Earthbound Screenplay (ACT THREE)

Earthbound Screenplay (ACT THREE)

EARTHBOUND, ACT THREE

FADE IN

INT : ONETT HILL : NESS'S HOUSE : NESS'S BEDROOM : EARLY MORNING :

The same pale light that appeared to NESS the previous morning appears again, this time brighter, larger, and closer to the viewer. The soft girlish voice is also much more forceful. There is a sense of urgency about it.

VOICE
(desperate)
Hello? Hello, please! Please answer. I know
you're there. Your heart is even stronger now.
It's like a drum pounding in my head. Can't you
feel it?

Brightness floods the screen, and then slowly begins to melt away as other shapes become more noticeable in the dying light.

FADE TO:

INT : ONETT HILL : NESS'S HOUSE : NESS'S BEDROOM : MORNING :

When the light clears, the camera is focused in on NESS. His eyes open and the view changes to first-person from his perspective. He is looking straight at KING.

KING sits beside the bed, panting and ears up. He tilts his head when NESS acknowledges him with a groan.

KING
Awake now? You tell me I make strange sounds in
my sleep as well, and for a while I had believed
you were dead, yet you were still whimpering like
a pup.

The camera switches to a view of both characters. NESS is tangled in his sheets and blankets. His black hair is plastered to his face where perspiration has gathered.

NESS
(groggy, confused)
What? Dead? I was just asleep.
(pause)
And dreaming about... something.

KING
The soul leaves the body at death, and the body
takes on a peculiar scent. I smelled it all over
you and I still can. Why?

NESS
(rolling over with another groan)
I don't know. I don't even know what you're
talking about.

KING leaps up and puts his front paws on the bed. He barks and NESS buries his head under a pillow.

KING
Is it possible for a soul to leave its body
and then return?

NESS pushes KING off the bed with obvious annoyance and sits up. He looks as though he has been fighting off an assailant all night long, and failing. Slowly he unwinds the tangled bedclothes. As he works, his speed and urgency increase.

NESS
I don't know. I don't know anymore--about
anything. I've been feeling weird the past few
days. Ever since this-
(pause)
Where is it?

NESS digs frantically through the sheets and blankets. There is a look of fear on his face, but it disappears the instant a heavy, solid sound hits the floor. NESS clears the fallen blankets away and snatches up the Sound Stone.

KING watches with ears held high.

NESS
(relieved)
Oh thank God. I thought I lost it. This stupid
thing. It's taking over my life!

NESS tosses the Sound Stone onto the bed and walks away. The camera follows him to the bureau and mirror hanging above it, which NESS looks into with disdain.

KING stands beside NESS, nudging him with his snout until NESS gives in and pats his head.

NESS
(morose)
I can't stop thinking about it, boy. If it's not
here, I feel like I'll die, or worse.

KING
What is a fate worse than death?

NESS
Whatever happens to me if I let go of that stone.
(pause)
I have to go. I've got to leave here.

The camera focuses in on NESS, who has begun to cry, and then switches views to KING. The old dog sits back on his haunches, restless and filled with anxiety. KING begins to whine.

KING
You're going somewhere? Right now?

NESS
Soon. Once I get some clothes on and get my
things together.
(pause)
And say goodbye to Mom.

KING
(whining)
You're being too serious! Please stop. You talk
like you are going to leave forever.

NESS
I might be. Who knows? The only thing I know for
sure is that I won't be home tonight. And I'm
telling you this because I want you to know-

KING
(interjecting)
Why do they always confide in the dog?

NESS
(continuing)
Someone has to know. I can't tell Mom or Tracy.
They'll try and stop me.

KING
Maybe it's for the best.

NESS
The best thing for me to do is get out of here.
I don't want to leave you guys, but if I stay,
I'll go insane. I feel like I'm starting to lose
my mind already.

KING nudges NESS again.

NESS (CONT.)
I've got to find myself, or whatever it is I'm
looking for--or what I think I might be looking
for. I don't know. But it's not around here.
(crying, putting a hand over his heart)
It really hurts, boy. I feel like my mind is
gonna explode.

A noise coming from the hallway distracts NESS and KING for a moment. They look in that direction, and then NESS wipes his face and kneels down in front of his dog.

NESS
(whispering)
Okay. Listen close, King. You can't act upset
when I leave today. Just be normal, or else
Mom might get upset, too. I'm going to tell
her that I'm just going out, like always, but
I won't be coming back.

KING
That's dishonest, Ness.

NESS
Please, just listen. As soon as I can, I'll
call the house. I'll let Mom know I'm all right
so she doesn't have to worry.

KING
She will worry anyhow.

NESS
I know. But I can't change that. I don't want
to hurt you guys. This is gonna be really hard,
but Mom always used to tell me the right thing
to do is usually the hardest.

KING
Is this the right thing to do?

NESS
(hesitant)
I don't know. Maybe. I'll know at some point,
I guess.

NESS looks at KING with a stern expression, and then wraps his arms around him, burying his face in the dirty white fur. KING whimpers again.

NESS
I promise I'll come home just as soon as I can,
whenever I find what I'm looking for. Until then,
be a good boy. Watch over Mom and Tracy.

NESS stands up and exits the scene after giving KING a final pat on the head.

KING watches the departure. He sprawls out on the floor, rests his head on his front paws, and sighs.

CUT TO :

INT : ONETT HILL : NESS'S HOUSE : MORNING :

NESS descends the stairs and enters the lounge. He has his backpack slung over one shoulder and carries a baseball bat in the opposite hand. Although he has cleaned himself up and dressed in a clean shirt and new pair of denim shorts, he looks just as shaken as when he awoke earlier that morning.

NESS'S MOTHER is in the kitchen. The camera focuses in on her a moment to show that she is busy preparing food, and then switches back to a very somber NESS as he drops his backpack onto a couch and looks through it.

NESS'S MOTHER
(off-screen)
So, you're finally up and about? Tracy told me
to say hi to you for her.

NESS does not immediately respond. He looks hard at the items in his bag, which include several articles of clothing and the Sound Stone.

NESS
Thanks.
(lengthy pause, rummaging idly through the bag)
Hey Mom, could you get me some of my allowance
out? I was gonna go into town and maybe get some
lunch there.

NESS'S MOTHER
(surprised)
Oh? Well all right, hun, I suppose so. Are you
sure you wouldn't rather wait? It shouldn't
take too long.

NESS
No, it's okay. I wanted to go and check out
this new thing they had at the Game Corner.

KING comes down the stairs, claws clicking on the floor, and NESS glances at him.

NESS'S MOTHER
(walking to the refrigerator)
You should really be careful about going into
that part of town. They say there's been gang
riots and all sorts of things happening.

NESS
Yeah I know. I'll be careful.

NESS'S MOTHER enters the lounge and hands NESS a small amount of money.

NESS'S MOTHER
That's all I ask.

NESS wraps his arms around his mother in a tight embrace. His face is pressed into the front of her dress. Stunned, NESS'S MOTHER returns his gesture.

NESS'S MOTHER
Ness? Are you feeling all right? You've been
acting so strange lately.
(smiling)
Usually I have to ask for a hug before I get one.

NESS
I love you, Mom.

KING
(interjecting)
Yes, let's not make it too obvious. Don't give
her any reason to suspect something.

NESS'S MOTHER
I love you, too, sweetheart. Are you sure you're
all right?

NESS
Fine, Mom. I just thought-
(hesitation)
I should tell you that I love you more.

NESS'S MOTHER
Well all right. Go on then and have fun. Maybe
you could take Porky and-
(hesitation)
Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. He and his brother are
being punished, aren't they?

NESS
That' all right. Porky always tries to cheat
anyway.

NESS'S MOTHER smiles as NESS pulls away from her and secretively puts the money in his backpack. He is doing his best to keep her from seeing all the clothes he has packed, but she does notice that the bag is quite full.

NESS'S MOTHER
Looks like you're going to be busy today. Don't
stay out late. You be home for dinner.

The camera catches the pained expression NESS makes. He is turned away from his mother so that she cannot see his face as he dons his backpack and takes up his baseball bat.

KING watches from his spot on the floor near the couch. He whines.

NESS
Stay, boy.

NESS exits.

CUT TO:

EXT : ONETT HILL : NESS'S HOUSE : LATE MORNING :

The sun is nearing its noontime peak when NESS steps out of his house. The camera closes in on him and he looks down the lane to the MINCH RESIDENCE. Although nothing seems to be out of place at first glance, it is obvious that NESS has noticed something is amiss.

CUT TO:

EXT : ONETT HILL : MINCH RESIDENCE : LATE MORNING :

A closer view of the MINCH household shows that PICKY is sitting outside on the front steps, tracing circles in the dirt with his finger.

NESS enters the scene.

NESS
(confused)
Picky?

PICKY
(somber)
Oh hey, Ness. Did you come to play? Because I
can't really go anywhere right now. Mum told me
to watch the house.

NESS
What about Porky? Is he still sleeping?

PICKY
(resting his head in one hand)
He's not home. He left with Dad this morning.
And Mum's out shopping, I guess.

NESS
But I thought you guys were grounded? Why would
Porky be gone and not you?

PICKY
(sighing)
I don't know. I think maybe it was that guy that
came to our house last night. He and my dad
talked a lot, and so did Porky. He normally
gets really bored when we have company. I guess
they went to visit him.

NESS
So they left to visit this guy, whoever he is,
your mom went out to shop, and you're home alone.

PICKY shrugs his shoulders and begins to draw a new shape in the dirt.

NESS
Maybe I should just stop trying to understand
your family.

PICKY
Yeah, I gave up a few years ago.

NESS is silent a moment, and then he removes his backpack and searches through its contents. From the jumbled mess inside he produces a red yo-yo. Its designs are faded, suggesting age, but it otherwise looks clean.

NESS
Here. I know you like it. And you've been a
good friend to me, even if Porky always hasn't.
I want you to have it.

PICKY
(stunned, joyful)
Ness-

NESS
(interjecting)
You don't have to say anything. Just take it.
And don't let Porky steal it from you.

PICKY
(taking the yo-yo)
No, I won't. He won't even know I have it when
he gets home. I'll put it in my secret place.

NESS smiles, takes up his backpack, and retreats along the front walk.

NESS
See you around, Picky.

NESS exits.

FADE TO:

EXT : ONETT : CITY LIMITS : AFTERNOON :

The sun has moved in the sky, suggesting a substantial passage of time. ONETT is not far off, but the paved roadways have ended and become dirt once more.

This is the southern edge of the town. It is home to a small residential area and fringed with great waves of green--a forest that is seemingly endless. The camera captures this, playing up the size of the area before coming back down to earth where the dirt road meets the first line of trees.

NESS is seen coming up the path, his face expressionless. Everything stops when, from off-screen, the sound of growling is heard. NESS turns in the direction of the noise.

Shifting to the right, away from NESS, the camera catches sight of a dog several feet from the roadside. Its hackles are raised. It is snarling and baring its teeth at NESS.

Without a word or any sign of hesitation, NESS continues walking. The dog, however, does not lose interest. It charges and lunges at NESS, who turns sharply to block the fierce biting attack with the length of his baseball bat.

The dog is thrown off, but comes back for more. NESS begins to swing the bat and shout to frighten his assailant.

There is a close-up view of the dog just before it lunges again. Its eyes are wild and dark. The bright, glossy vitality seen in the faces of other animals and people is absent. As much as a dog can, it looks as though it has gone mad.

When the dog rushes at him, NESS does not think twice about taking another swing. A bright glow rises off the end of the bat just before it collides with its target.

There is a sharp cry from off-screen. The view changes again to show the dog just as it collapses several feet from NESS, mouth open, eyes shut, and skull cracked open on one side. Blood is pouring from the wound.

The bat has lost its ethereal glow, and it appears that NESS has also lost some of his nerve from the pained expression on his face. He approaches the dog and kneels beside it. This is when he notices that it is wearing a collar with a nametag attached.

NESS
(to himself)
So it wasn't wild.

NESS looks over the nametag but does not recognize anything on it. There is a close-up shot of his face, which is wet with tears. He wipes them away as the camera switches back to a view of the dog. A viscous, pitch-black substance is leaking out of its mouth. When NESS touches the face of the dog, some of the strange liquid is transferred to his fingers. It is leaking slowly from every opening on the animal, including the eyes.

With a look of intensifying disgust, NESS backs off. He exits the scene, heading south, as the camera slowly closes in on the face of the dog.

CUT TO:

EXT : TWOSON : CITY LIMITS : LATE AFTERNOON :

Green dominates the landscape. Even as the trees thin out and manmade structures come into view, much of the land is still pristine.

The city of TWOSON is more expansive and heavily populated than ONETT, though it seems to be set in the middle of nowhere. It is lined on its northern and western end with forest, and its southern and eastern sides are flanked by mountains. The same dirt road leading out of ONETT winds straight into TWOSON until it meets asphalt and pavement.

NESS trots down the path and enters the city, taking his first few steps across the sidewalk before stopping. The people around him are forced to walk around.

There is an expression of uncertainty about NESS. He drops his bat and removes his backpack to search through it, pulling out a map that he unfolds until its bottom edge is hanging above his knees. When the camera focuses in on it, it is apparent that the map is of no use.

NESS
(annoyed)
Just Onett. A lot of good that's gonna do me.
Dammit, I knew it! I should've looked first.

NESS sloppily folds the map up and stuffs it into his backpack. Then, he slings the bag over his shoulder once more, takes up his bat, and resumes walking.

The crowds are thick and stifling. NESS is soon overwhelmed by the sheer number of people around him. He is lost from sight for a moment before escaping through a small gap.

NESS crosses the street to a bench where he takes a moment to gather his thoughts. An elderly man soon joins him, and NESS instinctively scoots down to put some space between them.

OLD MAN
(chuckling)
I'm not going to bite you, son. Can't an old-timer
like myself rest his bones?

NESS
Yeah, sorry. I was just giving you some room.

Although the man looks directly at NESS when speaking, his eyes appear to be glazed-over, suggesting partial or total blindness, but there is still a bright vitality in them.

OLD MAN
It's getting a bit late. Shouldn't you be heading
home? You'll keep your mother waiting.

NESS
(somber)
Yeah, I should be heading home.

There is a moment of silence between NESS and the OLD MAN as they look away from each other and at the people and cars passing by on the street. NESS shifts his attention to the sun slowly descending toward the trees in the west.

OLD MAN
Home must be a ways off for you then?

NESS
Oh, yeah. I wouldn't get back until dark if I
went now. But I can't.

OLD MAN
Running away?

NESS
I've still got some things to do.

OLD MAN
Well don't let me stand in the way, but at least
let me give you a bit of advice. First, always
remember that no matter where you go or how old
you are--even if you're my age--it never hurts
to give your mother a call. She'll appreciate it.

NESS looks puzzled and the OLD MAN laughs.

OLD MAN (CONT.)
Secondly, I don't know how familiar you are with
this town, but I wouldn't suggest hanging about
in the park after dark. It'd be too easy for a
nice young man like yourself to get mixed up in
something nasty.

NESS
(curious)
The park? Why? What's over there?

OLD MAN
Gangs, criminals, those sorts of people. I never
go alone anymore--even in the daytime.

NESS stands up, gathering his backpack and baseball bat.

NESS
(rushing)
Thank you! I have to be going now!

NESS takes off and the OLD MAN watches him depart.

OLD MAN
(to himself)
Well, there he goes. I suppose Edith was right.
I never know when to keep my mouth shut.

CUT TO:

EXT : TWOSON : CITY STREETS : LATE AFTERNOON :

NESS races down to the corner where he turns right. The first person he comes across, he stops and talks to, though the camera is too far from them to catch the conversation. The stranger points down the street and NESS takes off again.

CUT TO:

EXT : TWOSON : BURGLIN PARK : ENTRANCE : LATE AFTERNOON :

When the camera catches up to NESS, he has stopped outside a tall archway and gate. At the top of the archway is a sign that reads "BURGLIN PARK."

NESS looks down the main path before moving again. It is a paved walk lined with flowering plants, park benches, and makeshift concession stands, though many of them are closed up and empty. The few people that are roaming about the park look at NESS with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, and it is obvious that NESS reciprocates these feelings.

Partway down the walk, NESS stops when a voice calls to him from off-screen.

VOICE
Hey, kid. You lookin' for anything?

NESS looks toward the source of the voice as the camera pans over. A man dressed in old clothes, with long, grimy hair and a dirt-laden beard, rests beside one of the concession stands.

The stand itself is nothing more than a table with plywood nailed to all sides. On top of the table are various trinkets, most of them lost toys, broken watches, and jewelry.

NESS approaches the stand and the man addressing him.

NESS
Yeah. I'm looking for a guy called Everdred.

DEALER
(stunned)
Whoa, you don't waste no time pullin' out the big
guns, do ya? Everdred lives at the far end of
Burglin Park, but you don't wanna see him.

NESS
What makes you so sure?

DEALER
(annoyed)
How old are you, kid? Twelve? There ain't nothin'
a twelve-year-old has got to say to a grown man.
I suggest you get on outta here before the sun sets.
The wrong sort of people like to hang out here, and
though I personally don't see no sense in muggin'
a kid--what kinna money do kids have anyway?--
I do know that there are some pretty nasty fellas
around here. And Everdred's one of 'em. So, get
back home.
(smiling)
Unless you'd like to buy somethin'.

NESS
(walking off)
I don't need anything.

DEALER
(desperate)
Whoa, whoa! Wait. We could make a trade if you
ain't got no cash. Come back here. What've you
got in the bag?

NESS
(still walking)
Clothes.

DEALER
Ah, so you're runnin' away from home. I did
that once. Found my own place. By the way,
welcome to it.

NESS stops walking and the camera focuses in on him for a moment to catch his somber, guilt-ridden expression.

NESS
I'm not running away from home. There's just
something I need to do before I can go back.

DEALER
Right. I hear ya.
(pause)
So, no trade then?

NESS begins to walk off again in silence.

DEALER
All right, wait. I know where you're goin' and
I ain't gonna try and stop ya none, but at
least take this.

The DEALER tosses a round object to NESS, who catches it blindly.

DEALER
(stunned)
Well that's strange. Almost like you knew it was
comin'. Then again, you play baseball, don't ya?
(pointing at the bat NESS carries)
Anyway, have it. No charge. It'll bring you luck.

NESS
(scrutinizing the object)
Really?

DEALER
Nah, I can't promise that. I don't know what the
hell it is, or who the hell Franklin is either.
But if you'd like to think of it as good luck,
then I'd say it's worth every penny you didn't pay.

NESS turns the object over and notices that it has an attachment on the back that would allow him to secure it to his clothes. On the front is a line drawing of a world map and a bright blue lightning bolt running diagonally across it. This is encompassed by a black bar with the words "FRANKLIN BADGE" and set with a solid gold trim.

NESS
(pinning the badge to his shirt)
Thanks, I guess. Where did you get it?

DEALER
Dug it up somewhere around here. I've had it for
years. No one's ever been interested. Probably
just some kid's toy. All I know is, I can't sell
it and Franklin ain't come lookin' for it, so
you can take it. Think of it as a souvenir of
Burglin Park.

NESS does not respond. He examines the badge for a moment, and then walks off toward the other end of the park.

FADE TO:

EXT : TWOSON : BURGLIN PARK : EVENING :

At the far end of BURGLIN PARK, the land slopes unevenly toward the forest that borders the city of TWOSON. Sitting among the trees is a small, single-story house. Its roof is patched with wooden boards and metal plating, and the paint is peeling from its sides like flakes of dry skin. A light coming from the inside shines outward through a small window.

NESS approaches the window, but is too short to reach it. He is startled by a sudden and loud noise nearby, which sounds as though something heavy has fallen from up high.

A voice emanates from the long shadows cast by the house. It is deep, thick, and has a gravely, grating sound similar to driving over a dirt road.

VOICE
Don't you know it isn't polite to snoop around
other people's houses?

NESS turns in the direction of the voice.

NESS
Are you Everdred?

VOICE
Who wants to know?

NESS
I do. I was told I could find you here. A man
named Frank sent me.

VOICE
(sarcastic)
Well that was sweet of him. After five years of
pretending I don't exist, droppin' off the face
of the Earth and livin' in some hick town.

The owner of the voice emerges from the shadows.

This is IAN EVERDRED: short but feisty. He is a man with an awkwardly-shaped, squatty body and round belly, all of which is accentuated by his loud and colorful clothing. He also wears a black bowler hat and small, round glasses with opaque lenses. His hair is pure black, despite his age, and it has grown out to his shoulders--thick and bushy, like the mustache running down to his chin.

EVERDRED (CONT.)
I never did understand why he moved out there.

NESS
He lives in Onett. That's where I'm from. He told
me to come out here to find you.

EVERDRED
(unfazed)
Really? And I'm supposed to just take the word of
a kid, am I? You know, I'm not sure what would
possess you to come all the way out to Twoson from
Onett, but you're makin' a mistake. I think you
ought to run your ass back home now, before you
wind up in the gutter.

EVERDRED charges at NESS, but NESS does not flinch. He puts out one arm, the baseball bat still held at his side, and watches EVERDRED collide with something invisible several feet in front of him.

EVERDRED
(confounded)
What the-?

EVERDRED puts out his hands and finds something solid in his way, though nothing is there. He runs his hands up and down over an unseen, domelike shape. When he strikes it, small ripples of light form an arc over NESS.

EVERDRED
(smiling, amazed)
I know why you're here. Come on.

NESS puts his arm down, watching EVERDRED enter the small house. Without hesitation or any sign of fear, he follows.

The inside of the house is even less impressive than the outside. It contains a small television set on a table, which is propped up by several books, a chair, a couch littered with stains and holes, and a mattress in the far right corner.

EVERDRED takes a seat on the couch, gesturing for NESS to do the same. NESS sits in the chair instead.

EVERDRED
I know why Frank sent you, if he's seen what I
seen. You're here to see Paula, aren't you?

NESS
Frank only told me that there was a kid like me
who lives in Twoson.

EVERDRED
(nodding and reaching under the couch)
That's Paula, what a gem. Sweetest little thing.
Works at the Polestar Daycare with her parents.
She's about your age.
(pulling out and opening a tinder box)
Although you ain't the only one that's come around
askin' about her. She's well-known in this town.
Most people just know where to find her, if they
live here. The tourists and passers-by find out
through word-of-mouth. She's popular and doesn't
seem to mind the attention.

EVERDRED takes a cigar out of the tinder box, lights it, and begins smoking. He puts the tinder box away and slouches until he is comfortable.

EVERDRED (CONT.)
Not like you. You seem more the quiet type. And I
never heard of no other kid like Paula anywhere
else in the world--certainly not as close as Onett.

NESS curls up his nose as the cigar smoke makes its way to him, but he remains silent.

EVERDRED (CONT.)
It's awful ambitious of ya to come all the way
out here just to see little Paula, but what
about your parents?

NESS
(somber)
My mom's still at home. My dad's at work. That's
where he always is.

EVERDRED
(sitting forward)
Hey, kid. Listen, I didn't mean nothin'. Believe
me or not, it's your choice, but I ain't the guy
most people make me out to be. Mind you, I don't
take shit from no one, but I sure as hell ain't
no murderer.
(nursing his cigar)
A lotta kids come around this park lookin' for
trouble. That's what I thought you mighta been up
to. I do what I can to run 'em off, but that's all.
So, I'm sorry if I scared ya.

EVERDRED takes note of the stern expression NESS wears and laughs.

EVERDRED (CONT.)
Not hardly, huh? You don't seem like the type to
get scared easy. I guess you could say I admire
that about people.
(pause)
I take it you ain't goin' home tonight.

NESS is silent.

EVERDRED (CONT.)
Does your momma know?
(pause, silence)
I thought not. And I know it ain't none of my
business, but if I was your father, I'd have
more than a few things to say to you about takin'
off without your momma's permission.

NESS
(feeling guilty)
I should call her.

EVERDRED
There's a phone just behind that TV there. I got
a private landline. So it's technically stealin'
phone service from the city. At least it's free.

NESS
Thanks. But I can't talk to her just yet. I still
need to know about Paula, since she's the one I'm
looking for.

EVERDRED
(tapping his cigar)
Right! Well I can tell ya that the daycare she
works at is just down the street. You go outta
Burglin Park, turn right and walk 'til you get to
the corner, and it's there on your left. It's
actually where she lives.
(taking another hefty drag)
The Polestars had an addition built onto their
home so that it could double as their daycare
business. Paula's been helpin' out ever since she
was old enough to walk. She's always been special.
(laughing)
Used to reach out with her arms and point at
somethin' she'd want and it would float right over.

NESS
You seem to know a lot about her.

EVERDRED
(shrugging)
She's the talk of the town. Always has been. And,
like I said, you ain't the only one that's come
around askin' about her, though I'd say you're the
only one that's come askin' 'cause you could do
the same things as her.
(pause, nursing his cigar)
I ain't told no one this, but she's been talkin'
somethin' about a boy coming to visit--that she
was expecting him to show up one day soon.

NESS
(surprised)
You've talked with her?

EVERDRED
Well, yeah. Lots of people have, kid. You think
just 'cause I'm some kinda half-ass criminal that
she wouldn't have anything to do with me? Paula's
a sweet little girl, and she always has been.
She'd help you out any way she can, and she'd
never turn anybody away.

NESS
That's good to know.
(pause, staring down at the floor)
I think I want to call my mom now.

EVERDRED gestures toward the telephone on the table, which NESS picks up and dials. His hands shake the entire time.

After only two rings, NESS'S MOTHER answers. She is angry and desperate, and this comes across the phone line clearly when she speaks.

NESS'S MOTHER
Hello?

NESS
(hesitant)
Hey, Mom.

NESS'S MOTHER
(angry)
Ness! Where are you? I told you to be home for
dinner. You are two hours late! When were you
planning on coming home?

NESS does not respond.

NESS'S MOTHER (CONT.)
Answer me, young man! I have been sitting here,
worried, all afternoon. You know I don't like
you out running around in the dark.

NESS
Mom, I know. I'm sorry.

NESS'S MOTHER
You will be sorry when you get home. I have half
a mind to keep you in your room for the rest of
the week.

NESS
(breaking down)
Mom, please. I'm really, really sorry, but-
(hesitation)
But I'm not coming home.

NESS'S MOTHER
(angry, stunned)
Excuse me? What did you just say? You get your
butt back up that hill, mister, and when you get
home, it's straight to bed with you.

NESS
I'm not coming home, Mom. I can't. I know you
won't understand-

NESS'S MOTHER
(interjecting)
You're right. I don't understand. But I know for
sure you're going to be stuck inside for two
weeks if you aren't here in five minutes. Get out
of that game store and get home.

NESS
No, Mom. I'm not at the Game Corner. I left and I'm
not coming back until I get some answers.

NESS'S MOTHER
(frustrated)
Answers about what? Where are you, Ness!

NESS
(hesitant, afraid)
I can't tell you that. But trust me. This is
something I need to do.

NESS'S MOTHER
(panicked)
Running away!?

NESS
I'm not running away, Mom. Please, just listen.
I can't tell you what I'm doing or where I am,
but I don't want you to be upset.

NESS'S MOTHER
Well it's a bit too late for that! Are you at
the Minchs'? The pizza shop? The drug store?

NESS
(interjecting)
Mom, Mom! No, I'm not any of those places. I'm-
(hesitation)
I'm not even in town.

There is a short but uncomfortable span of silence.

NESS'S MOTHER
(worried, speaking a bit more quietly)
Ness, you're not a bad boy. I pray to God every
day and thank Him for blessing me with two of the
best children a mother could ask for. I love you!
But why are you doing this to me?

NESS
(on the verge of tears)
I'm not doing it to anyone, Mom.

The camera shifts away from NESS to EVERDRED for a moment. He is watching with great interest and concern, all while putting out the tail end of his cigar.

NESS (CONT.)
I'm doing this because I have to. It's just
something that's been bothering me for a while.
I don't know what it is, what I'll do, or where
I'm gonna go from here, but you gotta trust me.
I'm doing what feels right.

NESS'S MOTHER
(crying)
But why did you have to leave! We could have just
talked about it, Ness. Please, talk to me now! Is
it your father? I know you kids have been so sad
with your father gone all the time.

NESS
No, Mom. It's not Dad. It's not you either, or
Tracy or anyone. It's just me.

NESS'S MOTHER
Ness, please. You know I'm upset at you for staying
out late, but come home now and we'll talk about it.
If you have a problem, I want to know! I want to
help you!

NESS
I know. But you can't help me, Mom. And I can't
come home until I figure out what I'm gonna do.
I promise I'll call you sometimes.

NESS'S MOTHER
(anxious, crying)
No! Ness, wait! Don't hang up, please! Just tell
me where you are!

NESS
I'm sorry. I love you, Mom.

NESS hangs up the telephone as his mother wails on the other end, cutting off the sound sharply. The camera focuses in on him. There are tears in his eyes. He is quick to wipe them away as EVERDRED begins speaking again.

EVERDRED
I don't like to get involved with other people's
personal issues, but that was heavy, little man.

NESS
(crying)
I didn't want to do it. I wish I could explain
everything to her, but I can't. I can't even
explain it to myself.

There is a long moment of silence as EVERDRED shifts positions on the couch until his is comfortable. The expression he wears is one of uncertainty.

EVERDRED
I'd ask for more, but it's not my business.
If you like, you can stay the night. A kid like
you shouldn't be out so late, let alone so far
from home. If you were mine, you'd be in a
helluva lot of trouble.

NESS
(wiping away tears)
I guess I deserve it. She didn't do anything
wrong. And now she must think I hate her.

Another round of silence breaks up the conversation. NESS stares at the floor with a world full of sorrow and guilt swimming in his eyes. EVERDRED is noticeably uncomfortable.

EVERDRED
So, you were asking about Paula.

NESS wipes more tears away but does not respond.

EVERDRED (CONT.)
Sorry to change the subject like that. I thought
it might help. And you did come asking about her.
I'll walk you over to the Daycare myself in the
morning.

NESS
(somber)
Thanks. That'd be great.

The conversation is interrupted by the screaming of police sirens outside, though they are distant. EVERDRED hops off the couch and peers out the small window. From it, he watches the flashing of red and blue lights through the trees until they disappear and the sound fades.

EVERDRED
Ah, good. Thought they might be comin' my way.
Anyhow, seeing as you're a special case, I'd
like to personally introduce you and Miss Paula.
Don't get no funny ideas, though.
(looking at NESS sternly)
I'll introduce you two, not play matchmaker.
Not that you'd be the first young fellow who's
asked about her. Just today I've had one--
besides you, I mean.

NESS continues to stare at the floor and remains silent. EVERDRED returns to the couch, slumping lazily.

EVERDRED (CONT.)
Although they didn't exactly come to me. They
asked an associate of mine, out in the park.
You see, I'm in with all the guys around here.
This is where we do our business. So I'm told
about this fat kid and his father who are
askin' around about Paula. This was maybe...
(pause)
Oh, I'd say a few hours or so before you showed up.
I took a walk down there after I heard all this,
but I didn't see no one so I came back. And then
you came knockin'.

NESS
(bothered)
A fat kid and his father?

EVERDRED
Yeah. Real weird, like. And he told me these guys
were askin' an awful lotta questions--and not just
about Paula. They wanted to know about the town,
about Peace Valley and the mountains to the east.
I wouldn't have looked into it, except it just
didn't feel right. Awful funny-lookin' people.

NESS
Did you happen to catch their names?

Before EVERDRED can respond, the door to his tiny house is thrust open. A man wearing layers of tattered clothes stands on the threshold. His face is filled with worry.

MAN
(panicked)
Ev, come quick! The cops are down at the Polestar's
place. They think there's been a kidnapping!

NESS is up out of his seat, backpack on his arm and bat in hand, before EVERDRED can even process the information. He bolts past the stranger and out the door.

EVERDRED
(shouting after NESS)
Hey! Hey, kid! Wait up! Where the hell you goin'!

CUT TO:

EXT : TWOSON CITY : BURGLIN PARK : NIGHT :

The shouting is ignored as the camera follows NESS up the central path of BURGLIN PARK. The area is dark, but streetlights ahead mark the location of the front gates, which have been left open. NESS passes them and turns sharply to the south.

CUT TO:

EXT : TWOSON CITY : POLESTAR HOME AND DAYCARE : NIGHT :

Police cars parked in the street flash their lights, casting an eerie glow on the POLESTAR DAYCARE and the people standing outside it. Two men in uniform are seen interviewing a distraught couple just before the camera pans over to the adjacent street where NESS is racing to enter the scene.

POLICEMAN #1
(speaking to the couple)
And where did you see her last?

The camera focuses on the male member of the couple, who is wiping his eyes.

This is CHARLES POLESTAR: the father of PAULA. He is tall, thin, and blonde with a small mustache. His clothes are modest. For as frail as his body looks, his emotional state is much more so.

The woman beside him is LINDA POLESTAR: the mother of PAULA. She is also tall and blonde, though she looks much healthier and stronger than her husband. Her clothes are as bright and cheerful as her golden hair.

CHARLES
She was here with us. The last I saw, she had
gone up front to help Linda and see to the
people stopping by. I was in the house.

POLICEMAN #1
And you say it was one of your clients that was
last seen with the victim?

LINDA
No, not one of our clients. Some out-of-towners
who had come to visit Paula. And please, stop
calling her "the victim." That's our daughter.

POLICEMAN #2
Can you describe them for us?

NESS enters the scene, breathless, and comes to a halt several feet from the gathering outside the POLESTAR DAYCARE. The police notice him and, while POLICEMAN #2 continues the inquiry, POLICEMAN #1 approaches NESS.

POLICEMAN #1
Excuse me, I'm going to have to ask you to step
back. We're conducting an investigation. Only
immediate family members and witnesses are
allowed.

NESS
(trying to catch his breath)
Paula! What's happened to Paula?

POLICEMAN #1
That's what we're trying to find out. Step back,
please.

LINDA
(speaking to NESS)
Who are you?

NESS
(still gasping for breath)
I'm a friend. Please, where did she go? Who was
she with?

LINDA
I last saw her with a boy and his father. They
had come into the daycare asking about her. Paula
has visitors all the time. I didn't think twice
about it.

NESS
What did they look like? Please tell me!

POLICEMAN #1
(angry)
Step back, son. Now!

LINDA
(speaking to POLICEMAN #2)
Both of them blonde, heavyset. The boy was about
his age, I would guess-
(points to NESS)
Maybe a bit older. The man, his father, wore
glasses and a suit. And...
(pause)
And I remember he had facial hair as well.

NESS, who is being removed from the scene by POLICEMAN #1, keeps watch on CHARLES and LINDA. He is listening intently to the investigation.

POLICEMAN #1 leads NESS to the sidewalk, but the camera remains focused on CHARLES, LINDA, and POLICEMAN #2.

POLICEMAN #2
(speaking to CHARLES)
Did you happen to see either suspect?

CHARLES
No, not at all. Like I said, I was back in the
house. I only heard about the visitors from
Linda. That was several hours ago.

LINDA
They walked outside with Paula--to talk, they
said. That was the last I saw of her. She
never came back.

The camera moves off the property to focus on NESS, still standing on the sidewalk. He grows more anxious as the investigation wears on.

NESS
(speaking to POLICEMAN #1)
Excuse me, do you know how to get to Peace Valley?

POLICEMAN #1
(pointing East)
Just follow this road out toward the mountains.
But I think you ought to be getting home. Curfew
is in a few hours.

NESS
Yeah, I know. Thanks!

NESS races off down the sidewalk and exits the scene. LINDA and CHARLES watch his departure. Their faces are a mix of worry and curiosity.

POLICEMAN #2 writes something down on a small pad of paper before folding it up and stuffing it down into his pocket. POLICEMAN #1 rejoins the scene.

POLICEMAN #2
All right, that's it then. Mr. and Mrs. Polestar,
thank you for the information. We'll file the
report immediately.

Both policemen exit.

CHARLES and LINDA walk back inside, their arms around each other, as the lights from the police cars cover their house with an alternating mix of red and blue. The door of the POLESTAR HOME AND DAYCARE closes and the police cars drive off.

FADE TO:

EXT : PEACE VALLEY : NIGHT :

The camera slowly pans over a vast sloping landscape covered with trees and bathed in moonlight. A wide river snakes its way through the valley, ending in the far east at the mouth of a great lake. Mountains border PEACE VALLEY on all sides.

The view changes again to ground level. There is an opening at the bottom of a small hill--a man-made tunnel that leads from TWOSON CITY into the valley.

NESS enters the scene through this tunnel and comes to a stop several paces outside of it. He drops his bat and backpack, and then collapses to the ground himself. For several seconds he lies on his back, looking skyward and breathing heavily.

NESS
(exhausted, speaking to himself)
God, what am I doing? Where am I going?

NESS turns his head toward his backpack and reaches for it. When the top flap is opened, several items spill out, including his clothes and the Sound Stone. When NESS touch it, the stone begins to glow faintly.

NESS
(to the Sound Stone)
Lighting up again? That doesn't help me. You're
getting me into a lot of trouble, and for what?
Why am I out here looking for some girl I never
even met!

NESS turns onto his side and gathers up the extra clothing. He drapes it over himself like a blanket and rests his head on the old cloth backpack. The Sound Stone is nestled against his heart, still glowing.

NESS
(to himself)
All I know is that her name is Paula. And something
terrible is about to happen. I can feel it.

NESS grips the Sound Stone tightly, his eyes filling up with tears.

NESS (CONT.)
(to himself)
I hope it's not too late, 'cause I can't go home now.

FADE OUT
END ACT THREE.