9 DAYS LATER

Written by
Jubert Angelo Castro

Draft 01
04.14.21
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I. EXT. HORIZON - MORNING

There appears a small ball of light in the sky. It then goes on increasing
in size and then goes on giving a bright color to the clouds and
saturating also the bodies of water like pulsating lights while the birds
sing to its shine.

II. EXT. BUSY STREET – MORNING

Early morning, traffic starts building up. Crowds of pedestrians can be

seen walking along the pavements and people move like enchanting shoals of
fish. There is chatter between sellers and buyers, old friends catching
up, new friends made.

III. EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE – DAY

A crowd of peculiar people wearing black is walking outside of the house.

Constantly walking into different directions. Not minding each other.

IV. INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

DERICK (27), a scientist, is writing notes and formulas in his notebook

and constantly looking at a wall filled with papers - figuring out what to
do with his experiment. After hours and hours of deep thought and
contemplation, he couldn’t grasp what he was looking for: the right
formula and equipment to use, needed conversions, desired dosage, etc.
Because of this, he started to get frustrated. His temper slowly sparked
until rage consumed him and fury vibrated through – throwing away his
notebook and pen, pulling the papers pasted on the wall, letting out a
savage scream, and hurting himself.

V. INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Derick, out of control, proceeds on to experiment without following a

specific step by step procedure. He quickly pours different chemicals into
a glass and experimented randomly.

His work area is a mess.

VI. EXT. BUSY STREET – DAY

In the afternoon, the crowd is growing bigger and bigger again as it is

time to go home after work.

The crowd gradually disappears as evening approaches and darkness begins

to creep in as soon as the sun begins to set.

VII. INT. KITCHEN – EVENING

Derick, still troubled with his emotions while experimenting, went on to

encircle the day on the calendar. After that, he started to feel peculiar
things: sore throat, headache, sweating, difficulty breathing, tiredness,
and loss of speech and movement, but shortness of breath as the most
prominent.

Clinching for his life, Derick landed on the floor and passed out. The
last thing he saw before the darkness consumed him completely was a person
in a black robe holding a lighted candle until it went off.
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VIII. EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE – EVENING

The crowd of peculiar people outside the house suddenly halted and pointed
their fingers at the house.

IX. INT. KITCHEN – MORNING

It was suddenly morning; Derick slowly opened his eyes but still lying on
the floor for about 10 seconds.

He stood up with confusion.

DERICK
Ano’ng nangyrai? Ba’t ako nasa sahig?

He’s now recognizing the mess he made last night and remembered what he
saw that is something strange last night.

Derick went by the sink to wash his face. After washing, he let out a big
sigh.

Derick picked up a clean cloth to clean his face. While cleaning, he heard
prayer chants out of the blue that lasted around 5 seconds.

WORSHIPPERS(V.O.)
Gloria iti Diyos Ama, Dios Anak, ken Dios
Espirito Santo. Kas idi punaganay, kasta met ita
aken iti agnanayon nga awan inggana. Amen

Derick - startled. He looked around his surroundings.

After he was done cleaning his face, he went on to the place where the
calendar is placed. He marked the date of today on the calendar but this
time, it’s not a circle, but an ‘X’ mark.

Derick, inside a house without furniture, sat down to where he is with his
chin resting on his both knees and stared at the floor for a long time.

Unexpectedly, he heard a knock – three soft taps on the door. He looked at

the direction where the door is at but didn’t bother to open it. He once
directed again his head to where he left off and stared on the floor once
again.

The mess is still there.

X. INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT

The calendar is focused with the next succeeding day marked.

Derick is dancing along with the music imagining he is dancing with someone,
when suddenly, he heard again voices of people chanting a prayer.

WORSHIPPERS (V.O.)
Ave Maria, napnoka iti grasia, ni Apo Dios
ti adda kenka. Sika ti nainggasatan kadagiti
amin a babbai, ket nainggasatan met ti bunga ti
tianmo a ni Jesus.
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Derick halted. Looking confused. He tried to find where the voices are coming
from but decided to continue dancing.

After a few seconds, a loud knock on the door three times were heard.

The music ceased and Derick stopped dancing.

After a few seconds, he sat down on the floor with his chin resting both on
his knees.

XI. EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE – DAY

A crowd of strange people wearing black is outside of the house standing

steadily while looking at the direction of the house where Derick lives.

XII. INT. KITCHEN – DAY

Derick experimenting.

The calendar is marked again.

Prayer chants can be heard.

WORSHIPPERS (V.O.)
Amami nga adda’t sadi langit. Madaydayaw
koma ti naganmo, dumteng koma ti pagariam,
matungpal koma ti nakemmo ditoy daga sa kas
sadi langit

There’s a knock on the door.

Derick experimenting.

The calendar is marked again for the next succeeding day.

Prayer chants can be heard.

WORSHIPPERS (V.O.)
Itdem kadakam ti aldaw itoy ti kanenmi iti
patinayon nga aldaw. Pakawanem dagiti
basolmi a kas met ti pammakawanmikadagiti nakabasol
kadakami. Dinakam met baybay-an nga umannugot iti
solisog, isalakannakami ket iti dakes.

There’s a knock on the door.

XIII. Int. LIVING ROOM – EVENING

Derick is playing the piano while the lights are slowly flickering.

The current date is marked at the calendar.

Piano is playing on its own while the lights are steadily on and Derick
surprisingly appeared playing the piano while the lights are slowly
flickering.

The man he saw the time before he passed out wearing a black robe suddenly
appears reaching out his hand holding a rosary.
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Derick, still playing the piano, doesn’t seem to care about anything but
playing the piano. Another round of praying chants suddenly emerged, this
time, the three basic prayers can be heard out loud at the same time
followed by three consecutive loud knocks, but no response came from
Derick.

XIV. INT LIVING ROOM – DAY

Another day passed and the calendar is marked with the current date.

XV. EXT. FIELD – DAY

There are random people all wearing black shirts standing out in the field.

XVI. INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Derick, not knowing what to do is walking back and forth looking

worriedly. He sensed something is out there and he went by the closest
window near him and opened it up. To his shock, he saw people standing
outside arrayed in a sea of black shirts out in the field.

XVII. EXT. FIELD – DAY

The people outside slowly lifted their right hands and pointed it to
Derick.

The people outside disappeared abruptly.

XVIII. INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Derick still in shock, hurriedly closed the windows and went into a corner
when suddenly, he heard once again loud chants of prayers and succeeding
knocks. He closed his eyes and ears and let out an ear-splitting scream.

The current date is marked, and so does the next day followed by people
chanting prayers and soft knocks on the door.

Derick, still lying on the floor saw a familiar being wearing a black robe
standing at the door reaching his hand towards Derick. Derick just stared
at it.

The man wearing a black robe stopped offering his hand to Derick and went
on to open the door and walked outside.

XIX. EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE – DAY

The man wearing a black robe is steadily standing outside of the house. At
the back of the man, the people he saw the other day wearing black shirts
can be seen. They are reaching out their hand while the man in the robe
opened his both arms wide open.

XX. INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Derick stood up and went by the door. When he was about to step out, he
suddenly took a step back while gently closing the door. He suddenly
paused and heard people chanting prayers over and over again. He decided
to open the door widely and he slowly walked outside to where the man in
the robe is at and the chants of prayers stopped.
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The current date is marked.

XXI. INT. INSIDE OF THE HOUSE – DAY

The house is unoccupied. Nothing but white walls. Each corner of the house
is completely empty; no chairs, no tables, not even any decorations on the
walls. After so much quiet, the house discovered the company of the trees
and wildflowers that brought brightness right up to its doors and windows
despite of it being empty inside.

XXII. INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

The only noticeable thing in the living room is a framed picture of Derick
on the corner with lighted candles sitting by its side.

XXIII. EXT. EMPTY STREET – DAY

The once jam-packed roads are now desolate. Storefronts are devoid of
displays. Cars sat empty along the curb, collecting dust. Silence had
taken the place of the sound of playing children, talking neighbors and
the sound of a working community.

The man wearing a black robe roamed around aimlessly.

THE END