Vivien Hasn't Been Herself Lately (2014) Brian Duffield Digital
Vivien Hasn't Been Herself Lately (2014) Brian Duffield Digital
Vivien Hasn't Been Herself Lately (2014) Brian Duffield Digital
Written by
Brian Duffield
ii.
Snarls.
Restraint.
Tongue.
Foaming gums.
Hunger.
TOM
You got a dog?
VIVIEN
No, Tom, I got a deformed cat.
TOM
How long have you been planning on
getting a dog?
VIVIEN
Not long enough to have a list of
potential dog names.
TOM
Where’s the list.
Vivien bites her lip. She does this when she’s caught.
VIVIEN
Probably not in the second drawer
of my desk.
TOM
Vivien-
VIVIEN
I really think it’ll help me and I
knew you’d say no at first.
TOM
My blood’ll be on your hands.
That alone makes this dog a little more worth it for Tom.
2.
Tom and Vivien sit on their back porch, drinking wine and
playing chess. Mostly in silence.
VIVIEN
The day I beat you will be the best
day of my life.
TOM
Hmmm.
VIVIEN
Hold still.
She reaches out and sinks her fingers into his hair and-
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Your hair was glowing!
Tom wakes up and looks over at his wife. Her back towards him
as she cries. His heart breaks.
The garage where Tom will try to keep the nameless dog safe.
The bedroom where Tom will do everything for his wife, in the
end.
He looks away.
THE LIBRARIAN
You starting a garden?
She asks this because the five books are all on gardening.
TOM
I’m flirting with the idea.
THE LIBRARIAN
When I lived in Iowa I grew
sunflowers one summer, but they
kept drooping over.
TOM
You too.
Tom and Vivien have friends over for dinner. Charles and
JILL. STUART and PHILIP. BRITNEY, forever alone.
VIVIEN
It was just a disaster. Do you
remember hunny?
TOM
I cleaned it, of course I remember.
VIVIEN
I-I, I don’t even know what I was
thinking-
TOM
You were afraid it would go bad. It
was almost the middle of March and
I was flying back from Phoenix and
three glasses turned to more and
you saw the chocolate and thought
it would all go bad.
They look at each other. They almost have a moment but she
looks away.
VIVIEN
So he comes home and I’m just-
(vomiting)
(MORE)
5.
VIVIEN (CONT'D)
Puking into the toilet, pure
chocolate.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
I’ve hated chocolate ever since.
Tom watches deer graze in his back yard through the window.
Jill approaches.
JILL
They’re doing dishes together and
singing Springsteen.
Tom doesn’t look, but she’s not lying. Charles and Vivien are
doing dishes together, singing Springsteen.
TOM
I can’t believe I got a chocolate
cake. I just wasn’t thinking.
JILL
Have you ever been up to Starry
Point? It’s by the old radio tower.
Sometimes kids go up there. I used
to.
TOM
It’s so stupid because I don’t even
like chocolate that much. She just
asked me to grab a desert and I
just wasn’t thinking.
JILL
I think I’m going to go up tomorrow
night. Probably around 11. His
poker shit won’t end til 1 or 2, at
least.
TOM
I wonder where they go.
A dish BREAKS behind them. Tom looks at the kitchen and sees
Vivien and Charles laughing hysterically.
TOM
Did you name the dog, by the way?
VIVIEN
Fuck.
TOM
I hope that’s his name.
VIVIEN
I forgot to feed him.
And wherever she goes after realizing this, it’s a dark, dark
place.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
I’m sorry, Tommy-
TOM
No, shh, it’s okay. Get ready for
bed, I’ll feed the pooch.
TOM (CONT’D)
It’s okay. I promise.
Tom pours it into the bowl and the dog begins to eat.
TOM
Fucker.
Leaves.
TOM
I’m sorry about the cake. I just
wasn’t thinking.
VIVIEN
Want to take a shower with me?
TOM
(with toothpaste)
YES.
He walks into the shower behind her. Wraps his arms around
her collar bone gently. She’s a head shorter than him.
He buries his nose into her wet hair. They stay like this.
TOM
Vivi.
VIVIEN
I’m so tired.
8.
TOM
I know.
And then she slinks away from him and out of the shower. Tom
stands there alone in the water, giving her time to dress.
The trees are tall, their leaves starting to turn blood red.
TOM
Hey Vivi, you home?
TOM
Oh, Vee! I didn’t realize you were
home. We could’ve had lunch.
He walks into the bathroom and she does not answer. He takes
a mouthful of mouthwash and looks back into the bedroom.
TOM (CONT’D)
You alright?
TOM (CONT’D)
Oh shit-
TOM (CONT’D)
Hey, hey, can you hear me? Vivien?
Puts his ear to her mouth. Her breath moves the tiny hairs of
stubble breaking from his pores.
She’s perfectly still, except for her jaw. She opens and
closes it, almost mechanically.
On the phone.
TOM
So you can sleep with your eyes
open? - I’ve never seen her do that
before, no. - She coughs, moves her
jaw a little. Breathing fine. - I
checked her pills but there’s
nothing-
TOM (CONT’D)
Hey Doc, I’ll call you back.
VIVIEN
What time is it?
TOM
Two something.
VIVIEN
Why aren’t you at class?
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Why do you look like that?
TOM
You were sleeping with your eyes
open and I couldn’t wake you up.
VIVIEN
You’re kidding.
TOM
Uh-uh.
VIVIEN
Weird.
TOM
I was terrified.
His concern affects her. She reaches out her hand and touches
his back.
VIVIEN
You have plans tonight?
TOM
Not really. The Phils are playing.
Vivien smiles.
VIVIEN
Fuck the Phils.
TOM
I’ve always loved that color on
you.
VIVIEN
That’s why I wore it.
TOM
I remember the first time I saw-
12.
VIVIEN
I’m sorry.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
I know I’ve been...
She makes messy hand gestures. Bites her lip and looks at him
for help. Rubs her head again.
TOM
It’s okay.
VIVIEN
Is it?
TOM
Yes. It is. And the more you talk
about it the more you’ll convince
yourself that it’s not so let’s
just jump tracks in the
conversation. Please?
She smiles.
VIVIEN
Okay.
TOM
Wanna play chess when we get home?
VIVIEN
This is fun. We should go out more
often, right?
TOM
I agree completely.
13.
Vivien moves her head over to his shoulder and curls up. She
looks incredibly uncomfortable.
TOM
You’re burning up babe.
VIVIEN
I feel like crap.
Cracks a window.
He scoops her up in his arms and carries her out of the car.
She remains silently like that while Tom brushes his teeth.
Puts a fresh cloth on her forehead. Throws the old one into
the bathroom.
HOURS PASS.
He grumbles:
TOM
Vee d’you turn the air on?
He turns the shower on and she reacts with a deep moan. Tries
to move away from it. A fish out of water.
TOM
It’s okay, it’s okay.
The water gets hot. He rushes out of the bathroom and back-
TOM
I need an ambulance, it’s my wife,
she’s, I don’t know-
He heads back-
TOM
We went to sleep and I woke up and
she was li-
She opens her eyes and looks in his direction without moving
her head or stopping.
16.
When she speaks, it’s not her voice anymore. It’s cracked and
broken, like someone hit the words on different xylophone
keys.
VIVIEN
Want-to-take-a-show-er-with-me?
He runs away.
Flies down the stairs and throws open the front door.
A deep, ungodly moan seeps into the air. Coming from his
home.
His wife.
Another moan.
A RUSH OF SOUND-
Before she SLAMS down into the mattress, breaking the bed.
She snaps up and spits black tar into one of their eyes.
VIVIEN
Run.
He does not.
The Priest sprinkles Holy Water on her. She hates it. Warns
him to stop.
Tom leaps for the bed and with all the strength he has tries
to pull it off the wall.
18.
He is useless.
The Priest has had his upper lip bitten off by Vivien. He
grabs his face as blood gushes through his fingers.
VIVIEN
Run.
Vivien snaps the rope from the bed post and grabs a priest.
Shoves the rope into his throat and forces him to swallow.
VIVIEN
Swallow me, you holy fuck!
She rises into the air. The priest hangs from the inside out.
TOM
STOP! LET HIM DOWN!
VIVIEN
We wear the husks of your whore!
With a gross, wet slip, the rope vomits from the Priest’s
mouth. Tom falls to the floor with the man, who vomits blood
as he crawls from the room.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Run or join your slut in hell.
19.
TOM
I’m not leaving you.
And giggles.
VIVIEN
This will be fun.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Hi, hunny.
Tom falls back first onto the bushes in their front yard and-
NEIGHBOR
Tom? Are you-
TOM
GO THE FUCK INSIDE!
VIVIEN (O.S.)
“Go the fuck inside! Go the fucks
inside! Go inside the fucks!”
BLACK.
21.
Listens.
Nothing.
Nothing.
VIVIEN
You locked the door.
TOM
Why are you doing this?
Tom finally moves towards the stairs. At the top he finds the
wooden door completely torn from its hinges.
Still no Vivien.
There are burn marks on the ceiling too, from when she was up
there.
Enjoying it.
TOM
What are you going to do to me?
VIVIEN
The next time you asks us a
question we will bite off a finger.
Tom swallows.
TOM
Fuck!
She folds her hands in her lap like a lady. Some of his blood
remains on her lips.
VIVIEN
Eat.
23.
TOM
Okay.
VIVIEN
She was so scared when we came into
her.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
She cried and cried and cried and
cried and cried and cried and cried
and cried-
TOM
Okay, I get-
VIVIEN
Don’t interrupt us!
TOM
I’m sorry.
VIVIEN
For what.
TOM
For interrupting you.
VIVIEN
And cried and cried and cried. She
tried to run but we grabbed her by
the hairs, see?
Vivien snaps her head unnaturally far forward. Tom sees the
bloody roots from where Vivien’s hair was grabbed.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
We crawled inside her and we
learned her and then you came home.
We hid inside her bones until we
were ready.
She’s quiet. Like the story is over. Tom reaches for another
spoonful of cereal when the bowl tilts upside down on its
own, spilling all over Tom.
Vivien laughs at Tom like it’s the funniest thing that’s ever
happened.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
You should eat that.
TOM
No, thank you.
Tom remains seated, milk around his feet, not sure what to
do.
He breathes deeply.
Frantic.
VIVIEN
Tommy, what’s happening to me?
TOM
We need to go. Now.
TOM (CONT’D)
You’re so hot.
25.
VIVIEN
I’m so scared-
TOM
Come on, follow me-
VIVIEN
No. I want to stay.
TOM
What? Are you fucking kidding me?
Let’s-
VIVIEN
Tom.
TOM
What are you-
TOM (CONT’D)
NO!
Chews it off.
He tries to stop her but she swats him against a wall with
minimal effort.
VIVIEN
We broke our finger.
It takes her time to make her way up. It’s something she
struggles with. When she reaches the top step, she moans and
walks out of sight.
26.
He moves to action.
Tom opens the freezer and puts Vivien’s finger inside, safe
inside a plastic bag.
She sighs.
VIVIEN
Hiiiiiiii.
TOM
Ugh.
Again.
VIVIEN
You should leave before they get
here.
TOM
You broke the wall.
VIVIEN
Sorryyyyy.
TOM
You’re not sorry.
VIVIEN
Sorryyyyyyy.
TOM
It’s too bad I can’t ask you
anymore questions.
VIVIEN
You can ask, you can ask all you
like, we’ll bite and gnaw and tear
wether you asks or not.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
You are so delicious.
TOM
I’m not going to ask why there’s a
hole in the ceiling.
VIVIEN
It wasn’t us. Promises.
He continues downstairs.
VIVIEN
They’re coming they’re coming
they’re coming they’re coming-
VIVIEN
Can you smell them? We can smell
them coming! So many! So many!
TOM
All I smell is you.
VIVIEN
Shh. Listen to them.
The door bell rings and the worst sentence he’s ever heard
cries out:
TOM
No, please, listen to me! Don’t do
this! They’re just children-
TOM (CONT’D)
(to the children)
GO AWAY! RUN! PLEASE!
29.
VIVIEN
Fuck off, Tommyyyy.
THE CHILDREN
Trick’R’Treat!
VIVIEN
Your mothers are whores and cunts!
His eyes are bulging out of his head. Vivien’s fingers are
turning his skin raw with their heat.
HOURS PASS.
30.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Where did all the children goes?
TOM
...You... probably scared them all
away...
VIVIEN
All of thems?
TOM
...I don’t know-
VIVIEN
Are you scared?
TOM
Yes.
VIVIEN
But you are here?
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Why?
TOM
Because I’m gonna get you out of
her.
She looks him in the eye and shakes her head, no.
31.
VIVIEN
We are here forever. We are the new
Vivien.
TOM
I’m not going to call you Vivien.
VIVIEN
We have many names, for there are
many of us inside your slut-whore.
TOM
Well. Fuck all of you.
VIVIEN
We called your schools and told
them you left. Ran out on poor,
pretty Vivien.
TOM
I forgot I had a job.
VIVIEN
You don’ts anymore.
TOM
You’re tired.
VIVIEN
You’re tired.
Tom looks and sees, in the distance amongst the trees, a deer
walking around.
Vivien crawls to the glass door to watch. She puts her hands
on the glass and it fogs up instantly.
32.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
What is its?
TOM
It’s a deer.
TOM (CONT’D)
You want to see it?
Vivien’s head twists away from her body so she can look at
him.
Tom carries his tiny wife’s body through the backyard. He’s
weak but manages.
Vivien’s head moves this way and that as she takes in the new
surroundings.
TOM
You have to be quiet if you don’t
want to scare it away.
TOM (CONT’D)
It’s so beautiful. They can run
pretty fast. I always wonder where
they go. Sometimes, I’d think about
what it would be like to be a deer.
I could explore the woods, not be
cooped up in a house all the time.
TOM (CONT’D)
You know... You could go inside
this deer. Even just some of you,
you could-
She slashes at his neck with her fingers, cutting him by the
collar bone.
BAM!
Tom locks the door. There is blood all over his shirt.
She begins banging her head on the door, harder and harder,
faster and faster, until blood begins to smear.
TOM
Stop! Please, stop!
VIVIEN
Let me in. Or run away.
Tom looks down at the freak his wife has become and-
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Want to know what the deer was
thinking before we killeds it?
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Nothing! It was just a fucking
deer!
Tom goes to close the door when he sees shapes moving in the
woods.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Look! Friendses.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
They’re not going to hurt me,
retard.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
They will definitely hurt you.
Sorryyyyy.
He’s on the stairs when he hears the door shatter and the
patter of wolf feet enter the house.
The growls.
35.
And runs straight into more long, thick webs. They stick to
his body like desperate hands as he trudges through them.
There are holes in the floor and ceiling. The dark sky above.
Tom reaches the broken window as the first wolf gets to the
room.
But Tom peels the last of the webs off his body and climbs
out the window-
It starts to rain.
He looks up and lets the cold water wash over him. Rubs at
the cuts around his collar bone.
Cries.
HOURS PASS.
Walking behind him along the point of the roof is Vivien. The
rain hits her skin and steams.
TOM
You’re gonna push me off the roof.
VIVIEN
Eventually.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
We saw the first rain fall. It
didn’t make life. Just muds.
TOM
The wolves are gone.
VIVIEN
For now.
TOM
You swallowed her rings.
VIVIEN
No we did nots.
TOM
You’re lying.
VIVIEN
Vivien wasn’t wearing ringses.
TOM
Then where are her rings?
VIVIEN
In an envelope with your name on it
besides your beds. There’s a letter
inside. It reads,
(suddenly Vivien’s voice)
“Dear Tommy, I-”
TOM
Yeah, I don’t care.
TOM (CONT’D)
See you in there.
Tom gets back into the house, picking branches and shrubs
from his wet arms.
37.
And in the corner, under a table, the mutt chews the food.
Tom marches into his den and grabs his laptop. This room is
for the most part untouched.
Moments later, Tom drags the wolf carcass out of the house
and through the yard, into the woods.
Mostly bones.
VIVIEN
Hungry, hunny?
VIVIEN (O.S.)
We’re going to kill you. We’re
going to rip out your eyes with our
tongues. We’re going to feed on
your lungs.
An idea.
TOM
Hey. Hey!
39.
TOM
Kill me.
TOM (CONT’D)
Come on. It’s what you want to do
right, or are you all talk? Let’s
go.
She grabs him before he hits the ground and throws him
through the wall.
She brings him to the ceiling and throws him like silly putty
to the ground, landing on top of him.
TOM
-I’m still alive-
She’s back on top of him instantly. She flips him over and
pulls one of his arms behind his back until we hear a
revolting squelch as it comes out of his socket.
TOM (CONT’D)
You can’t do it, can you.
40.
She springs to him and takes a bite out of his broken arm. He
groans in agony but keeps going.
TOM (CONT’D)
You can’t kill me. You’re not
allowed.
She screams in his face, makes two fists and pounds violently
at his head with both of them.
She goes to hit him one more time and her fist stops.
She looks down at Tom’s broken body. Taps at his head like a
child that broke a toy.
TOM
...Viv?
TOM (CONT’D)
You fixed my arm.
VIVIEN
She was leaving yous.
TOM
And you fed the dog-
41.
VIVIEN
She didn’t wants you anymore.
TOM
No shit. Now get out of my wife.
VIVIEN
No.
TOM
Now.
VIVIEN
NO. We like it here. Her body is
cold and you are a deeeelight.
TOM
Can you kill her?
VIVIEN
You can.
TOM
You want me to kill her.
VIVIEN
Or run away and leave her behind
forever and ever and ever amen.
TOM
Will she die if I do?
VIVIEN
Who gives a fuck.
TOM
I do.
VIVIEN
You should not.
TOM
Why?
VIVIEN
Because she’d have left you. She
was going to and that’s while
things were a-oh-kay. Maybe once
you leaves, we will too.
42.
TOM
If you promise me you’ll leave her
alone, forever, then I’ll leave.
VIVIEN
We promise.
TOM
On second thought, I don’t know how
much value I place in your
promises.
Vivien cackles.
VIVIEN
We’d leave. HER DEAD.
TOM
So I’m gonna stay.
VIVIEN
Goodie.
TOM
You fixed my arm.
Vivien shrugs.
She reaches across and with a slight tug, pulls his arm out
of his socket again.
TOM (CONT’D)
FUCK!
VIVIEN
FUCK!
Tom stands, hobbles over to a wall, and slams his arm back
into place. He groans in pain.
TOM
I probably should have waited to do
that later.
VIVIEN
We remembers when you learned hows.
Bones and sockets and cracks and
pain.
43.
TOM
You have her memories?
VIVIEN
Yesss. Broken shoulders. Not long
ago, my poor Tommys. Not long at
alls.
TOM
It wasn’t, no.
(fuck)
I guess a year or two.
VIVIEN
We loved you that days.
TOM
You didn’t love me. Vivien did.
Vivien rolls her eyes (too far into her skull) and passes
this off.
VIVIEN
Who can say.
TOM
I can say.
VIVIEN
What if we were here that whole
times.
TOM
You already told me you came the
day I found her in bed.
VIVIEN
We’re demons. We lie.
44.
TOM
How many of you are inside her.
VIVIEN
Millions.
TOM
Why her?
VIVIEN
Why not?
TOM
Can she feel you?
TOM (CONT’D)
Are you hurting her?
TOM (CONT’D)
Can she hear me?
VIVIEN
We told her you ran so far away.
TOM
Fuck you.
VIVIEN
She is alone in hell. We play with
her. All of us.
TOM
I don’t believe you.
Vivien opens the hand with the lighter, where it has melted
into liquid. She lets it drip out on to the floor.
VIVIEN
We don’t care? She cries when we
enter her. We enter her from
everywhere. And when she pleads to
God we tell her that he exists but
he does not believe in herrr.
TOM
And what do you believe in?
45.
VIVIEN
We believe in suffering. In
breaking bones and peeling flesh.
(thoughtful pause)
We’re going to drown you now,
before the children come.
TOM
The children aren’t coming back.
You scared them all away on
Halloween.
VIVIEN
Come here to us.
TOM
You didn’t say the magic word.
VIVIEN
Please, oh God, oh Please, oh God,
oh-oh-oh please.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Now come here. Now.
TOM
Why? You can’t kill me.
VIVIEN
We wants to see what happens.
TOM
This is my last one.
46.
VIVIEN
It’s a perfect day to quit.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Once we were in a tiny girl who
fell off a boat and drowned.
She is patient.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Except she didn’t fall. Her parents
threw her in because they thoughts
she was a witch.
(girlishly excited)
But she wasn’t!
TOM
That’s an awful story and you smell
like rotten meat.
Vivien grabs his neck and brings him close to her mouth.
VIVIEN
Maggots are dying in your pretty
wife’s womb.
And with that, she thrusts Tom’s head into the sink. She
watches with fascination as he tries to hold his breath.
Vivien drags Tom’s unconscious body into the living room. His
face is blue.
As if to kiss him.
She winks.
And like a vacuum cleaner, her tongue whips backs into her
mouth in less than a second.
He throws up on her.
HOURS PASS.
They are both laying on the floor across from each other.
Vivien is on her back relaxing.
TOM
I wanted you to do it.
He sticks his head inside the freezer. The cold feels good.
He does not see Vivien, laying upside down on the top of the
closet.
Tom stumbles into the garage. Sits on the garage step weakly.
TOM
Oh, shut up.
TOM (CONT’D)
You doing okay?
The dog barks and retreats into a corner, eating more kibble
that’s still strewn about.
TOM (CONT’D)
I can’t smell.
TOM (CONT’D)
I think it’s only a matter of time
for you if you stay here.
TOM (CONT’D)
I really hoped that you might
change things.
TOM (CONT’D)
You better get outta here.
BANG.
Tom opens a tool drawer. Looks at the small dog, who gets it.
Hears Vivien SCREAM. High pitched. Makes his blood run cold.
But the closer Tom gets, the more he realizes that everything
about them is wrong.
He moves through them slowly. They reach out and touch him
with their two and ten fingered hands.
She’s breastfeeding.
Looks up at Tom.
VIVIEN
Look! Childrens!
The one in her lap snaps its head around to look at Tom. It
has an eye below its mouth and no other features.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Babies, just like she wanteds!
51.
Tom leaves.
He walks down the hall to a closed door. The freaks push past
him for Vivien.
To no avail.
He does not move as a tiny hand with three fingers grabs onto
the chair from behind.
Stands against the chair so Tom can see it for the first
time.
Shivers.
Tom moves slightly and the freak child flinches back in fear.
52.
Keeps shivering.
TOM
I am not going to hurt you.
TOM (CONT’D)
I promise, I’m not-
Who soon realizes the child is simply climbing onto his lap.
TOM (CONT’D)
Ohhhhhhhhhhkay. Okay. It’s okay.
Tom looks down and sees the mouth on the scalp. Three tongues
wrestle for room.
TOM (CONT’D)
Are you cold?
Moans.
TOM (CONT’D)
Here.
Tom scoots the child in his arms and holds him closer.
TOM (CONT’D)
It’s okay. I won’t let her near
you.
Moans.
TOM (CONT’D)
Don’t be scared.
TOM (CONT’D)
Shhh, shhh, it’s okay. Wanna hear a
story? Yeah?
Tom can’t tell if the child can even understand him, but
begins anyway.
TOM (CONT’D)
There was once a boy, and... and
one day he met a princess. Her hair
was black like night and... her
eyes were brown like... chocolate.
And he loved her instantly. It took
her a while to feel the same, cuz
he was just an ugly little boy and
not special like her. But
eventually, she saw something in
him that no one else could - he
never knew what it was - and she
fell in love with him. And they
loved each other, the beautiful
princess and the ugly little boy.
...................................
And they were happy, for a spell,
until you see, the ugly little boy,
he got... he got scared. Of growing
up and of love and all that shit.
Sorry.
TOM (CONT’D)
Actually, fuck it, he got scared.
And... even though he loved her, he
was a coward, and he ran away. And
he traveled America and grew up,
and not a day went by when he
thought of the princess, and hoped
she was happy, and thought maybe
she might forgive him one day when
he found his courage. And after
years, he finally got brave enough
to try to talk to her again.
Tom pauses.
TOM (CONT’D)
But she had, uh, she had died, only
a couple weeks after he had ran
away. She was just walking outside
and I guess, it was pouring and she
had ran and slipped and hit her
head.
(MORE)
54.
TOM (CONT’D)
It took three days for her to pass.
...................................
And when the ugly little boy heard
this, he hated himself so much,
that she must have been sad before
she died because of him, and that
he couldn’t have spent every single
fucking second at her bed when she
was hurt. And he wanted to die.
TOM (CONT’D)
And on the night he chose to die,
he was gonna go up to the radio
tower at Starry Point and just
jump, and he was driving there when
he saw a castle. Not a usual stone
one but a bouncy one, full of
adults too. And he thought, fuck
man, why not. So he pulled over and
went inside and that’s when he met
her.
................................
And now, he didn’t realize it at
the time, but she was actually a
princess as well. And this girl
saved his life. She wouldn’t let
him go up to Starry Point that
night. And after a few months, he
stopped wanting to. And a few
months after that, he realized he
was starting to fall in love with
her. And of course it took her a
while to feel the same, but,
eventually she came round. And the
ugly little boy was now an ugly
little man, and he knew, he had a
second chance, to do it right and
better. And they lived happily ever
after.
Quietly, to himself:
TOM (CONT’D)
She wanted this to be a bedroom.
No one answers.
Tom holds the sleeping child close, and shuts his eyes.
55.
Tom is asleep when the desk blocking the door pushes away
from the door all by itself.
He awakes.
VIVIEN
They’re all gone.
Her old nightie is stained red with blood around her breasts
from where the children fed.
Vulnerable, even.
TOM
...Are you hurt?
VIVIEN
Are you?
TOM
Yeah.
TOM (CONT’D)
What’s something you want from me?
VIVIEN
We want a secrets. A bad secrets.
TOM
I’ll give you one if you let me
clean up my wife’s body.
VIVIEN
A-oh-kay.
56.
TOM
Good.
VIVIEN
We feel better already.
TOM
That was a gift from Vivien.
VIVIEN
Ffffffffffuck Vivien.
Tom sighs.
TOM
Does it hurt?
Vivien is pleased.
VIVIEN
Yes!
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
They were so hungry.
TOM
(quietly)
I know.
VIVIEN
What is that?
57.
TOM
Disinfectant. It’ll sting.
TOM (CONT’D)
I remember the first time I got to
see Vivien naked. That was a good
day. She did this whole-
TOM (CONT’D)
Thing. It drove me insane.
Tom pours the liquid on a cloth and goes about dabbing her
breasts. She giggles.
VIVIEN
You were rights! So much pain!
TOM
It’s funny how breasts are the
thing you’re most excited about and
then one day there’s nothing sp-
VIVIEN
I wants my bad secret.
TOM
In my work boots, there’s a piece
of paper with a number written on
it hidden in the toe.
VIVIEN
A number?
TOM
It’s a phone number. I had a
student. A senior, this... girl.
VIVIEN
What’s her name?
TOM
Brandy.
58.
VIVIEN
And Brandy’s a ssssslut?
TOM
Something like that. Anyway, she
made a pass at me, gave me her
phone number in case I ever wanted
to “talk”.
VIVIEN
To “fuck”.
TOM
I assume so, yeah. And I kept going
to throw it out but...
VIVIEN
You couldn’t throw it outs!
TOM
I couldn’t.
VIVIEN
Because you wanted to fuck her too!
TOM
I wanted to feel... wanted, and
some nights when Vivien would... I
dunno, be Vivien, I would go down
to the garage where my work boots
are and take out the paper and roll
it around it my hands and think
about what would happen when I
called her.
VIVIEN
What do you think would happen?
TOM
Can I cut your hair?
VIVIEN
Can you suck our cock?
TOM
I think we would have sex.
VIVIEN
How would you feel?
59.
TOM
I would feel... nothing.
VIVIEN
That’s a great secret.
TOM
Well. Thanks.
VIVIEN
Vivien never knew that one.
TOM
That’s why it’s a secret.
VIVIEN
Vivien had so many secrets too!
Like how she was fuck-fuck-fucking
Charlie Cottridge.
Does not wait to watch the dog poke its head out.
His fingers clench the roots of his scalp until the white of
his knuckles try to burst like a zit.
VIVIEN (O.S.)
Fuck me Chuck! Chuck! Chuck! Fuck!
60.
Tom closes his eyes tight and covers his ears. Her
condescending orgasms are muffled.
And without taking his eyes off that spot, reaches for the
door handle and closes himself in.
Tom roots through the kitchen for food. He pours cereal into
his hand and eats with abandon.
VIVIEN (O.S.)
We’re hungry.
TOM
What do you want?
VIVIEN
We ordered delivery.
TOM
That’s a good one.
(beat)
You put on clothes.
VIVIEN
For the delivery.
TOM
What happened to your face?
Her nose starts dripping blood. Red drops bead down her chest
and hit the linoleum.
TOM (CONT’D)
(terrified)
What did you do?
Vivien smiles.
VIVIEN
No one visits you. No one calls. No
one cares.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
We thought we should have peoples
over.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
No! Get away from me! Help! Help!
TOM
No! Don’t come in! Please!
Vivien swings the door open and falls into the arms of
VIVIEN
He’s trying to kill me! Please,
make him stop! Help me!
62.
The Cop sees Tom, who by now barely looks like a functioning
member of society and-
COP
Sir, I’m gonna need you to get on
your knees, hands above your head-
TOM
You don’t understand what she is-
VIVIEN
He’s been trying to exorcise me! I
don’t know what’s happening to my
husband!
COP
Ma’am, it’s alright, no one’s going
to hurt you now.
COP (CONT’D)
Sir, get on the ground NOW.
TOM
STOP! Don’t let her out of your
sight!
But he has.
She stands up from behind the Cop with a big, hungry grin on
her face. She looks at Tom.
COP
Sir, you have til three-
TOM
(to Vivien)
Please, don’t-
COP
One. Two.
63.
TOM
NO!
Vivien’s hand is inside the back of the cop’s skull. His eyes
move involuntarily.
VIVIEN
You ever think it sssstrange? That
no one came by the house for you?
That no one ever called and askeds,
where is Tom?
TOM
You... you just killed that man.
You killed that poor-
COP
SHUT UP, TOM!
VIVIEN
Awww, be nice to Toms, he’s just an
ugly little boy.
COP
That’s why he has no friends!
VIVIEN
You think so?
COP
He was friends with Charlieee!
VIVIEN
So was Vivien!
COP
Where’s Charlie now, Tom? Where is
he?
64.
VIVIEN
We know the answer! We know where
parts of Chuckie are!
COP
Where?
VIVIEN
INSIDE OUR STOMACH FROM WHEN SHE
SWALLOWED HIM.
COP
How’s that make you feel, Tom?
VIVIEN
It made us feel gooooooood.
The Cop awkwardly pulls out his gun and points it at Vivien’s
face. He moves like a marionette.
COP
Should I kill her, Tom?
VIVIEN
His skin is under our nails from
when we scratches his back.
COP
Should I blow her brains out all
over your face?
VIVIEN
He came on our face!
TOM
Stop it...
COP
It all ends Tom, if she dies Tom-
VIVIEN
We don’t even have tits anymore!
Why live! Fuckie-Chuckie won’t fuck
us without our tits!
COP
Ready, Tom! Ready ready!
VIVIEN
She didn’t love you, she didn’t
want you, she didn’t even like you.
She betrayed you. You-
TOM
Yes, I think it’s strange.
TOM (CONT’D)
I think it’s strange no one’s come
here. I know you fucked up the
phones but I still would’ve thought
someone might have come. I would’ve
yelled at them to leave but I still
thought someone would have come.
COP
It can all be over Tom! Just say
all the magic words.
TOM
No. No, I, I told you before, I’m
gonna get you outta her.
COP
How’s that going, Tom? Get anywhere
with that, Tom?
TOM
You. Can’t. Kill. Her.
VIVIEN
(with gun in her mouth)
Kill us on threes!
COP
One!
TOM
No.
COP
TWOS!
66.
TOM
I said NO!
Before the cop can say three, Tom tackles him, ripping him
from Vivien’s arm.
VIVIEN
Why did you do thats?
BANG!
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
You would hurt him?
COP
S-stay back! Stay back! I’ll-
VIVIEN
HE IS OURS! YOU DO NOT STRIKE AT
HIM YOU FILTHY FUCK!
COP
Whatthefuckareyou.
Whatthefuckareyou-
TOM
Listen to me, I’m okay, just let
him go.
VIVIEN
He can’t live after trying to hurt
you.
TOM
Wha-
The cop cries harder at word of his impending death and aims
his gun again-
TOM (CONT’D)
NO!
VIVIEN
We are the evil incarnate. You will
suffer under our heels until you
can no longer remember anything but
pain and agony.
The cop tries to run for the door but is tossed through the
air by an invisible force.
Her fingers have become long and sharp, some like blades,
some like syringes.
Tom pounces on the man and begins punching him in the face.
Over and over again.
TOM
You fucking bitch! I never hurt you
like you hurt me. I hate you! I
hope you hurt. I-I-I-I met a woman,
a librarian, and I was just waiting
for you to finally fucking leave
before doing anything.
68.
TOM (CONT’D)
You think I don’t remember what you
were like when we first met? You
were so, so fucking good. I’ve
watched you die every day since
I’ve met you.
TOM (CONT’D)
Don’t you see? I am the demon.
TOM (CONT’D)
I love you and I just don’t know
where you went and I miss you. I
don’t, I just, I don’t-
He puts his head in his hands and cries. Falls to the floor
beside the man he’s beaten.
The Cop, bloody and broken, crawls slowly out of the house.
VIVIEN (V.O.)
Why did you hit him?
Tom has ice on his swollen red hands. Sits inside a wrapped
blanket on the floor. He looks spent.
TOM
I didn’t want you to kill him.
I thought you did when you put your
hand in him, though.
VIVIEN
We were just playing.
TOM
He did nothing wrong.
VIVIEN
Oh, he’s done plentttttty wrong.
(beat)
We don’t know a librarian.
TOM
I’d pick up the books Vivien would
ask for. Even though she’d never
finish them.
VIVIEN
Do you wants her?
TOM
No. I wanted Vivien to want me and
I couldn’t think of any other way
to make that happen.
VIVIEN
(droll)
Aww.
TOM
You feel sorry for me?
VIVIEN
No one likes you enough to feel
sorry for you.
TOM
Why did you stop the bullet?
VIVIEN
He tried to kill you.
He looks at her.
TOM
And that upset you?
70.
VIVIEN
Yes.
TOM
Why?
VIVIEN
Your reactions.
TOM
I don’t... I don’t understand what
that means.
VIVIEN
They are either scareds of ussss
and run away. Or they kill the body
and send us away.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
You fassssscinate us.
TOM
I’m scared.
VIVIEN
Good.
TOM
I’m scared you’re the most honest
relationship I’ll ever have.
Vivien leans over and with a black, dead tongue licks Tom’s
face slowly, from chin to forehead.
VIVIEN
Honesty is for cunts.
TOM
I think we mighta missed
Thanksgiving.
TOM (CONT’D)
Maybe I’ll find a turkey here,
yeah?
TOM (CONT’D)
I wonder if I still have health ins-
AIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!
Vivien screams.
The walls warp around it, horrible creaks and moans of wood
dying.
TOM
The fuck was that?
He looks at her.
TOM (CONT’D)
When is it gonna end?
VIVIEN
Never.
Tom walks into the trashed bathroom. He turns on the sink and
drinks.
But most notably are the dozens of scars that cover his body.
He smiles.
TOM
Do... Do you want to play a game?
VIVIEN
Catches?
TOM
I win, you leave her.
VIVIEN
If we wins, whats?
TOM
I don’t know. You can punch me
again.
TOM
Since Vivien knew how to play, that
means you do too, right?
VIVIEN
Rrrrrrright.
TOM
You can go first.
VIVIEN
This was your big plans, Tommy?
TOM
I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll figure it
out.
Vivien beats Tom over the head with the chess board. It does
not hurt.
VIVIEN
Nopes.
It does hurt when she punches him clean off the porch.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
We wins.
75.
Tom stares at the stars. He achingly turns his head and sees
Vivien, shoulders drooped like she’s exhausted.
She goes inside slowly. Tom rolls over and closes his eyes.
TOM
The dog ran away when you scre-
TOM (CONT’D)
Stop throwing shit at me!
VIVIEN
Where is its?
TOM
Where’s what?
VIVIEN
The bad secret! We can’t find its!
TOM
Why do you care?
VIVIEN
Because we wants it!
TOM
It’s not here.
VIVIEN
Where?
TOM
Nowhere.
TOM (CONT’D)
She never wrote the number. I wrote
the number. Just a random number.
(MORE)
76.
TOM (CONT’D)
I’d write it on dozens of pieces of
papers and I’d hide them around the
house, hoping Vivien would find
just one and ask me about them and
just look jealous for a few
seconds. But she never did.
VIVIEN
That’s manipulative. You lied!
TOM
I did.
VIVIEN
This is a great day. What was she
like?
TOM
Who?
VIVIEN
Vivien. What was she like?
TOM
You know what she was like. You
have all of her-
VIVIEN
What was she like to yous.
TOM
She was the moment when you slip
off a ladder and realize you’ve
landed on pillows instead of
cement.
VIVIEN
Did you ever cheats on her?
TOM
Only in my heart.
VIVIEN
You never hit her.
TOM
No.
77.
VIVIEN
You never yelled at her.
TOM
No.
VIVIEN
What did Charles have that you
didn’t?
Tom winces.
TOM
Besides a bigger dick?
VIVIEN
Yours is bigger.
TOM
I can’t tell if that makes me feel
better or worse.
VIVIEN
Did you know about Chuckie Charles?
TOM
Yeah. Yeah I think I did.
VIVIEN
Did nothing about it, cowards.
TOM
What could I have done?
VIVIEN
Murders.
TOM
That’s not... No. I couldn’t have
done murders.
VIVIEN
Everyone knew, didn’t they. All her
friendses.
TOM
I think so.
VIVIEN
No one defended you.
78.
TOM
Seems not, but... maybe they did.
VIVIEN
You should let her die.
TOM
No.
VIVIEN
Please?
TOM
No.
VIVIEN
Can we kill Charlies?
TOM
NO.
VIVIEN
It’s going to snow.
TOM
Yeah, pro-
BLACK
Red fingers.
79.
TOM
Oh fuck.
TOM
Oh no. Oh God.
TOM
FUCK!
Tiny puffs of steam rise off her body as the snow melts when
it touches her skin.
LITTLE BOY
Aren’t you cold?
Doorbell rings.
She opens the door and gasps when she sees Vivien, with her
modly skin and her ruined hay hair.
JILL
Ohmygod, Vivien, are you alright?!
Get in here!
She reaches out to help Vivien inside and burns her hand.
JILL (CONT’D)
AUGH!
JILL (CONT’D)
Where is Charles Chucks.
JILL (CONT’D)
He’s in the back.
VIVIEN
Bring him to us. Nows.
CHARLES
Vivien? What’s going on? You don’t
look so good - Do you need help?
CHARLES (CONT’D)
Vivien-
Her eyes convey the one truth: she’s excited about this.
JILL
What is that! WHAT THE FUCK IS
THAT?!
The more Charles and Jill fall apart, the harder Vivien
laughs.
Tom’s car pulls roughly into the drive way. He dashes for
Vivien.
82.
TOM
What did you do?!
VIVIEN
Defended yous.
A plea to die.
TOM
Holy shit.
VIVIEN
Charlie put it in Vivien’s
stomachs. Happy birthdays!
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Congratulationses on the new
arrival Chuckie!
CHARLES
I’m... I’ll call the police. What I
can do is... I’ll make a call.
TOM
Come on!
VIVIEN
ADULTERER! ADULTERER! ADULTERER!
Tom pops the trunk and throws Vivien inside. She looks up at
him.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Don’t want to sit heres!
83.
TOM
I don’t give a shit.
BANG!
TOM
STOP IT!
TOM
BE GOOD.
VIVIEN
Fuck you!
TOM
Just five minutes. That’s all.
Please.
VIVIEN
A-oh-kay.
TOM
Thank you. Now get in the fucking
car.
VIVIEN
You didn’t say the magic words.
TOM
NOW, YOU CRAZY BITCH!
84.
Tom looks at the cars waiting in line for him to get moving.
He looks at Vivien.
TOM
Why did you do that? To Charles and
Jill.
VIVIEN
Why didn’t you?
Tom laughs.
TOM
I don’t think I can do whatever it
is you did.
VIVIEN
Pusssssy.
TOM
I’ve, I’ve wanted to beat the shit
out of him for so long. But that,
that was-
VIVIEN
Look. Trees.
TOM
Why’d you do that? You said a-oh-
kay.
Vivien blinks.
VIVIEN
I lied.
TOM
What did you say?
VIVIEN
Bone!
His shin bone sticks out of his leg like a shark fin.
86.
TOM
Ah shit. Bone.
TOM (CONT’D)
I gotta get you out of here.
VIVIEN
Why! Let’s wait for helps!
TOM
No. I don’t want you to hurt
anyone.
TOM (CONT’D)
Listen to me, you need to get out
of here. Run back to the house,
I’ll-
TOM (CONT’D)
Hey. He- Ungh.
VIVIEN
T-Tom? Oh my go-
TOM
I’m going to rip out your eyes.
She tries to run outside but her legs fall from underneath
her. As if she hadn’t used them in months.
VIVIEN
No! No! PLEAS-!
TOM
Don’t you... ever... do that to me
again.
VIVIEN
Friends!
TOM
Home’s on the other side of the
trees. Hurry up before the car
explodes.
Vivien is still.
VIVIEN
Explodes? With fire?
TOM
Yeah, let’s-
Vivien leaps off the car and hobbles her way through the
woods.
Tom follows.
All is quiet.
Tom shakes with cold. Trying to keep up with Vivien, who has
no difficulty.
TOM
I... I need to s-s-stop.
VIVIEN
Why are you colds?
TOM
Because it’s fucking freezing.
Vivien looks around. Like she’s learning this for the first
time.
VIVIEN
Should have waited for friendses.
TOM
You’d have killed them.
VIVIEN
But you’d be warm.
Tom laughs.
89.
TOM
You said “I lied” instead of “we
lied”.
TOM (CONT’D)
I could pick you up and throw you
in the tr-tr-trunk of the car. I
never had been able to move you an
inch before that. You’re weaker.
You get tired more.
TOM (CONT’D)
There’s just one of you now, isn’t
there. The mill-mill-millions are
gone.
VIVIEN
Yessssss.
TOM
And when do you leave?
Vivien laughs.
VIVIEN
Never.
TOM
That thing in the bedroom. What was
that?
VIVIEN
It was temptation.
TOM
For what?
VIVIEN
There’s a baby in Mexico. Its
parents have been trying for years
to conceeeeeive. They succeeded.
And now they will wish they didn’t.
She cackles.
TOM
Why didn’t you go-
90.
VIVIEN
Stop asking questions-
TOM
Or what, you’ll bite off another
finger that you could heal this
whole time?
VIVIEN
Oops.
TOM
I mended your breasts-
VIVIEN
You asked to. Why argue?
TOM
How-how-how do I get rid of you?
VIVIEN
Kill her. Or yourself.
TOM
You never re-really came here for
her, did you.
VIVIEN
No. We wanted to play with you.
She crawls towards him and lays by his feet. Her heat
instantly warms him.
TOM
What’s hell like?
VIVIEN
It’s burning. Always burning.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Next question you ask rips an eye
out of your skull.
91.
TOM
Okay.
VIVIEN
Once there was a prophet making his
way town to town. It was snowing.
We all went into the worms and knit
ourselves together. He came upon us
and told us to be gone, but the
permission was ours and we consumed
him. It took months. He never
prayed. Do you pray?
TOM
I haven’t stopped praying since you
showed up.
VIVIEN
What do you pray for?
TOM
I just want her to be happy.
He looks at her sleeping face. Her cracked skin and her weed
hair.
He considers it.
TOM
Come on, Fuck.
TOM
I don’t know what to do now.
She crawls back down and glares at the crow. Waiting for it
to fly near her.
Tom throws the can out of the house through the broken door.
VIVIEN
What are you looking fors?
TOM
This was from Halloween, a couple
years ago. We were both really into
it, way too much. We had costumes,
she was like a space ranger and I
was an alien, with this big goofy
head.
(MORE)
93.
TOM (CONT'D)
And we bought shitloads of candy,
pretty much cleaned out an aisle at
Walmart. And while we were waiting
for the first trick-r-treaters, we
were flirting and I chased her and,
cuz I was wearing that goofy head I
couldn’t see well, and I ran my
shoulder straight into the door
frame. It hurt like a motherfucker,
and she was there, worried about me
but laughing because it was a
hilarious situation, me in an alien
suit.
TOM (CONT’D)
That’s my favorite memory of my
wife. Nothing was ever that bad
when she was around.
Looks at Tom.
VIVIEN
Your wife couldn’t remember a
favorite memory about yous anymore.
TOM
I know.
VIVIEN
You should leave. Find new fucks.
TOM
In the forest, there was a rock
beside your head.
VIVIEN
You could’ve used its. Started
fffffressssh.
Tom passes through the kitchen. Vivien has pushed over the
refrigerator.
VIVIEN
Looks! Irony.
She passes through the living room, where the crow still
flies around.
She crawls up the stairs. She stops half way to catch her
breath.
TOM
I want the letter.
VIVIEN
What letter?
95.
TOM
The letter she wrote and put her
rings in.
VIVIEN
Why?
TOM
Because I want to take it with me.
He starts to crack.
TOM (CONT’D)
I can’t do this anymore.
VIVIEN
Say please.
TOM
...please.
VIVIEN
Say please, Vivien.
TOM
Please, Vivien.
TOM (CONT’D)
I don’t know what else to do.
TOM (CONT’D)
I’m so sorry.
VIVIEN
Good.
She grins.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Is it a game?
TOM
I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.
Vivien giggles.
VIVIEN
NO!
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
NOOOOOOOO!
TOM
I’m sorry I let you down. I’m sorry
I wasn’t better.
VIVIEN
I won’t go back! I WON’T!
Vivien lashes out her tongue. It wraps around Tom’s neck like
a python.
He snaps it.
She’s cutting him, but the damage is not enough to stop him.
He presses her harder into the wall. Body checks her there
repeatedly to try and sedate her.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
NOO! MAKE IT STOP! STOP IT! NOOO!
TOM
You wrote that letter! She had her
rings on at dinner! She was trying!
TOM (CONT’D)
I-I’m sorry I couldn’t save you!
VIVIEN
I can’t go back! I can’t!
TOM
You don’t have to go. You don’t
have to leave me.
TOM (CONT’D)
You just can’t have her anymore!
VIVIEN
Why?
TOM
Because I love her.
VIVIEN
I-Is it over?
And notices the flames are gone. The room black and burned.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Tommy!
He is shocked.
TOM
Is it you? Is it you?
She nods.
99.
VIVIEN
I’m sorry, I’m so sorry about
everything.
TOM
It’s okay. I forgive you. I forgive
you.
She hides her head into his chest. She heaves her relief and
says:
VIVIEN
I love you so much-
The wife and her husband cry on their bedroom floor, alone
together.
The broken shower where Tom met the demon for the first time.
VIVIEN
(scared)
Tommy?
TOM (O.S.)
Out here!
His bandaged feet are propped on the balcony ledge. He’s only
wearing a white t-shirt and boxers.
VIVIEN
Aren’t you freezing?
TOM
It feels good on my feet.
VIVIEN
Oh. Good.
VIVIEN (CONT’D)
Can I... can I sit with you?
TOM
That’d be nice.
Sees the laceration under his neck. The bite on his arm.
Dozens of cuts tattooed on his skin forever.
VIVIEN
You have so many scars, I barely
even recognize you.
TOM
Maybe that’s a good thing, Viv.
VIVIEN
I’m gonna go get a blanket, okay?
TOM
Okay.
She goes to leave, then comes back and kisses his forehead.
He melts.
She cuddles beside her husband, burying her head into his
shoulder.
It continues to snow.
THE END.