Julie Monologue

CHARLIE and HEATHER walk into the main living room where she stands still with a tall walking cane in her hand. In the light, CHARLIE gets a proper look at HEATHER. She is wearing an old and dusty cloak to which underneath she is wearing a dirty dress. CHARLIE doesn't know what to think, but doesn't want to be rude.
CHARLIE
Can I get you a drink or anything?
HEATHER
Oh no, thank you. I was actually seeking some assistance.
CHARLIE
What do you need help with?
HEATHER
Well the reason I came over was that I have a stool that is broken.
CHARLIE
Does it need fixing? I have no problem with that.
HEATHER
Really? Oh, why thank you so much. Mary and Clint are always so good to me.
CHARLIE feels a little intimidated by HEATHER; she is unlike anyone
he has ever met.
CHARLIE
(nervous)
Oh, it's no bother. Mary and Clint are really close friends of mine.
HEATHER
So I've heard.
CHARLIE and HEATHER stand silently for a few beats. HEATHER is smiling at CHARLIE, to which it makes him a bit uncomfortable. HEATHER then gestures with her walking cane.
HEATHER
Shall we go?
JUMP CUT TO:
INT. HEATHER'S COTTAGE - NIGHT
HEATHER opens the door of her cottage as she walks in with WILLIAM. As he goes to lie in the corner, with CHARLIE slowly walking in having a look around the place. CHARLIE feels uneasy the moment he steps in. He notices there is nothing electrical in the house and feels instantly transported to the 1800s. He sees a lot of weird items scattered around the cottage. What gets his attention the most, is that there is a wall of over fifty hand-made stick figures.
HEATHER
Something you admire?
CHARLIE
(panicky)
Oh. Uh. I'm sorry, what?
HEATHER
My wall. Do you like?
CHARLIE
It's...different. Not something I have ever seen before.
HEATHER
They are my totems. They mean the world to me.
CHARLIE
Totems?
HEATHER
I like to make one for every person I meet. I believe every totem I make binds their soul and mine forever.
CHARLIE
Their soul?
HEATHER
Our bodies are just vessels for this lifetime. I believe that the soul always lives on. Once bound together, it's a bond that lives on forever. Even in the afterlife.
CHARLIE
(laughs)
Uh, OK.
HEATHER
I sense doubt within you.
CHARLIE
Oh, I don't doubt. I just don't believe in that nonsense.
HEATHER
Nonsense?
CHARLIE
The afterlife. I just don't believe that there is more to life. You live and you die. Simple as that.
HEATHER stares at CHARLIE manically, making him feel uncomfortable. CHARLIE then tries to break the tension.
CHARLIE
So...where's this stool that's broken.
HEATHER begins to smile at CHARLIE.
HEATHER
Oh my dear, you're sitting on it!
CHARLIE looks down at the stool to see it is not broken whatsoever.
CHARLIE
But it's not broken.
HEATHER
But it's broken into now.
CHARLIE
(confused)
I'm sorry?
HEATHER
The stool. It's been broken into now. I made it months ago and I've just been waiting for someone new to finally sit in it.
CHARLIE
Oh...I see.
HEATHER
Excuse my lack of hospitality, may I be able to persuade you into having some tea?
CHARLIE
Oh... Yes please. Thank you.
HEATHER gets up to make CHARLIE tea.
HEATHER
I think you'll really like my tea. I make it with the mushrooms that grow nearby in the forest.
CHARLIE
Shrooms? You put shrooms in your tea?
HEATHER
If you mean mushrooms, then yes.
CHARLIE
Damn lady, you go hard.
HEATHER
Pardon me?
CHARLIE
You must trip out like crazy!
HEATHER
I'm sorry. I do not understand what you mean. Trip?
CHARLIE
You know, like seeing things, visuals.
HEATHER
So you have ingested mushrooms before?
CHARLIE
Once or twice in the past when I was younger.
HEATHER kneels down to CHARLIE and grabs his hands.
HEATHER
What did you see? Oh please do tell!
CHARLIE backs away from HEATHER feeling uncomfortable, but doesn't want to be rude so he slowly leans back in to talk.
CHARLIE
(nervous)
Well...to be honest I can't remember much. Just that I was really happy and there were a lot of colors.
HEATHER stands up and looks at CHARLIE for a couple of beats. She ten gets the tea and sits back in her chair stirring the cup.
HEATHER
My child.
You are so blind.
CHARLIE
What do you mean?
HEATHER
The mushrooms. They are gateways. Gateways to other worlds beyond our own grasp. Worlds that exist within our own to which our eyes cannot see. The mushrooms awaken our souls to see these beautiful places. It lets us know we are not alone in this world.
CHARLIE
That's very deep. I've never thought about it that way.
HEATHER
That's because man has lost touch with old ones and the old world. I have not.
CHARLIE
Who are the old ones?
HEATHER
The gods man pray to now are made up from stories cruel men have made up over time to keep control within our world. The old ones are the true gods. They may of not created us, but they have a power greater than control itself.
CHARLIE
What is that power?
HEATHER hands CHARLIE the tea.
HEATHER
Drink.
CHARLIE
Thank you.
CHARLIE drinks the whole cup of tea in one gulp, as if he were dying of thirst. But he's not that thirsty. Something inside him has driven him to finish the mushroom tea. He slams the cup down as if he didn't want it, but tries to play it off cool.
CHARLIE
Damn! That's a fucking strong taste. Ooh!
HEATHER
Over time, you can barely taste
anything.
HEATHER takes the cup away from CHARLIE. She then gets the tea and sits back in her chair stirring the cup., even though it is empty. CHARLIE starts looking around the room as things start to go hazy for him.
HEATHER
Now you've opened the gateway.
CHARLIE
(slurring)
Gateway?
HEATHER
To the other side!
CHARLIE becomes immobile unable to move as he starts to trip out. He sees blood pouring through the cracks of HEATHER'S cottage. He looks at WILLIAM and sees that his horns are up in flame. CHARLIE starts screaming in fear. He tries to stand up but collapses to the floor.
HEATHER
My child, fear not. The worse is only yet to come.
HEATHER begins to laugh manically as CHARLIE manages to get up and run out the front door of the cottage.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE WOODS - MOMENTS LATER
CHARLIE starts to run aimlessly in the woods with hazy vision. He doesn't know where he is going. All of a sudden, he trips over a branch. As he tries to get up, the branch wraps around his leg like a snake and holds him with a tight grip. Screaming and panicking, more branch roots arise the ground and grab each of CHARLIE'S limbs, wrapping around him. One even wraps around his mouth to silence him. As the branch roots have finally wrapped fully around CHARLIE'S body, he slowly then starts to be dragged beneath the dirt. Before he is pulled all the way underneath, he see's HEATHER standing right above him.
HEATHER
The path to the light is a dangerous one.
HEATHER laughs manically as CHARLIE is now completely pulled beneath the dirt.
FADE
OUT