Short from the Done Deal Halloween contest, Nov 2011
"Lost And Found"

FADE IN:


INT. CHEAP CRAPPY APARTMENT - DAY

On ALICE, 10 years old, dressed up as a cute little witch
complete with pointed hat and broomstick.  She wears a scowl
that could curdle milk.  She is receiving a lecture.

                      CONSTANCE (O.S.)
          Anyone twigs what's going on, you
          whack 'em on the noggin with the
          broom and run for the door.  Don't
          try to talk your way out of it.  You
          ain't that smart.

CONSTANCE is Alice's mother, a jittery crackhead who loves
only one thing in life, and it isn't Alice.

PETE is Constance's boyfriend, he has a police rap sheet as
long as your leg and has been pronounced clinically stupid
by psychiatric professionals.  He hands Alice a bag.

                      PETE
          This ain't for candy.  You see
          anything worth snatching, you snatch
          it.  Money, jewelry, anything shiny
          that's worth a buck, you take it.

                      ALICE
          I know what to do.

                      PETE
          Don't smart-mouth me, kid.

                      ALICE
          Have we got any food?  I'm hungry.

                      CONSTANCE
          That's why we're doing this!  To get
          money for food!

Alice eyes up her mother as Constance twitches and scratches,
eager for a hit.  Yeah, right, money for food.  Alice knows
the score.

                      PETE
          You can eat some candy, if they offer
          it.

                      ALICE
          Thank you.

                      PETE
          As long as it doesn't interfere with
          your job.  You got that, pip-squeak?

Constance and Pete turn away from Alice and talk to each
other in whispers.

Alice gives Pete the finger behind his back.

Constance and Pete come to an agreement.  Pete shrugs on his
jacket and picks up his car keys.

                      PETE
          All right.  Let's go.

Alice trudges after him, dragging her broom.

                      CONSTANCE
          Make mommy proud!


EXT. PROSPEROUS SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT

Aw, it's Halloween, and little trick-or-treaters are visiting
houses, escorted by adults.

Pete's car, a beat-up wreck, is parked at the curb.  Inside,
Pete and Alice watch the activity.


INT. PETE'S CAR - NIGHT

Pete points out a particular house.  Light's on in the front
porch.  A pumpkin lantern invites little Munchkins to ring
the bell.

                      PETE
          On you go.

Alice opens the passenger door.

                      PETE
          You mess this up, pip-squeak, your
          own mother won't even recognize you.
          That I promise you.


EXT. PETE'S CAR - NIGHT

Alice climbs out.  Pete shoos her away, go, go!


EXT. PUMPKIN LANTERN HOUSE - NIGHT

Alice walks up the path towards the porch.

She looks back across the street at Pete's car.

Pete's car is empty.  Pete's nowhere to be seen.


EXT. PUMPKIN LANTERN HOUSE - NIGHT

Alice rings the doorbell.

While she waits, she nervously looks up and down the street.

The door opens, a kindly old couple, MATTY and LOUISE, smile
at her.

                      MATTY
          Hello, young lady.

                      LOUISE
          Isn't she just the cutest witch you've
          ever seen?

                      ALICE
          Trick or treat?

                      LOUISE
          Oh, I think we're too old to have
          tricks played on us.  Why don't you
          come in and have some candy?

                      ALICE
          Thank you.

Alice steps inside and Matty closes the door behind her.


INT. NEATLY FURNISHED LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Alice finds herself staring at a little table laden with
goodies, bowls of candy and cakes.  Alice's stomach GROWLS.

                      LOUISE
          Oh my, are you hungry?

                      MATTY
          Anything you want, just take it.
          Fill your bag.  Maybe have a little
          nibble now, if you like.

                      ALICE
          Thanks.

Alice nibbles a piece of candy, unaware that Matty and Louise
are watching her, and looking at each other, and frowning.


EXT. REAR OF PUMPKIN LANTERN HOUSE - NIGHT

Pete expertly uses a jimmy to open the back door.  He slips
inside without a sound.


INT. NEATLY FURNISHED LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

As Alice puts candy into her bag, she furtively looks around
the room, noting things to steal.  A lady's purse.  A leather
wallet.  Display cabinets and shelves containing silver frames
and statuettes and rare coins.  Thief's paradise.

                      MATTY
          We're just going into the kitchen
          for a second.

                      LOUISE
          We'll be right back.  You just help
          yourself, dear.

Smiling, Matty and Louise exit to the kitchen.


INT. DARK ROOM - NIGHT

Pete moves around cautiously.  He can't hardly see a thing.
He finds his way to a door.  He slowly turns the handle,
cracks the door open, and peers out.


INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

Matty and Louise in urgent whispered conversation:

                      MATTY
          It can't be her, it's just
          coincidence.

                      LOUISE
          She's the spitting image!

A door slowly opens behind Louise.  Matty's eyes widen--


INT. NEATLY FURNISHED LIVING ROOM

Alice grabs every valuable she can see and stuffs it into
her bag.

Her hand pauses, inches from a silver framed photograph of a
smiling pretty teen girl.

Alice snatches the photo frame and stuffs it into her bag.

No, wait.  She goes back into the bag.  Takes out the frame
and looks at it.  She puts it back where it was before.

Alice hears VOICES.  She runs for the front door, opens it.
She's about to exit when Matty and Louise retreat into the
living room.  Pete follows them, holding a gun.  Matty and
Louise cling to each other, terrified.

                      PETE
          Close the friggin door, stupid!

Alice closes the front door. Matty and Louise glance from
Pete to Alice, putting two and two together.

Alice glances down at her bulging bag.  Louise follows her
gaze, and knows what's in there.

Louise's fear turns to disappointment.  It touches Alice,
who looks away in shame.

                      PETE
          Rich folks like you, I bet you got a
          safe.

                      MATTY
          We're not rich and we don't have a
          safe.  Take whatever you want.  Just
          don't hurt my wife.

Pete wiggles his gun at them, acting tough.

                      PETE
          Show me the safe or I'll put one in
          your old lady, so help me God.

WHACK!  Alice bats the gun out of Pete's hand with her broom.

                      PETE
          You little pip-squeak, I'm gonna--!

Pete lunges for her but Alice skips back.  Pete trips over a
coffee table and sprawls on the floor.

Alice holds her broom like a baseball bat and WHACKS Pete on
the kisser.  Pete goes down and stays down.

Matty and Louise and Alice stare at each other.  OMG did
that just happen?

Alice runs out the front door, leaving her bag and broom
behind.


EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Alice walks along, head down, dragging her feet.

She stops and looks round as STROBING RED/BLUE LIGHTS suggests
a cop car has just pulled up beside her.


EXT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT (STOCK FOOTAGE)


INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT

Matty and Louise talk to the DESK SERGEANT who points out
Alice sitting on a bench, looking alone and dejected.  She
hasn't noticed them yet.

                      DESK SERGEANT
          Found her walking near your house.
          Pretty easy to spot, kid on her own,
          dressed as a witch.

                      MATTY
          What about the man?

                      DESK SERGEANT
          The boyfriend says the kid's mother
          made him do it.  She says the
          robberies were all his idea.  We'll
          let the judge figure it out in the
          morning.  Armed robbery, he's going
          away for a long time.

                      LOUISE
               (meaning Alice)
          What about her?

                      DESK SERGEANT
          Social work's sending someone over.

                      MATTY
          No need for that.  She can come home
          with us.

                      DESK SERGEANT
          I'm sorry, it's standard procedure.
          I can't just--

                      LOUISE
          She's our grand-daughter.

They look over at Alice, who maybe senses something because
she looks up, scowling.

Louise hesitantly offers Alice a warm smile.

Very slowly, as she stares at her long-lost grand-parents
and their kindly vibes reach out to embrace her, Alice loses
her scowl and becomes a little girl again.

FADE OUT