What Lies Beneath Page #4

-- Claire and Norman in front of a UNIVERSITY BUILDING. A

tiny Caitlin rests on her hip.

Claire's chin begins to tremble and she chokes out a sob.

EXT. FRONT YARD - DAY

Her face streaked with tears, Claire stumbles out into the

immaculately manicured ROSE GARDEN.

The yard is surrounded by a HIGH WOODEN FENCE. She collapses

into a lawn chair as the tears begin to subside. Suddenly,

she hears something coming from next door.

She c*cks her head and attempts to make out the sound. It

is, ironically, the sound of a WOMAN CRYING. Claire makes

her way over to the fence. The women's sobbing becomes more

plaintive and fevered.

She places her face against the prickly, vine covered fence

and tries to peer through the crack. All she can make out is

A DARK BLUE BLUR that seems to be rocking. Claire gathers

her nerve and calls out...

CLAIRE:

Hello...

There's no reaction.

CLAIRE:

Mrs. Feur?

The sobbing chokes down to a breathless whimpering. The blue

shape vanishes from view.

CLAIRE:

Wait a minute. I just want --

Something bumps against the fence. Claire draws back. She

hears heavy breathing.

MRS. FEUR

(sniffling)

Who are you?

CLAIRE:

It's Mrs... It's Claire... Spencer.

From next door. Is everything --

MRS. FEUR

You're the flower lady.

CLAIRE:

Um... yes.

MRS. FEUR

I've seen you. From the window.

CLAIRE:

Is everything alright?

Claire leans closer to the tiny crack. She sees a fleshy

blur and what might be part of an eye. There's no response,

just the breathing.

CLAIRE:

Hello?

MRS. FEUR

I'm not...

She seems on the verge of losing it again.

MRS. FEUR

He's so... it's too much... and I

can't... I can't breath...

CLAIRE:

Who? Your husband?

MRS. FEUR

And I'm afraid. Oh god, I'm so afraid

of...

She trails off.

CLAIRE:

What? What are you afraid of?

MRS. FEUR

I can't, no, no, I can't...

Claire edges closer to the crack.

CLAIRE:

Tell me. Please.

MRS. FEUR

That I'll just... that one day I'll

just... disappear.

Beat. Claire's taken aback by this admission.

CLAIRE:

Tell me. I can help you.

MRS. FEUR

How? How can you help me? With your

flowers and your perfect life...

CLAIRE:

That's not... It's not like that.

MRS. FEUR

I've never even met you.

CLAIRE:

I know. And I'm sorry. I've been

consumed with... my daughter left...

for school.

MRS. FEUR

This fence... it's so...

CLAIRE:

I'm sorry. It's for the flowers. Why

don't you...

Tires can be heard crunching the gravel as a car pulls into

the Feur's driveway.

MRS. FEUR

Oh God. He's back. I'm sorry. Please

forget that I... I don't know what

I'm saying. Please...

CLAIRE:

Wait! Don't go...

Claire listens to the sound of NAKED FOOTSTEPS, followed by

a LARGE FRONT DOOR swinging shut. A CAR DOOR swings open and

a MAN'S SHOES follow down the path.

Claire pulls back from the crack and leans against the fence

as the door closes a second time. She sits there for a moment

listening, but all is quiet.

CLAIRE (V.O.)

She sounded terrified.

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Claire and Norman eat dinner. A rainstorm pelts the windows.

NORMAN:

Of what?

CLAIRE:

Of him I think.

NORMAN:

Did she say that?

CLAIRE:

More or less.

Norman chews.

NORMAN:

Honey, they're young. They're probably

newlyweds.

CLAIRE:

I'm telling you. There was something

in her voice...

NORMAN:

Remember how we were?

CLAIRE:

Not like this. We were never like

this.

(beat)

I want to go over there. After dinner,

we can --

NORMAN:

Why?

CLAIRE:

To make sure she's all right.

Norman puts down his fork.

NORMAN:

Claire, honey, we are not going to

march next door and accuse our new

neighbor of --

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