The Strange Life and Times of Justin Cayce

The following script is intended for use in a comic book and was copy/pasted from a script writing program which created formatting issues. so the formatting isn't entirely correct.

This is issue #1 of "The Strange Life and Times of Justin Cayce" By Louis Cruz Jr and George Kelly.

"ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS"

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - MORNING

It's a sunny morning. This is a bright suburban neighborhood. Birds sing, chirp and flit about. Dogs can be heard barking in the distance. The shouts of children at play across the street scare a squirrel into running up a tree. JUSTIN CAYCE(16), a skinny, red haired kid, waits for the school bus with a look of disdainful annoyance on his face, large head phones pump 90’s punk rock into his ears.

MUSIC - IIIIIIIIIIIII DON’T WANNA BE NORMAL!

He is wearing a plain white t-shirt and baggy blue jeans. His shoes are a bulky type of skater shoe. His backpack hangs low.

JUSTIN (In thought) - Today is gonna suck .

He nudges a rock with his foot.

MUSIC - YOUNG AND ANGRY! FUCK YOU!

JUSTIN (In thought) - I hate Mondays.

He kicks the rock into the street.

MUSIC - YOUUUUUUU CAN’T TELL ME HOW TO LIVE!

JUSTIN (In thought) - I hate school. I can’t...

Justin is startled by a vision of his home in burning rubble, and movie style explosions. Thoughts interrupted, he slides his head phones down around his neck and the music fades.

JUSTIN - No.

He takes off running as the bus approaches, leaving the bus driver bewildered. The driver honks his horn, but Justin puts his head down and continues to run down the street.

He passes by a dirty, rundown house. The yard is strewn with toys and the grass grows in patches. A tire swing hangs from the massive oak tree in the front yard.

JUSTIN - No.

Justin races by a tall wooden privacy fence. The roof of the house behind it can barely be seen.

JUSTIN - Please.

He passes by a third house. This one is perfect, the suburban dream. A small dog chained on the front porch YAPS as he sprints past.

JUSTIN - I have to get them out.

Justin turns into the next yard, momentary relief as he sees it still standing, but then it Explodes. KA-BOOOOOOM! Chunks of wood, family photos, blood and guts, all rain down. What little structure is left is engulfed in flames.

JUSTIN - NOOOOOOOOO!

A few people have come out of their homes and are gathering across the street. Justin collapses to his knees in anguish.

VOICE IN THE CROWD - You okay, kid? We called the fire department.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATER

Justin sits on the curb, neighbors trying to console him. The fire trucks arrive, but there is little that can be done. The home is reduced to a smoldering pile of rubble. The firefighters put out the remaining small fires.

A MAN in a silver mini-van pulls up. He is dressed in a white uniform.

MAN IN WHITE - What happened here?

FIREFIGHTER - Gas. Had to have been a leak or something. Shame. Kid over there, lost his whole family.

The firefighter points at Justin sitting on the curb, head in his hands, sobbing.

INT. HOME KITCHEN - DAY - FLASHBACK TO LAST FRIDAY

Justin’s mother accidentally bumps into one of the dials on the gas stove with her hip, turning it on, while getting snacks ready for her family.

INT. HOME JUSTIN’S ROOM - FLASHBACK - CONTINUOUS

Justin is packing a small, hard-shelled suitcase with clothes. He tosses an extra pair of shoes into the vintage luggage

MOTHER (V.O.) - Let’s go kiddo

JUSTIN - GIVE ME A SEC!

MOTHER (V.O.) - NOW!

JUSTIN - OKAY!

JUSTIN (In thought) - She doesn’t have to be such a bitch about it. I don’t even see why we have to go, Nikki should be able to drive herself to college and back.

INT. HOME KITCHEN - FLASHBACK - CONTINUOUS

Stand alone shot of the stove in the kitchen, a small FSSSSSH of gas from one burner.

INT. HOME FRONT DOOR - FLASHBACK - CONTINUOUS

Justin and his family fumble with their luggage as they head out the door. Justin watches them, bemused.

JUSTIN’S FATHER - You got everything you need for a crazy college weekend?

Justin raises an eyebrow at his father in mock suspicion.

JUSTIN - By crazy, do you mean sitting in a hotel room watching tv?

Justin’s father looks at his wife, an exaggerated look on his face

JUSTIN’S FATHER - No sense of adventure in this one. He gets that from you.

They leave the house, the audible CLICK of the key in the door.

INT. HOME KITCHEN - FLASHBACK

Zoomed in shot of the dial turned on. The faint FSSSSSSSH of the gas getting louder.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET-MID AFTERNOON

Sitting on the curb, Justin holds his head in his hands, his sobs long spent. The man in white carefully approaches him and kneels down to his level, a gentle smile on his face.

JUSTIN - Mom...Dad...

MAN IN WHITE - Sorry son...

JUSTIN - Nikki...

MAN IN WHITE - Nothing could be done.

JUSTIN - No.

MAN IN WHITE - Come with me.

The man gently puts his arm around Justin and leads him to the silver mini-van, Justin sits in the back, and the door is slid shut.

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD INTO BACK ROADS - CONTINUOUS

The van travels through the suburban sprawl of cookie cutter homes and strip malls. It eventually leaves the suburbs and travels down curving, hilly forest roads. The van turns onto a rough gravel road.

EXT. GRAVEL ROAD - LATER THAT AFTERNOON

At the end of the road is a large grey building. It is made to look like an average house, but it is much larger than a normal house and has the hint of institutional building. It all makes for an odd looking structure.

The man in white gets out and leads Justin out of the van. They walk towards the door where a stern looking woman, MS. DRAUB, awaits holding a clipboard.

EXT. THE GREY HOUSE - FRONT STOOP - CONTINUOUS

The woman wears her grey hair in a tight bun, a grey dress, proper and conservative. On the tip of her pointed nose rest a pair of wire framed reading glasses, her thin fingers scribbling furiously on her clipboard.

MS. DRAUB - Another one?

MAN IN WHITE - Sorry

MS. DRAUB - That makes three in the last month, you might want to try the Red House or the Yellow House next time. Anywhere but here.

MAN IN WHITE - Duly noted. Just sign the line and I’m out of here.

The woman takes the form and signs, each movement swift and precise. She looks over the rim of her spectacles at the man, giving her a hawkish appearance.

MAN IN WHITE - Good luck, kid.

The man, paper in hand, walks down the path, looking back one more time as he gets in the van and drives away.

MS. DRAUB - Well then.

Turning her attention toward Justin. His hair is a mess of red curls. The bags under his eyes giving way to the freckles on his cheeks. He stands with his shoulders slumped staring at his feet.

MS. DRAUB - Straighten up, lad. You look as if you’re awaiting execution.

The woman gently lifts his chin to look into his plain blue eyes, rimmed red from the tears that had been streaming down his face for the last half an hour.

MS. DRAUB - My name is Ms. Draub, I will be looking after you for now.

As she speaks, the door opens on it’s own, Ms. Draub takes the young man by the arm and brings him inside, the door closing with a CREAK.

INT. GREY HOUSE - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

They talk as they walk down the unadorned, monotoned hallway with several closed doors, stopping at the only open door, Ms. Draub leads him inside.

INT. GREY HOUSE - MS DRAUB’S OFFICE

Ms. Draub’s office is a small room with an oversized, dark mahogany desk. Behind it is a very old leather chair, the ancient leather stretched between brass tacks. In front of the desk is a plain wooden chair. Ms. Draub takes a seat behind the massive desk and reaches into a drawer pulling out a manila folder, she opens it as she places it on the desk.

MS. DRAUB - And what is your name young man?

JUSTIN (mumbling) - Justin.

MS. DRAUB - What was that? I can’t understand if you speak with your mouth half closed.

Justin looks up at her, his sadness barely outweighing his defiance.

JUSTIN - JUSTIN.

MS. DRAUB - And does our young Justin have a last name?

She looks down at the forms on her clipboard.

MS. DRAUB - “Case”, is it?

JUSTIN - Cayce

MS. DRAUB - Sit, Mr. Case.

Justin gives her an irritated glance, defiance winning out.

JUSTIN - It’s pronounced Cay-see.

JUSTIN (in thought) - I’ll be damned if this old bag is going to mispronounce my name. It’s all I have left.

Ms. Draub’s expression softens as much as her hard, drawn face is capable of doing.

MS. DRAUB - Mr. Cay-see. I am dreadfully sorry for your great loss. I want you to know that with great loss can come great opportunity, if you have the resolve.

EXT. GREY HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY - CUT AWAY

Three students leave the Grey House. They all get into different cars.

MS. DRAUB (V.O.) - I have seen young people like yourself walk out through those doors...

INT. HOSPITAL - PEDIACTRIC WARD ROOM - CUT AWAY

A little boy sits on the bed while his parents look on. The doctor is a young woman, one of the students we saw leaving.

MS. DRAUB (V.O.) - and go on to become doctors...

INT. COURTROOM - CUT AWAY

A young man, also one of the students from earlier, stands before a witness on the stand.

MS. DRAUB (V.O.) - and lawyers.

INT. GREY HOUSE - MS. DRAUB’S OFFICE - NOW

Justin and Ms. Draub sit in her office. Ms. Draub’s expression hardens again, her eyes narrowing as she leans forward for emphasis.

MS. DRAUB - I also want you to know that with loss can also come failure, if you allow the tragedy to overpower opportunity.

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT - CUT AWAY

A woman trembles as the third student aims a gun at her head. His hand shaking as he makes his demands.

MS.DRAUB (V.O.) - I have seen young people like your self leave this place...

INT. COURTHOUSE - CUT AWAY

The second student looks disappointed as he recognizes the defendant.

MS. DRAUB (V.O.) - and become criminals.

INT. PRISON CELL - CUT AWAY

The third student hangs lifeless, sheet tied around his neck and tied to a grate in the wall.

MS. DRAUB (V.O.) - I can’t tell you how to live your life, I can only offer guidance and hope that you heed my advice.

INT. GREY HOUSE - MS. DRAUB’S OFFICE - NOW

Ms. Draub hands Justin a pen and slides a piece of paper towards him, pointing a sharp, thin finger at a line.

MS. DRAUB - You will sign here. What you are signing says that you will not run away from this house. If you do run away, you will be placed in a juvenile detention home for the remainder of your adolescence. Do you understand?

Justin looks down at the paper before picking up the pen. He nods.

JUSTIN - Yes ma’am.

MS. DRAUB - Good, now follow me. We are going to find you a bed.

INT. GREY HOUSE - DOWNSTAIRS HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Justin follows Ms. Draub through the Grey House, passing more closed doors, following the hallway as it ends at a long stairway. The walls are all painted primer grey.

INT. GREY HOUSE UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

After climbing the stairs they walk down another hallway. The doors in this hallway are all open. Children of all ages are running about chasing each other, laughing, and playing games.

In one room several older kids sit at a table playing some kind of card game. In another, two kids are squaring off to fight, but before either can swing, Ms. Draub puts an end to the conflict with a harsh look and sharp clearing of her throat. In yet another room a group of kids take turns reading from a book.

Ms. Draub stops in front of the only closed door in the hallway. She knocks once and then enters.

INT. GREY HOUSE - JUSTIN AND NOAH'S ROOM

She opens the door to a small, spartan room, two small beds, a wide bedside table that doubles as a desk, and a small office chair, are the only furniture. One of the beds is occupied by a young man, who stands to greet his guests, but Justin ignores him.

MS. DRAUB - Here we are. This will be your new home, and this is your new roommate, Noah.

Justin, tears streaming down his face again, ignores Ms. Draub as well and sits down on his bed and cradles his head in his hands.

MS. DRAUB - Tomorrow I will give you a proper tour of the house, go over the rules, and introduce you to your new family.

Ms. Draub gently pats Justin on the shoulder with her thin fingered hand and leaves.

INT. HOSPITAL - MATERNITY WARD - FLASHBACK

A young man holds hands with a young woman who is holding a little girl. They stand on one side of a window waving and smiling and blowing kisses at a baby boy on the other side.

The young woman is revealed to be Justin’s mother as she turns to greet a woman approaching the young couple with a clipboard and a pen. The name “Justin” can be seen on the top of the paperwork. The paperwork is for adoption and where it asks for the religion of the couple they put “Atheist”. Justin’s mother signs the final line and hands the clipboard and pen back to the woman.

INT. FAMILY HOME - LIVING ROOM - FLASHBACK

The family sits on the couch watching a Christmas movie, Justin is now four and his sister, seven. The children laugh and their parents smile as they watch the screen.

On their coffee table are some science journals and a book about the world’s religions.

MOTHER - Kids, when the movie is over we are going to the mall to buy presents!

INT. MALL - CHRISTMAS DISPLAY WITH MALL SANTA - FLASHBACK

Justin and his family walk by the gaudy display. He glares at the cheap decorations and fat man in the red suit and fake beard in disgust, scrunching his face.

Justin and his mother hold hands as they walk through the mall together. Justin watches carefully as his mother picks out gifts and purchases them with money.

INT. HOME DINING ROOM - CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER - FLASHBACK

Justin is deep in thought, his face contorting. His sister laughs at him.

JUSTIN’S MOTHER - What is it dear?

JUSTIN - Mommy, it’s all not true. They said at school that Sanda comes down the chimney and gives us presents.

JUSTIN’S MOTHER - And what do you think of that?

Justin ponders this for a moment as his mother waits patiently.

JUSTIN - It’s not true mommy. I was there when you bought Daddy’s presents, and my presents too!

JUSTIN’S MOTHER - That’s true. Do you remember what I told you about holidays?

Justin gathers his thoughts, his nose scrunching in concentration.

JUSTIN - You said “holidays are a gimmicks, a reason for commersh, a trick that makes people buy things for each other or get intokshicated” that’s what you said, Mommy.

Justin looks proud to have said all of those big words, his mother laughs at her son’s cuteness.

INT. FAST FOOD RESTUARANT - FLASHBACK

This is a rare treat for Justin and Nikki. They hardly ever go out for snacks. This is Nikki’s ninth birthday, so they are celebrating.

NIKKI AND JUSTIN IN UNISON - Milkshakes!

JUSTIN’S MOTHER - What flavors do you two want? Let me guess, chocolate for both?

NIKKI AND JUSTIN IN UNISON - Yes!

The two kids are so excited, they spin around, laughing. As he is spinning, Justin looks over towards where the tables are and what he sees disgusts him.

A family of five sits at a table. All of them are overweight. They are messy as they shove the greasy fast food in their mouths. Chewing with open mouths. Food falling on their shirts. The father of the family lights a cigarette after finishing his food, blowing the smoke out, it surrounds his family.

JUSTIN - Yuck. Is he even allowed to smoke in here. Nikki makes a face.

NIKKI - Gross. Mom, say something.

JUSTIN’S MOTHER - Let’s just mind our business and get our milkshakes kids.

The man, overhearing Justin and Nikki, blows smoke at them. Justin glares at him and the man turns red and coughs uncontrollably for a few moments. Justin looks away and the man regains his breath.

INT. CAR ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC - FLASHBACK

Justin and Nikki sit in the back seat and enjoy their milkshakes, traffic is almost slowed to a stop.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY - FLASHBACK

Up ahead of their car the traffic is being funneled into one lane because of an accident.

INT. CAR ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC - FLASHBACK

Justin and Nikki look out of the window as they slowly pass the wreckage.

JUSTIN - Sad.

NIKKI - Yeah but look.

Nikki points out the window at one of the cars.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY - FLASHBACK

There are several cars strewn about the highway with various levels of damage. One is overturned and there is a man’s arm and hand stretched out from the window, clutching an empty liquor bottle.

JUSTIN (V.O.) - Murderer.

INT. CAR ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC - FLASHBACK

Justin and Nikki look at each other with sad expressions and shake their heads.

JUSTIN’S MOTHER - Kids, don’t look.

EXT. CHURCH - DAY - FLASHBACK

The church around the corner from Justin’s house is old. The congregation is arriving and the priest stands at the top of the steps shaking hands with his parishioners as they arrive for mass. Justin, now fifteen, watches.

For one moment, the priest is in a pose invoking sainthood.

JUSTIN (In thought) - I can’t take this anymore. These memories.

EXT. GRASSLANDS VILLAGE - DAY - JUSTIN’S IMAGINATION

A small group of people gather around a wizened old man, listening to him as he weaves a tale.

OLD MAN - When the gods were young they gave birth to our ancestors. Each god held dominion over their own creations.

A man and a woman the size of skyscrapers stand tall on the plains, arms outstretched. Wherever they wave, life blossoms.

OLD MAN (V.O.) - This is why the people of the plains, our people, speak mostly to the goddess of storms and the god of the harvest.

They look over the plains. Electricity flows over the woman, and through her long silver hair, her skin is the color of storm clouds. The man, with olive skin and hair the auburn of changing leaves, holds a full cornucopia.

OLD MAN (V.O.) - We must beg her to bring us the rains and beg him to see that our work be deemed worthy of a mighty harvest.

People surround a stone altar where a young man is tied down. The old man raises a stone knife and brings it down in a long arc splattering the old man and the gathered crowd in blood.

OLD MAN (V.O.) - Twice a year we must make sacrifices to our gods to show that we are worthy of their kindness.

INT. CHURCH PEWS - DAY - FLASHBACK

Justin enters the church. No one seems to notice him as he takes a seat in the back and observes.

JUSTIN (In thought) - So many lies. So much death and pain because of them.

A pious looking woman prays with rosary beads clasped in her hands, she raises her eyes to look at the wooden crucifix above the altar.

JUSTIN (In thought) - These people don’t even know.

Children play patty cake in the pews.

JUSTIN (In thought) - Those two could be next. The priest bows his head to lead a prayer.

JUSTIN (In thought) - This man’s lies.

EXT. MIDDLE AGES BATTLEFIELD - DAY - JUSTIN’S IMAGINATION

The chaos of war. Men with crosses emblazoned on their armor have won a victory against their foes. They kneel in front of a man who stands in a pose much like the priest from before.

JUSTIN (In thought) - Times have changed, but the lies remain.

INT. CHURCH - DAY - FLASHBACK

The pews are full and the priest is in full sermon mode, chopping the air with his hand, pointing at the congregation as if accusing them.

PRIEST - And God loves the little ones! Jesus asks that we protect them from harm! What are you doing to protect them?

Justin’s brow furrows in anger.

INT. CHURCH DORM - LATER THAT DAY - FLASHBACK

Justin stands outside a closed door in the priests dormitory at the church, fists clenched tightly. He holds up a hand, extending his fingers, palm towards the door.

JUSTIN (in thought) - I am putting an end to this!

INT. PRIESTS ROOM - FLASHBACK - CONTINUOUS

The priest has one of the altar boys in his room, both have goblets of wine in hand. The priest, leering at the boy, stands up from his chair as Justin bursts through the door, splinters of wood hit the priest’s forehead. Justin's phone hovers in front of him recording the scene.

JUSTIN - What do we have here?!?

The altar boy runs from the room, hiding his face. The priest tries to follow suit but Justin raises his hand and the old man is frozen in his tracks, a look of terror on his face.

JUSTIN - Ah, ah, Padre. I think confessions are in order.

Justin flicks his wrist and the priest is lifted from the ground, the chair slides across the floor, stopping abruptly under the priest. Justin drops the priest, and picks the man’s phone up off his desk and scrolls through the photos of altar boys and other children. Justin’s face darkens with anger. He turns on the video recorder.

INT. HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY - FLASHBACK

Justin and his family sit watching a show about space travel theories, they are happy. The same book about world religions sits on the coffee table.

JUSTIN (In thought) - With all of these liars who can I trust? My family, that’s who.

As if the page is ripping, this vision of his family is torn asunder.

EXT. GREY HOUSE - NIGHT - NOW

The grey house looms in the bright light of the moon and stars.

JUSTIN (V.O.) - With my family gone I can’t trust anyone.

INT. GREY HOUSE - JUSTIN AND NOAH'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

NOAH(17), spiky blonde hair, hazel eyes, looks at his new roommate with compassionate concern.

NOAH - You can trust me.

Tears still stream down Justin’s blank face. He doesn’t look up, not even realizing he was speaking out loud.

NOAH - My name is Noah. Noah Jonas Thomas. The third. I have been here for five years, seven months to go.

EXT. POP WARNER FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY - FLASHACK

One of the kids is slightly bigger than the other kids and easily runs circles around or plows through other players scoring multiple touchdowns during the course of the game. After the game, he seems unimpressed and disinterested.

NOAH (V.O.) - I was good at sports. I hated it. My parents made me do it.

EXT. MANSION - CIRCUS THEMED BIRTHDAY - DAY - FLASHBACK

The party is extravagant. A full three ring circus has been erected. Noah is playing with the elephant and a mirror, while his friends are playing with his new toys.

Noah draws a red dot on the elephant’s forehead and shows it a mirror. The elephant walks away, as bored as Noah, using it’s trunk to try and wipe away the ink.

NOAH (V.O.) - I gave away my toys, but I loved that elephant. That was the day...

INT. MANSION - FOYER - LATER - FLASHBACK

Noah hangs up the phone. The man in white escorts him out of the mansion.

NOAH (V.O.) - That was the day that my parents. Well, you know.

EXT. PLANE IN FLIGHT - DAY - FLASHBACK

The plane appears to be flying without trouble when one of the engines on the tail explodes, triggering further explosions and the plane is reduced to pieces falling from the sky.

NOAH (V.O.) - They said it was a bird. I think it was a bomb. My parents made their money in a less than honest way. It made them targets.

INT. GREY HOUSE - JUSTIN AND NOAH'S ROOM - NOW

Justin finally looks up at Noah. Even sitting, the athletically built teen towers over him, his golden eyes a bath of friendship.

NOAH - Never had a roommate. I haven’t really made many friends. I think people are jealous of me.

JUSTIN - Why are they jealous?

INT. THE GREY HOUSE - DINING HALL - FLASHBACK

Noah stands next to Ms. Draub and she introduces him to the other students. Silence fills the dining hall as they wait for him to speak.

NOAH - I will receive quite a large inheritance when I leave here...

INT. THE GREY HOUSE - JUSTIN AND NOAH’S ROOM - NOW

NOAH - my parents were in the top one percent of the top one percent. I will never have to work a day in my life. It was the last thing my aunt ever said to me, and the first thing I stupidly regurgitated when I arrived.

Justin rolls his eyes, smirking.

JUSTIN - I can’t imagine why they might be jealous.

Justin lays back on his bed, and Noah sits crossed legged on his own bed. The digital alarm clock on the night stand reads 9:00pm and the alarm goes off.

NOAH - Well it is time for bed. School nights, lights out by 9pm. Other nights we get to stay up until midnight. Tomorrow you will have to meet with Ms. Draub again and there will be a little welcome party.

Noah turns off the light on the night stand and lays back.

NOAH - Look, everyone here knows exactly what you are going through. They’ll be kind at first, but after a while it will be just like high school. If you want, I could have your back. I know I could use a friend.

JUSTIN - We’ll see.

Justin stares at the ceiling. For the first time that day his cheeks are free of tears.

JUSTIN (In thought) - This rich kid has no clue. I don’t need friends, I need my sister.

INT. GREY HOUSE - JUSTIN AND NOAH'S ROOM - LATER

Justin is sleeping. The room shifts and there is a reddish-purplish glow, in the center of the glow stands the form of a young woman. As the glow fades, the spectral shape solidifies and Justin’s sister, NIKKI, tall, with multi-colored hair and punk rock clothes, appears in the space between the beds.

NIKKI - Whoa, little brother! Be careful!

She whirls around, but Noah, snoring now, is completely unaware. Justin startles and sits up in his bed, looking over at Noah’s sleeping form, then up at his sister.

NIKKI - Oh, I guess it doesn’t matter. Heavy sleeper.

JUSTIN - Wha...what are you doing here?

NIKKI - You called for me.

JUSTIN - I did?

Nikki looks at her little brother with concern.

NIKKI - Well yeah. Look, I don’t know how it works, but I get to watch you and if you really need me, I can come and talk to you.

Nikki turns to look back at Noah, chuckling to herself as he snores away.

NIKKI - He is going to need you, you’re going to need him. Don’t let hate fog your vision and bury your heart.

Nikki turns back to Justin, smiling. She reaches out and takes Justin’s hand, kneeling to look him in the eyes.

NIKKI - Things aren’t anything like we were taught. Our parents didn’t know. How could they? How could anyone?

Nikki stands up and as she does so the strange glow returns, filling the bedroom.

NIKKI - Go to sleep, brother. Get some rest.

Nikki begins to fade away, along with the glow. Justin lays back down, arms behind his head.

JUSTIN (In thought) - What the hell? Good thing Noah didn’t see that.

EXT. GREY HOUSE - FULL SHOT - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

The Grey House stands ominous in the moonlight, the light from Nikki’s otherworldly glow is seen fading from inside Justin and Noah’s room.

JUSTIN (V.O.) (In thought) - I already hate it here, all I need is for the rich boy to freak out. That would suck.

INT. GREY HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Looking into different rooms, other orphans, children and teenagers are drifting off to sleep, all blissfully unaware of the visitation that had just happened.

INT. GREY HOUSE - JUSTIN AND NOAH'S ROOM - JUSTIN DREAMS

Big full page shot. Justin sleeps in his bed. Above him numbers swirl, seeming to be random 49, 17, 24, 3, 31, 28, 20, 6, 14, 0, 54, 38, 23, 20, 17, 10, 35, 10, 42, 3 in that order, from outer to inner of a spiral, swirling in a vortex of glowing blue-violet energy.

CUT TO BLACK.