EXT.

VERMONT COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

It is early fall and the Vermont countryside is thick with
trees whose leaves are just beginning to turn. A lonely
highway threads through the greenery.
A beat-up pickup truck rumbles along the highway, slowly, not
seeming to have any destination.
EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS
In the center of the road, a turtle creeps toward the far
side. The truck approaches behind it and slows to a stop.
MATT ELLIS emerges from the drivers side of the truck. His
hair is shaggy, and he wears a rumpled coat that is slightly
too large.
Matt walks around the truck and bends down, scooping the
turtle up. It squirms helplessly in his grasp.
MATT
Careful, little buddy.
He carries the turtle to the far side of the road and sets it
gently in the grass, and watches as it trundles onward.
EVAN GORE pokes his head out of the passengers side window
of the truck.
EVAN
We could have just used that, you
know.
Matt frowns, troubled, and he comes back and climbs into the
truck.
INT. PICKUP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
Matt settles into the drivers seat.
MATT
If we have to kill something,
doesnt that kind of defeat the
purpose?
Evan rolls his eyes.

Matt continues driving.

2.

EXT. PICKUP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS

They continue along down the highway until they spot a fresh
deer carcass lying by the side of the road. The truck pulls
over in front of it.
Matt and Evan hop out of the truck and walk over to examine
the deer. Matt kneels by the deers head.
He lifts its head gently and examines it. After a moment he
grins, clearly excited. Evan crouches by its legs and Matt
looks up at him.
MATT
They broken?
Evan lifts each leg and checks it.
EVAN
Look good to me.
Matt is barely able to contain his grin.
MATT
Great! Help me get him into the
truck, E. Gore!
EVAN
(rolling his eyes)
Yes, Master.
Together, they lift the deer from the grass and ease it into
the bed of the truck. They secure it with cables, return to
the truck, and drive off.
INT. DOCTORS OFFICE - DAY
BIANCA DAVENPORT sits with her grandmother, MAUDE HORNSBYWHITTAKER, in the office of DR. JOHNSON. It is a plain
office with plastic plants and white walls.
Bianca is a slim, bookish young woman with thin-framed
glasses. Her hair is pulled back in an apathetic bun on her
head. She holds Maudes hand, biting her lip with worry as
she watches Dr. Johnson. Her eyes are pleading.
Maude is an elegant elderly woman. She is dressed to the
nines even to go to the doctors office, and holds her head
high and regal, ignoring Biancas worry.
Dr. Johnson is a squat man with thick glasses. He sits at
his desk and looks at Bianca and Maude with sympathy on his
face. His forehead glistens.

3.

DR. JOHNSON
Mrs. Whittaker, Im afraid the
prognosis isnt good -MAUDE
Just tell me, Doctor.
getting any younger.

Im not

DR. JOHNSON
You dont have much time left -Bianca covers her mouth with her hand, but Maude is
unimpressed.
MAUDE
None of us do.
Dr. Johnson wipes his brow with a handkerchief.
DR. JOHNSON
Well, you have about a week. Im
so sorry we didnt catch this
sooner.
Bianca gasps and reaches to put her arm around Maude.
BIANCA
Grandma -Maude waves her off.
MAUDE
Bianca, dont cry. Its
unbecoming.
(looks thoughtful)
A week, hm?
DR. JOHNSON
Id suggest you get your affairs in
order.
MAUDE
Yes.
(smiles)
I think Ill find my daughter.
Biancas face goes from distraught to confused.
EXT. GREENHAVEN - DAY
The town of Greenhaven is a small town nestled in the heart
of Vermont. The clean streets are lined with well-kept shops
and little restaurants.

4.

A dark green Rolls Royce turns the corner onto Main Street
and continues along.
EXT. ROLLS ROYCE - CONTINUOUS
Bianca sits in the back seat, gazing forlornly out the window
of the car. Beside her, Maude is sitting with her hands
clasped in her lap and her head held high.
EXT. MAIN STREET - CONTINUOUS
The Rolls Royce passes a pickup truck with a deer carcass in
the bed, parked before the large glass window of a diner. On
the window the words Cabots Family Diner are painted in
blue and yellow.
Through the window of the diner, Matt and Evan can be seen
just sitting down in a booth.
INT. CABOTS FAMILY DINER - CONTINUOUS
CHARLIE TRAVIS approaches Matt and Evans booth. She is
chewing gum and wears her bleached hair in a messy ponytail.
She pulls her order pad from her waitresss apron.
CHARLIE
Hey, guys!
MATT AND EVAN
(together)
Hey Charlie!
Charlie leans down and kisses Matt on the cheek.
grinning like he just cant help himself.
CHARLIE
What are you grinning at?
finally find a job?

He is

Did you

MATT
No, better!
Charlies eyes narrow with skepticism and Evan kicks Matt
beneath the table.
EVAN
Dude, not before we order.
(to Charlie)
Can I get a Tuesday special?

5.

Charlie blows at bubble and looks expectantly at Matt.

does not write anything down.

She

MATT
Well, we found this deer.
(pointing out the window)
And shes in great shape, and -Charlie frowns and holds up her hands.
Stop.

CHARLIE
Just stop.

Matt wilts, dejected.

CHARLIE
Jesus Christ Matt. When are you
gonna give up this Frankenstein
bullshit and get a real job?
MATT
Actually Im more like Herbert
West...
Evan groans and slumps, shaking his head.
CHARLIE
(scowling)
What?
MATT
I mean, Im not making people out
of parts. Thats barbaric.
Charlie scowls and slams her order pad down on the table,
startling both of them.
CHARLIE
Look. I have been putting up with
your disgusting hobby for years.
Do you even know how many of my
friends think youre a serial
killer?
EVAN
Oh come on Charlie -CHARLIE
Shut up, Evan! Just stay out of
this!
She puts her hands on her hips and leans over toward Matt a
bit. He leans back.

6.

CHARLIE
Im done. I dont care what crazy
notes you got from your dad, I
dont care about how close you are.
I dont care about your demented
little dream.
She straightens up and picks up the pad, tucking it in her
apron.
CHARLIE
Find a real job or Im gone!
Charlie storms off and Matt and Evan watch her go. From
behind the bar, the line cook stares at them. Back at the
table, Evan looks at Matt.
EVAN
Why do we even eat here?
INT. WHITTAKER MANOR - DINING ROOM - DAY
Maude sits at the far end of a long dining room table.
Bianca sits to her right. A lunch service is laid out for
them, but the table is otherwise empty and bare. Maude eats,
but Bianca only stares distantly at her food.
MAUDE
I wonder what lovely country your
mother is vacationing in.
(sips her tea)
It shouldnt be too hard to track
her down.
Bianca pokes her salad with a fork.
MAUDE
I wonder why she never sends post
cards anymore?
She looks off into the distance a moment, thinking, then
looks at Bianca.
MAUDE
Youre awfully quiet, dear. Dont
you want to see your mother again?
EXT. WHITTAKER MANOR GROUNDS - CEMETERY - LATER
Bianca stands outside the Whittaker family mausoleum, a
bouquet of lilies in her hand. She hesitates for a long
moment and takes a deep breath.

7.

BIANCA
(to herself)
Dont be a fool.
She puts a hand on the mausoleum door and grimaces as she
pushes it open.
INT. WHITTAKER MAUSOLEUM - CONTINUOUS
Bianca covers her nose and walks slowly through the
mausoleum. She gazes about, reading the names on each crypt
as she passes.
She comes to a crypt at the far end of the mausoleum which
reads Carol Anne Davenport. Here she stops and crouches,
reaching to trace over the engraved letters before she sets
the lilies gently against the shutter. She swallows.
BIANCA
Hey, Mom ...
INT. BUNKER - DAY
The interior of Matt and Evans underground bunker is like a
mad scientists laboratory. Everything is sterile steel and
white lights. Matt and Evan enter, carrying the dead deer.
They hoist it onto a steel table in the center of the room.
EVAN
Youre sure thisll work this time?
Matt laughs. He goes to a sink and washes his hands, then
dons a pair of rubber gloves. He puts on a white lab coat
and holds a second one out to Evan.
MATT
Im never sure.
experiment!

Thats why its an

Evan takes the coat and pulls it on, then puts on his own
rubber gloves.
Matt draws a syringe with a very long needle from a drawer
and injects the deer with it. He then flicks on the machines
around the room and begins hooking the deer up to them.
MATT
Look on the bright side, E. Gore.
At least were not waiting for a
thunderstorm.
Evan rolls his eyes and goes to help him.

8.

EVAN
(muttering)
No wonder Charlie thinks youre a
joke.
SERIES OF SHOTS - REVIVAL OF THE DEER
A) The deer is hooked up to the machines, which whir and
buzz.
B) Matt throws a switch. He and Evan hold their breath,
watching with tense faces.
C) The deer lays on the steel table.
twitch.

Its legs begin to

INT. BUNKER - CONTINUOUS

Matt and Evan cheer. They hug each other, and Matt rushes to
the table and rests his hand on the deers neck.
MATT
Shes breathing!
incredible!

This is

EVAN
(laughing)
Holy shit. Holy shit.
son of a bitch...

You crazy

Evan approaches the deer slowly and Matt gestures to the

counter.
MATT
Get me a sedative? Dont want her
to freak out and hurt herself.
Evan walks to the drawer and fumbles to prepare a syringe,
which he hands to Matt. Matt injects it carefully into one
of the tubes connected to the deer, and strokes her neck
gently until she closes her eyes.
INT. WHITTAKER MANOR - BIANCAS ROOM - DAY
Bianca is curled in the window seat of her bedrooms bay
window that overlooks the garden. She is reading a book, and
her temple rests against the glass. Beside the window seat
there stands a small table with a teacup and kettle.

9.

A knock sounds on her door and she looks up, reaching for a
bookmark and tucking it between the pages as she sets the
book on the table next to the kettle.
BIANCA
Come in!
The door opens and the family maid, ELISA, enters. She is
clearly frustrated, her hair is in a disarray, and she is
wringing her hands.
ELISA
Miss Bianca! You must help!
Miss Maude!

It is

Bianca leaps from her seat, knocking over the small table
that holds her book and tea kettle. It falls to the floor
with a crash but she ignores it and dashes to Elisa.
BIANCA
What happened? Is she okay?
ELISA
Shes out of her mind is whats
happened!
INT. ROLLS ROYCE - DAY
Maude sits in the back seat of the Rolls Royce, hands clasped
around her purse in her lap, smiling to herself.
EXT. ROLLS ROYCE - CONTINUOUS
The Rolls Royce pulls into the parking lot of the local TV
station and parks. The driver, Adam, gets out and opens the
door for Maude, who steps out of the car with a determined
smile on her face.
INT. TV BROADCAST STATION - CONTINUOUS
SAL REYNOLDS sits at his desk, going over the news for the
evenings broadcast. His ASSISTANT appears in the doorway
and knocks on the frame.
ASSISTANT
Sir?
SAL
(not looking up)
No time.

10.

His assistant steps aside and Maude steps into the doorway.
MAUDE
You have time for me, young man.
INT. JACK AND EMMAS APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
JACK lounges on the couch with his arm around his girlfriend,
EMMA. The remains of two TV dinners lay on the coffee table
before them. The apartment is cluttered and dirty.
Jack is drinking a beer and Emma is flicking channels on the
TV. She comes to the local news channel and stops, setting
the remote aside.
ON THE TV
The evening news opening credits play and Sal sits behind his
anchor desk, smiling.
SAL
Good evening Greenhaven!
Reynolds.

Im Sal

BACK TO SCENE
JACK
(rolls his eyes)
Lets not watch this crap.
Jack reaches for the remote.
SAL (V.O.)
Breaking news in Greenhaven today!
Local millionaire Maude HornsbyWhittaker announced that shes
offering her fortune to whoever can
reunite her with her daughter,
Carol.
Jack perks up, interested, and looks at the TV again.
ON THE TV
A picture is displayed of Carol, who is smiling and waving
and clearly intoxicated, a martini in her hand.
BACK TO SCENE
SAL (V.O.)
My heart goes out to her, as Carol
passed away suddenly almost twenty
years ago...

11.

Jack looks thoughtfully at Emma, then back at the TV, then

back at Emma. She catches his eye and winks.
SAL (V.O.)
In nationwide news...
JACK
Baby?
He squeezes Emmas shoulder and she turns to him and smiles.
EMMA
I kinda look like her, dont I?
Jack grins, realizing theyre on the same page.
JACK
Aint you always wanted to live in
a mansion?
INT. WHITTAKER MANOR - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Maude and Bianca eat supper in the dining room. Now and then
Bianca looks up and glares at Maude. Maude does not notice
and seemingly has no worries.
The butler, GERARD, stands at Maudes elbow, surveying the
room in stony silence.
MAUDE
Now this chicken is just delicious.
Is this a new recipe? Isnt this
delicious, Bianca?
Bianca frowns at Maude and pokes at her food.
MAUDE
Well dont just sit there. Polite
young ladies make conversation!
Bianca slams down her fork.
BIANCA
Are you out of your mind?
Maude looks startled and Bianca stands.
BIANCA
My mother is dead! Shes out in
the mausoleum!
(points)
And youre just begging for some
nutjobs to come harass us!

12.

MAUDE
(appalled)
Why, I -BIANCA
Do you even realize what youve
done?
Bianca is on the verge of tears.
composing herself.

Maude takes a deep breath,

MAUDE
Your mother isnt dead, sweetheart.
Just three months ago she sent me a
postcard from Korea.
BIANCA
She did no -MAUDE
(interrupting)
Gerard, get me the postcard Carol
sent.
From across the house, the doorbell sounds.
politely.

Gerard bows

GERARD
Ill tend to the door, Maam.
He leaves. Maude frowns at Bianca.
stony silence settles between them.

Bianca sits, and a cold,

Gerard returns, leading a DRAG QUEEN dressed in a white fur

coat.
Ahem.

GERARD
A Carol to see you, Maam.

The drag queen spreads his arms as if to hug Maude, whose

face puckers in a frown.
DRAG QUEEN
Mama!
Bianca leaps from her seat.
BIANCA
Get away from her!
The drag queen jumps back, startled. Gerard steps between
him and Maude. Bianca is shaking with anger.

13.

BIANCA
Gerard. Please escort this -- this
woman -- from the house.
Gerard nods and leads the drag queen from the room. Bianca
sinks slowly back into her chair. Maude looks at her but
Bianca does not return her gaze. Bianca takes a long drink
of her wine, picks up her fork, and resumes eating.
EXT. WHITTAKER MANOR GROUNDS - GARDEN - DAY
Bianca and Maude sit at a small table in the garden, having
tea. With them is a FALSE PSYCHIC WOMAN with askew hair, who
peers into a crystal ball.
FALSE PSYCHIC WOMAN
I can see your daughter clearly,
Ms. Hornsby-Whittaker. Even now,
she longs to be reunited with you!
Bianca leans on her hand, thoroughly unimpressed.
MONTAGE - THE CAROL IMPOSTERS
-- A stream of imposters show up at the door to the Whittaker
mansion. Bianca stands by the door with Gerard and refutes
them all: a teenage girl, a woman her own age, a woman who is
almost Maudes age.
-- Bianca and Gerard field phone calls from imposters,
declining each one in turn.
-- Maude sits on the porch admiring an old picture of Carol
as Gerard escorts away another imposter and Bianca puts her
face in her hands.
EXT. FIELD OUTSIDE BUNKER - DAY
A field aside a dirt road, before the hatch of Matt and
Evans bunker. The men stand in the grass. Evan holds an
animal control pole and Matt has the deer on a leash. He
reaches to unclasp the collar from her neck.
EVAN
I still think we should fence her
up for a bit.
MATT
She has a tracker.
the wild.

The yard isnt

14.

He tugs the collar off and the deer bolts off into the
forest. Matt and Evan watch her go. After she has
disappeared into the forest, they turn back toward the hatch
of the bunker.
An old red car comes rumbling up the dirt road and pulls to a
stop. Evan groans.
EVAN
Oh good, Miss Sunshine is here.
Matt elbows him as Charlie climbs out of the car. She smiles
brightly and waves, and Matt smiles a touch and waves back.
She strides over and hugs him, and they kiss briefly.
Charlie Steps back and holds a newspaper out to Matt.
CHARLIE
Look! The old steel mill is
hiring. You can get a real job.
Matt takes the newspaper.
MATT
You want me to cut my fingers off?
He reads the paper and nudges Evan, who leans in and reads
over his shoulder, then laughs.
EVAN
Looks like old lady Whittaker
finally snapped.
Charlie frowns and steps closer.
CHARLIE
What are you talking about?
They all take a moment to read the add in the newspaper,
which tells of Maudes offer for whoever reunites her with
Carol. Matt grins.
MATT
And you said Id never make any
money doing this.
He taps her on the head with the paper and she scowls and
swats at him.
CHARLIE
Give me that! I did not come all
the way down here to fuel your
stupid fantasies!

15.

She snatches for the newspaper and he holds it out of her

reach. He and Evan laugh. The deer emerges from the forest
again and makes a calling sound. Charlie frowns at her,
blinking.
The deer is unsteady on her legs, and her fur has developed a
grayish pallor, and patches have begun to fall off, leaving
bloody spots. Charlies face crinkles.
CHARLIE
Whats wrong with that deer?
EVAN
(horrified)
Thats the one we revived!
Matt groans and Charlie pales, looking appalled.
CHARLIE
You -- that worked?
The deer takes a few steps closer and bends her head to
graze. Charlie covers her mouth.
CHARLIE
Thats -- Oh God. I have to go.
She flees back to her car and drives away.
glance at each other.
MATT
(to the deer)
Dont listen to her, Tilly.
beautiful...

Matt and Evan

Youre

EVAN
I told you we should have kept her
close.
Matt glances at the newspaper ad again, and then looks at
Evan. He sighs as though in defeat.
MATT
Yeah. Looks like we have a couple
kinks to work out.
Evan hoists his animal control pole and together he and Matt
advance upon the deer.