Unpublished gems.
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| Sam Kieth Unpublished gems. |
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| STUFFOGRAPHY A chronological listing of Sam's comic, card, and film work. |
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INTERVIEWS Sam speaks about life, The Maxx, and his plans for the future. |
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WRITINGS Sam Stories available only on the Web. |
Ext. - Megan's house - that evening
Megan sulks up to her front door.
She tries the handle and finds the door locked.
She sees a NOTE taped to the front door. It says:
"If you're not gonna come home to feed or take care of me, you can spend the rest of the night outside."
Shot of Megan's face, taking in the note as her eyes shift.
Megan bolts from the front porch, around toward the back of the house.
She bolts up the steps and tries the back entrance, which she finds locked as well.
Megan sinks onto the steps, but her eyes dart to the right again.
CUT TO: the ROPE Megan uses to crawl up to the balcony sways once again.
Megan crawls over balcony ledge and peeks into her room through sliding glass door. She tries opening it, but finds a WOODEN DOWEL allows the door to open only 4 or so inches.
Shot of Megan painfully squeezing through the narrow door space, into her room, her face beet red. She finally bursts into the room.
Int. - Megan's room
MONTAGE OF IMAGES as Megan packs to leave for good. She fills a BOX and BACKPACK full of CLOTHES, TOILETRIES, POSTERS, HAIRDRYER, CANNED FOOD, JUNK FOOD and her cassette tape player, tapes and headphones.
She moves all her BOOKS into a far corner of the room and throws a TARP over them. She pushes her MATTRESS up against the wall.
PULL BACK to reveal Megan in a completely bare and empty room.
Int. - library hideaway - later that night
Impressive DOWNWARD SHOT of Megan's space in the wall, stocked with canned goods, junk food, cassettes, and posters plastered across the wall. She sits in an orgy of decadence, watching the movie.
CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY OUTSIDE MOVIE ROOM
CUT TO: INT. - MOVIE ROOM
Megan's legs can be seen sticking out of hideaway as squeaking continues.
CUT TO: FRONT DOOR OF LIBRARY
Librarian, Security Guard, and OTHER SECURITY GUARD enter library.
LIBRARY LADY
Thanks for opening up for me, fellas. I've just got to grab something real quick.
SECURITY GUARD
Hey-- you hear that?
CUT TO: HALLWAY OUTSIDE MOVIE ROOM - LIGHT SHINING THROUGH DOOR from inside
Three shadows are cast onto the door from outside.
CUT TO: MOVIE ROOM
Megan in extreme foreground as we see three figures outside, approaching.
CUT TO: HALLWAY OUTSIDE
Guards start to unlock door.
CUT TO: MOVIE ROOM
EXTREME CLOSE-UP on doorknob as guard opens door.
PAN ACROSS surprised faces of two embarrassed security guards and one angry librarian.
Library lady and guards walk up to an oblivious Megan, feet poking out of crack, rocking away.
CUT TO: Megan's POV inside hideaway. Library lady's angry face appears, blocking Megan's view through the crack.
EXTREME CLOSE-UP: Megan's freaked-out expression at FINALLY getting "busted".
Megan pulls her legs into the crack and refuses to come out. Eventually the guards and library lady must drag her out as she cries hysterically.
Time seems to slow down as Megan is dragged, humiliated and embarrassed, out of the crack.
Ext. - rainy city street under streetlamp - later that night
Megan and Library Lady, sitting in her parked Volkswagen.
MEGAN (VO)
I'm so fucked.
MEGAN (VO CONT)
This is the most trouble I've ever been in.
MEGAN (VO CONT)
I bet if she killed me right now, everyone would assume I deserved it.
MEGAN (VO CONT)
Why doesn't she say somethin'?
MEGAN (VO CONT)
I'm really gonna get it. I sure gotta pee.
God, my whole life is over, and all I can think is, "I gotta pee"?
Megan solemnly thunks her head against the side window.
MEGAN
Why'd you bring me here?
LIBRARY LADY
Why do you think?
Pause.
MEGAN
You gonna make me go in?
LIBRARY LADY
Do you want to?
Megan sighs deeply and stares ahead, deep in thought.
MEGAN (VO)
I can't believe she brought me here.
It feels like this whole car is underwater. I feel like I'm under water.
So much pressure... no escape...
MEGAN
I have these thoughts... bad thoughts...
LIBRARY LADY
Yeah? Like?
MEGAN
My mind wanders. I don't... think about him all the time.
I think about other things... happy stuff.
I catch myself... sometimes... I'm going to hell, I know.
LIBRARY LADY
No, you're not. Not for getting sick of grieving.
Pause
LIBRARY LADY (CONT)
You're still angry at him, huh.
Silence
LIBRARY LADY (CONT)
But you don't feel you have the right to be, do you?
Pause
Megan nods.
LIBRARY LADY
So what are you gonna do about it?
CUT TO: INT. - St. Mary's hospital - Gramps' room - later that night
Megan sits at foot of bed, partially obscured by plastic curtain.
CUT TO: INT. - St. Mary's hospital - Gramps' room - later that night
Megan sits at foot of bed, partially obscured by plastic curtain.
MEGAN
Hey, Gramps. I know I usually never talk to you about stuff.
I mean, I do talk to you... only it's usually just in my head.
I think I figured out what that old movie I keep watching is about.
Remember?
I don't think it's about how this girl's life is all sucky and everything, or that Maxim treats her like a little girl, or that Mrs. Danvers wants her dead...
MEGAN (CONT)
I think it's about her not telling Maxim what she's feeling aside...
I'm still kinda fuzzy on why she doesn't... maybe... she knows she's pretty mean for being pissed at you...
MEGAN (CONT)
...for ditching us.
MEGAN (CONT)
...me.
MEGAN (CONT)
I... ya know... she... Jesus, Gramps! You friggin' knew three months ago!
You knew when you friggin' promised me!!! .....Didn't you?
You know what? Screw you! I hate your monkey ass!
Dumpin' all this crap on me??? I don't care that I don't have a right to get mad at you!
I'm just really pissed off that your dying's screwing everything up!
You're really messin' up my life, Gramps!
And stickin' me with Nana?
MEGAN (CONT)
You know what's stupid?
I still love you, but I can't get to it 'cause I'm so dang pissed at you for... for... I dunno.
MEGAN (CONT)
I just don't care what's fair anymore.
Ever since you got sick, "fair" ran off with happiness.
Gee-- that sounds like a crappy country song: "Fair Ran Off with Happiness... And I'm Stuck Without You..."
(giggles) God. I'm cracking up and you can't even hear me.
MEGAN (CONT)
Remember when I was a little girl, and we used to bounce that ball back and forth in the driveway, and you'd tell me about Mom?
You used to tease me, but no matter how pissed I got, you always caught the ball... man, that's corny. Sorry.
Pull back to reveal Megan talking to an empty bed.
Megan gets up and walks over to NIGHTSTAND, collecting some of Gramps' POSSESSIONS (GLASSES, COMB, SHAVER) and placing them in a SMALL BAG.
MEGAN
Well, guess that's about it. Ya know, it seems like you can't hear me this time, eith...
Stay on empty nightstand for beat.
MEGAN (CONT)
...so how come I feel like you just did?
Megan plops a CARPENTERS EIGHT-TRACK TAPE on nightstand.
Ext. - library rear entrance - just before sunrise
Library Lady unlocks rear entrance.
LIBRARY LADY
I don't have time to take you home now-- you'll just have to kill some time here at the library.
Int. - BACK OF LIBRARY
Megan and Library Lady enter and start moving along a row of library books, toward the front of the library.
MEGAN (VO)
Maybe the Library Lady thought she was punishing me, but I didn't mind.
Besides, there was something...
MEGAN (VO CONT)
...I needed to do.
Megan and Library Lady continue from dark rear of library toward the light front entrance. It's like they're headed toward the lighted mouth of a cave.
MEGAN (VO CONT)
I have no idea... why I can do it now.
MEGAN (VO CONT)
But the things that always kept me from doing it... have just fallen away.
Library Lady takes Megan by the shoulders, facing her.
MEGAN (VO CONT)
The Library Lady is saying something now, but I can't hear her. It doesn't matter.
I feel like part of me is somewhere else, anyway.
CLOSE-UP on KEYS as Library Lady hands them to Megan.
MUSIC CUE: Rebecca music swells up as we hear the familiar dialogue:
PROJECTOR (VO)
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.
Megan heads toward evil door as light from sunrise (coming through door) casts shadows behind her.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive.
DOWN SHOT as she inserts key in lock, unlocking door.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
For a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me.
SHOT FROM BEHIND MEGAN as she stands before evil door, and pushes through it.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
Then, like all dreamers...
CAMERA FOLLOWS MEGAN as she walks through the first door, into the small anteroom between. The camera slowly circles around her.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
...I was possessed of a sudden supernatural power that passed like a spirit through the barrier before me.
CAMERA IS NOW FAVORING MEGAN'S FACE as she passes through the second door into the morning sunrise.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
The drive wound away in front of me, twisting and turning as it had always done.
Ext. - FRONT OF LIBRARY
Megan is now several feet out of evil door, as we begin a CRANE SHOT, pulling out and slowly up as she looks up into the sky, hair blowing into her face.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
But as I advanced, I was aware that a change had come upon it.
PULL BACK further as Megan stands, looking up.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
Nature had come into her own again...
PULL BACK further as Megan's small figure is dwarfed by leaves from tree in foreground.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
...and little by little, had encroached upon the drive with long tenacious fingers.
BACK TO EARTH as we see Megan turn from the library and look behind her toward the grassy area the soccer girls once played in.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
On and on wound the poor thread that had once been our drive.
Shot of empty grassy area.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
And finally, there was Manderley. Manderley, secretive and silent.
CLOSE-UP on Megan's face as she shades her eyes from the sun.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
Time could not mar the perfect symmetry of those walls.
Shot over Megan's shoulder as she takes in the empty field for the last time.
Megan turns toward us and reaches in her pocket for something.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
We can never go back to Manderley again.
Megan pulls change from her pocket and walks toward the pay phone with purpose, and calls someone.
PROJECTOR (VO CONT)
That much is certain. But sometimes, in my dreams, I do go back to the strange days of my life, which began for me in the south of France...
MEGAN
Hello? Nana?
SHOT OF MEGAN turned privately away from us as CAMERA SLOWLY PULLS AWAY. We cannot hear what she's saying, but her voice sounds nurturing.
Int. - librarian's desk
Library Lady is watching Megan on the phone.
Ext. - sidewalk in front of library - two days later
Megan walks down sidewalk, looking up at trees overhead.
MEGAN (VO)
It's been a couple of days since my climactic walk through the red door, which is now just an ordinary door, and I wish I could tell you that Nana's not still a pain, and that everything's better...
MEGAN (VO CONT)
...but I'd be lying.
I notice I look up more now though. Funny how much I missed, always looking down.
Megan bumps into something at her feet and looks down in surprise.
SPIKE (offscreen)
Oof.
SHOT OF SPIKE, stuffed into another GARBAGE CAN, moving his legs up and down, trying to squeeze out.
MEGAN
So do you want my help or not?
SPIKE
Screw you!
MEGAN
What?
Megan glares at the shorter Spike. He weakly smiles.
SPIKE
I coughed.
CUT TO: SHOT OF MEGAN having pulled Spike free of the GARBAGE CAN.
SPIKE
Hey-- don't squeeze so hard.
MEGAN
You'll live.
Megan holds Spike up by his shirt again, brushing him off.
MEGAN (CONT)
You know, without your friend's help, you're spending a lot of time in garbage cans.
SPIKE
Me'n' Pete had a gang, but now I'm a loner.
MEGAN
You can be in my gang.
SPIKE
I don't want to be in no stupid girl's gang!
Besides, some short kid and some skinny girl make a crappy gang.
REACTION SHOT of Megan's face: not happy.
SHOT OF SPIKE'S FACE, smiling a shiteating grin.
SHOT OF SPIKE ploping to the ground, MEGAN dropping down over him, and pinning him with her legs on either side as her hands hover in front of him.
Megan looms for a second as Spike wonders what she'll do. She looks fierce and serious.
MEGAN
So you gonna join my gang? And hey-- say you're sorry you called me skinny!
Looking stuborn, Spike shakes his head.
SPIKE
Never!
Megan bursts into a fit of tickling the boy.
SPIKE (CONT)
Stop it! I'm gonna pee! I'm gonna pee!
MEGAN
Go ahead-- I don't care. It's your shorts. You give?
CLOSE-UP of Spike's face as his resolve is breaking.
SPIKE
Screw off...
More tickling.
SPIKE
Ok, ok-- you win. I'm sorry I called you a skinny, but you're a real weirdo, Megan.
You don't fight back because you really like feeling sorry for yourself.
Megan pulls back, pauses.
CLOSE-UP on Megan's face.
Beat.
MEGAN
You're right. I'm a fraud. I did like letting people pick on me, being the underdog.
Well, maybe not liked-- more like got used to...
MID-SHOT of Megan, sitting on Spike, staring off into space, lost in thought.
Megan grabs the boy's arm and childishly gives him an Indian burn.
MEGAN (CONT)
Nyaaah-- Indian burn!
SPIKE
Knock it off, you stupid dork!
EXTREME CLOSE-UP of Megan's face, inches from Spike's, as she leans in and says:
MEGAN
Let me put this in a way even you'll get: either you join my gang, or I'm gonna kick your butt.
SPIKE
So I got no choice.
MEGAN
Right.
MED. SHOT as Megan leans back off of Spike and he sits up, looking relaxed.
SPIKE
Cool. But I'm the leader.
MEGAN
Try again.
SPIKE
Ok, you are. But I get to do important stuff.
MEGAN
So go grab my backpack.
SPIKE
kay.
CUT TO: LONG SHOT of Spike and Megan walking along pavement, with Spike carrying Megan's backpack. Heat from sidewalk distorts their figures as they slowly walk toward us (Jim Belkin's hot plate page).
SPIKE
Too weird! You really walked through it?
MEGAN
Yep.
Beat.
SPIKE
Were you afraid?
MEGAN
Shoot yeah.
SPIKE
So... are ya ever gonna tell what happened that made you scared of a stupid door in the first place?
MEGAN
It doesn't matter, Spike. That's not the point.
SPIKE
What is the point? You spent so long being scared to go through it.
There's gotta be some reason... you're like all strong or smart or somethin' now, right?
MEGAN
Nope.
MEGAN (CONT)
Actually, when you walk through an evil door, I think you kinda lose something.
SPIKE
Like what?
MEGAN
I dunno. But maybe I just wasn't ready to lose it... 'til that day I walked through.
By now Megan and the boy have walked almost fully into frame, their knees almost blacking out the screen.
SPIKE
You're messed up, Megan.
I still don't understand what you got or didn't get by walking through the stupid door.
MASTER SHOT of bench next to library entrance and (formerly) evil door.
MEGAN
You will, when you walk through your own one day.
SHOT OF MEGAN AND SPIKE sitting on bench, back to back, her backpack between them.
Beat.
SPIKE
But I don't have an evil door.
MEGAN
Don't be stupid, Spike. Everybody does.
SAME SHOT. A SOCCER BALL bounces toward the bench, and Megan catches it.
Megan tosses the ball back to someone out of view.
REVERSE ANGLE on THREE YOUNG MEN as one catches the ball.
YOUNG MAN #1
Thanks, kid.
MEGAN (smiling at the young man)
Sure.
CLOSER on Megan and Spike sitting on the bench.
Megan reaches in her pocket and pulls out the Soccer Queen's LEATHER BUTTERFLY BARRETTE.
SPIKE
Where're those soccer girls?
MEGAN
I guess the season's over.
Megan looks down at the barrette she holds in her lap.
MEGAN (CONT)
I was gonna give this back to her.
SPIKE
Who?
Megan looks up, staring at empty park.
MEGAN
(sighs) ...I don't even know her name.
REVERSE ANGLE of Megan and Spike looking out over park.
Beat.
MED. SHOT of Spike and Megan on bench.
SPIKE
Then why don't you wear it?
Megan clips large barrette through her hair, but it awkwardly gets tangled.
MEGAN
Uh..... How's it look?
SPIKE
Retarded. But maybe you'll grow into it.
REACTION SHOT of Megan: not happy.
Spike grins.
SPIKE (CONT)
OK, ok, I'm kidding!
Megan pulls barrette out of hair, embarrassed, and cuffs Spike's head.
MEGAN
No, you're not. It is too big, you little snot.
Spike rubs his head, smarting from Megan's blow.
SPIKE
Lucky you're a girl...
Megan looks up, hearing BIRD SOUNDS from above.
MEGAN
Listen! Hear that?
SPIKE
Yeah. I bet there are some baby chicks up there.
MEGAN
Nope. It's empty.
SPIKE
How would you know?
MEGAN
I just do. I'm magic, you know.
SPIKE
Megan, I could've kicked those guys' asses back at the garbage can, ya know.
MEGAN
Uh huh.
SPIKE
Could've... really.
MEGAN
Spike, give it a break.
SLOW CRANE SHOT UP of Megan and boy sitting on bench, mirroring opening shot with Gramps. As we pull slowly up, past them, past the leafless trees in foreground, we eventually pass an empty bird's nest.
THE END
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 is ™ and © Sam Kieth.
Dwellers of the Outback created and maintained by Chris Caughey. |
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