EXT - HOUSE - DAY
Bright sunshine sparkles off a fresh carpet of snow. Felix
and the children are heading out, spirits high. Felix has
his axe and a coil of rope slung over his shoulder.
EXT - WOODS - DAY
TRACKING Felix and the children. They're laughing and
joking, the kids playful and giggling. The Creature shadows
them, looming and darting among the trees, along for the
excursion. Happy as a kid himself.
Maggie and Thomas hurl themselves to the ground, thrashing
their arms and legs in the snow. They jump to their feet and
hurry to catch up with Felix. The Creature peers out, amazed
to see two snow-angels in the powder at his feet,
Up ahead, Maggie points to a 6-foot fir tree.
MAGGIE
That one! It's the most beautiful tree I've ever
seen!
Felix shrugs off his coil of rope and starts chopping.
INT - PIGSTY - NIGHT
The Creature gazes through the chink in the wall, face lit
up with wonder. inside, the tree is a dazzling vision of
ornaments and light. The house is filled with joy and
laughter. Grandfather plays his recorder by a roaring fire
CREATURE
Most beautiful ... tree ...
69
The kids go dashing across the room. The Creature shifts to
the slats as the door opens, throwing a spill of warm light.
The children set something out in the snow. Maggie calls out
into the darkness:
MAGGIE
Merry Christmas!
The door closes. The Creature creeps from his sty, scurries
closer to investigate. He finds a covered plate topped with
a glittering red silk flower as decoration. The slate board
is jammed in the snow. On it is chalked a child's rendering
of a glowing angel and a message:
CREATURE
For the...Goood Spirr-rit ... of the ... Forr-
rest.
He snatches up the plate, scurries around the side of the
house, and hunkers down near the tool shed with his prize.
He plucks the red silk flower, enchanted by it, tucks it
gingerly into an inner coat pocket. He uncovers the plate to
reveal a wonderful array of Christmas cookies.
He's not sure what they are, but they don't smell half bad.
He picks one up and bites into it. He pauses, stunned, eyes
going wide as saucers. A whine builds in his throat. He
starts huffing air as he chews, mouth gaping, mind
thoroughly blown. Screw potatoes and turnips.
EXT - HOUSE - MORNING
The children race out the door to find the plate empty.. and
a big snow-angel waiting for them in the yard,
INT - PIGSTY - NIGHT
The Creature watches the family clustered around the fire.
Marie reads a book aloud:
MARIE
... with particles of heavenly fire, the God of
Nature did his soul inspire ... and pliant still
the ethereal energy which wise Prometheus tempered
into paste ...
The Creature leans back into the shadows, grappling with the
concept of book." He reaches into the pocket of the
greatcoat, and pulls out what's been there all along:
Victor's Journal. So that's what this is. A book. He unwinds
the thong, riffles the pages. Letters fall, scattering from
the pages. He picks one up by the corner, turns his head
this way and that. Slowly:
70
CREATURE
Myyy Darrllnng Vic...tor ... 'Willee haaad hisss
burrth-dayyy. I wissh ... yooo cuud huvv beeen
... herre ... to sharre ut ... withh ... ussss ...
EXT - GRANDFATHER'S POND - DAY
Grandfather sits playing his recorder. Again, the Creature
approaches to listen. Grandfather stops. Turns.
GRANDFATHER
I know you're there.
(waits for a response)
Won't you speak to me?
The Creature studies Grandfather for a time. The old man
waits. Finally starts to play again. The Creature finds a
spot to listen. He opens Victor's journal.
CAMERA PUSHES SLOWLY IN as he puzzles over it ...
INT - PIGSTY - DAY
... and we CONTINUE PUSHING SLOWLY IN as the Creature reads:
CREATURE
... of sscience ... and to c-create ... a beinng
... in the image of man ... assembled ffrrom ...
the...dead bodieess I have ... gatherrred ...
He turns the page and discovers his own rough likeness: it's
Victor's sketch of his patchwork man." The rendering
includes suture marks where the pieces were joined.
The Creature gazes for a long time. His finger traces the
penciled suture-line where an arm joins the torso. Eyes
going wider. Revelation slowly dawning. No. It can't be.
it's too horrible to conceive ...
... and he drops the journal, clawing at his coat in a surge
of panic, wrenching it away to reveal his arm ... And the
massive suture scars Joining his shoulder to his torso in an
exact match to the drawing, He throws his head back in
an animalistic PRIMAL SCREAM, face twisted in a mask of
utter horror, Munch's painting made flesh ...
IN THE WOODS
... and his scream echoes across the countryside-, Felix
turns from chopping wood. His family gathers, eyes wide,
listening to the sound trail off. Softly:
FELIX
God in heaven.
71
IN THE PIGSTY
A massive hand rips the page from the journal, raises it in
a clenched fist.
ANGLE WIDENS to reveal the Creature huddled in a corner,
dropping his head into his arms to hide his face. Sunlight
throws streaks of light and shadow through the slats. He
sobs, wracked with despair as we
FADE TO:
EXT - VALLEY - DAY
The house is distant below. Felix and his family are heading
out across the fields now sparse with snow, herding the cow
before them. Only Grandfather is missing.
The gentle MUSIC of the recorder drifts up from the house.
ANGLE WIDENS to reveal the Creature hunkered on a hill.
watching. Waiting. The family dwindles in the distance.
INT - HOUSE - DAY
For the first time, we actually see the inside of the house
from a perspective other than through the chink in the wall.
Grandfather is by the fire, playing his recorder.
The Creature's face appears at a window. Peering in. He
ducks from view, appearing at another window. Making sure
the house is otherwise empty. He vanishes again. The door
swings silently open. His figure fills the doorway.
Grandfather stops playing. Silence.
GRANDFATHER
Would you like to sit by the fire?
The Creature enters. Sits. Holds his hands toward the
embers, feeling the warmth.
CREATURE
Nice.
GRANDFATHER
The music? Or the fire?
Grandfather offers him the recorder. The Creature hesitates,
takes it, inept where such delicacy is required. He puts it
to his misshapen lips and blows a few hollow tones. He gives
it back, huffing air, delighted.
GRANDFATHER
I'm glad you finally came to the door. A man
shouldn't have to scurry in the shadows.
72
CREATURE
Better that way ... for me.
GRANDFATHER
Why?
CREATURE
I'm ... very, very ugly. People are afraid.
Except you.
GRANDFATHER
(smiles)
it can't be as bad as that.
CREATURE
(soft)
Worse.
The old man-reaches for his face. The Creature draws back.
GRANDFATHER
I can see you with my hands. If you'll trust me.
The Creature decides to trust. He eases forward. Grandfather
runs his fingers over his features. Gently:
GRANDFATHER
You're an outcast.
CREATURE
Yes. I have been seeking my friends.
GRANDFATHER
Friends? Do they live around here?
CREATURE
Yes. Very close
GRANDFATHER
Why do you not go to them?
The Creature pauses. Emotions swirling. Afraid to continue.
CREATURE
I have been ... afraid. Afraid ... they will hate
me...because I am so very ugly ... and they are so
very beautiful
GRANDFATHER
(softly)
People can be kinder than you think.
CREATURE
I am afraid,
73
Grandfather reaches out and takes the Creature's hands.
GRANDFATHER
Perhaps I can help. Tell me who.
The Creature is huffing air, breath hitching in his chest
like a panicking child. His monstrous eyes well up with
tears. Trying to get the words out:
CREATURE
I love them ... so very much. I want ... I want
... them to be my ff-family. I II-Ilove them ss-so
very mm-mm-mmuch ...
The Creature pauses. Trying to get the words out. And the
door swings open. The Creature whips his head. There stands
Maggie. Eyes going wide. Breath catching in her throat. She
lets out an ear-splitting SHRIEK! The Creature throws
himself on the old man's lap, clutching him, pleading:
CREATURE
Don't let them hate me!
Felix bursts in, shoving Maggie aside, hell breaking loose
in screaming, hollering chaos: Marie trying to get the
children out of the way, Felix throwing himself on the
Creature to rip him off the old man, the Creature sprawling
to the floor, the old man shouting, the children SHRIEKING,
Felix snatching, up the fireplace poker and swinging it
down, again and again, trying to kill the thing ...
GRANDFATHER
Leave him alone!
... the CREATURE SCREAMING and taking the blows, writhing
across the floor in agony, the children scattering from his
pleading hands, the old ROUGH MAN dazed and shouting,
William, now 10, comes charging up the steps with a small
package under his arm, nearly bowling over Mrs. Moritz as he
sails past her hollering his head off: tugging on his arm.
the CREATURE rolls from under the brutal beating and sails
out the door.
