The Pacifier Page #16

---

.

SHANE:

It’s all in the wrist...

He heads down to Zoe’s room and peaks in -- SHE’S NOT IN

BED. He rushes in -- but she’s out on...

EXT. BALCONY - NIGHT

Zoe sits on the railing, she seems sad. Shane approaches.

ZOE:

Don’t worry. I’m not gonna jump.

SHANE:

What’s wrong... Scott?

ZOE:

No. Scott’s fine. I don’t know what you

did, but he’s really straightened up.

Flowers, phone calls. ...I’ve never been

in love like this before.

Shane nods.

SHANE:

How long you been together?

ZOE:

A month...

SHANE:

That’s longer than any relationship I’ve

ever had.

ZOE:

You’re okay, Shane. I’m not used to

anyone giving me the benefit of the

doubt. My teachers don’t trust me. Mom

doesn’t. My dad didn’t care about us, he

was never here...

81.

SHANE:

(interrupts her, stern:)

Hey. Your father cared about you very

deeply. He told me you were the greatest

things in his life. That what’s bothering

you? Cause -- we can talk about it, if

you want.

Zoe’s eye well up, then she cries. Shane holds her.

ZOE:

I miss him so much...

Shane is a little taken by surprise. Then -- he decides

to answer. He takes his father’s MEDAL out of his pocket.

.

SHANE:

This was my dad’s. He was the only family

I ever had. Mom left when I was little,

cause dad was always gone. Two years

in... an indisclosable locale. Another

six in... Another indisclosable locale. I

didn’t really have a home, so I went to

military school -- then one day my mom

got the letter. No more dad.

He looks at the Medal.

SHANE (CONT’D)

I always wanted to be just like him. I’m

starting to realize, I never really knew

him. I don’t know if I’m like him or not.

ZOE:

That’s horrible, Shane.

SHANE:

The hardest part was living without any

details...why? How? Where? I always

wondered if he thought about me.

ZOE:

Me too. So how did you get through it?

SHANE:

You could say I just shut down my

emotions. I turned off all feelings and

dedicated myself to becoming the perfect

soldier.

ZOE:

I never even got to say good bye.

82.

A tear runs down Zoe’s face. She throws her arms around

Shane. The phone rings. Shane answers it.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. HOTEL - CONTINUOUS

.

Julie’s on the other end.

JULIE:

The red tape is cleared up, we’re on the

first plane in the morning.

INT. HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Zoe runs down the hall, telling the family:

ZOE:

Mommy’s coming home! Mommy’s coming home!

Everyone wakes up, happy, sleepy!

TODD:

When?

ZOE:

Tomorrow morning!

PETER:

Mama!

Excited, the kids are all abuzz, talking excitedly.

ANGLE - SHANE

He’s left alone.

EXT. BACK YARD - LATE NIGHT

The house is dark. Shane sits in a lawn chair, scoping

the area with NIGHT VISION GOGGLES ON. Gary sits in the

next chair. Shane sighs morosely.

SHANE:

Just another assignment. No reason for

personal attachments.

Shane takes a sip out of a juice box. He pets the Duck.

SHANE (CONT’D)

Hey Gary, your wings aren’t clipped. How

come you don’t fly away?

(pause)

(MORE)

83.

SHANE(CONT'D)

I guess you’ve got it good. Kids to play

with. Three squares a day.

The Duck stares, unblinking.

SHANE (CONT’D)

All quiet on the western front. I guess I

better fix that Playroom window.

Shane rises.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT

Shane turns the light on. Gary follows Shane as he looks

for tool. Suddenly, the Duck starts quacking... Shane

turns. Gary’s foot is caught in a grate.

SHANE:

What happened, Gary?

Shane gets down on his hands and knees and gently pries

Gary’s foot from the grate. Shane is about to stand when

something below catches his eye.

Shane pulls out a pen flashlight, shines it down the

grate... we see a CRANK WHEEL.

SHANE (CONT’D)

What do you suppose this is?

Shane tugs at the grate until it pops off. Shane grips

the valve and tries turning it. Nothing. He tries harder,

muscles rippling, and then it gives... The wheel spins.

The floor opens, revealing a CIRCULAR STAIRCASE, leading

below the garage. Shane steps down it...

INT. BOTTOM OF STAIRS - CONTINUOUS

There’s a small room, and a hall leading to a STEEL DOOR.

It’s solid and inscrutable. No hinges or cracks. The only

break in its surface is a strange, TWO-PRONGED KEYHOLE.

Shane looks on stunned...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. GARAGE - MORNING

Shane’s at the Steel Door. He has high-tech tools laid

out in front of him. He’s been trying, unsuccessfully, to

crack the lock all night. The Kids are watching his

progress, Lulu hands him a tool. Shane dials a phone.

INTERCUT:

84.

EXT. SEDAN - MOVING

We pan up from the WHITE “US GOV” license plates to Bill

at the wheel. Julie sits beside him. Bill’s cell phone

rings, he answers it.

SHANE:

Sir! Excellent news. I think I found

GHOST.

Bill reacts, excited.

BILL:

... Do you have it?

SHANE:

No. It’s in a steel vault. I’ve been

trying all night, can’t crack it, sir.

BILL:

(remaining calm)

Good! Good work. Okay, don’t do

anything further. We’ll be there shortly

-- don’t do anything ‘til I get there.

BACK TO:

INT. GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

Shane smiles, pleased, and hangs up. Then we slowly MOVE

UP. Away from Shane... towards the neighbor’s house.

.

We PUSH INTO the house. Through a window... revealing

the Korean neighbors standing in the dark.

spying on Shane. An ominous pause.

Silently

GHOST.

MRS. CHUN

CUT TO:

INT. GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

SHANE:

One things for sure. After we turn this

in to my CO, whoever’s been bothering you

guys won’t be bothering you anymore.

Everyone reacts happily, relieved. Except for -- Lulu.

She looks stricken.

SHANE (CONT’D)

What’s wrong, Lulu? You should be happy.

85.

LULU:

But, Shane -- does that mean you’ll have

to go?

CLOSE-UP - SHANE

He goes silent. Tongue-tied, he has no answer.

SHANE:

You guys better get ready. Your mom

should be home soon.

CUT TO:

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Bill’s Sedan pulls up. Julie and Bill hop out.

INT. JULIE’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Julie opens the door, comes into the dark hall. Bill is

carrying her suitcases.

JULIE:

I had a fight with Zoe when I left, so

they probably trashed the place...

She trails off...

BILL:

What’s wrong?

They listen -- they hear, in the next room, Kids singing

a beautiful, a capella version of The Hills are Alive

(with The Sound of Music). She turns on the lights --

what she sees makes her drop her luggage, in shock.

.

JULIE’S P.O.V.: The house is spotless. The rug is

vacuumed. The fish tank is clear, filled with healthy

TROPICAL FISH.

KIDS VOICES:

(singing, a capella)

... with songs they have sung, for a

thousand years...

Dumb-struck, Julie goes to the...

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

The kitchen is sparkling clean, no dishes in the sink.

She sees, attached to the fridge with magnets: A flyer

for Sound of Music, featuring Todd.

86.

JULIE almost faints. Bill steadies her. She staggers

to...

INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes