Episode 5
Just that it was built sometime in
the late 1800's. We bought it
from an auction through a Bank
Trust -- we never knew who the
owners were.
(beat)
I always wanted to live in the
country -- this was supposed to be
someplace safer than the city.
Ed takes a moment, then --
ED
This house obviously has to be
exorcised, but to do that, we need
the church to authorize a Priest
to perform one.
CAROLYN
I'm fine with that.
ED
It's not that easy. We have to
provide proof that what you're
claiming is in fact happening, but
that can be the hard part.
CAROLYN
Why's that?
LORRAINE
Because it doesn't always happen
when we need it to.
CAROLYN
So what happens if we don't get
it?
ED
We don't have the church.
Carolyn deflates.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOUSE - FOYER - RIGHT AFTER
Ed and Lorraine stand at the front door, ready to leave.
Carolyn's with them. Ed, who's holding the clock from
the kitchen, looks at her -- straightforward.
ED
What's your faith?
CAROLYN
... I was raised Methodist, I
guess...
ED
Have your children been Baptized CAROLYN
No... we're not really a church
going family.
Ed glances to Lorraine, then --
ED
You may want to rethink that.
Without faith, you have no
protection.
Carolyn's not quite sure where Ed is going with this --
ED (cont'd)
-- Our presence here could make
things worse.
CAROLYN
...Why?
ED
Because we're a threat -- and
whatever you're dealing with here,
isn't going to like it.
Carolyn floods with emotion. It's all too much.
Lorraine pulls her into an embrace.
LORRAINE
This is your house -- and Ed and I
are going to do everything we can
to keep it that way. No one likes
uninvited guests. Okay?
Carolyn wipes away a tear.
ED
We'll talk to the Historian in the
morning and see what we can find
out, but it'll be a few days
before we can get back here. We
have to make sure our tech guy is
available and we also need to get
someone to film everything for us.
Lorraine's attention is drawn to Cindy and Andrea,
looking down at them from the top of the stairs with
scared, worried faces.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. WARREN'S PLYMOUTH - NIGHT
Ed pulls up to the entrance of the Harrisville Motel --
single story, maybe thirty rooms.INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Lorraine is sitting on the edge of a queen-size bed, the
cradle of a dial phone to her ear, listening. She makes
eye contact with Ed, who enters from outside, carrying a
small suitcase and the cardboard box with the tape
recorder and kitchen clock inside.
LORRAINE
Well that's very nice of
grandma... seeing as it's so far
past your bed time and you have
school tomorrow.
Ed grins, places the box and suitcase on a dresser.
LORRAINE (cont'd)
Yes honey, daddy's right here.
(listens)
I love you too.
She holds out the phone for Ed, who takes a seat next to
her -- mouths "she promised". Ed seems somewhat amused --
ED
Hi pumpkin, what'cha doing up so
late?
While he listens --
ED (cont'd)
Oh, Tennessee Tuxedo was on?
TIME CUT TO:
INT. MOTEL - BATHROOM - LATER
CU on Lorraine soaking in the tub filled with bubbles --
her eyes are closed.
Widen. We see that her head is tilted back on Ed's
chest, who is soaking with her, stroking her arms. Steam
rises.
ED
You seem kinda quiet, you okay?
LORRAINE
It's just hitting close to home.
Andrea reminds me so much of Judy.
ED
I know. We'll get it fixed.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MOTEL ROOM - LATER
Lorraine exits the bathroom, donning a robe. She's towel
drying her hairDoesn't like the look she gets from Ed, who is clad in a
pair of pajama bottoms, sitting on the edge of the bed
with the tape recorder in his hands.
LORRAINE
What's wrong?
ED
Carolyn's voice didn't record.
Listen.
He hits play -- WE HEAR:
ED (V.O.)(cont'd)
My name's Ed Warren. It's
November 1st, 1972. I'm sitting
here with Carolyn Perron who, with
her family, has been experiencing
supernatural occurrences -- okay,
go ahead.
A long silence follows --
ED (V.O. (cont'd)
And what happened after that?
Another long silence. Ed clicks it off, looks to
Lorraine -- not sure what to make of it.
CUT TO:
INT. PERRON HOUSE - STAIRCASE - NIGHT
Cindy is heading up the staircase with a glass of milk in
hand when water slowly cascades down from the stairs
above her and slowly caresses her feet before moving on
down to the next stair. She looks up --
-- eyes go wide. Standing on a stair, several up from
her, is a YOUNG BOY (12), soaking wet, dressed in vintage
clothing. His skin is stark white and rotting in places,
and he has a non-stop flow of water dribbling out his
mouth.
Cindy drops the glass -- it shatters. She screams. A
second later, a very concerned Carolyn shows up at the
top of the stairs. Cindy can barely get the words out --
CINDY
There was a boy standing right
there --
She points to where she saw him -- he's gone, but the
water is still present and dripping down the stairs.A night light flowing out from the open bathroom door
casts a light glow over Ed and Lorraine, who are sound
asleep in the bed.
O.C. A SOFT CLICK -- then WE HEAR the tape recorder
kicking on by itself.
ED (V.O.)
My name's Ed Warren. It's
November first, 1972.
The sound of Ed's voice is LOUD, snapping Ed and Lorraine
out of their sleep, unbelieving. Both sets of eyes
target the tape recorder sitting on a small table near
the foot of their bed.
ED (V.O.
I'm sitting here with Carolyn
Perron who, with her family, has
been experiencing supernatural
occurrences -- okay, go ahead.
Where as this part of the tape was blank earlier -- it's
now filled with an INDISCERNIBLE, HAUNTING WHISPER that
sounds female -- it continues, until --
ED (V.O.)
What happened after that?
The tape recorder then suddenly SHUTS OFF --
LORRAINE
Ed, the clock.
He looks where her gaze is locked -- she's staring at the
Perron clock next to the recorder. The time on it reads
5:15. They look at it, transfixed. It never moves to:
5:16.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MAIN STREET - HARRISVILLE - DAY
Small town. Stores and businesses line both sides of the
street. Light traffic.
Ed and Lorraine are driving through. They pass the
Catholic church. The marquee in front reads: LET GOD
GIVE YOU A GREAT DAY.
Ed continues for another block, then pulls over, coming
to a stop in front of MATHEWS DRY GOODS store. It's
simple, with two large windows, separated by an entrance.
A second story sits above it.S.O. of a bell that rings when Ed and Lorraine enter the
store. Inside is filled with a potpourri of dry goods.
SHANNON MATHEWS, a woman in her late 30's, and a teenage
girl are behind a long counter that stretches from the
front of the store to a set of steps leading upstairs in
the back. A lava lamp sits next to a register.
Shannon's busy cutting a piece of fabric for a customer
when she looks up.
SHANNON
Ed and Lorraine?
They both smile.
ED
Thanks for seeing us.
Shannon looks to the teenage girl next to her --
SHANNON
Maddy, finish cutting this for
Mrs. Doornbos, will ya?
Maddy nods that she will, and although she takes the
scissors from Shannon, her eyes never leave Ed and
Lorraine -- neither are sure what it's all about.
Shannon looks to Ed and Lorraine --
SHANNON (cont'd)
Why don't you follow me.
She grabs a large coffee mug off the counter and heads to
a set of stairs in the back of the store. Ed and
Lorraine follow.
SHANNON (cont'd)
You gotta ignore my niece, she
goes to school with the Perron
girls -- she's heard about what's
been happening out there.
INT. STORE - STAIRS - CONTINUOUS
As they head up --
SHANNON
Before the Perron's bought it,
that place had been empty for as
long as I can remember.
(beat)
Please excuse the mess up here, my
Nana's been the Historian for
almost sixty years, and when she
got Parkinson's, things just sort
of -- well, you can imagine.They come up off the last stair into a large, disheveled
looking room packed with stacks of books, filing
cabinets, piles of old newspapers and photos --
SHANNON
I took over the job, but haven't
had much time to put into it.
Shannon heads over to a nearby table that stands in the
middle of the room, where pictures, maps, journals and
other documents are piled in two large boxes.
SHANNON (cont'd)
I pulled everything together for
you I could find, but there's some
stretches of time missing. I'll
keep looking and send you anything
else I might find.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. PERRON HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
Carolyn is getting ready for bed. There's a flare in the
window from headlights coming down the driveway. She
moves to the window and looks out --
-- it's Roger returning in the rig.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN - SOON AFTER
Roger looks clearly irritated as he reaches for a bottle
of scotch in a cabinet. Carolyn is leaning against the
counter, arms folded, trying to stay strong.
ROGER
I can't believe you did this
behind my back.
CAROLYN
We have to do something. It's
getting worse.
ROGER
I told you I didn't want anymore
of this bullshit.
CAROLYN
They said you haven't seen
anything because it wants to
create "this", this conflict
between us.
Roger half laughs to himself as he uncorks the bottle.He pours a stiff one.
ROGER (cont'd)
And how much are they charging for
this little investigation?
CAROLYN
Nothing.
She moves over to Roger and takes his hands in hers
before he can lift the glass to his mouth --
CAROLYN (cont'd)
I'm scared to death and so are the
girls -- and I hate what it's
doing to us.
She looks at him eye to eye --
CAROLYN (cont'd)
Please Roger. For me -- please.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. WARREN HOUSE - KITCHEN - EARLY MORNING
Ed enters, looking half asleep. Goes to the coffee pot --
LORRAINE O.C.
You're gonna have to make some
more.
Ed looks to an alcove off the kitchen, spotting Lorraine,
who has all the info they got from the Historian spread
out on a small desk. She's holding a hand written
journal.
ED
How long have you been up?
LORRAINE
Since four -- couldn't sleep.
She looks at him -- there's an intensity in her eyes.
LORRAINE (cont'd)
It's no wonder that family is
going through what they are.
TIME CUT TO:
An old, very weathered photograph of the Perron farm
house.
Widen - we see that Ed is holding the picture, a pile of
others are next to him. He nurses a cup of coffee.