Soul Searcher: Family Secrets - Page Five
Soul Searcher
Family Secrets
page 5
INT HOSPITAL - LATE
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON, a broad shouldered man (50's), along with his wife, TIANA (50's), frown in concern as Casey relates the events of the night.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
Hmm. The Scottsdale House?
CASEY
Yeah.
TIANA SIMONSON
You really shouldn't have gone up there.
Dr. Simonson calls the nurse.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
Nurse?
She comes over.
TIANA SIMONSON
How are the boys doing?
NURSE
They've both lost some blood. The Hendricks boy, I'm surprised he's made it as long as he has.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
What happened?
NURSE
Strangest thing I ever saw. He's got all his fingerprints cut off. All ten of 'em.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - MIDNIGHT
Althea enters. Holly and Casey follow her in. Althea locks the door behind them. It's dark, and no one's around.
The answering machine LIGHT flashes. Althea hits the play button.
DONALD COLEMAN
(on machine)
Althea? Jessica? If you're there, please pick up. No? Well, I'm out with your mother. Don't worry about either of us. If you need to, you can reach me on my cell phone. Love you both. See you tomorrow.
Holly plops down on the couch. Althea heads into the kitchen.
HOLLY
(to Casey)
You can sit down.
CASEY
I'm fine.
He walks into the kitchen.
CASEY
You okay?
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Althea puts down the food she took out of the fridge.
ALTHEA
Fine.
CASEY
It's been a rough night.
HOLLY (O.S.)
I'm gonna call Seth.
ALTHEA
Why? Why is this happening?
Casey holds out his arms. Althea slowly steps into his embrace.
ALTHEA
It doesn't make any sense.
CASEY
I know.
INT COLEMAN HOME - CONTINUING
Holly talks on the telephone.
HOLLY
Seth Olsen. ER. Yes, I'll hold.
(pause)
Seth. It's Holly. How are you doing?
SETH OLSEN
Holly. Why are you calling me?
HOLLY
I just wanted to see how you were doing.
SETH OLSEN
I hurt.
HOLLY
I'm sorry.
SETH OLSEN
Yeah, well you should be. The doctor says I'll have these scars for ten years, at least.
HOLLY
Oh no ... I'm sorry. Can I come see you tomorrow?
SETH OLSEN
Look, Holly, it's not about us anymore. You go your way. I'm going mine.
HOLLY
It's not my fault.
SETH OLSEN
We had some good times ... and some bad. But tonight really sucked.
HOLLY
I'm sorry. I didn't know.
SETH OLSEN
See ya.
The phone clicks. Holly stares at it blankly.
HOLLY
He dumped me.
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Casey sits at the table. The WOODEN BOX from the Manor sits nearby.
HOLLY (O.S.)
He dumped me, just like that.
CASEY
I'm sure there'll be someone else.
ALTHEA
Don't say that. She's got plenty of 'em.
(to Holly)
You want anything to eat?
A CRASH from upstairs.
Althea rushes up the stairs.
ALTHEA
Jessie!
CUT TO:
EXT COLEMAN HOME - CONTINUING
Gerard's DARK CAR drives by slowly and parks halfway down the block. He gets out and looks at the Coleman house. He tightens his gloves and walks toward it.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - ALTHEA'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Althea throws open the door. Jessie freezes in the middle of the room.
ALTHEA
Jessie? What are you doing?
JESSICA
Nothing.
ALTHEA
You do nothing in your own room.
JESSICA
I dropped something.
ALTHEA
Uh huh. What?
JESSICA
That shirt you let me borrow. I forgot it in here.
Althea slams the door. Jessie backs up a step.
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Holly runs her finger along the backs of the chairs as she sits down across the table from Casey.
HOLLY
I can't believe he dumped me.
(pouts)
I guess I'm just not good enough.
She lifts her eyes up hopefully to Casey.
Casey's spoon stops halfway to his mouth. A drop of ice cream drips to the table.
CASEY
Uh ...
HOLLY
It's dripping.
She takes the spoon from him and licks it.
HOLLY
Maybe I'm just setting my sights too low. High school boys are so immature.
She moves around the table to sit next to Casey.
HOLLY
Don't you think so?
CASEY
Can I have my spoon back?
HOLLY
I don't think so.
She dips the spoon into his bowl of ice cream.
Casey frowns at that.
CASEY
That's not very sanitary. Germs, and such.
HOLLY
Afraid of getting a little dirty?
Casey gets up and goes to the drawer. He pulls out another spoon.
HOLLY
You know, we could have a lot of fun together.
CASEY
I'll bet.
HOLLY
I could show you things you've never imagined.
Casey ponders thoughtfully.
CASEY
You know, the average human mouth contains over ninety strains of bacteria. When you kiss someone, that number doubles. You probably could show me things I've never seen ... as far as bacteria goes.
INT COLEMAN HOME - ALTHEA'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Althea slams her drawers and shuts her closet door. Jessie backs around in a complete circle and ends up sitting on Althea's bed.
ALTHEA
I told you specifically not to come into my room when I was gone.
JESSICA
But you're back now.
ALTHEA
That's not the point!
JESSICA
(pouting)
I missed you.
Althea glares as hard as she can at her sister, but Jessie just stares back at her with mournful eyes.
JESSICA
I'm sorry.
Jessica wiggles her bottom around on the bed. She feels a bump. Her fingers feel under the mattress. A space. A space for a Diary!
JESSICA
I really am.
Althea melts a little. She turns around and picks up something off the floor.
Jessica quickly yanks the Diary out from under the mattress.
ALTHEA
You should be. Now get.
Jessica disappears out the door in less than a heartbeat.
ALTHEA
I don't want you coming in here again.
Althea tosses a stuffed animal onto her bed. She notices the sheet pulled out in the middle of the mattress.
ALTHEA
Jessica!
EXT COLEMAN HOME - NIGHT
Gerard clings to the shadows outside the house. He listens closely to the sounds from inside.
Close behind Gerard, Randall's face sours.
RANDALL GRAVES
They have the journal. You have to get it. That journal is none of their business. Only you would understand.
Gerard's eyes narrow. He obviously heard something.
ALTHEA (O.S.)
Jessica! You give that journal back right now!
POUNDING on a bedroom door.
ALTHEA (O.S.)
I mean it, Missy!
Gerard smiles tightly. He rounds the corner to the back of the house.
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Holly watches Casey closely, a fire burning behind her eyes. Casey walks slowly back to the table and takes his bowl of ice cream.
HOLLY
Don't be scared. I don't bite. I only nibble a little.
CASEY
So ... how long were you and Seth a thing?
HOLLY
Him? Who cares about him? He's ancient history.
Holly saunters up to Casey and dips her spoon into his bowl of ice cream, pulling out a huge melting scoop. She licks it slowly.
HOLLY
C'mon, Casey.
Casey tries to move past her, but she blocks his path. He accidentally bumps her hand. The melting spoonful of ice cream falls and hits her shirt before it splats on the floor.
They both stop and stare at the stained shirt.
CASEY
I'm sorry.
HOLLY
Don't be. It'll come out ... after it comes off.
She unbuttons half of her buttons. Casey grabs her hands.
CASEY
That's really not necessary.
But Holly only smiles seductively.
HOLLY
Oh no?
Holly pushes him back against the wall.
INT COLEMAN HOME - UPSTAIRS - SAME TIME
Althea crosses her arms stubbornly at Jessica's bedroom door.
ALTHEA
Fine. But when I come back upstairs, you'd better have this door unlocked.
Althea heads down the hallway to the stairs.
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Holly leans in close to Casey, staring up into his eyes. He puts his hands on her shoulders to push her away.
CASEY
Look ... I'm flattered.
HOLLY
Don't talk.
CASEY
It just I'm more interested in Althea -
HOLLY
That's okay.
She rises up on her tippy toes and kisses him on the mouth. He pushes against her shoulders, but she drives into him with a passion ...
Just as Althea rounds the corner into the kitchen!
Althea stops cold.
ALTHEA
(numbly)
No.
Holly smiles as she turns around, her shirt half open.
HOLLY
Hey, girlfriend. Look what I found.
CASEY
Althea. I can explain.
Casey pushes past Holly and reaches out toward Althea.
ALTHEA
Don't! Don't touch me.
CASEY
Althea, please. It's not what it looks like.
ALTHEA
You ... you jerk. How could you?
Holly brushes her fingers down Casey's arm. He flinches away, but the damage is already done.
HOLLY
Should've got there first, Althea. Such smooth lips. A gentle tongue.
Holly brushes her fingers across her lips.
Tears of anger, hurt, and betrayal fill to overflowing in Althea's eyes.
She tries, but no words come.
HOLLY
Mmm. I can still taste it.
Althea turns and runs out the front door.
Holly smiles and takes Casey's hand.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - JESSICA'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Jessica flops down on her bed and opens Althea's Diary.
JESSICA
(reading)
"Today was an awful day. Everyone at school made fun of me. I'm so mad at Todd. He's been the worst mistake I've ever made. I hope to Heaven that none of my family ever finds out what he did to me."
Jessica flips a few more pages.
JESSICA
"Someday my life will get better and make sense. I wish Jessica was older so I could talk to her. Mom's drinking again. I really can't talk to her anymore. Not since she started having her bad dreams. I'm going to take Jessie out to the movies tonight. I just don't want her to see Mom drunk. I wish I could be a better sister for her."
(closes the book)
Wow.
A SCRATCHING at the window.
Jessica looks in her mirror, which faces the window. A reflection of Gerard looking inside. Jessie screams!
The window SHATTERS inwards!
Gerard leaps through and grabs Jessica just before she gets to the door. He claps her hand over her mouth to cut off her screaming.
GERARD
(whispering)
Say goodnight, sweetheart.
He puts a drugged rag over her mouth. She falls unconscious.
Gerard smiles as he picks up the fallen journal.
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Casey puts his dirty bowl and spoon into the sink.
CASEY
That was a really crappy thing to do.
HOLLY
There's more.
Holly plays with her last few buttons.
CASEY
I'm sure there is. But you can save it for someone who cares.
Holly casts him a seductive glance.
HOLLY
Don't you think I'm sexy?
Casey taps his head.
CASEY
Sexy is up here. Yeah, you've got a body, but upstairs, you've been working the corner for way too long.
THUMPS and BUMPS from upstairs.
CASEY
What was that?
HOLLY
Jessica.
CASEY
I think ...
A small SCREAM from upstairs.
Casey takes the steps two at a time. Jessie's door is locked!
CASEY
Jessica! Open up the door!
HOLLY
I know there's a key.
CASEY
Find it!
Holly runs into the parents' bedroom and tears apart drawers to find the key.
CASEY
(continuing; to Holly)
Hurry.
(pounding)
Jessica!
Casey throws his shoulder into the door. The heavy door rattles, but holds fast.
Holly runs out, fumbling a key ring.
HOLLY
I think I've got it.
CASEY
Give it.
Casey tries the keys. One almost fits.
CASEY
Got it.
He jams it in the lock. When he turns it, the key breaks.
CASEY
Crap.
HOLLY
Break it down.
CASEY
You think this is easy?
HOLLY
You're a guy. You're strong. Just do it.
Casey gets a running start at the door. He throws his entire weight into it, and the door frame cracks. A second time, and he's through.
INT COLEMAN HOME - JESSICA'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Shattered glass sparkles on the floor. The bed covers are messed up. A few things are knocked to the floor, indicating some struggle.
HOLLY
Jessica?
CASEY
This is not good.
CUT TO:
EXT STREET - NIGHT
Althea drives aimlessly. Tears blind her eyes, and she tries unsuccessfully to wipe them away.
She pulls over to the side of the road and sobs.
A car pulls up behind her.
A TAP on the glass. Althea looks up to see her father, DONALD COLEMAN (early 40's). His handsome face creases with worry.
Althea rolls down the window.
DONALD COLEMAN
You don't look so good, pumpkin.
ALTHEA
I'm not.
DONALD COLEMAN
Wanna talk?
ALTHEA
Why can't I just be like everyone else?
DONALD COLEMAN
Boy trouble?
Althea nods.
DONALD COLEMAN
Was this one worth it?
Althea nods again.
DONALD COLEMAN
What happened?
ALTHEA
I thought he really liked me. But I came in and he was kissing Holly.
Donald looks back at his wife in the car. Concern clouds his eyes.
DONALD COLEMAN
What did he say to you?
ALTHEA
I don't know. I left.
DONALD COLEMAN
If he really is worth it, like you say he is, you might want to give him a chance to explain himself.
Geneva gets out of the car and joins her husband.
GENEVA
How are you doing, Althea?
Althea just shakes her head.
GENEVA
That bad?
DONALD COLEMAN
A guy she liked kissed someone else.
GENEVA
Is there anything we can do?
Althea shakes her head no.
DONALD COLEMAN
Are you going to be all right?
ALTHEA
Yeah. I'm just going to drive around a little bit. Then I'll come home.
GENEVA
How did your project go?
DONALD COLEMAN
Yeah, your mother was telling me about that. Did you learn what you needed to?
Althea shrugs.
DONALD COLEMAN
All right, pumpkin.
He hugs her through the window. She kisses him on the cheek.
ALTHEA
Thanks, Daddy.
DONALD COLEMAN
You be safe.
ALTHEA
I will.
GENEVA
We'll see you in a little while.
Althea pulls back onto the road and turns at the corner.
DONALD COLEMAN
That kid's got heart. I don't know anyone else who deals with as much every day as she does.
Geneva stares after her daughter, lost in her thoughts.
GENEVA
(absently)
Yeah.
CUT TO: