Screenplay / Scarecrow

SCARECROW

By Annie

2007-12-25

EXT. PUMPKIN PATCH – NIGHT

The pumpkins’ fiery color is hidden by the blue light of a nearly full moon. All is still and quiet in the patch.

A field mouse slinks between the thick vines connecting the pumpkins, disappearing out of sight as swiftly as it appeared.

The patch is large, surrounded by a very old, very rickety wooden fence. Beyond it stretches a view of freshly turned fields, their earth dark against the deep blue horizon.

In the middle of the pumpkin patch, nearly hidden behind an exceedingly big pumpkin, lies a worn and torn SCARECROW.

The cross he is bound to with rope has toppled over, having taken him with it. He’s wearing a ragged blue coat and dirty brown trousers. Straw is poking out of him here and there, and his face has a big rip in it, the stuffing spilling out of it in a very sad manner. He has one blue and one brown button for eyes and a mouth made out of big, black V stitches.

FEMALE TEEN (V.O.)
Once upon a time there was a man of
fiercest kind. He stripped himself
of memories and left the world behind.
He became a monster and a shadow
and a slave, because the blood-taste
chased him until he was in his grave.

INT. SCHOOL ROOM – DAY

The room is sunlit and inviting, the walls plastered with happy, colorful pictures as well as decorated for Halloween with cut-outs of ghosts, pumpkins, witches. The seats are occupied by fourteen year old kids of varying gender and race, all of them focused on what is taking place up ahead.

In front of the teacher’s desk stands KATIE (14), reading from a paper held firmly in front of her by steady hands. She’s a bit precocious, but unaware of it. Her brown hair is in a tight braid and a pair of glasses rests on her nose.

She’s just finishing her poem, it proving to be her voice speaking before.

KATIE
This story may seem strange to you,
but I swear it isn’t fake. So if you
ever pass the spot, step softly
or he’ll wake.

Katie raises her eyes off the paper, lowering it at the same time, looking at her peers hesitantly.

MRS. GREER (35), supportive and kind, claps her hands, urging the class to join her as she rises from the chair she has been occupying. She stops next to Katie, giving the girl a soft tap on one shoulder in encouragement before directing her back to her seat.

Katie smiles at her teacher, but notices the dark look a BOY at the front is giving her as she heads back to her seat and the smile fades.

The boy is ADAM (15), his whole being is dark. He has dark brown eyes, black hair, a pale complexion and dark blue sweater and jeans – both of these pieces of clothing look at least one size too small for him.

MRS. GREER
That was really nice, Kate.
Very well done.

Mrs. Greer looks at a sheet of paper on her desk and directs her gaze on Adam.

MRS. GREER
Alright, Adam. You’re up.

Adam’s face shows clear unwillingness.

MRS. GREER (CONT’D)
Come now, it’ll be okay.

She adds the last in a more hushed tone, urging Adam on with a smile until finally he stands and drags his feet the few paces it takes to bring him to her side. She squeezes his shoulder as well, and goes to sit on her chair.

Silence.

Adam looks down on the floor, uncomfortable.

A GIRL squirms a little on her seat.

Katie blinks, looking nervous and sympathetic, her hands resting gingerly on her poem, now on the desk in front of her.

ADAM
Halloween is a festival for the dead.

MRS. GREER
(softly)
A little louder.

Adam glances at her, almost annoyed, but then looks back on his chosen spot of floor.

ADAM
(a little louder)
Halloween is a festival for the dead.
Halloween is when you pay your
respects to those who are gone.
Halloween is when the dead remember.
It’s darkness lit with candles. It-

He trails off, looking up at the class quickly and then away again, searching for the words.

ADAM (CONT’D)
It’s only scary if you let it be.

He’s finished.

Mrs. Greer applauds, a wider smile on her mouth as she once more rises.
Two boys, OTTO (14) and BRIAN (14) share a meaningful, nasty look before they snigger. Otto is slightly cooler than Brian, who is gangly, while Otto is sturdy with a mop of blonde curls on his head.

Katie looks relieved at Adam having successfully read his poem, smiling a little as she joins in the applauds.

Adam merely looks embarrassed and more uncomfortable, shuffling back to his seat.

EXT. SCHOOL YARD – DAY

It’s not very big and currently it’s carpeted by large, yellow leaves. Teens stand in groups scattered around the space. The school day has ended.

Katie stands with two GIRLS (15), laughing about something, when Adam exits the school building. Katie’s eyes go to him.

KATIE
(to her friends)
So, I’ll see you tonight? (they nod)
Great! Bye!

She hurries across the school yard, trying to act natural, but her school bag slips off her shoulder just as she reaches the exit to the curb, and she has to save it from falling to the ground by doing a little jiggle, which makes her nearly loose her balance and sends her flying into the boards of the fence surrounding the yard.

Adam turns around where he’s standing at the curb, looking at her for a moment before he turns away again, taking no notice of her smile.

A group of BOYS (14) walk past, all of them giving Adam a slight push until he’s forced to step into the gutter. The last boy gives his neck a sharp slap.

BOY ONE
Hey, freako. How’s life on
the dark side?

BOY TWO
Yeah, try bringing some of
those goth chicks to town, man.
Might brighten things up around
here. What’d ya think?

They laugh idiotically at their own joke.

Adam shakes his head.

Katie does the same, stopping right behind him.

KATIE
I liked your poem.

Adam frowns. Doesn’t turn around.

KATIE (CONT’D)
I mean, it was nice, because it’s
Halloween and it was about Halloween
so it, you know, fits.

He turns his head to her.

ADAM
Yours was better.

She smiles brightly as thanks, but when he looks away again the smile disappears and she becomes troubled.

KATIE
Yours was just as good. Mine was
just different, you know? About
something different. I mean, kind
of. It was still a Halloween poem,
I guess. But—

ADAM
I didn’t even want to write the
thing.

He turns away yet again. It seems he’s a lost cause and she’s about to turn away as well, when she gets a second wind.

KATIE
Bet you don’t know who my poem was
about, though.

Adam hesitates, then faces her properly.

ADAM
It’s about someone? A person?

KATIE
There’s this legend about a guy
who moved here, like, two-hundred
years ago, and how he went all
crazy and killed a bunch of people
and how he was cursed by a witch
and everything. It’s really, really
cool. Seriously. I’ve got the book
at home. You could borrow it.

Adam is very quiet.

ADAM
I don’t know.

KATIE
What’s to know? Come by tonight.
You’re trick or treating anyway,
right? We won’t leave until seven,
so you could come by before then
and I’ll show you the story. You’ll
like it! I promise!

Her enthusiasm is starting to win him over.

ADAM
I guess.

KATIE
Great! So, at, like, six?

ADAM
At, like, six.

She smiles widely.

KATIE
See you then. Bye.

ADAM
Bye.

She heads down the street.

Adam watches her, rather puzzled as to what just happened.

INT. KATIE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

It’s perfect, cream colored with a few hints of pink, quite grown-up, apart from a collection of stuffed toys on the bed and a few posters of well-known children’s books on the walls, as well as a large poster of Daniel Radcliffe on the door.

Katie is wearing a fairy costume with a pink skirt, pink leotard and impressive, white wings covered in sparkles. Her cheeks have glitter on them and her hair is in a tight bun. She’s eyeing herself skeptically in the mirror, which stands next to the door, placing her glasses on her nose for an even better look.

The door bell rings and her eyes widen.

KATIE
(to herself)
It’s cool. You can do this.
It’s just Adam. It’s just Adam.

MOM (O.S.)
Katie, your friend is here!

Katie sticks her head out through the doorway.

KATIE
Could you ask him to come up,
please? Thanks, mom!

Pulling her head back inside, her eyes land on the poster of the young movie star on her door and her eyes widen again. She has a quick look around and grabs her bathrobe lying on the floor, tossing it up in the air and managing to make it hang off the door, covering Daniel just as there’s a knock and Adam pushes to door to slide open.

Katie smiles her hello.

Adam takes in her get-up.

He’s wearing what he wore earlier in the day.

She stares at him, then rolls her eyes at her own appearance.

KATIE
I know, right? I mean, I was
way too late in getting it.
All they had were pixies and
leprechauns and green just doesn’t
suit me so I thought, pink,
what the hey?

ADAM
Yeah.

Katie notices her bookbag on the floor next to the mirror, one of the books peeking out, displaying the scribbled name ADAM on its cover.

KATIE
Book. For you. Have it here
somewhere. Hold on.

She casually swipes the bookbag, stuffing everything inside before bringing it to her closet, hiding it in a corner and grabbing the other book, which lies on a stack of magazines.

The book is nothing special, looks fairly new, but well-used.

Katie plops down on the bed, waiting for Adam to join her. He does so reluctantly, glancing around the room as he enters it.

Katie opens the book and finds the story, handing it over to Adam, who eyes the accompanying picture with relish. Katie’s pleased at his expression.

The picture is a drawing in black and white of a man standing in a field with a full moon behind him, his face is in shadow but his hands are reaching down toward the neck of the terrified victim at his feet.

Adam is reading and Katie shifts her weight to sit a little closer to him.

ADAM
‘It is said that he stalked
his prey mercilessly, following
them for miles, scaring them half
to death before he finished them
off, usually by strangling them
with his bare hands. He earned
the nickname Scarecrow—’

He stops abruptly, looking up at Katie and holding her gaze for a very long moment before slowly closing the book.

KATIE
What?

The doorbell rings and they both turn their heads to the doorway.

They hear the happy chirp of voices from downstairs and Katie groans.

KATIE
Oh, no. They’re early.

Adam rises and she does as well.

KATIE (CONT’D)
Who’re you trick or treating with?

ADAM
I’m not.

KATIE
So come with us. Come on,
it’ll be fun. And then we
can eat candy and finish
the story when we get back.
And talk about it. If you want.

ADAM
Right, but I thought I could
borrow it.

Katie looks disappointed, but nods.

He hesitates, observing her.

ADAM
What houses do you go to?

She immediately smiles.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET – NIGHT

The houses are impressive, sporting large front lawns and nice, wide gates. There’s not much going on, decoration wise, but there are lanterns burning in welcome, and loads of pumpkins on every stoop.

Kids in costumes litter the sidewalk, many of them comparing their loot for the evening as they head for the next house.

Katie, Adam, the two girls from the school yard and Otto and Brian walk in a pack down the sidewalk.

KATIE
(to Adam)
I like the Mars bars best, though.

He smiles tentatively and she looks very happy.

Otto listens to the exchange and nudges Brian, who smirks.

OTTO
Katie and Adam, sitting in a tree.

BRIAN
Chewing Mars bars, one, two, three.

Katie gives them both a scalding look before she shakes her head, her cheeks blooming with embarrassment.

KATIE
(to Adam)
They’re so childish. I mean,
who makes up rhymes anyway, right?
Seriously. Well, unless you’re
a poet, of course, or something.

Adam nods, but smiles a little.

When the gang turns into the next driveway, Adam touches Katie’s arm and motions for her to slow down. She does, wonderingly. The others proceed ahead, not noticing that the two are missing.

ADAM
(to Katie)
Come on.

KATIE
Where? What? What about the others?
What about trick or treating? I mean,
yeah, it’s lame, but it’s fun, too,
and my friends are—

ADAM
So stay. I’m going.

He heads across the street toward a path made between the hedges of two of the large houses. He disappears from view and Katie stands still, unsure of what to do. Finally she follows.

EXT. DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

Otto and Brian have harvested their newest batch of candy first and are half-way down the driveway, ahead of the others, when they spot the glittering wings on Katie’s back disappearing between the dark branches of the hedges across the street.

The share an intrigued look.

EXT. HEDGES – NIGHT

It’s dark green and claustrophobic.

Katie brushes at the branches. Her wings keep getting stuck and she tugs her way forward jerkily.

KATIE
This is such a bad idea, Katie.
Such a bad—

She comes to the other side of the hedges.

EXT. FIELDS – NIGHT

Katie steps onto the grassy mound surrounding a vast collection of fields, stretching themselves to all sides and toward the horizon, merging with the splendid night sky, sporting a large, round full moon.

She turns her head to the side and spots Adam not too far away, walking determinedly.

KATIE
Hey!

Adam stops, turns around.

KATIE (CONT’D)
I’m wearing tights, here, and
it’s freezing, and I have candy
to carry. Mind telling me where
we’re going?

He smiles at her properly for the first time. It brightens up his face. Katie is clearly taken.

ADAM
Come on. I’ll tell you on the
way.

EXT. DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

The two girls stop at the end of the driveway, looking both ways before turning to each other with quizzical frowns.

GIRL
Where’d they go?

EXT. HEDGES – NIGHT

Otto casually plows his way forward between the branches, chewing candy as he goes. Brian isn’t far behind, however, he isn’t as casual.

BRIAN
I wanna finish trick or treating.
Why do you care what they’re
doing, anyway?

OTTO
Just curious. I mean, maybe
Adamoid’s found some stowaway
cottage with a rich old lady
who’ll just shower them in candy
and cash. Think about it.

BRIAN
I think I’d rather be asking for
candy where I know I’ll get it.

They reach the end of the hedges as well.

EXT. FIELDS – NIGHT

Brian and Otto see the forms of Adam and Katie, now quite far away, and get moving after them.

EXT. FIELDS – NIGHT

Katie’s wearing Adam’s jacket, which is black, and a bit big on her. She’s put on the wings on top of it. She’s stealing glances at him as he speaks.

ADAM
I can’t have been more than six
or something when my
great-grandmother told me this
story, and it gave me the heebies
so bad that I couldn’t go to sleep
for a week without a light on.

He checks himself, he might just have revealed too much, but Katie’s simply waiting for him to continue.

ADAM (CONT’D)
She said that this guy that
they called the Scarecrow,
because he didn’t live anywhere
and wore the same clothes for
years and liked to scare people
by showing up at all hours and
following them home.

KATIE
Following?

ADAM
Yeah, like, if you were on your
way home from a friend’s and you
heard footsteps behind you, you
could be sure it was the Scarecrow,
all wide-eyed and twitchy, following
you. If you ran, he’d run, too,
and if he caught you.

Adam pauses, raising his eyebrows meaningfully.

Katie’s eyes widen.

KATIE
But she can’t have been alive when
he was alive. It was in the
eighteen hundreds.

ADAM
I’m not finished yet.

KATIE
Right. Sorry. Go on.

They reach the edge of a wood and venture into it.

Otto and Brian are now not far behind and sneak in their footsteps.

EXT. WOODS – NIGHT

The trees are old and it would be darker if not for the moonlight, painting everything silver.

Katie walks a little closer to Adam.

ADAM
So, they said that this guy
managed to catch a little girl
one night in the woods and he
strangled her and then he tore
her apart and stuck the body parts –
arms and legs and head and body –
onto the branches of a tree and
sowed her mouth shut so she
couldn’t come back as a ghost
and tell on him. My great-grandma
said they searched everywhere for
him, but couldn’t find him, and
that he killed seven other people
before he just disappeared.

A branch breaks somewhere close by and Katie jumps, moving even closer to Adam and nearly grabbing his arm.

Nothing comes out of the darkness to attack them, however, and so she calms down slightly.

KATIE
But still, she can’t have been
alive—

ADAM
I’m just getting to that. She
said that my great-great
grandmother had lived through all
of it, and that’s not the
weirdest bit.

KATIE
What’s the weirdest bit?

ADAM
She said that the first child
that was killed was her sister.

KATIE
My God.

ADAM
I thought you’d like that.

Katie smiles.

KATIE
Wasn’t sure you cared about
what I like.

Adam returns her smile.

Brian and Otto are ducking down behind a thick tree trunk a few yards away, watching as Adam and Katie reach the edge of the wood and stand before a very old, very rickety fence.

Brian is bringing up a Mars bar, beginning to unwrap it. The paper makes a lot of unwanted noise and Otto snatches it from him in irritation, promptly tossing it aside.

Katie is taking in the pumpkin patch, mightily unimpressed.

KATIE
This is where you were taking me?

Adam slides his upper body between two of the diagonal boards of the fence and steps inside.

There’s a soft sigh from the pumpkin patch. Katie shivers with misgivings.
Adam reaches out a hand to help her, his gaze urging her on and she follows suit, her wings getting tangled and Adam helping her loose. Once both are inside the fence, they face the pumpkin patch.

It lays before their feet, wide and long, with the eerie fields as backdrop, reaching a sky where clouds are veiling the moon.

Katie isn’t too sure about the situation.

KATIE
Adam, I don’t think we should
be here.

Adam isn’t listening, walking further in among the fat pumpkins, stepping carefully.

Otto walks out from the hiding place and Brian soon follows. They approach the fence.

OTTO
Well, well. Isn’t this the moon in
the sky, it’s such a lovely evening
lovey-dovey bullcrap?

Brian sniggers.

BRIAN
Bullcrap.

Katie and Adam both turn their heads to the newcomers, incredulous.

ADAM
What the hell.

OTTO
Yeah, what the hell. What the
hell is a creep like you doing
scamming on someone like this
niceness here?

He gestures to Katie, who crosses her arms over her chest, not wanting his misplaced protectiveness.

KATIE
What the hell are two morons like
you doing scampering about the woods at
night? Your mommies will be so worried.

Brian sniggers again, but grows quiet at the look he gets from Otto.

Otto proceeds to climb the fence and Brian isn’t far behind, Katie having begun to step through the pumpkin patch towards Adam.

KATIE
(to Adam)
Sorry about this.

ADAM
It’s not like you knew.

KATIE
So, why are we here again?

Adam reaches out a hand to steady her and she takes it when, suddenly, mice appear from everywhere.

Katie lets out a yelp of surprise. Otto and Brian both grunts with displeasure.

The animals scurry over the pumpkins and around their feet, making the ground look as if it’s breathing, their grey fur reflecting the moon before they’ve moved beyond the patch and are out of sight.

Behind Adam and Katie, still lying on the ground, is the Scarecrow.
The hand of it twitches ominously.

Katie is still rattled from the mice, but is happy to be holding Adam’s hand. When she looks at him, however, his face makes her pause. His expression is different, as if a shadow has placed itself across it.

ADAM
Why did you talk to me today?
I mean, out of all the other days
of the year, why did you choose
today to talk to me?

KATIE
(hesitantly)
I’ve wanted to talk to you for.
I mean, I’ve tried talking to you,
but something always.

ADAM
(interrupting)
It’s because he wanted you here.

Katie stares at him.

The arm of the Scarecrow is looking fuller. More human. It moves slowly, bending at the elbow.

Katie doesn’t get what Adam is on about.

KATIE
Who?

ADAM
I’m sorry.

His hold on her hand hardens. She begins to grow questioning.

The Scarecrow turns its head away so that all that is visible is tufts of dark hair and sickly, white skin.

Katie’s face is beginning to show signs of mounting terror as the understanding of this not being a joke descends upon her.

KATIE
What’s going on?

ADAM
I didn’t have a choice.

The Scarecrow places both hands heavily on the ground, pushing himself into a seated position, head hanging.

Katie draws a sharp breath in fright as her eyes land on the figure.

KATIE
Adam.

The Scarecrow looks up at her, fast, almost as if he didn’t move his head to get his eyes in hers.

His face is split down the middle by an incredibly ugly cut, stale blood mixing with fresh blood as his body is coming to life. His lips are chapped and swollen from the thick, black thread sewn through them and his eyes are bloodshot – one blue, one brown. His skin is pale and wrinkled. He’s filthy, wearing nothing but the rags the old scarecrow had on.

OTTO
What the fuck?

BRIAN
Jesus Christ Almighty.

Adam lets Katie go and she takes a step back.

In a literal blink, the scarecrow is standing.

BRIAN
This is too. Much. This is too much.

He turns around and practically falls over the fence, getting to his feet clumsily and disappearing in between the trees.

Otto stares at the apparition.

OTTO
I swear to God, dude, that is
the best costume I’ve ever seen.

But Katie knows it’s not a costume and she’s horrified. Her eyes go to Adam’s, but his face is set.

She swirls around and runs through the pumpkins, stepping through a few, making their insides seep out. She climbs the fence, hitting the ground and beginning to run.

The Scarecrow draws a hissing breath before he pursues.

Adam stays put.

Otto stares at him.

OTTO
What the fuck is this?!

Katie runs through the thicket, trembling with fear, close to tears, breath in her throat. She halts, looks around, hears branches cracking and chooses left, getting herself moving again. She’s frantic, tearing through the woods blindly.

The Scarecrow follows with something close to calm. His eyes wicked and deducing as he hunts, as if he knows the terrain by heart and needn’t hurry.

Katie is crying now, her make-up running down her cheeks as she stops to catch her breath, but looking behind her she can glimpse the shape of the Scarecrow between the trees and with a scream of fear she starts running again.

Adam’s expression where he’s still standing in the pumpkin patch, is beginning to look tortured, but he doesn’t move.

Katie pushes a thick branch aside and comes to a halt – she’s back where she started. The pumpkin patch is right in front of her. And so is Adam.

She turns around as the Scarecrow emerges from between the trees, stopping a few yards away from her, observing her intently, hungrily.

She climbs the fence again, backwards, awkwardly, her whole body trembling as she stops next to Otto.

OTTO
We have to kill it.

The Scarecrow’s mouth twitches into what resembles a smile.

There’s no killing him.

Otto sees a thick piece of broken off board lying not far away. He bends down and picks it up, straightening himself and coming face to face with the Scarecrow.

He jumps with fright and so does Katie.

Otto raises the splintered board and whacks the Scarecrow on the head with it. The Scarecrow tilts his head to the side before he grabs Otto with one hand and lifts him off the ground, his fingers digging through the flesh of Otto’s throat. Otto makes a gurgling sound as blood begins to pour down his chest.

Katie screams, turning and running straight into Adam.

Otto’s body twitches, his hand dropping the board to the ground and his body soon following, landing with a thud.

Katie’s crying again, raising her gaze to Adam’s and being surprised at the conflict on his face. He looks scared and shocked and she grabs his hand in a tight hold to help steady him.

Adam stares at her, then moves his eyes to the Scarecrow.

Finally he seems to understand exactly what’s happening and turns, still holding Katie’s hand, running for the other side of the pumpkin patch and the two of them easily jumping over the fence as one board is missing.

They run, being followed by an enraged and loud snarl from the Scarecrow.

KATIE
He’s too fast.

ADAM
Only inside the patch.

KATIE
What is he?!

They race across the fields.

The Scarecrow follows, his eyes glinting in the moonlight.

EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE – NIGHT

It’s big and white. All its windows are dark. It has a large, well-kept garden.

Adam is pulling Katie, who is seriously out of breath. Both their legs are muddy from the fields, Katie’s tights are torn and sparkles keep falling off one of her wings, leaving a glittering trail behind them.

They cross the backyard, reaching a low gardening shed at the back.

INT. GARDENING SHED – NIGHT

It’s dark. It’s only window has been boarded up. It’s got a dusty cement floor, a long work table along one side and a wall covered with various tools. Underneath the work table stands three large, wooden chests.

Katie enters, out of breath. Adam follows close behind, shutting the door tight and pulling a heavy bolt in place.

Katie is crying and trying to breathe at the same time, struggling to get the wings off.

KATIE
Get these off me. Get them off!

Adam helps her pull them off and once it’s done, she swirls around, hitting him hard on the arm. She hits him again and again, wherever she can get to, his arms and torso and face, over and over. Finally he gets a hold of her and makes her stop.

ADAM
I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

KATIE
Otto’s dead! I almost died.
And you’re sorry?

They hear the soft shuffle of feet outside and both grow deathly quiet, staring at the small slit underneath the door.

KATIE
What is he?

ADAM
A curse.

KATIE
A curse?

Something heavy hits the door, making it rattle on its hinges.

Adam moves up to the middle chest, grabbing the heavy padlock and extracting a set of keys.

ADAM
My great-great grandmother was the
witch you read about in that book.
She put the curse on our family
because our blood was the first
that he tasted and it made him
want more and more. He craved it.
Even after death. On All Hallow’s
Eve, when the magic of the Earth
and Air combine to make it possible
for the dead to cross over and
walk the Earth again, he rises.
And unless one of my family is
there to provide him with blood
other than ours – he’ll find one
of us. We have to sacrifice a
stranger, or one of us will die.

KATIE
I’m not a stranger.

ADAM
No. But he wanted you.

She shakes her head slowly, looking away from him.

The door suffers another hard hit, the wood bucking slightly under the weight.

KATIE
If he’s already dead, he can’t
be killed.

ADAM
No, but we can be protected.

He opens the chest and pulls out a thick volume.

KATIE
If we’re protected, won’t he
go after someone else? Someone
in your family?

ADAM
They’ve all left. I’ve never
done this before, okay? Performed
the duty. They’re not supposed to
be here to help, so they’ve gone
away. It’s not long ‘til dawn now,
he won’t go looking for them. Here.

He hands her a thick, black candle. Her eyebrows rise.

KATIE
You’ve got to be kidding me.

ADAM
Yes, I am. I’m joking. That thing
out there trying to make us into his
own private stick puppets, that’s a
friend of mine playing an elaborate
prank. We’ll laugh about this in the
morning.

Katie glares at him before taking the matches he’s reaching out to her, lighting the candle.

The sound of nails being dragged against the wood fills the shed. It seems to come from all around, even the roof.

Katie’s hands tremble as she holds the candle, sitting down on the floor next to Adam, who is opening the book.

He finds the right page and begins to read.

ADAM
Numgela’ck. Nu’umgelah. Num’mal.

A bright sphere rises from the pages before expanding until it mimics a tiny explosion, the blast of which moves in soft ripples through Katie’s skirt. After that, all is quiet.

ADAM
Blow out the candle.

Katie does as she’s asked.

EXT. GARDENING SHED – DAY

The door opens a crack, which slowly widens.

Katie and Adam stand in the doorway, looking down at the sunlight falling on the hay-stuffed shape of a scarecrow lying crumbled at their feet.

INT. KATIE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Katie lies in bed with her light on, glancing at the windows of her room and sinking further underneath the covers.

MOM (O.S.)
Good night, hon!

KATIE
Night, mom!

The shredded Halloween costume hangs forlornly over a chair. Katie eyes it before shuddering, throwing her covers off and walking up to the chair, grabbing skirt, leotard, wings and tights and heading out of the room.

EXT. KATIE’S HOUSE – NIGHT

It’s a smaller house, but it looks inviting, with lights on in most windows.
Katie exits the back door, walking up to a trash-can and stuffing the costume into it.

ADAM (O.S.)
Hey.

She jumps high, swirling around just as Adam steps into the light from the porch.

KATIE
What do you want?

ADAM
We need your help.

She eyes him closely, but his expression is nothing but sincere.

EXT. PUMPKIN PATCH – NIGHT

Around the patch, outside the fence, stand scattered men, women and children, forming a circle. They’re wearing normal clothes, but are all obscured by the shadows and we can’t see their faces.

Katie stops at the spot where she and Adam climbed the fence, staring hard at the it, loosing herself in thought.

Otto’s body is gone, and there is no trace of blood on the ground.

A FLASH of the sight of his death comes before Katie’s eyes and she closes them hard.

LOIS (43) steps forward, placing her hands on either side of Katie’s face and making her meet her gaze. Lois has the same eyes as Adam, and looks kind and comforting.

LOIS
Dearest. Come to send this Devil
back to Hell.

She extracts a pair of scissors and Katie glances at Adam, who nods encouragingly. She takes the scissors and steps through the fence, walking carefully through the pumpkin patch.

A mouse appears between the vines, settling itself to watch as she approaches the still form of the scarecrow, lying where he was before, lifeless.

She still slow’s her step, her body beginning to shake.

She looks down at the shape, around at the people, and then she brings the scissors to her hair and cuts off one lock of it. She kneels down and slides the scissors’ gape to encompass the stitches of the scarecrow’s mouth, cutting them open with a snap.

KATIE
This is all you’ll ever get of me.
It will bind you. It will bind you.

She stuffs the lock of hair into the scarecrow’s mouth.

His eyes suddenly flash into real eyes and she jerks back with a yell, scrambling to her feet and running back to the fence.

Once across it, she hides her face against Adam’s chest and he holds her gently.

All around the patch, torches are lit.

The Scarecrow is coming back to life, his body twitching.

The people lower the torches, some of them throwing theirs into the patch. Soon flames begin to lick their way through the pumpkins.

The Scarecrow can’t escape them.

He’s on his feet, about to attempt it, when he’s engulfed and a loud scream escapes from his now open mouth.

Adam watches with satisfaction, making Katie do so as well.

She stares at the shape of the Scarecrow sagging to the ground.

It’s finished.

A little mouse scurries away from the site, disappearing into the low undergrowth of the wood.

FADE TO BLACK.

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