The BeastA Screenplay by Nihilitia A reimagining of an old Twilight Zone episode
INT. HOUSE - DAY
Light pours in to the living room as a young girl wearing a princess costume, LISA, sits on the floor playing. She looks up into the kitchen seeing an attractive YOUNG WOMAN hovering around the oven. LISA I feel like taking a walk YOUNG WOMAN But, hun. Dinner is almost ready; aren’t you hungry? LISA (DEMANDING) Well now I want to go for a walk! YOUNG WOMAN Yes, Princess, whatever you wish Lisa gets up with a smile on her face. As she walks to the door she passes by a teddy bear sitting on the couch. It is dressed in business clothes near a newspaper and an ashtray with a half smoked cigar. She pats it on the head and smiles again as she walks out the door. EXT. FRONT YARD - DAY The sun is out and the yard is slightly unkept. Lisa walks through her yard to the road. In the distance another teddy bear can be seen standing in the garden. EXT. STREET - DAY Lisa walks down the street alone and passes by her neighbors houses. There is a middle-aged man, BURT, tending to his garden in one of the yards. He is visibly sweaty and he wipes his brow as Lisa walks by. Burt flips around, hearing her footsteps and smiles. BURT (EXCITEDLY) Well, hello there, Princess LISA Hi Burt BURT It sure is a great day today. I mean just a great day. LISA Its not too hot is it? BURT Oh, no. I mean it is hot... yes...but a good kind of hot. A great hot for such a splendid day Never breaking her stride, Lisa continues on down the street. She comes across a large stuffed monkey sitting on the street corner. LISA There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you She grabs the monkey by the ear and continues walking down the street dragging it. INT. DINER - DAY A few men and women are sitting at the bar and at tables chatting rapidly. The cook is leaning over the counter in a conversation with a man at the bar, MR. SANDERS. MR. SANDERS Have you heard anything of Emma? COOK No, not yet The cook sees out the window Lisa walking down the street towards the diner. A voice comes from one of the tables. WOMAN #1 Oh no, here she comes COOK Okay, everyone be cool and just act normal The people in the diner scurry a little bit, cleaning up things here and there then returning to more upright positions in their seats. WOMAN #2 Maybe she won’t notice us A scruffy looking man, NELSON, sitting alone in the back by the window struggles to get a match out of his pocket to light the cigarette in his mouth. Lisa can be seen through the window walking about twenty yards away. He ignites the match on the third strike and lights his cigarette. He exhales as his eyes move to look out the window seeing Lisa standing 15 yards away staring at him. He coughs and puts the cigarette out immediately. Lisa shakes her head and then walks toward the diner entrance. MR. SANDERS Nelson, you idiot! WOMAN #1 Look what you did Nelson looks at both of them with a nervous expression. Suddenly the front door swings open. Uplifting small talk begins around the diner between its patrons. As Lisa walks in the cook presents her with a delightful greeting. COOK We are so happy to have you here, Princess. Um, what do I have for you. Ohh, I have some ice cream Lisa smiles at the cook and nods then walks over to Nelson’s booth and plops the monkey down in the seat across from him. LISA (TO NELSON) Unky wants to talk to you Nelson follows her with his eyes as she walks away up to the bar and jumps up on a stool to eat her ice cream. LISA Ooh, chocolate Nelson looks down, wipes his forehead and exhales deeply. He then looks at the stuffed animal in front of him who is seated facing a perpendicular direction toward the bar. He begins to gather his things to leave, when the monkey’s head turns to face him. Nelson stops what he is doing and remains motionless. A deep voice enters Nelson’s head. DEEP VOICE Look, I know things are a little weird around here. I mean, for God’s sake, I’m a stuffed monkey. But, we would appreciate it if you would not smoke. Nelson sits with a stunned look on his face. The diner becomes silent when he then blurts out rather loudly. NELSON You can talk! Nelson looks up to see that everyone but Lisa is staring at him. He then looks back at the stuffed animal to see that its in its original position. After finishing her ice cream, Lisa removes herself from the stool and crouches on the ground. The Cook looks to see what she is doing. LISA Look what I just made She can be seen holding something by the tail. MR. SANDERS What is that princess? LISA Its a three headed cat COOK Well, isn’t that a pretty animal WOMAN #2 Yes, such a wonderful creation, Princess Strange noises can be heard from the animal. LISA I don’t like it anymore. I’m going to send it to the river. The Mr. Sanders and the Cook briefly look at each other with concern. Lisa stands up and her creation has disappeared. LISA (CONT’D) I’m bored The cooks eyes become very wide. LISA (CONT’D) I want to hear some music. Mr. Sanders, don’t you have a piano at your house? MR. SANDERS Well, yes Princess, yes I do LISA Goodie. Everyone is invited to Mr. Sander’s house for a party WOMAN #1 Oh, that will be lovely COOK Yes, what a perfect idea, Princess Everyone in the diner gets up to leave. The cook looks over to Nelson. He beckons him to come along. INT. MR. SANDER’S HOUSE - DAY People are packed into Mr. Sanders’ living room that is almost to small to fit everyone. Lisa stands in the middle of the room directly behind Mr. Sanders at the piano. MR. SANDERS (UNCOMFORTABLY TO LISA) What would you like me to play? LISA Something happy Mr. Sanders begins to play a happy song as Lisa looks around the room. Everyone she looks at smiles at her. COOK This was such a great idea WOMAN #1 Yes, splendid Nelson stands by the wall farthest away from everyone and sees a liquor bottle on a shelf beside him. His face lights up as he grabs it and pours a glass. He drinks it and pours another. NELSON There is not much whiskey around these days Some of the people in the room look at him with concern. Nelson continues to pour and drink. NELSON (CONT’D) Why does life have to be like this? Lisa turns and leers at Nelson because his talking has now begun to overcome the music. COOK Quiet Nelson NELSON No Sam. I can’t smoke anymore, a stuffed animal just talked to me and now you are saying I can’t even enjoy a drink? WOMAN #2 You must be quiet NELSON No. I can’t take it anymore. NELSON (TO LISA) (CONT’D) You think you can control this town. You think we don’t bite our tongues as we smile at you. You are a monster Mr. Sanders stops playing piano and turns to Nelson. MR. SANDERS Please calm down, you don’t know what you are saying LISA (TO NELSON) See what you did. Mr. Sanders has stopped playing music. Did I tell him to do so? Lisa begins to point at Nelson. NELSON Do whatever you wish. Turn me into a horrible creature. Turn me into a teddy bear like you did to your parents. Send me to the river. I don’t care anymore. You can do anything you want and all you wish to do is terrorize this town The crowd of people is motionless and quiet. NELSON (CONT’D) Come on, grab her. Let’s end this now while we can The crowd remains still. LISA You are a bad man, Nelson. You always looked like a slug to me Lisa brings her arm down and a slug can be seen crawling across the table where Nelson just was. WOMAN #2 (SCREAMING) No. No, oh Lord in Heaven MR. SANDERS Oh, Princess, please send him to the river LISA Did I ever tell you to stop playing piano? Another happy song is now heard being played on the piano. The cook walks over to Nelson. COOK Princess, please LISA Oh, alright. Since you gave me ice cream Lisa points her finger again and the slug disappears. Moments later snow falls outside. COOK Is that snow outside? WOMAN #1 What about my crops? LISA Its Christmas time again COOK Oh, what a wonderful idea WOMAN #1 Yes...wonderful Lisa slowly walks to the door and turns back toward the other people in the room. LISA Don’t forget my presents tomorrow She then turns and walks out the door. © 2013 NihilitiaFeatured Review
Reviews
|
Stats
440 Views
2 Reviews  Last Updated on February 28, 2013 Author
|
![[send message]](https://www.writerscafe.org/images/mail.png){kind=small}
![[befriend]](https://www.writerscafe.org/images/friend.png){kind=small}
Share This
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Read Request
My Library
Flag Writing