Maybe it did, but now it’s getting worse. We have to do something.
BRENT (laughs)
Oh, yeah? What’s that? Write a little sunday magazine section piece? “High School Nightmare Reunions”? Or maybe call the cops? The dream police? What the fuck do you think we can do about it, Erky?
ERIC
It’s something to do with Topher. I could feel it when I saw him. There’s something… alive in there. Angry.
JANICE
That doesn’t make any sense. ERIC
None of this does — but it’s happening. We have to go see him. All of us. If this is something to do with… that stuff… that stuff he took…
BRENT
Talk to him? You really have turned into liberal dickhead, Pierson, just like I always thought you would. What are we going to say? “If that’s you fucking with our minds, Topher, could you please stop?” You must be joking. ERIC
He was our friend…
BRENT
And look at him now! You think talking to that… thing is going to change anything? Is it going to change the past? Is it going to make up for what happened to him, to… to Kimmy?
Shockingly, BRENT suddenly bursts into tears — he’s had quite a lot to drink. BRENT (cont.)
Kimmy. Oh, man, poor Kimmy… Shit!
JANICE
It’s okay, Brent. It wasn’t your fault, either…
BRENT
Okay? It fucking well is not. And if you want to go talk to that… that thing… go ahead. But don’t expect me to come with you. I wouldn’t go within a mile of that freak. E
RIC
That doesn’t make…
BRENT
Just get out. Get out of here before my wife comes home. I used to tell her about what great friends I had. Don’t fuck it up for me.
JANICE
Brent, come on… BRENT (shouting)
Get out of my damned house!
We CUT TO:
INT. — ERIC’S CAR — MINUTES LATER
They are driving out of BRENT’s nice neighborhood.
ERIC
That went well, didn’t it?
JANICE
He’s terrified. What’s going on?
ERIC
Guess what. I’m terrified too…
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. — HOSPITAL — AN HOUR LATER
JANICE and ERIC are talking to an ADMINISTRATOR at the main desk, a lady in her fifties or early sixties.
ADMINISTRATOR
I don’t quite understand what you’re asking, sir. Mr. Holland’s records are private, but I can assure you he’s been getting the best possible care.
ERIC
Who DOES have access to his records? His father’s dead — he must have a legal guardian.
ADMINISTRATOR
He has an aunt in Northern California. But I’m not sure I should be discussing any of this with you. He’s been a patient with us for almost thirteen years now. I recognize Mrs. Moorehead, but I don’t think I’ve even seen you before.
ERIC (to JANICE)
Mrs. Moorehead?
JANICE (to ADMINISTRATOR)
That’s fine, thanks. We were mainly wondering about whether there had been any… changes. To his condition.
ADMINISTRATOR
Only the skin problem, which seems to be getting worse.
ERIC
But what did they say when they sent him here…?
JANICE pulls him away.
ERIC (cont.)
He was in a government psychiatric hospital — under security. I still have the clippings. Would they really just let him go?
JANICE (a little angry)
This isn’t some big investigative report, Eric. Topher hasn’t spoken or moved in years. His dad went to court and asked to have him sent here, so he’d be closer to home.
ERIC (disgusted)
His old man must have been happy Topher couldn’t get into trouble any more.
The OLD WOMAN ERIC has seen earlier rolls out in front of them, then paces them until they stop in front of TOPHER’s door.
OLD WOMAN (eyes wide)
You going in there? JANICE
We’re going to see a friend.
OLD WOMAN (grabbing ERIC’s arm)
You tell my mother I been good. Tell her I never went in there.
As they open the door, she rolls herself backward down the hall.
OLD WOMAN (cont.)
That’s where the devil lives…
The door swings open. It’s a small room, but with TOPHER at the far end it seems very large. He is sitting in his wheelchair by the bed, staring at nothing. ERIC and JANICE hesitate, then JANET at last moves forward and sits on the bed. ERIC picks up a chair and puts himself on the other side of TOPHER.
JANICE
Eric and I are here to see you, Topher. We’ve been thinking about you a lot.
ERIC
Yeah. A lot.
JANICE
We’ve been having… bad dreams. About that night. We thought… you might be having bad dreams too.
ERIC looks at her, a little surprised; this is an unexpected approach. He struggles to find the wavelength.
ERIC
We… want to help you. God, man, we’re so sorry that this happened to you. To all of us.
TOPHER is rigid as a statue, staring past them. ERIC (cont.)
But it isn’t anybody’s fault. It just… happened.
