Gothika Page #16

Sheriff Ryan leans out of the other cruiser.

SHERIFF RYAN:

Don't push it, Doctor. She's

cuffed until your people secureher in a cell.

(CONTINUED)

82.

CONTINUED:

Pete sighs, gestures for the officers to bring her in.

Irene and two heavy-duty orderlies will also be part ofthe escort. Miranda locks eyes with Pete as sheapproaches.

PETE:

Are you alright?

MIRANDA:

(quietly)

I was wrong. It wasn't Phil

Parsons. It was Doug.

PETE:

Can we talk about this later?

(to Sheriff)

Thanks, Sheriff.

SHERIFF RYAN:

Tomorrow morning first thing mydeputies are here.

PETE:

I know, I know. We'll see youthen.

SHERIFF RYAN:

And my offer still stands if youneed added security.

PETE:

Thank you. She won't go anywhere.

I guarantee it.

The Sheriff waves, whatever. Knocks twice on the hood

and the officer behind the wheel shifts into drive.

MIRANDA:

That's why Rachel picked me. It

was Doug. I'm so stupid.

Pete regards her now, has no idea what she's going onabout this time. Tries to remain professional.

PETE:

Inside, okay?

INT. CAFETERIA - MOMENTS LATER

Lunch time for the female wing. An excited Shelleyrushes over to a table where Chloe and Jenna are,

whispers something to them. They glance at the door.

(CONTINUED)

83.

CONTINUED:

A moment later, Miranda walks in with her police escort.

Taking her across the cafeteria towards the back door.

An uneasy Pete leads. Irene and the wardens at the rear.

Miranda glances at the women staring at her like aspecimen. Like somehow she's even more dangerous thanthem. Top dog, as it were, of the crazies.

And then, halfway across the room, one of the womenstands up. Chloe. She claps her hands together.

Slowly. Miranda watches her, confused.

Shelly, Jenna and others rise as well.

joining Chloe in clapping.

And slowlyAll of them

PETE:

What is this?

IRENE:

She's a hero. Little Red RidingHood put the big bad wolf in a

coma.

Pete nods. Just what he needed. The OFFICERS trade looks.

OFFICER #1

They're not gonna start something,

are they?

Irene shakes her head, amused.

IRENE:

You ain't scared of a bunch of

women now, are you, Officer?

The entire cafeteria is on their feet showing theirsolidarity for Miranda. Chloe locks eyes with her,

mouths the words "thank you."

And Miranda is hauled out the side door.

INT. MIRANDA'S NEW CELL

White. Surveillance cameras in every corner. Two

separate doors with elaborate locks. High security allaround. The officers undo Miranda's cuffs and excuse

themselves.

Pete gestures for Irene and the Orderlies to leave aswell.

ORDERLY #1

We'll be right outside, Doctor.

(CONTINUED)

84.

CONTINUED:

Once the doors are locked and they're alone, theconversation jumps straight into frustrated high gear:

PETE:

I pulled a lot of strings to getyou transferred back. The best

case scenario you're looking atright now is five years here.

Five. Under my -

MIRANDA:

(interrupting)

Peter, I didn't believe in ghostsbefore this. And neither do you.

Pete is at the end of his rope. Can't hide his sadness

when he looks at her. Still, he tries to get her back ontrack:

PETE:

But you know that the brain isfully capable of tricking you intoseeing all sorts of things. The

simplest chemical deficiencies

can -

MIRANDA:

Chemical deficiencies can't getinside of you and make you doterrible things you don't rememberdoing!

PETE:

I'm a very open-minded person, butas a doctor -

MIRANDA:

No, you're not. You're a close-

minded academic, just like me.

You told me once that I was the

most logical person you knew,

remember? Well, everything that'shappened has an explanation but ithas nothing to do with psychiatryor science. Rachel Parsons was

abducted and she was murdered six

years ago -- tossed off the AshleyBridge by my husband. Myharmless, righteous 'communityleader' husband -- that's how

pathetically blind I've been.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

85.

CONTINUED:

MIRANDA (CONT'D)

Andrea White and Jenny Dixon were

also abducted and murdered -- now

this was before I met Doug but I

bet you anything that they both

went to his school. Then he

obviously stopped for a while:

fear, guilt, distractions -

namely me -- delayed him from

reverting to his sickness. That's

why I didn't notice anything. I

believe he really tried to lead a

normal life, for me. Then along

comes Tracy Seaver and he can't

resist. Locks her up and tortures

her in some abandoned property -

She shows him the crumpled newspaper listing.

MIRANDA:

Here's Doug's interest in real

estate, Pete.

Pete stares at the realty listing for Willows Creek.

MIRANDA:

Rachel Parsons is a pissed-off

ghost with an agenda, furious at

her parents for giving up on

her -- she's been trying to

communicate with them for years

but they're too goddamn logical to

pay attention -- and she picked

me, she sought me out that night

and sent me home to fix her

problem. Made sure I killed Doug

because he was going to do the

same thing to Tracy Seaver as he

did to her. And she will get rid

of anyone who stands in her way.

Pete takes all of this in. Dumbfounded.

PETE:

Is that a threat?

MIRANDA:

To whom?

PETE:

To me.

(CONTINUED)

86.

CONTINUED:

MIRANDA:

To you? I'm telling you shenearly electrocuted me when Itried to leave town and she led me

to that barn and if I don't do

what she wants -- she's going tokill me.

Pete can see that she's petrified. He starts to speak,

but she hushes him by gently placing her finger on hislips. The gesture is tender, almost romantic. A

reminder of their very real connection.

MIRANDA:

I need you to at least considerthe possibility that I'm notinsane.

(beat; pleading)

Not as a doctor. As the onlyperson I trust in this world.

EXT. NEWCASTLE COMMUNITY BANK PARKING LOT - DAY

A tense Phil and Dorothy Parsons in their parked car.

DOROTHY:

I'm not doing it for Miranda, I'mdoing this for Rachel.

PARSONS:

You're making a complete fool ofyourself. Do you realize what yousound like?

She sighs, climbs out of the car, leaving him there.

Takes three steps. Stops. Turns back around and lets

him have it:

DOROTHY:

What do I sound like, Phil? Like

one of your patients? Well, it's

probably because that's exactlyhow you treat me. And I've had

enough of this deafening silencebetween us, this exemplarymourning in front of thecommunity, tiptoeing around ourlives with you pretending Rachelnever existed.

BANK CUSTOMERS walk around the argument, pretending notto hear. Phil is mortified. But Dorothy doesn't care:

(CONTINUED)

87.

CONTINUED:

DOROTHY:

I'm losing my mind. Our daughteris gone and I miss her and I'm

angry.

She turns and storms off. Phil takes it all in for the

first time. A moment later he climbs out of the car.

INT. BANK VAULT - DAY

A solemn GUARD places the safety deposit box on the tablein the middle of the room. Steps back through the gateand waits. Dorothy and Phil stare at the box for a

moment.

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