Screenplay

» by Clark Gregg.
[Draft Script]
June 14, 1999

PART - III

INT. NORMAN'S STUDY - NIGHT

Norman is unpacking NOTES and CHEMICALS from his LEATHER BAG.
Claire walks in.

CLAIRE
Remember this?

She places the printout on his desk. He takes a long look at
it.

NORMAN
Is this that girl from last year?

Claire nods.

CLAIRE
Did you know her?

Norman looks again.

NORMAN
I may have seen her on campus.

CLAIRE
Not personally.

NORMAN
No.
(beat)
I'm afraid to ask what this is about.

CLAIRE
(solemnly)
It's her. This is the woman who I've
seen.

NORMAN
The...

CLAIRE
Yes. The ghost.

Norman leaves the hung frame and walks over to a window.

CLAIRE
I thought it was Mrs. Feur, but it's
not...

NORMAN
(quietly overlapping)
Stop...

CLAIRE
...I'm positive this time...

NORMAN
(overlapping)
...Please stop...

CLAIRE
It's Madison Fra--

NORMAN
STOP IT!

Claire falls silent, Norman turns from the window.

NORMAN
(calmly)
Claire, I've tried to be there. I know
you're going through something that I
can't understand...but it's enough.

Claire looks down.

NORMAN
Do you want to go see someone? Together?
Should we call Dr. Drayton?

She shakes her head.

NORMAN
Well then what? Claire, what? Tell me
what I can do.

Long pause. Claire looks up, then timidly holds out the
printout.

CLAIRE
It's her.

Norman's jaw tightens.

CLAIRE
I don't want to make you angry. But she's
here. And I don't know why...

He silently walks out of the room. Claire stares down at the
face in the photo.

EXT. MADISON FRANK'S HOUSE - DAY

Claire parks in front of a small, clapboard house in a
neighborhood that is decidedly less upscale than her own.
She gets out and tentatively walks up to the tiny porch.

EXT. PORCH - DAY

Claire rings the bell. A DRAWN LOOKING WOMAN in her early
fifties answers the door.

CLAIRE
Mrs. Frank?

MRS. FRANK
Yeah.

CLAIRE
I'd like to talk to you about Madison.

MRS. FRANK
You know where she is?

CLAIRE
No, I don't.

MRS. FRANK
Please leave me alone.

She starts to close the door. Claire leans forward.

CLAIRE
She's my friend.

The woman stops.

CLAIRE
Was. We were...acquainted. I've been
away for awhile. When I came back...

She studies Claire.

MRS. FRANK
What's your name?

CLAIRE
Claire.

MRS. FRANK
She never mentioned you.

Claire doesn't know what to say to this.

MRS. FRANK
Then again, she didn't say much about her
college friends.

She gives Claire the once over.

MRS. FRANK
I'm watchin' my shows.

She motions Claire in.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Claire sits on a couch in the cramped living room. Mrs.
Frank serves up a mug of coffee. A soap plays silently on an
old 19" RCA.

MRS. FRANK
Just plain old coffee. None of that mocha
nonsense.

CLAIRE
It's fine.

She sizes Claire up.

MRS. FRANK
You look a little old for a student.

CLAIRE
I'm not. We...we met at a party.

MRS. FRANK
Sounds about right. Never understood how
a girl that wild got all A's. Sure didn't
get it from me. They wanted to put her in
a special school for the gifted when she
was young. Maddie wouldn't hear about it.

CLAIRE
She never mentioned her father.

MRS. FRANK
Well she wouldn't. He left when she was
twelve. Never spoke about him after that.

There's a silence. Mrs. Frank stares at the TV.

MRS. FRANK
Don't need the sound. You can pretty much
tell what's happening by the faces. Turn
it up sometimes, though. Feels like
someone's here.

Claire doesn't know what to say. Mrs. Frank turns to her.

MRS. FRANK
Why are you here?

CLAIRE
I don't know.

MRS. FRANK
It's like that. Doesn't seem real. No
note. Nothing.
(beat)
Cops say she'll be back. I just wanna
know what happened.

Claire stares at this tough, tragic woman.

MRS. FRANK
Wanna see her room?

Claire nods.

INT. MADISON'S ROOM - DAY

Claire enters the room. Her face freezes.

ANGLE

SEVERAL POSTERS FOR ALTERNATIVE AND METAL BANDS, side by side
with ACADEMIC PLAQUES AND AWARDS.

MRS. FRANK
Full scholarships. Princeton too. She
wanted to stay close.

CLAIRE
You must have been very proud.

She nods. Claire moves along looking at pictures. Some with
different men, others with rough looking friends. Claire
stops at a picture tucked into a mirror.

INSERT

Madison singing at a recital of some kind. She's lovely,
with striking GREEN EYES. Around her neck is a distinctive
SILVER NECKLACE, with a perfectly wrought, SILVER ROSEBUD.

MRS. FRANK
Such a pretty voice. Surprised she didn't
major in music.
(beat)
That's the last picture.

A phone rings in the hallway.

MRS. FRANK
S'cuse me.

Claire's eye is pulled past the picture into the mirror, the
reflection of something pinned to the edge of a bulletin
board. She turns and moves over to:

A SHORT BLOND BRAID. She reaches out to touch it. Claire
hears footsteps. Mrs. Frank leans back into the room.

MRS. FRANK
They're calling me in to work.

CLAIRE
I should be going anyway.

EXT. PORCH - DAY

Mrs. Frank walks Claire out.

MRS. FRANK
Y'hear anything you'll let me know?

CLAIRE
Of course.

Claire walks to her car. She turns and calls out:

CLAIRE
What was her major?

MRS. FRANK
Biology. She wanted to be a doctor.

Claire stands, frozen, as Mrs. Frank disappears into the
little house.

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

Claire shuts the blinds, then places the large candle on the
floor, then places the MISSING GIRL PRINTOUT at the base of
the candle. On top if it, she places THE BRAID.

Then Claire lights the candle, puts the braid on the picture,
and hunches over it, whispering intensely:

CLAIRE
I need to know the truth.

She waits a beat. Nothing.

CLAIRE
Madison, please...help me.

Nothing happens. She looks around at the seance props.

She stands and places her hands on the sink. She glances at
herself in the mirror.

CLAIRE
What am I doing?

Suddenly, her head droops over, she shudders softly. When
she looks back into the mirror, her eyes are a DEEP GREEN.
She hears the front door open downstairs.

NORMAN (O.S.)
Hello...Anybody home?!

A strange smile creeps across her face.

INT. CLAIRE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

POV - Gliding down the stairs and into...

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

The refrigerator door is open. Norman is leaning over. Only
his ass protrudes.

REVERSE

Norman closes the refrigerator door and sees Claire standing
before him, stripped down to a skirt and slip top. There's a
different physicality to her movements...a different rhythm
to her speech.

CLAIRE
Hello, Dr. Spencer.

Norman smiles.

NORMAN
Mrs. Spencer.

She shakes her head.

CLAIRE
Forbidden fruit...

She takes the apple...

CLAIRE
Got a problem with that...

...then takes a ravenous bite and walks out of the room.

INT. NORMAN'S STUDY - DAY

Norman finds Claire seated on his desk, her legs spread.

NORMAN
I take it your not mad at me.

CLAIRE
Wouldn't go that far.

She grabs his belt and pulls him into her, then holds the
apple to his mouth. Norman tentatively takes a bite. She
mashes it slowly into his mouth until he recoils slightly.

NORMAN
(mouth full)
Okay...

When he chews the huge bite, a glistening drop of juice runs
down his chin. Claire leans forward and licks it off.

NORMAN
What's gotten into you?

She just smiles mischievously, then starts kissing him. It
looks like she's eating his lips. Norman's getting hot. She
bites down on a lip.

NORMAN
Ow!

CLAIRE
What's the matter?

NORMAN
It's too rough.

CLAIRE
Since when?

Something about this response frightens him. Claire yanks
Norman's belt open. He steps back, tripping over his
castered desk chair. She's on top of him in a flash, sitting
astride him. She speaks in a forceful, sexy whisper.

NORMAN
I don't like this, this...

CLAIRE
(pinning his hands above his
head)
Why don't you shut up and fuck me,
Professor.

She grinds up against him. Suddenly, something pulls her eye
to the hallway.

POV - The COAT RACK MIRROR, now from inside the study. In
it's reflection: ANOTHER CLAIRE, shorter hair, stunned
expression. Where she's standing...it's DAYTIME.

Claire leans over him until they're nose-to-nose.

CLAIRE
(tense whisper)
I think she's starting to suspect
something.

NORMAN
(through clenched teeth)
Who?

CLAIRE
(leaning down)
Your wife...

NORMAN
STOP IT!

Norman shoves her off of him onto the floor. He stands,
breathless.

NORMAN
What the hell are you doing?!

In a moment, it's Claire again, stunned and trembling against
the wall.

CLAIRE
(to herself, remembering)
"You know..."

NORMAN
(rattled)
What?

She looks up.

CLAIRE
I was there.

NORMAN
Claire--

CLAIRE
(flooding back to her)
I came to work in the garden and I saw
you with her...in my house.

NORMAN
Oh God...

CLAIRE
I snuck back to my car, trying to
convince myself it never happened. And
when I woke up in the hospital...somehow
it hadn't. Until now.

He just stares at her, his face anguished.

NORMAN
It was last year. We were having
troubles.

CLAIRE
So you fucked a student?!

NORMAN
(reaching for her)
That's not what I'm sayi--

CLAIRE
(pulling back)
DON'T touch me. Just get away from me.
Go!

He's frozen.

CLAIRE
I SAID GET OUT!

Norman doesn't move. He's never seen her like this.

CLAIRE
Fine...

She bolts toward the living room. He follows her.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

She grabs her coat.

NORMAN
(welling up)
Claire, please don't...

CLAIRE
What did you think I would do? Jesus
Christ! I gave up my life and my music...

NORMAN
I never asked you to quit!

CLAIRE
...Oh BULLSHIT. You had to topple perfect
Daddy and that meant perfect wife,
perfect family...

He follows her as she searches for her purse and keys.

NORMAN
THAT'S NOT TRUE! You wanted to quit! And
then when you did, you hated me for it...
so you gave it all to her.

CLAIRE
Who?

NORMAN
To Caitlin!!

She wheels on him with fury.

CLAIRE
Leave her out of this!

NORMAN
And then out of nowhere, some bright
young woman found me attractive...

CLAIRE
Stop...

NORMAN
...would do anything just to be around
me. And I slipped. God help me, I
slipped.

CLAIRE
I'm not going to listen to this.

Claire goes to leave, Norman blocks her path.

NORMAN
I tried to break it off!

CLAIRE
You should have tried harder.

NORMAN
Claire...

CLAIRE
(seething)
Get out of my way.

She brushes past him.

INT. FOYER - NIGHT

He catches up, beside himself.

NORMAN
PLEASE DON'T GO!

Claire's nearly disarmed by this rare emotional outburst.
She turns at the door and looks back.

CLAIRE
You made it impossible for me to be
someone you could be in love with.

She leaves.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Norman, rumpled and unshaven, is passed out on the couch, a
half empty whiskey bottle beside him on the coffee table. He
awakens to find Claire sitting across from him.

CLAIRE
I want you to answer one question.

He waits.

CLAIRE
Did you have anything to do with her
disappearance?

Beat.

NORMAN
Yes.

Claire goes pale.

NORMAN
She was damaged and unstable. The more I
tried to distance myself, the more
desperate she became. Finally, she showed
up at the new house...

CLAIRE
How did she know where it was?

He stares off. The reality sinks in for Claire.

CLAIRE
(softly)
Our dream house.

Norman can hardly look at her.

NORMAN
She was out of control. She said she was
going to kill herself...or you. I never
thought she'd go through with any of it,
but then she was gone...

He trails off.

CLAIRE
She did it.

NORMAN
We don't know that for sure.

CLAIRE
Of course she did, Norman. What else
could it be?

The enormity of this hits Norman. His head drops into his
hands.

NORMAN
Oh God, what have I done? How could I
have let this into our lives?

He looks up at her, teary.

CLAIRE
I don't know.

She gets up and walks out of the room.

EXT. JODY'S STUDIO - DAY

An old industrial loft filled with finished and half-finished
oil paintings. Jody brings Claire some tea.

CLAIRE
...and everything I have, everything I
thought my life was...Christ when I think
of all the lies...

Jody looks down.

CLAIRE
What?
(beat)
Jody what?

Jody looks up, tears in her eyes.

CLAIRE
Oh God...you knew.

JODY
I was down in Adamant...

CLAIRE
Adamant?

JODY
Artsy little village down seven. There's
a guy there who sells my work. I had just
dropped off some paintings and as I got
in my car...I saw Norman sitting at this
little cafe.

Claire waits for her to continue.

JODY
I started to walk over...but he wasn't
alone. A blond. I only caught a glimpse.
She was young.
(beat)
I should have said something right away.
But I didn't.

CLAIRE
Why?

JODY
Partly because I didn't want to hurt
you...but partly...partly because I was
relieved.

CLAIRE
Relieved?

JODY
I had just been left by Richard. I was
bitter and miserable and for some fucked
up reason, it made me feel better that
your life wasn't as perfect as it seemed.

Claire nods.

JODY
By the time I finally got up the nerve to
tell you, Stan called from the hospital
and it was too late.

CLAIRE
Too late? Jody, it was an accident.

JODY
Alone? On a two lane road? With a ton of
Valium in your system?

Claire walks over to a window.

JODY
I got there first. Stan covered up the
pills and I had it out with Norman. He
seemed desperate not to lose you. He
promised to handle it. And we all let it
drop away.

CLAIRE
All of us.

Beat.

JODY
I'm a terrible friend.

CLAIRE
No.

Claire turns.

CLAIRE
How could I expect you to tell me
something that I wouldn't even tell
myself?

JODY
What are you going to do?

CLAIRE
I don't know.

JODY
If she was dangerous before--

CLAIRE
She could have hurt me if she wanted to.

JODY
You don't know that.
(beat)
If it's your belief that gives her form,
then you've got to shut her out. Somehow
you have to break the connection.

CLAIRE
No. She wanted me to know the truth. Now
that I do...I think she's at peace.

Jody isn't as sure.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Claire walks in. She notices the clock on the range is dark.
She flips on a light. Nothing happens. Worried, she heads
upstairs.

INT. NORMAN AND CLAIRE'S ROOM - MORNING

Claire enters. The bed is empty. The shower is running in
the bathroom.

CLAIRE
Norman?

INT. BATHROOM - MORNING

ANGLE - CLAIRE...her face a mask of terror.

CLAIRE
Oh God...

CLAIRE'S POV

The BATHTUB, with the shower curtain drawn around it, the
water blasting. Norman's limp hand pokes through the
curtain. AN ELECTRIC CORD leads from the mirror socket into
the tub.

Claire races over and rips the plug from the wall. She tears
the SHOWER CURTAIN AWAY to find A BLUISH NORMAN lying,
unconscious in the tub.

CLAIRE
No, no. Please no...

She hugs her face to his chest until she picks up a
heartbeat.

CLAIRE
Norman!! Wake up! Please!

Claire shakes him to no effect.

CLAIRE
Oh God...NORMAN!

She slaps him on the face...once, then twice. He suddenly
sucks in a gulp of air, begins struggling and dazedly returns
to life.

CLAIRE
It's me...it's me...

Sobbing, she shuts off the squeaky faucets and struggles to
pull him upright. She discovered HER BLOWDRYER in the tub
and hurls it across the room.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Claire sits beside Norman on the bed as two E.M.T.'s, an OLD
GUY and a HEAVY WOMAN pack up. Stan's on the phone, Jody off
to one side.

HEAVY WOMAN
Vitals are good. I'd take it easy for a
couple of days.

NORMAN
Thanks.

The E.M.T.'s leave as Stan hangs up.

STAN
They'll take you for a CAT scan tomorrow
if you're feeling dizzy at all.

NORMAN
That won't be necessary.

He glances at Claire as he walks Stan out.

NORMAN
Not unless there's a miracle drug for
clumsiness.

They leave.

CLAIRE
Jody, she tried to kill him.

JODY
I know.

CLAIRE
I can't believe this is happening.

JODY
We need help. Please let me call the
medium.

CLAIRE
That could take days. I need to do
something now. Don't you see? She wants
us dead.

Jody thinks for a moment.

JODY
Alight, alright. Stay calm. You opened
this door. There's got to be a way that
you can close it.

CLAIRE
Like what?

JODY
I have an idea. But, I mean, I'm just
making this up...

CLAIRE
What is it?

CUT TO:

MADISON'S SMILING FACE

EXT. DOCK - DAY

Claire's staring down at the PRINTOUT. She's kneeling at the
edge of the dock. From her pocket she produces THE BLOND
BRAID and a piece of TWINE. She wraps the braid up in the
printout with a rock and secures it with the twine.

CLAIRE
Sorry. Better or worse, he's mine.

She tosses the little parcel into the dark water. Bubbles
stream up. In the bubbles, Claire sees...THE PALE SHAPE,
which slowly becomes THE DROWNED GIRL, staring up from
beneath the dark water.

Claire wants to pull away, but she's transfixed. Madison
reaches up toward the surface. As the bubble diminish, she
seems to be FADING AWAY. When she's gone, Claire reaches out
toward the water. When her finger touches the surface...

WHOOSH! She's sucked down into the water.

INT. UPSTAIRS SITTING ROOM - DAY

Norman glances out of the window in time to see a splash off
the dock. He races out of the room.

EXT. UNDERWATER - DAY

Claire struggles furiously as the unseen attacker drags her
deeper into the murky depths.

EXT. DOCK - DAY

Norman sprints toward the dock.

EXT. UNDERWATER - DAY

As he oxygen begins to run out, Claire screams desperately as
her hand plunges into the muddy bottom.

Suddenly, she's released. She yanks her hand free, the silt
swirls revealing...a COPPER COLORED GLINT in the mud.

NORMAN'S HAND grasps Claire's ankle and pulls her upwards.

EXT. DOCK - DAY

Norman helps Claire, coughing, onto the dock. They hold each
other.

NORMAN
Are you okay?

She nods, catching her breath.

NORMAN
We have to get out of here.

CLAIRE
It's alright.

NORMAN
Can't you see, she's trying to kill us.

CLAIRE
She's gone.

NORMAN
What?

CLAIRE
She can't be here without me.

NORMAN
How can you be sure?

CLAIRE
I don't know, but I am. She was there and
then she was gone. I felt it.

NORMAN
Claire...

She stares into the still water.

CLAIRE
It's over.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Claire in bed with a blanket wrapped around her. Norman
walks in with some steaming mulled cider. He stokes the
blazing fire. He sits on the edge of the bed.

NORMAN
I know it's going to take awhile before
things are back...until they're better
than before. But you've given us a chance
to make a fresh start. And I'm going to
spend the rest of my life making you glad
that you did.

The gaze at each other. Tentatively, she places a hand on
his.

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Claire, dressed in a warm sweater, finishes wrapping her
rosebushes for the winter. She picks up a basket of clipped
flowers and heads inside.

EXT. PORCH - DAY

She turns the doorknob and listens for the whispering. All
is quiet.

INT. FOYER - DAY

She looks into the mirror and sees only the study and the
lake behind it.

INT. NORMAN'S STUDY - DAY

Claire places the roses in a vase on Norman's desk, and in
doing so, accidentally knocks it over.

With a towel she mops up the water which has dripped onto the
wooden floor. The stream has flowed over to the knot and
dripped into the crack. Claire stares down at THE STRANGE
COPPER COIN.

She grabs a letter opener from Norman's desk and pries the
coin out. It's actually a SMALL BRASS KEY, the head of which
is THREE INTERLOCKING CIRCLES. She stares at it for a
moment, then places it in her pocket.

EXT. SAILBOAT - DUSK

Claire stands toward the bow watching the sunset. The leaves
on the surrounding hills are stunning. Norman appears beside
her.

NORMAN
Last sail of the year.

She gazes out.

CLAIRE
The leaves...

NORMAN
Incredible. We should take a drive before
they're gone. Spend the night at some
cozy little bed and breakfast.

CLAIRE
Look for antiques...

NORMAN
Yep. There's some great places nearby.

CLAIRE
(a reflex)
Adamant.

NORMAN
What?

CLAIRE
Little village down seven. Supposed to be
charming.

NORMAN
Huh.

CLAIRE
Do you know it?

NORMAN
Don't think so.

CLAIRE
Maybe we can stop there for lunch.

He wraps an arm around her.

NORMAN
Whatever you'd like.

She leans against him, staring out.

EXT. DRIVEWAY - DAY

Jody and Claire return from a walk. Norman has the boat on
the trailer and is securing a tarp over it. They stop under
a tree.

CLAIRE
But he acted like he'd never heard of it.

JODY
Did he say that?

CLAIRE
Jody he was lying.

JODY
What if he was? Do you think he wanted to
bring that up again just when you're
trying to make a new start?

CLAIRE
I guess not.

JODY
He's trying to put it behind him, Claire.
You should too.

Norman smiles and waves. They wave back as they arrive at
the Karman-Ghia.

JODY
You've got a beautiful life. And even
with this, it's always been clear that he
loves you.
(beat)
I've come to think that's all that really
matters.

CLAIRE
I don't know...

JODY
Trust me, Claire. You hear something...
change the subject. You find something...
get rid of it, throw it in the lake.
(beat)
You know what happened. The rest is only
details. And no one's ever glad they got
a hold of those. If you want to put this
back together...just let it go.

Jody drives off. Claire walks over to Norman. She hugs him
tightly.

NORMAN
What's that for?

CLAIRE
Nothing.

NORMAN
I'm cooking you dinner.

CLAIRE
You don't have to do that.

NORMAN
I know.

CLAIRE
Fine. I'll do the shopping.

They kiss. She heads to the Volvo.

INT. VOLVO - DAY

Claire is approaching a country market. She spots a little
sign with an arrow:

ADAMANT - 11 mi.

She hesitates for a moment, then take the turn.

EXT. ADAMANT - DAY

Claire stands on a street in the quaint little village. She
looks around, spots a little cafe with outdoor tables. A
friendly old HIPPIE WOMAN walks out of a store. She watches
Claire gazing around.

HIPPIE WOMAN
What are you looking for?

CLAIRE
I don't really know.

HIPPIE WOMAN
Know what you mean.

She ambles off across the street. Claire watches her go.
Then notices a sign hung out above a little shop. THREE
INTERLOCKED CIRCLES. She walks toward it.

EXT. SHOP - DAY

Claire stands in front of the store window. A sign in the
window identifies it as "The Sleeping Dog - Hand wrought
jewelry and gifts." Claire tries to open the door, but sees
a closed sign.

She steps back out to the window and looks in. On display
are a selection of handcrafted jewelry and curios.

Suddenly her eye stops on a small silver bracelet with an
intricate ROSEBUD.

Her eye travels up and behind it to the back of the display
where she spots, a small ORNATE COPPER CHEST. Protruding
from its lock...THE INTERLOCKED CIRCLES. Claire looks like
she's been punched.

INT. NORMAN AND CLAIRE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Claire glances over at the soundly sleeping Norman. She
gingerly slides out of bed.

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

Claire sits among the boxes, leafing through the photo album,
tracking the years of their life. Her hands tremble.
Finally she reaches the picture of their wedding, reaches
behind the photo and produces...THE KEY.

EXT. DOCK - NIGHT

Claire in her nightgown and a jacket, walks slowly down the
dock. An expensive looking flashlight illuminates her path.
She stops and stares out at the moonlit lake.

She holds out a fist. Her fingers unfold and in her palm
lies THE KEY. She holds the key out over the water and
stands there, frozen. The lighthouse beam sweeps past her
once...then again.

Claire pulls her hand back and holds the key to her chest,
then carefully places it on the dock. She very deliberately
takes off her jacket and slippers, steps to the edge of the
dock, shines the flashlight on the dark water...then steps
off the dock.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

AN ANGUISHED CRY from downstairs. Norman bolts upright in
bed.

INT. NORMAN'S STUDY - NIGHT

Norman walks through the darkened house into the moonlit
room. He pulls up short when he sees the strongbox sitting
closed on his desk. He looks around, sees the room is empty
and walks over to it.

The mud and silt has been wiped from the top, on which is
engraved: To N.C.S. with love always, M.E.F.

He pulls open the lid and tentatively peers inside.

THE LIGHTS SWITCH ON.

Claire stands in the doorway, holding out the SILVER ROSEBUD
NECKLACE.

CLAIRE
Looking for this?

Norman stares at her dumbly.

CLAIRE
She's out there isn't she? She's in the
lake.

NORMAN
Okay. Don't...you don't understand what
this is.

CLAIRE
Don't I, Norman? YOU KEPT THE FUCKING
NECKLACE. Of a woman you killed!

NORMAN
(nearly hysterical)
I did NOT! I did not kill anyone. Jesus.
Claire, listen to me. I walked in and she
was lying there dead. I swear to you. On
my life! She took pills and she killed
herself in our house to destroy me! To
destroy us! If I hadn't stopped by here
before school, the painters would have--

CLAIRE
I don't believe you.

NORMAN
IT'S TRUE. That's...you have to believe
me! Oh God, I'm telling you the truth!
(beat, fighting tears)
I did what I had to, Claire. She was
gone. There was nothing I could do for
her. I did...I put her in the lake. I
rolled the car in...and I watched it sink.
(beat)
And I've lived with that image ever since.
(beat)
I couldn't just stand there while
everything-- my career, us,
everything, just washed away. Don't you
see, Claire? She's doing this! This is
exactly what she wants you to think!

Claire's lip is quivering with confusion.

CLAIRE
I don't know what's true anymore.
(beat)
But that girl must be brought up. Now do
you want to call the police? Or should I?

Norman stares at the phone. He's a wreck.

NORMAN
Fine. I can't live with it anymore.

He takes the phone, punches in three numbers, waits.

NORMAN
This is Dr. Norman Spencer. No, it's not
an emergency.

He looks at Claire.

NORMAN
I have some information about a missing
girl, Madison Frank...Yes. Could you send
an officer? Fifteen Willoughby, about a
mile before the bridge...Thank you.

He hangs up. Long silence. They look at each other.

NORMAN
You did the right thing.
(beat)
I'm going to get cleaned up.

He walks out. Claire walks over and stands before the box.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Claire walks into the bedroom. The shower can be heard
through the bathroom door, which is partially ajar. Steam
drifts out through the crack.

She stands in her dressing room and catches sight of her
weary, distraught countenance in the mirror. She glances
down.

CLAIRE'S POV

The necklace still in her hand.

She looks up again into the mirror. Her face goes strangely
blank and, almost mechanically, she clasps the necklace onto
her neck.

Suddenly, she stares over at the CORDLESS PHONE lying on the
bed for a long moment. She walks over, picks up the phone
and looks at it.

CLAIRE'S POV

The redial button.

She stares at the bathroom door, then hits the button. Two
rings, then:

VOICE
(on phone)
Directory assistance...

Claire's eyes widen in terror. She clicks off the phone,
and, taking it with her, starts moving toward the door to the
hall. She keeps a steady eye trained on the bathroom. She
quietly pulls open the hallway door.

Suddenly, A HAND WITH A WASHCLOTH IS THRUST OVER HER FACE.

Claire shoves Norman's hand away and runs past him down the
hall.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

She's nearly at the top of the stairs when her body starts to
falter. She tumbles over, dropping the phone, which clatters
down the stairs before her.

Claire is pulling herself down the stairs, moaning in terror.
Norman can be seen calmly following her, waiting for the
Halothane to take its full effect. Finally, she freezes.
Norman picks up the phone and stands over her.

NORMAN
God, how did we come to this?

He picks her gently up in his arms and starts carrying her
slowly up the stairs.

NORMAN
The ghost stuff, that was impressive.

CLAIRE'S POV

Ceiling, shapes...

NORMAN
I figure you saw her that day in the
house and just gradually intuited the
whole damn thing. That would be pretty
astonishing. A passive-aggressive
masterpiece.

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

And into the bathroom.

NORMAN
Wasn't until the shower that I realized
you actually believed it. Nearly froze to
death waiting for you. Thought the
circuit breaker would kick back over and
I'd be toast.

...then she's lowered into the tub.

NORMAN
The crazy thing is...I have never for one
moment stopped loving you.

He actually wipes a tear from his eye. He kisses her lips.
We can feel her revulsion. His face over her.

NORMAN
Don't worry about Caitlin. I'm sure in
some tragic way this'll bring us closer
together.

He turns on the faucets, then moves out of her line of
vision. Sound of a number being dialed.

NORMAN (O.S.)
Hey, it's Norman. Listen, we had a huge
blowout, so I'm going down to sleep at
the lab. I guess you're out, but...
maybe...if you wouldn't mind stopping by
to check on her in the morning?

She glances down and sees on the edge of the tub...a
prescription bottle of VALIUM with her name on the label.
Her eyes go wide.

NORMAN (O.S.)
It's just...Jody, it's bad. I've never
seen her like this...
(he trails off, choking up)
I don't really know what to do anymore.

Norman, lit periodically by the sweep of the light house
beacon, squats with the phone and gazes down at her.

NORMAN
If anything ever happened to her, I'd...
(beat)
Anyway, thanks.

Claire, mute, glances frantically around. One of her fingers
begins to flutter.

NORMAN
(tearfully)
I'm so sorry.

The tub is rapidly filling. He checks his watch, then
reaches for the Valium. As much from will as the drug
beginning to fade, Claire lets out a garbled cry.

CLAIRE
(sloppy, guttural)
Mmmuh...

NORMAN
Shhhh.

CLAIRE
(slurry)
Mauduh...

Norman stops.

NORMAN
What?

CLAIRE
MADISON!

Norman seems unnerved that she's still clinging to her belief
in the ghost.

NORMAN
That's a little much, don't you think?

He sees the necklace on her neck.

NORMAN
Oops. Can't have that.

He puts down the bottle of Valium, then reaches around
Claire's neck to remove the necklace. When his hands close
on the clasp, his face suddenly goes slack.

NORMAN'S POV

His arms around MADISON'S BEAUTIFUL CORPSE.

Norman explodes backwards, slamming his head into the BRASS
SHOWER NOZZLE. He staggers out of the bathroom before
collapsing with a thud. The water finally rises above
Claire's nostrils.

Claire somehow manages to work a toe into the plug chain and
yank it free. The water slowly descends.

When it seems that her lungs must burst, her mouth finally
clears the descending water. She chokes in great gulps of
air.

The drug is finally wearing off. Claire sits up. Norman's
unconscious feet can be seen outside of the doorway. She
turns off the water and stands unsteadily.

She looks around for the phone and finally spots the little
antenna protruding from under Norman. She delicately pulls
the phone out of his back pocket, only to discover that it's
been broken by his fall. She drops it and walks quietly out
of the room.

INT. STAIRWAY - NIGHT

Claire stumbles as fast as she can down the stairs.

INT. FOYER - NIGHT

She fumbles for some KEYS in a basket by the door, then looks
at the cell phone's recharging cradle. It's empty.

She spots Norman's coat hanging on the coat rack and rifles
through the pockets. She finds the phone, and flips it open
to see if it's working. A drop of something splats on the
phone. Then another. It's blood.

She looks up and sees Norman, his forehead gashed, glaring
down from the landing.

She reaches for the door knob, but the keys and cell phone in
her hand make it difficult to open. Norman hurls himself
over the banister. THUD!

A BLOODY HAND yanks her backwards. Claire slams into the
corner by the armoir. Norman advances on her. At the last
moment, she throws her shoulder into the armoir which tumbles
over on Norman.

EXT. DRIVEWAY - NIGHT

Claire races over to the Volvo, which is blocked by NORMAN'S
PICKUP, the dark hulk of THE SAILBOAT on a trailer behind it.

She starts to get into the pickup, then remembers to look in
the bed...nobody there.

INT. PICKUP - NIGHT

The truck is cold and doesn't want to turn over. She stares
at the door for signs of Norman.

CLAIRE
Come on...come on...

...and VROOM, the truck roars to life. Claire spews gravel
as she barrels the cumbersome rig out of the driveway,
constantly watching the door.

When she veers to the right out of the driveway, she looks
into the rear view mirror. The boat momentarily blocks the
open door, then clears. Still nothing.

EXT. DIRT ROAD - NIGHT

Claire wheels the truck and trailer out onto a two-lane road.

INT. PICKUP - NIGHT

Shivering with cold and adrenalin, she tries to work the
ancient heater. She turns onto THE BRIDGE.

EXT. BRIDGE - NIGHT

The PICKUP and BOAT race across the deserted bridge.

INT. PICKUP - NIGHT

ANGLE

Claire through the windshield. Her face striped by the
reflection of the bridge lights which whip one-by-one across
the windshield. She flips open the cell phone and punches in
911. It blinks: "NO SERVICE."

CLAIRE
Shit.

She glances into the rear view mirror.

CLAIRE'S POV

A stern section of the boat's COVERING TARP untied, flapping
in the breeze.

Claire desperately punches the "talk" button again..."NO
SERVICE." She's past the center of the bridge. She looks
again: "ROAM." Claire punches the talk button again.

SMASH!

A TRAILER CRANK punches through the window. Norman's arm
follows, coiling like a python around Claire's neck, his grim
visage pressed against the glass.

She squashes down the accelerator.

EXT. BRIDGE - NIGHT

The trailer starts to weave from side to side, swerving the
pickup. Claire chokes, then blacks out.

EXT. BRIDGE - NIGHT

The Pickup and trailer smash through the railing, barreling
over bumpy terrain straight toward the BOAT RAMP.

The truck hits the water at fifty and Norman is hurtled
through the rear window and into the passenger side
dashboard.

INT. PICKUP - MOMENTS LATER

Claire is unconscious in the driver's seat, a trickle of
blood runs from her nose. Norman stirs briefly as Claire
groggily comes to. She hears the hissing of the smashed
radiator, then sees Norman, a shattered bloody mess on the
floor of the cab.

She leans over to see if he's dead, hears a squeak and
realizes that the pickup, with the BATTERED SAILBOAT AND
TRAILER miraculously still attached, is rolling deeper into
the water.

Before she can get the door open, the truck is half
submerged. She frantically manages to lower her window
halfway and starts to pull herself out.

Her ribs have just cleared the glass when a bloody fist locks
onto her ankle and yanks her inside. Norman pulls her down
until they're face to face.

CLAIRE
Norman...NO...

She yanks the emergency brake, but it's too late...the
submerged wheels lock and slide slowly down the mossy ramp.
The truck is nearly submerged.

CLAIRE
(desperately)
Norman, please...

The water is up to the windows. Norman shakes his head
slowly as he blinks away blood from his eyes.

CLAIRE
Think of Caitlin...

Water sprays in through the hole in the rear window and
momentarily blinds Norman. Claire jerks free and scrambles
out of the driver's side window as the truck sinks.

Just as she's free of the window, she jerks to a stop. She
looks down and sees Norman, half out of the window, one hand
clamped onto her ankle.

There is a wrenching metallic creak. The truck lurches
downward...then silence. IT DOESN'T SINK. The boat buoys it
like a fishing cork as it drifts out into the lake.

The headlights pierce the darkness of the steep underwater
drop off. Claire tries to swim free, but Norman's not
letting go.

Suddenly metal snaps and the truck pops free of the trailer.
It hurtles downwards and the still-glowing headlights
reveal...

MADISON'S SUBMERGED MUSTANG

SMASH!

When the front of the pickup lands on the hood of the car,
the Mustang's windshield shatters. A PALE SHAPE FLOATS