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NOWHERE
Episode 2.3
"Jack Frost"
Written by Joseph D. Blackerby
EXT. FOREST HILLSIDE - EVENING
The sun sets over a cold day, deep in the forest. A fresh
snow decorates the green pine trees in a festive white. A
set of FOOTPRINTS leads into a grove of trees. There's a
loud CRACK and a tree plummets over to the ground, landing in
an explosion of white powder.
ROD EPPS, a grizzled man with a fluffy beard walks over to
the tree wielding a chainsaw. He begins cutting into the
trunk, chopping the tree into firewood lengths. Suddenly a
SHADOW passes behind him. He senses something -- turns to
look, but sees nothing.
Now the tree behind him shakes a little dropping small mounds
of snow. It gets his attention and he turns the chainsaw
off.
ROD
What the hell...
He looks up into the tree, trying to see what caused the
disturbance, but the branches and snow are blocking his view.
Finally, he gives up and turns back to his work. He revs the
chainsaw when suddenly a large SHAPE leaps down from the tree
and lands on his back. Something large with razor sharp
claws digs into his back like digging a hole. Rod reaches
for his saw as the THING digs through his layers of clothes.
Then it hits skin and Rod yells in pain. His screams echo
through the woods as night falls.
EXT. FOREST HILLSIDE - MORNING
A Snowmobile races up the hill. FINNEAS GRIMM (Robert
Englund) is driving with BEN FOWLER (Edward Burns) hanging on
for dear life. They reach the same area Rod was earlier
which now has police tape around the perimeter. Grimm comes
to a stop and Fowler practically leaps off.
FOWLER
Geez, you are the craziest driver --
GRIMM
Fun, eh?
Fowler ducks under the yellow tape where he meets Sheriff
GRETCHEN BANKS (Lake Bell), dressed in warm clothes. She
glances at Fowler's light attire.
BANKS
Didn't really dress for the
occasion did ya Fowler?
FOWLER
When you said on the outskirts of
town I didn't think you meant at
the edge of the world. Whaddya
got?
BANKS
Started as a missing person call.
Edna Epps called in that her
husband Rod had been out cutting
firewood and never came back. She
pointed us in the direction that he
went and we ended up here.
She moves aside to let Fowler see the scene. He sees the
downed tree and the abandoned chainsaw. Then he sees the
large pool of blood with a large trail leading off into the
woods.
FOWLER
My God...
BANKS
That amount of blood loss, I'm
hoping for a body recovery at best.
Grimm kneels by the blood to get a level view.
GRIMM
You'll be lucky to get a few
pieces. Just from a quick glance I
can see bits of flesh.
FOWLER
Animal attack?
GRIMM
Perhaps. I'll take my samples.
FOWLER
So weird. Morgue owner, embalmer,
crime scene analyst.
GRIMM
Man's got to have a hobby. Gets me
out of the office.
FOWLER
But it all involves dead people.
GRIMM
To each their own.
With a twinkle in his eye and a sly smile, he goes back to
his work.
BANKS
I guess that leaves us to follow
the trail.
FOWLER
Great. My feet are already
icebergs.
EXT. DEEP FOREST - LATER
The blood trail has become more faint and is almost gone
entirely. Fowler blows on his bare hands to keep them warm
as Banks inspects the trail.
BANKS
We aren't gonna be able to go much
farther.
FOWLER
Thank God.
(sharp look from Banks)
Sorry, I'm freezing. Is there
anyplace for a bear or something to
take the body?
BANKS
This whole area is full of caves.
Coulda taken Rod to any one of 'em.
Without a solid trail -- we may
never find him.
She stops walking and looks around, keeping silent.
BANKS
You hear that? That clicking?
She looks over to Fowler and sees his teeth chattering. She
sighs.
INT. BLUE EYE CAFE - DAY
Fowler takes a welcome sip of coffee and exhales as the
warmth spreads through his body. PENNY ROSE (Sherilyn Fenn)
stands near, watching in amusement. She reaches into her
apron, pulls out a small flask. Pours it in his cup.
PENNY
This'll warm you up faster.
FOWLER
Normally I'd say I'm on duty, but
the hell with it.
PENNY
You poor thing, how long were you
out there?
Banks walks over and sits down.
BANKS
Not as long as you'd think. He
just wasn't dressed for it.
PENNY
You were out on that Rod Epps
thing, right?
BANKS
Now you know we can't talk --
PENNY
It's already made its way through
town. And already the mouths
around town are blamin' it on the
Waldens.
BANKS
The Waldens?
PENNY
Don't tell me you never heard that
story? Back in the early 1800's,
the legend goes that the Walden
family got lost in those woods.
Found refuge in a cave, but food
was scarce. One of their nine kids
died from the cold. In
desperation, they ended up eatin'
him.
A nearby PATRON stops eating their roast beef and looks at
Penny in horror.
PATRON
Do you mind?
PENNY
(not paying attention)
Not a bit hun, be right with ya.
Anyway, turns out they took a shine
to the taste. Killed a few more
of their children before the winter
broke. After that, they found
their way out of the cave, but
their bodies had adapted not only
to the taste of human flesh, but to
the cold. Legend has it, the
family is still out there and comes
down from the mountain to gather
their food -- us.
The Patron has had enough and stands to leave, but without
breaking eye contact with Banks, Penny puts them back down in
their seats.
PENNY
Don't be such a sissy, it's just a
story.
She turns away to attend to the Patron. Fowler leans into
Banks.
FOWLER
There's no way that could be true,
right?
Banks just shrugs 'maybe'. Fowler grabs the flask from
Penny's apron -- pours more into his coffee.
INT. GRIMM'S MORGUE - DAY
Grimm looks over bloody pieces of flesh on his table with
magnifying glasses. He looks up with big buggy eyes as
Fowler and Banks enter.
GRIMM
Ah, thawed out I see.
BANKS
Did you already get those bits of
flesh analyzed?
GRIMM
Of course. Business hasn't picked
up yet.
FOWLER
Yet?
Grimm just shrugs and opens a file folder, reads over his
notes.
GRIMM
I found a small chip of tooth
inside the skin and muscle tissue I
recovered.
BANKS
So it could've been an animal?
GRIMM
Already analyzed it. It was human.
FOWLER
Could it be from the vic?
GRIMM
Unlikely. Rod Epps had dentures.
I also found this...
He presents a glass vial. Inside is what looks like a bit of
a large talon.
BANKS
Looks like...a claw.
GRIMM
But yet it's not. It's also human.
Fowler and Banks share a look of disbelief.
INT. FBI OFFICE - DAY
Fowler is trying to get into a pair of winter pants, but he's
having trouble getting them up. Jake walks in and stifles a
laugh.
FOWLER
Do I have to remind you I have a
gun?
JAKE
Sorry. I came as soon as I could.
Need some help?
FOWLER
No thank you. You find out
anything?
JAKE
Yeah, actually. Seems like Penny
had at least some of the story
right. There was a family called
the Waldens that disappeared in
these woods in 1835. As for them
being cannibals -- well, no
evidence of that.
FOWLER
What about any similar cases?
JAKE
There were a few. But nothing that
matched exactly. One case in 1876
of what was classified as a bear
attack. But I did find something
interesting. Seems like every
winter, several people go missing
in those woods, never to be seen
again. It's usually written up as
a death of exposure since no bodies
are ever found.
FOWLER
So nothing to prove -- or disprove
the story.
JAKE
Exactly.
FOWLER
Well thanks Jake, I appreciate it.
You still looking into Cleaver?
JAKE
Funny thing is, I haven't seen him
in a while.
FOWLER
Come to think of it -- I haven't
either. And there was a guest
pastor at the church wasn't there?
JAKE
For the last three Sundays.
FOWLER
Odd. Wouldn't think he'd be one to
take a vacation. Even though he
may be gone, don't do anything
stupid.
JAKE
Like what?
FOWLER
You know what I'm talkin' about.
Jake grins.
INT. BLUE EYE DINER - DAY
Banks sits across from DR. BLUNT (Sean Patrick Flanery) as
they both sip on coffee.
DR. BLUNT
I'm a little surprised you called
me.
BANKS
Why is that?
DR. BLUNT
Well, my father being a murdering
bastard and everything --
BANKS
I never said that. I said he was a
suspect. And I intend on solving
and closing the case very quickly
and quietly.
DR. BLUNT
I do appreciate that.
(stops Penny as she passes
by)
Excuse me Penny, I think something
is wrong with my coffee. Tastes
like it's spiked or something.
Banks quickly takes Blunt's cup and switches it with hers.
BANKS
Sorry, you must have mine.
Blunt looks back at her with an amused smile.
DR. BLUNT
Just when I think I have you
figured out...
BANKS
I'm full of surprises.
PENNY
She ain't kiddin' honey.
Penny bustles off as Blunt looks a little puzzled.
DR. BLUNT
Why do I feel like there's a joke
I'm not in on?
BANKS
That's just Penny. I promise you --
no cemeteries in my closet.
DR. BLUNT
Just a skeleton or two?
Bank shrugs and smiles.
BANKS
That doesn't scare you?
DR. BLUNT
I'm still here, aren't I?
Their eyes lock and speak volumes. You can almost see the
sparks between them.
EXT. FOREST - EVENING
SAM WHITAKER, decked out in hunter's garb and carrying a
rifle creeps through the snow, on the hunt for something. He
moves quietly, trying not to make noise.
SAM
Where'd you go you little
bastard...
Then he spots it in a small field right at the break in the
trees. A SQUIRREL is his intended prey. Sam lays on his
belly and crawls through the trees to get closer. He aims
his rifle, prepares to fire --
Something grabs him and pulls him back through the snow. In
the process, he drops his rifle and can't reach it as he's
dragged.
He looks up to see a black humanoid SHAPE pulling him. He
kicks hard with his free foot and the creature GRUNTS and
lets go. Sam struggles to get to his feet and run, but
before he can, the creature leaps on top of him and a black
hand with razor sharp talons buries itself in Sam's back. He
yells as blood oozes from the wound onto the snow. Weakened,
Sam watches helpfully as the creature begins dragging him
again. With blurring eyes, Sam sees the creature turn and he
sees a hideous dark blue face of what resembles a man. We'll
come to know him only as FROST. (Willem Dafoe) Everything
goes BLACK.
EXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAY
Fowler and Banks pull up in her Police SUV where Grimm is
waiting for them. He grins when he sees Fowler.
GRIMM
Didn't want another ride up?
FOWLER
Not on your life.
GRIMM
Aw, you're missin' out. Besides, I
got up a lot faster -- got most of
the scene done already.
BANKS
Then maybe you can save us some
time and fill us in.
GRIMM
Sam Whitaker -- never came home
last night after leaving to hunt
squirrels. Familiar story, huh?
Anyway --
FOWLER
Wait a minute -- did you say hunt
squirrels? Why would he hunt
squirrels?
Grimm looks at him confused.
GRIMM
To...eat?
BANKS
Lots of people eat squirrel around
here.
FOWLER
Why on earth would they do that?
BANKS
When they can't buy meat. Winters
get pretty harsh around here.
Besides, it's actually pretty
tasty.
FOWLER
You're kiddin' me. You've eaten --
what did it taste like? Wait,
never mind -- I know what's coming.
GRIMM
If you don't mind --
(after Fowler waves him
on)
Sam was on his stomach hunting
something over in those trees over
there. Something grabbed him and
dragged him this way.
(walks towards a blood
pool)
Around here, it got violent.
BANKS
So the same crime scene as the Epps
case.
GRIMM
Not exactly. There's not a great
deal of blood here.
FOWLER
Which means he could still be
alive.
Fowler takes out a compass and points it towards the blood
trail leading away from them.
FOWLER
The trail's leading towards the
same area where we lost the trail
before.
Banks looks at Fowler's readings.
BANKS
I'm impressed Fowler.
FOWLER
I'm not sure if that's a compliment
or an insult.
BANKS
A compliment. It's tough to get
your bearings out here.
FOWLER
(to Grimm)
Hey, I got a compliment.
Grimm just walks away, muttering.
GRIMM
Yeah, I didn't do diddily-squat.
EXT. DESTINY CHURCH - DAY
Jake walks to the front door of the church and tries the
doors. Locked. He looks to the side door and heads to it.
It too, is locked. Jake glances around, whips out a thin
knife and in seconds has the door open.
JAKE
I'm goin' to hell for this.
He ducks inside.
INT. SANCTUARY - DESTINY CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER
Jake walks through the large, empty sanctuary. It's dead
quiet with no sign of any activity.
JAKE
Hello? Anyone here?
No answer. Jake walks to the preacher's pulpit and then
through another door into --
INT. CLEAVER'S QUARTERS - DESTINY CHURCH - CONTINUOUS
Simple and well kept. No obvious signs of activity -- it
barely looks lived in. Jake walks the room, looking in every
drawer, inspecting every shelf. Nothing. Then he hears a
CREAK as his foot walks over a floorboard. He kneels down,
looks at it closely. Takes out his knife and carefully pries
the floorboard up.
Inside, he finds a small box with a lock and despite Jake's
efforts, he can't get it open. Suddenly he hears FOOTSTEPS
coming from the hallway. Lightning fast he replaces the
floorboard and heads for the door, but he can tell, the
footsteps are too close.
He hurries for the closet and ducks inside, just as the main
door opens. He peeks out through the small crack in the
door.
FEMALE VOICE
Hello?
The voice is familiar. Jake peeks out. It's BONNIE.
(Elizabeth Pena)
BONNIE
Reverend? The door was open, so I
thought I'd check --
When she sees the room is empty, she frowns and walks out.
Jake exhales deeply from holding his breath.
EXT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Banks is locking up when Fowler approaches.
BANKS
Hey there -- quittin' time, huh?
FOWLER
Actually, I saw on the news that
it's a full moon tonight. I
thought I might walk that trail and
see if I could see anything new.
Wanna join me?
BANKS
Uh, actually, I can't.
FOWLER
Really? Why not?
BANKS
I have a date.
FOWLER
A date? You're kidding.
(off her frown)
I didn't mean it like that.
BANKS
I'm allowed to have a social life.
FOWLER
I know. Sorry. Have a good time.
BANKS
Don't go out there alone, okay?
We'll walk it tomorrow.
FOWLER
I'll see ya then.
He heads off down the street. Banks shrugs and heads for her
SUV.
EXT. FOREST TRAIL - NIGHT
Fowler, now dressed in proper warm clothes, walks through the
moonlit night, his flashlight scanning the trees. All seems
quiet when a NOISE on the horizon catches his attention.
Like a CACKLE. He heads that way, constantly keeping his
flashlight shining around him. He hears the CACKLE again --
it definitely sounds evil. Fowler draws his gun, carefully
makes his way forward. Now it's deathly quiet. Suddenly --
The figure of Frost leaps down from the tree above him. All
goes BLACK.
INT. DINING ROOM - BLUNT'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Blunt pours Banks a glass of wine as she leans back from a
finished plate.
BANKS
I had no idea you could cook so
well.
DR. BLUNT
McDonald's will only take you so
far. Sooner or later you've got to
eat real food. A few years ago I
took some classes. The rest is
history.
BANKS
Well I think I've found my new
restaurant.
DR. BLUNT
You're welcome anytime. I always
cook for two and I hate leftovers.
BANKS
You're almost too charming for your
own good.
DR. BLUNT
Is it working? I'm finding myself
trying way too hard to impress you.
BANKS
You already have.
They lean in and share a tender kiss.
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
Fowler slowly comes too, a trickle of blood running down his
face. As his vision comes back, he takes in his
surroundings. A small fire burns in the center of the cave
chamber, throwing shadows all over the wall. Fowler can see
Frost in the corner, his back to him, working on something.
Fowler tries to sit up quietly, but his bound hands and feet
make a scraping noise, getting Frost's attention. He turns,
showing his face in the soft light.
His hair is scraggly and animal-like. His face looks burned
and hollowed out with a strange blue tint, like an old case
of extreme frostbite. His teeth are sharp and pointed. He
wears tattered clothes with only his black arms and hands
exposed with long talons coming from his nails. He grins
when he sees Fowler.
FROST
Ah, excellent...just in time for
dinner.
Fowler is shocked that this thing can talk, but his face
floods with horror when he sees what Frost has been working
on:
The skinned body of Sam Whitaker.
CUT TO BLACK
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.