Spinning merrily. Young kids and teenagers occupy the horses and benches.A tough group of "SURF NAZIS" also ride."My Beach, My Wave" on their T-shirts.
The LOST kids enter the carousel house. Cool kids in dis-
tinctive dress. Compelling; not threatening. They are
aiden, liam, PAUL, luke; Aiden the obvious leader.
max, the head Surf Nazi, sits in one of the carousel's
benches with his arm around his girl, SHELLY. He thinks
he's King of the Boardwalk.. And doesn't like it one bit
when Shelly casts an appreciative glance toward Aiden.
Aiden smiles back at her. Not flirting, just being chi-
valrous. max scowls and takes his anger out on Paul by
tripping him as he goes by. An insult... a shove. Aiden
joins Paul. Surf Nazis join max . The Lost kids close
ranks. A major melee seems ready to erupt, when the ugly
end of a nightstick is shoved against his Adam's apple.
A three hundred pound security GUARD is at the other end.
The ride suddenly ends.
GUARD
I told you to stay off the boardwalk.
For an endless moment Aiden's and the Guard's eyes lock
in mortal combat. Neither one willing to give ground.
Then Aiden smiles.
Aiden
Come on, let's guys.
The Lost kids begin to leave as the Guard turns to max
and the Surf Nazis.
GUARD
You too, off the boardwalk. And
don't come back!
max and the Surf Nazis grumble and leave. There is
bad blood between them and the Lost kids, but both groups
hate the Security Guard more.
BOARDWALK - LARGE, EMPTY PARKING LOT 4
The Security Guard approaches his lone car carrying his
lunch pail. Deadly quiet.
VAMPIRE POV SHOT
Zooming down on the Guard. A rush of air. High-pitched
SCREECHING. WHISPERING VOICES.
THE GUARD
looks up -- reacts for a split second -- and then he's
gone -- pulled UPWARD OUT OF FRAME so fast, he's just a
blur. Only his lunch box -- bouncing on the pavement
-- remains behind.
Clown faces bobbing. Dark images in the carousel.
DESERTED BEACH - NIGHT
WAVES LAP against the beach. Lonely and deserted. No
one around for miles.
All is quiet and still, until... WHOOSH! THUD!
THE GUARD'S BODY
falls from the sky and lands in the wet sand
.balloon.
PACIFIC COAST - MORNING
Christine davies drives -- late thirties, sexy, warm, com-
fortable with herself -- a bit of a free spirit. kyla,
14, a victim of too many afternoons in shopping malls
watching Bratpack movies, sits next to her in her trendy
duds, suffering the foreign coastline with her large
Malamute dog NANOOK.
Ashley, in her late teens, slumps in the back seat. she
is a loner, an independent and not enjoying the ride.
Christine We're getting close...
Kyla
What's that smell?
Christine
(filling lungs) Ocean air!
kyla
Smells like something died.
Christine
Guys, I know it hasn't been easy...
the divorce and now the move... but
I think you're really going to like
living in Santa Carla...
No reply. Her daughters look unconvinced.
Christine
How 'bout some music.
She turns on the radio to COUNTRY AND WESTERN.
kyla
Keep going.
She next finds an EASY LISTENING station.
Ashley
Keep going.
She next finds Donovan singing "Mellow Yellow."
kyla/Ashley
Keep going.
Christine
(laughing)
Wait. Haight-Ashbury! The summer
of love! 'Mellow Yellow.'
kyla/Ashley
Keep going!
They all laugh as Christine turns the dial to a CURRENT ROCK
HIT and the girls relax.
THEIR POV - LARGE BILLBOARD
Showing Boardwalk, Pier, etc. Reads: "Welcome to Santa
Carla."
As they pass, only Ashley notices what has been spray
painted on the back of the sign: "MURDER CAPITAL OF THE
WORLD."
SANTA CARLA - MORNING
ESTABLISH Summer/Fun atmos -- Bikinis, Surfers, Bikers,
Colorful Locals, etc.
GAS STATION/SURF RENTAL/TRAMPOULINE RIDE
In the center of the action. Christine pumps gas into the
Rover as kyla runs up to her.
kyla
Mom, there's an amusement park
right on the beach!
Christine
That's the boardwalk, kyla.
kyla
Can we go now, huh?
Christine
Maybe later. Grandpa's expecting
us.
Christine is disturbed as she notices TWO RUNAWAY TEENAGERS
RUMMAGING through a nearby garbage bin for something to
eat. She and kyla are distracted however as they see
ashley rolling her HONDA MOTOR BIKE from out of the
U-Haul.
ashley
I need to stretch my legs. I'll
follow you.
The Attendant gives Christine five dollars in change. She
hands it to kyla, indicating the Two Runaways.
Christine
Tell them to get something to eat.
kyla
I thought we were poor.
Christine
Not that poor.
kyla runs off as ashley starts her prize possession.
Christine
Still mad at me?
Ashley
For what.
Christine
For everything.
ashley can't deal with this and just roars her engine.
Christine
If you want to check it out and
meet us later it's okay.
kyla returns, having heard this.
kyla
What!? she can and I can't?! No
fair!!
ashley
That's okay, Mom. I can see it
later. I'll help you unload.
Christine seems pleasantly surprised by Ashley's display of
responsibility. She and kyla get in the Rover as the
Runaways shout to them.
RUNAWAY
Hey, thanks, lady.
Christine
(to Runaways)
Use some of it to call home.
(to kyla as they
pull out)
Those kids look like me twenty
years ago.
kyla
When you ran away from home, hitch-
hiked to Berkeley, spent the night
in Golden Gate Park and begged for
spare change in the morning?
Christine
You've heard this story before?
kyla
So many times, I'm starting to
think it happened to me.
GRANDPA'S HOUSE - DAY
A long winding road leads to the old lodge-like funky
house. The Land Rover pulls up followed by Ashley on
her motorbike.
GRANDPA, a rugged individualist wearing old denims,
Indian moccasins, long grey braid down his back, is a
lifeless form on the front porch. Christine and girls approach.
ashley
He looks dead.
Christine
He's just a deep sleeper.
Ashley
He's not breathing, Mom.
Christine becomes concerned as she feels his head.
kyla
If he's dead can we move back to
Phoenix?
Before Christine and ashley can belt kyla, Grandpa opens his
mischievous eyes.
GRANDPA
Playin' dead... and from what I
heard, doin; a damn good job of
it, too.
Ashley and kyla exchange weird looks as Christine hugs her
father.
GRANDPA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Large, lodge-like; funky leather furniture and Indian
blankets. ashley carries in her lps while kyla
struggles with her MAMMOTH COLLECTION OF COMIC BOOKS.
Ashley
This is kind of a cool place.
kyla
(deadpan)
I'm so excited I just can't hide
it. I'm about to lose control and
I think I like it.
Ashley
Will you give Mom a break?
kyla follows ashley into the...
KITCHEN
As Ashley , about to put her lps down on back porch,
.
kyla
Grandpa does not own a T.V. Have
you noticed? There's no T.V.
Santa Carla has no malls, no
Cineplexes and now I won't even
have MTV. I will not know anything
hip happening anymore.
Ashley
Hey, kyla, we're flat broke.
kyla
Even poor people have T.V.s
GRANDPA'S HOUSE
Nanook dashes about discovering nature, while Grandpa
Christine unload the U-Haul.
GRANDPA
Christine, you're the only woman I ever
knew didn't improve her situation by getting divorced.
Christine
A big legal war wasn't going to
improve anybody's situation. We've
all been through enough. Besides
I was raised better than that.
Thanks for having us, Dad.
She hugs him, accidentally pulling on his braid.
GRANDPA
Ouch, my hair...
Christine
When I dressed like you do now,
you threw me out of the house.
I used to hate your short hair
and your uptight suits... then I
went ahead and married one... I
went Yuppie and you became a
hippie... Were still out of synch.
AN UPSTAIRS BEDROOM
kyla is stacking her comic book collection on the shelves
when Ashley enters.
Ashley
This room is mine.
Kyla
I was here first.
Ashley
Okay. I'll flip you for it.
Kyla can see it's her only chance.
kyla
Okay...
ashley smiles, grabs kyla suddenly and "flips" her upside
down. ashley is laughing, but her tone changes dramati-
cally when kyla reaches out, grabs hold of ashley's boobs
and squeezes hard. ashley drops kyla.
Ashley
Owwww! You little shit!
kyla is out the door as Ashley pursues.
DOWN THE STAIRCASE THROUGH THE LIVING ROOM
kyla yells to Christine, who is outside.
kyla
Help me, Mom. Help.
Christine
Soon.
kyla tears open a pair of old sliding doors and runs into:
THE OLD BAR
Stuffed animals of all kinds staring down at him: Squir-
rels, birds, cats, etc.
Also, boxes of eyes, pelts, hides, wooden animal forms.
In other words, all the equipment and accouterments of
a taxidermist.
Ashley
dashes in. Both girls stare in wonder.
The whole scene is very weird. Suddenly a voice from
behind.
GRANDPA
Rules!
Both boys jump, Grandpa is behind them.
GRANDPA
Got some rules around here.
. KITCHEN
Grandpa opens the refrigerator revealing a shelf with a
cardboard flap on it reading: "Old Fart."
GRANDPA
Second shelf is mine... keep my
root beers and double-thick Mint
Oreo cookies there... Nobody
touches the second shelf...
Grandpa closes the door as Ashley notices something out
the window, as they follow Grandpa back towards the
living room. Ashley points to a small marijuana crop
growing outside. kyla is puzzled but ashley make a
"smoking a joint" gesture.
LIVING ROOM
They follow Grandpa.
GRANDPA
When the mailman brings the T.V.
Guide on Wednesdays, sometimes
the corner of the address label
will curl up... You'll be tempted
to peel it off. Don't. You'll
end up rippin' the cover and I
don't like that...
He disappears into the Taxidermy.
GRANDPA
... And stay outta here.
kyla
You have a T.V.?
GRANDPA
No, I just like to read the T.V.
Guide. Read the T.V. Guide, you
don't need a T.V...
INT. THE KITCHEN - NIGHT
Ashley , kyla and christine do the dinner dishes together. The
radio is playing. A HIT FROM THE SIXTIES comes on.
"Land Of A Thousand Dances." christine begins to move to the
music. Then she puts down her dish towel and starts to
dance.
christine
This is how we used to do it.
'Pony Time.'
christine grabs Kyla by the hand and pulls her away from the
sink. she copies her. In fact, she's even more wild.
christine and Kyla are laughing and having a great time. christine
and Kyla try to include Ashley, but she's embarrassed.
. BEACH IN FRONT OF THE BOARDWALK- NIGHT
ashley and kyla walk across the beach, around the burning
bonfires. The beach is crowded. max and the Surf Nazis
hang out. It is all very strange and exciting to kyla and
ashley who make their way towards the lively boardwalk.
kyla fusses with her "mussed" hair and trendy clothes.
ashley
You're beautiful.
kyla
Wanna change my hair, my clothes,
my face.
They go up the stairs near the bandstand. A LOUD ROCK
GROUP performs. The crows and action are exciting.
ashley and kyla make their way through the young people..
ashley suddenly sees:
spencer
A heart-stopping young beauty. Different from anyone in
the crowd, listening to the music and even though she's
with LAD, 14, a sweet-faced but sad boy, she seems
alone. As the MUSIC BUILDS, she suddenly feels Ashley 's
gaze and their eyes meet. She is a person looking for a
friend. ashley smiles. spencer wants to smile back, but
she can't, and reaching for Laddie, disappears through
the crowd. Ashley grabs kyla and follows.
SANTA CARLA PIER - NIGHT
In view of the boardwalk, but quite a distance away.
christine, in a soft summer skirt and blouse walks on the busy
pier; restaurants, souvenir stores, boat rentals, etc.
A "brain dead" ex-hippie is preaching; ranting and raving.
christine falls in step for a moment with a TOURIST COUPLE
who are smiling over the ex-hippie.
christine
I think I dated that guy.
The couple chuckle and disappears in the crowd as christine
comes across a kiosk with dozens of local ads for apart-
ments for rent, fishing boats, seminars, and many flyers
with missing children. Being added to this is a xeroxed
flyer with a picture of the heavyset Security Guard we
saw killed. "MISSING" in large black type over his photo.
This is being placed there by his WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN.
christine passes the sad woman and their eyes meet for a
second. Lucy notices a "HELP WANTED" SIGN in a restau-
rant window. As she goes to inspect it however, she
suddenly becomes aware of a YOUNG BOY looking very lost
in the middle of the summer crowd.
POV OF christine
tending to the child.
This is through a store window looking out onto the pier
with the boardwalk in the distance. A BUZZER SOUNDS.
AND POV MOVES THROUGH THE DOORWAY OF A VIDEO STORE.
as the LOST kids enter aggressively.
These POV's belong to john, the tall good-looking friendly
owner of VIDEOMAX, a trendy video/souvenier store with
banks of TV MONITORS filled with rock and cartoon images.
john is not happy with the appearance of the LOST kids
in his store, who seem only interested in causing trouble
and cruising the attractive YOUNG BLACK CASHIER. john is
just about to deal with them, when the BUZZER SOUNDS
again, and christine enters with the child.
christine
This boy seems to be lost.
aiden and the Lost kids watch christine and the child. john
is delighted to see christine in his store.
christine
I thought maybe his parents
might be in here?
john is just about to help christine when a frantic YOUNG
MOTHER comes dashing into the store.
MOTHER
Terry... Oh, thank God... I was
so worried...
She grabs the child, effusively thanking john and christine.
john gallantly hands a lollipop to Terry as the mother
thanks them some more and leaves. john hands christine a
lollipop next.
christine
No, thanks.
She smiles as the Lost kids shuffle past heading for the
door. john speaks to aiden.
john
I told you not to come in here anymore.
aiden smiles his smile and leaves with his guys. john
sees christine watching him.
john
Wild kids.
Outside aiden and the guys get on their bitchin' bikes
and peel out.
christine
Oh, they're just young. We were
that age, too, once. Only they
dress better.
john
You've got a generous nature. I
like that in a person. My name is john.
christine
christine.
john
So what can I help you find tonight,
christine? We've got it all. Best
selection in Santa Carla.
christine
I'm not looking for a tape. What I
need is --
john
-- a job.
christine
Do I look that needy?
BOARDWALK - NIGHT
ashley walks briskly past the rides through the crowds.
kyla has trouble keeping up as they turn down an alley.
kyla
Where are we going?
Ashley
Nowhere.
kyla
Then what's the rush? You're
chasing that girl, why don't you
just admit it? I'm at the mercy
of your sex glands!
Ashley
Don't you have something better
to do than follow me around all
night?
Then, kyla realizes that he's standing directly in front
of a GREAT SECOND-HAND COMIC BOOK STORE.
kyla
As a matter of fact, I do.
With that, kyla walks away from ashley. And ashley
continues her search alone.
COMIC BOOK STORE
Weirdness hangs in the air. kyla enters. It seems empty.
kyla begins to examine the treasure trove of comics when
she suddenly becomes aware of TWO TEENAGERS, glen and
clay -- tough little dudes in fatigues with cold eyes --
victims of too many Chuck Norris movies. They are busy
stacking old comics on the racks from cardboard boxes.
They are the gem BROTHERS.
kyla
You can't put the Superman D.C.
#3400 series with the #500's...
it's a different artist.
The boys just look death at her, but clay notices
something.
clay
(to glen)
sHe's right.
They begin to correct their mistake, as kyla speaks again.
kyla
And these Archies should be over
here with the Richie Rich's.
glen
Where the hell are you from,
Kryton???
kyla
Phoenix actually and these
Bullwinkle and...
clay
Just passing through Santa Carla?
kyla
No, I'm a resident as of today
and you'll probably be seeing a
lot of me... I've been collecting
comic books all my life...
perhaps you'd like to see my
collection?
clay looks to glen as glen pulls a comic from the shelf.
glen
If you're gonna live around here,
then here's one you don't wanna
be without.
He hands kyla a comic entitled Vampires Everywhere.
kyla
I don't like horror comics.
clay
This one could save your life.
