EXT.

THICK EVERGREEN FOREST, AFTERNOON

Among the trees of a serene forest, a wooden cabin sits beside a small lake. The sun hangs low above
the woods around it. Deeper in the woods, focus on THALL. His eyes have been blindfolded by a black
strip of fabric, and he’s being guided deeper into the forest from behind by SYL.

THALL
Syl, are we almost there?

SYL
(Laughing)
Almost! It’s not that much farther.

THALL
Where is here, anyway?

SYL
That’s not important! What’s important is what I found
while you were visiting your aunt!

THALL
(In a warning tone)
Syl…

SYL
(Very sheepish)
Well, we may be…past the grotto?

THALL stops and turns around in a bit of a panic.

THALL
Like, in the woods beyond the fence? You know I’m not
allowed there.

THALL tries to blindly start walking back the direction they came from, but SYL holds tightly to him.

SYL
Your mom’s scared of nothing! I came down here lots of
times while you were away, and there are no sign of
monsters. Besides, we’re already out here.

THALL still seems hesitant. SYL stops and maneuvers in front of THALL, lifting half of the blindfold so
they can make eye contact.

SYL (CONT’D)
I’m your best friend - I wouldn’t lie to you. You do trust
me, right?

THALL
(Filled with reassurance)
Of course I trust you. Come on, keep going! I wanna see!

SYL laughs and replaces the blindfold and continues to guide him a little farther. Soon, he stops and
steps in front of THALL.

SYL
Alright, we’re here! You ready?
 THALL
Yes! Show it to me already!

SYL removes the blindfold. The trees here are much taller than the ones seen earlier, and they
obscure most of the remaining light from the setting sun. Surrounded by a light fog, there’s a giant
tree larger than the rest with a little wooden house built up in the tall branches. THALL approaches in
awe.

THALL
Whoa… How did you find this?

SYL
There was a dog tailing me one day, and I followed him
here! I checked it out to make sure it was safe, but I
didn't dig through anything yet. I wanted to do that with
you.

THALL
Then why are we just standing here? Let's go!

SYL
I knew you’d love it!

The two boys crawl up the low branches to the higher, sturdier ones and scramble in through the
entrance, which is composed of only a grey curtain.

INT. TREEHOUSE, AFTERNOON

Inside the treehouse is old and messy, some of the wooden planks rotting away. Packed crates are
stored three high in the corner, an entire wall is filled with faded parchment, anything written on
them being illegible. There is also an aged chest locked shut beneath a window and a rickety ladder
leading to a tight space where a cot rests.

THALL
Wow…it’s like it’s been abandoned for a long time!

SYL
I know! I wonder who used to live here?

THALL
Whoever it was, they haven’t been here in some time.
Maybe they were taken by a monster…

SYL
Don’t think like that! I bet they just found somewhere
cooler than here! Hey, think we could make this a spot of
our own?

THALL
Outside the fence? Mom would skin me alive if she knew
I was sneaking out here.

SYL
So we be very sneaky! We’ve been safe this far, right?

THALL
Yeah…
 SYL
Come on. We’ll start fixing it up, and if you still think it’s
too dangerous afterwards, then I never have to take you
back out here again.

SYL extends his hand. THALL looks at it for a moment before reaching out to shake it with a nod.

THALL
Deal.

Time passes as the two of them tidy up and rummage around some of the items left behind. The sun
is almost beyond the horizon when the boys finally notice how long they’ve been here.

THALL:
Oh! I didn’t know it was so late! We should hurry back
before my mom comes looking for me.

SYL:
Okay. I’ll get my things and be right there. Just be careful
climbing back down.

EXT. THICK EVERGREEN FOREST, NIGHT

THALL begins bounding down the branches as SYL calls to him from inside the treehouse.

SYL: (O.S.)
So, what did you think?

THALL:
(Reluctantly)
Okay, you were right. It’s pretty cool. I’m still not sure
how I’d be able to sneak past my mom, but-

Suddenly, the low branch THALL is swinging from breaks. He cries out in terror as he begins to drop to
the dark forest floor. He hits the ground hard.

SYL
Thall?

There’s frantic rustling from above as SYL scrambles out to look down.

SYL
Thall! Are you okay?

THALL moans and tries to sit up, but all he manages to do is raise his hand to his head, slightly dazed.

THALL
It's okay. I'm not hurt.

SYL
(Relieved)
Good. Your mom would skin me alive if you were.

SYL starts to carefully make his way down the branches. THALL begins to pick himself up, but a
strange sound through the trees catches his attention. There’s the sound of crows, and a small flock
of them burst from the trees and fly above his head. An animalistic growl comes from a bush, and
yellow eyes glow from behind the leaves.
 THALL
(Panicked)
Syl, stay up there!

SYL
Huh? Why?

SYL begins trying to crane his neck around, but he sees nothing and continues climbing down.

THALL
Syl, there’s something down here!

SYL
Oh! That could be the dog that lead me here!

THALL looks up to SYL

THALL
A dog? Are you sure it’s a dog?

SYL
Yeah! Pointy ears, small eyes, fluffy tail-

With a crash of thunder, the pair of eyes leap out, jumping at THALL. Caught off guard, he’s taken to
the ground. He screams as he looks down to take a good look at what is attacking him: a wild wolf
bites at his arm, which was protectively raised.

SYL
Thall!

SYL finally makes it to the bottom of the tree and rummages around the edges of the clearing to find a
large stick. He swings it at the wolf, but this just angers it farther. The monster releases THALL’s arm
to snap at SYL a couple times, then it sinks its teeth into flesh again, this time aiming for THALL’s
vulnerable neck. SYL is still swinging at the creature.

SYL
No! Get away!

Drops of rain begin falling from the night sky. A woman’s voice can faintly be heard in the distance
calling out the boy’s names. SYL perks up at the sound and looks around desperately for where it’s
coming from.

SYL
Ms. Mallory!

A beat. Then a MALLORY leaps through the trees into the clearing. She wields a longsword in her right
hand, her face panicked. She assesses the danger, quickly noting the body of the boy pinned under
the wolf.

MALLORY
Thall!

In rage, she brings her blade up and sends it through the shoulders of the beast. It flings its head back
and lets out a howl of pain. It leaps off the body and faces her, growling. Rain begins falling harder.
She lunges at the creature again. The scuffle is brief, ending when the blade goes through the wolf’s
clavicle. It lets out more whines and it limps into the woods and away from the clearing. Panting,
MALLORY drops the bloody blade and makes her way over to THALL.
 MALLORY
Thall! Please, wake up! I’m here! I’m gonna help you!

Her hands shake as she reaches for the body, trying to stop the bleeding. SYL shakes as he falls to the
ground and curls in on himself, crying.

SYL
I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I-I didn’t mean to! I thought…

There’s a moment of silence. The rain is falling even harder now, soaking all three of them. The wind
howls as it slips between the trees. MALLORY’s frantic hand movements slow, and she slumps over as
she begins to sob. They sit like this for a few tense moments before MALLORY can gather herself.

MALLORY
(Calmly, but shakily)
Go back to the cabin, Syl. Your mother is waiting for you.

SYL
Ms. Mallory-

MALLORY
(Firmer)
Go back to the cabin, Syl. Now.

SYL scrambles to his feet and darts back the way MALLORY came. She reaches for her sword and
places it in her scabbard before picking up THALL and taking him in the opposite direction. It’s not
long before she spots the bell of the church.

EXT. CHURCH, NIGHT

MALLORY stumbles her way to the church and pushes her body into the doors to open them.

INT. CHURCH, NIGHT

A FATHER of the Church is there, kneeling at the alter in prayer. As MALLORY enters, soaking wet, he
looks up, stands, and approaches.

FATHER
Mal… What happened?

MALLORY falls to her knees and begins to sob.

MALLORY
I’m sorry, Father. He… The dreaded wolf took him. I failed
him. I failed…

FATHER opens a nearby closet and pulls out a dry cloak. He removes her wet one and wraps the new
dry one around her shoulders before kneeling with her and pulling her in for a hug.

FATHER
You…could not have failed, my dear. You did well to bring
him here.

MALLORY
But Father, he was just a young child! I should have done
so much more to protect him, to warn him of the dangers
in those woods…
 FATHER
No blame has been put on you. You did all you could to
protect him. You believed he was safe. It hurts, but all we
can do is accept that this was the Lord’s plan.

MALLORY
Why would he do this to an innocent child? THALL has
done nothing to deserve this!

FATHER
Come. Let us bring him to the back. We can call for the
healer and help him there.

FATHER rises, but MALLORY does not. She continues to hold the body tightly.

FATHER
Mallory?

MALLORY brushes away THALL’s bangs and the blood splatter on his forehead, giving the area a kiss
before standing and heading to the door. FATHER reaches a hand out to her but quickly pulls back.

FATHER
I understand you may need some time to process this on
your own. I will be here until you are ready to move on.

MALLORY opens the door, pausing. She turns her gaze to FATHER, shaking her head.

MALLORY
I’m sorry, Father.

She exits back out into the rain, leaving the wind to swing the doors shut. FATHER sighs as he kneels
down over the body and clasps his hands together. He tears up as he speaks his prayer quickly.

FATHER
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in
Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us
our debts-

FATHER’s voice cracks. He clears his throat as he finishes the prayer slower.

FATHER
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And do
not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil…

EXT. FARMHOUSE, NIGHT

Follow MALLORY as she races off to an old-looking farmhouse. She bursts through the door in tears,
not bothering to close it. The winds from the storm outside sweep in as she rampages through the
room, trashing everything in sight. She tears down papers pinned to the wall, shatters the glass
windows, and fractures the wooden supports. Once she’s finished, she looks around at the carnage
for a few seconds. When she’s thoroughly taken in the mess, she grabs a satchel and starts filling it
with important items. She rummages around the room, throwing a few more things in the bag before
she heads to the door. A soft meow stops her. She turns around to see a black cat with green eyes
sitting on her window ledge after having snuck in through the open door. When she sees its dark fur
and green eyes, she flashes back to THALL’s mangled body. She storms towards it, waving her arms
around to scare it off.
 MALLORY
Go on, GET!

The cat doesn’t flinch at her screaming. Instead, it eyes her with sad curiosity. She carelessly drops
her bag and pulls out her sword, swinging it at the cat, but the animal slips under the blade and onto
the floor.

MALLORY
You stupid cat! Get out of here!

She swings again, but the cat continues to dodge. She becomes ever more aggressive with every
attempt.

MALLORY
Why are you here?

Swing

MALLORY
You trying to guilt me into staying?

Swing

MALLORY
Guilt me into keeping something I don't want? It’s not
going to work!

Swing

MALLORY
I fell for it once already and look where that got me! I’m
done being your guardian!

Swing

MALLORY
I’m not going through this, you worthless child! NOT
AGAIN, THALL!

Her blade is raised for another strike, but as soon as she says his name, she snaps out of her rage. The
blade drops, and she falls into a heap on the floor, crying all over again. The cat carefully rubs against
her, but she shoves him back. This happens a few more times before the cat moves to the other side
of the room and meows. She risks a glance up, and in front of the cat is an old drawing THALL made
when he was younger. She crawls towards it on her hands and knees, hands shaking as she picks it up.
After a moment of looking at it, she grabs the top at the center and closes her eyes as she goes to rip
it, but she can’t force herself to do it. She tries a total of three times, and when she can’t do it the
third time, she lets her hands drop to her sides.

MALLORY
No, I’m the worthless child.

She stands and approaches the newly bare wall, pinning the image there. She turns away from the cat
and gathers her things again before stepping towards the door.

MALLORY
(Whispering)
I’ve already proven I can’t do it. I can’t…
MALLORY leaves the house, quietly clicking the door shut. That leaves just the cat, and it sits there for
a moment, staring at the door.