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Talking in the Dark

Page 3

by Dennis Etchison


  What in the world is wrong with that man?

  WALT

  Sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns.

  JOLENE

  Horses don’t have horns, Walt.

  WALT

  You’re too much woman for him is all.

  JOLENE

  Oh, you. . .

  SOUND

  THE DINER’S PHONE RINGS.

  WALT CROSSES TO ANSWER IT.

  WALT

  (off) Blue and White. Nope. Hold on.

  (calling to Jolene) He comin’ back?

  JOLENE

  Why?

  WALT

  Phone call for Victor Rippon. That his name?

  JOLENE

  Who is it?

  WALT

  (into phone) Who’s – hello? You still there?

  SOUND

  THE FAINT HUM OF A DIAL TONE.

  WALT

  Must notta been important. They hung up.

  MUSIC

  CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

  THRU TO:

  EPISODE SCORE.

  FADE DOWN.

  SOUND

  INT. – JAMES’S AND LORI’S HOUSE.

  [NOTE: WHAT FOLLOWS IS AN ALTERNATE VERSION OF THE FIRST SCENE IN THIS SCRIPT. THE SAME SETTING AND ACTORS AS BEFORE – BUT THIS TIME THE TONE IS MUCH DARKER AND MORE OMINOUS.] RAIN OUTSIDE + THUNDER (CONTINUING).

  SOUND (cont’d)

  A KEY IN THE FRONT DOOR. THE DOOR OPENS AND JAMES ENTERS, THE STORM MOMENTARILY LOUDER. HE ALMOST SLAMS THE DOOR SHUT BEHIND HIM.

  JAMES

  (calling, irritated) Lori?

  SOUND

  HE CROSSES AND FLINGS HIS KEYS ONTO A TABLE.

  JAMES

  Where the hell are you?

  LORI

  James?

  SOUND

  A PEAL OF THUNDER OUTSIDE.

  JAMES

  Why’s it so dark in here?

  LORI

  Is it? I didn’t notice.

  JAMES

  You don’t notice much, do you? Turn on the lamp. (impatient) Oh, for – I’ll get it.

  JAMES

  HE CROSSES AND CLICKS A LAMP.

  LORI

  Did you have another meeting?

  JAMES

  Don’t give me the third degree. I warned you when we got married. It goes with the territory.

  LORI

  Well, you’re here now. That’s all that matters. Have you eaten yet?

  JAMES

  I grabbed some crap on the way.

  LORI

  You should have called, so I could make dinner. I can whip something up, if you like.

  SOUND

  (OFF) FROM DOWN THE HALL: THE TWO BOYS IN THE BATHROOM, GIGGLING AND SPLASHING.

  JAMES

  What are those brats doing now?

  LORI

  Taking their bath.

  JAMES

  They take more baths than anybody I’ve ever seen. It’s not natural.

  LORI

  At least they’re clean. You should be grateful.

  JAMES

  (dripping sarcasm) Oh, I am. You wouldn’t believe how grateful. Before you came along, I had all the peace and quiet I wanted. Sometimes I wonder. What I did I do to deserve you three?

  LORI

  You’re the best thing that ever happened to us, James. I knew it the day we met. By the river, remember?

  JAMES

  You bet I do. I should have drowned the three of you right then and there. I’d be better off.

  LORI

  (about to cry) Oh, James. . .

  SOUND

  SHE STARTS TO WALK AWAY.

  JAMES

  Aren’t you forgetting something?

  LORI

  I have to see to the boys.

  JAMES

  Single malt, on the rocks.

  LORI

  (sighing) Yes, sir.

  SOUND

  LORI STOPS TO POUR HIM A DRINK, ADDS ICE CUBES AND BRINGS IT TO HIM.

  JAMES

  (drinking) That’s more like it.

  LORI

  (with self-control) Anything else?

  JAMES

  Yeah. A new life.

  LORI

  (trying) You’ve had a hard day. Why don’t you turn in? I’ll put the boys to bed.

  SOUND

  SHE STARTS OUT OF THE ROOM AGAIN.

  JAMES

  Little bastards.

  LORI

  James, please. You’ve been under a lot of pressure. I understand that. . .

  JAMES

  Do you?

  LORI

  I have an idea. Why don’t we – take a vacation? Just the two of us. We could leave the boys at my sister’s. . .

  SOUND

  THUNDER OUTSIDE.

  GIGGLING AND SPLASHING FROM THE BATHROOM.

  TAD

  (off, sing-song) Ma-ma. . . we’re read-y. . .

  RAY

  (off) We need you!

  JAMES

  I have a better idea.

  SOUND

  JAMES STARTS OUT OF THE ROOM.

  LORI

  Where are you going?

  JAMES

  Should have been done long ago.

  SOUND

  HE MOVES OFF, WALKING AWAY DOWN THE HALL. WE HEAR THE BATHROOM DOOR OPENING.

  JAMES

  (off) What’s going on in here?

  RAY

  (off, innocently) Nothing. . .

  TAD

  (off) We were just playing.

  JAMES

  (off) Oh, you were, were you?

  SOUND

  (OFF) THE BATHROOM DOOR CLOSES FIRMLY.

  LORI

  (calling, close to mic) James?

  SOUND

  (off) WATER SPLASHING IN THE TUB.

  TAD

  (off, fearful) Daddy. . .?

  RAY

  (off, fearful) Daddy, stop!

  JAMES

  (off) You’re no sons of mine.

  SOUND

  THE SPLASHING INCREASES.

  TAD & RAY

  (beginning to scream) No. . . no. . .!

  LORI

  James!

  SOUND

  WE FOLLOW HER AS SHE RUNS DOWN THE HALL.

  THE SPLASHING AND SCREAMING LOUDER – THEN WEAKER AS SHE OPENS THE BATHROOM DOOR.

  INT. – BATHROOM.

  LORI BURSTS IN. THE SPLASHES GROW WEAK. THE SCREAMS NOW ONLY GURGLES.

  LORI

  (horrified) What are you doing?

  JAMES

  Playing a little game.

  LORI

  Let go of them!

  JAMES

  I wanna see how long they can hold their breath.

  LORI

  You monster! You’re killing them!

  SOUND

  SHE STRUGGLES WITH HIM. BLOWS. GLASS BREAKS.

  JAMES

  Go on, take your best shot. Won’t do any good now.

  LORI

  I’m calling the police!

  JAMES

  Too late for that. It’s over.

  LORI

  (as he chokes her) Let go. . .!

  JAMES

  Don’t you get it? I’m onto you!

  LORI

  You’re choking me. . .!

  JAMES

  (straining as he strangles her) Stop faking. You’re not human. You’re straight from Hell!

  LORI

  You’re insane. . .!

  JAMES

  You were going to leave me. . . and take it all! Weren’t you! I don’t have a choice!

  SOUND

  HER CRIES CHOKED OFF AS SHE PASSES OUT. THEN A LARGER SPLASH AS HE DROPS HER IN THE TUB.

  JAMES

  There. Now. . . I’ll drag the three of you down to the river. An accident. That’s what they’ll say. Or maybe – you drowned them. And yourself. Sure. You were depressed. The house was empty when I got here. Perfect!

  SOUND

  THUNDER CLAPS.

  CUT OFF SUDD
ENLY BY:

  THE LOUD RINGING OF A TELEPHONE CLOSE TO MIC.

  SOUND (cont’d)

  INT. – VICTOR’S HOUSE.

  HE FUMBLES THE RECEIVER OUT OF THE CRADLE.

  VICTOR

  (groggy) Hello?

  REX

  (filtered) Victor?

  VICTOR

  Yeah. . .

  REX

  Something wrong?

  VICTOR

  Uh, I was just – I must have fallen asleep. I was reading.

  REX

  You were, huh? Anything good?

  VICTOR

  Or. . . no, wait. I was having a dream. First it was the story. But it changed. . .

  REX

  Well, you’re not dreaming now.

  VICTOR

  No. At least I don’t think so. . .

  REX

  Great to get ahold of you, Vic. Finally!

  VICTOR

  Who is this?

  REX

  Well just who do you think? It’s Rex! Rex Christian!

  MUSIC

  EPISODE SCORE.

  FADE DOWN.

  ANNOUNCER

  We’ll return to Dread Time Stories. . . after this.

  COMMERCIAL BREAK

  MUSIC

  THEME.

  ANNOUNCER

  And now back to our story. . . “Talking in

  MUSIC

  THEME.

  FADE THRU TO:

  SOUND

  INT. – VICTOR’S HOUSE – AS BEFORE.

  VICTOR

  Who?

  REX

  (filtered) I told you! I got your letter.

  VICTOR

  You did?

  REX

  I was passing through, and I thought I’d take you up on your invite. Hope you don’t mind the short notice.

  VICTOR

  If this is some kind of joke. . .

  REX

  It’s no joke, believe me. Listen – I’ll hit your town in about, oh, say an hour? I was wondering. Are you free tonight, by any chance?

  VICTOR

  Uh, I guess so. I mean –

  REX

  You live alone, right?

  VICTOR

  Right.

  REX

  Anybody coming over? For the holidays and all?

  VICTOR

  Nobody ever comes here.

  REX

  Perfect. Oh and do one thing for me?

  VICTOR

  Sure – Rex. Anything.

  REX

  Don’t mention this to a soul. ’Cause

  I’m traveling incognito. You don’t know

  REX (cont’d)

  how it is when the word gets around.

  People gather like flies.

  VICTOR

  They do? I mean – I bet they do.

  REX

  Thanks, Vic. I knew you’d understand.

  See you in sixty!

  MUSIC

  EPISODE SCORE.

  THRU TO:

  SOUND

  VICTOR’S BUSY FOOTSTEPS IN THE HOUSE.

  BOXES AND FURNITURE SLIDING. POTS AND PANS. A FAUCET HISSING WATER.

  NARRATOR

  He spent the next hour straightening up. By the time he heard the car outside, he was in a panic. This couldn’t be happening. Could it?

  SOUND

  (FROM OUTSIDE) A CAR DRIVING OVER CRUNCHNG DIRT, PASSING, AND STOPPING AT A DISTANCE.

  THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF.

  VICTOR

  (to himself) That’s him! What do I do?

  What do I say?

  SOUND

  (FROM OUTSIDE) FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING. THEN A METAL DOOR KNOCKER ON THE WOODEN DOOR (SLIGHT REVERB). VICTOR HURRIES TO OPEN IT.

  REX

  (cheerful) Vic?

  VICTOR

  Yes. . .?

  REX

  Well, put ’er there, pal! How’s it hangin’?

  MUSIC

  EPISODE SCORE.

  FADE THRU TO:

  SOUND

  A CRACKLING FIREPLACE.

  NARRATOR

  They sat by the fireplace. Rex was shorter than he expected, a small man, dwarfed by a long overcoat. Victor hardly knew what to say. But that was all right. Rex seemed to be in charge of the dialog.

  VICTOR

  Do you want to take your coat off?

  REX

  Don’t worry about me, Vic.

  VICTOR

  Sorry about the mess.

  REX

  Are you kidding? This is perfect.

  VICTOR

  It is?

  REX

  The furniture – all of it.

  VICTOR

  My folks saved everything. I should put it in storage.

  REX

  Why? It’s great! Look at that wall. Souvenirs, medals. . . That your dad’s picture?

  VICTOR

  Yeah. He was in the Infantry.

  REX

  The rifle’s a classic.

  VICTOR

  Prob’ly doesn’t even work anymore.

  REX

  And the sword. . .

  VICTOR

  My grand-dad’s. From World War Two. He brought it back from Okinawa. I can’t just throw it away.

  REX

  Why should you? Nobody could think up details like that.

  VICTOR

  You could.

  REX

  Not on your life. I only write what I know.

  SOUND

  EMPTY BEER BOTTLES SET DOWN ON A TABLE.

  VICTOR

  I’ll get a couple more beers.

  REX

  Not for me.

  VICTOR

  You sure?

  REX

  One’s plenty. I like to keep a clear head. So I can remember it all.

  VICTOR

  I guess you have to. So you can – describe things. When you write.

  REX

  Bingo. And not just things. People. The way they look, how they talk – that’s my bread and butter. So. . . this is where my biggest fan lives!

  VICTOR

  Pretty far out of the way for you.

  REX

  Not a problem. It’s worth it.

  VICTOR

  It is?

  REX

  More than you know.

  VICTOR

  Did you. . . have any trouble finding the place? Not much of a road.

  REX

  No, no. I planned it out in advance. On the map.

  VICTOR

  You did?

  REX

  All part of the trip.

  VICTOR

  Are you on vacation?

  REX

  Not me. I don’t take time off.

  VICTOR

  How come?

  REX

  A writer’s work is never done.

  VICTOR

  Oh, I get it. You’re on your way to sign books. At bookstores. We don’t have any good ones around here. You have to go to the city for that. Where you headed? Portland? Seattle? If I’da known, I’da closed the shop so I could be there.

  REX

  Would you really.

  VICTOR

  Heck, yeah.

  REX

  Well, you can relax. I don’t do bookstores.

  VICTOR

  You don’t?

  REX

  Too many people.

  VICTOR

  (trying to understand) Really?

  REX

  The wrong kind of people. The ones who show up out of curiosity. To kill time.

  VICTOR

  Then your trip’s not for – publicity?

  REX

  No way.

  VICTOR

  So then why –?

  REX

  You might say this is part of my. . . research.

  VICTOR

  You must do a lot of that.

  REX

  Whatever it takes to get what I need. I go on a trip like this every year. Rent a car, visit people around the country. I like to s
urprise them. My real fans.

  VICTOR

  Bet you have plenty.

  REX

  A few. It’s my way of paying them back.

  VICTOR

  You have a secretary?

  REX

  What for?

  VICTOR

  All the letters. You prob’ly get a ton.

  REX

  I open every one myself.

  VICTOR

  You do?

 

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