INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
A cozy, candlelit Italian place in town.
Claire and Norman
arrive at the table. STAN rises. The chair
next to him is
empty. He kisses her cheek.
CLAIRE
Hi Stan. Sorry we're late.
(too earnest)
It was my fault.
She greets Stan, a friendly looking man
in his forties.
STAN
We just got here.
Claire flashes a semi-playful look back
at Norman.
CLAIRE
Where's the new squeeze?
A VOICE speaks out from behind her.
VOICE
Here I am.
Claire turns to find A TALL, ELEGANT
BRUNETTE standing behind
her. The woman's face registers some shock.
STAN
I'd like you to meet...
CLAIRE
Elena?
ELENA
Ohmigod...
The two women embrace, then beam at each
other.
CLAIRE
Wow.
ELENA
This is...
CLAIRE
(to Norman)
We know each other.
NORMAN
Hope so.
LATER
Post meal. Several empty wine bottle
decorate the table.
ELENA
We had this Finnish conductor, Aki, Laki,
something. He had these ridiculous bangs.
And he'd sweep them off with his baton
every minute or so, and it drove us
insane, remember?
Claire nods.
CLAIRE
He looked like one of the Monkees.
ELENA
Anyway, Claire slept with him...
CLAIRE
I didn't sleep with him.
ELENA
...just so she could cut them off.
CLAIRE
He was so pissed.
ELENA
I came in from my room...
CLAIRE
(interjecting)
We were suite mates.
ELENA
And there's this brilliant conductor in
purple briefs with no bangs cursing his
ass off in Finnish.
CLAIRE
Oh God...
They dissolve into giggles. Norman and
Stan smile.
STAN
Well...
NORMAN
(to Stan)
I made an honest woman out of her.
Elena puts her hand on Claire's.
ELENA
(to Stan)
You should have heard her play.
CLAIRE
Stop.
ELENA
We both auditioned for the Philharmonic.
One cello position open.
CLAIRE
Do we have to?
ELENA
And I kicked ass. My best stuff. Then
I
stood in the hallway and listened to her
audition...and I cried.
CLAIRE
She's making this up.
ELENA
I'm not. Couldn't pick up my cello for
weeks.
STAN
What happened?
Elena looks at Claire, then smiles.
ELENA
She got it.
(beat)
Turned it down.
CLAIRE
I met a dashing young grad student after
a
recital one night...
Claire puts her arm around Norman.
CLAIRE
...and three months later I was married.
He squeezes her hand.
INT. WORK ROOM - DAY
Claire walks into the work room with
the portable phone to
her ear and a cup of Jody's special tea.
She sniffs it and
makes a face as she turns on the computer.
After several
rings a GIRL picks up on the other end.
CLAIRE
(on phone)
Caitlin?
GIRL'S VOICE
(overlapping)
Can you hang up? I'm trying to make a
call.
The line goes dead. Claire hits redial
and gets...a BUSY
SIGNAL. She clicks the phone off as the
computer boots up.
Claire puts the phone down and starts
a game of Alice's
Solitaire. She turns a card and waits.
CLAIRE
Gee, that's tricky. Sure could use some
help.
She waits, the cursor blinks benignly.
CLAIRE
Come on...
Nothing happens.
INT. NORMAN AND CLAIRE'S ROOM - DAY
She walks into the room and notices STEAM
wafting from the
cracked bathroom door.
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Claire enters the steamy bathroom. The
tub is nearly
overflowing with water. She squats down
to drain the tub.
She stops, feeling watched, then slowly
peers behind her...no
one's there. Claire reaches toward the
water to yank the
plug's chain, then freezes. In the bathwater's
still
reflection she see:
A PRETTY YOUNG BLOND standing beside
her. Startled, she pops
up and slams into the SHOWER HEAD.
Claire collapses over the side of the
tub, her head dipping
underwater. A small cloud of red surrounds
her. Moments
later, an arm wraps around her.
CUT TO:
Blurry shapes.
VOICE (O.S.)
Claire...
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
CLAIRE'S POV - A FACE sharpens into focus
hovering above
her...Norman.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Claire sits on the bed. Norman dabs the
blood from a tiny
cut on the back of her head.
CLAIRE
I don't need a shrink.
NORMAN
(gently)
Harvey says he's amazing.
CLAIRE
Norman...
NORMAN
What can it hurt to talk to someone?
She goes to her dresser and gets a PRESCRIPTION
BOTTLE and
starts to open it. Norman gently places
a hand on her arm.
NORMAN
Please.
She shoots him a look...
NORMAN
You promised.
...and puts the pills down.
NORMAN
(gently)
Claire, she's been a huge part of your
life for seventeen years. If you weren't
thrown off balance by this, then
something would be wrong.
CLAIRE
I never said I wasn't upset. Of course
I'm upset. I miss her terribly. But I
know what I saw and what I heard...and
it
wasn't some "symptom" of something...
NORMAN
I never said...
CLAIRE
...and I don't think I'm some lonely,
middle-aged woman cracking up.
Beat.
NORMAN
Are you lonely?
CLAIRE
No! And I don't need a psychiatrist!
INT. DR. DRAYTON'S OFFICE - DAY
Claire sits in a comfortable looking
chair with her purse in
her lap, arms crossed.
DR. DRAYTON (O.S.)
(a smooth, mellifluous
baritone)
Who's idea was it?
CLAIRE
Mine. His. We both...thought...
She trails off. Camera slowly pulls back
to reveal, DR.
TIMOTHY DRAYTON, a stocky, light skinned
black man in his
late forties with a kind face and piercing
brown eyes.
CLAIRE
I didn't want to come.
DR. DRAYTON
Then why did you?
CLAIRE
Because he was worried about me.
DR. DRAYTON
Your husband?
CLAIRE
Yes.
(beat)
I'm sure he's hoping you'll pack me full
of prozac so he can live out his life
in
peace.
DR. DRAYTON
Do you really think so?
CLAIRE
No.
There's a pause.
DR. DRAYTON
Why is he worried?
CLAIRE
Because, I don't know, because
sometimes...sometimes I forget
things...and ever since Caitlin left,
ever since my daughter left for school,
there've been...I fainted and...
(beat)
Why is this so hard?
Dr. Drayton takes a little silver bowl
full of shiny, red
FIREBALLS next to his chair. He proffers
it to Claire.
DR. DRAYTON
Fireball?
CLAIRE
You're joking.
He shakes his head. She shrugs, then
grabs one and pops it
into her mouth.
DR. DRAYTON
It's hard because I'm a complete stranger
and what we're talking about is
incredibly personal. Besides, the first
time most people come here, a part of
them is wondering if I'm gonna think
they're crazy.
She sucks on the fireball and slowly
nods.
DR. DRAYTON
Don't worry, I'm required to have at
least three sessions in order to commit.
Her eyes get a little wider.
DR. DRAYTON
Now that's a joke.
She manages an unsteady smile.
DR. DRAYTON
I have some training at helping people
through the stressful moments in life,
one of which you may or may not be
experiencing. If you want to get some
stuff off your chest, great. If not...
He smiles and shrugs, "no problem."
She stares at him for a
moment.
CLAIRE
(re: fireball)
These are good.
DR. DRAYTON
Mm-hmm.
She studies him for a moment.
CLAIRE
There's a ghost in my house.
He nods slightly, as if she's told him,
"I have some
anxiety." Claire goes on.
CLAIRE
She finished my solitaire game and turned
on the radio...she likes rock and roll.
Angry rock and roll.
DR. DRAYTON
How do you know it's a she?
CLAIRE
I saw her in the water. Beside me. She
was filling the bathtub.
DR. DRAYTON
What does she look like?
CLAIRE
Pretty. She's a blond.
DR. DRAYTON
Do you have any idea who she is?
CLAIRE
Um...I'd rather not say...just yet.
DR. DRAYTON
Fine.
CLAIRE
What do you think I should do?
He thinks for a moment, then:
DR. DRAYTON
Try to contact her.
Claire nearly swallows her fireball.
CLAIRE
What?
DR. DRAYTON
Try to communicate with her somehow.
CLAIRE
You think that'll help?
DR. DRAYTON
Can't hurt. And I think it's important
you find out what she wants.
Claire ponders this for a moment, then
looks back up at him.
CLAIRE
Are you humoring me?
DR. DRAYTON
Nope.
She seems satisfied by his sincerity.
CLAIRE
How?
DR. DRAYTON
I don't know. My aunt used to use my
uncle's old pajamas and a candle.
He stands. Claire nods, then stands.
She smiles too.
CLAIRE
Is this time okay?
He nods.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
Claire walks in carrying a half-empty
bottle of wine. She
looks over at Jody, who turns off the
lights. Jody then
strikes a match and lights a LARGE CANDLE.
She unveils her
carved ANTIQUE OUIJA BOARD.
JODY
Sit down here.
CLAIRE
(nervous, jokey)
Are we hoping the ghost is going to
have to pee?
Jody turns to her, deadly serious.
JODY
Isn't this where you saw her?
Claire's smile fades. She nods.
JODY
Then this is where she'll be.
They sit cross legged, the board between
them.
JODY
Place your fingers on the planchette.
CLAIRE
The planchette?
JODY
This.
Jody indicates the wooden pointing device.
Each woman grasps
an edge.
JODY
(in a low voice)
We wish to commune with the spirit of
Mrs. Feur.
(to Claire)
What's her first name?
CLAIRE
I don't know.
Jody closes her eyes. Claire follows
suit.
JODY
I call forth the entity that is haunting
this house.
They look down at the planchette, which
hasn't moved.
JODY
Mrs. Feur?
There's still no movement.
CLAIRE
Nothing's happening.
JODY
Shhh.
Jody focuses intently.
JODY
Reveal yourself to us.
A long moment passes. It's starting to
seem like a bust.
Suddenly, THE CANDLE FLARES. Even Jody
seems startled.
JODY
(to the spirit)
Who...who are you?
At first, nothing happens. Then, slowly,
the planchette
starts to move across the board.
CLAIRE
Are you doing that?
Jody shakes her head.
CLAIRE
I'm not doing that.
The planchette comes to rest on the letter
"M." Moments
later, it starts to move again drifting
over and stopping on
"E."
CLAIRE
Oh...
JODY
M-E...
It starts to drift again, moving slowly
toward the space
between "E" and "F."
The planchette stops on "F."
Jody
removes her fingers from the device.
JODY
Mef? What's Mef?
CLAIRE
It's initials. F is Feur. It's her.
Suddenly, the CANDLE starts flickering
strangely and THE
PLANCHETTE SLIDES JERKILY ON ITS OWN...M-E-F,
M-E-F...
JODY
Shit...
Jody stumbles backwards, gasping.
JODY
Did you see that?
Claire leans in.
CLAIRE
(to ghost)
What happened to you?
The CANDLE GOES OUT.
JODY
Oh God...
Jody bolts. Claire follows.
EXT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Claire catches up to the completely spooked
Jody outside the
work room. She holds onto her arm.
JODY
I have to go.
CLAIRE
Jody, wait.
Cooper's growling in the work room. They
look in.
JODY
Claire, this is...this is...
Claire, transfixed, walks in.
INT. WORK ROOM - NIGHT
She stares at the computer screen, which
is being filled with
letters at an amazing speed.
MEFMEFMEFMEFMEFMEFMEF...
She hears the front door swing open.
CLAIRE
Jody!
INT. FOYER - NIGHT
Claire arrives at the open front door
in time to see the
Karman-Ghia tearing out of the driveway.
She turns and goes
back into the house.
CRASH!
She edges into...
INT. NORMAN'S STUDY - NIGHT
The picture has, once again, tumbled
from its spot. She
drops to her knees over the picture. This
time THE GLASS IS
SHATTERED. When she picks out the remaining
shards, the
newspaper photo slides out. Claire glances
at the benign
news stories on the back.
She looks around and spots a piece of
glass wedged in a crack
in the floor boards by the knot.
CLAIRE'S POV
The piece of glass, wedged next to what
looks like A COPPER
COIN in the crack. It's too big to be
a penny.
She tries to use the piece of glass to
pry it free, but
recoils. A tiny drop of blood appears
on her finger, which
she pops into her mouth.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
Still sucking on her finger, Claire walks
in and begins to
clean up the remains of the seance. She
bends down to pick
up the Ouija board, then stops when she
notices that the tub
is again full to the brink of overflowing.
CLAIRE
What do you want?!
Claire peers around, frustrated, half
waiting for a reply.
There is only silence. She reaches in
to pull the plug,
nearly scalding her hand. When she turns
for a hand towel
she finds a message traced into the steamed-up
mirror:
"YOU KNOW"
She draws in a breath and darts out of
the bathroom.
EXT. LAB BUILDING - NIGHT
Norman nods to a SECURITY GUARD as he
leaves a darkened
university building. He sees Claire standing
at the foot of
the steps.
NORMAN
What are you doing out here?
CLAIRE
He killed her. I'm not crazy. He killed
her and--
NORMAN
This is the Feur thing?
CLAIRE
Yes. And he's going to get away with it.
Norman's momentarily speechless.
NORMAN
How do you know this?
CLAIRE
We had a seance.
NORMAN
Who did?
CLAIRE
Jody and I. And she was there, Norman,
she was. It scared Jody so bad she had
to
leave.
NORMAN
How did you--
CLAIRE
Jody brought a Ouija board and we
summoned her.
He regards her for a moment.
NORMAN
Are you angry at me?
This stops Claire in her tracks.
CLAIRE
What?
NORMAN
Maybe you resent how busy I've been.
CLAIRE
What are you...? No.
NORMAN
You know what I've got at stake with this
paper. You know that. I can't help but
think that you're doing this now to hurt
me, or to sabotage me somehow.
CLAIRE
Sabotage?
NORMAN
Ever since the accident I've been
worried that you'd been unhappy, or...
CLAIRE
The accident...?
NORMAN
But then you've been so much better...
CLAIRE
Norman, this isn't about you. This is
something that's happening to me. It's
not to get even...and it's not some
warped bid for attention. Some strange
things are happening in our house,
whether you believe in them or not...
NORMAN
Sweetheart--
CLAIRE
No! Not sweetheart, no. I believe in
what's happening. I don't want to, but
I
do. I guess I was foolish enough to think
that would be enough for you.
She turns on a heel and walks toward
her car.
EXT. CAMPUS - NIGHT
Norman catches up to her as a LARGE CROWD
is filing out of
the concert hall next door.
NORMAN
You're overreacting.
She turns on him.
CLAIRE
Don't tell me how to react!
Norman glances around at the crowded
sidewalk.
NORMAN
Keep your voice down.
CLAIRE
I will NOT.
Some of the bystanders stop to watch.
CLAIRE
(still loud)
Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm losing my
mind...
NORMAN
(looking around)
Claire, please...
Claire leans in and lowers her voice
without diminishing her
intensity.
CLAIRE
...But what if I'm not? What if she died
in terror and betrayal and some part of
her can't move on while that's
unresolved. Can't you just...
Something behind him catches her eye.
She trails off.
CLAIRE
Wow...
Claire walks past him toward the parking
lot.
NORMAN
Claire, please...
There's a dangerous energy to her walk.
People step out of
the way.
EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Claire walks past several cars until
she sees the one she's
after. MR. FEUR steps out from behind
the open trunk of his
old Buick.
CLAIRE
(walking up)
You!
He looks up at her.
CLAIRE
You think you're smart, don't you? You
think you got away clean. Well, I know
you killed her. You drowned her in the
bathtub and got rid of her somewhere and
I'm gonna find her, you murdering
sonofabitch.
Mr. Feur stares, dazed, through the tirade.
Norman arrives
at her side.
MR. FEUR
Who?
CLAIRE
(scoffing)
Give me that shit. Your wife.
MR. FEUR
I didn't kill my wife.
NORMAN
(to Mr. Feur)
I'm sorry...
CLAIRE
(over Norman)
Then where is she?
He stares at both Spencers for a moment.
Then calls past
them.
MR. FEUR
Honey...
Claire and Norman turn. A BLOND WOMAN
backs out of the
passenger seat. She turns. IT'S NOT THE
FACE CLAIRE HAS
SEEN. Claire looks sucker punched.
INT. DR. DRAYTON'S OFFICE - DAY
Claire sits back in the chair. She looks
drained. A soft
rain taps against the windows.
CLAIRE
And his face...it seemed so gentle, and
I
knew...in that second I knew that I'd
imagined the whole thing.
Dr. Drayton takes this in. She seems
genuinely frightened.
CLAIRE
What's happening to me?
DR. DRAYTON
Well, that's what we're here for.
He watches her calmly, some empathy on
his face.
DR. DRAYTON
Whether you imagined it or not, you
actually saw and heard things that
frightened you...that gave you reason
for
concern.
CLAIRE
Yes, but...
DR. DRAYTON
Your friend saw them.
CLAIRE
Isn't there something called group
hysteria?
DR. DRAYTON
You think you influenced her?
CLAIRE
Maybe. I don't know. I just know that
when all this was happening, I felt, some
part of me felt...alive. Like somebody
needed me. And the more I reached out
to,
it, the fuller it became.
DR. DRAYTON
You're saying you willed these events
to
happen?
CLAIRE
I don't know, I'm very confused right
now.
Beat.
DR. DRAYTON
Did you ever find out what it wanted?
Claire remembers.
CLAIRE
She said, "You know." That I
know.
DR. DRAYTON
Do you?
CLAIRE
No.
DR. DRAYTON
What do you think?
(beat)
Guess.
Claire ponders this.
CLAIRE
I felt...pain. That she'd been hurt by
someone.
(beat)
This is great. I'm trying to intuit the
emotions of a figment of my--
DR. DRAYTON
Have you been hurt?
CLAIRE
Me? No. Well, in the accident I was
injured, but...
DR. DRAYTON
You were in an accident?
CLAIRE
Last year. I drove my car up a tree.
Nothing serious, this...
(she indicates her scar)
...a minor concussion. But the car looked
bad. It could have been bad. I think it
scared the hell out of Norman.
Beat.
DR. DRAYTON
How's your marriage?
Claire's eyes widen.
CLAIRE
Listen, don't hold back.
Dr. Drayton smiles kindly.
CLAIRE
Well, he's been amazing throughout this
whole thing. Patient and caring...
(beat)
I mean, sure, he can be obsessed with
his
work, and...it's a very important time
right now with all that. But,
sometimes...I mean with everybody, right?
Sometimes it's like...
She trails off.
DR. DRAYTON
What?
CLAIRE
That he doesn't...see me, or, you know,
that I'm...that's something's wrong...with
me.
DR. DRAYTON
That can't feel good.
CLAIRE
No, it doesn't...Okay, look, I see what
you're doing here, and that's, I'm sorry,
but that's not it. My marriage is fine.
I've had some kind of "empty-nest"
episode where I saw some things that
weren't there. Let's deal with that. I'm
willing to deal with that.
(beat)
I just don't want to go conjuring
problems where none exist.
Claire finishes her tirade. Dr. Drayton
lets her settle for
a moment.
DR. DRAYTON
Fair enough. But you should know that
I'm
far less concerned with whether things
you saw "existed," than I am
with why you
saw them.
She takes in the ramifications of that.
EXT. PORCH - DAY
Claire's carrying some cuttings into
the house. She hears a
knock at the gate, walks over and opens
it to discover...Mrs.
Feur. The real one.
MRS. FEUR
I wanted to apologize.
CLAIRE
You do?
MRS. FEUR
For scaring you like I did. When I
thought about what that must have seemed
like that day...
CLAIRE
And then you weren't there.
MRS. FEUR
Right. I'm sorry.
There's an awkward pause.
CLAIRE
Would you like some iced tea?
MRS. FEUR
Very much.
Claire leads her toward the house.
EXT. PORCH - DAY
Claire pours Mrs. Feur a glass of iced
tea from a pitcher.
She's small and delicate looking with
big, watery eyes.
MRS. FEUR
Your house is so beautiful.
CLAIRE
Thank you.
MRS. FEUR
And these roses. They're much prettier
up close.
She regards Mrs. Feur for a moment. She
seems skittish and
shy.
CLAIRE
I...there's something I have to ask
you.
Mrs. Feur waits.
CLAIRE
That day...at the fence. You seemed
terrified. I don't think I was imagining
that.
There's a pause. Mrs. Feur looks down
into her lap.
MRS. FEUR
No.
CLAIRE
Of what? What were you so afraid of?
MRS. FEUR
You're going to think I'm crazy or
something.
A tiny smile.
CLAIRE
Not this week.
She looks away for a moment, then looks
back at Claire.
MRS. FEUR
Love.
CLAIRE
What?
MRS. FEUR
Have you ever felt so completely consumed
by a feeling for someone that you
couldn't breathe? That the time together
is so passionate and consuming that you
felt physical pain when they would leave?
CLAIRE
Um...sure.
MRS. FEUR
I couldn't catch my breath. That's not
a
metaphor, that's...And I panicked. I
never dreamed anyone would hear me back
there...
(beat)
I tried to leave him. Went to my mother's
in Boston. He brought my things up and
pleaded with me to come home.
Claire is mesmerized.
MRS. FEUR
You must think I'm pathetic.
CLAIRE
No. No, I don't.
MRS. FEUR
I'm sorry that I frightened you like
that. But I was so touched by your
concern. I've been lonely here.
(beat)
Perhaps we could be friends.
Claire stares at this strange, passionate
woman.
CLAIRE
I would like that.
Mrs. Feur smiles at her.
INT. VOLVO - NIGHT
Claire pulls up in front of a large NEW
YORK HOTEL.
NORMAN
(on a cell phone)
...I'm pulling up, Yuri. I'll see you
for
dinner.
(to Claire)
Sure you won't stay?
CLAIRE
No, it's fine. I'm fine.
NORMAN
(tempting her)
Really big bed.
She smiles and shakes her head. Norman
kisses her goodbye,
then grabs his bag from the backseat.
NORMAN
Do I have everything?
CLAIRE
Yep.
NORMAN
Call ya later.
He starts to walk into the hotel.
CLAIRE (O.S.)
And you glad you married me?
He turns. She's standing next to the
car.
NORMAN
What?
CLAIRE
Are you glad? I'm glad.
Norman walks over to her and cradles
her chin with his hand.
NORMAN
(softly)
You know I am.
CLAIRE
Good.
(She gazes at him, then
softly)
You sat in front...I saw you there...
Norman takes his cue.
NORMAN
You were lost in the music...eyes
closed...your chest heaving...
CLAIRE
I felt you...looking through me...
NORMAN
We walked all night...
CLAIRE
You told me that I was...
He gently cups her chin in his hand.
NORMAN
(overlapping)
...that you were everything I'd ever
dreamed of.
She smiles, kisses him warmly, then gets
in the car.
EXT. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - NIGHT
Claire stands outside Caitlin's Columbia
dorm, watching young
lives in motion.
INT. DORM HALLWAY - NIGHT
Claire walks past a number of doors.
Music booms out of one,
shards of a conversation out of another.
Finally, she
arrives at a door that says "Fur
is murder." She smiles to
herself and knocks. There's no answer.
DIFFERENT VOICE (O.S.)
She's out.
Claire turns to find an attractive YOUNG
MAN standing at her
elbow.
YOUNG MAN
They're playing at CBGB's down on Bowery.
Probably won't be back for awhile. You
her mom?
CLAIRE
Yes. Who was playing?
YOUNG MAN
Bitch. Caitlin's band.
CLAIRE
(stunned)
Caitlin's band?
YOUNG MAN
Yeah. They're really good. I would have
gone, but I have a paper.
(beat)
And I'm not just saying that because
you're a mother.
Claire nods slightly.
CLAIRE
Thank you.
She walks down the hall.
INT. CBGB'S - NIGHT
Claire moves past a huge, BLACK SKINHEAD
DOORMAN into an
entrance area in the dark throbbing punk
club. She looks out
over the MOB OF SEETHING YOUNG PEOPLE,
swaying to a pulsing
power-pop band. PUNKS and CLUB KIDS push
past her as they
move into the throng. She looks up and
her face changes.
CLAIRE'S POV
A shaggy trio of musicians on the stage,
pumping through a
jangly, but surprisingly melodic song.
Her eyes race across
the faces of a BUTCH FEMALE DRUMMER, an
emaciated
GUITARIST/SINGER and stop on the BASS
PLAYER...Caitlin. She
rocks back and forth to her own hypnotic
bass line, EYES
CLOSED, SWAYING TO THE MUSIC.
Claire is transfixed, her face a mix
of pride and sadness.
The song ends and Caitlin's eyes open.
She smiles for a
moment, then the smile fades as she spots
Claire. Panicked,
Claire ducks behind a pillar.
EXT. CBGB'S - NIGHT
The last groups of YOUNG PEOPLE file
out of the club. A
couple of them glance at Claire, who seems
very out of place
standing on the Bowery late at night.
VOICE (O.S.)
Mom?
She turns to see Caitlin standing before
her, a bass guitar
case on a strap over her shoulder. There's
an awkward pause.
CLAIRE
That was very good.
CAITLIN
Mom, I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you.
But it never felt right.
CLAIRE
Why?
Caitlin stares at the ground.
CAITLIN
I didn't want to bring up memories. I
didn't want to do anything that might
make you regret your choices.
Claire winces silently.
CAITLIN
Besides, Dad would have freaked.
CLAIRE
No, he wouldn't.
CAITLIN
I think playing in a band called "Bitch"
might put a dent in the whole "perfect
family" thing.
CLAIRE
That's not true.
CAITLIN
Yes it is. Can we please not do that?
Please? Cause it is.
Claire doesn't disagree.
CLAIRE
He loves you very much. He just--
CAITLIN
I know he does.
Beat. Claire studies her surprisingly
strong daughter.
CAITLIN
Are you mad at me?
CLAIRE
Listen to me. The one thing in life that
I definitely don't regret...is the choice.
I made to be your mother.
They hug. For a moment, Claire's got
her little girl back.
Her eyes well up.
CLAIRE
I miss you.
CAITLIN
So much.
CLAIRE
(laughing)
It got so bad your father almost had to
put me away.
CAITLIN
What do you mean?
CLAIRE
I started seeing things.
CAITLIN
A ghost?
Beat. Claire stares at her daughter.
CLAIRE
Did you?
CAITLIN
No. But once I heard...
CLAIRE
What?
CAITLIN
Someone crying. A girl.
(beat)
I thought I was crazy.
CLAIRE
(quietly)
Then we both are.
Caitlin nods.
INT. PRESIDENT'S HOUSE - NIGHT
...a large cocktail party. The house
is crowded with
PROFESSORS, ADMINISTRATORS, and their
SPOUSES. PRESIDENT
TEMPLETON, a frosty-haired, avuncular
chap, greets them with
his WIFE, a sharp looking woman in her
late fifties.
TEMPLETON
There they are.
NORMAN
You remember my wife, Claire.
MRS. TEMPLETON
(shaking hands)
Of course. You must be so proud.
CLAIRE
I am.
MRS. TEMPLETON
(to Norman)
Everyone's very anxious to shake hands
with our newest academic celebrity.
She takes their coats. Dean Templeton
leads them in.
TEMPLETON
Must've been some paper. Your father
would be very proud.
This seems to strike a nerve.
NORMAN
Uh-huh.
Claire notices this and squeezes his
hand. Templeton leads
Norman into a large living room which
is filled with
colleagues. Several of them turn and begin
clapping. Others
follow suit.
EXT. PATIO - NIGHT
Claire stands at a small bar.
CLAIRE
(to bartender)
White wine please.
She scans the party and spots the Feurs
deep in some intimate
conversation with each other. She's speaking
about something
astonishing. He's rapt.
Claire locates Norman in a corner listening
as some AGED
ALUMNUS holds forth. He sees her and mouths,
"I'm sorry."
He points to his watch and flashes five
fingers. She smiles
and nods.
VOICE (O.S.)
Guess I'm not much of a medium.
She turns to see Jody.
CLAIRE
Jody...
They hug.
JODY
Are you okay?
CLAIRE
I think so
JODY
I'm sorry for leaving, but I mean, Jesus,
Claire...
CLAIRE
It's alright.
JODY
I mess around with this stuff, but I
never thought anything would happen.
Claire looks uncomfortable.
JODY
Does Norman know?
CLAIRE
Jody, she's alive.
JODY
What?
CLAIRE
Mrs. Feur. She's alive. I met her.
She's really sweet.
JODY
Then what was it?
CLAIRE
Nothing. It wasn't anything. I've been
on edge lately. Maybe since the accident.
And I'd prefer, I really would, to just--
JODY
Something was there. You saw it.
CLAIRE
Did I?
JODY
Yes. Now I talked to Sela and there's
a
guy, this Pakistani guy down in
Hartford...
CLAIRE
Hartford?
JODY
And he's the real thing. Specializes in
cases like this, like yours.
CLAIRE
No. Jody, listen to me. You have to
listen to me. This is not something that
I can do right now. Whatever it was,
it's gone. I need it to be gone now.
JODY
But Claire--
CLAIRE
Please.
Jody recognizes her fragility.
JODY
Okay. Okay.
CLAIRE
I've got to find a bathroom. I'll call
you.
Jody nods as Claire walks off.
INT. POWDER ROOM - NIGHT
Claire stands in the spacious powder
room, checking her
makeup in the mirror. Mrs. Templeton enters
from the
bathroom.
MRS. TEMPLETON
How're you holding up?
CLAIRE
Just fine. It's a lovely party.
The two women fix their makeup side-by-side
in the mirror.
MRS. TEMPLETON
Norman was telling me the dream house
is
finally finished.
CLAIRE
(nodding)
Almost.
MRS. TEMPLETON
Wonderful. It's good to see you two doing
so well.
Claire looks confused.
CLAIRE
I'm sorry?
MRS. TEMPLETON
I know how hard it can be sometimes.
Claire turns to her.
CLAIRE
Uh-huh. What can be?
MRS. TEMPLETON
Well, I don't think I've seen you since
the reception at Dean Ackerman's last
year.
Claire's still in the dark.
MRS. TEMPLETON
For the Dupont Chair.
(off Claire's look)
I swear. I'm becoming the nosy old lady
I
used to run from at Amherst.
CLAIRE
No. I'm just not sure what you mean.
MRS. TEMPLETON
There was just...some tension. You were
upset. I remember being concerned.
CLAIRE
At the party.
MRS. TEMPLETON
Toward the end. You remember?
CLAIRE
(recovering)
Ohhh yes. No, no. Just a little, you
know...We're fine.
MRS. TEMPLETON
Well, I'm glad. Pardon my intrusiveness,
but we do have to stick together you
know.
CLAIRE
Who's that?
MRS. TEMPLETON
The wives.
Beat.
CLAIRE
Right.
Mrs. Templeton leaves. Claire looks into
the mirror.
CLAIRE (V.O.)
What was it about?
EXT. TEMPLETON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Claire and Norman walk toward the car.
NORMAN
You don't remember?
CLAIRE
When she said it, there was something
familiar...but no.
He looks at her for a moment.
NORMAN
You dropped a glass.
CLAIRE
I...
NORMAN
A cheap wine glass from the caterers.
You
started crying. I tried to comfort you...
CLAIRE
(something's triggered)
In the living room...
NORMAN
You shoved me away and ran out to the
patio. I took you home.
CLAIRE
But why? I can't understand how I could
just completely--
NORMAN
It was maybe a week after the accident.
We were moving. It was a hard time.
CLAIRE
But I don't remember.
NORMAN
Sweetheart, it was over a year ago.
CLAIRE
What's wrong with me?
He stops, takes her shoulders gently.
NORMAN
(reassuring)
Nothing. Nothing at all. It's been a
hard year. But you're better now. And
things are really looking up for us. So
let's try to enjoy that.
(gently)
Please?
She thinks for a beat.
CLAIRE
Yes. Yes. That's what I want.
She takes his hand and kisses it.
EXT. CLAIRE'S HOUSE - DAY
Claire walks up to the door. When she
touches the knob she
hears...the WHISPERING. She opens the
door and moves into:
INT. FOYER - DAY
The same intense whispered exchange.
She glances into the
mirror and sees...SHAPES MOVING, BODIES,
A FLASH OF SILVER.
She turns the corner and again...NO ONE'S
THERE.
INT. NORMAN'S STUDY - DAY
She walks in and stands before:
The repaired photograph of herself and
Norman...at the party
for the DUPONT CHAIR.
She takes it from the wall, stares at
it for a moment, then
SMASHES IT ON THE EDGE OF THE DESK. She
extricates the
picture from the broken glass. The caption
reads:
"Dr. Norman Spencer being awarded
the distinguished Dupont
Chair in Genetics by Dean of Sciences
Torvald Ackerman."
She stares at the picture for a moment,
then flips it over
and scans the stories on the back. One
tells of a hotly
contested city council race, another contains
details of a
large alumni donation to the university.
She notices the bottom corner of another
story she hadn't
noticed before. It's only a small portion
of one column, but
it seems to detail the search for A MISSING
GIRL.
INT. WORK ROOM - DAY
Claire, online, logs onto a missing persons
website. She
narrows her search to NEW ENGLAND. A screen
pops up with a
list of names. She scrolls down the list
until she
finds...FRANK, MADISON ELIZABETH.
CLAIRE
M-E-F...
Claire double clicks on it, then waits
breathlessly as a
blurry cyber photo fills the screen. Slowly,
higher
resolution moves down the image.
IT'S THE GHOST.
Under the photo is the legend:
"DISAPPEARED - OCTOBER 22, 1998"
Claire stares at the familiar face, then
shakily hits PRINT.
LATER
Claire is staring down at the girl's
face on the print out.
VOICE
(on phone)
...she was practically a townie. Grew
up
in Bradford.
CLAIRE
And she was never found?
VOICE
(on phone)
Nah. She was a live wire. Had this old
Mustang Fastback. It's gone too. Most
of
her friends think she's tooling around
Mexico somewhere. Police downgraded her
to a runaway.
CLAIRE
Thank you, Mr...
She glances at the byline on the back
of the newspaper photo.
INSERT
"by Neil McCann"
CLAIRE
...McCann.
She hangs up. |
Spain.
