LO2 - Script

FALSE AWAKENING

Written by

Ellis JH Sullivan

Maddie Fearn

and Lewis Wright

BLACK SCREEN.

TITLE FLASHES ON SCREEN.

FADE IN:

EXT. A WOODLAND PATH, LITTERED WITH LEAVES - AFTERNOON

TITLE DISAPPEARS OFF SCREEN.

We are shown a woodland path, surrounded by trees and littered with crisp, autumn leaves. Gradually, a trio of campers in their early 20s comes into shot- DWAYNE, JESS and STEPHEN- and we see them pause to look at the map.

DWAYNE

Well we’re too far into it now to turn back.

JESS

I think the map’s the wrong way round.

DWAYNE

No it’s not, we’re going somewhere over there.

STEPHEN

Yeah I forgot you’d done such a good job of directing us so far.

DWAYNE

Look I’ve got it okay? I know where we are now. I thought that we needed to take the road here (pointing towards the map in hand) but it’s actually the one behind us.

As Dwayne speaks the camera focuses behind the three characters, and we see a figure stood by the woods behind them.

So we’re… yeah it’s fine we’re on the right path. Like I said we’re heading for a field over there. Shouldn’t be much longer.

JESS

You’ve said that seven times already.

DWAYNE

I promise you it’s not far. The map literally says just follow this road.

STEPHEN

(Humming) Follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE FROM BLACK:

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – EVENING

DWAYNE, STEPHEN AND JESS are climbing a hill towards the campsite, each carrying different camping equipment and backpacks.

CUT TO:

EXT. COUNTRY FIELD - NIGHT

DWAYNE, STEPHEN AND JESS are sat around campfire making smores. They have set up camp in a field besides a woodland, and behind them their tent is illuminated by the firelight.

DWAYNE

Do you remember the first time we tried to go out camping.

JESS

(laughs) Can’t forget. Believe me I’ve tried.

STEPHEN

What was the name of the place again?

DWAYNE

It was something stupid like (Straightens back and lifts up his hand, extending his pinky in and attempt of mocking stereotypical posh people) The earl of Whitehorn’s estate.

As the group sits there, the camera cuts to a wide shot and it appears as if somebody is watching them through the cover of the woodland, before returning to the original frame.

STEPHEN

Oh god yeah, They were more up their own arse’s than Buckingham palace (He laughs).

DWAYNE

Why did we even go?

JESS

Because of the pool and stuff.

DWANYE

That pool was brilliant.

STEPHEN

Oh is that why you skinny dipped in it?

DWAYNE

It wasn’t what it looked like.

STEPHEN

In front of the primary school trip?

DWAYNE

For fuck’s sake Stephen, that’s not how it happened.

DWAYNE goes quiet for a few seconds as he notices JESS has begun to look around, puzzled.

DWAYNE (CONT’D)

What?

JESS

Did you guys move my pack into the tent?

STEPHEN

No. Well at least I don’t remember.

DWAYNE

I didn’t.

JESS

Well can you check please because I left it there.

DWAYNE

You check, it’ll just be in the tent.

JESS glares at DWAYNE before standing up and storming towards the tent. STEPHEN raises his eyebrows at DWAYNE.

DWAYNE

What?

STEPHEN

Did you take it?

DWAYNE

What? No! I’d have said.

STEPHEN

Just checking. Do we have more smores?

JESS (OFF SCREEN)

Guys I really don’t think its in here.

STEPHEN

It might be out here, maybe you misplaced it.

JESS

(She exits the tent and returns to the rest of the group) No, I’m pretty sure it was right-

SFX: ANIMAL LIKE SHRIEK

A Loud Noise comes from off-frame sounding vaguely animal like. The character’s spring up in fear.

JESS

Shit, that got me.

STEPHEN

Probably just an animal or something. (pausing then speaking slowly) Should we send someone to look?

STEPHEN and JESS turn to look at DWAYNE, who shrugs awkwardly.

DWAYNE

(Putting on mock bravado) Probably not worth checking out. Jess’ right, sounded like an animal.

STEPHEN

Yeah.

JESS

Maybe an animal ran off with my backpack.

STEPHEN

(scoffs) Yeah I think a badger was eyeing the marshmallows in there earlier. Must’ve decided to take matters into his own hands. (DWAYNE laughs)

JESS

Don’t be an arsehole. It has all my clothes in it.

DWAYNE

Well even if Chip and Dale didn’t make off with your stuff, it might be worth having a look around to see if you dropped it on the way. Or if it like… blew away from camp or something.

JESS

Blew away?

DWAYNE

Yeah.

JESS

(hums then speaks sarcastically) That’s much more likely than an animal, this light breeze might’ve carried it right off.

DWAYNE

Shut up. Let’s go.

DWAYNE and JESS begin to walk away but are stopped by STEPHEN beginning to speak again.

STEPHEN

Wait, shall I just stay here then?

JESS

Well we’ll only be a minute, don’t worry.

JESS and DWAYNE resume walking and STEPHEN is left at the camp by himself.

EXT. THE WOODS - NIGHT

JESS and DWAYNE walk through the woods, side by side and staring intently at the ground to try and spot the missing backpack. The two have their hands pushed deep into their pockets to try and avoid the cold.

DWAYNE

I’m not seeing it.

JESS

Yeah. I swear I had it when we got to camp, I would’ve noticed if I’d lost it on the way here.

DWAYNE

It’s pretty dark, maybe you just couldn’t see it?

JESS

Hm. Maybe.

JESS and DWAYNE continue to walk in silence before DWAYNE begins to slow down.

DWAYNE

Can you just wait here for a second?

JESS

Why, where are you going?

DWAYNE

Need to go… excrete.

JESS

Never mind, didn’t want to know. Go ahead I’ll just stay here.

DWAYNE

I used the most polite term.(He laughs).

SFX: ANIMAL LIKE SHRIEK

JESS turns to face the opposite direction as DWAYNE jogs away further into the woods. He pauses at a tree a little ways off and begins to undo his belt buckle, something appears to shift behind him and a moment later he is started by a loud noise- similar to the one from earlier. Instead he freezes, and looks around slowly. Nothing’s there.

DWAYNE

Did you hear that Jess? (after a few seconds there is no reply so he repeats, a little louder) Jess?

CUT TO BLACK

EXT. THE WOODS – NIGHT

JESS is sat next to the fire, STEPHEN throws some sticks he has gathered beside it.

JESS

(Infuriated)I can’t believe that bastard.

STEPHEN

I can. (He laughs and rubs his hands together for warmth)

JESS

He never takes anything seriously. This weekend was supposed to be just… a break.

STEPHEN sits down beside JESS, he puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

STEPHEN

You know what he’s like. He’s probably made friends with a squirrel or something.

JESS laughs

STEPHEN (CONT’D)

Actually, I’m not sure a squirrel would tolerate him.

STEPHEN takes an LSD tab out of his pocket and wiggles it in front of JESS, smiling.

JESS

Fuck him.

STEPHEN

Yep. Fuck him.

CUT TO:

CW: OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT

‘THE KILLER’ watches STEPHEN & JESS as they take the tabs. They soon begin to lose some control over their motion.

JESS

Remember when we were planning to go to Switzerland?

STEPHEN

Yeah. That didn’t last long.

JESS

Wasn’t Emma coming? What happened to her?

STEPHEN

Yeah. It was weird, she just sort of dropped of the grid.

JESS

I swear the last time I spoke to her was when she got pissy with Nick because of the whole-

SFX: ANIMAL LIKE SHRIEK

JESS (CONT’D)

What was that?

STEPHEN

Why would I know?

JESS

(Shouting) Dwayne?

STEPHEN

Shhh. Don’t yell.

JESS

Why not? (A little louder) Dwayne?

STEPHEN

Jess- just be quiet okay? Look I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to freak you out but I think… don’t freak out, I think there’s some other campers around here. They’re probably making all the noise.

JESS

You saw other campers?

STEPHEN

Kind of. There was some noise from over there and I thought I saw a figure.

JESS

Stephen, this isn’t a camping site. Nobody else should be camping around here.

STEPHEN

Maybe it was Dwayne?

JESS

He couldn’t have gotten all the way over there… Stephen I swear I can see somebody.

STEPHEN

In the woods?

JESS

There! (pointing) There’s a light.

STEPHEN

I mean… it could be a light.

JESS

(Yelling) Dwayne?

JESS sets off in the direction of the woods.

STEPHEN

Woah woah what are you doing?! (She continues to walk) Jess. Jess! (Begrudgingly, Stephen follows after her)

EXT. THE WOODS - NIGHT

JESS walks slowly into a clearing and picks up a torch that has been abandoned on the ground; there’s a little bit of blood splattered across it. STEPHEN follows a few moments later.

JESS

Dwayne?

STEPHEN

Hello other, potentially murderous, campers?

JESS

Stephen there’s actually blood on this.

STEPHEN

(He takes the torch from Jess’s hands and inspects it) Shit.

JESS

What do we do?

STEPHEN

(Pausing) I don’t know, there’s no signal to call anyone. Maybe we should go and wait back at the car.

JESS

Stephen that's miles away. What if something’s seriously wrong? We have to stay here in case he comes back.

It appears as if a figure moves away behind Jess.

STEPHEN

Oh my- someone’s there. Jess move back. Hello?

JESS

Stephen there’s nobody there.

STEPHEN

I definitely saw somebody. Lets just go back to the campsite, now. We’ll wait for Dwayne there.

JESS and STEPHEN begin walking briskly away from the woods, constantly checking behind their shoulder.

SFX: SOUND OF MOVEMENT BEHIND THEM

The two begin to sprint towards the camp.

EXT. THE CAMPSITE - NIGHT

JESS

Stephen! Did you move the chairs before you left?

STEPHEN

No? (pause) Okay that’s weird they’ve definitely moved. Has someone been through here?

JESS

Maybe it was Dwayne.

STEPHEN

Why wouldn’t he have just stayed at the campsite? (Panicking) Why does he have to fuck about all the time? This isn’t even funny, why couldn’t he just.

JESS

(Raising her voice slightly) Stephen - I don’t know. I really don’t like this, can we get our stuff and leave? I don’t even mind walking back to the car, at least there’s some signal there.

In the background we see the tent move slightly. Gradually, the front flaps are unzipped by somebody inside.

STEPHEN

What if we see someone on the way back?

JESS

Somebody as in another normal human being or…

STEPHEN

Yeah. The person that attacked Dwayne.

JESS

We don’t know if anyone attacked him.

STEPHEN

Jess there was BLOOD on the torch, do you really want to take any chances?!

A figure’s head pops out of the tent and he slowly stands before beginning to make his way towards JESS and STEPHEN.

JESS

I don’t know! We can’t stay here, we can’t go back, what are we supposed to do?!

STEPHEN

Why are you asking me?! I’m even more freaked out than you are!

JESS

Fuck. (She notices the figure behind STEPHEN) Should we- STEPHEN!

STEPHEN

Frustratedly) Jess I don’t know!

JESS

NO, Stephen, behind you!

STEPHEN turns and also notices the figure. He instinctively picks up a large rock beside the fire and in a split second strikes ‘THE KILLER’ across the face.

JESS is crying now. STEPHEN turns back to JESS, he drops the rock to the floor.

JESS

Stephen. We need,we… Stephen we need to go.

STEPHEN

Jess what’ve I done. Why did you let me do that? Jesus Christ Jess, What’ve we done.

JESS

He was going to kill us!

STEPHEN

No, he wasn’t.

JESS rushes over to the body. She removes THE KILLER’S hood and sees that it is in fact DWAYNE. His forehead is covered in blood. JESS bursts in to tears

JESS

Oh my God, Stephen.

STEPHEN

(Ignoring her) I can’t go to prison. I have a future planned.

JESS (CONT’D)

Stephen, we need to go to the police.

STEPHEN joins JESS next to the body. In the background we see another figure come up over the hill.

MAN

Oh you’re back…

STEPHEN AND JESS LOOK AT EACH THEN BACK AT THE MAN. STEPHEN moves quickly in front of DWAYNE, hiding him.

MAN

I was looking for you. I stumbled across your friend in the forest and brought him back here, he’d injured himself somehow. (He pauses for a second before saying cautiously) Where is he?

STEPHEN and JESS look at the man scared, STEPHEN slowly moves to the side, showing DWAYNE.

          STEPHEN

                  (faintly) Please help us

CAMERA PANS OUT

FADE TO BLACK

THE END