NASTY STORY

Written by
Paul Anderton

Based on a story by
Peter Michael George

37 Crompton Road
Manchester
M19 2QJ
Paulanderton@curtinparloe.co.uk
+447725346261

INT. POLICE INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY

ADAM sits in the room, on the villain side of the table.
Across from him are DI PARSONS and DS WILMOTT. Adam is
dishevelled and has been crying. PARSONS is stern, Wilmott
impassive.
PARSONS
Perhaps youd like to tell us about
the victim.
Adam glares at Parsons.
ADAM
Sophie. Her name was Sophie.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
SOPHIE sits at the kitchen table looking at a brochure of
wedding dresses. She glances up at a framed photo showing her
and Adam. Hes in Army fatigues.
ADAM
(V.O.)
She was everything to me. The
thought of her kept me going while
I was stationed abroad.
She smiles, gets back to the brochure.
INT. FLORIST - DAY
Sophie stands in the flower shop, talking to the Florist.
Its somewhat heated.
ADAM
(V.O.)
We decided wed tie the knot when I
got back. She was so excited,
planning everything.
Through the shop window we barely catch a glimpse of a figure
outside, looking in. A hood covers his face, so we cant see
him. Well call him MANSON.
INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY
Sophie struggles with her shopping trolley. She bumps into
someone and quickly apologises. Its MANSON, still wearing
the hood. (possibly go down the he stole her key route
here)

2.
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY
PARSONS
So how would you characterise your
relationship with the - with
Sophie?
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Sophies asleep. Her mobile phone rings. Number withheld.
ADAM
(V.O.)
We were very much in love. We were
getting married, for Gods sake.
She groggily answers; theres no-one there.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Sophie gets home with the shopping, dumps the bags on the
counter. We glimpse the picture frame from before - the photo
inside it has gone.
She puts groceries away, notices the picture.
ADAM
(V.O.)
Of course, we had our ups and
downs, but doesnt every couple?
The back door - Theres a mans footprint on the doormat.
Shes scared.
Theres a noise upstairs; she runs.
Front door - locked.
Back door - locked.
She grabs a kitchen knife and backs up.
She fumbles in her pocket for her phone and pulls it out. She
tries to dial - INSERT SIM.
ADAM (CONTD)
(V.O.)
We could always talk through our
problems.
On the work-top is the house phone. She grabs it. Dead.

3.
She looks at the window. Picks up a frying pan. Swings.
CLANG!
She tries again. The glass still doesnt break.
ADAM (CONTD)
(V.O.)
Its not like either of us wanted
out or anything.
Behind her in the doorway, MANSON. He wears a balaclava with
teeth attached to the mouth area; a horrifying grin.
She drops the frying pan and grabs the knife, brandishing it
tightly.
Manson is holding a bath mat, like gladiators rete. He
advances.
She swings with the knife; he tangles the blade in the mat.
Its pulled from her grasp.
He grabs her.
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY
PARSONS
Weve done a little digging, Mr.
Eastley. You failed to mention that
you were dishonourably discharged
from the armed forces.
Adam looks guilty.
ADAM
The appeal court overturned it. I
was discharged on medical grounds.
PARSONS
Yes. Mental instability, it says.
(beat)
Not surprising, looking at this.
Parsons opens the dossier in front of him and glances at it,
paying more attention to Adams reaction.
PARSONS (CONTD)
It says you and a woman from your
squad disappeared in Afghanistan,
and when they found you together,
she had been butchered.

4.
Adams upset at hearing this.
Jen.

ADAM

PARSONS
Thats why they threw you out of
the army, isnt it! They tried to
put you away, but somehow you
convinced the appeals panel that
you didnt do it!
(beat)
Isnt that right?
Adam leaps to his feet, tries to leave.
Wilmott Grabs him roughhly, puts him back in the chair.
PARSONS (CONTD)
She had family! A husband! And they
all watched you get away with
murder!
ADAM
No! We were captured.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
MANSON drops SOPHIE by the bath, starts to fill it.
Sophies eyes dart, looking for a way out. Her mouth is
covered with tape.
ADAM
(V.O.)
They said they wanted to drive us
out. They thought it would be a way
to prove to us that wed never be
welcomed there.
Her wrists and ankles too. She squirms, unable to free
herself.
Manson hoists her into the half-full bath.
She sees the knife in his hand as he leans forward, and
recoils, MOANING.
With a few slashes, he tears open her clothing, discards it
on the floor.
She tries to cover her implied nakedness. He walks out of the
room.

5.
ADAM (CONTD)
(V.O.)
They made me watch.
Seeing her chance, she struggles in the water, trying to get
out. She manages to get to her knees in the full bath.
Hes there, pushes her back. Grabs her ankle and pulls her
underwater.
As she thrashes for air, he pulls down the shower curtain and
lays it over the bath, taping the edges down.
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
SOPHIE hangs by her wrists, bound with rope and attached to
the ceiling, her feet dangling. She looks somewhat bloated as
she struggles feebly.
ADAM
(V.O.)
They skinned her, like a dead
animal.
A large-bladed knife, sharp, shiny, in his gloved hand.
Blade on mottled, wrinkled skin.
MUFFLED SCREAMS.
Peeled skin. Blood.
From outside the bathroom, a hint of whats happening.
ADAM (CONTD)
(V.O.)
But she wasnt dead.
(beat)
Not for a long time.
INT. HOUSE - DAY
We see a flash of SOPHIE, skinned alive (see Castor Troy in
Face-Off).
Adam's hand enters frame with a note: "My wife for your
wife." - we hear dripping of blood, maybe see a pool of it
leaving the bathroom.
Adams reaction.
FADE TO BLACK.