Alone

FADE IN 

Bus pulls up and stops.

LUTHER

That must be her.

Bus door opens.

LUTHER

Doc?

VANESSA

Yes.  Please my name is Vanessa.

CHRIS

Is there really a ghost in there?!

VANESSA

Uhh, yea (elongate).

CHRIS

Really?!  I’ve got to see this!

LENA

For goodness sake Chris!  Who taught you manners.  Hello Vanessa. 

I’m Lena.  That’s my daughter Isabelle, and my husband David is 

over there.  You’ve met Chris.  Luther is behind the wheel, that’s

Tanya and I guess you’ll meet Mya later.

VANESSA

Hello.

LENA

Are you okay?  We weren’t told much more than ghosts and that

you needed help.

VANESSA

I am now.

LENA

Good.  Let me get you some water.

CHRIS

Ok well while you do that, I’m going inside.

VANESSA

I don’t think that’s a good idea.

TANYA

She’s right.  This is not a game.

CHRIS

I don’t think it is.

TANYA

Are you sure?  You’re acting like it by trying to rushing in there.

CHRIS

Of course.  Look for years, I was a fan of those ghost hunting shows.  I would even have debates with D about ghost being real.  I’m going to see this.

Beat

DAVID

Don’t look at me.  Nothings gonna stop him from going in there.

TANYA

(groan) If there’s no talking you out of this then come on.

CHRIS

You don’t have to come.

TANYA

I don’t care how many of those uninformed shows you’ve watched, you don’t know what you’re doing.  And you could

make the situation worse.

CHRIS

Well if you insist.

Beat

TANYA

Before we go in, I have a question.  Vanessa.  Did you see the 

spirit?  Like actually see it’s form.

VANESSA

Yes.

TANYA

I would like for you to come in with us.

VANESSA

What?!  No!

Beat

TANYA

I know you’ve been through a lot, you’re scared, I understand.

And I know that we just met but I need for you to trust me.  I 

understand this world more than anyone and sometimes it still

scares me.  But I need you to know that as long as you’re with me

no harm will come to you.

LUTHER

She’s telling you the truth.  I don’t know how she knows these

these things but she will keep you safe.

TANYA

Ok?

Beat

VANESSA

Ok fine.  I don’t see what help you think I’ll be.

TANYA

(speak calmly like you want everyone to keep a level head)

Well this is a big building, if you guide us it will 

go faster.  Also, you’ve already interacted with it.

VANESSA

It wasn’t a great interaction.

TANYA

(still calm)

That’s fine.

VANESSA

Fine.  Is anyone else going?

LUTHER

Oh no.  I’ve got…things to do out here.

LENA

And David and I need to have a talk.

ISABELLE

Oh I need answers too.

CHRIS

Great.  Now that that’s decided.  Can we go?

VANESSA

Let’s go before I change my mind.

TANYA

(still calm)

Good.  Let’s go.

Walking

TANYA

(serious tone but not mad.  the situation you’re going in is not a game put emphasis on the word me in the second sentece)

Before we go in I need you to do something for me.  Let me to 

do all the talking.

VANESSA

No problem.

TANYA

(still serious)

Thank you, but I was really talking to Chris.

CHRIS

Uh!  Why?!

TANYA

(still serious)

This is serious and you’re too eager.

CHRIS

Fine.  Fine.  Can we go in now?

TANYA

(this should be said to yourself like you’re talking to yourself out loud in a worried tone)

Hopefully I don’t regret this.

Walking

Walking on glass

Walking on concrete

CHRIS

Well this is anticlimactic.

TANYA

(Normal just a question)

Where is the room?

VANESSA

Back that way.

Walking

Ominous tone

CHRIS

It’s cold back here.

Deep breath out

CHRIS

I can see my breath.

VANESSA

It’s around this corner.

Walking

VANESSA

Here it is.

CHRIS

Finally.  Oh I’m going to throw this in Dave’s face.

Door opens

Ghost scream

Door slams closed

TANYA

(smart ass remark towards Chris who doesn’t seem eager anymore)

Are you ok?  This is what you wanted, right.

CHRIS

Yea it’s fine.  I’m fine.  You know what since you want to do the 

talking I’ll let you go first.

TANYA

(smart ass remark again)

Such a gentleman.

Door opens

Ghost screams

Loud crash

TANYA

(once again back to calm tone)

Please.  I’m here to help.

Items thrown

TANYA

(calm tone - give pause after each sentence)

I know you’re in pain.  Please speak with us.  What holds 

you here?  Why are you so sad?

GHOST

Left.

TANYA

(calm tone)

Left?  What are you trying to tell us?

Beat

TANYA

(calm tone)

If you speak with us, we can help.

VANESSA

I don’t like this.  Something’s not right.  Something feels off.

Vanessa deep breath in.

Body hits floor

CHRIS

Vanessa!

Runs over to her

CHRIS

Hey!  Open your eyes.  Vanessa!  Are you ok?

Beat

CHRIS

There we go.  Welcome back.  Can you stand?

Beat

CHRIS

Slowly now.

Beat

CHRIS

Are you okay?  

TANYA

(hurried tone - say line a little quicker than normal talking pace)

Leave her be.

CHRIS

What?  Why?  

Beat

CHRIS

She doesn’t look good, we can’t just leave her.  Vanessa!?

TANYA

(calm tone)

That’s not Vanessa.

CHRIS

Then who is it?

TANYA

(calm tone)

We’re about to find out.

Beat

TANYA

(calm tone)

I told you we’re here to help.  What’s your name?

Beat

TANYA

(calm tone)

You’re using a friend of ours.  I can’t allow

you to stay in her for long.  What’s your name?

VANESSA/MARY

Mary.

TANYA

(calm tone - put emphasis on the word Please)

Hello Mary.  Please tell us your story.

What has you trapped here?

VANESSA/MARY

My story.

Beat

TANYA

(calm tone)

Yes.  I insist.

Music change

VANESSA/MARY

My whole life all I ever wanted was to grow up, get married, and

have kids.  Nothing grand but it was perfect for me.  The day of my 

wedding I was overjoyed.  I was going to marry a good man who 

had everything I could ask for.  I thought we would grow old 

together.  But…after the wedding things changed.  He changed. 

He grew more agitated and eventually became violent.  I did all I 

could to make his time at home as relaxing as possible but 

nothing seemed to work.  One day he had a cookout and 

half the precinct was over enjoying themselves.

It seemed to be exactly what he needed to relax.  

Until something flipped in him.  He was mad that I forgot to make

the drinks.  He cornered me in our bedroom and hit me once, then

then again, and again.  Then he threw me against the dresser.  I 

slumped over and noticed his gun hanging on the bed post.  I

pulled it from the holster.  Shaking and afraid I pointed it

at him.  I just wanted it to stop.  I was tired of it.  He took a 

step toward me and laughed as he said I didn’t have it in me.  He

took another step towards me, raised his hand and…

Gunshot

VANESSA/MARY

Everyone rushed into the room to see what had just happened

and there he was on the floor gasping for air as I’m standing over him gun in hand.  Every voice in the room is muffled and time seems to stand still.

I’m broken out of my trance when the gun is taken from me.

Next thing I know I am in an interrogation room 

being asked repeatedly why I did it.  Like my answer was going to 

change.  It was obvious they didn’t believe me, saying why didn’t I

report it if he was abusive.  Can you believe that?  Why didn’t I tell

on a cop to a bunch of cops.  They left me in there for hours. 

Beat

Then I started hearing everyone outside the door growing worried

and yelling.  The (wind) grew louder, there was hail beating down

on the building from all directions.  I heard someone yell 

something about a tornado, which explained the weather I was

hearing.  It seemed to be on top of us in seconds though.

The winds were intense.  I yelled from inside the room, trying to

get my hands free from the cuffs.  Please don’t leave me here!  I 

yelled again but no one came.  I could hear the windows of the 

station being shattered, items smashing against the walls, people 

screaming,  and at one point there was an explosion.  Then 

there was nothing.  

Beat

Everything just went silent.  I sat there hoping

and praying that someone would find me.  Hours went by.  

Nothing.  Days.  Still nothing.  I screamed until my throat bled.

I thought how could they leave me here.  I had no clue how to get 

out.  I was so hungry.  I had no energy.  I was sleepy.  Eventually I 

just closed my eyes and that was it.

CHRIS

(whisper)

That’s so fucked up.

TANYA

(hurried tone, say the shhhh and hold it for like a second)

Shhh.

VANESSA/MARY

What am I supposed to do now?

TANYA

(calm tone)

I’m so sorry, but again why do you stay?

VANESSA/MARY

I…I don’t know.

TANYA

(calm tone - put emphasis on the word you in the last sentence)

I see.  We’re often afraid of death.  It’s the great unknown.  Don’t

be afraid.  Let yourself leave.  It’s okay.  You will be

okay.

VANESSA/MARY

I killed someone.  What if I won’t be okay?

TANYA

(calm tone)

You’re showing remorse for your deeds.  You’ll be fine.  I 

promise you.

Beat

TANYA

(calm tone up to the word worse - then from Imagine to worry about you speak in a monotone voice - and after that speak in a calm tone again)

I understand your hesitation and I promise that you’ll be

fine.  But I promise you another thing.  If you stay here you’ll 

do worse.  Imagine…being trapped in between plains for 

eternity.  No one can see you.  No one can hear you.  Every time 

you manage to move something they run in fear.  It’s frustrating

at first but eventually that frustration turns into resentment and that 

resentment into hate.  And then your spirit will become

the thing you worry about.  I know you don’t want that.  To

become vengeful.  Wandering around attempting to harm others.

Beat

VANESSA/MARY

You’re right.  I’ve been feeling myself getting angry each day.

I don’t want to hurt anyone else.

TANYA

(calm tone)

Good.

VANESSA/MARY

I’m ready.

Music change

Vanessa falls to floor.

CHRIS

Not again.

Walking

CHRIS

Vanessa.  Can you hear me?

VANESSA

What?  What happened?

CHRIS

I’m actually not sure, but it was really freaky.

VANESSA

What?

CHRIS

Let’s get you out of here.  I’m sure Tanya will explain it all later.

Music fades

LENA

You’ve been holding back.  I want to know everything.  What were 

those things back there?

David

Those were werewolves.

LENA

What?!

DAVID

I know.  It was hard for me to believe too.

ISABELLE

Did you know about them before you went out?

DAVID

(Breath) Look.  We were told to be aware of something.

LENA

What?!  

DAVID

But there was no way of knowing this would happen!!!

LENA

I knew something wasn’t right.

ISABELLE

Why would you still go out if you knew?

DAVID

Who would believe something like that?  The guy on the radio told

me about it.  Said people have been telling him about their 

experiences with monsters.

LENA

Wait!  Monsters.  As in more of those things.

DAVID

Yes and more than that.

ISABELLE

More what?

DAVID

All I’ve been told of is vampires and now we know about ghosts.

LENA

This is insane.

DAVID

Exactly what I thought when I first heard it.

LENA

So why didn’t you tell us?

DAVID

Well I didn’t think any of it was real.  I mean would you have.  And 

you were already worried about us going out why would I want to 

add to that.

LENA

But I was right to worry.  Look at everything that’s going on.

DAVID

As much as you’ve been worrying I could’ve cut my hand and you

would’ve felt justified.

LENA

Don’t!  I knew something wasn’t right.

DAVID

I made the choice and given the chance I’d make the same 

choice.  The world is already a crazy place, there was no need to 

add unnecessary stress.  And Izzy why I would put your life in 

danger for nothing.

ISABELLE

Believe me when I say we understand.  But considering what 

we’re up against there’s no way you’d be able to always protect 

us.  What is it you’re always telling me about hunting?  

Understand your prey, right?  Even if you thought it was fake you

should’ve told us so that we could be prepared for something.  

You want to protect us, but you left us vulnerable.

Beat

DAVID

You’re right.  You’re both right.

Beat

LENA

So where do we go from here?

DAVID

I don’t know.  We just have to find a way to survive in this new

world.

LUTHER

(outside)

Hey.  How’d it go?

Beat

DAVID

Sounds like they’re finally finished their ghost hunt.  Are

we good?

LENA

Yeah.

ISABELLE

Yeah.  I’m going to check on Mya.

Walk down bus stairs

Bus door opens

DAVID

Hey.  How’d it go?

CHRIS

Better than the shows.

LUTHER

Is she okay?

TANYA

Yes.  She’s a little drained from the possession.

LENA

What?!?

TANYA

It’s not as dangerous as the movies make it look.  Well not 

as long as the user can control it.

DAVID

Well let’s get her inside to rest.

ISABELLE

(Inside the bus)

Hey!  Come here quick!

Rushing to the back

ISABELLE

Mya is burning up.  I was changing her bandage and her cut

is infected.  Look at this.

LENA

Oh, God.

LUTHER

We have to do something to help her.

DAVID

We don’t have any antibiotics on the bus.

Beat

CHRIS

Well the hospital is near here.  Let’s try there.

DAVID

That’s a long shot at best, but it’s better than nothing.  Hopefully 

the pharmacy there hasn’t been hit.

LUTHER

Well let’s do it.  I’ve finished looking over the engine, we should be 

good.  I’ll get it started and head out.  Chris come with me I’ll need

directions.

CHRIS

Okay.

Walking fades

Bus starts

DAVID

Well I’m going up to the front with them.  I’ll let y’all know when we

arrive.