Snowscape

 FADE IN:
EXT. MIDDLE OF NOWHERE - ALASKA - DAY
A large wall surrounds five acres of forest. Snow covers everything. A small cabin sits in a clearing. Nearby sits a pile of wood and chopping block.
LEM, 40s, slightly chubby, wearing snow camo, splits logs. He finishes. Pulls out a sharpie. Draws faces on six log-halves. Places them in a ring around the chopping block.
He grabs a potato launcher and fires. BANG. BANG. BANG. Reloads. BANG. BANG. Knocks each piece over. Looks around for the sixth.
It’s not there. He puts the potato launcher by the chopping block. Looks around. Hears a noise. Ducks behind a tree.
A MAN, 30s, dark mustache, skirts the clearing. Heads toward the cabin.
Lem follows. The Man enters the cabin.
Lem edges around to the door. Slowly puts a hand on the knob. Whips it open. Hurls in a smoke grenade.
BANG! Smoke everywhere. He covers his mouth with a bandana. Barrel rolls into the cabin.
INT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
Lem
DON’T MOVE!
Leaps to his feet brandishing tasers.
A MAN, 40s, wearing all black, thick mustache, turns slowly toward Lem. He holds a pistol.
MAN
(laughs)
Tasers? How quaint. Drop them!
Lem drops them. Kicks them away.
LEM
You won’t get away with this.
Man
Oh? I think I already have. Move!
EXT. WOODS - MOMENTS LATER
The Man and Lem stop near the wood chopping block. Five more men appear from behind the trees. The Man gestures with the pistol to the block.
Lem kneels next to the block. Puts his head down. The Man grabs an ax. He raises it.
MaN
Any last words?
LEM
Yes.
Lem grabs the potato launcher.
LEM
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Ducks behind a tree. Reloads.
LeM
BLAM! BLAM!
The mustached Man is left. He looks around. Runs away. Lem quickly reloads and fires off one last shot. BANG.
Lem
(smirks)
Gotcha.
He swings the launcher onto his shoulder. Too fast. Knocks himself in the head.
LEM
Ouch!
His radio squawks.
Lem
Lem here. Go ahead. Over.
LESLIE (V.O.)
Hey, um. My name is Leslie. I brought you supplies. Can you buzz me in?...Uh. Over.
Lem
It’ll just take a minute. Over.
Lem quickly picks up bean bags. Leaves the clearing. His footprints the only tracks in the snow. Sharpie-faced log-halves watch his retreat. One has a thick sharpie mustache.
INT. CABIN - MOMENTS LATER
Lem goes to a bank of monitors on a desk.
Lem
(into radio)
Leslie, can I see some I.D. please? Over.
One of the cameras shows, LESLIE, 20s, country girl, in a pick up. She flashes a smile and her I.D. Lem buzzes the gate.
Lem
Alright. Come on in. Over.
EXT. CABIN - MOMENTS LATER
Leslie pulls up. She jumps out. Lem shakes her hand.
Lem
Hi there. Good to finally put a face to a name.
LesLIE
You know who I am?
Lem
Sure. I read the memo.
LesLIE
(laughs)
You must be the only one.
Lem
There’s not much else to do out here. Keeps me occupied and up to date. Can I give you a hand?
LesLIE
Yes please! I don’t know how the last guy did it.
They walk to the bed of the truck. It’s full of boxes. They unload. Carry them to a tiny shed near by.
Lem
I usually lent a hand. Jim was a good guy.
LesLIE
Was? Did something happen to him?
Lem
(laughs)
Yeah, he got promoted. Guess I am the only one who reads the memos.
LesLIE
To be honest I was kinda pissed I got this job, no offense.
Lem
None taken.
LesLIE
I don’t wanna be stuck doing shit like this my whole career. I really want to be a field agent.
Lem
Want some tips? Tip number one, pass your exams. Tip number two, when you do, don’t puke on your commanding officer’s shoes.
LesLIE
Good to know. Is that how you ended up here in the middle of nowhere?
LeM
Can I offer you some coffee before you go?
Leslie
Yeah, sure. That’d be lovely.
INT. CABIN - MOMENTS LATER
The cabin’s crammed with a cot, stove, icebox, and chair. A closet contains a washer dryer and one full wall is dedicated to a bank of monitors and a desk.
Leslie enters. Chokes a little on left-over smoke.
LesLIE
Did you burn something in here? Whew.
(looks around)
Whoah. This is quite the setup.
Lem
Sure is.
LesLIE
I’d go stir crazy if I had to be cooped up out here by myself.
LeM
It’s not so bad once you get used to it. After the first couple years anyway.
LesLIE
Is that it?
(pointing to a monitor)
Is that where the weapon is?
The monitor shows a set of metal double doors. Chained and padlocked.
LesLIE
Have you ever seen it?
Lem
No. That’s not part of my job. I’m just paid keep people out.
LesLIE
What people? No one comes up here.
Lem
Still.
LesLIE
So, you’re not even a little curious about the weapon?
LeM
Nope. I’m not paid to be curious.
LesLIE
Oh come on!
LeM
Thanks for dropping off the stuff. I got things to do. I’ll see you when the snow thaws.
LesLIE
Oh. Okay. Um... See you. I guess.
INT. CABIN - LATER
Lem makes a cup of soup. He eats at the desk. Stares at the monitors. The double doors. Makes himself look away. Checks his email. Looks at the doors again. Taps his fingers.
He types a few keystrokes, grabs his coat, and leaves.
INSERT: On the monitor the double door feed is set to loop.
EXT. DOUBLE DOORS - MOMENTS LATER
Lem stands in front of the metal doors set into a hillside. He grabs the chain and yanks on it. Secure. Satisfied he turns to leave.
He stops. He turns back. Grabs the lock. Fiddles with it. Stops himself.
LeM
(fierce)
What you need is a good drink.
He trudges away.
EXT. IGLOO IN THE WOODS - MOMENTS LATER
Loud music and light comes from a medium sized igloo set between two hills. Lem approaches and enters.
INT. IGLOO - CONTINUOUS
Four people dressed in furs sit around a fire listening to a radio play LIVELY MUSIC. They LAUGH and pass around a bottle.
Lem
Hey guys!
ALL
Lem!
They motion for him to join. Their mood is merry. Lem takes a long swig from the bottle. People CHEER.
WIND HOWLS outside but the MUSIC is louder. Lem and one of the people sway to music together.
The WIND grows louder. There is a tremendous CRASH. A thick tree branch carves through the igloo. Lem dives away. Everything is cold and dark.
Lem grabs the lantern. Switches it on. Liquor stains the snow. Bottle smashed. Four sharpie-faced log-halves are scattered about.
Lem
Sorry guys. Guess the party’s over.
EXT. IGLOO IN THE WOODS - CONTINUOUS
A blizzard rages. Lem leans into the wind. Fighting to find his way back home. The lantern light glitters over:
EXT. DOUBLE DOORS - CONTINUOUS
A tree lays across the top of the doors. The chain broken. One door BANGS open and shut against the tree.
Lem stops. The wind BLOWS fiercely against him. Drives him forward. He goes inside.
INT. UNDERGROUND ROOM - CONTINUOUS
A long passage into gaping darkness. He takes a few steps. Turns back to leave. The wind shoves him in relentlessly.
Lem sits just inside the door. Gazing down the tunnel. It’s freezing.
He goes down the tunnel.
It opens into a circular chamber. High ceiling. In the middle a statue of a girl, 16, petite, no hair.
Lem sits on the ground and stares up at her. He falls asleep.
INT. UNDERGROUND ROOM - LATER
Lem wakes with a start. The storm has died. He looks up at the statue.
Lem
I shouldn’t be here.
(gets up)
And I’m not coming back. You hear me? I don’t care if you ARE all alone.
He leaves.
TITLE CARD: “Two Days Later”
Lem enters carrying a portable generator and a light. He sets them up and floods the small room with light.
LeM
There. But that’s it.
(beat)
Don’t look at me like that. I’m not even supposed to be down here.
(beat)
And I’m NOT coming back.
He leaves.
LATER
TITLE CARD: “Two Days Later”
Lem carries a blanket. He stops.
Lem
This is stupid. It’s a statue. She can’t feel cold.
Turns to leave. Turns back. Looks at her. Drapes it over her shoulders and leaves.
LATER
TITLE CARD: “The Next Day”
Lem enters carrying a stack of books.
Lem
I didn’t know which kind you might like so I figured I’d bring a bunch.
Lem proceeds to pick a book and read to her.
START MONTAGE.
Lem talks to her animatedly, re-enacting his ‘adventures’.
Lem brings spring flowers for her and makes a garland.
Leslie brings supplies and magazines to the cabin
Lem has a picnic. Shows her NatGeo magazines of space.
Leslie brings Christmas decorations to the cabin.
Lem decorates her room for Christmas. Brings her a present.
Lem does shadow puppets for her.
END MONTAGE.
EXT. DOUBLE DOORS - DAY
Lem trudges through snow to the doors. He carries a mug of cake stuck with a candle.
The fallen tree still covers one door. He ducks under the branches and goes in.
INT. UNDERGROUND ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Lem pulls out a lighter.
LeM
Guess what day it is?
(lights candle)
It’s the day we met! I didn’t know your actual birthday, so I figured we could just celebrate today. Make a wish.
Lem blows out the candle.
Lem
I can’t stay long. I’m expecting Leslie to drop off supplies later today.
Lem digs in a pocket for a fork.
Lem
I hope you like chocolate. It’s the only box mix I had left. Just pop it in the microwave for a couple minutes and voila! Cake.
He sits in front of her. Looks up into her face.
LEM
I don’t think I’ve ever told you this. But sometimes I wish I’d gotten married instead of joining S.T.R.A.N.G.E.A.
(beat)
Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad I met you. But I really wish I had a family. Maybe a daughter...
(beat)
If I ever had a daughter-
There is sudden CRACKLING as her stone skin ripples with fractures. Chunks POP and CRACK off revealing:
A very unconscious, very alive, girl. She sinks to the ground.
Lem YELLS in surprise. He frantically grabs a blanket. Wraps it around her. Lifts her. Carries her out.
EXT. DOUBLE DOORS - CONTINUOUS
Lem emerges. He is surrounded by men pointing guns at him.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF (V.O.)
(over megaphone)
PUT THE WEAPON DOWN AND BACK AWAY SLOWLY.
INT. CABIN - LATER
Lem sits on the cot. The COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 50s, mustached, sits at the desk facing him.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
I don’t think you entirely understand the gravity of this situation.
(beat)
You were tasked with keeping the weapon secure. What were you thinking? Bringing it out in the open like that?
(beat)
Actions like this upset S.T.R.A.N.G.E.A.’s integrity. As an agent you agreed to lay down your life to protect the earth from things like this.
LeM
SHE is not an IT.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Agent Philips, I realize it is difficult to put aside your empathy, but I assure you, IT is quite dangerous.
LeM
How long did you have her locked in there like that?
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
(heavy sigh)
What you did here today has consequences. Agent Philips, you are hereby relieved of all duties and sentenced to exile. You will be allowed to live here for the rest of your life.
LeM
You can’t do this!
ComMANDER IN CHIEF
Unfortunately, I can.
INT. CABIN - LATER
Lem lays on the cot staring at the ceiling. He goes to the desk. Brings up floor plans on his computer.
LeM
Ha! Haven’t had time to revoke my access codes yet, have you.
He opens the closet. Pulls on a bullet-proof vest and a utility belt. Slides an ammo belt across his shoulder. Loads it with flare shells and beanbags.
Lem tips up his cot revealing more weapons. Locks and loads two potato launchers. Spins two tasers. Holsters them. Puts a long coat on over everything.
EXT. MIDDLE OF NOWHERE - LATER
Lem drives Leslie’s truck through the gate. The radio in the truck squawks.
LesLIE
Damn it, Lem! Come back here and un-cuff me! THEY’RE GOING TO KILL YOU! LEM-!
Lem flicks the radio off and drives on.
EXT. S.T.R.A.N.G.E.A. HQ - NIGHT
TITLE CARD: “HQ”
A bland, squat, concrete block of a building. A Guard dozes in a security station near the entrance. Lem approaches the door.
LEM
Evening.
The Guard jerks awake and nods. Lem scans his security badge. The door unlocks. He enters.
FLASH BACK.
INT. CABIN - Lem steals the Commander in Chief’s badge.
END FLASH BACK.
INT. S.T.R.A.N.G.E.A. HQ - Foyer
It’s empty. Lem gets in an elevator. Scans his badge and punches a floor. The doors close. It descends.
INT. FLOOR 11B - MOMENTS LATER
Lem exits the elevator and makes his way to a door marked “Head Office”. He scans and enters.
INT. HEAD OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
There are three people at various desks working late. They glance up at him.
Guy
Excuse me. How did you get in here? This is a restricted-
Lem fires a bean-bag at his head. He’s knocked out cold. The other two look at each other. Put their hands up.
Lem
Where’s the Commander in Chief?
They shake their heads. Shrug. He knocks them out. Reloads. Looks at papers on a desk with a plaque that reads “Commander in Chief”.
INT. Floor 22B - MOMENTS LATER
The Commander in Chief (CIC) locks the unconscious girl in a clear cell-box. A team of five security personnel accompany him.
The elevator at the end of a long hallway DINGS.
They turn. The elevator doors open. It’s empty. The doors close but are stopped. The CIC motions a guy, FIVE, to go look.
FIVE looks in. A bean-bag is jammed in the door. Checks area. Clear. Grabs it and turns.
BANG! A bean-bag to the back of the head. He goes down.
The other four personnel run to the elevator. ONE checks the ceiling. The hatch is open. They fire into it.
They stop. A canister falls out into the hall. TINK. TINK. TINK. ONE kicks it back into the elevator. KSH. It fills with smoke.
Three more canisters come hurtling out. The personnel pull small gas masks from their pockets.
FLASH-BANG!
The personnel are blinded. Lem, bleeding in various places, drops from the elevator ceiling firing bean-bags into ONE, TWO, and THREE. ONE and TWO go down.
THREE and FOUR reach for guns. Lem head-butts FOUR in the chest. SMASHING him into a wall. Tases him. FOUR goes down.
THREE shoots and hits Lem. BANG! Shoulder. BANG!. Lower back. Lem SLAMS into the wall.
CIC calls for backup on his radio.
Lem whirls on THREE using his launcher like a bat. CLOCKS him across the side of the jaw. CRACK. Blood and teeth fly. THREE reels. Goes down.
FIVE regains consciousness. Chokes on smoke.
Lem runs down the hall toward CIC.
On the ground, TWO fires at him. CIC ducks. Bullets WHIZ past. BANG! BANG! Into the cell wall.
BANG! A bullet grazes Lem’s calf. Lem goes down.
TWO leaps to her feet. FIVE close behind. Lem limps toward the girl. TWO fires at his back. BANG! BANG! Grazes the side of his head. Blood spurts.
Lem whirls. Fires three bean-bags at TWO and FIVE. Nothing connects. Another FLASH-BANG and a smoke grenade. But they’re expecting that.
It buys Lem a few seconds. He reaches the cell. CIC dives for him. Gets tased.
TWO slams Lem’s head into the cell. Blood spurts from his nose. He sinks to his knees.
She grabs him. He tries to tase her. His hand is empty. She slams his head again. He reels. The girl wakes.
FIVE is there. They shove Lem to the ground. Handcuff his hands behind his back. Drag him toward the elevator.
At the last second he regains his feet. Uses their hold on him to launch at the door frame. Flips over pulling both to the ground.
Lem runs back to the cell followed closely by all but THREE. Still out cold.
Lem
(to girl)
YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE A WEAPON SO DO SOMETHING! I’M TRYING TO HELP YOU.
The girl stands. Lem hits the cell. Braces himself. The personnel cry out. He looks around.
TWO manages to fire. Her bullets drop like rocks. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. Craters form. Cement cracks.
The personnel’s guns yank their arms to the floor like lead bricks. Legs give out from under them. They’re pressed to the floor. FIVE tries to raise his head. Can’t.
Lem looks at the girl. She stares back at him. Not only is she bald, she has no eyebrows.
Lem attempts to bring his hands to the front of his body. He can’t get them past his butt.
He moves to CIC. Also pressed to the floor. Searches blindly for a key to the cell. Finds it. Drops it. Struggles to pick it up.
Finally he has it. Back to the cell. Scrapes the key along into the keyhole. Unlocks the door. It swings open. He turns.
Lem and the girl stand six feet apart. Face to face.
She watches him with dark eyes. Steps out. She tilts her head slowly to one side.
LEM’s POV his world tilts but the girl’s face appears to remain upright in his field of vision.
He finds himself lying on his side. Body too heavy to move. She crouches next to him, head still tilted. Studying him.
LEM
(breathing heavy)
You’re free now. You’re free.
She looks at him with dark eyes. She walks over to CIC. Looks down. Puts her barefoot on his head.
LeM
What are you doing? Leave him. Get outta here! Hurry!
She pushes down. CRUNCH. CIC’s face caves in under her foot. Blood held inside the caved skull like a bubble of water in zero gravity.
She removes her foot. Looks at the blood painting it.
She walks past Lem. Leaving one trail of bloody footprints.
Lem stares at CIC in horror. He watches in the cell’s reflection. The girl shifts so she walks on the wall. Bloody prints trailing her.
She reaches TWO. Caves TWO’s face with her hand. CRUNCH. Then ONE’s. CRUNCH.
Lem shuts his eyes. Gags. He hears CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
Her footsteps approach. He feels her hand on his head. Hot blood soaks his hair. He clenches his eyes in terror.
Pat. Pat. Pat.
She leaves. The elevator door DINGS. They slide shut.
Lem lets out a terrified sob.
The zero-G sphere of blood erupts out of the CIC’s gaping face splattering Lem. The body writhes on the ground for a second. Falls still.
Hot blood puddles around Lem. Soaks into his clothes. He clenches his eyes shut. Trembles violently.
LEM
(whispers)
What have I done?
FADE OUT.
END.