Signs Page #2

Graham Hess looks around in a daze as he walks out into the

center. Merrill, Bo and Morgan follow him.

The dogs keep running and barking as WE PULL BACK AND REVEAL

THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE HESS FAMILY STANDING IN THE MIDDLE

OF THIS PERFECT, GIGANTIC CIRCLE.

WE KEEP PULLING BACK TO EXPOSE THIS EERIE DESIGN -- FIVE

HUNDRED FEET WIDE -- SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ENDLESS,

UNTOUCHED CORN FIELD.

LEGEND:

"BUCKS COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA...

THIRTY MILES OUTSIDE PHILADELPHIA"

CUT TO:

EXT. BACKYARD - LUNCHTIME

Graham holds his hand over the barbecue to see if it's at

the right temperature. The other hand holds a cordless phone

to his ear.

GRAHAM:

(into phone)

...Lee actually the reason I'm calling

is about Lionel.

Graham stokes the coals with a LONG BARBECUE FORK.

GRAHAM:

(into phone)

Was he at home last night with you

or was he out and about with the

Wolfington brothers?

Graham moves around from behind the barbecue and heads towards

the house.

GRAHAM:

(into phone)

Well, there was a little mischief

done to our crops last night.

Beat.

GRAHAM:

(into phone)

I know he's a fine boy... No one's

saying otherwise.

Graham steps through the back screen door into his KITCHEN.

Graham holds the phone a little closer and talks in a HUSHED

VOICE.

GRAHAM:

(into phone)

Listen Lee, I don't even mind if it

was him. You could just talk to him

and that would be enough for me...

See it was kind of strange finding

the crops like that. The kids were...

confused by it. It would take the

strangeness away if we knew it was

Lionel and the Wolfington brothers

just messing around...

(beat, listens)

The movies...

(beat)

Are you sure?

(beat)

Okay, then... Thank you for your

patience Lee.

Graham turns off the phone. He turns to put it on the counter

and realizes his children are seated on the kitchen floor

with one of their two German Shepherds. There is a LARGE

PUDDLE on the kitchen tiles.

MORGAN:

Houdini peed. I think he's sick.

Graham looks at the majestic dog. It's shivering.

GRAHAM:

Take him outside. I'll call Dr.

Reynolds.

Morgan and Bo lead their dog out with worried expressions on

their faces.

Graham grabs a handful of paper towels and places it on the

puddle of urine. The DOORBELL rings with Graham still on his

knees on the kitchen floor. He leans back so he can see down

the hall.

A balding police officer stands on the other side of the

screen door.

GRAHAM:

That was quick Edgar. I only called

you boys about two hours ago.

OFFICER EDGAR PASKI nods that he knows.

OFFICER PASKI:

Mrs. Kindleman twisted her ankle as

she put it, "diving for her life"

when a bunch of school kids rode

down the sidewalk on skateboards.

She went down to Thorton's store

this morning and started spitting on

the new skateboards. Spitting! By

the time I got there, Mrs. Kindleman

had sprayed the whole damn place...

She must have had a cold or something.

It was enough to turn a grown man's

stomach.

Beat. Graham stares at Officer Paski.

OFFICER PASKI:

So what happened to your crops?

CUT TO:

EXT. BACKYARD JUNGLE GYM - LUNCHTIME

Bo walks from the house with a large glass of water. She

moves to Houdini, who sits in the shade by the picnic table.

Morgan pokes the barbecue fork into two meat patties on the

grill. He places two pieces of cheese on the hamburgers,

before walking over to Houdini.

The two children sit down in the grass with the dog.

Bo is about to pour the glass of water into the dog bowl.

She stops. Takes a tiny sip of the water first.

She holds the glass out to Morgan.

BO:

I think it's contaminated.

MORGAN:

You don't even know what that word

means.

He drinks.

MORGAN:

It's not contaminated. It's just tap

water. Pour it in his bowl.

BO:

It tastes funny.

MORGAN:

He licks his butt everyday. He's not

going to mind.

Bo shrugs and pours it into the bowl. Beat.

Houdini just sits staring at them. He is not shivering. He

doesn't drink. He is unnaturally still.

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