THE SPIRAL

Written by

Walter H. May

Based on, 'Uzumaki' By Junji Ito

Inspired by True Events (seriously)

Walter.h.may@gmail.com
 T H E S P I R A L

First, over black, we hear the sounds of a TRAIN RUMBLING.

EXT. RAILWAY STATION - MIDDAY

A LOCOMOTIVE, slowly, and expectantly, pulls itself out of a
tunnel. It hauls commuter trains as it squeals to a stop.

The side doors stutter open and a meager crowd shuffle onto
the platform.
CLARA MUISE, mid teens, holds a fastened polka-dot umbrella
like a cane. Shes pressed against the ticket booth surveying
the people who exit.

She turns her head side to side, patiently awaiting someone.

And with buried instinct, she turns around --
A SNAPSHOT. Of her.
A compact 35mm camera lowers. Holding it is ANDY COLBY,
similar age, tall, bookish.
He reaches out and she hugs him tight.

EXT. TOT LOT - LATER

Cicadas sing over the distant sound of an OCEAN SURF.

Andy is nestled on a kiddy swing. Clara follows suit. Her
bike and umbrella are collapsed next to the swing set.
As Clara sits, they begin to swing leisurely, Andy speaks
softly:
ANDY
If I left, would you come with me?

CLARA
I dunno, maybe.
ANDY
Why's that?
CLARA
I like it here. And knowing you,
there'd be no plan but to just run
away as far away as possible.
 2.

ANDY
Well, I don't like it here and
sometimes you just gotta follow
your calling.

CLARA
Some calling.
Andy knits his brow for a second.
ANDY
You know something I notice every
time I come back from the city is
that the airs different.
CLARA
(dryly)
Well, its summer.
Andy clicks his tongue.
ANDY
No, I mean, it gotten rotten over
time. And the people, theyve
gotten slower.
He expresses with his fingers. Oddly pointing to invisible
culprits. This grabs Claras attention.

ANDY (CONT'D)
And my dad. Hes mental. Hes
obsessed with something...
CLARA
And?
ANDY
And its odd. Its just weird. To
the point I wanna say sayonara.
(beat)
So once summers long gone, Im
staying in the city.
CLARA
Correct me if Im wrong, but is
this another one of your world
revolves around me episodes?
She turns away rolling her eyes, been there, done that.
ANDY
I didnt say the world revolved
around me. I explicitly meant the
universe.
 3.

She peeks back at him.

CLARA
So youre joking.
He gives a half hearted chuckle.

CLARA (CONT'D)
Right?
ANDY
Keep digging Watson.
CLARA
No. Tell me.
Andy gives an apologetic nod. A moment later he jumps off the
swing.
ANDY
Bear with me, and look at this
town.
He points. Beyond the tot lot is a delightful little town.
Sunshine sparkles off glittering rooftops, and the grass
radiates.
A COAST covers the entire horizon. The ocean glistens.
For all intents and purposes, its perfect --

ANDY (CONT'D)
It sucks.
Andy whips around only to find Clara frowning -- complete
disagreement. She studies him.
CLARA
Has your ego grown while you were
away?
ANDY
Yeah, what of it?
CLARA
Did you stay up at night watching
what you shouldnt be watching?
ANDY
And more.
CLARA
I hear your school is full of
pretty girls.
 4.

ANDY
Oh yeah.
CLARA
You see? Our relationship is weird.
I cant tell if youre joking. You
know I believe everything you say,
right?
Andy dusts off his pants. Looking at his shoes as he does it.
ANDY
I know.
CLARA
So shut up and enjoy the summer,
you're not going anywhere city boy.
ANDY
As always.
CLARA
Settled.
She gets up, and begins to lift her bicycle off the floor.
Andy follows her close, accidently kicking her umbrella.
ANDY
(pointing)
Let me guess, weather-man got it
wrong, again.
Clara shrugs. Absent-minded:
CLARA
One of these days he's going to get
it right, and you'll see I'll be
the one prepared. Unlike you!

Andy suspiciously watches Clara. He then stares out at the

fleeting sunset... troubled by Claras words.

EXT. TOWN LIMITS - DUSK

A bright, good natured sign:
WELCOME TO CAPE GOOSEBERRY - POPULATION 9,600
We hear a radio broadcast. Poor quality, tinny. An
authoritative voice kicks in:
 5.

WEATHERMAN (V.O.)
We can see this tropical storm, and
just a moment ago, these trees back
here were really, really blowing.
Right now, as you can see, theyre
barely moving.
His words dont match what we see. The towns in perfect
condition under the moonlight. The skys free from clouds.
WEATHERMAN (V.O.)(CONTD)
What has happened is that the wind
begun to shift here. And its
beginning to come out of another
direction; the rain is starting to
come back down again. So were
obviously in the outer edges of
this thing.
The town is ghostly, save for the few twinkling street
lights.
WEATHERMAN (V.O.)(CONTD) (CONT'D)
But truth be told, theres no
indication at how severe the damage
in the area will be once this is
all done and over.
A crooked tree. Its leaves ruffle from a gentle breeze.

EXT. COLBY RESIDENCE - BREAK OF DAWN

A charming single floor home.
LEGEND:
THE OBSESSION

INT. COLBY RESIDENCE - ANDYS ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The attic-turned-bedroom is plastered with posters of vintage
women and rock bands like QUEEN and the ROLLING STONES.
Andy walks out of the shower room sporting a dress shirt. He
towels his ears.
He prepares himself. House keys in pocket... analog watch on
left wrist... a pair of eyeglasses.
 6.

INT. COLBY RESIDENCE - KITCHEN - MORNING

Andy steps down the staircase. Picture frames of his young
self hang on the walls; joyful and spontaneous.
MRS. COLBY watches the news by the dinner table. She looks
like she's fighting the FLU.
ON THE TELEVISION: THE WEATHERMAN we heard earlier is on.
Full mop of hair and tie. He holds onto his microphone as a
dense rain showers him. In the top corner, the date reads:
AUGUST 23rd, 1985 - HURRICANE INCOMING?
WEATHERMAN (O.S.)
Telling it to you live from the
coast. Back to you.
ANDY
Mom.

MRS. COLBY
Oh, Andy, good morning...
She's oddly vacant -- speaking in an eerie monotone.
ANDY
Shouldnt you have been gone an
hour ago? Wheres pop?
MRS. COLBY
Hes taking care of the kiln in the
cottage. I think he was up all
night. Im afraid he doesnt listen
to me anymore.
She sighs.
Andy burns for more questions, but he lets it go.
Andy clasps the fridge door open. He lines the beverages.
Takes one. Then approaches the dining table.
A CLAY PLATE lays on the table. Its gruesomely etched with
tiny SCREAM-LOCKED FACES.
Andy stares a moment.
ANDY
Whats this ugly thing?
Mrs. Colby remains locked on the television where a newsman
interviews a specialist about the storm. She doesnt blink.
 7.

MRS. COLBY
Oh that? Its one of your fathers
ceramics...
ANDY
And our regular plates?
MRS. COLBY
Broken...
Theres a crooked joy in her face that Andy doesnt see.
Andy eyes the kitchen counters. He sees countless, similarly
deformed, clay plates and pottery.
Andy nervously grinds his teeth.
ANDY
(changing subject)
Im going to walk Clara to school.
MRS. COLBY
Oh?
ANDY
Summer school that is.
MRS. COLBY
Be careful with the weather, dear.
Storms coming.
ANDY
Ive heard.
MRS. COLBY
They say itll be a hurricane.
ANDY
Hopefully not.
Andy draws near the television, sliding his hands around it.
ANDY (CONT'D)
We shouldnt worry about it. Isnt
there anything else on?
He switches the channel. Static.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Is channel three all we got? Great.
He switches the channel again. Nothing but noise. Annoyed, he
shuts it off.
 8.

ANDY (CONT'D)
Oh, well, Im leaving now...
Mrs. Colby doesnt respond. She stares nonchalantly at the
television set.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Mom.
She doesnt respond. Andy traces her eyeline... where she
stares at the BUNNY EARS on top the television.
Specifically -- the LOOP ANTENNA between the bunny ears.
Which, oddly enough, was tampered and made to look like a
SPIRAL.

EXT. COLBY RESIDENCE - YARD - LATER

One foot out the front door, Andy looks to a separate cottage
with a thick chimeny. Its aged poorly.
MR. COLBY exits the cottage, looking like death himself
battling a flu. He holds an empty bucket.
ANDY
(approaching)
Hey, Dad!
Mr. Colby, as if hard of hearing, ignores Andy.
Andy re-iterates. More firmly.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Dad.
MR. COLBY
(blankly)
Good morning Andy.
Mr. Colby fills the bucket with the hose tap. Andy speaks
loudly over the splattering water.
ANDY
Ive been meaning to ask...
MR. COLBY
Uh huh.
He turns to Andy, revealing BLOODSHOT EYES. Andy notices, but
fails to mention them.
 9.

ANDY
Um. Those plates you made. Theyre
interesting. Pretty odd shapes.
MR. COLBY
Its a new clay, I suppose the
temperature wasnt right.
ANDY
(intrigued)
Oh. What kind of clay?
Mr. Colby delivers Andy a chilling smirk.
MR. COLBY
Thats my secret.
ANDY
Whatever it is, Im not sure if
its practical.
MR. COLBY
Practical? As art, its very
successful. You ever look into the
eye of a vase when you spin the
wheel? Ceramics is the art of the
spiral.
He tightens the tap.
MR. COLBY (CONT'D)
Its fascinating.
ANDY
But those designs --
MR. COLBY
Youre bothering me Andy.
Mr. Colby swings around and heads back to the cottage.
ANDY
(attention seeking)
Theyre vicious!
No response.

INT. COLBYS KILN - CONTINUOUS

Mr. Colby lets the door of the cottage close itself.
The air is musty and filled with dust. He takes careful steps
over a littered COLLECTION OF SPIRALS...
 10.

Rags and blankets with volute patterns... conches... wind-up

springs... mosquito repellent incense... even twisted vines
that pile into the corners.
THE KILN itself, ever glowing, bellowing; it draws Mr. Colby.
He takes a peek inside.

EXT. PEDESTRIAN PATH - MORNING

Clara in school attire unhurriedly walks along the path.
Andy rides her bicycle. Just a foot behind her.
CLARA
I dont think its weird to collect
spirals. I mean, there are people
who collect much stranger things.
Like cigarette butts.

ANDY
You dont know how obsessive hes
become. Hes a freak. Now Im
beginning to see them everywhere...

CLARA
Oh, boo.

ANDY
Look at those whirl pools.
Parallel to the path is a man made creek. Several pockets of
whirlpools puncture the waters surface.

CLARA
Thats just the flow of the water.

ANDY
But look at those whirlwinds. Those
dust devils.

Through an alley, debris gust in a violent cyclone.

CLARA
(not looking)
I think youre reading too much
into it. Its a natural shape.
ANDY
Well, Im not making these things
up! Maybe you should come over and
see how both my parents are acting
funny.
 11.

CLARA
My parents humour me enough,
thanks.
She walks out of earshot.

Andy swerves to dodge a low lying tree branch. He loses

momentum and stops, letting his foot off the pedal.
He drives his attention to the pavement. Something piques his
interest.
A SNAIL. The shell... a spiraling vortex.

Andy thinks... then, with the butt of his foot, CRUSHES it.

EXT. GOOSEBERRY HIGH SCHOOL - FRONT YARD - LATER

A sparse group of teens hustle near the entrance of the

school.
Near the gates, Clara hangs a distance with Andy.

CLARA
Thanks for walking me.

ANDY
Nothing to it.
CLARA
Once Im done well go to the
beach. Its oyster season.
ANDY
(grimaces)
My favourite...
Clara spontaneously yawns. Andy responds to her tiredness.

ANDY (CONT'D)
You're gonna sleep between your
book pages again, aren't you? Keep
your head on straight.

CLARA
Its on good shoulders.

She waves her finger in front of Andys face. Twirling it

into a hypnotic spiral. She then bops him on the nose.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Buh-bye.
 12.

She begins to run off.

ANDY
Hey, so is the bike mine for the
rest of the day?
CLARA
What? No. Its one of the two
things I love on this Earth.
Andy deflates.

CLARA (CONT'D)
(winking)
Just for the day, Andy!

As she runs off --

ANDY
Am I the other thing you love?

But she doesn't hear it.

INT. GOOSEBERRY HIGH - MORNING

There's only one classroom with the lights on. The halls
remain quiet, aside from the distant chattering of gossip...

Chairs going into skid fill the empty air.

Teenagers leave the class, excited for some fresh air. One
student, LUKAS, takes a different route. He's sweating...
looking like he'll puke. He rushes into the STAIRCASE.

EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - BLEACHERS - AFTERNOON

A deep blue sky with wonderfully shaped clouds. Suddenly, a

SHADOW engulfs our view --

Its HANNAH (teens) blocking Claras POV of the clouds.

HANNAH
So, did you tell your mum about
moving in with me and the girls?
Clara, nestled between bleacher seats, sits up on one arm to
get a better look at her. Hannah stands out due to her spunk,
defying the dress code on purpose.

CLARA
No, not yet.
 13.

HANNAH
Ugh. Clara, you know that saying,
the sooner the better? It applies
here.
CLARA
I know. Theres never a right time
to bring it up, you know? I was
going to tell her yesterday but it
was more like verbal fight-night at
the dinner table. I dont blame
'em, it was my fault.

Clara straightens her socks as she speaks.

HANNAH
I know that feeling. My parents
totally go house over everything I
do. So was it something you did,
didnt do, what?

CLARA
A car almost hit my little brother
when I shouldve been watching.

HANNAH
Uh huh. Its the rascals fault,
needs a leash. I cant wait to get
out of here and live by myself...
Together. I mean. So, pencil me in
once you get the word?

A commotion. Hooting. Giggles. Clara looks up.

A group of teens pass by the foot of the bleachers.
LILY heads a crew. Surrounded by boys and girls alike, shes
pretty, and lets everyone know it.
Clara notices the CURLS on Lilys hair. They bounce
disproportionately to her walking pace. A life of their own.

CLARA
Well, Lilys rocking it.
HANNAH
Those curls... so sixties.

In fact, down at the shoulder, theyre spiral shaped... Clara

shakes her head at the thought. She looks to Hannah, who
stretches and lets out a sigh.
 14.

HANNAH (CONT'D)
Theyre so noisy. What is this, a
zoo?
The commotion stops dead.

The crowd splits like Moses Red Sea. Lily overheard. And
she's displeased.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
(sotto, to Clara)
I think her curls act as antenna.
CLARA
Theyre weird. They look alive...
HANNAH
All the better to hug you with, my
dear.

Lily approaches, stepping up the bleachers. The crowd of

teens hypnotically shuffle behind her.
CLARA
Hannah...
HANNAH
yes, mdear?
CLARA
Dont say anything dumb.

A beat. Lily, ice water in her veins, crosses her arms.

LILY
Sorry, did I hear something?
HANNAH
Nothing. Just that your hair is so
flashy.
LILY
Like it?
(prideful)
I barely did any treatment on it.
It just naturally curled up one
day.
HANNAH
Must have wished upon a star.
 15.

LILY
Yeah. And what have you done
lately? I see youre still the
headbanger from last semester.

HANNAH
(sass)
Youre able to tell? Truly, you are
a gifted person.
CLARA
Hannah, step off.
LILY
Clever Clara. I see your homegirl
is just a tad bit lost with
reality. And her brains.
HANNAH
Its summer school Lily, were all
dumb. As for your posse?
The crowd, sluggish, look tired eyed (flu season?). Theyve
been ignoring the conversation. Instead, they gaze at Lilys
CURLS.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
I mean, are you feeding off of
their energy, or what?
Lily, about to blow up, when --
SCREAMS FROM ACROSS THE FIELD. Near the school building.
Lily bats her hair over her shoulder and walks away, head
held high. Her crowd shuffles behind.
Hannah and Clara. Left alone. Sigh relief. But turn too --

EXT. SCHOOL ROOF - CONTINUOUS

A vast panorama of Cape Gooseberry.
Closer to the ledge, where it lacks guardrails, we see a pair
of running shoes standing up to the edge...

EXT. GOOSEBERRY HIGH SCHOOL - SIDE ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS

A resounding collection of gasps from the students. Clara and
Hannah push through the crowd and look at the roof to see --
 16.

LUKAS -- lurching dangerously on top. He stumbles for a

second, the wind indiscriminate.
CLARA
Idiot is gonna kill himself!
The students crowd by the schools wall. No one knows what to
expect.
A bead of sweat forms on Claras brow, when --
LUKAS
Youre all sick!!! Contaminated!
You don't see it!
He stumbles -- this time grabbing on for DEAR LIFE.
CLARA
Hes going to fall!
She notices some students back away. She snaps up just in
time to see Lukas LETTING GO --
The drop is far and as his body flails to the ground he
doesnt make a sound -- not even a shout --
The students however CRY IN HORROR as we --
CUT TO:

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY - DAY

Silence.
The town stretches wide. Grey in appearance.
NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
Today is the twenty-ninth of August,
and we have updates on Hurricane
Elena. As we can see here, it
seemingly stalled near the coast. To
our knowledge, this unpredictable
change has caused a steady flow of
evacuations. This pattern, I should
say is quite remarkable. The actual
flight path of the hurricane is
spiral shaped.
Clear skies betray what we hear...
 17.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY - RIVER - CONTINUOUS

A risen water level. Water sloshes between the piers
floorboards. Attached to the pier, a SPEEDBOAT starts to
SINK... sucked inside a whirlpool.
NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
But more on that later. Forthcoming
we shall provide information as to
which towns are affected by the
Hurricanes path change.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY CEMETERY - CREMATORIUM - DAY

The chimney puffs DARK SMOKE.

A sniffling crowd of MOURNERS. Mostly students. Clara,

uncomfortable in a black dress, wanders alongside Andy.
Andy steers Clara under a tented shelter. Its the floral
tribute area. Quiet here. Nestled on an easel: a photograph
of Lukas.
ANDY
Clara are you alright?
CLARA
Yeah. Im still stunned. I didnt
know him personally, but still. The
other kids who knew him will be
going to counseling.
Shes strong.
ANDY
Let me take you home.

He hugs her. Putting her head on his shoulder.

A tender moment, suddenly broken by a clamouring of voices --
The mourners point upwards to the sky.
The tent inhibits their view, so Andy and Clara slowly move
out the underside to see --
THE DARK SMOKE, as if a low laying cloud, forming into a HUGE
SPIRAL IN THE SKY.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Clara...
 18.

CLARA
I see it.
It begins to drift downwards, twisting, turning into a swirl,
right towards a POND within the cemeterys property.
This small body of water holds a sign: "DRAGONFLY POND."
Surrounded by gravestones and sitting at its edge is a lone
ASH TREE.
As the dark swirling cloud gets sucked into the pond, we hear
a GUSTING WIND in prelapse --

EXT. LIGHTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Harsh WINDS violently sweeps across an open gate, through an
open road, and towards a LIGHTHOUSE. Manifesting sounds of
twisting metal and a low rumble gives breath to the tower...
By its own nature, the lamp FLASHES ON. It begins to rotate.
It is lustrous... and otherworldly.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY WATERFRONT - EVENING

The sky, dark and dire, overlooks the lighthouse. Its
mesmerizing beam of light leaves swirls of mist in the air.
Fishermen, ending a hard days work, take note.
OLD FISHERMAN
(to his companions)
Whats making it?

YOUNG FISHERMAN
Isnt that place abandoned?
OLD FISHERMAN
Here it comes again.
The beam of light BLINDS THEM. It casts deep shadows on the
docks as it swooshes by.
Numbed by the eeriness, the fishermen look at each other.

EXT. MUISE RESIDENCE - EVENING

The lighthouse is visible from a distance. It sits alone in
the middle of a huge empty headland.
The Muise residence sits snug between other modest homes.
 19.

INT. MUISE RESIDENCE - DINING ROOM - EVENING

At the dinner table. LEVI (9), full of energy:
LEVI
Isnt that lighthouse cool?
Clara rolls her eyes as she pulls a spoon out of her mouth,
eating with zero hurry.
LEVI (CONT'D)
Its like a giant robot spitting a
death ray!
He depicts his imaginary robot. Articulating an alien voice.
CLARA
Stop being a baby.
Levi clutches his throat and teases Clara.

LEVI
Whos the baby? It wigs you out
more than me.
CLARA
You shouldnt look at that light.
Theres something wrong with it.
LEVI
It's haunted.
CLARA
Probably.
MRS. MUISE. Mature, compellingly attractive.
MRS. MUISE
I dont like it either. It makes me
dizzy. Levi, promise me you wont
go near that lighthouse.
LEVI
Aw, mom!
He looks at his father, MR. MUISE. Whos been neutral this
whole time.
Caught wide eyed as everyone awaits a response, he clears his
throat.
MR. MUISE
Follow your mothers, uh, advice.
 20.

Satisfied with the answer he goes back to vacuuming his food.

Clara gets up. The chair slides harshly bringing attention to
herself.
CLARA
Excuse me.

She walks off.

MRS. MUISE
Clara, doll, are you okay?
CLARA
Im tired.
MR. MUISE
Clara, wash your dish. They wont
auto-magically clean themselves.
Already out of the dining room Claras halfway up the stairs.
MR. MUISE (CONT'D)
Hello -- missy?
CLARA (O.S.)
(up the stairs)
Yeah, yeah.

Mrs. Muise slaps his wrist and shushes him.

MR. MUISE
I thought discipline was in order.
MRS. MUISE
No, dear...

INT. CLARAS ROOM - EVENING

Its hardly fashionable, but its roomy and comfortable.
Clara picks up a brick phone which looks like an unwieldy
portable analogue brain-fryer. She drops herself onto her
bed. Dials.

INT. COLBY RESIDENCE - EVENING

A small rotary phone RINGS.
Andy ousts himself out of his room -- scales the steps down
the stairs, and slows his roll as he notices --
 21.

MR. COLBY just entering the house. SOAKING WET. He carries

buckets of mud.
The phone continues to ring.
ANDY
Dad.
MR. COLBY
Andy.
ANDY
Youre messing up the house.
He approaches, tries for the buckets. Mr. Colby swerves them
away.
MR. COLBY
Oh no no no. This is mine.
ANDY
Whats in it?
MR. COLBY
Its my clay.
ANDY
Dont tell me you jumped in some
river. Youre soaked.
MR. COLBY
I dug it out, now let me get back
to work.
He nudges Andy to the side and heads towards the cellar door
attached under the stairs.
ANDY
Are you going to the kiln tonight?
MR. COLBY
Of course. Being an artist, not
just a craftsman, I experimented by
trial and error, and finally, I
found the most amazing clay.
Nothing else has been on my mind.
ANDY
But where is this clay... from?
Mr. Colby doesnt look back at Andy as he responds:
MR. COLBY
From the pond.
 22.

ANDY
In the cemetery?!
MR. COLBY
Thats the one. Some very unique
mud there. Now, let me mold my
clay...
He opens the CELLAR DOOR. Inside is pitch black -- a light
sucking vacuum. His footsteps THUD as he descends.
The phone stops ringing.

INT. CLARAS ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Clara, miffed, hangs up.

INT. COLBY RESIDENCE - CELLAR - DUSK

Andy remains at the top of the cellar staircase. He hears his
father spinning clay.

Peeking, Andy notices several clay vases. Smooth, and

perfectly normal.
ANDY
Youre not making those warped ones
anymore?
MR. COLBY
(working like a demon)
What are you talking about? Its
only after I put them in the kiln
that they turn that way.
A troubled pout washes over Andy. He scratches his chin.
ANDY
Dad, just to let you know. I
wouldnt eat off a plate that was
made from mud at Dragonfly Pond.
MR. COLBY
Not my business.

ANDY
Because Im sure youve heard,
about the boy who jumped off the
schools roof...
MR. COLBY
He chose to do whatever he pleased.
 23.

ANDY
No. Listen. While he was cremated,
his ashes drifted to the pond.
MR. COLBY
Sometimes you can't explain the
wind patterns of a hurricane.
ANDY
It wasn't windy. Look, I think that
clay is made of dead people.
Mr. Colby stops spinning his clay vase. Looks over his
shoulder.
A beat
MR. COLBY
I think youre overreacting, Andy.
He goes back to work.

INT. COLBY RESIDENCE - ANDYS ROOM - DUSK

Andy slams his door behind him. He marches around the place
looking increasingly worried, when --
He hears the front door BANG SHUT. Footsteps, outside. Andy
tries to look out the window over his desk. Kicking a stool
over its side as he struggles over.
OUTSIDE: Mr. Colby bears a cart full of clay pottery, heading
towards the cottage.

INT. COLBY RESIDENCE - KITCHEN - DUSK

Mrs. Colby, seated and alone with a cup of tea, sees Andy
putting on his coat. Her eyes sunken more than before.
ANDY
Its getting late, Dad cant keep
doing this every night.
MRS. COLBY
I agree. Hell burn the place down
if he falls asleep.
ANDY
I dont think he sleeps anymore.
Andy notices the klick-klack of a stirring spoon. His mother
is oddly satisfied staring at the twirling tea in her cup.
 24.

EXT. COLBYS KILN - LATER

Andy approaches the cottage. A warm light pierces through the

cracks under the door.
Andy knocks. No response. He grabs hold of the door handle.
He sucks in all the breath he can. PUSHES --

INT. COLBYS KILN - CONTINUOUS

Andy feels the wall for a light switch. CLICK.

A fiery light escapes the mouth of the kiln. And in front:
MR. COLBY strewn on the floor!
Andy furrows his brow, runs to his father.

ANDY
Dad?
He notices pottery laying around the foot of the kiln.
Viciously disfigured and etched with SPIRAL PATTERNS.

A SUDDEN GOD AWFUL WAIL --

Andy jumps. The sound cuts right through his heart. Andy
stares at the kiln -- the source of the sound.
He peers inside. His reaction of growing horror -- a series
of vases deflate and bubble, forming into multiple human like
faces -- SCREAMING in agony.
One swells. TENTACLES rip through the bulbous body as if
growing inside out.

As if taken over by a life force it LASHES OUT at Andy.

Andy tucks his head and careens out of the way. He barely
notices the FIERY COAL that rolls out of the kiln.

Bits of Mr. Colbys spiral collection CATCHES FIRE!

ANDY (CONT'D)
Dad! What the hell?
Andy grabs hold of his father and sees a CLAY TENTACLE
wrapped around his father's throat! Andy tears it off, turns
on his heels and drags his limp body towards the door.
The CLAY DEMON rolls out of the kiln, its tentacles trying to
latch onto anything. They only ignite the cottage further.
 25.

Lump in his throat, Andy takes one last peek over his
shoulder at the clay abomination -- revealing a large
disfigured FACE.

CLAY DEMON
(pained)
The heat! The heat!

Andy SHUTS THE DOOR --

EXT. COLBYS KILN - DUSK

Andy places his father by a tree stump. No sooner, the entire

cottage gets consumed by flames. As it roars, it becomes more
difficult to decipher between the crackling wood and the
terrible screams.
Andy is shaken and sweats in terror.

INT. MUISE RESIDENCE - KITCHEN - MORNING

Clara shovels through the cupboards. She dangles two candy
bars over Levi, whos kneeled on a chairs seat.

CLARA
Do you want the fruity granola bar,
or the chocolatey peanut buttery
one.
LEVI
The chocolate.

CLARA
No, its mine.

Clara snaps it away. Levi admits defeat.

LEVI
(under breath)
Birdbrain.
CLARA
Blockhead.

LEVI
Bonehead!

Clara mock laughs -- and stops. She rubs the top of Levis
head, HARD.
 26.

LEVI (CONT'D)
OW! No wonder you failed high
school.

Clara takes her bike helmet off the counter.

CLARA
The amount of don't care I'm
expressing towards you is
astronomical. I bet youll fail a
lot in life.
LEVI
No. Im smarter than you.

This offends Clara. But of course shes playing along:

CLARA
Whats the problem with kids these
days? They never listen to anybody.

LEVI
What about you? No one likes you.

CLARA
And youre oh-so-popular, with
what, only two friends?

LEVI
Youre adopted.
MR. MUISE (O.S.)
(muffled, in another room)
Guys... Stop arguing!

Clara and Levi freeze.

Clara continues, barely above a hush.

CLARA
To hate me, is to motivate me.
Plus, I have more friends than you.

LEVI
Whatever, youre the most boring
person ever.
CLARA
Just because Im not obsessed with
anything doesnt mean Im boring.
She slides Levi's comic books off the kitchen counter. Levi
reacts and gets to his knees to pick them up.
 27.

Clara is halfway out of the kitchen.

LEVI
Im not done with you!

Clara waves a hand, shooing Levi.

CLARA
Doing the bike thing with Hannah.
Probably hit the beach.

LEVI
I hope hes not there.
CLARA
Who?
LEVI
Your boyfriend.

CLARA
Oh, hell be there alright, hell
be there with flowers.
She exits. Levi, lonely, hears the front door close, just as
a toilet flushes.
Scampering footsteps. Mr. Muise walks in the kitchen, still
adjusting his belt.
MR. MUISE
Wheres Clara?
LEVI
She just left to meet her friend.
MR. MUISE
Oh, that dim girl? That ones a bad
influence.
LEVI
Thats what Ive been saying!

Mr. Muise pantomimes a shush, he didnt say anything. He

twirls himself back into hall.

EXT. JUKE JOINT - EARLY NOON

Its a beautiful day, and the street is mobbed with
pedestrians.
 28.

Clara halts her bike in front of a quaint little bistro.

Heavenly jazz plays within. She hauls herself off. Waits for
Hannah to catch up. She too is on a bike.
Hannah, panting like a dog, parks next to Clara. They
overlook an intimidating downhill street.
CLARA
For a hotdogger, youre hella slow.
HANNAH
Please. I havent surfed in years.
CLARA
Jeez, you cant even speak with all
that wheezing. Need a break?

HANNAH
No, Im good.
CLARA
(pointing to bistro)
Fresh oysters and seafood is the
specialty here.
HANNAH
Thats the whole specialty of the
town. My fathers a fisherman.

Clara reminisces. As if reminded:

CLARA
Mine too.
Further along the street, LILY exits a neighbouring market.
HANNAH
Goodness gracious.
CLARA
Dont start. Ive forgotten why you
two even hate each other. I mean
shes retired from bullying, right?
Onlookers stare at Lilys curls. Mystified.

HANNAH
It must be nice to receive all that
attention... Everyone who looks is
captivated. I should watch out...
not look too much.
She cups the side of her face.
 29.

Lily begins to walk in the girls direction.

CLARA
Here she comes.
Hannah. Face still covered.

HANNAH
For real?
CLARA
I kid you not.
HANNAH
My God.
CLARA
Hide, Hannah. I think shes coming
for blood.
Lily, closer, throws eye contact at Clara whos unresponsive,
not wanting trouble.
Lily shuts her eyes and snobbishly jerks her head away as she
passes. A moment later, Hannah catches a glimpse of Lily from
behind.
HANNAH
(to Lilys back)
Tinkerbilly.

Lily stops walking.

Clara, without looking back, shakes her head.
CLARA
You couldnt resist, could you? You
just had to. Whyd you do it?
HANNAH
How did she hear that?
Lily faces the girls.
LILY
The hell did you say?
Hannah perks her head up. Courageous.
HANNAH
I said... Tinkerbilly.
LILY
And whats that supposed to mean?
 30.

HANNAH
Aw gee, its just slang, girl.
LILY
Well, Im sorry if my mannerisms
are not befitting to a delinquent
such as yourself. I suggest you
keep your mouth shut, unless you
want a fresh one.
Lily holds up her knuckle bearing fist.
HANNAH
I dont think you get to say that
and expect to get away with it.

LILY
You dont say.
Hannah with a newfound vigor:
HANNAH
You don't get to say I don't get to
say "you don't get to say.
CLARA
(eyes rolling)
Hannah...
LILY
No? Who gives a shit, youre ugly
as sin.
And with that, she walks off. Her gait, determined as ever.
Hannah is burned. Or stabbed. Or both.
CLARA
Quit freaking out, well add brake
fluid in her lunch or something.
She tries to give a friendly punch. Hannah pushes her aside.
HANNAH
(yelling, rapid fire)
You want to know whats ugly as
sin? Those damn curls you got!
Yeah, those nasty things, bobbing
up and down, floating as if they
have a life of their own. They make
me barf.
Lily, still walking, half turns and shouts back:
 31.

LILY
Bite me.
HANNAH
Hey Lily, get a haircut! Or Ill
chop it off myself!
Hannah fully takes off with her bike. Descending.
CLARA
Hannah, have you considered that
you're the bully --

Too late. Shes too far downhill.

Clara follows suit. Leaving Lily alone under the scrutiny of
onlookers -- of whom might fail to notice the slight stir in
Lilys hair.
Perhaps... it is alive.

EXT. CORNER STORE - CONTINUOUS

Cycling downhill now.
CLARA
Hannah!
Hannah shoots around a corner.
Clara attempts to do the same, going wide, until --
A MAN steps into her way -- the OWNER of the corner store!
STORE OWNER
Whoa, there. Hold it.
Clara clutches her brakes -- the steep decline makes the back
tire lift off the ground. She makes a full revolution --
CRASHING into a power pole.
The bike lays on top of her.
CLARA
Ow. Ow. Ow.
STORE OWNER
Sorry, junior.
He removes the bike off of her. She squints one eye as she
looks up at him.
With the store owners help, she stands, dazed.
 32.

STORE OWNER (CONT'D)

Didnt mean to get in your way.
CLARA
It was my fault, Im sure.
STORE OWNER
Was just trying to get here this
little ladys attention.
He points to the blind end of the corner. He leaves Clara to
herself. She notices her bloodied knees. By the time she
looks back up, the owner is gone.
She picks up her bike. Continues to the corner, raising an
eyebrow as she sees:
An OLD LADY walking in a circle at a dizzying pace.
Hesitant, the store owner approaches the lady.

STORE OWNER (CONT'D)

Ma'am. Im gonna have to ask you to
do that some place else. Youre
making me lose customers!
The old lady doesnt stop twirling around.
OLD LADY
Hmm? Im just walking home. But
its taking longer than I remember.
Clara half chuckles. So strange... she cant believe this.
HANNAH
Clara!
Across the street, parked, is Hannah. Clara waves at her to
come close. Hannah does, rolling towards Clara.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
Aw, Clara, sorry I ditched you. You
hurt?

Clara shushes her, and points to the old lady. Whos still
spinning.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
Saw that. Whatever.
They stare for a moment. The store owner has trouble trying
to gently grab hold of the old lady.
The girls draw themselves away, and face each other.
 33.

CLARA
Next time, give me ample warning.
HANNAH
Yeah, well, I felt Lilys curls
were gonna strike me at any given
second.

A yelp from the old lady. The girls look. Its the store
owner, now forcibly grabbing the woman.
OLD LADY
Help! Let me go!
She runs faster in her circle...
The store owner gives up.
CLARA
Boogie?
HANNAH
Lets.

EXT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - GATE ENTRANCE - LATE NOON

A hot spot for bathing-suit bearing families. They amass
around the gate entrance, as they intently watch a YOUNG MAN
walking in a circle. Much like the old lady earlier.
Clara and Hannah, on their bikes, slow to a crawl. The
pedestrians crowd the sidewalk. The two girls transfixed with
curiosity, take a gander at the twirling man.
Hannah then taps a pedestrian on the shoulder.
HANNAH
Whats happening?
PEDESTRIAN
Im not sure, but hes been doing
it for a while.
TWIRLING MAN
Please, someone help me! I cant
walk straight!
The crowd begins to disperse. No one wants to watch a crazy
person for too long.
 34.

TWIRLING MAN (CONT'D)

Its because of the ray from the
lighthouse! That swirling flash is
burned in my eyes!
Clara hears a series of gasps off to another side. She grows
her attention and sees -- a YOUNG WOMAN now walking in a
circle!
The people recently coming off the twirling man now try to
avert their direction away from the twirling woman.
The young woman, tired, begins to sweat.
TWIRLING WOMAN
(huffing)
I -- I cant control myself!
Everyone tries to give a cold shoulder.
PEDESTRIAN
(to Hannah and Clara)
Must be a prank.
CLARA
Whats going on?
Hannah shrugs. She wishes she knew.

INT. MUISE RESIDENCE - CLARAS ROOM - DAY

The days glow cuts through blinds and onto Clara's writing
desk. She is perched head-down.
Her mind is racing. So much so... she barely notices the
phone RINGING. She quickly appreciates the interruption of
thought.

CLARA
(picking up the phone)
Yellow?
A breath on the other end.
ANDY (O.S.)
Clara.
CLARA
Andy? Where are you? You missed the
whole day with Hannah and I. What
was supposed to be an awesome time
turned out to be --
 35.

ANDY (O.S.)
Are you afraid of change, Clara?
CLARA
Huh?
ANDY (O.S.)
The town's changing. Have you
noticed? Meet me at Rocky Beach.
CLARA
Andy, I don't get you...
ANDY (O.S.)
Now.
He hangs up.
Clara pulls the phone away from her ear. A bit surprised.
As she thinks over Andys directive, she tosses the brick
phone at her bed.

EXT. ROCKY BEACH - DAY

Andy takes a photo of the lighthouse, some distance away.
He sits atop the sand of the beach. Slightly tattered BLANKET
SHEETS cover him as if its a cape.
From behind, Clara walks towards him, hugging herself from
the cold.
CLARA
Weather's finally picking up, huh?
Andy barely turns his head towards her. No reply.
She sits right next to him. Notices how unkempt he is. He is
ragged. Clara suddenly looks disappointed and a little
annoyed. She bends in to peck him on the cheek.
He resists by leaning away.
ANDY
I think whatever infected my father
also infected the schoolboy who
jumped.
Clara is saddened by the thought.
 36.

ANDY (CONT'D)
I mean, a lot of people in
Gooseberry have been acting strange
lately. The boy was just an extreme
case.
He pounds his hands together. As if hes on to something.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Dont you see? Its about
mesmerism. Spirals suck things in,
the eye follows the pattern to the
center. Thats why people possessed
by the spiral want to get the
attention of others.
CLARA
So youre saying people in our town
are possessed?
ANDY
Thats right. And Im sure a lot of
people will soon follow. Like a
virus.

CLARA
But what can we do?
ANDY
We have to get out of here. Before
were contaminated.
CLARA
And what if youre wrong?

ANDY
Ive seen it. Im not wrong. Well
take the next train tomorrow
morning. End this nightmare. Don't
be afraid.
Clara stops walking. She looks at him for a moment and shakes
her head. Every fiber in her body disagrees with him.
CLARA
Well, Im not afraid and I'm not
going. Youre out of your mind.
Andy is momentarily grounded by her words.

ANDY
Maybe.
With that, we hear a crashing WAVE --
 37.

EXT. LIGHTHOUSE - OLD PARKING LOT - DUSK

Beach water crash onto jutting rocks. A group of FIVE men

carefully make their way up to the lighthouse.
The ENGINEER swipes sweat off his forehead.

ENGINEER
Whats this about anyway?

A general question thrown to the preppy looking TOWN

OFFICIALS.
TOWN OFFICIAL
Weve been getting complaints. The
lighthouse was put out of service a
long time ago.

SECOND OFFICIAL
It shouldnt even have power.
The Engineer dresses a look of concern.

TOWN OFFICIAL
Well go inside and see whats
going on.

The Town Official pulls out a ring of keys. Pulls out a

silver one and unlocks the door to the lighthouse. It opens
with a creak. He looks back at the men.

TOWN OFFICIAL (CONT'D)

After you.

EXT. RAILWAY STATION - NIGHT

Its dark out -- street lights dont do justice to detail.

A lone RAILWAY GUARD finishes his evening shift. Turning off

his flashlight and adjusting his cap.
TAP. A drop of water hits his shoulder.

He holds out his hand. Forecasting the weather.

A sudden downpour of rain showers him.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY - DAY

The sky remains a cloudy haze. A mist clings to the trees
with dew falling off leaves.
 38.

The rain had only lasted through the night.

EXT. COLBY RESIDENCE - DAY

Clara hits the door bell. She sways side to side, patiently
waiting. A slow realization that no one may be home hits her.

She pouts. Walks off the porch and moves to the side of the
house.

EXT. COLBYS KILN - CONTINUOUS

The charred cottage is dampened by the nights rain.

Clara is washed over by a sense of intrigue. To her surprise,

a small branch sticks out of the ashes. Clara makes her way
through the remains.

Closer, its no branch at all -- its a ceramic stem.

With little effort, she pulls it out. Wipes off the mud. Its
a twisted clay... thing. Etched with spirals and odd faces.

It makes Clara uneasy. She places it back where it came; and

with nothing else to do, walks away.

INT. COLBY RESIDENCE - ANDYS ROOM - SAME

Andy is perched against his bedroom window, wearing his
blanket over his head and surrounded by darkness.

He silently watches Clara leave.

EXT. MUISE RESIDENCE - GARAGE - DAY

Levi emerges from the old and dank garage. On the driveway --
a pair of similarly aged boys: GOGGLES and FRECKLES.

GOGGLES
(Referring to Levis
button up cotton vest)
Has anybody said that you look like
Mr. Rogers?
FRECKLES
More like Mr. Magoo.

Levi wheels out CLARAS BICYCLE.

 39.

LEVI
You guys sure you want to go to the
beach? The weathers butt ugly,
its gonna rain again soon.
FRECKLES
I love cloudy weather.
LEVI
I hate it. Big time. I dont want
to go there.
Levi closes the garage door. He notices Freckles gulping a
box of Nerds candy.

LEVI (CONT'D)
So, really, where to? I only got an
hour after sunset, til I book it
back home.
GOGGLES
How about we go to the juke joint.
Its indoors, so if it rains its
no biggie, and if we really need to
we can go to my place close --
FRECKLES
Ah shit.

Candy spills all over, bouncing around.

GOGGLES
You spill it once more, Ill have
to grab it off you with force.

FRECKLES
No, youre not allowed.

GOGGLES
I did last time and I won.
FRECKLES
Im good at Kung Fu now, Ill punch
your heart.
GOGGLES
Yeah right.

Levi sits on his bike and strolls off the driveway.

LEVI
Lets go, you guys are slow motion!
Goggles and Freckles follow suit, cursing at Levi.
 40.

EXT. FOOTPATH - DAY

Clara and Hannah tread casually, leaving the school building.
HANNAH
I was really hoping for a rain day.
I hate school sometimes --
CLARA
Hey. Um. I got a few questions.

HANNAH
Cool, I dunno if I have all the
answers.
CLARA
Have you noticed? With the town. It
seems to start with the older
people, and then their relatives or
housemates. Just people being...
strange.
HANNAH
I have noticed but its not my
business. People will be people.
CLARA
I guess Im just confused.
HANNAH
You are a very confusing person.

CLARA
That explains a lot doesnt it?
HANNAH
Sometimes you confuse things so
much, you disintegrate the fabric
of reality.
CLARA
Hmm, thatd make for an interesting
weekend.
HANNAH
Well, whatever happens, youre
still my homegirl. Like milk and
chocolate.
They exit the footpath and onto an intersecting paved road.
CLARA
See you tomorrow?
 41.

HANNAH
Bring Andy along next time. Havent
seen his, like, face in a while. Or
your cousin! When is she giving
birth again?

CLARA
Any day now...
HANNAH
Her husband is kinda cute.
Clara groans at the thought. Just then, she notices a dark
spiraling vortex in the centre of the road.
CLARA
Is that a whirlwind?
HANNAH
(looking)
Wish it was. Its a bunch'a
mosquitoes.
CLARA
I've never seen them like that.
HANNAH
I read about it in nature class.
Theyre all males or something,
waiting to mate.
Clara squints a look. Hannahs right. Just a bunch of bugs.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
Ive seen a lot of them lately.
They breed over ponds and stuff.
The rain'll make it worse. It's a
pretty big mosquito column though,
right?
CLARA
I dont know if Id call it a
column. The way they spin around
like that...

More like a sign of the spiral. But Clara keeps quiet.

A wave goodbye, and a smile, Hannah walks off.
HANNAH
Peace out!
 42.

Claras left alone -- but shes not lonely. The buzzing sound
grows louder as the mosquito column suddenly gets CLOSER. She
takes a step back, spooked.
The column eases into a stop. Mirroring her motion.
She finally takes a deep breath, mustering composure, and at
brisk pace, walks away.

INT. MUISE RESIDENCE - DAY

Clara shuts the front door, flooded with relief. What a day.
She takes a couple of steps into the house.
She hears her parents in the dining room.

INT. MUISE RESIDENCE - DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Claras parents sip from piping hot mugs.
Mrs. Muise strikes a look at Mr. Muise.
MR. MUISE
(acknowledging Mrs. Muise,
to Clara)
Honey, have you seen Levi?
CLARA
Probably out with friends. Its not
like his curfews up.
This suddenly makes sense to Mr. Muise.
MR. MUISE
Right --
MRS. MUISE
Well, his curfew is coming up. And
he hasnt had dinner.
MR. MUISE
Yes, I remember a time, when young,
I came home late and my parents
locked me out. We wouldn't want
that.
CLARA
Wait. That happened to me. You did
that to me -- thats my story!
 43.

MR. MUISE
(thinking)
Is it?
MRS. MUISE
Clara. I dont want Levi out at
night anymore.
Clara brings her hair back to her ears. Looking blameless.
CLARA
Well... what do you want me to do?
Get him with what reason? Hell
just stay at his friends.
MR. MUISE
For one, he took your bike.
CLARA
He did?
MR. MUISE
Yup.
She slits her eyes with disappointment.
CLARA
Ive told him a hundred times!
MR. MUISE
I know!
CLARA
Fine... Ill get him.
MRS. MUISE
In one piece, Clara!

Clara looks at her parents. If they have ever looked more

pleasant together than they look now, Claras never seen it.
She leaves.

EXT. MUISE RESIDENCE - DAY

Clara readjusts her shoe on the porch. She then hops onto the
front yard. As Clara leaves her house, she completely
dismisses the tall grass and weeds on her yard...
And how they flourish as TINY SPIRALS...
 44.

EXT. TOT LOT - EVENING

The boys sit on a bench eating scoops of chunky monkey. They

take in the expanse. Inaudibly, Goggles points to the
LIGHTHOUSE. The boys nod in excitement.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY - ROAD - EVENING

An old-age, wooden ROW HOUSE sits by itself, invading the
small patch of land between contemporary homes. We hear the
sonance of a distant police siren. An ambulance. A firetruck
too...
Clara shivers as she walks along the dirt path.
At a fork: a CAR stuck in a ditch. She maneuvers in that
direction...
She sees a DEAD RACCOON. Her face falls.
Then bloody TIRE TRACKS. This was a recent crash. She speeds
up... only to find the DRIVER standing out of his car,
SMOKING.
CLARA
You okay over there?
The driver nods as she approaches. Motions to the car.
DRIVER
They all went after me.
She stops dead in her tracks, staring wide at a BIG BLOODY
MESS around the back tires: rabbits, squirrels, even a stray
cat -- nothing but fur and sinew.
DRIVER (CONT'D)
Never seen anything like it.
A spiral of gore.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY WATERFRONT - EVENING

A troubled Clara rushes towards a pay phone affixed to the
wall of an eatery. She dials... Hannah answers.
CLARA
Hannah!
HANNAH (O.S.)
Whats up Clare Bear?
 45.

CLARA
I dont know how to put this... but
maybe we should leave town...
HANNAH (O.S.)
Are you with Andy? What's he
telling you this time?
CLARA
No, I can't find him. I'm convinced
he left already! And I can't find
my brother --
Across the street, she sees THREE BOYS zip by on bikes. One
of them is LEVI!
CLARA (CONT'D)
Nevermind!
Clara slams the receiver.

EXT. ROCKY BEACH - PATH TO LIGHTHOUSE - LATE EVENING

A narrow, winding road leads to the daunting LIGHTHOUSE. An
exhausted Clara takes careful steps, pushing forward with her
two, tired legs.

EXT. LIGHTHOUSE - OLD PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

The view from below is impressive, the real majesty of the
tower becomes readily apparent. A trio of BIKES lay against
the base, hers included.
Clara sucks in a breath before reaching the door...

INT. LIGHTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Clara is greeted by exposed plaster and cast iron STEPS.
Just as she grabs hold of the handrail -- it VIBRATES. She
hears the distant laughter of the BOYS. Their commotion makes
the metal frame moan.
CLARA
Levi!

INT. LIGHTHOUSE - SPIRAL STAIRCASE - LATER

Claras view is limited to the curvature of the staircase.
The BOYS can be heard more clearly now.
 46.

She speeds her movement. An odour lingers in the air, she

sniffles and covers her mouth.
The dizzying staircase forces her to place her free hand on
the wall. Almost immediately she jolts her hand away,
reacting to what she just touched --
The wall is covered in a series of vein-like FISSURES and
SCORCH MARKS.
Continuing, she STUMBLES -- at her feet is a group of FIVE
CHARRED CORPSES. The town officials.
She gives a short-lived gasp. She has to get out of here, but
not without her brother.
CLARA
LEVI!
A new found determination urges her onwards.

INT. LIGHTHOUSE - LANTERN ROOM - LATE EVENING

Dusk fast approaching, the wind howls outside, an incredibly
desolate sound.
As the stairs approach the top, Claras eye-level meets the
floor. She sees the shuffling feet of the BOYS.
But something else catches her attention:
A layer of GLASS covers the entire floor as if it was
liquefied then solidified again. Ripples on the glass surface
resemble a pond in a rainstorm.
Using the handrail, she hauls herself over the last few
steps.
CLARA
Levi!
Shoulders meeting ears, the boys turn to face her.
Clara, stomping, grabs Levi by the hand.
LEVI
Hey --
CLARA
Didnt you guys see the bodies!?
 47.

GOGGLES
Yeah, wed have called the cops
soon...
Clara ignores him as she notices another detail: the absence
of windows, for its GLASS had dissolved and now coats the
lower part of the window frames -- FUSING with the floor.
Claras eyes widen.
In that instant -- over the horizon -- the final wisp of
sunlight disappears.
A mechanical SCREECH. Claras attention goes to the LANTERN.
IT TURNS. The fresnel lens covering the bulb is a DISFIGURED
SPIRAL. Embedded within, an amber LIGHT brightens to life.
It gives rise to a DISTORTED SHRIEKING SOUND.
CLARA
Get out, all of you!
She shoves Levi down the steps. He curses.
Halfway in deciding to leave or not. She looks at Goggles and
Freckles who stare at the lantern, stunned as it --
Shoots a MAGNIFICENT SUN HOT LIGHT.
Clara is blinded and barely witnesses the glass floor beneath
the two boys' feet BUBBLE and turn MOLTEN.
The roar of the beam drowns out their SCREAMS.
As the lantern pivots, its beam is redirected towards Clara.
Speechless, she backs off and RUSHES into --

INT. LIGHTHOUSE - SPIRAL STAIRCASE - CONTINUOUS

She runs her fingers over the walls as she hops two steps at
a time.
The corridor behind her LIGHTS UP as the light beam is
sheered through the staircase.
The vein-like patterns on the wall ILLUMINATE. They GLOW to
reveal gangling SPIRALS.
Clara gives a yelp as the light catches onto her arm --
suddenly consumed by FLAMES.
 48.

She loses her bearing and drops, ROLLING over the steps head
first. She loses the air to scream.
Falling... spiraling...
CUT TO BLACK.
A CRACK OF THUNDER.

INT. HOSPITAL - HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

A pair of EYES snap open. Startled awake. They belong to
Clara. Her breath stutters.
To her surprise, she lays on a hospital bed. Lifting her
head, she peers around.
Her arm is BANDAGED. She caresses it. Painful.
She digs her head back into her pillow and eyes the plain
white cork ceiling.
ANOTHER THUNDER CRACK.
Clara tilts her head slightly. Heavy rain spatters the
window.
The hurricane has arrived.
LEGEND:
THE STORM

INT. HOSPITAL - HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Clara is bundled up in her hospital bed, massaging her
temple. A bandage binds all around.
CLARA
Where have you been?
She speaks to Andy, who sits in a small chair beside her. He
remains jittery, still covered by his blanket. Nylon rope
holds it in place like a hood.

CLARA (CONT'D)
And what the hell are you wearing?
Andy slowly shakes his head.
 49.

ANDY
I realized were all going to die
here --
CLARA
No shit! Can I retake your offer?
Let's leave this place.
ANDY
Since the storm came, were stuck
here. For good.
Clara doesnt find this amusing.
CLARA
How are we stuck?
ANDY
The people might not notice, but
theres no way to leave now.

CLARA
Give me an answer, Andy.
ANDY
Im saying... the spiral curse has
finally finished its course with
the town. No roads exit, no trains
are coming in, no boats can leave.
Were stuck.

CLARA
But thats not possible.

Andy gives a razor thin smile.

ANDY
Isnt it?

He gets off his chair.

ANDY (CONT'D)
I brought you the pictures I took.
I developed them myself.
CLARA
Anything unusual?
ANDY
What do you mean?

CLARA
Like, did your camera reveal
spirals hidden to the naked eye?
(MORE)
 50.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Is there a demon in the corner of
your pictures? You know, Twilight
Zone stuff.
ANDY
Of course not. They're just to
brighten your mood.
He gives her a stack of about 20 pictures, neatly wrapped in
a rubber band. The first picture is that of Clara smiling,
and carefree.
Clara slides the photo to the back of the stack. The second
is of herself as well. Cutely posing under sunlight.

Clara then flips through every picture quickly. And we see...

they all contain Clara as the subject.

Clara looks up. Shes touched and wants to say something --

But Andys nowhere to be seen.

EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Raining hard. The day grows older and the clouds swirl in
delicate patterns right above the town.

INT. HOSPITAL - LOBBY - DAY

Clara makes her way to the desk using CRUTCHES. She looks
furious, staring at the clerk.
HANNAH
What do you mean the phones aren't
working?
HOSPITAL CLERK
Sorry, hun, the landline's are
temporarily unavailable --
HANNAH
My family -- did anyone tell my
family I'm even here?
A security guard stands next to her.

HOSPITAL SECURITY
Sorry, ma'am, I'm gonna have to ask
you to go back to your room. The
lobby's --

CRASH. The front door is cracked open by a flying mail box.

 51.

CLARA
You think I'm safer in my room? I
want to go home!

HOSPITAL SECURITY
With the storm outside, none of us
are going anywhere.

He waves his hand for her to proceed down the hall.

HOSPITAL SECURITY (CONT'D)
Please?

As she follows through, meanwhile, a MOSQUITO makes its way

through a crack in a window sill. Buzzing and aggressively
pushing itself with its back legs.

It enters the hospital.

INT. HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - DAY

A pair of doctors speed through the hall with a stretcher
trolley. They carry a YOUNG PREGNANT WOMAN covered head-to-
toe in little red bites.

They pass Clara -- who recognizes the woman on the stretcher.

CLARA
Leanna?!
The doctor's enter a corridor.

A metallic tile on the wall reads: MATERNITY WARD

INT. HOSPITAL - MATERNITY WARD - DAY

Several PREGNANT WOMEN fill the hospital beds lined up in

this room, stirring in pain.

Clara kicks a chair. She chooses to lean on her crutches for

support.
LEANNA (mid 20s), flutters her eyes open. Shes feverish.
Mountainous mosquito bites cover her face.
LEANNA
Clara... I just need to rest. I
throw up everything I eat.

She closes her eyes just as a nurse approaches with a large

HANDBAG, hauling it over the night table with a loud CLUNK.
 52.

NURSE
Her belongings...

Clara faces the nurse, whispering:

CLARA
Excuse me. Is it strange so many
pregnant women are being
hospitalized?

Without a reply, the nurse glares at Clara with tired eyes

before leaving. This appalls Clara, who turns to Leanna.

CLARA (CONT'D)
Hope youre hanging in there. I've
never been to the hospital, and I'm
beginning to think I had the right
idea. The staff are...

Claras attention is grabbed by the contents of the handbag.

She spots a strange cloth-covered rod with a rotating handle.
Uncovering it, she finds a manual HAND DRILL.
CLARA (CONT'D)
But anyway, where's your husband?
LEANNA
Stuck at home, I'm afraid.

Leanna moans in pain and Clara snaps back.

LEANNA (CONT'D)
You look like hell, cousin.
CLARA
I pegged my head pretty hard, but
how about you?

Leanna gives a gentle smile.

LEANNA
I'm feeling better with you by my
side. Would you like to feel the
baby?
Clara nods. Clara touches Leanna's belly; her face lights up
as she feels something.

CLARA
Thats amazing. Youre going to
give birth to a beautiful baby!
Clara swats an eye around the room to see a MOSQUITO buzzing
about.
 53.

CLARA (CONT'D)
Theres another bug in the room. Be
careful it doesnt sting you.
LEANNA
Thank you, but Ill be fine. I
dont mind mosquitoes.
CLARA
What are you on? They've peppered
you all over!

LEANNA
Thats right, but, I like them...
Leanna beams with a sick ecstasy.
LEANNA (CONT'D)
I'm glad you're here Clara.

Leanna closes her eyes to sleep.

INT. HOSPITAL - HOSPITAL ROOM - EVENING

Sheets of rain slash against the windows.
Clara sits on her bed with a small rotary phone; receiver
pressed to her ear. It doesnt ring.
CLARA
Aw, fuck.
A SHUFFLING NOISE outside her room. She freezes. The door
handle suddenly RATTLES.
Clara gently places the receiver on the hook. Whoevers
behind the door lazily lets go of the handle.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Come in?

Clara furrows her brow. The shuffling noise fades away, soon
inviting silence.

INT. HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - EVENING

The hall is empty and quiet. A little bit creepy.
 54.

INT. HOSPITAL - HOSPITAL ROOM - EVENING

Mosquitoes tap against Claras window. She ignores them, more
troubled by a poster in her room: a diagram of a human's
INNER EAR where the cochlear cupula appears like a spiral...

We then hear a thunder so deep, we almost cant hear it --

EXT. HOSPITAL - EVENING

The rain pours as the storm darkens.
The trees shed their petals, bent by the furious winds.

INT. HOSPITAL - HOSPITAL ROOM - DUSK

Claras face up in her bed, sleep is far off. LIGHTNING
FLASHES outside. She looks at the window... not lightning...
but POWER LINES.
All the lights cut out.
CLARA
No way.
A low buzzing sound rings around the room. More bugs.

She sits up. Looks at her crutches, thinks whether or not to

use them. Leaves them. She stands, wobbling at first.
The buzzing sound is clearer -- coming from the hall...
She limps to her rooms door.

INT. HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Clara peers out. On one end it seems endless, and dark.
On the other --
PREGNANT WOMEN shamble around. Their gowns covered in BLOOD
RED STAINS.

Claras eyes widen as she also notices that each and every
one of them carry a HAND DRILL -- the kind where you drill
holes into the side of trees.
The pregnant women split into groups, opening doors on both
sides of the hall.
 55.

CLARA
The hell?
Once the hall is clear, Clara gets out, making sure to keep
quiet. She spots the staircase. Her new goal.
She quietly makes her way there, and hears a whisper:

LADY (O.S.)
(giggling)
Careful of the female ones they
say. They fly, fly, fly. They drink
to eat, and eat to drink. All for
my batches of eggs. All for my
batches of young.
Clara passes an open doorway --
INSIDE THE ROOM: to Claras horror, she sees a pregnant lady
on top a doctor. The lady just finishes drilling a HOLE in
his jugular, arches over and SUCKS on the fresh wound.
Blood gushes out, pooling around the doctor, completely
covering his face.
The lady angles her head towards Clara with a blood-slick
sneer. Clara FREEZES, hollowed out by the shock of it.
MOSQUITO LADY
You saw!

The blood sucking woman then springs at Clara. Clara side

steps, barely escaping her clutch, who SLAMS the floor.
Clara yelps and scampers towards the staircase. Overwrought
with fear she cant manage a scream.
She looks back, the lady rises to her feet with frightening
agility. A cock of her head reveals a sick determination.
Clara reaches the staircase doors, SLAMS them behind her.

INT. HOSPITAL - UTILITY ROOM - LATER

Clara crashes through. Two patients lay sprawled dead on the
cold floor. Their bodies, RIDDLED with punctures.
CLARA
What is going on?!
The patients face is locked in a scream. Eyes rolled to the
back of the head.
 56.

INT. HOSPITAL - LOBBY - DUSK

Clara bursts out and trips onto all fours.
CLARA
(choking)
Someone... help!
She gets up. Looks around. Shes shaken and looks lost,
twisting around to see any signs of life.
She reaches the waiting room with a reception desk laying in
wait, separated by a glass window.
Clara, on her toes, peers inside receptionist area --

INSIDE: Another crazed PREGNANT LADY is perched on top the

receptionist and drills right between the eyes.
Clara sharply draws a breath.
The lady turns -- its LEANNA.
Cackling, Leanna stands, advancing towards the door to the
waiting room.
Clara takes notice and holds the door shut. With great
strength Leanna begins to pry it open. Clawing at it with all
her might.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Stop it! Leanna, no!
Through the inch wide crack of the door. Leanna cackles and
in a disturbingly witchful tone:
LEANNA
Oh, ho ho, Ill drill through your
cheek and out your eye!
Suddenly, at the staircase behind Clara, a DOOR SWINGS OPEN.
The previous blood-sucking lady walks into the lobby. Clara
shrieks, losing the door to Leanna who tears it open!
Clara gallops with all her might out the front door.

EXT. HOSPITAL - DUSK

The rain is brutal. A thunderless lightning strikes.
Clara can hear menacing sound of a SIREN that warns of air
raids and tornados. It blares from somewhere afar and
unknown.
 57.

Clara breathes heavily, rain soaking her gown. She holds

herself to keep away the awful cold. Without looking back at
the hospital, she runs off.
The thunder finally cracks.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY - DUSK

Complete decimation. If there was an explosion, it hit dead
center. Most of the buildings lay in ruin.
Amidst the rainfall, the twinkling streetlights BLINK OUT.
ON ROCKY BEACH: A wall of undulating foam and debris comes
rolling towards the coast. MONSTROUS WAVES clash against the
rocks.
ON A STREET: Cars lay flipped over. Broken power lines spark
like mad. Homes have been crushed.
ON THE SIREN: Still blaring, calling in the apocalypse.

EXT. MUISE RESIDENCE - DUSK

A pile of rubble and wood now replaces the Muise Residence.
Tears of suppressed terror roll off Claras face. They muddle
with the rain. Out of the rubble: a glow... someone is
holding a KEROSENE LAMP.
Revealing himself from under his blanket hood, is Andy.

INT. MAKESHIFT RESIDENCE - BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

Clara could not be more relieved to have the pressure taken
away. She follows Andy working their way through a tunnel of
weaving planks of wood.
Under the strain of the weather outside, Andy speaks loudly:
ANDY
There were multiple votices. It
obliterated everything, I'm afraid.
Do you know of the row houses? How
they can be found on the outskirts
of town?
CLARA
Yeah.
 58.

ANDY
Ive noticed theyre the only
places in town unaffected by the
storm.
CLARA
That and the hospital.
ANDY
I imagine places of death are
stronger...
They reach the basement. As expected it has been destroyed --
the house buckling above -- ankle deep water below.
A series of lanterns fill every corner. LEVI sits lonesome on
a chair, snug with blankets.
CLARA
Levi!

Levi doesnt budge, shocked to see her, as if seeing someone

come back from the dead. Clara locks her arms around him.
Stays there a moment.
CLARA (CONT'D)
(looking face to face)
Wheres mom and dad?
LEVI
I dont know...
Clara turns back at Andy.
CLARA
What the hell happened? Why is this
happening?
ANDY
The hurricane hit. Evacuations were
delayed, not that it would have
helped, I think.
CLARA
I didnt hear anything while inside
the hospital. No one... seemed to
care.
Flooded by sorrow, she stands away from Levi, looking around
her collapsed home.
CLARA (CONT'D)
And the patients... I dont know
whats going on.
 59.

Nothing makes sense to her. Tears well up in her eyes.

CLARA (CONT'D)
Everythings upside down. Nowhere
is safe.
ANDY
There is actually... one safe place
in town.
Clara looks to him, she has no more words to say.

EXT. OLD ROW HOUSE - NIGHT

The row house is vernacular in design and abandoned to the
elements. Its a wreck, but not due to the storm.
Enter Clara, Andy, and Levi. They slosh through mud, under
the rainfall.
A thunder booms. Fairly close. This makes the trio rush up on
the deck stairs. Andy leans against the wall, and adjusts his
stance as he opens the door.

INT. OLD ROW HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Andy leads inside with his lantern. Quiet here, just the
bleating rain.
Deeper inside. Andy turns back at Clara and her brother who
remain at the doorframe. Both are not convinced.
ANDY
(speaking modest, as you
do with a new home)
Its a little unfurnished, but I
think we can manage.
He smiles.

INT. OLD ROW HOUSE - DAWN

Its very early in the dawn. Blue light filters through the
cracks on the walls and across the room.
Andy with Levi, huddled in the corner. Still asleep.

EXT. OLD ROW HOUSE - SAME

The siren has stopped. An ethereal calm.
 60.

Clara opens the door and steps out. She looks skywards -- the
hurricane is no more, but far ahead, a small TWISTER forms
above the far-off cemetary.
SHELDON (O.S.)
The center of town suffered the
most damage.
Claire whips around, startled. There's a MAN watching the
twister along with her. He holds a bolt action RIFLE, enough
to penetrate a buck end-to-end.
He grips onto it as a sole means of protection and company.
SHELDON (CONT'D)
All the houses between the ocean
and the cemetery were reduced to
rubble.
CLARA
Mine too.
He looks at Clara. Shes a bit nervous by his presence.
SHELDON
Sorry to hear that. Luck for you,
this bulding didn't suffer any
damage.
CLARA
Lucky us.
SHELDON
The other row houses are fine too.
Its strange because they were in
terrible shape to begin with.
(then)
I occupied the connecting
apartment. So that makes us
neighbours. Names Sheldon.
Clara hesitates, but with a weak smile:
CLARA
Clara...
Sheldon looks down at his gun. Back at her.
SHELDON
Like you, I cant be too careful. I
drove in from out of town and now
Im stuck here. Found this souvenir
in some wreckage.
 61.

CLARA
I see.
SHELDON
Im assuming youve had a run-in
with those with their screws loose.
CLARA
Yes, I have. I was thinking more in
line with supernatural possession
and less, "screws loose."
SHELDON
I cant disagree there. I dont
think Ive seen all what this towns
got to offer, but if its more of
the same, then I dont like it.
Sheldon pauses. The twister dissipates, completely sucked
into Dragonfly Pond.
SHELDON (CONT'D)
Something about that pond. Been
absorbing the last of them
twisters. So how about we get ahead
in the opposite direction, yeah?
Clara smirks. The guy seems alright...

INT. OLD ROW HOUSE - LATER

Levi sits in the corner, in tears. Andy watches, tired-eyed.
LEVI
I dont want to live here. It gives me
the creeps.
Clara, squats, holds him. Rocking him back and forth.
CLARA
Were okay, Levi. Were okay...
SHELDON
If you three plan on checking-in at
other row houses, I wouldnt
recommend it.
His eyes bleak, realizing his intrusion.
Theres an awkward beat. Everyone stares at him, the elephant
in the room with a gun.
 62.

SHELDON (CONT'D)
Since were in the pits, I reco we
find some other friendlies.
Clara stands, erects herself.
CLARA
Then lets go.

EXT. CAPE GOOSEBERRY - RUBBLE - DAY

A wasteland of collapsed homes. Trees bent and broken. A
steady stream of dark brown water rushes through the street.
Clara holds Levis hand -- right behind Sheldon and Andy.
Sheldon pauses. Takes a breather.
SHELDON
Theres another, right there.

He points to a series of row houses ahead, sorely sticking

out amongst the ruins.

EXT. ROW HOUSE COMPLEX - LATER

Closer.

SHELDON
Looks like its full.
He waves at the rest to come in low over a ridge. They bend
down, peering through the shrubs.
They notice a group of survivors forming in front of the door
of the longest row house. A man inside sticks his head out of
a small front door window.
RESIDENT
Get out of here! Theres no room.

SURVIVOR
Please let us in!

RESIDENT
No! Its full, go somewhere else!
SURVIVOR
Theyre all full. If we stay
outside well die.
 63.

RESIDENT
Keep on whining.

SURVIVOR
Bastards how could you! Youre
inhuman!

Clara recognizes a face amongst the people stranded outside,

HANNAH, her dirty face streaked with dried tears.

Clara jumps up and calls out:

CLARA
Hannah!

Hannah turns -- tired and battered as them, but delighted to

see familiar persons.

HANNAH
Clara!
Just then, a crazed person tries to ram the door to the row
house. An uproar ensues, divided on two sides of the door.

Everyone is momentarily distracted. In a hidden manner,

Hannah briskly walks towards Clara and her group.

CLARA
Hannah, my God. You okay?
Clara lifts herself from the mud, hugs Hannah.

HANNAH
Im still shaking. Its unreal. The
whole town just got hit.

CLARA
And your family?

HANNAH
The twister... took them away. It
took them to the pond in the
cemetary.

She winces at the words.

HANNAH (CONT'D)
Thats the best I can describe it.

ON LEVI: Laying low with Sheldon and Andy.

LEVI
We should watch out. Well attract
those people.
 64.

SHELDON
(lightbulb)
Maybe thats a good thing.

Levi looks to him. Not liking where this is going.

EXT. OLD ROW HOUSE - DAY

Clara watches a crowd of survivors file in her original row

house. On the porch, Sheldon is reserved and speaks calmly:

SHELDON
We got a healthy group now and Ive
been thinking. What if we use this
row house, and extend it? Theyre
old, but they can take whirlwinds.
If we expand them horizontally we
could make enough room for
ourselves.

CLARA
You dont plan on staying here for
good, do you? We should come up
with a way to escape.

SHELDON
Its hell either way. We can wait
for someone to rescue us --

Andy creeps open the door behind Clara. He was probably there
for a while.

ANDY
Clara. Your brother.

EXT. OLD ROW HOUSE - BACKYARD - LATER

Nice and quiet. Just the three. Levi stands in front of
Clara. Andy watches from the side. Keeping mum.

Clara notices the discomfort in Levis face. He mutters to

Clara, chagrin:

LEVI
Its my back...
Clara kneels behind Levi, lifting his shirt. Theres a patch
of reddish skin shaped like a spiral, and in the middle, a
grey-green bump pops out from under the skin.
CLARA
What is this?
 65.

ANDY
Its a snail shell.

Clara looks to Andy. Shes just as surprised as Levi.

CLARA
But why is it happening?
ANDY
I dont know. Because hes moving
slow. We move so slow... The spiral
catches us.

CLARA
What should we do? Its growing!

ANDY
Clara I think... I think it has to
do with this house.
CLARA
What?
LEVI
So Im... Im infected? What are we
going to do? Am I gonna die?

CLARA
No... well call for help. No.
Well leave.
(turning to Andy)
Were leaving this town.

INT. OLD ROW HOUSE - DAY

Filled with survivors, upset and rattled.

Enter Andy, minus his blanket cape. He scans the interior.

The people murmur amongst themselves:
PEOPLE
Stop pushing... Im not pushing...
God, its getting crowded...
Someone close the door, theres a
draft... It must be the same in the
other houses.

Among the crowd, Hannah pops her head out. Waves.

HANNAH
Over here!
Andy prods through, sits cross-legged next to Hannah.
 66.

ON THE DOOR: Clara enters. She has Andys blanket over Levi
like a shawl. They hurriedly scuttle towards Andy and Hannah.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
I cant take much more of this.
Everyones on edge. And Im getting
warts on my feet.
Clara suddenly notices Hannah is barefoot.
CLARA
Wherere your shoes?
HANNAH
They were wet so I took them off.
But look. See it?
She shows the underside of her foot. Theres a spiral shaped
wart on her big toe. Gross.

HANNAH (CONT'D)
I even have one on the palm of my
hand.
She shoves it in front of Claras face. Clara, whisks it
aside.
CLARA
I think we should head outside.
(sotto)
We need to get out of this town.

HANNAH
Just us?
CLARA
To tell the truth, Im not
comfortable with anyone else.
Clara looks to Andy. He simply shrugs.
HANNAH
I dont know Clara, its pretty
safe -- hey --
Clara and Levi dont stay to chat and move towards the door.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
Is she serious?

EXT. OLD ROW HOUSE - FRONT ROAD - LATER

Clara wraps her arms over Levi and speeds her walking pace.
 67.

ON THE PORCH: Hannah calls out. Andys right behind her.

HANNAH
But where? Clara!

Hannah begins to slip on her shoes.

Clara glances behind.
CLARA
Come here and Ill tell you!
Clara looks forward and YELPS -- Sheldon's face is right up
to hers.
SHELDON
Sorry about that!
CLARA
Sheldon. You...
SHELDON
Yeah. I was just keeping watch, you
know?
(re: Levi)
Where you off to?
Clara stammers trying to find an answer.

CLARA
Just, uh, were going... to find
our families.
Sheldon nods with a false acceptance.
SHELDON
If youre planning on going at it
alone...
CLARA
Oh, but Im not alone.
As if on cue, Hannah and Andy emerge from behind.
SHELDON
You know, Ive tried over and over
to escape... to just turn around
and walk in a straight line... But
nothing works. No matter which road
you take, you end up back here.
CLARA
Im good with directions.
 68.

SHELDON
Nah. Its as if a space is turned
inside out. I also tried to escape
by sea this morning. All the
fishing boats were wrecked, but a
couple of us decided to build a
raft. We tried, but the sea had
turned into a gigantic whirlpool
swallowing the raft right before
our eyes.
CLARA
Why do I get the feeling youre
telling the truth.
SHELDON
Because everyone has seen the same
oddities.
Clara hangs her head low.
SHELDON (CONT'D)
The row houses are the safest place
to be. Considering what else Ive
heard, we could be far worse.
Clara grinds her teeth. Speaks in a narrow tone, as if to
say, dont pull this shit on me.
CLARA
Im sorry, Sheldon. But I'm going
to search for my family.
Sheldon cant hide his stricken expression. He nods.
SHELDON
Then... Dont meddle around the
nighttime.
(beat)
Take this. Its all I got.
He unclips a large flashlight off his belt. Hands it to
Clara.
Sheldon steps aside, idly picks his nose.
SHELDON (CONT'D)
Its not like Im your parent. Get
out of here.
Clara nods timidly. A thankful gesture. Sheldon remains
motionless as they proceed past him.
 69.

SHELDON (CONT'D)
Good luck.
A distant roar foreshadows a sudden SHIFT --

EXT. DRAGONFLY POND - DAY

The pond is a raging whirlpool, and stirring in the centre is
another twister, now thinned to only a tall grey column. With
a gurgling drainpipe sound, the twister is suddenly and
completely sucked into the pond.
The air is still.

EXT. STREETS - DAY

Clara is hunched on the ground, knees to her chest. The
others overlook her shoulder in silence, as she ruminates
over a crude map of the town drawn with sticks and stones.
LEVI
(breaking silence)
So, what are we gonna do now?
HANNAH
We can, like, find another row
house?
Levi shakes his head, Hell, no!
HANNAH (CONT'D)
(off Levi)
I guess they are crowded...
CLARA
As I said, we cant stay in town.

HANNAH
And everyone says its impossible.
We cant go by road or by sea.
CLARA
I noticed some people are in pretty
bad shape. Theyve gone crazy. Im
dead set on leaving. And Im not
looking back.
HANNAH
And?
 70.

CLARA
And I think its foolish to wait
for rescue. We have to put our
own foot out the door. We have to
leave.
She looks to Andy. He's lost his energy.
HANNAH
So where to, boss?
Clara points to a smooth stone in her drawing.

CLARA
The railway tunnels...

EXT. RAILWAY STATION - DESTROYED - DAY

They arrive, and they face a wall of horror.
Tiles have been ripped off, the metal housing of the ticket
booth parallels a crushed pop can, and assorted shrubbery
pulled out from their roots litter the tracks.
The TUNNEL is a gaping orifice at the base of the mountain.
Brimming with ornate brick work.
Andy inhales deeply. The air is thick.
ANDY
Its useless. Even if you came from
the outside, you wont be able to
leave this town.
CLARA
Why do you say that?
ANDY
Theres a force behind this
nightmare. And its sucking us in.
CLARA
Then Ill go by myself.
She jumps down to the tracks. Stares straight into the
tunnels. She displays a tiny bit of doubt. But the others
dont notice.
Levi and Hannah, simultaneously:
LEVI HANNAH
No! Ill go with you. Ill go too.
 71.

Clara stares at Andy as the others jump down to Claras

level.
CLARA
We havent tried Andy. We have to
try.
(then)
Arent you curious to test your
theory? See if we can leave town or
not?
He nods. His worries alleviating.
ANDY
I still hate getting proven wrong.
But I guess you can say Im the cat
they kill.
CLARA
Huh?

ANDY
Curiosty and the cat? Nothing.
Anyway, yeah, Im curious.
Clara smiles and she offers hand to help him down.

INT. RAILWAY TUNNEL - LATER

All they have is Andys lamp light and Claras flashlight,
but the darkness is overwhelming. No one says a word as they
trek through the tunnel.
Hannahs expression reveals that shes about to turn and
flee. She glances at Clara, breaking the silence.
HANNAH
Those row houses. If they didnt
have electricity or plumbing, then
when do you think it was built?
CLARA
I dont know...
HANNAH
I wonder why those houses are so
safe. Some of the concrete
buildings were reduced to rubble.
But those rundown wooden houses are
intact?
 72.

LEVI
(chirping in)
What does that mean if they were
built a long time ago?
Hannah shrugs.
HANNAH
What Im wondering, is how many of
them are there anyway?
CLARA
Ive never counted. Theres some in
the middle of town that were rented
out, but the ones on the outskirts
are more ruined.
ANDY
I bet the outlying ones are less
crowded. We should go to them.
Clara is irritated by this. She shines the flashlight at
Andy, temporarily blinding him. Just as quickly, they notice
a trickling noise. RUNNING WATER. They look at their feet.
A dark red water gushes at their feet from behind. Foam
spreads across the surface of the water.
They all shoot each other raised eyebrows.

LATER
They now jog through the tunnels.
CLARA
(re: the water)
What do you think this is?
LEVI
Its blood!
ANDY
No. Its just erosion from the
mountains. From last nights rain.
The water gushes more rapidly as Clara slows down.
CLARA
Do you hear that?
Everyone listens into the darkness. Nothing but the trickling
sound of water, and --
 73.

LEVI
A waterfall?
Hes right. Everyone slowly edges forward. Clara tries to
fixate her beam of light ahead of them. As they slowly come
forward, Claras light hits a WALL --
The TUNNEL is no longer straight, it twists like a tube,
SPIRALLING DOWNWARDS into darkness. The trickling water
outpours off the tracks and into the bottomless pit.
Hannah, rallying words, says what everyones thinking:
HANNAH
No... freaking... way...

An instant later comes a LOUD CRASH. Everyone FREEZES. Gut

scared. They direct their lights from where they came.
CLARA
What now?
CLICK CLICK CLICK -- the sound echoes through the tunnels.
HANNAH
Should we head back?
CLARA
Wait...
The sounds stop. She shines her light, but its impossible to
see more than a few feet.
She takes a step forward. Stops COLD --
Materializing out of the darkness, a glistening SPIDERWEB OF
HAIR, spreads across the tunnel like the Hindu Goddess Kali.
In the center of it all, and the origin of its a assembly,
is the DISEMBODIED HEAD OF LILY. Eyes and mouth closed with
an eerie sense of peace.
Strands of hair seemingly float in front of the head. They
peel the eyelids open - revealing milky white eyeballs.
More strands come towards the head again. This time, they
curl the lips open. Leaving a freakish grin.
Clara and company. Pale. Panicky.
The head clatters its teeth -- CLICK CLICK CLICK.
It drops from its position. The hair takes form, distorting
itself, taking shape into a six legged creature!
 74.

Not unlike an insect, it crawls towards them!

HANNAH
My God, its Lily!
CLARA
Run!
Clara splits away with her brother, and Hannah with Andy. The
thing sways between the two, trying to decide, and then turns
to Hannah.
HANNAH
Its coming! Its coming after me!
Hair lashes out at Hannah. Andy tries to grab her out of the
way, but instead takes the full blunt of the force -- TOSSING
him against the wall. He drops his lamp.
The hair then wraps around Hannahs legs and arms. They
tighten. Hannah struggles as they cut deep -- BLOOD begins to
seep.
She screams.
Out of nowhere, Clara KICKS the head. It flies away still
holding on to Hannah, the force pulling her to her knees.
Levi comes to Hannahs attention. He steps on the hair and
helps Hannah unravel it.
Clara takes a purposeful step back.
CLARA
Are you alright?
HANNAH
Yes! It's her head! It's Lily! It's
her fucking -- coming back!
The hair wraps itself on beams on the corridors ceiling,
pulling the head slowly to eye level. Its a ghostly sight.
CLARA
Its not Lily anymore.
In a blur of multi-jointed legs, the creature scuttles on the
roof towards them. It lunges, about to wrap around Clara,
when --
ANDY STEPS IN, and swings his KEROSENE LAMP. It smashes in
two as it strikes Lilys face. It puts the head on FIRE,
illuminating the whole tunnel.
 75.

Aghast, perhaps unsure what happened, the head stays a moment

on fire, and then begins to retreat on the ceiling. The fire
begins to DISINTEGRATE the hair.
It drops to the water, putting itself out.
The thing looks like a burnt doll head, it barely has enough
strands of hair to pull itself up.

Bracing her back, Clara goes in for the killer kick.

CLARA (CONT'D)
Leave us alone, bitch!
THWACK. It falls directly into the spiral pit.
From the sound of things, it travels really far before
crashing.
We follow it deep into the spiral tunnel, having the darkness
consume us, until we pull out and reveal --

EXT. RAILWAY STATION - DESTROYED - AFTERNOON

Were outside. The group races out of the tunnels. Out of

breath, and swelling with fear. Theyre back at where they
started.

HANNAH
(gulping for air)
Its no use. Andys right, the town
wont let us go.

Levi collapses to all fours. Andy sits down, tired.

CLARA
Are you okay, Levi?

LEVI
My back feels funny.

Clara takes off the blanket and lifts open his shirt - the
snail shell has grown!
HANNAH
What is that!
CLARA
Shit. I thought it was because of
the house. That it mightve been
something all over the floors and
walls.
 76.

Hannah looks at her hands and arms.

HANNAH
I got these warts at that old row
house! I have more of them now...

CLARA
Im beginning to think its the
whole town.

Clara glances at Andy, whos kept mum.

HANNAH
Theres got to be another way. We
have to try another way.
CLARA
Were going. Ive got to get Levi
out of here. Hell go back to
normal once were outside
Gooseberry and after that Ill know
the way out, so then Ill come back
for my parents.

HANNAH
But how are we supposed to get out?

Clara points to a set of mountains.

CLARA
What about the hills? Not too far,
lies a dirt path.
HANNAH
But if it were that easy, someone
would have gotten out by now.
CLARA
Maybe they did and haven't come
back because they left! Maybe
theres a trail no ones tried.
Andy waves his hand in front of his face.

ANDY
Its no use. The spirals all
around us.

Clara ignores him and takes Levis hand before setting off.
CLARA
Cmon Levi, Im getting you out.

Hannah looks to Andy, trying to assess the situation.

 77.

HANNAH
North it is...

ANDY
(quieter this time)
Its no use...

EXT. TOWN LIMITS - DIRT ROAD - AFTERNOON

Hannah takes lead. They follow a pathway through foliage and
trees.

LEVI
Clara... my back itches.

Clara pats him on the back and gives a small scratch through
the blanket.
CLARA
Well be out of here in a few
hours. Just hang on. Youll be
fine.

They reach a clearing, overlooking the whole town. Clara

tries to focus Levis attention to it.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Up here we can see how everythings
been destroyed but the row houses.
LEVI
All of em are facing the cemetery.

She looks. Through the grey wreckage, about a dozen row

houses circle the cemetary and its pond.

Suddenly, the SIREN BLARES.

HANNAH
I cant stand that sound! Its...
hellacious!
CLARA
I thought the power was gone in the
whole town.
ANDY
Or maybe it's signaling our escape.

Clara shudders. Looking down rather than ahead, they

continue.
 78.

EXT. TOWN LIMITS - FOREST - DAY

The siren, more distant. The mood, calm. A screen of plants

cover both sides of the road. The leaves and grass have
twisted and curled into spirals.

ANDY
The pattern is here too...
CLARA
The trees and grass... how long
have they been like this?

They continue, trying to ignore the plants, which seemingly

appear to react by their presence. The plants swing around,
following their direction. As if theyre watching...
HANNAH
Weve been walking for a while...
How long does this trail go on for?

ANDY
Ive lost all sense of direction.

CLARA
Not much longer. It should lead to
a paved road soon. But its taking
longer than I remember.

LEVI
Clara, my back, were walking too
fast!

Clara is busy looking at spiralling tall grass.

CLARA
I cant look at this, its making
me dizzy.
LEVI
Clara, my back!

He grabs Claras hand and tugs her. She recollects herself.

CLARA
Ill carry you.
She gets on one knee for a piggyback. His legs extend around
her waist. She lifts him up as Hannah rubs the warts on her
hand, which have moved up to her forearms.
HANNAH
Maybe it is useless. Its all
around us... in us and around us.
 79.

CLARA
Cmon. You and Andy arent making
this any easier by complaining.
Youre worse than my grandma.

She slightly struggles with Levi.

HANNAH
You know. All this stuff has got me
thinking. About death and that ilk.
Like, Clara, if you had to choose,
how would you go out?
CLARA
I just want to avoid getting a
heart attack.
ANDY
I would just want to sleep and
never wake up.
CLARA
And you, Hannah?
HANNAH
If I had to choose... Id like to
go out by fighting a lion.
A rising barrage of coastal sounds sends us to --

EXT. TOWN LIMITS - SEA CLIFF - DAY

They emerge from the foliage. Flanking their view is a series
of jutting, vertical rocks preventing them from climbing
over.
ANDY
A wall of rock.
To their side is a cliff. It slopes upwards for a while
before dropping straight down.

HANNAH
Look, straight up, its blue!
Its the eye of the storm. A patch of blue sky, surrounded by
a ring of towering thunderstorms.
Andy looks to Clara, whos blinking sweat out of her eyes.
ANDY
Are you tired Clara? Ill take Levi
off your shoulders.
 80.

CLARA
Thanks...
She exchanges her brother over. Levi hooks his arms around
Andy and we notice how his sleeves extend, hiding his hands.

The group meets the edge of the cliff, where it welcomes a

view of the ocean... a lighthouse... and Cape Gooseberry.
Theyve reached the exact opposite of the town... But theyre
stunned, for what they see isnt the town any longer --
Standing in its place are the row houses, repaired, extended,
and CONNECTED.
They all line up as one large SPIRAL ARM extending far from
the center of town. Its COLOSSAL.
HANNAH
How did we get to the cliffs? We
were on the other side of town! And
the whole place --
CLARA
Are those the row houses?
ANDY
Thats all of them. Look how far
its extended.
HANNAH
But how?
Clara is shaken by the enormity of the situation. Theyve
somehow gone in a circle. Shes going to give up any second.
CLARA
How did our town turn into this? I
feel like Im going mad.
ANDY
They built them. The survivors made
the town like this.
CLARA
What?
HANNAH
But thats crazy. We just left
town. It would take more than a few
days to build something like this.
We were only in the mountains
for... I cant even remember... I
cant tell.
 81.

ANDY
We might have been up there a lot
longer than we think. Maybe theres
a spiral of time...
Hannah loses her element, carefully crawls towards the edge
of the cliff.

HANNAH
Weve gone nowhere?
She peers over. Nothing but a grassland leading back to town.
CLARA
(quietly)
Weve gone in a complete circle.
(to Andy)
Maybe we should go down to
Gooseberry and see...
She looks at Andy, who tries to break a smile. Suddenly, his
expression falls flat, eyes staring into space. Something is
wrong. Andy darts his eyes over his shoulder -- at Levi.
Clara looks in time to see --
ON LEVI: TENTACLES stick out of sockets where one would
expect to find eyes!
Levi is transforming under the blanket, ever changing. Slime
erupts underneath, soaking Andys back. Andy looks to his
feet and notices Levis shoes fall off -- filled with goo.
Andy tries to re-adjust the weight, but the blanket falls
off. He yells in surprise as a snail head slimes over his
shoulder.
CLARA (CONT'D)
No...
Clara hold her hands to her mouth. On the verge of tears.
Andy gets on one knee and dumps the snail to the ground. It
crawls out of whats left of Levis clothing. We can see its
gills clearly.
CLARA (CONT'D)
What do we do now?
Everyones in shock. A beat. Then Andy swallows hard.
ANDY
He's transformed. But he's still
little Levi.
(MORE)
 82.
ANDY (CONT'D)
He can climb the rock wall... Get
to the other coast. He can make it.
Clara quivers for a moment. The thought bothers her. She
approaches the giant snail.
CLARA
Levi? My God. Can you crawl up this
cliff?
The tentacles swing up and down. It moves agonizingly slow.
CLARA (CONT'D)
You can? Then go! Get away!
Claras eyes brim with tears.

CLARA (CONT'D)
You have to hurry! Go now!
She grabs hold of its shell and leads it to the rock wall,
the snail tries to slither on her arm.
Clara feels her world deviating to zero-gravity.
CLARA (CONT'D)
No Levi. Go now! We can't help you
anymore. You have to escape.
Please!
She fumbles for a twig on the floor.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Ill hit you if you dont!
She whacks it on its neck.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Go!
She whacks it again on its shell.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Go!.
It seems to hesitate. Then, with an effortless grace, it
slithers on the rock face.
They all stare. Eyes to the sky as it slithers upwards.
A long silence.
Clara then turns to the others, her face locked in a painful
trance. She gazes slowly towards the spiral town...
 83.

Where it awaits them.

LEGEND:
THE LABYRINTH

EXT. ROW HOUSES - BACKWOODS - DAY

The calm and unnerving quiet of the woods are left behind.
Clara lags behind as shes alone with her thoughts.
ANDY
See that?
He points to the wall of the structure. We see an expansion,
new in appearance, built on both sides of an older looking
row house.
HANNAH
Its as if they had it planned.
ANDY
Im just theorizing, and Ive been
doing it a lot, but maybe it wasnt
conscious. Maybe these abandoned
row houses formed this thing a long
time ago.
HANNAH
That doesnt make any sense.
ANDY
Maybe it gradually fell apart over
the years. Leaving behind these
scattered ruins. What were looking
at now... might only be a
reconstruction of the way
Gooseberry used to be.
HANNAH
What is... what am I supposed to
think about this? What are we
supposed to do now?
Clara cuts in from behind.
CLARA
Im going in there. Ive changed
my mind, Ill look for my parents.
Even if theyre dead. You guys
dont have to come with me.
 84.

They stare at her. And they continue to stare as she leaves

them, going towards the row house structure.

EXT. LABYRINTH - OUTER WALL - CONTINUOUS

Approaching along the wall, Clara begins to unwrap the
bandages on her arm. Hannah and Andy run to catch up.
HANNAH
What are you planning?
CLARA
Im finding a way inside.
HANNAH
But its sealed off! Its a solid
wall.
CLARA
Its a spiral Hannah, theres an
entrance.
HANNAH
Yeah? And then what?
Affixed to a wall is a tiny window with wooden bars. Inside
is a sash that moves quickly open and close. Within that
second a growly voice from an invisible speaker:
VOICE
Be quiet!
The trio stop cold. They lay their eyes on the tiny window.
HANNAH
There are people living here?
Clara, unafraid, gets right in front of the window. She has
to tip toe to reach its height.
CLARA
Excuse me, is there anyone in
there? I need to talk to someone...
Im looking for my parents. Mister
and Missus Muise.
VOICE
How would I know about your
parents?
OTHER VOICE
Yes, what do we know about your
family?
 85.

VOICE
Could you do us a favour though?
CLARA
What is it...?
VOICE
We must be complete.
OTHER VOICE
One more! One more!
Andy brings himself between Clara and the voice.
ANDY
Come on, Clara. Well keep looking
ourselves.
He pulls her away. Hard. She stumbles, but Andy steadies.
CLARA
Whatre you doing Andy!
ANDY
Im getting you away from that
thing.
CLARA
That thing is a person.
ANDY
Theyre not people. Theyre
infected by the curse.
CLARA
Spiral. Curse. I dont care
anymore.
She yanks her hand away.
CLARA (CONT'D)
You changed your mind on running
away, and Ive changed mine! If I
cant runaway, then Ill break
away. This curse. Everything. I
wont allow it to win. It doesnt
scare me anymore.
ANDY
Its not the same situation Clara.
CLARA
No, its one thing waiting to die.
 86.

ANDY
Youre speaking to a damn demon,
Clara. Its unnatural. Every minute
I'm learning something new about
this curse. Just like you.
Clara half laughs. As she speaks, her voice breaks. Shes
lost in a fury of bitterness and stress.
CLARA
A nightmare, thats all this is.
She sets her eyes in a glassy stare.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Run this by me again, the town
wants to suck us in. Well, Im
going to the centre and blast it
inside out.
ANDY
(stern)
So little Clara is going to fight
off the curse all by herself?
CLARA
Yes.
Andy is at a loss of words.
ANDY
Then youre not doing it alone.
HANNAH (O.S.)
Hey!
Clara and Andy face Hannah. Hannah manages to catch a tear
rolling down Claras face.

HANNAH (CONT'D)
Anybody asked what I think? Huh?
Because, whats more of a waste of
time, pointless arguing or hearing
a pointless argument?
Clara tries to hold back a grin.
HANNAH (CONT'D)
Im coming too babe.
 87.

EXT. LABYRINTH - DAY

The spiral labyrinth is a work equal to the pyramids. There
are no tricks to it and no dead ends. Between the row houses
made of wood, is a single circuitous path that winds its way
into the centre. This is the ALLEY.
The path contains absolutely no plant life, as if everything
was pulled from its roots.
Slowly coming to our attention, we hear the coughs, cries and
mumbles of people... Unseen, they are the ones inside the row
houses.

EXT. LABYRINTH - SPIRAL PATH - DAY

Scattered carelessly in the middle of the path are CORPSES.
But just not any corpses -- the bodies have transformed into
stretched, boneless, quivering sacks of flesh. Their arms
twisting into impossible curls.
A BEARDED MAN drags his feet along the dirt. He looks
battered, and carries several of these corpses by their arms
over his shoulder.
MAN
Ah, another corpse. Guess Ill have
to take this one too.
He bends over to pick up another corpse, he halts. Ahead of
him is Clara, Andy, and Hannah.
Clara, in a sudden realization.
CLARA
Sheldon? Is that you?
The man stares at Clara. His eyes spark.
SHELDON
Clara! I remember... How many years
has it been? You havent changed at
all...
CLARA
Years?
Sheldon drops the corpses with a THUD.
SHELDON
Yeah. I hope you remember my plan
to expand all the row houses.
(MORE)
 88.
SHELDON (CONT'D)
Its almost complete. But there are
still gaps in the structure. The
useless rubble and concrete is
piled up in the alleys further on.
The trio simply stare. Their stomachs pitching. Hes clearly
crazed out.
SHELDON (CONT'D)
Thats why Im in charge of
cleaning up. Everyone else has gone
inside the row houses. But theyll
be finished soon. Theyre building
the expansion from the inside. They
really picked it up quickly too.
Sheldon looks at them with beady eyes.

SHELDON (CONT'D)
So, what brings you back in town?

Clara looks to her sides. At Hannah, and then Andy.

CLARA
Were looking for our families.

Sheldon chuckles under his breath.

CLARA (CONT'D)
We think that reaching Dragonfly
Pond might answer our questions.
SHELDON
Ah, I can help you in that.

LATER:

A ladder shoots upwards reaching the rooftops. At the foot of

the ladder is Sheldon. Hes accustomed to it, perhaps a
common mode of transportation.

SHELDON
It wont be easy to get there!
Theres lots of deadfalls further
on. Even Ive not been to Dragonfly
Pond in a while --
As hes about to climb, hes slightly distracted by a small
window under the ladder, he dismisses it, when --

AN ARM SHOOTS OUT.

 89.

Its grey, deadish, grabs Sheldon by the collar. Sheldon

tears himself away, unslings his RIFLE.

SHELDON (CONT'D)
Get back you tail waggers!

Sheldon readies a round and FIRES. Hes jolted by the recoil.

The hand flails back.
Resting around the same window frame is a group of hands and
fingers. Looking ready to burst out. Instead, they peel away
back into the darkness.
SHELDON (CONT'D)
If you dont put pressure, they
get... out of hand.
HANNAH
What a terrible pun.

CLARA
Sheldon, what are they?

SHELDON
Everyone else.

EXT. LABYRINTH - ROOFTOPS - DAY

One by one, the group clambers on top the roof. Its crude in
design, being a compound of different types of wood.

They fall into formation. We read a concern in their eyes.

HANNAH
Its huge!
The labyrinth outstretches as far as they see. Directly ahead
is an overpass crossing over the alleys. Its scrapped
together as an afterthought, merely a mesh of ladders, sheet
metal, and rope.
Sheldon wiggles between Clara and Andy.

SHELDON
The further you proceed, the more
areas youll see under
construction. Most alleys are
blocked by heaps of rubble, but you
can walk on this.
He applies force to the overpass with his foot. It rattles,
hinting at instability.
 90.

HANNAH
It looks unsafe?

SHELDON
Whatever I make is as good as
anything in this town. Youll be
fine, promise.

Sheldon turns away. The rest watch him as he steps down the
ladder back where they came.
HANNAH
(to Clara, quietly)
Hes not coming?
Clara takes time before answering. Sheldon finally leaves
them.
CLARA
(also quietly)
I think its better that way.
Claras face sets in with resolve as she steps on the
overpass.

Andy follows soon after. Then Hannah. The three continue to

march on...

EXT. LABYRINTH - DAY

The group, as small as insects in a garden, stick close as
they trek over the overpass. The footing is treacherous.

EXT. LABYRINTH - SPIRAL PATH - DAY

Upon a grey tree stump, lies a bicycle. Near it, is a busted

computer -- near that, is a trail of dust covered iron rods.
We see it soon pile up, accumulating plastic, metal and
concrete to become an impenetrable WALL OF RUBBLE.

Directly above is the overpass. The three walk along, looking

down, struggling with their emotions.

EXT. LABYRINTH - ROOFTOPS - DAY

CLARA
Another dead end below.

The gang step warily on the rooftops, pressing closer towards

the center. Hannah strikes a conversation:
 91.

HANNAH
If Andy is right about this town
being based on a town from the
past. Why was it built like this in
the first place?

ANDY
Well, we dont even have any idea
why theyre rebuilding it like
this. Maybe... its been repeated
over and over ancient times. Every
century, or every few centuries the
spiral comes to haunt this town.
And every time it does, the
inhabitants build their town in
this shape.
HANNAH
But wouldnt there be records of
this? Or was it too long ago?

ANDY
The old houses are made of wood so
they cant be that ancient. And
yet, the story was never passed on.
Maybe all the recollections were
lost.

Clara, a look of numb shock.

CLARA
Lost?

ANDY
For example, maybe every person who
could have told the story vanished.

Suddenly, a cacophony of UNFAMILIAR SOUNDS. The earth

rumbles. Without railings, they all wobble helplessly.
CLARA
Be careful!

The ROOFING beneath their feet BOUNCES LOOSE -- something

moving underneath. Andy falls to his knees. Looking down,
between his legs, the roof BULGES, cracking, revealing the
inside of the row house.

BETWEEN THE CRACK and peering back at Andy is a DISCOLOURED

FACE, lips and eyes ringed and sullen. A HAND FLASHES UP.
Andy careens out of the way.
As fast as the tremor started, it stops.
 92.

Andy looks back in horror. The bulge has flattened, cloaking

the cracked wood, and the face that peered back at him.
ANDY
We gotta go!

Up on his feet, Andy grabs Claras arm and they quickly

scramble across another overpass. Hannah hurries behind.
CLARA
What? What did you see?

On the next roof, they stop. Theres no more overpass to

continue! Andy lets Clara loose.
ANDY
Damn it. A dead end.
CLARA
Were close to the center too.
From their angle, they can see the center is completely open
to the sky.
HANNAH
(catching up, exhausted)
Let me breathe.
CLARA
Its gonna collapse if we dont
keep moving. Theres one there --
come on!
She directs them to their right, where an overpass spans
across an alley. Its narrower than the others.
As they break around a rumbling ROARS through the entire
town.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Quick!

Not stopping, she scales across with little effort. Andy

makes it across with a hop at the final stretch.
SNAP! A rope holding the bridges floorboards unravels loose,
the overpass is about to GIVE. Hannah, halfway, leans
dangerously heavy to one side as she runs.
Clara extends her arm out.
CLARA (CONT'D)
(alarmed yell)
Hannah!
 93.

K-RACK -- the overpass begins to COLLAPSE.

Clara just manages to grab onto Hannahs fingertips -- she
makes it over -- they tumble backwards.

Clara lets out a sigh. Hannah, sits up, her expression grim.
The rumbling continues. Its rhythm irregular.
Clara and Hannah help each other up. They smilingly share a
grin of relief.
ANDY
Watch it, ladies.
The roof here is a little more unrefined. As Andy takes a
step --
The rumble comes to a halting silence. A moment passes. A
puzzled look crosses Andys face, he turns back at the girls.
BOOM.
THE GROUND LURCHES VIOLENTLY, planks of wood EXPLODE! Almost
simultaneously, the three are swept over. A hole has
ruptured, revealing the insides of the house:
Its PACKED, literally to the brim with PEOPLE interlocking
limbs, naked, and with insane eyes. Theres not a soul whos
not horribly disfigured.
But without warning, A BARRAGE OF HANDS STRIKE OUT. The
spiral people yell their approval.
SPIRAL PEOPLE
THE ONE WITH THE WARTS... GRAB
HER... TAKE HER... SHE BELONGS WITH
US.
They grab Hannah! Pulling her close to the hole.
HANNAH
No!
Meanwhile, Andy lands with a THUD. His face directly over the
brink of the hole, confronted by many unearthly FACES. He
looks away in terror, just to see Clara violently rolling off
the roof and into the alley!
CLARA
Hannah!
She falls out of view.
 94.

Andy turns back, sees HANNAH. Shes being sucked in by the

spiral people. He reaches out, his fingers inches away at her
skin.
Hannah, extraordinarily frightened, gathers strength to pull
herself out just enough to grab Andys hand.

Then, time comes to a slow. Her eyes meeting with Andys.

Shes PETRIFIED. But not from what we expect, for even the
sounds of the spiral people seem to be drowned out by Andys
expression...
Hes disturbingly unmoved. And with a cruel perversity:
He purposely releases his grip.
HANNAH
Clara-aaahh!
The tangled people abruptly shift, SLITHERING inside through
the length of the row house. They act as a violent current as
Hannah is sucked inside and vanishes...

EXT. LABYRINTH - DAY

The voice of the people. Communicating with one another.
Resonating.
SPIRAL PEOPLE
WERE CONNECTED... WERE ALL
CONNECTED.
The rumbling continues. It seemingly rushes towards the
centre, tracing the spiral.
Then its gone. The entire area is dead silent.

EXT. LABYRINTH - CEMETERY PATH - DAY

An alley built right on top the cemetery. Gravestones stick
out, bathed in the shadow of the labyrinths walls.
Somewhere strewn in the middle is Clara. Her eyes flutter
open. They fall on Andys face. Hes squatted over her.
She snaps up.
CLARA
Hannah!
Andys face softens to a frown. He doesn't respond... but
the way he looks at Clara makes her curious.
 95.

CLARA (CONT'D)
What happened to her...?
Andy shakes his head.
An intoxicating sense of anguish falls upon Clara. There are
no words.
ANDY
I think all the buildings in town
were stuffed with people. Now
theyre emptied out.
Clara sulks. Head and shoulder on a gravestone.
ANDY (CONT'D)
(pointing around)
Were close, Clara. Were at the
cemetery where the pond is. Do you
still want to do this?
Unknown to Clara, Andy glares at her with a wicked eagerness.
He loses the demeanor when Clara looks to him.
Her eyes sparkle with tears. Without a word, she stands.
Looking around she sees the curve of the wall is tighter. A
sign of their proximity to the center.
Clara steps over the gravestones.
The air is gloomy. It seems to get darker and darker as she
pushes forward. Then, as she steps through the curving
labyrinth, she notices LIGHT spilling against the walls.
Shes almost reached the end.
Behind her, Andy slips his hand into her palm. He holds
tight. She looks at him, as if emerging from a trance.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Were almost there.

EXT. LABYRINTH - ROTUNDA - DAY

The atmosphere is cold and still.
The core of the labyrinth is DRAGONFLY POND. But this time,
its devoid of water. Inside, a HELIX SHAPED STAIRCASE rounds
the edges of the pond, going downwards.
There are no steps, only a steep declining path.
 96.

Clara and Andy appear from between the final set of row
houses. They stare at the open space in awe. Theres a
strange beauty to the place.
They see the ash tree teetering over the edge of the pond.
One half of its roots lodged in the earth, the other,
suspended over the void. Its withered now.
As they reach on further, they notice the end wall of the row
house labyrinth and its GAPING HOLE, aimed right before the
pond.
ANDY
The town's people...
He points to a slime that exits the row house and down the
staircase. Clara peeks inside... its endless.
CLARA
I cant believe it was here all
this time -- this well at the
bottom of the pond. They look like
ancient ruins.
ANDY
Do you trust me?
She faces him. Excuse me?
ANDY (CONT'D)
Do you... love me?
CLARA
I do.
ANDY
Then lets go down there. Together.
The cause of the spiral curse...
may be hidden down below.
Theres a hypnotic quality to his voice.
CLARA
Andy. Im going down there.
(beat)
Thats the only place Ill find my
mother and father. I don't care if
they're not normal. I need to
know...
Andy strides to Clara and holds her hand.
 97.

INT. SPIRAL CATARACT - LATER

Drops of water trickle from up above.
Andy and Clara venture into frame, both hugging the walls,
fearful of daring to look down.
Clara tries to provoke:
CLARA
Turn on, tune in, drop out.
Andy doesnt get the reference. Instead explodes with
enthusiasm, speaking low:
ANDY
Arent you excited Clara? This
place is amazing. Theres so many
questions. When was it built? Who
built it? Why? How far down does it
go?
CLARA
It seems to go on and on forever.
Only thing Im asking myself is how
much longer we have to go.
ANDY
But youre not afraid.
She thinks what shes about to say.
CLARA
Yeah. Not anymore.
ANDY
Thats good.
Hes slowly becoming unhinged with reality. His eyes wild.
Before long, they notice a stringy, knotted, pile of grey
matter blocking the path.
Clara stops. It takes a moment to register, but its one of
the spiral persons.
CLARA
He must be from that group that
just came in.
ANDY
I guess he was left behind. Come
on. Watch your step, its slippery.
 98.

Andy doesnt hesitate to cross over the body. Clara does the
same, grossed out.
SPIRAL PERSON
Wait!
They turn around, alarmed. The body begins to move. Its a
man, or at least, used to be a man. Hes drained of colour.
SPIRAL PERSON (CONT'D)
Take me with you. Theres supposed
to be something wonderful down
there...
ANDY
We cant. We dont have enough
strength to carry you. Im so
terribly sorry.
Andy speaks with an apologetic tone. Almost too kind.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Come on Clara.
Just then, the spiral person flails wildly. There seems to be
no bones in his limbs. He lashes out and grabs Claras ankle.
CLARA
Let go of me! What are you doing?
SPIRAL PERSON
Take me with you!
The spiral person tugs himself closer and BITES into Claras
leg. She screams in pain.
Andy jumps in, struggling with the spiral person.
ANDY
Stop it! Let go! Clara, get away.
The spiral person spits loose. Smacking his lips. Its limbs
snake ferociously out of control, smacking Andy by surprise.
The spiral person then uses its free arm to corkscrew wildly
around Andys arms.
Andy, trapped in a lasso of flesh, tries to stand but the
weight of the spiral person pulls him down. Together they
pitch forward and --
FALL INTO THE VOID.
Clara screams. She grabs thin air.
 99.

CLARA
Andy!
He disappears out of sight. Into the darkness.
Mouth agape and tears welling up, she acts quickly. She
speeds down the path. Now sobbing hysterically.
BOOM. A distance clash. Did Andy hit rock bottom?
BOOM. She holds still. Its another tremor!
A low rumble begins from deep below. It gets closer, and
LOUDER, shaking Claras world. A deafening shock wave zips
past Clara.

Then stillness.
Nails deep in the wall, Clara cries out. Utterly alone.
She takes a moment to gather herself. Then, with an
instinctive urgency, she crawls upwards. Enough is enough.
A plume of dust hits her head, killing her drive.
She looks up and to her horror she sees a kaleidoscope of
bouncing foliage as the -
ASH TREE TUMBLES TOWARDS HER.
It rises to a crescendo as it flashes by. Branches snap off
at Claras feet. There is a sudden rush of air, making Clara
LOSE HER BALANCE.
She slips and uncontrollably SLIDES DOWN THE PATH slickly
polished with slime.
The steep incline works against her as she tries to shift to
her side. She pounds her hands against the wall, trying to
latch onto anything. No use.
In her point of view, the spiral path swooshes at an
accelerating speed. The lighting shifts, growing darker.
Shes being sucked into a black hole...
From the depths, a sound reaches Claras ears. A HOWLING.
Its the bellowing of the SPIRAL PEOPLE. Moaning horridly and
vile. The sounds of hell itself.
 100.

Claras in a panic like never before. She notices a shaft of

light coming from below. With no way to stop her momentum,
she cover her eyes -- hoping for a swift end...
Unseen by Clara is the end of the path. Its edge rushes
TOWARDS US. We crash through the darkness, falling into --

INT. WINDING CAVERN - CONTINUOUS

The sounds of the people subside to a murmur.
The whole world seems to spin on its axis as Clara, eyes
still covered. She floats to the bottom. As if taken by a
gentle whirlwind.
She gracefully lands on her back. Right next to the ash tree.
Clara takes a breath before opening her eyes.
Spotting the ceiling first, she sees stalactites, rock
formations hanging from the ceiling.
Stone columns surround her, spiraling up to incomprehensible
heights.
But what really grabs her attention is how the place glows in
a strange amber. A surreal city of spirals.
Clara stands, and to her complete shock, the floor is made of
countless people who had poured from Cape Gooseberry above.
They remain tangled, and most appear to be hairless. An odd
stillness befalls them, all locked in a GAZE towards one
direction...
A CHERUBIM. Engraved and carved deeply into a wall.
Unlike any traditional description of the word; it instead
resembles a grotesque depiction of humans tangled with
animals. Stone wings extend upward, meeting above to sustain
a THRONE.
Sitting at the top of it all is a GIANT COCOON. Its surface
translucent, GLOWING within and contracting like a muscle.
It is both gorgeous and terrifying.
ANDY (O.S.)
Clara!
Clara looks around. On the other side of the tree, she sees
Andy buried amongst the spiral people. Only his head and arm
stick out.
 101.

CLARA
Andy!
She walks quickly to his direction. The farther she goes, the
people seem more like stone, as if they are turning into
ruins themselves.
She sees Andy surrounded by these solidified people.

Clara bends down to hug Andy. She shuts her eyes and pours
every bit of nurturing she has in her soul.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Andy, youre alive!
(sotto)
I feel like Im on another world
right now. I thought I was dead.

ANDY
Yes... We made it. Isnt it
beautiful?

Clara opens her eyes.

But before she responds the earth suddenly SHAKES. The spiral
people hiss and moan in a resounding commotion.
She backs off Andy. Developing a sense of unease.

ANDY (CONT'D)
Clara, look at the ruins. Theyre
like a living thing. Like it has a
will of its own! And we can finally
be a part of it.

His enthusiasm vexes Clara. Shes stunned.

CLARA
What are you saying?
Identical to a drill-bit, a large column begins to SPIN. Its
thunder echoes through the whole cavern. It RISES INTO THE
CATARACT.
Near the foot of the drill, it kicks dirt in the air --
spiral people grind into dust.

ANDY
Amazing, right?

Clara snaps back.

 102.

ANDY (CONT'D)
Every so often, it can reach the
people above ground and even though
its builders are gone... It still
rebuilds itself.

Clara, wide eyed, barely knows what to say.

CLARA
Its... invading us, Andy.

ANDY
Yes! To become one with the spiral.

She hangs onto him, but this time, she tries to pull him out.
She speaks between every heave:
CLARA
Andy... I need you... to snap out
of it!
Andys stuck. Hes not going anywhere.

ANDY
This is our place. This is what I
always wanted.

CLARA
You never wanted this.
She tugs at him harder.

ANDY
I did. I do want this. Clara,
everyone in towns here. Your
parents, everyone.
Clara lets him go. Furrowing her brows.

CLARA
Then what happened to running away?
Just you and me?
ANDY
I was wrong. I thought I could
fight it. But thanks to you, we can
be here forever.

A spastic, scared, relieved, laugh escapes Clara. She slowly

crawls backwards.
ANDY (CONT'D)
(innocently)
Where are you going, Clara?
(MORE)
 103.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Theres no where to go. Stay with
me. We can all be one!

Andy is slightly crestfallen.

His face contorts, and with a rising viciousness:

ANDY (CONT'D)
Choose us, Clara. Youre staying
whether you like it or not. You
cant fight it! No one can, so
whats it going to be? Us or death?

Clara backs into the ash tree not knowing whether to puke or
run. To answer his question, she shakes her head, no.

CLARA
I choose to live.
She slips over the tree, disappearing from Andys view. She
repeats to herself, almost a whisper now:
CLARA (CONT'D)
I choose to live.

Clara sets herself between branches. A shelter from the

nightmare world. Watching through a screen of leaves, she
sees the cocoon and how a LIFE teems inside.

Nowhere to go, and nothing to do, she blinks her eyes closed.

INT. SPIRAL CATARACT - DAY

The drill spins perfectly through the passageway. The sound

of grinding stone fills the air, until --

EXT. LABYRINTH - DAY

It reaches the top, stopping its motion. The spiral shape is
complete. Now it waits, when the eternal spiral awakes once
more.
THE END.