STOCKHOLM DIARIES. Written by. Shelby Saumier & Milo Mendoza

Transcription

1 STOCKHOLM DIARIES Written by Shelby Saumier & Milo Mendoza All rights reserved (209) (916)

2 INT. MENTAL INSTITUTION - EARLY NOON, 20s, sits at a table in an all white room. She is dressed in an all white patient wardrobe, her hair messy. Across from her is DR.NOLLAND. Dr. Nolland sets down the clipboard in his hand, puts his pen in his pocket and takes a deep breath. DR. NOLLAND You re not in trouble. This will not even go on record. You think I m crazy. DR. NOLLAND Maggie, we just need to learn more about your experience with Thomas Foller to better understand what you went through. So that we can help you. Maggie doesn t respond. Dr. Nolland becomes frustrated. He leans back and crosses his arms. DR. NOLLAND (CONT D) Can you start by telling me what happened with your mother? Maggie gives Dr. Nolland her attention. A blank expression falls over her face. She begins to remember. CUT TO: BLACK INT. BATHROOM - FLASHBACK - NIGHT MARGARET, early 30s, lies in a bathtub full of blood, lifeless. Her head hunched over and her arm rests outside the bathtub dripping bloody water. Faint steady huffing is heard. (steady huffing) Come on please! Breathe!, early 30s, husband of Margaret, applies a series of light pressure to the chest of a motionless, noiseless baby. He blows into the baby s mouth in hopes of resuscitating the baby. He applies more pressure. (CONT D) God damn it!

3 2. Thomas whimpers and swings his arm across and knocks utensils off the counter. He sniffles and chuckles pathetically. Thomas picks up the baby, wraps her in a blanket and exits the bathroom., 4 years old, stands peeking through the doorway. Thomas passes her. (concerned) Daddy, is Mommy okay? Thomas does not reply. He enters a bedroom down the hall. He places the baby into a crib. Speechless, he stands hunched over the crib. A shadow touches his feet. Dakota stands at the doorway behind him. (CONT D) Mommy isn t waking up. Thomas turns and lends out a hand. Dakota comes forward. Thomas gets onto one knee. He begins to explain the situation. Dakota quickly embraces him for a hug. Thomas holds her tight and kisses the top of her head. FADE TO: BLACK INT. HOUSE - NIGHT Thomas stands at his front door, door open. Ambulance lights shine against the side of the house. Yes, Foller. F-O- double L-E-R POLICE OFFICER Alright, Mr. Foller. Again, give us a call if you need anything else. Now, are you sure you don t want the EMT to take a look at the baby? Thank you, but my family just needs some rest. We ve had a long night. POLICE OFFICER Not a problem Mr. Foller. I m sorry for your loss. Have a good night. You too.

4 3. Thomas closes the door quietly and turns around to see Dakota asleep on the couch. Thomas picks up his daughter and lays her to rest in her bedroom. Time passes (Shown through a bedside clock). Dakota is woken up by noise coming from the backyard. She gets out of bed to investigate the noise. She enters the living room. The sliding door is open. She peeks outside. She sees a silhouette of her father shoveling at the dirt. Her father stops shoveling and gets on his knees. He then puts a small object into the hole. Dakota rubs her eyes. Under her breath she whispers... Daddy...? Thomas turns around and begins walking towards Dakota. Kota, Sweetie. What are you doing up? He redirects her inside the house. What are you doing? Nothing, Sweetie. Let s get you back to bed. Thomas picks up Dakota and takes her to her room. As they pass the nursery Dakota looks in only to see an empty crib. Thomas tucks her into bed. Is my sissy okay? Yes, Sweetie. She s just resting. If she s feeling well you ll get to see her in the morning. Now get some sleep. Thomas kisses her on the forehead and walks out, closing the door behind him. CUT TO:

5 4. EXT. CAR - MORNING It s the morning after. Thomas sits in his truck while the engine hums. CAROL, Thomas elderly neighbor, stands outside of the car with Dakota in her arms. Thanks again, Carol. CAROL No problem Tommy. (compassionately) Are you sure you re okay? It ll get better. My main concern is to take little Maggie here to get checked up. CAROL Okay, well don t you worry about Kota here. She s in good hands. We re going to have lots of fun. Dakota leans over in Carol s arms to peek at the car seat sitting in the back seat. Dakota cannot see her sister because the car seat is covered by a blanket. Her father and Carol finish their conversation. Thomas pulls out of the driveway. CUT TO: EXT. PARK - NOON Thomas sits at a park bench alone with a blank stare. Kids play in the background. A women parks a stroller next to the same bench and sits next to Thomas. He snaps out of his trance. Thomas leans over and looks at the baby in the stroller. She s beautiful. WOMEN Thank you. How old? WOMEN Four months. (BEAT) Which one is yours?

6 5. Err... She s around here somewhere. She s four. (BEAT) My youngest was just born yesterday. WOMEN Congratulations! Your wife must be so happy. She is. We both feel very blessed. We named her after her mother. The women looks distracted. She calls out to her child in the park. WOMEN CONNER! CONNER NO! She turns to Thomas. WOMEN (CONT D) I m sorry. (YELLS) Conner I said No! The women steps away to attend to her son. Thomas sits alone on the bench. His face expressionless. Thomas turns towards the stroller. He stands up, picks the baby up from the stroller, and walks away from the park. The mother returns moments later to an empty stroller. She screams for her child. FADE TO: BLACK INT. HOUSE - AFTERNOON The house is quiet. Thomas sits in the living room, while feeding the baby in his arms. There s a knock at the door. Thomas gets up and answers the door. Carol and Dakota enter the house. CAROL Oh my... Do I finally get to meet little Maggie? You sure can. She finally built up enough energy to say hello. Carol and Thomas continue with their conversation. Meanwhile Dakota looks at little Maggie with a ghost like expression. Dakota then lets out a piercing shriek.

7 6. She runs to her room and slams the door. Carol and Thomas look at each other confused. The baby cries in terror. CAROL Poor thing. I think the loss of her mother is going to take some getting used to. Dakota can hear the conversation through the door. She grips her pillow tight as she sits on her bed. Dakota begins biting her nails. FADE TO: BLACK INT. S BEDROOM - MORNING It s the following morning. Dakota is awoken by noise from the living room. She walks into the living room to see her dad duck taping boxes while the baby is in her carriage. What are you doing with Mr. Snuggles? We re moving, Sweetie. Mommy s funeral will be in South Carolina. Remember, where you were born? Who is that, Daddy? That s not my sissy! Sweetheart, where is this coming from? I thought you were excited to have a little sister? Thomas embraces Dakota to calm her down. Dakota begins sobbing on his shoulder. (CONT D) Hey... Hey... Hey... Sweetie, it s okay. I know... Shhhhh... I know it s hard now that Mommy is gone. It ll get better, I promise.

8 7. Thomas strokes her hair and kisses her on the top of her head. Meanwhile Dakota looks over her father s shoulder at her sister, Maggie. She begins biting her nails. FADE TO: INT. KITCHEN - AFTERNOON and, now teenagers, sit at the kitchen table. Thomas walks from the kitchen counter while carrying a chocolate cake with a lit candle. Dakota sits in silence. Happy Birthday, dear Maggie. Happy Birthday to you! Thomas sets the cake down on the table. (CONT D) Well... Make a wish! Maggie leans over and blows out the candles. (CONT D) What d you wish for? I can t tell! Then it won t come true. Well, I was going to wait until later tonight but I think you ve waited long enough. Thomas pulls out a small present from his back pocket. What is it? Open it up and find out! Maggie unwraps the gift. She pulls out a long silver necklace with a heart shaped pennate. Oh my god. Daddy it s beautiful! Is that Mom s?

9 8. Yes. Thomas turns to Maggie and helps her put the necklace on. (CONT D) It s your mother s and I thought since you never had the chance to meet her you deserve to have it. It s beautiful. Thank you. Maggie and Thomas embrace for a hug. Dakota looks on in disgust. She begins biting her nails. Alright well, let s have some cake. Daddy, you forgot milk. Damn it, you re right. Alright, well I ll be right back. Are you seriously leaving to get her milk? Yes, Kota I am. Be nice it s your sister s birthday. I ll be back in 5 minutes. You two stay put. Thomas grabs his keys, puts on a jacket, and walks out the door. The door slams. The two sisters sit in the kitchen, silent. Dakota looks at her sister with disgust. Maggie fiddles with her silverware. You don t deserve it. Deserve what? That necklace. It was Mom s and you don t deserve it. Dad said..

10 9. Dad says a lot of things. But they don t mean anything. Like when he says you re my sister. Why do you always say that? What? You re not. Dad says you only say that cause you re jealous! Jealous of what? That dad loves me more! That s why he gave me mom s necklace. Dakota pauses for a deep breath. Give it to me. No, Dad gave it to me. She isn t even your mom! Shut up! You re not even my sister! Maggie begins to break out into tears. Stop saying that! Shut up, SHUT UP! Dakota continues to berate her sister. CUT TO: INT. SUPERMARKET - NIGHT Meanwhile, Thomas arrives at the supermarket. He finds the isle that contains milk.

11 10. He walks up to the fridge and opens the door. Thomas pulls out the first carton and begins looking for the expiration date. On the carton is a Missing Child ad. There is two pictures, one of the missing child and one of the alleged capture. As he skims through the ad Thomas freezes. He notices the sketch of the alleged capture resembles himself. He cannot believe what he is reading. Thomas notices a random shopper to his right. He slowly looks to the right only to see him also reading the same ad. The man glances at Thomas and then back at the carton. He recognizes Thomas from the carton. Thomas immediately looks away. He slowly puts the milk back in the fridge and begins walking away from the isle. The man calls out to Thomas. Thomas rushes to the exit. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT Thomas arrives back home, frantic, only to find his daughters screaming and arguing. Dakota is still berating her sister. Maggie has her hands over her ears. (Yells) What s going on! Maggie runs to embrace her father and begins sobbing. Daddy, tell her I m not kidnapped. What!? Kota what is she talking about? Nothing. She said you kidnapped me when I was a baby. Is that true? (BEAT) Maggie go to your room. What? I need to speak to your sister alone. Please go to your room.

12 11. Maggie wipes the tears from her eyes as she walks to her room. Thomas is surprisingly calm. Thomas points to the kitchen table. Dakota and her father both sit down. (CONT D) They know. What? They know. They know what? Dakota we need to leave. Tonight. What s going on? They found me. I don t know how, but they found me. I need you and your sister to pack your things so that we can leave tonight. Is this about Maggie? Kota... It is, isn t it? They re looking for her aren t they? They know you kidnapped her! Dakota lower your voice. Maggie peaks through the crack of her door. She listens. No! What? We re just going to move and keep on lying about it? Just admit to it. You kidnapped her! Thomas leans in and speaks to Dakota in a hushed voice. If I admit to it, will you stop and just help me? For once?

13 12. Dakota jumps out of her chair. I knew you knew. All these years you called me crazy and said I was lying. You re the liar! And you ll only admit to it to continue your lie! Dakota calm down. How can I be calm right now? Thomas stands up from his chair. He approaches Dakota. Dakota please. Get away from me. Thomas attempts to grab Dakota by her wrists to keep her from moving away from him. She pushes him away and backs into the counter. Her right hand lands on top of the handle of a knife. Kota stop this! Thomas approaches Dakota again. I said GET AWAY! Instinctively, Dakota grips the knife as Thomas approaches her again. She penetrates Thomas in the torso with the knife. Thomas gasps for air. He falls to the ground. Dakota looks at Thomas lifeless body in disbelief. She redirects her gaze forward. Maggie is standing in the kitchen. The two lock eyes. Tears fall down Maggie s cheek. CUT TO: INT. MENTAL INSTITUTION - NOON Maggie stares off to the side with a blank expression. She paused her story. DR. NOLLAND What happened to Dakota?

14 13. Maggie looks at him and does not respond. DR. NOLLAND (CONT D) The reports say the cause of death was trauma to the head. Can you explain how that occurred? Maggie takes a moment and then begins to answer. After what she did to dad, we started fighting. Dad always kept a bat near the front door for protection. If I didn t do anything I... It was self-defense. DR. NOLLAND The autopsy shows there was no sign of struggle and the wound is on the back of the head. Can you explain that? Maggie stares at him with disbelief. DR. NOLLAND (CONT D) You don t need to answer that. I have one more question for you and then we can be done. Could you explain to me how you found out so much about your past? What did Dakota tell you? Maggie begins biting her nails. She trembles while blankly staring in Dr. Nolland s direction. DR. NOLLAND (CONT D) Maggie? Maaaggie? Are you with me? Maggie I need you to focus. You re almost done. Maggie. Maggie? CUT TO BLACK: