New Screenplay: Nathaniel

This is a short story I adapted from a feature length script I'm working on. If you're a faithful reader of The Cedar Room, you'll probably find the ending familiar (was that really over two years ago). I start filming the second weekend in January.
I should also note, I'm no writer.

Nathaniel

a short film
by
Brian Murnion

EXT. FARM HOUSE NIGHT

Nathaniel (9-12) sneaks out a window from the first floor of his house and jumps a short chain-link fence enclosing the yard. He turns on a flashlight.


EXT. FOREST NIGHT

He walks on a beaten path in a forest behind his home. As snow crunches beneath his feet, he crosses over shadows scattered about from a full moon. He nears a neighboring farmhouse. He turns the flashlight off.


EXT. NEIGHBORS HOME NIGHT

Nathaniel sneaks around the house, peeking through a window. Inside the room is an empty bed with seven dolls placed on a shelf above the headboard. The walls are painted pink and a little ride-able pony sits in the corner.

NATHANIEL
(whispering)
Sarah.

He turns and looks around. He sees a light on in the barn. He walks over.


EXT. BARN NIGHT

He looks through an opening in the wood from the side of the barn. Inside are three school bullies (10-14) teasing and harassing Sarah (9-12). Nathaniel, after a moment of hesitation, walks over and stands in front of two large barn doors.


INT. BARN MOMENTS LATER

He opens one door part way, just enough to step inside. The three bullies turn around surprised and stare at him. Sarah slips out the back door, leaving the four boys in the barn. Nathaniel stands speechless, and the bullies hold their silence. The bullies now stand in a line formation, facing Nathaniel and ready to attack. Nathaniel turns and runs away. The bullies follow.

BULLY 1
Get him.

EXT. FOREST MOMENTS LATER

Nathaniel runs through the forest, hurdling fallen branches and small ditches. The three bullies chase him, but they start to loose ground due to Nathaniel’s speed. Nathaniel out runs the three boys until they give up. At which time they stop and turn the other way. Nathaniel keeps going.


INT. FORT NIGHT

Nathaniel crawls through a small wooden door in a tree fort. He shuts the door and pulls a latch across the panel. He looks out a glassless window for any sight of the bullies. After a minute, he pulls a curtain over the window and has a seat on the floor. The fort is furnished with toy guns, two homemade wooden benches and a wall covered in used paperback books. The front covers on the books are ripped off and the seams have been creased. Nathaniel turns off the flashlight and leaves the fort.


EXT. FORT AFTERNOON

Nathaniel hoists up a load of scrap wood by a rope into the fort. Sarah shows up and stands near another stack of wood at the base of the tree.

SARAH
Hi

NATHANIEL
Are you ok?

SARAH
Yes.

NATHANIEL
Why were you with those guys?

SARAH
They tricked me.
(pause)
Do you need any help?

NATHANIEL
Sure. Tie that end to the bucket.

Nathaniel lowers the rope and Sarah ties the end around the handle of a 5-gallon bucket. Nathaniel pulls the load up. Sarah stays on the ground watching the bucket. After a moment, Nathaniel climbs down and they walk away together.


EXT. FOREST PATH MOMENTS LATER

They walk on a path near a large river. They come across a bird lying on the ground. They kneel around and look at the bird. It’s alive, but not able to move or fly. They see that it’s injured and near death. Nathaniel stands up.

NATHANIEL
Wait here.

Sarah stays kneeled as Nathaniel walks towards the river. After a minute, he comes back with a cup filled with water. He kneels back down next to Sarah, and pours water on the bird, baptizing it in the name of the Holy Trinity. They both stand and continue to look at the bird.

FADE OUT:

THE END