A Skeptic and a Bruja

by

Rosa Fernandez

Copyright 2021 Rosa Fernandez

Draft Date: 3/5/22
RFsanchez7@gmail.com
 CHARACTERS

SAM - Black, she/her. The Skeptic. More of a business woman than a skeptic. She's in
on the gimmick. Virgo

JESS - Black/Afro Latinx, she/her. The Bruja. A believer and psychic who is
empathetic and sympathetic. She is no fool. Libra

REMY - Latinx, she/her. The Glue. Remy is also a skeptic, but she brings balance to
the skeptic/bruja scales. Painfully funny. Taurus

PRISCILLA - Black, she/her. The Wild Card. The owner of the B&B. She has had a
lot of trauma in the last year and is having trouble feeling grounded. Sagittarius

SETTING

In the Laurie House. Middle of Nowhere, USA. Time: now.

 2.

ACT 1

SCENE 1

Lights up on the interior of an old house. A

period home full of charm. The house is a
labor of love, full of fun tchotchkes and
finished details but we should get the sense
that part of the house is unfinished.
Perhaps we see some evidence of this as it
gets closer to that part of the house, i.e.
peeling wallpaper, staining on the walls...
etc. Priscilla enters from upstairs.

PRISCILLA
Fresh towels, cookies, tea...

She makes sure everything looks perfect, fluffing

pillows and dusting with a rag. There is a knock at
the door. So gentle that Priscilla can barely hear
it.
Coming!

She walks towards the door and opens it.

PRISCILLA
I was so worried you wouldn’t -

There is no one on the other side of the door. After

a moment Priscilla sticks her head out and looks
around.

PRISCILLA
Hello? Is anyone here?

She shuts the door. Almost as soon as the door is

shut someone knocks on it. This time it's
startlingly loud. It sounds as if someone has taken
a lead pipe and used that to bang on the door.
Priscilla moves away from the door, barely
breathing. After a moment, the knock comes again,
somehow even louder than before. Priscilla moves
further away from the door. Towards the closet.
She tries to calm herself down. The banging comes
again. This time from the closet. Priscilla screams.
The closet door slowly opens.

PRISCILLA
It’s not real. It’s not real. They can’t hurt you. They can’t hurt you.
 3.

It is quiet for what feels like an eternity while

Priscilla tries to calm herself down. Finally, when
she is successful, there is a normal knock at the
door.

PRISCILLA
Who is it?!

JESS
Priscilla? It’s Sam and Jess...from A Skeptic and a Bruja?

Priscilla flies to the door and opens it for them.

JESS
Hi! It’s so nice to finally meet you!

Priscilla goes right in for a hug. The hug is

desperate. Jess meets her hug with warmth but
notices something just behind Priscilla. A moment
passes between them.

PRISCILLA
You’re Jess!

JESS
I am! This is Sam. Are you okay?

PRISCILLA
I’m fine. Just so happy that you’re here!

SAM
Hi, Priscilla!

She extends a hand.

PRISCILLA
Oh, I’m going to hug you if that’s all right!

Sam tenses as Priscilla embraces her.

SAM
Oh, okay.

Priscilla closes the door.

JESS
We're just waiting for Remy. She's bringing in the equipment.
 4.

PRISCILLA
Remy?

JESS
My cousin Remy? She’s our tech person?

PRISCILLA
I thought you said it would just be the two of you.

JESS
I sent an email a few days ago.

PRISCILLA
Remember, I need to go to the library to check it...

SAM
We weren’t sure she would be able to make it.

PRISCILLA
I’m just not sure I bought enough food...and the rooms!

JESS
I can share a room with her, that’s not a big deal. And we can get something to eat
nearby, worst-case scenario.

PRISCILLA
No! That’s the point of this place. I feed you.

JESS
We’ll make it work!

PRISCILLA
(She takes a breath )
I'm a little nervous. I was so worried that you wouldn’t be able to find it. It’s not very
obvious from the road.

SAM
The guy was just super weird, he wouldn’t drop us off right at the house.

PRISCILLA
He made you walk?

JESS
It wasn’t a big deal.

PRISCILLA
Make yourself at home. I wanted to apologize in advance if it’s a bit cold in here. I’ve
been having some trouble with the furnace. Let me put the kettle on and I’ll be right
out to show you to your rooms and give you the grand tour!
 5.

Priscilla exits towards the kitchen. As the door to

the kitchen closes, Remy enters. Jess and Sam help
her with the equipment.

REMY
Ohhh...it looks like a grandma bomb went off in here.

JESS
I think it's cute.

SAM
Very cute...and very cold.

JESS
Don’t start.

SAM
I think you should have said no.

JESS
Sam, you said I could pick this time. So I picked the cute BnB owned by the badass,
Black woman.

SAM
What's the story here?

JESS
You said you wanted to start taking on smaller cases.

SAM
No more plantations.That’s what I said. If we have to do one more plantation
paranormal investigation I will kill myself and the plantation will be haunted for real,
for real.

JESS
I can't think of something further from a plantation than a house owned by a Black
woman.

REMY
Why aren't more beach houses haunted? We never stay at beach houses.

Priscilla re-enters the dining room.

PRISCILLA
You must be Remy! It's so nice to meet you.

REMY
You're house is super cute!

PRISCILLA
I didn't think you would be able to make it!
 6.

REMY
Yeah...my mom died a week ago.

PRISCILLA
Oh my God! I'm so sorry!

REMY
I'm fine.

PRISCILLA
What are you doing here?

JESS
We told her to take time off.

REMY
I would have gone crazy. I couldn’t just stay home.

PRISCILLA
I'm glad you're here. Let me give you a tour! This is the living room...obviously.

Priscilla leads the women through the house. She

sees the closet door and awkwardly closes it.

It’s very cozy and sweet if I say so myself.

SAM
No internet, right?

PRISCILLA
Oh, no. I wanted to create a space free of distractions. We have a landline and one
cordless phone if you you need to connect with the outside world. That's all you need,
really!

JESS
But you’re a city girl, too, right?

PRISCILLA
Military brat. I moved around a lot. But I spent most of my adult years in California.
While I was running the BnBs I split my time between Santa Barbara and Montecito.
Not because I could afford to live there.

REMY
Those sound like pretty swanky Bnbs.

PRISCILLA
They were. They just weren’t mine.

SAM
And you bought a house here?
 7.

PRISCILLA
I guess you can say I needed a change.

SAM
A big one.

PRISCILLA
Through here is the kitchen and the dining room - though the dining room is still a
work in progress.

Priscilla leads them through a door at the base of

the staircase into the kitchen. The following is
from off stage.

REMY (O.S.)
Look at this kitchen, Jess!

SAM (O.S.) JESS (O.S.)

It’s a lot bigger than I thought it was I love the wall of windows!
going to be.

PRISCILLA (O.S.)
I threw a lot into it because I knew I’d be in here the most. A lot of new houses have
the kitchen open to the rest of the house, but this is it’s own room, and I love it. Why
don’t you grab your bags?

The women re-enter the dining area, Jess, Sam

and Remy grab their luggage and climb up the
stairs during the following.

REMY
Look at all these tchochkes!

PRISCILLA
I think they add to the charm of the house. It’s just up this way.

The women walk up the stairs to the hallway. None

of what happens in the upstairs hallway needs to
be seen.

PRISCILLA
You’ll be the first people to see it since I restored the rooms!

SAM
Did you do it all yourself?

PRISCILLA
Not all of it. But more than I'd care to admit. When they realized a black woman
bought a house that belonged to a rich white family...no one would take the job. I found
(MORE)
 8.

PRISCILLA (cont'd)
a guy that begrudgingly does all the things I don't care to, like electric and plumbing.
This house...it's my blood, sweat and tears.

JESS (O.S.) SAM (O.S.)

Que liiiiindo! It's gorgeous! Oh wow.

PRISCILLA (O.S.)
I am way in over my head with this place. It’s also not finished. This is your room,
Sam. Remy’s room may be a different story.

While the women talk a pencil that is on the coffee

table alongside a sodoku book rolls off the coffee
table.

REMY (O.S.)
What's wrong with it?

PRISCILLA (O.S.)
I think you should look at it.

Priscilla opens the third bedroom in the upstairs

area. The one closest to the stairs.

JESS (O.S.)
This looks great-

REMY SAM (O.S.)

Yoooooo... Oh. God.

PRISCILLA (O.S.)
Yeah...I mostly use this room as storage for the time being.

Silence. The lights downstairs flicker.

PRISCILLA (O.S.)
I can move them if you’d like?

REMY (O.S.)
...Uh, nah. I'm good.

PRISCILLA (O.S.)
Are you sure? I can move them. I know they’re creepy, it’s just that the lady who had
this house before left them behind and they were in such great shape, that I wanted to
see if I could sell them or use them around the house. Not all of them, obviously. That
would be like -

JESS (O.S.)
Overkill.
 9.

The sound of the kettle whistling is heard.

PRISCILLA (O.S.)
Jess, your room is this one.

JESS
Looks great!

PRISCILLA
I hear the kettle!

REMY
Thanks, Priscilla!

The women come down the stairs without their

luggage. Priscilla goes into the kitchen. Remy is
containing laughter. Sam is smiling broadly and
Jess looks concerned.

SAM

Holy shit.

REMY
That was hilarious.

JESS
I got a weird feeling in that room.

SAM
Shut up.

JESS
I’m serious, Sam. I don’t like that room.

REMY
It's sooo funny.

SAM
Besides, do you want to sleep in there?

JESS
Hell no!

SAM
She was like, embarrassed. That’s ghost tourism gold up there. It’s bullshit, but people
would pay a lot of money to stay in a room like that.

JESS
Ay, look feel my arms!
 10.

REMY
Dude, it’s just dolls.

JESS
It’s like five hundred dolls! But that’s not it.

Jess looks at the picture frames hanging on the

closet wall.

PRISCILLA
(O.S.)
Would you girls like some cookies?

REMY SAM
Yes please! No thank-

JESS
We’re eating everything this weekend.

SAM
Thank you! Are you picking up on anything in here?

JESS
It's actually really quiet in here...

REMY
(dramatically )
It's too quiet...

SAM
She’s right ya know. She’s way in over her head with this. Who’s gonna pay to stay in a
“historic’ BnB with no history in the middle of nowhere?

JESS
I dunno, it’s a pretty cute house. Everyone has to start somewhere.

SAM
Cute does not a successful BnB make. I think she knows that. That’s why we’re here.

REMY
Hopefully it’s haunted. For her sake.

SAM
And for ours.

JESS
Ay, be positive. We got an all-expense paid weekend away from the city in a historic -

SAM
Old!
 11.

JESS
Okay, old home with a lot of charm. And we’re staying with a legit professional chef
who has to cook us every meal.

SAM
Worst case scenario, we’ll trash the episode.

JESS
No. No we won’t. She’s letting us stay here for free. The least we’re giving her is some
exposure.

Priscilla enters, bringing a tray with a teapot,

mugs and a plate of cookies.

PRISCILLA
Rosemary chocolate chip cookies!

SAM
(making a face )
Rosemary? In cookies?

REMY
That sounds so…

PRISCILLA
I know it sounds strange, but you should try it!

Jess tentatively picks up a cookie and takes a bite.

JESS
Oh, my god…

SAM
No way, you’re messing with me.

Remy grabs one and tries it.

REMY
Oh dip...they're mad good.

JESS
(mouthful of cookie )
Try it.

Sam picks up a cookie and attempts to take a bite

then stops suddenly.

SAM
I swear to god, Jess. You better not be messing with me.
 12.

Sam takes a bite of the cookie. Then after a

moment.

SAM
Are you kidding me?!

JESS
I know, right?!

PRISCILLA
This means you like it, right?

SAM
(gravely )
Priscilla, this is the best cookie I have ever had the pleasure of stuffing into my mouth-
hole.

PRISCILLA
Oh, I’m so glad! The trick is the sea salt on top. It hits the savory and the sweet at the
same time. These cookies are going to be a staple of the BnB.

REMY
I would come back just for these.

PRISCILLA
Oh stop!

JESS
I noticed the pictures on this wall, is this your family?

PRISCILLA
Only a few are mine. The rest of the pictures I found in the attic. They're of the family
that built the house.

SAM
Do you mind if I poke around up there tomorrow? I would love do research before we
start our investigation.

JESS
Speaking of which, could we interview you while we have our tea?

PRISCILLA
Oh, I don’t know. I’m not camera ready at the moment. I thought maybe you would
want to get to bed since it’s late?

REMY
It's not that serious. I do this part on my phone - just audio.

During the following, Remy sets up her phone.

PRISCILLA
Oh, well in that case…
 13.

JESS
We’ll be quick.

PRISCILLA
I haven’t been sleeping well lately.

JESS
Because of the house?

PRISCILLA
That’s why I got in touch with you.

SAM
Let’s start from the beginning. Why did you buy the house?

PRISCILLA
Well, I’ve been a chef for many years now, and I’ve run many successful BnBs in
Santa Barbara. My partner always thought we should start our own BnB. One with
historical reenactments and period clothing. We love stuff like that.

SAM
So you always managed the BnBs but never owned?

PRISCILLA
No, it was out of my price range to own. Two years ago my girlfriend became very
sick. Cancer.

JESS
I’m so sorry. What was her name?

PRISCILLA
Liz. Well, Elizabeth. But I called her Liz. That’s her right there. We actually met on a
Jane Austen tour.

Priscilla points at one of the pictures near the

closet.

JESS
Awwww…

PRISCILLA
It's so silly. When she was gone, I took all of my savings and left. This place was far
enough away and the price was right. I leapt on it. Everything back home reminded me
of her.

SAM
So you bought this place to escape?

PRISCILLA
I - I guess I did. It's a passion project. I've been fixing it up myself for the last year and
a half.
 14.

JESS
You've been here alone all that time?

PRISCILLA
Yeah. It hasn't been easy, but hopefully it will have been worth it.

SAM
What’s the history of the house?

PRISCILLA
I don’t know much about it, other than it was built in the late 1800s and this part of the
house, burned down in the early 1900s.

JESS
What caused the fire?

PRISCILLA
The daughter of the man who built the house, George Laurie, started the fire. She died
in the fire along with a few other people.

JESS
(to Sam )
That sounds… historical.

SAM
Mmmh. Did George Laurie die in the fire?

PRISCILLA
No, but he died not long after his daughter. Of a broken heart. I get so sad, when I think
about it.

JESS
What?

PRISCILLA
The idea that you could die of a broken heart.

SAM
What sort of supernatural phenomena have you experienced at the house?

PRISCILLA
Nothing at the beginning. Just the odd light flickering off and on. No surprise with all
the electrical work that had to be done on the place. I may have called you prematurely.

JESS
You called us because you needed help. We’re here to help.

SAM
I’m assuming the lights flickering on and off weren’t the only paranormal event that
you’ve experienced in the house?

PRISCILLA
No...
 15.

SAM
Okay, that’s good. What other events have you experienced?

PRISCILLA
Well, it sounds silly now, but um...things being moved around?

SAM
Moved around?

PRISCILLA
Yes, like, I would leave my keys somewhere and just when I’m about to go out the keys
are nowhere to be found. And I have, one place - right there

She points to a decorative bowl on the buffet.

PRISCILLA (CONT'D)
where I leave them and they have just...disappeared.

JESS
Has this happened a lot?

PRISCILLA
More times than I care to admit.

SAM
Do you find the keys, eventually?

PRISCILLA
I’ll look for them for hours and then come into this room and they’ll be right in the
bowl where I left them. I know it sounds trivial, but it’s incredibly unsettling.
Especially when you live alone.

SAM
But there’s other stuff?

PRISCILLA
You know the picture of me and Liz? Sometimes, I talk to it. When I’m feeling lonely
or it’s too quiet.

JESS
I talk to my people, too.

PRISCILLA
Well, a few weeks ago, when I was talking to Liz...the picture flew off the wall.

SAM
It fell?

PRISCILLA
No. It flew off the wall. Landed about four or five feet in front of the wall. Needless to
say - it startled me. I picked it up and hung it back up, but I didn’t keep talking to Liz.
(MORE)
 16.

PRISCILLA (cont'd)
A few days later I was talking to her again and it happened again. This time the glass
broke. I threw away the glass and hung the pictures back up.

JESS
Did it happen again?

PRISCILLA
It did. I decided to talk to whatever it was. I was about ten feet away from the pictures
and started asking it questions.

SAM
Wait. Where exactly were you standing?

Priscilla points to a spot ten feet diagonally from

the picture hanging on the wall.

PRISCILLA
I was there.

SAM
Okay.

PRISCILLA
I asked if it was Liz and if it was...was she mad at me? It happened again, but it nearly
hit me that time. It flew off the wall with such a force, straight for my head...

JESS
Oh my god.

PRISCILLA
I haven’t spoken to Liz since.

JESS
It may not be Liz that’s doing it.

PRISCILLA
I know, you’re right. But in some ways, I think that’s worse?

SAM
Anything else we should know about?

PRISCILLA
I saw Liz.

SAM
You saw her?

PRISCILLA
I did.

JESS
Where?
 17.

PRISCILLA
In the doll room.

REMY
The doll room?!

The women look at each other.

PRISCILLA
Yes, that’s why I didn’t put any of you in that room originally. I was putting the
finishing touches on the room. It was late, about three in the morning, but I was in a
weird place with my schedule at that point so it wasn’t unusual. I had just finished
making the bed and was plugging in a lamp when all the lights went off in the house.

JESS
In the whole house?

PRISCILLA
I think. The hallway was dark too. I was feeling around in the dark and I heard...crying.
A woman crying.

JESS
Oh my god.

PRISCILLA
I froze. I was so terrified. Nothing like that had happened before.

SAM
What did it sound like?

PRISCILLA
She sounded so sad. So...hurt.

JESS
Like she was in pain?

PRISCILLA
Like...anguish?

SAM
This was still in the dark? You said you saw her.

PRISCILLA
I sat in the dark listening to her cry until my eyes adjusted to the dark. I saw the outline
of a woman. At first I thought it was just my eyes playing tricks on me, but no. She was
glowing. I couldn’t look away.

During the following we see a light in the kitchen.

It should be so subtle that it's barely noticeable.
The effect is such that we question our own eyes.
 18.

The light should gradually get brighter and reveal

the silhouette of a woman in period dress.

PRISCILLA (CONT'D)

It was Liz - but she was wearing a dress from the Edwardian era, you know, with the
frilly lace? Which was strange because you would never catch Liz in a dress. She
glowed brighter - but it wasn’t what you see in the movies, like a beautiful white glow?
It was red. Dark and...angry red. She finally saw me and - her face changed. She looked
angry. But not how she used to get angry. She radiated it. She radiated hatred at me in
the darkness. And it...terrified me.

The figure walks away, in time with the end of her

story.

JESS
Why was she angry at you?

PRISCILLA
She never spoke.

JESS
Do you have any idea why she would be angry at you?

Beat.

SAM
What happened after that?

PRISCILLA
I put my head into my knees and tried not to look. I was pretty much frozen in place
until the sun came up. When light started to fill the room, I was able to find the courage
to look up and…

JESS
She was gone.

PRISCILLA
(nodding )
I got out of the room, closed the door and didn’t go back.

Beat.

PRISCILLA
There’s something about saying it out loud.

JESS
It makes it real.
 19.

PRISCILLA
Before, I could just say that I was overtired. It was a nightmare, I imagined it. But
telling you - that changes things.

SAM
And were you under the influence of any drugs or alcohol?

PRISCILLA
No, I just take Valerian to help with sleep. I sleepwalk and it's gotten worse because of
the stress. I wake up with bruises now.

SAM
But with everything going on with the house, losing Liz, there are enough factors to say
that you may not have been in a good place?

PRISCILLA
Well, yes but that doesn’t mean -

SAM
You might even say, you were in a...delicate state of mind?

JESS
Sam…

SAM
I’m just trying to rephrase what I’m hearing to see if I’m understanding.

PRISCILLA
It’s okay. Yes. I am willing to admit that I have been under some duress...mentally. But
shouldn’t that count for something?

JESS
Of course! You don’t have to apologize for feeling what you’re feeling.

PRISCILLA
That’s not what I mean. What I mean is...doesn’t it count for something that I’m
questioning...my mental state? Isn’t that a sign that I have my mental faculties in order
enough to know that something isn’t right?

Silence.

SAM
I think we may have gotten off-track. This is just due diligence. I had to ask.

PRISCILLA
You “had” to ask?

JESS
I think that what Sam is trying to -

PRISCILLA
After all, I’ve allowed you into my house to conduct a ghost hunt -
 20.

SAM
We’re here to investigate. We’re leading an investigation. Not a ghost hunt.

PRISCILLA
What’s the difference?

SAM
To investigate is to question. To dig and ask questions that help us uncover the truth. To
hunt is to confirm the existence of entities that I have no proof exist. We hunt deer - not
unicorns for a reason.

PRISCILLA
I understand. And my being crazy will put an interesting challenge in your
investigation.

SAM
I never said you were crazy.

PRISCILLA
“Delicate mental state ”, I believe is how you phrased it.

SAM
You went through a trauma. You lost a life partner. “Delicate mental state” is putting it
lightly, I think. We're here to collect data and ask the right questions.

During the following footsteps are heard coming

from directly above the women. From the attic. It
should sound loud and aggressive. Almost like
someone stomping around in combat boots.
Priscilla becomes frazzled.

PRISCILLA
Could we continue this tomorrow?

REMY
Wait, what is that?

The women listen intently for a moment. It

becomes clear that the stomping is coming from
the high ceiling directly above them in the attic.

PRISCILLA
You hear it, too?

SAM
Yeah, who the hell wouldn’t hear that? Is anyone else up there?

PRISCILLA
No…
 21.

The women begin a frenzied rush to get their

equipment and get up to the attic.

SAM
Rem, I need you to go outside and get footage of the roof. We need to rule out the roof.

Remy grabs her camera as she runs out through

the door they entered through.

SAM (CONT'D)
Where’s the access?

PRISCILLA
(Pointing behind her. )
It’s in the hallway.

SAM
Show me.

Priscilla goes the buffet to grab her keys.The

women follow.

PRISCILLA
The keys are gone!

JESS
Let's look for them.

Sam, Jess and Priscilla look around the living

room for the keys during the following.

SAM
How many times has this happened, Priscilla?

PRISCILLA
...Only twice. I was going to tell you -

Jess finds the keys high up on some tall piece of

furniture.

JESS
- Found it!

The women run up the stairs to the attic access.

Remy reenters the house.

REMY
I don't see anything on the roof.
 22.

SAM
Get up here, this investigation has officially begun!

Remy runs up the stairs. Almost as soon as the

attic door is open the stomping stops.The women
freeze to listen.

REMY JESS
What the hell? Seriously?!

The women enter the attic cautiously, Remy with

her camera and Jess and Sam with their phone
flashlights.We hear them walking around in the
attic, moving things around. The way they walk
around should sound completely different from
what we heard before.

SAM (O.S.)
It has to be some sort of animal or something. Check behind those boxes.

REMY
There's nothing up here...

JESS (O.S.)
Do you hear anything?

SAM
No…

REMY
I’m gonna check the window.

They talk quietly as Priscilla waits. The women

come down the attic stairs and join Priscilla.

PRISCILLA
Anything?

SAM
Not that we could see. The window is painted shut and it is really scary to walk around
up there. What about outside?

REMY
I didn't see anything.

SAM
There has to be an explanation.

JESS
This is good, though. Right?
 23.

SAM
(smiling )
This is really good. Looks like your Bed and Breakfast may actually have a story to
tell.

Blackout. During the transition, we see

paranormal phenomena happening throughout the
night. Perhaps a small child's carousel turns on
unprompted, a light in the kitchen turns on and old
music plays from a phonograph. Priscilla walks
across stage, she is dressed in period clothing and
appears to be someone else. In the early dawn,
Sam enters the attic and brings boxes down to the
living room.
 24.

SCENE 2

Sam sits on the living room couch. She has a mug

of coffee, her laptop and she is surrounded with
boxes. Priscilla is heard singing from the kitchen,
perhaps she is singing along to music. Jess is
seated on a chair near Sam. She is sitting cross
legged and her eyes are closed. As Jess meditates,
something distracts her. To the point that she
swats at something near her, opening her eyes
briefly. Sam looks at her phone, tries to open an
app and then realizes that she isn’t connected to
the internet. She locks her phone then goes back to
typing on her laptop.

SAM
This is killing me.

JESS
It's just for a weekend. You're so dramatic.

SAM
I can't check our YouTube comments. It's giving me anxiety.

JESS
Can I finish meditating?

SAM
Sure. It's not like I found anything interesting or anything.

Jess opens her eyes as Remy comes down the

stairs.

SAM
So the daughter definitely started the fire. Her name was Rose. She had beef with her
stepmom - George Laurie remarried - and Rose DID NOT like her.

REMY
Morning!

JESS SAM
Good Morning! Morning!

JESS
How did you sleep?

REMY
I slept fine.

SAM
No incidents with the dolls? Or the dark presence that lives there?
 25.

JESS
I was right, tho! Priscilla saw something in there.

SAM
It was probably just the dolls. They put people on edge. I wouldn’t want to sleep in
there. It doesn’t have anything to do with energy, just...fuck dolls. I don’t like ‘em.

REMY
It’s cozy. They’re all around you staring at you, with their little beady eyes...I love it.

Sam shudders. Priscilla enters with a breakfast

tray for Remy.

PRISCILLA
I thought I heard Remy! Good morning!

REMY
Good morning!

PRISCILLA
I made pancakes and sausages.

REMY
That looks so good!

PRISCILLA
Did you find anything interesting, Sam?

Remy sits and eats breakfast.

SAM
Yeah, I corroborated the story about the fire. The fire is the least fucked up part about
the story. Get this - Rose Laurie killed her stepmother, Verna Laurie and her two
children with an axe, then sets the house on fire!

JESS REMY
She killed them with an axe? Say whaaaat?

Sam quickly finds the excerpt to read aloud.

PRICILLA
That's horrific!

SAM
"In the early hours of the day, also know as 'the witching hour' Rose Laurie woke her
step-mother with an axe and killed her and her two children before setting ablaze the
Laurie estate."
 26.

PRISCILLA
What would compel someone to do that?

SAM
Not really sure other than it had something to do with George remarrying. It doesn't
seem like she got along with Verna at all.

REMY
But the kids? That's fucked up.

PRISCILLA
That happened in my house?

JESS
Violent deaths. Things are starting to make sense...

REMY
Rose, Verna and George. Why these ghosts have such old-timey names?

SAM
Probably because they lived in old-timey times?

REMY
Yeah, but like, we've investigated a lot of places already. It's never a Tyrone or like a
Neftali, you know? It's always...Ruth, Edward, Beth...

SAM
Cuz black people have better things to do than haunt their crusty relatives.

JESS
(laughing )
That's not true. There are definitely spirits that are not white. I see plenty of them.

PRISCILLA
You see them?

JESS
Well, I mostly hear them. I don't really like seeing them if I'm honest. It unsettles me
because...

Beat.
Well, because they don't have eyes.

REMY
What?!

JESS
Yeah...
 27.

REMY
Seriously? That's fucked up.

JESS
I try my best not to look at them and just listen.

Remy starts unpacking her bags of gear and

setting it up as she finishes her coffee.

PRISCILLA
That is both horrifying and fascinating. How did you get into it? How do you say it?

JESS
Brujeria?

PRISCILLA
Yes...that. How did you become a...bru-ja?

JESS
That's a long and story. My mother was a Palera. She practiced Palo. Practitioners of
Palo don't like being called Bruja, actually. My father's family practiced Espiritismo. I
was raised with both traditions so I pick and choose what vibrates in my soul, ya know.
That's something I wish that someone had told me early on. How much of this is
following your instincts. I do things from both traditions because both my parents are a
part of me, but I have my own practices that I created. My mother would have never
let anyone call her Bruja. But I find it empowering.

PRISCILLA
Did your mother pass?

JESS
No, she actually converted to Christianity when I was a kid.

REMY
Jess’s mom is more religious than Jesus.

SAM
Do you need help Rem?

REMY
Just whenever you guys are ready.

The women help Remy set up the camera

equipment throughout the following.

JESS
Anyway, my father kept practicing after they divorced and when I reconnected with
him in my early teens, the stuff from my childhood just started coming back. From
when I would visit with my Abuelita. Memories and...the spirits.
 28.

REMY
Lita was a bruja? I thought she was just crazy.

JESS
Well, yeah. But she also practiced. They’re not like, mutually exclusive.

PRISCILLA
Who was that?

REMY
Oh, Lita. Short for Abuelita. Our grandma.

PRISCILLA
Were you close to your grandmother?

JESS
We would spend a few weeks every summer at her house.

REMY
I didn’t know that.

JESS
She was the reason I embraced my gifts. I remember she used to have this mango tree
on her property and I would always see this spirit sitting under the mango tree. I was
like five. He scared the shit out of me. I would run to Lita crying and say, "Ta feo, Lita.
Ta bien feo!" Because...oh I feel so bad saying this, but he was so ugly.

Lita would tell me, he's here to protect you. I didn't believe her, because he looked so
scary. But he's still with me. He's my most protective spirit.

PRISCILLA
Is he here now?

JESS
He is! I think Lita asked him to keep an eye on me.

PRISCILLA
Does he have a name?

JESS
Jorge. In Palo we ask the name of the spirit by making offerings and asking. Jorge
came to me in a dream and told me his full name.

PRISCILLA
Where is he right now?

Jess closes her eyes. Takes a breath. Opens them

again.
 29.

JESS
(startled )
Ay! Coño! He's standing right here. On my right. That's weird. He usually gives me
some space.

REMY
Hell no! That's creepy. Tell him to back up.

PRISCILLA
Is he the only one?

JESS
(laughs)
Uh, no. I'm a muertera.

PRISCILLA
What's that?

JESS
It means...the dead are drawn to me. That's why I cover my hair, try my best not to go
to hospitals or graveyards...they follow me. They know I can see and hear them. So
they follow me.

REMY
Bitch, really?

JESS
Yeah, girl.

PRISCILLA
How do you...live like that?

JESS
I tune it out sometimes. So I can focus and be present. Then I tap in when I need to. It's
a lot of self-care and just protecting myself.

REMY
Uy, no! I'm good. I didn't know it was like that.

JESS
It's not like that in our culture. Ghosts are not...ghosts. They're ancestors. They're not
spooky. When a door opens in the middle of the night or you hear a knock - that's
someone asking for help. They're not trying to scare you.

PRISCILLA
It feels like it. In this house, I mean. I feel like the spirits in this house are trying to
scare me.

JESS
Why do you feel like that?
 30.

PRISCILLA
The things I've seen, the things I've experienced. It feels like something doesn't want
me here.

JESS
Well you're here. This is your house.

PRISCILLA
I could listen to you talk about this forever, it's so fascinating.

SAM
So you have an interest in the paranormal?

PRISCILLA
Who doesn't, right? I admit, I've watched the shows - but that's really it. I've never even
had a reading.

JESS
I could do a reading for you while we're here!

PRISCILLA
(to Remy )
Did you do alright with the dolls?

REMY
I survived.

PRISCILLA
They came with the house, lucky me!

JESS
You’re going to sell them?

PRISCILLA
I have the best intentions to.

SAM
I don’t think you should sell them.

PRISCILLA
I should throw them away, right? It’s a shame.

SAM
No, you should leave them right where they are. People don’t stay at a haunted BnB to
be comfortable and feel safe. They stay to have an experience. The doll room. It’s also a
perfect photo op for free marketing. Hashtag dollroom! I doubt if anyone but Remy
will have a good night’s sleep in there - but they’ll never forget it.

PRISCILLA
You think so?
 31.

SAM
If I’m wrong, you could always move them into the basement or sell them on ebay. But
I think it’ll be a draw for people. Ghost tourism is niche.

PRISCILLA
I don’t know how I feel about it. It feels...exploitative.

SAM
It is. But in a - no one gets hurt kind of way? The person whose likeness is being used
to sell a ghost story is dead. So no harm done there.

JESS
I disagree with that. It is exploitative if it’s being made up.

SAM
Well, the people who want to believe will believe whether or not it’s real. It’s really a
victim-less crime.

I think if we’re going to talk about ghost tourism we should do it soberly. If you want
to make money from this, there’s a way, but it’s not necessarily the lifestyle that you're
selling.

PRISCILLA
I need this BnB to succeed.

SAM
And I think it can be. The ghost tourism thing is a great angle. The going back in time
and cosplaying as a ghost...I mean, really, beautiful. Rose Laurie is kind of like your
own Lizzie Borden.

PRISCILLA
Lizzie Borden?

REMY
(In creepy voice )
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one

PRISCILLA
That's awful. I don't know if I want my BnB to be associated with that type of story.

SAM
We can't even use our YouTube clout to book a stay at that BnB. Booked solid. Always.

PRISCILLA
Really?

SAM
I wanted to show you some stuff you can use to create a museum of sorts. The
newspaper clippings are a great way to start.
 32.

Sam rifles through the box.

SAM

You can create a wall that details the history of the house -

She stops.
What the hell?

Sam pulls out a cassette player/recorder.

JESS
What is it?

SAM
It looks like a cassette player.

REMY
Um, it's a Panasonic RQ-2104! I used to have one of these joints. I created podcasts
before it was a thing.

SAM
There's a cassette in there.

REMY
Plug it in!

Sam rifles through the box for a moment.

SAM
I don't see a plug...

REMY
Maybe it has batteries?

Sam presses play. It's music. Something from the

1970s plays. Most likely ABBA.

REMY
Classic.

The music cuts out abruptly. Silence. A man begins

to speak. He continues speaking through the
following dialogue.

MAN’S VOICE (RECORDING)

Nos eiciant vos et spirituum sit, qui nocere nobis. Lava in divinum lumen, et ipsi nos
petere praesidium esset, adversus eos, qui nocere nobis.
 33.

SAM JESS
You hear that, right? Shhhh!

Beat.

PRISCILLA
What is that? That’s not Spanish is it?

SAM
It’s latin.

There is a low growl. The growling thing starts to

respond to the man. It is an ancient language.

JESS
What is that?

MAN’S VOICE (RECORDING)

(Intensifying )
Hodie ab hoc loco. Non est inter vos sectatores luminis. Egredere numquam redire!

The volume on the clip intensifies to the point

where it sounds almost as if it’s connected to a
surround sound system. The effect should be
startling enough to warrant a scream or two of
surprise from the women. The Other Voice screams
back at the man, the sound of the cassette tape
getting unspooled then a pop. The tape player no
longer works. Sam immediately opens the tape
deck and pulls out the cassette. It is unspooled.

SAM
No!

REMY
What the fuck!?

PRISCILLA
What was that?!

SAM
Okay. It's too early to tell. It could be someone that was just messing around, but - that
sounded like an exorcism.

PRISCILLA
An exorcism?!

SAM
(To Remy)
Please tell me we can fix this cassette.
 34.

REMY
I mean, get me a pen and some tweezers. I'll try.

SAM
Again - it's not proof. We don't know that the tape is even from this house - but even if
it's bullshit? I put that up as an audio file on YouTube...

REMY
People are gonna lose their minds! Can you imagine the views?!

PRISCILLA

Aren't we a little bit worried? Correct me if I'm wrong, but an exorcism means...

REMY
A demon, right?!

SAM
Evidence of one. But, do you know how much red tape there is for the Catholic church
to get involved? They had to have...compelling evidence to be able to get someone out
here. Maybe I can write to the Vatican -

JESS
If what we heard is real, there is something a lot worse going on here that we’re not
prepared for.

SAM
It's not real, though.

JESS
I'm confused. You just said that this was compelling evidence.

SAM
Yeah, for our episode. We thought that this was some run-of-the mill haunting. This
tape changes things. This is the hook. It's bullshit - but I put the word "exorcism" in the
thumbnail and people are gonna watch. This is what we've been waiting for!

JESS
What if it's real? This feels different from all the other places.

SAM
This is what we signed up for when we started this channel.

JESS
I didn't sign up for demons. I want to help spirits move on and homeowners to feel safe
in their homes. This is different.

PRISCILLA
What would that mean for my house? Will like - the walls...start bleeding?

SAM REMY
I wish! Whaaaaat?!
 35.

JESS
What if we come back with someone who's specialty it is? Maybe the Ghost Guys will
do it?

PRISCILLA REMY
I think that's a better idea... That makes sense...

SAM
I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. None of this is confirmed. Best case scenario,
it's real and we get concrete evidence

REMY
The best case scenario is it's a demon?

PRISCILLA
I don't think I agree with that.

SAM
I'm just asking that we investigate further. We've been handed a gift. It's how we level
up on YouTube!

JESS
What if we make it worse?

SAM
I don't know anyone who works harder or is more qualified than us. If we leave now
we walk away with audio - really good audio, but just audio is not enough. In our world
we’re the only ones doing this. Everyone else is a dude and just about everyone else is
white. What if we crack this? What if we can get something so much better?

Silence.

JESS
You're right. We don't know for sure. Let's stay and get answers.

SAM
Yeeeeeees! I love you!

JESS
We came here to help Priscilla. I'm not leaving until we've done that.

SAM

Priscilla? Remy?

PRISCILLA
I guess I'm okay with it.

REMY

If it’s cool with Jess, it’s cool with me.

 36.

SAM
Yes!

REMY
But if I get eaten by a demon Imma haunt your stupid ass.

Blackout. During the transition we see the women

continue to set up for the investigation. Perhaps
the closet door opens while Remy moves
equipment. Jess does her centering ritual. She's
listening to her music (Possibly Elube Chango by
La Lupe), meditating and burning incense. She's
vibin' she's in the zone. The women vibe together
as they set up. Priscilla gets in on the fun, too.
 37.

SCENE 3

The women have set up their paranormal

investigation equipment, there are cameras
set up in key areas along with other ghost
hunting equipment. They bustle around
trying to get everything else ready, with
Remy dealing primarily with the audio/
visual equipment. There should be cords all
through the house with a folding table set
up in the living room that has a monitor on
it. The monitor should be facing upstage
and should be illuminated once the room is
dark. The cords should be safely gathered
and taped on strategic parts of the set.
There is a nicer camera set up at the
entrance to the house. This is the camera
that the women use when they are doing
their talking segments.

SAM
We have something in the attic?

REMY
You bet.

JESS
The doll room?

REMY
You know it.

SAM
Anywhere else we’re missing? Priscilla?

PRISCILLA
I think you covered everything.

REMY
I’m gonna double check the doll room set up.

Remy runs upstairs.

SAM
You ready for the intro?

JESS
Yeah, I think I know what I want to say.

SAM
We can leave the history stuff for the interview portion or just do it as a voiceover like
over photos or something.
 38.

JESS
Yeah, let's keep it simple tonight.

SAM
What should we start with? Spirit box?

JESS
Mmmhhh, not yet. I like to use the dowsing rods to get them warmed up to the idea of
us being here first. I feel like the spirit box is so aggressive.

SAM
People love the spirit box. Most of them are skeptical of the dowsing rods.

JESS
I didn’t say we shouldn’t do it. I just think we should work towards it rather than start
with it.

SAM
They're gonna give me shit for it in the comments.

PRISCILLA
You can hear spirits, right?

Beat.

JESS
I can.

PRISCILLA
Then why use the dowsing rods or spirit box at all?

JESS
It's a little better for me. Not having direct contact.

PRISCILLA
It feels like it's almost extra work to do it that way.

JESS
It is. But in a way I can live with. I prefer to keep my guard up so that I don't have to
see them or have them...touch me? Ya know?

PRISCILLA
How long have you two been at this?

JESS
We started a two years ago, but the channel really blew up like…

SAM
Six months ago? We got this EVP - ugh - it was crystal clear of man saying, "Get Out! I
want you out." We got over a million views, on an audio file.
 39.

PRISCILLA
I heard it! So creepy...

SAM
Where did you want to start?

JESS
Down here, attic then doll room?

Remy walks down the stairs quietly while holding

something behind her back. She takes advantage
that Jess is distracted with set up and comes up
behind her. She holds up a doll, vintage looking
and creepy right behind Jess and waits for her to
turn around.

REMY
Ma-ma!

Jess screams.

JESS
Pendeja! You play too much!

REMY
You're so easy to scare. It’s not even fun.

JESS
Stupid!

Remy places the creepy doll by the keys and

mirror. She checks her monitors to make sure she
has visuals on everything.

REMY
Okay, Looking good, looking good. I think we can get started if we want.

JESS
Wait, I gotta check my face! I looked like a glazed donut last time.

Remy and Sam walk over to the camera set up at

the entrance with Remy getting behind the camera
and Sam getting in front of it. Jess runs over to the
mirror near the entrance and checks her makeup.
Taking a tissue and gently dabbing excess oil from
her face. Jess stops abruptly and looks intently
behind her then into the mirror. Remy looks over
and notices her looking in the mirror.
 40.

REMY
Jess, you alright?

JESS
Yeah, I thought I saw something in the mirror.

PRISCILLA
What was it?

JESS
I can't say. This is where your keys were taken?

PRISCILLA
Yes.

REMY
We should get started if we want to get anything done tonight.

JESS
Sorry! Let’s do it.

Jess runs over to stand next to Sam.

REMY
Alright, we’re rolling. Whenever y’all are are ready.

JESS
Hello and welcome to this episode of-

SAM
A Skeptic!

JESS
And a Bruja!

SAM
I’m Sam the Skeptic.

JESS
And I’m Jess, the Bruja.

SAM
Today we’re at the Laurie House. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. The
history of this house is shrouded in mystery. The owner, Priscilla Maddox contacted us
a few weeks back after many incidents of a paranormal nature.

Beat

REMY
Yo, take that again. You sounded like a news reporter.
 41.

SAM
What? What do you mean?

JESS
(Pretending to hold a
microphone)
The owner, Priscilla Maddox, contacted us a few weeks back after many incidents of
a-

Hitting the news anchor inflection HARD.

JESS REMY
Paranormal nature! Paranormal nature!

REMY
Tom, back to you in the studio!

The women laugh.

SAM
Shut up, I did not do that. Ugh, I hate you guys.

Beat.
Today, we’re at the Laurie - shit - I can’t unhear it… okay, okay.

Sam takes a moment to collect herself. This time

she is a lot more natural.

SAM
Today we’re at the Laurie House. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. The
history of this house is shrouded in mystery. The owner, Priscilla Maddox contacted us
a few weeks back after many incidents of a paranormal nature.

Beat.
Insert footage of Priscilla talking about hauntings here...Jess do you want to do a blurb
about Priscilla’s history with the home?

JESS
Sure.

SAM
Hey Priscilla, can you help us out real quick?

PRISCILLA
Of course!

SAM
Could you just flick off the lights when you hear me say “going dark”?
 42.

PRISCILLA
Easy enough.

As Jess takes a moment to gather her thoughts

Pricilla walks over to the light switch.

JESS
Priscilla purchased the home in the homes…blalalalalalalalala! Okay, I’m gonna take it
again.

Beat.
Priscilla purchased the home in the hopes of converting it to a historic BnB. Tonight,
however, she has enlisted our help to find out what's really happening at the Laurie
house. Let’s start the investigation.

SAM
Going dark!

Priscilla shuts off the lights and the women hold

for a moment.

SAM (CONT'D)
Short and sweet, I love it.

REMY
You wanted to start down here?

JESS
Yeah, we’re gonna start with the dowsing rods.

In the dark, Sam grabs her phone to use the

flashlight. Jess grabs her dowsing rods and Remy
relocates the camera on the tripod.

REMY
Where should I set up?

JESS
I think we’re gonna set up by the mirror actually.

REMY
Got it.

Sam stands by Jess and points a light at Jess while

she tries to center herself and Remy finishes
setting up.
 43.

PRISCILLA
Does the darkness help the investigation?

SAM
Truthfully? No. But it helps with views. You turn off the lights and viewers imagine
themselves wandering around in pitch black darkness and they get scared, so...that’s
why we do it really.

REMY
Plus everything looks terrifying in night vision.

PRISCILLA
I see.

Jess stands by the mirror holding her dowsing

rods. She takes a moment to focus.

JESS
Is someone here with us tonight?

The dowsing rods move to indicate “yes”. Every

time Jess acknowledges the answer, the rods
should move into their neutral position.

JESS
Yes. Thank you. Can you show me how you will answer “no”?

The dowsing rods move. Differently from before,

either opening or moving in the opposite direction.

JESS
This is no. Thank you. Is there more than one person here tonight?

The dowsing rods move to answer “yes”.

Differently than before. More aggressively.

JESS
Yes. Whoa. That’s different. How many spirits live in this house? Two?

The rods do not move.

JESS
Three?

The rods do not move.

 44.

Priscilla should be by the monitors at this point.

Looking intently at them.

JESS
Four?

The rods do not move.

PRISCILLA
Something’s wrong.

JESS
What is it?

PRISCILLA
I’m sorry...it’s just...the doll room. I see something. Maybe an orb?

Sam and Jess look at each other, Sam trying not to

smile. The women walk over, closely checking the
screen. They say nothing for a moment.

PRISCILLA (CONT'D)
That’s an orb, right?

SAM
Did you do some research?

PRISCILLA
That’s what that is, right?

REMY
That looks like a smudge on the lens.

SAM
You should check it out.

REMY
Yeah, lemme clean it, I’ll be right back.

Remy runs upstairs.

PRISCILLA
Do you really think it’s just a smudge?

JESS
There are two schools of thought when it comes to orbs. Some paranormal
investigators consider it a manifestation of energy. The other half considers it…

SAM
Dust particles. It’s absolute bullshit.
 45.

JESS
We fall into the second camp.

PRISCILLA
Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have raised the alarms I guess.

SAM
No that’s fine, the lens needs to be cleaned.

REMY(O.S.)
Check the monitor! I cleaned it!

The women look at the monitor.

JESS
(yelling)
Still there!

Beat as Remy cleans the lens again. As she does

this, both Sam and Jess react to what they’re
seeing.

SAM
It doesn’t seem like it’s on the lens.

JESS
No...I was gonna say, it looks like it’s behind her.

Priscilla backs away from the monitor anxiously.

REMY (O.S.)
Is that good?!

SAM
Uh, it’s not looking like it’s the lens. Maybe you can shut off the camera then turn it
back on?!

REMY (O.S.)
Okay!

JESS
(shivering )
Uy, what is that?

REMY (O.S.) SAM

Is it back on?! No, still down!

SAM
You okay?
 46.

JESS
I just feel off all of a sudden. Like weak. Jorge, I need space, papi. He's touching my
back.

SAM
Rem, ya heard?!

Beat.

JESS
Why isn’t she answering?

SAM
I dunno.

Sam walks closer to the stairs.

SAM
Rem! You there?

Beat.

PRISCILLA
Someone should check on her.

SAM
We’re sending in a search party!

Sam starts climbing up the stairs when Remy

suddenly appears at the top of the stairs.

SAM
Hey! Did you fix it?

Remy walks past Sam, in a daze.

REMY
I dunno.

SAM JESS
You don’t know? Are you okay?

Beat.

REMY
I just saw my mom.
 47.

JESS
What?!

Beat.

JESS (CONT'D)
Are you okay?

REMY
I don’t know.

JESS
Why don’t you sit down for a moment?

REMY
I just need to think!

JESS
Okay, I’m sorry.

Awkward silence.

JESS (CONT'D)
Hey Remy, look at me.

Jess tries to grab Remy’s hands, but she pulls

away.

REMY
No…

JESS
It’s okay.

REMY
It was my mom.

JESS
I know.

REMY
What the fuck, Jess? Why? Why is she here?!

SAM
What happened when you went up there?

REMY
Nothing at first. I was just trying to fix the camera. But then...I felt...you know when
there’s someone near you and you feel them in the room before you actually see them?
I felt that.
(MORE)
 48.

REMY (cont'd)

I thought Jess trying to scare me. So I turned around and looked. But it wasn't Jess.
And I...when I looked. I felt this like - heaviness. Like all the sound and air got sucked
up outta the room and I felt like I was under water. I couldn’t breath. And I couldn’t
move.

It was my mom.

She looked sick. Like she was starving. She was wearing an old-timey dress. Like the
one Priscilla described. There were like these black circles under her eyes and she was
just staring at me. I've never seen her like that.

SAM
Did she say anything?

REMY
She just stared...and then...she reached out her hand.

PRISCILLA
She reached out to you?

JESS
You’re sleeping in my room tonight.

REMY
I just need a sec.

PRISCILLA
Do you want anything? Water or -

REMY
I'm fine.

JESS
Okay, but at least sit for a bit.

Jess reaches out to rub Remy's back.

REMY
Don't touch me! I said I'm fine, Jess!

Silence.

SAM
We should take a break.

REMY
We can keep going. I'm good.

A thud is heard in the kitchen. The women freeze.

 49.

SAM
That was in the kitchen...

A bang from the attic. The women look up.

JESS
Someone wants attention...

One of the picture frames falls off the wall, loudly.

JESS
What was that?

SAM
I'm gonna check it out...

Sam goes to investigate and another picture frame

flies off the wall, this one falls further from the
walls.

REMY
Jess…

JESS

It's okay, we're okay...

Another one flies off the wall, it goes even further

than the last one. Aimed specifically at Jess.

JESS REMY
Sam?! What's happening!?

The picture frames start flying off the wall faster

at a startling pace being flung at Jess, who
attempts to run to the other side of the room. The
women panic and shout.

PRISCILLA JESS
Oh my god! Jorge! Help us!

The picture frames stop. Silence.

SAM
Remy? Please tell me we were recording.
 50.

REMY PRISCILLA
What the hell was that?! You saw it this time!

REMY
I want to get out of here.

SAM
Jess? What's your read?

She closes her eyes and takes a breath. Reopens.

Priscilla makes her way down the stairs. Jess
looks around.

JESS
I don't sense anything...

SAM
We're gonna have a hell of a time debunking that!

REMY
I don't like this.

PRISCILLA
Are we safe here?

SAM
Whatever it was, it's gone. Right, Jess?

JESS
There's no one here.

SAM
That's good, right?

JESS
Jorge is gone!

Blackout. End of Act 1.

 51.

ACT 2

SCENE 4

Later that night. The kitchen is lit with

what appears to be candlelight. Someone is
humming in the kitchen. It's an old song,
perhaps 'Here Comes the Boogey Man'.

After a few moments we hear a door open

upstairs and Remy appears at the upstairs
hallway. She is carrying a pillow. The
humming stops abruptly and we see
someone walk in front of the frosted glass
holding a candelabra.

As Remy walks down the stairs, she is

mindful to not make too much noise,
perhaps stopping when she hears the stairs
creak. She makes it down the stairs
successfully and crawls onto the couch. She
gets comfortable, setting up the pillow and
tucking herself in under a blanket draped
over the couch. She closes her eyes and
attempts to fall asleep.

After a few or many moments, maybe as

Remy is starting to drift off to sleep, her
blanket begins to be pulled into the couch.
Remy stirs a bit and the blanket
disappears. Remy starts to get sucked into
the couch by some unseen force. She
screams for her life, kicking and fighting
whatever is pulling her in.

REMY
Help me!

JESS
Remy! Where are you?!

PRISCILLA
It’s coming from downstairs!

As soon as the women start making their way

down the stairs, Remy is able to get away from the
force pulling her in. She continues screaming,
leaps off the couch and gets as far as she can.

JESS
Remy! Remy! Wake up!
 52.

REMY
I am awake!

SAM
What’s wrong?!

REMY
Something was grabbing me.

JESS
What?!

REMY
The couch - I couldn't tell what it was -

SAM
I'll check the doors.

REMY
It wasn’t a person.

Beat.

JESS
What do you mean?

REMY
I was being pulled into the couch.

SAM
Into the couch?

Sam and Jess look at each other.

JESS
Were you having a nightmare?

REMY
I had just come down. I thought I could sleep in that room, but I couldn’t.

Jess moves towards the couch and starts moving

cushions and pillows, feeling around for
something. Sam looks behind the couch, even
kneeling to look under it.

SAM
The couch is solid, Rem. There's no where for you to get pulled into.

JESS
It was probably just a nightmare.
 53.

REMY
Half of my body was in there.

SAM
Okay, let’s start from the beginning. Tell us what happened.

REMY
I couldn’t fall asleep so I came down here. I put the blanket that was on the couch over
me.

PRISCILLA
The blue one. Where is it?

REMY
That's what I'm saying - the couch ate the blanket.

SAM PRISCILLA
Ate the blanket? I really liked that blanket...

REMY

Yeah - then I felt something grab my leg. It started pulling me into the couch, wherever
my blanket went. So I started screaming. But when you guys came down, it let me go.

Sam puts her arms down onto the couch as if

embracing someone from behind.

SAM
I wanna try something. Could you sit for a moment?

REMY
On the couch?

JESS
Sam...

SAM
We have to debunk that it could have been someone from above her.

REMY
It wasn’t. I told you. It was the couch pulling me in.

SAM
It was dark. You wouldn’t have seen where they were standing. I just need you to sit for
a moment -

REMY
I’m not sitting on that fucking couch, Sam.

JESS
What is this, the Salem Witch trials?
 54.

SAM
(Careful )
Because it's Remy we have to recreate it. Think about what people will say if we didn't
even try.

JESS
Fine. But I'm doing it.

Jess sits on the couch in front of where Sam is

standing. Sam starts to put her arms around Jess.

REMY
I was lying down.

JESS
Okay, let’s try it…

Jess moves into lying down position, face up.

JESS
Like this?

REMY
I sleep on my side.

Jess makes the adjustment.

REMY
That’s it.

Sam then tries to slip her arms around Jess, but is

struggling to. After a bit she is awkwardly able to
and then squeezes Jess to try to get her to sit up.

REMY
That wasn’t it.

SAM
It’s a little awkward, but maybe the person had longer arms than me?

REMY
That’s not what I felt. They weren't people arms.

SAM
There has to be an explanation.

REMY
The explanation is that I’m telling the truth, and something - not a person - grabbed
me.
 55.

SAM
I’m not trying to be an asshole, Rem.

REMY
You don’t have to try, Sam.

JESS
Okay, we should take a step back. We literally saw pictures fly off the wall earlier
tonight. Remy needs to feel safe. She needs to feel heard.

SAM
Oh, I heard her.

PRISCILLA
Why don’t I make some tea?

JESS
That would be great!

Priscilla exits through the kitchen door.

JESS
What do you need from us Remy?

REMY
I need you to believe me. Both of you.

SAM
I believe you. I do. But I have to do my due diligence. I have to consider where your
head is at.

REMY
Where my head is at?! Do you believe me or not?

SAM
You're mom just died, Rem.

REMY
Yeah, I fucking know that.

SAM
I think it may have been a mistake to let you come. You may need some time to
process what's happening.

Silence.

REMY
I’m going to bed.
 56.

Remy grabs her blanket and pillow and starts

exiting up the stairs.

JESS
Rem, no you should stay for a bit. At least have some tea.

REMY
Goodnight.

Remy grabs her things and exits up the stairs

towards Jess’s room

JESS
Are you gonna sleep in my -

REMY
Yeah.

JESS
Okay. Good night!

Silence.

JESS
Really, Sam?

SAM
I would be doing her a disservice if I lied to her. If I told her it all made sense just to
make her feel better...what if there’s something really wrong, Jess? What if she’s
having a legit nervous breakdown?

Beat.

SAM
How were things with her mom in the end?

JESS
Not great. She struggled a lot with when to engage and help and when to walk away. I
know they weren’t really talking towards the end. But that was just shitty timing.

SAM
That sounds like guilt.

JESS
Well, yeah. That kinda comes with the Latina mom territory.

SAM
How was she at the funeral?
 57.

JESS
She was her normal, chipper self. She was thanking everyone for coming and
comforting the people crying. She didn’t go up once to look at the body. That worried
me.

SAM
Why? I don’t think I could do it.

JESS
Yeah, but Remy’s so...confrontational. In a good way. If something scares her she
doesn’t back away from it. She faces it head on. Her not facing her mother at the end
was so...not Remy.

SAM
Maybe it’s just her way of protecting herself. It’s exhausting to be strong all the time.

JESS
I just think it might have been better for her to see Magda. To say goodbye.

Beat.
You didn’t go.

SAM
Yeah, I told you, Jess. I’m not good at funerals. I say the wrong things and I’m
awkward.

JESS
You don’t have to be anything other than a friend. No one knows what to do or what to
say. That’s what death does. It stuns us. It humbles us. But we show up for our friends.
We say the wrong things. We hug them awkwardly. We take the reminder that death is
coming for all of us and hope that our friends will do the same when it touches us.

Beat.

SAM
I should go talk to her.

Sam starts towards the stairs. But as she does

Remy appears at the top of the stairs wrapped in
her blanket. She passes Sam on the stairs and sits
on a chair next to the couch.

SAM
Hey! I was just going to check on you.

REMY
I can’t be up there by myself.

JESS
Do you want me to go up with you?
 58.

REMY
No, it’s fine. I’m gonna have some tea.

Silence.

JESS
I’m gonna check if Priscilla needs help.

Jess exits through the kitchen. We hear some light

conversation between her and Priscilla. Silence.

SAM
How are you?

REMY
Not great.

Silence.

SAM
I’m sorry I didn’t go to your mother’s funeral.

REMY
What?!

SAM
Jess was giving me a hard time about it, but I didn’t mean it a way where like I don’t
care about you. I care about you a lot. I hope you know that. You and Jess are like the
closest thing I have to family in the city. I don’t want you to think that me not going
was like, because I don’t care about you. Cuz I do.

REMY
What the hell are you talking about?

SAM
The funeral…

REMY
Yo, honestly, I didn’t even realize you weren’t there until you just mentioned it. That
was the last thing on my mind.

SAM
Oh, cuz Jess said and I thought…

REMY
Jess thinks everyone is like her. They want you to always be touching them and feeling
sorry for them and like...I'm not that bitch, ya know? I was just trying to survive the
day because like, I didn’t wanna fucking be there. I just wanted it to be over, so like, I
could move on with my life. At best my mother was a burden. Then she died. Then I
(MORE)
 59.

REMY (cont'd)
had to plan a fucking funeral that I didn't want to be at with everyone talking about
how wonderful she was. Crying over my mother, like she was worth crying over...

Silence.

REMY
God, that was ugly -

SAM
You don't have to...

REMY
She's the reason I don't believe.

SAM
Believe in what?

REMY
In god, I guess.

SAM
Why?

REMY

We were staying with Jess one of the many fucking times she lost custody of us. Jess's
mom took us to church. I remember standing there and just like feeling it...for a
second. I guess the music was just right and the pastor was saying stuff that just...made
sense. He said that God works miracles, if all we do is believe. So I prayed that day...
and every night after that. I told God that if he made my mom stay clean, I would
believe in him forever. I would “serve” him forever.

Anyway, a little bit after that she got clean and we got to go back home. And for a
while, it was really good. She cooked for us. It had been so long since she had been
clean that like, I didn’t know my mom could cook. And she like, threw down in the
kitchen, ya know. And I never knew before that.

It lasted about six months. Then one day I woke up on a Saturday morning and she was
passed out on the couch...she had OD’d. I had to call 911 while they talked me through
how to do CPR. I was nine years old. The doctors said it was a miracle that she
survived. Just not the miracle I was praying for.

Beat.

I'm glad you weren't there. Just a bunch of people touching me and feeling sorry for
me. Like, fuck that. I hate that.

SAM
I’m sorry.
 60.

Beat.

I promise to never touch you.

REMY
(amused )
You’re so stupid.

Beat.

SAM
I'm worried about you.

REMY
Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.

Priscilla and Jess enter with tea and cookies,

bringing everything to the coffee table.

PRISCILLA
Here you go! This will help calm your nerves. Some chamomile tea and cookies.

REMY
I'm gonna need something stronger than tea.

Beat.

PRISCILLA
I may have something.

She exits to the kitchen and brings back a bottle of

wine and a wine opener.

JESS
You've been holding out on us, Priscilla?

Priscilla opens the bottle and pours the wine into

the teacups.

PRISCILLA
I was saving it for my first official booking. But I don't know, it feels right - and I'm not
much of a drinker.

REMY
You're gonna share your fancy bottle of wine with us?
 61.

PRISCILLA
It was a silly purchase I made when I was leaving California. I'm happy to share.

SAM
Should we toast?

PRISCILLA
Let's toast to friendship. I've been so lonely in this house for the last few months. It
feels so good not to be alone.

JESS
And to new beginnings...for Priscilla.

They toast.

ALL EXCEPT PRISCILLA

To Priscilla!

Silence as they sip.

JESS
We should play a game!

SAM
A game?

JESS
Let's play...Super Secret Keeper.

SAM
That's not a thing.

REMY
Yes it is. It's a game I made up.

SAM
A game you made up doesn't make it a thing. I can't believe I have to say that.

JESS
Sam...

SAM
That sounds awesome. How do we play?

REMY
Okay, so there will be the Secret Conjurer and they ask questions. I will be the Secret
Conjurer as I don't have any secrets.

SAM
That doesn't seem fair. Everyone has secrets.
 62.

REMY
I AM THE SECRET CONJURER! I Conjure the secret-est - secrets. Who goes first?

PRISCILLA
How do you play?

REMY
I ask you hard-hitting-secret-revealing questions and if you don't answer, I get a point.
If you reveal your secrets, you get a point, but I must hold your secrets. We become the
most SECRET SECRET KEEPERS.

SAM
This is a trash game with trash rules.

JESS
Yeah, it's what we did in lieu of therapy as kids.

REMY
Sam is first. QUESTION THE FIRST! Are you really a skeptic or do you just do it for
the gram?

JESS
That's a good question!

SAM
Can I pass?

JESS
It's the first question!

SAM
Fine. I'm not like a legit skeptic. You know like how people take it so seriously? I'm...
skeptical of people. People lie and fake stuff all the time. So I guess I am a skeptic. It's
a part of the gimmick. It's our shtick. But I don't do it for the gram. I do it for YouTube.

REMY
A point for the Secret Keepers.

JESS
See? Was that so hard? Me next!

REMY
I know all your secrets.

SAM
Do you even have any secrets? You're like the most boring person I know.

JESS
Gee, thanks...

REMY
Yeah, maybe we should skip Jess.
 63.

JESS
You so mean!

PRISCILLA
Can I ask a question?

REMY
I'm the Secret Conjurer! But I'll allow it.

PRISCILLA
What did you think of Sam when you first met?

JESS
You're good! I'm gonna have to pass.

REMY
Oooooooh!

JESS
I'm kidding! I can answer. I thought she was cool. A little rough around the edges, but
really cool. She makes no apologies for who she is. I dig that.

SAM
Awww, Jess. Do you love me?

JESS
No!

REMY
Priscilla! Question the second! What was the hardest part of leaving California?

PRISCILLA
Hmmm...probably all the stuff I had to leave behind. I kept the most important stuff,
but Liz was a bit of a hoarder - sorry - a collector. I hope she would be happy with the
things I chose to keep.

JESS
That's actually really sweet.

REMY
Yeah, we're trying to go for deep, dark secrets that we could blackmail you with...

SAM
Who gets to ask you questions?

REMY
I have no secrets. I'm an open book. Sam: What's your biggest regret?

JESS
Damn that's deep.

SAM
Uhhhh...I don't really have regrets.
 64.

JESS
And I'm boring?

REMY
That's a cop out.

SAM
I don't, though.

REMY
That means..I get a point, right?

SAM
Okay, I guess...if I had to pick moment it would be...my Grandma. Before she passed,
my mom told me to come with her to the hospital to say goodbye...and uh...I didn't. I
think I told my mom that I had too much homework or some shit. It wasn't true. I was
just scared. That's my biggest regret. That I didn't get to say goodbye.

Beat.
I can't believe I told y'all that.

JESS
Were you close with your Grandma?

SAM
She was like, the only person in my family who saw me. Really saw me, ya know?

JESS
I'm sure she's still looking over you.

REMY
Jess! What do you hate about being a Bruja?

JESS
Hate is such a strong word.

REMY
It can't all be tarot cards and crystals, am I right?

JESS
No...I guess, it would be how hyper aware I feel all the time even when I try to block
things out. Does that make sense?

PRISCILLA
In what way?

JESS
Like, I have to go to the bank, but I gotta protect myself before I go, I gotta carry my
crystals, because I have to pass by the graveyard to get to the bank. And the bodega
guy's dad is gonna to try to get my attention because he wants me to tell his son he's
sorry...or the ten year old girl wants me to tell her mother that it wasn't her fault...it's
exhausting. I just want to be normal sometimes. I just want to go to the bank.
 65.

PRISCILLA
So you're saying that our spirits...follow us?

JESS
Yeah. Mostly because they want to watch over us, but sometimes because they have
unfinished business with us.

PRISCILLA
I see...

JESS
Is everything alright?

PRISCILLA
I haven't been honest with you.

REMY
Please don’t tell me there’s more weird shit at this house.

PRISCILLA
I think it’s my fault. What’s happening in the house.

JESS
Why do you think that?

PRISCILLA
Because of how things ended with Liz. We were always absolute opposites. I was a free
spirit who came and went as she pleased, and Liz supported me in every nutty idea I
had. She knew that there were times I had to disappear. No questions asked, no
suspicions. She just trusted me and I loved her for that.

Then she got sick...and things changed so quickly. The cancer was advanced and
incredibly aggressive. Liz was this strong, independent woman who had been reduced
to needing me for everything. I wasn't used to that. I was angry and resentful. I was
becoming a monster. The scarier I got, the more Liz just...shrank.

Finally, one day I told her that I couldn’t do it anymore. I was going to put her in
hospice. I couldn’t even look at her. She begged me not to do it. I don’t mean begged
like how people say and don’t really mean. If she could have gotten on her knees she
would have. She grabbed my hands and wouldn’t let go and just begged. “Please don’t
do this to me, just hang in there a little bit longer.”

By this point I’m so angry and just tired. Just tired of all of it. Of the smell of
everything and her voice, and her needing me all the time. I snapped. I said everything
that I had been burying for the past few months. It was ugly. And in an awful way...
freeing. I left to go on a long walk because I knew I had messed up. When I came back
from my walk, she was dead. I killed her.

JESS
You didn't kill her.

PRISCILLA
I know she was dying, but I felt like what I said...what I did. She just gave up.
 66.

JESS
She died because it was her time.

PRISCILLA
I know you’re right, but I can’t shake this feeling like she followed me here. Like she’s
punishing me for abandoning her in her hour of need.

JESS
I'm going to do a reading for you tomorrow. You too, Rem.

REMY
I gotta get to bed. It’s late.

SAM
We should all get to bed.

JESS
What time is it?

Three knocks come from the attic. The women look

up. Remy rises.

SAM
It's three o'clock.

JESS
The witching hour.

Blackout. During the transition we see the mirror

light up. A dark figure appears in the mirror.
 67.

SCENE 5

Jess enters carrying a candle and a small

glass of water. Her hair is covered and she
is dressed in white. She sits on the couch,
placing the glass of water at the center of
the coffee table and the candle next to it.
Remy and Priscilla join her around the
table. They each have a glass of water and
an lit candle. Sam sets up the camera and
stands by it.

PRISCILLA
Soooo...we're doing a seance?

JESS
Not exactly...

REMY
We call it a seancé.

SAM
Like Beyoncé!

REMY

That was my idea.

JESS
We're creating a portal between worlds so we can communicate...I think.

PRISCILLA
Have you done this before?

JESS
Only once...and I was alone.

SAM
You got this.

JESS
We need to get clarity from the spirits in this house. As much as I hate to completely let
my guard down.

PRISCILLA
What do you mean, let your guard down?

JESS
I'm going to be able to see and hear everything.

PRISCILLA
Is it wise to do that?
 68.

JESS
It's the only way we can really understand what's going on here.

SAM
It's also going to be amazing for views.

JESS
You sure you want to move forward, Rem?

REMY
Yeah. I want to hear from my mom. My real mom.

JESS
Priscilla?

PRISCILLA
I want to hear from, Liz...if she wants to talk to me.

JESS
Sam?

SAM
I'm a passive observer.

JESS
Are you sure?

Beat.

SAM
I'm sure.

JESS
Lita always said that there's not much you can't solve with a candle and a glass of water.
Let's do this. Everyone grab your glass of water.

The women raise their glasses of water.

REMY
Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

JESS
Stop!

REMY
Sorry...

JESS
Repeat after me:
 69.

I give you this water, and in return, I ask that you give me clarity.

ALL EXCEPT SAM

I give you this water, and in return, I ask that you give me clarity.

Jess raises her candle. The women follow.

JESS
I give you this light, and in return, I ask that you light my path.

ALL EXCEPT SAM

I give you this light, and in return, I ask that you light my path.

Jess closes her eyes. She takes a deep breath. She

opens her eyes and looks around.

JESS
They're here.

PRISCILLA
Is Jorge here?

JESS
No...

SAM
Can you describe what you're seeing?

JESS
I see a group of people in this house. From this house. But I also see...Liz.

PRISCILLA
Oh my god...where is she?

JESS
She's on your left. She says...what? She's saying "You must allow me.."?

An overflow of emotion. She nods.

PRISCILLA
"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you..." It's Austen. The
first time I told her I loved her I quoted Mr. Darcy because...

She can barely get through it.

Because she's my Dearest Lizzie.

REMY
Awww, that's so geeky.
 70.

PRISCILLA

Please tell her I'm sorry.

JESS
She says...it was a bad moment in a beautiful story.

PRISCILLA
Tell her I love her.

JESS
She can hear you. She loves it when you talk to her. "Don't stop", she says.

PRISCILLA
I won't Lizzie. I won't stop.

Priscilla is overcome. She is silent.

JESS
She's saying something else...you're what? "We're being held here -

Beat.

The candles blow out. The air is sucked out of the

room.

SAM
Jess..

REMY
What's happening?!

PRISCILLA
uh-oh

Priscilla laughs. Except it's not Priscilla. The

laugh is malicious.

JESS
Priscilla? Are you okay?

NOT PRISCILLA
priscilla... are you okay

REMY

What the fuck?!

 71.

NOT PRISCILLA
what the fuck???!!!

SAM
This is not funny, Priscilla.

NOT PRISCILLA
not funny.
not. not priscilla.

Beat.

JESS
Who are you?

SAM
We should stop. Priscilla sounds like she needs a break.

NOT PRISCILLA
knot priscilla

JESS
Are you a spirit in this house?

SAM
Jess, I don't think we should entertain this. She's clearly -

NOT PRISCILLA
spirit! noooooo
not spirit

JESS
Are you a demon?

SAM REMY
Priscilla is not well... Stop talking to it...

NOT PRISCILLA

stop talking to it reeemy

JESS
This is not Priscilla.

REMY
It knows my name.

NOT PRISCILLA
it knows my name
it almost had me
it want me
 72.

SAM
We should...

NOT PRISCILLA
mee-maw so lonely

SAM
What did you say?

NOT PRISCILLA
mee-maw so sad
mee-maw so a-frayed
mee-maw soooo aloooone

Beat.

JESS
Why are you here?

NOT PRISCILLA
why are you here...bruja
you shhhhooould leave. That's the - the ticket.
You should leave while you chance.

REMY
Stop! This isn't funny.

NOT PRISCILLA
(breathing them in )
i love the women. i need them.

JESS
I don't feel good.

NOT PRISCILLA
jorge say hi.

Not Priscilla points behind Jess. Jess looks behind

her to her right.

JESS
Jorge! What happened, what's wrong with your face?!

Not Priscilla moves towards Jess, placing it's

hands on her temples just as she turns to look at it.

NOT PRISCILLA
boo
 73.

Jess's head hangs down. She is unconscious.

Remy and Sam try to get her to respond.

REMY SAM
JESS! What's wrong?!

NOT PRISCILLA
need her. need you all -
needing y'all?
y'all come back now ya hear

Three knocks at the closet door.

NOT PRISCILLA
y'all are here - no
they are here - no

Remembering.
(poltergeist )
theeeeey're heeeeeeere

The closet door creaks open.

REMY SAM
Fuck! Jess! Jess! Wake up!

NOT PRISCILLA
fear, yes? look, closet?

Sam walks slowly towards the closet. Remy stays

with Jess on the couch.

SAM
Do you hear that?

Sam opens the closet door.

SAM
Oh, god...

REMY NOT PRISCILLA

What is it?! what is it

Sam opens the door all the way to show Remy. The
dolls that were in Remy’s room are all on the
shelves in the closet.
 74.

SAM
(dazed )
I hear my Mee-maw in there.

REMY
Sam? Don't go in there!

NOT PRISCILLA
mee-maw so a-lone...

Sam moves closer to the dolls, into the closet.

REMY
You can't hear her, Sam. That's impossible.

SAM
I have to help her.

As Sam gets in the closet, the door slams shut.

Sam bangs on the door, screaming during the
following.

REMY NOT PRISCILLA

Why are you doing this - stop! why are you doing this - stop

Remy tries to open the closet door. It appears to be

locked.

REMY
Let her out!!!

NOT PRISCILLA
scear-y

REMY
Fuck you, I'm not scared of your dolls or you.

NOT PRISCILLA
not dolls
vessels/spirits
looook reeeemy

Points to something near Remy.

REMY NOT PRISCILLA

Who is that? who is that

Beat.
 75.

NOT PRISCILLA
it's her

REMY
Why are you doing this? I don't want to see her like this.

NOT PRISCILLA
scear-y. truth is scear-y.

Remy goes to the furthest corner of the wall. As

the unseen thing moves closer to Remy her fear
turns to terror.

REMY
Get away from me!!!Leave me alone!!!

REMY

REMY NOT PRISCILLA

JEEEEEEEEEESS!!! JEEEEEEEEEESS!!!

The scream they emit should be blood curdling.

Something shifts and the scene resets with Remy

standing behind the couch where Jess sees Jorge.

JESS
I don't feel good.

NOT PRISCILLA
jorge say hi.

Not Priscilla points behind Jess. Jess looks behind

her to her right.

JESS
Jorge! What happened, what's wrong with your face?!

Not Priscilla moves towards Jess, placing it's

hands on her temples just as she turns to look at it.

NOT PRISCILLA
boo

Jess's head hangs down. She is unconscious. The

lights shift. We are now in the spirit realm. Jorge/
Remy shakes Jess awake.
 76.

NOT PRISCILLA
need her. need you all -

JESS
Remy?

JORGE/REMY
No, m'ija...

She looks closer.

JESS
Jorge?! Why do you look like Remy?

JORGE/REMY
(quietly)
Calladita. No queria asustarte...mi cara.

JESS
Yes. Your face...what did he do to your face?

NOT PRISCILLA
theeeeey're heeeeeeere

She touches his face then notices her

surroundings.

JESS
Where am I?

JORGE/REMY
Donde viven los espíritus.

JESS
Am I dead?

JORGE/REMY
No, m'ija. Esto es una distraccion. El te tiene miedo.

JESS
Afraid of me? I'm afraid of him.

NOT PRISCILLA
fear, yes? look, closet?

JORGE/REMY
No le tengas miedo. El es solo un matón.

JESS
Matón?
 77.

JORGE/REMY
A bully, m'ija.

JESS
You speak english?

JORGE/REMY
Claro! No es algo de otro mundo. I speak it better than him.

JESS
What is he?

JORGE/REMY
It's not important. What is important is that you can stop him.

JESS
I can stop him?! I got thrown into the spirit world by him!

JORGE/REMY
Este es tu problema. You doubt yourself too much, m'ija.

JESS
I've never done this before!

JORGE/REMY
Which is why you will succeed.

JESS
That doesn't make any sense...

NOT PRISCILLA
mee-maw so a-lone...

JORGE/REMY
Qué quieres que te diga? That you are chosen? That you and your friends are chosen to
break generational curses? That there is a prophecy?

JESS
Is that true?

JORGE/REMY
No, m'ija! Does it have to be?

Beat.

JESS
I don't know how to fix this.

JORGE/REMY
You do. You know more than you realize. But even if you don't...your ancestors will be
standing right by you. Guiding you.
 78.

JESS
What if I fail?

JORGE/REMY
What if, what if?! You might! These things require a little bit of faith, no ? The Universe
or the gods or God or any of it - they all require payment.

JESS
Payment?

JORGE/REMY
A leap of faith.

Beat.

NOT PRISCILLA
scear-y

JORGE/REMY
Es hora. Your friends are running out of time. I've let you stay too long.

JESS
Will I see you on the other side?

Beat.

JORGE/REMY
Probably not, m'ija.

JESS
Why not?!

NOT PRISCILLA
scear-y. truth is scear-y.

JORGE/REMY
I have something I have to do here.

JESS
Gracias, Jorge. Mi feo, mas lindo.

They hug.

JORGE/REMY
No caigas, Bruja. Recuerda quien eres.

Jorge/Remy walks over to Not Priscilla and places

their hand over Not Priscilla's forehead.Jess walks
 79.

to the edge of an abyss. Jess closes her eyes then

steps forward...a leap of faith. We're in the human
world now.

REMY
Get away from me!!!Leave me alone!!!

REMY

REMY NOT PRISCILLA

JEEEEEEEEEESS!!! JEEEEEEEEEESS!!!

Priscilla faints. Jess comes to and takes her

breath in as if almost drowning. She runs over to
Remy. Sam tumbles out of the closet.

JESS
Rem, take a breath. You're okay, I'm here. It's Jess.

Remy is inconsolable. As the unseen being moves

closer she screams and flails desperately trying to
avoid it’s touch. Even after the light is on she
continues screaming. Remy doesn’t take her eyes
off of it.

REMY
DON’T TOUCH ME! DON’T COME NEAR ME!

JESS
Rem, it’s okay. It's just Jess, mama!

Suddenly, Remy stops. The unseen figure is gone.

Remy takes a moment then screams in frustration.
She hugs Jess tightly. Sam checks on Priscilla,
cautiously.

REMY SAM
What was that, Jess! What is Priscilla? Priscilla, are you okay?
happening?!

JESS
You saw something. But it can’t hurt you. I won't let it.

SAM
What the hell was that?

JESS
I was pulled out of my body, I could see everything that was happening and hear all of
you, but like outside of myself. Are you okay?
 80.

SAM
I heard something...in the closet.

JESS
He's keeping spirits trapped in this house.

SAM
He?

JESS
He's ancient. He's been feeding on the energy - the people in this house and before the
house was built. He was using my energy to be able to talk to us, but he has been using
Priscilla for a while. That's why he was able to mount her.

SAM REMY
Mount her?! How did you get back?

JESS
Jorge was there.

SAM
Is he okay?

JESS
He's gone. I think Jorge got that thing out of Priscilla's body.

REMY
Is "that thing" gone?

JESS
No, Jorge bought us time.

SAM
We need to leave.

REMY
You don't have to tell me twice.

JESS
What about, Priscilla?

SAM
She has to leave, too, obviously.

JESS
He's got his claws too deep in her. I can't guarantee that if we take Priscilla out of this
house, he won't come with her.

SAM
Then we leave and find someone else to help.
 81.

JESS
We can't leave.

REMY
Seriously? You wanna stay?

JESS
He's holding the spirits hostage, too. We can't just walk away.

SAM
What does that have to do with us?

JESS
Our spirits, Sam. He's holding them, too. If we leave, they won't be able to.

SAM
What are you saying?

JESS
Mee-maw.

Beat.

SAM
She's here?

Jess nods. Priscilla comes to.

PRISCILLA
What happened?

JESS
Don't move around, Priscilla. You've been through a lot tonight.

PRISCILLA
I feel awful.

REMY
(quietly to Jess )
How do we know it's really her?

JESS
It's Priscilla. I can tell.

PRISCILLA
It was so cold where I was...

JESS
I'm so sorry. I feel like I failed you.
 82.

PRISCILLA
You reconnected me with my Liz. It was worth it.

REMY
I can’t stay here.

JESS
We need to fight back.

SAM
I'm sorry. Are you proposing that we fight the demon who handed us our asses?

JESS
If we don't, our spirits are trapped here.

PRISCILLA
We can't let that happen. I just got Liz back.

REMY
What if we can't stop him?

JESS
I don't think he would be trying so hard to scare us if we couldn't. Sam?

SAM
Is Mee-maw really here?

JESS
She is.

Beat.

SAM
Then this is my chance to make it up to her. Let's do it.

Blackout. During the transition we see arms

coming from a wall in the house. The women light
candles. Jess walks around the house grabbing
items from the plentiful amount of tchochkes
available. She picks some up, holding them in her
hand, then decides to put them back. She puts the
"right ones" in a bag that she can throw over her
shoulder. They move the coffee table and the
seating in the living room. Using salt or chalk,
Jess draws a big circle in the living room.
 83.

SCENE 6

Jess,Remy and Priscilla and Sam continue

to prep for the ceremony.

JESS
(to Remy )
You okay?

REMY
I can't stop thinking about my mom. The way she looked.

JESS
Sometimes when people die in a violent or unexpected way, they are lost for a bit. She
needs to be elevated.

REMY
Elevated?

JESS
It's a ritual, so that she can be well enough to join you again.

REMY
Witchcraft?

JESS
You could call it that.

REMY
I don't want anything to do with that.

JESS
You're doing it right now.

REMY
After today, I mean. I don't want anything to do with any of this.

JESS
You have a gift, but right now you're rejecting it because you're scared.

REMY
This is not a gift, Jess.

JESS
It is.

REMY
It doesn't feel like a gift.

JESS
You're right. It's a calling.
 84.

PRISCILLA
Are we ready?

JESS
We're as ready as we're going to be. Let's step into the protective circle.

Jess, Remy and Priscilla step into the circle. Sam

sets up her camera, pointing it at the circle.

JESS
Sam?

SAM
Listen, if we die here tonight, I'm getting the money shot. Even if it's found footage.

She finishes making adjustments.

Okay! I'm ready.

She steps into the circle.

JESS
This is a protection circle. As long as you stay in the circle you will be safe.

Remember what we talked about. The key is to not be afraid. Or rather, feel it, but
move in spite of it.

She grounds herself.

The fear is a trap. Our ancestors are stuck because he gets stronger from our fear. It
keeps them here. It keeps us stuck. The afterlife is joy, peace and taking care of your
people. We need to move in courage and setting our people free.

SAM
What's in the bag?

JESS
Everything has energy. So I took a few things from the house that spoke to me. I want
you to pick something that speaks to you. Don't overthink it. Just go with your gut.

The women take turns rummaging through the bag

and picking an item.

SAM
What now?

JESS
We're going to call him out.
 85.

REMY PRISCILLA
Call him out?! I don't like that...

SAM
Yeah, I'm not super into that idea.

JESS
Before we do that. We're calling in some backup.

Jess pulls out king conch shell from her bag. She
places it directly outside of the circle. She knocks
three times on the floor.

JESS
Tente la Roye moforibale Eleguá!

Something shifts.

REMY
What was that?

JESS
I summoned Eleguá.

She takes out an apple, a plate and a knife. She

slices the apple and puts it on the plate.

PRISCILLA
Is that good?

JESS
You don't have access to any of the Orisha gods unless you go through Eleguá. He's
the gatekeeper for rituals.

I just want to take this moment to remind everyone that we're dealing with something
that literally pulled me out of my body and took over Priscilla's body. Stay. In. The
Circle. Don't leave, no matter what happens.

REMY
What if we have to pee?

Jess pulls out a jar filled with marbles, opens it

and whispers something into it. She places outside
the circle. A faint glow of red envelops the women.

PRISCILLA
Is that supposed to happen?
 86.

JESS
(unsure )
...yeah!

Jess pulls out a box of cigars, she lights one. She

places the lit cigar in a teacup and places it
directly outside the circle. The red light intensifies.
The furniture starts shaking.

JESS (CONT'D)
Show yourself, you coward!

SAM
What happened to we don't antagonize the spirits?

JESS
This is a demon.

REMY
Maybe we should stop?

Something appears over the audience. It is unseen

except by the women.

PRISCILLA
Are we seeing this?

REMY
Sam?!

SAM
I see it!

REMY
What happened to his face?

JESS
Jorge happened.

You don't belong here. Give us back our people.

SAM
Oh my god...

The women react to seeing the captive spirits. The

spirits stand right outside the circle of protection.
The furniture starts moving and wind starts
blowing.
 87.

REMY JESS
Is that my mom? Lita!

PRISCILLA SAM
Liz... Meemaw?

REMY
What is he doing to them?!

JESS
He's trying to get us to stop!

SAM
He's hurting them!

JESS
Stay inside the circle!

REMY
Let them go!

Sam almost runs out of the circle but Jess stops

her.

REMY
We have to stop, Jess!

JESS
We have to focus.

We hear what sounds like a portal opening up.

Screams of the dead.
Close your eyes. Focus. I want you to imagine a white light!

The sound of souls in pain intensifies.

Think about your spirits, think of the love that they left in you! I want you to talk to
them. Pray to them. Tell them how much you love them and make an offering.

REMY
An offering!?

JESS
Your items that you picked. I want you to transfer the love into that item. Then offer it
by placing it directly outside the circle.

One by one the women do it. Sam is left, she is

frozen.
Sam! What's wrong?
 88.

SAM
It's real, Jess. I'm seeing it with my own eyes.

JESS
I know.

SAM
I didn't point the camera at the right thing.

JESS
It's okay. Can you -

SAM
Oh, sorry...

She whispers something to her item. Places it

directly outside the circle.

JESS
Invite your spirits into the circle.

REMY PRISCILLA
Mom! Come in! Liz! It's safe in here.

SAM JESS
Meemaw! Lita!

The picture frames fly off the wall, furniture moves

around and shelves fall off the walls.

JESS
He doesn't want to lose them. Stay focused! Hold hands!

The lights shift. The women hold hands. A faint

spotlight in the circle.

JESS (CONT'D)
You will release the spirits in this house. They are under our protection now.

The spotlight intensifies to a bright white light. In

the light, we see something. It looks like spirits
moving around, but the portal is still open. There
are still spirits trapped.

JESS
We cast you out of this house! You must leave. In the name of all our gods!

REMY
Get the fuck out!
 89.

SAM
Leave, asshole!

JESS
Priscilla! Claim your house!

PRISCILLA
This is my house! Get out now!

REMY SAM
Leave!!! Out!!!

A scream, a beast in the throes of death. We hear

the portal closing.

JESS
Pa fuera, Pendejo!

The portal closes. The spotlight fades slowly.

SAM
Goodbye, Meemaw. I love you.

PRISCILLA
You did good, Liz.

The spotlight fades to black. The lights come on in

the house again. Beat. Jess and Remy continue
holding hands.

SAM
You don't suppose any of that footage is usable do you?

PRISCILLA
It feels different in here...

SAM
Oh shit.

JESS
What?!

SAM
We're gonna have to change the name of the show.

JESS
Oh, are you a believer now?

SAM
I mean, it could be a gas leak. Maybe we're all hallucinating together.
 90.

REMY
Is it over?

Jess hugs Remy.

JESS
No. I think it's just the beginning.

Lights fade. As the stage darkens, the mirror starts

to glow green. Just as the stage is completely dark
two fists pound on the glass. Blackout. End of Play