The Moment Of Truth

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In Chapter 5 of THE INVISIBLE GIRL, scientist Bernard Bee tries his invisibility potion on a rabbit in his lab, but the experiment is a bust when he discovers he brought the wrong bottle from home. Meanwhile, at home, his daughter Bettie accidentally drinks the potion thinking it's soda pop, and turns invisible ...


INT. UNIVERSITY MEDICAL LAB - DAY
Clean. Antiseptic. A row of work tables.
Cabinets and shelves stuffed with equipment.

At one table stands Bernard.
Working amid a mass of test tubes,
beakers, and electrical equipment.

A WHITE RABBIT sits in a small cage.
He hums softly to himself.

BERNARD
And now, the moment of truth.

He turns around. Opens a briefcase.
Takes out a plastic soda bottle.

Places it on the counter.
Turns to a video recorder
on a tripod facing the cage.
Turns it on.

BERNARD
Testing, testing -- one, two, three --
(beat)
This is Bernard Bee, professor of science,
at the University of Venison medical lab,
where I am about to conduct
an astounding experiment.
(dramatic pause)
I am about to make this animal DISAPPEAR,
right before your eyes.

He picks up the bottle.
Starts to screw it open.

A fountain of SODA POP comes
WHOOSHING out, drenching his hand.

BERNARD
DRAT.

Bernard puts down the bottle.
SHUTS off the recorder.

Goes to the sink.
Rinses off his hands.
Wipes them with a towel.

BERNARD
You stupid old coot.
You brought the WRONG bottle --

INT. BETTIE’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Bettie comes in the side door.
SLAMS it shut. Goes to the fridge. Opens it.

Starts foraging for a snack.
She pulls out a box of donuts.
Grabs a bottle of soda.

BETTIE
Got the last one --

She goes to the table. Sits. Opens the box.
SHOVES a donut in her mouth. INHALES it.

Opens the soda. CHUGS it down.
Her face turns GREEN. She GAGS.
Looks at the bottle.

BETTIE
What WAS that?
(thinks)
I thought the cap wasn’t --
(closes her eyes)
Don’t feel so good.

And then, right before our eyes,
she slowly DISAPPEARS.

All we see is her T-shirt,
jeans and shoes.

She shakes her head. Gets up.
Walks out of the room into --

INT. BETTIE’S HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAY
Bettie goes to the sink.
Turns on the water to splash her face.

Looks in the mirror.
Sees what’s happened. Freaks out.

BETTIE (V.O.)
Oh my GOD.

She RACES out of the room into --

INT. BETTIE’S BEDROOM - DAY
RUNS over to her dresser.
Looks in the mirror.

Sees the same thing.
She touches her face.

BETTIE (V.O.)
I’m INVISIBLE.
(beat)
It must have been
one of my dad’s formulas --
(beat)
He’s gonna KILL me.
(beat)
What do I do? What do I DO?

A long pause.

BETTIE (V.O.)
WAIT a minute.

She KICKS OFF her shoes.
Takes off her shirt. Her jeans.

Now completely invisible.
Chuckles a low, nasty laugh.

BETTIE (V.O.)
Now I can get REVENGE.

We see footsteps in the shag carpet.
They walk over to the closet.

The doors open. A suitcase comes out.
Slowly drifts toward the doorway --
and floats out of the room.