Meat My Uncle Page #4

Hold on.

JANE (CONT’D)

She comes up behind James and reaches around, adjusting James’s grip. Satisfied, she steps back.

JANE (CONT’D)

Let ‘er rip.

James hoists the katana and swings. The katana hits the stump with a solid THUNK. He prepares again and swings. THUNK. Again and again, striking with increasing ferocity.

James step up for a close strike, but his hand slips. Instead of the katana hitting the stump it’s his hand. The katana clatters to the ground as he grabs his scraped hand.

TITUS:

Not like that, kid.

Jane glares at him.

JANE:

You okay there Majes?

JAMES:

Yeah. I just slipped.

JANE:

It happens.

Hurts.

JAMES:

James sucks on his knuckles. She puts her arm around his shoulders.

JANE:

It’s stuff like that that reminds

us we’re alive.

Titus picks up the katana.

TITUS:

That’s probably enough for now.

He looks at James.

24.

TITUS (CONT’D)

You’re gettin’ good, kid. A little

more practice and you’ll take on

the forces of evil that’re taking

over the universe. Or whatever it

is.

He laughs and starts back to the house.

JANE:

Ignore him. He can be a jerk.

With her arm still around James’s shoulders they start towards the house.

24 EXT. UNCLE JONES'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS 24 DAN (a big, hairy guy) comes out on the porch.

DAN:

Hey. There you are.

James looks stunned.

JAMES:

You’re out of the house?

Jane laughs.

DAN:

Yeah. Happens once in awhile.

Titus goes up the steps and past Dan into the house. Jane and James stop at the bottom of the steps.

DAN (CONT’D)

I was lookin’ for you. I’m doing a

reaction vlog on a new flick. Wanna

sit in?

James hesitates. Jane gives him a little push.

JANE:

Do it. T and I have to get goin’

anyway. Enjoy.

Jane gives James a quick hug and follows Titus.

DAN:

So whatcha say, sport?

James nods. They go in.

25.

25 INT. DAN’S BASEMENT - LATER 25

Credits roll on the screen. Dan reaches over to his video camera and hits pause.

JAMES:

That was cool. Did it really

happen? I mean girls playing pro

baseball?

DAN:

Yeah. Of course this was just a

story, but it was about a real

thing.

JAMES:

I didn’t know any...

He stops at the sound of Mother’s voice.

MOTHER (O.S.)

C’mon James. We have to get going.

James turns to Dan.

JAMES:

Hey thanks.

DAN:

No worries big guy.

James runs up the stairs.

26 INT. SUV - LATER 26 Mother drives, James sits in the third row.

MOTHER:

You really like it back there,

don’t you?

James nods.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Why do you think that is?

JAMES:

It’s familiar.

MOTHER:

Hey, did you remember that Din is

coming over tonight?

26.

JAMES:

Can he sleep over?

Mother shakes her head.

MOTHER:

No, he’s just going to be there for

a bit. We’re “watching” him while

his folks go to some meeting.

JAMES:

That’s good.

MOTHER:

Besides he’s going on the road trip

with us.

James looks shocked. Mother looks at his expression in the mirror.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Did you forget?

JAMES:

Uh. Yeah, I guess I did.

MOTHER:

But it’s okay isn’t it?

Oh yeah.

JAMES:

Mother glances at the clock and hits the gas.

Hold on.

James smiles.

MOTHER:

27 INT. RISING PHOENIX - DAY 27

Majes sits back in the command chair watching the pinpoints of stars turn to streaks.

MAJES:

I’m getting used to it I guess.

AI (V.O.)

Was that directed at me?

27.

MAJES:

Just thinking out loud. These jumps

are kinda cool when you think about

it.

AI (V.O.)

Just doing my job. But I’m glad you

like it.

MAJES:

Glad? Do you understand that

emotion?

AI appears on the holo deck.

AI:

No, not really. I’ve heard people

say it in this situation. I thought

it would be appropriate.

MAJES:

Yeah, that’s something I’ve had to

work on as well.

He looks at the control panel.

MAJES (CONT’D)

So when do you suppose we’ll be

able to get supplies and fuel?

AI:

It shouldn’t be long. I’ve entered

the coordinates for a safe dock.

Relax. You’re in good hands.

Huh?

MAJES AI:

Another thing I’ve heard. Something about insurance, whatever that is.

Majes sits up.

MAJES:

Have you been streaming the old

vids again?

AI:

No. I watched them once and they’re stored forever.

Of course.

MAJES:

28.

AI:

Do you want me to play something

for you?

Majes considers.

MAJES:

How about that one about a women’s

baseball league?

AI:

Put your goggles on.

Majes picks up his video goggles and settles them in place. He sits back.

28 INT. SUV - LATER 28 Mother deftly guides the big vehicle into the driveway.

MOTHER:

Made it. Are you awake?

JAMES:

Yeah. Just landing the Rising

Phoenix.

He smiles.

MOTHER:

Successful trip?

JAMES:

It was good.

They climb out of the SUV.

29 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 29

DIN (12, plagued with allergies) and James sit on the couch next to each other absorbed in their handheld game consoles.

DIN:

There’s one.

James hits a sequence of buttons.

DIN (CONT’D)

All right! You got ‘em. Get the box

and I’ll cover you.

James hits another sequence.

29.

JAMES:

Opening the box.

Wait!

DIN:

They both look defeated.

JAMES:

I guess I should’ve waited.

Din laughs.

DIN:

‘s okay. It’s a game. We just have

to respawn and we can go again.

Mother comes in with some snacks and sets them on the table.

MOTHER:

Your folks will be here soon, but I

figured you little adventurers

could use a snack.

DIN:

Thank you, Ms. Jones.

MOTHER:

Of course. James?

JAMES:

Oh, yes, thank you. Can Din stay

over?

Mother shakes her head.

MOTHER:

We already talked about that. Not

tonight. Besides, he’s going on the

road trip with us.

Oh yeah.

JAMES:

Din punches James gently.

DIN:

What? You forgot about me?

He laughs.

DIN (CONT’D)

I think we have a little more time to play. Wanna?

30.

Without a word they dive back into their game.

30 EXT. JUNGLE - NIGHT 30

It’s dark. Wind whips through the branches of the trees strong enough to make the trunks shake. The smell of rain, usually comforting, makes James gag. Something is rotten and he can barely breathe.

JAMES:

It’s like that easter egg we lost

that year.

He looks around and sees that he’s alone, rambling on to himself.

Suddenly Janes bursts through the underbrush, soaking wet, dressed in pink heart pajamas, her bare feet slapping the mud, yelling unintelligibly.

She looks terrified.

What...?

JAMES (CONT’D)

Jane gets closer, panting.

Run. Why?

JANE JAMES:

Jane runs up to James, her wet ponytail flapping back and forth. Her pajamas are stuck to her body and the mud covers her from her knees down.

31 INT. JAMES’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 31

James jerks awake, screaming. He can’t stop, the screams intensify.

James.

MOTHER (O.S.)

He looks around his dark room, eyes wide in terror.

MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Do you need me?

James pants, looking back and forth as he tries to control his breathing.

31.

There’s a soft knock at his door.

MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Okay. I’m coming in.

Mother comes in, flips the light switch, and stands next to James. James slumps back as Mother sits on the bed beside him.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

I see a storm in there Jimmy.

What’s going on?

James shakes his head.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes