The beaten path snakes through the leafy undergrowth. Fog
fills the space.
Harsh red moonlight shines down through the tree canopies.
Eric uses a flashlight to see as he strides around a bend in
the trail. A backpack is strapped to his back.
He slows to a stop, looks ahead at the trail before him,
smiles from ear to ear. It’s a beautiful, scenic view.
Girls GIGGLE behind him.
22.22.
Eric glances back over his shoulder, sees another flashlight
farther down the trail.
ERIC
Yo, watch your step. This trail’s a
real bitch. And this damn fog ain’t
helping one bit.
Gwen and Haley walk side by side around the bend.
They laugh as they approach Eric. Gwen holds a flashlight.
GWEN
(to Haley)
That’s not even the best part.
Haley tinkers with her camera.
HALEY
What could possibly be better than
Eric getting crapped on?
Gwen smirks, looks ahead to Eric, who frowns.
GWEN
After it shit all over him, it bit
his ear and wouldn’t let go. He was
screaming and shaking his head,
trying so hard to get it off. It
was hilarious!
Haley laughs harder.
Eric rubs his earlobe.
ERIC
Hey, screw your brother’s bird.
The girls reach Eric.
Gwen grabs his hand, pulls him in for a quick kiss.
GWEN
You’re such a wimp.
ERIC
That shit gave me a phobia of
birds. That’s a thing, right?
Eric jokingly swats away at an invisible bird.
Gwen chuckles.
23.23.
GWEN
I love you, goofball.
She plants another kiss on his lips.
HALEY
(to Eric)
Have you tried calling Amy back?
Eric shakes his head.
ERIC
No point. There’s no signal all the
way out here.
HALEY
How are we gonna find them then?
ERIC
She said they’d be setting up their
camp near our old swimming spot.
Don’t worry, Haley. I’ve got this.
HALEY
If you say so.
Haley holds her camera up to her eye, snaps a picture of the
woods. She lowers the camera, takes in the view for herself.
HALEY
It really is amazing out here. I
don’t know what’s cooler... The fog
or all this red moonlight?
GWEN
Told ya you’d love it.
Haley smirks.
HALEY
(sarcastic)
If it looked this cool out here
every night, I think I’d become an
outdoorsman. Outdoorsperson?
Gwen lets out another laugh.
GWEN
Whatever.
Haley smirks again, then aims her camera skywards, snaps a
picture of the dark red sky beyond the tree tops.
Eric steps behind Gwen, wraps his arms around her waist.
24.24.
ERIC
(to Haley)
Pretty sweet, huh?
Haley snaps another picture of the woods.
HALEY
I love this so much. I’ve never
seen anything like this. It’s so
red! Must be a ton of dust in the
Earth’s atmosphere.
GWEN
Shut up, science nerd.
HALEY
Screw you, slut.
Gwen and Haley both giggle.
Eric just grins, shakes his head.
JACKIE (O.S.)
Hey! Hold up. Damn!
They all turn to Jackie as he staggers around the bend. He's
drenched in sweat, completely worn out.
Haley holds back laughter as she rushes back to him.
Eric leans closer to Gwen.
ERIC
(under his breath)
I honestly forgot all about him.
Gwen playfully nudges him to keep quiet.
GWEN
(under her breath)
Stop it!
(beat)
What’s his name again?
Eric snickers.
Haley reaches Jackie just as he dramatically flops down on
his ass. She crouches down next to him.
HALEY
You okay?
25.25.
JACKIE
Oh yeah. I’m fuckin’ great. Just
having a heat stroke... Not to
mention my ankle is throbbing like
an angry hemorrhoid.
HALEY
I told you we were hiking. You
should have dressed appropriately.
JACKIE
Cut me some slack, will ya? This
was spur of the moment and I’ve
never even been hiking before. I’m
wingin’ this shit.
HALEY
Yeah, that’s obvious, Jackie.
Still, I figured you’d know that
all black was a bad idea. Dark
colors retain more body heat.
Jackie snorts a laugh.
JACKIE
Nerd. Have you seen my wardrobe?
Gwen and Eric step beside Haley.
GWEN
(to Jackie)
You’re not throwing in the towel
already, are you?
JACKIE
Nope. I’m fine. Just need a quick
break, that’s all.
Eric takes his backpack off, sets it on the ground and begins
to dig through it. He pulls out water bottles, passes them
out to the group.
Jackie hesitantly accepts the bottle.
JACKIE
Got any beer in there?
ERIC
I do not. Just water, some towels
and... Some more water. Don’t worry
though... My cousin and her
boyfriend have plenty of alcohol.
26.26.
JACKIE
Can’t fuckin’ wait.
He chugs the bottle, squeezes what little bit is left out on
his head.
JACKIE
Oh, fuck yeah. That’s fuckin’
orgasmic.
Eric looks back to the trail.
ERIC
Not too much farther to the lake.
GWEN
I can’t wait to see Amy. Feels like
it’s been forever.
ERIC
It’s been a few years since she
last came up.
Jackie leans back, takes a deep breath.
JACKIE
I apologize ahead of time, but I’m
totally skinny dipping when we get
there. It’s just... It’s gonna
fuckin’ happen.
Haley lies down next to him.
HALEY
If you actually make it to the
lake, I’ll skinny dip with you.
She leans in and gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
Suddenly revitalized, Jackie jumps to his feet.
JACKIE
C’mon, stop dragging your asses!
Let’s get moving!
Gwen takes a drink from her bottle, then stuffs it back into
Eric's backpack.
Haley stands up, brushes dirt off her butt.
HALEY
(to Jackie)
Not so fast, speed racer. I need to
run to the girls room.
27.27.
She looks to Gwen.
HALEY
You wanna come with? Light the way
for me?
Gwen shines her light on Haley.
GWEN
Sure. I’m into watching. It’s sorta
my thing.
Haley giggles.
HALEY
Weirdo.
Gwen follows Haley off the trail, into the foggy woods.
Jackie turns to Eric, who takes a drink from his bottle.
JACKIE
Why do chicks always go in pairs?
Eric shrugs.
ERIC
Strength in numbers?
Jackie nods. He hadn’t considered that before.
Water runs down the winding, rocky creek. Thick woods
surround the water on either side. The fog is especially
thick here.
With their flashlights in hand, Rick and Travis step out of
the woods, stop at the creek.
Rick pulls out his flask, takes a quick swig, looks out at a
bend farther down in the creek.
Something catches his eye.
RICK
Is that...?
CLOSE ON a bloody, severed hand. A young man’s hand.
Rick carefully picks up the severed hand, looks it over. A
look of guilt spreads across his face.
28.28.
He turns to Travis, tries to appear confident.
RICK
Maybe it’s nothing? Maybe someone
just... Had a real bad accident...
It’s most likely totally unrelated.
Probably. Right?
Travis scoffs as he uses the flashlight to search the
surrounding area.
The light falls over blood-caked ribcage, which is snagged on
a fallen tree a little farther down in the creek. It’s human.
TRAVIS
We’re too late.
Rick sees the ribcage.
RICK
Well fuck.
Jackie lies shirtless on the ground, his shirt a makeshift
pillow under his head. A lit joint hangs between his lips.
Eric sits a few feet away.
JACKIE
So... You and Gwen were, like, high
school sweethearts, right?
ERIC
Grade school, actually.
JACKIE
That’s weird, dude.
ERIC
Thanks, I guess...
(an awkward beat)
What about you? How’d you and Haley
meet up again?
JACKIE
She shot one of our concerts. We
just kind of clicked, ya know?
ERIC
Oh yeah, that’s right. Gwen told me
you’re in a band. You play guitar,
right?
29.29.
JACKIE
Bass.
ERIC
Bass? Nice! I’ve never been very
musically talented. More into
sports. I did blow a mean trumpet
in the seventh grade though!
Jackie chuckles.
Eric grabs his bag, digs through it.
Jackie holds the joint out, offers it to Eric.
JACKIE
You sure you don’t wanna hit this,
dude? It’s some killer bud.
Eric doesn’t look away from his bag.
ERIC
No thanks. I’m good.
Jackie shrugs.
JACKIE
Suit yourself, dude. More for me.
He takes a long drag, holds it in, then exhales a huge cloud
of smoke. What follows is the coughing fit of the century.
Jackie sits up as he practically coughs his lungs out. As he
coughs, his wallet falls out of his back pocket, drops to the
ground behind him.
Eric spots the open wallet, notices a picture of a PRETTY
GIRL, (18), playfully posing in front of a fireplace.
Jackie finally starts to catch his breath.
JACKIE
Fuck, I’m fried.
Eric nods towards the photo.
ERIC
Ex-girlfriend?
Jackie notices his open wallet sitting on the ground behind
him, quickly scoops it up, shoves it back into his pocket.
Eric scoffs, shakes his head.
30.30.
ERIC
Like em’ young, huh? Haley know you
got that picture in your wallet?
Jackie takes another drag off his joint, turns to Eric,
exhales another cloud of smoke.
JACKIE
It’s my little sister, Julie.
ERIC
Ah. My bad.
Jackie shrugs it off.
JACKIE
You’re good, dude. She’s...
(thinks for a moment)
She was in the accident that killed
my parents a few months back.
Eric is stunned, doesn't know what to say.
ERIC
Shit. That’s... Awful. I had no
idea. I’m so sorry... Your sister?
Did she --
JACKIE
She survived, but... She’s in a
coma. No way of knowing if she’ll
ever wake up. The doctors don’t
seem very hopeful...
Jackie turns to Eric, forces a smile.
JACKIE (CONT'D)
But I am. Have to be, ya know? She
wouldn’t give up on me.
Eric just sits and takes it all in.
ERIC
(sincere)
Your sister sounds like she’s lucky
to have you.
(gives a warm smile)
Haley, too.
Jackie nods, a silent “Thank you.”
31.31.
— ④
EXT. WOODS - HIKING TRAIL - NIGHT
The beaten path snakes through the leafy undergrowth. Fog
fills the space.
Harsh red moonlight shines down through the tree canopies.
Eric uses a flashlight to see as he strides around a bend in
the trail. A backpack is strapped to his back.
He slows to a stop, looks ahead at the trail before him,
smiles from ear to ear. It’s a beautiful, scenic view.
Girls GIGGLE behind him.
22.22.
Eric glances back over his shoulder, sees another flashlight
farther down the trail.
ERIC
Yo, watch your step. This trail’s a
real bitch. And this damn fog ain’t
helping one bit.
Gwen and Haley walk side by side around the bend.
They laugh as they approach Eric. Gwen holds a flashlight.
GWEN
(to Haley)
That’s not even the best part.
Haley tinkers with her camera.
HALEY
What could possibly be better than
Eric getting crapped on?
Gwen smirks, looks ahead to Eric, who frowns.
GWEN
After it shit all over him, it bit
his ear and wouldn’t let go. He was
screaming and shaking his head,
trying so hard to get it off. It
was hilarious!
Haley laughs harder.
Eric rubs his earlobe.
ERIC
Hey, screw your brother’s bird.
The girls reach Eric.
Gwen grabs his hand, pulls him in for a quick kiss.
GWEN
You’re such a wimp.
ERIC
That shit gave me a phobia of
birds. That’s a thing, right?
Eric jokingly swats away at an invisible bird.
Gwen chuckles.
23.23.
GWEN
I love you, goofball.
She plants another kiss on his lips.
HALEY
(to Eric)
Have you tried calling Amy back?
Eric shakes his head.
ERIC
No point. There’s no signal all the
way out here.
HALEY
How are we gonna find them then?
ERIC
She said they’d be setting up their
camp near our old swimming spot.
Don’t worry, Haley. I’ve got this.
HALEY
If you say so.
Haley holds her camera up to her eye, snaps a picture of the
woods. She lowers the camera, takes in the view for herself.
HALEY
It really is amazing out here. I
don’t know what’s cooler... The fog
or all this red moonlight?
GWEN
Told ya you’d love it.
Haley smirks.
HALEY
(sarcastic)
If it looked this cool out here
every night, I think I’d become an
outdoorsman. Outdoorsperson?
Gwen lets out another laugh.
GWEN
Whatever.
Haley smirks again, then aims her camera skywards, snaps a
picture of the dark red sky beyond the tree tops.
Eric steps behind Gwen, wraps his arms around her waist.
24.24.
ERIC
(to Haley)
Pretty sweet, huh?
Haley snaps another picture of the woods.
HALEY
I love this so much. I’ve never
seen anything like this. It’s so
red! Must be a ton of dust in the
Earth’s atmosphere.
GWEN
Shut up, science nerd.
HALEY
Screw you, slut.
Gwen and Haley both giggle.
Eric just grins, shakes his head.
JACKIE (O.S.)
Hey! Hold up. Damn!
They all turn to Jackie as he staggers around the bend. He's
drenched in sweat, completely worn out.
Haley holds back laughter as she rushes back to him.
Eric leans closer to Gwen.
ERIC
(under his breath)
I honestly forgot all about him.
Gwen playfully nudges him to keep quiet.
GWEN
(under her breath)
Stop it!
(beat)
What’s his name again?
Eric snickers.
Haley reaches Jackie just as he dramatically flops down on
his ass. She crouches down next to him.
HALEY
You okay?
25.25.
JACKIE
Oh yeah. I’m fuckin’ great. Just
having a heat stroke... Not to
mention my ankle is throbbing like
an angry hemorrhoid.
HALEY
I told you we were hiking. You
should have dressed appropriately.
JACKIE
Cut me some slack, will ya? This
was spur of the moment and I’ve
never even been hiking before. I’m
wingin’ this shit.
HALEY
Yeah, that’s obvious, Jackie.
Still, I figured you’d know that
all black was a bad idea. Dark
colors retain more body heat.
Jackie snorts a laugh.
JACKIE
Nerd. Have you seen my wardrobe?
Gwen and Eric step beside Haley.
GWEN
(to Jackie)
You’re not throwing in the towel
already, are you?
JACKIE
Nope. I’m fine. Just need a quick
break, that’s all.
Eric takes his backpack off, sets it on the ground and begins
to dig through it. He pulls out water bottles, passes them
out to the group.
Jackie hesitantly accepts the bottle.
JACKIE
Got any beer in there?
ERIC
I do not. Just water, some towels
and... Some more water. Don’t worry
though... My cousin and her
boyfriend have plenty of alcohol.
26.26.
JACKIE
Can’t fuckin’ wait.
He chugs the bottle, squeezes what little bit is left out on
his head.
JACKIE
Oh, fuck yeah. That’s fuckin’
orgasmic.
Eric looks back to the trail.
ERIC
Not too much farther to the lake.
GWEN
I can’t wait to see Amy. Feels like
it’s been forever.
ERIC
It’s been a few years since she
last came up.
Jackie leans back, takes a deep breath.
JACKIE
I apologize ahead of time, but I’m
totally skinny dipping when we get
there. It’s just... It’s gonna
fuckin’ happen.
Haley lies down next to him.
HALEY
If you actually make it to the
lake, I’ll skinny dip with you.
She leans in and gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
Suddenly revitalized, Jackie jumps to his feet.
JACKIE
C’mon, stop dragging your asses!
Let’s get moving!
Gwen takes a drink from her bottle, then stuffs it back into
Eric's backpack.
Haley stands up, brushes dirt off her butt.
HALEY
(to Jackie)
Not so fast, speed racer. I need to
run to the girls room.
27.27.
She looks to Gwen.
HALEY
You wanna come with? Light the way
for me?
Gwen shines her light on Haley.
GWEN
Sure. I’m into watching. It’s sorta
my thing.
Haley giggles.
HALEY
Weirdo.
Gwen follows Haley off the trail, into the foggy woods.
Jackie turns to Eric, who takes a drink from his bottle.
JACKIE
Why do chicks always go in pairs?
Eric shrugs.
ERIC
Strength in numbers?
Jackie nods. He hadn’t considered that before.
EXT. WOODS - CREEK - NIGHT
Water runs down the winding, rocky creek. Thick woods
surround the water on either side. The fog is especially
thick here.
With their flashlights in hand, Rick and Travis step out of
the woods, stop at the creek.
Rick pulls out his flask, takes a quick swig, looks out at a
bend farther down in the creek.
Something catches his eye.
RICK
Is that...?
CLOSE ON a bloody, severed hand. A young man’s hand.
Rick carefully picks up the severed hand, looks it over. A
look of guilt spreads across his face.
28.28.
He turns to Travis, tries to appear confident.
RICK
Maybe it’s nothing? Maybe someone
just... Had a real bad accident...
It’s most likely totally unrelated.
Probably. Right?
Travis scoffs as he uses the flashlight to search the
surrounding area.
The light falls over blood-caked ribcage, which is snagged on
a fallen tree a little farther down in the creek. It’s human.
TRAVIS
We’re too late.
Rick sees the ribcage.
RICK
Well fuck.
EXT. WOODS - HIKING TRAIL - NIGHT
Jackie lies shirtless on the ground, his shirt a makeshift
pillow under his head. A lit joint hangs between his lips.
Eric sits a few feet away.
JACKIE
So... You and Gwen were, like, high
school sweethearts, right?
ERIC
Grade school, actually.
JACKIE
That’s weird, dude.
ERIC
Thanks, I guess...
(an awkward beat)
What about you? How’d you and Haley
meet up again?
JACKIE
She shot one of our concerts. We
just kind of clicked, ya know?
ERIC
Oh yeah, that’s right. Gwen told me
you’re in a band. You play guitar,
right?
29.29.
JACKIE
Bass.
ERIC
Bass? Nice! I’ve never been very
musically talented. More into
sports. I did blow a mean trumpet
in the seventh grade though!
Jackie chuckles.
Eric grabs his bag, digs through it.
Jackie holds the joint out, offers it to Eric.
JACKIE
You sure you don’t wanna hit this,
dude? It’s some killer bud.
Eric doesn’t look away from his bag.
ERIC
No thanks. I’m good.
Jackie shrugs.
JACKIE
Suit yourself, dude. More for me.
He takes a long drag, holds it in, then exhales a huge cloud
of smoke. What follows is the coughing fit of the century.
Jackie sits up as he practically coughs his lungs out. As he
coughs, his wallet falls out of his back pocket, drops to the
ground behind him.
Eric spots the open wallet, notices a picture of a PRETTY
GIRL, (18), playfully posing in front of a fireplace.
Jackie finally starts to catch his breath.
JACKIE
Fuck, I’m fried.
Eric nods towards the photo.
ERIC
Ex-girlfriend?
Jackie notices his open wallet sitting on the ground behind
him, quickly scoops it up, shoves it back into his pocket.
Eric scoffs, shakes his head.
30.30.
ERIC
Like em’ young, huh? Haley know you
got that picture in your wallet?
Jackie takes another drag off his joint, turns to Eric,
exhales another cloud of smoke.
JACKIE
It’s my little sister, Julie.
ERIC
Ah. My bad.
Jackie shrugs it off.
JACKIE
You’re good, dude. She’s...
(thinks for a moment)
She was in the accident that killed
my parents a few months back.
Eric is stunned, doesn't know what to say.
ERIC
Shit. That’s... Awful. I had no
idea. I’m so sorry... Your sister?
Did she --
JACKIE
She survived, but... She’s in a
coma. No way of knowing if she’ll
ever wake up. The doctors don’t
seem very hopeful...
Jackie turns to Eric, forces a smile.
JACKIE (CONT'D)
But I am. Have to be, ya know? She
wouldn’t give up on me.
Eric just sits and takes it all in.
ERIC
(sincere)
Your sister sounds like she’s lucky
to have you.
(gives a warm smile)
Haley, too.
Jackie nods, a silent “Thank you.”
31.31.