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Monsters Inside (Copy)
by John Bradley (johnrushbradley@hotmail.com)

Rated: R   Genre: Horror   User Review: ****
Abused by his demented Grandmother, bullied by the popular kids at school, an outcast teen's life is changed when he meets and becomes obsessed with the new sheriff's daughter. Anyone who messes with her will have hell to pay.


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



FADE IN:

EXT. TELLER HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
A quaint, unkept house on a sleepy street.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
All the furniture and appliances appear like they came from
a bad 1970's garage sale.
                                                            
HAROLD TELLER, 17, a hulk of a man with a catcher's mit for
a face, something dark underneath his passive nature, puts
the finishing touches on a sand which.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER (O.S.)
Harold!
                                                            
Harold turns, his face racked with nervousness.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Sorry, Grandma, dinner's almost
ready!
                                                            
GRANDMA TELLER, 50ish, 300 pounds of hate crammed into an
undersized rascal, rolls in. A cigarette smolders in her
mouth. She lifts a magazine for Harold to see. A women's
lingerie catalog.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
      (nervous)
What's that?
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You know damn well what it is, I
found it under your bed!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Grandma, I can explain!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You'll explain nothing!
                                                            
Grandma Teller zooms towards him, grabs a can tucked away in
her scooter. She slams the cane into Harold's knee. He
buckles.
                                                            
Grandma Teller grabs Harold by the ear and drags him into
the
                                                            
LIVING ROOM
                                                            

2.

Filled with tacky furniture and every piece of Jesus
memorabilia you can imagine.
                                                            
Despite his size and her handicap, he does not put up any
resistance to her physicality. Like she has a mental hold on
him.
                                                            
Grandma Teller crashes Harold against the coffee table. She
tosses the lingerie magazine on it.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You know what to do.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Please, Grandma, I promise I won't
do it again!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
      (screams)
Take off your pants!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I said I wouldn't--
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You make me sick. Now do as I say!
                                                            
Harold, his back to Grandma Teller, slides his pants down.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Remove that demon seed from your
body!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Please...
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Now!
                                                            
Harold reluctantly pleasures himself, tears swell in his
eyes.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You're the source of all my
misery.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I'm sorry, Grandma.
                                                            

3.

                       GRANDMA TELLER
My son was a good boy -- he always
listened to his mother. Then he
met that gutter prostitute and she
tricked him into committing sin.
                                                            
Tears stream down Harold's face. His hand moves faster.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You are the product of that sin!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I know, Grandma.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
My boy couldn't stand what he had
done. Now he is in the cemetery
and without a proper burial. Your
hooker mom left and she is nowhere
to be found!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I didn't mean for it to happen.
                                                            
Harold finishes, his body shakes. He pulls his pants up,
buckles the belt.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
And now I'm responsible for you.
(talks to God)
What did I do to deserve your
wrath, dear Lord?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I don't know, Grandma.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Jesus is testing me. I'm here to
fight the evil in you.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I don't want to be evil, Grandma.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Go to your room and don't come out
till morning -- not to go to the
bathroom, not to get a glass of
water, not for nothing! You hear
me?
                                                            
Harold nods, then rushes down the hall to his bedroom and
closes the door.
                                                            

4.

HAROLD'S BEDROOM
                                                            
Small and empty. A sheet less mattress on the floor and an
old dresser with a cracked mirror.
                                                            
Harold meanders to the dresser, gazing at his cracked
reflection in the mirror.
                                                            
He reaches in one of the drawers and pulls out a black
leather mask, places it on his face. Only his lips and
vibrant green eyes are visible.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I'm a monster.
                                                            
 
EXT. RURAL ROAD - MORNING
                                                            
A sign reads, "Farwell, Texas An All American Town".
                                                            
A tumbleweed dances across the road. A black Suburban,
U-Haul trailer in tow, demolishes the tumbleweed.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON SUBURBAN - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
A beefy hand white knuckles the steering wheel. It belongs
to LOEFEL VENTON, 40, Texas born and bred, athletic build,
fiery eyes.
                                                            
In the passengers seat, VALLERY VENTON, 40, her clothes,
hair, and makeup reveal her desperate attempts to hang on to
the last of her youthful good looks. She stares blankly out
her window, fiddles with her wedding ring.
                                                            
In the back seat, MARLA VENTON, 16, appearance plain by her
own design, radiates teenage angst, draws a beautiful
picture of the landscape in a sketchbook.
                                                            
No radio. No small talk. The tension in the Suburban is
palpable. Something clearly on everyone's mind, but no one
cares to speak.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S BEDROOM - DAY
                                                            
Harold sits on his mattress, a textbook and notebook in
front of him, reading.
                                                            
A LOUD ENGINE O.S.
                                                            

5.

Harold looks up, wanders to his window. He sees the Venton's
Suburban pull up to a modest two story house across the
street. Loefel, Vallery, and Marla exit the vehicle.
                                                            
Harold stares curiously.
                                                            
 
EXT. VENTON HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Loefel shuffles through his keys as he makes his way to the
front door.
                                                            
Marla, arms crossed, shakes her head.
                                                            
                       MARLA
      (disappointed)
This is it?
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Marla, you know how we feel about
complaining.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Welcome to your new home.
                                                            
Loefel unlocks the front door and swings it open.
                                                            
Marla gazes around, uneasy. Her eyes land on the Teller
house. She sees Harold staring at her from his window. He
quickly draws the shades.
                                                            
Marla hurries in the house after Loefel and Vallery.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - EVENING
                                                            
Several boxes fill the modestly sized, yet clean and
furnished, living room.
                                                            
Loefel and Marla sort out personal items from the boxes.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You need us to get you anything
for school?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Maybe some juice boxes. Oh, and
some crayons would be nice.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You're not even going to give this
place a chance, are you?
                                                            

6.

                       MARLA
I was perfectly happy back home.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Look on the bright side, in two
years you'll be free to go
wherever you want.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Trust me, I'm counting down
already.
                                                            
 
EXT. VENTON DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
The sun hangs low on the horizon. Vallery, in the back of
the U-Haul, furiously digs through a half empty box.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (mutters)
Fucking Loefel, I told him to put
my porcelain in this box.
                                                            
A rusty police cruiser pulls up behind the U-Haul. Vallery
turns.
                                                            
DEPUTY DUKE, early 20's, handsome, but not nearly as much as
he thinks he is, exits the squad car with a confident smile,
tips his hat.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Evening, ma'am.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (smiles)
Howdy, officer.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You must be Mrs. Venton.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Are you the welcoming committee?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
No committee, just dropping by to
say hello to the new sheriff and
his family.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL (O.S.)
Deputy Duke?
                                                            
Vallery and Deputy Duke turn. Loefel approaches from the
doorway.
                                                            

7.

                       DEPUTY DUKE
Sheriff Venton.
                                                            
Deputy Duke and Loefel exchange a strong handshake. Marla
peeks out from the doorway.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
This is my wife Vallery and
daughter Marla.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Christopher Duke. Everyone just
calls me Deputy Duke. Welcome to
Farwell. Is there anything you
folks need?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Just really looking forward to
getting out there and hit the
ground running.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I was told you start Thursday.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
If it's all the same, I'd like to
start tomorrow.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
There's no hurry, Farwell's a
pretty quiet town.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I insist.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I'll be here at seven, take you to
the station.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Appreciated.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You folks enjoy your evening.
                                                            
Deputy Duke tips his cap, saunters back to the squad car. He
starts it and pulls away.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (to Loefel)
My porcelain?
                                                            

8.

                       LOEFEL
      (annoyed)
In here.
                                                            
Loefel leads Vallery inside. Marla lingers on the porch,
gazes around. Her eyes land back on Harold's room. The
curtain quickly shuts.
                                                            
Marla, creeped out, hurries back in the house, slams the
door.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON KITCHEN - NIGHT
                                                            
Vallery scrubs dishes from a just finished dinner, loads
them in a dishwater.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
God, this thing's a piece of crap.
                                                            
She twists a nob and the dishwasher begins.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (yells)
Marla, get the trash!
                                                            
 
EXT. VENTON DRIVEWAY - NIGHT
                                                            
The front door opens, Marla exits, struggles with an
overfilled trash bag. She drags it towards the bin.
                                                            
Across the street, the Teller door opens. Harold exits with
a trash bag of his own, heads toward his bin.
                                                            
                       MARLA
      (loud)
Hey!
                                                            
Harold stops, turns, looks like a deer in headlights.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I saw you looking at us from your
window.
                                                            
Harold stands frozen, stares at her.
                                                            
                       MARLA
My name's Marla Venton, my dad's
the new sheriff here.
                                                            

9.

Harold turns and looks back at his house. Grandma Teller
gives him a nasty glare from the living room window. He
turns back to Marla.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Sorry.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Huh?
                                                            
Harold quickly tosses his trash and runs back in the house,
slams the door.
                                                            
 
INT. MARLA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Mostly unpacked. Not girly. Very artsy. Alternative rock
band posters, paintings on the wall.
                                                            
Marla, in plaid pajamas, doodles a drawing of the room in
her sketch pad. MUSIC blares from earbuds.
                                                            
She stops for a moment, glancing out her window, a view of
the Teller house.
                                                            
OUT THE WINDOW
                                                            
A back window to the Teller house opens. Harold slides out,
quietly closes the window behind him. He runs off into the
night.
                                                            
BACK TO SCENE
                                                            
Marla's eyebrows curiously rise. She removes her earbuds.
                                                            
                       VALLERY (O.S.)
      (yells)
And whose fault is it that we're
here?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL (O.S.)
      (yells)
So you take no responsibility at
all for what happened, do you? Go
figure, Vallery.
                                                            
                       VALLERY (O.S.)
And you blame me for everything
that goes wrong with everything!
                                                            
                       LOEFEL (O.S.)
Maybe if you weren't such a
bitch...
                                                            

10.

A DOOR SLAMS O.S.
                                                            
Marla, nervous, gets up and shuffles to her door, opens it,
peeks into the
                                                            
LIVING ROOM
                                                            
Loefel grabs a blanket, sets himself a bed on the couch. He
turns and notices Marla.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Marla, I'm sorry...
                                                            
Marla runs back in her room, slams her door.
                                                            
 
EXT. FARWELL - MORNING
                                                            
The sun rises over a long shot of the town.
                                                            
 
EXT. VENTON DRIVEWAY - MORNING
                                                            
Deputy Duke pulls his squad car up to the curb. The front
door opens, Loefel exits. He heads to the car and gets in.
                                                            
INT. SQUAD CAR
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Mornin, Sheriff.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Any place around here that makes
good doughnuts?
                                                            
 
INT. POLICE STATION - MORNING
                                                            
A one story brick building. Filled with clutter. A single
jail cell off in the corner.
                                                            
The front door opens. Loefel and Deputy Duke, carrying a box
of doughnuts, enter. Deputy Duke flips on the light switch.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Well, here she is.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
It's...cozy.
                                                            
                       JERRY (O.S.)
Doughnuts, how thoughtful.
                                                            

11.

JERRY, 50, grey hair and a beer belly, a rough complection
caused by chronic alcoholism, waves at them from the single
cell.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Morning, sunshine.
                                                            
                       JERRY
Shove it shit for brains and let
me outta here.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Jerry here is a frequent visitor.
I've been thinking of starting a
punch card with him.
                                                            
Jerry gives Deputy Duke a middle finger.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
What's he in for?
                                                            
                       JERRY
And who the fuck are you?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Jerry, meet our new sheriff,
Sheriff Venton. I'm sure you two
will get aquatinted.
                                                            
                       JERRY
      (sarcastic)
It's a pleasure.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I was sound asleep at midnight
when I get a call from Alan
Flannigan.
                                                            
                       JERRY
That putz.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Says there's a situation with
Jerry. I head to Alan's house to
find Jerry, in his tightly
whities, firing buckshot into
Alan's brand new John Deere.
                                                            
                       JERRY
That jackass got what was coming.
                                                            
Loefel laughs.
                                                            

12.

                       DEPUTY DUKE
Tore that beautiful riding mower
all to hell. Damn shame.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Sounds like it.
                                                            
Deputy Duke opens a door leading into a tiny office.
                                                            
                       JERRY
Hey, when am I getting outta...
                                                            
SHERIFF'S OFFICE
                                                            
Loefel looks around. A desk, filing cabinet, and window. a
coat rack with a uniform.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
It's all yours.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Wonderful.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Mayor Westword never mentioned why
you left your last job.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Mind if I change?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
No problem, Sheriff.
                                                            
Deputy Duke exits the room. Loefel grabs his uniform, gazes
at it with a smile.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON SUBURBAN - MORNING
                                                            
Vallery drives down a busy road. Marla rides shotgun,
clutches her backpack tightly, sports a glum expression.
                                                            
Vallery lights a cigarette, rolls down the window.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You look pretty.
                                                            
Marla gives no response.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Awe, is my baby girl nervous for
her first day of school?
                                                            

13.

                       MARLA
I don't want to meet new people. I
was happy with the people I knew.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You and me both.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Why wont you and Dad tell me why
we're here?
                                                            
                       VALLERY
We told you, it's a better job.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I heard you arguing last night.
                                                            
Vallery pulls the Suburban into the school parking lot.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You don't want to be late.
                                                            
Marla grunts, frustrated. She gets out and slams the door.
Vallery pulls off.
                                                            
 
EXT. FARWELL HIGH SCHOOL - MORNING
                                                            
Two story building. Football field, baseball field, tennis
court. This town loves their sports.
                                                            
Marla watches as the Suburban pulls away. She nervously
meanders through a herd of kids trying to beat the bell.
                                                            
 
EXT. TOWN ROAD - DAY
                                                            
Loefel's squad car an occasional car or truck goes by.
                                                            
INT. LOEFEL'S SQUAD CAR
                                                            
Loefel, decked in his brown sheriff's uniform, pinches his
nose. A radar gun tracks the speed of passing cars.
                                                            
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...
                                                            
Loefel pops forward, checks the beeping radar gun. An old,
gray Buick zooms by going 95 miles an hour.
                                                            
Loefel starts the car and hits the gas. He hurries to catch
it. He hits his lights.
                                                            
SIRENS BLARE
                                                            

14.

The Buick pulls off to the side of the road. Loefel coasts
behind it, parks.
                                                            
EXT. TOWN ROAD
                                                            
Loefel gets out of his car and ambles toward the Buick.
                                                            
SPEEDING DRIVER, 70, a crusty old spade, wearing oval
sunglasses, a faded blue dress, sucking on a large dip in
her mouth.
                                                            
Loefel taps on her window. She rolls her window down.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
License and registration.
                                                            
                       SPEEDING DRIVER
Who the fuck are you?
                                                            
She spits by Loefel's feet.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Loefel Vento, I'm the new sheriff.
                                                            
                       SPEEDING DRIVER
What happened to Sheriff Rove?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Retired.
                                                            
She sizes him up.
                                                            
                       SPEEDING DRIVER
I liked him better.
                                                            
Loefel reaches in his pocket and grabs a business card,
hands it to her.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
      (nicely)
I'm only giving you a warning this
time, just slow it down a bit
through town.
                                                            
Speeding Driver looks at the card, then Loefel. She spits
chew on the card, tosses it to the ground, and drives off.
                                                            
Loefel watches her speed off, a small, irritated twitch in
his face.
                                                            
 

15.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
                                                            
A BELL RINGS
                                                            
Students flood out of the classrooms.
                                                            
EXT. SCHOOL TRACK
                                                            
A bright sunny day. Several kids meander about, most with
food. Lunchtime.
                                                            
Marla shuffles along the track by herself, people watching.
                                                            
Four of the cool kids approach her. ZACK, STEPHANIE, JUSTIN
and CINDY approach her. All four are 18 and good looking. A
walking Abercrombie and Fitch catalog.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Hey, new girl.
                                                            
The four flank Marla as the walk by the bleachers. Marla
nervously scans them.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Hi.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Don't be nervous, we don't bite.
(points to Stephanie)
Except for Stephanie.
                                                            
Stephanie punches Zack in the shoulder.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Hey!
                                                            
                       CINDY
I'm Cindy, this is Justin, Zack,
and Stephanie.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Marla.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
You look excited to be here.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Just getting used to a new town, I
guess.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Farwell's like any town. We're the
cool kids.
                                                            

16.

They pass the end of the bleachers. Underneath, Harold sits
on the grass, playing with a group of crickets.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Then there's the town weirdo.
                                                            
The group approaches Harold. Zack purposely steps on one of
the crickets. Harold recoils, hurt.
                                                            
                       ZACK
You hunting for your lunch, freak?
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Maybe he's just trying to make
some friends.
                                                            
The four popular kids cackle. Marla looks at the four,
repulsed.
                                                            
Harold stands and runs away.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
That's Harold, lives with his
crazy old grandma.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I know.
                                                            
The four curiously look at Marla.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I live across the street from him.
                                                            
Stephanie and Cindy react with horrified expressions.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
I couldn't handle it. I'd invest
in some pepper spray.
                                                            
                       CINDY
Maybe a lock for your panty
drawer.
                                                            
                       MARLA
What's he done?
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Huh?
                                                            
                       MARLA
What did he do to make you hate
him so much?
                                                            

17.

The four exchange dumbfounded looks.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Cause he is a fucking retard, has
been since we were all little
kids.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Enough about Harold. We'll
introduce you around.
                                                            
The four popular kids lead Marla towards the main building.
                                                            
 
EXT. STAN'S MARKET - DAY
                                                            
Everything you'd imagine a small rural Texas town grocery
store to be.
                                                            
The "t" from Stan's is missing from the sign atop the store.
A dozen cars/pickup trucks parked throughout the lot.
                                                            
INT. STAN'S MARKET
                                                            
The fresh produce section. Vallery examines cucumbers, picks
out the three biggest ones.
                                                            
CHECKOUT LINE - LATER
                                                            
A DISINTERESTED CASHIER scans the last of Vallery's items.
Vallery hands her some cash.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE (O.S.)
Need a hand to your car?
                                                            
Vallery turns to see Deputy Duke, smiles.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
What a gentleman.
                                                            
 
EXT. STAN'S MARKET - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Vallery carries one small bag and her purse. Deputy Duke
follows behind her, struggles to juggle several large bags.
They make their way to the Venton Suburban.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
So, how's Farwell treating you so
far?
                                                            

18.

                       VALLERY
It's alright, I guess. It has it's
charms.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Mrs. Venton, I'm a cop, I'm
trained to tell when someone's
being insincere.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Okay, I'm bored to death, lonely,
and I want to shoot myself. Happy?
                                                            
The two reach the S.U.V. Vallery pops the trunk. Deputy Duke
drops the bags in, exhales. Vallery puts her bags in, closes
it.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I guess my life's really the same
here as it was in Dallas. Husband
at work all day, daughter at
school, no friends. I just drink
wine, watch soap opera, and play
house mom. I hate it.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
      (flirting)
Sounds like you need something to
do.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (flirting back)
Having something to do can get you
in trouble.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I suppose it could. But at least
it wouldn't be boring.
                                                            
Vallery opens the driver's side door to the Suburban.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Thanks for giving me a hand...and
listening to me complain.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
It's no problem. You should be
happy. Hopefully you find
something out here you like.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You have yourself a good rest of
your day.
                                                            

19.

                       DEPUTY DUKE
You do the same.
                                                            
Vallery shuts the door, starts the car and drives off.
Deputy Duke watches her leave with attraction in his eyes.
                                                            
 
EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - DAY
                                                            
Marla stands at curbside, waiting. A mass exodus of students
at the end of the day.
                                                            
Loefel's squad car drives in the lot, pulls up beside her.
She gets in.
                                                            
INT. SQUAD CAR
                                                            
Loefel drives off. Marla sticks earbuds in her ears, closes
her eyes.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
So, how was your day?
                                                            
No answer. Loefel turns and sees the earbuds, sighs.
                                                            
 
EXT. TELLER HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
Crickets chirp. The neighborhood quiet. Several lights on in
the house.
                                                            
INT. TELLER BATHROOM
                                                            
Harold, on hands and knees, scrubs the dirty toilet.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER (O.S.)
Harold!
                                                            
Harold stands and rushes to the
                                                            
LIVING ROOM
                                                            
Grandma Teller sits in front of the television, gives Harold
a scowl.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Yes, Grandma?
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Do you not know how to tell time,
or are you just stupid?
                                                            
Harold doesn't know how to respond.
                                                            

20.

                       GRANDMA TELLER
My nightly tea.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Yes, Grandma.
                                                            
Harold hurries to the
                                                            
KITCHEN
                                                            
Harold goes in the fridge and grabs a pitcher of tea, pours
a glass.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER (O.S.)
Sometimes I wonder where you'd be
if I wasn't here, you know that?
                                                            
Harold grabs a bottle of sleeping pills, breaks off two into
the glass of tea.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Yes, Grandma.
                                                            
Harold rushes the glass of tea into the
                                                            
LIVING ROOM
                                                            
Harold hands the glass to Grandma Teller, who takes a big
gulp. She grabs the remote and flips through the channels
till she lands on Fox News. She smiles.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Oh, Sean Hannity, you're the only
one who understands what it's like
to be me.
                                                            
LATER
                                                            
Grandma Teller, in the same spot, snores loudly, head tilted
back, drool dripping from her mouth.
                                                            
Harold peeks in, sees her asleep. He tiptoes to a back
window.
                                                            
 
INT. MARLA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Marla draws in her sketch pad. Something catches her eye.
She stands and approaches her window.
                                                            
She watches, intrigued, as Harold sneaks out of a window,
drops to the side. He hurries away into the night.
                                                            

21.

Marla slides her window open and hops out.
                                                            
 
EXT. FIELD - NIGHT
                                                            
Overgrown brush, sporadic trees. The only light comes from a
half moon, covered by clouds.
                                                            
Marla tiptoes, quietly keeping her distance as she follows
Harold through the field.
                                                            
They make their way to a cluster of buildings, a dilapidated
sugar mill.
                                                            
Marla CRACKS a branch, quickly ducks behind a shrub. She
peeks out.
                                                            
Harold stops, turns, searching for the source of the sound.
Marla shakes. Has she been caught?
                                                            
Harold goes back to walking towards the sugar mill. Marla
breathes a sigh of relief. She lets him gets some distance
and then continues her pursuit.
                                                            
Harold reaches a torn chain link fence, slips through it and
heads through the cluster of buildings.
                                                            
Marla rushes to make up the distance. She reaches the fence
and slips through it.
                                                            
EXT. SUGAR MILL
                                                            
The buildings are dark and silent. Marla's eyes search the
area, no sign of Harold.
                                                            
She creeps down the wall of the first building.
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
      (angry)
Why are you following me?
                                                            
Harold pops from around the corner, gets in Marla's face.
She backs up, terrified.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I see you sneak out of your house
at night...
                                                            
Harold stops, his demeanor less threatening. Marla collects
herself.
                                                            

22.

                       MARLA
I was just curious what you were
doing, that's all.
                                                            
BARK!
                                                            
Marla jumps, turns. Behind her, LIONESSES, a scraggly
terrier, growls at her.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Easy girl.
                                                            
Harold squats to the ground, pulls a bag of meat from his
pocket.
                                                            
Lioness whines, wags her tail, and bolts to Harold. She
licks his face with love, then devours the meat.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Grandma won't let me have a pet.
Her name's Lioness.
                                                            
                       MARLA
She's cute.
                                                            
Marla squats down, rubs her hand across Lioness. Marla's
brow raises.
                                                            
                       MARLA
She's pregnant?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Farwell doesn't have a shelter.
I'm the only one taking care of
her.
                                                            
                       MARLA
You're a lot different than I
expected.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
What do you mean?
                                                            
                       MARLA
The way the kids at school treat
you, like you're some kind of
monster.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
That's how it's been my whole
life.
                                                            

23.

                       MARLA
That's not how I think of you.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Thanks.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm going to head home before my
parents find out I'm gone. I'll
see you tomorrow.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
See ya.
                                                            
Harold watches Marla head back to the fence and out of
sight.
                                                            
 
EXT. TOWN ROAD - MORNING
                                                            
Loefel's squad car zooms by.
                                                            
INT. SQUAD CAR
                                                            
Loefel drives. Marla rides shotgun. The discomfort between
them is obvious.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Where did you stay last night?
                                                            
He doesn't answer right away.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Caught up on some stuff at the
station.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Right.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
So, how do you like your new
school?
                                                            
Marla glares at him, shakes her head, and turns to look out
the window.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - DAY
                                                            
A SOAP OPERA plays on television.
                                                            
Vallery sits on the couch in her pajamas, sips from a glass
of red wine, a melancholy expression.
                                                            

24.

DOORBELL RINGS
                                                            
Vallery sighs. She sets her wine down and ambles to the
front door, swings it open.
                                                            
Deputy Duke, uniform on, greets her with a smile.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Deputy Duke, what can I do for
you?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You said you were bored and lonely
at home. I was in the
neighborhood, so I thought I'd pop
in and say hi.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
That's very sweet of you.
                                                            
Vallery ushers Deputy Duke in, closes the door.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
The place looks good now that it's
all set up.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
So, where's the sheriff?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
He's meeting with the mayor -- the
blowhard will talk his ear off for
a couple hours.
                                                            
Vallery grabs a wine glass, pours it full.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I'm not sure I...
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I insist.
                                                            
Deputy Duke takes a drink.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
It's good, thank you.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
So, is there a misses Deputy Duke?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
No, why do you ask?
                                                            

25.

                       VALLERY
Because you haven't taken your
eyes off me since I got into town.
                                                            
Deputy Duke coughs, struggles to compose himself.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I uh..please don't tell the
sheriff.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I won't if you won't.
                                                            
Vallery leans into Deputy Duke, runs her fingers across his
chest.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Maybe I like the attention.
                                                            
 
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
                                                            
A sea of teens fills the hallways. Marla, hands gripping the
straps of her backpack, navigates her way to the
                                                            
CAFETERIA
                                                            
She notices Harold, sitting off by himself, head buried in a
book.
                                                            
She smiles, makes her way towards him.
                                                            
                       ZACK (O.S.)
Hey, Marla!
                                                            
Marla turns. Zack, Stephanie, Justin and Cindy, all with
trays of food, approach her.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Hi.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Come sit with us.
                                                            
Before Marla can answer, Cindy grabs her arm, leads her. The
five take a seat at a table, only a few feet away from
Harold.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
      (to Marla)
Any plans for the weekend?
                                                            

26.

                       MARLA
Not really.
                                                            
                       ZACK
We're having a little party out by
Miller's Pond, wanna come?
                                                            
                       MARLA
I don't know, I doubt my dad will
let me.
                                                            
                       CINDY
You should try!
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Just don't tell your dad what
we're up to.
                                                            
The four popular kids snicker. Marla shrinks. Justin points
at Harold.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Hey, look, the freak is reading a
book.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
I bet it's a picture book.
                                                            
Stephanie and Cindy cackle.
                                                            
Zack scoops some food on his spoon, launches it at Harold,
splashing him in the back of the head.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Direct hit!
                                                            
Zack and Justin high five. Harold shivers and turns.
                                                            
                       ZACK
      (to Harold)
Hey, I think you got something...
                                                            
Zack points to the back of Harold's head. Harold gets up and
sulks away. The four popular kids share a laugh.
                                                            
                       MARLA
You people are such assholes.
                                                            
The four turn to Marla, shocked.
                                                            

27.

                       MARLA
You are all a bunch of self
absorbed sociopaths. What the
hell's wrong with you?
                                                            
Marla stands and chases after Harold. Zack and Justin look
pleadingly at Marla as she leaves.
                                                            
                       ZACK
We were just having a little fun.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Hey, don't be like that.
                                                            
                       CINDY
God, what's her problem?
                                                            
                       ZACK
New girl's sensitive.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
She's a stuck up bitch, that's her
problem.
                                                            
                       CINDY
I can't believe she called us
that.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
She thinks we're absorbed
sociopaths? Well, we'll show her.
                                                            
 
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAY
                                                            
Loefel, in uniform, stands at the curb of a property line,
an annoyed expression.
                                                            
OLD REDNECK and FAT HILLBILLY stand on opposite sides of a
fence separating their properties, both in a tizzy.
                                                            
Old Redneck points to an apple tree on Fat Hillbilly's
property.
                                                            
                       OLD REDNECK
I'm sick and tired of those cotton
picking apples on my property!
                                                            
                       FAT HILLBILLY
I offered to pick them up, but you
said you'd shoot me if I came on
you property!
                                                            

28.

                       OLD REDNECK
You darn tootin I will!
                                                            
                       FAT HILLBILLY
Well, then what do you want me to
do?
                                                            
                       OLD REDNECK
Send that tree to wood chipper
heaven, that's what you need to
do!
                                                            
                       FAT HILLBILLY
My momma planted that tree when I
was five!
                                                            
Old Redneck turns to Loefel.
                                                            
                       OLD REDNECK
Tell him he needs to get rid of
that tree, Sheriff.
                                                            
                       FAT HILLBILLY
Sheriff, that's not right!
                                                            
Loefel pinches the bridge of his nose, shakes his head.
                                                            
 
INT. SCHOOL LIBRARY - DAY
                                                            
Jammed pack full of kids. Still fairly quiet. Harold reads
at a table by himself.
                                                            
Several feet away, Marla, headphones on, doodles in her
sketch book. The drawing is of Harold as he reads.
                                                            
Behind a bookshelf, the four popular kids stare at Marla,
all with excited, mischievous grins. Zack holds up Marla's
backpack.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
You get it done?
                                                            
Zack proudly lifts the heavy bag.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Filled with Farwell's finest. She
hasn't noticed?
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
No, thank God, hurry your ass and
get it back there!
                                                            

29.

Stephanie shoves Zack towards Marla. He hurries over to her,
drops the bag by her side.
                                                            
Zack turns to leave, bumps the table. Marla turns glares at
him. He offers her a shit eating grin and hurries off to
join his cohorts.
                                                            
                       CINDY
I can't wait to see the look on
her face!
                                                            
Marla continues her drawing, her colored pencil snaps.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Shit!
                                                            
Without looking, Marla opens her backpack and reaches in.
Giddiness overcomes the four popular kids.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Oh my God, she's doing it!
                                                            
Marla's hand swirls in the bag. He face turns to confusion.
She pulls out a glob of cow shit.
                                                            
Marla SCREAMS!
                                                            
Everyone turns and looks, including Harold. The four popular
kids keel over with laughter.
                                                            
Marla tosses the cow shit to the ground and runs towards the
door. Laughter builds among nearly everyone in the library.
                                                            
Harold, with rage in his eyes, watches the four popular kids
cackle out of control.
                                                            
 
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
                                                            
Marla, tears streaming down her face, barrels past a couple
of students. She reaches the front door and exits the
school.
                                                            
 
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
                                                            
Rain hammers asphalt. Marla shuffles down the side of the
road, arms crossed, a determined stare.
                                                            
Harold's red truck pulls alongside her, rolls down his
window.
                                                            

30.

                       HAROLD
Need a lift?
                                                            
Marla turns to Harold.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I just want to be alone.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
      (disappointed)
Okay.
                                                            
Harold pulls the truck up and stops, waits for Marla to
catch up.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
It's another two miles, you'll
catch a cold.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Fine, but I don't wanna talk.
                                                            
Harold makes a zipping motion over his lips. Marla opens the
passenger door, gets in.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Marla shuts the door. Harold drives off. Marla sniffles,
holding back tears. Several seconds of silence.
                                                            
                       MARLA
How do you deal with it? How do
you deal with those assholes?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I don't know. I don't I guess.
                                                            
Marla wipes her face, the tears come down. Harold notices,
quivers with anger.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
They did it because you stood up
for me. It's my fault.
                                                            
                       MARLA
No it's not. It's their fault, not
yours or mine.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
No one's ever stood up for me
before.
                                                            

31.

Marla smiles.
                                                            
                       MARLA
And I'd do it again. You're a
really sweet guy, Harold. Weird,
but sweet.
                                                            
 
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAY
                                                            
Harold's truck pulls up to the Venton house. Marla gets out.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Thanks for the ride.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Don't mention it.
                                                            
Marla closes the truck door, heads up her porch and inside
her house.
                                                            
EXT. TELLER HOUSE
                                                            
Grandma Teller watches Harold and Marla from the living room
window with a nasty scowl.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Grandma Teller, cane in hand, her scowl not softened, sits
waiting in front of the door.
                                                            
The front door opens, Harold enters, closes the door behind
him.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Grandma, I'm--
                                                            
Grandma Teller zooms to Harold, cracks him in the back with
her cane. He squeals.
                                                            
She delivers one shot after another, buckling him to the
ground. He cries.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
What did I do -- I don't
understand?
                                                            
Grandma Teller stops her barrage, gives Harold a
condescending smirk.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Do you fancy me a fool?
                                                            

32.

                       HAROLD
No, Grandma!
                                                            
She cracks him in the shoulder with the cane.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
What have I told you about
canoodling with the opposite sex?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I wasn't canoodling!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Lies!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
She was walking in the rain and I
gave her a ride. She's nice!
                                                            
Grandma Teller raises the cane, about to strike.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Please, no more Grandma.
                                                            
Grandma Teller stops, holsters her cane. She takes her hand
and cups Harold's cheek.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
This is for your own good, don't
you see that?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
You're only trying to help me.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
I'm looking out for your eternal
soul. You were born from sin and
wickedness and that must end with
you.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I know.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You need to pray to God for
forgiveness.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Street lights shines in to the dark room. Harold sits on the
bed, naked.
                                                            

33.

Harold's entire body is a smorgasbord of new and old
bruises, scars, and burns. The evidence of a lifetime of
abuse.
                                                            
He peers out the window at the Venton house, into Marla's
window.
                                                            
Marla sits on her bed, tears eyed, writes in a journal.
                                                            
Harold cannot take his gaze off her.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
My salvation.
                                                            
Harold stands and ambles to his dresser. He takes out the
black leather mask and places it on his face.
                                                            
 
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
                                                            
A full moon hangs high, slightly covered by overcast clouds.
                                                            
MUSIC blares from a boom box.
                                                            
Zack, Stephanie, Cindy, and Justin sit on lawn chairs
overlooking a camp fire. A dozen other teens flank them, a
full party in effect.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
You should have seen her face when
she pulled the shit out of her
bag!
                                                            
                       PARTY GIRL
So gross!
                                                            
                       CINDY
Stupid bitch got what was coming
to her.
                                                            
                       ZACK
All because of that stupid freak.
                                                            
Stephanie hops on Zack's lap, puts her finger over his lips.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
      (sexy)
But I thought you like freaks?
                                                            
                       ZACK
Some of them.
                                                            

34.

Cindy plants a kiss on Justin, gets up and wanders towards
the dark woods.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Hey, where you going?
                                                            
                       CINDY
To go potty, wanna hold my hand?
                                                            
Everyone laughs. Justin flips her off. Cindy blows him a
kiss.
                                                            
Cindy wanders deeper and deeper into the woods. The light
from the fire and noise from the partiers fade into the
distance.
                                                            
She hides behind a tree, pulls her panties down, squats.
Piss hits the ground. She sighs.
                                                            
A BRANCH SNAPS
                                                            
Cindy stops the stream, nervously looks around.
                                                            
                       CINDY
      (yells)
Justin, it's not funny, I'm
peeing!
                                                            
Several feet behind her, piercing green eyes emerge from the
darkness.
                                                            
Slowly, quietly the figure steps forward. It's Harold, in
his black leather mask.
                                                            
Stephanie resumes peeing. Harold moves closer and closer.
He's right behind her.
                                                            
Stephanie finishes relieving herself, starts to pull her
panties up. Harold wraps his arms around her neck, covering
her mouth with his hand.
                                                            
She kicks and flails like a wild animal. Harold tightens his
grip, muffling the screams.
                                                            
Her fingers claw at Harold's face, but only slide down the
leather mask.
                                                            
Joyful laughter is heard from the party. Help is so close,
yet so far from Stephanie.
                                                            
Her struggling becomes weaker, eyes blinking. She goes limp.
Harold loosens his grip and she falls into his arms.
                                                            

35.

Harold drags her, further into the darkness until they are
out of sight.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN (O.S.)
Cindy? Hey, what's the holdup?
                                                            
Justin wanders up to where the violent struggle had taken
place. He scans the area, looking for any sight of Cindy.
                                                            
He looks down, something catches his eye. He bends down,
picks up Cindy's panties.
                                                            
 
INT. LOEFEL'S SQUAD CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
Sirens blare. Loefel zooms the car down a dirt road. He
parks next to a group of cars and trucks.
                                                            
 
EXT. WOODS - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Loefel's squad car sits with its lights flashing. Smoke
plumes from the dead camp fire.
                                                            
Zack, Stephanie and Justin all distraught, stand in a line
with the rest of the party goers.
                                                            
Loefel looks Justin up and down suspiciously.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Is it possible she just got a
little too drunk and got lost?
                                                            
                       ZACK
She barely started drinking. She
wouldn't have gone that far to
pee.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
We searched everywhere for an hour
before calling you.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Was there anyone or anything out
of place that didn't belong?
                                                            
Everyone either shakes their head or shrugs their shoulders.
                                                            
Justin runs his hands over his face and through his hair.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Cindy's parents are going to kill
me?
                                                            

36.

Loefel holds up Cindy's panties in a plastic bag, motions to
Justin.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Show me where you found these.
                                                            
                                         CUT TO BLACK
                                                            
Light emerges through the blinks of slowly opening eyes.
                                                            
 
INT. DARK CEMENT ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Moonlight shining through a tiny, barred window provides the
only light.
                                                            
Cindy blinks her eyes open, checks herself over. She pulls
her arms, which are shackled to the wall.
                                                            
                       CINDY
Hello?
                                                            
Cindy's eyes searches the darkness for anyone or anything.
She yanks against the chain, screams.
                                                            
                       CINDY
Please, somebody help!
                                                            
FOOTSTEPS
                                                            
Cindy squeaks. Harold, in his mask, appears from the shadows
in the back of the room, cattle prod in hand.
                                                            
Stephanie screams again at the sight of him. Harold slowly
ambles towards her, each step seemingly an eternity. Cindy
shivers in terror.
                                                            
                       CINDY
What do you want?
                                                            
Harold ignores her, takes another step.
                                                            
                       CINDY
Listen, you sick fuck, my
boyfriend is Justin Cooper! If you
don't let me go he is going to
give you the beating of your life!
                                                            
Harold ignores her, walks right up to her face. His
unblinking eyes stare deeply into hers.
                                                            

37.

                       CINDY
You want to fuck me -- is that
what this is about? Go ahead and
do it, you sick fuck, and let me
go!
                                                            
Harold raises the cattle prod, inches from Cindy's face.
                                                            
                       CINDY
What the fuck is that?
                                                            
Harold sends an electric zap through the cattle prod. Horror
overcomes Cindy.
                                                            
                       CINDY
Oh, God.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
He's not here.
                                                            
                       CINDY
I don't deserve this.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Did Marla deserve what you did to
her?
                                                            
Her eyes search his, recognition sets in.
                                                            
                       CINDY
Harold?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
You will never hurt her again.
                                                            
                       CINDY
No!
                                                            
Harold jams the sparking cattle prod into Cindy's neck.
                                                            
 
INT. MARLA'S BEDROOM - MORNING
                                                            
Marla lies asleep in bed.
                                                            
The ALARM CLOCK BEEPS. Marla fumbles to shut it off. She
rubs the sleep out of her eyes, stretches, stands and yawns.
                                                            
She glances out her window towards the Teller house, looks
through Harold's bedroom window.
                                                            
Harold, completely naked, picks out clothes to wear from his
dresser.
                                                            

38.

Marla stares at him with sadness, noticing all the injuries
on his body. Suddenly he turns to the window, their eyes
meet.
                                                            
Marla ducks out of sight, embarrassed at being caught. She
waits a few seconds, then peeks out her window. Harold is
gone.
                                                            
 
EXT. FARWELL HIGH SCHOOL - MORNING
                                                            
School buses, kids getting dropped off, some driving
themselves to the lot. The Venton Suburban pulls up, Marla
hops out.
                                                            
Marla shuffles to the fronts doors and enters.
                                                            
 
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Marla wanders through, passing rows of lockers. Students
whispers amongst themselves. A subdued tension.
                                                            
Marla spots Harold several feet away, digging through his
locker. She makes her way towards him.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Hey.
                                                            
Harold turns, surprised.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Hi, Marla.
                                                            
                       MARLA
What's with everyone?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I don't know.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I made you something.
                                                            
She hands him a folded piece of sketch paper. He takes it
and opens it. The drawing she made of him in the library.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
      (angry)
Why did you do this?
                                                            
                       MARLA
I don't understand?
                                                            

39.

Harold shoves the drawing back into her hand and marches
away.
                                                            
Three TEEN GIRLS hurry by, in mid conversation.
                                                            
                       TEEN GIRL #1
Did you hear about Cindy Price?
                                                            
                       TEEN GIRL #2
Billy was at the party with
her--he says she just disappeared
into the woods without a trace.
                                                            
                       TEEN GIRL #3
That's so crazy. What do you think
happened?
                                                            
The girls turn a corner. Marla looks down, confused and
shocked.
                                                            
 
EXT. SCHOOL BLEACHERS - DAY
                                                            
Harold sits on the thick grass underneath the bleachers,
plays with his crickets.
                                                            
                       MARLA (O.S.)
What was so terrible about my
drawing?
                                                            
Harold looks up to see Marla standing a few feet away.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
You're really talented.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Then what?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I'm hideous.
                                                            
Marla, angry, marches up to Harold and slaps him across the
face.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Don't say that! You're not
hideous-- there's nothing wrong
with you!
                                                            
Harold quivers, hurt by the slap. Regret hits Marla
instantly. She kneels down next to Harold, cups his face.
                                                            

40.

                       MARLA
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done
that.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Can I have the drawing?
                                                            
Marla reaches in her backpack, pulls the drawing out, hands
it to Harold.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Have you always been good at
drawing?
                                                            
Marla nods.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I just like seeing the beauty in
things...and people. Like you with
Lioness. There's beauty in you,
even if you can't see it.
                                                            
 
EXT. FARWELL MAIN STREET - DAY
                                                            
A stapler crunches a paper to a telephone pole.
                                                            
Loefel stares at the paper, which is a 'Missing Person'
flier of Cindy Price. He stares into her eyes.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Where did you go?
                                                            
Deputy Duke's squad car pulls up. He gets out and approaches
Loefel.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Anything?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
None of the gas stations remember
any out of towers. Nothing
unusual.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Thanks, Deputy.
                                                            
Deputy Duke curiously looks at the flier, gives a slight
laugh. Loefel turns.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
What?
                                                            

41.

                       DEPUTY DUKE
Nothing...It's just, well everyone
in town knows Cindy. I've known
her since she was five. I just
don't see the point.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Maybe it isn't for them.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I don't follow?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Maybe it's to show her family we
are doing everything we can to
find her. Maybe it's for the
person who took her to see her
face everywhere they go.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER KITCHEN - NIGHT
                                                            
Harold prepares a bowl of chili and a glass of iced tea. He
takes two sleeping pills, crushes them into the tea.
                                                            
He places the items on a tray and carries them into the
                                                            
LIVING ROOM
                                                            
Grandma Teller sits in front of the television, Fox News on
as always.
                                                            
                       FOX ANCHOR (V.O.)
Next on Fox, Sean Hannity explain
why liberals are destroying this
country and how you can fight back
on the war on Christmas.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Oh, goodie!
                                                            
Harold sets the tray in front of her. She grabs the glass
and takes a sip.
                                                            
 
EXT. COOPER HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
Harold, black leather mask on, pulls his truck to a field
several yards away from the house, out of sight.
                                                            
Several lights on inside the house. A figure can be seen
moving behind one of the curtains.
                                                            

42.

Harold watches, his eyes unblinking.
                                                            
 
INT. COOPER LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Justin enters the room, cell phone in hand, shuts off the
light.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
No, they're asleep.
(pause)
I can't believe this is fucking
happening to me.
                                                            
Justin walks into the
                                                            
HALLWAY
                                                            
and up the stairs.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
The fucking new sheriff is
treating me like a suspect.
                                                            
Justin reaches the top of the stairs, enters his bedroom,
shuts his door, sits on the bed.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Should have known the guy would be
a prick after meeting his
daughter.
(laughs)
Yeah, maybe it was aliens. Makes
as much sense as anything else.
                                                            
JUSTIN'S CLOSET
                                                            
Justin's back to the closet. We move closer to it. Piercing
green eyes stare at Zack through an opening.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
Of course I didn't have anything
to do with it! I can't believe
you'd even ask me that!
                                                            
The closet door slowly, quietly opens. Harold, mask on, eyes
intense, emerges. Zack continues his conversation,
oblivious.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
I was planning on dumping her
anyway, guess someone saved me the
trouble.
(laughs)
            (MORE)

43.

                       JUSTIN (cont'd)
Yeah, I'm going back to school
tomorrow.
                                                            
Harold steps forward, approaches Justin till he is right
behind him. Harold pulls a piece of rope from his pocket.
                                                            
 
EXT. SUGAR MILL - NIGHT
                                                            
Harold's truck sits parked.
                                                            
 
INT. CEMENT ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Justin dangles, chained to the wall, slowly comes to. He
looks sourly at his surroundings.
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
What the--?
                                                            
From the darkness...
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Are you scared?
                                                            
                       JUSTIN
      (shaking)
Who's there?
                                                            
FOOTSTEPS
                                                            
Harold, mask on, emerges from the shadows, cattle prod in
hand.
                                                            
Harold sends sparks through the cattle prod.
                                                            
 
INT. SUGAR MILL BASEMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
An unfinished dirt floor. Harold puts the finishes touches
on a dirt grave. A second one only a few feet away.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Grandma Teller snores in front of the television.
                                                            
A back window opens. Harold slides in, closes the window
quietly.
                                                            
He sneaks by Grandma Teller and hurries into his room.
                                                            
 

44.

INT. POLICE STATION - MORNING
                                                            
LOUD SNORING
                                                            
Loefel sleeps, still in uniform, feet kicked up on his desk.
                                                            
PHONE RINGS
                                                            
Loefel falls out of his chair, staggers up, and answers the
phone.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Sheriff's office.
(concerned look)
What's your address?
(pause)
I'll be right there.
                                                            
 
INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
                                                            
Marla shuffles through a crowd of students, all talking in
hushed whispers.
                                                            
Her eyes land on Zack and Stephanie a few feet away. Both
look scared and frustrated. They speak to each other with
great tension.
                                                            
She approaches them, getting in hearing distance.
                                                            
                       ZACK
I was just talking to him on the
phone last night, then we got cut
off.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
First Cindy, then Justin. I'm
really freaked, Zack.
                                                            
Stephanie turns, notices Marla a few feet away, watching.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
What are you looking at, you
stupid cunt?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Nothing.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Then get the fuck away from us!
                                                            
Marla tucks tail and heads back the way she came.
                                                            
 

45.

INT. LOEFEL'S SQUAD CAR - DAY
                                                            
Loefel cruises the squad car down a country road, sirens
blaring, a cell phone pressed to his ear.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Fucking deputy, answer your phone!
                                                            
Loefel grunts, slams the phone shut. He turns the car, pulls
into Justin Cooper's driveway.
                                                            
 
INT. VALLERY'S BEDROOM - DAY
                                                            
Vallery stands in front of her dresser mirror, applies
makeup.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Marla's barely speaking to me
anymore. I know she hates it here
too.
                                                            
Vallery applies a touch of lipstick, fluffs her hair.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
My marriage is a sham. As soon as
Marla is 18 we are getting
divorced.
                                                            
Vallery turns, Deputy Duke sits on her bed, getting dressed.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I hope you don't think everything
in this town is terrible.
                                                            
Vallery climbs on the bed, locks lips with Deputy Duke.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I can't complain about getting my
brains fucked out.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You've got quite the appetite.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Oh, I'm starving.
                                                            
Deputy Duke curls her hair, takes a more serious tone.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Why'd you guys mover here from
Dallas?
                                                            

46.

Vallery stands, shuffles away.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I don't want to talk about it.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
It was that bad, huh?
                                                            
                       VALLERY
There was an incident...at work.
                                                            
Deputy Duke gives her a questioning look, wanting more
detail.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Loefel and I met when I was a
dispatcher for D.P.D. There was
another dispatcher, Ken, we dated
before Loefel and I got married.
Ken and I would flirt at work.
Loefel was always the jealous
type. He checked my phone and
found some text messages between
me and Ken.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
What happened?
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Loefel broke his jaw. The only way
Ken wouldn't press charges is if
Loefel left. And walla, we're
here.
                                                            
Deputy Duke looks at her, not sure what to say.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
So what now -- you don't want this
anymore?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You should have told me, before
all this.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I didn't want to scare you off.
                                                            
Deputy Duke reaches in his pocket, pulls out his cell phone.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
That's not it...Oh shit, I have to
go.
                                                            

47.

                       VALLERY
The sheriff?
                                                            
Deputy Duke nods. He quickly hops out of bed and gets
dressed.
                                                            
 
EXT. COOPER DRIVEWAY - DAY
                                                            
Loefel's car rests in the driveway. Deputy Duke's car zooms
up and parks next to it. Deputy Duke gets out, nervously
looks over the house.
                                                            
 
INT. JUSTIN'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Loefel paces around, carefully examining the scene. An open
closet door, unmade bed, nothing alarming.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE (O.S.)
Sheriff?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
In here.
                                                            
Deputy Duke enter, his uniform a mess. Loefel notices.
Deputy Duke tucks his shirt in.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Nice of you to join me.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Sorry about the phone, it was on
silent.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Don't let it happen again.
                                                            
Deputy Duke watches as Loefel enters Justin's closet, closes
it. He opens it and exits.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
How long's he been unaccounted
for?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Parents called him in this
morning.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You recon he had something to do
with Cindy, got scared and ran?
                                                            

48.

                       LOEFEL
Maybe.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
But that's not what you think?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
No clothes missing, no money
taken, cell phone's here too. If
he is faking his disappearance,
he's doing a better job than any
teenager I've ever seen.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
What's next?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
The more important question is
who.
                                                            
 
EXT. SCHOOL BLEACHERS - DAY
                                                            
Marla sits alone, sketch pad in hand, creating another
drawing.
                                                            
Harold approaches.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Hey, Marla.
                                                            
Marla looks up, smiles.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Harold.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Anyone sitting here?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Just you.
                                                            
Harold takes a seat next to Marla, looks over her drawing.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
You're gonna be famous someday.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I just like to draw.
                                                            
They notice Zack and Stephanie sitting on the bleachers
opposite them.
                                                            

49.

                       HAROLD
Have they been giving you any
trouble?
                                                            
                       MARLA
No, I think the whole Justin,
Cindy thing has them spooked. It
has everyone spooked.
                                                            
 
EXT. TRAILER PARK - NIGHT
                                                            
Several rows of trashy trailers. An every silence. We focus
on Zack's trailer.
                                                            
 
INT. ZACK'S TRAILER LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Every piece of furniture cheap and trashy. POPS, Zack's dad,
eyes bloodshot, scar on his cheek, chugs from a small bottle
of whiskey.
                                                            
Pops laughs obnoxiously at an episode of Everybody Loves
Raymond on television.
                                                            
NATHAN, 8, quiet and introverted, reads a children's book on
the floor. Lost in his own world.
                                                            
                       POPS
Zack, get your ass in here, boy!
                                                            
Zack shuffles in from his bedroom.
                                                            
                       ZACK
What do you want, old man?
                                                            
Pops tosses a beer can at Zack, nearly hitting him in the
head.
                                                            
                       POPS
Don't give me no lip, boy!
                                                            
                       ZACK
You call me just to toss a beer
can at my head?
                                                            
                       POPS
You need to drop Nathan off at
school, I got business in the
morning.
                                                            

50.

                       ZACK
What?! I've got shit to do, you
take him!
                                                            
                       POPS
Boy, you fixin to get an ass
whooping!
                                                            
Zack snarled at his dad, marches back to the bedroom and
slams the door.
                                                            
 
INT. ZACK'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Stephanie lies naked on Zack's bed. The sight of her quickly
melts his anger.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
What was that all about?
                                                            
                       ZACK
My dad is such a drunk idiot.
                                                            
Stephanie seductively caresses her body.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Is there anything I can do to make
it better?
                                                            
Zack makes his way to the bed, crawls on top of her.
                                                            
                       ZACK
I can think of a couple things.
                                                            
Zack and Stephanie's lips lock.
                                                            
 
INT. ZACK'S LIVING ROOM - LATER
                                                            
Pops snores in his recliner, passed out drunk.
                                                            
 
INT. ZACK'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Zack and Stephanie lie naked under the covers, cuddled
together.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
You promise you won't let anything
happen to me?
                                                            
Zack reaches in a nightstand drawer, pulls out a revolver.
He pops it open, revealing it is loaded.
                                                            

51.

                       ZACK
No one's gonna fuck with you while
I'm here.
                                                            
A KNOCK. Nathan cracks the door open. He rubs his sleepy
eyes.
                                                            
                       ZACK
What do you want?
                                                            
                       NATHAN
Dad's asleep.
                                                            
                       ZACK
So?
                                                            
                       NATHAN
Can you read me a story so I can
go to sleep?
                                                            
                       ZACK
Read yourself a story -- can't you
see I'm busy here?
                                                            
                       NATHAN
Please!
                                                            
Zack throws an empty soda can at Nathan, just missing him.
                                                            
                       ZACK
No, now scram!
                                                            
Nathan, disappointed, exits the room. Zack turns back to
Stephanie.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
Thanks for letting me stay over. I
just, I feel safer with you.
                                                            
                       ZACK
That's what I'm here for, babe.
                                                            
A LOUD BANG from outside. Stephanie jumps. Zack looks
around, clutches his revolver.
                                                            
                       STEPHANIE
What was that?
                                                            
                       ZACK
I'll find out.
                                                            
Zack gets up, makes his way to the door.
                                                            

52.

                       STEPHANIE
Don't leave me!
                                                            
                       ZACK
I'll be right back.
                                                            
Zack marches to the bedroom door, exits.
                                                            
 
EXT. ZACK'S BACKYARD - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
A porch light illuminates cheap green patio chairs.
Expansive woods rests in the darkness. Crickets chirp.
                                                            
The back door opens. Zack exits, revolver at the ready.
                                                            
TREES RUSTLE.
                                                            
Zack points the gun in the direction of the noise. Nothing
visible.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Motherfucker, better come out
right now or you're gonna get got!
                                                            
Nothing. Zack ventures further into the darkness, his finger
shakes against the trigger.
                                                            
Behind Zack, Harold appears, leather mask on. He slips into
the house, undetected.
                                                            
Zack stops, something catches his eye.
                                                            
A cat jumps from one limb of a tree to another. Zack laughs.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Fucking cat, you almost got shot!
                                                            
Zack grabs a rock and tosses it at the cat. It shrieks and
scampers away.
                                                            
Zack turns around and heads back in the house.
                                                            
 
INT. ZACK'S LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Zack strolls in, passes his sleeping dad.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Nothing to worry about, Steph,
just a stupid cat.
                                                            
No response. Zack meanders to the fridge, opens it.
                                                            

53.

Harold stares at him from a dark corner of the room with his
piercing green eyes.
                                                            
                       ZACK
Babe, you want anything to drink?
                                                            
No response.
                                                            
                       ZACK
I'll take that as a no.
                                                            
Zack turns and makes his way back to the
                                                            
BEDROOM
                                                            
The room completely trashed. Bedding thrown about, book case
knocked over, Stephanie no where to be found.
                                                            
                       ZACK
What the fuck?
                                                            
A rope wraps around Zack,s neck. Harold, squeezes. Zack
drops the revolver.
                                                            
Zack lands an elbow to Harold's gut, breaks free. He dives
for his gun, grabs it.
                                                            
Harold smashes a lamp into Zack's skull, knocking him out
cold.
                                                            
Harold breathes heavy, stands over an unconscious Zack,
admiring his handiwork.
                                                            
Harold grabs Zack by the shoulders and drags him into the
                                                            
HALLWAY
                                                            
Harold drags Zack past a sleeping Pops, towards the back
door.
                                                            
Nathan's bedroom door creaks open. Harold stops in his
tracks.
                                                            
Nathan tip toes out towards the bedroom. He stops in his
tracks when he spots Harold.
                                                            
A long moment of tense silence as Harold an Nathan stare
into each other's eyes.
                                                            
Nathan quivers. Urine trickles down his shaking leg.
                                                            
Harold raises a finger to his lips.
                                                            

54.

                       HAROLD
Shhhhh.
                                                            
Nathan runs back in his room and slams the door.
                                                            
 
EXT. RURAL ROAD - NIGHT
                                                            
Dark. A few scattered lights in the distance. A squirrel
runs into the middle of the road, nibbles on something.
                                                            
Headlights approach. The squirrel looks, bolts off the road.
Loefel's squad car zooms by.
                                                            
 
INT. LOEFEL'S SQUAD CAR - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Loefel, both hands gripped to the steering wheel, sits in
silence.
                                                            
In the distance, the abandoned sugar mill. He stares at it.
The buildings get closer and closer.
                                                            
The tail end of Harold's truck sticks out from behind one of
the buildings.
                                                            
Loefel creeps the squad car up to the tail of the truck,
parks, and gets out.
                                                            
 
EXT. SUGAR MILL - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Loefel quietly shuts his car door. He pulls out his flock in
one hand, flashlight in the other, ready for anything.
                                                            
Loefel places his hand on the hood of the engine, feels it's
warmth. He shines the flashlight inside. Empty.
                                                            
Loefel's eyes search the dark cluster of buildings. He makes
his way towards them.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
      (yells)
This is sheriff Venton! Whoever's
out there, you're trespassing on
private property.
                                                            
No response. Loefel creeps further into the cluster of
buildings.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Come out with your hands up!
                                                            

55.

A MEAN GROWL
                                                            
Loefel cocks the hammer back on his gun. His finger firmly
pressed to the trigger.
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Please, don't shoot!
                                                            
Harold emerges from around the corner, one hand raised,
Lioness, with a mean snarl, gripped tightly in the other.
His black masked tucked in his back pocket, out of Loefel's
sight.
                                                            
Loefel loosens his grip on the gun, lowers it slightly.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Anyone else out here with you?
                                                            
Harold shakes his head 'no'.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
What are you doing out her Eyes?
                                                            
Harold lifts Lioness.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
She's pregnant.
                                                            
Realization crosses Loefel's face.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You live across the street from
me?
                                                            
Harold nods.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Marla told me about you, asked
about adopting one of the puppies.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Grandma won't let me keep her in
the house -- she hates dogs.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You can't be out here, it's
trespassing.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Please don't tell my Grandma.
                                                            
Loefel's Wilkie crackles, startling them both.
                                                            

56.

                       DEPUTY DUKE (V.O.)
Sheriff, come in.
                                                            
Loefel grabs his radio, raises it.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Go ahead.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE (V.O.)
We have another abduction, two
this time. Off County Road Three.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I'm on my way.
                                                            
Loefel lowers the radio, eyes Harold over. A tense moment.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Don't let me see you out here
again.
                                                            
Harold nods.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Get your ass home, you hear?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Yes, sir.
                                                            
Loefel hurries off to his squad, gets in, hits the lights
and speeds off.
                                                            
Harold watches him drive away, his eyes intense, unblinking.
                                                            
 
INT. ZACK'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Pops, groggy drunk, opens a bottle of Advil and downs
several pills.
                                                            
REGGIE, 60's, thick beard, glasses, sits, etches on a sketch
pad. Deputy Duke stands behind him, watching.
                                                            
Nathan sits on the couch, nervously shivering.
                                                            
                       NATHAN
He had a mask on.
                                                            
                       REGGIE
The mask, what did it look like?
                                                            
                       NATHAN
Like dad's jacket.
                                                            

57.

Nathan points to a leather jacket draped across a chair.
Reggie and Deputy Duke regard it.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Leather.
                                                            
                       REGGIE
Did it cover his whole face?
                                                            
                       NATHAN
All I could see where his eyes and
his lips.
                                                            
Reggie etches vigorously on the paper.
                                                            
                       REGGIE
His eyes, what color where they?
                                                            
                       NATHAN
Green.
                                                            
A KNOCK. The front door opens, Loefel rushes in.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Came as quickly as I could.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
      (whispers to
       Loefel)
The male's younger brother
witnessed the abduction.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
      (to Nathan)
You're a brave young man.
                                                            
                       POPS
Pissed himself all over the
carpet.
                                                            
Loefel turns to Pops gives him a scowl. Pops shrinks.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Thank you, Nathan.
                                                            
                       NATHAN
He won't be back, will he?
                                                            
Loefel and Deputy Duke exchange a look.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
No, I'll make sure he doesn't.
                                                            

58.

Reggie approaches Loefel, shows him the sketch. It perfectly
capture Harold, the mask, his build, the bright green eyes.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
What next?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Put an A.P.B. out for the
boogeyman.
                                                            
Loefel walks away.
                                                            
 
EXT. TELLER HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
Harold pulls the truck down the street, shuts the lights
off. He quietly coasts the truck into the driveway.
                                                            
He gets out, slowly tip-toes to the front door, opens it.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Light seeping in from the open door illuminates the dark
house. Harold creeps in. The door clicks as it closes.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER (O.S.)
Where have you been?
                                                            
Harold, startled, crashes into the coat rack.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Grandma?
                                                            
Grandma Teller flips the light switch on, her trademark
scowl as mean as ever. She zooms towards Harold.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
How long did you think you could
drug me before I'd notice?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
What are you talking about?
                                                            
Grandma Teller cracks him in the ribs with her cane.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
The pills -- I found the pills!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Okay, I did it, I'm sorry!
                                                            

59.

                       GRANDMA TELLER
What awful wickedness were you up
to?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I just went out for a drive,
that's all!
                                                            
Grandma Teller drives the cane into his kneecap, buckling
him.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Lies, full of wicked lies!
                                                            
Grandma Teller raises the cane to deliver another blow.
Harold throws up his arms to protect himself.
                                                            
The leather mask falls from his pocket, hits the floor.
Grandma Teller picks it up with her cane exams it. Harold
looks on, terrified.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
What depraved acts do you do while
wearing this?
                                                            
Harold shakes, unable to speak.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
It's a sex mask, isn't it? You're
one of those weird fetishists they
talk about on the news, aren't
you?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
No, Grandma, I'm not, I swear!
                                                            
Grandma Teller unleashes a flurry of strikes on him with her
cane, sending him to his knees.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
I'm sick of your lies! You're an
abomination!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Please, don't hit me again.
                                                            
Grandma Teller lowers her cane, taken aback by Harold's
plea.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
I don't understand, I did
everything right. I provided you a
home, a good Christian upbringing,
gave you more love than you could
            (MORE)

60.

                       GRANDMA TELLER (cont'd)
ever ask for...and yet, this is
what you turned into? A shame onto
me.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I'm sorry, Grandma.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
I pray for your soul!
                                                            
Grandma Teller grabs him by the ear and tows him across the
room.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
What are you doing?
                                                            
The two approach the cellar door.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
no, not the cellar! Please,
anywhere but there!
                                                            
Grandma Teller swings the cellar door open. She grabs her
cane and cracks him several times till he is inside.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
It is time to atone for your sins,
bastard child!
                                                            
Grandma Teller slams the door shut, locks Harold inside.
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Please, Grandma, it's so dark!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You are the darkness.
                                                            
Grandma Teller zooms away.
                                                            
 
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
                                                            
Loefel sits at his desk, has an uncomfortable grimace.
Deputy Duke, arms crossed, stands behind him.
                                                            
A dozen IRATE PARENTS stand across from them, all talking
frantically at once.
                                                            
                       PARENT #1
You can't do this?
                                                            

61.

                       PARENT #2
What about the football season --
Jimmy has scouts watching him!
                                                            
                       PARENT #3
Do you have any leads? Are our
kids safe?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
That's why I'm ordering the
schools closed indefinitely.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - DAY
                                                            
The front door opens, Loefel enters.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Vallery?
                                                            
                       MARLA (O.S.)
Mom's not here.
                                                            
Loefel makes his way to
                                                            
MARLA'S BEDROOM
                                                            
Marla sits on her bed, drawing in her sketch pad. She looks
up at Loefel.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You know where she went?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Said she had to run some errands.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
How long's she been gone?
                                                            
                       MARLA
I don't know, like an hour.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
She say when she'd be back?
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm not in the mood to play twenty
questions. Why don't you call her
yourself?
                                                            
Loefel sits on the foot of her bed.
                                                            

62.

                       LOEFEL
Two more kids from your school
went missing last night.
                                                            
Marla pops up, shocked.
                                                            
                       MARLA
What? Who?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Zack Miller and Stephanie Nixon.
                                                            
Marla's jaw drops, her eyes shift back and forth.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Did you know them well?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Just that the four of them were
close. And they were all assholes.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I've ordered the school to be
suspended indefinitely.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Is this all some type of joke?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
No, it's not.
                                                            
Loefel reaches in his pocket, pulls out a revolver. He hands
it to her.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Dad, I...
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I don't want you leaving this
house without me, you understand?
                                                            
                       MARLA
That's not fair! What am I
supposed to be a prisoner in this
house?
                                                            
Loefel gets off the bed and marches to the door.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
That's an order!
                                                            
Loefel exits the room. A few moments later the front door
slams. Marla looks over the revolver in her hand.
                                                            
 

63.

INT. DEPUTY DUKE'S BEDROOM - DAY
                                                            
Deputy Duke and Vallery are in the middle of passionate sex.
Thrusting, grinding, kissing. They go to town.
                                                            
LATER
                                                            
Deputy Duke, naked, lies under the covers. Vallery, at the
front of the bed, gets dressed, buttoning up a shirt.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Best twenty minutes of my week.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I can't do this anymore.
                                                            
Vallery turns to him, confused and angry.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Funny time to tell me.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I wanted one last time. I'm
betting you did too.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Charming.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
There's just too much happening
for this to be a distraction.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
So that's what I am?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You're being way too sensitive.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Goodbye, Deputy.
                                                            
Vallery grabs her things and marches out of the bedroom. She
forgets a pair of earrings on the counter.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
It doesn't have to be like that.
                                                            
Deputy Duke's PHONE RINGS
                                                            
The front door slams. Deputy Duke answers his phone.
                                                            

64.

                       DEPUTY DUKE
Hey, Sheriff.
(pause)
Alright, I'll be right over.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON KITCHEN - DAY
                                                            
Marla stands at the counter, puts the finishing touches on a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
                                                            
She peers out the window at the at the Teller house. She
stares long and hard. She rushes to her bedroom.
                                                            
MARLA'S BEDROOM
                                                            
Marla dresses in a pair of jeans and a hoodie. She walks
towards her door, stops. She turns around and grabs the
revolver, and tucks it in her hoodie.
                                                            
 
EXT. TELLER DRIVEWAY - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
A light rain drizzles down.
                                                            
Marla exits her house, closing the door behind her. She jogs
up to the Teller porch. She lowers her hoodie, rings the
doorbell.
                                                            
A few moments later the door opens. Grandma Teller, on the
other side, gives Marla a nasty look.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Is Harold around?
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You're that fuzzy he's been
running around with, aren't you?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Huh?
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You are not to speak to him or set
foot on this property again,
understand?
                                                            
Grandma Teller slams the door on Marla's confused face. She
shuffles away from the porch.
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Marla?
                                                            

65.

Marla stops dead in her tracks, looks around.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Harold?
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Over here!
                                                            
Marla looks, heads to a tiny cellar window. She can see
Harold's eyes.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I just came to see you -- all the
craziness going on in this town.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Are you okay?
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm fine. What are you doing down
there?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Grandma locked me in here. It's so
dark in here. I'm afraid of the
dark.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Oh my God, what the hell's wrong
with her -- she can't do that?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
You should go, before Grandma sees
you.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm going to get you out.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
No, don't -- you don't know my
Grandmother -- what she's capable
of!
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm not letting her lock you down
there like some animal!
                                                            
Marla marches away and up the porch.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Marla!
                                                            

66.

Marla reaches the front door, angrily pounds on it, doesn't
stop until Grandma Teller swings the door open.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You stupid little hussie, I told
you to leave!
                                                            
                       MARLA
Let Harold out of the cellar this
instant!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Who do you think you are, you
smart mouthed little bitch --
telling me what to do in my own
house!
                                                            
                       MARLA
My dad's the sheriff, I can have
him down here in five minutes and
make you let him out!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Go back home little girl, and stay
away!
                                                            
Grandma Teller slams the door in Marla's face. Marla catches
the door with her foot.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm not letting you do this, you
crazy old bitch!
                                                            
Marla swings the door open, barrels past Grandma Teller.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Marla pauses, gathering the layout of the house. She sees
the cellar door, bolts towards it.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You can't be in here!
                                                            
                       MARLA
Don't worry, Harold, I'm getting
you out!
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Marla, I told you not to do this!
                                                            
Grandma Teller chases after her in her electric scooter.
                                                            

67.

                       GRANDMA TELLER
You're going to pay for this!
                                                            
Marla stops and points to the cellar door.
                                                            
                       MARLA
And this is kidnapping -- where
are the keys?
                                                            
Grandma Teller pulls her cane out, swings at Marla's head.
She leans back, avoiding the blow.
                                                            
                       MARLA
What the hell's wrong with you?
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Grandma, please don't hurt her!
                                                            
Marla glances around, sees the keys on a rack a few feet
away. She bolts towards them, grabs a set of keys, turns
around.
                                                            
CRACK!
                                                            
Grandma Teller's cane strikes Marla in the shoulders. She
screams, drops the keys as she grabs her shoulders in pain.
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
Marla?!
                                                            
Grandma Teller retrieves the keys with her cane. She zooms
towards the home phone on a table.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You'll go to prison for this.
                                                            
Marla lunges at her, grabs the keys. The two struggle for
control.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Let go, you evil succubus!
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm not leaving here without
Harold!
                                                            
Marla wrestles the keys away from Grandma Teller, dashes to
the caller door. She tries the first key, no good.
                                                            
CRACK! The cane slams into Marla's back. She winces, but
tries the second key. No good.
                                                            

68.

CRACK! Another shot from Grandma Teller's cane to Marla's
spine buckles her.
                                                            
Marla turns, punches Grandma Teller square in the nose.
Marla steps back, stares at her.
                                                            
Grandma Teller places a hand to her nose. Blood trickles
down her chin. She wipes it away. Smiles. Marla becomes
terrified.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
You're gonna die for that.
                                                            
Marla turns and tries another key. That one's no good.
                                                            
Grandma Teller drives her scooter forward at full speed,
ramming Marla sending her tumbling to the ground.
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
No, Grandma, don't!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
      (to Harold)
This is on you for bringing her
into this!
                                                            
Harold beats against the door with everything he has, trying
to break it down.
                                                            
Grandma Teller slams the cane into Marla's face, instantly
brushing her cheek.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Harold, help me!
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
Only Jesus can save you now.
                                                            
Grandma Teller goes on the attack, delivering one ferocious
blow after another. Marla is bruised, bloody and badly
injured. She struggles to crawl away from her attacker.
                                                            
Harold slams his fist against the door, finally breaking off
a tiny piece.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
      (angry)
Stop, Grandma!
                                                            
Grandma Teller is taken aback. Harold's never spoken to her
like this. She smirks.
                                                            

69.

                       GRANDMA TELLER
See what you did, Harold! See what
you made me do!
                                                            
Marla weakly crawls away. Harold slams his bloody fists
against the thick wooden door, breaking off another chunk.
                                                            
Grandma Teller rides her scooter up to Marla, corners her
against the wall. Marla weakly puts a hand up.
                                                            
                       MARLA
      (faint)
Please, don't do this.
                                                            
Grandma Teller raises her cane, ready to deliver a death
blow to Marla's face.
                                                            
                       GRANDMA TELLER
May the lord Jesus have mercy on
your soul.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Noooooo!
                                                            
Grandma Teller swings the cane down.
                                                            
BANG!
                                                            
A bullet hits Grandma Teller in the forehead, dropping her
to the ground, dead.
                                                            
A smoking revolver shakes in Marla's hand. She slowly lowers
it.
                                                            
Harold delivers a flurry of punches to the door, the a
gigantic kick, crashing through it.
                                                            
Harold rushes to Marla's side, affectionately holds her.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Is she...?
                                                            
They look at Grandma Teller, a pool of blood puddles under
her lifeless eyes.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Shhh. I'm going to take care of
you.
                                                            
Harold lifts Marla's limp and beaten body.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I didn't mean for this to happen.
                                                            

70.

                       HAROLD
I'm going to take care of this.
Nothing bad will happen to you.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I know.
                                                            
Harold carries her to his
                                                            
BEDROOM
                                                            
He gently lays Marla down on his bed. She closes her eyes.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON SUBURBAN - DAY
                                                            
A classic rock ballad plays.
                                                            
Tears roll down Vallery's cheek as she white knuckles the
steering wheel down her road.
                                                            
She pulls the Suburban into the driveway. She takes a deep
breath, wipes her cheek clean.
                                                            
EXT. VENTON DRIVEWAY
                                                            
Vallery gets out of the Suburban, closing the door behind
her. She makes her way up to the porch, sticks her key in
the front door.
                                                            
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM
                                                            
The front door swings open, Vallery enters.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Marla, I'm home, sweetie.
                                                            
No response. Vallery makes her way into the
                                                            
KITCHEN
                                                            
She looks at the made peanut butter and jelly sandwich,
shakes her head.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Marla, don't fill up on snacks,
I'm about to start dinner.
                                                            
No response. Irritation grows on Vallery's face. She marches
towards Marla's bedroom.
                                                            

71.

                       VALLERY
Am I just out here having a
conversation with myself?
                                                            
Vallery swings Marla's bedroom door open. She's not there.
She looks around with a worried expression.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Marla?
                                                            
 
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
                                                            
Loefel stands next to a 'crime board' he has created. Photos
of the missing, a map with their houses pinned, along with
other writings and graphs.
                                                            
He picks up a paper, a list of every student at Farwell High
School.
                                                            
The door opens. Deputy Duke enters with a bag of food and
two coffees.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Burger, onions rings, and coffee,
like you asked.
                                                            
Loefel points to his desk. Deputy Duke sets the food down on
it. He then looks up at Loefel's board, impressed.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Very detailed.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
We have no forensics tying this
guy to any of the kidnappings.
                                                            
Loefel's PHONE RINGS. He answers.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I can't do this right now,
Vallery, I'm really busy.
                                                            
                       VALLERY (V.O.)
      (scared)
It's, it's Marla.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
If it's the gun, I gave it to her
for protection.
                                                            
                       VALLERY (V.O.)
That's not it.
                                                            

72.

                       LOEFEL
Then what is it?
                                                            
                       VALLERY (V.O.)
She's not here.
                                                            
Panic sets in on Loefel's face.
                                                            
 
INT. LOEFEL'S SQUAD CAR - EVENING
                                                            
Loefel grips the steering wheel tight with one hand, presses
a cell phone to his ear with the other. Deputy Duke sits
uncomfortably in the passenger seat.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
How did she get out without you
noticing?
(pause)
And what kind of errands were you
running for two damn hours? Where
did you go?
(pause)
Don't you hang up on me--!
                                                            
Loefel slams the phone shut. Deputy Duke nervously looks him
over.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Everything alright?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Oh yeah. My daughter's missing, my
wife is two timing me, again, the
town is all over my ass...Are you
okay, that's the dumbest question
I think anyone's ever asked me.
                                                            
A tense silence between them.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Is there any spot kids go?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Drinking in the wood. Lookout
Lane, that's where the kids go
to..you know...do it.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
That's not Marla.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
We'll find her, Sheriff.
                                                            
 

73.

EXT. TELLER BACKYARD - NIGHT
                                                            
Harold puts the finishing touches on a massive sized grave.
He spits on it and walks back in the house.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Marla lies in bed, asleep. Harold slides the door open,
quietly enters, carrying a bowl of water and a towel, as
well as a bottle of water.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I didn't mean to wake you.
                                                            
                       MARLA
How long have I been out?
                                                            
Harold sits on the bed next to her, hand her the water and
two pills.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Take these. It'll help with the
pain.
                                                            
She takes the two pills and chugs them down with the water.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
It's been about three hours since
I brought you in here.
                                                            
Marla tries to get out of bed, staggers.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I have to get back home, my
parents are gonna flip.
                                                            
She collapses, in to much pain. Harold helps her back onto
the bed.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
You can't go home like this, what
will you say?
                                                            
Marla ponders the question. Harold dabs the wash cloth in
water, gently washes her face.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Your Grandmother?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Buried. All the blood's cleaned
too.
                                                            

74.

                       MARLA
Won't anyone notice she's gone?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
She was a shut in with no friends.
She hasn't left the house in over
ten years.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm really scared.
                                                            
Harold lies down next to her.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I'll never let anyone hurt you
again.
                                                            
Marla squeezes his hand.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I know.
                                                            
 
INT. SQUAD CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
Loefel drives. Deputy Duke rides shotgun.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Thanks for everything you're
doing.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I'm with you till we find her.
Some coffee, a snack and a
bathroom break and we will be
right back out.
                                                            
Loefel pulls the squad car into Deputy Duke's driveway.
                                                            
EXT. DRIVEWAY
                                                            
Deputy Duke and Loefel get out of the car and head to the
front door. Deputy Duke unlocks it and they enter.
                                                            
 
INT. DEPUTY DUKE'S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Deputy Duke flips the light switch. Loefel looks around.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Help yourself to anything you want
in the kitchen. I'll be a few
minutes in there.
                                                            

75.

                       LOEFEL
Don't take too long.
                                                            
Deputy Duke rushes in the bathroom and shuts the door.
Loefel meanders around, checking the place out.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE (O.S.)
Maybe we can try the neighbor's
again, see if anyone saw her
leave?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Yeah, that's not a bad idea.
                                                            
Loefel shuffles to
                                                            
DEPUTY DUKE'S BEDROOM
                                                            
He peeks in, notices the unmade bed. Loefel enters, checks
the sheets out.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE (O.S.)
This might be a bad time to ask,
but are we getting overtime for
this?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I'll get back to you on that.
                                                            
Loefel scans around. Something catches his eye. He walks to
it, picks it up. Vallery's earrings. Rage fills Loefel's
eyes.
                                                            
A toilet flushes. The bathroom door opens.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE (O.S.)
Sheriff, you ready to roll?
                                                            
Deputy Duke pops in.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You ready to go?
                                                            
Loefel gives him a fierce glare. Deputy Duke notices the
earrings in Loefel's hand.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Now, hold on a sec.
                                                            
Loefel strikes suddenly, connecting his fist with Deputy
Duke's jaw.
                                                            

76.

Deputy Duke rushes Loefel, tries to tackle Loefel. But
Loefel catches him, delivers several blows to his back.
                                                            
Deputy Duke swings, smacks Loefel in the face. Loefel grabs
a desk lamp, viciously cracks it over Deputy Duke's skull,
leaving him dazed.
                                                            
Loefel rushes and tackles him, sending them both tumbling
over the nightstand.
                                                            
They crash to the floor, Loefel ends up on top. He delivers
three solid blows to Deputy Duke's face. The fight is
finished.
                                                            
Loefel stands, delivers a violent kick to Deputy Duke's gut.
Loefel walks out, leaving Deputy Duke on the floor, writhing
in pain.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Marla lies asleep on the bed, lightly snores. Harold spoons
her, strokes her hair. His eyes blink, then close.
                                                            
LOUD KNOCKS AT THE FRONT DOOR
                                                            
Marla and Harold pop up, both with startled, nervous looks.
                                                            
                       MARLA
What's going on?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Someone's at the door.
                                                            
                       MARLA
My dad?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I don't know.
                                                            
                       MARLA
You can't tell him I'm here.
                                                            
Harold stands, makes his way to the door.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
                                                            
LIVING ROOM
                                                            
Harold unlatches the lock to the front door, cracks it open.
Loefel stares at him from the other side.
                                                            

77.

                       HAROLD
Sheriff?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Sorry for the late hour.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
What's going on?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Marla, have you seen her at all
today?
                                                            
Harold shakes his head 'no'.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
What about your grandmother?
                                                            
Harold becomes nervous, unsure of what to say. Loefel
curiously looks him over.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Mind if I come in and ask her?
                                                            
Loefel tries to scoot in the door, Harold blocks him.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Grandma's not feeling well, she's
been asleep all day. I doubt she
saw anything.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
If it's all the same I'd like to
hear it from her myself.
                                                            
A tense stare down between the two. Harold knows he has no
choice but to let him in.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
She's in the back.
                                                            
Harold moves out of the way, Loefel shuffles in.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I'll make this quick.
                                                            
Loefel glances around, points to a back room.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
That way?
                                                            

78.

Harold nods. Loefel continues in, paces to the back. Harold
slyly grabs a butchers knife from a table, tucks it under
his sleeve.
                                                            
They move closer and closer to the back room, tension
mounts. Harold slides the knife from his sleeve, ready to
strike.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Miss Teller?
                                                            
Loefel flips the light switch on. No one in the room.
                                                            
LOEFEL'S CELL PHONE RINGS. He looks at the caller I.D. His
eyes light up, he answers.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Marla? Marla, are you okay?
                                                            
                       MARLA (V.O.)
Yes, I'm fine, dad.
                                                            
Harold takes a deep breath, slides the knife back in his
sleeve.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Are you okay?! Do you knowing how
worried I've been, your mom's
been?
                                                            
                       MARLA (V.O.)
I'm fine dad, I just needed to get
away.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Where are you, I'm coming to get
you.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'll be home in the morning.
                                                            
Loefel's face turns beat red.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You're coming home this instant!
                                                            
CLICK. Marla has hung up. Loefel shakes with anger. He turns
to Harold.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You don't know who'd she be with?
                                                            
Harold shakes his head.
                                                            

79.

                       HAROLD
No idea.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Sorry for wasting your time. If
you see or hear from Marla, ask
her to come home right away.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Okay.
                                                            
Loefel walks to the front door, exits. Harold closes the
door behind him. Locks the door.
                                                            
Harold's bedroom door opens, Marla peeks out.
                                                            
                       MARLA
That was close.
                                                            
 
EXT. TELLER HOUSE - MORNING
                                                            
The sun rises over the horizon.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S BEDROOM - MORNING
                                                            
Harold, in bed, yawns and stretches himself awake. He rolls
over, the other side empty.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Marla?
                                                            
Harold gets up and shuffles to the door.
                                                            
HALLWAY
                                                            
Harold paces down the hallway, curiously listens to noises
from the
                                                            
KITCHEN
                                                            
Marla stands over the stove cooking eggs and French toast.
Harold enters, walks right behind her.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
What are you doing?
                                                            
Marla gasps, quickly turns around. She clutches her chest.
                                                            
                       MARLA
You scared me!
                                                            

80.

                       HAROLD
Sorry, I didn't mean to.
                                                            
                       MARLA
It's okay. I'm just making us
breakfast. I hope you like French
toast.
                                                            
Harold looks bemused. Marla notices.
                                                            
                       MARLA
What is it?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
No one's cooked to me since I was
a child. I made two meals a day
for Grandma since I was six.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Well get used to it, cause you're
going to get a whole lot more.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - MORNING
                                                            
Vallery, in her robe, stands, her cheeks puffy red, a tissue
gripped in one hand, a phone pressed to her ear in the
other.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
No, she's not back yet. I'm so
sorry, Loefel.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL (V.O.)
I stopped by your new boyfriend's
house. You two deserve each other.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
So, what now?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL (V.O.)
Send Marla to stay with your
parents, I'll take her tonight.
You can have the house, till you
find somewhere else. I'll sleep at
the station.
                                                            
The front door opens. Vallery turns. Marla enter. Harold
nervously stands in the doorway behind her.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
She's back, I gotta go.
                                                            

81.

Vallery hangs up, wipes her cheeks clean.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Hey, Mom.
                                                            
Vallery rushes to Marla, grabs her arm. Marla winces in
pain.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Mom, you're hurting me.
                                                            
Vallery loosens her grip, notices the large bruise on
Marla's face. Vallery gasps.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Oh my God, what happened?
                                                            
Vallery cups Marla's cheek. Marla pulls away.
                                                            
                       MARLA
      (awkwardly)
It's fine...It's nothing. I fell
off my bike in the woods. It looks
worse than it actually is.
                                                            
Vallery's attention turns to Harold in the doorway.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
What's he doing here?
                                                            
                       MARLA
He has a name, it's Harold, Harold
Teller. Harold, this is my mom,
Vallery.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Hi.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (curt)
What's Harold doing here?
                                                            
                       MARLA
He found me after the accident,
took care of me.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (suspicious of
       Harold)
Are you sure that's what happened?
You're not afraid of someone, are
you?
                                                            

82.

                       MARLA
No, Mom, it was an accident. I'm
fine.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
That was very nice of you, Harold.
But Marla and I have some things
to talk about and it would be best
if you headed home.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Mom, I have something to tell you.
Harold and I are dating -- he's my
new boyfriend.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You're dad and I decided we're
getting you out of Farwell. We're
sending you to live with Papa Gene
and Grandma Ruth!
                                                            
                       MARLA
What?! You can't just ship me away
like a piece of furniture!
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Your father and I are getting
divorced, this town is a rotten
place, we don't want you here.
                                                            
                       MARLA
You can't do this!
                                                            
                       VALLERY
It's already done!
                                                            
Marla storms past Vallery, towards her room.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You'll do no such thing!
                                                            
Vallery grabs Marla's arm with force, hurts her. Vallery
squeezes tighter. Marla squirms.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Mom, you're hurting me!
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You're dad will be back in a
couple hours, he will drive you
down there.
                                                            

83.

                       HAROLD (O.S.)
      (angered)
Let her go.
                                                            
Vallery loosens her grip on Marla. They both turn to Harold.
He stands there, fist shaking, rage in his eyes.
                                                            
Vallery stares at Harold with a mixture of fear and anger.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Who the fuck do you think you are?
                                                            
Harold steps towards them. Vallery's nervousness mounts.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Someone that loves Marla. Someone
who won't let anyone hurt her.
                                                            
Vallery slyly pulls a .38 Special from the waistband, clicks
back the hammer.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I think it's time for you to leave
my house, Harold.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Mom, what are you doing?!
                                                            
Vallery turns, slaps Marla across the face. Marla breaks
into tears.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You are never to speak to, be
with, or even so much as look at
my daughter again, you understand?
                                                            
Harold, angry and hurt, slowly back steps towards the door.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
You'll be receiving a visit from
my husband.
                                                            
Harold closes the door behind him as he exits.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I hate you!
                                                            
Marla runs past Vallery to her room.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Pack everything you want to keep.
Anything you don't will be gone
forever.
                                                            

84.

Marla slams he bedroom door.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - EVENING
                                                            
The sun sets over the beautiful Texas landscape.
                                                            
Tears streaming down his face, Harold drives the truck down
the isolated country road.
                                                            
He looks up, looks at the abandoned sugar mill on the
horizon.
                                                            
 
EXT. SUGAR MILL - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Harold parks the truck and gets out. He looks around.
                                                            
BARK!
                                                            
Lioness runs around a corner, sees Harold, happily wags her
tail.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Hey, girl.
                                                            
Harold squats down. Lioness hops in his lap, vigorously
licks his face.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I love you so much, you know that?
                                                            
Lioness happily wags her tail. Harold stands, he makes his
way towards his truck.
                                                            
Lioness whines, sad.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
You wanna come home with me?
                                                            
Harold claps his hands. Lioness nervously slinks towards
him. She pauses, unsure.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
It's okay, girl.
                                                            
Harold opens the truck door. He picks Lioness and hops in.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
We're going home.
                                                            
Harold starts the truck and drives off.
                                                            
 

85.

EXT. VENTON DRIVEWAY - EVENING
                                                            
Loefel's squad car screeches to a halt. He gets out, marches
to the front door, swings it open.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Vallery stands with her hands on her hips. Loefel rubs his
temple. They both avoid eye contact with each other.
                                                            
                       MARLA (O.S.)
      (crying)
Please, don't make me go!
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
This isn't a discussion, five
minutes and we're leaving.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
There's something I have to tell
you.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I don't know if I can handle any
more of those.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
That Harold kid from next door...
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
      (intrigued)
What about him?
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Marla was staying with him, said
he was her knew boyfriend.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
What?!
                                                            
                       VALLERY
She showed up with bruises. He
felt threatening to me. There's
something wrong with him.
                                                            
Loefel, in a rage, turns and marches to the front door,
swings it open.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Where are you going?
                                                            

86.

                       LOEFEL
To take care of it.
                                                            
Loefel slams the door as he leaves.
                                                            
 
EXT. TELLER DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Lowered marches from his porch across the street to the
Teller front door. He pounds on it.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Harold Teller, open up, we need to
have a word!
                                                            
No response. Loefel peeks through a window, all the lights
off. He grunts, frustrated.
                                                            
Loefel looks the house up and down.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
We'll talk when I get back.
                                                            
Loefel turns and makes his way back towards his house.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - NIGHT
                                                            
Harold pulls onto his street. Loefel's car pulls out of his
driveway, going the opposite way.
                                                            
Marla sees Harold. They make eye contact. There is sorrow in
the look they share.
                                                            
Loefel's car speeds off and turns the corner.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Harold paces back and forth, on the verge of a nervous
breakdown. Lioness sits, curiously watching them.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
They took her from me! I had her
and now she's gone!
                                                            
Harold screams!
                                                            
Lioness nervously paces to him, puts a paw on his leg. He
bends down, pets her.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
It's not you, girl.
                                                            

87.

Harold stands, looks at all the Jesus memorabilia, Grandma
Teller's possessions.
                                                            
He marches to the
                                                            
KITCHEN
                                                            
Harold grabs a roll of trash bags. He heads back to the
                                                            
LIVING ROOM
                                                            
Harold begins taking every one of Grandma Teller's
possessions and throws them away.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER BACKYARD - NIGHT
                                                            
A fire rages. A dozen black trash bags burn.
                                                            
Harold watches, a somber look on his face. He takes the
black leather mask, and places it on his face.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Vallery sits on the couch, chugs from a full glass of wine.
She opens a bottle of pain pills, downs them with the wine.
                                                            
Outside, through the window, we see Harold, mask on, peering
in at her.
                                                            
Vallery turns and looks out the window, squints at the faint
sight of Harold. She reaches down for her gun, grabs it.
Looks back up. Harold's gone.
                                                            
She blinks several times, then gets up. She walks to the
window and looks out. Nothing but darkness and trees.
                                                            
Vallery shakes, scared.
                                                            
 
EXT. VENTON BACK YARD - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
The back door opens, Vallery stumbles out, gun trembling in
her hand.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Who's out there?
                                                            
FOOTSTEPS O.S.
                                                            
Vallery turns the gun, searching out the noise.
                                                            

88.

                       VALLERY
Is that you, Harold? I'm not
afraid of you!
                                                            
Harold peers out from the side of the house, his unblinking
green eyes focused on her.
                                                            
Vallery back pedals towards the door.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I'm calling my husband and when he
finds you, he's going to put a
bullet in your head!
                                                            
Vallery enters the house, closes the door behind her.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Vallery enters, quickly lock the door. She glances at the
bottle of pills.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
I'm seeing things, I must be
seeing things.
                                                            
Vallery screams. She grabs the bottle of pills, tosses the
bottle against the wall.
                                                            
The DOORBELL RINGS
                                                            
Vallery gets up nervous, slowly paces to the peephole. She
looks out. There's no one there.
                                                            
She opens the door, looks around. Nothing. She hurries to
the house phone, picks it up, dials. The phone line is out.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
What the--
                                                            
A BANG from the back of the house. Vallery pulls the gun
back out, slowly paces in the direction of the noise.
                                                            
HALLWAY
                                                            
She makes her way to the back of the house. She gasps. The
back door sits wide open.
                                                            
Her jaw drops, body shakes.
                                                            
Harold approaches her from behind. Vallery turns, fires a
shot at him. It misses. Harold rushes her, taking her to the
ground.
                                                            

89.

They roll around fighting, crashing into furniture, creating
a mess. The gun falls a few feet away.
                                                            
Harold gets her in a choke hold. She sees the gun only a
couple feet away. She reaches out for it.
                                                            
Her fingers get closer and closer. Harold tightens his grip.
She's almost there. Her arms go limp.
                                                            
 
INT. LOEFEL'S SQUAD CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
Loefel zooms the car down the road, cell phone pressed to
his ear.
                                                            
                       FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
The number you are attempting to
reach has been disconnected or is
no longer in service. Please try
your call again.
                                                            
Loefel hangs up, the concern on his face mounts. He dials
another number on his phone.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE (V.O.)
What?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I need you to check on Vallery, I
think there's something wrong.
                                                            
 
EXT. VENTON HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
Deputy Duke's squad car sits parked in the driveway, the
door to the house wide open.
                                                            
Loefel pulls the squad car into the driveway. He gets out
and marches to the front door, enters the house.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Loefel enters. Deputy Duke stands there, surveys the damage
of the struggle.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Where is she?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Don't know.
                                                            

90.

Loefel surveys the scene. A broken table, Vallery's revolver
on the floor, the home phone a few feet away.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
      (rhetorically)
Can you think of anyone who has a
motive to harm her?
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
No...No...No...
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I just got off the phone with
Mayor Westward, you've been
indefinitely suspended until this
is all resolved.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
What?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I called the Dallas Police
Department, they are helping with
the investigation.
                                                            
Loefel runs his hands across his face and through his hair.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
This can't be happening.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I'm treating your house as a crime
scene. I'm going to need you to
come down to the station.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
      (angry)
How does that help find Vallery?
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
That's not your job anymore,
that's mine. After what happened
today, you're the first person I
want to talk to.
                                                            
Deputy Duke approaches Loefel. Loefel backs up, draws his
weapon.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
You're not taking me anywhere. I'm
going to find Vallery, with or
without your help.
                                                            

91.

Deputy Duke backs off.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I'm going to have you arrested.
                                                            
Loefel exits the house.
                                                            
 
EXT. VENTON DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Loefel rushes to his car, gets in, and starts the engine.
Deputy Duke rushes to the doorway.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Stay out of this, Loefel!
                                                            
Loefel screeches out of the driveway and zooms down the
street.
                                                            
 
INT. CEMENT ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
Blackness. A small amount of light shines through the tiny
window.
                                                            
Vallery, unconscious, dangles, shackled to the cement wall.
Water splashes her face, waking her.
                                                            
She comes to, looks sourly at her surrounds. She yanks
against the chains. Screams.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Help! Help me, please!
                                                            
                       HAROLD (O.S.)
I won't let you keep her from me.
                                                            
Vallery stares into the darkness, the source of the voice
not visible.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Harold?
                                                            
Harold emerges from the shadows, leather mask on. Vallery
shrieks. She looks into his fierce eyes.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Please, don't do this.
                                                            
Harold grabs the cattle prod, sends a volt of electricity
through it.
                                                            

92.

                       HAROLD
You left me no choice.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Marla's my daughter!
                                                            
                       HAROLD
She's the only thing in the world
that I have!
                                                            
Harold jams the electrified cattle prod into Vallery's side,
sending her body into convulsions.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (weakly)
She's the only the thing in the
world I have too.
                                                            
Emotions flood Harold, breaking his stoic demeanor.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
This is the only way.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Please don't hurt Marla.
                                                            
The comment stings Harold, he drops to a knee, rubs tears
from his eyes.
                                                            
Vallery wraps the chain around her hand. Harold looks up. He
gets a fist full of metal to his skull. Lights out.
                                                            
Vallery wraps the chain around her hand. Harold looks up. He
gets a fist full of metal to his skull. Lights out.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Oh, fuck, oh, fuck!
                                                            
Vallery drops down, struggles to reach into Harold's
pockets. She fumbles around, pulls out a set of keys.
                                                            
She tries one after another on the chain lock. Finally she
gets the right one, sets herself free.
                                                            
Harold, groggy, reaches out and grabs Vallery's ankle. She
drops the keys, delivers several swift blows with her foot
to his head. He releases her.
                                                            
Vallery hurries out of the room as Harold struggles to his
feet.
                                                            
 

93.

EXT. SUGAR MILL - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Vallery rushes out of the building, surveys her
surroundings. She runs, trips over her own feet. She gets
up.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (screams)
Help me!
                                                            
Her pleas echo into the isolated night. She spots Harold's
truck, rushes to it, gets in.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Shit, the keys!
                                                            
She gets out, looks around. Nothing in every direction.
                                                            
the mill door opens, Harold stumbles out, blood trickling
from his mask.
                                                            
Vallery bolts into a hilly field. Bare feet pound dirt.
                                                            
On the horizon, a lone farm house, lights on. Vallery heads
straight for it.
                                                            
Behind Vallery, truck lights speed towards her, having not
yet seen her.
                                                            
Vallery, exhausted, pushes herself. The truck stops, turns
to her direction, and hits the gas.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
      (screams)
Help me! Help!
                                                            
The truck gets dangerously close. She can make out Harold's
masked face.
                                                            
She dashes through a cluster of trees. Harold stops the
truck and gets out. He gives chase on foot.
                                                            
Gallery tumbles to the ground, grabs a foot, swollen and
raw. She looks towards the farmhouse, only 100 yards away.
She turns back to Harold, who stumbles towards her, 20 yards
away.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Please, just let me go!
                                                            
Harold keeps moving towards her, regaining his coordination.
                                                            

94.

Vallery staggers to her feet and limps as fast as she can.
The farm house so close.
                                                            
                       VALLERY
Help me!
                                                            
Harold hurries after her, quickly gains ground.
                                                            
The door to the farm house opens. FARMER, 50's, in flannel
pajamas, steps out, holding a shotgun.
                                                            
Vallery throws her hands up, about to yell. Harold jumps on
her, wrapping his arms around her neck, hand over her mouth.
                                                            
Farmer scans his property, sees no one.
                                                            
                       FARMER
Who's out there?
                                                            
He cocks his shotgun.
                                                            
                       FARMER'S WIFE (O.S.)
You didn't hear nothing, now get
back in here you old coot!
                                                            
Harold tightens his grip on her. She can't make a noise.
                                                            
                       FARMER
Old coot my ass, I heard
something!
                                                            
Farmer takes one last look around, shakes his head, and
shuffles back in the house.
                                                            
Vallery takes one last breath, her hand drops. Harold lets
go of her limp body, sighs.
                                                            
 
EXT. FARMER'S FIELD - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Rain drizzles down.
                                                            
Harold, bloody and barely conscious, stumbles back to his
truck and gets in.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Harold gets in, starts the truck and hits the gas. He drives
through the field, his consciousness fading. His eyes blink.
                                                            
The truck pulls onto the dirt road. It swerves back and
forth. Harold loses control and crashes it into the ditch.

95.

The truck comes to a stop behind some brush. The engine
dies.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Harold's face lies smashed against the steering wheel. His
eyes flutter close. He drops across the passenger seat.
                                                            
 
EXT. TELLER DRIVEWAY - NIGHT
                                                            
A steady stream of rain pours down. Thunder booms,
lightening strikes the Earth.
                                                            
Loefel hides behind a bush. He watches across the street as
Deputy Duke puts the finishing touches on crime scene taping
the Venton house.
                                                            
Deputy Duke gets in his squad car and pulls away. He turns
the corner and is out of sight.
                                                            
Loefel emerges from the bush. He approaches the door,
smashes a window with his elbow. He unlocks the front door
and enters the house.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Loefel creeps in, slowly closes the door behind him. He
flips a light switch. Nothing. The power must be out.
                                                            
Loefel pulls out his gun and flashlight. He scans the area.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
      (whispers)
Where did Grandma go?
                                                            
GRRRRRR
                                                            
Loefel jumps, shines the light in the direction of the
noise.
                                                            
A growling Lioness stares back at him. He swings his foot at
her, just missing.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Go away! Shoo!
                                                            
Lioness scurries away, scared.
                                                            
Loefel continues throughout the house.
                                                            

96.

                       LOEFEL
It's like she just disappeared.
                                                            
He makes his way to
                                                            
HAROLD'S BEDROOM
                                                            
Loefel enters, scans the bare bones room with his light.
Something catches his eyes, thumb tacked to his nightstand.
                                                            
Loefel makes his way towards it. Marla's drawing of Harold.
Loefel grabs it. He recognizes Marla's signature at the
bottom.
                                                            
He stares at the drawing long and hard. A lightbulb moment.
He reaches in his pocket, pulls out the drawing made from
Nathan's description.
                                                            
Loefel shines a light between the two. The eyes are a
perfect match.
                                                            
 
EXT. SUGAR MILL - NIGHT
                                                            
Loefel parks his car at the entrance, gets out. He heads
towards the building.
                                                            
 
INT. SUGAR MILL - MOMENTS LATER
                                                            
Loefel, flashlight on, gun drawn, wanders down a long
hallway. He reaches a giant steel door at the end, opens it.
                                                            
He swings the door open, enters Harold's torture chamber. He
sees the chain on the wall. Something else catches his eye.
He bends down.
                                                            
He picks the item up. Vallery's wedding ring.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
It's too late.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - MORNING
                                                            
The sky orange. A rooster crows. Harold lies unconscious,
slumped in the passenger seat.
                                                            
POLICE SIRENS approach from the distance. They get closer
and closer.
                                                            
Harold stirs awake. He takes his mask off. He peeks out his
window.
                                                            

97.

Deputy Duke's squad car zooms by, doesn't see Harold's
truck, turns on a road leading to Farmer's house.
                                                            
Harold turns the key in the ignition once, twice, three
times. The engine roars to life.
                                                            
Harold pulls the truck out of the ditch, drives off in the
direction Deputy Duke came from.
                                                            
 
EXT. FARMER'S FIELD - MORNING
                                                            
Deputy Duke stands over Vallery's dead body. Farmer stands a
few feet behind him.
                                                            
                       FARMER
I told Rita I heard a scream, but
she called me an old coot. I told
her!
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
You didn't see anyone, though?
                                                            
Farmer shakes his head 'no'.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Bout what time was this?
                                                            
                       FARMER
Twelve thirty or so.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Thanks. I'll let you know if I
have any more questions.
                                                            
Farmer nod, meanders back towards his house. Deputy Duke
clicks his radio.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Hey, Reg.
                                                            
                       REGGIE (V.O.)
Go ahead, Deputy.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I need a statewide A.P.B. For
Loefel Venton.
                                                            
 

98.

INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - MORNING
                                                            
Harold, still dazed, patches of dry blood line his face and
hands, steers the truck, engine clanking, through his
neighborhood.
                                                            
He turns onto his street. His eyes focus on the yellow crime
scene tape surrounding the Venton house.
                                                            
Harold pulls the truck into his driveway, kills the engine.
He gets out.
                                                            
 
EXT. TELLER DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Harold staggers to the front door, doesn't notice the broken
glass. He puts the key in the lock, swings it open.
                                                            
 
INT. TELLER LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Harold enters, slams the door behind him.
                                                            
LIONESS WHIMPERS O.S.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Lioness, you okay girl?
                                                            
Harold makes his way further in.
                                                            
Behind Harold, in the shadows, Loefel watches him.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Lioness?
                                                            
Loefel lunges at Harold with a button, clubs him in the back
of the head. Harold drops to the ground, unconscious.
                                                            
Loefel drags Harold's limp body out the front door.
                                                            
 
INT. DEPUTY DUKE'S SQUAD CAR - DAY
                                                            
Deputy Duke cruises down the road, lights flashing. A
Medical Examiner's van follows him.
                                                            
Deputy Duke's PHONE RINGS. Deputy Duke answers.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Deputy Duke speaking.
                                                            
                       MARLA (V.O.)
Deputy, this is Marla Venton....
                                                            

99.

Deputy Duke grimaces.
                                                            
                       MARLA (V.O.)
I can't get ahold of my mom or dad
-- neither will answer my calls.
I'm really worried.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Marla, I didn't want to tell you
this over the phone--
                                                            
                       MARLA (V.O.)
Something happened?!
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Your mother has been murdered. We
are searching for your father now.
                                                            
                       MARLA (V.O.)
No!
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Can you think of anyone else your
father may want to harm?
                                                            
                       MARLA (V.O.)
Harold. Harold Teller.
                                                            
                                         CUT TO BLACK
                                                            
Light emerges through the blinks of slowly opening eyes.
                                                            
 
INT. CEMENT ROOM - EVENING
                                                            
Harold comes to, chained to where so many of his victims had
been.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL (O.S.)
I remembered you out here that
night...
                                                            
Loefel emerges from the shadows, wearing Harold's black
leather mask, holding Harold's cattle prod.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
I had you and I let you slip
through my fingers.
                                                            
Loefel jams the cattle prod into Harold's neck. A volt of
electricity sends Harold into convulsions.
                                                            

100.

                       LOEFEL
You murdered my wife!
                                                            
Loefel shocks Harold again.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Please...
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Is that what they said to you when
they begged for their lives?
                                                            
Loefel punches Harold in the face once, twice, three times.
Blood gushes from Harold's nose.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
That what you were planning to do
to Marla? Chain her, beat her,
kill her?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
      (weakly)
I love her.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
What?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
She's my salvation.
                                                            
                       LOEFEL
Not any more, she's not. She's
going to have a great life and you
are going to be buried in the
dirt.
                                                            
Loefel jams the cattle prod into Harold's head, electricity
courses through his body. He leaves it there, no plans on
taking it off.
                                                            
Harold writhes in pain, the life slowly draining from his
body.
                                                            
The door bursts open, Deputy Duke bursts in, gun drawn.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Freeze!
                                                            
Loefel turns, swinging the cattle prod.
                                                            
Deputy Duke fires three shots to Loefel's chest, dropping
him.
                                                            

101.

Deputy Duke approaches, kicks the cattle prod away. A pool
of blood forms under Loefel's lifeless body.
                                                            
Deputy Duke kneels down, removes the mask from Loefel. He
checks the pulse. Nothing. He stares into Loefel's vacant
eyes.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I got you, you son of a bitch.
                                                            
Deputy Duke rushes to Harold, cradles his unconscious body.
Checks his breathing. He gets on his radio.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
I need paramedics to the old sugar
mill.
                                                            
                       REGGIE (V.O.)
Copy that.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
      (to Harold)
You're going to be okay -- it's
all over now.
                                                            
 
EXT. TEXAS VALLEY - DAY
                                                            
A tumbleweed rolls along blistering hot asphalt.
                                                            
                       T.V. REPORTER (V.O.)
In a shocking turn of events,
local sheriff Loefel Venton was
shot and killed by police shortly
after murdering his wife, Vallery
Venton, and while attempting to
murder a local teenager, whose
name has not been released.
                                                            
 
EXT. SUGAR MILL - DAY
                                                            
Crime scene tape surrounds the property. Agents scour the
place. A body bag is rolled out.
                                                            
T.V. REPORTER stands a few feet from the entrance, mic at
the ready. Deputy Duke stands stoically next to her.
                                                            
                       T.V. REPORTER
Four more bodies were found buried
at this site and are believed to
be that of the four teens who have
disappeared the last several
weeks. Deputy Duke Johnson was the
            (MORE)

102.

                       T.V. REPORTER (cont'd)
lead investigator and the one who
fired the fatal shot.
                                                            
 
INT. BAPTIST CHURCH - DAY
                                                            
Vallery Venton, in a pretty flower printed dress, lies
lifeless in an open coffin.
                                                            
Marla, dressed in all black, sits in a front pew next to her
GRANDPARENTS, who do their best to console her.
                                                            
PASTOR ROY, radiating fire and brimstone, ambles around his
pulpit.
                                                            
                       PASTOR ROY
A young girl robbed of her mother.
Two parents robbed of their child.
The only comfort I can offer is
the beast who did this horrible
atrocity is engulfed in a lake of
fire.
                                                            
Harold, still covered in fresh wounds, stands in the back of
the church. His eyes focused on Marla.
                                                            
 
INT. VENTON LIVING ROOM - DAY
                                                            
A sad, empty aura. Half the house has been packed into
moving boxes.
                                                            
Marla bustles about, packing her parents belongings.
                                                            
Harold enters, carrying a box.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
What do you want me to do with
this?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Depends whose stuff it is.
                                                            
Harold gives her a sympathetic look.
                                                            
                       MARLA
His stuff goes over there.
                                                            
Marla points to a pile of half filled trash bags. Harold
walks the box over and dumps the contents of the box into
one of the bags.
                                                            

103.

                       MARLA
It means so much what you're doing
for me. I couldn't handle this
without you.
                                                            
Harold approaches Marla, wraps her in a warm hug.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I'll always be there for you.
                                                            
DOORBELL RINGS
                                                            
Marla answers the door. Deputy Duke stands on the other
side, file box in hand.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
Hey, Marla.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Hi.
                                                            
Deputy Duke peers in, notices Harold.
                                                            
                       MARLA
He's helping me pack.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
How you holding up, Harold?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
I'm doing a lot better.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
      (hands Marla the
       box)
I just came to drop this off, some
of your father's personal stuff.
                                                            
Marla points to the trash.
                                                            
                       MARLA
You can just drop it in there.
                                                            
Deputy Duke enters, sets the box next to the trash.
                                                            
                       DEPUTY DUKE
So, what are your plans?
                                                            
                       MARLA
Taking my mom's life insurance
policy and getting out of Farwell.
                                                            

104.

                       DEPUTY DUKE
If you need anything you have my
number.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Thanks.
                                                            
Deputy Duke tips his cap and exits the house.
                                                            
                       MARLA
I'm going to start the kitchen.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Okay.
                                                            
Marla meanders into the kitchen. Harold looks curiously at
the box Deputy Duke dropped off.
                                                            
Harold picks up the box and looks inside. Several files,
personal belongings. He picks out the drawing of himself,
based on Nathan's description.
                                                            
Harold takes the box and sets it off to the side.
                                                            
 
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
                                                            
Cars merge in and out of traffic. Harold's fixed red truck,
U-Haul in tow, among them.
                                                            
A sign reads, "Welcome to Louisiana".
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD'S TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Small black and blue patches dot Harold's healing face.
Riding shotgun, Marla gently rubs Harold's back.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Almost there.
                                                            
Harold smiles, gives Marla a peck on the cheek.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
Almost home.
                                                            
Lioness happily barks in the back seat. Harold and Marla
laugh.
                                                            
 

105.

EXT. LOUISIANA HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
A modest two story home on a suburban street. The U-Haul
sits open in the driveway, halfway unpacked.
                                                            
Harold winces, carrying a heavy box. Marla takes it from
him.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Your arm still hurts, doesn't it?
                                                            
                       HAROLD
It's getting better.
                                                            
Marla stares happily at the house.
                                                            
                       MARLA
We're going to have a happy life
here.
                                                            
SUPER: "ONE YEAR LATER"
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD AND MARLA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
                                                            
The house is fully decorated and lived in.
                                                            
Lioness runs across the room. Her 6 puppies, now a few
months old, give chase.
                                                            
KITCHEN
                                                            
Marla does dishes at the sink, her belly swollen, several
months pregnant.
                                                            
TELEVISION BLARES
                                                            
                       T.V. REPORTER (V.O.)
Lisa Murdock has been missing for
four days now. If you have any
information, please call Crime
Stoppers...
                                                            
Harold approaches Harold from behind. She doesn't hear him.
He puts his hand on her stomach. She jumps and shrieks.
                                                            
                       MARLA
You scared me, Harold.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
How are my two favorite people in
the world doing?
                                                            

106.

                       MARLA
We're great.
(looks at the television)
That neighbor who was rude to me
when we first go here is still
missing. It's just weird.
                                                            
                       HAROLD
      (dismissively)
Yeah, I guess it is. Hey, I'm
going to shower. You need
anything?
                                                            
                       MARLA
No, I'm fine.
                                                            
Harold kisses Marla. He turns and heads up the stairs. Marla
goes back to dishes.
                                                            
                       MARLA
Shoot, I left metal pad in the
basement.
                                                            
 
INT. HAROLD AND MARLA'S BASEMENT - DAY
                                                            
The door opens. Light flood in the dark room. Marla flips
the light switch. She slowly paces down the basement stairs.
                                                            
She makes her way to a work table, grabs a metal scrubby.
She turns, something catches her eye. The box that Deputy
Duke had given her. She makes her way towards it.
                                                            
She opens the box, looks through it. She finds the picture
of Harold in his mask. She stares at the bright green eyes.
Realization sets in on her face.
                                                            
She turns. Harold stands there, black leather mask on. Marla
screams.
                                                            


FADE OUT.


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From Vic Ruthenbeck Date 10/29/2015 ***1/2
Great hook! Also, I loved the supporting cast of flawed Characters. Then of course, there's Harold whom you did a solid job of getting me to empathize with in a sick, he needs to be put down or does he, sort of way. I also found the story to be compelling without seeming derivative and it had nice movement and pace throughout. A few grammatical errors aside, its a winner in my book! On a side note, you may want to look into the legalities of a 16 year being allowed to live unsupervised (wouldn't she be remitted to her grandparents until of legal age?), as well as marrying before turning 18. Overall, awesome job John!

From Maureen Burgess Date 9/7/2015 ****
I loved it! It was a story that really drew me in. I had read an earlier version and sort of knew what to expect, but the rewrite changes made the story even more compelling. I loved how on one hand the reader can sympathize with Harold and still be repealed by him. Great story!


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