202. On Innocence Lost - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY


• KATIE, a 7-year-old, sits on the swingset, rocking gently back and forth.


• She smiles as a large ANGEL appears by the slides.


• It waves at her, eyes glowing.


• She swings higher, happy.


• The Angel is at least 9 feet tall, with eyes so white it appears blind; it feels the air with its fingers twitching like antennae.


• It is completely androgynous.


• The angel puts its hands together and then pulls them apart, revealing a slowly spinning ball of flame.


• It offers it to Katie.


• She jumps off the swings and runs towards the slide.


• A HAND reaches out and stops her mid-stride.


• Her MOTHER looms above her.


• KATIE
• But Mommy! The Angel.


• Her mother pales.


• MOTHER
• Honey, honey, come here. Don't look at the slide, look straight at me.


• KATIE
• But Mommy!


• MOTHER
• Look at me.


• Katie obeys, stealing a peek at the angel before being pulled away.


• Katie's mother pulls her to a park bench where her FATHER sits, he smiles at them.


• MOTHER
• Dear, I think it's time.


• His smile fades.


• FATHER
• She's still seeing?


• Her mother nods.


• He stands and they walk quickly to their car and pull away from the park.


• INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - DAY


• Katie's father stands with a doctor in an open doorway speaking in hushed tones, a worried look on his face.


• The doctor nods, then walks to Katie.


• DOCTOR
• Hello Katie, I hear there's a little problem we need to take care of.


• Katie looks up confused.


• The doctor looks at her parents.


• DOCTOR
• Just follow me.


• They head through the open door.


• INT. EXAM ROOM - DAY


• DOCTOR
• Up on the table.


• Katie's Dad picks her up and places her the cold table.


• She whimpers as she the doctor pulls out the tray of needles.


• DOCTOR
• Now don't worry, it won't hurt a bit.


• The door opens, but no one notices but Katie.


• The Angel slips into the room, sitting on the floor to fit its massive frame.


• Katie smiles.


• DOCTOR
• See? What a trooper.


• He pulls out the needle and quickly readies Katie's arm.


• The Angel looks forlorn.


• Katie doesn't notice what the doctor is doing.


• He removes a needle from the tray; it is filled with a dark blue liquid.


• DOCTOR
• Ready?


• Her parents, stand, looking worried.


• The doctor inserts the needle, but Katie doesn't stir.


• He begins injecting the fluid and the angel flickers, slowly disappearing.


• Katie begins to scream, reaching for him.


• Her father holds her still.


• The doctor removes the needle.


• DOCTOR
• She'll have a few occasional flashes, but as the weeks go past, she'll barely remember. I certainly can't remember. I just remember hating the shot.


• He chuckles.


• FATHER
• Have they ever figured out what causes the delusions?


• The doctor shrugs and taps the needle.


• DOCTOR
• But we know how to fix it.


• Katie sits on the table, sobbing and reaching for empty space.


• Her mother picks her up and carries her out into the hallway.


• INT. HALLWAY - DAY


• They walk out down the hallway, her mother reassuring her as she reaches back for something Katie can no longer see, sobbing.


• FADE TO BLACK.