Short screenplay from the Done Deal Halloween contest.
"The Siren"
FADE IN
EXT. SEA SHORE - DAY
Calm blue skies and sea. White foam sighs against sand and
pebbles. Washed-up flotsam lies scattered along the tide
mark. Broken planking. Rope. Canvas sail.
A man lies face-down among the debris. He wears a dark blue
coat, white breeches and leather boots. MONTCLAIR, 30, raises
his head and tries to focus.
He sees a black cliff rising above the shore. Atop the cliff,
a dark Gothic castle. And walking toward him, a beautiful
woman, MARIA, 20, in a see-through wisp of a dress that does
nothing to conceal her perfect body.
Montclair squints in disbelief -- then faints.
Maria's bare feet come to stand beside him.
INT. SLEEPING CHAMBER - DAY
Blue sky seen through a window. Montclair lies asleep upon
a bed, his folded coat acting as pillow.
He wakes up with a start. He looks around, where is he? He
sits up, tests his legs, stands. He looks out the window.
Below the window, the cliff and the sea.
Montclair puts on his coat and heads for the door.
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Montclair steps out. He looks in both directions. No one
is there. He walks along the corridor.
INT. BOTTOM OF STAIRWAY - DAY
Montclair pauses, uncertain. He looks up, looks back, looks
up. He climbs the steps.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE DINING ROOM - DAY
Montclair arrives. He sniffs the air, and pushes the doors
open.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
A long table with chairs at either end. The table is set
with food and drink -- cooked chicken, a roast joint, breads,
cheeses, fruits, wine bottles, goblets. Above the fireplace,
two crossed swords on a shield.
Montclair stares at the table and wipes drool from his lips.
He sits and gorges himself, grabbing everything within range,
gulping it over and washing it down with wine.
EXT. CLIFF - DAY
Maria walks along the cliff edge, wispy dress floating in
the breeze. She shields her eyes, looks out to sea as if
expecting to see something.
EXT. SEA SHORE - DAY
Movement in the water as something breaks surface offshore.
A glimpse of a forked tail.
EXT. CLIFF - DAY
Maria hurries along the cliff, away from the castle.
EXT. SEA SHORE - DAY
Something in the water swims toward shore but remains below
the surface, unseen.
EXT. SEA SHORE - DAY
Maria arrives, breathless, and waits. A black cloak lies on
the sand at her feet.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Montclair pauses with half a chicken in his mouth, as if
he's heard something.
EXT. SEA SHORE - DAY
Maria drapes the cloak around the shoulders of a gray-haired
man, CHRISTIAN, 60s. He tries to kiss Maria but she turns
her head so his lips touch her cheek. He's disappointed.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Montclair spits the chicken out, gets up and goes to the
window.
EXT. CLIFF - DAY
Christian and Maria walk toward the castle.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Montclair watches them, fascinated by Maria's beauty.
EXT. CLIFF - DAY
Perhaps sensing his attention, Christian stops and looks up.
He smiles. He resumes walking. Maria looks up, worried,
before she follows Christian.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Montclair looks around frantically -- where can he hide?
INT. BOTTOM OF STAIRS - DAY
Christian's shadow glides up the stairs, bloated and
misshapen.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Montclair runs to the door -- but stops, sensing something
outside.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE DINING ROOM - DAY
Christian's shadow glides along the hallway, and is it our
imagination or is there something inhuman, even fish-like,
about that shadow as it stretches across the walls?
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Montclair retreats until his back is against the table.
The doors swing open and Christian seems to glide into the
room. He studies the ravaged table, smiles at Montclair.
CHRISTIAN
I see Maria has been looking after
you.
MONTCLAIR
Who are you, sir?
CHRISTIAN
You may call me Count Aromanché.
Montclair clicks his heels and bows.
MONTCLAIR
Capitaine Jules Montclair. I am
indebted to you for your hospitality,
Count Aromanché.
CHRISTIAN
Please, Capitaine, sit and continue
eating your meal.
Christian gestures to the chair, Montclair sits and eats.
Christian sits at the other end of the table facing him.
Maria hurries in, breathless. She moves to stand behind
Christian and places a hand on his chair. Montclair rises.
CHRISTIAN
This is Capitaine Montclair, Maria.
He thanks us for our hospitality.
Montclair bows to her. But Maria stares at the floor and
won't look at him. Puzzled, Montclair sits down again.
CHRISTIAN
You were aboard the Valorous, were
you not?
MONTCLAIR
How do you know the name of my ship?
CHRISTIAN
I discovered the figurehead some
distance along the beach as I took
my morning constitutional. Alas,
Capitaine, I fear you may be the
only survivor of the storm.
Montclair eats in silence, deep in thought.
CHRISTIAN
These waters are treacherous. Even
the most experienced captains have
underestimated the currents and the
weather, which can change,
(snaps his fingers)
like that!
Montclair pushes his plate away, and sighs heavily.
MONTCLAIR
I have eaten my fill, Count. And I
confess I am exhausted. I ask you
to pardon my poor manners...
CHRISTIAN
Maria will take you to your chamber.
Sleep as long as you wish. Eat as
often as you must. The nearest town
lies twenty leagues from here. There
is a garrison. When you are recovered
from your ordeal, I shall have a
servant drive you there in my
carriage.
MONTCLAIR
Your kindness is much appreciated.
CHRISTIAN
Think nothing of it.
Maria waits for him by the door. Montclair bows to the Count
and follows her out.
The Count lifts a goblet of wine, sniffs it, and puts it
down without drinking. A cruel smile twists his lips.
INT. SLEEPING CHAMBER - DAY
Maria opens the door for Montclair who staggers inside.
MONTCLAIR
Thank you... Maria.
She gives him a hesitant little smile and closes the door,
leaving him alone.
Montclair collapses face-down upon the bed.
EXT. CASTLE - DAY
Clouds race across the sky. Day turns into NIGHT.
INT. SLEEPING CHAMBER - NIGHT
Montclair wakes with a start. He stands up. Something
outside the window catches his eye. He goes to the window
to look.
A light in the distance -- no, a burning flame, further along
the cliff.
INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Montclair tip-toes along. No sign of anyone.
INT. OUTER DOOR - NIGHT
He slides the bolts, opens the door. He unhooks a lantern
and slips quietly outside.
EXT. CLIFF - NIGHT
Montclair walks toward the distant flame.
EXT. FURTHER ALONG THE CLIFF - NIGHT
Wood burns in an iron brazier. A beacon in the night.
Montclair stares into the crackling flames, remembering...
EXT. SHIP AT SEA - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Caught in a storm. Waves crash over and the deck tilts
wildly. The STEERSMAN holds onto the wheel for dear life.
Montclair joins him and grabs the wheel to steady himself.
A wave drenches both men. Montclair points into the night
and shouts above the noise.
MONTCLAIR
A beacon! Safe waters! Steer for
the light!
The beacon flame is barely visible through the storm, but
it's there.
The Steersman nods understanding and spins the wheel over.
EXT. FURTHER ALONG THE CLIFF - NIGHT
Montclair gasps in shock, remembering the DEAFENING CRUNCH
of splitting wood, accompanied by TERRIFIED SCREAMS that
slowly fade.
Through the brazier's crackling flames he sees Maria, watching
him with sympathetic eyes.
Montclair turns and walks away.
Maria closes her eyes and bows her head.
EXT. CASTLE - NIGHT
Anger fills Montclair as he stalks toward the entrance.
EXT. CASTLE COURTYARD - NIGHT
Montclair stops. His lantern reveals an uneven trail of
water and puddles that crosses the courtyard. He follows
the trail. He finds a piece of seaweed. He almost steps on
a little crab that scuttles out the way. The trail leads to
a doorway.
INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Montclair enters through the doorway, and follows the trail
of water along the corridor.
The trail leads up to a door, and vanishes beneath.
Montclair takes a step back, afraid. He doesn't want to go
near this door.
Yet something draws him. He fights against his fear. He
slowly reaches out, pushes the door open. The hinges creak.
His lantern reveals steps leading down into darkness. And
little puddles of water.
INT. CELLAR - NIGHT
Montclair comes downstairs. His lantern reveals stacks of
barrels, crates, junk. More water on the floor.
There's another door. This one has the same effect on
Montclair, who wants to go back upstairs. But he conquers
his fear again, and forces himself to open this door.
INT. STORAGE ROOM - NIGHT
The door swings open, Montclair ducks his head and steps
through. The room is pitch black. He sweeps his lantern
around. The room is apparently empty.
He gasps as lantern light reveals a pair of hands, hanging
down from above.
Montclair lifts his lantern higher. A body hangs upside
down, tied to the ceiling by its ankles. Montclair moves
around so he can see the face. It's the Steersman from the
ship. His eyes are missing.
Montclair slowly turns around, his lantern reveals a dozen
other bodies hanging upside down, equally ghastly.
Horrified, he stumbles toward the door, through a curtain of
hands that seem to reach for him and claw at his hair.
INT. CELLAR - NIGHT
Montclair runs to the stairs and holds onto the wall, gasping
for breath.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
An inhuman shadow stretches across the walls. The shadow
shrinks, takes on the shape of a man. Christian stands at
the open window with his back to the room, wearing his black
cloak.
Montclair enters. He puts his lantern down on the table,
goes to the fireplace and draws both swords from the shield.
He throws one at Christian's feet, it clatters on the
flagstones.
MONTCLAIR
Defend yourself, sir.
Christian turns to face him, smiling.
CHRISTIAN
You are a man of honor, I see.
MONTCLAIR
Which is more than you are.
CHRISTIAN
I was such a man once. Before I
came here.
MONTCLAIR
Then pick up that sword and die like
the man you once were.
CHRISTIAN
Very well, I shall fight. A host
must entertain his guest, after all.
He picks up the sword, weighs it in his hand. He takes off
his cloak and carefully drapes it over the back of a chair.
MONTCLAIR
En garde.
They cross swords. Montclair attacks in fury but Christian
parries his every stroke without effort. Montclair draws
back, more thoughtful. Christian smiles, and beckons for
him to continue. Montclair attacks again but Christian
parries every stroke again.
CHRISTIAN
I tire of this charade. Another
ship comes. Its crew shall provide
more food for our winter store.
MONTCLAIR
There is no storm tonight.
CHRISTIAN
Oh, there shall be a storm. But you
will not be alive to see it.
Christian disarms Montclair with a blindingly fast move,
Montclair's sword spins toward the door and clatters on the
stone. Christian places the tip of his sword at Montclair's
throat.
CHRISTIAN
And now, mon Capitaine, it is your
end.
Montclair glances at the door. Maria crouches low, picks up
his fallen sword, throws it--
--right into Montclair's hand. He thrusts the sword through
Christian's heart. The blade emerges from Christian's back.
Christian's eyes widen in shock. He drops his sword and
staggers away from Montclair. He braces himself against the
table, and stares at Maria. She stares back, expressionless.
He reaches for the cloak but Maria whips it away, holds it
out of his reach.
Her betrayal hurts Christian more than the sword in his heart.
He coughs blood, collapses, dies.
Montclair and Maria come together and embrace at the window.
MONTCLAIR
The fiend is dead, madamoiselle.
You need fear him no more.
Lightning slashes across the night sky. Seconds later, a
BOOM of thunder.
MONTCLAIR
He said a storm was coming...
Maria holds him, blissfully happy.
MONTCLAIR
He said... he was a man of honor...
before he came here.
Maria wraps the cloak around Montclair's shoulders. He's
puzzled.
MONTCLAIR
But if he came here... and took the
title of Count...
Maria snuggles against him.
MONTCLAIR
Then this must be... your chateau.
And you... you must be... the Countess
Aromanché.
Maria kisses his neck.
MONTCLAIR
He said... food for our winter store.
Montclair gasps as Maria anchors herself to his neck, her
teeth drawing blood. He tries to pull her off -- she's too
strong. She sucks the life from him. Montclair's knees
give away and he sinks to the floor.
Maria steps back, wiping blood from her lips.
The cloak hides Montclair as he writhes in agony, moaning
and gasping.
Maria watches, expressionless.
Violent movement under the cloak, as Montclair's shape becomes
something bloated and inhuman.
A lightning flash reveals a ship on the horizon in full sail.
The violent movements subside. Whatever bloated thing lies
beneath the cloak becomes still. It emits WET, GASPING,
SUCKING noises. The cloak moves up and down in time to the
sounds.
Maria extends her arm, pointing to the ship. An unspoken
command.
Her gaze follows SLITHERING MOVEMENT across the floor, up to
the window--
A glimpse of a forked tail as Montclair, or what he has
become, disappears out the window. A SPLASH from below.
Maria gathers up the black cloak and folds it over her arm.
EXT. THE SEA - NIGHT
A forked tail flicks into view, then vanishes beneath the
waves.
The ship on the horizon sails on, blissfully unaware.
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Another flash of lightning transforms Maria's face into that
of a scaly fish with bulbous eyes and a slack, thick-lipped
mouth surrounded with fangs. Then she is herself again,
beautiful, serene.
Maria smiles.
FADE OUT
10/05
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