INTERNAL DARKNESS
by Maryanne Paterson & Axel Gunn
Short Film
Email: [email protected]
What lurks within the walls of Harris's new home, is it the spirit of the child that suposidly died there years earlier or is it something much more sinister. Aprox 17 mins Suspence
Internal
Darkness
Written by
Maryanne Paterson
And
Axel Gunn
Second Draft
By
Maryanne Paterson
And
Axel Gunn
2006
Copywrite © 2003
Maryanne Paterson
Axel Gunn
13 Diamond Sand Drive
Upper Coomera, 4209
[email protected]
www.freewebs.com/banjoscripts
Registered with copywrite agencyINT. KITCHEN – DAY
SOFT MUSIC
The camera walks through a house, a main bedroom...colonial four post bed. Down the hall to a baby’s room, white cot, draped in a white net...pink walls, shelves hold dozens of soft teddies. A wooden rocking chair sits in the corner, a pink rug over the arm. The camera leaves the room and continues down the stairs to an open lounge/dinning. The front door directly ahead, windows line the walls. To the right a laundry, beside that a bathroom and beside that an archway leading to a kitchen.
A YOUNG LADY, long dark hair, pregnant, stands at the kitchen window, her hand rests on her protruding stomach as her lips form an elegant smile and look at the camera. She shoos the camera away with a wave then gets shy.MAN (V.O.)
No one knows what to expect when you become a parent. New feelings invade our minds, our souls and our hearts. Our expectations stand outside the boundaries of reality.MONTAGE
MUSIC
-The young woman screams through the labor pains, her HUSBAND, tall, handsome stands by her side. Her sweat drenched hair sprayed across her face.
-A smile fills the young couple’s faces; a new born baby girl rests in the young woman’s arms wrapped in a pink blanket.
MAN (V.O.)(CONT’D)
A mothers love is the greatest love of all, but... what if the expectations from a new mother fall short of the reality of her new life?-The young woman is crouched in the corner of her kitchen crying. Her hair un-brushed, she rocks too and fro, a teddy in her arms.
-The young woman and her husband stand in the pink bedroom arguing. Her emotions are high as she throws toys from the many shelves lining a walls. Her fists pound her husbands’ chest in rage. In a desperate attempt to calm the young woman he wraps his arms around her and the pair fall to the floor crying.
-The pink room...empty...nothing but pink walls and a pink bow on the soft carpet to show that a child ever existed in this room.
MAN (V.O.)(CONT’D)
How far would one go to get back the life lived before a child. How far would one go to support the decision of their lover, and eliminate the cause of such sadness.-The young woman walks from a sold sign at the front of the house. The camera follows her to the kitchen where her husband is standing.
MAN (V.O.)(CONT’D)
Motherly instinct doesn’t always come naturally and for some, NEVER at all.-The young woman and her husband embraced in the kitchen. She puts her fingers to her mouth and kisses them, then releases the kiss into the air. She mouths the words “please forgive us” then walks out the door.
-The young woman and her husband shake the hand of HARRIS, a young man in his early twenties. They hand him the keys to the house.
-Harris pulls the sold sign out of the ground and carries it into the open garage. The garage door closes.
MUSIC FADES OUT
DESOLVE TOO
INT. LOUNGE ROOM – DAYNO MUSIC
Harris stands in the darkened lounge room. With both hands he abruptly opens the drapes. Sunlight floods the room; instinctively he covers his eyes for a moment. We see his P.O.V. as he slowly spins around looking at every wall, crack and crevice. He kisses the keys he’s holding and throws his fist in the air with joy.
HARRIS
Woo hoo. You little beauty.Harris jogs fast on the spot and laughs out loud with joy. A loud thud from the kitchen catches his attention and he stops still. A truck horn bellows in the background. Harris’s eyes are fixed on the kitchen, he quickly looks toward the front window then back to the kitchen. Shrugging his shoulders he runs out the front door.
Harris walks back through the door with a box in his arms. Two men REMOVELISTS, tattoos, blue singlet’s, blue shorts follow behind carrying a large coffee table.HARRIS
Just put it there, right in the middle.The two men place the table in the middle of the lounge room. Harris puts the box on the table and opens it as the two men head back outside. He unwraps a number of photos, family, mum and dad, sister, fishing. He positions them on the hooks on the wall. They’re small and look out of place. The two men come back into the house with a couch.
REMOVALIST
Where you want this mate?HARRIS
Right there where you’re standing thanks.They put the couch down and Harris takes a running jump, leaps into the air and lands on the couch in a lying position. He crosses his legs and puts his arms behind his head and smiles.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
The moon dimly lights the room. Harris is asleep in bed. Suddenly he sits up straight and listens. He turns the bedside lamp on and listens intensely. There is a sound... a sound coming from down stairs. It sounds like a chain rattling. The sound subsides and Harris shakes his head, turns off the light and goes back to sleep.FADE OUT
INT. BATHROOM – DAY
Harris is standing in front of the toilet peeing. The sound of a chain rattling is heard. Harris stops peeing...the sound stops...he continues...the sound continues...he stops again and listens...the sound stops...silence again.
Harris finishes and flushes the toilet. He washes his hand but when he turns the tap off he hears a new sound, a small eerie whine.
Harris spins his head around, his eyes wide then runs out the bathroom and down the stairs.INT. LOUNGE ROOM – DAY
Harris stops still as he reaches the middle of the lounge room. He looks around.HARRIS
Who’s there?No reply. The window in the lounge is open. Suddenly a cat jumps up and knocks a pot plant down. Harris jumps and spins in the direction of the cat.
He sighs with relief.HARRIS
Stupid cat...scared the shit out of me.CUT TOO
INT. LOUNGE ROOM – NIGHT
Harris places platters of food on the coffee table. He stands back and looks at the room. Large pillows cover the floor and candles flicker in holders on the coffee table.
A scratching sound is heard. Harris instinctively looks at the window where the cat had been earlier. Nothing there. He follows the sound when suddenly the front door bell rings.
He stops and listens but hears nothing. He walks toward the front door and opens it. A look of confusion fills his face as his guests TONY, tall, mid twenties, thin and JEN, also mid twenties, short, pretty walk through the door.
HARRIS
Hey.TONY
You alright mate, ya look like you’ve seen a ghost.Harris blinks a few times, shakes his head and smiles.
HARRIS
Nah alls good. How ya goin?Tony holds up a bottle of bourbon.
TONY
Bought the plonk?Harris kisses Jen on the cheek.
HARRIS
Mate, new I invited you for reason.JEN
Wow this is nice.HARRIS
Where’s Barry and Kell?JEN
Barry’s checking out your lemon tree. So come on give us the grand tour.BARRY, stocky build, beard, average height and KELL, slightly over weight, short poke their heads through the door.
BARRY
Heard a little rumor the owner of this place is a real prick...HARRIS
Bazza…BARRY
Hazza…They all laugh.
LATER
Harris and his friends are sitting on the pillows. They’re nibbling on the trays of food and sipping on glasses of bourbon and coke. Candles offer the only light to the room.
JEN
So how does it feel to be a home owner?Barry gets up and walks toward the bathroom.
HARRIS
It’s still sinking in.A scratching sound emerges from the kitchen area.
KELL
Shhh…They all listen.
JEN
What?KELL
Thought I heard something.Barry emerges from the bathroom and sits back on the floor.
BARRY
Oh poor Kell, you scared of the boogie man ha ha ha.HARRIS
I wouldn’t say that, I’ve been hearing some pretty strange noises since I got here.JEN
What type of noises?HARRIS
(softly)
Chains rattling, scratching, wining.TONY
Hey remember that séance we had when we were kids?BARRY
Yeah ya bastards...KELL
Oh that was so funny, we got you a beauty Baz.JEN
Why what happened?HARRIS
Barry here organized a séance to try and scare us, but we scared the shit out of him instead... what was that book.BARRY
Carrie.HARRIS
That’s right, with that pig blood all over her face...KELL
Yeah and we spelled out the name BARRY then the name CARRIE and Harris put the book next to Barry...TONY
And he shit himself, was outta there so fast and home to mummy...The room goes a comfortable quiet as they reminisce with a smile.
BARRY
BOO...Everyone screams even Harris.
HARRIS
Don’t... I’m not joking there is seriously something weird about this house.TONY
What, you think it’s haunted?HARRIS
Well their kid did die here a few years ago. Apparently that’s why they sold.KELL
Ah the pink room. So ya recon she’s haunting the house?HARRIS
I don’t know but these noises are real creepy. You hear em, then they’re gone.JEN
(To Barry)
Where’d you just go?BARRY
Bathroom, why’d ya wanna watch next time?JEN
Yuk...you’re disgusting.
HARRIS
You’re not...are you trying to creep me out Barry?BARRY
Payback’s a bitch hey?HARRIS
It’s you...you had me thinking...BARRY
It’s not me ya bloody goose... Gees wish I had thought of doing it though. Wouldn’t be hard, few recorders, chains, projection images.Everyone goes and eerie quiet. The chains rattle and a small wining sound fills the room. Everyone looks at Barry.
BARRY (CONT’D)
Piss off, that’s not me.HARRIS
If I find out you’re doing this I swear I’ll get ya back.Harris picks up a cushion from the couch and throws it at his head. Suddenly they all start throwing pillows at each other until it’s a full on pillow fight in the lounge room.
LATER
Harris is saying good bye to his friends.
JEN
Ok darl, congrats on the house.HARRIS
Thanks.Harris shakes Tony’s hand.
KELL
Night ghosty, night Harris.BARRY
(Winks)
Mate, have fun with your ghost.Kell hits Barry and they all laugh and leave. Harris shuts the door.
INT. LOUNGE ROOM – DAY
Harris makes his way down the stairs. He has bed hair and scratches his crutch as he sniffs. He screws up his face as a smell fills the room. He sniffs again as he tries to find the source. He opens the fridge door and sniffs. He opens the food cupboard and sniffs but still can’t find where the smell is coming from.
CUT TO
Harris walks through the front door. He is carrying a shopping bad. He puts the bag on the coffee table and pulls out a can of air freshener. He sniffs as he points and sprays. He does this five or six times.
INT. LOUNGE ROOM – NIGHT
Harris is sitting on the couch watching an intense scene on T.V. As the music intensifies he hears a loud high-pitched whine. Harris jumps and flies from his seat into the middle of the room. His coffee has spilt down his top.
HARRIS
What the...He stands still, listening...nothing apart from the sound of the T.V. He walks toward the kitchen...stops and listens again but still nothing. He turns and looks toward the T.V. then back toward the kitchen as if trying to make sense of the noise he heard.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
(Yells)
Go home Barry.He sits back in the couch, sprays some more air freshener and turns the T.V. volume up.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Harris is tossing and turning in bed. The sound of a chain rattling and a soft wining echoes through the room. Harris puts the pillow over his ears and tries to block out the noises. In pure frustration he yells.
HARRIS
(screams)
For fuck sake shut up.The noise continues. He reaches for the phone and dials a number.
KELL
(Filtered)
Hello.HARRIS
Hi Kell, is Barry Home?KELL
(Filtered)
Yeah but he’s asleep.HARRIS
You sure?KELL
(Filtered)
Harris I guarantee you he’s laying here snoring his head off sound asleep.HARRIS
Ok, thanks.He hangs up.
INT. BEDROOM – DAY
Harris is asleep in bed with the pillow wrapped around his head. He slowly moves his head and pulls the pillow away. He stares at the ceiling... silence. He gives a sigh of relief and gets out of bed.INT. LOUNGE ROOM – DAY
Harris sleepily enters the lounge room. He sniffs then stomp his feet.HARRIS
Grrr this is bull shit.He puts his hands in the air and screams.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
(Yells)
What do you want from me. Huh WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME?? If you’re not keeping me up all fucking night you’re making me sick with that fucking smell.
You win Barry, ya hear me, ya got me back now get out of my fucking house, just stop ok.He calms down. He puts his hands on his forehead.
HARRIS (CONY’D)
I don’t believe this, you’re making me talk to myself, I’m talking to myself. This is bullshit.He storms up the stairs.
CUT TO
Harris picks up his wallet from the coffee table and walks out the front door slamming it behind him.
LATER
Harris walks through the front door. He’s carrying a crow bar and a toolbox and drops them on the ground with a thud.
He lifts the carpet and pulls it back revealing the floorboards underneath. Using the crow bar he starts to pull up the floor.CUT TO
There’s a medium hole in the floor boards. He sticks his head through and looks...nothing. He searches his toolbox and finds a flashlight and looks down the hole again. Still nothing.
CUT TO
The small hole is now large enough to climb through. We can hear him moving down under the house.
He climbs out of the hole covered in cobwebs and filthy dirty. He sniffs his wet fingers; the smell causes him to pull a strange face.HARRIS
What is that?He sniffs his fingers again.
He thinks for a second then gets a look of wonder on his face.
CUT TOBlueprints of the house are laid out on the floor. He runs his finger along the sketches. We see a wide view of him, he looks up toward the kitchen then looks back toward the blueprint. He places his finger on the closet shown in the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN – DAY
Harris is running his hands along the wall. He is knocking the wall. He stops, stands back then scratches his head.
CUT TO
Harris is armed with a large hammer and another toolbox. He’s wearing a bandana around his face covering his nose and mouth. He stops and looks at the wall again then with an almighty swing he sinks the hammer into the wall.
HARRIS
Bull shit...He scratches his head and looks at the wall now with a small hole. Harris grabs the hammer and hits the wall again.
CUT TO
Revealed behind the plaster is a door. No handle and no architrave, the door is flush with the rest of the wall. Using a screw driver he slowly opens the door.
A room is revealed, very dark and the smell is sickening. Harris stagers back then runs to the sink pulling the bandana off and vomits.
The camera turns from Harris toward the room. Darkness...
In the silence we will hear the slightest sound of a chain rattle.
Harris quickly turns his head and looks toward the door. He reaches for a tea towel and covers his nose and mouth. His eyes filled with fear.
Slowly he opens the door wider. He lowers to the floor. Scratches and blood are seen at the base of the inside of the door and then he sees it...HARRIS (CONT’D)
Oh my god.Harris backs up against the bench and grabs the cordless phone, fumbling, he almost drops it. Slowly he walks back to the closet. Harris kneels down and reaches into the room.
The camera focuses on the dark closet and we then see in dim light...a LITTLE GIRL...a dirty face...long messy hair. She’s about five years old. She whines and pushes herself deeper into the corner and out of the cameras view.HARRIS (CONT’D)
It’s ok, it’s ok.Harris rings 000. (America 911)
HARRIS (CONT’D)
Ambulance, no police um both, ambulance first.OPERATOR
(Filtered)
Ambulance, what’s your emergency.
HARRIS
I need an ambulance, there’s a child, um a little girl I think in my closet.OPERATOR
(Filtered)
In your closet, is she hurt.HARRIS
No I don’t think so, but I think she’s chained up.OPERATOR
(Filtered)
Sir this is an emergency service please don’t waste our time with hoax calls.The operator hangs up.
Harris rings 000 again.HARRIS
Please, this it’s not a hoax.
(Beat)
I don’t believe it, she hung up.Harris lies down on the floor.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
They don’t believe me...
(To the child)
Hey there my names Harris what’s yours?
(Beat)
Well I might call you princess. You must be cold.Harris gets up but as he stands she screeches. Quickly he lies back down on the ground.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
All right, it’s ok I’m not going anywhere.The little girl pushes back again. He reaches for the phone and rings 000 again.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
Police…
(To the child)
Lets see if we can get their attention this time.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
(Into the phone)
I want the police and an ambulance at my address right now or this kid is gonna die...
(Listens)
No you listen to me if you class this call as a hoax one more time you’re...
(Listens)
NO LISTEN if this kid dies because you think I’m a nutter, then you’re to blame. Now get a fucking cop car here NOW...
(Listens)
Demands...no... yes, yes one... they have to ring me on this number... they have to ring me on this number before they come into the house do you understand?
(Listens)
good.Harris hangs up.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
Well Princess I think I got their attention.Harris is lying on the ground. A slight image of the face of the child is seen. Sirens ring in the background getting louder then they suddenly stop. The phone rings.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
Hello.
(Listens)
Ok I’m not gonna tell you anything but the front...
(Listens)
No I don’t have a weapon...
(Listens)
Yeah the kid...no the kids not ok...stop and listen for a sec will ya...
(Listens)
Thank you, the front door’s open, but you have to come in real quiet ok. And real slow... I don’t want any sudden movements ya hear me...real slow. I’m in the kitchen, left of the front door.
(Listens)
Just you ok...ok.The sound of the front door opening is heard and a flashlight slices through the darkness.
HARRIS (CONT’D)
I’m down here but I’m warning you mate, real slow she’s scared as hell.DETECTIVE JACKSON, mid forties, average height and build slowly come into view. His attention is on Harris with his gun drawn and aimed. He tries to cover his nose and mouth with his arm while still keeping aim on Harris. With his flashlight he slowly shines it, first on Harris then in the closet.
A loud screech erupts and the chains rattle. Detective Jackson stumbles back hitting the kitchen bench and dropping the flashlight.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
Holly shit...HARRIS
Yeah I felt like that when I found her. She’s chained up but I can’t see where.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
(Into two way)
Dan, we’re gonna need an ambulance... fuck...um we got a kid...holy shit it’s like a scene out some freak horror show. Send in a uniform I’ll be out in a minute.DAN
(Filtered)
Roger that.DETECTIVE JACKSON
(To Harris)
Detective Jackson.
(Extends hand)
How long she been there?HARRIS
(Shakes the detectives hand)
Harris... Four fucking hours longer than she should have been.DETECTIVE JACKSON
Yeah alright mate but you gotta admit it’s a pretty far fetched story.HARRIS
Whatever... how are we gonna get her out of here.Just as he said that a uniformed officer with his gun drawn comes into view. He sees detective Jackson and lowers his gun.
OFFICER RIX
Sarge told me to come in and check things out.DETECTIVE JACKSON
(To officer)
It’s under control.
(To Harris)
So any suggestions on how to get her out of there?HARRIS
You’re the cop, I don’t know.DETECTIVE JACKSON
(to officer)
Wait here.Detective Jackson leaves the room.
OFFICER RIX
Move out of the way sir.HARRIS
She’s really scared hey.Officer Rix quickly moves toward the closet and reaches his arms down toward the little girl. She screams. Harris grabs him from behind and pushes him back toward the bench clutching his collar to hold him down.
HARRIS
You fucking idiot what are doing.Detective Jackson runs in.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
Hey what’s going on.HARRIS
Ya fucking dickhead cop here tried ripping her out of there.OFFICER RIX
He assaulted a police officer.Detective Jackson grabs the officer by his collar and forces him to his feet. With his nose almost touching the officers he grits his teeth.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
What have you got shit for brains? That kid there has a chain wrapped around her, you
DETECTIVE JACKSON (CONT’D)
could have ripped her fucking leg off. Now get your arse out of here, you’re off fucking duty as of now.The officer breaks free and leaves the room.
DETECTIVE JACKSON (CONT’D)
She ok?We can hear her in the background sobbing.
HARRIS
I think so, he didn’t get a grip of her.DETECTIVE JACKSON
Ok, now we’ve got to get her out of there and to do that she has to trust us right? So if you’re not doing anything I suggest we make ourselves comfortable.Harris sits himself down in front of the closet and Detective Jackson leans up against the cupboards.
HARRIS
Why don’t kitchens come with carpet.DETECTIVE JACKSON
How long you been here?HARRIS
Moved in four days ago.DETECTIVE JACKSON
Well this is a nice house warming present.They both laugh softly.
CUT TO
Harris is a sleep with his arm stretched out. His hand is half in the closet. Ever so slowly the child’s fingers creep toward Harris’s hand. Harris opens his eyes and looks at his hand. He kicks Detective Jackson on the leg. Detective Jackson opens his eyes and looks.
HARRIS
Do you see that?The tips of her finger are bleeding and swollen from scratching the door. The chain has cut so deeply into her wrist that parts of her skin have started to grow over the chain.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
(Whispers)
Yeah I see it, you think you can get any closer?
HARRIS
I’ll try.Harris slowly creeps forward.
CUT TO
Harris is right in the closet with the child on his lap. She is asleep.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
Ok now you’re sure that’s the only chain?HARRIS
Yeah I’m sure.DETECTIVE JACKSON
Ok you ready?Detective Jackson slowly moves bolt cutters along the floor and slowly cuts the chain. He picks up his two-way.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
Ok she’s free.
EXT – FRONT YARD – MIDDAY
Harris is on the stretcher. The child is laying on his chest with a blanket over her. She has a grip on the chain and we can see her wrist and the deformed skin around it.
DETECTIVE JACKSON
I’ll meet you at the hospital. Hold her tight and don’t let her go ok?
HARRIS
Yeah I will. Hey Jackson, thanks mate.Detective Jackson nods. We see the little girls face. A single tear rolls down her cheek as they are lifted into the ambulance. The door closes and they disappear down the road.
The end
Download Script
Copywrite © 2003