THE ROAD
Written by
Joe Penhall
Based on THE ROAD by Cormac McCarthy
EXT. CORN FIELD - DAY
The intense BUZZING of summer insects and the SONG of
songbirds. A birds eye view of a bucolic mid west farming
landscape, corn field, blue skies, sunshine, a FARMER
PLOUGHING a nearby field with a TRACTOR, grain silos and a
hay stack. A MAN with a horse. A clapboard house with a
strawberry field, a woman's hand picks strawberries; a WOMAN
lying in grass, lazing...
OPENING CREDITS...
INT. DINING ROOM/HOME - NIGHT
Next to book shelves and an upright piano, with sheet music
on the stand - CHOPIN. There is also a dining room table with
leftovers from an abandoned meal - strawberries and cream.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
MONTH LATER - a warm night, the MAN is asleep with the same
WOMAN, now pregnant, no sheets on the bed. The MAN is
restless and wakes. A distant RUMBLING, indistinct - the MAN
swings his feet off of the bed and goes to the window,
anxious.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
The MAN is in his shorts, sweating, putting a plug in the
bath and turning on the taps as far as they will go. The
WOMAN appears in the doorway in a nightdress and leans
against the door frame watching, blearily, cradling her
pregnant belly.
WOMAN.
Why are you taking a bath?
MAN.
I'm not.
The WOMAN takes off her nightdress and goes to the bath.
WOMAN.
You'll sleep better.
He looks at her, surprised she's misunderstood.
MAN.
I'm not! Put your clothes back on.
She sees he's looking out the window now - there's an eery
rose-colored glow of distant fire through the glass - and
distant shouts and screams...
(CONTINUED)
2.
CONTINUED:
WOMAN.
What is it? What's happening?
END OF FLASHBACK:
TITLE: THE ROAD.
EXT. CAMPSITE - DAWN
A MAN of about forty and a BOY of ten are asleep, camped on a
tarp under a rock ledge, the blackened chasm of a burnt
valley spread out below. It is the same man seen earlier -
but ten years older, thinner, malnourished, with a thick
beard. They are both emaciated and exhausted, their faces and
hands coated in grime and soot from the burned, blackened
landscape around them. Ash falls on the tarp, which is bright
synthetic blue, the only color in sight.
The MAN is woken by something, he instinctively reaches out
to touch the BOY, his hand rests on his chest and rises and
falls with each of the sleeping BOY's breaths.
There is a low RUMBLE, the ground starts to TREMBLE and the
BOY wakes.
BOY.
Papa? (NO REPLY.) Papa?
MAN.
Shh. It's okay.
BOY.
What is it, Papa?
They listen as it grows NEARER and LOUDER, everything
SHAKING, tree roots GROANING and SPLITTING, until it passes
between them with a ROAR like a subway train right beneath
them. The BOY is now clinging to the MAN and crying, his head
buried against his chest in fear.
MAN.
Shh. It's all right. It's all
right. It's gone.
BOY.
What was it, Papa?
MAN.
It was an earthquake.
3.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
In the burnt, barren landscape, through swirls of soft ash
and smoggy air the MAN appears dressed in a filthy old PARKA
with the hood up, a knapsack on his back, pushing a rusted
shopping CART with a bicycle mirror clamped to the handle and
the BLUE tarp now covering it's load. The little BOY,
similarly dressed with a KNAPSACK on his back, shuffles
through the ash at his side - like Depression-era Dust Bowl
homeless.
There is a flicker of lightning over head, then more, but no
thunder.
MAN. (V.0.)
The clocks stopped at one seventeen
one morning. There was a long shear
of bright light, then a series of
low concussions.
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE/ CRACKED ROAD - DAY
Broken asphalt, the earthquake has caused a large FISSURE to
open up ALONGSIDE the road, with a sheer drop.
THE MAN and THE BOY edge past burnt trees and scrub.
MAN. (V.0.)
Within a year there were fires on
the ridges and deranged chanting.
The screams of the murdered. By day
the dead impaled on spikes along
the road.
EXT. LAKE - DAY
They trudge past a vast lake filled with dead trees...
MAN. (V.0.)
I think it's October but I can't be
sure. I haven't kept a calender for
5 years.
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAY
They truck along with the trolley through the fog, the
ghostly shapes of dead trees on either side and the shapes of
barren mountains in the background...
(CONTINUED)
4.
CONTINUED:
MAN. (V.0.)
Each day is more gray than the one
before. Each night is darker -
beyond darkness. The world gets
colder week by week as the planet
slowly dies. No animals have
survived. All the crops are long
gone.
EXT. EDGE WOODS - DAY
A tree falls behind them with a WHUMP and they jump...
MAN (V.0.)
Someday all the trees in the world
will have fallen.
EXT. GAS STATION - DAY
The MAN forages for petrol, checking the nozzle of the pumps,
rummaging through empty oil cans, he upends a bin to get at
the empty oil bottles.
The BOY picks up a phone on a wall and listens to the dead
earpiece.
MAN. (V.0.)
The roads are peopled by refugees
towing carts and road gangs
carrying weapons, looking for fuel
and food.
EXT. LONG ROAD - DAY
They head down a long straight road towards a dark,
forbidding looking tunnel - a turnpike.
MAN. (V.0.)
There has been cannibalism.
Cannibalism is the great fear.
EXT. CITY - DAY
They emerge before a view of a deserted city-state...
EXT. MALL - DAY
They forage in a deserted mall...
There are skeletons and human bones here and there.
(CONTINUED)
5.
CONTINUED:
MAN. (V.0.)
Mostly I worry about food. Always
food. Food and our shoes.
CU - the BOY examines the head of a moose mounted on a wall
in a SEARS hunting store.
MAN. (V.0.) (CONT'D)
Sometimes I tell the boy old
stories of courage and justice -
difficult as they are to remember.
All I know is the child is my
warrant and if he is not the word
of God, then God never spoke.
END OF CREDITS/MUSIC.
EXT. RIDGE/ CAMPSITE - (CAMP 2) - EVENING
They are camped high up on the ridge of a mountainside.
There is a camp fire with wet clothes hanging to dry on
sticks beside it.
The MAN is erecting the tarp over string tied between two
sticks stuck in the ground. The BOY is sitting lighting a
lantern using the scavenged oil inside the makeshift tent,
his shadow stark against the illuminated tarp.
BOY.
Now you can read me a story.
He gets out a BOOK and looks at the pictures in the
lamplight.
The MAN reads him a story...
EXT. RIDGE/CAMPSITE - (CAMP 2) - NIGHT
The MAN awakens bathed in firey light as if the sun has come
out. There is pale gray snow all around him with a quivering
orange glow. He gets up to investigate, looks to the line of
trees up the ridge where a FOREST FIRE is burning, CRACKLING
in the distance. He stands staring at the fire, the warmth
and light moving him, enlivening him and not frightening him
at all. The BOY has got up and appears at his side, yawning.
He looks at the sky at a single gray SNOWFLAKE drifting down.
BOY.
It's snowing!
(CONTINUED)
6.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
It's like it used to be when the
sun came out.
The BOY catches the snowflake in his hand, surprised.
EXT. ROAD/PLAIN - DAY
They travel along the road through drifting wood smoke, smoke
pouring off the ground like mist and thin black trees burning
like candles on the snowy ridge.
They reach a spot where fire has crossed the road melting the
tarmac. Their feet stick in the molten tarmac, it sucks at
their shoes and they stop. Just ahead they see a set of foot
prints in the tar and study them.
BOY.
Who is it?
MAN.
I don't know.
The MAN looks through a pair of BINOCULARS and sees: A
stooped figure up ahead, a DYING MAN dragging one leg
slightly, limping along. He stops and stands uncertainly,
then continues. The BOY sees him too.
BOY.
What should we do Papa?
MAN.
We're all right. Let's just follow
and watch.
BOY.
Take a look.
MAN.
Yeah. Take a look.
EXT. ROAD/HILL - LATE AFTERNOON
The DYING MAN is getting slower and slower as they climb a
slope, following, until he finally stops and simply sits in
the road. The BOY hangs onto the MAN's coat anxiously as they
approach.
POV BOY - the DYING MAN is burnt, his clothing scorched and
skin black with soot. One eye is burnt shut and his hair is a
nitty wig of ash. His shoes are bound with wire and coated
with road tar.
(CONTINUED)
7.
CONTINUED:
As they pass by the DYING MAN looks down, averting his eyes.
The BOY keeps looking, unable to take his eyes off him.
BOY.
Papa, what's wrong with that man?
MAN.
He's been struck by lightning.
BOY.
Can't we help him? Papa?
MAN.
No. We can't help him.
They keep walking away and the BOY tugs at the MAN's coat.
BOY.
Papa?
MAN.
Stop it.
BOY.
Can't we help him, Papa?
MAN.
No. We can't. There's nothing to be
done for him.
EXT. BRIDGE - (CAMP 3) - EVENING
They are camped under the bridge, ash and slurry drift by on
the river, a dull sulphur light from the fires glows against
the sky. The BOY sits in silence with his back to the MAN.
MAN.
There's nothing we could have done.
(NO REPLY.) He's going to die. We
can't share what we have or we'll
die too.
BOY.
I know.
MAN.
So when are you going to talk to me
again?
BOY.
I'm talking now.
(CONTINUED)
8.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Are you sure?
BOY.
Yes.
EXT. BARN - DAY
They come to a barn beside the road. They look at each other.
MAN.
Let's take a look.
The man picks up the revolver and they go inside cautiously.
INT. BARN - DAY
Three pairs of FEET wearing different shoes - a man's shoes,
a woman's shoes, and a CHILD's sneakers - hang above three
carefully placed chairs.
MAN.
Don't look.
The BOY looks at the ground.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You don't need to see this.
The BOY takes a few steps, exploring, he eyes the empty hay
loft but avoids looking at the hanged bodies.
BOY.
There could be something here.
There could be corn or something.
MAN.
No, they ran out of food.
BOY.
Maybe we could find some hayseeds
in the hayloft?
Now the BOY goes over to the swinging CORPSES, oddly curious.
MAN.
It's not what-you think. They
committed suicide.
BOY.
What does that mean?
(CONTINUED)
9.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
You know what that means.
The MAN GOES outside while the BOY thinks about it a moment.
EXT. FARM GATE - DAY
They walk away from the eerily silent farm, stopping at an
abandoned TRACTOR by a weathered, paint stripped letter box.
MAN.
Come here.
The BOY goes over and the MAN takes out his revolver, opens
the magazine and shows him: two bullets in the chamber.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You see that? Two left. One for you
and one for me.
He places the BOY's thumb on the hammer and cocks the pistol.
He curls the BOY's index finger around the trigger.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You put it in your mouth and point
it up. Like this. Just like I
showed you.
He puts the barrel of the pistol in his own mouth until the
BOY nods, wide eyed. He takes the pistol out of his mouth and
uncocks it.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You got it?
BOY.
I think.
MAN.
Is it okay?
BOY.
Okay.
The MAN puts the gun away and cuddles the BOY close. They set
off again.
10.
INT. CLAPBOARD HOUSE - DAY
FLASHBACK - the WOMAN is sitting by the window, staring out
at the garden which is barren now, the sky gray but tinged
with the same fireglow seen earlier, a film of gray ash
covers dead lawn and shrubs and inside the paintwork is grimy
and colorless now, a lot of the furniture gone. A pile of
broken up furniture and pieces of the piano are-stacked up
next to the fireplace. In the fireplace the scorched, ashen
remains of piano keys. The WOMAN is now heavily pregnant. The
MAN sets down chipped old plates and spoons, spoons beans
from a pot and sits to eat.
As the WOMAN starts to eat she winces and freezes with a look
of horror, spoon halfway to her mouth. She looks down and
SEES:
POV WOMAN - water and blood running down her legs.
WOMAN.
Oh no. Oh no.
MAN.
It's okay, I'll help you. Just like
we said.
WOMAN.
No no no...
MAN.
I'll heat water. We can do it.
As he goes out she MOANS in despair.
INT. KITCHEN/CLAPBOARD HOUSE - DAY
The MAN rushes in and opens a drawer in the sideboard.
Instead of cutlery it contains a pair of kitchen shears, a
bottle of antiseptic, worn but clean towels and a pair of
worn out yellow rubber dish gloves, all laid out in
readiness.
The WOMAN appears at the door, blood running down a leg.
WOMAN.
We don't have to.
MAN.
Well, I think we probably do.
WOMAN.
What kind of life is this?
(CONTINUED)
11.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
It's life. It's the only thing
left.
He takes the WOMAN back into the other room.
INT. DINING ROOM / CLAPBOARD HOUSE - DAY
TERRIBLE SCREAMING. The WOMAN lies on the dining room table
SCREAMING as she has her first contractions. The MAN is
wearing the rubber gloves, one gloved hand resting on the
WOMAN's leg, about to deliver his own baby. He wipes his brow
and leaves a smear of blood as the SCREAMING goes on.
WOMAN.
I can't.
MAN.
It's coming.
END OF FLASHBACK.
INT. TRAILER HOME - (CAMP 4)- EVENING
Inside a badly damaged trailer home, one wall half fallen
off, a pan of water boils on a small fire. The BOY sits
shivering in a blankets as he eats beans from a tin, scraping
around for the last one or two. The MAN opens his knapsack by
the fire and produces a packet of COCOA. He fixes a cup of
cocoa for the boy. He hands the BOY the cup of cocoa and as
the BOY examines it and drinks, the MAN surreptitiously pours
himself a mug of water and sits blowing on it. The BOY
realises the MAN has left him all the cocoa.
BOY.
You promised not to do that.
MAN.
What?
BOY.
You know what, Papa. I have to
watch you all the time.
MAN.
I know I'm sorry.
BOY.
If you break little promises you'll
break big ones. That's what you
said.
(CONTINUED)
12.
CONTINUED:
The MAN relents, pouring the hot water back into the pan and
taking some of the BOY's cocoa into his own cup. The BOY
wipes his finger around the inside of the empty bean tin and
licks his finger.
MAN.
Watch your finger.
BOY.
You always say that.
MAN.
That's because you always do it.
The MAN spreads bits of a worn out road map on the boards and
studies them.
BOY.
What are you doing?
MAN.
We have to keep moving. We have to
go south to the coast.
BOY.
Why?
MAN.
It'll be better at the coast.
BOY.
Why?
MAN.
Because we're going to freeze here.
He picks up the map pieces carefully.
EXT. TURNPIKE - MORNING
The MAN and the BOY truck along the blacktop.
At the crest of a hill they come to FADED BILLBOARDS
advertising MOTELS and stop. The BOY notices a sign in the
distance, which has words painted over a faded advertisement:
odd, nonsensical, Biblical ramblings about "bones" and "the
dead." The MAN follows the BOY's gaze and reads: "BEHOLD THE
VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER - JEREMIAH 19:6."
MAN.
Do you remember your alphabet?
(CONTINUED)
13.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
Yes.
MAN.
Can you read that?
BOY (SCRUTINISING IT.)
No.
MAN.
Good, let's go.
The MAN takes out a large REVOLVER, cocks it in readiness and
places it on the tarp as they move. The BOY eyes the MAN
nervously, eyes the gun and they move off.
EXT. TURNPIKE, TUNNEL APPROACH - DAY
They trudge along the turnpike towards the opening of a deep,
black tunnel and the BOY suddenly comes to a stop,
increasingly upset, unable to face the yawning mouth of the
tunnel.
BOY.
I can't, I just can't...
MAN.
There's no other way.
BOY.
We could go over.
MAN.
We can't take the cart over.
BOY.
We don't know what's in there.
MAN.
There's nothing in there. It's just
the same as it is out here. Okay?
BOY. (BEAT. VERY RELUCTANT.)
Okay.
The boy sticks close to the MAN's side. The man has the
revolver in his belt now and his parka unzipped, ready as
they nervously walk towards the mouth of the tunnel.
14.
INT. TUNNEL - DAY
The MAN has his arm around the boy as they push the cart
cautiously ahead, acutely aware of all that's around them.
They pass footprints in the dried sludge on the ground. Ash
and litter blowing about and a handful of MUMMIFIED DEAD
REFUGEES appear along the sides of the tunnel, sitting and
lying on camp stretchers, their bags and supplies long since
looted. They are shrivelled and drawn like latterday bogfolk,
shoeless, a couple of men, a woman a small child and a DOG.
The MAN stares at the group.
The BOY stares at the small child and then at the mummified
DOG, transfixed. The MAN puts out his hand for the BOY to
take - the BOY takes his hand and the MAN moves him on.
MAN.
Just remember that the things you
put into your head are forever.
BOY.
But you forget some things don't
you?
MAN.
You forget what you want to
remember and you remember what you
want to forget.
EXT. TUNNEL EXIT AND TURNPIKE - (CAMP 5) - EARLY MORNING
The MAN and the BOY are asleep inside an abandoned car
amongst a line of other abandoned vehicles littering the
turnpike.
INT. ABANDONED CAR - (CAMP 5) - EARLY MORNING
Now the BOY's hand rests on the MAN's chest as he sleeps. The
MAN breathes stertorously, wheezing a little and the BOY'S
small hand goes up and down on his chest.
Suddenly the MAN wakes and rolls onto his side, listening,
the revolver lying beside him. He slips his hand onto the
revolver and raises his head slowly. He looks around -
nothing but the sound of a distant DIESEL ENGINE. He looks at
the BOY fast asleep. When he looks back at the tunnel he sees
a nightmarish vision:
(CONTINUED)
15.
CONTINUED:
POV MAN - Exiting the tunnel, shuffling through the ash, a
group of HOODED MEN, some in gas masks and filthy biohazard
suits, slouching along, coughing, casting their heads from
side to side and swinging clubs and lengths of pipe - a ROAD
GANG. The MAN listens to the sound of a DIESEL TRUCK behind
the gang.
MAN.
Quickly. Quick...
The BOY jolts awake as the MAN shoves his pistol in his belt,
grabs the boy by the hand. They slide out of the car and
crouch on the ground, the BOY is frozen with fear.
MAN. (CONT'D)
It's all right. It's all right but
we have to run. Don't look back.
Come on.
Their backpacks are still left in the back of the car...
MAN. (CONT'D)
Run... run...
The flat bed truck RUMBLES into view, MEN from the GANG
standing on the flat bed looking around, some holding rifles.
The BOY falls and the MAN pulls him to his feet with such
force he lifts him clean off the ground and has to dangle him
back down again.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You okay? It's all right... come
on...
They rush down the embankment into the trees alongside the
turnpike.
EXT. TURNPIKE UNDERPASS - DAY
They run through the woods. The truck is heard in the
background, the motor missing and SPUTTERING, coils of black
diesel smoke coiling through the woods. The motor dies with a
flapping RATTLE and there's SILENCE.
The MAN and the BOY crouch in frozen silence, the Truck now
on the overpass nearby, dangerously exposed to the view of
the Gang. They listen to the GANG TALKING and raising the
hood of the truck
The MAN puts his arm around the BOY and draws his pistol as
they see the truck begin to roll, the GANG pushing it... but
it coughs and stalls again.
(CONTINUED)
16.
CONTINUED:
The MAN sees one of the GANG MEMBERS coming down the
embankment, unbuckling his belt. He is emaciated, in dirty
blue overalls and a gas company cap, and has a long beard cut
square at the bottom and a bad tattoo of a bird on his neck.
He doesn't stop, just keeps coming, closer and closer until
he's just feet away, almost on top of them. He unzips his
pants and takes a piss. As he stands pissing his eyes roam
around - at any moment he could look to the side and see them
crouching there.
The MAN is wide-eyed, gun ready, eyes darting from the GANG
MEMBER to the BOY to the GUN. The GANG MEMBER rolls his
shoulders and exercises his neck... he looks down and studies
the steam coming off his piss.
The MAN silently trains his pistol at the head of the GANG
MEMBER who, as if by instinct, rolls his head around and
looks right at him.
MAN.
Just keep it coming.
The GANG MEMBER sees the gun and stops pissing, looks back at
the truck, zips his fly.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Don't look at them. Look at me. If
you call out you're dead. Where you
from?
GANG MEMBER.
Does it matter? Where you from?
MAN.
What's the truck running on?
GANG MEMBER.
Diesel fuel.
MAN.
Where d'you get that?
GANG MEMBER.
I don't know.
MAN.
You don't know, huh?
The GANG MEMBER just stares, not answering.
(CONTINUED)
17.
CONTINUED: (2)
MAN. (CONT'D)
You got ammunition for those
rifles?
The GANG MEMBER looks back towards the truck.
MAN. (CONT'D)
I told you not to look back there.
Where d'you get all that stuff?
GANG MEMBER.
Found it.
MAN.
What are you eating?
GANG MEMBER.
Whatever we can find.
MAN.
Whatever you can find, huh?
GANG MEMBER.
Yeah...
Now the GANG MEMBER looks at the BOY, causing the MAN To
raise the revolver and cock it.
POV GANG MEMBER - he looks down the barrel at the magazine
and sees empty space.
GANG MEMBER. (CONT'D)
You won't shoot that thing. You
ain't got but two shells. Maybe
just one. And they'll hear the
shot.
On the over pass the ROAD GANG are looking around, MURMURING
as they notice one of their number missing.
MAN.
Maybe. But you won't. It'll be
through your skull and inside your
brain before you can hear it.
The MAN steps closer and aims the gun at the MAN's forehead,
hammer back, ready.
(CONTINUED)
18.
CONTINUED: (3)
MAN. (CONT'D)
To hear it you'll need a frontal
lobe and things with names like
colliculus and temporal gyrus and
you won't have them anymore because
they'll just be soup.
GANG MEMBER.
Are you a doctor?
MAN.
I'm not anything anymore.
GANG MEMBER.
We got a hurt man. It'd be worth
your while.
The MAN glances in the direction of the ROAD GANG, then back
at the GANG MEMBER, who is still eyeing the BOY. The BOY is
sitting with his hands on top of his head, peeking out
through his arms, terrified as the tension escalates.
MAN.
If you look at him again I'll shoot
you in the head.
GANG MEMBER.
I'll bet that boy is hungry. Why
don't you all just come onto the
truck. Get something to eat. Ain't
no need to be such a hard ass.
MAN.
You don't have anything to eat.
Let's go.
GANG MEMBER.
I ain't going nowheres.
MAN.
You think I won't kill you but
you're wrong.
GANG MEMBER.
You know what I think? I think
you're chickenshit. You never
killed a man in your life.
He drops his belt on the ground with a CLATTER, a canteen and
army pouch hanging from it. The MAN eyes the army pouch, eyes
the GANG on the road - and notices for the first time some of
them are wearing the same army pouches.
(CONTINUED)
19.
CONTINUED: (4)
One is banging his stick on the side of the truck to call
their lost member. The MAN is distracted by this and when he
looks up the GANG MEMBER has taken two silent steps and is
standing between him and the BOY, holding a knife.
MAN.
What do you think you're going to
do with that?
Without a word the GANG MEMBER dives and grabs the BOY, rolls
and lands on his feet holding the BOY against his chest with
his knife at his throat. Simultaneously the MAN drops to his
knees, trains the pistol and fires from six feet away,
shooting the GANG MEMBER in the forehead. He falls back and
lies with blood bubbling from the wound, eyes open, the BOY
lying in his lap in shock, deafened, expressionless, covered
with gore and mute as a stone.
The GANG hear the loud SHOT and freeze, they start looking
around them more urgently now. The MAN grabs the dazed BOY by
the hand and yells but in his deafness the BOY hears only a
MUTED soup of words:
MAN (MUTED.)
Move! Let's go!
The MAN shoves the pistol in his belt, hoists the BOY onto
his shoulders and sets off down the road at a run.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
They crash through the woods, the MAN straining to keep the
BOY aloft and find a path through the trees - the BOY
clutching the MAN's head with both hands.
There's a sickening THUD and the MAN falls, the BOY flying
off with a cry. The MAN struggles to gather his wits, unsure
whether he's been felled by another man.
MAN (MUTED.)
Come on. Get up, get up quickly!
The MAN swings the BOY onto his shoulders and runs.
EXT. WOODS/TURNPIKE - DAY
The MAN and BOY stagger through trees and the man drops to
his knees, letting the BOY down. They are back by the
turnpike again. They listen and watch, utterly exhausted and
out of breath, the MAN is wheezing, the BOY at his side,
holding his hand, staring, in shock still.
(CONTINUED)
20.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Shh. It's okay now. You're going to
be OK.
POV BOY - the BOY can still HEAR nothing, temporarily deaf.
But he sees the MAN talking and looking around, through 360
degrees, trying to work out where it's safe to go.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Come on.
He grabs the BOY's hand and they take off again.
EXT. WOODS - EVENING
The MAN pulls out blankets from his knapsack. The BOY sits
staring, shocked as the MAN tries to wipe the blood and gore
from his face but it's thick and congealed now. His hands
tremble as he tries to pick it from the BOY's hair.
MAN.
It's okay... it's okay now...
Frightened by the BOY's muteness, he wraps him in a blanket,
unzips his parka and holds him close under the parka.
The MAN picks up his revolver, checks the chamber, only one
bullet left. He eyes the flickering shadows in the distance
and then eyes the BOY, making minute calculations of
distance, calibrating the space between the ROAD GANG and the
BOY. He holds the revolver up and cocks it.
MAN. (V.0.) (CONT'D)
I try to look like any common
traveling killer but my heart is
hammering. When it comes to the boy
I have only one question: Can you
do it? When the time comes?
There is no moon, but not far away, perhaps 30 yards, a firey
TORCH makes its way through the woods. About 50 yards away
from that another TORCH is being used to search... shadows
flicker ominously. The sounds of TWIGS snapping underfoot and
BRANCHES being broken as the ROAD GANG searches wordlessly,
just BREATHING heavily through their masks and beards. The
MAN clutches the BOY tighter, and stifles a cough.
They remain frozen like this, unable to budge.
FADE OUT.
21.
EXT. EMBANKMENT - DAWN
They are by a thin, toxic, rust-red stream, slushy ice at the
edges and gray froth. The MAN leans down and pushes ice away
and scoops up a hand full of gray water. He runs it through
the boy's hair to wash it and the BOY flinches with cold. He
rubs more icy water into the BOY's hair, roughly, quickly,
with a sense of panic as he helplessly tries to-wash out
lumps of flesh and blood. The BOY is weeping silently and
shivering from the extreme cold as the MAN picks out the
dried gore and washes the hair clean.
MAN.
It's no use crying. You have to
talk to me.
He takes the blanket and dries the BOY's hair as he talks.
MAN. (CONT'D)
I'm not going to let anything
happen to you... I'm going to take
care of you... I'm always going to
try and be here for you... and I'm
going to kill anybody who touches
you.
He smooths the BOY's hair down with shaking fingers, clumsily
trying to brush it out of his eyes, a fatherly instinct to
make the BOY neat.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Because that's my job. Do you
understand?
When he's through the MAN lifts the BOY's thin arms, puts a
vest over his head, then a ragged sweater, then he folds the
BOY into his parka, zips it up to the neck and kisses him on
the top of the head.
The MAN grabs his knapsack, tips it upside down, rummages
inside - it's empty.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Come on, we need to get the cart
back.
EXT. EMBANKMENT BY TUNNEL EXIT - DAY
Approaching the embankment, the MAN walks quickly and
stealthily, wired, listening to the silence, straining to
hear, sure he's being watched.
(CONTINUED)
22.
CONTINUED:
The BOY stumbles along behind, slower, fatigued, makingthe
MAN anxious. The MAN leaves the boy hiding:
MAN (WHISPERS.)
Wait here.
He starts to climb the embankment and hears: little running
FOOTSTEPS as the BOY comes after him, he turns to face the
BOY urgently, exasperated.
MAN (WHISPERS.) (CONT'D)
No I need you to wait. I'll hear
you if you call. I'll just be a
little ways and I'll be able to
hear you if you get scared and you
call me and I'll come right away.
He walks off but hears... the little BOY's FOOTSTEPS running
after him again - he turns around.
MAN.
I said wait!
The BOY's face crinkles up and a tear rolls down.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Stop it. I need you to do what I
say. Take the gun.
The BOY freezes, refusing to take the gun.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Just take it will you?
The BOY shakes his head.
MAN. (CONT'D)
We don't have time for this. We
need our food. What's left.
The MAN shoves the gun into the BOY's hand.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Don't argue.
He creeps up the embankment. The BOY just stares at the
revolver.
EXT. TURNPIKE ROAD - DAY
The MAN searches for the cart. He comes to where they'd left
it in between the abandoned cars.
(CONTINUED)
23.
CONTINUED:
Their backpacks lie open on the ground, next to the cart on
it's side, it's contents spilled out, mostly plundered, just
a few children's BOOKS and TOYS, old pots and pans, shoes and
ragged clothing remaining. Nearby are the remains of a large
campfire in the middle of the turnpike. The man collects up
the few remaining possessions and puts them into the
backpacks.
POV MAN - he sees charred billets of wood, ash and... the
bones of the shot ROAD GANG MEMBER. Nearby is a pool of his
blood and guts, still gently STEAMING, the head decapitated
and rolled under a car. He nudges the bones with the toe of
his shoe.
EXT. EMBANKMENT BY THE TURNPIKE - DAY
Below, down the embankment the BOY is waiting obediently with
the gun.
The MAN heads back to the BOY, trying to think what to say.
The BOY hands the gun back and takes the MAN's hand and they
walk away into the woods, the MAN tucking the gun back into
his belt.
MAN.
Let's get out of here. The
freeway's too dangerous. Find the
back roads.
BOY.
Okay.
INT. CLAPBOARD HOUSE - NIGHT
FLASHBACK - Now the house is in considerable disrepair, no
furniture, the skirting boards falling away, large cracks in
the walls, cornices and lamp fittings pulling away from the
ceilings, water marks from rain, the windows covered with
corrugated iron sheets. The MAN and the WOMAN are sitting
across from each other with a lamp illuminating the dark.
Between them lies the revolver seen earlier. The WOMAN picks
up the gun and swings open the magazine. There are two
bullets in it, she takes them out and places them on the
table, one after the other.
WOMAN.
That's all that's left. I should
have done it when there were more
bullets in the gun.
The MAN shuts his eyes, unable to take it. In the corner, the
BOY is standing in the background, drawing on the walls.
(CONTINUED)
24.
CONTINUED:
WOMAN. (CONT'D)
Sooner or later - no listen - they
will catch up with us and they will
kill us. They will rape me -
MAN.
NO -
WOMAN.
And they will rape him
MAN.
Please no - just - no
WOMAN.
They are going to rape us and kill
us and eat us and you won't face
it. You'd rather wait for it to
happen.
MAN.
Please.
WOMAN.
Stop it.
MAN.
I'll do anything.
WOMAN.
Such as what?
She picks up the revolver and puts the TWO BULLETS into the
chamber.
WOMAN. (CONT'D)
I thought about not even telling
you. Just doing it. I'd empty every
godamn bullet into my brain and
leave you with nothing.
MAN.
Don't say that. Don't talk this
way.
WOMAN.
There's nothing left to talk
about... my heart was ripped out of
me the night he was born...
(CONTINUED)
25.
CONTINUED: (2)
MAN.
Please don't do this. I won't let
anything happen. We'll survive.
WOMAN.
I don't want to survive! I'd take
him with me if it weren't for you.
You know I would. Why can't you
face it?
MAN.
Will you listen? You're talking
CRAZY -
WOMAN.
It's not crazy and you know it.
It's the right thing to do.
They glance at the BOY.
WOMAN. (CONT'D)
Other families do it.
She goes to the BOY, strokes his hair, kisses him, makes a
reassuring display of being motherly.
WOMAN. (CONT'D)
Time for bed, there's a good boy.
She picks him up in her arms and carries him off to bed.
END OF FLASHBACK.
EXT. RAVINE/WATERFALL - DAY
The THUNDER of a waterfall, the river disappears into space -
the BOY and the MAN stand staring up at the waterfall, 80
feet above, shrouded in gray mist. A color spectrum is
visible rising from the waterfall, like a rainbow - the boy
is transfixed, clutching the MAN's arm for safety.
BOY.
What is it?
The MAN looks at the BOY, surprised he's talking again.
MAN.
It's a waterfall.
BOY.
Look. Colors.
(CONTINUED)
26.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
There used to be color everywhere.
You don't remember. It was before
you were born. There used to be so
many thnings...
The BOY approaches the water's edge, shallow and clear with
gravel and pebbles sparkling at the bottom. He scoops up some
water, surprised that it seems clean.
BOY.
Look. It's clear.
MAN.
Do you want to go in?
BOY.
I don't know.
MAN.
Sure you do.
BOY.
Is it okay?
MAN.
Just don't swallow any.
The MAN unzips his parka and slips it to the ground. The BOY
eyes the MAN, surprised - then does the same.
EXT. RIVER/WATERFALL - DAY
Naked, pale, filthy dirty and shivering with cold, the BOY
frolics in the spray of the waterfall. The MAN watches him
enjoying himself by the waterfall, clutching his shoulders,
hopping up and down, he joins him.
EXT. RAVINE/ROCKFACE - (CAMP 6) - EVENING
The MAN has strung the tarp against a rockface to make a
shelter. He meticulously filters water through a rag into a
pan. In the background, the waterfall can be heard RUMBLING.
The BOY has painted his face with CRAYONS, drawing a bizarre
set of FANGS and dripping blood around his mouth. The MAN
studies the BOY's painted face a moment.
MAN.
Listen. That man back there...
there's not many good guys left,
that's all. We have to watch out
for the bad guys.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
27.
CONTINUED:
MAN. (CONT'D)
And we have to talk. Always. We
have to just... you know... keep
carrying the fire...
BOY.
What fire?
MAN.
The fire inside you.
The BOY is thoughtful a minute, and then:
BOY.
Are we still the good guys?
MAN.
Yes. We're still the good guys.
BOY.
And we always will be no matter
what happens?
He eyes the BOY uncertainly, unsure if he can promise this.
MAN.
Always will be. Yeah.
The MAN goes back to tying the tarp.
EXT. THE RIVER/VALLEY - MORNING
The MAN and the BOY are trudging along, away from the
waterfall now.
MAN.
We have to keep moving. Other
people might be attracted to the
waterfall just like we were. We
wouldn't hear them coming.
They stop to look at a lake surrounded by fog down in the
VALLEY
BOY.
Do you think there could be fish in
the lake?
MAN.
No. There's nothing in the lake.
They move on.
28.
EXT. BACK ROAD - DAY
They come around a bend in the road and immediately hear the
ROAR of river rapids. Up ahead they see a bridge with a jack-
knifed TRUCK on it.
EXT. BRIDGE - DAY
They walk out onto the bridge over GREY FROTHING WATER, and
inspect the truck. The tyres are flat, the cab jammed against
the railings. The trailer end has swung across the road,
knocked out the railings and lies with it's last few feet
hanging over the side of the bridge, blocking the bridge off
completely.
EXT. ABANDONED TRUCK - DAY
The MAN climbs up onto the gas tanks, wipes the glass and
peers into the cab. He swings the door open and climbs
inside, pulling the door shut behind.
INT. TRUCK/CAB - DAY
He looks around at discarded detritus, old magazines and
trash. He checks behind the seats where there is a mattress
on a bunk and calls out.
MAN.
Come up here.
INT. TRUCK/CAB - (CAMP 7) - NIGHT
SNOW continues to fall on the dusty WINDSCREEN. Outside, all
around snow falls, silently, covering the truck and the
bridge, transforming it. They are both still awake, unable to
sleep, staring at the transformed world, carpeted by snow.
BOY.
I'm hungry.
MAN.
I know. So am I.
BOY.
Can I ask you something?
MAN.
Of course.
BOY.
Are we going to die?
(CONTINUED)
29.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
No. Sometime. Not now.
BOY.
And we're still going south?
MAN.
Yes.
BOY.
So we'll be warm?
MAN.
Yes.
BOY.
And there might be food there?
MAN.
Everything depends on reaching the
coast.
BOY.
Okay.
The MAN draws a blanket around him and kisses him goodnight,
it is now pitch black.
MAN.
Go to sleep.
BOY.
I wish I was with my mom.
They are silent a moment, until:
MAN.
You mean you wish you were dead.
BOY.
Yeah.
MAN.
You mustn't say that. It's a bad
thing to say.
BOY.
I can't help it.
(CONTINUED)
30.
CONTINUED: (2)
MAN.
I know but you have to. You have to
stop thinking about her. We both
do.
BOY.
How do I do that?
The MAN is silent, lost in thought.
EXT. TRUCK/CAB - (CAMP 7) EARLY HOURS
The man gets down from the cab and walks a few feet in the
dark and snow. He coughs a bit, takes a few breaths of air,
and walks away from the truck, vanishing into the mist.
EXT. CAMP/ROAD - (CAMP 7) - EARLY HOURS
The MAN is alone now by the road. He takes out his WALLET and
sifts through: money, ancient cards, driver's license and a
picture of HIMSELF and the WOMAN on their WEDDING DAY, which
he studies a moment sadly.
MAN. (V.0.)
She was gone, and the coldness of
it was her final gift... she died
somewhere in the dark... there is
no other tale to tell.
He lays everything out on the grey slushy ground, then flings
the wallet into the river and walks back to camp, leaving the
PHOTO and cards to blow away.
EXT. CLAPBOARD HOUSE/YARD - NIGHT
FLASHBACK - The WOMAN kisses the MAN.
MAN.
Will you tell him goodbye?
WOMAN.
No. I won't. I can't.
MAN.
Will you at least wait till
morning? Stay with me through the
night.
WOMAN.
No. I have to go now.
They kiss again, she turns and walks away out of the yard.
(CONTINUED)
31.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
What am I going to tell him? What
are we going to do without you?
WOMAN.
You should move south. You won't
survive another winter here.
The MAN follows a few steps and she stops and turns to him.
MAN.
Why won't you help me?
WOMAN.
I can't help you. Don't you
understand? This is how I'm helping
you.
MAN.
Where are you going to go? You
can't even see.
WOMAN.
I don't need to see.
MAN.
I'm begging you.
WOMAN.
Please don't. Please.
The MAN stares. She goes, vanishing into the darkness.
END OF FLASHBACK.
EXT. CITY LIMITS - DUSK
The MAN stares. In the distance, a dead city.
EXT. OVERPASS/CITY LIMITS - EVENING
The MAN and the BOY approach the edge of the city. Up ahead a
cluster of three tall buildings, a dozen or so floors of
concrete and glass, the upper floors of one illuminated by
the flickering fire glow of candle light inside. The MAN
stops and stares and the BOY follows his gaze.
In one of the illuminated windows a SILHOUETTE FIGURE stares
back at them, somebody in the building. In another window
another SILHOUETTE FIGURE is staring out, motionless, they
could be refugees, cannibals or more mummified dead for all
we know.
(CONTINUED)
32.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
Who are they, Papa?
MAN.
I don't know.
BOY.
What if it's more bad guys?
MAN.
It won't be more bad guys. Don't
worry. Stay close.
He takes hold of the gun and they walk in a different
direction now, giving the high rises a wide berth.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Keep low. We'll be okay.
When they get to the end of the block they stop and the MAN
checks around the corner before they cross the street. In the
distance three men appear, emaciated, slow-moving. They step
forward, stop and watch the BOY and the MAN.
EXT. OUTSKIRTS/CITY - DAY
The MAN, now carrying the revolver, and the BOY head off down
a railway track that leads away from the city.
EXT. COUNTRY RAILWAY LINE - DAY
In the country, along the railway, they see past a small road
to a once grand house on a rise. It is tall and stately with
white Doric columns across the front and a gravel drive that
curves up from the road through a field of dead, foot long
grass. They stand there staring at it, the BOY still holding
the MAN's hand. The MAN listens - nothing but the WIND in the
dead bracken, a CREAK of a door or shutter rattling.
MAN.
I think we should take a look.
BOY.
I'm scared.
MAN.
There's nothing to be scared of.
EXT. DRIVEWAY/STATELY HOME
The MAN sets off up the drive. He stops and faces the BOY who
is rooted to the spot.
(CONTINUED)
33.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
You want to stay here?
BOY.
No.
The BOY joins him and they set off slowly up the drive,
through patches of melting snow. There is a tall dead privet
fence with a deserted birdsnest in it.
EXT. PORCH/STATELY HOME - DAY
They climb the steps to the porch, the BOY clutching the
MAN's hand. They notice a window is slightly open. The MAN
goes to it, opens the window wide, looks inside.
INT. FOYER/STATELY HOME - DAY
They climb through the window onto black and white marble
tiles and the MAN carefully shuts the window a little so it's
the same as when he found it. They regard the room,
binoculars set up on a tripod sit next to an arm chair. An
elaborate staircase in front of them, William Morris wall
paper, water stained and sagging, plaster moldings and
cornices sagging from the ceiling.
They cross back to the other side where there is a great hall
of a drawing room, high ceilings, huge fire place with raw
brick around it where the wood has been stripped, a pile of
warm-weather clothing, boots and backpacks on the floor by
the hearth.
BOY.
Papa?
MAN.
Shh.
INT. KITCHEN/STATELY HOME - DAY
They creep in and find blackened pots and pans, a cord with a
bell for servants, trash piled on the floor and work tops, a
rusted sink covered in mould, bare cupboards. In the floor is
a hatch with a lock set in a steel plate. The man examines it
while the BOY tugs at his arm, frightened.
BOY.
Papa, let's go.
MAN.
There's a reason this is locked.
(CONTINUED)
34.
CONTINUED:
The BOY is now panicky, hopping about, close to tears.
BOY.
Don't open it - don't!
MAN.
I need something to pry it open.
BOY.
No!
The MAN goes out abruptly and the BOY follows, wringing his
hands in fear.
EXT. BACK GARDEN/STATELY HOME - DAY
The MAN comes out the back door with his revolver drawn,
looks around and sees an old station wagon with flat tyres on
the dead grass. Beside it is a 40 gallon cauldron on the
blackened remnants of a fire. There is also a wooden SMOKE
HOUSE with thin wisps of smoke coming off it. The MAN studies
it nervously, sniffing the air, then goes to the tool shed
and starts sorting through tools. He finds a long handled
spade and hefts it in his hands.
INT. KITCHEN/STATELY HOME - DAY
The spade chops into the wood around the lock on the hatch.
The MAN hacks away, then prizes up the hatch, lock and all,
revealing a gap of darkness.
BOY.
Papa...
MAN.
Listen to me. Just stop it. We're
starving. Do you understand? I have
to do this. I don't have any
choice.
The MAN opens the hatch fully and lies it on the floor.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Just wait here.
BOY.
I'm going with you.
MAN.
Okay. Just stay close to me.
Nothing's going to happen.
(CONTINUED)
35.
CONTINUED:
They descend the rough wooden steps.
INT. CELLAR/STATELY HOME - DAY
There is a terrible stench and they have to cover their
mouths and noses with their parkas. The MAN gets out his
lighter, lights it and tries to light the way.
POV MAN - BLACKNESS except the small area illuminated by the
lighter as the MAN searches: part of a stone wall; then a
clay floor; an old mattress with dark stains. The glow of the
flame crawls across the floor to a corner as the MAN steps
closer, then plays the lighter along from the corner to
REVEAL:
Huddled against the wall, all trying to hide, shielding their
shining eyes from the light, NAKED MEN and WOMEN, thin as
skeletons like inmates in a death camp. The BOY jumps,
shocked and the MAN freezes, staring, dumb struck by:
On a mattress on the floor lies a NAKED MAN with his legs
gone to the hip, their stumps blackened and burned,
cauterized. The BOY covers his eyes.
MAN.
Jesus...
The MAN on the MATTRESS turns to them and WHISPERS, a low
indistinct murmur at first.
MAN ON MATTRESS.
Help us... please help us...
MAN.
Christ... oh Christ...
The others join in, an eerie chorus of WHISPERING, "Help
us... please help us..." The MAN turns and grabs the BOY and
rushes for the steps.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Hurry... go... move!
The MAN drops the lighter as he tries to push the BOY up the
steps. Out of nowhere a BEARDED FACE appears at the foot of
the stairs, blinking.
BEARDED FACE.
Please... they're taking us to the
smoke house.
(CONTINUED)
36.
CONTINUED:
The BEARDED FACE reaches out and feebly tries to grab the
MAN's arm but he breaks free and concentrates on getting the
BOY up the steps, following in a blind panic, fumbling and
missing his footing.
MAN.
Hurry - hurry!
They scramble up the steps towards the light of the hatch as
the BEARDED FACE reaches out and tries one last time to grab
at the MAN's feet but he kicks free.
INT. KITCHEN/STATELY HOME - DAY
The MAN scrambles out, slams the door shut and drags a solid
table over the door. He looks around for the BOY.
MAN.
Christ. Run!
The BOY is near the window, dancing up and down in terror,
pointing out the window to:
EXT. FIELDS - DAY
Coming up the path toward the house are four BEARDED MEN and
two WOMEN, all suspiciously well fed and healthy-looking. One
of the MEN holds hands with one of the WOMEN, as if they were
returning from a stroll before dinner.
INT. KITCHEN/STATELY HOME - DAY
The MAN stares a moment, frozen with horror, then grabs the
BOY by the hand and jerks him away.
MAN.
Run. Run!
INT. FOYER/STATELY HOME - DAY
They tear through to the front door, the MAN fumbles to get
it open but it has a well-maintained deadlock on it. He
stares out the window next to the door and sees:
POV MAN - The WELL-FED PEOPLE are climbing the steps of the
porch. The MAN Grabs the BOY and they rush through into
kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN/STATELY HOME - DAY
In the kitchen the hatch is being lifted from underneath and
the table elevating inches. They rush back out again.
37.
INT. FOYER/STATELY HOME - DAY
As they reach the stairs, a key turns in the lock and the MAN
picks up the BOY in his arms and they sprint to a door under
the stairs. As they get through the door the front door
swings open and the WELL-FED PEOPLE drift inside.
INT. REST ROOM - DAY
They are in a small rest room under the stairs, just a toilet
and a basin. The BOY's face is level with the basin and while
the MAN is holding the door shut the BOY comes face to face
with the contents of the basin:
POV BOY - bloodstained clothing soaking in bloody water and
tallow in the basin. Around the basin are bloody red hand
prints on the white porcelain.
POV MAN - through a thin crack he sees the WELL-FED PEOPLE on
the far side of the foyer, chatting casually. He is not close
enough to hear everything they say, but close enough to see
that the MEN's beards are trimmed and they wear well-repaired
clothes.
WELL FED WOMAN.
I'm going to freshen up.
BEARDED MAN.
I need a drink.
WELL FED WOMAN 2.
I'm going up to change.
He hears one of the WOMEN STOMPING across the old floorboards
and up the stairs to change while the other WOMAN takes a few
steps towards the rest room, then turns back towards the
window as the conversation lurches on.
BEARDED MAN 2.
Who left this window open?
WELL FED WOMAN.
I leave it open for the smell.
BEARDED MAN 2.
What smell?
WELL FED WOMAN.
You don't smell it anymore?
BEARDED MAN.
Who wants a drink?
(CONTINUED)
38.
CONTINUED:
They hear the sound of the WINDOW BEING CLOSED and LATCHED.
As all this goes on, the MAN is frozen, eyes wide with fear,
he slips the pistol from his belt, cocks it and squats on his
haunches so he's close to the BOY, desperate, unable to
decide what to do, unable to think straight with fear.
The BOY is staring from the door to the pistol to the
bloodied basin as if hypnotised, in shock, babbling somewhat.
BOY. (MUMBLING, TO SELF.)
Bad guys... bad men...
MAN.
Shh, shh...
There are FOOT STEPS outside the door as the WELL FED PEOPLE
drift closer and then away again. The man starts to cough but
he has the revolver in one hand and the BOY's hand in his
other. The MAN tries to stifle his cough but can't. Then the
BOY notices and holds his own small hand to the MAN's mouth,
stifling his coughing as the talk goes on outside:
WELL FED WOMAN.
Will you help me with the dirty
dishes?
BEARDED MAN 2.
I'm hungry.
As the coughing subsides a little the MAN takes the BOY's
hand from his mouth and pushes the revolver into it.
MAN.
Take it.
The BOY tries to resist, shaking his head, terrified, mute.
MAN. (WHISPERS.) (CONT'D)
Take it.
The MAN puts his left arm around the BOY's tiny, thin
shoulders and holds him close.
MAN. (WHISPERS.) (CONT'D)
Don't be afraid. If they get hold
of you, you're going to have to do
it just like everybody else. Do you
understand? Shh. No crying. Do you
hear me?
The WOMAN turns from the window and one of the BEARDED MEN
pours whiskey and hands her one.
(CONTINUED)
39.
CONTINUED: (2)
The BOY is weeping and shaking his head as the MAN shows him
again what to do with the gun.
MAN (WHISPERS.)
Stop crying. You have to be a brave
boy. You know how to do it.
BOY (WHISPERS.)
I think so.
MAN (WHISPERS.)
Say "Yes I do Papa."
He stares down at the little BOY who just holds the gun
feebly... he realises the BOY won't use it. After a moment of
torturous contemplation, the MAN very gently takes the gun
from the BOY's hand and the BOY sits forlornly, staring down
at his hands, afraid to look at the MAN now. When the BOY
looks up again he is staring down the barrel of the pistol,
the MAN aiming the large revolver at the BOY's forehead.
BOY.
What are you doing?
The MAN's hand shakes, his thumb trembles on the hammer as he
cocks it...
BOY. (CONT'D)
Papa?
MAN.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
BOY.
Will I see you again? When will I
see you?
The MAN's finger trembles on the trigger as he slowly
squeezes it... At that moment there's a loud THUMP from the
kitchen and the WELL FED PEOPLE stop and listen, then rush
through to the kitchen, and immediately there's a commotion
as they see the state of the hatch with the table over it.
BEARDED MAN 2(O.O.V.)
What the fuck do you think you're
doing? Huh? What the fuck do you
think you're doing...?
WELL FED WOMAN (O.O.V.)
Don't look at me like that. What
are you doing?
(CONTINUED)
40.
CONTINUED: ( 3)
The MAN gathers his wits and opens the door a crack.
MAN.
Follow me, take my hand, don't let
go.
INT. FOYER/STATELY HOME - DAY
The MAN bursts out of the rest room with the BOY and they
make a dash for the open window. He sticks his gun in his
belt and wrestles with the window, an old colonial style
frame which sticks.
From behind the closed kitchen door they hear muffled GRUNTS
and SHOUTS until the MAN wrenches the window open, stuffs the
BOY through and follows.
EXT. PORCH/STATELY HOME - DAY
The MAN picks the BOY up and they rush down the steps.
EXT. DRIVEWAY/STATELY HOME - DAY
They rush down the driveway and the MAN drags the BOY through
a gap in the dead privet hedge onto the road.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
They hesitate a moment on the road, deciding.
MAN.
Come on, keep running!
They rush across the road to the woods on the other side, the
BOY ahead as the MAN checks behind them. The MAN looks back
towards the house and two of the WELL-FED PEOPLE have come
outside, looking around suspiciously.
He hits the ground and takes the BOY with him, they lie flat
at the edge of the woods and the road. They are wildly out of
breath, chests heaving, the MAN coughing.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Keep your head down.
POV MAN - the WELL-FED PEOPLE walk a few steps down the drive
and a BEARDED MAN looks through BINOCULARS at the road and
the woods, but not directly at the MAN and the BOY hiding.
The WELL FED PEOPLE start looking around the side of the
house, walking away. The MAN and the BOY get up, dash through
the treeline and disappear into the woods.
41.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
.A dull moon hidden in the ashen sky and the outlines of trees
as they set off through the woods, sleepy, stumbling like
drunks now. They hear a hideous SHRIEK in the distance,
coming from the house. They stop, hearing another SHRIEK and
a MAN'S SCREAMING. The MAN holds the BOY close and tries to
cover the BOY's ears as they stare and wait for-it to pass.
MAN.
We'll be safe soon.
BOY.
They're going to eat those people
aren't they, Papa?
The MAN does not answer.
EXT. SEARS DEPARTMENT STORE/SHOPPING MALL - NIGHT
They are back in the city, trudging through the parking lot
of a huge shopping mall, just outside what used to be SEARS
department store. A dull moon hidden in the ashen sky
illuminates the ruined store front as the MAN looks up at the
mall, thinking. The BOY is just staring into space, still in
shock.
INT. SEARS/MALL - (CAMP 8) - NIGHT
The MAN and the BOY have set up camp in the mall, outside the
SEARS entrance. The MAN is building a big fire. The BOY
stares through the glass at the deserted department store.
Nearby, strewn across the doorway are bunches and bundles of
cash in notes and coins... the BOY looks closer and finds
expensive items of jewelry still in their boxes, LOOTED from
the store and discarded.
The BOY sits, he looks like he's given up, and then:
BOY.
Papa? Papa, we wouldn't ever eat
anybody would we?
MAN.
No. Of course not.
BOY.
No matter how hungry we were. Even
if we were starving?
(CONTINUED)
42.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
We're starving now.
BOY.
Because, because we're the good
guys?
MAN.
Yes.
BOY.
And we're carrying the fire.
MAN.
Yes.
The MAN takes the BOY in his arms. In a moment the BOY starts
blinking sleepily and drifts off to sleep and the MAN strokes
the sleeping BOY's hair and kisses him on the forehead.
EXT. SUPERMARKET/PARKING LOT - DAY
They walk through the parking lot until the come to a
supermarket around the other side. A few old cars in a trash
strewn parking lot. The MAN heads through the defunct
automatic doors.
MAN.
Come on. There's nobody here.
INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY
The MAN and the BOY trudge the empty aisles, only litter
remaining, the once brightly-colored packaging strewn around,
it's contents long since looted.
In the empty gun section there is a deer's head mounted on
the wall. The BOY stops and stares, mesmerised while the MAN
searches the empty shelves for ammo, finding only empty
boxes.
The MAN glimpses a woman's face staring dolefully from an
aisle - an emaciated, dead beat SCAVENGER watching them,
vanishing as quickly as she appeared.
On their way out they come to a pair of vending machines
tipped over, the sodas looted, coins scattered around in the
ash. The MAN sits beside one and feels inside the gutted
machine, eventually producing a single unopened can of COCA
COLA.
(CONTINUED)
43.
CONTINUED:
BOY (EXCITED.)
What is it, papa?
MAN.
It's a treat for you. Here. Sit
down.
He helps the little BOY off with his knapsack and sits him
down and opens the can of COKE ceremoniously. The BOY looks
startled and sniffs the fizzing can as if it's the strangest
thing he's ever seen in his life.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Go ahead.
The BOY takes the can.
BOY.
It's bubbly.
MAN.
Go ahead. Drink it.
The BOY takes a sip and considers.
BOY.
It's really good. You have some,
papa.
MAN.
No. I want you to drink it.
BOY.
But I want you to have some.
The MAN reluctantly takes the can and has a tiny sip, hands
it back to the wary BOY.
BOY. (CONT'D)
It's because I'll never get to
drink another one, isn't it?
The MAN doesn't know what to say.
EXT. MALL/PARKING LOT - LATE AFTERNOON
They head out of the mall now towards the road, lifeless
traffic lights at the intersection, town houses and apartment
blocks on the other side of the road. The BOY stops to
listen, stares around, suddenly energised, bobbing on his
toes.
(CONTINUED)
44.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
What's wrong with you?
BOY.
What was that?
MAN.
I didn't hear anything.
BOY.
Listen.
MAN.
I don't hear anything.
They listen more until, very faintly we hear a DOG BARK in
the distance. The BOY turns around 180 degrees to listen,
alert with anticipation.
MAN. (CONT'D)
It's a dog.
BOY. (EXCITED.)
A dog! Where did it come from?
MAN.
I don't know. Come on.
The MAN walks across the road, past the apartments and the
BOY follows, bouncing up and down, over-excited now.
BOY.
We're not going to kill it are we
Papa?
MAN.
What? No, we're not going to kill
it. Why did you say that?
BOY.
You still got one bullet left.
MAN.
We're not going to hurt the dog, I
promise. We're not going to kill it
and we're not going to eat it
either.
BOY (OVER EXCITED, NOT FRIGHTENED.)
Maybe it'll eat us!
(CONTINUED)
45.
CONTINUED: (2)
MAN.
I doubt it very much.
BOY.
Can we look for it?
MAN.
It's gone, okay?
EXT. SUBURBS - DAY
They trudge through the suburbs on the edge of the city, past
what used to be the local ball park, now barren, dead, a vast
flat expanse of ash and cracked, scorched earth, forlorn
stands and bleachers blackened by ash and soot.
BOY.
What is it?
MAN.
I used to watch the ball games here
with my father.
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAY
They walk up a once tree-lined suburban street, barren now,
ash and dust layer what used to be front lawns, post boxes,
picket fences, porches, crazy paving. The MAN stops outside a
typical, suburban clapboard house with a dead, cracked yard
where the lawn used to be and a bare flag pole. The BOY eyes
the MAN enquiringly.
BOY.
What is this place, Papa?
MAN.
It's the house where I grew up.
They go up to the house - clapboards have been removed for
firewood leaving studs and insulation exposed. The BOY stops,
reluctant to go further, and the MAN takes a few more steps
then turns around to check on him.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You coming?
BOY.
I don't want to.
MAN.
Don't you want to see where I grew
up?
(CONTINUED)
46.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
There might be somebody in there.
MAN.
There's nobody there now.
The MAN takes the BOY's hand and they approach a basketball
hoop by the garage. The MAN is momentarily overcome with
emotion as he recalls the details, but it doesn't mean much
to the BOY.
After a moment the MAN goes up the steps - frightened, but
horribly compelled at the same time. The BOY follows
nervously.
BOY.
I'm scared.
MAN.
We've got to find something to eat.
BOY.
I'm not hungry. I'm not!
The MAN takes his revolver from his belt and approaches the
front door, warily pushing it open.
MAN.
We'll be all right. Come on.
He goes through the front door - the BOY stays where he is,
rigid with fear. The BOY notices a stuffed toy dog in the
window, staring out at the garden and his curiosity takes
over. The BOY goes inside carefully.
INT. DINING ROOM/HOME - EVENING
The pine panelling is stripped from the walls, there is some
broken furniture but much has been taken for firewood. They
go over to the fireplace and the MAN examines it. He runs his
fingers along the mantle where there is an old drawing pin
still stuck in the wood, nostalgia overcoming his fear.
MAN.
This is where we used to have
Christmas when I was a boy. We'd
hang our stockings right here.
The MAN examines the yellow tiled surround. The BOY watches
the MAN as if he's gone mad.
(CONTINUED)
47.
CONTINUED:
MAN. (CONT'D)
My mother scrubbed these every day.
It's still spotless.
Much of the woodwork and the floorboards have been stripped
and taken for firewood - there are gaping holes.
By the fireplace is a small pile of bones - and--in the grid
are more burnt bones and the skull from the family cat. The
MAN takes it all in sadly but the BOY is unmoved.
BOY.
Papa? I don't think we should do
this.
MAN.
You want to wait outside?
The BOY nods vigorously.
MAN. (CONT'D)
All right.
He takes the BOY's hand and leads him out.
EXT. PORCH/HOME - DAY
The come out onto the porch.
MAN.
Sit here on the stoop and don't go
away.
The BOY sits quietly and the MAN goes back inside. After a
moment he starts going through his knapsack, less afraid now.
INT. OLD HOUSE - DAY
The floorboards CREAK horribly, swollen from rain or ripped
up, as he creeps into the living room. The timber cladding is
stripped from the walls, the ceiling plaster is collapsed,
beams exposed. The MAN pads through to the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN/OLD HOUSE - DAY
The kitchen is similarly dilapidated, the cupboards stripped
bare. On a shelf by the window are dusty jars of fruit,
preserved. He grabs a jar, prizes open the lid and finds a an
oily slick of black mucus floating in the top, like rotted
mushroom spores. He sniffs it suspiciously, holds it up to
the light.
(CONTINUED)
48.
CONTINUED:
In the light small black fish hook-shaped spores drift from
the top of the jar to the bottom. He replaces the lid,
appalled.
EXT. PORCH/OLD HOUSE - DAY
The BOY is sitting on the steps of the porch drawing with
crayons on a pad taken from his knapsack. Across the road is
another big old house, much of the clapboard missing, swathed
in dead brambles - the BOY suddenly looks up and stares at
it, distracted.
EXT. BACK YARD - DAY
The MAN comes outside and regards the deadened yard, old
garden hoe and spade, gardening equipment and several dead
apple trees. He goes over and examines the ashen ground and
digs about to unearth several small, dark brown, shrivelled
spheres spaced several feet apart - apples. He bends down and
picks one up, examines, sniffs. He gathers up the strange
apples and stuffs them in his pockets.
EXT. PORCH/OLD HOUSE - DAY
The BOY is still staring at the house across the road when he
notices A GHOSTLY FACE, completely still, in a window. The
BOY drops the pad and crayon and stands, surprised, not
believing his eyes - it is the face of a SMALL BOY roughly
his age, which disappears almost immediately, receding back
into the gloom like a ghost.
INT. PANTRY/CLAPBOARD HOUSE - DAY
The MAN is in the looted pantry. He finds some shrivelled
raisins that haves spilt and hidden in the back of the shelf.
He puts them into a handkerchief, folds it and pockets it. He
HEARS:
BOY. (O.O.V.)
Stop - stop!
The MAN freezes, then charges out.
EXT. PORCH/CLAPBOARD HOUSE - DAY
The MAN rushes out and stares about frantically for the BOY -
he's gone.
EXT. HOUSE OPPOSITE - DAY
The BOY has run across the road to another house.
(CONTINUED)
49.
CONTINUED:
POV BOY - peeping around the side of the house is the other
SMALL BOY, the same age, similarly grimy and thin, wearing an
outsize woollen coat. The other SMALL BOY disappears down the
side and the BOY runs after him.
BOY.
Wait! Come back! I won't hurt you!
EXT. BACK YARD - DAY
The BOY runs to the bottom of the yard where there is various
suburban garden detritus, a dusty lawn mower, a clothes line,
a shed, bikes with no tyres.
BOY.
Where are you?!
The MAN comes sprinting up the side of the house and seizes
him by the arm.
MAN.
What are you doing? What the hell
are you doing?
BOY.
There's a little boy, Papa, I saw a
little boy.
MAN.
There's no little boy. What's the
matter with you?
BOY.
Yes there is! I saw him! A boy just
like me.
The MAN takes the BOY by the arm and drags him back through
the yard, up the side of the house, the BOY resisting, crying
and looking back all the way.
BOY. (CONT'D)
Why? Why can't I go and see him?
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Out the front of the house the BOY digs his heels in and the
MAN has to drag him, his feet slithering through the dirt.
BOY.
I need to see him! I need to!
(CONTINUED)
50.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Why?
BOY.
I just do!
The BOY has gone limp, weeping bitterly, resisting being
moved. The MAN gives up and squats beside the sobbing BOY.
MAN.
Okay, I'm sorry. I understand.
He holds him, wipes his tears from his cheeks.
EXT. TOWN STREET/OVERPASS - EVENING
In the failing light they come across a late model Chevy
abandoned under an overpass.
BOY.
Papa? Will there be other boys like
me at the coast?
MAN.
I hope so.
The MAN goes to the car, wipes thick dust from the windscreen
and peers in - it's empty.
INT. CHEVY - (CAMP 9) - NIGHT
They try to get comfortable in the leather seats, the MAN
spreading the blankets over them and tucking the BOY in. They
are quiet a moment as they watch darkness start to fall.
THEN:
MAN.
I got you something
The MAN produces from his pocket one of the tiny hard brown
apples and holds it up to the remaining light.
BOY.
What is it?
MAN.
It's an apple.
(CONTINUED)
51.
CONTINUED:
He hands it to the boy who examines it curiously. The MAN
takes out a pocket knife, takes the apple back, cuts the
apple in half to reveal a woody brown interior. They regard
the mahogany apple uncertainly, the MAN is the first to take
a bite, with some difficulty. The BOY bites his half and
makes a face.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Suck it a while and it'll soften.
They sit sucking and chewing the ancient apple.
BOY.
Did you ever have any friends?
The MAN eyes the BOY - curious at the sudden question.
MAN.
Yes. I did.
BOY.
Lots of them?
MAN.
Yes...
BOY.
Do you remember them?
MAN.
Yes. I remember all of them...
BOY.
What happened to them?
MAN.
They died.
BOY.
All of them?
MAN.
Yes. All of them.
EXT. URBAN ENVIRONS (MONTAGE) DAY
The MAN and the BOY make their way out of the ruined city.
(CONTINUED)
52.
CONTINUED:
MAN. (V.0.)
He yearns for his own friends and
imagines how things will be
different at the coast - and that
there will be other children
there... .When I have nothing else,
I try to dream the dreams of a
child's imaginings...
EXT. DESOLATE ROAD - DAY
The MAN and BOY walk along a desolate road in what was once
farmland, grain silos loom ominously, still standing.
BOY.
Do you know where we are Papa?
MAN.
I think we're about two hundred
miles from the coast. As the crow
flies.
BOY.
"As the crow flies?"
MAN.
It means, going in a straight line.
POV MAN - In the background, something catches his eye and he
FOCUSES ON:
A frieze of HUMAN HEADS, dried with taut grins and shrunken
eyes, perched on wooden poles. Some are tattooed with targets
and runic slogans. Some are skinless, with signs and words
inked onto them. One has suture marks etched on it, like a
blue print for assembly.
BOY.
There aren't any crows are there?
Just in books.
MAN.
Yeah, just in books...
The MAN stares at the heads as the BOY continues his
conversation, distracted and not seeing the heads.
BOY.
Do you think there might be crows
somewhere?
(CONTINUED)
53.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
I don't know...
BOY.
But what do you think?
MAN.
I think it's unlikely...
They keep walking and talking, the MAN grim-faced but the BOY
intent on what's ahead.
BOY.
Could they fly to Mars or some
place?
MAN.
No, they couldn't fly to Mars...
BOY.
Because it's too far?
MAN.
Yes.
The MAN discretely hurries the BOY on with a guiding hand
towards the woods and off the road.
BOY.
What if they tried and-and-and they
just got halfway or something and
then they were too tired? Would
they fall back down...?
EXT. EDGE OF WOODS - EVENING
On the edge of the wood the MAN and the BOY stop to examine
footprints in the snow.
The MAN listens and hears: the low THUDDING of BULL DRUMS in
the distance. He looks at the exhausted BOY a moment.
MAN.
We can't go back on the road.
BOY.
Why, Papa?
MAN.
I think someone's coming.
(CONTINUED)
54.
CONTINUED:
The BOY stares at the tracks. The MAN stares in both
directions, examining the road in the distance. He moves a
few paces and notices tied to a dead sapling a thin red
neckerchief. He takes a few steps and through a gap in the
trees sees a clearing - snow and a mass of BLOOD RED
FOOTPRINTS, the icy snow stained blood red like a sorbet. A
killing floor.
BOY.
Will they see our tracks?
MAN.
We'll cover them.
The MAN moves the BOY away and kicks snow over their tracks -
then lays fresh ones going in several different directions.
The BOY copies him, leaving his own maze of tracks. They run
off keeping parallel with the road but staying off it.
POV MAN - in the distance TWO FIGURES appear on the road.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Here they come.
The MAN now looks over his shoulder for a good look, then
grabs the BOY's hand and takes off.
EXT. HIGH GROUND - EVENING
TWO MEN come prowling on the ROAD, they are MILITANTS from
some sort of ARMY, wearing the same red neckerchiefs and
carrying weapons, searching, predatory.
WIDER - we see that only 30 feet away, concealed amongst the
trees, the MAN and BOY are crouched in blankets, watching.
The two MILITANTS stop and look around, as if they sense the
BOY and the MAN - who freeze, frightened to breathe. The
MILITANTS sniff the air menacingly.
One of them walks over to a stone by the side of the road,
leans down and starts sharpening his lance, made from a the
straightened coil spring of a car. The MAN and the BOY watch -
wide-eyed. Eventually the MILITANTS walk off up the road.
BOY.
What are we going to do?
No answer.
55.
EXT. DEEP IN THE WOODS - (CAMP 10) - EVENING
There is a thick carpet of gray snow. The man lays out a tarp
on the ground and blankets on top. Out of the murky sky more
gray snow is falling. The MAN is distracted by a sudden
noise, the LOUD CRACK of sheering wood - this time very
close. He looks around just as:
Out of nowhere a tree branch sails down, barely missing them,
landing with a heavy WHUMP just feet away.
MAN.
Move! Quickly!
He tries to get the BOY to his feet but he is limp, staring
around blearily, exhausted.
They hear another loud WHUMP. Then the GROAN of timber and
another WHUMP as trees start to keel over around them. The
MAN grabs the BOY and runs as best he can through the snow
and falling trees. They have abandoned their blankets, tarp
and backpacks.
BOY.
What's happening?
MAN.
Just keep moving, run!
They rush through the woods as more and more trees fall one
after the other, WHUMP, WHUMP, WHUMP, great loads of snow
falling from limbs to the ground with a BOOM, setting the
woods shuddering. The BOY is getting bogged in the snow and
the MAN stoops and scoops up the BOY and they cram themselves
under a fat fallen tree to shield themselves.
EXT. SEWER PIPE/EMBANKMENT, SNOWDRIFT - (CAMP 11) - NIGHT
They are huddled inside a huge SEWER PIPE, sheltering.
The BOY is wrapped up inside the man's coat, wet and
shivering, wide awake, nerves shredded, too anxious to lie
down and sleep now.
The MAN boils water in a car hubcab.
He takes from his pocket the handkerchief filled with
raisins, offers them.
BOY.
That's all there is, isn't it?
(CONTINUED)
56
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Yes.
BOY.
There's nothing left anywhere.
MAN.
No.
They sit eating raisins, saying nothing until they're
finished.
BOY.
Can I ask you something?
MAN.
Sure.
BOY.
Are we going to die now?
The MAN just looks at the BOY, then looks away.
MAN.
What do you think is going to
happen? We're just going to
suddenly keel over and die? It
takes a long time to die of
starvation. The important thing is
water to stop you dehydrating.
We've got water. We'll be all
right.
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN - MORNING
Snowed in farmland, in the background a rowoffallen and
crumpled high tension electrical towers. Atownin the far
distance ahead of the BOY and the MAN. TheBOYis hunched
over with a hunger cramp. They are both wetandshivering.
The MAN eyes the BOY anxiously.
EXT. PATIO/TOWN HOUSE - DAY
The MAN stands on the back patio of a house on the edge of
town, the BOY at his side, fields stretching out before them,
the land flattened and dead, ravaged fences running the
perimeter. In the yard are a few dead trees, a fence, a metal
tool shed, an old barbecue on the patio made from a 44 gallon
drum. The MAN slides the patio door open and peers inside
gingerly.
57.
INT. BEDROOM/TOWN HOUSE - DAY
The MAN is in the bedroom looking around for useful things -
it has been stripped, the wooden frame gone from the window,
the bureau ransacked and chopped up - only a summer dress on
a wire hanger on the back of the door remains. He glances at
empty drawers on the floor and a cupboard before turning his
attention to the bed.
He blinks and sways a moment, trying to focus on:
POV MAN - underneath the filthy, dusty blankets a thin, dried
head pokes out, the blankets pulled up to the chin. On the
pillow are long hunks of rotted hair.
MAN. (V.0.)
Every day is a lie. But I am slowly
dying. That is not a lie .I am
trying to prepare him for the day
when I am gone.
He takes hold of the lower hem of the blanket and tows it off
the bed, revealing a desiccated corpse. He ignores it,
shaking the blanket out and folding it under his arm. He
notices the BOY at his side, watching wide-eyed.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Nothing you haven't seen before.
They go out.
INT. KITCHEN/TOWN HOUSE - DAY
The MAN opens and shuts empty cupboards, slamming the doors,
increasingly desperate, close to tears of frustration now.
Eventually he feels dizzy and has to sit on the floor. He
just sits there, alone on the kitchen floor, clenching and
unclenching his fists, his head in his hands, when he hears:
BOY. (O.O.V.)
Papa!
The MAN draws his pistol and goes out, alert again.
INT. TOWN HOUSE - DAY
The BOY is staring at himself in a dusty, flyblown full
length mirror. As the MAN comes in he sees the BOY's
reflection and his own and jumps.
BOY.
It's us.
(CONTINUED)
58.
CONTINUED:
The BOY stares at his reflection - he looks like an alien,
skinny with giant staring eyes on shaky legs.
BOY. (CONT'D)
We look skinny.
MAN.
We are skinny.
The MAN puts the blanket around the BOY's shoulders. He
notices an old upright piano, covered in ash and dust. The
BOY stares as he goes to it, lifts the lid and plays a chord.
The BOY's eyes light up and he is magnetized, instantly
coming over and waiting for the next note. The MAN plays
another chord.
BOY.
What is it?
MAN.
It's a piano.
BOY.
What's it for?
MAN.
For making music. This... (HE
PLAYS.) is music. Your mother
played very well.
BOY.
I don't remember.
MAN.
Before you were born. We had one
just like it. It was beautiful.
BOY.
What happened to it?
MAN.
Chopped it up for firewood.
He stares into space, slumps suddenly, overcome with emotion
as he remembers:
INT. CLAPBOARD HOUSE - DAY
FLASHBACK - Just the MAN and the pregnant WOMAN alone in the
house, just before the BOY was born. Some of the furniture
has been broken up for firewood - there are broken pieces by
the fire and a huge axe propped on the hearth.
(CONTINUED)
59.
CONTINUED:
The WOMAN stands at the piano and tries to play. She plays
for a moment and the MAN cracks a rare smile - the piano is
out of tune and she stops. She plays a bit more but soon
starts to bang the keys atonally in frustration. The MAN just
lets her get on with it until she's spent.
WOMAN.
I used to worry what would happen
if there was a fire. What would I
save? What could I bear to lose?
There used to be so many things, so
many beautiful things. Things
people made. Things nature made.
Who knew we would lose it all?
MAN.
I'll strip the floorboards.
WOMAN.
You can't live without a floor.
MAN.
You can't live without a piano.
She starts to dismantle the piano, opening the lid, taking it
off it's hinges, it's heavy, she hands him the heavy lid and
he reluctantly dumps it on the floor.
WOMAN.
It's my piano.
MAN.
I bought it for you.
WOMAN.
It needs tuning. Who's going to
tune it? Can you tune it?
They look at each other sadly. They take the front piece away
and dump that. The WOMAN picks up the axe and hands it to the
MAN. He swings it at the frame.
END OF FLASHBACK.
EXT. YARD - DAY
The MAN walks toward a tin shed and crosses the dead grass.
He stops suddenly. He stamps about a bit, listening. He
continues on into the shed. Beside the shed sits an
INDUSTRIAL GARDEN TROLLEY. The man reappears, spade in hand.
He digs the spade into the dead grass and hear's it CHOMP
into wood. He digs more urgently, increasingly exhausted,
until a door is revealed in the dirt.
(CONTINUED)
60.
CONTINUED:
He is so engrossed he hasn't noticed the BOY standing a few
feet away, watching with saucer eyes, scared.
BOY.
Don't open it, Papa.
MAN.
It'll be okay.
BOY.
Please, Papa, please.
MAN.
It's okay.
BOY.
No it's not! What if there's people
hiding down there?
The MAN ignores him, focussed as he chops the plywood around
the lock, gets the spade under a corner and levers the door
open. The BOY has his fists bunched up to his chest, bobbing
up and down with fear.
The MAN starts to descend a hand made wooden stair case in
the bunker. He takes another disposable lighter from his
pocket, gives the child a kiss on the forehead and then
disappears into the bunker, leaving the worried BOY staring
after him. The BOY looks around at the deserted yard as the
evening draws in, now even more frightened.
MAN. (O.O.V.)
Oh my God... oh my God!
BOY.
What is it, Papa?
MAN (O.O.V.)
Come down. Oh my God come down.
The BOY is in the hole and down the steps like lightning.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12) - EVENING
The little BOY CLATTERS down the steps. The MAN is busy
lighting up candles.
BOY.
Papa? What did you find?
MAN.
Everything. I found everything.
(CONTINUED)
61.
CONTINUED:
Stored in the bunker are crate upon crate of canned goods:
tomatoes, peaches, beans, apricots, canned ham, corned beef,
hundreds of gallons of water in ferry cans and in boxes paper
towels, toilet paper and trash bags stuffed with blankets.
The MAN takes the BOY's hand and helps him down, then goes
back up the steps and draws the door shut and jams a pair of
metal pliers through the heavy inside hasp to stop the door
being opened. He goes back down the steps to the BOY and
holds up a candle to illuminate the shelves.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Can you see?
BOY.
What is all this stuff?
MAN.
It's food! Can you read the labels?
The BOY stares at the brightly colored packaging, he's never
seen anything like it before. The MAN hands the BOY a tin.
BOY.
"Pears." It says "pears."
MAN.
Yes! It does! Oh yes it does!
Pears!
They inspect the shelves: chilli, corn, stew, soup, spaghetti
sauce, the BOY's eyes are like saucers.
BOY.
Is it real?
MAN.
Oh yes, it's real all right.
The MAN pulls a box of butane lighters from the shelf and
tests one, it doesn't work. He tests another which works, it
has a large flame - he uses it to read the labels.
BOY.
Why is it here?
MAN.
Because someone thought it might be
needed.
BOY.
But they died.
(CONTINUED)
62.
CONTINUED: (2)
MAN.
Yes. What would you like for
breakfast?
BOY. (THINKS.)
Pears.
MAN.
Pears it is.
The MAN claws open a box and pulls out a tin of pears. He
gets paper bowls from a stack, plastic forks and spoons, lays
them out. He finds a camping lamp. He puts a butane cannister
in and lights up the lamp. He finds a can opener and opens
the pears while the BOY watches silently, wrapping a blanket
around himself and sitting on the soft bunk bed.
BOY.
Is it okay for us to take it?
MAN.
They'd want us to.
The MAN dishes up two bowls of pears and they sit side by
side on the bunk with spoons and pears.
MAN. (CONT'D)
These will be the best pears you
ever tasted. The best. You just
wait.
They eat in silence. They lick the spoons and drink the syrup
from the bowls. The MAN feels inside his mouth with his
fingers - the sugar irritating a sore tooth.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Too sweet.
The BOY smiles, amused, and the MAN opens another tin.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12)- EVENING
Ham and powdered eggs frying in a pan on the camping stove.
The kettle is boiling on another ring of the gas stove. The
BOY just stares at the bubbling food as the MAN cooks.
Nearby a breakfast table is set out on a stack of boxes
acting as a breakfast bar: biscuits, a plate of butter,
condensed milk, salt and pepper plates and utensils.
(CONTINUED)
63.
CONTINUED:
The MAN brings the pan over and forks over chunks of ham onto
the pates, then spoonsfull of scrambled eggs from a second
pan, then baked beans from a small pot. The BOY just stares,
as if drugged, uncomprehending, the food alien to him.
MAN.
Go ahead. Don't let it get cold.
BOY.
What do I eat first?
MAN.
Whatever you like.
The BOY eats a hunk of ham as the MAN pours coffee.
BOY.
Is this coffee?
MAN.
That's right. Careful it's hot.
He hands him coffee.
BOY.
We did good, didn't we Papa?
MAN.
Yeah, we did good.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12)- NIGHT
The MAN puts the BOY to bed in a bunk and smooths his filthy
hair tenderly, smiling with relief, until the BOY shuts his
eyes and nods off. He covers the BOY with a blanket and
kisses him. He just sits watching the BOY sleep, suddenly on
the verge of tears.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12) - NIGHT
The MAN folds the BOY's tiny clothes, noticing the bulging
pockets of his pants. He empties them, creating a small pile
of collected artefacts: a smooth stone, a marble, an old
house key, bottle tops, a smooth, hand made Indian arrow
head, fashioned from stone, lastly a broken piece of a
woman's mother of pearl hair comb.
By the BOY's bunk he unfolds the crayon drawing he's been
working on and examines it, deeply moved:
(CONTINUED)
64.
CONTINUED:
POV MAN - an eccentric, childlike drawing of the WOMAN,
skinny like a stick figure but, inexplicably, with a brightly
smiling face and big laughing eyes, labelled simply "mom" in
spidery scrawl.
Stirring classical music fades up and into:
INT. THEATRE - EVENING
FLASHBACK - Close in on a pair of LEGS in stockings, a summer
dress, a WOMAN's hands holding a MAN's hand in her lap. The
MAN feels the tops of the stockings with his fingers.
WIDER - the MAN is with the WOMAN in a concert theatre, at a
recital. The WOMAN wears the mother of pearl hair comb. The
seats are velvet, gold scrollwork adorns the boxes, an
illustrious, fortunate world.
END OF FLASHBACK.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12) - MORNING
The BOY wakes blearily and immediately notices his collection
of artefacts turfed out by the bed.
Nearby the MAN is dressing as the BOY starts gathering up his
collection crossly, especially protective of the arrow ahead -
or just embarrassed. They look at each other.
MAN.
What?
BOY. (TEASING BUT INDIGNANT.)
Don't touch my stuff.
EXT. LAWN - DAWN
The hatch opens and the MAN's face appears, as he looks
around. He opens the hatch more and clambers out with a
couple of jerry cans of water, the yard is quiet. Next, the
BOY's face pops up and peers around. He clambers out carrying
a big pot with a camping stove in it.
INT. BATHROOM, TOWN HOUSE - DAWN
They empty the jerry cans into the huge pot, light the stove
and put the pot on the stove to heat the water.
65.
INT. BATHROOM, TOWN HOUSE - DAWN
The BOY is in the bath, filthy and scrawny, as the MAN bathes
him, rubbing him with soap, scrubbing an oily film of scum
from his dirty neck to reveal clean pale skin underneath.
MAN.
What do you think?
BOY.
Nice and warm.
He washes the BOY's hair, lathing water over him with the
pot. He has a sudden thought:
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM/CLAPBOARD HOUSE - DAY
FLASHBACK - the MAN watches unseen from the doorway as the
WOMAN tenderly washes the BOY's hair - he is perhaps a year
younger than at the start of the film - she appears lost in
the task, enjoying it, chatting away to the BOY, momentarily
unburdened. She sticks a finger in the BOY's ears, giving
them a good soaping, which he likes.
WOMAN.
You could grow potatoes in these
ears...
INT. BATHROOM, TOWN HOUSE - DAY
END FLASHBACK - now the MAN is in the tub, also scrawny and
filthy, lost in thought as he soaps up - the BOY helps.
INT. BATHROOM, TOWN HOUSE - DAY
The MAN trims his beard off with scissors in a mirror. He
lathers up with shaving cream and starts to shave with a
plastic safety razor. When the MAN is done he turns to the
BOY, wiping away the foam.
MAN.
How do I look?
BOY.
Weird. Won't you be cold?
INT. BATHROOM, TOWN HOUSE - DAY
Now the MAN is cutting the BOY's hair with kitchen scissors
and a plastic comb.
(CONTINUED)
66.
CONTINUED:
The BOY has a towel around his shoulders and long locks of
hair decorate it. The MAN finishes, takes the towel off,
wipes the BOY's neck and face with a flannel, holds up a
mirror for the BOY to see.
BOY.
I look funny.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12) - MORNING
They sit on the bunk bed with a checkerboard between them
sipping thick hot chocolate made with condensed milk from
plastic mugs and concentrating on the board, their worn out,
wet blue jeans drying on a drying rack in the back ground.
They are both wearing new sweaters too big for them,
plundered from the stores. The MAN watches the BOY fondly,
absorbed in checkers.
EXT. LAWN - NIGHT
Heavy rain slashes down on the lawn, already pools of water
are flooding the lawn.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12) - NIGHT
A shiny new quart of whiskey is slipped from its paper liquor
store bag and opened with a soft CRACK. The whiskey is poured
into a glass with a satisfying GLUG.
WIDER - another feast is laid out, ham and powdered mash
potato and biscuits and gravy. The BOY is eating while the
MAN pours a whiskey. The BOY stops eating to watch the MAN
drink the whiskey. The MAN's eyes glaze as he sips the strong
liquor, dizzy already.
BOY.
Can I try some?
MAN.
No. You won't like it. Makes you
feel funny.
The BOY stares, curious, wanting it.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You think I come from another
world, don't you? Filled with all
these strange things you've never
seen.
BOY.
Sort of.
(CONTINUED)
67.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Well, I do I guess.
EXT. LAWN - EVENING
The MAN just stands in the middle of the lawn COUGHING his
guts up in the dark rain - again the phlemy wet cough. He
bends over, sweating, listening, knowing it's the sound of
fluid on the lungs.
As he listens he hears something above the rain - he keeps
shifting position, as if hearing different sounds from
different directions. Nevertheless he anxiously looks around,
then goes to the porch and drags an old mattress over, across
the dead grass to the hatch.
He lays it half across the hatch, crawls through the
remaining gap and hauls the mattress the rest of the way over
the hatch, then pulls the hatch closed with the old mattress
lying on top. It just looks like an old mattress lying on a
lawn in the rain.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12) - DAWN
The MAN listens to the PATTER of rain and hears another
sound... something or someone RUSTLING around the mattress
above. He hears the sound of the MATTRESS being DRAGGED off
of the door. He hears SCRABBLING and SCRATCHING on the door
and freezes, staring at the lock, waiting for the
inevitable... He quietly picks up the revolver. He looks
across and sees the BOY is now wide awake too, staring, wide-
eyed.
BOY.
What is it?
MAN.
Shh.
BOY (WHISPERS.)
Maybe it's a dog.
MAN (WHISPERS.)
It's not a dog.
BOY. (BARELY MANAGING TO WHISPER.)
It is! It's a dog! A dog!
The MAN listens anxiously as the pawing and scratching
continues, the wood over the bunker amplifying the noise. He
cocks the revolver and positions himself under the hatch,
ready.
(CONTINUED)
68.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
If it's a dog it'll be with
someone.
BOY.
Who?
MAN.
I don't know.
After a torturous moment the sounds die away.
MAN. (CONT'D)
I'm not waiting to find out. Come
on. Let's get out of here.
BOY.
I don't want to go.
MAN.
I know but it's not safe anymore.
The MAN grabs his gun and cocks it, rushes about turning out
all the lamps, and they sit anxiously in the darkness.
EXT. LAWN - MORNING
LATER - it's now lighter outside, the mattress lifts as the
MAN opens the trap door and very carefully peeps out. He
looks around, all angles, checking the coast is clear, then
shuts the hatch again.
INT. BUNKER - (CAMP 12) - MORNING
The MAN starts loading cans and packets into a carton. He
gathers a couple of large jerry cans of water. The BOY helps.
BOY.
What are we going to do with all
this stuff?
MAN.
We'll just have to take what we
can.
BOY.
I wish we could live here. And we
could keep the dog and the dog
could catch food for us.
(CONTINUED)
69.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Look, there is no dog, okay? I'm
sorry but there just isn't.
BOY.
Well what is it!
MAN.
I don't know what it is!
BOY.
Please Papa.
MAN.
No.
BOY.
Just say it's going to be all
right, Papa. Say it. Just say it,
please.
The MAN doesn't know what to say, losing patience.
MAN.
Listen, trouble comes when you
least expect it. So maybe the thing
to do is to just always expect it.
BOY.
Do you always expect it? Papa?
MAN.
I do, yes.
BOY.
You always think bad things are
going to happen but we found this
place. Maybe we'll find another
place like this at the coast.
MAN.
Maybe.
The MAN dumps the carton of food on the floor and packs
another, organising jerry cans of water.
EXT. LAWN - MORNING
The INDUSTRIAL TROLLEY is loaded up and tied with a grey
tarp.
(CONTINUED)
70.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
What are you doing?
MAN.
We'll have to cover our tracks from
now on.
The MAN drags the old mattress back over the entrance to the
bunker. He carefully covers the surrounding area with debris.
EXT. RIVER - DAY
The MAN pulls the new trolley across a bridge, stagnant black
water underneath, the trolley is now laden with jerry cans of
fresh water and cartons containing as many tins of food and
supplies as they could manage. The BOY trails along behind.
They are a strange sight, clean clothed, clean shaven, short
haired, in their new jumpers - and now both wearing new
surgical masks which they raise off their faces to speak.
The MAN keeps checking behind him.
POV MAN - he sees the glint of glass, perhaps a pair of
BINOCULARS watching them.
The BOY watches anxiously as the MAN gets out his own
BINOCULARS and looks through them.
POV MAN - a mysterious winking glint of light which quickly
disappears.
POV - through a different pair of binoculars, a completely
different POV, we see the MAN looking through his binoculars
at us.
MAN.
I think they're following us.
BOY.
Who?
MAN.
I don't know.
BOY.
You think it's bad guys?
MAN.
Probably.
BOY.
What if it's good guys?
(CONTINUED)
71.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
I don't think we're likely to meet
any good guys for a while. We have
to be careful now. We've got food.
EXT. BEND/THE ROAD - DAY
As they round a bend in the road they see a hunched figure
walking ahead of them. The MAN stops abruptly, gets out the
binoculars and watches:
POV MAN - a distant, hunched figure hobbling away from them.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
They come up behind an OLD MAN, hunched over, withered,
silent as he hobbles ahead. He wears layers of torn clothing
and his feet are wrapped in rags and cardboard tied with
green twine. They slowly approach and the man stops, turns
and watches them suspiciously as they draw level.
OLD MAN.
I don't have anything for you. You
can look if you want. I got
nothing.
MAN.
We're not robbers.
The OLD MAN leans an ear forward, deaf.
OLD MAN.
What?
MAN.
I said we're not robbers.
OLD MAN.
What are you?
MAN.
We're just like you.
OLD MAN.
What are you following me for?
MAN.
We're not following you.
BOY.
We've got food we could give him.
(CONTINUED)
72.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
He's not getting any food.
The OLD MAN looks away, avoiding their eyes.
BOY.
He's scared, Papa.
MAN.
Everybody's scared.
BOY.
Please Papa.
MAN.
ALL RIGHT1
The MAN eyes the road to the left and right, then draws his
revolver.
MAN. (CONT'D)
If this is an ambush, he goes
first.
He goes out to the trolley and rummages in it while the BOY
and the OLD MAN stare at each other. The MAN comes back with
a tin of fruit cocktail and a tin opener and opens it and
hands it to the BOY. The BOY places the tin of fruit on the
road in front of the OLD MAN.
BOY.
Take it. Here.
The OLD MAN doesn't move.
BOY. (CONT'D)
What about a spoon?
MAN.
He's not getting a spoon.
The BOY urges him on, miming with his hands, as if feeding a
raccoon.
BOY.
Eat it. It's good.
The OLD MAN picks up the tin and his filthy long nails
CLATTER on the tin as he tips it to his mouth, the juice
running down his chin, his head jerking as he swallows.
(CONTINUED)
73.
CONTINUED: (2)
BOY. (CONT'D)
Look, Papa. He's hungry.
MAN.
I see it. And I know what you're
going to ask me. And the answer is
No.
BOY.
What's the question?
MAN.
We can't keep him.
They watch him eating painfully slowly. The OLD MAN finishes
and sits down in the road holding the tin, staring at it, as
if it might refill.
MAN. (CONT'D)
When did you last eat?
The OLD MAN just stares.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Do you want to eat with us?
OLD MAN.
I don't know. What do I have to do?
MAN.
Tell us where the world went.
OLD MAN.
What?
MAN.
You don't have to do anything. Can
you walk okay?
They help the OLD MAN off the road and hand him his cane but
he pushes it away.
OLD MAN.
I can walk.
They walk off the road towards the dead, blackened woods.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
As they leave the road the OLD MAN studies the BOY. The BOY
goes to take his hand:
(CONTINUED)
74.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
(TO BOY.) Don't hold his hand.
BOY.
He can't see.
MAN.
Don't.
The trio walk into the woods.
MAN. (CONT'D)
How old are you?
OLD MAN.
I'm ninety.
MAN.
Ninety my ass! Is that what you
tell people? So they don't hurt
you?
OLD MAN.
Uh-huh.
MAN.
Does it work?
OLD MAN.
Nope.
MAN.
What's your name?
OLD MAN.
Ely.
MAN.
Just "Ely?"
OLD MAN.
What's wrong with "Ely?"
EXT. CLEARING/WOODS - (CAMP 14) - EVENING
There's a camp fire now. The OLD MAN sits wrapped in a quilt,
eating with a spoon and-licking his plate clean. In the far
distance, the faint glow of fires. The orange light bounces
into the night sky eerily.
(CONTINUED)
75.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
How come you're still alive? What
do you eat?
OLD MAN.
I don't know. People give you
things.
MAN.
No they don't.
OLD MAN.
You did.
MAN.
I didn't. He did.
The OLD MAN eyes the BOY, closely, half blind.
OLD MAN.
Are you a little boy?
MAN.
What does he look like?
OLD MAN.
I don't know. I can't see real
good.
MAN.
Is that right? Can you see me?
OLD MAN.
No. But I can tell somebody's
there.
MAN (TO BOY.)
Okay. You need to sleep. Come on.
He gathers up the BOY and takes him a few feet away, settles
him down in blankets while the OLD MAN stares into the fire.
OLD MAN.
I had a little boy once. Gone...
all gone...
MAN.
What happened to him?
(CONTINUED)
76.
CONTINUED: (2)
OLD MAN.
I can't... I can't talk about
that... leastways not with you I
can't.
When the MAN returns he has his gun which he surreptitiously
places on the ground in full view of the OLD MAN.
MAN.
You can see that, right? Okay. Tell
me now. You're not a shill for a
pack of road agents?
OLD MAN.
I'm not anything. I'll go if you
want me to. I can find the road.
The MAN stares at the OLD MAN cynically but the OLD MAN just
stares back blankly.
OLD MAN. (CONT'D)
I live like an animal. You don't
want to know the things I've had to
eat. When I saw that boy I thought
I'd died and he was an angel. I
never thought I'd see a child
again. I never thought that would
happen to me.
MAN.
He is an angel. To me he's a God.
OLD MAN.
Well I hope that's not true. To be
on the road with the last surviving
God would be a pretty frightening
experience.
MAN.
Why do you say that?
OLD MAN.
Where men can't live, Gods can't
either. The road gangs would tear
you limb from limb, both of you.
The low RUMBLE in the earth is heard again, an earthquake,
this time in the distance. They listen a moment.
OLD MAN. (CONT'D)
I knew this was coming. This or
something like it.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
77.
CONTINUED: (3)
OLD MAN. (CONT'D)
There were warnings. People thought
it was a con - I always believed in
it.
MAN.
Did you try to get ready for it?
OLD MAN.
No. What would you do? Even if you
knew what to do you wouldn't know
what to do. Suppose you were the
last man left alive?
MAN.
How would you know if you were the
last man alive?
OLD MAN.
I don't guess you would know it.
You'd just be it.
MAN.
Maybe God would know.
OLD MAN.
If there is a God up there he would
have turned his back on us by now.
Whoever made humanity will find no
humanity here.
The MAN pours hot water into mugs to make coffee, hands one
to the OLD MAN. They drink.
MAN.
Do you ever wish you would die?
OLD MAN.
No. It's foolish to ask for
luxuries in times like these.
EXT. EDGE OF WOODS - (CAMP 14) - MORNING
The BOY and the OLD MAN are standing by the trolley. The MAN
is watching from further away. The OLD MAN is fitting another
can of peaches the BOY has given him into his knapsack.
M
You should thank him you know. I
wouldn't have given you anything.
(CONTINUED)
78.
CONTINUED:
OLD MAN.
Maybe I should and maybe I
shouldn't. I wouldn't have given
you anything.
The OLD MAN looks around, orientating himself, and goes,
tapping his cane, without a glance back at the BOY or the
MAN. The MAN gives the BOY a reproachful look and the BOY
looks defiant for the first time, a new distance between
them.
BOY.
He's going to die and you don't
care.
MAN.
I care enough. Maybe when we're out
of food you'll have more time to
think about it.
BOY.
You always say watch out for bad
guys but that old man wasn't a bad
guy and you can't even tell
anymore.
INT. CHURCH - (CAMP 13) - DAWN
The MAN and the BOY are camped inside an old church, dusty,
faded stained glass is the only colour, startling after all
the monochrome. The MAN and BOY are wrapped up in blankets, a
small fire going. The BOY is asleep but the MAN is awake,
coughing. He sits up, still coughing. He gets up and walks
outside, trying to stifle the coughing.
INT. CHURCH - (CAMP 13) - DAWN
He wanders into an antechamber, coughing uncontrollably,
falls to his knees in a shroud of morning mist flooding the
church - and coughs up a gob of something dark and nasty,
spits it into the misty ground.
POV MAN - the mist before him clears to reveal a spattering
of dark blood on the pale ash. He stares, shocked, knowing
what it signifies.
INT. CHURCH - (CAMP 13) - DAWN
The BOY opens his eyes, he hasn't been asleep, listening to
the MAN cough, worried. The MAN returns and eyes the worried
BOY.
(CONTINUED)
79.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
What's wrong?
BOY.
I had a bad dream.
MAN.
What about?
BOY.
I don't want to tell you. Just you.
MAN.
What happened to me?
The BOY's face crinkles up, he starts to sob.
The MAN coughs again and the BOY shoots out a hand, puts it
over the MAN's mouth to staunch the coughing.
MAN. (V.0.) (CONT'D)
I tell him: When you dream about
bad things happening it shows
you're still fighting. You're still
alive. It's when you start to dream
about good things you should start
to worry.
EXT. ROAD/RAILWAY LINE, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - DAY
They are trudging along the blacktop adjacent to a railway
line. There is a SHOTGUN blast in the distance and the MAN
and the BOY stop and look around. The MAN checks behind him
instinctively.
POV MAN - a thin spike of smoke from a campfire rising up in
the woods behind. The BOY notices and looks behind.
BOY.
Do you think they're still
following us?
MAN.
I think they've been following us
for a long time.
BOY-.
Maybe it's Ely - the old man?
MAN.
How? On a broom stick?
(CONTINUED)
80.
CONTINUED:
The BOY thinks about this for a moment as they approach the
railway line.
EXT. RAILWAY BRIDGE, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE (CAMP 15) EVENING
The MAN and the BOY are swaddled in blankets up amongst the
rocks with a birds eye view of the road and a railway bridge
they can see along the road and the dead trees for half a
mile. The BOY is nodding off, his head lolling as the MAN
keeps watch, increasingly paranoid.
EXT. BLUFFS, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE (CAMP 16) MORNING
As they come down from the bluffs, the MAN is staring into
the dead woods where another thin stem of SMOKE is rising.
BOY.
What is it?
MAN.
More smoke. I think we should take
a look.
BOY.
I don't want to. Let's just keep
going.
MAN.
Whoever it is I don't want them
behind us.
BOY.
What if they're bad guys?
MAN.
What if they're good guys?
They look at each other, a stalemate. The MAN stands and
starts to pack up the tarp.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Look. Whoever it is out there, it's
better to know about it than to not
know.
BOY.
Why?
MAN.
Because we don't like surprises.
Surprises are scary.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
81.
CONTINUED:
MAN. (CONT'D)
They could sneak up on us further
down the road. You need to learn
this.
The MAN folds the tarp and sleeping blankets and starts
heading down the slope to the trolley, the BOY following.
EXT. CLEARING, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - MORNING
A deserted campsite, a campfire, recently abandoned. The MAN
and the BOY look around, disappointed.
EXT. DUNES/COAST ROAD, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - DAY
Open country now, completely blackened landscape under heavy
ash. They are stopped. The BOY unfolds the threadbare map on
the ground, a crayon in his hand.
MAN.
You know where we are?
BOY.
No.
MAN.
Where do you think?
The BOY points to a place on the map.
MAN. (CONT'D)
More.
BOY.
Here?
MAN.
No. We're closer than you think.
He takes the crayon and points on the map.
MAN. (CONT'D)
This is us. This is all sea.
BOY.
Is it blue?
MAN-.
The sea? I don't know. It used to
be.
(CONTINUED)
82.
CONTINUED:
The MAN picks up a desiccated pine cone from the ground, and
stares at it, hollow-eyed, hungry. He squeezes it and it
crumbles to dust. He takes a few steps, sniffing the air.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Can you smell that?
BOY.
It smells different.
MAN.
Everything is going to be
different.
EXT. DUNES - DAY
The landscape has changed, dead salt bush and sand at the
side of the road and finally, as they come around a bend in
the road: dead sea grass sloping up to sand dunes up ahead.
They look at each other and head for the dunes excitedly. The
MAN hides the trolley discretely, so the BOY doesn't see his
concern, he takes their bags, tarps and blankets with them as
they head off for the dunes.
EXT. TOP OF SAND DUNE - DAY
POV BOY - Gray beach, lead gray sea and waves rolling in
slowly with a distant ROAR. On the beach a tide mark of wet
gray ashy sludge and a skirt of glistening bones, fish
skeletons bleached white on the sand.
They take their parka hoods down and just stand there staring
at the beach, the wind HOWLING around them, dozens of
bleached WHALE and FISH BONES and SKELETONS OF HUMANS who
have made it this far only to die. The MAN looks at the BOY
and sees the intense disappointment.
MAN.
I'm sorry it's not blue.
EXT. DUNES/BEACH - DAY
They sit on the beach wrapped in blankets staring at a
surreal wall of impenetrable smog not far beyond where the
waves are breaking. The MAN eyes the silent BOY, buffeted by
wind, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the empty ocean...
there is nothing and nobody there. They keep staring out to
sea, filled with disappointment. The BOY impassively surveys
the wall of smog which is like an iron curtain.
BOY.
What's on the other side?
(CONTINUED)
83.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Nothing.
BOY.
There must be something.
MAN.
Maybe there's a father and his
little boy and they're sitting on
the beach too.
BOY.
And they could be carrying the fire
too?
MAN.
They could be, yes.
The MAN sees the BOY's hopefulness reappearing and strokes
his head, his heart breaking for him.
EXT. WATER'S EDGE - DAY
The MAN and the BOY stand with their shoes off, the black sea
washes up the sand at their filthy, blistered feet.
BOY.
What are our long term goals?
MAN.
"What are our long term goals?"
Where did you hear that?
BOY.
I don't know. You said it.
MAN.
When?
BOY.
A long time ago.
MAN.
When your mother was here?
BOY.
I guess.
MAN.
And what was the answer?
(CONTINUED)
84.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
I don't know.
MAN.
Well, I don't either.
They stare at the water - charred, quotidian household
objects rolling back and forth in the surf.
BOY.
Can I go swimming?
MAN.
Swimming? You'll freeze your nuts
off.
BOY.
I know.
MAN.
I don't want to have to come in
after you.
The BOY lets the blanket fall and strips out of his parka and
clothes. He runs along the beach naked, skinny and white,
leaping SCREAMING into the icy surf.
The MAN watches until the BOY comes out of the water, gasping
with cold, shuddering. He wraps the BOY in the blanket and
dries him off.
EXT. BEACH - (CAMP 16) - EVENING
The BOY is wrapped in blankets by the fire as LIGHTNING
flickers in the distance, illuminating the empty beach. The
MAN drapes another blanket over them. He puts his arms around
the BOY who is shivering and sweating, looking a little wild
eyed, babbling a little.
BOY.
How many people do you think are
still alive?
MAN.
In the world? I don't know. Not
very many.
BOY.
There could be people alive
someplace else. Besides on earth?
(CONTINUED)
85.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
I don't think so. They couldn't
live any place else.
BOY.
Not even if they could get there?
If they had a-a-a spaceship?
MAN.
No. It's unlikely.
The BOY stares, shivering, thinking.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Are you all right? What is it?
He cups his hand to the babbling BOY's forehead.
BOY.
I don't feel so good.
The BOY bends away and vomits and the MAN helps, rubbing his
back and wiping the BOY's mouth when he's done.
BOY. (CONT'D)
I'm sorry.
MAN.
That's okay, you didn't do anything
wrong.
The MAN is very worried now.
EXT. SAND DUNES - (CAMP 16) - LATER
The MAN covers the BOY in more blankets and constructs a
makeshift tent with the tarp as the rain falls all around.
MAN.
It's okay. You're going to be okay.
It'll pass.
BOY.
Don't leave me here, don't go away
Papa. Not even for a minute.
MAN.
I won't go away. I'm right here.
He sits holding the BOY tightly. He feels for the BOY's
heart.
(CONTINUED)
86.
CONTINUED:
He drops droplets of sugar water from a bowl into the BOY's
mouth. As the BOY shuts his eyes and dozes he checks the
pulse at his neck and wipes his mouth with the blanket.
EXT. SAND DUNES - (CAMP 16) - NIGHT
The BOY is sleeping fitfully across the MAN's lap - he is
still awake, staring in horror as the BOY sweats and shakes
in his sleep. He wipes the BOY's brow, looks up-to the
HEAVENS:
MAN.
Oh no. No no. Not this. Jesus
Christ what have you done to us?
What have you done?
EXT. SAND DUNES - (CAMP 16) - MORNING
The BOY is fast asleep, motionless but for stertorous
breathing through his mouth. The MAN lies beside him, just
staring at him, watching him sleep. The BOY opens his eyes
and focuses weakly.
BOY.
Hi Papa.
MAN.
I'm right here.
BOY.
I know.
The BOY shuts his eyes and goes back to sleep. The MAN
strokes the BOY's hair tenderly, takes the pistol from his
belt and carefully hides the pistol under the blanket by the
boy's side. He stands, takes one last look and walks away...
EXT. SPIT/WATER - DAWN
The MAN is alone now, staring at the hull of a wrecked boat
keeled over in ten feet of gray water a few yards out from
the spit - a sixty footer, twin masts. Closer to shore, in
the shallows between the boat and the sand is a grey,
lifeless form. The man steps closer and sees:
POV MAN - bobbing about in the tide, the bloated, rotting
cadaver of a giant squid, eyes like dinner plates,
translucent grey skin like an old light bulb.
The MAN eyes it uneasily, then starts stripping off his
clothes. He stares anxiously into the darkly roiling water
near the boat.
(CONTINUED)
87.
CONTINUED:
He looks back along the beach to the distant figure of the
BOY, sitting up wrapped in his blankets, looking around,
confused and scared, enough to make the MAN wince. He
collects himself and wades cautiously into the gray soupy
water. He takes a breath and starts swimming to the boat.
EXT. SAND DUNE - (CAMP 16) - DAY
The BOY is confused as he watches:
POV BOY - the MAN swimming away.
FADE TO:
EXT. SAND DUNES - (CAMP 16) - EVENING
MYSTERY POV - over the shoulder of a mystery third person,
camera pushes in slightly on the BOY sleeping.
EXT. SAND DUNES - (CAMP 16) - EVENING
A FIGURE's feet enters the scene behind the boy, carefully
walks in close around the boy. The FIGURE's long KNIFE drops
into the scene, held at the figure's side.
The BOY senses the FIGURE and wakes up to see:
POV BOY - a dark, hunched FIGURE standing over him.
The BOY looks up at the FACE and, whatever it is, he's
terrified.
The BOY SHRIEKS, terrified, scrambling away, tripping over
pots and pans by the fire, he gets to his feet and runs.
EXT. SHORELINE - EVENING
The MAN struggles from the water and scans the beach, no sign
of the BOY. He dumps a medical kit and flare pistol he's
found on the boat and heads for the sand dunes.
EXT. SAND DUNES - (CAMP 16) - EVENING
The MAN runs over the sand and reaches the spot where he left
the BOY, the blue tarp blowing away across the beach, the
campsite and campfire disturbed. He runs up the dunes.
EXT. BEACH - EVENING
POV BOY - as he looks back he glimpses ragged FEET rushing
through the sand after him, a pair of hands reaching out...
(CONTINUED)
88.
CONTINUED:
POV MAN - he catches up with the BOY, grabs his shoulder with
one hand and the gun with the other.
REVERSE ANGLE - the BOY sees it's the MAN and stops, stares,
still frightened, feverish, wild-eyed, confused.
MAN.
It's okay -
BOY.
A man! There was a man! I saw a
man.
MAN.
It's okay, he's gone now, it's just
me.
The BOY collapses, exhausted, into the MAN's arms.
EXT. SAND DUNES - (CAMP 16) - NIGHT
The MAN and the BOY return to examine the disturbed campsite.
MAN.
Oh Christ. You stupid ass! You
stupid ass!
BOY.
What happened?
MAN.
He stole our shoes. He stole
everything.
The BOY goes quiet, forlorn, staring around at the desolation
in despair.
MAN. (CONT'D)
What's wrong?
BOY.
I don't know what we're doing.
MAN.
Come here.
BOY.
I don't know why we're doing this.
(CONTINUED)
89.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
Look, there are... (HE TRAILS OFF,
LOST FOR WORDS.) There are
people... there are other people
and we'll find them. You'll see.
The BOY just shuts his eyes and slumps onto the sand in
despair. The MAN eyes him anxiously.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Please. Listen to me. Don't lose
heart.
The MAN seizes the FLARE GUN, takes it from its case
hurriedly, loads it with shells - the BOY now watches, wide-
eyed.
The MAN rushes a few paces up the DUNE and looks over to
where the trolley was hidden - he fires a FLARE into the air.
The FLARE arcs up into the murk with a long WHOOSH and breaks
in a cloud of light, hanging there, hot tendrils of magnesium
drifting down to the sand. The BOY watches, curious despite
his despair.
The MAN strains his eyes to see: the dunes bathed in pink
light from the flare and the sand pock-marked with the
footprints of the STRANGE MAN in a trail leading to the spot
where the trolley. The trolley marks trail off into the
distance.
EXT. NEAR BEACH - NIGHT
MYSTERY POV - from a distance, a third party is watching the
MAN and BOY bathed in the light of the flare.
CAMERA pushes in on the FACE watching them - bearded and
scarred with a wandering eye and a crushed cheekbone, a
veteran of many skirmishes.
EXT. SAND DUNES - NIGHT
The MAN and the BOY stand in their bare feet.
MAN.
Come on. We have to get our shoes
back.
BOY. (FRIGHTENED, RELUCTANT.)
We don't need them!
MAN.
We won't get far without them.
(CONTINUED)
90.
CONTINUED:
They set off hurriedly, in their bare feet.
EXT. COAST ROAD, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - NIGHT
On the road in the middle of a desolate landscape, the light
is dying, the strange lattice of lightning flickering across
the sky, the MAN and the BOY are barefoot on the tarmac.
POV MAN - way up ahead is the hunched FIGURE seen earlier -
the THIEF, his back to us, trundling the loaded trolley along
the road.
MAN.
Come on.
They take off after the thief, bare feet thudding on the
tarmac, the MAN in front, the BOY trailing, trying to catch
up. The THIEF looks back at them and speeds up, head bent
down over the handle running for his life. When he looks back
again the MAN has drawn his pistol and is aiming it directly
at him.
The THIEF stops the trolley, pulls a carving knife from his
belt, and turns to face them, standing behind the trolley.
His face is emaciated and twitchy, a mouth like a bombed
grave yard - not the FACE of the man watching them in the
sand dunes. The MAN trains his gun on him, stock still,
holding the BOY's hand.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Get away from the cart and put the
knife down.
The MAN spits and brandishes the knife desperately, he's
scrawny, sullen, bearded and filthy.
MAN. (CONT'D)
If you don't put down the carving
knife and get away from the godamn
cart I'm going to blow your brains
out.
BOY.
Papa?
MAN.
Be quiet.
The MAN cocks the pistol and there's two loud CLICKS.
MAN. (CONT'D)
God damn you.
(CONTINUED)
91.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
Papa please don't kill the man.
THIEF.
Come on man, I done what you said,
listen to the boy.
The BOY starts crying - the THIEF looks at the BOY and then
the angry MAN, this seems to be sobering. He puts the knife
in the trolley and steps away, hands in the air, his thumbs
are missing.
MAN.
How long have you been following
us?
THIEF.
I wasn't following you. I saw the
cart on the sand an' I just took
it.
BOY.
Please Papa.
MAN.
Take your clothes off. Take them
off, every godamn stitch.
THIEF.
Come on man, don't do this.
MAN.
I'll kill you where you stand.
THIEF.
Don't do this, man.
MAN.
I won't tell you again.
THIEF.
All right, all right, just take it
easy.
The THIEF looks at the BOY who is now covering his ears and
the MAN takes an intimidating step closer with the gun.
The THIEF starts stripping and piling his rags in the road.
MAN.
The shoes.
(CONTINUED)
92
CONTINUED: (2)
THIEF.
Come on man.
MAN.
The shoes.
He sits naked in the road and unlaces the rotting shoes.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Put them in the cart.
The THIEF stands and drops the shoes in the trolley.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Put the clothes in.
The MAN drops the clothes in and stands there covering
himself, shivering.
THIEF.
Don't do me like this, man. You
don't need to do me like this.
MAN.
You didn't mind doing it to us.
THIEF.
I'm begging you.
BOY.
Papa.
THIEF.
Come on, listen to the kid.
MAN.
You tried to kill us.
THIEF.
I'm starving man. You'd have done
the same.
MAN.
You took everything.
THIEF.
I'll die out here.
MAN.
I'm going to leave you the way you
left us.
(CONTINUED)
93
CONTINUED: (3)
The MAN grabs the trolley by the handle, pulls it around,
puts the pistol on top and holds his hand out for the BOY.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Let's go.
The BOY doesn't take his hand but they set off along the
blacktop, the BOY snivelling and crying, leaving the THIEF
shivering and whimpering.
BOY.
Oh papa.
MAN.
Stop it.
BOY.
I can't stop it.
MAN.
What do you think would have
happened to him if we hadn't caught
him? You've got to learn.
BOY.
I don't want to learn!
MAN.
I won't be here forever. Sooner or
later you'll have to look after
yourself.
The BOY just looks at him - and keeps crying.
EXT. ROAD/COAST, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - EVENING
Some distance away the BOY looks back at the THIEF, still
crying.
MAN.
You have to stop crying.
BOY.
I can't.
The BOY looks back one last time as the THIEF disappears from
view - still just standing there, utterly lost.
The MAN stops and puts his shoes on. He walks back up the
road to the bend but the THIEF has gone.
(CONTINUED)
94.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
He's gone. Come on.
BOY.
He's not gone. He's not.
The MAN looks helplessly at the tearful BOY as he fits his
shoes on for him, the tears streaking the soot on his face.
MAN.
What do you want to do?
BOY.
Just help him, Papa. Just help him.
The MAN looks back down the road, weighing it up.
BOY. (CONT'D)
He was just hungry Papa. He's going
to die.
MAN.
He's going to die anyway.
BOY.
He's so scared.
MAN.
I'm scared. Do you understand? I'm
scared.
The MAN tries to look the BOY in the eye but he keeps his
head bowed, sobbing.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You're not the one who has to worry
about everything.
The BOY mumbles, tearful and snotty.
MAN. (CONT'D)
What? What did you say?
BOY.
Yes I am. I am the one.
The MAN stops and faces-the innocent BOY angrily, stares,
then relenting, summons all his strength, turns the trolley
around and they start wheeling it back the way they came.
MAN.
All right. Help me.
(CONTINUED)
95.
CONTINUED: (2)
The MAN takes the BOY's hand and puts it on the trolley
handle.
EXT. ROAD/COAST, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - NIGHT
As the light fades to darkness they look for the THIEF to
give him his clothes back and call out "Hallo!" Etc. After a
moment they stop.
BOY.
He's afraid to answer.
MAN.
Is this where we stopped?
BOY.
I don't know. I think so.
They keep walking, hands cupped to mouths, hallooing
mindlessly. The MAN stops to rest and watches the BOY a
moment, he has stopped crying as he calls out for the thief.
Finally the MAN piles the THIEF's shoes and clothes in the
road. He puts a rock on top of them.
MAN.
Come on. We have to go.
The BOY eyes the clothes sadly, silent now.
EXT. ROADSIDE DUNES, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - NIGHT
They find a spot to stop and sit, exhausted. The MAN opens
the first aid kit he took from the boat, selects various
pills, crushes them up, pours a cup of water from a ferry can
in the trolley, and hands them to the BOY.
BOY.
I don't want it.
MAN.
I have to get your temperature
down.
The BOY swallows the pills and the water, shivering.
BOY-.
Can I ask you something?
MAN.
Of course you can.
(CONTINUED)
96.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
What would you do if I died?
MAN.
If you died I'd want to die too.
BOY.
So you could be with me?
MAN.
So I could be with you, yes. But
that's not going to happen.
They look at each other a moment, unsure, the BOY shivering
and sick-looking. The BOY lies down and shuts his eyes. The
MAN puts a blanket over him. The MAN walks away a few paces
and coughs endlessly, a nagging cough that won't go.
EXT. ORCHARD - DAY
THE MAN'S DREAM - a dream and a memory of an early summer
day, the MAN and the WOMAN are in an orchard, lying in the
sun on a picnic blanket, an array of food, bread, fruit and
wine beside them. The MAN lies back and the WOMAN cradles his
head in her lap, stroking his brow. She brings her face down
and gently plants a simple kiss on each of his eyelids, then
on each of his lips.
POV MAN - the WOMAN's face, smiling a dazzling, radiant
smile, framed by sunlight and the indistinct shapes of leaves
and blossom and petals against the sky - to him she is
angelic. Then he kisses her on each eye and on the lips too -
their ritual caress.
END OF DREAM SEQUENCE.
EXT. ROADSIDE DUNES, BLACKENED LANDSCAPE - DAWN
The MAN awakes distressed, he wipes a tear, blinks in
confusion.
POV MAN - the BOY is kneeling beside him, watching him
calmly, no longer sweating and shivering, recovered.
BOY.
Papa?
The MAN rouses himself, sits up and just stares at the BOY,
amazed, as if he has arisen from the grave
MAN.
How are you feeling?
(CONTINUED)
97.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
I feel kind of weird.
MAN.
Are you hungry?
BOY.
Just thirsty.
The MAN gets up and fetches water from a ferry can in the
trolley, pours a cup, hands it to the BOY who drinks
thirstily. The MAN reaches out and strokes the BOY's hair as
he drinks.
EXT. RESORT TOWN, OUTSKIRTS - DAY
The MAN and the BOY head towards a seaside town off in the
distance.
EXT. RESORT TOWN - DAY
They enter a small beach resort with a faded "Welcome" sign
across the road, the BOY holding the MAN's hand now.
EXT. RESORT TOWN/WATER'S EDGE - DAY
They are down by the water. Small pleasure boats are half
sunken in the grey water. Faded colored bunting and painted
signs advertise ICE CREAMS, FOOD and a FUN FAIR. The BOY
helps the man push the trolley through the sand until they
can go no further, they stop and drop onto the sand,
exhausted.
BOY.
Can I tell you something?
MAN.
Yes.
BOY.
You tell me I shouldn't cry but
I've heard you crying. I hear you
coughing and crying to yourself in
the night when you think I'm
asleep.
MAN.
What of it?
BOY.
So if I shouldn't cry you shouldn't
cry either.
(CONTINUED)
98.
CONTINUED:
They look at each other.
EXT. PORT - LATE AFTERNOON
On the port side of town the MAN wheels the trolley through
the deserted docks past rotten piers, a row of empty wooden
warehouses and a rusty red tanker washed up. He is COUGHING
and the sound echoes off the warehouse walls. The BOY is
trailing a few paces behind, they're not speaking now.
EXT. BACK STREET - EVENING
As they pass the last of a row of deserted warehouses the MAN
slows down to let the BOY catch up. But the BOY is now
studying the ground intently. He bends down and picks up:
POV BOY - an old cardboard match box, it's decals faded. He
pushes the match box open to reveal a perfectly preserved
Beetle.
BOY.
What is it?
MAN.
It's a Beetle.
Suddenly the beetle twitches, then activates its wings and
flies out of the box with a BUZZ and upwards into the sky...
The BOY and the MAN stare up at the flying creature, amazed
AND:
Without warning something WHISTLES over their heads very
close and hits the wall beside them with a loud CLATTER. The
MAN lunges at the BOY, landing on top of him to cover him and
tries to grab the trolley which tips over, spilling
everything out.
The MAN desperately tries to take cover while he looks over
his shoulder and sees:
POV MAN - in the upper window of a warehouse a man is drawing
a bow and arrow aimed right at them.
In desperation the MAN covers the BOY and tries to scrabble
away but there's a DULL TWANG of bowstring and an arrow THUDS
into his leg.
MAN. (CONT'D)
Oh you bastard! You bastard!
(CONTINUED)
99.
CONTINUED:
The MAN claws the blankets from the upturned trolley aside
and scrabbles around for the pistol but it has fallen from
his belt onto the cobbles and scattered out of reach. He
spots the flare gun and seizes it, resting it on the trolley
and aiming carefully at the empty window. When the lone
ARCHER appears again he squeezes off a shot and the flare
goes rocketing up towards the window in a firey arc, ablaze
with color, clean through the window. They can hear the
ARCHER SCREAMING inside and see the colored light still
flaring from the window.
BOY.
Oh Papa!
MAN.
Stay just like you are.
He gets up and runs limping across the street, the arrow
still embedded in his leg.
INT. WOODEN STAIRS - EVENING
He limps up the stairs of the old warehouse as quickly as he
can, flare gun at the ready, arrow in his leg.
INT. WAREHOUSE FLOOR - EVENING
He bursts into the main room and trains the gun. At the far
end a WOMAN is sitting with the prone form of the ARCHER. The
floor is burnt in a huge patch left by the flare and is still
in flames.
ARCHER'S WOMAN.
You son of a bitch!
MAN.
Who else is up here?
ARCHER'S WOMAN.
You fucking asshole!
The MAN looks down, his leg is bleeding heavily now and the
arrow is still sticking out.
MAN.
Where's the bow?
ARCHER'S WOMAN.
I don't have it.
MAN.
Why are you following us?
(CONTINUED)
100.
CONTINUED:
ARCHER'S WOMAN.
We're not following anybody. You
were following us!
The MAN stares at the WOMAN, looking her up and down, she
looks sick and thin and desperate. He looks at the ARCHER,
lying there dead, his chest and one arm and his face burnt,
still smoking. The WOMAN covers his face with the blanket and
the MAN doesn't know what to say, ashamed. He goes.
EXT. CAFE - DAY
POV - again from a distance, as if a third party is watching,
we watch the BOY and the MAN hobble into a CAFE.
INT. CAFE - DAY
One wall of the CAFE is merely a pile of rubble, opening out
to the sea. The opposite wall is a photographic mural of lush
green woods. The MAN tries to pull the arrow out but just
pulls the wooden stem out. He takes off his bloodied trousers
and examines the gaping wound with a flap of flesh and the
arrow head, made from a SPOON, buried inside.
MAN.
See if you can find the medical kit
from the boat. Quickly.
The BOY rummages in the trolley, finds the kit and hands it
over. He stares as the MAN slowly extracts the spoon, wincing
in agony. The MAN dowses the wound in antiseptic from the kit
and searches through the kit for a needle. He finds a suture
needle in a sterile envelope, rips it open with his teeth
and, using the light coming in through the parlour windows he
threads some silk thread into the needle. He starts to suture
up the wound, grimacing in pain as the BOY watches in
silence, until eventually offering:
BOY
Does it hurt?
The MAN just looks at him in disbelief - beat.
MAN.
Yes! It hurts!
BOY.
What does it feel like?
The MAN eyes the BOY, amazed at this inopportune chat.
(CONTINUED)
101.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
At least you're talking to me now.
INT./EXT. CAFE - (CAMP 17) - NIGHT
They have a campfire in the cafe by the jetty and sit
overlooking the bay, through the missing wall, silent until:
MAN.
Do you want me to tell you a story?
BOY.
No.
MAN.
Why not?
BOY.
Your stories aren't true.
MAN.
They don't have to be true. They're
stories.
BOY.
In the stories we're always helping
people. But we don't help people.
We just shoot people. And in the
stories good things happen but we
just get sick.
The MAN thinks about it - stuck for an answer.
MAN.
We're still here aren't we? Doesn't
that mean anything?
EXT. BOAT LAUNCH - DAY
The MAN pulls the trolley slowly, finding it a great effort.
The BOY helps pull, eying the MAN with concern. The MAN stops
and rests on the trolley and the BOY pulls on a few more feet
then stops and looks back as the MAN COUGHS for a long
painful moment. He takes the bloodstained surgical mask from
his face, his breath foggy in the cold, he wrings out the
blood and saliva, puts his head between his knees and coughs
until he can cough no more, gasping for breathe, bloody drool
unspooling from his lips into the sand like scarlet twine
while the BOY watches, weeping silently.
(CONTINUED)
102.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
We have to leave the cart. I can't
push it anymore.
EXT. BOAT LAUNCH - DAY
They are trudging along a concrete boat ramp by the beach
road, the beach below, the BOY carrying a small-suitcase now,
the MAN carrying sacks and bags. They stop and the MAN leans,
impossibly breathless, his lungs packing up. They stop at the
water edge, where the road reaches the sea.
The BOY takes his hand gently.
BOY.
What are we going to do Papa?
The MAN can't answer for breathlessness.
BOY. (CONT'D)
Well, what are we?
The MAN sits heavily on the ground, totters as the BOY stands
watching him, eyes welling with tears.
BOY. (CONT'D)
Oh no, Papa.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES -(CAMP 18) - DAY
The MAN is drifting in and out of consciousness in the sand.
The BOY comes over with a cup of water and holds it to the
MAN's lips, he drinks. The BOY has also lit a fire. He
spreads out blankets.
MAN.
Don't get comfortable. You need to
keep going. You don't know what
might be down the road.
BOY.
No.
MAN.
We were always lucky. You'll be
lucky again. You'll see. Just go.
BOY.
No. I can't.
(CONTINUED)
103.
CONTINUED:
MAN.
It's all right. This has been a
long time coming. Just keep going
south. Do everything the way we did
it.
BOY.
No. You're going to be okay Papa.
You have to.
MAN.
Keep the gun with you at all times.
Don't let anyone take it from you.
You need to find the good guys but
you can't take any chances. Do you
hear me?
BOY.
I want to be with you.
MAN.
I want to be with you too but I
can't.
BOY.
Please.
MAN.
You have to go off on your own now.
You have to carry the fire.
BOY.
I don't know how to.
MAN.
Yes you do. You know everything
about it.
BOY.
Is it real? The fire? Papa?
MAN.
Yes it is.
BOY.
Where is it? I don't know where it
is.
MAN.
Yes you do.
(CONTINUED)
104.
CONTINUED: (2)
BOY.
Where?
MAN.
It's inside you. It was always
there. I can see it.
The BOY stares at him, not sure what to believe.
MAN. (CONT'D)
You have to let me go.
BOY.
Just take me with you please.
Please, Papa! What should I do?
MAN.
Just hold my hand.
The BOY grips the MAN's hand, bouncing up and down, agitated.
BOY.
You said you wouldn't ever leave
me.
MAN.
I know. I'm sorry.
The BOY falls on the MAN, hugging him tight, face pressed to
his chest, sobbing.
MAN. (CONT'D)
My boy. You have my whole heart.
You always did. You're the best
guy. You can talk to me and I'll
talk to you. You'll see.
BOY.
How will I hear you?
MAN.
You just will.
BOY.
How do you know?
MAN-.
You just have to practice. Just
don't give up okay? You'll be okay.
You're going to be lucky. I know
you are.
(CONTINUED)
105.
CONTINUED: (3)
The MAN closes his eyes and takes deep, rattling breaths.
BOY.
It's okay Papa. You don't have to
talk anymore.
Camera pulls back and the BOY is sitting with the MAN saying
nothing. It's starting to grow dark. The BOY crouches down on
the MAN's chest and goes to sleep there, rising and falling
with his father's breathing.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES (CAMP 18) - NIGHT
Darkness all around, the BOY is lying across the MAN, his
hand rising and falling on the MAN's chest slowly,
irregularly as the MAN's breath rattles in his lungs.
EXT. CAR/BEACH - DAWN
FLASHBACK - or the MAN'S last ever dream: The MAN and the
WOMAN snooze in the car - an ordinary young couple nestled
together in the early morning sun light. The MAN wakes and
looks at his sleeping wife, smooths her hair tenderly, very
much in love, as she sleeps.
His hand on her wakes her, she looks at him surprised and
pleased, smiles.
WOMAN.
Hello...
She kisses him and they look at the blue ocean and the white
sand and green sea grass and she puts an arm around him.
MAN. (V.O.)
If I were God I would have made the
world just so and no different...
And so I have you. .I have you.
END OF FLASHBACK.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES - (CAMP 18) MORNING
The BOY is awake but doesn't move, his hand still on the
MAN's chest, now motionless. He looks at the MAN who is cold
and stiff now, long dead. The BOY gets up and holds the MAN's
cold stiff hand. Tears course down his face silently.
BOY.
Oh Papa. Papa. Papa...
106.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES - (CAMP 18) NIGHT
The BOY is building a campfire. He lights it and sits there
watching the MAN's motionless body.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES -(CAMP 19) MORNING
The BOY has slept beside the MAN, he wakes, blinks,
bewildered.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES - (CAMP 18) - DAY
The BOY is zipping up the MAN's parka carefully and heaping
blankets on top, talking all the while.
BOY.
Can I tell you something? I had a
bad dream. I had this penguin that
you wound up and it would waddle
and flap its flippers. And we were
in that house we used to live in
and it came around the corner but
nobody had wound it up and it was
really scary because-because-
because...
He goes quiet as he finishes tending to the body and puts his
own parka on, zips it up.
BOY. (CONT'D)
The winder wasn't turning.
He takes the gun, checks the magazine, shuts it and stands,
shoving the pistol in his belt.
EXT. WATER'S EDGE, BOAT LAUNCH - DAY
The BOY is standing at the water's edge looking out at the
smog and the emptiness. Out of nowhere a man in a gray and
red ski parka with the hood up appears carrying a shotgun
over his shoulder and a belt of shells.
He goes over to the BOY, he is the same bearded and scarred
man seen earlier, watching them in the sand dunes. The BOY
doesn't flinch, but his hand goes to the gun at his side.
When the man speaks he has some sort of speech defect,
possibly caused by missing teeth.
VETERAN.
Where's the man you were with? (NO
REPLY.) Was he your father?
(CONTINUED)
107.
CONTINUED:
BOY.
Yes. He was my Papa.
VETERAN.
I'm sorry.
BOY.
I don't know what to do.
VETERAN.
Well, I think maybe you should come
with me.
The BOY's finger tightens on the trigger of the GUN.
BOY.
Are you one of the good guys?
VETERAN.
Yeah. I'm one of the good guys. Why
don't you put that pistol away?
BOY.
I'm not supposed to let anybody
take the pistol. No matter what.
VETERAN.
I don't want your pistol. I just
didn't want you pointing it at me.
The BOY lowers the gun to his side and the VETERAN comes a
few steps closer, causing the BOY to back up a step.
VETERAN. (CONT'D)
Where's your stuff?
BOY.
I don't have much stuff.
VETERAN.
What have you got? Blankets?
BOY.
My Papa's wrapped in them.
MAN.
Show me.
The BOY doesn't move. The MAN holds out his hand for the BOY
to take, the BOY sees he has a THUMB MISSING and hesitates,
wary. The MAN squats, leaning on his shotgun.
(CONTINUED)
108.
CONTINUED: (2)
VETERAN.
Look. You got two choices here. You
can stay here with your papa or you
can go with me. If you stay you
need to keep off the road.
BOY.
How do I know you're one of the
good guys?
VETERAN.
You don't. You'll have to take a
shot.
The BOY weighs it up, eyeing the VETERAN.
BOY.
Do you have any kids?
VETERAN.
Yes we do.
BOY.
Do you have a little boy?
VETERAN.
We have a little boy and a little
girl.
BOY.
How old is he?
VETERAN.
He's about your age. Maybe a little
older.
BOY.
And you didn't eat them?
VETERAN.
No.
BOY.
You don't eat people?
VETERAN.
No. We don't eat people.
BOY.
Are you carrying the fire?
(CONTINUED)
109.
CONTINUED: (3)
VETERAN.
Am I what?
BOY.
Carrying the fire.
VETERAN.
You're kind of weirded out, aren't
you, kid?
BOY.
Well, are you?
VETERAN.
Yeah. I am. I'm carrying the fire.
BOY.
And I can go with you?
VETERAN.
Yes, you can.
The BOY hesitates.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES - DAY
They go over to where the MAN lies dead and the VETERAN
squats and lifts a blanket to take a look.
VETERAN.
Are these all the blankets you
have?
BOY.
Yes.
VETERAN.
Is that your suitcase?
BOY.
Yes.
The VETERAN stands and studies the BOY.
VETERAN.
Why don't you go up onto the road
and wait for me. I'll bring the
blankets.
BOY.
What about my Papa?
(CONTINUED)
110.
CONTINUED:
VETERAN.
What about him?
BOY.
We can't just leave him here.
VETERAN.
Yes we can.
BOY.
I don't want people to see him.
VETERAN.
There's nobody to see him.
BOY.
Can I cover him in leaves?
VETERAN.
The wind will blow them away.
BOY.
Could we cover him with one of the
blankets?
VETERAN.
Okay. I'll do it. Go on now.
EXT. BOAT LAUNCH, ROAD - DAY
The BOY waits and in a moment the VETERAN emerges from the
dunes carrying the suitcase with the blankets slung over his
shoulder. He sorts through them and hands one to the BOY.
VETERAN.
Here. Wrap this around you. You're
cold.
The BOY eye the blanket uncertainly, holds out the pistol for
the VETERAN to hold.
VETERAN. (CONT'D)
You hold onto that.
BOY.
Okay.
VETERAN.
Do you know how to shoot it?
BOY.
Yes.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
VETERAN.
Okay.
BOY.
What about my papa?
VETERAN.
There's nothing else to be done.
BOY.
I think I want to say goodbye to
him.
VETERAN.
Will you be all right?
BOY.
Yes.
VETERAN.
Go ahead. I'll wait here for you.
The BOY turns around and heads down to the beach.
EXT. BEACH/DUNES - (CAMP 18) - DAY
The BOY trudges through the sand over to the corpse of the
MAN which is now neatly wrapped up in a blanket from head to
toe. The BOY kneels beside him and starts to cry silently and
whisper.
BOY.
I'll talk to you every day. And I
won't forget. No matter what. No
matter what, Papa.
The BOY dries his eyes, takes a breath, gets up and walks
back to the road...
EXT. BOAT LAUNCH, ROAD- DAY
As the BOY walks out of the dunes holding the gun, a MOTHERLY
WOMAN who is standing with the VETERAN comes towards him.
MOTHERLY WOMAN.
Oh. I am so glad to see you.
The BOY just stares at her, bemused - a short distance away
stands the rest of the family - a BOY his age and a GIRL. The
BOY stares at the OTHER BOY and recognizes him - it's the
same BOY he chased earlier.
(CONTINUED)
112.
CONTINUED:
Then the BOY notices a threadbare mongrel of a DOG, waiting
with them.
The MOTHERLY WOMAN goes over and puts her arms around him.
MOTHERLY WOMAN. (CONT'D)
We've been following you. Did you
know that? We saw you with your
Papa and we tried to catch up but
you were too quick for us.
VETERAN.
There was some discussion about
whether to even come after you at
all.
As she's chatting, the MOTHERLY WOMAN gently takes the gun
from the BOY and hands it to the VETERAN.
MOTHERLY WOMAN.
We're so lucky. We were so worried
about you. And now we don't have to
worry about a thing.
She kisses the BOY on the forehead and holds him at arm's
length and looks at him.
MOTHERLY WOMAN. (CONT'D)
How does that sound? Is that okay?
He stares but says nothing...
CLOSING CREDITS.
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