Act1 - 05/25

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Clean spring, leaves are just starting to bud. Lumbered,quaint houses line the street, and most lawns have a talltree or two growing. Its all very orderly and placed,except for the heavily reinforced doors and the iron bars onevery window.

A pair of children [4 & 5, dirty, gleeful] are playing inthe lawn of one of these houses, dancing around a sprinkler.

Rows of freshly planted flowers flank the lawn on eitherside, and the porch windows hold little hanging gardens aswell.

An older couple, MIREI [51, delicate, sitting] and JOHN [56,same] and a young woman, SUE [27, in gardening gear, exudingcalm happiness] watch the children from the porch. Taken asa whole, it could almost be a Saturday Evening Post cover.

Sue wipes the sweat from her brow, visibly pleased by thesign of effort.

SUEIt looks nice, doesnt it?

MIREIIt does. You did wonderfully. Butreally, we didnt need you to dothis.

SUENo, I wanted to. It felt right, youknow?

She licks her lips.

MIREITheres water and tea inside.

SUEThatd be great.

INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN

The kitchen is a mix of modern and old appliances, homelyand warm. It feels like a safe. lived-in place. The wallsare covered in pictures of the Sue and her family. Beforeshe opens the kitchen she takes a moment to go over them.

Its nearly all pictures of herself, a smiling 18 year oldbeside her first car, 22 in a graduation cap and gown, 24 ina wedding dress, 27 besides a pair of smiling children.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

There is one picture, the biggest, that sticks out starkly,and the one that she hovers over for a moment. Its Sue, 12,with a surprised glowering look, scabbed knees, a moodychild.

A door somewhere in the house closes loudly. Sue looksaround for which door it might have been.

INT. HOUSE - UPSTAIRS

Shes looking around a hallway. A few toys are scatteredaround in desultory piles, some clothes as well.

She opens the bedroom door, nothing unusual. She opens thebathroom, still nothing. More doors: an art room, a recroom, a storage room full of more toys, chests and plasticcovered furniture. Nothing.

She comes to a room with SUES ROOM on a bronze placard,where she hesitates upon putting her hand on the doorknob.After a moment, she opens it and steps inside.

INT. HOUSE - SUES ROOM

The room is a bright, happy place. The wallpaper is yellowand purple flowers cascading down, star-shaped lights hangfrom the ceiling, a big milky-white armoire, more toys, twobeds, an old CRTV, movie posters from the 80s and 90s(Empire Strikes Back, Robocop, Princess Bride, etc.)

There is a STRANGER in the center of the room, waiting forher.

The stranger is a copy of Sue, but one who has lived a verydifferent life. Her hair is a different color and cut short,she is burnt brown by the sun where Sue is fairer, and herclothes are stiff and bear marks of being worn down by theelements.

Sue and the Stranger watch each other for a beat. TheStranger walks around slowly, picking up knickknacks, oldbooks, a framed picture of Sue with her children.

STRANGERInteresting that they kept the roomlike this.

SUEThey wanted to turn it into a recroom. I told them that I- that Iwanted to keep it the way it was.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

Stranger nods.

STRANGERTheres two beds here.

SUELukas and Robin like to stay oversometimes.

STRANGERLukas and Robin...Good names...didyou name them or-?

SUEThey were young enough for us toname them.

STRANGERThe look like nice kids.

Beat. Sue is slowly losing her composure.

SUEAre you here to-?

STRANGERTo what?

SUEI dont know. You said- I cantthink of any other reason you mightbe back.

The Stranger groans. She pulls over a chair and sits down,she rests her sword down. Its like shes letting loose along, pent up sigh,

STRANGERCan I have a moment? Just close thedoor behind you. Please? I wont behere when you open it, I promise.

Sue doesnt have any kind of response. She just nods, closesthe door behind, and leaves the stranger to bask.

END TEASER

4.

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

On a black background, white text: 1999

Cut to the neighborhood, largely unchanged from what we sawbefore, only the doors are wooden instead of metal, and thewindows arent covered in iron bars.

A lone BICYCLE RIDER [No older than 19, jeans and a jacket,gawking and really smelling the roses] slowly makes his waydown the lane.

YOUNG SUE [12, loose school uniform and backpack, bouncy andenergetic], is walking on the sidewalk, swinging a brancharound like a sword, mumbling in that low, self-narratedkind of way. Shes pretty into whatever fantasy shesenacting right now.

She spots a crumpled up dollar ahead of her, under a largeoak. She quickens her pace.

Above, in the tree, a pair of other children, LEE and CAMMYGreymark [13 & 11, smug little shits, also in uniforms]wait. Cammy is a wolfish, aggressive looking child. Lee iscalmer and somewhat on the chubby side. Lee is eating anapple and bites down to the core just as Sue passesunderneath to pick up the dollar.

He lets the core fall and it plonks right onto Sues head.

SUEAh, shit!

Her swear makes Lee and Cammy burst into laughter overhead.Sue looks up with a look of

SUE(cont)

Cammy! Lee! God, why did you dothat?

Cammy laughs.

LEECause it was funny. Not like ithurt anyway. Could have dropped arock on you.

CAMMYYeah, dont be a baby.

The two children let their legs hang from the branches. Sueraises her hand as though to make an impassioned statement,pulls back.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

SUEWhatever. You guys suck.

She starts walking away. Cammy whistles at her.

CAMMYOy, where are you going?

Its like pulling teeth just turning around to answer her.SUE

What?

Beat.

CAMMYYouve still got our dollar.

Sue looks down, realizes that shes still clutching thedollar in her hand.

SUEI found it on the sidewalk. Its mydollar.

CAMMYNo, its not. I put it there, itsours, you just picked it up for us.Now give it back.

SUENo.

She turns her back on Cammy and keeps walking. A rock hitsher behind the leg and makes her take the knee. She looksbehind. Cammy has two stones in her free hand, another oneheld up to throw it. Lee is impassive.

SUE(cont)

I said no.

LEECmon, Cammy, let her go home.

Another rock comes flying down, misses Sues head by aninch. Cammy casually plays with the other rock in her hands.Sue leans down.

CAMMYLast warning.

Staredown beat.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

SUEFine. Ill give you your stupiddollar back.

Cammy smirks. Sue picks up the stone and blindly flings itback up at Cammy. Cammy dodges, the stone bounces off thetrunk, and conks Lee in the head. He cries out and tumblesfrom the tree, landing inches from the pavement in a sobbingheap. Sue looks with her mouth open, as does Cammy.

CAMMY(whispering)

Oh shit.

Sue looks up, then down to Lee. She turns and startsrunning.

Across the street, the Bicycle Rider is on the curb,watching.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Sue is sitting alone on a big couch, her uniform tidied andtightened.

Its a very orderly living room, though everything seems alittle too big for her, the coffee table, the lamps, the TV.Paint cans are in the corner, and half the room isblue-taped for a new coat, a cold off-white taking over awarmer orange beneath.

She dangles her legs from the edge of the couch and picks upone of the mags from the coffee table: Other Worlds. Theresa big grasping headline: "STILL HERE" and a portrait of aman with a hundred-yard stare.

She flips through it idly, then tosses it back on the table.

A door opens.

MIREI(os)

Yes, uh-huh, thank you.

A door closes. YOUNG MIREI enters the living room [orderly,refined and businesslike]. She doesnt say anything, justkind of lords over as Sue meets her stare. Beat.

MIREIYou can wait in the garden insteadof your room.

7.

EXT. BACKYARD GARDEN - DAY

Rows of beautiful, delicate flowers make up the backyard. Apartial greenhouse covers some of them, and a tall whitefence cuts it all off from the rest of the world.

Sue has a stick and shes walking around, mumbling under herbreath. She swings her stick around and slices the air.

SUEStupid, stupid...

She takes a swing and smashes the bulb of one of hermothers flowers. Sue drops her sticks, panics, looks backto make sure nobody can see her. She picks up all of thepetals and hurries away to a gate leading outside.

Outside the gate, she dumps the petals into the trash. Shelooks around to make sure no one sees her.

On the curb across the street, the Bicycle Rider waves. Shewaves back, then goes back inside the gate.

INT. HOUSE - DINING ROOM

Sue, Mirei, and YOUNG JOHN [scholarly yuppie, stick-like],sit around the dining room table. Its a big oaken thing,made to accommodate far more people. Styrofoam containerslitter the tabletop.

Sue is an object between Mirei and John, and she munchesaway while her parents barely peck at their dishes. Mireistone sounds like she learned how to speak to children fromDr. Spocks manual.

MIREILucy Greymark came over today. Suethrew a rock at Lee. He has afracture.

John pushes his plate aside. He too sounds like he gets mostof his child-rearing advice from Dr. Spocks.

JOHNSue, please, remember what we saidabout things like this.

MIREIThats right. And dont worry, webelieve your story, we are notagainst you. But you shouldnt havehit anybody. You should have just

(MORE)(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

MIREI (contd)walked away. Be the bigger one andwalk away.

SUEI did.

Mirei sighs.

MIREIYou didnt though.

JOHNWhenever someone makes you mad,just stay calm and try to be aboveit. Getting angry doesnt do anyoneany good.

MIREISo true.

Sue finishes her plate. Mirei and John are hanging on for aresponse.

MIREI(cont)

So, are we good?

SUEI think were good.

Beat while Mirei and John look pleased with themselves. GoodParent award ribbons all around.

MIREIAnd, just so you know, I saw you inthe garden today. You hit theflower-

Sue reddens, aghast and shamed.

MIREI(cont)

You didnt need to do that, youcould have just told me, it wasntthat big of a deal-

Sues grasping for something, anything to end this line.

SUENext time Ill make sure that I getCammy instead of Lee.

Appalled looks all around.

9.

INT. HOUSE - SUES ROOM

The door closes with a harsh slam.

Sue is sitting at a childs desk, lamp on, blank sheet infront of her. She taps a pen lightly against her foreheadbefore trying to scrawl something out.

She groans.

She turns on her small TV and flips through the channels,flipping through news and commercials before landing on amovie. Conan the Barbarian is playing, the iconic scene.

BANDIT(tv)

Conan! What is best in life?

CONAN(tv)

To crush your enemies-

Sue pauses to watch the rest of the scene play out.

CONAN-see them driven before you, and tohear the lamentation of theirwomen.

She chuckles, she seems happy for a moment, but it quicklyfades.

She looks back to her paper and groans.

INT. SCHOOL OFFICE - DAY

Posters and college pennant flags are stapled in suchnumbers as to cover the wall from floor to ceiling. A largewindow looks out over a construction site.

Sue, John and Mirei sit opposite COUNSELOR KENNY [mid-40s,rough, perfect posture] nicknamed THE BRUCE.

MIREI...and we really wanted to givethis to them.

She hands over an envelope with From: Sue, To: Lee writtenon it.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 10.

THE BRUCEGreat, I know that the Greymarkswill be doing the same. A nicelittle exchange and itll all bewater under the bridge.

Theres a loud racket coming in from the window. He gets upand closes it.

THE BRUCE(cont)

Right, so, uh-

JOHN...wed hope this whole thing couldjust blow over.

THE BRUCEAh, right.

(Beat)Now, I hope you dont mind myasking, but how are the two of youholding up. I heard that thingsare-

MIREIOh, weve hit a snag. That wont behappening.

The Bruce suddenly feels that he has bumbled into an awkardtopic.

THE BRUCEOh, Im sorry. I know how long youwere both trying.

JOHNYeah, yeah. But its alright.

He pats Sue on the back.

JOHN(cont)

Weve got Sue. Shes enough of ahandful as it is, I dont know howwe would have handled three.

MIREIOr four.

The adults all laugh. Sue could be anywhere else right now.The Bruce notices this and reaches out to her.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 11.

THE BRUCEDont be too down about this. A dayin class and youll forget allabout it.

Sue forces a smile and a nod.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

The classroom is dark while the teacher mans a projectorshowing slideshow images of...things. Bizarre creatures,people rioting in the streets, a great fissure in the earthfrom which smoke rises up.

The LINDS TOLKI [30s, chipper in tone, hip with thestudents] is in the middle of recounting a personal story.She has that kind of tone where she really wishes she couldbe doing research instead of teaching middle-schoolers.

LINDS...I was about as old a you all arewhen this happened, feels like itwas so much longer ago now. We hadto move pretty quickly when thewarning went off.

She flips to a picture of a marine who looks more like a biggame hunter, smoking a cigarette next to the corpse of amonstrous, horned animal. The children collectively respondwith a mix of oohs and a few utterances of sick.

Sue watches intently from a middle row. Up ahead, Cammylooks back every so often to throw a glance towards Sue. Theteacher continues to regale the class.

LINDS(cont)

I know, right? Pretty cool. Itslike some old monster from StarWars. Like a rancor. Yeah, therancor. You kids ever watch StarWars?

Not much of a response. Sue looks around, decides not toraise her hand.

LINDS(cont)

Right.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 12.

Next slide. Its just a bunch of people standing around,fresh-faced, college age, in a horrible mix of clothes;half-robes, fresh animal skins, jeans, cheap white-collarsuits. Theres a long, dark splatter that stretches acrossall four of the people in the picture.

Not quite so many expletives from the class now.

LINDS(cont)

These people though. These are theones you had to watch out for.

Sue looks up. Linds shivers and goes to the next slide, abig map of the US. She raises her hand.

LINDS(cont)

Sue?

SUEWho were those people? From thelast slide?

Back to the last slide. The mood fizzles out. Everyoneslooking a little closer, taking in all the details, and itdoesnt sit well.

LINDSUh, where to begin? Crazies, mostof them. Thought the fissure wasthe end of the world. Thought theycould really take everything thatwas coming out of it and dosomething with it. Imagine ahundred thousand people with thepower to shape the world as theysaw fit. What a time, Ill tellyou. What a time.

Theres a beat while the class just kinda takes that all in.Linds finally notices this sudden mood shift and tries tobring it back down.

TEACHERIf youd like I could recommendsome books on the kinds ofthaumaturgy they-

The bell rings. The class, and Sue, are all eager to getout, and rush out over the supplications of Linds to comeback if they have any questions at all.

13.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LOCKERS - DAY

A few straggling students rush out of the hallway, leavingSue alone to set her books down. A door at the end of thehallway opens up and in walks Cammy. Sue sees her coming,decides to face her. She closes the door to her locker.

CAMMYI got your letter.

SUEYeah?

CAMMYYep.

Up close, we can see that Sue is actually taller than Cammyby a good few inches.

CAMMY(cont)

You should have just given me backmy dollar.

SUEAre you really going to fight mehere? In the hallway?

CAMMYIf that was what I wanted youdalready be on the floor.

SUESo then what?

CAMMYYou broke my brothers arm, gave mea scare. That calls for recompense.

SUEThats a big word for you, Cammy.And I swear-

Cammy raises a hand.

CAMMYNo. Youre not going to swear,youre going to listen to me, andyoure going to do exactly as Isay.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 14.

SUEAnd why would I do that?

Beat.

CAMMYWe have at least 6 years left here.How unpleasant do you want thoseyears to be? Weve had our littlefights. Do you want those fights tobecome a war? Because I willdeclare war on you if you force meto.

Sue falters under Cammys icy stare for a painful beat.

CAMMY(cont)

Lets talk.

EXT. SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION LOT - DAY

The school construction lot is a dusty, torn up landscape.Equipment and rebar litter the grounds, and caution tape andblue tarp cover much of the superstructure being set down.

Sue runs through, tears slowly running down her cheek. Shelooks around, seeing if shes alone. The grounds are whisperquiet. She sits on a pile of lumber and quietly sobs.

She sobs only for a moment. Fear and sadness turns to anger.Shes digging into the earth.

A bicycle bell rings. The rider is watching her from acrossthe lot. He waves. She waves back.

RIDERYou alright?

SUEWhat?

RIDERI said-

He walks over. Theres a kind of lackadaisical, carefreeattitude to his voice, almost hippy-like.

RIDER(cont)

Are you alright?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 15.

SUEYeah, Im alright.

RIDERHuh. Funny, you dont look alrightthough. Id say you look theopposite of alright.

Sue wipes away at her face. The rider sighs.

RIDERThat girl really getting to you,huh?

Sue looks at him, nods.

RIDER(cont)

It happens. It still sucks.Everyone tells you you cant dothis, you cant do that, blah blah,bunch of pansy dumb-asses.

He chuckles, Sue chuckles a little, breaking out of hersomber, angry mood.

RIDERYou want to show her?

SUEWhat?

RIDERI mean, do you really think thatanybody will help you out? In anykind of meaningful way? Because Ithink we could help each other outright now. You know, like, takecare of her.

Sue tenses up. She tries to keep her reaction under controlbut she still looks scared

RIDER(cont)

Oh, no. Not anything really bad.God, you kids watch too manymovies, damn...

Sue looks away sheepishly.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 16.

SUEDo you mean...hurt her?

RIDEROh, no. Well, pain is relative, buteven so, this wont hurt her. Ifanything I think shes in moredanger from you than from me.

Beat. Rider smiles and lightly taps her shoulder with hisfist.

RIDER(cont)

Youre a little scrapper, you knowthat? I saw you hit that fat kidoff the branch. You should be proudof that.

Sue reflects on this for a moment, her spirits lifting fromthe praise.

SUEHow? How do we do this?

The Riders face is blank, utterly unreadable.

RIDERItll be simple. Well just giveher a scare shell never forget.Ive dealt with people like herbefore. They just need agood-(pause while he huntsfor theword)-jolt. But first I want you todo something for me.

SUEWhat?

The Rider extends a hand.

RIDERI want us to shake on it. I want usboth to be in this, together.Partners, just for this.

Sue looks at his hand. She looks around. The constructionlot is desolate, and wind howls between the bare, skeletonframes. The Rider smiles at her with a gentle, empathicsmile.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 17.

RIDER(cont)

Its just a shake.She shakes his hand. The Rider smiles. Hes got perfectteeth.

EXT. SCHOOL FIELD - DAY

Cammy is walking along an empty field. She has a phone andshes idly snapping pictures of things, an old rusted bikesomeone left, a piece of playground equipment, a squirrelthat runs by.

She looks up from her phone to see Sue looking at her fromacross the field. Cammy smirks.

CAMMYWhat do you want?

SUEJust letting you know that Ithought about what you said.

CAMMYHmm?

SUEI remembered when I hit yourbrother with that rock. It waspretty funny when he fell out ofthat tree.

She makes a few mocking yelps and acts as though shesfalling from a branch. Cammy puts her phone away.

SUE(cont)

I mean, hes such a-

She hesitates and her face looks a little pained.

SUE(cont)

-your brothers such a fatass thatI was surprised he was able toclimb up that tree at all.

Cammy is absolutely itching to make Sue eat the floor rightnow. They both stare each other down. Sue is the first tobolt, Cammy gives chase.

18.

EXT. SCHOOL EXPANSION LOT - DAY

Sue leads Cammy through the construction lot, under beamsand around rebar until she takes a turn into a completelytarped wooden frame. Cammy chuckles as she slows down toenter.

CAMMYAlright, you ready to-

Sue jumps her. She has a piece of stone in her hand. Shescraps with Cammy, eventually kicking her off and holdingthe rock piece over her haed as though to strike. Cammyprepares to rush her when the Rider sneaks behind her andpushes a rag to her face. Cammy panics and starts tostruggle.

SUEThats right. Take that you stupid-

She hesitates, like its a sudden escalation of bad words.

SUE(cont)

...B-bitch!

Cammys eyes close. The Rider gently lays her down on thefloor.

RIDERCool.

He wipes the sweat from his forehead and laughs.

RIDER(cont)

Well you really clocked her, Illgive you that much. Like I said, ascrapper.

SUEOk, now what? Do we tie her up orsomething?

RIDERWell, your job is done. You canleave if you want.

SUEBut I thought-?

The Rider pulls out a strange device from his pocket, a kindof translucent tube with a needle sticking out of one end.He jams it into Cammys neck, who jerks when he does.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 19.

SUE(cont)

What?

The Rider is not listening to her. The vial slowly fillswith amber liquid, eventually filling the entire receptacle.He slides the needle out and holds it to the light.

RIDERThat is beautiful. Reallybeautiful.

He regards Cammy.

RIDER(cont)

Sorry, kid.

Back to Sue.

RIDER(cont)

Thanks for the help. Shell bealright, just give her a fewminutes and shell come around.

SUEWhat did you do to her?

The Rider slides the receptacle back into his pocket.

RIDERHeld up my end of the bargain. Shewont be bothering you any more.

He looks up to the sky with a broad smile. He jumps onto abeam leading out of the tarped frame. He takes a moment tolook back and give Sue a parting salute.

RIDER(cont)

Really, thank you.

He jumps away, leaving Sue and Cammy alone. Sue watchesCammy for a moment.

SUECammy?

Cammy breathes raspily. Shes deathly pale and sweating. Suepokes her with a piece of rebar. Cammy twitches, but isotherwise unresponsive. Sue reels back, drops the rebar. Shelooks around to see if anyone else could possibly be around.

20.

Cammys leg starts kicking, trying to get her body back up.Sue slowly walks away, then runs as Cammy starts to rise.

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - SUNDOWN

Sue is walking in a daze. She looks down at her filthyuniform.

MIREISue?

MIREI(cont)

Sue? Whats wrong? Are you okay?What happened? Sue, you need totell me.

Sue snaps to attention.

SUEI saw Cammy, at the constructionsite.

INT. SUES HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

The room is a bustle of activity. The red and blue of policelights are shining through the windows. Uniformed officersshuffle in and out. Detectives and operatives in strangegear, like a cross between SWAT gear and a late medievalwitchfinders armor.

HUNTERCan you describe him? Any detailsat all?

She looks past the door. A small crowd has gathered, a tapeline keeping them at bay. Lee, with his arm in a cast,crying, and a woman in her 40s are yelling at a policeofficer.

SUEI...I dont remember.

INT. SUES HOUSE - SUES ROOM - NIGHT

Mirei holds Sue close to her. John stands in the doorway.Mirei kisses Sue on the head and looks visibly shaken. Shegoes over to the window and makes sure the locks are set.

Mirei kisses Sue again and she leaves with John, closing thedoor behind them.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 21.

Sue is alone in the quiet. She breaths out and reclines ontoher bed. She puts a hand to her heart and breaths in an outslowly. She has a strange look, like shes just exited froma dream, a faint smile. She takes her hand away from herheart. Her voice is a whisper.

SUEI did it. I really did it.

She exults for moment, the thrill of the moment pulsingthrough her. But its quiet, and we linger. Theres a whitenoise in the room that grows oppressively louder.

The light smile fades. Her breath quickens and dreadarrives.

END ACT 1