Returning home after 18 years to assume control of his murdered grandfather's business, a young man finds his estranged grandfather was hiding some deep, dark secrets — like he was a powerful sorcerer who had made a deal with a duke of hell for his successful life. Now, the old man has escaped somehow without paying his debt, but the duke still wants his due, no matter what.

SYNOPSIS:

Welcome Home

A minivan, being driven by Thomas, with Derek and their daughter, ALICE (10, Asian American),

approaches the house where Thomas grew up. Thomas hasn't been back in eighteen years.

Derek has never been in the Deep South so he's a bit nervous, as he's African-American and

gay, and there are more than a few rebel flags flying. Thomas reassures him that they'll be fine

— as a Trask, he virtually owns the whole county.

Thomas's grandfather, HERMAN (70, Caucasian), has been murdered, and Thomas is his only heir. The family estate is large and includes a lot of property, and the successful business, Lake Mystery Furniture Company, which employs almost everyone who lives in the area.

Just before arriving at the house, Derek glimpses a group of three people loitering a few yards away from the road, next to a driveway that heads back into the fields and forest.

Arriving at Thomas's gigantic childhood home, they are confronted with a large photograph of the family patriarch, EUGENE BARTHOLOMEW TRASK (40, Caucasian), who started the town and his own fortune just prior to the Civil War.

Thomas introduces his family to ESSIE JACKSON (70, African American), Herman's long-time housekeeper. Miss Essie is caring for her youngest grandchild, ALEX (2, Mulatto), while his mother attends classes to become a nurse. Alex's father is "not in the picture."

The family lawyer is waiting in the home office for Thomas. Thomas's Uncle, DIGGER WELLS (60. Caucasian), is also waiting. Digger was Herman's brother-in-law, and helped him found and run the business. He's also completely omitted from Herman's will.

Digger has been kicked out of his house by his wife and has been staying at Herman's house. He spends most of his time drinking Herman's liquor.

Thomas signs the papers the lawyer brought to acknowledge his acceptance of Herman's estate, which would give him access to the family's accounts. Thomas reassures Digger that he has no plans to sell the business to their competition, and he wants Digger to remain in his position as the shop manager.

The lawyer tells Thomas the sheriff wants to meet, so he should call him.

Digger tells Thomas that Herman was murdered in the back yard of the house, and the massive pool of blood hasn't been cleaned up yet. It would take crime scene specialists and there isn't anyone around who could pay them.

Thomas says he'll take care of that as soon as possible. As he tries to call the sheriff he notices that his cell phone has no bars and the wifi is down, which is has been an issue in the house for years. He uses one of the wired phones to call the sheriff.

So much blood …

Thomas checks on Derek, who is getting situated in their room, with Alice's room across the hall, and Derek hints that he's having a little anxiety about the sheriff's visit.

They are interrupted by the sound of Alice screaming.

Alice is in the back yard, holding her smart phone, staring at the blotch of dried blood on the brick walkway. She'd come out to try to get some bars on her phone. As Derek reassures her the sheriff, JESSE HART (40, Caucasian, a young "Stone Cold" Steve Austin) and his chief deputy, ANGELA COLTER (30, African-American, small but athletic) arrive.

Derek, Alice, and Essie, with Alex, go inside while the sheriff and deputy talk with Thomas about Herman's murder.

Herman has no security cameras outside the house, so they're using logic to lay out the events of that night. It looks like Herman was facing his killer, his back to the house. The killer lashed out with a very sharp edged weapon that nearly took Herman's head off with one stroke. He collapsed onto the pavement and bled out.

They found no meaningful forensic evidence, which leads them to think that it maybe was a professional hit, not a crime of passion. At the moment they don't have any suspects.

Thomas thanks them and they leave, and as they climb into their car they both say they think Thomas is good for the murder, and will look into him further.

The three people Derek had glimpsed earlier are still there. They are the Baldwin brothers, LAMAR (40, Caucasian, tall and fat), LATHAM (30, same as Lamar) and Luke (22, Caucasian, tall and skinny). They're waiting to see if Digger is going to call them for help with Thomas.

In the mean time they've all been drinking cheap whiskey. Luke is fixated on a closed gate across the driveway that has a NO TRESPASSING sign on it.

His brothers tell him that there's a lime sink (a type of pond) back there. It's "bottomless" and some people have gone swimming in it and drowned, their bodies never recovered. Luke is convinced there is some world-class fishing to be had there since no-one fishes it.

His brothers warn him to stay away from that place.

Thomas drops in on his Uncle Digger, who had gone to his room and was passed ou.

Digger tells him that he wasn't there the night Herman was killed. He says that, over the last few days of his life, Herman had been acting scared, which is extremely out-of-character.

Digger thought it had something to do with a mysterious woman who would visit on occasion. Attractive, dark, with an accent, he didn't know her name, but Herman always seemed to be jumpy after she came by. Digger's betting she knows what happened.

Thomas returns to his bedroom, where Derek is still getting their belongings situated. They discuss Derek's anxiety about Thomas meeting the sheriff, and he's concerned the sheriff may contact Portland about them.

Thomas assures Derek that even if he does call the authorities in Oregon there's nothing connecting "what happened in Portland" with them. Derek is still not so sure.

What the hell was that?

The night has fallen, with a bright, full moon.

The Baldwins have all passed out, their services unneeded by Digger. Luke stirs and gets up. Both of his brothers are still out so he decides this is a great time to investigate that lime sink.

He climbs the gate and soon finds the place. It looks like a small pond in the midst of heavy brush. Surprisingly, there are no snakes to be found.

Luke is oblivious to the fact that all of the night insects have suddenly grown silent.

There is, however, a woman, bathing in the water of the lime sink, naked. She flirts with him, and invites him into the water with her, making suggestive promises.

Luke is all for this and strips off his shirt but his shaking hands can't get his belt off. He jumps into the water with his pants still on.

The woman eludes him as he lunges for her, luring him out to the center of the lime sink. He reaches for her at the center of the pond, where the water is deepest, and she ducks and he treads water there, expecting her to pop up again any second.

She doesn't. He starts to get worried, looking around, not seeing her. The water around him starts roiling in a big circle with him in the middle.

He turns around, confused and scared, trying to decide what to do, and something erupts from the water, something huge, coming up from below and swallowing him whole, turning and diving back down into the depths, so quickly it's only a blur.

There's an impression of a huge tail fin, going down. Then the water grows still.

As the night creatures resume their activity, there's a final, single big bubble that breaks the surface. Then the water grows still, reflecting the full moon. A whitetail deer emerges from the brush to drink from the pond.

SWEET MISERY CREEK