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STRANGER BY THE LAKE

Written by BRANDON MAU

OPEN ON:

1.                A BLACK SCREEN.

CREDITS ROLL.

2.                EXT. HOUSE_DAY

CAMERA looks over the house: In a way, it is sort of old and new.

Two teenagers walk out of the house, each holding a large suitcase or bag; probably filled with clothes and junk. As the teens walk, we see that they are a boy and a girl.

The girl, who sports the bag, is named TERRI COLLINS, a young woman of about seventeen. Her face is innocent, sweet and pale. She talks to the boy, who is CHUCK GARRET; a young man of about the same age. He looks like a jock, and he might possibly be Terri’s boyfriend.

They walk towards a red jeep.

TERRI

I cannot believe we are taking this vacation, I mean my parents practically almost said no.

CHUCK

I know. They were too afraid of us being alone together.

They both SMILE.

They reach the jeep and throw their bags into it, hopping in as they do so. Chuck sits in the driver’s seat.

TERRI

So, where are you taking me? Hollywood, Florida...Hawaii...

CHUCK

(laughs)

As if. I’m just taking you to a nice little house by the lake.

TERRI

Bull!

CHUCK

It’s true! Where else would I take you?

TERRI

Oh, I don’t know…Hollywood..Florida.Hawaii?

As Chuck starts the engine, he speaks up.

CHUCK

Just wait…

The jeep takes off, leaving the old house alone..undisturbed.

3.                EXT. ROAD_LATER

The red jeep drives through a long road, passing fields of wheat and grain.

4.                INT. JEEP_SAME

Chuck still drives while Terri sits in the passenger’s seat, reading a magazine.

CHUCK

Will you stop?

Chuck throws down the magazine.

TERRI

What?

Chuck SMILES. He stares at Terri, a look of disruption on his face.

CHUCK

Will you at least try to enjoy this vacation?

TERRI

I was just reading. And I am trying to enjoy this trip. I just want something to do until we get there.

CHUCK

You could talk to me, if you want something to do.

TERRI

Okay, I’ll talk to you. (Pauses) So tell me, Chuck, how much fun will I have on this trip? And not to mention how big will the house be.

CHUCK

Well, to answer your first question, Terri, you will have so much fun that you won’t know what to do with it all.

TERRI

Oh, so they’ll be fun leftover?

Chuck takes a look at his innocent girlfriend and pauses, suddenly turning his smile into a large one.

CHUCK

They’ll be fun left over all right. And what will you do with that extra fun?

Chuck leans over and kisses Terri. A bright SMILE spreads across her pale face.

TERRI

I’ll think of something.

They both smile as Chuck turns his attention back to the road.

5.                EXT. MOTEL_LATER THAT NIGHT

The jeep pulls into a motel that reads: THE VIEW MOTEL.

6.                INT. OFFICE_LATER

Chuck and Terri register for a room, both signing at the bottom of the registration form.

MAN

Thank you.

CHUCK

No problem.

The man hands Chuck a key with a number on it.

MAN

Number seven. Go straight and then turn right. You’ll find it.

Terri gives a warm smile to the man as she and Chuck walk off.

7.                INT. HALLWAY_SECONDS LATER

They both make their way to the room as they chat silently.

TERRI

So how long do we have to stay here?

CHUCK

We’ll arrive tomorrow. Promise.

They reach the room and stick the key in, twisting it instantly. It swings open.

CAMERA moves in on the room: Old and dusty, just like the motel.

CHUCK

Well…welcome home.

8.                INT. ROOM _LATER

The CAMERA looks around a little bit more, only to find it’s just like an ordinary room, but this one only has one bed.

Terri lies on the lumpy bed, reading the same magazine from the jeep while Chuck stands in the bathroom, staring at the mirror while he brushes his teeth.

TERRI

We will arrive tomorrow, won’t we?

CHUCK

(muffled)

Promise.

Chuck returns to the sink. Terri returns to the magazine.

9.                EXT. ROOM_MIDDLE OF NIGHT

Chuck and Terri both lay on the bed, sleeping…well, only Chuck is.

CAMERA pulls down to see Terri, eyes open. She just lies there, BLANKLY, staring at the camera.

10.            ROAD_MORNING-ESTABLISHING SHOT.

The road is awake, and as cars pass, so does the red jeep.

11.            INT. JEEP_CONTINUOUS

As of before, Chuck is driving, and Terri, as usual, has the magazine glued to her face.

CHUCK

We arrive today. You excited?

Terri sets down the magazine.

TERRI

(smiling)

Yeah, I mean..I really can’t wait. How big is this house anyway?

Chuck looks at Terri and smiles.

12.            INT. NEIGHBORHOOD_LATER

The jeep pulls into a large neighborhood full of huge oak trees. The jeep turns a corner and pulls into a driveway. It looks somewhat ugly.

13.            INT. JEEP_CONTINUOUS

TERRI

Is this it?

Chuck frowns…unsatisfied with the house.

CHUCK

Yeah, it is…man it looked so much better when-

Terri looks at Chuck. FROWNS.

CHUCK

Come on.

Terri and Chuck pull their seatbelts off and step out of the car. The outside is worse than it seams:

Bushes and lots of trees cover the land.

As Terri looks around, Chuck turns and looks at his somewhat UNINPRESSED girlfriend. He stands by a long wooden stairway.

CHUCK

Terri.

She turns and sees her boyfriend, SMILING.

He gives a look of ‘‘come here’’.

Terri walks over to Chuck and follows him down the stairs. Her face is worried, QUESTIONABLE. As they keep walking, Terri’s face lights up, as the CAMERA looks forward, seeing the

14.            LAKE.

It is definitely more beautiful than how Chuck explained it. And as Terri’s frown turns to a smile, in a way, ours does, too.

15.            EXT. HOUSE_SUNSET

CAMERA looks over the lake as the sun sets in the distance.

16.            INT. LIVING ROOM_LATER

The inside of this house in wonderful: beautiful furniture, beautiful windows, beautiful everything. Terri lies down on a leather sofa while Chuck stands in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

TERRI

This house is wonderful. How did you afford it?

Chuck comes in the room with two plates of what looks like rice and chicken and sets them on a small glass coffee table.

CHUCK

I didn’t.

Terri sits up, CONFUSED.

TERRI

Huh?

CHUCK

This is my great aunt’s house. She first left it to my family in her will, but we decided to come here during the summer.

Terri looks around. The house is wonderful.

TERRI

Well, it’s great. I love it. Thanks.

She leans over and gives him a peck on the cheek. He SMILES.

CHUCK

I really hope you enjoy yourself this summer. I mean…I want you to have a great time. I don’t want to screw up.

TERRI

Screw up? Honey, look at this place! Do you really think you screwed up?

Chuck looks down, UNSURE.

TERRI

I’ll have a great time…I promise. There is no reason I wouldn’t.

Chuck, forcing a smile, comes to Terri and kisses her; a long, silent moment as the CAMERA looks up, seeing that the sun is down. It looks at the ceiling. And we wonder: Will she really have a good time? Or is this a perfect house, (a perfect lake)…for a perfect summer of mayhem, mystery, and murder?

17.            INT. BATHROOM_HOURS LATER

This bathroom is just as spacious as the house itself. CAMERA moves over to see the shower is running.

18.            INT. SHOWER_CONTINUOUS

Terri listens to a waterproof Radio-Shower Mirror as she covers herself with suds. Music BLASTS from the radio as Terri rinses herself off.

SUDDENLY,

CRASH-BOOM!

She turns, STARTLED.

TERRI

Hello?

Dead silence. She calls out again:

TERRI

Hello? Chuck?

NOTHING.

Terri gets back to her shower. This house is perfect, but it is starting to freak Terri out. As she gets back to her shower, the radio suddenly stops. More silence. Terri shakes it, hoping that it will come back on, but it doesn’t.

TERRI

(to herself, whisper)

Crap.

Terri comes to her senses and ignores it, still wondering how it could have gone out like that. It is probably the battery. Terri, ignoring it all, rinses her hair, getting ready to grab the shampoo.

As she does, the radio suddenly comes back on, making Terri JUMP in fright. She slowly puts her hand over her heart, breathing DEEPLY.

SUDDENLY,

Another noise startles her.

Dogs BARK from the outside window. Terri, angry, grabs a towel and wraps it around herself, walking to the window to see what the noise was so that she can finally relax and take her shower.

19.            INT. WINDOW

20.            ANGLE ON WINDOW.

Terri is now looking outside, hoping to see what started her whole jumpiness.

CAMERA looks outside, turning everywhere. As we start to come back to Terri, we see some kind of FIGURE in a boat that sits on top of the lake.

21.            CLOSE ON TERRI:

Her face is questionable.

22.            LAKE_CONTINUOUS

The FIGURE reaches into his boat and pulls out what looks like a very sharp axe. Terri’s face has turned from a questionable look to a very FRIGHTFUL look.

CLOSE ON:

THE FIGURE.

He raises the axe. And in a quick, unexpected instant, THROWS it down, as if he were striking the boat. He does it again. And again.

Terri has now lost it. Her mouth drops open as the FIGURE looks deep into the bottom of his boat, DISSAPEARING from view. Terri waits a second, not knowing what to expect next. Then, she knows:

The FIGURE has risen again, this time, holding a large garbage bag. Something is in it, though. Something heavy…something…not right.

As Terri watches in shock, her whole body weakens, trying not to believe what she is seeing. She looks up again, only to find the FIGURE now throwing the bag into the lake.

CLOSE ON:

THE LAKE.

As the bag hits the water, a huge SPLASH is seen, and the bag is now sinking to the bottom of the lake.

The FIGURE is now calm. He looks SATISFIED. And as he turns to leave, his head turns to the direction of Terri.

23.            BATHROOM_CONTINUOUS

Terri throws herself down onto the tiled floor, her hand covering her mouth. She is HIDING. She doesn’t know what to do. But being a quick thinker, she grabs the window blinds and pulls them down, letting them cover the window. She is breathing HARD.

24.            EXT. LAKE_ESTABLISHING SHOT: SUNRISE

CAMERA looks over the dark lake as the sunrise reflects in the water, as the little house by the lake awakens.

25.            EXT. LIVING ROOM_MORNING

Chuck sits on a red leather couch eating breakfast and watching television as the CAMERA moves over to see TERRI: walking down the stairs. She is a mess.

CHUCK

Hey. Morning.

Terri looks up.

TERRI

Morning.

Terri makes her way to the kitchen.

CHUCK

Get enough sleep?

Terri now has a jug of milk in her hand.

TERRI

In a way. Sure, I-I-I guess so.

She sighs. We now know she is still a little disturbed by the events that had happened last night.

CHUCK

What do you plan on doing today?

TERRI

Oh, I don’t know. Go into town, go shopping-

Terri is now looking out the window. From a slight distance, we see another house that sits across the lake. Trees mostly cover it, but it is visible.

TERRI

I might check out the neighbors.

Chuck faces her. His face is questionable.

CHUCK

What? Terri, there are barely any neighbors in sight.

A smile spreads on Terri’s pale face.

TERRI

We’ll see.

26.            EXT. DRIVEWAY_LATER

Terri is now dressed up. She has fixed her hair and she has put on makeup. She holds silver keys in her hand as she walks over to the jeep and swings open the door, jumping inside.

The jeep takes off.

27.            INT. ROAD_MINUTES LATER

The jeep has now made its way across the lake, and is now pulling into the driveway of the old house.

Terri hops out of the jeep, SLAMMING the door shut. She now makes her way towards the old house. It is a weird color for a house: gray and dark blue. She turns every second, hoping she will not get caught. She turns her head around, staring into the deep forest. As she turns back around she SLAMS into a dark FIGURE and SCREAMS.

WOMAN’S VOICE

OH, I’M SORRY!

Terri looks up to see a young woman of about her age standing there.

TERRI

No, I’m sorry. You startled me that’s all.

Both of the women are breathing DEEPLY.

WOMAN

I’m really sorry.

TERRI

Oh, that’s okay…Is this your house?

WOMAN

Huh? No. I was just walking by. I’m Kathrine.

TERRI

I’m Terri.

They shake hands and SMILE.

KATHRINE seems like a nice person. Brown hair. Blue eyes. Perfect in every way.

KATHRINE

So, what brings you out here?

TERRI

Uh, I’m here with my boyfriend. We’re staying at a house across the lake.

KATHRINE

Really? Cause I was just on my way to see my brother. He told me a few weeks ago that he would be coming out here. Our great aunt left it to us.

Terri reflects.

TERRI

Your great aunt?

KATHRINE

(smiling)

Yeah. My brother’s name is Chuck.

Terri realizes that Kathrine is not only a new friend, but also Chuck’s sister.

TERRI

Do you need a ride?

KATHRINE

That would be great. Do you need me to give you directions?

TERRI

No…I think I know where it is.

28.            INT. LIVING ROOM_LATER

Chuck sits on the couch, still watching television as Terri and Kathrine walk in the room. Kathrine catches sight of Chuck.

KATHRINE

CHUCK!

Chuck turns to see his wide smiling sister staring back at him. He quickly stands up and hugs her.

CHUCK

Where the hell ya been?

KATHRINE

Oh, well…You said you would be coming here, so I thought I would come and join you. If that’s okay…

Chuck looks at Terri. She smiles.

TERRI

We’d be happy to have you. I wouldn’t mind.

Chuck and Kathrine continue to hug.

29.            EXT. RESTAURANT_LATER

A nice place where people just like to chill out. CAMERA follows a woman who holds a plate of french fries as she walks past a table where KATHRINE and TERRI sit. The CAMERA stops at their appearance.

KATHRINE

Do you like the house so far?

Terri throws down a cup of water she is drinking and talks.

TERRI

Oh, yeah. We just love it. It’s a place where you can just be free from everything…It’s so…perfect.

KATHRINE

I know…We used to always come out there in the summer with our aunt. The place was so lovely back then; new wood, new furniture, new everything. It was perfect. It always will be. But then…that horrible accident-

Kathrine STOPS. She cannot go on.

TERRI

I know. It’s hard when you loose someone. I’ve learned from that experience also.

Kathrine stares at her new friend and makes eye contact.

KATHRINE

Go on…I mean, if you don’t mind. I wouldn’t wanna pressure you or anything….

TERRI

No. It’s okay…

Kathrine listens quietly.

TERRI

My mom died when I was only thirteen. It wasn’t fair…The doctor said she would be fine…but he was wrong. Everyone was wrong. Then…before I knew it, she was gone…I didn’t know any thing about life or death. I only knew that I wanted her back. But it never came true. It never will…

Terri looks down, fighting tears.

KATHRINE

I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a subject like that. I’m sorry.

TERRI

That’s all right. It happens.

Terri wipes her tears as she stands up and walks away, leaving Kathrine alone, and worried.

30.            INT. GIRL’S BATHROOM_SECONDS LATER

Like a normal restaurant bathroom, this one is slightly dirty. The door SWINGS open and Terri walks in, heading straight for the

31.            SINK.

Terri now has her elbows on the counter as her hands cover her eyes. As she slowly moves, the water to the sink suddenly pours down her hands. This startles her. She JUMPS.

She slowly puts her hand on her heart and starts to breathe DEEPLY. She is now losing it. She starts to cry.

TERRI

Shit…

CRASH-BOOM!

Terri turns, looking all around the bathroom, but sees NOTHING.

She knows now that she has completely lost it. She stops crying and wipes her tears away as she makes her way back to her table. As she leaves, the CAMERA stays in the room, turning for an instant to stare at the window that shines in sunlight.

32.            EXT. HOUSE_LATER

CAMERA is now in the house and sees Terri and Kathrine enter from a large wooden door. CAMERA follows them as they make their way to the

33.            KITCHEN.

KATHRINE

Thanks for lunch.

TERRI

Oh, it’s no problem. I actually enjoyed the taste of french fries which I haven’t eaten in a while.

They share a laugh.

CAMERA turns to see Chuck walking down short stairs from outside. He pulls open the sliding glass doors and walks in the kitchen to join them.

CHUCK

Hey, ladies.

KATHRINE/TERRI

Hey.

CHUCK

How was lunch?

TERRI

Fine. What have you been doing?

Chuck smiles.

KATHRINE

Chuck…

34.            EXT. LAKE_MINUTES LATER

Chuck, Terri, and Kathrine walk along the sand as they reach a dock.

35.            DOCK.

As they reach the dock, Chuck points to the water. Kathrine and Terri look ahead to see a brand new boat just sitting on the lake.

Kathrine takes a step towards the boat and smiles.

TERRI

CHUCK! Chuck, this is amazing!

KATHRINE

Where did you get this?

CHUCK

Rented it for the summer. Do ya like it?

Terri smiles.

TERRI

I love it.

KATHRINE

You know, if mom was here, she would kill you, you know that, right?

Chuck just looks at his sister and sighs.

CHUCK

Well, I didn’t get this thing for nothing. Come on. Let’s go for a little ride.

36.            INT. BOAT_LATER

The boat is luxurious. The gang is now on the water, drinking some beer from little glasses.

TERRI

Wow.

Chuck notices that she is looking past the water. It is beautiful.

Kathrine stands the opposite of Terri, looking at the water from the other end of the boat.

KATHRINE

Man, little brother, you really did yourself something good for once.

Terri turns to Chuck and drinks one sip of her beer and smiles like she is chuckling.

CHUCK

(puts his arm around Terri)

Yes, well, I wanted the best for my Terri.

Kathrine stands likes she has been left out, and she lets Chuck know it.

CHCUK

...And my sister, Kathy.

KATHRINE

Kathrine. Please. I hate Kathy. It’s so...drab.

They all share a laugh.

TERRI

I’ll be right back, guys.

Terri leaves them alone and goes below deck.

37.            INT. BELOW DECK_CONTINUOUS

CAMERA is first below deck as we see Terri, still holding her beer, walking down small stairs towards us, but then turns as she kneels down, opening a very small refrigerator.

38.            CAMERA VIEW-IN FRIDGE

The CAMERA stares up at Terri as she grabs another beer and then shuts the fridge, as the place becomes BLACK.

39.            BELOW DECK_SAME

Terri now juggles two beer bottles as she tries to make it up back on deck. But a noise startles her:

CLATTERING NOISE.

She JUMPS, and accidentally drops a beer bottle, letting the liquid flow over the green carpet.

TERRI

Shit!

She kneels down and sets the other bottle beside as she searches for a rag. She looks everywhere.

TERRI

(whisper)

Rag, rag, rag…

She finally finds one sitting on the floor and grabs it, quickly trying to wipe the beer from the carpet. No use.

TERRI

Crap...

She ignores it. But just as she grabs the other beer and leaves, she hears the same noise.

CLATTER-CLATTER.

Terri is angry, and with a slight force of rage in her walk, she comes close to a small wooden door and opens it.

40.            INT. ROOM_SAME

Terri searches for a light, but realizes that she cannot. The only light in the room is the light from the sunshine that shines through a small window. The room is somewhat dirty, but Terri ignores it.

One bed is seen, and one table. Both are deeply old. She looks around, but there is nothing more to be seen here. But what was that noise?

As she turns to walk away, she notices a small box under the bed. She comes to it and grabs it, opening it to find

NEWSPAPER ATRICLES, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND MORE.

One article says, ‘MURDER IN WHITETAIL LAKE.’

She finds a photo of a man who looks like he must be in his forties. He sports a frown on his face, and Terri, as she looks, her face is questionable.

SUDDENLY,

VOICE

Hey.

Terri SCREAMS in fright, but then sees that it is only Chuck.

CHUCK

I didn’t know this had a room.

Terri puts the box back.

TERRI

Yeah, well…some things can surprise you.

41.            BOAT DECK_SECONDS LATER

Kathrine stands with her beer as Terri and Chuck come back up.

KATHRINE

What took so long?

TERRI

Oh, I was just looking around.

Kathrine shrugs and stares back at the lake.

Terri looks back and sees the old gray and blue house, now closer than ever.

42.            EXT. BEDROOM_NIGHT

This is a room we have not seen before. It is dark because of the black night sky. CAMERA pulls down to see Terri and Chuck sleeping in the same bed, but, like in the hotel, Terri is awake.

She turns and sees Chuck. Sleeping.

She gets out of bed in her nightdress and walks quietly out of the room.

43.            INT. OUTSIDE_LATER

Terri is now outside in the freezing air as she wears only her robe and a jacket. She holds a flashlight. Now, we see Terri walking towards the

44.            DOCK.

We see now why she is coming out here. She is walking to the boat.

45.            BOAT_SECONDS LATER

46.            ROOM.

Terri still holds the flashlight as we see her in the same old dusty room as before. She heads straight for the old box that we had seen earlier. Grabbing it, she opens it yet again to look through the articles, photographs, and more. Terri is now looking at the photo of the man. She is frightened by him…he almost looks…evil.

Her eyes cannot seem to keep her eyes off of the photo.

CRASH-BOOM!

TERRI

Hello?

NOTHING.

TERRI

Someone there? Hello?

CAMERA is now facing the doorway of the room. Nothing can be seen except DARKNESS. But we hear faint footsteps above deck…slow steps…close steps…CLOSER steps.

Terri looks at the ceiling, her head following the footsteps that seem to be getting closer every second. Suddenly, the footsteps stop, and Terri is left staring at the ceiling. NOTHING.

Terri quickly puts the box back, but still holds the photo to her chest, as if she were protecting it.

47.            INT. BOAT DECK_MINUTES LATER

Terri comes back up on deck and looks around, only seeing water, sand, and a lit-up house. It is the gray and dark blue house from across the lake. As Terri watches, nothing can be seen or heard except crickets, wind, and suddenly the noise of a motor running.

Terri turns around fast and hard, now seeing a motor boat heading straight for her. It’s him. She runs off the boat and heads for the

48.            HOUSE_CONTINUOUS

Terri, still holding the photograph, is now opening the sliding glass doors that lead into the

49.            LIVING ROOM.

She now slides the door shut and locks it INSTANTLY. CAMERA pears outside where the boat comes closer and closer. The lights are out in the house, and Terri is breathing hard. The boat turns, disappearing from view.

Seconds pass, and now Terri has her face pressed against the glass.

When suddenly, a black

FIGURE

JUMPS out in front of her. She SCREAMS in fright.

50.            INT. BEDROOM_SAME

Terri jumps up in bed, breathing deeply. It was a dream.

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