He bounces on the ladder a bit as he manuovers to look over head dirctly above him. He pushes against the doors, only to stop when the ladder rungs bend under the thrust he puts against the doors.
SHERIFF MONET
Locked. Naturally. Damn it
A glow of light increases behind him, and he glances over his shoulder. The ladder shudders under him, as he moves around.
POV: Monet's
At the opposite end of the cellar, under the pool of dim light, a waver of brighter light appears. The light is as tall as the woman whose form gradually shows in the wavering light. Her face is the only clear feature, and the expression is worried, and clearly in pain.
The ghost moves forward a foot, then another, - as if she's walking, although no limb movement is visible. She flickers, first slowly, then more rapidly as she 'steps' out of the light coming down from the ceiling.
cut back to:
Monet turns his upper body to pound on the cellar doors with his fists. The doors rattle back and forth, letting in an inch of light when they're pushed open, only to have the light vanish in a snap, as they fall close again.
SHERIFF MONET
Open up, damn it!
He tenuously sets both feet on one rung, and pushes against the doors with the back of his shoulders. The doors lift up, creaking against the hinges, as the wooden rung under his feet cracks under the strain. He takes a moment to glance into the cellar.
cut back to:
The ghostly figure lifts her arms - which fade to a loumous gazy light at the end, where her hands should be. Her face elongates, the cheeks thinning out, and her jaw melting downwards. She opens what remains of her mouth, spilling out black ooze from the gaping hole. A low moan fills the cellar, a moan that steadly rises in pitch until it's a high pitched shrill scream.
All the while, the ghost continues forward, although whether she's headed for Monet - if she can 'see' him, or if she is simply 'running' for the ladder he's standing on is in doubt.
Cut back to:
Monet lets out a yell of terror, himself, although it blends with the banshee shreik, as they both echo off the stone and dirt walls of the cellar. With a disperate push up against the doors, he manages to get the doors broken off the old hinges, only to have the ladder break under his feet.
He grabs at the frame of the trap doors, as his body hits against the stone wall. His shoes a few feet from the cellar door, he scrabbles against the rough surface of the stones in the wall to climb out.
EXTREME CLOSE UP:
The door frame splinters under his fingers, cutting into his skin.
cut back to:
Monet yells in terror, his feet gaining purchase on the stones, just as the flickering light from the ghostly figure reaches him. He pulls himself up a foot over the doorsill.
cut to:
EXT. AMBERLY HOUSE, YARD, cellar doors
CLOSE UP:
Monet pulls himself out of the cellar, grabbing at dead grass and weeds, as he crawls over the doorstill. The ghost light is dim behind him, and the shriek is not as loud.
SHERIFF MONET
(terrified)
Mother of God, someone get me out of this . . .
Halfway out, his eyes grow wide, and he starts to grasp at the grass and mud in front of him more frantically. For a brief moment, he gains a couple of inches of ground, before he slides rapidly back towards the cellar. The light increases behind him, and the shriek is louder.
SHERIFF MONET
Nooooo, no, someone . .
