2. 2
FADE IN:
EXT.LOCATION #1 – SCHOOL - DAY
A quiet area, outside, located at school. Four teenage
girls eating lunch on a seated table, talking about
birthday arrangements. There is blue sky and the sun is
shining.
CHARLOTTE, a girl of about 16 dressed in a casual top and
jeans, sits at the table with her legs crossed. She appears
distracted.
PHEOBE
CHARLOTTE
So what’s happening later? Are we still
going out pheobs?
PHEOBE
I dunno. How are we gonna get there?
CHARLOTTE
I can walk to yours and then we can all
get a lift together.
LUCY
Yeah okay, sounds good. Actually buzzing
to go out.
SARAH CHARLOTTE
Yeah same. Will be sick
LUCY
What time then?
PHEOBE
8? Unless we wanted to get ready together?
CHARLOTTE
I have to stay for dinner at home. I’ll
just walk over to yours when I’m ready.
Parents are such a pain.
3. 3
PHEOBS
Yeah that’s cool. The others can get ready
here if you want.
School bell rings to indicate the end of lunch
LUCY SARAH
Thanks pheobs. Thank you
CHARLOTTE
See you later.
PHEOBE
In a bit.
INT.LOCATION #2 – CHARLOTTE’S HOUSE - NIGHT
A teenage girl sat in the living room, waiting for dinner.
CHARLOTTE is aware of how dark it is becoming outside but
she knows that her parents will still make her walk.
MICHAEL and KAREN appear to be arguing about dinner.
INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
MICHAEL, the dad of CHARLOTTE, about 50 dressed in a casual
top and jeans. He appears angered.
KAREN, the mum of CHARLOTTE, about 50 dressed in a casual
top and skirt. She also appears angered and irritated.
MICHAEL
Why are you using up all the hot water? Do
you not think to give me some for the pan?
KAREN
Stop shouting, all you ever do is shout.
MICHAEL
What do you want me to do? Whisper? I’m
definitely very calm about this.
CHARLOTTE
DAD!
4. 4
MICHAEL
Not now Charlotte. Just leave it out, will
you?
KAREN
What is wrong with you? Listen to your
daughter
MICHAEL
Shut up Michael. (turns to CHARLOTTE) what
is it?
KAREN
I was just going to ask when dinner’s
ready because I’m going out at 8.
MICHAEL
Is that it? All of that just to selfishly
ask when you can go out.
CHARLOTTE
I’m hardly being selfish. Look at yourself
dad.
MICHAEL
Don’t you dare speak to me like that? Why
don’t you just go now? Find your own
dinner.
Cooker timer goes off. CHARLOTTE runs upstairs, crying, as
this is an ongoing situation of her parents always arguing
and never giving their daughter any attention.
MICAHEL
Who even is she anymore?
KAREN
(Unimpressed) Who even are you?
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
CHARLOTTE, a good-looking girl in a trendy t-shirt and
jeans runs into her bathroom and looks at herself in the
5. 5
mirror. Tear runs down her cheek as she stares at herself.
She wipes it off and walks back into her bedroom, where she
selects her outfit and sets out her make up. CHARLOTTE gets
dressed and gets ready to go out. Loud background music to
block her parents out in the background.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
CHARLOTTE walks downstairs and walks out the door, without
making any eye contact to her parents.
MICHAEL
Bitch
KAREN walks off, shaking her head disapprovingly at her
husband.
INT.LOCATION #3 – WALKING TO FRIEND’S HOUSE/CAPTURE – NIGHT
A dark evening and a long dark road where CHARLOTTE starts
her walk to the friend’s house.
CHARLOTTE looks around, paranoid.
A shriek from a bird screams loudly, and she begins to walk
faster.
Eerie music starts and quiet footsteps progress from behind
her.
CHARLOTTE stops and turns around. Footsteps stop. She turns
back around and continues walking, picking up the speed.
Footsteps begin again, but louder this time.
CHARLOTTE looks nervous and starts running. Footprints from
behind her get louder towards her.
CHARLOTTE gets her phone out and tries searching for
someone to phone but she drops it, and starts running
quicker.
Footsteps stop, assuming they have her phone.
Over the shoulder shot of someone in a black balaclava and
all in one, showing the audience someone is actually after
her.
Close up of feet running from CHARLOTTE to the child
catcher.
6. 6
Music increases and builds up in tension
Extra close ups of both CHARLOTTE and the child catcher’s
face. We see how scared CHARLOTTE is.
CHARLOTTE starts weeping and her eyes begin to well up.
Child catcher reaches out an arm.
The screen turns black.
INTERCUT – EXT.LOCATION #4 – FRIENDS HOUSE – NIGHT
A large old house set in the New Forest. A number of cars
are parked outside.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
PHEOBE looks at her watch. Pop music is playing in the
background, as the other girls sit around on their phones
laughing.
PHEOBE
It’s nearly 8:30, where is she?
LUCY
She’s late for everything. Give her some
time
PHEOBE shrugs and gets up to clean her dressing table.
PHEOBE continues to look at the clock.
LATER
PHEOBE
Okay. It’s now quarter past 9. Where is
she?
SARAH
Okay, I’ll call her.
SARAH gets out her phone and makes a call to CHARLOTTE.
SARAH
(distressed) It went straight to voice
mail. The service around here is usually
fine.
7. 7
PHEOBE
Look how dark it is out there. What if her
battery’s just died and she’s walking
alone.
PHEOBE starts to get worried, biting her nails and looking
nervous.
LUCY
Look let’s go round her house and see
what’s going on
The girls run downstairs. PHEOBE grabs her keys.
PHEOBE
Let’s go
EXT.LOCATION #5 – CHARLOTTE’S DOOR – NIGHT
A large house with a white front door, with lights on in
the front room and living room.
PHEOBE rings the doorbell. Moments after the door unlocks
and opens. Karen stands at the door, looking exhausted with
messy hair and bags under her eyes.
KAREN
What is it?
PHEOBE
Do you know if Charlotte’s still getting
ready?
KAREN
No, she left around 7 or 8. Can’t
remember.
LUCY
Well, we’ve been waiting for her at
Phoebe’s house but she never arrived, and
we just wanted to check you were aware, or
if you knew anything.
8. 8
KAREN
(rudely) She’ll be fine. Have you called
her?
PHEOBE
Yes we tried but it goes straight to
voicemail.
KAREN goes to shut the door but PHEOBE puts her foot
out to stop it from closing
PHEOBE
So you nor your husband don’t know where
your daughter is?
KAREN
No. She just left. Just walked out.
PHEOBE
Do you have any idea where she could be?
KAREN
I’ve had an awful evening. Please go.
She’ll turn up.
All the girls turn and walk back to the car.
LUCY
Well that wasn’t weird at all
SARAH
Yeah right. At least she cares about her
own daughter.
All the girls get back to the car and leave. Faint laughing
starts in the background of the house.
EXT.LOCATION #5 – PARENTS’ DOOR – DAY
Background noise of sirens can be heard. From inside the
house everything is silent.
Doorbell rings
9. 9
Over the shoulder shot of a police officer standing at the
door.
KAREN
(Tired) Can I help you?
POLICE OFFICER
Good morning Karen. Are you Charlotte
Foster’s mother?
KAREN
(Fake) Oh of course
POLICE OFFICER
Can I come in?
KAREN nods and opens the door more to let the police
officer in. She guides him to the living room. Karen waves
Michael into the living room, as he looks confused and runs
in.
POLICE OFFICER
I am sorry to come round like this but I
would like to ask you a few questions. I
believe you are aware that your daughter
is missing, yes?
KAREN
(Rushed) Oh yes we have been struggling so
much. We tried calling you. We are
desperate. We need help. Don’t we Michael?
KAREN
Yes, yes. It’s been so hard. You know
coming round like this was
so…um…unexpected, I guess?
POLICE OFFICER
O-okay. When was the last time you saw
Charlotte Foster?
10. 10
KAREN
When we were cooking her dinner last
night. We were all sat at the dining
table, eating (pause) spag Bol.
POLICE OFFICER
Right. And what time was that?
KAREN MICHAEL
5 6
POLICE OFFICER
Right. So what happened after that?
KAREN
She just left.
KAREN starts weeping.
MICHAEL
Oh it’s okay love. She’ll be home soon.
We’ll find her.
POLICE OFFICER
What do you mean she just left?
MICHAEL
Can you see what you’re doing to my wife?
This is a very hard subject for both of
us. How many more questions do you have?
POLICE OFFICER
Why did she leave?
KAREN
(Choked up) She was going out
POLICE OFFICER
Where?
MICHAEL
To Bournemouth. With her friends.
11. 11
POLICE OFFICER
Did you try contacting her at all?
KAREN
Um…no
POLICE OFFICER
Right. This is all not very clear but
thank you for your time. We will get back
to you and if you hear anything please let
us know.
The POLICE OFFICER leaves. KAREN walks to the kitchen as
MICHAEL continues to sit on the sofa, looking down at his
hands.
INT.LOCATION #6 – TRAPPED CHARLOTTE - NIGHT
A dark room with CHARLOTTE tied to a chair, in the middle
of the room.
Footsteps begin to get closer to her.
A hand circles around CHARLOTE’S face, as CHARLOTTE
menaces.
INT.LOCATION #5 – PARENTS’ HOUSE – NIGHT
Doorbell rings
POLICE OFFICER
Good evening Mrs Foster. Can I come in?
KAREN leads the POLICE OFFICER into the living room and
sits down.
MICHAEL walks from the kitchen to the living room.
MICHAEL
Would you like a hot drink? Tea?
POLICE OFFICER nods.
MICHAEL walks out to the kitchen and grabs a mug. He turns
the kettle on and moves a black balaclava behind the mug.
MICHAEL returns to the living room and hands the POLICE
OFFICER the mug.
