Trapped

BRYAN:

What do you mean by that?

VERONICA:

I mean, if you’re innocent, then you probably should be afraid to be around criminals.

BRYAN:

(Shrugs)

I had a very rough childhood.

VERONICA:

Like what?

BRYAN:

Growing up around gangs and all that inside a rough neighborhood.

VERONICA:

(Growing interested) Were you a part of them?

BRYAN:

No. But I nearly got killed on several occasions. My father got killed by one of them.

VERONICA:

I’m sorry to hear that.

The others in the group listen in on the conversation as they continue to walk through the forest.

BRYAN:

So, what’s your story?

Bryan looks at Veronica in the eyes. She appears to be nervous as she prepares her answer.

VERONICA:

I had a normal childhood. But then later, things changed, I changed- and I decided to start stealing.

BRYAN:

(Disappointedly)

Why?

VERONICA:

Because I was low on money. My parents lost a lot of money in the recent depression.

BRYAN:

And then you ended up here because of that?

VERONICA:

I guess so.

BRYAN:

How bad was your crime?

VERONICA:

I was just regular. I stole items from grocery stores and then one day the police had enough and decided to put me in jail.

BRYAN:

That sucks, I guess.

VERONICA:

But I deserved it. And now here I am.

BRYAN:

(To the others)

And how about you guys? Is there anything I should know about?

The others peer at each other hesitantly, as though deciding whether or not their crimes are “ok” enough to admit, and then Curtis goes first.

CURTIS:

(Says to Bryan)

I grew up the same way as you did. But of course, I was a part of some vicious groups of gangs. And I got busted for robbery ten years ago. I was just 19.

Curtis looks at the ground below him with a great deal of shame, and Bryan switches his gaze to Jack and Amy.

BRYAN:

And you guys?

AMY:

I acted carelessly and accidentally killed someone.

The others look at Amy in shock. Then they face Jack.

Now they’re nervous.

BRYAN:

(To Jack) And you?

Jack shakes his head.

JACK:

I’ll state my crime as soon as you admit yours’.

BRYAN:

I didn’t commit a crime.

JACK:

Whatever.

Veronica comes to Bryan’s defense.

VERONICA:

Well, for now, we have to assume that he’s innocent, since we have no proof.

JACK:

What do you mean, no proof??? He was caught and was placed inside of the arena with us. They had to have evidence in order to place Bryan inside the game.

VERONICA:

But he keeps denying it.

Jack’s face grows increasingly red as each second passes.

He appears to be extremely nervous, his hands shaking as he continues to look suspicious.

JACK:

Fine. Alright? I concede. I committed murder around fifteen years ago.

Jack glares at the rest of the group, who look at him in shock. And then...

They continue on in silence.

INT. VALLEY-SOUTH SECTION-NEAR CABIN-DAY

The group has now reached the south section of the arena. Bryan and the others (not counting Jack) look rather nervous.

VERONICA:

(Whispers)

Should we trust him? I mean, he committed murder.

Bryan glances at Veronica.

Then he peers at the forest in front of him.

BRYAN:

There’s not much I can say to reassure you.

VERONICA:

There has to be something.

BRYAN:

Well, all I can say is that if Jack does anything wrong inside the arena, then he’ll most likely go back to prison even if he survives.

VERONICA:

But still.

BRYAN:

What?

VERONICA:

He can get nervous and turn against us or something.

Bryan turns towards Veronica and suddenly glares at her.

VERONICA (CONT'D)

What?

BRYAN:

Remember, you’re a criminal too. And do you think I’m trusting you guys?

VERONICA:

Yes, of course. But a murderer compared to a thief?

BRYAN:

(Shrugs)

I don’t know what to say to that.

Both Curtis and Amy keep a distance from Jack, who’s walking mainly alone in the group.

AMY:

I’m so scared.

BRYAN:

What now?

AMY:

(Sighs)

I don’t want to say anything.

Amy glances at Jack every now and then. It’s as though she’s spying on him.

AMY (CONT'D)

Anyways, we’re trapped in this arena for like another 23 hours or so, with this psychopath-

JACK:

Hey! I don’t want any trouble to start around me.

AMY:

Any trouble to start around you? You’re the murderer.

JACK:

I mean, I don’t want a lack of trust because you guys interrogated me and finally know about my crime.

BRYAN:

Well, I can’t really blame the others, or me, in this case, for not trusting you. I mean, you did something really bad.

Whatever.

JACK:

Bryan raises his eyes at Jack, who makes the same gesture back at Bryan.

BRYAN:

What do you mean, whatever?

JACK:

I mean, I don’t care. The past is the past.

BRYAN:

But the past is still being held against you.

JACK:

And since you keeping saying you’re innocent, why don’t you say what crime they’ve accused you of?

BRYAN:

Because that wouldn’t be a good idea.

Now the others stop in their tracks.

VERONICA:

And why wouldn’t that be a good idea?

BRYAN:

Because I was accused of committing three counts of first-degree murder.

Veronica gasps.

The others look at Bryan in shock. However, he appears to be very calm.

AMY:

Great, so we have two murderers in our group!

BRYAN:

Would you stop complaining? And I was accused of first-degree murder. I didn’t commit it.

VERONICA:

But how can we trust you?

CURTIS:

Yeah, let’s say you’re lying. Then what? Anything could go wrong then.

BRYAN:

(Adamantly) You can trust me.

VERONICA:

(Laughs, very sarcastic) There’s no proof of you not committing the crime. So...

Bryan says nothing.

He stares at the ground in front of him nervously as both he and the group keep progressing onwards.

A couple of minutes later, Bryan spots something located about five-hundred-feet from the group behind a group of tall trees.

BRYAN:

Guys, look!

The others turn quickly towards the direction that he’s pointing in.

VERONICA:

Is that a cabin?

BRYAN:

I think so.

JACK:

Ok, then let’s go. It’s the first safe location that we found inside the arena.

The group heads quickly towards the cabin.

EXT. CABIN-DAY

All five people inside the arena head towards the two-story cabin.

When they reach the cabin, they stop.

BRYAN:

Let’s go inside.

Bryan opens the front door to the one-story cabin, and the others come inside, with Bryan coming in last.

And once they’re inside, he shuts the door.

INT. CABIN-DAY

Tension builds as the group keeps a distance from both Bryan and Jack.

JACK:

(Takes offense)

It’s not like I’m going to bite you guys.

AMY:

How do we know? You admitted yourself to being a dangerous criminal.

JACK:

And you’re a criminal too.

AMY:

I’m not a MURDERER.

Jack raises his eyes at Amy, as if daring her to say something else.

Bryan breaks the pair up as they close in on each other.

JACK:

(Looks at Bryan) What are you doing?

BRYAN:

I’m making sure we don’t kill each other before the wolves even get here.

VERONICA:

Wait. How are you sure they’ll get here?

CURTIS:

Yeah. I mean, the wolves are going in the opposite direction.

BRYAN:

And given that the arena is enormous...

VERONICA:

Then we have a good chance to survive without ever being found.

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