FADE IN: In black, we hear the banjo introduction Stephen ...

FADE IN:

IN BLACK
In black, we hear the banjo introduction Stephen Foster’s
‘Old Folks at Home’ (aka “Down upon the Swannee River”) On
the beginning of the first line of verse we:

CUT TO:

EXT. WOODS – NIGHT

In the woods, looking through the growth of trees and
shrubs we look into the open french doors into the ballroom
of an elegant plantation home.

Inside the doors we watch as couples fancily dressed in the
suits and gowns of the period spin and dance around a
ballroom.

It is river country; a river runs alongside the plantation.
Moon light reflects off the river.

Lanterns burning drench a grassy area in the foreground in
warm light. Very inviting.

A young couple leaves the ballroom. They pause on the
balcony.

Hand-in-hand, smiling and laughing they run down the steps
of the balcony.

The happy couple, with the occasional glance back, as if
running from parents, scurries abreast across the grass
into the woods.

EXT. PATH – MOMENTS LATER

A wooded riverside path with heavy vegetation on both sides
of the path. The river can be seen as it drifts aimlessly
by.

Bathed in moonlight our young lovers walk hand-in-hand
along the path. They stop beside a tree.

He moves in for a kiss. She smilingly pushes her suitor
away.

She runs playfully away from him. He gives chase. The
light from the plantation home fading in the background.

EXT. BENCH – MOMENTS LATER

Our couple sits side-by-side on a bench overlooking the
river. Bathed in the ever present moonlight.

They gaze longingly into each others eyes. They move in
for a kiss.

As their lips meet the man is suddenly ripped backward from
his seat by an unseen force.

The bushes behind the bench rattle violently.

Our girl stands terrified hand over mouth, not believing
her eyes.

The bushes are now calm.

Our girl lights out down the path in terror.

EXT. PATH – CONTINUOUS

Running, looking back over her shoulder in terror, she is
headed toward the plantation home and its warm, inviting
lights.

EXT. PATH OPENING – MOMENTS LATER

We see her emerge from the wooded path. As she does, she
falls forward, smashing her chin onto the ground.

She is sucked forcefully back into the woods, her clawing
fingernails leaving parallel grooves in the dirt.

The dancers spin and dance in the doorway of the ballroom.

EXT. BUSHES – MOMENTS LATER

As before the bushes shake violently.

Dress parts are seen through the bush.

The bushes again become still.

We move through the bushes revealing the torn and blood-
stained dress of the girl hanging on the branches.

The partly nude body is revealed next, its arms raised as
if grasping for where it’s head once was.

EXT. PATH – CONTINUOUS

We fly up the wooded path to the riverside bench.

EXT. BUSHES – CONTINUOUS

In the bushes behind the bench lies the headless body of
the male suitor.

We move over the bench, out over the river, toward a bridge
lit by the moon in the background.

A figure skips over the bridge.

EXT. COUNTRY LANE – CONTINUOUS

The dirt lane curves in a gentle S into the background. It
is moonlit, pretty.

We see the figure skip, as if to the music, down the lane
toward the large moon hanging low in the sky.

The figure is carrying something.

We move in closer to discover the heads of the young couple
in a hand.

The music fades and we slowly

FADE OUT: