Short screenplay from the Done Deal Halloween 2014 contest.
"Echoes In The Mist"
FADE IN
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT
Misty, poor visibility.
The sound of an approaching CAR ENGINE gets louder.
Headlights bathe the road and the trees on either side.
SCREECHING TIRES.
AN ALMIGHTY BANG.
The unmoving headlights continue to bathe the trees.
The car engine noise abruptly stops.
A low-budget car crash.
EXT. SCOTTISH COUNTRY FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
The only house for miles, set among dark, bleak moors.
Chinks of light visible at the windows.
They're what attracts ADAM, a young American tourist who
staggers towards the farmhouse, injured.
God but it takes him forever to navigate the uneven path,
and then he's at the door. He can hardly hold himself up.
He BANGS weakly on the door with his fist.
A window curtain is pulled aside. JOSEPH, white bearded,
stares out at Adam with suspicious eyes. Adam waves feebly.
ADAM
Help... need some help here!
BOLTS are pulled, the door CREAKS open.
Joseph looks Adam up and down. He's a damn mess, clothing
torn, face and hands bloody.
JOSEPH
What's happened to ye?
ADAM
I had an accident.
Joseph points off into the night.
JOSEPH
The hospital is that way.
ADAM
Jesus you gotta be kidding me, my
car's a total wreck. Don't you
have a phone?
MAGGIE appears behind Joseph, much younger, could be his
daughter. Her gaze searches the night before coming to
rest on Adam.
MAGGIE
We dinna have a phone.
ADAM
For Christ's sake, how can you not
have a phone!
He slumps against the wall, exhausted. That was his last
spark of energy, used up.
MAGGIE
Help him inside!
Joseph gives her a look that says ARE YOU SURE? Maggie
nods quickly, YES DO IT.
Joseph pulls Adam's arm around his neck and takes his
weight, he walks him into the house, holding him up.
Maggie closes the door behind them.
INT. SCOTTISH COUNTRY FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
Joseph deposits Adam in the bigger of two high-backed chairs
facing the fire burning in the grate.
MAGGIE
Ask him what happened.
Maggie disappears into the kitchen.
JOSEPH
Are you awake, lad?
Adam opens his eyes.
ADAM
Yeah.
JOSEPH
What happened?
ADAM
My car. I swerved off the road.
Hit a goddamn tree.
JOSEPH
That wasn't so clever.
ADAM
I didn't mean to do it!
Maggie returns with a bowl of water and a clean kitchen
towel.
MAGGIE
I'm going to clean your face, all
right?
ADAM
I can do that.
MAGGIE
Dinna be daft. How can you when
you can't see your face?
She cleans his face and hands. Adam lets it happen,
watching her while she works. She ignores his scrutiny.
JOSEPH
He drove into a tree.
MAGGIE
That wasn't so clever.
ADAM
What are you, a comedy double act?
Maggie finishes up and turns to go back to the kitchen.
She holds Joseph's gaze for a second. He nods and sighs.
Maggie exits to the kitchen.
ADAM
You really don't have a phone?
JOSEPH
Was it just you?
ADAM
Was it just me, what?
JOSEPH
Were you traveling alone? Was
there anyone else in your car?
ADAM
No, yeah, I was alone.
JOSEPH
That's an interesting accent you
have.
ADAM
I'm an American. My name's Adam
Harrington, I'm from Pennsylvania.
Joseph chuckles.
JOSEPH
A Yank, is it? Overpaid, oversexed,
and over here!
ADAM
Very funny. That's seventy years
out of date, by the way. Is she
your daughter?
JOSEPH
Was anyone else involved in your
wee argument with the tree?
ADAM
I didn't see any other cars, if
that's what you mean. And before
you ask, I was driving on the right
side of the road. The left side,
that is. On the left.
Joseph stares at Adam, his brows furrowing. Serious.
JOSEPH
Did you see anyone else?
Maggie stands in the kitchen doorway, arms folded, watching
Adam, who becomes guarded.
ADAM
I don't know what you mean. No, I
didn't see anyone.
JOSEPH
Think, now. You've had a nasty
experience. Maybe it rattled your
brain. Made you forget things.
ADAM
I didn't hit my head! I fell when
I got out the car. Ended up in a
ditch.
MAGGIE
You'll have to go and look.
That was directed at Joseph. He nods, sighs, and heads
for the front door, taking his coat off a hook.
ADAM
What, why do you need to look?
Joseph shrugs his coat on, opens the door and exits, closing
it behind him.
ADAM
Why does he need to look? It's
like I said. I hit a tree. I was
alone in the car.
MAGGIE
Would you like a cup of tea?
ADAM
You can tell me why he's-- Yes
that would be nice. Thank you.
MAGGIE
The kettle will be boiling in a
minute.
ADAM
Why don't you have a phone?
MAGGIE
We don't want one. We don't have
a television either.
ADAM
Are you some kind of, I don't know,
Scottish Amish people?
MAGGIE
You look shaken up, Mr. Harrington.
You should see a doctor. You'll
stay here with my father. I'll go
to the farm down the road and use
their telephone. It's not far.
ADAM
God, I'm sorry for putting you to
so much trouble.
MAGGIE
You're not.
ADAM
I guess my date's going to be stood
up.
MAGGIE
Your date?
ADAM
I met a Scottish girl. Don't laugh.
On the internet. You know what
that is?
MAGGIE
Just because we don't have a
telephone doesn't mean I'm stupid.
ADAM
Sorry! Jesus, I didn't mean to
insult you.
MAGGIE
Do all Americans blaspheme as much
as you do?
ADAM
Most of us don't. I'll try to
keep it under control.
MAGGIE
Is that why you're here? To meet
this girl on the internet?
ADAM
Yeah. Does that sound weird?
MAGGIE
In the old days people used the
lonely hearts column in the
newspapers. They had to wait days
for a response, if any. What's
weird about getting to know someone
in real-time?
ADAM
I'm sorry for assuming... Let's
just go with I'm an idiot, okay?
MAGGIE
You were going to meet her tonight?
ADAM
We were going to meet at a Halloween
party! Of all the stupid God-damn
things to happen-- Sorry.
MAGGIE
I'll get your tea.
Maggie exits into the kitchen.
Adam looks around. Old display cases contain China plates,
ornaments, little figurines. Framed B/W photos of what
could be a younger unbearded Joseph with a woman his own
age, and a young girl. Maggie?
Adam closes his eyes, relaxes in front of the fire.
Joseph enters just as Maggie brings the cup of tea.
A look passes between them. Adam can't help but notice.
ADAM
What?
Maggie offers him the cup, he takes it.
Joseph takes off his coat and hangs it on the hook.
ADAM
It's like I said, isn't it? Just
my car. I wasn't even driving
that fast.
JOSEPH
Aye, just like you said.
MAGGIE
I'll go to the Armstrongs and call
the doctor. I won't be long.
JOSEPH
All right.
ADAM
Thanks. I mean really, thanks.
MAGGIE
Do you have her phone number?
It takes a moment, then Adam catches on. He fumbles in
his pocket. Maggie offers to hold his cup of tea while he
looks. Adam brings out his wallet, opens it, searches,
finds a folded piece of paper.
ADAM
Her name's Fiona.
He gives her the paper, she gives him the cup of tea.
MAGGIE
I'll tell her you're all right.
And you'll call her when you can?
ADAM
That would be great. I really owe
you for this.
Maggie puts her coat on.
MAGGIE
You owe us nothing, we'd do the
same for anyone. Just rest until
I get back.
At the door, she pauses. She looks back at Adam.
MAGGIE
You saw her, didn't you?
Adam looks at Maggie, he's about to deny it--
MAGGIE
Tell me. Did you see her?
ADAM
She came right out in front of me.
I just couldn't not hit her.
Adam looks away, filled with painful memories.
ADAM
I thought she must be underneath
the car. That's how I got hurt.
But when I moved it, nothing.
Maggie shakes her head, no.
MAGGIE
She's been dead ten years now.
She exchanges a sad look with Joseph. Then says softly,
MAGGIE
That's why we don't have a
telephone. She keeps calling.
She won't leave us alone. Or a
television. We'd be watching
something and there she is, in the
background, waving. Asking us to
join her.
Adam gapes, hardly able to believe it.
Maggie exits, closing the door behind her.
ADAM
This is a joke, right?
Joseph sadly shakes his head.
JOSEPH
I only wish it was. I'll get us
something stronger to drink, eh?
Joseph exits into the kitchen.
A gust of wind blows. The fire abruptly goes out.
Adam stares at the suddenly dark grate, puzzled.
Joseph returns, with a whisky bottle and two glasses.
He stops and stares at Adam's empty chair.
FADE TO BLACKNESS