JIMMYS HOUSE

By
Edwin L.
FADE IN:
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
A clean, spacious kitchen. On a tiled counter, a KITTEN
sits, purring. A HAND enters frame, holding a juicy slice
of watermelon. The image blurs then focuses, and we realize
were looking THROUGH A VIDEO CAMERA.
The kitten sniffs the watermelon, giving it a few raspy
licks before taking a bite. It chews, juices dripping down
its mouth. A boy, RODDY, 13, giggles behind the camera.
BOY (O.S.)
Look at him. He freaking loves
it!
(a beat)
Alright, what else can we fe--
CUT TO:
EXT. JIMMYS HOUSE - SUNSET
A two-story house fills the frame. Its silhouetted against
the yellowish-orange tinge of the setting sun behind
it. Matthew, 15, a lanky skater, steps into frame.
MATTHEW
Roddy, I dont see what youre
talking about.
Roddy is behind the camera.
RODDY (O.S.)
Look. Up there.
Roddy angles toward a window on the houses second
story. Its dark.
RODDY (O.S.)
Theres someone up there. Watching
us.
The CAMERA ZOOMS IN on the dark window until its
PIXELATED. We HOLD ON IT, seeing only darkness. Then, we
see a blocky, pixelated FIGURE step back into the darkness
of the house, disappearing.
RODDY (O.S.)
Did you see that?!!
2.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
No. Youre seeing things.
RODDY (O.S.)
What?! Here, let me show you-
The CAMERA SWINGS DOWN, we see Roddy and Matthews dirty
sneakers. We hear Roddy fidgeting with the camera.
CUT TO:
EXT. JIMMYS HOUSE - SUNSET
Were MOVING THROUGH THE FRONT LAWN towards the front of
Jimmys house. We UPCUT right into Roddy and Matthews
conversation.
RODDY (O.S.)
-is such a bad idea. What if there
is someone in there?!
MATTHEW
There isnt.
RODDY (O.S.)
So why bother?
MATTHEW
I dont know. Cause Im curious.
Matthew approaches a dark window and peers inside.
MATTHEW
Speaking of being curious, why do
you have a video of Mr. Wiggles
eating fruit?
RODDY (O.S.)
Huh? Oh, I think theres an old
tape in my camera.
Roddy nears the window, and we see a bit of his reflection -
hes thin and wearing a backwards hat.
Roddy looks inside. The house is dark and empty.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Lets go around back.
RODDY (O.S.)
Theres no one here...lets go.
3.
Roddy SWINGS THE CAMERA AROUND, finding Matthew as he treks
through the tall grass and disappears behind the house.
Roddy follows, his footsteps crunching the tall grass.
Roddy turns the corner and sees Matthew reaching over a
wooden fence door, unlocking it, pushing it open.
RODDY (O.S.)
Matthew...this is a bad idea.
MATTHEW
Roddy, stop being a pussy and
cmon.
RODDY (O.S.)
Well, Im sorry that going into the
dark, creepy house where Jimmy was
brutally stabbed and killed scares
the shit out of me!
Matthew turns another corner. Roddy follows him into-
EXT. BACKYARD - JIMMYS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Matthew tugs on a SLIDING GLASS DOOR. Its locked.
MATTHEW
Dammit.
RODDY (O.S.)
Okay, good. We can go home now.
Matthew moves to a window, removing the screen. He presses
his hand against the window and slides it open.
RODDY (O.S.)
What are you doing? Were gonna
get in trouble or worse.
MATTHEW
Come give me a boost.
RODDY (O.S.)
No.
MATTHEW
Cmon!
RODDY (O.S.)
(hesitant)
Fine!
4.
Roddy places the camera in the grass. We only see their
feet as they move to the open window.
Roddy, crouching, extends his arms, putting his hands
together and interlocking his fingers. Matthew, using
Roddys hands as a step, is boosted up out of frame.
RODDY (O.S.)
Matthew, you okay?
(a beat)
Matthew?!
(a beat)
Matthew!!
The sliding glass door CLICKS and then slides open.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Hey, Roddy, cmon!
Roddys feet run toward us. He picks up the camera and
moves into-
INT. KITCHEN - JIMMYS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
A dark, empty kitchen.
MATTHEW
Hey, does your camera have a light?
RODDY (O.S.)
Yeah.
We hear Roddy fidget with camera, then A LIGHT COMES
ON. Matthew is lit up.
MATTHEW
Alright, cmon.
RODDY (O.S.)
Wait. I dont we should be-
MATTHEW
Roddy, please. Just for a minute.
A beat.
RODDY (O.S.)
Just for a minute.
Roddy follows Matthew into --
5.
INT. LIVING ROOM - JIMMYS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
The living room is large and devoid of any furniture. Their
voices and footsteps echo slightly.
MATTHEW
Youre getting all this, right?
RODDY (O.S.)
Yeah.
MATTHEW
This is freaking creepy.
RODDY (O.S.)
I know! Thats why we should go.
MATTHEW
Not yet.
They walk THROUGH A SMALL HALLWAY that spills out into --
INT. FOYER - JIMMYS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
We see the houses front door. A PAIR OF WORK BOOTS sit
beside it.
RODDY (O.S.)
What the? Whos boots?
Matthew turns, looking up a stairwell that leads to the
second floor.
MATTHEW
Jimmys dad? Maybe he left them
when they moved?
RODDY (O.S.)
I say we go right now.
Then, a FLOORBOARD CREAKS upstairs.
RODDY (O.S.)
You hear that?!!
MATTHEW
Yeah. The house settling maybe?
RODDY (O.S.)
Dont be stupid. Someones up
there.
6.
MATTHEW
Lets find out.
RODDY (O.S.)
No, stop! Whats your freaking
problem? Why do you always insist
on making the stupidest choice
possible?
Matthew shrugs.
RODDY (O.S.)
Seriously, lets go. Cause Im
fucking scared, alright. I admit
it. Im a pussy. Lets go!
MATTHEW
Roddy, chill out. Listen...you
dont have to do anything you dont
want to. Stay down here if you
want. Ill go upstairs and check
stuff out. Ill only be a minute.
RODDY (O.S.)
Why? Whats the point? Lets just
go.
MATTHEW
I dont know why. Because were
kids and were supposed to make
stupid decisions?
RODDY (O.S.)
Thats retarded. Havent you
heard: curiosity kills the cat?
MATTHEW
What are you talking about? You
know I hate cats. Stay here. Ill
be right back.
RODDY (O.S.)
Fuck!! Do you need the camera?
MATTHEW
Nah. Im good.
Matthew pulls out his cellphone and presses a few
buttons. His cellphones flash becomes a flashlight.
He climbs the steps, cautiously. The stairs creak with his
every step. We hear Roddys quickened breathing.
7.
Matthew reaches the top and opens a bedroom door. It creaks
open. He steps into the dark room, disappearing. We hear
his footsteps. They stop. Then they start up again.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Clear!
Matthew exits the room, stepping back into view. He walks
down a corridor towards another bedroom.
RODDY (O.S.)
You satisfied? Lets go.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
That was his parents room. Im
gonna check Jimmys room.
RODDY (O.S.)
Ah, jeez.
Matthew is out of view again. Roddy looks around the first
floor, searching. Its empty. Quiet. From above:
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Psst. Coast is clear. Come
upstairs. I wanna show you
something.
RODDY (O.S.)
Uh, I dont know...
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Dude, its fine! I checked it out.
RODDY (O.S.)
(reluctant)
Alright, but then were leaving!
Roddy takes the steps. They creak beneath his weight. He
reaches the top into --
INT. SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR - JIMMYS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Roddy is behind Matthew. Matthew motions him to
follow. They MOVE THROUGH THE CORRIDOR into --
8.
INT. JIMMYS BEDROOM - JIMMYS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Matthew points to the corner of the room. Roddy moves,
illuminating the corner -- dark red splotches of dry blood
are soaked into the light brown carpet.
RODDY (O.S.)
This is where it happened. I heard
from Mr. Peterson that this used to
be the killers house. This was
his room. Thats why he came here.
Silence.
RODDY (O.S.)
Poor Jimmy. I wonder if they ever
caught the killer.
(a beat)
Matthew?
Roddy turns. Matthews gone.
RODDY (O.S.)
Matthew?!
Roddy scans the whole room. Hes alone.
RODDY (O.S.)
Matthew! Stop messing around!!
Roddy moves toward --
INT. SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR - JIMMYS HOUSE - SAME
Roddy, quickening his pace, MOVES DOWN THE CORRIDOR into --
INT. JIMMYS PARENTS BEDROOM - JIMMYS HOUSE - SAME
A large, empty bedroom. Roddy moves in slowly, cautiously,
his footsteps creaking. He sweeps the bedroom, looking
around.
Suddenly, a SHADOWY FIGURE jumps out, yelling!!
SHADOWY FIGURE
Yaaaahhhrrrr!!
RODDY (O.S.)
Aaaaahhhhh!!
9.
Roddy drops the camera. It lands on its side, a few lines
of static descending the screen . Roddy runs out of the
room, yelling
The Shadowy Figure steps into the cameras light. Its
Matthew! Hes laughing.
MATTHEW
Roddy! Wait, its just me!
Matthew runs out of the room. We hear him descend the
steps. Were still in the room. We hear them talking
downstairs.
RODDY (O.S.)
What the fuck?!!
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Im sorry! I was just messing
around!
RODDY (O.S.)
Dude, you scared the crap out of
me!! Youre an asshole!! Why
would you do that?!!
MATTHEW (O.S.)
I dont know. Because Im an
idiot.
In the room, we hear HEAVY STEPS MOVING TOWARDS US...TWO
THICK LEGS in tattered jenas step into frame. A blood-caked
CLEAVER swings into view.
From downstairs we hear:
RODDY (O.S.)
Go get my camera back, dick!
The STRANGER crouches toward the camera. We see his DARK
EYES as he reaches to press a button on the camera; in the
background, we hear Matthew ascending the stairs.
CUT TO:
EXT. RODDYS BACKYARD - DAY
Roddys hands place a BULGY GROCERY BAG in dug up hole in
grassy backyard. A kittens tail pokes out of the bag.
Roddy pushes a mound of dirt into the grave, filling it.
10.
The CAMERA ZOOMS OUT revealing Roddy, a messy haired
braceface, on his knees beside the grave.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Sorry about your cat, dude.
RODDY
Yeah, I probably shouldnt have fed
him all that weird food.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Yeah, probably not.
RODDY
He just wouldnt stop.
(re: grave)
Ill miss you, Mr. Wiggles.
MATTHEW (O.S.)
Yeah. Rest in peace.
Then -- ZZZSSHH -- WHITE NOISE.
THE END.