Advertisement
Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up,
it unlocks many cool features!
- HONG KONG - AN OUTDOOR MARKETPLACE
- Crowded. Filled with oriental and British merchants.
- You can buy anything here. Electronics. Food. Any-
- thing.
- RAND PELTZER
- walks through the owd. An American businessman.1-He
- wears a tas eful g3,y suit. He's thin, with distinguished
- good looks and thin brown hair. He's 56 years old.
- Rand looks around; fascinated by the vast array of people
- and merchandise. He stops at a booth. A tiny ORIENTAL,
- WOMAN stands behind the counter. Rand gives her a polite
- smile.
- RAND
- Hi. I'm from out of town...
- on business from the U.S.
- The woman nods and smiles.
- AN ORIENTAL MAN
- passes by. He is very old. Deep wrinkles. Long white
- hair. Ragged clothes. A rotted smile. Overhearing
- Rand, the man stops to eavesdrop.
- RAND
- (explaining to
- Oriental woman)
- I'm looking for a present...
- for my son.
- The woman nods. She searches through her wares. She
- holds up a basketball. Rand shakes his head.
- RAND
- He's not really involved in
- sports...
- The woman puts away the basketball. She picks up a Sony
- "Walkman". Rand again shakes his head.,
- RAND
- No. I want something unusual...
- something he can't get at home...
- something different..
- .2.
- A HAND
- reaches out and grabs Rand's arm. Startled, he turns.
- The Oriental man stands before him. He stares into Rand's
- eyes.
- ORIENTAL MAN
- I can help you.
- He leads Rand away from the booth.
- ORIENTAL MAN
- I offer something very different.
- Very unusual.
- Rand is puzzled. The Oriental leads him to a doorway.
- ORIENTAL MAN
- Follow me.
- He opens the door, motioning for Rand to follow. Rand
- pauses, skeptical.
- ORIENTAL MAN
- Come. Take a look. It will cost
- you nothing.
- (a beat)
- You won't be disappointed.
- The Oriental enters. Rand shrugs and follows.
- INSIDE
- Rand follows the man up a narrow, dark set of stairs.
- At the top, they enter a room.
- INT. ROOM
- Dark. No windows. No furniture. Filled with cardboard
- boxes and wooden crates.
- Rand crinkles his nose. It su,Qlls bad in here.
- The Oriental flips on a dim light bulb. He leads the
- nervous, apprehensive Rand to a dark corner of the room.
- The Oriental picks up a small, metal box. A HIGH PITCHED
- GIGGLE echoes from inside the box.
- 3.
- Rand is very puzzled.
- The Oriental rests the box on a stack of crates. He opens
- the box.
- A TINY CREATURE is inside'.
- The animal is eleven inches tall and stands; upright on
- two legs. It has two arms, with small; four-fingered
- hands. Its body is covered with fluffy brown fur. The
- piercing eyes are big, sad. Its ears are long and pointed.
- A tiny black nose sits above a wide mouth, with small,
- square teeth.
- The creature is smiling. It lets out a giggle.
- Rand is delighted and surprised. He's never seen anything
- like this. The animal is more charming than a Disney
- character.
- The Oriental claps his hands.
- The creature leaps from the box, onto Rand's shoulder.
- The animal licks Rand's cheek.' He laughs, amused by the
- creature.
- The Oriental claps his hands again.
- The creature hops back into the box. It stares at Rand
- with those cute green eyes'.
- RAND
- (to the Oriental)
- What is it?
- ORIENTAL MAN
- It is called ' Mogwai ' .
- (a beat)
- A very rare and intelligent animal.
- I found it in the fields near my
- home It will obey all orders.
- It learns fast.
- The Oriental looks at Mogwai and claps his hands.
- ORIENTAL MAN
- (Chinese,; English
- SUBTITLES)
- 4
- --Mogwai leaps to the ground. It scurries across the floor,
- to a wooden crate.
- Mogwai removes a raw tuna from the crate. It tears off a
- chunk of the fish and carries it to the oriental man..
- He takes the fish. Mogwai hops back into the box.
- Rand shakes his head. Amazed by the animal.
- he Oriental takes a bit from the raw fish. Juice runs
- own his chin. He smiles at Rand.
- ORIENTAL MAN
- And if you are ever in need of
- a song...
- He claps his hands to the creature.
- ORIENTAL MAN.
- (Chinese; English
- SUBTITLES)
- Music.
- Mogwai begins to hum, in an unearthly falsetto. It's
- beautiful.
- Rand watches with wide eyes. He feels like a child again.
- RAND -
- How much?
- ORIENTAL MAN
- One hundred American Dollars.
- Cash.
- Rand removes five twenties from his wallet. He gives
- them to the man.
- The Oriental smiles and claps his hands. Mogwai jumps
- onto Rand's shoulders. Rand pets it. Mogwai emits a cute
- giggle.
- ORIENTAL MAN
- It never sleeps. It will eat any-
- thing... but prefers raw meat.
- (PAUSE)
- It must always be kept indoors during
- the day. It lives in shadow. It
- hates bright light. Direct sunlight
- will kill it.
- Rand nods. He takes Mogwai from his shoulder and puts it
- into the box. Rand puts the box under his arm. The
- Oriental smiles
- ORIENTAL MAN
- Your son will enjoy his new friend.
- Rand smiles and exits. The Oriental takes a bite from
- his raw fish.
- CUT TO:..
- INT. HONG KONG AIRPORT
- Rand is on the pay telephon His baggage rests beside
- him.
- Mogwai is inside of a small plastic pet box. The creature's
- bright eyes shine from inside.
- RAND
- (into the phone)
- Yes, Fred. The Tai-Chan account
- is definite. MmmHmm. My plane
- l eaves in twenty minutes. See
- you in Pennsylvania.
- He hangs up. He picks up his bags and walks to the check-
- in counter.
- THE CHECK-IN GIRL
- tags Mogwai's box and puts it on the conveyer belt.
- Rand watches the box disappear through the baggage chute.
- CHECK-IN GIRL
- Don't worry, sir. Your pet will
- be safe.
- Rand smiles.
- CUT TO:
- EXT. SKY
- The jet flies through the clouds.
- INT. AIRPLANE
- Rand is eating his airline dinner. AN ORIENTAL STEWARDESS
- walks up and refills his coffee. He looks at her.
- with the word 'Mogwai'?
- 6.
- She nods.
- RAND
- What does it mean?
- STEWARDESS
- Devil.
- She moves to the next passenger.
- Rand stares. Surprised. Confused.
- DISSOLVE TO:
- A GREEN ROAD SIGN:
- "WELCOME TO KINGSTON FALLS, PENNYSLVANIA. POPULATION 6,122"
- CREDITS BEGIN OVER VARIOUS IMAGES OF THIS SMALL TOWN.
- One week before Christmas. It's snowing hard.
- A man hangs Christmas lights outside of his home. His
- young son helps.
- Children ice skate along a large,. frozen lake.
- A woman trudges through the snow, to her mailbox. A down
- parka is over her pajamas.
- Kingston's business district. Chilly gas station atten-
- dants pump gas into cars.
- A Pharmacy owner hangs "Merry Christmas" (in sparkling
- gold letters) in his store window.
- Telephone line workers share hot coffee from a thermos.
- The Union Savings and Trust Bank. Two teenagers push a
- woman s car from a ditch.
- CREDITS END. CAMERA DOLLIES TO THE BANK DOORS. WE GO
- INSIDE.
- Crowded. Several peoplestandin line.
- BILLY PELTZER
- a bank teller, writes out a receipt for a customer.
- 7.
- Billy is 26 years old. His sturdy build and good looks are
- buried beneath wire rimmed glasses, slicked dirty-blonde
- .hair, a red sweater vest, a loose fitting checkered shirt,
- baggy corduroys and worn loafers.
- r• Finishing the transaction with his customer, Billy looks to
- the line of waiting people.
- BILLY
- Next.
- MRS. DEAGLE
- an elderly woman, walks to Billy's window. She's a real
- prude. Tight lips. Heavy make-up. Bleached hair. Cheap
- fur coat. She hands Billy a personal check.
- TRACY ALLEN
- another teller, works beside Billy. Tracy is pretty. Big
- brown eyes. A sexy smile. Long dark hair. Perfect figure.
- 25 years old.
- Tracy counts out some cash to a customer. She's trying
- to concentrate, to keep her mind on work.. But it's diffi-
- cult when
- GARY LUCIA
- the bank security guard, is trying to make her laugh. He
- stands by the bank entrance, making funny faces at Tracy.
- Gary is 30 years old. Former high school jock. Dark,
- thick hair. Deep brown eyes. Muscular. A strong, handsome
- face.
- Meanwhile, Billy gives the check back to Mrs. Deagle.
- BILLY
- I can't cash this, M'am. Your
- last check hasn't cleared.
- MRS. DEAGLE
- Don't you recognize me?
- BILLY
- No, M'am. I'm sorry...
- 8.
- MRS. DEAGLE
- (loud, so everyone can
- HEAR)
- My name is Mrs. Julia Deagle! My
- husband manages the.Sparkle Market!
- We've been banking here for sixteen
- years!
- BILLY
- T at's very nice, M'am. But your
- c eck hasn't cleared and...
- MRS. DEAGLE
- That's the problem with this world.
- It's a mess because of people like
- JI$
- BILLY
- It's not my.fault your check didn't
- clear, M'am,
- MRS. DEAGLE
- Don't get smart with me, oung man.
- BILLY
- I wasn't getting smart, I was...
- MRS. DEAGLE
- (shouting,-looking
- AROUND)
- Where's the president? I want to
- see the bank president!
- Billy rubs his eyes. Tense. Embarrassed.
- Everyone watches the scene. Tracy. Gary. The customers.
- ROLAND FRESCO
- the bank's Vice President, walks over to Billy and Mrs.
- beagle. Roland is tall, slender with thin grey hair and
- a pencil thin moustache. Friendliness and courtesy are
- his job. He smiles at Mrs. Deagle.
- ROLAND
- What seems to be the problem,
- M'am?
- MRS. DEAGLE
- My name is Mrs. Julia Deagle. This
- young teller is being very rude! I
- demand that you fire him!
- 9
- Roland looks at Billy. Billy rolls his eyes. Roland
- smiles.
- ROLAND
- (COMFORTING)
- Now,-Mrs. Deagle...I'm sure this
- isn't that serious. I'm sure an
- apology would fix things right
- up. Wouldn't it?
- The woman shrugs.' Roland turns to Billy.
- ROLAND
- Apologize to the woman, Billy.
- Billy leans to Roland.
- BILLY
- (angry whisper)
- I. didn't do anything wrong.
- AA;
- ROLAND
- (doesn't care, the
- customer comes first)
- Just apologize.
- Roland.leans back and smiles at Mrs. Deagle.
- Billy looks at her. He doesn'-t want to do this.
- Everyone in the bank is watching him, waiting for him
- to take a stand.
- Billy sighs. He needs his job.
- BILL°
- (forcing himself)
- I'm sorry, Mrs. Deagle.
- She nods and smiles. Roland puts his hand on the woman's
- shoulder.
- ROLAND
- Come back to my desk, Mrs. Deagle.
- I'll personally take care of your
- banking problems.
- Roland walks back to his office with Mrs. Deagle.
- Gary chuckles. Tracy goes back to work.
- Billy just sits. Angry. Humiliated. He calls the next
- customer.
- lb.
- BILLY
- Next.
- CUT TO:
- INT. BANK - LATER
- Billy puts on his brown winter coat and green scarf.
- He picks up his dog eared copy of "The Once And Future
- King". He walks to the bank lobby.
- TRACY
- stands in the lobby, putting on.her coat. Billy moves to
- help her.
- BILLY
- Let me.
- He helps her on with the coat.
- BILLY
- You look very pretty today.
- TRACY
- (FLATTERED)
- Thanks, Billy.
- BILLY
- I mean.. .not that you don't look
- pretty every day...But you look
- especially pretty today.
- TRACY
- (CHUCKLES)
- You're cute.
- Gary walks up. He puts his arm through Tracy's.
- GARY
- Let's go. I'm hungry.
- (notices Billy)
- Hey, Peltzer...Whydidn't you stand.
- up to that old bag, today?
- I
- 11.
- Billy shrugs. Embarrassed.
- Gary notices the book. He takes it from Billy's hand.
- GARY
- What's this?
- BILLY
- It's a book. You read 1t.
- Billy exchanges a smile with Tracy. Gary isn't amused.
- GARY
- I know that, asshole. I meant
- what's it about?
- BILLY
- King Arthur. . .Sir Lancelot... Knights
- of the Round . Table... Dragons...
- GARY
- Aren't you a little old for that
- kinda' junk?
- BILLY
- (SHRUGS)
- Beats T.V.
- GARY-
- (gives Billy the
- BOOK)
- I'll take 'Monday Night Football'
- over this crap any day.
- (takes Tracy's arm)
- C'mon. Let's go.
- Tracy gives a wave to Billy. She and Gary walk away.
- Billy watches. He draws an imaginary sword from his side.
- He lifts the sword and lunges forward. At Gary.
- Billy sits at a table. Alone. He's reading his book. He
- eats, but his wide eyes never leave the page. He's fas-
- cinated by the story. Like a child. He gets to a funny
- section.. He laughs.
- 12.
- Gary notices Billy. Gary nudges the others.
- GARY
- What a nut. Laughin' to himself.
- That's the kind of guy who'll shoot
- a president.
- TRACY
- (DEFENSIVE)
- I don't see anything wrong with him.
- I'm sure he's very intelligent.
- GARY
- Yeah, and those are the guys who
- always crack. The real smart guys.
- 6ti (pause)
- He's gotta be a psycho. 26 years old,
- still lives with his parents. Doesn't
- have a girlfriend. He's always alone.
- Real weirdo.
- The others agree. Tracy doesn't. She likes Billy.
- Billy continues to read, totally caught up in his book.
- Totally caught up in his fantasy.
- DISSOLVE TO:
- INT. BILLY'S FORD PINTO - LATER THAT AFTERNOON
- Billy drives home from work. He moves slow. The snow
- still falls. The roads are icy.
- CAR RADIO (V.0.)
- .And the snow keeps coming, folks.
- Looks like we're gonna have a White
- Christmas. Another three inches is
- expected tonight...
- Billy looks out of his side window and sees
- PETE FOUNTANE
- walking home from school. Pete is 16 years old. A chunky,
- pleasant baby faced kid. With his bright orange down jacket,
- Pete resembles a tiny snowman.
- Suddenly, Pete.slips on the ice. Bam. Right on his ass.
- His school books scatter over the ground.
- 13.
- Billy stops the car. He gets out and hurries to Pete.
- BILLY
- Pete...You okay?
- Pete nods. Billy helps him up. Pete brushes himself off.
- Billy is amused by the boy.
- BILLY
- You want a ride home?
- PETE
- Thanks. That'd be nice.
- Billy helps Pete pick up his schoolbooks.
- CUT TO:
- INT. CAR - A FEW MINUTES LATER
- Billy drives, while trying to tell a story to Pete.
- BILLY
- (energetic, en-
- THUSIASTIC)
- Lancelot raises Excalibur and...
- Wham! He knocks the Black Knight
- down ! Then with-another swing...
- Wham! He finishes him off!
- PETE
- (impressed by
- Billy's storytelling)
- Wow...
- Billy digs into his pocket and gives Pete the copy of
- "Once And Future King".
- BILLY
- Here. You can borrow it.
- Pete takes the book.
- PETE
- Hey, Billy...You know so much about
- Vikings and stuff...You should
- write one of these stories yourself.
- 14.
- PETE
- Really?
- BILLY
- (PROUD)
- 'Savage Hearts Of The Round
- Table'. A Trilogy Of Honor.,
- Adventure nd Romance by William
- :C. P.eltzer
- PETE
- Sounds gre t. When can I read it?
- BILLY
- (CHUCKLES)
- I've only got about 70 pages done...
- But as soon as it's published, you'll
- get one of the first copies. Speci-
- ally autographed by the author.
- Pete smiles. Billy makes a turn. He pulls into the parking
- lot of
- DOUGAL'S ANTIQUES
- A huge, three story home, with an antique shop set up on
- the first floor.
- Billy and Pete get out of the car and enter the store.
- DORRY DOUGAL
- the 64 year old storekeeper, stands behind the counter.
- Dorry is husky, bald on top, with thick patches of red hair
- on his temples. A huge, red moustache sits beneath his
- bulbous nose. His arms are thick, hairy. A strong Irish-
- man.
- DORRY
- Good afternoon to you, Billy.
- BILLY
- Hi, Dorry.
- (eyes light)
- Is it ready yet?
- Dorry smiles. He reaches to a shelf behind the counter.
- He removes ,a long object, wrapped in a piece of green cloth.
- He rests it on the counter.
- 15
- Billy watches with.wide eyes. Pete is curious.
- Dorry slowly unwraps the object. Inside the cloth, is a
- long silver sword, with a gleaming blade and an engraved
- steel.holster.. - Pete is impressed..
- DORRY
- (to Pete)
- It's an authentic replica of an
- Eleventh Century sword.
- Billy's eyes examine every inch of the sword. It's
- beautiful.
- DORRY
- I got most of the rust off...But
- there were a couple spots that
- wouldn't budge.
- Billy runs his finger along the blade.
- DORRY
- Careful. It's sharp.
- A big smile covers Billy's face.- He's in love with the
- sword.
- BILLY
- What do I owe you?
- DORRY
- Two hundred. You can pay me twenty
- a week.
- Billy pulls a twenty from his wallet and pays Dorry.
- Billy carefully wraps the sword and puts it under his
- arm.
- BILLY
- Thanks, Dorry.
- DORRY
- My pleasure, son.
- Billy and Pete exit the store.
- CUT TO:
- EXT. MAIN STREET
- The suburbs. Rows of houses. All very similar. Two
- stories Aluminum siding. One car garage.
- 16.
- All are decorated for Christmas. Some are simple and
- sweet. Others are ornate and flashy.
- EXT. FOUNTANE.HOME
- Billy's car pulls into the driveway. He drops Pete off.
- Pete thanks him and Billy drives off.
- ' HE PELTZER HOME
- blends in with the others. But it's a little nicer,
- better kept. A row of colored lights is draped across
- the snowy shrubbery.
- Billy's Pinto pulls into the drive. He gets out, sword
- under his arm. He enters the house.
- INT. FRONT HALLWAY
- A small hallway, leading to a stairway.
- BARNEY
- a friendly Irish Setter, greets Billy. He pets the dog
- and hangs his coat in the hail- closet.
- INT. KITCHEN
- LYNN PELTZER
- Billy's Mother. 53 years old. Slightly heavy. Well
- dressed. Styled brown hair. A pretty woman.
- She hears Billy enter. She quickly pops a valium from
- a small pill bottle. She calls to her son.
- LYNN
- Billy? Is the'.t you honey?
- BILLY
- sighs.He hates to be called "honey".
- 17.
- LYNN (O.S.)
- Dinner will be ready in ten
- minutes.
- Okay.
- He hurries upstairs w Iith
- INT. BILLY'S ROOM
- 1 I i
- Furnished with a sing Ile bed, two chairs, ajdesk and dresser.
- A manual Smith-Corona, rests on the desk top. A full-sized
- mirror is fastened to[ the;closet. A few plants hang in
- the window.
- The walls are covered with Medieval drawings, a poster of
- St. George fighting the dragon, Frazzeta.paintings of
- warriors, etc. A miniature set of armor rests on the
- dresser's cabinet.
- Billy enters. He rests the sword on his bed. He unwraps
- it. He picks up the sword.
- He turns to the mirror and poses with the sword. He holds
- it at a few differentangles, trying to decide which looks
- best for him.
- He takes a few swings with the sword.
- He stops and smiles to himself. A real warrior.
- CUT TO:
- DINING ROOM
- Billy sits at the table, eating dinner with Lynn.
- LYNN
- How was work?
- BILLY
- Okay.
- LYNN
- Have you asked that Tracy girl
- out yet?
- 18.
- LYNN
- I was just curious.
- BILLY
- Yeah,.well it's none of your
- business.
- Nervous,Lynn popsvalfum with her wine.
- .{ LYNN
- (OFFENDED)
- I guess it's none of my business
- that your clothes are washed and
- ironed, or that you have a hot
- meal on the table...
- BILLY
- No. It isn't. I'm old enough
- to take care of that stuff myself.
- I'm old enough to get a place of
- my own.
- LYNN
- Don't start that again. Your
- Father's coming home tonight.
- BILLY
- Good. I think we should talk
- about it.
- LYNN
- It'll put him in a bad mood.
- BILLY
- No, it'll put you in a bad mood.
- Lynn and Billy exchange a glare. They look down at their
- food.
- A few silent, uncomfortable moments pass.
- Lynn looks back to Billy. She smiles. Time for the
- tender approach. She touches his hand.
- LYNN
- Billy, honey...
- BILLY
- (moves his hand
- from hers)
- Stop calling me 'honey'.
- 19.
- She smiles and tries again.
- LYNN
- Dad and I just don't want you to
- have to struggle like we did.
- We want to help, until you can
- support yourself as a writer.
- BILLY
- Bit it's gonna take me another-
- year to finish my novel. . .and what
- if it doesn't get published?
- LYNN
- It'll get published.
- BILLY
- But what if it doesn't? Are you
- gonna take care of me until I'm
- old and grey, working on my 25th
- unpublished novel?...
- LYNN
- If it takes that long, yes.
- BILLY
- (FRUSTRATED)
- Don't you understand?.. .I've got
- to 'leave now! I rve got to try and
- make it on my own now!
- Before Lynn.can reply, A VOICE INTERRUPTS.
- RAND (O . S . )
- Is anybody home?
- Lynn stands and whispers to Billy.
- LYNN
- Please, let's forget about this.
- Just for tonight. Okay?
- Billy pauses. Finally gives in and nods.
- Lynn stands. She pops another valium and exits to greet
- her husband. We hear them, exchange an excited ".hello".
- They kiss and laugh, glad to be in each other's arms.
- Billy just sits. Burning.
- 20.
- INT. FRONT HALLWAY
- Rand hugs his wife. Barney is jumping up and down, tugging
- at Rand's coat.
- Suitcases rest on the floor.' Beside them, is, Mogwai's
- plastic case.
- Billy enters. Rand sees him.
- RAND
- (SMILES)
- Billy .. ,
- Billy walks to his Father. They embrace.
- BILLY
- (happy to see him)
- Hi, Dad.
- They hold each other for a second. Lynn closes the front
- door. Rand picks up Mogwai's case. Lynn turn's to her
- husband.
- RAND
- (takes Lynn's hand)
- Not now. I've got a surprise for
- both of you. Come on.
- He leads them into the living room. Lynn and. Billy exchange
- a puzzled glance. They follow Rand.
- INT. LIVING ROOM
- Rand dims the lights. He motions for Billy and Lynn to
- sit on the sofa. They do. Barney sits on Billy's lap.
- Rand sits in front of them, on a leather easy chair. He
- rests Mogwai's case on his lap. He opens the case.
- Mogwai leaps out, onto the coffee table.
- Lynn and'Bill are startled. They stare at the creature in
- wonderment.
- Barney hates it. He growls at Mogwai.
- 21.
- Rand lights a cigarette. He turns to Mogwai and claps
- his hands. The creature picks up an ash tray and carries
- it to Rand. Mogwai hops onto Rand's lap.
- Lynn and Billy are amazed...
- BILLY
- (staring at Mogwai)
- What is it? A.monkey? A rat?.
- RAND
- Your new pet.
- BILLY
- (UNCERTAIN)
- Mj Oh, yeah?...
- Mogwai starts to sing, humming in that unearthly falsetto.
- BILLY
- What's that?
- RAND
- He's singing.
- BILLY
- Sounds kind of creepy.
- Barney still growls.
- RAND
- Barney! Be a good dog and go up-
- stairs!
- Barney reluctantly hops off Billy's lap and exits.
- Lynn stares at Mogwai.
- LYNN
- I think he's just darling.
- Mogwai.
- Rand holds the creature out to Billy.
- 22
- RAND
- Hold him.
- BILLY
- (inching back)
- Maybe later.
- RAND
- C'mon. He won't bite.
- Billy forces himself to take the creature. Mogwai nestles
- close to Billy. Rand smiles at his son.
- RAND
- He likes you.
- Billy looks nauseous. Lynn stands.
- LYNN
- You two look so cute together.
- I have to take a picture.
- Lynn walks to a nearby drawer, opens it and removes-a
- Kodak Instamatic.
- Mogwai is on Billy's shoulder, licking his cheek.. Billy
- hates it.
- RAND -
- I want you to take good care
- of him.
- Lynn focuses the camera on Billy and Mogwai.
- LYNN
- Okay smile.
- Billy forces a smile. Mogwai still licks his cheek.
- Lynn snaps the picture. Flash!
- Mogwai lets out a high scream. Frightened of the bright
- light, Mogwai jumps back, accidentally scratching Billy's
- cheek.
- BILLY
- Little bastard.
- Mogwai scurries back to Rand. He pets the creature,
- comforting it
- 11 23.
- Settle down, Billy-There's no
- reason to get upset. The little
- fellow's scared. He hates bright
- light..
- Billy shrugs. He wipes his fingers along the scratch on
- his face. He looks -at t em.
- There's blood on his�4ingertips.
- Billy looks at Mogwai.
- The creature looks at Billy. It giggles.
- CUT TO:
- INT. BILLY'S ROOM - LATER
- Billy sits at his desk, working on his novel. His typing
- is fast, intense. A small desk lamp lights.his working
- area.
- Mogwai watches Billy. from the darkness of the book shelves.
- Above Billy., The creature begins to sing.
- Billy tries to ignore Mogwai's singing. No good. It gets
- on his nerves. Billy slams his hand on the desk top. He
- glares at the creature.
- BILLY
- Shut up.
- Mogwai stops singing. Billy goes back to his writing.
- Mogwai.hops from the shelf. Staying out of the direct
- light, the creature moves across the desktop and cuddles
- up to Billy's arm. He jumps back.
- BILLY
- Get off of me.
- Mogwai just looks at him.
- BILLY
- Get.off`my desk.
- Billy shines the bright.desk light into the creature's
- eyes. Mogwai screams and jumps. off the desk, to the floor.
- Billy looks down at the creature.
- 24
- 41
- BILLY
- Stay down there.
- Billy goes back to his work.
- Mogwai is-bored. The creature leaps up to the bed.. It
- sees the sword. Mogwai lifts one end, examining it. It's
- too heavy. The sword slips off the bed and falls to the
- floor.
- Billy turns.
- Mogwai takes a step back. Guilty. Frightened.
- Billy picks up the sword. The handle is chipped.
- BILLY
- (angry, to Mogwai)
- You stupid little...
- Billy raises the sword over.Mogwai. He's ready to kill
- the tiny creature.
- Mogwai loo] .s up at Billy. The creature is shivering. It
- is frightened. It's big, green eyes are watery.
- Billy suddenly feels sympathetic. He lowers the sword and
- picks up the.creature.
- BILLY
- (TENDER)
- I'm sorry.. .just try to be more
- careful.
- Billy holds Mogwai to his chest. He's petting it, com-
- forting it.
- CUT TO:
- INT. BILLYS ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
- Billy sleeps. The room is totally dark.
- CAMERA PANS to another area of the room.
- 25
- INT. BILLY'S CAR - NEXT MORNING
- Outside, the snowing has stopped. Billy drives to work..
- CAR. RADIO (V.0.)
- It looks like the snow has stopped
- for awhile. But don't put away those
- ear muffs, more flurries are
- scheduled for tonight...
- CUT TO:
- INT. BANK PARKING LOT
- Billy's car pulls into the lot. He gets out.
- Tracy is getting out of her car. Billy walks up to her.
- BILLY
- Starting work early today?
- TRACY
- Oh, hi. Well, I thought the
- roads would be icy.
- BILLY
- We've got a half hour before
- work. Wanna go have a cup of
- coffee?
- She.pauses and smiles.
- CUT TO:
- INT. COFFEE SHOP
- Tracy and Billy sit at a table, sipping hot. coffee.
- BILLY
- .and if I sell the novel, I'll
- •be able to quit the bank.
- TRACY
- I'd love to quit. I'd run straight
- to the airport and buy a one way
- ticket to Paris.
- BILLY
- Why Paris?
- T
- 26.
- TRACY
- I've only seen it in movies and
- T.V... . But it seems like it's
- got everything that this town
- doesn't...Museums...great restaur
- ants... Beautiful artworks and
- architecture...
- (embarr-a s-s-ed )
- Listen to me, talking like I've
- been there 10 times. I shouldn't
- get so carried away. It's only a
- dream.
- BILLY
- Hey...Don't give up on your dreams.
- They just might come true.
- Tracy shrugs and takes a sip of coffee.
- BILLY
- Can I ask you a personal question?
- (Tracy nods)
- What is it with you and Gary? Is
- he your boyfriend?
- TRACY
- He thinks he is.
- BILLY
- Do you think he is?
- TRACY
- No. I think of him more as a friend.
- But he thinks of me as a lot more.
- BILLY
- So there's a possibility...I mean...
- I.just might have a chance with you?
- TRACY
- (smiles),
- Don't give up on your dreams. They
- just might come true.
- They both laugh.
- CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL
- Standing across the street, looking into the coffee shop
- window. He watches Billy and Tracy. An angry, jealous
- 27
- look fills Gary's eyes.
- CUT TO:
- INT.-BILLY'S ROOM - THAT EVENING-
- Dimly lint with Billy's small desk lamp. Billy waters his
- pl)ants_ ith a.spray bottle.,
- Mggwai's case sits on the ed. The creature is inside.
- Billy finishes his watering. He sits at his desk. He
- takes adrink from glass of milk and snacks from a plate
- of brownies. He proofreads some pages from his novel.
- PETE (O.S.)
- Hello? Is anybody home?
- BILLY
- (SHOUTS)
- n here, Pete.
- Billy holds the tray of brownies to him.
- BILLY
- Want some?
- PETE _
- I'm s'posed to be on a diet...
- He grabs a brownie. He notices Mogwai's case.
- PETE
- What's in there?
- Pete walks over and opens the case. Mogwai hops out, onto
- the bed. The creature giggles. Pete is, taken aback.
- PETE
- What is it?
- BILLY
- A present from my Dad.
- Pete picks up the creature and pets it. Pete likes Mogwai.
- PETE
- It's neat.
- Billy shrugs. Mogwai sees the brownies. The creature hops
- from Pete's hands, onto the desk. Mogwai grabs a brownie
- and starts to eat.
- 28.
- PETE
- Hey, Billy.. .You think I might
- be able to borrow it? Just for
- a night?
- BILLY
- I dunno, Pete...
- PETE
- C'mon...My Mom will never know.
- I'll hide it under my bed.
- Pete reaches down to pick up Mogwai. His hand clumsily
- knocks over the water bottle.
- A few drops of water splash Mogwai.
- The creature arches its back and lets out a high pitched
- scream.
- Billy is surprised. Pete takes a step back. Scared.
- Mogwai tenses up. The spots on its body that were hit with
- water begin to bubble... .expand...'
- Billy can't believe his eyes.
- Mogwai writhes in pain. The spots on its body expand more,
- getting bigger, bigger.. .ready to explode.
- Billy and Pete stare. Fascinated.
- The spots burst.
- FOUR NEW CREATURES
- popout. Clones of Mogwai.
- The spots on Mogwai's body bond together and disappear, as
- if they were never there.
- There are now five identical creatures on the desktop.
- Billy and Pete share a shocked glance.
- Billy grabs the water bottle. He has to be certain that
- he wasn't halucinating. He splashes a little more water
- on one of the new creatures.
- The process begins again. The creature's body,contorts.
- A few lumps form. The lumps expand until...they burst.
- REV. 4/30/82 29
- LI
- THREE MORE CREATURES ARE BORN.
- Billy tries to make sense out of it all.
- EIGHT CREATURES stand on.the desk top, examining their
- new world.
- Billy picks up his glass of milk. He splashes some milk
- on one of the crealtures.
- Nothing happens.
- BILLY
- They must only multiply with plain
- tap water.
- PETE
- (AMAZED)
- M
- Wow..•.this•is better than "Twilight Zone ( )
- Pete looks at Billy.
- PETE
- Now can I have one?
- BILLY
- (still dazed)
- Huh? Well, yeah. I guess so.
- Pete grabs one of the creatures, taking it from the group.
- It cries out. In a high, piercing scream.
- The other creatures leap at Pete. They grab the creature
- and bring it back to their group.
- PETE
- (SCARED)
- Maybe I won't take one.
- The creatures have moved to the brownies. They rip the
- brownies to pieces, devouring them. They're giggling.
- INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
- Rand sits in a chair, opposite Billy. The 8 creatures
- climb all over Rand. Playfully tugging at his hair and
- 30.
- clothes, licking his face. Rand loves the adorable
- little things.
- Billy has a worried look on his face.
- Barney, the dog, sits in a corner of the rood. He glare
- at;the creatures. Jealous that they're gettjng all the
- atjtention .I
- I
- I RAND
- (to Billy)
- What are you so worried abot?
- BILLY
- Dad...We don't know anything about
- these things.
- RAND
- We know they're cute.. We know.."
- they're intelligent. And now we
- know they multiply by water.
- BILLY
- Yeah, but isn't that pretty weird?
- I mean, if I throw water on�Barney
- over there, we're not gonna;getjten
- copies.
- A creature licks Rand's ear. He chuckles.
- RAND
- All I know, is that I've got a million
- dollars sitting in my lap.
- BILLY
- Huh?
- RAND
- I'm going to market these things.
- BILLY
- (hates the idea)
- Oh, Christ. C'mo'i,Dad...that's ...
- RAND
- Just imagine the excitement when
- word gets out. Everyone will want
- a Mogwai of their very own.
- BILLY
- Don't you think we should have them
- checked out first? Just to make
- sure...
- 31
- RAND
- No. If we want to make a big
- profit, we have to move:fast
- I have some investors coming over
- to the house on Thursday.
- (a . beat)
- Who,knows?...Mogwai could replace
- dog as man's best friend.
- wls from his corner.
- Rand continues to play with the creatures. Billy watches.
- Skeptical.
- CUT TO:
- EXT. BANK PARKING LOT - THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON
- It's snowing., Very hard. The bank has just closed.
- Billy hurries to his car. Gary walks up. Billy turns to
- him.
- BILLY
- Oh, hi Gary. Look, I'm kind of
- in a hurry.
- Gary grabs Billy by the collar and throws him against
- the car.
- GARY
- a< ; Listen, Peltzer...she's my girl-
- friend. Keep your hands off. Under-
- stand?
- Billy nods.Gary lets him go.He turns and walks away.
- Billy straightens his clothes. He glares at Gary.
- CUT TO:
- EXT. FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL - A FEW MINUTES LATER
- Students hurry from the school, anxious to get home.
- 0 Billy's car pulls into the parking lot. He gets out. Pete
- waits in front of the school. Billy walks up to him. They
- enter the school,
- 32.
- J INT. SCHOOL - BIOLOGY LAB
- The last of the students exits the classroom.
- ROY HANSON'
- the Biology teacher, stands at the sink. He's washing out
- some used glass j4rs and basins Roy is 35 years old. Tall.
- Thin. Black. Good looking.
- Pete knocks on the door. Billy enters with him. Roy turns.
- ROY
- Hey, Pete-what's up?
- PETE
- Mr. Hanson...this is my friend
- Billy. He wants to talk to you
- about somethin'.
- ROY
- (friendly smile)
- Well, sure...
- (shakes Billy's hand)
- .I'm Roy Hanson. What can I do
- F
- or you?
- BILLY
- Well, you're the closest thing
- this town's got to a scientist...
- and I need some information about an
- animal.
- ROY
- What kind of animal?
- BILLY
- That's what I'm trying to figure
- out.
- CUT TO:
- INTBILLY'S ROOM - LATER
- The curtains are drawn. The lights are dim. The eight
- creatures are on the desk top. Giggling. Humming in
- falsetto.
- Billy enters with Roy and Pete. Roy stares at the
- creatures. He is shocked. Delighted.
- 33
- ROY
- I've never seen anything like this.
- Billy grabs the water bottle.
- BILLY
- Watch this.
- Billy squeezes a drop of water on one creature. Mogwa'
- lets out a scream. A lump appears on the creature's back.
- The lump gets bigger...bigger...bigger ...
- Roy watches with wide eyes.
- Suddenly, another creature bursts from Mogwai's body.
- NINE IDENTICAL CREATURES now stand on the desk top.
- .ROY
- (startled, shaken)
- Holy shit.
- He remains-speechless for a few moments. He looks at Billy.
- ROY
- May.I stay for a while?...Run a
- few tests?...
- BILLY
- (nods, checks his
- WATCH)
- My parents won't be home until
- 7:00. You've got three hours.
- Roy takes off his coat and opens his black leather case.
- Billy exits with Pete.
- CUT TO:
- T.V. SCREEN
- "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" plays.
- BILLY AND PETE
- sit on the sofa, watching the T.V. Roy enters. He sits
- across from Billy.
- I
- 34.
- ROY
- I discovered some interesting
- things...
- (CONTINUING)
- The creatures are drawn to water.
- if they sense water nearby...
- they'll go to it.
- (a beat)
- Als , unless)th y're hunting for
- foo or water.. they hate to be
- separated. I t ied to move one
- from the others. They cried out.
- Clawing. Screeching.
- PETE
- Yeah...that's what happened when
- I tried to take one.
- ROY
- If one is separated. The others
- will follow.
- BILLY
- Anything else?
- ROY
- They qan't multiply by water if
- their environment temperature is
- below '25 degrees-
- (a beat)
- It's amazing. They have no bio-
- logical link with any other species
- of animal...in the whole world.
- Billy gives an uncertain nod.-
- DISSOLVE TO:
- INT. BILLY'S ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
- Silent. Dark. Billy sleeps.
- Distant sounds are heard. Animal-like noises. Gurgling.
- Slurping. Chewing.
- Billy wakes. He sits up in bed. The sounds continue.
- He looks around the room.
- The creatures are gone.
- Billy notices his room door.
- REV. 4/30/82 35.
- He gets out of bed. He looks at his sword, hanging above
- the bed. He takes the sword from the wall. He walks out
- of the.room.
- HALLWAY
- Billy walks. Sword in hand.
- The noises get louder. Crisper. Clearer.
- Nervous, Billy descends the dark stairs. He arrives at
- the bottom. He stops to listen.
- The sounds are coming from the living room.
- LIVING ROOM
- Billy enters. He looks to the floor. Beneath the'Christmas
- tree.
- The creatures surround Barney.
- They have killed the dog.
- Billy tries to move. He's frozen.
- The creatures are eating the dog.
- They look up at Billy.
- Their bright green eyes are fiery.
- Blood covers their mouths.
- They smile.
- They giggle.
- Billy screams.
- CUT TO:
- CLOSE UP - A CANVAS MAIL BAG
- The bag moves. Squirms. Shakes. The creatures are
- inside.
- Rand carries the bag up a ladder that leads into the
- attic.
- 36
- Lynn and Billy stand a few feet away, in the hallway.
- Rand lets the creatures loose in the attic. He quickly
- latches the attic's trap door, securing it with a padlock.
- He climbs down the ladder.
- RAND
- This should keep them out for
- the rest of the niht...
- INT. ATTIC
- Dark. The Mogwai cluster around the trap door. They
- scratch at the door. They want out.
- RAND (0. S . )
- Tomorrow we'll take them out in
- the sun...
- INT. HALLWAY
- RAND
- .and.finish them off.
- Lynn nods. Rand looks at Billy.
- RAND
- I'm sorry, son. I never expected
- to...
- BILLY
- Forget it.
- Billy stares coldly at his Father. Embarrassed, Rand looks
- away.
- RAND
- We should all get back to sleep.
- Rand puts his arm around Lynn. They walk to their bed-
- room.
- Billy looks up at the attic door.
- The creatures' scratching is heard.
- DISSOLVE TO:
- 37
- EXT. PELTZER HOUSE - MORNING
- The sun rises behind the house. Snow is falling.
- INT. ATTIC
- The tr p door opens. Billy and Rand climb inside. They
- .both carry flashlights.
- They s ine the lights through the attic, looking for the
- creatu es. They see nothing.
- Billy spots something. He nudges his Father.
- There are NINE INDIVIDUAL PODS, stuck to various places-on
- the floor. The pods are 16 inches long, 12 inches in dia-
- meter. They are wrapped with a vein-like wire and covered
- with a thick, syrupy glaze.
- RAND
- What in the hell?...
- Billy picks up a broomstick andl pokes one of the things.
- Won't budge. Hard as a rock.
- BILLY
- Damn things are stuck to the
- floor.
- Rand picks up a baseball bat. He raises it over his head
- and swings down, hard. Against the pod.
- The bat snaps in two.
- The pod is unblemished.
- Rand rubs his stinging hands. Billy and Rand just look
- at each other. Puzzled.
- CUT TO:
- INT. KITCHEN LATER THAT EVENING
- Roy Hanson sits with Billy and Rand. Lynn pours them
- coffee. Roy has just examined the pods.
- 38.
- A.
- r?1ND
- Like a butterfly?
- ROY
- Exactly. Those things in the
- attic-are cocoons. Inside,. the
- creatures are going through some
- sort of change...a metamorphosis.
- BILLY
- Why did they attack my dog?
- ROY
- Simple. They're animals. They
- were hungry. Aside from water,
- food is their main concern.
- RAND
- How long until they hatch?
- ROY
- A week...a month...I really can't
- say.
- BILLY
- (STANDS)
- I'm not waiting around to find
- out.
- ROY
- Billy, don't be hasty...You've
- stumbled onto a new life form.
- What comes out of those cocoons
- could be a major scientific
- discovery...
- BILLY
- Screw'science. I want them des-
- troyed.
- RAND
- Billy ...Maybe Mr. Hanson's got
- a point...
- BILLY
- (stern, bitter)
- Dad, they killed Barney. Or
- have you already forgotten?
- Rand just looks'at his son. Lynn pops a valium in the
- background.
- 39.
- CLOSE-UP
- Red hot light. The flame of a torch.
- CAMERA PANS UP TO
- RAND. He's holding the gas torch, aiming it at the cocoon.
- Billy stands beside him. They're inside-theattic.
- Rand shuts off the torch. He touches the cocoon. It
- appears unharmed.
- RAND
- Not even warm.
- (shakes his head,
- SURPRISED)
- They're indestructible.
- BILLY
- Now what do we do?
- RAND
- I get back from Seattle on
- Wednesday. I'll call some con-
- struction people. They'll come
- in next week and cut these things
- out of the floor.
- BILLY
- I don't think we should wait. Let's
- do it ourselves.
- RAND
- No. It's late. I've got an early
- plane to catch.
- (PAUSE)
- The attic door is locked. There are
- no windows up here. Nothing can get
- in or out.
- Rand pats Billy on the back.
- RAND
- Son, you've got to stop worrying.
- CLOSE UP - BILLY
- A doubtful, uncertain expression on his face.
- 40.
- THE FOLLOWING DAY - LATE AFTERNOON
- I
- VARIOUS SHOTS. OF. THE.-TOWN
- Snow comes down. Fast and hard. RADIO (V O.)
- Heavier nowfalls are cheduled
- Cas swerve on the; road. for this evening. Sto and
- -blizzard warnings are in effect.
- Little children build snbwmen. So if yoi don't have t go out,
- 1
- please stay indoors.
- Tricksiplow the roIgds.
- Anjelderly man snow-blow his
- driveway.
- CUT TO:
- a sign hangs on the-door:
- OPEN LATE FOR HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL
- CHRISTMAS HOURS: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- INSIDE
- A wall clock reads 5:25. Billy counts out money to a
- customer. Tracy works beside him.
- Finished with the customer, Billy looks to the line of
- waiting people.
- BILLY
- Next.
- MRS. DEAGLE
- walks to Billy's window.
- BILLY
- (forced smile)
- Hello, Mrs. Deagle. How are you
- this afternoon?
- MRS. DEAGLE
- (SOUR)
- Horrible. My arthritis acts up
- when it snows.
- (MORE)
- 41
- MRS. DEAGLE (CONT'D)
- (glares at Billy)
- see they still haven't fired you.
- Billy shrugs, trying to remain-ca-lm.
- CUT TO:
- R
- INTJPELTZE� HOME
- Lynn removes freshly bakedSanta Claus sugar cookies from
- the Microwave oven.
- INT. ATTIC
- Small lumps have formed over all of the cocoons. Slowly,
- the lumps rise up and down-. Bubbling,. Breathing. Coming
- to life.
- CUT TO:
- INT. BANK
- Mrs. Deagle is screaming at Billy.
- MRS. - DEAGLE
- Do not try and tell me what to
- do, young man!
- BILLY
- (trying to stay
- CALM)
- M'am...I'm only suggesting that
- you see a bank officer to...
- MRS. DEAGLE
- I want to speak to Mr.. Fresco!
- (loudly calling out)
- Mr.Fresco! ...Mr. Fresco!.
- Roland Fresco, the Vice President, gets.up from his desk.
- He walks over to Mrs. Deagle and Billy.
- Everyonein the bank is watching.
- Billy bites his bottom lip, holding in his anger.
- CUT TO:
- 42.
- C ) INT. PELTZER HOME - KITCHEN
- Lynn decorates the cookies. She adds white icing to Santa's
- beard. She dips her butterknife into the large blender that
- has made the icing.
- INT. ATTIC
- The cocoons are bubbling furiously; as if they were being
- baked in an oven.
- Suddenly, a crack appears on one. Then another. And
- another. Cracks begin to cover all the cocoons.
- Green smoke seeps from the thin openings. A slow soft
- hiss is heard.
- They're hatching.
- CUT TO:
- INT. BANK
- Roland stands beside Billy. Mrs. Deagle patiently waits.
- ROLAND
- (whispers to Billy)
- Apologize to the woman, Billy.
- BILLY
- (HONEST)
- But, sir...I didn't do anything
- wrong. Really.
- ROLAND
- Apologize. Now.
- Billy turns to the woman.
- Everyone in the bank is.watching. Especially Tracy.
- BILLY
- (forcing himself)
- Mrs. Deagle, I...
- 43
- BILLY
- Mrs. Deagle, I...
- (He can't do it.
- He lets out his
- honest feelings)
- I think you're an-ugly old fart
- and I; hope yo u fall down on the
- ice a td breath your fucking neck!
- Mrs. Deagle is sho ked. fi e other customers hide their
- laughter.
- Gary smiles. Tracy is proud.
- ROLADN
- (BOILING)
- Peltzer, you:are fired! Do you
- understand me?!? You're fired!
- Billy smiles.
- CUT TO:
- INT. PELTZER ATTIC
- Green smoke has filled the room. The cocoons quiver.
- Shake. Each one is covered with cracks.
- A THREE FINGERED BLACK CLAW
- suddenly breaks out of one cocoon. It clutches at the
- air.
- ANOTHER CLAW
- breaks through the shell of another cocoon.
- They all begin to hatch., Claws emerge from each one,
- reaching for the air.
- INT. KITCHEN
- Lynn. slowly arranges the finished cookies on a tray.
- A LOUD RATTLING NOISE ECHOES FROM UPSTAIRS.
- to listen.
- CUT TO:
- 44.
- 0 EXT. ATTIC DOOR
- The door rattles. The lock shakes. The creatures want out.
- LYNN
- slowly moves to the kitch n doorway. Sh listens.
- THE ATTIC DOOR
- The wood surrounding the lock begins to splinter. It finally
- snaps.
- The door pops open. The lock falls to the floor. A loud
- thump.
- LYNN
- jumps at the noise. Scared, she runs to the kitchen phone.
- INT. BANK
- Billy puts on his coat, preparing to leave.
- In the background, Mr. Fresco consoles Mrs. Deagle.
- Tracy walks up to Billy.
- TRACY '
- Billy...I thought you were great.
- He smiles. Gary watches the two of them.
- ANOTHER TELLER
- (calling to Billy)
- Billy...You have a phone call.
- Billy hurries to the phone. He answers.
- BILLY
- Yeah?...
- LYNN
- stands in the kitchen, tightly holding the phone receiver.
- 45.
- LY'N
- Billy-those things in the
- attic... They're alive...I hear
- noises upstairs...
- gets scared. His face goes white.(
- BILLY
- Mom...stay downstairs. I'll be
- right home.
- He drops the phone and runs out of the bank.
- Gary exchanges a puzzled glance with Tracy.
- CUT TO:
- LYNN
- standing in the kitchen. Frightened. She downs two
- valiums from her bottle.
- LOUD THUMPS. RATTLING. VARIOUS OTHER NOISES ECHO FROM
- THE ATTIC.
- Lynn exits the kitchen and slowly walks upstairs.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY
- Nervous. Sweating. Behind the wheel of his car. He tries
- to drive fast, but the heavy snowfall and icy roads prevent
- it.
- Outside, the sun is going down.
- CUT TO:
- LYNN
- She's arrived at the top of the stairs. It's dark up here.
- She looks to the end of the hallway.
- 46
- Lynn--gets -a chill. She slowly walks to the door.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY
- still driving. He tries to pass a slow truck. He hits
- a is spot.
- }
- THE CAR
- swerves and spins off the road. It lands in a ditch. The
- engine stops.
- BILLY
- tries to start it. Nothing happens. It's stalled.
- BILLY
- No...Not now...
- He tries again. No good. It's dead. Frustrated, Billy
- slams his fist on the steering wheel. °
- CUT TO:
- LYNN
- standing below the open attic door. She tightly clutches
- her valium bottle. She looks up.
- Nothing but darkness.
- Lynn pops another valium. She climbs theladder, into
- the attic.
- TRACKING SHOT
- Billy. He runs home through the snow.
- It's dusk. People have begun to turn on their Christmas
- lights.
- Billy runs harder. Faster. His house comes into view.
- At the e nd o f the block.
- CUT TO
- REV. 4/30/82 r 47.
- INT. ATTIC
- Lynn pokes her head inside, looking around.
- Everything looks fine. Calm.
- She sighs. Relieved.
- SUDDENLY
- Something leaps out and grabs Lynn by the throat.
- A creature. We can't see it clearly. - It moves too fast.
- It is hiddenby the shadows.
- Other dark figures come at Lynn. More creatures. They
- want their share of the food.
- Lynn watches in horror as the creatures surround her head.
- She screams.
- EXT. ATTIC
- Lynn's body jumps and twists. Her feet kick as she is
- pulled up into the attic.
- There are a few seconds of silence.
- Then we hear the sounds.
- Chewing. Swallowing. Giggling.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY
- sprints down his driveway.
- He arrives at the porch of his home.
- He opens the front door.
- INSIDE
- Dark. Silent.
- Billy calls out before entering.
- EM,000
- 48
- BILLY
- Mom?..
- Scattered giggling echoes from inside.
- Billy flips on the'front hall..light..
- A few tiny shadows scatter. They dash into other rooms.
- Afraid of the light.
- Billy'slowly enters. He's scared.
- He looks to the top of the stairs.
- BILLY
- Mom?...
- More giggling.
- Shaking'. Nervous. Billy climbs the stairs.
- At the top, he quickly flips on the bright hall light.
- Something darts up into the darkness of the attic. Escap-
- ing the light.
- Billy spots the open attic door.
- He walks beneath it.
- He looks up into the dark attic.
- BILLY.
- (shaking voice)
- Mom?...
- AN OBJECT
- is thrown out of the attic. It lands at Billy's feet.
- He jumps back. He looks at the object.
- LYNN'S VALIUM BOTTLE
- Stained with her blood.
- Billy picks it up.
- A giggle from the attic.
- Billy takes a few stepsback. He dashes into
- 49
- INSIDE
- Billy grabs the sword off his wall.
- He walks back. into the. hallway.
- HALLWAY --
- Billy stands several feet from the open attic doo
- He clutches the sword.
- He takes a deep breath and flips out the hall light.
- Darkness.
- Billy waits. A few seconds pass.
- A CREATURE
- leaps from the attic, into the hallway.
- Billy jumps back.
- Mogwai snarls at him.
- Mogwai has changed.
- It stands two feet tall.
- The brown fur is gone, replaced by rock hard, rippled armor.
- The arms and legs are muscular, covered with the same armor.
- The paws have been replaced by claws. The fingernails are
- sharp.
- The tail is long and pointed. Reptilian. It thrashes
- back and forth.
- Sharp white horns have replaced the ears.
- The green eyes are larger. They bulge. Evil. Angry.
- A:huge mouth distorts the face with its wide grin. The
- countless teeth are long and sharp. Gleaming white. Fresh
- blood drips from them.
- The giggle remains, undercut with a hungry animalistic growl
- REV. 4/30/82 50.
- THE CREATURE
- leaps at Billy.
- Billy raises his sword and swings. He hits the. creature
- in mid-air.
- Mogwai fal is to the gro4nd. Thick green blood pours from
- a. deep• wou nd ;in its the t.
- Billy stabs the creatur Mogwai dies with a long hiss.
- Billy looks back to thelattic.
- Sword extended, he rushes to the ladder and climbs into the
- attic. I
- INSIDE
- Billy sees Lynn's body. She lies on the floor. Dead.
- Billy walks to her.
- Lynn is covered with bites and scratches.
- Billy looks away. Angry. Saddened.
- He notices the cocoons. All hatched.
- Sounds echo from downstairs. Thumps. Giggles.
- Billy's face goes white with fear. There's more.
- He dashes out of the attic.
- UPSTAIRS HALLWAY
- Billy walks slowly. Clutching his sword. Ready for an
- attack.
- He descends the stairs.
- FRONT HALLWAY
- 51.
- A CREATURE
- leaps from the overhead chandelier. It lands on Billy's
- back.
- The creature tries to bite Billy's neck.
- Billy slams his blade 'nto Mogwai. He whacks the creature.
- Again and again.
- Finally, Mogwai falls to the floor.
- Billy brings down his blade. Hard.
- It slices Mogwai's head off. The creature's body quivers.
- It dies.
- Billy moves to the living room.
- LIVING ROOM
- Dimly lit. The fireplace burns. The Christmas tree lights
- flash.
- Billy enters.
- AN OBJECT
- flies at Billy from across the room. He ducks.
- A DINNER PLATE smashes against the wall behind him.
- Billy looks to the
- CHINA CABINET.
- A CREATURE sits on the middle shelf. Giggling. It throws
- another plate at-Billy.
- He bats the plate away with his sword.
- Mogwai continues to throw plates at him.
- Billy dodges the plates, making his way to the China Cabinet.
- There, he lunges forward with his sword. Bullseye. Mogwai
- is stabbed. Straight through the chest.
- REV. 4/30/82
- The creature screams, writhing in pain. It falls from the
- China shelf to the floor. Dead.
- Billy slowly moves across the room. His eyes dart back
- and forth, looking for creatures.'
- He walks by the fireplace.
- Three large RED VELVET STOCKINGS hang from the mantle.
- Each one is inscribed with a name: BILLY, RAND and LYNN.
- A-CREATURE
- pops out of each stocking. Growling. Snarling.
- Startled, Billy jumps back.
- The three creatures hop to the floor and move towards
- BILLY:
- He clutches his sword. Tight.
- Two creatures leap at him.
- He spears one in mid-air.
- He quickly spins around, knocking the other Mogwai to the
- ground. He stabs the creature in the throat. He twists
- the sword until Mogwai chokes to death on its own blood.
- The remaining creature attaches itself to Billy's leg.
- It takes a bite from his calf.
- Billy cries out in pair.
- Mogwai stays on. Biting hard.
- Billy kicks his leg near the fireplace.
- Scared of the firelight, Mogwai lets go.
- Billy stabs the creature.. He holds Mogwai in the roaring
- flames of the fireplace. Mogwai screams until it burns to
- a crisp.
- Billy removes his steaming sword.
- The charred creature collapses into the flames. Dead.
- Billy checks his leg. A small bite.
- He walks to the kitchen.
- 53.
- CAMERA PANS TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
- Its tiny lights flash. THE CAMERA MOVES closer to the
- tree.
- TWO LARGER GREEN EYES„shine from inside the tree. The eyes
- of ANOTHER CREATURE.;
- CUT TO.:.
- INT. KITCHEN
- Billy stands quietly!'in the doorway.
- TWO CREATURES
- are inside. They don't notice Billy.
- One has crawled into the large blender. It laps up the
- left over white icing.
- The other sits on the table. It nibbles on the Santa cookies.
- Billy looks at the bl!ende1r. It's' unplugged.
- Billy moves quickly. He dashes across the room and plugs
- in the blender. It starts with'a loud whirr.
- The startled creature spins inside.. Mogwai's screams
- die as it is chopped into a green mush.
- The remaining creature growls at Billy.
- Billy lunges forward with his sword.
- Mogwai leaps out of the way, onto the kitchen cabinet.
- Billy turns to the creature.
- Mogwai stands in front of the open microwave oven.
- Billy pokes at the creature with his sword.
- Mogwai takes a few steps back.
- Billy still pokes at Mogwai, forcing the creature into
- the oven.
- Billy quickly closes theoven door.
- Mogwai is trapped inside.
- 54
- Billy flips the oven switch to "bake". The microwave
- purrs.
- Inside, Mogwai screams and pounds against the glass door.
- Soon, the creature falls.' Its body quivers. The armor-,.
- like skin bubbles and pops. Mogwai boils to death.
- Bill wipes the swea from hs brow and exits the kitchen.
- LIVING ROOM
- Billy enters. He looks at the dead creatures. He sighs.
- Relieved. They're all gone.
- Billy rests his sword against the wall. He picks up the
- telephone and dials "0".
- BILLY
- Yes, could you connect me with
- the Sheriff's Office?...
- A SWIFT SHADOW
- moves across the floor, behind Billy.
- BILLY
- Hello? ...Is this Sheriff Lucia?...
- A CLAW
- tears the phone cord from the wall.
- BILLY
- (DISCONNECTED)
- Hello?...Hello?...
- THE CREATURE
- walks toward Billy, ready to attack from behind.
- BILLY
- (clicking the phone)
- Hello?...
- It hisses.
- REV. 4/30/82
- Billy turns. Face to face with Mogwai.
- Billy glances to his sword. A few feet away. Against
- the wall.
- Mogwai takes a step closer.
- Billy reaches for the sword.
- The creature leaps and lands on Billy's chest, knocking
- him to the floor. {
- .Billy wrestles with the creature. He tries to grab the
- sword, but Mogwai is clawing and biting at him.
- Billy's hand finally reaches the sword. He snatches it.
- He brings down the blade, into the creature's arm.
- Mogwai jumps back. Wounded.
- Billy stands. He raises his sword to finish off the creature.
- Mogwai dodges theblade, jumping to the window ledge.
- Billy moves toward the creature.
- Mogwai smashes through'the window, escaping into the night.
- Billy hurries out of the house.
- OUTSIDE
- The blizzard is starting up.
- Billy arrives at the broken window. He looks to the ground
- and sees
- MOGWAI'S FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW
- They stretch across the backyards of suburbia, disappearing
- into the darkness.
- Following the footprints, Billy runs after the creature.
- a cute, blonde-haired, blue-eyed 8 year old
- backyard. She is building A snowman.
- 56.
- PEGGY'S MOTHER
- opens the back door of their home. She calls to her daughter.
- MOTHER
- Peggy! Come inside! It's too
- dark! You'll ruin your eyes
- building the snowman!
- PEGGY
- Just five more minutes.. And
- 'Skippy The Snowman' will be
- finished. Please, Mommy?
- MOTHER
- (SIGHS)
- Alright, young lady. But if you're
- not inside this house in five,'
- minutes...
- PEGGY
- (.smiles)
- Thanks, Mommy.
- She goes back inside.
- Peggy inserts pebbles for "Skippy's" eyes.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY
- running through the snow. Following Mogwai's footprints.
- CUT TO:
- PEGGY
- inserting the final pebble for "Skippy's" smile.
- Peggy takes a step back. She looks over her creation. She
- smiles.
- PEGGY 0
- Gee, Skippy...You look cute.
- SUDDENLY
- MOGWAIBURSTS OUT OF THE SNOWMAN'S CHEST.
- 57.
- Before Peggy can scream, Mogwai grabs her.
- The creature pulls Peggy inside the snowman.
- Peggy puts up afight. But she isn't strong enough. Her
- little feet kick as she is pulled inside of the snowman.
- BILLY(
- arrives in Peggy's backyard. He sees the young girl's
- legs kicking from the snowman's torso.
- Billy rushes over. He grabs Peggy's legs. A tug of war.
- Billy pulls Peggy out of the snowman.
- Peggy brushes the snow from her face.
- A
- E BILLY
- Are you okay?
- PEGGY
- (unharmed, shaken)
- A monster came out of Skippy
- the Snowman.
- Billy quickly attacks the snowman with his sword.
- He swings and swings until "Skippy" is nothing but a pile
- of snow.
- But there is no sign of Mogwai.
- Billy spots footprints leading away from the snowman.
- Mogwai has escaped.
- Billy runs after the footprints.
- Peggy watches him disappear around the corner of the house.
- Peggy's Mother opens the door. She is puzzled by the pile of
- snow in front of Peggy.
- MOTHER
- Peggy...What happened to your
- snowman?
- PEGGY
- (wide eyed)
- This ugly little monster came
- out of Skippy's chest! It tried
- (MORE)
- 000��.
- 58
- PEGGY (CONT'D)
- to pull me inside and eat me!
- But this man with a big sword
- came over and saved me!
- Peggy's Mother just.stares at her. She shakes her head.
- MOTHER
- I think you've been playing too
- many of those video games.
- CUT TO:
- CAROLERS
- A group of thirty high school students stand on the front
- lawn of a home. They happily belt out a Christmas Carol.
- CAROLERS
- 'Joy To The World, the Lord'-has
- come...
- CAMERA PANS
- their bright cheery faces.
- PETE
- stands in the back row, wearing his orange down jacket and
- a long checkered scarf. He stands in the back row, singing
- tenor.
- THE CREATURE
- pops out of a snow drift, behind the carolers. Mogwai eyes
- the kids. Pete stands closest to, Mogwai.
- The creature smiles.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY
- running through the backyards, following Mogwai's footprints
- The carolers' singing echoes in the distance.
- THE CAROLERS
- loudly singing.
- CAROLERS
- "And heav'n and nature sing...
- A ,tenor voi a sudde ly drops out.
- A few of th carol s xchange puzzled glances. But they
- resume their singin
- PETE
- is being dragged from the group by his checkered scarf.
- Mogwai pulls the youth into a nearby wooded area.
- Pete kicks and shouts. But the caroler's singing drowns
- out his cries for help.
- Mogwai jumps onto Pete's chest.
- The creature's razor sharp teeth bite into the boy's
- neck, tearing out a huge chunk.
- Pete screams.
- No one hears.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY
- running to the group of carolers.
- They are puzzled by the.sword in his hand, his tattered,
- bloody appearance. But they continue singing.
- Billy follows the creatures' footprints behind the carolers ,
- into the woods.
- Several feet away, Billy so-es Mogwai The creature is on
- top of,Pete's body
- Billy rushes, to the scene.
- Mogwai sees Billy. The creature gets scared and dashes off.
- Billy stops
- REV. 4/30/82 60.
- Pete is dead.
- Billy covers Pete's body with his coat. Billy is angry.
- Sickened.
- He quickly runs after the. creature.
- CUT TO:
- TRACKING SHOT.
- BILLY
- chasing the creature through the snow covered woods.
- MOGWAI
- runs out of the wooded area, into the parking lot of
- THE Y.M.C.A.
- The building is deserted. Closed because of heavy snow-
- fall.
- Billy comes out of the woods and sees the creature ahead.
- Mogwai runs to the building.
- Billy follows.
- Mogwai scales up the building's side, to the roof.
- Billy runs-up. Frustrated. He can't get to the roof.
- He watches Mogwai climb into-the building through
- small chimney.
- Billy runs to the front door. He tries to open it.
- Locked.
- He notices a window, a few feet above him.
- He hops to the window. He breaks the glass with his sword.
- He opens the window and climbs inside.
- Y.M.C.A. HALLWAY
- Billy jumps inside from the window. He looks around.
- It.':s_ dark in here
- Billy sees a closet marked "Janitor". He opens it.
- Inside,1he finds a flashlight. He turns on tie flash-
- light. { It's 'upright.
- GYMNASIUM - SWIMMING POOL
- The door is sightly open.
- Billy walks to the door.
- INT. GYMNASIUM
- Divided into two sections. One side: A basketball court.
- The other: A swimming pool.
- It's dark. Billy enters.
- TWO GREEN EYES BURN
- from the far side of the gym.- Mogwai sits at the top of
- the stacked bleachers.
- Billy doesn't see the creature. He shines his flashlight
- across the gym floor.
- BILLY
- know you're here.
- The flashlight stops on the gymnasium light box. The box
- is attached to a.farwall, beside. the swimming pool.
- DASHES
- Billy hears the creature move. He flashes his light to
- the bleacher. tops.. He sees nothing.
- feet. He. screams and shines
- REV. 4/30/82 62
- V.
- A BASKETBALL
- rolls to a stop at Billy's feet.
- Mogwai's giggle echoes through the gymnasium.
- Billy looks into the vast darkness.
- BILLY
- Colme on out...you bastard...
- It is silent again. Billy is frightened. He walks
- faster, moving to the light box.
- Billy hears another sound. He shines the light to another
- area.
- Again. Nothing.
- Billy starts to tremble. He runs to the light box.
- gets there and quickly flips open the box.
- Billy drops the flashlight and sword.
- The creature's sharp fingernails clutch onto Billy's chest.
- Billy falls backward, with Mogwai holding onto him.
- They tumble into the swimming pool. The deep end.
- THE. WATER
- Billy separates himself from the creature. He swims to the
- side of the pool and gets out.
- He runs and picks up his sword. He looks at the scratches
- on his chest. They bleed. But he'll live.
- SUDDENLY
- A small rumbling sound echoes from
- Billy locks to the pool.
- The water is moving. Bubbling. Rippling
- Billy is scared. He runs to the exit doorway.
- The rumblinggets.louder. The pool's water gets
- violent.
- 63.
- Billy looks back to the pool.
- A CREATURE
- crawls out of the swimming pool.
- It is followed by anoth'r creature.
- They are followed by three more.
- Then five more. Eight more. Ten more.
- They keep coming. In droves.
- BILLY
- watches from the doorway.
- BILLY
- (SHOCK)
- Oh my God.
- HUNDREDS OF CREATURES
- are now coming out of the pool.- The huge amount of water
- forces them to multiply at an-incredibly fast rate.
- BILLY
- runs outof thegymnasium.
- HALLWAY
- Billy closes and locks the door.
- He runs to the window, boosts himself up and crawly out.
- EXT. Y.M.C.A
- Billy runs from the building.
- CUT TO:
- R �'
- 0000
- 64
- INT. POLICE STATION
- SHERIFF FRANK LUCIA
- sits' behind his desk..:'. He's
- Frank is 4 years old. His
- wears glas es. H deputy
- OFFICER BRENT
- a scrawny, weasel'' ike man in his mid-thirties, Standd's
- ;
- beside the! Sheriff i. Brent is also laughing.
- 117
- BILLY
- sits in front of the two men. A serious, helpless look
- covers his face.
- Frank leans toward Billy.
- FRANK
- (holding back a
- LAUGH)
- Let me get this straight... You're
- telling me that 'little monsters'
- are multiplying by the hundreds,
- down at the 'Y'?
- BILLY
- Yes... that's right...
- FRANK
- These little things killed your
- Mother and the Fountane boy?
- Billy nods.
- FRANK
- And they eat human flesh?
- BILLY
- (nods, displaying
- the bite on his
- CALF)
- They did this.
- FRANK
- (SKEPTICAL)
- Looks like a dog.
- E
- E, 0 0 0
- 65.
- BILLY
- It wasn't a dog, sir.
- (NERVOUS)
- Look... these things are deadly
- when they're alone. but if a
- couple hundred get loose.. . They'll
- be hungry. Real hungry. They'll
- head straight fo the town.. You' 1
- h ve a major dis ster on you
- h�nds
- Frank looks at Billy.
- FRANK
- Look, Billy...We all know that you
- have a very active imagination. My
- brother told me about the books you
- read down there at the bank ...Now,
- Dungeons and Dragons are fine if
- you're five years old, but...
- Billy stands. Upset.
- BILLY
- My Mother is dead. So is my friend.
- I am not imagining things.
- Billy glares at Frank. The Sheriff sighs. He looks at
- Officer Brent.
- FRANK
- Brent, go with Peltzer...check
- out the 'Y'...then his house.
- BILLY
- (not satisfied)
- Sheriff... you should radio for
- more help. . .warn the people in
- FRANK
- (ANGRY)
- Listen P?ltzer, now you're getting
- me pissed off. You're lucky I don't
- just throw vuu out on your ass for
- telling me stories.
- Frustrated, Billy exits with Officer Brent.
- Frank shakes his head. He picks up the phone and dials.
- 66
- EXT. Y.M.C.A.
- The building appears calm. Peaceful. No sign of the
- creatures.
- The police car pulls.into the parking lot. I
- INT. POLICE CAR
- Officer Brent parks the 'car. Billy silts beside him.
- Brent looks at the building.
- BRENT
- Looks fine. I don't see anything.
- BILLY
- They're inside.
- Brent checks his pistol. It's loaded.
- BILLY
- Look...You can't go in there
- alone. It's'suicide. You've
- got to radio for more help...
- BRENT
- (holds up the
- PISTOL)
- I've got, all the help I need.
- Brent handcuffsBilly to the grating of the police car.
- BILLY
- (PLEADING)
- Please... listen to me...You can't
- go- in there...
- Brent gets out of the car and walks to the building.
- A nervous, frustrated Billy watches.
- BRENT
- walks to the building's front door. Locked. He smiles.
- He takes astep back, draws his gun and shoots off the
- door lock.
- He enters.
- BILLY
- waits in the car. Frightened. Restless.
- ) 0T
- 67.
- His sword lies on the back seat. Billy grabs it.
- He begins to pound at the handcuff chain with his blade.
- INT. Y.M.C.A. HALLWAY
- Pistol drawn, Brent walks down the hallway, to the gym
- doors.
- He can hear the sounds from inside. Gurgling. Breathing.
- Giggling.
- He takes a drink from his hip flask. He enters the gym.
- INSIDE
- Brent is shocked by what he sees.
- HUNDREDS OF PAIRS OF BURNING GREEN EYES
- fill the gymnasium, shining in the darkness. Like a
- starry night.
- DROVES OF MOGWAI
- are still coming out of the swimming pool.
- Brent is frozen. He tries to scream.
- The creatures notice him. Several move towards him.
- Brent fires his pistol. Useless. There are too many
- creatures.
- BILLY
- He hears the gunshots. He moves faster, desperately
- hacking at the handcuff chain with his sword.
- CUT TO:
- INSIDE - BRENT
- drops his gun. Out of bullets. He turns to run.
- 68.
- A creature leaps. It lands on his back.
- Another leaps at him. He falls to the ground.
- Brent screams-as the:creatures jump him.
- They cover him like a blanket.
- They feast.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY
- Sweating. Nervous. Hacking away at the handcuff chain.
- Brent's screams fade in the background.
- Billy looks out the side window. He sees
- THE Y.M.C.A.'S FRONT DOORS BURST OPEN
- Droves of creatures pour out into the night.
- BILLY
- panics. He hacks at the chain. Harder. Faster.
- THE CREATURES
- move toward the police car.
- BILLY
- finally breaks the handcuff chain. He quickly moves to
- the driver's seat and starts the car.
- THE POLICE CAR
- tears out of the parking lot
- The creatures still pour out of the 'Y'.
- drives. He looks to the rearview mirror. The
- 69
- reflection of
- COUNTLESS GREEN EYES
- 'burns in the mirror. The creatures are following'him.
- BILLY
- drives faster.
- BILLY
- (PANIC)
- I gotta warn people. . .1 gotta tell
- THEM
- He flips on the police siren and heads for town.
- CUT TO:
- THE SUBURBS
- Peaceful. Calm. Christmas lights twinkle.
- THE POLICE CAR
- suddenly squeals down the main road. Lights flashing.
- Siren blaring.
- BILLY
- steers the patrol car into the first driveway.
- The car screeches to a stop. Billy gets out. Sword in
- hand, he runs to the front door of the house. He
- knocks. Hard.
- MR. FUTTERS
- a balding, middle-aged man, wearing a bathrobe and pajamas,
- answers the door.
- MR. FUTTERS
- (PUZZLED)
- Billy Peltzer?...What's going on
- here?..
- 70.
- BILLY
- (BREATHLESS)
- They're coming.
- MR. FUTTERS
- Huh?..
- BILLY
- (fast, hyper)
- You've got to keep your wind ws
- locked. Or better yet...boa d them
- up! And your lights... You've got
- to leave them on!
- f+ MR. FUTTERS
- What are you talking about, boy?
- BILLY
- There are these little things...
- animals...They're all over the
- place! They'll kill you and your
- family!...
- Mr. Futters starts to laugh.
- MR. FUTTERS
- Have you been drinking?
- BILLY
- No sir, I...
- MR. FUTTERS
- And what the hell is that? A
- sword?
- BILLY
- Yes...
- MR. FUTTERS
- And what are-you doing with the
- Sheriff's car? Are you on drugs?
- Billy starts to explain when
- MR. DEAGLE
- the next door neighbor, walks onto his porch.
- Deagle is a portly man, with curly grey hair and a beard.
- He calls to Mr. Futters
- 71.
- MR. DEAGLE
- Hey, Joe...I saw the police car.
- You in some kind of trouble?
- MR. FUTTERS
- ,No, it's this Peltzer kid. He
- thinks we're gonna get: eaten up
- by wild animals. And he's
- carrying a sword.
- MR. DEAGLE
- Did you say 'Peltzer'? Billy
- Peltzer?
- MR. FUTTERS
- 1 Yeah...
- MR. DEAGLE
- (shakes his head)
- He's a nut. Went crazy in the
- bank today. Called my wife all
- kinds of names.
- (to Billy)
- You smartass son of a bitch. If
- I was ten years younger I'd beat
- the crap out of you.
- Billy sighs, frustrated.
- MRS. DEAGLE
- joins her husband on the porch.
- MRS. DEAGLE
- What's the matter?...
- (she sees Billy)
- Oh, it's you. Here to
- apologize?
- MRS. DEAGLE
- MR. DEAGLE
- The boy went crazy, dear.
- carrying a sword.
- REV. 4/30/82 72.
- MRS. DEFILE
- (SMILES)
- I knew he was crazy from the
- start.
- (glares at Billy)
- I hope they lock you up for
- good, and throw away the key.
- Mr. Deagle puts his arm around his wife.
- MR. DEAGLE
- C'mon back inside, dear. Let's
- finish watching 'Dallas'.
- (to Mr. Futters)
- G'night, Joe.
- MR. FUTTERS
- Good night, Ed.
- (to Billy)
- You've got ten seconds to get
- the hell out of my yard. Then
- I'm.calling the Sheriff...if he
- isn't out looking for you already.
- He slams the door and goes inside.
- Billy just stands there. Defeated. Frustrated.
- A CREATURE
- hisses. Behind Billy.
- Billy turns. Mogwai leaps at him.
- Billy raises his sword and swings.
- He knocks the creature down. He stabs Mogwai.
- Mogwai dies with a long scream.
- Billy looks up and sees
- THE PACK OF CREATURES
- moving down Main Street. They have arrived. Looking for
- food.
- Many break into the house across the street. There are
- some human screams. Then the house lights go out.
- REV. 4/30/82 73
- Several creatures come towards Billy.
- Billy runs to the police car. He opens the door and gets
- inside.
- A creature leaps at him.
- Billy slams the car door. It severs the creature4si-rand..
- Several creatures surround the car.
- Billy hears a familiar voice. Screaming. He looks out
- the window.
- MRS. DEAGLE
- comes running out of her house, towards the police car.
- f_ She-'s screaming for help.
- I
- A creature is on her back.
- Another creature leaps at her.
- She falls. Into the snow.
- Several creatures attack Mrs. Deagle. Her screams fade.
- So does her life.
- BILLY
- looks away. More creatures are. surrounding the car.
- They pound against the windows. They want in.
- A scared Billy flips on the police radio.
- BILLY
- Sheriff?...It's Billy Peltzer...
- Can you hear me?!?...
- INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE
- Frank plays cards with his brother, Gary. Gary is still
- in his bank security guard uniform.
- radio.
- BILLY M.O.)
- Please answer! It's me;--Billy...
- GREi�;►ooo05
- 74
- Frankgrabs the mike. Gary smiles.
- GRANK
- What's going on Peltzer? Where's
- Officer-Brent?.
- BILLY (V.0.)
- He was kiljed by.ithe creatures.
- What? Whe
- THE POL�CE C AR
- is blanketed by creatures, trying to get in at Billy.
- Billy screams into the radio mike.
- BILLY
- (panic, screaming
- into the radio mike)
- The creatures are all over town...
- breaking into houses... killing
- people... You've got to get help!...
- THE READ WINDOW SMASHES.
- The creatures start to rip away at the glass.
- A creature's arm smashes through the passenger window.
- Billy drops the radio mike.
- SHERIFF (V.0.)
- Peltzer?!?...Peltzer?!?...
- Billy thinks fast. He flips on the siren and flashing
- roof lights.
- THE CREATURES
- are scared of the bright lights. They scatter away from
- she car.
- BILLY
- starts the engine. He squeals out of the driveway.
- 75.
- INT. SHERIFFS OFFICE
- FRANK
- (into the mike)
- Peltzer?...Peltzer?...
- (slams down the
- MIKE)
- Damn.
- GARY
- (SMILING)
- Sounds like he really flipped
- out this time.
- Frank stands. He straps on his gun holster.
- FRANK
- Looks like I'm gonna have to
- straighten this out myself. Want
- to go for a ride?
- GARY
- (eyes light)
- Can I drive?
- Frank. reluctantly nods. Gary stands.
- GARY
- (SARCASTIC)
- But, Frank...With everybody out...
- Who's gonna be here to answer the
- Emergency phone calls?
- (FALSETTO)
- 'Help! The little gremlins are
- eating my baby!'
- Gary laughs hard at his joke. They exit the police station.
- CAMERA STAYS BEHIND
- in the deserted police station. We hear Frank and Gary get
- into the car and drive off.
- THEN
- A telephone rings. And another phone rings. And.another.
- People need help.
- 76
- BILLY
- Shaky. Nervous. Behind the wheel of the police car.
- OUTSIDE
- The creatures are making their way down M in Street.
- They are everywhere.
- On rooftops. Front lawns. Smashing through windows.
- Breaking into homes.
- Scattered human screams echo through the night.
- People are dying.
- Mogwai is taking over the. town'.
- BILLY
- looks through his windshield. Up ahead, he sees
- TRACY
- screaming for help, from a third floor window of her home.
- BILLY
- steers the police car into her driveway. He squeals to
- a stop.
- He grabs his sword and gets out of the car.
- OUTSIDE
- Billy runs to below Tracy's window. He shouts to her.
- BILLY
- Tracy!...It's me! Billy!
- TRACY
- stands in her bedroom. The bedroom door is closed. Locked.
- The creatures pound against it.. They want in.
- 77
- Tracy shouts down to Billy.
- TRACY
- Billy! These things are all over
- my house... I'm trapped!
- (a beat) 1
- There's a ladder beside the garage...
- Billy runs to the garage side. e reaches down and picks
- up a rusty aluminum ladd r.
- I
- He puts the ladder up to Tracy's window and climbs to her.
- INT. TRACY'S ROOM
- THE BEDROOM DOOR BURSTS OPEN.
- Two creatures stand there Growling. 'Hungry. They,
- move to Tracy.
- She screams.
- Billy gets to Tracy. He quickly pulls her out of the
- window. They begin to climb down the ladder.
- ON THE GROUND BELOW
- a creature jumps onto the ladder.
- Tracy. is startled. She nearly falls. Billy grabs. a. better
- hold of her. He drops his sword. It falls to the ground
- and lands in the snow.
- The creature looks up and sees Billy and Tracy. A few
- feet above. Mogwai begins to climb the ladder, going
- after them.
- Billy and Tracy start to climb up the ladder.
- But the two other creatures come out of Tracy'.s bedroom
- window. They see Billy and Tracy below. They climb oft
- after them, down the ladder.
- Billy and Tracy are trapped. Sandwiched between the
- creatures.
- Billy looks to his sword on the ground. So far away.
- REV. 4/30/82 78
- Thinking fast, Billy pulls the ladder back.
- It sways. He pulls harder.
- The ladder tilts to the ground. Falling.
- The three creatures are thrown to the ground, into the
- deep snow.
- Billy and Tracy ride the ladder down. The snow breaks
- their fall.
- The creatures dig their way out of the snow. They move
- towards Billy and Tracy.
- Billy snaps up his sword and jumps to his feet. Ready
- to fight. He keeps one protective arm around Tracy.
- The creatures surround them. Waiting for the right moment
- to attack.
- One of the creatures moves forward.
- Another leaps behind Billy.
- Billy lunges forward and spears the first creature.
- He quickly reels around, slicing the other creature in
- two.
- Both creatures lie in the snow. Dead.
- Billy turns to the last Mogwai. With two swings of his
- blade, he kills the creature.
- Billy wipes the green blood off his sword with his coat
- sleeve. Breathless, he looks at Tracy .
- Hair .hangs in his eyes. Blood runs down the side of his.
- sweaty, unshaven face. His dark brown eyes stare at Tracy.
- The transformation from meek bank clerk to sexy hero is
- complete.
- He embraces her. They run to the police car and get inside.
- Billy'starts the car. He and Tracy drive off into the
- night.
- 79.
- INT. SHERIFF'S CAR
- Gary drives. Frank sits beside him. Gary flips on the siren
- and lights. He smiles. Like a little kid. Frank reaches
- over and.turns off the siren. Gary complains.
- GARY
- Hey, C'mon...
- FRANK
- I got a headache.
- GARY
- (SARCASTIC)
- But this is an emergency. We
- gotta warn everybody! The gremlins
- are coming!
- Gary laughs. Frank sighs
- GARY
- So when are you gonna make me
- Deputy?
- FRANK
- When you grow up.
- GARY
- Why don't you fire Brent. He's
- nothin' but a drunk. I'could do
- a lot better.
- They arrive at the outskirts of town. Frank notices some-
- thing up ahead.
- He can see the shadows of the creatures. Crawling on
- houses. Running across the front lawns.
- Frank motions for Gary to slow down.
- FRANK
- Something looks weird.
- (rolls Jown. his
- WINDOW)
- Damn windshield.`:: frozen. Can't
- see a thing.
- He sticks his head out the window to look out.
- Gary continuesto drive.
- Frank turns from outside, back to Gary.
- REV. 4/30/82 80.
- FRANK
- Snow's too'heavy. I can't...
- A CREATURE
- leaps onto the car's passenger' side. The creature grabs
- Frank' arm. He tries to shake off the creature.
- Gary gl nce over. Shocked. Horrified.
- Mogwai takes a huge bite out of Frank's arm. He screams.
- Gary turns to help him.
- THE POLICE-CAR
- slides on the ice. It slams-into a guard rail, flips over
- a ditch and spins to a stop.
- CUT TO:
- BILLY'S CAR
- Billy drives, as fast as possible through the heavy snow.
- He's headed out of town. Tracy sits beside him. She
- looks out the window..
- OUTSIDE
- The rows of once peaceful, cheerful homes are now the
- scenes of frenzied horror.
- People run out into the night, screaming for help, only
- to be dragged to the ground by creatures.
- Ravaged bodies lie in the snow. Frozen.
- An ambulance is overturned on the roadside.
- Phone lines are town down.
- The creatures have made their way across town. They now
- attack the last few houseson the block.
- REV. 4/30/82 81.
- TRACY
- looks away from her window. Tears fill her eyes. She's
- sickened by all of it. Billy holds Tracy's hand, comforting
- her.. Billy notices something.up ahead. He.stops the ( ::
- police car. ( '
- {
- (
- (
- OUTSIDE
- The headlights shine on Frank's overturned police car.
- Gary is inside. Still alive. He screams for help.
- REV. 4/30/82
- BILLY
- I'll get him out.
- Billy quickly opens the police car door. He jumps out.
- OUTSIDE
- He closes the door. Tracy is safe inside.
- Billy walks to the.sheriff's car. He stays in the safety
- of the headlight's beam.
- Billy stops a few feet from the sheriff's car.
- The passenger side is crushed. The driver's side is
- barely damaged, save for a dented, jammed door.
- Gary pounds against-the door. He wants out.
- Billy grabs the car handle. He pulls hard. The door
- pops open. He pulls Gary out.
- Gary gets to his feet. He's okay. Billy looks inside
- the car.
- Billy closes the door.
- GARY
- What.about my brother? Can we
- get him out?
- BILLY
- He's dead.
- Tears fill Gary's eyes. Billy leads Gary to the car.
- BILLY
- C'mon. Just stay in the light.
- They're afraid of the light.
- Gary walks. He looks scared. Helpless.
- They get to the police car. Billy opens the door.
- INT. POLICE CAR
- 83.
- GARY
- Tracy.
- She smiles. Glad to see him alive. They kiss. Gary puts
- his arm around her..
- Billy hops into the driver's seat. He rests the sword
- beside him.--He--starts the car and continues to drive.,
- Gary gives Tracy another kiss. He needs her comfort.
- Billy just stares ahead, at the snowy road.
- CUT TO:
- DOUGAL'S ANTIQUE STORE - ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN
- Closed.. But the upstairs lights are on. Someone is
- home.
- Everything here looks calm. Untouched. Safe.
- The police car pulls into the driveway.
- INSIDE
- Billy turns to Gary and Tracy.
- BILLY
- We're just outside of town...
- Doesn't look like the creature's
- got here yet.
- (a beat)
- Let's go inside and warm up.
- They exit the police car.
- DORRY
- comes to the door. He sees the worn, hollow faces of Gary
- and Tracy. He sees the bruised and bloodied Billy.
- 84.
- DORRY
- What the hell happened to you?
- Billy looks at Dorry.
- DISSOLVE TO:
- INT. DOTJGAL'S LIVING ROOM- LATER
- Dorry bandages Billy's calf. Gary sits with Tracy on
- the sofa.
- Billy finishes telling the full story to everyone.
- BILLY
- .and they originate from this
- marketplace in Hong Kong.
- Dorrystands and shakes his head.
- DORRY
- Hard to believe. Like Satan's
- come to walk the earth.
- BILLY
- (looks at everyone)
- You see...they''re drawn to water.
- Now, if my hunch is correct... They'll
- be leaving town, and heading for the
- water tower-which means they'll have
- to pass by here tonight.
- (a beat)
- We have to get help. These things
- have to be kept under control. If
- they get to the water tower .they
- could spread all over the St ate...
- maybe the Country. They're like
- inhuman divining rods.
- GARY
- Why didn't you think of that before,
- Peltzer?
- BILLY
- I did. But nobody would listen.
- GARY .
- Maybe if you weren't such a nut
- people would believe you.
- 85.
- Dorry intervenes.
- DORRY
- Nowt boys...arguing won't get us
- anywhere.
- Gary still glares at Billy.
- GARY
- This is your fau t, Peltzer.
- BILLY
- That's not true.
- GARY
- My brother's dead because of
- you.
- BILLY
- That isn't..
- GARY
- The people in town. They're
- • dead because of you.
- BILLY
- (ANGRY)
- Stop it.
- GARY
- You did it. You killed all
- those people.. You're. a murderer,
- Peltzer.
- Billy lunges at Gary. They fall to the ground. Fighting.
- Dorry and Tracy break it up.
- TRACY
- If we want to stay . alive... We
- have to stick together.
- Billy turns away. Cooling off.
- Gary is comforted by Tracy. But she keeps her eye on
- Billy. Dorry looks at everyone.
- DORRY
- We should get in touch with
- the authorities.
- 86
- BILLY
- Yeah, and then I'd like to try and
- get in touch with my Dad. If we
- can...
- THE LIGHTS GO OUT.
- Total darkness.
- CUT TO:
- EXT. DORRY'S STORE
- Mogwai's claw tears at the wires in the electrical box.
- CUT TO:
- LIVING-ROOM
- Gary's cigarette lighter illuminates the room. Everyone
- stays quiet. They listen.
- THE GIGGLING of several creatures echoes from outside.
- BILLY
- They're here.
- A frightened Gary holds Tracy.
- GARY
- Now what do we do?
- The giggling gets louder. Closer. Billy turns to Dorry.
- BILLY
- Do you have a place without win
- dows?... .A place where we could be
- safe?
- Dorry pauses to think.
- DORRY
- The storage room
- The sound of breaking glass is heard.
- 87
- BILLY
- (clutching his sword)
- We have to hurry.
- Dorry leads everyone.out of the.room...
- INT. STORAGE ROOM
- Large area. Crowded wit.. an#i.ques.
- Dorry leads everyone inside. He closes and lo'ks the
- door. He lights two can¢1es.,,
- BILLY
- We'll stay ere until daybreak.
- Gary sits with Tracy on an old sofa.
- Dorry sits beside them in an�old rocking chair.
- Billy pulls up an old wooden'chair.
- LOUD NOISES, CRASHES. BANGS, THUMPS, GIGGLES..
- They echo from OFFSCREEN. The creatures rummage through
- the antique store.
- CLOSE-UP - BILLY, GARY, TRACY, DORRY
- listening to the sounds. Frightened.
- DORRY
- Mischevious little devils,
- aren't they?
- No one disagrees.
- Tracy suddenly notices something. She cries out.
- TRACY
- (pointing to the
- DOOR)
- Billy!
- SEVERAL CREATURES' CLAWS
- scratch through the thin wood of the storage room door.
- Thinking fast, Billy moves to a large cabinet. He
- turns to Gary.
- 88.
- BILLY
- Help me with this.
- Gary and Billy slide the cabinet in front of the door.
- BILLY
- That'llkeep them out. We're
- safe now..
- Billy sits back. The �oipjs contipue.
- Dorrylook at ever y on
- DORRY
- I've only been this scared two
- other times in my life. Once
- was when I got drafted. The
- other, was when I was six years
- old.
- (everyone listens)
- It.was Christmas Eve. My sisters
- and I were decorating the tree
- with our Mother. We were singing
- caroles...happy ...excited...
- waiting for Dad to get home from
- work.
- (a beat)
- A few hours passed, and we started
- to worry. Dad wasn't home yet. My
- Mother called the office. They said
- he left.
- (PAUSE)
- After about a week... the police gave
- up. My Mother was close to a nervous
- breakdown... The rest of us weren't
- eating.. .we couldn't sleep.. .Every-
- thing was falling apart.
- (PAUSE)
- It was snowing outside. The house
- was cold. I threw some logs on
- the fire.--..That's when I noticed
- the smell.
- (a beat)
- The firemen came. They broke
- through the chimney top. We were
- all waiting, expecting them to
- pull out some dead cat or bird...
- Instead, they pulled out my Father.
- (PAUSE)
- He was dressed in a Santa Claus
- suit. He had been climbing down
- the chimney on Christmas Eve,
- his arms loaded with presents.
- AMORE)
- 89.
- DORRY (CONT'D)
- He was going to surprise us.
- (PAUSE)
- The coroner said that he lost
- his footing. He slipped and
- broke his neck. Died instantly.
- His body was lodged in the narrow
- chimney shaft.
- (PAUSE)
- ,That how I found out there was
- no Sahta Claus.
- Everyone has a chilled look on their faces. Dorry just
- stares.
- Billy stands and clears his throat..
- BILLY
- Well...I think you should all
- try and get some sleep.
- (a beat)
- I'll watch the door.
- Everyone agrees. Billy moves his chair in front of the
- door.
- .Dorry relaxes.inhis rocking chair.
- Gary stretches out on the sofa, expecting Tracy to cuddle
- with him. Instead,"she walks:over to Billy.
- TRACY
- Billy...
- He looks at her. She gives him a comforting smile.
- TRACY
- I just wanted to say thanks...
- I mean...If it wasn't for you, I
- don't know what any of us would
- have done.
- Billy smiles.
- TRACY
- is it okay if I sleep here? On
- the floor beside you?...I'd feel
- a lot safer.
- Billy nods. Tracy moves a carpet next to Billy's chair.
- She lies on the carpet. She closes her eyes.
- Gary watches from the sofa. Jealous.
- Dorry has fallen asleep in his chair.
- Billy sits. Sword on his lap. He guards the door.
- Sounds still echo-from downstair•s,.throughout the antique
- store.
- CLOSE-UP - BILLY
- The horror of it all finally hits him.
- His eyes fill with tears.
- He cries. Alone.
- FADE OUT.
- FADE IN:
- BILLY
- sleeping in his chair. His hand still holds the sword on
- his lap.
- The others are asleep.
- Billy's hand quivers. The sword drops to the floor. He
- wakes. Startled. He quickly grabs the sword.
- Everyone else wakes from the sound.
- BILLY
- (looking at their
- scared faces)
- Everything's okay...I just
- dropped my sword.
- Gary rubs his eyes.
- GARY
- What time is it?
- DORRY
- (checks his pocket-
- WATCH)
- 9:15.
- Billy stands. He pushes the wood cabinet from the door
- The door is covered with scratches. Billy slowly opens it.
- 91
- The room is bathed with light, coming from a window
- facing the door.
- Everyone smiles. The light feels good. Safe.
- They exit-the storage room.
- INT LIVING 7 0
- Destroyed by lithe creatures. Furniture. is overturned.
- Windows are broken. Curtains are torn.
- Billy, Dcrry, Gary and Tracy enter.
- CAMERA FOLLOWS
- the four people through the house. Into the kitchen, the
- bedrooms, the hallways.
- Every room has been destroyed by the creatures.
- INT.. STORE AREA
- All of the antiques have been smashed or broken by the
- creatures.
- Dorry is shocked to see his store in this state.
- Billy walks to the front door. He tries to open it. It's
- jammed. He pulls hard. Finally., it opens.
- OUTSIDE
- A blanket of snow. covers everything. It snowed hard last
- night.. Three feet's worth.
- BILLY
- Try. the phone. .see if we can
- get help...
- Dorry walks back inside. Gary flips on a transistor radio
- that has been sitting on the shelf.
- RADIO (O . S . )
- All major highways and roads are
- closed. Driving is close to
- (MORE)
- 92
- RADIO (O.S.) (CONT'D)
- impossible. It looks like we're
- gonna be snowbound for the Holidays.
- Dorry returns.
- DORRY
- Phone's. dead.
- BILLY
- Damn.
- TRACY
- We're trapped.
- GARY
- I think we should get out.
- Now.
- BILLY
- How? The nearest town is fifteen
- miles away.
- GARY
- I'll walk.
- BILLY
- In this? You won't get far.
- GARY -
- It's worth'a try.
- BILLY
- And-what happens when it gets
- dark? ...And you're on the road.
- Alone.
- Gary says nothing.
- BILLY
- No. We have to stick together
- and fight these things. At least
- until we can get help...
- Tracy folds her arms.
- TRACY
- I'm cold.
- Gary puts his arm around her. She'd rather have Billy's.
- REV. 4/30/82 93.
- DORRY -
- There's a McDonald's about a
- block away.
- BILLY
- Okay. We 11 get something to
- eat.
- (a beat),
- Them we go 1 to wJork.
- CUT TO:
- EXT. MC DONALDS - LATER
- The police car is parked outside. Many of the restaurant
- windows are broken. A few deserted cars are in the parking
- lot.
- INSIDE
- The creatures have been here.
- The dead body of an old man is slumped across a table.
- A half eaten Big Mac is still in his hand.
- In a booth, sits a dead family: Mother, Father, boy and
- girl. Their food still sits-in front of them. Untouched.
- A dead cashier girl lies on the counter.
- BILLY, TRACY, GARY AND DORRY
- sit at a table in the rear of the restaurant. Away from
- the grisly sights.-
- They eat burgers and fries. Gary takes a bite of his
- burger and nods to Billy.
- GARY
- Not bad, Peltzer. I-didn't
- know you could cook.
- 94.
- DORRY
- Could there be other people in
- town? Alive?
- BILLY
- It's.possible. But it's more
- important to get at the creatures.
- We've got the advantage now. It's
- daylight.
- GARY I
- You know where they are, Peltzer?
- BILLY
- No...But they're all gathered in
- one place. And the sun rose before
- they could make it to the water
- tower. So they must be holed up
- between here and there.
- TRACY
- The old church?
- BILLY
- (shakes his head)
- Too many windows. Too much light.
- it's got to be someplace dark.
- Totally dark.
- DORRY
- How about somebody's garage?...
- Or tool shed?...
- BILLY
- No. There's too many of them..
- They'd need a huge area...
- TRACY
- Ridge's movie house.
- Everyone pauses to think.
- GARY
- It's a big place. No windows.
- DORRY
- Always dark. Pitch black.
- Billy nods to himself. That's the place.
- CUT TO:
- 95.
- EXT. RIDGE'S MOVIE THEATER - LATE AFTERNOON
- The sun is going down.
- Walt-Disney's "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" is
- playing. A written sign is posed in the box office window.
- TONIGHT'S SHOW CANCELLED BECAUSE OF SNOW
- Billy and the others walk up-to the theater. Gary is
- carrying a flashlight. Billy turns to him.
- BILLY
- You used to work here, right?
- GARY
- (SHRUGS)
- When I was a kid.
- BILLY
- You're coming in with me., You can
- show me around.
- TRACY
- What are you going to do if they're
- inside?
- BILLY
- Blow up the theater.
- Everyone seems puzzled. Billy turns to Gary.
- BILLY
- This place has some kind of boiler
- room...with a furnace... right?
- GARY
- (NODS)
- In the basement.
- BILLY
- (to the others)
- I'll use the gas lines as a bomb.
- The fire will destroy the creatures.
- Dorry looks at Billy.
- DORRY
- I want to come in with you.You'11
- need the extra hand.
- 96
- TRACY
- Well I'm not staying out here
- alone. It's getting dark.
- Billy nods. -They'll all go in together.
- BILLY
- Okay...just remember;.We've got
- to stick together. And keep close
- to the flashlight. They're scared
- of the light.
- Everyone nods. Gary turns on the flashlight.
- Tracy takes Billy's hand. Gary is jealous.
- They enter the theater.
- INT. THEATER LOBBY
- Gary shines the flashlight.
- The candy counter has been smashed. All of the candy is
- gone.
- The popcorn machine is empty. The soda machine has been
- emptied and turned on its side.
- Billy walks to the theater entrance door. He looks into
- the small window.
- INT. THEATER
- Countless pairs of green eyes shine in the darkness. The
- creatures murmur among themselves.
- Billy whispers to the others.
- BILLY
- They're inside the theater.
- The others peer into the window.
- BILLY
- (to Gary)
- How do we get to the boiler
- room?
- 97.
- BILLY
- Damn. There's too many of those
- things. They'll- see us.
- (PAUSE)
- 1 If we could. just distract them...
- Tracy perks up.
- •TRAC Y-
- I have an 'idea'.-
- They look .t her .
- CUT TO:
- PROJECTION BOOTH
- Billy, Tracy, Dorry and Gary enter. Tracy walks to the
- projector.. She finds the forward switch. She flips it.
- The projector purrs. The lamp goes on. The reels turn.
- INT. THEATER
- The second reel of "Snow White" fills the screen.
- The seven dwarfs are singing "Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, it's off to
- work we go..." The song echoes through the theater.
- THE CREATURES
- are frightened by the images on screen. The light hurts
- their eyes. But gradually, they become interested in the
- movie.
- PROJECTION BOOTH
- CUT TO:
- INT. THEATER
- The creatures are clustered in their seats. Puzzled.
- Fascinated by the animated screen
- 98
- Billy and the others move through the darkness. They crawl
- on the floor, on the outside aisle of the theater, to the
- Exit door.
- They move carefully. Slowly. Silently. They make it
- to the Exit. They Crawl out. safe.-
- The creatures still watchthe movie.
- INT. HALLWAY
- Out of the theater, BillyTracy, Dorry and Gary run to
- the boiler room.
- INT. BOILER ROOM
- Billy walks to the large gas furnace. He examines the
- gas line. He finds the shut-of.f valve and turns off the
- gas.
- Billy takes off his coat and shirt. He removes his T-shirt.
- He looks at Gary.
- BILLY
- Give me your T-shirt.
- Gary reluctantly takes. off his T-shirt. Billy ties the
- two shirts together. He winds them into a cord.
- He finds a connection in the gas line. He begins to
- pound against it with the handle of his sword. The. sounds
- of metal ring out.
- CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.
- CUT TO:
- INT. THEATER
- The film's reel ends. The screen goes blank.
- The creatures are puzzled. Distracted. They throw
- their candy boxes and paper cups at the screen.
- The CLANG of Billy's sword hitting the pipe is heard.
- Several of the creatures group together. They move from
- their seats, to the exit door. They follow the sound.
- 99.
- INT. BOILER ROOM
- Billy gives one final hit to. the gas line. The connection
- snaps. He stuffs the line with his and Gary's shirt. He
- turns the gas back on and lights the end of the crumpled.
- shirt with a match. The flame slowly creeps up the shirt,
- to the line.
- BILLY
- We have to get out. Fast.
- Gary points to a rear exit.
- GARY
- That leads outside.
- SEVERAL CREATURES
- burst into the room.
- Gary panics. He pulls out a gun and starts shooting.
- BILLY
- Not your gun. There's too
- many. Use the light.
- Gary stops shooting and fumbles for his flashlight.
- A creature leaps atDorry, pinning the old man to the
- ground. Other creatures attack Dorry. Biting. Scratching.
- Tearing.
- Billy picks up his sword and begins to knock the creatures
- off Dorry.
- Creatures come at Tracy. She picks up a section of thick
- lead pipe and bats off the oncoming Mogwai.
- Gary finally turns on the flashlight beam. It keeps some
- of the Mogwai at bay.
- Fire creeps up the T-shirt, getting closer to the gas
- line.
- Billy gets all-the creatures off Dorry.
- More creatures come through the door.
- Gary gets scared. He drops the flashlight and runs
- for the rear exit.
- 100
- BILLY
- (screams to Gary)
- Get back here! We need you!
- .Gary runs out, leaving the others alone.
- Billy and Tracy continue to fight the creatures.
- I
- Dorr7 lies the ground.
- EXT . ! BEHIND "HEATER
- Gary`] rushes] but. It's dark. He runs throi}gh the snow-
- filled alle'i, to the front of the theater.
- INT. BOILER ROOM
- The fire is`o'nly a few inches from the gas line. Soon
- the place will blow.
- Billy and Tracy still fight. Billy inches back to the
- rear exit. His arm blindly gropes for the 'door handle.
- The fire is�almost at the gas line.
- Billy's hand reaches the door handle. He opens it.
- He turns to Tracy.
- BILLY
- Let's go.
- Billy picks up Dorry's body. Tracy protects him by batting
- away any oncoming creatures.
- They hurry out of the boiler room.
- INT. HALLWAY
- Tracy closes the boiler room door. locking the creatures
- inside.
- Billy.carries Dorry's body. He and Tracy run to the exit.
- EXT. ALLEY - BEHIND THEATER
- Tracy and Billy burst through the door. They fall into
- a snow p l e
- REV. 4/30/82 101
- THE THEATER EXPLODES.
- Doors fly off., Windows break. The entire theater is
- engulfed in flames.
- Loud high pitched screaming is'heard. Creatures are
- dying.
- Billy stands up from the sn w drift. H loo s at T acy.
- She's okay. They look to Dcrry.
- I
- His body is covered with scratches and bites. He's dead. (
- Billy picks up Dorry's body. He carries it to the front
- of the theater. Tracy follows.
- CUT TO:
- INT. THEATER
- TRACKING SHOT
- Camera moves through the flames. Some creatures scream,
- burning to death. Others try to avoid the flames.
- Camera moves to the ceiling.
- THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM TURNS ON.
- CUT TO:
- CLOSE-UP - GARY
- sweating. Scared. Out of breath.
- He stands across the street from the theater. Watching.
- BILLY AND TRACY
- emerge from behind the building. They walk towards Gary.
- Billy walks up. He's holding Dorry's body. He lowers
- the body-to the ground. He glares at Gary.
- BILLY
- You bastard. You ran out on us.
- Left us alone. To die.
- Billy drops his sword and jumps Gary. They fall to the
- ground. Fighting. Punching.
- REV. 4/30/82 102.
- Gary knees Billy in the groin. Billy is bent over,
- catching his wind.
- Gary snatches the sword. He lunges at Billy with the
- blade.
- TRACY
- Gary! ...No!...
- Billy dodges the blad�.
- Gary moves closer to Billy. The sword is inches away
- from Billy's chest.
- Gary swings. Billy steps back. The tip of the sword
- scratches across his chest.
- Tracy cries out.
- Gary lunges at him again. Billy is scratched across the
- s tomach-.
- Billy is backed against,a building wall.
- Gary pulls back his sword, ready to spear Billy..
- A CREATURE
- leaps out of the darkness and grabs Gary by the throat.
- Gary screams. He drops the sword.
- Another creature attacks Gary. Followed by another.
- And another.
- They bring him to the ground. They eat. He dies.
- Billy quickly picks up his sword, before the creatures
- get to hi_m and Tracy. He grabs her hand. They.run to
- the police car.
- They get inside and lock the doors.
- INT. POLICE CAR
- Billy and Tracy look across the street.
- 103.
- CcUNTLESS CREATURES
- are pouring out of the theater. Into the night.
- THE POLICE CAR
- squeals away into the night.
- INT. CAR
- Tracy examines Billy's shoulder. A deep cut.
- THE CREATURE ON THE BACK SEAT
- opens its eyes. It lets out a high pitched, wounded cry.
- Tracy picks up the sword, ready to kill the creature.
- Billy stops her.
- BILLY
- Wait...
- He looks out the rear window.
- THE PACK OF CREATURES
- are following the police car.
- BILLY
- looks at the creature on the back seat. It still cries
- out in that high pitched scream.
- BILLY
- (to Tracy)
- Hear that? He's calling his
- friends for help. They're
- following us. As long as
- he's alive and screaming... they'll
- come after him.
- TRACY
- 104.
- BILLY
- We can't kill him. He's our
- bait. We'll be able to lead them
- away from the water tower.
- (points to the
- back seat)
- Just keep an eye on the thing...
- make s re it doe n' hurt us.
- Tracy keeps the swo d on the cre ture. Billy guns the
- engine and screeches off. He looks to the rearview
- mirror.
- THE COUNTLESS GREEN EYES FOLLOW..
- DISSOLVE TO:
- EXT. EXXON STATION - LATER THAT NIGHT
- The station is deserted. A clock in the window reads
- 5:27 AM.
- THE POLICE CAR
- pulls into the station'lot.
- Billy and Tracy get out. They look tired. Worn. They've
- been driving all night. Billy pumps gas into the car.
- THE WOUNDED CREATURE
- still lies on the back seat. Mogwai still screams in
- its high pitched wail.
- TRACY
- looks into the distance.
- THE PACK OF GREEN EYES
- is visible. A few miles away.. They move to Tracy and
- Billy's direction.
- REV. 4/30/82
- BILLY
- We'd better hurry. They're
- getting close.
- They.. get into the car..
- INSIDE
- Billy starts the car. Tracy looks into the back seat.
- TRACY
- Billy!...
- THE CREATURE IS GONE.
- Billy and Tracy are shocked. Puzzled.
- CUT TO:
- BEHIND THE POLICE CAR
- The creature has crawled outside, through the rear
- window. It crawls BENEATH THE CAR, moving into the engine.
- BILLY AND TRACY
- look around. Puzzled. Confused.
- BILLY
- Where in the hell?...
- SUDDENLY
- The car stalls. Billy tries to re-start it. No good.
- Dead engine.
- GIGGLING echoes from under the hood.
- Billy and Tracy get out of the car.
- OUTSIDE
- THE PACK OF CREATURES ARE GETTING CLOSER.
- Billy and Tracy move to the-car's hood. Billy opens it.
- REV. 4/30/82
- MOGWAI
- is inside. Its mouth is full of tangled wires and plugs
- that the creature has ripped from the engine. Mogwai
- giggles at Billy.
- BILLY
- (to Tracy)
- Check the garage... ee if
- there's a bag...a b x...
- something we can keep this
- little bastard locked up in.
- Tracyhurries to the garage.
- INT. STATION GARAGE
- Tracy finds a small, red metal toolbox., She empties
- it and carries the box back to the car.
- BILLY
- grabs the creature. Mogwai is still wounded and dazed.
- But it manages to bite and scratch at Billy.
- Tracy holds the tool box open. Billy forces Mogwai inside.
- He closes the tool box and locks it shut.
- Mogwai is trapped inside. The creature pounds against
- the metal. Its loud cry echoes from inside.
- Billy checks the car's engine.
- BILLY
- Damn! He ripped out the
- coil wires! The car won't
- run without them!
- TRACY
- Can you fix it?
- Billy looks into the distance. The creatures are getting
- very close..
- BILLY
- There's no time.
- (grabs her
- HAND )
- Come on.
- REV. 4/30/.82
- Billy and Tracy run. Billy carries the tool box. Mogwai
- cries from inside.
- Billy looks behind him.
- THEGWAI
- !through the snow, moving closer to Billy anTracy. plow
- TRACKING SHOT
- of Billy and Tracy. Running fast. Out of breath. Trying
- to keep ahead of the droves of Mogwai.
- Billy looks into the distance, at the top of a hill.
- A GREENHOUSE
- sits in a large open area. It overlooks the entire town
- of Kingston Falls.
- BILLY AND TRACY
- run up the hill, towards the Greenhouse.
- THE MOGWAI
- move fast. They're getting closer to Billy and Tracy.
- Some of the creatures travel beneath the snow. Others
- hop through it.
- BILLY AND TRACY
- arrive at. the top of the hill. They run to the
- Greenhouse entrance. They open the doors and enter.
- INSIDE
- Billy drops the toolbox on top of a Greenhouse table..
- OUTSIDE
- The creatures arrive at the top of the hill. They move
- to the Greenhouse doors
- REV. 4/30/82
- INSIDE
- Billy spots a huge tree. It grows up, through the
- center of the Greenhouse.
- Billy takes Tracy's hand. They run to the tree. They
- begin to climb to the top.
- THE CREATURES
- crash through the Greenhouse doors. Several of them
- surround the tool box. Mogwai screams from inside. Others
- tear through the Greenhouse, smashing plants, overturning
- tables, etc.
- The creatures spot Billy and Tracy, climbing the tree.
- The Mogwai move to the tree.
- BILLY AND TRACY
- climb. Billy looks to the sky.
- Dawn is approaching.
- Billy looks below him.
- THE CREATURES
- climb the tree, scurrying up to Billy and Tracy.
- Billy fights off the oncoming Mogwai with his sword.
- AT THE TREE'S BOTTOM
- Several creatures have begun to gnaw at the tree trunk.
- BILLY AND TRACY
- are near the treetop. They cling to a large, thick branch.
- The creatures still chase after them. Billy keeps them
- at bay.
- AT THE TREE'S BOTTOM
- The creatures have almost-completely gnawed:through the
- tree trunk.
- REV. 4/30/82
- The tree sways.
- The trunk snaps.
- .Billy and Tracy hold tight as the tree falls to the
- ground.
- Billy smacks to the Greenhouse floor. Slightly.-dazed.
- Tracy lands beside him. Unconscious.
- A few creatures jump on her.
- Billy stands. He knocks the creatures off Tracy.
- Several creatures attack him.
- Billy fights. But there are too many.
- They keep coming. Surrounding him.
- Billy can't keep up with them.
- OUTSIDE
- The sun is coming up. The darkness fades.
- INSIDE
- The creatures still attack.
- Billy tries to fight.
- A creature grabs his wounded leg.
- Billy cries out in pain.
- Another creature rips at his arm.
- Billy drops the sword.
- He's f inis;'ed
- He falls to the ground. Beside Tracy.
- The hungry creatures surround Billy.
- Weak. Defeated. Billy closes his eyes.
- He finally gives
- REV. 4/30/82 110.
- ( )
- THE SUN RISES.
- The creatures move to finish off Billy...
- Suddenly, ,they stop. They become weak..
- Brigh' sunlight shines into the Greenhouse.
- The c eatures try toun owhere,to hide.
- Billyopenjs his eyes. He watches.
- The sun shines brighter.
- 1
- Sweatpours from the creatures' bodies.
- They cry out in pain. Unearthly screams.
- "Their bodies start to smolder.
- Cracks appear in their skin.
- The creatures begin to melt. Like candles.
- Billy,wat'hes in horror.
- Their'bodies collapse to the floor.
- The become mounds of unrecognizable liquid.
- Their screams fade. Die out.
- Billy gets to his feet. He looks around.
- All that remains are pools of smoldering liquid.
- The nightmare is over. Mogwai is dead.
- Billy takes a breath.
- Cuts. Bites. Scratches. Theycoverhisbody.
- He looks down at Tracy.
- Billy kneels, resting her head and shoulders in his lap.
- She opens her eyes.
- She gives a weak smile to Billy.
- He lightly kisses her on the lips. He holds her tight.
- He helps Tracy to her feet. He picks up his sword.
- Billy and Tracy exit the Greenhouse.
- REV. 4/30/82
- OUTSIDE
- Billy and Tracy stand in the snow.. They look out over
- Kingston Falls. Now a ghost town.
- Billy looks at his sword.
- He pull back ,nd throws the sword.
- it flip throw h the air. {
- It lands. Several feet away. Speared upright. In the
- snow.
- Billy collapses in the snow. Exhausted.
- Tracy kneels beside him.--
- It CLOSE-UP
- Billy's face. Lying in the snow.. Unconscious.
- Hard. Lonely. Worn.
- The face of a warrior. The face of ahero.
- DISSOLVE TO:
- CLOSE-UP
- RAND PELTZER.
- A pensive, tired look covers his face.
- CAMERA PULLS BACK
- We'.re inside of a hospital room. Rand sits in a chair,
- across the room from
- BILLY
- He lies in bed. His wounds are bandaged. An I.V. needle
- is in his arm.
- REV. 4/30/82
- RAND
- (COMFORTING)
- It's okay, Billy...It's
- over...
- Billy holds his Father tightly.
- BILLY
- How's Tracy?
- RAND.
- Fine. She's in a room o{f
- her own. You can see her
- tomorrow.
- Billy nods.
- SUDDENLY
- Billy's head pops up. His eyes are wide. Hysterical.
- A shocked expression covers his face.
- BILLY
- Oh my God! No!...No!...
- RAND
- Billy?...What is it?...
- BILLY
- The tool box! It's locked! I
- didn't open it!...It's dark
- inside!...
- RAND
- What?...
- Billy jumps out of bed. He tears the I.V. out of his arm.
- He opens the closet and starts to get dressed.
- 2 NURSES AND A DOCTOR
- hurry into the room. They grab. Billy. and wrestle him
- back to bed'. The doctor gives Billy a 'shot.
- BILLY
- (fighting,
- SCREAMING)
- Waitl...You've got to let
- me gol... .1 didn't', open the
- tool boxl...I didn't get the...
- REV. 4/30/82
- Billy's words begin to mush.together. His eyelids get
- heavy. He falls to sleep.
- The Doctor turns to Rand.
- DOCTOR
- He'll be okay. He's still
- in shoc .exhiausted. He
- needs m re reslt�.
- L
- Rand nods. The nurses and Dlo ctor exit.
- Rand just stares at Biliy.
- i CUT TO:
- CLOSE-UP:
- THE RED METAL TOOL BOX.
- Still locked. Still sitting on the Greenhouse table,
- where Billy left it.
- CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL
- SEVERAL WORKERS cleaning up the debris, repairing the
- broken Greenhouse windows.
- The workers load the trash onto a dump truck.
- Outside, the snow is melting. The sun shines bright.
- A BURLY, MUSCULAR WORKER
- walks up to the table and picks up the tool box. He shouts
- to another worker.
- ANOTHER WORKER
- Throw it out. • .with the
- other trash.
- The worker is ready to throw it out. He examines the tool
- box. Fairly new. In good condition. He decides to
- keep it.
- He walks to his van -and rests the tool box on the front
- passenger seat.
- REV. 4/30/82 114.
- ( )
- THE WORKER
- driving home in his van. Later that afternoon. The radio
- plays a Country tune.
- THE TOOL BOX
- rests on the seat beside him.
- SUDDENLY
- the tool box begins to shake. Something pounds against it
- from inside.
- THE WORKER
- pulls his van to the roadside. He stares at the shaking
- tool box. His eyes are wide. Scared.
- The worker grabs the tool box. He gets out of his van.
- OUTSIDE
- The tool box shakes and rattles in the worker's hand.
- Frightened, he throws the box-over a hilly, wooded area
- at the side of the road.
- THE TOOL BOX
- tumbles down a steep hill.
- It lands at the bottom and bounces into a
- LAKE
- The tool box stays afloat for a few seconds. Then it
- slowly sinks into the lake water.
- INT. WATER
- The tool box sinks to the bottom of the lake.
- MOGWAI'S GIGGLE
- the soundtrack.
Advertisement
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment
Advertisement