Meat My Uncle

MEAT MY UNCLE:

Written by

Don Erikson

Story by

Erez Y Bailen and Tom Foster

Eriksond@icloud.com

FADE IN:

1 EXT. THE CRADLE - NIGHT 1

A large chateau looms in the distance - subtle lighting disguises the security in place. A GUARD walks the perimeter next to the shrubbery that marks the property line.

As the guard passes, the bushes rustle slightly and JAMES JONES (12, slight build, dressed in black) cautiously pokes his head out. He sees the guard walking away and emerges silently from his hiding spot.

With one eye on the guard and the other on the chateau, James creeps across the lawn. He pauses in the shadows by the porch and pulls a piece of paper out of his jacket pocket.

He reads:

Come around to the side. I’ll open my window. Watch out for the guard.

James looks left and right.

JAMES:

(to himself)

Watch for the guard. Thanks. Which

side?

He flips a coin, nods, and goes left creeping along the side of the building.

TOBIAS (O.S.)

Psst. Hey. James.

James stops at the sound and looks up. A second floor window, shrouded in darkness, is open.

TOBIAS (12) pokes his head out of the dark window.

Up here.

TOBIAS (CONT’D)

James sees a downspout and starts climbing. He reaches the level of the window, but can’t reach the sill. Tobias extends a hand. James grasps at it.

A flashlight sweeps the wall. James freezes. The light pauses, then continues sweeping the wall.

With exertion, James manages to swing over and grab the sill with his free hand. Tobias pulls and James strains.

2.

Together they manage to get James through the window and into the room.

2 INT. TOBIAS’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS 2

Tobias and James sit under the window, their backs against the wall. James pants.

JAMES:

That was close.

TOBIAS:

Yeah. Good thing he didn’t see you.

You’d get chipped for sure.

James gulps.

JAMES:

Okay. You ready?

Tobias nods. He shows James a map and points to a location on it.

TOBIAS:

Down here. First sub-basement. It’s

gotta be there.

Let’s go.

They leave.

JAMES:

3 INT. SUB-BASEMENT - LATER 3

Tobias and James slink along a wall. Tobias holds a hand up, stopping James. He points to a rotating camera. The camera swivels away.

Okay.

TOBIAS:

They creep slowly down the hall, Tobias checking room numbers as they pass doors.

Here.

TOBIAS (CONT’D)

He tries the knob. It’s unlocked. He opens the door carefully and they step into the darkened office. James slides a chair in front of the door, blocking it.

3.

JAMES:

Just in case.

He snaps a small flashlight and shines it around the room. The light plays across a row of file cabinets. They go over to it and Tobias reads the alphabetical tags on the drawers.

His finger stops on T.

JAMES (CONT’D)

You think it’s in there?

I dunno.

TOBIAS:

He pulls the drawer open. An alarm rings softly in the distance.

Damn. Hurry.

TOBIAS (CONT’D) JAMES

Tobias starts rifling through the folders. Shaking his head.

TOBIAS:

It’s not here.

JAMES:

Lemme look.

He takes over. The sound of running footsteps drawing closer adds to his urgency.

He pulls a pile of folders out.

JAMES (CONT’D)

Here. It’s gotta be here.

C’mon.

TOBIAS:

They dive under the desk as the doorknob rattles. The door bangs against the chair.

JAMES:

That won’t hold ‘em.

He looks around and points to a side door. He taps Tobias on the shoulder. Tobias nods.

4.

They make a break for the door as the front door opens, the chair clattering to the floor. James jerks the side door open and they go through as two MEN burst into the room.

4 INT. TOBIAS'S ROOM - LATER 4

James and Tobias sit on the floor, poring over the contents of a folder. Other folders are open, scattered on the floor.

TOBIAS:

See? Everything is listed. Names.

Dates.

James points to a line.

JAMES:

What’s that?

TOBIAS:

Hmmmm. Activation date. I think

that’s when my chip goes live. My

birthday.

JAMES:

Wow. That’s next week.

They continue reading.

JAMES (CONT’D)

So, is everybody here an orphan?

Tobias nods.

JAMES (CONT’D)

What are they doing with you?

TOBIAS:

Teaching us like in school.

Training.

JAMES:

Training for what?

TOBIAS:

I dunno. But look at this.

He points to a page in his folder.

TOBIAS (CONT’D)

This is what I thought. The chips

are two-way.

Huh?

JAMES TOBIAS:

5.

Send and receive.

So?

JAMES:

Tobias looks at him, raised eyebrows.

JAMES (CONT’D)

Oh. They can send a signal to make you do what they want.

TOBIAS:

See why I need to get outta here?

JAMES:

But you were going to be adopted.

TOBIAS:

I don’t care. I gotta get out

before they activate...

Muffled voices in the hallway stop him.

Go.

TOBIAS (CONT’D)

James dives for the window as the door slams open. MAN 1 and MAN 2 dressed in paramilitary style uniforms burst in.

Get him.

MAN 1

Man 2 lunges towards James as Man 1 grabs Tobias. James looks over his shoulder.

Go.

TOBIAS:

James jumps through the window.

5 EXT. THE CRADLE - CONTINUOUS 5

James hits the ground, rolls, and leaps to his feet. He starts running towards the woods at the edge of the lawn.

Man 2 sprints after him, gaining on James. Man 2 reaches out to grab James by the shoulder.

James.

MOTHER (O.S.)

6.

James falls to the ground, Man 2 looming over him.

6 INT. JAMES’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS 6

James shakes his head. The Cradle is gone and he’s sitting in his bedroom.

MOTHER (O.S.)

James. Lunch.

Coming.

JAMES:

James closes his notepad and sets his pen neatly next to it. The cover has “THE CRADLE” in block printing across the center.

The walls of his room shimmer, turning an icy blue.

7 INT. ICE WORLD - CONTINUOUS 7

The transformation is complete. James’s room is gone and he stands in the middle of an ice cave wearing a winter camouflage parka, pants, and mittens. Oddly, he’s wearing socks without boots.

James starts skating towards the door. It slides open with a hiss revealing a frozen world in front of him.

James grabs hold of the doorjamb and propels himself forward. He skates down a long corridor between ice cliffs, grabbing hold of anything he can to propel himself faster and faster.

With a final push he slides into -

8 INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS 8

- a suburban kitchen, the ice is gone replaced by dark wood cabinets, a stove, counter, and a table with chairs. MOTHER (30s, androgynous, pronouns he/him), dressed in jeans and a flannel, sets a plate with a sandwich and generous pile of

chips on the table. James slides to a stop by the table. Mother smiles at him.

MOTHER:

Ah. Here’e my little explorer. Ice

caves again?

7.

James nods.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

How’s the story coming along?

Mother...

JAMES:

He sits at his place and eats a chip.

MOTHER:

I know. I know. No discussing a

story in progress. It’s just that

I’m interested.

James eats in silence.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

At least tell me which one it is.

James looks up.

JAMES:

The Cradle.

MOTHER:

Oh. The one with Tobias.

James nods and keeps eating.

JAMES:

I was getting to a good part. I’m

going back to it after lunch if

that’s okay.

MOTHER:

Of course, J. Thanks for asking.

James finishes his sandwich and chips, puts the plate in the sink, and skates out of the kitchen.

9 INT. JAMES'S BEDROOM - LATER 9

James closes his notepad and sets his pen neatly next to it. He turns to his computer and logs in.

MOTHER (O.S.)

Remember we’re going to Uncle

Jones’s house for dinner.

JAMES:

Yes! When are we leaving?

8.

MOTHER (O.S.)

In about thirty.

James smiles. He launches a game.

10 EXT. DRIVEWAY - LATER 10

Mother waits by the SUV. James comes rushing out carrying a couple of notepads.

JAMES:

I had to decide which stories to

work on.

He climbs in the back.

11 INT. SUV - CONTINUOUS 11

Mother settles into the driver’s seat and looks at James in the mirror.

MOTHER:

So, which one are you going to work

on first?

James holds up his notepad, “VOYAGE OF THE DAMODYMM” printed across the front. Mother tries to read it in the mirror and smiles.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

The space one?

James nods.

JAMES:

One of them. I like working on it

when we’re moving. It makes me feel

like I’m there.

MOTHER:

I don’t know how you can write

without getting carsick.

James doesn’t answer, already getting lost in his world. Mother starts the SUV and they drive away.

12 EXT. DEEP SPACE - DAY 12

An immense star cruiser with “DAMODYMM” blazoned across the prow glides through space backlit by pinpoints of distant stars.

9.

13 INT. DAMODYMM BRIDGE - DAY 13

The bridge is quiet, the ship running itself. A monitor flares to life.

A message scrolls across the screen:

“SYSTEM CHECK COMPLETE 0400 UNIVERSAL GALACTIC TIME. ALL SYSTEMS GO.”

ADMIRAL REGO RAMEN (human, silver haired, imposing stature) stands at the viewport, his thumbs hooked on the belt of his coveralls, gazing at the stars, lost in thought.

The door to the bridge hisses open, admitting ARMIST ICENTONGUE (beautiful elfin features, long dark hair) wearing the uniform of Captain and Chief Science Officer. She glides silently through the room to the side of Ramen.

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