INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT TWO GIGGLING SHADOWS APPEAR IN THE BEDROOM DOORWAY. They try MALCOLM Anna giggles some more as Malcolm’s shadow stumbles across MALCOLM TURNS ON THE BATHROOM LIGHT. A SHAFT OF LIGHT falls on Anna as she stands in the corner Anna smiles playfully and pulls off her sweater. She sways Malcolm can’t hold back his grin. He joins in — slowly He walks towards her. HIS GRIN QUIETLY DISAPPEARS. Malcolm’s A lamp lays broken on the ground by the window. Malcolm kneels down. Beat. Anna’s eyes fill with a quiet ANNA A SHADOW FROM THE BATHROOM FLATS OVER BOTH OF THEM. ANNA SCREAMS. Malcolm spins around. His heart stops. Malcolm and Anna stare at the bathroom doorway. They know Malcolm slowly starts towards the door. The first thing that Then the figure of a man comes into view. A STRANGER stands NO ONE MAKES A SOUND. The STRANGER is about nineteen. Drugged out. Pitch black His hands are folded in front of him. He shakes ever so Malcolm speaks in a very calm voice. Never takes his eyes MALCOLM Anna barely nods her understanding. MALCOLM The stranger slowly looks up for the first time. His eyes STRANGER Beat. MALCOLM The stranger suddenly comes forward into the doorway. Malcolm Anna sees the stranger for the first time. Her face drains The stranger looks at Malcolm. He half grins. STRANGER The stranger’s stare slides to Anna. STRANGER The stranger gazes at Anna. Gazes directly into her eyes. A penetrating, unwavering stare. STRANGER Anna’s expression instanly changes. STRANGER BEAT. THE ROOM GOES SILENT. MALCOLM The stranger turns and glares at Malcolm. STRANGER Malcolm stops all movement. ANNA MALCOLM STRANGER Malcolm can’t speak. Beat. The stranger’s face starts to STRANGER Beat. Malcolm’s intelligent eyes race for answers. STRANGER Malcolm looks like someone hit him with a sledgehammer. STRANGER Tears jump into the stranger’s eyes. STRANGER Malcolm stands. MALCOLM Malcolm’s shaking hands touch his mouth as he stares at the MALCOLM STRANGER MALCOLM Tears fall down the stranger’s face. STRANGER Malcolm looks up at the sound of those words. Something clicks MALCOLM THE ROOM GOES SILENT AGAIN. MALCOLM VINCENT GRAY stares with surprise through his tears. Malcolm lets out a deep breath like he just emerged from MALCOLM Vincent’s eyes burn at Malcolm. VINCENT VINCENT is fully crying now. VINCENT MALCOLM Vincent turns to the sink. His hand goes in. He turns around Vincent instantly moves the gun to his own head. ANOTHER ANNA’S CHILLING SCREAMS FILL THEIR HOME. DISSOLVE TO: * It’s unexpected: The couple has been celebrating downstairs and are prepping for a romp in bed. * It builds: Playfully stripping, spot the broken window, telephone beeping, a shadow, spotting Vincent in the bathroom. * Malcolm playing catch-up: He’s a step behind Vincent the entire scene, which becomes completely clear at the scene’s end, where Vincent reveals what his plan has been all along. * Major plot point: This is a critical, perhaps the critical scene in the movie, as this is where Malcolm is murdered. * It fools us: Malcolm may be murdered, but the way the scene ends, then ‘bleeds’ into the next scene, we don’t know that. The screenwriter-director M. Night Schyamalan reportedly wrote 10 drafts of this script. What is more remarkable is that it wasn’t until the 5th draft that he stumbled upon the key revelation: Malcolm Crowe is dead. That’s right, it took him that long to hit on the brilliant idea — to have a dead Protagonist. Yet another reason this qualifies as a great scene.
to turn on the light. It doesn’t come on.
Bulb’s out.
the bedroom.
of the room.
to a pretend striptease song.
peeling off the sweat-shirt. He looks back to Anna. She’s
stopped her playful dance. She’s facing away from him.
face turns to rock as his attention is drawn to the SHATTERED
WINDOW in their bedroom. The wind moves through the room.
awareness.
He’s still in the house.
someone is inside. Beat.
comes into view are the clothes on the bathroom floor.
bare chested in the back of the bathroom.
eyes bulging. His body is covered in scars and bruises.
slightly. He has a patch of white in his hair.
off the stranger.
Anna, don’t move. Don’t say a word.
(to the stranger)
This is forty-seven Locust Street.
You have broken a window and entered
a private residence. Do you understand
what I’m saying?
lock on Malcolm.
You don’t know so many things.
There are no needles or prescription
drugs of any kind in this house.
stumbles back onto the edge of the bed.
of color.
Are you drunk?
Did you get him drunk?
Do you know why you’re scared when
you’re alone?
I know.
What do you want? I don’t understand
what you want.
What you promised.
–My God.
–Do I know you?
Let’s all celebrate, Dr. Malcolm
Crowe. Recipient of awards from the
Mayor on the news. Dr. Malcolm Crowe,
he’s helped so many children… And
he doesn’t even remember my name?
tremble.
I was ten when you worked with me.
Downtown clinic? Single parent family?
(beat)
I had a possible mood disorder…
(beat)
I had no friends… you said I was
socially isolated.
(beat)
I was afraid — you called it acute
anxiety…
(beat)
You were wrong.
(beat)
Come on, clear your head… Male,
nine… Single parent… Mood
disorder… Acute anxiety.
I’m nineteen. I have drugs in my
system twenty-four hours a day… I
still have no friends. I still have
no peace. I’m still afraid.
…I’m still afraid.
Please give me a second to think.
stranger. Beat.
Ben Freidken?
Some people call me freak.
…Ronald… Ronald Sumner?
I am a freak.
in his head.
–Vincent?
Vincent Gray?
deep waters.
I do remember you, Vincent. You were
a good kid. Very smart… Quiet…
Compassionate… Unusually
compassionate…
You forgot cursed.
You failed me.
(whispers)
Vincent… I’m sorry I didn’t help
you… I can try to help you now.
and raises a gun at Malcolm. He FIRES. A VIOLENT,
EARSHATTERING ECHO. Malcolm clutches his stomach and folds
like a rag doll onto the bed.
HORRIFIC BLAST SPIKES THE AIR. Vincent crumples onto the
bathroom floor.
