THE DARKEST SECRET
Based on an idea by
Greg Tiderington
Screenplay By
William Pattison
And
Eric Morse
FADE IN:
EXT. THE HOUSE ---MIDDAY
We slowly pull out from a rather ordinary looking house in what appears to be a quiet ordinary neighborhood. On the door of the house we can see a cardboard sign written in red paint. The sign reads: ROOM FOR RENT. The windows of the house are decorated with Halloween decorations.
OPENING TITLES----(which will be overlaid over the footage of the house)
TITLES END
We continue to pull back as an elderly woman (Mama Alice) comes out of the front door of the house carrying a carved jack O’lantern. The woman looks like the stereotype grandma, with a flowered dress and apron. She sets the jack O lantern down beside the door.
Now drawn into our scene is a man, wearing a leather jacket and tan slacks, (Gareth) standing at the end of the walk with his back to us. To either side of him is a suitcase and what looks like a laptop carrying case.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mama Alice.
Mama Alice looks up, smiles, and waves.
MAMA ALICE
(Smiling)
Hello there.
MEDIUM FRONT SHOT of Gareth. We see now that he is also wearing a burgundy turtleneck shirt.
Gareth waves at her.
GARETH
Hello. I saw your sign.
Gareth picks up his things and begins to walk up the walk towards the house. The CAMERA PANS and FOLLOWS him.
We see that Mama Alice is coming down the walk to meet him.
CLOSE UP of Mama Alice.
MAMA ALICE
(Smiling pleasantly)
Ah, a tired traveler in search of a sanctuary of peace.
CLOSE UP of Gareth.
GARETH
(Looking slightly confused)
I wouldn’t go that far, but the idea of peace and quiet is appealing to me.
CLOSE UP of Mama Alice.
MAMA ALICE
(Looking slyly at him)
And what, may I ask, are you trying to get away from?
CLOSE UP of Gareth.
He looks at her uncomfortably.
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO MONTAGE BEGINS:
We see a picture of Garth and a friend (Mark) smiling and embracing in a friend’s embrace. Next, we see a picture of Mark looking into the camera, but he looks stressed and angry. Next, we see a picture of Garth and Mark pushing each other angrily. Next, we see a picture of Garth sitting on a couch on the phone. He looks frustrated. Next we see a picture of Mark standing up on the phone. He looks even more stressed. He has dark circles under his eyes. His eyes are glaring into space. Next, we see a pair of dangling legs in the middle of the picture. On the wall behind the dangling legs the shadow of a hanging man is present. The camera pulls in on the picture.
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO MONTAGE ENDS.
CLOSE UP of Gareth.
GARETH
(Looking uncomfortable)
The past.
He gives Mama Alice a hint of a smile.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mama Alice.
MAMA ALICE
(Still smiling)
I’ve lived long enough to realize that that is a very tall order, young man.
You see, the past is never really past, it’s with us always, like a fellow traveler,
coloring our perceptions of the present. Though you may try to get away from it the past will always catch up with you.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth. He looks slightly disturbed by Mama Alice’s observation.
GARETH
(He opens his hands in a gesture of acquiesces.)
So can I have the room?
MEDUIM SHOT of Mama Alice. She gives him a friendly chuckle.
MAMA ALICE
It was yours the moment you said hello.
MEDUIM SHOT of the two of them.
MAMA ALICE
(She picks up Gareth’s suitcase.)
By the way, I’m Mrs. Alice Diablo, but most people call me Mama Alice.
Now, let me help you with those. Do you have anymore luggage?
GARETH
I’m Gareth Freeman. And, I never travel with more than I can carry.
MAMA ALICE
(She smiles at him.)
It appears you will be a very intriguing guest, my dear young man.
Then lets us be off so I may show you your new accommodations.
And, may I, in my most humblest way, help provide you with what
you truly desire.
Gareth gives her an amused smile.
LONG SHOT of the house as Mama Alice and Gareth carry his luggage inside the house. The CAMERA PULLS BACK and pulls in another man standing in the walkway with his back to us. This man looks raggedy. His hair is messy in the back. He is wearing a rumpled button down shirt and a pair of worn blue jeans.
CLOSE UP of the man’s (Mark) face. He is glaring at us. His face is unusually pale. He has dark circles around his eyes, which makes them look sunken in. He gives us a sadistic grin. It is obvious he means trouble.
INT. GARETH’S ROOM.---DAY..
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth as he kneels next a desk in a corner of the room and plugs in a laptop computer, which is sitting on the desk. On the desk next to the laptop is a photo in a shiny gold colored frame. Gareth gets up and turns on the laptop.
(Sound effects: The sound of beeping as the laptop starts up.)
(Sound effects: we hear someone knocking on wood, like a door.)
MAMA ALICE
(voice over)
Are the accommodations to your liking?
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth as he turns to look Mama Alice, who is off camera to his right.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mama Alice, who is standing in the doorway.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth.
GARETH
Oh, yes. Thank you.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mama Alice as she comes into the room. She looks around the room curiously.
POV.of Mama Alice. We see an empty suitcase sitting on the bed. There are two cups sitting on the dresser across from the bed. One cup has a razor sticking out of it. The other cup has a toothbrush sticking out of it. There is also deodorant stick and a bottle of aftershave on top of the dresser as well.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mama Alice as she comes up to Gareth.
MAMA ALICE
Already unpacked? My stars, Mr. Freeman, you pack unusually
light for a man of your young age.
CLOSEUP SHOT of Gareth.
GARETH
(he smiles self consciously)
I travel a lot.
MAMA ALICE
What kind of work do you do, may I ask?
GARETH
You could call me a fix it man. I travel around correcting
databases for a few computer companies.
MAMA ALICE
That sounds quite exciting.
GARETH
Oh, it is. I’ve gone all over the world.
MAMA ALICE
But it sounds so lonely. You are always on the go and never have a chance to root
yourself anywhere.
Then Mama Alice picks up the framed photo from the table and looks at it.
MAMA ALICE
Ah, but I see I’m wrong. Who is this handsome fellow?
CLOSE UP of the black and white picture. It is a picture of Mark smiling, a happy and healthy Mark.
CLOSEUP of Gareth. He looks uncomfortable.
GARETH
He’s….I mean, he was my stepbrother, Mark. He died a little over a year ago.
CLOSE UP of Mama Alice.
MAMA ALICE
How unfortunate. You must’ve been heartbroken.
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO MONTAGE begins:
We see the picture Gareth and Mark fighting. Then we see the picture of Mark stressed and angry. Then we see the picture of Gareth sitting on a couch talking on the phone. Then we see a picture of Mark on the phone looking sick. Finally we see the picture of the dangling legs and the shadow of the hanging man on the wall.
PHOTO MONTAGE ends.
MEDIUM SHOT of both Gareth and Mama Alice. Gareth takes the framed photo and puts it on the desk again.
GARETH
I had my work.
MAMA ALICE
That sounds like a very shallow comfort.
CLOSE UP of Gareth. Gareth gives Mama Alice a stony look.
GARETH
My stepbrother and I weren’t close toward the end. Mark
had always been weak. At the end of his life he allowed the
shrinks to rule his life. They fed into his weakness and he ate it
up. Finally, I had to say something. But in the end he took the
coward’s way out.
CLOSE UP of Mama Alice. Mama Alice looks at Gareth with a surprised expression.
MAMA ALICE
Are you trying to say that your stepbrother took his own life.
CLOSE UP of Gareth. He looks at her with discomfort.
GARETH
I really don’t want to continue this conversation any further.
My stepbrother is gone, I want to put him in the past and
move forward.
MEDIUM SHOT of both Gareth and Mama Alice.
MAMA ALICE
But Mr. Freeman you’re deluding yourself if you think you can
simply walk away from something like this. Eventually you will
have to confront it. We all must confront our pasts either in life
or in death.
CLOSE UP SHOT of Gareth. He looks annoyed.
GARETH
You said something about meals being included.
When will dinner be ready?
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth and Mama Alice. Mama Alice gives him a tightlipped expression.
MAMA ALICE
It will be done within the hour.
Mama Alice starts to head for the door, but before she gets out of sight she turns back to him, her former pleasant demeanor restored.
MAMA ALICE
Oh, and feel free to come down stair and keep me company.
It’s Halloween after all. Soon the children will out in their lovely
little costumes. I’m sure it’ll make for an entertaining evening.
GARETH
(Sounding more relaxed)
I’ll consider it, Mrs. Diablo.
MAMA ALICE
Please call me Mama Alice. I find Mrs. Diablo very stuffy sounding.
GARETH
Ok, Mama Alice.
Mama Alice leaves. Gareth shuts down his laptop and moves away from the desk.
The CAMERA PULLS in on the desk and we see that the picture of Mark has changed. Now Mark has dark circled, shallow, eyes and a sadistic smile on his face.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. THE HOUSE----NIGHT.
The CAMERA slowly PULL in on the house. The cardboard ROOM FOR RENT sign is gone. Lights are on behind the shaded windows, looking like glowing eyes in a large face. The Jack O lantern is lit and sitting next to the front door. Dry leaves fly in from right from off camera and landing on the manicured lawn..
(Sound Effect: we hear several animal-like growls and other creepy, inhuman, sounds.)
EXT. SKY SHOT of the FULL MOON, with clouds crossing it.
(Sound Effects: we continue the creepy animal and inhuman sounds.)
Ext. KITCHEN DOOR----NIGHT.
(Sound Effect. We hear the same animal-like sounds, but this time it sounds like it’s source or sources are just outside the door.)
We see Mama Alice standing in the doorway, smiling, and holding out a plastic bowl full of candy.
MAMA ALICE
Oh, aren’t you all so adorable.
We see a pale talon-like hand with long black fingernails come from off camera and take a couple pieces of candy from the bowl. Then an overly pink hand with bleeding red sores all over it does the same.
MAMA ALICE
I can’t help it, you little ones all are just so precious.
(Sound Effect: we hear what sounds like a barely human chuckle come from off camera.)
INT. KITCHEN----NIGHT.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth sitting at the kitchen table taking a sip from a cup. In the background we see a side view of Mama Alice at the kitchen door.
MAMA ALICE
I could just eat you all up.
Mama Alice closes the kitchen door and joins Gareth at the table. Mama Alice puts the bowl down in front of Gareth.
MAMA ALICE
(Happily smiling.)
I just love the little ones.
GARETH
That’s obvious.
MAMA ALICE
All the little ones know that their Mama Alice
will always have something sweet for them.
Mama Alice moves away from the table. The CAMERA FOLLOWS as Mama Alice goes over to the stove. There are three covered pots cooking on the stove. Mama Alice grabs a pot holder from the counter and takes the lids off each the pots, examines the contents, and returns the lids. When Mama Alice examines the last pot she picks up a spoon from the counter, spoons up some of the contents, and tastes it. Nodding with satisfaction, Mama Alice returns the lid. (Special Effect: need smoke to come out of the pots to simulate steam.)
MAMA ALICE
Dinner will be ready momentarily.
(Sound Effect: we hear a doorbell ring.)
MAMA ALICE
Oh fiddle-sticks!. I need to check the oven. Would you be a dear, Mr. Freeman,
and answer that for me?
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth sitting at the table.
GARETH
Sure.
Gareth grabs the bowl and gets up. The CAMERA FOLLOWS him as he heads for the kitchen door. He opens the door.
MEDIUM SHOT out the door. We see the Zombie Man standing outside the door. Half of the Zombie Man’s face is a total mess of torn flesh. The other half is dry and leathery, with sunk in eyes. His wardrobe is a ragged undershirt, shredded blue jeans, and dirt encrusted boots. He sort of looks like a greaser from the late 1950s.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth. He is startled by the sight of the Zombie Man. But then he relaxes. Probably thinking that it is only a costume.
GARETH
Aren’t you a bit old for trick or treating?
MEDIUM SHOT of side view as the Zombie Man steps in and grabs Gareth by the shoulders. Gareth drops the bowl and the candy scatters across the floor. The Zombie Man brings his face in practically nose to nose with GARETH's.
ZOMBIE MAN
(His voice is deep and barely human.)
Beware. Judgment time is near.
The Zombie Man releases Gareth. Gareth falls to his knees. The Zombie Man backs out the kitchen door.
MEDIUM SHOT front view of Gareth on his knees hyperventilating. Mama Alice comes into the shot from the left side and kneels down beside him.
MAMA ALICE
Heavens, Mr. Freeman. What happened? Are you all right?
Gareth looks like he’s fighting for control. His head is down, but his breathing has slowed.
GARETH
He grabbed me. My god, the smell. He smelled like a dead man.
Mama Alice rubs Gareth’s shoulders comfortingly.
MAMA ALICE
Goodness, what a traumatic event. Things like this don’t happen in our quiet,
friendly, little neighborhood. Goodness how times change.
Mama Alice helps Gareth to his feet. The CAMERA FOLLOWS. Gareth seems slightly unbalanced.
MAMA ALICE
There, there, young man. Maybe a little hot food will do the trick.
Gareth waves her off.
GARETH
(Looking nauseated)
I’m sorry, Mama Alice. I couldn’t keep anything down.
I can still smell that man’s foul odor.
MAMA ALICE
Do you want me to call the police?
GARETH
Please don’t. I really don’t want the trouble. I just want to go upstairs
and try to forget this ever happened.
MAMA ALICE
That is of course your choice. I’ll bring you up a relaxing cup of tea
in a little while.
GARETH
Thanks.
Gareth moves off camera to the right. Mama Alice looks in the direction he’s left and shakes her head.
INT. BATHROOM----NIGHT.
MEDIUM SHOT ( facing the mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink.)
Gareth enters from the left. He turns on the faucet and splashes water on his face. Then he stands with his arms brace on either side of the sink and looks at himself in the mirror.
GARETH
Trick or treat.
(Voice over: we hear a woman chuckling. It appears to be coming from the right of Gareth)
MEDIUM SHOT (left side view of Gareth). We see that there is a combination bathtub/shower next to the toilet to his right. The shower screen has been pulled closed, blocking his view of the tub.
Gareth moves over and starts to pull the shower screen open.
P.O.V. as Gareth pulls open the shower screen. We see that sitting in the tub is a woman in a white nightgown, smiling at us. The nightgown is spotted with red marks, which is obviously blood. The woman hold up her wrists. Blood is dripping from open cuts from each wrist.
THE CUT WRIST WOMAN
Join us, and we can have some fun together.
CLOSE UP of Gareth. He lets out a hysterical scream and pulls back from the CAMERA and out the door of the bathroom.
INT. HALLWAY----NIGHT.
LONG SHOT looking down the hallway. We see a SIDE VIEW of Gareth quickly backs out the door to the bathroom and slams into the wall on the other side of the hall. Then he slides down the wall, balls up, and starts to cry hysterically.
We see Mama Alice come around the corner at the end of the hall and comes running down the hall. She kneels beside him.
MAMA ALICE
My stars, Mr. Freeman!!!
GARETH
(He points at the bathroom.)
In there. She’s in there.
Mama Alice gets up and goes into the bathroom. She comes out a few moments later and stands in front of Gareth with her hands on her hips.
MAMA ALICE
Mr. Freeman I need you to come in here and see something.
Mama Alice offers Gareth her hand. Reluctantly he takes it and gets up. Mama Alice leads him into the bathroom.
INT. THE BATHROOM----NIGHT.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mama Alice and Gareth as they approach the bathtub. The shower screen is once again closed.
MAMA ALICE
You see, Mr. Freeman, there’s nothing here.
GARETH
(He points at the shower screen.)
Behind there…she was behind there.
Mama Alice pulls open the shower screen.
P.O.V. of Gareth. We see that the bathtub is empty and clean.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mama Alice and Gareth.
GARETH
(A shocked expression on his face.)
But she was there…
Gareth backs away from Mama Alice.
GARETH
(He is now angry and frustrated.)
Damnit, she was here. I’m not crazy!
Gareth runs out the bathroom door. Mama Alice looks on as he leaves, a quizzical look on her face.
INt. GARETH’S ROOM----NIGHT.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth as he slams through the door and half stumbles in the darkened room.
GARETH
(screams)
AH.ahahah! I’m not crazy!
MARK
(Voice Over of Mark)
No, you’re not…
Mark comes out of the shadows behind Gareth.
MARK
You’re just a hypocrite.
MEDIUM SHOT as Gareth turns. We see the shocked expression on his face.
GARETH
It can’t be…you’re dead
CLOSE UP of Mark.
MARK
Oh, yes, very dead, thanks to you.
CLOSE UP of Gareth.
GARETH
You were weak.
CLOSE UP of Mark.
MARK
I was manic-depressive. I needed your support and love and all
I got from you was criticism and disgust.
CLOSE UP of Gareth.
GARETH
(now looking scared.)
No…no…you can’t be here. You were weak. You killed yourself.
You took the coward’s way out. You hung yourself.
CLOSE UP of Mark.
MARK
(He laughs.)
My goodness, your mind is scrambled. Isn’t it?
Bro, I overdosed. You’re the one who hung himself.
CLOSE UP of Gareth. He is shocked. He starts shaking his head.
GARETH
No…no…it’s not true. It’s not true!
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO MONTAGE begins:
We see the picture of Mark stressed and angry. Then we see the picture of Gareth sitting on a couch talking on the phone. Then we see a picture of Mark on the phone looking sick. Then we see an overview picture of Mark lying dead on the floor. Several pill bottles are littering the floor. Then we see a picture of Gareth looking at a letter. Then we see a close up of the letter:
(Voice over of Gareth reading the letter.)
It reads:
Dear Mr. Freeman,
It is our unfortunate duty to inform you that, do to budget cuts, we have no alternative than to exorcise our option to cancel our contract. This option to take affect as soon as possible.
Then we see a picture of Gareth looking stressed, unshaven, and disheveled. Then we see a picture of Gareth standing on a chair putting a cord around his neck. Finally we see the picture of the dangling legs and the shadow of the hanging man on the wall.
PHOTO MONTAGE ends.
CLOSE UP of Gareth. Tears are streaming from his eyes. He is still shaking his head.
GARETH
No…no…it’s not true. Damnit, it’s not true!
Gareth starts rubbing around his neck. He pulls down his turtleneck to reveal the still bleeding cord scar on his neck. He lets go of the turtleneck and looks at the blood on his fingers.
GARETH
(hysterical)
No!
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth and Mark. Gareth runs out of the room. Mark puts his hand on his hips and looks toward the doorway.
INT. HALLWAY----NIGHT.
Gareth runs down the hall until he comes to a doorway at the end of the hall.
GARETH
(hysterical)
Mama Alice!
Gareth pounds on the door.
GARETH
(Still hysterical)
Mama Alice! Mama Alice I need to talk to you!
The door opens. Gareth runs inside.
INT. MAMA ALICE’S ROOM----NIGHT.
MEDIUM SHOT. The CAMERA follows Gareth as he runs through the door and into the room. The white painted square room is windowless and completely devoid of furnishings. But the room is not completely empty. Standing along the back wall are The Zombie Man, The Cut Wrist Woman, and Mark. Standing in front of them is Mama Alice.
CLOSE UP of Mama Alice. She is as pleasant as ever.
MAMA ALICE
(smiling.)
Ah, Mr. Freeman, and right on time. We’ve been waiting for you,
you naughty boy.
Mama Alice lifts her right hand and waggles her finger at him. Then she turns away from the CAMERA.(Special Effect Transformation from Mama Alice into The Crone.)The Crone, who has replaced Mama Alice, turns toward the camera. We see the Crone is a witch-like creature with a long nose, long chin, and rotten teeth. She is dress in a black hooded robe. She is holding her talon-like hands up in front of her, tapping the long black fingernails rhythmically.
THE CRONE
(snarling at Gareth)
It’s time for you to be judged.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth. He looks scared. He starts backing up towards the door. But the door slams closed behind him.
MEDIUM SHOT of The Crone. She steps closer to him. She taps her fingernails together quickly and then stops.
THE CRONE
You can’t run away this time, boy.
The Crone turns to the others standing against the wall.
THE CRONE
(She cackles.)
Your peers are assembled and ready. But, I’m being an insensitive host.
It’s your right to know those who would judge you.
MEDIUM SHOT OF Gareth. He looks confused.
GARETH
Judge me?
MEDIUM SHOT of the Crone.
THE CRONE
(She cackles again.)
Yes, judge. We must all be judged for our sins and if we are
repentant. Only if one is repentant may they move on.
The Crone turns away from Gareth and heads over to The Zombie Man. She looks at The Zombie Man with disgust.
THE CRONE
You should understand this concept by now….Eh, Vinnie?
Was it worth losing your life simply because you wanted to
prove you could race your car around a corner faster than
the other guy. Answer me!
The Zombie Man/ Vinnie looks away from The Crone uncomfortably.
In the background we see The Cut Wrist Woman watching and giggling.
The Crone turns toward The Cut Wrist Woman.
CLOSE UP of the Crone. She looks with disgust at The Cut Wrist Woman.
THE CRONE
(Snarls at The Cut Wrist Woman.)
You’re no better, missy. You had your whole life ahead of you
and you took your own life simply because you couldn’t choose
between your fiancé and some sex crazy construction worker
who bonked you a couple times. You make me sick.
CLOSE UP of The Cut Wrist Woman. She looks down uncomfortably.
THE CUT WRIST WOMAN
I ask you for forgiveness.
CLOSE UP of The Crone. There is nothing but disgust in her expression.
THE CRONE
It’s from yourself you need to ask forgiveness.
MEDIUM SHOT of The Crone. She turns back to Gareth, who is still frozen spot he was before.
THE CRONE
So you see your judges and peers.
The Crone turns to Mark. Mark doesn’t flinch or look away, he looks on with stone hard eyes.
THE CRONE
But I’m forgetting myself. We have one more judge,
but you already know his story. Of the three of them
he is the only one who shows any hope of redemption.
CLOSE UP of Gareth.
GARETH
Damnit, Mark, you know I cared about you. I just couldn’t
handle your weakness.
CLOSE UP of Mark.
MARK
(furious)
My weakness…my weakness. I had a mental disability.
What’s your excuse? You killed yourself over a job…..
A fucking job! My death didn’t even affect you. You didn’t
even give me the courtesy of attending my funeral.
CLOSE UP of Gareth.
GARETH
(defensively)
I was out of the country.
CLOSE UP of The Crone.
THE CRONE
(with false sympathy)
Oh, all this love brings tears to my eye. But, unfortunately,
Mr. Freeman, we have little time for these warm, sensitive,
moments, it is time for you to be judged.
MEDIUM SHOT as The Crone turns from Gareth to the three people standing against the wall.
THE CRONE
(authoritatively)
Members of the damned. You’ve watched the person standing here
before you awaiting judgment. Has he shown any remorse for his sins?
Or is he remorseless and thus unredeemable at this time? What is your
judgment?
MEDIUM SHOT of The Zombie Man. He lifts his hand with his thumb sticking up. Then he turns it thumb down.
THE ZOMBIE MAN
(Sadly)
I tried to warn you.
MEDIUM SHOT of The Cut Wrist Woman. She lifts her hand with her thumb sticking up, blood still dripping from her cut wrist. Then she turns it thumb down. She smiles at Gareth seductively.
MEDIUM SHOT of Mark. He is stone faced as he lifts his hand thumb up. Then he turns it thumb down.
MARK
(Stone faced)
Think of it this way, Bro, we’ll have plenty of time to deal with
our problems.
MEDIUM SHOT of The Crone as she turns away from the three people standing against the wall and back towards Gareth. She is cackling with amusement.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth. He is holding his hands up defensively.
GARETH
No…no, this can’t be real. I don’t believe it.
It’s not real!
INT. GARETH’S ROOM, night.
MEDIUM SHOT forward view of Gareth. He jumps up in bed, like he is waking up from a nightmare. He does a heavy intake of breath.
From the right side of the shot The Cut Wrist Woman steps into view. At the same time on the left side The Zombie Man walks into view.
CLOSE UP of Gareth as a look of terror comes to his face.
P.O.V. of Gareth. We see Mark standing at the end of the bed on the left side. On the right side we see the dark form of The Crone rise up from the end of the bed. The crone smiles with her rotted teeth. Her talon-like hands are once again up, clicking her black nails together.
THE CRONE
(Cackling amused)
It’s not that easy, boy. Welcome home,
to your very own corner of hell.
MEDIUM SHOT of Gareth. The Zombie Man and Cut Wrist Woman grab a hold of Gareth and hold him down. Gareth starts to scream. THE CAMERA starts to pull back. We see Mark and The Crone come around the sides of the bed and bend over Gareth body hiding him from view. Gareth’s screams intensify. The CAMERA continues to back through the doorway. The door slams shut. FADE OUT.
EXT. THE HOUSE----DAY.
FADE IN:
LONG SHOT of the house. The Halloween decorations are gone. The cardboard sign is back, reading ROOM FOR RENT in red paint. We see the back view of a man carrying a backpack walking up the walkway to the house. FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
END CREDITS.
FADE OUT.