The Cell Page #17

THE SHOWER SPRAYS WATER! Julia nearly loses her balance, but

manages to stay pressed into the corner. She kicks the

shower head, sending the spray as far from her as possible,

and continues to dig at the caulking around the light

fixture.

IN THE OBSERVATION ROOM, we see something unexpected. The

clock reads 00:
00:00. That water isn't going to stop.

INT. CAMPBELL CENTER - EDWARD'S ROOM

Miriam and Ramsey return to the lab to find Henry anxiously

observing from the console.

HENRY:

(flustered)

She changed the codes.

MIRIAM:

What's wrong?

HENRY:

It would take hours to re-route the

system, and even if I did, I shouldn't.

RAMSEY:

What are you talking about?

Miriam analyzes the situation and regretfully, angrily,

worriedly realizes what's happened.

MIRIAM:

She's done it. Stupid, stupid girl...

RAMSEY:

Done what?

HENRY:

Instead of going into his mind...

MIRIAM:

She's bringing Stargher into hers.

ENTRANCE FOUR:

INT. CATHERINE'S WORLD

A bright, deliriously colorful realm visually reflective of

things we saw in Catherine's home. Unusual trees, rock

formations, totems, statues, and a brilliant POOL OF WATER.

The pond ripples. Visible through the crystal-clear water is

YOUNG STARGHER, rising to the surface like a drowning victim

suddenly breaking through to air. Panicked, he scrambles to

shore and pulls himself to land. Although the place is

comforting and beautiful, he's in strange territory and it

frightens him. Shivering, he hunches down, eyes darting this

way and that.

CATHERINE (O.S.)

You're all right, Carl.

The boy turns toward the voice and finds CATHERINE, her hair

waving in the wind, skin glowing, eyes bright, cutting a

magnificent figure in clothes that make her a warrior

goddess.

She opens her arms and the boy runs to her, basking in the

comfort of her embrace. He shivers and she holds him

tightly.

CATHERINE (CONT'D)

It's okay, honey, you're with me now.

You're safe here.

She looks deeply into his eyes and reassuringly explains.

CATHERINE (CONT'D)

I promised I would help you, and I

always keep my promises.

YOUNG STARGHER:

Can...

Catherine is astonished and relieve to hear him speak. A

sad, trembling little voice.

YOUNG STARGHER (CONT'D)

Can I stay here?

She is touched that he would ask and strokes his face.

CATHERINE:

(regretfully)

Oh...no, honey, I'm sorry. It's doesn't

work that way.

The boy breaks away from her, turning his back. She gently

takes his hand but he yanks it free.

CATHERINE (CONT'D)

But what if I told you you could come

visit?

He slowly turns to her.

CATHERINE (CONT'D)

I'll make sure it happens, Carl. I'll

get them to let me do it. And maybe...

maybe we can...

Young Stargher's eyes open wide with silent terror. Over his

shoulder, she sees a SNAKE slither through the pool.

CENTIPEDES CRAWL over her legs and hair. She stands and

brushes them off. The atmosphere grows darker and ominous.

YOUNG STARGHER:

He found me...

Catherine bristles as STARGHER KING RISES FROM THE POOL like

a human serpent. The brilliant colors of Catherine's world

fade to GRIM TONES.

YOUNG STARGHER (CONT'D)

He always finds me.

Stargher King SCREECHES with anger and confusion.

STARGHER KING:

Where thiisss att?!?! Me god no like id

here...

He snarls when he sees Catherine.

STARGHER KING (CONT'D)

You. Priddy bish-hor-kund. You big

trubble-mekker...

(sneers at the boy)

And you. You cumm home now, liddle

cogsugger worm. Or me god haffa punish

you...

Young Stargher tightens his embrace of Catherine. She steps

back, away from the pond, hugging the boy tightly.

CATHERINE:

No.!

STARGHER KING:

No?!??!?!?!?

Stargher King laughs.

STARGHER KING (CONT'D)

Hoo you thing you are?? Himm Muther?

He comes close and reaches for the boy...

STARGHER KING (CONT'D)

You gimme liddle worm.

For a moment, Catherine appears frightened and intimidated.

Perhaps near an emotional breakdown. But that is not the

case. She quietly lowers little Carl to the ground and

whispers something in his ear. As the boy nods, runs and

hides, a ferocity grows within her.

CATHERINE:

I said no.

Like a vengeful Valkyrie, she emits what can only be called a

BATTLE CRY! STARGHER ATTACKS! Arms reaching for her.

Catherine BLOCKS, PUNCHES, AND KICKS. Stargher King doubles

over. Catherine grabs his ears and pulls his face into her

bent KNEE, breaking his nose.

CATHERINE (CONT'D)

Welcome to my world.

As blood flows from his nostrils, Stargher King grins...

STARGHER KING:

You funny. You thing you stop me god?

HE CHARGES. At the right moment, Catherine sidesteps and

SMASHES him in the ribs as he passes. Stargher King crumples

to the ground and she KICKS an uppercut to this chin. Rising

from the mud and muck, Stargher King lands a POWERFUL BLOW to

her head, sending her flying. He lifts the stunned Catherine

with one hand and pulls her face to his...

STARGHER KING (CONT'D)

You cum back wif me god. You be good

bish-hor-kund...

Catherine looks into his soulless eyes. Then SPITS in them

and BITES his face! She breaks free as he YOWLS with pain.

He steps toward her, but his feet don't move. The earth

itself appears to wrap around them and turn hard, like

concrete. Stargher King HOWLS with frustration.

CATHERINE:

My world...

A SHIMMERING KNIFE seems to enrage from within her forearm,

out the flesh and into her hand.

CATHERINE (CONT'D)

My rules.

She SLASHES across his chest, drawing blood.

YOUNG STARGHER (O.S.)

No!

Catherine stops. And turns to see the distraught Young

Stargher.

YOUNG STARGHER (CONT'D)

Don't hurt him!

She spins around and sees not Stargher King, but MARTIN.

YOUNG STARGHER (CONT'D)

He didn't mean it. I was bad.

Disturbed by the transformation, Catherine backs away. Her

vision blurs, the sound distorts. And the earth cracks

around Stargher King's ankles.

YOUNG STARGHER (CONT'D)

He teached me a lesson. I deserved it.

Fighting feelings of disorientation, she kneels before the

child and rests the knife on the ground.

CATHERINE:

No one deserves it, Carl. No one.

She reaches out to him, but the child is JERKED into the air

by Stargher King. In one hand, the monster holds little

Carl. In the other - a KNIFE. His face and chest red with

crimson, Stargher King fixes his eyes on Catherine with a

predator's stare.

STARGHER KING:

Yer world. My knife.

Stargher King raises the blade toward the boy's throat and -

SNAP! The strong arms of an adult Stargher breaks his arm at

the elbow. Both the knife and boy are dropped to the ground

as Stargher King YOWLS like a stuck pig, the good arm

cradling the other.

STARGHER KING (CONT'D)

Me god hurt! Why you do that? Why?!

STARGHER:

Enough.

Stargher King regards him with disgust.

STARGHER KING:

Enuff?!?!

MARTIN STARGHER'S VOICE comes from the belly of the beast.

STARGHER:

I'll tell you what's enough...

Stargher and Stargher King square off. The boy stands

between them with the knife at his feet.

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