Twilight

FADE IN:

1 EXT. RAIN FOREST, OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, WASHINGTON - DAWN

Moss-draped. Shadow-drenched. Tortured tree trunks twist

upward, reaching for rare sunlight.

BELLA (V.O.)

I'd never given much thought to how I would die..

Suddenly, every creature in the forest is deadly silent. Neither

bird, beast nor insect make a noise. A predator is near.

Then, in the distance, hear a tiny SNICK - a twig snapping.

Abruptly, we're on the move. Fast.

UNKNOWN POV - MOVING

Trees start whipping past us at a dizzying speed, branches

are dodged with preternatural agility. And we're speeding

up, chasing something. It's exhilarating. Terrifying.

Finally, up ahead, we get the first glimpse of our prey -

-

A DEER:

-- running for its life as it darts through this maze of

a forest. It sprints forward, but we gain on it. Beyond the deer,

SEE the forest's edge ahead, white sunlight glowing against the

trees. The buck races for the light. We're just behind it,

about to emerge from the shadowy darkness -

-

The deer LEAPS into the light in a high arc, hovering (suddenly

SLOW MOTION) against the WHITE GLARE of the sun... then BAM!

The deer abruptly plummets out of frame at an unnatural angle,

leaving the WHITE GLARE to fill the screen. HOLD ON WHITENESS

-

BELLA (V.O.)

But dying in the place of someone I

love seems like a good way to go..

.

-- Then into the WHITENESS steps the face of -

2 ISABELLA SWAN, 172

Eyes closed against the sunlight, absorbing its rays. Long,

dark hair frames alabaster skin. She's a vulnerable,

introverted, imperfect beauty.

BELLA (V.O.)

... So I can't bring myself to

regret the decision that brought me

here to die...

The background comes into focus as we realize we're now in -

2.

EXT. SCOTTSDALE, AZ - DAY

Bella stands at the end of a cul-de-sac on the desert's edge.

The sun blazes behind her -- she bends down and carefully

scoops a tiny BARREL CACTUS into a clay pot.

BELLA (V.O.)

... The decision to leave home.

She stares at the cactus in a state of reverie, until

BLONDE #1 (O.S.)

Bye, Bella!

BELLA'S POV - McMansion ACROSS THE STREET

Three tanned, athletic, blonde GIRLS hop into a convertible

Mercedes. Their flawless, bought-and-paid for beauty contrasts

with Bella's pale naturalness. They wave.

BLONDE #

Good luck at your new school!

They ADLIB superficial good wishes, "Don't forget to write;"

"We'll miss you." Bella waves back, sweetly, but

halfheartedly as she steps off the curb.

BELLA:

Have a good..

--and trips. When she rights herself, they're already gone.

BELLA:

... life.

Clearly, not close friends. Bella's grown-up demeanor and

innate intelligence become apparent as -

-

BELLA'S MOTHER, RENE, mid 30's --exits their house --it's

low rent for this ritzy neighborhood. Rene is eclectic,

scattered, anxious, more best friend than parent. She

thrusts a cell phone at Bella.

RENE:

It won't work again, baby.

BELLA:

You put it on hold.

RENE:

I did?

BELLA:

Look. You also called Mexico.

Rene pushes her playfully, they laugh.

3.

RENE:

I'll figure it out. You gotta be able

to reach me and Phil on the road -

I:

love saying that - on the road.

BELLA:

Very romantic.

PHIL, 31, good looking with an athlete's body, exits the

house, carrying Bella's three suitcases with ease.

PHIL:

If you call crappy motels, backwater

towns and ballpark hot dogs romantic.

He puts his Phoenix Desert Dogs baseball hat on Rene's head with

a

kiss. Phil's love of Rene reassures Bella. Phil heads to the old

station wagon to load the luggage, while Rene slips her arm

through Bella's, clinging to her as they walk to car.

RENE:

Now, you know if you change your

mind, I'll race back here from

wherever the game is.

But Rene's strained expression tells us what a great

sacrifice that would be. Bella forces a smile.

BELLA:

I won't change my mind, mom.

RENE:

You might. You've always hated Forks.

BELLA:

It's not about Forks, it's about

Dad. I mean, two weeks a year, we

barely know each other.

(off Rene's still worried

look)

Mom, I want to go. I'll be fine.

But as Rene hugs Bella, we see the truth on BELLA'S FACE

dread, doubt, regret. Off Bella, struggling to keep her

facade up as she climbs into the back seat of the car..

.

BEGIN TITLES OVER:

3 BELLA'S POV OUT THE CAR WINDOW - SCOTTSDALE

3

Bella, IPOD earbuds in her ears, gets a last glimpse of the

sparkling malls, chic shoppers, manicured cactus gardens..

.

PULL UP AND OUT OF THE CAR UNTIL WE'RE -

-

4.

4 EXT. ABOVE SCOTTSDALE (AERIAL SHOT) - DAY

4

The McMansions get smaller as we SWEEP OVER the scorched

landscape, baking under a hot sun. Beyond the housing

developments SEE the rocky, dry desert, extending for miles..

.

Rise HIGHER, and higher still, until finally we're suspended

within the bright, perfect, blue SKY, with only an occasional

cloud..

.

Slowly, the clouds start getting more numerous, thicker, darker..

.

until we're completely immersed in them... the sun disappearing.

Finally, we EMERGE from the clouds to find below

-

5 EXT. WASHINGTON STATE - OLYMPIC PENINSULA (AERIAL SHOT)- DAY5

Nothing but deep, dark, green forests for miles. SWEEP DOWN,

finding the eerily dramatic Lake Crescent. Over it all hangs

the mist from the ever-present cloudy grey sky. Everything

is wet and green and drenched in shade..

.

FIND A TWO LANE HIGHWAY along which drives A POLICE

CRUISER... PUSH IN on the cruiser until we reach

-

THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW

Bella looks out, taking in her gloomy new surroundings..

.

END TITLES.

6 INT. POLICE CRUISER - DAY - WAITING AT LIGHT

6

Bella sits next to her uniformed father, police chief CHARLIE

SWAN, 40's. Taciturn, introverted like Bella. Their strained

silence contrasts Bella's relationship with her mother. Beat.

CHARLIE:

Your hair's longer.

BELLA:

I cut it since last time I saw you.

CHARLIE:

Guess it grew out again.

She just nods. Silence.

CHARLIE:

How's your mom?

BELLA:

Good.

More silence. Yikes. They pass a SIGN: “The City Of Forks

Welcomes You - Pop. 3246.” Bella sighs.

5.

7 EXT. FORKS, WASHINGTON - DAY

7

As the cruiser drives through, Bella takes in this logging town

-

every storefront has a wood carving. The Timber Museum's sign is

two loggers sawing a stump. The POLICE STATION is a small wooden

building across from City Hall..

.

8 EXT. CHARLIE'S HOUSE - DAY

8

The cruiser pulls up to the old two-story house. A woodshed full

of firewood. There's a small boat in the garage, fishing gear, an

old buoy. Bella climbs out... home.

9 INT. CHARLIE'S HOUSE - DAY

9

Bella and Charlie carry in her bags. The house isn't stylish

(the only new thing here is a Flat Screen T.V.), but it's

comfortable, lived-in. Lots of fishing memorabilia; photos

of Charlie fishing with Quileute Indian BILLY BLACK.

Handmade cards to “Daddy” and photos of Bella. She winces at

herself, age 7, in a tutu, sitting stubbornly on the ground.

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