The Dead Zone
“The Nightmare”

Summary: Tension increases as Sarah begins
having nightmares about Johnny, who is being stalked
by a mysterious murderer, dressed in black, who
wants to murder Rebecca.

Disclaimer: The Dead Zone belongs to USA and the producers, creators, ect. of the show.

Fade In:

June 6, 1995- Carnival

It's the night of the carnival. Fade into Johnny and Sarah, making love in the back of Johnny's car, happy, with their futures set out in front of them. The peaceful, romantic scene is interrupted by a blow of a truck horn and two bright lights. Without warning, the truck slams into Johnny's convertible, flipping it over.

-few seconds later-

Sarah, unhurt, perfectly fine, struggles to get out of the mess. She's uninjured, but worried, horrified. She doesn't see Johnny. Sarah doesn't struggle to move as she desperately searches for him.

Sarah
(calling)
Johnny?

There's nothing. Silence. A few sparks fire in the sky from a puddle, and Sarah looks in horror as she sees a down power line in it. The car's gonna blow. From somewhere under the car, there's a groan. It's from Johnny.

Johnny
(painfully)
Sarah-

Sarah
(momentarily relieved)
Johnny!

Sarah moves towards the groan to reveal- Johnny. Very injured. Covered in blood, like in “Collision”. He's stuck, and the car's going to blow.

Johnny
Sarah- help me..

Sarah glances back towards the sparks. Scared to death. What does she do? Icing on the cake, the power line, which is draped over the vehicle, begins to turn orange- it's catching on fire. The fire slowly moves up the cord, heading for Sarah and the crashed vehicle, and more importantly, the injured Johnny. Sarah bends down, and looks Johnny in the eye. She feels helpless. Save herself, save Johnny, or kill both of them? She notices the fire getting closer. Johnny gives one last pleading look as-

Sarah steps back. The car blows up. Sarah doesn't fly backwards, or is even touch by the impact. All that's left of the car is a fiery mess. Sarah looks down as she notices something rolling on the ground. She picks it up, realizing it's a hand. A left hand. Johnny's. The fingers clasp around her wrist tightly, hurting her in what seems like anger. Sarah tries to let go, but it doesn't stop as-

Bannerman House- Bedroom-

Sarah shoots straight up.

Sarah
Johnny!

It was all a nightmare. Sarah's breathing hard, gasping for breath. She's sweaty, and her face is pale. Walt wakes up at the sound of the scream. He tries to soothe Sarah, who's freaked

Walt
What? What's wrong?

Sarah
Johnny-

Walt looks at her oddly, obviously wondering what this is about. He hides it as he rubs her back, trying to calm Sarah down.

Walt
Calm down..

Sarah's eyes are panicked as she holds her left hand out in front of her. It shakes as she looks at it. Her eyes begin to tear as she realizes what has happened. She hasn't dreamed about her and Johnny in years.

Sarah
Oh my God..

Part of Walt doesn't want to know what the dream was about, and the rest of him agrees with it. He pulls her into a hug, running his hand through her hair.

Walt
Shh.. it was a nightmare.
(to himself)
Whatever it was, it was a nightmare.

Off his worried look..

Smith House- Kitchen-

Steam rises heavily into the air. Pull back to reveal Johnny, checking on something in a crock pot. He moves over to an oven grill where Johnny's turning over some steaks. Johnny's dressed up in black dress pants, shoes, and a black shirt. So maybe dressed up isn't the best way to put it, but it's as dressed up as Johnny Smith gets. The doorbell rings.

Smith House- Front Porch-

The door opens to find Walt standing at the doorstep. He looks tired, either from a hard day at work or he was up all night thinking about Sarah. Or both.

Johnny
Something come up?

Walt
No, just wanted to talk.
Got the time?

Johnny
Actually-

Walt
You really need to hear this.

Johnny sighs and then motions for him to come in.

Smith House- Living Room-

Johnny walks Walt through his living room. Walt notices some signs of nervousness of what could be a date night. Possibly a cookbook, attempts at cleaning, and not to mention the fancy dinner. Johnny continues cooking and starts thinking about his dinner with Rebecca, almost forgetting Walt's there.

Walt
So what, you have a date or
can you afford to cook like this every night?

Johnny begins to stir whatever's in the crock pot, checking the time.

Johnny
Rebecca's coming back from work.

Walt nods. Buying time. And Johnny doesn't need the distractions.

Walt
How's she doing by the way?

Johnny
Good.
(pause)
Better.

Walt nods again.

Johnny
Was there something you wanted?

Walt
Have you talked to Sarah lately?

When in doubt, come right out with it. Johnny eyes him.

Johnny
Not in a while, no.

Walt
She hasn't called or anything?

Johnny
No.. why?

Walt
Because she woke up last night screaming your name.

Turned away from Walt, Johnny reacts.

Walt
Just found that funny because she's never done that before-
waking up from any nightmare at that.

Turned away from Walt and continuously working on the cooking, Johnny holds his expression. Maybe he's thinking about what Sarah's said about waking up at night and not remembering who she is.

Johnny
Did she tell you what it was about?

Walt
No.

Johnny
Have you talked to her at all?

Walt
No, I had to work.

Johnny
And Sarah?

Walt
That was weird too.
She had a teaching job today but she turned it down.
Said she felt sick.

Johnny's no longer paying any attention to the steaks. Letting them burn.

Walt
Something wrong?

Johnny
No, why?

Walt
Because you were supposed to flip those thirty seconds ago.

Johnny notices the steaks starting to smoke and he hurriedly flips them over.

Johnny
Maybe you should just talk to her.

Walt
She won't talk to me about it. But she'll talk to you.

This is all too familiar to Johnny.

Johnny
What? No.. no, I can't.
I'm not getting in the middle of you two anymore.

Walt
It won't be getting in the middle.

Johnny
How?

Walt
You're worried about her too, aren't you?

Johnny can't deny this, it's true, and if Sarah has two men that are this worried about her, at least one of them should say something.

Johnny
I think she'd want you to talk to her.

Walt
About you?

Johnny's not so sure if he wants Sarah to be talking to Walt about him either, but he thinks he knows where he's going with this.

Johnny
She could just be waiting for
you to confront her.

Walt
Sarah doesn't do that..

Johnny
You're right, but right now, she's your wife-
(checks watch)
and I have to get to the airport.

He turns off the oven, closes the crock pot, and grabs his keys off the counter.

Off Walt, thinking about what he should do..

Lake- Night-

A single car is parked down by a lake. It's the perfect, romantic night, cloudless, and the moon is full. The night's silent. Actually, it's almost errie. Inside the car, Johnny and Rebecca are talking, having a good time, glad to finally be back together.

Rebecca
I didn't know you could cook.

Johnny
Yeah, stay for lunch, I can make a mean PP&J.

It's quiet for a moment, then..

Johnny
So how's work?

Rebecca
I didn't travel 1000 miles to talk about work.

They laugh a little, and kiss. After a few moments, they break apart.

Rebecca
How're thing around here?

Johnny
Good. They're

And that's when Johnny looks up. Standing behind Rebecca's door is a man, dressed completely in black. He holds a gun, which looks somewhat familiar, to Rebecca's head. Johnny stops silent.

Rebecca
Johnny, what?

Johnny silences her as he reaches for the keys.

Rebecca
What're you doing?

Johnny
(whispered)
There's someone behind you.

Rebecca gives Johnny a look, ‘what are you talking about', and turns around.

-Rebecca's POV-

There's no one there.

-resume-

Rebecca turns back around to Johnny, who obviously still sees the man.

Rebecca
Johnny, there's no one there..

Johnny just stares where he saw the man. He shakes his head in disbelief. Johnny looks up again-

-Johnny's POV-

There's no one there.

-resume-

Off Johnny's reaction..

Lake- Day-

Walt's squad car is parked along with some others by the lake. Johnny's car is exactly how it was last night. One deputy's checking for fingerprints, and another is searching the ground, while others examine the car. Johnny and Walt are talking not far away. Walt looks skeptical. Something's not right here. We catch them in mid-conversation.

Walt
I'll do what I can, but I'm not promising anything.

Johnny tries not to explode, yell ‘why aren't you trying harder?' He just nods as Walt walks off, towards Rebecca herself. Rebecca's kept her distance from the scene, leaning against a tree, and we can't tell she's a little freaked out by the whole thing. And maybe not afraid freaked out. Maybe a little freaked out by Johnny. Walt approaches.

Rebecca
Find anything?

Walt shakes his head ‘no'.

Rebecca
I didn't think you would.

Walt
There was no fingerprints, footprints, nothing.

Rebecca looks away, thinking about it.

Rebecca
You don't think anyone else was here?

Walt shakes his head again. Rebecca's quiet, not sure what to make of it.

Walt
(slowly)
Johnny wasn't- drunk last night, was he?

Rebecca
No..he had some wine, but so did I..

Walt
And you're sure you didn't see or hear anything?

Rebecca
I'm sure..

Walt thinks about it, and so does Rebecca, trying to figure out what is going on.

Walt
Has he been acting.. weird, lately?

Rebecca
I haven't seen him in a while.

Walt
But you've talked to him?

Rebecca
Yeah.

Walt
Because Sarah's been acting just as strange.

Rebecca eyes him oddly. Is he suggesting an affair?

Rebecca
He's as happy as ever..

Which isn't very happy. They both glance towards Johnny, who's acting out what he saw for a deputy. Acting like it was as real as ever.

Rebecca
I'm worried about him.

Walt
(thinking about Sarah)
..me too.

Walt's cell phone rings. He checks the caller id.

Walt
Keep an eye on him.

Rebecca takes a last look at Johnny, who's frustrated that he is getting no where.

Off her curious look..

Smith House- Living Room-

Moving through the house to reveal Johnny in the living room, watching t.v. A doorknob turns, Johnny looks up. The door opens to Rebecca, who jingles a pair of keys.

Rebecca
They work.

Johnny smiles and stands up, walking over towards Rebecca. He embraces her in a hug meant to develop into a kiss, but as Johnny looks over her shoulder, he sees the man in black, masked, with the gun pointed to Rebecca, just as before, looking through the window. Johnny stiffens, and doesn't seem to realize that the man he's seeing couldn't possibly be real.

Johnny
(whispering)
Don't move..

Johnny slowly lets go of Rebecca and moves towards the window, where, through the eye holes of the ski mask. Johnny makes it all the way to the window, and the man doesn't move. Rebecca looks after him with concern as he makes to attack a figure she can see. Resuming Johnny, who's hand moves carefully towards the blinds. His eyes move towards the strings to lower the blinds as he does, and as he looks up he sees.. nothing. There's no one there. He turns away from the window..

Off his confused reaction..

Bannerman House- Living Room-

Walt walks in the door just as the phone rings. He answers-

Walt
Yeah?
(pause)
Again? Yeah, I'll be right over.

He hangs up the phone and sighs. There's no doubt that was Johnny. As he walks up the stairs, cut to..

Sarah's Nightmare-

It's the wedding of Sarah and Walt. They're dressed formally at a small wedding in a small chapel.

Minister
If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace.

Sarah looks out in the audience and sees: Johnny. Glaring with deep, fiery eyes. Angered. Murderous. Johnny reaches in his pocket in robotic movements, and pulls out a gun. He points it at Walt. There's a bang as..

Bannerman House- Bedroom-

Sarah shoots up from the nightmare, gasping for breath. She's been sleeping all afternoon, trying to make up from the rest she didn't get last night. The door to the bedroom is ajar..

-In the Hallway-

Walt walks towards the ajar door. He leans against it hearing short breaths, someone trying to calm themselves down, possibly even soft crying. He looks into the room to make an entrance, but stops at seeing Sarah. She's reached a breaking point, and has realized that something's not right. She's gasping for air, but Walt can hear what she's saying.

Sarah
God.. what's happening to me?

Smith House-

The doorbell rings and opens to Walt, more confused and worried then ever, and even a little angry. Johnny's not sure what to think.

Johnny
Thanks for coming over.

Johnny lets him in.

Walt
Has Sarah called?

Johnny
No. Still haven't heard from her.

Walt seems a little jumpy, nervous. Something's bothering him, and it doesn't go unnoticed.

Walt
Where'd Rebecca go?

Johnny
(quick thinking)
To pick up some test from Dr. Gibson.

Walt
Test?

Johnny
From a few weeks ago.

Walt
Oh.

Johnny
Is.. something wrong?

Walt
With me? No..

He's such a liar, and it's obvious. He's worried to death about Sarah and he wants to know what the hell is going on.

Johnny
Sarah had another one of those nightmares?

Walt
You seen something?

Johnny
It's obvious.

Walt
Are you sure you don't know anything about this?

Right on cue, a beeping noise is heard in the background.

Johnny
Forgot to turn that off. Hold on.

Johnny heads into the kitchen. Walt follows, he's not going to let Johnny off the hook. He leans against the sink(important) under the window.

Johnny
Seriously, I swear I have not heard.. or seen, anything.

Walt
All right..good. So where was this guy?

Johnny looks up as he's about to answer, and out side the window is the man in black, glaring at Walt hatefully. The masked man is silent, nonmoving, only glaring at Walt. It Akira he doesn't want to hurt Walt, but really hates him. Johnny stops.

Walt
What?

Johnny shakes his head- ‘shut up', and reaches behind him, eyes not leaving the mysterious man only he can see.

-Close on Johnny's Hand-

As they grip around a steak knife. Slowly, Johnny brings it forward. Walt doesn't notice until Johnny has already thrown the knife at the window, in a fast speed, and ducks just as the glass break.

Walt
What the hell are you doing?

Johnny says nothing, just stares- at nothing. No one's there. He's in shock, not fully aware at what he's just done.

Walt
(recovers from his duck)
Are you sure you're not on drugs or anything?

Johnny does nothing, says nothing. He just looks at the hand he just threw the knife with, amazed, shocked, disbelieving.

Off his reaction..

Kitchen- Later On-

Johnny observes as the glass is replaced by a repair man. This is Earl, 42, new to Cleaves Mills. Walt's more concerned than ever as we consider, maybe Johnny is on drugs.. or at least he continues to act like it.

Walt
I just called to check on Sarah.
What is Rebecca doing with her?

Johnny
(cooly)
Probably hearing every embarrassing story
about me since I was seven.

Earl the repair man snort. The type of guy who eavesdrops. Johnny and Walt both glance towards him, but don't say anything.

Johnny
Shouldn't you be more concerned about
the guy who wants to kill everybody I know?

Walt
You mean the one only you can see? No.

Johnny
Why?

Walt
Because when I got home last night, Sarah wasn't there.

Johnny
Maybe she had to be somewhere.

Walt
At two in the morning? Where would she be?

Johnny shrugs and looks away, soon realizing Walt's still looking at him.

Johnny
What? You think she was here?

Walt doesn't answer and it's clear that he does.

Johnny
I swear she wasn't here, and Rebecca can back me up.

Walt
And then when I left for work this morning, she was in her car, sleeping.

Johnny
You didn't wake her up?

Walt
No.

Johnny
If you want to know what's wrong, just ask her.
Why do you keep bothering me about it?

Earl seems to be very interested and amused by the argument between these two man he doesn't even know.

Walt
Do you really think there's no relation between this ‘mysterious murderer'
only you can see and Sarah's nightmares about you?

Johnny shakes his head, he doesn't believe this.

Johnny
Whatever you believe, there's nothing going on between me and Sarah..
we don't even talk anymore.

Walt
Which worries me.

Johnny
Okay fine, I'll start coming over every night and
come by every morning, want that?

Walt
No, I want you to talk to Sarah.

Johnny
No.

It's harsh as we remember this is just about the only time he's refused to talk to Sarah, which makes him even more suspicious. Earl snorts again, only louder; he wants to be noticed.

Johnny
(annoyed)
Do you want something?

Earl
No, but in my opinion, she still has feelings for you.

Johnny/Walt
What?

Earl
Obviously, if she's having nightmares about you
for the first time, and she's not telling you(Walt).
And I'm guessing you're like her husband or something, right?

Walt
Yeah. Or something.

It's an awkward moment, that's broken by Earl, who's finished the window.

Johnny
(not amused)
Here's your check.

He gives Earl the check, Earl solutes in thanks.

Earl
(leaving)
Don't forget to mention me to your friends.

Johnny
(sarcastic)
Sure thing.

The door closes. Johnny and Walt look at each other, but can't talk, because they know it could be true.

Smith House- Later On-

It's night. Johnny's pacing the floor, thinking. Or maybe he's nervous. The doorknob turns, and opens. Rebecca walks in. Johnny's relieved.

Rebecca
(re: Johnny's behavior)
What?

Johnny
Nothing..

Rebecca eyes him, unconvinced. Johnny's words hang, as well as his glance, which we soon see is the ‘murderer' who's standing right behind Rebecca.

Johnny
How..?

This is when he realizes something's not right. The scene's paused. It's a vision. Johnny moves around the frozen Rebecca, facing the ‘murderer', who's holding the gun to the floor. Slowly, with shaking hands, Johnny reaches up to the killers ski mask, and begins to lift it up. In the first split second, we see it's not a ‘he', but a ‘she'. Shaking, Johnny takes off the rest of the mask in one fast movement to reveal: Sarah. Staring straight ahead, shaky herself, lie she doesn't know who she is, what she's doing. On Johnny's reaction as he's more confused than ever.. wonders what's going on.

Smith House- Next Night-

Johnny and Bruce in the living room, talking this over.

Bruce
I don't get it, why would Sarah want to kill Rebecca?

Johnny
Better question, why would Sarah want to kill Walt?

Bruce
Maybe it's a subconious thing.

Johnny
Subconscious?

Bruce
Maybe Sarah doesn't really want to kill them, but there's something about them
that makes her think that.

Johnny
(catching on)
Something they have in common.

Bruce
Something she doesn't like.. or wants.

Johnny
Something she wants?

Johnny considers this, and touches the top of the couch, triggering-

Vision-

Johnny's watching in a killer-type angle as a car blows up. The scene stops. Observer-Johnny moves forward under the wreckage of the car. He reacts as he sees: Himself, dead, bloody, missing a hand. He looks up, and is even more shocked to see- Sarah. It's her nightmare. Time changes quickly as we're back in the Smith living room, and Walt walks by the couch in slow motion, brushing against it. Rewinding time, back to his car, back to his house, back to the night before- in Walt's POV, he watches as Sarah wakes up from the nightmare, scared, freaked out, confused.

Resume-

Johnny
(to himself)
Or something she had.

Johnny grabs his car keys off the table, heading towards the door.

Bruce
Where're you going?

Johnny
(leaving)
To talk to Sarah.

Johnny Driving-

A storm's started. It's ‘raining cats and dogs'. The windshield are going wild. The road looks unfamiliar in the storm, maybe it is. -On Johnny's determined look as he has to get through this storm-A horn blows out of nowhere. Johnny swerves into a ditch. -Inside the car- Johnny's head bangs against the glass, but he's otherwise unhurt. He tries to start up the car, but it doesn't work. He slams his fist against the steering wheel, and opens the door. He steps out into the storm, rubbing his head. He looks like he's in the middle of nowhere, but in reality, he's not to far from the Bannerman house. Another horn blows. Johnny turns, and sees a truck headed for him. He waves the driver down..

-Cut to-

The Bannerman doorbell rings. Again. And Again. Walt answers, with Sarah behind him. It's late, but they're still up, enjoying one of Walt's rare night off, and now's not the best of times for Johnny to interrupt, and Walt doesn't look all to happy when he sees Johnny standing on their doorstep.

Walt
Now's not a good time.

Johnny
(catching his breath)
I need to talk to Sarah.

Sarah(O.S)
Who's at the door?

She breaks down Walt's guard, and opens the door fully, and has more sympathy towards Johnny, who stands spoken wet from the storm. She peeks out the door.

Sarah
How'd you get here?
Where's your car?

Johnny
Hitchhiked-

Sarah
You hitchhiked?

Johnny
Long story, doesn't matter-

Johnny pushes passed Walt, closer to Sarah.

Johnny
We need to talk about something.

Johnny leads her into a hallway.

Off Walt's curious look..

-In the Bannerman Hallway-

Johnny and Sarah are standing close. The conversation is spoken in quiet voices there's no doubt Walt's listening.

Sarah
What is it?

Johnny
(doesn't know how to start)
Rebecca's the first person I've really liked
since.. me and you. Dana was nice but,

Sarah
Got on your nerves a bit?

Johnny
Yeah. Anyway, I really like her, and she's
someone I'd want to spend the rest of my life with.

Sarah
That's.. that's great.

Johnny
I came here to make sure nothing's left between me and you.

Sarah
(having trouble)
What?

Johnny
Sarah.. there can be no more ‘us'.
What happened.. happened, and it's over.

This is what Sarah's been afraid to accept over the past years. A tear begins to drop-

Johnny
You have a life now, and.. I have mine. We can't have what we had.

Sarah
(please stop)
Johnny..

Johnny
Sarah.. I can't..

This is hard even for Johnny.

Johnny
..I can't love you, anymore.

Sarah's trying to hold it together..

Johnny
I need you to look me in the eye, and tell me that you don't love me.

Sarah
Johnny, I..

Johnny
You have to, it has to be over.

Sarah
Johnny..

Johnny's completely serious.

Johnny
You can do this. You have to do this for yourself, for Walt.. and for J.J.

A long moment passes as Sarah finally begins to cry silently, she looks at him, not wanting to say it, but she knows she has to.

Sarah
I.. don't love you.. anymore.

Sarah can't hide back her tears anymore, she's really torn about this, and even with what was just said, Johnny can't leave her standing, they hug, a friendsihip-sympathy hug. He lets her cry into his shoulder. After we hold on this for awhile-

-Resume in the other Room-

Johnny and Sarah emerge from the hallway, Johnny ahead. Walt can tell something went on, but he doesn't say anything. Johnny begins to walk out, heading to nowhere. Sarah holds herself together as she says one last thing..

Sarah
Johnny?

Johnny turns back around.

Sarah
Don't be a stranger.

Johnny manages a half-smile, and nods. He leaves. Sarah brings Walt into a hug, which surprises him as..

Fade Out

End