Fade In:
Ext. Mountain Road - Afternoon
The wheels of a beat-up red jeep splash glimmering
water on a bent guardrail at the edge of a worn mountain road.
The jeep curves around a rocky cliff.
int. jeep - afternoon
The back seat of the jeep is littered with
sparse luggage and a few shopping bags. HARRY MASON, 34, is behind the wheel. His
expression essays a polite, innocent optimism, but a hint of sadness rests behind
his hazel eyes.
Seated next to him is ALICE MASON, also 34.
Her pitch-black hair and pupils offer a stark contrast to her creamy, pale
skin. Her body is limp like a rag doll, giving her the appearance that she
lacks the strength to so much as speak.
Alice’s eyes leisurely
pan through a thin glaze as they scan the surrounding landscape. There is a
sign up ahead:
You are now leaving SILENT HILL. Thank you for visiting and come again soon!
Alice’s eyes fix on the sign; she slowly cranes her neck to follow it as they pass. She cautiously readjusts
herself on the seat so she can look back.
Harry cranks the window down and sticks his
hand outside. Disappointment is scarce in his voice as he speaks.
HARRY
Figures. As soon as we leave, it stops
raining.
As he sighs, a faint smile of resignation
creeps across his face. He stares straight for a moment; the smile fades away, and
then creeps back when he notices Alice staring at the road behind them.
HARRY (Cont’d)
So who’s tailing us?
Alice’s eyes linger on
the road before slowly drifting back towards Harry.
ALICE
I’m sorry?
HARRY
(dramatically)
The grime on the windshield kept the driver
obscured, making it easy for him to follow his mark undetected. Her eyes were
wild, but she kept her mouth pinched shut, unable to admit to herself or anyone
else that she knew why she was being followed…
ALICE
Oh, stop…
He glances back and forth between her and the
road with the same amused smile. Her body still slanted towards him, she rests
her head on her hand as she speaks.
ALICE (Cont’d)
You sound so… articulate when you talk like
one of the characters in your books.
HARRY
Was that a hint of sarcasm I detected there,
Mrs. Mason?
ALICE
Nope, not me.
HARRY
You’re not Mrs. Mason, or you weren’t being
sarcastic?
ALICE
Nope.
HARRY
Am I going to have to interrogate you?
He reaches over and playfully squeezes her
thigh a few times. She giggles softly, but her smile relaxes as she continues
looking behind them. Harry glances at her again, lets out a soft sigh as he
looks down, and then looks back.
HARRY (Cont’d)
Come on, what is it?
ALICE
(sighing)
This might be the last time I get to see
this place.
Harry’s face slowly goes blank. His lips hang
open for a moment while his eyes stay fixed on the road.
HARRY
We’ll come here again.
ALICE
I might not have the chance…
Harry pinches his lips shut and stares blankly
at the road. They go through a short, dark tunnel.
When they emerge on the other side, Harry’s
eyes have glazed over. Alice notices this immediately and looks at her lap
apologetically.