Swamp Monster Island Movie Screenplay by Dana Holyfield

SWAMP MONSTER ISLAND Written by Dana Holyfield Registered WGA

FADE IN:EXT. LOUISIANA HONEY ISLAND SWAMP - DAY - FLASHBACKA CIRCUS TRAIN chugs along railroad tracks that stand onpylons high over the murky swamp water. ARTY’S (V.O.) Some people think it came off a circus train that wrecked in Honey Island Swamp.A rotted pylon falls and the train derails, crashing throughcypress trees. Animal cages tumble out of the train into theswamp.SHOW HORSES escape the wreckage and wade out into neck deepwater.A large wooden crate bounces down the riverbank and smashesinto a cypress stump.A LION CAGE slides off the damaged vessel into the water.The wood crate breaks open. The lid is pushed off.Something escapes. Then the lions cage is opened.The lion escapes and looks upwards as something scurries up atree.LATERA RESCUE WORKER discovers the empty wooden crate. RESCUE WORKER 1 Nothing in here!As RESCUE WORKERS continue to search for other animals, theydon’t see what’s written on the side of the wooden crate.“MANIMAL, the World’s Hairiest Human!” ARTY’S (V.O.) There’s been several eye-witnesses over the years.EXT. SWAMP - DAYAn old FISHERMAN in a flatboat holding a cane pole, watchesin awe as a hairy man-like creature swims the bayou and getsout on the riverbank.

2.It walks upright into the woods. The fisherman rubs hisstunned eyes, not sure he believes what he just saw, butdecides he better get out of there.EXT. SWAMP - ANOTHER DAYA BIRD WATCHER scans foliage with his binoculars and stops onsomething big and hairy camouflaged in another tree. Henervously drops the binoculars and takes off running incasewhatever it was comes down.EXT. SWAMP - DAYPAP, 52, Arty’s grandfather, and BOB, 50, Pap’s huntingbuddy, are in camouflage hunting gear. They trek through thethick swamp. Pap has his rifle over his shoulder and he’sholding a dead turkey by the feet in his other hand.Suddenly they spot a large hairy animal in a clearing that isdown on all fours with its back to them. PAP What’s that?The hairy man-beast hears their voice, stands and turns toface them. His long, dingy, matted hair covers its body fromhead to toe, except for its face. Its keen eyes stare at thestunned hunters. The hunters draw their rifles, just incase. The hairy man-creature runs away and disappears in thethick woods. The hunters chase after it, but soon stop.There’s no sign of it.Pap notices its unusual tracks in the mud. He squats down toget a better look.EXT. SWAMP - LATE DAYPap and Bob have returned to the area. Pap is pouringplaster paris into the tracks while Bob keeps watch. BOB People will think we’re kooks. PAP Probably so. But, I want to know what that thing is. BOB I rather keep my job.Pap looks up at his buddy.

3. PAP You worry too much, Bob. BOB I’m worried that big hairy thing is gonna jump out of those woods on us before we get out of here. PAP If it does then we should try to catch it. BOB You try to catch it. I’m running like hell. PAP It’s probably more scared of us, than we were of it. BOB I doubt that.CLOSE ON NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGSIn the newspaper photo, Pap is standing next to plaster paristracks that are spread out on a piece of plywood. Theheadlines read; “Local Hunter Encounters an UnidentifiedSwamp Monster.”In another CLIPPING there is a picture of the plaster paristracks. The headlines read, “Real or Hoax?” ARTY (V.O.) But, that didn’t keep Pap out of the swamp. He was more careful and always kept his camera with him from then on -- just in case.INT. SWAMP - DAY - LATERPap films with an 8mm camera, capturing scenes; an alligatorsswimming; a wood duck fluttering out of the water; and a deerscurrying off. Pap ventures deeper and deeper into the thickswamp.EXT. SWAMP MONSTER MUSEUM - LATE DAY - PRESENTAt the edge of the swampy bayou, an old, tattered, woodbuilding is standing on pylons. It’s been destroyed by timeand a hurricane or two. There’s a weathered sign that reads;

4.“Pap’s Private Swamp Tours.” The broken down pier leading outto the building is boarded up where another sign reads,“Closed For Business.”ARTY, 13, is facing the building as he tells the tale whilehis buddy, DRAKE, 12, cooks a bird on the end of a stick overa campfire.Arty is a good looking kid, keen and tough. He’s been angryand withdrawn since his Pap died. His Pap helped raise himand his sister, Emily with their Mama, Lana.DRAKE, 12, is Arty’s best friend, who has been listening tothe tale and waiting to eat the bird. Drake is also a toughlittle swamper, who grew up hunting and fishing with his Dad.SIDNEY, 13, is Arty’s Tom-Boy cousin, who lives down thebayou, also listening to the tale that she’s heard a hundredtimes. DRAKEDid y’all ever go back in therebefore the hurricane destroyed it? ARTYYeah, but I was little. DRAKEWe should sneak in there. SIDNEYMy mom said that building couldfall on our heads. DRAKEWhat if there’s cool stuff still inthere? ARTYEverything important was taken outbefore it got like that. Papclosed the tour way before thestorm. DRAKEWhy? ARTYProbably because Old Man Thomasstole all his business.

5. SIDNEYYou think your Mom is really goingto let you bring the plaster trackto show and tell? ARTYIt’s my track now. Pap gave it tome.Drake observes the cooked bird on the stick. DRAKEI think this bird is done.EMILY, 7, Arty’s little sister, approaches carrying herlittle Pomeranian dog that she calls FOXY. EMILYMom said come in and eat. ARTYWe ate.Emily stares at the remaining bird carcass. EMILYYou ate that woodpecker? DRAKEWe always eat what we hunt. EMILYIt’s illegal to kill a woodpecker. SIDNEYThat’s what I told them. DRAKEWhose gonna know about it?Emily marches back to the house... EMILYMom!Arty rolls his eyes.EXT. ARTY’S HOUSE - SAMEEmily marches past Pap’s old pickup truck parked in the yardthat has weeds grown up underneath it because it hasn’t beenmoved in a long time.

6.She heads towards a quaint little country house sitting undera big oak tree where a tire swing is hanging from a limb.Emily enters the house with her dog to tell on Arty. ARTY My little sister is a pain in the butt sometimes. DRAKE Aren’t most girls. SIDNEY Hey, watch it. DRAKE You’re not like a girl, though.Sidney takes offense to that statement. DRAKE (CONT’D) You’re a tom boy. SIDNEY I’m a girl who just so happens to like to do some of the things boys do.LANA, 30’s, steps out on the porch. She’s Arty’s single mom,swamp tough, but attractive, dressed in jeans and a T-shirtand rubber boots. LANA (yells across the yard) Arty, put out that fire and come inside before the mosquitoes eat y’all alive. ARTY (yells back) Fire keeps mosquitoes away. LANA Now! Y’all have school tomorrow. ARTY Yes, M’am.Lana disappears back inside. The kids kick dirt over thefire to put it out. SIDNEY I better get home. See you Tom Girls later.

7.Sidney heads home. Drake watches her, obvious he likes her,but he hasn’t admitted it yet. ARTY When are you ever going to kiss her? DRAKE Sidney would break my face if I tried. ARTY Probably. But it’s worth a try isn’t it? DRAKE Maybe it’s best we just stay friends. Did you meet Mr. Bob’s Grand-daughter, Callie? ARTY She came into the bait shop with him the other day. Mom said she’s supposed to be staying with them while her mom is oversees. DRAKE She’s pretty. ARTY I guess so. DRAKE You like her? ARTY I hardly know her.They can hear a whistle from Drake’s dad down the bayou. DRAKE There’s my dinner bell. I better get home too. Later, Dude.Arty turns to stare at the swamp tour building before heturns to head to his house. He misses his Pap. The sun goesdown over the cypress trees and the moon comes out.EXT. ARTY’S HOUSE - FRONT YARD - MORNINGARTY, now in school uniform, toting his camouflage backpackand a shoebox in his hands.

8.He’s heading to the street to wait for the school bus. Lanasteps out and sees the shoebox in Arty’s hands. LANA Arty, remember that’s the only one of its kind. ARTY I know.Lana sees the SCHOOL BUS coming. LANA Emily! Hurry. The bus is here!Emily exits the house in a khaki uniform and a pink camobackpack. EMILY Take care of my young’un while I’m gone.Lana looks down at the small Pomeranian house dog, whom Emilyhas dressed in doll clothes.INT. SCHOOL BUS - SAMEMR. JONES, 50’s, the school bus driver, wonders what Arty hasin the shoebox as he boards the bus. MR. JONES You don’t have anything dangerous in that box that can escape on my bus, do you? ARTY No, Sir.Arty walks down the isle to sit with Drake. Emily sits in thefront seat because she likes it there.EXT. ARTY’S HOUSE - SAMELana removes the doll clothes from Foxy. LANA You have a few hours of freedom. I need to get to work.Foxy waits on the porch as Lana heads for her SUV.

9.INT. SCHOOL BUS - SAMESidney gets on at the next stop and sits across the isle fromArty and Drake. She has mud all over her. DRAKE What happened to you? SIDNEY My Show and Tell escaped in the ditch and almost got away.Sidney digs in her backpack and removes a large bull frog.The boys are impressed. The Frog croaks. Mr. Jonessuspiciously looks in the review mirror. Sidney hides itunder her bag.The bus approaches a sign that reads, “GREAT ADVENTURES SWAMPTOURS” with an arrow pointing down the street. The bus stopsagain.MIKEY THOMAS, 13, gets on. He’s the bus bully, son of thelocal swamp tour owner, Don Thomas. There’s a long history ofbad blood between his family and Arty’s. Mikey sneers atArty as he sits in the seat across the isle next toTED, 14, a Redneck offspring, who grew up hunting and fishingin the swamp. He’s on the hefty side and proud of it.The bus stops at the next stop by the BAIT SHOP.CALLIE, 12, the new pretty girl on the bayou comes down theisle. The boys watch in awe. Callie makes eye contact withArty and smiles. He quickly looks down, hoping no onenoticed. But, Mikey noticed and he isn’t happy about it. SIDNEY (CONT’D) Callie! You can sit with me!Callie sits with Sidney. CALLIE Thanks. SIDNEY How long will your Mom be gone? CALLIE About a year. SIDNEY That’s sucks.

10. CALLIEYeah, I miss her.Ted breaks out his show and tell. TEDHey, Girls. Check out my Show andTell project!It’s a pitiful taxidermy mount -- a big wood rat, with smalldeer antlers attached to its head. One eye is missing, partof the ear is missing and its tail is bent in half. CALLIEWhat happened to its tail? TEDThe rat trap did that. SIDNEYYou mounted a wood rat that wascaught in a rat trap? TEDCool, huh? DRAKEMore like pitiful. TEDLet me see your Show and Tell.Drake shows off the alligator-claw-back-scratcher. TED (CONT’D)Lame. DRAKEYou’re lame. MIKEYLet us see your Show and Tell,Farty Arty. ARTYYou can see it in class. MIKEYYours must be lame, too? Show us,Chicken-Liver.Arty stares at all the faces waiting, including Callie’s. Sohe opens the box and carefully unwraps his Grandfather’sPLASTER PARIS TRACK.

11.It’s an unusual track with a human-like shape, except forthree long clawed toes and a little due-claw on the side. CALLIE What made that weird track? ARTY The Swamp Monster!Callie’s eyes widen. MIKEY There’s no such thing. ARTY Yes, there is. TED We have never seen a Swamp Monster, and we hunt that swamp all the time. DRAKE Y’all only hunt the edge of the river and pour corn out below your deer stand. ARTY The Swamp Monster lives deeper in the swamp where hunters don’t usually go because they don’t want to drag dead animals for miles over logs and stumps. MIKEY My Dad said your grandfather hoaxed the sighting to promote his little swamp tour. ARTY Your Dad is a moron. MIKEY He must not be a moron because your Mama went on a date with him. ARTY It was a lunch date. MIKEY Still a date.

12. ARTYHe was trying to convince my Mom tosell Pap’s island to him. But it’snot for sale. MIKEYThat’s not what I heard. ARTYYou don’t know anything. MIKEYI know if there was really somekind of Swamp Monster roamingaround on that island, somebodywould have captured it by now. ARTYMaybe I will! MIKEYMaybe you should consider mentaltherapy. ARTYYou’re gonna need physical therapy,if you don’t shut your face, MoronJr. MIKEYAre you tough enough, you littleriver rat?Arty places the plaster track back in the shoebox and standsup to challenge Mikey. Mr. Jones stops the bus. Theystumble. MR. JONESCut it out, you two. Arty come sitin the front seat with your sister. ARTYBut... MR. JONESNow, before I write you up.Arty grabs the shoebox to head to the front. Mikey stickshis leg out and trips him.IN SLOW MOTION -- Arty falls and the shoebox slips from hishands. The plaster paris track bounces out of the shoebox andshatters in the bus isle. When everything settles in thefrozen silence, Mikey and Ted burst out with laughter.

13.Callie, Drake, Sidney and Emily feel bad for Arty, knowingthe track meant so much to him.Arty tackles Mikey. Ted jumps in to help Mikey and thenDrake jumps up to help Arty.The bull frog escapes out of Sidney’s hands. Sidney goesafter the frog. Callie helps Sidney try to catch it. Thebus is in total chaos. Mr. Jones parks the bus and pullsArty and Mikey apart. MR. JONES (CONT’D) There’s no fighting allowed on my bus.Mikey feels his busted lip and sees the blood on his fingers. MIKEY You busted my lip! ARTY You broke my plaster track! MR. JONES I’m going to write up both of you this time.Arty gathers the broken pieces of plaster paris and puts itback in the shoebox, fuming.INT. BAIT SHOP - DAYLana is working at the bait shop scooping minnows out of thefish tanks and dropping them in a bucket for a customer.MR. BOB, 70’s, carries a box of supplies inside. He was theman with Pap when they encountered the Swamp mMonster manyyears ago. MR. BOB Morning, Lana. LANA Hi, Mr. Bob. Coffee’s fresh. MR. BOB I know. I could smell it from outside. Can you handle the shop today while I go fishing? I promised Callie a fish fry this weekend.

14. LANA How’s she adjusting? MR. BOB She’s tough, like her Mama. I need about 25 crickets?Lana catches live crickets from the cricket box and puts themin a cricket bucket while Mr. Bob fixes himself a cup ofcoffee. Lana’s cell phone rings. LANA (into phone) Hello. Yes, this is Arty’s Mom. Fighting? Okay, thanks for calling.Lana hangs up, obviously upset about the call. MR. BOB Something wrong? LANA Arty got into another fight with Mikey Thomas. MR. BOB Mikey can be a trouble maker like his Daddy. LANA Arty has been so angry inside since his Grandfather died. MR. BOB He was very close to his Grandpa. Give him some time. Time and change will heal most troubled hearts. That’s what the old buzzard used to say. I sure do miss my fishing buddy.Mr. Bob picks up the cricket bucket. LANA We all miss him. Especially Arty. MR. BOB I better be going while the river is low. LANA Have fun fishing.

15. MR. BOB Have fun parenting.Mr. Bob exits.EXT. SLOUGH - DAYMr. Bob is fishing in a narrow slough. While he baits hishook again, he has the feeling that SOMETHING is watching himfrom the woods.Just as Mr. Bob is getting a bite, he notices a SWAMP TOURBOAT coming down the narrow slough carrying SWAMP TOURISTS.So Mr. Bob quickly takes his line out the water and crankshis motor so he can move out of the way.The big tour boat blows pass him, never slowing down, causingMr. Bob’s boat to rock him almost over. Mr. Bob shows hisfist as the tour boats passes.STEVE, 40’s, the BOAT CAPTAIN, who is also Ted’s father,grins at him like a jerk that he is.EXT. ARTY’S HOME - LATERLana gets out of her car and walks to the mailbox. She pullsout a stack of bills and sorts through them with worry.INT. ARTY’S BEDROOM - LATERArty is sitting on his bed with the shoebox and is very downabout the broken plaster track. Emily stops in the doorway. EMILY Were you trying to impress Callie when you busted Mikey’s lip? ARTY Mind your own business.Emily smirks and heads to her bedroom across the hall. Lanaenters Arty’s room. LANA You don’t have to be so ugly to your little sister. ARTY And she doesn’t have to aggravate me all the time.

16.Lana takes out the broken piece of plaster paris track fromthe shoebox. LANA Maybe we can glue it back together. ARTY Glue won’t fix it right. I’m going to pour another one. LANA That thing that your Pap told you about may be dead by now. ARTY Then maybe I can find its bones and piece them back together like they do dinosaur bones. LANA Arty, when are you going to let go of your obsession with the Swamp Monster?Emily pops back in the doorway. EMILY When it gobbles him up and spits him out.Arty throws his pillow towards her. She ducks and runs backto her room. ARTY You’re not planning on selling Pap’s swampland to our enemy are you? LANA Who’s our enemy? ARTY Don Thomas. LANA Mr. Thomas is not our enemy? ARTY Pap said he was. LANA You were too little to remember any details.

17. ARTY I remember when Pap told me that he was a snake in the weeds, just like his daddy was, just like Mikey is, too. LANA I don’t plan on selling Pap’s swampland if I can help it. But we may not be able to afford the taxes again this year. ARTY We can re-open Pap’s swamp tour and make extra money. LANA That place is falling in the bayou. ARTY It can be fixed up. LANA It would cost a lot of money and we don’t have extra money. ARTY Can’t you borrow some from a bank like normal people?Lana smiles at her determined son. LANA Even if we could fix it up, we couldn’t compete with Don Thomas’ big, fancy swamp tour. ARTY Maybe we can do a different kind of business there. Like small, private swamp tours. Like Pap did. LANA Seems you’re going to become an entrepreneur like your Pap was. ARTY All I know is Don Thomas is not going to buy Pap’s island. Not if I can help it.Arty storms out the room.

18.EXT. SWAMPY ADVENTURES TOUR BOAT - LATER DAYDON THOMAS, 40’s, is Mikey’s Dad, the owner of the newer andbigger swamp tour company, among a few other business in thearea. He’s wearing a crisp white shirt, business slacks andshiny shoes that have never been dirty.A SWAMP TOUR BUS arrives and unloads the next group of SWAMPTOURISTS. The group is not as large as the earlier one. DonThomas is not happy about that, so he approaches --MRS. PEARL, 50’s, the cashier in the gift shop, who is on thephone with a potential tourist. MRS. PEARL (into phone) No, we don’t offer night tours.Don Thomas’ looks over like it was news to him. She shrugsher shoulders, trying to make the sale. MRS. PEARL (CONT’D) We offering a special rate $39.95 a head. What’s your name?When she hangs up, Don Thomas approaches. DON THOMAS How come we don’t offer night tours? MRS. PEARL I don’t know. This isn’t my business. I just work here. DON THOMAS And since when are we offering special rates? MRS. PEARL Since the tourists are choosing the new Haunted Swamp Tour in Algiers that advertise swamp ghost hovering in the marsh fog. DON THOMAS Swamp Ghosts, hmm? Call the coinsurers in the Quarter and offer them a better percentage.

19. MRS. PEARL Mr. Thomas, there’s swamp tours all over Louisiana these days that have just as many marshmallow-eating- gators. You’re gonna have to offer something more exciting.Don Thomas stares off, contemplating. DON THOMAS That’s why I want more swamp land and build a vacation spot that the tourists can stay the night and encounter all kinds of critters prowling around them in the dark.Don Thomas gets a phone call from the school. DON THOMAS (CONT’D) Hello, this is Don Thomas. A fight? With who this time? I see. I will have a talk with Mikey. Thanks for calling.Don Thomas hangs up and notices Mikey coming in with hisschool back pack. DON THOMAS (CONT’D) Son. Why did you and Arty get into another fight? MIKEY Because I broke his grandfather’s Swamp Monster track.Don Thomas brows raise. DON THOMAS You’re not making it easy on us. MIKEY Arty said the island is not for sale anyway.Don Thomas picks up a NEWSPAPER that headlines are, “PROPERTYTAXES SOON DUE AGAIN.” DON THOMAS Everything has a price if the timing is right.Mrs. Pearl shakes her head, knowing Don Thomas is ruthless.Mikey could care less about his father’s big plan. He’s moreinterested in Callie, who is riding by on her bicycle.

20. MIKEY Why won’t she give me the time of day? DON THOMAS Son, you have a lot to learn about women.Don Thomas exits. Mrs. Pearl looks at Mikey, who isconfused. MRS. PEARL Your Daddy is no expert on women, I can tell you that. That’s why your Mama lives in the big fancy mansion in New Orleans and he lives here in the swamp.EXT./INT. PAP’S SHED BEHIND BAIT SHOP - LATERThe light is on inside the old shed behind the bait shopwhere a lot of fishing, hunting and camping supplies arestored. Arty is sitting in the shed, missing his Pap. Emilyenters. EMILY What are you doing in Pap’s shed? ARTY Thinking. EMILY That’s new. ARTY Don’t get smart. I’m in a bad mood. EMILY That’s nothing new.Drake enters. DRAKE There you are! EMILY Don’t bother him, Drake. He’s thinking.Drake looks around the shed.

21. DRAKEYour Pap must have been a hoarder. ARTYHe was a collector. He didn’t liketo throw anything away that couldbe used for something later on.Emily notices her BABY STROLLER folded high on a shelf. EMILYThere’s my baby’s stroller! Canyou get it down for me? ARTYSee what I mean? EMILYPlease, Arty. ARTYSince you said please.Arty climbs up on top of a four-wheeler seat to reach theshelf. He pulls out the stroller and when he does, a boxfalls off the shelf. ARTY (CONT’D)Uh-oh!Drake stoops down to pick up 8mm film reels that roll out ofthe box. Arty jumps down and hands the baby stroller toEmily. EMILYThanks.Emily goes on about her way with the baby stroller. DRAKEWhat’s on these old movie reels!Arty stoops down to look closer. ARTYPap’s wildlife movies! He got moreinterested in photographing theanimals rather than shooting them --unless he was hungry.Arty carefully examines each reel that is labeled with apiece of masking tape.

22. ARTY (CONT’D) Turkey, Alligator, Deer, Ducks...Then Arty notices one reel labeled, “Honey Island Monster.” ARTY (CONT’D) “Honey Island Monster!”Arty and Drake look at each other wide-eyed. Arty rushes outof the shed with the box of films. Drake follows him.INT. ARTY’S KITCHEN - NIGHT LATERLana is putting stamps on bill envelopes. Arty hurriesinside with Drake. ARTY Mom! Why didn’t you ever tell me about this? LANA About what?Lana glances up at the box of old films in Arty’s hand. LANA (CONT’D) Pap’s old films! I assumed you knew about them. ARTY I didn’t know about this one!Arty holds up the reel. LANA What’s so special about that one?Lana looks closer and sees that it is labeled, “Honey IslandMonster.” She looks back at Arty, flabbergasted. LANA (CONT’D) I’m sure there must have been a good reason why Pap never told anyone about that film? ARTY Do you still have Pap’s old movie projector so we can watch it? LANA I lent it to Aunt Delores a few months ago.

23.Arty rushes to the phone to call her.INT. SIDNEY’S HOUSE - SAMESidney answers the phone. Callie is hanging out with Sidney. SIDNEYHi, Arty.Callie looks curiously when she hears Arty’s name. ARTYAsk Aunt Delores to bring backPap’s movie projector! SIDNEYWhy? ARTYBecause we found Pap’s old moviesand one could be of the SwampMonster. SIDNEYMom!DELORES, 40’s, is coming through with a load of laundry. DELORESWhat now! SIDNEYWhere’s Pap’s movie projector? DELORESIn the hall closet last I remember.Sidney hangs up and rushes to the hall closet. Calliefollows her.INT. ARTY’S HOUSE - LATERThere’s a knock at the door. Arty rushes to answer it,disappointed to see that it’s Don Thomas and Mikey. ARTY What are y’all doing here?Lana appears in the doorway. LANA Hello, Don.

24. DON THOMASMikey has something to say to Arty. MIKEYI’m sorry for breaking your plastertrack.Arty doesn’t believe a word of it. LANAArty, say you are sorry for bustingMikey’s lip.Arty isn’t going do it, until Lana nudges him. ARTYSorry.Sidney comes up behind them on the porch carrying the heavyprojector. Callie is still with her. SIDNEYHere’s the prehistoric projector.Arty takes the projector from Sidney and carries it to thekitchen table. Sidney and Callie follow him. MIKEYHi, Callie. CALLIEHi.Callie is more interested in Arty. CALLIE (CONT’D)Hi, Arty. ARTYWhat’s up? CALLIEI wanted to see the Swamp Monstermovie. DON THOMASSwamp Monster! Can we stay for thematinee? ARTYThis is a private screening. LANAArty! Don’t be rude!

25.Arty snickers and heads to the kitchen with the projector.As Arty sets up the movie projector, Callie approaches Arty. CALLIE I hope you don’t mind that I came along. ARTY Why would I mind? DRAKE We should pop popcorn. LANA There’s a box in the pantry. SIDNEY I’ll get it.Sidney fetches the box of popcorn.LATERThe popcorn is served while Lana treads the 8mm film throughthe machine. LANA Someone turn off the lights and close the curtains.Arty flips the light switch. Callie shuts the curtains.Lana aims the projector at the white wall and flips on theprojector reel. Everyone watches anxiously.POV ON OLD FILM of a long boat ride through the Honey IslandSwamp. Then there is a shot of a tree-blind.POV from the tree-blind as something in the distance walksupright past the cypress trees. ARTY Did you see that?Don Thomas saw it and his wheels begin to turn.The film reel runs out and whips around the machine and thewall goes back to white. Lana turns off the projector. DRAKE We saw something but it was hard to tell what it was?

26. ARTYWhatever it was, was hairy andwalking on two feet. SIDNEYMaybe it was a bear. CALLIEBears can only take a few stepsbefore they fall back on all fours. SIDNEYHow do you know? CALLIEI saw it on Animal Planet. MIKEYIt could have been a hunter in aguile suit. ARTYIf it was a hunter, he’d probablyhad on an orange vest so hewouldn’t be mistakenly shot. DRAKEAnd hunters usually carry rifles. DON THOMASWe should get the film analyzed bya Cryptozoologist. ARTYA crypto what? DON THOMASCryptozoologist. They study thepossible existence of unknowncreatures; like the Lock NessMonster, Bigfoot. ARTYYou’re not involved in this. Don’tyou have a swamp tour to run? LANAArty, you shouldn’t be so rude toour friends. ARTYHe’s not our friend.

27. DON THOMAS I’m trying to be. ARTY No, you’re trying to take Pap’s island.Arty storms off. LANA I’m sorry. DON THOMAS He’ll warm up to me once he realizes I’m only trying to help. We should do lunch again tomorrow. LANA Uh, I have to work. Maybe another day. DON THOMAS Well, on that note, I’ll see you soon, I hope.Don Thomas and Mikey exit.Arty stares at Lana for a moment then turns back to Callie. ARTY Where can I find a Cryptozoologist? CALLIE Let’s Google it.Arty races to the computer. The other kids follow.Lana notices the LAND TAXES ENVELOPE still sitting on thecounter. She then gazes out the window as Don Thomas isgetting into his car. Lana wags her head and picks up the Taxenvelope and goes to her bedroom with the glass of wine.EXT./INT. DON THOMAS’ CAR - SAMEDon Thomas and Mikey slide into the car. MIKEY (sarcastic) That went well. DON THOMAS It did, actually. We have another date.

28.Don Thomas cranks up. MIKEY You mean business meeting. DON THOMAS It’s all the same. MIKEY I can’t believe Callie likes that little river rat. DON THOMAS Girls change their minds easily, Son. Buy her flowers or something. MIKEY Then what? DON THOMAS See how she responds then go from there.Their car pulls off.INT. LANA’S BEDROOM - SAMELana sits on the edge of her bed and gazes at a photo of Papin a frame on the dresser. Then she scans to another photoof her late husband, DANIEL, who was wearing camo, holding astring of fish in one hand, and Arty in the other when he wasa very small boy. She opens the land tax envelope and wipesa tear from her cheek. She gazes back at the two photos ofthe men who were once in her life. LANA (to photos) I really wish there was another way.EXT. LIVING ROOM - SAMEThe kids gather around the DESK TOP COMPUTER. ARTY How do you spell Cryptozoologist?Callie types “Cryptozoologist” in the search window. Manyresults come up.

29. ARTY (CONT’D) Wow! They’re lots of them. This one looks promising. CZI -- Crypto-Zoology Investigations by Professor Nile Merlin.Arty dials the long distance phone number of CZI.EXT. ARKANSAS / MOUNTAIN WOODS - NIGHTNILE, 40’s, is a nice looking man wearing hiking attire withCZI embroidered on the shirt pocket. He’s looking through apair of inferred night goggles.SKIP, 30’s, his assistant, is trying to capture sounds with arecording device.Nile picks up a stick and beats it on a tree. They wait tohear a response. Far off in the distance something repliesby also beating on another tree with a stick. NILEDid you get that? SKIPGot it, along with your phonebuzzing in your pocket.Nile touches his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. NILEI forgot to turn it off.Nile answers his phone in a low voice. NILE (CONT’D)Hello?INT. ARTY’S KITCHEN - SAMEArty, on the phone. ARTY Hello. Is this a Crypto...Arty looks at Callie for the rest of it. CALLIE Zoologist. ARTY Crypto-Zoologist!

30. NILE (whispers) This is Professor Nile with CZI. ARTY My name’s Arty and we need your help. NILE (whispers) I am hot on the trail of a Sasquatch right now, so I’ll have to get back with you. ARTY But, we found an old 8mm film that my Grandfather made that shows a big hairy human-like creature walking on two legs through the Honey Island Swamp.Nile stops, curious. NILE Really! I will arrange a meeting in a few weeks and check it out. ARTY Can’t you come sooner? I also have a plaster paris track that my Grandfather poured, but now it’s broken. I need to pour another one! NILE Have there been any other credible eye-witnesses? ARTY My Grandfather was a credible eye- witness. NILE I’d like to talk to him before I come down there. ARTY You can’t. He died and I have to save his swamp island.Nile stops. He can sense the desperation in Arty’s voice.Then Skip picks up more knocking sounds on a tree with thesound recorder.

31. SKIP I’m picking up a call-back. NILE What’s your name again? ARTY Arty Ford. NILE Okay, Arty Ford, I have your number in my phone and I‘ll have to call you back later. Then we can set up an appointment. ARTY Okay. Thanks.INT. ARTY’S HOUSE - SAMEArty hangs up, slightly disappointed. CALLIE What did he say? ARTY He said he’ll get back to me. SIDNEY I suppose sasquatch hunters are busy, too. ARTY We’re just going to have to do it ourselves. DRAKE Do what ourselves? ARTY Track it down. DRAKE And then what? ARTY Then we can pour more plaster tracks. Maybe take its picture if we see it so we can make posters and put all that in a museum.

32. SIDNEYHow do you plan to track down aswamp monster?Arty looks at Callie with a bright idea! ARTYJust like a Cryptozoologist woulddo. Who’s in? CALLIEI am. ARTYReally? You’re not scared to gointo the swamp? CALLIENot if I’m with you guys.Arty smiles, impressed. ARTYCool. DRAKEI guess you can count me in. SIDNEYI’m game. ARTYWe just need supplies now.EXT. DRAKE’S DAD’S SHED - NEXT DAYDrake takes out a wildgame motion camera from a drawer andsneaks it into his backpack.INT. SIDNEY’S HOUSE - DAYSidney finds a box of ziplock bags, a flashlight, mosquitorepellent, and a roll of toilet paper. She shoves it allinto a backpack. She then opens the pantry and grabs a fewcans of Vienna Sausage and other snacks.INT. BAIT SHOP - DAYCallie is at the bait shop with her grandfather, Bob.

33. CALLIE Grandpa, can I borrow that net?Bob turns to look at the cast net hanging on a hook. BOB What for? CALLIE Sidney said we can catch some fish in the bayou behind her house. BOB That’s a mighty big net. CALLIE Maybe we can catch a mighty big fish. BOB Alright. But bring it back.Callie takes the big net with her. Bob watches curiously.EXT. BAIT SHOP - SAMEAs Callie carries the net out the bait shop, Mikeyapproaches, carrying a bouquet of plastic flowers that hebought at the dollar store. MIKEY Hi, Callie.Mikey hands over the flowers. CALLIE What’s the flowers for? MIKEY For you. CALLIE Thanks. But why? MIKEY Because my Dad said if I buy you something nice, you will like me more than you like Arty. CALLIE Really? Well, it isn’t that easy, Mikey.

34. MIKEYOh. Then what do you want? CALLIEA map of the swamp. I saw some inthe racks at your Dad’s swamp tourgift shop? MIKEYOkay.Mikey takes off toward his Dad’s swamp tour gift shop.Callie shakes her head, knowing it won’t change how she feelsabout Arty. She continues on with the net.INT. SWAMP TOUR GIFT SHOP - DAYMrs. Pearl sees Mikey shove the maps into his pocket. MRS. PEARL Mikey, what do you need those maps for? MIKEY A map is a good thing to have handy in case I ever get lost in the swamp.Mrs. Pearl watches suspiciously as Mikey exits the shop.INT. PAP’S SHED - DAYArty digs and finds his Pap’s pocket knife and a compass.EXT. DRAKE’S BEDROOM - DAYDrake finds his sling shot in a drawer and puts it into hisbackpack.EXT. HARDWARE STORE - DAYArty, Drake, Sidney and Callie exit the hardware store. Artyis carrying a container of plaster paris.Mikey and Ted peddle over and block their way. Mikey takes amap from his pocket. MIKEY Here’s the map you asked for, Callie.

35.Mikey hands over the map. CALLIEThanks.Mikey then notices the container of plaster paris in Arty’shands. MIKEYYou’re going to try and makeanother casting. ARTYWhat’s it to you? MIKEYYou really think there’s a swampmonster lurking around out there? ARTYI know there is and we are going toprove it.Arty heads back home. CALLIEThanks for the map, Mikey.Mikey and Ted watch them walk away. TEDWe should give them some evidencethat will make a fool out of Arty. MIKEYHow? TEDI’ll show you.Ted and Mikey peddle away with devious plans.EXT. MOUNTAIN WOODS - JEEP - DAYNile and Skip are packing their supplies into the back of ajeep. There’s a magnetic ad on the side of the jeep thatreads, “CZI - The Search Is On.” SKIP We got close this time. NILE Not close enough.

36. SKIP We’ll come back when my bones thaw out. NILE We could thaw out down South and investigate the Honey Island Swamp Monster. SKIP Swamp Monster? NILE The kid sounded sincere. SKIP Kid, huh? NILE He’s got a broken plaster track, and supposedly visual evidence on an old 8mm film. SKIP I love old films. NILE It could be worth investigating, especially if there’s existing evidence. SKIP How about you investigate the swamp monster, and I investigate my wife and kids? They haven’t seen me in two weeks.Nile wishes he had someone to get back to. SKIP (CONT’D) My boys have a football game this weekend. They‘ll be upset if I miss it. NILE Then you better not miss it.They climb into the jeep and start the drive out of themountains.INT. JEEP - SAMEDRIVING DOWN MOUNTAIN...

37. SKIPWhen do you plan to head back home? NILEWhen the grapes are ripe. SKIPHave you heard from Marla? NILEI heard that she found the man ofher dreams. SKIPSorry. NILEDon’t be. She didn’t want any partof my world, no matter how hard Itried to adjust in hers. SKIPMaybe you’ll meet a nice SouthernBelle. NILEThey say Southern Belles are hardto please, too. SKIPCouldn’t be harder to please thanMarla. NILEThat’s true. But I heard SouthernBelles don’t like to get theirhands dirty. SKIPYou’re going to a swamp. I’m surethat rumor doesn’t apply there. NILEI’m going to search for a SwampMonster. Not a woman.Skip chuckles, knowing Nile needs a good woman in his life. NILE (CONT’D)What are you laughing at?

38. SKIPOne of these days, the right womanis going to melt that layer of icethat you are shielding yourselfwith.EXT. PICNIC TABLE BY SHED - MORNINGArty, Drake, Sidney and Callie, meet on the side of the shedby the picnic table. ARTYOkay, let’s make sure we haveeverything we need.They place the contraband onto a picnic table. Drake noticesa roll of toilet paper. DRAKEYou girls could use tree leaves. SIDNEYI’m allergic to poison ivy. ARTYWhere’s the map?Callie hands over the map. Arty unfolds it and places it onthe picnic table to study it.Emily pushes her baby stroller towards them. The dog, Foxyis secured in it like a baby. EMILYWhat are y’all doing with all thatstuff? ARTYGoing fishing.Emily skeptically observes the supplies. EMILYFishing for trouble. You’re goingto search for the Swamp Monster,aren’t you? ARTYKeep your mouth zipped. EMILYWhy?

39. ARTY Because Mom will just worry.Arty continues to observe the map. ARTY (CONT’D) This is the area where Pap’s old cabin was located and it’s close to where Pap saw it. DRAKE How will you remember how to get there? ARTY It can’t be that hard to find. I have a compass.The kids pack their supplies into their backpacks. They walkto Arty’s flatboat that used to be Pap’s boat. There’sanother flatboat tied next to it. ARTY (CONT’D) Put on your life vests. Emily watches them head out onto the river. EMILY You better be home before dark! ARTY We plan on it.EXT. RIVER - MORNINGArty steers the boat motor as everyone stares at a bigalligator sunning on a log. Turtles dive off of logs as theypass by. An egret takes flight.POSTED SIGNWhen they round the bend, Arty points to a slough that has ahandmade sign posted on a tree. The sign reads, “PRIVATEPROPERTY. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.” ARTY This is Pap’s swamp island.Arty steers the boat into the narrow slough. SIDNEY I say we should head back home before we get lost.

40. DRAKE Are you going to worry the whole way?Sidney rolls her eyes at Drake.INT. SLOUGH - SAMEThe small boat maneuvers through the narrow slough until theycome to a fallen log. ARTYI guess this is as far as we go byboat.Arty steers the boat to the river bank. The kids pile outonto the bank with their supplies. Drake ties the rope to astump and Arty takes out the compass. ARTY (CONT’D)Okay, we’re going North. Are y’allready?He especially looks at Callie to see if she is still onboard. ENTIRE GROUPReady.Arty shoves the compass into his pocket and leads the way.The others follow suit. ARTYWatch for snakes.The girls look at each other, worried. DRAKEAnd big swamp spiders.Now the girls are really freaked out.EXT. SWAMP - LATERThe kids hike through the interior of the vast Honey IslandSwamp. They break out into a clearing that has been traveledthroughout the years, though some of it has been overgrownwith vegetation. Sidney notices a huge web stretched betweenthe trees.

41. SIDNEY Wow, look at the size of that spider web! It’s big enough to catch small birds.Callie notices the huge spider dropping into the web. CALLI That’s because that spider is big enough to eat small birds.They hurry past it.INT. BAIT SHOP - DAYLana is ringing up a CUSTOMER who is buying a box of wormsand fishing line. LANAHope you find a good fishing hole. CUSTOMERThanks, Lana.Mr. Bob enters from the back. MR. BOBWe’re gonna need to dig up somemore worms soon. LANAI’ll get them this afternoon.As the customer exits the bait shop, Emily pushes thestroller inside with Foxy strapped in. LANA (CONT’D)Emily, I think it’s time that youlet Foxy out of that contraption.Lana’s cell phone rings and she answers it. LANA (CONT’D)Hello.INT. NILE’S JEEP - DRIVING - SAME NILE Good morning. I’m trying to reach Arty.

42. LANAArty’s my son. Who are you? NILEI’m Professor Nile Merlin with CZI.I’m a cryptozoologist. Arty calledme about a plaster track and an oldfilm. LANAHe did? Arty went fishing with hisfriends. He should be back soon.I’ll have him call you back. NILEI’m actually on my way to see him. LANAYou are! NILEIf that’s okay? LANAUh, sure. NILEI tried to GPS you, but can’t seemto find you in the system. LANAWe are sort of in the boondocks.You go west on I-10, then exit266...EXT. HONEY ISLAND SWAMP ADVENTURES - LATE DAYDon Thomas is exiting his swamp tour office carrying a bottleof chilled wine. Mrs. Pearl is counting out the register forthe day when she notices the wine. MRS. PEARL Where are you headed with that fancy wine? DON THOMAS To sweet talk a vulnerable lady. MRS. PEARL I don’t think Ms. Lana is that vulnerable.

43. DON THOMASI’m sure she has a weak spot. MRS. PEARLGood luck finding it. DON THOMASIf you see Mikey, tell him to geton home before the storm hits. MRS. PEARLMikey took off with a map. DON THOMASA map? MRS. PEARLHe said he may need it in case hegets lost.Don Thomas stares, curiously. DON THOMASLost? That boy is always into somekind of mischief. When he showsup, tell him to stay put.Don Thomas heads out with the wine. Mrs. Pearl wags her headside to side, doubtfully.EXT. SWAMP - LATERArty finds tracks in the mud near the slough. The othershover around to observe them. ARTY It’s wild boar tracks. CALLIE Wild boar are dangerous, aren’t they? DRAKE There’s lots of things in this swamp that are dangerous. SIDNEY Maybe we made a mistake for coming without adults. DRAKE Maybe we made a mistake to let girls come along.

44.Sidney rolls her eyes. Arty looks at his compass. ARTY I don’t think it’s much further.They head deeper and deeper into the thicket.EXT. WORM BED / SIDE OF SHED - LATERLana dumps used coffee grinds into the worm bed outside byPap’s shed. She stirs up the dirt and coffee grinds with herhands.Nile’s jeep pulls into the yard.Lana can see a handsome man sitting at the wheel. Nile getsout of the jeep and Lana notices his handsome, strong statureas he approaches her. NILE Hello. Are you Arty’s mom, Lana? LANA I am. You must be Professor Merlin. NILE Call me, Nile.Lana stands to shake his hand, then realizes it is dirty.She pulls it back and wipes it on her jeans. LANA Sorry, I don’t want to get worm slime on you. NILE I’ve had much worse on me.Nile realizes she has been digging in dirt for worms and hasto smile to himself, knowing the rumor about Southern Bellesnot getting their hands dirty, must not be so true after all. LANA Arty’s still fishing. NILE I can wait. LANA I wish he’d get on home before that bad storm hits. (MORE)

45. LANA (CONT'D) Would you like a cup of coffee? I just made a fresh pot. NILE Sure, I could use some caffeine. LANA Come on inside. NILE Are you sure? I can wait outside.Lana stops and turns to Nile. LANA I researched you online and know you’re legit and not a mad scientist who wants to interrogate my son.Nile grins at her bluntness. Lana leads Nile towards thehouse. NILE So, y’all grow your own worms, huh? LANA Always a fisherman around here needing worms.EXT. LANA’S KITCHEN - SAMELana washes her hands then heads to the coffee pot as Nilewaits. He notices Emily strolling Foxy inside. NILEWhat’s your baby’s name? EMILYFoxy. NILEFoxy is very lucky to have such agood Mom to take care of her. EMILYIt’s a hard job, but someone has todo it.Emily goes on about her business. Lana hands over a cup ofcoffee.

46. LANAPoor little dog has been in and outof strollers, swing-sets, diapers,and has had to listen to manyprincess story books. NILEI’m sure Foxy loves the attention. LANAUntil she has the chance to escape. NILEI know the feeling. LANASo where are you from? NILECalifornia. LANAYou are a long way from home! NILEI’ve actually been in Arkansasinvestigating a sighting. LANAArkansas is also a long way fromCalifornia. NILEI travel around a lot. LANAI’ve never been anywhere other thanthe Southern states connected tothis one. DON THOMAS (V.O.)That’s a shame.They both turn to Don Thomas, who has been eavesdropping onthe other side of the screen door. LANADon! DON THOMASMay I come in?

47.Don Thomas lets himself in, carrying the fancy wine. Nilewonders if Don Thomas is her boyfriend. Don Thomas issurprised to find a nice-looking stranger there with Lana. DON THOMAS (CONT’D) Everyone should see the world. I’m not interrupting am I? LANA This is Professor Nile Merlin. He came to talk to Arty. DON THOMAS (relieved) Oh. Nice to meet you, Professor.Don Thomas extends his free hand to shake. NILE Pleasure.Don Thomas gives the wine bottle to Lana. DON THOMAS This is for you, Lana. LANA Thanks. It looks expensive. DON THOMAS Only the best for a lovely lady.Lana sets the wine on the counter feeling more awkward now.Nile stares at the label on the bottle of wine and smiles,knowing it came from his vineyard. LANA Don Thomas is my neighbor.Emily speaks up. EMILY He’s trying to be more than that. LANA Emily! That’s not something we should tell people. EMILY Don Thomas told people.Lana looks at Don Thomas, questionably.

48. LANAHe owns the local swamp tour. EMILYThat they stole out from under Pap. LANAEmily! EMILYThat’s what Arty said. LANAWhy don’t you take Foxy outside touse the potty.Don Thomas grins boldly as Emily sticks her tongue out on herway outside. He then notices the CZI logo on Nile’s shirt. DON THOMASSo what does CZI stand for? NILECrypto Zoology Investigations.We research the possible existenceof unidentified creatures. LANAI’ll get the broken track.Lana dashes down the hall to Arty’s room to find the shoeboxwith the broken track. DON THOMASSomeone actually pays you to dothis? NILEI fund my own research.Lana returns with the shoebox. DON THOMASHow do you do that if you are doingthis? NILEWe harvest grapes. DON THOMASGrapes! Seems you’d have to growan awful lot of grapes to travelall over the country looking forsomething that may not even exist.

49.Nile picks up the fancy bottle of wine that Don Thomasbrought over. NILE We do grow a lot of grapes because there are a lot of people who enjoy fine California wine.Don Thomas and Lana realize the fancy wine may have come fromNile’s vineyard.EXT. SWAMP - LATERThe kids stop hiking when they notice a dead wild boar stuckup in the fork of a tree. It’s a fresh kill because blood isdripping from the gash in its throat. DRAKEHow did that big boar hog get up inthat tree? ARTYSomething much bigger obviously putit up there. DRAKEMaybe a panther. CALLIEThey have panther out here! DRAKESure. SIDNEYMy Dad said there hasn’t been anysightings of panthers in years. ARTYThat doesn’t mean they’re not outhere. Panthers are illusive. CALLIELike the Swamp Monster.Arty smiles at Callie, because she gets it. He takes out thecompass and the dial is spinning. ARTYWeird.The kids observe the compass spinning.