YOU HAVE

Ellen gets another good kick against the shelf – it tips over and collapses over Martin’s head.  Ellen grabs the chance to free herself.

Martin furiously thrusts the shelf aside.  There is an ugly wound on his forehead.

ellen

Tommi is dead, you hear!

But you and me, we’re alive.

Again, Ellen is backed up against the wall.  Martin steps up to her.  He is still holding the metal pipe.

martin

Be quiet.

Suddenly, he strikes her with the pipe.  He grabs Ellen by the throat and pushes her against the wall.

ellen

I love you, Martin!

For a short moment, something seems to break inside of Martin.  But then, he tightens his grip on her neck again.

Ellen is dazed, but she is not afraid any more.

ellen

Then kill me, because... “With you, my life began and with you shall it end...”

All of a sudden, some of Martin’s strength seems to fail.  His look freezes.  A single BLACK TEAR runs out of the corner of his eye.

Ellen grabs the metal pipe and shoves Martin away.

She jumps over to Thomas...

ellen

I love you!  Don’t let a lie come between us!  Look at this!

...and slashes the pipe at him.

The metal penetrates the figure’s “body” and destroys the illusion:  The facade of the little boy dissipates into mud.

For a second, Ellen believes to have seen the hideous figure of a swamp corpse, but the creature instantly melts into the muddy water covering the cellar floor.

At this very instant, a loud roll of thunder echoes throughout the house.

Martin abruptly loses all of his strength.  More and more liquid begins to flow out of his eyes.  The strands of mud slither down his body like countless snakes and vanish into the swamp water.

The house begins to quake.  More and more mud seeps in through the cracks.  The cellar slowly floods.  The walls quiver.

Ellen runs to the door:  It is shut tight - there is no way out.

The moor is rising.  Ellen grabs Martin, who is still unconscious and about to drown.  She tries to wake him up.

ellen

Martin!  We have to get out of here!

There is a sudden noise.  Ellen jumps.

Something has started to move in the back corner of the cellar:  A dark something arcs out of the water for a short moment.  It isn’t over, yet!

ellen

My God...

She vigorously tries to wake Martin, but he does not react.

The “thing” is coming closer.  It languidly rolls forward.  Its shape remains hidden underneath the water’s surface.

Ellen feverishly searches for a way out.  She notices the small cellar hatch.

The house quakes more violently; dust flakes down from the ceiling.  Ellen realizes that the entire house is slowly sinking into the ground.  And at the same time, the moor is rising dangerously high.

She grabs Martin by the shoulders.  With all of her strength, she somehow manages to pull him up onto a pile of crates below the cellar hatch.

The black thing is coming closer.  It rises up out of the moor.

Ellen tries to heave Martin outside through the hatch – but she is not strong enough.  Still, she puts up a desperate fight against the odds.

The already small opening of the hatch is growing smaller and smaller:  The tremendous foundations of the house are sinking deeper and deeper into the ground.

Suddenly, a hand reaches in through the hatch and grabs a hold of Martin.

Ellen starts.  She looks outside.  It’s Lindner!

lindner

Hurry, we don’t have much time!  Lift him up higher!

Ellen pushes Martin a little bit higher.  Behind her, an amorphous, black mass is rising up out of the swamp water.  Numerous strands of mud branch out of it and begin to grope for Ellen.

One of the “tentacles” wraps itself around Ellen’s foot.

Ellen notices it, but can’t do anything about it.

With one strong jerk, Lindner tugs Martin out of the cellar.

At the same time, Ellen loses hold on the crate.  She is torn downward and disappears under water.

Lindner sticks his head in through the hatch.

lindner

            (shouts)

Ellen!

A brief moment of hesitation – then the old policeman determinedly climbs down into the cellar.  By now, the moor has risen almost to his waist.

Lindner wades through the thick liquid.  The surface is smooth – no sign of Ellen.

Then, she suddenly dives back up, gasping for air.

Lindner immediately grabs her arm and helps her toward the hatch.

ellen

It’s right behind me.

Lindner keeps calm.

lindner

Don’t worry.  It only has power over us if we run away.

He helps Ellen up onto the crates.  Carefully, she climbs out through the hatch.  She hears Tommi’s voice behind her.

thomas

Mommy...

She is tempted to look back.  But Lindner stops her from doing it.

lindner

No.  Don’t look back.

thomas

Mommy...

The hatch, the last possible exit into freedom, is slowly shrinking to a narrow slit.

Ellen reaches out her hand to Lindner.

ellen

Come!  Quick!

Lindner climbs onto the crates. 

Again, the house quakes.  Single bricks break out of the walls and ceiling.

Ellen’s curiosity wins over reason.  She takes a last look into the cellar.

There - in the dark back corner of the cellar – she sees shriveled figures with hollow eyes, watching the two of them in silence.  Swamp corpses.

Lindner notices her horror, but still remains calm.  He starts to climb out through the window hatch.

117.     in front of the house – ext. / night

Once Lindner is safely outside, Ellen immediately rushes over to Martin. 

ellen

Martin!

Martin seems to be regaining conscience.  He opens his eyes. 

Ellen wants to say something, but the thunder in the background suddenly swells up to an infernal noise.

Walls collapse, bricks and rubble crash down – the entire house is swallowed by the depths of the moor.

The three watch with open-mouthed horror.

Then, silence.

Ellen leans over to her husband.

Martin is still totally worn out.  He moans.

martin

Smog...

Ellen musters him, confused.

ellen

What?