Initial draft of script

Behind the curtain – Opening sequence

(Movie starts with the company logo, followed by a black screen. On this black screen the first credits appear. A phone ringing sound is heard)

Man: (answering phone) Hello?

Estate agent: Hello, this is Adam from Apple Tree estate agency, I’m just calling to tell you there’s a house just come on the market, I understand you are looking for a new property and this house seems to pretty much meet your requirements.

Man: Fantastic! When can I check it out?

Estate agent: Well we don’t currently have any agents available, but you are free to pick up the keys and have a look for yourself at any point today.

Man: Hmmm...Once Sherry gets home I’ll be right over, thank you very much.

Estate agent: No problem, see you soon.

Man: Bye.


(The phone conversation ends, the black screen disappears and is replaced with a shot of a car in the driveway of a large, old house. The engine is turned off and a young couple get out. They are smart and professional looking, obviously wealthy. They look up at the house. A curtain flickers in one of the upstairs rooms, but this goes unnoticed by the young couple as they head towards the door.)

(The camera cuts to indoors, facing the couple as they enter. The lights flicker on.)

Man: (looking around) Well, it’s definitely spacious. (Sees some damage on the wall) May need a bit of work doing though.

Woman: (also looking around) Yeah, and some cleaning. The previous inhabitants were clearly not the most hygienic bunch.

(the woman picks up some washing up, and quickly drops it again, making a large bang, The man looks up, startled.)

Man: Damn Sherry, try being a bit more careful! You’re gonna be the death of me, I swear to God...

Woman: (apologetic) Sorry, was slippery I guess... (She sighs and heads through to the next room).

Woman: Well, this is nice! Large, but cosy

(she smiles, and moves forward, the camera swivels to see the man entering the room. Behind him you see a glimpse of a figure sitting at the table, but the camera quickly cuts back to the woman).

Man: Yeah...nice fireplace, good for burning all those papers I guess. (He looks over to the woman and grins)
Man: (creepily) And bodies...

Woman: (laughing) You’re not going to scare me with that crap, freak. Come on, I’ll give you a race upstairs.

(She runs up the stairs, still laughing, pushing the Man over on the way.)

Man: (shouts) So not fair! Cheat! (He runs after her).

(The camera cuts to a dark corridor, the man scrambles at a light switch. Eventually the lights come on.)

Man: Sherry? (He starts walking down the corridor)
Man: (through a smile) Stop hiding you idiot!

(He reaches the end of the corridor, he ponders which way to go for a second, then turns left, pushing a door open and flicking a light switch. The lights come on, and something moves near the curtain.)

Man: (whispers to himself) Gotcha! (Grins).

(The man walks slowly and cautiously towards the curtain, Music starts to build up in the background getting louder and louder until the man reaches the curtain, and yanks it open. Silence occurs. There is nothing there but a small music box and a porcelain doll. The man breathes out heavily and quietly chuckles to himself. He then flips open the music box. An eerie tune is played out, at which the end the camera suddenly flicks to be facing the man, showing a horrific ghostly figure right behind him. The camera switches to another room, where the woman is hiding. A loud bump is heard, which startles the woman. She gets up and moves towards where she thinks the sound originated from.)

Woman: Dan?

(She moves to the room where Dan entered. She pushes the door open. The camera cuts to outside. For a few seconds there is silence, then a ghostly voice rasps in a childish manner ‘hello...’ A scream is heard, and the camera cuts back to the woman, who is now running, terrified. A piano is heard in the background playing ‘Twinkle Twinkle little star’ going out of tune. The woman bursts out of the front door looking horrified. She reaches the car and jumps inside, slamming the door behind her. She takes a moment to gather herself, breathing heavily and crying. Suddenly the music box music is heard. The camera pans up to the rear view mirror to show the girl briefly, with the music box on her lap and the doll under her arm. The movie cuts to the title and then ends.)