What Lies Beneath Page #6

CLAIRE:

Jody --

JODY:

It soothes heart-ache and promotes

psychic wellness. Sela suggested I

bring --

CLAIRE:

You're discussing me with your

psychic?

JODY:

She's not a psychic. Just a very

enlightened spirit.

CLAIRE:

Thanks, but I'm fine.

JODY:

(pressing it into her

hand)

So you'll have some later.

(beat)

Notice anything... different?

Claire gives her friend the once over, then notices the mint

Karman-Ghia behind her.

CLAIRE:

Oh my god. You bought it.

JODY:

Yep.

CLAIRE:

It's niiice.

JODY:

Beautiful thing, alimony. Lose a

husband, get a car. Think it'll help

me pick up dudes?

CLAIRE:

Absolutely.

JODY:

Listen, I've gotta run. I just thought

I'd stop by and see if you want to

take the boat out, say Thursday

morning?

CLAIRE:

You got it.

Jody grins.

JODY:

See you then.

Jody drives off. Claire walks down the driveway to her front

door and sees Mr. Feur staring at her from a window. She

starts to wave, but the curtain is drawn shut.

Claire arrives at the front door and reaches out to touch

the doorknob. She stops. A FAINT RUSTLING can be heard from

within. Claire quietly opens the door and moves into:

INT. FOYER - DAY

Claire stops inside the door. Now it sounds like WHISPERING.

Two voices, tense, impassioned. It seems to be coming from

Norman's study. She gathers her nerve, then bursts into the

room.

INT. NORMAN'S STUDY - DAY

But the whispering has suddenly stopped.

CLAIRE:

Hello?

The lovely circular room is completely empty. She looks

around, puzzled. Cooper, the family's aging lab, casually

ambles over.

CLAIRE:

(to Cooper)

Please tell me you heard that.

EXT. LAKE - DAY

Claire and Cooper, out on a walk, emerge onto large rocks at

the water's edge. Claire tosses a long stick for Cooper, who

bolts out onto the LONG WOODEN DOCK. Claire gazes at the

LIGHTHOUSE across the lake and a long BRIDGE in the distance.

Cooper starts BARKING and looking down into the water.

Claire arrives at Cooper's side and stares down into the

dark water.

CLAIRE:

Cooper... what do you see?

She looks down and sees nothing but her own reflection. After

a moment, she notices a FAINT WHITE SHAPE directly in the

reflection of her face. Cooper rumbles a low growl. The shape

seems to be gaining definition.

RRRING!

Claire gasps quietly, then reaches into a pocket in her

sweater and pulls out a cordless phone.

CLAIRE:

(into phone)

Hi.

NORMAN (V.O.)

(on the other end)

I'm stuck here for another couple of

hours.

Claire's smile fades.

CLAIRE:

Oh.

NORMAN (V.O.)

Unless you need me to come home...

CLAIRE:

No, no. It's fine.

Claire slowly leans out over the water to check her

reflection...

NORMAN (V.O.)

You sure?

...but the shape is gone.

NORMAN (V.O.)

Claire?

CLAIRE:

Huh? Absolutely. Take your time.

She clicks off the phone and looks down at the calm water.

INT. WORK ROOM - NIGHT

Claire sits in a small workroom at a computer. She focuses

intently on the screen.

ANGLE:

It's ALICE'S COMPUTER SOLITAIRE. She flips the last card and

an animated Queen of Hearts, accompanied by a series of

musical notes, parades across the screen.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:

(on computer)

You lost! Off with your head!

Claire hits "New Game" and watches as a fresh hand of cyber

solitaire is dealt. She suddenly has a thought and disappears

into the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

She glances at Jody's tea, smiles, then refills her glass of

red wine. She picks up the phone from its cradle and moves

into:

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

She dials a number. LOUD REGGAE can be heard blaring through

the phone.

CLAIRE:

(straining to be heard)

Hello? I'm looking for Caitlin

Spencer. She's in 314... Well, could

you check?

She plugs one ear.

CLAIRE:

Oh. Well, just tell her that her

mother called. Her mother. Thank

you. Excuse me, how can you study

with that?

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