CHERRY FALLS

CHERRY FALLS 

SCREENPLAY BY KEN SELDEN

FIRST DRAFT

FEBRUARY 14, 1998

FADE IN:

EXT. TOWN - NIGHT

The hanging sign says 'Entering Cherry Falls, Ohio'

We see Cherry Falls - A small town in rural Northeastern Ohio. This is

Norman Rockwell land, red barns on dirt roads, a square in the center of

town. But things are hidden here. The barns are locked, the shades are

drawn.

Dissolve to:

EXT. LOVER'S LANE

A romantic turn-off used exclusively for parking. A river gushes by.

Crickets chirp. The trees blow in the autumn wind. A single car sits on

the lonely road. The muffled sound of a young couple making out drifts

through the streamed up windows.

INT. CAR

A teenage boy's hand is under a teenage girl's shirt, gently massaging her

breast. He pulls his hand out from under her shirt and places it on her

bare knee.

As he starts to slide his hand up her leg, she grabs his hand and gently

pulls it away. She places it back on her breast, sliding it under her

shirt.

We pull back. STACY and ROD, two healthy sixteen year olds, are

passionately making out in the proverbial back seat of a big American car.

Rod smiles seductively, kisses Stacy, and places his hand back on her

knee. Once again, she stops him, this time just squeezing his hand

tightly.

STACY

No.

He doesn't give up easy. He playfully wrestles his hand free and slides it

under her skirt. She grabs his hand again.

STACY

I said no.

ROD

But you don't really

mean it.

He struggles to free his hand.

STACY

Yes I do. Keep it in your

pants Rod.

He gives up, aggravated.

ROD

Maybe it won't stay in.

STACY

Maybe you better just

drive me home.

He starts the car, glares at her for a second, then turns it off.

ROD

Let me just ask you a serious

question first.

STACY

What?

ROD

Aren't you worried you

could die a virgin?

STACY

(sarcastically)

Yeah. I'm extremely worried

about that. It's right up

there with global warming.

ROD

On our way home, a drunken

driver could hit us head on

and send us flying through

the windshield. Terminate

us instantly. We'd never

experience what it means to

make love.

STACY

If sheep don't count.

ROD

That wasn't me ...

STACY

I know. I'm kidding you.

Chill out.

ROD

Well I'm trying to be real

here and you're mocking me.

STACY

(softening)

I'm sorry, but you're not

going to die a virgin Rod.

EXT. LOVER'S LANE

There is another car around the bend, hidden from sight. It's an old beat

up Imperial from the late sixties. Someone is watching them. It's probably

a psychopath.

INT. ROD'S CAR

Rod leans in and starts kissing Stacy again.

ROD(cont.)

I don't wanna take that chance.

I want my first time to be with you.

She kisses him back. He slides his hand under her skirt again.

STACY

Stop it.

He doesn't.

STACY

Rod!

ROD

(exasperated)

You're being unfair.

STACY

Unfair?!

ROD

Yes. Unfair to me.

He begins to overpower her. This is quickly turning into date rape. SHE

STARTS TO FIGHT BACK BUT HE DOESN'T STOP. FINALLY, SHE SCRATCHES him

savagely across the face. This catches his attention. He jumps back, cut

slightly, surprised.

She opens the car door and quickly escapes.

EXT. ROAD

She runs away from the car, down the road, very upset.

INT. CAR

Rod catches himself. He looks at his bloodied face in the rear view mirror

and realizes what he's done.

He starts up the car.

EXT. ROAD

Stacy runs down the road alone, still very upset.

INT. CAR

Rod pulls up next to her and rolls down his window.

ROD

Stacy! I'm sorry.

EXT. ROAD

She pays no attention to him.

ROD

Please get back in the car, Stacy.

She turns and heads down a path into the dark woods, purposely going where

he can't follow.

INT. CAR

Rod, frustrated, hits the steering wheel and floors it.

EXT. ROAD

As Rod's car tears off, down the road, the other car that was parked at

lover's lane drives up and pulls over, lights still off.

EXT. WOODS

Stacy heads deeper into the woods. When she finally stops to catch her

breath and wipe away her tears, she hears someone approaching her.

Suddenly, the footsteps stop. Stacy senses that someone is watching her.

STACY

Rod?

No answer.

STACY

Is that you Rod?

Still no answer. A little frightened, she starts to walk again. Again she

hears the footsteps following her. She stops again. Whoever is out there

stops too. She looks around in every direction.

STACY

Come out Rod.

This SCREAM bull shit ain't

gonna work with me!

No answer. Even the birds have stopped chirping.

STACY

(terrified)

Rod? You're freaking me

out. Game's over. I lose.

Come out and we'll fuck.

She hears the footsteps behind her and quickly turns around. She sees the

silhouette of someone standing a few feet away.

The wind picks up. Stacy realizes it isn't Rod. All she can see is that

whoever is there is carrying a small sledge hammer in one hand and a very

long, jagged, steel nail in the other.

STACY

(in full panic)