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NOWHERE
Episode 2.2
"The Haunting of Gretchen Banks"
Written by Joseph D. Blackerby
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
A light drizzle falls over the small crowd gathered around an
open grave. Short blasts of steam escape their mouths in the
chilly air.
REVEREND CLEAVER (Lance Henriksen) presides over the service
of mourners.
CLEAVER
Paul Rivkin was not just a citizen
of Destiny, nor just a friend of
the community. He was a part of
this town...a piece of the puzzle
that will forever be missed...
As he continues the eulogy WE GO TO JAKE RIVKIN (Jared
Padalecki), who's eyes are burning with hatred, locked on
Cleaver.
Agent BEN FOWLER (Edward Burns) stands with his head bowed
solemnly next to Sheriff GRETCHEN BANKS (Lake Bell), who
wipes a single tear from her eye.
Something catches her eye and she looks up. Far across the
cemetery is a lone MAN who seems to be staring right into her
soul. Banks tries to get a good look at him, but his
features are hidden in shadow. All but his eyes. They seem
to glow with anger.
Banks gently tugs on Fowler's sleeve to get his attention.
She's about to gesture to the Man when Fowler looks at her
when she looks back across the cemetery. The Man is gone.
No trace at all.
Fowler looks at her, confused, but Banks shakes her head,
'Never mind'. Fowler bows his head again, but Banks
continues to scan the cemetery for any sign of the strange
Man.
Cleaver's voice fades back in as Paul's casket lowers into
the ground.
CLEAVER
...and now we commit our brother,
Paul Rivkin into the earth, for his
soul has already gone to a better
place. A-men.
EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER
Fowler and Banks walk towards the car as the other patrons
head for theirs.
FOWLER
What did you want?
BANKS
Nothing. Thought I saw -- but it
was nothing.
Jake hurries behind them to catch up.
JAKE
Agent Fowler?
Fowler turns to Jake -- places a reassuring hand on his
shoulder.
FOWLER
Heya Jake. How're you holding up?
JAKE
I'm fine.
FOWLER
I find that surprising. You've
been through a lot.
JAKE
And we both know who caused it.
Fowler stops in his tracks -- faces Jake sternly.
FOWLER
Whoa, whoa whoa -- wait a minute.
We don't know --
JAKE
C'mon, you know as well as I do --
FOWLER
Look, you know what I think --
JAKE
Then stop thinking about it and do
something! Or I will. Cleaver's
gonna pay.
FOWLER
Look, don't do anything. Not yet.
Come by later, okay?
Jake walks the other way leaving Fowler looking worried.
INT. LIVING ROOM - BANKS' HOUSE - NIGHT
Banks' familiar living room, completely surrounded by
bookcases filled to the brim with all sorts of books.
Gretchen settles into her comfortable couch, legs curled
under herself, reading. Her dog TWAIN, a wiry Jack Russell,
lays sprawled out on the floor. Banks is completely
engrossed in her reading when --
Twain springs to his feet, advances a few steps. He bares
his teeth and GROWLS. Banks looks up, unnerved. She gets up
and peeks down the hall.
BANKS
Hello?
No answer. Banks looks down to Twain.
BANKS
You better not be messin' with me.
After a few moments of silence, Banks sits back down. She
pets Twain to calm him down.
BANKS
Twain, you're being silly.
She picks up her book, about to start reading again when
there's the faint sound of two FOOTSTEPS.
Twain springs to his feet -- stands rigid -- not moving or
backing down while growling. Banks takes a step forward when
she sees a SHADOW move at the far end.
Twain lets out a loud BARK and takes off down the hallway
after the intruder.
BANKS
Twain, no!
Just as Twain turns the corner out of sight, his barking
turns into a SQUEAL of fright. He yips, runs back the way he
came and slides under a table -- still growling, but not
wanting to move again.
It freaks Banks out and she reaches for her gun -- which
isn't with her. She curses under her breath and grabs a
fireplace poker, ready to defend herself.
She raises the poker and creeps down the hall, eyes alert and
her body on full guard. She advances down the hall, trying
to steady her shaking hands. She peeks into a doorway --
nothing.
Banks rounds a corner into the --
INT. DINING ROOM/KITCHEN - BANKS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Bank steps into the dining room, cautiously and wary. From
the far doorway, she peeks into the kitchen. Nothing. She
lowers the poker -- breathes a sigh of relief.
She turns and is face to face with the MAN in the cemetery.
With a loud SCREAM she's thrust back and CRASHES into the
china cabinet in an explosion of glass and ceramics. She
falls heavily to the floor and stumbles to her feet. The MAN
has become a DARK SHADOW and advances towards her.
Bank runs into the kitchen, but before she can make it out,
she's swept off her feet. Her body hits the ground hard,
knocking the wind out of her. She struggles to pull herself
up to the counter and in doing so, she knocks a salt shaker
off. It explodes on the floor and as suddenly as it began,
the attack is over.
Taking the opportunity, Banks runs towards the front door and
sprints out with Twain right on her heals. Once clear of the
house, she scoops Twain up and they both stare back in
through the window.
BANKS
What the hell just happened?
EXT. BLUE EYE DINER - DAY
Fowler sits at one of the outdoor tables, checking his watch.
PENNY (Sherilyn Fenn) walks outside, gives him a smile.
PENNY
Was wonderin' where you've been.
Didn't scare you off, did I?
FOWLER
Uh, no -- not at all.
PENNY
There's a certain conversation I
was hopin' we could continue.
(gives him a wink)
You want some coffee?
FOWLER
Not sure. You haven't seen Gret --
Sheriff Banks, have you?
PENNY
She your breakfast date?
FOWLER
Well, she was supposed to meet me
this morning.
PENNY
Is that all? Just a meeting?
FOWLER
It's not like that.
Penny leans down, talks in a sultry voice in his ear.
PENNY
Ya know, you don't need a badge to
own a pair of handcuffs.
With that, she goes back into the diner. Suddenly Fowler's
shirt seems a little tight around the neck. He clears his
voice and takes a gulp of water.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Fowler opens the door and steps inside. Empty.
FOWLER
Banks? Hello? Anybody here?
He continues inside, goes through a door and turns a corner
to the jail cells. There he finds Banks, passed out with
Twain sleeping beside her in a cell bed.
FOWLER
Banks?
Twain springs to life and leaps to the floor, barking
furiously.
BANKS
Twain, zip it.
Twain whines and jumps back in bed with her. She turns to
Fowler, and he can see the bruising on the side of her face.
FOWLER
Banks? What the hell -- what
happened?
BANKS
Tripped and landed in my china
cabinet.
Fowler's confused at the story.
FOWLER
What? How is that even
accomplished?
BANKS
Dunno the physics of it, but it
happened.
Fowler spots something and sits down on the bed next to her.
FOWLER
Hang on -- don't worry, I'm not
makin' a move or anything.
He gently lifts up the bottom of her shirt, revealing a huge
bruise underneath.
FOWLER
Geez -- okay, c'mon.
He helps her to her feet with a loud GROAN.
BANKS
I don't wanna -- where are you
taking me?
INT. DINING AREA - WEEPING WILLOW HOTEL - DAY
BONNIE (Elizabeth Pena) silently eats a bowl of oatmeal.
She's going through the motions, but clearly lost in thought.
Jake walks in, still wearing his night sweats and T-shirt.
He yawns.
JAKE
It's almost ten. Why didn't you
wake me up?
BONNIE
I figured you needed some sleep.
JAKE
You doin' all right?
He gives her a shoulder hug and is surprised when she tenses
up at his touch.
JAKE
Mom, what's wrong?
BONNIE
It's -- nothing. Nothing.
JAKE
You're acting weird. Did I do
something?
BONNIE
It's not you -- it's me. It's --
you and him were in the hotel
alone. You said -- I mean he was
coming after you -- trying to kill
you. And then he kills himself.
I'm -- I'm just trying to
understand. It doesn't make any
sense. How does a man -- cut his
own throat.
JAKE
You don't think...I mean -- you
know I didn't do anything.
BONNIE
I don't know what I think. All I
know is that my husband is dead.
And after almost twenty years
together, I find out that I barely
knew him.
Her eyes fill with tears and she leaves the table, taking her
breakfast dishes with her.
INT. PATIENT ROOM - DOCTOR BLUNT'S OFFICE - DAY
Banks finishes buttoning her shirt, covering the bandages
around her torso. There's a knock at the door.
BANKS
Come in.
Fowler enters, smiles at her.
FOWLER
Damn, you're dressed already.
BANKS
Smart ass.
FOWLER
So a couple of cracked ribs, huh?
BANKS
Looks that way.
FOWLER
So help me along here. I'm having
a hard time with your story.
BANKS
Are you saying I'm lying?
FOWLER
I'm saying I've met a lot of BS
droppers and today you're not
smellin' too good.
BANKS
Fine, I'll tell you. But not here.
DR. JACK BLUNT (Sean Patrick Flanery) enters the room,
reading a chart. He looks surprised to see Fowler in the
room.
DR. BLUNT
Are you her husband?
FOWLER
Actually, I'm...just leaving.
He quickly exits and Banks weakly smiles at Blunt.
BANKS
He's an FBI agent.
DR. BLUNT
Of course he is.
(holds out his hand)
Jack Blunt. You're the sheriff,
right?
BANKS
Gretchen Banks.
DR. BLUNT
It looks like you took quite a
tumble there. Should I tell you to
watch where you're going?
BANKS
I guess you could.
DR. BLUNT
But would that be a worthwhile
question?
BANKS
I suppose it would.
(points to her ribs)
Now what would you like me to do
about this?
DR. BLUNT
Take two aspirin...and call me.
With a grin, he leaves.
INT. DINING ROOM - BANKS' HOUSE - NIGHT
Fowler walks through, inspecting the mess from the night
before.
FOWLER
So you're saying a ghost did this?
BANKS
I said that you wouldn't believe
me.
FOWLER
I didn't say that. It's just from
what I've read it's pretty unusual
behavior for a ghost.
BANKS
Trust me, it was here and it was
pissed.
FOWLER
I'll stay here tonight. See if
it'll come back.
EXT. DESTINY CHURCH - DAY
Reverend Cleaver steps out of the main doors and begins
walking down the sidewalk. When he's further down, Jake
steps out from behind a building and begins following him.
He's keeping quiet and Cleaver doesn't notice until -- his
CELL PHONE RINGS. Cleaver turns, looks behind and sees Jake.
Gives him a friendly wave before he keeps on walking. Jake
looks annoyed and answers his phone.
JAKE
Yeah?
FOWLER
(over phone)
Hey Jake -- catch you at a bad
time?
JAKE
I was just chasing my tail. What's
up?
FOWLER
You still do that ghost hunting
hobby thing?
JAKE
Don't tell me you've got a ghost.
(after no answer)
You've got a ghost? Are you
serious?
INT. DINING ROOM - BANKS' HOUSE - LATER
Jake walks around the dining room, scanning the area with an
EMF detector.
JAKE
There's a little residual energy
around here, but nothing off the
charts. And the wiring's clean.
BANKS
Wiring?
JAKE
Sometimes old wires can cause a big
electro-magnetic field. It's
usually the first thing I try to
eliminate.
BANKS
When it came after me before, it
suddenly went away after I spilled
salt.
JAKE
It's thought that salt will drive
spirits temporarily away.
FOWLER
Are you all set up?
JAKE
Yeah. I got cameras all over the
place. If anything comes through
here, we'll see it.
Fowler plops down in a chair.
FOWLER
Well then I guess we all just get
comfortable.
BANKS
You're makin' your own coffee.
INT. LIVING ROOM - BANKS' HOUSE - LATER
Banks lays on one end of the couch while Jake lays on the
other, their legs intertwined. Fowler is sprawled in a
recliner. The house is completely quiet. No movement. A
soft DRAFT ruffles some papers on the nearby desk.
CLOSE ON A MONITOR
Sitting on the table near Jake. On the Screen a SHADOW
passes through the frame.
BACK TO SCENE
A lock of Banks' hair lifts up and away from her head. Banks
is slowly stirred awake. She notices her hair and freezes in
terror.
BANKS
(whispers)
Jake...Jake...
Jake finally comes to and sees what's going on. He glances
at the monitor and sees the shadowy figure surrounding Banks.
Jake tries to signal Fowler, who's snoring soundly.
After several failed attempts, Jake finally throws the camera
remote and smacks Fowler in the face.
FOWLER
What the he --
He suddenly sees Banks' hair being tugged. He leaps up --
FOWLER
WHAT THE HELL?
Suddenly the room goes into chaos. Banks gets thrown off the
couch and tumbles across the floor. Jake leaps to his feet
and tries to help, but something knocks him back into the
wall. The monitor bank lifts into the air and tosses the
equipment like paper. Fowler grabs a shotgun next to his
chair and fires a loud BLAST into the shadow. With a ROAR it
vanishes.
FOWLER
(to Jake)
Peppered him with a little salt.
Jake searches through the equipment on the floor and finds
the THERMAL CAMERA.
JAKE
Got the thermal! Gonna do a sweep
and see if I can find him.
He does a quick sweep of the room.
FOWLER
Anything?
JAKE
Nothing yet...
THROUGH THE THERMAL CAMERA
The colors are all cold -- blues and greens. Nothing giving
off heat. When suddenly, something bright red appears.
JAKE
I got something!
He moves towards it and is surprised to find that it's Banks'
Sheriff badge.
JAKE
What on earth...
He picks it up -- inspects it when -- the badge jumps up and
SLASHES him across the face before embedding itself into the
wall. Everything goes still.
JAKE
Whoa.
BANKS
Are you all right?
JAKE
Yeah, I'm fine.
FOWLER
What the hell is going on?
JAKE
I think I might know.
(grabs his jacket)
I'll be back later.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Banks pours herself a cup of coffee, practically guzzles it
down and then pours another.
DR. BLUNT (O.S.)
Just a coffee lover or a caffeine
junkie?
Banks turns, sees Blunt at the front desk and smiles.
BANKS
Today...definitely a junkie.
DR. BLUNT
I was just stopping in to check on
you. Are you not sleeping?
BANKS
Yeah, but not because of my ribs.
DR. BLUNT
Why aren't you?
BANKS
Got a houseguest that won't leave.
DR. BLUNT
I see.
His eyes go to the far wall where his finger traces out a
small hole.
DR. BLUNT
Wow, it's still here.
BANKS
What?
DR. BLUNT
You know I practically grew up in
this office.
BANKS
I had no idea.
DR. BLUNT
My dad was the sheriff here for a
long time.
Suddenly it hits her like a brick.
BANKS
Oh my God, why didn't I pick up on
that? Your Ed Blunt's son! How
long was he the sheriff here?
DR. BLUNT
Thirty four years. I still
remember, Dad's gun was behind the
desk here -- he told me a thousand
times never to touch it, but of
course I didn't listen. I picked
it up and it went off. Grazed the
side of my head and buried itself
in the wall. Right here.
BANKS
Wow, that was lucky.
DR. BLUNT
Maybe. Maybe something more.
BANKS
You think it was fate?
DR. BLUNT
I'd like to think so. How cool
would be to know for sure that you
were put on the earth for a
purpose?
He and Banks share a look of agreement.
INT. FBI OFFICE - DAY
Fowler and Jake are waiting as Banks hurries inside.
BANKS
Did I miss anything?
FOWLER
We were just waiting for you.
BANKS
Sorry, ran into Dr. Blunt. He
wanted to make sure my ribs were
healing okay.
FOWLER
Hope you're not getting too
friendly with him.
BANKS
Why?
JAKE
I think I know why this ghost is
coming after you. It's not really
you. It's your badge.
BANKS
My badge?
Jake puts down a photocopy of an old newspaper article. It's
got a picture of a MAN, whose features Banks can now see.
BANKS
I recognize the eyes.
JAKE
This guy's name is Billy Anderson.
He was a witness in a murder case
twenty years ago. Ted Mosely was
beaten to death outside of a bar
and Billy saw it all.
FOWLER
The man he fingered in that case
was Ennis Blunt. Sheriff Ed
Blunt's cousin. A week after Ennis
was charged, Billy vanished and was
never seen again.
JAKE
It was rumored that Ed Blunt had
something to do with it, but
nothing ever came of it.
BANKS
It can't be...
JAKE
It makes sense. The ghost of Billy
Anderson was attracted to that
badge because it was connected to
his death.
FOWLER
Now this is where ya lost me
before. Why is it happening now?
It's been twenty years.
(thinking)
Wait a minute, where did you say
you first saw this thing?
BANKS
At the cemetery. Paul's funeral.
JAKE
Of course...cemetery's are like a
spiritual fortress. The spirits
that are in the graveyard are bound
there and they can't leave --
unless they can make a connection
to something from their previous
life. Then it simply follows it
out. The badge was the connection.
FOWLER
So Billy's body --
BANKS
It must be in the cemetery.
JAKE
If we can find the body and burn
it, his ghost will ascend and the
haunting will stop.
FOWLER
Ah, crap and I'm wearing my nice
suit.
EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT
Jake leads Fowler and Banks with a flashlight through the
grave sites. Banks and Jake carry shovels while Fowler is
armed with his shotgun. They stop by Paul's grave.
JAKE
This is where we were that day.
Now where did you see the man?
Banks points up the hill.
BANKS
About a hundred yards up that way.
They follow Banks' lead and trek up the hill until they come
to --
JAKE
No way.
Fowler and Banks reach the grave he's standing by. The
tombstone has a familiar name: WILLIAM ANDERSON.
BANKS
You don't think.
FOWLER
Only one way to find out.
Fowler takes off his jacket and hangs it over the tombstone.
He gives Banks the shotgun and takes her shovel.
FOWLER
Shoot at anything you can see
through.
EXT. CEMETERY - LATER
Fowler and Jake have dug down quite a ways when Fowler's
shovel hits something solid.
FOWLER
I guess we got somethin' here.
Let's find the edges.
He and Jake quickly clear off the coffin and find the handle.
FOWLER
Here goes...
He pulls the coffin lid open and gets overwhelmed at the
stink of death. He coughs, trying to keep from retching.
The skeleton in the coffin is dressed in a suit.
JAKE
Call me crazy, but that just looks
like it might be Ted Mosely.
FOWLER
Crazy -- this was your idea!
Their flashlights start to flash on and off.
BANKS
Uh guys, there's some weird stuff
goin' on...
Suddenly the black SHAPE appears to her left. She FIRES and
it disappears with a cry of rage.
BANKS
Whatever you're gonna do, make it
fast!
JAKE
I guess we have to make sure.
(digs through his
backpack)
Here we go.
He comes out with matches and lighter fluid.
FOWLER
Are you serious?
JAKE
We have to try.
He douses the body and coffin with lighter fluid. Banks
fires again as the SHAPE comes back. It vanishes. Jake
strikes a match and throws it on the coffin. It flares up
immediately. The SHAPE now appears in front of Banks. She
pulls the trigger again -- but the shotgun jams. The Shape
lunges at her, knocking the shotgun from her hand. It
tackles her to the ground and wraps its hands around her
throat.
FOWLER
It's not working!
He climbs out of the hole and attempts to help Banks, but his
hands go right through the entity.
The body continues to burn. Still no effect on the ghost.
Banks is starting to lose consciousness. Suddenly -- the
SHAPE'S side bursts into flames. It staggers back, but then
the flames go out.
FOWLER
What just happened?
JAKE
I don't know! Wait --
Jake notices that part of the bottom of the coffin has
collapsed. He then realizes --
JAKE
Fowler! The body's beneath the
coffin! Beneath!
Jake grabs his shovel and pounds down on the floor of the
coffin. It slowly splinters and gives way. Fowler tries to
help Banks and gets knocked back by the SHAPE. Fowler
tumbles over a tombstone and lands roughly on the ground.
The SHAPE begins strangling Banks again. Jake manages to
knock out most of the coffin floor and now sees another
skeleton underneath. He douses it in lighter fluid and drops
a match.
The SHAPE bursts into flames and Banks rolls out of the way.
There's a hideous SCREAM and then suddenly, the ghost is
gone. Jake climbs out of the hole checks on Banks.
JAKE
You okay?
Banks nods. Fowler stands painfully and joins them.
FOWLER
I would give anything for a normal
case at this point.
Banks manages a weak smile as they help her up.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Dr. Blunt sits across from Banks with a look of disbelief.
DR. BLUNT
So you think my dad had something
to do with this? You can't be
serious.
BANKS
I'm not saying that. But I am re
opening the case of Billy Anderson
and I do intend to solve it. Your
dad was a possible suspect and I
just wanted to warn you of that.
DR. BLUNT
Well whatever you think you need to
do...
BANKS
I'll be as discreet as possible.
DR. BLUNT
Hellava way to start a
relationship.
BANKS
I've started with worse.
FADE TO BLACK.
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