APRIL FOOL'S DAY
Written by
Danilo Bach
rev 1st draft
July 30, 1986
FADE IN
EXT. FERRY LANDING - NEW ENGLAND SHORE - DAY
The sparkling waters. The chirping spring day. We are on an isolated
stretch of country shore , and a quiet, sheltered island is visible
distantly across the Sound. There is asense of anticipation,
excitement. VOICES can be heard. THE CAMERA is the POV of a VIDEO
CAMERA, and a group of college kids wait just o.s. On-screen, however,
for the moment, a proper, sweet-faced young COED faces the camera and
-- reluctantly, under the urging of her friend behind the video lens -
- sets the scene.
SWEET COED
(SHYLY)
Hi... My name is Mary O'Reilly O'Toole O'Shea and...over there is the
island my friend Muffy owns... It's spring break... and she's invited
us over for the weekend, and we're waiting for the ferry now to take
us there...
(blushing, mortified to cameraman)
I don't know what else to say!
CAMERAMAN (CHAZ'S VOICE)
Tell us something about yourself.
SWEET COED
Something about myself? Oh, Gee...
(composing herself, earnestly)
Well, I want to work with handicapped children... My parents are my
best Friends... Next semester I start convent school, and I... fuck on
the first date.
O.S. her friends explode with LAUGHTER. Brassy former deb NIKKI
BRASHEARS gives us a big, wet wink, dropping the act.
SWEET COED/NIKKI
April Fool...
CHAZ'S VOICE
Whoo! Outrageous woman! Nikki, you are my kind o' gal!
He PANS THE CAMERA over to KIT-- a pretty, unaffected, natural beauty,
bright and very much aware.
CHAZ'S VOICE
C'mon, Kit, how about you?
Kit waves him off, laughing in spite of herself. She's got nothing to
say.
KIT
Pass.
CHAZ'S VOICE
C'mon , Arch? Skip?
He PANS over to the other two college boys on the dock here - ARCH, a
big, good-natured, easygoing WASP jock (rugby and crew); and SKIP, Mr.
Preppy, the perfect image of the lazy spoiled, indulged, and reckless
upper-crust kid. Skip also happens to be Muffy's cousin.
ARCH
(ponders it with due consideration)
Yeah, sure... I fuck on the first date...
Skip cracks up. Arch's laughter follows.
NIKKI (O.S.)
Where's Rob?
Chaz QUICK-PANS the camera back to Kit, following the action.
CHAZ'S VOICE
(teasing, with innuendo)
Yeah, Kit, where is he?
ARCH (O.S.)
(MORE TEASING)
Oh, Kit...
Concerned, Kit keeps her humor anyway, waving the lens away again.
KIT
Oh, c'mon, Chaz, give me some room, will you?
He does, finally shutting down the videopak. The image reverts to FILM
again.
NIKKI
(looks at her, persisting)
Well?
INT. VOLVO WAGON IN MOTION - MAIN HIGHWAY - DAY
CUT TO:
The driver -- a still great-looking, turned-out Fairfield County-type
SUBURBAN LADY -- and the passenger, ROB FERRIS a cleancut,
goodlooking, 20 year old public school grad �sit in uncomfortable
silence on opposite ends of the front seat.
ROB
(gestures, awkwardly)
Here'll be fine, thanks...
EXT. HIGHWAY INTERSECTION - DAY
The Volvo wagon pulls over. Rob drags out his daypack, too.
ROB
(ABASHED)
Thanks... for the lift, I mean...
SUBURBAN LADY
(smiles, no reason for disappointment)
It was a real lift for me, too, hon.
A late model Detroit sedan slows at the intersection, turning off the
highway to take the junction in the direction Rob is going. A road
sign indicates: "BAR HARBOR MOUNT DESERT" in another direction.
Rob hefts his gear, hurrying to flag the sedan.
The Volvo wagon continues on, braking for the next undergraduate
male hitchhiking down the road.
INT. KITCHEN - ST. JOHN HOUSE- DAY
CLOSE ON a wall calendar. A HAND reaches INTO FRAME, tearing off
"MARCH" to begin "APRIL".
WIDEN TO REVEAL CLARA, the middle-aged housekeeper and offseason
caretaker for the house. With her overcoat and purse on one arm, she
drops the "MARCH" calendar page in a wastebasket, then crosses to the
pantry where a door and wooden steps lead down to the basement.
CLARA
(CALLING)
The rooms are all in order, double- and triple-checked, and I'm on my
way...
She hears a CLATTER from down below.
INT. BASEMENT - DAY
MUFFY ST. JOHN drags a woman's body across the floor. The arm comes
off in her hand.
MUFFY
Shit.
CLARA'S VOICE
Need any help down there?
Clara comes clopping down the steps. Muffy turns, the mannequin's arm
still in her hand. Old workclothes and a head kerchief take the place
of Muffy's normally impeccable prep Seven Sisters outfit (including
the regulation penny loafers) in all this dust. Early 20's, pretty in
an off-beat sort of way, Muffy is every inch a blue-blood.
MUFFY
(puffing with the effort)
No, Clara, thanks. Just trying some last minute straightening down
here... god, I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life...!
CLARA
Sure you don't want me to stay? There's nobody gonna be around
here to help till first ferry back Monday, y'know...
MUFFY
(continuing with her work)
Nope, you're a peach, Clara. But this one's mine. I told my father I'd
do it, and I will. My way. I don't want him to have any excuses.
CLARA
(dubiously , turning to go)
All right, then. Have a nice party.
MUFFY
(a buoyant laugh)
Nice? It has to be better than nice... it's gotta be bloody
unforgettable!
Clara climbs the stairs.
CLARA
Good luck.
MUFFY (CONT)
Bye, Clara. See you Monday.
Soon there's the upstairs SOUND of the kitchen door closing behind
Clara.
Muffy finally props the mannequin, clearing away the remaining
clutter. She goes to open a basement window for ventilation. It is a
ground-level transom, hinged at the top. Through it Clara is visible
departing the grounds.
Then Muffy hears a DRIPPING. She turns, hesitating, and follows the
sounds.
INT. UTILITY ROOM
Part of the basement, an old washroom and more, with tub, slop sink
and large incinerator. Muffy enters, pulling the chain on the bare,
overhead bulb. It illuminates the room, and the tub underneath --
slightly rusty at the drain, but otherwise spotless -- and the slowly
dripping faucet.
EXT. FERRY LANDING - MAINLAND - DAY
CHAZ, the videocameraman and the only member of the group we haven't
seen till now, is the first to spot the ferry approaching.
CHAZ
Here she comes...
He's a real hi-tech freak and Ivy League wiseass, a free spirit in
neo-punk neck curl and button-down shirt. He shoulders his lightweight
videopak again, taping it. Arch and Skip watch with him from the end
of the pier. But Kit and Nikki, waiting nearer the office, are
distracted by the SOUND of an arriving car.
ANGLE - PARKING LOT
It's not Rob, though. It's NAN, another newcomer. She pulls her car
next to the others in the gravel lot behind the landing office and -
gets out quickly, dragging a hefty suitcase out of the back seat. She
is an unfamiliar face to Kit and Nikki --a shy, earnest, small-town
girl, overdressed for the occasion.
NAN
(HURRIED)
Hi... is this the ferry to the St. John house?
NIKKI I
Any second now.
NAN
Oh, thank goodness ! I didn't know if I was on the right road...
Kit smiles welcome, lending a hand as Nan struggles the bag up the
ramp.
KIT
Hi. Kit Graham... Nikki Brashears.
NAN
Nan Youngblood.
NIKKI
(needling, about the suitcase)
Planning on staying a while?
NAN
(flushes, embarrassed)
Oh, no... just some work for finals, when we get back... you don't
know how far behind I am...
Arch outhustles Chaz for her bag. Her simple attractiveness exerts an
appeal.
ARCH
Hi. Arch Cummings . I've seen you around. Jewett Hall, right?
CHAZ
Chaz Vyshinsky. You got great legs.
NIKKI
(pointed1y, reminds him)
Chaz, Arch already has her bag.
Meaning, Chaz is Nikki's man, especially for this weekend.
NAN
(volunteering, happily)
Well, I only met Muffy this term in Drama Society . I volunteered to
do their costumes... I like to sew... Did you see her in Ghosts? She's
so talented. She was wonderful!
SKIP
(to Nan, approvingly; in greeting)
Congratulations, on finding your way.
The landing BUMPS, the ferry touches down. They look up.
ANGLE CHANGE
FERRYMAN
(BARKS)
Stand clear!
The large, raw-boned FERRYMAN holds open the wooden stile for the one
and only passenger from the island � Clara -- to disembark. Clara
passes them , giving first Skip and then the others a look, shaking
her head in sad appraisal.
FERRYMAN (cont.)
(GROWLS)
Ok, let's go.
It's not the friendliest greeting in the world. The ferryman keeps the
stile open for them to board singly. There is also a younger assistant
on board -- BUCK, a pleasant, openfaced townie in his 20s.
FERRYMAN (cont.)
To the rear. Outa the operator's way.
Nikki clutches at Skip's arm.
NIKKI
(IN MOCK-TERROR)
This is it? No going back? Trapped for days on an island where
men are men, and women oughta know better?
ARCH
(BEHIND HER)
Try to control yourself, Sister O'Toole.
NIKKI
(SUGGESTIVE )
You could tie me in chains...
Chaz boards, passing Buck, the assistant.
CHAZ
(a low whisper)
Your fly's open, and your Hostess Twinkie's hanging out...
The assistant gapes, falling for it, groping his fly. Which is closed,
of course. He looks up, grinning. Chaz kisses him on the cheek, winks
and moves on.
BUCK
Sh -i-i-t...
Kit is hanging back on the dock.
FERRYMAN
Come on if you're coming.
KIT
(URGENTLY)
Excuse me. But we're still waiting for somebody --
FERRYMAN
(GRUFFLY)
It's Friday. My last run of the week. I don't get paid overtime.
KIT
But you've got to wait. They said it's the only way over.
If he misses this...
Arch WHISTLES loudly, seeing and alerting them.
PARKING LOT - THEIR POV
A late model Detroit sedan (the one we saw earlier turning off the
highway) pulls to a fast stop in the lot. Rob hurries out; a CHEER
comes up from the group on the ferry. Kit closes her eyes in relief.
Rob comes hurrying up the ramp.
ANGLE � LANDING
...followed closely by HARVEY 'HAL' EDISON, JR.
HARVEY
Wait up!
Harvey is the driver of the sedan, and after he carefully locks up, he
comes running with his bag, too. He is a rangy, straight-arrow Ivy
League farmboy from the Border South, and he's the last of Muffy's
invited guests. He also, somewhat incongruously, sports a Bruce
Springsteen badge.
ROB
(to Kit, kissing her)
Sorry... Nik, Chaz...
(to Skip and Nan whom he doesn't know)
Rob Ferris...
They return greetings.
HARVEY
(RIGHT BEHIND )
Hi! Harvey 'Hal' Edison, Jr., but please call me Hal. Only my folks
call me Harve... and I can't stand it. Boy, this sure is a pretty
spot.
Stylistically, he's a Martian. Chaz stares at him.
CHAZ
You're friends with... Muffy St. John?
HARVEY
(PROUDLY)
Sure am. We sit together in Econ 345. I let her copy my marginal
utility curves.
NIKKI
I get it. That's a joke.
Preppy Skip adds his greeting.
SKIP
(an ironical nod)
Harve.
HARVEY
(correcting him, blithely)
Hal...
(noticing interest his badge)
Springsteen, he's still the Boss!
FERRYMAN
(IMPATIENTLY)
Ok, c'mon, I don't have all day.
He slams the stile down after Harvey, the last to board, and gets busy
with the stubborn motor. His assistant helps. Chaz tapes.
HARVEY
(enthusiastically, putting down his fear)
YOU all buddies?
NIKKI
Except for Skip and Nan. Them we just met.
KIT
(AMIABLY)
But we will be.
CHAZ
(MEANING SKIP)
Watch what you say around him, though. He's Muffy's cousin.
HARVEY
(tickled, to Skip)
No kiddin'?
SKIP
Distant. Over the horizon.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be invited...
(frowns, tellingly)
Old money never mixes family with friends.
NIKKI
This is true. For as long as I've known her.
KIT
(JOKING)
To protect her family, I guess.
SKIP
(UNSMILING)
To keep her friends.
He turns to Arch, holds up his hand, and CLICK, a switchblade opens
into the lens.
SKIP (cont.)
Choose your weapons, big guy.
ARCH
(nervously, a laugh)
Hey, what's this...?
SKIP
You up for a game of stretch?
CHAZ
(still taping, to Skip)
Your fly's open.
SKIP
Eat it.
CHAZ
(undaunted, to Rob)
Your fly's open.
(SHRUGS)
Ok, so don't believe me.
He keeps the tape rolling. Rob discreetly looks down. His fly is
open. Kit looks at him dubiously. Rob zips. Chaz beams, getting it all
for posterity. The engine finally engages. The ferry lurches.
ROB
(smiles weakly to Kit)
We're off!
They are indeed.
EXT. THE SOUND - DISTANT POV - DAY
The ferry pulls away from the mainland.
EXT. THE FERRY - DAY
A CLOSER ANGLE. The sturdy, barge like ship craft makes progress. The
Ferryman and Buck remain at the stern.
ECU - THE DECK
As Skip's knife flies INTO FRAME, it bites into the boards and holds.
SKIP AND ARCH
at their game. Arch stretches, can't reach the knife, and topples
over.
Skip hoots triumphantly.
SKIP
First round, the champ!
NIKKI AND HARVEY
Nikki, much to her chagrin, finds herself the object of Harvey's
attentions.
HARVEY
Y'know what I find amazin'? Muffy's her real name. I mean,
I'm Harvey, but they call me Hal, so I thought, 'Muffy', it must
stand for something... Muffin?
NIKKI
Muffers, Moffo, Muff-child , Muffin' stuff, the Muffster...
HARVEY
(GRINS)
I bet you're her oldest friend.
NIKKI
(BORED)
Actually, she's three months older than I am.
HARVEY
You know what I mean.
NIKKI
Harvey... are you planning a career in politics when you grow up?
HARVEY
I've given it some thought. Why?
NIKKI
Oh, just a hunch.
HARVEY
First, though, I'm hopin' to interview with her daddy's
company, Southern Regional Sales, next year before graduation...
Y'know, he's worth more'n 50 mill over the counter!
She just stares at him.
CLOSE UP - THE KNIFE
digging into the deck again.
ARCH (O.S.)
Jesus...
ARCH and SKIP
The knife is at an impossible distance.
SKIP
(LAUGHING)
Go for it, big fella.
Arch swallows his pride and makes a hopeless attempt.
CHAZ
fastens onto Nan, immersed in one of her books. He carries his own.
CHAZ
(sitting beside her)
Whatcha readin'?
NAN
Milton. Paradise Lost. For Professor Russo's course on the
English epic... It's a shame. It's a dying form. Not too many people
read it nowadays, even in college. What's yours?
CHAZ
(SHOWS HER)
Suck and fuck.
Naked bodies writhing in heat. Women with their tongues sticking out
in desparate desire... Nan tries to control her reaction to his stack
of graphic pornographic video catalogues and magazines.
CHAZ (CONT)
The origins of American pornographic film. I'm taking an
independent study this term.
(the passion and commitment show)
My advisor's really behind me on it. We're not gonna be sheltered
college kids all our lives. Someday I'm gonna have kids --
you're gonna have kids � and someday that kid's gonna come up
to me and say, 'God, Dad, porn's really a major part of our
lives. You were there, how'd it get started?' I wanna be
able to answer their questions.
(SMILES)
Besides, it's research I can do by myself.
ROB AND KIT
They keep their voices low.
KIT
(STILL MIFFED)
That's not my point --
ROB
You don't want me to hitch, you want me to buy a car. OK, but
I'm a state university boy, I don't have the perks like some
of you private college kids do.
KIT
Oh, c'mon, don't pull that.
Rob just drops his arms in frustration.
KIT (cont.)
I mean, it may show something about your attitude toward me,
always being late.
ROB
Kit...
Arch's voice interrupts.
ARCH'S VOICE
(annoyed, loudly, overriding the other conversations)
Hey, I'm really not interested anymore --
SKIP
C'mon, just one more
The others look up at the interruption.
ANGLE
Arch pushes the knife back into Skip's hand, tired of playing knife-
toss.
ARCH
I said, enough's enough--
SKIP
One more try, double or nothing.
He flips the knife to Arch, handle first.
ARCH
(PISSED OFF)
C'mon, give it a fuckin' rest!
He flips it back hard. Something happens. Skip looks up stunned.
Arch's voice catches in his throat in horror.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Skip stares back, disbelieving, looking down and pulling his hand away
from his chest, where the blood begins to seep and the jackknife
sticks out, buried hilt-deep between his ribs.
SKIP
(PALE)
Oh, fuck.
SKIP
Nan screams. Skip stumbles, teetering there at the edge of the ferry.
Rob and Chaz leap to their feet. The ferrymen both look up in
disbelief. Arch steps forward to help. But Skip, weaving, topples and
splashes overboard. He goes under.
ARCH
(panicked, hurrying to the side)
I'll get him, I'll get him!
But he stops just at the edge of the ferry, immobilized by fear.
Rob rushes forward, with Chaz in reserve, pulling Arch out of �the
way. But Buck, the assistant ferryman, pre-empts them all, diving in.
Arch, frozen, watches from the deck with the others.
Buck resurfaces, but without any sign of Skip. Rob doesn't wait any
longer. He pulls off his shoes and dives in. Chaz gets ready to follow
suit. The panic mounts. Suddenly:
SKIP'S VOICE
Hi, this what you're looking for?
THEY TURN;
ANGLE CHANGE
Skip pulls himself up, dripping, on the other side of the ferry. He
holds up the knife -- and the padded sash beneath his shirt he used to
imbed the knife -- and grins from ear to ear. The others stare,
totally freaked.
Arch lets go, jumping in the air. Rob and Buck surface, to see as
well.
ARCH
We got 'em! Whoo-ee, did we nail 'em!
CHAZ
(as it dawns, to Skip)
April Fools... you crazy jerks. You crazy motherfuckin' jerks...
somebody could've gotten hurt out there!
Relief descends. Rob isn't laughing. But nobody's more impressed than
assistant Buck, still treading water.
BUCK
(GRINNING)
SH-I-I-I-T
NIKKI
You maniacs... you almost gave us a heart attack!
Kit glowers at them and gives Rob a hand to get out.
ARCH
(TO CHAZ)
Well, at least we don't go in for this your-shoelace�is-untied crap!
ROB
(dripping, to Arch and Skip)
I owe you one.
SKIP
(smiles, to Buck in the water)
How's it goin' out there?
BUCK
That was great!
SKIP
I was really counting on these other turkeys to save
my ass.
CHAZ
Oh, too bad.
Skip extends a hand to Buck to help him out.
SKIP
Sorry about that.
But Buck's in no hurry. The ferryman steps forward.
FERRYMAN
(unamused, to Buck)
Ok, c'mon, get out.
They are approaching the landing dock on the island.
FERRYMAN (CONT.)
(to Buck, gruffly)
C'mon I'm gonna need some help here.
Buck obeys, but his way, enjoying it, ducking under the craft to swim
to the other side to help.
FERRYMAN (CONT)
And watch out for the wire!
Too late. There's a sickening THUMP I The young assistant suddenly
breaks the surface qf the water, panicked and stunned, gasping for
air.
It happens too fast for any of them to do anything. Buck thrashes,
dazed, off-balance, falling back into the path of the ferry as it
glides toward the landing.
FERRYMAN
Buck, look out--
ROB
(IN DREAD)
Oh, shit...
The ferryman grabs the controls, but it can't help.
The ferry, unstoppable, plows into Buck, pinning him against one of
the piers. Buck screams.
FERRYMAN
Buck!
The ferryman rushes forward to help.
For a moment the others are spared the horror of it as the
Ferryman's back blocks their view.
But then Buck, thrashing in the water, tears himself, loose, screaming
and bobbing. up, his head and torso covered in blood, the side of his
face and his shoulder hideously deformed.
It is awful. It is ghastly. And it is unforgettable.
KIT
(IN HORROR)
Oh, god!
EXT. DOCK - ISLAND - DAY
SAM POTTER, the middle-aged township constable, hears the cries and
the screams. He drops what he's doing in his outboard and comes
running.
EXT. LANDING - ISLAND - DAY
The ferryman jumps into the shallow water, pulling Buck onto shore.
Rob, Chaz and Arch jump after to help, but the ferryman pushes them
angrily away.
FERRYMAN
Get away from him!
Buck is hysterical. The gashes of torn flesh seem to drip from his
skull. Seeing Rob and the others, he screams, lunging vainly at� them
in agony.
BUCK
They did it... them!
FERRYMAN
(RESTRAINING HIM)
Easy Buck... it's OK... OK... There's time for
Later... easy...
But it's hard for him to restrain his own rage.
Constable Potter arrives, throwing the ferryman a towel to use. The
ferryman catches it, pressing it against Buck's torn face. One
maddened, glaring eye still stares out hideously at the group.
CONSTABLE POTTER
(TO �FERRYMAN)
Get him to the hospital, Cal! Take my boat!
He helps the ferryman lift Buck. But the powerful ferryman needs no
further help, carrying Buck to the Constable's motorboat moored
nearby, laying Buck in, untying the line and pulling the motor to
life. Buck continues to shriek, terrifyingly.
The ferryman cast one last glance back.
EXT. THE LANDING
The SOUND of the motorboat fades away. Potter turns back to the
stunned group, eyeing them.
CONSTABLE POTTER
All right... Let's have it.
INT. MUFFY'S PASSENGER VAN - DAY
Muffy drives up. She slows, seeing, through the windshield the somber
scene at the pier... her friends in troubled conversation with
Constable Potter.
EXT. LANDING - DAY
Muffy gets out, parking the new van beside an old island pick-up which
is kept at the dock. She's clean, and dressed in her more usual preppy
garb. She approaches.
MUFFY
What's going on? Sam... what's wrong?
CONSTABLE POTTER
(IN DISGUST)
Tricks. Pranks. Better ask your friends... Buck's been hurt. 'Cal just
took him on over to the mainland. Just lucky I was here...
She returns his stare in dread silence. He boards the ferry.
CONSTABLE POTTER (CONT.)
I came over to check on a report of some unauthorized
activity in the area... Your dad around?
She startles, the question 50 unanticipated.
MUFFY
No, he's in Sutton Place. Why?
CONSTABLE POTTER
No word from him, or anybody else?
MUFFY
(STILL PUZZLED)
No...
He tries the engine. Nothing.
CONSTABLE POTTER
Just like I thought. . Burned out. Worthless...
He steps back onto the shore.
CONSTABLE POTTER (CONT.)
I'll have to borrow your outboard to get back to shore.
MUFFY
We keep all the keys on the board in the kitchen, but I
think there's an extra one underneath the cushion there.
She points to the boat seat. Potter is much obliged.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
CONSTABLE POTTER
(to the others, sternly)
I'm glad you're stuck here, all o' you. If there's anvthin' else, or
anything happens to Buck... I want to know where to find you.
The van moves slowly along a narrow road through the forest. From what
we can see of its occupants, the mood is pretty grim. Behind it, the
old island pick-up truck follows.
INT. PICK-UP
Rob drives with Kit and Skip beside him in the cab. Nobody says
anything . Skip is off somewhere in his own private hell. Finally he
reaches over to roll down his window, but the handle rotates uselessly
in his grip.
SKIP
These goddamn windows!
He starts banging violently on the door, on the window.
SKIP
They've never been fixed...
KIT
Look, Skip, it wasn't your fault. It was an accident. You didn't know.
SKIP
(BITTER)
Sure.
He leaves off his banging. Pause.
ROB
(SIGHS)
What a way to start a weekend, huh.
SKIP
Muffy. Nothing bad ever happens to her.
EXT. ST. JOHN HOUSE. DAY.
It is a truly grand affair, two stories at least, rambling and
picture-perfect with extensive tended grounds, garage, and
outbuildings. Muffy gets out first, hopping around to the back to open
the rear van gate for the bags. Nan beholds the house for the first
time.
NAN
(OVERWHELMED)
Oh; Muffy...
Rob pulls the pick-up right behind them.
INT. ENTRY HALL - DAY
As they come in with their bags.
MUFFY
Well, there's an awful lot to be done with this place.
ARCH
You sound as if you own it.
She helps with bags, shepherding them on ahead.
MUFFY
I will, if all goes well. Next month when I turn 21. It's my first-
stage inheritance.
HARVEY
(AMAZED)
First stage? What's your second?
NIKKI
(DRYLY)
Texas. You might be talking to your future boss, Harve.
CHAZ
Mom, I am home!
They all look to see him standing in the entrance to the living room.
INT. LIVING ROOM
as they follow Chaz into the room. A series of picture windows give a
spectacular view of the sound.
ARCH
Yeah, I could get real used to this.
MUFFY
We used to spend our summers here before my mother died.
(BEAT)
This is a very special place to me.
NAN
It's like a dream.
NIKKI
On a clear day you can see the Kennedys.
CHAZ'S VOICE
(from the dining room)
Wow, look at this...!
INT. DINING ROOM
The others enter to see what Chaz's shout is all about.
Chaz stands before a large, beautifully polished dining table that is
set for each of them -- each place carefully marked with a name card
and a Ken or Barbie doll with the person's name on it. The settings
themselves are idiomatic and economical -- plastic spoon-and-fork
combination sets and paper cups, plates, napkins, etc.,
CHAZ
(in mock awe)
Look! Our very own place settings... with our very own place
cards -- with Ken or Barbie! Outasight!
NAN
(GIGGLES)
Just like in Agatha Cristie.
ARCH
(in the spirit)
And sporks...
HARVEY
(QUIETLY)
Sporks?
ARCH
And napkins with little Hallmark bunnies! Gee, Muff, you really spared
no expense.
MUFFY
(ENTERING JAUNTILY)
Why not? How do you think father made all his money?
NIKKI
(ENTERING)
The old-fashioned way. He inherited it.
NAN
(meaningfully, with her Barbie)
I used to have all her outfits.
CHAZ
Don't anybody move!
Chaz jumps back from the table, whipping out his videocam to record
the moment, and panning them all at � .their respective places.
CHAZ (CONT)
One of us in this room...
(bellowing a mystery laugh)
...pulls his wang.
He ends the pan on Arch, who gives him the finger.
INT. KITCHEN - LATE AFTERNOON
CLOSE UP - A HOT DOG
dropping onto a hot skillet .
WIDEN TO REVEAL
Muffy, Nikki and Kit cooking a dinner of hot dogs... baked.
NIKKI
...if only the choices weren't so limited. God, I'm so ready for a
change. Any kind of change.
MUFFY
Well, you know, everything they say about older men? It's true.
Kit and Nikki stare at her, open-mouthed.
KIT
Muffy!
NIKKI
Like how much older are we talking about? Twenty-six?
MUFFY
Add about thirty years.
NIKKI
I don't believe �you, St. John!
KIT
(TURNING AWAY)
I don't want to hear about this.
NIKKI
Come on! �
MUFFY
It was only a weekend. It's over now.
(beat, shrugs)
I was curious.
KIT
He wasn't married?
MUFFY
(BLITHELY)
How should I know?
Kit and Nikki just drop everything and continue to stare at her .
MUFFY
It was quite a weekend.
Nikki starts to laugh.
NIKKI
Come to daddy.
They all start to laugh now, wickedly, conspiratorially.
NIKKI
Come sit on daddy's knee, little girl...
Nikki falls to the floor in hysterics.
KIT
My goodness, daddy, what big
(BREAKING UP)
...what big... teeth you have.
ALL
The better to eat you with, my dear.
INT. STUDY - LATE AFTERNOON
A richly paneled room with a fireplace, desk, leather-upholstered
chairs and lots of books.
A door opens and Harvey steps through, looks back over his shoulder
and enters. He is just snooping around. He surveys the books, the
framed diplomas on the walls along with autographed photos of U.S.
presidents and other heads of state.
He steps over to the desk, opens a cigar box sitting there, takes out
a cigar and slips it into his pocket.
EXT. BACK LAWN - SUNSET
Arch and Chaz are in the back lawn overlooking the sound. They are
fooling around with Chaz's camera, maybe clowning a bit.
EXT. VERANDA - THE SAME
A'broad veranda which runs along the entire length of the back of the
house. Skip and Nan are sitting on the railing, gazing over the
sounds. Skip has a drink.
SKIP
(quietly, with deliberation)
The poor boy can say, "Fuck you, Dad. I'm my own person." What is his
father going to do? Kick him out of the house? Disinherit him? His
life won't have changed that much. He's got nothing to lose.
PAUSE.
NAN
His father's love.
SKIP
That's already been lost. Died a long, long time ago.
NAN
(SOFTLY)
Skip, you're giving up. You're giving up before you've
even gotten started.
(BEAT)
Look at how young we all are. How young and foolish and innocent and
stupid...
Skip raises his glass and gulps down the rest of his drink.
EXT. OVERLOOK - DUSK
A secluded area halfway down between the house and the shore. Rob sits
alone on a wooden bench and thinks. O.S. the dinner bell sounds.
EXT. VERANDA - DUSK
With bell in hand, Muffy turns and heads back into the house. Chaz and
Arch come up onto the porch and follow her in.
INT. DINING ROOM ~ DUSK
Rob is just coming in from outside as Muffy enters from the kitchen
with the hot dogs and beans. Everyone else is standing around the
table.
CHAZ
Boy, Muff, you sure know how to make a guy look forward to dessert.
ARCH
Please, God, let it be ding dongs.
NIKKI
St. John hospitality taken to the extreme.
HARVEY
I think it's real friendly. Makes me feel right at home.
Everyone starts to sit down at his designated place.
KIT
How friendly will we feel once we've finished with those beans?
ON NAN
As soon as her ass hits the seat, she lets slip an outrageous fart.
She springs to her feet, her face turning beet red.
THE GROUP
All conversation stops, each person looking for the guilty party. Nan
discreetly sits back down: but again, as soon as her tail meets the
chair, another blast escapes her...
All eyes are on her as she reaches beneath her and pulls out a whoopee
cushion.
NAN
You guys!
Everybody laughs.
KIT
So it's going to be one of those dinners, huh?
Arch is laughing the loudest when suddenly his chair collapses beneath
him and he drops sprawling onto the floor.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Skip is searching through the darkened living room for something,
while in the adjoining room dinner is proceeding quietly.
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
CLOSE ON- CHAZ' HAND
as he grabs the salt-shaker and spills some of it out onto the table.
He samples a couple of grains. It's the real thing. He starts salting
his food.
WIDER
ROB
I wonder how Buck is doing?
PAUSE
NAN
Do you think we should call or something?
MUFFY
(QUIETLY)
I'll call later.
KIT
I think we should change the subject.
ARCH
Well, Harvey's got his job interview all figured out, but
what about the rest of us? Anybody know what they're going to
be doing come graduation?
PAUSE.
They sit dumbly.
Another PAUSE.
NIKKI
Good choice, Arch.
NAN
I can't decide. I'd like to go to graduate school in English. I love
the sound of our language. But I'm afraid there's not much future in
it.
NIKKI
I mean, what are you' supposed to do with a liberal arts major
anyway?
MUFFY
You fill out a lot of forms, and then some friend of your family gives
you a job delivering mail in his �corporation...
ARCH
This is really incredible. Look at us... Here we are... privileged,
independent, the hope of the future... and most of us still don't know
what we're going to do with our lives!
KIT
(PROUDLY)
Rob knows. He's going to medical school.
Rob looks up from his plate.
ROB
Kit...
CHAZ
(EXCITEDLY)
Hey, no shit? You got early acceptance?
ROB
(reddens, to Kit)
We can talk about it some other time.
KIT
Why? You had your meeting with your counselor, didn't you?
MUFFY
(OBSERVANTLY)
Kit... I don't think Rob really wants to talk about it in front of
everybody.
She gets up from the table and steps over to the sideboard.
ROB
(STUBBORNLY)
No, I don't mind.
KIT
(AT MUFFY)
Why not? We're all friends.
NIKKI
(LAUGHS)
Well, sorta...
ROB
He said to forget it.
Kit looks up in surprise. They all stare, quieting.
ROB (CONT.)
(WITH DIFFICULTY)
He said my grades might be OK; but that basically I possess an
essential lack of seriousness, and that's what they look for.
ARCH
Oh, shit, him too? That's what my guy said! An' I said, you're
kidding! How can anybody be serious about anything when some
moron can steal a bomb or push a button and blow the rest of us
right into Mad Max. He wasn't impressed.
ROB
He's right. That's bullshit on parade.
ARCH
Well fuck you. It sounded good at the time.
Muffy turns from the sideboard and sets a tray of champagne glasses in
the center of the table. There are eight of them. Each one is filled
with a pinkish, bubbly liquid.
Everybody reaches for a glass.
CHAZ
What is this? Dom Perignon sparkling rose?
HARVEY
It smells like Ripple.
NIKKI
You've outdone yourself again, St. John.
The back screen door slams shut o.s. behind Skip, leaving the house.
They look up.
ARCH
Who was that?
MUFFY
(QUIETLY)
Skip.
NAN
(TENTATIVELY)
Can I make a toast?
They turn attention toward her, and she stands, emboldened by their
acceptance.
NAN (CONT.)
Well... Someone once said to me to cherish the friends you make in
COLLEGE--
ARCH
I cherish all the friends I make.
NAN
(CONTINUING)
Because... they'll be the friends you cherish most the rest of your
life. So, well, here's to us... here's to my life... because I'm very
glad to be here, and to be a part of all of you...
KIT
Muffy, anything you want to add to that?
MUFFY
Why me?
NIKKI
Because you're the hostess.
Muffy thinks for a moment, then adds...
MUFFY
In his "Life of Johnson" James Boswell said, "We cannot tell the
precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop
by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a
series of kindnesses, there is at last one which makes the heart run
over."
Arch has started to make snoring sounds.
MUFFY (cont.)
So with this toast may our hearts run over and our friendships be
formed.
They stand unanimously, raise their glasses in agreement, start to
drink and spill it all down the front of their shirts.
Dribble glasses.
Everybody groans.
MUFFY
(GRINNING MISCHIEVOUSLY)
April Fool.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY � NIGHT
Muffy shows Nikki, the last of them, to her room. Nan says goodnight
from her door.
NAN
Goodnight.
MUFFY
Goodnight.
Muffy leads Nikki to a narrow, sparse single, popping open the door.
NIKKI
Oh, great. Quarantine.
MUFFY
(IMPISHLY)
Just holler if you need anything.
NIKKI
Another room.
(TURNS)
Muffy...
Muffy turns back to her.
NIKKI (cont.)
(beat, seriously)
I know you and Arch had something going before I met him...
MUFFY
(SMILES)
Arch is sweet, but he's only got two expressions. Collar up and collar
down.
NIKKI
I found that out--
(BEAT)
I guess what I'm trying to say is... you always seem to get there
first... but this time Chaz is mine, OK?
MUFFY
(AMUSED)
What about Hal?
NIKKI '
Harvey? Mr. Junior Achievement? Oh please...
Muffy returns her smile,continuing down the corridor.
INT. ARCH'S POOM - UPSTAIRS - NIGHT
Arch throws his duffle bag on a bed, delighted. It's a private suite
with two beds.
ARCH
Hey, all right... ladies, we are qonna have privacy...
He turns his collar up on his polo shirt, then eagerly pushes the two
beds together.
The other door (to the connecting bathroom) swings open. Arch's face
drops as Chaz walks in, lugging his gear.
ARCH (CONT.)
You gotta be kiddin'...
CHAZ
(unloading his gear).
Unless Muffy knows something about us we don't.
He blows Arch a kiss, pulling the two beds apart again.
INT. HARVEY'S ROOM - NIGHT
CLOSE UP a match flaring to life.
WIDEN TO FEVEAL Harvey lighting the cigar he took earlier out of the
study. He puffs on it contentedly, imagining himself a man of power.
Then he steps over to the bed and opens his suitcase to begin
unpacking.
HARVEY
(to himself; rehearsing)
Don't tell me you've never thought of me in that way, Muffy. I felt a
spark between us the very first moment we laid eyes on each other...
in Econ 345. Why, just think of it, Muffy... with my talent and
your... money.
He crosses to the closet with his navy blazer.
HARVEY
(CONTINUED)
Why just think of it... Muffers, with my raw... driving talent and
your...
He opens the closet door.
HARVEY (CONT.)
...and your...
CLOSE - HIS POV
A newspaper PHOTOGRAPH, circled in red marker, of a garish car
accident is pinned to the inside of the door.
HARVEY
He puzzles, taking down the clipping, putting it down on the dresser
as he moves there to put away his rolled socks. He opens the top
drawer.
POV
The same thing. Full of newspaper clippings of awful, fatal car
crashes, all circled in the same accusatory red ink.
RETURN � HARVEY
getting nervous.
Suddenly, Chaz burst in on him. Harvey turns quickly, shoving the
clippings back in the drawer and slamming it shut.
They stare at each other for a long, uncomfortable moment.
CHAZ
(FINALLY)
Wrong room.
He ducks back out the door, pulling it quietly closed behind him.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT
Outside Harvey's door. Chaz sighs, shakes his head, starts to move
away when suddenly there is a LOUD BANG o.s. from inside Harvey's
room. Chaz turns quickly back to the door, reaches for the handle,
stops himself, thinks better of it and moves away again.
INT. NIKKI'S ROOM - NIGHT
Nikki steps up to the sink in the adjoining bathroom, turns the faucet
and is squirted by a spray of water jetting out of the rigged
plumbing.
She quickly shuts off the water and just stands for a moment,
dripping. trying to control her anger. Like, enough with Muffy's,
jokes already.
She comes out of the bathroom with a towel, drying her face, and walks
to the dresser. She strips off her shirt, pulls open the top dresser
drawers and sees... an eyeless black rubber bondage hood and other
miscellaneous S&M accessories.
She picks them up in disbelief.
INT. ARCH AND CHAZ'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Arch, unloading his shaving bag, which mainly contains a 30-day supply
of rubbers, opens the medicine cabinet. On its shelf... a kit neatly
filled with hypodermic syringes, needles, rubber tubing, razor blades
...everything you could ever want for fixing.
ARCH
Jesus...
INT. FPONT STAIRCASE - NIGHT
Muffy, on her way down to straighten up, passes Rob and Kit on their
way up.
MUFFY
Goodnight.
KIT
G'night.
INT. NAN'S ROOM � NIGHT
CLOSE ON the shower head on the bathroom gushing water.
Nan is taking a shower.
CAMERA DOLLIES BACK slowly out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
O.S. the shower is turned off. All is quiet.
Then, very faintly at first, WE HEAR something -- it sounds like
crying. As it grows gradually louder we realize that it is crying -- a
baby crying.
Nan appears suddenly in the bathroom doorway. A towel is wrapped
around her. She listens.
The crying is louder now, but muffled -- a baby crying for its mother.
It seems to come from a large mahogany wardrobe on the other side of
the room.
Nan tenses, slowly approaohing, then flinging open the wardrobe door.
CLOSE ANGLE
A small cassette recorder plays. The tape runs out. The baby's cries
stop.
Nan rips out the cassette, and sinks back onto the bed, burying her
head in her hands.
INT. ROB and KIT'S ROOM - NIGHT
Rob and Kit are standing together staring INTO CAMERA. REVERSE to see
the object of their attention. Hanging on the wall in front of them is
a large oil portrait with the eyes out out. Something is moving behind
the canvas �watching them.
Rob steps forward and lifts the painting off the wall. Behind it is an
inset bookcase. Sitting on one of the shelves, at the proper height to
have lined up with the holes in the portrait, is a child's Felix-the-
cat nursery clock. The eyes of the plastic cat move back and forth,
like a pendulum marking seconds.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT
Rob sets the painting on the floor outside their bedroom door, leaning
it up against the wall.
CAMERA DOLLIES IN for a CLOSE UP of the portrait. It looks much
creepier with the now vacant eye sockets.
INT. ROB AND KIT'S ROOM - NIGHT
They are undressing on opposite sides of the bed. The silence between
them is thick enough to be cut with a knife. Kit sits down slowly on
the edge of the bed and quietly slips under the covers. Rob gets in on
his side.
They sit in silence for a moment, making no move to join each other in
the middle of the bed.
KIT
Rob?
No answer.
KIT
You still angry with me? About dinner?
ROB
No. I'm sorry. I'm not angry with you. I'm just angry.
He leans over, turns off the bedside lamp... and the light in the
bathroom comes on. Beat.
He gets out of bed and crosses to the bathroom, reaches in
and turns off the light...
...and the overhead light comes on. Kit starts to laugh and quickly
covers her mouth. Rob walks to the door, turns off the overhead
light...
...and the bedside lamp comes on again. Kit laughs harder, but still
tries to stifle it.
Rob shoots her a look, then goes and sits on the edge of the bed. He
reaches to turn off the bedside lamp again, then thinks better of it
and starts to unscrew the bulb instead.
ROB
(burning his fingers)
Ouch! Jesus!
Kit can't stop herself any longer. She laughs out loud. Rob
perseveres, finally unscrewing the bulb enough to plunge the room into
darkness.
Silence.
ROB
Very funny.
Kit breaks up laughing again. To her it is funny. And soon Rob is
laughing too. He swings his legs up under the covers beside her.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Muffy turns off the last of the lights downstairs, leaving the porch
light on for Skip.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALL - NIGHT
Muffy moves through the quiet to her room. Arch grabs her. She jumps.
MUFFY
(COLLECTS HERSELF)
Arch do you know what time it is?
ARCH
Um-hmm.
MUFFY
(turning down his collar)
Goodnight, Arch.
Gently but firmly, she extricates herself, closing the bedroom door
behind her.
ARCH
Undaunted, he scuttles down the hall to Rob and Kit's closed door to
listen in. He frowns, the slides farther down to Nikki's room, knocks
once softly, and enters.
HIS POV
Nikki is already occupied, however, with Chaz. She catches Arch's
stare, signalling him to get the hell out.
REVERSE
Arch valorously steps back, closing the door and returning to try Nan.
The light underneath her door flicks off, however. The door is also
locked.
Arch curses, returning to his large but empty room. He slams the door
for everybody's benefit.
INT. MUFFY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Muffy, undressing, hears, and smiles.
INT. ARCH'S ROOM - NIGHT
Arch is pacing the bedroom, horny and alone. He gets an idea, goes and
rummages through Chaz' stuff and comes up with a video cassette of a
porno movie.
Carrying -the cassette he crosses to the door and turns the handle.
The doorknob comes off in his hand.
He throws it down in disgust, goes and sits in a chair and broods. The
chair collapses beneath him.
EXT. BACK PATH - NIGHT
Skip makes his way boldly, carelessly, drunkenly along. Overgrown
weeds and tall spring grass choke the path, shadowing his way. He
takes one last drink, killing the bottle, and hurls it out into the
night.
After a long pause there is the distant sound O.S. of the bottle
landing in water with a splash.
EXT. OLD , BOATHOUSE - NIGHT
Skip emerges from the overgrowth. The abandoned old structure and its
dock squat ahead at water's edge. Beneath the boathouse, floating in
the water, is a grungy old skiff covered by a tarp.
Skip turns away from the dock, and flicks his lighter among the weeds,
finding marijuana growing there. He CACKLES with triumph.
Something MOVES nearby. He doesn't pay attention, taking out his knife
to cull the dried leaves. He cups them in his hand against the wind,
douses his lighter, and hurries out onto the dock to the boathouse
entrance to prepare his joint.
INT. BOATHOUSE - NIGHT
as Skip enters. It is pitch black in here, and aside from the gentle
lapping sounds of water against the pilings down below O.S., all is
still.
Skip flips a lightswitch in the darkness and nothing happens. He edges
slowly along a wall away from the door. Then he becomes aware of
another living presence in the boathouse. It is a slow breathing
sound--completely inhuman.
SKIP
Hello?
There is no answer, but the breathing continues. Then a sharp rapping
sound very near, like a foot striking the wood flooring.
SKIP
Who's there?
Pause. No answer. We hear in the darkness the sound of his switchblade
clicking open. And then he waits, straining his ears to hear.
Finally, Skip reaches into his pocket, puils out his lighter
and flicks it on.
Something snags him from behind.
Skip gasps, helpless, as a thick rope controlled by powerful, shadowed
hands tightens around his neck.
His knife, dried leaves and lighter cascade to the floor.
EXT. ST. JOHN HOUSE - NIGHT - LATER
Only the porch light remains glowing. The house is dark.
INT. ROB AND KIT'S ROOM - NIGHT
Rob wakes, hearing the CRY from Muff's room. Kit, naked against him,
wakes too. They hear the muffled cry again. It is not from lovemaking.
Rob throws off the covers.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT
Rob wraps himself with a towel, stepping quickly out to Muffy's door.
Everything else is dark and quiet.
ROB
(hushed, at door)
Muffy?
No answer. He tries her door, but it's locked tight.
A beat. Then:
ROB (cont.)
(CONCERNED)
Muffy?
MUFFY'S VOICE
(UNCERTAINLY)
Yes?
ROB
You OK?
MUFFY'S VOICE
(DISTANTLY)
Yes... Thank you...
He pulls back from the door.
ROB
(reluctantly, puzzled)
OK... well, goodnight...
No response. He turns back for his room, catching sight of Chaz, who
has come out of Nikki's room, to investigate, too.
EXT. HOUSE - MORNING
Harvey is out on the second floor balcony exercising vigorously. No
one else is in evidence until a bedroom window flies open and Nikki,
naked from the waist up and believing herself unwatched, leans out and
stretches, breathing in the sweet morning air.
Then she sees Harvey grinning at her. She quickly covers herself and
pulls back inside.
INT. KITCHEN � DAY
Rob and Kit are the first ones down. They enter from the dining room,
surprising Muffy at the stove.
KIT
(BRISKLY)
Good morning!
Muffy turns abruptly, startled. Rob and Kit stop abruptly, too.
ANGLE
Muffy is barefooted, dressed in an old, worn chenille robe.
Her hair, normally carefully groomed, is unkempt, wild and stringy
about her pale face. Talk about unguarded moments. Her present
appearance, is the last way one would ever expect to find Muffy St.
John.
RETURN ANGLE
She shrinks back from them with a frightened, apologetic smile.
Scrambled eggs bubble in the skillet on the burner.
MUFFY
I... I was hungry...
She bumps against the stove, backing away. She self-consciously runs a
hand through her hair.
MUFFY (cont.)
I... I must look a mess...
She scuttles out the door to the utility room and the back stairs
beyond, leaving the eggs to burn.
INT. BACK STAIRS � DAY
Arch encounters her, too, as he comes bounding down in his workout
shorts.
ARCH
Morning!
She backs away from him, scurrying up the stairs.
MUFFY
I... forgot to get dressed...
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Arch enters, joining his wonderment to Rob and Kit's.
ARCH
Who made her night?
EXT. BACK PORCH - DAY - LATER
CUT TO:
Arch, Chaz, Harvey and Nikki burst out the door in old clothes,
sweats, shorts, whatever -- an unlikely foursome for some informal
soccer scrimmaging.
ARCH
(always in search of more players)
Where's Skip?
CHAZ
That depends on what he's on.
Rob and Kit cross their path, heading down to the water in their
swimsuits and overshirts.
NIKKI
You gotta be kidding...
ARCH
(teasingly, an invitation)
Nan? What about it?
Nan watches from the porch, book in hand.
NAN
Oh, no, thanks.
(FALSELY)
Besides, I thought I'd wait and see what Muffy wanted to do...
Arch shrugs and the soccer free-for-all begins in earnest, with
special attention given to the interplay between Harvey and Nikki.
Up on the porch, Nan finally sees Muffy emerging from the distant tool
shed. Muffy is dressed plainly, oddly conventional, with a perceptible
sense of disorder about her. She keeps to herself, turning toward the
woods beyond, with cutting blade and mushroom basket in hand.
Nan puts down her book, hurrying off the porch. But by the timeshe
looks up again, Muffy is gone...
EXT. DOCK - DAY
Rob and Kit are standing together on the dock. He is dripping wet and
covered with goose flesh. She has not been in yet. And while he is
vigorously toweling off his arms and chest, trying to get the blood
circulating again, she stands behind him with another towel and
gently, lovingly dries his back. She finishes and he steps away from
her and gazes out across the sound.
KIT
Rob? What's wrong?
Pause.
ROB
I swear it wasn't this cold yesterday .
This isn't what she meant, and he knows it.
KIT
Are you giving up?
ROB
(turning to her; gently)
What about you? What about your future? You're the one with the four
point.
(DEJECTED)
...maybe it's crazy--you investing so much energy in me.
KIT
(QUIETLY)
I don't know. I'm scared. I don't know if I want what Mom and
everybody else expects of me. I don't want to go to law school.
ROB
(PROTESTING)
You've got a great mind
KIT
...only it's not made up.
Smiling sadly, he crosses to her, puts his arms around her.
ROB
Great... Do you realize how perfectly unmatched we are?
KIT
It's made up about one thing though.
ROB
Yeah? What's that?
She looks up and kisses him softly.
ROB
Will you feel the same about me a year from now? Two years, five years
from now?
She takes his hand and leads him down the pier and into the boathouse.
INT. BOATHOUSE - DAY
As they come inside. Kit closes the door, and immediately they are in
each other's arms.
The surging waves swirl beneath them, visible through the shrunken
floorboards. Rob and Kit stretch out. All the passion, all the
tenderness, all the intensity makes them oblivious to the fact that
something is moving on the water below...
And when Kit finally opens her eyes to it, Skip's face bulges
gruesomely up at her through the slatted floor!
Kit screams and scrambles to her feet--Rob completely uncomprehending
until he sees it too: Skip's body, pale and bloodied, draped within
the grungy skiff passing beneath them on the waves.
EXT. DOCK - DAY
By the time he pulls on his swimsuit and comes rushing out
with Kit, however, Rob's shock has turned to rage.
ROB
Skip! You sonofabitch!
But there's no response, Skip's body unmoving on the self-powered
skiff which continues bobbing out to sea.
ROB
starts to wonder whether it really is a joke. He hurries forward,
plunging 'into the water to reach the boat.
ROB
Skip... Skip!
But it's too far and getting farther, and the waves are too strong.
EXT. ST. JOHN HOUSE - DAY
Rob and Kit come struggling up the path. Chaz trains his videopak on
them from the porch . He, Arch, Harvey and Nikki unwind with beer and
sandwiches after their sweaty workout.
CHAZ
(commentary while he tapes)
Respectable young Quaker couple returning after quiet afternoon of
nonviolent sex.
ARCH
(CALLING )
Well, how was it?
ROB
Where's Skip? Anybody seen him?
NIKKI
Who wants to know?
ROB
Goddammit, can't you give me a straight answer!
They sit up with the force. Nan comes out on the porch, hearing .
KIT
(FRANTICALLY)
We saw him... on a boat... drifting by the pier. He wasn't movinq. He
looked dead... unless he was joking...!
CHAZ
Well, if it was Skip...
KIT
I saw his face!
ROB
(DEMANDINGLY)
Has anybody seen him since last night?
They all realize they haven't.
ROB (cont .)
Jesus Christ...
Rob turns, rushing into the house.
INT. ENTRY HALL - DAY
Rob stops as he notices, near the foot of the stairs where he'd parked
it upon first entering the house yesterday afternoon, Skip's overnight
bag.
He turns and bounds up the stairs.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - DAY
Rob runs down to Skip's door and flings it open. A cheap rubber
hobgoblin drops suddenly in front of him, suspended from the ceiling
on frail, metal springs.
Rob jumps back with a startled cry, then angrily tears the thing out
of his way and throws it down.
This is the last of Muffy's little April Fool's gags, and as with the
overnight bag, it signifies that Skip has been nowhere near this room.
But Rob steps inside and looks around just to make sure.
The room is untouched, the bed unslept in.
EXT . PORCH - DAY
Rob hurries out, as Muffy finally appears, emerging from the wooded
grounds, basketful of mushrooms in hand. She approaches.
MUFFY
(noticing their distress )
Something wrong?
Rob rushes by her.
ARCH
Wait! I'll go with you!
CHAZ
Me too!
EXT. DOCK - DAY
As Rob, Arch and Chaz come running down to the water. They stop and
look around, seeing nothing.
No answer.
ARCH
(aloud: for Skip)
Hey, asshole!
CHAZ
Wait a minute! Look at this!
He has found on the little pebbled beach beside the dock, Skip's
switchblade. It is in pieces. There's blood on the broken blade.
CHAZ
This was Skip's.
ARCH
What do you think? That guy on the ferry?
ROB
I don't know. I don't know what to think.
ARCH
I say we go looking for him, him or Skip. One of them's bound to still
be around... somewhere.
CHAZ
You mean split up?
ROB
Let's not take any chances. He was... He was pretty big.
ARCH
No sucker's taken me yet.
He rips a loose board off the dock for a club.
EXT. UTILITY ROOM - HOUSE � DAY
In the gathering twilight, Muffy puts the basket of mushrooms away on
a shelf. Someone grabs her wrist. She gasps. It's Nan. Nan steps from
the shadows.
NAN
I know why you're avoiding me...
(DISTRAUGHT)
I guess it's your idea of a joke... that's why you invited me. How'd
you find out? From one of his preppy 'friends'? Who else have you
told?... Who else knows, except the father!
MUFFY
(ASTONISHED)
I... don't know what you're talking about.
NAN
Oh? The tape just got there? You know very well... my abortion!
She comes apart, in tears. Muffy stares, uncomprehending.
NAN (cont.)
I thought you wanted to be friends... you think you can play with
people's feelings just because you're rich and can do what you want.
Well, you can't...!
She rushes out the rear door. Muffy tries to recover, confused.
She continues on to the back entrance to the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Swinging open the door, she almost runs into Harvey.
HARVEY
(SHEEPISHLY)
Sorry... I was just checkin' to make sure everybody was all right.
He beats a hasty retreat the other way, passing Nikki on her way in
Nikki raises an eyebrow at Muffy, misinterpreting the tension in the
air.
NIKKI
Harvey? No kidding'?
Maybe that explains your clothes.
MUFFY
(NERVOUSLY)
What d'you, mean?
NIKKI
Oh, c'mon.
Muffy exits hurriedly, upset.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
The path is narrow and tortuous . Arch uses his club to clear the way,
trying to follow its twists and turns. He also tries to make vocal
contact.
ARCH
Hey, shithead! chickendick!... yeah, you! Skip!
He moves deeper and deeper into the forest.
LOW ANGLE
Up ahead on the pathway a thick, black viper slithers out of the
undergrowth, stops, sensing Arch's presence, and coils itself against
his approach.
WIDER
as Arch stalks forward, not looking at the ground.
LOW ANGLE
ARCH
(THUNDERING )
Skip!
Arch steps right over the snake and continues on.
WIDER
as Arch hears a noise. He stops. SOMEONE ELSE is here with him, very
nearby.
ARCH
Skip?
He turns and moves back along the trail, peering into the dense
foliage on either side.
LOW ANGLE
as he steps over the snake again going back the other way.
WIDER
He stops again, looks all around him, then turns once more and starts
to move very slowly with short little steps back in the other
direction.
ARCH
Skip?
LOW ANGLE
He is edging closer and closer to the snake. He is bound to step on it
this time.
The snake coils itself to strike.
Arch's foot comes down just missing it, less than six inches away,
when suddenly the ground seems to move. A noose springs up, tightens
around his ankle, and Arch is lifted into the air upside down,
swinging wildly, dropping his club.
Now the viper strikes, and Arch sees it. He is shrieking with horror
as he tries to bat the creature away from him. But he keeps swinging
into it, and the snake keeps striking at him, trying to find an
opening.
Suddenly a long, gleaming blade ENTERS FRAME and chops the snake in
two.
Arch looks up, his face white and frozen into a mask of sheer terror,
no longer able even to scream
EXT. BACK YARD - LATE AFTERNOON
Kit, Nikki and Harvey are waiting on the back porch when Rob emerges
from the woods nearby.
KIT
(calling to him)
No Skip?
Chaz now comes out of the woods on the other side of the yard.
CHAZ
No luck.
ROB
(TO CHAZ)
Where's Arch?
CHAZ
He isn't with you?
NIKKI
I don't like this... I definitely don't think I like this...
KIT
I think it's about time we called the police.
The screen door BANGS again. They look up. It's Muffy. She returns
their stares stiffly, without expression . She holds flowers cut with
hand shears.
MUFFY
Eight-two-four-eight. Constable Potter has an office at his home.
KIT
(TO ROB)
I don't think we should wait any longer...
Rob moves into the house past Muffy. Kit follows him.
MUFFY (to be played like Muffy)
Who wants some tea?
(BEAT)
It'll calm our nerves...
She exits toward the kitchen . Nikki. perplexed by her behavior, looks
strangely after her.
EXT . GROUNDS OF HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON
Nan sits alone on a stone bench beside a small Buddha statue in a
secluded corner of the garden behind the house. She has been weeping.
Her face tells the story.
Now a gentle wind springs up rustling the leaves of the thick bushes
surrounding her. She looks up.
INT. LIVING ROOM � SUNSET
Rob is on the phone trying to reach the Constable. He hangs up the
receiver, then lifts it and starts to� dial again. Kit, standing
beside him. now wanders silently off into the dining room .
INT. KITCHEN - HOUSE - SUNSET
As Kit enters, Muffy comes in from the pantry, breathless and
apologetic, her hands full of tea boxes.
MUFFY
I didn't know what kind anybody would like so I just... got them
all...
KIT
Let me help.
MUFFY
(CAREFULLY)
Has he reached the Constable?
KIT
Rob? No, we haven 't been able to get through to the mainland yet.
Muffy eases. Kit turns the tap to fill the kettle. The pipes begin to
BANG. The tap sputters and coughs out a spurt of brown water before
running dry.
L1UFFY
Oh... �the main... it's probably broken.
KIT
(STUNNED)
No water?
Nikki and Harvey enter, having heard the pipes banging.
NIKKI
What's happening.
KIT
No water.
NIKKI
What!
MUFFY
It happens sometime... But there's still the well all the island homes
have some kind of pump... or well... for emergencies.
Nikki reaches for a large flashlight beam.
NIKKI
Jesus. I'll go. Just point me in the right direction.
HARVEY
(GALLANTLY)
Not without me.
Harvey accompanies Nikki out the back door, leaving Kit and Muffy
alone again.
MUFFY
(bearing up under Kit's stare)
I'm not worried. I'm sure those two... Skip and Art... they're just up
to some kind of stupid trick . . .
Kit moves out of the kitchen uneasily.
EXT. WELL - DUSK
Nikki milkes ghost sound8, following Harvey out through the dark. It
makes him nervous.
HARVEY
(UNCOMFORTABLY)
I don't think you should really do that.
NIKKI
(SEEING)
Is that it?
The well is the old-fashioned kind.
NIKKI (cont.)
Boy, when she said `well,' she really meant 'well'. who dug this
thing? Pocahontas?
She reaches for the wooden bucket attached by metal nook to the thick
rope. Harvey pre-empts.
HARVEY
Here, let me do it. I've probably had more experience than you.
NIKKI
You mean, back home on the farm?
HARVEY
I know you think I'm a hick, but I'd like to change your mind about
that, if you'd only give me the chance.
NIKKI
Why?
HARVEY
Because, I'd really like to plow your field.
NIKKI
(SMILES" IMPRESSED)
Draw me some water.
He's glad to oblige, opening the hinged wood well cover and lowering
the bucket slowly. The dark hole seems to go on forever. Suddenly,
there's a muffled CLATTER deep within the well.
HARVEY
Aw, crap...
NIKKI
What happened?
HARVEY
I lost the bucket.
NIKKI
Harve.
HARVEY
Hal. The rope was rotten, any fool coulda seen that.
NIKKI
You didn't.
HARVEY
Here, shine your light down so I can get a fix on it.
She rises on her toes, flashing the powerful beam down the dank hole.
Harvey bends over to look. A rotted piece of the well cover breaks off
in his hand. He lurches forward.
HARVEY
Oh... oh, Jesus!
He slams back in ashen horror.
NIKKI
(STARTLED}
...what...
HARVEY
Stay back! Don't look!
NIKKI
I'm a big girl now. I think I �can handle a few spiders and
FROGS ---
She shines the beam down again, bending in for a look.
HARVEY
NIKKI --
She should've listened to him.
HER POV
Nan's body lies twisted and jammed among the slime. Her dress is torn,
revealing a white breast with veins of blood streaming across it and
into the water. Next to her, Arch's severed head gapes up in a rictus
grin, joined in its leer by Skip's decapitated head.
NIKKI
It's like the very guts have been torn out of her. She screams,
stumbling back.
EXT. WELL � DUSK
as Rob runs up, everyone else is already there.
ROB
(BREATHLESS)
What is it?
KIT
(ASHEN)
You don't want to know.
NIKKI
(STILL PANICKED)
In the well ! Oh, God, the well!
Rob grabs the flashlight from Chaz's hands and leaps up to take a
look.
After a long, horrifying glimpse he has to step back to control his
overwhelming nausea. He shudders violently.
NIKKI
(COLD FEAR)
We have to leave, all of us, we have to get away.
ROB
(closing the well cover)
We can't get away. Everyone back into the house . Now.
(JUMPING DOWN)
Let's go!
EXT. BACK OF THE HOUSE - NIGHT
Looking in through the windows we can see Rob alone in the living room
still trying the phone.
PANNING ACROSS to the dining room windows, we see Nikki seated at the
table with Kit and Chaz on either side of her. Harvey stands behind
them against the wall.
EXT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Kit is trying to comfort Nikki who is still in shock.
KIT
It's okay, Nikki. With the others... they were outdoors. But we're
inside now, and we're safe.
NIKKI
(QUIETLY)
It's all because of what happened on the ferry, isn't it?
CHAZ
(HIMSELF UNNERVED)
It was an accident. Don't they know that?
Muffy enters from the kitchen with a glass of water. Harvey pulls her
quietly aside.
HARVEY
Muffy, where do you keep your guns?
MUFFY
(BLANKLY)
Guns? We don't keep guns in this house.
The others turn and look back at them. There is an uncomfortable
pause.
MUFFY
(handing Nikki the glass)
Here.
NIKKI ,
Oh, God! Not the water!
MUFFY
It's all right. It's Perrier.
Suddenly the phone rings O. S. They all look toward the living room.
INT. LIVING ROOH - NIGHT
...as Rob snatches up the receiver.
ROB
(DESPERATELY)
Hello!
He listens for a moment, then almost collapses with relief.
ROB (cont.)
Constable Potter... Thank God it's you...
The others stand and start drifting in from the dining room.
INT. MAINLAND HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Constable Potter is calling from a pay phone near the reception desk.
He listens for a moment, then ...
POTTER
What are you talking about?
(LISTENS)
That ain't possible .
(LISTENS)
And I'm telling you, I'm here at the hospital now visiting Buck. He
came out of surgery last night--It might interest you to know he'll be
all right-- and Cal's been here too, the whole time.
ANGLE WIDENS to reveal the ferryman Cal standing anxiously beside him.
INT. LIVING ROOM � NIGHT
Rob looks like he's just been clubbed on the back of the head.
ROB
(PLEADING )
Constable?...
(LISTENS)
Here. She's all right.
(LISTENS)
With Muffy? What do you mean?
He looks up at the others who have gathered around him expectantly.
ROB
(FINALLY)
Yes, all right... Please... Please hurry.
He hangs up. Pause.
ROB
(anything, but jubilant)
He's on his way. We're supposed to wait here... to stay together...
CHAZ
What about the ferryman?
ROB
It isn't him. They've been together all day.
CHAZ
What?
KIT
I don't understand.
They look at each other ominously.
ROB
(STANDING)
I don't either.
(BEAT)
He's going to send up a flare as he's nearing the dock. Then
we're to go down as a group to meet him there.
(MOVING AWAY)
In the meantime... we just wait.
He goes out of the living room.
INT. FRONT ENTRY - NIGHT
Rob bolts and double-locks the front door. He also fastens the chain
just for good measure.
INT. LIVING & DINING ROOMS - NIGHT
Chaz and Nikki secure all the doors and windows to the outside.
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Kit enters, checks and locks the windows. She turns on the lamp. On
the desk -- prominently displayed and catching her eye -- a FRAMED
PHOTOGRAPH.
CLOSE - THE PHOTOGRAPH
It is a black-and-white picture, probably Muffy as a child. But
what's confusing is there's another little girl next to her in the
picture, who looks just like Muffy, too...
KIT
...doesn't understand. She glances at the walls for more pictures.
Muffy enters suddenly, interrupting her. Kit startles, turning. They
face each other.
MUFFY
(UNNATURALLY COMPOSED)
It's my father's study.
KIT
(NERVOUSLY)
I just came in to make sure everything was secure
to lock the windows.
MUFFY
Good idea. Sometimes... with the tides... it can take someone all
night to get here from the mainland... and even then, sometimes they
don't make it...
INT. HARVEY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Harvey is unlocking his suitcase which is back up on the bed. He
reaches in and pulls out a small revolver. He drops the cylinder,
checking to see that it's loaded, then snaps it back in place. He
tucks the weapon into the waistband at the small of his back, then
slips on his navy blazer.
INT. BASEMENT - .NIGHT
No one is around and no one has been down here since earlier in the
day when Muffy apparently brought down the painting with the vacant
eye-holes from outsid~ Rob and Kit's bedroom.
CAMERA PANS off the painting, now hung on a blank wall, to the
transcan window which is still propped open to the outside.
INT. LIVING ROOH � NIGHT
Chaz, Nikki, Kit and Harvey are here, trying to wait it out.
HARVEY
(peering out the window)
What's taking him so long?
KIT
(quietly; without conviction)
It could be the tides.
CHAZ
Wait a minute. Aren't we supposed to be staying together? Where're
Muffy and Rob?
KIT
Rob's checking the back of the house.
CHAZ
And Muffy?
NIKKI
She's been acting less than normal anyway.
KIT
(picking up on it)
What do you mean?
NIKKI
You mean all day and you haven't noticed?
HARVEY
Well, who isn't?
NIKKI
...and those nurse's shoes.
CHAZ
What nurse's shoes?
NIKKI
The clodhoppers she's been wearing today... crepe soles...
It's as though some common nerve of suspicion has been touched. They
all stir.
HARVEY
She was arguing with Nan in the hall, before you and Rob... before you
came back alone.
They turn full attention on him.
HARVEY
About something Nan found in her room.
CHAZ
What?
HARVEY
(EMBARRASSED)
Something about an abortion.
They all pause.
NIKKI
I found somethin"g in my room, too
She reaches into her bag and pulls out the black rubber bondage hood.
NIKKI
...only I don't think it was intended for me .
CHAZ
(SARCASTIC )
Oh, really?
HARVEY
(to Chaz; defending Nikki)
And What did you find?
CHAZ
I didn't find anything.
HARVEY
We're supposed to believe that?
CHAZ
That's right.
(TRUMPING HIM)
I spent the night with Nikki.
(BEAT)
What about you?
HARVEY
What about me?
CHAZ
What's your little secret?
HARVEY
(EVASIVELY)
I don't know What you're talking about.
CHAZ
Oh, come on, sport. I walked in on you last night , and you were
acting like your ass was on fire...
HARVEY
It wasn't anything... Just some clippings... of some car accidents.
CHAZ
(INSINUATING)
Nothing personal in that, I suppose?
HARVEY
No! Who hasn't been in a car accident? It's a common thing.
CHAZ
I haven't.
There is a slight pause. Rob comes into the living room, holding a
flashlight and stands just inside the doorway.
The others shift uncomfortably.
NIKKI
(QUIETLY)
What I'd like to know is, how did Muffy find out about these
things and why -- ?
KIT
Stop it! Just stop it all of you!
(BEAT)
What is wrong with us? Nhat happened to all our talk about friendship,
and undying loyalty?
(looking from one to the other)
Do you know what we're saying? That we're actually sitting here
discussing the possibility that Muffy, a generous friend, has invited
us all here to --
She stops suddenly, freezing in mid-sentence, and they all turn,
following the direction of her look, to see Muffy standing in the
entryway behind Rob.
MUFFY
I'm going upstairs.
ROB
Muffy? We should all stay together.
MUFFY
This is my house.
(BEAT)
I'll be in my room.
She turns and heads up the stairs.
Pause.
NIKKI
(FINALLY)
She's got a point.
(STANDING)
We're starting to get on each other's nerves.
HARVEY
As long as we all stay within shouting distance of each other...
NIKKI
(TO CHAZ)
You coming?
He joins her, and they quietly head for the stairs.
ROB
I'm goinq to find the way up to the attic.
KIT
Why?
ROB
I'm sure we can watch for the Constable better from up there.
Kit hesitates.
HARVEY
It's all right. I can keep watch on the stairs.
Rob ho1ds out his hand to her. She takes it and they walk together
toward the stairs.
INT. MUFFY' S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Muffy enters, closes the door quietly and locks it behind her. She
crosses to her bed, slowly sits down and loses herself in troubled
thought about everything that is going on.
INT. MAIN STAIRWAY � NIGHT
Harvey steps up to the halfway landing and sits down. He looks above,
looks below, then opens a magazine and begins thumbing through it.
INT. NIKKI'S ROOM - NIGHT
Nikki's suitcase is open on the bed, and she is moving nervously about
the room, gathering her things and cramming them into it.
CHAZ
Nikki, come on...
NIKKI
What do you mean, Nikki, come on? Don't give me any of this Nikki,
come on.
CHAZ
What are you doing?
NIKKI
Look, stay if you like. Lock your door. Dig a trench. Hang out. But
once I leave this place, I'm never coming back.
She walks out the door, and Chaz follows her to...
INT. UPSTAIRS HALL - SAME
They cross the hall.
CHAZ
(catching up to her)
We're all supposed to stay together here.
NIKKI
Yeah, that's been real effective...
She goes into...
INT. BATHROOM - SAME
...and starts to collect all her stuff from in here. Chaz comes in
behind her.
CHAZ
So what are you going to do? Just waltz on down to the pier. By
yourself. Check your bag with the porter. Then wait for an ocean liner
to happen by and pick you up. Is that it?
NIKKI,
(pushing past him)
I can't stay here any longer.
She goes back out into the hallway. Chaz follows.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALL - SAME
as they cross back to Nikki's bedroom.
CHAZ
What if the Constable never even comes?
NIKKI
Then I'll swim all the way back to the mainland... I can be strong if
I have to.
INT. NIKKI'S ROOM - NIGHT
as they re-enter.
CHAZ
Look, just relax--
NIKKI
Three people are dead and you're telling me to relax?
CHAZ
Nikki, now just hold on a minute, and look at me. Look at me.
She stops and looks at him.
CHAZ (CONT.)
Now, am I nervous? Yes. Maybe even a little bit scared? Yes.
Am I running around like a chicken with its head cut off?
NIKKI
Nice image.
CHAZ
No.
(BEAT)
I mean, come on, babe. Lighten up a little, huh?
He quickly slips the S&M mask over his head, clowning around.
CHAZ (CONT.)
(MUFFLED)
Look at this. What, me worry?
NIKKI
Very funny, Chaz.
CHAZ
(MUFFLED)
You've got to look on the bright side of things. Everything'll be all
right... Huh? Huh?
NIKKI
Don't be a jerk.
CHAZ
(MUFFLED)
Oh. Now I'm turning you on. Right?
NIKKI,
Take that thing off.
CHAZ
(MUFFLED)
Why? I kind of like it in here.
(moving blindly toward her)
Kiss me, you savage she-devil.
NIKKI
Get out of here.
She pushes him and he falls backward across the bed.
CHAZ
(MUFFLED)
Ooooh, stop it some more. I love it when you're rough.
She turns and goes out of the room again. Chaz remains lying across
the bed.
CHAZ
(MUFFLED)
Course it would help a little if I could breathe in here. For when
things start to get really passionate.
(BEAT)
Nikki?
CAMERA FRAMES the open bedroom window for a beat. The curtains luff
slightly in response to a gentle breeze wafting in.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALL - MOMENTS LATER
Nikki comes down the hall with some more clothes on her arm. She
arrives at her door, opens it (she had not closed it the last time she
went out), and goes inside.
INT. NIKKI'S ROOM - SAME
Chaz is still lying across the bed as last seen, except that now his
hands cover his crotch.
NIKKI
(NOTICING)
Real subtle, Chaz.
She continues packing, moving around the room.
NIKKI (CONT.)
Now I'm supposed to throw off my clothes and jump on you? Just wind
her up and watch her go? You've got a lot to learn, buddy.
No response. Chaz lies perfectly still. Not even his chest appears to
be moving.
NIKKI
(looking at his crotch again)
What is this? Show and tell?
(BEAT)
I'll show you mine if you show me yours?
(BEAT)
Well, forget it... You may as well just stick it back in your pants.
(BEAT)
Chaz?... Chaz?
(NO ANSWER)
Say something, goddammit!
She swats his hands away from his crotch. Beneath them, on his pants,
is a slowly growing blood stain.
Nikki gasps, her mouth contorting into a scream that will not come.
She turns suddenly in response to .a NOISE O.S., and sees a DARK
FIGURE stepping out from behind the slowly closing bedroom door.
INT . ATTIC STAIRS - NIGHT
It is almost pitch black. O.S. there is the sound of a lightswitch
being flicked on and off.
ROB (O.S.)
No lights.
Suddenly a flashlight beam pierces the darkness, and Rob and Kit can
now be seen ascending the stairs to the attic.
INT. ATTIC - NIGHT
...as they arrive at the top. Rob sweeps the one large room with her
flashlight. Piles of old furniture are stacked here and there, covered
with grimy sheets.
KIT
No one's been up here in years.
Rob crosses to the garret windows overlooking the sound.
PAUSE.
KIT
Can you see him?
ROB
NO. There must not be a light on the boat.
KIT
Or... he's chosen not to use it.
ROB
Kit? He said something else on the phone, about Muffy.
KIT
What?
ROB
He said not to trust anybody. That's why we were to stay together. No
one was to be left alone with anyone else... Then he said, especially
not with Muffy.
KIT
So that's why you let her go upstairs?
ROB
That's why I let her go.
KIT
(BEAT)
What did he mean by that?
ROB
I don't know. He wouldn't explain it.
KIT
But that's ridiculous...
ROB
Is it? He's known her longer than we have.
He sweeps the flashlight back toward the stairs.
KIT
Rob, wait a minute. What's that?
ROB
Where?
She takes the flashlight from him and aims it on something near the
door--the Barbie and Ken dolls from the previous night's dinner.
ROB
It's just the dolls.
KIT
She's been up here.
ROB
So?
She moves toward them while Rob stays by the windows looking out. As
she gets closer to the dolls, however, Kit realizes that they have not
just been stuck there haphazardly.
KIT
(ALARMED)
Rob?
Rob comes over to join her as we CUT TO:
HER POV
of the dolls as the flashlight moves across them, slowly revealing
them one by one. The last to be seen are a Barbie and the heads of two
Kens stuck in a bowl of water.
ROB AND KlT
staring at them, frightened and astonished.
ROB
Jesus...
KIT
(LOSING IT)
Rob? . . .
ROB
It's Arch and Skip and Nan.
KIT
Rob??...
ROB
Wait...
He takes the flashlight from her and reveals two more: a Barbie and a
Ken lying next to each other with no clothes on, both of them
splattered with bright red nail polish.
ROB
What are these other two?
Suddenly the room is flooded with light. Rob turns sharply and sees
outside the window the Constable's flare hanging in the night sky.
ROB
He's here!
O.S. there is a PISTOL SHOT from downstairs. Kit screams.
ROB
Come on!
He jumps to his feet, grabs hold of her hand and pulls her with him
out of the attic.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALL - NIGHT
as they come racing down from the attic. Rob heads for the
main staircase...
ROB
Hal!
...while Kit runs down the hall to Nikki's room and flings
open the door.
KIT
Nikki?
She isn't there.
Kit backs into the hallway. Downstairs O.S. she can hear Rob moving
about, calling for Harvey, but up here all is quiet and threatening.
She hurries silently down to Chaz' room, opens the door and steps
inside.
INT. CHAZ' ROOM - NIGHT
It is dark again in here, but the video camera is still operating. Kit
closes the door behind her and leans forward, barely whispering...
KIT
Chaz?... Nikki?...
She turns on the light and sees the bed, both beds: they are drenched
in blood.
Kit reaches for the doorknob. It comes off in her hand.
KIT
Rob!!!
She's frantically pounding on the door and trying to jam the doorknob
back in, to get it to work.
There's a NOISE outside the window. She turns aghast. Suddenly the
door flies open.
ROB
(ENTERING)
I can't find Hal--
He stops in mid-sentence as he sees the beds. Kit is already through
the door. Rob follows her out.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALL . - NIGHT
Rob is running with her toward the stairs.
KIT
Rob, what about Muffy?
ROB
Forget her!
KIT
(STOPPING HIM)
She's my friend!
She breaks away from him and dashes down to Muffy's door. Rob has no
choice but to follow her.
KIT
(KNOCKING)
Muffy! Muffy!!
She tries the door, but it's locked.
ROB
(pulling her away)
Let's go.
Rounding the corner to the shadowy back stairs, Rob suddenly bumps
into something, someone there. He screams aloud, dropping his
flashlight.
It is Harvey. His body dangles from the rafters high above the top of
the rear stairs, a thick rope around his neck.
Now Rob has become unnerved, and it is Kit's turn to take the lead.
KIT
This way!
And they head back toward the main staircase.
EXT DOCK. -- NIGHT
The flarelight wanes. Constable Potter looks up anxiously. Soon he
will be waiting in darkness . (Unlike the previous night's scene, now
there are no outdoor lights on here.)
EXT. BACK OF THE HOUSE - NIGHT
Rob and Kit burst out of the dining room as if the house were on fire.
Kit stops to pull the doors shut behind them.
ROB
(yanking her away)
Forget the doors!
Within moments they have crossed the back yard and disappeared into
the brush leading down to the water.
EXT. PATHWAYS - NIGHT
The night is a landscape of terror. As Rob and Kit race through the
darkness, the forest seems to fold in on top of them, completely
enclosing them within itself.
EXT. DOCK - NIGHT
They arrive at the water's edge and slow down abruptly. Though they
can see Potter's boat rocking gently in the water, moored to the dock,
they cannot make out any sign of the Constable.
ROB
(in guarded approach)
Constable... Mr. Potter?
No answer. The silence is chilling. They proceed out onto the dock.
They come to the boat.
ROB
(WHISPERING)
If there's another flare, we can signal him.
KIT
Maybe he went on to the house.
Rob unlashes the mooring, grabbing hold of the line to pull the boat
in. It won't budge, the line snagged in the water where it dips in.
Rob tugs harder, freeing something to the surface.
CLOSE ANGLE
It is Constable Potter, his body turning once before sinking again
under its tethered weights.
An animal cries out behind them. Rob wastes no more time, pulling the
rope and the boat quickly toward them. They jump in.
There is a flashlight in the toolbox. Rob grabs it, shining it onto
the controls. But there's no key in the ignition, and no other way to
start it.
ROB
Shit... no key!
Kit, meanwhile, picks up the LETTER that's lying on the bottom of the
boat.
KIT
Rob!
He turns.
KIT (cont.)
Look!
She presses it into his hands. He shines the flashlight.
CLOSER ANGLE
Its waterstained, but still legible... The letterhead reads, 'STATE
HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE,' and it is dated 'MARCH 31,'
addressed to Potter, and reads:
RETURN ANGLE
ROB
"...Pursuant to our previous communication, please be advised that the
patient under discussion has still not been found and returned to
custody, and it now believed to be attempting to return to her home in
your jurisdiction. If encountered, exercise extreme caution and notify
us immediately, as Miss St. John has �been a patient here for three
years and is still considered incorrigibly unstable and extremely
dangerous..."
Kit looks up, frantic.
KIT
Miss .St. John? What's it talking about? Muffy hasn't been in any
state mental institution for the last three years -- she's been at
Vassar!
ROB
I don't know... but we've gotta get this boat started.
KIT
How?
ROB
The house. Didn't Muffy say there was another key back in the kitchen?
KIT
(IN DREAD)
Oh, no...
ROB
We've got no choice.
KIT
I know.
ROB
Shit.
PAUSE
KIT
Rob?
ROB
Huh?
KIT
Rob, I really don't want to go back there.
ROB
I know.
KIT
Shit.
Another pause. Neither one is making the move to go.
ROB
I'd have you stay here, but--
KIT
No.
ROB
(BEAT)
Listen, Kit, we'll get out of here, I promise you. We've been through
so much together...
She has started to cry softly.
ROB (cont.)
...it isn't going to end here.
KIT
(BEING BRAVE)
Okay.
He kisses her. Pause.
ROB
Well...
KIT
Yeah...
ROB
Let's go.
KIT
Let's go.
ROB
Let's go.
Brief pause, then he turns to go.
ROB
Shit...
They move slowly off the dock.
EXT. GROUNDS OF HOUSE - NIGHT
Rob and Kit move up to the shrubbery skirting the back lawn and gaze
across at the house. It is completely dark within and remains wrapped
in silence as before.
KIT
Rob, look! The doors. They've been closed.
Sure enough, the doors they come out by minutes ago, the ones they
didn't stop to close, are now shut tight.
ROB
Come on.
They move stealthily through the bushes around to the side of the
house. They stop.
ROB
There.
He is pointing toward the open basement window across a thirty foot
space of clear lawn.
ROB
That's how we're going in.
Kit swallows hard.
She nods.
ROB
Are you with me?
They break from their cover and run, keeping low, to the side of the
house. Rob peers through the window into the darkness inside , pushes
the transom all the way open, and then drags himself through on his
belly.
INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT
He drops to the floor, turning to give Kit a hand. She enters the
same, dusting herself off next to him. Rob turns on the flashlight,
using it cautiously.
ROB
(moving through darkness)
The stairs... Where are the stairs?...
KIT
What's that?
They pause, hearing
DRIPPING SOUNDS in the darkness , comi ng from the depths of the
utility room.
Rob leads the way, cautiously, toward the sound.
INT . UTILITY ROOM
The flashlight cuts through the dark, revealing the tap DRIPPING in
the tub.
Before, the tub was clean. NOW, however, stubborn crimson STAINS smear
the basin, like blood that has refused to be washed away. Other stains
darken the floor.
REVERSE ANGLE
Kit's eyes widen in growing horrow. Rob turns the beam toward the
stains that track across the floor, following them.
KIT
(FEARFULLY)
Rob...
INT. BASEMENT
The trail leads out of the utility room to the large, cast-iron
incinerator. Rob steps forward, slowly opening its door, angling the
beam inside.
THEIR POV - INCINERATOR
Inside, Muffy's characteristic attire -- the clothes we saw her
wearing yesterday after their arrival -- lie stuffed inside, bloodied
and charred.
KIT
Muffy's clothes...
ROB
(PUZZLED)
I don't get it.
The beam momentarily sweeps the wall next to Kit. She sees something.
KIT
(an urgent whisper)
Rob!
She gets him to turn the beam back to the wall where she is. She helps
train it on what she saw.
POV - THE WALL
It is a growth �chart that has been marked in ink faded over the
years. There are growth measurements for 'MUFFY'... and for �a child
named 'BUFFY"... with similar heights on similar dates.
RETURN ON KIT
She gasps, finally connecting it.
KIT
Oh, god... oh no!...
He doesn't yet understand.
KIT
...the picture of the girls in the study... the letter... what the
Constable was trying to tell you... It's not Muffy it's her twin
sister, Buffy! She has a twin sister!
Rob's eyes have a glazed look. They are fixed somewhere else.
KIT
Rob, don't you see?
(BEAT)
Rob?
She follows his look and sees, on the wall near the growth chart, that
he has trained his flashlight beam on the eyeless portrait from the
night before. Only now, there are REAL EYES BEHIND THE PAINTING,
STARING OUT AT THEM.
KIT
(HUSHED)
Rob!
He casts about for a weapon, coming up with a length of lead pipe.
ROB
Pull it away...
KIT
(too frightened to move)
Rob?
ROB
Pull it away!
They advance together on the painting, Rob keeping his flashlight on
the eyes the entire time. Kit slowly reaces out, lifts the painting
from the wall and drops it, jumping back... just as MUFFY'S HEAD rolls
forward from a shelf behind the painting, right into Kit's lap!
Kit screams as she bobbles the head in her hands like a hot potato,
trying to get rid of it.
Suddenly a loud NOISE slams at the basement window. Rob grabs Kit,
covering her mouth and snapping off .the flashlight. The head falls to
the. floor at their feet. They turn...
THEIR POV
...just in time to see the window they entered being nailed shut from
the outside. All else they can make out are Buffy's hands and her
tell-tale nurse shoes. Then these two move of sight around the outside
of the house.
BASEMENT
Rob clicks on the beam in the direction they went and sees the stairs.
They race to them, up them, the door to the pantry is not locked. It
gives way under Rob's pressure.
INT. PANTRY � NIGHT
Kit scrambles up behind him. They can hear Buffy outside in the yard
APPROACHING the kitchen door.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Rob and Kit hurry in. Rob searches frantically for the key board.
ROB
The boat key... it's gotta be here...
His flashlight sweeps the walls of shelves. Suddenly, Buffy is at the
kitchen door. Though the door in locked, there's no bolt or chain to
fully secure it. The knob RATTLES furiously under Buffy's grip, the
door SHUDDERS.
Rob spots a walk-in cupboard. He hurries to it. Kit gropes along the
shelves, searching the objects hanging along the distant wall.
KITCHEN DOOR
A long, ugly-looking knife blade slips in through the crack in the
door. Buffy is using it to try to pry open the door.
CUPBOARD
Rob opens the door. Success. His beam falls on the key board on the
inner wall.
ROB
Kit... I
He steps in, following his beam into the darkness. The cupboard door
SLAMS shut behind him. He turns, trapped.
CLOSE ANGLE - KITCHEN DOOR
The door springs open.
KITCHEN
Kit spins, crying out as she sees:
HER POV
The shadowed figure of BUFFY, barefooted, disheveled, in a smock,
dagger in hand. She advances, breathing heavily.
KIT
stumbles back desperately.
KIT
No...
INT. CUPBOARD
Rob is desperately trying to break out, but the door won't open.
ROB
Kit! Let me out! Let me out of here! Kit!!
He is kicking the door, hurling himself at the door, but all to no
effect. He barely has room to maneuver.
KIT (O.S.)
Rob!!!
INT. KITCHEN
Kit turns to Rob's voice, takes a step toward the cupboard, but
suddenly Buffy is there, cutting her off.
Kit backes away, into the dining room.
INT. CUPBOARD
ROB
(POUNDING FUTILELY)
Kit! Run, Kit, run!
INT. DINING ROOM
Kit reels back under Buffy's steady advance. Kit can't see her clearly
in the dim light, but she can make out, beneath Buffy's wild, stringy,
dangling hair, the madness, the likeness of Muffy -- the familiar face
somehow twisted by hate and madness into a stiff, hideous, unnatural
deformation.
Buffy closes in, readying the long, greedy knife.
INT. CUPBOARD
Rob, still struggling, knows Kit is about to die.
ROB
Kit! I love you!
INT . DINING R.OOM
Cornered, helpless, Kit stumbles back toward the closed double doors
that lead to the living room.
KIT
Buffy?... please, we didn't mean any harm... we're leaving... we just
want to go home... please... please...
Buffy raises the dagger in hand.
INT. CUPBOARD
No longer trying to escape. It's hopeless.
ROB
(for all he's worth)
Kit! I love you! I love you, Kit!
A man's HAND reaches out from the side, lightly touching Rob's
shoulder. Rob jumps, turning.
ANGLE
It is Buck, standing practically right beside him, staring at Rob. His
face is the same bloody, hideous mess it was the day before, after the
accident.
Rob screams.
BUCK
I love you too, babe.
Rob swings at him, but only succeeds in smashing his knuckles against
the door.
Buck grabs him and violently plants a kiss on his cheek.
INT. DINING ROOM
Kit slams back against the double doors, nowhere to go.
KIT
No... Oh, God...
and Buffy strikes. The knife jabs into the door, close to Kit's head.
Kit gasps, momentarily spared. She pushes apart the double doors and
stumbles back into...
INT. LIVING ROOM
All the lights are on, and when Kit takes her eyes off Buffy long
enough to find out why, she discovers everyone is here -- Skip, Chaz,
Nikki, Arch, Harvey, Nan, even the Constable and the ferryman. They
sit or casually stand, quietly talking or reading magazines, taking no
notice of her whatsoever.
INT. CUPBOARD
Rob is screaming uncontrollably. Buck calmly peels all the blood and
gore right off his face and slaps in onto Rob. Rob keeps screaming.
Then Buck reaches out and unlatches the door. It was right there the
whole time.
INT. LIVING ROOM
Kit is totally bewildered...
KIT
(LOOKING AROUND)
What.... ?
Then she looks back at Buffy who steps into the living room, and
smiling, holds up the knife and plunges it into her own hand. The
blade is retractable.
KIT
(wrought with emotion)
Oh, fuck you!! Fuck you, you guys!!
Suddenly everyone in the room comes to life, roaring with laughter.
INT. KITCHEN
Rob stumbles out of the cupboard, Buck's gory make-up still stuck to
his face.
ROB
Kit! !
Still frightened and confused, Rob hasn't put it together yet. He runs
out of the kitchen...
INT LIVING ROOM
...through the dining room and into the living room where he stops
dead cold upon seeing everybody.
ROB
Ki--!
The group laughs louder at the sight of him. Buck walks up behind Rob
and claps him on the shoulder. Rob jumps and screams involuntarily.
The group laughs louder still...
INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER
Muffy is wiping off the last of her "Buffy" make-up.
MUFFY
You guys are really terrific. I love you all. And I thank you from
the bottom of my heart for being such good sports.
ROB
(STILL SHAKEN)
Oh, sure. Quite welcome. Any time.
He sits, or rather lands, on the sofa next to Kit.
Laughter.
MUFFY
Rob, you and Kit, you two were the best. You figured it all
out. The clues really worked.
ROB
What clues?
KIT
What's this all about? And don't anyone say "April Fool's" or I'll
smack them in the teeth.
MUFFY
How about if I told you it was the script for a weekend special
that's going to help me keep this house...
Rob and Kit stare, mystified.
MUFFY
(SMILING)
Look, next month I get the house as part of my inheritance, it's true,
but only if I can show my father that it can carry itself... what with
taxes and expenses. Otherwise, he'll just sell it out of the family.
So, I'm planning on turning it into a country inn. Not just another
stuffy old run-of-the-mill country inn, but one that specializes in
offering once-in-a lifetime Whodunit Weekends. I needed a rehearsal. I
had to try out the idea on somebody.
ROB
(TO OTHERS)
And you guys played along?
ARCH
Don't look at me!
NIKKI
We all got sucked in just as bad as you!
MUFFY
Once they were killed off, yes. Everybody had to cooperate. Otherwise,
none of it would have worked!
ROB
So I guess there's no crazy twin sister Buffy?
MUFFY
Oh, there's a crazy twin all right, but his name isn't Buffy.
NIKKI
His name?
Muffy smiles, directing attention toward "cousin" Skip.
CHAZ
Skip?!
KIT
He's your brother?!
ARCH
You bastard, you were in on the whole deal, too.
SKIP
(PROTESTING)
Only the set-up. Muffy told me to say I was her cousin and to pull
that prank on the ferry. I had no idea what was going to happen with
Buck.
MUFFY
(INTRODUCING)
Buck Williams. make-up artist par excellence, from Hollywood.
Buck reaches down and tosses Arch's decapitated head to him.
BUCK
Here, catch.
Arch bobbles the head nervously. The others laugh.
BUCK
Just some old props I redressed with the help of photographs Muffy
sent me.
NIKKI
It sure fooled me.
ARCH
(TO SKIP)
So what castle are you going to inherit?
CONSTABLE POTTER
(CRITICALLY)
Well, first he's got to prove he can manage his own allowance.
KIT
(to the Constable)
Which means, I guess, that you're no constable either.
MUFFY
Kit Graham, meet my Uncle Frank St. John of St. John et Freres, Wall
Street.
Uncle Frank smiles and waves at Kit, but Harvey steps right over to
him and starts pumping his hand.
HARVEY
Hi! Harvey "Hal" Edison, Jr. Pleased to meet you, sir.
MUFFY
Usually we don't even see Uncle Frank in the summer, he's so busy.
But this time he made an exception.
UNCLE FRANK
I haven't had this much fun since my Hasty pudding Show sophomore year
at Harvard. God, lowe you kids!
FERRYMAN CAL
(EAGERLY)
How'd I do? I never did no acting before. Boy, was I shaking!
MUFFY
Cal's our regular ferryman between the mainland and the islands around
here... but I thought he was up to the dramatic challenge.
(BEAT: SMILING)
Well, that's it. Now you know it all.
NIKKI
We have been had.
ROB
You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed.
MUFFY
(LAUGHING)
I almost did with Harvey. And who could know there would be a snake
out in the woods with Arch? But with the paying guests, they'll know
what they're in for: and the scenario won't be nearly so extreme.
UNCLE FRANK
Otherwise, even Lloyd's of London won't cover you.
MUFFY
...And I regret that, well, some of those fake clues I planted in the
bedrooms I guess were taken too seriously. I'm sorry about
that.
She avoids looking at Nan so as not to draw attention to her.
MUFFY (cont.)
But we had fun, didn't we? I mean, come on.
She starts passing .out chilled champagne bottles to the men
to open, and setting up glasses on a sideboard.
MUFFY (cont.)
I know I'll never forget this weekend for as long as I live.
ARCH
You're telling me. Man, when I was swinging around out there in the
woods, I nearly crapped my pants.
CAL
What do you mean, nearly? I was there, remember?
Silence. Arch turns red.
CHAZ
(QUIETLY)
Arch? You browned your trousers?
ARCH
(BEAT; STAMMERING)
Well... I...
UNCLE FRANK
(GOOD-NATUREDLY)
It's all right, Arch. They'll be out of the dryer soon.
Suddenly everyone roars with laughter. Champagne corks start popping,
and before you know it, the scene is resembling the locker room of the
winning team of a championship series.
INT. DINING ROOM - MORNING
Breakfast. Spirits are high. Friendships rekindled, and the spread is
incredible. Muffy enters with a fresh basket of piping hot biscuits.
Only Nikki, Harvey, and Cal are not present.
ARCH
Great ham.
BUCK
Great eggs.
CHAZ
(TEASING)
Just what we need. Another country inn.
UNCLE FRANK
Well, if the food's any indication, it's already half-way there.
SKIP
Pass the toxic wastes, please.
Uncle Frank frowns at Skip as Cal enters.
CAL
(PLEASANTLY)
The St. John Island Bar Harbor ferry leaves in thirty minutes. No
stragglers, please.
INT. KITCHEN - MORNING
Rob and Kit are the first ones in, busing their dishes.
ROB
Boy, what a difference being alive makes.
KIT
(TURNS; SOFTLY)
I don't care what Columbia says about you.
ROB
I do.
KIT
(BEAT)
Is this the road to med school?
ROB
I think it is. I'm going to try.
He takes her by the hand and gazes at her.
ROB
But if I make it or not, no matter what happens, we'll be together?
You and me?
KIT
(QUIETLY)
If that's what you want.
ROB
(HUGGING HER)
That's what I want.
Muffy enters with a stack of dishes, followed by Nan who quietly sets
her plate on the counter and leaves.
MUFFY
Where's Nikki?
KIT
I don't know. Too much champagne?
o.s. they hear a muffled cry.
INT. NIKKI'S ROOM - MORNING
...as Harvey finishes plowing her field. They lie still for a moment.
NIKKI
(STILL GASPING)
God... don't tell me that was something you learned on the farm!
EXT. BACK PORCH - MORNING
Uncle Frank is hugging Muffy. (nothing seedy). They are alone out
here.
UNCLE FRANK
I'll make a full and glowing report to your father tomorrow so he can
draw up the deed along with the other trust papers for Wednesday's
signing. I'm so proud of you.
(BEAT)
I wish I could say the same about your brother.
MUFFY
Oh, Uncle Frank, he's been a great help this weekend, really. Let me
get him out here so you can--
UNCLE FRANK
I've already spoken with him.
The screen door opens, and Rob steps out onto the porch. He comes over
to them, but does not butt into their conversation, and Uncle Frank
just keeps going as if Rob weren't even there.
UNCLE FRANK (cont.)
His conduct and his academic performance remain inexcusable. He knows
your father can't be expected to entrust him with anything until he
shows some signs of responsibility and initiative.
ROB
(embarrassed to be overhearing)
Excuse me.
He turns and walks back into the house.
O.S. a horn honking.
EXT. HOUSE - MORNING
The van and the old pickup are idling out front. Uncle Frank is
honking on the van horn.
UNCLE FRANK
Come on! Let's go!
Cal is alone behind the wheel of the pickup.
Skip walks casually up to the van, then pointedly turns away and heads
over to the pickup instead. Uncle Frank scowls.
ANGLE - FRONT DOOR
Rob and Kit come out the door and stop beside Muffy.
More honking.
KIT
Well, I hate to say it -- I still ought to kill you -- but thanks.
(THEY HUG)
See you back there.
UNCLE FRANK
Come on. If time is money, we're losing a fortune.
Nikki now runs out followed closely by Harvey. They say their quick
farewells and move along to the waiting vehicles.
Harvey discreetly opts to ride in the pickup, while Nikki climbs
aboard the van, passing Chaz who just glares at her. He knows. Finally
Nan comes out of the house. With a curt nod to Muffy, she heads on
toward the van when...
MUFFY
Nan!
She hurries to catch up with her.
MUFFY
Let me say again how sorry I am. It wasn't intended.
NAN
And now all is forgiven. I played along, didn't I? What's done is
done.
(BEAT)
I've learned a lot, Muffy, I really have. I suppose I should say thank
you, but I don't think I would be able to without it sounding false.
So I'll just say goodbye.
(beat; an afterthought)
Thanks for showing me your house.
She turns and crosses to the van and climbs aboard. The others callout
their last goodbyes. Muffy waves, and then they are gone and Muffy
turns and walks forlornly back into her house.
EXT. FERRY LANDING - MORNING
Cal and Uncle Frank are the first ones onto the ferry.
UNCLE FRANK
Cal, I want to thank you personally. You've been a real sport about
this.
CAL
Aw, it was fun.
UNCLE FRANK
I know you've had your eye on that p1ace ever since we were kids.
And I'm sure we could make a deal with you. I know you haven't been
spending your money on anything else all these years... But... this
time it just isn't in the cards.
CAL
It's still in the family.
UNCLE FRANK
Yes, that's the way.
He moves on. Others are passing them now. Chaz stops and wags his
finger at Cal.
CHAZ
This time, no funny business.
INT. LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Muffy stand, overlooking the mess. Not knowing exactly where to
begin, she starts emptying ashtrays into each other, then just stops.
She walks out of the living room and through the entry hall and slowly
climbs the stairs.
EXT. SOUND � DAY
From far away the ferry can be seen chugging away, slowly returning to
the mainland.
EXT. FERRY - DAY
closer now we can see what's happening on board... Rob and Skip lean
against the rail and talk quietly. Kit and Arch and Buck sit together
and chat... Chaz sits alone, and Nikki sits apart from him, also
alone.
Nan is up front, gazing out over the bow, while Harvey stands beside
her trying to make conversation. Finally, he gives up and strolls to
the back of the craft, pointedly passing Nikki.
He alights next to Uncle Frank, who has his briefcase open on his lap.
Now Nikki stands and goes and sits down next to Chaz.
CHAZ
(BEAT)
Feeling better?
NIKKI
(QUIETLY)
I'm okay now, thanks.
Pause.
NIKKI
Chaz, I'm sorry.
CHAZ
Why? What do we mean to each other anyway?
NIKKI
More than this a couple of days ago.
CHAZ
(SMILES SADLY)
A couple of days ago... A couple of days ago I was a great, young,
budding filmmaker who was going to turn pornography into high art.
Today I'm just a stupid college kid with a toy camera and about as
much idea as where he's going as... as...
He gives up.
NIKKI
(TENDERLY)
Don't be down.
CHAZ
Sure.
Pause.
NIKKI
I'll tell you what I've learned from all this. I'm tired of having one
fling after another. I don't want any more of that. I want a
boyfriend.
(BEAT)
Chaz? Will you be my boyfriend?
He looks at her, slowly softening. Yes, he will.
Rob turns away from Skip now, steps over and surveys the quiet group.
ROB
Some party, huh?
ARCH
(REFLECTIVELY)
You know what I think's weird?... how, when we thought 'Buck here got
hurt because of Skip's prank, and when things started happening and we
thought maybe some of us were getting killed, how we all just kind of
naturally accepted the fact that it was 'oh , yeah, sure, because of
the prank.'
SKIP
(FROWNS)
What're you talking about?
ARCH
Well, it's like pranks really piss people off. It unleashes things,
you know? Makes any kind of behavior possible, and we accept it.
NIKKI
When anything g.oes, everything goes.
CHAZ
Yeah.
ROB
What really amazes me is how easy we made it for her. Everyone was
just out for himself. We could've stopped Muffy cold if we'd only
stuck together, if we'd only worked like a team.
CHAZ
Yeah, she really got us good.
SKIP
Well, I know what I'd do, if I wasn't her brother...
NIKKI
(almost without thinking)
Go back and give her a taste of her own medicine, that's what we
should do.
Nikki steps. Leeks up, hearing herself. Skip returns the stare.
SKIP
(shrugs, smiling)
Did I say anything?
The others look at each other, a beat, registering.
ARCH
Hey...
CHAZ
Go back and scare the shit outta her for a change? Outrageous!
NIKKI
She sure wouldn't be expecting it...!
HARVEY
(EXCLUDING HIMSELF)
Well, I don't know. I got a stack o' books this high...
ROB
(stepping into the fray)
Harvey's right.
(to them all)
Look, what're you talking about? We've had our fun. Now we got work to
do.
ARCH
Yeah. Enough's enough. At least for me anyway.
CHAZ
Pussies.
KIT
Well, I kinda like the idea -- and I don't have work to get back to.
She squares her shoulders.
ROB
(looks up, in surprise)
Kit...
KIT
(DECIDEDLYL
Muffy can dish it out. It might be interesting to see if she can take
it.
CHAZ
All right! A real catfight!
ROB
(open-mouthed at her)
I don't believe you...
KIT
(PROVOCATIVELY)
Just because you've decided to get serious about your life, doesn't
mean the rest of us can't have our fun
NIKKI
(whoops, turning)
Buck, got any spare professional tricks you could throw our way!
Buck looks up, confused, only now plugging in.
KIT
So how many does that make us?
SKIP
(EXCLUDING HIMSELF)
Much as I'd like to...
NAN
(GENTEELLY)
No, I don't think so, thank you.
Nikki continues count. Rob makes it easy for her.
ROB
(EMPHATICALLY)
Four.
He meets Kit's stare squarely, giving her time to change her mind. But
Kit smiles back, victorious.
CHAZ
(one of the four)
Outasight!
KIT
Cal, we want to get back to the island.
FERRYMAN
Now? You just left
KIT
I know.
FERRYMAN
[PONDERING)
...Well, not in this...
(SMILES SLIGHTLY)
...but you might find something around after we dock.
EXT. LANDING - MAINLAND - DAY
The big ferry drifts into the slip, and the passengers begin to
disembark.
INT. MUFFY'S BEDROOM - HOUSE - DAY
The phone on the bedstand RINGS. Muffy answers it on the second ring.
MUFFY
(SLEEPILY)
H'lo?
INTERCUT WITH:
EXT. LANDING - DAY
Skip is talking on a pay phone.
SKIP
(CHEERILY)
Hi, it's me. Surprise.
MUFFY
(grumpily, stirring)
What'd you forget now?
SKIP
Nothing. Just calling to tell you the party's not over.
She moans.
MUFFY
I know. The clean-up's going to take Clara and me at least a week.
SKIP
No, I mean, some of the gang's planning on coming back to give you
some of your own medicine.
CU MUFFY
Coming awake.
MUFFY
You're kidding.
SKIP
Does a bear shit in the woods?
MUFFY
Those bastards...
SKIP
Hey, they're your friends.
MUFFY
Which ones?
SKIP
That wouldn't be very sporting if I told you, would it?
MUFFY
(INSISTENT)
Skip...
SKIP
Rob and Kit and Nikki and Chaz.
MUFFY
Figures... Thanks.
SKIP
Well, Uncle Frank told me about his recommendations. So, I didn't want
you to think there were any hard feelings.
MUFFY
(AFFECTIONATELY)
Oh, Skip, you dope. You know Daddy'll come around just as soon as you
decide to buckle down.
SKIP
Yeah...
(BEAT)
Anyway, don't let the bastards eat you up.
MUFFY
I'll try not to act too surprised when they arrive.
SKIP
I love you, Sis.
MUFFY
You too, goofball.
Skip hangs up.
ARCH (O.S.)
Asshole.
SKIP
I beg your pardon?
ANGLE WIDENS to include Arch, who has been standing beside Skip
the entire time.
ARCH
It was even your idea.
SKIP
A petty consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
ARCH
Bullshit. St. John blood is thicker than water, that's what you mean.
SKIP
(ARCHLY SARCASTIC)
Don't you know? Old money sticks together.
Arch goes to his car and drives away.
At some distance, Harvey is �chasing down Uncle Frank as the latter
closes in on his Mercedes sedan.
HARVEY
Well, can I look you up in a couple of months? Maybe you could arrange
a job interview for me.
UNCLE FRANK
Sure, sure .
(reaches into his pocket)
Here's my card.
HARVEY
(TAKING IT)
Thank you, sir. Thanks a lot. I sure appreciate it, and it's been a
real pleasure meeting you.
But Uncle Frank is already in the car and starting it up. Harvey looks
down at the card.
CLOSE UP - UNCLE FRANK'S BUSINESS CARD
It reads simply: Franklin St. John, St. John et Freres.
BACK TO SCENE
HARVEY
Hey, wait a minute! There's no phone number here! No address! No
nothing!
Too late. Uncle Frank is driving away. He speeds past Skip who is
walking down the road further along. He doesn't even stop for his own
nephew.
Harvey kicks the dirt angrily. O.S. behind him a horn toots. Harvey
turns and scowls at Nan, who would like to get past. He steps aside,
and she peels away but she stops for Skip.
They exchange a few words. Then he climbs into the front seat beside
her, and she drives off.
Now Harvey is alone. He looks around for a beat, then tosses the card
away and moves toward his car.
EXT. SHORELINE - LATE AFTERNOON
Rob and Chaz are trudging along.
CHAZ
What the fuck was he talking about anyway? We might find something
around after we dock?
They walk out onto a private peer and eye the boats moored there.
ROB
What the fuck do you think he was talking about?
CHAZ
Oh.
VOICE (O.S.)
Hey! What are you two doing down there?!
Rob and Chaz look o.s. in response to the voice.
EXT. SHORELINE - FURTHER ALONG - LATER
Still trudging.
CHAZ
Well, now we've been identified.
ROB
Swell.
CHAZ
It's getting late.
ROB
What a great idea this was.
They round a bend and stop dead.
THEIR POV
In the distance, Kit and Nikki are climbing into a boat. Nikki sees
them and waves.
NIKKI
(CALLING}
We got one!
Rob and Chaz.
ROB
I thought we looked there an hour ago.
CHAZ
Who cares? Let's get this show on the road!
He starts running to the boat. Rob reluctantly follows.
CHAZ
(calling back to them)
Did you find a key? How're we going to get the motor started?
EXT. BACK OF THE HOUSE - SUNSET
The house stands quiet, the dying rays of sunlight reflected off the
large bay windows overlooking the sound.
EXT. THE SOUND - DUSK
as, huddled together in a rowboat, Chaz, Nikki, Rob and Kit arduously
make their way back to the island.
INT . FRONT ENTRY - NIGHT
Looking at the front door. Someone is visible through the translucent
glass pane coming up to the door.
A knocking sound.
INT. VARIOUS SHOTS AROUND THE HOUSE - SAME
as o.s. the knocking continues. No sign of Muffy.
INT. FRONT ENTRY
Muffy finally emerges from the study, crosses to the door and opens
it. Nikki walks in.
NIKKI
(AWKWARDLY)
Muffy, hi! Surprise!
MUFFY
Nikki, what on earth are you doing here? Is something wrong?
NIKKI
No, no, nothing's wrong. Chaz and I just figured there was nothing we
had to get back to that couldn't wait and you could probably use a
hand with the clean-up. It's our way of saying thank you.
MUFFY
Oh, great. Where is Chaz?
Nikki is already moving into the living room.
NIKKI
Putting the boat up in the old boathouse. He'll be up in a minute.
EXT. DOCK AND BOAT HOUSE � NIGHT
Nobody around and no sign of a boat...
EXT. FRONT OF THE HOUSE - NIGHT
...still and waiting
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Muffy and Nikki are seated across from each other.
NIKKI
I wonder what's keeping Chaz? He should have been up here by now.
MUFFY
Maybe he stopped to shit in the woods. You know Chaz.
NIKKI
Still... I'm beginning to not like this.
MUFFY
By the way, where did you get the boat to come back here?
NIKKI
The boat? Oh, Cal gave us one.
MUFFY
I see.
PAUSE.
NIKKI
Listen, I need a drink of water.
(RISING)
You just stay here. I can get it myself.
She walks out of the living room. Muffy looks after her and smiles to
herself.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
as Nikki enters. She doesn't turn on any lights, but simply crosses to
one of the kitchen windows and opens it.
She gazes out into the night for a moment, then backs out of
the kitchen...
INT. DINING ROM - NIGHT
...pulling the swinging door closed behind her. She turns, takes two
steps toward the living room and stops; remembering her water.
She goes back to the kitchen door, but suddenly it will not open for
her. Frustrated, she heads back through the dining room, but stops
dead halfway across and turns slowly and looks back at the kitchen
door. She goes out of the dining room...
INT . DOWNSTAIRS HALL - SAME
...and walks up to the other door into the kitchen. It too it's closed
and will not yield.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
as Nikki returns.
MUFFY
What about your water?
NIKKL
Oh', uh, I drank 'it in there.
(BEAT)
Listen. Muffy , I'm really getting worried about Chaz. I think we
should go out and see what's happened.
MUFFY
That's okay. You go. I'll wait here.
NIKKI
No, really. I don't want to go alone. I'm still scared from last
night. Please come with me.
MUFFY
I'm sure Chaz is fine. I'll stay here by the phone just in case. It's
safer this way.
(BEAT)
Do you want a flashlight?
NIKKI
(IRRITATED)
No, that's okay. I'll be fine.
She strides out of the living room.
EXT. HOUSE - SAME
as Nikki comes out the front door and heads off into the woods.
NIKKI
(MUTTERING)
Shit.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Muffy sits quietly a moment, thinking. Then she gets up and goes
toward the kitchen.
INT. DOWNSTAIRS HALL -
She comes to the kitchen door, pushes it open... no sweat... and enters.
INT . KITCHEN - SAME
Muffy doesn't turn any lights on either. She goes to the sink, sees
that there is no used water glass, then' she notices the open window.
She smiles.
She does get herself a bottle of Perrier out of the fridge, opens it,
pours it and walks back out of the kitchen, leaving the window
untouched.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Nikki stumbles through the darkness. Suddenly she disappears from view
with a loud SPLASH.
NIKKI
Fuck!
She comes up sputtering to the surface of a small forest pool she has
fallen into.
NIKKI
Fuck!! Who dug the goddamn swimming pool?!?
She drags herself out.
KIT (o.s.)
Nikki?
NIKKI
(CALLING BACK)
Yeah!
She walks, dripping wet, into a clearing nearby where Kit it making
Chaz up to look bloody and gruesome.
NIKKI .
We have to go to plan B.
CHAZ
She wouldn't come out? Doesn't she care about me?
No one answers him.
CHAZ (cont.)
How do I look?
NIKKI
A lot goddamn, fucking better than I do!
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
No one is here as' Rob pops his head up outside and slips in through
the open window.
He stops in the middle of the kitchen and listens. Then he
goes into...
INT. DOWNSTAIRS HALL - SAME
He creeps down the hall, then turns and starts to tiptoe up the
back stairs.
CAMERA DOLLIES further down the hall to...
INT. FRONT ENTRY - SAME
...just as Nikki bursts in through the door.
NIKKI ,
Muffy! Muffy! Come quick! It's Chaz...
INT . LIVING ROOM - SAME
NIKKI
(RUNNING IN)
...he's hurt! Oh, Godl!
She stops suddenly. Muffy isn't here. Frustrated, Nikki runs
back into...
INT. FRONT ENTRY - SAME
She looks around.
NIKKI
Muffy!!
She dashes into...
INT. STUDY - SAME
NIKKI
Muff--!!!
...and stops short. Muffy is lying face down in a pool of blood. Her
throat's been cut. The useless phone receiver is clutched in her hand
(making that constant phone company noise that lets you know the phone
is off the hook).
NIKKI
(RISING PANIC)
Muffy?
Her throat gags a couple of times, as if she is about to be sick. She
turns and flies out of the room.
O.S. the front door slams shut behind her.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
NIKKI (O.S,)
(HYSTERICAL)
Chaz!! Chaz!!
She runs into another clearing (the CAMERA has been here waiting for
her) where Chaz is revealed lying on the ground, looking much more
hideous than Muffy.
NIKKI
Chaz, get up! �Hurry, Chaz!... come on!
He doesn't move.
NIKKI
Chaz, stop playing around! Get up!!
She starts kicking him in the side.
NIKKI
Chaz!
Chaz doesn't stir, but he does speak now without moving his lips.
CHAZ
(hissing, pretending to be dead)
Will you quit kicking me? It hurts.
NIKKI
It's supposed to hurt! The game's over! Get up!
CHAZ
(still not moving)
No. I'm dead. You're blowing the whole thing. Where's Muffy?
NIKKI
(SHRIEKING)
Muffy IS dead!!! In the house!!!
(WHIMPERING)
Oh, God...
CHAZ
(sitting up suddenly)
What?
NIKKI
(turning to the woods)
Kit! Kit, come out!
There is rustling O.S., then Kit starts to emerge.
KIT
What's going on?
INT. STUDY - SAME
Muffy is still lying face down as we saw her last. She hears footsteps
going upstairs.
INT. ATTIC - SAME
Rob is creeping up the attic stairs when he hears footsteps o.s. too.
He pauses, his face draining of color.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
as Chaz, Nikki and Kit come racing up to the door and run inside.
INT. STUDY - SAME
as they come charging in...
NIKKI
She's gone!
Nothing left, but the pool of blood and a thin trail of smeared drying
blood to indicate that she's been dragged away.
KIT
What?...
CHAZ
Look, she's been dragged away.
NIKKI
(PANICKING)
Chaz! somebody's still in this house!
CHAZ
We could follow the trail.
KIT
(DREAD)
Oh, no... what about Rob?
(HALF BEAT)
Rob!!
She races out of the study.
INT. ATTIC - NIGHT
The three of them come clambering up the stairs, Kit in the lead. They
turn a corner. Then they see him... dead on the floor.
KIT
Rob...?
They run over to him.
KIT
(dropping to her knees)
Rob? Rob??
(shaking him: wailing)
Rob!!!
(dissolving into tears)
It was only a game!
CHAZ
(SCARED SHITLESS)
What the fuck is going on here?!
NIKKI
(POINTING)
Chaz, look!
Clutched in Rob's lifeless hand is a leather bookmark we may have
noticed before. Chaz slips it out from beneath his fingers.
CHAZ
(DAZED)
This was Nan's...
NIKKI
(TREMBLING)
Nan...
Suddenly there is a loud KNOCK beneath them O.S. They all look up.
Someone is coming slowly up the stairs, the loud footsteps O.S.that
could only be made by a heavy boot, thundering closer... and closer...
Kit and Nikki and Chaz huddle around Rob's body and await their
approaching doom.
Suddenly a dark figure fills the doorframe at the top of the stairs. A
hand with a knife is raised. �Nikki screams. Chaz spies a lamp on the
floor. He turns it on...
NIKKI
Muffy!
Muffy walks into the room , lowering the knife.
MUFFY
Good job, you guys. I'm really scared.
(LOOKING DOWN)
The fun's over, Rob.
KIT
(tears in her eyes)
Muffy, he's dead!
NIKKI
Somebody else is here! In this house!
MUFFY
Sure. Sure.
(BENDING OVER)
Let's see if the dead are ticklish, shall we?
KIT
(pulling her away; screaming)
Don't you touch him!!
MUFFY
Okay, okay, take it easy.
NIKKI
Muffy, it's not a game anymore!
Just then there is a loud CRASH o.s. of glass breaking down on the
first floor. After the slightest pause there is another crash o.s.,
and another...
Someone is smashing in all the bay windows along the back porch. Nikki
screams.
MUFFY
(ALARMED)
What the--?
And she runs back down the attic stairs, followed quickly by the
others.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - SAME
as Muffy bursts out of the stairway and into the hall. Then
Kit.
Suddenly the door to the stairwell slams shut on Nikki and Chaz
cutting them off. A key turns in the lock. Muffy and Kit turn back to
see a male figure in the darkness who'd been hiding behind the door.
Kit is nearest to him, and without warning, he lunges at her and
buries a knife into her stomach �up to the handle.
Kit screams and chokes, trying to fight him off: but he stabs her
again, and again and again, plunging the knife deep into her with
every thrust.
KIT
Muffy! Stop him! Help! He's killing me! Oh, God! He's killing me!
Muffy, initially paralyzed with fear, now runs for her life, down the
hallway, down the stairs...
INT. ENTRY HALL - SAME
...and to the front door as Kit's screams O.S. fade to silence. Muffy
yanks on the door handle, but the door will not open. She pulls again
and again desperately, but it won't budge,
She turns and runs out of the entry hall. Just as she CLEARS FRAME,
the front door swings silently open...
INT. DOWNSTAIRS HALLWAY - SAME
Muffy is racing past the back stairs toward the kitchen when A HAND
reaches out from the pantry and hooks her around the face.
She is pulled backward, screaming, through the swinging door into the
darkened pantry.
INT. PANTRY � SAME
It is Skip!
He pulls her head back, exposing her throat. He raises a knife to it,
still stained with Kit's blood.
SKIP
(RAVING)
It's all over, Muffy! Everything'll be mine!
MUFFY
Skip! No! ! !
He makes a move to slit her throat, when Muffy kicks open
the swinging door and sees...
HER POV
...standing on the other side, smiling, in various states of fake
blood and mess... Rob, Kit, Nikki, Chaz and Nan. Muffy's eyes pop out.
Skip's hands relax. And the others burst out laughing.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXT. THE HOUSE � DAY
CLOSE UP
A SIGN being lifted into the air. It reads:
APRIL BAY LODGE
Just Another Country Inn
Proprietors: St. John et Frere
PULL BACK to see Muffy supervising the raising of the sign in front of
the house, while Skip drives up in the van, bringing the first
customers to the door.
