Insidious Chapter 2 EPISODE: 1

LORRAINE'S HOUSE - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

A very ordinary house.

That's how you would describe it, if you saw it. Not ominous,

but ordinary.

An ordinary car arrives to join the house - a Honda Accord.

It sputters to a halt curb side. A woman clambers out of it.

We can't see her properly, she is hidden in silhouette.

She glares up at the two story house, pausing. Apprehensive.

INT. ENTRY WAY/LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - NIGHT (1983)

LORRAINE LAMBERT (28) scampers to answer a knock at the door.

She is clad in jeans and T-shirt; a strong single mother who

knows how to be a father too. She peels the door open to

reveal ELISE RAINIER (40s). The Honda Accord owner.

ELISE

You must be Lorraine.

LORRAINE

You must be Elise.

ELISE

You must be crazy to wear a T-shirt

in this cold.

Elise cracks up. She has an easy, infectious laugh.

LORRAINE

I'm sorry it's so late. My day job kinda

makes raising my son a night job.

ELISE

It's fine. In my line of work,

things don't tend to happen until

it gets dark.

INT. LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Lorraine guides Elise into the spacious, well-lit living

room. Elise gazes around, smiling, surveying the house.

A man is fiddling with a 16mm camera in the center of the

room, sitting on an equipment box. This is CARL STANAWAY Carl is a soft-spoken, wise old soul. Everything he says and

does is considered and thoughtful.

ELISE

Ahoy there, Carl.

Carl looks up, smiling ruefully. He is relieved to see Elise.

He rises and embraces her. He looks ragged.

CARL

Thank you for coming, Elise.

ELISE

I'm always happy to help.

LORRAINE

Would you like some coffee? Or tea?

ELISE

No, thanks. I'd like to get started

right away, if that's okay. Carl

told me on the phone that your son

is the one affected, is that right?

LORRAINE

Yes. That's right. My son Josh.

ELISE

May I meet him?

LORRAINE

Of course. I'll go get him.

Lorraine hustles up the stairs. Carl lowers his voice to a

grave whisper.

CARL

I didn't know what else to do.

Except call you.

ELISE

You had a terrible psychic presence

that was making you sick and you

thought you'd make it my problem?

She cracks herself up again. Carl doesn't share it. Elise

explores the living room as Carl talks to her. She approaches

a series of framed photos tacked to the wall. Most of them

are of a young boy.

CARL

I started with the usual checks.

Mental health tests, medical

records. All normal. Elise beams as her eyes trace across the photos, taken by the

young boy's cuteness.

CARL (CONT'D)

I interviewed the boy, but he

doesn't want to tell me anything.

He's scared. I thought maybe you

could get something out of him.

Elise pauses on one particular photo...the boy at around ten.

He is slouched on a couch in a baseball uniform. Behind him

is a set of drapes, a lamp, all shrouded in shadow, the

exposure focused on the boy.

CARL (CONT'D)

There's definitely something in this

house. I can feel it. It doesn't

want me here. It's the strongest

presence I've ever felt. I'm afraid

of it, just like the boy.

(beat)

I need your help, Elise. I failed.

ELISE

You worry too much, Carl. Always

have. This isn't an exact science.

Elise turns back to the photo. Her smile slowly deflates. A

hint of concern in her eyes. Is there something in the

shadows? A person? Hard to tell by looking. Elise senses it.

LORRAINE (O.S.)

She's right there.

Elise STARTS, jolted out of her focus. She turns to see

Lorraine herding the young boy from the photo down the stairs

- JOSH LAMBERT (10). Lorraine tows and Josh resists.

LORRAINE (CONT'D)

(to Josh; firm)

Come on, just say hi to her. She

just wants to talk to you for a

little bit. You're not being polite,

Josh. No politeness, no baseball.

Josh sees that Elise is looking at him. Softens, embarrassed.

YOUNG JOSH

Hi.

ELISE

Hi Josh. I'm Elise.

Josh musters a half-hearted smile. Distracted. ELISE (CONT'D)

Your mom's right, I'd love to ask

you some simple questions. The good

kind, the kind you can't get wrong.

INT. LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - LATER

We see a POV FROM THE 16MM CAMERA - it frames up Josh,

sitting on the couch, pulsing in and out of focus at first.

ELISE (O.S.)

Do you like living here?

YOUNG JOSH

Yeah.

ELISE (O.S.)

Good for you. Are there a lot of

kids your age in this neighborhood?

YOUNG JOSH

A few. One kid lives next door.

ELISE (O.S.)

Oh, that must be nice.

YOUNG JOSH

Nah. He's pretty lame.

OUT OF POV - The camera whirs as it chews up film. Carl

operates the camera. Lorraine observes from the corner,

clutching a cushion like a life-preserver.

ELISE

Is there anything you don't like

about living in this house?

YOUNG JOSH

No.

ELISE

Nothing bad happens here at night?

A long beat. Josh scans the room.

YOUNG JOSH

I get scared when it gets dark. I'm

a wimp.

ELISE

No. You're not. It gets dark for all of

us eventually. And we're all scared of

it. Josh is clearly not comfortable talking. Elise changes tact.

ELISE (CONT'D)

I'd like to try something with you,

Josh. I promise it won't hurt.

INT. LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - LATER

A hand lights a candle. It is Elise. The flame frolics across

her face. The room is darker now. Josh is still sitting

opposite Elise.

ELISE

Close your eyes. I want you to

relax.

Josh gulps and closes his eyes.

Elise takes out a METRONOME, propping it on the table next to

her and setting it in motion. Tick...tick...tick...

ELISE (CONT'D)

Listen to the ticking...focus on

it. Tune everything else out.

WE PULL AROUND JOSH'S BACK, circling the room.

ELISE (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Take a deep breath. Feel yourself

getting sleepier...

When we complete the circle, Josh is in a deep trance. The

whole house is silent. Carl triggers the camera again.

ELISE (CONT'D)

I'm going to ask you some

questions, and I want you to tell

me the truth. Can you do that?

Josh replies in the narcotic tones of the hypnotized, his

body as still and sullen as a sculpture.

YOUNG JOSH

Yes.

ELISE

I want you to tell me who all the

people are in this house right now.

YOUNG JOSH

Me, my mom, Elise, Carl...and the

old woman. Josh is clearly not comfortable talking. Elise changes tact.

ELISE (CONT'D)

I'd like to try something with you,

Josh. I promise it won't hurt.

INT. LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - LATER

A hand lights a candle. It is Elise. The flame frolics across

her face. The room is darker now. Josh is still sitting

opposite Elise.

ELISE

Close your eyes. I want you to

relax.

Josh gulps and closes his eyes.

Elise takes out a METRONOME, propping it on the table next to

her and setting it in motion. Tick...tick...tick...

ELISE (CONT'D)

Listen to the ticking...focus on

it. Tune everything else out.

WE PULL AROUND JOSH'S BACK, circling the room.

ELISE (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Take a deep breath. Feel yourself

getting sleepier...

When we complete the circle, Josh is in a deep trance. The

whole house is silent. Carl triggers the camera again.

ELISE (CONT'D)

I'm going to ask you some

questions, and I want you to tell

me the truth. Can you do that?

Josh replies in the narcotic tones of the hypnotized, his

body as still and sullen as a sculpture.

YOUNG JOSH

Yes.

ELISE

I want you to tell me who all the

people are in this house right now.

YOUNG JOSH

Me, my mom, Elise, Carl...and the

old woman.ELISE (CONT'D)

Your mom's right, I'd love to ask

you some simple questions. The good

kind, the kind you can't get wrong.

INT. LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - LATER

We see a POV FROM THE 16MM CAMERA - it frames up Josh,

sitting on the couch, pulsing in and out of focus at first.

ELISE (O.S.)

Do you like living here?

YOUNG JOSH

Yeah.

ELISE (O.S.)

Good for you. Are there a lot of

kids your age in this neighborhood?

YOUNG JOSH

A few. One kid lives next door.

ELISE (O.S.)

Oh, that must be nice.

YOUNG JOSH

Nah. He's pretty lame.

OUT OF POV - The camera whirs as it chews up film. Carl

operates the camera. Lorraine observes from the corner,

clutching a cushion like a life-preserver.

ELISE

Is there anything you don't like

about living in this house?

YOUNG JOSH

No.

ELISE

Nothing bad happens here at night?

A long beat. Josh scans the room.

YOUNG JOSH

I get scared when it gets dark. I'm

a wimp.

ELISE

No. You're not. It gets dark for all of

us eventually. And we're all scared of

it.INT. LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Elise re-enters, pacing the living room to the front door.

YOUNG JOSH

Colder...

Elise wanders over to the stairwell.

YOUNG JOSH (CONT'D)

Warm...

She takes a step, then another, marching up the stairs.

INT. UPSTAIRS CORRIDOR, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Elise gapes into the darkened hall that yawns in front of her.

YOUNG JOSH (V.O.)

(from walkie)

Warmer.

She passes a door. She opens it - it is Lorraine's bedroom.

INT. LORRAINE'S BEDROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Elise leaves the light off, stalking through the dark.

YOUNG JOSH (V.O.)

(from walkie)

Cold.

INT. CORRIDOR, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Elise steps back into the corridor. At the end of the hall is

a door decorated with colorful stickers. The door is ajar. A

light is on inside. Elise is drawn to the door, hesitating in

front of it.

YOUNG JOSH (V.O.)

(from walkie)

Very warm.

Elise prods the door. It keens as it opens. The cluttered

room of a pre-teen boy greets her.

INT. YOUNG JOSH'S BEDROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Elise troops inside. She scans the room. It is devoCarl looks up from the camera, prickled by goosebumps.

ELISE

What old woman, Josh?

YOUNG JOSH

She talks to me at night.

ELISE

What does she say?

YOUNG JOSH

She wants me to go with her.

ELISE

Go with her where?

YOUNG JOSH

Out into the dark, where she lives.

ELISE

Where is she, right at this moment?

YOUNG JOSH

I can't tell you. She doesn't like

other people. Only me.

Elise gets up, leaning in close to Carl and whispering. Carl

opens his equipment box and wrests two walkie-talkies out of

it, handing one to Elise.

ELISE

How about if we play a game, Josh?

It's called hot and cold. I'll walk

around the house and you tell me if

I'm getting warmer or colder. Do

you know that game?

YOUNG JOSH

Yes.

Carl squats in front of Josh, holding the walkie up to his

mouth. Elise leaves the room, headed for the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

A dark, spotless kitchen. Elise shuffles inside, gazing into

the murk. The walkie squawks in her hand.

YOUNG JOSH (V.O.)

(from walkie)

Cold.ELISE (V.O.)

(from walkie)

...what do you want?...why?

Lorraine carefully approaches Josh. Bends in front of him.

LORRAINE

Honey? Are you okay? Honey?

ELISE

No. He's not okay.

Lorraine whips around to see Elise, descending the stairs.

LORRAINE

What did you see?

ELISE

I saw what haunts him.

LORRAINE

What was it?

ELISE

It was a parasite. I spoke to it.

LORRAINE

What does it want?

ELISE

It wants to be him.

(beat)

Your son has a gift, Miss Lambert.

When he sleeps at night, he is able

to explore another world. But it

can be a dangerous gift. He can

attract the attention of the

darkest part of that world.

LORRAINE

What can you do to stop it?

ELISE

I could wipe his memory of his

gift. Make him forget how to visit

that world.

Lorraine turns to face her boy, still in a trance state. Her

fear and concern for her son swirl on her face.

LORRAINE

Do it. Make him forget.Elise floats to the window, peering through. She stoops down

and lifts the bed sheets...unveiling the mess under the bed.

YOUNG JOSH (V.O.)

(from walkie)

Cold.

The closet door behind her CREAKS as it moves outwards

slightly. Elise turns to face the closet. Steps towards it.

YOUNG JOSH (V.O.)

(from walkie)

Hot...

Elise treads closer.

YOUNG JOSH

(from walkie)

Hotter...

She draws the closet doors open. A row of baseball jersey's

dangle on coat-hangers inside it.

YOUNG JOSH (V.O.) (CONT'D)

(from walkie)

Very hot.

Elise cleaves the row of clothes in half.

She gropes outwards, reaching into the pitch dark space

beyond the coat hangers.

Slowly.

INT. LIVING ROOM, LORRAINE'S HOUSE - SAME TIME

Josh JOLTS, still in a trance.

He turns, eyes still closed, facing into the far corner of

the room, into the shadowy corners where the drapes are.

YOUNG JOSH

This door stays locked until I come

out of my shell.

CLICK. The camera rolls out of film.

A garbled, whispered voice spits out of the walkie. Carl

holds it to his ear, listening. It's Elise. Her whispering is

barely audible, distant....