HOME ALONE
OPENING SEQUENCE
Blue Moon against a black sky.
Blue house silhouette against a black sky.
The house recede into the background, getting smaller and smaller.
EXT: LARGE HOME: NIGHT
Upper middle-class home with Christmas decorations. Very noisy. Sounds of
many people talking at once. "Where's my suitcase?"
INT: LARGE HOME: NIGHT
A policeman, with his back to the camera, stands in the hallway. He tries
to get someone two pay attention to him, but everyone ignores him. Two
small girls walk down the staircase. A third girl walks up, a fourth girl
walks down. They all walk past the policeman as if he didn't exist. He
stands alone, with his hands on his hips, expressing exasperation.
[ Rejection of authority generates humor. This allows the audience to
vicariously experience superiority over policemen, and releases repressed
feelings of resentment that expresses itself in laughter. The policeman is
a "traffic cop" that is being ignored; a deviation from normal patterns of
behavior. The policeman becomes frustrated. The audience finds the
exasperation of an authority figure to be amusing. ]
INT: PARENT'S BEDROOM: NIGHT
Kevin's mother is on the phone, talking to a friend. She packs clothes on
the bed, while her husband is in the bathroom. A small boy, KEVIN, walks
into the room.
"Mom, Uncle Frank won't let me watch the movie. But the big kids can. Why
can't I?"
"Kevin, I'm on the phone," responds his mother.
"It's not even rated R. He's just being a jerk."
"Kevin, if Uncle frank says no, then it must be really bad."
[ Common empathy structure of a young child being ignored by his parents or
guardians. Elliott in E.T. and Dorothy in WIZARD OF OZ. ]
Kevin jumps on the bed. His mother tells him to get off, but he ignores
her. Kevin picks up a book that is a travel guide to France. "Hang up the
phone and make me, why don't you.
[Resentment at being ignored]
Kevin's father, wearing a blue shirt, walks into the room. he talks to his
wife.
'Hey, by any chance, did you pick up a voltage adapter thing?"
"No, I didn't have a chance."
"How am I supposed to shave in France?"
"Grow a goatee."
"Dad, nobody will let me do anything?" says Kevin.
"You want to do something, you can pick up those micro-machines in the
hall. Aunt Leslie stepped on one and almost broke her neck."
"He was in the garage again playing with the glue gun," says the mother.
Kevin makes a grim face and signals to his mother to stop talking by
cutting his throat with hand.
"Didn't we talk about that?" says his father.
Kevin replies, with an attitude. "Did I burn down the joint? I don't think
so. I was making ornaments out of fish-hooks."
"My new fish-hooks?" replies the father.
"I can't make ornaments out of the old ones, with dry worm guts stuck on
them."
[Humor generated from the clash of two opposing points of view, each
understandable or expressing a truth from their perspective. Kevin's
behavior is appropriate from his perspective, but inappropriate from the
father's perspective. ]
Kevin's dad picks him up and starts to carry him out of the room.
Aunt Leslie enters and says "Peter, Kay, do you guys have a voltage
adapter?"
[ Effective way of naming father and mother, with a repetition of the
voltage adapter request. Incompetence factor. No one has thought of getting
the tool that they will need to use their appliances in France.
Incompetence generates laughter. ]
"Here's a voltage adapter," says Peter as he places Kevin in Aunt Leslie's
arms.
"Oh, you're getting heavy. Go pack your suitcase."
"Pack my suitcase?"
[ Terror strikes Kevin. He is incompetent, helpless, vulnerable. He can't
take care of himself. This generates empathy for him, especially when his
sisters and brothers refuse to help him, and instead ridicule him. ]
INT: DINING ROOM: NIGHT
A girl walks by a young boy sitting at the dining room table.
"Do you know where the shampoo is, Fuller?"
"I don't live here," replies Fuller.
"I don't believe that in a house with this many people there is no
shampoo."
The policeman stops her.
"Pardon me, are you're parents home?"
"Yeah, but they don't live here," she says, as she walks away.
[ Humor generated by a literal response to a question which states a truth,
but doesn't give the answer that the questioner desired. This is a
deviation from expected patterns of communication. The norm is that if a
person asks a question, you should attempt to satisfy his information
request, not make a true statement that is irrelevant to his needs. An
instance of miscommunication. ]
A girl, wearing a Northwestern tee shirt, comes down the staircase. She
speaks with another girl. "Tracy, did you order pizza?"
"Roz did."
"Excuse me, Miss. Are your parents here?" asks the cop.
"My parents are in Paris. Sorry."
The policeman grabs a little girl by the shoulder. "Hi, are your parents
home?"
"Yeah."
"Do they live here?"
"No."
"No. Why should they. All kids, no parents. Probably a fancy orphanage."
[ Humorous, because this is a unexpected, yet plausible, interpretation of
the situation. ]
INT: BEDROOM: NIGHT
Kevin sits with one of his brothers who is packing a suitcase. "I don't
know how to pack a suitcase. I have never done this once in my whole life,"
says Kevin.
"Tough."
They walk out into the hallway.
"That's what Marie said."
"What did I say?"
"You told Kevin tough."
"The dope was whining about his suitcase. What am I supposed to do. Shake
his hand and say, congratulations, you're an idiot?"
"I'm not an idiot!" says Kevin.
[ Empathy is generated for Kevin because he is being ridiculed. ]
"Oh really. You're completely helpless. Everyone has to do everything for
you."
"She's right, Kev."
"Excuse me puke breath. I'm a lot smaller than you. I don't know how to
pack a suitcase."
Another girl walks down the hallway. "Hey, I hope you didn't just pack
crap, Jeff."
"Shut up, Linnie."
"You know what I should pack?" Kevin asks Jeff.
"I already told you, cheese face. Toilet paper and water."
"Listen, Kevin, what are you so worried about? You know that Mom is going
to pack your stuff anyway. You are what the French call Les Incompetent!"
says Linnie.
"What?" says Kevin.
[ Characterization of Kevin as incompetent; completely helpless ]
Jeff throws a packed bag down the staircase. "BOMBS AWAY!" The bag lands at
the feet of the policeman.
[The audience laughs because of the near-miss of a disaster. The built up
tension is released through laughter. This is an instance of a relief
theory of laughter. ]
Linnie continues talking to Kevin. "P.S. You have to sleep on the
hide-a-bed with Fuller. If he has something to drink, he's going to wet the
bed."
[ This is the most babyish of all actions, and Kevin will have to sleep in
the wet bed. Disgusting situations also generate laughter.]
Kevin stands alone on the balcony. "This house is so full of people it
makes me sick. When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone. DID YOU
HEAR ME? I'M LIVING ALONE!!!" Kevin shouts as he jumps up and down.
[Humor generated be the contradiction of "being married" and "living
alone", plus the exaggerated reactions of Kevin jumping up and down in a
tantrum. ]
The policeman, in amazement and with mouth agape, watches Kevin as he jumps
up and down.
[ This character's reaction is how the director wants the audience to
respond. ]
INT: BUZZ'S BEDROOM: NIGHT
A young boy wearing glasses taps on a glass aquarium that contains a large
tarantula. "Whose going to feed your spider while you're gone?"
"He just eat a load of mice-kettes," says Buzz. "He should be good for a
couple of weeks. Is it true that French babes don't shave their pits."
[ Gross, coarse characterization of Buzz. Deviant character type. ]
"Some don't."
A picture of a nude playgirl hangs on the wall, near a rifle and a poster
of a baseball player.
[ Standard images associated with an adolescent male. ]
"But they got nude beaches," says Buzz.
"Not in winter."
Kevin enters the room and timidly approaches Buzz. "Buzz."
"Don't you know how to knock, phflemwad."
Buzz is ferociously antagonistic.
[None of the other children either help or seem to like Kevin, which
generates empathy for him, because he's just a small child who needs help
to pack his suitcase. ]
"Can I sleep in your room. I don't want to sleep in the hide-a-bed with
Fuller. if he has something to drink, he'll wet the bed."
"I wouldn't let you sleep in my room if you were growing on my ass,"
replies Buzz.
Suddenly they hear rustling outside their window.
"Check it out! old man Marey," says Buzz.
The three boys run to the window.
"Who is he?" asks the boy with glasses.
Outside they see an old man drag a metal garbage can down a snow covered
walk. He carries a metal shovel in his free hand.
"You ever hear of the South Bend Shovel Slayer?" asks Buzz.
"No," responds the boy with glasses.
"That's him," says Buzz. "Back in'58 he murdered his whole family and half
the people on the block with the snow shovel. Been hiding out in this
neighborhood ever since."
"Well, if he's the Shovel slayer, how come the cops don't arrest him?"
"Not enough evidence to convict. They never found the bodies, but everyone
around here knows he did it. And it will just be a matter of time before he
does it again."
The old man shovels snow off the path, then uses the shovel to spread salt
on the walk. Kevin is frightened.
"What's he doing now?" asks the boy with glasses.
"He walks up and down the street every night salting the sidewalks."
"Maybe he's trying to be nice."
"No way. See that garbage can filled with salt. that's where he keeps his
victims. The salt turns the bodies into mummy's."
Kevin becomes terrorized. "Mummies," he says.
The old man looks up from his work and sees the three boys watching him.
They quickly pull the drapes across the window. The old man continues to
stare up at the window.
[ Buzz creates a story about that old man that causes him to become the
source of terror and an antagonist in the mind of Kevin. This fear Kevin
must overcome before he confronts the real villains of the story. This also
setups the audience because it misdirects their beliefs and expectations.
They, like Kevin, believe that the old man is the real villain of the
story. ]
EXT: STREET: NIGHT
A pizza delivery car is recklessly driven down the street. It pulls into
the front of Kevin's house, then hits the metal lawn boy stature, knocking
it to the ground. A the side of the car is painted: "LI TTLE NERO DELIVERS.
20 MINUTES OR YOU DON'T PAY." The pizza delivery boy runs out of the car
and picks up the metal lawn boy statue.
INT: KEVIN'S HOME: NIGHT
Two little children stare up at the policeman who is trying to find out if
they are going on a trip, but the little boy and little girl just stare up
at him without responding. There is a knock on the front door. The
policeman opens the door and lets in the pizza delivery boy.
"Okay, that's $122.50," he says to the cop.
"Not for me, kid. I don't live here."
"Oh, you're just around for the holidays?"
"I guess you could say that."
Uncle Frank sees the pizza and takes the boxes from the delivery boy.
"That's $122.50."
"Ah, it's my brothers house. He'll take care of it."
Frank walks away with the boxes of pizza.
[ Frank's character is established as being cheap. This will be confirmed
throughout the story, but is established as soon as he is introduced. ]
Kevin's father, Peter, comes downstairs and shakes hands with the
policeman.
"Hi," says Peter.
"Hi," answers the policeman. "Mr. McCalister?"
"Owes $122.50," says the delivery boy.
"Am I under arrest or something?" asks Peter.
"No, no, no. Christmas time. Always a lot of burglars around the holidays.
Just checking around the neighborhood to see that everyone's taking proper
precautions, that's all."
"Oh, well, we have automatic timers for our lights. Locks for our doors.
That about all that anyone can do nowadays. You get eggnog or something?"
"Eggnog? Listen, will you be leaving..."
Kevin runs downstairs yelling "Pizza, pizza."
INT: KITCHEN: NIGHT
As Kevin enters, everyone is already eating.
"Frank, you got some money. Come on," says his wife.
"Travelers checks," answers Frank.
"Probably the kind you can't use in Paris," says Peter.
"Forget it Frank. We have cash," says Kay.
"Did anyone order me a plain cheese," asks Kevin
. Buzz stuffs his mouth with pizza.
"Oh yeah, we did. But if you want any, someone will have to barf it all up,
because it's gone."
"Fuller, go easy on the Pepsi," says Aunt Leslie.
Fuller stares at Kevin and smiles. Kevin becomes infuriated.
[ The audience realizes that Fuller will wet the bed now, and Kevin will
have to sleep in it. ]
Buzz mocks Kevin by telling him to get a plate, then fakes throwing up the
pizza. Kevin charges into Buzz's stomach, and accidentally knocks over cups
of milk which wet the plane tickets.
"Passports!" yells Peter, as he puts down the plastic Pepsi bottle. The
bottle tips over and spills soda onto the table. Uncle Frank pushes his
chair back and smashes Fuller against the wall. Peter tries to sop up the
milk with napkins. He unwittingly throws one of the plane tickets into the
garbage pail.
[ This is necessary so that later when they board the plane that airline
attendant won't ask the parents why they have one extra ticket before the
plane departs. ]
Kay yells at Kevin. "What is the matter with you?"
"He started it. He ate my pizza on purpose. He knows that I hate sausage
and olives and..." says Kevin.
Uncle Frank wipes the wet Pepsi from his pants. "Look what you did, you
little jerk!"
Everyone stares down at Kevin.
"Kevin, get upstairs right now," says his mother.
"Kevin, you're such a disease," says Jeff.
"Kevin, upstairs," says his father.
[ This creates empathy for Kevin because he is unfairly treated. ]
"Say goodnight, Kevin," says Kay.
"Goodnight, Kevin," responds Kevin.
Kay drags Kevin into the hallway.
"Why do I always get treated like scum?"
The pizza boy is still standing by the front door, while the policeman
looks around the living room. Kay pays the pizza boy.
"Having a reunion or something?" asks the policeman.
"No, my husband's brother transferred to Paris last summer and both his
kids are going to school here ... I guess he misses the family."
The policeman smiles at Kevin. His gold tooth sparkles. Kevin notices this.
"He's given us this trip to Paris so that we can all be together."
"You're taking a trip to Paris?"
"Yes, we hope to leave tomorrow morning."
"Excellent. Excellent," answers the policeman.
"Excuse me, this one's out of sorts," says Kay as she pulls Kevin upstairs.
"Don't worry about me. I spoke with your husband already, and don't worry
about your home. It's in good hands."
Kay leads Kevin upstairs. "There are fifteen people in this house. You're
the only one who has to make trouble."
"I'm the only one getting dumped on," replies Kevin.
"You're the only one acting up. Now get upstairs."
"I am upstairs, dummy."
Kay opens the door to the attic.
"The third floor?" asks Kevin in horror.
"Go!"
"It's scary up there."
"Don't be silly. Fuller will be up there in a little while."
"I don't want to sleep with Fuller. You know about him. He wets the bed.
He'll pee all over me. I know."
"Fine, we'll put him somewhere else," answers the mother.
"I'm sorry," says Kevin.
"It's too late. Get upstairs."
"Everyone in this family hates me."
"Then maybe you should ask Santa for a new family."
"I don't want a new family. I don't want any family. Families suck!"
"Just stay up there. I don't want t see you again for the rest of the
night."
"I don't want t see you again for the rest of my whole life. And I don't
want to see anyone else either."
"I hope that you don't mean that. You'd feel pretty sad if you woke up
tomorrow morning and you didn't have a family."
"No I wouldn't" answers Kevin.
"Then say it again. Maybe it will happen."
"I hope that I never see any of you jerks again!"
Kevin walks up into the attic as his mother closes the door.
Kevin lies in the attic bed. His thoughts are heard: "I wish they would all
just disappear."
[This is Kevin's dream, his primary objective. ]
EXT: SKY: NIGHT
A full moon. Clouds cover the moon. Wind blows through the trees in front
of Kevin's house. The wind blows a plastic Santa Claus down the sidewalk.
It blows a red ribbon off a lamppost. It moves shutters on the window and
swings a light in front of the door. It shakes a Santa Claus wreath on the
door. A tree branch breaks and falls on some power lines, causing an
electrical blackout. The lights go out in Kevin's house. The LED on a clock
radio states 4:37 before it goes out due to power failure.
[ This is the inciting event that causes the world of the protagonist to
change. ]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
A man is knocking on the front door. Two airport express vans are parked in
front of the house. One driver knocks on the front door as the second
driver picks up the metal lawn boy statue. Across the street a power
service man is working on a voltage box.
"She said 8:00 sharp," says one of the drivers as he rings the doorbell.
INT: BEDROOM: DAY
Kay, while still in bed and under the covers, picks up her watch.
"Peter!" she shouts, as they both jump out of bed.
"We slept in!" they shout in unison, as they run out of the bedroom.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Everyone is frantically running through the house as they prepare for the
airport.
[ Funny because of the speeded up perception of time. ]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
A boy walks towards the van from across the street.
"Hi, I'm Mitch Murphy. I live across the street," he says as he talks to a
man packing luggage into one of the vans.
"You guys going out of town? We're going to Orlando, Florida. Well,
actually, first we're going to Missouri to pick up my grandma. Do you know
that the McCalisters are going to France? Do you know if it's cold there?
Do you know if these vans get good mileage?
"Gee kid, I don't know. Hit the road," answers the driver.
[Humor generated by the deviation from normal patterns of behavior: the
young boy who continuously asks questions without waiting for an answer,
and who irritates an "authority" figure. ]
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Fast speed footage of the household in pandemonium.
[ Deviation from normal patterns of movement is humorous ]
"Heather, do a head count. make sure that everyone is in the vans," orders
Kay. "Where are the passports and tickets?"
"I put them in the microwave to dry them off," answers Peter.
[ Humorous because this is non-standard behavior which has plausibility:
truth from a different perspective. ]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Mitch is sitting in a van next to a driver. "How fast does this thing go?
Does it have automatic transmission? Does it have four wheel drive?"
"Look," says the driver, "I told you before kid, don't bother me. Now beat
it."
Children exit from the house and line up in front of the vans. Mitch is
inside one of the vans. He opens up one of the traveling cases, takes out a
camera, and takes a photo of the inside of the van.
"Wow," says Mitch.
[Deviant and stupid behavior is funny. ]
Heather takes a head count and includes Mitch, whose back is to her. Mitch
is about the same size as Kevin. Buzz is being difficult and distracting
her. He calls out random numbers as she is trying to count.
"Half in this van, half in this van," orders Heather.
Mitch exits the van. "Have a good trip. Bring me back something French," he
says as he walks away.
Aunt Leslie, Kay, Uncle Frank and Peter exit the house. peter locks the
door.
"There is no way on earth we're going to make this plane. It leaves in
forty-five minutes," says Frank.
"Think positive, Frank," says Peter.
"You be positive. I'll be realistic!"
As Kay enters the van, the power man approaches her. "Mame, I just want you
to know that your power is fixed, but your phone lines are a mess. it's
going to take Ma bell a couple of days to patch it up, especially around
the holidays."
"Heather, did you count heads?"
"Eleven including me. Five boys, six girls, four parents, two drivers, and
a partridge and a pear tree."
They drive away from the house.
[ The frantic activity justifies forgetting Kevin.]
INT: AIRPORT TERMINAL: DAY
Peter, Kay and family run through the airport terminal towards the gate
from which their plane is departing.
"Hold the plane," yells Peter.
"Did we miss the flight?" asks Kay.
"No, you just made it. Take whatever is free," replies the attendant.
The children run on board.
INT: PLANE: DAY
The stewardess takes Kay and Peter's coats.
"Champagne, please. It's free, isn't it?" asks Uncle Frank.
"Oh, yes," replies the stewardess.
[This reconfirms Frank's stinginess.]
"We made it," says Peter.
"Do you believe it? I hope we didn't forget anything," says Kate.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
The door to the attic slowly opens up and Kevin pokes out his head. He
doesn't hear any noise as he walks into the hallway.
EXT: AIRPORT: DAY
The plane takes off from the runway.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin walks through the empty house until he reaches the kitchen. He turns
on the TV, then sits down at the counter. After a few moments, he shuts off
the TV. "Mom," he softly calls out.
EXT: AIRPORT: DAY
The plane flies away into the sky.
INT: PLANE: DAY
Passengers are eating their food. Uncle Frank notices that the crystal is
real, and tells his wife to put it into her purse. She protests as the
stewardess walks by.
[Deviant behavior is humorous. ]
"Don't you fee like a heel flying first class with all your kids back in
coach?" Kay asks Peter.
"No, the kids are fine. the only flying I did as a boy was in the back of
the families station wagon, and it wasn't to France. The kids are okay.
They're having the time of their lives," says Peter.
"Yeah," says Kay.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin walks through his empty house.
"Hello ... Mom ... Dad ... Mom ... Dad ... where are you guys?"
Kevin walks into Buzz's room past the spider in the aquarium.
"Buzz ... Buzz."
He walks down into the basement. "Uncle frank ... Is this a joke? Megan ...
Linnie..." Kevin looks around the basement, then stares at the furnace,
which then in his imagination makes a loud growling noise and lights up
with a red flame against the black metal. "It's all my imagination," says
Kevin as he runs up the stairs.
[ Kevin is alone and in jeopardy. ]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin runs out the front door and to the side of the house. he looks up the
driveway and sees two cars in the garage.
"The cars are still here. They didn't go to the airport".
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin returns to the kitchen and sits down at the counter. "I made my
family disappear," he says with concern. But then he imagines the face of
each member of his family and the words they last spoke to him.
"Kevin you're completely helpless."
"No, Kevin, you're what the French call Les Incompetent."
"Kevin, I'm going to feed you to my tarantula."
"Kevin, you are such a disease."
"There are fifteen people in this house, and you're the only one who has to
make trouble."
"Look at what you did, you little jerk."
Kevin then smiles. "I MADE MY FAMILY DISAPPEAR!"
[ Celebration Time. ]
INT: PARENTS BEDROOM: DAY
Kevin jumps up and down on the parents bed while eating popcorn.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin runs down the staircase into the dining area as he wildly waves his
arms. He runs throughout the house, as happy as can be.
INT: BUZZ'S ROOM: DAY
He runs into Buzz's room, then opens Buzz's chest. Kevin reads a playboy
magazine. "No clothes on anybody. It's sickening!" He then finds some
firecrackers. "Cool, firecrackers. I'll save these for later. Buzz, I'm
going through all your private stuff. You better come out and pound me."
Kevin picks up a picture of Buzz's fat girlfriend.
"Buzz, your girlfriend. Wuff!"
Kevin sees the rifle on the wall.
He places nature figurines on the clothes dump ledge, then shoots at them
with the air-gun. He's a good shot, and knocks each one into the dumpster
with one shot each.
INT: KITCHEN: DAY
The kitchen counter is a mess with ice-cream slopped all over the counter.
INT: LIVING ROOM: DAY
A videotape, "ANGELS WITH FILTHY SOULS" is placed into the VCR. Kevin
watches the tape.
INTERCUT VIDEOTAPE SEQUENCE
Knock on door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, snakes. I got the stuff."
"Leave it on the doorstep and get the hell out of here."
"All right, Johnny. But where's my money?"
"What money?"
"A.C. said you had some dough for me."
"Is that a fact? How much do I owe you?"
"A.C. said 10%."
"Too bad A.C. ain't in charge no more. He'll call you when he gets out."
Kevin calls out to no one. "Guys, I'm eating junk food and watching
rubbish. You better come out and stop me."
"Hey, I tell you what I'm going to do, snakes. I'm gonna give you to the
count of ten to git your ugly no good yellow keister off my property before
I pump you full of lead."
"All right, Johnny. I'm sorry. I'm going."
"One ... two ... ten!"
Johnny guns down snakes, laughing and gloating as he watches him die. "Keep
the change you filthy animal!"
Kevin becomes frightened and yells out for his mother. "Mom!"
INT: AIRPLANE: DAY
Kay is asleep on Peter's shoulder. She suddenly awakes, then checks her
wallet.
"What's the matter," asks Peter.
"I have a terrible feeling," says Kay.
"About what?"
"That we didn't do something."
"No, you feel that way because we left in a hurry. We took care of
everything. Believe me we did."
"Did I turn off the coffee?"
"No. I did."
"Did you lock up?"
"yeah.
"Did you close the garage?"
"That's it. I forgot to close the garage. that's it."
"No, that's not it," says Kay.
"What else could we be forgetting?"
"KEVIN!!!" shouts Kay.
INT: TOP OF STAIRCASE: DAY
Kevin positions a toboggan on the top of the stairs, pointed down to the
open front door. He slides down the staircase, out the front door, and onto
the front lawn.
INT: AIRPLANE: DAY
Aunt Leslie, Uncle Frank, and Peter try to console Kay.
"The Captain is doing all he can, but the phones are still out of order,"
says a stewardess.
"Horrible, horrible," says Frank.
"How could we do this. We forgot him."
"Didn't forget him. We miscounted," says Peter.
"What kind of mother am I?" says Kay.
"If it makes you fell any better," says Frank, "I forgot my reading
glasses."
They all stare at him in disbelief
[ Frank's statements are inappropriate to the situation. This comparison
trivializes the situation. Reading glasses are radically smaller in
importance to a small eight year old child. ]
EXT: STREET: NIGHT
"Five families down on one block alone. They all told me from their own
mouths," says Harry, the burglar who was disguised as a cop
. "It's almost too easy," says Marv.
"Check it out. All the houses with nobody home has automatic timers in
their houses, and I have it all figured out. Watch this," says Harry.
"Number 664 will be going on right NOW!" The lights go on inside this
house.
"Number 672 right now! Number 671, now! And that's the one, Marv. That's
the silver doughnut."
"Oh, it's very G."
"Very G, huh. It's loaded. It's got lots of goods. Stereos. VCRs. Possibly
looking at some very fine jewelry. Possible cash hoard. Unmarketable
securities. Who knows. Grab your crowbar."
"Crowbar up!" responds Marv.
INT: LIVING ROOM: NIGHT
Kevin is asleep in the chair as the TV plays the Grinch that stole
Christmas.
EXT: STREET: NIGHT
The burglar's van pulls up in front of Kevin's house, then backs into the
driveway. Kevin hears the car door slam shut, and this wakes him up. The
two burglars walk to the back of the house. Kevin sees them go by his
window. They try to enter the house through the basement door. Kevin runs
through his house turning on all the lights. The burglars try to open the
door with crowbars. Kevin turns on the basement light. This scares the
burglars and they run away.
INT: PARENT'S BEDROOM: NIGHT
Kevin hides under the bed.
EXT: AIRPORT: DAY
Plane takes off.
INT: PARIS AIRPORT: DAY
Kay, Peter and the family run through the terminal. A French woman is
speaking on the terminal phone. Kay tells her that its an emergency, and
when the woman won't give her the phone, Kay yanks it away from her. Kay
tells Peter to book them on a flight home., then tells her children to call
everyone they know. Kay tries to call the police back home. Kay tells
Leslie and Frank to call everyone on their street. "Hello, hello," Kay says
into the phone. "She'll have to call you back."
INT: PARENT'S BEDROOM: DAY
Kevin is hiding under his parent's bed. "This is ridiculous. Only a whimp
would be hiding under a bed. And I can't be a whimp. I'm the man of the
house." Kevin crawls out from under the bed.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin walks out the front door and down the walk. "Hey, I'm not afraid
anymore. I said, I'm not afraid anymore." He walks down his front path,
sees the old man from next door with a shovel in his hand and pulling the
garbage can. Kevin screams, turns and runs back into his house.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
He slams the door shut, runs upstairs, screams (with mouth open wide),
jumps on his parents bed, then hides under the covers.
[ Major theme of this story will be Kevin confronting his fears and
overcoming them. ]
INT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: DAY
A policewoman is working at her desk when her phone rings. She picks it up
and says "Village Police Department."
INTERCUT: PARIS AIRPORT
Kay is on the phone in the Paris Airport Terminal.
"I'm calling from Paris. My son's home all alone, the phones out of order.
I would like someone to go over there and tell him that we are coming home
to get him."
"Let me connect you with family crisis intervention," says the policewoman.
She puts Kay on hold, then knocks on the glass window separating her office
from the policeman next to her. "Larry!" she shouts.
A policeman is sitting at his desk eating a doughnut. On the glass window
in front of him is written: "CRISIS CENTER". He picks up the phone.
"Sgt. Balzac."
"I'm calling from Paris. I have a son."
"Has the child been involved in an altercation with a drunken or mentally
ill member of his immediate family."
"No!"
"Has he been involved in a household accident?"
"I don't know?" answers Kay.
"Has the child ingested poison or has an object been ingested in his
throat?"
"No, he's just home alone, and I want somebody to go by our house and check
on him."
"You want us to go by your house just to check on him?" answers the
policeman.
"Yes," answers Kay.
"Let me connect you with the police department."
"No, they just connected me to you," replies Kay.
"Rose, hyper on 2. Hang on please."
While she's waiting for the policewoman to respond, Kay asks the children
if they were able to reach anyone. They tell her no.
Aunt Leslie returns and says, "Sorry, nothing but a bunch of answering
machines."
Kay screams into the phone. "Somebody pick up! PICKUP!"
The policewoman at the other end answers. "Oh, hi, Mame. It's you again.
Okay, we'll send a policeman over to your house to check up on your son."
INT: PARENT'S BEDROOM: DAY
Kevin is in bed, hiding under the red covers. There is a knock on the front
door.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
A policeman is standing outside the front door. He rings the doorbell, but
there is no answer. "There's no one home. The house looks secure," says the
policeman. The policeman turns and walks away.
INT: PARIS AIRPORT: DAY
Peter argues with the ticket person about getting a plane back to the
states. "The police are going to check on Kevin," says Kay
"Everything here is booked," responds Peter. "Nothing to Chicago."
The only thing that they have is a Friday morning booking, which is two
days away. Kay refuses to go to Rob's house, and instead will stay at the
airport. There may be some hope for a standby position. Peter takes the
family to Rob's house in Paris.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin stands in front of a large mirror as he talks to himself He has just
finished combing his hair after taking a shower. He washed every body part
with actual soap. All major crevices, in between toes and belly button. He
sprays his underarms with deodorant.
"Can't find toothbrush, otherwise I'm in good shape."
Kevin picks up a bottle of BRUT33 after shave lotion, slaps some on his
face, then screams from the pain.
[Ineptness. Deviation from expected patterns of behavior. No real harm
done. ]
INT: BUZZ'S ROOM: DAY
Kevin sees a baseball game box on the top shell he climbs up the bookcase
in order to get the game. The bookcase collapses. The shelves fall to the
floor. The aquarium brakes and the tarantula escapes. Kevin takes Buzz's
cash from a box.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin exits from the back door. He sees the burglars van parked in Murphy's
driveway. "I thought the Murphys went to Florida?"
INT: MURPHY HOUSE: DAY
Harry is playing with a toy car in front of a Christmas tree. Marv is
wearing scuba goggles as he places goods into a sack. They have made a mess
of the house.
[Wanton destruction generates enmity. Incompetent, unnecessarily
destructive behavior is humorous. ]
"You know you're one of the great cat burglars, Marv. You think you can
keep it down a little in there? Huh?"
[Ironic ridicule. ]
The phone rings, which activates an answering machine. Peter McCalister
leaves a message saying that he is still in Paris at his brother's house.
He gives the phone number. The burglars decide to try the McCalister's
house again that night. Harry plays with the children's toys, and stares up
into a kaleidoscope.
[This creates enmity for the burglars because of their invasion of
privacy.]
INT: PHARMACY: DAY
Kevin has picked out a toothbrush and asks a woman clerk if it is American
Dental Association approved. The clerk doesn't know, and asks another
clerk, Herb. The doorbell rings, and the old man wearing rubber boots,
enters the store. he places his bloodied bandaged hand on the counter.
Kevin becomes afraid as the old man stares down at him. Kevin, with
toothbrush in hand, backs away from him.
"Honey, you pay for that toothbrush here," says the female clerk.
Kevin continues to walk towards the door. "Wait, son, you have to pay for
that toothbrush. Son, hey!" Kevin runs out of the store.
"Jimmy, stop that boy," shouts the clerk.
EXT: PHARMACY: DAY
Kevin runs out of the store with a young clerk chasing after him. The clerk
sees a policeman across the street and shouts, "SHOPLIFTER."
[Kevin is in jeopardy because of a misunderstanding.]
Kevin is startled. he runs from the policeman who chases after him through
the park and across the ice pond. Kevin slides on his knees between skaters
and under the legs of a skater. The policeman runs into a hockey player,
who knocks him onto the ground. Kevin makes his escape.
EXT: RAILROAD BRIDGE: DAY
Kevin runs across the bridge over the train tracks while a passing train
moves along the tracks.
EXT: STREET: DAY
Kevin, with toothbrush in hand, walks alone down the sidewalk. "I'm a
criminal," says Kevin.
INT: MURPHY'S HOUSE: DAY
Marv, one of the real criminals, stuffs cloth into a sink drain, then turns
on the water. He laughs with glee at the wanton destruction that he is
about to wreak.
EXT: MURPHY'S HOUSE: DAY
Marv exits from the back of the house with a VCR under his arm and a sack
over his shoulder. He throws the objects into the van.
"What's so funny?" asks Harry. "What's so funny? What are you laughing at?
You did it again. You left the water running."
"Yep," says Marv.
"Why do you do that. I told you not to do it."
"Harry, it's our calling card. All the great one's leave their mark.
We're the Wet Bandits," says Marv.
"You're sick, you know that. Really sick."
Harry drives down the driveway as he continues to argue with Marv. He
almost runs into Kevin who is walking down the street. Harry slams on the
brakes. Kevin screams. The van stops inches in front of his face. Harry
rolls down the window.
"Hey, you got to watch out for the traffic," says Harry, showing off his
teeth.
"Sorry," says Kevin.
"Santa don't visit the funeral homes, little buddy," says Marv.
"Okay, okay. Merry Christmas," says harry. He smiles and his gold tooth
sparkles. Kevin recognizes his tooth from the night Harry was in his house
disguised as a policeman.
Kevin turns and walks away. Harry has noticed his reaction.
"What's the matter?" asks Marv.
"I don't like the way that kid looked at me. You see that?"
"Ever see him before?"
"I saw a hundred kids this week."
"Let's see what house he goes into."
The van slowly follows Kevin down the street. Kevin notices that he is
being followed, and starts to run. The van picks up speed.
EXT: CHURCH: DAY
The van slowly drives by a church. In front of the church is a Christmas
manger decoration. The burglars have lost sight of Kevin. They get nervous
in front of the church, and decide to drive away. After they have gone,
Kevin reveals himself disguised as one of the characters in the manger.
Kevin runs to his house,
"When those guys come back, I'll be ready for them."
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
The burglar's van pulls up in front of the house. Harry and Marv see
silhouette's of people moving inside the house. They seem to be dancing to
the music of "ROCKINGAROUNDTHE CHRISTMAS TREE".
"Did they come back?" asks Marv.
"Paris?" responds Harry.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Kevin has rigged up dummies with pulleys. He manipulates there movements by
pulling on ropes as he dances to the music. The record player turns one
mannequin around in circles. A toy train moves a cardboard cutout of a
basketball player around the railroad tracks.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Harry and Marv continue to watch from the van.
"We'll come back tomorrow," says Harry. "We better get out of here before
someone sees us."
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Kevin smiles triumphantly as he watches them leave. he has successfully
protected his home.
[ END OF THE FIRST ACT?? The second time Kevin has protected his home. How
is this different from when he turned on the basement lights? ]
EXT: PARIS STREETS: NIGHT
Cars move through the traffic.
INT: ROB'S APARTMENT: NIGHT
The movie, "ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE", is playing on the T.V. with the dialogue
being spoken in French. Uncle Frank walks into the room carrying a tray of
appetizers. Rob's wife tells him that those are supposed to be eaten later,
but he ignores her and serves them to the kids. Peter is on the telephone
trying to speak to the operator in French. Buzz and one of his sisters are
discussing Kevin. She is concerned that he has been left alone, while Buzz
thinks that he deserves it. He also believes that Kevin will be okay
because, they "live on the most boring street in America. Nothing even
remotely dangerous will happen. Period."
[This is humorous because it is a complete misunderstanding of the gravity
of Kevin's situation. ]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
The pizza delivery boy drives up to Kevin's house and runs into the metal
lawn boy again.
[Repetition of self-defeating behavior generates laughter.]
He picks up the lawn boy, then goes to the front door where he finds a not
directing him to the back door. He carries the pizza box to the back, then
knocks on the door.
INT: KITCHEN: DAY
Kevin plays the gangster videotape in response to the pizza boy's comments.
...... Okay, but what about the money?"
"What money?
"$11.80 for pizza."
Kevin puts $12.00 through the door opening. the money falls on the pizza
box.
"Keep the change you filthy animal"
"Cheapskate," says the pizza boy.
"I'm going to give you to the count of ten to get off my property, then
I'll pump your guts full of lead. one, two ... ten."
The sound of machine gunfire comes from the VCR. The pizza boy runs
backwards and slips in the snow. he falls to the ground, gets up, then runs
for his life. he jumps into the car, spins his tires, then quickly speeds
away.
Kevin opens the door and picks up the pizza box. "A lovely cheese pizza,
just for me."
INT: PARIS AIRPORT TERMINAL: DAY
Kay is bargaining with another woman for a seat on the plane.
"$500, a pocket calculator, two first class seats..." says Kay.
"Is that a real Rolex?"
"Do you think it is?"
'No.
"But who can tell? I also have a ring."
"That is beautiful."
The woman's husband comes for her. He tells her that the plane is boarding.
"I'm desperate. I'm begging ... from a mother to a mother ... please!"
The woman stares up at her husband.
"Oh, all right."
EXT: AIRPORT: DAY
The plane takes off.
INT: PARENRS BEDROOM: NIGHT
Johnny Carson is on the TV. Kevin sits in his parents bed. He takes the
family photo out from under the pillow. The photo has a blue background.
"I didn't mean it. If you come back, I'll never be a pain in the butt
again. I promise. Goodnight."
Kevin kisses the picture, then places it under his pillow. He shuts off the
light and goes under the covers.
INT: BATHROOM: DAY
Kevin combs his hair and mimics Frank Sinatra as he sings into the comb. He
sprays underarm deodorant, then splashes BRUT33 onto his face. He screams
from the stinging pain.
[Humor generated by repetition. This is a form of stupidity. We know that
Kevin is not seriously damaged. ]
The tarantula walks along the bathroom floor.
[ This adds jeopardy to the situation.]
INT: SUPERMARKET: DAY
Kevin pushes a cart down the aisle. He grabs a container of milk.
INT: CHECKOUT COUNTER: DAY
A young female clerk watches him suspiciously as Kevin pushes forward a
cart filled with groceries. They make small talk, then she asks for $19.83.
"Are you here all by yourself?"
"Maine, I'm eight years old. Do you think I'd be here alone. I don't think
so?"
"Where's your mom?"
"My mom's in the car."
"Where's your father?"
"He's at work."
"What about your brothers and your sisters."
"I'm the only child."
"Where do you live?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Why not?" asks the clerk.
"Because you're a stranger," answers Kevin. He then turns away.
EXT: SIDEWALK: DAY
Kevin walks down the sidewalk carrying two plastic bags filled with
groceries. They both break and all the food falls to the ground.
INT: LAUNDRY ROOM: DAY
Kevin puts detergent into the machine. he turns on the washer, takes the
clothes out of the dryer, then places them into a basket. Kevin imagines
hearing a mocking laughter coming from the furnace. The furnace lights up.
Red flames flicker against the black iron.
"Hello, Kevin," says a deep threatening voice.
"Shut up," says Kevin with an annoyed tone.
The furnace shuts down.
[Kevin has overcome his fears. He's becoming self-sufficient.]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
The burglars are in the van, which has written on its side: "O-KAY PLUMBING
& HEATING"
"Looks like nobody's home. I don't get it. Last night the place is jumping.
Something ain't right.
Go check it out," says Harry.
"Now?" asks Marv. He gets out of the van.
INT: KITCHEN: DAY
Kevin is washing dishes as Marv walks up to the door. Marv puts his foot
through the opening in the door. His shoe falls off. Marv's hand comes
through and picks up the shoe. Kevin grabs the remote control and activates
the gangster tape in the VCR.
"Get the hell out of here," says the gangster's voice.
Marv freezes as he listens to the voices on the tape.
Kevin places a red pot on the floor near the door. He fills it with
firecrackers, then lights them. They explode as machine gun noise goes off
on the TV.
Marv dives into the garbage cans. He gets up then runs back to the van.
"Keep the change, you filthy animal." Kevin mimics this voice.
INT:VAN:DAY
"What happened?" asks Harry.
"Somebody just got blown away," replies Marv
"I know I heard that name 'snakes' before," says Marv
. "Snakes ... I don't know no snakes," says Harry.
"Let's get out of here," says Marv
"Let's wait and see who it is. We work this neighborhood, too. Suppose the
cops finger us for a job, and they start asking us questions about a murder
in the area. Won't it be nice to have a face to go with their questions?"
"That's a good idea," says Marv.
"Of course it's a good idea."
"Snakes?"
"He sounded like a snake?" says Harry.
EXT: AIRPORT: DAY
A plane lands.
INT: AIRPORT: DAY
Airline clerk tells Kay that everything is booked. She wants to get to
Chicago, but nothing is available because it is Christmas Eve. John candy,
the leader of a polka band, overhears Kay's conversation with the airline
attendant and offers to help. He's Gus Bolinsky, Polka King of the Midwest.
Kinosha Kickers. His hits were "Polka, polka, polka", "Kiss me Polka."
"Sold 620 copies," says Gus.
"Chicago?" asks Kay.
"Shaboggan," answers Gus.
Gus is renting a van to drive his band to Milwaukee, and offers to drive
Kay to Chicago. She accepts.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
The burglar's van is in the driveway. Marv and Harry are asleep in the van.
Kevin comes out of the back of the house. He is carrying a saw and ladder.
He uses these to cut down a Christmas tree. Marv and Harry watch.
"I think we got scammed by a kindergarten."
Kevin pulls the tree back into the house.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin decorates his Christmas tree. Harry watches him through the window.
Kevin sees Harry's reflection in a Christmas bulb.
"Dad, can you come here and help me?" Kevin says as he walks away from the
tree.
"Remember that kid we saw the other day," Harry says to Marv.
"He lives here."
"If the kid's here, the parents gotta be too."
"He's home alone."
"You want to come back tonight?"
"Huh, huh."
"Even with the kid here?"
"Huh, huh."
"I don't think that's a good idea," says Marv.
"Look, that houses is the only reason we started working this block in the
first place. Ever since I laid eyes on that house, I wanted it."
[ Greed is the motivation, but the stupidity of the intention is expressed
by Marv. This makes the situation more plausible to the audience. ]
Kevin opens the upstairs window and listens to the conversation of the two
burglars. They plan to unload the van, get a bite to eat, then return about
9:00.
"Good, kids are afraid of the dark," says Marv.
"You're afraid of the dark too," says Harry.
"Not ... not, not, not!"
They walk away.
"Mom, where are you," says Kevin.
EXT: ROAD: NIGHT
A Budget Rent A Truck drives down the street. Polka music comes out of the
truck. The members of the band, all wearing yellow jackets, play polka
music as they sit in the back of the truck. Gus tries to get Kay to play
the clarinet. She refuses. They travel down a snow covered road.
EXT: SANTA CLAUS HOUSE: DAY
Kevin walks up to the house as Santa's female helper is leaving. She tells
Kevin that Santa is getting into his car. Santa is upset because he got a
ticket on his car on Christmas Eve. "What's next? Rabid shoots for the
Easter Bunny."
"I know that you're not the real Santa. I'm old enough to know how it
works," says Kevin.
"All right," says Santa.
"But I also know that you work for him. I'd like for you to give him a
message."
"Shoot."
"I'm Kevin McCalister. Instead of presents this year, I just want my family
back. No toys, no presents ... and if he has time, my Uncle Frank too."
Santa gives Kevin two breath mints. Kevin takes them, then walks away.
Santa gets into his car, starts to drive away, but the car stalls.
EXT: STREETS: NIGHT
Kevin walks down a dark street alone. He sees a family enter a house filled
with Christmas decorations. he watches the family from the street.
[Empathy scene for Kevin]
EXT: CHURCH: NIGHT
Kevin hears singing. He enters the church. A choir is singing Christmas
carols. Kevin sits in a seat. Across from him sits the old man. He sees
Kevin, gets up, walks over to him, and says "Merry Christmas." Kevin is
confused. The old man sits down next to Kevin.
"The red haired little girl is my grand daughter. You live next to me. You
can say hello. You don't have to be afraid. There's a lot of things going
around about me. Been a good boy this year?"
"I think so."
"Swear to it?"
'No.
"This is the place to be if you feel bad about yourself"
"I've been kind of a pain lately. I've said some things I shouldn't have. I
really haven't been too good this year. He likes his family even when
sometimes he says he doesn't."
"I came to hear my granddaughter sing. I'm not welcome with my son. I
argued with my son. Lost temper. Said I didn't care to see him anymore. My
son said the same. We haven't seen each other since."
[ Kevin and old man have both lost their families. ]
"If you miss him, why not call him?"
"Afraid."
"Aren't you a little old to be afraid?" asks Kevin.
[You overcome your fears by confronting them]
"You should call your son," says Kevin.
"What if he won't talk to me?"
"At least you'll know. Then you can stop worrying about it and then you
won't have to be afraid anymore," answers Kevin.
... [ [more] ]
Kevin and the old man shake hands, and in unison say "Nice talking to you."
"What about you and your son?" asks Kevin.
"We'll see," replies the old man.
"Merry Christmas," they say in unison.
EXT: CHURCH: NIGHT
Kevin runs out of the church then down the street to his house. The lights
automatically turn on.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Kevin enters his home and locks the front door.
"This is my house. I have to defend it!" says Kevin.
Kevin clears a desk and unfolds a battle plan.
MONTAGE: PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTLE
The carpet in front of the door is rolled back. Kevin places small toy
wheeled vehicles on the floor. He pours a bucket of water onto the front
steps in order to make ice. He picks up a heating rod from a barbecue grill
in the garage, while the tarantula walks across the top of a table.
Kevin places the red hot iron on the front door handle.
Kevin pours water from out of a hose onto the back concrete stairs.
Kevin spreads tar on the wooden basement steps.
Kevin places a large nail upwards in a shingle.
Kevin connects a rope line from the attic window to a tree house.
Kevin squirts glue on "WRAP IT CLEAR PAPER"
He rolls a table with a fan and feathers on top into the dining room.
Kevin places glass plastic ornaments on the floor under the window by the
Christmas tree.
Kevin picks up two buckets of paint with rope attached to their handles.
The tarantula scurries past the string.
Christmas tree lights turn on.
The microwave bell rings. The digital clock indicates 8:57, as Kevin takes
food out from the microwave.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
The two burglars leave the van.
"We'll go to the back door," says Harry. "Maybe he'll let us in. You never
know."
"Yeah, he's a kid. Kid's are stupid," says Marv.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Kevin sits at the dining room table and says grace.
"Bless this microwave macaroni and cheese dinner."
He opens his napkin and starts to eat when the clock strikes 9:00. Kevin
quickly blows out the candles, runs into the kitchen, picks up his rifle
and prepares for battle.
"This is it. Don't get scared now!" he says to himself.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Harry and Marv walk to the back of the house. They knock on the door.
"Merry Christmas, little fellow. We know that you are in there, and that
you're all alone," says Harry.
"Yeah, come on kid. Open up. It's Santa Claus and his elf," adds Marv.
Kevin points the gun through the door opening.
"We're not going to hurt you," says Harry.
"Yeah, we got presents," says Marv.
"Be a good little fellow and open the door."
Kevin shoots Harry in the groin. Harry moans and hops away holding his
crotch.
[ The audience laughs because the bad men get what they deserve. ]
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Kevinliesonthefloorpointinghisgunattheopening.Marvstickshisheadthroughtheopening.
He smiles at Kevin. Kevin smiles back, says "hello", then shoots Marv in
the forehead. Marv screams out in pain and Pulls his head back outside.
"Yes!" says the victorious Kevin.
"The little jerk is armed," shouts Marv.
Harry goes to the front of the house and Marv goes to the basement. Harry
slips on the icy front steps and falls on his back.
Marv slips on the icy basement stairs and slides down to the bottom. He
uses the crowbar to hook onto the window sill and pull himself up, but then
slips down onto his face. the crowbar drops and hits him on his head.
Harry gets up on the front steps, pulls himself up by the railing, walks
towards the front door, slips, then falls backwards down the stairs.
Marv again uses the crowbar to hook onto the back door. He then uses it to
pry open the back door. Finally he opens the back door, walks into the
basement, and closes the door behind him. He pulls on the light string. The
light falls into his hand. Marv looks up into the opening in the ceiling as
an Iron falls down the chute. It hits Marv in the face and knocks him down
to the floor. Marv lifts up his head with the iron imprint burnt into his
face.
Harry wakes up on the front lawn. He is angry as he pulls himself up the
walkway, reaches the front door, and grabs the red hot door handle, which
burns his hand. It sizzles. He slips and falls backwards down the stairs.
He buries his burning hand into the snow. the burnt imprint of the doorknob
is on his hand.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
He hears Harry's screams and does a victory dance. "Yes, yes, yes!"
INT: BASEMENT: NIGHT
Shoes are stuck in the tar on the wooden steps. Marv struggles as he pulls
off his red socks. He continues to climb up the steps in his bare feet. he
then steps down on the big nail pointing upward from the shingle. lie
screams out in pain, then falls backwards off the stairs onto his back on
the basement floor.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Harry mumbles to himself as lie runs through the backyard. He approaches
the back door, kicks at the opening, spits on his hand then touches the
doorknob to make sure it's not red-hot. He laughs because he thinks it's
safe, then forces the door open.
"You're dead, kid!" says Harry, as he walks into the house.
[This statement emotionally justifies the audience enjoying seeing Harry
getting burned in the next scene.]
As Harry walks in, a rope connecting the door to a blowtorch activates the
blowtorch. The blowtorch burns off his cap and the top of his head. Harry
screams out in pain. he runs outside with his head on fire and dives head
first into a pile of snow. He slowly pulls his head out of the snow, with
the top of his cap and all his hair burnt off. Harry's head steams and
smokes.
INT: BASEMENT: NIGHT
Marv picks up his crowbar from the basement floor and walks outside,
closing the door behind him. He says "Whoops", as he slips on the ice and
falls to the ground. The sound of the crowbar falling and hitting Marv in
the head again can be heard.
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Harry touches the top of his sizzling scalp. He becomes infuriated, then
runs back towards the house. He kicks open the door.
"Where are you, you little creep?"
Marv pulls himself up from the basement steps. He walks barefooted across
the snow covered backyard. He sees an open window by the Christmas tree.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: NIGHT
Harry walks towards the dining room door.
"Oh no, I'm really scared," says Kevin.
"It's too late for you, kid. We're already in the house. We're going to get
you."
Kevin readies the Fan with the pillow feathers.
"Okay, come and get me," says Kevin.
Harry pulls open the door and walks into a glue covered plastic wrapping
material spread across the door opening. It sticks to his face. He pulls it
off, leaving the glue on his face. Harry walks forward, trips over a rope
which then activates the fan, which blows the feathers into his face,
effectively tar and feather him.
Marv comes in through the window. He smiles, believing that he is home
free, then stomps down with bare feet onto the glass ornaments. He falls
backwards on his rear onto other glass ornaments.
"I'm going to kill that kid," shouts Marv.
[More real jeopardy for Kevin.]
Harry wipes the feathers from his face as Marv enters the dining room.
"Marv?"
"Harry?"
"Why the hell did you take Your shoes off?"
"Why the hell are you dressed like a chicken?"
[Great misinterpretation that is plausible]
Kevin yells down at them from the top of the staircase.
"I'm up here, you morons. Come and get me!"
Harry and Marv run towards the staircase but step on the miniature cars and
fall down onto the floor.
"You guys give up, or are You thirsty for more?" says Kevin.
Harry gets up and steps on Marv as he rushes up the staircase. Kevin swings
a can of paint attached to rope down at Harry.
"Heads up," shouts Harry as he ducks.
The can slams Marv in the head and knocks him back down the stairway. Harry
looks down at Marv and says, "Don't worry, Marv, I'll get him for you!"
Harry then turns around just in time to get hit in the head with a second
swinging paint can. This knocks Harry off the stairs and down on top of
Marv.
Kevin tests a trip wire on the landing.
Harry is lying on top of Marv.
"He's only a kid, Harry. We can take him."
"Ahh, shut up, will you!"
"Oh, you're missing some teeth," says Marv.
"My gold tooth. My gold tooth. I'll kill him. I'll kill him!" screams
Harry.
Kevin speaks into the phone with a muffled voice.
He says, "Help, my house is being robbed. My address is 656 Lincoln Blvd.
My name is Murphy."
Harry and Marv get up to the landing and run after Kevin. Harry falls over
the trip wire. Marv dives at Kevin and grabs hold of his pant leg. Kevin
struggles to get up the attic steps, as Marv holds onto him. The tarantula
walks across the attic steps. Kevin struggles to reach it, then picks it up
and places it on Marv's nose. Marv screams as he lets go of Kevin's leg.
Kevin runs up into the attic. Marv throws the spider off him and it lands
on Harry's stomach. Marv picks up his crow bar and approaches Harry. In the
attic, Kevin grabs hold of the pulley and prepares to slide along the rope
across the yard into the tree house.
Marv, in an attempt to kill the tarantula, slams the crowbar onto Harry's
chest. He misses the tarantula. Harry gets up, grills the crowbar from
Marv, and hits him three times.
Kevin slides across the yard into the tree house. His feet go through the
opposite side of the house. Marv and Harry stare at the rope from the attic
window.
"Where did he go," asks Harry.
"Maybe he committed suicide," says Marv.
"Down here you big horses ass," shouts Kevin. "Come and get me before I
call the police."
"Wait, wait, that's just what he wants us to do," says Harry.
"He's calling the cops," says Marv.
"From a tree house?" says Harry.
Harry starts to shimmy across on the rope. Marv follows. When they are
about a third of the way across, Kevin takes out some hedge clippers and
yells, "Hey guys, check this out!"
Harry and Marv try to work their way back to the attic. Kevin cuts the rope
and they slam into the side of the building, then fall onto the ground.
Marv and Harry lie flat on their backs in the snow.
Kevin runs down the ladder from the tree house and across the yard past
Marv and Harry. They get up and run after him, across the street towards
the Murphy house.
"Hey, I'm calling the cops," yells Kevin.
"Wait, he wants us to follow him. I got a better idea. Come on."
Kevin runs down into the cellar of the Murphy house. It is flooded with
water. He runs up the basement steps and opens the door to the kitchen.
Harry and Marv are waiting for him.
"Hi pal. We outsmarted You this time," says Harry, as he grabs hold of
Kevin. He hangs Kevin up on the door hook.
"What are we going to do with him, Harry?" asks Marv.
"We're going to do exactly what he did to us. We'll bum his head with a
blowtorch."
"Smash his face with an iron," says Marv.
From behind the old man enters carrying a shovel.
"Slap him right in the face with a paint can, maybe," says Harry.
"Or shove a nail through his foot," says Marv.
"First I'm going to bite off every one of these fingers, one at a time,"
says Harry as he puts one of Kevin's fingers in his mouth.
At that moment the old man smacks Marv on the back of the head with a
shovel. harry turns around and the old man hits him in the face with the
shovel, knocking him down to the floor. He then takes Kevin into his arms.
"Come on ... get you home."
EXT: STREET: NIGHT
Police sirens fill the air as police cars pull up to Murphy's house. Kevin
watches from the window of his house. Police run into Murphy's house, then
after a few moments come out with Harry and Marv in custody.
"Nice move. Always leave the water running. Now we know each and every
house you hit," says one policeman.
"Hey, you know we've been looking for you guys for a long time," says the
other policeman.
"Remember, we're the WET BANDITS. Wet bandits," says Marv.
"Shut up!" says Harry, as he kicks Marv into the police car. "Hands off the
head, pal," Harry
says to a policeman who is pushing him into the back seat of the police
car. Kevin watches from his window. Harry looks at Kevin from inside the
police car. Kevin smiles at him and waves as the police car drives away.
INT: LIVING ROOM: DAY
Kevin stands by the Christmas tree with a glass of milk and some food, as
he stares at the stockings over the fireplace. He sits down in a chair.
EXT: ROAD: NIGHT
Inside the Budget rental truck Gus is sitting next to Kay.
"I'm a bad parent," says Kay.
"These things happen," says Gus. "Want to talk about bad parents, look at
us. On the road 48- 49 weeks out of the year. We hardly see our family. Joe
forgets his kids names half the time. Ziggy over there never even met his
kid. Eddie? Let's just hope none of them write a book about him."
"Tell me, have you ever gone on vacation and left your child home?"
"No, but I did leave one in I funeral pallor once. Distraught wife and I
left him there all day. All day alone with the corpse. he was okay. After
six-seven weeks, he came around, started talking again. But he's okav. They
get over it. Kids are resilient like that."
"Maybe we shouldn't talk about this," says Kay.
"You brought it up," says Gus.
"I'm sorry," responds Kay.
[ This is the absolution of Kay from guilt by showing that it was
unintentional and that other people have done worse. ]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
It is snowing.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
Kevin is in his parent's bed under the red covers with his green robe lying
across the bed. He awakes and sees that it is snowing. It's Christmas
morning.
"Mom!" shouts Kevin.
Kevin runs down stairs calling for his mother, but she's not there. He is
alone in the big empty house, and he is disappointed. He opens the front
door and looks outside at the snow. He closes the door and goes back inside
of the house.
[ Emotionally, first experiencing the sadness of disappointment will make
the pleasure of joy even greater. ]
EXT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
The Budget rental truck pulls up in front of the house.
INT: PARENT'S BEDROOM: DAY
Kevin is in his parent's room, looking at the photo of his family, when the
door opens. His mother enters.
INT: KEVIN'S HOUSE: DAY
"Kevin! Kevin!" shouts the mother. She sees the Christmas tree and
stockings hung over the fireplace. Kevin runs downstairs.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Oh Kevin, I'm so sorry." Kevin smiles, then
runs to her.
"Where's everybody else?" asks Kevin.
"They couldn't come. they wanted to so much," says Kay.
Suddenly the front door opens and the rest of the family enters, led by
Buzz. Peter picks Kevin tip and hugs him.
"Kevin, Kevin, my boy. Kevin, how are you?"
"Hey Ken, it's pretty cool that you didn't burn the place down," says Buzz.
"How did you guys get home," asks Kay.
"We took the morning flight, You know, the one you didn't want to wait
for," says Peter. They hug. "Merry Christmas."
"Someone has to find an open store. We don't even have milk here."
"I went shopping yesterday," says Kevin.
Everyone stares at him.
"You went shopping?" asks Buzz.
"I got milk, eggs and fabric softener," says Kevin.
"No kidding, what a funny guy, " says Peter. "What else did you do while we
were away."
"Just hung around?" answers Kevin.
They all laugh and disperse. Kevin walks towards the window, as Peter bends
over and picks up Harry's gold tooth from the floor. He holds it between
his fingers.
"Honey, what's this?" asks Peter as he makes a gesture with his mouth.
Kevin looks out the window. It is snowing outside. He sees the old man on
the walkway along with his son, the son's wife and his granddaughter. Kevin
smiles. The old man sees Kevin as he holds his granddaughter. lie waves to
Kevin. they then turn and walk towards the old man's house.
Suddenly, Buzz's voice rings out. "Kevin! What did you do to my room?"
Kevin runs away from the window.
THE END
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The Megahit Movies