by Ginger Voight

Created on: March 30, 2008

"Dirty Little Secrets"

Format: Screenplay
Genre: Drama
Logline: Skeletons shake loose in a sleepy, southern town when a preacher's kid accidentally kills a pregnant woman.

Scene setup: The troubled daughter of a stern and self righteous preacher, Grace becomes involved with an abusive married man, Mike. After he realizes that his wife, Debbie - who is carrying his much anticipated son in a high risk pregnancy - knows about his indiscretion, he violently punishes Grace. This sets off a horrifying chain of events that will cost them all.

INT. MIKE'S GARAGE - LATER

The room grows dark with the storm outside.

Grace lays in a pool of blood, her eyes glazed.

The room spins around her and she winces in
pain.

She struggles to her feet, smoothing her blood
stained dress and stumbles toward the open
garage door.

EXT. MIKE'S GARAGE - SAME

She peers from the door frame to see if he's
still around.

The truck is nowhere in sight, she hobbles
toward the main house.

The wind picks up and lightning cracks through
the sky.

INT. MIKE & DEB'S KITCHEN - DAY

Grace washes her face.

With a huge flash of light from outside, the
power inside goes out.

Julie runs in from the living room.

JULIE
Gracie. The TV went out.

The girl stops dead when she sees the state
Grace is in.

JULIE
Mommy! Mommy, something's
wrong with Gracie!

Grace attempts to go toward the child.

GRACE
No...Julie... don't...

Julie sprints from the room.

Moments later, Debbie emerges with Julie in
tow.

DEBBIE
Oh my God. Grace.

GRACE
I'm okay. I just...I just
fell down...

Debbie catches Grace as she starts to fall
toward the floor.

Debbie then winces in pain and collapses right
along beside her.

Her scream mingles with her daughters, both of
whom watch in horror from the doorway.

BLACK SCREEN

The whimpers of the girls start as a low hum
and then gradually builds to a roar.

INT. MIKE & DEB'S KITCHEN - LATER

The storm rages on outside. Trees knock
against the window, causing the girls to cuddle
closer to their mother who has passed out.

Grace wakes slowly and the sight of blood
seeping from Debbie's nightgown causes her to
bolt upright.

GRACE
Debbie! Debbie, wake up!

Elizabeth runs to Grace.

ELIZABETH
Is she dead, Gracie?

Julie holds onto her mother.

JULIE
She's not dead, stupid.
She's not dead! We just
gotta get her to the doctor
so he can wake her up. Like
last time!

Grace struggles to her feet and heads for the
phone.

GRACE
I'm sure she's not dead.
I'll call 911 so they can
come take care of her and
make her all better.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>