The Grudge Page #2

Karen seems unsure. It’s a big step for her.

ALEX:

You’re the one who’s been bugging

me about getting out there on your

own. Besides, it’s an English-only

house.

One of Alex’s CO-WORKERS appears in the doorway, motioning to

him. Alex quickly hands Karen a card:

ALEX:

Here’s the address. Use the wall

chart if you need help -- and don’t

forget to bring a map.

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 7.

Karen looks at THE ADDRESS -- a string of thirty numbers and

Japanese characters. She glances up at

THE WALL CHART:
a color-coded diagram shows how the long

address string is broken down into Postal Code, Prefecture,

City, Ward, District, Block, Sub-Block and House Number.

ALEX:

Don’t worry Karen, you’re ready.

Karen nods. But she’s not quite as confident.

3 OMITTED 3

4 OMITTED 4

4a INT. RAIL STATION - DAY 4a

People rush madly around Karen as she studies A LARGE MAP on

the wall. It’s the Tokyo rail system -- daunting, at best.

4b OMITTED 4b

4bb INT. TRAIN - DAY 4bb

Karen sits uncomfortably on the crowded transit car, squeezed

in tightly by the people around her. The LOUD CRYING of a

baby adds to her discomfort.

5 EXT. RAIL PLATFORM - DAY 5

The transit car pulls to a stop and a handful of people get

out. Karen is one of them, shouldering her backpack.

5a EXT. SHOPPING DISTRICT - DAY 5a

Karen walks down the populated sidewalk, weaving through

STREET VENDORS, and passing a large GROCERY STORE.

She pauses, looking at the address on her card. She

approaches a WOMAN and her DAUGHTER (6) and speaks to them in

Japanese. The woman nods, pointing towards a small ALLEY.

Karen gives the daughter a smile; the girl hides behind her

mother’s leg.

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 7A.

6 EXT. TOKYO NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY 6

Karen exits the alley, entering a quiet, narrow street.

She’s still not sure if she’s in the right place.

But then her eyes fix on something. She begins to walk

towards it, her gaze never leaving it -

6a EXT. THE HOUSE - DAY 6a

-- it’s THE HOUSE. Cozy and shaded, nestled into the dead

end of the street. Large by Tokyo standards.

She double-checks the address and opens the gate, walking

around a BICYCLE leaning against the wall and following the

stepping-stone path to the front door. She knocks. No

answer. She tries again. Nothing.

Then, an afterthought, she tries the handle. It’s unlocked.

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 8.

7 INT. THE HOUSE - ENTRANCE - DAY 7

Karen pokes her head inside the genkan (entry hall).

KAREN:

Hello? Mrs. Williams?

Nothing. She tentatively steps inside, and the door closes

behind her. It’s dark and musty -- the blinds are drawn.

KAREN:

Is anyone here?

She turns and LOCKS THE FRONT DOOR.

8 INT. THE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 8

Karen stands in the doorway, surveying the room. The place

is in a complete state of disarray.

A SCRAPING sound grabs Karen’s attention.

HER POV:
at the far end of the room, a FROSTED-GLASS PANELED

DOOR leads to an adjacent room.

A HAND is visible on the other side, clawing at the glass.

Karen runs over and slides open the door, revealing -

8a INT. TATAMI ROOM - DAY 8a

EMMA (60s, American). The older woman in the picture from

Karen’s file. She’s lying on her stomach on a stained

mattress, feebly looking up at Karen.

KAREN:

Oh my God... are you alright? -

Karen immediately kneels down next to the infirm woman,

helping her sit up. Emma looks dazed and disoriented.

Karen’s eyes sweep the room. It reeks of neglect.

9 EXT. THE HOUSE - PORCH - DAY 9

Emma sits on the back porch, staring vacantly. But her

expression isn’t simply blank - there’s an odd sadness there.

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 8A.

Karen is washing the dirty sheets in a bucket and hanging

them to dry. She finishes, turning to her charge.

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 9.

KAREN:

Okay, Emma. Let’s try again: my

name is Karen. Do you remember?

I’m from the Health Center. I’m

substituting for Yoko, just for

today.

Emma doesn’t respond -- and there’s no indication that she

remembers Karen introducing herself before.

Kneeling in front of Emma, Karen notices a BAND-AID around

one of her fingers. Blood has soaked through it.

KAREN:

Looks like you need a new Band-Aid.

How’d this happen, Emma?

(still no reaction)

Would you like a bath? Maybe that

will help you feel better.

Emma doesn’t even turn towards her.

10 INT. THE HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAY 10

Karen turns on the water, puts the stopper over the drain.

11 INT. THE HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY 11

Karen supports Emma’s weight as she leads the old woman

slowly down the hallway to the bathroom entrance ---

Emma stops at the doorway. Eyes fixed on THE TUB.

KAREN:

It’s okay, Emma.

She takes Emma’s hand and walks inside. But Emma doesn’t

budge. Her free hand TIGHTLY CLUTCHES the door frame.

Her eyes are wide. Staring at the bathtub.

12 EXT. THE HOUSE - PORCH - DAY 12

Karen uses a sponge to bathe Emma, her robe rolled to her

waist. Emma stares absently at the sky.

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 9A.

13 INT. THE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DUSK 13

With Emma back in bed, Karen steps out of the back room and

slides the door shut. Leans against it for a moment. A

tough first day on the job.

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 10.

14 INT. THE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DUSK 14

Karen has straightened up the room, and is vacuuming the

floor. Something under the couch catches in the vacuum

intake, jamming it.

She turns off the vacuum and feels underneath, pulling out A

CRUMPLED PHOTO -- ripped into pieces, compressed in a ball.

15 INT. THE HOUSE - KITCHEN - DUSK 15

Karen sits at the kitchen table, flattening and taping

together the pieces of the photograph. She finishes.

ON THE PHOTO:
a grinning JAPANESE BOY holds a cute BLACK

CAT. His MOTHER and FATHER stand beside him. They’re all

beaming at the camera -- a perfect, happy family.

But there’s a piece missing. The MOTHER’S FACE.

Karen walks back into the Living Room. She looks underneath

the couch for the missing piece. Can’t see anything.

She lays down and sticks her arm under the couch, feeling

around. Nothing.

Karen sticks her arm in deeper, to the shoulder, straining...

She suddenly jerks her arm back, wincing. She has a small

cut on her finger.

Karen looks under the couch for what cut her ---

a small FURNITURE NAIL sticks out underneath.

KAREN:

Nice one, Karen.

She gets to her feet, folding up the incomplete picture and

stuffing it into her pocket.

16 INT. THE HOUSE - ENTRANCE - DUSK 16

Karen steps into the foyer with the vacuum cleaner. She

looks up at A RAILING overhead. Some trash is visible

sticking over the edge. Karen shakes her head:

KAREN:

How did you get up there?

Revisions (Blue) -- 1/26/04 11.

She gathers up the vacuum and heads up to the SECOND FLOOR

HALLWAY. There’s a nearby door, closed (the FRONT ROOM), and

an open door at the end (the REAR ROOM).

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