Prisoners

by
Aaron Guzikowski

Alcon Film Fund, LLC

10390 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 250
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-789-3050
8:38 Productions
10390 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Madhouse Entertainment
Adam Kolbrenner
6DQWD0RQLFD%OYG.
6XLWH 0
/RV$QJHOHV&$
310-587-2200

Prisoners
1

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

EXT. FIELD - DAWN/THANKSGIVING

A deer hops through waist-high grass, not far from...

KELLER DOVER, camouflage, hunting rifle in hand. A
serious man, imposing, still built like a prize fighter
at 37.
He doesnt move a muscle; letting his son take the
shot...
RALPH DOVER, 15, aims his rifle, a little shaky, still
learning. He squeezes the trigger -- POP POP -The deer stumbles towards us, shot in the neck. It backs
up and collapses. The high grass hides its final moments
in a canopy of swaying tendrils.
2

EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER

Still early morning. A pick-up truck barrels down the

highway. On the tailgate, in painted letters it says:
KELLER DOVER REMODELING & REPAIRS.
From above we see the shot deer lying in the pick-ups
flatbed.
3

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - TRAVELING

Keller drives. Ralph sits in the passenger seat. The

Everyday Testament is playing while Keller talks over it.
KELLER
Most important thing your Grandpa
ever taught me. Be ready.
Hurricane, flood, whatever it ends
up being. No more food gets
delivered to the grocery store,
gas stations dry up. People turn
on one another and all of a sudden
all that stands between you and
being dead is you.
He looks at Ralph. Ralph nods, idolizes his father even
if he barely understands him. Keller nods back, not
finished, not satisfied, but done talking. He turns the
Everyday Testament up --

(CONTINUED)

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

2
3

EVERYDAY TESTAMENT
And he heard me; out of the belly
of hell cried I, and thou heardest
my voice. For thou hadst cast me
into the deep -4

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - DAY/THANKSGIVING DAY

AN OLD YELLOWED RV as it weaves through CONYERS,

PENNSYLVANIA: a blue collar town whose best days are half
a century behind it.
The RV turns onto Fairmount Circle, creeping past modest
houses with slush covered lawns, past KELLER DOVERS
HOUSE, his pick-up truck parked in the driveway.
The RV disappears around the bend as...
The Dovers' front door opens and Kellers daughter, ANNA,
6, walks out into the cold, followed by his wife, GRACE,
a fragile looking beauty with a whisper thin voice:
Wait, Anna.

GRACE

ANNA
Are we taking the truck?
Ralph comes out, cradling a couple hunks of venison
bleeding through butchers paper.
RALPH
Were going up the street you
dope.
Keller comes out.
to pick her up --

Anna runs up to him, motioning for him

ANNA
Give me a ride.
Keller gives her a smile, squats down, lets her jump on
his back -Up you go --

KELLER

Keller hoists Anna up on his shoulders, Grace watching

on, smiling.
Anna riding on his shoulders, Keller leads his family
down the street to the Birches' house.

(CONTINUED)

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

3
4

RALPH
(to Keller)
Danny's Dad said he'd sell me
their old car. I got half of what
I need saved from the summer -thought maybe -KELLER
Forget it. I'm barely getting
enough carpentry work to keep up
with the mortgage.
RALPH
Why dont you rent out Grandpa's
old apartment house?
Keller looks at Grace whos grinning smugly.
KELLER
(to Ralph)
Like I keep telling your mother,
it's an old building. Cost a
fortune to fix it up.
4A

THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

4A

Keller bends down so Anna can ring the doorbell. He puts

her down, the family waiting on the doorstep like mute
carolers.
The door opens and theyre welcomed by their neighbors
and long time friends THE BIRCHES:
FRANKLIN, 36, a bespectacled music teacher who already
has a drink in his hand. His wife NANCY, 32 -- tough,
happy, no nonsense.
NANCY
Happy Thanksgiving. Keller, you
bring that poor deer you shot?
KELLER
No Maam, this ones Ralphs.
Ralph shyly accepts credit with an awkward smile. Keller
slaps him on the back, proud as can be. Behind Franklin
and Nancy stand their two girls: ELIZA, 15, and hiding
behind her is JOY, 7, shy, wears glasses.
Anna bolts inside, running into the house with Joy.
KELLER (CONTD)
Anna, we wait until were invited.
(CONTINUED)

4A

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

4
4A

Grace rolls her eyes.

NANCY
Oh, for Gods sake, Keller, get
the hell in here.
5

INT. KITCHEN - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - LATER

Nancy peeks at the venison, then wraps it back up while

Grace chops an onion -NANCY
Youre in charge of this.
Us veterinarians make lousy
butchers.
No problem.

GRACE

Keller and Franklin work to insert the leaf in the dining

table -- its not fitting. Keller uses his utility knife
to shoehorn it. Anna comes running in, goes to straight
to Keller -ANNA
Can I go outside with Joy?
KELLER
Convince your brother to go with
you and you can.
Anna races from the kitchen as Grace yells after her:
GRACE
Wear your hat, youre still
getting over that cold.
6

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - DAY

Joy and Anna take off running, racing each other.

and Eliza take their time following them.

Ralph

ELIZA
You feel bad for that deer when
you shot it?
RALPH
You feel bad for cows when you go
to McDonald's?
(off her confused
look)
That's what my dad says.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

5
6

RALPH (CONT'D)
And the deer, they have too many
babies and the babies starve
anyway. You gotta keep the
population down.
ELIZA
Your Dad say that too?
RALPH
(a little
embarrassed)
Yeah. But I agree with him.
ELIZA
What do you say?

He doesnt look quite sure. She smiles, amused,

obviously smitten. He looks up ahead -RALPH
(yelling to the
girls)
Hey, get away from that thing!
That old RV is parked up ahead on the side of the road,
the girls are racing each other to it. Joy leaves Anna
in the dust -- SLAPS the RV's bumper victoriously.
Ralph and Eliza pick up the pace and catch up to them.
The RV is parked in front of a house with a FOR SALE
sign.
RALPH (CONTD)
Come on, let's go.
Eliza walks along the RV peering up at opaque windows
smeared with filth.
Gross.

ELIZA

Anna starts to climb a little ladder on the back of the

RV, when Ralph pulls her off -Lets go --

RALPH

Eliza grabs Joys hand and shooshes Ralph.

ELIZA
Do you hear that?
They all stop and listen. A radio just came on inside
the RV: some 1970s Christian folk song.
(CONTINUED)

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

6
6

ELIZA (CONTD)
Somebodys in there.
Anna chucks a piece of ice and it SMASHES LOUD on the
side of the RV. Ralph grabs her hand.
RALPH
Cut the shit, I dont feel like
getting yelled at. Lets go.
Eliza takes Joys hand and the four of them continue on
around the block...
The rear windshield of the RV. A shadow appears behind
the filthy glass, watching them go...
7

INT. DINING ROOM - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - LATER

The post-dinner table. Dirty dishes piled, half empty

wine glasses. The sound of laughter from the next
room...
8

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Keller and Grace sit beside one another. Grace is
drinking wine. Keller drinks milk. Nancy shakes her
head as Franklin enters with his trumpet, obviously
drunk.
FRANKLIN
Im taking requests.
Anna and Joy run in behind him.
ANNA
Mom, can I take Joy to our house?
Why?

GRACE

ANNA
My red whistle. Shes going to
help me look for it.
Grace shakes her head.
GRACE
Sweetie, I think that whistle is
long gone.
Anna just stares back, waiting for another answer until:

(CONTINUED)

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

7
8

GRACE (CONTD)
Fine, but get Ralph and Eliza to
go with you please.
What whistle?

NANCY

ANNA
The emergency whistle Daddy gave
me. I lost it...
(thinking)
Hundred and thirty-three days ago.
GRACE
Shes just like her father.
FRANKLIN
(to Anna and Joy)
If you want to find a whistle, you
have to whistle for it.
Franklin whistles a little something. Keller rolls his
eyes. Anna and Joy fire back with a tuneless sampling of
Jingle Bells. Everybody laughs. The girls take a bow,
and exit.
FRANKLIN (CONTD)
OK, Keller, what do you want to
hear?
GRACE
(giggling, a little
drunk)
He used to love Springsteen in
high school.
FRANKLIN
Got too much respect for the Boss - cant cover him drunk.
Thank you.

KELLER

GRACE
Oh, he likes the Star Spangled
Banner.
Franklin starts to play the Banner.
pillow at him, laughing.
KELLER
(smiling, getting up)
Think I need a refill.

Nancy throws a couch

Prisoners
9

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

INT. KITCHEN - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Grace enters, Franklins Banner blaring through the

house. Keller pours himself a fresh glass of milk, his
back to her.
KELLER
Think you hit the limit with the
wine, hon.
She sneaks up and wraps her arms around him -Uh huh.

GRACE
Having fun?

He turns around, immediately taken by her tipsy adoring

eyes.
KELLER
When I get you home I will be.
GRACE
(coyly)
Well see about that.
She kisses him passionately as Franklin's Banner reaches
its soaring climax.
10

EXT. THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - DUSK

10

The sun sets behind the Birch house.

11

INT. BASEMENT/TV ROOM - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - DUSK

Ralph and Eliza sit watching TV.
with boredom. Keller walks in.

They look lobotomized

KELLER
Where are your sisters?
They both shrug their shoulders. Grace comes in behind
Keller, flushed from too much wine.
GRACE
(to Keller)
I cant find them.
KELLER
(to Ralph and Eliza)
Did you take them to look for the
whistle?
Ralph and Eliza just stare blankly.
(CONTINUED)

11

11

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

9
11

RALPH
Dad, what are you talking about?
GRACE
They didnt come to get you
earlier -- they were supposed to
come and get you.
ELIZA
We havent seen them since we ate.
Keller puts his hand on Graces shoulder, steadying her.
KELLER
Dont worry, theyre probably at
our house.
12

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - DUSK

12

Keller jogs down the street without his coat on.

13

INT. KITCHEN - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

13

Keller moves fast through the kitchen...

KELLER

Girls?
14

INT. STAIRS - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

14

Keller double times it up the stairs...

Anna?
15

Girls?

KELLER

INT. HALLWAY - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

15

Keller runs in and out of the bedrooms one by one.

Theyre not here.
16

INT. BASEMENT - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The light clicks on, Keller rushes down the stairs and
looks around. Food and water to last a lifetime.
Chemical toilets. Meds for radiation sickness. Guns.
No girls.

16

Prisoners
17

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

10

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

17

Grace, Nancy and Ralph wait anxiously in the living room.

Keller rushes in, out of breath.
Are they here?
Oh God.

KELLER
GRACE

FRANKLIN
I dont believe this.
Eliza enters from another room.
ELIZA
I looked all over the house,
theyre not here.
RALPH
The RV, Dad there was this RV and
they were playing on it. There
was someone inside I think -Where?
18

KELLER

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - CONTINUOUS

18

Keller, Ralph and Franklin burst out the door.

KELLER
(to Franklin)
Go that way, well meet you on the
other side.
We follow Keller and Ralph as they sprint down the middle
of the street. They slow, seeing ROGER, 40s, standing on
his stoop puffing on a cigar -KELLER (CONTD)
Roger, have you seen my daughter
walk by here?
Roger shakes his head. Then watches on, confused, as
Ralph and Keller take off again, hauling ass down the
street...
Ralph makes a hard stop, pointing at some big tracks in
the slush where the RV was parked.
Here.

RALPH
It was here.
(CONTINUED)

18

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

11
18

Keller looks up at the empty house with the FOR SALE sign
on its lawn. He makes a beeline for the front door.
KELLER
Were you guys messing around in
this house?
No.

RALPH

Keller tries the front door. Its locked. Franklin

comes running from the other direction, out of breath,
shaking his head. Keller pulls out his cell phone,
dialing...
KELLER
(to Ralph)
Tell me everything you can
remember about that RV...
19

INT. SAIKEI GARDEN - LATER

19

DETECTIVE LOKI, 33, sits at a darkened table, finishing

up his duck. Hes the only customer. Hair cropped, suit
pressed; looks more like a cadet than a detective. The
WAITRESS walks over with the check, Chinese, 25,
gorgeous, all smiles.
WAITRESS
Happy Thanksgiving, Detective.
Loki gets up, pays the check in cash, gets his coat on -LOKI
No fortune cookie?
WAITRESS
My boss told me cops dont like
fortune cookies.
Loki ponders this, amused.
phone rings --

Shes smiling at him.

His

INT. LOKIS SEDAN - PARKED/SAIKEI GARDEN - NIGHT

Loki starts his car, watches the fog disappear from his
windshield while listening to cross chatter on the police
radio. He peers out at the restaurant, can see the
Waitress busy inside.

(CONTINUED)

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

11A

DISPATCH (V.O.)
...caller reported an RV matching
the description -- vehicle is
parked at a rest stop off of Route
forty-six, northbound, past exit
seventeen -- any available units?
Loki considers, still watching the waitress -- he picks
up his radio -LOKI
This is 1340, Im five minutes
away -- heading over -Loki throws the car in gear, pulls out -COP 1 (V.O.)
This is 1212, responding.
COP 2 (V.O.)
1080 -- responding.
LOKI
No lights, no sirens.
me.
20

Wait for

OMITTED

20

(CONTINUED)

20

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

21

EXT. GAS STATION - NIGHT

1/17/13

12
20

21

The gas station lot appears to be empty but for the

parked RV facing the adjacent woods. But as the angle
widens we see another vehicle, parked across the way,
cloaked in darkness...
A cop car, with two uniformed cops sitting impatiently
inside, late twenties: CARTER and WEDGE. Loki drives up
beside them and everybody gets out -Loki draws his sidearm, following behind Carter and Wedge
as they approach the RV -Carter and Wedge are maybe ten feet from the RVs side
door when ITS ENGINE ROARS to life. IT STARTS BACKING
UP, positioning for the on-ramp. Carter and Wedge look
to Loki -- What now?
Then, going the wrong way on the on-ramp, ANOTHER COP CAR
BLOCKS THE RVS ESCAPE, forcing it to change course,
angling right for the adjacent WOODS now, accelerating
until...
THE RV SMASHES THROUGH THE TREES, burrowing into the
woods for a few yards until it GRINDS TO A HALT -Loki runs up behind the RV, Wedge and Carter right behind
him, trudging over the newly flattened forest, BLACK
SMOKE EVERYWHERE --

(CONTINUED)

21

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

13
21

Lost in the smoke, Loki moves up alongside the RV.

peers through the portal glass on the side door:

He

A giant branch has punched through the windshield,

reaching all the way to the back of the RV. Nobodys
there. He tries the door, its locked -22

INT. RV - CONTINUOUS
The
gun
the
gun

22

side door, as its SMASHED IN. Loki moves inside,

at the ready -- COUGHING -- his crazed eyes scanning
RVs dark interior... He sees something, aims his
down at...

A disheveled man cowering under the little kitchen table,

his head bleeding from the crash, 34, thick glasses, big
bushy beard. This is ALEX JONES.
LOKI
Show me your hands. Get down on
your stomach -- on the floor -Jones complies, looking terrified. Loki puts his foot on
Jones back while he cuffs his hands -LOKI (CONTD)
Where are they?
Jones doesnt answer. Loki gets up and starts
frantically tossing the RV. Wedge and Carter move inside
-LOKI (CONTD)
Theyre not here.
Loki looks down at Jones, grabs him, lifts him to his
feet -LOKI (CONTD)
They in the woods? Come on -youre gonna take me to them right
now -- right now -Loki walks a cuffed Jones out of the RV -23

EXT. RV - CONTINUOUS

23

Loki pushes Jones out of the RV, Carter and Wedge right
behind them --

(CONTINUED)

23

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

14
23

Loki pushes Jones towards the edge of the woods where the
RV was parked. Jones trips -- Loki pulls him up -shoves him, but Jones wont move -LOKI
Go -- WALK! Im gonna fucking
shoot you if you dont start
walking -Carter and Wedge flash their flashlights around the edge
of the woods, illuminating a slurry of leaves, slush and
mud -- theres nothing there -Loki grabs Wedges flashlight, shines it in Jones
eyes...he looks completely out of it -LOKI (CONTD)
What the fuck are you on?
Loki breathes out, hands Jones off to Wedge -LOKI (CONTD)
(to Wedge)
Put him in the car -- see if you
can sober him up -The two uniformed cops who were driving the other patrol
car come running over -LOKI (CONTD)
Victims might be in the woods.
See if PSP can loan us their scent
dogs.
Loki motions around at the rest stop -LOKI (CONTD)
Seal all this off, the entrance -all of it.
(to one of the cops)
You -- come on -Loki rushes into the woods, Carter and one of the two
uniformed cops following after, the other uniformed cop
gets on his radio, watching as Wedge puts Jones in the
squad car -24

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - NIGHT

24

Ralph trails Keller, the two of them marching across a

neighbor's lawn, shining their flashlights, searching.
A GROGGY MAN, 52, peeks his head out the front door.

(CONTINUED)

24

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

15
24

GROGGY MAN
What the fucks going on?
He sees it's Keller and loses the bravado quick.
KELLER
Looking for my girl.
missing.

Annas

Groggy Man gets his glasses on and sees the throngs of

people walking down the street with flashlights.
25

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - POLICE STATION - NIGHT

25

Cut-up from the crash, Alex Jones stands against the

wall. He seems spacey if not downright schizophrenic,
staring blankly at the picture of Anna and Joy, Loki
holds in front of his face.
No.
No?
RV?

JONES
LOKI
They werent playing on your
CUT TO:

26

THE RV AS FORENSICS TEARS IT APART

26

FORENSICS GUY, 55, pulls out ceiling panels one by one -two FORENSICS TECHS and a POLICE MECHANIC in the bg.
JONES (V.O.)
I didnt see them. Can I sit
down?
The grungy carpet of the RV as Forensics Guy rips it off
the floor.
LOKI (V.O.)
Where do you usually park the RV?
An old eight track tape -- Heaven's Gonna Be A Blast -as Forensics Guy pops it out of the dash.
JONES (V.O.)
My aunts house.
27

EXT. BACKYARD - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - NIGHT

27

The house: squalid, small and yellow.

(CONTINUED)

27

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

16
27

JONES (V.O.)
She lets me park it in the back
yard. The grass dont grow back
there anyway.
Loki paces around in the backyard. Theres a beat-up
Trans Am parked on the lawn, covered in dirt.
Jones Aunt, HOLLY JONES, 53, comes out the back door,
hugging herself against the cold. She has a regal face,
her long greying hair grown down past her waist.
HOLLY JONES
(hollering to Loki)
It was my husbands. Its for
sale if you want it.
No thanks.

LOKI

Loki rubs some dirt from one of the Trans Ams windows
and peers inside. Nothing there.
28

INT. HOLLY JONES' HOUSE NIGHT

28

Holly Jones leads Loki through cramped hallways, past

little rooms clogged with old furniture.
LOKI
Does he sleep in the RV?
HOLLY JONES
In the summertime he does, but
this time of year he sleeps on the
couch.
She motions to a frayed sofa bed, where a MONGREL DOG is
curled up sleeping.
LOKI
Where are his things?
29

INT. LAUNDRY ROOM - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - NIGHT

29

Holly leads Loki into the small room. Atop a chest of

drawers sits a framed photo of her, circa 1970s, young
and beautiful, sitting inside the then brand new RV, with
her long haired, hippie husband.
HOLLY JONES
My husband. We had a fight...God,
almost five years ago.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

29

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

17
29

HOLLY JONES (CONT'D)

He walked out and didnt come
back.
Alex loved him like a father.
LOKI
What happened to Alexs real
parents?
HOLLY JONES
My husbands brother and his
girlfriend. They died in a car
accident when Alex was six.

She opens the top drawer and presents it to Loki: some

sorry looking clothes. A little Matchbox RV.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
He doesnt have much.
30

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - NIGHT

30

Keller and Ralph about to walk another lap around the

circle when Franklin pulls up in his car and rolls down
his window -FRANKLIN
They found the RV -- girls weren't
inside. Parked on that rest stop
near the south woods. They're
putting together a search party.
Keller and Ralph get into the car and Franklin takes off 31

INT. GARAGE - POLICE STATION - NIGHT

31

Whats left of the RV. Sitting inside at the little

kitchen table is Forensics Guy -- smarter than most,
likes his job. Hes thinking, head leaned back, eyes
closed. Loki walks inside and SLAPS the table -LOKI
What do we got?
Forensics Guy takes a moment to think of something that
makes him frown.
FORENSICS GUY
This thing's clean. I mean it's
filthy as shit, but we didn't find
anything.
Loki seems unfazed by this piece of news, thinking -(CONTINUED)

31

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

18
31

LOKI
They could have been wearing
winter hats and mittens the whole
time they were in here. So no
prints, no hair fibers.
FORENSICS GUY
If he just used this thing to
transport them I might buy that,
but if there was a struggle in
here I would have found something.
Id start searching the woods near
the rest stop.
LOKI
Yeah, half the cops in the state
are doing that right now.
Loki walks off -LOKI (CONT'D)
When youre done with this thing
take a team over to his Aunts
place.
32

EXT. GAS STATION - NIGHT

32

The gas station lot is swarming with cops and volunteers.

Everyone is heading into the adjacent...
33

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

33

A constellation of flashlights moves through the woods.

Ralph sticks by Keller, their eyes scanning, exhausted.
Franklin trails behind them.
34

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - MORNING

34

An AERIAL VIEW of LOKIS SEDAN heading down the street

toward the Dover House.
35

OMITTED

36A

EXT. THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

NEIGHBORS wanting to help, but not sure what to do mill
around. Lokis car pulls up...

35
36A

Prisoners
36B

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

19

INT. KITCHEN - THE BIRCHES HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

36B

Franklin leads Loki into the kitchen. Nancy is sitting

at the kitchen table, her back to them. Remnants of
thanksgiving on the table, yet to be cleared -LOKI
Mrs. Birch, Im Detective Loki -Nancy turns, her expression worn with shock, but still
composed -- doggedly holding on to herself. She has some
photos laid out on the table, hands one to Loki -NANCY
This is a better picture than the
one my husband gave you. You can
see her eyes more clearly...
Loki takes the picture, nods -- Nancy staring up at him,
imploring him with a hard look -- eyes swelling with
tears.
36

INT. RALPHS ROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

36

Ralph lies asleep on top of the covers, clothes and muddy

sneakers still on.
37

INT. BATHROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Keller splashes water on his face.
crucifix hangs around his neck.

37

A little gold

His eyes drift to the toothbrush holder. The little

toothbrush with the cartoon character on it.
38

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Grace is sitting on the couch next to Detective Loki,
whos distracted, reading a text on his phone. Grace is
composed, but theres dread in her voice.
Did we pass?
What?

GRACE
LOKI

GRACE
The poly-whatever -- the lie
detector we took this morning.

(CONTINUED)

38

38

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

20
38

LOKI
(puts the phone away)
Sorry -- yes, we appreciate your
cooperation.
GRACE
Nancys lawyer friend told us it
would help speed things up.
It's embarrassing, all this fuss.
Everyone's going to think we're
crazy when those two come out from
wherever they're hiding.
LOKI
You have some reason to think they
ran away?
GRACE
No, they were happy, but they must
have run away...
She looks to the window, her mind drifting as she listens
to the faint sound of congregating neighbors outside.
GRACE (CONTD)
The police captain said you've
solved every case you've ever been
assigned.
Loki nods, pretends to be humble, looking around at the
framed photos adorning the walls, mostly of Ralph and
Anna.
GRACE (CONTD)
Do you have children, Detective?
Loki shakes his head. She looks at him askance. He
touches her hand, his face taking on an unwavering
conviction...
LOKI
Im gonna find your daughter.
She nods, tries to be comforted, wants to believe it.
LOKI (CONTD)
We think the girls came back here
after they left you at the
Birches' yesterday.
Keller appears in the doorway.
KELLER
They were looking for Annas red
whistle.
(CONTINUED)

38

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

38

Loki and Grace stand up.

LOKI
Right, I read your statement.
Keller offers his hand to Loki. Loki looks him up and
down, gives him a quick handshake -- a little cold.
LOKI (CONTD)
Detective Loki. I'm heading up
the investigation into your
daughter's disappearance. Please,
sit down.
Keller remains standing.

21

Grace grabs on to his arm.

KELLER
Listen, my son told you, the guy
was hiding inside that RV,
watching them.
LOKI
We havent found any physical
evidence in the RV, or his aunts
house where he lives. Alex Jones
has the IQ of a ten year old and
theres no way he would have been
able to abduct two girls in broad
daylight and then somehow make
them disappear.
KELLER
You give him a lie detector?
LOKI
Yeah, we did. Doesnt work if you
dont understand the questions.
KELLER
What does that mean? He ran.
They said he tried to get away.
LOKI
Were considering all
possibilities, Mr. Dover. I know
what youre saying. Im not
crossing anybody off the list.
Just let me do my job.
Keller doesnt answer, looking far from satisfied.

Prisoners
39

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

22

EXT. DRIVEWAY - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

39

Lokis leaving in his car when Keller runs up alongside.

Loki stops, rolls down his window -KELLER
He stays in custody until my
daughter is found, right?
LOKI
Weve got a forty-eight hour hold
on him. Ends tomorrow unless we
bring charges.
KELLER
Then charge him with something.
LOKI
Mr. Dover, let me worry about -KELLER
Detective, two little girls gotta
be worth whatever rules you have
to break to keep that asshole in
custody.
Loki considers for a moment while Keller's desperate eyes
bore into him...
KELLER (CONTD)
I know you cant promise me
anything -- Im just asking you to
be sure.
Loki doesnt answer.
KELLER (CONTD)
Thank you, Detective.
I appreciate it.
Loki nods and drives off -40

INT. CAPTAINS OFFICE - POLICE STATION - DAY

40

CAPTAIN RICHARD OMALLEY sits at his desk shaking his

head at Loki.
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
Youre positive hes innocent, but
you want to keep holding him
anyway?
LOKI
Anna Dovers father -(CONTINUED)

40

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

22A
40

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY

Since when are you mister bedside
fucking manner?

(CONTINUED)

40

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

23
40

LOKI
One more day -CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
Fuck you. You find his daughter,
hell forgive you, you dont, hes
gonna hate you anyway.
Loki takes that in.

OMalley gives him a long look...

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY (CONTD)

Had my buddy from PSPs homicide
unit over for Thanksgiving...
Loki looks a little caught...
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY (CONTD)
If you wanted a transfer you
shouldve asked me. PSPs
homicide unit is a fine place to
be -- Im sure youd fit right in
there. But youre getting ahead
of yourself a little bit, dont
you think?
LOKI
What do you want me to say?
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
Nothing. Why should you say
anything? Not like I ever did
anything for you.
Some guilt sneaks into Lokis expression -CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY (CONTD)
After the last round of layoffs I
got maybe two guys here who know
what theyre doing, and both of
them are in this room.
LOKI
Im not busting my ass everyday
just for privilege of going down
with the ship. You know I love
you -- but its onward and upward.
OMalley nods...a fatherly look of resignation on his
face as he looks down at his hands, then after a moment
he looks back up, face hard, meets Lokis eyes and nods
tersely --

(CONTINUED)

40

Prisoners CONTINUED: (3)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

24
40

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY

Find these kids, make me look good
-- and maybe Ill give you my
blessing. So whats next? Were
coming up on twenty-four hours
missing and you have exactly shit.
LOKI
Im knocking on doors all night.
Loki pulls a printout from his pocket.
LOKI (CONTD)
Got nine level three sex offenders
living within a ten mile radius of
Fairmount Circle.
DISSOLVE TO:
41

INT. LIVING ROOM - SEX OFFENDERS HOUSE 1 - NIGHT

41

A MAN, 50s, muscled, wearing a tank top and boxers -looks like Loki woke him up.
LOKI (O.S.)
Im gonna need an address and
phone number for everybody you
were with that day.
Lokis looking at a wall full of little nail holes -LOKI (CONTD)
What was hanging here?
42

INT. GARAGE - SEX OFFENDERS HOUSE 1 - NIGHT

42

The muscled man watches on as Loki opens a cardboard box - inside it are framed photos -- the muscled man, but
skinny, younger -- standing with his then wife and kids.
43

EXT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - NIGHT

43

Through the window we see Loki talking to a MALE

EMPLOYEE, 27 -- working the register. The Employee
shakes his head emphatically -44

EXT. LOKIS SEDAN - NIGHT

Loki walks to his car -- angle widens to reveal the
downtown area. Strip malls, gas stations -- cars
whizzing by -- blurred faces in car windows --

44

Prisoners
45

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

25

EXT. BACK YARD - SEX OFFENDERS HOUSE 2 - NIGHT

45

A GREY HAIRED MAN, in his pajamas, shivering in the cold,

watching as...
GREY HAIRED MAN
I have bad arthritis -- havent
been out of the house in months.
Looking like hes ready for this night to be over, Loki
opens the door to the mans tool shed -- moves inside -starts rifling around in the clutter, taking his
aggression out -- holds up a porn magazine -LOKI
Youre not allowed to have this.
GREY HAIRED MAN
I forgot it was in there. I
promise Ill -Loki tosses the magazine out onto the yard. He keeps
rifling -- finds another magazine, another -- throws
them out -LOKI
Whos your probation officer?
46

EXT. YARD - NICE HOUSE 2 - NIGHT

Loki walks out the front door, the Grey Haired Man
following after him -Please --

GREY HAIRED MAN

Loki stops, faces the man -LOKI

Get back inside.
The man doesnt move -- Loki looks like hes going to
blow -LOKI (CONTD)
Get back inside!
The Grey Haired Man turns and shuffles back inside his
house. Loki breathes out, gets in his car --

46

Prisoners
47

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

26

EXT. SAINT EMILIANA CHURCH - NIGHT

47

Lokis headlights wash over a cheaply built grey house,

its windows all boarded, a big white cross on its front.
And right beside it...
A small grey house, THE RECTORY.
out.
48

Lokis headlights wink

INT. BLACK SEDAN - PARKED - CONTINUOUS

48

Looking beat, Loki pops a coffee bean in his mouth.

He checks his notebook, crossing off the last of a long
list of sex offenders.
49

EXT. FRONT DOOR - RECTORY - MOMENTS LATER

49

A cracked door bell as Loki pushes it and nothing

happens. He sighs, tired, pissed off. He starts BEATING
ON THE DOOR -LOKI
(yelling inside)
Police. Hello? I need to talk to
you, Father. Open the door.
He peers in a window near the door: a TV playing an old
black and white war movie. An old priest lying on the
floor -- looks dead.
50

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE RECTORY - CONTINUOUS

Loki opens the unlocked front door and rushes inside...
He squats down beside the priest lying on the floor,
FATHER PATRICK DUNN, 64, grizzled and bald. Hes not
dead, hes SNORING, passed out. Empty liquor bottles are
everywhere.
Loki considers, then stands up.
LOKI
You mind if I look around?
Dunn doesnt seem to mind at all, still SNORING up a
storm.

50

Prisoners
51

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

27

INT. KITCHEN - RECTORY - CONTINUOUS

51

Loki turns on the light: a wall clock TICKING, a sink

full of liquor bottles, an abandoned game of solitaire on
the table, cards thrown on the floor...
Loki notices something: the refrigerators electric chord
-- its stretched taught to the outlet, barely reaches.
The fridge has been moved. Loki looks closer -- sees the
top of a door frame behind it...
Loki walks to the refrigerator, shaking his head. He
sighs and starts shoving it off the door its blocking.
The fridge is old and heavy and doesnt go easy...
52

INT. THE BASEMENT - THE RECTORY - MOMENTS LATER

The door opens, Loki takes the first step....THEN GRABS
THE DOOR FRAME WILDLY -- THE STAIRS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
Its a ten foot drop to the basement floor...
Loki squats down and flashes his flashlight.
junk obscure his view...

Piles of

He gets down and lets his legs dangle off the edge. Then
he turns around, gets in a hanging position, and drops -He lands on his feet, then falls back on his ass. He
gets up, cursing under his breath, shining his flashlight
-- suddenly startled by three big statues. Saints.
Loki moves in closer.
A MAN IN A CHAIR.
Hey!

Theres something behind them...

Loki loses his breath, draws his gun -LOKI

Loki shines his flashlight on him...its a corpse,

skeletal, long since dead. What was once a very tall
man, strapped to a chair with reams of duct tape.
Christ.

LOKI (CONTD)

Loki moves in closer. He notices a pendant hanging

around the corpses neck with a maze-like design carved
into it.
MOMENTS LATER
Loki drags a statue of a kneeling saint under the
doorway.
(CONTINUED)

52

52

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

28
52

He steps on its back, reaches up and grabs the lip of the

door frame. Then, straining, he pulls himself up...
53

INT. KITCHEN - RECTORY - MOMENTS LATER

53

Father Dunn's POV as he comes to: Loki's dragged him to

the basement door AND IS ABOUT TO TOSS HIM OVER THE EDGE,
holding him by the back of his shirt. Dunn is terrified,
acting like there's burning lava down there -NO!

NO!

FATHER PATRICK DUNN

Don't -- PLEASE!

LOKI
Whos the corpse? First name,
last name. NOW, or down you go -leave you with your buddy for a
while. Come on! Whats his
name!? Who is he?
FATHER PATRICK DUNN
Couldnt go to the police.
Theyd never believe a -Loki leans him further over the edge -- DUNN SCREAMS -LOKI
I spent six years in the
Huntington Boys Home, father -hurting a fuck like you would be a
real treat for me!
Dunn shakes his head, tears streaming -FATHER PATRICK DUNN
I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME! Came to me
for confession. Killed sixteen
children, he said. Bragged about
it. I convinced him to come back
here. He was going to kill more.
He wouldnt tell me his name.
Loki rolls his eyes, yanks Dunn back from the edge -LOKI
Right. Sixteen children huh?
I think he was just trying to
impress a fellow pervert scumbag -come on, time to go.
54A

OMITTED

54A

Prisoners
54

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

29

EXT. WOODS - MORNING

54

Keller trudges through the woods. His cell phone rings.

The caller ID: GRACE. Keller answers --

Hey.

KELLER
(into the phone)

GRACE (O.S.)
(over the phone)
Theyre letting him go.

What?

KELLER
(into the phone)

GRACE (O.S.)
(over the phone)
The man, the police said theyre
letting him go today.
KELLER
(into the phone)
OK, its OK. Im gonna take care
of it.
Keller hangs up, shocked, turns around. Franklin and
Ralph are about twenty yards behind him.
He takes off running towards them, weaving between trees,
stomping through the snow, running right past them -Dad?

RALPH
Where you going?

FRANKLIN
Whats going on?
Keller doesnt answer, running past volunteers wearing
SEARCH AND RESCUE jackets, startling a search dog -55

INT. LOKIS DESK - POLICE STATION - DAY

55

Loki sits at his desk, researching Fairmount Circle on

his computer -- Father Dunn is being interrogated in the
BG. Loki looks up, watching as Jones and his aunt are
shown to the front desk...
Jones aunt rubs his back as the DESK SERGEANT gives him
paper work to fill out.
Sign here.

DESK SERGEANT
(CONTINUED)

55

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

He signs his release papers, slowly and methodically:

Alex Winterman Jones.

29A
55

Prisoners
56

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

30

EXT. POLICE STATION - MOMENTS LATER

56

A UNIFORMED COP escorts Jones and his Aunt out the front
door. Several reporters are waiting -REPORTER 1
Is this your Mother?
HOLLY JONES
Dont talk to them, Alex.
REPORTER 2
Do you have any comment on the
girls -- are you innocent?
Jones POV: the reporters accusing eyes, the grey sky,
his Aunt squeezing his wrist -The Uniformed escort tries to get the reporters to clear
a path while TWO OTHER UNIFORMED COPS, just back from
patrol come walking towards the entrance -57A

INT. LOKIS DESK - POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS

57A

Loki peers out the window, sees the reporters cornering

Jones and his aunt -- shakes his head...
Then he sees something else -- Kellers truck pulling
into the parking lot --

Fuck.

LOKI
(under his breath)

Loki gets up in a hurry, calls out to several UNIFORM

COPS milling around the station -LOKI (CONTD)
Need some help out front -57B

EXT. POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS

57B

Keller shoves past the reporters, making a bee line for

Jones and his Aunt when the Uniformed escort blocks his
path -UNIFORMED ESCORT
Sir, you need to step back --

(CONTINUED)

57B

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

31

But Keller keeps coming, the Uniformed escort grabs him -the two Uniformed Cops just back from patrol rush to
assist, Keller resisting as the three of them struggle to
restrain him -KELLER
I just want to talk to him.
Loki exits the station, five cops trailing behind him -LOKI
You dont want to do this, Mr.
Dover -KELLER
Thanks to you hes a free man,
right? Im a free man, hes a
free man -- why cant I talk to
him?
Keller struggles to break free of the gaggle of Uniformed
Cops now trying like hell to get cuffs on him as he
lunges at Jones -- Jones Aunt protectively trying to put
herself between them -KELLER (CONTD)
TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE!
Keller tries to get around Jones Aunt as Jones backs
away -- tearing up, shaking his head, overloading -KELLER (CONTD)
TELL ME WHAT YOU DID WITH THEM!
KELLER PUSHES PAST JONES AUNT. A UNIFORM COP BLOCKS HIS
PATH -- KELLER COLDCOCKS HIM -- KNOCKS ANOTHER COP TO THE
CEMENT. THE OTHERS TRY TO GRAB HIM, BUT HE BREAKS FREE -Jones takes off running -- Keller tackles him between two
parked cars -- grabs him by the shirt -JONES
(to Keller)
They didnt cry until I left them.
Keller freezes, in shock -- looks around -- did anybody
else hear that?
HES SWALLOWED BY ANGRY COPS -STRUGGLES -- GETS SMASHED DOWN in a blur of uniforms,
angry faces and fists -Kellers finally forced to the pavement and handcuffed,
watching with crazed helpless eyes as Jones and his Aunt
are whisked away.

57B

Prisoners
57

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

31A

INT. CAPTAINS OFFICE - POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS

Loki walks in, OMalley is talking to Keller, whos
handcuffed to a chair. When Keller sees Loki he shakes
his head in bitter disgust.
LOKI
(off Kellers look)
Listen, I tried -CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
Im talking here.
(back to Keller)
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

57

57

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

32

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY (CONT'D)

I know your Dad was a guard at
Graterford, and I got a daughter
of my own so Im gonna show some
mercy on you.

O'Malley uncuffs Keller from the chair.

up.

Keller stands

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY (CONTD)

As for Alex Jones, he has orders
not to leave the commonwealth.
KELLER
What about what I just fucking
told you?! Why aren't you sending
someone to go arrest this guy?!
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
Mr. Dover, tell Detective Loki
what you told me -- he will
definitely look into it. And when
you're done, I need you to go
home.
Your family needs you at home, not
hanging around here.
Before Keller can argue OMalley exits into THE CHAOTIC
HALLWAY and shuts the door.
LOKI
You have something to tell me, Mr.
Dover?
Keller takes a moment, bludgeoning Loki with his eyes,
then:
KELLER
That asshole you promised me you'd
keep in custody, when I grabbed
him in the parking lot, he said
right to my fucking face: they
didn't cry until I left them.
LOKI
Just now in the parking lot?
KELLER
What did I say -- yeah, just now
in the parking lot.
LOKI
Anybody hear besides you?
Keller shakes his head bitterly.
(CONTINUED)

57

57

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

33
57

LOKI (CONTD)
You sure you heard him right?
KELLER
Jesus Christ -- you think I'm
making this up?
Loki observes Kellers hands are shaking...
LOKI
OK, Ill go see him.
Keller stops, looks him in the eye.
KELLER
Don't go see him. Go arrest him.
Keller turns and walks out.
his mind working...
58

Loki watches the door slam,

INT. LIVING ROOM - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - DAY

58

Jones and his Aunt sit side by side on the couch -- the
dog lying at Hollys feet. Loki sits across from them on
an ottoman.
LOKI
So you didnt say anything to Mr.
Dover out on the parking lot
today? Anything he could have
misinterpreted?
Jones shakes his head.
LOKI (CONTD)
Nothing at all? You didnt say,
get away from me? Help? Nothing
like that?
No.

JONES

Loki nods, thinking.

LOKI
Can I talk to Alex alone for a
minute?
She gives Alex a reassuring look, then gets up -HOLLY JONES
Ill be right in the next room,
Alex.
(CONTINUED)

58

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

34
58

The dog gets up and follows after Holly as she exits the
room. Loki moves in a little closer to Jones. Jones is
afraid.
LOKI
Do you like your Aunt?
Jones doesnt answer at first, confused, but then:
Yes.

JONES

LOKI
You know if you know something
about what happened to these girls
and you dont tell us, your aunt
will go to jail too. You want
that for her? After she took care
of you all this time?
Jones shakes his head, a little lost.
59

EXT. HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

59

Loki walks to his car on the phone.

LOKI
(into the phone)
Mr. Dover, its Detective Loki.
60

INT. SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY - THE DOVERS' HOUSE CONTINUOUS

Keller stands in the hallway on his cellphone.
KELLER
(into the phone)
Have you arrested him?
LOKI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
He said he didn't say anything in
the parking lot. I pushed him
hard and he didn't budge. We
cant waste any more time with
this guy. Ill let you know when
I have something new. Just hang -Keller hangs up the phone, considering with desperate
eyes.

60

Prisoners
61

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

35

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

61

Keller walks in. Ralph sits by Graces bedside looking

freaked out. She's holding on to him for dear life,
hysterical; denial given way to manic terror.
GRACE
The zipper on her coat was broken,
and I told her it didn't matter,
that we were just going up the
street.
(to Keller)
Why hasn't she come home? Its
been three days. Why can't you
make her come home? I don't
understand. It's been too long!
Keller motions to Ralph to get up and sits down next to
Grace. Ralph flees the room. She motions to a bottle of
Xanax on the bedside table.
GRACE (CONTD)
Give me two, I just want to be
knocked out. I can't be awake
anymore.
Keller complies and she swallows the pills with trembling
hands. She lies back. Keller strokes her hair. She
calms for a moment, then looks up at him accusingly.
GRACE (CONTD)
You made me feel so safe. You
said you could protect us from
anything.
He starts to answer, but nothing comes out. He looks
sickened with shame, turning away from her stare, his
eyes finally resting on a ticking clock...
62

INT. HALLWAY - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Keller comes out of the bedroom. Grace is sleeping.
Ralph stands awkwardly in the dark hallway.
KELLER
I'm going out to help the police.
Keep an eye on your mother.
Ralph's been crying.
leave.

His eyes beg his father not to

(CONTINUED)

62

62

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

36
62

KELLER (CONTD)
Come on now, your sister needs us
to be brave for her. You gonna be
brave -- be a grown-up for me?
Ralph doesnt answer. Keller holds his stare for second,
then just rushes past him. But as Keller reaches the
stairs, he stops, guilt creasing his face...he turns
around, goes back and hugs his son.
KELLER (CONTD)
I know youre scared. Its gonna
be OK.
Crying now, Ralph holds on to his father for dear life.
63

EXT. DRIVEWAY - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - DUSK

63

Keller walks out the door and gets in his truck.

64

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - PARKED - CONTINUOUS

64

Keller turns the ignition key. The Everyday Testament

starts up. He sits there, looking unsure of where hes
going, a darkness clouding his visage...
EVERYDAY TESTAMENT
He reminds him that trouble and
affliction are what we have all
reason to expect in this world:
Man is brought to trouble -He hits stop on the tape player. Silence. He slams
the gear shift into drive and tears out of the driveway -65

EXT. GUN HILL ROAD - NIGHT

65

A narrow lane lined with dead hedges and garbage.

Kellers pick up truck pulls up across the street from
HOLLY JONES HOUSE...
66

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - PARKED - CONTINUOUS

Keller turns off the engine and watches the little
house...

66

Prisoners
67

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

37

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - PARKED - LATER

67

Kellers eyes have lost some of their steely focus.

He starts the truck, about to turn on his headlights
when:
The front door to the house opens, Holly Jones dog runs
out and close behind it is Alex Jones holding the leash.
Jones walks it to the edge of the yard, checks to see if
anyones watching, then lifts the dog by its leash and
lets it dangle while he taunts it under his breath.
Keller looks sickened by the display, but stays in the
truck. Jones lowers the dog back to the ground. And
while it gasps for breath, Jones stares up at the sky and
whistles a tune:
Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way -Keller grips the steering wheel.
And gets out of the truck...
68

He takes a breath.

EXT. HOLLY JONES' STREET - CONTINUOUS

68

Jones doesnt notice Keller stalking up behind him as he

walks beyond the last working street light into the
darkness.
Alex.

KELLER

Startled, Alex turns around to see Keller aiming a pistol

at his head.
KELLER (CONTD)
That song you were just whistling,
where did you hear it?
Jones drops the dogs leash to the ground and it runs
off. He doesnt look scared as much as quizzical, even
when Keller presses the gun to his head.
69

INT. JOYS ROOM - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - DAWN

Joys gerbil runs through a habitrail. Through the
window: Kellers truck pulls up, HONKS. Franklin jogs
out of the house carrying a back pack and gets in the
truck --

69

Prisoners
70

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

38

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - CONTINUOUS

70

Keller drives. Franklin sits in the passenger seat, the

backpack on his lap, looking supremely confused.
KELLER
Did you bring a change of clothes
like I told you?
FRANKLIN
Yeah, are you going to tell me
why?
He notices Keller looks like grim death, eyes red.
His knuckles are wrapped in gauze.
KELLER
Its better if I just show you.
Moments later. They turn down a narrow side street lined
with slummy two story apartment houses.
Keller parks the truck and gets out.
move.
Lets go.

Franklin doesnt

KELLER (CONTD)

Franklin reluctantly gets out of the truck...

71

EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

71

Franklin follows Keller to the front door of a two story

apartment house. NO TRESPASSING. LEAD POISON.
CONDEMNED. Theres a padlock on the front door. Keller
has a key.
FRANKLIN
You used to live here, didnt you?
Keller nods and Franklin follows him inside...
72

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT HOUSE -CONTINUOUS

Keller and Franklin walk inside. Wires hanging out of
the ceiling. Bare rafters. Cold air blowing through.
Franklin waits for an explanation. Keller is looking
around the place, like he sees things lurking in the
shadows that Franklin cant.
A sound -- something CLANGING AGAINST A PIPE.
(CONTINUED)

72

72

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

Whats that?

1/17/13

39
72

FRANKLIN

Keller walks to the closed bathroom door. He opens it,

then steps aside, beckoning Franklin. Franklin
approaches...
A gutted bathroom. JONES SITS IN THE SHOWER STALL, tied
to a pipe jutting from a hole in the wall, his head down,
duct tape over his mouth...
Franklin backs out of the room, pale-faced, he looks at
Keller, shocked.
FRANKLIN (CONTD)
What the hell is this? What did
you do, Keller?
Keller pulls him into the next room and gets in his face.
KELLER
I heard him whistling the same
song they were whistling on
Thanksgiving. I swear to God,
Franklin, the same fucking song.
And I told you what he said in the
parking lot.
FRANKLIN
So we take him back to the cops.
KELLER
Hell just clam up and act crazy
like he did last time. Someone
has to make him talk.
FRANKLIN
What if youre wrong? What if you
just heard what you wanted to
hear? I want my daughter back as
much as you do, but this isnt
right.
KELLER
We hurt him until he talks or
theyre going to die. Thats the
choice. I know what I heard.
Franklin looks back inside at Jones, perhaps thinking on
what horrible things he might have done to his daughter,
rage starting to take hold --

(CONTINUED)

72

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

40
72

KELLER (O.S.) (CONTD)

Hes not a person anymore.
He stopped being a person when he
took our daughters.
Franklin turns to Keller, looking painfully conflicted.
What about us?

FRANKLIN

Keller starts wrapping a rag tight around his knuckles.

KELLER
Ill do whatever it takes.
Franklins still face as he listens: Keller moving into
the bathroom, then...SMACK. Franklin winces, his face
quivering -- SMACK -- SMACK -73

EXT. NEIGHBORS HOUSE - FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - DAY

73

A WOMAN, 36, is sprinkling rock salt on her icy front

steps, eyeing something across the street...
The FOR SALE house, Loki walking around the yard, talking
on his phone -CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY (O.S.)
(over the phone)
Results came back for the corpse
in the priests basement. No DNA,
dental or fingerprint matches.
The priest is sticking to his
story; thinks he killed the next
Ted Bundy.
LOKI
(into the phone)
Probably his jilted lover or
something -Loki catches the Woman across the street watching him,
waves.
LOKI (CONTD)
(into the phone)
I gotta go -Loki hangs up -- starts across the street towards her -WOMAN
You talked to me already.
She gives him a flirtacious smile -- he smiles back -(CONTINUED)

73

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

41
73

LOKI
(motions to empty
house)
Forgot to ask -- did you know the
people who lived there?
WOMAN
No -- they werent social. Moved
to Easton a couple years ago.
Milland was their last name.
LOKI
They know the girls families?
WOMAN
Think they had some kind of
problem with the Dovers. Dont
know what it was about.
Loki nods vaguely, looks back at the FOR SALE house...
74

EXT. THE MILLANDS HOUSE - DAY

74

Opening the door for Loki is KIM MILLAND, 37 -- a stiff

looking woman with a mannered disposition.
LOKI
Detective Loki. Im investigating
the -KIM MILLAND
I know who you are. My mother was
wondering when someone was going
to come see us.
Loki nods vaguely, a bit confused.
LOKI
Because of where you used to live?
She makes a strange face, looks a little insulted -KIM MILLAND
Because of Barry.
75

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE MILLANDS HOUSE - DAY

75

Lokis POV of the TV: an old home video of Barry Milland,

6. Hes playing inside a big cardboard box/playhouse,
staring out one of the cut-out windows.

(CONTINUED)

75

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

42

MRS. MILLAND (O.S.)

Same person who took him took
those girls. Im sure of it.
The video starts to distort, the image deteriorating -MRS. MILLAND (O.S.) (CONTD)
Oh Christ. Im wearing out the
tape I guess. I watch it everyday
after breakfast. Its the only
video I have of him.
Lokis gaze turns to the unblinking eyes of MRS. MILLAND,
65, unable or unwilling to get up off the couch, her
rotund frame draped in vertiginous patterns.
MRS. MILLAND (CONTD)
It was before your time. Twentysix years ago. August nineteenth.
I took a nap in the afternoon, and
when I woke up, Barry was gone.
No one could ever tell me what
happened to him. He was playing
in the front yard -- a few feet
from where they say that RV was
parked... What do you think that
means?
Loki looks Mrs. Milland in the eye, trying to read her,
then:
LOKI
Im more interested in what you
think it means.
After a moment Mrs. Milland breathes out, shakes her
head...
MRS. MILLAND
I dont think well ever know...
Its just like Barry. No one took
them -- nothing happened. Theyre
just gone.
KIM MILLAND enters, 37, along with her brother ELLIOTT,
35. They orbit their mother like nervous nurses.
MRS. MILLAND (CONTD)
Go ahead and search the house.
I know from experience how
precious time is to you right now.
Elliott will go with you, in case
you need to move something, he can
put it back. He knows where
everything goes.

75

Prisoners

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

43

76

OMITTED

76

77

INT. BEDROOM - THE MILLANDS HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

77

Elliott shows Loki into a room filled with old toys and
translucent storage containers stacked to the ceiling.
ELLIOTT MILLAND
Everything Barry ever touched.
Loki nods, seeing the old cardboard box/playhouse from
the home video. He weaves through the clutter towards
it...
LOKI
You said you knew Anna Dovers
father when you lived on
Fairmount?
ELLIOTT MILLAND
Not really knew him. His son was
playing on our lawn one time -this was years ago -- and my
mother, she grabbed him and tore
his shirt a little. She was
confused. I stopped her and sent
the kid home. Other than his
shirt he was fine. Then an hour
later his father comes over and
starts threatening me -- obviously
drunk, but he seemed serious
enough. I locked the doors and
waited for him to leave. But he
didnt, he just sat there on our
front steps for over an hour.
Didnt leave until the cops came.
While considering this Loki looks inside the playhouse.
An old stuffed animal sits inside staring out at him.
78

EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE - NIGHT

The sun is gone.
window...

A lone light in the second floor

78

Prisoners
79

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

44

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - NIGHT

79

Franklin braces Jones, keeping him standing while -CRACK -- Keller slugs his bloodied face for what looks
like the hundredth time.
KELLER
Why? Why wont you just fucking
tell us!?
Jones head is hanging now, hes barely conscious.
Keller motions for Franklin to wait a moment, walks out
of the bathroom...
Franklin stands there holding Jones -- Keller walks back
in. Franklins face goes hard when he sees Keller is
holding a hammer. Franklin starts to say something when
Keller silences him with a look -Keller holds the hammer up in front of Jones -- Jones
regarding it blankly -KELLER (CONTD)
You gonna make me use this?
Keller grabs Jones arm, forces his hand down on the
sink, raises the hammer -KELLER (CONTD)
Youre doing this to yourself.
Talk -- TALK!
Jones eyes, like empty windows...
KELLER BRINGS THE HAMMER DOWN -- HITS THE SINK -Furious now, Keller slams Jones into the wall, looks like
hes going to hit him in the face with the hammer -Franklin moves in to stop him -STOP --

FRANKLIN

Keller smashes the hammer into the wall -- inches from

Jones head. Franklin pulls Keller back as Jones
collapses to the floor...
80

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT HOUSE - LATER

Keller unwraps the now bloodied rag from his knuckles
while Franklin puts on a clean shirt.

(CONTINUED)

80

80

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

44A
80

FRANKLIN
It doesnt seem like he even knows
whats happening to him.
KELLER
Thats what he wants you to think.
Its an act.
(beat)
Well start up again in the
morning.
FRANKLIN
Start what up again? Its not
working.
KELLER
Then well try something else.
81

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - NIGHT

81

Franklin walks up the street towards where the RV once

parked. Its alive with lights.
He gets closer. A candlelight vigil. At least a hundred
people, standing in the cold. He walks past a reporter -REPORTER
Four days have passed since Anna
Dover and Joy Birch were last seen
by their families. The two girls,
age six and seven, are believed to
have been playing right here on
this street when they disappeared
without a trace. As you can see,
despite the cold, a lot of people
have turned out tonight to show
their support. Police are asking
that anyone who has any
information regarding the girls
whereabouts -- no matter how minor
-- to call the twenty-four hour
tip line.

(CONTINUED)

81

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

45
81

He spots Nancy and Eliza and goes to them.

NANCY

Hi.

He takes her hand, then Elizas...

NANCY (CONTD)
(whispers to
Franklin)
Where have you been?
He doesnt answer.
nauseous.

All the lights are making him

Franklin?

NANCY (CONTD)

FRANKLIN
The woods, searching.
The lights are unbearable.
reeling a little.
What is it?

He lets go of their hands,

NANCY

FRANKLIN
Nothing, Im OK. Just need to sit
down.
As his wife and daughter walk after him, he sits down on
someones lawn and tries not to throw up.
Across the way we see Loki watching.
scanning the crowd --

He turns --

Lokis POV -- somber, candlelit faces, breath showing in

the cold, standing like a choir; all facing the same
direction...
Except for A TALL MAN, whos staring at the Birches...
Loki starts carefully moving through the crowd...getting
a better view of the Tall Man: pudgy, baby face, partly
obscured by the hood of his parka -Loki bumps into a woman -- knocks the candle from her
hand -Watch it --

WOMAN

Loki looks over at the Tall Man -- their eyes lock -(CONTINUED)

81

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

46
81

The Tall Man turns abruptly, starts weaving out of the

crowd -- heads are turning -- a quiet commotion building
when -Loki gives up trying to be gentle -- shoves his way out
of the crowd -- breaking into a run, the Tall Man about
thirty yards ahead -LOKI
Stop right now! Police!
Lokis POV as he chases the Tall Man -- the Tall Man runs
down into a ditch lining the roadside. Loki sprints down
after him -- losing sight of him when the Tall Man clears
the other side -Loki gets to the top of the slope, sees the Tall Man
running between two houses -Loki gives chase as the Tall Man runs out on to another
street -Lokis POV as he chases The Tall Man down the middle of
the street -- the Tall Man veers off, runs up a hilly
front yard and disappears behind a house -Loki hits the hilly yard -- runs around the other side of
the same house -Loki peers around the corner of the house at the backyard
-- nobody there. Then he sees the motion lights come on
next door -- hears a dog barking -Loki draws his gun, heads to the chain link fence
dividing the two backyards, steps over it, sees the
leashed guard dog across the way, barking at something -The dog notices Loki -- wheels around and charges him -until its leash goes taught and snaps it back -Loki breathes out, scans the yard.
Man. Then --

No sign of the Tall

Something falls down to the ground beside Loki.

icicle. He looks up --

An

Icicles hanging off the bottom of a tree house. There

could be someone up there -- its hard to tell from the
ground -- its about ten feet up. Loki aims his gun up
at it...
LOKI (CONTD)
Hello? You dont come down on
three, Im gonna start shooting.
One, two...three -(CONTINUED)

81

Prisoners CONTINUED: (3)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

46A
81

Nothing. Loki breathes out, considering as the motion

lights go dark -A shape drops down from the tree house, Loki fires BANG,
misses -- THUMP -- a boot hits his face, he falls back
into the snow -- lights come back on as -Loki scrambles up -- he dropped his gun -- sees the Tall
Man is climbing over a wooden fence across the way -Loki looks around in the snow for his gun -- there, grabs
it -- aims -- the Tall Man is going over the fence -STOP!

LOKI (CONTD)

The Tall Man keeps going -Son of bitch!

LOKI (CONTD)

(CONTINUED)

81

Prisoners CONTINUED: (4)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

47
81

Loki runs to the fence -- climbs -- falls into a snow

drift -THE DIN OF ENGINES, CARS BLASTING PAST -- HES ON THE
SIDE OF A HIGHWAY -Loki peers through the blur of speeding cars to the other
side -- no sign of the Tall Man.
Struggling to catch his breath, Loki turns around,
scanning, scanning -Nothing.
close.
82

Lokis about to loose his mind -- so fucking

INT. TV ROOM - THE BIRCHS HOUSE - MORNING

82

The Birchs TV: a news report -- a police sketch on

screen. A fairly accurate rendering of the Tall Man -NEWS CASTER
--who police are saying is a
person of interest in the
investigation of the two missing
girls -Angle widens to reveal Franklin watching -- Nancy asleep
on the couch. The room hasnt been cleaned since
Thanksgiving.
Someone beeps their horn out front, startles Franklin -he looks out the window. Kellers truck just pulled up -83

EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE - MORNING

83

Franklin follows Keller up the front stairs, theyre in

the midst of a hushed argument -FRANKLIN
Why would the police be looking
for him if he didnt -KELLER
They did it together -- they know
each other. I told you, Jones
looked me in the eye and told me:
they only cried when I left them.
He knows where this guy is.

(CONTINUED)

83

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

48
83

Franklin tries to swallow that, but its not going

down... Keller leaves him on the stairs and disappears
inside...
Franklin considers darkly...then after a moment he
follows Keller inside, looking like hes being led to the
gallows...
84

INT. CAPTAINS OFFICE - POLICE STATION - DAY

84

Loki walks in and drops something on O'Malley's desk.

A little dog collar with ID tags on it.
LOKI
Holly Jones dog. Car hit it on
Southworth Street. Turns out
Jones took it for a walk the night
before last and didn't come back.
His aunt didn't tell us until we
called her about the dog this
morning -- said she didn't want to
get him in trouble. I thought we
were gonna keep him under
surveillance.
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
You said the runner at the vigil
is our guy. I dont have money in
the budget for watching innocent
people.
OMalley sees a sliver of doubt in Lokis eyes before
Loki can conceal it. Loki opens the door, and as he
exits -LOKI
I just like knowing where
everybody is -85

INT. MEDIA ROOM - POLICE STATION - DAY

85

Loki sits in a broom closet of a room, stocked with

outdated equipment. Hes watching surveillance video
from when he questioned Jones in the interrogation room:
LOKI
Did you park your RV on Fairmount
Circle yesterday?
JONES
I dont know the names. The
street names, I dont look at
them.
(CONTINUED)

85

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

49
85

Loki shows pictures of Anna and Joy to Jones.

LOKI
Have you seen these girls before?
Jones face as he looks at the pictures, unable to
answer. Nothing telling in his expression. Just a man
lost in his own world.
A CLERK opens the door, awakens Loki from his trance -CLERK
Loki, you got a call.
86

INT. DISCOUNT DEPARTMENT STORE - DAY

86

Christmas music squawks as Detective Loki stands in the

check-out line talking to JILL, 16, working the register.
JILL
I called as soon as I saw the
sketch on TV. He comes in here
every week almost and buys kids
clothes, but hes always buying
stuff in different sizes. Caught
him messing around with the
mannequins once.
LOKI
How did he pay?
Cash.

JILL

LOKI
Heres my card. If he comes back,
call me.
87

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - NIGHT

87

Franklin, shivering in his underwear fumbles in his

backpack for clean clothes. Hes crying silently, wiping
specks of blood off his face.
KELLER
Were not done, Franklin.
Keller stands a few feet away, blood on his shirt, stone
faced. The closed door to the bathroom, Jones
whimpering.

(CONTINUED)

87

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

50
87

FRANKLIN
Well -- well come back later.
Need to get home.
KELLER
Its been five days. Maybe five
days since theyve had a drink of
water. This could be the last
night that matters.
FRANKLIN
Ill call you after Nancy falls
asleep. I promise.
Keller looks dubious.
88

INT. KITCHEN - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - NIGHT

88

Nancy pours Eliza a bowl of cereal, they both look

exhausted.
NANCY
Will you do me a favor and start
feeding your sisters gerbil?
Just until she comes back.
Eliza nods. Nancy pours the milk, sits down, her cold
coffee waiting. Eliza eats a cereal flake with her
fingers.
The sound of Franklin coming in the front door.
gets up fast -89

Nancy

INT. VESTIBULE - THE BIRCHS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Franklin locks the front door as Nancy appears behind
him.
NANCY
Do you know what time it is?
He turns, snaps at her -Dont!

FRANKLIN
Just dont!

She stops, shocked by the way he looks, like hes aged,

and his eyes -- staring through her.

89

Prisoners
90

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

51

EXT. THE DOVERS' HOUSE - NIGHT

90

With Franklin standing meekly behind her, Nancy rings the

door bell over and over, until finally Keller opens the
door.
Nancy glowers at Keller, trembling...
NANCY
What the hell were you thinking?
Keller gives Franklin the evil eye, then steps outside,
closes the door behind him -- shoots Nancy a hard look...
KELLER
You tell anyone?
Nancy shakes her head. She looks at Franklin, her anger
starting to collapse into a desperate hope...
NANCY
I want to see him.
91

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - TRAVELING - NIGHT

Nancy and Franklin ride up front with Keller.
pulls into a liquor store parking lot.

91
Keller

FRANKLIN
Where are we going?
KELLER
Cant keep parking in front -people are gonna notice.
Well walk from here.
92

EXT. LIQUOR STORE PARKING LOT - NIGHT

92

Keller, Nancy and Franklin exit the truck and walk

silently across the parking lot. A doll peeks out of
Nancys purse...
93

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

The bathroom door opens.
clutching her purse...

Nancy walks in, alone,

Jones wrists are tied to a pipe in the shower. His face

is all but hidden; wrapped in blood soaked rags, just one
eye peeks out...

(CONTINUED)

93

93

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

52
93

Nancy doesnt scare easy; she moves in close and gets

down to eye level with him...
She pulls some pictures of Joy out of her purse and lays
them out on the floor. Then some drawings. And finally
the doll.
NANCY
This is her favorite doll.
She cant sleep without it.
Nancy fights to keep from crying.
his cyclops eye staring blankly.

She looks to Jones,

NANCY (CONTD)
She did these drawings. Theyre
kind of sad, see. She hasnt had
the easiest life.
He starts to come to life a little; leaning over to get a
closer look at the photos and drawings.
NANCY (CONTD)
Please help her.
She stops and considers for a moment. Then, with shaking
hands, she starts to remove the rags from Jones head.
His face is a horror.
She peels the duct tape off Jones mouth, revealing the
rag stuffed inside. She pulls it out, then sets about
untying his wrists from the pipe, freeing his mangled
hands.
Jones mouth starts moving. Hes saying something...
Nancy moves in closer, closer, until finally she gets the
message:
Help me.

JONES

Jones grabs Joy's doll, stands up and backs away from

Nancy, towards THE WINDOW...
Jones beats the doll's head against the window -- the
glass shatters. Nancy SCREAMS. Keller and Franklin rush
inside.
KELLER
You untied him?!
Jones is wriggling out the window, about to plunge three
floors, when Keller grabs his legs and yanks him back in.

(CONTINUED)

93

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

53
93

Jones grabs a shard of glass off the sill. Keller gets

his chest slashed as he grabs Jones' wrist and slams it
into the wall repeatedly. Jones drops the shard -Shocked, Nancy watches Keller and Franklin struggle to
tie Jones back up, trampling Joys belongings beneath
their feet.
94

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - POLICE STATION - NIGHT

Loki sits down across from Father Dunne. Standing by the
door is the seldom smiling DETECTIVE CHEMELINSKI, 43.
LOKI
Detective Chemelinski said you had
some specifics about the crimes
you claimed this man committed.
The abductions.
FATHER PATRICK DUNN
He was waging a war against God.
Loki shakes his head -LOKI
Great.
(to Chemelinski)
You told me he had something?
CHEMELINSKI
(to Dunne)
Tell him how he took the kids,
shitbird.
Loki looks back to the priest, waiting...
FATHER PATRICK DUNN
He said he took them in daylight.
Sometimes more than one child at a
time.
Loki leans in, suddenly very interested.
He said that?
Yes.

LOKI
FATHER PATRICK DUNN

LOKI
Did he mention an accomplice?
Any names?

(CONTINUED)

94

94

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

54
94

FATHER PATRICK DUNN

No. But he said he had a family.
A wife and a son.
95

INT. SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY - APARTMENT HOUSE - NIGHT

95

The closed door to the apartment. Behind the door we

hear the WHINE OF A BAND SAW REVVING UP.
96

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT - NIGHT

96

Keller, leaned over the band saw lost in a cloud of saw

dust as he slices through a piece of plywood.
He slams nails into wood with a nail gun, one after
another, like the ticking of some two ton clock hand.
Were too close to see what hes building...
97

INT. THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

97

Nancy stands in front of the humming microwave, zoning

out as leftovers bubble and melt. IT BEEPS. The clock:
2:05 am. The door bell rings, jolts her -VESTIBULE
Nancy opens the door.
sawdust.

Its Keller.

Hes covered in

NANCY
What is it -- what happened?
Get Franklin.
how it works.
98

KELLER
I need to show you

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT HOUSE - NIGHT

Keller, Franklin and Nancy approach the closed bathroom
door.
FRANKLIN
We need to let him go.
KELLER
You said that already.
NANCY
Has he said anything new?
(CONTINUED)

98

98

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

He will.
99

1/17/13

55
98

KELLER
Soon. Youll see.

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

No sign of Jones, but where the shower used to be is a
false wall made of wood: THE CELL.
KELLER
No light gets in, barely enough
room to sit down inside.
The shower still works, but we
control it from out here. I
rigged the water heater, so it
either comes out scalding or
freezing.
He motions to two pipes jutting out of the cell, with
faucet knobs on the end, cold and hot.
KELLER (CONTD)
Talk to him through this -Keller motions to a PVC pipe jutting out, bent like an
elbow.
Nancy leans in and listens: JONES IS INSIDE sobbing...
Oh my God.

NANCY

Franklin notices a little picture of Anna and Joy tacked

to the outside of the cell.
KELLER
To remind us. In case we start
feeling sorry for him.
Nancy and Franklin are stupefied.
KELLER (CONTD)
We cant hurt him any more without
killing him. This is the only
way.
FRANKLIN
Are you out of your fucking mind?
INSIDE THE PITCH BLACK CELL
Jones stops sobbing and quiets, listening to the muffled
timbre of their voices...
BACK TO:
(CONTINUED)

99

99

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

56
99

Keller, as he picks up a hammer and hands it to Franklin.

KELLER
You have a better idea? Go ahead,
let him out if you want to.
I wont stop you. If thats
really what you want, go ahead.
Franklin considers with harried eyes...
KELLER (CONTD)
You think someone is looking out
for our girls the way youre
looking out for him? Five days
theyve been gone now. Were
running out of time.
FRANKLIN
We dont even know if hes the
guy, Keller.
KELLER

I do.

FRANKLIN
I want my daughter back as much as
you do. Id die for her -- but
this needs to end.
KELLER
Then you better get to work.
Id start with that wall there.
Franklin looks to Nancy, but her eyes are lost. He takes
a breath, then goes to the cell, starting to pry at one
of the walls with the hammer.
After a few moments Nancy puts her hand on his shoulder -Dont.

NANCY
Franklin, stop.

He shakes his head and keeps on prying at the wood,

BREAKING OFF A SMALL PANEL -SUDDENLY JONES REACHES OUT AND GRABS HIM. Franklin drops
the hammer. NANCY SCREAMS as he yanks his arm from
Jones grasp.
Franklin levels a long accusing stare at Keller.
Lets just go.

NANCY (CONTD)
Please.

(CONTINUED)

99

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

57
99

Franklin finally heeds his wife and they leave Keller

alone with his creation...
100

EXT. FRONT/BACK YARD - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - NIGHT

100

An unseen persons POV, the INTRUDER, creeping across the

Birches' moonlit backyard, moving towards...
THE BACK DOOR
The Intruders hand jimmying the lock with a screw
driver...
101

INT. BATHROOM - THE BIRCHS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

101

Eliza is taking a bath, talking on her cell phone to

Ralph.
ELIZA
(into phone)
I need to get out of here, Ralph.
Everything in this house makes me
want to throw up.
(listening)
Your Dads building? Im not
staying in that crackhouse.
Gross.
102

INT. HALLWAY - THE BIRCHS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

102

Back to the Intruders POV, moving down the hallway: he

stops at the closed bathroom door, listening to Elizas
voice...
103

INT. MINIVAN - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

103

Franklin pulls into the driveway, Nancy sitting in the

passenger seat. Both sit in silence for a moment, then:
FRANKLIN
Kellers gonna kill him. The guy
doesnt know anything, Nancy.
Hes just some poor fool who
parked on our street...
(beat)
Im gonna go back there -- without
Keller -- let him out...
NANCY
Youre not going back to that
place.
(CONTINUED)

103

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

57A

Franklin looks at her, not sure what shes getting at.

NANCY (CONTD)
If you do, Ill call the police
and tell them everything.
(beat)
Were not gonna help Keller -- but
were not gonna stop him either.
Let him do what he thinks he needs
to...
(beat)
We dont know about it anymore.
And with that Nancy gets out and shuts the door -leaving Franklin in shocked silence.

103

Prisoners
104

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

58

INT. HALLWAY - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Nancy walks down the hallway, stopping at the closed
bathroom door. She knocks.
NANCY

Eliza?
She knocks again.
Eliza?

NANCY (CONTD)
You in there?

She tries the door.

behind her.

Its locked.

Franklin comes up

FRANKLIN
Whats the matter?
Nancy turns to him, terrified.
NANCY
Shes not answering.
Franklins eyes go wide.
BANGS ON THE DOOR --

Nancy rattles the doorknob --

NANCY (CONTD)
Eliza, honey open the door.
Open the door, sweetheart -- Oh
Jesus -(screaming at
Franklin)
Break it down! Hurry up!
Franklin stands back, about to kick the door in when
Eliza opens the door in a towel, hand over her cell
phone.
ELIZA
Fuck you both. Next time youre
going to leave me here alone -maybe you could try at least
telling me where youre going.
NANCY
Im sorry, honey, we thought you
were sleeping -- we were at the
police station -Eliza slams the door in their face.

104

Prisoners
105

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

59

EXT. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE - CONTINUOUS

105

Back to the Intruders POV: as he moves across the street

to the Dovers' house. Kellers truck isnt in the
driveway.
He moves around to the back of the house...
106

INT. HALLWAY - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

106

The intruders POV: as he moves past the closed door to

Ralphs room. The muffled sound of him talking on the
phone.
107

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

107

Grace lies in bed, sleeping, suddenly awakened as she

hears a noise in the next room. She sits up.
Anna?

Anna?

GRACE

She gets out of bed...

108

INT. HALLWAY - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Grace moves slowly down the hallway.
to Annas room is open...

109

108

She sees the door

INT. ANNAS ROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Grace walks inside the room and turns on the light.
Annas window is conspicuously open, curtains billowing.
GRACE
Anna? I heard you. Its Mommy,
honey. Come out and see Mommy.
She stands there in the middle of the room, zoning out,
her breath starting to show in the cold. Ralph appears
in the doorway, half asleep.
RALPH
Ma, what are you doing?
Its freezing.
Ralph goes to the window. He looks outside.
there. He shuts the window --

Nothing

109

Prisoners
110

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

60

INT. ANNAS ROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - LATER

110

Loki follows a thoroughly drugged Grace into Annas room.

GRACE
She was in here. I heard her.
And when I came in, the window was
-She starts to get dizzy. Loki steadies her and sits her
down on the side of the bed.
GRACE (CONTD)
She opened her window. Ralph
closed it, but it was open before.
(beat)
Arent you going to write that
down?
Loki nods, and trying to do so with as little
condescension as possible, pulls out his note pad and
jots down:
IN THE HOUSE? OPEN WINDOW
The basement.
basement.
111

GRACE (O.S.) (CONTD)

I need to check the

INT. BASEMENT - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Grace leads Loki down the stairs. Loki looks around, a
little taken aback by the floor to ceiling provisions.
While Grace searches for Anna, Loki notices a little
sketch on Kellers work table: a stick figure in a box...
Then he sees something else, among the provisions...a
half used bag of lye. He lingers on it for a moment.
LOKI
Where is your husband, Mrs. Dover?
GRACE
I was going to ask you. He said
hes been helping the police look
for Anna.
Loki looks dubious, thinking...
LOKI
You think hell be back soon?
No.

GRACE
Hes never home until late.
(CONTINUED)

111

111

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

61
111

Loki looks at his watch: 3:45 am.

112

INT. BLACK SEDAN - PARKED - DAY

112

Frozen rain comes down -- Loki squints out his windshield

-- cant see anything. He hits the wipers. Now he can
see again: he's parked up the street from the Dovers'
house.
113

EXT. THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

113

Keller emerges from his front door and walks to his

truck.
114

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

Loki drives, tailing Keller.
bean into his mouth.

114

He yawns then pops a coffee

He turns the police radio down and turns on the FM,

tuning in a 50s pop song, tapping along, trying to stay
alert.
115

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

115

Keller listens to the Everyday Testament while he drives,

fast forwarding, looking for something hes not finding,
until it EATS THE TAPE.
116

EXT. LIQUOR STORE PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

116

Keller pulls into the parking lot -117

EXT. LIQUOR STORE PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

117

Keller gets out of the truck and starts across the

parking lot towards the apartment house.
118

INT. BLACK SEDAN - PARKED - CONTINUOUS

118

Loki pulls to the side of the road, watching Keller

trudge across the parking lot when a truck comes up
behind him -Loki waves him past, but the truck doesnt budge, BLARING
HIS HORN --

(CONTINUED)

118

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Shit.

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

61A
118

LOKI
Shit shit shit.

Prisoners
119

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

62

EXT. LIQUOR STORE PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

Keller hears the trucks HORN BLARING.
spots Lokis car.

119

He looks over and

Keller freezes. Hes busted; standing in the middle of a

parking lot, nowhere near his truck, about to lead Loki
to the apartment house.
He grimaces, thinking. He looks back over his shoulder.
The liquor store MANAGER, 38, is raising the storefront
security cage -Keller does an about face, and starts walking back,
veering towards the liquor store.
120

INT. BLACK SEDAN - PARKED - CONTINUOUS

120

Loki watches, baffled, as Keller walks into the liquor

store.
121

OMITTED

122A

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

121
122A

The freezing rain begins turning to snow. Lokis side

mirror reflects cars passing as he waits for Keller to
come out of the liquor store.
122

INT. BLACK SEDAN - PARKED - MOMENTS LATER

122

Loki watches as Keller walks from the liquor store, paper

bag in hand, making a bee line for Lokis car. Loki
shakes his head; he cant believe this guy.

(CONTINUED)

122

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

63
122

As he approaches, Keller pulls the bottle from the paper

bag, unscrews the cap and takes a slug...
123

EXT. LIQUOR STORE PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

Keller knocks on Lokis passenger side window.
the window down...

123
Loki puts

KELLER
Why are you following me?
124

INT. BLACK SEDAN - PARKED - CONTINUOUS

124

Loki leans over the seat and opens the door.

Sit down.

LOKI

Keller takes his time, but he does as hes asked and gets
in. He sits there and takes another long haul of
whiskey.
LOKI (CONTD)
Youve got a bag of lye in your
basement thats half gone. And
your wife thinks youve been out
helping us -- which we both know
isnt true.
Keller shakes his head in bitter disbelief, breathes out:
KELLER
Used the lye to bury our dog last
year. And helping the cops sounds
better than Ive been driving
aimlessly in my truck, cause I
dont know what the fuck else to
do.
LOKI
Is that what you were doing on
Saturday night?
Probably.

KELLER

LOKI
Im asking because you assaulted a
man who is now missing.
I heard.

KELLER
So what happened to him?
(CONTINUED)

124

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

64
124

LOKI
I assume the fact youre asking
means you dont know.
KELLER
I didnt think it was something I
could get away with.
Its not.

LOKI

KELLER
Couldnt be that he skipped town
cause the asshole is guilty, nah
couldnt be that, cause that
would be your fault, wouldnt it?
LOKI
Where were you going just now?
KELLER
(raises the bottle)
To get this.
LOKI
No, before that. You were walking
in the other direction, across the
parking lot towards Campello
Street.
Keller drinks some more, stalling, until:
KELLER
I havent had a drink in a long
time. I figured if I walked
around the parking lot for a
while, by the time they opened Id
stop wanting it so bad. Then I
saw you, and that sort of helped
make up my mind.
Loki stares into Kellers eyes, finding no apparent trace
of falsity, just undeniable sadness. Keller offers the
bottle to Loki. Loki shakes his head.
LOKI
Your little girl will need you
when she comes home, Mr. Dover.
You and your wife need to take
care of yourselves, thats the
best thing you can do for her
right now.

(CONTINUED)

124

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

65
124

KELLER
Thanks for the tip.
(guzzles some
whiskey)
I heard kids gone for more than a
week have half as good a chance of
being found. And after a month
almost none are. Not alive.
Beat.

A heavy quiet...the falling snow...

LOKI
It hasnt been a week yet.

Keller starts to get out, but before he closes the door -LOKI (CONTD)
You dont think Im going to let
you get behind the wheel of an
automobile after youve been
drinking -- in the middle of a
blizzard. Let me drive you home.
KELLER
Im gonna walk.
Keller shuts the door, and Loki watches as he walks off
into the white blur of falling snow.
125

EXT. THE DOVERS' HOUSE - DUSK

125

Keller trudges up his driveway, completely drunk, half

frozen. He tosses the now empty bottle of whiskey into a
snow drift.
126

INT. BEDROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

126

Keller walks in. Grace is passed out in bed. He takes

his boots off, almost falling over in the process.
Then he crawls into bed with his clothes on, his
bloodshot eyes fluttering closed...
CUT TO:
127

INT. KELLERS DREAM - BEDROOM - NIGHT - THE DOVERS' HOUSE

Keller opens his eyes to see ANNA STANDING BY THE SIDE OF
THE BED. Hes too shocked to speak. She holds up a red
whistle.

(CONTINUED)

127

127

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

66
127

ANNA
Look, Daddy! We found it!
We found it! It was at the bottom
of the Brewers pool!
Keller sits up, eyes tearing, reaching for her -BACK TO:
128

INT. BEDROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MORNING

128

Keller wakes up aghast, and still a little drunk. He

thinks for a moment -- staring at the spot where Anna
stood in his dream, when suddenly his face goes hard with
fright -No -- no --

KELLER

He jumps out of bed -129

INT. DEN - PAUL BREWERS HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

129

BILL BREWER, 8, stares through a sliding glass door at

the pool area in his back yard. Hes intently watching
something we cant yet see...
BILL
Mom, theres a man in our yard.
JANE BREWER, 29, still in pajamas, coffee in hand, walks
up behind Bill -JANE
Come eat your breakfast, Bill.
She looks out the glass door, and drops her coffee.
JANE (CONTD)
(calling into the
next room)
Paul! PAUL!
130

EXT. POOL AREA - PAUL BREWERS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Paul, in boots and pajamas, slowly slides open the glass
door, frightened eyes locked on...
The pool. Someones dragged part of the pool cover off.
Paul walks up to the pools edge, his wife and son
watching through the glass door in the background...
(CONTINUED)

130

130

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

67
130

Baffled, Paul stares down at the exposed icy green water

when suddenly -- KELLER BURSTS TO THE SURFACE, SUCKING
AIR -Paul almost has a heart attack, backing away, eyes wide,
as Keller climbs out of the pool, shivering, skin blue -Keller?
on?

PAUL
What the hell is going

Keller doesnt answer, his eyes look like theyre still

dreaming. He lumbers away without a word, while Paul and
his family watch on in shocked disbelief.
Paul takes a look in the water to see if hes missing
something. But all he sees is a pool full of ice and
leaves.
131

EXT. RIVERBANK - MORNING

131

We move over the river -- two police boats deploying

divers -- search and rescue dogs roaming the shoreline -search teams moving into the adjacent woods...
132

INT. LOKIS DESK - CONYERS POLICE STATION - DAY

Loki, stares at his computer screen, perplexed. Hes
been here all night and looks it. He grabs his bag of
coffee beans -- sees its empty -- tosses it aside -The CAPTAINS SECRETARY, 29, walks by drinking coffee.
CAPTAINS SECRETARY
You need a shower, Loki.

(CONTINUED)

132

132

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

68
132

Loki waves her away. On screen: a newspaper article.

A picture of Kellers Dad. The headline: GRATERFORD
GUARD COMMITS SUICIDE IN HOME
Loki scans the article, eyes resting on an address:
234 Campello Street, apt 3
He remembers something and gets up, gets his coat on -133

EXT. LIQUOR STORE PARKING LOT - DAY

133

Keller walks across the parking lot towards his truck,

still parked where he left it the previous day...and
right past it, on to the apartment house...
134

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - DAY

134

The cell, the sound of the SHOWER BLASTING INSIDE. Steam

rises from the PVC pipe as Jones BANGS ON THE INSIDE -Keller turns it off. He looks close to tears -- hitting
his breaking point...when he hears something -- Jones
mumbling something over and over again:
JONES
...not Alex. Im not Alex.
not him -- Im not Alex --

Im

Hearing Jones voice gives Keller a burst of adrenaline -KELLER

What do you mean? Who are you
then? Come on -- talk to me.
JONES
...Im not him, not him -Jones words fragment into gibberish -- Keller punches
the outside of the cell -KELLER
You ARE him -- this IS happening.
All you need to do to make it stop
is tell me where they are.
No response. Just a horrible dripping sound...
takes a breath, then:

Keller

KELLER (CONTD)
Dont make me do this anymore.
Keller reaches to turn the water back on, but he cant -tears crawling down his face as he mouths: Im sorry -(CONTINUED)

134

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

68A
134

He kneels down. Squeezes his hands together. And after

a moment starts to mutter what sounds like a prayer -135

EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Loki's car pulls up in front of the apartment house.
gets out and observes the building from the street,
considering...

136

135
He

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - DAY

136

Keller stands up -- takes a breath, looks over at the

cell...
137

EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Loki observes the padlock on the front door IS HANGING
UNCLAMPED. Someones inside. He thinks for a second,
then clamps the padlock shut.

137

Prisoners
138

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

69

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER

138

Keller is about to turn the hot water back on when he

hears something outside. He goes to the bathroom window,
looks down into the back alley and sees:
Loki trying to remove the board from a low lying window -Fuck me.
139

KELLER

INT. STAIRS - CONTINUOUS

139

Keller jumps down flights of stairs, making a mad dash

for...
THE FRONT DOOR TO THE BUILDING
Keller tries the door, BUT LOKIS PADLOCKED THE OUTSIDE -140

INT. FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

140

Keller enters, frantic. One of the boards covering the

windows is being pried from the outside -- but it's still
in place, Loki has yet to see inside.
Keller lays his coat out like a blanket and lies down on
top of it, pretending hes been sleeping here all night -Loki gets the board off the window. He pokes his head
inside and sees Keller lying there on the floor.
Loki climbs in. Then he walks to Keller and toes his
ribs with his shoe.
LOKI
Rise and shine.
Keller opens his eyes, pretends to look surprised, plays
up the hangover.
LOKI (CONTD)
I knew you were headed over this
way. Im not going to find two
little girls in this building am
I, Mr. Dover?
Fuck you.

KELLER

LOKI
What about Alex Jones?
(CONTINUED)

140

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

70
140

KELLER
What about him? I came here to
drink. Didnt want to do it in
front of my wife. My father left
me this building.
Loki considers.
LOKI
Mind giving me the tour?
Loki motions to the door.
up.
141

Keller breathes out and gets

INT. STAIRWELL - APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

141

Keller walks up the stairs, panic in his eyes, Loki a few

steps behind him.
LOKI
Why didnt you tell me about this
place?
KELLER
Didnt think it mattered.
LOKI
Everything matters.
142

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT HOUSE CONTINUOUS

Keller walks inside the apartment, Loki follows, looks
around, CLAPS HIS HANDS a couple times to wake himself up
-- Keller flinches -LOKI
All that survival gear in your
basement, you know something the
rest of us dont?
KELLER
Pray for the best. Prepare for
the worst.
Loki nods condescendingly.

142

Prisoners
143

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

71

INT. STAIRWELL - APARTMENT HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

143

Loki follows Keller up the stairs to the second floor.

Keller slows the ascent, desperate, doesnt know what to
do -LOKI
Come on, hurry up -Lokis PHONE RINGS -144

EXT. PARKING LOT - DISCOUNT DEPARTMENT STORE - CONTINUOUS

144

Jill the check out girl watches as a little junker of a

car takes off out of the parking lot, shes out of breath
-JILL
(into the phone)
The guy youre looking for was
just here. He saw me watching him
and ran.
LOKI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
Get his plates?
145

INT. STAIRWELL - APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

145

Loki rushes past Keller up the stairs to the second floor

as Jill gives him the plates...
Keller freezes, going out of his mind as he listens to
Loki's ECHOING FOOT FALLS...
Until they suddenly stop. HE'S AT THE DOOR. Keller
takes a breath and bounds up the rest of the stairs, just
in time to see Loki disappear into the apartment -146

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

146

Loki walks inside, hangs up his phone and takes a quick

look, rushing, distracted. THE DOOR TO THE BATHROOM IS
OPEN, but the light is out. Jones is silent and from
where Loki is standing...
The cell looks like just another unfinished wall.
turns around and rushes out --

Loki

Prisoners
147

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

72

INT. HALLWAY - THE APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

147

Loki walks out into the hall. Keller is waiting for him,
ready to be busted. But then Loki just rushes right past
him, barreling down the stairs -LOKI (O.S.)
Go home, Mr. Dover.
Keller stands there dumbstruck. Then he walks to the
open apartment door and looks inside across the way at
the open bathroom door, realizing his good luck...
148

EXT. FRONT DOOR - BOB TAYLORS HOUSE - DAY

148

Loki pushes a doorbell and waits. Someones made a snow

angel in the front yard. Loki stares at it, lost in
thought until the door opens -Hi.

BOB TAYLOR

The man from the candlelight vigil: BOB TAYLOR, 39.

gives him a big smile, shows him his badge.

Loki

LOKI
Why did you run away from me the
other night?
BOB TAYLOR
Ive never seen you before. You
sure you got the right house?
LOKI
You done any shopping at AJ Sax
lately?
BOB TAYLOR
Yeah, why is it a crime to shop
there?
(motioning to Lokis
suit)
I dont have the money to shop at
Brooks Brothers.
LOKI
You bought childs clothing.
Did I?
hurry.

BOB TAYLOR
I must have been in a

LOKI
Do you have any children?
(CONTINUED)

148

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

73
148

Bob pauses, slowly shaking his head.

BOB TAYLOR
No...I dont have anything.
Loki gets his foot in the door jam, starts trying to push
his way in as Bob braces against the door -149

INT. VESTIBULE - BOB TAYLORS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

149

Loki shoves the door open. He grabs Bob, slams him into
some shelves knocking them down -- then slams Bob face
first into the floor, breaking his nose. Loki cuffs his
hands behind his back and forces him to lie on his
stomach.
LOKI
Your nose leaves that floor I will
shoot you.
Loki gets on his phone as he starts checking the houses
interior.
LOKI (CONTD)
Need a rescue unit at 437 Carrol
Street -- possible kidnap victims
on the premises.
Lokis POV: mazes are drawn on the walls and cut-out of
the carpets...
KITCHEN
Theres something in the kitchen sink: flies buzzing all
around it. Loki walks to the sink and sees some hair...
He looks closer, covering his mouth as he steps to the
sink and looks inside. A pigs head, wearing a wig.
HALLWAY
Loki moves down the hallway -- stops at an open door.
cluttered room -- a cage full of mice...

Loki continues down the hall, comes to a closed door.

Its locked -150A

EXT. LOKIS SEDAN - PARKED/BOBS HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Loki throws a cuffed Bob Taylor into the back of his car,
slams the door -- pops his trunk, grabs a crowbar --

150A

Prisoners
150B

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

73A

INT. HALLWAY - BOB TAYLORS HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

150B

Loki pries at the locked door with the crowbar -- the

wood splinters -- the door pops open, revealing...
A small room.
Lokis POV as the door swings in: stacked high against
the wall are SIXTEEN HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC CONTAINERS -Lokis jaw drops. He struggles to take one down.
heavy, and locked.

Its

(CONTINUED)

150B

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

74
150B

Loki PRIES THE LOCKED CLASP WITH THE CROWBAR until it

breaks. He flips it open. Some bloody kids clothes.
THERES SOMETHING MOVING UNDERNEATH...
Loki reaches inside.

A SNAKE RISES UP -- HISSING --

LOKI
Shit -- fuck -LOKI SLAMS IT CLOSED.
Loki takes a breath, then in a mad blur he takes down
another container and another, using the crowbar to break
the locked clasps, flipping the tops open -More bloody kids clothes -- more SNAKES.
containers to open --

More plastic

Moments later hes dripping with sweat, surrounded by

open containers, snakes everywhere. Just one to go...
Out of breath, Loki breaks the lock and opens it...
Inside is a homemade book. Scrawled on its cover:
IF YOU FINISH ALL THE MAZES YOU CAN GO HOME
150

INT. HALLWAY - POLICE STATION - DAY

150

Keller sits on a bench. A SQUEALING door opens.

Franklin bursts out, horrified and rushes past him down
the hall. Then Nancy comes out in tears, her eyes meet
Kellers for a moment, stunning him -Keller stands up, getting freaked out. Nancy rushes down
the hall, sobbing, rushing after Franklin.
Loki stands in the doorway looking shaken up.
Mr. Dover?

LOKI
Your wife here?

Nancys sobbing is still audible, until she exits into

the parking lot with Franklin and the DOOR SLAMS behind
them.

(CONTINUED)

150

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

Mr. Dover?

1/17/13

75
150

LOKI (CONTD)

KELLER
Shes not coming.
Loki nods, considering.
LOKI
Alright. But if you cant make a
positive ID...shes going to need
to come in and take a look at
this.
151

INT. EVIDENCE ROOM - POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS

A banged up table covered with evidence bags, all
containing different articles of bloody childrens
clothing.
Loki watches on as Keller stares down at the bagged
clothes.
He confessed?
them?

KELLER
He said he killed

LOKI
We had hoped he was lying -- we
didnt find any bodies, but, Mr.
Dover...
Loki is absorbing Kellers dread, struggling to continue:
LOKI (CONTD)
The Birches just positively IDd
two of these as belonging to their
daughter.
(beat)
Do you recognize anything?
Keller looks over the bags, his body going cold as he
picks one up and looks at the shredded shirt inside. He
gently sets it down, relieved.
Another bag, as he picks it up and inspects a bloody
sleeve ripped from a little coat. Another sigh of relief
-- and then as he sees whats beneath it...
A lone sock with a bunny face on it.
His hands are shaking.
Mr. Dover?

Keller picks it up.

LOKI (CONTD)
(CONTINUED)

151

151

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

76
151

Suddenly Keller grabs Loki and slams him against the

wall.
KELLER
You wasted time -- you wasted time
following ME! YOU LET THIS
HAPPEN!
Loki shoves him off.

Plays it tough.

LOKI
(bellicose)
I did everything I could.
KELLER
Keep telling yourself that.
Keller walks out and SLAMS THE DOOR -Loki looks down at the bloody sock in the plastic bag.
He lingers on it guiltily, perhaps imagining how it came
to be here...
Loki seems to lose himself for a moment, his face going
sick...
152

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

152

Keller opens the door, looking in on Grace, passed out in

bed. He watches her for a moment, his face like that of
some malfunctioning robot...
153

INT. ANNAS ROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - DAY

153

Ralph sits on his sisters bed in shock, holding his cell

phone. He looks up as Keller walks inside and goes to
the window. There are two news vans parked out front.
KELLER
Dont talk to them.
Ralph stands up.
RALPH
Eliza told me theyre dead.
(beat)
Is it true?
Keller doesnt turn from the window.

(CONTINUED)

153

Prisoners
CONTINUED:
No.

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

77
153

KELLER

RALPH
But she said they found their -their bloody clothes.
Keller swings around, grabs Ralph and shakes him -KELLER
Dont you tell your mother that.
Dont you dare tell her that.
You understand me?
Ralphs goes rigid, his eyes burn into Keller's.
KELLER (CONTD)
I want you to listen to me. I
need you to stay around the house
for the next couple days, make
sure she doesnt see the news -when the paper comes throw it the
fuck away. We dont give up on
your sister -- Im gonna find her
and bring her home. We do not
give up on her, you understand?
Ralph's shakes his head, raging -RALPH
You're gonna bring her home?
She's dead, you can't do anything.
You left me and Mom here while you
went out and got fucking drunk.
You think I can't smell it on you?
Keller grabs Ralph and slams him into the wall, knocking
over a dollhouse. He holds him there for a second, until
the madness drains out of his visage and he finally lets
go.
Ralph just stands there, holding his ground, jaw
clenched.
Keller can't look at him now.
out.
154

He exits.

Ralph breathes

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - POLICE STATION - NIGHT

Loki and
shackled
of paper
insanely

154

OMalley watch through the two-way mirror as a

and bandaged Bob Taylor draws on a large piece
with a crayon. He appears to be drawing an
dense maze.
(CONTINUED)

154

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

78
154

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY

How long has he been working on
this...map?
Loki looks at his watch wearily.
LOKI
Three and a half hours.
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
You think its gonna lead you to
the bodies? Cause I sure as shit
dont.
LOKI
No offense, Captain, but go fuck
yourself. We werent getting
anywhere questioning him.
OMalley shakes his head, moving in closer until his nose
is against the glass.
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
Looks more like a maze than a map.
LOKI
Hes got a thing for mazes.
OMalleys seen enough.

He goes to exit.

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY

Im going home. Call me if
something happens.
155

INT. HALLWAY - POLICE STATION - LATER

155

Its late. Wedge and Carter stand guard outside a closed

door. Loki walks towards them, popping a coffee bean in
his mouth. He looks like hes ready to blow.
Open the door.

LOKI

Loki unholsters his gun and hands it to Carter -CARTER

Captain said to call him before
letting anybody in.
LOKI
I just talked to him. He said it
was fine. But if you want to call
and wake him up again, go ahead.
(CONTINUED)

155

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

79
155

Wedge and Carter look at each other, then Wedge swipes a

pass key over a sensor unlocking the door with a BEEP -156

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - POLICE STATION - LATER

Loki walks inside and shuts the door.
working on his maze.

Bob is still

LOKI
I think its done now.
Loki grabs the crayon out of his hand -LOKI (CONTD)
Tell me what Im looking at.
Bob looks conflicted, considering, and then:
I cant.

BOB TAYLOR

Loki grabs the back of Bobs head and SMASHES HIS ALREADY
BROKEN NOSE INTO THE TABLE -LOKI
You said youd draw a map, not a
fucking puzzle. Tell me what Im
looking at.
Bob starts to cry -I cant --

BOB TAYLOR

Loki throws him to the floor -- gets on top of him -Yes.

You can.

LOKI

Wedge and Carter burst in, scrambling to pull Loki off of

Bob. BOB GRABS WEDGES GUN FROM ITS HOLSTER -LOKI (CONTD)
HES GOT YOUR GUN -Carter draws his gun as Bob, shackled, both hands
gripping the gun, backs up against the two way mirror -DROP IT!

CARTER

LOKI
Bob, put the gun down.
(CONTINUED)

156

156

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

80
156

Bob brings the gun up to his chin in a quick motion -NO!

LOKI (CONTD)

Loki and Carter rush him -- BANG -- Bob falls to the

floor, dead. Loki, Wedge and Carter just stand there in
shock.
157

INT. DANDELION ANIMAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

157

Darkness. The front door opens, Nancy enters, punches a

code into the alarm keypad, keys jingling -She hits the lights and rushes down a hallway to a supply
closet. She fumbles through her keys with trembling
hands, her breath quickening. She gets it open, takes a
breath -158

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT HOUSE - NIGHT

The closed front door to the apartment as someone KNOCKS Keller rushes out of the bathroom, his heart in his
throat as the front door swings open. Its Nancy Birch,
clutching a white paper bag.
Keller breathes out, relieved. She slowly makes a bee
line for the closed bathroom door.
KELLER
Why are you here?
She opens the bathroom door and peers inside.
washes over her.

A cold

NANCY
I was praying you had ended this
already.
She grimaces, thinking to herself, checking something
over in her mind. Finally she holds up the white paper
bag weakly.
NANCY (CONTD)
I got it from work.
(beat)
We use it to -- to put down
animals.
Jesus.

KELLER
Just like that, huh?
(CONTINUED)

158

158

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

81
158

NANCY
You started this. You went and
took him. Got Franklin involved.
This isnt your decision to make.
You and Franklin will go to jail -I could go to jail. And then what
will happen to Eliza? I need to
protect whats left of my family,
Keller.
(motions to the
bathroom)
Hes beyond help anyway.
She shoves the bag into Kellers hand, looks away and
starts to cry bitterly.
KELLER
They found some clothes -- they
havent found the bodies. Im not
giving up. Im not having
Christmas without my daughter.
NANCY
They had Joys bloody pants in a
plastic bag for Christs sake!
What do you think that means?
She breaks down and puts her head on his chest, sobbing,
holding on to him for dear life.
NANCY (CONTD)
I can hear him -- anytime its
quiet -- I can hear him trying to
get out, can smell him on my
clothes. You have to make it
stop.
She steps back, wiping the tears from her face, trying
vainly to calm herself down as she turns and walks to the
exit...
NANCY (CONTD)
And when its done, burn this
place.
The door shuts, shes gone. Its quiet.
the white paper bag in his hands...
159

Just Keller and

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - LATER

159

Keller sits on the floor across from the cell, guzzling

whiskey from his coffee thermos. He sets down the
thermos. Picks up the white paper bag, peers inside...
(CONTINUED)

159

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

82
159

A little white box branded with a skull and crossbones.

After a moment he tosses the bag aside. Picks the
thermos back up, takes another pull when -A scratched whisper comes from the PVC pipe:
JONES (O.S.)
Theyre in the maze.
Keller freezes.

His face goes dead.

In the maze.
What?

JONES

(O.S.) (CONTD)

KELLER

(beat)
What did you say?
JONES (O.S.)
Thats where youll find them.
Keller goes to the cell, speaking into the PVC pipe:
KELLER
What maze? Where is it? How do I
get there? Its OK, Im gonna get
you out of there. Just tell me
where the maze is.
Keller waits and waits, the tension building to an
excruciating crescendo...until JONES STARTS TO LAUGH.
Keller, enraged, BEATS ON THE CELL WITH HIS FISTS,
SCREAMING:
TELL ME!
No response.

KELLER (CONTD)

Keller steadies himself.

KELLER (CONTD)
Somethings gonna get to you.
160

INT. HALLWAY - POLICE STATION - NIGHT

160

Loki is asleep, slumped on a bench in the now clamorous

hallway. O'Malley walks over and gives Loki's foot a
hard kick -Loki springs awake as Taylor's corpse is rolled out of
the adjacent interrogation room. O'Malley shoves
Taylor's blood spattered maze drawing into Loki's hand -(CONTINUED)

160

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

83
160

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY

He explain this before he ate the
bullet?
Loki takes the drawing weakly, shaking his head.
I'm sorry --

LOKI

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY

Fuck youre sorry. Save it for
the girls' parents.
161

EXT. HOLLY JONES HOUSE - DAY

Keller rings the bell. Listens.
around inside, TVs on -Just a minute.

161
He hears someone moving

HOLLY JONES (O.S.)

Holly Jones opens the door.

to act normal.

Kellers shaky, struggling

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

Can I help you?
KELLER
Good morning Ma'am. Im Keller
Dover.
HOLLY JONES
Im sorry, youre who?
KELLER
My little girl was abducted with
her friend -She recognizes him and steps back, starting to close the
door, fear in her eyes.
HOLLY JONES
What do you want?
KELLER
Im sorry, I guess I didnt think
this through too good. Ive just
been thinking a lot about what
happened with your nephew. I know
I scared him that day at the
police station. I guess what Im
trying to say is I feel
responsible for him running away.
(CONTINUED)

161

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

84
161

She studies him, the act of which seems to be giving her

a headache.
HOLLY JONES
Would you like to come in?
162

INT. KITCHEN - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Its a quaint little nook. Keller sits at the table,
keeping his bandaged knuckles out of sight. Across from
him sits Holly Jones. She drinks tea.
HOLLY JONES
My husband and I were very devout
at one time. Spent our summers,
driving around in that RV with our
son -- handing out pamphlets,
spreading the good word. But
after our son died of cancer we
started seeing things differently.
Adopting Alex helped, but we never
got over it.
Keller shakes his head sympathetically.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
You look very tired.
KELLER
I dont sleep much. Keep dreaming
about being lost in a maze.
Keller watches for her reaction to his mention of the
word, but she doesnt react whatsoever. Instead theres
a long, awkward silence, until:
HOLLY JONES
Im sorry, Alex never talked much,
so I hardly know what to say to
people when they come here.
Keller waits for her to go on, and when she doesnt.
KELLER
He doesnt talk much?
HOLLY JONES
He talks. Good morning, good
night, things like that, but its
hard to get much more than that
out of him. He had an accident
when he was little. After that he
started choosing his words a
little too carefully.
(CONTINUED)

162

162

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

85
162

KELLER
What kind of accident?
HOLLY JONES
My husband kept snakes. It wasnt
so bad what happened, but Alex had
a fear of them, and...
(she trails off)
Its not my favorite memory.
KELLER
Im sorry, its none of my
business.
HOLLY JONES
You know you remind me of him a
little -- my husband.
Oh?
Its the eyes.

KELLER
HOLLY JONES

She stares into his eyes for a moment, making him

noticeably uncomfortable. He looks down, sees a
newspaper on the table: TAYLOR COMMITS SUICIDE, LOCATION
OF BODIES STILL UNKNOWN
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
You sure you dont want some tea?
She sees Keller trembling as he slowly swivels the paper
around, staring at it in disbelief.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
Oh God, Im sorry, Mr. Dover, I
thought for sure you knew already.
I say its better this way. That
awful man would of spent years on
death row -- watching tv and
getting fat... But not knowing
where she rests is a horrible
thing. I am so so sorry -Keller gets up -163

INT. OMALLEYS OFFICE - POLICE STATION - DAY

163

Loki sits in front of OMalleys desk, looking a mess,

staring at a photocopy of the maze Bob drew while
OMalley pours a glass of whiskey.

(CONTINUED)

163

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

86
163

CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY

Well at least I dont have to
worry about losing you to PSP.
Loki isnt listening, moving a shaky finger over the maze
drawing, lost, trying to find his way out.
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY (CONTD)
When forensics is done with his
place were deploying cadaver
dogs.
(beat)
Were not superheroes, kid. We
dont save the fucking day. Were
cops. Hells janitors. You want
fulfillment, start a family, have
some kids.
164

INT. LOKIS DESK - CONYERS POLICE STATION - DAY

Loki walks to his desk, staring deliriously at the
disarray. He straight-arms everything to the floor,
computer monitor and all. No one walking by dares make
mention of this.
His desk is now bare but for an evidence bag containing
Jones' matchbox RV. He sits down, takes the little RV
out of the bag and sets it on his desk.
He gives it the tiniest push, watching as it slowly rolls
off the edge -He reaches down to pick it up when something on the floor
catches his eye...
The crime scene photos of the corpse he found in Father
Dunns basement. A close-up of the pendant the corpse
was wearing with the maze carved into it.
Suddenly energized, he pulls the photocopy of Bob's map
from his pocket, unfolds it and sets it on the desk next
to the photo of the corpse's pendant...
THEYRE IDENTICAL.
RINGS.

Yeah?

Lokis astounded.

His cell phone

LOKI
(into phone)

FORENSICS GUY (O.S.)

(over the phone)
We found something.

164

Prisoners
165

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

87

EXT. BOB TAYLORS BACKYARD - DAY

165

Loki walks up behind Forensics guy and the rest of his

team, all of them staring down at...
What looks like two little bodies, half buried under
garden pebbles and mulch. But as Loki gets closer he
sees its:
FORENSICS GUY
Two kids size department store
mannequins with their heads caved
in. And I just talked to my lab
guys. Theyre telling me all of
the blood we sampled from the
plastic containers is pigs blood.
(yelling to his team)
Get those covered! Its supposed
to snow soon. Come on, hurry up!
166

INT. LIVING ROOM - BOB TAYLORS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

A darkened mess of a room with mazes drawn on the walls
and ceiling. Forensics Guy and Loki enter -FORENSICS GUY
Its like hes playacting. Case
in point, except for the few
pieces ID'd by the Dovers and the
Birches, all the other kids
clothes we found still had the
tags on them. And the book of
mazes -- he made it out of
photocopies, pictures in this book
we found in the attic. Ex-FBI
agent wrote it.
Forensics Guy grabs a beat-up hardcover off a table.
LOKI
(reading the title)
Finding the Invisible Man.
FORENSICS GUY
Its about a theoretical suspect
he claimed was responsible for
numerous child abductions.
Totally discredited I guess, but I
read some of it, kind of
interesting.
Forensics Guy flips through the book showing Loki some
full page photographs of the real book of mazes.
(CONTINUED)

166

166

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

88
166

LOKI
Taylor was abducted when he was a
kid, escaped after three weeks.
His captor drugged him
continuously with an LSD, ketamine
cocktail. He had no idea where
hed been. They never caught the
guy.
FORENSICS
There you go. Probably
book and decided he was
the Invisible Man. Now
his best imitation.

GUY
read this
taken by
hes doing

LOKI
Did his best imitation.
himself last night.

He shot

Forensics Guy shakes his head.

FORENSICS GUY
How did he do that? I thought he
was in custody.
Loki ignores the question and takes a photocopy of Bobs
map out of his pocket.
LOKI
Taylor drew this. It was supposed
to be a map to the bodies. We
found a corpse last week wearing a
pendant with the same design on
it.
FORENSICS GUY
Its not a map, its the last maze
in the maze book. Unsolvable.
No way out. Corpse is probably
just another wannabe who read the
book.
LOKI
So what are we saying? Taylor is
a fake? These girls could still
be alive somewhere? How did he
get his hands on the clothes the
parents ID'd?
FORENSICS GUY
That I can't reconcile.
Loki pops a coffee bean in his mouth with a shaking hand,
Forensics Guy watching on, concerned.
(CONTINUED)

166

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

You alright?

1/17/13

89
166

FORENSICS GUY (CONTD)

Loki nods dismissively. Forensics Guy nods back, doesn't

push him -- has his own fish to fry.
FORENSICS GUY (CONTD)
(yelling to his team)
If there are windows open, get
them fucking shut.
Something occurs to Loki. He pulls out his note pad,
flipping through the pages, until he comes to:
IN THE HOUSE? OPEN WINDOW
167

OMITTED

167

168

INT. JOYS ROOM - THE BIRCHES' HOUSE - DAY

168

Joy's now dead gerbil lying in its habitrail. Nancy

stares down at it, something building inside her...
Eliza walks up behind her.
What is it?

ELIZA

Nancy turns, losing control of herself and SMACKS Eliza

across the face -NANCY
I told you to feed it!
you feed it?!

Why didnt

Eliza stands there in shock. She gives her mother a

hating look, shakes her head in disbelief and rushes from
the room -169A

EXT. THE BIRCHES HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Eliza bursts out the front door, starts walking down the
street towards the Dovers house. Nancy appears in the
doorway yelling after her -NANCY
Get back here! I cant handle
this right now!
Eliza ignores her, keeps walking. Nancy retreats back
inside her house and SLAMS THE DOOR --

169A

Prisoners
169

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

89A

INT. RALPH'S ROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Ralph talks on the phone with Eliza as he looks out his
window, watching as Loki walks through the bushes looking
for something...

(CONTINUED)

169

169

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

90
169

RALPH
(into phone)
OK, Ill pick you up -170

EXT. THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

170

Loki looks up at Annas window, maybe ten feet from the

ground. He looks down and notices two deep footprints
filled with water -- someone dropped hard from the
window.
He looks around thinking, checking the bushes... His
eyes go wide, as he picks something up. A SOCK WITH A
RABBIT FACE ON IT.
As he deposits the sock in a little plastic bag he looks
over to see Ralph coming out of the Dovers' house with a
duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
LOKI
(off Ralphs look)
Just needed to check something.
Ralph nods curtly and throws the duffle bag in the back
of Grace's compact. He gets in the car and pulls out of
the driveway -Loki watches as Ralph drives down the street -- then
stops -- Eliza running up to the car. She gets inside
and they drive off.
171

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - DAY

171

The pictures of Anna and Joy nailed to the cell.

Angle widens to reveal:
KELLER IS FEEDING THE HEAD OF A BIG SNAKE INTO THE PVC
PIPE, holding on to the tail as the rest disappears...
Feel him?

KELLER

Nothing, and then Jones starts THRASHING inside the cell,

SCREAMING. Keller yanks the snake back out --

(CONTINUED)

171

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

91
171

KELLER (CONTD)
Its going all the way in if you
dont start talking.
Keller BANGS on the cell -You hear me?

KELLER (CONTD)

No reply. So Keller feeds the snake back in...until

JONES LETS OUT A SCREECH and the cell starts shaking.
Keller slowly pulls the snake back out -Last chance.

KELLER (CONTD)

The snake dangles from Kellers hand, curling and

uncurling, HISSING -TALK!

KELLER (CONTD)

Jones only whimpers. So Keller feeds the snake all the

way into the PVC pipe...and lets go -Jones GOES BALLISTIC INSIDE, trying to CLAW HIS WAY OUT -KELLER (CONTD)
Tell me about the God damn maze,
asshole! Tell me and Ill get you
out right now. Ill take you home
to your aunt.
Angle widens to reveal another dozen snakes in a
cardboard box. Keller grabs another one. He starts
feeding it into the tube when he hears JONES TRYING TO
SAY SOMETHING and yanks it back out -Keller presses his ear to the tube, but he still cant
hear what Jones is saying. He grabs a claw hammer off
the floor...
And starts prying off a small panel of wood right where
Jones head is, until...
Jones cadaver-like face is revealed, his mouth is
moving, but Keller still cant hear him...
So he moves in closer, putting his head inside the cell,
until his face is just inches away from Jones...
JONES
Theres no way out.
prison.

Its a

(CONTINUED)

171

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

92
171

Keller waits for more. But it soon becomes apparent that

there is no more. Jones has gone blank.
Jones' POV as Keller replaces the panel of wood and
EVERYTHING GOES BLACK: THE SOUND OF SNAKES HISSING,
KELLER HAMMERING -CUT TO:
172

INT. A SMALL ROOM - DAY

Joy opens her eyes, shes curled up on the floor, her
lips stained purple...
For the rest of this sequence we stay with Joys POV:
She sees Anna passed out on the floor a few feet away.
The windows look like theyve been covered over with
something -- all the furniture has been removed. Theres
a homemade book on the floor with a familiar cover:
FINISH ALL THE MAZES AND YOU CAN GO HOME.
Joy starts to stand up -- HER VISION DISTORTING -- THE
MORE SHE MOVES THE MORE DISTORTED HER VISION BECOMES.
She struggles to steady herself -- her vision normalizes
enough that she can discern the door is ajar...
Theres a knocked over 2-liter bottle of what looks like
grape-aid on the floor -- its purple contents have
spilled out beneath the crack in the door, alerting their
captor to the mess. Theres a mop leaned against the
wall; someone in the middle of cleaning up the grape-aid - whoever it is can be heard in the kitchen using the
sink, theres a TV going somewhere -Joy start shaking Anna -- gets her to wake up -- points
to the door. Anna is too out of it to move. Joy pulls
her up -- helps her -Joy pulls Anna out the door -- everything starts spinning
and distorting as they enter the hallway -Joy blindly feels the wall, moving through the morphing
interior -- Anna starting to lag...
Then Joys hand finds a door knob, she looks up and sees
sunlight blasting in through the window glass on the top
of the door -- a way out. Joy tries the knob -- its
locked. She fumbles with the little turn lock on the
door knob -- unlocks the door --

172

Prisoners
173

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

92A

EXT. A BACKYARD - CONTINUOUS

173

Joys drugged POV -- as she move out the door, Anna right
behind her -- the brightness of the outdoors is almost
blinding -- the sound of someone stomping through the
house after them -- THE KEEPER -- they start running
across a morphing surface of snow and lawn as the Keeper
gives chase...
Joy plows through some hedges into what looks like a
field, Anna starting to lag --

(CONTINUED)

173

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

93
173

And then Joy looks beside her and Anna is gone, SCREAMING
in the widening distance...
174A

EXT. WOODS - DAY

174A

Joy wanders through the woods, lost, exhausted, freezing.

174

EXT. BUSY STREET - DAY

174

Joys's POV: walking along the side of the road as cars

fly by looking like astral comets, the sound of their
engines like ROARING LIONS -CUT TO:
175

INT. COMPACT CAR - CONTINUOUS

175

A WOMAN, 43, drives, drinking coffee, soft rock on the

radio. She passes Joy on side of the road, running in
the same direction. No coat on. Looks like she's in
trouble.
The Woman stops the car, rolling down her passenger side
window as Joy runs past -WOMAN
Hey, where's your Mommy?
you going, hon?

Where

The Woman gets out of her car and Joy bolts away from her
across the street, RIGHT INTO THE PATH OF SPEEDING VAN -The van slams on the brakes, SCREECHES OFF THE ROAD IN A
CLOUD OF RUBBER SMOKE AND SLAMS INTO A TREE.
The Woman runs to Joy and grabs hold of her, hugging her
writhing form -176

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - DAY

The phone is RINGING. Its dark, the curtains are drawn.
Grace emerges from the nest of blankets and picks up:
GRACE
(groggy, into phone)
Hello?
She listens, sitting there in the darkness...

176

Prisoners
177

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

93A

INT. BATHROOM - THE DOVERS' HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Dirty clothes, wadded tissues and prescription bottles
crowd the vanity. The sound of Grace running from room
to room --

(CONTINUED)

177

177

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

94
177

Keller!?

GRACE (O.S.)
Ralph?!

She comes bursting into the bathroom and turns on the

cold water, splashing it on her face -GRACE (CONTD)
Wake up, Grace. Gotta wake up
now.
She accidentally knocks an open bottle of Xanax into the
sink, half the pills spill out into the rushing water.
She instinctively starts rescuing pills from the drain.
But before long she decides to let them go. She dumps
out the rest -- hears Kellers truck pulling up out front
-178

EXT. THE DOVERS' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

178

Keller is walking towards the house when Grace comes

bursting out the front door in her nightgown -- puts her
palsied hands on him -GRACE
(frantic)
We need to go to the hospital.
They found Joy. She's alive.
They didn't -- they didn't -She starts sobbing -- Keller steadying her.
What?

What?

KELLER

She hugs him hard, talking into his shoulder:

GRACE
Not Anna. Joy was alone.
Anna wasn't with her -Keller's POV, everything starts spinning, surreal, a news
van heading for the Birches house whooshes by -GRACE (CONTD)
We need to go see her. Maybe she
knows where Anna is -KELLER
No, I'll go, you stay in case --

(CONTINUED)

178

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

95
178

Grace isn't listening, she runs around and gets in the

truck.
179

INT. HALLWAY - ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - DAY

179

A crowded hallway -- Detective Chemilinski, FRANKLINS

OLDER BROTHER with HIS WIFE. Keller pushes through,
Grace behind him, wearing his coat over her nightgown.
COP stops them --

COP
Nobody gets beyond this point -Grace rushes right past him -COP (CONTD)

Miss!
He grabs her shoulder.

She screams in his face:

GRACE
Don't touch me!
Grace spots Franklin up the hall walking into a private
room. There! She bolts down the hall, Keller right
behind her -Wait a minute!
180

COP

INT. PRIVATE ROOM - ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS

Franklin walks inside. Nancy sits by the bedside hanging
up her cell phone as TWO NURSES tend to Joy.
NANCY
Elizas not picking up.
Before Franklin can answer Grace and Keller move inside -the Cop right behind them -COP
You cant be in here.
The Cop grabs Keller, starts to escort him out.
NANCY
It's OK, It's OK -The Cop looks at Keller and Grace, his demeanor softening
as he recognizes who they are...

(CONTINUED)

180

180

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

96
180

COP
Just for a minute -- then you
gotta go.
The Cop exits.
bed.

Nancy lets Grace and Keller approach the

NANCY
(to Grace and Keller)
Theyre gonna find Anna too,
I know they are.
Grace and Keller aren't listening, mesmerized by the
sight of Joy lying there like some dream come to life.
Keller squats down by the bed and looks Joy in the eyes.
KELLER
Was it far from our street? Joy?
Did it take long to get there?
NURSE
You cant be doing this now.
Shes been drugged. The detective
will be back in a minute, you need
to wait -GRACE
(to Joy)
Just tell us she's alive. Can you
give us a nod -- just nod your
head.
Joy says nothing. Grace tries to hold back tears, looks
at Keller -- Franklin and Nancy staring at them -- when -Joy slowly reaches out and touches Kellers hand -looking like shed only now just recognized him -Its dead silent as Joys eyes meet Kellers.
watching, waiting, and then she speaks:

Everyone

JOY
You were there.
Kellers eyes go wide...
What?

KELLER
I was where?

JOY
It put tape on our mouths.
Everyone looks at Keller. He stares off, something
building behind his eyes...

Prisoners
181

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

97

INT. HALLWAY - ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS

181

Loki walks down the hallway with the uniformed Cop -Loki looks seriously pissed -LOKI
I said nobodys allowed in there
but her parents -Up ahead Loki sees Keller walk out of the room.
eyes meet Lokis -- then --

Kellers

Keller turns and heads in the opposite direction.

comes out of the room -Keller!

Grace

GRACE

LOKI
Wheres he going?
Loki clocks Graces expression; she has no idea. Loki
looks back down the hallway -- the door to the stairwell
swinging closed behind Keller. Loki turns and yells down
the hallway to the uniformed Cop -LOKI (CONTD)
Call downstairs! Dont let him
leave!
182

EXT. ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - MOMENTS LATER

182

Keller runs out of the entrance, booking it for his truck

-- he hears voices starting to erupt behind him -Hey!
183

Stop!

COP (O.S.)

INT. KELLERS TRUCK - PARKED/TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

183

Keller gets in his truck -- starts it up, throws it in

gear and drives straight over a grassy median -- a
shortcut to the main road -184

EXT. ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS

Back to the entrance as Loki bursts out and runs to his
car -- across the way he sees Kellers truck screeching
off down the road -Loki gets in his sedan -- while two other cops run to
their cruisers --

184

Prisoners
185

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

98

INT. LOKIS SEDAN - MOMENTS LATER

185

Loki starts the engine, backs out fast -- reverses his

car over the grassy median, the car shaking and bumping -then spins out in the main road, oncoming traffic
swerving past him -- horns blaring -- he floors it,
picking up speed -Loki speeds past car after car, then stops at an
intersection, craning his head, looking every which way -LOKI
Come on -- where the hell did you
go?
Kellers truck is nowhere in sight.
Fuck.

FUCK!

LOKI (CONTD)

Loki thinks for a moment, blocking the

intersection...when something occurs to him. Suddenly
electrified he does a screeching u-turn -- looks like he
knows where hes going -186

EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE - DAY

186

Graces car pulls up in front of the apartment house.

Ralph gets out of the drivers seat, he opens the back
door, grabs a duffle bag...
Eliza gets out of the passenger side.
rings, she checks it --

Her cell phone

ELIZA
My Mom again. Maybe I should call
her back -- maybe something
happened?
RALPH
Wait until we get inside. I don't
want anybody to see us -She puts the phone away and follows Ralph to the rear of
the building, trying to look inconspicuous.
REAR OF APARTMENT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
A low-lying boarded window as Ralph removes the board -RALPH (CONTD)
My secret entrance.

(CONTINUED)

186

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

99
186

The board slips from Ralphs fingers -- falls inside the

apartment with a BANG -187

INT. THE CELL - CONTINUOUS

187

The outside of the cell as the banging sound echoes from

below. The sound of Jones moving -- he hears them -188

INT. FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT HOUSE - MOMENTS

LATER

188

Ralph and Eliza stand in the gutted first floor

apartment. They look around, the door to the hallway is
open -A sound from above -- a thump.
thump.

They look up -- another

ELIZA
Someones here.
She starts back for the open window when Ralph grabs her RALPH
My father kicks people out of here
all the time. Its just a
homeless guy. Wait here -- Ill
tell him to leave -Ralph heads for the stairs -ELIZA
If youre doing this to impress
me, its not working.
RALPH
Im doing it cause I dont want to
go back home. Do you?
She doesnt answer, but obviously dreads it as much he
does -189

INT. STAIRS - APARTMENT HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Ralph climbs the stairs.

He looks scared.

189

Prisoners
190

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

100

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - APARTMENT HOUSE - MOMENTS

LATER

190

The moment Ralph walks inside hes stricken by something.

He toes a whiskey bottle with his sneaker...another THUMP
-Its coming from the open bathroom door...
RALPH
Hey. Youre trespassing. Get out
of here or Im gonna call the
cops.
Ralph steps closer to the open door -- confused -doesnt look like theres anyone inside. But then he
sees the cell...THE PICTURE OF ANNA AND JOY nailed to the
outside, staring at him.
191

INT. FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

191

Eliza, waiting nervously when Ralph yells down to her -ELIZA!

192

RALPH (O.S.)
Eliza, get up here!

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Ralph, holding the cell phone to his ear with a shaking
hand.
911 OPERATOR (O.S.)
(over the phone)
911 emergency. What is your
location?
Eliza enters behind him -- sees the pictures, goes white ELIZA
What is this -RALPH
(into the phone)
Two thirty four Campello Street.
My sister -THUMP -- from inside the cell.
Oh my God.

ELIZA

Ralph closes his eyes, his breath getting away from him -(CONTINUED)

192

192

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

101
192

RALPH
(into the phone)
I think I found my sister -- Anna
Dover -911 OPERATOR (O.S.)
(over the phone)
Just stay calm well have someone
out there in a couple minutes.
I want you to stay on the line
with me -THUMP -- Ralph drops the phone. He starts moving his
palsied hands over the wood, searching for a way to break
inside.
Help me.

RALPH
Come on.

She shakes her head.

I cant.

ELIZA
I cant.

RALPH
Yeah you can, come on.
She nods, tears streaming down her horrified face.
speaks into the tube.

Ralph

RALPH (CONTD)
Its OK, were getting you out -were getting you both out of
there. Can you hear me?
Eliza joins Ralph, trying to pull at the seams of the
wood -Together they pull at a panel of wood. It starts
breaking away as nails clink on the floor...
Eliza and Ralph stand back, horrified...
193

EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Lokis sedan screeches to a halt -- he gets out -- hears
ELIZA SCREAMING INSIDE. He starts for the front door
when he sees the padlock and changes course -Loki runs around to the back of the building -- heading
for the window he used to get inside earlier --

193

Prisoners
194

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

102

INT. STAIRS - THE APARTMENT HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

194

Lokis POV as he runs up the stairs -- sees Ralph and

Eliza coming down the stairs towards him -What is it?

LOKI

He sees the shock in their faces, they cant speak -- he

rushes past them -195

INT. SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY - APARTMENT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

195

Lokis POV as he gets to the top of the stairs, gun at

the ready -- moving down the hallway towards the open
door of the apartment...
He arrives at the open door, looks inside.
drops...he lowers his gun...

His face
CUT TO:

196

EXT. FRONT DOOR - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - NIGHT

196

Keller rings the doorbell. Angle widens -- hes standing

at the door, holding a duffle bag...
Just a minute.

HOLLY JONES (O.S.)

Holly Jones opens the door looking a little out of

breath. Shes now holding a big ice pack around her
hand.
Hello again.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

KELLER
Hello. I was -- I was hoping
youd let me do some penance.
She looks a little baffled.
For what?

HOLLY JONES

KELLER
For scaring you that day at the
police station.
She nods, regaining her poker face.

(CONTINUED)

196

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

103
196

HOLLY JONES
Youve already apologized for
that.
KELLER
I know, but I thought you might
need something fixed up around the
house? Brought my tools.
She eyes his bag.
HOLLY JONES
I see.
(motioning to her ice
pack)
I burned myself. Feeling a little
icky today.
(beat)
But Im glad you want to talk some
more. Theres no need to make
excuses. Come in, you can make me
some tea.
Oh.

197

INT. VESTIBULE - HOLLY JONES HOUSE - NIGHT

197

Jones Aunt shows Keller inside and closes the door,

turning her back to him as she walks to the kitchen.
Keller lingers in the vestibule, watching her,
considering...
HOLLY JONES
What are you waiting for, Mr.
Dover?
He stops, looking caught.
What?

KELLER

HOLLY JONES
Come on in and make me some tea.
198

INT. KITCHEN - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - NIGHT

198

Keller turns on the faucet, fills the tea kettle with

water.
He turns on the gas fueled stove burner.
into the little blue flame --

He stares down

KELLER
I dont want to have to hurt you.
I know they were here -(CONTINUED)

198

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

104
198

He turns around to see the ice pack fall from her hand,
revealing a .38 revolver. She stands up, gun leveled at
Kellers head.
HOLLY JONES
Put your hands on your head and
turn around.
Keller doesnt move.
KELLER
Im just gonna go.
HOLLY JONES
You dont know me, Mr. Dover.
Believe me when I tell you I wont
let you go.
Keller considers, watching her.
Her hands dont shake...

Her eyes dont waver.

He puts his hands on his head and turns around. She

moves in and lifts the back of his coat. Theres a
pistol tucked into the back of his waistband. She grabs
it out and tosses it into a nearby wastebasket.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
Good. Now, right in front of you.
The top drawer. Open it.
Keller takes a breath, and opens the drawer...
Inside is a rusted old pair of handcuffs.
Put them on.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

Keller doesnt move.

Put them on.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

Keller takes his time picking up the handcuffs, observes

their corroded condition.
He clamps them on his wrists. Keeping the gun on him she
opens the refrigerator and takes out a 2 liter bottle
filled with the laced grape-aid.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
You dont have to drink the whole
thing. About a third should be
fine for a man your size.
Something to keep you manageable.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

198

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

105
198

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

Even in handcuffs I have a feeling
youre going to be a problem.
Forget it.

KELLER

HOLLY JONES
Drink it, Mr. Dover, or Ill kill
you right here in my kitchen, and
then Ill bring your daughter in
and make her scrub your brains off
the floor.
He lunges towards her -WHERE IS SHE?!

KELLER

She cocks the .38. He stops, trembling, ready to throw

up, looking for something to grab, something to duck
behind -- but theres nothing. He breathes out, manic...
And grabs the bottle. And drinks, hating eyes on her all
the while. A third of it gone, he sets it back on the
table, grimacing, wiping his purple lips.
HOLLY JONES
Good, isnt it. Its my husbands
recipe. Now were going out the
back -A RING TONE stops them both. Keller looks down at his
coat pocket as his cell phone continues to RING -HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
Take it out of your pocket. Do
not answer it.
With a little trouble due to his shackled hands, Keller
pulls out his ringing cell phone. The caller ID
displays: GRACE
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
Put it in the sink.
Keller does as hes told, then:
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
And your car keys -- on the table.
Keller pulls his keys from his pocket, drops them on the
table.

(CONTINUED)

198

Prisoners - Full Pink Script

CONTINUED: (3)

1/17/13

105A

Holly motions for him to move aside. She pockets his

keys, then goes to the sink and pushes the phone down the
garbage disposal. Its still RINGING when -She turns on the disposal -- THE SOUND OF METAL GRINDING -

198

Prisoners
199

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

106

EXT. BACK YARD - HOLLY JONES HOUSE - NIGHT

199

Keller, hands cuffed in front of him, exits the house

through the back door with Holly Jones following, pistol
in hand.
HOLLY JONES
Walk to the car.
She directs him to the old Trans Am parked on the grass.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
The look on your face when I
opened the door -- my husband had
that very same look the day we
took Alex.
(beat)
He was the first kid we ever took.
His real name was Jimmy or Barry -I cant remember. I doubt he can
either. So many names. I forgot
all about Bobby until I read about
him in the paper. He never forgot
us though -- neither will your
neighbors bitch daughter. They
never really get away, their minds
I mean. Making children disappear
is how we wage war with God.
Makes people lose their faith.
Breeds demons like you. Ive had
to slow down since my husband
disappeared, but I do what I can.
Keller continues on, woozy. They arrive at the Trans Am.
She opens the drivers side door.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

Get in.

Keller gets behind the wheel. The keys are in the

ignition. The key chain is an upside down cross.
Standing inside the open car door, Holly Jones puts the
gun to Kellers head.
Start the car.
Keller turns the key.
Keep trying.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

The engine COUGHS -HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

(CONTINUED)

199

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

107
199

He keeps trying, while staring through the dirty

windshield, maybe planning an escape route...
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
You should know Alex didnt lay a
hand on the girls, just wanted to
give them a ride in the RV. I was
the one who decided they should
stay.
Guilt creasing his forehead, Keller starts to look a
little sick. THE ENGINE FINALLY TURNS OVER -- ITS LOUD.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
(yelling over the
engine)
Put it in reverse. Back up.
Slowly.
Keller shifts into reverse and the car starts to inch
backwards. Holly Jones walks close beside it, keeping
the gun pressed to Kellers head.
Stop.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

Keller stops the car, staring straight ahead.

Turn it off.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

He hesitates for a moment, perhaps weighing his options.

She starts to push the gun barrel into his ear.
Turn it off.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

He cuts the engine.

Out.

HOLLY JONES (CONTD)

Keller steps out of the car, teetering, starting to lose

his equilibrium. He sees the car was covering a big doorsize piece of plywood lying flat on the ground.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
Go ahead, take a look. Maybe your
daughter is underneath. You never
know.
Frantic, Keller drags the plywood aside. But when he
sees whats beneath it, the verve just drains from his
body...
(CONTINUED)

199

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

108
199

Its a grave-like hole in the ground, maybe twelve feet

deep.
HOLLY JONES (CONTD)
I hid the girls here before the
police came to search the house.
Should have left them down there,
but I wanted them to last for at
least a few weeks. So lonely
without Alex.
(beat)
Now get in.
KELLER
You want me to get in there,
youre gonna have to shoot me.
Im not doing it just cause you
asked -BANG. She fires a shot into Kellers thigh. He stumbles
-- the soil crumbles out from under him and he falls...
200

INT. THE HOLE - CONTINUOUS

Keller lands hard, blood bubbling from the gunshot wound
in his thigh.
Kellers POV, staring straight up: Holly Jones staring
down.
HOLLY JONES
Make yourself a tourniquet. If
you can manage to stem the
bleeding you might last as long as
twenty-four hours. I'd love for
you to still be alive when I dump
your daughter's body down there.
She starts dragging the board back over the hole...
Keller tries to get up, gritting his teeth, and then he
sees it: ANNAS RED WHISTLE lying a few feet away from
him.
But as he reaches for it -EVERYTHING GOES BLACK...
THE SOUND OF THE TRANS AM STARTING UP AND ROLLING OVER
THE COVERED HOLE...

200

Prisoners
201

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

109

EXT. BACK YARD - HOLLY JONES HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Holly Jones cuts the engine and gets out of the car.
she walks back to the house IT STARTS TO SNOW...

202A

As

EXT. GUN HILL ROAD - MOMENTS LATER

Holly gets in Kellers truck and starts it up.
drives it into the backyard, out of sight...

202B

201

202A
She

INT. PRIVATE ROOM - ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - NIGHT

202B

Joy lies sleeping in her hospital bed, Nancy and Franklin

on either side of her, watching the TV: shaky news
footage of the apartment house, as Jones is loaded into
the ambulance...
A REPORTER stares into the camera, the commotion to his
back.
REPORTER
While police havent released any
official statements yet, several
sources maintain that Jones has
been held captive for the last
five days in the apartment
building right behind me here.
Nancy and Franklin look at each other in silence...
202

INT. DEN - HOLLY JONES HOUSE - NIGHT

202

Holly Jones stands in the entranceway watching the same

news report on her TV.
REPORTER (O.S.)
Weve also just learned that the
building might be owned, in some
capacity by Anna Dovers father...
She exudes a rage that seems ten sizes too big for her
body...
203

EXT. HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - NIGHT

The lights in the windows go out one by one --

203

Prisoners
204

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

109A

INT. KITCHEN - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

204

Holly Jones hoists Kellers duffle bag up off the floor

and sets it on the kitchen table.
She unzips it and starts emptying the contents on to the
table: rope, the rifle, duct tape, the white bag Nancy
gave Keller. She looks inside the bag...
THE WHITE BOX WITH THE SKULL AND CROSSBONES, A SYRINGE...
205

INT. BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Loki and Forensiscs Guy stare at the empty cell,
completely befuddled, as are the rest of the cops and
forensics techs moving in and out.

205

Prisoners
206

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

110

INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

206

Loki walks out of the bathroom. OMalley is there,

finishing giving orders to a UNIFORMED COP.
CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
...with a camera get within twenty
feet of that room, youre fired.
(to Loki)
Come here.
He ushers Loki out of the rest of the cops earshot.
Loki looks completely deflated, lost.
LOKI
Im gonna find Dover -CAPTAIN RICHARD O'MALLEY
No youre not. Holly Jones needs
to be notified. Go, now.
207

INT. THE HOLE - CONTINUOUS

DARKNESS -- as Keller flicks a lighter, the quivering
flame illuminating his face. He looks up...climbing out
might not be an option.
He looks down at his hands. The rusted chain connecting
the handcuffs broke in the fall.
He moves the flame around illuminating two rusted
childrens bicycles, several empty plastic 2 liter
bottles...an old dirt encrusted childs sneaker...
He reels, loses his breath, lets the flame go out.
He reaches up, digs his hands in the wall and starts
trying to climb out...
After a few feet the dirt crumbles like dry cake and he
slides back down.
He flicks the lighter again, looks up at the dirt
wall...spies a loop of tree root protruding out. He
tries to grab it, but its just out of reach...
He grabs the childrens bicycles, stacks them against the
dirt wall -- hes able to step up on them, gives him a
little more height, he reaches up...
Grabs hold of the loop of tree root -- he PULLS HIMSELF
UP -- reaching his other hand up, grabbing at the lip of
the hole --

207

Prisoners
208

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - NIGHT

Loki pulls up in front of Holly Jones house.
off the engine --

209

111
208
He turns

INT. A ROOM - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

209

ANNA lies on the floor, asleep. THE SOUND OF THE

DEADBOLT LOCK TUMBLING. She starts to wake up...
The door starts to open -- when the DOORBELL RINGS -210

EXT. FRONT DOOR - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

210

Loki RINGS the door bell again and waits...

211

EXT. UNDER THE TRANS AM - CONTINUOUS

211

Kellers fingers peeking out from under the sheet of

plywood as he manages to push it off center, giving him
enough space to climb out...
Keller grabs hold of one of the Trans Ams underside
pipes -- the pipe BREAKS -- OIL SPRAYS IN KELLERS FACE
as he grabs hold of another pipe, and pulls himself up
and out...
Keller crawls out from under the Trans Am. He leans
against the car, blackened with dirt and motor oil,
sucking air...
212

EXT. FRONT DOOR - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Loki starts back down the walkway -- as hes walking he
glances back over his shoulder -- gives the house a last
look and notices something...
A curtain swaying ever so slightly -- like someone was
just peeking out at him.
Loki stops, turns around and walks back to the front
door. He stands there, listening...hears what sounds
like someone moving around inside -Miss Jones?

LOKI
You in there?

Then Loki hears something else -- its faint and brief -sounds like someone crying out --

212

Prisoners

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

111A

213

OMITTED

213

214

OMITTED

214

Prisoners

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

112

215

OMITTED

215

216

INT. VESTIBULE - HOLLY JONES HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

216

Loki opens the front door and moves inside, keyed up -217

INT. BACK DOOR - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

217

The back door opens. Keller creeps inside, his oil

slicked form almost invisible in the gloom...
218

INT. LIVING ROOM - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Loki moves inside. Nobody there. He goes to leave when
his eye catches a framed photo, basked in moonlight:
Holly Jones husband wearing an unsettling smile,
shirtless, revealing hes wearing THE FAMILIAR MAZE
PENDANT. HES THE CORPSE LOKI FOUND IN DUNNS BASEMENT.
SOMETHINGS KNOCKED OVER IN THE ADJACENT KITCHEN. Loki
snaps back to attention, eyes darting, moving now...

218

Prisoners
219

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

113

INT. KITCHEN - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

219

Lokis POV as he enters the kitchen: Kellers duffle bag

on the kitchen table. The open box with the skull and
crossbones:
POISON!
220

Fast acting, humane...

INT. HALLWAY - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

220

Keller, moves into the hallway, holding his breath, back

to the wall. He opens a door and looks in at...
A room stuffed with old furniture and junk...
He moves on to the next. The closed door with the
deadbolt on the outside...
He turns the lock, bracing himself...
221

INT. A ROOM - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

221

Keller opens the door to see Anna huddled in the corner.

He walks towards her, eyes tearing, breath quickening...
222

INT. HALLWAY - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

222

Loki approaches the same room, then stops, seeing a

shadow on the wall, a figure, looming over Annas
shadow...
Loki takes a breath, gun at the ready, inching towards
the doorway...
223

INT. A ROOM - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

223

Keller, Anna in his arms now, rushing for the door -when IT SLAMS IN HIS FACE and theyre thrown into
DARKNESS -BACK TO:
224

INT. THE HOLE - CONTINUOUS

224

BLACKNESS...the click of Kellers mini-maglight, shining

up under his chin. His face, sea-sick, blinking, rubbing
his eyes, seeing:

(CONTINUED)

224

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

114
224

Dirt walls, the two rusted bikes, ALL OF IT DISTORTING.

The laced grape-aid. His escape was a hallucination.
HES STILL IN THE HOLE.
225

EXT. BACK YARD - HOLLY JONES HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The Trans Am.
so faintly...

226

225

We hear Keller screaming beneath it ever

INT. A ROOM - HOLLY JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

226

Loki walks into the doorway, gun outstretched, eyes

focusing:
The shadow isnt Keller -- its Holly Jones, now
squatting beside Anna, her back to Loki, starting to
inject the poison into her arm.
LOKI
STOP -- PUT IT DOWN -She pulls out the half-emptied syringe and drops it to
the floor. Then her back still to him, she straightens
up.
HOLLY JONES
Make sure they cremate me. I
dont want to be buried in some
box.
LOKI
TURN AROUND -- SHOW ME YOUR HANDS Holly Jones pulls the .38 from the front of her pants,
swings around and FIRES at the same time Loki does -SHE GRAZES LOKIS FACE RIGHT OVER HIS EYE. Loki HITS HER
SQUARE IN THE FOREHEAD. She collapses, dead.
Blood pouring from his forehead, Loki picks up Anna, now
semi-unconscious -- gritting his teeth -227

EXT. HOLLY JONES HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Loki bursts out the front door with Anna in his arms,
blood running down his face -He gets her in the back of his car. He rushes around,
gets behind the wheel -- starts the car and GUNS IT --

227

Prisoners
228

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

115

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

228

LOKI DOES SIXTY THROUGH FALLING SNOW, BLOOD IN HIS EYES,

DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD, ENGINE ROARING -229A

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - CONTINUOUS

229A

Lokis sedan speeds through the blur of falling white -229B

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

229B

ANNA IS STARTING TO CONVULSE IN THE BACK SEAT -LOKI

Almost there, almost there. Stay
with me, Anna, stay with me -(under his breath)
Dont die dont die -Lokis POV -- hes coming up on an intersection now -RED LIGHT -229C

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD/INTERSECTION - CONTINUOUS

229C

LOKI LEANS ON HIS HORN AND BLASTS THROUGH THE RED LIGHT -A CAR JUST MISSES HIM AND CAREENS OFF THE ROAD -Loki turns on to A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP -- theres traffic up
ahead -- but he doesnt slow down -229D

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

229D

Loki veers on to the highways shoulder, squeezing past

slow moving cars, bouncing over the craggy ground -229E

EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS

229E

Loki swerves on to an exit ramp -- skidding through the

turn -229F

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

Lokis POV -- Anna in the rearview, her convulsing
getting worse --

229F

Prisoners
229G

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

115A

EXT. MAIN ROAD - CONTINUOUS

229G

Loki tears down a straightaway -- scrolling strip mall

lights, falling snow -229H

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

229H

Loki peers back at Anna -LOKI

Stay with me, Anna, were almost
there -(under his breath)
Dont die. Please, God, dont let
her die -He sees the traffic is stopped up ahead -- he turns off,
cuts through a strip mall parking lot -Lokis POV as he drives faster -- the lights and falling
snow become disorienting -- prismatic -229I

EXT. STRIP MALL - CONTINUOUS

229I

Lokis sedan blasts out of the strip mall parking lot,

makes a hard, skidding turn -229J

INT. BLACK SEDAN - TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS

229J

Lokis POV -- on a straightaway now...the illuminated

hospital sign coming into view -229

EXT. ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ENTRANCE MOMENTS LATER

Lokis car rolls up on the curb, the front bumper inches
from taking out a shocked OLD MAN in a wheel chair. Loki
bursts out of the car, opens the back door, grabs Anna
out --

(CONTINUED)

229

229

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

116
229

He carries her, blood gushing down his face, walking

through the double doors -- SCREAMING:
LOKI
POLICE OFFICER -- I NEED HELP!
230

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - DAY

A patient lies in his hospital bed, his face obscured by
the newspaper hes reading:
BARRY MILLAND AKA ALEX JONES
REUNITED WITH FAMILY AFTER 27 YEARS
A picture of Jones in the hospital, his beard shaved off,
revealing a previously hidden resemblance to the photos
of him at seven years old.
Below that is another headline: STILL MISSING
A picture of Keller.
The patient folds up the paper. Its Loki, oxygen tubes
in his nostrils, bandages over his wound. Someone
approaches his bedside...
Its Grace pushing Anna in a wheelchair. Anna is dressed
in hospital pajamas, remnants of shock still clouding her
eyes.
Hello.

LOKI

She doesnt answer.

GRACE
Shes doing real good -- be on her
feet in a few days.
Behind them are Nancy and Joy. Grace seems possessed of
some newfound strength, while Nancy seems withered and
shaky.
GRACE (CONTD)
I hope were not intruding.
Anna wanted to see her hero.
Anna stares at Loki, unable to speak. He offers her his
hand, noticing she's wearing a red whistle around her
neck. She shakes his hand, regarding him like an
apparition.
And while she does Loki looks over at Nancy, picking up
on the guilt thats underlying her expression. She
senses him reading her and looks away -(CONTINUED)

230

230

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

116A
230

Lokis gaze moves on to Joy.

darkness in her eyes.
OK --

Theres an unsettling

GRACE (CONTD)

(CONTINUED)

230

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

117
230

GRACE (CONTD)
(to Nancy)
Will you give me a minute?
Nancy nods, pushes Anna towards the exit -- Joy following
them out -NANCY
Say goodbye girls.
With whisper voices:
Bye.

ANNA

Bye.

JOY

Nancy leaves with the girls...

231

INT. HALLWAY - ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL

231

Nancy walks out with the girls. Eliza is there, Ralph by

her side. Franklin is there too. Nancy looks at him,
imploring him with a silent plea -- a plea Franklin looks
to be struggling against...
Franklin suddenly breaks Nancys gaze -- walks to a
UNIFORM COP posted at the end of the hall...
232

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - ST. CELESTINE HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS

Grace stands by Lokis bedside.
LOKI
She found her whistle.
GRACE
No. She keeps insisting Joy
helped her find it on Thanksgiving
before they were taken, but I
think shes just confused... I
got her a new one.
(beat)
He hasnt contacted me. I know
you dont believe me, but he
hasnt.
I believe you.

LOKI

GRACE
Do you think youre going to find
him?

(CONTINUED)

232

232

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Yes.

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

117A
232

LOKI

(CONTINUED)

232

Prisoners CONTINUED: (2)

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

118
232

GRACE
Theyll send him to jail?
Probably.

LOKI

Beat.
I miss him.

GRACE

Loki nods, not sure what to say to that.

GRACE (CONTD)
He did what he had to do for Anna.
And I thank God that he did.
Loki doesnt answer, the two of them sharing the silence,
until:
GRACE (CONTD)
Hes a good man.
And with that she abruptly walks out...
Loki picks the newspaper back up.
picture of Keller...
233

He looks at the

EXT. BACK YARD - HOLLY JONES HOUSE - NIGHT

233

Its the middle of the night. The sound of GENERATORS

HUMMING, powering industrial spot lights, illuminating
the back yard as snow falls.
The Trans Am has not been moved. The seats have been
ripped out, lying next to the car.
Closer to the house, two tired looking FORENSIC TECHS,
late twenties, kneel on the ground scraping at the frozen
soil -- they have a radio on, working to classical music The back door opens and out walks Loki, head bandaged.
He looks broken, left the hospital too early.
He surveys the backyard.
Find anything?

LOKI

Tech 1 holds up a plastic bag.

partially decomposed snake.

Inside is a frozen,

(CONTINUED)

233

Prisoners
CONTINUED:

Full Pink Script

1/17/13

119
233

TECH 1
Just this so far. Grounds frozen
solid. Its gonna take us weeks
to excavate the whole property.
Loki surveys the yard for a moment with a weary
expression.
LOKI
Pray for the best.
the worst.

Prepare for

Finished for the night, Tech 1 shuts off the spotlights,

and with a loud CLICK CLACK the back yard goes dark.
Tech 2 shuts off the radio and follows his cohort into
the house. Loki hangs back. Its dead quiet now.
Loki walks around the yard. He takes a closer look at
the Trans Am, staring into its gutted interior,
thinking...
He walks back towards the house, looking bothered by
something, his mind grinding gears...
He takes a last look at the moonlit yard, then turns
around about to enter the house -- when he hears
something...
Its very faint, but almost sounds like a whistle.
Loki turns around. Could have been the wind, but...
There it is again.

Its coming from the Trans Am.

Loki walks through the snow to the Trans Am, dread

blossoming in his eyes. He hears the whistle again and
picks up the pace, almost there as we -FADE TO BLACK.
THE END