| This material is copyrighted © 1990 by Tom Alexander. Plagiarism of any kind will result in prosecution. Enjoy! |
PALE BOY
by
Tom Alexander
FADE IN:
BEGIN MAIN TITLE AND CREDITS OVER BLACK
WEATHER MAN (V.O.)
(slight Texas accent)
...and it's the third week of the
heat wave that is just about to fry
everything in sight. If you're hoping
for things to cool off next week, I
suggest you leave the state. Let's
take a look at the satellite and as
you can see there ain't cloud to be
found anywhere...
THE CREDITS CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT SCENE AS WE...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. KITCHEN - EVENING
BEATRICE ANDERSON, young, pretty and nine months pregnant,
ignores the portable TV set displaying the weather man, and
instead continues her systematic search for a meat tenderizer.
She looks at the piece of meat on the counter lying beside a
cookbook featuring a chicken fried steak recipe. The oil
filled frying pan on the stove next to it begins to boil.
BEATRICE
(muttering to herself)
Tenderizer... tenderizer...
Beatrice waddles across the floor, bumping into an ironing
board as she steps over MAX, a black and white collie. The
dog, bored with Beatrice's mallet search, nods off under the
ironing board. Suddenly a spark of ingenuity hits her and she
zooms past the refrigerator and out to the garage.
ON THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR is a wedding snapshot of a pregnant
Beatrice stuck next to a sonogram showing her unborn child.
An arrow points to the unborn child's genitalia asking the
question "Where's the Beef?"
Beatrice emerges from the garage carrying a ballpeen hammer
and BEATS the steak into submission. She then plops the
flattened steak into a bowl of flour before tossing it into
the frying pan. The steak CRACKLES and POPS in the boiling
oil as grease splatters everywhere. Beatrice jumps back and
bumps into the ironing board knocking the iron off and onto a
sleeping Max. The dog YELPS.
BEATRICE
Sorry, Max.
The pan of grease catches fire quickly filling the kitchen
with smoke. Beatrice tries to remain calm. The smoke alarm
BLARES. She goes over to the sink and fills a large glass of
water. Fortunately, common sense takes hold before she can
splash the small inferno.
BEATRICE
What am I doing?
She fishes around in a drawer for an oven mitt and pan lid.
Finding both, she quickly places the lid over the burning
grease snuffing the fire out instantly. She stands in front
of the stove victorious.
END OF OPENING CREDITS
INT. FRONT DOOR HALLWAY - EVENING
ROB ANDERSON is greeted by a BLARING alarm, an excited dog and
a lot of smoke as he enters carrying a brown paper sack. Rob's
not exactly a yuppy (but give him a few years).
ROB
Honey, you okay?
BEATRICE (O.S.)
No problem.
ROB
(to Max)
Is she cooking again?
Rob walks down the hallway to the smoke alarm. He takes off
the cover and pulls out the battery.
ROB
(silencing the machine)
Ahh, Shut up!
INT. KITCHEN - EVENING
Rob enters the smoke filled kitchen and surveys the mess.
ROB
Honey, I'm home.
BEATRICE
Hi, dear, how was work?
They kiss and Beatrice returns to her salvage operation.
ROB
What was it?
BEATRICE
Chicken Fried Steak.
ROB
Oh, great. Chicken Fried Steak,
Fried Chicken, Fried fish, Fried
okra, geez, it's like a state
policy.
Beatrice motions to the paper sack Rob sets on the table.
BEATRICE
What's in the bag?
ROB
Chinese food.
Beatrice holds up the charred chicken fried steak.
BEATRICE
What am I suppose to do with this?
ROB
(whistling)
Max? Here, boy.
BEATRICE
You can't give it to a dog.
ROB
What do you mean? You were going to
give it to me.
BEATRICE
Yeah well, you're insured.
ROB
Thanks a lot.
Beatrice cuts up the steak as Rob pulls small cartons from the
paper bag.
BEATRICE
Where did you get the Chinese?
ROB
Lone Star.
BEATRICE
Where we bought the car?
ROB
No, Lone Star Chinese. That's the
other thing, everything down here is
called Lone Star. Lone Star
Chinese, Lone Star Chevrolet, Lone
Star Doughnuts, Lone Star this, Lone
Star that.
Beatrice gives the chunks of chicken fried steak to Max.
BEATRICE
I wish I knew you were going to
bring home dinner, I wouldn't have
wasted money on this steak.
ROB
I'm sorry. I guess I should have
called but I thought I'd make it an
early birthday surprise. Instead of
breakfast in bed, dinner in a box.
BEATRICE
(tasting the food)
Does this have MSG?
ROB
(whining)
I don't know.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Rob gets ready for bed while Beatrice talks on the phone.
BEATRICE
Oh that's great. I can sure use the
company.
Rob is fine. They're keeping him
busy.
I do not have a twang.
Maybe in a few more months I'll be
saying
(Texas drawl)
"I reckon so", and "I'm fixin' to do
this", or "looky over yonder"
(starting to laugh)
But I still talk like a Yankee...
A severe cramp causes Beatrice to stop in mid-sentence. Rob,
brushing his teeth, leans in from the bathroom. He looks at
his wife, "you okay?". She nods she's all right.
BEATRICE
Yes, I'm fine. Just a cramp. How
late can a baby be?
Yes, I know I was two weeks late.
Yes, I know it was terribly painful
for you.
Yes, I know it caused a great deal
of resentment which you later took
out on me in my adolescent years.
Yes, you did.
You did, mother. You just won't
admit it.
Alright already.
I love you. Tell Pop I love him,
also.
See y'all real soon. Bye.
Rob joins her in bed where he reads "Dress for Success", while
Beatrice picks up the latest offering from Stephen King.
ROB
What did they have to say?
BEATRICE
Wished me a Happy Birthday. Dad's
got some vacation time coming so
they'll be here after I have the
baby.
ROB
Great. And your grandmother?
BEATRICE
No, mom's got someone to look after
her while they're here.
ROB
Oh, whatever. About your birthday?
BEATRICE
I want to lose 30 pounds.
ROB
(pointing to her stomach)
The hard way?
BEATRICE
(amused)
You got it.
ROB
Why don't I just get a rolling pin
and we'll pop that sucker on out.
BEATRICE
Rob! I just want to hurry up and
have this thing and get on with our
lives.
ROB
Yeah, I want to have this Thang
also.
BEATRICE
You know what I mean.
Rob turns out the light.
BEATRICE
I love you.
ROB
I love you, too, honey Bea.
FADE TO:
INT. BEDROOM - MORNING
Beatrice buries herself deeper in the covers, trying to escape
the sounds of breakfast preparations (BACON SIZZLING, ELECTRIC
JUICER). She hears a dull BUBBLE sound, the kind a water
cooler makes when it passes gas. She hears it again,
BUBBALOOP! and realizes that the sound is coming from within
the room. She pokes her head up and tries to trace the noise.
BUBBALOOP!, her eyes lock onto a large oval shaped blob in the
corner of the room near the window. The thing shudders,
BUBBALOOP! Beatrice's awareness of her surroundings escalates
and with it her fear of the blob in the corner. She attempts
to call out. BUBBALOOP!
Rob barges into the room and throws open the curtains letting
the morning sun shine in.
ROB
Are we going to sleep all day?
Rob exits briefly, leaving Beatrice alone with the thing in
the corner. The illumination from the window reveals the
object to be more egg-shaped with a translucent membrane that
wobbles from something shadowy moving inside. Rob bounds back
in this time carrying a large breakfast tray which he places
in front of Beatrice.
ROB
How's my little queen Bea doing? Is
um' up for some breakfast? Got your
favorite? Pork flesh and Chicken
embryos. Mmmm Mmmm!
Beatrice, confused, looks at her husband and then at the thing
in the corner. Rob follows her eyeline.
ROB
Holy smokes! Look at the size of
that guy.
Rob examines the large egg up close. A cotton mouth Beatrice
shows a bizarre mixture of confusion and fear.
ROB
Now that's a 30 pounder!
Rob touches the sweaty membrane wall. The thing pulsates.
ROB
Hey! It kicked me!
(pressing his head into
the membrane wall)
Man O man, look at the arms on that
sucker. He's going to make one
helluva quarter-back...
BEATRICE
(sluggishly)
It's a girl.
ROB
A minor technicality.
Beatrice is apprehensive about her husband being so close to
the thing. Rob looks at her with reassurance. Suddenly, a
hand bursts from the egg and throttles Rob as murky reddish
brown fluid gushes out of the tear in the membrane.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Beatrice bolts upright from her nightmare in a cold sweat.
She quickly scans the room, making sure reality has returned.
A dampness between her legs causes her to pull back the covers
which reveals a large reddish brown stain. Her water has
broken. Fighting back panic, she awakens Rob.
BEATRICE
(firmly)
Honey, it's time.
ROB
(sleepy)
Huh? I got three more hours...
BEATRICE
(her voice rising)
My water has broken, get up now or
I'll kill you.
Rob snaps to. He jumps from bed in a panic and steps on Max
who was sleeping beside the bed. The dog YELPS.
ROB
Sorry, Max.
Rob sees the blood stain on the sheets.
ROB
Oh, God! Oh, God! What do you
need?
BEATRICE
Get dressed and get me to the
hospital, now.
ROB
Right! What should I wear?
BEATRICE
(out of control)
Goddamn it! Put some clothes on and
get me to the hospital.
INT. HOSPITAL O.R. - DAWN
Beatrice lies on the delivery table with her legs strung up in
stirrups. A NURSE finishes stringing a curtain across her mid-
section while DOCTOR OVERTON crouches down at one end of the
operating table like a catcher at home plate.
NURSE
Finished prepping for C, Doctor.
DR. OVERTON
Great. Now where's our sandman?
The ANESTHETIST walks in behind Dr. Overton.
ANESTHETIST
Right behind you, Bruce.
(headed toward Beatrice)
Howdy, Ma'am, How you doing?
BEATRICE
(through deep breaths)
Lousy.
ANESTHETIST
Know the feeling.
BEATRICE
Did you see my husband out there?
ANESTHETIST
Skinny guy with his head in a trash
can?
BEATRICE
That's him.
ANESTHETIST
Stress get to him?
BEATRICE
Chinese food; too much MSG.
ANESTHETIST
OOOh, I hate that. How come your
not sick?
BEATRICE
(strained)
I've been sick for nine months.
Guess I'm used to it.
Dr. Overton looks over the curtain at the anesthetist.
DR. OVERTON
(perturbed)
You guys ready down there?
ANESTHETIST
(to Dr. Overton)
Ready, Bruce.
(to Beatrice)
Someone must have an early tee time.
DR. OVERTON
Knock her out.
ANESTHETIST
Relax, honey. First one?
DR. OVERTON
No.
BEATRICE
Yes.
The Nurse looks at Dr. Overton quizzically. Overton shakes
his head and frowns.
ANESTHETIST
Just relax. Deep breaths.
Excellent.
Beatrice puffs off into unconsciousness.
FADE TO:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING
Beatrice half asleep, is vaguely aware of her husband's
conversation with Dr. Overton and the morning news broadcast
of yesterday's heated debate between pro-choice and anti-
abortion activists.
ROB
As far as the surgery goes, is there
anything special I need to do?
DR. OVERTON
Nahh, she'll be okay. Cesareans are
so routine nowadays that there are
hardly ever any complications. Her
biggest problem was her high blood
pressure.
ROB
Our old doctor said that the
pregnancy caused the high blood
pressure.
DR. OVERTON
Right. It happens in some cases,
which is why we put her out
completely instead of using an
epidural.
ROB
How long is she going to be out?
DR. OVERTON
(looking at his watch)
Ought to be coming around...
They turn and see Beatrice staring glassy-eyed at them.
ROB
Hey, Birthday girl, you okay?
BEATRICE
(mumbly)
Thirsty.
Rob rushes over to her night stand and feeds her a straw of
water as Dr. Overton takes her pulse.
ROB
How long will she be laid up?
DR. OVERTON
She'll be sore some for the next
month or so, but I can give her some
pain killers and fix her up just
fine.
Beatrice gains more of her senses as she sucks on the straw.
The TV plugs a promo for today's "Donahue" - the subject is
"Women Who Kill Their Babies".
BEATRICE
Where's the baby?
A NURSE walks in carrying the baby.
DR. OVERTON
Speak of the Devil, here she is now.
The Nurse gives the newborn to Beatrice. Everyone gushes.
ROB
Man O' man, look at the arms on that
sucker. He's going to make one
helluva quarter-back...
NURSE
(surprised at Rob)
It's a girl.
ROB
A minor technicality.
Beatrice has a sense of deja vu as she cuddles the baby.
DR. OVERTON
What's her name?
ROB
Sam.
BEATRICE
Short for Samantha.
DR. OVERTON
Well, good luck, easy parts done,
now you've got to raise the silly
thing.
As the Nurse and Dr. Overton leave, Beatrice glimpses a PALE
BOY, sevenish, staring in at her from the hallway. His dark
eyes and almost white skin cause a chill to run up Bea's spine
as the door swings closed.
ROB
Honey, I think we've done something
good here.
Beatrice, troubled, returns her attention to Rob and the baby.
FADE TO:
INT. ROB'S OFFICE - MORNING
Rob carries a briefcase and a newspaper through the a massive
maze of cubicles. He reaches his small office and immediately
gets down to business by putting his feet up on his desk and
reading the newspaper. GEORGE HARBINGER, a co-worker
currently running an electric shaver over his face, pokes his
head over the wall.
GEORGE
What no cigars?
ROB
Hey come on it's been two weeks.
GEORGE
Uh-oh, party's over.
ROB
Why are you here so early?
GEORGE
Early?! I never left. Things are
starting to get tight around here.
ROB
Excuse me?
GEORGE
We're a government contractor,
right?
ROB
Yeah, so?
GEORGE
(pointing at newspaper)
Can you read, Robbie?
Rob sees the headlines, "Congress Slashes Defense Budget".
GEORGE
Peace is breaking out all over the
place. It's a sick world.
ROB
Man, I don't need this. My wife just
had a baby.
MALCOLM BIDLEMAN, Rob's boss, enters the cubicle.
MALCOLM
Morning, Anderson. You got that
Norcom proposal finished yet?
ROB
I'm waiting on some figures from
processing, and I should have a
draft to you tomorrow...
MALCOLM
Tomorrow! Listen, I know you just
had a baby but I need you to get
your priorities back in order.
ROB
I'll see if I can't get it to you
this afternoon.
MALCOLM
I'd appreciate it. So how are they?
ROB
Bea and the baby? Fine. Bea's folks
are visiting from out of town...
MALCOLM
Good. That should take a load off
your shoulders.
(to George)
George, that Honeywell bid....
GEORGE
Already on your desk, MB.
MALCOLM
Good work, George. Remind me to
keep you around.
Malcolm turns and stalks away as a cheshire grinning George
sinks beneath the wall of his cubicle.
INT. NURSERY - DAY
Samantha CRIES relentlessly in the excessively decorated
nursery. Beatrice tries to soothe her baby while her mother,
MILLY KNAVISH, enters behind her.
MILLY
Who's crying in here?
BEATRICE
Someone who needed changing--again.
MILLY
Fun isn't it? Don't worry you'll
get used to it. And then they
become teenagers.
BEATRICE
How do you keep from going crazy?
MILLY
Marry a comedian, speaking of which
when does Rob get home?
BEATRICE
He called; said he might be late.
MILLY
Leaving you here all by yourself.
BEATRICE
What do you think you're doing here?
MILLY
Honey, we can't stay forever.
Daddy's got to work, and I've got to
take care of your grandmother.
JACK KNAVISH, Beatrice's father, lumbers into the room.
JACK
What's going on in here. How's my
grandson.
BEATRICE
Granddaughter, dad.
JACK
Still. Damn, you did it once
before. But no, had to go and have
a girl.
MILLY
Jack, why don't you go watch TV.
JACK
Just thought I'd come and visit;
wanted to make sure no one raffled
off the baby.
Milly gives Jack the evil eye. The air is thick with tension.
Beatrice isn't sure what's going on and avoids the issue by...
BEATRICE
I'm going to check on my rice.
Beatrice leaves and Jack follows but stops abruptly when Milly
grabs him by the ear.
MILLY
Keep it up, Jack Knavish. Keep
shooting your mouth off and I swear
to God I'm gonna stick a fist in it.
JACK
Oh, she knows I was just kiddin'.
MILLY
You can be such an ass.
Milly storms out of the room leaving Jack with a sore ear.
INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Jack, planted in an easy chair, sips a beer and watches TV.
"Geraldo" is on and the subject of today's show is "Mass
Murderers, Serial Killers, and Satanic Cults - Are They
Destroying America?" Mr. Rivera moderates the heated
discussion concerning the morality of capital punishment.
Rob trudges through the front door, looking overworked and
stressed out. Max runs to greet him.
JACK
Howdy, partner, rough day on the
range?
ROB
Evening, Jack. What's happening?
BEATRICE (O.S.)
(from the kitchen)
Hi, Hon. How was work?
ROB
Busy. Where's Granny?
MILLY (O.S.)
(also from the kitchen)
Don't call me Granny.
Jack smiles at Rob; male bonding at its best. Rob picks up
the daily newspaper and plants himself next to Jack.
ROB
What are we watching?
JACK
Geraldo.
ROB
No "People's Court"?
JACK
Hell, they could use a People's
Court on this one. They're talking
about serial killers getting out of
the electric chair.
On the TV, Geraldo starts badgering one of his guests, MILTON
FISK, whose caption reads "Lawyer who Represents Mass
Murderers."
JACK
I know that son of a bitch.
(calling out to kitchen)
Hey, Milly. They're talking about
our favorite foster parent.
Milly wanders in with a beer that she offers to Rob.
MILLY
You say something, Jack?
JACK
You remember ol' Ernie, don't you?
Milly glances at the TV set and is visibly upset at the site
of Milton Fisk. She looks to see if Rob notices her concern.
MILLY
Dinner's about ready, boys.
Absorbed in his newspaper, Rob doesn't note Milly's distress.
Milly, fuming, glares at Jack. Jack looks back, "What'd I do?"
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Rob, Jack, Beatrice, and Milly finish their desserts.
ROB
Milly, I do believe this is my
favorite dessert.
MILLY
Why, thank you, Robbie. I was
afraid it wasn't going to make it.
Rob looks at Milly, then at Beatrice questioningly.
BEATRICE
Electricity went out again.
ROB
How long?
BEATRICE
About an hour.
JACK
Heats up pretty quick around here.
ROB
Welcome to the Last Outpost to Hell.
JACK
What's the problem? Can't these
people keep the power running?
ROB
They're still building in the
neighborhood and every so often they
cut through a line.
MILLY
What are your neighbors like, Rob?
Rob and Beatrice exchange guilty glances.
ROB
Well... we really haven't met any of
our neighbors.
BEATRICE
We used to go on walks in the
evenings, say "hi" to whoever we ran
into...
ROB
Not very many people have moved into
this part of the development, so the
ones we've run into have always
lived a few streets away...
BEATRICE
And I've been busy getting the
nursery in order, and Rob is
settling into his new job.
Jack and Milly are concerned.
MILLY
(suggesting)
I guess if there is an emergency you
can call 911.
JACK
If the phone works.
ROB
We haven't had much of a problem
with the phone.
Beatrice starts to clear the table. Her mother offers to help
but she motions for her to stay seated.
BEATRICE
Really, and the people we have met
here have been pretty nice.
JACK
Yeah? Ted Bundy was nice.
MILLY
(warning)
Jack.
JACK
I don't suppose you guys have any
sort of protection?
Jack points his fingers like a gun. Rob shakes his head.
MILLY
Maybe they don't want a gun, Jack.
JACK
Well, if they're going to shack up
out here in the wilderness you'd
better be prepared for when inbred
Charlie comes knocking at the door
waving an ax...
MILLY
Jack, shut up.
Rob, amused by his in-laws, smiles at Beatrice as she returns
from the kitchen and continues clearing.
JACK
I'm sorry honey but when they start
letting mass murderers get away with
mass murdering I feel a little
vulnerable.
BEATRICE
What are they talking about?
ROB
Geraldo was doing a show on serial
killers. You know, Ted Bundy,
Charles Manson, Captain Crunch.
JACK
Speaking of which, you remember
Milton Fisk?
BEATRICE
No, should I.
MILLY
(disturbed)
Jack, it's been a long time.
JACK
What, it was seven years ago...
MILLY
(angry)
Jack! She doesn't remember. Now
drop it.
There is a tense moment of silence. Milly is royally pissed
off at her husband. Beatrice doesn't seem to notice anything
and continues to clear the table. Rob is confused as hell.
ROB
Yep. Like I said, great dessert.
Good pork chops too, Hon.
BEATRICE (O.S.)
(from the kitchen)
Thanks. Can you get the rest of the
dishes?
ROB
You bet.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Rob sets a load of dishes by the sink next to Beatrice.
ROB
Boy, what got into your folks?
BEATRICE
What do you mean?
ROB
What do you mean, "what do you
mean?"
BEATRICE
Oh, they just get on each other's
nerves after awhile.
ROB
Well, I think I'll go get the rest
of the silverware before your mother
sticks a fork in your dad's throat.
Rob exits as Beatrice mindlessly washes the dishes. She peers
out through the window and gets lost in thought staring into
the darkness.
Without warning, just outside the window, the Pale Boy's face
appears out of the black void.
Beatrice SCREAMS. A loud CRASH from behind her causes her to
spin away from the window. Rob, startled by her scream, had
dropped a water glass he had just cleared from the table.
ROB
What's the matter!?
BEATRICE
I thought I saw someone outside.
Beatrice turns back to the window; no one is there. Jack and
Milly come into the kitchen.
ROB
Careful, I dropped a glass.
Milly steps over the broken glass to comfort Beatrice.
MILLY
Are you okay, Honey?
BEATRICE
I'm fine. I just saw a neighborhood
boy.
ROB
I'll take a look outside.
Rob goes out the back door. Jack squats down and starts
picking up some of the bigger chunks of glass.
BEATRICE
I'll get that, Dad.
Beatrice gets a broom and finishes the job.
JACK
I'm telling you, you guys need some
protection out here.
BEATRICE
Thanks, Dad, but the last thing I
need to do is to go around shooting
children.
Rob returns and helps his wife with the broken glass.
ROB
Well, whoever it was, you probably
scared him as much as he scared you.
JACK
I was just telling your wife here
that she needs some protection if
she's going to be out here by
herself.
MILLY
What Jack meant to say was we're
leaving tomorrow.
BEATRICE
(disappointed)
I thought you were staying to the
end of the week.
MILLY
No, your Grandmother is not feeling
well. I think she might be catching
a cold.
JACK
Came on kind of sudden didn't it?
Milly turns towards Jack and away from Rob and Beatrice. She
looks at Jack with daggers in her eyes.
MILLY
And Jack has to get back to work.
JACK
(near death)
Yeah, I, uh... got some business to
take care of.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Rob sleeps soundly in bed while Beatrice tosses and turns.
She abruptly stops, her eyes open and she is shocked to
awareness by the Pale Boy standing right next to here in bed.
BEATRICE
(almost whispering)
Who are you? What are you doing
here?
PALE BOY
I'm looking for my sister.
BEATRICE
Your sister is not here.
PALE BOY
You're lying.
BEATRICE
No, I'm not. I don't even know who
your sister is.
PALE BOY
(accusing)
You're a bad mother.
BEATRICE
(distressed)
No, I'm not. How can you say that?
Who are you?
Rob grumbles and turns over in his sleep. Beatrice glances
over to her husband. When she turns back, the Pale Boy is
gone. Beatrice gets out of bed and steps on Max, sending him
YELPING into the hall. Rob springs awake.
ROB
What!? What's the matter?
BEATRICE
Nothing. I stepped on the dog.
ROB
Good.
Rob falls back to sleep immediately, leaving a troubled
Beatrice alone and awake. She slowly begins to CRY.
FADE OUT.
Well that's it for the first act. This is what I call a slow burn psychological mystery. Like Rosemary's Baby or The Birds, slow to get started but by the end you're mentally devastated. If you're interested in knowing what happens next or you have any comments please shoot me an e-mail.
And thanks for reading.