Soul Searcher: Family Secrets - Page Six
Soul Searcher
Family Secrets
page 6
EXT COLEMAN HOME - NIGHT
Holly follows Casey out to his truck.
HOLLY
You don't know where she went.
CASEY
How do you even know what I'm doing?
HOLLY
You're a guy. You're going to go find her.
CASEY
Are you ... I can't even believe ... you don't get it, do you? Jessica is gone. Taken. Abducted. Kidnapped. Ya kaput. She is no longer in her room. We're the only ones who are possible witnesses, and you think I'm going after Althea?
Casey gets into his truck.
HOLLY
Wait. I'm sorry. You're right. I didn't mean to think that you were like that.
She opens the passenger door.
CASEY
What are you doing?
HOLLY
I'm going with you.
CASEY
No.
HOLLY
If you're going after her, you need backup.
She climbs in and closes the door.
CASEY
(frowning)
You're worse than a rash.
But Holly only smiles.
CUT TO:
EXT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - SAME TIME
Gerard drives his car up to the gate. He looks into the back seat. Jessica looks so small against the hard seat.
Gerard puts Jessica over his shoulder and walks up toward the Manor.
CUT TO:
EXT DR. SIMONSON'S HOME - NIGHT
The lights glow through the drapes. As Casey pulls into the drive, a shadow peeks out the living room window.
CASEY
He's probably expecting me.
HOLLY
Us.
CASEY
ME.
HOLLY
Whatever.
Despite her attitude of nonchalance, Holly buttons up two buttons on her shirt.
INT DR. SIMONSON'S HOME - CONTINUING
Dr. Simonson opens the door and lets them in.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
I was hoping to talk with you, Casey.
Tiana Simonson enters, a grave look on her face.
TIANA SIMONSON
We've got some serious news.
Casey looks between their two faces, hoping to find some clue to their meaning.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
I talked with the Emergency Room doctor about the boys. They have the word "Butcher" carved into their backs. Well, one of them only got "Butch", but still, you must understand.
TIANA SIMONSON
We've seen this killer before.
CASEY
Killer?
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
When I was your age, there was an entire family, a Japanese Family, killed at the Scottsdale Manor.
HOLLY
No way.
TIANA SIMONSON
They all had the word, "Butcher", carved into their backs.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
And just like one of the boys, all of their fingerprints were cut off. Taken.
Casey sits down slowly on a chair.
Tiana holds out a few old photos. Holly takes them. The photos evidence a horrific crime scene. Five bodies, all with "Butcher" carved into their backs.
HOLLY
This is sick.
CASEY
Who did that?
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
His name was Randall Graves.
CASEY
So that's who was chasing us?
Tiana looks at her husband in surprise.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
Chasing you?
CASEY
Yeah, up at the Scottsdale Manor.
HOLLY
He had this really long knife. Didn't say anything. Really serial killer freaky-like.
TIANA SIMONSON
That couldn't have been -
Dr. Simonson sits down and puts his face into his hands.
TIANA SIMONSON
Are you all right?
Dr. Simonson looks up. His eyes hold the true horror behind his words.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
Randall Graves, the man who killed those people, committed suicide not ten minutes after he did that.
HOLLY
Then who ...?
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
There was a boy there at the Manor. He had the same word carved into his back. His fingerprints were sliced off, just the same ... only he lived.
Tiana slowly sits backwards on the floor. Her mouth drops open in horror.
TIANA SIMONSON
You don't mean ...
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
I was still in college, but the police thought it would be a good exercise for me to give a psychiatric evaluation to this boy.
He takes a deep breath.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
I suppose that he wasn't entirely rehabilitated.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - SAME TIME
Donald and Geneva sit at the kitchen table. The wooden box is open in front of them, its contents spread all over the table. Newspaper clippings, faded photos of grisly murders, and an old JOURNAL.
The front door OPENS. Althea enters.
ALTHEA
I'm home.
Her parents look up at her, questions in their eyes.
ALTHEA
What?
Althea looks at everything strewn on the table.
ALTHEA
What's this?
DONALD COLEMAN
Is this yours? Because if it is, I don't find it funny at all.
ALTHEA
No. I mean, yes, I brought it here, but it's not mine.
GENEVA
Where did you get it?
ALTHEA
Wait a minute. What did I do wrong? I don't even know what this stuff is.
Althea sits down at the table and looks over the photos and newspaper clippings. Every single one of them has to do with a violent murder.
One photo in particular stands out - a young Japanese Girl stares horrified into the camera. Behind her, another Japanese woman lies on the floor, obviously dead.
Scrawled into the wall behind them is the word, BUTCHER.
ALTHEA
No. It's not possible.
GENEVA
If you want to explain any of this, feel free anytime.
ALTHEA
He killed her. The little girl. Here. He killed her. I saw him.
Donald's face grows rigid.
DONALD COLEMAN
I will not tolerate any more of this. Where is your medication?
ALTHEA
No, Daddy. Please.
Geneva looks away, guilty.
DONALD COLEMAN
You said that you were better.
ALTHEA
I am. Please, Daddy. No. I'll clean it up. I won't say anything anymore. I won't be bad. Please.
Donald rips through the cupboards for Althea's medication.
Althea quickly gathers up everything from the box and stuffs it inside.
ALTHEA
See? It's all gone.
Donald picks up the wooden box and SLAMS it down on the table. The lid flies open and the contents spill out everywhere.
DONALD COLEMAN
Do you know how much hell I went through after your little episode at the dance? I will not go through that again! Look what you're doing to your mother!
Tears cloud Geneva's eyes, but she says nothing.
Althea picks up the box. The bottom FALLS out. Plastic bags spill everywhere.
DONALD COLEMAN
Pick up your mess.
Althea picks up one of the plastic bags. She looks at its contents. TEN withered pieces of skin ... with FINGERPRINTS.
CUT TO:
INT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - STUDY - NIGHT
Gerard ties Jessica's hands behind her. He plops her down in a chair.
Gerard lights a candle and reads from Althea's Journal, not realizing what it is.
Jessica stirs a little. She moans and blinks open her eyes in the candlelight.
JESSICA
Where are we?
But Gerard ignores her.
JESSICA
Hey, where are we?
Gerard turns the pages, reading.
Jessica flexes her hands, testing her bonds.
JESSICA
Well, if you won't talk, I will.
She sees him reading the Journal.
JESSICA
Hey, that's my sister's diary!
Gerard looks at the cover. He flips through all of the pages. It's in nice, flowery handwriting.
His eyes harden colder than ice. He hurls the Diary out the door and down the hall.
Gerard grabs Jessica by the front of the shirt. He lifts her face close to his. She flinches at his fetid breath.
GERARD
Where is the Journal?
JESSICA
That's Althea's Diary. You threw it out there.
Gerard shakes her and throws her back in the chair.
JESSICA
Ow. You're mean. You know that? When I get out of here, I'm going to make sure that you get the electric chair. You're gonna get the chair for kidnapping me.
GERARD
Shut up!
JESSICA
Make me.
Gerard grabs Jessica and pulls her down the hall toward the kitchen.
CUT TO:
INT DR. SIMONSON'S HOME - SAME TIME
Casey glances anxiously at his watch.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
You seem nervous.
HOLLY
Is all of this true?
Tiana Simonson nods somberly.
CASEY
It's just ... Althea's sister is missing.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
When?
CASEY
Just before we came here. There was an argument. Althea left. Then we heard some noises up in Jessica's room. When we got in there, the window was broken, and she was gone.
Tiana takes her husband's hand.
TIANA SIMONSON
Do you think it's him?
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
Did this person who chased you earlier, did he follow you when you left?
Casey looks to Holly. She shrugs.
HOLLY
I don't know. We went to the hospital.
CASEY
I really wasn't paying attention.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
Then we can only assume the worst.
CASEY
We've got to get her back.
Dr. Simonson puts out a hand to calm Casey.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
I think we should call the authorities. Let them take care of it.
CASEY
No. She could be dead by then.
DR. THEODORE SIMONSON
How do you know she's not dead already?
CUT TO:
INT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - CELLAR - SAME TIME
Gerard shoves Jessica down on the cold dirt floor. She rises up to her knees and glares at him defiantly.
GERARD
I don't want to hear another word.
JESSICA
Up yours.
Gerard turns and walks up the cellar stairs. He takes all the light with him, leaving Jessica in complete darkness.
Jessica rises to her feet. WHISPERS sound all around her in the dark. She panics, whimpering, then crying, then screaming. The whispers surround her completely, drowning out even her own thoughts - her own screams.
CUT TO:
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - SAME TIME
Donald grabs his keys and wallet from the end table in the living room.
DONALD COLEMAN
I'm going to get your medication. I don't want you to leave this house, young lady.
ALTHEA
But Daddy -
DONALD COLEMAN
No. I will not have you ruining your mother's life any more.
He SLAMS the front door behind him.
ALTHEA
Mom ...
The door OPENS. Donald walks in. He holds out his hand.
DONALD COLEMAN
Keys. CAR keys.
ALTHEA
Why?
DONALD COLEMAN
Because I don't want you to run away, that's why.
Althea stands and pulls her car keys out of her pocket.
Behind her back, outside the window, Randall Graves walks by.
DONALD COLEMAN
Stay here. I'll be right back.
He SLAMS the door again. His car pulls out of the driveway.
ALTHEA
Mom, why don't you say anything?
GENEVA
Your father's right, Althea. You can't do this to yourself. You're tearing the family apart.
Althea grabs all the stuff and piles it into the wooden box angrily.
ALTHEA
Me? I'm the one keeping this family together! Who watches Jessica when Dad's at work and you're passed out dead drunk on the couch? Huh? Me!
Althea slams the wooden lid closed.
ALTHEA
Who cleans up after you when you puke in bed? Me! Who makes Dad dinner and leaves it out for him when he gets home? Huh? ME! You don't do jack around here, Mom. You're just a lazy drunk!
Geneva SLAPS Althea.
ALTHEA
Fine.
She picks up the box and goes upstairs to her room.
Geneva opens the cupboard door and pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels. She opens the bottle and sets in on the table. She collapses in tears.
INT COLEMAN HOME - ALTHEA'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Althea slams the door behind her. She doesn't even notice the cracks in her sister's door.
Althea flops angrily down on the bed. She reaches underneath her bed and pulls out her secret sketch pad. She turns the pages, one by one.
ALTHEA
I'm not crazy. They're real.
She drops the sketch pad onto the floor and pushes it halfway under her bed.
Then Althea pulls the Journal out of the box. She flips open to the last few pages of writing.
ALTHEA
(continuing; reading)
"One by one they died. I watched them as they screamed in silent agony. Their throats slit from ear to ear. Every one of them knows the pain I felt when they bombed us. It serves them right for coming here. I didn't want them here. But now they're mine. And they are beautiful."
Althea stares in horror at the pages in front of her.
ALTHEA
That's disgusting.
(continuing reading)
"The little girl was my favorite. After I plucked her eyes out I had her dance that little Japanese dance they do."
Althea stops.
ALTHEA
No. That can't be her. Her eyes were fine. She only had a cut on her hand.
Althea opens one of her dresser drawers and digs under some clothing. She pulls out a duplicate SET OF KEYS.
Althea opens up her window and peeks out. She puts the Journal back into the box and ties it shut with string. She drops the box down to the ground.
Then she climbs out into the tree by her window and climbs to the ground.
EXT COLEMAN HOME - CONTINUING
Althea stealthily scurries across the yard to her car. She unlocks the door and slides in.
A CLUB locks her steering wheel in place!
ALTHEA
Aw ... hell.
She bangs on the steering wheel in frustration.
Then she gets out and slams the door behind her.
Althea starts walking up the road.
INT COLEMAN HOME - KITCHEN - CONTINUING
Geneva hears a car door slam outside. She picks up her bottle and walks cautiously to the front door. She pulls open the front door.
Staring back at her from the middle of her lawn is Randall Graves. He stares at her, a smile full of crooked teeth slashing across his hard face.
RANDALL GRAVES
(in English accent)
'Ello, Mummy. D'ye know where yer childern are?
Geneva stares stupidly at Randall. She shakes her head, as if trying to clear it.
GENEVA
Who the hell are you?
CUT TO:
EXT DR. SIMONSON'S HOME - SAME TIME
Casey hurries out to his truck. Holly follows after him.
HOLLY
Casey, this is stupid. Come on. Let's just go back to my place. We can call the cops from there. Hell, the Simonson's can call them from here.
CASEY
No. I have to. You stay here if you want.
HOLLY
Make me.
CASEY
Fine. But whatever happens ...
HOLLY
Fine. Whatever.
Casey spins the tires as he roars out into the street.
INT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - STUDY - SAME TIME
Gerard tears through the study, ripping books from the shelves.
GERARD
Where is it? Aaargh!
He overturns the desk in his frustration.
INT SCOTTSDALE MANOR - ATTIC - CONTINUING
The Little Girl hears Gerard roaring in anger. She whimpers and turns back to her post at the window.
LITTLE GIRL
Please come back. You're the only one that can help us.
EXT STREET - SAME TIME
Althea walks hurriedly up the sidewalk. An urgency drives her.
ALTHEA
Don't do this, Althea. This is stupid. You just made it all up. This journal is just coincidence. You're just pretending it fits.
Althea picks up her pace. Her stride lengthens until she's running up the dark street.
EXT COLEMAN HOME - CONTINUING
Casey races by in his truck. He slams on his brakes as he sees Geneva slouched on the porch. He backs up in the driveway and jumps out, the engine still idling.
CASEY
Hey, are you Althea's mom?
Geneva looks up, the booze clouding her thoughts.
GENEVA
Yeah.
CASEY
Can I talk to her?
Geneva waves dismissively.
GENEVA
Be quiet, though. Jessie's asleep. Haven't heard from her all night.
Casey steps past her into the house.
GENEVA
Hey! She won't talk to you. She's mad about some boy.
INT COLEMAN HOME - ALTHEA'S ROOM - CONTINUING
Casey knocks on the door. No answer, so he opens it. The room's empty. No Althea.
He spots the sketch pad halfway under the bed. He glances back over his shoulder to see if anyone's coming. Nobody. He bends down and picks up the sketch pad.
Flipping through it, his eyes darken, puzzled.
CASEY
What?
On the last page he stops. It shows the Scottsdale Manor, with a little girl staring out the attic window.
CASEY
(continuing; reading)
"Little Girl in Window." She's gone back.
He sets the sketchbook back in place under the bed.
EXT COLEMAN HOME - CONTINUING
Casey steps over Geneva, now lying on the porch.
GENEVA
How is she?
CASEY
Fine. Tell her I'll call her.
GENEVA
Sure.
Casey jumps in the truck and screeches away.
GENEVA
Sure I will.
She lays her head down on her arm and closes her eyes to sleep.
Donald pulls into the drive. He walks up to the porch and looks down at his wife.
DONALD COLEMAN
Geneva, you've got to stop doing this.
GENEVA
I thought someone was out here.
DONALD COLEMAN
It's late. Let's get you to bed.
He pulls Geneva to her feet. She melts into his arms.
DONALD COLEMAN
Come on, jellyfish. Help me out here.
He pulls her inside and closes the door.
DONALD COLEMAN (O.S.)
Althea?
He throws open the front door and runs out into the front yard. His jaw clenches. Rage fills his eyes.
DONALD COLEMAN
ALTHEA!!!
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