For The Record

By

Alyssa Kurtzman

Based on

Ouija: For The Record

by D. L. Cain

OVER BLACK: A DRONING BUZZ AND A QUIET WHOOSHING NOISE.

TITLE CARD - "1968 - Avondale, Arizona. Based on True

Events"

FADE IN:

FLASHBACK: INT. GOODWILL - DAY

The buzz comes from florescent lights overhead, and the

whoosh from a box AC in a musty-looking Goodwill store.

Completely oblivious to the world, DIANA CAIN, 13 and her

sister TRICIA, 14, hug their arms to their chests and face

the box AC, which has faded colored streamers tied to the

vents.

Diana is bookish, with curly poodle hair (like her sister’s)

and wears shabby, too-short hand-me-downs. She takes off her

rubber sandals to feel the coolness of the linoleum tiles.

The girls’ mother, MARY, 45, browses racks of dresses

brightly. She takes one out. In her strong Southern accent:

MARY

Ugh, this one is perfectly hideous.

Diana wanders off to look at a shelf, as Mary turns back to

the rack and pulls out a red dress. She examines it, very

interested.

Mary drapes the dress over her arm and walks to Diana, who’s

been examining a thin cardboard box.

MARY (CONT’D)

Well, I’ll be! It’s a Ouija board.

You ever seen one of these?

The girls shake their heads. Mary is excited.

MARY (CONT’D)

Good find, Di!

Diana looks exceeding proud of herself.

TRICIA

Is it a game?

MARY

Yep, kinda like a gypsy. It can

tell the future - but you gotta be

careful with it.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

She pulls it off the shelf and blows the dust off.

MARY

What the hell, it’ll give you kids

something to do this summer.

EXT. TRAILER - DAY

The outside of the Cain house-- dingy and unadorned.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

From a perspective underneath, three faces lean in overhead,

reading something.

We see that they’re in a cramped, sparsely-adorned living

room. Sitting on the floor, their fingers on a tear-shaped

indicator over a Ouija board, are Tricia and Mary. Kneeling

behind them is Diana, who is scrawling on a notepad as she

reads.

Diana reads off the notepad.

DIANA

"Nixon."

(to Mary)

Who’s he?

MARY

(to Ouija)

No sir. Bobbie Kennedy’s going to

win, everyone knows that.

The indicator moves to "No."

TRICIA

(to Ouija)

Why?

Mary turns to the board brightly, ignoring the question.

MARY

Ouija, are we gonna have lots of

riches?

With one hand, Mary puts a hand to a large crucifix necklace

around her neck. The indicator, with Tricia and Mary’s

(other) fingers still on it, moves to "Yes."

Mary clasps her hands together gleefully as Diana squeals. A

smoking figure moves into the doorway of the living room: it

is patriarch LEVOY CAIN, 42, who takes a step in to watch.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

DIANA

(to Mary)

Riches? Like Aunt Edith?

Levoy scoffs. Like Mary, he has a pronounced Southern drawl.

LEVOY

Diana, just because your mother’s

sister has a washing machine does

not make her rich.

Mary waves her hand at him disapprovingly.

MARY

Hush, Levoy, we’re just playing a

game; no need for sourness.

She turns to the girls, forcing a smile.

MARY (CONT’D)

So, riches for us, huh? Well,

praise the Lord Jesus! Hey Ouija,

what kind of riches? Jewelry? Or--

TRICIA

(interrupting)

I don’t think this is the point of

the board.

Mary clearly disapproves of Tricia’s disrespect.

MARY

Patricia Faith!

DIANA

(to Tricia)

It told us to ask it questions.

LEVOY

Girls, stop sitting on your spoiled

behinds and do some work around the

house for a change.

MARY

Are you undermining me?

As she speaks, the indicator moves:

DIANA

"Mary is special. Meant for greater

things."

Mary seems happily startled. Levoy grunts.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

Indicator moves as he goes outside.

DIANA

"Watch for blood."

The sound of Levoy slipping and falling can be heard from

outside the screen door. Diana and Tricia jump.

DIANA

What was that?

LEVOY (O.S.)

Dammit! Goddamn neighbor’s dog left

a dead rat outside the door.

Mary glares at Tricia.

MARY

Maybe if you didn’t feed him every

time comes over whining!

Beat. The three slowly turn to the board in wonder.

DIANA

But how did it--

MARY

Ouija, is that what we should call

you? Ouija? Who are you really? Who

do you speak for?

The indicator moves. Diana reads, confused:

DIANA

"The Holy Prophet Elijah."

They watch the indicator move suddenly to "Goodbye."

EXT. TRAILER - DAY

A few days later. Inside, holding her notepad in one hand,

Diana sips a tall glass of iced tea. Looking out the window,

she watches Levoy fixing the porch, cigarette flopping from

his mouth.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Diana walks in on Tricia sitting on their bed, playing with

the Ouija. She seems to be looking away from the board,

moving her fingers, and then checking, as if to see if she’s

landed the indicator on the right letter. She notices Diana.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

TRICIA

(furiously)

What??

DIANA

Mom says we have to get out of our

church clothes.

Diana looks at Tricia.

DIANA (CONT’D)

I thought we weren’t supposed to

take that out of the living room--

TRICIA

Just shut up, okay? I’m older than

you; I can do what I want.

DIANA

(viciously)

What are you-- practicing?

Tricia gets up and knocks Diana as she strides out. Beat.

Diana examines the board still on the bed. She looks around

nervously, then sits next to it, resting her finger on the

indicator. Nothing.

She screws her eyes up tight, and (clearly) pushes the

indicator on her own. She opens her eyes, dejected. She

hears shuffling down the hall and in a snap folds up Ouija.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The living room is messier than it was before. Clothes are

draped around the furniture. Levoy is there watching TV.

Mary calls out:

MARY

Girls! Come on, let’s take out

Ouija! I’ve got a question to ask

it.

LEVOY

(without turning from the TV)

Do you mind doin’ that somewhere

else?

Diana scurries in with the board as they bicker.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

MARY

No other place with good enough

light-- now if you’d put up the

fixtures in the hall like I asked--

Tricia walks out of the kitchen as Diana cautiously moves to

the shelf where Ouija is normally kept.

DIANA

I got it!

She sits and kneels by it as Tricia eyes her, not saying

anything. the open Ouija board waiting. Diana pulls out the

notepad and pencil from her back pocket. Mary walks over and

sits between them. She turns to Tricia.

MARY

Ready?

Tricia nods happily, and the two put their fingers on the

indicator.

MARY

Ouija? Er-- Elijah? No-- Ouija?

Mary’s flustered. She edges closer and goes on:

MARY

Is this heat spell gonna end soon?

I gotta know if I can start buying

some proper cotton dresses.

Indicator moves as Levoy grunts to himself:

LEVOY

That’s where all my money’s going--

to dresses.

He turns off the TV, having given up, and heads down the

hall. Diana has trouble pronouncing what she has written:

DIANA

"Imal...a...chai [’ch’ pronounced

like in ’cheese’] 4 5 6?"

She cocks her head, confused.

TRICIA

You sure you wrote that down right?

DIANA

(snapping)

I wrote what it spelled! Is that

another language, Mama?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 7.

Mary has been staring at the Ouija board, frowning.

MARY

Diana, get the Bible.

Diana runs out and comes back with the Bible. She hands it

to Mary, who flips through it rapidly. Tricia’s and Diana’s

expressions turn slightly fearful as she reads:

MARY

I Malachi 4, 5, 6... here we go...

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the

prophet, and he shall turn the

heart of the fathers to the

children, and the heart of the

children to their fathers, lest I

come and smite the earth with a

curse."

TRICIA

A curse?

Indicator moves. Diana notices that despite Tricia’s obvious

distraction (she’s not even looking), it glides very easily.

DIANA

"You will leave soon. To build a

temple for me."

MARY

(in a near whisper)

Where, Elijah?

Indicator moves.

DIANA

"Levoy, stop smoking."

Indicator then moves to "Goodbye." Diana gapes at the board,

then at Mary and Tricia, who share looks of awe.

EXT. TRAILER - LATER

In near-darkness, Levoy finishes smoking a cigarette. He

flicks it away from the front door, and ambles inside.

8.

INT. BEDROOM - EVENING

On their bed, Diana flips through a magazine with Davy Jones

on the cover, dabbing her face with a cool rag from a bowl

on the nightstand, while Tricia combs her hair carefully.

Diana hears her mother talking and peers through a crack to

see:

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Mary leans against the counter, talking on the phone. She’s

wearing the red dress she found in Goodwill, and is swirling

a full whiskey glass with ice.

MARY

(into phone)

We’re just stayin’ in most days,

trying to--

Mary listens to something, frowning slightly. Her

conversation turns argumentative.

MARY (CONT’D)

Well, Lord have mercy, Edith, don’t

hold such superstitions, it’s just

a board game. ... Well-- why don’t

you mind your house and I’ll mind

mine!

She slams the phone down and leaves the kitchen

purposefully.

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Diana sees her mother storming toward their room and quickly

covers her face with the magazine, terrified.

The door flies open, and Diana looks on as Mary storms in

straight to Tricia and slaps her, furious.

MARY

Don’t you ever go telling my sister

what’s going on in my house. You

got that? It ain’t none of her

business.

Tricia’s look of shock hardens as she sets her jaw and rubs

her cheek. Diana’s eyes widen as she peeks out from above

the magazine.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 9.

TRICIA

Yea. I got it.

Mary turns, snarling, to Diana, who quickly hides back

behind the magazine. Mary stamps out, slamming the door.

Quickly, Diana rushes to Tricia, who half-heartedly pushes

her away at first. Diana reaches for the basin on the

nightstand and gives the rag to Tricia to dab on her cheek.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

The family sits on the couch and sofa chairs in front of the

TV, watching and eating in silence. Mary has put on some

lipstick and blush, and still has her glass of whiskey.

The family eats glumly in silence. Levoy takes a match and

lights a cigarette for himself.

MARY

Levoy? Please?

Levoy groans to himself and puts it out on his dinner plate.

Mary looks tense-- Diana tries to put her at ease.

DIANA

You look really pretty tonight,

Mama.

MARY

Thank you, baby.

DIANA

Doesn’t she look pretty, Daddy?

Levoy just grunts, not looking up. Mary looks distant.

Levoy notices that Tricia is stabbing her peas especially

viciously. Like his wife, he has a pronounced drawl.

LEVOY

What’s gotten into you, sister?

Levoy looks between the two of them and grunts.

LEVOY (CONT’D)

This got something to do with that

goddamn board? Would do better to

burn the damn thing.

Mary shakes a finger at him wildly.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 10.

MARY

You will do no such thing, Levoy!

As she scolds, she knocks over Diana’s glass. Diana jumps.

DIANA

(quickly)

It’s okay, Mama.

MARY (CONT’D)

Oh! Oh, oh, baby, I’m so sorry--

let Mama just--

Levoy stands up, throws his napkin down and leaves. Mary

scowls after him.

Diana tries to console her mother and sop up the liquid.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Tricia and Diana watch TV on the couch, Diana idly thumbing

through her notepad. Mary, looking far more unkempt than

usual, marches in, holding a glass of amber liquid and the

Ouija board under her arm. She turns off the TV abruptly.

TRICIA

Hey!

MARY

C’mon, we’re gonna talk to Ouija.

DIANA

But we’re watching Dick Van Dyke!

Ignoring her, Mary sits on the floor with the board and

grabs Tricia to sit with her, but Tricia pulls away.

TRICIA

Can’t we just watch TV, Mama? I’m

tired of playing with Ouija.

Diana puts aside the notepad and, wide-eyed, watches Mary

glare at Tricia. Her expression is wild.

MARY

Don’t you understand, Patricia

Faith? We’re not playing anything.

She yanks Tricia’s forefinger roughly and puts it onto the

indicator, then puts her own finger on as well, as Diana

grabs the notepad from next to her, ready to write.

Tricia and Mary each take a deep breath. Indicator moves:

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 11.

DIANA

"Diana, get the globe."

Realizing what she read aloud, Diana opens her mouth to

protest, but thinks better of it. She gets up, grabs the

globe from the end table, and brings it down to the floor in

a huff. Indicator moves.

DIANA (CONT’D)

"Spin and stop with your finger."

She spins it, hard, and jabs it with her finger.

TRICIA

What does it say?

DIANA

Afghanistan.

Indicator moves, as Diana jumps to her notepad to write.

DIANA (CONT’D)

"You will go there."

MARY

On a trip?

Indicator moves to NO. Beat.

DIANA

... To live?

Indicator moves to YES. Mary thinks for a second.

MARY

Is that where we’re supposed to

build your temple?

Indicator moves to YES. Mary fingers a cracked leg on the

coffee table, which is held together by tape.

MARY (CONT’D)

(quietly)

Ouija, where am I going to find

that kind of money?

Indicator moves:

DIANA

"You are in God’s hands."

Mary nods slowly, as Tricia stares at the board, transfixed.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 12.

MARY

Ouija, why-- why do you ask this of

me? Why this family?

Indicator moves:

DIANA

"You are special, Mary."

Mary picks her head up, heartened, as indicator moves:

DIANA (CONT’D)

"Take your children and go there."

Mary scoffs, taking a sip from her glass. She speaks to the

board, almost conversationally:

MARY

I see Levoy is being left out of

these plans.

Before anyone can respond, indicator moves:

DIANA

"He is a non-believer."

Diana’s eyes widen at the board. She is stunned. Mary simply

nods her head, completely dutiful.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

Levoy sits in the sofa chair, watching a flurry of activity

around him: Tricia and Diana bustle around with suitcases,

clothes and personal items. They both head outside.

Mary walks in, lugging a giant suitcase.

LEVOY

What the hell are you doing, Mary?

Mary throws down the suitcase and walks up to Levoy. Her

hair is wild, and her face is sweaty. She leans down and

juts her face a few inches from Levoy’s, snarling.

MARY

(viciously)

We’re leaving, Levoy.

LEVOY

You’re drunk.

She tears herself away and resumes packing furiously.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 13.

LEVOY

Where do you think y’all are going,

then?

MARY

We’re staying with my sister until

I get our passports and our

reservations made. Then we’re

moving to Afghanistan, all three of

us. Ouija will look after us.

The girls come back in to grab more items. They stop and

stare at their parents fighting.

LEVOY

C’mon, Mary, don’t be an idiot.

MARY

Do not speak to me that way! I am a

servant of God!

LEVOY

Says who? That goddamn piece of

cardboard? That what you’re gonna

be yelling when it tells you to

drive off a cliff?

Again, Mary approaches him quickly. She leans in, her hands

gripping each of the arms on Levoy’s chair.

MARY

Ouija speaks to us because we were

chosen. Because I am special.

Levoy laughs, right in her face. Mary is clearly broken by

his scoff. She stands upright and walks to the girls, as

Levoy, looking almost remorseful, turns his chair away.

DIANA

(in a near-whisper)

These are the last ones, Mama.

Mary nods, then grabs a piece of luggage and scoots Tricia

out. The slam of the screen door as they leave seems to jolt

Diana back to life, still standing by the kitchen, staring

at her father. She picks up Ouija board from the end table.

Diana watches Levoy (from behind) light a cigarette. Beat.

LEVOY

(not turning to face her)

Be safe, now.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 14.

Very slowly, Diana takes a step, and then another, never

taking her eyes off the back of her father’s chair. She

grabs the handle to the door and exits.

FADE OUT.