Home Screenwriting Products Screenwriter Community Screenwriting Store
ScriptBuddy - Screenwriting Software for the Web

Screenwriter Community

Back to List of Published Screenplays
View/Leave Feedback

When You Sleep
by Zachary Murdock (zacharybednar90@gmail.com)

Rated: PG-13   Genre: Horror   User Review:
NOT YET
RATED

Written for fun.


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:

INT. HER FATHER'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
Her Mother's urn sits on the dining room table. There is
nothing too fancy about it. It is what it is. Jet black with
a faint gold design around the lid.

There is also nothing too fancy about the house. A good
right in the middle kind of place. But something about it
feels empty.

JULIA, late twenties to early thirties, stands over her
Mother's urn. She reaches out to touch it, slowly, as if it
were possessed. It's texture is so smooth that Julia can't
help but caress it for moment.

HER FATHER enters with his wallet in hand, digging for
money.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Please, Dad. I don't need it.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Nonsense. It's a good two day
drive to Sworn Island. I would
feel ashamed had I not paid your
way.
                                                            
Her Father hands her one hundred and twenty dollars in cash.

She takes it and shoves it in her purse.
                                                            
When she looks back at Her Father, his eyes are fixed are
the urn.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I didn't know how nice it was.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
What, the urn? What's nice about
it?
                                                            
                       JULIA
I don't know, I think Mom would of
liked it.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
She did like it. She picked it out
herself.
                                                            

2.

                       JULIA
When?
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
About a month before she passed
on.
                                                            
                       JULIA
But she hated black.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
No she didn't.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Yes she did.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
That's preposterous.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Look around your house, find me
something in it that's black.
                                                            
Her Father stands in place and looks around the room.
                                                            
                       JULIA
She didn't own anything black,
Dad. She hated it.
                                                            
Her Father points down at the urn.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Well she picked it out, take it up
with her.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Are you sure you got the right
one?
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
For the love of God, Julia, don't
be insensitive. Not today.
                                                            
Julia relents.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Why did you say that you think
she'd like it if you knew she
hated the color?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Because it feels nice. It's so
smooth. And it has a shine to it.
                                                            

3.

Her Father stares down at the urn, his face scrunched up.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
I want you to be careful on the
road with it.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Of course. Don't worry. I'll be
very careful.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Strange things have been happening
in this house, Julia, very strange
things.
                                                            
                       JULIA
This house is going to feel empty
for a long, long time, Dad. It
might not ever feel the same way
again, and maybe it shouldn't.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
I'm not talking about loneliness,
Julia, I'm talking about something
very different. She hasn't left us
yet. I know it.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Dad. She's gone.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
No. She is not.
                                                            
                       JULIA
      (concerned)
Have you been feeling alright?
                                                            
Her Father points again at the urn and looks at his
daughter's worried face.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
She doesn't want to go with you.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I'm taking her, Dad.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Oh I want you to take her. I just
want you to know that she doesn't
want any part of it.
                                                            
                       JULIA
This is what she wanted.
                                                            

4.

                       HER FATHER
Maybe in life, but not in death.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Dad, what are you talking about?
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
This thing has a mind of it's own.
Just today alone, it has gone
missing six separate times, and I
would find it in the most unusual
places. Places I don't go, Julia.
I would put it back on the table,
and the next thing I knew, it
would disappear again.
                                                            
Her Father's voice has a quiver in it that Julia has seldom
heard before.

Her Father is genuinely afraid of it.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
I even believe it has tried to
hurt me. It seems to be
controlling the oven, it is
constantly on high. Strange
things, like cutting the tips of
my fingers on knives in my sock
drawer. This thing has tried
everything in its power to prevent
this moment from happening. It
doesn't want to leave. It doesn't
want you to take it. But that's
too bad, because I want it out of
my home and as far away from me as
you can get it.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Dad. You need to see a doctor.
                                                            
Her Father grabs the urn and holds it out to her.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Take it now. Before it changes its
mind. I can't bare to hold onto it
for another second.
                                                            
Julia takes the urn in her arms.
                                                            
                       JULIA
You need to lay down and rest. You
need a friend, you need to talk to
somebody. I don't like the idea of
you being cooped up in here all by
            (MORE)

5.

                       JULIA (cont'd)
yourself.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
As long as that thing's been in
this house, I've had more company
than I can handle. I could use
some alone time right now.
                                                            
She looks him over carefully.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Be good to yourself.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
I hope she treats you better than
she has treated me. And that's all
I'm going to say on the subject.
                                                            
She starts to back away from him.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Okay Dad.
                                                            
 
INT. CAR - DAY
                                                            
Julia drives on the highway, her mother's urn nestled in the
floorboard on the driver's side.

She messes around with the radio, trying to get a good
reception on a station. Any station. Whenever she locks into
one that sounds remotely clear and audible, within seconds
the stations is consumed by static.

She turns the radio off and drives in silence.

She adjusts her rearview mirror and when it snaps into
position she sees an old black pick-up truck on the road
behind her, a ways back.

Then she gets a little startled when she looks back ahead
and in the corner of her eye sees that her mother's urn is
now up on the passenger's seat.

She brushes this off as a mistake on her part and puts the
urn back in the floorboard where it is safer for her to
transport.
                                                            
She looks ahead and drives. She's thinking about her mother
now. About the last time she saw her. About the argument.
                                                            

6.

She puts her directional signal on, and merges. When she
looks into the rearview mirror while doing this, the old
black pick-up truck is much closer. Not too close for
comfort. Just much, much closer than it was.
                                                            
She looks back at the floorboard where she had put her
mother's urn and is confused when it isn't there. It's not
on the seat either. It's just gone.

She cranes her neck to look in the backseat. She can't find
it.

BOOM!

She loses control of the vehicle, as it swerves off the
road.

She has just blown out a tire and her heart is beating very
fast.

She is able to control the car enough to make it stop. On
the side of the road, in the grass.

She puts the car in park, closes her eyes, and thanks
whatever God she believes in for guiding her to safety.

When she opens them back up, her mother's urn is sitting on
the passenger's seat.

She picks it up and holds it in her hands.

She rotates the urn and takes note of it's shine.
                                                            
 
EXT. SIDE OF THE ROAD - DAY
                                                            
Julia leans against her car as THE MECHANIC changes her
tire.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I'm sorry for all this. I usually
keep a spare in the back. I don't
know what could have happened to
it.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
Just be thankful you're still in
one piece. Having something like
this happen on the highway is
almost like a death sentence, if
not for you then for the vehicle.
                                                            
He wipes sweat odd his forehead with a filthy rag.
                                                            

7.

                       THE MECHANIC
Luckily both of you made out
alright. A blown tire at sixty
miles per hour is normally an
immobilizing occurrence. You
should always have a mechanic
check your tires before going on a
long drive.
                                                            
He tightens lug-nuts.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
How's the oil?
                                                            
                       JULIA
The oil should be fine.
                                                            
The Mechanic rises to his feet, wiping off his hands on the
same filthy rag.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
Do you mind if I check it?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Go right ahead.
                                                            
Julia steps aside as The Mechanic walks over the front of
her car and pops the hood to check the oil.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
Where you headed to, Miss?
                                                            
                       JULIA
I'm on my way to Sworn Island.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
That's a nice place.
                                                            
Pause.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
A bit of a hike, ain't it?
                                                            
Julia considers how much information she should allow The
Mechanic to be privy to.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
Why you headin' all the way to
Sworn Island? Plenty of nice
beaches all around here.
                                                            

8.

                       JULIA
It's for my Mother. She passed
away recently.
                                                            
The Mechanic looks up from what he's doing.

His face is saddened and true.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
I'm so sorry, Miss.
                                                            
                       JULIA
It's alright.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
It's my fault, I shouldn't pry.
                                                            
                       JULIA
No. It's really no bother.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
My Dad died two years ago in May
and I still can't believe he's
gone.
                                                            
                       JULIA
This trip is about closure for
both my mother and I. She wanted
her ashes to be spread at Sworn
Island. So that's where I'm going.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
Well it's a real beautiful place.
I'd have trouble picking out a
nicer beach this south of Anna
Maria.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I've never been there.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
You'll love it. Sworn Island has a
real charm to it. The ocean
sparkles and the sand feels soft.
Not much more you could ask for.
And it's quiet too. A perfect
place to rest.
                                                            
                       JULIA
That's the idea.
                                                            
The Mechanic wipes his hands off and shuts the hood and
walks around to her.
                                                            

9.

                       THE MECHANIC
Oil's fine. I checked your other
tires and they're fine too. Just
drive safely and don't think too
much. Eat well and rest often.
                                                            
Julia reaches into her purse for her wallet.
                                                            
                       JULIA
How much do I owe you?
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
Don't worry about it, Miss. This
one's free of charge.
                                                            
                       JULIA
That's very kind of you, but it's
not necessary.
                                                            
The Mechanic puts his hand on hers, which is continuing to
dig through her purse, and slowly pulls it out.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Thank you so much for your
kindness.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
I know what it's like to lose a
parent. I know what it takes from
you. Just be careful out there.
And remember to rest. Alright?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Alright.
                                                            
                       THE MECHANIC
You have a good one, Miss.
                                                            
The Mechanic walks over to his white work truck and drives
away.

Julia waves him goodbye and he honks his horn in
acknowledgement.
                                                            
 
INT. CAR - DAY
                                                            
Julia gets back into her car and fixes her hair in the
mirror.

She checks on the urn before she starts the engine. She
makes damn sure that it is nestled firmly and snug in the
floorboard.

10.


Before she drives off, she looks in her rearview and sees
the old black pick-up truck again. It is parked a ways
behind her on the side of the road. Waiting.

Now she thinks that she might be being followed.

She observes it curiously.

Before getting back on the highway.
                                                            
 
INT. CAR - DAY
                                                            
Julia is driving smoothly along a country road.

She passes a handful of God-fearing billboards, a staple of
the bible belt, as well as several small churches and local
markets.

There is nothing in her rearview mirror and the urn hasn't
'moved' in hours.

She turns on the radio. No more static. But the only
available stations are talking about the end times, so she
turns it off all the same.

She passes by a hitch hiker, and a group of children,
chaperoned by a schoolteacher, holding up signs about
abortion.
                                                            
She looks down at the urn, and then back at the road.
Thinking about her mother. About the argument.
                                                            
HORN!
                                                            
When she looks into her rearview mirror to see who's blowing
the horn at her, she sees the old black pick-up truck.

She increases her speed, and the old black pick-up does the
same. Riding her ass, almost bumper to bumper.
                                                            
Frantically, she accelerates to almost seventy miles per
hour. Then eighty, verging on ninety.

The old black pick-up is relentless.

She is now driving faster than she ever has before in her
entire life.
                                                            
And she is being chased.
                                                            

11.

The road curves and she almost flies her car off the road.

When it curves again, her tires SCREECH.

She looks back in the mirror and she doesn't see the old
black pick-up truck anymore.

She looks ahead, but she is too afraid to decrease her speed
just yet.

She is jittery, afraid, and paranoid.

She flies past a cop car.

SIRENS.

The cop car is flashing its lights in her rearview mirror.
                                                            
                       JULIA
      (to herself)
God-Fucking-Damnit!
                                                            
The sirens continue to wail.

She pulls her car over to the side of the road, in front of
a small diner, and gets her materials ready.
                                                            
The police car parks several feet behind her.

And waits. Like they always do.

When Julia looks back down at the urn, it isn't there.

It's in the backseat. Somehow.

THE POLICEWOMAN gets out of her car and walks up to Julia's
window.

Julia puts the window down to face her.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Licence and registration.
                                                            
Julia has them ready for her.

The Policewoman looks them over.

And then hands them back.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Do you know how fast you were
going?
                                                            

12.

                       JULIA
I was being chased.
                                                            
The Policewoman glances in her back window and sees the urn.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Chased by who?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Someone in an old black pick-up
truck.
                                                            
The Policewoman obviously doesn't believe her.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Do you know what the speed limit
is at this part of the road? About
forty less than what you were
doing.
                                                            
                       JULIA
But you had to have seen the
truck. It was going just as fast
as me.
                                                            
The Policewoman looks her over.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
How many straight hours have you
been driving?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Since early this morning.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Where to?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Sworn Island.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
You can't make it there in one
day, no matter fast you try to go.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Officer, I was being chased. Why
won't you believe me?
                                                            
The Policewoman looks around at the empty, open road.
                                                            

13.

                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Because your's is the first car
I've seen pass through here in
hours.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Then he's waiting for me. He's out
there. He can see us, but we can't
see him.
                                                            
The Policewoman's eyes glance back at the urn and then up at
the diner.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Step out of the car, Miss.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Officer, I'm sorry. This is all a
big misunderstanding.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Miss, step out of the car.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I don't want any trouble.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Miss, I'm not trying to arrest
you. I'm trying to buy you a cup
of coffee. Now, would you please
step out of the vehicle?
                                                            
Julia thinks this through.

And steps out of her car.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I have to get something first.
                                                            
Julia opens the door to her backseat and grabs the urn.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I'm starting to think this thing
has a mind of it's own.
                                                            
 
INT. DINER - DAY
                                                            
Julia sits across from The Policewoman in a booth at the
empty diner.

Coffee cups in front of them, with the urn as their
centerpiece.
                                                            

14.

The Policewoman looks at the urn.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Who's in there if you don't mind
my asking?
                                                            
                       JULIA
My Mother.
                                                            
The Policewoman sips her coffee.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
I also lost my mother when I was
your age. It's a strange time to
lose a parent. When you're so
fiercely independent.
                                                            
Julia adds cream to her coffee.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
How did she die?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Breast cancer. It wasn't anything
unexpected. She had been sick for
a long time. The doctors gave her
a deadline, and she died on the
exact day it expired.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Mine went suddenly in a car crash.
I often think it's easier that
way. I didn't have to watch her
wither away. I just had to learn
how to roll with the shock.
                                                            
They sip their coffee in silence.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I hated her near the end of it.
And for a long time before it too.
Ever since I could remember, I
never quite liked my Mother.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
You don't have to like someone to
love them.
                                                            
                       JULIA
She was awful to me in life. She
thought she knew everything.
                                                            

15.

                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Mothers usually do.
                                                            
                       JULIA
The last time I ever saw her, we
had an argument. Our worst one
ever. It was about my fiancé, my
EX fiancé. She said she knew there
was another woman. She had
convinced herself of this. And
that time I didn't hold back, that
time I really let her have it.
                                                            
The Policewoman drains her coffee cup.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
And was there another woman?
                                                            
                       JULIA
Of course there was. She was
right, and I hated her all the
more for it.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
What you're feeling is normal.
Some people deal with loss through
anger, others through sadness and
apathy. It will get better. And
soon, you'll be able to make peace
with everything your Mother was
and everything she wasn't.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I don't care about making peace. I
just want to get rid of these
ashes. I'm half tempted to just
dump them off on the side of the
road and go back home. I'd tell my
Father how nice Sworn Island was,
and how serene it was when I put
her to rest. I don't want to do
this anymore. I just want it to be
over.
                                                            
Julia jabs a accusatory finger at the urn.
                                                            
                       JULIA
This THING is trying to drive me
insane. I know it sounds crazy,
but I keep feeling as though it's
alive.
                                                            
The Policewoman looks down at the table, then back at her.
                                                            

16.

                       JULIA
And then there's that old black
truck. It's been following me ever
since I started. It seems to be
everywhere. Like a specter, like
something not of this earth.
                                                            
Julia scrunches up her face, glances down at her cup of
coffee, and frowns.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Am I just going crazy? Am I seeing
things? My Father warned me this
would happen, but I didn't believe
it. I thought he was the crazy
one, now I just want it all to
stop.
                                                            
The Policewoman looks out the window at Julia's car, and
then goes for another sip of her coffee, forgetting that she
had already finished it.

She places her empty cup next to the urn.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
You're hurt, you've been delivered
a blow that you didn't know how to
handle. Your mind's playing tricks
on you, and that has the potential
to be very dangerous. Especially
on the road.
                                                            
Julia twirls a spoon around the inside of her coffee cup.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
You need to rest, take the rest of
the night off.
                                                            
The Policewoman reaches into her pocket for her wallet.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Here, take this.
                                                            
The Policewoman hands her a business card.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
It's my card. I want you to take
it to The Sanctuary Inn, it's
about seven miles up the road from
here. I want you to take it there
and show it to the young man
running the front desk. He'll set
you up free of charge. And I want
you to relax. I want you to leave
            (MORE)

17.

                       THE POLICEWOMAN (cont'd)
your Mother's urn in your car. I
want you to forget about it for
the moment, and focus on yourself
and your memories.
                                                            
Julia looks down at the card in her hand.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
You seem like a good girl. You
seem smart. You know you need a
break. So why not take one?
                                                            
Julia accepts the card.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Thank you.
                                                            
The Policewoman gets up from the booth.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
My number's on there too. If you
need to talk, just call it. I'll
see what I can do.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Thanks. For everything.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Don't mention it. Just be safe.
And be good to yourself. Know your
limits.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I think what I need most is a hot
bath.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Then take one when you get to the
inn.
                                                            
The Policewoman pulls out her car keys.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
But I have to get going. I hope
everything works out for you in
the end.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Me too.
                                                            

18.

                       THE POLICEWOMAN
The sun's fixing to set. I'd get
going if I was you as well. I
don't want you out there at night.
                                                            
The Policewoman leaves.

Julia watches from the window as she gets back into her
squad car and drives away.
                                                            
                       JULIA
      (to herself)
I don't want to be out there
either.
                                                            
Alone now. Julia stares back at the urn.
                                                            
 
EXT. SANCTUARY INN - LATER
                                                            
It's a small, but homely inn. It looks comforting. It looks
family owned and operated. It looks like it's exactly what
she needs.

She pulls up to the front offices.

Hers is the only car in the lot.

She stops the engine and gets out.

The sun's setting fast. It's almost completely gone.
                                                            
 
INT. SANCTURARY INN FRONT OFFICES - NIGHT
                                                            
She's surprised to find THE MOTEL CLERK waiting for her with
a key already in his hand.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
You must be Julia.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Yeah, that's me.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
I've been waiting for you. Officer
Barnum just called, said you might
be heading my way.
                                                            
Julia approaches the front counter.
                                                            
The Motel Clerk looks her over.
                                                            

19.

                       THE MOTEL CLERK
She forgot to mention how pretty
you are though.
                                                            
Julia doesn't quite like the sound of this.

She looks at the key in his hand.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Is that for me?
                                                            
The Motel Clerk looks down at the key, as if he completely
forgot he was holding it.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
Oh yes. Look at me, letting my
mind wander. I almost forgot.
                                                            
He hands her the key. The key has the number one written on
it with a black sharpie.
                                                            
Julia catches the young Motel Clerk peer down her shirt, at
her breasts.

He is being very obvious.
                                                            
                       JULIA
What time's good for checkout?
                                                            
The Motel Clerk lets his eyes linger on her cleavage for
another second longer before answering her with a polite
smile.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
Any time you like, Miss. I'm
always here.
                                                            
                       JULIA
Thanks. I think I'll go to my room
now. I've been driving all day,
and I'm pretty tired.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
We got HBO. I just got it last
month. Have you seen what they got
on there? On HBO?
                                                            
He smiles and giddily nods his head.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
If some of the more godly people
around here found out what I've
been watching lately, they'd brand
me a heretic and a sinner. And I
            (MORE)

20.

                       THE MOTEL CLERK (cont'd)
would not mind one bit. Some of
them shows on that HBO ain't got
no place in God's country. But you
might like it. It's channel
two-ten if you're interested.
                                                            
                       JULIA
I don't think that I'll be
watching much television. I'm very
tired. I might just fall asleep.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
Suit yourself, Miss Julia. I'll be
here if you need anything, just
dial one.
                                                            
He glances down at her chest again, and Julia catches him.

She turns to leave.
                                                            
                       THE MOTEL CLERK
Have a good night.
                                                            
She doesn't look back at him, she continues out the door.
                                                            
 
EXT. ROOM ONE OF THE SANCTUARY INN - NIGHT
                                                            
Julia puts her room key in the lock and twists, but stops
short of entering the room.

She looks back at her car, at the empty room, then back to
her car again.
                                                            
                       JULIA
      (to herself)
This is crazy.
                                                            
Julia turns around to face her car and slowly walks around
to the back door.

She opens it, and looks at the urn.

She stands there for a few moments before snatching it in
her arms.

She slams her car door shut and goes inside her room with
the urn cradled in one arm like a football.
                                                            
 

21.

INT. ROOM ONE OF THE SANCTUARY INN - LATER
                                                            
The television is on, the lights are still on, and Julia is
dead asleep in her bathrobe on the bed. Not even under the
covers. She must have just passed out from exhaustion.

Her Mother's urn sits on the nightstand next to her bed on
top of a bible.
                                                            
She doesn't hear the door open or see The Motel Clerk creep
inside. She's fast asleep.

He leaves the door wide open.

The Motel Clerk approaches her, a dripping wet rag in one
hand, a roll of duct tape in the other.

His mouth is open in cautious anticipation.

He stops to see if she's watching HBO. She isn't.

He looks back down at her, then at the urn.

Then he approaches her, he slowly lifts the rag above her
face, going in for the kill.

SHATTER!

The urn has fallen off the nightstand and shattered into
several sharp shards and pieces.

Nothing has made the urn fall. It seems to have fallen by
itself.

This abrupt and volatile sound wakes Julia up and confuses
The Motel Clerk.

She sees him standing over her and leaps out of bed and runs
into the bathroom in the far corner of the room.

The Motel Clerk chases her.
                                                            
 
INT. THE BATHROOM OF ROOM ONE OF THE SANCTUARY INN - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
Julia backs up into the shower, The Motel Clerk has her
cornered.
                                                            
He lunges at her, and trips, she darts out of the bathroom.
                                                            
 

22.

INT. ROOM ONE OF THE SANCTUARY INN - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
The Motel Clerk chases her out into the main room, and
tackles her to the ground.

He puts his hands around her neck and starts to wring it.
                                                            
Her eyes slowly turn bloodshot.

She makes guttural noises.

He drips sweat on her face, and now he's beginning to drool.

Her bloodshot eyes drift to the carpet.

Within reach she can see the pieces of her Mother's urn.

She grasps for a shard of it.

She jabs a particularly sharp piece into The Motel Clerk's
jugular vein.
                                                            
He instantly lets go of her neck as blood squirts out of
his.

She turns away on her side and gasps for air.

The Motel Clerk rises to his feet, woozy, his hand over his
wound. But it does him no good. He is covered in blood and
he is losing it fast.

He takes one last look at Julia and then to the television
screen and stumbles to the ground.

He dies shortly after.
                                                            
Julia starts to cry a little bit.
                                                            
She digs her fingers into her Mother's ashes and cries.
                                                            
She crawls for the open door.
                                                            
 
EXT. ROOM ONE OF THE SANCTUARY INN - CONTINUOUS
                                                            
She crawls out to her car.

She is having extreme difficulty breathing.

Her noises are still guttural and she is wheezing bad.
                                                            
A police squad car pulls up beside her.


23.

Julia stops her crawl as The Policewoman she had met earlier
gets out of the vehicle and rushes to her aide.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
What's going on? What happened?
                                                            
Julia can hardly speak.
                                                            
                       JULIA
      (broken up,
       jagged, and
       barely audible)
He was trying to kill me.
                                                            
The Policewoman leaves her there and rushes inside the room
to investigate the scene.

Julia sits with her back propped against her front tire and
tries to breathe properly.
                                                            
When The Policewoman returns, she is walking slowly and her
face is grim.
                                                            
She towers over her.
                                                            
Her baton in her hand.
                                                            
Julia looks up.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
You ungrateful little slut.
                                                            
CRACK!

The Policewoman swings the baton down, crunching into the
side of her face.

Cracks and snaps of broken face bones can be easily heard.
                                                            
Julia tries to scramble to her feet but is too dizzy after
such a terrible blow.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
You selfish little pig.
                                                            
CRACK!

She swings her baton down on her calf muscles.
                                                            
CRACK!

And a fast follow through blow to her spine.
                                                            

24.

                       THE POLICEWOMAN
I'm going to have to teach you a
lesson, aren't I?
                                                            
The Policewoman tosses her baton aside and pulls her firearm
out of it's holster.
                                                            
Julia manages to scramble to her feet and staggers out into
the open road.

The Policewoman follows her. Julia can't move very fast, and
she is stumbling as she sways from side to side.
                                                            
Julia trips and falls down in the road.

The Policewoman soon towers over her, with her gun pointed
down at her.
                                                            
                       THE POLICEWOMAN
Stupid little girl tries to run
away.
                                                            
Julia looks up at her and closes her eyes. Knowing the road
ends here.

The Policewoman suddenly lights up, headlights shining harsh
and bright on her back.

Julia opens her eyes back up to see the old black pick-up
truck shooting down the road like a rocket, directly for
them.

The Policewoman doesn't have any time to think.

The old black pick-up truck slams into her at full speed.

CUT TO BLACK.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSTPITAL - DAY
                                                            
Julia lays awake in a hospital bed with a broken jaw and
bruised vocal chords.

The usual hustle and bustle associated with this kind of
thing is brewing.

Policemen, doctors, reporters, and curious spectators can be
seen outside of her room, trying to catch of a glimpse of
her.
                                                            
Making his way through the swarm of people and into her room
is Her Father.

25.


He stands at the front of her bed with a small brown paper
bag in his hand.

He takes one look at her and starts to weep openly, but very
briefly.

He composes himself and sits down on the bed by his
daughter's side.

She reaches for his hand and he takes it.

They sit there in this embrace.
                                                            
In absolute silence.
                                                            
 
INT. HER FATHER'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
Julia, bandaged, bruised, and sore, rides shotgun in Her
Father's car.

They are driving along the coast. And it looks beautiful.

Julia is flipping through one of Her Mother's old
scrapbooks.

At pictures of her parents when they were young.

Pictures of her as a baby.

Pictures of her Mother holding her.

A picture of her Mother holding her in front of an old black
pick-up truck.
                                                            
Her heart skips a beat.

She nudges Her Father's shoulder to get his attention.

She shows him the picture.
                                                            
He smiles faintly at it with a fondness of memory.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
I'll be damned.
                                                            
He gazes at the picture as if he doesn't believe it's real.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
You were just born then. Your
Mother was so happy. And lucky.
                                                            

26.

He puts his eyes back on the road.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
I'm not sure if you know this or
not, but I wasn't there for your
birth. I was a good sixty miles
away. And your Mother, you know
how she was, was not resting in
bed like she should have been. She
was out, of course, walking around
like she liked to do.
                                                            
Julia looks back down at the picture of her mother and the
black pick-up truck.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
For some god awful reason, she was
out on the farm. By herself.
                                                            
Her Father shrugs.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
And that's when her water broke.
That's when she went into labor
and that's when she started giving
birth to you. She was all alone
out in the middle of nowhere when
she saw a man. This man seemed to
pop out of nowhere and she said he
was glowing. This man, whoever he
was, carried your Mother from the
farm to his truck. Your Mother was
too far along by then to go all
the way to the hospital to have
her child, so the man delivered it
for her. She said she didn't feel
any pain in the man's presence.
And that's how you were born.
                                                            
Her Father smiles.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
She called the man in the truck
her guardian angel. And you know
what? I think she was right.
                                                            
Her Father glances down at the picture in the scrapbook once
more.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
The funny part is, I've never even
seen that picture before. All
these years, I thought your Mother
had just made it all up. But
            (MORE)

27.

                       HER FATHER (cont'd)
there's the evidence.
                                                            
He looks back to the road.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
But it's a good picture of her.
And you. And of the fabled truck.
                                                            
He looks at her and can tell that she is fascinated by the
picture.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Keep it. It's yours.
                                                            
He puts his eyes back on the road and makes a turn.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
I know she'd like you to have it.
                                                            
Julia caresses the picture. Caresses the image of her
Mother.

And closes the scrapbook shut and holds it tightly to her
chest. Hugging it.

She glances out the window as Sworn Island appears.
                                                            
 
EXT. SWORN ISLAND - DAY
                                                            
Julia and Her Father stand on the beach, and look out at the
serene, calm, and gorgeous ocean.
                                                            
Her Father is holding the small brown paper bag.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
She was right. It really is
beautiful here.
                                                            
He hands the small bag off to his daughter.
                                                            
                       HER FATHER
Put her to rest, Julia. Give her
away.
                                                            
Julia looks around at Sworn Island. At how beautiful and
still it is.

She crinkles open the bag and watches as her Mother's ashes
are carried away by the wind, blowing away from sight, and
into infinity.
                                                            


FADE OUT.


Back to Top of Page
Leave Feedback
Feedback
There is currently no feedback for this screenplay.

Back to Top of Page
Leave Feedback
You must be logged in to leave feedback.
Home    My Account    Products    Screenwriter Community    Screenwriter's Corner    Help
Forgot Your Password?    Privacy Policy    Copyright 2024, ScriptBuddy LLC.    Email help@scriptbuddy.com