A Curse of Madness
A Curse of Madness
by
Ebony Richard
16600 Collingham Dr
Detroit, MI 48205
(313) 646-8100
rayerich3@
FADE IN:
EXT. SOUTH AFRICAN RIVERSIDE - DAY
BEGINNING SEQUENCE SUBTITLED
SPOKEN IN SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIVE LANGUAGE
FIVE YOUNG GIRLS are at the river washing clothes.
KENA
Hey Niana, are you going to marry Khan?
NIANA
No, I will never marry him.
KENA
Why not, what’s wrong with him?
NIANA
He is narrow-minded and pig headed. I will
never marry a tribesman, and I suggest you
don’t either, if you know what’s good for
you.
NAOMI
Don’t say that to her. If father heard you
talking like that you’d be in big trouble.
NIANA
(with attitude)
Shut up Naomi. I’m trying to teach her to
have her own mind, unlike you. As I was
saying. Kena, if you don’t want to be treated
like a servant, you won’t marry a tribesman.
Washing clothes, the two youngest girls stand there listening to them bicker
back and fourth.
Just then THREE TRIBESMEN walk up.
TRIBESMAN ONE
Hello ladies, what are you doing this far
down the river?
CONTINUED
2
CONTINUED
Looking uneasy, the girls say nothing and continue to wash clothes.
TRIBESMAN ONE
Hey, I’m talking to you?
NIANA
(attitude)
We’re washing clothes. Can’t you see?
TRIBESMAN ONE
You have a smart mouth. Maybe I should teach
you some manners.
NAOMI
(gathering clothes)
We don’t want any trouble. We’ll just go back
down the river where we belong.
The two youngest girls begin the gather clothes.
Tribesman one looks at tribesman two and nods his head toward Naomi.
TRIBESMAN TWO
(grabbing Naomi’s arm)
Your not going anywhere...we’re not done here.
TRIBESMAN ONE
(sinister look)
You girls need to be taught how a lady
should behave.
NAOMI
(trying to jerk her arm away)
Let go of my arm. I need to take my sisters
home.
TRIBESMAN ONE
(grabbing Niana’s arm)
And we need to turn you girls into women.
Niana spits in the face of tribesman one.
He lets her go and wipes his face in disgust.
CONTINUED
3
CONTINUED
The girls grab some of their clothing and try to run.
Naomi snatches her arm away from tribesman two.
The tribesmen grab Kena, Naomi, and Niana.
TRIBESMAN ONE
(dragging Niana down the
river)
Come here.
LENA
(yelling)
Help! Let them go, please!
KENA
(trying to pull away from
tribesman three)
Stop please!
With a look of regret tribesman three pull’s Kena away.
NIANA
(being dragged off)
Let us go!
NAOMI
(yelling at the youngest
two)
Run..go get father!
The youngest girls run down the river dropping pieces of clothing.
The tribesmen drag Kena, Naomi, and Niana down the river.
EXT. SOUTH AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
The two youngest girls see their FATHER sitting outside sharpening an arrow.
LENA
(panting)
Father, father they took them.
CONTINUED
4
CONTINUED
FATHER
(standing up)
Calm down Lena. What are you talking about?
LENA
(panting)
The tribesmen from the other tribe, they
took Kena, Naomi, and Niana.
FATHER
(frantic)
What, where were you when they took them?!
LENA
(panting)
We were just by the river washing clothes.
TYE
(upset crying)
They said they would make them women.
FATHER
(panicked)
Oh no, you and Tye stay here.
The Father grabs his bow and arrow, and runs off toward the river.
He follows the trial of clothing and finds his daughters dead and badly
beaten, with most of their clothing torn off.
He walks over to the bodies and falls to his knees.
FATHER
(crying and yelling)
Oh no, Oh, not my babies!
He tries to cover kena’s breast, but her clothing is ripped into pieces too
small to cover them.
FATHER
(crying, sobbing, still
trying to cover Kena)
It’s okay. It’s okay. Oh, why would they do this?
CONTINUED
5
CONTINUED
He takes a piece of jewelry off of his three daughters, and clinches it in his
hand. He kneels there crying and sobbing, holding the jewelry to his heart.
He stands up and looks down the river.
FATHER
(yelling)
They will pay, they will pay. Do you hear me?
You will all pay!
INT. EMPTY ROOM IN VILLAGE HOUSE - NIGHT
The room is dark, the only light is from the black candles on the floor.
surrounding the father.
Sitting on the floor, legs folded, rocking back and fourth, he takes the
jewelry from a pouch. Clutching the jewelry in his hand he closes his eyes.
FATHER
(repeating, chanting)
Soufrage-soufrage-soufrage-knocka
SIX DAYS LATER
EXT. SOUTH AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
A tribe of people are doing their usual activities. Children are playing.
Women are weaving baskets.
Tribesmen are talking amongst one another.
There are several small houses in the village. Suddenly, tribesman three is
chased out of one of the houses by tribesman two.
Tribesman two’s eyes are wide and blood shot. His lips are dry and ashy,
and he is wielding a dagger in his hand.
TRIBESMAN THREE
(yelling and running)
Help! Somebody help me! He’s gone mad!
CONTINUED
6
CONTINUED
Tribesman two is in close pursuit.
Tribesman three turns around, grabs tribesman two’s arm and they begin to
struggle.
TRIBESMAN THREE
Why are you doing this?
Suddenly, an arrow pierces Tribesman two’s back and the tip comes out
through his chest.
Tribesman two looks at down at the arrow as blood trickles out of his
mouth. He falls to the ground.
Tribesman three sighs in relief.
Tribesman one walks up to Tribesman three, with bow and arrow in hand.
TRIBESMAN ONE
Are you okay?
TRIBESMAN THREE
(panting)
He was trying to kill me.
TRIBESMAN ONE
(pointing at a wound on
the back of tribesman
two’s neck)
What is that?
Other tribesmen begin to gather around.
TRIBESMAN ONE
(still pointing at the
wound on his neck)
Does any one know what this is?
A LITTLE BOY comes into the circle.
LITTLE BOY
I know, come and see.
CONTINUED
7
CONTINUED
The boy leads the men back to the house, the two men ran from.
They stand in the doorway of the one room house.
LITTLE BOY
(pointing to the
corner of the ceiling)
Look there.
A wasp nest sits in the corner of the ceiling, just above a cot.
TRIBESMAN ONE
(yelling)
Burn it down!
Two tribesmen set the house on fire.
The fire spreads rapidly burning the entire village, including most of the
villagers.
TRIBESMAN ONE
(screaming and on fire)
Help, Help!
The villagers scream as they burn.
TEN YEARS LATER - SPOKEN IN ENGLISH
INT. SOUTH AFRICAN AIRPORT - DAY
A MAN and a WOMAN have de-boarded a plane in South Africa.
They are greeted by an AFRICAN MAN.
DOJOU
(smiling)
Hello, Doctor and Mrs. Grey, I presume.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
(holding out his hand)
Yes... and you are?
CONTINUED
8
CONTINUED
DOJOU
(shaking his hand)
My name is Dojou. I will be one of the escorts
taking you and your wife around town, until
you get familiar with the area. Let’s get your
luggage and I’ll take you home. I know you’ve
had a long flight and your probably tired.
MRS. DIANE GREY
Yes, it was a long flight.
EXT. SOUTH AFRICAN TOWN - DAY
The three are riding in the car down a dirt road. Diane and Dustin are
sitting in the back seat.
DOJOU
(looking at them out
the rear view mirror)
A small village used to sit on the grounds
you know...it burned to the ground in an
accidental fire.
DIANE
On what grounds?
DOJOU
On the grounds where your house sits.
Diane looks at Dustin as if she is worried.
DUSTIN
Everything’s fine honey. That was ten
years ago.
DIANE
You knew that?
DUSTIN
Of course I knew.
They pull up to a large Victorian style home.
CONTINUED
9
CONTINUED
DIANE
(looking out the car window)
Oh my, its beautiful... it’s not at all what I was
expecting.
DUSTIN
I know isn’t it? I knew you’d love it.
DOJOU
(stopping the car)
Here we are.
They all get out of the car.
Diane and Dustin go up to the house.
DIANE
Do you have your key?
DUSTIN
(pulling the key from his
pants pocket)
Right here.
Dustin opens the door and they both enter the house.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - DAY
They both stand in the foyer looking around quietly.
There is furniture still there, but it is covered with white cloth sheets.
DIANE
(surprised)
Oh... the last family left the furniture?
DUSTIN
(smiling)
Yeah, I told you I got a great deal.
Diane hangs her purse on the banister.
CONTINUED
10
CONTINUED
DIANE
(hanging her purse on the
banister)
I’m going to look around upstairs.
Dojou comes in with some luggage.
DOJOU
(setting the luggage
down)
Well I think that’s everything.
DUSTIN
Thank you, Dojou.
DOJOU
Your’re welcome, sir. If you need anything
else just give us a call. We’re about five
minutes away and someone is always available.
Your phones should already be working.
Dustin pulls some money from his pants pocket.
DUSTIN
(tipping Dojou)
Great, thanks again.
Dojou walks out and Dustin shuts the door.
Diane walks into one of the bedrooms upstairs.
Looking around she sees a bed and a large red wood dresser in the room.
DIANE
(rubbing her hands
across the dresser)
It’s beautiful.
Diane walks over to the bed and sits on it.
DIANE
(bouncing up and down
on the bed)
This would drive me crazy.
(MORE) CONTINUED
11
CONTINUED
DIANE (CONT’D)
It isn’t comfortable at all.
Just then, a wasp comes out of a hole in the floor nearly stinging Diane’s
foot.
She gets up just in time, leaving the room, and shutting the door behind
her. She never even notices the wasp.
Dustin walks into a room downstairs.
The room has a large desk and book shelves filled with books.
DUSTIN
Let me guess, this must be the study.
He reaches for one of the books on the shelf. It reads the Logic of Medicine.
As Dustin tries to pull the book out, he realizes it not a book at all but a
hidden compartment in the shelf.
He opens the compartment and pulls out a metal lock box.
DUSTIN
(opening the box)
Now, what do we have here?
Dustin opens the box and inside he finds an antique gun.
DUSTIN
(whispering)
Beautiful.
Just then Diane walks in the room and Dustin turns around.
DUSTIN
(startled)
Oh, honey.
She sees the gun and immediately backs up folding her arms.
DIANE
(uncomfortable)
You know I don’t like guns. What is that doing
here?
CONTINUED
12
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
It must have belonged to the last family
that lived here, don’t worry I’ll get rid of it.
Dustin puts the gun back into the box.
He walks out of the room kissing her on the forehead on the way out.
He goes to the back door, opens it and goes outside.
EXT. BACKYARD - DAY
Looking around, he takes the gun out of the box.
He throws the box away and stuffs the gun into the back of his pants.
Dustin goes back into the house.
INT. HOME - DAY
As he is walking back to the study, he notices a bedroom.
He goes inside, shutting the door behind him.
Dustin takes the gun out of his pants and looks at it.
He looks at the bed then stuffs the gun under the mattress.
DUSTIN
(putting the gun under
the mattress)
Sorry honey.
Dustin leaves the bedroom.
He comes back to the study. He watches Diane from the doorway.
Diane stands there, with her arms still folded and seemingly in a daze.
Diane hears the sound of gunshots, in her head. (BANG, BANG)
Dustin enters the room.
CONTINUED
13
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
(hugging her)
It’s okay, it’s gone. Are you alright?
DIANE
Yes, I’m fine. Actually, I’m a little hungry. Do
you want to get some lunch?
DUSTIN
(looking at his watch)
I’m sorry honey. I really need to get over to
the hospital. They’re waiting for me.
Diane looks at Dustin with a look of disappointment, on her face.
DUSTIN
Don’t worry... I’ll be back soon.
While I’m gone you can check out the house.
By the looks of things I’m sure you’ll have plenty
to show me when I get back.
He kisses her on the forehead.
Dustin walks over to the phone, on the desk in the study.
He picks it up and dials the number on the card, Dojou gave him.
DUSTIN
(on the phone)
Hi this is Dr. Grey.... I’m ready to go to the
hospital.
VOICE ON THE PHONE:
We’ll send somebody to pick you up.
DUSTIN
(on the phone)
Thank you.
Dustin hangs up and leaves the card by the phone.
Dustin goes to the front door and grabs his briefcase.
CONTINUED
14
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
(yelling)
I’m leaving.
Dustin walks out the door.
Diane is in the kitchen, looking around. It’s a large kitchen with a nook
connected.. An island sits in the middle of the kitchen. There is a table in the
nook but, it’s covered with a white cloth sheet.
Diane walks over to the table and pulls off the cover, coughing from the dust
in the air.
Diane walks over to the refrigerator and opens it. It’s empty, but clean.
DIANE
I guess I’d better work on the kitchen first.
Diane walks back to the study and picks up the phone.
DIANE
(on the phone)
Hello, this is Mrs. Grey...I’d like to go into
town and do some shopping.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
I’ll send someone right away.
DIANE
(on the phone)
Thank you.
Diane hangs up the phone.
Diane walks back toward the front of the house, into the family room. She
pulls the cloth sheets off of the couch and dust flies through the air.
Diane fans the dust out of her face with her hand.
DIANE
(coughing)
We’ve got to do something about this dust.
CONTINUED
15
CONTINUED
Covering her mouth, she pulls the sheet off of the chair. Again the dust
floats through the air. She hears what sounds like a KNOCK at the door.
Diane goes to the front door and opens it.
GONGI
(standing at the door)
Hello, Mrs. Grey... I’m Gongi, your escort.
DIANE
Nice to meet you Gongi. Just let me grab
my purse and we can go.
Diane goes to the stairs and grabs her purse off of the banister.
DIANE
I’m ready.
Diane walks out the door.
EXT. FRONT YARD - LATE AFTERNOON
They both get into the car. Diane is in the back seat.
GONGI
(looking at Diane through
the rear view mirror)
So...where would you like to go?
DIANE
Well, I’d like to get some groceries
and some things for the house.
GONGI
I know just the place to go...there is a plaza
in town, with lots of different shops.
DIANE
That sounds great.
EXT. TOWN PLAZA - DAY
CONTINUED
16
CONTINUED
The car stops in the plaza. There are plenty of stores around. There are
other people walking around shopping.
GONGI
I’ll park here and wait for you to finish
your shopping.
DIANE
(smiling slightly)
Thank you, Gongi.
Diane gets out of the car, puts on her sunglasses, and shuts the car door.
INT. HOSPITAL - LATE AFTERNOON
Dr. Dustin Grey walks up to the nurses station at the hospital.
There is one nurse AFRICAN NURSE behind the desk filing charts. .
DR. DUSTIN GREY
Excuse me.
The nurse walks over to Dr. Dustin Grey
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
(pleasantly)
Yes, can I help you?
DR. DUSTIN GREY
As a matter of fact you can... I’m Dr. Grey,
I need you to page Dr. Jambi for me.
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
(smiling)
Of course... Dr. Grey, he’s been expecting you.
Just then DR. JAMBI walks down the hall toward them.
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
(pointing at Dr. Jambi)
Oh.... there he is now.
CONTINUED
17
CONTINUED
Dr. Jambi walks up to Dr. Dustin Grey as if he already knows who he is.
DR. JAMBI
(reaching his hand out)
Dr. Grey.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
(shaking his hand)
Yes... how did you know?
DR. JAMBI
(smiling)
The briefcase gave you away.
Dr. Dustin Grey looks at his briefcase and smiles.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
(smiling)
Oh...I’ve carried it for years.
Dr. Grey and Dr. Jambi begin to walk down the hall.
DR. JAMBI
I’m glad you made it....how was your flight?
DR. GREY
It was fine.
DR. JAMBI
Good, good.... so.. are you ready
to tackle the problem at hand?
DR. GREY
As ready as I can be.
Dr. Jambi leads him to a room door.
DR. JAMBI
(holding his hand out
toward the door)
After you.
Dr. Grey opens the door and he and Dr. Jambi walk in.
CONTINUED
18
CONTINUED
The hospital room is large and houses about ten sick African patients.
There are four African nurses in the room tending to the patients.
Dr. Jambi walks over to one of the beds and takes the patient’s
chart from the pocket on the back of the bed.
DR. JAMBI
(handing the chart to
Dr. Grey)
Here take a look....they’re all the same.
Dr. Grey takes the chart and begins to scan through it.
DR. GREY
(flipping through
the chart)
They all have severe fever, diarrhea,
and dehydration?
DR. JAMBI
Yes, every single one of them. Now it’s
starting to attack their nerves.
Dustin looks up at Dr. Jambi.
DR. GREY
What makes you say that?
DR. JAMBI
Some of their limbs jerk sporadically.
I’ve been trying to get in touch with
a neurologist, but I haven’t had any luck.
DR. GREY
Well... I’m not a neurologist, but I think I
know someone who can help us. She’s a
brilliant Doctor... the best I know actually.
I just have to convince her to come.
INT. LOS ANGELES BALLROOM- LATE EVENING
CONTINUED
19
CONTINUED
An awards ceremony is in progress, in a large ballroom filled with round
tables. Everyone is dressed in formal attire. There is MAN at the podium on
the stage, presenting an award.
PRESENTER
(speaking at the
podium)
This award is for a brilliant and courageous
woman, who has dedicated her life to
helping others. She is an expert in the fields
of internal medicine, neurology, biophysics,
and gastroenterology. The work she has done
surpasses all others here tonight and that is
why she is receiving this award. On behalf
of the Board of Medicine, I am proud to
present the award for Physician of the Year
to Dr. Jody Grey.
The audience applauds as DR. JODY GREY gets up from her seat and heads
to the stage. She is smiling and seemingly appreciative. She is a fair looking
woman to be in her mid-forties. Her hair is long, full and black. She is
dressed in a long, black, tight dress.
Dr. Jody Grey walks up the stairs and goes to the podium. The presenter
hands Jody her award.
DR. JODY GREY
(speaking at the podium).
Thank you....Thank you all very much.
The applause stops.
DR. JODY GREY
(calmly speaking at
the podium)
Well...first I’d like to thank everyone
who has supported and believed in me
from the beginning. It has not always
been easy, but it has always been
intriguing. I am happy to say, I have
exceeded my own expectations. I
didn’t believe I would come this far,
but receiving this award tonight proves
that I have.
(MORE) CONTINUED
20
CONTINUED
DR. JODY GREY (CONT’D)
I am looking forward to working in the
field of medicine, for many years to come.
Thanks again.
The crowd applauds as Dr. Jody Grey walks off stage.
The presenter comes back to the podium.
PRESENTER
(speaking at the podium)
Well..that was our last award of the night.
So, now that everyone feels full and
appreciated, we can do the only thing left to
do. Lets mingle shall we?
Everyone starts to mingle with on another.
Jody starts heading straight for the exit.
As soon as she makes it to the door a MAN stops her.
JACK
Congratulations on your award tonight...
You deserved it.....are you leaving?
DR. JODY GREY
(seemingly aggravated)
Yes, Jack... I’m leaving.
JACK
(flirting)
Would you like some company?
DR. JODY GREY
Not tonight, I’m really exhausted....
I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow.
Dr. Jody Grey walks out the door.
JACK
(disappointed)
Of course.
CONTINUED
21
CONTINUED
Jack drinks the rest of the champagne in his glass and shrugs his shoulders.
INT. CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY- LATE EVENING
Dr. Jody Grey walks over to the coat check counter.
She opens her purse, takes out a ticket, and hands it to the CLERK.
DR. JODY GREY
I’d like my coat, please.
COAT CHECK CLERK
(taking the ticket)
Sure, one moment.
The clerk turns around and heads toward the coats.
A YOUNG WOMAN, dressed in formal attire walks, up to Dr. Jody Grey.
DR. KELLY LEADE
(holding her hand out)
Hello, Dr. Grey...congratulations.
DR. JODY GREY
(shaking her hand)
I’m sorry... do I know you.
DR. KELLY LEADE
Probably not. We work at the same hospital.
I’m a first year resident at Good Samaritan.
I really admire your work. You’re a great
inspiration to me.
DR. JODY GREY
(tilting her head
toward kelly)
Thank you.
DR. KELLY LEADE
Oh... I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself.
My name is Kelly, Dr. Kelly Leade.
CONTINUED
22
CONTINUED
DR. JODY GREY
Thank you, Kelly.
DR. KELLY LEADE
I was wondering, if we could have lunch
sometime....I mean if you don’t mind.
DR. JODY GREY
No, I don’t mind.
COAT CHECK CLERK
Here’s your coat Ma’am.
Dr. Jody Grey turns around.
DR. JODY GREY
(grabbing her coat)
Thank you.
Jody turns back toward Dr. Kelly Leade.
DR. JODY GREY
(putting on her coat)
Well...I have to be going now.
Dr. Grey starts walking away.
DR. KELLY LEADE
(as Dr. Grey walks away)
Okay, I’ll see you around the hospital.
INT. DR. JODY GREY’S HOME - NIGHT
Dr. Jody Grey comes through the door and closes it behind her.
Jody walks over to the couch. She sets her keys and the award on the table,
and takes off her coat.
She walks to the kitchen, opens the frige and pulls out a bottle of Pinot Noir.
She gets a wine glass out of the cabinet and pours her some wine.
CONTINUED
23
CONTINUED
Jody walks out of the kitchen taking her glass of wine with her.
Jody plops down on the couch and stares at the award for a several seconds.
Jody looks up and notices that the light is flashing on her answering machine.
She gets up, walks over to the machine and presses the button.
ANSWERING MACHINE:
YOU HAVE ONE NEW MESSAGE(BEEP)
(Dr. Dustin Grey’s voice): Hi, Jody... its me Dustin. I’m in South Africa
and we have a problem. I think you could help us. Some people
are really sick over here. Please give me a call at 046-622-3781... okay,
talk to you soon. (BEEP) END OF MESSAGES.
Jody walks over to the couch, with her glass of wine in hand.
She sits down slowly, as if she is deciding whether or not she wants to call
him back.
FLASHBACK: INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Dr. Dustin Grey is sitting on the bed. He is dressed in a suit and tie. The
tie is undone and the first two buttons on his shirt are unbuttoned.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
(frustrated)
It’s over Jody...this isn’t working.
Jody is sitting on the opposite side of the bed taking off her heels.
DR. JODY GREY
(pauses)
What do you mean, it’s over.
PRESENT: INT. DR. JODY GREYS LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The phones rings, bringing Jody back to reality. Looking disappointed she
gets up.
CONTINUED
24
CONTINUED
Jody presses a button, putting the phone on speaker.
DR. JODY GREY
Hello.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
Hello ....Jody?
DR. JODY GREY
(surprised)
Dustin... I just got your message, what’s
going on?
DR. DUSTIN GREY
Do you have any vacation time available?
DR. JODY GREY
(hesitant)
Yes...why?
DR. DUSTIN GREY
I really need you here...there is a virus
that has infected a group of people. We
can’t figure out where it came from or
how to cure it.
Jody is quiet and doesn’t respond.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
Please.... I won’t take up more than a
week of your time.
DR. JODY GREY
One week, you say.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
One week.... I promise.
DR. JODY GREY
Okay, I’ll give you one week Dustin...that’s it.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
How soon can you come?
CONTINUED
25
CONTINUED
DR. JODY GREY
I can leave as soon as tomorrow afternoon,
if I start packing tonight.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
Great...I’ll call the airport and arrange for
your flight, then I’ll call you back with the
information when its done.
DR. JODY GREY
Okay.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
Oh....when you arrive at the airport in
South Africa there will be someone there to
escort you.
DR. JODY GREY
Okay, I’ll get ready.
DR. DUSTIN GREY
You’re the best...I’ll call you back.
Smiling Jody presses the button, hanging up the phone. She seems flattered
by what he just said.
INT. SOUTH AFRICAN AIRPORT - LATE AFTERNOON
Jody de-boards the plane.
She sees an African man holding a sign, with her name written on it.
SIGN READS:
DR. JODY GREY
Jody walks over to him.
DOJOU
Hello madame, I am Dojou. I will be one
of your escorts while you are here in South
Africa.
DR. JODY GREY
Hello Dojou.
CONTINUED
26
CONTINUED
DOJOU
Well, Mrs. Grey lets grab your luggage and
I’ll get you to your quarters. I know you’ve
had a long flight.
DR. JODY GREY
(putting on her
sunglasses)
Yes... that I have, Dojou..
Dojou starts walking and Jody follows.
EXT. SOUTH AFRICAN TOWN - LATE AFTERNOON
Dojou is driving down a dirt road. Jody is in the back seat, quiet
the entire way there, thinking about Dustin.
FLASHBACK: INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Dustin and Jody are sitting at a table, in a formal restaurant having dinner.
DUSTIN
(gazing into Jody’s eye)
I Love you, honey.
JODY
I love you more, I always will.
PRESENT: EXT. FRONT YARD - LATE AFTERNOON
Dojou pulls up to Dustin and Diane’s house.
DOJOU
Well...here we are.
They get out of the car.
Jody walks up to the door and knocks.
Dustin answers the door with Diane behind him.
CONTINUED
27
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
Hi, Jody.... I’m glad you came.
JODY
Hello, Dustin.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - LATE AFTERNOON
Jody walks into the house right past Diane, as if she’s not even there.
DIANE
Hello, Jody.
JODY
Oh....hello Diane, I didn’t even see
you there, your’re so easy to miss.
Dojou brings in Jody’s luggage.
DIANE
Come with me Jody. I’ll show you
to your room....you’ll love it.
Jody grabs her luggage.
Diane walks up the stairs, with Jody following.
Diane opens the door to the room with the beautiful dresser, but
uncomfortable bed.
Diane and Jody walk into the room.
DIANE
(look of satisfaction)
You’ll sleep like a baby on this bed
and the dresser has plenty of space.
JODY
(looking around)
I’m sure.
DIANE
Well...I’ll let you settle in.
CONTINUED
28
CONTINUED
Diane leaves the room.
Looking around, Jody walks over to the dresser and rubs her hand across it.
She walks over to the window, pulls back the curtain and gazes outside.
Diane walks back down the stairs.
Dustin is at the entrance of the living room. He turns around just as Diane is
at the bottom of the stairs.
She walks over to him and they embrace one another. Still holding her, he
gives her a peck on the lips.
Jody is standing on the stairs watching them, with a look of resentment on
her face.
DUSTIN
(hugging Diane)
I’m hungry, do you want to get some dinner?
DIANE
(arms around Dustin)
You don’t have to go back too the hospital?
DUSTIN
(still holding Diane)
No. Besides, Jody is probably tired from the
flight. We’ll just start tomorrow.
Jody clears her throat and begins to walk down the stairs.
Dustin and Diane let go of one another.
DUSTIN
Oh... Jody, we were just talking about getting
something for dinner. Are you hungry?
JODY
I’m a little hungry. What’s on the menu?
DUSTIN
Well, we could call the escort service and
order out or Diane could whip something up.
CONTINUED 29
CONTINUED
JODY
(sarcastically)
Oh... you can cook?
DIANE
(smiling)
Yes, actually I can it’s one of my many
talents.
JODY
Okay, then I guess were eating in.
Diane gives Dustin a peck on the lips.
DIANE
I’ll go and get dinner started.
Diane walks away.
DUSTIN
(looking at Jody)
I have some case studies I’d like to show you,
while we wait for dinner. You don’t mind, do
you?
JODY
(smiling)
I don’t mind.
Jody follows Dustin into the living room and they both sit on the couch.
Dustin grabs his briefcase from the side of the couch and takes out some
case studies.
JODY
(surprised)
You still carry that?
DUSTIN
(looking a the briefcase)
Oh.... yeah, it has been with me for quite a
few years.
CONTINUED
30
CONTINUED
Dustin looks up at Jody with compassion.
JODY
(gazing at the briefcase)
I still remember the day I gave it to you.
Jody takes a sip of wine.
DUSTIN
(looks down at
the briefcase)
Yeah, me too.
JODY
(looking at Dustin)
What was it you wanted me to see?
DUSTIN
(handing her the
case studies)
I wanted you to take a look at these and
tell me what you think.
Jody takes the case studies and starts to flip through the first one.
DUSTIN
Would you like a drink?
JODY
Sure, why not?
Dustin gets up and walks to the kitchen.
Diane is standing at the stove, cooking.
Dustin walks over to Diane. Standing behind her, he kisses her on the cheek.
DUSTIN
(taking a baby carrot off
the cutting board)
Wow... It smells delicious.
CONTINUED
31
CONTINUED
Dustin eats the carrot.
Diane smiles.
Dustin walks over to one of the cupboards and opens it.
DIANE
What are you looking for?
DUSTIN
(closing the cupboard)
The bottle of Pinot Noir, you picked
up for me.
DIANE
(cooking)
Its by the table, on the rack with the rest
of the wine.
DUSTIN
(smiling)
I knew that.
DIANE
(jokingly)
Sure, you did.
Dustin goes over to the rack and grabs the bottle of Pinot Noir.
DUSTIN
I know where the corkscrew is too, you know.
Diane turns around smiling, she opens the drawer, grabs the cork screw and
hands it to him.
DUSTIN
(taking the cork screw)
You read my mind.
Jody is in the livingroom reading a case study. She looks up and sees a
packing box sitting on the floor.
Jody puts the case study on the table.
She gets up and goes over to the box. She looks around then opens the box.
Jody takes a photo album out of the box. She begins flipping though
the album. It’s filled with pictures of Dustin and Diane. Jody rubs her hands across a picture of Dustin.
Dustin is walking out of the kitchen with two glasses of wine.
He comes into the livingroom.
CONTINUED
32
CONTINUED
Jody is on the couch reading a case study.
JODY
(sarcastically)
I didn’t think you were coming back.
Dustin walks over to Jody and hands her the wine glass.
DUSTIN
And yet I stand here, in the flesh.
CONTINUED
33
CONTINUED
Jody takes the glass of wine and sets it on the coffee table.
DUSTIN
(sitting down
on the couch)
So, what do you think?
Jody opens a different case study and begins to flip through it.
JODY
(grabbing her glass
of wine)
Well... I think, these people are going to need
a lot more help than you can give them.
Jody takes a sip of her wine and crosses her legs toward Dustin.
DUSTIN
(taking a sip of wine)
That’s why I called you.
JODY
And wisely so.
DUSTIN
Are you ready to do your magic?
Jody sets her glass on the coffee table and begins flip through the case study
on her lap.
JODY
Have these patients been checked for parasites?
DUSTIN
(looking concerned)
I don’t think so, why?
JODY
Well.... the virus seems to effect the
intestines of every patient, so I assume
it has something to do with parasites.
Dustin grabs one of the case studies off the table.
CONTINUED
34
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
(flipping through
the case study)
I didn’t even think to check the intestines.
JODY
Do all of these patients come from the same area?
DUSTIN
(looking up Jody)
Yes... as a matter of fact, they do.
Thinking, Jody takes a sip of wine.
JODY
We would need to check some of the animals in
the area. I think this virus may be coming from
their food source.
DUSTIN
(impressed)
You haven’t been here a full day and you’ve
cracked the code, without even going to the
hospital.
JODY
(taking a sip of wine)
Don’t call in the victory train yet. If I am
right, we still have to cure them of the virus.
Diane walks into the living room.
DIANE
(looking at Dustin
and Jody)
Dinners ready.
JODY
Great, I’m famished.
Diane, Dustin and Jody go into the kitchen.
Dinner is already on the table.
CONTINUED
35
CONTINUED
Everyone’s plate is fixed, with steak, mashed potatoes and
steamed vegetables.
They all sit down at the table.
Dustin rubs his hands together.
DUSTIN
(looking down at his
plate)
This looks delicious, honey.
DIANE
(smiling)
Why thank you.
Diane notices that the wine is gone.
She gets up from the table and grabs another bottle of wine.
She brings it back to the table and hands it to Dustin.
DIANE
Can you open this honey?
DUSTIN
(taking the bottle)
Of Course.
Diane sits back down.
Dustin grabs the cork screw off the table and opens the bottle.
Dustin refills Jody’s glass.
JODY
(looking at Dustin)
Thank you.
DUSTIN
(grabbing Diane’s glass)
Your’re welcome.
CONTINUED
36
CONTINUED
Dustin refills Diane’s glass.
DIANE
Thank you.
DUSTIN
(smiling slightly)
Your’re welcome.
Dustin refills his glass and sets the wine bottle on the table.
They all begin to eat.
DUSTIN
(cutting his steak)
Well.... Jody are you going to tell her.
Diane looks at Jody.
JODY
(cutting her steak)
What do you mean?
DUSTIN
(eating steak)
Oh...don’t be modest.
Jody has solved the case already,
just by reading a few case studies.
DIANE
(eating)
Oh really.....well, Dustin has always
told me what a brilliant doctor you are.
Jody smiles.
JODY
(looking at Dustin)
Don’t be too hasty, we still have to cure
the patients.
DUSTIN
(looking at Jody)
I’m sure that won’t be a problem.
(MORE) CONTINUED
37
CONTINUED
DUSTIN (CONT’D)
With us working together, we’ll have them
feeling better in no time.
JODY
(looking at Diane)
Yes, we always were a great team.
Diane looks dissatisfied with the conversation.
Dustin notices and clears his throat, looking at Diane.
DUSTIN
(taking a bite of mashed
potatoes)
These mashed potatoes are great, honey.
JODY
(taking a bite of mashed
potatoes)
Yes, they are quite good. Even if they are
instant potatoes.
DIANE
(aggravated)
Thanks, Jody.
Staring at Jody, Diane takes a bite of the potatoes.
JODY
(sarcastically)
Do you make them from scratch, also?
Diane sets her fork down.
DIANE
(sarcastically)
No Jody, I don’t. You know, maybe you can teach
me, sense you have many more years of experience
cooking, than I have. You know, with you being
in your forties, in all.
Jody stops eating and looks up at Diane with an evil stare.
CONTINUED
38
CONTINUED
Diane looks at Jody with a grin.
DUSTIN
(eating and watching
them both)
Well... are we having desert too, honey.
JODY
(staring at Diane)
Actually, I’m going to head up too bed and
get ready for our day tomorrow. We have
a lot of work ahead of us.
Diane is still staring at Jody as she gets up from the table.
DUSTIN
(looking at Jody)
Well, goodnight.
DIANE
(mutters)
Yeah, sleep well.
Jody leaves the kitchen.
DUSTIN
That went well.
DIANE
(tossing her napkin
in her plate)
I have a headache, I’m going to bed.
Diane gets up from the table and starts walking out of the kitchen.
DUSTIN
(confused)
What just happened?
Diane walks out.
DUSTIN
(continuing)
I guess, I’m clearing the table.
CONTINUED
39
CONTINUED
Dustin gets up and begins to clear the table.
Diane is upstairs, taking a shower, in the bathroom that’s connected to
their bedroom. The water is coming down on her face.
Diane drops her head, as if she is stress.
Jody is in her room, the door is closed, and she is pacing back and fourth
across the floor.
JODY
(pacing)
She is absolutely dreadful. I don’t know
how he puts up with her. She’s not even
good enough for him.....instant potatoes, huh.
Jody stops pacing and gets some pajamas out of her luggage.
Dustin is in the kitchen drying the dishes. He finishes and hangs up the drying
towel.
Dustin leaves the kitchen, turning off the light on his way out.
He walks back into the living room and puts the case studies back in his
briefcase.
Dustin walks upstairs and puts his ear up to Jody’s door. He doesn’t hear
a sound.
Dustin goes into his bedroom and shuts the door.
Diane is lying in the bed, facing opposite Dustin.
DUSTIN
She’s sound asleep.
DIANE
(muttering)
Good.....hopefully, she stays that way.
Dustin goes into the bathroom.
He starts brushing his teeth.
CONTINUED
40
CONTINUED
Diane rolls over, looking at Dustin brush his teeth.
DIANE
She’s still in love with you, you know.
Dustin spits the toothpaste into the sink.
DUSTIN
What are you talking about?
DIANE
Jody.....she’s still in love with you. She
resents me, because you remarried a
woman in her twenties. Just because I’m
not in my forties doesn’t mean I’m stupid,
you know.
DUSTIN
Honey, nobody said you were stupid. Don’t
you think your’re overreacting, just a little.
Dustin continues to brush his teeth.
DIANE
(sitting up)
Overreacting...... overreacting, so your’re
telling me, that you don’t think, she
still has feelings for you.
Dustin rinses his mouth out, and puts his toothbrush on the sink.
Dustin comes over to the bed and sits next to Diane.
Diane folds her arms and looks down at the bed.
DUSTIN
Jody may still love me. We were married for
twenty years, but she’s not in love with me.
We’ve been over for a long time now. We’ve
both been with other people. Besides, I’m in
love with you and we’re married now. She is
the past.... you are my future.
Dustin puts his hand on Diane’s chin, raising it.
CONTINUED
41
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
(looking into
her eyes)
I Love you. Will you be able to handle this?
She won’t be here long. She’s already found
out, what’s wrong with them. All we have to
do now is find a cure, and off she goes back
to Los Angeles.
DIANE
Fine...I’ll do it. I’ll put up with the witch,
but only because I love you.
Dustin kisses Diane on the forehead.
DIANE
Of course, I am.
Dustin goes back into the bathroom.
Diane lies down.
Jody is in the bed rolling back and fourth, as if she is uncomfortable.
Jody gets out of the bed and grabs some pills out of her bag.
Jody leaves her room and goes to the bathroom down the hall.
She puts the pills in her mouth, turns on the faucet, puts some water in her
hand and drinks it.
Jody turns off the faucet and walks back down the hall, to her room.
Jody gets into bed, lies down and closes her eyes.
LATER
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - MORNING
Jody is finally sound asleep.
Under her bed, a wasp comes out of a small hole in the floor.
42
CONTINUED
The wasp flies up from under the bed and onto the sheet.
Then it flies onto the back of Jody’s neck and stings her.
JODY
(grabbing the back of her
neck in pain)
What in God’s name. What the hell was that?
Do they have bed bugs?
Jody gets up out of the bed, grabbing the blanket and pillow.
JODY
I’m not sleeping here.
Jody goes downstairs to the living room.
She goes over to the couch and tosses the blanket and pillow
on the couch.
Rubbing the back of her neck, Jody sits down on the couch.
JODY
(lying down)
This is dreadful.
Jody closes her eyes.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - MORNING
Diane wakes up, stretches her arms in the air, and falls back into the pillow,
as if she is still tired.
Diane looks over at Dustin, who is still sleeping.
She lies there for a few seconds, then gets out of bed.
Already in pajamas, Diane walks downstairs, past the living room.
She notices something on the couch so she goes back to look.
Jody is lying still sleeping, with her foot propped up on the top of the couch.
CONTINUED
43
CONTINUED
Diane sees her and walks away, smiling slightly.
DIANE
(muttering)
Couldn’t sleep, huh?.
Diane goes into the kitchen.
She stands there tapping her fingers on the island.
DIANE
(looking around)
I might as well make breakfast.
Diane starts taking pots and pans out of the cupboard, CLANKING them
together, making more noise than she has to.
Diane puts them on the stove and goes over to the refrigerator.
Diane opens the refrigerator and takes out some bacon, eggs and butter.
Jody sits up on the couch.
JODY
(rubbing the back of
her neck)
Ouch.
Jody sniffs and smells something cooking, so she gets up.
Jody walks into the kitchen.
Jody sits in one of the chairs at the island.
JODY
Must you be so loud?
Diane turns her head toward Jody, but continues to cook.
DIANE
Oh, I’m sorry, did I wake you?
JODY
Yes you did.
(MORE) CONTINUED
44
CONTINUED
JODY (CONT’D)
Not that I would have slept any better
upstairs.
DIANE
What’s that supposed to mean?
JODY
That bedroom you put me in is extremely
uncomfortable. The bed coils were
sticking me in the back and I think that
bed has bugs.
Diane turns her head back to the stove, still cooking?
DIANE
(slight laugh)
Bugs..... yeah, okay Jody.
Diane turns around.
DIANE
(grabbing the eggs
off the island)
I think you might be overreacting.
Jody picks up a steak knife, sitting on the island.
She looks at Diane as if, she is tempted to stab her.
Nervous, Diane watches Jody closely.
Jody, aggressively stabs the knife into an apple in the fruit bowl, on the
island.
Jody gets up and walks out of the kitchen.
Jody walks down the hall, passing Dustin, who is walking toward the
kitchen.
DUSTIN
Good morning, Jody.
CONTINUED
45
CONTINUED
JODY
(chipper)
Good morning, Dustin.
Dustin comes into the kitchen.
He sees Diane holding the knife in one hand and the apple in the other.
Diane is staring at the two in disbelief.
DUSTIN
What’s wrong, honey?
DIANE
(looking up at Dustin)
Oh....nothing.
Dustin kisses her on the forehead.
DUSTIN
You and Jody didn’t have another war
of the words, did you?
DIANE
(shaking her head)
No...of course not.
Diane continues cooking.
DIANE
How are you this morning?
DUSTIN
(smiling)
I’m fine now that I’ve seen you, sunshine.
Diane smiles and goes back to cooking.
DIANE
Are you hungry? I’m making bacon and eggs.
DUSTIN
I can eat.
CONTINUED
46
CONTINUED
Dustin leaves the kitchen and goes into the living room.
He grabs his briefcase from the side of the couch.
Dustin comes back to the kitchen and sits at the table.
He takes one of the case studies out of his briefcase and begins to read.
Dressed for work, Jody comes into the kitchen.
Diane is setting the table.
DUSTIN
(looking at Jody)
How about some breakfast?
JODY
I can eat.
Diane rolls her eyes.
Jody sits at the table.
Diane brings their plates to the table placing them in front of Jody and Dustin.
DUSTIN
Thanks hun.
DIANE
Your’re welcome.
Diane walks back over to the stove and grabs her plate.
Dustin closes the case study and begins to eat.
Diane sits at the table, staring a Jody, as if she is waiting for her to snap.
DUSTIN
(looking at Diane)
So, what’s on the agenda for today?
DIANE
I was thinking about planting some
flowers, in the backyard.
(MORE)
CONTINUED
47
CONTINUED
DIANE (CONT’D)
But, I don’t know what kind I want to plant.
DUSTIN
(eating)
I’m sure whatever you choose will look
great. Hopefully they have some good
flower shops in town.
Having hardly touched her food, Jody interrupts.
JODY
Well... we should probably be going.
Dustin looks up at the clock on the wall.
DUSTIN
(getting up
from his chair)
Oh... I still have to get dressed.
DIANE
But, you didn’t finish your breakfast.
DUSTIN
I’m sorry honey, but its already 8:45. Dojou
will be here to take us too the hospital at
9:00 o’clock.
Dustin walks out of the kitchen.
Grinning slightly, Jody stares at Diane.
Angry, Diane stares at Jody.
Jody gets up from the table and throws her food in the trash.
JODY
(walking out the kitchen)
Thanks Diane.
Aggravated, Diane gets up from her chair and begins to clear the table.
CONTINUED
48
CONTINUED
Dustin, already dressed, comes back into the kitchen and grabs his briefcase.
DUSTIN
(giving Diane a peck
on the cheek)
I’ll see you later sunshine, have fun.
DIANE
I’m making your favorite for dinner
tonight, so try not to be too late, okay.
DUSTIN
(rushing out the kitchen)
You got it.
Dustin walks to the front door.
Jody is standing in the foyer.
DUSTIN
You ready?
JODY
I’m ready.
Dustin and Jody leave.
Diane is in the kitchen, putting dishes in the sink.
DIANE
(sarcastically)
Have a nice day.
Dojou is outside, waiting in the car.
Dustin and Jody get into the backseat.
DOJOU
Good Morning.
DUSTIN
Good morning, Dojou.
CONTINUED
49
CONTINUED
With her hair in a pony tale, Dustin notices that the back of Jody’s neck is
red and swollen.
DUSTIN
(looking at her neck)
What’s that?
Jody covers her neck with her collar.
JODY
Oh... It’s nothing. It’s just an insect bite.
I’ll put something on it when we get to
the hospital.
DUSTIN
You should, it looks pretty irritated.
JODY
Never mind me, we should start testing the
patients for parasites, as soon as we get to
the hospital. It’s going to take at least 24
hours before we get the results back.
Diane is in her bedroom, getting dressed. She puts on her shirt and leaves
the room.
Diane walks downstairs and goes into the study.
She picks up the phone and calls for an escort.
DIANE
(on the phone)
Hello, this is Mrs. Grey.
Can you send someone to pick me up?
I need to go into town.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
He’s on his way.
DIANE
(on the phone)
Okay, thanks.
CONTINUED
50
CONTINUED
Diane hangs up the phone.
LATER
INT. PERENNIAL SHOP - NOON
Diane is pushing the cart around the perennial shop, looking for flowers.
In the cart, she already has a bag of planting dirt, gloves, a digger, and a
small shovel.
Diane walks over to some daises.
DIANE
(picking up some daisies)
These would be perfect....they’re beautiful.
Diane grabs some felicia, gerbera, and some arctotis daisies and puts them in
her cart.
Diane wheels her cart to the checkout counter.
CASHIER
Hello, how are you?
DIANE
(taking the items
out of the cart)
I’m good. How are you?
Diane takes her items out of the cart and places them on the counter.
CASHIER
(ringing up her items)
I’m fine. I’ve never seen you hear before.
DIANE
Oh, that’s because, my husband and I just
moved here from Los Angeles. We live
in the big house on Long Acre.
CASHIER
(pausing)
Oh....really.
CONTINUED
51
CONTINUED
DIANE
Yes it’s a beautiful home.
CASHIER
(ringing up her items)
I know my boyfriend’s aunt and uncle
used to live there.
DIANE
(surprised)
Really.... why did they move?
CASHIER
(ringing up her items)
They didn’t.
DIANE
(confused)
What do you mean?
CASHIER
(ringing up her items)
His uncle went mad. He killed his wife,
then hung himself.
DIANE
(concerned)
Are you serious? No one told us somebody
was killed in the house.
CASHIER
Well, it was some time ago. The house has
been empty since it happened.
The cashier rings the last item.
Diane stands there looking concerned.
CASHIER
That will be one hundred twenty five
dollars and sixty eight cents.
Diane digs into her purse, gets the money and gives it to the cashier.
CONTINUED
52
CONTINUED
The cashier takes the money and puts it into the register.
CASHIER
(giving Diane her change)
Well, have a nice day.
DIANE
(taking her change)
Thank you...you too.
INT. HOSPITAL - EARLY AFTERNOON
Jody walks into a room, looking around to make sure it’s empty.
Jody goes into the bathroom.
JODY
(looking at her neck in
the mirror)
What the hell is this?
Jody pulls a syringe and an already labeled tube from her lab coat pocket.
She sticks the syringe in the back of her neck draining the fluid out of the
wound.
Jody deposits the fluid into the tube. She puts the tube back in her pocket.
Jody throws the syringe in the trash can. Jody looks into the mirror, lets her
hair down.
Jody walks out of the bathroom.
Jody walks down the hall and goes into a laboratory.
There are THREE MALE LAB TECHNICIANS in the room. They are talking
amongst themselves.
JODY
(walking towards them)
Excuse me.
CONTINUED
53
CONTINUED
LAB TECH ONE
(walking over to Jody)
Yes, can I help you?
Jody pulls the tube from her pocket, holding it where he can see it.
JODY
Yes, I think you can. I’m Dr. Jody Grey.
I need you to run tests on the fluid in this
tube.
Jody hands him the tube.
LAB TECH ONE
(taking the tube)
What am I supposed to be looking for?
JODY
Toxins, poisons....anything that doesn’t
belong in the human body.
Jody turns to walk out of the room.
LAB TECH ONE
How soon do you need the results back?
Jody quickly turns back around.
JODY
As soon as possible.
LAB TECH ONE
Okay, I’ll get on it, as soon as possible.
JODY
Great, Thanks.
Jody starts to walk away.
JODY
(turning back around)
Oh.... and nobody sees the results but me.
It’s very important.
CONTINUED
54
CONTINUED
LAB TECH ONE
I’ll make sure no one sees them.
Jody walks out of the room.
EXT. DIANE’S BACKYARD - AFTERNOON
Diane is in the yard planting her daises. She looks as if something is
bothering her.
She finishes planting the flowers and begins to gather the gardening tools.
Diane takes the flowers she didn’t plant and some of the tools into the house.
She sits them by the back door.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - LATE AFTERNOON
Diane goes into the study, takes off her gloves, and picks up the phone.
Diane dials a number.
DIANE
(on the phone)
Hello, I need to speak to Dr. Dustin
Grey, this is his wife.
INT. HOSPITAL - LATE AFTERNOON
A nurse is at the nurses’ station, talking on the phone.
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
(on the phone)
Just a moment.
The nurse sets the phone down.
Just then, Jody walks past guzzling a large bottled water.
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
(talking to Jody)
Excuse me Dr. Grey.
CONTINUED
55
CONTINUED
Jody comes back to the nurses’ station.
JODY
Yes.
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
Can you let Dr. Grey know that his wife
is on the phone?
JODY
Actually we’re in a meeting right now and
don’t want to be disturbed. Tell her he’ll
call her back, when he’s done.
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
Okay, I’ll tell her.
Jody walks away.
The nurse picks up the phone.
AFRICAN NURSE ONE
Mrs. Grey, Dr. Grey is in a meeting right now,
but he’ll call you back as soon as he’s finished.
Jody walks into the large room that houses their sick patients.
Dustin is in the room checking a male patients vitals.
Jody walks over to Dustin.
JODY
How is he doing?
DUSTIN
(looking at the patient)
He’s doing fine.
Dustin puts his stethoscope back on his neck and walks away.
Jody follows him closely.
JODY
Hey, lets get something to eat, I’m starving.
CONTINUED
56
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
(walking along side Jody)
That sounds good. I’ll see if Dr. Jambi has
some menu’s around here.
Dustin walks out of the room.
Jody grins with satisfaction.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - LATE AFTERNOON
Diane opens a door, that leads to the basement and pulls the hanging string,
to turn on the light.
She picks the flowers up off the floor, leaving the tools there.
She walks down the stairs, into the basement. The basement is still a little
dark.
Diane looks up and pulls a string turning on another light.
There are several large boxes in the basement.
There is also some things in the basement covered with white cloth sheets.
DIANE
(looking around)
Let’s see.
Diane sets the flowers on a counter.
She walks over to one of the covered items and pulls off the white sheet.
It’s a wooden baby basinet. She rubs her hand across the basinet.
Diane notices the time, by the watch on her wrist.
DIANE
(looking at her watch)
Oh, damn. I still have to shower and make dinner.
Diane walks back upstairs and grabs the tools off the floor.
CONTINUED
57
CONTINUED
She takes the tools down into the basement and sets them on the counter.
Diane goes back upstairs, pulls the string turning off the light, and shuts
the basement door.
Diane goes to the kitchen and washes her hands in the sink.
Diane walks over to the refrigerator and opens it.
LATER- EVENING
The table is set. Diane is putting a vase of daises on the table.
Diane grabs a bottle of Pinot Grigio from the wine rack and sets it on the
table.
Diane goes back to the stove. She takes the top off the skillet and uses a
wooden spoon to taste the shrimp and pasta alfredo.
DIANE
(putting the top
on the skillet)
Instant potatoes my ass.
Diane turns off the stove and looks at her watch.
DIANE
(walking out the kitchen)
They’ll be here soon.
CONTINUED
58
CONTINUED
Diane walks upstairs and goes into her bedroom.
She undresses down to her panties and bra.
Diane goes into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
LATER - EVENING
Diane comes out of the bathroom, clean and showered. She is wrapped in
a towel.
She goes to the closet and takes out a little cream colored dress.
She stands in front of the mirror and puts the dress up to her.
DIANE
(grinning)
He’ll love this.
LATER - EVENING
Diane comes downstairs and goes to the kitchen.
Diane sits at the table.
DIANE
(looking at the clock
on the wall)
They should be here by now.
LATER - EVENING
She looks at the clock on the wall. About thirty minutes have gone by.
Diane grabs the bottle of wine on the table and opens it. She pours her a
glass of wine and takes a sip.
LATER - NIGHT
CONTINUED
59
CONTINUED
Diane is still sitting at the table. She looks at the clock on the wall.
Another hour and a half has gone by.
She starts to pore her another glass of wine, when she notices its all gone.
Diane looks upset and agitated.
DIANE
(slouching in the chair)
This is great, just great.
Just then Jody and Dustin walk in the front door.
JODY
Umm... something smells good.
DUSTIN
(setting his briefcase
by the stairs)
Oh shit..... I forgot about dinner.
Dustin rushes to the kitchen. Jody follows behind slowly, grinning with
satisfaction.
Dustin walks into the kitchen.
DUSTIN
(walking over to Diane)
I’m so sorry, I’m late honey.
Dustin kisses her on the forehead.
Diane sits there unresponsive with her arms folded.
Jody walks into the kitchen.
DUSTIN
Today was so crazy. We had to test all of the
patients today, so that we can get the results
back by tomorrow. Dinner smells delicious.
DIANE
It’s ruined now. You know I planted daises
in the back yard.
(MORE) CONTINUED
60
CONTINUED
DIANE (CONT’D)
I made your favorite dinner, and I sat here
for over two hours waiting for you to come
home. You couldn’t even call me back after
your meeting was over, to tell me you
were going to be late.
DUSTIN
You called the hospital? No one told me.
DIANE
Yeah right. You know what Dustin, it
doesn’t matter. Even if I hadn’t called you,
you still should have called me to let me
know you weren’t going to make it in time
for dinner.
JODY
Don’t be mad at him, it’s my fault.
DIANE
Oh...I’m sure you had your part in it.
DUSTIN
(looking at Jody)
No...it’s okay Jody, it’s my fault.
DUSTIN
(looking at Diane)
Your’re right, I should have called to let you
know, I was going to be late. I can’t believe
I forgot about dinner.
Diane gets up.
DIANE
(walking out of the
kitchen)
You’ve been forgetting about a lot of
things lately.
Dustin follows behind her.
CONTINUED
61
CONTINUED
Jody grins.
DUSTIN
(following Diane)
Now hold on, Diane. What’s that supposed
to mean?
Diane walks up the stairs and goes to their bedroom.
Dustin follows.
Dustin shuts the bedroom door behind him.
DIANE
You know exactly what it means.
DUSTIN
No, I don’t know. Will you calm down and
talk to me?
DIANE
Did you know two people died in this house?
DUSTIN
I didn’t want to upset you. Besides, it was a
long time ago.
DIANE
You see that’s the problem. Your’re always
leaving me out of the loop, keeping things
from me. Then you claim it’s because, you
don’t want to upset me. What am I twelve?
DUSTIN
Okay, I apologize for not telling you about
the people that used to live here and I’m
sorry about dinner, too.
Diane sits on the bed and says nothing.
DUSTIN
I won’t keep anything from you anymore,
even if I think it would upset you.
(MORE)
CONTINUED
62
CONTINUED
DUSTIN (CONT’D)
I know you’re a grown woman, so I’ll
stop trying to shield you from
everything. I just don’t want to fight(
please honey.
DIANE
I don’t want to fight either. I was just so
upset. I’m sorry, if I overreacted.
DUSTIN
(grinning)
Well you can make it up to me.
DIANE
(intrigued)
Make it up to you. What did you have in mind?
DUSTIN
(lying down on
top of Diane)
You can model that beautiful dress for me.
Dustin and Diane begin to kiss.
DUSTIN
Or you could just take it off.
Diane giggles as Dustin takes off her dress.
Diane and Dustin begin to make love.
Angry and upset, Jody is standing outside their bedroom door listening
to them.
Jody goes downstairs to the back door and goes outside.
EXT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - NIGHT
Jody paces back and fourth in the backyard.
She looks at the flowers that Diane planted.
CONTINUED
63
CONTINUED
Jody goes over to the flowers. She kneels on the ground and begins to
violently dig up the flowers. She pulls and digs at them with rage in her
eyes.
Once all the flowers are destroyed, she calms down and gets up.
Jody goes back into the house.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - NIGHT
Jody goes upstairs to the hallway bathroom.
She turns on the water and washes her face and hands.
She stares into the mirror, rubbing the back of her neck.
She goes into the bedroom and gets some pajamas out of her suitcase.
Jody changes into the pajamas.
Jody takes the soiled pajamas, rolls them up and puts them in her suitcase.
Jody grabs the blanket and pillow off of the bed.
Jody leaves the room.
Jody goes into the living room and tosses the pillow and blanket on the
couch.
She lies down on the couch and closes her eyes.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - MORNING
Diane and Dustin are still in the bed. Diane opens her eyes and gazes at Dustin.
Dustin opens his eyes.
DUSTIN
Hey, good morning sunshine.
DIANE
Good morning.
(MORE) CONTINUED
64
CONTINUED
DIANE (CONT’D)
Do you want me to make you some breakfast?
DUSTIN
No I’ll just grab a bagel. I want to get back too the
hospital. I have to see if those test results came
back yet. You stay in bed and get some rest.
Dustin kisses her and gets out of bed.
Dustin goes into the bathroom.
Jody is lying on the couch. She sits up. Her eyes look as if they are wide
open. She has dark circles under her eyes and her neck looks even more
irritated than before.
She gets up off of the couch and grabs the pillow and blanket.
Jody goes upstairs to the bedroom.
She puts the pillow and blanket back on the bed.
Jody grabs some clothes out of her suitcase.
Jody goes to the hallway bathroom.
LATER
Jody gets out of the shower.
She wraps her self in a towel and goes to the bathroom mirror.
She wipes the mirror with her hand.
Jody looks in the mirror, at the back of her neck.
JODY
It’s getting worse.
She takes her long black hair out of the pony tail, letting it down.
Dustin is downstairs in the kitchen. He’s sitting at the table eating a bagel,
drinking coffee, and reading the paper.
CONTINUED
65
CONTINUED
Dustin finishes the last of his bagel and coffee.
He folds the paper up and gets up from the table.
Dustin pushes his chair back under the table and grabs his saucer and mug.
Dustin goes to the sink and places the dishes there.
Dustin leaves the kitchen and goes to the stairs.
Jody is coming down the stairs.
DUSTIN
Are you okay? You don’t look so hot.
JODY
(putting on her
sunglasses)
I’m fine, just a little tired. Are you ready to
go?
DUSTIN
You don’t want anything for breakfast?
DIANE
No, I’m not hungry.
DUSTIN
Alright, lets go.
Dustin grabs his briefcase, by the front door.
Dustin opens the front door. Jody walks out first, then Dustin closing the
door behind him.
EXT. FRONT YARD - MORNING
Dojou is outside, in the car, waiting for them.
Dustin and Jody get into the car.
Dojou looks at Jody through the rearview mirror.
CONTINUED
66
CONTINUED
DOJOU
Good morning.
DUSTIN
Good morning, Dojou.
Jody says nothing.
Dojou looks at Jody suspiciously, through the rearview mirror.
DOJOU
Are you okay, Mrs. Grey?
JODY
(bluntly)
I’m fine.
Dojou looks ahead and drives off.
Diane gets out of bed.
She goes to the bathroom.
Diane grabs her robe, hanging on the bathroom door, and puts it on.
Diane goes downstairs.
She walks into the kitchen and opens the cupboard.
Diane takes out a coffee cup and closes the cupboard.
She pores herself a cup of coffee, from the coffee maker on the counter.
She starts walking around, drinking her coffee.
Diane notices, a small green leaf and some dirt, on the floor in the hall way.
Diane walks over to the leaf and bends down to pick it up.
DIANE
(picking up the leaf)
What the...?
CONTINUED
67
CONTINUED
Diane stands up and walks to the back door.
She opens the door and goes outside.
EXT. BACKYARD - MORNING
Diane looks at her flowers. Diane drops the coffee cup.
DIANE
(covering her mouth)
Oh, my God.
The coffee cup breaks.
DIANE
(looking at the cup)
Damn it.
She looks back up at the flowers.
DIANE
Who would do something like this?
Diane steps over the coffee cup and goes over to the flowers.
Diane kneels down and picks up some of the destroyed flowers.
Diane looks at them, confused and in shock.
She stands up and walks back into the house, stepping over the broken
coffee cup.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - MORNING
Diane goes upstairs to her room.
She opens the drawer and grabs some jeans and a t-shirt.
She takes off the robe and puts the clothes on.
Diane leaves the room. When she gets into the hallway she notices some
dirt on the floor.
CONTINUED
68
CONTINUED
She follows the specks of dirt to the hallway bathroom.
DIANE
No....she wouldn’t. That bitch!
Angry Diane, walks downstairs to the study.
She picks up the phone and dials.
DIANE
(on the phone)
Hi this is Mrs. Grey. Can you send a car,
I need to go into town?
EXT. CAR - MORNING
Dojou looks at Diane in the rearview mirror.
DOJOU
Is something wrong Mrs. Grey?
DIANE
No Dojou, everything is fine. I just need to
pick up some more flowers.
INT. HOSPITAL - MORNING
Jody walks into the lab.
Lab tech one is placing labels on test tubes.
JODY
Did you get those test results back yet?
Lab tech one looks up at her.
LAB TECH ONE
Oh I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to put it in for
testing until last night. The results aren’t
in yet.
JODY
(frustrated)
I thought I made it clear that this was
and emergency.
LAB TECH ONE
I had other test to run, they were my first
priority. Your results should be back in less
than 48hours.
Jody huffs and starts to leave the room.
JODY
(walking out)
You people are incompetent.
LAB TECH ONE
(mutters)
What’s her problem?
INT. PERENNIAL SHOP - LATE AM
Diane is at the checkout counter purchasing flowers.
CASHIER
Your back again?
DIANE
Yeah, I didn’t have enough flowers. Hey I
was wondering, did they say why your
boyfriends uncle went crazy.
CASHIER
(swiping her items)
No the didn’t. Well... never mind it’s stupid.
DIANE
What, tell me?
CASHIER
Well, there are rumors going around about
your house. They say the land it sits on is
cursed by some old voodoo doctor.
Dojou stand behind Diane staring at the cashier.
Intimidated, the cashier looks at Dojou.
Diane notices something’s not right. She turns around.
DIANE
Dojou, I didn’t know you came in.
DOJOU
I thought you might need some help
carrying the flowers.
CASHIER
Okay that will be fifty-eight dollars and
eighteen cents.
EXT. BACKYARD - AFTERNOON
Diane steps over the broken coffee cup.
She takes the flowers and supplies over to the garden. She sets them down.
LATER
EXT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S BACKYARD - AFTERNOON
Diane is finishing up on her garden. She has planted the flowers from the
basement.
Diane stands up.
DIANE
(hands on her hips)
That’s better.
The garden is beautiful again.
Diane walks over to the broken coffee cup.
CONTINUED
69
CONTINUED
She kneels down and picks up the broken pieces.
Diane throws the pieces in the garbage can.
Diane walks back over to the garden.
She picks up the damaged flowers.
Diane throws them in the trash can.
She walks back over to the garden and picks up her gardening supplies.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - AFTERNOON
Diane takes the supplies back into the basement.
She sets them on the counter and takes off her gloves.
Diane looks over at the boxes in the basement, as if she is curious.
Diane puts her gloves on the counter and walks over to the boxes.
Diane opens the box. The box is filled with clothes and knick knacks.
While looking through the box, she notices something on the floor.
She slides the boxes over and kneels down grabbing the item. It’s a notebook.
DIANE
(flipping through
the pages)
It’s a journal.
DIANE
(reading aloud)
He’s getting worse. I forgot to pick up the
dry cleaning, so he hit me. He hit me hard,
across the face. I don’t know what to do.
I’m too scared to leave.
CONTINUED
70
CONTINUED
DIANE
(shocked)
My God.
Shocked by what she just read, Diane takes the journal back up the stairs.
Diane turns off the light and closes the basement door.
Diane goes upstairs to her room.
She sets the journal on the dresser.
Diane takes off her pants and t-shirt.
Diane goes into the bathroom and turns on the shower.
INT. HOSPITAL - AFTERNOON
Dustin and Jody are in the large room that houses all of their sick patients.
Dustin is checking the vitals of one patient.
Jody is guzzling a large bottled water.
Dustin walks over to Jody.
DUSTIN
Are you trying to break the world record?
JODY
(abruptly, stops
drinking)
I don’t know why I’m so thirsty.
Dr. Jambi walks into the room.
DR. JAMBI
(walking toward
Jody and Dustin)
We have the test results.
Jody hands her bottled water to Dustin.
CONTINUED
71
CONTINUED
JODY
(taking the results
from Dr. Jambi)
Let me see.
Dustin watches Jody read the papers.
DUSTIN
(holding the water)
What do they say?
JODY
(reading the results)
They all tested positive for parasites.
DUSTIN
I knew you were right.
DR. JAMBI
Now... what’s the best way to go about
treating them?
JODY
(closing the folder)
Well, first we have to stop feeding them.
DUSTIN
Yeah, we shouldn’t give the parasites
anything to feed on.
JODY
So lets put them on a liquid diet. We’ll
also need to administer fleet supplements.
DUSTIN
And once their bodies are clear of the parasites,
we can give them antibiotics for the fever.
DR. JAMBI
What about the jerking of the limbs?
JODY
Once the parasites are gone that should
stop on its own.
CONTINUED
72
CONTINUED
DR. JAMBI
(looking at Jody)
Dr. Grey was right, you are good.
JODY
(smiling modestly
at Dustin)
Well, I try.
Dustin grins back at her.
DR. JAMBI
Well, we may as well get started.
Three nurses are talking amongst each other.
Dr. Jambi walks over to three African nurses in the room.
DR. JAMBI
We need to put these patients on a liquid
only diet. Let’s get them prep-ed for i.v.s.
AFRICAN NURSE TWO
Yes sir, right away.
The other nurses nod their heads in affirmation.
The nurses walk away.
Jody and Dustin are checking patient’s vitals.
Jody pauses rubbing her lower back in pain.
Dustin looks over at Jody.
DUSTIN
Is your back bothering you?
JODY
Yes... that couch isn’t good for sleeping
either.
DUSTIN
I thought you were sleeping upstairs.
(MORE) CONTINUED
73
CONTINUED
DUSTIN (CONT’D)
You’ve been sleeping on the couch?
JODY
I couldn’t sleep in there. The bed was awful.
DUSTIN
I can’t believe you’ve been sleeping on the
couch, all this time. Why didn’t you tell me?
We have plenty of other bedrooms, where you
could sleep.
JODY
I didn’t want to make a big deal of it.
DUSTIN
When we get back to the house, you can
put your things in the bedroom next to mine.
JODY
(rubbing her lower back)
Hopefully, that bed is more comfortable
than the first one.
Jody walks over to another patient, taking her blood pressure cup out of her
pocket.
Dustin walks over to Jody.
DUSTIN
Look, why don’t we leave early today?
There’s nothing else we can do here after,
we’ve prep-ed everyone and administered
the supplements. The nurses can monitor
the i.v.’s. Besides you look like you could use
some rest.
JODY
(checking the patients
blood pressure)
Yeah.. I guess your right. I could use some
rest.
CONTINUED
74
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
Good, I can call Diane and let her know I’ll be
home early. Maybe, I’ll take her out to
dinner tonight. I need to do something to make
up for yesterday.
Jody pumps the blood pressure cup to many times. It starts to hurt the
patients arm.
Looking up at Jody, the patient grabs his arm.
PATIENT ONE
Ouch.
JODY
Oh, I’m sorry.
DUSTIN
You don’t mind us leaving you alone for
dinner do you?
JODY
(looking down
in discontent)
Of course not.
DUSTIN
Great, there’s plenty of food in the frige.
I’m sure you can whip something up. I’m
gonna go call Diane and let her know about
dinner.
Dustin walks away.
JODY
(talking to one
of the nurses)
I’ll be right back.
Jody leaves the room.
Jody walks down the hall, frustrated and upset. She goes into a public
restroom.
CONTINUED
75
CONTINUED
Jody locks herself in one of the stalls. She begins to kick and pound on the
walls, in anger.
Jody hears a toilet flush and immediately calms down. She stands there in
the stall.
A woman comes out of a stall. She looks at the other stall doors as if she is
worried.
She goes to the sink and washes her hands, the whole time, looking at the
stalls behind her, through the mirror.
She grabs some paper towel, dries her hands and leaves the bathroom.
Jody comes out of the stall and goes to the sink.
Jody splashes some water on her face and looks into the mirror.
JODY
(looking into the mirror)
Get it together Jody.
Jody grabs some paper towel and dries her face.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - LATE AFTERNOON
Diane is in her bedroom, standing in the mirror with her bra and panties on.
She is holding a black dress in front of her.
She throws the dress on the bed and grabs a little red dress, off of the bed.
She holds the dress in front of her, then puts it on.
DIANE
(standing in the mirror)
Perfect.
Smiling, Diane spins around looking at herself in the mirror.
Diane goes over to the closet and grabs some red pumps.
She sits on the bed and puts the shoes on.
CONTINUED
76
CONTINUED
Diane gets up, grabs the journal off the dresser and goes downstairs.
She walks into the kitchen and sets the journal on the island.
She takes out a plastic bowl out of the refrigerator.
Diane puts the bowl in the microwave and starts it.
Diane opens the journal and begins to read another entry.
DIANE
(reading aloud)
He ripped off my clothes and forced
himself on me.
Dustin walks into the kitchen.
Startled, Diane closes the journal.
DIANE
Oh... honey you’re here. You scared me.
DUSTIN
(walking over to her)
Wow, you look fantastic.
Dustin and Diane kiss.
DUSTIN
(looking at the stove)
What are you doing?
DIANE
Oh... I’m just warming up some food for Jody.
DUSTIN
You’re so thoughtful.
CONTINUED
77
CONTINUED
Jody walks into the kitchen.
DUSTIN
I’m going to go and get ready, someone will
be here soon to pick us up.
Dustin leaves the kitchen, walking past Jody.
DIANE
(sarcastically)
I warmed the alfredo for you, since you’ll be
eating alone tonight.
JODY
(bluntly)
No thanks, I’m not hungry.
DIANE
You look a little frazzled.
Did you get enough sleep last night?
JODY
As a matter of fact, I slept like a baby.
DIANE
(mutters)
Did you?
JODY
Do you have any tea?
DIANE
Sure we do.
Diane goes over to a cupboard and takes out a box of tea.
Diane sets the tea on the island.
DIANE
There you go... it’s chamomile. You may want to
drink it out in the garden it’s pretty peaceful out
there.
CONTINUED
78
CONTINUED
JODY
(smirking)
Is it?
Jody walks over to the cupboard and takes out a mug.
DIANE
(smirking)
It really is, the flowers are even more
beautiful today than they were the first
day I planted them.
Jody pauses.
Diane picks up the journal.
DIANE
(walking out of the
kitchen)
Enjoy your night.
Diane goes to the living room.
She puts the journal under one of the chair cushions.
Diane goes to the front stairs.
Dressed in a black suit, Dustin is coming down the stairs.
DIANE
(looking at Dustin)
You look handsome.
DUSTIN
Why thank you, sunshine.
Diane smiles.
DUSTIN
I think their outside waiting. Are you
ready?
DIANE
As ready as I’ll ever be.
CONTINUED
79
CONTINUED
Diane and Dustin leave out the front door.
Aggravated, Jody is sitting at the island in the kitchen, drinking her tea.
Jody gets up abruptly and quickly walks to the back door.
Jody opens the door and walks outside.
EXT. BACKYARD - EVENING
Jody looks at the garden and sees that it has been replanted.
Livid, Jody goes back into the house.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE”S HOME - EVENING
Jody SLAMS the door and goes back to the kitchen.
Jody grabs the mug of tea off of the island and takes a sip.
She stands there for a moment, looking angry. Angrily she pores the rest of
her tea into the sink.
INT. RESTAURANT - EVENING
Diane and Dustin are seated at a table, in an elegant restaurant.
DUSTIN
(browsing his menu)
So, how was your day?
DIANE
(browsing her menu)
Interesting.
DUSTIN
(looking up at Diane)
Interesting, how do you mean?
The waitress walks over interrupting their conversation.
CONTINUED
80
CONTINUED
WAITRESS JEN
Hello I’m Jen. I’ll be your server this evening.
DIANE
(slight smile)
Hello Jen.
WAITRESS JEN
Would you like to start with something to
drink?
DUSTIN
Yes. Can we have your finest bottle of
Pinot Grigio?
WAITRESS JEN
Okay, a bottle Pinot Grigio, coming right up.
Jen walks away.
DUSTIN
Now, I believe you were about to tell me,
how your day was so interesting.
DIANE
(browsing her menu)
I found a journal in the basement.
It belonged to the woman that used to
live there.
DUSTIN
(browsing his menu)
Well, what did it say?
DIANE
(looking up at him)
I didn’t read the whole thing but, what I read
was pretty disturbing. The woman was raped
and beaten by her husband.
Shocked, Dustin looks up at Diane.
CONTINUED
81
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
(looking up at Diane)
My God, are you serious?
The waitress brings the wine to the table.
DUSTIN
She must have been so afraid of him. What did
she do?
Dustin pores he and Diane some wine.
DIANE
I don’t know. I didn’t read the rest, but
obviously he killed her.
DUSTIN
(surprised)
What makes you think he killed her?
DIANE
I thought you knew.
DUSTIN
Of course not, the realtor made it seem as if
someone old just passed away. How did you
find this out?
Diane takes a sip of her wine.
DIANE
The girl at the flower shop told me, that the
man that used to live there went crazy. He
killed his wife and himself.
DUSTIN
And how does she know what happened?
DIANE
She said, the couple that lived there
were her boyfriend’s aunt and uncle.
Dustin takes a big gulp of wine.
CONTINUED
83
CONTINUED
DUSTIN
I wish I would have known this before we
moved in.
Dustin takes a sip of wine.
DIANE
Would it really have made a difference?
DUSTIN
I don’t know. It just feels kind of weird
now knowing this.
DIANE
You know what, let’s not ruin dinner. We
can talk about this some other time. How
was your day?
DUSTIN
Well, I have some good news.
We found out what was wrong and started the
treatments on the patients today.
CONTINUED
84
CONTINUED
DIANE
Oh, that’s wonderful. Does this mean Jody
will be leaving us soon?
DUSTIN
Yes it does, if everything goes as planned.
I know your eager to have me all to yourself.
DIANE
I have you all to myself now. I’m just tired
of dealing with her and her wicked demeanor.
DUSTIN
She’s not all that bad, she just takes some
getting use to.
DIANE
And thank God, I don’t have to get use to her.
DUSTIN
Be nice sunshine.
Dustin picks up his glass for a toast.
DUSTIN
(holding up his wine
glass)
Here’s to a wonderful evening, alone.
DIANE
(tapping her glass
to his)
Yes.
MONTAGE:
Dustin and Diane converse while eating dinner.
Dustin and Diane kiss during dinner.
Dustin and Diane laugh during dinner.
Dustin and Diane slow dance at the restaurant.
Dustin spins Diane while dancing.
INT. DUSTIN AND DIANE’S HOME - NIGHT
Jody is in Diane and Dustin’s bedroom. She is running her hands
through the clothes in the closet. She takes out one of Dustin’s shirts
and begins smelling it while rubbing it against her cheek.
JODY
I know you still love me Dustin. It’s only a
matter of time before we’re together again.
Jody hangs the shirt in the closet. She sees one of Diane’s dresses and
takes it out of the closet.
JODY
(holding the dress up)
Cheap slut.
Jody notices a piece of thread hanging from the dress and begins to pull
it. The dress begins to unravel. Jody laughs as she continues to pull the
thread.
LATER
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - NIGHT
Tipsy, Dustin and Diane come into the front door.
Dustin has his hand around Diane’s waist, pulling her back to him.
Diane giggles.
Dustin shuts the door.
DUSTIN
(index finger to his lips)
Shhh... we don’t want to wake Jody.
CONTINUED
86
CONTINUED
Diane giggles quietly.
DIANE
(whispering)
Let’s go upstairs.
Diane grabs Dustin’s hand and they both head upstairs.
Diane and Dustin go into their bedroom. Dustin shuts
the door.
Immediately they begin to kiss and take off each others clothes.
They fall on the bed and Diane giggles.
DUSTIN
(laughing a bit)
Shhh...
They begin to make love.
Jody is in the bedroom next to theirs. She’s in the bed, lying on her back,
with her eyes open. She can hear them making love. Seemingly angry and
hurt, a tear falls from her eye.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - MORNING
Dustin wakes up and looks over at Diane, who is sound asleep.
He gets out of bed and goes into the bathroom.
Dustin turns on the shower.
LATER
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - MORNING
Dressed for work, Dustin stands by the bed looking at Diane. She is still
asleep.
Dustin kisses her on the forehead and leaves the bedroom.
CONTINUED
87
CONTINUED
Dustin goes to Jody’s bedroom door.
DUSTIN
(knocking lightly)
Jody. Jody are you awake?
Jody moans and turns over, opposite the door.
Dustin opens her door.
DUSTIN
Hey, are you getting up?
JODY
I don’t feel well. You go ahead. I’ll be in
later.
DUSTIN
Is there anything I can do?
JODY
No, I can take care of myself.
DUSTIN
Okay, see you later.
Dustin closes her door.
He walks downstairs and out the front door.
LATER
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - MORNING
Jody lies in the bed, looking sad. Her lips are dry and her forehead is
sweating.
Diane wakes up and touches Dustin’s side of the bed. She opens her eyes
and sees that he has already gone.
DIANE
(muttering)
He left without saying goodbye.
CONTINUED
88
CONTINUED
Diane gets out of bed. She is dressed in her pajamas. Diane leaves the room.
She walks down stairs and goes to the kitchen.
She grabs the tea pot, turns on the sink and puts some water in it.
She puts the tea pot on the stove and turns the eye on high.
Diane leaves the kitchen and goes to the living room.
Diane lifts up the cushion on the chair and grabs the journal.
She goes back into the kitchen.
She goes over to the island and sits down, opening the journal.
Diane begins to read.
DIANE
(reading aloud)
Today he locked me in the basement, until
he returned home from work.
She flips through to another page.
DIANE
(reading aloud)
I hide here in the basement when he is mad
and looking to hurt me.
The tea pot whistles. Startled, Diane jerks.
Diane get up and turns off the stove.
Diane takes the journal and leaves the kitchen.
Diane walks to the basement door and opens it.
Diane takes one step down and pulls the string to turn on the light.
Just then Jody pushes the door.
The door hits Diane from behind knocking her down the stairs.
CONTINUED
89
CONTINUED
Diane tumbles down the stairs, and hits her head, knocking her out. She lies
there helpless, on the basement floor.
The door swings open and Jody is at the top of the basement stairs, staring
down at Diane.
JODY
(with an evil grin)
Serves you right, you should watch your step.
(Humming) Jody goes back upstairs.
She goes into the hallway bathroom and turns on the shower.
LATER
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - NOON
Jody comes down the stairs dressed for work. She has her sunglasses in
her hand.
She stops at the front door and puts her hand up to her ear as if she is
listening for something. Not a sound is heard.
JODY
(smug)
Ahhh... silence.
Jody puts on her sunglasses and leaves out the front door.
LATER
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - AFTERNOON
Diane is still in the basement on the floor. She wakes up frightened and
disoriented. She tries to get up using her hands to support her, but
something is wrong with her left wrist. She can’t get up.
DIANE
(grabbing her left wrist)
AHHH!
CONTINUED
90
CONTINUED
Her head is bleeding down the side of her face. She touches her head, then
looks at her hand. There is blood on her fingers.
DIANE
I’ve got to get up.
Diane looks up the basement stairs. The door is still open.
Diane struggles, but she gets up. She staggers up the basement stairs using
her right arm to grab the banister.
Diane goes up the stairs.
She limps to the study, picks up the phone and dials.
DIANE
(on the phone)
I need help. I’ve fallen down the stairs.
INT. HOSPITAL - AFTERNOON
Dustin and Jody are laughing and talking to one another.
A page comes across the p.a. system.
Dustin and Jody listen.
PAGE:
AFRICAN NURSE ONE’S VOICE:
Paging Dr. Dustin Grey to ER.
Dr. Dustin Grey to ER.
Surprised, Dustin quickly goes to the ER.
He walks into the ER and sees Diane in one of the beds.
DUSTIN
(walking over to her)
My God, what happened to you, are you okay?
CONTINUED
91
CONTINUED
Concerned, he touches her wrapped wrist and head.
DIANE
I don’t know. I was going into the basement.
The door hit me from behind and I went
tumbling down the stairs. That’s the last
thing I remember before I woke up on the
basement floor, this afternoon.
A DOCTOR comes over and stands by her bed. He’s writing on a chart.
DR. RUZZI
(looks up at Dustin)
Hi I’m Dr. Ruzzi
DUSTIN
Hi, I’m Dr. Dustin Grey. Can you tell me what’s
wrong with my wife?
DR. RUZZI
Well, she suffered a minor concussion and
a broken wrist. The rest are minor bumps
and bruises. I’m going to write her a
prescription for pain medication.
Dr. Ruzzi turns to Diane.
DR. RUZZI
Mrs. Grey, on a scale of one to ten how would
you rate your pain?
DIANE
About a seven.
DR. RUZZI
I’ll be back with some pain medication.
Dr. Ruzzi walks away.
DUSTIN
I can’t believe this happened. I wouldn’t
know what to do if I had lost you.
CONTINUED
92
CONTINUED
DIANE
I just don’t know how the door could hit me
hard enough to knock me down the stairs.
Just then Jody walks over.
JODY
My goodness, what happened to you?
DIANE
I fell down the basement stairs.
JODY
(sarcastically)
You should watch you step.
DIANE
(frustrated)
Jody just go away. Leave me alone.
DUSTIN
Calm down honey. Jody...please.
JODY
I’m going.
Displeased, Jody walks away.
DIANE
I can’t deal with her when I’m like this.
I feel helpless.
DUSTIN
Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll deal with
Jody. You need to rest.
DIANE
She’s crazy, I don’t even feel safe around
her. She ruined my flowers, you know.
DUSTIN
What are you talking about?
CONTINUED
93
CONTINUED
DIANE
The day after I planted my flowers, I woke up
and went outside. I found my flowers
destroyed, someone had dug them all up.
DUSTIN
Come on honey. Jody wouldn’t do something
like that.
DIANE
(angry)
She did it, I know she did. You know what,
you don’t have to believe me.
DUSTIN
It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just....
DIANE
(interrupting him)
It doesn’t matter, just take me home.
DUSTIN
Okay... I’ll go and get you discharged.
He walks away.
Diane sits there looking angry and frustrated.
LATER
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - LATE AFTERNOON
Dustin is helping Diane in the front door. Jody comes in behind them,
seemingly aggravated.
DIANE
Take me up to bed, please. I need to lye down.
Jody closes the front door.
Dustin takes Diane upstairs.
LATER
CONTINUED
94
CONTINUED
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - EVENING
It’s raining heavily. You can see the lightning flash through the windows in
the foyer. The thunder is crashing, loudly.
Upstairs, Jody is lying in bed. She’s lying on her back as if she is plastered
to the bed. Her eyes are closed, she’s sweating with fever, her lips are dry
and crusted. Jody is flinging her head back and fourth, as if she is having a
nightmare. Her long black hair is all over her head. Her head stops and she
quickly opens her eyes. Her eyes are wide with black circles under them.
She is thinking.
HEARING HER THOUGHTS ALOUD
(Jody’s voice):
If it wasn’t for her, we would be together
now. She’s not even his type. She’s the
problem. I’m good at solving problems.
JODY
(whispering)
I’ll get rid of her.
Jody gets out of the bed.
Dustin is in his room ironing clothes, facing opposite the door. You can
hear the shower running but, the bathroom door is closed. The shower stops.
Jody comes up behind Dustin. She raps her arms around his waist and
presses the side of her face against his back.
DUSTIN
(grinning)
You’re supposed to be recuperating. You just
can’t get enough of me, can you?
JODY
I never will.
Dustin notices her voice and looks down at her arms. He doesn’t see the cast
on her wrist.
He immediately snatches Jody’s arms from his waist.
CONTINUED
95
CONTINUED
Dustin turns around.
DUSTIN
(confused)
What the hell are you doing Jody?
She looks at him with desperation.
JODY
I know this is what you want. I’m trying to
help you.
Jody reaches for his face.
DUSTIN
(grabbing her wrist)
Stop it Jody. What the hell is wrong with
you?
She snatches her arm back from him.
JODY
(angry)
Nothing’s wronnggg Dustinnn.
He looks at her strangely.
JODY
I’ll just do this the hard way.
Jody turns around and walks out of the bedroom.
At the same time, Diane is coming out of the bathroom. Diane looks at Jody
as if she is confused.
DIANE
Honey, what’s going on?
Shocked, Dustin says nothing.
DIANE
Dustin, what happened?
CONTINUED
96
CONTINUED
Dustin looks at Diane.
DUSTIN
Something’s wrong with Jody. Get
your clothes on honey.
DIANE
Tell me what happened?
DUSTIN
I think you’re right. She’s losing her mind.
They begin to hear what sounds like a power drill.
DIANE
What is that?
DUSTIN
(listening)
It sounds like a power drill.
DUSTIN
Let’s go.
Diane goes to the dresser and grabs some pants and a shirt.
She puts on the pants and the shirt. They hear more drilling.
Diane grabs her shoes. The power is shut off. Diane drops the shoes. It’s
dark and the only light is from the lightning flashing through the windows.
DIANE
(pulling at Dustin’s
shirt)
Did she do that... was that her?
DUSTIN
I’ve got to get you out of here.
They both rush from the bedroom holding hands.
They start to walk down the stairs.
CONTINUED
97
CONTINUED
Jody is standing at the bottom of the stairs, holding an axe.
JODY
Leaving so soon?
Thunder CRASHES Diane and Dustin start to walk slowly down the stairs.
They get to the bottom of the stairs and stop.
DUSTIN
(holding his hands out)
What are you doing Jody?
JODY
(looking at Diane)
Getting rid of her.
DUSTIN
Just calm down. You don’t know what your
doing. You don’t want to do this.
JODY
I know exactly what I’m doing. Now move
out of the way Dustin.
DUSTIN
(letting to of her hand)
Run Diane!
DIANE
No, I’m not leaving you!
JODY
Oh, how sweet.
Lighting flashes through the windows in the foyer.
JODY
(jerking the axe at Diane)
Beat it bitch!
Diane runs off.
Dustin grabs the axe. Both holding the axe, he and Jody struggle.
CONTINUED
98
CONTINUED
Jody knees him in the groin.
DUSTIN
(buckling his knees)
You crazy bitch.
Dustin knees her in the crotch. She lets go of the axe.
Dustin turns the axe around and hits her in the head, with the wooden part.
Jody falls on the floor, seemly knocked out.
Dustin leans down toward her, still holding the axe up.
Jody opens her eyes and quickly jerks at him.
He hits her in the head again. Now her head is bleeding.
Dustin touches her neck with his hand, checking her pulse.
DUSTIN
(whispers)
She’s still alive.
Dustin walks off to find Diane.
DUSTIN
(quietly)
Diane. Diane where are you?
Dustin goes to the back door and pulls at it. The door has been drilled shut.
He thinks he hears something in the bedroom next to the back door.
Dustin goes into the bedroom.
DUSTIN
(whispering)
Diane, is that you?
He looks around and see’s no one.
Dustin looks at the bed. He lifts up the mattress and grabs the gun he put
there days ago. He replaces it with the axe.
CONTINUED
99
CONTINUED
Dustin checks the gun for bullets.
He leaves the room.
He goes to the study and picks up the phone.
Diane is in the kitchen, trying to open the side door. It’s been drilled shut and
won’t open.
DIANE
(pulling at the door)
Shit...Shit.
Diane turns around. She’s jumps back, startled.
Jody is standing in the door way.
JODY
Oh, did I scare you.
Jody comes into the kitchen. She has a power drill in her hand. Her head is
bleeding.
DIANE
Where is Dustin? What did you do to him?
Jody walks toward Diane.
DIANE
(backing up)
You don’t want to do this, Jody.
Jody runs at Diane drilling her in the left forearm.
Diane punches her in the face with her right hand.
Jody falls to the floor and drills Diane in the left leg.
Diane kicks Jody in the face with her right foot, then falls on the floor.
Jody’s nose is bleeding.
Diane begins to drag herself across the kitchen floor.
CONTINUED
100
CONTINUED
Jody crawls over to Diane and drills her in the foot.
DIANE
(crying and screaming)
Help me...please help me!!!
Jody crawls on top of Diane, and uses her knees to pin down Diane’s arms.
She rev’s the drill at Diane’s forehead.
DIANE
(crying)
Please don’t.
JODY
Shut up, whore!
Just as Jody starts to drill Diane in the forehead. A gunshot goes off (BANG).
Jody falls over. She is unconscious.
Dustin stands there still pointing the gun.
He runs over to Diane and picks her up.
He sits her on top of the island.
DUSTIN
(looking at Diane’s
wounds)
The police should be here soon. Oh honey, I’m
so sorry. Are you okay? I should have
listened to you. This never would have
happened.
DIANE
(looking at the gun)
You kept the gun.
DUSTIN
(looking at Diane)
Yeah, sorry about that honey.
CONTINUED
101
CONTINUED
DIANE
(looking at Jody)
Don’t be.
Sirens sound. You can see the lights from the police cars through the window.
ONE MONTH LATER
EXT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S FRONT YARD - NOON
Dojou drives Dustin and Diane up to the house.
Dustin gets out of the car.
Dustin opens the trunk and takes out a for sale sign.
Dustin sticks it in the grass, in front of the house.
He gets back into the back seat of the car.
Diane stares at the house.
DUSTIN
You okay?
DIANE
I am now.
Dustin and Diane kiss as Dojou drives off.
INT. DUSTIN/DIANE’S HOME - NOON
No one is in the house.
Upstairs in the bedroom, with the beautiful dresser, a wasp comes out of the
hole in the floor. It sits there under the bed.
FADE OUT
................
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