Swamp Monster Island Movie Screenplay by Dana Holyfield

50. SIDNEY The compass is broken? ARTY Or maybe we are in the magnetic field. CALLIE Magnetic field? ARTY Pap once said that when he used to fly over the swamp in a twin-engine plane, the compass would spin when he crossed a certain area of the swamp. That’s why he came out here on foot to try and find out why. Then he ended up building a camp here because it was prime hunting territory. SIDNEY So we don’t know which way to go now? DRAKE Are you going to complain the entire time? ARTY Nobody panic.Arty notices an old tattered piece of orange plastic ribbontied around a tree near a narrow trail. ARTY (CONT’D) There’s the trail! Come on.They follow Arty through the narrow trail.EXT. PAP’S OLD CABIN - LATERThe kids finally come upon Pap’s old tattered cabin that isstill standing high off the ground. ARTY This is it! DRAKE It’s still standing!

51. ARTY Pap built it with Cypress. He said it’d stand the test of time... or at least a few bad storms.The kids climb up the stairs to the porch. It is evidentthat the old cabin has been vacant for some time. Arty wipesthe spider webs away and then tries the door knob. Hecautiously pushes open the door.POV something watches them from the woods.INT. CABIN - SAMEThe kids enter the old cabin. It’s musty and dusty. SIDNEY This place needs a good cleaning.Drake finds an old broom leaning against the wall and hehands it to Sidney. DRAKE Help yourself.They hear THUNDER rumbling in the distance. ARTY At least we have shelter if we need it.INT. LANA’S KITCHEN - LATE DAYNile examines the broken track placing the pieces backtogether on the counter. NILE This is an impressive track.Don Thomas eases over to get a better look at it. DON THOMAS How come it only has three toes? NILE It actually has four. This is a dewclaw. They appear to be webbed which makes sense living in a swamp. Can I take a look at the old film that your son mentioned?

52. LANA Sure.Lana brings in the old projector.LATERLana has threaded the film again and they watch the old filmprojected on the wall. After they see it... LANA (CONT’D) What do you think it was? DON THOMAS It could have been an escapee from prison roaming wild out there. NILE It wasn’t human.They look at Nile, curiously. He replays the film and freeze-frames it to point out... NILE (CONT’D) Look at the way the neck meets the shoulders and the length of the arms.Lana looks at her watch. LANA Arty should have been here by now. I wonder where he could be.Emily tries hard not to tell. LANA (CONT’D) Let me call Delores and see if they’re back from fishing.Lana calls Delores. LANA (CONT’D) Delores, have you seen the kids? DELORES Not since this morning. I’ll go check their fishing hole.Lana hangs up.

53. LANAShe’s going to see if they arestill fishing in the bayou behindthe house.EXT. CABIN - LATERThe kids set a trap with the cast net. CALLIEWhat will we use for bait? ARTYFish. SIDNEYWe don’t have a fishing pole? DRAKEDon’t you girls know anything?Drake picks up a long stick. Then he takes out a spool offishing line from his backpack and a little box of fishhooks. CALLIEBut what will you catch fish with?Arty turns a log over and finds a cricket. ARTYThis.As Arty baits the hook... SIDNEYI wonder what else eats out here? DRAKEThere’s lots of things it can eat.Like other animals, insects...plants. SIDNEYI just hope he doesn’t eat people.POV - SOMETHING WATCHING THE KIDS.The kids walk to a nearby slough to fish. It isn’t long theycatch a small fish. Arty takes the fish off the hook andthen he baits the Swamp Monster trap with it.

54. ARTY Okay. Now let’s wait inside and see if it takes the bait.Arty and the others head for the cabin.INT. LANA’S KITCHEN - LATERNile is still observing the track as Lana and Don Thomaswatch. LANA How long have you been a Cryptozoologist? NILE Ever since I had my own encounter when I was twelve. I came upon a Sasquatch eating grapes from our vineyard. LANA What did you do? NILE I stood in awe. It was the most awesome thing I had ever seen. It didn’t seem to worried what I was going to do. Maybe because it knew I was just an unarmed kid. It just went on about its way with the grapes. An encounter like that can sure change a person’s life. LANA It changed Pap’s life. Now my son is determined to prove it wasn’t a hoax.Lana notices DELORES’S car that stops out front. LANA (CONT’D) Excuse me while I go see if Delores found them.Lana exits the house. Nile continues to observe the plastertrack. Don Thomas starts probing. DON THOMAS Your wife must get awful lonely while you are chasing after bigfoots and monsters all over the country.

55. NILE I get the feeling you are fishing for information about my personal life. DON THOMAS I’m simply making conversation with a stranger in town. I suppose it’s like a background check. Just looking after my good friend. NILE Your friend looks like someone who can look after herself just fine.They both glance outside at Lana who is standing by Delores’car. DON THOMAS It’s just the way we do things down here in our neck of the woods. NILE I’m not staying long if that’s what you’re after.Don Thomas is almost relieved. NILE (CONT’D) Unless I find what I’m looking for out here in the Honey Island Swamp. DON THOMAS The only thing you’re going to find is a few kids with a big imagination.Don Thomas gets a call from Mrs. Pearl. DON THOMAS (CONT’D) What do you mean Mikey’s not home yet? Did you check at Ted’s?Don Thomas hangs up the phone, now a little more concerned. DON THOMAS (CONT’D) Ted’s parents haven’t seen them either. DELORES Maybe Mikey and Ted went with the others.

56. DON THOMAS I doubt that. Why would they? EMILY To cause more trouble as usual.Everyone turns to Emily, curiously.EXT. SWAMP WOODS - CABIN - LATERMikey and Ted are spying through binoculars in the wood.They’re wearing camouflage to blend in. They also have theirbackpacks and a pellet gun with them. TED What are they doing now?Arty and Drake are securing a wildlife motion camera to atree near the cabin. ARTY There. That should capture a picture of anything that walks by.BACK ON MIKEY AND TED. MIKEY It looks like they’re putting up the wild-game motion camera.POV - SOMETHING WATCHING THEM ALL FROM A TREEON ARTY - he looks towards Mikey and Ted and they duck. Artycan sense that something or someone is out there.EXT. LANA’S HOUSE - SAMEDelores is talking to Lana by her car. DELORES The boat is gone. Now I’m worried. LANA Come on in and we’ll call Sheriff Buck.Lana leads Delores inside.INSIDELana introduces Delores to Nile.

57. LANA (CONT’D) This is my neighbor, Delores. This is Professor Merlin.Delores shakes his hand. DELORES It’s very nice to meet you, Professor. NILE Pleasure, Delores. Just call me, Nile.Delores turns to Lana, giving her thumbs-up approval. Lanashews it off, hoping Nile didn’t catch it.INT. LANA’S KITCHEN - LATERSHERIFF BUCK, 50’s, is talking with Lana, Delores and Nileand Don Thomas. DUDLEY, 40’s, comes in. He’s Drake’s dad. LANA Hi, Dudley. DUDLEY Have you heard anything? LANA Not yet. DUDLEY Drake knows better than to stay gone this long without checking in. So they must be in some kind of trouble. SHERIFF BUCK When was the last time you saw the kids? LANA Early this morning. DELORES Sidney said they were going fishing behind the house. I didn’t see any sign that they had been there, and the boat is gone.Bob comes in worried about Callie.

58. LANA Hi, Bob. BOB Still no word? LANA No. SHERIFF BUCK I’ll see if I can locate them before we call in Search and Rescue helicopters. BOB I’m gonna look, too. DUDLEY I’ll go with you, Bob. LANA I want to go! BOB You should wait here. We’ll find them if they’re out there.Dudley leaves with Bob.EXT. CABIN - LATERTed is draping moss over Mikey. He steps back and admireshis creation of a moss monster. TED This is going to be so hilarious. Now go walk in front of their motion camera.EXT. MOTION CAMERA TREE - LATERMikey saunters past the motion camera acting like a mossmonster.POV from the real Swamp Monster watching the boys.Mikey picks up a stick and throws it against the side of thecabin.

59.INT. CABIN - SAMEThe kids hear the stick hit the wall outside. SIDNEY What was that?They all peer out the window. Ted and Mikey duck in thebushes. DRAKE I don’t see anything. ARTY Maybe we should check the motion camera. CALLIE You’re going out there! ARTY Someone has to. DRAKE I’ll watch your back.Arty bravely opens the door. He looks around before he stepsoutside on the porch. Drake bravely follows behind him withhis sling shot in hand. Callie and Sidney wait inside by thewindow. CALLIE They’re so brave. SIDNEY Brave or crazy? You like Arty don’t you?Callie is surprised that Sidney knows. SIDNEY (CONT’D) I knew it. CALLIE And you like Drake. SIDNEY No way. He annoys me. CALLIE You like him. I can tell. SIDNEY Drake doesn’t like me that way.

60. CALLIE My Mom says when a boy picks on you all the time, that means he likes you that way.Sidney and Callie stare out the window to watch the boys inaction. SIDNEY So we’re doomed.EXT. CABIN - SAMEArty takes the motion camera off the tree. He brings itinside and Drake follows him.INT. CABIN - SAMEThe kids hover around as Arty checks the images in the motioncamera. They see the mossy figure in the picture. DRAKE What the heck is that?AT WINDOWTed and Mikey are peeking through the window cracking upunder their breath. SIDNEY Looks like a Moss Monster. CALLIE Moss Monster! SIDNEY Wearing sneakers.Sidney points to Mikey’s sneaker shoes that are sticking outfrom under the moss. They all look at each other, knowingly. ARTY Mikey and Ted!EXT. CABIN - SAMEArty and the others pile out of the cabin to go after them.Mikey and Ted take off running and get caught in the cast netthat scoops them up off the ground. Arty and the othersapproach Mikey and Ted, who are now trapped in the cast net.

61. MIKEYGet us down from here. DRAKEI think we should leave them upthere for a while. ARTYFor bait? TEDBait! MIKEYYou better cut us down, or else. ARTYOr else, what? Your big shot Daddyis not out here to save yourspoiled butt right now. MIKEYI don’t need my Daddy to help menail you to that cypress tree whenI get down from here. TED (whispers)Now is not a good time to threatenthem, Mikey.Arty heads back to the cabin. The others follow him. MIKEYOkay, okay... I’m sorry. Pleaselet us down from here.Arty stops. ARTYWe’ll think about it.Arty then continues inside. The others follow him. MIKEYCallie! Don’t leave us out herelike sitting ducks.Callie looks back at Mikey, almost torn. She then looks backat Arty and the others who are waiting to see what she’ll do.She turns back to Mikey and Ted. CALLIEYou shouldn’t be so mean, Mikey.

62.Callie follows Arty and the others into the cabin and shutsthe door. TED I guess the plastic flowers didn’t work. Do you have a pocket knife? MIKE Not on me! TED You should always keep a pocket knife with you in the woods for situations like this. MIKEY Then where is yours? TED In my backpack.They look down at their backpacks by the bushes they werehiding in. That’s where Ted’s pellet gun is also lying. Mikeyfinds his iphone in his pocket. MIKEY But, I have my Iphone! TED What good is that gonna be? There’s no signal out here. MIKEY I downloaded games to pass the time.Ted rolls his eyes. Mikey begins to scratch because the mossis itching his skin. MIKEY (CONT’D) This moss sure is itchy.INT. CABIN - SAMEArty and the others are inside. SIDNEY Are we really going to leave them out there for bait? DRAKE They’d do it to us?

63. CALLIE But, if something happens to them, we’d feel really bad about it. SIDNEY Not to mention, we would be in big trouble with Sheriff Buck. ARTY Let’s make them ponder a while and teach them a lesson, then we’ll get them down.Arty searches through the camp and finds part of the old,weathered wood crate that had tumbled out of the circus trainmany years ago. He sees the writing on the wood... ARTY (CONT’D) Manimal!The others look at the old decayed wood in Arty’s hand.There is more writing on the other side that is hard to makeout from years of decay. But they can make out a few words. CALLIE Property of .... California... Circus... ARTY It was from the circus train wreck Pap told me about! SIDNEY I remember Mom talking about it. DRAKE My Dad said it was just another swamp tale. ARTY Obviously, it wasn’t just a swamp tale. CALLIE Do you think the Swamp Monster came off the circus train? ARTY That seems like a logical explanation.

64. SIDNEY Pap must have found this near the wreckage? I wonder why he didn’t put it in the Swamp Tour Museum.INT. LANA’S KITCHEN - LATEREmily is trying to get Foxy out from under the table. EMILY Come out from under there, Foxy, or you are in big trouble! NILE If you ask her calmly and without threat, she’ll come out.Emily waits and watches Nile who gets down on his knees tocoax Foxy out. NILE (CONT’D) Okay, Foxy, will you please come out from under there? Come on, it’s okay.Foxy slowly comes out from under the counter. Nile pets thelittle dog and picks her up. NILE (CONT’D) See. Be patient with her.Emily takes the dog from Nile. EMILY Thanks.Lana brings over a fresh cup of coffee. LANA Seems you have a way with animals. NILES I try to. We’re the only hope to those in captivity. Wild animals can fend for themselves.Lana remembers the kids are out there with the wild animals.She walks to the window, worried. LANA Yes, there are a lot of dangerous wild animals in that swamp. (MORE)

65. LANA (CONT'D) I should be out there looking for them too, instead of waiting around here. NILE I’ll go with you -- if you want me to.Don Thomas doesn’t like that scenario. DON THOMAS We can take one of my Swamp Tour boats. EMILY Your big fancy tour boat can’t get to where they were going.Lana steps over Emily, arms folded, waiting. LANA Fess up, Emily, or you’ll be punished. EMILY They were headed to Pap’s cabin. LANA Pap’s cabin! I should have known. Arty said he was going to pour another plaster track.Nile is impressed that Arty took the initiative. NILE Do you remember how to get to the cabin? LANA Sort of. DON THOMAS Maybe we should leave search and rescue to the professionals. NILE I am a professional. DON THOMAS Professional monster hunter? NILE I’m quite used to the wilderness.

66. DON THOMASMountains and swamps are twodifferent things. NILEI’m sure we‘ll manage. LANADelores, can you watch Emily untilwe get back? DELORESSure. LANAI’ll change into something moredurable.Lana dashes to the back. Don Thomas is not liking the plan. DON THOMASI don’t think this is a good idea.We could get lost just like thosekids. Then we’ll all be lost. NILESomething tells me that you havenever really been in a swamp. DON THOMASThat’s ridiculous. I own a swamptour! NILEBut have you ever really been whereyour tour boats can’t go?Don Thomas scowls, knowing he hasn’t. Lana returns wearingwater/snake boots and has a backpack and a pistol that she’schecking for ammunition. LANAReady?Nile is impressed. DON THOMASMaybe I’ll just wait at home incase Mikey and Ted didn’t go withthem. Those kids will probablyshow up before dark like theyusually do.

67.Lana is surprised that Don Thomas isn’t going. Nile isn’tsurprised. LANA Suit yourself.Lana and Nile head for the flatboat at the dock.Don Thomas and Delores watch them go. DON THOMAS Do you reckon it’s safe for Lana to be going off with a perfect stranger? DELORES About as safe as it is for her to go to lunch with a ruthless shyster like you. DON THOMAS Delores, why do you give me such a hard time? DELORES Because you deserve it sometimes.EXT. NET TRAP / CABIN - LATERMikey is scratching his itchy skin while he plays the iphone.He hears a STICK CRACKING nearby and looks to see a largehairy hand reach through the bushes for the fish bait. MIKEY (yells) Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!Without realizing it, Mikey’s finger is pressed down on theiphone camera button and begins taking pictures of the hairyhand taking the fish before the fish disappears into thebushes.Arty and the others race outside. ARTY What’s wrong! MIKEY Something big and hairy stole the fish!A raccoon waddles over to eat the fish that was left by theslough.

68. SIDNEYIt’s just a raccoon.They watch the raccoon enjoying the fish. DRAKEYour imagination is playing trickson you, Dude. CASSIEThat can happen in a swamp. MIKEYJust cut us down from here! ARTYOnly if you don’t cause any moretrouble. MIKEYOkay. We won’t.Arty uses the pocket knife and proceeds to cut the rope.Mikey and Ted fall on their rear ends. MIKEY & TEDOwe!Mikey gazes into the woods uncomfortably. He startsscratching under the moss. MIKEYI must be allergic to this moss. SIDNEYMaybe you’re allergic to the mosslice. MIKEYMoss lice! SIDNEYHundreds of little bugs slowlysucking your blood out.Mikey starts scratching frantically. MIKEYHelp me get them off of me! SIDNEYI have something in my backpackthat’ll help if you don’t playanymore tricks on us.

69.Sidney heads back to the cabin. The others follow, exceptfor Arty, who stares at the raccoon dragging the fish off.Arty stoops down to inspect larger tracks in the mud by thewater. He realizes Mikey may have really seen the SwampMonster.EXT. SWAMP - LATERNile is driving the flatboat. Lana points to the posted signnext to the slough. LANA Go that way!Nile steers the boat into the slough and they travel down thenarrow passage of water until they see their boat parked atthe dead end. Ted’s boat is parked there also. LANA (CONT’D) That’s their boats.Nile eases the boat to the bank next. They get out of theboat and tie it to a stump. NILE How far is the cabin from here? LANA A half-hour or so, as long as we go in the right direction.Nile looks all around them. NILE Any idea which direction is the right direction? LANA Your guess is as good as mine.Nile stoops down to look at the kid’s footprints in the mud. NILE I say we head North since that’s the way their footprints are going.They start their journey North into the thick swamp.INT. CABIN - LATERSidney digs in her backpack and removes a bottle of perfumedbody spray and gives it to Mikey.

70. SIDNEY This helps keep gnats off, maybe it’ll work on moss lice too. MIKEY It’s girl’s body spray. SIDNEY You want to stop the feeding frenzy, don’t you?Mikey sprays himself down. Ted comes in. TED You smell like a female. MIKEY So what. It’s working. Thanks, Sidney. Maybe you’re not so bad after all.Sidney smiles at Mikey. Drake notices and doesn’t like it.He opens a can of potted meat to eat. TED Dude, what’s that smell? Cat food? DRAKE It’s potted meat. It’s survival food. TED Then hand it over because I need replenishing.Ted snatches the can of potted meat out of Drake’s hands.He sticks his finger in the potted meat, scoops it out, licksit clean, then tries to pass the can back to Drake, whostares disgusted. DRAKE You can keep it.Sidney hands Drake a can of Vienna Sausage. SIDNEY You can share my Vienna Sausage. DRAKE Thanks. SIDNEY You’re welcome.

71.Drake wonders if Sidney may like him after all.Arty enters with a big stick and starts carving the end intoa spear. Callie approaches Arty as he checks the sharpnessof the spear tip. CALLIE Does that mean you think we’re in danger? ARTY Pap used to say it’s a good idea to keep a weapon handy out here just in case you are confronted by something bigger and badder than you are.Ted interrupts as he licks his fingers clean. TED If there’s a Swamp Monster out here, I’m gonna shoot it. ARTY Why would you want to kill it? TED So I can mount it and win first place in the annual taxidermy contest! DRAKE That pellet gun won’t kill a Swamp Monster. TED If could if you hit it just right between the eyes. Just like when David killed Goliath with a stone. DRAKE You’re not that good of a shot. TED Wanna bet?Ted grabs the empty potted meat can and heads outside.The others follow.EXT. CABIN - SAMETed sets the potted meat can on a stump and walks back towhere the others are standing near the cabin.

72.Everyone waits as Ted takes aim with his pellet gun and pullsthe trigger. A pellet sends the can into the air. TED Told you. DRAKE Shooting a can off of a stump is not like shooting a moving object. If you miss the kill spot, then you better run faster than whatever you shot at can run. ARTY We don’t need to shoot it unless we would have to. TED If something big, hairy and scary is coming at me in the woods, I’m shooting first, then asking questions later.Arty doesn’t like that plan.EXT. SWAMP TRAIL - LATERLana follows Nile through the thick swamp. NILE I’m thirsty. How about you?Niles stops to get bottled water out of his bag. Lana startsto lean against a tree. Nile snatches a Cottonmouth snakeoff the limb before it bites her. Lana is impressed that hewas so quick and possibly just saved her life. He takes theCottonmouth snake to a nearby slough and sets it free. LANA Why did you let it go? It could try to bite my kids? NILE There are a thousand snakes out here that could bite your kids. That’s why they were taught to be extra careful out here. Right? Plus, snakes don’t need to be killed just because it was defending it’s territory.

73.Lana stares, knowing he’s right. Nile scans theirsurroundings and finds a safe spot for them to sit on a logto drink water. Lana gazes around the mystic swamp. LANA I can’t believe those kids came this far on their own. NILE You’d be surprised what some kids do without their Mom knowing a thing about it. LANA Arty’s Dad and Grandfather used to take him out here when he was little. I think they spent more time in the woods than they did at home. NILE Someone once said the same thing about me. LANA When did she leave you? NILE How do you know she left me? LANA Because if she was waiting for you at home, you probably wouldn’t be here in a swamp right now. NILE Actually, she left me because I didn’t go home enough when she was waiting. LANA Why not? NILE It was always a fight. LANA You don’t seem like a fighter. NILE Maybe that was the problem. I didn’t fight her back. I told her if she wasn’t happy, leave. (MORE)

74. NILE (CONT'D) So she left. I suppose there’s a lot more to the story. LANA There always is. But sometimes we may never know the rest of the story.Nile stares suspiciously.INT. CABIN - LATERArty digs out the container of PLASTER PARIS from hisbackpack. ARTY I’ll be right back. CALLIE I’ll go with you? ARTY Maybe you should wait in here.Drake steps up with his slingshot. DRAKE Yeah! This is a man’s job. SIDNEY Then sit down, Drake, until you become a man.Drake is hurt by Sidney’s remark, especially when Ted andMikey crack up. Sidney suddenly feels bad for saying it.She starts to apologize, but Drake is out the door. Calliefollows them out.EXT. CABIN / TRACK IN MUD - SAMEArty, Drake, and Callie are looking around outside the cabin.Arty finds tracks in the mud by the slough. Callie and Drakeapproach to examine the tracks with Arty. ARTY I’m going to make a casting.Arty scoops water from the slough into the container with theplaster paris and stirs. Callie turns to Drake, who is stillupset about Sidney’s remark.

75. CALLIE Sidney didn’t mean what she said. DRAKE Sure she did. ARTY Just like you don’t mean all the mean things you say to her. DRAKE If you say so.Arty is stirring the mixture of plaster. DRAKE (CONT’D) It looks like you are about to make pancakes. ARTY You have to mix the right consistency or the track may be too thin and break.Arty pours the plaster into the track.POV from tree as SOMETHING is watching them.EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SWAMP - SAMENile and Lana stop when they see the dead boar stuck up inthe fork of a tree with flies swarming. LANA I know wild boar can’t climb trees. NILE Something put it up there. LANA Something -- as in a Swamp Monster? NILE Maybe. Maybe something else. I get the impression that you do not believe there could be such a thing as a Swamp Monster. LANA I’m not sure what I believe.Nile looks around the ground to see if there are any tracks.

76. NILE You and the majority of the human population. But, that’s a good thing, or else these creatures would have probably been hunted down and killed, or captured and caged for study for the rest of their life... which would be a horrible thing. LANA Then why are you hunting for it? NILE Curiosity.Nile notices broken branches where something tore through thewoods. He finds a long wiry hair that is stuck on a limb.Lana watches Nile as he puts on a pair of rubber gloves thathe keeps in his pocket and takes the hair from the limb. LANA I believe Pap saw something out here that got his attention, but it didn’t scare him bad enough to keep him away from this swamp. He just always made sure his gun was loaded and ready. Just in case.Nile carefully places the hair sample into a plastic baggy. NILE These type of creatures are usually timid of humans. There haven’t been any attacks that we are aware of. Although, some attacks may have gone unreported.Lana stares at the dead hog in the tree. LANA But what if this one is dangerous, and doesn’t go on about it’s way. NILE Hopefully we’ll find the kids first before it does.Nile notices tracks in the mud but it’s the kids’ shoeprints. NILE (CONT’D) Look! The kids went this way.

77.Lana follows close as Nile leads the way through the swamp.EXT. CABIN -Arty has finished pouring the plaster paris into the trackand is smoothing the top layer with a stick. ARTY Okay, now we’ll let it sit for a while to dry.They hear THUNDER ROARING and all look up as dark clouds moveover. DRAKE If it doesn’t get rained on before that happens. Then A LIGHTENING BOLT STRIKES nearby. CALLIE We probably shouldn’t be standing under a tree in a lightening storm. ARTY Then we better get back to the cabin for shelter to wait out the storm.They rush back to the cabin.EXT./INT. CABIN - SAMEArty, Drake and Callie enter the cabin where the others arewaiting. ARTY A bad storm is brewing, so we may be stuck here for a while? SIDNEY I better check in with my Mom.Sidney pulls out her CELL PHONE and tries to dial home. SIDNEY (CONT’D) There isn’t a signal out here? CALLIE Whatever made the compass dial spin, could be interfering with the tower signals.

78.Arty is impressed that Callie thought of that. MIKEY Or maybe there are not any cell phone towers around here. SIDNEY Either way, we have no way to phone home. DRAKE We are going to be grounded all summer! CALLIE It’ll be worth it, if we find what we came out here to find.Arty is happy that Callie understands this mission.Ted examines a nylon rope hanging by the doorknob. TED Wonder why this rope is here. MIKEY Probably to tie the door shut because of that thing that stole the fish. DRAKE The raccoon? MIKEY Dude, the thing I saw wasn’t a raccoon.Mikey ties the door shut with the rope. ARTY You still think it was a hoax, Mikey? MIKEY Maybe not.EXT. SWAMP - RAINLana and Niles are still hiking when it starts to rain.Lightening flashes and thunder roars.Niles leads Lana up under a hallow cypress tree to wait outthe storm.

79. NILESLet’s take cover in here. LANAOkay, I hope we’re not invadinganything’s territory. NILESJust a few spiders. LANAOh, no, don’t say that. I hatespiders.Nile gently removes a BANANA SPIDER off her back and lets itgo on a bush outside the tree. Lana cringes. LANA (CONT’D)You’re not scared of anything, areyou? NILESOh, there’s a few things I’m scaredof. LANALike what? NILESWomen. LANAReally? NILESJust the ones I’ve married. LANAHow many were there? NILESTwo. LANAThat’s not so bad. NILESIt’s not so good, either. LANA

80.EXT./INT. CABIN - RAINThe kids stare out the window as the rain falls. ARTY We might as well get comfortable for a while.Sidney yarns, making Mikey yarn, then Ted yarns. Everyone issleepy watching and listening to the rain fall on the tinroof. One by one, they doze off to sleep.EXT. SWAMP - SAME - RAINLand and Niles are still hovered in the hollow cypress tree. NILES So, this is your grandfather’s island? LANA It was. Now it’s ours. 3000 acres, surrounded by miles and miles of more islands. NILES That’s a lot of area to roam. LANA Pap loved it out here. That’s why he built the cabin. It took him and Bob a long time, making many trips back and forth, hauling lumber in the boat, then they had to drag it through this rugged terrain. I was a little girl when he built it. NILES Did you come out here much? LANA I spent many nights there when I was a child. Then I grew up and got more interested in boys than going fishing. NILES Boys can cause trouble, huh. LANA Some of them. Like the one I married.

81. NILEIf you don’t mind me asking, whereis your husband? LANAI have no idea. NILESince when? LANASince Emily was a baby. One day hewoke up and said he had to go andhe never came back. NILESSorry.Lana stares into Nile’s piercing eyes, knowing he can senseher struggle. LANAPap said he was in some kind oftrouble that he didn’t want me andthe kids involved in. Thoughtful ofhim, huh? But, life must continueon.Nile notices a MUSCADINE VINE growing wild behind her. Hereaches over and picks a muscadine grape off the vine. NILELike the vine that feedsmuscadines.Nile tastes the muscadine grape. NILE (CONT’D)Tough on the outside and delicateon the inside. Like you seem tobe.Lana is drawn into his caring eyes. She knows it’s time tochange the subject. LANAThese muscadines grow profusely outhere in the swamp. Pap made manycases of Muscadine wine. NILEDo you still have his recipe?

82. LANA It’s somewhere around the house.Nile observes the vine plentiful with wild muscadines. NILE Maybe you should grow a vineyard. LANA I don’t know anything about making wine. NILE I could teach you, if you ever decide to. LANA Maybe you should sample the recipe first and see if it’s worth the trouble. NILE I always sample the wine first.Lana smiles at the handsome stranger, whom she feels verycomfortable with for some reason. LANA There’s still a case stored in the shed.Nile seems to be feeling the same thing, but tries to shakeit off. NILES Maybe I’ll take a bottle back to California to try it out.They notice the rain has stopped. The storm is over. LANA Looks like the storm has passed.. We should get going. NILES Yeah. We should.Nile extends his hand to help Lana from under the tree andthey continue onward.

83.INT. CABIN - LATEREveryone has dozed off. Arty wakes up and sees that it hasstopped raining. So he quietly unties the door, then slipsoutside with the spear in one hand and a backpack in theother.EXT. CABIN - SLOUGH - SAMEArty approaches the plaster track that hardened before therain. He pries it out of the mud and admires it. Something iswatching from the foliage as Arty washes mud off the track ina nearby slough. He hears sticks cracking in the woodsbehind him -- something heavy is stepping on them. He looksbehind him, but doesn’t see anything yet. Arty finisheswashing the mud off the track, then wraps the plaster trackin moss and slips it in his backpack. Before he zips thesack closed, he hears something behind him again and quicklyturns to see a PACK OF WILD BOAR coming at him. ARTYUh-oh.Arty grabs his spear, but he knows it will not handle so manydangerous wild boar. He takes off as fast as he can. ARTY (CONT’D)Help!ON LANA AND NILELana recognizes Arty’s voice. LANA It’s Arty!Lana and Nile start running in the direction of Arty’sscreams.ON OTHER KIDS IN THE CABINDrake hears Arty’s screams for help, so he wakes up theothers. DRAKE Wake up! Arty’s in trouble!ON ARTY RUNNINGArty tears through the swamp as the wild boar are gaining onhim. He trips and falls face down and the plaster paristrack slips out of his backpack on the ground.

84.When Arty looks back, he sees black beady eyes and razorsharp tusks coming right at him.SUDDENLY, the SWAMP MONSTER swoops Arty up off the ground andplaces him high up in a tree so the wild boar can’t reachhim. Arty hangs onto the tree and watches in amazement asthe Swamp Monster slaps the wild boar away with his strong,clawed hands. The squealing wild boar finally give up and runaway.Arty is stunned to see the awesome Swamp Monster standingabout seven feet tall with broad shoulders and long arms.Dingy, wiry hair hangs down around his smooth face thatresembles man, but not enough to say he is human. Just likehis Pap described. Arty now realizes this magnificentcreature has saved his life. ARTYThanks.The Swamp Monster’s large, amber eyes stare at him until theyhear Lana and Nile coming towards them. LANA (yelling)Arty! Arty!The Swamp Monster dashes off and disappears into the brushbefore the others spot him. Lana and Nile stop running tolisten for Arty. LANA (CONT’D)Arty! ARTYUp here!Lana and Nile look up in the tree and see Arty hanging on. LANAArty! Why are you up in a tree? ARTYWild boar were after me.Nile and Lana looks around them for any sign of the boar. ARTY (CONT’D)They’re gone now. LANAAre you alright?

85. ARTYI’m fine.Arty jumps down from the tree and Lana hugs him. LANAYou know better than to be this farout here without adult supervision?Arty stares curiously at Nile, who is standing beside hismom. ARTYWho’s he? LANAThis is the Cryptozoologist thatyou called. Professor Nile Merlin.Nile extends his hand to Arty and they shake. Arty isimpressed that he came. ARTYYou showed up! NILEI told I would. ARTYCool.Drake and the others approach them. DRAKEArty!The kids are surprised to see Lana and Nile there also. SIDNEYAunt Lana! LANAAre y’all okay? SIDNEYYes, M’am. DRAKEArty, we heard you scream for help? TEDWas it the Swamp Squatch?Ted waves his pellet gun.

86. ARTY A pack of wild boar were chasing me. TED I was ready to nail him. ART We came here to get new evidence. Not kill it. TED It’s dead meat if I see it. MIKEY After Ted wins the state taxidermy contest, we’re gonna display it our Swamp Tour Gift Shop.Arty is not going to say what just happened in front of Mikeyand Ted, who may want to harm his new friend. LANA Your parents are worried sick about you. MIKEY We’re okay, Mrs. Lana. TED But, I’m starving to death. DRAKE You shouldn’t be. You ate almost everything we brought with us. LANA Let’s get y’all home so they can call off Search and Rescue.As they head back to the cabin to get their things, Nilenotices the Swamp Monster plaster track wrapped in moss,lying on the ground. He picks it up and curiously staresafter Arty, knowing there must be a lot more he hasn’t toldthem.EXT. ARTY’S BEDROOM - NIGHTLana has tucked Arty in his bed and thinks Arty is sleepingnow. But when she quietly closes his door, his eyes open andhe stares out the window, knowing for sure that his Pap didnot hoax the sighting. But now he also knows if he tellspeople like Ted, it may bring harm to the Swamp Monster.

87.EXT. ARTY’S LIVING ROOM - SAMELana comes from Arty’s room and Nile is waiting for her inthe living room. LANA He’s sleeping now. NILE Brave boy you have in there. LANA Too brave for his own good sometimes. Thanks for taking me out there to find him. NILE No problem. I suppose I should get to the hotel.Nile starts to walk towards the door. LANA You can stay here!Nile stops to look at her, surprised. LANA (CONT’D) It’s late. The sofa makes into a bed. Then you and Arty can talk in the morning. NILE I don’t know if it’s a good idea. LANA It’s the least I can offer since you helped me find my son. Plus there may not be any rooms in town available this late. I insist. NILE If you insist. Let me get a change of clean clothes from my jeep.Lana watches Nile walk out to his jeep. She then rushes toopen the sofa bed.LATERThe sofa has been pulled out into a bed and Lana has putclean sheets on it.

88.While Nile is showering, Lana brings in a bottle of Pap’shomemade Muscadine wine from the shed outside. She sets iton the kitchen counter and searches for the wine opener.Lana opens the wine bottle and pours two glasses. Nile exitsthe bathroom wearing camouflage sweats, a tank top while hedries his hair with a towel. Lana stops in the doorway toadmire how handsome Nile really is, but quickly composesherself before he notices. She carries two glasses of wine. LANA Maybe this will help you sleep. She hands over a glass of wine. NILE Your Pap’s famous muscadine wine? LANA Aged to perfection.Nile sips the wine. She waits eagerly for his expertopinion. NILE Sweet, but crisp with a delicate edge. How much would it cost me for Pap’s recipe? LANA That depends.They make a toast. NILE To new discoveries.Their glasses cling. LANA Well, I better get some sleep, too. See you in the morning.Nile watches Lana walk down the hallway. He then sits on thesofa bed and opens his backpack and pulls out the plastertrack.EXT. ARTY’S HOUSE - ROAD - EARLY MORNINGDon Thomas passes Arty’s house in his car and slows down whenhe notices that Nile’s jeep is still parked in their yard.He fumes bitterly, then drives on.

89.INT. MIKEY’S BEDROOM - NIGHTAfter Mikey’s Iphone is charged, Mikey turns it on and thefirst thing that comes on the screen is the photos heaccidently took of the hairy hand steeling the fish. MIKEYDad!INT. DON THOMAS’ CAR - LATERDon Thomas exits his car while talking on his cellphone withthe local news station. DON THOMAS My son was the latest eye-witness! The giant hairy beast stole a fish! This is not a joke. We have evidence! What time will you be here? Great.Don Thomas hangs up the phone and approaches Mrs. Pearl. DON THOMAS (CONT’D) Business is about to boom, Mrs. Pearl.INT. ARTY’S HOUSE - MORNINGLana is in the kitchen making breakfast. Nile wakes up onthe sofa bed and smells breakfast. Then he notices Emily,who has been sitting in the living room with Foxy, watchinghim sleep. He sits up, awkwardly. EMILY Did you sleep well? NILE I did actually. EMILY Good. So you like my Mom? NILE She’s a likeable person. EMILY She likes you, too. NILE How do you know?

90. EMILY She doesn’t let just anyone sleep on our sofa.Lana drops a plate in the kitchen when she hears that. LANA Emily! Come help me set the table.Arty enters rubbing his tired eyes. ARTY Yeah, Emily, quit aggravating the company.Emily gets up. EMILY We’ll discuss this later.Emily heads for the kitchen. Nile chuckles, wagging hishead. ARTY I deal with it all the time. NILE Treasure it, because you’ll miss it when she is more interested in impressing other boys, rather than aggravating her brother.Nile reaches for his backpack and takes out the plastertrack. NILE (CONT’D) I think this belongs to you.Arty looks towards the kitchen where his Mom is busypreparing breakfast. ARTY Did you tell my Mom? NILE Not yet. I’m just curious why you didn’t tell anyone. ARTY Because I didn’t want Mikey and Ted to shoot him. NILE What happened out there?

91. ARTY He saved my life. NILE So that’s what you were doing way up in the tree? ARTY Mikey was telling the truth for once in his life. NILE So what did it look like? ARTY He was massive and very hairy... but not so scary. NILE Not so scary? ARTY Like he could be friendly. NILE Friendly! This is very intriguing information. ARTY I think that’s why my Pap closed his private island swamp tour. He probably didn’t want to expose him anymore than he did... because someone like Mr. Thomas would have put him on display like King Kong... I don’t think he’d like being caged up. NILES I think you’re right. And your Grandfather was right to try and let the legend remain just a legend.Lana calls out... LANA Come and eat!Arty and Nile look towards the kitchen then back at eachother.

92. ARTY Don’t tell my mom yet, because she may tell Don Thomas. NILE Ok, but I think you should tell your Mom when the time is right. LANA The eggs are getting cold!They head for the kitchen.INT. KITCHENThe table displays a feast of biscuits, eggs, bacon andgrits. NILEWow.They all sit at the table. LANALet’s say grace.All heads bow. LANA (CONT’D)Dear Lord, bless this food we areabout to eat, and thank you for allthe other blessings that you bringinto our lives.Lana and Nile share a look between them. LANA (CONT’D)Amen. EVERYONE ELSEAmen.They dig in.EXT. ROAD - ARTY’S HOUSE - MORNINGDrake runs into Arty’s yard and then pounds on the door. DRAKEArty!

93.INT. KITCHEN - SAMEArty gets up from the table to unlock and open the door.Drake steps in and tries to catch his breath as he spewsout... DRAKETurn on the news! ARTYWhy? DRAKEMikey and his dad are on TV!INT. LIVING ROOM - TVArty rushes to the TV in the living room and turns it on.Everyone else gather around it.ON TV SCREENDon Thomas and Mikey are being interviewed by a REPORTER.They are standing in front of the “Swamp Adventures” sign.Don Thomas is holding Mikey’s iphone in his hand. REPORTER (INTO CAMERA) Don Thomas, the owner of the Honey Island Adventures Swamp Tour, has discovered evidence on his son’s iphone that could prove there could be a dangerous swamp monster lurking around out there.CLOSE SHOT OF IPHONE PHOTOS OF THE BIG HAIRY HAND STEELINGTHE FISH. REPORTER (CONT’D) And it seems that his son, Mikey Thomas is the most recent eye- witness who saw the Swamp Monster. So, Mikey... can you describe it?The News Camera is on Mikey now. MIKEY Uh, well, it had big, hairy hands. REPORTER So you only saw its hands?

94. DON THOMAS (interrupts) Mikey is still a bit shaken with the traumatic ordeal. He was lucky to escape with his life.ON ARTY FUMING. ARTY What a crock of crap. DON THOMAS So I’m offering a handsome reward to the first person who can hunt down the dangerous Swamp Monster.Arty is horrified. He looks at Nile, who is just asconcerned.ON TV - REPORTERS & DON THOMAS & MIKEY REPORTER What will you do with the Swamp Monster? DON THOMAS We will have an exhibit for the world to see right here at our Swamp Tour Gift Shop!BACK ON ARTY & LANAArty looks at his Mom, like, “I told you so.” Lana is just asupset with Don Thomas. REPORTER How much of a reward are you offering, Mr. Thomas? DON THOMAS $5,000.Everyone’s jaw drops.EXT. BAIT SHOP - BOAT LAUNCH - THAT AFTERNOONThe NEWS REPORTERS are at the scene filming in the parkinglot filled with vehicles attached to boat trailers that arecarrying boats. Camouflaged HUNTERS are about to head intothe swamp to hunt down the Honey Island Swamp Monster. Someare legit hunters with a little sense, who just want a chanceat the reward. But there are a few others with no sense, whoshouldn’t even own a gun.

95.A car pulls up with a FLORIDA LICENSE PLATE. There are otherplates from MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, and a lot of LOUISIANAPLATES.Two CAJUNS get out of the Louisiana truck.A crew of REDNECKS pile out of their mud truck that has anALABAMA LICENSE PLATE.Lana, Nile, Arty and Emily, Delores, Sidney, Cassie, Drake,Mr. Dudley and Mr. Bob, are all there also.Ted shows up with his camouflaged hunter father, STEVE, whois the tour guide for Don Thomas that almost caused Bob’sboat to capsize. Don Thomas and Mikey step up to Steve andTed. DON THOMAS Great turn out. STEVE Don’t matter. I’m gonna get that booger?Arty approaches Don Thomas. ARTY You should not have done this! DON THOMAS The public has the right to know about a dangerous creature out there for their own safety. ARTY He’s not dangerous!Everyone looks at Arty, suspiciously. ARTY (CONT’D) If he was dangerous, he would have hurt somebody by now. DON THOMAS You should never trust a stray dog. I’m sure the same rule applies to a swamp monster. ARTY Pap was right about you. You’re no different than your greedy Daddy was.

96. DON THOMAS A good business man never passes up a grand opportunity to drum up more business. Is that a crime?Sheriff Buck approaches Don Thomas. SHERIFF BUCK It will be if someone kills another person by accident, then I may hold you responsible.Mr. Bob approaches the GAME WARDEN. MR. BOB Monster hunters are coming from every direction. This could be bad. GAME WARDEN I’ll handle this.The Game Warden makes announcement to the crowd. GAME WARDEN (CONT’D) Alright! Listen up. Anyone without a Swamp Monster hunting licenses will be fined!All the hunters turn, dumbfounded.ON STEVE STEVE There ain’t no such thing as a Swamp Monster hunting license! GAME WARDEN Maybe because there is no such thing as a Swamp Monster.Mikey steps up. MIKEY Yes, there is! I saw its hand with my own two eyes.Arty balls his fists. ARTY I should black those to eyes.Callie latches onto Arty’s arm.

97. CALLIE He’s not worth it, Arty. STEVE If we find a Swamp Monster to shoot, then you can write us a ticket. GAME WARDEN If you actually shoot a real Swamp Monster, then I may let you slide. STEVE Yeah, ‘cauz then we’ll be famous! Come on, Son.Arty looks at Nile. ARTY We can’t let them kill it. NILE I’m sure the Swamp Monster is very clever to have gone this long without being shot.Arty knows that could be true, but is still worried. ARTY But, what if they see it, like Pap and I saw it! And they shoot it because they have loaded guns in hand?Nile knows it could happen, so he speaks up to the crowd. NILE Excuse me! May I have your attention, please!No one is paying much attention yet. NILE (CONT’D) I will offer a $20,000 reward if you don’t kill it.A hush falls over the crowd as everyone turns to Nile. TheReporter faces the camera. REPORTER Someone has just offered a $20,000 reward if the Swamp Monster is captured live!

98.Loud chatter escalates among the hunters. Now everyone ismore perplexed.ON STEVE & TED. STEVE Guess we better get our live traps from the house. TED I don’t think we have a trap big enough, Dad. STEVE We will rig something up.EXT. SWAMP - DAYHUNTERS and TRAPPERS are searching the swamp for any sign ofa swamp monster.EXT. SWAMP - DAYIn another area of the swamp, Ted and his dad, Steve haverigged up a big trap and baited it with a catfish. STEVE That should do the trick.POV -- They are being watched from high in a cypress tree bythe Swamp Monster, who is quite amused with all theattention.While Steve and Ted are eating Vienna sausage, the swampmonster sticks his hand through the trap and steels the fishwithout making a sound or setting off the trap. Ted noticesthat the fish is gone. TED Where’s the bait?They look around, but see nothing. The Swamp Monster enjoysthe fish from high in the tree.EXT. SWAMP - DAYTwo ALABAMA REDNECKS in orange vests are easing through theswamp and think they see a big hairy creature. REDNECK 1takes aim.

99. REDNECK 1 (whispers)There it is! REDNECK 2 (whispers)Shoot it in the leg.REDNECK 1 fires and hits his target. A CAJUN HUNTER in aguile suit screams as he falls to the ground. CAJUN HUNTEROo-ye-yi!The two Rednecks realize they have shot a human. REDNECK 1Uh-oh.They rush over to see who they shot. REDNECK 1 (CONT’D)Are you okay? CAJUN HUNTERMais no, you crazy couyon, you shotme in the leg. REDNECK 1You shouldn’t come out here dressedin a guile suit. You looked like adang swamp monster in that get-up. CAJUN HUNTERYou should pay closer attention towhat you shoot at, Podna. REDNECK 2You should be wearing hunter’sorange. CAJUN HUNTERCan you trigger happy Rednecks takeme to the local hospital before Ibleed to death?As the Rednecks help the injured Cajun hunter to his feet,the Swamp Monster is watching from the trees above, shakinghis head.