"SERIAL MOM" by John Waters Second Draft: July 22, 1992 Film opens with prologue title: "This is a true story. The screenplay is based on court testimony, sworn declarations, and hundreds of interviews conducted by the film-makers". FADE OUT: Fade in to second prologue title: "Some of the innocent characters' names have been changed in the interests of a larger truth". FADE OUT: Fade in to final prologue title: "No one involved in the crimes received any form of financial compensation". FADE OUT: Establishing shot of upper-middle class suburban home. We hear on the soundtrack the daily morning chatter of a family rushing to get to work and school. Subtitle appears: "2815 Calverton Court. The Sutphin Family". FADE OUT: Second subtitle fades in: "Friday, September 18th, 1992. 7:08am". FADE OUT: Interior cheery, bright SUTPHIN kitchen. CREDITS BEGIN. MOM, BEVERLY, a trim, fortyish, pretty Betty Crocker of the 90's, grabs the toast as it pops up and butters it. She waves cheerfully out the kitchen window to the passing GARBAGEMEN on the back of a Baltimore County garbage truck and then turns to her husband and children and expertly begins to serve breakfast. DAD, EUGENE, the ultimate nice guy and a dentist by trade, divides the morning paper up between himself and son CHIP, a cute semi-hip kid who is still in high-school. Daughter, MISTY, a pretty and slightly overweight college student, frantically prices the junk she plans on selling at the flea market after classes while gulping down a light breakfast. MOM Who wants fruit salad? MISTY I do, please. MOM (Hesitating) That's not gum in your mouth, is it? MISTY (Removing it) It's sugarless. MOM (Gently) You know how I hate gum, Misty. All that chomping and cheesing... (Begins serving her) MISTY Sorry, Mom. Thanks. (To her brother, as she prices a record album) Hey, Chip, think I could get 50c for Vanilla Ice. CHIP I wouldn't give ya a nickel. MISTY (Dreamily) Carl can't believe how much I make at swap meets. MOM (Rolling her eyes good-naturedly) And who may I ask is Carl? MISTY Just a boy. He's picking me up this morning. CHIP Here we go again. MISTY He's really cute! MOM (Watching the cute little birds nibbling seed from the bird- feeder in kitchen window) Cute is not enough, Misty. You know that. CHIP She sure can pick 'em! MISTY (Exasperated) He goes to college with me! DAD Leave her alone, Chip. (To MOM) I think it's great she has a new beau, Beverly. MOM smiles kindly, picks up a box of cereal in each hand and turns to the family. MOM Cereal anybody? Title "SERIAL MOM" appears on the screen. DAD Just a little, please. Bad for the teeth. CHIP Always the dentist. MOM Chip, honey? CHIP Thanks, Mom. As MOM serves the cereal, she spots a lone fly as it lands on the butter dish. Without letting on to her family, she grabs a flyswatter and begins stalking the fly with a terrifying intensity, its buzzing enough to make MOM's head explode. DAD (Reading paper) Look at this! (Reading out loud in disgust) "Hillside Strangler gets his college degree in prison!" MOM (Preoccupied, stalking fly) That's nice. DAD Nice?! He should have been executed! MISTY He killed people, Mom. MOM (To herself) We all have bad nights. (Gets ready to swat, but fly buzzes off) CHIP (To MISTY) You'd probably date him! (Mimicking her) He's cu-uuute! Hey, Dad, did you ever see "Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer?" DAD I certainly did not. MISTY You've been working in that video shop too long. DAD And all that gore better hadn't be interfering with your schoolwork. MOM stalks fly as it lands on CHIP's toast as the rest of the family remains oblivious to MOM's building anger. CHIP I do great in school, Dad. (Eats toast as fly buzzes off) A sickened and rage-filled MOM stalks the fly to DAD's orange juice glass where it secretes on the rim in closeup. DAD Well, your mother's going to PTA today. We'll see what your teacher has to say. (Takes a big gulp as fly buzzes away) CHIP (Giving a pleading look to MOM as the buzzing of the fly builds in intensity on the soundtrack) Aw, Mom! I hate Mr. Stubbins! MOM (Moving in for the kill, hissing the words in a rage) Don't say the word "hate", honey. "Hate" is a very serious word! MOM swats violently and we see fly splat in bloody closeup. ("Directed by John Waters" credit appears). Family is suddenly silent as they uneasily look up in surprise at MOM's ferocious attack. MOM quickly wipes up squashed fly and smiles back at her family. MOM There. All better. (Suddenly all innocence) Anybody for scrambled eggs? END OF CREDITS. A loud banging is heard on the back door. MOM jumps up guiltily. DAD (Getting up from table) Who on earth...? MOM opens door to two police detectives in plain clothes. DETECTIVE MOORE is younger and more rugged than the older more world-weary DETECTIVE BRADFORD. DET. MOORE Mrs. Sutphin? MOM (Nervously) Yes? DET. MOORE (Shows badge) I'm Detective Moore and this is Detective Bradford. Subtitle appears "7:26am" and then fades out. DAD (Taking over) I'm Dr. Eugene Sutphin. What's the trouble, officer? CHIP (Excitedly) Is there a killer loose? DET. MOORE No son, nothing that exciting. MOM This is my son, Chip... and my daughter, Misty. MISTY (Inappropriately making eyes at the younger cop) Hi! CHIP (Seeing MISTY flirting) Jeeezzz! MOM Det. Bradford, I'm sorry but we don't allow gum chewing in this house. (Hands him a paper napkin) DET. BRADFORD (Spitting his gum into paper napkin) Sorry, ma'am. (To MOM and DAD, taking out an envelope) We're investigating obscene phone calls and mail threats to a certain Mrs. Dottie Hinkle. MOM I know Dottie! DAD She lives right down the street. DET. BRADFORD Could you take a look at this... DET. MOORE ...And tell us of anybody who might be responsible? DET. BRADFORD (As he hands note to MOM and DAD) I should warn you... this note contains LANGUAGE. MOM and DAD open note. In cut-out letters from a magazine it reads: "I'LL GET YOU PUSSY FACE!" MOM (Recoiling) Oh God, really! (Hands it back to cop) This is the limit! CHIP Let me see! DAD Sorry, son. (In disgust) This is a matter for adults. MOM Officers, I've never said the P-word out loud, much less written it down! DAD No woman would! MOM (Seeing cute little bird land on window feeder) Look officers! Life doesn't have to be ugly. (In baby-talk) See the little birdie? Listen to his call. (Imitating bird call) Peter Pan! Peter Pan! Peter Pan! CHIP and MISTY roll their eyes in embarrassment as bird calls back to MOM. BIRD Peter Pan! Peter Pan! Peter Pan! DAD smiles proudly as detectives look at MOM in amazement. EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. A convertible pulls into driveway driven by CHIP's best friend, SCOTTY BARNHILL, a handsome but sullen red-necky teen. Next to him is CHIP's girlfriend, BIRDIE STUART, a sexy tom-boy with lots of savvy. Subtitle appears: "7:41am" and then fades out. INTERIOR SUTPHIN KITCHEN. MOM Chip, your ride is here. DAD (Looking at his watch) Hey, I'm late for work. Bye, honey. (Kisses MOM goodbye) EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. All exit. DET. MOORE Thanks for your time, everybody. MISTY (Sighing) Bye, Detective Moore. BIRDIE (Leaping out of convertible) Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Sutphin. DAD (To cops, getting into his car) That's Birdie. She's a horror nut just like my son. MOM (Fondly) Good morning, Birdie. This is Detectives Moore and Bradford. BIRDIE (Overdramatic, feigning horror) I didn't do it! I swear! Don't lock me up! I'll take a lie detector! (Kisses CHIP) (Good-naturedly to COPS) Hi ya, boys! MOM (Sarcastically to a sullen SCOTTY in car) Good morning Scotty! SCOTTY guiltily looks up from vintage Betty Page pin-up mag he's reading and toots horn defiantly in response as MOM grits her teeth. BIRDIE Hey Misty, look what I got! (Pulling it out of bag) A Pee Wee Herman Doll. Can you sell it for me at the flea market? MISTY (Impressed) Wow! Still in the box! I sure can! (Looks up and sees a Trans Am speeding towards the house) Oh God, here comes Carl! DAD pulls off in his car and almost collides with CARL as he aggressively manoeuvres his car up the driveway. CARL PADGETT, a handsome jock climbs out of his car. CARL (To MOM) You must be Mrs. Sutphin. I'm Carl Padgett. MOM Misty's date... CARL More of a friend really... MISTY looks hurt. MISTY (To CARL) See what Birdie gave me to sell at the flea market? CARL (Sneering at Pee-Wee) That guy's a weirdo. MOM'S smile freezes on her face as CHIP and BIRDIE hop in SCOTTY's convertible. MOM (Pointing to SCOTTY and calling out to COPS as they get into their car) Now there's something you should be interested in, detectives. A grown boy who doesn't wear his seat belts! SCOTTY gives MOM a hateful look and peels out. DISSOLVE TO SUBURBAN STREET. DET. MOORE and DET. BRADFORD sit in their unmarked police car, drinking coffee and filling out police reports. DET. BRADFORD (Once again chewing gum) Christ, that one was Beaver Cleaver's mother. (Imitating her) Peter Pan! Peter Pan! Peter Pan! DET. MOORE (Good-naturedly) Oh, leave her alone. Mrs. Sutphin's about as normal and nice a lady we're ever going to find. INTERIOR BEVERLY AND EUGENE SUTPHIN'S BEDROOM. MOM is sitting on bed, dialing phone with a determined expression on her face. Subtitle appears: "9:37am" and fades out. In split screen, DOTTIE HINKLE, the harassed middle aged neighbor, looks at her ringing phone in her living room with suspicion and finally answers. DOTTIE (Angrily) Hello. MOM (Speaking in disguised voice) Is this the Cocksucker residence? DOTTIE (Rising to the bait every time) Goddamn you! STOP CALLING HERE! MOM Isn't this 4215 Pussy Way? DOTTIE (Furious) You bitch! MOM Let me check the zip - 212 Fuck you? DOTTIE The police are tracing your call right this minute. MOM Well, Dottie, how come they're not here then, Fuck-Face? DOTTIE (Red with rage) FUCK YOU! (Slams down phone) MOM giggles to herself like a little kid and immediately redials the phone. EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. BACK DOOR. ROSEMARY ACKERMAN, MOM's frumpy, brittle, busy-body next door neighbor, is knocking on door, carrying a sewing basket. MRS. ACKERMAN (Calling out) Beverly? Beverly darling? You home? (She lets herself in) I know you are... INTERIOR MOM'S BEDROOM. MOM is laughing to herself listening to ringing phone while MRS. HINKLE, on split-screen, tries not to answer. Finally she lunges for it. DOTTIE (Answering) FUCK YOU TOO, YOU ROTTEN WHORE!! MOM (Disguising her voice in prim manner) I beg your pardon? DOTTIE (Horrified but suspicious) Who is this? MOM Mrs. Wilson from the telephone company. I understand you're having problems with obscene calls. DOTTIE (Mortified) Yes, I am... I'm sorry Mrs. Wilson... It's driving me crazy... I've changed my number twice already... Please help me! INTERIOR SUTPHIN KITCHEN. ROSEMARY ACKERMAN walks through kitchen, wipes a finger on window ledge to check for dust and calls out Beverly's name. INTERIOR MOM'S BEDROOM. MOM doesn't hear MRS. ACKERMAN as she continues her phone conversation with MRS. HINKLE. MOM (Still the fake telephone company representative) What exactly does this sick individual say to you? DOTTIE I can't say it out loud. I don't use bad language. INTERIOR MOM'S LIVING ROOM. MRS. ACKERMAN looks up at huge oil portrait of MOM in ornate frame hanging over couch and calls out Beverly's name. Hearing muffled voices behind MOM'S closed bedroom door at the top of the steps, MRS. ACKERMAN begins to creep up the steps. INTERIOR MOM'S BEDROOM. Split screen with MOM and DOTTIE HINKLE. MOM (Still impersonating) I know it's hard but we need the exact words. DOTTIE Alright, I'll try... (Primly) "Cocksucker". That's what she calls me. MOM (Laughs hideously, begins speaking in her scary voice) Listen to your dirty mouth, you fucking whore! DOTTIE (Ballistic) GODDAMN YOU! INTERIOR HALLWAY OUTSIDE MOM'S BEDROOM. MRS. ACKERMAN hears muffled shouts and reaches for door handle. INTERIOR BEDROOM. SPLIT SCREEN BETWEEN MOM AND DOTTIE. DOTTIE MOTHERFUCKER!! MOM COCKSUCKER! (Slams down phone) MRS. ACKERMAN barges right in bedroom, almost catching MOM who expertly snaps back to normal without missing a beat. MRS. ACKERMAN Beverly, are you alright? MOM Rosemary, honey. Good morning. I'm fine. (Taking the sewing basket) Thanks for remembering. MRS. ACKERMAN It's the least I could do. (Suspicious) I heard shouting. MOM opens sewing box to reveal a pair of gleaming sewing scissors. MOM (Slamming it shut) Just the damn cable TV company. You know how they are. Did you hear about Dottie Hinkle? MRS. ACKERMAN Yes, I did. It's terrifying! The police were at my house this morning. MOM Who on earth would want to harass poor Dottie Hinkle? EXTERIOR DOTTIE HINKLE'S SUBURBAN HOUSE. DOTTIE HINKLE, still angry and occasionally cursing to herself, digs in her prize flower garden out front of her house behind ornamental wishing-well on front lawn. Subtitle appears: "2:15pm" and then fades out. Cut to MOM, driving happily by in her station wagon as she waves to DOTTIE. DOTTIE sees MOM, tries to look cheerful and waves back. Cut back to MOM who looks in her rear view mirror, sees she's not being followed and suddenly screeches car into a U-turn as MOM's "Psycho Theme" plays on soundtrack MOM's face turns to stone as ripple flashback effects dissolve to that fateful day in the mall when MOM pulled up to parallel park and DOTTIE HINKLE stole her place from behind. Ripple effects dissolve to the present as the wheels of MOM'S car skid to a stop. The car door opens and MOM's sensible shoes step out as "Mom Psycho Theme" builds. MOM closes car door quietly, watches DOTTIE HINKLE up the street undetected and then takes the scissors from her purse and hides them up her sleeve. As MOM sneaks up street towards DOTTIE, intercut are obsessional flashbacks of details of the traumatic parking place incident; MOM'S POV of DOTTIE pulling into space, DOTTIE'S maddening nonchalance as she snottily gets out of her car and trots right past MOM without the slightest apology, MOM'S sputtering face paralyzed with anger when she realizes there is nowhere else to park. Back in the present, MOM starts walking faster and faster as she sees DOTTIE begin to pack up her gardening tools to go back inside her house. Arriving just a second too late as DOTTIE closes the door behind her, MOM spots a can of gasoline near DOTTIE's lawnmower. Thinking fast, MOM dumps gas on DOTTIE's mail in the mailbox on porch, lights it on fire and runs from the flames, happily throwing a coin into DOTTIE's wishing well as an afterthought. MOM walks as fast as possible back to her car, gets in and pulls off. Smiling evilly to herself, she drives by and sees DOTTIE HINKLE screaming in horror and trying to beat the fire out with a broom. EXTERIOR TOWSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. Parking lot is filled and the few last parents are entering the building for PTA meeting. MOM speeds into lot and gets out of car. Subtitle appears: "3:06pm" and fades out. INTERIOR CLASSROOM. MR. STUBBINS, Chip's teacher, is winding down a one-on-one meeting with another mother, who is in tears. MRS. TAPLOTTER But, Mr. Stubbins, my son studies every night! He's trying as hard as he can... MR. STUBBINS Some teenagers just aren't college material, Mrs, Taplotter. It's nothing to cry over. Now, there are other parents waiting. (Smugly) ...thank you for taking the time to come to PTA. INTERIOR SCHOOL HALLWAY. OUTSIDE MR. STUBBINS' CLASSROOM. Parents are seated in folding chairs waiting to be called in to conference. MOM comes rushing down corridor and other parents greet her. MRS. STERNER Hi, Beverly. MOM Hi, Betty. Oh, I love your outfit. MRS. STERNER Thanks. (Snobbily) It's a Liz Claiborne. MR. STERNER Mrs. Sutphin, where's that husband of yours? (Making a bad dental joke and pointing to his teeth) Feeling "down in the mouth"?! Hohohohohoho! MOM (Smiling through her teeth) You're soooo funny, Ralph... MR. STUBBINS leans his head out of classroom and looks at roll book as MRS. TAPLOTTER leaves, dabbing her tears with a handkerchief. MR. STUBBINS Mrs... Sutphin? MOM (Excited) Right here! MOM goes in classroom with him. INTERIOR CLASSROOM. MR. STUBBINS Mrs. Sutphin, I'm Paul Stubbins, Chip's math teacher. MOM (Shaking hands) Nice to meet you, Mr. Stubbins. (Handing him a tin) A little something I baked. MR. STUBBINS (Peeking inside) Oooohh! A fruit cake. Thank you, Mrs. Sutphin. Have a seat. MOM Bon Appetit! They sit on opposite sides of his desk. MR. STUBBINS Chip is off to a fine start this year. (Checking his roll book) Focused... conscientious... participates actively in classroom discussion. MOM (Proudly) He's a good boy. MR. STUBBINS (Suddenly serious) There is one big problem though. MOM'S smile freezes on her face ever so subtly MOM What is it, Mr. Stubbins? MR. STUBBINS (Spitting out the words) His unhealthy obsession with sick horror films. MOM (Relieved) He is assistant manager of a video shop... MR. STUBBINS (Cutting her off) That's no excuse for a morbid imagination. I caught him drawing this in class last week. (Unfolds lurid drawing of woman getting her tongue pulled out with the title, "Blood Feast") Is there a problem at home? MOM (Shocked) Certainly not! MR. STUBBINS Divorce? An alcoholic relative? (Knowingly) Tell me, did Chip torture animals when he was young? MOM (Furious) No, he did not! We are a loving supportive family, Mr. Stubbins. MR. STUBBINS Well, you're doing something wrong, Mrs. Sutphin. I'd recommend therapy for your son. (Rising from his chair) Thank you for taking the time to come to PTA. WIPE TO EXTERIOR HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. MOM sits behind wheel of station wagon wearing a scary smile. Subtitle appears: "3:32pm" and fades out. MOM sees MR. STUBBINS exit school carrying her tin of fruit cake. "Mom's Psycho Theme" starts on soundtrack and she puts her car in gear. Closeup of wheels of MOM's car beginning to creep forward MOM waves innocently to other parents as she stalks MR. STUBBINS to his car in isolated faculty parking lot. A trashy teen girl, LU-ANN, sneaks a joint behind a bush unnoticed. Shot of MOM's face staring at MR. STUBBINS in vengeance. Over the shoulder shot of MR. STUBBINS walking directly in MOM's path. Closeup of MR. STUBBINS looking up and seeing MOM. He takes a stick of gum from his pocket, unwraps it, and pops it in his mouth. MOM's face turns to stone at the last straw of seeing MR. STUBBINS chewing gum. MOM's POV of MR. STUBBINS waving to her. Shot of accelerator being floored by MOM. Shot of MOM's car peeling out headed straight for MR. STUBBINS. MOM's POV of MR. STUBBINS' suddenly terrified expression. MR. STUBBINS' POV of MOM'S car speeding at him. MOM's car hits MR. STUBBINS and sends him flying up on car hood. Shot of fruit cake tin hitting ground and rolling. LU-ANN, the trashy teen girl screams in horror. MOM turns on windshield wipers to wipe away blood but they only smear the blood worse. MOM hits windshield wiper fluid button. MR. STUBBINS' POV SHOT OF MOM's insanely happy face through bloodied water. Suddenly MR. STUBBINS grabs on to side-view mirror and attempts to grab MOM through side window. LU-ANN watches in horrified amazement and throws down joint like it's a hot coal. MOM starts swerving car but MR. STUBBINS holds on for dear life, grabbing at MOM, pulling her hair. MOM struggles and bites his hand like a snapping turtle. Shot of sign "SLOW-SPEED BUMPS". MOM hits speed bump and MR. STUBBINS flies over roof and lands in a heap behind her. MOM screeches to a stop. MOM's POV, through rearview mirror of MR. STUBBINS, still alive, struggling to his knees. MOM smiles sweetly. Closeup of automatic gear shift being thrown into reverse. MOM's car backs up swerving in speed towards MR. STUBBINS. Low-level MR. STUBBINS' POV of rear of car coming at him. MOM'S POV of MR. STUBBINS' desperate struggle to get out of her path. Car runs directly over him - THUHP - and chewed up wad of gum flies out of MR. STUBBINS' mouth. MOM smiles to herself. LU-ANN, the only eye-witness, runs away in fear. MOM peels out and once in main parking lot resumes waving innocently to other parents as she flees. MOM swerves car into car wash. INTERIOR CHIP'S BEDROOM. On CHIP's large video screen plays the ridiculously dated but still appalling scene from "BLOOD FEAST" where the madman with the corny, madeup eyebrows rips a girl's tongue out of her mouth in hokey special effects. Subtitle reads "4:22pm" and fades out. CHIP and BIRDIE are hooting and hollering and eating popcorn as SCOTTY looks up from his vintage nudist-camp magazine to watch in real horror and nausea. BIRDIE It's a sheep's tongue! SCOTTY Man, I just ate. Turn it off. CHIP Rewind it! Let's see it again! SCOTTY No! That shit is sickening! Put on pussy! BIRDIE (Torturing SCOTTY) Look, Dick-Head! (Gore scene replays) SLOW-MOTION! SCOTTY starts to gag and tries to hide it, BIRDIE (Looking at screen) BLOOD FEAST! CHIP (Proudly) The "Citizen Kane" of gore movies. SCOTTY looks at gore on video, jumps up to run to bathroom, yanks open bedroom door and screams when he sees MOM standing there with a plate of chocolate chip cookies. MOM I don't know what it is about today, but I FEEL GREAT! SCOTTY (Gagging) Excuse me, Mrs. Sutphin. He runs past her to the bathroom. CHIP Hi, Mom. BIRDIE Hi, Mrs. Sutphin. MOM looks at TV monitor and sees madman taking out heart of girl. MOM smiles inappropriately. MOM (Giggles) You kids. Now Birdie, I want you to have a cookie and then run along home. CHIP But Mom, the video's not over. MOM No "but mom" for you, young man. Mr. Stubbins seems to think these silly movies are interfering with your studies. (Turns off video with remote) BIRDIE (Rolling her eyes) Oh, boy! (Getting ready to leave) CHIP Mom, Mr. Stubbins is a nimrod! SCOTTY comes back in room feeling better. SCOTTY Man, that one made me puke! MOM (Picking up SCOTTY's nudist camp magazine and handing it back to him like it's poison) You forgot something... SCOTTY (Looking around confused) Are we leaving? MOM Yes you are. SCOTTY guiltily takes back magazine as BIRDIE drags him out. BIRDIE Bye, Mrs, Sutphin. CHIP (Affectionately) Bye, bird-brain. See ya, Scotty. MOM Bye, Birdie. (Sitting down next to CHIP on his bed) Chip, honey... I know it's hard being a teenager but I understand... I'm your mother and I love you. CHIP Oh Mom... MOM (Suddenly his buddy) Can we watch that scene again? You know, where he rips out her heart? (Giggling scarily) PLEEEASE? CHIP looks back at his MOM in sudden confusion. SUTPHIN KITCHEN. SPIN-WIPE to tomato sauce topped meatloaf being taken out of the oven by MOM. Subtitle appears "6:30pm" and fades out. SUTPHIN DINING ROOM. DAD, MISTY and CHIP sit around dining room table. MOM enters with the meatloaf and a smile. MOM (Jokingly) Ladies and gentlemen, the perfect meatloaf! CHIP Looks good, Mom! DAD Nothing like a home cooked meal, honey. MOM Misty, I made your favorite sesame broccoli... (Passes it to her) MISTY Yummy. Carl says if I lose ten pounds, he'll take me to the University of Maryland Fall Mixer. MOM (Appalled) Misty, if you want to lose weight go ahead, but do it for yourself, not for some boy you barely know. CHIP Carl's a jerk! DAD He certainly drives like a jerk. MISTY (Getting upset) Carl makes me happy and that threatens this family, doesn't it? DAD Doesn't threaten me, honey. I'm happy. MOM I'm happy too and we want you to be happy. CHIP (Mockingly) I'm so happy I could shit. MOM CHIP! You know how much I hate the brown word! Suddenly a scream from outside is heard. EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. ROSEMARY ACKERMAN, the busy-body next door neighbor is running across lawn from her house to the Sutphins. MRS. ACKERMAN Beverly! Beverly! INTERIOR SUTPHIN DINING ROOM. Family is getting up from table in alarm. MOM That's Rosemary. Something's wrong! CHIP and MISTY look at one another and stick fingers down their throats at mention of MRS. ACKERMAN'S name. ROSEMARY ACKERMAN runs in from kitchen in hysterics. MRS. ACKERMAN Turn on the news! (To CHIP) A teacher at your school has been murdered! MISTY (Appalled) Murdered? CHIP Who? MRS. ACKERMAN A Mr. Stubber... or Stubbins. CHIP (Horrified) MR. STUBBINS? That's my math teacher! INTERIOR SUTPHIN LIVING ROOM. DAD runs in and turns on TV as family and MRS. ACKERMAN follow and watch under MOM's framed portrait on wail. DAD What channel? MRS. ACKERMAN It's on all of them! Phone rings. CHIP grabs the receiver. CHIP Hello. We see BIRDIE in split screen. BIRDIE (Excited) Did you hear? CHIP What happened? BIRDIE This is so cool! It's just like a horror movie. ANNOUNCER comes on TV. CHIP It's on! I'll call you back! (Hangs up) ANNOUNCER ...Police claim the driver of the hit and run vehicle ran down the teacher in cold blood and then backed up over his body to finish off the job. Mr. Paul Stubbins was thirty- eight years old... DAD (Mad) Whoever did it should get the death penalty! MOM yawns absentmindedly. ANNOUNCER ...So far only one eyewitness has surfaced. MOM looks up in sudden fear as LU-ANN, the trashy pot-smoking girl who witnessed murder appears on screen. LU-ANN It was a blue car... I know that much! CHIP That's Lu-Ann Hodges! MISTY She's a pothead! LU-ANN ...A blue station wagon... MRS. ACKERMAN That's like your car, Beverly, MOM (Glaring at MRS. ACKERMAN) I'm not that bad a driver. (Disapprovingly at TV screen) Look at her hair! (To CHIP) Turn it off, honey. CHIP (He does) (In shock) I can't believe Mr. Stubbins is dead. MISTY You said you hated him. CHIP Well... he was an asshole... but he didn't deserve to die! SUTPHIN MASTER BEDROOM. Wipe to MOM finishing a silent prayer kneeling next to bed as DAD reads a spy novel under the covers. Subtitle appears: "10:45pm" and fades out. DAD (Putting down his book as MOM climbs in) I can't stop thinking about that poor teacher. (Turning out light on his side of bed) Goodnight, honey. Don't read late, we've got a big day with the birds tomorrow. MOM (Picking up and leafing through "The Encyclopedia of Birds") I've identified every little birdie we're going to watch tomorrow on the Eastern Shore. We see that underneath the cover of the bird book, MOM is reading "Helter Skelter". She lightly caresses a picture of Manson and closes the book and turns out her light. DAD Goodnight, honey. MOM Don't I get a kiss? DAD (Moving closer) I just thought with all the sadness... you wouldn't want... MOM (Snuggling up) We have to concentrate on life, Eugene. DAD (Kissing her) It's fine with me, Beverly. (Kisses her again more passionately) You want to, honey? You think the kids are asleep? MOM We can be real quiet... DAD (Getting on top of her) I love that you're my wife. MOM (Getting turned on) You're not bad yourself, coo-coo bird... DAD (Gently making love to her) You bring me such peace... MOM Oohhhh, Eugene! DAD Shhhh.. MOM (Getting louder) Oooohhhh. DAD Don't wake the kids... MOM (Even louder) Ooohhhh! MISTY'S BEDROOM. We see MISTY, hair in curlers, pricing junk for flea market, stop and listen to sounds coming from parents' bedroom. SUTPHIN BEDROOM. MOM and DAD are having romantic monogamous sex. MOM Oooohhh! Yeah! Yeah! DAD (Really turned on) You're hot tonight, honey... but be quiet! Shhhh! The kids! CHIP'S BEDROOM. CHIP looks up from reading "Fangoria Magazine" and listens in horror to his mother's distant moaning. SUTPHIN BEDROOM. MOM is panting wildly, a suburban sex machine. DAD is amazed but hardly complaining. MOM Yeah! Oohhhh! Get it! DAD Ooh, honey, I'm ready! Now! Now! MOM (In orgasm, wildly thrashing) Oohhhhh! Yeah! Yeah! HALLWAY BETWEEN CHIP AND MISTY'S BEDROOMS. CHIP and MISTY open bedroom doors simultaneously, hear their parents climaxing and look at one another in complete horror. Fade to black. Slow fade in to EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. Birds are heard greeting the sunrise with their happy chirping. Subtitle appears "Saturday, September l9th, 5:30am" and fade out. INTERIOR SUTPHIN BEDROOM. MOM, dressed for bird-watching day-trip, watches the cute little chickadees nibbling seed out of her birdfeeder on lawn through binoculars from bedroom window. DAD, half-awake, stirs in his bed. MOM (Tracking a particularly cute bird) There's Dede! He's my favorite chickadee! He's here every morning for breakfast. DAD (Groggy) Well, honey, chickadees breed in Alaska, you know. No wonder Dede's hungry. It's a long trip all the way to Baltimore. MOM continues tracking the bird in her binoculars until she freezes in horror at the sight of MRS. ACKERMAN running her mouth next door to DETECTIVES MOORE and BRADFORD and pointing to MOM's car. Suddenly the phone rings with jangling intensity. MOM jumps. DAD Hello... On split screen is obnoxious man from PTA, MR. STERNER, holding his jaw in pain. MR. STERNER Eugene, it's Ralph Sterner. Got a dental emergency here! (Moans in pain) I mean this goddamn tooth is killing me! DAD Well, Mr. Sterner, if you call my office, I'm sure we can see you Monday. MOM starts shaking her head "No" to DAD just in case. MR. STERNER MONDAY? MRS. STERNER, his wife, grabs the phone. MRS. STERNER Eugene, this is Betty Sterner, He'll die by Monday! The roots are infected! He might have a heart attack! DAD (Wearily) All right, Mrs. Sterner... Nine o'clock. MOM's face changes to purple rage as she turns to hide her anger from DAD. DAD (Hangs up) I'm sorry, honey. But the birds will still be there next week. MOM (Turning to face DAD, suddenly stoic) It's Ok, Eugene. I understand... I'll go fix breakfast. (Exits calmly) INTERIOR HALLWAY OUTSIDE SUTPHIN'S BEDROOM. MOM's calm turns to immediate rage as she closes bedroom door and storms her way downstairs as "Mom's Psycho Theme" blares on soundtrack. CHIP'S BEDROOM CHIP is sound asleep. MOM enters in a fury. MOM (In his ear, loudly) CHIP!! CHIP (Jumping up in fear from sleep) God, Mom! (Looking at her scary face) What's the matter? MOM (Back to normal, sweetly) Time to get up, that's all. You'll be late for work. CHIP You scared me. INTERIOR SUTPHIN KITCHEN. MISTY is sobbing in fury as she sits forlornly with boxed up flea-market junk. MOM enters and is startled to see her. MOM Honey, what's the matter? MOM looks out back window in alarm to see DET. MOORE snooping through her box of recycled newspapers as DET. BRADFORD noses around her station wagon. MISTY I'm stoodup! I'll kill that bastard! MOM Don't say words unless you mean them, Misty. (Starts fixing breakfast) COPS bang loudly on door. MOM jumps. MISTY It's him! MOM No, honey, it's the police. (Opens back door) Hello, officers. Subtitle appears "7:10am" and then fades out. DET. BRADFORD Good morning, Mrs. Sutphin. MISTY (Subtly unbuttoning her blouse one button) Hi, Detective Moore. DET. MOORE (Embarrassed) Morning, Misty. (All business) Mrs. Sutphin, I presume you heard of the death of Mr. Stubbins. MOM A fine man. A good teacher... DET. BRADFORD (Reading from notes) Contusions... fractures... rupture of numerous vital organs... MOM (In sympathy) What a mess. MOM sees SCOTTY pull up in driveway with BIRDIE in his convertible. MOM (Seeing MISTY's eyes light up at hearing a car) No, honey, it's just Scotty. (To COPS) Scotty, who doesn't wear his seatbelts! DAD and CHIP enter kitchen as BIRDIE and SCOTTY barge in back door. DAD Good morning, Detectives. BIRDIE (Dramatically) Nightmare on Calverton Court! SCOTTY The Maryland Teacher Massacre! DET. MOORE That's not funny, son. DET. BRADFORD Did you drive your car to the PTA meeting yesterday, Mrs. Sutphin? MOM (Buttering toast) Yes, I did. DAD (To cops, getting angry) Detectives, what is this about? DET. MOORE I know this sounds weird, Mr. Sutphin, but the Department of Motor Vehicle's computer shows only one blue station wagon registered to a parent of any of Mr. Stubbins' pupils. DAD Surely you don't think Beverly was involved! SCOTTY (Hamming it up, pointing to MOM) SHE DID IT! Aimed the car right at Mr. Stubbins and mowed him down! MOM (Quickly staring daggers at SCOTTY before patiently addressing COPS) From what I understand, the eye- witness is a drug user. MISTY I got somebody you could run over, Mother! DAD Misty, that's a terrible thing to say! (Putting his arm protectively around MOM) Detectives, it's time for you to leave. My wife knows nothing about this terrible... accident. MOM (Correcting him) Murder, honey. SCOTTY (Picking up a "People" magazine with Ivana Trump on the cover) Now, here's a babe! COPS see magazine cover with the "P" in "People" cut out as in threatening note sent to Mrs. Ackerman. DET. MOORE (Suspiciously) Let's see that, young man. MISTY (Whispering to BIRDIE as she ogles him from behind) Nice buns! DET. BRADFORD "P" as in... MOM (Glaring at SCOTTY) ...People who don't mind their own business. DAD looks at MOM suddenly, for the first time showing slight suspicion. MOM (To DAD) It's Mrs. Ackerman's magazine, honey. (To COPS) Look at the subscription label if you don't believe me. (Proudly) I recycle my magazines. Wipe to EXTERIOR MRS. ACKERMAN'S HOUSE. MRS. ACKERMAN is dumping all her bottles and newspapers into the rest of her garbage without the slightest thought of recycling. Subtitle appears "10:06am" and fades out. Cut to GUS and SLOPPY, two Baltimore County sanitation workers as they pick up bags of neighbors' recycled trash and scowl in hatred at the environmentally incorrect MRS. ACKERMAN. INTERIOR SUTPHIN KITCHEN. MOM, now alone, is happily separating her cans and plastic trash into proper recycle bins as she rocks out singing along with the Barry Manilow record "Daybreak" that spins on her high-fi set. MOM (Singing and dancing in place as soulfully as possible for her) "It's Daybreak" If you want to believe It can be Daybreak!..." MOM looks out through her kitchen window and sees MRS. ACKERMAN dumping styrofoam packing chips in with the rest of her un-recycled garbage. Freezing in horror, MOM then lunges for MRS. ACKERMAN's gleaming sewing scissors in borrowed sewing basket and begins to run out door. Suddenly MOM sees the friendly GARBAGEMEN waving to her from truck. She quickly puts back the scissors, grabs her recycle bags, locates two "miniatures" of liquor hidden in kitchen cabinet and runs out back door. EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. MRS. ACKERMAN goes back inside her house as MOM charges out to meet GARBAGEMEN with her recyclables. MOM Don't forget me, boys! (Holding up blue bags) All rinsed and ready to recycle! GUS Morning, Mrs. Sutphin. MOM Morning, Gus. Hello, Sloppy. (Sneakily handing them miniatures) Here you go. You work hard for the environment. A little drink never hurt anybody. SLOPPY Thanks, ma'am. (Takes a big swig) Damn! Good stuff. (Looking at MRS. ACKERMAN's garbage) Do you believe that goddamn litterbugger? MOM (Fingering a tin can) I've told her! It takes ninety to one hundred years for a tin can to decompose but she still won't recycle. GUS (Also taking a guzzle) Cost taxpayers millions of dollars last year but she don't care about the national budget! MOM (Deadly serious) I HATE Mrs. Ackerman. "Mom's Psycho Theme" begins building on soundtrack. GUS (Drinking, encouraging her) I hate her too. SLOPPY (Getting tipsy, joining the bull session) I HATE HER GUTS! (Egging MOM on, laughing) Somebody ought to kill her! GUS (Joking and drinking) Yeah, hack her up and recycle her! MOM (Not kidding, in a trance) For the sake of this planet, SOMEBODY JUST MIGHT! "Mom's Psycho Theme" climaxes on soundtrack. INTERIOR ROSEMARY ACKERMAN'S HOUSE. MRS. ACKERMAN is serving brunch to DOTTIE HINKLE as they drink beer together and watch "The Joan Rivers Show" on TV as JOAN interviews a fat woman in her 20's. JOAN (On TV) ...But your boyfriend was convicted of killing twelve people HAG I don't judge him. TV audience groans. JOAN How can you love a mass-murderer? HAG Easy! He's handsome. He's famous. AND WE GET CONJUGAL VISITS! JOAN (To camera) SERIAL HAGS! Woman Who Love Men Who Mutilate! We'll be right back after this! DOTTIE Turn it off. MRS. ACKERMAN does. MRS. ACKERMAN Violence is everywhere these days EXTERIOR MRS. ACKERMAN'S HOUSE. MOM runs up to window in a frenzy and freezes at the sight of DOTTIE HINKLE inside. INTERIOR MRS. ACKERMAN'S HOUSE. DOTTIE looks over and sees MOM in window and screams. MRS. ACKERMAN (Looking up) Oh, it's just Beverly. DOTTIE She scared me. MRS. ACKERMAN (Going to door) Come in, Beverly. Have some coffee MOM (Entering, back to normal, being so-o-o- o nice) Just a half-a-cup. (To DOTTIE) Hello, Dottie. I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles... DOTTIE It's not fair!! MOM (To MRS. ACKERMAN, noticing her flower arrangement) Are those pussy-willows? MRS. ACKERMAN (Fixing the coffee) Dried ones. Aren't they pretty? DOTTIE freezes in horror when she recognizes the P-word in MOM's voice. DOTTIE (Alarmed) What did you just say? MOM (Evily baiting DOTTIE under her breath) PUSSY-willows, Dottie! MOM purposely knocks MRS. ACKERMAN's Franklin Mint Faberge Egg off table and sends it crashing to the floor. MOM Dottie! Watch what you're doing! DOTTIE (Horrified to see MOM is blaming her) I didn't do it! ROSEMARY (Crying out, rushing to pick up pieces) My Franklin Mint Faberge Egg! MOM (Helping MRS. ACKERMAN) Dottie didn't mean to be a clumsy ox. She's sorry, Aren't you, Dottie? DOTTIE (Pleading) Rosemary, I didn't break your egg - she did! MRS. ACKERMAN You could at least apologize, Dottie. I collect Franklin Mint! MOM And we're going right to the flea market to get another one! Misty tells me there's a whole booth of Franklin Mint stuff. Dottie, you lock up. (Evilly) I'll take care of poor Rosemary! DOTTIE (Stammering in fear to MRS. ACKERMAN) But... but... she... Rosemary, I heard her voice! It's her, I tell you, IT'S HER! INTERIOR DAD'S DENTAL EXAMINATION ROOM. DAD attempts to do dental work on RALPH STERNER, the "emergency" patient who lets out a blood curdling scream every time DAD gets the drill anywhere near his mouth. DAD Mr. Sterner, you've lost a tiny filling. I have to drill deeply enough to remove all the decay. MR. STERNER (Whimpering) Alright... go ahead... but be careful, it really hurts! (Opens mouth) DAD begins to drill again. MR. STERNER OWWWWW'! Goddamn you! You're hurting me on purpose! DENTAL WAITING ROOM. MRS. STERNER, reading an old issue of Newsweek, with Jeffrey Dahmer on the cover, jumps up and runs to her husband past the RECEPTIONIST. INTERIOR DAD'S EXAMINATION ROOM. MRS. STERNER (Running in) Are you ok, Ralph? DAD Mrs. Sterner, please stay in the waiting room! MR. STERNER Help me, Betty! He's worse than the dentist in "The Marathon Man"! RECEPTIONIST (Poking her head in) Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Sutphin, but there's two police detectives here to see you... INTERIOR DAD'S TINY OFFICE. DET. MOORE and DET. BRADFORD wait grim-faced in the office. Subtitle appears "10:35am" and fades out. DAD (Entering) What is it, officers? My patient is waiting. DET. MOORE Dr. Sutphin is your wife a big reader? DAD Bird books mostly... DET. BRADFORD Like these we found in her garbage? (Showing him the book) "Urge To Kill". "Mass Murder in Houston"? DAD I'm sure those are my son, Chip's books. DET. MOORE No, they're your wife's. We checked, She bought them down at "The Browse and Learn Bookshop" along with a few other titles... DET. BRADFORD (Reading from notes) "Helter Skelter", "Hunting Humans", Master Card reference number 7876. Dated June 5th. DAD (Seeing their suspicions of MOM are serious) THIS IS RIDICULOUS!! DET. BRADFORD Dr. Sutphin, is you wife mental? OUTDOOR FLEA MARKET. EDMONSON DRIVE-IN THEATER. Cut to MOM's face, seemingly in the middle of a frenzy as she jumps around like a crazy person. Camera pulls back and we see that she is swatting away a persistent bee as she sits with MISTY at her flea market table. Subtitle appears "11:20am" and then disappears. MOM Damn these yellow-jackets! I hate 'em! MISTY (Angrily) Always something isn't it? (To CUSTOMER) Can I help you? CUSTOMER Just looking. (Walks away) MISTY Thanks for not buying anything! MOM Misty, lighten up. It's not the customer's fault Carl stood you up! MOM looks over two rows and sees CARL walking through the flea market with a SEXPOT DATE. Her face turns to stone but she doesn't let on to MISTY. Cut to MRS. ACKERMAN shopping passionately at the nearby Franklin Mint booth. MRS. ACKERMAN (To VENDOR) Young man, this Faberge Egg is chipped. VENDOR Yes, ma'am, it is. MRS. ACKERMAN I'll give you fifty cents. VENDOR That's a Franklin Mint piece. Eight dollars. MRS. ACKERMAN Eight dollars?! Franklin Mint or not, it's damaged goods! (Puts it back) MRS. ACKERMAN bends over grumbling and sees a fire poker marked with a price tag of $6.00. Sneakily she switches price tag of $3.00 from another item. MRS. ACKERMAN I'll take this instead. VENDOR Nice one, huh? Winter's coming. (Looking at price momentarily hesitating) Three dollars?... I guess that's what I marked it... MRS. ACKERMAN smirks and pays him. MRS. ACKERMAN comes back to MISTY's booth carrying fire poker. MOM (Seeing MRS. ACKERMAN1s purchase, but still watching CARL and SEXPOT DATE in distance) Did you find your Franklin Mint egg, Rosemary darling? MRS. ACKERMAN I saw one, but it was ridiculously overpriced! MOM (Seeing MRS. ACKERMAN's fire poker) You want me to keep that under the table for you? MRS. ACKERMAN If you wouldn't mind... (Gives it to her) It was on sale. Cut to CARL browsing at same Franklin Mint booth that MRS. ACKERMAN was shopping in earlier. SEXPOT DATE is drooling over chipped Faberge Egg and batting her eyes at CARL. SEXPOT DATE (In baby talk) Honey, pleeease? For my little knick- knack shelf? CARL (To VENDOR) Wrap it up for the little lady. Cut to MOM with the fire poker partially concealed under her coat as she stalks CARL and SEXPOT DATE to baseball memorabilia booth. MOM pretends to shop nearby as CARL buys Oriole pennant for himself. MOM follows them to concession stand where CARL excuses himself for a quick trip to the men's room. SEXPOT DATE adjusts her cleavage as she waits, much to the embarrassment of YOUNG BOY walking by. Realizing the coast is clear, MOM darts into men's room following CARL. INTERIOR MEN'S ROOM. CARL is at urinal. Subtitle appears "11:57am" and fades out. MOM rushes in unnoticed and tries to enter first booth and finds it locked. She scurries to next booth and enters. A male PERVERT in locked booth is drawing dirty pictures on the wall. He looks down and sees MOM's shoes under the stall and starts moaning sexually as he writes "EAT ME" with a magic marker. Closeup of CARL's face as he pisses like a racehorse. PERVERT looks through peep-hole between booths and sees MOM and moans in silent orgasm. MOM pulls fire poker out from under her coat. PERVERT zips up in a panic and flees bathroom in fear. Suddenly MOM runs from her booth with fire poker drawn and skewers CARL in the back at the urinal. CARL screams in horror as MOM pulls out fire poker with his liver skewered on the end. CARL collapses to his knees, his head landing in urinal. MOM looks horrified at the liver and tries to shake it off poker, panicked that someone will come into men's room. Closing her eyes in revulsion, she pulls off liver with her fingertips and throws it on floor. Running from men's room, she slips in gore, catches her balance, looks back at CARL's head in urinal, hesitates and finally runs back to flush toilet before escaping undetected. MISTY'S FLEA MARKET TABLE. A hip young couple are buying a hideous amateur oil painting of Don Knotts from MISTY. BOY I can't believe it! Fuckin' Don Knotts! GIRL (Happily) It's beyond ugly! MISTY (Giving them back change) There you go... Cut to MOM approaching, looking happy and composed with fire poker concealed under her coat. MOM (Calling out) Misty, honey, look! (Holding up a set of cereal bowls) I made a killing! INTERIOR MEN'S ROOM. A MACHO MAN enters nibbling lamb off a shishkabob. He sees CARL's body and screams in the best Fay Ray tradition. Subtitle appears "l2:llpm" and then fades out. MISTY'S FLEA MARKET TABLE. MOM is showing MISTY her new cereal bowl as MRS. ACKERMAN returns. MRS. ACKERMAN (Upset) I went back to get my Faberge Egg and some idiot bought it! Sirens are heard in the distance. MOM (Caressing fire poker back under table, threateningly) It's just not your day, is it Rosemary? MISTY (Seeing cop cars and ambulance enter flea market as customers start running towards concession stand) Watch the booth! I'll be back! (Runs off to join the crowd) MRS. ACKERMAN (Spotting a small hunk of gore stuck to bottom of MOM's shoe) Beverly, honey, you've got some... (Wrinkles up her nose) ...do-do on your shoe. MOM Ewwww! (Wipes it off on grass) Thank you, Rosemary. MRS. ACKERMAN notices stain with odd unease. EXTERIOR CONCESSION STAND. COPS are holding back CARL'S sobbing and hysterical SEXPOT DATE as she clutches her Faberge Egg while PARAMEDICS remove CARL'S body from the mens room on a stretcher. DET. MOORE and BRADFORD are roughly frisking bathroom PERVERT. PERVERT There was a lady in the men's room! I swear! A pretty little lady in the stall right next to me! MISTY pushes her way through rubbernecking crowd until she finally sees CARL'S face right before the PARAMEDICS give the final zip to the body bag. She lets out a blood-curdling scream. DET. BRADFORD looks up into MISTY's horror filled face and turns in suspicion to DET. MOORE only to see his partner making eyes with SEXPOT DATE, who in between sobs, is flirting back with all her might. MISTY'S BOOTH. MRS. ACKERMAN is looking in revulsion at what appears to be dried blood on the end of her fire-poker stored under the flea market table as MOM happily sells Pee-Wee Herman doll to New York dealer. MOM That's one-hundred fifty-eight dollars. DEALER Will you take a New York check? MOM Certainly. MRS. ACKERMAN reaches down and touches the end of fire poker and almost faints when she sees red on her fingertips. MISTY hysterically returns to booth, crying and screaming. MISTY Mother! It's Carl! He's dead! MRS. ACKERMAN looks in sudden fear at MOM. MOM 0h, that's horrible, honey. (Suddenly cheerful) I sold the Pee-Wee Herman doll!! MISTY (Appalled) Mother! Did you hear me?! Someone murdered Carl in the mensroom! I saw his dead body! MOM (Quietly, sweetly) You got your wish. MISTY (Stunned) But... (Backs away) I didn't wish... I didn't want him DEAD! MRS. ACKERMAN gulps in horror. INTERIOR MOM'S BEDROOM. DAD is frantically searching through MOM's stuff and finds a scrapbook which is filled page after page with newspaper clippings about famous mass murderers. He gasps in horror and then looks between mattress and box-springs and finds a stack of letters and a few cassette tapes. He looks in shock at return address of first letter - "Richard Speck, Statesville Correctional Center, Joliet, Illinois 60434". He tears open envelope and out falls an 8xl0 glossy photo of a naked Richard Speck with the inscription "To Beverly. Love, Richard Speck". Shaking his head in horror, DAD puts cassette in tape player and pushes play button. The voice on the tape booms out in bedroom, "Beverly, it's me, Ted Bundy. It's late at night six days before my execution and it's lonely here on death row..." DAD lunges for machine to push OFF button and accidentally turns on the radio. NEWS ANNOUNCER ...Updating the top story of the hour, the young man brutally murdered a short time ago in the mens room of the Edmonson Flea Market has been identified as 22 year old Carl Padgett of Towson... DAD slams down OFF button on radio and sobs in shock. INTERIOR "SUBURBAN CULT VIDEO SHOP". CHIP on duty as manager, along with BIRDIE and SCOTTY and a few other horror-nut customers watch on large video monitor Joan Crawford get off a train in William Castle's "Straight Jacket". The suspense builds as Joan on video spies through a window at her husband with another woman, picks up an ax and cuts off his head. Suddenly MISTY runs into video shop in hysterics. MISTY Chip! Our mother is Charles Manson! All the kids laugh uproariously as Joan screams on video "I'm not guilty" while struggling in a straight jacket. MISTY (Grabbing the remote and turning off the video) (To CHIP) I'm not kidding. Carl stood me up this morning and then he was murdered at the flea market.... CHIP MURDERED?!! MISTY Yes murdered! You said you hated your teacher yesterday and he was murdered too. I don't know... maybe Mom's nuts! CHIP It's a cool idea, Misty! Let's make a gore movie about Mom! Better yet, a TV series! BIRDIE Can I borrow your mother? My aunt is coming over to dinner tonight and she's always on my nerves. KID My step-father is an asshole! She could kill him! CHIP (Baiting MISTY) How about Mrs. Ackerman? We both hate her! (Playfully) Should she be the next victim? MISTY No! Stop it! It's not funny. Mom might do it! (Sobbing) Someone else might die. SCOTTY (Comforting her) I believe you, Misty. Your mother could kill - I've seen that look in her eyes! (Timidly) Is there a reward or anything? DISSOLVE TO INTERIOR SUTPHIN DINING ROOM. MOM comes through kitchen door and serves a fancy tuna casserole. MOM Dinner's served! Subtitle appears "6:01pm" and then fades out. MISTY looks at her mother in terror. DAD treats MOM with kid gloves. CHIP is completely oblivious to their concern. DAD Let's say grace and pray that we have the strength to understand the terrible tragedies of the last few days. MOM Amen to that. (Happily) It's been a crazy day, hasn't it?! MISTY pales, DAD looks at MOM in fear. MRS. ACKERMAN'S LIVING ROOM. DET. MOORE and several other COPS are taking down every word MRS. ACKERMAN says in notebooks and on tape recorders. MRS. ACKERMAN ...Dottie Hinkle was right - IT IS BEVERLY SUTPHIN! I tell you I saw blood right on the bottom of her shoes! Not exactly blood - it was GORE! Hanging right there like a runny nose!! INTERIOR DOTTIE HINKLE'S LIVING ROOM. DET. BRADFORD and several other POLICE OFFICERS are taking her statement and trying to calm her down, DOTTIE Nice as pie she was to me and then I hear her say it! DET. BRADFORD Say what, ma'am? DOTTIE "Are those..." (Giving up) I can't say the word out loud. DET. BRADFORD (Trying to comfort her) Could you tell a policewoman the exact words she used? DOTTIE (Being pitiful) Maybe... A huge galute of a POLICEWOMAN sits next to DOTTIE and pats her hand. POLICEWOMAN It's ok... nobody's gonna hurt you. (Whispering) Come on, let it out... DOTTIE (Yelling loudly, startling all the cops in the room) "PUSSY" she says to me! "PUSSY WILLOWS!" INTERIOR SUTPHIN DINING ROOM. The family is eating in uneasy silence. CHIP (Excited, happy) You know Mom, Scotty thinks you're the killer! MISTY chokes on her food, DAD laughs unconvincingly. MOM (Laughs) Does he? (Smiling to CHIP) For a boy who doesn't wear seat belts, Scotty's awfully nosy. (Getting up) Excuse me a second. (Exits into kitchen) The whole family sits in awkward silence. EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. ROOKIE COP sits in cop car on surveillance duty watching the Sutphin house in eery silence. SUTPHIN DINING ROOM. Family is squirming in their seats in nervous silence. MISTY suddenly bolts from table and runs towards kitchen. SUTPHIN KITCHEN. MISTY runs in. No one is there. On blackboard, written in chalk is "WENT TO THE 7-11, MOM". MISTY She's gone! CHIP and DAD rush in. MISTY (Blurting it out) She's gonna kill Scotty! DAD (No longer pretending) BOTH OF YOU! GET IN THE CAR! CHIP (Horrified) DAD! YOU DON'T THINK SHE DID IT??! MISTY I DO! Mom's gone crazy! DAD (To CHIP) Your mother may have some problems, that's all, Chip. (To both) C'mon! Hurry! EXTERIOR SUTPHINS. MOM peels out in her station wagon like a bat out of hell. ROOKIE COP looks up in shock, clumsily throws the car in gear and takes off behind her. Subtitle appears "6:36pm" and then fades out. INTERIOR MOM'S STATION WAGON. MOM is driving like a lunatic. She sees the red light of pursuing police car in rear-view mirror and floors it as she hits play button of tape deck in car and begins singing along loudly and scarily to her favorite song, Barry Manilow's "Daybreak", MOM "...Ain't no time to grieve And it's Daybreak!!! Let it shine, shine, shine, All around the world!!" INTERIOR COP CAR. ROOKIE COP is sweating bullets speeding after MOM's car and grabs police radio. ROOKIE MAY DAY!! MAY DAY!! INTERIOR MOM'S CAR. MOM is "dancing" in place and gyrating to the beat as she belts out the finale of "Daybreak" and suddenly turns the steering wheel violently to the right. EXTERIOR MRS. HINKLE'S HOUSE. MOM's car veers across lawn and flattens Mrs. Hinkle's entire flower garden as she plows her way back to street. DET. BRADFORD comes running out of house and jumps out of way as ROOKIE COP's car skids around corner and smashes into Mrs. Ackerman's wishing well decoration in her front yard. DOTTIE HINKLE is held back by burly POLICEWOMAN on porch as she curses MOM in the distance. DOTTIE You rotten mother-fucker! You lousy cock-sucker! INTERIOR DAD'S CAR. DAD is at the wheel driving with MISTY in front and CHIP in the back. MISTY (To DAD) Turn right on Timonioum Road. Hurry, Dad! CHIP (Scared for the first time) If Mom's a psycho, Scotty will still be ok, won't he? DAD We hope so, son. And no matter what your mother is, we'll love her anyway. INTERIOR DETECTIVE MOORE'S CAR. DET. MOORE (Following the Sutphins, into police radio mike) Suspect's family is headed east on Calverton.... INTERIOR MOM'S CAR. MOM turns off tape player and pulls to a stop on a quiet suburban street. She fixes her hair in rear view mirror, smiles, then takes out rubber dish-washing gloves and slips them on her hands. INTERIOR SCOTTY'S BEDROOM AT HIS PARENTS' HOUSE. SCOTTY lies in bed, surrounded by vintage sexploitation movie posters that decorate his walls ("Garden of Eden", "Mud- Honey", "There She Blows"), and watches on video the ridiculous 70's trash film "Double-Agent '73" starring Chesty Morgan. In the credit sequence he sees Miss Morgan "photographing" men with her humongous breasts that supposedly have cameras implanted inside. SCOTTY is getting turned on. He runs to lock bedroom door, closes curtain on window and then hops under a blanket to commit the sin of self-abuse. EXTERIOR SCOTTY'S PARENTS' HOUSE. DAD, MISTY and CHIP pull up, run to front door and pound on it. DETECTIVE MOORE pulls up at a safe distance behind them and watches from police car. Subtitle appears "7:01pm" and disappears. INTERIOR SCOTTY'S BEDROOM. SCOTTY is watching Chesty Morgan on video roll about in hideous hot pants and insane 1970's platform shoes as he concentrates on her gigantic breasts and touches himself off camera. He hears banging at door, curses whoever it is, and decides to ignore them. EXTERIOR SCOTTY'S PARENTS' HOUSE. DAD jiggles the door unsuccessfully until CHIP slithers through an open window and lets MISTY and DAD inside. INTERIOR DETECTIVE MOORE'S POLICE CAR. DET. BRADFORD (into police radio mike) Suspect's family is entering house. Send backup to 2l14 Sycamore Street. I've got a feeling old Mom's inside. I'm goin' in! Heroic music blares on soundtrack as he leaps from car and pulls gun. Subtitle appears "7:24pm" and then fades out. CUT to MOM staring evilly through plate glass window from outside a suburban house. Reverse angle shows not Scotty, but the dental emergency couple, THE STERNERS, as they sit in their dining room eating a dinner of cornish game hens. MOM zeros in on the game hens and flashes back to "Dede" and the other cute birds in her bird-feeder at home. As the couple viciously slice apart the game hens and stuff the meat in their mouths, MOM breaks a small pane of glass in back door to gain entry. MRS. STERNER What was that? MR. STERNER I didn't hear anything. Got any dessert? MRS. STERNER Dr. Sutphin said no sweets for you. MR. STERNER What's he know? MRS. STERNER How to send a bill!! They both laugh uproariously at her bad joke. STERNER KITCHEN. MOM is listening in disgust, notices a limp plant, waters it thoughtfully and then jumps out of the way to hide as MRS. STERNER comes into kitchen to get a large chocolate pie. INTERIOR SCOTTY'S BEDROOM. SCOTTY has the whole bed vibrating noisily as he watches Chesty Morgan on video in hideous green plaid bell bottoms as she "photographs" evidence with her breasts. INTERIOR SCOTTY'S PARENTS' HOUSE. HALLWAY. DAD, MISTY and CHIP creep up the steps towards SCOTTY's bedroom. EXTERIOR SCOTTY'S PARENTS' HOUSE. DET. BRADFORD signals the newly arrived DET. MOORE and a small swat team in battle gear to follow him quietly to Scotty's front door. INTERIOR STERNER'S DINING ROOM. MR. STERNER cuts himself a second piece of chocolate pie and pigs it down. INTERIOR STERNER'S BEDROOM. MRS. STERNER (Yelling downstairs) Ralph, "Wheel of Fortune"'s on!! As MRS. STERNER continues to watch TV we see her get ready for bed. We see her change from her shoes to bedroom slippers from under the bed. We see her brush her hair from behind the mirror. We see her open her drawer and take out birth-control foam from inside the bureau. We see her go to closed curtains moving ominously in the breeze and close the window from the other side. MRS. STERNER (Calling out) Ralph, you're missing it! MRS. STERNER takes off her dress to reveal monstrous white all-in-one bra and girdle and moves to closet door. She opens closet door and hesitates. We see shoe in bottom of closet move slightly. Suddenly a mouse scurries out of shoe and runs across floor as MRS. STERNER screams, STERNER DINING ROOM. MR. STERNER (As chocolate oozes in his mouth) What is it, Betty? STERNER BEDROOM. MRS. STERNER (Still shaking) We have mice! I mean it, Ralph! I saw one! MRS. STERNER reaches for nightgown and pulls it off hanger to reveal MOM's insane face. Suddenly MOM stabs MRS. STERNER viciously in the stomach with MRS. ACKERMAN's scissors. MOM (Scarily) Always brush after every meal! MRS. STERNER opens her mouth in a silent scream as MOM pulls out the scissors and stabs her again and again as a large rat in the closet runs out and begins biting MRS. STERNER's ankle at the same time. STERNER DINING ROOM. MR. STERNER burps in front of empty plate and hears loud thud from upstairs. He gets up from table. MR. STERNER (Calling upstairs) Betty? STERNER BEDROOM. MRS. STERNER is dead on the floor with scissors sticking out of her as MOM attempts to clean up the blood with the household product, "SHOUT". HALLWAY STERNER HOUSE. MR. STERNER runs up stairs, suddenly alarmed. MR. STERNER Betty? Betty, answer me! STERNER BEDROOM. MOM looks up from cleaning and smiles as MR. STERNER runs in, sees the grisly sight and screams in horror. MOM (Holding up bottle of "SHOUT" and doing mock TV-ad) "SHOUT IT OUT". MOM suddenly pulls scissors out of MRS. STERNER's stomach and expertly throws them like a knife at MR. STERNER's head. He ducks in the nick of time and the scissors stick in the wall. MR. STERNER turns and runs in fear as MOM gives chase, grabbing the scissors out of the wall. HALLWAY. STERNER HOUSE. MR. STERNER runs down the steps screaming as MOM runs after him. She throws the scissors at him again, but just misses him. Thinking fast, MR. STERNER grabs scissors from wall and throws them back at MOM. She ducks in the nick of time and her face goes purple with rage. MOM You'll pay for that, Ralph Sterner!! As MR. STERNER runs to back door, MOM charges back up the steps to bedroom. STERNER BEDROOM. MOM rushes in and watches MR. STERNER from above from bedroom window as he runs out of house. STERNER LAWN. MR. STERNER runs across lawn screaming. MR. STERNER Help! POLICE!! STERNER BEDROOM. MOM is rocking air conditioner in window back and forth until she gets it loose. Seeing him right below, MOM shoves it out window with all her might. STERNER LAWN. MR. STERNER looks up at air conditioner falling from above and screams the second before he is crushed like an insect. SCOTTY'S BEDROOM. SCOTTY is moaning in orgasm as he watches ludicrous Chesty Morgan "Secret Agent" breast footage on video screen. OUTSIDE SCOTTY'S BEDROOM DOOR. DAD, MISTY and CHIP look at one another in horror thinking SCOTTY's moans are cries of pain and they break down his door to save him. SCOTTY'S BEDROOM. SCOTTY stares in complete mortification as the Sutphin family catch him in the middle of an orgasm. When DETECTIVES MOORE and BRADFORD and their ridiculously overprepared SWAT TEAM flood the bedroom, screaming "FREEZE" and "HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD", SCOTTY fumes in anger as MISTY and CHIP giggle in relief and DAD turns red in embarrassment. Wipe to EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. DAD's car pulls up and the relieved Sutphin family hops out and runs to house. Subtitle appears "9:02pm" and fades out. DAD Home Sweet Home! Everything's fine, kids! MISTY (Laughing) I can't believe I thought my own mother was a murderess! CHIP I'm disappointed she isn't! (In wonder) For a while there, it was like being in a movie! SUTPHIN DINING ROOM. MOM is seated happily at table. DAD, MISTY and CHIP enter. MOM (Beaming happily) Anybody for dessert? M-m-m-m-m, strawberries! Fade to black. Fade in to ST. TIMOTHY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Sign out front announces the service: "11:00am. Holy Eucharist Service. Sermon: 'Capitol Punishment and You'". Families stream into church. Subtitle appears "10:37am, Sunday September 20th" and fades out. EXTERIOR SUTPHIN HOUSE. MOM, DAD, CHIP and MISTY walk out front door dressed in their Sunday finest. Suddenly their wholesome smiles freeze on their faces. Cop cars are everywhere watching MOM's every move. DETECTIVES MOORE and BRADFORD smile hatefully at MOM, pressuring her with their high-visibility surveillance. The family nervously gets in their car and DAD turns the ignition. Cop after cop after cop start up their engines. As DAD pulls out of the driveway in his car the cops file into a procession of intimidation behind him. INTERIOR DET. MOORE AND DET. BRADFORDS' CAR. DET. BRADFORD (Talking into police radio) ...Sutphin family proceeding west on Seminary Avenue. Beverly ain't goin' nowhere this time. INTERIOR SUTPHIN CAR. MISTY (Scared) Dad, I thought it was ok. Make them go away. This is embarrassing. DAD Just ignore the police. It's all a terrible mistake. He turns on radio to music. CHIP Think we'll get on "A CURRENT AFFAIR"? INTERIOR DET. MOORE AND BRADFORD'S CAR. DET. MOORE She's headed for church. DET. BRADFORD (To police dispatcher on radio) I say we nail her! DISPATCHER (On radio) Negative. D.A. says no bust until lab report is back matching suspect's fingerprints on true-crime book with those on scissors and fire poker. DET. BRADFORD (To DET. MOORE) She may be Beaver Cleaver's mother... but Jim Jones and the entire People's Temple just fucked her! INTERIOR SUTPHIN CAR. MISTY, CHIP and DAD listen in appalled silence to news report on radio as MOM seems unfazed. ANNOUNCER ...the senseless killing last night of Towson couple, Ralph and Betty Sterner, brings to a total of four murders police feel may have been committed by Baltimore's first serial killer... DAD looks at MOM in stunned disbelief. DAD Beverly! Not the Sterners! MOM (Calmly) It's a shame. But they should brush their teeth, honey. ANNOUNCER (On radio) This just came in. Police Lieutenant Ronald Habbler has publicly named a suspect in the serial killer case and it's a shocker! She, that's right, she has been identified as Beverly R. Sutphin of 2815 Calverton Court... MISTY Oh God! (In despair) Now I'll never get a boyfriend! DAD (Nervously) Beverly, I've been reading all about it... is it menopause? MOM Oh, honey! CHIP Tell me the truth, Mom! It's ok with me, really! Are you a serial killer? MOM Chip, the only cereal I know about is Rice Krispies. Sutphin car pulls to a stop at a red light next to car full of churchgoers. MOM turns to smile at them and all the churchgoers scream in horror at the sight of her face. DAD (Lovingly, painfully) Don't worry, Beverly. We're going to get you good psychiatric help. EXTERIOR ST. TIMOTHY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. MRS. ACKERMAN and MRS. HINKLE look up in amazement as they see the Sutphins pull into church parking lot followed by string of police cars. The Sutphins nervously get out of car and walk towards church as the good Christian families glare at them and gossip with a vengeance. DAD tries to be brave, MISTY hangs her head in mortification, CHIP is excited by all the attention and MOM smiles happily to appalled worshippers. GUS and SLOPPY, the two garbagemen, dressed in their shabby church clothes wave to MOM in secret admiration. BIRDIE's eyes light up at seeing CHIP but her suddenly forbidding parents hold her back when she tries to join him. She mouths "I love you" to him as CHIP looks back to her parents with hurt and confusion. As the SUTPHIN family reaches the church door, a reporter runs towards them with his cameras drawn. REPORTER (To MOM) So, Mrs. Sutphin! Tell me! Are you "Serial Mom"? MOM Who? DAD (Blocking his face from strobing flash) No comment! CHIP (To himself) "Serial Mom"? (He looks at his MOM who is perversely enjoying the attention) WOW! MISTY, who can't help but notice that the REPORTER is strikingly handsome, gives him an obviously flirtatious smile before DAD yanks her into church with the rest of them. INTERIOR ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH. FATHER STONE, a mild and kind looking Episcopal priest has just begun the service. FATHER STONE (On altar) Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit... ALL And blessed be His kingdom, now and forever. Amen... The SUTPHINS take their place in a half filled pew next to appalled young MARRIED COUPLE as a still mortified SCOTTY glares in hatred and vengeance from a pew in the back of the church. BIRDIE's face is covered in tears as she sits with her parents helplessly. MISTY turns in her seat and searches the hostile crowd for the face of the cute REPORTER. When she spots him secretly snapping her photo, she subtly gives him a sexy pose. EXTERIOR CHURCH. DETECTIVES MOORE and BRADFORD wait with other COPS outside their cars as voice comes over police radio. CAPTAIN JOHNSON This is Captain Johnson from Homicide. Lab reports confirm Sutphin latent print of index finger on true-crime book matches those latent prints lifted from murder weapons. Bingo, boys! Bust the bitch! COPS smile in silent victory as they immediately spread out and approach the church. INTERIOR CHURCH. FATHER STONE is giving the sermon in a kindly tone. FATHER STONE ...Jesus said nothing to condemn capital punishment as he hung on the cross, did He?! MRS. ACKERMAN and MRS. HINKLE nod in pious agreement. FATHER STONE ...If ever there was a time to go on record against the death penalty, WASN'T IT THAT NIGHT?!... DAD gulps and lovingly takes MOM's hand as MISTY and CHIP look at one another appalled while MOM continues her defiant smile. FATHER STONE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT is already the LAW in the State of Maryland!... DETECTIVES MOORE and BRADFORD and all the COPS begin infiltrating the church, taking places in pews and then moving forward to other pews closer to MOM. SCOTTY beams at police presence and eagerly scoots over to let DET. BRADFORD and DET. MOORE sit with him on their way to nail MOM. GUS and SLOPPY, the garbagemen, scowl at the police and look with loyalty to poor MOM. FATHER STONE ...SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR, FELLOW CHRISTIANS?! LET'S JUST DO