but runnin
          late again. So, warped speed,
          Dr. Spock. 

Gloria smiles and puts the car in gear. Susie sets her books down on the seat, between them. 

Susie pulls her hair back from her face with both hands. Her hands stop at the crown of her head -- at two small horns. Her index fingers push them down. 

The cover of Susie’s book: “Concepts of Criminal Law”.

INSANE DEMONIC LAUGHTER

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS

EERIE ORGAN MUSIC plays as Gloria’s car moves down the road, into a thick fog. 

THE BLACK PAPER SCREEN

Jagged gashes are ripped across the entire screen. An amber glow rises from it’s depths. Wicked-looking hands reach up through the gashes and pry them open.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

A candle lights the SILENT room where Denise sits with closed eyes. A few teenaged girls are with her. They are sitting in a circle on the floor. Their hands are joined.

                                                   103.

BOOM! 

The startled girls SCREAM.

Denise gets up quickly and turns on the light.

They all look around. 

The room spins -- shrinks. It gets smaller --

smaller.

THE BLACK PAPER SCREEN

The girl’s shrunken, spinning bedroom hovers above the amber glowing hole. The wicked-looking hand reaches up from the hole and snatches the room. The girl’s SCREAM out as their room is dragged down below the opening.  
                                           
SILENCE
    
The demon’s face pops up through the opening. He tilts his head and eyeballs us.

                      DEMON
          Wanna play?

The demon LAUGHS insanely.  

The song PERSONAL JESUS by Marilyn Manson plays.                             

                                           FADE OUT.