The Hollow Child (2017) Movie Script

1
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
One, two, three, four, five...
eight, nine, ten...
Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen...
Eighteen, nineteen, twenty...
Ready or not...
Here I come.
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello?
Janey!
Janey!
Who's there?
(LOUD THUD)
(SCREAM)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
WOMAN (V.O.):
Where is Janie?
It was so quiet, why so quiet...
too quiet.
(DISTANT SCREAM)
What goes on behind those eyes?
No!
(GIRL SCREAMING)
(DISTANT SIRENS APPROACHING)
WOMAN (V.O.):
Why wouldn't they see? See?
Why wouldn't they see?
Always seeing.
Something I heard in a dream.
(INDISTINCT)
WOMAN (V.O.):
Janie?
(INDISTINCT)
I couldn't find her.
- (BLADE SHEARING)
- (GROAN)
BOY (V.O.):
What do you mean by that?
WOMAN (V.O.):
Don't look at its face.
She said it was an accident.
(MUSIC CHANGES)
(MUSIC ENDS)
[EMILY]
I need it. I need it!
God, stop...
- Okay, fine.
- Oh! That's horrible, oh, no.
Oh, orange, definitely your
color, I would say.
Oh, hey, no, this is actually
not bad, though.
Hm? Splatter some blood on it,
get some big glasses, bam!
Zombie hipster.
Or... trucker zombie.
Stop.
Sam! Sam, can I get this?
What do you want that for?
For my costume, I'm going
as a fairy queen.
Cool, squirt.
What are you guys' costumes?
- Zombies.
- I don't like zombies.
Well, you know what they like?
Delicious, little, girl brains.
Knock it off.
Cathy said this party is gonna
be so crazy.
Ssh!
What party?
The two of us are gonna
hang out on Halloween.
But I thought we were gonna go
trick-or-treating?
Hey! You said you'd help me
with my costume.
Sam, hey.
Logan, uh...
Yeah, I actually got those notes
that you wanted.
Oh.
So, um, what are you guys doing?
Just looking for Halloween
stuff?
We're actually...
Actually, yeah, we're gonna go
try some stuff on.
Uh, could you watch Olivia?
That'd be great, thanks.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Hey, Sam... so, um, are you going
to that Halloween thing...
at school, you know, the dance?
Ooh! What's her problem?
What the hell was that?
She is crazy. My mom went
to school with her.
She tried to burn her own house
down... with her family in it.
Jeez.
Why would she do that?
(FAINT WHISPERING)
Yeah, like that, okay.
(GIGGLING)
Oh, nice! Yeah.
[GARRETT]
Thank you, Lord, for this food.
Bless our family and keep us
safe.
Amen.
Your phone stop working?
That's the only reason I can
think that you'd be this late.
Garrett, can we just...
And you let Olivia
walk home alone!
We've talked about this before,
Sam.
Yeah, but she doesn't care.
Right, squirt?
Sam, you can't just pick
and choose...
which of the rules you want
to follow!
Okay.
What? I'm not wrong, am I? She
wants to be part of this family.
(SEWING MACHINE RUNNING)
Dinner?
She's ten, I mean, I walked home
from school when I was ten.
Did a lot of things on my own
when I was ten.
You realize there's
a dresser here.
Mm-hm.
You could put up some posters.
We can get some new paint.
You, me and Olivia could
have a paint party.
It's fine... the way it is.
You know, Garrett and I have
been talking... about you.
How much I suck?
About making you a part
of this family... permanently.
We all want you here.
I made you something.
Is that supposed to be me?
I don't think you drew me
grumpy enough.
You weren't allowed to be grumpy
in this picture, we're flying.
Thanks, squirt.
Your welcome.
(PHONE VIBRATES)
Do you want to get out of here
and blaze?
Hey, squirt, are you okay to
walk the rest of the way home?
Yeah.
Cool... see you there.
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
I went by our old street
the other day.
Your house is still there.
Should tear it down...
or burn it.
Sorry.
At least we met, right?
And what would I do without you?
You'd smoke sloppy-ass joints,
obviously.
Olivia! I'm home!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Olivia?
Olivia?
(MUSIC FADES UP)
Olivia!
Olivia!
And that was the last time
you saw her?
You think of anything else,
you let me know.
Garrett...
I don't want to hear from you,
you understand me?
[GARRETT] You did this to her.
(ARGUING UNINTELLIGABLE)
Olivia!
Olivia!
Honey, it's Mama and Daddy!
Olivia!
Olivia!
Olivia!
[GARRETT]
I don't understand this.
Why do you keep defending her?
[LIZ] Can we just please focus
on Olivia right now?
I don't wanna talk about Sam,
she's just a messed up kid.
[GARRETT] She is messed up,
but this is about Olivia...
do you understand me?
Just cause she's messed up,
that doesn't excuse Sam...
for what's going on here, you
gotta understand some of this...
you're not going to help her,
you can't help Sam.
[LIZ] Fine! What if my parents
had just given up on me?
[GARRETT]
Liz, Sam is not you.
(BELL RINGS)
You going to stay out here
all night again?
I'd kill for a cigarette
right now.
You smoke?
I gave it up before we
had Olivia.
Gave a lot of things up
around then.
When my parents adopted me,
they were so strong...
for me, when I needed the most.
You go through it,
you do the work...
and you think you're ready
for this life.
That you can be that strong
in the face of whatever...
the world throws at you.
Pray with me, Sam.
Heavenly Father, please bring
Olivia back to us.
Please shield her from harm.
She's my baby.
Why weren't you there for her?
I'm sorry.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
DEMONIC VOICE (V.O.):
Pray with me, Sam.
Please just send Olivia
back to us.
Shield her from harm.
Why weren't you there for me!
Olivia?
Olivia! Oh my God!
Liz. Liz! Garrett!
Are you okay? I'm so sorry.
I'm really sorry...
Oh my God. Olivia? Olivia.
Oh my God!
Oh, there you are!
Where am I?
Olivia, baby! Oh, baby!
Where am I?
You're home!
No, she's fine, really.
Just a little dehydrated,
the doctor said.
[LIZ]
Yes, I know, we're so relieved.
Hey, Sam, can you take
that out for me?
Don't think things are okay,
just because she's back.
Liz trusts you, but I don't.
But I'm gonna be different...
Give me an excuse.
If it were up to me, you'd be
right back in the group home.
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
[SAM]
Olivia? Is everything okay?
Are you cold?
Did you have a nightmare?
I couldn't sleep, either.
Weird dreams.
I wasn't sleeping.
What happened to you out there,
squirt?
I was lost.
But you don't remember anything?
I mean...
I mean, was there anyone with
you... when you were out there?
I remember the trees
and the wind.
Just now I thought I heard
singing.
Weird, huh?
Let's go to bed, okay?
Look what I made.
It's for your costume.
Glad you're back.
[OLIVIA] Don't!
I like the sound the wind makes.
Night, squirt.
You.
She's not what she seems.
She's dangerous.
Rawr!
Hey!
Let's go.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
[OLIVIA] Amen.
Amen. Goodnight, monkey.
Night, Mom.
Garrett's working late tonight,
and I have to do a split shift.
I need you to watch Olivia.
Liz, seriously? C'mon,
it's Halloween! I have plans!
I know, I'm sorry, I promise
I'll make it up to you, okay?
Please, Sam, for me?
Whatever.
Don't you understand,
I'm on your side.
I can't keep sticking up
for you...
if you keep sabotaging me
like this.
I want so much to see
you succeed.
I want you to be proud
of yourself.
I love the heck out of you, Sam.
Hey, there you are. So what's
the plan for tonight?
Um, we can go to my place
and we can get our drink on...
because I stole some beers
from my dad.
I can't go.
Sam... this is such bullshit!
Can't you just sneak out?
I really need to be different.
What's that supposed to mean?
I think I have a shot...
at something real.
I have to try.
Sam, I'm the only person who's
always been there for you.
No matter how much you
pretend...
they're never gonna be
your real family.
Not now, Logan.
So, I guess there's no point
in asking...
you to the dance, is there?
Here.
(DOG BARKING)
Olivia?
Olivia, what is the matter
with you?
I'm just playing.
Being mean isn't playing, okay?
It's dinnertime.
Come on, okay?
(BARKING CONTINUES)
(TV PLAYING)
- (CHAINSAW BUZZING ON TV)
- (WOMAN SCREAMING ON TV)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Trick or treat!
Hey, take it. Go.
[SAM] What are you, a skeleton?
Thanks, guys, bye.
Are we going out?
Liz wants us to stay home.
But I want to!
We could play a game.
Hide and seek?
I'm hiding first!
45, 46, 47...
48, 49, 50!
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
(EERIE MUSIC CONTINUES)
Olivia.
That's enough, okay?
I'm not playing anymore!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC FADES UP)
Olivia?
Olivia, no hiding outside.
That is the rule.
This isn't funny.
DEMONIC VOICE (V.O.):
You can't find me.
Olivia!
Hello?
Are you okay?
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
I win.
That's not funny... after
everything that happened.
Just get inside, it's time
for bed.
Go.
(ROCK MUSIC FADES UP)
Jesus!
Sorry!
You can get your own notes
from now on...
or copy off of someone else.
Because I'm not doing it
anymore.
Is that cool?
How was the dance?
I didn't go.
You went on and on
about it for weeks.
Probably would've sucked
anyways, so.
But it could have been okay
and now you'll never know.
(LAWNMOWER RUNNING)
(ENGINE STOPS)
You haven't seen Indy, have you?
The other day, Olivia was
bugging him.
Why, what happened?
Got out of the yard apparently.
They haven't seen him since
Halloween.
Sucks.
Don't forget to trim the hedges,
all right?
Sam, would you say grace?
Come on, Sam.
Dear God, thanks for the food.
And thanks for all of us.
Amen.
Hey, quit it!
Knock it off.
She's the one that just
kicked me!
I don't care. Stop it.
Have you... noticed anything
weird about Olivia...
since she's been back?
She went through a lot, Sam.
Did she say what happened
to her out there?
She'll talk about it
when she's ready.
You have noticed, haven't you?
She's back... that's enough.
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
What do you want?
What makes you think she did
something to the neighbor's dog?
Well, the dog had been acting
really weird...
around her and now it's missing.
So? I mean, that doesn't mean
she did something to it.
Well, that doesn't mean
she didn't.
Sam, Olivia's just acting weird
because of what happened.
You just need to give it
some time.
Do you remember that empty lot
at the end of Caffey?
The one with the
giant pile of woodchips.
We would spend all night
climbing up and down...
that thing, pretending
it was a castle.
Yeah, your dad always let us
stay out so late.
He only let us do that, because
he didn't want us around...
when he had his lady
friends there.
Well, I remember sitting on top
of that thing...
listening to the cars passing
on the highway.
Talking about how good
everything was gonna be...
when we got outta there.
Away from our shitty parents.
You got away from yours.
Sam, I didn't mean it.
No, I know.
At least we have each other,
right?
Em...
Hey, I'm sorry.
I should probably go.
(FAINT HOWLING)
Hello?
(GASPS)
You scared me.
What are you doing out here?
I saw you before, right?
Are you lost?
Do you want me to take you home?
Hey! Hey, hey! Wait.
What? Where are you going?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Garrett? Garrett?
He was right here.
I swear. I swear I saw him,
okay? His eyes were missing.
Christ.
I gotta work in three hours,
you know that?
Something must've moved him.
You have to believe me.
Yeah, what were you doing
walking around...
in the woods at this hour, huh?
I don't understand you,
Samantha.
What's going on?
All right, look... let's just
go home, all right?
Let's get some sleep, okay?
Come on.
Hey, you seen Olivia?
Uh, I think she's out back
with her mom. Why?
No reason.
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
This is mine.
I just wanted it back.
Hey, uh, Logan, this is really
weird...
but do you remember the name
of that crazy lady...
that we saw at the thrift shop?
LOGAN (OVER PHONE):
Who? Alison Marcus?
I don't know, that's why
I called you.
LOGAN (OVER PHONE):
Yeah, yeah, it's Alison Marcus.
Yeah, my mum went to school
with her.
She tried to burn her house
down.
Why do you want to know? Sam?
Uh yeah, I'm gonna see you
tomorrow.
Thanks.
You know, running laps should
be outlawed.
I'm pretty sure it breaks the
Geneva Convention.
Sam, wait, slow down. Slow down.
What's wrong with you?
Did you know Alison Marcus
had a sister named Janie?
She disappeared in the woods,
just like Olivia...
and then came back
a few days later.
So?
So when Alison set fire to her
house...
she told the police it was
because of an imposter...
some sort of forest creature.
She knows what happened
to Olivia.
[COACH]
Logan, Sam, hurry up...
this isn't a world's slowest
competition!
I need you to cover for me.
Alison lives near here, okay?
Thanks!
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Logan, what...
Alison?
What do you want?
I want to talk to you
about your sister... Janie.
She's dead. She died
a long time ago.
When you saw my sister,
Olivia, downtown...
you said she wasn't what she
seemed and I think you're right.
- I'm sorry.
- No, please.
I don't know what else to do.
No one will believe me.
I read about your sister. She
disappeared too, didn't she?
She wasn't the first.
Children have been disappearing
into these woods for decades.
Charles McNabb. Percy and June
Frazier.
A little girl named Amanda
Sutherland got up...
in the middle of the night
and walked into the woods.
She told her mother
she'd heard singing...
coming from the forest
behind their house.
Four days later she's back.
And these are just the ones
I could find records for.
What are they?
The Hollow Ones.
They're watching, always
watching...
from the shadows, from the
woods... waiting.
They hate us.
Hate what we have.
Everything they're denied
by their nature.
What do you mean, their nature?
Without their disguise,
it hurts them to be seen.
They have to hide their
true form.
At least, that's what the
folklore says.
And the only way to break
their disguise...
is to free those they
have taken.
This is crazy.
I mean, you don't actually
believe any of this, do you?
You don't know!
You haven't seen them!
Neither have you!
You just said so and you burned
your house down!
And out she walked, without
a singe on her.
The fire never even touched her.
And she looked at me and laughed
so soft and sweet...
the most awful sound
I ever heard.
What happens to the people
they take?
What happens to them, Alison?
Alison!
I told her. I told her not to go
into the forest.
I had a bad feeling.
Their lives are ground-down,
day-by-day, minute-by-minute...
lived out by those things, while
they waste away into nothing...
in strange halls deep
beneath the earth...
their souls are trapped.
I've seen her. I've seen her
in the woods.
My sister is dead.
No, no, this is her.
You said their souls were
trapped.
She's gone!
You'll never find her.
The path is secret, it's hidden.
Only their eyes can see it.
Run away.
That's your only hope.
Run before it turns everyone
against you.
Sam.
I know.
I sound just like her.
I don't expect you
to believe me...
but I know she's out there.
Thanks for coming with me.
You wanna take a walk
in the woods?
So what are we actually
looking for?
Alison said something about
halls beneath the earth...
so like a cave or something.
Well, that should be easy.
Keep looking, okay?
This isn't getting us anywhere.
Maybe there's a trick to it.
Like, you know, walking
backwards or something.
I don't know, it's just
something I read in a book.
Maybe Alison was right.
She's not.
Come on, two smart cookies
like us?
We'll figure it out.
Thanks, Logan.
I... um...
You should just go home.
No, look, I wanted to help.
It's just, I thought that
if I did that...
Go home, Logan.
You're Janie, aren't you?
I saw your picture at Alison's.
There has to be a way I can find
Olivia, something I can do.
I don't understand, okay?
What do you want?
Say something!
(STEPS APPROACHING)
Who are you talking to?
No one.
Um, I'm sorry, but could you
show me the way out of here?
Yeah, I'm kind of lost...
and I actually don't know
where we are.
What if we make her show us
the way?
What?
The creature, she knows
where the cave is.
And we just make her think
that we've found it...
and then we try to rescue
Olivia.
Sam...
No, really!
I mean, she'd have to at least
go and check, right?
Then we just follow her there.
Easy.
Yeah, I don't know.
Just help me with this. Please?
No.
Come on, let's just go.
Logan? Hey, no, shh,
just a second.
Yeah, yeah. Tomorrow after
school.
No, she doesn't suspect
anything.
Yeah, I got the location
of the cave from Alison.
Mm-hm. Tomorrow.
We're gonna get to the
bottom of this.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
[SAM]
Liz, have you seen my phone?
I can't keep track of all
your things, Sam.
Hurry up, you're gonna
be late.
Just watch it!
You're really hung up on her,
aren't you?
I tried to kiss her.
She doesn't let anyone in.
You know, she just makes me
feel so crazy!
She used to have a sister,
Grace.
Her mom was this total burnout
reject...
always going to parties
and stuff.
And then one day, she just
never came home.
And Sam was alone with Grace.
What happened?
Eventually the upstairs
neighbors...
noticed the mail piling up.
When they found her, Sam was in
really rough shape.
And Grace was...
(SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING)
(BELL RINGING)
Logan, I...
It's not that. I just want
to help with Olivia.
So, I went back home and grabbed
a bunch of stuff.
I wasn't sure what we'd need...
so I just grabbed a bit
of everything.
A rope, there's some granola, a
knife...
my dad's earthquake
preparedness kit.
It's got flares, a radio
and first aid...
bandages and a poncho.
You are...
Thanks.
Thank you.
(BELL RINGS)
Samantha? Can I have a word,
please?
What's this about?
We just want to ask you
a few questions.
She's not under arrest, is she?
No, no.
It's just, I'm supposed to be
meeting someone.
It's really important.
Well, call 'em, tell 'em
you're gonna be late.
You have a cell phone,
don't you?
All the kids have cell phones
these days.
What, did you leave it at home?
I lost it.
Oh.
This it?
Where were you last night?
You recognize this place?
Did Alison... her house burned
down?
Did she...
No, we haven't found a body,
doesn't mean there isn't one.
We found your phone
at the scene.
I'm just curious
how it got there.
I was at home all night
with my family.
I'm going to go call her
parents.
That's a good idea,
get them over here.
You want to tell me
what this is about?
Please, I just really need
to call my friend.
Okay? He's... he's waiting
for me.
(PHONE VIBRATES)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(FAINT RUSTLING)
(TREE CREAKING)
(FOREST SOUNDS CONTINUE)
I'm not scared.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(SADISTIC LAUGHTER)
(PHONE CALL RINGING)
He's not answering.
Her parents are here.
Can I have a glass of water?
Sure.
Have you noticed something
different...
in her behavior lately?
No... I mean, not really.
We've been through a rough patch
lately...
with Olivia missing,
as you know.
It's been hard on everyone.
Liz, please, you don't have to
defend her against every singl...
Yes, we have, we've had problems
with her recently.
Hey!
Sam!
No! Stop!
Let me go! Let me go!
Logan's out there! He needs me!
Who?
- Please, she's going to kill him!
- What?!
- Who are you talking about?
- Olivia! She's a monster!
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
Oh, God.
Oh, God.
Oh, God, no. Please, no.
[LOGAN] Oh, God, no. Please, no.
Oh, God, no. Please, no. No!
What the hell, Sam? What are we
supposed to think?
You're sneaking out of the
house...
going God knows where,
getting up to God knows what.
Saying crazy things about
Olivia.
We want to understand, Sam.
We're worried.
Yes, we're worried about
our family.
We don't know if we can trust
you around her right now.
But that's not Olivia.
It's not.
And I really don't know how
to make you see it.
I just really don't,
but it's not her.
She killed Alison and she put
my phone there...
and she's really dangerous,
okay?
I mean, Logan's...
What happened to him?
What did you do?
- Olivia! What did you do?
- Olivia!
What's wrong with Sam, Mom?
Come here.
Sometimes people, people get
broken.
The world takes something from
them and they can't get it back.
What's going to happen to her?
I don't know.
Poor little thing.
Okay, here's what's going
to happen.
You're going to go to your room
and you're going to wait...
there until the social worker
arrives.
I knew this was a mistake,
I knew it.
I knew it right from the start.
Yeah.
So did I.
Remember when we first met?
I put my hand on your shoulder
and you flinched.
And I thought, "what has the
world done to this poor kid?"
Nobody deserves that.
I know how cruel that world
can be.
And I really wanted to change
that for you.
I know you're a good kid, Sam...
and I want believe that you
don't mean this.
That it's not your fault.
But I don't think I can
help you.
I don't know what else to do.
I'm sorry.
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
You don't belong here.
And you'll do what?
Make me go back?
You understand nothing...
with your brief, scrambling
little lives.
How could you?
You don't belong here,
none of you do.
Why are you doing this?
All of this used to be green...
filled with our song.
Then you came.
You noisesome, songless things.
Look at you... such a poor,
broken thing.
You're only made for sorrow.
This life suits me just fine.
Your Olivia can stay buried.
(SADISTIC LAUGHTER)
- Get off of her!
- Stop it!
Get her out of here.
Call the cops!
- Let me go!
- Stop!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Sam! Sam, Sam! Think about this!
Think about this, please!
Please, Sam think about it!
(MUSIC CHANGES)
Emily!
Sam, what's going on?
Whoa, hey.
Hey, it's okay.
Sam?
What do you want to do now?
That thing.
It was right. I'm broken.
I ruined everything.
I wasn't there.
Olivia needed me and I wasn't
there.
Hey, I've got some money
saved up.
Why don't we just go.
Let's just get out of here like
we always talked about.
We'll go somewhere sunny, right?
On a beach, okay?
And we can open a skate shop
on the boardwalk.
Just you and me, okay?
I'm gonna get some stuff.
(GASPS)
(LOUD CLANGING)
Emily?
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
Em?
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Alison!? But the fire?
I've been shadowing you ever
since it happened.
You were right... about your
sister.
If you can find her, free her...
it'll have nowhere to hide,
no disguise.
You can kill it just by looking.
- [DEMON] 5,4,3,2,1
- Go, save your sister.
I thought I might see her again.
[DEMON]
Ready or not, here I come.
Tell Janie I'm sorry.
I should've done more.
I should have done more.
- Go!
- (DEMON GROWLING)
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)
- Go!
No! No!
[ALLISON] No! No!
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Janie.
Alison...
I wasn't smart enough.
I couldn't see the way.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CHANGES)
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Olivia? Hey, did you
get some rest?
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC FADES UP)
Olivia!
Olivia, Olivia.
None of this feels real,
does it?
Come on, come on, come on,
come on, come on!
It's like something
from a dream.
(DEMONIC GROWLING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)
What happened?
I've got you. I've got you,
okay?
Sam, what happened?
There was singing,
it was so pretty.
I'm sorry, okay. I'm sorry.
Okay, we're gonna go.
You're safe now, okay.
You're safe, you're safe.
- Okay.
- Okay?
- Okay.
- Come on.
God. Are you okay?
Yeah.
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
It's okay, Olivia, it's okay.
It can't disguise itself now.
Okay, shh. Okay?
Sam! Sam!
It's okay, shh, shh.
Olivia! Run!
Sam!
Sam! Sam!
This world is no place
for broken things.
(DEMONIC GROWLING)
(SCREAMING)
Sam?
Sam?
Sam!
Sam! Sam!
Sam?
I'm here, I'm here, Olivia,
I'm here.
Sam?
Mom! Dad! Over here!
Olivia?
Sam.
- Dad.
- Oh, sweetie, come here.
Let's go home.
Let's go home.
Olivia?
I had a bad dream.
You came back for me.
I'll always be here for you.
Always.
(HUMMING)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)