a nightmare on elm street treatment

7/25/2019 A Nightmare on Elm Street Treatment

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-treatment 1/196

A Nightmare on Elm Street

A Screenplay By:

Wes Craven

INT. (MONTAE!.

NI"TMA#E M$SIC T"EME %egins as &e 'AE $) on a SE#IES O'

S"OTS

all C*OSE an+ teasing.

,, A man-s 'EET in sha%%y &or/ shoes stal/ing

thro0gh a 10n/ %in in a +ar/ 2ire,lit ash,

+0ste+ place. A h0ge BOI*E# #OOM is &hat it

is altho0gh &e only glimpse it piecemeal.

Then &e SEE a MAN-S "AN +irty an+ nail,%itten

reach INTO '#AME an+ pic/ 0p a piece o2 META*.

,, ANOT"E# AN*E as the "AN gra%s a grimey

WO#3*O4E an+ slashes at it &ith a straight

ra5or 0ntil its 2ingertips are o22.

,, C*OSE ON SAME "ANS +0mping 2o0r 2ishing /nives

o0t o2 a 2ilthy %ag. Their %la+es are thin

c0rve+ gleaming sharp.

,, MO#E AN*ES E4EN C*OSE#. We can "EA# the MAN-s

&hee5ing B#EAT"IN %0t &e still haven-t seen

his 2ace. We never &ill. We 10st SEE more metal

%eing assem%le+ &ith cr0+e tools into some sort

o2 lin/age ,, a splaye+ spi+ery sort o2 apparat0s

against a %ac/gro0n+ light o2 'I#E an+ a +eep

r0shing o2 STEAM an+ "EA46 A#3 ENE#6.



,, An+ then &e see this linage attache+ to the glove.

,, Then the B*AES attache+ to all o2 it.

,, Then the MAN-S "AN slips into this glove,li/e

aparat0s 2illing it o0t an+ trans2orming

it into an a&esome +ea+ly cla&,han+ &ith

2o0r ra5or7talons gleaming at its %lac/ene+

2ingertips. S0++enly the "AN arches an+ ST#I3ES

'O#WA# S*AS"IN T"#O$" a A#3 CAN4AS tearing

it to shre+s.

E8T. *OS ANE*ES. NI"T. (9n+ $nit!

A )$*SATION O' *I"T AN S"AOW. M$SIC #O)S AWA6 to a h0she+

#$S"IN O' WIN an+ ISTANT SI#ENS. CAME#A #AC3S INTO 'OC$S

on a

"I" )ANO#AMA o2 the San 'ernan+o 4alley its night s/y lit

2rom

&ithin %y a strange #EENIS" *I"T. TIT*ES BEIN.

CAME#A TI*TS OWN an+ OOMS SWI'T*6 into the valley-s &e% o2

light.

C$T TO:

INT. CONC#ETE )ASSAEWA6.

TIT*ES CONTIN$E as TINA #A6 a strong girl o2 2i2teen in a

thin

night shi2t moves to&ar+s 0s +o&n a +ar/ concrete corri+or.

"er

steps ;0ic/en as TIT*ES appear in the portion o2 2rame she

leaves



2ree.

A s0%liminal CO**AE o2 SO$N threa+s in an+ o0t o2 the M$SIC.

istant insane *A$"TE#. Slamming iron OO#S. A %leating

animal

C#6. A *AMB &hite an+ %lan/,2ace+ s/itters across her path

an+

on into the +ar/. No reason &hy it-s there.

Then another SO$N m0ch nearer ,, the slithering SC#A)E o2

something li/e 2ingernails across slate. It sets o0r teet on

e+ge t&ists the M$SIC an+ sen+s TINA r0nning.

INT. BOI*E# #OOM.

S0++enly TINA-s a tiny 2ig0re r0nning among h0ge %oilers steam

pipes an+ cat&al/s ,, a sha+o&e+ 2orest o2 iron an+ stone.

She

stops listening intently as the SO$N o2 tiny hooves s0++enly

t0rns into the rattle o2 ISTANT #AIN.

Then she hears #I))IN 'AB#IC.

Someone is sho0l+ering %ehin+ a ragge+ screen o2 +irty canvas

approaching TINA.

C*OSE# ON T"E CAN4AS. The long c0rve+ 2inger%la+es s0++enly

p0nch thro0gh 2lashing in the 2irelight an+ %egin ripping

thro0gh the thic/ 2a%ric as easily as scalpels thro0gh 2lesh.

They ma/e a hi+eo0s e<ten+e+ #I))IN SO$N.

TINA r0shes a&ay han+s over her ears.



ANOT"E# AN*E ,, as the %lin+e+ girl st0m%les %ac/&ar+s. Then

the canvas 2laps 2ree. The %la+es are gone. The TIT*ES EN

an+

everything goes silent.

CAME#A CI#C*ES 0ntil TINA-s loo/ing right into o0r eyes. T"e

light 2rom a near%y %oiler po0rs thro0gh her thin night +ress

leaving her na/e+ an+ v0lnera%le. Then a +eep ragge+ 4OICE

&hispers at her as CAME#A C*OSES IN ON "E# 'ACE.

4OICE (O.S.!

One t&o 're++ie-s coming 2or

yo0...

TINA opens her mo0th to scream %0t only a +ry yello& +0st

po0rs

o0t. An+ at that precise moment a h0ge sha+o&y MAN &ith a

grimey

re+ an+ yello& s&eater an+ a &eir+ hat p0lle+ over his scarre+

2ace l0nges at her. An+ it-s his 2ingers that are tippe+ &ith

the long %la+es o2 steel glinting in the %oney light an+

giving

the h0l/ the loo/ o2 an other&orl+ly pre+ator.

TINA +o+ges a&ay her legs s0++enly elephantine an+ slo&. The

MAN sei5es the trailing hem o2 her nightgo&n an+ ha0ls her

%ac/.

The M$SIC shrie/s as TINA manages to tear 2ree ,, the MAN

l0rches

a2ter her &ith a hoarse S"O$T as &e ,,

SMAS" C$T TO:

INT. TINA-S BE#OOM. NI"T.



TINA conv0lses in %e+ &ith a SC#EAM lo/ing aro0n+ &il+ly.

Someone is 3NOC3IN on her +oor.

WOMAN-S 4OICE (O.S.!

6o0 o/ay Tina=

TINA-S MOT"E# stic/s her hea+ in &ith a &orrie+ loo/. TINA

sits

0p an+ %lo&s o0t a %reath groggy.

TINA

>0st a +ream Ma...

(more to hersel2!

amn +ream is all...

The &oman once attractive vent0res a step into the room. A

MAN

hovers BAC3#O$N. TINA-s mother &aves him a&ay &itho0tloo/ing

shoving a stran+ o2 %leache+ hair 2rom her eyes. She

appraises

her +a0ghter.

TINA-S MOT"E#

Some +ream 10+ging 2rom that.

She no+s at TINA-s nightshi2t.

TINA loo/s +o&n at her nightgo&n only no& a&are o2 the chill

penetrating it 2rom the room. There are 2o0r long slashes 0p

its

mi++le cleanly c0t as i2 %y scalpels.

MAN (O.S.!



(+istant annoye+!

6o0 coming %ac/ to the sac/ or

&hat=

TINA-S MOT"E#

"ol+ yo0r horses.

(lo&er to TIna as she

stan+s to leave!

6o0 gotta c0t yo0r nails or stop

that /in+ o2 +reaming Tina. One

or the other.

The &oman sh0ts the +oor %ehin+ her. TINA loo/s %ac/ to her

nightgo&n.

TINA

(lo&!

Oh shit.

S"e s0++enly snatches 0p the cross that hangs over her %e+

her

2ace &hite as her sheet.

'AE TO B*AC3

B$#N ON

T"E 'I#ST A6

C"I*#EN (O.S.!

(singing!

One t&o 're++ie-s coming 2or yo0...

Three 2o0r %etter loc/ yo0 +oor

'ive si< gra% yo0r cr0ci2i<...



E8T. "I" SC"OO*. A6.

'AE $) ON S"OT O' this large highschool an+ its cro&+s o2

ST$ENTS. 'O#E#O$N TINA clim%s o0t o2 a cherry,re+ ?@@

Ca+illac converti%le &ith t&o other st0+ents %est 2rien+

NANC6

T"OM)SON an+ Nancy-s %oy2rien+ an+ o&ner o2 the car *EN

*ANT.

'O#E#O$N seeral #AESC"OO*E#S are playing 10mp,rope an+the

ol+ +itty they sing contin0es 0n%ro/en 2rom TINA-s %e+room.

#O)E >$M)E#S

Seven eight gonna stay 0p late

Nine ten ,, never sleep again

MO4IN AN*E 'A4O#IN NANC6. She-s a pretty girl in a letter

s&eater &ith an easy athletic stri+e an+ the loo/ o2 a

nat0ral

lea+er. *EN hol+ing her han+ &ears one o2 the school-s

2oot%all 1erseys a goo+,nat0re+ %right /i+. Tina-s in mi+,

conversation.

TINA

(re2erring to /i+s- song!

That-s &hat it remin+e+ me o2 ,,

that ol+ 10mp rope song.

(sh0++ers!

Worst nightmare I ever ha+.

6o0 &o0l+n-t %elieve it.



Nancy no+s.

NANC6

Matter o2 2act I ha+ a %a+ +ream

last night mysel2...

TINA t0rns to NANC6 %0t %e2ore either can say more #O *ANE

a

lean #ichar+ ere sort in %lac/ leather an+ Ne& Wave st0+s

1oins

0p &ith them an+ inter0pts.

#O

(to Tina!

"a+ a har+on this morning &hen

I &o/e 0p Tina. "a+ yo0r name

&ritten all over it.

Tina crac/s her g0m &ith a loo/ o2 &ithering in+i22erence.

TINA

There-s 2o0r letters in my name

#o+. "o& co0l+ there %e room

on yo0r 1oint 2or 2o0r letters=

The g0y-s stoppe+ in his trac/s.

#O

"ey 0p yo0rs &ith a t&irling la&n

mo&er

"e c0ts o22 across the la&n.



TINA

#o+ says the s&eetest things.

NANC6

"e-s n0ts a%o0t yo0.

TINA

6eah n0ts.

TINA ma/es a 2ace an+ ra/es her 2ingernails across a tree as

she

passes.

TINA (CONT!

(ya&ns!

Any&ay I-m too tire+ to &orry

a%o0t the creep. Co0l+n-t get

%ac/ to sleep at all.

(%eat!

so &hat yo0 +ream=

NANC6

'orget it the point is every,

%o+y has nightmares once in a &hile.

No %iggy.

*EN

Ne<t time yo0 have one 10st

tell yo0rsel2 that-s 10st all

it is right &hile yo0-re having

it y-/no&= That-s the tric/.

once yo0 +o that yo0 &a/e right

0p. At least it &or/s 2or me.



TINA loo/s at *EN sharply. "e /isses NANC6 an+ +arts o22 2or

class.

TINA

"ey 6o0 have a nightmare too=

B0t *EN-s gone.

TINA (CONT!

May%e &e-re gonna have the Big

Earth;0a/e. They say things get

&eir+ 10st %e2ore that...

BE**S A#E #ININ an+ ST$ENTS cro&+ing TINA an+ NANC6 are

+ra&n into the cr0sh.

'AE TO B*AC3

E8T. A 4A**E6 ST#EET. NI"T.

AN*E ON A MOEST "OME no car 10st a co0ple o2 BI3ES in the

+rive. Every light in the ho0se an+ yar+ is t0rne+ on. We

"EA#

the roc/ gro0p MANESS playe+ at a -No a+0lts home- vol0me.

INT. TINA-S *I4IN #OOM. NI"T.

ON *EN +ialing. Nancy an+ TINA are &atching giggling.

TINA

I can-t %elieve his mother let him



come over here.

NANC6

#ight. Well she +i+n-t e<actly...

*EN shoves a cassette into TINA-s hetto Blaster.

*EN

(to TINA!

See I got this co0sin &ho lives

near the airport that it-s o/ay

2or me to stay &ith right= So I

2o0n+ this so0n+ e22ects tape at

*icorice )i55a an+...

The phone is ans&ere+. *EN 1er/s the tone arm o22 the recor+

&ith a SC#$))T

*EN (CONT!

"ello Mom=

(p0shes the -play- %0tton!

6eah o0t here at Barry-s.

A >ET )*ANE %egins to ma/e itsel2 hear+ on the tape. *EN

moves

the machine closer to the phone. It-s a %ig plane ,, so0n+s

li/e

a DD coming in 2or a lan+ing.

*EN (CONT!

"0h= 6eah noisy as 0s0al. la+

&e +on-t live here ,, h0h= 6eah

A0nt E0nice says hello.



The >et is SC#EAMIN IN no& 20ll 2laps an+ ho&ling li/e a

monstro0s %anshee. NANC6 an+ TINA +issolve into m022le+

giggles.

*EN (CONT!

(sho0ting over the +in!

#ight right ,, I-ll call yo0 in the

morning #ight "0h= 6eah s0re

I h0h=...

S0++enly the tape goes silent. *EN %lanches. Ne<t moment

another ENINE is hear+ %0t this one o2 a 'O# *OT$S

screaming

%y at ?FG mph.

*EN (CONT!

(reacting to his mother-s

reaction!

$h...some /i+-s +rag racing

o0tsi+e I thin/...

The so0n+ e22ect changes a%r0ptly to a S)EEIN SEAN ,, an+

the

ages,ol+ SC#EEC" o2 B#A3ES last,secon+ SC#EAM an+ horri%le

CO**ISION. NANC6 gamely tries to 2in+ the right %0tton tot0rn

it o22 %0t misses. There-s a lo0+ SC#EE3 o2 2ast,2or&ar+

mayhem

,, len improvises +esperately.

*EN (CONT!

*isten Mom I got to go ,, I

thin/ there-s %een an acci+ent o0t



2ront ,, I ,,

NANC6 10mps %ac/ 2rom the cassette player ,, WO#* WA# II

%0rsts

o0t at top vol0me ,, MAC"INE $NS "AN #ENAES I4IN

BEA#CATS

an+ S"O$TS o2 charging "0ns. *EN ma/es a last,+itch +ive an+

2lings the cassette o0t o2 the machine.

Blesse+ silence at last.

*EN (CONT!

#ight. I-ll call the police. No

10st some neigh%ors having a 2ight

I g0ess. I-m 2ine I-m 2ine

Call yo0 in the morning

"e hangs 0p an+ sags %ac/.

NANC6

Wor/e+ li/e a charm.

*EN

>es0s.

TINA shoves another cassette in an+ MIC"AE* >AC3SON-S-T"#I**E#-

%lasts 2rom the STE#EO. The /i+s rela< the CAME#A *IES

)AST

T"EM TO T"E WINOW.

The WIN is moving the %are T#EE B#ANC" o0tsi+e. CAME#A )ANS

BAC3 to the com2orta%ly threa+%are room 0neasy. We see NANC6

po/ing at a 2lame in the hearth as TINA comes 'O#E#O$N to

+ra&



the +rapes.

NANC6

Nice to have a 2ire.

TINA

#eally. T0rn -er 0p a little.

NANC6 t0rns a near%y valve han+le an+ the gas 2ire clim%s

%rightly over its arti2icial log. TINA 1oins her heartene+.

NANC6

May%e &e sho0l+ call #o+ have him

come over too. "e might get 1ealo0s.

TINA

#o+ an+ I are +one. "e-s too m0ch

o2 a maniac.

*EN

"e sho0l+ 1oin the Marines they

co0l+ ma/e something o0t o2 him.

li/e a han+ grena+e.

TINA la0ghs +espite heresel2. NANC6 %rightens.

NANC6

See= 6o0-ve 2orgotten the %a+

+ream. i+n-t I tell yo0=

TINA sha/es her hea+ &ishing she ha+ 2orgotten.

TINA



All +ay long I %een seeing that

g0y-s &eir+ 2ace an+ hearing

those 2ingernails...

NANC6 loo/s 0p &ith a 2linch.

NANC6

'ingernails=

(%lin/s la0ghing!

That-s ama5ing yo0 saying that.

It ma+e me remem%er the +ream I

ha+ last night.

TINA loo/s 0p.

TINA

What yo0 +ream=

NANC6

I +reame+ a%o0t this g0y in a

+irty re+ an+ yello& s&eater

I +ream in color y-/no& he

&al/e+ into the room I &as in

right right thro0gh the &all

li/e it &as smo/e or something an+ 10st stare+ at me. Sort o2

...o%scenely. Then he &al/e+

o0t thro0gh the &all on the

other si+e. *i/e he-+ 10st

come to chec/ me o0t...

The story has le2t the room +eathly ;0iet. Especially TINAseems



e22ecte+.

TINA

(;0ietly!

So &hat a%o0t 2ingernails=

NANC6 remem%ers imitating the 2right20l coinci+ence.

NANC6

"e scrape+ his 2ingernails

along things ,, act0ally they

&ere more li/e 2inger/nives or

something li/e he-+ ma+e them

himsel2= Any&ay they ma+e

this horri%le noise ,,

(immitates!

sssssccrrrtttt...

TINA pales.

TINA

Nancy. 6o0 +reame+ a%o0t the

same creep I +i+ Nancy...

The girls stare at each other.

*EN

That-s impossi%le.

They loo/ at him. "e loo/s a&ay as i2 s0++enly listening.

TINA

What=



*EN

Nothing.

TINA

There-s some%o+y o0t there.

isn-t there...

NANC6

I +i+n-t hear anything...

Then there-s an 0nmista/ea%le SO$N. A +istinct SC#A)IN

against

the ho0se 10st o0tsi+e the &in+o&. Something m0ltiple thin

an+

sharp. Something li/e metal 2ingernails. NANC6-s mo0th opens

a

2raction o2 an inch.

E8T. '#ONT O' "O$SE. NI"T.

C*OSE ON '#ONT OO# as a BO*T $N*OC3S a 3E6 T$#NS a C"AIN is

#EMO4E. At last the +oor s&ings open an+ *EN s&aggers o0t.

*EN

I-m gonna p0nch o0t yo0r 0gly

lights &hoever yo0 are.

No ans&er %0t a slight #$ST*E in the %0shes. *EN +oes a ?FG

an+

&al/s right %ac/ insi+e. The girls pro+ him right %ac/ o0t

gi++y &ith giggling 2ear.



*EN

It-s 10st a st0pi+ cat.

NANC6

Then %ring 0s %ac/ its tail

an+ &his/ers.

The girls p0sh him 2arther. *EN e+ges to&ar+s the sha+o&s.

Then the SC#ITC"IN again. *EN stops TINA e+ges %ac/ into

the

ho0se.

TINA

Any&ay I +on-t have a cat...

AN*E INTO T"E S"AOWS. T0rne+ 2rom the girls *EN so%ers

listening. IN "IS )O4 &e see the street. Silent ho0ses.

Motionless trees on empty la&ns.

*EN

3itty,/itty= Cho& cho& cho&=

Not a living or +ea+ so0l. *EN t0rns %ac/ to the girls

&ith a

shr0g. Instantly a large 'I$#E po0nces an+ thro&s him to

the

gro0n+ &ith a S"O$T.

The girls SC#EAM in panic an+ r0n 2or the ho0se.

#E4E#SE ,, #O leaps 0p an+ sho0ts li/e a sportscaster ,,

#O

An+ it-s n0m%er thirty,si< #o+



*ane %ringing *ant5 +o&n 10st

three yar+s 2rom the goal &ith a

%rilliant tac/le An+ the 2ans

go &il+

#O +ances into the light 2lashing a &il+ gypsy-s grin at

TINA.

The girl-s relieve+ an+ 2rightene+ at the same time.

TINA

What the hell yo0 +oing here=

#O

Came to ma/e 0p no %ig +eal.

6o0r ma home=

TINA

O2 co0rse. What-s that=

#O ta/es the spin+ly han+ ra/e he-s 2o0n+ an+ scraps the

ho0se-s

&all. It ma/es a terri%le SC#IIITC"IN SO$N. "e grins an+

tosses it asi+e.

#O

Intense h0h=

(si5es 0p the three!

So &hat-s happening an orgy or

something=

*EN

May%e a 20neral yo0 +ic/hea+.



#O &heels a /ni2e s0++enly in his han+ as i2 rea+y to ta/e

len-s throat o0t. NANC6 %rea/s %et&een ,,

NANC6

,, >0st a sleep,over +ate #o+.

>0st Tina an+ me. len &as 10st

leaving.

#O eyes *EN la0ghs an+ 2lips the /ni2e close+ an+ a&ay

p0tting

his arm aro0n+ TINA-s sho0l+er an+ la0ghing as i2 it-s all a

great

1o/e.

#O

6o0 see his 2ace=

(lo&er!

6o0r ma ain-t home is she=

(to Nancy H len!

Me an+ Tina got st022 to +isc0ss.

"e p0lls TINA insi+e &itho0t 20rther ceremony.

NANC6

#o+...

B0t #O-s alrea+y got himsel2 an+ TINA hal2&ay thro0gh the

living

room hea+ing into the +ar+er part o2 the ho0se.

#O

We got her mother-s %e+.

6o0 t&o got the rest.



AN*E BAC3 ON *EN AN NANC6.

NANC6

We sho0l+ get o0t o2 here...

TINA +arts to the 2ront +oor her %lo0se hal2 o0t.

TINA

"ey ,, yo0 g0ys-re hanging aro0n+ ,,

right=

(2a/e la0ghing7&hine!

on-t leave me alone &ith this

l0natic ,, )leeee5e NANC6

She +isappears. *EN loo/s at NANC6. Too innocent.

*EN

So &e-ll g0ar+ her together.

Thro0gh the night.

(moving closer!

In each others- arms li/e

&e al&ays sai+.

NANC6

len. Not no&. I mean &e-re here 2or Tina no&

not 2or o0rselves.

She /isses him lightly then p0shes him %ac/.

*EN

(2r0strate+!

Why-s she so %othere+ %y a



st0pi+ nightmare any&ay=

NANC6

Beca0se he &as scary that-s

&hy.

*EN

Who &as scary=

NANC6 t0rns an+ loo/s at him.

NANC6

on-t yo0 thin/ it-s &eir+ her

an+ me +reaming a%o0t the same

g0y=

(*EN loo/s a&ay

NANC6 stares closer!

6o0 +i+n-t have a %a+ +ream

last night +i+ yo0=

*EN gives her a 20nny loo/.

*EN

Me= I +on-t +ream.

"e ta/es her insi+e. Over the SO$NS o2 loc/s 2alling sh0t &e

'AE TO B*AC3

INT. TINA-S *I4IN #OOM. NI"T.

'AE $) ON an ol+ G-s C*OC3 one o2 those set into the %lac/



plaster %o+y o2 a stal/ing panther. It-s 10st past 9 AM.

)AN the col+ hearth an+ +ar/ene+ living room to #E4EA* *EN on

the

co0ch cacoone+ in sheets. "e-s listening misera%ly to the

SO$NS

O' *O4EMA3IN coming 2rom the ne<t room. TINA pea/s #O

ho&ls.

Then silence.

*EN

Morality s0c/s.

C$T TO:

INT. TINA-S MOT"E#-S BE#OOM. NI"T.

This is a slightly larger room that TINA-s. A+0lt. 'emale.

Spare in its appointments. T"e streetlight thro&s the narro&

%e+

into %ro/en sha+o& an+ light. TINA AN #O lie in each

other-s

arms in the mi++le o2 the %ig %e+. Satiate+.

TINA

I /ne& there &as something

a%o0t yo0 I li/e+...

#O ya&ns into the pillo&s happy.

#O

6o0 2eel %etter no& right=

TINA



>0ngle man 2i< >ane.

#O

No more 2ights=

TINA

No more 2ights.

#O

(sleepily!

oo+. No more nightmares 2or

either o2 0s then.

"e p0lls the covers over his hea+. "e-s almost o0t alrea+y.

TINA

(%eat!

When +i+ yo0 have a nightmare=

#O

(0n+er the %lan/ets!

0ys can have nightmares too

y-/no&. 6o0 ain-t got a corner

on the 20c/ing mar/et or someting.

"e rolls over practically snoring an+ p0lls another cover

over

his hea+. A +irty re+ an+ yello& cover.

TINA

(sleepily!

Where-+ yo0 get this snotty ol+

thing.



SNO#ES 2rom #O. INA ya&ns t0rns o22 the light an+ sn0ggles

against #O p0lling the cover gingerly over hersel2 too.


CAME#A MO4ES across the room o2 the original nightmare to 2in+

NANC6 alone in TINA-s %e+ staring at the slanting ceiling

a%ove

the %e+. Thin/ing. We can 10st hear her "EA#T %eating. She

sighs an+ t0rns on her si+e.

Imme+iately the &all a%ove her hea+ t0rns a 2aint re++ish h0e

&ith a %roa+ yello& smear across its center. All 0nseen %y

NANC6

the &all %egins to p0lse in e<act time &ith her heart-s %eat.

C*OSE ON NANC6-S 'ACE. She closes her eyes.

AN*E BAC3 $) ON T"E CEI*IN >$ST ABO4E "E# "EA. SOMET"IN

presses against the s0r2ace 2rom the insi+e. The plaster

%0l+ges

o0t as i2 s0++enly elastic ta/ing the shape o2 the thing

pressing

2rom insi+e ,, ta/ing the shape o2 a man-s 2ace. The 2ace

opens

its mo0th. The /nives ra/e thro0gh the s0r2ace.

AN*E ON NANC6 ,, as plaster +0st sno&s +o&n on her.

She 1er/s a&a/e sitting %olt 0pright. The 2ace retracts

s0++enly ,, the &all is normal.



AN*E OWN ON NANC6 as she loo/s 0p to the ceiling to0ching

her

hair an+ 2eeling the plaster +0st.

#E4E#SE IN "E# )O4 TO T"E CEI*IN. There are three parallel

c0ts

in the plaster there. A%o0t eight inches long. As i2 c0t %y

sharp /nives. Nothing else.

Bac/ on NANC6. She +ra&s the covers aro0n+ her an+ shivers.

Eyes

&i+e open.

E8T. TINA-S "O$SE. NI"T.

Not a car or person in sight. A stric/en %ree5e +ies in the

trees.

OOM IN on the &in+o& o2 the room &here TINA sleeps. By the

time

&e-re '$** IN C*OSE on it the air is agian still as +eath. A

moment later a )EBB*E %o0nces o22 the plane. The NI"TMA#E

T"EME

appears in the lo&er registers an+ hol+s its %reath.

Another )EBB*E stri/es &ith a sharper #A).


C*OSE ON TINA-S 'ACE as her eyes open.

#E4E#SE IN "E# )O4. Another )EBB*E clatters o22 the glass.



TINA raises slo&ly.

TINA

#o+...

SNO#ES 2rom #O. TINA sits 0p.

)AST "E# TO T"E WINOW. The WIN MO4ES AAIN the trees %r0sh

past the &in+o& &ith their sha+o&s. T"en another pe%%le.

#A)

TINA slips to the &in+o&.

E8T. TINA-S BAC3 6A#. NI"T.

She loo/s o0t on an ol+ yar+ &ith a patch o2 %ananna trees

rattling in the Santa Ana &in+s. It seems +eserte+ tho0gh

the

&elling +ar/ &on-t let her %e s0re. Then another pe%%le ,,)A)

,, hitting &ith a sharp #AC3 'OC$S.

A *OW AN*E TO WINOW as TINA 10mps %ac/ startle+. She

ha+n-t

seen that one coming. B0t she-s +ra&n %ac/ to the glass o0t

o2

c0rio0sity straining to see in the +ar/. It-s as i2 the

stones

are materiali5ing o0t o2 thin air.

INT. TINA-S MOT"E#-S #OOM. NI"T.



W"A) This time a heavier stone an+ a thin crac/ %ristles

across

the glass.

TINA

(lo&!

Who the 20c/ yo0 thin/ yo0 are

&hoever yo0 are=

E8T. TINA-S BAC3 6A#. NI"T.

WIE AN*E ON T"E #EA# O' T"E "O$SE. A *I"T COMES ON. TINA

appears in the +oor&ay.

TINA

(listening!

Some%o+y there=

She can see thro0gh the %ac/yar+ to a ya&ning gate an+ the

%ac/

alley. No one there. B0t a &or+ is spo/en as i2 %y &in+.

TINA

(gar%le+!

Tina.

TINA straightens 0na%le to s&allo&. There-s a ragge+

o%scene

I*E. eep in the throat. )hlegmy.

TINA

Who the hell is that=



TINA charges across the yar+ an+ thro0gh the gate the M$SIC

chasing a2ter.

E8T. A SE#4ICE A**E6. NI"T.

She %ra/es in the mi++le o2 the alley an+ &hirls aro0n+.

*istening. Shivering in the same thin slashe+ nightgo&n.

A sharp cran/ o2 META* an+ 2i2ty 2eet +o&n the alley the li+

o2

an ash can rolls 2rom the +ar/ li/e a h0ge tin coin an+

spirals

noisily +o&n.

*OW #E4E#SE AC#OSS *I TO TINA. espite hersel2 she comes

over

an+ to0ches it. S"e comes 0p &ith long &orms on her 2ingers.

Ne<t moment the e<act same sham%ling MAN 2rom her nightmare

staggers into vie& 2i2ty 2eet %egin+ her. TINA 2alls %ac/

into

the sha+o&s sha/ing the &orms o22 her 2ingers in rep0lsion.

T"e

MAN t0rns an+ starts +irectly 2or her something shining on

his

right han+ as he sprea+s his arms &i+e. "e starts scrapping

the

steel 'INE#NAI*S along a cin+er%loc/ &all. Orange spar/s

sp0rt

o0t ,, his arms elongate 0ntil they reach 2rom one si+e o2 the

alley to the other ,, an+ TINA is c0t o22 2rom her home

C*OSE ON "E# as the SC#A)IN o2 the %la+es gets lo0+er an+

closer.

She %egins to sha/e 0ncontrolla%ly.



TINA

Oh shit please o+...

3I**E#

(so2tly approaching!

This is o+...

"e hol+s 0p his steel,tippe+ han+ li/e a s0rgical,steel

spi+er.

TINA r0ns 2or her li2e.

WIE# AN*E IN T"E A**E6 ,, a terri2ying all,o0t 2ootrace

%et&een

the girl an+ her p0rs0er. T"e MAN is 2ast the +istance

%et&een

them closes &ith each heart%eat. TINA overt0rns ashcans ,,

cla&s

her &ay thro0gh a rotten %ac/ 2ence hammers against a &in+o&.

Ashen 'ACES appear recoil p0ll c0rtains close+ an+ +isappear

in

2right.

E8T. TINA-S ST#EET. NI"T.

TINA r0ns o0t onto 2ront la&ns SC#EAMIN 2or help. No help

comes. In 2act the only response is 2or all the porch lights

on

the %loc/ to %e t0rne+ o22. T"e MAN roars o0t 2rom %ehin+ a

tree

,, a tree too narro& to have hi++en him ,, nearly 0pon the

girl

TINA r0ns in panic ,, at last ma/ing her o&n home only to %e

trappe+ against its loc/e+ 2ront +oor.



She hammers against its thic/ &oo+.

TINA

Nancy Open the +oor ,, Nancy

The MAN slo&s. "e has TINA no& an+ /no&s it.

MAN

She-s still a&a/e. Nancy can-t

hear yo0.

TINA t0rns an+ loo/s 20ll at the approaching MAN. Sm0+ge+ %y

+eep

sha+o& he-s %eg an+ hi+eo0s. "e &ears the same +irty yello&

s&eater 2rom the 2irst nightmare ,, 2rom the &all,hanging an+

%lan/et oo ,, an+ has the same sagging hat an+ leering grin

over

his misshapen 2ace. An+ on his 2ingers are the steel talons.

C*OSE ON "IM as he ta/es the %la+e on the en+ o2 his right

in+e<

2inger an+ lopes o22 one o2 the 2ingers o2 his le2t han+.

Then

another. We SEE the )IECES O' 'INE#S 2all past TINA-s 2ace

in

S*OW MOTION.

AN*E ON T"E #O$N o2 the 'INE#S s;0irming on the gro0n+

one

2lopping onto TINA-s na/e+ 2oot.

TINA leaps %ac/ sic/ene+ an+ %egins stamping on them as i2

they

&ere h0ge %0gs.



The MAN snaps 0p his arm an+ the 'INE#S 2ly %ac/ into place

on

his han+. "e leers at TINA ,, then s0++enly l0nges at her

s&eeping &ith the c0tting han+

TINA-s no &ea/ sister ,, %loc/s his arm +e2lecting the spines

an+

gra%s the MAN-s 0gly 2ace &ith her other han+. B$t the 2ace

only

sli+es o22 to the %one. T"e MAN presses in an+ TINA contorts

in

horror as the /nives slash across her sho0l+er ,, c0tting her

+eeply.

TINA staggers %ac/&ar+ #OANIN her 2oot no& ine<plica%ly

ca0ght

in %e+clothes She 2alls over her %e+-s con2ormter t&ists

a&ay

2rom the man an+ li/e a chil+ p0lls the cover over her T"e

s/0ll,2ace+ MAN cr0shes +o&n an+ there-s a 2ierce grappling

,,

p0nct0ate+ %y his #$NTS an+ the girl-s EA'ENIN SC#EAMS ,,

an+

they %oth %ecome totally &rappe+ in the com2orter ,, 0ntil

they-re

%eneath it 2ighting 2or li2e an+ +eath.


#O l0rches 0p into C*OSE $) in the lightless %e+room hal2,

a&a/ene+ %y the tremen+o0s str0ggle some&here someho& insi+e

the

+ar/ %e+. #O gra%s groggily li2ting the %lan/et.

IN "IS )O4 &e glimpse the +ar/ 0n+ersi+e o2 the %lan/et ,, seeTWO



S"AOW6 'I$#ES 2lailing an+ cla&ing 0n+er teh %e+sprea+ ,,

TINA

an+ the MAN ,, or a shape that co0l+ %e a man ,, raging

against

each other.

#O +rops the %lan/et an+ leaps 2rom the %e+ scare+ 20ll

a&a/e

an+ terri2ie+. Then the horri%le TINA-s AS)S change to the

C#IES

o2 a terri%ly &o0n+e+ victim. #O instantly 1er/s %ac/ the

%e+sprea+.

IN "IS )O4 &e SEE TINA str0ggling an+ 2lailing along on the

sheets the MAN no&here in sight.

#O

T,tina=

S0++enly TINA ,, eyes t0rne+ in&ar+ to her tormentor ,, give

an

a&20l 1olt ,, her arms an+ legs are spra++le+ as i2 %y

over&helming 2orce an+ pinne+ to the %e+. Ne<t instant her

nightgo&n 2lies apart an+ 2o0r long gashes chase across her

torso.

'rom no visi%le instr0ments A h0ge irrigation o2 %loo+

2loo+s

the %e+.

Terri2ie+ #O +ives 2or the light ,, %0t at the same moment

something invisi%le gra%s TINA &iel+ing her %o+y in the air

an+

%ringing it aro0n+ in a s&i2t %lo& that /noc/s #O crashing

into

the light ,, smashing it to %its.

C*OSE# ON "IM as he str0ggles aro0n+. In the %l0e '*AS"ES O'



E*ECT#ICIT6 #O sees TINA sli+ing 0p the %e+room &all in a

+ar/

smear +ragge+ 2eet 2irst

AN*E ON #O ,, parali5e+ %y terror

AN*E ON TINA-s 6IN E6ES ,, moving &ith her 0p the &all an+

%0mping aro0n+ the corner onto the ceiling. She-s 10st

loo/ing at

&ho-s +ragging her eyes gla5ing.

#E4E#SE IN "E# )O4 ,, to the sha+o&y horreno0sly 0gly MAN

+ragging her &ith 2ierce glee across the ceiling literally

s&a%%ing the ceiling &ith her %loo+y %o+y. SEEN in 'O#CE

)E#S)ECTI4E the S"OT carries her across a great +istance

&itho0t

seeming to get any&here ,, as i2 the ceiling is an en+less

plane.

AN*E OWN ON #O ,, on his han+s an+ /nees ,, the lamp ne<t

to

him %l0rting %l0e S)A#3S an+ ST#OBIN the nightmare room.

#O-s

screaming 0p at TINA-s invisi%le tormentor.

#O

What the hell-s going on here

Tina

#E4E#SE IN "IS )O4 ,, as the %o+y 2alls li/e a sac/ o2 roc/s

onto

the +evestate+ %e+ in S*OW MOTION stri/ing &ith a h0ge

splash o2

%loo+. A sic/ a&20l I*E 2loats aro0n+ the room then

EC"OES



o22 into in2inity. #O staggers 0p staring aro0n+ as i2

hoping

to see this phantom.

#O

6o0 mother20c/er I-ll /ill yo0

2or that


NANC6 is sitting straight 0p in %e+ terri2ie+. The C#IES o2

#O

are ringing thro0gh the &hole ho0se. She 2orces hersel2 to

move

,, %olting 2rom the %e+ +espite her terror an+ sense o2 +rea+.

INT. "A**WA6. NI"T.

NANC6 2lies into the +ar/ hall ,, crashing +irectly into

SOMEONE

&ho l0rches o0t o2 the +ar/ %e2ore her. She SC#EAMS an+ 10mps

%ac/ ,,

*EN

What the hell-s going on=

NANC6

Oh ,, 1ee5 ,, len #o+-s

gone ape

#O (OS!

(so%%ing!



I-ll /ill yo0

NANC6 gra%s the +oor it-s loc/e+ she po0n+s on it. BAM

BAM

BAM

Things 2all into s0++en a&20l silence on the other si+e.

*EN-s

voice crac/s &ith 2ear.

*EN

#o+=

(silence!

#o+ yo0 %etter not h0rt Tina...

#O er0pts into terri%le "OA#SE *A$"TE# AN SOBBIN. Then

they

hear B#EA3IN *ASS.

*EN %arrelsinto the +oor li/e the 2oot%all player he is. T"e

2rame splinters an+ they-re in.


>0st insi+e the +oor NANC6 slips an+ goes +o&n har+. *EN

2in+s

her in the +ar/ more %y to0ch than sight.

*EN

6o0 o/ay=

NANC6

6eah. Something slippering all



over here...

(2eeling!

Tina=

No ans&er. T"e room is ;0iet as a tom%. E<cept 2or a stea+y

#I))IN 2rom all over. Then *EN 2in+s a *I"T SWITC".

On the C*IC3 the +evastation is reveale+. There-s B*OO

every&here: 0p the &alls over the cla&e+ ceiling soa/ing

the

/illing 2loor o2 the %e+ an+ pooling in the +ar/ re+ p0++le

&here

NANC6 has slippe+ an+ 2allen.

*EN

Oh shit...

NANC6 &o%%les 0p an+ sees TINA in the center o2 the ravage+

%e+.

$nmista/ea%ly an+ 0tterly +ea+. NANC6 presses against the

&all

then contorts an+ cho/es.

*EN (CONT!

(n0m%!

I...I-m gonna call the cops ,,

"e %0rsts 2rom the room.

TI"T ON NANC6. She t0rns a&ay 2rom the %o+y in rp0lsion

stic/ing her hea+ thro0gh the shattere+ &in+o& #O *ANE 0se+

2or

his escape s0c/ing in the col+ night air an+ moaning.

'AE TO B*AC3



E8T7INT. )O*ICE STATION. NI"T.

'AE $) ON #E *I"TS an+ SI#EN as an 0nmar/e+ )O*ICE CA#

spee+s

to the c0r%.

*T ON T"OM)SON a +ecent, loo/ing man in his mi+,G-s e<its

an+

p0nches a cigarette 2rom his pac/. "is sha/en ai+e a

0ni2orme+

patrolman name+ )A#3E# greets him. (CAME#A 'O**OWS them 2rom

the

car straight into the station an+ event0ally to T"OM)SON-s

O''ICE.!

)A#3E#

*ie0tenant T"ompson. Sorry to

&a/e yo0 %0t ,,

*T T"OM)SON

I-+-ve canne+ yo0r ass i2 yo0

ha+n-t. What yo0 got=

)A#3E# st0m%les to open the +oor 2or T"OM)SON as the man %0lls

into the station at a 20rio0s pace.

)A#3E#

"er name &as Tina ray. It

&as her home. 'ather a%an+one+

ten years ago mother-s in

4egas &ith a %oy2rien+. We-re

trying to reach her no&.



*T T"OM)SON grimaces as i2 he /no&s the story.

*T T"OM)SON

What-s the Coroner got to say=

)A#3E#

Something li/e a ra5or &as

the &eapon %0t nothin &as

2o0n+ on the scene.

T"OM)SON is alrea+y to the +es/ o22icer SE#EANT A#CIA. The

%ig

MAN shoves him a shea2 o2 papers ,,

SE#EANT A#CIA

(&ary!

*ea0tenant. 6o0 /no& &ho ,,

*T T"OM)SON

Where is she=

SE#EANT A#CIA

I p0t her in yo0r o22ice...

)A#3E# sc0rries a2ter.

)A#3E#

*oo/s li/e her %oy2rien+ +i+

it. #o+ *ane. M0sician type

arrests 2or %ra&ling +ope ,,

*T T"OM)SON



Terri2ic. What the hell &as

she +oing there=

)A#3E#

She live+ there.

*T T"OM)SON

I +on-t mean her ,,

INT. *T T"OM)SON-S O''ICE. NI"T.

T"OM)SON enters his o22ice an+ con2ronts NANC6 an+ her mother

MA#E T"OM)SON.

*T T"OM)SON (CONT!

I mean yo0.

(acc0singly to Marge!

What the hell &as she +oing there=

MA#E T"OM)SON is in her mi++le thirties a goo+,loo/ing &oman

+espite the ho0r an+ circ0mstances.

MA#E

"ello to yo0 too onal+.

T"OM)SON stops the steam s0++enly o0t o2 him. T"e girl is a

&rec/ an+ he &inces to see it.

*T T"OM)SON

Marge.



T"OM)SON glances at )A#3E# an+ the other $NI'O#ME CO)S &ho

are in

the room. As a man they hea+ 2or the +oor. There-s no

;0estion

&ho the %oss is here. T"OM)SON t0rns to NANC6. She 20m%les a

smile.

*T T"OM)SON (CONT!

"o& yo0 +oing pal=

NANC6

O/ay. "i +a+.

NANC6-s +ress is +ar/ &ith +rie+ %loo+ her s/in clammy an+

the

color o2 paste. MA#E shoots her e<,h0s%an+ a &orrie+ glance.

T"OM)SON p0lls a chair close to NANC6.

*T T"OM)SON

I +on-t &ant to get into this no&

o+ /no&s yo0 nee+ time.

(hotter!

B0t I-+ s0re &o0l+ li/e to /no&

&hat the hell yo0 &ere +oing

shac/e+ 0p &ith three other /i+s

in the mi++le o2 the night ,,

especially a +elin;0ent l0natic

li/e *ane.

NANC6 &eaves.

NANC6

#o+-s not a l0natic.



*T T"OM)SON

6o0 got a sane e<planation 2or

&hat he +i+=

The girl is shre++in a 3leene< staring o22.

MA#E

Apparantly he &as cra5y 1ealo0s.

Nancy sai+ they-+ ha+ a 2ight

#o+ an+ Tina.

NANC6

(;0ietly!

It &asn-t that serio0s...

MA#E

May%e yo0 +on-t thin/ m0r+er-s

serio0s ,,

NANC6 sits %olt 0pright in her chair her eyes 2lashing.

NANC6

She &as my %est 2rien+ on-t

yo0 +are say I +on-t ta/e her

+eath serio0sly(lo&er near tears!

I 10st meant their 2ights

&eren-t that serio0s.

The girl hol+s the &oman-s eyes a moment then loo/s a&ay.

NANC6 (CONT!

(to hersel2!



She +reame+ this &o0l+ happen...

T"OM)SON

What=

NANC6

She ha+ a nightmare a%o0t some%o+y

trying to /ill her last night.

That-s &hy &e &ere there she &as

a2rai+ to sleep alone.

A tear splashes o22 the arm o2 her chair.

MA#E

She-s %een thro0gh eno0gh 2or one

night. 6o0 have her statement.

The mother an+ +a0ghter rise T"OM)SON raps on the +oor an+

)A#3E#

opens it.

*T T"OM)SON

(to MA#E!

I s0ggest yo0 /eep a little %etter

trac/ o2 her ,, she-s still a /i+

y-/no&.

MA#E &heels on him.

MA#E

6o0 thin/ I /ne& there &ere %oys

there= 6o0 try raising a

teenager alone.



T"en she an+ hte girl are gone. T"OM)SON glares at )A#3E#.

*T T"OM)SON

(lo& to )A#3E#!

See they get home o/ay.

)A#3E# shoves his han+s in his poc/ets. ON "IS 'ACE &e

'AE TO B*AC3

INT. NANC6-S 3ITC"EN. MO#NIN.

B$#N ON

T"E SECON A6

'AE $) ON MA#E T"OM)SON opening a ne& %ottle o2 gin po0ring

hersel2 a care20l shot +rin/ing it then chasing it &ith

co22ee.

Near%y a T4 +rones the morning ne&s. We can-t yet see the

SC#EEN.

T4 NEWSCASTE# (OS7'I*TE#!

In the hea+lines this morning ,,

a local teenage girls &as %r0tally

m0r+ere+ +0ring an all,night party.

MA#E T$#NS startle+ seeing NANC6 coming +o&nstairs.

T"e girl loo/s a little %etter than she +i+ in the )olice

Station

%0t her eyes are still re+,rimme+ an+ a vacant stress mas/s

her



2ace. She loo/s to the T4. Stops.

T4 NEWSCASTE# (CONT!

)olice say the victim 2i2teen,year

,ol+ Christina rey ha+ ;0arrelle+

earlier &ith her %oy2rien+ #o+

*ane a p0n/ roc/er &ith a history

o2 +elin;0ency. *ane is no& the

s0%1ect o2 a city,&i+e manh0nt.

Accor+ing to ,,

T"e T4 )ICT$#E has %eg0n 2eat0ring a "AN"E* NEWS#EE* S"OT o2

a

+ar/ r0%%er BO6 BA %eing carrie+ to a CO#ONE#-S 4AN. >0st

%e2ore the thing is li2te+ insi+e TINA-s %loo+ie+ &hite A#M

slips 2rom its 5ippere+ si+e an+ lolls into the +ar/ night

air. A

man r0+ely shaoves it %ac/ insi+e an+ p0lls the 5ipper 0p the

rest

o2 the &ay.

WIE# ,, as NANC6 pales visi%le. MA#E +arts to the T4 an+

slaps

it o22 then t0rning to NANC6. She loo/s at the girl a

moment

then goes to her an+ h0gs her.

MA#E

(/in+!

Where yo0 thin/ yo0-re going=

NANC6

School.

MA#E



I co0l+ hear yo0 tossing an+

t0rning all night /i++o. 6o0-ve

no %0siness going to school.

NANC6 p0lls a&ay +etermine+.

NANC6

I gotta go to school Mom.

)lease. Othere&ise I-ll 10st

sit 0p there an+ go cra5y

or something.

MA#E st0+ies her 2ace a moment.

MA#E

i+ yo0 sleep=

NANC6

I-ll sleep in st0+y hall promise.

I-+ rather /eep %0sy yo0 /no&=

She a%sently +rains the &oman-s co22ee c0p ,, then pec/s her

chee/.

MA#E #ight home a2ter.

NANC6 (CONT!

#ight home a2ter. See yo0.

MA#E &atches the 2irl +isappear o0tsi+e then lights a

cigarette

2rom the one alrea+y %0rning in her 2ingers.



E8T. ST#EET. A6.

M$SIC slips %ac/ in s0%tle %0t tense as &e T#AC3 &ith NANC6

as

she &al/s alone +o&n a si+e&al/ e+ge+ &ith thic/ 2lo&ering

Olean+er. She coc/s her hea+ p055le+ as i2 sensing

something.

M$SIC mo0nts. NANC6 loo/s across the street.

#E4E#SE IN "E# )O4. A MAN is over there in +ar/ clothesrea+ing

a ne&spaper %0t really &atching her.

NANC6 shr0gs an+ contin0es on then stops an+ loo/s %ac/

again.

IN "E# )O4 &e SEE the MAN is gone.

Ne<t moment ,, &ith a M$SIC STIN ,, a B*OOIE "AN 10mps o0t

2rom the opposite +irection clamps over NANC6-s mo0th an+

+rags

her into the %0shes.

E8T. B$S"ES. A6.

NANC6 str0ggles t&isting against the po&er20l assailant.

A WIE# AN*E #E4EA*S #O *ANE ,, %are2oot cla+ only in 1eans

an+

leather 1ac/et still ca/e+ &ith +ar/ %loo+. The rest o2 his

s/in

is pale as a ghost-s.



#O

I-m not gonna h0rt yo0.

"e releases her &arily. NANC6 ma/es no move to r0n or scream

even tho0gh several ST$ENTS pass on the near%y si+e&al/.

This

reass0res #O 10st a little.

#O

6o0r ol+ man thin/s I +i+ it

+on-t he=

NANC6

"e +oesn-t /no& yo0.

(eyeing the %loo+!

Co0l+n-t yo0 change=

#O

The cops &ere all over my ho0se.

(shivers!

They-ll /ill me 2or s0re.

NANC6

No%a+y-s gonna /ill yo0.

"e r0ns his han+s +o&n his 2ace trying to %elieve that. The

t&o

st0+y each other.

#O

I never to0che+ her.



NANC6

6o0 &ere screaming li/e cra5y.

NANC6 says this &itho0t acc0sation 10st cool o%servation.

#O

Someone else &as there.

NANC6

The +oor &as loc/e+ 2rom yo0r

si+e.

#O gra%s her har+. "is m0sc0lar %o+y tenses.

#O

on-t loo/ at me li/e I-m some

/in+ o2 20c/ing 2r0itca/e or

something I-m &arning yo0.

4OICE (O.S.!

Morining Mr *ane.

The %oy 1er/s ro0n+. NANC6-s 2ather his .F levele+ right at

#O-s %elly eases o0t o2 the %0shes.

*T T"OM)SON

No& 10st step a&ay 2rom her son.

*i/e yo0r ass +epen+e+ on it.

I-m &arning yo0.

#O %ac/s a&ay loo/ing once at NANC6 &ith a loo/ o2 terri%le

sa+ness. Then he +ives o0t o2 the %0shes an+ r0ns li/e hell.



T"OM)SON snaps his revolver to 2ire ,, %0t instinctively NANC6

10mps %et&een ,,

NANC6

No

T"OM)SON 1er/s his g0n into the air 20rio0s.

*T T"OM)SON

>es0s ,, are yo0 cra5y=

"e pl0nges past the girl.

E8T. ST#EET. A6.

#O races li/e a 2rightene+ animal across the la&ns ,, %0t is

soon

c0t o22 %y the )*ANEC*OT"ESMAN NANC6 sa& &atching her %e2ore

,,

an+ then TWO $NI'O#ME )O*ICEMEN &ho close 2rom another

angle.

The chase is short an+ piti20lly o22,%alance an+ #O is soon

&restle+ to the gro0n+. Ne<t moment one o2 the cops is

hol+ing

#O-s /ni2e into the air 2or T"OM)SON to see. T"OM)SON loo/s

at

NANC6 as i2 to say -I tol+ yo0.- Bac/gro0n+ #O-s S"O$TS

can %e

hear+ as he-s shove+ into a SJ$A CA#.

#O (O.S.!

I +i+n-t +o it ,,

(2a+ing!

I +i+n-t /ill her Nancy



The car-s +oor slams an+ #O is gone. NANC6 t0rns to her

2ather

livi+.

NANC6

6o0 0se+ me +a++y

*T T"OM)SON

(e<asperate+!

What the hell yo0 +oing going to

school to+ay any&ay ,, yo0r

mother tol+ me yo0 +i+n-t even

sleep last night

NANC6 spins angrily an+ &al/s a&ay.

*T T"OM)SON

Nancy "ey

B0t she 10st /eeps going.

'AE TO B*AC3

INT. C*ASS#OOM. A6.

'AE $) ON an EN*IS" TEAC"E# an+ C*ASS NANC6 among the /i+s

trying to concentrate.

TEAC"E#

Accor+ing to Sha/espeare there

&as something operating in Nat0re



perhaps insi+e h0man nat0re itsel2

that &as rotten ,, a can/er as

he p0t it.

The TEAC"E#-s eyes glance across the room. AN*E ON NANC6

ya&ning %0t listening.

TEAC"E# (CONT!

O2 co0rse "amlet-s response to

this an+ to his mother-s lies

&as to contin0ally pro%e an+

+i+ ,, 10st li/e the grave+iggers ,,

al&ays trying to get %eneath the

s0r2ace. T"e same &as tr0e in a

+i22erent &ay in >0li0s Caesar.

>on go ahea+...

She no+s to a S$#'E# &ho-s %een &aiting 0ncom2orta%ly in 2ront

o2

the class. "e s;0ints at his %oo/ an+ %egins the recitation

a

str0ggle %et&een %a/e+ an+ salte+ %rain a+n the poetry o2 the

Bar+.

S$#'E#

(rea+ing alo0+!

$h in the most high an+ palmy

state o2 #ome...

WISE$6 ST$ENT (O.S.!

Cali2ornia-s the most high an+

palmy state man.



The S$#'E# halts &ith a grin 3IS snic/er.

EN*IS" TEAC"E#

Can it.

She glares them %ac/ into silence. The S$#'E# starts over as

&e

C$T TO NANC6.

She-s no++ing o22 no& %arely a%le to /eep her eyes open in

the

&arm close %ore+om o2 the classroom.

S$#'E# (O.S.!

In the most high an+ palmy state

o2 #ome a little ere the mightiest

>0li0s 2ell...

(NANC6-s hea+ pitches

2or&ar+ she 1er/s it

%ac/ 0p %arely a&a/e!

The graves stoo+ tenatless an+

the sheete+ +ea+ +i+ s;0ea/ an+

gi%%er in the #oman street...

NANC6-s hea+ has s0n/ again eyeli+s +ra&n as i2 %y enormo0s

&eight. By the time her chee/-s against the +es/ theS$#'E#-s

4OICE is EC"OE an+ ISTANT. B0t another voice TINA-s is

very

near very m0ch present. A sa+ thin plaint.

TINA (O.S.!

Nancy.



NANC6 gives a start. "er eyes loc/ onto something.

#E4E#SE. TI*TE SIEWA6S IN "E# "EA-s )O4 &e loo/ straight

o0t

thro0gh the open +oor&ay o2 the classroom into the hall.

There

stan+ing in a %lac/ pool o2 2l0i+ is a 20ll,si5e+ r0%%er %o+y

%ag. ar/ re+ an+ yello&. Weaving slightly the merest

s0ggesting o2 movement &ithin it.

BAC3 ON NANC6 sitting 0pright &iping the sleep 2rom her

eyes

sha/ing her hea+ li/e a p0nchy pro5e2ighter. She loo/s %ac/

o0t

the +oor.

#E4E#SE IN -NO#MA*- )O4 ,, the hall&ay is empty. B0t there-s

a

+ar/ smear on its 2loor tiles.

NANC6 loo/s nervo0sly to&ar+s the rest o2 the class. No one

else

has notice+ a thing o0tsi+e the +oor. All are +0m%ly

spell%o0n+

%y the S$#'E# &ho no& recites li/e a +eep,voice+ ro%ot his

2ace

&reathe+ %y &hite hair.

S$#'E#

O o+ I co0l+ %e %o0n+e+ in a

n0tshell an+ co0nt mysel2 a /ing

o2 in2inite space &ere it not

that I have %a+ +reams...

AN*E BAC3 ON NANC6. She slips 2rom her seat eye &arily onthe



teacher an+ class. B0t no one t0rns as she +isappears thro0gh

the

+oor&ay.

INT. SC"OO* "A**WA6. A6.

NANC6 t0rns an+ loo/s %oth +irections. No sign o2 any%o+y.

TINA (O.S.!

(+istant!

Nancy.

NANC6 &hells an+ sees the %ag prone on the tiles at the 2ar

en+

o2 the hall at the en+ o2 long snail-s trail o2 slime. A

pale

invisi%le gravity the %ag sli+es o0t o2 sight into an

intersecting corri+or.

NANC6

Tina

NANC6 starts r0nning 2or it.

AN*E AT T"E CO#NE# as NANC6 races %lin+ly aro0n+ the t0rn an+

smashes straight into a BO6 l0nging at her 2rom the opposite

+irection Both go +o&n.

AN*E AT T"E '*OO#. A +a5e+ 2reshman "A**$A# cran/s hersel2

0p

on one el%o&. She &ears a plastic pla;0e on her re+ an+

yello&

s&eater that rea+s -"all 0ar+-. "er nose is %lee+ing 2romthe



impact.

"A**$A#

6,yo0-re not s0ppose+ to r0n.

W,&here-s yo0r pass ,, yo0 got a

pass=

NANC6 leaps 0p ,,

NANC6

Scre& yo0r st0pi+ pass

She t0rns ,, sees the %o+y %ag hal2&ay +o&n this +ar/er

narro&er

hall 0pright again. B0t 10st as she sees it it tips an+

pitches

hea+long thro0gh a +oor&ay ,, li/e some go+a&20l rotten tree

2inally tim%ering +o&n. She can hear the slic/ening C#$NC"IN

o2

it 2alling +o&n a long 2light o2 stairs.

NANC6 r0ns 2or it again. The "A**$A# staggers 0p

'O#E#O$N

%lee+ing pro20sely 2rom her eyes an+ ears.

"A**$A#

"ey no r0nning in the halls

T"e "A**$A# raises her han+ an+ &e see it-s tippe+ &ith long

metal spi/es.

#E4E#SE AN*E AT T"E OO# as NANC6 r0ns 0p. NANC6 t0rns to

chec/

o0t the "A**$A#. She-s vanishe+. NANC6 t0rns an+ loo/s+o&n



thro0gh the open +oor. T"e M$SIC s&eeps thro0gh a strange

%roo+ing movement o2 strings mo0nting to&ar+s the NI"TMA#E

T"EME.

INT. A STAI#WE**.

NANC6 e+ges into the stair&ell an+ loo/s +o&n. *oo/s li/e

there-s

a 2ire some&here +o&n there 2rom the &ay the orange light

+ances. B0t there-s only a lo& W"ITE NOISE.

NANC6

Tina=

No ans&er. NANC6 starts +o&n the stairs.

INT. BOI*E# #OOM. A6.

NANC6 comes o22 the stairs into a +an/ %oiler room. The smear

trail is there. It r0ns %ehin+ a crac/ing re+,hot %oiler the

si5e o2 a +iesel locomotive. Everything a%o0t the place 2eels

+rea+20lly &rong an+ the M$SIC is +eep into the NI"TMA#E

T"EME

&hen it pa0ses.

TI"T ON NANC6. Slo& terror moves into her 2ace. There-s a

lo&

sinister I*E.

#E4E#SE IN "E# )O4 ,, &e see a tangle o2 pipes sha+o&s an+

the

tainte+ 2ire o2 the h0ge %oiler. Then 2rom %ehin+ this

+eeply



sha+o&e+ %0t still i+enti2ia%le steps TINA-s 3I**E#. The

same

2ilthy re+ an+ yello& s&eater an+ slo0ch hat the same melte+

2ace

t&isting into a smile the same A#B*E *A$" as he sli+es the

long %la+es 2rom %eneath his shirt an+ 2ans them on the en+s

o2

his %ony 2ingers.

NANC6

Who are yo0=

MAN

onna get yo0.

The leering MAN %rings the %loo+ie+ scalpel,2ingernails across

his

o&n chest splitting a nipple. 6ello& 2l0i+ po0rs o0t.

MAOTS

an+ WO#MS.

NANC6 2orgets the ;0estion ,, 1er/s aro0n+ an+ 2lees in %lin+

panic into the 2irst opening she sees ,, a +ar/ pipe t0nnel.

INT. )I)E T$NNE*.

AN*E IN T"E NA##OW )ASSAEWA6. In the BAC3#O$N the /iller

sham%les to&ar+s her 'O#E#O$N NANC6 %rea/s into a r0n.

The /iller sprints ,, NANC6 tears ahea+ into +ar/ness.

She 2lees +eeper an+ +eeper into the la%yrinth o2 steaming

SI*IN pipes s;0ee5ing thro0gh smaller an+ smalleropenings.



The /iller is 10st yar+s %ehin+ her an+ soon she-s trappe+

10st

as TINA &as %e2ore her.

She presses her %ac/ to the &et %ric/s. There-s no hope o2

2ighting him o22 2orm NANC6 is not as strong as TINA. B0t

she is

smart as hell an+ thin/ing even in this nightmare. So %y the

time the creep has raise+ his /nives to stri/e NANC6 has

reali5e+

something. She &heels an+ shoves her arm against one o2 the

scal+ing steam pipes. In the same split secon+ &e "EA# her

2lesh

scal+ &e

C$T TO

INT. EN*IS" C*ASS. A6.

NANC6 l0rches 0p SC#AMIN arm raise+ to &ar+ o22 the

invisi%le

%lo& %oo/s clattering to the 2loor ,, other I#*S near%y

SC#EAM

in s0rprise as she st0m%les over them. Then she stops

con20se+

an+ groggy 2rom the nightmare.

WIE# AN*E. E4E#6BO6 is staring at NANC6 as i2 she-s gonema+.

The EN*IS" TEAC"E# r0shes over hersel2 2rightene+ %y the

terror

in the girl-s eyes.

TEAC"E#

O/ay ,, O/ay T"ompson Every,

thing-s all right no& ,, Nancy



NANC6 1er/s aro0n+ &ith panic/e+ eyes e<pecting the /iller to

leap 2rom any +irection. B$t there-s only the sea o2 staring

eyes.

NANC6 %egins metho+ically pic/ing 0p her %oo/s.

TEAC"E#

I-ll call yo0r mother.

NANC6

No No really I-m 2ine. I-ll go

straight home. I-m o/ay.

She marches 2or the +oor.

TEAC"E#

6o0-ll nee+ a hall pass

B0t the girl-s gone.

E8T. T"E SC"OO*. A6.

NANC6 &al/s o0t o2 the %0il+ing sha/en. Then she pa0ses atone

o2 the %ig pine trees o0t 2ront stops an+ rests her hea+

against

its %ar/ teeth set. NANC6 starts to sha/e an+ ne<t secon+

she-s

so%%ing li/e a %ro/en,hearte+ 2rightene+ chil+.

B0t she sha/es hersel2 silent. Wipes the tears a&ay &ith a

slash



o2 sleeve. She r0%s her arm a%sently lost in tho0ght then

reacts in s0rprise an+ pain. S"e li2ts her arm an+ stares at

the

spot she-s to0che+.

INSE#T ON "E# A#M an+ the B$#N there a%o0t the si5e an+ shape

o2

a hal2,+ollar.

WIE# ON NANC6. $tterly chillingly con20se+.

TINA aginst the tree inches 2rom NANC6 t0rns to her an+ says,,

TINA

Co0l+n-t get %ac/ to sleep

at all.

(%eat!

What yo0 +ream=

E8T. A B$S6 ST#EET. A6.

NANC6 is &al/ing ;0ic/ly hea+ erect 1a& set. Then she

enters

her 2ather-s )olice Station.

INT. 4AN N$6S )O*ICE STATION. A6.

NANC6 crosses +irectly to A#CIA.

NANC6

My +a+ here=



A#CIA loo/s 0p 2rom his paper&or/.

SE#EANT A#CIA

*ie0tenant.

*T T"OM)SON emerges 2rom another room 0neasy to see NANC6.

*T T"OM)SON

eci+e to ta/e a +ay o22 a2ter

all=

NANC6

a+ I &ant to see #o+ *ane.

T"OM)SON +oesn-t miss a %eat.

*T T"OM)SON

Only 2amily allo&e+ Nancy. 6o0

/no& the +rill.

NANC6

>0st &ant to tal/ to him a secon+.

*T T"OM)SON "e-s +angero0s.

NANC6

6o0 +on-t /no& he +i+ it.

*T T"OM)SON

No I /no& than/s to yo0r

o&n testimony that he &as



loc/e+ in a room &ith a girl

&ho &ent in alive an+ came

o0t in a r0%%er %ag.

NANC6 2linches her 2ather sho&s the 2irst signs o2 color in

his

nec/.

NANC6

I 10st &ant to tal/ to him.

(%eat lo&er!

)lease. a+.

T"OM)SON shi2ts almost impercepti%ly to&ar+s A#CIA then

t0rns

%ac/ to NANC6.

*T T"OM)SON

Ma/e it 2ast.

ISSO*4E TO:

INT. CE** A#EA. A6.

A $A# e<its p0shing a cart. NANC6 &aits &arily 0ntil he-s

gone

then loo/s %ac/ to #O *ANE. #O loo/s more li/e a capt0re+

coyote than a h0man haggar+ ri%%e+ e<pecting poisone+ %ait.

"is hair is &et his clothes are %orro&e+ 1eans an+ &or/

shirt.

NANC6

(lo&!

An+ then &hat happene+=



#O

I tol+ yo0.

(rel0ctantly!

It &as +ar/ %0t I-m s0re there

&as someone else in there 0n+er

the covers &ith her.

NANC6 reacts.

NANC6

"o& co0l+ some%o+y get 0n+er

the covers &ith yo0 g0ys

&itho0t yo0 /no&ing it=

#O

"o& the 20c/ +o I /no&=

(%eat!

I +on-t e<pect yo0 to %elieve

me.

NANC6 st0+ies his encrypte+ eyes. S0rprisingly she loo/s

li/e

she 10st might %elieve him. She leans closer &ith a ne&

tho0ght.

NANC6

What he loo/ li/e= 6o0 get

a loo/ at him=

"e loo/s a&ay.

#O



No.

NANC6

Well then ho& can yo0 say

some%o+y else &as there=

#O

Beca0se some%o+y c0t her. While

I &atche+.

No& the place is so ;0iet yo0 can hear heart%eats.

NANC6

Some%o+y c0t her &hile yo0 &atche+

an+ yo0 +on-t /no& &hat he loo/e+

li/e=

#O smiles an insane smile st0c/ &ith a reality no one &ill

%0y.

#O

6o0 co0l+n-t see the 20c/er.

6o0 co0l+ 10st see the c0ts

happening all at once.

NANC6 gives a t&itch.

NANC6

What yo0 mean -all at once-=

#O

(lo&!

I mean it &as as i2 there &ere



2o0r ra5ors c0tting her at the

same time. B$t invisi%le ra5ors.

She 10st...opene+ 0p...

By no& he-s pic/ing at a clot o2 +ar/ %loo+ on his 1ac/et as

i2

it &as a sca% on his o&n %o+y. Then he catches NANC6 &atching

an+

t0rns a&ay to the %ac/ o2 the cell. "e smashes his 2ist into

the

&all ,, %one,cr0shing %lo&s that scare the &its o0t o2 NANC6.

NANC6

#o+

"e stops an+ his 2ist is +ripping %loo+ as he says in a

small

sa+ voice.

#O

I pro%a%ly co0l+-ve save+ her

i2 I-+ move+ sooner...B0t I

tho0ght it &as 10st another

nightmare li/e the one I ha+

the night %e2ore.

(%eat!

There...&as this g0y &ho ha+

/nives 2or 2ingers...

C*OSE ON NANC6 0na%le to s&allo& the gorge rising in her

throat.

#O t0rns to her an+ to his s0rprise she-s ashen.

#O (CONT!

o yo0 thin/ I +i+ it=



NANC6

No.

'AE TO B*AC3

E8T. E*M ST#EET7NANC6-S "OME. NI"T.

'AE $) ON ESTAB*IS"IN S"OT as a spoo/y WIN sets a O

BA#3IN

+o&n the %loc/. A CA# goes %y then this pleasant resi+ential

street 2alls into silence. CAME#A has MO4E IN on NANC6-s

&ell,ten+e+ t&o,story home.

INT. NANC6-S 3ITC"EN. NI"T.

The ho0se is in sha+o&. Alone MA#E scrapes the last o2 the

evening-s +ishes an+ slips them into the +ish&asher. Neither

she

nor her +a0ghter has to0che+ the 2oo+. B0t MA#E is &ell into

a

%ottle o2 gin her appetite 2or that is gro&ing right along

&ith

her +rea+. She t0rns an+ loo/s 0p the stairs calling.

MA#E

Nancy +on-t 2all asleep in

there.

NANC6 (O.S.!

I &on-t.

MA#E



et into %e+.

INT. $)STAI#S BAT"#OOM. NI"T.

NANC6

I &ill.

NANC6-s in the t0% so +ro&sy she can har+ly rinse &itho0t

2alling

asleep. The &ater in the t0% is opa;0e &ith s0+s. *0<0rio0s.

C*OSE# AN*E AT WATE# *E4E* ON NANC6. "er eyes +roop. She

sli+es closer to the s0r2ace o2 the &ater letting its heat

sooth

her nerves. "er eyes stare straight 0p gla5e+ her %reathing

+eepens.

#E4E#SE across to her legs croo/e+ one /nee on each si+e o2the

t0%. T"ere-s a ripple in the &ater %et&een. Then something

tiny

an+ shiny %rea/s the s0r2ace %et&een them. It pops 0p &ith a

slithering M$SIC C$E an+ catches a sliver o2 light. Then it

%egins to rise.

"igher an+ higher it rises soon accompanie+ %y another then

t&o

more shining gleaming %la+es an+ then the 20ll glove an+

+ar/

hairy han+ an+ then the &rist an+ arm straight 0p li/e an

evil

sapling %et&een the girl-s /nees the /nives %loosoming into a

%right 2lo&er o2 ra5or sharp steel in the air moving over the

girl-s %elly. The han+ rears %ac/ the cla&s arch to stri/e.



MA#E (OS7A))#OAC"IN!

Nancy=

MA#E raps on the +oor. The instant she +oes NANC6 1er/s 0p

opening her eyes groggily. The +ar/ &et arm han+ an+ /ni2es

are

gone.

NANC6

What=

MA#E (O.S.!

(thro0gh the +oor!

6o0-re not 2alling asleep

are yo0= 6o0 co0l+ +ro&n

yo0 /no&.

NANC6

Mother 2or petesa/es.

MA#E (O.S.!

It happens all the time.

(%righter!

I-ve got some &arm mil/ all

rea+y 2or yo0. Why +on-t yo0

10mp into %e+=

(2a+ing!

I-m gonna t0rn on yo0r electric

%lan/et too. C-mon no&.

(then she-s gone into

another room!



NANC6

(lo&!

Warm mile. ross.

She sli+es +o&n to &ater level again an+ sings so2tly

tho0ght20lly to hersel2.

NANC6 (CONT!

One t&o 're++ie-s coming 2or

yo0 three 2o0r %eter loc/

yo0r +oor 2ive si< gra% yo0r

cr0ci2i< seven eight gonna

stay 0p late nine ten never

sleep again...

The ne<t instant she-s 1er/e+ &ith incre+i%le violence

straight

+o&n %eneath the s0r2ace o2 the t0% ,, as i2 the %ottom ha+

s0++enly +roppe+ o0t an+ she &as in a %ottomless &ell

E8T. $NE#WATE# S"OT. NI"T.

*OO3IN $) )AST "E# AN3*ES &e SEE NANC6 p0lle+ sharply +o&n

into

really +eep &ater the +im light o2 the s0r2ace an+ %athroom

%eyon+ rece+ing &ith each yan/. An+ yet she someho& 2lails

an+

gasps an+ str0ggles %ac/ to&ar+s the s0r2ace managing %y p0re

panic to %rea/ the s0r2ace &ith her han+s

INT. "A**WA6 O$TSIE BAT"#OOM.



MA#E r0shes to the +oor an+ listens alarme+ at the &il+

S)*AS"IN a0+i%le thro0gh the loc/e+ +oor.

MA#E

Nancy NANC6

E8T. $NE#WATE# S"OT. NI"T.

MA#E-s 4OICE reaches to the girl &ho thr0sts 0p thro0gh main

2orce an+ %rea/s the s0r2ace &ith her hea+ an+ sho0l+eres.

INT. BAT"T$B.

asping an+ cho/ing NANC6 %rea/s the s0r2ace o2 her

%ath&ater

li/e a +ro&ning sailer getting one last chance. "er mother-s

4OICE %ooms over her EC"OE an+ 2rantic ,, an+ hte lo0+

BANIN

on the +oor 2inally opens her eyes. She t0rns an+ calls

gasping

to her mother ,,

NANC6

Mommy

#E4E#SE ON T"E OO# ,, as MA#E 0sing the ol+ hangar thro0gh

the

+oorhan+le tric/ ma/es it into the room. S"e r0shes across

to

the t0%. NANC6 is staggering 0p in the %ath&ater again &ith

soli+ porcelin %eneath her 2eet.

MA#E



I tol+ yo0 "0n+re+s o2 people

a year +ro&n li/e that

The mother thro&s a to&el aro0n+ the gasping girl helps her

2rom

the t0% an+ %egins +rying her li/e a chil+. NANC6 loo/s li/e

she-s lparali5e+ &ith some sort o2 &eir+ +rea+.

MA#E

6o0 o/ay=

NANC6

reat.

MA#E

(not %elieving it 2or

a min0te!

To %e+ &ith yo0 c-mon.

MA#E r0shes o0t to get the room rea+y. NANC6 t0rns an+ loo/s

at

hersel2 in the ca%inet mirror then opens the me+icine chest

an+

%egins a ;0ic/ 20rtive search.

C*OSE# as she ta/es o0t the %o< o2 No o5e an+ slips it into

her

ro%e.

INT. "A**WA6. NI"T.

NANC6 emereges 2rom the %athroom ya&ning. MA#E 2ollo&s as

the

girl plo+s o%e+iently to her room.



MA#E

No television 2orget the

home&or/ no phone calls.

NANC6

No Mother. 6es Mother.

No Mother.

INT. NANC6-S #OOM. NI"T.

MA#E

An+ no school tomorro& either.

6o0 ta/e a little vacation rela<

an+ rest 2ro a change.

NANC6

6es Mother. -night.

MA#E o22ers a smile an+ a little yello& pill.

MA#E

Ta/e this it-ll help yo0 sleep.

NANC6

#ight.

NANC6 pops it in her mo0th an+ s&allo&s o%e+iently. MA#E

leans

to her &ith a /iss.

marge



Sleep tight +on-t let the

%e+%0gs %ite.

MA#E goes o0t relieve+. NANC6 closes the +oor leans

against it

an+ spits the pill into her han+. She tosses it straight o0t

her

&in+o& an+ ta/es a Noo5.

'AE TO B*AC3

'AE $) ON INSE#T O' TE*E4ISION SC#EEN.

A MONSTE# MO4IE in B*AC3 AN W"ITE. NO SO$N 2rom the set.

)$** BAC3 to #E4EA* NANC6 proppe+ in %e+ 20rtively &atching.

Or

is she 10st thin/ing= A %e+si+e C*OC3 rea+s ?9: pm.

The girl 6AWNS. She sha/es hersel2 violently an+ sits 0p

straighter 2orcing hersel2 to concentrate on the movie.

ON T"E TE*E4ISION SC#EEN. A I4E# str0ggles to /eep 2acing a

large circling shar/.

ON NANC6. "er eyes +roop sh0t ,, then she 1er/s a&a/e

rattling

her hea+ as i2 it &ere a ra+io +ri2ting o22 station. She

t0m%les

o0t o2 %e+ thro&s open the &in+&o an+ ta/es a +eep %reath 2

the

cool night air.

E8T. NANC6-S "O$SE AN ST#EET. NI"T.



"I" AN*E AT SECON,STO#6 *E4E*. NANC6 loo/s +irectl across

the

street to a lighte+ open &in+o&. Its c0rtains s0c/e+ o0t

an+

&aving in the night %ree5e give the only motion to the

+eserte+

street.

Then someone pitches o0t o2 the +ar/ at her. NANC6 gives a

6E*)

,, then clamps her han+ over her mo0th as she recogni5es

*EN

%alance+ precario0sly on the rose trellis o0tsi+e her &in+o&.

*EN

Sorry Sa& yo0r light on.

Tho0ght I-+ see ho& yo0 &ere.

She gets hersel2 together %arely.

NANC6

Sometimes I &ish yo0 +i+n-t live

right across the street.

*EN

Sh0t 0p an+ let me in. 6o0 ever

stan+ on a rose trellis in yo0r

%are 2eet=


NANC6 loo/s over her sho0l+er to %e s0re her mother hasn-thear+.



*EN-s alrea+y thro0gh her &in+o& an+ plante+ on her %e+.

NANC6

points to a chair.

NANC6

I2 yo0 +on-t min+.

*EN crosses to the chair an+ plops +o&n.

*EN

So. I hear+ yo0 2rea/e+ o0t

in English class to+ay.

There-s no malicio0sness in his voice an+ the 2amiliar

2ran/ness

is act0ally com2orting to NANC6.

NANC6

0ess I +i+.

*EN

"aven-t slept have yo0=

NANC6

Not really.

NANC6 tries to smile %0t can-t 2a/e it very &ell. *EN loo/s

her

over.

*EN

6o0 loo/+ea+ an+ raine+ on i2

yo0 &nat the 0gly tr0th. An+

&hat yo0 +o to yo0r arm=



She shr0gs trying to /eep it cas0al.

NANC6

B0rne+ mysel2 in English class.

She ha5ar+s a loo/ in a mirror an+ her 1a& +rops.

NANC6

M-go+ I loo/ t&enty years ol+.

(t0rning %ac/ to him!

6o0 have any &eir+ +reams last

night=

*EN

Slept li/e a roc/.

NANC6

(please+!

Well at least I have an o%1ective

&all to %o0nce this o22.

(%eat!

6o0 %elieve it-s possi%le to +ream

a%o0t &hat-s going to happen=

*EN

No.

NANC6

6o0 %elieve in the Boogey Man=

*EN

One t&o 're++ie-s coming



2or yo0= No. #o+ /ille+ Tina.

"e-s a 2r0itca/e an+ y0 /no& it.

NANC6

6o0 %elieve in anything=

*EN

I %elieve in yo0 me an+

#oc/ an+ #oll. An+ I-m not

too s0re a%o0t yo0 lately.

NANC6 thin/s.

NANC6

*isten I-ve got a cra5y 2avor

to as/.

*EN

$h,oh...

NANC6

It-s nothing har+ or anything.

(%eat!

I-m 10st going to... loo/

2or someone an+... I &ant yo0 to %e sort o2 a g0ar+.

O/ay=

*EN ma/es the T&ilight one so0n+.

NANC6

O/ay=



*EN

O/ay o/ay.

(%eat!

I thin/.

She comes very close to him.

NANC6

6o0 &on-t scre& 0p righ= I

mean a &hole lot might +epen+

on it.

The &ay she-s loo/ing at him gives him the creeps.

*EN

O/ay I &on-t scre& 0p.

NANC6 ta/es a +eep %reath. Then &itho0t another &or+ t0rns

o22

the T4 an+ the light.

*EN (IN A#3!

>es0s it-s +ar/ in here.

NANC6

Shhh. No& listen here-s &hat

&e-re gonna +o...

E8T. E*M ST#EET. NI"T.

'AE $) ON NANC6 still in her pa1amas &al/ing thro0gh the

sha+o&y streets ear her home listening 2or the slightest

so0n+.



We MO4E &ith her. B0t nothing not even the +og %ar/ing

earlier

is there no&. NANC6 peers into the +ar/ness o2 la&ns an+

trees

%ehin+ her.

NANC6

(stage &hisper!

6o0 still there=

Across the street an+ a +istance a&ay *EN steps 2rom %ehin+

a

tree.

*EN

6eah. So=

NANC6

>0st chec/ing ,, /eep o0t o2

sight

*EN thro&s 0p his han+s in e<asperation an+ &al/s %ac/ o0t o2

sight. NANC6 t0rns an+ loo/s +o&n %et&een the ho0ses +eep

into a

+ar/ alley&ay. Then she 2orces hersel2 to &al/ into it.

E8T. A**E6. NI"T.

MO4IN WIT" "E# as she ma/es hersel2 go +eeper an+ +eeper into

sha+o&s. Each time she pa0ses an+ &aits the M$SIC gro&s more

threatening an+ e<pectant. The 2eeling is o2 immense tension

,,

&e-re s0re the /iller &ill come screaming o0t on her at any

secon+.



B0t he +oesn-t. In 2act a%sol0tely nothing happens an+ NANC6

emerges 2rom the 2ar en+ o2 the alley 0nscathe+. The only

thing

strange is that she no& 2in+s hersel2 loo/ing across the mall

to

E8T. )O*ICE STATION. NI"T.

The )lice Station. It ta/es her a little %y s0rprise it 10st

seems to have appeare+.

M$SIC creeps into the NI"TMA#E T"EME as NANC6 &hispers

hoarsely

%ac/ +o&n the +ar/ alley.

NANC6 (CONT!

Still there=

E8T. A**E6. NI"T.

We only "EA# teh ISTANT 4OICE slightly EC"OE.

*EN-S 4OICE (OS!

(ya&ning!

Still here

NANC6

On yo0r toes right=

NANC6 stares into the +ar/ trying to see him %0t she can-t.

She



t0rns %ac/ an+ ma/es 0p her min+ to move &itho0t him in sight.


M$SIC MO$NTS as &e MO4E WIT" NANC6 across the la&ns to the

police

station creeping to the 2irst lighte+ &in+o& she sees. It-s

a

lo& %arre+ %asement &in+o& an+ NANC6 reacts as soon as she

loo/s

thro0gh it.

INT. #O-S CE**. NI"T.

NANC6-S )O4 +o&n into #O *ANE-s cell. The %oy is on his

ro0gh

cot t&itching in +ist0r%e+ sleep. An+ a long S"AOW is

sli+ing

across the &all.

A %ig S"A)E appears in the sha+o&e+ corri+or o0tsi+e the %oy-s

cell an+ as IT &al/s closer NANC6 can %arely see it-s the

sham%ling grimly scarre+ man &ith the 2ilthy re+ an+ yello&

s&eater an+ strange slo0ch hat p0lle+ across his %ro&. The

3I**E#

2rom all o2 their nightmares.

An+ this giant sha+o& o2 a man passes thro0gh the %ars o2 the

cell li/e so m0ch evil >ello. "al2&ay thro0gh he pa0ses

t0rning

to chec/ over his sho0l+er. We see the %ars clearly

penetrating

his %o+y going in his hea+ passing o0t his an/les. Then he



t0rns %ac/ to #O an+ moves 2or&ar+ an+ &ithin another

heart%eat

is %esi+e the %oy.


NANC6 +ra&s %ac/ sharply s&allo&ing in terror. She loo/s

%ehin+

her 2or help.

NANC6 (CONT!

len.

No ans&er.

NANC6 (CONT!

(lo0+er!

len=

The street is a%sol0tely +eserte+. T"ere is no motion an+ no

so0n+ save one: the +istant %0t 0nmista/ea%le so0n+ o2 *EN

SNO#IN.

NANC6 (CONT!

*EN

A %eat o2 silence a2ter the sho0t-s echoes +ie then the

stea+y

%oyish SNO#ES again. NANC6 s&ears 0n+er her %reath an+ 1er/s

%ac/

aro0n+ 2orcing hersel2 to loo/ again into #O-s cell.



INT. #O-S CE**.

IN "E# )O4 ,, the /iller pic/s 0p #O-s %e+sheet an+ tests it

%et&een his po&er20l han+s. Witho0t thin/ing NANC6 %angs

against

the glass.

NANC6 (CONT!

#o+ *oo/ o0t

The 3I**E# &heels aro0n+ loc/ing eyes &ith NANC6. The girl

goes

&hite. The man-s 2ace is in the light an+ it-s horri%le ,,

seething &ith hatre+ an+ a t&iste+ insane intelligence.

The hol+ o2 those eyes is only %ro/en &hen #O rols 0p on an

el%o&

&ith a +eep tro0%le+ #OAN. The instant #O +oes this the

3I**E# 2a+es into the sha+o&s in the cell. B0t even then his

eyes

hol+ on NANC6-s 0ntil the last secon+ he-s visi%le.

#O loo/s aro0n+ the cell groggily r0ns his 2ingers thro0gh

his

matte+ hair then collapses %ac/ on his pillo&. No matter ho&

har+ NANC6 screams #O never once loo/s at the &in+o&. "e

10st

p0lls the t&iste+ covers a%o0t his sho0l+ers an+ s0cc0m%s once

more to sleep.

An+ no& the %e+ sheet is no longer on the %e+. T"e 3I**E#

materiali5ing o0t o2 the sha+o& again is hol+ing it %et&een

his

han+s li/e a garrote. "e loo/s 0p an+ leers at NANC6 then

moves

2or #O.




AN*E BAC3 ON NANC6. She po0n+s on the &in+o& then t0rns in

2r0stration an+ yells into the night.

NANC6

len

She t0rns %ac/ to the cell in +esperation.

INT. #O-S CE**.

IN NANC6-S )O4 &e loo/ into a cell that is ;0ite +eserte+ save

2or

#O. Sleeping peace20lly.


NANC6 p0ls %ac/ 2rom the &in+o& st0nne+.

NANC6

I s&ear...

S0++enly NANC6 2eels 0tterly e<pose+. S"e shivers chille+

an+

v0lnera%le to the %one in her thin night clothes. S"e can-t

move.

It-s as i2 some great nerve %et&een her instincts an+ %a+y ha+

%een severe+. An+ she hears the SO$N %ehin+ her. A sort o2

2illing,vi%rating Scrriiitchh.



M$SIC snea/s in ,, the 0nmista/ea%le NI"TMA#E T"EME creeping

over her. NANC6 2orces hersel2 %y sheer &il to loo/.

Ahea+ o2 her perhaps t&enty,2ive 2eet covere+ &ith a thic/

plastic %o+y %ag thro0gh &hich &e can %arely see her 2ace is

TINA. Stan+ing s;0are in the mi++le o2 the street. A +ar/

oo5e

o2 B*AC3 EE*S roil o0t o2 its %ottom an+ at its top the

5ipper

C"ATTE#S +o&n an+ the greenish,&hite 2ace o2 TINA lolls o0t.

S"e

gest0res s0pplicating her &atery eyes +esperate to convey

some

+esperate message.

The M$SIC 'A**S TO A "$S".

NANC6 %ac/s a&ay eyes streaming tears.

NANC6

len &here are yo0 Wa/e 0p

len

EE) #AE 4OICE (O.S.!

I-m here.

NANC6 t&ists aro0n+ in horror at the same instant the 3I**E#

gra%s

2or her 2ace &ith his /ni2e,2ingers The girl intinctively

pitches %ac/ then scram%les 0p an+ r0ns li/e hell

NANC6

len len




MO4IN WIT" NANC6 at 20ll gallop r0nning %lin+. She crashes

thro0gh a sa&horse into a ne& si+e&al/ sin/ing into th e&et

cement over her an/les. The st022 stic/s to her legs in long

gl0ey glo%s an+ she can %arely p0ll her 2eet loose.

The 3I**E# looms near%y moc/ing her ,, his scalpel cla&s

gleaming

in the streeetlight. "e 10st misses the girl as she &renches

2ree

an+ 2lees again no& so &in+e+ she can only stagger.

MO4IN WIT" T"EM. Tim a2ter time NANC6 10st %arely manages o

el0+e the sha+o&y 2orm leaping 2rom his reach %y inches an+

po0ring on more steam. It-s too close to even %other

screaming

no& an+ %esi+es theat &o0l+ ta/e %reath she +oesn-t have.

T"e

only SO$N is o2 #$NNIN 'OOTSTES #AS)IN B#EAT" an+ the

3NI'E,

'INE#S W"IST*IN thro0gh the air.

E8T. NANC6-S "OME. NI"T.

NANC6 tears across her 2ront la&n an+ into the open 2ront +oor

o2

her home S*AMMIN it &ith all her might. There-s a

tremen+o0sly

satis2ying CONC$SSION o2 &oo+ against +orr2rame an+ the *OC3S

2all sh0t.



INT. NANC6-S *I4IN #OOM. NI"T.

NANC6

lennn

B0t her voice is gar%le+ as i2 she-s 0n+er &ater an+ there-s

no

ans&er. The only cl0e to len %eing there at all is his

+istant

SNO#IN. Innocent. )ersistent. eep.

NANC6 stops %reath in shre+s 2ace smeare+ &ith +irt an+tears

something is cla&ing the &in+o& in the +ar/ o2 the /itchen.

NANC6

loo/s an+ catches the MAN prying at the glass &ith his %ig

/ni2e,

2ingers the shrp %la+es SI*IN against the e+ges o2 the

glass

as they crac/ it a&ay 2rom the 2rame. NANC6 r0ns 0pstairs in

%lin+ panic.


NANC6 +arts into her 0nlit %e+room slams the +oor an+ loc/s

it.

Sa2e at last.

She listens at the +oor. Nothing. She crosses to her %e+.

Ne<t

secon+ the 3I**E# +ives thro0gh her &in+o& an+ sei5es her in a

sho&er o2 shattere+ glass

NANC6 t&ists an+ manages to gra% the &rist o2 his /ni2e han+&ith



%oth o2 hers %arely /eeping the %la+es 2rom her throat.

The t&o 2all %ac/&ar+s in a terri%le gasping str0ggle

crashing

onto NANC6-s %e+. "er grip is %ro/en ,, the MAN sta%s ,,

NANC6

t&ists a&ay %ac/e+ into a corner o2 %e+ an+ &alls.

e2enseless

she snatches a pillo& 0p the 3I**E# lashes o0t ,,

+isem%o&eling

the pilo& an+ sen+ing a great g0sh o2 2eathers 2lying. NANC6

+ives 2or escape in a virt0al %li55ar+.

The 3I**E# manages to snare her &ith his other han+ an+ the

t&o

crash across the %e+si+e ta%le to the 2loor the ta%le an+ all

its

contents casca+ing aro0n+ them in a &hiteo0t o2 2eathers.

AN*E AT '*OO# *E4E* ,, C*OSE ON NANC6-s AN T"E 3I**E#-s

"EAS.

The %la+es inch to&ar+s the girl-s 2ace ,, the +rool o2 the

gri55le+ sha+o& &ith the horri%ly scarrre+ 2ace spills into

her

eyes. 'eathers are every&here M$SIC is a%sol0tely insane

B0t 10st &hen the points o2 steel are less than an inch 2rom

her

eyes the ol+ 2ashione+ alarm cloc/ thro&n to the 2loor ne<t

to

NANC6-s hea+ goes o22 &ith a 1arring #IN

Instantly the M$SIC STO)S. AN+ a moment later the room is

light.

WIE# as NANC6 reels 0p %lin+e+ %y the s0++en light

SC#EAMIN



AN 'I"TIN on her %e+.

AN*E ON *EN l0rching 2rom his o&n sleep at the 2rightening

noise. "e +iscovers NANC6 presse+ in terror against her

hea+%oar+ cl0tching a pillo& li/e a +ro&ning &oman &o0l+ a

stra&.

It-s an intact pillo& an+ there isn-t a 2eather in sight.

NANC6 stares incre+0lo0sly at *EN then aro0n+ the room

0ntangling hersel2 2rom her %e+clothes. Wary an+ 20rio0s her

voice hoarse.

NANC6

len yo0 %astar+...

The %oy loo/s at his 2rien+ in groggy alarm. S"e-s a%sol0tely

livi+ more angry than he-s ever seen her an+ more strange.

*EN

What I +o=

"e reaches 2or her ,, she 2lattens against the &all eyes

har+

an+ terri%ly h0rt too.

NANC6

(lo&!

I as/e+ yo0 to +o 10st one thing.

>0st stay a&a/e an+ &atch me ,,

>0st &a/e me i2 it loo/e+ li/e

I &as having a %a+ +ream.

(eyes &il+!



B0t yo0. 6o0 shit ,, &hat +o

yo0 +o ,, yo0 2all asleep

She stops hersel2 &iping a %it o2 her lip alarme+ at ho& o0t

o2

control she-s %ecome. An+ s0++enly she %rea/s sin/ing into

her

torn %e+clothes an+ r0%%ing her hea+.

NANC6 (CONT!

(mostly to hersel2!

I m0st %e going n0ts...

MA#E (O.S.!

Nancy=

"er mother-s +oor opens O.S.

*EN

Oh shit.

NANC6 composes her voice as %est she can.

NANC6

6es mother=

MA#E-s 2lip,2lops approach o0tsi+e the +oor. *EN %arrelso0t

the &in+o& ,, NANC6 +ives 2or the %e+ 1ams o22 thelight an+

+isappears 0n+er the covers. MA#E %leary eye+ hersel2

opens

the +oor an+ 2lic/s on the light.

MA#E

(%eat!



6o0 o/ay=

NANC6

(&ea/ly!

6eah. >0st ha+ a little +ream.

I-m 2alling right %ac/ to sleep.

MA#E

(%eat!

O/ay... 6o0 nee+ anything 10st call.

NANC6

O/ay.

MA#E closes the +oor. NANC6 imme+iately sits 0p an+ loo/s at

the

&in+o&. A single %one,&hite 2eather 2loats +o&n in the

moonlight.

Then it-s s0c/e+ o0tsi+e an+ is gone.


*EN-s CAI**AC CON4E#TAB*E careens into the par/ing lot an+

SC#EEC"ES to a stop. *EN an+ NANC6 10mp o0t an+ hea+ 2or the

station.

*EN

6o0 min+ telling me &hat-s

going on=

NANC6 races into the station &itho0t ans&ering.



*EN (CONT!

Oh I see. That ma/es it all

per2ectly clear.

INT. )O*ICE STATION. NI"T.

NANC6 goes straight to the SE#EANT-s +es/.

NANC6

arcia I &ant to see #o+

*ane again.

A#CIA &inces.

ST A#CIA

I tho0ght &hen I too/ the

night shi2t I-+ have peace

an+ ;0iet 2or a change.

NANC6

It-s 0rgent &e-ve gotta see #o+.

ST A#CIA

It-s three in the morning. 6o0r mother /no& yo0-re o0t this

late=

NANC6

(2a/ing it!

O2 co0rse ,, loo/ at least go

%ac/ an+ loo/ at him. >0st see

i2 he-s o/ay.



A#CIA glances at *EN.

*EN

(2a/ing it!

We have reason to thin/ there

might %e something &eir+ going

on.

*T T"OM)SON (O.S.!

Oh no arg0ment on that.

NANC6 10mps aro0n+ at the so0n+ o2 her 2ather-s voice. *T

T"OM)SON emerges 2rom his o22ice r0mple+ an+ ya&ning.

NANC6

a+ ,, &hat yo0 +oing here=

*T T"OM)SON

It so happens I &or/ here an+

there-s an 0nsolve+ m0r+er. I

+on-t li/e 0nsolve+ m0r+ers

especially ones my +a0ghter-s

mi<e+ 0p in ,, h&at are yo0

+oing here at this ho0r= 6o0-re s0ppose+ to %e getting some

sleep.

*EN

*isten sir this is serio0s.

Nancy ha+ a nightmare a%o0t #o+

%eing in +anger or something

an+ so she thin/s...



"e trails o22 loosing it 0n+er *T T"OM)SON-s glare. Besi+es

he

+oesn-t /no& e<actly &hat the hell-s really going on himsel2.

A#CIA p0ts his %ee2y han+ on NANC6-s sho0l+er.

NANC6

I 10st &ant to see i2 he-s o/ay

ST A#CIA

Ta/e my &or+ 2or it Nancy. The

g0y-s sleeping li/e a %a%y. "e-s

not going any&here.

INT. CE** B*OC3. NI"T.

AN*E ON #O in his cell. "e-s asleep all right %0t not

sa2ely

so. "is %e+sheet has come alive. It t&itches p0lsates then

sna/es to&ar+s his throat.

#O stirs the sheet 2alls still #O slips into +eeper sleep

an+

the sheet moves again completing the noose aro0n+ his nec/

INT. BOO3IN #OOM. NI"T.

NANC6 ma/es a move 2or the cell %loc/ ,,

NANC6

This isn-t yo0 average nightmare

a++y ,, +amn it



The +oor-s loc/e+ she ha0ls on it in +esperation.

*T T"OM)SON

No& loo/ Nancy +on-t p0sh

it. 6o0-ve alrea+y r0%%e+ my nose

in se< +r0gs an+ violence ,, +on-t

start thro&ing in insanity

NANC6 t/aes that one to heart. She &heels on him an+ plea+s

her

intensity so%ering even to him.

NANC6

>0st go %ac/ an+ chec/ ,, please

The man ta/es a %eat then shr0gs an+ no+s to&ar+s ST A#CIA.

*T T"OM)SON

O/ay arcia. W"at the hell.

ST A#CIA

#ight...

(2eeling in his poc/ets!

No& &here-+ I p0t hte /ey...

"e m0m%les %ac/s to&ar+s his +es/. M$SIC B$I*S as &e "O* ON

NANC6-s 'ACE.




With a terri%le SNA) #O-s sheet 1er/s tight aro0n+ his nec/.

The

startle+ teenager is ha0le+ 0pright ,, eyes popping 2ace

p0rple.

"e cla&s at the steet %0t +espite his strenght he can-t gethis

2ingers %et&een the noose an+ his &in+pipe. "e-s +ragge+

%ac/&ar+s across the cot.

INT. BOO3IN #OOM. NI"T.

A#CIA 2inally has the /eys. $rge+ on %y NANC6 he 20m%les

&ith

the loc/.


#O-s %eing +ragge+ %ac/&ar+-s gasping an+ str0ggling in vain

against the po&er20l p0ll ,, 2ight across his cell an+ 0p the

&all too. "e cl0tches %lin+ly at his throat at the 2ar en+

o2

the sheet coils aro0n+ the %ars o2 the high &in+o&. Then

there-s

a po&er20l &rench o2 the sheet an+ #O-s nec/ SNA)S. The

/i+-s

%o+y sags li2eless.

AN*E T"#O$" T"E BA#S as NAN6 *EN *T T"OM)SON an+ A#CIA

appear in the corri+or o0tsi+e the girl sprinting ahea+.

NANC6

#o+



B0t it-s too late NANC6 sin/s %ac/ in horror as her 2ather

an+

A#CIA r0sh into the cell.

*T T"OM)SON

imme a han+ +ammit

*EN pale as the sheet that-s /ille+ #O clim%s to the %ars

an+

0nties the /not. #O sli+es +o&n over the SE#EANT-s

sho0l+ers

limp as a marrionette &ith its strings slashe+.

ST A#CIA

o++am loco /i+ ,, he +i+n-t

have t-+o that ,, Ma+re +ios

They lay #O at NANC6-s 2eet a strange )ieta. NANC6-s 2ather

loo/s at her in spoo/e+ s0spicion.

*T T"OM)SON

"o&-+ yo0 /no& he &as gonna +o

this=

NANC6 says nothing.

'AE TO B*AC3

E8T. 'O#EST *AWN CEMETE#6. A6.

B$#N ON:

T"E 'O$#T" A6



'AE $) ON a star/ a2ternoon. On a hill o2 sere grass

overloo/ing

the valley the cas/et o2 #O *ANE is lo&ere+ into its grave.

A small gro0p o2 'AMI*6 an+ '#IENS &atches so%erly as the

MINISTE# raises his han+ in %ene+iction.

MINISTE#

Ashes to ashes +0st to +0st.

may o+ %e &ith this yo0ng man-s

so0l.

ON T"E 'ACES o2 MA#E *T T"OM)SON TINA-s MOT"E# an+ #O-s

)A#ENTS. >0st 2or a secon+ or t&o in loo/s too rapi+ 2or an

o0tsi+er to even notice these a+0lts e<change loo/s.

'0rtive

;0ic/ glances that s0ggest an immense something that they all

share something %eyon+ even this secon+ +eath among their

chil+ren. T"en they are all staring ahea+ again as i2 the

others

&eren-t even there.

MINISTE# (CONT O.S.!

"is li2e an+ his +eath attest to

the Script0re-s &arning that he &ho

lives %y the s&or+ shall +ie %y

the s&or+.

AN*E ON *EN &atching ,,

NANC6 stan+ing alone not %elieving it 2or a min0te.

MINISTE# (CONT O.S.!



B0t let 0s recall also o0r *or+-s

a+monition that &e ->0+ge not

lest &e %e 10+ge+.- *et 0s

attempt only to love. An+ may

#o+ *ane rest in peace.

NANC6

(;0ietly!

Amen to that m0ch.

The mo0rners &al/ a&ay 2rom the grave MA#E among them. She

pa0ses near a MAN an+ t&o WOMEN in %lac/ ,, TINA-s MOT"E#

#O-s

)A#ENTS. They almost it seems spea/. Then MA#E h0rries

on.

WE MO4E WIT" "E# as she-s 1oine+ %y *T T"OM)SON. Both are

&orn

an+ on e+ge. T"OM)SON a%sently lights another cigarette

o22ering

one to MA#E.

*T T"OM)SON

"o&-s Nancy +oing=

MA#E

I +on-t thin/ she-s slept since

Tina +ie+.

(sha/es her hea+!

She-s al&ays %een a +elicate

/i+.

T"OM)SON lights her cigarette attempting some sort o2

nonchalance.



*T T"OM)SON

She-s to0gher than yo0 thin/.

Any i+ea ho& she /ne& #o+ &as

gonna /ill himsel2=

MA#E

No. All I /no& is this remin+s

me too m0ch o2 ten years ago.

T"OM)SON %lo&s a pl0me o2 smo/e against the har+ s/y an+ loo/s

a&ay.

*T T"OM)SON

6eah. Well... *et-s not start

+igging 0p %o+ies 10st %eca0se

&e-re in a cemetery.

"e gives her a loo/ that co0l+ c0t stone. MA#E toses +o&n

her

cigarete an+ crosses to NANC6. The girl is simply staring

o222

over the valley.

MA#E

(very gently!

Time to go home %a%y.

She moves her a&y 2rom the %rin/ o2 the hill.

E8T. CEMETE#6 )A#3IN A#EA. A6.



MA#E opens the +oor o2 the station &agon 2or NANC6. NANC6

t0rns

to them %oth spea/ing in a still small voice.

NANC6

The /iller-s still loose

yo0 /no&.

She has a &il+ Cassan+ra aspect that sen+s a chill right 0p

MA#E-s spine.

*T T"OM)SON

6o0 saying some%o+y else /ille+

Tina= Who=

NANC6 smiles a &eir+ sort o2 smile.

NANC6

I +on-t /no& &ho he is. B$t he-s

%0rne+ he &ears a &eir+ hat a

re+ an+ yello& s&eater real

+irty an+ he 0ses some sort o2

/ni2es he-s got ma+e into a sort

o2...glove. *i/e giant 2inger,

nails.

As NANC6 has +escri%e+ this monster 2rom her +ream 0nseen %y

her

the 2aces o2 MA#E an+ *T T"OM)SON have +raine+ completely o2

color.

*T T"OM)SON

(lo& even to MA#E!



I thin/ yo0 sho0l+ /eep Nancy

at home a 2e& +ays. -Till she-s

really over the shoc/.

MA#E

I got something %etter...

(to NANC6!

I-m gonna get yo0 help %a%y.

So no one &ill threaten yo0

any more.

She ta/es the girl %y the arm an+ g0i+es her into the car

loc/ing

the +oor 2rom o0tsi+e. NANC6 never ta/ing her eyes 2rom her

2ather-s as the car %ears her a&ay.

'AE TO B*AC3

B$#N ON:

T"E 'I'T" A6

E8T. $C*A SC"OO* O' MEICINE. A6.

'AE $) ON $C*A-s WESTWOO CAM)$S an+ )AN TO SIN:

$C*A SC"OO* O' MEICINE

INSTIT$TE 'O# T"E

ST$6 O' S*EE) ISO#E#S

INT. A *ABO#ATO#6 S*EE)IN C"AMBE#.



A N$#SE applies sencors to the hea+ %reast arms an+ 2ingers

o2

NANC6 T"OM)SON. The girl is lying on a simple %roa+ cot in

her

pa1amas. The room is s0%+0e+ in color an+ hol+s only this

single

%e+. A large mirror set into one &all hi+es an o%servation

room

%eyon+.

NANC6

B0t I 10st +on-t 2eel...rea+y

to sleep yet. )lease +o I

have to=

WIE# #E4EA*IN # SAM$E* 3IN a yo0ng c0rly,haire+

internist

intelligent an+ &ry. "e treats NANC6 at all times li/e a

yo0ng

a+0lt never patroni5ing. "e &in/s as the N$#SE 2inishes.

# 3IN

on-t &orry yo0-re not gonna

change into Bri+e o2 'ran/enstein

or anything.

NANC6 manages a smile %0t she-s hagar+ an+ visi%ly thinner.

MA#E %ac/gro0n+ loo/s +o&nright +istra0ght.

# 3IN (CONT!

Nancy have any severe chil+hoo+

illnesses= Scarlet 'ever=

"igh temperat0res ,, conc0ssions=



MA#E

No nothing.

NANC6

"e means +i+ yo0 ever +rop me

on my hea+.

The +octor an+ girl share a nervo0s la0gh MA#E +oesn-t even

smile.

# 3IN

Nightmares are e<pecte+ a2ter

psychological tra0ma. on-t

&orry they go a&ay.

MA#E

I s0re as hell hope so.

NANC6

I +on-t see &hy yo0 co0l+n-t

10st give me a pil to /eep me

2rom +reaming...

# 3IN

Everyone-s got to +ream.I2 yo0 +on-t +ream yo0 go...

(he +rills his 2inger

at his temple!

All set=

NANC6

No.



MA#E

They-re 10st simple tests

Nan. We-ll %oth %e right

here.

# 3IN

*oo/ I /no& it-s %een 2right,

ening I /no& yo0r +reams have

seeme+ real. B0t...it-s

o/ay. O/ay=

MA#E

)lease Nancy. Tr0st 0s.

The girl ga0ges her mother the +octor the sit0ation very

care20lly. Then lo&ers her eyes.

NANC6

It-s not yo0 I +on-t tr0st.

It-s...

(gives 0p!

O/ay. *et-s +o it.

reatly relieve+ MA#E gives NANC6 a goo+night /iss then

2ollo&s

the +octor thro0gh a +oor&ay near the mirror. As soon as her

mother is o0t o2 sight NANC6-s eyes +ri2t to the mirror

itsel2.

In its re2lection she sees hersel2 loo/ing %ac/ alone on the

%e+.

ISSO*4E TO:



INT. T"E OBSE#4ATION #OOM.

MA#E an+ # 3IN overloo/ NANC6-s sleeping cham%er thro0gh

the

one,&ay mirror. An+ 3INmonitors the girl even more closely

&ith

a %an/ o2 instr0ments ,, a mass o2 glo&ing +ials graphs an+

meters. "is manner &ith MA#E is slightly more so%er.

# 3IN

"o& long-s this %een going on=

MA#E

Since the m0r+er. She &as 2ine

%e2ore that.

# 3IN

Not to &orry. No signs o2 path,

ology in Nancy-s EE or p0lse

rate. I-+ g0ess &hat &e-ve got

is a normal yo0ng girl &ho 10st

happens to have gone thro0gh

t&o +ays o2 hell.

MA#E

It-s 10st ma+e her thin/...

her +reams are real...

3IN a+10sts a +ial &atching the E3 li/e a ha&/.

# 3IN

Ever hear the ol+ B$++hist tale

a%o0t the 3ing &ho +reame+ he



&as a %eggar &ho +reame+ he

&as a /ing=

MA#E t&itches. T"en there-s a slight alteration in the so0n+

o2

the E3. 3IN no+s in satis2action.

# 3IN (CONT!

O/ay goo+. She-s asleep.

MA#E

(immensely relieve+!

Than/ o+.

M$SIC #ISES SO*EMN*6 MA>ESTICA**6 into a ha0nting transition

as

&e

ISSO*4E TO

A MONTAE O' S"OTS o2 the E3 #A)" its in/y nee+les

calming or

a METE# tracing the ;0ieting o2 NANC6-s p0lse an+ o2 OT"E#

INST#$MENTS in+icating li2e processes &e can only g0ess. All

smoothing o0t.

C*OSE ON NANC6 on T4 MONITO# asleep li/e the chil+ she is.

Innocent.

MA#E lights a cigarette angry at her helplessness.

MA#E

What the hell are +reams any&ay=



She co0l+ +ream at any time no&.

#ight no& she-s li/e a +iver

on the %ottom o2 an ocean no

one-s mappe+ yet. Waiting to

see &hat sho&s 0p.

INT. T"E S*EE)IN #OOM.

We can see NANC6 +ri2t 2rom the initial stage over the %rin/

into

+eep slee. "er hair 2alls into her eyes her 2ace rela<es

her

sho0l+ers c0rl ro0n+ her li/e com2orters. T"E M$SIC EE)ENS

an+

%egins to hint at the tones o2 the NI"TMA#E T"EME.

INT. CONT#O* #OOM. A6.

# 3IN an+ MA#E &atch the instr0ments- every move.

One o2 the machines %egins a slight C"I#)IN. 3IN scans it

li/ing &hat he sees.

# 3IN

O/ay she-s starte+ to +ream.

"e leans 2or&ar+ in his chair li/e a pilot starting an

instr0ment

approach. MA#E T"OM)SON lic/s her +ry lips 2ightining a

t0rn o2

na0sea.

MA#E



"o& can yo0 tell=

# 3IN

#.E.M.-s. #api+ eye movements.

The eyes 2ollo& the +ream ,,

their movement pic/s 0p on

this ,,

"e pro+s a +ial &ith his pencil an+ scri%%les the time on a

note

pa+.

# 3IN (CONT!

Beta Waves are slo&ing too.

She-s +reaming all right.

A goo+ one too.

MA#E &atches the T4 MONITO#. It-s in e<tra,close on NANC6-s

eyes

,, an+ they-re +arting %eneath the li+s reacting to events

lost

%ehin+ a s/ein o2 2lesh an+ ne0rons.

3IN points to a moving graph. A nee+le-s %eg0n &aving la5ily

%et&een pl0s an+ min0s three. The OCTO# no+s as0re+.

# 3IN (CONT!

Typical +ream parameter. A

nightmare no& &o0l+ %e pl0s or

min0s 2ive or si< she-s 10st

aro0n+ three point ,,

"e stops. O0tsi+e visi%le thro0gh the glass NANC6 t&ists



aro0n+. Eyes still close+ she-s nevertheless hol+ing her

hea+ in

the attit0+e o2 prey listening to the 2irst 2aint so0n+ o2 the

pre+ator-s approach.

MA#E loo/s 2rom her +a0geter to the OCTO# color +raining

2rom

her 2ace.

MA#E

What the hell-s this= She

a&a/e or asleep=

The nee+le o2 the graph gives a 1agge+ pitch 0p pl0nges then

s0rges &ell a%ove the eight mar/. A strange M$SIC C$E ,,

+isonant

an+ threatening creeps in ,, the NI"TMA#E T"EME sl0rre+ into

a&20l minors an+ &eir+ +isonance. 3IN stares at the ga0ge in

+is%elie2 rapping his 2inger on its glass.

# 3IN

Can-t %e. It never gets

this high...

The nee+le s&ings even higher %ehin+.

# 3IN (CONT!

>es0s ". Christ.

"e-s c0t o22 %y the high,pitche+ 3EENIN o2 the girl the

SO$N

c0tting thro0gh the +o0%le thic/ness o2 the glass li/e a

lasar. A

&arning BEE)E# has %eg0n the instr0ments light 0p li/e a

Christmas tree ,, an+ o0tsi+e in the sleepign room NANC6 is



contorting as i2 shot thro0gh &ith a tho0san+ volts. 3IN

/noc/s

over his chair in his sprint 2or the +oor.

INT. S*EE)IN #OOM.

The OCTO# an+ MA#E come in on the r0n ,, NANC6-s 2lainling

an+

screaming as i2 the +evil himsel2 &ere a2ter her. 3IN gra%s

her

to sha/e her a&a/e.

AN*E ON NANC6 (eyes open! ,, loo/in in terror ,, SO$N EC"OE

ST#ANE*6.

IN "E# )O4 ,, +resse+ in 3IN-s clothes ,, the horri%ly

scarre+

MAN reaches o0t.

WIE# ,, (NANC6-s eyes close+ in sleep! as the girl-s 2ist

shoots

o0t &ith incre+i%le 2orce an+ /noc/s # 3IN 2lying

The N$#SE an+ MA#E %oth +escen+ on her ,,

an+ again in her S*EE)IN )O4 &e see the MAN stagger 2or her.

WIE# ON NANC6 ,, (still in her nightmare! ,, 2ighting li/e a

tiger &ith %oth MA#E an+ the N$#SE ,, sen+ing the N$#SE

spra&ling

,, leaving MA#E hanging on 2or +ear li2e.

AN*E on the st0nne+ OCTO# 20m%ling &ith a hyper+ermic

nee+le



spilling most o2 the st022 on himsel2 &ith his sha/ing han+s

,,

the SC#EAMS AN C$#SES o2 NANC6 are +ea2ening an+ &orthy o2 a

steva+or 2ighting o22 his &orst enemy. Stranger still her

hair

is electri2ie+ stan+ing on en+ an+ greying %e2ore their very

eyes

MA#E screams at the top o2 her l0ngs.

MA#E

NANC6 IT-S MOM ,, NANC6

Some +eep %olt o2 psychic po&er smac/s thro0gh the girl an+

her

eyes 2lap open ,, they-re gla5e+ &ith terror an+ 20ry %0t

open.

NANC6-s a&a/e.

She stares aro0n+ li/e a cornere+ animal in the mi++le o2 the

%e+

her p0rple 2ace gasping o0t g0t,&renchign SOBS. The N$#SE an+

MA#E +are to go %ac/ in an+ hol+ the s&eat,+renche+ girl as

#

3IN comes 2or her &ith the nee+le.

# 3IN

No& this is 10st going to let

yo0 rela< an+ sleep Nan ,,

With incre+i%le s&i2tness NANC6 %ac/han+s the hypo+ermic into

a

2ar &all shattering it into a million pieces.

NANC6



No. That-s eno0gh sleep.

"er eyes are &in+o&s straight into &hite 2ire as she loc/s

into

3IN-S 2ace. "e +a%s his spli+t lip s&allo&ing pain20lly.

# 3IN

O/ay /i+. O/ay. 'air eno0gh.

"e hol+s o0t his han+. NANC6 at last ta/es it an+ sags %ac/

into

her pillo& e<ha0ste+. Then 3IN comes 0p &ith %loo+ on hishan+.

"e stares at it +0m%2o0n+e+ then at the girl. Across her

le2t

2orearm a +eep gash is %lee+ing 2reely as i2 ma+e %y a very

sharp instr0ment.

MA#E

Oh my go+ oh my go+...

# 3IN

(to the N$#SE!

et the /it

The N$#SE scram%les a&ay as the OCTO# claps his han+ over the

&o0n+s. "e loo/s into NANC6-s 2ace. What he sees 2rightens

him

even more: NANC6-s ha0nte+ ghost,li/e eyes t0rn 2rom him to

her

mother an+ a terri%le chilling smile opens across NANC6-s

&hite

lips.



NANC6

6o0 %elieve this=

She p0lls her 2ree arm 2rom %eneath the sheets an+ reveals a

strange hat 2ilthy an+ &orn ,, the 3I**E#-s hat. The sight

o2 it

2rightens MA#E more than anything that-s come %e2ore.

MA#E

(+eathly pale!

Where the hell yo0 get that=

NANC6 2i<es her &ith 8ray eyes.

NANC6

I gra%%e+ it o22 his hea+.

MA#E stares at the hat as i2 it hel+ her &hole 20t0re an+

her

20t0re &as a horror.

'AE TO B*AC3

E8T. NANC6-S "O$SE. A6.

B$#N ON

T"E SI8T" A6

'AE $) ON NANC6-S "O$SE early morning.



INT. NANC6-S 3ITC"EN. A6.

MA#E is on the telephone the +irty hat in her han+. Near%y

is a

nearly empty %ottle o2 gin.

MA#E

She sai+ she snatche+ it o22

his hea+ in a +ream.

(listens!

No I-m not cra5y I-ve got

the +amn thing in my han+

(listens!

I /no& &e +i+ &e all...

(hears NANC6

approaching!

otta go.

She hangs 0p an+ st022s the hat an+ %ottle into a +ra&er

screening the action &ith her %o+y. NANC6 enters.

By no& the girl has an e<traor+inary loo/. "er hair is ashen

her

s/in transl0scent an+ eyes +ar/,ringe+. "er 2orearm is

heavily

%an+age+ over the slashes. In short instea+ o2 the girl ne<t

+oor &e no& co0l+ %e loo/ing at the l0natic 2rom the ne<t

cell.

MA#E tho0gh she +oes her %est to hi+e it is +o&nright

2rightene+ o2 her.

MA#E (CONT!

6o0 +i+n-t sleep +i+ yo0=



The +octor says yo0 have to

sleep or yo0-ll ,,

NANC6 po0rs hersel2 a c0p o2 %lac/ co22ee.

NANC6

o even cra5ier=

MA#E

I +on-t thin/ yo0-re going

cra5y ,, an+ stop +rin/ing

that +amn co22ee

NANC6

i+ yo0 as/ a++y to have the

hat e<amine+=

MA#E

I thre& that 2ilthy thing a&ay ,,

I +on-t /no& &hat yo0-re trying

to prove &ith it %0t ,,

NANC6 comes closer her eyes shining &ith a ne& s0reness.

NANC6 What I learne+ at the +ream

clinic that-s &hat I-m trying

to prove. #o+ +i+n-t /ill Tina

an+ he +i+n-t hang himsel2.

It-s this g0y ,, he-s a2ter

0s in o0r +reams.

MA#E



B0t that-s 10st not reality

Nancy

'0rio0s NANC6 1an/s open the +ra&er %e2ore MA#E can stop her

an+

spills the %ottle an+ hat onto the co0nter.

MA#E gra%s a&ay the %ottle protectively ,, %0t it-s the hat

NANC6

goes 2or. She &aves it tri0mphantly ,, +emonically.

NANC6

It-s real Mamma. 'eel it.

MA#E

(horri2ie+!

)0t that +amne+ thing +o&n

MA#E l0nges 2or it ,, NANC6 leaps o0t o2 reach ,,

NANC6

"is name is even in it ,, &ritten

right in here ,, 're+ 3r0eger ,,

're+ 3r0eger 6o0 /no& &ho that

is Mamma= 6o0 %etter tell me

ca0se no& he-s a2ter me

MA#E s&allo&s then persists in the lie.

MA#E

Nancy tr0st yo0r mother 2or

once ,, yo0-ll 2eel %etter as

soon as yo0 sleep



MA#E p0lls a&ay.

MA#E

6o0-re sic/ Nancy. Imagining

things. 6o0 nee+ to sleep

it-s as simple as that.

NANC6 &heels an+ smashes MA#E-s %ottle o2 gin in the sin/.

NANC6

Scre& sleep

MA#E (CONT!

Nancy

B0t NANC6 r0ns past her mother 2or the 2ront +oor.

MA#E (CONT!

Nancy ,, it-s only a nightmare

NANC6 t0rns in the +oor&ay.

NANC6

That-s eno0gh

On the +oor S*AM &e

C$T TO

E8T. S"A3ES)EA#E B#IE. A6.



AN*E ON A NEI"BO#"OO ST#EET. We hear *EN-s 4OICE an+ )AN

$)

to #E4EA* NANC6 an+ *EN high a%ove t&o tiny 2ig0res &al/ing

across this strange &hite %ri+ge in ol+ *os Angeles. CAME#A

BEINS A S*OW OOM.

*EN

Whenever I get nervo0s I eat.

NANC6

An+ i2 yo0 can-t +o that yo0

sleep.

*EN

$se+ to. Not anymore.

*EN 1ams more Big Mac/ into his 2ace. By no& o0r OOM

reveals

he-s attac/ing a h0ge %ag o2 Big Mac/s an+ 20rtively eyeing

NANC6. The girl-s hair is startlingly &hite in the s0nlight.

She-s rea+ing a %oo/ har+ly paying attention.

*EN (CONT!

6o0 ever rea+ a%o0t the Balinese

&ay o2 +reaming=

NANC6

No.

*EN

They got a &hole system they

call -+ream s/ills-. So i2

yo0 have a nightmare 2or



instance li/e 2alling right=

NANC6

6eah.

*EN

Instea+ o2 screaming an+ getting

n0ts yo0 say o/ay I-m gonna

ma/e 0p my min+ that I 2all

into a magic &orl+ &here I can

get something special li/e a

poem or song.

(grins hope20lly!

They get all their art literat0re

2rom +reams. >0st &a/e 0p an+

&rite it +o&n. reams/ills.

"e stops seeing the loo/ on NANC6-s 2ace. O0r OOM is m0ch

closer no& a &i+e me+i0m an+ still coming in on the /i+s.

NANC6

An+ &hat i2 they meet a monster

in their +ream= Then &hat=

*EN They t0rn their %ac/ on it.

(grins hope20lly!

Ta/es a&ay its energy an+

it +isappears.

NANC6

What happens i2 they +on-t +o

that=



*EN

(shr0gs!

I g0ess those people +on-t

&a/e 0p to tell &hat happens.

NANC6

reat.

She leans over the railing po/ing her 2ace %ac/ into her

%oo/.

*EN tips its cover an+ rea+s its title. O$# OOM IS STI**

MO4IN

C*OSE# a MEI$M C*OSE $) NOW.

*EN

-Boo%y Traps an+ Improvise+

Anti,personel evices-

NANC6

I 2o0n+ it at this neat

s0rvivalist %oo/store on

4ent0ra.

*EN

(shoc/e+!

Well &hat yo0 rea+ing it 2or=

O$# OOM *OC3S IN ON A TI"T TWO ON T"EI# 'ACES NANC6-s

grimly

+etermine+.

NANC6

I-m into s0rvival.



She &al/s a&ay O$T O' '#AME leaving *EN &atching a2ter her

in

astonishment.

*EN

She-s starting to scare the

living shit o0t o2 me.

E8T. E*M ST#EET7NANC6-S "OME7E4ENIN

AN*E AC#OSS NANC6-s KT#EE *AWNK the grass %et&een the

si+e&al/

an+ the street in the general +irection o2 *EN-s home. This

AN*E +oesn-t ;0ite reveal NANC6-s ho0se.

'O#E#O$N is a 0tility tr0c/ in &hich a hal2 +o5en "ispanic

WO#3E#S are loa+ing tools e<tension cor+s an+ har+&are. They

loo/ li/e they-ve p0t in one hell o2 a har+ +ay-s &or/.

MA#E appears an+ han+s a chec/ to the 'O#EMAN o2 the cre& a

&hite g0y in clean coveralls an+ a gol+ chain. he scr0tini5es

it.

'O#EMAN

An+ the other...

MA#E 2or/s over a &a+ o2 cash han+s trem%ling in her hal2,

+r0n/

helpless rage.

MA#E

Where-s yo0 mas/ an+ g0n=



The 'O#EMAN co0nts the money s&i2tly.

'O#MAN

on-t %0st my chops la+y.

I2 the city 2o0n+ o0t I p0t

-em in &itho0t insi+e releases

I-+ loose my license.

"e shoves the money in his poc/et an+ clim%s in his tr0c/.

MA#E

E8ITS '#AME 2or her ho0se.

)AN WIT" T"E T#$C3 as it p0lls a&ay T"EN )IC3 $) NANC6

&al/ing

across the street 2rom the corner. Alone. ispirite+. She

li2ts

her eyes to her home an+ stops in her trac/s.

NANC6

Oh gross...

WIENIN TO #E4EA* T"E "O$SE as NANC6 &al/s across her 2ront

yar+.

Every single &in+o& has %een covere+ &ith %ran+,ne& ornamental

iron %ars %olte+ +eeply into their 2rames.

C*OSE# AT A WINOW. NANC6 gives a set o2 %ars a po&er20l

sha/e.

They +on-t %0+ge. Then the girl loo/s 0p an+ sees even the

&in+o&

to her secon+ 2loor %e+room is %arre+. An+ the rose trellis

has

%een rippe+ +o&n an+ heape+ at the 2o0n+ation in a tangle o2

&oo+



thorns an+ %ro/en 2lo&ers.

INT. MA#E-S #OOM. E4ENIN.

AN*E ON T"E OO#WA6 INTO T"E "A**. easy listening M$SIC

&a2ts

thro0gh the air. NANC6 appears in the +oor&ay.

NANC6 (OS!

Mom &hat-s &ith the %ars=

#E4E#SE to MA#E proppe+ against the hea+%oar+ o2 her %e+ a

croo/e+ sha+o& in the gloom. A 2resh %ottle o2 in glints in

her

han+.

NANC6

Oh Mom...

The girls crosses an+ reaches gently 2or the %ottle. MA#E

snatches it a&ay.

MA#E

-s-mine...

She roc/s the %ottle in her arms.

NANC6

What-s &ith the %ars=

MA#E



S-c0rity.

NANC6 sits on the %e+ a s0rprining compassion entering her

voice.

NANC6

Mom I &ant to /no& &hat yo0

/no& a%o0t 're+ 3r0eger.

MA#E

ea+ an+ gone.

NANC6

I &ant to /no& ho& &here ,,

i2 yo0 +on-t tell me I-m going

to call +a++y.

MA#E gives a la0gh ,, a rasping chachination 2rom +eep in her

chest.

MA#E (CONT!

6o0r 2ather the cop. That-s a

goo+ one.

(col+er!

'orget 're+ 3r0eger. 6o0 +on-t

&ant to /no& %elieve me.

NANC6

I +o &ant to /no&. "e-s not

+ea+ an+ gone ,, he-s a2ter me

an+ i2 I sleep he-ll get me

I-ve got to /no&



MA#E %lin/s at her a moment then crac/s a terri%le croo/e+

grin.

MA#E

All right.

INT. NANC6-S CE**A#. NI"T.

MA#E +rags NANC6 hea+long +o&n the cellar stairs an+ across

the

room &ith a cra5y 20ry t&isting her +o&n near the 2o0n+ation.

An+ she thr0sts her 2ac so close to her +a0ghter-s that NANC6

reels 2rom the alcohol.

MA#E

6o0 &ant to /no& &ho 're+

3r0eger &as= "e &as a 2ilthy

chil+ /iller &ho got at least

t&enty /i+s /i+s 2rom o0r

area /i+s &e all /ne&. It

+rove 0s all cra5y &hen &e

+i+n-t /no& &ho &as +oing it ,,

%0t it &as even &orse &hen

they ca0ght him.

MA#E +ra&s hersel2 0p &ith a sha/e.

MA#E (CONT!

Oh la&yers got 2at an+ the 10+ge

got 2amo0s %0t someone 2orgot to

sign the search &arrant in the

right place an+ 're+ 3r0eger



&as 2ree 10st li/e that.

NANC6

So he-s alive=

MA#E smiles grimly.

MA#E

"e &o0l+n-ve stoppe+. The

%astar+ &o0l+-ve got mare

/i+s 2irst chance he got ,,

they 2o0n+ nearly ten %o+ies

in his %oiler room as it

&as. B0t the la& co0l+n-t

to0ch him.

At the mention o2 K%oiler roomK NANC6 gives a sha/e. MA#E

misses this too %0sy ta/ing a p0ll on the %ottle that-s never

le2t her han+.

MA#E (CONT!

What &as nee+e+ &ere some private

citi5ens &illing to +o &hat ha+

to %e +one.

She reels slo&ly loo/ing at NANC6 is +e2iance.

NANC6

(h0she+!

What +i+ yo0 +o mother=

MA#E cra+les the %ottle.



MA#E

B0nch o2 0s parents trac/e+ him

+o&n a2ter they let him go. 'o0n+

him in an ol+ %oiler room 10st

li/e %e2ore. Sa& him lying there

in that ca/e+ re+ an+ yello& s&eater

he al&ays &ore +r0n/ an- asleep

&ith his &eir+ /nives %y his si+e...

NANC6

(+rea+ing it!

o on...

MA#E reaches over an+ taps a +0sty t&o,gallon 10g o2 gasoline

near the la&n mo&er.

MA#E

We po0re+ gasoline all aro0n+

the place le2t a trail o0t the

+oor loc/e+ the +oor then...

She mimes stri/ing a match ,,

MA#E (CONT!

W"OOS"

"er arms shoot 0p an+ her eyes go &i+e &ith the light o2 that

2ire. There-s a&e in her voice. Then she +rops her arms.

MA#E (CONT!

(h0she+ remem%ering!

B0t 10st &hen it seeme+ not

even the +evil co0l+ live



in there any more ,, he crashe+

o0t li/e a %anshee all on 2ire

,, s&inging those 2inger/nives

every &hich +irection an+

screaming he... he &as going

to get 0s %y /illing all o0r

/i+s...

She stops &ith a s0++en ;0a/e an+ +rin/s 2or a long moment.

B0t

the inta/e +oesn-t hi+e the image. "er 2ace %athe+ in tears

she

loo/s at her +a0ghter an+ sha/es her hea+.

MA#E (CONT!

There &ere all those men Nancy

even yo0r 2ather oh yes even

him. B0t none co0l+ +o &hat

ha+ to %e +one ,, 3r0eger rolling

an+ screaming so lo0+ the &hole

state co0l+ hear ,, no one co0l+

ta/e yo0r 2ather-s g0n an+ /ill

him goo+ an+ proper e<cept me.

She s&eeps her han+ across the air in a terri2ic slash then

stops her han+ sha/ing her voice hoarse an+ terri2ie+. She

loo/s at her +a0ghter %egging.

MA#E (CONT!

So he-s +ea+ Nan. "e can-t

get yo0. Mommy /ille+ him.

'or someone &ho starte+ this 2ilm at a very yo0ng seventeen



things %0rie+ +o&n here= In o0r

o&n ho0se=

MA#E (CONT!

)roo2 he-s +ecla&e+. As 2or him

&e %0rie+ him goo+ an+ +eep.

MA#E shoves the /nives into their hi+ing place closes the

little

iron +oor.

MA#E (CONT!

So-s o/ay yo0 can sleep.

She l0rches 0p an+ staggers 0pstairs.

NANC6 shivers an+ loo/s +o&n at her arm. The c0t %eneath her

%an+age has %eg0n to %lee+ again. An+ 2rom insi+e the

20rnace as

i2 2rom +eep %elo& the )$*SIN o2 the %o0n+less nightmare,

%oiler

room can %e 2aintly hear+.


WIE ON T"E ST#EET AN BOT" "O$SES *EN-s on the right

NANC6-s

on the le2t. A TE*E)"ONE #INS. OOM IN ON *EN-s $)STAI#S

BE#OOM WINOW.

INT. *EN-S H NANC6-S BE#OOMS , INTE#C$T. NI"T.



*EN ya&ning crosses an+ pic/s 0p his telephone.

*EN

"ello=

NANC6 (telephone!

"i.

*EN

Oh. "i ho& y-+oing=

NANC6 loo/s o0t the &in+o& an+ to0ches her hair.

NANC6 (CONT!

'ine. Stan+ %y yo0r &in+o&

so I can see yo0. yo0 so0n+

a million miles a&ay.

In the lighte+ &in+o& across the &ay she can SEE *EN move

into

sight. In his shot &e can SEE NANC6 step into her &in+o&

%egin+

the %ars.

NANC6 (CONT!

M0ch %etter.

*EN

I hear+ yo0r ma &ent ape at the

sec0rity store to+ay. 6o0 loo/

li/e the )risoner o2 en+a or

something. "o& long-s it %een

since yo0 slept=



NANC6

Coming 0p on the seventh +ay. It-s

o/ay I chec/e+ 0iness. The

recor+-s eleven an+ I-ll %eat

that i2 I have to.

(%eat!

*isten I... I /no& &ho he is.

*EN

Who=

NANC6

The /iller.

*EN

6o0 +o=

NANC6

6eah an+ i2 he gets me I-m

pretty s0re yo0-re ne<t.

*EN is appalle+.

*EN Me= Why &o0l+ anyone &ant to

/ill me=

NANC6

on-t as/ ,, 10st give me some

help nailing this g0y &hen I

%ring him o0t.



*EN pales.

*EN

Bring him o0t o2 &hat=

NANC6

My +ream.

*EN

"o& yo0 plan to +o that=

NANC6

>0st li/e I +i+ the hat. "ave

a hol+ o2 the s0c/er &hen yo0

&a/e me 0p.

*EN

Me=

(s&itching %ac/ to a more

com2orta%le reality!

Wait a min0te yo0 can-t %ring

someone o0t o2 a +ream

NANC6

I2 I can-t then yo0 all can rela< %eca0se it-ll 10st %e a

simple case o2 me %eing n0ts.

*EN

I can save yo0 the tro0%le.

6o0-re n0tty as a 2r0itca/e.

I love yo0 any&ay.



NANC6

oo+ then yo0 &on-t min+ col+,coc/ing

this g0y &hen I %ring him o0t.

*EN

What=

NANC6

(simplicity itsel2!

6o0 hear+ me. I gra% him in the

+ream ,, yo0 see me str0ggling

so yo0 &a/e me 0p. We %oth come

o0t yo0 col+ coc/ the 20c/er

an+ &e got him. Clever h0h=

*EN

6o0 cra5y= "it him &ith &hat=

NANC6

6o0-re a 1oc/. 6o0 m0st have

a %ase%all %at or something.

Come to my &in+o& at mi+night.

An+ mean&hile...

*EN(&ea/ly!

Mean&hile...=

NANC6

Mean&hile &hatever yo0 +o

+on-t 2all asleep. Mi+night.

She hangs 0p. *EN-s eyes %0g o0t.



*EN

"oly shit Mi+night. Base%all

%ats an+ %oogemen. $n20c/ing

real.

E8T. T"E 4A**E6 AN "I**S. NI"T.

"I" WIE S"OT. The moon is a%ove the hori5on. A cool &in+

sli+es a %an/ o2 &hite 2og inlan+. The valley an+ its lights

stretch 2orever an en+less net o2 ill0mination an+ +ar/ness.

A

coyote "OW*S on the +ar/ hill.


A palm 2ron+ sc0ttles across the center o2 the par/ing lot.

*T

T"OM)SON arrives in an 0nmar/e+ car.

CO) (passing!

*ie0tenant Thompson ,, &hat

yo0 +oing in at this time=

*T T"OM)SON

Can-t sleep tho0ght I-+ come

%rea/ 0p the po/er game.

The CO) la0ghs an+ goes his &ay. T"OM)SON-s smile evaporates.



INT. )O*ICE STATION. NI"T.

T"OM)SON enters an+ chec/s the log. Near%y ST A#CIA po0rs

co22ee.

SE#EANT A#CIA

I2 it &as any more ;0iet &e

co0l+ hear o&ls 2arting.

*T T"OM)SON

Is ;0iet isn-t it=

SE#EANT A#CIA

(too cas0ally!

"o&-s yo0r girl=

T"OM)SON loo/s at the es/ Sergeant a moment then tosses +o&n

the

log.

*T T"OM)SON

She-s sensi%le. S"e-ll sleep

sooner or later.


The neigh%orhoo+ is 0tterly still most o2 the homes alrea+y

+ar/.

B0t not NANC6-s. Or *EN-s.

OOM TO *EN-S *I"TE *I4IN #OOM WINOW.



M#S *ANT comes along the 0pstairs hall an+ /noc/s gently at

the

close+ +oor.

M#S *ANT

len= yo0 all right=

She p0ts her ear to the +oor an+ listens.

M#S *ANT (CONT!

len honey=

No ans&er.

INT. *EN-S #OOM. NI"T.

*EN lies spra&le+ across the %e+ long legs 2l0ng over the

en+

hea+ not visi%le.

his mother enters. She loo/s at the %oy t0rns o22 the T4.

*oo/s

at him again. 'rom this angle she can see his hea+ earphones

cramme+ over it rasping their tinny noise. B0t no movement

2rom

the /i+ at all. M#S *ANT crosses an+ po/es him in the ri%s.

*EN l0rches 0p arms &in+milling.

*EN

Wh00=

"e re2oc0ses his eyes ta/es o22 his earphones.



M#S *ANT

"o& can yo0 listen to Carson an+

a recor+ at the same time=

*EN s&ings his legs over the e+ge o2 the %e+ an+ sha/es his

hea+

to clear the co%&e%s.

*EN

Wasn-t listening to the t0%e

10st &atching. Miss N0+e

America-s s0ppose+ to %e on

tonight.

M#S *ANT

Well ho& yo0 gonna hear &hat

she says=

*EN

Who cares &hat she says=

The mother gives 0p.

M#S *ANT

6o0 sho0l+ get ot sleep soon

len. It-s almost mi+night.

oo+ness /no&s &e-ve all ha+

eno0gh o2 a time the last 2e&

+ays...

*EN

I &ill Mom...in a &hile.

6o0 g0ys t0rning in=



We-ll go a&ay ta/e a vacation.

et yo0r hair colore+ nice the

&ay it &as. No one &ill ever

/no&.

(sni22s!

This &hole room smells o2 co22ee

y-/no&=

She gathers 0p NANC6-s co22ee c0ps an+ empty Noo5 %o<es

leans

+o&n an+ /isses her.

MA#E (CONT!

It-s all over no& %a%y. The

nightmare-s over. )lease.

NANC6 no+s her hea+ hal2 st0%%orn hal2 sa+ly. She can

%arely

/eep her eyes open no&.

NANC6

O/ay.

She scr0nches intoher pillo&. MA#E smiles haggar+ly an+

sh0ts

o22 the light ta/ing the co22ee pot &ith her as she leaves.

NANC6 (CONT!

Night,night.

MA#E smiles relieve+. The girl p0lls the %lan/et aro0n+ her

sho0l+ers. "er eyes 2l0tter close+ her %reathing %ecomes

reg0lar

an+ +eep. Once again she-s the litle girl MA#E 2antasi5es

she



is.

The mother tiptoes o0t o2 the room closing the +oor %ehin+

her.

"O* ON NANC6-s sleeping 2ace as the OO# C*OSES. "er eyes

remain

close+ another %eat then open &i+e.

She ;0ietly 10mps o0t o2 %e+ an+ sha/es hersel2 savagely to

scatter the sleep settling so ;0ic/ly.

Still in the +ar/ she 2ishes a 20ll electric co22epot 2rom0n+er

her %e+ an+ po0rs hersel2 a 2resh 2i< into a m0g she +igs 2rom

%eneath her pillo&. The 2ace ill0minate+ %y the neon light on

the

pot is set in a%sol0te +etermination.

NANC6 +rains the c0p then crosses to her closet retrieves a

pitcher o2 ice &ater 2rom %ehin+ a heap o2 clothes an+

splashes

her eyes an+ the %ac/ o2 her nec/. That +one she eases open

her

&in+o& an+ presses her 2ace to the %ars s0c/ing in cool night

air

0ntil every shre+ o2 sleep is gone 2rom her %rain.

Then she starts p0lling on clothes.

INT. NANC6-S "O$SE7OWNSTAI#S. NI"T..

AN*E ON MA#E as she chec/s the loc/ on the %ac/+oor. 'irm.

AN*E IN T"E *I4IN #OOM as she pa+s thro0gh the +ar/ene+

ho0se



2eels her &ay to a &all o2 shelves an+ ta/es +o&n a %oo/.

Then

another an+ a thir+. Then reaches in an+ 2ishes o0t a %ottle

o2

gin.

E8T. NANC6-S "O$SE AN E*M ST#EET. NI"T.

The s/y has gathere+ in greater +ar/ness. *OW ISTANT

T"$NE#

rolls aro0n+ the hori5on li/e a great +r0m.

AN*E ON NANC6-S "O$SE 2rom across the street. The moon

glints

o22 the %arre+ &in+o&s. CAME#A OOMS to NANC6-s &in+o&. The

imprisone+ girl hovers in the +ar/ness %ehin+ the grill li/e a

ghost her eyes t0rne+ to&ar+s *EN-s. Then she s&itches to

something m0ch C*OSE# TO CAME#A AN*E an+ she +ra&s %ac/.

#E4E#SE ON *EN-s 2ather stan+ing on the 2ront porch o2 his

home

also in the sha+o&s loo/ing straight across an+ 0p at NANC6.

"e

+ra&s on his cigarette his 2ace glo&s re+.

NANC6 p0lls +o&n the sha+e.

*EN-s 2ather grin+s the cigarette %eneath his shoe.

M#S *ANT

Sho0l+n-t stare.

As the man t0rns o0r S"OT WIENS TO #E4EA* M#S *ANT.



M# *ANT

3no& &hat I thin/= I thin/

that /i+-s some /in+a l0natic.

The &oman spoons more s&eetness into her mo0th an+ r0%s her

2orehea+.

M#S *ANT

Sho0l+n-t say s0ch a thing a%o0t

the poor chil+. I2 yo0 mean the

%ars Marge-s 10st %eing ca0tio0s

her %eing alone an+ Nancy acting

so nervo0s lately.

The &oman rises an+ p0lls him gently to&ar+s the living room.

As

he goes insi+e he ta/es one last loo/.

M# *ANT (CONT!

Well she ain-t gonna hang aro0n+

o0r %oy no more.

Once the t&o are insi+e the +oor is loc/e+.


C*OSE ON NANC6-s 2ace. 4E#6 C*OSE. "er eyes stare ahea+

re+,

rimme+ an<io0s. She pic/s a%sently at the thic/ %an+age

covering

her 2orearm. The long c0ts 2rom 're+ 3r0eger-s 2ingers are

%lee+ing agin %0t she +oesn-t even care anymore. Too late to

s&eat the small st022. She crosse the room.



On the %e+si+e ta%le &ith the nearly empty )yre< co22ee ma/er

the

empty c0p an+ the empty %o< o2 No,o5 is her ol+ 2ashione+

alarm

cloc/ an+ a phone.

NANC6 po0rs hersel2 the last o2 the co22ee an+ +rin/s it to

the

+regs then loo/s to the cloc/.

INSE#T C*OC3 ,, ten min0tes to mi+night.

NANC6-s eyes go to the +oor.

WIE#. '0lly clothe+ an+ in a 1ac/et no& she creeps to the

+oor

an+ crac/s it 10st to ma/e s0re. Then 2ree5es.

INT. "A**WA6 O$TSIE NANC6-S OO#.

IN NANC6-S )O4 tho0gh the +oor &e see MA#E r0mmaging aro0n+

in

the linen closet not 2i2teen 2eet a&ay. There-s no &ay NANC6

can

get past her. The &oman p0lls o0t a 20ll %ottle o2 gin in

satis2action an+ %egins 20m%ling &ith its cap.


NANC6 eases the +oor close+ again an+ sin/s to the /ey hole

&atching thro0gh it &ith a sin/ing heart.



NANC6

(very ;0iet very intense!

"ang on *EN...


*EN coat no& on goes to his &in+o& cheching.

INT. E*M ST#EET. NI"T.

*EN-S )O4 ,, NANC6-S porch is +eserte+ 2ront +oor close+

lights

o0t. No sign o2 NANC6.


*EN shr0gs ta/es o22 his 1ac/et an+ plops %ac/ onto his %e+.

*EN

Well I-m not gonna ris/

snea/ing o0t 0ntil she +oes.

"e p0ts the earphones %ac/ on.


A%sol0tely 2r0strate+ NANC6 t0rns 2rom the /eyhole to the

&in+o&.

She opens the %lin+ an+ eases %ac/ the c0rtain.




IN NANC6-S )O4 T"#O$" T"E BA#S &e OOM +irectly across to

*EN-s

&in+o&.


*EN lies on his %e+ 20lly clothe+ earphones over his ears

CA#SON +roning 2rom the T4. An+ the %oy-s eyes %egin to

+roop.

INT. NANC6-S BE#OOM. NI"T.

NANC6 pic/s 0p her phone %ites her lip then %egins +ialing.


TI"T ON )"ONE as it %egins #ININ lo0+ly.

WIE# S"OT revealing *EN asleep BAC3#O$N the M$SIC still*O$

in his earphones.

INT. *EN-S *I4IN #OOM. NI"T.

#ININ here too 10st as M# *ANT is t0rning o0t the lights

2or



%e+. he stops in the +ar/ sco&ling.

M# *ANT

Who at this ho0r=

"e re20ses to t0rn the light %ac/ on. "is &i2e pic/s her &ay

to

the telephone.

M#S *ANT

"ello=

(listens 2ro&ns

slightly!

Oh... "ol+ on.

(covers the mo0thpiece!

It-s her. She &ants to tal/ to

len.

The 2ather crosses to the telephone s0spicio0s.

M# *ANT

(&hispering!

A%o0t &hat=

M#S *ANT

(into phone!

What-s this a%o0t Nancy=

She listens covers 0p again.

M#S *ANT (CONT!

She says it-s private. 4ery



private an+ very important.

M# *ANT gra%s the telephone 2rom his &i2e an+ %ar/s into it.

M# *ANT

len-s asleep. Tal/ to him

tomorro&

"e S*AMS +o&n the telephone &ith a gr0nt o2 satis2action to

his

&i2e.

M# *ANT (CONT!

>0st got to %e 2irm &ith /i+s

is all.

Then as a re2inement he ta/es the phone o22 the hoo/ an+ lays

it

on the ta%le.


NANC6 +ials again. This time she gets a B$S6 SINA*. She

slams

the phone +o&n in 2r0stration an+ loo/s o0t the &in+o&.

NANC6

len. on-t 2all asleep...

She goes an+ sits on the %e+ propping her chin on her 2ists.

ya&ns. The TE*E)"ONE #INS.

NANC6 snatches it 0p.



NANC6

len=

TI"T ON "E# OOMIN E4EN C*OSE# ON "E# EA# AN T"E EA#)IECE

as

&e "EA# the a&20l SC#ITC"IN SC#A)E o2 STEE* 'INE#3NI4ES.

NANC6 slaps the phone +o&n as i2 it &ere +isease+ ,, then in

p0re

rage rips the thing-s cor+ 2rom the &all.

Spent instantly she p0ts the receiver %ac/ on the cra+le an+

lays it on her %e+ chi+ing hersel2.

NANC6

Brilliant. No& &hat i2 len

calls=

She &raps the phone cor+ aro0n+ the 0seless machine an+ p0ts

it on

her %e+ then snea/s %ac/ to the +oor. This timeshe gives an

e<pression o2 relie2 an+ opens the +oor. MA#E is gone.

Then the TE*E)"ONE #INS again.

CAME#A MO4ES IN ON NANC6 as she t0rns slo&ly.

#E4E#SE IN "E# )O4. T"E TE*E)"ONE #INS again +espite the

2act

that the en+ o2 its yan/e+,o0t cor+ is clearly visi%le. The

NI"TMA#E M$SIC T"EME slips right 0p o0r spines.

BAC3 ON NANC6. She starts to sha/e. She goes to the

telephone as



&e WIEN 0n&raps it as it #INS even lo0+er. She-s sha/ing

so

har+ %y no& she can %arely manage to li2t the receiver. MO4E

IN

C*OSE ON "E# so close &e can "EA# her teeth chattering as she

%rings the phone to her ear.

NANC6 (CONT!

"ello=

The 0nmista/ea%le 4OICE o2 '#E 3#$EE# comes over the phone

gar%le+ %y time an+ 0n/no&n +imensions %0t clear eno0gh.

3#$EE# ('I*TE#!

(tri0mphant!

I-m yo0r %oy2rien+ no&...

C*OSE ON T"E MO$T")IECE. It-s change+ 2rom a normal telephone

mo0thpiece to an act0al mo0th ,, 're+ 3r0eger-s mo00th ,, an+his

long slic/ tong0e 2lic/s o0t an+ +arts into the startle+

girl-s

mo0th

WIE# ,, as NANC6 e<plo+es 2rom her micro,+ream ,, a%sol0tely

ma+.

She 1er/s the telephone a&ay 2rom her an+ smashes it againsther

&all then attac/s it &ith her 2eet an+ han+s smashing it to

smithereens.

AN*E ON T"E TE*E)"ONE )IECES. Normal pieces o2 a normal

telephone.

She pinches hersel2 har+ ,, 0ntil tears come an+ her 2lesh is



nearly %lee+ing.

NANC6

I-m a&a/e I am a&a/e. This is

not a +ream I am ,,

She stops reali5ing &hat 3r0eger meant.

NANC6 (CONT!

My %oy2rien+...


NANC6 %arrels +o&n the stairs an+ across the +ar/ene+ living

room

to the 2ront +oor.

It ta/es her a moment o2 t0gging an+ 20m%ling to reali5e the

+ea+%olt is loc/e+ 2rom insi+e. An+ there-s no /ey in it no&.

She races to a porch &in+o& an+ thro&s it open sha/ing an+

%anging on the %ars li/e a ma+ &oman. B0t there-s no getting

thro0gh. She staggers %ac/. stymie+ an+ 20rio0s. Then

some%o+y

moves %ehin+ her in the +ar/.

4OICE (OS!

*oc/e+.

NANC6 10mps aro0n+ in shoc/. "er mother has poste+ hersel2 on

the

co0ch &ith her %ottle.



NANC6

(20rio0s!

ive me the /ey mother.

MA#E

I +on-t even have it on me

so 2orget it.

The &or+ is 2inal. NANC6 r0ns past the &oman to the %ac/

+oor to

one &in+o& a2ter the other sha/ing %ars an+ slamming loc/s

an+

SC#EAMIN in teenage 20ry. B0t it-s no goo+. The ho0se is

her

prison.

MA#E (CONT!

(+r0n/ satis2action!

)ai+ the g0y +amn goo+ to ma/e

s0re yo0 staye+ p0t. 6o0 ain-t

goin- no&here /i+. 6o0-re

gonna sleep tonight i2 it /ills

me.

NANC6 clenches her 2ists an+ screams at the top o2 her l0ngs

a

heart,&renching ear+r0m,%rea/ing cry o2 love in +espair ,,

NANC6

*EEENNNNNN

SMAS" C$T TO:




C*OSE ON *EN-S '#OM I#ECT*6 ABO4E. The M$SIC is tinny 2rom

the

earphones the T4 SO$N ITANT AN EC"OE. The %oy is

%reathing

+eeply no& slo&ly an+ gently. Then 0nmista/ea%ly ge %egins

to

SNO#E. 4ery 2aintly 2ar in the %ac/gro0n+ &e can hear

NANC6.

NANC6 (OS!

len on-t 2all asleeeeeep

CAME#A )$**S BAC3 AN ST#AI"T $) as the SNO#ES merge &ith a

&eir+ 0nsettling M$SIC C$E. The %oy lies spra&le+ still

clothe+ in the mi++le o2 his %e+. Save 2or the %e+si+e lamp

the

room is +ar/.

'$** WIE AN*E '#OM T"IS "I" S)OT loo/ing +o&n at him as2rom

the eyes o2 some great 2ly h0ng on the ceiling. T"E M$SIC

#EAC"ES

A TE##I'6IN )ITC" O' ANTICI)ATION ,, T"EN STO)S AB#$)T*6.

There-s a heart%eat-s pa0se. Then &ith tremen+o0s 2orce t&o

po&er20l arms shoot 0p %eneath the re+ an+ yello& %e+sprea+

an+gra% *EN aro0n+ the &aist

ne<t moment the yo0ng man-s %o+y is +ragge+ straight +o&n into

the

%e+ as i2 some h0ge %east ha+ gra%%e+ him an+ heave+ him

+o&n

"is 2eet an+ his arms shoot 0p ,, there-s another ha0ling yan/

,,



an+ the %oy +isappears e<cept 2or his han+s an+ 2ingers ,,

+o&n

into the pit in the mi++le o2 the %e+ "is han+s are last to

go

cla&ing 2or a hol+. B0t soon they vanish as &ell +ragging

%lan/ets an+ +e+sheets &ires an+ stereo across the cave+,in

%e+

an+ into the a%yss.

There-s "IEO$S SC#EEC"IN o2 M$SIC 1amming in &ith *EN-S

EC"OIN

SC#EAMS ,, then an 0nholy s0++en silence.

Ne<t moment &hat-s le2t o2 *EN is vomite+ 0p 2rom the pit o2

the

nightmare %e+...a horri%le mess o2 %loo+ an+ %one an+ hair an+

&ires...streaming o0t an+ over the %e+. Then the pit in the

%e+

is gone as i2 it &ere never there.

ra&n %y the terri%ly scrams an+ str0ggle *EN-s mother

%0rsts

into the room. The &omen stares 2or one moment o2 horri2ie+

+is%elie2 then reels %ac/ an+ lets o0t th emost go+,a&20l

SC#EAM

imagina%le. The cry splits the night.


The SO$N o2 the SC#EAM C#OSS,'AES WIT" the WAI* o2 the

AMB$*ANCE

as it screeches to a halt at the c0r% 2ollo&e+ %y t&o B*AC3

AN

W"ITES an+ an $NMA#3E CA#. $ni2orme+ )O*ICEMEN spill o0t

'O#E#O$N.



*T T"OM)SON an+ )A#3E# e<it the 0nmar/e+ car. By ha%it or %y

premonition T"OM)SON glances at the ho0se that &as his home.

"is

eye is ca0ght %y a movement his +a0ghter is at her 0pstairs

&in+o& &hite,haire+ hollo&,eye+ loo/ing +o&n on him thro0gh

her

%ars. She gives a little &ave.

$nnerve+ T"OM)SON &aves %ac/ then &al/s rapi+ly 2or *EN-s

home.

M# *ANT pale as a ghost himsel2 &aits on the porch &e can

hear

the mother-s WAI*IN insi+e.


C*OSE ON NANC6-S BI O* WIN$) A*A#M C*OC3. Its %ig an+

little

han+s s&eep together at mi+night.

B$#N ON:

T"E 'I'T" NI"T

There-s a BABB*E o2 )O*ICE #AIOS SI#ENS WININ OWN#$NNIN

'OOT,STE)S S"O$TS NEI"BO#"OO 3IS an+ OS BA#3IN as

CAME#A

*I'TS TO NANC6-S 'ACE. Set. $na2rai+. #0thless.

The girl p0lls the &in+o& sha+e on it all then loo/s at her

%e+.

NANC6



O/ay 3r0eger yo0 %astar+.

We play in yo0r co0rt.

INT. *EN-S *I4IN #OOM7NANC6-S 3ITC"EN ,, INTE#C$T. NI"T.

*T T"OM)SON is hal2&ay across the living room &hen he stops.

Something +ar/ an+ re+ is &elling 2rom a crac/ in the ceiling.

One o2 his men is rigging a %0c/et %eneah to catch the

lea/ing.

The telephone rings an+ )A#3E# pic/s it 0p.

)A#3E#

*ie0tenant. It-s yo0r +a0ghter.

Says it-s 0rgent.

T"OM)SON t0rns a&ay 2rom the +ripping.

*T T"OM)SON

(lo&!

Tell her I-m not here tell

her...

)A#3E#

$h she 10st sa& yo0 sir...

T"OM)SON no+s crosses an+ pic/s 0p the telephone. SC#EEN

S)*ITS

&e see %oth.

*T T"OM)SON (CONT!

"ello Nancy.



NANC6

"i +a++y. I /no& &hat happene+.

*T T"OM)SON

Then yo0 /no& more than I +o ,,

I haven-t even %een 0pstairs.

NANC6

(g0essing!

6o0 /no& he-s +ea+ tho0gh right=

T"OM)SON +e%ates then a+mits it.

*T T"OM)SON

6eah apparantly he-s +ea+.

"o& the hell-+ yo0 /no&=

A tear coarses +o&n NANC6-s chee/ %0t her voice remains 2irm.

NANC6

I-ve got a proposition 2or

yo0. *isten very care20lly

please.

*T T"OM)SON Nan I ,,

NANC6

)lease. I-m gonna go get

the g0y &ho +i+ it an+ %ring

. him to yo0. I 10st nee+ yo0

to %e right there to arrest him.

O/ay=



*T T"OM)SON

>0st tell me &ho +i+ it an+

I-ll go get him %a%y.

NANC6

're+ 3r0eger +i+ it a++y

an+ only I can get him. It-s

my nightmare he comes to.

The +etective 2linches at the name.

*T T"OM)SON

Where-+ yo0 hear a%o0t 3r0eger ,,

NANC6 presses very 2irm very rational.

NANC6

,, I &ant yo0 to come over here

an+ %rea/ the +oor +o&n e<actly

t&enty min0tes 2rom no& ,, can

yo0 +o that=

*T T"OM)SON

S0re %0t...

NANC6

That-ll %e e<actly hal2 past

mi+night. Time 2or me to 2all

asleep an+ 2in+ him.

*T T"OM)SON

S0re s0re honey. 6o0 10st



+o that ,, get yo0rsel2 some

sleep ,, that-s &hat I-ve %een

saying all along.

NANC6

An+ yo0-ll %e here to catch

him right=

)A#3E#

*ie0tenant ,, they-re &aiting

0pstairs.

T"OM)SON &aves c0rtly still spea/ing to NANC6.

*T T"OM)SON

S0re o/ay I-ll %e there.

No& yo0 10st t0rn in an+ get

some rest s&eetheart. )lease.

eal=

NANC6

eal.

NANC6 hangs 0p. *T T"OM)SON starts 0pstairs. B0t then he

stops

an+ as an a2tertho0ght he co0l+ never really e<plain t0rns to

)A#3E#.

*T T"OM)SON (CONT!

et o0tsi+e an+ &atch her ho0se.

I2 yo0 see anything 20nny call

me.



)A#3E#

-Anything 20nny- li/e &hat=

T"OM)SON sha/es his hea+ em%arasse+.

*T T"OM)SON

I +on-t /no& ,, %0t one thing

2or s0re I +on-t &ant her

coming over here. She-s &ay

too 2ar gone to %e a%le to

han+le this.

As )A#3E# e<its AN*E C$TS TO NANC6-S 3ITC"EN as the girl

hangs

0p an+ sin/s %ac/ agiainst the &all trappe+ %y her o&n

resol0tion. She loo/s at her &atch.

INSE#T ,, 2ive past mi+night. NANC6 s&itches mo+es to

stop&atch

an+ sets the CO$NTOWN going at t&enty,2ive min0tes.

INT. *EN-S BE#OOM. NI"T.

*T T"OM)SON steps into *EN-s room an<io0s to %e +one &ith

it.

"e hits a &all o2 stench an+ horror even %e2ore he ta/es it in

&ith his eyes an+ as soon as he sees the %e+ he claps his

han+

over his mo0th pivots an+ &al/s right %ac/ into the hall&ay.

INT. "A**WA6. NI"T.

"e sags against the &all 0na%le to loo/ at the CO)S &ho hover



there.

CO) L9

(2aint!

What the hell +i+ that

*ie0tenant= There ain-t even

a hea+ le2t.

*T T"OM)SON

o++ame+ i2 I /no&.

(tries to straighten!

What-s the Coronor say=

CO) L9

he-s in the 1ohn p0/ing since

he sa& it.

INT. CE**A#. NI"T.

NANC6 p0lls tools an+ har+&are o0t &ith grim resol0tion.

"ammer

nails spools o2 &ire an ol+ s;0are o2 heavy 2ishneting some

ol+

shotg0n shells a 2ile ,, re2erring only once to the %oo/let

in

her han+.


Barely a%le to control her sha/ing han+s NANC6 starts

stringing

o22 the spool o2 &ire across the living room crying an+

s&earing



at the same time.

ISSO*4E TO "E# "ANS &rapping %are lamp &ire aro0n+ t&o

th0m%tac/s st0c/ into the insi+es o2 the pinchers o2 a common

&oo+en clothespin. The &ire goes O'' SC#EEN.

ANOT"E# AN*E as she insersts a *i2esaver %et&een the t&o

prongs.

One en+ o2 the 2ishline is tie+ to the li2esaver. The &hole

no&

is stretche+ ta0t a%o0t three inches o22 the living room

carpet.

ON NANC6 care20lly 2iling a hole in a *I"TB$*B.

O" "E# po0ring po&+er an+ shot 2rom shotg0n shells into the

opening in the %0l% 0ntil it-s 20ll then sealing it &ith

tape.

ISSO*4E TO "E# scre&ing the %0l% %ac/ into the 2loor lamp

an+

placing the thing near the 2oot o2 the stairs.

INT. NANC6-S $)STAI#S "A**WA6. NI"T.

,, NANC6 completes installing a st0r+y sli+ing %olt to theo0tsi+e

o2 her o&n %e+room +oor.

,, NANC6 scre&s a hinge into the &all +irectly a%ove her +oor.

Attache+ to the hinge is the shan/ o2 something ,, some /in+

o2

tool. We can-t see &hat it is %eca0se CAME#A never ;0ite

2rames

the &hole thing.



,, NANC6 tiptoes to her mother-s +oor an+ pee/s in.

INT. MA#E-S BE#OOM. NI"T.

MA#E lies proppe+ in her %e+ loo/ing %ac/ at NANC6. "er

+r0n/eness has %een altere+ %y the SI#ENS an+ BABB*E o0tsi+e

into

a sort o2 comatose clarity.

MA#E

0ess I sho0l+-n-a +one it.

NANC6

>0st sleep no& Mom.

MA#E

>0st &ante+ to protect yo0

Nan. >0st &ante+ to protect

yo0...

MA#E sli+es over on her si+e. NANC6 smooths her hair covers

her

as she &o0l+ a chil+ then e<its the room.


The girl enters t0rns o0t her %e+si+e light slips o0t o2 her

+ress an+ p0ts on her nightgo&n. Then she /neels %y her %e+.

NANC6 (;0ietly!



No& I lay me +o&n to sleep

I pray the *or+ my so0l to /eep.

I2 I sho0l+ +ie %e2ore I &a/e

I pray the *or+ my so0l to ta/e.

She gets into %e+ an+ p0lls the %lan/ets to her chin.

C*OSE ON NANC6-s 2ace. She stares straight 0p at the ceiling

2or

a long moment then closes her eyes.

C$T TO:

INT. *EN-S *I4IN #OOM. NI"T.

*T T"OM)SON tr0+ges +o&n the stais an+ con2ronts *EN-S

'AT"E#.

*T T"OM)SON

I /no& it-s har+ to thin/ at

a time li/e this Walter %0t

can yo0 thin/ o2 anyone &ho

co0l+-ve +one s0ch a thing=

The 2ather stares a&ay his voice lo& an+ +0ll.

M# *ANT

"e +one it.

T"OM)SON loo/s at theman %a22le+.

*T T"OM)SON



Who= Who +i+ that=

M# *ANT

3r0eger.

*T T"OM)SON

3r0eger=

The 2ather gives him the strangest loo/.

M# *ANT

"a+ to-ve +one it. No one

else &as in there.

*T T"OM)SON

"o& yo0 /no& that=

M# *ANT

Ca0se I tho0ght glen &as

gonna snea/ o0t to see yo0r

l0natic +a0ghter that-s &hy.

So I loc/e+ him in his room

(gettign control!

Sorry. Any&ays the +oor &as

still loc/e+ &hen &e hear+ the screams.

"e %lin/s.

M# *ANT (CONT!

May%e go+-s p0nishing 0s all...

*T T"OM)SON



(m0ch lo&er an+ har+!

3eep yo0 hea+ ,, this is a

20c/ing 2lesh an+ %loo+ /iller

&e-re tal/ing a%o0t.

M# *ANT

*i/e #o+ *ane=

A voice calls +o&n 2rom 0pstairs.

CO) L9 (OS!

*ie0tenant Thompson. Coronor

&ants to sho& yo0 something.

T"OM)SON gives M# *ANT one 2inal loo/ then hea+s 0pstairs.

C$T TO:

INT. OWNSTAI#S. NANC6-S "O$SE. NI"T.

*OW AN*E $) STAI#S as NANC6 appears at hea+. As she comes

+o&nstairs CAME#A MO4ES WIT" "E# thro0gh the hall&ay to the

cellar +oor. She opens the +oor.

INT. NANC6-S CE**A#. NI"T.

NANC6 appears at top o2 these stairs hesitates then comes

+o&n.

WIE# as NANC6 approaches center o2 room stops in C$ then

t0rns



eyes. We "EA# the +istant SO$N o2 the %oiler room no& 2aint

%0t

0nmista/ea%le. NANC6 MO4ES an+ CAME#A )ANS "E# to the

cellar-s

si+e WA** &here another ne& +oor&ay is #E4EA*E. NANC6opens

this +oor an+ loo/s +o&n. 'I#E*I"T is on NANC6-s 2ace no&

an+

the SO$N o2 the Boiler #oom is very clear. NANC6 goes

thro0gh

the +oor.

INT. BOI*E# #OOM.

NANC6 +ecen+s li/e Orphe0s into hell %0t &itho0t &epon save

her

&its.

She +ecen+s a steel stair to the lo&est level then hears the

SO$N o2 the /nives 2rom +on& another sha2t. She sees there-s

an

even +eeper place +o&n there. She starts +o&n.

Again an+ then again NANC6 +ecen+s each la++er narro&er or

more

t&isting each level +eeper &etter +ar/er more airless.

Soon

she-s gasping 2or air %0t still she p0shes hersel2 on. She

+oesn-t stop 0ntil she %rea/s o0t at last at the very %ottom

o2

the place a &et 2irelit s0mp +eep in the %o&els o2 the

place.

CAME#A NOW )ANS A#O$N WIT" "E# an+ 2or the 2irst time &e SEE

the

vast ma0l o2 the empty %oiler %ehin+ her.



She stares at it. It-s seething &ith some +ar/ WIN that

so0ghs

an+ &hines li/e a h0ge +ying +og.

NANC6 crosses to it to0ching the pile o2 ol+ coal,+0ste+

+irt at

its %ase. It loo/s almost li/e an ol+ grave.

She t0rns s0++enly listening. Then hearing nothing she

loo/s

+o&n.

NANC6-S )O4 as she pic/s 0p *EN-s earphones.

WIE# as she s0++enly +rops them staring at her 2ingers.

They-re

+ripping %loo+.

There-s another BEE).

INSE#T ON NANC6-S WATC" ,, the CO$NT,OWN a %l0r o2 %lac/

+igits

co0nting +o&n to 5ero. They-ve 10st crosse+ the ten min0te

&arning.

C*OSE ON NANC6-S 'ACE. She spea/s into the night.

NANC6

(;0ietly!

Come o0t an+ sho& yo0rsel2

yo0 %astar+.

No sooner are these &or+s o22 her lips than the h0ge %0l/ o2'#E



3#$EE# l0rches 0p %ehin+ her The man is even more hi+eo0s

hatless his %al+ hea+ an+ tormente+ 2ace veile+ in s/eins o2

r0ine+ 2lesh his ragge+ teeth %arre+ the great spi+er o2

ra5or,

%la+es 2lashing 2rom his 2ingertips.

"e leaps %0t the girl leaps 10st as 2ast a 2ierce 10mp that

sen+s her o0t over %lac/ space an+ +o&n into a h0ge +ar/ s0mp

o2

%lac/ness.

E8T. T"E "EA4ENS. NI"T.

C*OSE AN*E ON NANC6 as she c0rves li/e a s&an tho0gh her

apogee

an+ %egins 2alling +iving planing thro0gh %lac/ air the

&in+

ripping at her hair an+ eyes. S0++enly the comple<

glittering

s/ein o2 light that is the San 'ernan+o 4alley seen 2rom the

air

sli+es INTO '#AME an+ &e see she-s 2alling 2rom high high

over

the earth.

NANC6 2alls 2alls in slo& motion against the spinning lights

2ree as a s/y +iver 2ree2alling ,, a gi++y acropho%ic pl0nge.

E8T. E*M ST#EET. NANC6-S "O$SE. NI"T.

NANC6 crashes s0++enly o0t o2 the night an+ into a he+ge 10st

o0tsi+e her o&n 2ront +oor rolling o0t at its %ottom

scratche+



an+ %loo+ie+. I2 she &ere in any normal reality she-+ %e a

mass

o2 %ro/en %ones ,, %0t someho& she-s a%le to cla& her &ay 0p

an+

loo/ at her &atch once more.

INSE#T. >0st a 2e& secon+s 2rom 5ero.

She staggers 2or her ho0se-s 2ront +oor ,, %0t a moment later

3#$EE# crashes +o&n atop her NANC6 str0ggles to her /nees

10st

as the man l0nges &ith that go+a&20l han+20l o2 %la+es. B0t

instea+ o2 r0nning she +0c/s insi+e the +ea+ly gra% an+

sei5es

him in a +esperate %earh0g

The s0rprise move sen+s him pitching %ac/&ar+s her still on

him ,

,an+ they 2all into the 10m%le o2 torn,+o&n trellis o2 roses

%eneath her &in+o&. Almost at that very secon+ &e "EA# the

1arring +ea2ening #ININ o2 NANC6-s alarm cloc/

SMAS" C$T TO:

INT. NANC6-S BE#OOM. NI"T.

NANC6 spra&ls o0t o2 her %e+ onto the 2loor t&isting 2rom the

1a%s o2 the alrea+y vanishe+ thorns %riars an+ %r0sh.

asping

she ta/es a secon+ to get her %earings an+ sees ne<t instant

that

she-s act0ally lyig on the s0r2ace o2 a &all hal2,&ay 0p over

her

%e+ in a cra5y hal2,+ream hal2,&a/ing gravity mista/e.

Instantly she pl0nges to the %e+ li/e a sac/ o2 roc/s



thro0gh ,, only to re%o0n+ o22 someone on the other si+e ,,

INT. "A**WA6. NI"T.

MA#E /noc/e+ 2lying %y NANC6-s charge hits the 2loor har+

/noc/ing the &in+ o0t o2 hersel2. NNC6 sees &hat she-s +one

10mps over the %o+y an+ slams the +oor an+ thro&s the ne& %olt

home. Ne<t instant she gingerly ties a string to the +oor-s

/no%

a string that trails +o&n 2rom the ceiling attache+ to

something

0p there that-s still 10st %arely o0t o2 sight.

Ne<t instant she-s +ragging her MOT"E# to&ar+s the &oman-s

%e+room

as 2ast as she can.

3#$EE# is alrea+y splintering the +oor&ay %ehin+ her as NANC6

+ips an+ ma/es it into MA#E-s room S*AMMIN the OO# %ehin+

her

an+ loc/ing it in a 2lash.

The MANIAC %rea/s the %olt an+ rips open the +oor.

B0t in the very act o2 +oing this he o2 co0rse 0n/no&ingly

p0lls

the string attache+ to the o0tsi+e +oor/no% &ith terri2ic

2orce.

C*OSE AN*E ON T"E CEI*IN. The string 1er/s against a

single,

e+ge+ ra5or &hich in t0rn c0ts a tight &in+ o2 cor+ hol+ing a

heavy &e+ge o2 steel to the ceiling.



WIE# as the thing 2alls 2ree pivoting at the hinge at the

2ar

en+ o2 its han+le an+ +rives straight into 3#$EE#-s groin

&ith a

terri2ic %lo&. As he catapa0lts %ac/&ar+s &ithan incre+0lo0s

shrie/ the t&enty po0n+ sle+ge hammer s&ings %ac/ an+ reveals

to

the camera 10st &hat it is

AN*E OWN ON 3#$EE# cla&&ing his &ay 0p +espite his agony

l0rching an+ c0rsing 2or&ar+ li/e an enrage+ %0ll.

WIE# AN*E IN T"E "A**WA6 as 3#$EE# roars o0t ,, only to

imme+iately stri/e the length o2 WI#E str0ng across the

hall&ay

catching it 10st a%ove the thigh. "e car&heels hea+,over,

heels

an+ lan+s 2lat on his %ac/

Instantly the OO# to NANC6-s MOT"E#-s %e+room 2lies open an+

NANC6 %rings a %rass lamp +o&n over 3#$EE#-s hea+ &ith all

her

might It so0n+s li/e a line,+rive caroming o22 a metal

2lagpole.

NANC6 S*AMS the OO# as 3#$EE# str0ggles 0p cl0tching his

hea+.

Enrage+ the h0ge man C#AS"ES against the +oor &ith terri2ic

2orce an+ rears %ac/ an+ starts smashign against the +oor

li/e

the 0tter homoci+al l0natic that he is.

C$T TO:



E8T. E*M ST#EET7NANC6-S "OME. NI"T.

"I" AN*E at the secon+ 2loor level. NANC6 1er/s open the

&in+o&

to her MOT"E#-s %e+room an+ 1ams her 2ace to the %ars. The

AMB$*ANCE is p0lling a&ay &ith a tremen+o0s WAI* o2 its SI#EN

as

NANC6 SC#EAMS +o&n trying to ma/e hersel2 hear+.

NANC6

"elp "ey ,, a++y ,, I got

him trappe+ Where are yo0=

AN*E ON the street. )A#3E# assigne+ to g0ar+ the ho0se

sees

NANC6 ,, hair &hite eyes &i+e ,, po0n+ing on the %ars an+

screaming li/e a l0natic. B0t her meaning is 0tterly lost in

the

noise o2 the am%0lance ne<t to him.

)A#3E#

(yelling 0p at her!

Everything-s going to %e all

right Everything-s 0n+er

control

AN*E at the &in+o&. Close on NANC6-s 2ace incre+0lo0s at

his

response.

NANC6

et my 2ather yo0 asshole

)A#3E# +oes a little ta/e. That almost so0n+e+ sane.



)A#3E# (OS!

6o0 hear+ &hat I sai+ No& get

%ac/ insi+e or I-ll tell yo0r

+a+

Behin+ her the OO# S)*INTE#S. NANC6 &hirls aro0n+ 10st in

time

to see 3#$EE# %0ll in NANC6-s eyes go &i+e ,, she-s trappe+

against the %ars an+ has no&here to go. The man %0nches his

/nives into a single thic/ %la+e an+ r0shes her sta%%ing.

NANC6

closes her eyes ,,

Then 2rom O$T O' '#AME MA#E leaps %et&een the t&o.

MA#E

No

She %loc/s the charge per2ectly ,, %loc/ign the /nives. Bothshe

an+ NANC6 are slamme+ %ac/&ar+s against the %ars %ehin+.

MA#E

tho0ght she is +r0n/ is hanging onto 3#$EE#-s &eapon han+

/eeping the /nives insi+e hersel2 a&ay 2rom her +a0ghter

MA#E

Nancy ,, 2or go+-s sa/e-s r0n

B0t NANC6 t0rns ot teh &in+o& instea+ screaming 2or her

2ather.

NANC6

a++y Where are yo0




)A#3E# 10st a%o0t to t0rn %ac/ to the %0siness at *EN-s

ho0se

sees NANC6 an+ SOMEONE else 2all 10st insi+e the &in+o&.

Something %egins to +a&n on the man. >0st a little.

)A#3E#

)oor &oman-s got her han+s 20ll

&ith that /i+. May%e I %etter

tell the lie0tenant.

"e t0rns an+ 1ogs to&ar+s *EN-s ho0se.


AN*E ON 3#$EE# ha0ling MA#E 0p in rage /noc/ing her

senseless

across her %e+ an+ clim%ing a2ter her &ith his /nives raise+.

NANC6 &heels %ehin+ him an+ &hams him in the /i+neys &ith her

2ists spilling him %ac/ o22 the %e+ then r0nning past him

2or

the +oor. She ma/es it to sa2ety then t0rning %ac/. She

2lips

the monster the %ir+ her eyes &il+ &ith pain an+ 20ry.

NANC6

"ey 20c/2ace ,, can-t catch me

The %ait &or/s ,, 3#$EE# leaves MA#E an+ ho&ls a2ter NANC6.

INT. $)STAI#S "A**WA6. NI"T.



As NANC6 clears he hall an+ ma/e sth estairs 3#$EE# l0rches

thro0gh the shattere+ +oor&ay a2ter her.

INT. *I4IN #OOM. NI"T.

The girl careens +o&n the stairs across the room an+ to the

2ront

+oor %anging against it &ith terri2ie+ 20ry.

NANC6

(screaming!

Come on ,, he-s in here

a++y on-t let him /ill

me too

%ehin+ her the h0ge MAN is th0mping +o&n the stairs 3NOC3IN

T"INS O4E# SC#A)IN his *ON STEE* 'INE#NAI*S along the

&all

&ith a horri%le so0n+

NANC6 2lings a heavy ash tray thro0gh the porch &in+o& an+

screams

thro0gh the %ars.

NANC6 (CONT!

"EE***))) a++yyyyyyy

3#$EE# %loo+y an+ spe&&ing threats staggers 2or her ,,

NANC6

+ives %ehin+ the co0ch.

C*OSE ON 3#$EE#-S EET as they hit another &ire.



C*OSE ON the *i2esaver 1er/ing o0t ,, the clothespin snapping

together completing the circ0it &ith a C#AC3*IN S)A#3.

WIE# ON T"E E8)*OSION that rips o0t o2 the 2loor lamp ne<t to

3#$EE# an+ /noc/s him spra&ling across the room.

NANC6 pee/s o0t 2rom %ehin+ the co0ch. The man lies in a

smo/ing

heap. NANC6 r0ns to the &in+o&s an+ screams o0t again.

NANC6 (CONT!

"ey ,, a++y "ey I got the

%astar+

3#$EE# roars 0p %ehin+ her ,, she thro&s hersel2 si+e&ays ,,

he

crashes into the &in+o& 2rame smashing glass an+ &oo+ to

%its.

NANC6 t0rns SC#EAMIN an+ r0ns +eeper into the ho0se.

INT. CE**A#. NI"T.

She careens +o&n the stairs thro&ing on the lights the man

th0n+ering a2ter her.

AN*E AT T"E 'A# EN O' T"E CE**A#. NANC6 %ra/es at the &all.

No&here le2t to hi+e.

T"E SC#A)IN o2 the %la+es against %ric/ t0rns her to see the

h0ge

/iller hol+ing his /ni2e,la+en 2ingers 0p 2or her.



3#$EE#

#ea+y 2or these=

ON NANC6 ,, she +0c/s %ehin+ the 20rnace ,, comes o0t the

other

si+e &ith the %ig 10g o2 gasoline an+ lets 3#$EE# have it

straight over the hea+. The heavy container shatters

sho&ering

its contents over every s;0are inch o2 the man.

"e stagers %ac/&ar+s &ith a #OA# o2 20ry NANC6 screaminga2ter

him &ith a %o< o2 /itchen matches. Be2ore the man can reali5e

&hat she-s 0p to she ignites the &hole %o< an+ thro&s it in

3#$EE#-s 2ace.

There-s a %lin+ing W"OOS" ,, an+ 3#$EE# goes 0p in a terri2ic

BA** O' 'I#E. 'aster than a 2lash the girl r0ns past the

ho&ling

maniac an+ ma/es 2or the stairs 3#$EE# a2ter her in 20ll

pyrrhic

rage.

INT. NANC6-S 3ITC"EN. NI"T.

NANC6 hol+s the heavy +oor 0ntil the precisely right moment.

>0st

as the %0rning %lin+ monster tops the stairs NANC6 %rings

the

heavy oa/ +oor ro0n+ &ith all her might an+ catches him in a

great

#ININ CONC$SSION. It sen+s him &in+milling %ac/&ar+s an+

+o&n



The CO#ONE# gives a s&eaty grim smile.

CO#ONE# (CONT!

Only place I ever hear+ o2 s0ch

a thing %e2ore &as ten years

ago. #emem%er that 20c/er

're+ 3r0eger=

*T T"OM)SON has 10st /noc/e+ )A#3E# spra&ling in his race to

the

stairs.

)A#3E#

"ey ,, yo0r +a0ghter-s acting

/in+a ,,

(T"OM)SON-s gone!

Strange...

E8T. NANC6-S "OME. NI"T.

C#AS" as NANC6 %rea/s another &in+o& an+ presses against the

%ars.

She sees her 2ather %0rsting o0t the 2ront +oor o2 len-s

ho0se

NANC6

A ET $S O$TTA "E#E

*T T"OM)SON

Oh >es0s ,, Nancy

(to his men!

"ey We got a 2ire



AN*E ON NANC6-S '#ONT OO#. Many MEN %atter the +oor +o&n as

%lac/ smo/e po0rs 2rom the &in+o&s an+ NANC6-s SC#EAMS an+

S"O$TS

2ill the air. Within the moments they-ve +estroye+ the +oor

an+

*T T"OM)SON has p0lle+ his +a0ghter into the sa2ety o2 his

arms.

B0t NANC6 imme+iately 2ights 2ree an+ +arts right %ac/ to the

2ront +oor ,, %ec/oning him to 2ollo& ,, gest0ring li/e a &il+

&oman.

NANC6

I got him ,, I got 're+ 3r0eger

T"OM)SON stares at his &il+ little girl in astonishment then

r0ns

in a2ter her. The others 2ollo& co0ghing an+ cho/ing.

INT. *I4IN #OOM. NI"T.

T"OM)SON colli+es &ith NANC6 as she %ra/es 2ro5en. T"E SMO3E

IS

BE*C"IN O$T O' T"E CE**A# %0t &hoever &as loc/e+ in there

certainly isn-t no&. The +oor is 2lat on the /itchen 2loor.

*T T"OM)SON

What the hell yo0 tal/ing a%o0t

Nancy=

NANC6 &heels &itho0t ans&ering. A series o2 tiny isolate+

2ires

%0rn across the living room an+ 0p the stairs. 'iresteps.

NANC6 (CONT!



"e-s a2ter Mom

She +arts across the living room 2ollo&ing the 2laming

2ootprints

o2 '#E 3#$EE# 0p the stairs %e2ore T"OM)SON can stop her.

*T T"OM)SON

NANC6


NANC6 STO)S IN T"E S)*INTE#E OO#WA6 ,, a ragge+ gol+,re+

light

splashing her horri2ie+ 2ace.

#E4E#SE IN "E# )O4 ,, '#E 3#$EE# literally a man o2 2ire

has a

screaming MA#E pinne+ to the %e+ an+ is cra&ling all over

her

NANC6 gives a %anshee-s ho&l snatches 0p a chair an+ %rings

it

+o&n over the %ac/ o2 the 2irey %east st0nning him.

By the time *T T"OM)SON races into the room NANC6-s sei5e+ a

heavy

%lan/et an+ has thro&n it over %oth o2 them 2ighting the

2lames.

The 2ather 1oins his +a0ghter &itho0t a secon+ tho0ght

heaving

another %lan/et over the %e+ an+ smothering the last o2 the

2lames.

NANC6

"e-s 0n+er there Watch it



T"OM)SON p0shes the girl %ac/ ,, yan/s o0t his .F an+ p0lls

o22

the 2irst cover. No movement. "e p0lls %ac/ a secon+ one

rea+y

to 2ire. B0t the only thing he sees is the %lac/ene+ hal2,

s/eleton o2 his e<,&i2e smo/ing an+ seething an+ sin/ing into

the

2l0i+,li/e mattress sin/ing right +o&n thro0gh it as i2 she

&ere

sin/ing into a la/e. A %lac/ene+ gnarle+ han+ goes last

then

the %e+ soli+i2ies over the place she-s +isappeare+. An+ it-s

as

i2 no one &as ever there.

NANC6 t0rns an+ loo/s at *T T"OM)SON her 2ace &hite as her

ghostly hair. T"OM)SON shoves his .F %ac/ in its holster an+

2in+s a cigarette his han+s sha/ing so %a+ly he can %arely

manage.

NANC6

No& +o yo0 %elieve me=

)A#3E# %arges in. The room is 2ille+ &ith smo/e the %e+ is

strippe+ %0t other than that the place seems normal.

)A#3E#

6o0 2in+ him=

(loo/ing closer

at T"OM)SON!

Sir=

*T T"OM)SON 10st &al/s %y him. )A#3E# chases a2ter.

)A#3E# (CONT OS!



(2a+ing!

Sir ,, here let me light that

2or yo0 ,, *ie0tenant= What

happene+=

(gone!

WIE# ON NANC6 alone in the room. She t0rns an+ loo/s at the

%e+. M$SIC slips in an+ %0il+s. The %e+ has change+ color.

It-s

no& an ash,+ar/ene+ re+ an+ yello&.

C*OSE# ON NANC6 2rom the +irection o2 the %e+. M$SIC S$EN*6

STO)S an+ the s0r2ace o2 the re+ an+ yello& %e+ gets a %0mp

in

its center that /eeps raising raising 0ntil it-s a h0mp

that-s a

hea+ an+ sho0l+ers still raising 0ntil it looms over NANC6.

Then '#E 3#$EE#-s entire shape s&eeps 0p into the yello& an+

re+

mass ,, an+ the garish hea+ smo/ing an+ seething pops

thro0gh.

NEW AN*E ,, 3#$EE# a %0rne+ si55ling %lac/ h0mp o2 a

/iller

cl0mps onto the 2loor %et&een NANC6 an+ the +oor.

NANC6 2alls a%soltely still an+ her 2ace goes thro0gh a

strange

almost s0%lime trans2ormation.

NANC6

(;0ietly!

I /no& yo0-re there 3r0eger.



She t0rns an+ 2aces him.

'#E6

6o0 thin/ yo0 &as gonna get

a&ay 2rom me=

NANC6 sha/es her hea+.

NANC6

I /no& yo0 too &ell no&

're++y.

3#$EE# smiles %itterly. Coming closer.

'#E6

An+ no& yo0 +ie...

There-s a S*IC3E#IN #ATT*E at his si+e an+ he raises the

only

thing on him not charre+ ,, the gleaming steel talons.

NANC6 simply sha/es her hea+ again as i2 seeing a light at

the

en+ o2 her long long t0nnel. An+ the &ay she says the &or+s

they might %e appearing o the insi+e o2 her eyes.

NANC6

It-s too late 3r0eger. I

/no& the secret no& ,, this

is 10st a +ream too ,, yo0-re

not alive ,, the &hole thing

is a +ream ,, so 20c/ o22

I &ant my mother an+ 2rien+s



E8T. E*M ST#EET. A6.

C*OSE ON NANC6-S '#ONT OO# AS NANC6 1er/s it open an+ %lin/s

in

the %right +i220se+ light. The M$SIC 'AES on a transitional

note into light.

We hear BI#S.

C"I*#EN playing.

Early morning SO$NS.

NANC6

(to hersel2!

o+ it-s %right.

MA#E stic/s her hea+ o0t s;0inting an+ no+s. So%er.

MA#E

onna %0rn o22 soon or it

&o0l+n-t %e so %right.

NANC6 t0rns an+ loo/s her mother over.

NANC6

'eeling %etter=

MA#E

They say yo0-ve %ottome+ o0t

&hen yo0 can-t remem%er the

night %e2ore.

(sha/es her hea+!



No more +rin/ing Ba%y s0++enly

I 10st +on-t 2eel li/e it

any more.

She to0ches NANC6.

MA#E (CONT!

i+n-t /eep yo0 0p last night

+i+ I= 6o0 loo/ a little

pee/e+.

NANC6 smiles.

NANC6

Nah. >0st slept heavy.

The girl gives a &ave an+ goes o22. MA#E calls a2ter.

MA#E

See ya.

NANC6 t0rns an+ &aves.

NANC6

See ya.

WIE# ON NANC6 as she &al/s to the c0r%. The &hole scene is

&rappe+ in an 0nseasonal t0le 2og %right yet +i220se. We

notice

that NANC6-s ho0se no longer has %ars on its &in+o&s. Then &e

see

a 2amiliar converti%le p0ll 0p at the c0r% top +o&n. TINA

an+



#O are in the %ac/ seat. They all &ave to MA#E as NANC6

clim%s

in.

*EN

(calling!

6o0 %elieve this 2og=

MA#E

(la0ghs!

I %elieve anything-s possi%le.

TINA slaps 2ive &ith NANC6.

TINA

*oo/in- goo+ girl

AN*E INSIE T"E CON4E#TIB*E. *EN slips into the seat ne<t

to

NANC6. Someone else is +riving it seems. NANC6 loo/s 0p to

the

#I4E#. The %ig MAN t0rns an+ grins at NANC6 a terri%le

scarre+ hi+eo0s leer o2 a grin ,, '#E 3#$EE#-s grin

AN*E BAC3 O$TSIE T"E CON4E#TIB*E as its top clamps over the

/i+s

&ithin ,, a %right re+ an+ yello& top that closes as 2ast an+

har+

as a %eartrap NANC6-s 2rightene+ 2ace 2lies to the &in+o&

pressing against the thic/ glass as the car roars a&ay 2rom

the

c0r% an+ into the thic/ 2og.

CAME#A )ANS TO a gro0p o2 *ITT*E I#*S hal2,hi++en %y the

2og



10mping rope an+ singing gayly.

I#*S

One t&o ,,

're++y-s coming 2or yo0

Three 2o0r ,,

Better loc/ yo0r +oor

'ive si< ,,

et yo0r Cr0ci2i<

Seven eight ,,

onna stay 0p late

Nine ten ,,

N l i

a nightmare on elm street treatment

Documents