Bird Box Page #6

From the shoebox: two nervous CHIRPS.

The bird cannot see out the holes cut in the box, but it’s

clear the budgie senses something.

INT. UPSTAIRS BATHROOM - DAY

Free of the blanket and blindfold, Malorie grabs a set of

bath towels off a rack. Shoves them into a duffel bag.

INT. UPSTAIRS BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Malorie opens dresser drawers, looking for clothing.

Checks the tags on t-shirts. Takes one.

32.

INT. BEDROOM CLOSET - MOMENTS LATER

Malorie rifles through clothes on racks.

Finds a heavy coat. Too big. But better than nothing.

Ready to go, she dons a clean, dry beach towel.

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Returning to the kitchen. A noise stops her cold:

The sound of the table being dragged across the floor.

The fishing wire has caught on something.

Something big enough to move the table.

HER POV:

Straight ahead, staring at the fabric of the towel, all that

filters through is a vague rectangle of sunlight.

And then a shadow passes in front of it.

Large. Devouring the gauzy sunlight.

Malorie goes rigid with fear.

Slowly, she reaches up and puts on her blindfold.

WIDER ANGLE:

The beach towel slides off her back.

She’s gripping the scissors in one hand.

Moves. Very. Cautiously. For the door.

The table is jammed against it.

Her hand finds the reel tied to the leg.

The fishing wire is still taut. Straining.

Poised to snap at any moment.

Something splashes heavily, outside.

EXT. BACK LAWN

Malorie stays low, following the line.

Listening intently.

Something is near. In the pool.

What isn’t heard: breathing noises. It’s unsettling.

33.

Malorie’s hand follows the fishing line.

Her foot steps on the pool net she dropped before.

Off to her right, more water sounds.

Something emerging from the pool.

Malorie does something very risky:

She runs while blindfolded.

INT. WOODS - MOMENTS LATER

Thin tree branches lash her as she runs through.

Then, she trips on something and falls hard. Scrapes her arm.

When she gets up, she reaches out, searching, finding:

A CORPSE of a woman. Mostly decayed. But higher up-The

fishing line. She’s back on track.

EXT. ROWBOAT - DAY

Boy and Girl huddle together, shivering.

Malorie emerges from the trees-Girl

grabs the oar again, threatening:

GIRL:

Stay away!

MALORIE:

It’s me, Girl. It’s me.

Malorie finds the boat and climbs on board.

Boy and Girl cling to her. Hugging tightly.

Malorie embraces them both.

Beat. Then, sniffling:

GIRL:

Will we make it now?

Boy tilts his head up at her.

BOY:

Will we ever make it?

MALORIE:

Of course we will.

34.

She says it sternly. But her head is turned away. Like she’s

asked that question for years, every day.

INT. HOUSE - MORNING

Five years ago. An ‘X’ is drawn in a square.

Long-haired Malorie crosses through a July date on a wall

calendar, matching a week of Xs prior.

She’s at the counter separating the kitchen from the living

and dining area of the house. She flips the calendar to

September to note the 28th circled and labeled: “DUE DATE.”

Behind her, the living room is busy with the captive members.

INT. KITCHEN

Greg stares at an empty cabinet.

Other cabinet doors hang open, revealing stacks of plateware

here and there, and lots of empty space. A rare can of food.

Felix crunches on cereal right out of the box at the island.

Standing and eating like a bachelor.

GREG:

Is that Choco-Burst?

FELIX:

Yeah man. If anything has my name

on it, it’s this. Why do you even

have this stuff?

Gesturing at the box with the cartoon character on its cover.

GREG:

It’s my nephew’s favorite.

FELIX:

(mouth full)

He has good taste.

GREG:

(judgmental)

He’s ten.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Tom nods at Greg as he approaches. Waiting for the answer.

35.

GREG:

We’re out of perishables. And all

that’s left to drink is well water.

You might have to make another trip

to Cheryl’s house and grab anything

else there to eat.

TOM:

We did that already. And the two

houses on either side.

GREG:

We need a real solution here...

As they continue, we drift to find Lucy playing solitaire at

the coffee table. Her leg bounces.

Cheryl rearranges the throw pillows on the couch, making idle

chatter with Lucy whether Lucy wants to or not.

CHERYL:

And if I hadn’t been out to check

the mail, who knows where I’d be.

What were you doing around here?

Lucy tries not to take it as a racist question.

LUCY:

I live a mile from here. I’m in

graduate studies.

CHERYL:

Oh? Maybe you know Felix, I hear

he’s a recent grad.

LUCY:

Pshh. No.

CHERYL:

What are you studying?

LUCY:

Fitness and nutrition. So basically

I’m screwed. Nobody’s gonna be

counting calories anymore.

Cheryl moves a chair and sits at eye level with Lucy.

CHERYL:

This is temporary. When we get out

of this, I’m going to have you help

Bobby with his candy addiction.

(at Donald)

(MORE)

36.

CHERYL (CONT'D)

Have they said anything about

Lansing?

Donald holds up a finger at Cheryl: hold on. He sits near a

stereo system tuned to a talk radio station.

Felix returns from the kitchen and joins him.

DEEJAY (V.O.)

...would then move north from Ann

Arbor securing smaller cities as

they go, starting with Brighton,

July 27. Fenton, July 30.

Waterford, August 10. Flint, August

17. Riverbridge, September 3.

FELIX:

There it is.

DONALD:

Maybe.

FELIX:

Malorie, circle September third.

MALORIE:

National Guard?

FELIX:

Yeah.

Malorie-- still at the wall calendar-- circles the date. Then

writes the word “RESCUE” on the date.

DONALD:

Allegedly.

Lucy stands up and rolls her shoulders like a boxer before a

fight. Nervous energy.

LUCY:

September? F***, that’s over a

month away.

Cheryl gives Lucy a disapproving look. Lucy ignores her.

FELIX:

We’ll run out of toilet paper

sooner than that.

DONALD:

We’ve already cleaned out the

kitchen. Some of us don’t

understand rationing, either.

37.

Malorie joins in, having overheard Greg and Tom nearby.

MALORIE:

Tom is talking about a supply run.

CHERYL:

The radio said to stay inside.

FELIX:

Stuff won’t magically come to us.

CHERYL:

Somebody must deliver out here.

(off everyone’s looks)

I mean, right? ...What?

Felix is first to crack a laugh. It gets everyone giggling.

MALORIE:

Cheryl. Nobody delivers anymore.

The doorbell rings.

Everyone tenses. Exchanges looks.

Greg and Tom break from their talk and join the group.

GREG:

Was that...?

The doorbell rings again. Nobody moves.

LUCY:

Well is someone gonna get that?

She goes for the door.

MALORIE:

Is that safe?

Lucy stops at the door. Hand on the knob.

LUCY:

You think it’s one of those things?

FELIX:

(oh come on)

Ringing the doorbell? Like they’re

selling cookies?

OLYMPIA (O.S.)

(muted)

Nobody’s answering.

38.

LUCY:

Who’s there?

OLYMPIA (O.S.)

Oh thank god. Hi? My name is

Olympia. Can we come in?

LUCY:

What are you doing out there?

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