The Long Kiss Goodnight

"THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT" by Shane Black REVISED DRAFT February 24, 1995 A WINDOWPANE Assaulted from without by SNOWFLAKES. Wind tossed. INSIDE, a bed, dappled with moon shadow. A LITTLE GIRL, fast asleep. The wind whistles and sighs outside. She DREAMS... Eyelids closed, eyes roving beneath... then suddenly they SNAP open. A stifled cry. She thrashes for her STUFFED BEAR, as a soft voice says: VOICE Shhhhh. And there's MOM, kneeling beside her. Vague shape in the dimness. The full moon throws light across one sparkling eye. LITTLE GIRL Mommy, the men on the mountain...! MOM Shhhh. Gone, all gone now. (strokes her hair) I'm here. Mommy's always here and no one can ever hurt you. Safe now... safe and warm... snug as a bug in a rug. (beat) I'll sit with you, think you can sleep? LITTLE GIRL Turn on the nightlight. The mother nods. Passes her left hand gently over the girl's forehead. MOM Close your eyes now. I love you. The child subsides, breathing steady. Eyes closed. The mother rises. Regards her through the dimness. Slowly turns, heads for the door. Flicks on a Winnie the Pooh NIGHTLIGHT -- Her entire right forearm is slicked with blood. More blood on her Czech- made MP-5 machine gun. She staggers just a little... barely noticeable. Passes out on the light. Into darkness. Sits beside her daughter's bed. The child sleeps peacefully. Outside snow slithers at the glass. FADE OUT. Pause. Blackness. FADE IN: It's snowing in southwestern Ohio.