CAST

Steven Bernard – Documentary Director

Lilly Connors – Documentary Host

Jamie FitzPatrick – Documentary Cameraman

Alexis Shaw – Documentary Researcher

Adrian Bates – Hotel Manager

Hag #1 – Evil Bitch

Hag #2 – Another Evil Bitch

1

EXT. PUTNAM MOUNTAIN – ROAD – DAY

We’re in rural Pennsylvania, a few days before Halloween.

The trees are bare, their golden-yellow-brown cargo

recently fallen onto the cold hard ground. A VAN passes

us, speeding towards the far-off mountaintop.

INT. STEVEN’S VAN – CONTINUING

Four people occupy the van, all of them amateur

documentary filmmakers. Driving is JAMIE FITZPATRICK, the

cameraman and editor. Sitting next to him, is LILLY

CONNORS, the hostess. Cuddling in the back ALEXIS SHAW,

the group’s researcher, and their director, STEVEN

BERNARD. “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf blares from

the radio. As Alexis snuggles up to him, Steven checks

his watch, taps Jamie on the shoulder.

STEVEN

(yelling)

Hey! Turn it down!

JAMIE

(yelling)

What?!

STEVEN

(yelling)

I said, turn it down!

JAMIE

(yelling)

WHAT?!

STEVEN

(yelling)

Turn off the music before I - -

Lilly reaches and turns off the radio.

STEVEN (CONT’D)

(still yelling)

... Fire your ass!

He pauses as he realizes he can stop screaming. He scowls

to Lilly.

STEVEN

Thank you.

LILLY

Not a problem.

2

Steven checks his watch again, sighs.

ALEXIS

Hey, babe, what’s the rush? I

thought getting there was

supposed to be half the fun!

STEVEN

Yeah, well not on this trip.

Besides, I don’t really want to

be out in these woods in the

dark.

The rest of the team balks. Lilly laughs out loud.

STEVEN (CONT’D)

What?

ALEXIS

That’s just a story.

STEVEN

Oh, yeah?! Well, if you don’t

believe the stories, why are you

guys coming along anyway?

LILLY

I’m here for one reason; to get

the credit I need to graduate my

field reporting class.

JAMIE

I’m here for one reason, too:

the money.

STEVEN

What money?

JAMIE

Hey, man, a little’s better than

nothing.

STEVEN

Whatever.

JAMIE

So, what is the story with this

place, exactly? I’ve too busy

getting the sound equipment to

notice.

ALEXIS

Okay, get this: way back in the

late 1890’s, a cabal of old hags

3

set up their own settlement in

the woods outside the resort.

JAMIE

(snickering)

Witches?

ALEXIS

It gets better; people in the

resort started disappearing. The

townsfolk blamed the witch

cabal, and hanged all of them.

Ever since then, large wolves

have been seen in the woods at

night, vampire bats infest the

caves north of here, the

occasional guest still

disappears, and

(in best Count Dracula

voice)

some claim to have seen spirits.

The witches’ spirits!

Jamie and Lilly join in as Alexis laughs. Steven snarls

at them.

STEVEN

It’s not a story, okay? It’s

true!

LILLY

And you now this, how?

STEVEN

Remember how I told you I used

to vacation here as a kid?

JAMIE

Oh man, don’t tell us you think

you saw a ghost!

STEVEN

I know I saw a ghost! I barely

escaped with my life!

Steven is visibly upset.

ALEXIS

Come on, Steve, we’re just

having a bit of fun.

STEVEN

Whatever.

4

LILLY

Well, I guess we’re about to

find out if that old story is

true. There it is.

She points, as they round a bend and the massive GOLDEN

LAKE HOTEL becomes visible. (Hotel to be filmed on

location at Mohonk Mountain House.) It is large, gothic,

and more than a little foreboding. Halloween decorations

abound. Steven smiles.

INT. GOLDEN LAKE HOTEL – LOBBY – AFTERNOON

The foursome lugs their luggage into the lobby. Steven’s

friends look around in awe.

LILLY

This place is great!

JAMIE

Look at the staircase! Does that

thing go all the way to the top

floor?!

STEVEN

No, just part way.

ALEXIS

We better check in.

Jamie approaches the MAIN DESK. A MIDDLE-AGED man has

his back turned to them.

JAMIE

Excuse me, mister?

No response.

JAMIE (CONT’D)

Oh, mister?

The man wheels around. This is the hotel manager, ADRIAN

BATES.

BATES

YEEESSS?!

STEVEN

Hey, Adrian.

BATES

Well well well, if it isn’t

young Steven Bernard? I haven’t

5

seen you for so many years; how

are you?!

STEVEN

I’m fine. Adrian, this is Alexis

Shaw, our researcher; Jamie

FitzPatrick, our cameraman and

editor; and Lilly Connors, our

host. We’re here about the

documentary.

BATES

What?

STEVEN

Didn’t anyone tell you? We’re

here to shoot a documentary

about your hotel!

Bates thinks for a moment, then smiles.

BATES

Ah yes, of course, absolutely

positively delightful! Well, why

don’t I just whip out the signin

book and we can get started,

hmmmmm?

Jamie and the others shoot glances at Steven. This Bates

guy is one weird dude.

INT. GOLDEN LAKE HOTEL – HALLWAY – DAY

The four friends stand in a long hallway, dimly lit and

drab. Lilly stands in front of a camcorder, while Alexis

dabs her with make-up and Steven carefully watches Jamie

setup the camera.

STEVEN

Remember, I want to do this is

the least number of takes

possible. So try not to screw up

too badly!

LILLY

Wow. How’s that for friendly

director commentary?

JAMIE

Yeah, lighten up dude. It’s just

a third-rate documentary for a

crappy community college, it’s

not like you’re directing the

next “Alien” movie or something.

6

Steven angrily stomps over to Jamie and gets in his face.

STEVEN

This may be a crappy

documentary, but it’s my crappy

documentary, and it also happens

to be my ticket out of this

sucky college and into a

professional film school. So

just shut-up, and do what I tell

you, okay?!

JAMIE

What wrong with you, Stevie?

You’ve been acting like an utter

jackass since we got here?!

Steven looks like he’s seriously considering hitting

Jamie, but Alexis interrupts.

ALEXIS

We’re ready here.

Steven still has Jamie pressed into a corner.

JAMIE

You want to move, so I can film

this thing, or what?

Reluctantly, Steven steps backs, and Jamie finishes

setting up the camera.

JAMIE

Okey doky, all set.

STEVEN

And roll ‘em...and…action!

Jamie, unnoticed, rolls his eyes at Steven’s overzealous

direction.

LILLY

We’re here in the South Wing of

Golden Lake Hotel, where the

disappearance of General Anthony

Howard occurred in late May,

1906. General Howard was a

military instructor at Westpoint

Academy, and was known to

vacation here at the hotel from

time to time. However, one

evening, we left his room, and

never came back. Some say he

7

defected to live in Russia, but

others say it was the Blood Fang

Witches, who still supposedly

haunt this resort.

Suddenly, a shadow on the wall jolt to life, setting out

a shrill shrieking sound before flying off the wall and

out the window. The friends yell in surprise and

confusion.

LILLY

What was that?

JAMIE

Yeah, man, what was that! That

was crazy, man!

ALEXIS

Maybe it’s on the footage?

Steven, amid the confusion, keeps to himself, looking

extremely anxious.

INT. STEVEN AND ALEXIS’ ROOM – NIGHT

The group is clustered around a laptop, where they are

watching the footage shot earlier.

LILLY

(on tape)

…who still supposedly haunt this

resort.

There is no shadow following, just raised voices. Alexis,

Lilly, and Jamie share a disappointed look. Alexis turns

to Steven.

ALEXIS

So...was that one of your

ghosts?

STEVEN

That? No. That was just a

shadow, Lex.

LILLY

Last time I checked, shadow’s

don’t scream, Steven, not to

mention flying out the window.

JAMIE

Ah, man, maybe he’s right.

Something else made the noise,

like a rat on the floor or

8

something. Stevie’s campfire

spook stories got us all freaked

out.

STEVEN

Well, we’re not going to find

anything else out tonight. And I

want you all rested tomorrow for

the shoot. So go the bed, and

get some sleep.

INT. STEVEN AND ALEXIS’ ROOM – LATER

Steven and Alexis lay in bed, asleep. A thin wailing

sound echoes from somewhere in the distance. Steven’s

eyes shoot open. He slowly, as if in a trance, climbs out

of bed and opens the door, slipping into the darkness. A

moment later, Alexis wakes up, just in time to see her

boyfriend leaving.

ALEXIS

Steve?

No response.

ALEXIS (CONT’D)

Steven?

Quickly, she slides on some slippers and follows his into

the hall.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Alexis walks into the dark hallway, slowly

growing uneasy.

ALEXIS

Steven? Steven, where are you?

A low moaning emanates from the shadows. Alexis slowly

heads into the dark hall. It almost looks the darkness

has formed a solid wall, an impenetrable barrier. She

reaches out a trembling hand.

ALEXIS

(in a frightened

whisper)

Steve?

A leering face lunges at her from the darkness! She jumps

back, and screams. The face moves closer...to reveal

Jamie, laughing his head off.

JAMIE

9

(laughing)

Oh, oh Lex, you should have seen

your face. I wish I had my

camera with me.

Meanwhile, Alexis is recovering.

ALEXIS

Jamie, you shit! That’s not

funny! What are you doing out

here anyway?

JAMIE

I heard your stupid boyfriend

screaming, so I came to check it

out.

ALEXIS

Screaming? Steven wasn’t

screaming! He just left our room

like a minute ago!

In the distance, Steven’s screams echo hollowly.

JAMIE

See?

They hear a strange sound, like a mummified corpse trying

to breath. The duo can just barely make out a shape

moving towards them.

JAMIE

Yo! That you, Stevie?

The shape doesn’t answer.

ALEXIS

Steven?

Suddenly, a loud wailing fills the air.

CREATURE POV

From a strange POV, we race at Alexis and Jamie. They

scream. The wailing and screaming echoes into...

INT. GOLDEN LAKE HOTEL – MORNING

A concerned Lilly approaches Steven, who is talking with

Adrian Bates.

LILLY

Steve. What’s going on?

10

STEVEN

It’s Lex and Jamie. They’re

missing.

LILLY

Missing? What do you mean,

missing? They can’t be missing,

this is a resort, not some

jungle! They have to around here

somewhere.

STEVEN

Lilly, calm down. Now, the

police are searching the forest,

if they find anything, we’ll be

the first to know.

(turns to Bates)

Right, Mr. Bates?

BATES

Yes yes yes. Well, after me, of

course.

Steven leads Lilly away.

STEVEN

Now, Lilly. I know you’re

worried about our friends, so am

I. I mean, my girlfriend’s out

there somewhere. But I don’t

think they’d want us to quit and

go home. I’m planning on staying

in this hotel until our friends

are found – -

LILLY

So am I...

STEVEN

...And I think we should

continue our work...for them.

LILLY

Are you insane?! Jamie and Lex

are gone, and you’re thinking

about the documentary?!

STEVEN

Lillian, Lillian, I’m thinking

of our friends. They’re not

quitters, and we shouldn’t be

either. We owe it to them - -

LILLY

11

We owe it to them to be here

when they’re found. That is the

reason, and the only reason, why

I’m staying. So go film your own

documentary, you shithead!

Lilly stomps away, leaving Steven behind.

INT. LILLY’S ROOM – NIGHT

Lilly lies asleep, tossing and turning. She wakes when

she hears what sounds like Lex’s voice.

LEX’S VOICE

Help me.

Lilly sits up.

LEX’S VOICE (CONT’D)

Heeeelp!

Lilly frowns. It sounds like it’s coming from the window.

She goes over to the window, and looks out, calling.

LILLY

Lex! Leeeex!

The answer drifts from the trees.

LEX’S VOICE

I’m here! Help, me, Lillian.

Help me!

As she looks out at the woods, she sees what looks like a

campfire in the distance. She throws on a jacket and runs

into the hall.

EXT. FOREST – NIGHT

Lilly runs through the forest, flashlight in hand. She

calls out into the darkness.

LILLY

Lex?! Lex, where are you?

LEX’S VOICE

Heeere.

Lilly is finally close to the campfire. As she gets close

to the clearing, the fire becomes visible. Also visible

are THREE FORMS gathered around it. Voices can be heard.

As she reaches the entrance to the clearing she can see

that Steven is one of the people before the fire. She

gasps, and ducks down. Steven looks into the forest: for

12

a moment we think he sees her, but then it seems he’s

only looking into the night. We intercut between the

three gathered in the clearing and Lilly as she watches

from the shrubs.

INT/EXT. CLEARING – NIGHT

Steven turns to the TWO OTHERS, who are covered in thick

rags.

STEVEN

The third is coming.

One of the figures responds with a deep, hissing voice.

FIGURE 1

She had better have some meat on

her. The others did not. And we

need fresh flesh!

The other figure barks out a sharp laugh.

FIGURE 2

Look at them. There’s no meat!

She pulls two round objects from a leather sack. Lilly

strains to see. The second figure dangles the objects in

front of the fire. They are the heads of Lex and Jamie,

still screaming in frozen terror! Lilly suppresses a

scream, but leaps back, breaking a twig. Suddenly, the

two rag-covered figures straighten, and remove their

hoods. They once were women, but now they are shriveled

and decomposing husks. They are green skinned, with big

yellow eyes and sharp fangs. And they are very, very

dead. HAG 1 turns to glare at Lilly, seemingly seeing her

through the trees.

HAG 1

She is here!

Hag 2 points at Lilly, and lets out a loud, long screech!

Lilly screams and runs away, back towards the hotel.

Steven’s face hardens.

STEVEN

I’ll get her.

He takes off after her, into the forest.

EXT. FOREST – NIGHT

We follow both Lilly as she runs away, and Steven as he

chases her. The chase continues for about a minute, as

she races back for the hotel. However, nearly there, she

trips on a root and falls to the ground. She looks up,

13

and sees Steven coming towards her. She freezes, unable

to make a sound. She is nearly is tears.

STEVEN

So now you believe me...don’t

you?

LILLY

Why, Steven? Why?!

STEVEN

Why? To stay alive. You see, I

did meet something strange when

I came here as a boy. The Blood

Fang Witches. And they told me

the only way I could stay alive,

was if I brought hem fresh

flesh. And you’re next.

LILLY

Please, Steven. Please let me

go.

Steven looks as if me may consider it for a split second,

but it’s only a shadow of a thought before his faces

hardens into a snarl.

STEVEN

No.

He slowly moves towards her.

From the forest, a giant face made of fog appears, it’s

mouth opening to swallow Lilly.

LILLY’S POV

The face comes straight at her, it’s mouth

gaping.

LILLY (CONT’D)

No...no...

(the mouth swallows her)

NOOOO!

FADE OUT

The End

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9/16/04