Poltergeist Page #3

until you hear the thunder. If you

can count higher each time, that

means the storm is moving away from

you.

A flash of lightning is seen.

STEVEN:

Now count with me.

ROBBIE/STEVEN/CAROL ANNE

One, two, three...

Thunder is HEARD.

STEVEN:

Next time you’ll be able to count

to four or more. You try it, okay?

ROBBIE:

Okay.

Steven exits leaving the door open. Lightning occurs. Steven

waits by the partially open door and listens as Robbie

counts.

.

ROBBIE:

(very worried)

One... two... three... four...

five...

Distant thunder is HEARD. Robbie is more relieved.

26 INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE DANA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 26

He feels real good about himself. He KNOCKS on Dana’s door.

Music is HEARD. The door opens.

STEVEN:

Goodnight, Dana.

DANA:

Uh, goodnight, Dad.

(a beat, then)

STEVEN:

Get off the phone, Dana.

13.

DANA:

(caught)

Okay, Dad.

27 INT. CHILDREN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 27

Robbie looks out the window. The tree stands there in the

wind. Another flash of lightning, Robbie controls his fear

and concentrates.

ROBBIE:

One, two...

CRACK! BOOM! An explosive jolt of thunder rocks the house.

The closet light goes out as the tree outside the window

suddenly bends forward as if looking in. Robbie sits bolt

upright. Carol Anne wakes up SCREAMING.

28 INT. MASTER BEDROOM - MUCH LATER - NIGHT 28

Carol Anne and Robbie are asleep next to Diane and Steve. The

TV has been left on and the National Anthem starts to play...

CLOSE - FAMILY

Various positions, asleep.

28-A SLOWLY MOVE IN CLOSER TO THE TELEVISION 28-A

The pre-recorded voice of the station manager signs off. A

beat... Transmission ceases and the soft roar of dead air

fills the room as the static white snow colors the walls,

making shadows flicker and warp.

It is only now that we first hear it. A SOUND intermingling

with the TV hiss, like a bad connection from far, far away. A

whisper. Not one, but hundreds of them. They say nothing.

It’s a chorus, tonal and inviting.

28-B CLOSE - CAROL ANNE 28-B

She turns on her side. And her eyes open surreally. Ever so

slowly, she turns her head fully facing the TV. Carol Anne

smiles. A smile much too sophisticated for a five-years-old

child.

14.

28-C

CLOSE - TV SCREEN 28-C

The snow mixes with new imagery. Forms. Vague but luminous.

Always mingling. Impressionistic. Never hard-lined.

CAROL ANNE:

(whispering)

Come out... come out...

The picture tube starts to SNAP! Little flashes momentarily

blind Carol Anne. She blinks and tries to see deeper. SNAP!

CRACK! It’s as if flashbulbs were being emitted. Steven and

Diane turn fitfully but remain asleep. FLASH! POP! Robbie is

close to waking.

28-D

CLOSE - CAROL ANNE 28-D

Smiling, on her knees now... she reaches out toward the TV

screen when... SOMETHING REACHES BACK. A Substance. A form,

like a wispy, smoky tentacle twists forward, EXTENDING FROM

THE PICTURE TUBE and snaking into the Freeling bedroom.

Transparent and cold, it gives birth to itself, builds upon

its own energy, growing brighter as it seems to hover above

Carol Anne, then tower over the family asleep in the king-

sized bed.

28-E

CLOSE - CAROL ANNE 28-E

She must bend her neck to look all the way up at the ceiling

where this cyclonic shape waltzes... studying.. at the room,

then Carol Anne...

AN EXPLOSION from the TV set. The brightest flash yet

experienced. A force that expels the intruder from the set

and into the room. Catapulting it past the family and into

the wall RIGHT OVER THE BED, where it leaves a dark pencil

dot stain. The entire room shakes and the family is awake and

panicked.

The window cracks, the curtain rod slips. Books and mementos

fall from the open hutch. The medicine cabinet opens and

prescription medicine splatters on the tiled floor. The room

lights flare then die. Every picture topples from the walls.

28-F

Just as quickly as it began, the episode ceases. A HUSH 28-F

descends. Everyone looks at Carol Anne. Carol Anne looks at

everyone... then intones, almost matter-of-factly.

.

CAROL ANNE:

They’re here.

15.

29 EXT. FREELING’S BACK YARD - DAY 29

CLOSE STUDY - FOUR GEARSHIFTS

A work glove shifts.

CLOSE STUDY - CLUTCH

A steel-toed workboot slowly withdraws.

CLOSE-STUDY - STEEL-BELTED TREADS

Lurch forward, dripping sod and wet grass.

The shovel of the bulldozer touches the earth and scrapes a

deep swathe.

CAMERA MOVES CLOSER as the cigar box coffin is cruelly

exhumed in the ever-growing tidal wave of back yard turf.

30 INT. KITCHEN - DAY 30

Steve is on the phone, nervously smoking a cigarette as the

bulldozer can be seen out the window, digging the new pool.

Diane is serving waffles around the breakfast table. E. Buzz

sits at Robbie’s feet, watching the waffles hopefully. Only

Carol Anne seems to have an appetite.

STEVEN:

(on the phone)

I’m not kidding, Jeff. How could

anyone sleep through a six-pointfive.

Yes, damage. Stuff’s in

pieces all over our bedroom.

DIANE:

(quietly to Carol Anne)

Chew each bite ten times.

Carol Anne exaggerates her chewing; smiling with her mouth

full.

STEVEN:

I know that... we’ve had the radio

on and there’s nothing about it.

(after a beat)

After the Sylmar quake it was two

years before real estate was on the

rise.

16.

Diane is gently coaxing some information out of Carol Anne

who mostly has her mouth full of waffles and blueberries.

DIANE:

When you said, “They’re here” last

night.

CAROL ANNE:

Can I take my goldfish to school?

DANA:

Maybe the fault line runs just

under our house. Wouldn’t that be a

scream?

ROBBIE:

The ceiling got crumbs all over my

bed.

DIANE:

(to Carol Anne)

Sweetheart. Do you remember last

night? Do you remember when you

woke up and said, “They’re here?”

.

CAROL ANNE:

Uh huh.

DIANE:

Who did you mean? Who’s here?

CAROL ANNE:

(mouth full)

The TV people.

ROBBIE:

She’s stoned.

DANA:

What do you know about it?

ROBBIE:

More’n you. Ask Dad.

Robbie picks up his milk to take a sip when the bottom of the

glass drops out, the milk splashing back onto Robbie’s cereal

bowl, overflowing cereal all over the table and onto Dana’s

blouse in a burst, perhaps slightly strong for the small

amount of spilled milk.

DANA:

Hey--!

17.

ROBBIE:

(throwing up his hands)

It’s not my mess.

DANA:

(jumps up from the table)

Thanks a lot, jerko - I’ve got

class in twenty minutes.

ROBBIE:

Mom.

DIANE:

Gimme that thing before you cut

yourself.

Carol Anne has a big dripping splash of milk running down her

forehead. Oblivious to this she just keeps eating, goes over

to the kitchen TV... turns it on to the “Today Show”, then

switches to an “in between” channel and watches the snow.

STEVEN:

I’m outta here! See ya early.

ROBBIE:

(imitating Dad)

I’m outta here!

DIANE:

(pushing him back)

You I can handle.

ROBBIE:

I got school!!

DIANE:

Breakfast first.

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