“In the heart of every crop circle lies a secret, in the courage of a family, humanity’s last stand.”
Watch the original version of Signs
Prologue:
In the quiet town of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the Hess family lived a simple, unassuming life on their farm. Their days were articulated by the rhythms of nature – the rising of the sun, the chanting of the birds, the restorative silence of the night. But one day, those rhythms, those predictable patterns were shattered, giving way to a reality too alarming to fathom.
It all started with a strange formation in their cornfields.
Chapter One – “Seeds of Uncertainty”:
The morning sun broke through the glass window as Graham awoke to the sound of his alarm, a reminder of another predictable day on the Hess farm. As he shuffled his feet towards the window, his gaze fell upon the sea of corn stalks swaying gently in the breeze. And then he saw it. An island of crushed crops amidst the ocean of upright stalks, coiled into an intricate design. His heart thundered in his chest as he bolted down the stairs, rushing towards the unexpected intruder in his field.
Morgan and Bo, his children, were already up, their young faces etched with confusion and fear. Graham’s brother, Merrill, a washed-up minor league baseball player, joined them, his usually jovial face replaced with a serious expression. The curious quartet ventured out into the open field, the morning dew soaking their shoes as they approached the peculiar designs etched onto their livelihood.
The swirling pattern was precise, intricate, like a massive geometric tattoo carved into the earth. The spectacle was both mesmerizing and terrifying, their breaths hitching in their throats as they took in the sight. The vastness and complexity of the formation dismissed any thought of this being a mere prank.
As the day drifted into night, the Hess family was surrounded by an ominous unease. The once familiar sights and sounds of their farm were suspicious, every rustle in the cornfield, every creak in their home echoing with a potential threat. The comforting familiarity had been ripped away, replaced by an undercurrent of terror of the formidable unknown.
Queries made to local authorities and neighbors proved futile. Nobody had seen anything or anyone suspicious. The town was awash with rumors and speculations. Some people claimed it was a publicity stunt, others whispered of extraterrestrial activities, but for the Hess family, the speculations did nothing but amplify their anxiety.
Graham, a man of faith who had turned his back on the church after the death of his beloved wife, found himself wrestling with existential questions. The simplicity and predictability of his life had been disrupted, replaced with uncertainty and fear. His role as the pillar of the family was being challenged, his fortitude tested. Could he protect his family from this unexplainable threat? Could he hold onto his lingering faith when all signs pointed to a challenge beyond human understanding?
As the Hess family drifted off to sleep that night, their minds were far from relaxed. The mystery of the crop circles haunted their dreams, a chilling reminder that their life was no longer the same. The enchanting farm they loved was now at the center of a daunting mystery, one that threatened to swallow their reality whole.
And little did they know, the worst was yet to come. The seeds of uncertainty had been sown, making way for an unfolding reality too horrifying to imagine.
Chapter Two: “Whispers in the Wind”
A gust of wind rustled through the dense maize fields, orchestrating a symphony of ambiguity that echoed through the quietude. Graham Hess, tousled hair, and eyes carrying years of wisdom, looked from the porch, gripping the rails as if they were his anchor in this storm of uncertainty.
Graham, once a respected reverend in their small Pennsylvanian town, had turned away from his divine calling after his wife’s tragic accident. His faith, once his guiding light through the darkest nights, flickered, dimmed, and eventually surrendered to the paralyzing shadows of his grief.
Now he stood on his traditional farmhouse porch, a lighthouse of despair amidst fields of golden corn. His gaze was fixed on the spectral impressions emblazoned across his crops, a spiraled labyrinth etched into his livelihood, casting an ominous shadow over the very roots of his existence.
The unsettling silence was only broken by the soft creaking of the weather-beaten swing, a reminder of simpler times when laughter echoed and innocence thrived. His mind wandered back to the sound of his children’s glee, creating stark contrast to the eerie hush of the present.
His children, Morgan and Bo, were his only salvation. Morgan, with his curious intellect and insatiable curiosity about the cosmos, and Bo, with her innocent charm and surprisingly capricious obsession with uncontaminated water, were the remaining fragments of Graham’s shattered faith. Their resilience, their unflinching belief in the face of the inexplicable, was the only semblance of an anchor in his life torn by the tumultuous storm of uncertainty.
The family dog, Houdini, once a cheerful companion, now growled ominously at unseen threats, further intensifying the night’s eeriness. The crickets, once the poets of the night, remained silent, their verses hushed by the inexplicable fear that hung in the heavy country air.
Graham’s world turned upside down. The very foundation of his beliefs came into question as he tried to make sense of the mysterious symbols desecrating his fields. Life took on a surreal quality, a bizarre blend of mundane rural living and a science fiction nightmare, swaying on the thin rope of sanity.
Haunted by the enigmatic symbols in his fields, he buried himself under the weight of ancient scriptures and astronomical theories. Star maps littered his study, while religious texts and alien conspiracy books made a peculiar ensemble on his table, a desperate attempt to decipher the ethereal enigma nestled amidst his cornfields.
His conversations with the local law enforcers and scholars only deepened his despair. The crop circles remained an inscrutable puzzle, a cipher too complex for his terrestrial intellect. The whispers of the cosmos carried through his eerie fields felt like an ominous undercurrent, a prophecy of something far more sinister lurking on the horizon.
His world was slowly merging with the unfathomable realms of the cosmos, the familiar farm landscape morphing into an eerie alien canvas before his disbelieving eyes. His faith was under siege, crumbling under the weight of the inexplicable phenomena unfolding around him.
As the sun hid its face behind the darkness, an unfamiliar chill ran down his spine, the whispers of the wind carrying ominous messages of impending dread. His faith was now not only in God but in whatever resided beyond the stars, a faith he wished he didn’t have to confront.
The tranquility of the rural landscape, once his sanctuary, had turned into a breeding ground for fear and dread. His once serene farmhouse felt more like a haunted dwelling, the echo of his past laughter replaced by the bone-chilling silence and the whispers of the wind that carried untold secrets from the cosmos.
As the chapter closed, the reader found their heart pounding alongside Graham’s, their breath hitching with his as they looked toward the shadowy fields. The once quiet farm had turned into a stage for a cosmic spectacle, the whispers in the wind foretelling the frightening spectacle yet to unfold.
Chapter Three: “Specters in the Shadows”
The sun had barely set, and the Hess household was already wrapped in an unnatural darkness. A palpable tension hung in the air, as every creak of the old farmhouse stirred deep-rooted fears in their hearts. Graham Hess, a man of few fears, frowned at the gathering gloom, his jaw set. The nocturnal noises of insects, the usual serenade of the countryside, had fallen silent, replaced by an almost unbearable quiet.
His children, Morgan and Bo, were huddled together on the living room couch, their faces pale, their eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and fear. They had been vibrant souls, full of life and chatter, now rendered mute by the specters that lurked in the shadows of their farm. There was an eerie feeling that they were not alone; that unseen eyes were watching them, turning their sanctuary into a haunted spectacle.
Graham’s brother, Merrill, a man who had once chased dreams of baseball stardom, was now chasing shadows. He patrolled the boundaries of the farm nightly with a flashlight and the family dog, Houdini. Merrill, too, was on high alert, his every sense heightened, his pulse synchronizing with the rhythm of fear that held the family in its grip.
One night, Morgan, a lover of science and fiction, awoke drenched in sweat, his heart pounding like a drum. He had seen them in his dreams – creatures from beyond the stars, gray-skinned, with large, black ominous eyes. They were not friendly explorers but hunters, predators, lurking, waiting. The terror he felt was unlike anything he’d ever known, a cold dread that seeped into his bones. Bo, the younger of the two, had similar nightmares, her dreams populated by the phantom invaders, turning the innocence of sleep into a terrifying ordeal.
Graham, despite his own fears, work upon soothing his children’s fright, putting up a brave front. He told them stories of courage and endurance, determined to keep the flames of hope alive. Yet, he couldn’t deny the tremors of fear that rippled through his own heart each time he glimpsed a shadow moving just beyond the corner of his sight. His faith was being tested, not in the God he once served but in the strength of his family’s resolve.
Late one night, while the rest of the family was locked in fitful sleep, Merrill, on his routine patrol, caught sight of a shadowy figure in the crop circles. For a moment, everything stood still. His heart pounded in his chest as he shined the flashlight on it, illuminating a terrifying figure that was decidedly not human. He let out a startled yell, waking up the household, the fear in his voice echoing the terror that held the farm in its icy grip.
As they huddled together in the farmhouse’s safety, they knew their lives had irrevocably changed. This was not a prank or an illusion; they were living a dark reality they’d only ever seen in movies. The specters in the shadows were real. The crop circles were not a random act of mischief, but a foreboding message. The Hess farm had become ground zero in an invasion that was beyond human comprehension, a battleground between humans and the unknown.
The chapter closed on the fearful note of the impending invasion, leaving the readers at the edge of their seat, their hearts pounding with anticipation and fear. Little did they know, this was just the beginning of the Hess family’s struggle, a fight for survival that would test their strength, courage, and unity like never before.
Chapter Four: “Cryptic Codes”
As the morning sun poured down on the Hesses’ farm, the family was far from embracing the comfort of a new day. Instead, their puzzlement had plunged deeper, the intricate circles on the cornfields now a chilling maze of questions. The law enforcement had been just as quizzical, their city-trained eyes scanning the patterns for answers, only to squint back with more questions.
It was during these befuddled times that Officer Paski, a seasoned patrol officer with a fondness for unorthodox solutions, suggested involving scholars in the process. There was a certain Dr. Ivor Krakow, an eccentric university professor specializing in Semiotics, the study of signs and symbols. At first, Graham was skeptical. He was a firm believer in pragmatism, a man who trusted only what he could touch and see. But desperation pushed him to acquiesce.
Dr. Krakow arrived, his spectroscopy goggles and magnifying glass presenting an uncanny image of Sherlock Holmes. They roamed the cornfields, their shadows stretching far into the afternoon sun. The professor painstakingly examined every curve, every line, and every junction of the crop circles. Suddenly, the eerie silence of the farm was shattered by a triumphant cry.
Krakow’s theory was shocking yet compelling, “These patterns are complex, multi-layered. They carry a unique linguistic character, almost alien-like”, he said, adjusting his glasses for effect. His conjecture was tantalizing, monstrous ’fore the Hesses, their bewildering mystery now conceivably extraterrestrial.
This news, instead of bringing clarity, brought a new wave of fear over the family. It was Morgan who voiced out what everyone was thinking, “What if we are being marked, stalked by these aliens?”, his wide, frightened eyes reflecting the gravity of their predicament.
Krakow, in his scholarly fervor, overlooked their anxiety suggesting getting more experts to decode the meaning. Days turned into nights and were replaced by more days, the farm now swarmed with of researchers and cryptologists – linguists, astronomers, mathematicians – each weaving their own interpretation of the crop circles.
Their work became an elaborate tapestry of theories. Theories of the crop circles being a sort of cosmic GPS, or perhaps a warning of some impending catastrophe, or even a countdown to an alien invasion. The farm had become a peculiar research base, the family’s home turning into a frenzied brainstorming room.
Graham stood at the edge of all this, his world revolving in blurred bewilderment. He was wrestling not just with the physical reality of his farm being marked, but the profound change that had occurred in his mindset. He was no longer just a farmer, a father, or a man grappling with lost faith. He’d become a participant in an intergalactic communication, a terrestrial receiver of an alien telegram.
His faith flickered in the face of the unknown, the resolute hardness of his skepticism giving way to a cautious curiosity. He saw an inexplicable connection between the symbols and his late wife’s last words, “Swing away”. They were probably just a delirium induced by her mortal injuries, but now, it felt different, it felt connected.
He decided to embrace this galactic enigma, to engage with it, to understand it more deeply. He wanted to be more than just a passive spectator in this drama. His barren faith was showing signs of green shoots. The circles, however cryptic and menacing, were a catalyst for his spiritual revival. Navigating this crisis, he was finding his own path back to God, to faith, and most importantly, to himself.
That night he looked at the sky, not just as a farmer looks after a day’s toil but as a curious child looking for answers. The stars twinkled back with cryptic winks, their constellation now a puzzle with missing pieces. As he retired to bed, he knew the mystery was far from over. The circles had merely opened doors to more questions, more enigmas. The wind outside whispered tales of the unknown, his sleep punctuated with dreams of cryptic codes and celestial signs.
Chapter Five: “Encounter of the Unknown”
Underneath a clear night sky dusted with stars, the naïveté of the Hess family was shattered brutally. The children, Morgan and Bo, huddled together in their room, their innocence being steadily eroded by an encounter that defied everything they’d been taught about the natural world. Graham and Merrill, the adult Hess brothers, exchanged glances of fear, their hearts pounded in a wild rhythm as they wrestled against the biting reality of their situation.
The encounter began with a quiet rustling in the seemingly endless cornfields surrounding the Hess household. An unnatural, almost mechanical sound that sent shivers dancing down their spines. Then, a figure – tall, slender, and oddly human-like, emerged from the sea of golden stalks. It was an alien entity, its body glowing in the silvery moonlight, its eyes filled with an emotion that could only be described as alien. Fear, curiosity, and fascination were mirrored in the gazes of the Hess family, their breaths held hostage by the surreal spectacle.
This was an entity that didn’t belong to their world yet was becoming a part of their reality. It was a figure that was both menacing and fascinating in equal measures. They watched as it studied their ancestral farmhouse with an intensity that left an uncomfortable chill creeping along their spines. It moved with an unnatural grace, its gestures fluid as if it was manipulating the very air around it. Its eyes, though devoid of a recognizable iris, were somehow expressive, reflecting a complex array of emotions that didn’t adhere to any human understanding.
The farm animals started acting out, their innocent instincts recognizing the foreign visitor. The dogs barked incessantly, their aggression amplified by fear. The cows mooed in distress, their usual placidity replaced with frantic tension.
Graham’s first instinct was to protect his family, to guard his children from the unimaginable creature that had trespassed their peaceful life. Clasping his hands for a prayer he hadn’t thought of in years, he was suddenly reminded of his long-forgotten faith. Yet, he tried to keep his composure, his eyes never leaving the alien being that was now imprinted in their lives.
As the figure moved closer to the farm, they saw it in greater detail. It had glossy skin that shimmered beneath the moonlight, and it moved with an agility that felt both elegant and eerie. Its hands, if they could be called that, were long and filled with fingers that twisted and turned in ways human digits could not. Its face, however, was obscured, obscured by some strange, shimmering field that seemed to refract the light around it.
Then, as swiftly it had appeared, the figure retreated back into the cornfield, disappearing into the tall stalks. An audible sigh of relief fell from the lips of Bo and Morgan, their childish innocence tainted by the horrific spectacle.
In that moment, the Hess household stood still, their hearts pounded, the air was thick with terror and uncertainty. Their ordinary farm had been turned into an extraordinary battlefield, invaded by creatures from another world. The battle that lay ahead to protect their home was now more than a matter of survival, it was a challenge against the unknown.
Chapter Six: “The Siege”
It began as an ordinary morning on the Hess farm but, after breakfast, their world plunged into absolute chaos. The farm was no longer the haven it had once been, it was now a fortress under attack by unseen enemies. Each family member carried the weight of fear, but within that fear, they found courage. In a grand and perplexing twist of fate, the ordinary farmhouse had become their only shield against an unknown, alien adversary.
For days, the family lived on edge, their lives governed by fear and uncertainty. The crop circles that began as a mystery had now evolved into looming threats. The once charming farmhouse seemed to shrink under the alien presence, its wooden walls offering feeble resistance to the cosmic menace outside.
The colossal farm, which had for years provided them with sustenance, now felt overwhelmingly vast and terrifyingly vulnerable. Graham felt the burden of leadership acutely, former faith chipped away by the predicament they faced. He watched helplessly as his children, the innocent Morgan and ever-curious Bo, were dragged into this nightmare. Even Merrill, his brother-in law and a former minor league baseball star, seemed lost in the face of this extra-terrestrial menace.
In every sound – the creaking of floorboards, the rustling of cornstalks, the hooting of an owl – they perceived an enemy. Morgan’s asthmatic condition worsened due to stress, making them even more vulnerable. Bo’s quirks suddenly took on a new edge. She rejected drinking water left for more than a few minutes, insisting it tasted ‘funny.’ These instances in the past, though odd, were harmless; now, they added to the growing terror.
The cold wind howled, as if bearing tales of the impending doom, shaking the windows of the farm. Every gust brought an added chill to their spines. Graham’s mind raced with thoughts of escape, but where could they go? It seemed as if the world outside the farm had ceased to exist, their reality reduced to the farm under siege.
Days turned into nights, and the family stayed huddled together for warmth and comfort. Morgan clutched his emergency inhaler closer while Bo clung to her half-filled glasses of water. Each night was another battle won, another day of survival met in the face of uncertainty.
The alien sounds grew louder with every passing night, and the lurking shadows became more daring. Their intensity heightened the perplexity and fear. In the dead of the night, one such sound echoed through the house. The family froze, their hearts pounding as the deafening noise shattered the silence. The sound was alien, full of power and devoid of any human quality.
A banging echoed from the cornfield. Merrill grabbed his baseball bat, his eyes brimming with determination. If they were under siege, he wasn’t going down without a fight. The cornfield had been a source of their livelihood, and now, it was about to become the battlefield of their very survival. Not just against their alien invaders, but against their fears and insecurities.
The climax of the siege was upon them, the buildup of tension released in an explosive burst of energy. Their game plan was unclear, and so were the rules. But one thing was certain – they had to stand their ground, they had to protect their home. It was time for the final stand, a decisive confrontation that would determine their fate. They were ready to face the threat that loomed over their existence every waking hour. For their farm, their home, their family, they would fight. They would survive.
The Hess family stood firm, eyes shining with resolve, their fear masked by determination. They looked at each other, their hearts pounding simultaneously. Was this the night the siege would end? Would they see the dawn of a new day? Or was it the beginning of an end, they could never foresee? Aware that their ordinary lives would never resume, they braced themselves for the extraordinary battle that lay ahead – the culmination of all their fears and hopes.
Chapter Seven: “The Final Stand”
The morning sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows that danced eerily across the cornfields. The Hess family sat huddled together in the basement of their Pennsylvania farmhouse. Their eyes, wide with fear, were a stark contrast to the otherwise mundane surroundings – a stark reminder of their reality.
Above, the invading extraterrestrial life forms prowled relentlessly. The once tranquil farmhouse creaked ominously under their unseen weight, turning what once symbolized safety into an echo chamber of dread. Graham, his heart pounding against his ribs, brushed a comforting hand over his daughter Bo’s matted hair. His son Morgan clung to him, eyes open and unblinking.
Graham’s brother, Merrill, glanced nervously at the wooden door that barricaded them from their assailants. The baseball bat, a relic from Merrill’s past life as a minor-league slugger, was gripped tightly in his hands – now their only line of defense against the impending doom.
For hours, the family remained in the choking silence, only the eerie hum of the invaders and their own ragged breaths filling the air. Each sound, each whispered word, was a testament to their will to survive in this unanticipated war of the worlds.
As the sun reached its zenith, a sudden change swept through the air, a deadly stillness replacing the cacophonous hum. Graham, feeling a spark of hope ignite within him, looked at Merrill. The decision hung between them – it was time to make their final stand.
With a nod, Merrill gripped the bat tighter, his face a mask of determination. Graham held Bo and Morgan close, whispering words of hope and love. Each word was a prayer, their faith finding strength even amidst the terror.
As Merrill moved the cabinet blocking the doorway, a wave of fresh air wafted into the room, a stark contrast to the stale air within. It was eerily quiet. Slowly, they ascended the stairs, their hearts pounding in their ears.
At the top, they emerged into a scene of constructed havoc. Furniture was overturned, the once cheery wallpaper torn and hanging in shreds. But what struck them most was the alien, standing tall in the living room. Otherworldly, yet somehow tangible, it turned to face them, its body gleaming in the sunlight seeping in through the shattered windows.
Graham gasped, pulling his children back. This was it. The moment they had prepared for. The alien advanced, this creature from another world invading their reality with its terrifying presence. But Merrill stood his ground, gripping his bat, every muscle in his body taut.
With a deafening battle cry, Merrill launched himself towards the creature, his baseball bat swinging. The creature retaliated, but Merrill was relentless. The house echoed with the sound of their battle, a symphony of survival. But it was Merrill’s final, triumphant swing that brought the alien down, the intruder collapsing onto the shattered remains of their living room.
Silence followed. Merrill’s heavy breathing and the children’s whimpers were the only sounds punctuating the silence. The alien lay lifeless on the floor, their terror finally over.
The fight was won. Grim but triumphant, the Hess family stood surrounded by the remnants of their previously peaceful life. Chests heaving, they looked at one another, their eyes gleaming with relief and something akin to joy.
Later that day, as the sun set, bathing the world in a golden hue, the family stood overlooking their farm. It was scarred, a mirror to their own wounds, but it held promise. Promise of a new beginning, of a world that had been saved. The crop circles stood as a reminder of their victory, not as symbols of fear. The family, though battered, had come out stronger than ever. The final stand had marked not their end, but their rebirth.
Some scenes from the movie Signs written by A.I.
Scene 1
FADE IN:
EXT. HESS FAMILY FARM – MORNING
A sprawling cornfield under the dawn sky. The peace is disturbed by a loud SCREAM from the farmhouse.
INT. HESS FAMILY FARMHOUSE – MORNING
MORGAN HESS (12, curious and intelligent) stands frozen as he looks out of the window. His younger sister BO (6, innocent and brave) stands beside him.
MORGAN:
(whispering)
Bo… look at this.
EXT. CORNFIELDS – MORNING
GRAHAM HESS (40, former reverend, now farmer) and his brother, MERRILL (30, strong but gentle) emerge from the house. They look around, their faces registering disbelief.
The lush, green crops lay FLATTENED, creating a giant circle in the field.
GRAHAM:
(teary-eyed)
What in God’s name…
MERRILL:
(disoriented)
Who could have done this, Graham?
Throughout the day, they explore the field, an undercurrent of fear hanging heavy. The day ends with a sense of unspoken dread about what lies ahead.
EXT. HESS FARMHOUSE – NIGHT
The lights in the house flicker intermittently. An unseen presence seems to LURK around the property – a DISTURBING STIRRING in the cornfield, a MURMUR of the wind. The once familiar farm now feels ominous, filled with
UNSPOKEN FEAR.
FADE OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Scene 2
INT. HESS FARM – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Graham, a man who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, sits on an old rocking chair, sipping coffee. The room is hush, the only sound – the TICKING of an old clock.
Suddenly, a chilling HOWL breaks the night’s silence. It’s the family dog, Houdini, who never howls.
INT. HESS FARM – KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Graham walks into the kitchen where his kids, Morgan, an anxious teen, and Bo, a sweet but curious 8-year-old girl, sit huddled at the table.
GRAHAM
(to his kids)
Go back to bed. It’s just Houdini being silly.
MORGAN
But Dad, he’s never howled like this before.
Bo clings onto Morgan, her eyes wide with fear.
EXT. HESS FARM – FRONT YARD – CONTINUOUS
Graham walks out, a FLASHLIGHT in his hand, to find Houdini staring into the fields, growling.
Suddenly, the chirping crickets FALL SILENT. A chill runs down Graham’s spine as he shines the flashlight into the fields – only cornstalks dance in the wind.
Graham takes a deep breath, and for the first time, we see fear in his eyes.
INT. HESS FARM – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Graham, now back inside, gazes at a family photo – a happier time, with his WIFE in it. His eyes well up.
GRAHAM
(whispering)
I need to believe, I have to believe.
The eerie silence of the night continues to haunt the Hess family, leaving them, and everyone else, in suspense of what’s to come.
Scene 3
INT. HESS FARMHOUSE – CHILDREN’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Morgan, a bright ten-year-old with an obsession for science fiction, lays wide-awake in bed, clutching her favorite alien toy. Bo, her innocent six-year-old brother, sleeps soundly next to her.
Suddenly, the room is filled with a FAINLY AUDIBLE HUMMING. The HUMMING intensifies. Morgan’s eyes dart around the room.
MORGAN
(whispering to herself)
“It’s just your imagination running wild. No such things as aliens.”
Bo stirs from his sleep, rubbing his eyes.
BO
“Why are you still awake, Morgan?”
Morgan quickly shushes him and points to the window. The faint outlines of FIGURES can be seen moving outside. Bo gasps.
INT. HESS FARMHOUSE – HALLWAY – MOMENTS LATER
Graham, in his robe and slippers, halts at the sound of his children’s WHISPERING. He finds them at their bedroom window, staring intently at the fields.
GRAHAM
“What in the world are you two—“
MORGAN
(interrupts, pointing outside)
“There… can you see them, dad?”
Graham squints, his face hardens as he spots the FIGURES in the distance. The fear in his children’s eyes reflected in his own.
GRAHAM
(into walkie-talkie)
“Merill, we’ve got company.”
EXT. HESS FARMHOUSE – CONTINUOUS
Cue suspenseful music as we see three shadowy figures at the edge of the cornfield – the eerie silence of the night pierced only by the WHISPERS in the wind.
FADE OUT TO BLACK.
Scene 4
FADE IN:
EXT. HESS FAMILY FARM – DAY
A panoramic shot of the vast cornfield, the strange crop circles ominously etched into the landscape.
CUT TO:
INT. HESS FAMILY LIVING ROOM – DAY
Graham Hess (40s, former reverend turned farmer) sits at a worn-out wooden table, strewn with papers full of scribbled notes and sketches of the crop circle patterns.
He looks exhausted, desperation etched on his face, his eyes glancing over to his children, MORGAN (10, intelligent and curious) and BO (8, quiet and sensitive), playing innocently. DISCOVERING OFFICER CAROLINE (30s, efficient and friendly) enters the room.
OFFICER CAROLINE
(concerned)
We’ve contacted several scholars specialized in
extraterrestrial phenomenon, Graham…
Graham interrupts her, frustration seeping through his words.
GRAHAM
(exasperated)
I don’t need scholars, Caroline. I need answers.
Officer Caroline sighs, pulling out a marked photograph of the crop circles. She cautiously places it on the table.
OFFICER CAROLINE
(determined)
We might have one. These crop patterns…
they’re not random, Graham. They appear to
be a form of coded communication.
Close-up on Graham’s stunned face as the revelation sinks in. His gaze flickers to his children, his expression hardening with renewed determination.
FADE OUT.
Scene 5
INT. HESS FARMHOUSE – NIGHT
The flicker of candlelight casts long shadows on the walls. The HESS FAMILY – GRAHAM, a stern but caring former reverend; MORGAN, a brave and inquisitive boy; BO, a quiet and perceptive little girl – huddle together, fear and anticipation etched in their faces. An ALIEN CREATURE has been sighted, turning their tranquil farm into a living nightmare.
Suddenly, a soft thud upstairs. They freeze.
GRAHAM
(whispering)
Stay here.
Graham picks up a baseball bat and creeps towards the staircase. The kids exchange terrified glances.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY
Graham moves down the darkened hallway, sweat trickling down his forehead, gripping the bat tighter. Another thud. He halts.
GRAHAM
(in a shaky whisper)
Who’s there?
A low growl is the response. The door at the end of the hallway creaks open. In the dim light, a silhouette shuffles.
Suddenly, a blinding light floods the hallway as a brilliant beam from a spacecraft illuminates the house. Graham’s eyes widen – the alien creature lurches towards him.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. FARMHOUSE – LIVING ROOM
Morgan and Bo hear a loud thud followed by deafening silence. They exchange a look of sheer terror.
MORGAN
(in a panic)
We need to help Dad.
The two kids, armed with makeshift weapons, race up the stairs, into the unknown.
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED…
