INT. HILLTOP-NOON

One might describe the scene as beautiful, if one could get by the child's
coffin.

A wooden sign in the dirt reads.


A wilting man in his late forties sits on the grass next to the, much too small
box.


The wilting man's face trembles.

Behind him, a respectful thirty feet away, stand a group of about sixty
people, equally still.


EXT. SUPPER TABLE – AFTERNOON

An enormous handmade wooden table sits in the center of a small village of
log cabins. All sixty members of the village are seated for the meal.

The women wear bonnets. The men have their farmer's shirts rolled up at
the sleeves.

A man in his late forties stands. He has the eyes of a child; innocent and
pure. This is EDWARD WALKER.


Beat. Eyes look up one by one. Edward Walker stands silently, appearing
suddenly overwhelmed. A hand reaches up and squeezes his arm. Edward
Walker looks down to wilting man we saw earlier. They look at each
other quietly.

Walker turns back to the table.


Walker sits. Movement begins across the table as hands begin to pass bread
and corn and meat.

AND THEN WE HEAR IT, THE SOUND CARRIES THROUGH THE
AIR AND BLEEDS INTO THE VILLAGE. IT COMES FROM THE
WOODS.

SCREAMS. IT IS NOT HUMAN.

All movement at the table stops, except for a TALL BOY at the end of the
table. He is barely in his twenties. He is mentally handicapped. He starts
clapping wildly.

Everyone else sits uncomfortably still. No expressions on their faces. They
wait.

THEN THE SCREAMS SLOWLY START TO MOVE AWAY.

The boy's clapping slows and then stops as well. The happiness trickles
from his face.

The rest of the table waits till the last of the nonhuman screams have moved
away. And then quietly hands start reaching across the table again.


EXT. WATER PUMP – LATE AFTERNOON

A group of women and girls are washing and drying the wooden bowls and
plates at a hand water pump that stands in the ground.

A strong older woman pumps the handle. Bursts of water spurt out from the
pump's mouth. Two girls are holding bowls under the water. One girl gets
splashed by the other. They both start laughing. The older woman makes a
disapproving noise with her mouth. The girls looks over, nod and return to
washing the bowls; little grins on their little faces.


EXT. PORCH – LATE AFTERNOON

Two young women sweep the porch of a cabin. One of the young women
starts mimicking the other's movements. They begin to sweep in synch.
They both begin to smile as they sweep. They begin to move around the
porch like dancers.

They're giggling stops as one spots something. They both stop dancing.
They look down at the base of the post that holds the porch roof up. There
are two RED WILDFLOWERS peeking out from the fist full of weeds.

They bend down quickly and yank the red wildflowers out. They move off
the porch and kneel down in the dirt next to the porch.

They use their hands to a dig a small hole in the dirt. They put the crushed red
wildflowers into the hole and methodically bury it.

The two young women stand, look around, and wipe themselves off before
returning to the porch and picking up the brooms again.

EXT. COURTYARD BELL – LATE AFTERNOON

A MEDIUM SIZED BRASS BELL hangs from a wooden t-post. A hand
reaches out and takes hold of the rope that dangles from its side. The hand
pulls once strong and hard.


EXT. STORAGE CABIN – LATE AFTERNOON

Men stow away farm equipment. Hoes and sickles are stacked neatly in
piles.

A LONG BELL TOLLS.

The men stop working. They put down their tool where they stand. One
man leans into the storage cabin to tell those inside.


EXT. WATER PUMP – LATE AFTERNOON

The older women usher the girls into an orderly line as they leave the area of
the water pump. Dirty dishes are left on the ground.


EXT. CLUSTER OF CABINS – LATE AFTERNOON

We see the courtyard. There are clusters of cabins on every side.
We watch as one by one everyone in the courtyard and everyone coming in
from the fields, disappears into different cabins like ants retreating into ant
holes.

INT. CABIN – LATE AFTERNOON

We are in someone's home. A group of about eight women and children
walk in through the front door. They move to the back of the small cabin
where a woman reaches down and pulls on a handle in the floor.


INT. DIFFERENT CABIN – LATE AFTERNOON

We are in another two-room cabin. A group of men wait their turn as each
man climbs into the trap door in the floor.

When the last is in. The final man reaches up and brings down the trap door,
closing them all in.


INT. UNDERGROUND ROOM – LATE AFTERNOON

A collection of two men, four women and three children are huddled
together in a four by eight space in the ground. The adults have to sit down
to fit in this space.

A THIN STRIP OF LIGHT FALLS ON THE FACES from the seam in the
trapdoor. All we hear is the nine of them breathing. Their eyes all stare at
the CRACK OF LIGHT.

A child coughs. A woman reaches over a couple bodies and pats the
coughing child on his back. The child settles. They all return to staring at the
light. Beat.

THE BRASS BELL SOUNDS AGAIN.

The two men reach up and open the door. LIGHT POURS IN.

One by one, they all climb out of the four by eight space in the ground.

INT.FAMILY CABIN – LATE AFTERNOON

The men, women and three children walk out into the afternoon light. One
woman immediately grabs a broom and continues cleaning the porch.

The community returns to doing their chores.


EXT. CABIN – NIGHT

We are in the darkness, looking into the LIGHT OF A CABIN WINDOW.
We see a child's bedroom - A small bed - A small wooden desk. On the
child's desk there is nothing.

The wilting man lays curled up on the little bed. He stares out with red eyes.


EXT. CABIN – NIGHT

In another cabin we see a woman pouring water from a jug into a large white
bowl by the side of the bed. We see her speak to her husband who sits
reading in bed. She leans over and begins washing her face with the water in
the bowl.


EXT. CABIN – NIGHT

Three children kneel and pray by their bedside. Their parents begin blowing
out the oil lamps in their room.


EXT. TOWER – NIGHT

A young man blows his nose into a handkerchief. He wipes his face and
resumes standing. His eyes gaze down quietly. The ORANGE LIGHT
FROM THE TORCH LIT NEXT TO HIM, FLICKERS ON HIS FACE.

He is standing on a platform, thirty feet in the air. It is a tower on the edge of
this community. He is keeping guard.

Arms folded, he stares at the darkened woods.


EXT. SCHOOL HOUSE – MORNING

A group of children carrying cloth bags with books in them, crowd around
something in the dirt.

Edward Walker moves through the tiny gathering.


Edward Walker parts the final layer of titillated children. He stares down at
the thing on the ground. Beat. His expression becomes grave.


It takes a moment before a little boy steps forward. His eyes never look up.


PHILIP shakes his head, "No." Everyone watches Walker who turns and
looks down again quietly.

IT IS HARD FOR US TO SEE THROUGH ALL THE TINY LEGS AND
FEET OF THE CHILDREN. THERE IS SOMETHING DARK AND
MOIST LYING IN THE DIRT.

INT. CLASSROOM – MORNING

The classroom is overcome by whispering. Walker uses chalk to write the
date, "October 5, 1897" on a gray slate board framed in wood.

He turns to the children who age from seven to twelve.




Another hand shoots up.

Now the children become quiet.


Beat.

Walker gazes out at the classroom of concerned children.



Walker watches the image of foxes scamper through the minds of the
children.


Walker winks at Donald. No one raises their hand.

One by one, the children reach into their cloth bags and retrieve their
notebooks.


INT. MEETING HALL – AFTERNOON

We are in one of the largest cabins. Wooden chairs are scattered throughout.
This is some sort of gathering place.

Twelve of the chairs have been brought together in a circle. Twelve of the
oldest members of the village are seated in the chairs.

The wilting man and Edward Walker are among them.


A small gentle women with her air tied back, looks up. TABITHA sits to
Edward Walker's side.


The two women slowly turn to Edward.

All eyes turn to the wilting man, AUGUST NICHOLSON. He appears
exhausted. August nods as he shuffles the papers in his hand.


The group nods quietly.


THERE IS A KNOCK at the far end of the room. All attention moves in that
direction.

Another man in his mid forties steps in. He carries a tiny smile, his eyebrows
are raised.


The group looks to one another. This is unusual.


The man with the raised eyebrows steps out. Beat. The door stays still for a
moment, and then it opens.

A sinewy young man in his twenties steps in. His deep-set brow and dark
green eyes never look up as he walks forward to the group.

There are many glances to a pretty elder in her forties. Edward looks to her
as well. She stares back with the identical dark green eyes as the boy. She
shakes her head slightly; She doesn't know why he's here.

The young man slows to a stop a few feet from them. His hands brings a
paper up. He begins to read carefully.


The woman with green eyes moves forward in her seat without knowing it.


His green eyes flick up, just for a moment... He returns to the paper.


August Nicholson goes still.

Beat.


The young man with green eyes lowers his hands with the paper and stares
at the group.

No one move at first. Edward Walker begins to smile.


The young man with green eyes stands quietly before the group.

INT. CABIN – NIGHT

The pretty woman with green eyes sits on the edge of her bed in her night
robe. She hear her son descend the ladder from the loft space he lives in.

ALICE HUNT watches him through her bedroom doorway.


LUCIUS turns to face her.


Beat. Lucius stares.


Alice lies back in her bed. She pulls the covers over herself. She gazes at her
son from the pillow.


Her eyes close.

Lucius watches his mother become quiet. Her breathing becomes steady and
soft.

Lucius walks into her room and takes the quilt from the rocking chair and
gently places it over his mother's sleeping shoulders. He whispers in her ear.


Lucius walks out of his mother's room and exits the cabin quietly.


EXT. TOWER – NIGHT

FINTON COIN is a skinny boy with big curly hair. He is on the platform
tonight, thirty feet in the air.

The trap door opens as Lucius climbs up. Finton immediately relaxes.


Lucius shakes his head. "No."

Lucius shakes his head again, "No" as he takes his seat in the corner. Beat.


The two young men fall into silence; one sitting, one standing. And then out
of the silence-


Finton turns to the sound of Lucius' voice.


Finton doesn't notice the expression on Lucius' face as he sits in the
shadows. Finton shrugs his shoulders and returns to looking out. Beat.



EXT. APPLE ORCHARD – DAY

Along the hilltop runs a group of twenty apple trees; their branches bursting
with deep red pickings.

On the ground near the trees are baskets filled with apples. A few are
toppled over.

Standing in a tight group a few feet from the abandoned baskets are a group
of women. The same quiet fearful expressions on their faces.

They stare at something at the base of a tree. We can't see what it is, but we
can HEAR THE FLIES BUZZING around its dead carcass.



INT. MEETING HALL – AFTERNOON

Every member of the village is jammed into this little building. The elders
are standing towards the front of the room.

Alice Hunt's green eyes look compassionately over the gathering.


An uncomfortable murmur flutters in the meeting room.

EXT. COURTYARD – AFTERNOON

We pick up Eward Walker as he leaves the meeting hall with the rest of the
congregation. A young woman in her early twenties catches up to him. She
has a round attractive face. She is the lively sort. She practically bounces to
his side.

KITTY WALKER takes his arm and whispers in his ear as they walk.


He looks at his daughter as they turn the corner onto a path where they are
alone. Kitty beams at his side.







Edward nods his head.

Now Edward stops walking.

Edward starts walking again.




Kitty sees the expression on her father's face.



Kitty's face returns to beaming.

He looks down at his eldest daughter. He nods, "yes."

She hugs him tight as they come to a stop in the far end of the courtyard at
the base of the medium sized town bell.


Kitty nods earnestly. Beat. Edward Walker gets lost in his thoughts again.


Edward looks down and sees the concern in his daughter's eyes.

Beat. He then reaches up and pulls long and hard on the rope that tolls the
brass bell.

We see in the background everyone stops what they're doing and begins
walking in lines towards the cabins.

We watch as people walk in from the stream and from the orchards. They
disappear quietly into the cabins.


EXT. FIELD – AFTERNOON

Lucius stands at the edge of a field of crops. He methodically removes the
clumps of dirt from the prongs of the tools he's used on the soil that day.

Lucius' hands stop their work. He turns and looks over his shoulder at the
young woman that stands before him. She rises on her tip-toes and returns to
earth again. Lucius never lets go of his tools. He nods hello to her.


Lucius stares.


Lucius continues to stare.


Lucius blinks his green eyes. Kitty takes this as a positive gesture and smiles
sweetly.

Kitty finishes her flurry by rising up on the tips of her toes and returning to
earth again.

Lucius stares.


INT. WALKER CABIN – NIGHT

Kitty is wailing.

Edward carries his youngest daughter in his arms as his petite wife holds
their next two youngest on their laps. They watch with concern as Kitty cries
loudly from her bedroom

Kitty is being consoled by her closest sister. Kitty has her head in her sister's
lap.

IVY WALKER strokes the hair of her older sister gently. Ivy is thin, almost
too thin. Her long blond hair falls over her sharp striking face.

She wipes the tears from her sister's cheeks. Beat. Ivy begins to sing softly.


Edward and Tabitha Walker hold their three youngest girls and listen quietly
from the other room.

Ivy wipes the last tears from her sister's face. Ivy's voice fills the cabin and
wraps them all like a blanket.


INT. AUGUST NICHOLSON'S CABIN – NIGHT

Lucius knocks on the half open door with his elbow. He waits a moment and
pushes the door open. Lucius carries a large pile of firewood in his arms as
he steps into the cabin.

He sees the wilting man, August Nicholson, sleeping in a chair.

Lucius moves to the hearth. Some of the kindling falls off the pile onto the
floor. August stirs awake. He sees Lucius kneeling with the wood.


Lucius nods.


Lucius nods again and starts making a pile next to the hearth. Beat.


Lucius turns. August has his eyes closed. Beat.

August doesn't reply. He is fast asleep in the chair.

Lucius returns to the pile. He transfers the last of the firewood from his
arms.


Lucius turns to see August, eyes open this time, staring into the corner of the
cabin.


Lucius follows the elder's gaze to the corner of the room where a WOODEN
BLACK BOX, one foot by one foot, sits on a table all by itself.

Lucius turns back to August.


Lucius watches as August Nicholson's eyes slowly close again. Beat.

Lucius rises to his feet. He walks across the cabin to the door.


Lucius looks back. August stares sleepily at him.

August's words are so soft, the crackle of the fire almost covers them.

Lucius waits till August is asleep again. The young man's green eyes stare
quietly at the wilting man.


EXT. BORDER – NIGHT

We are at the edge of the village. Yellow cloth flags are attached to the trees
that create the natural border between the grassy slopes and the woods. The
yellow flags and torch lit lamp curve into the distance as far as one can see.

A fifteen-year old boy in overalls stands on a stump right at the edge of the
grass. His back is to the woods. His arms outstretched at his sides. His body
makes the form of the crucifix. He is trembling.


A group of young men are huddled behind a rock ten feet down the slope
and watch the fifteen-year old on the stump.

CHRISTOP CRANE is a thin, tall, very neatly combed young man.


The young men fight each other for best view.

The fifteen-year old's eyes are filling with water. He's straining to hold up
his arms.

WE ARE IN THE DARKNESS OF THE WOODS, WE ARE BEHIND
THE BOY, WE SEE THE SILOHUETTE OF HIS SLIGHT FIGURE
STANDING ON THE TREE STUMP.

The boy makes a noise – a slight whimper. A NOISE IS HEARD FROM
THE WOODS.

The boy stiffens. He whispers out to the boys behind the rock.


Christop pops his head out.


A BRANCH SNAPS IN THE WOODS.  The fifteen-year old's eyes flick up.
All the heads from behind the rock peek out.

The boy LISTENS desperately. He wants to look behind, but he doesn't.

THERE ARE NOISES IN THE WOODS. THE SOUND OF LEAVES
BEING CRUNCHED.

The boy begins to shake.

A LARGE BRANCH SNAPS. The fifteen-year old lets out a SMALL
SQUEAL as he lowers his arms and jumps from the stump. He starts
running.

He runs past the young men in hiding behind the rock. As he does, they start
running too. Everyone evacuates in a hurry. They all start racing down the
slope back to the FIRE LIGHTS FLICKERING in the distance from the
village.


INT. VILLAGE COURYARD – NIGHT

The gang of young men, are moving at a fast walk through the courtyard,
trying to catch their breath. The fifteen-year old walks in the center receiving
various pats on the back. His face is still ashen.

The group walks by a contemplative Lucius.

He doesn't look up as they  pass in a flurry of youthful conversation.

Lucius moves silently in the opposite direction, the weight on his shoulders,
almost visible.


EXT. SCHOOLYARD FIELD – DAY

The mentally handicapped young man we saw clapping at the supper table is
wrestling in the dirt with two young men who try to restrain him.
He is strong and quick. The two young men end up in the dirt over and over
as the mentally handicapped young man slips them and throws them down.

The children watch the dust and dirt kick up as the three continue scuffling.

EXT. SCHOOLHOUSE - DAY

A trail of dark blood runs down the forehead of a hysterical child. Kitty
gently escorts him off the playground.

They pass Ivy seated on a bench that overlooks the back of the schoolyard.

Kitty speaks over her shoulder as she climbs the steps into the school
building.


Ivy nods. Kitty and JOSEPH disappear into the school building.

Ivy takes hold of the wooden cane lying next to her. She rises from the
bench. She moves towards the NOISE OF THE PLAYGROUND. The
wooden cane moves deftly back and forth in front of her.

Her STRIKING BLIND EYES focus on nothing.


EXT. SCHOOLYARD – DAY

The wrestling has gotten fierce. NOAH PERCY is almost pinned when he
suddenly throws them and frees himself. The two young men immediately
go for his legs.


Noah stops and stares at Ivy.

The two young men on the ground stop. They realize they are holding each
other's leg.

Noah stands as the two young men lie on the ground. Noah smiles sweetly
at Ivy.


EXT. QUIET ROOM – DAY

A heavy lock is undone. The tall wooden door swings open. We look into a
small cabin. It has only one room. It has a wooden chair in the center. A few
potato sacks have been piled in the corner. The room is dusty.

Ivy and Noah stand and look in. Noah holds her arm.









This makes Ivy laugh. Noah laughs too.

Ivy puts out her hand to shake.


Noah shakes hands, up and down big, like the elders do.

Ivy taps her cheek. Noah leans down, for he stands a good six inches taller
than her, and kisses softly once.


Noah is beaming. Ivy closes the door to the quiet room.

Noah looks back. Ivy takes off. She's a good ten feet down the path before
he turns to see her not there.


EXT. RESTING ROCK – DAY

Noah is bigger, stronger and faster, but he has a hard time catching the blind
young woman running ahead of him. She moves effortlessly. She does not
use her stick. She knows every step of these hills. She taps a tree as she runs
by. She is laughing as she runs.

Noah passes her just as they finish. They both are out of breath as they reach
the rock formation.

One rock juts out at the base of an enormous wall of rock buried into the
side of the hill. There is shade here. This is Resting Rock.

There is someone sitting there when they arrive. Noah goes right over and
sits with him. Ivy sits and catches her breath before looking in their
direction.


Lucius stops eating the biscuit he has wrapped in his handkerchief for his
lunch break. Beat.


Lucius stares at the striking girl with the sweaty face and messed hair.

Lucius gazes quietly at Ivy as if she was a sorcerer. Noah just smiles. Beat.


Lucius fights a smile. Noah runs off after some nearby birds.

Ivy smoothes her wrinkled, dusty frock. It is an uncharacteristic nervous
gesture.


Lucius' smile melts away.



Lucius is about to say something when Noah comes back. Noah sits down
between them. Lucius turns his piercing eyes back to his biscuit.

Noah reaches into his pocket. He clutches something in his hand. He puts it
into Ivy's lap.


She feels it in her hands.


Lucius glances over. He goes still. Beat.


Ivy's face changes as she holds the RED FLOWER.


She holds it out to a saddened Noah. Her hand is trembling slightly. He
takes it back after a moment.


Lucius gazes at the flower in Noah's hand.

Beat. Ivy's head turns a quarter turn towards Lucius.



Lucius and Noah look at each other. Beat.



EXT. BORDER – AFTERNOON

Ivy's fingers trace along Noah's arm. She finds his hand. She moves over his
finger that is pointing. She turns and faces that direction.

Beat.


Noah nods.


Ivy, Noah, and Lucius stand at the top of the hill and stare. Beat. Lucius
turns and starts walking down the hill.

INT. MEETING HALL - AFTERNOON


Lucius' green eyes look up from his paper.


Lucius stares at the group of elders seated on the wooden chairs before him.
Alice watches her son lower the paper at his side. He just stands there. Beat.


Lucius eyes drift down. He tilts the paper slightly as he tries to read the
words at a steep angle at his side.


Edward smiles.


Lucius brings the paper back up.

Edward Walker sits up just a bit at the sound of his daughter's name.


Lucius looks up. He doesn't look down when he says the next six words.


Lucius returns his eyes to the paper.


Beat.

Lucius slowly lowers his paper. He exhales very slowly. The elders just
stare.


EXT. SCHOOLYARD – AFTERNOON

Noah makes monster sounds. He holds his hands up like claws as he slowly
chases the pack of laughing and screaming children around the playground.

The group of elders have gathered at the edge of  the schoolyard. They watch
Noah carefully as he runs around with the other children.

Noah bares his teeth and growls as he catches one of the laughing ten-year-
old boys in the pack. Noah picks him up and throws him to the ground hard.
The child starts crying.


Noah stops acting like a monster. He runs and hides behind the other
children.

The elders watch as the teacher pull Noah off the schoolyard. Noah is
throwing a slight tantrum as he is led to his punishment.

INT. HUNT CABIN – NIGHT

Alice Hunt sits at her small table. Hands folded on her lap.


Lucius sits across from her. His eyes flicker from the lamp light on the shelf.


Lucius is shaking.

Alice is sincerely unsettled by the sight of her son on the verge of yelling.


Alice lowers her eyes. Beat. She speaks in a softer voice.



Alice's eyes lock on his.


Lucius stands from the table. He moves across the small room.

Lucius points to the black box seated in the corner of the room on a small
table. It is identical to the one we saw in August Nicholson's house.




Alice looks ready to rise from her chair to stop him. Lucius doesn't move.
Beat.

Alice visibly composes herself. Her hands return to her lap.



Alice stares quietly at the stranger before her.

Alice instantly rises from the table and moves into her room with great
dignity.


Lucius doesn't even understand what he said. Alice walks back out of her
room.


Lucius is flustered. He gathers his thoughts and looks to his mother. Beat.


Alice gazes upon her son.


Alice moves back to the chair she started in. Lucius takes his seat across
from her. Beat.

Alice cleans some dust off the table as she speaks.


Beat. Lucius thinks of other things as he says the words.

Alice shakes her head, "No" to herself. They both sit at the table plowing
through their own thoughts. CANDLIGHT flickers on this painting of a
mother and son at a wooden table.


EXT. BORDER – DAY

We are at the edge, where the grass ends and the woods begin. On every tree
that touches the grass is a yellow slash of paint. Every fourth tree holds a
flag of the same color.

Two young men replace a broken flag. They both wear hooded cloaks that
touch the ground. The cloaks are a mustard-yellow.

The young man, who has been boosted up, loses his balance. He quickly
grabs a branch and steadiest himself. He looks down to his partner. They
share a tension filled look as they glance into the forest. They work as if they
are on a tight wire.

A third young man in a mustard yellow cloak passes them. Lucius carries a
wooden bucket of yellow paint. He nods to them as he passes.

Lucius walks along the perimeter of trees. He stops a handful of trees down
the line. The paint on this tree is fading. Lucius dips the handmade brush
into the bucket and puts another coat on the tree.

He picks up his bucket and continues on. He glances over his shoulder as the
figures of the two young men get smaller and smaller. Lucius keeps walking.

He passes the large tree stump.

Now he slows to a stop again. He looks to the woods... Seventy five paces
away from where he stands, nestled between two thin trees, is A BUSH
BLOOMING WITH RED FLOWERS.

He looks down the line of trees to the two young men; they move along the
perimeter and slowly move out of sight.

Lucius steps to the edge of the grass. His shoes are inches away from the
dirt of the forest floor. In the dirt, clearly visible to the eye, are groups of
LARGE CLAWED FOOTPRINTS. The indentations from the claw points
dig deep into the soil.

Lucius does not acknowledge any of this. He stares quietly into the woods,
lowers his bucket to the ground. Beat.

HE STEPS OVER THE FORBIDDEN LINE INTO COVINGTON
WOODS.

Lucius takes the last few steps to the bush. He reaches into it and snaps off a
branch. He straightens up.

And then for the first time we sense him pausing.

He turns and looks slowly over his shoulder.

THERE IS SUDDEN MOVEMENT. LEAVES AND BRANCHES SNAP
AS WE SEE, FIFTY FEET AWAY, THE DARK FORM OF A HUMPED
CREATURE, STANDING UPRIGHT. IT SUDDENLY MOVES. WE SEE
IT STRIDE AWAY INTO THE DENSENESS OF THE WOODS.

Lucius turns and starts walking. Branch in hand, he moves at a calm even
pace as he heads back to the bucket with yellow paint.


EXT. WALKING PATH – NIGHT

Lucius moves along a walking path. He passes by a LAMP LIGHT.

He gets pulled from the strong current of his thoughts by the rattling of a
bush. He sees someone crawling around in the foliage.


Lucius watches as Ivy Walker crawls out and stands. She looks in Lucius'
direction.


Ivy runs her hands over her frock. Dirt and leaves fall off.


Lucius stares at Ivy who has dirt and leaves in her hair. She bends down and
picks up her cane.


Lucius nods.


Ivy smiles.

There is an awkward moment.


EXT. WALKER BACK PORCH – NIGHT

Ivy and Lucius arrive in silence to the back porch of the Walker cabin. In the
LAMP LIT windows we see Kitty and her younger sister talking.


Ivy climbs the stairs and stops.


Beat.

Beat.




Beat. This affects Ivy.


Lucius nods. Ivy climbs a few more steps and stops.
She turns.


Lucius looks a little confused.

Lucius raises his eyebrows.


Lucius stares at the striking blind girl who stands in the shadows with a
mischievous smile.


Ivy turns and walks into the house. We see through the open back door as
Noah leaps out from behind a water basin and scares her. Ivy starts chasing
the tall boy around the room playfully.

EXT. TOWER – NIGHT

Finton Coin sits huddled in the corner of the tower perch. His knees are
tucked into his chest. There is an oil lamp on the floor by his side.

The oil lamp moves as the tower creaks. Finton sits up. THE LAMP LIGHT
ON FINTON'S TENSE FACE FLICKERS AND THEN RETURNS.


SILENCE. Finton crawls over to the trap door in the floor. He listens a
moment before reaching for the rope handle.

He pulls back the wooden door slowly.

Finton looks down the ladder that drops twenty feet away to the ground. The
thick legs of the tower can also be seen.


SOMETHING PASSES UNDERNEATH. IT IS DARK IN FORM AND
MOVES DEVILISHLY QUICK INTO THE SHADOWS.

All the air leaves Finton Coin's lungs.

Finton shuts the trap door quietly. He moves the wooden bolt into the lock
position. All his movements are slow and trancelike.

Finton places his hands on the railing and pulls himself up. He steadies
himself on his feet. And then peers over the railing.


EXT. COURTYARD – NIGHT

People of the village move normally through the courtyard.

AND THEN THE WARNING BELL SOUNDS IN THE DISTANCE. IT IS
VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE PRACTICE BELL IN THE YARD. ITS
SOUND IS DEEPER MORE POWERFUL AND RESONANT. ITS
SHORT REPEATED RINGING ECHOES THROUGH THE AIR.

Everyone in the courtyard suddenly freezes and then starts running.

Everyone except Lucius. He turns and looks over his shoulder towards the
direction of the tower.


INT. WALKER CABIN – NIGHT

Kitty and Ivy look up as they dress their little sisters for bed.

THE DISTANT REPEATED SOUND OF THE WARNING BELL silences
all the chatter.

Beat.

Kitty turns to Ivy.


Kitty scoops her little sisters off their bed and moves directly towards the
trapdoor in the back of the cabin.


EXT. CABINS – NIGHT

Lucius ushers a group of people into a cabin. He closes the door and shuts
them in. He moves quickly across the path to a woman who tries desperately
to close the shutters on her cabin. The shutters stick on their rusty hinges.
Lucius comes over and closes it shut.

He turns as a SHADOW PASSES OVER HIM.

Lucius ducks into the darkness by the side of the cabin. There is movement
all around him.

HE WATCHES AS A CREATURE MOVES SLOWLY TOWARDS THE
FRONT DOOR OF THE CABIN.

Lucius steps back farther into the shadows. He presses his back against the
side of the cabin and loses sight of the creature.


INT. WALKER CABIN – NIGHT

Noah jumps up and down, agitated and excited. Kitty tugs at his arm as she
pulls him towards the trap door. She looks across the cabin and sees Ivy
standing in the open front door.


Ivy looks out in the direction of the STRANGE SOUNDS.


Kitty leads Noah down into the crawl space where the two younger sisters
wait frightened and silent.


Ivy turns and looks back at her sister, strain and strength on her face.

Kitty walks down into the underground room with Noah and the children.
Only her head can be seen as she watches her littles sister, across the cabin
stand in the doorway to the outside.

Ivy puts out her hand through the open doorway. She holds it out to the
darkness.

THE WARNING BELL RINGS OVER AND OVER IN THE DISTANCE.

STRANGE SOUNDS CAN BE HEARD THROUGH THE WALLS IN
THE BACK OF THE CABIN.

Kitty listens to them, tears fill her eyes. Her head turns back to Ivy and
screams across the cabin floor.

OUTSIDE:

THERE ARE SHADOWS ALL AROUND THE WALKER CABIN.

A HUMPED CREATURE EMERGES FROM THE DARKNESS. IT
STARTS RUSHING TOWARDS THE PORCH.

Ivy holds her hand out as she stares blankly into the darkness outside. Tears
stream down her face. She is terrified.



THE LARGE DARKENED FIGURE OF THE CREATURE CLIMBS
ONTO THE PORCH.

A HAND GRABS IVY'S HAND.

SLOW-MOTION: Ivy turns as Lucius moves with her through the doorway.
They close the door shut quickly and bolt it. Lucius and Ivy run together
across the cabin. Lucius never lets go of her hand.

They reach the open trapdoor. Lucius helps Ivy in and then follows her
down. His arm spears out and grabs hold of the rope handle. The door shuts
over their heads.


INT. UNDERGROUND ROOM – NIGHT

REAL TIME:
Six individuals huddle together in the darkness. A TINY STREAM OF
LIGHT FALLS ON THEIR FACES.

SOUNDS OF SCRATCHING AND CLAWING CAN BE HEARD ON
THE WALLS OF THE CABIN. THE DISTANT SOUND OF THE
WARNING BELL IS MUFFLED IN THIS UNDERGROUND SPACE.

Kitty holds her little sister tight. Noah claps his hands joyously in the small
space he has to move.

Lucius and Ivy are crouched together close to the stairs. Their faces are
almost touching. They both stare up at the crack in the door and listen. They
both breathe hard; their breath falling on each other.

Ivy's face tilts slowly to her lap. Lucius' hand is still holding hers.


INT. UNDER GROUND ROOM #2 – NIGHT

A large number of men and women are crammed together in another
underground room.

THEY LISTEN AS NOISES AND GRUNTS MOVE AROUND THEM
OVERHEAD.

INT. UNDERGROUND ROOM #3 – NIGHT

A group of children are huddled together in the darkness of another
underground room. The children's hands cover their ears. They try to block
out the SOUNDS STABBING AT THEM THROUGH THE CRACKS IN
THE TRAP DOOR.

We see their tiny bodies jerk with every sound.

Their scared faces dissolve into the darkness.



EXT. VILLAGE – DAY

A gentle breeze pushes leaves around in circles. There is no one in the
courtyard. There is no one on the walking path.

The front doors of the cabins ate closed. On each door are TWO RED
SLASHES OF COLOR FORMING AN "X". The crimson markings are
seen throughout the empty village.


INT. MEETING HALL – DAY

All members of the village, young and old, are gathered together. THE
SOUND OF SOME CHILDREN WHIMPERING can be heard in the tense
silence.

Edward looks at the faces.

Beat. Edward suddenly looks older. His childlike eyes flicker with emotion.


August touches him on the shoulder in a brotherly way to stop him from
speaking. August looks out over the congregation.

A note is passed from the gathering. Vivian Percy is the closest of the elders
and accepts it. She checks the front and back for an inscription. She looks
out over the room of faces.


The room of faces do not respond. Vivian opens it.

Vivian turns to the elders at her side.


They all nod. Vivian throws a quick look to Alice before turning back to the
paper.


Whispers fill the meeting hall. Alice closes her eyes. August looks down.

Ivy sits in the crowd. She stares blankly at a point in space.

There are nothing but murmurs for a moment. Edward Walker silently steps
forward. The crowd moves aside as he walks through them.

He moves to the back corner, where the crowd parts and reveals Lucius
sitting against the wall. His eyes are red. Tears fall from his cheeks.

Edward Walker kneels down in front of him.


Walker's face trembles with emotion as he stares at the young man. Edward
Walker leans forward and whispers in the young man's ear.


Lucius looks up. The two men stare at each other. The crowd goes quiet
around them. The overwhelming pride and emotion in Edward Walker's
eyes slowly start to change Lucius. He grows stronger with every second he
gazes at his elder.

INT.CLASSROOM – DAY

Vivian Percy claps her hands.




She stares at the quiet faces of the children.


The children nod gently. They are ready.


EXT. CLEARING – DAY

A collection of fifteen men and women are constructing a wooden canopy.

Noah Percy helps cut a rope that tethers one of the frames of the canopy to a
statue in the ground. An elder holds the rope and points. Noah slices it. He
laughs when the rope splits. He waves the knife in the air joyously. The
elder quickly takes the knife away from him and smiles.

Edward and Tabitha Walker guide the others as the two sides of the canopy-
frame are brought up into their standing positions.

They look up at the structure for their daughter's wedding with wonder in
their eyes. Beat.

They are gathered by the others and begin tying garlands of flowers to the
frame.


EXT. RESTING ROCK – DAY

Lucius unwraps his biscuit from his handkerchief.


Lucius looks up to find Ivy standing before him.


Lucius doesn't say a word.

Ivy lets out a breath.


Ivy turns and walks away. Lucius' green eyes watch her as her as he brings the
biscuit to his mouth.


EXT. SUPPERTABLE – AFTERNOON


Edward Walker looks to Kitty at his side. Christop sits across from her. They
are both dressed in white. Edward smiles to them as he takes a seat.

August stands. It is unexpected. Eyes watch him.

Beat. August takes a seat.

The table is covered in a feast of foods. Hands start reaching across the
table. The business of a festive dinner begins.


EXT. BORDER – AFTERNOON

The SOUND OF WOODEN FLUTES AND HAND MADE
INSTRUMENTS CAN BE HEARD IN THE AIR.

Two young girls in mustard yellow cloaks lead two young men in hooded
cloaks. The girls walk procession-like with flowers in their hands, The two
young men carry a wooden box with rope handles.

The group stops ten feet from the border into the forest. The girls turn
ceremonially together and wait for the young men to open the lid of the one-
foot by one-foot square box. The girls then toss their flowers in the box and
step aside.

The young men raise the hoods of their cloaks over their heads. The lid is
closed and the box is picked up by it's handles again. The girls stay where
they are as the young men carry the box right to the edge of the forest.

There the lid is reopened. The two young men reach down and pull out the
contents of the box. The flowers the girls threw in the box, trickle off the
blood red surface of the LARGE SLAB OF MEAT.

The two hoods turn and look into the forest. About five feet into the forest is
a large flat rock. Its surface is stained dark from dried animal blood.

The young men start swinging the meat to gain momentum. On the third
swing, they throw the large slab of meat into the air and over the forbidden
boundary. It makes a SOUND as it lands on the rock.

The young men glance at the forest for a moment, and then turn and walk
back to the girls. They turn and start walking in a procession back down the
hill and towards the MUSIC.

EXT. CANOPY – AFTERNOON

A canopy of flowers and vines has been made on the grass next to the
stream. Candles hung by string are tied throughout.

A quartet of young musicians play on stools. Vivian Percy and the children
sing next to them.

Kitty is dressed in a beautiful simple white frock. Christop looks neat and
handsome. They stand on either side of August Nicholson who holds a
weathered book in his hands. He quietly quietly instructs the couple where to stand
and what to do

The some of the guests are seated in wooden chairs, some are seated in the
grass.

Ivy is seated on the grass nearby with an older woman with thick gray hair.
We have seen this woman sitting with the elders many times. This is MRS.
CLACK.


Ivy turns to Mrs. Clack and smiles.

Beat.


Ivy can hear the change in Mrs. Clack's voice.



Mrs. Clack fixes her frock with her puffy hands.

August Nicholson turns to the congregation. He calls out.


Everyone in chairs and on the grass stands for the ceremony.

EXT. CANOPY - NIGHT

The MUSIC IS LIVELY. The musicians are up on their feet. People are
dancing.

Kitty and Christop stand side by side and greet each family of the village.
They are presented handmade gifts wrapped in twine. Kitty is glowing as she
accepts the wedding gifts.

Ivy steps up and hugs her sister tight.  Kitty hugs her back and lets go. Ivy
keeps hugging. Kitty realizes Ivy is crying. Ivy kisses Kitty on the cheek and
finally lets go. Kitty watch with confusion as her sister moves away.


Kitty forces a smile and accepts the next gift.


EXT. CANOPY ENTRANCE – NIGHT

Edward and Tabitha Walker greet the elders that swarm around them and
congratulate them.

Alice Hunt steps up and kisses Tabitha. She moves to Edward who finishes
shaking a man's hand.


Alice puts out her hand.

Edward smiles at her. Alice smiles gently back.

She lowers her untouched hand back to her side. They both nod at each
other. Alice steps away.

She is flustered. She holds her hands nervously as she walks. Alice turns and
glances back over her shoulder.

Edward Walker is greeting Vivian Percy. HE SHAKES HER HAND as she
congratulates him.

Alice turns back and keeps walking. She looks around to see if anyone is
watching her. Her face is bright red with embarrassment.


EXT. CANOPY – NIGHT

The swirl of dancing captures more and more people.

Ivy stands to the side. Kitty's hand reaches out from the dancers. Kitty takes
hold of her sister and pulls her in. Ivy resists for a moment and then lets
herself join the celebration.

EXT. BORDER – DUSK

Long deep shadows fall in the woods.

The two young men in yellow hooded cloaks walk the final steps to the edge
of the forest. They look to the flat stained rock in the woods. THE SLAB OF
MEAT HAS BEEN REMOVED. A fresh stain sits where the raw meat used
to be.

The young men turn quietly and head back to the little girls. They lower
their hoods. They nod their heads to the girls who then smile. The four start
walking towards the music in two lines of two.


EXT. SLOPE TO CANOPY – NIGHT

Lucius Hunt sits along the slope that leads to the wedding canopy. THE
MUSIC AND LAUGHTER FLOAT THROUGH THE AIR.

He looks down to the CANDLELIT GLOW of the flowered canopy. Almost
everyone is dancing.

SOMETHING MOVES IN THE DARKNESS BEHIND HIM.

Lucius looks back over his shoulder.

THERE IS A RUSTLE IN THE BUSHES ON THE SLOPE ABOVE HIM.

Beat.


A LOW GRUNT. WE SUDDENLY HEAR SOUNDS OF SCURRYING.

Lucius rises to his feet immediately.

EXT. CANOPY – NIGHT

Ivy is in the thicket part of the dancing. Her hair has come loose from its
upturned position. She laughs as she turns in circles with her sister and
friends.

THE FIRST SCREAM MIXES WITH THE LAUGHTER AND
DISAPPEARS.

The dancing goes on.

THE SECOND SCREAM CAN BE HEARD MUCH MORE CLEARLY.
Ivy is among the first few who stop dancing.


EXT. SLOPE TO CANOPY – NIGHT

Lucius leans down and picks up an oil lamp that has been knocked to the
ground. It is one of a few that have been strung along a walking path.

Lucius  looks to Covington Woods in the distance. THERE IS THE
DISTANT SOUND OF BRANCHES SNAPPING.

Lucius turns as the SOUND OF A SCREAM CUTS THROUGH THE
MUSICAL DIN FROM BELOW.

He stares down at the warm glow of the canopy. He can see everyone has
stopped dancing. There is commotion.

Lucius wheels in the direction of the tower. We see a young man in a yellow
cloak standing sentry. We see him standing bored – elbows on the edge of
the railing.

Lucius watches him for a moment, then turns back confused.

EXT. CANOPY – NIGHT

The dance floor is full of confusion.

A few YELLS SPIKE THE AIR.

Ivy is unintentionally bumped a few times as people start panicking. She is
separated from her sister.

Ivy puts her arms out. She tries to move out of the knot of people.

PANICKED CONVERSATIONS GET LOUDER ALL AROUND HER.

She is bumped two more times. She struggles to keep moving in the crowd.

A HAND TAKES HOLD OF HERS. She feels Lucius leading her out of the
congestion. She holds his hand tight as they move towards the entrance of
the canopy.


EXT. CANOPY ENTRANCE – NIGHT

Lucius and Ivy emerge amongst a group of elders that are gathered around
two young boys. The boys are around ten years old. They are terrified.
Everyone close at hand listens in hushed silence.

Edward Walker is seated in a chair. The boys stand before him at eye level.

The boys nod. They are both crying. Beat.

Ivy moves next to her father. Edward takes her hand. Edward looks at the
boys.


Ivy gathers the boys close as Edward stands. He turns to the worried crowd
around him.



EXT. WALKING PATH – NIGHT

A SNAKE OF HANDHELD LIGHTS MOVE SLOWLY towards the
village.

The members of the village move in a group led by elders. Lucius walks
towards the front holding one of the lanterns.

Kitty and Christop move in the middle and walk in tense silence.

The procession moves towards the DIM LIGHTS OF THE CABINS.

EXT. COURTYARD – NIGHT

The elders have already moved into the courtyard. They walk in stunned
silence.

Lucius and the young men are next to follow.

When Kitty arrives her hands move to her mouth. Christop stops in front of
her.

THE COURTYARD BEFORE THEM IS LITTERED WITH DEAD
ANIMALS. CHICKENS, AND SQUIRRELS AND RACOONS. THEY
HAVE ALL BEEN SLAUGHTERED AND SKINNED, THERE ARE A
HANDFUL OF SKINNED ANIMALS DANGLING FROM ROPES TIED
TO THE POSTS OF THE HOUSES.

The villagers move like ghosts through their courtyard. Edward Walker
moves amongst them. He walks up to one of the hung animals and with
shaking hands, slowly unties the knot and lowers the animal to the ground.

A young man walks up to Edward Walker, hesitates and then taps him on the
shoulder. GERALD speaks in a whisper when Edward turns.


Everyone is moving towards doorways. Christop is trying to pull a stunned
Kitty through the chaos.

Elders usher people towards the nearest porch.

Lucius picks up two children in his arms and moves them to a doorway.

Ivy follows a group of people into a cabin.

Kitty stands in HER BEAUTIFUL WHITE WEDDING FROCK. Christop
tugs at her arm. She finally is pulled across the littered courtyard and
disappears into the darkness of a cabin.

EXT. SHED – NIGHT

Alice Hunt stands alone by the open entrance to the shed.

Edward Walker approaches her. She steps away so he may look inside.
Edward steps into the doorway of the shed. He stares quietly into the
shadows of the food shed. Empty cages hang open throughout the structure.

Alice speaks softly from outside.


Edward's eyes move to the doorjamb. He sees the fresh torn wood at eye
level.


Beat. Edward stares into the darkness of the shed.

EXT. CANOPY – NIGHT

There is no one in the wedding canopy. THE CANDLES HAVE ALL BUT
FLICKERED OUT.

A handful of chairs lay on their sides.


EXT. TOWER – NIGHT

Two young men stand in the tower. One man eats leftover cake from a
wooden plate. He cuts a piece off and hands it to his partner.

They eat wedding cake as they stare into the darkened woods.


INT. IVY'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Ivy lies in bed. She is awake. THE MOONLIGHT STREAMS IN
THROUGH THE HALF CLOSED WOODEN SHUTTERS.

THERE IS THE SMALLEST OF NOISES OUTSIDE.

Ivy gets out of bed. She moves to the window slowly.

Her outstretched fingers reach the shutter first. She pushes the shutter open.

She stares out into the darkness.


EXT. WALKER PORCH – NIGHT

Ivy walks out with a shawl over her night dress. She moves to Lucius who
sits on the stairs of the porch.

He turns as she sits down next to him. Beat.




Lucius nods silently. Beat.





Beat. There is an awkward moment. Ivy searches for something to say.


Lucius shakes his head lightly, "No."

Beat.



Beat. The wind blows stronger. They see leaves move all around them.

Lucius looks at her.


Beat.



Ivy is surprised by the strength in Lucius' voice.

Ivy sits in the moonlight. Tears stream down her cheeks. A hand reaches out
and wipes a tear. This causes more tears to fall.

Lucius Hunt leans forward and kisses Ivy Walker on the porch of her
father's home.


INT. WALKER BEDROOM – MORNING

Ivy and Kitty sit on their old bed together. Ivy squeezes her sister's hand.


The two sisters sit quietly. Kitty moves the stray hairs from Ivy's face.


Ivy closes her eyes.

The two sisters sit holding hands in the room they used to share.


INT. MEETING HALL – MORNING

A woman in her twenties stands before a committee of five elders.




Beat. Alice nods.

August Nicholson and the rest of the elders stare quietly at the woman. Beat.


BEATRICE nods and starts out.


The elders look up to find Beatrice still in the meeting hall.


Alice is taken a little off guard.


She glances to Edward and Tabitha who smile back. Alice turns to the
woman.

Alice gently looks down.




EXT. MEETING HALL – MORNING

A line of villagers wait patiently outside the doors of the meeting hall cabin.

Beatrice walks out and lets the next person in.


INT. HUNT CABIN – MORNING

Lucius Hunt opens the front door to his cabin.


Noah Percy stands in the doorway sobbing. Beat.

Noah walks in. Lucius closes the door.

Noah doesn't answer. Beat.

Lucius heads back to his desk. Lucius folds the piece of paper he was
writing and places it in the drawer.


Noah shakes his head. He move to Lucius.


Lucius barely sees THE SHARP BLADE.

NOAH AND LUCIUS  STAND EYE TO EYE. BEAT. NOAH PULLS OUT
THE BLADE FROM LUCIUS' STOMACH.

WE WATCH LUCIUS FOLD TO THE FLOOR OF HIS CABIN.

NOAH, STILL CRYING, CHANGES THE GRIP ON HIS KNIFE AND
BENDS DOWN OVER LUCIUS.


INT. PERCY BEDROOM – MORNING

Vivian Percy is helping Robert with his vest. She gently straightens out his
collar. They've done this routine many times.

THERE IS A NOISE FROM THE CABIN'S ENTRANCE.

Robert Percy places his eyeglasses on.



INT. PERCY CABIN – MORNING

WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE PERCY CABIN. THE MAIN
SITTING ROOM IS EMPTY. WE SEE THE FRONT DOOR IS OPEN.
WE MOVE TOWARDS IT.

THERE IS A NOISE, A CREAKING THAT GROWS IN STRENGTH. WE
MOVE TO THE FRONT DOOR AND THEN THROUGH IT.

WE ARE ON THE PORCH. THE CREAKING SOUND IS VERY LOUD.
WE TURN AND SEE NOAH SEATED IN A ROCKING CHAIR. HE
ROCKS BACK AND FORTH CREAKING ON THE NOISY WOOD OF
THE PORCH.

HE TURNS AND LOOKS OVER WHEN HE FEELS HIS PARENTS
PRESENCE.

VIVIAN AND ROBERT PERCY STAND FROZEN LIKE A BAD
PAINTING.

NOAH POINTS AT HIS WET SHIRT.

INT. MEETING HALL – MORNING

The elders look away from the man who stands before them, They turn to
the SOUNDS OF COMMOTION COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE
MEETING HALL CABIN.

The door opens, a short flustered man enters. THE NOISE AND
GROWING COMMOTION SPILLS INTO THE MEETING HALL.

A couple of the elders stand.



Beat.



EXT. WALKING PATH – MORNING

Ivy and Kitty step off their porch together. They make their way down the
walking path. There is a GROWING SOUND OF VOICES ahead of them.

Two people come rushing past.


One of the girls stops and comes back. She speaks in a frantic whisper.

HELEN runs off.

Ivy's face changes. Beat.

Ivy lets go of her sister's hand. She starts moving away.


Ivy does not respond. Her walk becomes quicker and quicker. Kitty stares
after her as her sister breaks into a run.


EXT. COURTYARD - MORNING

WE HEAR IVY COUNTING UNDER HER BREATH AS SHE RUNS.


On the twentieth step she reaches the end of the path and makes the turn
around a cabin into the courtyard.

THERE IS A COMMONTION ALL AROUND HER. SHE HEARS
KNOCKS AND DOORS OPENING AND CLOSING. ELDERS YELL
OUT.

Ivy runs past all the voices. She runs past all the frantic people and
movement.

THE SOUNDS OF COMMOTION ARE BEHIND HER.

She crosses the entire courtyard, brushing people as she runs.

She reaches the quiet part of the village; the part not searched yet.

Her feet hit the walking path stones similar to the ones near her house.

She drops her walking stick and keeps going.

She reaches a turn in the path and goes in the wrong direction before
realizing and changing directions. She starts running again. Her hair comes
flying out from its bindings.


She comes to a quick stop and puts her hands out. She feels the wood of the
front door of the Hunt cabin.

She pushes it open.


INT. HUNT CABIN - MORNING

She steps into the silent cabin.

Ivy uses her hands to find the first piece of furniture. It's a chair. She walks
around it.


Ivy moves slowly across the room, heading towards Lucius' loft.

Her foot HITS SOMETHING. SHE STOPS.

She is now standing in the middle of the cabin. Ivy bends down and gropes
with her hand. Her hand comes back dripping.

Ivy kneels to the ground and searches with her hands for Lucius' head. She
finds his shoulders and pulls with all her strength to get him onto her lap.

THERE ARE VOICES AND NOISE OUTSIDE. FOOTSTEPS ARE
HEARD.

A young man steps into the doorway. He is instantly stopped by what he
sees. He quickly runs away.

WE HEAR MANY FOOTSTEPS NOW.

Edward Walker is the first one in the doorway. He begins shaking his head
violently. Tears instantly fall over his anguished face.

WE HEAR MORE FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.

The area behind Walker gets filled with villagers.

Edward Walker gathers himself for a moment. He speaks to those closest
behind him.

A handful of those in shock behind him, leave.

Ivy Walker sits on the floor of the cabin with a bloodied lump of clothes and
flesh in her arms. She looks in the direction of her father's voice.



EXT. SICK CABIN – DAY

The entire congregation of the village waits outside the sick cabin. Everyone
is silent. All watch the windows of the narrow cabin.

A FLAG OF WHITE FLIES at half mast next to the cabin.

Ivy walker listens TO THE SNAP OF THE WHITE FLAG.

A door to the cabin opens. Mrs. Clack walks out and approaches the group.
She glances at Ivy and then looks to the group.


Some women in the group begin to cry. Parents hold their children a little
tighter.


Ivy concentrates on the SOUND OF THE FLAG. She listens to the
RHYTHMIC SNAPS. Then slowly, her face begins to tremble. She finally
begins to cry.

INT. THE QUIET ROOM – DAY

The heavy wooden door to the quiet room is being unlocked. Robert Percy
turns from the door. His face ashen. He steps aside.

Ivy moves to the door. She opens it.

Next to the sacks of potatoes, in the corner of shades, Noah Percy sits in the
only chair in the room. He sits eerily straight up. When he sees who it is, he
smiles. The CHAIR CREAKS AS HE STANDS.

Ivy walks straight to THE SOUND. She reaches for his face. Finds it... and
CRACKS HIS FACE WITH A VIOLENT SLAP. Noah covers his face with
his hands. She slaps him again and again. Her hands hitting his ears, his
hands. She stands there hitting him. He stands there taking it.

Robert Percy takes hold of her and gently pulls her off him. After a moment,
she stops raising her hand. She lets herself be quietly taken form the room.

The door is closed again. Locked again.

FROM INSIDE THERE IS A SUDDEN BURST OF SCREAMS. IT DIES
DOWN TO A WHIMPER.


INT. SICK CABIN – DAY

One of the oldest of the elders, VICTOR, stands near the door to the sick
cabin with Tabitha and Edward Walker.

In the background we can see Alice Hunt sitting next to the only occupied
cot. There are low sounds coming from the lump that is Lucius.

The three elders in the doorway, speak in whispers.

Beat. Edward turns to Victor.


Victor shakes his head,