Scene 1
(Miss Jones, Karen, and Tim drag their bags out the car)
Karen: Why can’t we go on vacation with you?
Miss Jones: Cause if you come to vacation with me it won’t be vacation. Besides it’s for our book club members only.
Karen: Oh…what’s the book you’re reading I can read it right now Tim can’t read it in 10 years?
Tim: Mom, I’m sure we’ll be fine.
Miss Jones: Thank you Tim.
Karen: Oh, please he thinks this if free time news flash it’s not.
(Miss Jones knocks on the door)
Miss Jones: I want you two to be on your best behavior.
Tim: Don’t worry we won’t.
(Karen hits Tim in the stomach)
Karen: Why are all these snake sculptures in his yard?
Miss Jones: Oh he’s a herpetologist.
Karen: What’s that?
Miss Jones: A person who study reptiles and-
(Uncle Bill opens the door)
Uncle Bill: Hey, Winnie.
Miss Jones: Hi, Bill.
Uncle Bill: Hey, Little Karen and Little Tim.
Tim: We’re not little.
Karen: Never mind Tim he’s starting middle school and he’s been acting all snobbish.
Uncle Bill: Karen, I see you still act…smart.
Tim: What about that Karen was even a nerd 5 years ago.
Karen: (rolls eyes) I’d rather be a nerd than a bid dummy like you.
Tim: Hey, I’m not-
Miss Jones: I better go catch my plane “Hello Hawaii”.
(Miss Jones puts her sunglasses, hops in the car, and waves to them)
Uncle Bill: Now, who’s the first victim?
(Karen and Tim’s eyes bugle)
Uncle Bill: (giggles) Just kidding come on in.
(Karen and Tim exchange glances and step in)
Uncle Bill: There’s the living room, kitchen, bathroom, my room, and the guest room.
Karen: You have only one extra room.
Uncle Bill: Yes, is that a problem?
Karen: Yeah, I can’t share a bed with him.
Uncle Bill: One of you can sleep on the couch.
Tim: Karen.
(Karen’s eyes bulge and then she clears her throat)
Karen: No, Uncle I am a girl and I need my own personal spaces. DO I have to do a little girl talk with you?
Uncle Bill: Uh…no Tim you get the couch.
Tim: But she’s not even a girl she’s a girl in disguise.
Uncle Bill: Tim…
Tim: Fine, Uncle Bill.
Uncle Bill: You can go anywhere in the house except for… (Uncle Bill bends down to them) the basement.
(Uncle Bill pulls out some goggles and goes into the basement)
Karen: Why can’t we go in the basement?
Tim: I don’t know, don’t talk to me.
(Tim storms away)
Scene 2
(At night a snake slithers into Karen’s room, Karen tosses and turns, the snake slithers unto her face, Karen’s eyes open she screams and screams, the door swings open and Tim comes in laughing)
Tim: Say hello to my little friend Gary the snake.
Karen: (grunts) You are so annoying where’d you get that stupid thing?
Tim: Uncle Bill gave it to me it’s a gift did he give you a gift?
Karen: Well…he gave me this room.
Tim: Pish-posh.
Karen: Why are you up at… (looks at clock) 3:00 in the morning.
Tim: I wanted to scare you in the morning, but I was too excited so I set my watch to this time.
(Uncle Bill runs in with his pajamas)
Uncle Bill: Karen, are you okay? I heard screaming and-Hey…I see you’ve met my friend Gary here.
Karen: (smirks at Tim and makes a sad face) Yes, he gave me quite a scare I am terribly afraid of snakes even…rubber.
Uncle Bill: Oh…uh Tim say goodbye to Gary.
(Uncle Bill takes the snake)
Tim: Bu-but she’s not afraid of snakes. She actually finds them interesting. Besides, it’s just rubber.
(Tim grabs the snake and fans it in Karen’s face, Karen screams, Uncle Bill snatches it away)
Uncle Bill: That is enough little boy hand it to me.
(Tim growls and hands it to Uncle Bill)
Uncle Bill: Thank you little Timmy you shall go to bed in 5 minutes.
(Uncle Bill walks out the room, Tim slowly turns his head to Karen)
Karen: Look at that. I still have my room, and you have…nothing.
Tim: I’m going to get you Karen Shay Jones.
Karen: Oh, Tim when are you going to learn that you can never get me?
Scene 3
(Karen is downstairs eating and Uncle Bill steps out of the basement)
Karen: Good morning.
Uncle Bill: Oh, good morning I’m going to run down to the town.
Karen: I didn’t know island had towns.
Uncle Bill: We call our town where the shacks are. I’m going to bring back some mouse traps.
Karen: Why?
Uncle Bill: My snakes like to eat them.
Karen: You have snakes in the house?!
Uncle Bill: No-no, they are in my…lab.
Karen: Oh…well does your shack sell smoothies.
Uncle Bill: This isn’t a beach. Bye, Karen.
(Karen shrugs and continues eating, Tim runs downstairs)
Tim: Who was that?
Karen: Uncle Bill, he went to buy mouse traps and I hope they have smoothies.
Tim: Great.
(Tim walks into the hallway, and opens the basement door)
Karen: What’s so great about him leaving?
(Karen walks into the hallways and gasps)
Karen: Tim, what are you doing? You heard him we can’t go in there.
Tim: Is Uncle Bill here?
Karen: No, but-
Tim: Then he won’t know.
Karen: But I will know and you will know.
Tim: Stop being a baby.
Karen: I’m not being a baby I just…basements creep me out.
Tim: Sure, they do.
Karen: Really, they do.
Tim: I can go down here by myself.
Karen: I’ll go with you…just because I don’t want to be alone.
Tim: Sure…
Scene 4
(Tim and Karen walks down the steps)
Karen: This is a bad idea I’m sure there is a reason why he said we couldn’t be down here.
Tim: That’s what I’m trying to figure out.
Karen: It’s dark in here.
Tim: Hmm.
(Tim turns on the light)
Tim: Are you happy?
Karen: No, I’ll be happy when we leave.
Tim: Well, you’ll just have to wait.
(Karen walks backwards and bumps into a cage, the cage falls over and a bunch of spiders crawl out)
Karen: (screams) Tim, Tim!
(Tim turns around)
Tim: Holy bologna.
Karen: Do something.
Tim: (stammers) What am I supposed to do?
(Karen runs into a closet and gets a shovel)
Tim: What are you doing?
Karen: I’m going to chop them up.
Tim: Don’t you think Uncle Bill will notice chopped up snakes everywhere?
Karen: I’m leaving.
(Tim grabs Karen’s arm)
Tim: You knocked the cage over.
Karen: So…
Tim: You’re the genius what will get these suckers back in the cage.
(Karen climbs unto the counter and bites her nails)
Karen: Mice, but we don’t have mice.
Tim: Well, duh Karen.
Karen: What do they eat besides mice?
Karen: In general snakes eats worms, insects, lizards, small animals such as rats, mice, birds, and frogs. These are Australian bandy bandy’s they only eat other snakes.
Tim: Then what are they doing in a cage together?
Karen: I don’t know, but we have to sacrifice another snake. He’ll probably notice all these snakes missing, but I’m sure he won’t notice one. Open that cage and get a tiny snake out.
Tim: I’m not touching a snake.
Karen: Get that one it’s completely harmless.
Tim: I don’t trust you.
Karen: Would I ever hurt my little brother?
Tim: Yeah.
Karen: Oh, that’s right…but not in this situation I won’t.
Tim: How do you know the snake completely harmless?
Karen: It says right here “Completely Harmless Snakes”.
Tim: Oh, ok.
(Tim hopes on the counter and reaches for the handle, and then he stops)
Tim: Wait…why can’t you do it?
Karen: We have no time for stupid questions just do it.
(Tim gulps and reaches inside the cage he picks up a tiny snake throws it on the floor)
Karen: Why’d you do that you idiot?!
Tim: I thought we were supposed to give it to them.
Karen: You were supposed to put the snake in the cage so the snakes can go in the cage and we’ll be safe. Now, we and that snakes aren’t safe.
Tim: Well, at least that have dinner.
Karen: Why oh why did I have to be cursed an idiotic brother?
Uncle Bill: Karen!
(Karen and Tim gasp)
Karen: Uncle Bill.
Tim: He’s back so early.
Karen: Hide.
(Karen and Tim jump off the counter and dive for the closet, they close the door)
Karen: He can’t find us.
(Tim looks down at the snake slithering in)
Tim: But those snakes can.
Karen: Get away, get away.
(Uncle Bill walks down the steps of the basement)
Uncle Bill: Oh, no.
(Uncle Bill runs to the snakes and quickly picks them up)
Uncle Bill: How did you guys get-Oh, no how did you get that snake? Poor little guy. At least you’re in a better place.
(Uncle Bill puts them into their cage)
Uncle Bill: Did Karen and Tim let you guys out? Don’t worry I’ll take care of them.
(Karen and Tim exchange glances and gulps)
(Uncle Bill walks back up the steps and closes the door, Karen and Tim burst open the door and they fall down)
Tim: Did you hear that? He’s going to take care of us.
Karen: Oh, shut up Tim. Let’s just get out of here and never come back.
Tim: I can’t promise I’ll never come back, but let’s go.
(Karen and Tim run up the steps and Karen pulls on the door)
Tim: Karen, open the door.
Karen: I can’t it’s stuck.
Tim: Look, you big dummy.
(Tim pushes the door forward)
Karen: Oh.
Tim: And you call me stupid.
(Karen closes the door and Uncle Bill walks from around the corner)
Uncle Bill: Where have you guys been?
Tim: Nowhere why?
(Uncle Bill squints his eyes)
Uncle Bill: No, reason I was just looking for you.
Karen: Well, we’re here. Where’s my smoothie?
Uncle Bill: They didn’t have any. I’ll promise to get you some later, okay.
Karen: Okay.
(Uncle Bill walks out)
Scene 5
(Karen and Tim walk around in the woods)
Karen: Uncle Bill is really strange.
Tim: Well, duh.
Karen: Something is just not right. He was so friendly 5 years ago.
Tim: How do you remember?
Karen: I was only 7 dummy.
Tim: People change, Karen.
Karen: Yeah…and that reminds me of something. Come on, I have to show you something.
Scene 6
(Karen is in her room; she opens a box and spreads out some pictures)
Karen: Look, at this picture.
Tim: What about it?
Karen: Do you notice anything different about Uncle Bill?
Tim: Um…he doesn’t have a mustache.
Karen: No, look at his eyes.
Tim: So…
Karen: His eyes were brown, now his eyes are green.
Tim: So maybe he wears contacts?
Karen: He doesn’t wear contacts.
Tim: Does it matter, Karen?
Karen: I think he’s an imposter.
Tim: I think you’re crazy. No, I take that back. I know you’re crazy.
Karen: It just…isn’t right. I know I sound paranoid, but I know what I’m talking about.
Tim: Karen, a few days on this island has made you insane. Just get some sleep.
Karen: (sighs) Look…I went in the basement with you, but I didn’t want to. You wanted to solve the basement mystery, but now I want to find out about Uncle Bill.
Tim: I didn’t ask you to do it, Karen.
Karen: But now I’m asking you.
Tim: (bits lip) Okay, I’ll do.
Karen: (smiles) Okay, tonight I want you to come into my room at midnight. We need to gather all clues. Have you been noticing anything strange about him, lately?
Tim: Yesterday, I saw Uncle Bill on the island talking to a snake.
Karen: Why didn’t you tell me?
Tim: It wasn’t important. He loves snakes, I figured it was normal.
Karen: Talking to snakes who can totally kill you isn’t normal, Tim. I just want Mom to come back.
Tim: Why? This is the best vacation ever.
Karen: No, it isn’t. You think this is a fun and game mystery, but it’s not.
Tim: Shut your trap or I won’t help you.
Karen: Fine, but…our lives-Uncle Bill’s life can be in danger.
Tim: You’re talking crazy, Karen. I’m going outside and don’t talk to me.
(Karen sighs and Tim walks out of the room)
Scene 7
(Karen is in her room reading a book and Tim comes in with a flashlight)
Tim: Hey, are you ready?
Karen: Shh, you need to whisper.
Tim: Are you ready?
Karen: Yes, yes. Isn’t that my flashlight?
Tim: I call dibs on it.
(Karen rolls her eyes and grabs her bag)
Tim: W-why are you bringing a bag? You’re not running away.
Karen: Relax. I just have my video camera in here.
Tim: You’re taking this way to seriously.
Karen: First, of all he was talking to a snake. The other day he said he was going to take care of us. Once again what was he doing when he said that?
Tim: (sighs) He was talking to his snakes.
Karen: Exactly, Tim. Snakes, snakes, snakes. Talking to snakes, talking to snakes. Do you not see a pattern hear?
Tim: Let’s just do this, okay.
Karen: Okay.
(Karen and Tim open the door and walk out)
Tim: What are we supposed to do, now?
Karen: Shh. I hear something.
(They listen and hear water running)
Karen: What’s that noise?
Tim: The sink.
Karen: In the kitchen?
Tim: Yeah.
Scene 8
(They slowly walk into the kitchen and Uncle Bill stands over the sink, Karen and Tim hide behind the couch)
Uncle Bill: You’re free now little guys. You will end up in the sewer and you can go to the city. Then you can feed on humans and turn into them just like me.
Karen: Just-
(Tim covers Karen mouth, and Uncle Bill quickly turns around)
(Uncle Bill slips on his gloves and walks down into the basement)
Karen: Just like him, Tim? I want to go home, now.
Tim: There’s an explanation for all of this, Karen. You can’t freak out just, yet.
(Karen looks over at the sink)
Tim: Karen, I’m serious.
(Karen stands up and slowly walks to the sink)
Tim: Karen, what are you doing? Come back here. Karen, Karen.
(Karen leans on the sink and stares into the drain)
Karen: Tim, come here.
(Tim stands up and walks over)
Tim: I don’t see anything.
Karen: Listen.
(They hear rattles)
Karen: It’s a rattlesnake in the sink. You heard him they are going in the sewer.
Tim: Maybe…Uncle Bill is sleep walking and talking. I do it all the time.
Karen: (nods) Tim, this is real. This is not some sleep walking and talking dream.
Tim: Well, turn the…garbage disposal on.
(Karen reaches for the switch, but then the snake bites her)
(Karen screams and falls down on the ground covering her bite)
Karen: Tim, Tim help me! It burns. It-
(Karen stops and looks down at her hand the blood and scar fades away)
Karen: W-what just happened? What happened to it? Get the camera out.
(Karen looks down at her hand while Tim goes around in her bag)
(Something starts moving up and down in Karen’s arm)
Karen: Look at this.
(Tim turns on the camera and points it to her arm)
Tim: What is that? Karen…what is going on?
Karen: I don’t know.
Tim: You’re the genius tell me.
Karen: I don’t know Tim-Tim I don’t know. Just-just….if anything happens to me-
Tim: Nothing, will happen to you. I’ll give you some water.
(Karen lays down on the floor)
(Tim gets a glass and turns on the sink, but green slime comes out)
Tim: Karen, what’s going on?
Karen: We have to call someone.
(Karen crawls to the phone and dials 911)
Tim: Karen, what are you doing? You can’t dial 911.
Karen: Tim, shut-Hello. Yes, is this the Slither Island police? This is a crazy story, but it involves my Uncle. You have to come and you have to bring the ambulance.
(Tim leans against the wall)
Karen: I don’t know the address we’re visiting my Uncle. I just remember seeing Peary Vine Road on the way here. There isn’t a-Yes, there is I saw it. This is Slither Island, isn’t it?
(Karen gaps her mouth wide and looks at Tim, she slowly hangs up the phone)
Tim: Karen, Karen what did they say.
(Karen slides down the wall and nods her head)
Karen: This isn’t true?
Tim: What-what isn’t true? Karen…Karen…tell me what isn’t true?
(Karen covers her face)
Tim: Karen, what did they say?
(Karen looks up and sniffs)
Karen: Tim…Slither Island doesn’t exist.
Tim: What?
Karen: This is…Rocky Island…not Slither Island. There isn’t a such thing as Peary Vine Road, either.
Tim: That’s impossible. The security guy welcomed us to “Slither Island”.
Karen: Tim, we need to go next door.
Tim: But-
Karen: Maybe they can explain this. I don’t trust Uncle Bill, anymore.
Tim: Karen, you’re crazy.
Karen: You’re crazy if you’re going to stay here.
Tim: Let’s at least call, Mom.
(Karen looks at her arm and walks over to the phone, she picks it up)
Karen: There-there’s no dial tone.
Tim: What?
Karen: We gotta get out of here Tim.
(Karen grabs Tim and runs out of the house.
Scene 9
(Karen and Tim run through the woods, Karen stops and Tim stop too)
Tim: What?
Karen: I-We forgot the camera.
Tim: That’s not important.
Karen: Yes, it is. We’ll have evidence of this psycho man. He’s not our Uncle. He is an imposter.
Tim: Go and get it then.
Karen: Me? You claim to be the running champ you go get it.
Tim: Fine.
Karen: And be careful…don’t make any noises. Hurry up.
(Tim runs down the woods and Karen looks around)
Karen: Hurry up, Tim!
(Karen starts humming and something rattles in the bushes, she quickly turns around)
Karen: (screams) Get away, get away! Tim, hurry up!
Scene 10
(Tim slowly opens the door and walks in, he looks around the kitchen)
Tim: The camera-where’s the camera?
Uncle Bill: Karen, Tim where are you?!
(Tim’s eyes bulges and he runs out of the house)
(Uncle Bill walks from around the corner and looks at the open the door)
Uncle Bill: You two are making a big mistake.
(Tim runs through the woods and runs into Karen)
Karen: Where’s the camera?
Tim: It wasn’t there and Uncle Bill he’s out to get us. We have to go.
Karen: How do you know he’s out get us?
Tim: He was looking for us and I’m pretty sure he has the camera.
Karen: Did you see any houses up here?
Tim: One big house…more like a mansion. Just come on and follow me.
(Tim and Karen run down the woods, they stop when they see a big house)
Karen: Is that it?
Tim: Yeah.
Karen: Are you sure it’s not some crazy psycho, too?
Tim: We have to see, Karen.
(They walk on the front porch and Tim knocks on the door)
(Karen yelps and grips her arm)
Tim: What’s the matter?
(Karen holds out her hand and something moves in it)
Karen: Something is stabbing me.
Tim: We’ll get help. Help my sister is in pain here! Help! Help!
(Lady Jenkins opens the door)
Lady Jenkins: Are you two okay?
Tim: My sister-there is something moving in her arm.
Lady Jenkins: You were bitten weren’t you?
Karen: How did you-Can you help me?
Lady Jenkins: Yes, but he’s gotten inside of you. I don’t want you putting nobody in danger. He can come in, but you have to stay.
Tim: I’m not going to leave my sister out here.
Lady Jenkins: But you don’t understand you
Karen: Please, please.
Lady Jenkins: (sighs) Okay, come in.
(Karen and Tim walk in)
Scene 11
(Karen and Tim sit down while Lady Jenkins goes in the kitchen)
Karen: What if Uncle Bill finds us?
Tim: He won’t find us.
Karen: How do you know?
Tim: I don’t know. We need to ask her if this is Slither Island. Maybe Slither Island doesn’t have a police and we called some other island or something.
Karen: I…guess you make a point.
Tim: We just need to call Mom and get out of here.
Karen: Mom, won’t believe us, I don’t even believe us. I got bitten by a snake Tim-a rattlesnake and I’m not dead.
Tim: Maybe it wasn’t a rattlesnake.
Karen: You heard the rattle it’s the only snake I know of that has a rattle.
(Lady Jenkins comes in with a tray, she sits down)
Lady Jenkins: You will need to drink this tea and bite into this brownie.
Karen: I-I don’t like brownies.
Lady Jenkins: Would you like a snake to take over your body?
Karen: No.
Lady Jenkins: Eat it.
Karen: Wait…what do you mean? What do you mean about a snake taking over my body?
Lady Jenkins: Just do as you’re told and we won’t have to worry about that.
Karen: Is this Slither Island?
Lady Jenkins: Of course…did you hit your head?
Karen: No, we just-
(Uncle Bill knocks on the door)
Lady Jenkins: Hold on, let me just get the door.
Uncle Bill: Hello, Lady Jenkins.
Lady Jenkins: How are you Bill?
Uncle Bill: I’m just looking for my…niece and nephew.
Lady Jenkins: Are they little scrawny kids about this nay high.
Uncle Bill: Yep, that’s them.
Lady Jenkins: Oh, they’re right in here. They are very bright children and-Oh…where are they?
(Uncle Bill runs to the open window and looks outside)
Uncle Bill: Lady Jenkins…they are very sneaky children.
Lady Jenkins: I understand I-
Uncle Bill: I have no time for talking, but if you see them let me know.
(Uncle Bill heads for the door)
Lady Jenkins: You should be aware that the girl has a snake bite. Something is moving in her arm and I tried to treat her-
Uncle Bill: You what?
Lady Jenkins: I tried to treat her.
Uncle Bill: Don’t you-Thanks, Lady Jenkins, but I can handle this.
Lady Jenkins: Are you sure you don’t-
Uncle Bill: Thanks, Lady Jenkins.
To be continued….
