terror in doomsville second draft by tommy donbavand · terror in doomsville second draft by tommy...

TERROR IN DOOMSVILLE

SECOND DRAFT

by

TOMMY DONBAVAND

Tommy Donbavand 7 Acre View Stacksteads Lancashire OL13 0HR 07411 750844 [email protected]

Terror in Doomsville / Tommy Donbavand / First Draft

1

EXT. TRUCKER'S REST STOP - NIGHT

Establishing shot of a typical rest stop. A line of trucks sit out in the pounding rain of a storm. Lightning flashes, thunder booms.

INT. TRUCKER'S REST STOP - NIGHT

Close on an empty glass, sitting on an old, stained table top. A trembling hand (Dallas) brings the spout of a carton of chocolate milk to the glass, and pours a drink, spilling some of the liquid onto the table.

Dallas's other hand snatches up the glass, there is a gulp, then the empty glass is slammed back down.

DALLAS Sure. I'll tell you what I heard...

Dallas is seated at a table in the rest stop with Grandpa Dewey, Buck and Coco. Coco hovers just above the rim of the table. They all look scared as Dallas continues to talk.

DALLAS I heard that Mitch drove his wagon right into the centre of... of that place – where he found himself facing off with a huge pair of piercin, yellow eyes... BUCK Yellow eyes? DALLAS That’s what I done heard...

We hear a cackling, wheezing laugh. It's Grandpa Dewey.

DEWEY That ain't what happened to old Mitch!

BUCK It ain't?

DEWEY 'Course not! True enough that he drove his wagon in there but...

Everyone leans in to listen as Grandpa Dewey ups the drama.


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DEWEY ...by the time his engine stopped – there was a giant mouth with sharp silver teeth, all munchin’ and crunchin’ in his direction... DALLAS Tryin’ to eat him up? DEWEY So they say... BUCK Well, I didn’t hear about no eyes or teeth or nothin’. I only heard that Mitch fell victim to a terrifyin’ roar that was loud enough to stop your heart cold!

MITCH (OOS) HOGWASH!

The unexpected voice makes everyone jump. The door crashes open. Thunder booms and lightning illuminates a silhouette in the doorway. We can't tell who it is at first.

MITCH If you really want to find out what happened to Mitch when he drove into Doomsville...

The figures takes a step inside, dripping wet from the rainstorm. It's Mitch!

MITCH Why don't y'all ask me yourselves?

ALL BIGGEST GASP!

Coco faints, falling behind the table.

CUT TO:

OPENING CREDITS

CUT TO:


The gang are sitting around the table, hanging on Mitch's every word...


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MITCH Now, you know I ain't the only trucker to venture into Doomsville of late. Hauling work is scarce nowadays, and we truckers need every little job we can get.

DALLAS That's true.

BUCK You ain't wrong there.

COCO Uh-huh!

DEWEY *CACKLES*

MITCH So, you can cut the guff of 'I heard there was this', and 'I heard there was that'. We've ALL been to Doomsville, and somehow lived to tell the tale.

The truckers look slightly ashamed at being caught out.

MITCH And that means we ALL know exactly who is waiting for the likes of us to cross the city line. It's monstrous. It's horrific. And it has a name...

Now their eyes are wide with fear.

BUCK No, Mitch. Don't say it!

DALLAS You'll curse us all!

COCO OOOHH!

DEWEY *SCARED CACKLE*

Close in on Mitch...

MITCH EL PELIGRO!


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Lightning flashes, thunder booms. The gang screams. This time Coco faints onto the table face first, then slowly slides off out of shot.

Mitch snatches up Dallas's carton of milk and takes a shot straight from the spout.

MITCH 'Course, I'm the only one of us here that was man enough to take on El Peligro - face to face...

Buck and Dallas share a frowned glance.

DALLAS And just how do you reckon that?

Mitch's face splits into a wicked grin.

MITCH Listen closely, boys, while I tell y'all a little story...

FADE TO:

INT./EXT. MITCH'S TRUCK - DAY

Mitch narrates with a voice-over as he drives his rig. He passes through an attractive suburb: stores open displaying their wares. People milling around and greeting each other. Some sit at tables outside cafes. Birds and butterflies fill the air.

MITCH (V.O.) I've been a trucker more years that I care to recall, hauling just about everything from automobile parts to live-bait and more.

He passes a children's play area. The kids race over to the fence, pulling on imaginary air-horns. Mitch grins and pulls on his real air-horn. The kids love it!

FX: HOOONK! HOOOONK!

KIDS YAYYYY!

MITCH (V.O.) It's the good life, being a trucker. Just you, eighteen wheels and the open road...


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Mitch passes a church where a couple (a donkey bride and her human groom) step outside to be showered with confetti by the wedding guests.

GUESTS HURRAHH!

MITCH (V.O.) No sir, I ain't got a single complaint with the world. Not a one...

He glances down to a fading picture of a pretty girl taped to the dashboard of his truck, and he wipes away a tear.

MITCH (V.O.) On the day in question, I had a load of kiddie's toys on board, all set to be delivered to...

Mitch in the cab takes over the dialogue. He's reading his delivery sheet, attached to a clipboard.

MITCH ... Funion's Toy Store, 13 Gritar Street...

He squints closer at the words, but can't quite make them out. It should be tough for us to read as well.

MITCH What in the world does that say?

Mitch pulls over beside a young couple. They're courting, and clearly very much in love. He winds down the window.

MITCH Excuse me young lady and sir...

The couple giggle and squeeze each other.

MAN Why yes, my good man. How can I be of service?

Once again, Mitch squints at his delivery sheet.

MITCH Have you folks ever heard of a place called... Doomsville?

The couple both gasp.


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WOMAN D-D-Doomsville?

She swoons and faints into her boyfriend's arms. He looks distraught - not at his lover's faint, but at Mitch!

MAN W... We do not talk about that place around here, mister!

MITCH What place? Doomsville?

MAN He said it again!

At that the man screams, drops his girlfriend to the floor and races away through nearby gardens, leaving man-shaped holes in fences and hedges.

Mitch sits and blinks.

MITCH Huh. You know, if people don't have the directions you ask for, they ought to just admit it.

He grinds the rig into gear, and sets off.

MITCH (V.O.) Although it turned out, I didn't have far to go...

Almost immediately, Mitch hits the brakes as he reaches a sign which reads 'WELCOME TO DOOMSVILLE'.

MITCH Well, I'll be a coyote's cousin…

Shifting into gear, Mitch drives into Doomsville. As soon as he crosses over the city line, the sky becomes dark, lightning flashes and the sides of the road are filled with the corpses of dead, broken trees.

Mitch hits the brakes again.

MITCH Huh?

He reverses back across the city line, finding himself in beautiful sunshine once more. Birds, butterflies, happy passers-by, etc.


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MITCH What the?

Forward into Doomsville. Dead trees, eyes watching from the darkness, thunder and lightning.

Quick reverse to beauty. Fast forward to doom and gloom.

VERY fast reverse and forward, then reverse again.

Mitch sits in the cab, staring at the Doomsville sign. He raises his cap and scratches at his head.

MITCH Hmmm...

With a shrug, he sets off into Doomsville, once more surrounding himself with bleak forests and evil eyes.

The girl in the photo on his dashboard has her hands on the sides of her head and she's screaming - like the famous painting by Edvard Munch, or Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.

Mitch drives along the forest road, imagining the branches of the trees are reaching around to tap at the windows of his cab, fingers ready to drag him to his doom. A flock of vampire bats swoops down over the road, causing Mitch to swerve and slam on the breaks.

He sits in silence for a second, his heart pounding.

MITCH Come on, Mitch. Get it together...

He sets off once more.

Eventually, the forest gives way to the town itself. He trucks along deserted streets in the dark, his headlights barely piercing the gloom. On either side, the stores are shuttered or boarded up. Stray dogs fight for scraps in alleyways. Shadowy figures do even darker deals.

MITCH (V.O.) I'll admit it took me a while to find Gritar Street but, when I did, there it was... Lit up like a beacon. Funion's Toy Store.

The store appears to the be the only one open in the entire street. It glows beautifully; a glimmer of hope and joy in this dismal place.


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EXT. FUNION'S TOY STORE - NIGHT

As Mitch pulls up, he spots the owner - Mrs Funion - standing outside. She is perhaps a hippo, and she's grumpily tapping at her watch.

She begins to complain as soon as Mitch opens his cab door.

FUNION What time do you call this? Some of us have homes to go to and hungry, hungry families to feed!

Mitch climbs down and opens the back of the truck. It is filled with boxes with labels reading 'Robo 9000' and featuring a basic graphic of a toy robot.

MITCH Hey, this place ain't exactly easy to find, you know. And what's with the eternal night around here? I can barely see a thing.

Close in on Funion's eyes. She looks scared.

FUNION This is no night. This is the darkness that comes before HE does.

Mitch begins to offload the boxes. He stacks them up outside the toy store.

MITCH Before HE comes? Who in the name of delicious roadkill is 'HE'?

Suddenly, a pair of bright yellow lights burst into life further down the street, lighting everything in their ghoulish glow. Mitch, back inside the back of the truck for more boxes, grins.

MITCH That's MUCH better! I can see exactly what I'm doing now.

He makes for the truck doors with an armful of boxes, until Funion grabs his leg and pulls. Mitch drops them all.

MITCH Hey! I can't unload any faster, no matter how bad you want this stuff.


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FUNION Forget the toys! We must go, now!

MITCH Go! Why?

Mrs Funion points directly to the glaring yellow lights, which are approaching steadily along the street towards them. Smoke billows out, stopping us from seeing anything else right now, but we should get the impression that this is a BIG BEAST!

FUNION It is HE! HIM!

CRASH in on her terrified expression.

FUNION EL PELIGRO!

Mitch frowns.

MITCH El who? (Beat) ARRGH! (As Funion yanks him inside)

But Funion grabs him again and pulls him inside her toy store, slamming and locking the door.

Outside, the boxes of robots lay bathed in the startling yellow light. There is a HISS, and smoke/steam washes over them. Slowly, the boxes begin to vibrate and shake - and then a toy robot's arm punches through the cardboard.

INT. FUNION'S TOY STORE - NIGHT

Mrs Funion drags Mitch behind the counter. They peer over, nervously, breathing hard.

MITCH What in the name of cheese is going on here? Who's this El Peligro?

FUNION He is the danger. The dark shadow that has fallen over Doomsville. They say he can control the world around him at will, and that anyone who gazes into his cold,


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yellow eyes is doomed for all eternity!

MITCH But, WE just gazed into some cold, yellow eyes...

A hammering on the glass on the doorway makes them jump. They both turn to see dozens of identical toy robots trying to force their way inside. More of the possessed toys burst out of their boxes, and pour out of the truck. They all WHIRR, walking in the same 'robotic' way, eyes flashing red.

Mitch jumps up and races for a curtain-covered doorway at the back of the store.

FUNION Wait! Where are you going?

MITCH We have to find another way out of here before it's too late!

FX: SMASH!

Mitch turns to see that the glass in the door has given way. The possessed robots are now inside, striding towards them.

MITCH Gulp. It's too late!

EXT. FUNION'S TOY STORE - NIGHT

The twin yellow eyes of El Peligro turn to peer at the chaos as the store is flooded with whirring toys. We still can't make out anything else about the monster. But we do hear it laugh - deep, breathy and terrifying.

EL PELIGRO MWA HA HA HA!

INT. FUNION'S TOY STORE - NIGHT

Mitch has grabbed a toy baseball bat and is swinging out at the robots as they climb over each other to get to him. But, for every robot he destroys - two take its place.

Every time a robot gets close enough to Mitch or Funion, it ZAPS them with a static shock and they respond by jerking and crying 'Ow!', 'Ouch!, 'Ooyah!', etc.


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Behind the counter, Mrs Funion emits a muffled scream as she is pulled below a sea of robots. Her head is almost under the surface when...

FX: DING-A-LING-A-LING!

The store bell rings and DEWEY approaches the counter, clutching a cuddly teddy bear! He completely ignores the chaos surrounding him.

DEWEY Evenin'! How much for this cute fella, huh?

MITCH Dewey?!

DEWEY Oh hey, Mitch! I'm just pickin' up a birthday gift for my niece. She's gonna love this little guy!

Funion 'treads robots' to keep her head above the surface.

FUNION That's nine-fifty.

DEWEY Perfect!

He fishes out a ten, hands it over to Funion.

DEWEY Keep the change.

He exits.

FX: DING-A-LING-A-LING!

The robots are climbing higher and higher - it looks like it's all over.

MITCH I ain't going out this way!

Mitch tosses his baseball bat aside. He grabs a yo-yo from a display stand and swings it round and round. Taking aim, he fires the wooden wheel end at a pipe crossing the ceiling. The yo-yo wraps around the pipe and holds fast.

Gripping the string tightly, Mitch swings across the store - Tarzan style - grabbing Mrs Funion just as she is about to going under the surface of the churning robot sea and pulls her up to safety.


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The pair dangle together above the robots. Yellow eyes watch from outside, and the evil laughter rings out again.


Suddenly... CRACK!

Mitch and Funion look up. The pipe they are hanging from is starting to give way. Cracks run along its surface.

MITCH We're too heavy for it!

Funion scowls angrily.

FUNION You speak for yourself.

The pipe cracks further. Mitch screws his eyes shut.

MITCH This is it!

Another CRACK! And water begins to pour from the broken pipe. It washes over Mitch and Funion, then cascades down onto the battery powered robots.

Instantly they begin to fizz and spark as the water attacks their electrical insides. The robots scream and writhe in agony as they break down and explode.

KABOOM! BLAST! FIZZ! POP!

El Peligro's eyes narrow outside. He GROWLS, then turns and dashes away. Once again, we can only make out a vague - but vast - shape.

Mitch and Funion dangle above the carnage below, laughing together as they swing gently from side to side.

Then a voice startles them.

DALLAS BALONEY!

Mitch and Funion look towards 'the camera'.

MITCH & FUNION Huh?

CUT TO:


13


We're back in the Truck Stop, around the table. Buck and Coco are transfixed by Mitch's tale. Dewey absent-mindedly chews on a broken chair leg.

Dallas, however, is frowning.

MITCH What did you say?

DALLAS I said 'Baloney'!

Mitch's eyes narrow.

MITCH Baloney?

DALLAS You got it all wrong! El Peligro doesn't have glowing, yellow eyes!

MITCH And how would you know?

DALLAS Because I've faced off against that monster myself!

Lightning and thunder!

COCO GASP!

Dewey pauses chewing on the chair leg, his eyes dart back and forth from Mitch and Dallas and back.

DALLAS It was a gloomy evening when I drove into Doomsville...

FADE TO:

INT./EXT. DALLAS'S TRUCK - EVENING

Dallas continues to narrate via V.O.

He's driving through the forest area we saw with Mitch. A huge, orange sun is setting ahead of him.


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DALLAS (V.O.) The sun was just about setting, and let me tell you it gets dark real quick there.

As if in response to Dallas's words, the sun quits sinking in the sky and falls out of sight with a loud SHATTER!

DALLAS (V.O.) There was a full moon, that night…

A HALF-MOON whips up into the sky.

DALLAS (V.O.) I said a FULL MOON!

The Moon jumps with fright, then takes a deep breath and puffs out its cheeks until... POP! It becomes a full moon.

Inside the cab, Dallas switches on the radio. We hear a mournful country tune begin to play.

DALLAS (V.O.) I was heading for the seediest, nastiest, most dangerous part of town... The restaurant district!

Dallas's rig thunders out of the forest and down a street lines with cafes, bars and restaurants. They have names such as STEAK OUT, BREAK YOUR RIBS, and EGG EXPLOSION.

DALLAS (V.O.) I had a special delivery, destined for Vinny Choo's seafood place.

The truck pulls up at VINNY CHOO'S SEAFOOD PLAICE. Vinny Choo hurries out, rubbing his hands together. Perhaps he’s a duck?

CHOO So glad you're here! I have many customers with rumbling tummies!

In-situ Dallas takes over the dialogue.

DALLAS I've got just the thing...

He flings open the back of the truck to reveal that he is carrying tanks of live lobsters. They click their claws and clamber over each other to peer out at Dallas and Vinny.

FADE TO:


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INT. VINNY CHOO'S - NIGHT

Over an hour later. Dallas and Vinny finish unloading the heavy tanks. Chefs and waiters hurry about, serving customers. The restaurant is almost full.

Dallas sinks into a chair at one of the vacant tables, out of breath.

CHOO You bring me many fine lobsters, my friend! I offer you dinner as my special guest. On the house.

DALLAS Fifty percent!

CHOO What?

DALLAS None of this ‘on the house’ nonsense! I work hard, and I reckon I earned a discount.

CHOO But, on the house means-

DALLAS Twenty five percent off!

CHOO Twenty five? DALLAS You drive a hard bargain, mister! Alright... ten percent, and that’s My final offer! CHOO (confused) Ten percent it is...

DALLAS Deal!

They shake hands, then lean in to peer at the lobsters in their tanks. He points at one of the lobsters, which backs away slightly. Dallas licks his lips.

DALLAS I think I'll have...

Before he can say anything else - a MASSIVE pair of shining silver teeth bites a chunk from the roof of the restaurant!


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Plaster and wooden beams fall. Customers run, screaming - leaving only Dallas and Choo staring up at the monstrous mouth in horror as it crunches.

CHOO EL PELIGRO!

DALLAS El Peligro?

CHOO YES! EL PELIGRO!

DALLAS Who, or what, is El Peligro?

CHOO points up to the muncher. El Peligro laughs.


CHOO THAT IS EL PELIGRO!

Once again, the pair look up - just as the mouth opens and darts down towards them. They scream!

CUT TO BLACK:

INT. VINNY CHOO'S - NIGHT

Dallas slowly opens his eyes. It takes him a few seconds to realise where he is...

He is squeezed into one of the tanks in what is left of Vinny Choo's restaurant! The entire ceiling and most of the walls have now been chomped away.

Dallas squeaks in terror as he realises that the other tanks are filled with Vinny's cooks and waiters. There is no sign of Choo himself.

Dallas presses his face up against the glass and sees that the restaurant is full again - only the customers, waiters and chefs are the lobsters he delivered! The lobster staff all wear white uniforms, just like Vinny's team did.

Two of the uniformed lobsters carry a large silver platter across to the table of hungry lobsters. On the tray, bound and gagged and surrounded by vegetables, is Vinny Choo!

Dallas opens his mouth to scream, when a customer lobster appears at his tank and taps at the glass - indicating that


17

it would like to choose the occupant for its meal. A lobster waiter nods and makes a note in his pad.

Dallas SCREAMS and leaps up, just as the metallic mouth of El Peligro swoops across the room. One of its sharp, glinting teeth catches the back of Dallas's shirt, and he is swung around, then flipped up and into the waiting maw.

As Dallas struggles to be free, he sees a familiar figure enter the ruins of the restaurant and approach what remains of the counter. It's Dewey!

DEWEY Hi there, can I get a portion of sweet and sour vegetables to go?

The lobster on duty nods and clatters into the kitchen.

DALLAS Dewey?!

Dewey looks up.

DEWEY Oh hi, Dallas. I guess you know how good this place is, too?

DALLAS Good? It's utter mayhem!

DEWEY It can be tough to get a table. Book early, that's what I reckon!

Dallas stares at the old-timer, open-mouthed.

The lobster returns with Dewey's take-away. He tucks it under his arm and turns to leave.

DEWEY Enjoy your meal. Be seein' you!

As Dewey exits, El Peligro laughs again.


Dallas can only watch as the teeth begin to close in around him. At the last moment he spots something sitting on the table below. He dives out of the mouth, catching the lower teeth with his feet. This allows him to dangle upside down and grab a bottle of EXTRA HOT SAUCE.


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Pulling himself back up, Dallas spins and squirts the entire bottle down the back of El Peligro's throat.

There is a brief moment of silence - before El Peligro SHRIEKS. The sound is awful! It shatters the glass tanks all around the restaurant - setting the chefs and waiters free. They snatch up chopsticks and fight off the lobsters as they attack.

One of them frees Vinny Choo who jumps to his feet, grips two pieces of broccoli and adopts a martial arts stance.

EL PELIGRO PTOOEY!

El Peligro spits Dallas out of its burning mouth. The trucker smashes through the window of his cab. He wastes no time in starting the engine and screeching away from the restaurant.

As for El Peligro, all we can see are its metal teeth grinding together angrily.

EL PELIGRO GRRRRR!

Another voice interrupts - freezing the picture.

BUCK Tommyrot!

With a record needle scratch, the action screeches back to…

CUT TO:


It's Buck's turn to scowl. Dallas and Mitch scowl back. Dewey pulls the gnawed chair leg from his mouth with a SLOOP! sound to reveal that he has chewed it into a perfect penny whistle.

He plays a couple of shrill notes, then tosses it away.

Dallas turns to Buck.

DALLAS Who do you think you're Tommyrotting?

BUCK You of course! And Mitch, as well!


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COCO GIGGLE! ULP!

Coco giggles, but stops when he realises that both Mitch and Dallas are glaring at him. He ducks down behind one of the empty glasses and peers through.

BUCK You ain't the only one to deliver livestock into Doomsville you know? Or the only ones to encounter El Peligro!

FADE TO:

INT./EXT. BUCK'S TRUCK - NIGHT

As before, the truck is driving though the forests of Doomsville. Buck's voice over picks up the story...

BUCK (V.O.) I had a special load on board that night, which I had to deliver to Sawdust Sid's Storming Circus...

We pan back along the truck as it drives. There is a hole cut into the roof of the trailer to allow a HUGE elephant to stick his head through. The elephant - KEVIN - trembles as he peers at the desolate trees on either side.

BUCK(V.O.) Kevin and I had travelled half-way across the country together - and here we were, nearing the end of our adventure.

In the distance, we can make out the shape of a circus tent. The tent is lit up, spotlights swing back and forth revealing a vast crowd queueing to get inside.

CUT TO:

EXT. SAWDUST SID'S STORMING CIRCUS - NIGHT

Buck pulls to a stop near the back of the circus tent. A large man in a bright red ringmaster's suit is waiting to welcome him.

SID Hello, hello, hello! Welcome to Sawdust Sid's Storming Circus. I'm Sawdust Sid - ringmaster,


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leader, impresario, entertainment guru... but you can just call me Sid.

Buck jumps down from his cab.

BUCK I'm Buck. Er... you can call me Buck. This here is Kevin!

Kevin the elephant raises his trunk to the sky and trumpets.

KEVIN TRUMPET!

Sid grins and pats Kevin's trunk as it swings down.

SID Boy, have I been waiting to meet this big fella! Let's get him unloaded so that he can get to the ring and meet the rest of the gang.

Buck pauses in unlocking the back of his truck.

BUCK You mean Kevin's going to be in the show tonight?

SID No time like the present! This guy has cost me a lot of dough, and I need to start earning that back straight away.

Buck blinks.

BUCK But, but... It's been a very long trip to get here. Kevin needs to rest, don't you, boy?

SID And who are you? His trainer?

BUCK No, but we've become close over the past few days. I know what he wants to do, and what he doesn't want to do. And he doesn't want to perform this evening.


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SID Well, I'm his new owner - and if I say he performs, then he performs, get it?

Buck's bottom lip begins to tremble.

Sid sighs. He produces a ticket and holds it out.

SID OK, OK... What if I give you a free ticket to stay and see the show? That way, you can be sure that we're not forcing Kevin here into doing anything that could put him in harm. He's our new star!

Buck takes the ticket.

BUCK That sounds fair to me!

He finishes unlocking the back doors of the truck, allowing Kevin to walk down the planks to the ground.

Buck reaches up and rubs the elephant's wrinkly forehead.

BUCK You hear that boy? I’m staying to watch your first show!

KEVIN TRUMPETS!

Close on Sid's face as he beams with pleasure.

FADE TO:

INT. SAWDUST SID'S STORMING CIRCUS - NIGHT

Close on Sid's face as he beams with pleasure.

We pull back to reveal that Sid is now standing in the middle of the circus ring. The place is packed. Balloon modelers entertain the crowds by performing at the edges of the ring. One of them grabs a balloon and twists it into the shape of a poodle. Another grabs a poodle (“YELP!”, and twists it into the shake of a balloon.

Buck is on the front row. He looks around nervously.

A spotlight hits Sid and the audience hushes.


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SID Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Sawdust Sid's Storming Circus - now featuring Kevin the elephant!

Music blares out as the circus parade appears - led by Kevin! The elephant wears a sparkling top hat and carries glittery cane in his trunk.

Behind Kevin walks a talented troupe of performers. Sword swallowers, clowns, acrobats, jugglers, tightrope walkers and more. The audience goes wild!

As Kevin passes Buck, he reaches down with the cane and playfully jabs a few times at the trucker's side. The audience laughs at this, and Buck grins.

Just then, a huge dark shadow passes over the tent. Whatever has cast it remains outside.

The inside of the tent falls silent. Music stops, instrument by instrument. The audience sits, eyes darting around, looking for the shadow...

...which zooms past again. Now everyone - audience and circus performers alike - look terrified.

A whispered name washes over the crowd.

BOYS El Peligro!

GIRLS El Peligro!

PARENTS El Peligro!

Buck looks around, confused.

BUCK Huh? Who's this El Peligro when he's at home

A little girl pats his harm and whispers hoarsely. She points to the shadow as it rises up almost to the same height as the circus tent.

LITTLE GIRL That is El Peligro!

Once again - all is silent. The shadow moves slowly, appearing to be examining the circus tent from outside.


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A balloon modeler lets his latest creation RASP away...

A clown tips a bucket of confetti over himself and hides by shoving the bucket over his head. It trembles with him.

A sword swallower GULPS and pulls out the sword - but only the handle. He gulps again, clutching at his throat.

In the centre of the ring, Kevin stands with Sid. Kevin raises his trunk and sniffs at the air.

Then - RRRROOOOAAAARRRRR!

El Peligro ROARS! The sound is enough to chill the blood.

The silence spell is broken. Audience members SCREAM and race for the exits on the other side of the tent to the shadow. Some crawl under the canvas, others produce knives to cut their way out.

The cast in the centre of the ring are just as terrified as El Peligro ROARS again. Chaos reigns...

Trapeze artists swing to the centre of the ring, crash into each other and fall to their net.

Twelve clowns force their way inside the same tiny car. It speeds off, only to hit the back of a cannon and fall apart. Clowns scatter everywhere.

The impact on the back of the cannon causes it to fire. The Human Cannonball explodes from the end of the weapon, tearing through the tent canvas and disappearing.

CANNONBALL Tell my family I love them!

Tigers, seals, horses and dogs panic and race around, dragging their keepers with them.

And, eyes wide in the middle of all this, stands Kevin.

BUCK KEVIN!

KEVIN TRUMPET!

Buck fights his way through a terrified crowd running in the opposite direction, trying to get to his frightened friend.


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BUCK Coming through! Out of the way! I'm coming, Kevin! Hold tight! Excuse me! Don't mind me!

As he races down the stairs, he spots Dewey - who is calmly buying tickets from a trembling member of circus staff.

DEWEY I'd like three tickets for the Friday matinee performance, please.

BUCK Dewey?

DEWEY Looks like you got in before me, Buck! Tonight's show is completely sold out. If I want to bring my grandkids, I'm gonna have to wait until next week.

The staff member thrusts the entire roll of tickets into Dewey's hands, then runs away, gibbering.

DEWEY Well, ain't that a kind gesture. See you around, Buck...

With that Dewey ambles away, whistling to himself.

Buck turns and continues to race for the show ring.

By the time he reaches Kevin, the shadowy bulk of El Peligro is pressing down on the side of the tent, causing ropes to snap, the canvas to strain and poles to snap. It won't be long before the entire big top falls down around them.

Sid runs from snack stand to snack stand - grabbing the cash from the money boxes of now flown peanut vendors and ice cream sellers, stuffing it into his already bulging pockets.

El Peligro laughs.


Kevin jumps at the unpleasant sound. Buck strokes his trunk and tries to comfort him.


25

BUCK There, there... It will be OK in-

But, before he can finish, Kevin snatches up Buck with his trunk, shoves him into his mouth and begin to suck hard as though he's a baby with a dummy.

BUCK (Muffled) ...the end.

Kevin takes off running, Buck still stuck in the elephant's mouth, bobbing around as the creature ploughs through the side of the tent and off into the distance.

Behind them, the lights flicker out as the big top finally collapses. We can just make out the shape of El Peligro as the monster laughs again.


CUT TO:


BUCK Kevin kept running for almost ten miles. By the time he spat me out, I was wringing wet.

COCO Eurgh!

BUCK But, it goes to prove that no-one gets to see or feel El Peligro... They just hear its terrible roar!

DALLAS Poppycock! El Peligro chews his victims with its huge metal mouth!

MITCH Codswallop! El Peligro stares at you with its fierce, yellow eyes.

The three truckers jump to the their feet, shouting. Coco looks from one to the next. Dewey laps up the spilled milk from the table.

BUCK Roar!


26

DALLAS Mouth!

MITCH Eyes!

BUCK ROAR!

DALLAS MOUTH!

MITCH EYES!

The trio glare at each other for a split-second, until...

MITCH I can prove that I'm right!

BUCK How?

Mitch pulls his keys from his pocket.

MITCH I'm going back to Doomsville!

DALLAS Right now?

MITCH Right now!

Dallas and Buck exchange a glance, then they also produce their truck keys.

BUCK We're coming with you!

DALLAS We'll have ourselves a convoy...

They pause for another split-second, then race for the exit. They try to fit through together - but there isn’t enough room. They squeeze and squeeze until... POP! They land on their bottoms in the parking lot.

Jumping up, they turn back to the door of the rest stop to see Dewey and Coco stepping and floating out into the night air. Coco watches the following confrontation from a safe distance, reacting accordingly.


27

DALLAS You coming, old timer?

DEWEY Who? Me?

BUCK Of course you! You were there when we each met El Peligro!

DEWEY I wasn't really paying attention...

MITCH You can back my story up! DALLAS No, my story! BUCK You mean mine!

DEWEY I dunno, fellas... In fact, thinking about it - I can't come with you. I'd love to join your little convoy, but my truck has broken down.

MITCH, BUCK & DALLAS We'll fix it!

The boys set off for Dewey's truck. The old man looks horrified and gives chase.

DEWEY No! Don't you dare touch my rig! It's been in my family for years! No-one is allowed to use it but me! GET AWAY FROM MY TRUCK!

But the others don't listen. Mitch plunges a hand into Dewey's pocket, grabs his keys and tosses them to Buck.

MITCH We'll have that old banger of yours in tip top shape in no time...

Dewey's eyes grow wide and, well... dewy.

DEWEY Please! No!


28

Buck climbs into the cab and releases the hood. Dallas flips it up and peers at the engine inside. Mitch reaches in through the window and flicks on the lights - just as Buck starts the engine.

Mitch staggers back as piercing yellow lights erupt from the front of Dewey's truck.

MITCH GASP! Those yellow eyes!

As Dallas reaches in to the engine, the hood galls down at traps him. As Buck revs the gas, the hood bounces up and down on his back. With the silver grille of the radiator glistening, it looks as though he's being eaten.

Dallas pulls free and stares at the grille in horror.

DALLAS That metal mouth!

Inside the cab, Buck reaches up and pulls down hard on the air horn. It RRRROOOAAAARRRRS!

Buck almost tumbles from the cab, hands over his ears.

BUCK The terrible roar!

All three slowly turn to point at a nervous looking Dewey.

MITCH, BUCK & DALLAS EL PELIGRO!

Dewey begins to back away as the angry trio advances.

DEWEY No... Please... You have to understand!

DALLAS There's no monster terrorizing Doomsville!

MITCH It was YOU all along!

BUCK You were trying to scare us off so you could steal our delivery routes!

Suddenly, Dewey stops and points over the guys' heads.


29

DEWEY Er… El Peligro!

The truckers turn - but see nothing.

MITCH Huh?

BUCK There's nothing there!

DALLAS He's getting away!

It's true! The distraction has given Dewey long enough to race to his truck, leap into the cap and floor it. He zooms out onto the road, yellow lights burning, hood bouncing and chewing and air horn roaring: RRROOOAAAR!!!

He runs over a sign which reads: DOOMSVILLE 20 MILES.

MITCH After him!

Mitch, Dallas and Buck run for their trucks. Seconds later, engines revving, they race out of the lot and give chase.

Everything is suddenly quiet outside the rest stop. We pan round to find Coco all alone. He's shivering in the cold.

He starts floating after the other guys.

COCO Hey! HEY!

Realizing he can't keep up, he stops and sighs.

COCO SIGH!

Then, looking around to make certain that he's alone, he raises an eyebrow and begins to transform! He swells and stretches, twists and turns - until...

...he becomes a terrifying monster that looks suspiciously like an eighteen-wheeler! He has fierce yellow eyes and snapping silver teeth. He ROARS!

He could also have leathery wings, little legs, claws. Basically, as scary as he could possibly be!

Coco IS El Peligro!


30

Turning to stare right down the camera lens at the viewers, he laughs wickedly.


Then, with a final deafening roar, he rushes the camera and swallows us whole!

EL PELIGRO RRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!

THE END

terror in doomsville second draft by tommy donbavand · terror in doomsville second draft by tommy...

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