Lab Journal Entry #27

[matril]

"Hopeless"

Ext., Clancy’s front door, evening. CREATURE is pointing camera at doorknob.

CREATURE (VO, hushed tones)
This is the moment. I may never get another chance like this. The younger ones have gone to see a movie, while the mother has remained home because of a particularly strong headache. Abby was reluctant to leave her. She may change her mind and come back. I must hurry. (Shakily lifts free hand, hesitates, then rings doorbell. Pause, then footsteps, and door opens to reveal Mrs. Clancy)

MRS CLANCY
Yes? Who’s there?

CREATURE
(After long terrified pause) I was only wondering, ma’am, if I could have a glass of water? I’ve traveled very far –

MRS CLANCY
Oh, well...certainly. That sounds like a nasty cold you’ve got.

She beckons inside - Int., kitchen. CREATURE follows her, where she gets a glass from the cabinet and fills it at the sink by touch. CREATURE shakily puts camera on counter, where we can see MRS. CLANCY clearly but only part of CREATURE’S back.

CREATURE
(Accepting glass) Thank you. You’re so kind.

MRS CLANCY
(Laughs ruefully) My children would be horrified, to be honest, if they knew I let a stranger into my home. But I like to assume the best of people.

CREATURE
That is very comforting to hear. I – I am hoping to introduce myself to some friends. That is, I would like them to be my friends. But I fear they won’t accept me.

MRS CLANCY
Why is that?

CREATURE
Because I am – I am nothing like them.

MRS CLANCY
Hmm. Well, if they can’t accept you as you are, they’re not the sort of people you want as friends.

CREATURE
Oh, no, they are wonderful, wonderful people! I only fear that I will not be – what they expect. They will be shocked.

MRS CLANCY
(Pause) Is this one of those situations where you met someone online? Because you need to be careful about that – and this is coming from someone who likes to assume the best of people.

CREATURE
Not exactly. It is...difficult to explain.

MRS CLANCY
Do they live nearby? Maybe I know them.

CREATURE
I – (Sound of door opening, voices) Oh, no. It’s too late. Please! (Starts forward, startling MRS. CLANCY) It’s them – Phillip and Abby and Sophie – and you! You are my friends, if only you –

MRS CLANCY
(Alarmed) How do you know their names? What’s going on?

CREATURE
(Wild, frantic voice) Please. (Seizes MRS. CLANCY’S arms) Tell them I am your friend – your guardian angel – let me have your friendship, your protection!

PHILLIP
(Entering kitchen) Mom, the car broke down and (Seeing his mother in apparent peril) Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Get away from her!

Creature turns; we cannot see the face but PHILLIP can. ABBY and SOPHIE hurry in as well. They let out noises of shock

MRS CLANCY
Let go of me!

PHILLIP bounds forward, seizing CREATURE’S arm. CREATURE recoils, letting out wounded animal sound, then snatches camera and runs amid shouts and chaos. Scene goes black...

...and opens again on Ext., forest.

CREATURE (VO, breathing heavily)
I am many miles away now. They could not catch me. (Sobs) They were my only chance. Weeks of preparation, of growing expectations and hopes – all dashed away. I am as alone as when I started. (Pulls tablet into view) I carried this away with me, by accident. I cannot feel quite as guilty for the theft as I would before. They attacked me. They could not see a thinking, feeling living thing. They saw only a monster.

Slowly, slowly, CREATURE lifts camera to face. We get our first full look. The features are androgynous, a combination of male and female, ill-fitted with the skin stretched too tight over the bone, of a strange, sickly hue. The expression is one of rage mingled with self-disgust.

CREATURE
And why did I expect otherwise? That is all anyone will ever see.

(Pulls camera away to focus on tree trunk) I have no one. No one like myself...no knowledge even of how I came to this miserable existence.