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SAMPLE PAGES OPENING SEQUENCE
FADE IN:
EXT. ABANDONED HOUSE - DAY (THE PAST)
The decaying structure sits on a weedy lot surrounded by
Dreamlike. Isolated. BOBBY, a boy about 8, rides up on his bike.
He walks to a scruffy tree. Covered by initials and
Carves a rough circle with his knife. Then the initials
Kickstands his bike. Slips into the house.
INT. ABANDONED HOUSE A WHIMPER of wind. Dust swirls over the rotting floor.
Bobby flops down on an old mattress. Others have been
Bobby picks one. Lights up. Takes a hit. Someone approaches. Bobby peers through a crack.
BOBBY
YOUNG AMANDA, age 9, squints through into the darkness.
YOUNG AMANDA
She steps inside.
BOBBY
She does. Blows the smoke out slowly. Coolly. A beat.
YOUNG AMANDA
BOBBY
YOUNG AMANDA
BOBBY
Young Amanda snuffs the cigarette.
YOUNG AMANDA
Bobby starts to unlace his sneakers.
YOUNG AMANDA
Somewhere a phone RINGS
THROUGH:
INT. AMANDA'S BEDROOM - DAY (THE PRESENT) The phone on the nightstand RINGS insistently.
AMANDA VAUGHN, a peppery ball of energy in her 30's,
AMANDA
INTERCUT:
INT. UNIVERSITY - FACULTY OFFICE - DAY
JULES HARVEY leans back in a chair. Feet up on the desk.
JULES
AMANDA
JULES
AMANDA
JULES
AMANDA
JULES
Amanda looks at the clock.
AMANDA
INT. UNIVERSITY - LECTURE HALL
Jules steps to the podium. Slips a lavalier mike around
JULES
MOANS and GROANS from the darkened auditorium.
JULES
Instant SILENCE. He hits a switch. Computer monitors
Next to them, sits an army of UNDERGRADS. Stacked like
JULES
Adjusts an electron microscope.
JULES
An image projects on a huge HDTV screen behind him: a pulsating HUMAN EMBRYO cell.
JULES
The Undergrads furiously take notes.
JULES
The cell DIVIDES.
JULES
Separates the two cells with an electronic needle.
JULES
A seating chart flashes on his monitor.
JULES
MORLEY stands. His face appears on the screen.
MORLEY
JULES
MORLEY
JULES
Strips away the coating on one of the cells. A vivid
JULES
Transfers the cell into a Petri dish. Coats it in a
Amanda steps out on the platform. She's out of breath. A
JULES
AMANDA
JULES
Covers his microphone. Flips a stray hair out of Amanda's
JULES
APPLAUSE. Amanda puts on the mike. Scoops up some of the
AMANDA
On the screen and monitors, the coated cell divides
Two cells. Four, eight, sixteen.
AMANDA
Jules shows her the beaker. It's marked "GG 230".
AMANDA
Fills a syringe from a vial filled with brown liquid.
AMANDA
The cell mass stops growing. Glistens in the penetrating
AMANDA
JULES
DR. TIM GRAHAM, 40's, handsome and vain, steps through a
AMANDA
SMACKS her hands together.
AMANDA
JULES
AMANDA
TIM
INT. FACULTY OFFICE Amanda paces in front of Tim, seated at his desk.
AMANDA
TIM
AMANDA
TIM
AMANDA
TIM
AMANDA
Tim tries to put his arm around her. She moves away.
TIM
She storms out.
TIM
EXT. LECTURE HALL - DUSK
The grounds are lush and green. Jules sprawls on the
Amanda marches toward him.
AMANDA
JULES
Silence. They suck in the cool air. In the distance, Los
AMANDA
JULES
Amanda gives Jules a kiss on the cheek.
AMANDA
Walks to a rack at the curb. Unlocks her bike.
AMANDA
Rides away down the path.
Jules gets out his keys. Strolls to the classroom door.
A CRASH
from inside.
He listens. Unlocks the door. Slips inside.
INT. LECTURE HALL Jules advances in darkness. CLICKS on the lights.
The Petri dish lies shattered on the floor.
A SLIMY TRAIL OF MUCK stretches
across the platform.
Disappears into darkness.
Jules traces the path to A CLOUDY WHITE FORM
hunched in the corner.
It's a few inches long. As wide as a child's thumb.
Moist. Nauseating. Like some kind of partially-hatched
Visible beneath murky translucent skin
THE SHADOW OF A SPINE.
JULES
Where the "Thing's" head should be, there is only a
GAPING CAVITY.
The hole SUCKS IN
short, labored breaths of air.
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