Ted Bundy: King of Hearts

By

Tyler Brown

Sept 30th, 2015

1 EXT. FOREST ROAD - NIGHT

A 1970S SEDAN moves down an empty road.

2 INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

We hear a classic ROCK ’N ROLL TUNE mixed with some STATIC.

BETTIE, 50s wakes up from a nap and looks around.

Dan, 50s, turns up the radio. She pulls out a LARGE MAP,

holding it upside-down, trying to make sense of it.

DAN

Would you put that away?

She tilts the map to see it better.

DAN

I can’t see!

She pulls it down just enough, then looks around.

BETTIE

Your lost.

DAN

No, I’m not lost

BETTIE

Yes you are, I’m looking at the

map.

DAN

No I’m not I know where I’m going.

BETTIE

No you do not know where your going

I’m looking at the map.

DAN

Then I guess were not lost!

She carefully puts the map away, visibly upset.

DAN

(reassuringly)

We’re going the right way.

BETTIE

(quietly)

Can you turn that off.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

The radio static grows FIERCE, DROWNING out the tune. Dan

carefully twists the dial - to make the station clearer, but

the static only gets worse.

DAN

Damn thing.

BETTIE

Dan!

Dan pulls over to the side of the road, where we find CAROL,

a COLLEGE STUDENT 20s, disheveled, and very out of place.

FROM A DISTANCE: The girl runs to the door and jumps in. Dan

turns the car around, speeding back the way it came.

WE PAN LEFT, until we see a little dark clearing beside the

road. All of a sudden BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS TURN ON. A VW BUG

pulls out of the road and speeds away.

3 EXT. FOREST ROAD - CONTINUOUS

From a distance: Dan helps the girl as she scrambles to get

into the car.

DAN

(yelling)

Grab the map - we need to find a

hospital!

Dan turns the car around, driving back the way they came.

We CRANE DOWN to the side of the street, where we see an

open PAIR OF HANDCUFFS, illuminated in the moonlight.

FADE TO BLACK

4 INT. BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

A BEDSIDE PHONE RINGS. Clark, mid 50’s, slowly rolls over

and picks it up.

CLARK

(half asleep)

Hello?

He hears something interesting. Now - he’s awake.

CLARK

What? - Where?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

He fumbles around the bedside table drawer. It’s too dark.

He turns on a LAMP. He finds a dry pen, then scribbles on a

USED NAPKIN. He tosses it - then finds another. He jots down

an address. His WIFE sits up behind him.

CLARK

No, that’s fine - I’ll come now.

He gets up, throwing on his LEATHER JACKET.

CLARK’S WIFE

I hope your home for dinner.

He gives her a quick kiss on the forehead, then leaves the

bedroom, shutting the door behind him. She reaches over to

turn off the lamp.

5 INT. POLICE CAR - EARLY MORNING

Clark turns his VEHICLE down a residential street. Large

Mansion-like houses are aligned behind a row of tall oaks.

Clark pulls up to the curb. He grabs a WORN LEATHER

SATCHEL, and gets out of his VEHICLE.

We JIB UP, revealing a PEARL-WHITE SORORITY HOUSE surrounded

by a row of PILLARS. He walks to the entrance. A small group

of people stand at the door, waiting for him.

6 EXT. SORORITY HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

DETECTIVE BROWN, 40s, takes a drag from a cigarette. Dan &

Bettie (from scene 1) await - exhausted.

CLARK

Your smoking again?

Brown grabs a STYROFOAM CUP OF COFFEE from a CARDBOARD

HOLDER, handing it to Clark.

BROWN

Detective Clark - Dan and Bettie

Davis.

Clark shakes Dan’s hand.

BROWN

They found her last night off

HIGHWAY 22.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

CLARK

Where?

BROWN

Near the mountains-

DAN

By the freeway.

Bettie pinches him hard on the back of the arm.

DAN

Oww!

He yanks it away with a start, grabbing it for a moment till

the pain goes away.

CLARK

Did she say anything?

Dan turns back around.

DAN

She was mumbling something. Honey -

what was she mumbling?

BETTIE

What?

DAN

What was she saying?

BETTIE

She was saying something-

DAN

A name!

BETTIE

I DON’T REMEMBER!

There’s a moment of silence.

CLARK

I think we can take it from here.

Bettie begins to walk away, then stops.

BETTIE

Her parents don’t get here till

this afternoon - so we stayed with

her at the hospital.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

CLARK

You two have been more than

helpful.

They walk away from the porch bickering at each other. Clark

takes a deep breath, watching them go.

BROWN

(in a low voice)

How do you wanna handle it?

All of a sudden - we notice Bettie and Dan are talking to

each other rather loudly. She turns around.

BETTIE

It was Ted!

They turn to her.

BETTIE

The name. It was Ted.

The Detectives exchange a glance. Brown walks down the

stairs towards the couple.

BROWN

Let’s go over this one more time.

Clark turns to the Sketch Artist, then opens the door,

walking into the house. He waits for the sketch artist to

pass inside, then closes the door behind him.

7 INT. SORORITY HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Clark & the sketch-artist turn a corner, into a living room.

Carol sits on a plush couch with a BLANKET wrapped around

her. She slowly sips on a cup of tea.

CLARK

Carol?

She doesn’t seem to notice him. Clark grabs a chair, pulling

it front of her. He takes a seat.

CLARK

I’m detective Clark with major

crimes. How are you feeling?

A moment of silence goes by.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

CLARK

You’re very lucky, you know. [beat]

You’re the only one that got away.

She takes a sip of her tea.

CLARK

Carol.

She looks up at him.

CLARK

Can you tell me what happened?

She thinks for a moment, then shakes her head.

CAROL (CONT’D)

I was walking home - and I saw this

guy with a cast trying to carry his

books. He was having trouble so I

helped. [gets emotional] I’m sorry

CLARK

I know this is hard - do you

remember what he looks like?

CAROL

I... I can’t remember.

CLARK

Even a shape, or an outline.

She looks down at her wrists, still raw from being

Handcuffed. A single image jolts through her brain.

CAROL (CONT’D)

I remember... his eyes... the way

he looked at me... That’s when I

knew...I shouldn’t be here.

The Sketch Artist holds his PENCIL just above the

bleach-white surface of his pad.

He begins to sketch a face.

8 INT. DARK ROOM - NIGHT

We see before us...

The WHIRLING COGS of a LARGE PRINTING PRESS. Operating at

full capacity.

SLAM SLAM SLAM SLAM

7.

A MECHANICAL ARM stacks fresh NEWSPAPERS one on top of the

other. On the front is a sketch of a man, with a PENETRATING

STARE.

9 INT. CASS’ ROOM - EVENING

We slowly dolly into the room of a twenty-something. We pass

a couple OPEN BEER BOTTLES, a SUITCASE, a PHOTO of a SMILING

YOUNG COUPLE, then finally, on Cass, sitting on her bed,

sipping on a BEER.

We hear a HONK from outside.

She looks out her window, then quickly moves out of her

room.

10 EXT. CASS’ HOUSE - EVENING

Cass walks down the front steps to her house, then climbs

into a VW Bug. It sputters away.

11 INT. VW BUG - CONTINUOUS

Cass looks out the window, agitated.

TED

You look beautiful.

CASS

Thanks.

TED

I’ve been packing all day.

He looks over at her.

TED

I’m sorrryyy. I’ll make it up to

you [beat] tonight.

CASS

You better.

She looks in the rear-view mirror, noticing a PAIR OF

CRUTCHES in the back seat.

TED

I’m just trying to get to Dante’s.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

CASS

They’re probably there already-

TED

Who?

CASS

Getting drunk... having fun.

TED

Who’s there?

CASS

Davy, Megan, Ben-

TED

Megan!

CASS

Yeah.

TED

At Dante’s?

CASS

She invited us.

TED

[beat] She invited you.

CASS

Don’t worry about Megan.

Ted pulls up to the curb and shuts off his engine.

TED

(heartfelt)

I just want our last night to be

perfect.

CASS

Last night?

TED

(reassuringly)

In Seattle.

CASS

Oh - yeah...

He gets out of the car. She pulls the handle but her door

won’t open. Ted walks around the car, opening it from the

outside.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 9.

TED

Need to fix that.

He closes the door behind her. They walk into the bar.

12 EXT. DANTE’S BAR - NIGHT

They walk across the street to the front of...

DANTES || A POPULAR UNIVERSITY DIVE BAR

13 INT. DANTE’S BAR LOUNGE - NIGHT

Megan 25, sits at a round table overlooking the dance floor

with DAVY and BEN, same age. Behind them, Cass approaches.

Megan gets up to give her a big hug.

MEGAN

You came!

CASS

Ted got into Law school so -

MEGAN

He got in?

CASS

Yeah, in Utah!

MEGAN

(concerned)

Utah?

Across from them, Ben and Davy, MID 20s, strain their necks

sideways.

DAVY

Hey!

MEGAN

What?

Davy signals her to get out of the way. She follows his gaze

to a nearby table, where a couple girls sit, drinking. She

turns back to him.

MEGAN

You like ’em?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 10.

DAVY

(matter-of-factly)

No, they like us.

MEGAN

Really?

Megan turns back to the girls.

MEGAN

(shouting)

Hey! These guys want to buy you

drinks.

They laugh, stealing glances at Davy and Ben.

BEN

Okay...

Ben quickly gets up and walks away.

DAVY

Wait.

Davy follows him. As he leaves, he shoots Megan a look.

Cass and Megan sit down.

CASS

Poor guys.

MEGAN

With this whole missing girl thing

they need all the help they can

get.

They both laugh. Megan pushes over a HALF-FULL PLATE OF

FRIES

14 INT. DANTE’S BAR - NIGHT

CLOSE UP of a NEWSPAPER. On the front, we see a SKETCH OF A

MAN’S FACE. The headline reads "POLICE STUMPED, URGE

CAUTION.

BROWN

You really think that’s him?

CLARK

I don’t know.

DETECTIVE BROWN, 35 eyes DETECTIVE CLARK, 55 who sits next

to him. Brown sets the newspaper down.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 11.

A CUTE BARTENDER passes by.

CLARK

(politely)

Can I get two waters please.

BROWN

(abruptly)

-and an old fashion’.

She pulls out a COUPLE GLASSES, and a FIFTH OF BOURBON.

BACK TO:

15 INT. DANTE’S BAR LOUNGE - NIGHT

Cass eats a fry.

MEGAN

Have you talked about it?

CASS

What?

MEGAN

Utah.

CASS

Yeah. I mean, we’re still working

out the details but, I’m fine with

spontaneous.

Megan forces a smile, then looks over at Ted as he orders

drinks. He’s having an engaging conversation with the

bartender. She turns back.

MEGAN

You think you’ll like it there?

CASS

Utah’s great - There’s mountains -

Ted and I love to go skiing -

it’s sunny - well get a bigger

house if-

MEGAN

He’s playing you Cass.

Cass stares at her, trying to think of what to say. Ted

walks over, setting down THREE SHOTS OF TEQUILA, complete

with SALT and LIMES.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 12.

TED

I just got a great deal on these.

He pushes a shot over to Megan.

TED

People here are so kind.

Megan shoots Cass a look. Ted raises his glass, waiting for

them to do the same.

TED

To the future.

They CLINK glasses, then down the alcohol.

16 INT. BAR BALCONY - CONTINUOUS

Davy and Ben watch the Girl’s table from a safe distance.

DAVY

I’ll take the one on the left.

BEN

Let’s get some beer.

Davy pushes him forward.

17 INT. DANCEFLOOR - A LITTLE LATER

Ted and Cass SWAY to a slow number. They’re both buzzed, but

Ted manages to keep her steady as they slide past the clumsy

couples.

TED

Not bad for a drunk.

CASS

I’m not drunk.

TED

Not you.

Cass watches as Ben stumbles down the stairs with his new

date.

CASS

You excited?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 13.

TED

Excited? Of course I’m excited.

She waits for him to say something, but he doesn’t.

CASS

So am I coming or not?

TED

[beat] You can if you want.

CASS

If you don’t want me to come you

can just say -

TED

Of course I want you to come.

CASS

Then why didn’t you say it?

He swings her around. She struggles to stay on her feet.

CASS

Ted!

TED

It’s a big decision!

CASS

I know it’s a big decision - That’s

why we need to discuss it-

TED

Right now?

CASS

It’s like you don’t want to talk

about it -

TED

We’re drinking!

CASS

[beat] Well, they always say the

truth comes out when your drunk...

Ted realizes he’s not getting out of this one. He strains

his brain for a diplomatic response.

TED

(carefully)

It makes sense for me - I’m going

to Law School.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 14.

CASS

Utah’s a good place. I could get a

job.

TED

Cass...

Cass understands his point, but she’s hurt. Ted grabs her

face, giving her a reassuring kiss.

TED

I love you more than you know.

He holds her close. She looks away.

18 INT. BOOTH - CONTINUOUS

We go to the ’L’ shaped booth. The best seat in the house. A

PITCHER and some HALF-EMPTY BEERS lie on the table in front

of them.

DAVY

You remember that big party last

year? You know - the one where

everyone got the rash from the

foam?

Megan rolls her eyes. She’s heard this a million times.

DAVY

Well we didn’t get the rash because

Ben wanted to go home Dany.

BEN

It was lame.

Cass grabs a HALF-FULL BEER and takes a swig.

DAVY

...so were walking back, Ben pulls

out this massive joint, like really

massive - and he says, tell them

what you said.

BEN

I wrapped it tighter than a -

DAVY

He says "I wrapped it tighter than

a virgins pussy!"

Everyone LAUGHS, except for Cass. Davy is getting to the

good part...

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 15.

DAVY

So we find ourselves in front of

the cops, and I’m as high as a kite

and couldn’t think of anything to

say...

Ben knows whats coming. He tries to lean away, but he has

nowhere to go. Davy raises his arms to embrace him.

DAVY

...so I turn to Davy, I wrap my

arms around him and I say "we were

making love."

The girls laugh. Ben pushes him off.

DAVY

The manager was so shocked, she let

us go.

DAVY’S DATE

Why?

Davy shrugs.

DAVY

Because - sometimes people don’t

want to believe the truth -

sometimes it’s easier to believe

the lie.

The two girls look confused.

TED

It’s easier that way

DAVY

Exactly.

Davy leans back. The girls are amused. Cass spills her beer

over the table.

She gets up and walks toward the bar.

19 INT. BAR - CONTINUOUS

Cass hurries up to the bartender.

CASS

Hey, do you have a rag?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 16.

The bartender grabs a newspaper and sets it in front of

Cass. She grabs it and turns to leave. Something catches her

eye - She freezes in motion, looking at the paper in her

hands.

There’s a sketch of a man with a penetrating stare.

20 INT. BOOTH - CONTINUOUS

*Improv scene* Megan gets too drunk and unloads her feelings

about Ted, telling him about how bad he is for Cass. Davy &

Ben loose their dates.

21 INT. CASS’ HOUSE - NIGHT

Cass enters her room, then LOCKS the door.

She moves toward a SUITCASE, lying in the middle of the

room. She quickly opens it, tossing out her clothes.

At the bottom, a FEW PRIZED PHOTOS.

She pulls out a recent PHOTO of HER AND TED. She places it

next to the newspaper article from the bar.

A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

She jumps, turns around.

TED (O.S.)

Hey, you there?

A KNOCK AGAIN.

She stares at the door, motionless.

TED (O.S.)

I just want to talk.

She hesitates, then walks over to the door, opening it.

TED

Hey.

CASS

Hey.

TED

Why’d you leave?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 17.

CASS

I wasn’t feeling good.

TED

What are you doing?

CASS

[beat] Un-packing

TED

Can I come in?

CASS

I’m really not feeling good.

TED

I wanna make you feel better.

Ted tries to open the door, but she pushes back. He looks at

her, confused.

CASS

Actually - can we go somewhere?

TED

Right now?

She nods her head.

TED

(confused)

Yeah, okay.

As she closes the door, Ted catches a quick glimpse of her

room.

INSIDE THE ROOM: The door closes, leaving the newspaper and

photo in the shadows.

22 EXT. ABOVE A FOREST - NIGHT

We drone over the treetops of a dense forest. In the

distance, the CASCADE MOUNTAIN RANGE looms in the night.

23 INT. VW BUG - FOREST - NIGHT

WE JIB DOWN to the Tan VW Bug - parked somewhere deep in the

forest.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 18.

TED

I’m just sitting there -

everything’s fine, then your gone.

CASS

I wasn’t feeling good.

TED

You weren’t feeling good?

CASS

Yeah. I dunno.

TED

And Megan just goes off on me,

about you.

Cass has nothing to say.

TED

I know you guys talk.

CASS

Don’t worry about Megan.

TED

So - you’re not mad at me.

CASS

No.

TED

So your fine.

She looks away.

TED

I love you.

She scoffs. She’s heard this too many times.

TED

I love you.

CASS

(abruptly)

Great.

TED

Your supposed to say -

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 19.

CASS

(interrupting)

I love you too?

TED

What’s up your net?

CASS

(getting heated)

Really?

TED

(annoyed)

What?

CASS

(matter-of-factly)

You say you love me but I’m not

coming with you. We’ve gone for

four years - your leaving tomorrow

and you don’t even have the decency

to break it off.

TED

Break it off?

CASS

You don’t care.

TED

Why would I break it off?

CASS

Cause you don’t care!

TED

There’s nothing for you in Utah!

CASS

[beat] Take me home.

TED

We can still be together.

CASS

(sarcastically)

We can?

He stares at her with wild eyes. She looks back at him,

holding his gaze. She musters up her courage.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 20.

CASS

Don’t make me walk.

He continues to stare at her. She turns to the door, then

tries the handle, but it doesn’t open. She notices something

on the window. A small smudge of blood. Ted gently takes her

hand.

TED

You remember the first time we met?

She is beyond spooked, but she can’t show it.

TED

I had been watching you across the

bar. I was sad because my friends

had left, so you said -

LIZ

Ted-

TED

So you said...

She exhales deeply.

LIZ

[beat] I’ll be your friend.

TED

The truth is - I wasn’t sad because

my friends had left.

She looks over at him.

TED

(getting emotional)

I was sad because I spent my last

dollar on beer, and I couldn’t

afford to buy you a drink.

LIZ

You’ve come a long way.

TED

But it was only because of you.

Before we met my life was

desperately empty.

He leans in for a kiss. She lets him do it. He touches her

face.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 21.

TED

I don’t want it to be empty again.

She looks down.

CASS

(deathly quiet)

Isn’t it?

TED

What?

CASS

Take me home - now!

He looks at her stupefied. He starts the engine.

24 INT. CASS’S HOUSE - LATE NIGHT

Cass bursts into her room. It’s very late at night, but

she’s not tired. She paces back and forth, not sure what she

should do next. Finally, she sits on her bed, then looks

over at the newspaper and photo, laying on the ground. She

looks over at the phone for a moment, then moves to pick it

up.

25 INT. CLARK’S DINING ROOM - DAY

Clark sits down for a rare moment with his wife for a

home-made brunch.

CLARK’S WIFE

Susan called.

CLARK

When?

CLARK’S WIFE

Yesterday - she just got an A on

her Chemistry exam.

CLARK

(happy)

Really?

Clark reaches for the eggs.

CLARK’S WIFE

[beat] I think she’s having a tough

time in her sorority.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 22.

The phone RINGS. Clark goes to grab it, then hangs it up. He

sits down at the table.

CLARK

It can wait.

CLARK’S WIFE

You sure?

CLARK

Yeah.

The phone rings again. Clark looks over his shoulder.

26 EXT. PARK BENCH - MORNING

Detective Clark listens, with his PENCIL & NOTEPAD READY.

A BRIEFCASE by his side.

CLARK (O.S.)

Thanks for calling.

CASS

He drives a volkswagon but it’s not

metallic. Sometimes he speaks in

this formal way that could be

mistaken for an accent, and his

name is Ted.

CLARK

We got this computer not too long

ago - to search bug owners named

Ted. There’s more than you think.

CASS

I was helping him move - I saw

crutches in the corner of his room.

CLARK

Crutches?

CASS

Yeah. The newspaper said -

CLARK

But that wasn’t enough to scare you

right? You called me last night.

Why?

CASS

Because I saw this.

23.

She pulls out the newspaper and the photo, setting them on

the bench. Clark looks at both of them, then back to Cass.

27 EXT. CASS’S HOUSE - DAY

Cass walks up to the front door of her house. She looks

down, finding...

A SINGLE RED ROSE, laying on the doorstep. She picks it up,

twisting it in her hands. Next to it is a letter with her

name on it.

28 INT. CASS’ LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

She sits down on a couch, then opens the envelope. She pulls

out a letter. In Ted’s elegant cursive...

TED (V.O.)

It’s Friday night. You’re gone and

I’ve never been so alone in my

life.

29 INT. POLICE OFFICE - DAY

Clark walks into a large room with Brown. He looks over at a

table, where Carol sits, waiting.

TED (V.O.)

As I lay awake tirelessly dreaming

of your heart - I punish myself

with an insatiable desire - for I

have driven you away.

30 INT. TED’S CAR - NIGHT

Ted grabs a PICTURE FRAME, removing a photo of Him and Cass.

It’s the same photo that Cass gave to the detective - but

it’s Ted’s copy.

TED (V.O.)

With tears in my eyes I can’t bear

to lose you - you deserve

everything this life has to offer,

but I’ve cut you with a love that

only burns.

INTERCUT

On a cold table, FIVE PHOTOS rest on a table, backside-up.

Carol stares at them.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 24.

CLARK

Remember - you don’t have to pick

one unless your sure.

She nods her head, then uncovers the first photo. It’s a

person we don’t recognize. then moves to the second one.

Clark watches her intensely.

31 INT. TED’S CAR - NIGHT

We watch Ted’s hand as he carefully writes a note to Cass.

TED (V.O.)

No matter the journey - I’ll find

you - searching for your open arms

- the only thing I’ve ever felt.

In his VW, Ted has his eyes glued to the road. He’s stiff,

as if forcing himself not to look back.

TED (V.O.)

I am a stranger to this world -

like darkness is to the light - non

existent - a phantom, with no place

to hide -

INTERCUT

Carol flips the THIRD PHOTO. We see a PHOTO OF TED. Clark

watches her, wide-eyed.

Cass continues to read the envelope.

TED (V.O.)

I’m alone in this world, a stranger

trapped inside. But to you I’ll

forever be, the stranger by your

side.

Cass sets the letter down slowly. A PHONE RINGS behind her.

She looks at it, horrified. It RINGS again. She moves

towards it, then picks it up.

CASS

Hello?

She waits in anticipation. She knows who’s calling.

25.

32 EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY

Clark holds the PAYPHONE close to his ear. He’s standing

outside the POLICE STATION

CLARK

We showed her the photo.

INTERCUT

Cass is motionless, holding the phone.

CLARK

She picked it up, balanced it on a

knee, then put it back in the

stack. It’s hardly a positive.

CASS

So - what does that mean?

CLARK

I don’t know what it means for you,

but for me, it means I’m moving on.

CASS

Oh.

CLARK

Take Care, okay?

CASS

You must think I’m crazy.

CLARK

[beat] Nah. Your fine.

Cass holds the phone for a moment.

CASS

Okay.

CLARK

Bye.

Clark hangs up the line. Cass sits back down at the table,

noticing something else in the envelope. She pulls it out.

It’s the photo of her and Ted.

Cass sits down in her kitchen, staring at the photo.

We slowly DOLLY BACK as she sits alone in her living room.

FADE TO BLACK

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 26.

SHOW TEXT: After being dismissed as a suspect, Ted Bundy

went on to kill 20 more girls before finally being caught.

THE END