INT. ALEX’S BEDROOM - EVENING
(ALEX POV). A blank open journal lies on the table. A hand
reaches down and begins to write in it.
ALEX (V.O.)
Once upon a time, in the wealthiest
part of town, there lived a very
rich man and his wife, who had two
daughters. The youngest daughter
was charming, popular and
exceedingly beautiful.
Pictures on the wall and desk show a young family, two
daughters smiling in the front. One with blond hair, one with
brown. The mirror in front of the desk is covered with a silk
cloth.
ALEX (V.O.)
But the eldest was a creature of
unimaginable ugliness. Once she had
been beautiful, but some accident
in her childhood had given her
horrible scars, disfiguring her
forever. The family was so
distraught that they hid their
daughter away, and tried to forget
she even existed.
More pictures of the same family, older. Except in these
photos, the blond daughter stands in the center, the brown
haired daughter is missing.
ALEX (V.O.)
And so the daughter grew up, away
from the eyes of the world, until
she became a local legend of the
lower town, The Monster of the-
An iPhone buzzes next to the journal. The hand drops the pen
and picks up the phone, opening it. A text reads: “Lotus
Inn?” The hand types “OK” and sends it.
Hand rises as the owner stands up, and pulls the silk cloth
off the mirror revealing ALEX ANDERSON, age 17. Her face
shows her left profile clearly, the right is mostly covered
by her long, brown hair. She is very beautiful, with green
eyes, dressed in a black shirt and jeans.
Alex pulls the hair from her right side for a second,
revealing three long, disfiguring scars that run down her
face, one that reaches up to her forehead, narrowly missing
her eye. The lowest one extends to her neck.
She strokes her cheek for a second, expressionless, then
grabs a brush and combs her hair back in place.
CUT TO:
INT. DINNING ROOM
A veritable feast is set up in the elegant dinning room, the
four occupants are enjoying the remains of a chocolate
dessert. MR. ANDERSON, middle aged with greying hair, sits at
the head of the table in an expensive suit. He takes a sip of
wine then laughs at a joke from JOHN, age 17, charming,
handsome, with blond hair and blue eyes and expensively
dressed.
John has his arm around his girlfriend, ALICE, age 16. She
is also blond with blue eyes and very beautiful, dressed in
an elegant blue silk dress. Mrs. Anderson smiles at them
both. She is in her late thirties, with blond hair and blue
eyes as well and in a green cocktail dress.
From outside the doorway in the shadows, Alex watches them
for a moment.
ALEX (V.O.)
My little sister, Alice, had
brought her perfect boyfriend home
to meet the family. Well, most of
it anyway, I was not to enter the
dining hall or living room tonight.
Her boyfriend, John, was all our
parents looked for in a future sonin-
law. Rich, and well connected,
he met every one of their
expectations with flying colors.
Alex slips away and hurries down the hall to the back door.
ALEX (V.O.)
Please, I knew more about that
jerk then anyone in there. It’s
amazing what one can learn when
keeping their ears open and mouths
shut.
Alex opens the back door and slips out.
CUT TO:
2.
INT. THE LOTUS INN-NIGHT
The Lotus Inn is a simple Chinese restaurant. White walls,
with a few flags and fans hanging on them, as well as hanging
paper lanterns. Candles decorate each table.
TUCK, age 20, slightly overweight with dark spiked hair and
five ear studs, stands with his back to the bar, polishing
glasses with a rag. Alex slips onto a stool just as Tuck
turns around and he jumps, almost dropping a glass.
TUCK
Good God Alex! Have you ever
thought about making noise?
Alex smiles slightly. Tuck continues to polish the glasses.
ALEX
So what’s new on the menu?
TUCK
Nothing you’d like. All meat.
ALEX
My usual then.
TUCK
Sure thing.
Tuck turns and yells in the direction of the kitchen.
TUCK (CONT’D)
Hey Pete! One order of Vegetable
Chow Fun and spring rolls!
PETE (O.S.)
What?
TUCK
One order of- F***, I better go get
back there and tell him.(To Alex)
you want your Shirley Temple with
that?
ALEX
Do you even need to ask?
TUCK
(winks)
Coming right up darlin’.
Tuck strides toward the kitchen. Alex looks around the room,
observing.
3.
At a corner table a couple, MR AND MRS. SMITH sit, eating
from plates of noodles. Mrs. Smith strokes her slightly
rounded stomach, smiling at her husband. They hold hands.
The bell over the door chimes and JOSH (20) tall dark and
handsome, escorts petite LILY (20) inside. The waitress,
KENDRA (22) comes to escort them to their table. Josh lets
Lily go first and sneaks a peak at Kendra’s ass.
Tuck returns with Alex’s Shirley Temple, and she takes a sip.
Tuck pours himself a water and leans against the bar.
TUCK (CONT’D)
So, what’s new with the crowd
today?
ALEX
The Smith’s marriage counseling is
going well.
TUCK
Yes I noticed. Little Smith Junior
should be coming along in a few
months.
ALEX
So will little Josh junior.
Tucker sputters on his water.
TUCK
What?
Alex takes another sip of her drink.
ALEX
Josh and Lily broke up a few weeks
ago when she caught him cheating.
She said they would never get back
together except here they are
again. Now normally I would say she
has some serious issues and thinks
she can change him, but she’s just
ordered a bowl of broth. Not soup,
broth.
TUCK
You can hear what they’re saying?
4.
ALEX
I can read lips. She also has a
package of soda crackers in her
purse. She’s going through morning
sickness. Considering her father is
chief of police, they should be
having a shotgun wedding in
about...a week. Before she starts
showing.
Tuck runs his hand through his hair.
TUCK
Anything else?
ALEX
Kendra just got dumped by her
fiance. She’s not wearing her ring
anymore.
Tuck glances at Kendra, she plays with a non-existent ring on
the fourth finger of her left hand.
TUCK
Nope, you’re wrong. She said the
stone fell out, she went to get it
fixed.
ALEX
People with broken rings don’t
carry wads of used tissues in
their pockets. She’s been crying. A
lot.
TUCK
Wow. That was-
ALEX
I wasn’t done yet. Let’s talk about
you.
Tuck nervously takes a sip of water.
TUCK
Me? What’s to talk about?
ALEX
Who’s the new girl?
Tuck sputters and chokes, hacking liquid out of his lungs.
Alex calmly takes another sip and hands him a napkin as he
resurfaces from behind the counter.
5.
TUCK
Thanks....How did you know?
ALEX
You’re wearing cologne. Excessive
amounts. I actually feel like I’m
drowning in it. You’ve also got a
nice shirt on for once. Usually you
wear some geek t-shirt with aliens
on it or weird facts about physics.
You also put two cherries in my
drink when you know I hate these
artificial things.
Alex pulls them out and puts them on her napkin.
ALEX (CONT’D)
And if that wasn’t enough clues
that you’re not in your right mind,
you also gave Jerry the good china.
Alex nods to Jerry (70) long beard, ragged clothing sitting
farther along the bar.
TUCK
What? S***!
Tuck runs toward Jerry and hurridly pours the tea in front of
Jerry into a plastic cup, replacing it next to him. He
quickly takes the plate to the bar and scrapes the food onto
a plastic plate as well.
ALEX (V.O.)
Jerry the Junky was somewhat of a
local character. Though not
actually a junky, he did have
issues, like suddenly throwing
things across the room as if they
were on fire.
Kendra has returned to Josh and Lily’s table, food on a tray.
She hands the broth to Lily with a smile. Josh takes a quick
peak down her shirt as she leans over the table. He purposely
drops his napkin and tries to get a look up her skirt as he
picks it up.
Jerry snatches up his plastic cup and hurls it at Josh with a
war whoop. The tea drenches Josh and he sits up suddenly,
banging his head on the table, cursing.
JOSH
F***, Jerry, I’m going to kill you!
6.
Lily puts her hand on Josh’s arm, coaxing him to sit back
down.
ALEX (V.O.)
Sometimes I think Jerry knows
perfectly well what he’s doing.
Tuck rejoins Alex, setting her food in front of her.
TUCK
That was close.
ALEX
So who’s the girl?
TUCK
You don’t know her. Her name’s
Elena. She’s in my community art
class.
Alex rolls her eyes. And chews down a spring roll.
Swallowing, she ticks the list off on her fingers.
ALEX
She’s a history major, you’ve had a
crush on her since December, her
favorite color is scarlet and she
wants to be a politician and have
four kids and a dog. She was
previously dating the guy who just
got beaned with the cup of Earl
Grey. Honestly, you’d think after
the flaming ka-bobs incident Josh
would learn not to come here while
Jerry is around.
Alex glances at Josh. Lily is cooing and she cleans him off
with paper napkins. She turns back to Tuck.
ALEX (CONT’D)
You caught her on the rebound last
week and you’ll be meeting her
around eight, hopefully to take
your relationship to the next
level.
TUCK
How-
ALEX
You shift get’s out at 7:30 every
night and it only takes twenty
minutes to drive to her house.
7.
TUCK
But-
ALEX
You’ve also got a co**om pack stuck
in your back pocket. You might want
to tuck that in, in case someone
notices.
Tuck reaches back to obey.
ALEX (CONT’D)
On the other hand, it probably
doesn’t matter, most people don’t
notice what I do. Would you like to
know her measurements?
TUCK
No thanks.
ALEX
Suit yourself. Could I get one of
your almond cookies with this?
Tuck hurries off to the kitchen. Alex starts to take a bite
then sighs and puts down her fork.
ALEX (CONT’D)
Please, sit down Kendra, I’m sure
Tuck won’t mind you take a break.
Kendra drops into the seat next to Alex and looks at her
curiously.
ALEX (CONT’D)
I knew you were there because your
sinuses are clogged from crying. As
to your predicament, forget your
fiance, he’s not worth it. Go and
date Pete already.
KENDRA
Pete?
ALEX
Yes Pete. The guy who held your
hand at Horror Fest 3, that guy who
comforted you after your first
boyfriend dumped you, the one who
held your hair when you were
puking your guts out after you got
drunk for the first and only time.
The same guy who's been head
8.
(MORE)
over heels in love with you since
sixth grade. That Pete.
Alex glances at Kendra. Kendra stares straight ahead, running
her hand over her fourth finger again. Alex sighs and pushes
her plate away.
ALEX (CONT’D)
Look, the only reason his not here
now is because you feel to
humiliated to tell anyone. If
he knew he would either be here
comforting you, or out smashing
Keith’s perfect face.
Alex smooths her hair over her scarred cheek. Kendra shakes
her head.
KENDRA
No. That’s can’t be right. Pete-
Pete and I are just friends! He
can’t be in love with me!
ALEX
When you had your car accident last
month and you were panicking by the
side of the road, who did you call?
KENDRA
Pete.
ALEX
Why?
KENDRA
Because-well because he’s always
been there for me.
ALEX
But wouldn’t most people call their
fiance?
Kendra opens her mouth, then closes it again.
ALEX (CONT’D)
I don’t think he just loves you. I
think you love him. Hey Tuck! Can I
get that cookie to go?
TUCK (O.S.)
Sure thing!
Alex whispers in Kendra’s ear.
9.
ALEX (CONT'D)
ALEX
Think about it.
Tuck comes from the kitchen and gives Alex a small plastic
bag.
TUCK
Here you go, hot from the oven.
ALEX
Thanks Tuck. Enjoy your date.
Alex slips out the door. Tuck picks up a rag and starts to
mop the counter. Josh and Lily stand up from their table,
holding hands.
JOSH
Everyone, I would like to make an
announcment...Lily and I are
getting married!
Tuck glances at the door where Alex just left shaking his
head with a smile. Applause greets them from the other people
in the restaurant. Except Jerry. He throws the last of his
plate at Josh, hitting him in the chest.
JOSH (CONT’D)
Goddamit Jerry! Will you cut that
out!
CUT TO:
INT. ANDERSON LIVING ROOM
Alice and John sit on the couch, making out. Alice giggles as
John kisses her lightly on the neck. All freeze as Alex walks
into the room. Alex is the first to recover.
ALEX
Pardon me, I thought the party was
over.
ALICE
Obviously, not.
Alex smiles and ignores Alice.
ALEX
Hello John, how’s your aunt?
John swallows and fiddles with his tie.
10.
JOHN
She fell into a coma last night.
ALEX
Shame, that’s too bad. Maybe you
should go home and see if there’s
any news?
John stands quickly, grabbing his suit jacket on the back of
the couch.
JOHN
I was just about to go check.
Alice follows him, clinging to his arm.
ALICE
John, baby, wait, I’ll go with you.
She flashes Alex a dirty look as she and John leave the room.
In response Alex pulls her hair out of her face. Alice
flinches, and looks away.
Alex watches them leave.
ALEX (V.O.)
I knew why John’s aunt was in a
coma, John’s father had put her
there in attempt to get her half of
the trust fund. Just like I know so
many secrets of the people around
me.
She goes to the window and looks out. John is helping Alice
into his car.
CUT TO:
EXT. DRIVEWAY
John glances up at the sillouete in the window watching him.
ALEX (V.O.)
Maybe it wasn’t fair that I knew
so much about them and they nothing
about me, but that’s the way it
was, and still is.
John gets in the car and drives away.
CUT TO:
11.
INT. PETE’S APARTMENT
PETE (24) sits at his desk studying. There is a knock and he
rises to open it. Kendra stands on the porch.
KENDRA
Hi Pete, IPETE
What’s wrong?
Kendra shakes her head and throws herself in his arms. Alex’s
V.O. continues as Pete holds Kenda gently, patting her as she
sobs.
ALEX (V.O.)
I was a local legend. I had heard
people talk about me in hushed
voices. The monster of the higher
houses. A wicked ugly daughter who
watched the people below, cursing
them with her
every breath. Alexandra Anderson.
It’s amazing what people think up
when you’re different.
CUT TO:
INT. ALEX’S BEDROOM-NIGHT
Alex collapses on her bed and stares at the ceiling.
ALEX (V.O.)
Maybe things would be different if
people knew who the real monster of
the heights was.
CUT TO:
EXT. A GRASSY BACKYARD-FLASHBACK-DAY
P.O.V Trees sway in the breeze over head. Muted laughter can
be heard.
Two sets of hands hold dolls, playing with them.
LITTLE GIRL (O.C.)
I’m the prettiest one
LITTLE GIRL 2 (O.C.)
No I am!
12.
Muted screams, and a broken bottle flies into the camera, a
spirt of red flies.
A little girl with blond hair and blue eyes comes into frame
as the vision is suddenly jerked up
LITTLE GIRL 2 (CONT’D)
Now I’m the prettiest one.
CUT TO:
INT. ALEX’S BEDROOM-NIGHT
Alex sits up quickly in bed breathing hard. She rubs her
hands over her eyes and collapses back onto her pillow.
On her bedside table is a picture of the family together,
Alex stands out with her brown hair, she stands next to
Alice, the same girl from her dream.
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END