Not Yet a Cold Case

written by

Jasper Sharmin
INT. SCHOOL BUILDING
A group of school children crowding around a subject that is
not visible with the camera angle. A kid, SILAS, pushes their
way to the front of the crowd to see what the excitement is
about. The camera angle changes to show a newspaper. The
title reads "CARRABASSETT TEENAGER MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD".
Fade to black.

EXT. FOREST - SUNSET

Three tweens step through foliage. The kid in front, SILAS,
is holding a flashlight. Following behind them is a taller,
scrawny boy, MILO, who's wearing a face mask and gloves. The
last girl, PENNY, is prancing, happy to be in nature. The sky
turns darker as the time passes.
MILO
It's getting dark, Silas. We should
go back.
PENNY
Worried about coyotes? Don't worry,
we'll see one.
MILO
What!? Coyotes aren't native to
this area.
PENNY
Hehehe, that's what you think.
SILAS abruptly turns around to face them and shines their
flashlight at the two. MILO yelps, and PENNY runs into him.
SILAS
C'mon, Milo! Remember what we
agreed on; we don't stop until we
find that dead body. Even if-
PENNY
-Even if WE become dead bodies
ourselves!
MILO whines, but is too timid to make a retort. SILAS faces
forwards, and they continue their trek.
PAN TO SKY

EXT. FOREST - DUSK

MILO fidgets with his gloves.
 2.

CAMERA FOCUSES ON A STRANGE FORM IN THE DIRT

MILO turns to face the shape in the dirt, causing the other
two to stop as well. PENNY pushes him out of the way.
PENNY
Is that what I think it is?!
SILAS shined their flashlight over the figure. It is revealed
to be deer remains. MILO blanches.
SILAS
Nope. Just some dumb animal.
PENNY
Don't disrespect the dead, he's
right there!
SILAS
Or she. Dead deer can be girls,
too.
PENNY
I don't know... What do you think,
Milo?
MILO
I think we should get away from it.
Right now.
PENNY
I think what he meant to say was
"Penny, I dare you to steal its
bones!"
MILO
I absolutely did NOT say that!! Get
away from that thing!
SILAS
Guys, get it together. I didn't
come out here to not find that dead
kid.
Something rustles behind them. They spin around. PENNY
brandishes a stick. MILO cowers. A boy emerges from the
shrubbery. MILO screams.
MYSTERIOUS BOY
Hey! What'd you--
SILAS
WHO ARE YOU?!!
 3.

MILO
WHY ARE YOU OUT HERE?!
PENNY laughs.
PENNY
Hehe, Milo screamed over some kid!
Do it again, Milo!
MILO glares at her.
MYSTERIOUS BOY
Oh, sorry, I should've introduced
myself first, probably. I'm Lucas.
SILAS steps forwards.
SILAS
That doesn't explain why you're
prowling in the woods after dark,
weirdo.
LUCAS
I-
SILAS
Literally creeping up on poor,
unsuspecting children in the dark.
What's wrong with you?!
LUCAS
Sorry! I just- what did you say?
SILAS
I said you're a creep who doesn't
know how to make himself known in
the woods. At night, too!
LUCAS
Relax! I'm sorry, I meant earlier.
Did you say a dead kid?
PENNY scoffs, elbowing MILO.
PENNY
This guy, crawling out of the
shadows and asking about a dead
kid.
LUCAS
Wow, you guys are mean. Listen, I
think I know where this... dead kid
you're trying to find is.
 4.

PENNY
That's kinda creepy... I love it.
Lead the way!
MILO
WHAT?! This is a one-way ticket to
getting kidnapped! Stranger danger,
guys!!
SILAS and PENNY follow LUCAS. MILO turns to face them.
MILO (CONT'D)
Guys-- GUYS! This is NOT a good
idea! Come back!!
SILAS
Either follow us or stay there,
Milo! Only I know the way back.
MILO sputters, before running after them.
FADE TO BLACK.

EXT. CARRABASSETT RIVER - NIGHT

LUCAS nods at the water. SILAS, PENNY, and MILO run fowards.
They look out to the water from the riverbank. PENNY points
at something off-camera.
PENNY
LOOK! Is that it?!
SILAS
No way..
PENNY
Alright guys, I'm going in.
MILO
Oh no you aren't! This water is
probably filthy!
PENNY
Uh, duh. That's why I'm going in.
SILAS
Yeah, Milo. Keep up.
MILO
WHAT?! No way you both think that!
I bet Lucas agrees with me, right,
Lucas?
 5.

The three of them turn, but Lucas is nowhere to be seen.

MILO (CONT'D)
Uh... Lucas? You there, buddy?

Silence falls over the three. Wind rustles through the

leaves.
SILAS
Uhh... That's not normal.
PENNY
I agree, he's probably readying his
baseball bat so we can end up like
that.
PENNY points to the river, offscreen.
SILAS
Don't say that, Penny. You know how
Milo gets.
MILO
This is so bad!! Do you guys
realize how bad this is?! We are
literally lost in the woods at
night, alone, and no one knows how
to get back!! AND THAT GUY JUST
VANISHED!!
SILAS
Calm down, wow. It's fine. I guess
I just have to call the police.
SILAS looks back at the river.
SILAS (CONT'D)
Hmm. It probably looks bad that we
ended up lost right by a dead body.
And that someone went missing with
us. Apparently.
MILO
PLEASE!! Please call the police!! I
need to go home right now!!
PENNY
Ugh, if I go to jail I'm gonna get
so grounded.
SILAS
Shush, I'm gonna make the call now.
 6.

PENNY
Ooh, tell them I say hi.
FADE TO BLACK.

INT. HOUSEHOLD - LATER

A TV is playing a recent news report. The sound is muted. The
headline reads "CARRABASSET TEENAGER FOUND DEAD". A photo is
shown. Under it reads "Lucas Jun found dead after being
reported missing four days ago..."
FADE TO BLACK.