Gothika Page #10

She looks down the long, empty corridor, the glare ofneon lights making her readjust her eyes momentarily.

Nobody there. But when she looks down the other way shesees a pair of bare feet disappear behind the wall. So

quick we're not sure we saw it for sure.

Miranda deliberately walks in the opposite direction.

At night the clinical corridor takes on an unsettlingquality. She silently strolls down the hall, tilting herhead at the various sounds from PATIENTS in their cells.

She turns to make sure Rachel isn't behind her and when

Miranda faces forward again, she realizes she is standingright across from:

THE NURSES' STATION

Where two nurses are watching TELEVISION. Miranda tiptoespast them, ducking at the window to remain unseen.

ANOTHER CORRIDOR

This one is wider. Miranda is startled by the suddensound of LAUGHTER behind her. The nurses laughing attheir late night show. Momentarily distracted, shealmost knocks over a mop and bucket resting by the wall.

She holds the mop in place and now opens the door to aSANITATION CLOSET.

(CONTINUED)

53.

CONTINUED:

She looks for something, a tool. Discards a pair ofbrushes and finds a small screwdriver. Pockets it.

THE STAIRS:

Miranda hurries up the stairs, hugging the wall to stayclear from the SURVEILLANCE CAMERA sweeping the area.

She waits at the landing, times it just right -- andscurries to the next floor.

INT. WOODWARD CORRIDOR (OFFICE FLOOR) - CONTINUOUSACTION

Knowing her way around here, Miranda keeps a steady paceas she heads towards her old office. She turns a corner

and stops in her tracks: another JANITOR making hisrounds. She waits until he's out of sight and rushes toher office.

She pulls out the stolen screwdriver and brings it to thelock. Starts unscrewing the screws. She does this as

fast as she can, but she's no professional -- so it takesa few tries. She loosens one screw, then another -- and

clumsily drops the screwdriver. The METAL ECHOES againstthe floor.

Miranda sucks her breath in, waits. No footsteps. She

bends down, retrieves it, and holds onto the knob for

balance. It easily turns in her hand. It was open allalong. She simply forgot to check.

INT. MIRANDA'S OFFICE

Miranda shuts the door behind her and slips behind her

computer. Shrouded in darkness. Hits a switch and a

SURVEILLANCE MONITOR comes to life. Now she has a view

of the corridors: two guards here, a nurse going for asmoke, a janitor at the coffee machine and so on.

She switches on her computer and taps her fingers as shewaits for it to boot up.

ON SURVEILLANCE MONITOR

The JANITOR with his coffee cup now heading back towardsMiranda's office corridor -

(CONTINUED)

54.

CONTINUED:

Miranda glances at the door, can see the glare of thecomputer screen reflecting against the glass pane. She

tries opening drawers but they're all locked. She

remembers something and digs a sweatshirt from beneaththe couch, uses it to block the light.

Computer powered up, she runs an online search for"RACHEL PARSONS." Waits as the info appears -

MIRANDA:

(to self)

Alright. What happened to you?

ON COMPUTER SCREEN

Various listings: The archive news of her funeral,

something about her search and a LOCAL NEWS ARTICLE aboutteen suicide. That's the one she chooses. Hits "PRINT."

She checks the surveillance monitor again: the janitornow mops right outside her door.

ON PRINTOUT:

The heading says "WHAT DRIVES OUR TEENAGERS TO SUICIDE?"

A quick glimpse gives us ages (16, 18, 17) and names ofthree local girls who have died. Rachel's name and

PHOTOGRAPH appears with two others: Jenny Dixon andAndrea White.

Miranda pockets it, looks back at the surveillancemonitor: the janitor is walking away. She watches him

disappear down the hall. Slowly but surely. And now the

screen is empty.

But just for a second. Because suddenly Rachel is there.

Staring straight at her. Makes us jump.

INT. CORRIDOR/STAIRS - MOMENTS LATER

Retracing her steps, Miranda shuts her door and hits thestairs. Playing off the sweep of the surveillance camera.

INT. FEMALE WARD CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS ACTION

As she reaches the landing, she hears VOICES coming her

way. She detours down another corridor and hides from

view. Waits for Consuelo and a nurse to exit down the

staircase.

(CONTINUED)

55.

CONTINUED:

And now she turns at ANOTHER SOUND. Coming from insidethe room immediately behind her. Room 237. She steps tothe small glass pane on the door and peers inside.

INT. ROOM 237

It takes a moment to adjust our eyes to the darkness butnow we make out TWO FIGURES in the room involved in some

sort of struggle.

Miranda presses her face against the glass and now sees aflash of metal. Something sharp. Not a knife, but a needle.

And now a blur of hair yanked up by a strong arm. In the dim

light we can make out Chloe, eyes glazed, drooling.

Just for a beat, because now she is slapped down on thebed like a rag doll and the man with the needle ENTERSFRAME.

INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS ACTION

Miranda flinches, confused. Glances down the corridor to

ensure she remains undiscovered. Then peers back in.

INT. ROOM 237

Chloe on her stomach on the bed. Her pale naked skinmarked with scratches and bruises. The needle is stuck

in her arm, which hangs off the side. Her mouth is openbut it is impossible to tell whether she is laughing orsobbing. Abruptly the man climbs on her, pulling off hisT-shirt.

As he discards it we see that it is yellow.

INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS ACTION

Disturbed, Miranda turns away. Except now the corridorisn't empty. There is a JANITOR at the end. Coffee cupin hand. Staring at her, disconcerted.

JANITOR:

Hey!

Miranda turns and runs.

INT. FEMALE WARD STAIRS

Miranda bolts down the stairs. THUNDERING FOOTSTEPS and

YELLS can be heard right behind her.

56.

INT. FEMALE WARD THIRD FLOOR

Miranda races down the empty floor towards an emergencyexit door all the way at the end.

TWO ORDERLIES emerge from the staircase and give chase,

shouting for her to stop. PATIENTS holler from their

cells, awakened by the COMMOTION.

Miranda's heart is nearly bursting through her chest asshe gets closer and closer to the emergency door. Twentyfeet, fifteen, ten -

When a side door opens and a MAN IN A YELLOW SHIRTappears, blocking her path. Miranda tries to avoid

crashing into him but carries too much momentum. Veers

left against the wall but the man easily tackles her andpins her down.

The orderlies and an nurse arrive at the scene to find

her screaming, hysterical. They hold her down -

MIRANDA:

It's him! It's him! Jesus

Christ, it's him!

The man in the yellow shirt acts as if he has no ideawhat she's talking about. Ho-hum, just another psychotic

woman trying to escape. A nurse prepares a needle and

we -FADE

OUT.

FADE IN:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

TRACKING ALONG a long desk where the staff finish theirmorning meeting. Parsons, Pete and Irene among others.

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