What Lies Beneath Page #5

CLAIRE:

(overlapping)

That's not what I'm sug --

NORMAN:

...when tonight they'll probably be

keeping us awake.

CLAIRE:

But what if something happens?

NORMAN:

Claire...

CLAIRE:

I'd never be able to live with myself --

NORMAN:

(reassuring)

Nothing's going to happen.

(beat)

Besides, I have to work tonight. The

conference is in less than two weeks.

I've got to stay focused on that for

just a little longer.

(beat)

This is...

CLAIRE:

I know.

NORMAN:

It's what I've been working for.

She glances down at her untouched plate.

CLAIRE:

I just wish you could have heard

her.

NORMAN:

Look, I'll call Harvey Tomes in the

Psych department, see what I can

find out.

CLAIRE:

Promise?

He gives her a "Didn't I just say so" look. She smiles.

CLAIRE:

I'll make you some coffee.

She reaches for his plate to clear it. Norman grabs her hand

and kisses it.

INT. NORMAN AND CLAIRE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Norman snores softly. Claire is awakened by the continuing

STORM. She pads out to Norman's turreted library. Rain pelts

the glass. Her face is briefly illuminated by the LIGHTHOUSE

BEAM.

She hears the sound of a DOOR CLOSING and moves to get a

better view of the Feur's. Nothing but blackness. Just as

she's turning to go back to bed. A LIGHTNING FLASH lights up

the night. Claire's eyes go wide.

CLAIRE'S POV

In the split second of brilliance, she sees Mr. Feur, in

shirt-sleeves, drenched, dragging A LARGE DUFFEL toward the

open trunk of his car.

CLAIRE:

(in a hoarse whisper)

Norman!

He's dead to the world. She calls to him again.

CLAIRE:

Norman, you have to look at this!

NORMAN:

Mmnph.

CLAIRE:

Hurry...

Another flash illuminates... Norman at her side.

CLAIRE:

Look!

...an EMPTY DRIVEWAY, then blackness.

NORMAN:

What is it? What's the matter?

She stares down into the darkness.

CLAIRE:

Nothing. There was... I thought I

saw something.

NORMAN:

Is it gone?

THE BEACON illuminates the empty driveway. She nods.

NORMAN:

Come on, let's go back to bed.

Yet another bolt of lightning reveals Claire, still at the

window.

EXT. BACKYARD - MORNING

Claire sets up a camera and tripod. She steps back and aims

her camera. She glances up at a large upstairs window at the

FEUR'S HOUSE. One side of the curtain seems to be pulled

open, but no one's there.

Feeling self-conscious, she turns back to the camera. The

morning sun hits the flowers just right and she SNAPS SEVERAL

PICTURES OF THEM against her lovely house.

She glances back at the Feur's window. The CURTAIN IS NOW

CLOSED.

She walks over to the fence and tries to peek through it.

When this doesn't work, she drags a lawn chair over and peers

across the fence. She can barely see over, but glimpses:

A DEEP FURROW in the mud of the driveway. Just then, a car

pulls into the driveway, Claire scrambles down from her perch.

EXT. DRIVEWAY - DAY

Claire walks out to find her best friend, JODY, pretty, in

her forties, wearing hip, hippie-ish clothes.

CLAIRE:

Hey there.

Jody hugs her.

JODY:

How you holding up?

CLAIRE:

Good. I'm good.

JODY:

You are?

CLAIRE:

Why does everyone find that so

surprising?

JODY:

(are you kidding?)

Cause... your... only daughter just

went away to school... who you were

incredibly close with and I'd be

tripping...

CLAIRE:

Okay, I'm a little tender.

JODY:

Well good. So you're human.

CLAIRE:

And so far my day has consisted of

taking pictures of my roses for the

garden club.

JODY:

Wow. Got here just in time.

(reaching into her

bag)

I brought you this.

She proffers several homemade tea bags.

CLAIRE:

What is it?

JODY:

Kambucha mushroom tea...

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