Soul Searcher: Family Secrets - Page Two
Soul Searcher
Family Secrets
page 2
EXT HIGH SCHOOL - AFTERNOON
Althea carries her books close to her. She ignores all of the taunts and laughter as she walks by. TODD HENDRICKS (18 yrs), dark haired and athletic, approaches. As he draws nearer, his eyes roll back in his head.
ALTHEA
Hi, Todd.
Todd's arms flail out spasmodically. He gurgles and sputters, staggering into Althea. His arms wrap around her, forcing the breath from her lungs.
TODD HENDRICKS
Kiss me, Freak.
He goes in to kiss her. Althea turns, and his kiss hits her ear. She shoves him away, dropping her book and pushing her way out of the crowd. Althea covers her face so no one will see the tears blinding her.
Todd laughs as his friends cluster around him, congratulating his prank.
Holly pushes her way through the crowd. Todd's friends hoot and whistle as she bends over to pick up Althea's book.
HOLLY
That was a pissy thing to do.
Holly follows after Althea.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - ALTHEA'S ROOM - AFTERNOON
Althea slams the door behind her. She yanks open her sock drawer, pulling it to the floor. She digs through the fallen clothing and pulls out her Diary.
Through tear-filled eyes, she searches for the right page.
A picture of Althea and Todd, surrounded by sticker hearts, takes up a whole page. Althea rips out the page. She tears the photo to shreds, sobs choking her.
She collapses on her bed.
A soft KNOCK at the door. The door opens a crack.
Her mother, Geneva, sticks her head in. Her hair is rumpled - she looks like she just woke up.
GENEVA
Everything okay in here?
Althea wipes her tears away and sits up. She nods.
ALTHEA
Yeah. I'm fine.
GENEVA
You don't look like you're doing too good.
ALTHEA
I'm fine.
Geneva looks at the shredded photo on the floor.
GENEVA
What happened?
ALTHEA
I'm just having a change of heart.
GENEVA
Ohhh.
Geneva sits down on the bed next to her daughter.
GENEVA
You wanna talk about it?
ALTHEA
It's nothing, really. Boy trouble.
GENEVA
That's all they are. Trust me. I've known a few.
Althea smiles reassuringly at her mother.
ALTHEA
I know, Mom. I'm fine. It was just a crush.
GENEVA
Anybody I know?
ALTHEA
(lying)
No. This one was just my little secret.
GENEVA
You and Todd still doing good?
Althea's eyes slowly travel the floor and rest on the tattered photo.
ALTHEA
Yeah, Mom. We're fine.
GENEVA
I always liked him. He's a good boy. If you let that one slip away, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.
ALTHEA
Sure, Mom.
GENEVA
You doing anything tonight? You wanna go get something to eat? Maybe get a drink, or something?
ALTHEA
I quit last year.
GENEVA
Yeah, well, nobody's perfect. My treat.
Althea hugs her mom.
ALTHEA
I've got homework to do. It's gonna take a while.
GENEVA
But it's Spring Break.
ALTHEA
Holly invited me to a party.
GENEVA
(remembering)
Oh yeah. She's downstairs. Sorry.
Geneva looks down at the pieces of the photo. She squints.
GENEVA
Who is that?
Althea puts her foot over the pieces.
ALTHEA
Billy. Billy Corgatelli.
GENEVA
I hope he rots in hell.
ALTHEA
Thanks, Mom.
Geneva squeezes Althea's hand.
GENEVA
If you need anything. Anything, I mean it, let me know.
ALTHEA
I will.
Geneva exits. Holly enters. She closes the door behind her.
HOLLY
You okay?
ALTHEA
Yeah. I'm fine. He's just a jerk.
HOLLY
I brought your book. I know you like this one. Sorry it's a little dirty.
ALTHEA
Thanks.
Holly looks at the picture on the floor.
HOLLY
Did that help?
ALTHEA
Not really.
HOLLY
Want some ice cream?
ALTHEA
I think we'd better.
CUT TO:
EXT COLEMAN HOME - SAME TIME
A DARK CAR drives by slowly. It's the same car from yesterday at the Scottsdale Manor.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Althea and Holly sit on the countertops, eating ice cream out of the cartons.
GENEVA (O.S.)
You girls better leave me some of that cherry rum!
Holly mimics Geneva's voice quietly.
HOLLY
You girls better not eat that cherry rum.
GENEVA (O.S.)
I'm serious.
ALTHEA
Don't worry. There's plenty left.
HOLLY
Yeah. Right now.
Around the corner, Jessica crouches by the floor, listening to their conversation.
ALTHEA
How long's it going to take you to get ready?
HOLLY
Maybe an hour.
ALTHEA
An hour? We're just spending the night, not moving in.
HOLLY
There's stuff I gotta bring.
ALTHEA
Like what?
HOLLY
Like maybe my makeup.
ALTHEA
I guess you do need that. Without your makeup, you'd even scare the ghosts away.
HOLLY
Rude.
Holly sticks the spoon into the carton of ice cream and sticks it back in the freezer.
HOLLY
I'll be back in about an hour.
ALTHEA
All right.
Holly heads out the front door. She look down at Jessica.
HOLLY
What are you doing?
JESSICA
Tying my shoe. Got a problem with it?
Jessica looks at Holly's shoes. No laces.
JESSICA
Guess that's why you don't got any laces, huh?
HOLLY
Smart aleck.
Holly exits.
Jessica wanders into the kitchen.
JESSICA
Where're you going tonight?
ALTHEA
Out.
JESSICA
Why?
ALTHEA
Homework. You?
JESSICA
I wanna go. Annie's going on vacation.
ALTHEA
So?
JESSICA
I'm just bored. I want to go somewhere.
Althea holds out the carton of ice cream to Jessica. She dips in a finger.
ALTHEA
You'll find something exciting. You always do.
JESSICA
But I wanna go with you.
Geneva comes into the kitchen.
GENEVA
Have you girls seen my lighter?
JESSICA
I think you threw it behind the TV.
GENEVA
Did I?
Geneva gets a spoon out of the drawer and takes a bite of ice cream.
ALTHEA
Are you going to stay home tonight?
GENEVA
Probably.
ALTHEA
Good. When's Dad coming home?
GENEVA
He said seven. I'll probably see him at ten.
ALTHEA
Mom, I'm going to stay with Holly tonight.
GENEVA
Fine. But if you drink, drink responsibly.
(joking)
You're responsible for finishing every last drop.
Jessica goes into the living room. She reaches behind the TV and finds the lighter.
JESSICA
Here, Mom.
GENEVA
Thanks, Jessie.
JESSICA
Althea said I could go with her.
Geneva lights up a cigarette.
GENEVA
Good for her.
(to Althea)
Nice to see you spending quality time with your sister.
ALTHEA
I did not-
JESSICA
Did so!
Althea glares at Jessica. Jessica sticks her tongue out.
GENEVA
Just keep an eye on her. I don't want to see her face on a milk carton.
Geneva walks out.
ALTHEA
You little weasel.
JESSICA
I just wanna go with you. Mom said I could.
ALTHEA
You lied to her.
JESSICA
Only a little. Please. Can I go with you? Pleeeease.
Jessica makes her eyes big and sad.
ALTHEA
No. The eyes don't work on me. Stop it. No. You're not going with me. No.
Jessica sniffles a little.
JESSICA
(very softly)
Please.
Althea's resolve cracks.
ALTHEA
Okay. Here's the deal. You can go with me tomorrow night.
Jessica brightens.
JESSICA
Where are we going?
ALTHEA
It's at the very end of Westerby Road. The Scottsdale House.
Jessica's eyes grow wide as saucers.
JESSICA
That's a haunted house.
ALTHEA
That's what we're going to find out.
CUT TO:
INT ANDERSON HOUSE - HOLLY'S BEDROOM - SAME TIME
Holly talks on the phone as she tosses stuff in her bag. Her walls reflect her teenage normalcy - celebrity hunks, rock bands, and a picture of her and Althea.
HOLLY
No. I'm not going tonight. I'm doing homework.
(laughs)
No. For real. Me and Althea have a project we're doing.
(huffs)
Shut up, it's not that kind of project. No, it's up at the old Scottsdale House. Yeah, at the end of Westerby Road. We're spending the night there.
Holly sits down on the edge of the bed. She twirls the phone cord around her finger. Her smile broadens.
HOLLY
Really? Yeah. I wanna see you, too.
(pause)
If you want. Maybe I'll just pack something special ... like maybe a teddy.
Her eyes fix on her TEDDY BEAR on her bed.
INT COLEMAN HOME - ALTHEA'S ROOM - SAME TIME
Althea tosses things into her bag. A tape recorder. A sketch book. A notepad. A jacket. And on top of the pile, a HANDGUN.
INT ANDERSON HOUSE - HOLLY'S BEDROOM - SAME TIME
Holly lies on her bed, her feet on the wall. Her smile splits her face in two.
HOLLY
Mm-hmm. I'll see you tonight then.
She hangs up the phone, clutches the receiver to her chest, and sighs happily.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - ALTHEA'S ROOM - SAME TIME
Althea zips up her bag and stares at the mess in her room. She reaches out slowly and touches the torn picture on the floor.
Then she sweeps all the pieces into her hand and tosses them into the wastebasket.
Althea slides the Diary under her mattress.
A KNOCK at her door. She opens it.
JESSICA
Holly's here.
ALTHEA
All right. Give me a hug. Be good tonight. And stay out of my room.
Jessica glances slyly into the room before Althea shuts the door.
CUT TO:
EXT COLEMAN HOME - EVENING
Althea tosses her bag into Holly's trunk. She climbs in the car.
ALTHEA
You get everything packed?
HOLLY
Yup. You?
ALTHEA
I've got what I need.
They drive away.
As they pass by a few blocks, a DARK CAR pulls out behind them. They're busy talking, so they don't notice it.
HOLLY
Todd's just a jerk.
ALTHEA
Why did he do that?
HOLLY
I don't know. He was born breech, you know. Butt first.
ALTHEA
I know what breech is. Still got his butt where his head should be, I guess.
Althea digs in the glove compartment.
ALTHEA
Is this it?
She holds out a pack of gum.
ALTHEA
Nothing to eat.
HOLLY
I was looking for that. What else is in there?
Althea digs further. A toothbrush. A brush. (The hairs migrate down to get tangled in the toothbrush.) A pager. More Makeup. And a pack of gummy worms.
Althea takes a gummy worm and hangs it from her mouth.
HOLLY
That is really gross.
Althea wiggles the worm around and grins.
HOLLY
Yuck.
Althea slurps it up.
ALTHEA
Take the next right.
Holly turns. The Car behind them turns also.
Holly glares in the mirror.
HOLLY
Hey, buddy, back off.
She pushes on the brake. The car nearly slams into them. He backs off a little.
HOLLY
Yeah, you better back off. I got a big can of "Beat-you-within-an-inch-of-your-life" with your name on it right here.
Holly turns down a dead end street - Westerby Road. The following car pulls off the road, just out of sight.
They stop just outside the dark iron gate guarding Scottsdale Manor.
HOLLY
Here we are.
ALTHEA
Here we are.
CUT TO:
EXT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - EVENING
Althea and Holly carry their bags up to the front door. Althea opens the door and they walk inside.
INT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - CONTINUING
The entryway looms open before them, beckoning them with a siren-like call. A cool breeze stirs up some of the thick dust from the floor.
HOLLY
Cozy.
ALTHEA
This is wonderful. I love this.
She walks around in awe.
The door CREAKS behind them. Holly jumps.
HOLLY
Oh! Scare the pants off me.
ALTHEA
So that's how all the guys do it. Come on, chicken.
They walk up the stairway into the beckoning darkness.
CUT TO:
INT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - MASTER BEDROOM - SUNSET
The last fading rays of day glimmer through the stained glass window, casting colored shadows throughout the room.
Althea lights an old oil lantern. The warm glow fills the antique chamber.
ALTHEA
There. Much better.
HOLLY
So what do we do now?
ALTHEA
We watch. We observe. We record.
She pulls out a small pocket recorder and sets it on a heavy wooden chest.
The shadows lengthen. Althea goes to the window. The sun drops below the horizon.
ALTHEA
There it goes.
HOLLY
I don't know if this is such a good idea.
ALTHEA
It's your grade. Tell you what. You stay here, and I'll wander around for a while.
HOLLY
Al- all right. Sure. I'll be fine.
Althea takes a flashlight out of her bag, slings her pack over her shoulder, and closes the door behind her.
HOLLY
I'll just stay here then.
Holly pulls a CD player out of her bag and pops in a CD. She pulls on some headphones, and closes her eyes as she lays down on the old bed. (On top of one of her blankets, of course.)
INT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - MAIN FLOOR - CONTINUING
Althea shines her light around everywhere, taking in every last detail. At one particular SCONCE, she stops and pulls out her sketch pad. She quickly draws the sconce.
ALTHEA
That is exquisite.
As she puts the sketch pad back into her bag, a CHILL stiffens her spine.
ALTHEA
Oh no.