Unwell Season 4/Episode 9- Tighten the Ropes
by Jessica Wright Buha
I scream You scream We all scream
Unimaginable fear
Something must be done
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Content Advisories for this episode can be found here.
Support Unwell and HartLife NFP on Patreon at www.patreon.com/hartlifenfp
This episode features: Clarisa Cherie Rios as Lily, Pat King as Chester, Miles Buha as Jamie, Joshua K. Harris as Rudy, Corrbette Pasko as Maureen, Michael Turrentine as Wes, Mark Soloff as Silas Lodge, Sebastian H Orr as **$&#*$, Ele Matelan as &&@)@*&, Hilary Williams as Joey, D'Souza's employees and patrons: Tina Daniels, Newt Schottelkotte, Bob Raymonda, Jeffrey Nils Gardner, Kris Kaiyala.
Written by Jessica Wright Buha, sound design by Alexander Danner, directed by Jeffrey Nils Gardner, theme music composed by Stephen Poon, recording engineer Mel Ruder, associate producer Ani Enghdahl, Theme performed by Stephen Poon, Lauren Kelly, Gunnar Jebsen, Travis Elfers, Mel Ruder, and Betsey Palmer, produced by haydée r. souffrant, Unwell lead sound designer Eli Hamada McIlveen, Executive Producers Eleanor Hyde and Jeffrey Nils Gardner, by HartLife NFP.
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INT. DESOUZA'S ICE CREAM - DAY
SFX: A VERY CROWDED AND SMALL ICE CREAM SHOP. ICE CREAM SHOP
MUSIC PLAYS. RING OF BELL ON DOOR, CLINK OF SPENT METAL SAMPLE
SPOONS IN A BOWL. LOTS OF SHOUTING/BUSTLING.
WORKER #1
Welcome to DeSouza's home of DeLicious. Would you like to sample any of our ice creams?
PATRON #1
Could I try the salted caramel?
WORKER #1
Sure!
PATRON #2
Hey Maureen, what's the difference between sherbet and ice cream? I've always wondered...
MAUREEN
Okay, aside from everything, sherbet is definitely more fruit forward, to start--
SFX: THE BUSTLE FADES INTO THE BACKGROUND.
LILY
All right, Jamie. What're you gonna get.
JAMIE
I can't decide! What are you gonna get, Lily?
LILY
Cookie dough. Or, ooo, peanut butter cup. I
remember that being good.
JAMIE
Dad always gets peanut butter cup.
CHESTER
It is very good.
JAMIE
Dad, I think you should get blue raspberry today.
Because if it spills on your shirt, it's fine
cause it's already blue.
LILY
You got a smart kid here, Chester.
CHESTER
I do.
LILY
Thanks for asking me to get ice cream, Jamie.
JAMIE
Well, it's cause I like you. And I love ice
cream. I guess all these other people like ice
cream, too.
LILY
Yeah, maybe next time, let's not go on opening
day.
JAMIE
Why is it opening day?
LILY
Because Maureen doesn't sell ice cream in the
winter.
JAMIE
Why?
CHESTER
It's not too much fun to eat ice cream when it's
cold out.
JAMIE
Yeah, cause then your whole body would freeze.
LILY
And you'd have to walk around like,
(with clenched teeth)
my teeth are frozen shut.
SFX: JAMIE LAUGHS--A BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL SOUND.
LILY (cont'd)
(with clenched teeth)
How will I eat my ice cream.
SFX: QUICK FOOTSTEPS IN AS RUDY ENTERS.
RUDY
Chester!
CHESTER
Rudy. Oh, the end of the line is actually
outside--
RUDY
What's Hazel planning to do to Silas?
CHESTER
But you must try the rum raisin.
RUDY
Sorry.
(lowering his voice)
I was in the August Hall just now, doing some
research.
CHESTER
Research?
RUDY
And Hazel told me,
JAMIE
(with clenched teeth)
Will someone please melt me. Excuse me, Dad, will
you melt me?
CHESTER
There go the clouds, here comes the sun!
There. You're melted.
JAMIE
Hoooo! That was close. I thought I was frozen
forever.
RUDY
And Hazel said, "Don't worry about Silas, he will
soon be brought to heel.
JAMIE
What's "brought to heel"?
LILY
Jamie, why don't we make a maze? Hold our place
in line, Chester.
RUDY
So her plan is to try and control Silas.
CHESTER
Yes.
RUDY
No.
LILY
Here Jamie, let's sit here, and we'll...
SFX: FLIT OF A PAPER NAPKIN BEING TAKEN OUT OF A HOLDER. CLICK
OF A PEN BEING OPENED.
LILY (cont'd)
Draw on this napkin. Here's a pen.
JAMIE
Thanks!
LILY
I'll be right back.
JAMIE
Okay.
SFX: LILY'S FOOTSTEPS WALK BACK TO CHESTER AND RUDY.
JAMIE (O.S.)
So, here's the start...
RUDY
We have one chance to deal with Silas. One!
CHESTER
Lower your voice.
LILY
Chester, what exactly is her plan.
CHESTER
Well...
RUDY
Well?
JAMIE (O.S.)
And then there's going to be some rocks--here are
the rock throwers, BOOOSH BOOOOSH, "Ahhh, I got
hit by a rock!"
CHESTER
Looks great, Jam'!
LILY
Chester?
CHESTER
Yes. Ah, first. A mixture of Deep Water and the
iridescent mineral from the bottling works.
LILY
Ah, of course that's what she stole.
CHESTER
Hazel believes it's the--. It's valuable.
RUDY
Iridescent mineral from the--this the same
compound from the chapel?
LILY
What?
RUDY
Lily, you were the one lowered into it.
LILY
Oh dang. It is probably the same thing.
JAMIE (O.S.)
And these are the Eveeeee...fers. Lily, look! I
drew some Eve-fers!
LILY
That's so cool!
JAMIE (O.S)
Eve-fers are little evil but also a little bit
not. They're really hairy--I gotta draw more
hair.
SFX: JAMIE SCRIBBLES WITH THE PEN.
JAMIE (O.S.)
There we go. That's enough hair. And they like to
eat your arms off. But only when you're not
looking.
LILY
Okay, so she's watering the stones. That it?
JAMIE
Second, one takes this water-stone mixture and
submerges the bell pull--
RUDY
Bell pull.
LILY
What's this bell pull.
CHESTER
It's the rope they used to ring the bell above
the former chapel.
LILY
You're laying way too much new stuff on us,
Chester.
RUDY
You found the original bell pull from Silas'
chapel?
CHESTER
Lying in plain sight, as it were. Hazel found it
coiled up in the basement of the observatory.
RUDY
The good rope. We used it to lower you down.
LILY
Oh my God, so that was, what, three-hundred-year
old rope?
RUDY
Pretty good rope.
LILY
Hooo. Okay. Water the stones, sound the bell,
then...
CHESTER
Last, simply a matter of taking the infused bell
cord, setting the snare, and proceeding to--
LILY
Tighten the rope.
JAMIE (O.S.)
Oh! And I forgot to add one thing!
CHESTER
I think it looks great, Jamie.
JAMIE (O.S.)
It needs one more thing. A secret exit. And it
leads right...
SFX: PAPER IS RUSTLED AS JAMIE TURNS IT OVER.
JAMIE (O.S.) (cont'd)
Here.
SFX: PEN SCRIBBLES ON RECEIPT PAPER.
JAMIE (O.S.) (cont'd)
And then the rock goes wooooosh.
SFX: JAMIE GETS UP AND RECREATES A BATTLE, WHERE HE PLAYS ALL
THE PARTS AND CREATES ALL THE SOUND EFFECTS.
RUDY
Chester, this plan is not going to work.
CHESTER
I fear it will. Hazel's spent her life studying
the lore. And she's not one for mistakes.
LILY
What happens after she ties him up.
CHESTER
Her aim is not containment, but a harnessing.
LILY
So now we get a lady Silas?
How is that fixing things.
CHESTER
The ramifications have not
been thought through.
JAMIE (O.S.)
And the eve-fers are like
chomp, chomp, "aaaaah, stop
chomping my arm!" "These Evefers
are going crazy!" Chomp
chomp chomp. "Ahhh!"
CHESTER (CONT.)
Hey Jam'? Can we use our indoor voice?
JAMIE (O.S)
Sorry.
CHESTER
That's okay.
RUDY
All this plan is going to do
is make Silas angry, and give
him the justification he
needs to do terrible things
to this town.
JAMIE (O.S.)
And then this goes
brrrrrrrrr, ah, run, they're
coming! BOOOSH,
Fffffffffwomp. "Quick! Duck
through here!"
LILY
Yeah, it's really risky. I'm honestly thinking
maybe the smartest thing is do right now is
nothing.
RUDY
I'm not doing nothing.
LILY
For now.
LILY (cont'd)
Rudy, look, nothing actually that bad has
happened.
RUDY
Oh, Lily.
LILY
It hasn't!
RUDY
The wolves?
LILY
No one's actually--
LILY
--been bitten.
CHESTER
The bottling works, Lilian.
LILY
See, exactly! The bottling works thing was
horrible and so messed up, but no one actually
got hurt. It's way too risky to be aggressive
with Silas, but we might be able to--eventually--
convince him that it's in his best interest--
LILY
--to leave.
CHESTER
Jamie?
SFX: THE ICE CREAM SHOP IS VERY LOUD.
CHESTER (cont'd)
Jamie?
LILY
Where'd he go?
CHESTER
Jamie!
SFX: THE MUTTERS CHANGE TO QUESTIONS.
PATRON #1
Where is he?
MAUREEN
Is there a lost kid?
LILY
Jamie?
CHESTER
JAMIE!
EXT. DESOUZA BACK ALLEY - DAY
SFX: DISTANT CARS ARE HEARD FROM MAIN STREET. UNSWEPT AUTUMN
LEAVES RATTLE AGAINST THE TRASHCANS IN THE WIND. CHESTER'S
SHOUTS ECHO OFF THE CLOSE BRICK WALLS.
CHESTER
Jamie! Jamie! Jamie!
LILY
Jamie! Jamie! Come out, come
out, whereever you are!
CHESTER
He's not here.
LILY
Jamie, if you're playing hide and seek, you win!
SFX: BACK DOOR SNAPS OPEN.
RUDY
I checked the front. No one saw him.
CHESTER
He's not here.
RUDY
Jamie! Hey, Jamie!
LILY
JAMIE! JAMIE!
CHESTER
Stop screaming! He's somewhere else.
LILY
Where is he.
CHESTER
He's safe.
RUDY
What?
CHESTER
Perfectly safe. The town takes care of its own.
LILY
Chester--
CHESTER
I assure you, he's not in danger.
LILY
Chester, I don't know if that's true.
CHESTER
Merely a question of which safe location he was
taken to. But he is safe.
LILY
Okay, I'm going to go find him, and I'll call you
once I do. Okay?
CHESTER
That's fine. I may go to the Hall--ask Grandpa
where he is. Save us some trouble.
LILY
Cool. Do that.
RUDY
Chester, let's go.
CHESTER
Yes.
SFX: CHESTER AND RUDY HURRY DOWN THE ALLEY.
RUDY (O.S.)
I'll drive.
CHESTER (O.S.)
No, I'll drive. I'm just here.
SFX: CHESTER AND RUDY HURRY DOWN THE ALLEY.
LILY
Okay.
SFX: LILY TAPS THE SCREEN OF HER SMARTPHONE. PHONE RINGS.
LILY (cont'd)
(to herself)
Fuck.
WES
Fenwood House, this is--.
LILY
Wes, get over here. Back of DeSouzas.
WES
Okay.
LILY
I think Silas took Jamie.
EXT. WEST PART OF TOWN - DAY
SFX: ENGINE ROARS. NO MUSIC. WIND RUSHES PAST THE OPEN
WINDOWS.
CHESTER
(into a phone)
Lulu, it's Chet. As calmly as
you can, go home and search
the house. Jamie is...[gone]
RUDY
Got a light coming up.
Slow down, it's a red light.
Chester, stop!
SFX: THE CAR SCREECHES TO A STOP.
CHESTER
(into the phone)
I don't know where Jamie is, at the moment. Love
you.
SFX: CLICK AS PHONE IS HUNG UP.
CHESTER (cont'd)
There is a chance he was deposited at home.
SFX: THE CAR ENGINES IDLES AT THE STOPLIGHT.
CHESTER (cont'd)
There is, Rudy, a history of this happening in
Mount Absalom. Someone's in a dangerous
situation, and they are taken out of it and put
somewhere safe.
SFX: CHESTER IS STRAINING TO KEEP A HOPEFUL MINDSET. IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT.
CHESTER (cont'd)
Stories of people saved. Waking up in trees
during floods. Many stories.
RUDY
Chester, don't you think it's possible that Silas
has taken him?
CHESTER
That would not have been allowed. But a little
clarity is needed. So. To the August Hall we go.
RUDY
Lots of things have happened recently that should
not have been allowed.
CHESTER
All will be explained at the Hall.
RUDY
Chester, it's a green light.
CHESTER
Yes. I--
RUDY
Chester?
CHESTER
There's a faster way, but I forget it.
RUDY
What?
CHESTER
A shortcut to the Hall. It's ah--
I'm sorry, I was attempting a shortcut to the
Hall and I'm afraid I'm having trouble focusing.
Ah. Let me see. Um.
SFX: CHESTER'S BREATHS BECOME MORE FRANTIC. HE'S VERGING
VERGING ON HYSTERIA.
RUDY
Chester.
CHESTER
Left. It's left.
SFX: CAR ENGINE ROARS TO LIFE AND SPEEDS AWAY.
EXT - EASTSIDE OF TOWN. DAY
SFX: LILY AND WES' FOOTSTEPS RUN DOWN MAIN STREET.
WES
Why would Silas take him.
LILY
I don't know. Send a signal.
WES
Lily, are you sure you looked everywhere in
DeSouza's?
LILY
Yes. Car's this way.
WES
Under the tables--
LILY
WES. He's not there.
WES
Just checking.
LILY
WHERE IS MY CAR.
WES
Lily, I think I should just meet you at the
woods.
LILY
No, run with me and scare away the wolves by town
hall.
WES
Should we call Dot?
LILY
Why?
WES
I know she hates Chester, but a lost kid? She'd
want to help.
LILY
We'll call her when we find him.
SFX: THEY RUN.
WES
You should've parked closer.
LILY
These spots weren't free earlier. Didn't realize
what an event the DeSouza DeSpring Opening was.
WES
Oh my goodness, yes. I remember--
SFX: LILY'S FOOTSTEPS STOP. THE SOUND OF THE FOUNTAIN AS THEY
STAND IN FRONT OF TOWN HALL.
LILY
Wes.
WES
What.
LILY
The wolves are gone.
WES
Where'd they go.
LILY
You tell me, Wes. Where'd they go?
WES
What--?
LILY
You and the wolves, man. There's something there.
It's like you guys are kinda... the same.
WES
I think we're both echoes. Sometimes I think
we're sensitive to the emotions of other echoes--
like we're radios tuned to the same frequency or
something.
LILY
Okay, so how're the wolves feeling?
WES
Calm.
LILY
Calm?
WES
Yeah. Oddly calm.
LILY
Good. I guess. Ooo, there's the car, let's go.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS RUN.
LILY (cont'd)
Also, sorry about what I said the other day.
about leaving.
WES
That's okay. Sorry too. We were mad.
LILY
Yeah, things've been stressful--
SFX: MUFFLED SOUND OF BOWLING AND PEOPLE CHEERING. LILY AND
WES STOP RUNNING.
LILY (cont'd)
Oh my God.
SFX: MUFFLED CLATTER OF PINS.
WES
Paradise Spared Lanes and Billiards
LILY
What.
WES
"Grand opening."
LILY
This definitely wasn't here when I parked.
WES
I don't like this place. It smells sour.
LILY
Silas has gotta be behind this. Let's go.
SFX: DOOR CREAKS OPEN. PINS FALL. CHEERS!
LILY (cont'd)
Wes, let's go!
WES
Okay.
INT - BOWLING ALLEY. DAY
SFX: BALLS ROLL DOWN LANES, PINS CRASH. WHENEVER PINS FALL, A
GROUP CHEERS LOUDLY. ALL OF THE PATRONS SEEM TO BE FROM THE
1950S.
ANNA THE AX(O.S.)
Big Bad B! Yes!
BIG BAD BETTY (O.S.)
Anna the Ax! You're up!
SFX: WES AND LILY'S FOOTSTEPS ENTER. SHOES STICK TO THE FLOOR
WES
What's wrong with the floor.
LILY
Yeah, that happens when you spill a beer and
don't mop it up. Ugh.
SFX: LAUGHTER. MORE BALLS ROLL. PINS CRASH. CHEERS.
ANNA THE AXE (O.S.)
You creamed those pins, Betty!
BIG BAD BETTY (O.S.)
You said we're going for
pinks. So let's go for pinks!
WES
Lily, there are no bars in
Mount Absalom.
LILY
Well, Silas just opened one. Knew it--there he
is. Reverend Lodge!
SILAS (O.S.)
Lilian!
SFX: WES AND LILY WALK OVER TO SILAS.
LILY
Reverend Lodge!
(low)
Wolves are calm?
WES
(low)
Very calm.
LILY
(low)
I’m trusting you.
WES
(low)
I know.
LILY
This your place, Reverend?
SILAS
It is!
WES
I'll ask if anyone's seen Jamie.
LILY
Great, thanks.
SILAS
Might I pour you something, Lilian? A barn burner
perhaps?
LILY
Sure!
SFX: BOTTLES CLINK AND LIQUOR IS POURED AS SILAS FIXES THE
DRINK. FOOTSTEPS AS WES APPROACHES SOME PATRONS
LILY (cont'd)
So why a bar slash bowling alley?
SILAS
There was a thought it would make people happy.
WES (O.S.)
Excuse me, have you seen this little boy?
SILAS
Here you are.
SFX: CLINK AS DRINK IS SET DOWN. LILY TAKES A SIP.
BIG BAD BETTY (O.S.)
Look who drove in from Squaresville. Beat it,
daddy-o.
LILY
This is nice! I see you've moved past persimmon
brandy.
SILAS
I have. I've a full range of options for my
discerning guests, and a sympathetic ear for
those in need.
LILY
Oh good! Cause that's me.
WES (O.S.)
Excuse me, I'm looking for this little boy...
LILY
You know, Reverend Lodge, I have been so lucky to
live in Mount Absalom for the last few months.
SILAS
It is a most fortuitous place.
LILY
But something happened today. A kid went missing.
WES (O.S.)
Excuse me, A kid's gone missing. Jamie Warren.
ANNA THE AXE (O.S.)
Ain't seen him.
SILAS
Ah, the child.
LILY
Yes. Where is he.
SFX: SILAS STARTS TO LAUGH.
LILY (cont'd)
It's not really funny. A lot of people are
worried about him. His dad, his--[mom]
SILAS
Chester Warren? The Delp-shit, as you say.
(to himself)
Naughty.
LILY
Look, Jamie means a lot to me.
SILAS
Why?
LILY
I just think he's funny. So, if you could just
tell me where he is, that'd be great.
SILAS
Now, Lilian. I wouldn't want to spoil the fun,
would I?
SFX: CRASH OF PINS. CHEERS.
INT. AUGUST HALL - DAY
SFX: THE WATER IN THE SPIRIT ORGAN BOILS.
CHESTER
It must be ready now.
RUDY
It's not--Chester, you're gonna let the steam out
early again--
SFX: CREAK OF VALVE AS CHESTER TURNS THE VALVE.
RUDY (cont'd)
Chester.
CHESTER
It's ready.
RUDY
Hold on--I gotta open that pitch-pipe app.
CHESTER
(to the steam organ)
Greetings, I wish to speak to those who have gone
before.
SFX: STEAM SHRIEKS SOFTLY
CHESTER (cont'd)
Request is granted. I summon the spirit of Arthur
Warren.
SFX: A FEW NOTES SOUND OUT.
CHESTER (cont'd)
Grandpa, where is Jamie.
SFX: THE DRONE NOTE SWITCHES
CHESTER (cont'd)
Rudy, quickly.
RUDY
That's D and F. Which means... moment--
SFX: RUDY FLIPS THROUGH BRITTLE PAGES.
RUDY (cont'd)
That's... House and many. Many houses. A
community? The town.
CHESTER
Yes. You've always taken care of your own. "In
thy hale and verdant arms, we have everything we
need." In turn, we are respectful, we follow the
signs, we rejoice in our safety.
Where is he. James Llewyn Warren, my son.
Where is he, please, he's a child.
SFX: THE STEAM ORGAN PLAYS
RUDY
G, that's ladder. Or, sorry, or love. Connection
between two things.
CHESTER
Yes, the town loves us, the town takes care of
us, tell me where he is, now, tell me!
SFX: THE STEAM ORGAN PLAYS
RUDY
C and D. House and rock. Oh, Safe! He's safe.
CHESTER
I understand he's safe.
SFX: THE STEAM ORGAN PLAYS
RUDY
Added a G. That's, ah...
SFX: RUDY FLIPS THROUGH THE BOOK.
RUDY (cont'd)
Wind, also future, eternity. Oh-- Always safe.
CHESTER
I would like to know where he is. Please. Can you
do that?
SFX: THE STEAM ORGAN PLAYS
RUDY
Yes.
CHESTER
Then tell me.
SFX: THE STEAM ORGAN PLAYS
RUDY
F sharp, that means you, then E flat, C, F, ah...
SFX: RUDY FLIPS THROUGH BRITTLE PAGES.
RUDY (cont'd)
Strong desire happiness? No, that's not right.
CHESTER
I need to be grateful.
SFX: THE STEAM ORGAN PLAYS
RUDY
Yes.
CHESTER
But I am grateful. I am nothing but grateful for
this place. I have labored my whole life, as had
my father, as have you, my grandfather, as have
my great-grandmother, all in service to thy hale
and verdant arms, and my son is taken and you are
silent.
How dare you.
SFX: THE STEAM ORGAN PLAYS
RUDY
C sharp and F, um--
SFX: QUICK FLIP OF PAGES.
RUDY (cont'd)
--wilting, sunset, fading-- um, dark...
CHESTER
You know where he is. Tell me.
Where is my son?
Tell me!
TELL ME!
SFX: SILENCE. THE HISSING STOPS. SOFT BUBBLING OF WATER FROM
THE STEAM ORGAN, BUT NOTHING ELSE.
CHESTER (cont'd)
He's lost.
INT - BOWLING ALLEY - DAY
SFX: THE BOWLING ALLEY IS GETTING GENERALLY AGITATED.
LILY
Reverend Lodge. Please. Just tell me where the
kid is.
SILAS
Allow me first to explain that it was in a spirit
of levity that the circumstances were--
LILY
WHERE IS JAMIE!?
SFX: THE CHATTER STOPS. A BALL ROLLS DOWN THE BOWLING ALLEY,
AND KNOCKS OVER A BUNCH OF PINS. NO ONE APPLAUDS.
SILAS
Respect me or reap the consequences.
LILY
That's a shitty thing to say to a friend.
SFX: THE BOWLING ALLEY PATRONS STARTS TO MUTTER TO EACH OTHER.
PEOPLE START BOWLING AGAIN. SOMEHOW, THE VIBE HAS CHANGED TO
BE A LITTLE TENSE.
LILY (cont'd)
Don't you think?
SILAS
It simply pains me that you dismissed an attempt
at fun. I thought you all liked riddles and
puzzles and games--that it made you happy. You
cannot fault the attempt.
LILY
Come on, man. You gotta know no one would like
this.
SILAS
The child does. After all, he made it himself.
LILY
Is Jamie in the maze? His maze--the one he made?
SFX: LILY RUMMAGES IN HER PURSE.
SILAS
What child hasn't dreamed of such a thing.
SFX: THE MAZE (WRITTEN ON A RECEIPT) IS UNFOLDED.
LILY
Oh, wow. Okay, so where is he? What is that at
the end--a castle? Is he at Town Hall?
SILAS
Oh no. His path was a touch more winding.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS WES HURRIES BACK OVER.
WES
Lily.
LILY
Wes, hold on.
SFX: RUSTLE AS LILY TURNS THE MAZE OVER.
LILY (cont'd)
Secret exit.
SILAS
Indeed.
LILY
What are those fuzzy triangle things. Oh!
(laughing)
Oh, yeah--those are the Eve-fers. They're evil
and hairy and like to eat your arm off...
WES
Lily!
LILY
What.
WES
The wolves are angry.
SFX: LILY BREATHES IN SHARPLY.
LILY
Is Jamie with the wolves.
SILAS
I disagree with the child's description. The
wolves are not evil. Just fickle.
LILY
Where is he.
SILAS
The child is on the Witch's Altar.
LILY
Wes!
WES
I'm going.
SFX: WHOOSH/VANISHING NOISE AS WES DISAPPEARS.
LILY
And the wolves?
SILAS
They surround him.
LILY
Call them off.
SILAS
Impossible.
SFX: PINS CRASH. EVERYONE CHEERS.
LILY
Call off the wolves, Silas.
SILAS
They are not my wolves.
INT. AUGUST HALL - DAY
SFX: WATER BUBBLES IN THE STEAM ORGAN, BUT NO NOTES ARE HEARD.
RUDY
What now?
CHESTER
We search the town. The woods. Call Sheriff
Joshi. So much time lost.
RUDY
Let's go! Chester!
SFX: GRIEF OVERWHELMS CHESTER.
CHESTER
I can't.
SFX: RUDY'S CELL PHONE RINGS. RUDY PUTS IT ON SPEAKERPHONE.
RUDY
Yes.
LILY
(over the phone)
Jamie's at the Witches Altar!
LILY
(over the phone)
I'm on my way! Meet me there!
CHESTER
(to the Spirit Organ)
Thank you. Thy hale and
verdant arms provideth.
RUDY
Is he okay?
LILY
(over the phone)
Rudy, hurry!
CHESTER
Run!
EXT. DEEP FOREST - DAY
SFX: LILY'S QUICK FOOTSTEPS RUSTLE THE LAST OF THE FALL
LEAVES. BIRDS SING, WIND THROUGH THE SPRING BRANCHES.
WES (O.S)
Shoo! Shoo! Get away!
LILY
Wes!
WES (O.S.)
Lily, don't shout!
JAMIE (O.S.)
Be quiet or it scares them!
LILY
Jamie!
JAMIE (O.S.)
I said don't shout!
WES
I'll bring her up.
SFX: DISTANT WHOOSH AS WES DISAPPEARS. CLOSE WHOOSH AS WES
REAPPEARS.
WES (cont'd)
Hey Lily.
LILY
Is he okay?
WES
Yeah.
JAMIE (O.S.)
Lily, come meet my friend!
LILY
Okay!
SFX: THE WOLVES WHINE IN FEAR AND SLINK AWAY AS WES AND LILY
WALK.
LILY (cont'd)
Lot of wolves.
WES
Yep.
JAMIE
Almost there. Careful not to step on the wolf
tails. They do NOT like that.
LILY
Okay.
WES
Want a boost onto the rock?
LILY
No, I got it.
SFX: LILY TRIES TO SCRAMBLE UP THE ROCK. ROCKS CRUMBLE
LILY (cont'd)
Nope, boost would be good. Boost please!
WES
Eeeh!
SFX: CRUMBLE OF ROCKS AS LILY SCRAMBLES UP ONTO THE WITCHES
ALTER.
LILY
Thanks, Wes. Jamie!
JAMIE
That sure was good climbing.
LILY
Come here, little man.
SFX: RUSTLE OF CLOTHES AS JAMIE AND LILY HUG.
LILY
Oooooh, big hug.
JAMIE
Ahhh, you're squishing me!
LILY
You okay?
JAMIE
Yeah, I'm okay. It was crazy--
LILY
How'd you make it through all the wolves?
JAMIE
Well, first it was okay cause they were asleep.
LILY
They were asleep?
JAMIE
Yeah, but then I fell on one,
LILY
Oh my God.
JAMIE
It was just an accident. But then it wanted to
bite me, so I ran and climbed up on this big rock
and then I said to the wolf, "You better not eat
me!" And then there were a lot, and they were all
trying to bite me, and then I just yelled--even
though I was scared, I guess I was kinda brave--
and I said, "you wolves look ridiculous. You
can't even bite me!" That made them even more
mad, but then Joey said--
LILY
Joey!
JOEY (O.S.)
And then I said "shoo," and they eased up.
LILY
Joey? Where is she?
JAMIE
She's just hiding. We're doing hide and seek
while we waited, cause Joey said I'm going to get
rescued soon. There she is!
SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS JOEY WALKS UP TO THE ALTAR.
LILY
Joey!
JAMIE
She's my friend.
JOEY
Hi, Lily.
LILY
Hi. Wow. You look the same.
JOEY
You super do not. You got
really old.
JAMIE
Lily,
Lily,
Excuse me.
JAMIE (cont'd)
Excuse me!
LILY (CONT'D)
Yes, Jamie.
JAMIE
Can we still get ice cream? I know I was just a
little bit bad...
CHESTER (O.S.)
Jamie!
JAMIE
Dad!
JOEY
I'll get him.
CHESTER (O.S.)
Jamie!
JAMIE
I'm up here!
SFX: WOLVES GROWL.
JOEY
They're feisty today! Rawr!
SFX: WOLF GROWLS.
JOEY (O.S.)
You think you're scary.
CHESTER (O.S)
Jamie, I'm coming!
JOEY
Mr. Warren, wait! He's gonna get chomped.
SFX: WOLVES GROWL, THEN SHY AWAY AS JOEY RUNS OVER.
JOEY (O.S.)
Shoo! Go away!
CHESTER (O.S.)
Jamie!
JAMIE
Dad! I'm right here!
SFX: CHESTER'S FRANTIC FOOTSTEPS CRASH THROUGH THE WOODS.
CHESTER
Jamie! Jamie, stay there!
LILY
Lemme pull you up.
SFX: LILY HELPS CHESTER SCRAMBLE UP THE ROCK.
CHESTER
(as he climbs)
Jamie, are you-- is everything-- eh.
SFX: CHESTER FINALLY REACHES THE TOP OF THE ROCK.
CHESTER (cont'd)
Oh, Jam'.
JAMIE
Hi, Dad.
SFX: RUSTLE OF CLOTHES AS CHESTER GIVES JAMIE A HUG.
JAMIE (cont'd)
I'm gonna give you an extra-long hug.
CHESTER
You're okay.
JAMIE
Yep!
CHESTER
How did you get here?
JAMIE
Oh. Well, I guess I'm sorry for leaving by
myself. But there was a tunnel!
CHESTER
In the ice cream shop?
JAMIE
Yeah! And I knew it was from my maze, and I was
right! It lead directly to the secret exit.
CHESTER
You went through a strange tunnel by yourself?
JAMIE
Well, yeah.
CHESTER
Without telling a grownup?
JAMIE
I'm sorry.
CHESTER
James Warren. You must listen to me very
carefully.
JAMIE
Um, Dad? Can you not use your angry voice?
SFX: CHESTER'S VOICE IS SUDDENLY FULL OF TEARS.
CHESTER
You must listen to me.
JAMIE
It's okay, Dad. I was safe. Joey scared away the
wolves.
CHESTER
Never leave me.
SFX: NOW JAMIE AND CHESTER ARE BOTH TEARY.
JAMIE
It's okay, Dad. It's okay. Please don't be sad.
CHESTER
Oh, my little Jam'.
JAMIE
Can I still have ice cream with Lily, or was I
too bad?
CHESTER
You can have ice cream.
SFX: CHESTER BREATHES IN, WIPING AWAY TEARS.
CHESTER (cont'd)
Right. Let's get to the cars. Rudy is waiting.
JOEY
I'll guide you out.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS EVERYONE WALKS THROUGH THE WOODS. THE
WOLVES, WHINING, PAD AWAY.
JOEY (cont'd)
Scram, Wolfies! Look at em, with their stupid
tails between their stupid legs.
LILY
Why're they're leaving.
JOEY
Party's over.
JAMIE
They look sad.
JOEY
Yeah. Cause they couldn't eat kid for dinner.
JAMIE
Yeah, no kid for dinner! Just uh, I guess other
meat and stuff.
LILY
Chester, what should we--[do?]
CHESTER
Not now. Wait for Rudy.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS THROUGH THE WOODS.
EXT. EDGE OF THE WOODS - DAY
SFX: BIRDS SING. CARS RUSH DOWN THE ROAD. FOOTSTEPS EMERGE
FROM THE WOODS AND CRUNCH ON ASPHALT.
RUDY
Jamie! Looking good!
JAMIE
Hi, Rudy! Oh, Joey, wait! You want to get ice
cream with us?
JOEY
I'm good. You kids have fun.
SFX: JOEY VANISHES.
CHESTER
Jamie, let's just get you in the car.
SFX: CAR DOOR OPENS.
JAMIE
Okay.
CHESTER
Wes, could you sit with him?
WES
Sure! So, Jamie. What kind of ice cream do you
want to get?
JAMIE
I don't know! I--
SFX: CAR DOOR IS CLOSED, MUFFLING THEIR CONVERSATION.
CHESTER
Well.
RUDY
Kid's okay.
CHESTER
He's fine.
RUDY
How'd you know the kid was here?
LILY
Silas.
RUDY
How'd HE know.
CHESTER
He put him there.
LILY
Silas didn't actually, like, physically kidnap
him. There was just a tunnel that opened up.
CHESTER
He put a mysterious tunnel in front of a fiveyear-
old? Let's not split hairs here. Silas is
responsible.
LILY
That's fair. And he laughed when I asked him
about it. So.
RUDY
Man's got to go.
LILY
Silas always had to go. But I don't know how
we're--
CHESTER
I'm calling a town meeting. We must find a way to
get him out.
RUDY
Not sure a town meeting's the way to solve this.
CHESTER
It's a start.
RUDY
Yeah, there's been a lot of starts, of "maybe
this will be relevant to our problems", of, ooo,
here's an interesting little twist, little new
idea!" "Oo, here's another one." Time to fast
forward to the end.
CHESTER
Being deliberate is a mark of prudence.
RUDY
You're afraid when we get to the end that you
won't like what you see. But I'm not afraid.
LILY
I'm not afraid.
RUDY
Chester?
SFX: CHESTER IS VERY AFRAID, BUT HE CHOOSES TO BE BRAVE.
CHESTER
I'm not afraid.
RUDY
If NO ONE'S AFRAID, THAN WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.
SFX: CAR DOOR OPENS.
WES
Okay! We've decided on our ice cream!
CHESTER
Let's see how the town meeting goes.
(to Wes, Jamie, and Joey)
And what's the ice cream verdict, friends?
WES
I'm getting rocky road!
JAMIE
And I'm getting Blue Razzamatazz.
JAMIE (cont'd)
What are you getting, Rudy?
RUDY
Oh, I don't think I have time for ice cream,
little man. I have to do some work.
EXT. DESOUZA'S ICE CREAM PARLOR - LATER THAT DAY.
SFX: THE ICE CREAM PARLOR MUSIC SOUNDS TINNY THROUGH THE
OUTDOOR SPEAKERS. BIRDS. A GORGEOUS SPRING DAY.
CHESTER
Everything look good?
LILY/JAMIE/WES
Amazing! Yes! Mine looks so good.
CHESTER
I might fetch some more napkins. Oh, and water,
anyone want water?
JAMIE
Me!!!
WES
Me, too.
LILY
Definitely me.
WES
I'll help you carry em.
CHESTER
Thanks, Wes.
JAMIE
And thanks, Dad!
SFX: WES AND CHESTER'S FOOTSTEPS GO INSIDE. BELL TINKLES AS
CHESTER OPENS THE FRONT DOOR OF DESOUZA'S.
LILY
Water'll help with the brainfreeze.
JAMIE
I know why! Because the water in the pipes make
it not freeze.
LILY
Sure.
JAMIE
Mmm. This is so good! Yours also looks good.
LILY
Thanks.
JAMIE
Hey, Lily.
LILY
Yeah?
JAMIE
Knock knock
LILY
Who’s there?
JAMIE
Interrupting cow
LILY
Interrupting co--
JAMIE
MOOOO.
LILY
Classic
JAMIE
Now you say one.
LILY
Hmm, oh! Knock-knock.
JAMIE
Who's there.
LILY
Cash.
JAMIE
Cash who?
LILY
No thanks, I prefer peanuts.
SFX: JAMIE LAUGHS.
JAMIE
That’s funny! Because there’s a peanut named cashew.
LILY
Yeah.
SFX: ICE-CREAM-SHOP MUSIC PLAYS. BIRDS SING. THEY EAT.
LILY (cont'd)
Jamie, we’re gonna keep you safe. From the
wolves, from the... ah...[man in the woods]
JAMIE
From the man in the woods?
LILY
Yeah. We're gonna keep you safe from everything.
JAMIE
I know.
LILY
Good.
END.