NIGHT FEVER (WORKING TITLE)

Written by

Noelle Hanson
EXT. WOODS - DAWN

Morning sun bathes a serene clearing. A mourning dove coos.

Deer graze peacefully in the mist.

A tree branch CRACKS. A doe lifts her head.

From the brush -- PETER JACOBSON (50), an average joe, bolts

through the clearing in a panic, running from something.
Deer flee, birds scatter.

Peter wears wagon wheel pajama pants and a tattered T-shirt.

BLOOD spatters his sleepwear, drips off his hands, obscures
his view through his cracked glasses. Stumbling, he steals a
few glances behind him.

EXT. WOODS - MOMENTS LATER

Peter picks up the pace, climbing a hill. He happens upon a

SECLUDED CABIN

All wood. Two stories, yet quaint. A porch wraps around the
second story.

Relieved, Peter checks his surrounding before running up to

the cabin’s front door. He POUNDS on it, pleading.

PETER
Hello?! Hello!

Silence.

He knocks harder.

PETER (CONT’D)
Hello! Please! Is anyone in
there?!

He jiggles the door knob. Locked.

He climbs the stairs to the second floor porch. Knocks on

another door.

PETER (CONT’D)
Please!

Still silence. He eyes his surroundings. Nothing there. He

turns to the door, lifts his leg. Desperately kicks at the
door repeatedly until it bursts open.
 2.

INT. CABIN - KITCHEN - MORNING

Peter surveys the barely-lived-in cabin. Clocks a sink.

Rushes over. Frantically washes the blood off.

Peter searches drawers, snags a white hand towel. Scrubs at

the blood. The towel turns red, but the stains remain.
Frustrated, Peter takes his shirt off to get a better angle.

A DOOR CREAKS from downstairs. Peter freezes. WOMEN’S

VOICES fill the air. Feet hit the staircase. They’re coming
UPSTAIRS.

FEMALE VOICE 1 (O.S.)

After breakfast we can go for a
hike, see the lake.

FEMALE VOICE 2 (O.S.)

Shouldn’t I get to pick what we do?

Peter dunks his head under the running faucet to clean off
the last of the blood.

FEMALE VOICE 1 (O.S.)

Do you hear that?

The women ascend the staircase. Peter discards the shirt and
blood-stained towel INTO THE TRASH UNDER THE SINK. He snaps
upright just as --

CARRIE PRESCOT (30s), put-together and strong, and her sister

ANA PRESCOT (20s), nervous and frazzled, enter the kitchen
with groceries.

They FREEZE. Gawk at the soaking wet, shirtless man in their

kitchen. Carrie (the 1st female voice) slams her groceries
down, steps in front of her sister.

CARRIE
You have three seconds to explain
yourself before I throw you off
that porch.

PETER
It -- it’s not what it looks like --

Carrie steps forward, fearless.

CARRIE
One.

PETER
Please! I need help --
 3.

Another step.

CARRIE
Two.

PETER
I just woke up like this!

With one more step, Carrie swiftly grabs a nearby BASEBALL

BAT. Connects with Peter’s head. KNOCKS HIM OUT.

OVER BLACK

CARRIE
Try and help, Ana?

ANA
Can’t we just let him go and lock
the doors.

CARRIE
He broke in once already. What’s
from stopping him a second time?
Look, don’t worry, he’s most likely
harmless.

ANA
Then why are you tying him up?

INT. CABIN - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Peter slowly comes to. He’s GAGGED. Carrie ties him up to a

chair. Ana’s on the landline, receiver to her hear.

CARRIE
Just in case. Any luck?

ANA
Still nothing. I don’t think it’s
ever worked actually.

CARRIE
Well, he’s paying for the door.

Peter mumbles. Carrie finishes her knot, plants herself in

front of Peter, baseball bat in hand, ready for an
interrogation. Ana hangs up the phone.

ANA
(whispering)
You remember that from Girl Scouts?
 4.

CARRIE
Improvised.
(To Peter)
Wake up.

Carrie nudges Peter with the bat. He opens his eyes wide,
gathering his wits.

CARRIE (CONT’D)
Any funny business and you’re out
like a light again, capeesh?

PETER
(gagged)
Is ah wah ih oohs ike.

CARRIE
I said capeesh?

Peter understands. Nods his head. Carrie rips out his gag.

PETER
It’s not what it looks like -- I --

CARRIE
What’s your name?

PETER
Peter. Peter Jacobson. Please you
have to --

CARRIE
Peter. Why’d you break into our
cabin? That door, it’s solid oak.
Not cheap. You’re paying for that.

PETER
Listen! Somebody is trying to kill
me!

The sisters, dumbfounded, take in the gravity of their

situation.

PETER (CONT’D)
I don’t know who or why, but
whoever it is they --
I came here looking for help!

Ana, moved, steps forward.

ANA
What can we --
 5.

CARRIE
No. Nuh uh. Forget about it.

Carrie works on undoing Peter’s rope.

PETER
Can I use your phone?

CARRIE
Doesn’t work.

PETER
How about a ride? I’ll take
anything.

CARRIE
If someone’s after you, I don’t
want to be seen with you. Don’t
worry about the door. I’ll fix it.
Just don’t let it hit you on the
way out.

Carrie drops the rope, freeing Peter. He remains seated.

Gently touches her arm.

PETER
PLEASE --

Peter tears up.

PETER (CONT’D)
I can’t go back out there.

Peter holds his head in his hands.

INSERT: A gruesome flash of his wife, LYNN (50), dead in the

forest.

Peter shakes the image out of his head. Doesn’t mention it.

Ana pulls Carrie to the side.

ANA
We can’t just throw him out.

CARRIE
You were gung-ho about it earlier.

ANA
Look at him. He’s wearing the same
ridiculous jammies as Dad. The
wagon wheels.
 6.

CARRIE
Okay lets not lose our heads over a
pair of pajama pants.

ANA
You said this vacation was for me.
And I want to help him. Let him
stay over night, clear his head.
We can drive him to a station
tomorrow.

The door swings shut. Peter’s chair is empty. He’s already

outside. Ana makes chase.

EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS

Peter walks away from the cabin, but he can’t shake the image
of Lynn, lifeless, out of his head.

Ana hollers from the porch.

ANA
Are you crazy?!

He stops, turns around.

ANA (CONT’D)
I said, are you crazy?

He considers the question.

INT. CABIN - LIVING ROOM - LATER

Carrie enters the living room with a bunched up flannel shirt

in her hands. Peter sits on the couch, wrapped up in a
blanket. Carrie throws Peter the shirt.

CARRIE
This might fit.

PETER
Thank you.

Peter puts on the tight fitting garment.

CARRIE
Well, it’s an improvement.

Ana enters the room with a TRAY OF TEA. Sets it down on the
table, grabs her cup. Carrie takes her cup from the tray
while simultaneously taking out a FLASK from her back pocket.
She pours whiskey into her tea.
 7.

Peter grabs his cup, peers into it nervously.

PETER
Do you have any sugar?

ANA
Uh yeah of course.

Ana goes to fetch sugar. Peter and Carrie sit in

uncomfortable silence as they listen to Ana rummaging in the
kitchen. Ana comes back with a bowl of sugar cubes and a tea
spoon, presenting them to Peter.

PETER
Thank you.

Peter stirs in two sugar cubes. Adds three more, one by one,
stirring them in. Satisfied, he guzzles the cup. Carrie and
Ana look at each other, recognizing his odd, nervous
behavior. Carrie clears her throat as Ana refills his cup
with tea.

CARRIE
So Peter, tell us about yourself.
You have a job? Wife? Kids?

Peter shifts, uncomfortable.

PETER
Uh yes. Yes I have a wife.

He reaches for his back pocket as if he has a wallet,

realizes he doesn’t.

PETER (CONT’D)
Oh -- her name is Lynn.

INSERT: A flash of memory. Lynn smiling at home. Another

flash. Lynn lying dead in the forest.

CARRIE
Does she have any idea where you
are? Is she worried about you --

PETER
She’s fine. Thank you, she’s fine,
yeah.

Peter scratches at his leg as he puts more sugar in his tea.

Five lumps again. Downs the cup.

ANA
I’m going to go make more tea.
 8.

Ana takes the tray with her, leaves the living room.

CARRIE
Peter. Why do you think somebody
is trying to kill you?

PETER
I -- I woke up in the middle of the
woods and I --

EXT. WOODS - DAWN - FLASHBACK

Peter in the woods, dazed and confused, searching around

himself. Trips over something, causing him to look down.
It’s LYNN’S BODY, her mid section soaked with blood.

PETER (O.S.)
I felt threatened.

Peter falls to his knees as he desperately tries to wake Lynn

up. Listens for a heart beat. Nothing. He wobbles to this
feet.

PETER (O.S.) (CONT’D)

I don’t remember how I got there or
why -- I just knew I had to leave.

Peter stumbles, flees from his wife’s body.

BACK TO SCENE

CARRIE
How do you not remember how you got
there? Drugs?

PETER
No no. I sleepwalk. But usually
just -- cooking a meal or couch
pillows in the fridge. I’ve NEVER
left the house. I must’ve been
sleepwalking and someone tried to --
(he processes, confused)
Someone -- I don’t remember it.
That’s the only explanation I can
come up with, honestly.

Carrie sighs and chuckles. Peter’s confused by her reaction.

CARRIE
It’s okay, Peter. Ana’s a
psychologist, I’m a PT. You’re in
good hands.
(MORE)
 9.

CARRIE (CONT'D)
Get some sleep and tomorrow, we’ll
get you back to Linda.

PETER
Lynn.

Carrie raises her glass of tea-whiskey, laughs some more.

CARRIE
To Lynn.

Peter raises his empty cup, sadness in his eyes.

PETER
To Lynn.

INT. CABIN - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Peter lies on the couch, entranced by the flame in the fire

place. Carrie enters with blankets and pillows. Peter
doesn’t notice her. She plops the blankets and pillows down
by his feet, catching his attention. Peter jolts up.

CARRIE
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean --

PETER
It’s okay. Thanks for the
blankets.

CARRIE
How are you?

PETER
Sleep will do me good.

CARRIE
Good. Holler if you need anything,
yeah?

PETER
Yeah.

Carrie turns to leave.

PETER (CONT’D)
Hey, Carrie?

Carrie turns back to Peter.

 10.

PETER (CONT’D)
Thank you. I know I’m intruding
and I’m not the greatest house
guest, but I really appreciate your
kindness.

CARRIE
Sleep tight Peter.

INT. CABIN - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ana lies in bed, half asleep when Carrie enters.

ANA
Mmmmm. Sleeping. Shh.

Carrie slips into her half of the bed, settles in.

CARRIE
Sorry that this weekend isn’t the
relaxing getaway you needed.

ANA
Mmmm it’s fine.

CARRIE
Dad would have been proud of you
for standing up for that poor guy,
you know that?

ANA
I know. That’s why I did. And the
jammies.

Carries smiles.

CARRIE
Yeah. Wagon wheels.

Carrie rubs Ana’s back. The two fall asleep.

INT. CABIN - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Peter, lying in his make-shift couch bed, stares at the fire,

getting lost in the flames again. As he slips into sleep,
his mind races of the images of Lynn smiling in contrast with
images of Lynn’s body in the forest. And then --

INT. PETER’S KITCHEN - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Peter in the dark, motionless, gawking at the refrigerator.

 11.

Lynn enters, flipping the light on.

LYNN
Hun why are you up so late?

Peter doesn’t respond. His back faces her.

LYNN (CONT’D)
Sleepwalking again? C’mon, lets
get you to bed.

Lynn starts walking towards Peter. He turns around. She

jumps at a ghastly sight -- his EYES JET BLACK with a
DEVILISH SMILE.

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Lynn struggles against Peter, trying to escape.

LYNN
Peter stop! Wake up! Peter wake
up it’s me!

Peter pulls her close, STABS HER WITH A CARVING KNIFE.

PETER
Shhhh go to sleep.

He removes the knife. Stabs her repeatedly.

BACK TO THE CABIN

Peter’s eyes flick open. BLACK PUPILS. Same devilish smile.

INT. CABIN - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Carrie and Ana are fast asleep. A CRASH FROM THE KITCHEN
ripples through the cabin. Carrie startles awake. ANOTHER
CRASH. Ana stirs.

ANA
What was that?

CARRIE
You stay.

Carrie shuffles out of bed.

 12.

INT. CABIN - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Peter rummages through the cupboards. Carrie enters the

kitchen. Plates fall to the ground, crash into pieces,
leaving broken shards of glass at Peter’s feet.

CARRIE
Peter?

INT. CABIN - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Carrie SCREAMS from the kitchen. Ana jolts up.

INSERT CHASE / KILLING SPREE HERE. IN PROGRESS!

EXT. ROAD - DAWN

CU: Peter’s face sleepwalking down the highway. Eyes black.

Devilish smile.

CAMERA LOWERS. He’s drenched in blood. Further down, each

hand grip CLUMPS OF HAIR.

We move further out to REVEAL --

He holds the SEVERED HEADS of Carrie and Ana. Parallel

trails of blood streak behind him.

A PICKUP TRUCK barrels by, HONKING loudly. The sound SNAPS

Peter awake from the trance.

Confused, he drinks in his surroundings. Feels weight in his

hands. Look down, horrified.

He looks back up at the DISTANT SOUND OF POLICE SIRENS

bearing down on him.

BLACK

THE END.