OUT IN THE COLD

Written by Robert William McCormack DRAFT 2

56 Gorham Avenue Pembroke, Massachusetts 02359 (781) 361 1409 robertmccormack1991@gmail.com

November 9th, 2011

FADE IN: 1 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT Late Autumn. Millions of stars flicker like dying embers in the glassy night sky. A pale moon casts pools of light across the countryside, as a cold wind rustles the all but naked trees. A rusting pickup rattles down the dirt road, its headlights barely making an impression through the impenetrable darkness. 2 INT. PICKUP TRUCK Sitting behind the wheel of the truck is ROSIE OLSEN, late 20s, her pretty face hidden beneath a dowdy exterior. She shivers, bouncing in her seat ever so slightly as the pickup truck sputters along. Her focus on the road is only broken as the engine begins to GURGLE, kicking out as the car slowly comes to a halt. Dang it! 3 ROSIE 2 1

EXT. TRUCK - MOMENTS LATER Rosie heaves herself from the car, slamming the door behind her and starting off up the road, arms crossed for warmth. ROSIE (sotto voce) Good for nothin piece of junk.

EXT. ROAD - LATER

Rosies teeth chatter as she marches forward, forboding pine barrens encroaching on her from either side. A light. Up ahead, Rosie spies what appears to car headlights, though they move slower than would be expected. Somethings not quite right. Rosie relents and goes towards it.

2. ROSIE

Thank God.

Rosie disappears into the oncoming light. 5 INT. POLICE STATION - BULL PEN - LATER Grovers Mill, New Jersey. Quaint and rustic. The decor is reminiscent of a time long since passed. From an old time radio comes an eerie, yet hypnotic voice... ORSON WELLES (V.O.) You will be relieved, I hope, to learn that we didn't mean it, and that both institutions are still open for business. So goodbye everybody, and remember the terrible lesson you learned tonight. That grinning, glowing, globular invader of your living room is an inhabitant of the pumpkin patch, and if your doorbell rings and nobody's there, that was no Martian... it's Hallowe'en. Standing behind his desk, ROGER BABBITT, mid 40s, handsome and clean cut, an American everyman, turns down the volume on the radio, shaking his head in dismay as he talks into the phone. The MERCURY THEATER THEME comes up full. ROGER I can assure you, Mr. Crockett, there are no such things as aliens. Roger just listens. RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.) Tonight the Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations coast-to-coast have brought you The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells, the seventeenth in its weekly series of dramatic broadcasts featuring Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air. Next week -5

3. Roger quickly turns off the radio. ROGER That was just a play, Mr. Crockett. Make believe. One of those Hollywood fellas having a little fun. (a beat) Ive got to go now. Believe me, sir, theres nothing to worry about. Before the caller can get another word in, Roger hangs up. ROGER (CONTD) Ill be damned. From his corner office, SERGEANT HAL WILKES, early 60s, imposing and grizzled, years of experience chiseled in his weathered face, emerges with a coffee cup in hand. WILKES Another one, Babbitt? ROGER Al Crockett. Claims he saw some lights in the sky. WILKES Goddamn radio hokum. ROGER People will believe what they want to believe. WILKES Damn right. Roger sighs heavily, taking a seat behind his desk. ROGER Wheres Williamson? Wilkes skirts around the desk, making a gesture towards the window. WILKES We got reports of gunfire down at the Mill. Sent him and Lewis to check it out. Leave it to the idiots in this town to kill one another over absolutely nothing. Before he can respond, Rogers desk phone RINGS.

4. WILKES (CONTD) Five dollars says its that coot again. I wouldnt be surprised if hes already knocked a few back. Wilkes turns and disappears back into his office as Roger picks up the phone. Hello? 6 ROGER

EXT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT A pair of bloody feet stagger through the dirt parking lot.

INT. POLICE STATION - RECEPTION The station doors clatter open. Rosie teeters precariously on her feet, her breathing heavy and laboured, her face caked with dirt and dried blood. Roger comes forward, immediately stunned. Before he can say anything, Rosie collapses into a heap. ROGER Lord have mercy! Sergeant! Wilkes enters, confused. Babbitt? WILKES

ROGER Call Doc Sanford, and tell him to hurry! 8 INT. BULL PEN Roger carries a semi-conscious Rosie in his arms, swiping clean his desk before laying her down. She mutters incoherently for a moment before pushing herself upwards. ROSIE Attacked... I was attacked. 8

5. ROGER Maam, Im Deputy Babbitt. Its gonna be all right, weve got a doctor coming for you as we speak. But first, I need you to tell me exactly what happened. ROSIE I dont... I dont know. Wilkes strides out of his corner office as Rosie struggles off to the table. She wobbles on her feet momentarily before sinking into a desk chair. WILKES The Doc is on his way. Get her a blanket. Roger hurries to the back cabinet for a a wool blanket, which he wraps snugly around Rosie. WILKES (CONTD) Maam, whats your name? ROSIE Olsen... Rosie Olsen. ROGER Do you know who did this to you? How many of them where there? ROSIE How many what? ROGER How many men? How many men attacked you? Rosie begins to shake her head. ROSIE No. None. There werent any. ROGER Are you saying a woman did this? That cant be possible! ROSIE It wasnt a woman. I just... I just dont know... Wilkes takes a knee besides Rosie, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

6. WILKES Mrs. Olsen, Deputy Babbitt here is one of our best men. Hell find out who did this. In the meantime, can I call your husband for you? Rosie once again begins to shake her head, fiddling with the tarnished wedding band on her finger. You cant. Sorry? ROSIE WILKES

ROSIE (beat) He passed two month ago. Influenza. Roger and Wilkes glance at each other, confused. WILKES Im sorry, maam. (beat) Is there anyone else? ROSIE No one. Its just me. Roger kneels in front of Rosie. ROGER Mrs. Olsen, I know you must be very frightened right now, but I need you to walk me through everything that happened. Im here to help. Im going to find the men that did this to you. Suddenly, without hesitation, Rosie springs to her feet, her breathing again growing erratic. ROSIE I told you! It wasnt a man who did this! And it wasnt a woman! It was... It was them! Rosie points a trembling finger towards the silent radio. Wilkes lets out an indignant groan, shooting to his feet. WILKES Youre kidding me. Lord, this has to be a bad joke.

7. ROGER

Sir --

Wilkes snaps, irritability boiling over into anger. WILKES No. None of this. ROGER Something clearly happened to -WILKES Listen to me, Babbitt. Ive had enough of this. Were not opening up to every single nut job who wanders through our doors looking for attention! Write her up and ship her out. But -ROGER

WILKES Now, Deputy. Wilkes stalks back to his corner office. 9 INT. POLICE STATION - BATHROOM Cramped. Claustrophobic. The dimly lit bathroom closes in on all sides. Roger stands over a grimy wash basin as he splashes cold water in his face, letting it trickle down off his chin. He stares wearily into a mirror. 10 INT. BULL PEN Roger returns to Rosie with a cup of tea in hand. For you. ROGER 10 9

He takes a seat opposite her, as Rosie sips her tea. Maam ROGER (CONTD)

8. ROSIE ROGER

Rosie. Sorry?

ROSIE Call me Rosie. Roger sighs heavily. ROGER Look, Rosie, I can tell youve been through something mighty awful. That much is clear. I just want to understand -ROSIE I already told you. I dont know what attacked me, but I do know it wasnt human. Roger sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose wearily. ROGER Help me here. I know what youre insinuating. Were all a little on edge tonight. I get it. But it was just make-believe. A play! Rosie yet again rises to her feet, growing upset. ROGER (CONTD) I just cant go back to my boss with a report saying some spaceman did this to you. Not on tonight, of all nights. Its just not serious! She stretches out her arms, palms up, exposing a bevy of precise cuts. ROSIE Serious? Are these cuts not serious? How can you doubt me when Im bleeding in front of you! Roger slowly stands, awestruck. ROGER My god. (beat) What are these.

9. Rosie fights back tears. ROSIE I dont know. Roger looks closer, examining the cuts. ROGER They look... they look almost like knife marks. Slowly, he looks up at Rosie, a deep sadness in his eyes. ROGER (CONTD) Rosie. Did -Rosie reels violently, pointing an accusatory finger at Roger. ROSIE No! Dont you even dare suggest that! I did not do this! I am not crazy! ROGER I wasnt -ROSIE Yes! Yes you were! Ive seen that look, and I know what youre thinking. The crazy widow cant deal with her grief. Its all in her imagination. Im not letting you do that to me. No -ROGER Give me something, then! Give me something solid, some proof! ROSIE Look at me, damn it! What more do you want!? Speechless, Roger slumps up against his desk, ruffling his hair, utterly exhausted. Before he can muster up the nerve to explain himself, Wilkes interrupts. WILKES Babbitt, my office. Now.

10. 11 INT. POLICE STATION - WILKESS OFFICE Wilkes closes the door promptly behind Roger. ROGER With all due respect, Sergeant, we cant just dismiss her like this. WILKES Yes we can. I see you out there, the way you talk with her. You cant get wrapped up in her story. Its exactly what she wants. ROGER Shes just confused. WILKES Little green men? Really? ROGER I know it sounds ludicrous... but what if shes not lying. Wilkes just shakes his head. WILKES I would have expected better of you, Babbitt. (beat) Just get her ready. The Doc will be here soon. 12 INT. BULL PEN 12 11

Rosie now stands, blanket still wrapped around her, staring blankly out the side window into the darkness of Grovers Mill. ROGER Doc Sanford will be here soon. ROSIE (medium beat, pensive) Are you a man of faith, Roger? Roger is taken aback. ROGER Well, yes. I am. Protestant.

11. ROSIE So you believe there is a God, a higher being who exists beyond reason. ROGER Of course I do. Theres a spark behind Rosies eyes now. ROSIE Well if you believe in God, what about the possibility of another being, a life force we just dont understand? ROGER You cant seriously be comparing our Lord and Savior to... to an alien? ROSIE No. But I believe that we can have faith in the unknown. ROGER I take it youre a churchgoer? ROSIE I am... well, I was. (beat) Not so much recently. ROGER The Lord can be of great comfort in times of grief. ROSIE I dont doubt it. (beat) But after everything he put me through, I just have a hard time believing he has a plan for me. ROGER You know, my wife and I, we have two sons. Isaac and Josiah. Theyre our pride and joy. (beat) We had a third, though. A girl. Elizabeth, after my wifes mother. (beat) She died three weeks after we brought her home. (MORE)

12. ROGER (CONT'D) You know, I just couldnt understand. Why would the Lord bless us with a child, our only daughter, just to rip her away. It was too cruel. (beat) I know grief, Rosie. I know what it does to a man. But I also know that faith is just as powerful, even more so. All Im saying... well, all Im saying is that I dont think youre crazy. I just think... I think youre a little lost. Roger takes Rosies hand in his. ROGER (CONTD) Let me help you find the way back. Before Rosie can respond, a CAR HORN sounds through the night. ROSIE I dont want to go. Please dont make me go. Please. ROGER Rosie. I dont know what else I can do. 13 INT. RECEPTION Roger follows behind Rosie, who walks with a surprising obedience towards the front door. Before she exits, she stops and looks at Roger. Im sorry. ROGER 13

ROSIE When I came to out in the cold, there was this fleeting moment when I thought I was dead. (beat) But I wasnt scared. In fact, I was relieved. I thought maybe I would go home, walk in the front door, and Samuel would be standing there, waiting for me. Rosie slips out the door.

13. Roger stands still. Alone. 14 INT. BULL PEN 14

Defeated, Roger returns to his desk, picking up the wool blanket from off the floor, and returning it to the cabinet. WILKES Good job, Deputy. I know she was a tough one to handle. Roger is silent. WILKES (CONTD) I need you out at the Mill. Williamson and Lewis could use your help keeping the crowd under control. Roger just nods. ROGER Yes, sir. Im on my way. 15 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT An impermeable darkness shrouds the wooded road. The only movement in the dark night is that of a police cruiser, which trundles along the bumpy, unpaved road. 16 INT. POLICE CRUISER 16 15

Lost in thought, a dejected Roger barely notices the popping noise outside, a wheel blowing out. As the car begins to rattle more than usual, he pulls over to the side of the road. 17 EXT. POLICE CRUISER 17

Roger swings open the door of the cruiser and steps out into the frigid night, examining his flat. ROGER (sotto voce) Damn.

14. Then... A light. Dim at first, but growing stronger. Roger looks in its direction, surprised... and relieved. He doesnt know what lies ahead. ROGER (CONTD) Perfect timing. He sets off towards the light. FADE TO BLACK.