Roaner and Other Short Stories

By Annor M. Doeman

ROANER is just a legend...Isn't he? Find out in this fast pace can't -put-the-book-down-cinematic thriller...Aunty Correll has an ordinary antique phone...She seems to think it's much more than that...in THE PHONE! In a magical land far, far away meet Ah.nah and the small town she inhabits. Together they form an unforgettable tale of magic love and peace...in THE POWDER BLUE DRESS! NEWPORTS, ancient stories told by firelight, and countless more enchanting lovely and thrilling tales, and poetry which will both warm your soul and chill you to the bone... Annor M. Doeman, daughter of acclaimed novelist, and celebrated painter, Kathy J. Wooden and producer, musician Anthony M. Doeman I brings to life stories of her own in this magical, and enchanting cinematic collection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9780990882534

Book preview

MAN

ROANER

JULIE

Hey…have you heard the legend about Roaner?

LISA

Who’s Roaner?

TWO GIRLS ARE SITTING ON A BED AND ONE ON THE FLOOR. PULL IN-SLOW CLOSE UP ON JULIE.

JULIE

He was the kid that lived here 20 years ago.

THE GIRLS LOOK ON.

JULIE

He was murdered…

THE PHONE RINGS THE GIRLS JUMP.

TANYA

Oh God! You guys’ve got me spooked out!

TANYA HESITATES, SHAKES HER HEAD AND PICKS UP THE PHONE.

TANYA

Hello?

NO ANSWER.

TANYA

Hello?

THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER.

TANYA

Oh hi mom. Yea, she’s cool… yea, she’s taken her medicine. I remember. Yea, cool… Thanks mom… No they’ll wish me happy birthday - Goodnight - Bye.

JULIE

What a bummer your mom doesn’t even hang around to wish you happy birthday.

TANYA

She thinks it’s creepy that I’m born on Halloween. She always gets lost this time of year. Plus, because my hair is jet black…

LISA

It is…

TANYA

Yea, you guys and all of my friends all got some Brown highlights - pure Black - It’s never changed, no matter how much I’ve permed it… want something to eat?

LISA

Pizza!

TANYA

We can’t. Mom said I can’t open the door for anyone. ‘Specially at night.

JULIE

Guess the party’s out.

LISA

Rumor has it that’s why his parent’s killed him.

TANYA

Oh God!

We have PB - Want cereal?

CUT TO:

THEY’RE SITTING AROUND A HALF-EATEN PIZZA WITH LIGHTED CANDLES.

LISA

OK…It’s simple. He was born on Halloween, but he would do stuff, real bad stuff.

TANYA

Like what?

LISA

Rumor has it he had a little sister.

TANYA

(Drinking milk)

So where is she now?

LISA

That’s the thing. She was murdered.

THEY HEAR A THUMP.

TANYA

What was that?

THE GIRLS LOOK AROUND THE ROOM.

LISA

It probably wasn’t anything. I’ll go look.

TANYA

Shhhh!

TANYA LEADS AND THEY ALL GO DOWN STAIRS. THEY HEAR THE THUMP AGAIN AND TURN TOWARD THE FRONT DOOR. IT’S OPEN AND BANGING AGAINST THE WALL.

TANYA

(Relieved)

Oh! We probably left it open after the pizza man left.

TANYA CLOSES THE DOOR.

TANYA

Look it’s my birthday. I Don’t wanna hear any more about this Roaner guy. He’s dead and gone, it’s my birthday.

JULIE

That’s the thing Tanya…

TANYA

What?

JULIE

They buried him here…

TANYA (Looks)

You guys are crazy - No way!

TANYA WALKS UPSTAIRS, AND STOPS HALFWAY.

TANYA

So why are you guys just telling me this now?

LISA

Well you said you wanted a Halloween story. That you’ve never been scared.

TANYA SHAKES HER HEAD.

LISA

Scared now?

TANYA

You guys are sick, I’m going upstairs.

LISA

I’m gonna get some more milk.

JULIE

Don’t leave me!

LISA AND JULIE GO INTO THE LIGHTED BATHROOM DOWNSTAIRS AND GIGGLE.

LISA

Oh! My God!!! She totally fell for it! She thought it was real!!!

JULIE

Only for a friend!! We’ll tell her on Monday at school!

LISA

She’ll get suspicious…or scared! I’d better go!

JULIE WASHES HER HANDS AND LOOKS FOR A TOWEL. NONE. SHE REACHES UP FOR A BOX. IT FALLS OUT WITH A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:

HOUSE OCCUPANTS MURDERED

Third case in 20 years…

SHE SPOTS THE NAME…

…Michael J. Roaner who was murdered by his parents who mysteriously died a horrible death in the same house.

SHE ALSO SEES…

Boy is buried somewhere inside the house or outside. The authorities haven’t been able to find…

THE HANDLE ON THE BATHROOM DOOR STARTS TO SHAKE. SHE SHOVES THE ARTICLE BACK INTO THE BOX, AND PICKS UP A FINGERNAIL FILE ON THE SINK AND BACKS UP TOWRDS THE WALL. LISA BURSTS IN WITH TANYA.

LISA

Hey! We were worried about you. We wouldn’t want Roaner to get you ha ha ha…

JULIE

Shut up! Don’t say his name in this house! Tanya, I’m not feeling well, I wanna go home!

TANYA

What??!! Oh my God. Listen. Lisa was just makin’ that stuff up! I know because her eye twitches when she lies.

LISA

No it doesn’t!

TANYA

Come on, it was just a Halloween story!

JULIE HANDS HER THE ARTICLE.

JULIE

Then what’s this?

TANYA

Oh my God.

TANYA RUNS FOR THE PHONE.

TANYA

Mom!…

THE LIGHTS GO OUT.

TANYA

Julie!?

JULIE

What?!

TANYA

The lights went out…

TANYA PICKS UP THE PHONE.

TANYA

The phone’s not…It’s not working!!!

JULIE

Use the other one!!

TANYA

There is no other one!!

(To Lisa)

Come on!

TANYA AND LISA START RUNNING UPSTAIRS.

JULIE

Now, Honey…

TANYA AND LISA STOP AS JULIE GRABS A BUTCHER KNIFE FROM THE KITCHEN.

JULIE

You’ve been a bad boy…

JANET AND LISA RUN UP THE STAIRS. THEY LOCK THE DOOR. THE DOOR KNOB RATTLES.

TANYA

We gotta get some shoes…

LISA

You know, it was the parents that