Splinter (2021) Movie Script

1
[eerie orchestral music]


[engine shuts off]

[glass shattering]
[thud]
[footsteps]
[water running]
[pills rattling]
[cap clicks]
[water running]
[water stops]
[sniffs]
[sniffles]
[sobbing softly]
[psychiatrist]
Any more dreams?
They don't feel like dreams.
Lucid dreams.
You're on the edge
of consciousness.
Are you seeing things?
Hallucinations?
No, no. Of course not.
[psychiatrist]
You sure?
Yes.
You're taking your medication?
[John]
Like clockwork.
How's the obsessive-compulsive
disorder?
Fantastic.
Still have a sense of humor.
Good.
Yeah.
I don't have anything else.
Well, that's
all up to you, John.
I wish I had taken
more photographs of them.
I get scared
that I'll forget
what they look like.
[psychiatrist] Is that why
you won't leave the house?
Why you keep things
the way they were before?
Because you think you might
forget Sarah and Michael?
I don't know.
I don't-- I don't know. I--
I can still feel 'em here.
[psychiatrist]
Well, that's understandable.
No, no, no.
I mean, I can really feel them.
It's not like a memory. It's...
It's as if
they're in the next room
just waiting for me.
Tell me again
about that night.
No.
No, I'd rather not, no.
[sighs]
Yeah, that's right, just, um,
just go ahead and write it down.
Yeah, I'm-- I'm-- I'm really
getting sick of all this.
I lost my family.
They were murdered.
How would you feel if someone
broke into your house
and murdered your family?
I'd be angry.
In fact, I'd be fucking enraged.
Yeah, that's right.
That's right.
That's exactly right.
I'm not here to judge you.
Why are you here?
[psychiatrist]
To listen.
Or to see if I'm crazy,
keep giving me drugs.
I'm not sick.
I don't need these pills.
They're to help your depression.
[scoffs]
Maybe-- Maybe I'm
supposed to be depressed.
Maybe-- Maybe
that's the normal reaction.
Oh, it is.
But, I'm here
to help you through it.
Like the pills.
They're to help you cope
'til you don't need them.
I'm sor-- sorry.
No need to apologize.
Enough talking for now.
Wouldn't you agree?
Feel better?
Yeah.
[psychiatrist]
Before I leave,
there's one thing
I'd like you to try.
Why don't you open the curtains?
The human body needs light.
The human brain needs light.
Small steps, John.
[exhales sharply]
You're completely safe.
Now, that's not so bad, is it?
Where are you, Sarah?
I really needed you today.
[scoffs]
[dramatic sting]
-[door knocking]
-[breathing heavily]
[eerie music]
[tense music]
[clinking]
[sighing]
[footsteps]
[knocking]
Michael?
[eerie music]


Hide and seek?
Do you want to play
hide and seek?
One,
two,
three,
four,
five,
six,
seven,
eight,
nine,
ten!
[footsteps]
I'm coming to find you.
Ready or not.
I shall win the game, Michael.
I'm gonna find you.
Michael?
You can come out now.
You win.
Michael?
Michael?
Michael?
[loud clattering]
[creaking]
[breathing heavily]
[light switch clicking]
[pills rattling]
[cap clicks]
[water running]
[water stops]
[footsteps]
[angelic piano instrumental]




[music fades]
[dramatic music]
[screaming]

[music fades]
[eerie music]
[cell phone ringing]
[ringing stops]
[engine thrumming]
[doorbell ringing]
[doorbell ringing rapidly]
[ringing stops]
[doorbell rings]
Hiya. Sorry to bother ya.
That's okay.
I'm Lou. I'm a-- a cleaner.
Well, looking for, actually,
any old sort of work,
not just cleaning.
Um...
Sorry to be knocking on your
door, but I was wondering--
No, I-- I--
I don't need anything.
Go shopping for you?
Pick stuff up?
-Will you run errands?
-Run what?
Errands. It's...
Eh, you, like,
do little jobs and--
Look, can I come in?
Um, I could make us
a cup of coffee
like as a test sort of thing.
Uh, yeah. Okay, yeah.
Well, I suppose it's all right.
[door closes]
You know it's July, right?
Yeah.
Jeez, you love Christmas.
Why don't you open a curtain?
Well, we vampires
get killed by sunlight.
Oh, I'm sorr-- I'm sorry.
That's a-- That was
a really stupid joke.
I have a condition.
Is it contagious?
[chuckles]
No, it's psychological.
I can't go outside.
-Never?
-Not for a long time.
[Lou chuckles]
That's fucking crazy.
Sorry.
It's all right.
So you could use some help then,
someone to, like, go shopping.
I'm-- I'm not too sure.
[Lou]
How about a coffee?
I don't know
where the coffee is.
It's my wife
that's a coffee drinker.
[Lou]
You're married?
-Is she in?
-No.
Look, uh, uh, uh, Louise--
You can call me Lou Lou
if you like.
[stammers]
I don't think I need any help.
I'm sorry.
All right. Yeah, that's fine.
It's-- It's no problem.
Sorry, I--
I didn't mean to be pushy.
It's just it's--
it's hard to find a job
these days, you know?
Yeah.
Could I use your toilet?
Yeah, yeah, of course you can.
It's um, it's just upstairs.
It's first on the right.
What the hell
do you think you're doing?
Sorry, I was just, um--
These are-- These are
my wife's things.
You have no right to touch them.
Where is she?
I told you she's not here.
Then why is her stuff here?
I think you should leave.
Are you some sort of a weirdo
that likes dressing up as women
or something?
You fucking stay away from me!
If you touch me,
my boyfriend'll
cut your fuckin' dick off.
-I want you out of my house!
-Are you sure?
I saw you staring at my arse.
Get the fuck off of me!
Fuck off of me!
[shrieks]
[grunting]
[groaning]
Fuck you, you wiener!
[grunts]
[groans]
Fuckin' bitch.
[tense music]
[creaking]

[clanging]
[breathing heavily]
[clicking]
Oh, shit.

[foot tapping]
[click]
[music quickening]
[coughs]
[breathing heavily]
[angelic music]
[groans]
[panting]
[grunting softly]
[groans softly]
[grunting]
Ah, fuck.
[sputters]
What are you looking at?
You'd tell me if I was
losing my mind, wouldn't you?
[somber music playing]
[woman vocalizing ethereally]
Birds turn to sirens
above me
I climb out the waves
The wreckage below me
You made a scar on my heart
Where you loved me
If I showed you the mark
[gasps]
What the fuck just woke me?
Now leave me the fuck alone!
[eerie music]
[breathing heavily]
[clicking]
[children shouting in distance]
[birds cawing]
[tense music]

I'm not playing
hide and seek anymore.
I want you to come out now.
I mean it.

[dinosaur roars]
[eerie music]
[clock ticking]
[doorknob clattering]
[creaking]
[gasps]
What are you doing in my house?
What the fuck
you gonna do with that?
Come on then, old man.
[groaning]
[groaning stops]
[hammer thudding]
[laughs]
Miss me?
[chuckles]
[humming "Deck the Halls"]
[kettle whirring]
[continues humming softly]
[continues humming softly]
[eerie music fading in]
[phone buzzing]
I'm very impressed
by your progress
since the last time I was here.
Progress?
Well, you could
hardly open the curtains.
Now you seem... different.
Ah, well, you see,
I've had an epiphany.
-Yes?
-Mm.
I realized what a little pussy
I was being.
And what's brought
this change about?
Well, when I was a kid, you see,
I was always getting bullied.
Happened a few times.
Guess I must have
that kind of face.
But this one kid in particular,
this really hard kid, Ryan,
he made my life hell.
You know, took money off me,
kicked me, punched me,
especially
in front of the girls.
I hated that little bastard
more than anything.
But then, I made a friend.
He was someone
who wasn't like me, you know?
He wasn't afraid
of kids like Ryan.
And then one day,
I was getting the usual beating
when Bobby steps in.
Grabs hold of one
of Ryan's football boots
and starts whacking him
around the face with it
over and over again.
Yeah.
Those studs
really ripped into his skin.
Tore his face off.
Left him with scars.
Something to remember.
What did it make you feel,
witnessing such violence?
Felt like justice.
And now?
How do you feel looking at it
from a grown-up perspective?
I wish he'd killed
the little fucker.
How are things going
with the medication?
Great.
[psychiatrist] I hear your
brother's going on a cruise.
A long one hopefully.
-He invited you?
-[John scoffs]
Well, he's not exactly my first
choice of holiday companion.
How about you?
-Me?
-Yeah.
-Ever been on a cruise?
-[psychiatrist] No.
No. No, no, you're right.
No, no.
I see you more as a, um,
beach bum, you know?
Sitting on the beach
with your slinky little bikini,
drinking cocktails.
Where would you like
to go on holiday?
[chuckles]
Well, that beach and cocktail
sounds pretty good.
-How is the drinking?
-[John] Oh, it's great.
I'm thinking of going pro.
[psychiatrist]
You don't want to talk about it?
[scoffs]
Aye yi yi yi.
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.
Oh, come on,
you must get pretty sick
of people whining on.
"I cannot sleep."
"I wet the bed
when I was a teenager."
"I can't stop
fucking my wife's friends."
I'm afraid it's not usually
quite so exciting.
But, no, I-- I don't get bored.
I like helping people.
Like you.
Do I look like I need your help?
I think our time is up.
Hey.
You never told me
you had such a hot shrink.
No wonder you keep up the act.
Getting her
to feel sorry for you.
[forced sobbing]
"I miss my wife. I'm so sad."
"What?
Would showing me your tits
make me feel better?
You know, I think it might."
Sorry I had
to leave you in there.
I couldn't trust you weren't
gonna spill the beans
and tell her all about me.
And all the other stuff.
Oh.
Found this in the bin.
Someone trying
to tell you something.
Pretty concise.
You have to admire that.
Why are you looking
at me like that?
I'm your best friend.
It's all done to protect you.
Now, I'll let you out
if you promise not to go
blabbing about what we've done.
Deal?
Deal?
Cool.
Have to say, John,
it's good to be home.
[panting]
[breathing heavily]
[thudding]
[sobbing]
-[pounding on door]
-[coughs]
[Lou]
Open the fucking door!
[pounding on door]
I know you're in there,
you bastard!
[pounding on door]
Where is he?
You know who I'm talking about.
[John]
I don't know. I'm sorry.
[Lou] Don't you
fuckin' lie to me!
I want to know
where my boyfriend is!
He's not been home
for two nights,
and the last I heard,
he was coming over here.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
Now, please leave.
Before I call the police.
Go on.
Yeah, do it.
Call the police.
Get out.
Now.
What have you done to him,
you crazy fucker?
Just leave
before something bad happens.
All right.
Yeah, I'm leaving.
But, I'll be back.
I'm gonna bring
the police with me,
and they're gonna find out
what's happened to him.
[tense music]
[echoing footsteps]
[light switch clicking]
Is this a fuckin' disco?
Got a real problem with this.
It's OCD.
What triggers
something like that?
I don't know. I just--
I just get scared.
I just don't fuckin' get it.
Drives me crazy.
What are you scared of?
Nothing.
Where you been all day?
Hiding in Michael's room?
Don't you think
it's time you moved on?
I took down
all that kid's stuff, binned it.
I have to tell you,
it gave me the creeps.
He's my son.
Was your son.
If you listen to rumors,
even that's debatable.
What?
Oh. [clicks tongue]
That's not from my lips.
But Sarah was younger than you.
She had her admirers.
You have to admit,
Michael looks nothing like you.
Hey.
Remember, you called me.
No.
No, I didn't.
No, no, no, no, I didn't.
You might think that.
But whenever there's trouble,
you call on good, old Bobby
to come and sort out a problem.
I'm always here.
Who do you think got you
your first date with Sarah?
Hm?
You would never have called her
if I hadn't been whispering
in your ear.
Don't you even--
Don't you talk about her.
Don't talk about my wife.
Don't even mention her name.
What?
Sarah.
Wow, so won't want to hear
that I used to fuck her
while you were asleep.
Yeah, yeah.
While you were off in dreamland,
Sarah was sucking my cock.
-Hey, hey.
-[gagging]
So, you miss kissing her?
It's all right. We're buddies.
We've been friends
since we were kids,
and I've never let you down.
We're older now,
but there's no reason
why we can't be
compadres, amigos.
What do you say? Give me five.
[John coughs]
Guess not, huh?
[John coughs]
I'm impressed. You've grown up.
Almost.
Just leave me alone.
Oh.
All you got to do is ask
and I'll leave.
Ask and I'm gone.
Would you-- would you leave?
What?
I said, will you leave?
No.
No.
[Bobby grunts]
That your best shot? Huh?
[John groans]
Um, I live here too.
You fucking leave!
[John groans]
See ya. Don't be a stranger.
I ain't going anywhere.
[Michael]
Don't worry, Daddy.
He can't hurt you in here.
[sobbing]
[John sobbing]
Hello?
Hello?
John?
Hello? John?
I've got a new prescription
I was going to drop off.
John?
John?
[sighs]
Hello, Doctor.
John.
What on Earth?
You look awful.
Here, come sit down.
Oh, my God. I'm losing my mind.
Let me make you
a cup of tea, hm?
No. No, no, no, no.
Please. Please.
Please don't leave me.
I-- I-- I-- I-- don't want you
to get hurt.
Who will hurt me, John?
You can tell me.
He might be listening.
Have you been taking
your medication?
No, it's not the pills.
You stopped taking them?
No, he's-- he's been here.
He's been here before.
[psychiatrist] No.
Please, he'll--
he'll be waiting for me.
-Now, listen to me, John.
-He'll be watching me.
You stopped
taking your medication,
which has opened a door
in your brain,
and now someone
has walked through.
No, he-- he's here.
He's really here.
Calm down, John.
We can deal with this person.
But, you don't know him.
You don't know what he's like.
Do you trust me?
[John]
Do I trust you?
Do you trust me?
Yes. Yes.
Yes, I trust the doctor, yes.
-Yes.
-Then tell me his name.
His name?
-His name.
-His name.
His name is--
His name is--
His name is Bobby.
Bobby.
[psychiatrist groaning]
[groaning continues]
[shrieking]
[shrieking continues]
[shrieking stops]
[dramatic music]

[music fades]
[eerie music]
[floorboards creaking]
[ladder clattering]
[footsteps]
Michael?

Michael?

[coughs]
[Michael] Daddy?
Michael.
Are you-- are you real?
I miss you so much.
[sniffles]
I never thought
I'd get to look at you again.
Feels like the first time.
I saw you in your mother's arms,
and you were so small
and perfect.
And you looked at me as if--
as if you knew me.
Like... you knew
I was your father.
You knew I was--
I was always gonna look
after you.
Son.
I love you so much.
I'm never gonna let anyone
take you away from me.
I love you so much.
[sniffles]
Daddy.
Remember.
[pleasant piano instrumental]

[inaudible]
[dramatic music]


[footsteps]
[foot tapping]
[phone beeping]
[man] Hi.
You've reached us, but we're
not at home at the moment.
Please leave a message
after the beep.
[beep]
Hi, it's-- it's-- it's John.
I-- I know you're on the cruise
and having a good time.
Well, I ho-- ho-- hope
you are, anyway.
I, um...
I-- I just want you to know that
it's-- it's not a bad thing.
It's what I want.
And...
I don't want you
to worry about me anymore.
Just want to say goodbye.
And I love you.
[breathing shakily]
[Bobby]
Looking for me?
Why?
Why what?
Why did you murder
my wife and my son?
-'Cause you asked me to, dummy.
-No.
No, I didn't.
I never wanted that.
I loved them.
Almost had you there.
Oh, of course you didn't. I did.
But you have to understand,
it was you that killed them.
Your hands
were holding the weapon.
I'm astounded
you're not in prison.
You must have been
incredibly convincing
in the lie detector test.
"It was a break-in."
[forced sobbing]
"And he knocked me out."
[forced sobbing]
"And he killed my family."
[forced sobbing]
You were nothing without me.
No. No, no,
my life was going great.
But you-- you-- you got back in.
And you took it all away.
[Bobby]
I never went anywhere.
I was always here
in the darkest part
of your brain.
Yeah, like a tumor.
[Bobby]
You never show me any gratitude.
See, you run around this place
thinking it's haunted.
You're a corpse, John.
Trapped within these walls,
roaming room to room
like a lovesick vampire.
You're dead, John.
-You're a fucking ghost.
-Shut your mouth.
Sorry?
I said shut your mouth.
-What's this? Teenage rebellion?
-I'm sick of listening to you!
I'm sick of you
telling me what to do,
knowing what's best for me!
You only did
what's best for you.
None of it was for me.
Not even when we were kids.
Not true.
[clicks tongue]
I protected you.
-No.
-[Bobby] Made you stronger.
I took away the fear.
You used me.
No more.
I want you to leave.
And I never
want to see you again.
I'm not going anywhere.
You don't have a choice.
Ooh.
What are you gonna do?
You're never gonna hurt
anybody again.
[groans and coughs]
Oh... [chuckles]
[groans]
You sneaky bastard.
You stabbed me.
Fuckin' insane.
You need me.
I need my family.
I am your family!
[groaning]
[John gagging]
[groans]
[groans]
[angelic instrumental]


[woman vocalizing ethereally]
Birds turn to sirens
above me
I climb out the waves
The wreckage below me
You made a scar on my heart
Where you loved me
If I showed you the mark
Would you start to love me?
Would you love me?
Would you?
That tree we found
Its boughs are breaking
The roots are bound
The ground is failing
I carved our name
in the bark
Did you know this?
If I showed you the mark
Would you start to notice?
Would you notice?
Would you?