EXT. A SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD -- DAY - 1963 

Rural Texas. The houses are mostly either white or a lime  green. Each have white picket fences and a matching mailbox.  A woman is outside watering her plants. A man is mowing his  lawn. A black Aston Martin DB5 is driving towards a house  with 2459 engraved on the side. Everyone outside stops and  stares. 

Inside of the car is a black family, GRACE MORGAN (32), HENRY  MORGAN (37), and NOVIA MORGAN (9) 

INT. CAR -- DAY 

Henry turns the radio down and looks towards his wife, Grace. 

GRACE 

I didn't want to have to do this so  

early into the move. 

They both turn towards Novia who is playing with her doll in  the backseat. She hums to a odd tune. 

HENRY 

(with a slight southern accent) 

Honey, I need you to know that it's  

not going to be easy living here. 

NOVIA 

I know, Papa. 

GRACE 

Let's just go Henry. It's goin' to go  

into her left ear and right out. 

Grace opens her car door and walks out. The sun is not  shining as much as it was when they first drove into the  subdivision. She takes her sunglasses and place them on top  of her head forehead. Henry then gets out and opens the door  for Novia who holds his hand. 

EXT. HOUSE -- DAY 

GRACE 

This don't feel right. 

(She looks at the neighbor  

directly across them.) 

Across from them is a middle-aged white woman, WENDY (48)  dressed in a pantsuit. She watches the family from her porch.

 2.  

HENRY 

Just come look at the house baby,  

these people don't mean anything. You  

know I keep it civil. 

(He smiles and hugs her.) 

Novia rushes to the front door of the house with Grace  trailing behind her. Henry is grabbing suitcases out of the  trunk. One accidentally rolls out of the trunk and into the  middle of the street, directly in front of Wendy's house,  where she pulls her sunglasses to the end of her nose. 

Henry smacks his teeth, mutters under his breath, and walks  over, grabbing the dented, now creased suitcase. Now appears  Wendy, in front of him. 

WENDY 

So glad to see a new family here. 

(She began to smile, looking into  

his eyes.) 

HENRY 

Well.. yeah. We came from Oklahoma. 

WENDY 

Didn't expect you guys though. It's  

so.... different! You know my cousin  

has been sendin' me those news  

articles about neighborhoods  

clutterin' up. 

(She laughs.) 

Henry begins to walk away, his eyes wider than they were  before. His feet stumble on one another due to his speed. He  hurries into his new home, relieved to see his wife in the  doorway putting small glassware away. 

INT. EMPTY HOME - DAY 

GRACE 

You look like you just saw a ghost,  

what's wrong? 

HENRY 

I see what you mean now. 

GRACE 

Why, what happened? 

Henry takes her over to a window and points to Wendy, who was  now surrounded by other white women, also middle-aged. 

GRACE 

Now you wanna listen to me?

 3.  

(She walks away, going to unpack) 

HENRY 

You should have seen the way she  

laughed about absolutely nothin'! It  

was a suitcase, Grace. 

GRACE 

What can I say other than I told ya. 

HENRY 

(He rolls his eyes.) 

Where's Novia? 

GRACE 

I think she's in her room organizing  

her toys, you know her. 

Henry kisses Grace on her forehead and walks down a dimly lit  hallway. He hears faint singing coming from the only room  with the door open. 

HENRY 

Hey baby, what ya doin' 

(He looks around, his smile  

dimming.) 

The room is empty. The only thing seen is an open window  blowing cold air into the room. A slight whistle is heard. 

HENRY 

We aren't playing hide and seek, right  

now baby, just come on out. 

Silence. Henry rushes back into the living room, startling  Grace. 

HENRY 

She's not in there. 

GRACE 

Why wouldn't she be in there? I just  

saw her. She probably hiding. 

She walks towards the room, Henry behind. The sound of  rumbling of empty drawers and closing of doors is heard down  the hallway. 

GRACE 

I don't see her. Maybe she went  

outside. Maybe- 

(practically bursting into tears) 

Henry runs outside to look for Novia. He sees Wendy, now

 4.  

sitting in a picnic chair drinking from a floral teacup. He  walks over to her. 

EXT. WENDY'S LAWN - DAY 

HENRY 

Have you seen my baby? She's around  

4'8. She's not in our home. 

WENDY 

Aw. Such a shame for a young child to  

go missing in this neighborhood. 

Henry looks at her arms, where she is holding Novia's doll.  He walks away, hoping he mistaken it for something else but  quickly makes a pivot step to approach her again. 

HENRY 

Hey, Where did you get that? 

Wendy analyzes the doll and looks at him with an pout  stretched across her face. He stands there, one eyebrow  raised. 

WENDY 

This little thing? 

(she giggles) 

HENRY 

Yes, that little thing. 

WENDY 

Oh! Silly me! Yes. This cute little  

girl was given to me as a present. 

HENRY 

As. A. Present? 

WENDY 

Yes, why? It isn't for sale and even  

if it was, I don't offer discounts. 

Henry holds back his fist with increasing anger and looks  both left and right. He gets ready to say something but is  interrupted by Grace who is accompanied by Novia. She is  waving and jumping excitedly at him. 

GRACE 

I found her! 

Henry runs back over there and grabs Novia who seems unharmed  and unbothered.

 5.  

NOVIA 

You look upset daddy. 

HENRY 

(He picks her up in his arm,  

walking towards their home) 

Why would I be upset baby? 

INT. HOME - A LITTLE DARKER OUTSIDE 

Grace is at the kitchen counter, fixing plates for dinner. A  pink one is smaller than the other blue ones. Henry is seated  at the dining table reading a newspaper. There's humming of a  familiar tune coming from the living room. 

GRACE 

Novi baby, come eat! 

NOVIA 

Yes mama. 

Novia is handed her food and she sits across from Henry who  puts the newspaper down and lets his face fall into his  palms, almost as if he were about to cry. Grace comes with  the other identical plates and sits down. Novia, however, is  already eating. 

GRACE 

Novia, we haven't even said grace yet. 

NOVIA 

(with a mouthful) 

It was only a taste! 

NOVIA 

Okay, grab daddy's hand so we can say  

it. 

Henry finally pulls his head up. 

NOVIA (CONT'D) 

Henry. 

HENRY 

Yeah. Um. Bless our food and our drink  

that my beautiful wife has made for  

us. You redeemed us so dearly and  

delivered us from evil. Some evil, at  

least. They are still lurking across  

the street.

 6.  

GRACE 

Henry! 

Novia's eyes pop open. 

HENRY 

You gave us a share in this food so  

may you give us a share in eternal  

life. Amen. 

NOVIA 

Amen daddy! Let's eat. 

The family eats their food in silence. Novia is the first to  finish. 

NOVIA 

I finished, mama. Can I go play? 

GRACE 

Yes baby, but not for too long. It's  

getting late. 

Novia nods her head and you hear her laughter until a door  closes from down the hallway. Grace looks at Henry who has  barely touched his food and is looking down at his full  plate. 

GRACE 

Whats going on with you? You have  

barely spoke. I guarantee you nothing  

new is on that newspaper than what you  

already read. 

HENRY 

We need to leave. 

GRACE 

What do you mean leave? We bought this  

house to become comfortable as a  

family. 

HENRY 

I'm the one who signed the papers,  

Grace. I'm aware. 

He moves his corn around with a fork on his plate, creating a  screeching sound. 

HENRY (CONT'D) 

I just didn't know how big of a danger

 7.  

this would be to you guys. We  

should've stayed with your Mother just  

a bit longer. 

GRACE 

Like you said, we would've overstayed  

our welcome baby. 

HENRY 

And I understand but I rather be  

judged by people of our own color than  

these ignorant people across the  

street. 

Grace puts her hand out to grab his. Henry moves his hands to  his lap and sighs of exhaust. 

HENRY 

I'm sorry Grace. 

GRACE 

Why baby? Talk to me. Please. 

HENRY 

I pushed you to move out here. I  

promised it would be better. I'm  

worried about Novia and how 

A loud laughter interrupts their conversation from down the  hallway, it's Novia. Henry finally looks up and goes rushing  down the hallway. Grace watches in a slight shock. 

HENRY 

Novia.. 

NOVIA 

Yes daddy? 

He opens the door to see Novia playing with her dolls and  lets out a sigh of relief. When he opens it even wider,  seated in the rocking chair is Wendy, crocheting what could  be a tie. 

WENDY 

Oh hey again. 

Wendy flashes her pearly whites and continues with what she  was doing. Novia laughs at Henry due to the shock look on his  face.

 8.  

NOVIA 

Why are you standing like that daddy? 

HENRY 

Go in there with mommy, baby. 

He tries to usher her away but she begins to throw a fit. 

NOVIA 

I dont wanna go! Wendy is my friend! 

HENRY 

I said go, Novia. 

She runs off and Wendy gets up, brushing off her pantsuit.  The two start to speak in a quieter tone so Grace wouldn't be  able to hear. 

WENDY 

Well, she's right Henry. We ARE the  

biggest of friends. 

HENRY 

I'm calling the police. 

WENDY 

There's no need for that. Everyone is  

safe. Why would you criminalize  

yourself like that? 

Henry gets closer and puts his index finger in front of  Wendy's face who is clearly unfazed. 

HENRY 

I don't know what you did with her but  

I'm going to find out. 

WENDY 

And how would that turn out? Young,  

pretty, white woman threatened by a  

tough BLACK man when all she was doing  

was playing dolls with his little  

daughter. 

HENRY 

You came here without anyone's  

permission and you know that! 

WENDY 

I could say the exact same to you,  

can't I? Now move along, I have dinner

 9.  

to put in the oven. 

She grabs her things and began to walk out of the room. Henry  stands there, defeated. His eyes are a little more dilated  than they were earlier. She purposefully bumps into his  shoulder and he stands in the exact spot, staring at the  empty room. The rocking chair was still rocking. The toys  were still in the same spot Novia had left them, staring up  into the ceiling. 

He follows her into the dining room where Grace and Novia are  in the kitchen washing dishes. Wendy stops and makes herself  known. Grace stands in shock with a wet bowl in her hand,  it's dripping onto her clothes 

WENDY 

Bye Novia. I will see you soon, I  

promise. 

NOVIA 

Hugs? 

Wendy looks at Grace and Henry who are staring directly at  her in an eerie silence. 

WENDY 

Yes, hugs. 

Wendy bends down while Novia runs towards her and they hug.  She starts to whisper into Novia's ear and they both laugh  when she pulls away. 

HENRY 

Okay that's enough. Leave. 

NOVIA 

Why are you so mean daddy? She's my  

friends. 

WENDY 

It's fine. He will face the  

consequences sooner or later. 

NOVIA 

I hate you! 

HENRY 

Novia that's enough. Go to your room,  

now.

 10.  

WENDY 

That's my cue! Ha! 

HENRY 

Your cue passed. 

She waves at Grace and walks out the door, followed by an  abrupt slam by Henry 

GRACE 

Where did she come from? 

HENRY 

I don't know, Grace. But you need to  

start packing all these things back.  

We're leaving first thing in the  

morning before another white woman is  

murdered on the news. 

GRACE 

Calm down. 

HENRY 

I can't Grace. I'm going to face the  

consequences? What kind of sh*t is  

that? Call your mom. 

GRACE 

Okay. Okay! 

Grace immediately gets on the phone and starts speaking to  someone on the other end in an panic. Henry is pacing around  the room, muttering to himself in an frustration. 

In the far window, unable to see at first due to the  frustration in the home, is red and blue lights. Then there's  a knock at the door. Henry rushes to the door, hoping to take  his anger out on Wendy, but instead it's an POLICEMAN. 

POLICEMAN 

Are you Henry Morgan? 

HENRY 

Why? 

POLICEMAN 

Please don't resist sir. Are you him  

or not? 

HENRY 

I am.

 11.  

Grace comes into the frame and lays her hand on Henry's  shoulder. 

POLICEMAN 

Go ahead and step outside for me  

please. 

GRACE 

What's going on?! Henry! 

Henry walks outside onto their porch where it's completely  dark outside. Not a star in sight. However, across the street  is Wendy, sitting in a picnic chair drinking from a floral  teacup. 

Henry begins to angrily scream while tears come out of his  eyes slowly.