Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A totally rewritten excerpt from my screenplay of The Encounter

WGW #1545678 Copyrighted by Wayne C. Rogers 2010 & 2011


EXT. BACK LANE OF FREEMAN’S HOME - NIGHT - LATER

We watch as both Detective Peterson and Matthews pull up in their respective vehicles behind the Freeman residence. Switching off the engines, both men get out of their cars and walk past the Chevy Tahoe to the patio door.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Peterson rings the doorbell and we can hear Betty starting to bark from the back patio.

PETERSON

Sounds like a big-ass dog.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Both Peterson and Matthews stand there, listing silently as Betty continues to bark. Then--

MATTHEWS

It looks like they’re not home yet. Do you want to wait?

PETERSON

Why don’t you take off. I’m going to sit in my car for a while and see if they show up.

MATTHEWS

Are you sure?

PETERSON

Yeah. Call me on the radio if anything else happens tonight.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Peterson and Matthews walk back to their cars.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

We watch as both men climb back into their vehicles. A moment later Matthews backs up to the center street of the complex, while Peterson pulls his car forward.

ON PETERSON’S CAR

As Peterson parks parallel to the wall that Freeman was attacked on, the headlights shine on the dried blood splattered on it.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Leaving the engine running and the headlights on, Peterson gets out of the car and steps over to the wall to examine the blood stain.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

Peterson checks out the dried blood and then rises up on the balls of his feet to look at the top of the wall.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Lost in thought, Peterson walks casually back to his car. As he steps in front of the Crown Victoria, something causes him to stop and to spin quickly to his right.

PETERSON’S POV

We can see several cars in their parking spaces behind other condominiums on the left side of the lane. Trees and bushes are lining the inside of the cinder-block wall on the right.

ON PETERSON

He stares hard at the other end of the lane, sensing that something is hiding in the darkness.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

Peterson finally shakes his head over his paranoia and moves back to the door of his car. As he does this, we catch a brief glimpse of the Melvin/creature in the far background as it darts across the lane and into the community park.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Reaching inside the car through the opened door, Peterson turns off the headlights and engine. He then closes the door and takes out a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket. Once he has a cigarette lit up, he leans comfortably against the car and smokes it, waiting for the Freemans.

EXT. COMMUNITY PARK - NIGHT

A TEENAGE COUPLE, dressed in warm clothing for the evening, enter the quiet park from the main street. They have Halloween makeup on their faces and are each carrying a bag of candy. They’re also holding hands as they head down the walkway to a bench in front of the fenced-in swimming pool by the recreation center. We can hear them talking softly to one another and laughing.

CLOSER SHOT

Both the girl and boy sit down on the bench and start rummaging through their bags to see what kind of goodies they got.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

As the boy looks up from his bag, he sees the Melvin/creature walking toward them from the other side of the park.

ANOTHER ANGLE

The creature eyes the young couple as if it has all the time in the world.

EXT. BACK LANE - ON PETERSON

Peterson is still smoking his cigarette when a terrifying female scream erupts from the park area.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Tossing the cigarette to the pavement, Peterson pulls out his handgun and runs across the lane.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

We watch as Peterson disappears between the two corner condominiums and into the park.

EXT. COMMUNITY PARK AREA

The Melvin/creature has the boy and girl cornered against the barred fence. The faces of the kids are filled with blind terror at the thing standing before them.

ANOTHER ANGLE

The Melvin/creature stares at them and grins wickedly with satisfaction, exposing its razor-sharp teeth and sticking its long, narrow tongue out in preparation for something tasty to eat.

ANOTHER ANGLE

As the Melvin/creature starts to close in them, it hears a noise from behind and spins around in a half crouch to see who’s there.

EXT. BACK LANE OF FREEMAN’S HOME

As we watch Freeman’s black SUV come down the back lane behind his condominium, we hear the exploding sound of a handgun being fired from the park.

ANOTHER ANGLE

The SUV comes to a sudden halt.

INT. FREEMAN’S SUV

Sheila is behind the steering wheel and Freeman is sitting on the passenger’s side with a paper bag from the pharmacy in his lap.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Tossing the bag up onto the dashboard, Freeman swiftly opens the door on his side and jumps out. He pulls the Colt from behind his back and glances into the SUV at his wife.

BEN

Call 911!

EXT. FREEMAN’S SUV

Freeman bolts around the back of the SUV and takes off running down the sidewalk with the .45 in his hand.

MOVING SHOT

As we TRACK Freeman along the sidewalk, we hear the sound of another booming gunshot.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

Coming abreast of the park, Freeman stops to take in the situation.

FREEMAN’S POV

We see the girl and boy holding onto each as Peterson runs to the back of the recreational center with his handgun out in front of him.

ON FREEMAN

He shifts his attention to the area in front of the recreational building and sees--

FREEMAN’S POV

We see the Melvin/creature come flying out from the shadows around the building and then stop on the sidewalk to look back at Freeman.

ON FREEMAN

He lifts his .45 up in a two-handed grip. Taking aim, he fires one shot at the figure.

ON MELVIN/CREATURE

We watch as the creature shifts its body slightly to avoid being hit by the bullet.

ANGLE FAVORING FREEMAN - WIDER SHOT

Betty is like a blast out of a cannon as she unexpectedly comes running out from between the condominiums and dashes past Freeman, charging after the creature.

BEN

(loudly)
Betty!

ANOTHER ANGLE

Freeman takes off in pursuit.

ON PETERSON

He edges cautiously around the recreational center with the handgun in a ready position, moving toward the front of the building.

ON MELVIN/CREATURE

The creature watches the charging dog with a wild gleam in its red eyes, snarling viciously with spittle flying out of its mouth.

CLOSER SHOT - ON MELVIN/CREATURE

We watch as the homeless man’s face morphs into the hideous and terrifying creature for a split second.

ANOTHER ANGLE

As Betty jumps into the air at the Melvin/creature.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

With blinding speed, the creature knocks the dog to the side with its clawed hand.

ON BETTY

The dog hits the ground hard, rolls over, and gets back up to her feet, momentarily stunned by the blow. As she prepares to charge the creature again--

ON FREEMAN

Freeman comes to a quick stop on the sidewalk, goes down on one knee, and aims the pistol at the creature.

BEN

(loudly)
Betty heel!

FREEMAN’S POV

We see Betty look back at us. The Melvin/creature is crouched low, snarling like a rabid animal at the dog.

ON FREEMAN

He fires two more rounds at the creature. We then hear another loud explosive gunshot coming OFF SCREEN from Peterson’s weapon.

ON MELVIN/CREATURE

Moving fast, the creature allows the bullets to fly past it. Then, throwing a fast glance at the recreational center and seeing Peterson coming, it turns around and takes off to the rear exit of the complex.

LONG SHOT

We watch as Freeman runs up to Betty, stops, and takes one more careful shot at the creature.

ON THE MELVIN/CREATURE

This time, his bullet hits the thing in the back shoulder, but the creature doesn’t seem phased by it and continues on to the rear exit between the two cinder-block walls.

TWO SHOT - FREEMAN AND BETTY

Squatting down beside his dog, Freeman hugs her.

BEN

I know you’re brave, but I don’t want you to get hurt.

ANOTHER ANGLE

We watch as Betty starts licking the side of Freeman’s face.

BEN (CONT’D)

We’ll get the bastard next time.

PETERSON (O.S.)

What in the hell was that thing?

ANOTHER ANGLE

We watch as Peterson walks up to Freeman, holstering his weapon. He glances at the rear entrance and then back at Freeman.

PETERSON (CONT’D)

Did you hit it?

ANGLE FAVORING FREEMAN

Rising up to his feet, Freeman nods.

BEN

I wounded the creature in the shoulder, but the bullet didn’t even slow it down.
(a beat, then)
Who are you?

WIDER ANGLE

Peterson steps up to Freeman and holds out his hand.

PETERSON

Detective Frank Peterson with Metro’s Robbery & Homicide Division.
(smiling)
I bet you’re Ben Freeman.

Freeman shakes the policeman’s offered hand.

BEN

Do we know each other?

PETERSON

Not yet.
(a beat, then)
I was just at your house waiting for you to get home when I heard the girl scream.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Releasing hands, both Peterson and Freeman stand there looking at each other with interest.

BEN

You said homicide division?

PETERSON

Yes. There’s been a series of killings going on in Clark County since May. They always happen on a full moon.

BEN

I haven’t read anything about it in the newspaper.

PETERSON

(shrugs)
That’s because we’ve had a tight lid on the case. We don’t want the tourists to be scared away.

BEN

What does this have to do with me?

PETERSON

You were attacked earlier in the evening. The patrol officer at the hospital notified us about it.
(a beat, then)
My partner and I drove over here to talk to you. When we saw you weren’t home, he left. I decided to hang around for a bit.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

Peterson and Freeman glance at the two teenagers walking up the sidewalk toward them.

BEN

(to Peterson)
My wife and I stopped at a pharmacy to get my prescription filled. I heard your gunshot when we turned down our lane.

PETERSON

Do you always carry a Colt .45 with you?

ANOTHER ANGLE
As we hear the sound of approaching sirens in the distance, Freeman sticks the .45 down the back of his jeans.

BEN

I do now.

PETERSON

Do you have a permit for the weapon?

BEN

Don’t start on me, Detective. It’s been a long goddamn day. And yes, I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

PETERSON

Good, I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Peterson glances at Betty and pats her on the head.

PETERSON (CONT’D)

(to Betty)
You’re one brave dog.

As Betty starts to lick Peterson’s hand, Freeman gives the homicide detective a friendly smile of his own.

BEN

Betty thinks she’s found a new playmate.

PETERSON

I know.
(a beat, then)
I’m going to need to talk to you.

A DIFFERENT ANGLE

As Freeman nods at the two teenagers, we can hear and see the arrival of patrol cars into the complex. The vehicles are flying down the center street with their red and blue lights flashing and sirens blaring.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Peterson stares as the cars come to a screeching stop.

PETERSON (CONT’D)

I see my partner’s car. I’ll have him take a statement from the kids and then escort them home.

BEN

Okay.

LONG SHOT

As more patrol cars crowd in along the street beside the park, Peterson walks over to Matthews’ car to talk to him. We can see the detective getting out of his vehicle.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Freeman takes Betty and heads back to his home, passing a few of the UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS.
CUT TO:

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