MitchsVision

INT. MASTER BATHROOM, PINNACLE HOUSE - day

Mitch stands in the stream of hot water in the shower, lost in thought. He looks down at the pool of water gathering around his toes. He sloshes it across the white tiles under his feet and watches it swirl down the drain.

He looks up at the white stone wall beside him and feels its smooth face. He watches the water bead up and roll down its surface. His eyes follow the white stone up to where it meets the white ceiling above.

He scans his entire white bathroom through the foggy glass door of the shower.

MITCH

Talk about your neutral palate.

LATER

Mitch, wearing his sweatpants again, towels the water out of his hair. He deftly wipes the last few drops of water off the mirror until it is completely spotless.

He examines himself in the mirror, staring deeply into the dark shadows around his eyes. He sighs and shakes his head.

Suddenly, a child's scream breaks the silence. Mitch perks his head up at the sound. He freezes to listen, not quite sure if his ears are playing tricks on him.

Another scream. Now, clearly the sound of a little girl screaming in terror.

MITCH

Ari!

INT. LIVING ROOM, PINNACLE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Mitch launches himself down the stairs into the livingroom. The screams get louder.

MITCH

Ari! Ari?

He looks through the glass door across the livingroom and sees Ariana struggling to stay afloat in the pool.

ARIANA

Daddy! Help!

Mitch dashes out into the yard.

EXT. BACKYARD, PINNACLE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Mitch drops to his knees at the edge of the pool. He looks frantically for Ariana but she is gone.

The pool is completely still and the yard is totally silent.

MITCH

Ari! Ariana! Where are you? Ari!

Mitch scans the entire pool. He runs around its edge, but every inch of the pool is empty. He looks around the yard.

MITCH

Ari? Ari where are you?

Wesson calls to Mitch from behind the fence.

WESSON (O.S.)

What's all the yelling about, Washington?

MITCH

My daughter. Have you seen her?

WESSON (O.S.)

Not out here, no.

mitch

I heard her, out in the yard. She was here! Right here!

WESSON (O.S.)

Been out here for hours, mate. Neighborhood was quiet as a tomb 'till you started hollering.

MITCH

But I thought . . . I heard a little girl. It had to be her.

WESSON (O.S.)

Didn't she leave with your wife this morning?

MITCH

Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Shit. I could have sworn it was her.

There is a brief pause as Mitch listens to Wesson take a few steps across his wooden porch.

WESSON (O.S.)

The Misses' car is still gone. Looks like you're all alone, mate.

MITCH

You can see my backyard and my front yard from there?

WESSON (O.S.)

It's a wrap-around porch, Washington. I can't help what I see. You want me to let you know when I see them coming up the drive?

MITCH

No. It's fine. I'll just go back inside and restore peace to the neighborhood.

Mitch heads back toward the house.

WESSON (O.S.)

Heya, how's that novel going?

MITCH

Screenplay.

WESSON (O.S.)

Yeah.

MITCH

It's um . . . going. It's going.

WESSON (O.S.)

Who you hoping to play the hero? . . . Mate? . . . Hey Washington?

Mitch heads back into the house and closes the door.