The Survivalist Page #17

She watches as he walks back to his hunting spot and

surveys the trees.

The crow has gone.

EXT. FARM PLOT - DAY

The three inspect the plants of their crops.

They dig up root vegetables, babies really, checking to see

if any are edible yet.

Survivalist shows an immature onion to Kathryn, seeking a

second opinion. She shakes her head.

Milja looks at them. They're too fixed on inspecting the

earth to notice her take a pair of wirecutters from her

jeans.

She cuts a piece of mesh out of a pest barrier.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Milja lies awake, staring at the oven stove, gently burning

for night-time heat. Moonlight streams through the windows.

She slips her feet out of bed onto the ground. Checks

Survivalist. He hasn't stirred.

She steps across the floor, light feet barely creaking the

boards.

A glance through her the gap in the door to her mother's

room:
Kathryn lies sleeping on her back, hands

unconsciously crossed on stomach.

Milja sits cross-legged in front of the stove.

She pulls the wire from her trousers. Opens the stove door

a crack. Heats the wire.

It is soon red hot.

She takes it out, holds a silent penance as it cools.

She dabs it against the back of her hand - warm, not

burning.

She lies back on the floor and opens her legs. Uses her

fingers to feel inside herself.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

The metal teeth of the mantrap are lit by a slither of

moonlight.

The eyes of a RABBIT glint in the dark; it stares intently

at the bait on the trap.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Milja moves the wire between her legs... hesitating. Fear

of pain perhaps. Fear of the risks.

She slides the wire inside her. Slow, guided by her

fingers.

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

The rabbit nudges forward, moving across the jaws of the

trap.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Milja holds the wire still, at the threshold.

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

The rabbit stops. Whiskers short of the trigger plate. Nose

twitching at the scent.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Milja takes deep breaths.

Through the windows, the sounds of

... creaking oaks

... leaves finding voice in the rushes of wind.

She begins to push the wire deeper...

Then PULLS it out and throws it against the wall.

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

The rabbit turns away from the trap and bolts into the

darkness.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Milja sits up and dips head into hands; her body trembles

with mute sobs in the gloom.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

In daylight, the bait trigger lies untouched.

Kathryn finishes her inspect and stands, batting away

mites.

EXT. CABIN - DAY

Kathryn drifts across the fallow plot. Survivalist tends to

seedlings in the cold frame, utterly absorbed.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - DAY

Kathryn lies beside Milja on the bed. They both stare at

the ceiling. Hunger gnawed cheeks, shallow, lethargic

breath. Hunger nudging them awake. Hunger forcing whispered

words between lips.

KATHRYN:

There's food enough for two.

Kathryn looks at Milja, holds a hand to her cheek.

KATHRYN (cont'd)

You could shave him tomorrow.

Milja looks at her mother.

She shakes her head.

Kathryn breaks her glance and looks to the ceiling again.

KATHRYN (cont'd)

Then we leave.

MILJA:

No.

KATHRYN:

You have to do it. For both of us.

MILJA:

(repeating)

For both of us.

Milja stares back at the ceiling. Works through an idea.

MILJA (cont'd)

I could cook a meal.

KATHRYN:

A meal?

MILJA:

With mushrooms.

Kathryn thinks it through.

KATHRYN:

It would take time.

MILJA:

We could go for a walk. For a day,

or two.

()

Milja's eyes are wet, shimmering with thought.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

Milja steps through the forest in a crinkled summer dress,

faint and slow on her feet with hunger. She holds a

container... inside are a few mushrooms, nuts.

In a clearing ahead, a corridor of light falls on a troop

of white mushrooms.

She steps forward and picks one. She carefully inspects

it... a DEATH CAP...

She sets it in her dress pocket, and begins to pick the

rest.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Milja cooks on the wood stove. She adds chopped mushrooms

and nuts to the bubbling mix. An onion and three spuds

float around in the watery mix - all they can spare to fill

it out.

Without a word, Survivalist enters. Thin as we've ever seen

him. He hovers at her shoulder, spoons through the mix.

SURVIVALIST:

Good finds.

She gives him a forced smile. Shrugs him off gently as he

squeezes her arm.

He sits by the window and looks into the distant final

ember of sunset of an Indian summer night.

The stew bubbles quietly.

Milja removes the special variety from her pocket and

begins to chop them.

SURVIVALIST (cont'd)

This was my wife's favourite time of

year.

As he remembers...

Kathryn walks in, setting a torch by the sill - she's been

foraging past nightfall. She sets down her finds on a small

bowl on the table.

Milja sets three portions of stew on the table.

Kathryn unconsciously eyes the mushrooms in Survivalist's

bowl. He sees her looking.

KATHRYN:

She always scoops from the bottom

for you.

Milja gives another fixed, hollow smile as she sits at

Survivalist's side.

Kathryn digs in. Milja as well, but she's forcing herself.

Survivalist is famished but without appetite. He spoons the

food.

He lifts a spoonful of steaming liquid to his mouth. Blows

it gently.

Then sups it.

Kathryn, somewhat relieved, continues eating. Milja's eyes

remain fixed in front of her. She eats mechanically,

without appetite.

FADE TO:

INT. CABIN, SEED ROOM - DAY

Kathryn wakes alone - golden, first light seeps through the

window. She gathers some clothing into a bag.

INT. CABIN, MAIN ROOM - DAY

Kathryn steps quietly into the room.

Milja lies awake, under Survivalist's arms. Her eyes are

red with tears. She doesn't move as her mother packs a few

handfuls of vegetables from the stove into her bag.

Kathryn indicates for Milja to get up.

She remains in bed.

Kathryn steps towards her.

KATHRYN:

We don't have time...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes