ASHLY and LINDA 2 страница

force was now being unleashed.

 

38 IN - M.R.

 

 

CHERYL

 

(In a whisper) Shut it off.

 

 

VOICE

 

Kanda!

 

39 EN - CAB

 

 

The winds howl, and blackbirds fly from their nests,

screaming.

 

40 IN - M.R.

 

 

CHERYL

 

(Louder now) Shut it off.

 

 

ASHLY, hearing her for the first time, turns from the

window to CHERYL. She is overwhealmed with fear.

 

 

VOICE

 

Kanda!

 

41 EN - CAB

 

 

A bolt of lightning strikes very near and its thunder

crash is deafening.

 

42 IN - M.R.

 

 

CHERYL can no longer control herself. She screams and

covers her ears.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Shut it offffff!

 

 

The window shatters when a branch from a nearby tree

tears through it. ASHLY runs to the tape recorder and

turns it off. CHERYL is crying now, and runs to her room.

ASHLY turns to SCOTT.

 

 

ASHLY

 

Scott, you knew not to play it, I

mean...I mean you knew it was upset-

ting her. You just don't know when

you're carrying something too far.

 

 

SCOTT

 

(To SHELLY) C'mon. (Back to ASHLY)

Big deal, it's just a joke, shit.

 

 

SCOTT and SHELLY head for their bedroom. SCOTT mumbles

to himself along the way.

 

 

SCOTT

 

You'd think she's three years old or

something.

 

 

SCOTT slams the door behind him. ASHLY sighs. He moves

to the broken window and reaches through it to close

the outside shutters.

 

 

LINDA

 

He's really been bothering you hasn't

he?

 

 

ASHLY walks to a chair near the other window.

 

 

ASHLY

 

No. It's not Scott. Scotty's okay.

It's just that ever since we came

up here, things have been a little

too tense. (He sits) All these crazy

things going on. And look at that

window- we're gonna have to pay for

that window now.

 

 

LINDA

 

It'll be better tomorrow. Things'll

smooth out, you'll see.

 

 

ASHLY

 

I hope so.

 

 

He looks at LINDA lovingly for a long moment.

 

 

ASHLY

 

What'ya say we stay up for a while

and listen to the storm.

 

 

LINDA

 

Deal. Lemme check on Cheryl. I'll be

right back.

 

 

From across the room, she is seen opening CHERYL's door

a crack. LINDA asks if she is all right, and gets a

muffled reply. In the foreground, ASHLY removes the

small box he showed to CHERYL earlier and places it in

his hand. He glances behind to LINDA. She closes CHERYL's

door and walks back to find ASHLY sound asleep with the

box in his hand. She reaches for the box and ASHLY opens

his eyes to watch. LINDA looks at him, but his eyes are

closed again in time to still appear fast asleep. LINDA

turns her attention back to the box. ASHLY watches again

wide-eyed as she removes it from his hand. Quickly,

LINDA turns to him but as expected, ASHLY is sleeping

like a baby. She begins to turn back toward the box

and ASHLY opens his eyes, but LINDA turns back again

in time to catch him with his eyes wide open.

 

 

LINDA

 

Ah ha!

 

 

ASHLY

 

(Laughing) Stealing from the blind

eh? It's for you.

 

 

LINDA begins to open the box.

 

 

LINDA

 

It better be good.

 

 

The gold necklace is revealed inside.

 

 

LINDA

 

Oh Ash, it's beautiful.

 

 

LINDA kisses ASHLY. He removes the necklace from the box

and holds it around her neck.

 

 

ASHLY

 

(Fastening it around her neck) I was

going to give it to you before we

left, but things got so hectic, this

is the first chance I've had. Do you

like it?

 

 

LINDA moves to a mirror.

 

 

LINDA

 

It's beautiful. I really love it.

(She turns to ASHLY) I'll never take

it off.

 

43 EN - CAB

 

 

Lightning strikes as something in the woods examines the

small cottage. Through the outside window, ASHLY and

LINDA can be seen embracing. This force watching them

moves around the house to another window. The silhouette

of SCOTT and SHELLY undressing can be seen. The force

continues around and arrives at CHERYL's window. Inside,

she brushes her hair in front of the mirror for a

moment, then sets down her brush and moves to the window.

She stops to uncrumple the sketch drawn earlier, looks

at it, then out to the dark woods.

 

44 IN - C.B.

 

 

CHERYL can faintly hear some kind of sound. It is the

same sound she had heard earlier from the cellar. A

noise almost like that of something breathing.

 

45 EN - CAB

 

 

The evil entity rounds the corner of the cabin as CHERYL

walks through the rooms to the front door. She can be

seen stepping out the door. It closes behind her. Wind

shaking the tree branches sends dead leaves fluttering

about.

 

 

CHERYL

 

(Calling to the woods) Is anybody

out there?

 

 

There is no answer. CHERYL steps away from the cottage

toward the woods.

 

46 EN - W

 

 

The breeze animates her nightgown and it too seems alive.

CHERYL stops.

 

 

CHERYL

 

I know someone's out there...I

heard you...I heard you in the cellar.

 

 

Suddenly, CHERYL becomes chilled. She folds her arms

around herself and stands at the woods edge, listening.

There is only darkness and sounds of the evening wind

blowing through the trees. CHERYL steps into the forest

a few feet then stops. A cry deep within the woods can

be heard. She freezes. Whispering in the distance grows

somewhat louder and a soft wail is heard- like that of

something long since dead, dredged up to roam the earth

again. CHERYL is about to turn back toward the cabin

when a rustling comes from a group of trees about twenty

yards behind her. She stops. No sound. Nothing moves.

Several yards to her left a twig snaps suddenly. She

turns but there is silence again. The winds die down,

leaving a deathly stillness throughout the woods. Then,

all at once, the entire forest becomes alive in a flurry

of chaotic noises and movement. Snake-like vines wrap

around her ankles and slither up her legs. Tree branches

near by begin to claw and rake at her. The force is now

moving through the woods toward her. CHERYL is able to

break the vines and run toward the cabin. She emerges

from the woods and into the clearing. The force is

still following.

 

47 EN - CAB

 

 

CHERYL reaches the cabin door but it is locked. She

begins pounding upon the door.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Help, help, let me in. Open the door!

 

 

The evil entity now emerges from the woods.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Ashly! Linda! Open up!

 

 

CHERYL spots the small key ring above the door where

SHELLY had returned them earlier. One by one, she fran-

tically jams one key after another into the lock, but

still cannot find the right one. The force comes closer

with each key.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Please, someone please! Help me, help

meeeee!

 

 

The evil entity is almost upon her, but her actions are

so frantic that the ring falls to the ground. She bends

down to pick them up, but a hand grabs her arm. It is

SCOTT who has opened the door from the inside. She

pushes him in the door and slams it tightly.

 

48 IN - M.R.

 

 

SCOTT

 

What the hell happ-

 

 

CHERYL

 

(In hysterics) It...it tried to kill

me. I, I heard a noise and...and I

ran and the trees...the trees!

 

 

SCOTT

 

What are you-

 

 

He is cut off by ASHLY approaching with the others.

 

 

ASHLY

 

Cheryl what's wrong with you? Did

something in the woods do this to

you?

 

 

CHERYL

 

No, no, no...the woods themselves-

The trees- they're alive...

 

 

She hugs ASHLY tightly and cries in hysterical sobs.

 

 

CHERYL

 

They're alive...

 

 

LINDA

 

Ash, why don't I take her into the

bedroom so she can lie down a little-

 

 

CHERYL

 

(Cutting her off) -I'm not lying

down! I'm not staying here. We're

leaving this place, we're leaving

this place right now!

 

 

SCOTT

 

Wait a minute, I'm sure as hell not

going anywhere.

 

 

SHELLY

 

Cheryl-

 

 

ASHLY

 

Cheryl, there's nothing out there.

Trees do not attack people.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Ashly, will you drive me into town

or not?

 

 

ASHLY

 

(Looking at his watch) Right Now?

(He realizes how desperate she is)

Sure, sure I'll drive you into town.

But if you'll just listen to what

you're saying, you-

 

 

CHERYL

 

I don't care how it sounds. I want

to leave this minute. You can bring

back my things when you go.

 

 

ASHLY

 

Okay- if you don't want to stay, I

can't make you.

 

 

LINDA puts a coat around CHERYL as ASHLY helps her to

the door.

 

49 EN - CAB

 

 

ASHLY and CHERYL move to the car. ASHLY helps CHERYL in

then then gets in the drivers side.

 

50 IN - CAR

 

 

CHERYL

 

I'll stay some place in town tonight.

 

 

ASHLY tries to start the car. There is no response.

CHERYL becomes somewhat worried. ASHLY tries again.

The car will not turn over. A look of dread comes

across CHERYL's face.

 

51 EN - CAB

 

 

SCOTT and the others join the two outside.

 

52 IN - CAR

 

 

CHERYL

 

It's not gonna start.

 

 

ASHLY again tries the engine.

 

 

CHERYL

 

I know it's not gonna start. It's

not gonna let us leave.

 

 

ASHLY keys the engine and it turns over this time, start-

ing up with a roar. ASHLY, worried by CHERYL's condition

glances over to her. Confused and upset, CHERYL turns

away from ASHLY and looks out her window. They drive off

into the night through the wooded mountains toward town.

ASHLY glances at CHERYL who is studying the forest in-

tensely for any sign of movement. The concern for his

sister is made obvious by the expression on his face.

Their car approaches the narrow bridge area and slows

down.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Why are you slowing down?

 

 

ASHLY brings the car to a halt.

 

 

CHERYL

 

What is this?

 

 

ASHLY's gaze is fixed directly ahead, and his mouth opens

slowly. He flips on the high beams which stab through the

evening mist.

 

53 EN - B

 

 

The bridge over the chasm has been torn away. CHERYL is

silent as ASHLY walks to the ravine's edge to examine

any remains.

 

54 IN - CAR

 

 

CHERYL

 

(Mumbling to herself) No, no, no, no,

no...it's not going to let us leave,

it's not going to let us go...it's

not gonna let us gooooo!

 

55 EN - CAB

 

 

An axe is raised into the air, then brought down smash-

ing upon a log, splitting it in two. SCOTT is chopping

wood outside the cabin. Behind him, through a window,

CHERYL sits with a cup of tea in her hand watching him.

SCOTT sets his axe down, gathers the wood and moves

away. CHERYL shifts her gaze from SCOTT to the woods

beyond. The camera moves in toward CHERYL then past

her to SHELLY and LINDA who can be seen playing cards

on the floor. ASHLY is seated near the fireplace with

the tape recorder in front of him. He plugs an earphone

in so only he can hear it. SCOTT enters the cabin and

passes in front of ASHLY to drop his wood to one side

of the fireplace. He throws a log in, and heads back

outside.

 

56 IN - M.R.

 

 

From inside, LINDA speaks.

 

 

LINDA

 

Cheryl, wanna play some cards?

 

 

CHERYL

 

(Turning with a smile) Uh-uh.

 

 

CHERYL turns to face the window again.

 

 

LINDA

 

Hey, tomorrow morning, we'll find

some way around that cliff into town

okay?

 

 

CHERYL

 

Okay.

 

 

Outside the window, SCOTT chops more wood for the nights

fire. ASHLY turns on the tape recorder to listen with

the ear plug.

 

 

VOICE

 

March 12th. Suzanne came after me

and almost murdered me. My own wife.

At first I thought it was a mental

or physical disorder because of what

had happened to her eyes, but I was

only fooling myself. I knew what it

was.

 

 

Outside the window, SCOTT continues to chop and gather

wood. SHELLY, still engaged in cards with LINDA, holds

up one in particular.

 

 

SHELLY

 

Okay, guess this card.

 

 

LINDA

 

How am I going to know what card

that is?

 

 

SHELLY

 

Guess, I'm going to see if you're

psychic.

 

 

The card is a two of clubs.

 

 

LINDA

 

Okaaaay...is it a queen?

 

 

SHELLY

 

Right!

 

 

LINDA

 

Really?

 

 

SHELLY

 

Yeah.

 

 

LINDA

 

Hey Ash, I guessed the card right.

 

 

ASHLY

 

(indifferently) Truly amazing Linda.

 

 

He is listening intently to the log as it continues.

 

 

VOICE

 

Three days have passed since that

thing has been down there. I was hop-

ing to weaken it without food or

water. Nothing worked. Finally, in

desperation I dragged her out to the

shed and dismembered her so that what-

ever it was could not get up again.

 

 

SHELLY

 

Cheryl, did you see that?

 

 

CHERYL remains with her back to them staring out the

window.

 

 

SHELLY

 

Try this one.

 

 

She removes a nine of clubs from the deck and holds it up.

 

 

LINDA

 

Okay, lemme think, uh...

 

 

She puts her hands to her head in a curved funnel form-

ation as if to direct her thoughts to the card.

 

 

LINDA

 

...Um, it's a seven.

 

 

SHELLY

 

Oh my God, what suit?

 

 

LINDA

 

Diamonds, no wait! I mean hearts!

 

 

SHELLY

 

That's right- seven of hearts!

 

 

LINDA

 

Hey Ash, did you see that? I guessed

two cards in a row.

 

 

ASHLY

 

(Still not paying attention) How do

you do it Linda?

 

 

He is concentrating on the tape.

 

 

VOICE

 

This is when I saw the dark figures

moving about in the woods. I should

have never tampered with the "Book

Of The Dead." I now know that what-

ever it is I have resurrected through

this book, is coming for me.

 

 

LINDA

 

You know, I always thought I had

some sort of extra sense. You know,

like e.s.p or something.

 

 

SHELLY

 

What's this one?

 

 

She holds up the queen of spades.

 

 

LINDA

 

Another seven!

 

 

SHELLY

 

I don't believe it!

 

 

CHERYL

 

(Still looking outside) Queen of

spades.

 

 

SHELLY looks at her card then back to CHERYL. She holds

up another card.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Four of hearts.

 

 

The card is a four of hearts. SHELLY bites her lip in

fear and reaches for another card. ASHLY and LINDA listen

in silence.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Eight of spades.

 

 

SHELLY picks up the card. CHERYL is correct again.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Two of spades- jack of diamonds-

jack of clubs-

 

 

Faster and faster she calls them off. Even before SHELLY

can flip them to keep up. Suddenly, CHERYL turns toward

the group. Her eyes are bone white. SHELLY's deck of

cards slip from her hand and scatter across the floor.

CHERYL's body is hoisted up to its feet and jerked about

like a white-eyed marionette. She speaks in a voice un-

like her own.

 

 

CHERYL

 

Why have you disturbed our sleep,

awakened us from our ancient slum-

ber? You will die. Like the others

before you. We will take you one by

one. All of you ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-

 

 

She screams in a low gruff voice and collapses to the

floor.

 

 

ASHLY

 

Oh my God, Shelly, get Scott in here!

 

 

SHELLY does not respond.

 

 

ASHLY

 

Hurry!

 

 

She exits through the front door. LINDA moves to CHERYL

and lifts her head gently. CHERYL appears unconcious but

behind her, she reaches for a pen.

 

 

LINDA

 

Did you see her eyes? I'm scared.

What's wrong with her?

 

 

ASHLY begins to speak when SCOTT and SHELLY enter.

 

 

SCOTT

 

What happened to her?

 

 

CHERYL's hand clutches the pen tightly.

 

 

LINDA

 

Look at her eyes.

 

 

SCOTT's hand reaches for CHERYL's eyes to inspect them,

but they blink open. The pen in her hand races upward,

then slashes down, ripping into LINDA's achilles tendon.

LINDA screams fiercely and with a blur, the bloodied

pen is raised again. ASHLY grabs CHERYL's arm stopping

her, but with a powerful swipe, she swings her remaining

arm at LINDA who is sent sprawling across the cabin

floor. CHERYL then clutches ASHLY and, almost lifting

him, sends his body reeling across the room into a book-

case which topples over, trapping him beneath its weight.

SHELLY stands screaming as CHERYL now advances toward

ASHLY's face with the bloody pen. He struggles to pull

himself out but cannot. CHERYL is almost upon him when

SCOTT grabs her from behind. Effortlessly, she tosses

him off and moves toward ASHLY again. SCOTT climbs to

his feet and grabs the axe. CHERYL raises the pen above

ASHLY's face, and SCOTT gives her a sharp jab in the

jaw with the wooden handle. CHERYL stumbles past LINDA

and falls backwards, head first into the cellar. She

begins to climb out but SCOTT slams the trap door shut

upon her hand. It won't close. CHERYL starts to push

the trap door open from below. SCOTT climbs on top

and is almost thrown off until he viciuosly rams the

butt of his axe down upon her protruding hand. Demented

screams and moans are heard from below as CHERYL's hand

is finally pulled back and SCOTT manages to secure the

chain across the hatch.

 

57 IN - LB

 

 

Later that evening, LINDA is seen in her bed, sleeping.

ASHLY covers her with a blanket, kisses her, and walks

to the door, closing it quietly behind him.

 

58 IN - M.R.

 

 

ASHLY joins SCOTT and SHELLY who sit near the fire in

the main room. From the cellar, strange moans, sobs and

laughter emerge, then horrible rasping sounds from CHERYL's

breathing. Through the next sequence of dialogue, her

breathing becomes louder then somewhat quiet.

 

 

SCOTT

 

She'll be okay Ash, she just took a

bad bump.

 

 

ASHLY

 

(Quietly) Yeah.

 

 

SCOTT and SHELLY listen to the strange noises from below

as ASHLY looks out the window to the woods beyond.

 

 

ASHLY

 

We've still got a few hours before

morning.

 

 

SHELLY

 

I don't know if I can wait that

long.

 

 

SCOTT

 

You have to. We all have to. Then,

once it's light out, we'll try to

find a way to get around that chasm.

 

 

SHELLY

 

(Covering her ears) Why does she keep

making those horrible noises?

 

 

ASHLY

 

I don't know.

 

 

SHELLY

 

And what about her eyes?

 

 

ASHLY and SCOTT are quiet.

 

 

SHELLY

 

What about her eyes? (Desperately)

For God's sake what happened to

her eyes?!

 

 

CHERYL patiently sits in the cellars darkness with a

streak of light across her eyes from the crack in the