The Tall Man Page #2

What? What, do you want to hit me too?

Stay out of our business.

I really care about Carol.

I know. Like you care about your bike.

(LAUGHS) I don't like your style.

Now, may he rest in peace,

your husband left behind

some pretty big shoes to fill.

After all, he was a doctor,

you're just a nurse.

Stick to changing diapers

and get off my back.

(SIGHS)

- Hey, Tracy.

- Hey.

- Come on in and take a seat.

- Thanks.

So how is that sweet boy?

Oh, it's okay actually.

I sent them away to my sister's in Seattle.

She's got a big house and you know,

they're close to everything

and they're just kind of better off.

Carol's in no shape to travel, Tracy.

Yeah, but they made it there fine.

Okay, Julia, look, I still

got to make a living, okay?

I got a job interview in Kaslo in 45 minutes.

Good pay, good job, good tips.

I can't be here all day to help Carol, okay?

You gotta understand me.

Yeah, I get it.

No, you know what? I gotta hold on, Julia.

No, honestly.

Honestly, Trace, I understand.

You want me to make you

some coffee or something?

He's still here?

Yeah. You got to give me

some time with that, okay?

It's not so simple. He's...

He's kinda hard to handle.

But trust me,

you just got to let me handle this.

What about Jenny?

Hey.

Your mom went to Kaslo.

Ta-da.

You haven't been doing

your speech therapy, have you?

Okay.

I'm here now.

So... Speak.

(LAUGHS SOFTLY)

Why are you always

hiding behind all this hair?

You're so pretty.

So, you believe it too?

JENNY:
It was like an ancient legend.

Something from a book of fairy tales

or an old song.

Everyone talked about

the Tall Man all the time

because everyone was afraid of him.

People were always afraid he'd strike again

and when he did,

they'd thank their lucky stars

he took someone else's kid.

Maybe they felt a little guilty

thinking that way,

but that feeling didn't last long.

For everyone's got

their problems to deal with.

It's not just good or bad,

it's just the way it is.

- Hey.

- Hi.

- Done for today?

- Yeah.

- Oh, there's some more groceries in the car.

- Okay.

Hey, is everything okay?

Yeah, he's been looking forward

to you getting home.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

(INDISTINCT HUMMING)

DAVID:
Yes?

Hey, sweetheart.

That's a beautiful song.

Oh.

So, Christine told me you missed me today.

Uh-huh.

Well, I missed you too.

What did you do all day?

We made a baking soda volcano.

- And you made it erupt?

- Yeah.

How did you do that?

You put, um, baking soda

and then we put vinegar

and then it exploded everywhere.

Whoa!

Oh, guess what

we're having for dinner tonight?

- What?

- Brussels sprouts.

Ew!

(LAUGHING)

(LIGHTNING CRACKLING)

CHRISTINE:
Hey guys!

Dinner in half an hour.

(GIGGLING) Okay.

Whoo!

Whoa, what's that?

That's a gorilla.

Where does he live?

He lives in um... Australia.

Think so?

Maybe he could live in the jungle somewhere.

This fish can live in our moat

and he can patrol our waters.

- Yeah.

- So no one can come by

and he'll eat everybody.

(ROARS)

Bombs!

(MIMICS EXPLOSION)

CHRISTINE:

Do the number trick. Number trick.

I taught him a number trick. Watch.

- Think of a number.

- Okay.

Double it.

Wait, wait, wait. That's too fast.

Okay, think of a number.

- Double it.

- Okay.

Add on six.

Okay.

Halve it. That means cut it into half.

Take away the first number you thought of.

And your answer is three.

I know! I know!

- It works every time.

- Yeah.

(LIGHTNING CRACKING)

Okay, buddy.

There you go.

Do you still have to go to work tomorrow?

Yeah.

But I'll try not to finish too late.

Can we play together again

when you get home?

I promise.

Good night, David.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY)

So, what did you guys do today?

Oh, it's not what we did, it's what he asked.

What did he ask?

- Brought up the "T" word.

- Oh.

- Television.

- Yeah.

What did you say?

Well, I said it was an evil brainwashing tool

used by big corporations

to corrupt the peoples.

- (LAUGHING) Good one.

- Thanks.

He did ask me to buy one to watch cartoons.

And how'd you respond?

I chose to ignore

the question.

Right. Of course.

I saw Tracy today.

The baby?

Shipped off to Seattle.

- (MUMBLES) Typical.

- Mmm-hmm.

I saw Steven too.

He informed me

how shitty I was compared to my husband.

Yeah. Figures.

It's just weird. They just... They... They...

They just feel like

they own a part of him or something.

That's what he meant

to this town, right? He...

- Helped them.

- Well, he tried.

He was a friggin' saint.

I'm just tired of talking about it.

I know I bring it up all the time. I'm sorry.

Ta-da.

Oh, dear Lord.

Oh, you know you love it.

Ah, I don't know. I don't...

(LAUGHS)

How much? How much? Tell me when.

Just. When.

This is going to give me such a headache.

CHRISTINE:
Just drink it. Make it go away.

I don't think I can drink that. This really...

I'm okay. I know I am.

All right, you little devil.

Where are you?

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

- (CLATTERING)

- (GASPS)

(THUD)

MAN:
(OVER RADIO) All men have sinned

and fallen short of the glory of God.

We're damned.

We're all going to Hell.

There's nothing you can do.

The only salvation that is possible for you

is the blood of the Lamb.

Christine?

The Lord Savior, Jesus Christ.

You know, last week I was sitting on a plane

from Memphis to Orlando

and a gentleman sitting next to me,

a very kind man,

he looked at me and he said,

"Pastor, I do good works.

"I take care of my family.

"I look after my friends."

I looked him square in the eye and said,

"That's marvelous.

"Tell the Devil that,

"because you're going to Hell!"

(MUFFLED GROANING)

Oh, my God! Christine!

(SOBBING)

Tell me. Tell me, tell me, tell me.

(CREAKING)

(PANTING)

David! David!

(SOBBING)

David!

David!

David!

Okay.

(GASPING)

Tell me. Tell me.

(DOOR OPENS)

(GROANS)

(CHRISTINE WAILING)

(GROANS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(PANTING)

David!

(YELLS)

(ENGINE STARTS)

David!

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)

(PANTING HEAVILY)

(GRUNTS)

(SCREAMS)

Stop!

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(GRUNTS)

(ENGINE IDLING)

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CREAKING)

David. David

(GRUNTS)

- (DOG SNARLS)

- (SCREAMS)

(GROWLING)

(SCREAMING)

(WHIMPERS)

(GASPING)

(GROWLING)

(GASPS)

- (BARKS)

- (G-As PS)

(SNARLING)

(BARKS)

(CONTINUES SNARLING)

(BARKING)

MAN:
(OVER RADIO) ...difficulties right here

is the lack of resolution.

When a child goes missing without a trace,

there's no closure.

WOMAN:
(OVER RADIO) It's so frustrating.

You would think that some...

(JULIA SCREAMS)

(SNARLING)

(SCREAMS)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(SCREAMS)

(SCREAMING)

(SCREAMS)

(GLASS SHATTERING)

(CREAKING)

(RATTLING)

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

- (THUD)

- (GASPS)

(GRUNTS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(TWIGS SNAPPING)

(SCREAMS) David!

David!

(BIRDS CAWING)

(GASPS)

(GROANS)

(GRUNTING)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(PUFFING)

(CRYING)

(EERIE HUMMING)

(TWIG SNAPS)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Mrs. Denning?

(WHISPERS) Sh*t!

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