Gothika Page #17

Finally, Phil punches in the code written out by his wifeand opens it. He sorts through some paperwork that meansnothing to him until his hands feel a thick envelope. He

opens it and spills the contents on the table.

It is a stack of POLAROIDS.

Dorothy leans in and immediately her face darkens. She

grabs onto the table, shakily -- and is forced to sitdown. A horrified sob rises from deep inside her, comesout like the howl of a dying animal. Her husband pales,

all blood draining from his face.

EXT. WOODWARD INSTITUTE - EVENING

The sky darkens fast. The storm moving in.

INT. WOODWARD INSTITUTE - NURSES' STATION

THUNDER RUMBLES outside, making a tray of meds rattle.

PAN UP to see Consuelo, the round black woman we mightremember Chloe beating up earlier. She shakes her head.

CONSUELO:

It's gonna be an interestingnight.

INT. MIRANDA'S NEW CELL

Miranda looks up at the sound of the BOLT BEING DRAWN andthe handle unfastened. Through the door comes Consuelo,

carrying a tray. Sets it down by the bed.

She is on her way out when she pauses, stares at Miranda.

(CONTINUED)

88.

CONTINUED:

CONSUELO:

How are we doing today?

That term again, "we." Doctor-speak. Miranda doesn't

have the energy for it:

MIRANDA:

Just fine, thank you.

CONSUELO:

The spirit is not fine. She's

very unhappy.

What was that? Normally Miranda would look at this womanas if she were crazy, but things have changed.

MIRANDA:

How -- how do you know?

CONSUELO:

(shuts her eyes)

But she's only a girl. Do youknow her name?

MIRANDA:

Yes. Rachel.

CONSUELO:

Have you talked to her?

MIRANDA:

Yes, I -- you could say that.

Consuelo holds Miranda's hands firmly, "reading" her.

CONSUELO:

She's very, very angry. And she's

not finished with you yet.

MIRANDA:

I'm sure that's meant to sound

comforting but -

CONSUELO:

She wants to show you something.

MIRANDA:

That may be so, but I want her to

go away.

CONSUELO:

Then you need to protect yourself.

(CONTINUED)

89.

CONTINUED:

MIRANDA:

And how exactly would I do that?

CONSUELO:

Mira, first I'm gonna bring yousome cascarilla, it's a powder,

you get it anyplace, it comes fromeggs -- you pour it all over

you -

(indicates)

Like this -

MIRANDA:

Look -

(reading nametag)

Consuelo, I appreciate what you'retrying to do, but I honestly don'tthink this ghost will go away if Ipour some egg powder on myself --

Consuelo holds up a finger, hushing Miranda. She's

receiving something here. Shudders.

CONSUELO:

She made you do things. Bad

things, didn't she?

MIRANDA:

Yes.

CONSUELO:

And you carried this out for her.

She used you as a vessel...

Consuelo's grip tightens on Miranda as we -

FLASH CUT TO:

FLASHBACK - EXT. ASHLEY BRIDGE - NIGHT

We're back at the bridge. Rachel pries open Miranda'smouth. Miranda panics:

MIRANDA:

What are you doing? I'm trying tohelp you -- ?!

Rachel opens her mouth wide like a snake. And as Miranda

screams, blood starts leaking out of Rachel's wounds.

And now we see it. Rachel's lips touch Miranda's andBREATHE HER SPIRIT INTO Miranda with a WHOOSH -

90.

INT. MIRANDA'S NEW CELL - CONTINUOUS ACTION (PRESENT)

Consuelo lets go of Miranda's hand. Like recoiling fromfire. Speaks in the simplest of ways. The truth:

CONSUELO:

You were possessed by her.

MIRANDA:

Yes.

CONSUELO:

Ay, probrecita. You're both in

terrible danger. She's scared too

but she can't step back into thelight until she finishes what shestarted here. And now you're theonly person who can help her findthe way back.

MIRANDA:

I don't know how to do that -- I'm

not qualified for it. You do it.

Consuelo crosses herself. A sign of respect for thesituation. But it has a chilling effect on Miranda.

CONSUELO:

Despair is the only unforgivablesin. You'll be in my prayers,

Miranda.

Prayers? What good is that going to do? Consuelo exits.

EXT. PARSONS' HOUSE - NIGHT

Two POLICE CRUISERS parked outside.

INT. PARSONS' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

A glassy-eyed Phil Parsons serves himself another Scotch,

devastated. The SHOT is FRAMED so that we see the

bedroom door is open, Dorothy lying in bed, heavilytranquilized.

Sheriff Ryan inspects the photographs.

ON THE LURID POLAROIDS

Postcards from hell: scared teenage girls in forcedposes -- gagged, tortured -- Andrea White, Jenny Dixon,

Tracy Seaver...

(CONTINUED)

91.

CONTINUED:

And young Rachel Parsons.

PARSONS:

This proves that her story is

true:
my daughter appeared to her

in some form and guided her

through all this, putting things

right.

SHERIFF RYAN:

Come on, Phil, you of all

people -

PARSONS:

I of all people hold logic, reason

and facts above everything else.

And seek the truth through proof

and proof only.

(re:
pictures)

And what do you call that?

SHERIFF RYAN:

Has it occurred to you that maybe

she knew what her husband was

doing to those girls?

PARSONS:

No. Frankly, it hasn't.

SHERIFF RYAN:

Maybe she couldn't stand the guilt

and cooked up this far-fetched

tale to tug at everybody's

heartstrings. The fact remains

she hacked her husband to pieces.

PARSONS:

The fact remains my daughter was

murdered and Miranda stopped the

killer. A killer who was loose

under your incompetent nose for

over six years. We don't know how

many future victims were spared,

but we do know she saved that girl

in the barn's life. And that's

more than you or I can say -- !

SHERIFF RYAN:

Calm down. For the record, that

girl is on a ventilator. The

doctors don't think she'll make it

through tonight.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

92.

CONTINUED:

SHERIFF RYAN (CONT'D)

Now, you want to stand up in acourtroom and tell a judge that aghost is behind all this, that'syour prerogative -- but I have toabide by the law. And the law

says Miranda Grey faces criminalchargers. So here's what we're

going to do. I'm going to leave acruiser outside to make sure youdon't go anywhere tonight and twoof my deputies will go guard Ms.

Grey until tomorrow morning.

Phil?

Parsons doesn't respond. His eyes far away.

SHERIFF RYAN:

There will be no breakouts, no

aiding and abetting, no taking thelaw into your own hands. It'll

take an Act of God for Miranda

Grey not to show up in that

courtroom tomorrow. Are we clear?

And now the Sheriff can see that Parsons is crying.

Quietly, miserably. And it's a disparaging sight.

Sheriff Ryan exits. Two deputies follow, RADIOSSQUAWKING.

Parsons remains still for a moment, then digs aphotograph out of a drawer. A picture of Rachel inhappier times.

PARSONS:

I'm sorry. I will never forgivemyself for what happened to you.

Not as long as I live.

(breaking down)

I miss you so much.

He sits there, staring at his dead daughter. Grieving.

WE PULL BACK to see he is not alone. Rachel is watchinghim.

EXT. WOODWARD INSTITUTE - NIGHT

The WIND has really PICKED UP now. A massive LIGHTNING

BOLT streaks the sky, officially announcing the storm's

onset.

A POLICE CRUISER pulls up to the guard gate.

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