Monsters from the Moon

FADE IN:

EXT. SMALL CABIN ON A HILL - EVENING

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

A MOTHER (32) is playing with her daughter ZOE (6). The television broadcasts a news reporter in the background.

REPORTER (O.S)

Police have gotten several calls last night regarding unexplained encounters of large animals wandering near neighborhoods.

The mother stops what she’s doing and turns her attention to the television.

ZOE

Mommy what’s that ?

Zoe holds her teddy bear tight to her chest.

MOTHER

There is nothing to worry about sweetie, I’m sure everything is fine.

The mother smiles at her daughter and starts cleaning up the toys.

MOTHER

Now I think it’s getting late so you gotta wash up and head to bed.

Zoe gets up and runs to the bathroom. Meanwhile the mother pours herself a coffee in the kitchen across from the living room.

The mother walks over to a closet near the bathroom. As she grabs towels from a shelf she hears the water pouring out of the sink’s tap.

MOTHER

You’re already brushing your teeth ?

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

There is no response from Zoe and the mother enters the bathroom looking for her daughter. She sees Zoe’s teddy bear on the floor but Zoe herself is not there.

The mother begins to look around frantically and runs out of the bathroom shouting.

MOTHER

ZOE SWEETIE WHERE DID YOU GO !

The mother hears the front door slamming and she rushes outside the house.

EXT. FRONT PORCH - CONTINUOUS

The mother scans the porch and is discouraged to the sight of nothing but the full moon in the sky.

Her eyes widen at the beautiful white glow of the moon.

The light becomes brighter and the mother is forced to cover her eyes. Only after closing her eyes she faints.

INT. MOTHERS BEDROOM - MORNING

The mother wakes up while holding her forehead trying to remember what happened last night.

The door opens as Zoe enters the room yawning.

ZOE

Good morning mommy. Did you sleep well ?

The mother stretches with a puzzled look on her face.

MOTHER

I guess I did. I don’t remember how the day ended and I think I had the strangest dream.

ZOE

Really ? What was the dream like ?

MOTHER

I told you to prepare for bed and you suddenly went missing. I thought you went outside but I couldn’t find you anywhere and mommy was scared.

Zoe jumps onto the mother’s bed and gives her a hug.

Zoe

Well it’s all okay cause I’m still here with you.

MOTHER

That makes me happy. Now let’s get breakfast.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

The two stop just before the kitchen entry to the sight of a mess that covers the kitchen. All the cupboards are open and plates are shattered.

ZOE

Where did all this mess come from ?!

The mother has a worried expression on her face.

MOTHER

It looks like a big animal was running around the house.

She turns her head to see the front door is wide open.

She walks over, closes the door and locks it.

ZOE

Is it those things the tv was talking about ?

The mother pats her daughter's head. Zoe looks up and gives a worried look waiting for her mother’s answer.

MOTHER

I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about sweetie.

EXT. SMALL CABIN ON A HILL - NIGHT - DAYS LATER

A single tree next to the house blows in the night wind.

INT. DAUGHTERS BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

A mother sits on the side of her daughter's bed leaning over as she tucks her daughter to sleep.

Her daughter Zoe shuffles under the blankets and sits up while she gives a worried look to her mother.

ZOE

Is it okay if I try staying awake tonight ?

MOTHER

Now why would you want to stay awake ?

ZOE

Well…The reason I’ve been sleeping in is because of all the noises I sometimes hear at night, so I haven’t been sleeping much. Some nights I don’t remember going to sleep, but I wake up in my bed. It’s weird

MOTHER

You don’t remember going to sleep either ?

ZOE

I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you would be mad because of me staying up.

The mother brushes her daughter’s hair to the side of her face while smiling.

MOTHER

I can assure you everything is fine and there is nothing you need to worry about. Okay ?

Zoe nods and lays back down under her blankets while closing her eyes.

The mother gets up and walks out of the daughter’s bedroom.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

The mother closes the door to her daughter’s bedroom. As soon as the click is heard from the doorknob she hears a metal clash sound from outside.

She quietly approaches the door and opens the door.

She finds a raccoon running away in the distance as the sound came from the garbage can falling over.

She sighs and shuts the door as she heads back inside.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The mother sits down on the sofa and tries to relax but jumps back up when she hears a crash coming from her daughter's room.

The door to the bedroom is already open. The mother sees ripped fabric that was part of Zoe’s dress on the ground. All her pillows have been thrown around. The window is also open with the curtains blowing in the night wind.

The mother hears Zoe shouting outside.

ZOE

MOMMY HELP ME !!

She runs to the kitchen and pulls out a knife.

Then the mother runs out the front door where she heard her daughter shouting.

EXT. FRONT PORCH - CONTINUOUS

The mother stops in her tracks when she sees her daughter standing outside crying.

Zoe looks up, eyes filled with tears.

ZOE

I don’t know why I’m out here or what is happening.

The mother starts slowly walking towards Zoe.

MOTHER

Hey there is nothing to worry about. Let’s go back inside and head to sleep.

Zoe falls to her knees and starts screaming while holding her head.

The mother stops walking forward and doesn’t know what to say. She watches her daughter with an intent look.

Suddenly Zoe’s arms start to contort and her screaming stops. Her face holds a dead expression.

Zoe’s feet lengthen and her arms grow fur. Her eyes look like that of a fly and claws grow out her hands.

The mother is terrified and falls back and she watches her daughter transform.

The mother quickly puts her hands over her head as she grits her teeth holding in her own pains.

She starts transforming into the same features as her daughter.

There are now two monsters standing outside the small cabin. One appears slightly taller than the other.

The TALLER MONSTER stretches and looks down at the SMALLER MONSTER.

TALLER MONSTER

Hello again my dear.

The smaller monster hops over and hugs the taller monster.

SMALLER MONSTER

Yay I can see you again. It was so scary waiting in the dark till I could come out again.

TALLER MONSTER

Don’t worry sweetie, we can be afraid of the dark together.

FADE TO BLACK