Page 44 of Going Home in the Dark

Spencer said, “What does it want, where is it going, what does it mean?”

Bobby responded, “Aren’t those the same questions we all have about our existence?”

Rebecca knew what he meant. “So maybe itislife as we know it, sort of.”

“We don’t absolutelyhaveto search the cellar,” Spencer said.

“Oh, yes we do,” Rebecca disagreed.

Bobby said, “For Ernie. To find Ernie.”

“Maybe he won’t be down there,” Spencer said.

“Oh, he’ll be down there,” Bobby said.

Rebecca said, “Somethingtookhim down there.”

“How can you be sure?” Spencer asked.

Rebecca said, “A scene like this was in every script I was sent and turned down afterShriek Hard, Shriek Harder.”

Bobby said, “Spencer, what is that?”

“A weapon. A rolling pin. It was on the counter.”

Rebecca said, “Are you serious?”

“Hey, we don’t have a gun. At least this issomething,” Spencer said defensively.

Perhaps already you can see what was meant earlier about how annoying a lot of dialogue tags can be in a long conversation of short statements, when it doesn’t much matter who said what. This distraction cannot be allowed to continue, and an effort will be made henceforth to minimize the tags.

Summoning her inner Heather Ashmont, Rebecca said, “Follow me.”

“Don’t step on that thing.”

“Why would I step on it?”

“I’m just sayin’.”

“I don’t like having it behind us.”

“Relax. It’s too slow to make a move.”

“Maybe it’s faking slow.”

“It’s not faking. It’s a kind of slug thing.”

“Maybe it has wings.”

“Did youseewings?”

“What the hell isthat?”

“What is what?”

“Ahead there. Crawling up the wall.”

“Another one. Smaller.”

---