Waverly Forks

INT: (Autumn) Morning. DR. NEWTON AND KATRINA BELLOWS stand in an observation room, looking through the window at MAGGIE CABOT. Maggie sits quietly in a chair in a room empty except for one other chair. Periodically, she stares up into the upper right hand corner and begins drawing a symbol (pentagram) in the air with her index finger.


Dr. Newton: I realized you’re not even settled in your office yet, Katrina, but I’d like you talk to her.

Katrina: Well, I’m anxious to get started. I’m here for a reason. What’s her history?

Dr. Newton: Her name is Maggie Cabot. Forty-five years old. Divorced. No kids. She’s lived here in Waverly Forks all her life; I’m not sure she’s ever been past the city limit sign. She came in last night. Very agitated. She kept saying that “they” were trying to kill her. I’ve been prescribing Haldol to keep her calm. Maggie has a history of Schizophrenia that was diagnosed back in her early twenties. She’s never been good about staying on her meds and she won’t agree to injections. Since she’s not medication regulated, she’s been in and out of Gardner Sanitarium so many times she could probably do the admission paperwork herself. Interesting thing about Maggie’s case is her hallucinations.

Katrina: What’s unique about them?

Dr. Newton: She has no delusions of grandeur. No voices telling her to harm any living person. Never has. No, rather, her hallucinations have always been limited to seeing beings that want to harm or kill her or, when they were still living together, her husband. Not once have I ever known her to do anything intentionally violent or threatening toward herself or anyone else, and I’ve treated her since the beginning.

Katrina: Then why the Haldol? What was she agitated about? And, how did she get here? Is she living alone?

Dr. Newton: Her husband, Roger, still cares for her and checks on her regularly. They had dinner last night at Maggie’s house. It was Maggie’s first night back at home. Since she got out of Gardner a few weeks ago, she’d been staying with a friend out in the country on my recommendation. I thought the fresh air would do her good, and it did. Last night, however, about the time she served dessert, she had another episode. Kept screaming at Roger that he had to get out of the house before “they” got him. She started grabbing every crucifix she could find and repeating the Lord’s Prayer and the Rites of Exorcism. Maggie grew up Catholic. She memorized it all in elementary school. That’s how she typically reacts, except that she also starts throwing objects at these “beings” she believes are there. That’s the most dangerous thing she’s ever done.

Katrina: Dr. Newton, I understand that I’m new here, but are you sure about the diagnosis?

Dr. Newton: I’ve wondered about that from time to time. Talk to her, Katrina. Then, tell me what you think. (he turns to go and then looks to Katrina) Oh, and in case I’ve failed to mention it, welcome to Gardner Sanitarium.

Katrina smiles and returns her eyes to Maggie.


INT: Katrina, carrying a clipboard, walks into the interview room where Maggie sits in the chair. Katrina cautiously walks toward the chair and sits down, carefully observing Maggie.


Katrina: Maggie? I’m Katrina Bellows. People usually just call me Kat. I’m a counselor. (pauses) It’s my first day here at Gardner and you’re my first client. I was hoping we could talk for a bit about what brought you here to Gardner. (long pause, she observes and jots on her clipboard) Maggie? (pause) Dr. Newton told me that you’ve been here before, at Gardner. How do you feel about being here again?

Maggie: (begins drawing another pentagram up towards the upper right hand corner of the room) (in quiet, broken, hoarse voice) Safe.

Katrina: Safe? I’m sorry, Maggie. I’m having a little difficulty hearing you, and I want to make sure I clearly understand what you’re trying to tell me. Did you say you felt safe here at Gardner?

Maggie doesn’t respond, but repeatedly draws the symbol.

Katrina looks up to the corner.

Katrina: What do you see up here, Maggie?

Maggie: (quiet, broken, hoarse voice) They can’t get through the walls here. Safe.

Katrina: I’m glad you feel safe here, Maggie. I do. I hope we can help you. Can you describe who “they” are, what “they” look like?

Maggie: (quiet, broken, hoarse voice) Ugly. (pauses, lowers her hand to her lap) (whispers to herself) Safe. (begins fluttering her eyes as if about to fall asleep) (more quietly) Safe. (falls asleep)

Katrina taps her index finger on the clipboard.


INT: Afternoon. Katrina’s empty office at Gardner. Nurse SALLY FORRESTER and Katrina carry a heavy cardboard box into the office and set it on the empty desk.


Sally: One person should never have this much medical history. Goodness! Are you really going to read all that?

Katrina: The luxury of being single, Sally, is that you tend to have a bunch of free time on your hands. Besides, I can’t help but be so curious about her. (sits on the desk) I’ve had clients who thought they were God or Satan or the President, clients who wanted to kill themselves or others because the voices told them to, but never any one like Maggie.

Sally: (sits in an empty hardback chair that is sitting next to the wall) She is an interesting one. In and out of Gardner more times than I could. I really shouldn’t be saying this, but she’s one of my favorite patients. She’s one of the few repeaters I’m glad to see come through the door.

Katrina: What makes her different for you?

Sally: (sighs heavily) You know how it is in hospitals like Gardner, Katrina. Patients come in either needing meds or, heaven forbid, needing to be strapped down to a table for their own safety or ours (points to herself). Then, when they leave, well, (sadly) they’re either so medicated that they’re like a zombie or they go back to someplace where there’s no one to help them take their meds, go to their doctor, stay out of trouble, you know. But, Maggie, she’s different. When she’s well, smart as a whip, I tell you. Maggie has her episodes, and she comes in here, and when she leaves, she’s actually better. She’s calm, her mood is up, all the hallucinations are gone. She usually helps the staff take care of the other residents. Very maternal. Helps feed the patients who are strapped down. Sweeps the floors. Likes to keep busy, that one. But, you feel like you actually helped her when she leaves.

Katrina: How long before she’s readmitted?

Sally: Oh, depends. I think part of her issue is seasonal. She can go an entire summer without a single episode. You’ll see her out and about town, tending to her garden, oh she loves those flowers. But, when the leaves start to fall and the grass starts to die, something changes in her, you know.

Katrina: She grew up here, didn’t she?

Sally: Maggie moved here when she was five or six; we were in the same grade at Waverly Forks. Her father was the head engineer who built the bridge coming over the Waverly River into town. Up until then, we were still using a barge. Now, Maggie’s grandparents did grow up here in Waverly Forks. They were quite influential in getting the town incorporated, political stuff like that. And, Maggie’s father grew up here until he went to college. He spent a few years abroad, I think, before he came back here. Not much call for engineers around Waverly, you know.

FEMALE VOICE over PA system: Sally Forrester to the 5th floor nurse’s desk. Sally to the nurses desk.

Sally: I am being summoned (stands proudly, humorously).

Katrina chuckles.

Sally: Let me know if you need anything. I’m always somewhere around the 5th floor.

Katrina: Thanks, Sally.

Sally walks out.

Katrina takes the lid off the box.



INT: Early evening. Katrina drives in to the paved circular driveway in front of the WESTON HOUSE. LUKE WESTON exits the house and waits for Katrina. His pickup truck sits in the driveway, and WESTON Construction is written on the side. Leaves cover the large lawn and the lawn needs to be mowed. The house is a very old, large, 3 story colonial style home with balconies of the upper two floors. Katrina parks, gets out, and walks toward Luke. Katrina wraps her coat around her and the wind blows her hair about haphazardly.

Luke: Katrina Bellows, you did pick a chilly day to be moving in.

Katrina: Yes, I did, Mr. Weston.

Luke: Oh, it’s just Luke.

Katrina: Can we have this conversation inside, Luke?

Luke: (laughing) Come on in. Or, maybe you should invite me in since you’re the one living here now.



INT: Inside the empty Weston House. Katrina and Luke walk in and shake the cold off. Luke closes the door. Katrina takes a check from her purse and hands it to Luke.

Katrina: Well, I guess I’m not technically living here until I give you this? I made the check out to Luke Weston. If there’s a rental company I need to make it out to, I can change it.

Luke: No, Katrina, I am the rental company. Are you sure you want to live here?

Katrina: Well, there’s not that many rentals in Waverly Forks. Besides, this old house has character. Who wouldn’t want to live here?

Luke: I’ve never liked this house. Even as a kid, when my grandmother lived here.

Katrina: Luke, why? It’s beautiful!

Luke: (embarrassed) I have this thing about big houses. Can’t stand them. The smaller, the better. I stay in a tiny cabin out of the country about the same size as a motel room, and sometimes I think that’s too big. Let me show you around the place again so you know where everything is.

Katrina and Luke begin to walk around the house.



INT: Kitchen of the Weston House. Katrina and Luke enter.

Luke: This is the kitchen, of course. Everything’s electric, but there’s a generator out back in the power goes out. Just call me if you have any problems with anything. I’m pretty good at fixing just about anything.

Katrina: So, how long has the house been empty?

Luke: My grandmother lived here until she died about forty years ago. It sat empty for a while, family moved in and out now and then. When my father died about ten years ago, I inherited it. It’s been rented off and on since then. Usually just a few weeks at a time. Traveling preachers mostly. There aren’t that many rentals in Waverly because there aren’t that many people moving in. Not much here to draw people.

Katrina: It is pretty rural.

Luke: It really is. Uh, if you need groceries, something other than just a gallon of milk, your best bet is to drive over to May Falls. It’s about a 30 minute drive, but they’ve got a chain store over there. Keep your gas tank full around here. Seriously. You can’t count on a gas station being nearby around here. And, if you need a hospital, uh, well…

Katrina: May Falls? (smiles)



INT: Library of Weston House. Katrina and Luke enter.

Luke: This was used as a library ever since the house was built over 150 years old. My family helped to found and settle Waverly Forks, built most of the older homes in the area. For the longest time, this house was the THE house in town.

Katrina: It’s beautiful.

Luke: It’s seen its better days. It’s still in really good condition, but not like it used to be. (they both exit, Luke turns off the light and closes the door)



INT: Hallway outside the library at Weston House. Katrina and Luke walk down the hall.

Luke: Construction is still what I do, but not around here. No one to buy anything anymore. I’m gone a lot, but I know people who could come over if you needed anything while I’m out of town. So, just call me.

Katrina: So what happened to Waverly Forks that caused it to be from a boomtown to no-one-to-buy anything town?

Luke: TVA built a dam up the river a ways back. It diverted the barge traffic away from Waverly Forks. And, the river was the primary transport for the coal miners around here. They used the trains for a while, but then the trains stopped passing through the smaller towns like Waverly. That all happened about the same time that the price of coal hit bottom. It was the perfect storm. (they stop at the end of the hall) Kat, the people around here have had it hard for a long time. Gardner Sanitarium was supposed to help Waverly Forks get back on its feet, bring in a bunch of a jobs and some good PR, but it didn’t. Now, it’s just a big eyesore that’s nearly empty with one doctor, a handful of nurses and…

Katrina: Me. Someone not from the local community.

Luke: (embarrassed) What I’m saying is, don’t take it personally if the people around town look at you funny. It may take people around here some time to warm up to you.

Katrina: Like about five generations? (calmly) I understand. Really, I do.


INT: Living room/front door of the Weston House. Luke and Katrina finish coming down the stairs and go toward the door.

Luke: You’ve got my number.

Katrina: I do.

Luke: (hesitant to leave) Well, I guess that’s it. I’ll get this lawn tended to this week. The rain we’ve had lately…

Katrina: No rush. It’ll be fine.

Luke: Okay. (opens the door) Well, um, if you find that big houses get to you, feel free to call me, even if there’s nothing wrong.

Katrina: I’m sure the house and I will be just fine. Thank you.

Luke nods in understanding and heads to his truck.



INT: Front porch of the Weston House. Katrina waves and Luke drives away. Katrina inhales with contentment as she turns and looks inside the house from the door, and then enters and closes the door.

INT: Nighttime. Living room of the Weston House. Katrina settles in to a sleeping bag on the floor. She checks the time (10:04) on her alarm clock which is plugged in to a wall outlet several feet away. The wind is blowing outside and rain begins. Katrina sighs heavily and audibly.

Katrina: Goodnight, Big House.

Katrina closes her eyes and gets comfortable. Then, the wind blows a shutter back and forth, hitting the house with a pounding noise three times. Katrina opens her eyes, sits up and sees the shutter. She smiles at it with an expression of interest, lies back down, and closes her eyes.



INT: Morning. Kitchen of the Weston House. Katrina plugs in a toaster, puts two slices of bread in. A jar of hazelnut peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a paper plate, a plastic knife, and large coffee mug sit on the counter near the toaster. The cell phone rings, and Katrina takes the phone from her purse which sits on the opposing counter. She hesitates to answer when she sees the caller ID read: DANIEL ENGLAND. It’s raining outside.

Katrina: Hi, Daniel.

Daniel: (filtered) I didn’t wake you did I? The internet said it about 6:30 there.

Katrina: No, I’ve been up for a while. Portland is three hours behind Tennessee, I think. Why aren’t you asleep? (she checks on the toast)

Daniel: (filtered) Been up all night researching a company. They’re looking for a new investment broker, and I’m hoping to get the account. You were so upset before you left, I just wanted to call and check, see how you were doing.

The toast pops up. Katrina unplugs the toaster.

Katrina: I’m fine, Daniel. Really. I had my first day at work yesterday and I’m getting settled in the rental house (she looks around at an empty kitchen). Everything is fine. It was probably just what I needed.

Daniel: (filtered) I know a lot happened before you left. I would’ve had a hard time dealing with it too, but moving away to some little nothing town, away from everything and everybody you know? It seems… very unlike you. I’m worried.

Katrina: Well that’s the good thing about breakups, Daniel. You don’t have to worry anymore. (puts the toast on the plate and tries to hold the phone while applying the hazelnut butter, she quickly becomes frustrated and stops, leans against the counter)

Daniel: (filtered) I just said I needed some space. Just for a while. So, I can figure some things out.

Katrina: Same thing.

Daniel: (filtered) Look, I don’t want to get in to this again. I just, well, I hope you know you can call me if you need anything, anything at all.

Katrina: (after a long pause with tears in her eyes) Thanks. (pause) I need to go. I have to finish getting ready for work.

Daniel: (filtered) Okay, I’ll talk to you later.

Katrina hangs up the phone and fans herself with her hand in an attempt to keep her composure. She then takes a prescription bottle out of her purse. Stares at it, uncertain, and then takes one pill.



INT: Morning. Nurse’s desk at Gardner Sanitarium.

Sally: Haldol’s starting to wear off, but she’s still pretty out of it. Dr. Newton reduced the dosage significantly since she has a history of calming down once she’s here. She’s in her room when you’re ready to see her. She’s already had her breakfast. Ate well this morning.

Katrina: Yeah, good, thanks. I think I’ll go check on her while I have a few minutes. Dr. Newton said he’s giving me a few other clients today.

Sally: (laughs) I’ll fill you in on all them when you get the list.


INT: Morning. Maggie Cabot’s hospital room. Maggie sits in a chair by the window. It’s cloudy but no longer raining. Katrina walks in.

Katrina: (knocks three times on the door before stepping inside) Maggie? Can I come in?

Maggie: (looks slowly to Katrina and nods yes and smiles) What’s your name?

Katrina: Katrina, but people just call me Kat. (leans against the window) Looks like the rain finally stopped. How are you feeling today?

Maggie: I remember you.

Katrina: Good. Perhaps when you’re feeling up to it we can go for a walk along the grounds. How does that sound?

Maggie: Katrina. Kat. (nods yes) Safe.

Katrina: Yes, Maggie, you’re safe here. And, I hope to get you know you better while you’re here. Maybe we can talk a bit more when your meds wear off a little bit more.

Maggie: (slowly, to Katrina) Maggie. I’m Maggie Cabot. You are Katrina. Kat. Gardner. Safe. (looks out the window again) Safe.

Katrina looks out the window and realizes that Maggie can see the entrance road with the Gardner Sanitarium sign over it. In the opposite direction is a hill (the cemetery is on the other side but is unseen from here).

Katrina: (quietly) Yes, Maggie. You’re safe.


INT: Morning. Observation window beside Maggie’s room. Dr. Newton stands behind the window curiously watching Maggie and Katrina by the hospital room window.

INT: Noontime. Room of patient ALLISON NORRIS at Gardner. Sally is in the room, as is NURSE PAULA. Paula is on one side of the bed; Sally on the other; Allison is in the bed and the head of the bed is raised so that Allison is sitting. Katrina steps inside the door and watches the scene.

Allison: (screaming) I don’t want it! (throws her tray of food against the wall, just pass Sally)

Sally: (ducking) Now, Allison, that is enough! Paula, hold her down. (Sally begins strapping down Allison’s wrist)

Allison: (screaming, struggling) You can’t tie me down! I’ve got rights!

Sally: (goes to strap down the second wrist) When you calm down, Allison, we’ll get you out of these straps.

Katrina walks further in the room.

Allison: (to Katrina) Help! They’re tying me down. They’re trying to starve me!

Katrina: Really?

Allison: Help! Somebody help me!

Sally: Paula, will you please go get Allison another plate of food and I’ll clean up this mess. (Paula leaves the room) (to Katrina) This is Allison. Allison, this is Katrina.

Allison: Are you a doctor? Get me out of here!

Katrina: I’m a counselor.

Allison: (screaming) I don’t want to talk to you! I want to go home! (begins to sob) I want to go home. Why won’t somebody just help me go home? I’ll be good. I’ll do whatever they want. Just let me go home.

Sally: (to Katrina) Allison just arrived here. She’s come all the way from Memphis, clear across the state, haven’t you Allison?

Allison: (continues to sob) I hate it here. I want to go home.

Sally: (to Katrina) She’s been in and out of hospitals for the past few years, haven’t you Allison? (whispering to Katrina) None of the other hospitals would take her back. She knows how to work the system.

Allison: (sobbing) Why can’t I go to the hospital I want? I don’t like it here.

Sally: (pats Katrina on the arm) Good luck with this one. (leaves the room)

Allison looks angrily at Katrina.

Katrina: (takes her chart from beside the bed, looks at it and then to Allison) Well, Ms. Norris, I’m sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. It looks like this is your first admission to Gardner. That’s something we have in common, I guess. I’m new here, too. Today is my second day at Gardner, and you’re my second patient.

Allison continues to glare angrily and silently at Katrina.

Katrina (continuing): And, as I mentioned earlier, I’m the counselor here at the hospital. So, while you’re here, we’ll be doing some individual therapy and, when you’re ready, some group therapy. I’ll share with you some skills, some techniques, little things you can do each day to help manage your symptoms so we can get you stable and back home, which I gather is where you really want to be anyway. (long pause as Allison continues to stare) You’ve been in other hospitals. I’m sure you’ve received education before on various coping techniques, but maybe we can find something new this time, maybe something that works better than other things you’ve tried in the past. (pause) Can you tell me some of the things you usually do when your symptoms start to escalate?

Allison: (begins to tear up, but swallows down her tears) I listen to music sometimes. I just want to go home. I wanted to go to my hospital. I don’t want to be here.

Katrina: What’s different between this place and your usual hospital?

Allison: (tearfully) I know the people there.

Katrina: You’ll get to know the people here. You may even like some of them. (turns and looks at the food on the wall)

Allison: (very calmly) I can go home now. Really. I don’t feel like hurting myself anymore. I wasn’t really going to hurt myself. I was just really mad. I don’t like my medicine. It’s not working. I need new medicines, but I can get those from my real doctor. He knows me. He knows my history. I don’t need to be here with a new doctor who doesn’t know me. Can you give me new meds?

Katrina: No, I’m a counselor; we don’t write prescriptions. Let’s give it a few days, Allison. We’ll see how well you respond to treatment and then we’ll re-evaluate the situation. But, for now, if you want to go home, the best thing you can do is cooperate and focus on getting better.

Paula returns with a tray of food and places it on a table in front of Allison.

Paula: Shall I unstrap her?

Sally returns and begins cleaning the thrown food.

Katrina looks to Sally and then to Allison.

Allison: I’ll be good. I won’t throw it again. I promise.

Katrina (to Sally): What do you think?

Sally: (walks to Katrina) She put up quite a struggle earlier. Has since she got here. But, if you want to give her a chance…

Katrina: Okay, Allison, here’s the deal. We’ll unstrap you long enough for you to eat. If you do okay during that time, we’ll leave you unstrapped as long as you’re calm. But, one problem, I mean just one, and you’re going to have to be restrained, either physically or with medication. Do we understand each other?

Allison: (angrily) Yes. (to Paula) Now, get me out of these things!

Paula begins to unstrap Allison.

Allison: (not fighting, but angrily) Get out of here so I can eat my food! Get out!

Paula, Katrina, and Sally calmly leave.



INT: Hallway outside Allison’s hospital room. Paula, Katrina, and Sally step outside. Sally has her ear to the door.

Sally: (quietly) I don’t hear anything being thrown.

Paula: Whew.

Sally: She took her meds before she threw the first tray. It shouldn’t be too long and she’ll be calming down.

Katrina: Let’s just give her some time then. (chuckles) Just another day at the office, huh?

Sally smiles.

Paula, Sally, and Katrina walk down the hallway toward the nurses’ desk.



INT: Afternoon. Second floor of Gardner Sanitarium. Katrina walks down the steps to the second floor, passing a sign that reads: Second Floor: Lab, Laundry, Housekeeping, Records, Morgue. Katrina walks quietly through the empty and deserted floor, passing the nurses’ desk, drawing her finger across it to show the dust that has collected. She stops to peak in an empty lounge beside a sign marked “Employees Only,” pulling down spider webs from the corner of the door frame with her hand. She continues down the hallway, passing a dusty, enlarged photograph of Gardner when it was newly built, with beautifully landscaped yards. Only the entrance sign says Gardner Hospital. Katrina draws her finger over the sign, erasing the dust. Beside this photo is an old black and white photo of the original staff, with a young Dr. Newton near the end of the back of three rows of people, including two other doctors and three women in nurse’s uniforms. Katrina keeps walking, turning left at the next hallway. She enters through two doors marked “Morgue.”


INT: Afternoon. The Morgue of Gardner Sanitarium. Katrina walks in and turns on overhead dusty lights. Twenty empty slabs are positioned in the room, ten on each side. Metal bowls and various medical instruments are laying haphazardly on counters that run the length of each wall. Katrina walks between the slabs, up towards a documentation area with a web-covered typewriter and a desk. One toe tag still sits beside the type writer. Katrina picks it up and studies it, then returns it to the desk. She then hears a quiet, long exhale that startles her. Sally enters the room loudly.

Sally: What are you doing in this old place? (she waves her hand as if it smells)

Katrina: (startled) Just exploring parts of the hospital. I was reviewing Maggie’s files and needed a break.

Sally walks up to the desk. A long, quiet, exhale sounds again.

Katrina (continuing): Did you hear that?

Sally stops to listen.

Sally: (laughs) Yes. And, I was thinking the same thing you’re thinking the first time I heard it to. It sounds eerie, especially when you’re in this room. But it’s just the echo of the central air unit kicking on upstairs. One of the heating and cooling guys told me that the vents down here were shut off, but there’s still just enough air getting through to make it sound like someone breathing. I still don’t like it.

Katrina: (feeling foolish) Of course. (relieved) I knew there had to be some logical explanation.

Sally: Still creeps me out being in here. I was one of the nurses who helped move the records upstairs. Ugh. I can’t tell you the number of times I could have sworn I heard something.

Katrina: Why did they close off so much of the hospital?

Sally: Money. They built this old place thinking that people from surrounding counties would all come here. Didn’t happen that way. My mother was one of the first nurses to work in this hospital. She wasn’t crazy about the morgue either but she spent quite a bit of time here. There were a lot of babies born here at Gardner that weren’t making it. A lot of really severe birth defects, missing limbs and undeveloped organs. My mother worked in the nursery, and when an infant would die, she’d have to bring the child down here and help to do what needed to be done. So sad to think about all those babies that came through here.

Katrina: Why so many infant deaths.

Sally: They blamed it on Thalidomide. Then, they blamed it on the coal mines. Then they just blamed it on the hospital. Personally, I think a lot of it had to do with so many women in the area giving birth at really young ages, in an impoverished area where nutrition isn’t very good, and with no prenatal care whatsoever. It was a perfect storm.

Katrina: And, they all came through here. (sadly, looking around)

Sally: Yes, and not all of them left. Uh, what I mean is, not many families could afford proper burials, so the hospital created its own cemetery. You probably haven’t seen it yet. But, it’s at the rear of the hospital, down the hills a ways. Even Maggie has a couple of siblings buried down there from when her family wasn’t doing very well. Like the hospital, it’s seen its better days. But a few of the graves are still tended to.

Katrina looks stunned.

Sally: Come on, Kat. Let’s get you out of here. Too much time on this floor will drive you crazy. Trust me. I know.

Katrina and Sally walk out, shutting the doors behind them. A long, quiet exhale is again heard in the empty room.



INT: Early evening. Weston House front door/living room. Katrina comes in, carrying one of Maggie’s files. She places it on the floor, and begins rubbing her arms as if cold. She stops to turn the heat up and then quickly lights a fire in the fireplace. The room is still empty except for her sleeping bag and alarm clock.

Katrina: (on way to fireplace) Come on moving van. I could use some furniture. (after lighting fire) There. That should warm things up pretty quickly in here. (sighs as she looks back to the single sleeping bag) Hum. God, I wish there was take-out in this town.


INT: Early evening. Weston House kitchen. Katrina pours a can of soup into a small saucepan.


INT: Late evening. Weston House living room. Katrina reads Maggie’s file while sitting on a folded up sleeping bag and eating soup from the saucepan she is holding. A potholder sits on the floor to set the pan on. Another potholder is on the floor holding a cup of hot tea, with the teabag still in the cup.

Katrina: (quietly to herself) Patient reports an entity is trying to kill her. Patient reports said entity entered the house through the fireplace previously, so she had it bricked up. Well, that’s right out of Amityville. Patient reports entity found another way in to the house through the walls. Patient reports entity tries to suffocate her and sometimes she awakes to find said entity above her. Patient reports entity has no face, but is a black mass. Patient said that there have been several entities, but one is in charge. Patient refers to the entity as…. As….. (she sees that the name is scribbled out on the paper; turns the page back and forth) Why would someone mark out the name?

The shutter at the front window begins banging at the house again, causing Katrina to immediate look toward it. Katrina removes her glasses, sets down the soup on the potholder, and walks toward the window. The shutter stops moving. Katrina looks out the window at a nearby tree, but there is no wind blowing. Katrina draws the curtains.



INT: Morning: Front porch of Weston House. Kristina is nailing the shutter closed as Luke Weston pulls in the drive and walks up the porch.
Luke: You know, I would have done that for you.

Kristina: Oh, I’m not incapable. I’m a woman who actually comes with my own set of tools in the car. Although I admit, on occasion, I have used my shoe as a hammer and a knife as a screwdriver.

Luke: I was just driving past this morning. Saw you out here. How’s it going so far?

Kristina: (hammers last nail and faces Luke) Oh, the house is great. I love the house. How do you feel about my putting some fresh paint on some of the walls? Nothing outrageous mind you. Neutral, colonial-appropriate colors.

Luke: Fine with me. Let me know what colors you want and I’ll pick them up for you. I know a guy who’ll give me a good deal over near Asheville. Did your furniture arrive yet?

Katrina: The moving company called this morning. They won’t have my furniture here until later this week. Something about having sent it to the wrong state. How do you send an entire truckload of furniture to the wrong state?

Luke: (laughs) Look, I’ll be coming back through May Falls this evening. What do you say I pick us up a pizza and we have a little picnic in the backyard? Get to know each other better.

Katrina: (tempted) Pizza? That sounds wonderful. I’ve been living on peanut butter toast and canned soup waiting for all my stuff to arrive. (teasing) Can you get breadsticks, too?

Luke: (laughing) Yeah, I think I can manage that. Waverly Forks is not exactly a mecca for foodies. I’ll be by around seven if that’s okay?

Katrina: Perfect.

Luke: Oh, and good job on that shutter. (walking down the steps) You ever want a construction job, give me a call. (walks to his truck and leaves)

Katrina looks at the nailed shutter with pride.


INT: Afternoon. Outside Gardner Sanitarium at a picnic table. Maggie and Katrina walk towards the table and then sit across from each other. Maggie is holding a blanket wrapped around her.

Katrina: How are you doing today?

Maggie: Better. The meds aren’t holding me down as much. Still tired, but I can stay awake longer, focus a little better.

Katrina: Still feel safe here at the hospital?

Maggie: I always feel safe here at Gardner. (long exhale) They can’t get through the walls here. I don’t know why. I’ve never known why.

Katrina: I’m glad you’re safe here, Maggie. We need to start working toward a resolution so that you feel safe at home, too. So, we can get you home. Safely.

Maggie: (long pause) You can always tell when fall is in the air here in the mountains. (breathes in deeply) Do you smell that, Kat? Mother Nature only puts a scent like that on the air during one season. It’s almost like a crisp warning that winter is on the way; best be prepared.

Katrina: Why don’t we sit? (they both sit at the table) Prepared for what?

Maggie: Oh, you’ve never lived in the mountains, have you? Winters here are different than other places. Colder. Harsher. People who are already hungry, struggling know it’s about to get worse, and it will stay that way until the spring thaws.

Katrina: Why do you think the people that settled this area stayed if the weather was so difficult?

Maggie: Because it’s home. It’s what we know. It’s not much, but it’s home, it’s ours, and we’ll always stay here and fight for it best we can. That’s all we ever do, I suppose; the best we can. People in these parts learn early how to survive, how to get by and make do with what they can, what they have.

Katrina: And, who they are?

Maggie: What do you mean?

Katrina: Not all struggles are external. I assume you’ve been doing the best you can as well.

Maggie: (pauses, uncertain) You don’t understand, Kat. You’re not from around here. You don’t understand how things work around here.

Katrina: Maggie, I’d like to understand… if you’d be willing to help me. I’ve been reading through some of your old files, reviewing some of the sessions you’ve had with other people. Thinking maybe I’d find something that I could use to help you.

Maggie: (uncertain, looks toward the hillside where the cemetery sits down from) Won’t do you any good, Kat. None of them really know the whole story. Never have. Part of the problem with a small town is that everyone is connected somehow. Lot of secrets in a small town.

Katrina: Then, talk to me. Let me help you. Until you open up all the windows and let the light shine on your truth, you’ll stay trapped in this pattern. Maybe it will help that I’m not from here. I don’t know all the old histories. I come with no biases formed from having lived here all my life. Let me help you.

Maggie looks again toward the cemetery with uncertainty.

Katrina turns to look in the same direction, not knowing that the cemetery is just down the hill from where Maggie stares.

Sally walks around the building and sees Maggie and Katrina. Her expression is one of anger, but then she smiles and hollers to Katrina.

Sally: Kat? (she waves) Dr. Newton wants Maggie back in her room before he makes his rounds. Maggie, I think he’s going to review your medications again.

Maggie: (very quietly, to herself, very sadly) I’m sure he is.

Katrina looks to Maggie uncertain of what she said.

Katrina and Maggie arise and walk toward Sally. Maggie walks past Sally and goes around the corner. Katrina and Sally talk as they meet up and begin following Maggie.

Katrina: Should she be walking alone?

Sally: It’s okay. Maggie knows the way; we always put her in the same room. Besides, you don’t have to worry about her running away. Were you able to get anything out of her?

Katrina: No. Whatever secrets she holds inside, they’re pretty well walled up. I’ll keep trying, though.

Sally: That’s all you can do.



INT: Nighttime. Back yard of Weston House. Luke and Katrina are at a stone table in the back yard. Luke is setting the pizza down and Katrina is setting out paper plates and napkins. Five lit candles sit on the table and the back porch light is on. A box of breadsticks is nearby as is two wine glasses and a bottle of wine. They sit down to eat. The lawn is now mowed.

Katrina: Lawn looks so much better, Luke. Thanks for getting that done.

Luke: Not a problem. Sure you don’t want to eat inside.

Katrina: No. Pretty soon, it’ll be too cold to eat outside.

Luke: Yeah, winters around here can be rough.

Katrina sits and opens the box, giving each of them a piece of pizza. Luke sits as well and beings to pour the wine.

Katrina: Oh, that smells wonderful.

Luke: Got it at a little local place over in May Falls. Everything is home made from scratch and it’s all locally grown. Makes all the difference.

Katrina: (after taking a bite) Wow. That is good. How’d your day go today?

Luke: Yeah. I’m hungry, too. I’ve got this contract a few towns over. Building this new medical facility. Nothing fancy, mind you. Just a good place for people to go for smaller emergencies when the ER really isn’t necessary. It’ll cost the people less, the insurance companies less, hopefully create a few jobs in the area. Anything new happening over at Gardner? (eats hungrily)

Katrina: Did Weston Construction help build Gardner?

Luke: Sure. It was such a big project for the area. Why?

Katrina: Just curious. (shrugs off the topic) Anyway, it was a good day. I’ve got a client who’s slowly coming around. They said something interesting today, though.

Luke: Which was?

Katrina: About small towns having secrets. Secrets I’d never know because I’m not from around here.

Luke: (uncomfortable, stops eating, looks guilty, swallows hard) (long pause) What kind of secrets did she say we had?

Katrina: (pause) I never said it was a female.

Luke: Small towns don’t have a lot of secrets. Everyone knows who’s in Gardner. My best guess is that it was Maggie Cabot you were talking to.

Katrina stops eating.

Luke: (continuing) Only other newcomer over there isn’t from around here. Word is she won’t be there long.

Katrina: Who is telling you all this?

Luke: No one has to. Nature of a small town. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. Even if they don’t talk about it in public, they know, and believe me they’re talking about it behind closed doors.

Katrina becomes uncomfortable and looks away.

Luke: (continuing) Look I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I know you’ve got confidentiality issues to consider. (pauses) I, uh…

Katrina: (looking back to Luke) Perhaps we shouldn’t discuss my work anymore.

Luke: This isn’t exactly how I hoped this evening would go, Kat.

Katrina: I, I know. Maybe we can just start over. So… (searching for a topic) whew, this is some weather we’re having, isn’t it?

Luke: (pauses) You’ll get used to it here. Really. Let’s me show you Waverly Forks this Saturday. I’ll introduce you to some people. They’ll love you once they get to know you. It’ll help break the ice.
Katrina: Um, what if I fall in?

Luke: What?

Katrina: Uh, nothing. Bad joke. Okay, we’re on for Saturday. We’ll see what happens.

Luke: You’re on. (begins eating again) I’m so glad I got pizza.



INT: Night. Living room of Weston House. Katrina sleeps in her sleeping bag. A GHOSTLY FEMALE VOICE is heard.

Ghostly female voice: (whispering) Help me.

Katrina stirs in her sleeping bag.

Ghostly female voice: (whispering) Help me.

Katrina: (stirs further)(talking in her sleep) Help how?

Ghostly female voice: (whispering) Help…

Katrina quickly awakes, startled and looking about.

Ghostly female voice: (continuing)(whispering) …me.

Katrina gets up and quickly turns on the living room light. She sees nothing. She hears the wind blowing and walks to the window and sees the tree blowing gently in the wind. Though still startled, she turns out the light and returns to the sleeping bag, looking nervously around the room.



INT: Morning. Kitchen at Weston House. Katrina walks, tired, and feeling her head as if it pain. She goes to the fridge and notices that it is slightly afar. She studies it for a moment, moves the door back and forth, thinks it is strange, and then closes the door. Her phone then rings, and she jumps. She then answers it.

Katrina: (anxiously) Daniel?

Daniel: (filtered) Kat, what’s wrong?

Katrina: Nothing. Really. I’m just not fully awake yet (she reopens and closes the fridge door) and the phone….. it just…. I’m just not awake yet. That’s all.

Daniel: Okay. If you’re sure. But, that didn’t sound like a “just woke up” kind of thing. Are you still taking you medication, Kat? You know how important it is.

Katrina: Yes, I’m taking the pills.

Daniel: You know what happens when…. (exhales sharply) Anyway, I’m calling to let you know that the moving company called here late last night. Said they didn’t have a number for you. They should be there first thing Saturday morning.

Katrina: They do so have… never mind. At least it will be here soon. I’m kind of tired of sleeping on the floor.

Daniel: Yeah, you sound it. I gave them your cell number, but I’ll call you if they call here again.

Katrina: Okay, thanks, Daniel.

Daniel: Okay, I’ve got to get going. I need to be at the office early this morning. I’ll talk to you later.

Katrina: Yeah. Okay. Bye. (Closes the phone and leans against the counter, back to the window, as if somewhat dizzy. A black bird suddenly flies against the window, scaring Katrina, causing her to yell and then turn around. She breathes deep breaths and holds on to the counter.) Come on, now, Kat, get it together. Just calm down. Calm down.



INT: Outside Weston House. Front yard. The moving van is in the drive and MOVER 1, 2, 3 AND 4 are carrying furniture and boxes into the house. Luke parks in the yard as Katrina walks onto the porch as Mover 1 and 2 carry a sofa inside.

Katrina: Just put it against the wall in the living room. I can figure out where it goes later.

Mover 1: Okay.

Katrina: (to Luke) Hey, just in time. Care to carry in a few boxes?

Luke: Sure. Bet your glad they’re finally here.

Katrina: I’ve decided that I really like furniture.

Katrina and Luke each grab a box from the truck and head inside.



INT: Living room. Weston House. Katrina and Luke set the boxes next to the stairs as the movers continue to move items in to the house. The room is filled with boxes and furniture.

Luke: You’re gonna have a lot of work to do.

Katrina: That is okay. I’m just glad it’s all here. I can start to feel human again.

Mover 1: (with mover 2, carrying a washing machine) Where do you want this?

Katrina: Laundry room is just off the kitchen (pointing). Did I mention that I also decided I really like appliances?

Luke laughs.



INT: Outside Weston House. Front yard. Movers 2 closes the back doors of the empty van and then gets in the van. Movers 3 and 4 get in the van. Katrina stands by the van signing a paper on a clipboard. Luke stands nearby.

Mover 1: Thank you. (gets in the van and the van pulls away)



INT: Kitchen. Weston House. Katrina walks in to the kitchen and picks up her purse.

Katrina: (to Luke in another room, as she walks in) Yeah. Just let me grab my purse and I’ll be ready to go.

Ghostly female voice: (whispering) Katrina.

Katrina stops when she hears the voice, looking around the room. She is uneasy. She puts her phone in her purse and walks out.



INT: The Waverly Flea Market, which is TOWNSPEOPLE selling various objects and animals from their pickup trucks, cars, and foldable tables. TOWNSPEOPLE walk about the objects, talking to each other. Luke and Katrina are in Luke’s truck. They park the truck and walk towards the market. Present are MR. RIPLEY (selling garden tools, odds and ends), WIDOW FRAME (selling homemade jams, etc. on a table), and ROGER CABOT (customer).

Luke: Kat, welcome to the Waverly Outdoor Flea Market. Want to know what everyone here does on Saturday afternoons, this is it. It’s more of a social event than anything else. People come here to catch up on the gossip they’ve missed during the week. Of course, they also support each other, help each other out by buying this or that.

Katrina: I haven’t been to a flea market since I was a kid. Should be fun.

They both get out of the truck and walk toward the market/people.

Two townspeople wave at Luke and then turn to each other as if gossiping when they see Katrina.

Luke: (saying hello to the townspeople) Hey. (pause) Morning. (they near Roger Cabot who is looking over some hand made knick-knack shelves situation on a tailgate) (to Roger) Morning, Roger. Oh, Roger, this is Katrina Bellows. Just moved here from Portland. She’s working over at…

Roger: I know where she’s working. (shakes Katrina’s hand) Nice to meet you Ms. Bellows.

Katrina: It’s just Kat, please.

Roger: I, uh, well, I checked on my ex-wife, Maggie. She’s really takin’ a likin’ to you. I hope you can help her. Others have tried, but…

Katrina: Thank you, Mr. Cabot.

Roger: Uh, Roger.

Katrina: Roger. Thank you. Perhaps I could call you next week and we could speak more privately? I’d like to hear your opinions of the situation.

Roger: Yes, ma’am. That’d be fine.

Luke: (uncomfortable) Well, uh, Kat, I want you meet Mr. Ripley. He’s around here somewhere. Always is. Roger, nice to see you.

Roger: Sure, Luke. (nods at Katrina) Ms. Katrina.

Luke and Katrina walk towards Mr. Ripley in the center of the flea market. Just across from Mr. Ripley is Widow Frame’s table, covered with jams and other homemade food items.

Luke: Hey, Mr. Ripley! (they reach the table) I want you to meet someone. This is Katrina Bellows. She just moved here. Working over at Gardner. Kat, Mr. Ripley was my very first boss. When I was eight years old, my folks let me work on Mr. Ripley’s farm for the summer.

Katrina: Eight? What did you do?

Mr. Ripley: Get in trouble mostly. (laughs) Welcome to Wavery Forks, Katrina. How are you on this beautiful fall day?

Katrina: Very well, Mr. Ripley. And, yourself?

Mr. Ripley: Oh, if I wake up and I’m still breathing, it’s a good day.

Luke: For the last few years, Mr. Ripley has leased his land to some of the other local farmers.

Mr. Ripley: Yep. My brain still wants to farm, but my body won’t let me. Still keep my garden, though. You ever grow any winter vegetables, Katrina?

Katrina: No, sir, can’t say that I have.

Mr. Ripley: Some of the best tasting squash and greens you ever eat come from winter gardens. Now, you gotta deal with the weather, you know. Too cold, it’ll all freeze. Too much snow, won’t work either. Need just the right straw and, round here, a plastic tent. But, you stick around long enough and we’ll show you what you need to do.

Katrina: I think I know who to come to with questions about gardening.

Widow Frame: Now, honey, Ripley there might know a thing or two, but you be careful who you listen to. He thinks he knows more than he does. (laughs)

Mr. Ripley: What you talking about old lady? (smiles)

Widow Frame: Summer is always the best time for growing things. Winters around here too bad for growing much. That’s why you got to grow enough and can it to get you through the rough months.

Luke: (laughing silently) Uh, Kat, this is Widow Frame, otherwise known as the older sister of Mr. Ripley, here.

Katrina: Hi, Ms. Frame. I’m Katrina Bellows. (to Mr. Ripley) Sister, huh?

Mr. Ripley: She never did know what she was talking about, but she does make some of the best apple butter I ever tasted. Even better than my wife, may she rest in peace.

Widow Frame: That’s ‘cause your wife never had grandma-ma’s secret ingredient (to Katrina) and I do.

Mr. Ripley: There ain’t no secret ingredient. I don’t know why you keep up with that story.

Widow Frame: There is, too, old man! Just ‘cause you don’t know it don’t mean it ain’t so.

Luke and Katrina look at each other and chuckle.

Luke: Widow Frame, do you happen to have any more of those strawberry preserves?

Widow Frame: I sure do, Luke Weston.

Luke: Let me have a couple jars of that. (hands over some money) (to Katrina) And, then you will see for yourself how good they really are. Maybe you can figure out the secret ingredient.

Mr. Ripley: There ain’t no secret ingredient.

Widow Frame: (mouthing to Katrina) Yes, there is!

Luke: (turns to Mr. Ripley) Mr. Ripley what are you asking for that shovel over there. I’ve been looking for one for the house….

Widow Frame: (to Katrina) You got any brothers?

Katrina: No, it’s just me.

Widow Frame: (laughs) They’re not so bad. Don’t you get the wrong about us arguing now. That’s just what we do.

Katrina: I think I understand.

Widow Frame hands the jars to Katrina.

Katrina: (continuing) They all look so good. Do you grow everything you can?

Widow Frame: Yes, ma’am. You don’t ever want to eat what somebody else done grown, cause you never know how they cared for it. I read once that Buddhist monks won’t let anybody else cook their food cause if they does it themselves, then they know it was cooked with love. And, everything I do, I do with love. That’s the only way to live.

Katrina: Actually, I think I’ve heard that somewhere before, about the Buddhists.

Widow Frame: So, you’re the new counselor over at Gardner, huh?

Katrina: How did you… I forget sometimes that word travels fast around here.

Widow Frame: Oh, honey, you have no idea. So where are you stayin’ ?

Katrina: I’m renting the old Weston House.

Widow Frame: (taken aback) The old Weston House over on Myrtle Street?

Katrina: Yes, ma’am.

Widow Frame: (fans herself) Why? Why on earth, child, would you be staying there? You best…

Luke turns back to Katrina and Widow Frame cautiously stops talking.

Luke: You ready to go look around some more?

Katrina: (curious about what Frame was going to say) Uh, sure. Widow Frame, it was so nice to meet you. I hope we can talk again sometime.

Widow Frame: (worried) I hope to see you again, Katrina.

Luke: (excited) Come on. I can’t wait till you (they begin to walk off) meet…

Luke and Katrina walk off. Widow Frame walks over to Mr. Ripley.

Widow Frame: Rip. That poor girl is staying at the old Weston place.

Mr. Ripley: That can’t be right. You just misunderstood.

Widow Frame: I didn’t misunderstand nothing. Luke Weston has done rented out that house again. And, that girl don’t know nothing about what she’s gotten herself in to.

Mr. Ripley: Don’t you go starting trouble, now, Sis.

Widow Frame: What we supposed to do, Rip? No good ever come out of that house. No good ever come out of that family.

Mr. Ripley: Now, Sis.

Widow Frame: You know it’s the truth, Rip. Luke’s the only sane one in the bunch. At least, so far. But, even he knows to keep out of that house if he wants to stay that way.

Mr. Ripley and Widow Frame look toward Luke and Katrina who are looking at a table of homemade pottery. Then, Roger Cabot walks to Widow Frame’s table and looks over the jars as he talks without looking at Rip and Widow Frame.

Roger: You two look like you’re conspiring.

Widow Frame: (almost whispering) Roger Cabot, you come over here.

Roger steps over to Mr. Ripley and Widow Frame.

Widow Frame: Do you know where that newcomer is staying?

Roger Cabot: Yeah, everybody in town knows. She started staying there a week ago, but didn’t get her furniture till this morning. Nobody’s seen anyone come or go either, except for Luke, that is. For someone who is supposed to be renting out the place, he’s been over there quite a bit. Must be just her there, because she hasn’t been carrying in a bunch of groceries or anything. And, as far as anyone can tell, she’s sleeping downstairs in that big old living room ‘cause that’s the only place we ever see a light on after dark. She’s a quiet tenant Doesn’t seem to make too much of a fuss. Not seen her out much around town, though.

Mr. Ripley: Luke does seem rather sweet on her, don’t he.

Roger Cabot: It’s none of my business, Rip.

Luke shows Katrina a specific pottery bowl.

Widow Frame: You think Luke’s told her about that house? About everything?

Roger Cabot: Like I said, Widow, it’s none of my business. Of course, it’s about time Luke, there, settled down anyway. He’s too old to be single.

Widow Frame: Yeah, it ain’t right.

Mr. Ripley: Yeah, but a yankee?

Roger Cabot: What?

Mr. Ripley: She’s from up north somewhere.

Roger Cabot: Rip, this isn’t the civil war days anymore.

Mr. Ripley: Well, she’s still an outsider. She won’t understand our ways. We need to nip this in the bud.

Roger Cabot: Rip…

Luke and Katrina walk back to Mr. Ripley, Roger Cabot, and Widow Frame.

Luke: Hey, you three look like you’re planning something serious.

Roger Cabot: Nothing serious, Luke. Just the usual local stuff. Sheriff Taylor’s decided that the way to bring in more revenue this year is to crack down on unpaid tickets. I don’t know how he thinks he’s gonna to that.

Luke: Oh, the Sheriff says that every year and nothing ever happens. I wouldn’t waste my time thinking about it if I were you.

Mr. Ripley: Probably right ‘bout that, Luke.

Luke: We’re on our way out. Thought I’d drive Katrina around a bit, show her the county.

Katrina: It was nice to meet all of you.

Roger Cabot and Mr. Ripley: You, too, ma’am.

Luke and Katrina walk off.

Widow Frame: (worried) We gotta tell that girl the truth before it’s too late.



INT: Evening. Luke and Katrina sit on an old dock by a lake.

Katrina: No, no one back home. There was. But, he couldn’t decide if he wanted to spend time with me or with his work and he couldn’t seem to be able to do both. Coming here was, uh, something of a clean break for me. I really needed a change of, well, everything. (contemplative pause, and then she quickly changes the subject) People around here seem to marry young. Do you have a wife hidden somewhere? Couple of kids?

Luke: (laughs) No. No one I’ve really been interested in. People around here have known each other so long, we’re all like family in a way. The thought of marrying one of them feels a little too much like marrying a cousin or something. And, I have a feeling there’s enough of that going on around here. (chuckles) Actually, if I sat down and did a few family trees, I’d probably know more about that than I wanted to.

Katrina: Now that you mention it, I haven’t heard a lot of different last names since I got to town. I was surprised, I’ll admit, to run into Roger Cabot today. I guess I’ll be seeing a lot of the people who live here.

Luke: Roger runs the funeral home his wife’s family owns. You did know that Cabot is her name, didn’t you?

Katrina: No.

Luke: Oh, yeah, Roger didn’t come from money. Maggie did. So, when they got married, he took her name. Not the only one in town whose done that either. Names carry weight around here, even after the money’s gone.

Katrina: So tell me more about your family. The Westons helped settle the town didn’t they?

Luke: (nods yes) Sure did. Built a good bit of it, too. But, when the Westons first got here, it was for the coal. The building seemed a natural branch from that. All the workers and people who came here for the coal needed places to live and worship and buy their supplies. For a while, the Westons and the Cabots had something of a monopoly. We owned the mines, the houses, owned and operated the stores. If you needed something, you had to go through one of us.

Katrina: How can you have two…

Luke: For a while, after they first came to town, Andrew Weston and Dale Cabot were business partners. They came here as partners in a mine. Expanded. Things went well, as far as I know, until the town really started busting open. Then, things soured and I guess they just agreed to stay out of each other’s way. It wasn’t without a lot of drama. Ask any one in town about the Westons and the Cabots and they’ll have plenty of stories to tell. Don’t believe any of it. It’s all just crazy talk.

Katrina: Crazy talk like what?

Luke: (frustrated, stands up) It’s getting late. I’d better get you home before the neighbors talk. Just promise me you won’t believe everything you hear in town. And, if you do hear something, just run it past me before you let your mind run away with you.

Katrina stands, begins to say something but changes her mind.

Katrina: You’re right. It’s late. It’s getting really cold out here. We need to go. (they walk to Luke’s truck)



INT: Night. Weston House. Front Yard. Luke and Katrina drive up. Luke shuts off the engine and they get out, walk up to the front porch.

Katrina: Well, Luke, thank you for a very interesting day. Waverly Forks certainly has some interesting people.

Luke: Characters. In the south, we call them characters. And, you’ve just me the tip of the iceberg. Give it a few weeks. Then you’ll really start to see what I mean.

Katrina: Okay. Something to look forward to.

Luke kisses her goodnight on the porch. Senses her shivering.

Luke: You’re freezing.

Katrina: Yeah. Winter is not my season.

Luke: Yeah, well, you know what they say: Cold hands, warm heart. Kick that furnace up a bit tonight. It’s supposed to be a cold one. Uh, well, I best be going. I’ll check on you later.

Katrina: Goodnight.

Luke: ‘Night.

Luke walks back to his truck and leaves. Katrina enters the house.



INT: Night. Weston House. Living room. The room is filled with random boxes and haphazardly placed furniture. Katrina walks in, stops to look and sighs at the mess, then is elated.
Katrina: (quietly) Furniture! Yes!

Katrina walks to toward the kitchen.



INT: Night. Weston House. Kitchen. Katrina walks in and turns on the light. Widow Frame has been sitting in the dark, drinking coffee, and eating a doughnut. Katrina is shocked to find her there.
Katrina screams, realizes who it is and leans against the counter.

Widow Frame: (calmly, quietly) What’s startled you so, child? You just jumped higher than a June bug on a fire.

Katrina: Widow Frame. What are you doing here? How did you get in?

Widow Frame: Through the door, of course. Child, you got some straighten’ up to do. This place is a mess. Oh, but I remember when it was really something special, most beautiful house in Waverly Forks.

Katrina: Why have you been sitting in the dark? You nearly scared me to death. (sits, exasperated)

Widow Frame: Oh, I forgot they installed them e-lectric lights. (laughs) I’m so used to being without, guess I don’t think to turn ‘em on.

Katrina: Why are you here? How did you get here?

Widow Frame: I walked. Used the original transportation, what the Lord gave us. (takes another bite of doughnut) These ain’t like mama used to make. No, sure not. Nothing much is the same as it used to be anymore. We used to make everything from scratch. Now a-days, people just buy it already made. Such a shame. There’s something to be said for putting a little effort into something. Oh, mama and me, and grandma-ma till she weren’t able no more, we would cook and clean. Took some pride in our work, you know. (looking about the room proudly) We kept this place spotless and the people well-fed. Mama used to…

Katrina: Wait. You used to work here? At the Weston House?

Widow Frame: Oh, child, it was one of the best jobs to have back then. Really was. Westons paid good, treated you right, you know. Me and Rip grew up in the caretaker’s cottage on the back of the garden, there. (points to the back) We used to play with the Weston kids when were little till daddy moved us closer to the coal mines ‘cause he just couldn’t stand to be here anymore. Grandma-ma started to work here when she was just a young girl, a child herself. This house was brand new back then. Grandma-ma loved this house like it was her own, yes she did. Used to tell me stories about it. All the parties they used to throw and the entire town would come, all the celebration dinners for the rich folk in town. She used to warn me that as long as we did the right thing, we’d be safe here. Good people, she said. Just be good people. Grandma-ma seen some stuff while she here. At first, she wasn’t too high on the idea of mama and me being in this house, but it paid good and the Westons treated the help better than some of the other people ‘round here. But, just good people, she said. Just be good people.

Katrina: (in fatigue) Widow Frame, why are you here?

Widow Frame: I came here to warn you, child.

Katrina: To warn me? (in disbelief, frustration, and fatique) Okay, (politely playing along, rubbing her hands over her face) to warn me about what?

Widow Frame: Old houses like this, old towns like Waverly Forks, we got a lot of history, and not all of it good. You can’t mix big money and bad blood without somebody getting their hands
dirty. You best ask that Weston boy to tell you the truth about why he don’t stay in this house, in his own family home. You best start paying attention to the stories before you become one of ‘em.

Katrina: Widow Frame, thank you for coming down here to warn me. I’ll be more than happy to give you a ride home, but it’s late and I’m tired and I’m really not in the mood for history lessons. (audible sigh) Please, Widow Frame, let me give you a ride home.

Widow Frame: (stands) You best start listening to me, child. And, if you don’t believe me now, you just find your way out there (points to the back) to the family cemetery, and that’ll cause you some questions, sure enough. And, when you’re ready, you know where to find old Sissy Frame.

Katrina looks to the back yard suspiciously.



INT: Night. Living room. Weston House. Katrina sleeps on the couch with a blanket thrown over her. Her sleep is disturbed and restless.

Ghostly female voice: (whispering) Katrina. (long pause) Katrina. (long pause) Help me.

Katrina is startled awake. Across the room she sees a white cloud-like image floating mid-air. She quickly turns on the lamp beside the couch, fearfully. The image immediately disappears. Katrina sits up in the corner of the couch, fearful, with the blanket wrapped around herself in the fetal position.



INT: Dawn. Living room. Weston House. Still in the fetal position, covered with a blanket, Katrina wakes after a night of little sleep. Her eyes are heavy and swollen. She slowly stands. She shivers with cold, then begins clutching her mouth gently with one hand and rubbing her stomach with the other as if nauseous.



INT: Dawn. Weston House. Kitchen. Katrina walks in, somewhat hunched over and not feeling well. She reaches for the refrigerator door, and realizes that it’s slightly ajar. She begins shaking. Then, she hears a door slowly close from another room, and she looks toward the living room in fear. She swallows hard, slowly opens the fridge, and removes a container of orange juice. She goes to her purse and takes a pill from the prescription bottle within, not taking her eyes off the kitchen entranceway. She then hears footfalls upon a creaking floor above her, and she looks up toward the ceiling. Shivering, and moving as if in slow motion, she opens the kitchen door to the back porch, and then intentionally slides down the door until she’s sitting on the threshold, again in the fetal position, with her eyes looking back in to the kitchen.



INT: Morning. Back yard/back acreage of Weston House. Katrina, her coat wrapped around her, walks through the back yard, past the back fence, and toward the Weston family cemetery.
Daniel England: (voice over) Of course you’re upset. Anyone would be.

Katrina: (voice over) I’m better now. I just needed some fresh air.

Daniel England: (voice over) You need to visit her grave, Kat. Just because you weren’t there… (long pause) The two of you never got along anyway. I just don’t understand why…. (long pause) Maybe if you visit her grave, you can both have some peace. You really have to put the past behind you.

Katrina arrives at an old cemetery surrounded by an old white picket fence in need of repair. She enters through an open gate and walks toward the largest monument in the center of the cemetery, kneeling and touching the stone which reads: Otto Andrew Weston, 1825-1875, May the Lord fly ye home. Next to it is a slightly smaller tombstone for Virginia Cabot Weston, 1833-1856, Died in childbirth, May she rest in peace. A thin tombstone rests beside Virginia’s that reads: Weston infant, 1856, Stillborn. Four more tiny tombstones rest beside the Weston infant, each reading Weston infant, Stillborn, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860. Katrina brushes her hand over each one. At the end of the small stones is a larger stone (but smaller than Virginia’s) for Mary Newton Weston, 1834-1862, May God Have Mercy on her Soul. Katrina stands and looks about the cemetery and sees many small, child stones amongst larger stones.



INT: Afternoon. Outside May Falls Public Library. Katrina walks in through the double doors of the small library.


INT: Afternoon. Inside May Falls Public Library. Katrina sits at an old microfiche machine as librarian, WINIFRED, walks up and hands Katrina some film and a manila folder.

Winifred: This may be what you’re looking for. (hands over the film) And, I thought you might be interested in this. (hands her the folder) The historical society operates out of this building and they are much better at categorizing information about specific parts of our more colorful history. Do you know how to work the machine?

Katrina: Thank you. Yes, ma’am. I think I remember how, but it has been a long time since I’ve used microfiche.

Winifred: We’re just a small library, here in May Falls. Not much reason to go too high tech also we did connect to the internet just last year. (pause) We don’t get many visitors on a Sunday. Been thinking about closing up on Sundays. But, when the weather starts to turn, people come in a little more often. I’ve been volunteering here for over fifty years. I’ve begun to notice a pattern. (laughs) My name’s Winifred. Let me know if you need any help with that old dinosaur there.

Katrina: Yes, ma’am. Thank you.

Winifred walks away and Katrina focuses on the machine as the front door is heard opening.

Winifred: (voice over) Hey, Phyllis. That book you ordered from the Ashville library came in yesterday. Got it over here.

Katrina begins operating the microfiche machine. A clock on the wall reads 1:20 pm. Katrina continues to focus on the machine and sees the following headlines: Andrew Weston plans mansion in Waverly Forks; Weston-Cabot Coal Mines to hire another 50 men; Weston purchases 1000 acres; Weston-Cabot Constructing new homes. The clock reads 3:00 pm. Katrina rubs her hands through her hair and over her face in fatigue and then returns to the machine. She sees the following headlines: Sheriff Investigating Weston House death; Mine Collapse Kills 20; Third suspicious death occurs at Weston House; Dale Cabot hangs self at Weston House. Katrina looks up, concerned, picks up the folder beside the machine, and begins sorting through the cut out newspaper clippings. The clock reads 4:30 pm as Katrina is using the copier. Katrina then walks out the door holding a pile of copies.



INT: Morning. Hallway of Gardner. Kristina is about to open the door to the room of Allison Norris, and she hears a tray of food hit the wall. She cringes and then slowly opens the door, first waving her hand inside.

Katrina: I surrender. Don’t throw anything else.

INT: Morning. Gardner Sanitarium room of Allison Norris. Kristina slowly enters the room, looking at the food thrown against the wall on her way in. Allison sits at a table near a window.

Allison: I wouldn’t give the food here to a dog! It’s horrible. I want to go home. They have real food there.

Katrina: Okay, and what do you describe as real food? (she walks to Allison)

Allison: (long pause) When can I go home?

Katrina: Well, Allison, the doctor certainly won’t release you as long as you’re throwing your meals against the wall (she sits across the Allison). We’ve talked about that. You have to eat—regularly. You have to go to your therapy appointments—regularly. You have to take your medication—regularly. And, well, you have to stop doing things like throwing your food against the wall. Why didn’t you want to come to your counseling appointment Friday?

Allison: (pouting) Just didn’t. I don’t need counseling. I just need to go home.

Katrina: Counseling can help you find other ways to deal with your frustration, such as finding healthier ways to say that you’re unhappy with the food without throwing it against the wall.

Allison: If I go to counseling, can I go home?

Katrina: That depends on you. I’ve noticed that the new medications Dr. Newton has put you on have calmed you down a bit.

Allison: Yeah, I guess. (begins to tear, but doesn’t cry) But I still want to go home. I don’t like it here, Kat.

Katrina: Other than the obvious, tell me why you don’t like it here.

Allison: It’s weird. The whole place is weird. I don’t know how to say it. It doesn’t feel right here. I’d be better at home. (pause) I’d go to counseling at home, and I’d stop throwing my food against the wall.

Katrina: Doesn’t work like that, Allison, and you know that. I know you know that. You’ve had to deal with this for a long, long time. You know that you’ve got to follow the routine to be released, even transferred.

Allison pouts.

Katrina: Will I see you at your appointment this afternoon?

Allison: (pouting) I guess.

Katrina: Maybe we can talk about some alternative choices when you get upset?

Allison: (pouting) Maybe.

Katrina: Okay. And, um, I’ll tell you what. We’ll also talk about some of the things you think are weird here, okay. Just do you best to put it in your own words—doesn’t have to be perfect--and we’ll see if we can’t figure out a way to deal with it. How’s that sound?

Allison: (pouting, tearful) Maybe.



INT: Morning. Hallway of Gardner Sanitarium. Katrina is leaving the room of Allison Norris and sees Maggie walking down the hall toward the nurses’ desk.
Katrina: Maggie, you’re looking much better today.

Maggie: I’m ready for our appointment, Ms. Kat. I think I’m doing better.

Katrina: Good.



INT: Morning. Katrina’s office at Gardner. Katrina and Maggie sit in the office on different sides of the desk. Katrina is pleased, and sets down her clipboard.

Katrina: I’m really proud of you Maggie. I’ll admit I’m surprised by your progress. You’ve come a long way in a short amount of time. But, you’ve done it, and you’ve done well.

Maggie: I usually do well here at Gardner. I can’t say I really like it here, but it helps that everyone is so encouraging.

Katrina: I’ll speak to Dr. Newton the next time I see him about the possibility of your going home, maybe even this week.

Maggie: (uncertain) Yes.

Katrina: So, do you feel like you could actually use some of the techniques we’ve talked about when you’re at home.

Maggie: I do. Yes, I really do. (long exhale) It’s always frightening, going back home to Cabot Grove, that’s what we’ve always called the family home. I love that house. It must sound strange for me to say that. There’s so much history there, so many memories, and yet so much fear. I will use the techniques, but I also worry that they won’t work, that they will come back.

Katrina: You know, Maggie, I’ve never understood exactly who or what the “they” are. Do you know?

Maggie: (with certainty) Well, of course. The fact that I can see them, how I react to them, how they effect me, all that may be my illness. I understand that. But, what none of the doctors have ever understood is that they are really there. They always have been. I’m not the only one who’s seen them.

Katrina: What do you mean?

Maggie: (uncertain, but trusting) Can we take a walk?



INT: Afternoon. Outside Gardner. Katrina and Maggie walk, on their way to the Gardner Cemetery, both wear coats.

Maggie: Cabots used to own all this land. We sold it to the town when Gardner was built. Thought it’d help out the whole town. Guess we were wrong. My family’s cemetery sits back here. Stones date back to about the same time Waverly Forks was founded. Hospital buried some people back here, too, after it was built. My family buried people in this cemetery up until, oh, I don’t know, forty years back, maybe. Then, we decided to start a second Cabot cemetery closer to the house built by Dale Cabot. Dale was the first of all the Cabots to have any real money. And, all that was because he teamed up with Andrew Weston when they got in the coal mining business.

Katrina: I take it no one knew there was coal around here until then?

Maggie: Wasn’t anything or anybody around here until they found the coal. Dale Cabot found it. Andrew Weston financed it. Good people of Waverly Forks mined it. Some of them died for it. Dale Cabot was the one with the mining smarts; Andrew Weston was all about the money. The two didn’t always get along very well, and there were rumors of in-fighting from the beginning.

They come to the cemetery. Some stones are outside of the old, rickety white picket fence. The weeds are high. They stop to look about.

Maggie: (continuing) Cabots are inside the fence. Hospital patients and some of the people who died ‘cause of the mines are on the outside. But, whole area has been blessed by the church. More than once, too.

Katrina: It’s not been kept up very well.

Maggie: No one comes here anymore. Except for me. Once in a while. To remember. It’s such a reflection on life, this place. All these stones, they were all someone who lived once. Walked this same Earth. Had a family, maybe. So, when they die, we bury them here and put up a stone. The ultimate way to say “they were here, they lived.” And, then we forget about them. Inscriptions get washed away by the rain and time. Grass grows up over the grave. It’s like they never existed at all. Strange, though, the similarities between life and death. In life, we want the biggest house or the fastest car. In death, we want the largest tombstone.

Maggie walks into the fenced cemetery and to a tall stone. She kneels in front of it and begins pulling away the weeds.

Maggie: (continuing) This was my mother. Sally Ann Cabot. She knew, too.

Katrina: Knew what?

Maggie: Debts must be paid. The sins of the past have a cost. And, we all have to pay them when they come due.

Katrina: What do you mean? The sins of the past?

Maggie: Dale Cabot didn’t exactly have a backbone, especially when it came to Andrew Weston. Andrew kept pushing the miners to get more coal, make more money. There was more than one mine collapse because of the big hurry; proper precautions weren’t taken to save time, save money. Lives were lost. Innocent lives. Good men taken from their families, all in the name of greed. Eventually Dale and Andrew went separate ways and they both started building things, but Dale knew he had blood on his hands long before then. (pauses, looks at Katrina) I know all this must sound crazy to you, especially given my current address.

Katrina: Is that why Dale Cabot killed himself?

Maggie: (surprised) Yes! Yes! You know?

Katrina: Uh, I heard, sort of. Read it in an old newspaper clipping. Hung himself, didn’t he?

Maggie: That’s right. Hung himself from the second floor railing, right there in the living room. Right after one of the mine collapses. He went to Weston House and hung himself over there. I guess that was his way of having the final word with Andrew Weston.

Katrina: That’s a drastic way to go about it.

Maggie: I still have some of his old journals. Old Dale understood. He knew.

Katrina: Knew what, Maggie?

Maggie: What all the Cabots and Westons have known: You can’t take a life without having one taken from you. (Maggie points to all the small stones in the cemetery) Look at all these tiny stones, for tiny Cabots that didn’t live. Stillborn, most of them. Some of lived for a few days before they died.

Katrina stands, noticing the significance of the stones.

Maggie: (continuing)(stands) Me, I’m the last of my line, and I can’t have kids at all. I guess that’s the way they plan on putting an end to all this. It took them a few generations, but they did it. Put an end to the Cabots. Westons aren’t too far behind. They’ve only got one left, too, Luke Weston, and he hasn’t produced an heir yet either. Once we’re gone, the lines are over. Maybe then they’ll rest.

Katrina: The “they” you keep seeing at home… that’s the spirits of the victims of the mine collapses?

Maggie: And, others who have died due to Cabot-Weston business.

Katrina: You think they want you dead? That’s why they’re trying to get you?

Maggie: It’s not just me, Kat. It’s never been just me. It’s the Cabots and the Westons and whoever lives in those two monuments to money Dale and Andrew built when the town was founded.

Katrina: You mean the houses?

Maggie: It’s not just me, Kat. My mama seen them, too. And, her mama before her. We all have. My mama had seven babies, and I am the only one who survived longer than five days. And, the Westons, they’ve seen them, too, suffered the same type of happenings. Early deaths. Suicides, murders. We’re all cursed. The houses are cursed. That’s the only word for it. Even the last person to stay over there at Weston House paid the price, and she wasn’t a Cabot or a Weston.

Katrina: (confused) Wait, what do you mean?

Maggie: She was just some divorcee needing a place to stay for a while. Three months later, they carried her out on a stretcher, dead. Doctors called it cancer, but the whole town knew the truth. The town’s always known. They did it to her. You see them, you see. They don’t show themselves at first, but then they do.

Katrina: So, you see people, actual people? Or something that looks like a person? What? What do you see?

Maggie: They come in different forms. Sometimes, after they’d played with you a while, they show you something that looks human. Sometimes, it’s just a blur. Sometimes, they even talk. They can come through the walls or the ceilings. I think that’s why I come out here when I can. They feel at peace out here. But, not at home. At home, they’re very angry. (pause) I can let you read the old journals I have, my mother’s, my grandmother’s, even Dale Cabot’s. It’s not just me. You’re not from around here. I know how crazy this must all sound to you. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you talk to Dr. Newton about keeping me here longer. Not that I’d mind much, really. But, it’s not just me, Kat. It’s not just me.

Katrina: I believe you.



INT: Night. Weston House. Katrina sits on her bed in her bedroom with five old journals, each opened, sitting around her and a sixth in her hands. ANCESTRAL VOICES #1 (male), 2, 3, and 4 are heard, with the last three being female.

Male ancestral voice #1: (voice over) I returned from Asheville to find my wife in irrational talk of spirits and nonsense. I thought she was delirious with fever and stayed with her throughout the night, fearful that her life might end as so many others have before her. But as she rested it showed itself to me, a monster of a shadow, faceless, and with arms that reached out to me and spoke of revenge.

Female ancestral voice #2: (voice over) I am frightened for my life and for that of my babe. The curse is upon us, I fear, and I have called the pastor for blessings. Prayer may be our only hope.

Female ancestral voice #3: (voice over) Father does not believe me and will not allow me leave. Yet, it speaks of devilish things and whispers words I dare not repeat. It has not shown itself to me, but I fear that it will. I feel it around me always now. It grows stronger, and is able to follow me further away from the house with each passing day.

Female ancestral voice #4: (voice over) Their incessant knocking is driving me mad. Markus will not allow me to send Maggie away, and we argue about this almost daily now. These beings, whatever they are, will not leave me in peace. As of yet, I don’t think Maggie has seen them or heard them. I keep her away from the house as much as possible. Markus does not believe me when I tell him of these occurrences, and yet, from time to time, I think he catches a glimpse of them from the corner of his eye or hears their whispers over his shoulder. I wonder sometimes if that’s why Markus works so much, not to distance himself from me but from this house. But why, then, won’t he let us leave?

Snow has begun to fall outside the window. Katrina has fallen asleep amongst the journals.

Ghostly female voice: (whispering) Help me.
A knocking sound is heard in the fireplace. It knocks three times, pauses and resumes this pattern for four rounds.

Ghostly female voice: (whispering) Katrina.

Katrina begins to awake, but struggles. She finds it hard to awake, and cannot push herself up to a sitting position. After three attempts, she struggles to speak, but cannot, and closes her eyes as she three fast, shallow breaths, and falls to sleep.



INT: Dawn. Weston House. Katrina is still asleep on her bed. A tree is knocking repeatedly at the window due to the wind. Katrina again tries to awake, and again has difficulty.

Ghostly female voice: (whispering, but stronger) Katrina. Help me. Katrina.

Katrina continues to struggle, and crawls from the bed to the floor, gasping for air. She crawls to the wall.

A white cloud-like specter appears in the upper right corner of the room, and then changes to a black cloud.

Katrina uses the wall to pull herself up, continuing to find it difficult to breathe.

Katrina: (quietly) No, no.

Katrina holds on to the wall for support as she makes her way out of the bedroom. She gets to the third step from the top.

Katrina: (screaming) No!

Katrina falls to the bottom of the staircase near the front door. She lies there.



INT: Morning. Weston House front porch. There is a slight amount of snow on the grassy area of the property. Luke Weston knocks four times on the front door. After there is no answer, he peaks in the window and sees Katrina lying on the floor.

Luke: Kat!

Luke Weston tries twice to knock in the front door, but cannot. He then uses his elbow to smash the window and, after putting his jacket over his head, climbs in through the window.

INT: Morning. Weston House living room. Luke Weston goes to Katrina who is lying at the bottom of the stairs.

Luke: Kat? (he checks her pulse) Katrina? Can you hear me? Kat?

Kat begins to slowly open her eyes. She then inhales quickly, deeply, and sharply.



INT: Afternoon. Gardner Sanitarium. Dr. Newton’s examination room. Dr. Newton removes his gloves and throws them away. Luke Weston stands by the examination table and assists Katrina in sitting up.

Katrina: Really, I feel so much better now except for this horrible headache.

Luke: Be grateful you’re alive to have a headache.

Dr. Newton: Luke’s right, Katrina. A fall like that could have killed you. You were very fortunate to only sustain a few bruises. You’ll be sore for a few days, but you’ll be fine. Luke, I don’t want her left alone for the next 24 hours.

Dr. Newton and Luke help Katrina off the table, and they leave the office.


INT: Afternoon. Gardner Sanitarium Hallway. Dr. Newton, Luke Weston, and Katrina step into the hall. Luke continues to support Katrina.

Luke: Not a problem, Doc. I’ll stay with her.

Maggie is watching the scene with Sally from the nurses’ desk.

Maggie: What happened to Katrina?

Sally: Oh, she tripped and fell down the stairs. Luke found her.

Maggie: Luke found her? You mean she’s staying at the Weston House?

Sally: (hesitates) Yes, that’s where she’s staying.

Maggie runs to Katrina.

Maggie: You have to get out of that house, Katrina. You have to get out before it kills you. You didn’t trip did you? It pushed you down those stairs.

Allison Norris stands at the hallway corner, watching the scene with delight as she eats popcorn.

Dr. Newton: Now, Maggie, Katrina has had an accident. Nothing more. Now, please, return to your room. You need your rest. (calls out) Sally.

Sally comes and takes Maggie’s arm.

Maggie: (to Sally) Let go of me Sally. We’re family. You know what will happen. (to Katrina) Katrina, you’ve seen them, haven’t you? They pushed you.

Sally: Come now, Maggie, you’re getting all worked up over nothing. Let’s get you back to your room.

Katrina: Maggie, I’m fine. Really. It was just an accident. Please, get some rest and I’ll talk with you tomorrow.

Sally: Come on now, Maggie.

Maggie: Get out of that house, Kat. Please!

Sally walks Maggie back down the hall. Allison Norris watches Maggie walk and snickers at her.

Sally: (as she passes Allison) You, too, now Allison. You need your rest if you want your transfer.

Luke: I’m gonna take her home. I’ll keep an eye on her.

Katrina: Thank you, Dr. Newton.

Dr. Newton: Don’t worry about a thing. Just get some rest.



INT: Afternoon. Weston House front porch. Luke Weston walks Katrina up to the front door and opens the door with the key. Katrina stands on the porch and does not enter.

Luke: (as he opens the door) Don’t worry about that window. I’ll get some plastic over it after I get you inside, and I’ll get it replaced tomorrow. (he notices Katrina is just standing there and not entering) Kat? You know they’re just stories…

Katrina: I think I’d just like to sit on the back porch for a while.

Luke: It’s a bit cold out here, don’t you think?



INT: Afternoon. Weston House back yard. Luke Weston walks Katrina to the picnic table and helps her sit.

Katrina: I’m okay. I can do it.

Luke: Okay, uh, you want some coffee or something before I get started on that window?

Katrina: No, I’m fine. Really.



INT: Afternoon. Weston House living room. Luke begins hanging the plastic by taping it to the wall across the top. He then stops, and looks suspiciously up the staircase, worried. He then swallows hard and returns to hanging the plastic.



INT: Early Evening. Weston House back yard. Luke sets down a cup of coffee in front of Katrina and then sits on the same bench, facing Katrina, holding a cup of his own.

Luke: So, what are you saying, Kat? That you believe all these crazy tales? They’re stories. Nothing more.

Katrina: I don’t know what I believe. It could be some type of mass hallucination brought on by the power of suggestion, but whatever it is these people truly believed it was in this house and happening to them. Now, how, exactly do you explain that happening to two different families in two different houses over so many generations? And, so many of them believed it so strongly that it led them to either suicide or murder or lunatic asylums.

Luke: I don’t know. I just… (exhales loudly)(somewhat angry) Maybe it’s just the inbreeding.

Katrina is angered by the suggestion. Luke is remorseful.

Luke: (continuing) I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to make of all this. I’m glad you’re not hurt. I’d like you come stay with me. Just till we figure this out.

Katrina: You’re basically acknowledging that there is something wrong with this house.

Luke: I’m doing no such thing. I’m just being cautious is all.

Katrina: Why do you really not like this house, Luke Weston? What have you not told me?

Luke: (long pause, as he looks back to the house) The stories go all the way back to when the house was built. It was a magnificent thing back then. Every newest luxury, including indoor plumbing, was in this house. Cabot’s place, too. Maggie always called them a monument to money, and she was right. They were showpieces. Money was no object. Both the Westons and the Cabots wanted everything money could buy, and then some. And, they got it, too. There’s been more than a few deaths in this house that no one can explain. Andrew married Dale Cabot’s daughter, Virginia. It was while they were married that Dale hung himself in the living room. That’s when all the stories about the curse started. Andrew’s second wife, Mary, had four stillborn children, and then threw herself over the third floor balcony into the front yard in front of Virginia’s kids. One of Andrew’s sons, John, went out drinking in a local tavern one night, came back here, and was found dead the next morning, drowned in the bathtub. There have been others. And, yes, the last person to stay here died here. Coroner said it was cancer. She was diagnosed shortly after she moved in, and it must have spread quickly. It wasn’t long before she died… in the house.

Katrina: And, the spirits?

Luke: (quite uncomfortable) I’ve heard all the stories.

Katrina: What have you seen?

Luke: I’ve heard tale of them. (pause) My grandmother saw them, heard them, when she was alive. (long pause) Yes, I’ve seen and heard them, too, on very rare occasion. It could have been what you call the power of suggestion. I didn’t actually grow up in this house. My father remodeled the small caretaker’s cottage (he points) and we lived back there. My mother wouldn’t set foot in this house because of all the stories. Besides, my father wasn’t too crazy about this house either. And, now you’ve seen them, too, huh?

Katrina: (quietly) Yeah. (pause) Thank you for not telling Dr. Newton.

Luke: So what do we do now?

Katrina: (long pause) More research.

Luke: Why? I’ve told you all there is.

Katrina: Not quite.

Luke appears confused. Katrina appears contemplative and determined.



INT: Morning. Outside a small rustic cabin/shack belonging to Widow Frame. Luke and Katrina pull up to the cabin in Luke’s truck. They get out as Widow Frame walks onto the porch, sweeping.

Luke: Widow Frame.

Widow Frame: Um-hum. I knew you’d come talk to old Widow Frame, child. I knew you’d figure out old Sissy was telling you the truth.

Katrina: I was hoping to ask you some questions.

Widow Frame: Ask away, child. You just come up here on this porch and talk to old Sissy. (she motions for Katrina to sit on an old 5 gallon bucket; Luke sits on the porch step; Widow Frame sits on a hard back chair) Light’s better out here. Just candle light inside. Light God gave us is better. There’s a cleansing power in God’s light. Now, Katrina, child, what you wanna know?

Katrina: Whew. Where to start?

Widow Frame: If you here, child, the house already showed itself to you.

Katrina: Yes, ma’am. Can you tell me what you’ve seen?

Widow Frame: Darkness, child. Dark spirits floating around like clouds. And, sometimes, they speak to you, but they’z whisper so you can’t understand what they say. It’s like they talking in tongues. Been going on since my grandma-ma’s day. She seen ‘em, too, and my mama. We all seen them. Now, they didn’t show themselves to us as much as they did to the family, you know. I guess ‘cause we weren’t blood kin or something. Don’t know the reason why. We never got the sickness either as bad as the family did.

Katrina: So none of your family ever lived in the house?

Widow Frame: No, we lived in the caretaker’s cottage out back. Just worked in the house. But, we still got our share of the goings on.

Katrina: What kind of sickness did the family get?

Widow Frame: They got all sorts of sickness. Sometimes they’d get boils and rashes we couldn’t explain, lots of problems just breathing, you know, and the Mrs. Always complaining of headaches. That’s one way we always knew the spirits was around, somebody’d get the headache. Sometimes, one of ‘em would get it really bad, like a tumor or something. Sometimes, they just got the crazies, you know. We couldn’t find nothing to get rid of some of the problems but sometimes they’d just go away on their own after a few months. The women folk, they’d lose their babies or have babies missing limbs or born with their insides on their outsides, and their daddies would have to take them out back and get rid of them. Lot of babies born dead, too. And, the children that lived, well, sometimes they turned out okay and sometimes they didn’t. Wasn’t no way to know. Sad, so sad, all them dead babies. Grandma-ma and mama and me, we got sick sometimes, you know, but it didn’t what last too long. Grandma-ma used to say you just gotta be good people, and if we’d be good people we’d be alright. Grandma-ma said it was staying in God’s light and going to church regular would help, too. God’ll help keep them spirits from getting you. You see, the spirits, they try to lure you to them so they can work on you, break you down. Grandma-ma always said staying in God’s light was the best medicine there was.

Katrina: (stretches her neck)(quietly to herself) Sickness, dark spirits, whispers, death, suicide, murder, stillbirths.

Luke: What you thinking over there, Kat?

Katrina: Just trying to make some sense out of it at all.

Widow Frame: Aint’ no sense to be made, child. It’s the devil’s work. That’s all there is to it. It effect the women folk mostly, but they got their share of men folk, too. Women paying for all those people what died for all that money. Men go off and kill for it and the women stay at home and have babies and pay the cost.

Katrina: Um-hum. Widow Frame, have you ever seen or heard them here at your cabin? Or does Mr. Ripley have any problems out at his farm?

Widow Frame: No ma’am ‘cause we’re being good people and God watches over our houses. Ain’t no blood been spilled by our hands.

Katrina: Someone told me once that the spirits don’t seem to be as bad in the summertime.

Widow Frame: Ain’t never thought about it, but I reckon not. ‘Cause in the summer time you got the cleansing power of God’s light shining in, chasing away those dark spirits. There’s truth in God’s light, and the devil don’t like that at all. Not at all.

Katrina is obviously thinking and Luke notices.

Luke: Kat?

Katrina: (stands urgently) I’ve got to get to town.



INT: Morning. Luke Weston and Katrina drive along country back roads in his truck towards town.

Luke: I recognize that look. Wheels are turning.

Katrina: There’s something wrong with the house, Luke. Seriously.

Luke: (scoffs, then regrets it) Okay, so what if there is, what exactly do you plan to do about it. Have a séance? Call one of those ghost hunting tv shows?

Katrina: No, you don’t understand. Something is wrong with the house. Both houses. It really is the house. And, although there may be some ghosts or whatever hanging around, what’s causing all these problems is something very real: the house itself.

Luke: What?

Katrina: The primary problems, these hauntings, they stem about the Cabot House and the Weston House, right?

Luke: Yeah.

Katrina: Who built them?

Luke: The Cabots and the Westons and whoever they hired, I guess.

Katrina: Who lived in them? Who is primarily effected with the problems?

Luke: (confused) But, that’s the reason why people think the houses are haunted, that the families are cursed. Sins of the fathers or something like that.

Katrina: But, Luke, who is primarily effected? The women. The women who are in the house more than anyone else.

Luke: (confused) I’m not jumping on your train of thought here, Kat. What are trying to say?

Katrina: It’s the physical house. Something is wrong with it. Mold, mildew, bacteria, bad wood, something. Something is infested in both of those houses that are making people sick. The women who live there and don’t get out much, they’re effected the most. Whatever it is is causing hallucinations, illness, and it’s even strong enough to effect their pregnancies. The men, who are outside of the house more than inside ‘cause they have primarily been working, aren’t effected nearly as badly. And, when they do see or hear something, it’s only after they’ve been in the house for a while. The kids who are old enough to spend their days at school or outside playing, aren’t effected as badly. The babies, on the other hand, who are spending most of their time in the house and have a limited immune system anyway are being effected. People like Widow Frame who worked in that house but went home to their own house at night, have been effected somewhat but nearly as much as the ones who live there. There’s something about the actual house that is making people sick, even mentally ill, and sometimes, apparently, it’s fatal. And, there’s something Sally Forrester told me, too. The problems are always worse in the winter months. Think about it. The winters here are bad. People spend a lot more time indoors. Inside those two houses.

Luke: (thinking aloud) When they’re trapped inside behind closed windows and doors. In the summer months, they’d be outside more often. Windows open, ceiling fans on so the air would circulate and the houses would air out.

Katrina: In the cleansing power of God’s light, as Widow Frame would say.

Luke: And, you’ve been keeping the house closed up?

Katrina: Yes. To keep it warm. Old houses are hard to keep heated. Now that I think about it, when I’ve heard or seen something, it was after I’d been cooped up in the house for a few hours. Once I got some fresh air, I felt better, the hallucinations stopped.

Luke: And, the worst experience you had was the night of the first snow when you were upstairs all night long and then fell
Luke and Katrina: (together) down the stairs.

Katrina: Because I was dizzy. It was hard to breathe. It was hard to stand. What do you think?

Luke: (laughs with uncertainty but hope) You’re asking someone who’s lived under the weight of these curses his whole life. But, what you’re saying sounds logical. (rubs his chin with his hand in thought) I don’t know what it could be, though. My first thought was a gas leak, but that couldn’t be it.

Katrina: Why?

Luke: My grandfather had made it all electric because my grandmother was worried about the house exploding.

Katrina: Sounds a little paranoid.

Luke: Yeah.

Katrina: But, what about the Cabot House?

Luke: Eh, when somebody did something to one of the houses, the other copied it before long. It’s like this long running competition.

Katrina: I think we should check in to it anyway. It’s worth a shot. Maybe it wasn’t turned off correctly. Maybe there’s still gas coming through the pipes.

Luke: Not a chance. Gas company hasn’t been sending me a bill. (smiles)

Katrina: Willing to take suggestions, here, Luke.

Luke: (pause) (with certainty) I’ve got an idea.


INT: Morning. Outside Waverly Forks city administration building. Luke parks the truck and he and Katrina exit.

Luke: (voice over) You’ve gotta have permits to build or remodel, and that requires inspections.



INT: Noon. Inside Waverly Forks city administration building. Luke and Katrina sit at a desk in a very small office. Luke is on the phone.

Luke: What do you mean two weeks? (pause) Then how long to get the lab results back? (pause, long sigh) Okay. I’ll take what I can get. See you then. (he hangs up the phone) It’ll be two weeks before the inspector can get to the house. Some things, like asbestos, he can identify right away, but any samples he takes will have to go to the lab in Asheville and that’ll could be a few more weeks before we get the results.

Katrina: That’s too long.

Luke: (urgently) Well, you can stay at my place….

Katrina: (determined) It’s too long.



INT: Afternoon. Weston House. Living room. Luke opens all the windows. Katrina then enters from the kitchen. Sitting on the couch are boxes for carbon monoxide detectors and radon detectors.

Katrina: That all of them?

Luke: I think so. It’ll be cold in here, but this house is as open as it can get.

Katrina: (goes to the couch and opens a carbon monoxide detector) You wanna start on the third floor and I’ll start in the cellar.

Luke: (opening a radon detector) You sure you want the cellar?

Katrina: Of course. (jokes) Secrets are always hidden in the basement.

Luke: (nervous) Yeah, that’s probably where they buried the bodies.

Katrina: Meet back here in one hour. Seriously.

Luke: Yes, ma’am.


INT: Afternoon. Weston House. Katrina’s bedroom upstairs. Luke enters and sets several detectors and testing devices on the ground. Luke begins wanding the room with a radon detector. He moves along the outer walls and nothing happens. He drops the wand toward the ground in frustration, and it begins to beep. Luke notices. Luke then kneels, wanding the floor, and the detector continues to beep, but is louder and faster. He then moves toward the inner wall, and it continues to beep, loudly and fast.

Luke: Away from the windows.

Luke then wands over an air vent, and it continues to beep loudly and fast. Luke stands and goes to the other tests. He picks up a carbon monoxide detector.



INT: Afternoon. Weston House. Cellar. An old rusty gas furnace is in the cellar, which has outer walls made of stone and inner walls made of soil/earth. It is dimly lit with a hanging light bulb. There are old jars of canned food on a wooden shelf that is falling down. Katrina enters on some old, rickety wooden steps carrying the radon and carbon monoxide detectors. She has an expression of a bad odor.

Katrina: Whew. (quietly) What is that smell?

She looks about the room and then turns on the carbon monoxide detector, and it immediately begins beeping.

Katrina: Why am I not surprised.

Katrina moves the detector near the soil walls, and the beeping intensifies. She brushes her hand against the soil, taking a small sample and smelling it.

Katrina: Sulfur?

Katrina follows the wall to the corner and finds that the wall has cracks in it just as if it were concrete. She feels along one of them with her finger, noticing soil fall to the floor. She turns off the detector and lays it on the soil floor. As she stands, she becomes dizzy, but holds herself against the wall for a moment and then waves it off.

Katrina: (becoming breathless) Where are you coming from?

Katrina takes an old rusty canning lid that is laying on a nearby old canning table and begins digging at the soil wall. The further she digs, the more dizzy she becomes, but she fights it and keeps digging. An ominous moaning occurs behind her and her breathing becomes labored. She turns around and sees three dark clouds coming through another wall toward her.

Katrina: (quietly, breathless) No. No, you’re not real.

Katrina returns to digging and breaks through the wall so that a hole is there. Katrina clutches at her throat as if she is being strangled. She grabs the wall and falls to the floor. The dark clouds hover over her.



INT: Evening. Weston House. Living Room. Luke comes down the stairs quickly, looking at his watch.

Luke: You’ll never believe what I found. (realizes Katrina is not there) Kat? (looks toward the kitchen) (becomes worried) (calling out) Katrina.


INT: Weston House. Cellar. Luke flies down the stairs and sees Katrina lying there. He begins coughing and having trouble breathing.

Luke: Katrina! I knew I shouldn’t have let you come down here.

He picks her up and carries her up the stairs.



INT: Sunset. Weston House. Front porch. Luke carries Katrina out the front door, lays her on the porch, and begins patting her face. He is still having difficulty breathing and coughs periodically.
Luke: Come on, Kat. Breathe. Katrina. Never should have let you go down there. (his voice fades) Katrina.

A siren is heard in the distance, but nearing.



INT: Morning. Gardner Cemetery. Roger and Maggie Cabot (who are holding hands), Dr. Newton, Widow Frame, Mr. Ripley, Sally Forrester, Luke Weston (who is upset but trying to hold it together) and (Preacher) LES NEWTON stand around Katrina’s grave. It’s snowing.

Les Newton: “And, Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” May her soul rest with the Lord.

Everyone: Amen.

Maggie: (to Luke) She helped me, and now she’s saved us both. All those lives. Dead for nothing. All these years. Wasted.

Luke nods his head yes, and then bows his head.

Sally: This town will be better off once both those houses are torn to the ground.

Maggie: Demolition’s scheduled for next week.

Widow Frame: (whispering, to Mr. Ripley) I just can’t believe it was all ‘cause of them mines, Rip. Too much. Too unexplained. I knows the devil’s work when I see it.

Mr. Ripley: (whispering, to Widow Frame) Let it go, Sis.

Roger: Do you think they knew about what might happen when they built over those mine shafts?

Maggie: Monuments to money. Nothing but giant tombstones. Now they tell us these pollutants may be in the water we drink, the soil we grow our vegetables in. The whole town may be evacuated.

Roger: We’ll be moving as soon as Maggie’s cleared for release. If I’d only known…

Maggie and Roger comfort each other.

Sally: Nathan, you’re quiet today.

Dr. Newton: All the patients I’ve treated, misdiagnosed.

Sally: You did the best you could. You didn’t know. Mama didn’t know either. None of us knew.

Maggie: Are you sure, Sally? Lots of secrets in a small town.



INT: Weston House. A wrecking ball is tearing down Weston House. FOUR MEMBERS OF A CONSTRUCTION CREW are working at tearing down the structure, one of them is driving the wrecking ball machine. All 4 are wearing protective EPA gear, including face masks. Luke Weston stands by his truck watching the destruction, wearing no protective equipment and still upset by Katrina’s death. In the back of Luke’s truck are two suitcases and a bunch of boxes. Luke makes sure the bungie cords on his truck are secure, and then gets in his truck and drives away. As he leaves, there is a sign in the front yard of Weston House that reads: Contaminated Property.

THE END

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to situations or persons, living or dead, is coincidental and unintentional.