Bird Box Page #12

69.

TOM:

How’d that work out for them.

Gary shakes his head.

GARY:

Two of them went out, never came

back. But we let this guy in? He

looked lost, said his wife and kids

just... he was alone. That...

changed things.

MALORIE:

Who was he?

GARY:

Just some guy. Carl? That was his

name, I think. Kept to himself,

didn’t talk much, wouldn’t join the

group for meals. I think he was

scared of my brother’s friends.

Gary takes a breath, knowing where his story is going.

GARY (CONT’D)

The one time he did join us, he

said something. He believes this

whole thing is a hoax. There are no

creatures, or whatever, out there.

And we’re all being tricked. Of

course that didn’t go over well

with anyone else, and he shut up

after that.

INT. EDDIE’S HOUSE - FLASHBACK - NIGHT

Gary and six rough-and-tumble MEN sit around a dining room

table, passing a bottle around. It’s a frat party for middle-

aged men. Gary tries to keep up.

GARY (V.O.)

The guys raided a liquor store and

we all celebrated that night.

INT. EDDIE’S UPSTAIRS HALL - FLASHBACK - MORNING

Gary approaches the stairs down to the first floor. His

clothes are disheveled.

GARY (V.O.)

But I can’t drink like they do. I

passed out upstairs at some point.

(MORE)

70.

GARY (V.O.) (CONT'D)

And when I went back down to beg my

brother for some aspirin...

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Back to scene.

GARY:

Carl had pulled down all the

blankets and left the doors open.

Olympia gasps.

TOM:

You know it was Carl, and not any

of your brother’s friends?

GARY:

My brother and his friends are all

dead, in that house. But Carl... He

left. And he left the door open

behind him.

FELIX:

How is that even possible? I mean,

everyone who’s seen one of those

things...

DONALD:

What if he was already insane? We

don’t know what it does to you if

your mind’s already broken. Maybe

it doesn’t affect you. Maybe it can

affect everyone differently.

LUCY:

Like that guy in the freezer at the

store. Sh*t... Bad enough we gotta

worry about monsters or whatever

the f*** they are. Now this?

The group erupts into conversation. Donald pulls Tom out of

the group for a sideline talk.

TOM:

What?

DONALD:

Aren’t you worried?

TOM:

About what?

71.

DONALD:

Old man Edgar. He keeps to himself,

always getting paper, his fingers

have charcoal stains... Didn’t you

hear Gary’s story?

TOM:

No.

DONALD:

Tom, yes.

TOM:

He’s been here for weeks without

incident. He’s harmless.

DONALD:

Or he’s a time bomb.

Donald walks away. Tom stays, struggling with the issue.

INT. SPARE BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Malorie brushes her hair after a shower, prepping for bed.

Olympia enters with a glass of water.

OLYMPIA:

I’m going right back to bed.

Olympia opens the medicine cabinet and grabs three pill

bottles. Vitamin supplements. Pre-natal prescriptions.

Malorie notices. Inspects a bottle, surprised.

MALORIE:

Where’d you get the pre-natal

supplements?

OLYMPIA:

I had them on me.

Malorie suddenly feels like the worst mother ever. She stops

combing out her hair and stares at her reflection a beat.

Olympia jars her out of her silent shame-

OLYMPIA (CONT’D)

I’m sorry.

MALORIE:

For what.

72.

OLYMPIA:

For coming over here. I hear what

Don says about us. One pregnant

woman was a problem, two is too

much. I’m a burden.

MALORIE:

No you’re not.

OLYMPIA:

Yes I am. I’m so used to my husband

handling things. He loves me so

much... I got soft from all that

love. Forgot how to do things.

Now he’s out there, and maybe he’s

flying jets but, I mean...

Olympia tries really hard not to cry. It’s clear now, she

feels like the unprepared one, and sees Malorie as better.

Malorie moves to comfort her. Takes Olympia’s hand in hers.

MALORIE:

Hey. It’s going to be all right.

Olympia smiles with a sadness at Malorie.

OLYMPIA:

If something happens to me, I want

you to care for it. Okay?

MALORIE:

It’s your baby.

OLYMPIA:

I don’t think that means much

anymore.

MALORIE:

(emphatic)

It’s going to be okay. We’re going

to make it. All of us.

EXT. RIVER - DAY

Five years later. Just Malorie and the children.

Girl and Boy perch at either end of the boat.

Malorie rows. All of them are still blindfolded.

MALORIE:

Children... I need to tell you

about the waterfall.

(MORE)

73.

MALORIE (CONT'D)

(breath)

This is the hardest thing we have

ever done together. One of you...

One of you needs to be brave-

BOY:

Shh.

Malorie frowns. Cranes her neck.

BOY (CONT’D)

(whispered)

You hear that?

Now they all strain to hear.

And there it is:
an outboard motor. Getting closer.

Malorie rows back for the bank.

MALORIE:

Keep your heads down.

She finds the shallows.

Just as the engine noise gets even louder.

Like it’s moving for them.

Malorie grips the oar tightly. Girl and Boy listen.

GIRL:

What is it?

MALORIE:

Do not take off your blindfolds.

The boat’s engine cuts abruptly.

The air smells of gasoline.

Footsteps cross what sounds like a deck.

MAN (O.S.)

Hello there!

(beat)

Hey you three, it’s okay. You can

remove your blindfolds, I’m just an

ordinary man.

MALORIE:

(sotto, to children)

No you cannot.

MAN (O.S.)

There’s nothing out here with us,

Miss. We’re all alone.

74.

Malorie is still. Tense.

MALORIE:

...How do you know?

MAN (O.S.)

Miss, I’m looking right now. I’ve

had my eyes open the entire trip

today. Yesterday, too.

MALORIE:

You can’t just look. You know that.

The stranger chuckles.

MAN (O.S.)

Really, there’s nothing to be

afraid of. Not anymore. Just us two

on the river, crossing paths.

Girl puts her hand to her blindfold.

Toys with it.

MALORIE:

You can leave now.

She hears the man sigh.

MAN (O.S.)

There’s no need to live like this.

Consider these children. They’re

missing a chance to view a brisk,

beautiful day.

Malorie is trembling.

Full on fight-or-flight mode.

MALORIE:

Stay away from our boat.

The man does not answer.

Then:
splashes in the water. Nearby.

Malorie raises the paddle.

Her only defense.

MAN (O.S.)

Miss, the view is incredible.

When’s the last time you looked

outside? Years? Have you seen this

river? The sun?

75.

MALORIE:

We are keeping them on.

MAN (O.S.)

I gave that up yesterday. I moved

on. You can do it, too.

His voice is closer. Wading.

MALORIE:

Leave us alone.

Girl keeps a hand on her blindfold.

Head crooked in the direction of his voice.

MAN (O.S.)

They can’t haunt you forever. They

can’t force you to live like this.

(closer now)

Your worries only keep you safe

long enough to worry some more.

The Man’s HAND reaches the front of the boat.

His body near Girl.

MAN (O.S.) (CONT’D)

And I’ll tell you what...

His MOUTH speaks near the Girl’s ear.

MAN (CONT’D)

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