HEARTBEAT
by
Lanny Maude
FADE IN:
The New Fowler Sanitarium. It's a beautiful, quiet day. The
sun is shining and the sky is blue. The birds are singing,
letting everyone know that they're enjoying the day as well.
INT. SANITARIUM, HALLWAY - DAY
Inside, the sanitarium is clean... antiseptic. A row of doors
lines one wall, each door with a small covered opening set high.
The hallway takes a turn up ahead.
Around the corner up ahead, a door opens out of sight.
FREEMAN (O.S.)
(frantic)
...no... I don't belong here. I shouldn't
be here.
PETER FREEMAN comes around the corner, escorted by an ATTENDANT.
Freeman is identifiable as the one in the straight jacket. He
has socks on his feet, no shoes, and his hair is tousled. He
has a wild look in his eyes.
The attendant is a house. He's big. He's nearly as wide as he
is tall.
He's leading Freeman by one arm.
FREEMAN
...I'm ready to go home now. Listen, it's
just nerves, that's all...
They come to a stop at one of the doors. The attendant pulls a
key from his pocket. He unlocks and opens the door.
He continues to totally ignore Freeman.
FREEMAN
...just loosen off the jacket--No! Wait!
Just loosen the straps a little. That'll
work...
The attendant shoves him into the room. Freeman trips and falls
to the floor. He struggles to get his feet underneath himself.
The attendant watches for a few seconds before he closes the
door.
FREEMAN (O.S.)
I'm not crazy!
The attendant locks the door before he heads back the way he
came.
IN FREEMAN'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The room is small, about eight feet by eight feet. The floor,
walls, and door are padded. The room is empty except for
Freeman.
He manages to maneuver himself into a sitting position. He
yells toward the door.
FREEMAN
I'm not crazy!
His repetition is more to himself.
FREEMAN
I'm not crazy...
He scoots over to a wall so he can lean against it.
FREEMAN
...I'm not crazy...
He finally looks around the room. He can't understand why he's
there.
He hears the sound of a key in the door lock.
The door opens and in walks DR. JANICE GREENWOOD. Freeman just
looks at her.
GREENWOOD
Hello, Peter. I'm Dr. Greenwood.
Freeman continues to watch in silence while the attendant brings
two chairs into the room.
The attendant leaves and closes the door.
GREENWOOD
How are you, Peter?
FREEMAN
Listen, Doc... I don't belong here. I'm
not crazy.
She walks to him.
GREENWOOD
I didn't say you were.
(helps him up)
Let me help you into this chair.
She makes sure that he is safely in the chair before she moves
the other chair around and sits to face him.
FREEMAN
What do you want from me?
GREENWOOD
I'm here to talk to you... to sort out a few
details.
FREEMAN
Why should I talk to you?
GREENWOOD
Because the sooner we get this cleared up,
the sooner we can get you on your way.
FREEMAN
I tell you what happened, then you'll let me
go?
GREENWOOD
I'll see what I can do for you.
FREEMAN
Okay, that's fair.
She pulls a note pad and a pen out of a pocket. She opens the
pad and prepares to write.
GREENWOOD
Why don't you tell me what led up to your
being here.
Freeman thinks for a moment.
FREEMAN
I'd say the whole thing began when I started
at Henderson.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HENDERSON UNIVERSITY - DAY
Henderson University. It's a typical university. Students are
lounging around the commons, walking to or from class, trying to
make time with the opposite sex.
EXT. WHITEHALL HOUSE - DAY
A big, old house.
Freeman is standing in front of the house. There's a beat-up
suitcase sitting on the sidewalk next to him. He's reading the
address on a sheet of paper in his hand.
He looks up at the house.
FREEMAN
Wow! This is some place.
He grabs his suitcase and makes his way to the front door where
he sets his suitcase down on the porch.
He makes one last comparison between the address on the front of
the house and the address on the paper he's carrying, then rings
the doorbell.
The door opens and ERIC WHITEHALL stands in the doorway. He's
an older man, a former professor at the university.
WHITEHALL
May I help you?
FREEMAN
Are you Professor Whitehall?
WHITEHALL
Yes...
Freeman extends his hand toward Whitehall.
FREEMAN
I'm Peter Freeman. The school sent me.
WHITEHALL
Oh, yes...
He shakes Freeman's hand.
WHITEHALL
They called to let me know you'd be coming.
He moves back out of the doorway.
WHITEHALL
Please come in.
FREEMAN
Thanks.
He grabs his suitcase and heads into the house.
INT. WHITEHALL HOUSE, ENTRY - CONTINUOUS
Freeman stops just inside the door. He looks at the new
surroundings. It's a comfortable-looking home. Nothing too
fancy.
Whitehall closes the door.
FREEMAN
Nice place.
WHITEHALL
Thank you.
FREEMAN
You live here by yourself?
WHITEHALL
Yes, ever since my wife passed away a few
years ago.
Freeman isn't sure what to say.
FREEMAN
Oh...
WHITEHALL
Let me show you to your room.
He leads Freeman deeper into the house.
IN THE DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Whitehall and Freeman are sitting at the table. There's an
empty pizza box on the table. They've just finished eating.
WHITEHALL
I must admit, the pizza was a good idea. I
haven't had a pizza delivered in a long
time.
FREEMAN
You can never go wrong with pizza.
WHITEHALL
So, Peter, what's your major going to be?
FREEMAN
I haven't decided yet. I figured I'd start
with the general ed. stuff. That'll give me
a chance to see what's available.
WHITEHALL
That's a good idea. You don't want to get
stuck doing something you don't enjoy.
FREEMAN
Did you know what you wanted to do when you
started school?
WHITEHALL
Oh my, yes. I always wanted to be a
teacher. After I retired from Henderson, I
started substituting. I can't seem to get
enough.
INT. HENDERSON UNIVERSITY, CHEMISTRY LAB - DAY
Rows of tables with various bits and pieces of glassware:
beakers, test tubes, flasks, etc. Students are working on their
experiments. They're all wearing safety goggles.
Whitehall is wandering between the rows, making sure that
everyone's doing okay.
ANNA, on the other side of the lab, raises her hand.
ANNA
Professor Whitehall... can you take a look
at this?
WHITEHALL
Yes, of course.
He heads over to Anna
He looks at Anna's experiment. The chemicals in the flask
appear to be reacting violently.
ANNA
Is it supposed to do that?
WHITEHALL
Oh, dear! Get away from it!
He pushes the students back and turns around to look at the
beaker again just as the beaker explodes.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
Whitehall's bedroom. The room is not too large, but it's very
neat. There is a collection of pictures of Mrs. Whitehall on
top of the dresser. It's night and the room is not brightly
lit.
Whitehall is sitting up in bed. Freeman is sitting in a chair
beside the bed.
There are red areas on Whitehall's face from the chemical burns.
He has a patch over his left eye.
WHITEHALL
I was close enough that the concussion
knocked me out.
FREEMAN
Was anyone else hurt?
WHITEHALL
No, thank goodness. I would feel awful if
any of the students were hurt.
FREEMAN
So what's the deal with the eye?
WHITEHALL
Some of the chemical splashed directly into
my eye.
He touches the patch.
WHITEHALL
The doctor said I have to wear this to give
my eye a chance to heal.
FREEMAN
Do you think it'll be okay?
WHITEHALL
I don't know, Peter.
(a beat)
I have to hope so.
IN THE DINING ROOM - DAY
Freeman is sitting at the table, studying for a test. He's got
a variety of books and notes scattered in front of himself. He
is taking additional notes on a pad of paper.
He hears the front door open. He turns toward the room
entrance, anxious. He hears the front door close.
A few seconds pass and Whitehall appears in the entrance. He's
still wearing an eye patch.
FREEMAN
(relieved)
Hey, Professor. Good to see you.
Whitehall seems quiet, reserved. His uncovered eye is evasive.
WHITEHALL
Hello, Peter.
He enters the room and has a seat at the table. He looks more
at the books and papers than he does at Freeman.
FREEMAN
I was starting to worry. You're usually
home before now.
WHITEHALL
I went to see the doctor today. He was
running a little late.
FREEMAN
What's wrong.
WHITEHALL
He was taking another look at my eye.
FREEMAN
Oh yeah? What did he say?
(a beat)
Professor?
Whitehall turns to look directly at Freeman.
WHITEHALL
I guess I better get used to seeing things
in only two dimensions.
FREEMAN
No! They can't do anything?
WHITEHALL
I'm afraid not.
(a beat)
I'm also afraid I hadn't truly prepared
myself for this. I though my eye would
heal.
FREEMAN
I'm really sorry, Professor. If there's
anything I can do--
WHITEHALL
Yes, Peter. Thank you. It will just take
some time, that's all.
Freeman tries to lighten things up a bit.
FREEMAN
Tell you what... pizza's on me tonight.
Whitehall stands.
WHITEHALL
No, thank you, Peter. I think I'll just go
to my room for now. I'll see you tomorrow.
Freeman doesn't know what to do.
FREEMAN
Okay...
He attempts to resume his studies, but he's finding it hard to
concentrate after hearing the news about Whitehall's eye.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
Whitehall's dining room at night. Freeman's head is down on the
table where he was studying. He's sleeping, but the sound of a
bottle clinking in the kitchen wakes him up. He stands,
stretches, heads for the kitchen.
IN THE KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Whitehall, in his pajamas, is rooting around in the fridge for a
late-night snack. Freeman enters the kitchen and sees Whitehall
in the fridge.
FREEMAN
Hey, Prof.
Whitehall is surprised, he didn't hear Freeman enter. He spins
around to face Freeman.
Freeman sees Whitehall without the eye patch for the first time
since the accident. Whitehall's left eye is pale blue and
filmy. This freaks out Freeman.
FREEMAN
Ahhh!
Hearing Freeman yell causes Whitehall to yell back.
WHITEHALL
Ahhh!
They both realize that they're yelling at each other and stop.
They look at each other: Whitehall a little puzzled, Freeman a
little terrified.
FREEMAN
Professor... your eye!
Whitehall self-consciously covers his left eye with his hand.
WHITEHALL
I'm sorry, Peter. I should've worn my
patch. I didn't expect to run into you.
Freeman is thoroughly disgusted by the eye.
FREEMAN
It looks awful.
Whitehall is a little hurt.
WHITEHALL
I don't think it's that bad. It just looks
a little different and I can't really see
with it.
FREEMAN
It looks like a vulture eye, or something.
Whitehall is getting worked up now.
WHITEHALL
Come now. I don't think that's--
He makes an effort to calm himself down.
WHITEHALL
We can talk in the morning.
He leaves. Freeman just watches him go.
IN FREEMAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The room lights are off, but there's enough illumination from
the window to see the pile of books and papers on the small
desk. There are some clothes scattered on the floor.
Freeman is not having a good night's sleep. He's tossing and
turning.
INT. HENDERSON UNIVERSITY, CLASSROOM - DAY - DREAM SEQUENCE
Freeman is sitting at his desk with his eyes closed. He
suddenly opens his eyes. He looks around to find himself
sitting alone in the back row. Since it's a dream, he's wearing
only his shorts.
All of the other students are busy copying notes from the board
in the front of the class. The PROFESSOR is writing copiously
on the board.
Freeman attempts to find out what's happening. He taps the
shoulder of a MALE STUDENT in the next row. The male student
turns around.
MALE STUDENT
(whispers)
What?
He has a patch over his left eye. This startles Freeman who
makes a frightened noise as he tries unsuccessfully to scoot his
chair back.
The noise is noticed by a FEMALE STUDENT in the next row. She
turns around to complain. She's also wearing a patch over her
left eye.
FEMALE STUDENT
(whispers)
Be quiet.
Freeman lets out a yelp. The professor turns around, revealing
that he is wearing an eye patch as well. He looks up at the
students... at Freeman.
PROFESSOR
Is there a problem, Mr. Freeman?
All of the students turn to look at Freeman. Every one of them
is wearing an eye patch over their left eye. Freeman is
stunned.
PROFESSOR
Mr. Freeman...
Freeman ignores the professor. He reaches for the female
student in front of him. She sits still as he pulls off her eye
patch, revealing a pale blue, filmy eye.
He jumps back and notices that none of the students or the
professor is wearing an eye patch. They all look at Freeman
with one good eye and one vulture eye each.
Freeman screams.
INT. WHITEHALL HOUSE, FREEMAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT - BACK TO
PRESENT
Freeman sits up in bed with his dream scream echoing in his
mind.
IN FREEMAN'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
The light flicks on and Freeman rushes to the sink. He briefly
looks at his face in the mirror. He looks scared.
He turns on the tap so he can splash some cool water in his
face. He turns off the tap, dries his face, then looks in the
mirror again.
He looks closely at his eyes.
IN THE DINING ROOM - DAY
Whitehall is sitting at the table, eating his breakfast.
Freeman walks by, almost ignoring Whitehall.
WHITEHALL
Peter, won't you join me for breakfast?
FREEMAN
Can't professor. Lot to do at school.
He keeps right on moving.
Whitehall shakes his head slightly, unsure of what to do.
IN FREEMAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
It's dark in the room. The shape on the bed is tossing and
turning. Freeman suddenly sits upright in bed.
He has a frightened look on his face, which is covered with
sweat. He turns quickly to look at the wall that separates
Whitehall's and his bedrooms.
FREEMAN (V.O.)
It's looking at me. Right through the wall,
it's looking at me!
He jumps out of bed and rushes to his desk, where he pulls a
small, powerful flashlight out of the pencil cup.
He leaves his room.
OUTSIDE WHITEHALL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Freeman creeps in front of Whitehall's closed door. He stands
there with his back to the door, clutching his flashlight to his
chest.
He makes the effort to calm himself, to slow his breathing.
IN WHITEHALL'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Whitehall is sleeping quietly. He fell asleep while reading so
his reading lamp is on. There's a hardback book resting on his
stomach.
The door opens very slowly, just a crack. It creaks a little.
Freeman sees the light from the lamp so he lowers his
flashlight. He peeks through the crack to see the eye.
The eye is closed.
Freeman pulls back and the door closes slowly, creaking
slightly.
OUTSIDE WHITEHALL'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Freeman breaths a sigh of relief. He returns to his room,
satisfied that the evil eye is not spying on him.
IN FREEMAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Freeman sets the flashlight on his desk and returns to bed. He
settles in to get back to sleep.
IN WHITEHALL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Whitehall shifts, which causes the book to slide off of him and
fall to the floor with a thump.
IN FREEMAN'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Freeman is startled awake by the noise.
IN WHITEHALL'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
The noise woke Whitehall as well. He rolls over the pick up the
book from the floor. He puts the book on the night stand and
turns off his lamp.
IN FREEMAN'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Freeman stares at the wall, wide eyed, as he listens to the
noises made by Whitehall.
The noises stop, but Freeman is agitated. He gets up again and
grabs his flashlight before leaving his room.
IN WHITEHALL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Whitehall has just drifted back to sleep.
The door opens slowly, making that slight creaking sound.
Since Whitehall is not sleeping deeply yet, the sound of the
door wakes him. He opens his eyes and stares into the darkness,
not sure if he heard something.
Suddenly, Freeman turns on his flashlight. The beam of light
falls directly on Whitehall's bad eye.
WHITEHALL
(frightened)
Who is it? What do you want?
Freeman doesn't reply. He looks at the eye until something
finally snaps in his brain.
He flings the door open and runs to the bed yelling.
Whitehall responds by yelling as well. He's terrified.
Freeman reaches the bed, grabs a pillow, and crushes it into
Whitehall's face.
Whitehall struggles, but he's overpowered by Freeman. Freeman
keeps pressure on the pillow until Whitehall stops moving.
Freeman pulls the pillow away and looks at the now-dead body of
Whitehall. He looks around the room nervously.
IN THE GARAGE - NIGHT
The light goes on, illuminating a garage full of odds and ends
and miscellaneous junk. There's also a tool bench.
Freeman walks to the tool bench where he selects a saw. He
leaves.
The light goes off.
IN THE BATHROOM - NIGHT
Freeman is leaning over the bathtub, sawing away.
LATER
Freeman lifts a piece of arm out of the bathtub and puts it into
a trash bag.
EXT. WHITEHALL HOUSE - DAY
It's early morning. No real daytime activity is happening yet.
Freeman steps out of the house, carrying a trash bag. He
carries it to a trash can. He's about to drop the bag in the
can when he hears a noise.
He looks around to see a dog rooting through an overturned trash
can. This changes his mind about throwing away the bits of
Whitehall.
He returns to the house.
INT. WHITEHALL HOUSE, GARAGE - DAY
The light goes on. Freeman enters and takes a ladder. The
light goes off.
IN THE HALLWAY - DAY
The ladder has been set up underneath the attic access panel.
The panel is open and Freeman's upper half is out of sight in
the attic.
There is pile of trash bags at the base of the ladder.
Freeman climbs down the ladder. He grabs one of the trash bags
and heads back up the ladder.
IN THE DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Freeman is doing his homework. The phone rings. He looks up
for a few seconds before he returns to his studies, ignoring the
ringing phone.
INT. HENDERSON UNIVERSITY, CLASSROOM - DAY
Freeman is sitting in class, taking notes as the professor
writes on the board.
INT. WHITEHALL HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
The phone rings. There's nobody there to answer.
IN THE DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Freeman is studying some more.
The doorbell rings.
Freeman hesitates, but eventually gets up and heads for the
door.
EXT. WHITEHALL HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Two MEN wearing suits are standing at the front door. One of
them rings the doorbell.
Freeman opens the door.
MASTERS
Good evening. Is Professor Whitehall home?
FREEMAN
No, he's not here right now.
MASTERS
I'm Inspector Masters.
He turns to indicate the other man.
MASTERS
This is my partner, Inspector Granger.
He turns back to face Freeman.
GRANGER
Hello.
Freeman is a little nervous.
FREEMAN
Hi...
MASTERS
Are you Peter Freeman?
FREEMAN
(unsure)
Yes...
MASTERS
May we come in? We'd like to speak with you
for a moment.
A beat.
FREEMAN
Okay...
He stands back, opening the door the rest of the way.
INT. WHITEHALL HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Freeman and the two inspectors enter the room. Freeman gestures
toward the couch.
FREEMAN
Have a seat.
MASTERS
Thank you.
The inspectors sit on the couch.
Freeman takes a seat in a chair.
MASTERS
We're trying to locate Professor Whitehall.
His niece has been unable to contact him,
and he has missed classes that he was
supposed to be teaching.
GRANGER
Do you know where he is?
FREEMAN
No. I haven't seen him in a while.
GRANGER
He didn't say where he was going?
Freeman is starting to sweat.
FREEMAN
No, he didn't.
GRANGER
Does he usually leave like this.
FREEMAN
Now that you mention it, it does seem kind
of strange.
He is getting more and more uncomfortable. He tries to change
the subject.
FREEMAN
Would either of you like something to drink?
Water, iced tea, soda?
GRANGER
No, thank you.
MASTERS
Yes, iced tea would be nice.
Granger looks at Masters briefly, surprised.
FREEMAN
Okay. I'll be right back.
He leaves.
Masters turns to Granger.
MASTERS
He knows something. Have you noticed the
way he's sweating.
GRANGER
He does seem nervous.
MASTERS
We'll keep him talking... see if we can get
something out of him.
Granger nods assent.
Freeman enters carrying a glass of iced tea. He hands the glass
to Masters.
FREEMAN
Here you go.
MASTERS
Thank you.
He doesn't take a drink, but sets the glass on a coaster on the
coffee table instead.
Freeman sits down again.
MASTERS
Has Professor Whitehall ever discussed
places he goes.
Freeman is obviously agitated.
FREEMAN
No. We pretty much keep to ourselves.
He suddenly hears the sound of a heartbeat. He turns around to
look.
The inspectors are puzzled.
GRANGER
Mr. Freeman?
Freeman turns back. He doesn't say anything.
GRANGER
Are you alright?
A beat.
FREEMAN
I though I heard something.
He still hears the heartbeat.
FREEMAN
You don't hear anything?
MASTERS
No. What does it sound like?
Freeman hesitates. The sound is so obvious to him. Why can't
they hear it?
FREEMAN (V.O.)
They must hear it. They're playing with me.
He has to say something.
FREEMAN
It must just be the house settling.
GRANGER
Do you still hear it?
Freeman lies.
FREEMAN
No...
The phantom heartbeat is getting louder.
FREEMAN (V.O.)
How can they not hear it?
He stands.
FREEMAN
Will you excuse me a moment?
MASTERS
Certainly.
Freeman leaves.
IN THE GARAGE - DAY
The lights come on. Freeman rushes in, grabs the ladder, and
leaves.
IN THE LIVING ROOM - DAY
GRANGER
I think we should take him down to the
station.
MASTERS
Yeah. You've seen how he's acting. We can
probably crack him easily there.
They hear a muffled voice.
FREEMAN (O.S.)
Be quiet.
The voice is followed by a THUMP.
MASTERS
Did you hear that?
GRANGER
Yes.
They hear it again.
FREEMAN (O.S.)
Be quiet.
THUMP.
The inspectors quickly leave to investigate. The come around
the corner and
IN THE HALLWAY
Freeman is kneeling on the floor at the base of the ladder. In
front of him is a torn open trash bag containing Whitehall's
torso. He hears the heart continuing to beat inside of his
head.
Freeman has snapped. He's speaking to the torso, completely
unaware that the inspectors are standing there.
FREEMAN
Be quiet.
He then slugs the torso over the heart in an attempt to silence
the phantom heartbeat.
THUMP.
The dead pile of flesh bounces a little with the impact.
Freeman still hears the heartbeat.
FREEMAN
Be quiet.
THUMP.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. SANITARIUM, FREEMAN'S ROOM - DAY
Freeman is finishing his story. Greenwood is taking notes.
FREEMAN
I was just studying too hard. It wore my
nerves down.
A beat.
FREEMAN
Is it my fault his stupid heart wouldn't
stop beating? Huh?
Greenwood stops writing. She closes her note pad and returns
the pad and her pen to a pocket.
GREENWOOD
Okay, Peter. I think I've got enough.
FREEMAN
So I can go now?
GREENWOOD
No, not quite yet. We still need to work
out a few more things.
She stands and knocks on the door.
FREEMAN
How much longer will I have to stay here?
The door opens. The attendant enters and lifts Freeman to his
feet.
GREENWOOD
I can't say. I don't know yet.
The attendant takes both chairs out of the room.
FREEMAN
But soon, right?
GREENWOOD
I told you I'd see what I can do for you.
IN THE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Greenwood exits Freeman's room.
FREEMAN
Just remember. It was only nerves. I'm all
better now. I'm not crazy.
GREENWOOD
Goodbye, Peter. I'll talk to you tomorrow.
The attendant closes the door. Greenwood and the attendant walk
down the hall. Freeman's muffled voice follows them.
FREEMAN (O.S.)
I'm not crazy! I'm not crazy!
FADE OUT.
The End
Heartbeat is © 2000 Lanny Maude