THE NIGHT STALKER

Written by

Craig Tiede

193 Griffith Street #2

Jersey City, NJ
(814) 490-8976
 THE NIGHT STALKER

CHARACTERS:

Jamie Schaeffer, 12 - A serious, quiet, contemplative, and

composed boy.

Zachary Schaeffer, 14 - Jamie’s older brother; hyper and

invincible in the way of teenage boys.

Valerie Schaeffer, 36 - Mother to Jamie and Zachary; a

composed, self-sufficient, and mostly settled woman, but
still young enough to believe adventures still await her.

Clifford Brattert, 29 - Family friend; uneducated and rough

around the edges, but oozing flirtatious charm from every
pore.

SETTING:

Driveway of the Schaffer Home in Glendale, CA

Early evening on Sunday, August 25, 1985

 2.

THE NIGHT STALKER

EXT. DRIVEWAY OUTSIDE THE SCHAEFFER HOME - EVENING

The hatchback of a yellow 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon is

open, with a sleeping bag draped inside.

JAMIE, 12, enters carrying a backpack and transistor radio,

followed by his older brother, ZACHARY, 14, with a baseball
glove on one hand and a baseball in the others.

ZACHARY
What are you so afraid of?

Jamie drops the backpack inside the car and readjusts the
sleeping bag to cover the trunk and backseat area.

ZACHARY (CONT'D)
That guy’s not gonna come here.

JAMIE
He already did.

Jamie climbs inside the car and lays on his stomach. He pulls
a comic book out of his bag and opens it. Throughout their
exchange, Zachary tosses the ball back and forth into his
glove.

ZACHARY
Exactly. So he’s not gonna come
back.

JAMIE
He went back to Monterey Park.

ZACHARY
Glendale ain’t Monterey Park.

JAMIE
Why are you talking like him?

ZACHARY
Like who?

JAMIE
Clifford.

ZACHARY
I’m not.

JAMIE
Don’t you mean you “ain’t”?
 3.

ZACHARY
I don’t know why you don’t like
him. He’s cool. And he worked for
John Travolta.

JAMIE
Can you go do that someplace else?

Zachary stops tossing the ball.

ZACHARY
Why?

JAMIE
Because I’m trying to read.

Zachary leans in to see what Jamie’s reading.

ZACHARY
Doctor Strange. No kidding.

Their mom VALERIE, 36, enters, wiping her hands on a dish

towel. Zachary resumes his ball tossing.

VALERIE
Jamie, what are you doing in the
car? Both you boys go in and get
washed up for supper.

ZACHARY
Is Clifford gonna stay?

VALERIE
He’s Mr. Brattert to you. And, I
don’t know. I’m not sure when he’s
finishing up.

ZACHARY
Can I go ask him?

VALERIE
No. You can go wash up and help me
set the table.

ZACHARY
Yeah, but three places or four?

VALERIE
If he finishes before we start,
I’ll ask if he wants to stay.
Otherwise I’ll fix him a plate
later.
 4.

JAMIE
He’s not staying over is he?

VALERIE
I don’t know. We haven’t discussed
it. But it’s almost 6:30 and it’s a
long drive back, so... I suppose
it’s up to him.

JAMIE
It’s not that long.

VALERIE
You still haven’t answered my
question.

ZACHARY
He’s afraid of the Night Stalker.

JAMIE
Shut up!

VALERIE
Oh, Jamie. You have nothing to
worry about.

ZACHARY
It’s not like you’re safer in the
car anyway. You’re literally
outside. Even easier to kill.

VALERIE
Zachary Allen Schaeffer! In the
house now.

Zachary runs off.

ZACHARY (O.S.)
I’m setting up four!

Valerie approaches Jamie, who grows more intent on his comic.

VALERIE
Listen, I know this is a scary
time. And with your father away,
I’m sure you feel even more uneasy.
But you truly have nothing to worry
about. The police are doing their
best and I’m sure they’ll find this
person soon. It isn’t going to do
you any good to try to sleep out
here. Especially in this heat. So
get all this stuff together and
come back inside.
 5.

JAMIE
You’re really gonna let him stay?
When Dad’s not here?

VALERIE
Jamie, he’s your father’s best
friend. He’s stayed over countless
nights. It shouldn’t matter whether
your father is here or not.

Jamie closes the comic book and sets it aside.

JAMIE
I don’t like it when he stays here.

Valerie sits beside him.

VALERIE
I know he’s a little... uncouth.
But your father and I have known
him since before you kids were born
and he’s a lovely man. I know he
and your brother have more things
in common, but you could try a
little harder to be kind.

JAMIE
It’s not about that.

VALERIE
Besides, I’d think it would make
you feel better: having an adult
man in the house. You clearly don’t
think I can take care of you boys,
what with you taking up residence
in the car.

She stands.

JAMIE
I don’t know why you’re not taking
this seriously.

VALERIE
Jamie. I don’t know what you expect
me to do. What would serious look
like? Should I pack you all up and
drive to Nevada?

Jamie reaches into his backpack and pulls out a notebook. He

opens it up and starts reading.
 6.

JAMIE
Jenny Vincow, Dayle Okazaki,
Veronica Yu...

VALERIE
Alright. No need to do this again.
Yes, it’s serious. And it’s scary.
But, we can’t live our lives in
constant fear. Bad things, terrible
things, happen in this world. More
than they should. And they’re not
all avoidable. But if you let your
fear of those things overtake
you...
(deep breath)
There is a very, very bad man out
there doing very, very bad things.
And it’s logical to be afraid. I’m
afraid too. But I’m also realistic.
And realistically, the odds that
he’s going to come to this house on
this night are so low, they’re
basically nonexistent. So, I’m not
letting you sleep in the car simply
because you think--

JAMIE
Yeah, but.

VALERIE
No buts. I love you, but you’re
being ridiculous. And it’s time to
come inside. Supper’s almost ready.

CLIFFORD, 29, enters, wiping his brow of grime and sweat.

He’s wearing a tank top, cutoff jean shorts, and a low-
hanging tool belt.

CLIFFORD
Oh yeah? What’s on the menu
tonight?

VALERIE
Apricot chicken. And some fresh
watermelon I got from the market
earlier. Before my car was turned
into a bedroom. Care to join us?

CLIFFORD
Hoo-boy, don’t that sound fancy?!
But I should probably get goin’.
It’s gettin’ late.
 7.

VALERIE
Oh, are you finished?

CLIFFORD
Not quite. But I can come back
tomorrow. There’s some rot under
there. And what looks like a skunk
den. You ain’t seen no skunks
around here have ya?

VALERIE
No, thank God. And you better be
careful down there. I only have one
can of tomato soup and that won’t
do if you come face to face with
one.

CLIFFORD
(sniffing his armpit)
Eh! Can’t smell much worse than I
do right now.

VALERIE
Well, you’re welcome to the shower.
(beat)
So what do you think we need?

CLIFFORD
I’d replace all them pipes, just to
be sure. You don’t want that kinda
rot spreadin’.

VALERIE
(sighing)
I’m sure Ken’ll be thrilled to get
that news.

CLIFFORD
Eh, I can get youz a good deal. My
buddy runs a place over in
Altadena.

VALERIE
Oh, good.
(beat)
If you have to go to Altadena
tomorrow, it doesn’t make much
sense to drive back north tonight.
Stay. You can have a nice, hot --
well, maybe given the weather, cool
-- shower and join us for dinner.

CLIFFORD
Ya sure?
 8.

VALERIE
Of course. The boys and I would
love the company.
(to Jamie, prodding him)
Wouldn’t we?

Jamie picks up the radio and turns it on. As he searches for

a station:

CLIFFORD
Well, alright then. Let me just put
my stuff in the truck and then I’ll
come in and clean myself up. Y’all
go ahead and eat without me if youz
ready. I’m good with leftovers.

VALERIE
We can wait.

Valerie starts off inside. She turns back to Jamie as he

settles on a station.

VALERIE (CONT'D)
And, Jamie...

JAMIE
Shhh.

A news announcement begins to play. All three listen closely.

NEWS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

Californians have come to know him
as ‘The Night Stalker.’ He strikes
in the night and police say he has
killed fourteen people. Yesterday,
he struck again and, as Heidi
Schulman reports, people are
wondering when and where he will
strike next.

HEIDI SCHULMAN (V.O.)

Police are getting hundreds of
calls from frightened citizens, but
have not identified the man
Californians are calling ‘The Night
Stalker.’ He’s blamed for fourteen
murders in thirty-four separate
attacks. The crimes began in the
Los Angeles area, but last week the
killer struck in San Francisco and
yesterday morning in Mission Viejo.
There, a man was shot in the head,
his girlfriend sexually assaulted.
(MORE)
 9.

HEIDI SCHULMAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman
Blogg.

SHERMAN BLOGG (V.O.)

Nobody knows where this individual
may strike next.

Valerie goes to the radio and switches it off.

VALERIE
That’s enough of that.

Jamie turns it back on.

HEIDI SCHULMAN (V.O.)

There is some pattern to the
attacks: Often victims’ homes are
yellow and near freeways; the
killer enters through an unlocked
door or window; and, in some cases
he’s left a message, a signature.
Police won’t reveal that signature,
but psychologists say it may mean
he wants to be caught. They also
warn he could become even more
dangerous. Psychologists say fear
and publicity may be what the Night
Stalker wants, but police hope it
will also lead to someone spotting
him before he murders again. Heidi
Schulman, NBC News, Los Angeles.

Jamie turns off the radio.

CLIFFORD
Crazy times, man.

VALERIE
(to Jamie)
I want you and all these things
inside the house before dinner. Ten
minutes.
(to Clifford)
Please, take your time. We’re in no
rush.

Zachary reenters holding a baseball bat.

ZACHARY
(to Clifford)
You staying?

CLIFFORD
Looks like I am!
 10.

ZACHARY
I knew it. I already set your
place.
(handing Jamie the bat)
Here. In case the Night Stalker
comes.

VALERIE
Zachary, you’re not helping.

ZACHARY
What? It’s not my fault he doesn’t
know how to swing a bat.

JAMIE
I do too!

ZACHARY
Right.

CLIFFORD
I could show ya how to hit. I used
to play a bunch.

Jamie ignores him.

ZACHARY
Good luck. He couldn’t even hit his
way to first base in tee-ball.

Jamie leaps out of the car bat in hand.

VALERIE
Boys. Maybe we don’t act like
animals in front of our guest.

ZACHARY
He’s not a guest mom. He’s
basically a part of the family.

CLIFFORD
Aw, little man. I hope so!

VALERIE
Even still. Remember what your
father said to you before he left?

ZACHARY AND JAMIE

(in unison)
Be good. And don’t give your mother
any trouble.

VALERIE
So you can listen?!
 11.

CLIFFORD
Eh, I was the same way when I was a
kid, Val. Didn’t have no brothers
or sisters to screw with, but--

Valerie shoots him a look, despite her amusement.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
All’s I mean is, they ain’t bein’
bad, theyz just bein’ kin.

ZACHARY
What’s kin?

VALERIE
It’s another word for... brothers.
Alright, enough of all this.
(to Zachary)
Hands?

Zachary presents his clean hands to Valerie. She approves.

VALERIE (CONT'D)
(to Jamie)
Ten minutes.

She goes back into the house. Clifford approaches the car.

CLIFFORD
Now what’s all this?

ZACHARY
Jamie’s afraid of the Night
Stalker. Thinks it’s safer for him
to sleep out here in the car.

CLIFFORD
Is that right?

Jamie ignores him.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
Well, I can see why you’re scared.
That’s some crazy shit.

Zachary laughs at the curse word.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
(to Zachary)
Don’t tell yer Mom. I mean, she
knows the mouth I got on me. But
Kenny told me I gotta be good
around you boys. Don’t want you
pickin’ up any bad habits from me.
 12.

ZACHARY
It’s OK. Both Mom and Dad have said
it before.

CLIFFORD
Oh, I know. Remember, I knew yer
folks before they had you. They
weren’t always squares.

ZACHARY
Oh yeah? Tell us!

Clifford waves Zachary away and focuses on Jamie.

CLIFFORD
This here’s quite the set-up. But,
I ain’t sure it’s safer.

Jamie engages with him for the first time.

JAMIE
Why not?

CLIFFORD
You just heard didn’t ya? He comes
in through open windows. Now you
ain’t fixin’ to sleep in there with
all the windows rolled up are ya?
Prettineer too damn hot for that,
I’d think. Unless you’re tryin’ to
suffocate yerself.

JAMIE
He doesn’t go in cars. Only houses.

CLIFFORD
And is yer Mom plannin’ on leavin’
any windows open in the house
tonight? Not with how many times I
hear her say she ain’t payin’ to
air condition the out-of-doors
every time one of you boys leaves
the back door open.
(beat)
And didn’t that there radio just
say he liked yellow things? Last I
checked, this car’s pretty yellow.

Jamie considers this information.

ZACHARY
Oh man. He’s totally gonna get you!

Jamie lunges at Zachary. Clifford steps between them.

 13.

CLIFFORD
I’m just sayin’. I’d feel safer in
the house. All locked up with yer
Mom and yer brother.

ZACHARY
And you!

CLIFFORD
And, me. Apparently.
(beat)
Besides, just cuz a guy ain’t done
somethin’ yet doesn’t mean he
won’t. Just somethin’ to consider.

ZACHARY
You won’t last more than hour out
here anyway. You wouldn’t even stay
in the tent with me and Dad last
summer.

CLIFFORD
Wait a minute! You like campin’?

ZACHARY
Yeah!

CLIFFORD
Yer father and I used to go all the
time! Loved bein’ in nature. Away
from all this city stuff. Maybe we
should go sometime. Just you boys
and me.

JAMIE
No thank you.

Zachary hits him. Jamie hits back.

CLIFFORD
Alright, now. You two cut that out.
(beat)
I ever tell you boys about the time
Johnny and me went campin’?

ZACHARY
Travolta?

CLIFFORD
Yep. Down in Topanga. Him and a few
of his buddies were goin’ for a few
days and he let me tag along.
 14.

ZACHARY
No way! What was it like?

CLIFFORD
I mean we’d hung out a couple a
times before, after I did some work
for him. So I knew he was cool. But
nothin’ like that. We wuz hangin’
out by the campfire tellin’
stories.
(a memory makes him laugh)
Hell, you think you’re scared now?
You shoulda been out there with us.
He had this one friend, this guy
who... I swear his whole purpose in
life was to scare the shit outta
ya.
(realizing what he just
said)
Oops. Sorry. Anyway, he told us
this one story about how he and
Johnny were doin’ this seance or
something -- whatever it’s called --
tryin’ to talk to the ghost of this
dead actor Sal something.
(mispronouncing it,
emphasizing the “E” -
“MIN-EEE-OH”)
Mineo? I never saw any movies he
was in. Anyway, they didn’t end up
talkin’ to him, but this guy swore
up and down this demon showed up
and made all these growlin’ noises,
and there was some kind of stink in
the air, worse than anything that
skunk livin’ under your porch could
let loose, and the hair on all
their arms and necks was standin’
up on end and this one guy they
were with started speakin’ in
tongues or something’, just
nonsense, and stood up and pissed
himself right there in Johnny’s
living room. Said it was the
scariest thing he’d ever seen. Can
you imagine bein’ so scared you
piss yourself?

Zachary reacts, grossed out.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
So after they told me that story,
that whole night, I swear I kept
hearing all this growling.
(MORE)
 15.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
It was like that demon had followed
us out there. I couldn’t stop
thinking about it. I was sure he’d
come to possess me. I didn’t sleep
a wink.

Both boys have been enrapt by this story.

ZACHARY
So what happened?

CLIFFORD
Whaddya mean what happened? I just
told ya what happened.

ZACHARY
Were you possessed?

CLIFFORD
Hell, naw! Do I look possessed to
you? I’m just a normal, All-
American boy.

VALERIE (O.S.)
Boys!

CLIFFORD
(laughing)
See? Even yer Ma thinks so!

ZACHARY
I’m glad you’re staying over. I
wanna hear more stories after
dinner. About Mom and Dad. And Mr.
Travolta.

CLIFFORD
Alright. We’ll see what I can slip
in past yer mom. Not much gets by
her.

Zachary runs off inside. Jamie begins gathering his things.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
How ‘bout you, little man? You glad
I’m stayin’?

Jamie doesn’t respond. Clifford picks up the baseball bat.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
Want some lessons after dinner?

Clifford swings the bat.

 16.

JAMIE
No thank you.

CLIFFORD
I thought you and I had fun
together.
(menacing)
I certainly have fun with you.
(conspiratorial)
Hey, listen. If you want, we can
come out to the car later.
(beat)
If we can sneak past yer Mom. Not
much gets by her.

Clifford winks at Jamie. Jamie, with his things in tow, heads

inside.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
Hey.

Jamie turns back around. Clifford approaches him and tenderly

caresses Jamie’s face, landing his hand on Jamie’s shoulder.

CLIFFORD (CONT'D)
There’s nothing to be afraid of.

Jamie noticeably pulls away and stares Clifford down. He

reaches for the bat. There’s a momentary stand-off where both
hold onto it. After a moment, Clifford lets go. Jamie takes
it, turns, and goes inside. Clifford looks after him and
smiles.