THE HAUNTING OF THE DARK NIGHT

THE HUNTING OF THE DARK NIGHT

         BY SANJAY YADAV 




ACT I

Scene I

[Once upon a time, there was a city in New York. In New York City, people went about their daily work from morning until evening. However, when night fell, people rarely came out of their houses. Sometimes, people heard mysterious sounds. Some claimed to have seen the shadow of someone holding a hammer. Others discovered dead bodies, torn into pieces, in the middle of the night.]


[One year later, a family moved to New York City. The family consisted of Catherine, the wife; Robert Williams, the husband; Jack, their elder son; and Lucy, their younger daughter.]

[Morning.]

Catherine: Robert, please come quickly.

Robert Williams: Yes, I’m coming.

[Robert enters the hall.]

Robert Williams: Yes, Catherine. What happened?

Catherine: Nothing!

Robert Williams: Then why did you call me?

Catherine: I just called you for breakfast.

Robert Williams: Oh, okay. I thought you needed me for some work.

Catherine: No, no. I just called you for breakfast.

Robert Williams: Okay. Let’s sit down for breakfast.



Scene II

[Robert and Catherine sit down for breakfast.]

Robert Williams: Today’s breakfast is delicious.

Catherine: Thank you.

Robert Williams: But where are the children?

Catherine: Robert, you forgot. The children went to the club with their school.

Robert Williams: Oh, yes. I remember now. When are they coming back?

Catherine: Lucy called me. She said they would come back tomorrow.

Robert Williams: Okay.

[Robert gets ready for work.]

Catherine: Okay, now get ready for work.

Robert Williams: Yes. I’m already very late.

Catherine: Then go quickly.

Robert Williams: Okay, I’m ready to go to work.

Catherine: Okay. Bye, and take care.

Robert Williams: Okay, bye.

[Robert leaves for work. Before he leaves, Catherine and Robert kiss each other at the door.]




ACT II

Scene I

[At the office. Robert Williams reaches the office very late.]

Robert Williams: Oh no! I’m very late today.

Office Staff: Good morning, sir.

Robert Williams: Good morning. What happened?

Office Staff: Sir, the boss is calling you.

Robert Williams: Okay, I’m going.

Office Staff: Okay, sir.

[Robert Williams goes to the boss’s office.]





Scene II

[Robert Williams enters the boss’s office.]

Robert Williams: May I come in, sir?

Boss: Yes, please come in.

Robert Williams: Sir, you called me?

Boss: Yes. First, sit on the chair.

Robert Williams: Okay, sir.

Boss: Robert, you come to the office regularly and are usually on time. But today, you came to the office late. So, I want you to work tonight. Is that okay, Robert?

Robert Williams: Okay, sir.





ACT III

Scene I

[Evening. Catherine is waiting for Robert at the door of their house.]

Catherine: What happened to Robert? Why is he so late? He usually comes home very early.

[Robert picks up the phone.]

Robert Williams: Hello?

Catherine: Where are you?

Robert Williams: I’m at the office.

Catherine: Okay, but you usually come home early. Why are you late today?

Robert Williams: I came to the office very late today. That’s why the boss gave me extra work to do tonight.

Catherine: Okay. Come home quickly.

Robert Williams: Okay. I’ll try my best. Have the children come back from camp?

Catherine: No. They will come tomorrow morning at around ten o’clock.

Robert Williams: Okay. Bye.

Catherine: Bye. Take care.




Scene II

[Robert Williams has completed his work and is checking it one last time.]

Boss: Robert, have you completed your work?

Robert Williams: Yes, sir. I have completed it. I’m just checking it one last time.

Boss: Okay. When you finish checking it, please leave it on my table.

Robert Williams: Okay, sir.

Boss: One more thing. I am giving you a holiday tomorrow. Take some rest.

Robert Williams: Okay, sir. Thank you.

Boss: I am very proud of you, Robert.

Robert Williams: This is my duty, sir. I have to do my work.

Boss: I know, Robert, but I am still very proud of you.

Robert Williams: Thank you, sir.

Boss: It’s very late now, so go home carefully.

Robert Williams: Okay, sir.





Scene III

[Robert Williams leaves the office after completing his work.]

Office Staff: Sir, you haven’t gone home yet?

Robert Williams: Yes. There was some work to finish, so I couldn’t leave earlier.

Office Staff: Okay, sir. But it’s already one o’clock in the morning.

Robert Williams: Yes, I know. I’m leaving for home now.

Office Staff: Okay, sir, but please be very careful on the road.

Robert Williams: What do you mean? What are you trying to say?

Office Staff: Sir, I just want to tell you something. At this time of night, the roads become very quiet and dangerous. Many strange and mysterious sounds can be heard on the road.

Robert Williams: That’s just a story.

Office Staff: Oh, sir. As you wish. Goodbye, and please go carefully.

Robert Williams: Goodbye. You also go carefully.

Office Staff: Okay, sir.

[Robert leaves the office and starts walking toward home. The streets are completely silent.]




ACT IV

Scene I

[Robert Williams is waiting for a taxi at 1:30 in the morning.]

Robert Williams: It’s already 1:30, but I don’t see any taxis anywhere on the road.

[Suddenly, a taxi stops in front of Robert.]

Taxi Driver: What happened, sir?

Robert Williams: Nothing.

Taxi Driver: Can I drop you at your home?

Robert Williams: No, thank you. I’ll get another taxi.

Taxi Driver: Sir, you won’t get another taxi at this time of night.

Robert Williams: Okay.




Scene II

[Robert sits inside the taxi.]

Robert Williams: Driver, please drive fast. I’m getting late.

Taxi Driver: Don’t worry, sir. I will drop you home.

Robert Williams: Okay, but please drive a little faster.

[Suddenly, the taxi stops in the middle of the road.]

Robert Williams: What happened?

Taxi Driver: I think the taxi has stopped suddenly.

Robert Williams: So?

Taxi Driver: Wait, sir. I will check.

Robert Williams: Please check it quickly.

Taxi Driver: Okay, sir.

[The taxi driver checks the vehicle.]

Robert Williams: What is the main problem, driver?

Taxi Driver: Sir, I think the petrol has run out, and the engine isn’t working. You will have to walk a long distance to reach your home.

Robert Williams: Okay. Take your money.

Taxi Driver: Thank you, sir.

[The taxi driver leaves. Robert gets out of the taxi and begins walking alone along the dark, silent road.]



Scene III

[Robert Williams walks along the road in the darkness of the night.]

Robert Williams: This road is completely silent. There is no one here.

[Suddenly, a man appears in front of Robert, holding a hammer in his hand.]

Robert Williams: Someone is standing on the road at this time of night.

[Robert walks forward to get a closer look at the man.]

Clown Man: What is your name?

Robert Williams: My name is Robert Williams.

Clown Man: What are you doing here at this time of night?

Robert Williams: I have come from the office.

Clown Man: Do you know what happens here at night?

Robert Williams: No.

Clown Man: You have come to the wrong road.

Robert Williams: Why?

Clown Man: This road is for the dead. People who come here at night never leave alive.

Robert Williams: You mean you kill people at night?

Clown Man: Yes. Now, prepare to die.

[The Clown Man raises the hammer and strikes Robert on the head. Robert falls to the road, covered in blood.]

[The road becomes silent again.]




ACT V

Scene I

[Robert sees the blood-covered hammer in the Clown Man’s hand.]

Robert Williams: What is this?

Clown Man: This is my hammer. I kill people with it. My hands are covered in blood.

Robert Williams: Please leave me alone.

Clown Man: Sorry, I can’t leave you at this time. When anyone comes to this road at night, no one can save themselves.

Robert Williams: I haven’t done anything to you.

Clown Man: I don’t care about anything. Get ready to die.

[Robert suddenly runs away. But when he looks back, the Clown Man has disappeared.]

Robert Williams: Where is the Clown Man? I can’t see him anywhere.



Scene II

[Suddenly, the Clown Man appears in front of Robert again.]

Clown Man: Hello, Robert.

Robert Williams: But how did you come here?

Clown Man: I can appear anywhere without warning.

Robert Williams: Please don’t kill me. Let me go.

Clown Man: Okay. Go.

Robert Williams: Are you sure?

Clown Man: Yes. Please go.

[Robert begins to walk away. Suddenly, the Clown Man raises his hammer and strikes Robert on the head.]

Robert Williams: Ah! Ah! Ah!

Clown Man: Happy journey, Robert. Ha ha ha ha!

[Robert falls to the ground. The Clown Man kills him and takes his body away. Blood covers Robert’s body and the road. The Clown Man disappears into the darkness with the body.]




ACT VI

Scene I

[The next morning, Jack and Lucy return home after completing their school camp.]

Lucy: Mom, we’re back from the camp!

Catherine: Lucy! You’re back!

Lucy: Yes, Mom.

Catherine: Where is Jack?

Jack: Mom, I’m back too!

Catherine: Jack, my son! I missed both of you.

Lucy: We missed you too, Mom.

Jack: Mom, where is Dad?

Catherine: I don’t know, dear. He said he would come home very late last night, but he still hasn’t come home.

Lucy: Mom, is there a problem?

Catherine: There’s no problem, dear.

Jack: But why is Dad so late? I think something might have happened to him.

Lucy: I think so too, Jack.

[Catherine, Jack, and Lucy become very worried about Robert Williams.]




Scene II

[A phone call comes to the house.]

Catherine: Hello?

Strange Man: Hello. Am I speaking to Catherine?

Catherine: Yes.

Strange Man: Is Robert your husband?

Catherine: Yes, Robert is my husband. What happened?

Strange Man: We found the dead body of a man. There was something written about Robert Williams on his wallet.

Catherine: What?

Strange Man: Yes. That’s why I called you.

Catherine: Please wait. I’m coming.

Strange Man: Okay.

[Catherine becomes extremely sad. Tears fill her eyes.]

Jack: What happened?

Lucy: Why are you so sad, Mom?

Catherine: Dear, someone called me and said that Robert had died.

Jack: What? You mean our dad?

Catherine: Yes, dear. That’s why I’m going to see the dead body.

Jack: Don’t worry, Mom. We are coming with you.

Catherine: Okay. Let’s go.



Scene III

[At night, Catherine, Jack, and Lucy reach the same place where the strange man told them to come.]

Lucy: Mom, drive faster.

Jack: What time is it?

Lucy: It’s 10 o’clock now.

Jack: Lucy, do you notice something? It’s already 10 o’clock, but there is no one on this road.

Lucy: Yes, you’re right.

Jack: I think there is something wrong.

Catherine: Please don’t talk. Sit quietly.

Jack: Okay, Mom.

[Suddenly, Catherine stops the car.]

Lucy: What happened, Mom?

Jack: Mom, why did you stop the car?

Catherine: Look! Someone is standing there.

Lucy: Where?

Jack: Who is he?

Catherine: Let’s go and see.

Lucy: Let’s go together.

[Catherine, Jack, and Lucy slowly get out of the car and walk toward the mysterious figure standing in the darkness.]




ACT VII
Scene I

[Catherine, Lucy, and Jack move forward to see the man standing on the road.]

Jack: Lucy, look! That man looks very strange.

Lucy: Yes, Jack.

Catherine: Don’t worry. Let’s go.

[The three of them reach the man.]

Lucy: Who are you? Why are you standing here?

Clown Man: I am standing on the road because I need help.

Catherine: Okay. What happened? What do you need from us?

Clown Man: I want to go to my house. Please help me.

Catherine: Don’t worry. We have a car. We will drop you at your home.

Clown Man: Thank you.

[The Clown Man gets into the car with Catherine, Jack, and Lucy. None of them realize that they have just invited the mysterious killer into their car.]



Scene II

[The Clown Man sits inside the car as they drive him to his home.]

Catherine: You haven’t told us your name.

Jack: Yes. What is your name?

Clown Man: Sorry, I don’t have a name.

Jack: Okay, no problem.

Catherine: Where is your home? How long will it take to get there?

Clown Man: It will take only a few minutes to reach my home.

Catherine: Okay.

Clown Man: But what are all of you doing out here at this time of night?

Catherine: My husband hasn’t come home, so we are searching for him.

Clown Man: Okay. What is your husband’s name?

Catherine: Robert Williams.

[The Clown Man suddenly realizes that Catherine, Jack, and Lucy are Robert Williams’s wife and children. A sinister smile appears on his face.]



ACT VIII

Scene I

[They finally reach the Clown Man’s house.]

Clown Man: Come in. This is my house.

Lucy: Your house looks very strange.

Clown Man: Yes, but my house has always been like this.

Jack: Okay.

Clown Man: I hope you don’t mind. I have some work to do, so you can all stay here.

Catherine: Okay, no problem. Go and finish your work.

Clown Man: Thank you. I will be back soon. Don’t worry.

[The Clown Man leaves to do some work, while Catherine, Jack, and Lucy remain inside the house.]



Scene II

[Catherine, Lucy, and Jack go inside the house.]

Lucy: Let’s go inside.

Jack: Yes, let’s go inside the house.

Catherine: You are right.

[The three of them enter the house.]

Jack: Look! This room is dirty and covered in blood.

Lucy: I think they are doing something with dead bodies.

Catherine: Jack... Lucy...

Lucy: What happened, Mom?

Catherine: This is Robert’s dead body.

Jack: How do you know that this is Dad’s dead body?

Catherine: Just look carefully at the clothes. Yesterday, Robert wore the same clothes to work.

Lucy: Mom, does that mean this is our dad’s dead body.

Catherine: Yes, dear. I’m afraid it is.

[Suddenly, they hear a strange sound coming from outside the house.]

Catherine: Listen! A sound is coming from outside.

Lucy: I think someone is coming.

Jack: Let’s hide somewhere in this house.

[The three of them quickly hide inside a room and remain completely silent.]



Scene III

[Catherine sees several people entering the house.]

Catherine: Look! That’s the Clown Man we saw on the road.

Lucy: You’re right, Mom.

Jack: But I don’t understand. He said he was going to do some work.

Catherine: I think he lied to us.

Lucy: Mom, look! There is something in his hand.

Jack: Lucy, that’s a hammer. He has a hammer in his hand, and it’s covered in blood.

Lucy: They are carrying dead bodies, and their hands are covered in blood.

Catherine: But I don’t understand. What are they going to do with the dead bodies?

Lucy: Let’s wait and see, Mom. We need to find out what they are going to do with the dead bodies.

[All three of them silently watch the people from inside the room.]




ACT IX

Scene I

[The people carry the dead bodies in their hands and place them on a bed.]

Catherine: Look! They are putting the dead bodies on the bed.

Lucy: What are they going to do with the dead bodies?

Catherine: Let’s wait and see what they are going to do.

[The people place the dead bodies on the bed and begin cutting them into pieces.]

Jack: Oh no! How can they cut the dead bodies into pieces?

Catherine: I think they killed our Robert and cut his body into pieces.

[Suddenly, Lucy accidentally steps on a drum.]

Jack: Oh, Lucy! What are you doing?

Lucy: Sorry. I stepped on the drum by mistake.

Catherine: What should we do now?

Lucy: Let’s wait for a few minutes.

[They remain hidden and continue watching silently, afraid that the people may discover them.]




Scene II

[Suddenly, the Clown Man enters the room.]

Catherine: Look! They are coming into this room.

Clown Man: Who is inside? Please come out.

Jack: Don’t make any sound. Move slowly.

Lucy: Okay.

[Suddenly, another Clown Man catches them from behind.]

Another Clown Man: Where are you going?

Catherine: Nowhere. We just came to look around the house.

Third Clown Man: Don’t worry. This house is for dead people, not living people.

Catherine: What do you mean?

First Clown Man: Oh, do you remember me?

Lucy: Yes. We gave you a ride in our car.

First Clown Man: Yes. But I brought all of you here to kill you.

Jack: You mean you killed our dad?

First Clown Man: Yes. And now it’s your turn to die.

[Catherine, Jack, and Lucy become terrified as the Clown Men surround them.]




Scene III

[The Clown Men take their hammers in their hands and prepare to kill the three of them.]

First Clown Man: Get ready to die!

Catherine: Please leave us alone!

Second Clown Man: Sorry. No one can save you here.

Lucy: Why do you want to kill us?

First Clown Man: We kill people on the road, bring their dead bodies into this house, and cut them into pieces.

[Suddenly, the Third Clown Man raises his hammer and strikes Catherine on the head.]

Catherine: Ah! Ah! Ah! Someone hit me with a hammer!

[Catherine falls to the ground and dies. Blood covers the floor.]

Lucy: Mom! Please wake up!

Jack: Why did you do that?

Third Clown Man: Now it’s your turn.

[Lucy and Jack desperately try to escape from the house.]




ACT X

Scene I

[Jack and Lucy make a plan to escape and defeat the Clown Men.]

Jack: Let’s make a plan to defeat them.

Lucy: But how?

Jack: I have an idea.

Lucy: What idea?

Jack: Let’s burn their house.

Lucy: Yes, that’s a good idea. Let’s do it.

Jack: But first, we need to find some petrol.

Lucy: Where will we get petrol?

Jack: Let’s search around the house.

[Lucy searches around the house and finds a container of petrol near the door.]

Lucy: Jack, I found the petrol near the door.

Jack: Good! Bring it quickly.

[Suddenly, the Clown Man approaches them with a hammer in his hand.]

Clown Man: Get ready to die!

[Jack begins fighting with the Clown Man while Lucy secretly spreads the petrol around the house.]

Jack: Lucy, do it quickly!

Lucy: Don’t worry, Jack. I’ve already spread the petrol around the house. Now we just need to set it on fire.

Jack: Okay.




Scene II

[All the Clown Men try to escape from the house. But Lucy lights a match and sets the house on fire. The flames spread quickly, trapping the Clown Men inside. Soon, the house is completely consumed by fire, and the Clown Men perish in the flames.]

Lucy: Yes! We did it!

Jack: Now we are safe.

Lucy: Let’s go home.

[Jack and Lucy leave the burning house and return home safely. However, they are deeply sad and emotional because they have lost both their mother and father. From that day on, Jack and Lucy are left alone together.]

Jack: Lucy, we have lost Mom and Dad.

Lucy: I know, Jack. But we still have each other.

[They hold each other and walk home silently.]

THE END