LAY ME DOWN Written by thriller107

FADE IN: INT. KYLE'S ROOM - MORNING KYLE, a fifteen or sixteen year old high school student, is lying wide-awake in bed. His eyes are bloodshot. The teenagers alarm clock goes off; he sighs and hits the off button. Cue INTRO MUSIC. KYLE (V.O.) I dont dream. Not in the traditional sense, at least. Kyle shambles out of bed and meanders down a hall: INT. HALLWAY - MORNING He rounds the corner and wanders down the stairs. KYLE (V.O.) For as long as I can remember, I have shut my eyes at night and awoken in a different world, a different realm. Kyle makes his way around his house, performing mundane morning rituals. A he walks, CUT between real life and THE REALM. EXT. A ROOM MORNING - CONTINUOUS Kyle walks through a pantry door nonchalantly. INT. A ROOM EVENING - CONTINUOUS Kyle enters the room and a gust of wind blows his hair back, accompanied by bright, multicolored lights. He beams and leaves: EXT. A ROOM MORNING CONTINUOUS Kyle walks out of the pantry, carrying a box of cereal. KYLE (V.O.) Its not what you think. Its not a dream; it's not a fantasy; its a harsh reality that I have to live with every night of my life. Sometimes it's a

2. KYLE (CONT'D) blessing, and sometimesHe drops his cereal. It floods the floor. EXT. A ROOM EVENING Kyle shuts the door to a room. Deliberately and cautiously, he sucks in a deep breath and holds it, letting it escape his lungs a brief moment after. His expression shows that he is disturbed. KYLE I dont know much about this place except that from it, I can influence the dreams of others. I can help people. Make some kind of a difference. (Brief pause.) ...But lately, theres been a problem. EXT. A STREET NIGHT THE REALM Kyle sprints down a street, anger on his face. EXT. THE SAME STREET MORNING REALITY Kyle continues plowing down the same street, trying to catch his bus. The bus lurches away before he's able to flag down it driver. Cursing, he drags himself the other way down the street. OPENING CREDITS INT. CAFETERIA LUNCH TABLE - MORNING the DRONE of conversations and bickering. Kyle spots a cafeteria table, where his friend PETER sits. As Kyle stumbles toward the table, Peter waves to him. Peter (about Kyle's age) is a relaxed high school student, the type of person who tells others to calm down and relax. Kyle slumps into his chair and rests his head on the table. PETER Well, look who we have here. Your mom have to drive you to school again?

3. Kyle looks up from the table at Peter and grunts. PETER Another sleepless night, Mr. DiCaprio? KYLE (Groggily) Mr. DiCaprio? PETER Leonardo DiCaprio? Inception? You of all people really should have seen that one, you know. Kyle lifts his head and rolls his eyes. Peter sips a soda can. PETER How long has it been since you last slept? KYLE Bout two weeks. It's just... He looks off in the distance, his train of thought lost. A GIRL sitting at the table gawks at Kyle. Peter stares at her in response and motions to Kyle. Both stand up, gather their backpacks, and shuffle to a different table. PETER So tell me what usually happens. You crawl under the blankets, snuggle up with your teddy bear, close your eyes, and then wake up in the... Peter snaps his fingers, trying to recall. PETER What do you call it? KYLE The Realm.

4. Peter looks around to make sure no one is listening in. PETER Right. Spooky. So you wake up in the Realm, and then what? KYLE You know what happens, Peter. Ive told you enough times. PETER Well, humor me. Kyle sighs again. KYLE I wake up in the Realm, I walk into a house and open a door. Behind the door is the dream of someone whos asleep somewhere in the world. Sometimes I enter the dreams of someone I know, other times, a complete stranger. Dreams, nightmares, its all in the same place. PETER And you can enter these dreams, make changes, see how they play out, and then leave completely unnoticed, right? KYLE (Bitterly) Yep. PETER So whats been different? Walk in on your moms dream one too many times? KYLE Peter! PETER Alright, alright, just trying to

5. PETER (CONT'D) lighten the mood. So, honestly, what's been different? KYLE I dont know! Everythings the same! But these last few nights Ive entered the same houses I've been in before, opened the same doors, and... He gestures with his hands, defeated. ...nothing. There is just nothing behind them. The rooms are completely empty! No dreams, no anything! And then I wake up exhausted! PETER Mmhmm... Peter grunts, distracted. KYLE Peter? Hey, Pete? Kyle snaps his fingers in front of Peters face. PETER Huh? Oh, sorry. I was a little distracted. Peter gestures toward a table on the other end of the cafeteria, where a group of girls are giggling. The ringleader, ROSE, is bawling over with laughter. Kyle is a little annoyed but says nothing more about his problem. KYLE You really like her, huh? Rose, I mean. Peter is still looking at the table, where ROSE is now laughing uncontrollably.

6. PETER Yeah. Shes just so happy all the time, you know? Kyle nods. INT. KYLEs Kyle slowly his bed. He ceiling. He ROOM NIGHT walks into his room and groans at the sight of shuffles over and plops down, staring at the begins to pray.

KYLE Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, thy angels watch me through the night, And keep me safe till morning's light. Kyle blinks a few times and finally shuts his eyes. The camera lurks on his face for a brief moment and then starts to spin violently. Everything blurs and INTENSE MUSIC shrieks. Once the camera decelerates, Kyle wakes up in the middle of a street. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - NIGHT He picks himself up off the ground and wanders around. Inhaling deeply, Kyle shuts his eyes and heads for a house. He cautiously opens the door. INT. HOUSE NIGHT The house Kyle enters is quaint and old-fashioned. An analog clock softly ticks, the sound of which echoes through the place. Long, eery shadows stretch down its interior. The floorboards squeak as he slowly roams through the home, trying to find a door that shows promise. His eyes lock on one. Kyle smiles and hurries toward it. He turns its knob and nearly yanks it off its handle... But

7. it is just another dark, empty space. Nothing inside but darkness and dust. He punches the wall. KYLE (defeated) Damn. All of a sudden, he hears a KNOCK from the front of the house. Completely taken aback, Kyle gradually turns his head toward the sound of the noise. The knocking persists. Slowly, Kyle picks himself up and makes his way to the source of the noise: the front door. INT. FRONT DOOR NIGHT He reaches for the knob and gulps. He squeezes his eyes and rips it open, where a tall DARK FIGURE clad in robes is standing. The figure takes one step forward and is revealed to be THE ORACLE. Kyle is stunned silent. The Oracle lifts his hood; the face of a teenager older than Kyle lies underneath. THE ORACLE May I come in? Kyle says nothing. THE ORACLE May I please come in, Kyle? Kyle still cannot say a thing but nods his head. The Oracle enters the room slowly. Neither says a word for what seems like hours. THE ORACLE Kyle...

8. KYLE Wha.. what did you say? THE ORACLE Kyle, dont be alarmed. We need to talk. KYLE You... you can see me...? THE ORACLE Yes, I can see you. I am not like the others you are used to seeing in this realm. KYLE Who are you? Kyle steps back. The Oracle steps inside and shuts the door. THE ORACLE They call me The Oracle. KYLE They? THE ORACLE They are not important. All you need to know is that Im here to warn you. KYLE Warn me about what? THE ORACLE I need you to do something dangerous. Kyle, do you know what evil looks like? KYLE Uh... THE ORACLE That's right. You don't know what evil looks like. Evil does not have a look; it has a voice. A soothing voice,

9. THE ORACLE (CONT'D) calming. Trustworthy. KYLE I don't quite understand. THE ORACLE It's not your job to understand. You need to reach out... to touch a stranger. KYLE (Beat) What? THE ORACLE There is another like you a wanderer through this place. Fighting against the dark forces that occupy this realm. The Oracle leans in. Losing. Kyle takes this in. KYLE Well, what am I supposed to do? I can't enter dreams, I don't even know this person... The Oracle leans in further. THE ORACLE You must do what you can. Otherwise... He looks Kyle hard in the eyes. Finding meaning. I'm afraid our kind may very well perish. Kyle considers this some more. INT. KYLE'S ROOM MORNING The time on Kyle's alarm clock switches from 5:59 to 6:00.

10. INT. FRONT DOOR - NIGHT Kyle's alarm clock GOES OFF. The first few beeps are soft and slow, but they soon grow in volume and speed. Kyle turns to The Oracle to ask another question. But he is gone. INT. CAFETERIA LUNCH TABLE - MORNING Kyle and Peter are already sitting at the table. The two are in deep conversation, oblivious to the others at the table. PETER So you don't know who that oracle guy was. KYLE Never seen him before in my life. PETER Well, what are you going to do when you go back? Kyle stares at the floor. KYLE I hadnt really thought of that. Maybe Ill just stay awake all night. I dont exactly want to perish, you know? PETER It doesnt sound like the kid that this guy mentioned wants to perish either. Look, Kyle? Kyle stops looking at the floor and looks at Peter. PETER I dont have any say in this, of course, but remember that youre not alone here, alright?

11. The bell rings, and the mass cafeteria-goers stands up to leave. PETER Just... Just do what feels right. That's all you can do. KYLE Yeah. Okay. Peter gives Kyle one last look, grabs his backpack, and leaves the cafeteria. INT. KYLE'S ROOM NIGHT Kyle kneels at the foot of his bed, shuts his eyes, and clasps his hands together as if to pray. He opens them and shakes his head. KYLE I don't know what to say. He stands up and shuffles over to the head of his bed. Kyle falls back, expecting to be caught by his mattress, but instead: EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET NIGHT Kyle hits the ground. Hard. He grunts and sits up, rubbing the back of his head. He looks around. DARK FIGURES IN CLOAKS, different from The Oracle's, walk aimlessly around the street. KYLE What the...? Hearing Kyle, the Dark Figures make their way toward him. One points at him and hisses. Kyle stares at the Dark Figure. KYLE I'm going to assume that's not a good sign.

12. Kyle panics and bolts for a house. He desperately fumbles with the door, but it is locked. Kyle tries to kick the door in but only manages to knock himself backward. He sprints to another house, only to find another locked door. He turns around to see that the Dark Figures have started running. Desperate, Kyle dashes to a third house. He grabs at the doorknob it turns. But the door is stuck! Kyle slams against the door no luck. A second try yields no results. He takes one look back. The Dark Figures have almost reached him. Kyle takes a couple extra steps back and SLAMS against the door with all his might. It finally gives way. He scrambles inside and slams the door shut with all his might. INT. HOUSE B - NIGHT Kyle takes a few steps away into the next roomINT. FAMILY ROOM NIGHT -and collapses onto a nearby couch, hoping to take a breather. His break is interrupted by the sound of something banging at the door. KYLE I knew I should have taken the red pill. Kyle leaves the Family Room and runs through a hall, opening doors left and right. All of them are empty. KYLE C'mon, please! He tries another door an empty room. KYLE Please! INT. FRONT DOOR NIGHT Dark Figures burst through the door, nearly breaking its

13. hinges. INT. HALLWAY NIGHT Kyle has given up checking the inside of rooms. He mindlessly spurts through the house ripping doors open. Kyle spies a door apart from other doors. A smiley face is painted on it. He turns back and lunges for the door. Dark Figures round the corner, sprinting toward him. Kyle makes it inside and shuts the door. INT. STAIRCASE TO THE BASEMENT NIGHT The staircase is dark, lit faintly by candles. Kyle is taken aback but smiles a little the room is not empty for once. He makes his way down the stairs, hoping to find a way out. He hits the bottom of the stairs, and his mouth drops. INT. BASEMENT NIGHT Rose, the girl from the cafeteria, is sitting in a chair. Thick ropes tie her to her seat. Dark Figures circle her slowly, whispering. Dark Figure #2 Your fault... Dark Figure #3 No one cares... Dark Figure #4 You're so screwed up... Dark Figure #5 Twisted... Dark Figure #2 Ugly... Dark Figure #3 Stupid... Rose hangs her head.

14. Dark Figure #4 is about to whisper something else into her ear but notices Kyle and stops. It hisses at him. The Dark Figures continue to circle her, whispering. KYLE Rose? He shakes his head in disbelief. Rose looks up. ROSE (meekly) Hello? DARK FIGURE #4 Put your head down. You don't deserve to talk. Rose lowers her head, agreeing. KYLE Rose... ROSE Look, whoever's there, just... Go. I don't deserve the effort. KYLE I won't. ROSE Just leave. KYLE No. What is this? What happened to you? ROSE Look, you don't know me. You don't know my life, you don't know what I've done, you don't know what I've been through. You don't understand, so just please leave me alone. KYLE Rose... I don't know how to help you. I

15. KYLE (CONT'D) don't know what to do. ROSE There's nothing you can do. KYLE What I can do is all I can do. Rose, people care about you. People reallyA Dark Figure interrupts Kyle's thought process by rushing at him. Kyle react by grabbing its hood and ripping it off but when he pulls away, only the robes remain. The Dark Figure is gone. One of the ropes confining Rose snaps in half. The three remaining Dark Figures turn to Kyle. At the same time, the door swings open, and Dark Figures from the upstairs rush in. As they are about to engulf Kyle, he turns to Rose. KYLE It's going to be okay. A slow, deep BEEP rings through the room. Kyle's alarm clock. The camera spins around the room. Kyle is ripped from the Realm and wakes up into Reality, right as the Dark Figures are about to reach him. INT. KYLE's BEDROOM MORNING Kyle sighs. INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA - MORNING Kyle, Peter, and another group of people (including BOY #1) are sitting at the same table, sharing jokes and laughing. At her table, Rose and her friends are giggling as well. She laughs even harder than usual. KYLE (to Peter) Go for it, Pete!

16. PETER I hardly know her! BOY #1 Nah, you're just scared. Peter pushes Boy #1 away, and the whole group cracks up. Kyle stands. KYLE Alright, I'm gonna go get a parfait. I'll be right back. The group nods. Kyle walks down and passes Rose's table. KYLE Hey, Rose. Rose turns out of habit. ROSE Hi. Rose goes back to say something to her friends, then stops. She turns back to get another look at Kyle, but he is gone. FADE TO BLACK: EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET NIGHT Kyle and The Oracle are walking. KYLE So I've got another question. Why was it that I could see Rose's dream, but not others'? THE ORACLE What you saw was more reality than dream for her. People aren't the only things that come into this realm. Kyle nods. KYLE What was it that I saw, exactly?

17. THE ORACLE Memories, perhaps. Harsh words. Personal issues. Let me make one thing clear. Those things you saw were not from here. She brought them from her life. Those pains were real. INT. ROSE'S BEDROOM NIGHT Rose is sound asleep, smiling slightly. INT. HOUSE B NIGHT Dark Figures trot away from their pursuer: Rose. She snags the cloak of a slow one and rips its hood off, making the ifgure disappear. She casts the robes aside. KYLE It might take a little while. But she'll be okay. FADE TO BLACK Kyle says one final line. KYLE (V.O.) Everything is going to be okay. CREDITS

END.