SCENE 1
INT. - POLICE STATION - NIGHT
CLICK. Questioning room. White walls, metal desk. SPENCER taps her nails impatiently. INVESTIGATOR OPENS the door and walks in, footsteps ringing through the quiet room. SPENCER stops tapping as he pull a chair out and sit.
INVESTIGATOR
All right
(clears throat)
Let’s start with your name.
SPENCER hesitates. There’s a moment of silence.
INVESTIGATOR
It’s all right, everything’s all right. You’re safe here. Here, I’ll go first, my name is Gregory Sullivan.
SPENCER’s voice sounds hollow, almost deadpanned.
SPENCER
Spencer Benson
INVESTIGATOR
Good, okay. Spencer, can you tell us why you’re here?
SPENCER
You took the recordings and tapes, why do I have to tell you?
INVESTIGATOR
We need to hear it in your own words.
SPENCER
You aren’t going to like it.
INVESTIGATOR shuffles papers.
INVESTIGATOR
Did you kill those people?
SPENCER
No, I didn’t.
INVESTIGATOR
Then we’ll get along just fine. Why don’t you start from the beginning? Why did you come to Ireland?
SPENCER
We came to investigate Loftus Hall.
There is slight distortion on LOFTUS HALL.
A short burst of static fills the room.
SCENE 2
INT - CAR, IRELAND COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Low rumbling of a car engine can be heard. The radio plays an old 80’s song and the clicking of a blinker comes on.
MICK
I really wish I wasn’t the only one who knew how to drive a stick shift. This ass backwards way of getting to Loftus Hall is ridiculous.
Blinker stops.
SPENCER
(exasperated)
Mick, I told you, this was the closest airport to the location. It’s not my fault it takes like two hours to drive there.
MICK
No, Spencer, but it is your fault for not calling ahead and renting out the automatic before someone else got it.
EVAN
Just so we’re clear, I’ve already started to record. So if y’all don’t want the whole world to hear ya bickering once we’ve made it big, I’d stop now.
THOMAS
Isn’t it going to run out of battery if you leave it running like that?
EVAN
Nah, it’s got like the same lifespan as a car battery I guess. Plus I bought one of those battery things, like the one Deanna has for her cellphone.
DEANNA
Does yours have daisy’s on it too?
EVAN
(jovial, cheeky)
Nope, it’s black like my . . .
MICK
(yelling, panicked)
WHAT THE F. . .
The car screeches to a halt. There are dull thuds as heads collide with things in front of them. Five sets of heavy breathing can be heard. Everyone’s quiet as they take in what just happened.
SPENCER
(out of breath)
Is everyone okay?
A chorus of weak variations of confirmation follow.
DEANNA
What the hell was that? Mick what did you see?
MICK hesitates. The radio continues to play softly, but SPENCER turns it off. MICK turns the car off.
MICK
(unsure, halting, disbelieving)
It . . . it kind of looked like a red dog? But it was huge.
THOMAS
Like a wolf or something?
EVAN
Maybe someone’s pet escaped? Like I read an article about how it was becoming a problem here.
MICK
I don’t know, maybe I’m just crazy . . .
DEANNA
You’re not crazy baby, Ireland’s countryside is super weird.
SPENCER
(excited)
Maybe it’s a black dog!
THOMAS
She said the dog’s fur was red, Spencer.
SPENCER
No, no! A black dog is a ghost, in some mythology they’re hellhounds. Generally they mean bad things are going to happen.
EVAN
And that’s meant to be good how . . . ?
SPENCER
It just means that we saw our first paranormal thing in Ireland!
THOMAS
Or, it’s just a wolf.
DEANNA
(worried)
Hey . . . Mick . . . are you okay?
MICK
(kind of breathless)
Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. It’s just . . . i’m pretty sure that things eyes . . . were red? But it must have been a weird glare off the headlights.
SPENCER
(super excited)
It was definitely a black dog! I’m so jealous, I wish I saw it!
The car starts again and MICK starts to drive.
MICK
(sighing)
Yeah, highlight of my life.
SCENE 3
INT - LOFTUS HALL - DAY
Car doors open and slam, footsteps on gravel follow.
SPENCER
(excited)
I can’t believe we’re finally here!
EVAN
I can smell the success, the money, the fame!
MICK
That’s manure you’re smelling. I really hope success doesn’t smell like manure.
A smattering of laughter follows MICK’s comment. The group walks up to the front door.
DEANNA
You have the key, right Spence?
SPENCER
Yup, the owner sent me a copy. We’re supposed to leave them on the counter when we’re done investigating in a few days.
THOMAS
Sweet. Evan, Deanna, let’s start setting things up. We need to figure out where control is going to be and the best places to set up cameras and booms.
THOMAS, EVAN, and DEANNA walk away.
SPENCER
You ready to go inside, Mick?
MICK
Sure, let’s do this.
SPENCER and MICK walk over to the door. SPENCER unlocks the door and it groans open audibly. The footsteps change from gravel to heavy and loud, obviously walking from the road inside a huge entryway.
MICK
Hey, Spence? Are you sure this is a good idea?
SPENCER
(surprised)
Of course I am, we’re the second solo team to be able to investigate one of the world’s most haunted locations. Why wouldn’t this be a good idea? I thought you were excited too?
MICK
(hesitantly)
I mean yeah, i’m excited . . . but you read the stories, saw the footage of that guy attacking the girl. There’s real evil here, and i can already feel it. What if this ends badly for us?
SPENCER
This isn’t a horror movie, M. We’re not going to be picked off one by one like in those cheesy B-list movies. We’re going to get some amazing evidence of the paranormal, submit it to news outlets everywhere, and from there we’ll get our own show and be amazingly famous and you can finally get that ring you’ve been eyeing for Deanna and get married and live happily ever after.
MICK
(laughing softly)
I mean...when you put it like that, you make me feel like i’m overreacting.
SPENCER
Did the black dog really shake you up that bad?
MICK
It looked right at me . . . like it knew me. Like it ran into the middle of the road, stopped, looked at me, and then ran off. Those eyes . . .
There’s a pregnant pause.
SPENCER
Look, weird things happen in Ireland, like Deanna said. I wouldn’t think to much about it honestly. Let’s just do what we do best right?
MICK
Right, let’s do this.
SCENE 4
INT - CONTROL CENTER - EVENING
Tapping from a keyboard, as well as soft beeps.
THOMAS
Okay, we are all set up. We have two cameras downstairs, two upstairs, and audio in most rooms. Motion sensor is located in the Tapestry Room, and if something passes by, it’ll make this sound,
THOMAS plays the sound, it’s a long, sustained, high pitched beep.
THOMAS
One camera is set up in that room, since, historically that’s where the most activity has been reported. I checked all of our equipment, everything is working, charged, and ready to go. I put a camera in one of the bedrooms upstairs, for some reason I thought it belonged there, you know?
SPENCER
Thomas, you rock. Evan, how’s your camera look? Is the recorder still on?
EVAN
Yup, recorder has been playing this whole time. Cammie is doing great, thanks for asking!
MICK
Cammie?
EVAN
Yeah, I thought she should have a name.
DEANNA
You’re a moron.
THOMAS
Okay, so I got recorders for everyone else too, since they’ll be a lot of times where not everyone is around Cammie lover here.
A resound of clicks emerge as everyone turns on their recorders and clips them to belts.
DEANNA:
Hey Mick, can I talk to you for a second?
MICK:
Sure! Let’s go over here.
MICK and DEANNA walk away from the others.
MICK:
What’s up?
DEANNA:
I wanted to know if you were okay, you seemed really spooked back there. Are you sure you still want to do this?
MICK:
I’m sure, this is going to be great for us.
DEANNA:
(hesitant)
Look . . . I just want to make sure that this is what YOU want . . . you know?
MICK:
What do you mean?
DEANNA:
I just . . . I know Spencer can be a bit . . .
MICK:
(warning tone in her voice)
A bit what, D?
DEANNA sighs heavily.
DEANNA
Overbearing, bossy, pushy, uncaring of others . . .
MICK:
I get it. You don’t like Spencer.
DEANNA:
No, it’s not that at all. When she told us about this gig she didn’t even ask us if we wanted to. She came barreling in to our apartment, which she has a key too somehow, and told us this is what’s happening. We were saving up for a house and we had to all but cash those savings out to get here. I know she’s your best friend, I know you care about her, and honestly I know that I’m just the girlfriend so what I think doesn’t even matter in the long run. I just want to know that this is your choice, you’re here because you want to be here, not because Spencer wants you to be.
MICK:
You’re not “just the girlfriend”, first off.
DEANNA scoffs.
MICK:
I’m not done. You’re not just the girlfriend. You’re the world to me. I want to be here, it’s a choice I made. Do you want to be here?
DEANNA:
This house . . . it’s wrong.
MICK:
Wrong.
It’s not a question so much as a statement. MICK knows what DEANNA is talking about.
DEANNA:
look, I’m with you, till the end of the line.
MICK:
(snorts)
Fucking dork.
DEANNA:
One of the many things you love about me. I mean it though. If this is truly what you want, I’ll be by your side the whole time. Now, let’s go catch some ghosties. I’m already itching to get outta dodge.
They go back over to the group, who has been talking amongst themselves
THOMAS
Everything good you guys?
MICK
Yeah, we’re good
THOMAS
Okay! now, let’s get to work guys, we only have so many hours in the night and if we’re going to use this to launch our careers we should probably get started now.
Everyone murmurs in agreement. Chairs and footsteps scuff around. The soft beeping continues. THOMAS’s chair creaks.
THOMAS
(softly)
This is going to be one hell of a night.
SCENE 5
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC plays. The INVESTIGATOR shuffles papers.
INVESTIGATOR
And this is where you all split up, correct?
SPENCER
Yes.
INVESTIGATOR
So, like Scooby Doo, you all thought it would be better to go your separate ways? Isn’t that a recipe for disaster?
SPENCER
I guess so.
INVESTIGATOR
The real trouble started after the split up, right?
SPENCER
For Evan, yes.
INVESTIGATOR
Do you know what happened to him leading up to his death?
SPENCER
Yes. His trouble started when he said . . .
STATIC.
SCENE 6
INT - LOFTUS HALL - EVENING
EVAN
Alright gang, let’s split up!
MICK
Are you Freddie now?
DEANNA
If Evan is Freddie, does that make Spencer Daphne?
SPENCER
I’d rather be Velma!
EVAN
Nah, Thomas is Velma. You’re Daphne, Deanna is Shaggy, and Mick is scooby doo.
MICK
Yeah, no, I’m not a dog.
A howl pierces through their conversation. There’s a moment of silence, obviously everyone is in shock.
MICK
You guys heard that too, right?
SPENCER
Yeah . . . kinda hard not too. I’m pretty sure my ears are still ringing.
EVAN
Do you think that was the same black dog from earlier?
SPENCER
Probably? I would just keep your wits about you tonight guys. That can’t be a coincidence.
EVAN
Well, I’m going to go check out the staircase, see if i can catch anything walking up or down it. Smell y’all later!
Heavy footsteps as EVAN walks.
EVAN
Here ghostie ghostie. Let me film you so I can get a new car.
More footsteps. He stops in front of the staircase.
EVAN
Alright, it is 9:35 pm and I am standing at the base of the main staircase. Upon first inspection nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. I’m going to set my camera down and do some EVP’s I think. I hate the Spirit Box so I’ll be using my phone to capture audio since the recorder is obviously in use.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
GHOST voice is always distorted and breathy. EVAN does not hear it.
EVAN
Session one. I’m going to ask three questions, then stop and review. If you have anything to say during, even if it doesn’t pertain to my question, go ahead and say it.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
EVAN
What’s your name?
EVAN pauses. Nothing is heard.
EVAN
How long have you been here?
GHOST
She’s coming for you . . .
Pause.
EVAN
How did you die?
Pause.
EVAN
Okay, time for playback.
EVAN scuffles around a bit, sitting down on the staircase to listen to the recording. As he’s about to press play, a scream echoes through.
EVAN
(shocked, horrified, excited)
Oh my god! Oh my god that was intense!
THE MORRIGAN
Evan . . .
The voice of THE MORRIGAN is soft, seductive, inviting. EVAN starts, having heard this voice.
EVAN
Hello? Is someone there? Mick, is that you?
Silence for a few seconds, EVAN breathes heavily.
EVAN
Guys, this isn’t funny. We have work to do. If you’re screwing with me I won’t be happy!
There’s more silence. EVAN fidgets, growing uncomfortable. There’s a rush of air suddenly, like wind ripping through a tree. EVAN yelps a bit and scrambles up to his feet.
EVAN
Oh my god, something just touched me! Oh my god, what the hell!
THE MORRIGAN
You are unworthy.
UNWORTHY is slightly distorted, like LOFTUS HALL was in the beginning. EVAN’s scrambling stills. It becomes deathly quiet.
EVAN
I am unworthy.
EVAN’s takes the recorder off his belt and sets it down on a stair. Footsteps can be heard as he walks up the stairs. He slips a noose around his neck.
THE MORRIGAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
EVAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
He jumps.
SCENE 7
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC. INVESTIGATOR clears his throat.
INVESTIGATOR
That’s what you think happened?
SPENCER
That’s what I know happened
INVESTIGATOR
How do you know? You weren’t there. You were in the Tapestry Room at this time, that’s what you said.
SPENCER
We listened to his recording after we found him swinging.
INVESTIGATOR
(deadpanned)
After you found him swinging.
STATIC
SCENE 8
INT - GRAND STAIRCASE - EVENING
Rapid footsteps of SPENCER, MICK, and THOMAS approach, creaks of EVAN’s body swinging can be heard as well. SPENCER screams in horror.
SPENCER
(screaming in anguish)
EVAN! NO!
THOMAS
I . . . I looked over to his monitor to late . . .
There’s silence as everybody takes this in.
MICK
Did . . . did you see anybody around him? He couldn’t have done this himself . . . right?
THOMAS
(hesitantly)
I watched him jump . . . he did this himself.
SPENCER
(softly)
No
The creaking continues. SPENCER makes little gasping sounds, like she’s about to have a panic attack. Everyone is in a haze.
SPENCER
This can’t be real . . . this can’t be happening . . . we need to stop the investigation and call the police. We can’t keep going.
MICK
I agree. Let’s pack up and go . . . I don’t think we should touch him.
THOMAS
You want to just leave him here?
MICK
Well it’s a crime scene now. We can’t touch anything. The tapes will show it was . . . him . . . but if we disturb things it will get all of us in trouble.
THOMAS
We should leave equipment here then too, just lock the place up and go.
MICK
Yeah . . . that’s a good idea.
SPENCER takes a deep breath.
SPENCER
Okay . . . okay . . . let’s go.
MICK
Wait . . . shouldn’t we check the recorder? He was doing EVP’s when this happened. Before we leave we should see if this was really him.
THOMAS
Mick . . . this was him . . . I watched him jump, remember? He said ‘goodbye’ then jumped. Are you sure you want to listen to that?
MICK
We owe it to him.
A moment of silence, THOMAS takes a deep breath.
THOMAS
Okay, since I saw it already I’ll listen to it. Why don’t you guys go sit at control . . . I’ll get his recorder from the stairs and listen. If anything comes of it I’ll call you guys back okay?
MICK
Okay . . .
Two sets of footsteps walk away. THOMAS sighs heavily and walks over to the recorder, up a few steps. He sits down and pauses.
THOMAS
(softly, to himself)
I don’t honestly know if I want it to be you . . . or something else. This just . . . doesn’t seem like you Evan. You would have told me if you were depressed . . . right?
EVAN
(same distortion as ghost voices)
It wasn’t me . . . it was Her. She did this . . . She wants someone.
THOMAS doesn’t hear EVAN. he takes another deep breath and presses play. The playback sounds like it should, a recording being recorded.
EVAN
Alright, it is 9:35 pm and I am standing at the base of the main staircase. Upon first inspection nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. I’m going to set my camera down and do some EVP’s I think. I hate the Spirit Box so I’ll be using my phone to capture audio since the recorder is obviously in use.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
THOMAS pauses the recorder, almost throwing it.
THOMAS
GUYS! GET BACK HERE!
Everyone comes running back.
MICK
What did you hear?
THOMAS
Something was speaking to him! It told him to get off the stairs! Listen!
THOMAS presses play again.
EVAN
Session one. I’m going to ask three questions, then stop and review. If you have anything to say during, even if it doesn’t pertain to my question, go ahead and say it.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
SPENCER
Oh my god . . .
EVAN
What’s your name?
EVAN
How long have you been here?
GHOST
She’s coming for you . . .
Pause. SPENCER gasps softly.
EVAN
How did you die?
Pause.
EVAN
Okay, time for playback.
When the scream echoes through, everyone gasps, horrified.
EVAN
(shocked, horrified, excited)
Oh my god! Oh my god that was intense!
THE MORRIGAN
Evan . . .
MICK
What the hell was that? It sounds different than the other voice . . .
EVAN
Hello? Is someone there? Mick, is that you?
Silence for a few seconds, EVAN breathes heavily.
EVAN
Guys, this isn’t funny. We have work to do. If you’re screwing with me I won’t be happy!
There’s more silence. EVAN fidgets, growing uncomfortable. There’s a rush of air suddenly, like wind ripping through a tree. EVAN yelps a bit and scrambles up to his feet.
EVAN
Oh my god, something just touched me! Oh my god, what the hell!
THE MORRIGAN
You are unworthy.
UNWORTHY is slightly distorted. EVAN’s scrambling stills. It becomes deathly quiet.
EVAN
I am unworthy.
EVAN’s takes the recorder off his belt and sets it down on a stair. Footsteps can be heard as he walks up the stairs. He slips a noose around his neck.
THE MORRIGAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
EVAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
The recording stops. There’s silence as everyone processes what just happened.
SPENCER
(slowly, disbelieving)
Something killed Evan.
Silence. THOMAS clears his throat.
THOMAS
I vote that we leave. Right now. Go tell the authorities like we planned, but get the hell out.
MICK
I fully agree.
SCENE 9
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC.
INVESTIGATOR
But you guys didn’t leave, right?
SPENCER
That’s correct.
INVESTIGATOR
But why? After you figured out what happened to Evan, why didn’t you leave?
SPENCER
She didn’t want us to.
INVESTIGATOR
She . . . you mean the voice that made Evan jump?
SPENCER
Yes.
INVESTIGATOR
How can a ghost make someone kill themselves?
SPENCER
She isn’t a ghost.
INVESTIGATOR
(skeptical)
Okay, then what is she?
SPENCER
Keep listening and you’ll find out.
STATIC
SCENE 10
INT - LOFTUS HALL - EVENING
Footsteps as everyone walks to control center.
THOMAS
I just need to grab the car keys and we’ll be out of here, okay? I set them on the table next to the keyboard. I didn’t think we’d be leaving this early.
SPENCER
I honestly have no idea where the nearest station would be. Do you think we should drive to the nearest house and ask them? They should know right?
MICK
If anyone is around here that is. I kind of remember the way back to that town that we drove through to get here. Maybe we should just go into town? There’s probably a station there.
THOMAS
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.
Another scream echoes through the building. The only one that hears it is THOMAS however
THOMAS
(yelping)
Holy shit!
MICK
what’s wrong?? Are you okay??
THOMAS
You didn’t hear that??
SPENCER and MICK give different variations of no.
MICK
We didn’t hear anything. What do you think you heard?
THOMAS
It was a scream! Like the one we heard on Evan’s recorder!
SPENCER
Are you sure you just didn’t remember hearing it?
GHOST
(starting at ‘hearing it’)
She’s coming . . . she wants more blood.
No one hears this.
THOMAS
No! I heard it! It sounded like it was right next to me! guys I’m terrified, we need to leave right now. I thought I put the keys right here . . .
He fumbles around on the table, moving things. He becomes frantic.
SPENCER
Let me help, maybe they fell off the desk?
MICK
Are you sure you didn’t put them in your pocket? They may have fallen out on the staircase.
THOMAS
No, i’m sure I put them right here. They’ve just vanished!
SPENCER
Maybe someone took them . . .
MICK
Guys? Where’s Deanna??
They realize DEANNA is missing.
MICK
(frantic)
DEANNA??? DEANNA WHERE ARE YOU???
MICK runs off, SPENCER and THOMAS chase after her, calling for DEANNA. A few seconds of frantic running pass.
SPENCER
Where the hell did she go??
MICK
(frantic)
I have no idea! was she here at all?!
THOMAS
I . . . I don’t think so, let me go back to control and see if I can catch her on some cameras.
THOMAS runs off. MICK is starting to have a panic attack.
MICK
Spencer what if she’s dead? What if the same thing that happened to Evan happened to her??
SPENCER
Mick you need to calm down, we’ll find her. You know she panics sometimes, and with what we just saw and heard, it’s totally understandable.
MICK
Maybe she went to the car? We should go check the car.
SPENCER
Yeah, let’s go do that.
THOMAS runs in, he sounds breathless.
THOMAS
Guys I can’t find her, she just . . . disappeared. Like I even looked through the footage we have. She’s nowhere to be seen.
SPENCER
Do you think she could have ran out to the car? Do we have a camera on the doorway?
THOMAS
It’s possible? We don’t have a camera on the doorway so she could have ran out.
There’s a moment of silence. THOMAS’s breathing gets heavier. He becomes distant, staring off into nowhere.
MICK
Thomas? Are you okay?
SPENCER
Thomas?? What are you doing??
THOMAS lunges forward and grabs SPENCER by the throat. She makes a strangled gasp.
MICK
(horrified)
THOMAS! STOP IT! YOU’RE STRANGLING HER!
THOMAS
(deadpanned)
We are not worthy. Goodbye.
MICK
THOMAS! FUCKING STOP!
MICK throws THOMAS off SPENCER and into the control center. He collides with all of the equipment set up. The power surges and electrocutes THOMAS, who screams in pain for a brief second before slumping, the life zapped out of him.
MICK
What the fuck??? What the fuck???
MICK runs over to SPENCER, who’s still on the floor.
MICK
Are you okay??
SPENCER
(hoarsly)
Yeah . . . I’m fine . . . Is he dead?
MICK walks over to THOMAS’s body, her footsteps slow and loud.
MICK
Yeah . . . he’s gone.
SPENCER
Holy shit.
SCENE 11
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC. INVESTIGATOR shuffles papers around, looking for a specific one.
INVESTIGATOR
When our expert listened to Thomas’s recording, they heard that same voice from Evan’s, the one that told him to jump. It was telling Thomas to strangle you. It said whoever survived this night would be the vessel.
SPENCER
Yes.
INVESTIGATOR
This whole vessel talk shows up later in your recordings. Do you want to talk about that?
SPENCER
Don’t you want to hear the rest of the story first? It will make a lot more sense once I’m done.
INVESTIGATOR
Sure. When did you find Deanna’s body?
SPENCER
We found it after Thomas short circuited.
STATIC.
SCENE 12
SPENCER and MICK are in slight shock. MICK is the first one to regain her wits.
MICK
We need to find Deanna and get the hell out of here before anything else happens.
SPENCER
Yeah . . . maybe we should go check out that room Thomas put the camera in upstairs? I remember he said something about feeling like it was important. Maybe that’s where she ran too. It was kind of tucked away and I know she was probably with Thomas when he set it up.
MICK
Okay . . . let’s do that.
They run up the stairs and to this room. Like SPENCER said, it’s tucked away so it takes them a second to get there. When they do, they look around, breathing heavily. No one’s there.
MICK
Deanna?? Are you here??
SPENCER
I don’t see anything Mick . . . but do you feel that?
MICK
Like my world is going to drop out from under me if we go over to that wall?
MICK and SPENCER walk towards a wall like they’re pulled over there.
SPENCER
the wallpaper is different here . . . Close your eyes, Mick. I’m going to tear it off.
MICK
(her voice is quiet, like she knows what’s going to be found)
Just do it.
SPENCER rips the wallpaper down and there’s a moment of silence before MICK screams loud and long.
SPENCER
holy shit . . . Oh my god . . . Deanna what happened to you?
MICK is wailing, screaming DEANNA’s name.
SCENE 13
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC.
INVESTIGATOR
Can you explain to me what you saw? We didn’t find Deanna’s body in that room.
SPENCER
She was stuck up in the wall, arms out like a Christ figure. There was a symbol carved into her forehead and a bunch of different ones carved into her arms. She was sliced from chin to sternum and her ribcage had been cracked open and her heart removed. Her heart was gone, and that seemed to be the only thing taken from her, other than her eyes and tongue.
INVESTIGATOR
Her eyes and tongue?
SPENCER
Yes, her lids and mouth were open and there was just nothing. Emptiness where organs had once resided.
The INVESTIGATOR clears their throat.
INVESTIGATOR
That’s a hell of an image.
SPENCER
Yeah, one hell of an image.
STATIC
SCENE 14
INT - LOFTUS HALL - NIGHT
MICK is still screaming. SPENCER shakes her to try and get her to stop.
SPENCER
Mick stop! She’s dead! We have to leave right now!
MICK
(sobbing)
I can’t leave her!
SPENCER
There is literally nothing you can do! She’s fucking gone!
MICK
Can’t we take her with us??
SPENCER
No! The police need to see this! Someone . . . someTHING is trying to kill us!
MICK breathes heavily, realizing that SPENCER is right. The same scream from earlier rips through the room.
MICK
Holy shit!
SPENCER
What??
MICK
Wait . . . you didn’t hear that?
SPENCER
No, and it doesn’t matter Mick, we need to leave right now.
MICK
Okay . . . okay yeah . . . let’s go. D, i’m so sorry . . . I love you so much.
SPENCER and MICK run out of the room and down the stairs. They open the door and start to run to the car on the gravel road.
SPENCER
Shit! We don’t have the keys!
MICK
Just run!
Their breathing is labored as they sprint down the driveway. Another set of running footsteps come into focus. It’s not the sound of another human though, it’s the sound of animal feet.
SPENCER
Do you hear that??
MICK
Just keep going!
A snarl erupts right behind them, the animal closing in on their heels. Another snarl and MICK screams in blinding pain.
SCENE 15
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC
SPENCER takes a deep breath, the first bit of emotion she shows in this interview.
SPENCER
Can we just . . .
INVESTIGATOR
Yeah, yeah. Take a moment. She was your best friend right?
SPENCER
She was, yes.
SPENCER breathes out shakily.
SPENCER
The wolf, the one from before, ripped her arm off first. Mick dropped to the ground and she tore the other arm off next. I stopped running and just watched in horror as she took apart my best friend, limb by limb.
INVESTIGATOR
jesus . . .
SPENCER
She didn’t eat Mick though . . . just tore her apart. The head was last. It came off with a wet pop. I don’t think i’ll ever forget that sound. I can still hear it, if I think about it hard enough.
INVESTIGATOR
I’m so sorry Spencer . . . that’s something no one should go through.
SPENCER
Yes . . . she wasn’t worthy though.
INVESTIGATOR
(clearing their throat)
I guess not.
The INVESTIGATOR shuffles some papers around.
INVESTIGATOR
Do you want to hear what happened to Deanna? Or would you like to go on?
SPENCER
I would like to hear Deanna’s tape if that’s okay.
INVESTIGATOR
Are you sure?
SPENCER
Yes, I’m sure.
INVESTIGATOR
Okay, I’ll have someone bring it in.
STATIC
SCENE 16
INT - LOFTUS HALL - EVENING
EVAN
Well, I’m going to go check out the staircase, see if i can catch anything walking up or down it. Smell y’all later!
EVAN walks away. DEANNA turns to MICK and SPENCER
DEANNA
I’m going to go check out the card room. See you guys around.
MICK
We’ll meet up after Spencer and I do some readings in the tapestry room. Try and get some good evidence.
DEANNA
I will! Love you Mick!
MICK
Love you too D.
DEANNA walks away, humming softly to herself. She walks into the card room and looks around.
DEANNA
Let’s get the ball rolling shall we? Okay ghosts, I’m going to set up my camera and the turn on the Spirit Box . . .
The last screams echoes through the room, the last but the first at the same time. DEANNA stops talking.
DEANNA
Oh my god . . .
HELLFIRE CLUB
The Banshee has spoken. It is time for you, my child.
DEANNA
Who the hell are you guys??
DEANNA whirls around to see a group of men staring at her, cloaks shrouding their bodies, the hoods pulled low over their eyes.
DEANNA
Where did you come from??
HELLFIRE CLUB
We are the Hellfire Club. Tonight’s importance has been passed down through the ages. Tonight, She rises.
DEANNA
Who is She?
HELLFIRE CLUB
She is the answer to every religion’s question: how will our world perish?
A few members of the HELLFIRE CLUB grab DEANNA’s arms and hold her. She struggles audibly.
DEANNA
Let me go!
HELLFIRE CLUB
She is fire and rain, lightning and thunder. She is in our guns, in our bullets, in our bombs. She is the idea of destruction, the driving force of war. She is the bird of prey that attacks and picks the bones clean.
DEANNA
Stop! No! Please! Mick! MICK!
HELLFIRE CLUB
With this death we give Her life.
DEANNA screams in the background, long and drawn out as they carve the symbols into her flesh.
HELLFIRE CLUB
We give Her a way into this world, we give Her the tools to become the downfall of this sinful world.
Please, come to us, we are your children, your devotees. We welcome you and your wrath. Find one of these mortals who is worthy, take their body and make it your own.
Rise.
THE MORRIGAN
I am here.
SCENE 17
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC. The tape stops.
SPENCER
Just like I remember it.
INVESTIGATOR
Excuse me?
SPENCER
(chuckling softly)
You really don’t get it, do you?
INVESTIGATOR
Enlighten me.
SPENCER starts to tap her nails on the metal table again, slow and rhythmic.
SPENCER
After I watched Mick get torn to pieces the wolf turned to me, blood dripping from her muzzle. I heard it then, not the scream the others had heard, but the voice, Her voice. She told me I was worthy.
She shifted then, bones breaking and rearranging in the transition from wolf to goddess. She is beautiful. Have you ever seen Her? The Morrigan?
INVESTIGATOR
(wary)
I can’t say that I have . . .
SPENCER
Oh, she’s enchanting, She took my breath away. She made me forget all about Mick as she stared at me, a smile on her face. She told me I was worthy. Me, can you believe it?
The INVESTIGATOR doesn’t respond. He’s enthralled in what SPENCER is saying.
SPENCER
She told me about this world, how dirty and rotten it had become, how She had been summoned to cleanse it with blood. I am her vessel. She is me and I am her. I know what’s happened to Her, what’s happened since the dawn of time. I see everything, know everything. Together we will cleanse the earth and start anew.
The INVESTIGATOR gasps suddenly, clutching his throat. He make strangled sounds as their windpipe crushes itself with a soft crunch. His body falls to the floor and SPENCER chuckles again, rising from her chair.
SPENCER/THE MORRIGAN
Let’s begin.
STATIC.
END.
INT. - POLICE STATION - NIGHT
CLICK. Questioning room. White walls, metal desk. SPENCER taps her nails impatiently. INVESTIGATOR OPENS the door and walks in, footsteps ringing through the quiet room. SPENCER stops tapping as he pull a chair out and sit.
INVESTIGATOR
All right
(clears throat)
Let’s start with your name.
SPENCER hesitates. There’s a moment of silence.
INVESTIGATOR
It’s all right, everything’s all right. You’re safe here. Here, I’ll go first, my name is Gregory Sullivan.
SPENCER’s voice sounds hollow, almost deadpanned.
SPENCER
Spencer Benson
INVESTIGATOR
Good, okay. Spencer, can you tell us why you’re here?
SPENCER
You took the recordings and tapes, why do I have to tell you?
INVESTIGATOR
We need to hear it in your own words.
SPENCER
You aren’t going to like it.
INVESTIGATOR shuffles papers.
INVESTIGATOR
Did you kill those people?
SPENCER
No, I didn’t.
INVESTIGATOR
Then we’ll get along just fine. Why don’t you start from the beginning? Why did you come to Ireland?
SPENCER
We came to investigate Loftus Hall.
There is slight distortion on LOFTUS HALL.
A short burst of static fills the room.
SCENE 2
INT - CAR, IRELAND COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Low rumbling of a car engine can be heard. The radio plays an old 80’s song and the clicking of a blinker comes on.
MICK
I really wish I wasn’t the only one who knew how to drive a stick shift. This ass backwards way of getting to Loftus Hall is ridiculous.
Blinker stops.
SPENCER
(exasperated)
Mick, I told you, this was the closest airport to the location. It’s not my fault it takes like two hours to drive there.
MICK
No, Spencer, but it is your fault for not calling ahead and renting out the automatic before someone else got it.
EVAN
Just so we’re clear, I’ve already started to record. So if y’all don’t want the whole world to hear ya bickering once we’ve made it big, I’d stop now.
THOMAS
Isn’t it going to run out of battery if you leave it running like that?
EVAN
Nah, it’s got like the same lifespan as a car battery I guess. Plus I bought one of those battery things, like the one Deanna has for her cellphone.
DEANNA
Does yours have daisy’s on it too?
EVAN
(jovial, cheeky)
Nope, it’s black like my . . .
MICK
(yelling, panicked)
WHAT THE F. . .
The car screeches to a halt. There are dull thuds as heads collide with things in front of them. Five sets of heavy breathing can be heard. Everyone’s quiet as they take in what just happened.
SPENCER
(out of breath)
Is everyone okay?
A chorus of weak variations of confirmation follow.
DEANNA
What the hell was that? Mick what did you see?
MICK hesitates. The radio continues to play softly, but SPENCER turns it off. MICK turns the car off.
MICK
(unsure, halting, disbelieving)
It . . . it kind of looked like a red dog? But it was huge.
THOMAS
Like a wolf or something?
EVAN
Maybe someone’s pet escaped? Like I read an article about how it was becoming a problem here.
MICK
I don’t know, maybe I’m just crazy . . .
DEANNA
You’re not crazy baby, Ireland’s countryside is super weird.
SPENCER
(excited)
Maybe it’s a black dog!
THOMAS
She said the dog’s fur was red, Spencer.
SPENCER
No, no! A black dog is a ghost, in some mythology they’re hellhounds. Generally they mean bad things are going to happen.
EVAN
And that’s meant to be good how . . . ?
SPENCER
It just means that we saw our first paranormal thing in Ireland!
THOMAS
Or, it’s just a wolf.
DEANNA
(worried)
Hey . . . Mick . . . are you okay?
MICK
(kind of breathless)
Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. It’s just . . . i’m pretty sure that things eyes . . . were red? But it must have been a weird glare off the headlights.
SPENCER
(super excited)
It was definitely a black dog! I’m so jealous, I wish I saw it!
The car starts again and MICK starts to drive.
MICK
(sighing)
Yeah, highlight of my life.
SCENE 3
INT - LOFTUS HALL - DAY
Car doors open and slam, footsteps on gravel follow.
SPENCER
(excited)
I can’t believe we’re finally here!
EVAN
I can smell the success, the money, the fame!
MICK
That’s manure you’re smelling. I really hope success doesn’t smell like manure.
A smattering of laughter follows MICK’s comment. The group walks up to the front door.
DEANNA
You have the key, right Spence?
SPENCER
Yup, the owner sent me a copy. We’re supposed to leave them on the counter when we’re done investigating in a few days.
THOMAS
Sweet. Evan, Deanna, let’s start setting things up. We need to figure out where control is going to be and the best places to set up cameras and booms.
THOMAS, EVAN, and DEANNA walk away.
SPENCER
You ready to go inside, Mick?
MICK
Sure, let’s do this.
SPENCER and MICK walk over to the door. SPENCER unlocks the door and it groans open audibly. The footsteps change from gravel to heavy and loud, obviously walking from the road inside a huge entryway.
MICK
Hey, Spence? Are you sure this is a good idea?
SPENCER
(surprised)
Of course I am, we’re the second solo team to be able to investigate one of the world’s most haunted locations. Why wouldn’t this be a good idea? I thought you were excited too?
MICK
(hesitantly)
I mean yeah, i’m excited . . . but you read the stories, saw the footage of that guy attacking the girl. There’s real evil here, and i can already feel it. What if this ends badly for us?
SPENCER
This isn’t a horror movie, M. We’re not going to be picked off one by one like in those cheesy B-list movies. We’re going to get some amazing evidence of the paranormal, submit it to news outlets everywhere, and from there we’ll get our own show and be amazingly famous and you can finally get that ring you’ve been eyeing for Deanna and get married and live happily ever after.
MICK
(laughing softly)
I mean...when you put it like that, you make me feel like i’m overreacting.
SPENCER
Did the black dog really shake you up that bad?
MICK
It looked right at me . . . like it knew me. Like it ran into the middle of the road, stopped, looked at me, and then ran off. Those eyes . . .
There’s a pregnant pause.
SPENCER
Look, weird things happen in Ireland, like Deanna said. I wouldn’t think to much about it honestly. Let’s just do what we do best right?
MICK
Right, let’s do this.
SCENE 4
INT - CONTROL CENTER - EVENING
Tapping from a keyboard, as well as soft beeps.
THOMAS
Okay, we are all set up. We have two cameras downstairs, two upstairs, and audio in most rooms. Motion sensor is located in the Tapestry Room, and if something passes by, it’ll make this sound,
THOMAS plays the sound, it’s a long, sustained, high pitched beep.
THOMAS
One camera is set up in that room, since, historically that’s where the most activity has been reported. I checked all of our equipment, everything is working, charged, and ready to go. I put a camera in one of the bedrooms upstairs, for some reason I thought it belonged there, you know?
SPENCER
Thomas, you rock. Evan, how’s your camera look? Is the recorder still on?
EVAN
Yup, recorder has been playing this whole time. Cammie is doing great, thanks for asking!
MICK
Cammie?
EVAN
Yeah, I thought she should have a name.
DEANNA
You’re a moron.
THOMAS
Okay, so I got recorders for everyone else too, since they’ll be a lot of times where not everyone is around Cammie lover here.
A resound of clicks emerge as everyone turns on their recorders and clips them to belts.
DEANNA:
Hey Mick, can I talk to you for a second?
MICK:
Sure! Let’s go over here.
MICK and DEANNA walk away from the others.
MICK:
What’s up?
DEANNA:
I wanted to know if you were okay, you seemed really spooked back there. Are you sure you still want to do this?
MICK:
I’m sure, this is going to be great for us.
DEANNA:
(hesitant)
Look . . . I just want to make sure that this is what YOU want . . . you know?
MICK:
What do you mean?
DEANNA:
I just . . . I know Spencer can be a bit . . .
MICK:
(warning tone in her voice)
A bit what, D?
DEANNA sighs heavily.
DEANNA
Overbearing, bossy, pushy, uncaring of others . . .
MICK:
I get it. You don’t like Spencer.
DEANNA:
No, it’s not that at all. When she told us about this gig she didn’t even ask us if we wanted to. She came barreling in to our apartment, which she has a key too somehow, and told us this is what’s happening. We were saving up for a house and we had to all but cash those savings out to get here. I know she’s your best friend, I know you care about her, and honestly I know that I’m just the girlfriend so what I think doesn’t even matter in the long run. I just want to know that this is your choice, you’re here because you want to be here, not because Spencer wants you to be.
MICK:
You’re not “just the girlfriend”, first off.
DEANNA scoffs.
MICK:
I’m not done. You’re not just the girlfriend. You’re the world to me. I want to be here, it’s a choice I made. Do you want to be here?
DEANNA:
This house . . . it’s wrong.
MICK:
Wrong.
It’s not a question so much as a statement. MICK knows what DEANNA is talking about.
DEANNA:
look, I’m with you, till the end of the line.
MICK:
(snorts)
Fucking dork.
DEANNA:
One of the many things you love about me. I mean it though. If this is truly what you want, I’ll be by your side the whole time. Now, let’s go catch some ghosties. I’m already itching to get outta dodge.
They go back over to the group, who has been talking amongst themselves
THOMAS
Everything good you guys?
MICK
Yeah, we’re good
THOMAS
Okay! now, let’s get to work guys, we only have so many hours in the night and if we’re going to use this to launch our careers we should probably get started now.
Everyone murmurs in agreement. Chairs and footsteps scuff around. The soft beeping continues. THOMAS’s chair creaks.
THOMAS
(softly)
This is going to be one hell of a night.
SCENE 5
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC plays. The INVESTIGATOR shuffles papers.
INVESTIGATOR
And this is where you all split up, correct?
SPENCER
Yes.
INVESTIGATOR
So, like Scooby Doo, you all thought it would be better to go your separate ways? Isn’t that a recipe for disaster?
SPENCER
I guess so.
INVESTIGATOR
The real trouble started after the split up, right?
SPENCER
For Evan, yes.
INVESTIGATOR
Do you know what happened to him leading up to his death?
SPENCER
Yes. His trouble started when he said . . .
STATIC.
SCENE 6
INT - LOFTUS HALL - EVENING
EVAN
Alright gang, let’s split up!
MICK
Are you Freddie now?
DEANNA
If Evan is Freddie, does that make Spencer Daphne?
SPENCER
I’d rather be Velma!
EVAN
Nah, Thomas is Velma. You’re Daphne, Deanna is Shaggy, and Mick is scooby doo.
MICK
Yeah, no, I’m not a dog.
A howl pierces through their conversation. There’s a moment of silence, obviously everyone is in shock.
MICK
You guys heard that too, right?
SPENCER
Yeah . . . kinda hard not too. I’m pretty sure my ears are still ringing.
EVAN
Do you think that was the same black dog from earlier?
SPENCER
Probably? I would just keep your wits about you tonight guys. That can’t be a coincidence.
EVAN
Well, I’m going to go check out the staircase, see if i can catch anything walking up or down it. Smell y’all later!
Heavy footsteps as EVAN walks.
EVAN
Here ghostie ghostie. Let me film you so I can get a new car.
More footsteps. He stops in front of the staircase.
EVAN
Alright, it is 9:35 pm and I am standing at the base of the main staircase. Upon first inspection nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. I’m going to set my camera down and do some EVP’s I think. I hate the Spirit Box so I’ll be using my phone to capture audio since the recorder is obviously in use.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
GHOST voice is always distorted and breathy. EVAN does not hear it.
EVAN
Session one. I’m going to ask three questions, then stop and review. If you have anything to say during, even if it doesn’t pertain to my question, go ahead and say it.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
EVAN
What’s your name?
EVAN pauses. Nothing is heard.
EVAN
How long have you been here?
GHOST
She’s coming for you . . .
Pause.
EVAN
How did you die?
Pause.
EVAN
Okay, time for playback.
EVAN scuffles around a bit, sitting down on the staircase to listen to the recording. As he’s about to press play, a scream echoes through.
EVAN
(shocked, horrified, excited)
Oh my god! Oh my god that was intense!
THE MORRIGAN
Evan . . .
The voice of THE MORRIGAN is soft, seductive, inviting. EVAN starts, having heard this voice.
EVAN
Hello? Is someone there? Mick, is that you?
Silence for a few seconds, EVAN breathes heavily.
EVAN
Guys, this isn’t funny. We have work to do. If you’re screwing with me I won’t be happy!
There’s more silence. EVAN fidgets, growing uncomfortable. There’s a rush of air suddenly, like wind ripping through a tree. EVAN yelps a bit and scrambles up to his feet.
EVAN
Oh my god, something just touched me! Oh my god, what the hell!
THE MORRIGAN
You are unworthy.
UNWORTHY is slightly distorted, like LOFTUS HALL was in the beginning. EVAN’s scrambling stills. It becomes deathly quiet.
EVAN
I am unworthy.
EVAN’s takes the recorder off his belt and sets it down on a stair. Footsteps can be heard as he walks up the stairs. He slips a noose around his neck.
THE MORRIGAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
EVAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
He jumps.
SCENE 7
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC. INVESTIGATOR clears his throat.
INVESTIGATOR
That’s what you think happened?
SPENCER
That’s what I know happened
INVESTIGATOR
How do you know? You weren’t there. You were in the Tapestry Room at this time, that’s what you said.
SPENCER
We listened to his recording after we found him swinging.
INVESTIGATOR
(deadpanned)
After you found him swinging.
STATIC
SCENE 8
INT - GRAND STAIRCASE - EVENING
Rapid footsteps of SPENCER, MICK, and THOMAS approach, creaks of EVAN’s body swinging can be heard as well. SPENCER screams in horror.
SPENCER
(screaming in anguish)
EVAN! NO!
THOMAS
I . . . I looked over to his monitor to late . . .
There’s silence as everybody takes this in.
MICK
Did . . . did you see anybody around him? He couldn’t have done this himself . . . right?
THOMAS
(hesitantly)
I watched him jump . . . he did this himself.
SPENCER
(softly)
No
The creaking continues. SPENCER makes little gasping sounds, like she’s about to have a panic attack. Everyone is in a haze.
SPENCER
This can’t be real . . . this can’t be happening . . . we need to stop the investigation and call the police. We can’t keep going.
MICK
I agree. Let’s pack up and go . . . I don’t think we should touch him.
THOMAS
You want to just leave him here?
MICK
Well it’s a crime scene now. We can’t touch anything. The tapes will show it was . . . him . . . but if we disturb things it will get all of us in trouble.
THOMAS
We should leave equipment here then too, just lock the place up and go.
MICK
Yeah . . . that’s a good idea.
SPENCER takes a deep breath.
SPENCER
Okay . . . okay . . . let’s go.
MICK
Wait . . . shouldn’t we check the recorder? He was doing EVP’s when this happened. Before we leave we should see if this was really him.
THOMAS
Mick . . . this was him . . . I watched him jump, remember? He said ‘goodbye’ then jumped. Are you sure you want to listen to that?
MICK
We owe it to him.
A moment of silence, THOMAS takes a deep breath.
THOMAS
Okay, since I saw it already I’ll listen to it. Why don’t you guys go sit at control . . . I’ll get his recorder from the stairs and listen. If anything comes of it I’ll call you guys back okay?
MICK
Okay . . .
Two sets of footsteps walk away. THOMAS sighs heavily and walks over to the recorder, up a few steps. He sits down and pauses.
THOMAS
(softly, to himself)
I don’t honestly know if I want it to be you . . . or something else. This just . . . doesn’t seem like you Evan. You would have told me if you were depressed . . . right?
EVAN
(same distortion as ghost voices)
It wasn’t me . . . it was Her. She did this . . . She wants someone.
THOMAS doesn’t hear EVAN. he takes another deep breath and presses play. The playback sounds like it should, a recording being recorded.
EVAN
Alright, it is 9:35 pm and I am standing at the base of the main staircase. Upon first inspection nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. I’m going to set my camera down and do some EVP’s I think. I hate the Spirit Box so I’ll be using my phone to capture audio since the recorder is obviously in use.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
THOMAS pauses the recorder, almost throwing it.
THOMAS
GUYS! GET BACK HERE!
Everyone comes running back.
MICK
What did you hear?
THOMAS
Something was speaking to him! It told him to get off the stairs! Listen!
THOMAS presses play again.
EVAN
Session one. I’m going to ask three questions, then stop and review. If you have anything to say during, even if it doesn’t pertain to my question, go ahead and say it.
GHOST
Get off the stairs . . .
SPENCER
Oh my god . . .
EVAN
What’s your name?
EVAN
How long have you been here?
GHOST
She’s coming for you . . .
Pause. SPENCER gasps softly.
EVAN
How did you die?
Pause.
EVAN
Okay, time for playback.
When the scream echoes through, everyone gasps, horrified.
EVAN
(shocked, horrified, excited)
Oh my god! Oh my god that was intense!
THE MORRIGAN
Evan . . .
MICK
What the hell was that? It sounds different than the other voice . . .
EVAN
Hello? Is someone there? Mick, is that you?
Silence for a few seconds, EVAN breathes heavily.
EVAN
Guys, this isn’t funny. We have work to do. If you’re screwing with me I won’t be happy!
There’s more silence. EVAN fidgets, growing uncomfortable. There’s a rush of air suddenly, like wind ripping through a tree. EVAN yelps a bit and scrambles up to his feet.
EVAN
Oh my god, something just touched me! Oh my god, what the hell!
THE MORRIGAN
You are unworthy.
UNWORTHY is slightly distorted. EVAN’s scrambling stills. It becomes deathly quiet.
EVAN
I am unworthy.
EVAN’s takes the recorder off his belt and sets it down on a stair. Footsteps can be heard as he walks up the stairs. He slips a noose around his neck.
THE MORRIGAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
EVAN
(distantly)
Goodbye
The recording stops. There’s silence as everyone processes what just happened.
SPENCER
(slowly, disbelieving)
Something killed Evan.
Silence. THOMAS clears his throat.
THOMAS
I vote that we leave. Right now. Go tell the authorities like we planned, but get the hell out.
MICK
I fully agree.
SCENE 9
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC.
INVESTIGATOR
But you guys didn’t leave, right?
SPENCER
That’s correct.
INVESTIGATOR
But why? After you figured out what happened to Evan, why didn’t you leave?
SPENCER
She didn’t want us to.
INVESTIGATOR
She . . . you mean the voice that made Evan jump?
SPENCER
Yes.
INVESTIGATOR
How can a ghost make someone kill themselves?
SPENCER
She isn’t a ghost.
INVESTIGATOR
(skeptical)
Okay, then what is she?
SPENCER
Keep listening and you’ll find out.
STATIC
SCENE 10
INT - LOFTUS HALL - EVENING
Footsteps as everyone walks to control center.
THOMAS
I just need to grab the car keys and we’ll be out of here, okay? I set them on the table next to the keyboard. I didn’t think we’d be leaving this early.
SPENCER
I honestly have no idea where the nearest station would be. Do you think we should drive to the nearest house and ask them? They should know right?
MICK
If anyone is around here that is. I kind of remember the way back to that town that we drove through to get here. Maybe we should just go into town? There’s probably a station there.
THOMAS
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.
Another scream echoes through the building. The only one that hears it is THOMAS however
THOMAS
(yelping)
Holy shit!
MICK
what’s wrong?? Are you okay??
THOMAS
You didn’t hear that??
SPENCER and MICK give different variations of no.
MICK
We didn’t hear anything. What do you think you heard?
THOMAS
It was a scream! Like the one we heard on Evan’s recorder!
SPENCER
Are you sure you just didn’t remember hearing it?
GHOST
(starting at ‘hearing it’)
She’s coming . . . she wants more blood.
No one hears this.
THOMAS
No! I heard it! It sounded like it was right next to me! guys I’m terrified, we need to leave right now. I thought I put the keys right here . . .
He fumbles around on the table, moving things. He becomes frantic.
SPENCER
Let me help, maybe they fell off the desk?
MICK
Are you sure you didn’t put them in your pocket? They may have fallen out on the staircase.
THOMAS
No, i’m sure I put them right here. They’ve just vanished!
SPENCER
Maybe someone took them . . .
MICK
Guys? Where’s Deanna??
They realize DEANNA is missing.
MICK
(frantic)
DEANNA??? DEANNA WHERE ARE YOU???
MICK runs off, SPENCER and THOMAS chase after her, calling for DEANNA. A few seconds of frantic running pass.
SPENCER
Where the hell did she go??
MICK
(frantic)
I have no idea! was she here at all?!
THOMAS
I . . . I don’t think so, let me go back to control and see if I can catch her on some cameras.
THOMAS runs off. MICK is starting to have a panic attack.
MICK
Spencer what if she’s dead? What if the same thing that happened to Evan happened to her??
SPENCER
Mick you need to calm down, we’ll find her. You know she panics sometimes, and with what we just saw and heard, it’s totally understandable.
MICK
Maybe she went to the car? We should go check the car.
SPENCER
Yeah, let’s go do that.
THOMAS runs in, he sounds breathless.
THOMAS
Guys I can’t find her, she just . . . disappeared. Like I even looked through the footage we have. She’s nowhere to be seen.
SPENCER
Do you think she could have ran out to the car? Do we have a camera on the doorway?
THOMAS
It’s possible? We don’t have a camera on the doorway so she could have ran out.
There’s a moment of silence. THOMAS’s breathing gets heavier. He becomes distant, staring off into nowhere.
MICK
Thomas? Are you okay?
SPENCER
Thomas?? What are you doing??
THOMAS lunges forward and grabs SPENCER by the throat. She makes a strangled gasp.
MICK
(horrified)
THOMAS! STOP IT! YOU’RE STRANGLING HER!
THOMAS
(deadpanned)
We are not worthy. Goodbye.
MICK
THOMAS! FUCKING STOP!
MICK throws THOMAS off SPENCER and into the control center. He collides with all of the equipment set up. The power surges and electrocutes THOMAS, who screams in pain for a brief second before slumping, the life zapped out of him.
MICK
What the fuck??? What the fuck???
MICK runs over to SPENCER, who’s still on the floor.
MICK
Are you okay??
SPENCER
(hoarsly)
Yeah . . . I’m fine . . . Is he dead?
MICK walks over to THOMAS’s body, her footsteps slow and loud.
MICK
Yeah . . . he’s gone.
SPENCER
Holy shit.
SCENE 11
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC. INVESTIGATOR shuffles papers around, looking for a specific one.
INVESTIGATOR
When our expert listened to Thomas’s recording, they heard that same voice from Evan’s, the one that told him to jump. It was telling Thomas to strangle you. It said whoever survived this night would be the vessel.
SPENCER
Yes.
INVESTIGATOR
This whole vessel talk shows up later in your recordings. Do you want to talk about that?
SPENCER
Don’t you want to hear the rest of the story first? It will make a lot more sense once I’m done.
INVESTIGATOR
Sure. When did you find Deanna’s body?
SPENCER
We found it after Thomas short circuited.
STATIC.
SCENE 12
SPENCER and MICK are in slight shock. MICK is the first one to regain her wits.
MICK
We need to find Deanna and get the hell out of here before anything else happens.
SPENCER
Yeah . . . maybe we should go check out that room Thomas put the camera in upstairs? I remember he said something about feeling like it was important. Maybe that’s where she ran too. It was kind of tucked away and I know she was probably with Thomas when he set it up.
MICK
Okay . . . let’s do that.
They run up the stairs and to this room. Like SPENCER said, it’s tucked away so it takes them a second to get there. When they do, they look around, breathing heavily. No one’s there.
MICK
Deanna?? Are you here??
SPENCER
I don’t see anything Mick . . . but do you feel that?
MICK
Like my world is going to drop out from under me if we go over to that wall?
MICK and SPENCER walk towards a wall like they’re pulled over there.
SPENCER
the wallpaper is different here . . . Close your eyes, Mick. I’m going to tear it off.
MICK
(her voice is quiet, like she knows what’s going to be found)
Just do it.
SPENCER rips the wallpaper down and there’s a moment of silence before MICK screams loud and long.
SPENCER
holy shit . . . Oh my god . . . Deanna what happened to you?
MICK is wailing, screaming DEANNA’s name.
SCENE 13
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC.
INVESTIGATOR
Can you explain to me what you saw? We didn’t find Deanna’s body in that room.
SPENCER
She was stuck up in the wall, arms out like a Christ figure. There was a symbol carved into her forehead and a bunch of different ones carved into her arms. She was sliced from chin to sternum and her ribcage had been cracked open and her heart removed. Her heart was gone, and that seemed to be the only thing taken from her, other than her eyes and tongue.
INVESTIGATOR
Her eyes and tongue?
SPENCER
Yes, her lids and mouth were open and there was just nothing. Emptiness where organs had once resided.
The INVESTIGATOR clears their throat.
INVESTIGATOR
That’s a hell of an image.
SPENCER
Yeah, one hell of an image.
STATIC
SCENE 14
INT - LOFTUS HALL - NIGHT
MICK is still screaming. SPENCER shakes her to try and get her to stop.
SPENCER
Mick stop! She’s dead! We have to leave right now!
MICK
(sobbing)
I can’t leave her!
SPENCER
There is literally nothing you can do! She’s fucking gone!
MICK
Can’t we take her with us??
SPENCER
No! The police need to see this! Someone . . . someTHING is trying to kill us!
MICK breathes heavily, realizing that SPENCER is right. The same scream from earlier rips through the room.
MICK
Holy shit!
SPENCER
What??
MICK
Wait . . . you didn’t hear that?
SPENCER
No, and it doesn’t matter Mick, we need to leave right now.
MICK
Okay . . . okay yeah . . . let’s go. D, i’m so sorry . . . I love you so much.
SPENCER and MICK run out of the room and down the stairs. They open the door and start to run to the car on the gravel road.
SPENCER
Shit! We don’t have the keys!
MICK
Just run!
Their breathing is labored as they sprint down the driveway. Another set of running footsteps come into focus. It’s not the sound of another human though, it’s the sound of animal feet.
SPENCER
Do you hear that??
MICK
Just keep going!
A snarl erupts right behind them, the animal closing in on their heels. Another snarl and MICK screams in blinding pain.
SCENE 15
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC
SPENCER takes a deep breath, the first bit of emotion she shows in this interview.
SPENCER
Can we just . . .
INVESTIGATOR
Yeah, yeah. Take a moment. She was your best friend right?
SPENCER
She was, yes.
SPENCER breathes out shakily.
SPENCER
The wolf, the one from before, ripped her arm off first. Mick dropped to the ground and she tore the other arm off next. I stopped running and just watched in horror as she took apart my best friend, limb by limb.
INVESTIGATOR
jesus . . .
SPENCER
She didn’t eat Mick though . . . just tore her apart. The head was last. It came off with a wet pop. I don’t think i’ll ever forget that sound. I can still hear it, if I think about it hard enough.
INVESTIGATOR
I’m so sorry Spencer . . . that’s something no one should go through.
SPENCER
Yes . . . she wasn’t worthy though.
INVESTIGATOR
(clearing their throat)
I guess not.
The INVESTIGATOR shuffles some papers around.
INVESTIGATOR
Do you want to hear what happened to Deanna? Or would you like to go on?
SPENCER
I would like to hear Deanna’s tape if that’s okay.
INVESTIGATOR
Are you sure?
SPENCER
Yes, I’m sure.
INVESTIGATOR
Okay, I’ll have someone bring it in.
STATIC
SCENE 16
INT - LOFTUS HALL - EVENING
EVAN
Well, I’m going to go check out the staircase, see if i can catch anything walking up or down it. Smell y’all later!
EVAN walks away. DEANNA turns to MICK and SPENCER
DEANNA
I’m going to go check out the card room. See you guys around.
MICK
We’ll meet up after Spencer and I do some readings in the tapestry room. Try and get some good evidence.
DEANNA
I will! Love you Mick!
MICK
Love you too D.
DEANNA walks away, humming softly to herself. She walks into the card room and looks around.
DEANNA
Let’s get the ball rolling shall we? Okay ghosts, I’m going to set up my camera and the turn on the Spirit Box . . .
The last screams echoes through the room, the last but the first at the same time. DEANNA stops talking.
DEANNA
Oh my god . . .
HELLFIRE CLUB
The Banshee has spoken. It is time for you, my child.
DEANNA
Who the hell are you guys??
DEANNA whirls around to see a group of men staring at her, cloaks shrouding their bodies, the hoods pulled low over their eyes.
DEANNA
Where did you come from??
HELLFIRE CLUB
We are the Hellfire Club. Tonight’s importance has been passed down through the ages. Tonight, She rises.
DEANNA
Who is She?
HELLFIRE CLUB
She is the answer to every religion’s question: how will our world perish?
A few members of the HELLFIRE CLUB grab DEANNA’s arms and hold her. She struggles audibly.
DEANNA
Let me go!
HELLFIRE CLUB
She is fire and rain, lightning and thunder. She is in our guns, in our bullets, in our bombs. She is the idea of destruction, the driving force of war. She is the bird of prey that attacks and picks the bones clean.
DEANNA
Stop! No! Please! Mick! MICK!
HELLFIRE CLUB
With this death we give Her life.
DEANNA screams in the background, long and drawn out as they carve the symbols into her flesh.
HELLFIRE CLUB
We give Her a way into this world, we give Her the tools to become the downfall of this sinful world.
Please, come to us, we are your children, your devotees. We welcome you and your wrath. Find one of these mortals who is worthy, take their body and make it your own.
Rise.
THE MORRIGAN
I am here.
SCENE 17
INT - POLICE STATION - DAY
STATIC. The tape stops.
SPENCER
Just like I remember it.
INVESTIGATOR
Excuse me?
SPENCER
(chuckling softly)
You really don’t get it, do you?
INVESTIGATOR
Enlighten me.
SPENCER starts to tap her nails on the metal table again, slow and rhythmic.
SPENCER
After I watched Mick get torn to pieces the wolf turned to me, blood dripping from her muzzle. I heard it then, not the scream the others had heard, but the voice, Her voice. She told me I was worthy.
She shifted then, bones breaking and rearranging in the transition from wolf to goddess. She is beautiful. Have you ever seen Her? The Morrigan?
INVESTIGATOR
(wary)
I can’t say that I have . . .
SPENCER
Oh, she’s enchanting, She took my breath away. She made me forget all about Mick as she stared at me, a smile on her face. She told me I was worthy. Me, can you believe it?
The INVESTIGATOR doesn’t respond. He’s enthralled in what SPENCER is saying.
SPENCER
She told me about this world, how dirty and rotten it had become, how She had been summoned to cleanse it with blood. I am her vessel. She is me and I am her. I know what’s happened to Her, what’s happened since the dawn of time. I see everything, know everything. Together we will cleanse the earth and start anew.
The INVESTIGATOR gasps suddenly, clutching his throat. He make strangled sounds as their windpipe crushes itself with a soft crunch. His body falls to the floor and SPENCER chuckles again, rising from her chair.
SPENCER/THE MORRIGAN
Let’s begin.
STATIC.
END.