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Too Many Lights
A short by
Topher Rhives
FADE IN:
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Amber, 17, sits hunched on a couch. A low light of a TV
flickers. On the floor two children Charlie and Andy sit -
their eyes glued to the screen.
No one speaks. They just watch the tube.
Click. Amber clicks it off.
CHARLIE
Oh come on. 10 more minutes.
Amber sighs.
AMBER
Come on nothing. It's past ten. You're
lucky I didn't send you to bed at
nine like your parents asked me too.
ANDY
10 minutes. Please.
AMBER
I've given you an hour more.
The kids sigh. Neither is willing to admit defeat. They plead.
AMBER (CONT'D) (CONT'D)
No. No and no. Not 10 minutes more.
Not five minutes more. Nothing. Head
to bed. (beat) Now.)
She shakes her head. The top stair of a staircase creeks.
She looks up. A young girl around 4 stands at the top of the
stairs. She clutches a blanket.
AMBER (CONT'D) (CONT'D)
I thought you were asleep. SISTER
Too many lights. AMBER The night-
light bothering you?
The little girl shakes her head.
AMBER (CONT'D)
Go back to bed, honey. I'll be up in
a few minutes to tuck you...
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2.
A sudden THUMP THUMP THUMP of footsteps patters across the
floor upstairs.
(beat)
Amber looks at the ceiling, then back at the child who remains
motionless on the landing.
AMBER (SLOWLY)
Amanda... Is somebody up there with
you?
Amanda nods, starting to cry.
BAM! The lights explode off. Enclosing the three in darkness.
Charlie screams. A loud electronic noise whirs around them.
The lights flicker on and off. The three huddle together.
Upstairs a scream is heard. With that the lights come back
on. Flickering on and off.
AMBER (CONT'D)
It's alright, it's alright.
She herself is not so sure. She grabs an instant polaroid
that rest on a side table.
AMBER (CONT'D)
Charlie and Andy, you guys stay close
to me.
Charlie picks up a green toy light saber. His brother holds
a blue one.
CHARLIE
Can we bring these along?
AMBER
Sure, as long as you guys stick close.
ANDY
We'll be brave Jedi Knights.
She starts to head up the stairs.
AMBER (CONT'D)
I want you guys to keep as quiet as
possible.
Charlie and Andy nod in agreement and the three slowly start
to head up the stairs.
CREAK. One step. The lights fade on and off.
CREAK. Another step. The lights once again fade on and off.
This time the interval of darkness seems to be getting longer.
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3.
AMBER (WHISPERED) (CONT'D)
Amanda? You alright.
CREAK. This time the lights seem to be off.
There's no reply from Amanda.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. Amber turns on the polaroid.
AMBER
Amanda? FLASH. A bright light
illuminates the hallway. Nothing is
there.
Charlie huddles close. He grips his lightsaber tight.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. The sound of footsteps sounds right
beside them.
FLASH. Another polaroid flash illuminates the hall. Once
again nothing is there.
They walk into a room. Fumbling around in the darkness.
FLASH. The entire room is illuminated. On the bed the covers
are pulled over the pillow.
A window is wide open. A breeze blows the curtain.
Amber approaches the bed.
AMBER
She's not here...
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. The footsteps run down the stairs. Amber
calls after it.
AMBER
AMANDA!
Now the lights have returned to a regular interval of fading
in and out.
She looks towards the open window and then towards Charlie
and Andy.
AMBER (CONT'D)
You don't think she went outside?
A pause.
ANDY
Maybe she wanted to play in the
snow...
With that Amber herds the kids out the room.
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4.
AMBER
Please, please tell me she's still
in her.
She rushes down the stairs - skipping steps as she flies
down.
She runs down to the entryway where she finds the door -
WIDE OPEN.
She catches her breath and heaves out.
AMBER
Andy... get the flashlight. Get the
flash...
She walks towards the door.
BAM! It slams closed. The crunch of footsteps in the snow
can faintly be heard.
In the living room Andy searches for a flashlight. The TV
flickers on.
CHARLIE
Amber!
She rushes into the room. A loud high pitch wail emits from
the screen.
She grabs the remote and clicks it off.
RING. The phones ring. She walks towards it. An alarm buzzes
on. Appliances buzz to life. The chandelier in the dining
room sways back and forth.
The three huddle together. Charlie is on the verge of tears.
Amber is too stunned to do anything.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
RING. RING. RING. She walks closer to the phone. Lights
flicker on and off.
Charlie continues to scream until it becomes one long wail.
With that the light stops swinging. The alarm turns off. And
the appliances shut off. A moment of uneasy silence. RING.
Amber takes a breathe.
AMBER
I'd better get that. (beat) It's
probably the neighbors wondering
what's going on. We'll look for Amanda
in a few minutes she's probably
outside in the front.
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5.
She takes another breath and eagerly picks up the receiver.
AMBER (CONT'D) (CONT'D)
Hello...
DING-DONG - offscreen the doorbell rings.
A sharp electronic noise buzzes in her ear. It sounds like a
distorted conversation. One in an unrecognizable language.
She throws the receiver down and runs out to see Andy at the
door.
Before she can utter a word Andy throws open the door.
A brilliant white light floods into the house.
FADE OUT:
THE END
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