More Johnny Lightning Sample

         EXT. UNDER THE TRAIN TRESTLE - NIGHT.

               PETER open's his eyes, it is dark.  Scared, he immediately
               gets up and runs.  



               INT. CARNEY LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

               PETER opens the screen door and walks into the living room. 
               MILDRED is all the way in the bag (drunk) smoking a
               cigarette.  



               PETER STANDING IN FRONT OF THE COFFEE TABLE

               Peter does not look at his mother.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY
                         Where have you been?

                                   PETER
                         I ran away.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY
                         Yeah.... We figured that.... We saw
                         your window open.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         If I were you, I'd go back to where
                         ever you came from.... Cause, your
                         dad and Mr. Charty are out looking
                         for you... And when they find
                         you... Ohhh you're gonna get it.

               PETER turns and runs out the screen door.



               CARNEY FAMILY HOUSE FRONT PORCH.

               PETER reaches the last step when two Cadilacs pull up in
               front of the house.  Gene in his and MR. Charty in the other.  

               GENE AND MR. CHARTY jump out of their cars. 

               PETER turns and runs back up the steps.

                                   GENE CARNEY
                         Hey, Hey, Hey... You... Wait right
                         there.

               Peter darts into the house. 



               INSIDE THE HOUSE, LIVING ROOM

               PETER hide in the closet under the stairs. 



               INSIDE THE CLOSET
               Various clothes hang and other closet items on the floor.
               PETER scoots his way back deep into the recesses.



               GENE ENTERS THE HOUSE WITH MR CHARTY. 



               CARNEY HOUSE LIVING ROOM

               MILDRED motions to the closet.  

               GENE opens the closet door and grabs at Peter unsuccessfully.  
               Gene is too big and Peter is too deep into the angular under
               stairway closet.  

                                   GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         Get out here. 

               GENE swats at Peter.

                                   GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         Get out here now...

               GENE stops grouping.

                                   GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         ... Do you have any idea of how we
                         have worried.  Mr. Charty and I
                         have been everywhere looking for
                         you.

               GENE gets down on his knees and looks Peter in the eyes.

                                   GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
                          Now "P"... Come out now.

               PETER starts out of the closet.  

               GENE grabs him by the arm and pulls him the rest of the way. 

                                   GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         Oh my son.... What were you
                         thinking?

               Mr. Charty looks at barely coherent Mildred swaying on the
               couch.  

                                   MR. CHARTY
                         Peter, I will personally kick your
                         butt if you ever scare us like that
                         again.  Your father has given me
                         permission.  You're not allowed to
                         run away young man.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY (THROUGH HER
                                   CIGARETTE),
                         (Slurring her words), You should
                         take something away.

               GENE looks at his wife. 

               He puts his hand on PETER's back.

                                   GENE CARNEY
                         Let's go son.... We're gonna go get
                         something to eat with Mr Charty.

               The Three of them exit through the front door.

               The screen slams. 

               MILDRED flicks her ash in the ash try, exhales a big puff
               smoke and takes a sip of her drink.



               INT. GENE'S CADILAC, FRONT OF CARNEY HOUSE - NIGHT

               GENE Starts the car.  Mr. Charty sits in front and Peter is
               in the back seat. 

               PETER opens his door and quickly jumps out.

                                   GENE CARNEY
                         Pete..?

                                   PETER
                         Just a second dad... I forgot
                         something.

               PETER runs across the front lawn and up the porch steps. 



               PETER STANDING IN FRONT MILDRED
               The coffee table sits between Peter and his mother.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY
                         What do you want?

               PETER lifts his face and their eyes meet.

                                   PETER
                         I wish you were dead.

               PETER turns and walks out the front door.  The screen door
               slams.

                                                                CUT TO:



               EXT. FRONT OF CARNEY FAMILY HOUSE - NIGHT

               GENE, PETER and MR. CHARTY arrive, exit the Gene's Cadilac
               and walk to their respective houses. 

               GENE and PETER walk up the front steps and onto the porch.

                                   MR. CHARTY
                         Your a good boy Peter.

                                   PETER
                         Good night Mr. Charty.

               PETER and his father walk house.



               INSIDE, LIVING ROOM

               MILDRED is laying on the couch.  A large bloody gash is on
               her forehead.  She is passed out.  They wake her.

                                   GENE CARNEY
                         Mildred, Mildred..... Your
                         bleeding.... What happened?

               Mildred stirs, opens her eyes halfway.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY (SLURING)
                         I think I... I Slipped... In the
                         kitchen.  

               MILDRED touches her forehead.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         I think I hit my head.



               CARNEY KITCHEN

               GENE CARNEY walks into the kitchen and inspects the kitchen
               table.  Blood is on one corner of the table and the floor
               below.  



               LIVING ROOM

               PETER stares at his mother's forehead. 

               GENE enters living room.

                                   GENE CARNEY
                         Get up... 

               Mildred does not respond.

                                   GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         I said get up... Get your things...
                         We're going to the hospital.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY
                         No... I'm not going.... I am fine.

               MILDRED opens her eyes for a moment and then closes them.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY (CONT'D)
                         I am not going anywhere. 

                                   GENE CARNEY
                         You are not fine.

                                   MILDRED CARNEY (SCREAMING)
                         I'm not going anywhere and that's
                         final!

                                                                CUT TO:



               INT. PETER'S BEDROOM. MORNING
               Peter's bedroom when he was 11 has a mother's influence.  No
               posters, and no animal trophies.  A very clean plain room
               with blue lined wall paper, empty top of dresser, night
               stands and two twin beds.  



               PETER IN HIS BED

               PETER opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling.  He swings
               the blankets off of him and stands, discovers his mother
               sleeping in the twin bed next to his.
               Mildred's head wound has a small bandage.  



               MILDRED'S FACE

               Mildred is extremely pale with blue lips.  

               PETER touches her cheek with and immediately withdraws his
               hand.



               PETER'S TORSO

                                   PETE (SCREAMS)
                         Dad... Daaad!

               PETER breathes like he is having an asthma attack.

                                                         FADE TO BLACK: