EXT. SMALL WOODED TOWN- DUSK

Time-Based Coding

Written by

Chicago, IL 504-237-6504

2.

FADE IN:

The town lies still, thick foliage at the edges creeping in, ready to reclaim what once belonged to nature.

EXT. HOUSE – NIGHT

A SHERIFF'S CAR sits in the driveway of a modest house. There are no neighbors in sight.

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

The tape player starts as the warm glow of the TUBE TELEVISION floods the room.

PAUL (40s), imposing in his SHERIFF'S UNIFORM, sits on a PLAID COUCH, his eyes fixed on the screen. The room feels outdated, with dark wood-paneled walls, simple landscape paintings, and a wooden COFFEE TABLE that anchors the space. His mouth stretches into a wide smile as the distorted sounds and images flash on his face.

Paul chuckles softly, no visible clue to the horrors that currently unfold on his screen.

Suddenly, a small voice breaks the silence.

ELI (O.S.) Dad?

Paul turns sharply towards Eli, his smile fading into a cold gaze. He pauses the tape and composes himself.

ELI (10) stands in the hallway, peeking in but unable to see the TV. His curiosity is obvious, but his nervousness is even more apparent.

PAUL You're not supposed to be out of bed, little Eli.

Eli fidgets, trying his best to avoid looking at the TV or his father.

ELI I... I couldn’t sleep.

2.

3.

Paul rises slowly, deliberately until he towers over his son.

PAUL Perhaps I should tuck you in?

Eli’s voice wavers as he musters the courage to ask.

ELI Can I stay up tonight? Pretty please?

PAUL I said go to bed. Now, Eli!

Eli flinches, his eyes darting at the stairs before turning back.

ELI What are you watching?

Paul places a hand on his shoulder, his tone soft but menacing.

PAUL It’s not for little boys. Understand?

Eli nods.

ELI (Sheepish)

Okay.

Paul tightens his grip until Eli looks into his eyes.

PAUL I love you, Eli.

ELI I know, dad.

Paul releases him, his face betraying nothing, and returns to the couch. Eli hesitates, then heads upstairs, glancing back at his father, who sits motionless.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eli climbs into bed, pulling the covers tight. Muffled voices and static seep through the floorboards from the living room, broken by bursts of laughter. Eli squeezes his eyes shut, trying to block it out.

3.

4.

INT. DINING ROOM – DAY

Eli sits at the KITCHEN TABLE, poking at his CEREAL. His eyes drift to an OLD FAMILY PHOTO on the wall—Eli, Paul, and Eli’s mother, smiling and happy.

Eli looks at Paul, but his father stares into his coffee, face closed off. Eli’s smile fades.

ELI I miss mom.

Paul carefully places his coffee down. He looks away from Eli as he speaks.

PAUL Your mother abandoned us. She didn’t care enough to stay.

Eli is clearly hurt by this but says nothing.

PAUL She abandoned you.

Paul’s voice is as sharp as a knife. He goes back to sipping his coffee as if it meant nothing.

ELI (after a pause, almost pleading)

Maybe we could... watch something tonight? Or do something? Like we all did before?

Eli taps his spoon on the bowl, waiting. Finally, Paul looks up.

PAUL You just have to get used to the way things are now. The bus is almost here.

Eli’s face falls.

ELI I just thought...

Eli’s voice is barely at a whisper.

ELI It would have been nice….

Paul stands, grabbing his KEYS.

4.

5.

PAUL You better get moving.

Eli stares back at the family photo, his eyes lingering on the smiles like he’s trying to transport himself back to that moment in time. He wants to feel that warmth just once more.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eli lies in bed, tossing and turning, eyes open and closed in frustration. The red glow of his alarm clock reads 3:17 AM. He hasn't slept.

Faint, eerie sounds drift from below.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

The TV flickers with twisted, unintelligible sounds and images, just out of reach. Paul, nodding with a grin, lets out bursts of laughter, clearly enthralled by the bizarre program.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Eli stares at the clock, then sits up, his eyes drawn to the sliver of light beneath the door.

He swings his feet onto the cold floor, ready to stand, but the sounds from downstairs suddenly stop.

Eli freezes.

Footsteps groan up the stairs. He slips back under the covers, holding his breath.

The footsteps pause outside his father's bedroom. The door opens, then closes.

Eli exhales, relief washing over him, and shuts his eyes, trying to sleep.

EXT. BACKYARD - DUSK

Eli stands alone, tossing a BASEBALL up and down. The backyard stretches into a dense forest. Orange and brown leaves crunch under his feet.

The rhythmic thunk of the ball hitting his glove fills the quiet, chill air.

The back door opens.

5.

6.

PAUL (O.S) It’s time to sleep.

Eli tenses-up mid-throw. He looks over his shoulder to see Paul, silhouetted by the fading light in the doorway.

ELI But it’s not even dark yet.

Paul walks forward. Eli clutches the ball, knowing there’s no arguing. He limps past his father and heads inside.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eli sleeps soundly. The alarm clock reads 1:44 AM.

A shrill ring from the PHONE downstairs shatters the silence.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Paul sits on the couch, TV playing. The ringing landline breaks his focus.

He glances at the phone on the wall, sighs, then turns off the TV.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eli is still down for the count, unaware of the phone ringing downstairs.

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Paul picks up the phone.

PAUL Who’s this?

DAN (ON THE PHONE) Hey, Sheriff Paul. Sorry to wake you.

Paul’s tone shifts, becoming more relaxed and friendly.

PAUL No worries, Dan. I was up anyway. What’s going on?

6.

7.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eli remains asleep, oblivious to the conversation.

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

DAN (ON THE PHONE) Hate to trouble you at this hour, but Drunk Tank Duncan’s really acting a fool. He slugged the new deputy.

PAUL Shirley okay?

DAN (ON THE PHONE) She’ll live, but her nose might be broken. I got to take her to the ER. Can you handle Duncan while I’m out?

PAUL I’ll be there in a jiffy.

DAN (ON THE PHONE) Thanks, boss. Duncan, I swear, I’ll taser you into next week!

Paul hangs up.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Paul grabs his sheriff's jacket from the closet by the front door, slipping it on with ease. He grabs his keys from a nearby hook.

He opens the door but pauses, his gaze drifting to the stairs. He closes the door gently.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

The stairs groan under Paul’s weight as he ascends, his presence heavy in the narrow hallway. He stops at Eli’s door.

Paul pushes the door open, shadows hiding half his frame. He lingers in the doorway, watching Eli sleep. After a beat, he quietly shuts the door.

7.

8.

INT. FRONT DOOR – NIGHT

Paul walks downstairs, the creaking wood echoing. He opens the door and steps outside.

The sound of his squad car revving up fills the night, fading as he drives away.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eli sits up in bed. He listens—nothing. Realizing his father is gone, he plants his feet on the floor.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Eli creeps down the stairs, each step a gamble. He pauses at the bottom, scanning for any sign of his father.

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Eli steps into the living room, eyes locking on the VHS tape in the VCR. His father must have forgotten to hide it.

Should he?

Then, glancing out the curtains, he sees his dad's car is gone.

This is his chance.

He pushes the tape in, grabs the remote, and turns on the TV. The TV pulsates, Eli’s body blocking most of the image. Grainy outlines appear on the edges of the screen. A loud clank makes him jump. Something heavy drags just out of view, followed by a muffled voice.

VOICE (O.S.) Please... don’t... no more.

Eli’s chest tightens. A sharp metallic scrape cuts through the air, followed by grinding gears and a shriek. Eli reaches for the VCR, but stops cold as his father’s voice creeps through the speakers.

PAUL (O.S.) Come on. You've been no fun at all. We can go further.

Eli freezes. It’s not a movie—this is real.

8.

9.

PAUL (O.S.) Nobody knows you’re here. You get that, right?

The cries intensify. Tools clank, a drill spins, something heavy is dragged.

PAUL (O.S.) Look at you...pitiful.

The earlier voice, weak and desperate, speaks again.

VOICE (O.S.) I…I have a family.

The drill buzzes louder.

PAUL (O.S.) Everyone has a family. They all think someone's coming for them.

VOICE (O.S.) God, no...

Eli stumbles back. Metal screeches, followed by the wet tear of flesh.

PAUL (O.S.) No one’s coming. Trust me.

A heavy thud echoes, followed by a moan. Then, the roar of a chainsaw followed by the sound of flesh being shredded and a sickening splash of liquid. Screams rise, then fall into silence.

PAUL (O.S.) You surprised me. I didn’t think you’d last that long.

Eli breathes heavily, tears rolling down his cheek. He doesn’t wipe it away, in fact he’s simply too horrified to move. The screen cuts to static.

Headlights flash through the window curtains. His father’s car is back.

Eli snaps out of his daze, heart pounding. He quickly turns off the TV and bolts out of the living room.

9.

10.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Eli peers at the door, pulse racing as his father's heavy footsteps approach, growing louder. He runs up the stairs, moving as fast as he can.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eli shuts the door, leaps into bed, and pulls the covers to his chin.

The front door creaks open. His father’s heavy footsteps follow

Eli's face tightens in fear. The footsteps stop in the living room—silence.

Then, the sound of boots hitting the stairs, each step pounding like a drum in Eli's chest. His breath catches.

Will his father come into his room?

The house falls eerily still, the tension unbearable.

Finally, the footsteps continue down the hall. His father enters his own bedroom.

Relief washes over Eli, but the fear lingers.

INT. ELI'S BEDROOM – EARLY MORNING

Eli wakes up to his alarm. The clock reads 6:31 AM. He lingers in bed for a moment, thinking of the night before.

INT. HALLWAY – EARLY MORNING

Eli stands at the top of the stairs, hesitating. After a slow breath, he starts down.

INT. KITCHEN – EARLY MORNING

Paul sits at the kitchen table, smiling warmly, a cup of coffee in hand. Eli pauses, unsettled by his father's unusually friendly demeanor.

PAUL Take a seat, son.

Eli sits, noticing the glass of milk and bowl of cereal already waiting for him.

10.

11.

PAUL Up late last night?

Eli freezes.

PAUL Sorry I left you alone. You must’ve felt small, waking up to an empty house.

Eli fights through his fear.

ELI I stayed asleep.

Paul's smile widens, a look Eli has never seen.

PAUL Are you sure? It’s okay if you did.

Eli nods.

PAUL That’s good. You’ve grown, haven’t you? I hadn’t realized how big you’ve gotten.

Eli stays silent.

PAUL Why don’t we skip the bus today? I’ll drive you to school. Go on, now. Don't keep me waiting

Eli stands, leaving his untouched meal. As he exits, he notices where the family portrait used to hang—now gone, with only a dust outline hinting at its absence.

INT. HALLWAY – MORNING

Eli, now dressed for school, descends the stairs with his backpack.

INT. LIVING ROOM – MORNING

Eli freezes when he sees the TV on. His father sits on the couch, belly laughing like Max Cady from Cape Fear. Screams blare from the speakers.

Paul doesn’t acknowledge Eli, his laughter fading into a disturbingly calm demeanor, as if he’s watching a sitcom. After a beat, his voice lowers.

11.

12.

PAUL I think this one’s tough to beat.

(beat) But gun to my head... your mother’s is my best work.

Eli’s backpack slips from his shoulder, landing with a thud.

PAUL You forgot to rewind the tape, son.

Eli’s heart pounds.

ELI (voice trembling)

I didn’t see. I didn’t—please...

PAUL But you did.

ELI I... I promise I won’t tell anyone.

PAUL I know you won’t.

(beat) Come sit beside me.

Trembling, Eli reluctantly sits next to his father. Paul grins.

A knock on the door interrupts them. Paul’s smile vanishes.

PAUL Sit still. This won’t take long.

Paul turns off the TV, sets the remote down, and heads to the front door.

INT. DOORWAY – MORNING

Paul peers through the window, smiling as he opens the door to OFFICER DAN.

PAUL Dan? What brings me the pleasure?

DAN I happened to be taking the scenic route and figured I’d thank you for last night. Face-to-face beats a phone call. Mind if I come in?

12.

13.

Paul glances back at Eli, pausing.

PAUL Of course.

Dan steps inside.

INT. LIVING ROOM – MORNING

Paul and Dan enter. Eli turns to look.

PAUL Can I get you anything?

Paul places a hand on the back of the couch behind Eli.

DAN No, I won’t be long. Just wanted to drop by. Shirley’s gonna be fine—her nose is fixed up.

PAUL Glad to hear it. Hate to think of her in pain.

As they chat, Eli quickly grabs the remote and turns on the TV. The video plays. Dan’s eyes widen.

DAN What’s this?

Paul glares at Eli, then looks back at Dan.

DAN You never showed me this one! That’s that drifter from ’98, right? Hell, no one’s missing that guy.

Eli looks crushed.

DAN Fifteen years of teamwork, and you still surprise me, Paul.

PAUL I like to keep a few things close to the vest. Speaking of, I got one with Duncan last night. He was a real screamer. Want a copy?

13.

DAN I’d be downright delighted. I bet Shirley gets a real kick out of this after her night.

PAUL I’ll get it ready.

DAN Thanks, Paul.

Dan turns to Eli.

DAN You should feel real lucky, son. Your father does everything he can to keep this town safe.

Dan looks down at his WATCH.

DAN Ah shoot, I gotta go. Be good, little Eli.

Paul walks Dan to the door. Eli stands frozen. Paul returns, gently pushing Eli back onto the couch. He pulls a GREEN- LABELED VHS from a nearby shelf and places it in Eli’s trembling hands.

PAUL Now tell me, Eli.

(beat) What should we put on your tape?

FADE OUT.