After the Prom
At the end of an eventful night Tommy drove Carrie home. As they arrived they were accosted by a pretty odd site. The whole house was glowing, Carrie's mom had put up candles all over the place. It was very spooky, both though it was strange and Carrie was lightly embarrassed, she just had a great evening and didn't want one of her mom's religious antics to ruin it. The timing was bad as Tommy was just beginning to warm up to her. Trying a bluff she said that her mom put out candles every evening for prayers.
Carrie went inside first
"Momma, Momma" she called
Tommy followed her in
"Momma I'm home" she bellowed as loud as she could
For a while it seemed that her Mom wasn't in, then finally Carrie spotted her at the top of the stairs,
Margaret gave a stare which seemed anxious and cold at the same time, slowly she then turned around and softly made her way down the stairs.
"Momma I'd like you to meet Tommy Ross my date"
"Hello Mrs White" Tommy's reply was courteous.
"Hello Tommy" replied Margaret, she managed to muster an icy smile, the lad was well mannered and respectful but she was not a fool. Boys were all the same as far as she was concerned.
Carrie was glowing very happy "It was Terrific Momma, I had a great time and no one laughed at me, I got crowned prom queen and everyone was really nice to me, for once in my life I really felt special"
"that's because you are special" smiled Tommy "she's a very special girl Mrs White" he reaffirmed to Margaret
She also told momma how some nasty people had tried to drop a bucket of pig's blood on her but failed.
Margaret listened attentively and maintained a calm and composed stance while Tommy was still there. Politely and firmly she replied"It is a pleasure meeting you Thomas Everest Ross, I hope to see you again, May the Lord bring you salvation"
Tommy shook hands with Margaret waved goodbye to Carrie and off he went. Carrie was tired and said she was going to take a bath and then go to bed. She affirmed that she would be sure to do her prayers before she did so.
Instead Margaret asked Carrie to come in her room and pray with her, afterward she may proceed with bedtime. Carrie dutifully complied. Momma's tone turned harsh and chilly as she taunted her daughter by telling her that it is unfortunate that the bucket of blood did not fall on top of her. If it had she would be scourged and humiliated in front of everyone especially the Lord and it would have served as a sound reminder that the only hope of salvation was inside the red circle, something that she Margaret had told Carrie many times before. That was a pretty big punch in the face for Carrie, she just had a great time and this spiteful remark seemed to render it to nothingness.
She tried to stand up to her mum again "Stop It Momma" she pleaded, careful as to not use her telekinesis.
Margaret upset her further by being telling her of the night how Carrie was conceived
"I should have killed myself when he put it in me. After that first time, before we were married, Ralph promised never again. He promised. And I believed him. But sin never dies. Sin never dies. At first it was all right. We lived sinlessly. We slept in the same bed, but we never did it. And then, that night, I saw him looking down at me that way. We got down on our knees to pray for strength. I smelled the whiskey on his breath. And he took me. He took me with the smell of filthy roadhouse whiskey on his breath. And I liked it. I liked it! With all that dirty touching, and his hands on me all over me! I should have given you to God when you were born … but I was weak and backsliding and … Now, the devil has come home. Oh. We'll pray.*1"
"Uhm - Very well Momma" replied Carrie obediently.
Margaret then began reciting the Lord's Prayer and Carrie followed suit, Margaret then pulled out a butcher's knife that she had hidden and proceeded to stab Carrie in the back who found herself tumbling down the stairs, as she recovered she looked up horrified and shocked. Making a cross motion with the knife Margaret now completely insane, smiling and with a look of delirium in her eyes proceeded to stalk Carrie through the house. Crawling away Carrie made for the nearest door but it was locked, she was trapped as mom cornered her in the kitchen. She raised the knife again ready to strike.
"Momma don't, please don't" begged a tearful Carrie futilely hoping that mom would give into her pleas and spare her.
She felt another blow as Margaret struck her again, having no choice she sent a barrage of kitchen utensils at her pinning her against the door. As Margaret screamed Carrie could tell it was not the scream of pain and agony but of happiness and joy as though as she had expiated herself. She passed out in a pose similar to that grotesque San Sebastian statue in the praying closet.
Consumed with grief and guilt for killing the person she both loved and hated, Carrie lost control of her telekinesis. A rain of stones began to fall on the white household*2 and the whole property number 47 Carlin Street began to cave in on itself. Candles lit by Margaret were knocked over as the house shook setting the entire property ablaze.
Carrie removed the knives pinning her mothers body, took her into her arms and dragged her mom lifeless body to the praying closet. As the stones continued to rain relentlessly pounding the house Carrie sat in the praying closet musing how once just once in her lifetime she had the best day of her life just before she died. Sitting silently in a sober mood as the house then the room caved it she recited the Lord's prayer. She never finished it as a large piece of debris knocked her out cold.
As he was driving away Tommy Ross noticed the rain of stones and quickly deduced that they were falling over the White Household. Quick as a flash he turned his car around and headed back to make sure that Carrie and Margaret were all right.
A horrific scene greeted him as he saw the rain of stones relentlessly pounding the house without mercy, pummelling into the ground until slowly and slowly it began to sink. Wasting no time he rushed to a neighbour and told them to contact the emergency services. Then he rushed back out, by now a crowd of curious onlookers was being beginning to assemble around number 47 Carlin Street as the ground continued to swallow the house.
As the house continued to collapse and literally sink into the ground. Tommy made a dash for the nearest door or window of the crumbling house in hopes of saving the girl he had just fallen in love with but could only be restrained by the neighbours.
"Don't go in there lad, its too dangerous" said the neighbour that just grabbed him
"CARRIE" shouted Tommy frantically.
"It's hopeless lad if anyone was in there it would be a miracle if they are still alive" he replied sorrowfully
Tears streamed down Tommy's face, Carrie was gone he'd lost her, how he wished he could have gotten to know her more.
All he could do now was watch helplessly as bystanders held him back, the crowd of onlookers continue to grow bigger and the ground continued to swallow the house until not a trace it seemed remained.
*1 Taken from the actual dialogue of the Brian Palma Film Version
*2 the original script for Brian Palmas film called for a rain of stones at the ending but had to be cancelled.