Troubled

By
Jeff Cavazos

2014, Crescent Coyote

Productions

FADE IN:
EXT. CITY PARK - AFTERNOON
We open on a blue sky, light clouds...an idyllic
afternoon. Pan down to a swing with a single child swinging
back and forth, almost mechanically. This is NATALIE. She
seems to be neither enjoying nor disliking the swinging; she
stares straight ahead with a vacant expression. Shes
dressed in mostly black, very goth, some black eyeliner
crudely applied. All in all, a troubled youth waiting to
happen.
She swings in and out of frame for a few moments, finally
coming to a stop, staring fixedly into space.
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, DINING ROOM
Its a typical family house, cluttered but functional. We
open on a close up of a wall clock, around 4:30 in the
afternoon, then pan left to the dining room table. Seated at
it is LIZ, going thru a pile of papers, a look of concern on
her face. Natalies sketchbook is full of disturbing images.
In the kitchen, ADAM is pouring himself some tea.
LIZ
Im worried about her. She just
isnt adjusting since she got back.
ADAM
I think she just needs some time,
its only been a few weeks. And
there havent been any more
tantrums.
LIZ
Shes *too* quiet. All she ever
does is sit and stare or draw in
her sketchbook.
ADAM
Shes artistic. Doctor Moran said
it was therapeutic, its good for
her...
LIZ
But have you seen some of the
things she draws?!
She hands book and papers to Adam.
Those arent the drawings of an
adjusted ten year old...
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

ADAM
You went and took this out of her
room?! Jebus, Liz, you know were
supposed to respect her privacy and
feelings...
Adam looks thru the papers dismissively.
Shes got a lot going on in her
head, and its just an outlet. She
just needs some time to adjust
being home from the
hospital. Besides, these days,
this is almost Saturday morning
cartoon fare.
He places the papers on the table and bends down to kiss Liz
on the head.
And if I remember correctly, I
heard someone else here went thru a
pretty emo period herself back in
the day...
LIZ
(dryly)
Goth isnt the same as emo, dear.
ADAM
If you say so. Ive got to get on
the road, save me a plate in the
fridge?
Liz smiles distractedly as Adam walks out, obviously not
convinced. She glances at the papers on the table and sighs.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WAYNE HOUSE - AFTERNOON
Time lapse shot of exterior of house, showing afternoon
advancing into evening.
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, LIVING ROOM
Natalie opens the door and walks in, her backpack over her
shoulder. She walks thru the room and into the dining area,
dropping the backpack on the table.

3.

INT. WAYNE HOUSE, KITCHEN

Liz is at the stove, working over something simmering on the
stove. Natalie walks behind her to get a glass of water
from the tap.
LIZ
Hey kiddo...hungry?
NATALIE
...yeah...
LIZ
Have fun at the park?
NATALIE
Mmmmhmmmm.
Natalie takes a drink of water and wipes her mouth.
LIZ
Werent you playing with your
friend Nicholas?
NATALIE
Oh...
CUT TO:
EXT. CITY PARK - AFTERNOON
We see Natalies hand from the rear, carrying a gory hammer.
Shes walking slowly.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, KITCHEN
NATALIE
...I got bored.
LIZ
Ok, well go wash up, dinner will be
ready in just a few minutes. And
take your backpack to your room.
NATALIE
Kay.
She places the glass in the sink and starts to walk off.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

LIZ
Nat...you feeling ok, these days?
NATALIE
(pause)
Sure...five by five.
She heads out of the room. Liz stares after her a few
seconds, obviously concerned but at a loss how to find out
whats going on.
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, DINING ROOM
Liz sets the table for two, opposite ends of the
table. Each plate has a helping of spaghetti and a piece of
garlic bread.
LIZ
(calling to off screen)
Time to eat!
Liz sits in her chair, takes a drink and begins to
eat. Natalie comes in and sits, staring down at her plate
sullenly.
LIZ
Whats wrong?
NATALIE
I dont like spaghetti.
LIZ
(exasperated)
Since when? You love spaghetti!
NATALIE
When I was four.
LIZ
You just ate it not two weeks ago!
NATALIE
That was good spaghetti at
Enzos. Not out of the can crap.
At this point, Liz has had enough. She goes all "this
mother has had enough!" on the kid. Throughout, Natalie
sits and stares at her plate.
LIZ
You know what? Fine! If the food I
make isnt good enough for you,
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

LIZ (contd)
then you can just go hungry until
*you* make the money and *you* can
buy spaghetti from wherever you
want!
NATALIE
Maybe you can send me back to the
hospital. At least the food there
didnt suck.
LIZ
Just...whatever, Natalie. Go to
your room until you decide to have
a better attitude. No electronics,
no phone, just go sit.
NATALIE
Whatever.
Natalie gets up and walks out. Liz sits there for a second
with her head in her hands, clearly completely at a loss for
how to deal with her daughter and somewhat guilt ridden
because of the hospital statement.
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, NATALIES ROOM
Natalie sits in her room on the edge of her bed, quietly
seething. She stares at a fake skull on the shelf across
from her, as if it is quietly telling her what she should do
to "resolve" the situation. Its a building moment as we
flash back and forth between Natalie and the skull. Finally
she seems to come to a decision - she stands up, walks to
her backpack and takes out the hammer.
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, KITCHEN
Liz is washing dishes, still visibly frustrated
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, LIVING ROOM
POV shot of someone slowly and stealthily walking into the
living room from downstairs. A small hand reaches over to
turn off the lights as we pass.

6.

INT. WAYNE HOUSE, KITCHEN

Liz washes another plate and glass....
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, DINING ROOM
POV continues thru the dining room, glancing around the now
mostly cleared table. Glancing into the kitchen, we see
Liz, back to us, washing dishes.
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, KITCHEN
Liz washes a large break knife, rinses and dries it, then
pauses to wipe her face.
From POV, still behind Liz, we glance at the kitchen light
and then start toward Liz quickly, but she unexpectedly
turns around. We see Natalie standing there, one hand
behind her back and the other on the light switch as if on
the verge of turning off the lights. She looks slightly
surprised.
LIZ
(absently pointing with knife)
I thought I told you to stay in
your room!
NATALIE
I....um....
LIZ
(gestures with knife)
Whats behind your back? What do
you have behind your back? Come
on, show me!
Slowly, Natalie brings her hand from behind her, with the
hammer in it. Liz reaches forward quickly and grabs it from
her.
LIZ
And just what were you going to do
with this, young l...wait, is
this...blood? What have you been
doing?
NATALIE
(stammering)
I was...we....

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

LIZ
What happened? Are you hurt??
Are...what happened to
Nicholas? What did you do? Where
is he? Where is he?!!
NATALIE
In the park! I left him in the
park!
LIZ
(slumps against counter)
Natalie, we cant go thru this
again...we cant! They will put
you back in that hospital and they
will leave you there forever! You
cannot just go around hurting
people...
Liz straightens up and looks Natalie directly in the eyes
LIZ
(cont.)
...and leaving all kinds of
traceable evidence around! Dont
you think the minute they find the
remains that this is the first
place theyll look?! And this is
all they would need to link it
right back to you. Did you wear
gloves? Did anyone see you with
him? Sweetie, these are things you
have to think about!
NATALIE
(hangs head a bit, sounding
contrite)
Im sorry, Mom. It just kind of
happened all of a sudden...
LIZ
Come here...
Natalie walks over next to Liz, who puts the hammer down and
places an arm around her.
LIZ
I know what its like to be
different, to know that most other
people out there are just walking
bags of blood and meat while you
actually need to occasionally feel
something besides the constant
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.
LIZ (contd)
monotony of just breathing...but
that doesnt mean that you wont
get caught if you arent
careful. And what if your father
found out? I dont know about you,
but Ive gotten kind of used to
having him around...Id hate to
have to..."retire" him. One day
when you have to fill out insurance
forms, youll understand more.
Anyway, your dad is just fine not
knowing anything about the special
ways we have to help people
sometimes. Youre just going thru
a phase that the hospital helped
you thru, and I have a weekly
therapist session that is in no way
"court ordered", ok? Now, were
going to go take care of your
leavings before someone finds them,
get ourselves all cleaned up, and
then *you* are going to be grounded
for a week until you learn to be a
little more careful.
NATALIE
A week?!?
LIZ
"Your spaghetti sucks"? Im not
putting up with that kind of
attitude, young lady.
NATALIE
(leans head on Lizs shoulder)
Okay, Mom. I love you.
LIZ
I love you too, sweetie, very
much. And if you ever do something
this sloppy again, Ill gut you
like a trout on a hook.
NATALIE
(smiles)
Kay.
LIZ
Now...lets go take care of
this. We have to be quick, so I
have an idea...let me get your
dads hacksaw out of the garage...

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

NATALIE
Its in my room...
ROLL CREDITS
INT. WAYNE HOUSE, DINING ROOM
Liz, Natalie, Adam are sitting around the table eating.
ADAM
Great meatloaf!
END CREDITS
FADE OUT