Re-Animator

Happy Thursday, horror kids. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where the girls are hot, the drinks are cold, and the hardboiled-pulp-noir action is non-stop, right here, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 14 of FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE, officer Chet Ordesky and CDC agent Beck Driver interview Peggy Heck about who might have re-animated the dead rat -- and she tells them about Frankie Stein's secret underground lab. Peggy's daughter Vita overhears this, and confronts Frankie about how she knows that he brought dead cheerleader Shayla Petrie back to life -- and then expresses her undying love.


EXT. VITA’S HOUSE - DAY
A bright, sunny day. Birds are chirping.
The wind whistles through the trees.
All that’s missing is ‘The Beaver.’

Chet and Beck stand at the front door,
side by side.

He takes off his shades.
Slips them in his shirt pocket.
RINGS the doorbell.

CHET
Remember, let me do the talking.

BECK
(bristling)
Of course --

PEGGY (O.C.)
(faint)
Just a minute --

The door OPENS.
Peggy’s smile fades. Disappointed.

PEGGY
Officer Ordesky.
Nice to -- see you again.

CHET
(tips his hat)
Mrs. Heck --

PEGGY
Please. Peggy.
(beat)
Are you here -- about the rat?

CHET
Yes, Ma’am.
(gestures to Beck)
This is Beck Driver,
from the Center For Disease Control.

PEGGY
(eyes wide)
Oh, dear --

CHET
Nothing to be alarmed about.
We’re just trying to find out
where the rat came from.

BECK
This is going to sound strange,
but do you know of anyone doing any
medical experiments in the neighborhood?

PEGGY
'Medical experiments?'

BECK
Yes. It seems that the rat
was brought back from the dead --
and we’re looking for the person who did it.
(conspiratorial)
It’s a major medical breakthrough.

CHET
You’d be doing your duty for your country,
Mrs. -- Peggy.

Peggy blinks. Looks at them.

PEGGY
Well, there’s young Frankie Stein next door.
They say he’s a genius.
Has a laboratory in his basement
and everything.

BECK
A -- basement lab?

PEGGY
Oh, yes. His mother Julie
isn’t allowed down there,
but she’s told me he does all kinds of
top-secret things down there.
(brightly)
I hope that’s helpful.

BECK
(barely containing her excitement)
That’s VERY helpful. Thank you.

INSIDE THE HOUSE
Standing in the doorway
to the kitchen is Vita.
Listening.

VITA
(whispers)
I’ve got you NOW, Frankie Stein --

She grabs her backpack and heads toward the door.

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE
Chet and Beck start walking next door.

CHET
I don’t believe it. Frankie Stein.
'FS.' The initials on the SHOE.

BECK
We GOT the little bastard NOW --

INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
The joint is clogged with kids.
Frankie stands at his locker
working the combination.

Vita comes up behind him.

VITA
Frankie, we need to talk.

FRANKIE
(turns, looks)
Hey, Vita. Sorry, can’t talk now,
don’t wanna be late for class.

He turns to leave.

VITA
I saw you with Shayla last night.

FRANKIE
(stops, stares)
That’s crazy. She’s -- missing.

VITA
No, she’s not.
She’s in your tree house.

FRANKIE
(gasps)
I, I can explain --

VITA
You fucking BETTER --
(grabs his hand)
Come with me.

She drags him into --

INT. GIRLS’ ROOM - DAY
Empty except for a YOUNG GIRL WITH BRACES
drying her hands at the sink.
She sees Frankie and BOLTS for the door.

VITA
What the FUCK, Frankie?
She looks DEAD.
Did you bring her back to life?

FRANKIE
Well, you see --
(beat)
Uh -- it’s a long story --

VITA
A cop and woman from the CDC
were at my house this morning
talking to my mother about
the DEAD RAT in my basement
that was running around like crazy.
You did that too, right?

FRANKIE
It’s not what it looks like --
(sighs)
I was doing a dead-cell
reanimation experiment --
(gestures helplessly)
And it worked.

VITA
Do you realize how much trouble you’re in?
My mother told them about your basement lab --

FRANKIE
Oh, SHIT.
(realizes)
Did you tell them anything?

VITA
No, no, no. I’d never do that.
I want to help you.
What you’ve done is INCREDIBLE.

FRANKIE
You w-want to help me? Why?

VITA
Frankie, don’t you know?
(beat)
Don’t you remember 'the ceremony?'

FRANKIE
But we were TEN, Vita.
That was kid’s stuff.

VITA
(eyes welling up)
I never stopped loving you --

Frankie stares.
Careful what you say.
You need her help.

He takes her hands in his.

FRANKIE
Can we -- talk about that later?
I’m kinda -- freaked out right now --

VITA
Of course, of course.
(thinks)
Go to the nurse, say your sick,
then go home and hide anything in your lab
that can be used as evidence.
(realizes)
Oh, shit. Wait. The cop and the CDC lady
are probably there right now --

FRANKIE
No, it’s okay.
My mom’s still at work.
She doesn’t get home until ten.
She did a double shift last night.

VITA
Perfect.

FRANKIE
Yeah. Okay --

VITA
Don’t worry.
We’ll figure this out.

FRANKIE
I don’t know what to say.

She puts her hands on his hips.
Draws him close --

VITA
'Thank you' would be nice --

And grinds into his crotch.
Kisses him deeply.
She pulls back.

Frankie stares at her.
Aroused. Confused.

FRANKIE
(whispers)
Thank you.

VITA
You’re welcome.
Now go, scoot --
go see the nurse.

He nods.
Gives her a half-smile.
Hurries out.

VITA
(watches him go)
You're mine, Frankie Stein.
All mine --