Silent Shadows
Plot: Candace Hartley has been left home alone in her Mansion atop Hillcrest Point, the highest place in the town. It couldn’t get any better, she has a few neighbors down the road if she needs help, her maid and butler will be there for a few hours and she has the whole house to herself. Until one night when the maid and butler leave, Candace begins getting strange phone calls and mysterious Instant Messages. Now, with a psychotic stranger lurking behind every corner and the main gate locked Candace has to fend for herself…or die trying.
Roll Opening Credits
End Opening Credits
Fade In On
EXT. Large Mansion – Early Morning – Establishing
A beautiful mansion, a main iron clad gate, trees almost reaching the sky, and the actual point itself, overlooking the entire town.
CUT TO:
INT. Mansion – Early Morning – Kitchen
CANDACE HARTLEY (16) sits at the Kitchen Table in her pajamas flipping through a Seventeen Magazine eating a bowl of cereal, suddenly her Mother MRS. KAREN HARTLEY (38) comes strolling in, wearing her very professional looking outfit, briefcase in hand. She places it on the counter, fills her coffee mug with hot coffee and walks over to the Kitchen Table, she leans over her daughter and looks on with her, her daughter flips the magazine over.
Karen
Excuse me…
Candace
Mom, you know enough about Menstrual Cramps and Bloating, you need not apply to this.
Karen
(Sarcastic)
Well aren’t we just a bowl of sunshine this morning.
Candace
(Sarcastic)
I’m Sorry.
Candace gets up with her empty bowl of cereal.
Candace
(Faking Perkiness)
Why Hello Mother! You are just so cute in that new Gucci outfit! You truly are to DIE FOR! And is that a Prada bag! Oh…My…God!
Karen is taking all this in with joy, smirking at her daughter.
Candace
Better?
Karen
(Smiling)
You are so lucky I’m nice!
Candace
(Sarcastic)
Yes…what would I do without you?
Karen
Shrivel up and die I’m sure.
Candace
(Sarcastic)
You hit it right on the nose Mrs. Hartley.
Karen
So, seriously. What’s bugging you this morning?
Candace
Nothing really, it’s just you guys are going away and…
Candace begins to fake cry.
Candace
I don’t know what I’ll do without my Father and Mother Dearest to…GUIDE ME THROUGH LIFE!
Karen
You are just a riot Candace!
Candace
Thank You, Thank You. I’ll be here all day.
Karen
That’s right, because you’re grounded.
Candace
What!
Karen
I found your little report card dear!
Karen holds up a crumpled piece of paper.
Candace
(Shocked)
How’d you find it!
(Covering Up)
I mean…who’s is that!
Karen
Funny. Come on Candace, a D in Chemistry!
Candace
It’s so hard Mom! You don’t understand!
Karen
I was sixteen once. I know what High School was like…
Candace
Please Mom…spare me the gory details…
Karen
All right, then plain and simple. You’re grounded.
Candace
Fine…
Karen
I expect you to stay in the house while we’re gone. I have Rita and Richard looking out after you.
Candace
Rita will let me go out! She loves me!
Suddenly from the hallway RITA (42) a woman who looks almost twenty years younger than she is steps in, in a maid’s uniform, smiling.
Rita
Just because I love you doesn’t mean I’ll let you out.
Candace
(To Karen)
So I’m stuck here all weekend?
Karen
ALL weekend. You can use the phone for three hours a day, you can use the internet for three hours a day and the only time you ma’am will be going outside is to either clean up Olive’s poop, or to walk him. Is that clear?
Candace
Can I have…?
Karen
No.
Candace
But you don’t…
Karen
Know what you were going to say? Yes I do.
(Mocking)
Can I have friends over?!
(Normal)
And the answer is…
Candace
(Hopeful)
Yes…?
Karen
Try again, I’ll give you a hint it starts with an N and ends with an O. Do you need me to spell that or are you all set?
Candace
(Mocking)
I’m fine.
Karen
All right.
Karen takes a sip of her coffee and picks up her briefcase, she walks over to Candace and kisses her on the head.
Karen
I’ll see you when I get back.
Candace
Right.
Karen
(Walking Away)
And don’t you DARE think about asking your father is you can go anywhere!
Candace slams her Magazine on the kitchen counter and walks through the hallway to her huge living room; she slams into her father, PETER HARTLEY (39) who’s tying a tie. Candace sits on the stairs, her father walks towards her and leans against the bars of the stairs.
Peter
Whoa…what’s wrong?
Candace
Why don’t you ask your dear wife Karen!
Peter
This is about the Grounding thing isn’t it?
Candace
You needed to think long and hard about that one didn’t you.
Peter
Listen Honey…
Candace
If this is another “Listen Honey, it’s for your own good. You need to concentrate more on your studies than clubs, friends and parties” speech then I don’t wanna hear it.
Peter
All right, well I guess I know my place in all of this.
Candace
I don’t mean to be an ass…
Peter clears his throat as to warn Candace about her language.
Candace
…Butt Hole about it, but I just don’t feel like being stuck in this place for three days.
Peter
Well maybe I can talk to your mother about it all and see if you can be let off early.
Candace
All right.
Peter
But I gotta go. I’ll call you later.
Candace
Yea.
Peter leans through the bars and Candace leans in, Peter kisses her on the head and walks out the front door. Candace continues to sit on the stairs for quite a while before standing up and walking upstairs.
INT. Living Room – Mid-Day
Candace comes down the stairs in a towel, her hair wrapped in a towel as well; she flips on the TV and walks away to hear a breaking news report.
Reporter
(From TV)
…Has escaped from the Mary Ellen Institution for the Criminally Insane and is highly dangerous. Again, the man known as The Shadow Killer, has escaped from the Mary Ellen Institution for the Criminally Insane, he was institutionalized for allegedly beating a young high school girl last week after saying that “I saw her in a dream, she was trying to hurt me and my family, she was trying to hurt us all” we would like to put out a state of alert, that this man is highly dangerous. Police and FBI are out right now searching for this man, if you have any information on the whereabouts of this man, we urge you to contact us at 555-0176, for more information you can log onto our website at Please, be careful.
Candace has her hand placed over her mouth; she runs to the phone and picks it up. She dials a number and places the phone to her ear.
Candace
Hey Jenna, it’s Candace. Did you just see the news…?
Jenna
(From Phone)
No…what happened?
Candace
The guy that attacked you last week broke out.
Jenna
What!
Candace
Police are all over the place looking for this guy.
Jenna
Yea well I’m heading up to Canada for the weekend with my parents, you gonna be ok?
Candace
I’ll be fine…just be careful all right?
Jenna
Always.
Candace
Call me when you get there?
Jenna
All right.
Candace
Later Jenna.
Candace
Bye Candi.
Candace hangs up, and turns around to bump into Rita, they both let out screams.
Rita
Candace, honey, I’m so sorry. I thought you knew I was right there.
Candace
Sorry Rita…is Frank coming in today?
Rita
The Chef? No…he has the day off for today, your parents said you could make food for yourself.
Candace
Damn it…
Rita
But I’m off. Richard should be coming in about an hour, if anything happens you have my cell phone number.
Candace
(Panicked)
Rita wait. Could you just stay here until Richard gets here?
Rita
Honey, I have other houses to clean. I’ll be back in a few hours.
Candace
Do you have to?
Rita
Yes Honey, I’ll be back.
Rita walks out of the house. Candace slumps against a wall when suddenly the phone rings. Candace hesitates to pick it up; suddenly she goes with it and picks it up.
Candace
Hello?
Karen
(From phone)
Candace Honey, it’s mom. I just heard the news on the radio, about the guy who attacked Jenna, did you hear?
Candace
Yea.
Karen
You gonna be ok?
Candace
I should be fine; Richard’s coming in an hour and Rita said she’ll be back later. I’ll be fine.
Karen
All right honey, you know you can invite someone over if you’re afraid, your punishment still stands, but only one friend.
Candace
Mom, I’m fine. Besides Jenna’s going to Canada.
Karen
You have plenty of other friends Candace.
Candace
I know, but seriously. I can take care of myself, I’m not worried.
Karen
All right. Well I gotta go, I’ll see you when I get back.
Candace
Yep.
Karen
Love you.
Candace
Love you too.
Karen
Bye now.
Candace
Later.
Candace hangs up the phone and walks into her living room, up the stairs to her bedroom to get changed.
CUT TO:
INT. Living Room – Dusk
Candace walks into her kitchen, now fully dressed, and takes out a large tub of ice cream, she places it on the counter and opens it up, she looks out her front door, only to see the sun setting and trees casting shadows against the house. She laughs and shakes her head. Candace begins scooping ice cream into a bowl when suddenly she hears something rattle from the next room. Candace looks up. She walks over to the doorway and collides with RICHARD (49) the butler! She screams in fright.
Candace
Jesus Christ! What the hell is this scare the shit out of Candace day!
Richard
I’m sorry Miss. I thought you knew I was here.
Candace
I did Richard…I…forgot. Sorry, totally my fault.
Richard
Well I can see you have everything under control here. I shall be on my way.
Candace
Did you get any word from Rita?
Richard
Nothing, she’ll be around Miss. Don’t worry.
Candace
(To Self)
Yea…I WISH it were that easy…
Richard walks to the front door and opens it.
Richard
Have a good night Miss. Be careful.
Richard shuts the door. Candace licks the scoop with ice cream on it before throwing it in the sink, she takes the tub of ice cream and puts it back in the freezer, she then takes her bowl of ice cream and walks into the living room, setting it down on the Coffee Table. She flips through the channels on the TV when suddenly it shuts off. Candace looks around, but doesn’t see anyone who could have done it, suddenly she hears the howl of the wind and figures it must have knocked the wires loose. She takes her bowl of ice cream over to the stereo and turns it on, she walks to her computer and turns it on as well, she clicks on the Internet symbol and it connects, she then gets on an Instant Messaging service and begins to talk to her friends. Candace’s screen name is CandiGrl87; she begins chatting with her friends.
CandiGrl87
(Typing)
Hey Chasity!
Her friend Chasity IM’s her back.
ChaChaBaby69
(Typing)
Hey Grl!
CandiGrl87
Sup?
ChaChaBaby69
Nmh, lemme tell ya, babysittin ya damn little brother is NOT a way 2 spend Friday Night! And what about u?
CandiGrl87
Chillen, got grounded 4 my report card, the rents found it.
ChaChaBaby69
Damn, that sux.
CandiGrl69
Ur not the 1 grounded.
ChaChaBaby69
Might as well be!
CandiGrl87
Lol, so how long u doin that 4?
ChaChaBaby69
All nite! Ugh…damn, can u h/o 4 like 2 sec.
CandiGrl87
No prob.
Chhasity’s Away Message goes up, Candace sits there, she turns around in her computer chair dancing in her seat to the music when suddenly the TV turns on. Candace looks around…scared.
Candace
(To Self)
That better have been the power.
Suddenly there’s a DING noise from the computer, Candace turns around to see a New Instant Message has popped up. She looks at the screen name, but doesn’t recognize it, she looks at the persons profile but it’s blank. She then looks at the message; it reads “Hello” the persons screen name is StormyNight666.
CandiGrl87
Hello…?
StormyNight666
Who’s this?
CandiGrl87
Who’s this?
StormyNight666
I asked you first.
CandiGrl87
Ur point being? Seriously, who is this?
StormyNight666
You don’t know me.
CandiGrl87
Oh, hadn’t noticed.
StormyNight666
So, who’s this?
CandiGrl87
You don’t know me either.
StormyNight666
How can you be so sure?
CandiGrl87
I just am.
StormyNight666
I bet…so what are you watching?
CandiGrl87
What do you mean?
StormyNight666
I mean “What are you watching?” You know like on the TV…
CandiGrl87
Listen, I don’t have the time for this shit. Wanna just leave me alone?
StormyNight666
I could.
CandiGrl87
And you should.
StormyNight666
Or what?
CandiGrl87
What do you mean or what?
StormyNight666
Just what I said.
CandiGrl87
I’m not gonna do anything, I just don’t feel like typing.
StormyNight666
Understandable. That’s all you had to say.
With that the anonymous person signs off. Suddenly the phone rings, Candace looks around and then answers the phone.
Candace
Hello?
Man
(From Phone, Menacing Voice)
Do you feel like talking?
Candace
(Scared)
Who the fuck is this!
Man
I’m the Shadow Candace! But I wouldn’t be worried about WHO I am Candace…especially when I’m right outside…
Candace looks out the window to see a dark figure run past the nighttime sky, she falls to the ground, sobbing, but trying not to let it show through.
Candace
You don’t scare me!
Man
Is that so?
Candace
Yea. So there’s no use in trying.
Man
I seem to be doing a fine job at it right now…your a blubbering mess on the floor.
Candace
Stop! Just stop!
Candace hangs up and picks up her cell phone on the computer desk, she dials 9-1-1 crying her eyes out.
Operator
(From Phone)
9-1-1, what’s your emergency.
Candace
The Shadow Killer, he’s outside my house! He just called me, he’s watching me!
Operator
Please ma’am I’ve been getting these crank calls all night just quit it.
Candace
No he’s outside! LISTEN TO ME!
Operator
No honey, listen to me. Check channel 3 news, he was caught and hour ago. I don’t see what your problem is, but there is no Shadow Killer outside your house.
Candace
Can you at least send someone here to check? I’m telling you he’s here.
Operator
I’ll send an officer over, whereabouts do you live?
Candace
Twenty-One Hillcrest Point.
Operator
And your name?
Candace
Candace Hartley.
Operator
Ok, an officer has been notified and he’s on his way. Anything else?
Candace
Please, just stay on the phone with me until he comes.
Operator
Ok Ma’am, just calm down. Now I want to assure you, The Shadow Killer is NOT outside your house, he’s been captured.
Candace
I swear it.
Operator
How old are you Candace?
Candace
Sixteen.
Operator
All right, is there anyone else at home with you?
Candace
No.
Operator
Ok, now I’m beginning to see why you’re freaking out.
Candace
(Confused)
What…?
Operator
You’re a young girl, you saw the news report and now that you’re alone, your beginning to see things that aren’t there.
Candace
No, I saw a man outside my house. I had a conversation with this guy on the computer!
Operator
I’m sure it was one of your friends just messing around.
Candace
For Christ’s Sake! My friend was the one he beat up last week! NONE of my friends would do this! God, how am I gonna get through to you, that there is SOMEONE outside my house!
Operator
All right Ma’am you need to calm down. Now take a look out your window, you should see a police vehicle coming up the driveway. You’re all set.
Candace
Thank you.
Candace hangs up, she walks to the front door to see the officer walking up the stairs to her house, and he greets her by taking off his hat.
Officer
My name is Officer Matthews. What seems to be the problem here?
Candace
I saw someone outside my house, he started a conversation with me on the Internet and then he called me, he knew where I was and what I was doing, I figured it must be outside or something.
Officer Matthews