Poltergeist Page #14

TANGINA:

This house has many hearts.

Tangina turns away and continues her search.

ANGLE - LIVING ROOM

Steve turns to Diane and Lesh and Ryan, pulling them into a

circle of whispers.

STEVEN:

(whispering)

I was trying to answer with my

mind. She couldn’t hear me. I

thought you said Tangina Barrons

was an extraordinary clairvoyant.

From far away and well out of earshot Tangina answers.

TANGINA (O.S.)

(upstairs)

I am. I just don’t like trick

answers.

DISSOLVE TO:

109 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 109

The CAMERAS are all set up. The Zenith console is now the

centerpiece of this room. The rest of the furniture has been

piled against the walls although we’re not sure if this is

Diane’s work or early poltergeist disturbances. Tangina sees

herself on the video monitor and smiles into the CAMERA. She

waves and watches herself waving on the monitor. She makes a

funny face and gets a huge thrill at seeing it in black and

white. Diane and Steve stand divorced from this. They have

become bit players as Tangina takes center stage.

TANGINA:

Can you make my face look bigger?

Thinking this is a scientific request, Ryan ZOOMS IN filling

the monitors with Tangina.

TANGINA:

Look at me for cryin’ out loud!

You’d never suspect I was just a

teeny little thing, would ya?

75.

DR. LESH

Tangina, could we get on with this,

please?

Tangina pulls out a lipstick and freshens her makeup, all the

while watching herself in the monitor.

TANGINA:

I’ve never been on TV before.

She steps back and looks into the CAMERA. She adds to her

already thick Texas accent. The melodrama gushes out of her.

TANGINA:

Yes, it was me all the time, not

that fussy harlot from the office.

I shot J.R. Ewing! I blew his

little pecker right into the gulf

of Mexico. I...

(embarrassed)

Oh, I swore on television.

No one is laughing. Especially Diane and Steve. They are

rather appalled. Tangina immediately pulls back. She becomes

an adult again and walks into the center of the room.

TANGINA:

(to Diane)

Honey, c’mere and give me your

hand.

Diane hesitates and looks over at Dr. Lesh.

TANGINA:

I’m not gonna bite’cha.

Diane slowly walks to Tangina and reaches down with her hand.

TANGINA:

C’mon down here. You’re gonna give

me whiplash lookin’ up at you.

Diane smiles and kneels. She is eye level with Tangina.

TANGINA:

(softly, just for Diane to

hear)

Your daughter is alive and in this

house.

The tears come immediately. Diane breaks down, sobbing, the

first confirmation of her own belief from the outside.

76.

Tangina hugs her, patting the back of Diane’s head

reassuringly. Steve starts to come over to comfort but

Tangina waves him off and mouths...

TANGINA:

... a glass of water.

ANGLE - DR. LESH

She sits down and smiles. Relieved, looks to Ryan. Ryan is

filming it.

TANGINA:

(to Dr. Lesh)

Where was the last incident of

“biolocation”?

Dr. Lesh points to the air just above Tangina’s head.

TANGINA:

I have my strongest feeling, the

point of origin is inside the

child’s closet. Upstairs.

.

DIANE:

(through tears)

Yes. I feel that too.

TANGINA:

(to Diane)

Now, honey. Are you gonna be real

strong for me? For your daughter? I

can do absolutely nothing without

your faith in this world and your

love for the children.

DIANE:

I will. Believe me, I will.

TANGINA:

Will you do anything I say? Even if

it comes contrary to your beliefs

as a human bein’ and as a

Christian?

DIANE:

Oh yes. Please.

TANGINA:

(cupping Diane’s face and

bringing their eyes

together)

77.

TANGINA(cont'd)

Then let’s get on our feet and go

get your daughter.

Diane laugh-cries and rises. Tangina starts to rise but then

realizes...

TANGINA:

(brightly)

Oh... I am standin’.

110 INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER - NIGHT 110

CLOSE - TELEVISION CONSOLE

Static snow grates again on our nerves.

ANGLE - FULL

Diane is in her self-appointed position, the center of the

room awaiting notice from Tangina Barrons who checks through

a lot of items laid out on a tablecloth on the living room

floor.

TANGINA:

(checklisting)

Towels, red ribbon,

handkerchiefs... How’re the tennis

balls coming?

Ryan and Dr. Lesh are painting numbers on each of six tennis

balls and then carefully signing their names. String hangs

across the ceiling and to each wall coming together in the

air six feet above the floor to form a square.

Steve runs in with several pounds of rope slung around his

shoulder.

STEVEN:

It’s all I could find.

TANGINA:

It’ll do. How’s the bath water

doin’?

STEVEN:

I shut it off. It’s ready.

TANGINA:

Then I don’t see any reason why we

shouldn’t get started.

(to Diane)

All right, honey. Call out to her.

78.

In the low light of the living room, Diane stands in the

center like a frightened contestant about to audition a song.

She says a prayer under her breath and looks skyward.

.

DIANE:

Carol Anne... Carol Anne... It’s

Mommy. Can you hear me tonight?

TV CONSOLE - STATIC

Nothing.

DIANE:

Carol Anne. Can you tell Mommy

hello?

TV CONSOLE - STATIC

Nothing.

CLOSE - TANGINA

Her eyes are closed and her breathing becomes irregular. She

licks at her dry lips and motions to Diane.

TANGINA:

Try again.

DIANE:

Can you say hello to Daddy? Daddy

and I miss you so much. So much. We

love you so much. Can you say

hello?

CLOSE - TANGINA

Shaking her head.

TANGINA:

She’s under restraint!

This news hits like a shock wave. Steve and Diane almost

answer at one.

STEVEN AND DIANE

(overlapping)

She’s what?! What do you mean?!

Who’s restraining her?!

TANGINA:

Quickly. Who is she more afraid of?

You or your husband?

79.

DIANE:

She’s afraid of neither.

TANGINA:

Which one of you does she answer to

first?

STEVEN:

She’s always gone to Diane.

TANGINA:

When she’s naughty, whom does she

hide from?

STEVEN:

She’s a well-behaved child. We’ve

raised her with manners and...

TANGINA:

(losing her patience)

Look folks, I’m not the child abuse

squad. I need a quick answer.

DIANE:

Steve decides the punishment. The

children have always known that.

STEVEN:

(protesting)

Now wait a minute, Diane. I don’t

call that fair. I’ve never laid a

hand...

Tangina still has her eyes closed. She motions Steve to come

over.

TANGINA:

Fight about it later, meantime get

your ass over here.

Steve obeys. Diane is lost. Dr. Lesh has never experienced

anything like this before. Ryan has his eye to the video tape

camera.

TANGINA:

Tell Carol Anne to answer!

Steve is uncomfortable in speaking to thin air. He clears his

voice.

.

TANGINA:

Tell her!

80.

STEVEN:

(very politely)

Honey, it’s Daddy. Can you hear

me... Sweetpea?

TANGINA:

Cut the crap and call her. Loud.

STEVEN:

(a little louder)

Carol Anne. It’s Daddy.

TANGINA:

Again.

STEVEN:

(a little louder)

It’s Daddy, sweetheart.

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