The Lab

written by

Abigail O'Neill
INT. MOVING CAR IN RURAL AREA - DAY
Carson looks out the window sighing and looking sad. Aria
looks over at him with a worried expression.
ARIA
This move will be good for us.
CARSON
(forlorn)
I know.

EXT. SMALL LAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS - DAY

The two get out of the car and walk up to the lab where a man
in a lab coat and a well dressed woman are standing.
DOCTOR
Welcome! It's a pleasure to meet
the two of you again. I appreciate
you coming all the way out here to
work for me. I assume the ride here
went well.
ARIA
It went very well. And thank you
for allowing us to stay on the
property.
Aria nudges Carson with her elbow. He is startled.
CARSON
Oh, um, ya, thanks for letting us
stay here.
ALICE
It's no problem at all. It will be
nice to have someone to talk to out
here. We don't get the chance see
many people.
DOCTOR
Ah, right, I haven't introduced you
yet. This is my wife Alice.
ARIA
It's very nice to meet you.
ALICE
It is nice to meet the both of you
as well. Its going to be dark soon,
why don't we show you to your new
home.
 2.

EXT. FOREST - DUSK

The four walk up to a small cabin a little ways into the
woods.
DOCTOR
This is where the two of you will
be staying. We would have you stay
in the lab with us but our extra
rooms are being used for storage at
the moment.
ARIA
That's alright, this looks like a
perfect place for us.
DOCTOR
That's great to hear. We'll leave
you to get situated now and
tomorrow morning I'll show you
around the lab. Oh, and thank you
again for signing on to work with
me, I need the help right now. All
the rest of my assistants quit.
Have a good night.
The doctor starts to walk back to the lab. Alice starts to
follow, then abruptly stops and walks back to the siblings.
ALICE
(With a serious tone)
It's very important that the two of
you always stay inside as soon as
it gets dark out. And make sure
that your door is always locked,
especially at night.
She quickly walks away before the two can respond. They share
a confused glance. Carson has a terrible feeling after
hearing her words.
CARSON
What was that all about. Lock our
doors and don't go out at night?
What's out there that we have to
hide from?
ARIA
Its nothing. She probably said that
because we're in the woods and
there are bears or something.
 3.

CARSON
I don't know but it gave me a bad
feeling.
ARIA
(laughing)
Don't be so paranoid.

INT. CABIN - NIGHT

The siblings finish unpacking their things. Carson still
looks worried about what was said earlier.
ARIA
Lets get some sleep, we have a busy
day tomorrow.
Carson nods and they turn off the light and get into bed. As
they go to sleep he stares at the locked door with a
concerned expression.

INT. LAB - DAY

The doctor is finishing giving the two a tour of the lab.
DOCTOR
And that over there is the
basement, but you don't need to
worry about that. It's off limits
to the two of you so you won't ever
go near there.
CARSON
Why is it off limits?
DOCTOR
(annoyed)
It has some of my personal projects
that are not ready to be revealed
yet. Also, it has some of my other
personal items that I don't want
you snooping around.
There is a tense pause as the doctor regains his composure.
DOCTOR (CONT’D)
Now, Aria why don't we get started
on my latest project.Carson, you
can go back to the cabin for the
day.
 4.

The doctor walks away. Aria gives Carson an angry look before
following him.

EXT. FOREST - CONTINUOUS

Carson walks back to the cabin slowly. He explores the area
and talks to himself as he walks.
CARSON
We just had to move here didn't we.
(Mimicking Aria)
The Doctor's just the best. His
ideas are life changing, he might
even find the cure to cancer one
day. Now I get the chance to help
him. Blah, Blah, Blah.
(Back to normal)
I don't like that he's hiding
something.

INT. CABIN - DUSK

Aria enters the cabin. She is visibly annoyed.
CARSON
How was the research?
ARIA
Don't act like you care. What is
wrong with you. The doctor gave me
a chance to work with him, which
only very few people have ever had
before, and even let you live here
too and you disrespect him by
asking about things he clearly
didn't want to talk about!
CARSON
What's wrong with me? Why are you
so upset, I just asked him a
question. And don't you think it's
weird that he has things to hide in
the first place? Why-
ARIA
Of course he has things to hide!
He's doing life changing things!
That kind of stuff has to be kept
secret until it's ready to be
revealed to the whole world.
 5.

CARSON
But why did he get so defensive
about it? What is so important that
just asking about it makes him
angry?

ARIA
I don't know but I'm done talking
about it. You need to go up there
and apologize to him tomorrow.
CARSON
I'm not doing that.
ARIA
Yes, you are!
The room is silent for a moment as Carson thinks.
CARSON
Fine I'll do it.
ARIA
Good.
(A pause)
I'm going to sleep.
Aria locks the door and shuts off the light.

INT. CABIN - LATER

Carson stares at the ceiling trying to sleep. Across the room
Aria is deep asleep. Carson hears a strange groaning noise
close by outside. He then sees a light and hears a yell and
struggling noises. He gets up to look out the window but by
the time he is there it is gone.

INT. CABIN - MORNING

Carson wakes up early and gets dressed glancing at Aria to
make sure she doesn't wake up. He carefully opens the door.

EXT. FOREST - CONTINUOUS

Carson quickly walks to the lab.

INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS

Carson opens the door and begins searching for the doctor inn
different rooms.
 6.

CARSON
Doc? Are you in here?
He heads toward the basement door. It is cracked open. He
quickly looks around then opens the door and goes down the
stairs.

INT. BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

The room is large and open. It reminds Carson of a hospital.
On one side of the room there is a group of people in lab
coats congregated together. He walks closer.
CARSON
Hello? What is this place?
(They don not respond)
Are you guys okay?
The people turn around and he can see that they are decayed
looking. They have a dangerous look in their eyes. The group
start running toward Carson. He screams. The doctor comes
running into the room from somewhere else in the basement.
DOCTOR
Get back! Don't let them bite you!
The doctor stands in front of Carson and tries to push them
back using a table. One of the group gets around the table
and jumps on Carson. They struggle on the ground as the
person tries to bite Carson. He manages to push the person
off.
DOCTOR (CONT’D)
Run!
Carson runs up the stairs and slams the basement door shut
behind him. He runs out of the lab and keeps running until he
makes it to the cabin.

INT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS

Carson bursts through the door and then closes and locks it
behind him. He falls to the floor and catches his breath.
Aria rushes out of the bathroom to see what is wrong.
ARIA
Are you okay? What happened?
CARSON
(out of breath)
Something, not right, at lab.
(MORE)
 7.
CARSON (CONT’D)
I was in basement, people attacked
me, Doctor said run.
ARIA
What! What do you mean- Oh my god,
your bleeding!
Aria grabs Carson's arm and looks at the deep gash.
ARIA (CONT’D)
That needs to be looked at. Let's
go up to the lab and-
CARSON
No! We are not going up there. Take
me to a hospital instead. Lets get
out of here.
ARIA
Why can't we just go to the lab, it
has everything you need and its
right up there.
CARSON
(frantic)
Just take me to a hospital please!
Don't go up to the lab, lets just
leave, please.
ARIA
Ok, ok, we'll go to the hospital.
They leave the cabin and Carson rushes them to the car. They
get in and Aria starts driving.

INT. MOVING CAR - LATER

Aria looks over at Carson to see how he is doing. He is
slumped against the door and seems to be asleep.

INT./EXT. CAR OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL - LATER

They pull up to the hospital and park out front. Aria shakes
Carson to wake him up and gets out of the car. Carson does
not get out of the car. Aria opens the door for him.
ARIA
Are you still feeling okay?
Carson stares at her blankly.
 8.

ARIA (CONT’D)
Carson?
Carson's stare changes to an angry one. He jumps out of the
car and attacks her. Aria screams and Carson bites her. They
struggle for a second before some of the hospital workers
come out and pull him off of her, getting bit in the process.
Carson breaks loose of their hold and starts attacking other
people causing chaos to be unleashed.