TO KILL A MONSTER

by
Wyn6
TO KILL A MONSTER
FADE IN:
INT. KEVINS HOUSE - NIGHT 1 1
FROM ABOVE THE BED we see KEVIN AND MONICA LEWIS, AFRICAN-
AMERICAN, 30s. Both lie sleeping... well almost.
Monica sleeps soundly but her husband is a different story.
Kevin tosses and turns as though hes in the throes of a bad
dream. Its a wonder Monica can sleep in the same bed.
ON KEVIN... as his eyes snap open. He sits straight up in
bed. He opens his mouth and a SCREAM escapes. Only, the
scream isnt his. It comes from...
MICHAELS ROOM - MOMENTS LATER 2 2
A young boy, MICHAEL LEWIS, 8, lies in his bed curled into a
fetal position. His body shakes, and theres a small wet spot
under his cheek where his tears have fallen. He cries
uncontrollably.
The door to his room opens. Kevin and Monica rush into the
room. Kevin sits at the head of the bed.
Michael sits up and instinctively curls into his fathers
chest. Monica sits on the floor next to them.
KEVIN
Shh. Shh. Shh. Its okay, baby.
Daddys here. Daddys here.
MONICA
Its all right, baby. Its all
right.
Michael doesnt stop crying. Its as if he cant stop. Kevin
glances down at his wife. Tears stream down her face, pain
evident in her expression, as she regards her son.
The father rests his chin on his sons head closes his eyes,
and rocks him back and forth, rubbing his back. He holds his
son as if he will never let him go.
PUSH IN SLOWLY as Kevin softly sings.
KEVIN
I love you. You love me. Were a
happy family.
Monica joins her husband singing.
KEVIN AND MONICA
With a great big hug and a kiss to
me and you. Wont you say you love
me too.
PUSH IN TO CLOSE. STAY ON THEM FOR A BEAT, then...
INT. KEVINS HOUSE - OFFICE - DAY 3 3
Kevin sits in front of his computer, his brow furled in
silent contemplation. His eyes are firmly fixed on the
screen.
At the top of the web page are the words: REGISTERED SEX
OFFENDERS.
The mouse moves. CLICK. Several PICTURES, we cant quite see,
come up. Kevin studies the screen for a BEAT. Again, he moves
the mouse. CLICK. A MAP comes up.
Kevin picks up a pen and scribbles something on a nearby
sticky pad. He powers the computer down, tears off the post-
it, and exits the room.
EXT. HOUSE OF JOHN CASEY LUDLOW - ESTABLISHING - EVENING 4 4
This is a quiet unassuming, albeit older house. Its fairly
well kept save some browning shrubbery, a sagging rain
gutter, and door that could use a fresh coat of paint.
A BEAT. Then were in... 5 5
INT. HOUSE OF JOHN CASEY LUDLOW - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 5 5
...where simple furniture adorns the room. Books and
newspapers lie scattered about as well as remnants of old
food. DOLLY IN on Family pictures which sit on the mantle
over the fireplace.
DISHES CLINK AND CLANG as we PAN OVER TO the...
KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS 6 6
JOHN CASEY LUDLOW, a middle-aged, Caucasian male, rinses
dishes off and sits them in the dishwasher. Hes a pale, thin
man with thinning hair and a not so thin mid-section.
2.
Theres nothing that really stands out about him. As a matter
of fact, hes quite ordinary. A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
John turns the water off, dries his hands, and pushes his
glasses up which have slid down his nose. He exits the
kitchen. WE FOLLOW HIM to the...
FRONT HALL - CONTINUOUS 7 7
He comes to the door and leans into it.
JOHN
Who is it?
KEVIN (O.S.)
(through the door)
Mr. Ludlow. My name is Kevin Lewis
and--
JOHN
Are you a reporter? Im not talking
to reporters.
KEVIN (O.S.)
(through door)
Im not a reporter.
John considers this a BEAT, then cracks the door to...
EXT. HOUSE OF JOHN CASEY LUDLOW - CONTINUOUS 8 8
Kevin stands on the front porch, peering at the sliver of
face the cracked door has revealed.
JOHN
Who are you then? A cop?
Kevin shakes his head.
KEVIN
No. Im not a cop.
They stare at each other for half a beat. John relaxes and
opens the door a little more.
JOHN
Then what do you want?
KEVIN
Are you John Casey Ludlow?
3.
JOHN
Yeah. Whatta you want?
KEVIN
My name is Kevin Lewis. My sons
name is Michael Lewis.
John stares at the man. Where is this going?
KEVIN (CONTD)
Hes eight years old.
(pauses to gather himself)
But he was six... when you molested
him.
Johns face wrinkles in anger.
JOHN
I was found not guilty of those
charges. Now, get the hell off my
property before I call the cops!
John tries to shut the door but Kevin wedges his foot between
it and the door frame.
KEVIN
I just want to know why. Why my
son?! He was only six!
JOHN
Go to hell!
Kevin rams his shoulder into the door. John is knocked
backward by the force of the blow. Kevin steps into...
INT. HOUSE OF JOHN CASEY LUDLOW - CONTINUOUS 9 9
John steps back, his hands in the air in a non-threatening
gesture.
JOHN
Get out of my house.
Kevin advances on John as his rage builds.
KEVIN
He was innocent and you took that
from him!
John takes a step forward and raises his voice
authoritatively.
4.
JOHN
Get the hell out of my house!
Kevins fist lays into him, connecting with his nose. The
bone CRUNCHES under the force. The punch sends John to the
ground, hard and his glasses skittering across the floor.
Blood pours from both nostrils.
The wounded man crawls backward away from his assailant.
Kevin FOLLOWS him.
JOHN (CONTD)
Please! Please! I never touched
him! I swear to God, I never
touched him!
KEVIN
Dont you lie to me! Dont you lie
to me, GODDAMMIT!!
The infuriated father kicks the prone man in his face. Johns
hands reflexively come up, grasping his face. He YELLS OUT in
pain.
Now Kevin stands over him. He kicks him and kicks him over
and over. John turns over and crawls away but its no good.
OTS as Kevin follows him and continues to kick him.
KEVIN (CONTD)
Why?! Why would you do that to a
little boy, you sick muthafucka?!!
MY LITTLE BOY!!
The furious father, tears of rage in his eyes, kicks him and
stomps him without mercy. John crawls into...
KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS 10 10
He drags himself across the linoleum floor, crying.
JOHN
Oh God! Please!
KEVIN
How can you ask for Gods help
after what you did?! You think
Gods gon help you?!
Kevin stomps him. John screams out as hes struck. He crawls
up to the cabinet, turns over and puts his arms up in a
defensive posture.
5.
JOHN
(pleading)
Okay. Okay. Im sorry. Im sick. I
need help. I didnt want to hurt
your son or any of those kids. I
just... I cant make it stop.
KEVIN
Im here to make it stop. Im here
to make sure you never hurt another
child again.
JOHN
Please dont... please!
John breaks down and sobs pathetically. This gives Kevin
pause. Its as if what hes about to do has occurred to him
for the first time. His eyes soften. John looks at him
through his tears.
John seeing his chance, clamors quickly to his knees
frantically reaching for something in the sink. His hand
finds it... A BUTCHER KNIFE. He turns, but Kevin is on him.
Kevin grabs Johns wrist. They struggle. He knees John in the
face several times.
Kevin slams Johns arm against the edge of the counter again
and again until the pain is too much for John to bear.
The knife falls free onto the counter. Kevin knees John again
then grabs the knife. John slides to Kevins left trying to
get away.
Kevin goes to the ground with him. He grabs the child
predator by his thinning hair and puts the blade to his
throat.
KEVIN
Turn over!! Turn... over!!
Kevin grabs Johns shoulder, wrenching him around. He uses
his forearm to slam the back of Johns head into the cabinet.
He brings the blades edge against Johns throat and presses
hard, drawing blood.
JOHN
Please. Dont kill me. Im sorry.
Im so sorry.
(beat)
Please.
6.
KEVIN
When my son cried and begged you
not to rape him... did you listen?
Did you listen when he said,
please?!
(waits)
DID YOU?!!
There is nothing that John can say.
KEVIN (CONT'D)
Then why should I listen to you
now?
John opens his mouth to speak but only a rasping groan comes
out as Kevin plunges the knife into his chest.
He pulls the knife out and stabs him repeatedly and wildly
again and again. The large, stainless steel blade, rips at
the mans chest... his stomach... his groin.. his face.
Kevin is a man possessed. John goes limp but Kevin
obliviously and insanely stabs away at the lifeless body.
Nothing but utter hate, blind rage and adrenaline drive him
now.
The scene is brutal... UNWATCHABLE.
Finally... it stops. Kevin looks down to see a large pool of
blood which grows with each passing second. He falls back,
quickly moving away from his victims body.
His expression is as if he had just stumbled upon the grisly
scene. Slowly, he stands.
PUSH IN. His breathing is heavy and erratic. He places the
knife on the white-tiled kitchen counter.
PUSH IN TO CLOSE. Kevin holds his hands out in front of him.
They shake violently.
He PANS the kitchen rapidly. Spotting a dish rag, he grabs it
and furiously scours the blood off of his hands, his face,
any part of him with blood on it. Then... he just stops.
His breathing slows and his expression becomes serene...
peaceful. He picks up the knife from the counter, wipes it
clean with the bloody rag, puts it down, and simply... walks
out.
That takes us to...
7.
INT. KEVINS HOUSE - BATHROOM - NIGHT 11 11
CLOSE ON SWIRLS OF REDDISH WATER as it circles the drain and
disappears.
ABOVE KEVIN as he showers. THE HOT WATER HISSES as it
cascades into the tub. Steam rises out of the shower and
hangs, thickly, in the bathroom.
Kevin reaches down and spins the faucets to the left. The
KNOBS SQUEAK as the rushing water stops. He steps out of the
tub.
STAY ON THE FAUCET... as a rapid drip soon slows. Off of the
drip we go to...
EXT. KEVINS HOUSE - NIGHT 12 12
ON A LARGE PLASTIC TRASH CAN.
Kevin approaches the trash can, a black, plastic garbage sack
in his hand.
ON THE LID... as he lifts it. WE CANT SEE KEVIN behind the
lid. We HEAR the garbage bag being tossed into the trash can.
He closes the lid and walks back toward the house and that
takes us back into...
INT. KEVINS HOUSE - MICHAELS ROOM - SAME 13 13
The door opens and Kevin walks into his sons room. He sits
on the bed and regards his son lovingly. He strokes the boys
head then leans over and kisses him on the forehead.
KEVIN
I love you, Michael. Daddys not
gon let anything happen to you...
ever again.
Kevin stands up, leaves, and closes the door behind him.
INT. KEVINS HOUSE - OFFICE - LATER 14 14
Kevin Lewis is again in front of the computer studying the
screen. CLICK. THE PICTURES. He moves the mouse. CLICK. THE
MAP. He studies the screen. A BEAT.
DISSOLVE TO:
8.
EXT. HOUSE OF CESAR LUIS RAMIREZ - EVENING 15 15
Kevin stands at the screen door. A man, CESAR LUIS RAMIREZ,
30s, comes to the door.
CESAR
Yes? Can I help you?
KEVIN
Are you Cesar Luis Ramirez?
The man looks at him oddly.
CESAR
Yes. Why?
KEVIN
My name is Kevin Lewis.
He regards the confused Cesar. HOLD ON KEVIN A BEAT then...
FADE OUT.
THE END 16 16
9.