Signs Page #4

MORGAN:

(soft)

He wanted to kill Bo.

Beat. Graham stares at his ten-year old son.

GRAHAM:

Did he hurt you?

Beat. Morgan nods, "No." His tough exterior breaks as his

face starts to tremble. He starts crying. Graham picks him

up in his arms.

GRAHAM:

(whispers in his ear)

I'm so sorry Morgan.

Graham reaches up for Bo. She has dirt and tears on her face.

Beat. She slowly climbs down. Graham carries both his children

as they cry in his arms.

He starts towards the house. Merrill walks out from the back

holding a bowl of food.

MERRILL:

I used a little Tabasco in the potato

salad.

Merrill sees Houdini lying under the jungle gym.

BO:

Houdini's sick.

GRAHAM:

Please tie up Isabelle to the back

of the shed. Make sure the knot's

tight.

Merrill stands still with potato salad in his hands. He nods.

The children watch over their father's shoulder as Merrill

runs to their other German Shepherd sitting quietly near the

house and leads her by her collar across the yard to the

shed.

Graham reaches the porch of his house and opens the screen

door.

The last thing the children see as they enter the house, is

the image of Officer Paski pulling the barbecue fork out of

their dead dog's neck.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - LATE EVENING

Graham lies in bed. He rests his cheek against the pillow as

he lies by himself.

GRAHAM:

They're tough cookies, those two.

They think Houdini's playing with

you up there.

(beat)

At least it got them to sleep.

Graham stares off. Beat. He smiles a little.

GRAHAM:

Okay Miss Puzzle Master. I got one

for you... What can make geometric

shapes the size of a football field...

and what would scare every animal in

this county?

(beat)

Have you figured it out yet?

(smiles)

You probably have...

(beat)

Give me a hint Colleen... Is it bigger

than a bread box?

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

The large Hess farm house sits in the moonlight.

A MILLION CRICKETS AND BUGS FILL THE NIGHT AIR WITH SOUND.

THEY SUDDENLY STOP.

AN UNNATURAL SILENCE FILLS THE YARD.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Graham opens his eyes slowly as he stirs from his sleep. His

daughter Bo stares at him from the edge of the bed. She is

five inches away from his face.

Graham gets startled.

GRAHAM:

What's the matter?

BO:

I saw a monster. Can I have a glass

of water?

Beat.

GRAHAM:

What's wrong with the water next to

your bed?

BO:

It tastes old.

Graham slowly gets up from the bed. He takes his daughter's

hand and starts out of the room.

GRAHAM:

What's the rule about getting up in

the middle of the night?

BO:

Only for pee or poop.

GRAHAM:

Right.

Graham leads his four-year old daughter down the darkened

hall.

CUT TO:

INT. CHILDREN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Morgan's body is half off his bed. Graham gently lifts him

back onto the pillow and covers him up.

There are two glasses of water on Bo's bedside table. Graham

moves to Bo's bed. He sits on the edge of it. She stares

back at him as she holds her panda.

GRAHAM:

(soft)

What are you thinking about?

BO:

(soft)

Why do you talk to mom when you're

by yourself?

Beat.

GRAHAM:

(soft)

It makes me feel better.

BO:

(soft)

Does she ever answer back?

GRAHAM:

(soft)

No.

BO:

(soft)

She doesn't answer me either.

Beat. They both sit quietly for a moment.

Graham's eyes drift to the bedroom window. A LARGE SILHOUETTED

FIGURE STANDS ON THE ROOF IN THE DARKNESS AND STARES AT HIM.

THE FIGURE MOVES. HIS SHADOW PASSES OVER THE CHILDREN'S

BEDROOM AS HE JUMPS FROM THE ROOF.

Graham stands. He looks to his daughter with startled eyes.

BO:

(soft)

Get under a blanket. They can't get

you under the blankets.

CUT TO:

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