The trio moves again. A lot slower this time.
Ivan is focused on the markings. Spots another one. Takes
the solid lead.
Jack mumble something to himself from behind. Endurance
talk.
Lora meets her verge and it shows. She stops on a beat, but
does her best the guys don't notice.
All of the sudden, the woods end and Ivan, Jack and Lora
emerge on a large, narrow clearing.
Ivan scans the new surroundings worried. No visible markings
to track.
Lost in his observance, he completely misses what Jack sees.
JACK (O.S.)
What the hell is that?
Ivan and Lora draw their attention seeing an--
--couple of HUMANS, sitting on a grass seemingly having a
picnic.
They are too far to distinguish who is who, but do not look
outta the place.
There is a giant terrain vehicle parked along their picnic
site.
IVAN
Looks like a family gathering.
Let's go ask them.
LORA
Ask them what?
IVAN
I...haven't spotted any road
marking around. Have you?
LORA
That's great!
IVAN
I say again; we're not lost...but
not trouble to ask some locals
every time we have a chance.
JACK
They look local to you?
IVAN
We're gonna find out.
Ivan starts moving toward the picnic location. Jack and Lora
follow along.
As they approach starts getting clearer it is only MAN and a
WOMAN having a BABY with them.
Some food and drinks on the thick blanket that serves as
sitting ground.
The MAN appears to be in some mid 50s, good maintained body
of a rock. Like Hulk decided to settle down.
The WOMAN is quite younger, maybe in her mid 30s. Rustic
clothes do not suppress the glowing face that somehow does
not belong in them.
She's also the first spotting the upcomers, shying away,
hiding the few months old BABY.
Ivan, his sister, and her boyfriend touch their perimeter.
They do not go closer.
Now, the Man also spotting their presence.
It is a couple of moments of primal silence of tribe meeting
the outlanders. Then--
IVAN
Hello. Do you speak English?
Man and woman look at each other.
The man speaks up. His voice is harsh, rocky as his body,
but has a good grip on the accent.
THE MAN
Yes. I do speak.
IVAN
Great! Ah, we're on a trail to
Trinity monastery. Just needed to
know are we on a good route?
THE MAN
You are tourists?
IVAN
Yea, you could say that.
The man looks up the woods like he's checking where to point
them out.
THE MAN
Yes. Just go straight up. Follow
markings. You will see a road.
Follow the road south and you are
there.
IVAN
Thanks a lot.
Ivan is about to move on, but Lora steps out.
She comes closer than the rest,and kneels down before the
woman holding the baby.
The woman crumples as scared animal would, but says nothing.
LORA
Such a cute baby...What's his name?
The woman just stares at Lora.
THE MAN
She cannot speak...
(gesticulating)
She's mute...
LORA
Oh, I see...I'm sorry...
Lora backs away to her group.
THE MAN
But You have guessed right. It is a
boy...
LORA
Thanks. You speak English very
well.
THE MAN
Yes...I have been working abroad
many times...You are Americans?
IVAN
Me and my sister are Canadian...
(pointing at Jack)
This guy's an American.
THE MAN
I see...never been there...No work
for me there...
JACK
Yeah, too bad...
The man turns his attention to Ivan.
THE MAN
You are soldier?
IVAN
Uh...yes, I was...I served a tour
in Kandahar.
THE MAN
Your eyes show.
They stare at each other for a beat. Awkward moment.
JACK
All right, guys! Trinity calling!
Ivan snaps back.
IVAN
Yes...still a way to go. Thanks for
directions again.
(beat)
You wouldn't know ETA by any
chance?
THE MAN
Well...some hour and half...maybe
less if you have good condition.
IVAN
Good. Have a nice time.
Jack and Lora wave as well. No response from the picnic
family.
The trio moves along the trail into the woods again.
Ivan embarks first from the woods- taken by the sight. Right
after him comes Jack, stunned as well.
Last appears Lora, still coping with her strength. Head down
to her feet, he raises it only to behold--
--The wast of dug up, muddy land trail. Huge pipes stuck one
to another into eternity.
Nature has nothing to do with this. Clearly an man-made
industrial devastation called pipeline.
The trio takes a moment to sink into the picture.
JACK
Not the guys in the tavern, not the
damn driver, not those freaks in
the woods...NOT A GOD DAMN TO
FUCKING HELL PERSON EVEN
MENTIONED...THIS?! THE FUCK!
Ivan does not react. The first time he is off the leadership
track. Looks around - not a single marking in sight.
Lora is crushed.
LORA
I am going back!
IVAN
No! We move through this.
LORA
Move through this? You fucking
insane?
IVAN
How was I supposed to know? This
was not on the maps.
LORA
Fuck the maps, fuck the joy
ride...I can't take this any more.
JACK
She's right bro...We're screwed for
good on this trip. Let's go back.
IVAN
You wanna sleep in the fucking
woods? We're unequipped for that.
Way back is a couple of hours at
least and we are way past noon.
(beat)
Look up. Gonna rain any minute.
(beat)
It is just a pipeline. We gonna
push through to the south as the
guy said. Must be a road going on
from there...
LORA
That GUY had a jeep. Going back to
them, ask them to take us down to
village or any goddamn place near
by.
Lora turns around to go. Jack's hesitant.
IVAN
Lora, don't!
She don't wanna hear. Ivan rushes to her. Stops her by
force.
IVAN (CONT'D)
Look, listen...That guy...there was
something odd 'bout him...
JACK
You trippin'? The GI sense again?
IVAN
Shut the fuck up!
(to Lora)
I know...I asked him of ETA, a
velcro slang and he replied
straight, no blunt looks. Most
folks here can't even pronounce
ETA.
(beat)
Or, they didn't even offer us
drink, food...most people here are
quite polite.
JACK
Yea...they didn't wave back...broke
my heart...
IVAN
I'm just saying...something hostile
around them...I've seen this in the
villages back there....just about
we were to be ambushed...
JACK
C'mon, man...You compare us to
Afghanistan?
LORA
Ivan...I appreciate your
concerns...but we're in a mess
right now.
(beat)
All my senses and all my strengths
which I'm desperately hanging on
are saying the best thing we can do
right now is going back and ask for
help.
(beat)
Please...one, this time, listen to
me and let's go back...please...
Lora, Ivan, and Jack storm back at the clearing. Lora's shy
smile of relief is gone when she realizes no one is there
anymore.
Lora turns around, puzzled.
LORA
Where the fuck they go?
JACK
Oh, shit...
Ivan embarks behind them.
IVAN
You both happy? My turn now...Let's
move. Fast.
— ④
EXT. WOODS - LATER
The trio moves again. A lot slower this time.
Ivan is focused on the markings. Spots another one. Takes
the solid lead.
Jack mumble something to himself from behind. Endurance
talk.
Lora meets her verge and it shows. She stops on a beat, but
does her best the guys don't notice.
EXT. MEADOW CLEARING - CONTINUES
All of the sudden, the woods end and Ivan, Jack and Lora
emerge on a large, narrow clearing.
Ivan scans the new surroundings worried. No visible markings
to track.
Lost in his observance, he completely misses what Jack sees.
JACK (O.S.)
What the hell is that?
Ivan and Lora draw their attention seeing an--
--couple of HUMANS, sitting on a grass seemingly having a
picnic.
They are too far to distinguish who is who, but do not look
outta the place.
There is a giant terrain vehicle parked along their picnic
site.
IVAN
Looks like a family gathering.
Let's go ask them.
LORA
Ask them what?
IVAN
I...haven't spotted any road
marking around. Have you?
LORA
That's great!
IVAN
I say again; we're not lost...but
not trouble to ask some locals
every time we have a chance.
JACK
They look local to you?
IVAN
We're gonna find out.
Ivan starts moving toward the picnic location. Jack and Lora
follow along.
As they approach starts getting clearer it is only MAN and a
WOMAN having a BABY with them.
Some food and drinks on the thick blanket that serves as
sitting ground.
The MAN appears to be in some mid 50s, good maintained body
of a rock. Like Hulk decided to settle down.
The WOMAN is quite younger, maybe in her mid 30s. Rustic
clothes do not suppress the glowing face that somehow does
not belong in them.
She's also the first spotting the upcomers, shying away,
hiding the few months old BABY.
Ivan, his sister, and her boyfriend touch their perimeter.
They do not go closer.
Now, the Man also spotting their presence.
It is a couple of moments of primal silence of tribe meeting
the outlanders. Then--
IVAN
Hello. Do you speak English?
Man and woman look at each other.
The man speaks up. His voice is harsh, rocky as his body,
but has a good grip on the accent.
THE MAN
Yes. I do speak.
IVAN
Great! Ah, we're on a trail to
Trinity monastery. Just needed to
know are we on a good route?
THE MAN
You are tourists?
IVAN
Yea, you could say that.
The man looks up the woods like he's checking where to point
them out.
THE MAN
Yes. Just go straight up. Follow
markings. You will see a road.
Follow the road south and you are
there.
IVAN
Thanks a lot.
Ivan is about to move on, but Lora steps out.
She comes closer than the rest,and kneels down before the
woman holding the baby.
The woman crumples as scared animal would, but says nothing.
LORA
Such a cute baby...What's his name?
The woman just stares at Lora.
THE MAN
She cannot speak...
(gesticulating)
She's mute...
LORA
Oh, I see...I'm sorry...
Lora backs away to her group.
THE MAN
But You have guessed right. It is a
boy...
LORA
Thanks. You speak English very
well.
THE MAN
Yes...I have been working abroad
many times...You are Americans?
IVAN
Me and my sister are Canadian...
(pointing at Jack)
This guy's an American.
THE MAN
I see...never been there...No work
for me there...
JACK
Yeah, too bad...
The man turns his attention to Ivan.
THE MAN
You are soldier?
IVAN
Uh...yes, I was...I served a tour
in Kandahar.
THE MAN
Your eyes show.
They stare at each other for a beat. Awkward moment.
JACK
All right, guys! Trinity calling!
Ivan snaps back.
IVAN
Yes...still a way to go. Thanks for
directions again.
(beat)
You wouldn't know ETA by any
chance?
THE MAN
Well...some hour and half...maybe
less if you have good condition.
IVAN
Good. Have a nice time.
Jack and Lora wave as well. No response from the picnic
family.
The trio moves along the trail into the woods again.
EXT. EDGE OF THE WOODS - LATER
Ivan embarks first from the woods- taken by the sight. Right
after him comes Jack, stunned as well.
Last appears Lora, still coping with her strength. Head down
to her feet, he raises it only to behold--
--The wast of dug up, muddy land trail. Huge pipes stuck one
to another into eternity.
Nature has nothing to do with this. Clearly an man-made
industrial devastation called pipeline.
The trio takes a moment to sink into the picture.
JACK
Not the guys in the tavern, not the
damn driver, not those freaks in
the woods...NOT A GOD DAMN TO
FUCKING HELL PERSON EVEN
MENTIONED...THIS?! THE FUCK!
Ivan does not react. The first time he is off the leadership
track. Looks around - not a single marking in sight.
Lora is crushed.
LORA
I am going back!
IVAN
No! We move through this.
LORA
Move through this? You fucking
insane?
IVAN
How was I supposed to know? This
was not on the maps.
LORA
Fuck the maps, fuck the joy
ride...I can't take this any more.
JACK
She's right bro...We're screwed for
good on this trip. Let's go back.
IVAN
You wanna sleep in the fucking
woods? We're unequipped for that.
Way back is a couple of hours at
least and we are way past noon.
(beat)
Look up. Gonna rain any minute.
(beat)
It is just a pipeline. We gonna
push through to the south as the
guy said. Must be a road going on
from there...
LORA
That GUY had a jeep. Going back to
them, ask them to take us down to
village or any goddamn place near
by.
Lora turns around to go. Jack's hesitant.
IVAN
Lora, don't!
She don't wanna hear. Ivan rushes to her. Stops her by
force.
IVAN (CONT'D)
Look, listen...That guy...there was
something odd 'bout him...
JACK
You trippin'? The GI sense again?
IVAN
Shut the fuck up!
(to Lora)
I know...I asked him of ETA, a
velcro slang and he replied
straight, no blunt looks. Most
folks here can't even pronounce
ETA.
(beat)
Or, they didn't even offer us
drink, food...most people here are
quite polite.
JACK
Yea...they didn't wave back...broke
my heart...
IVAN
I'm just saying...something hostile
around them...I've seen this in the
villages back there....just about
we were to be ambushed...
JACK
C'mon, man...You compare us to
Afghanistan?
LORA
Ivan...I appreciate your
concerns...but we're in a mess
right now.
(beat)
All my senses and all my strengths
which I'm desperately hanging on
are saying the best thing we can do
right now is going back and ask for
help.
(beat)
Please...one, this time, listen to
me and let's go back...please...
EXT. MEADOW CLEARING - LATER
Lora, Ivan, and Jack storm back at the clearing. Lora's shy
smile of relief is gone when she realizes no one is there
anymore.
Lora turns around, puzzled.
LORA
Where the fuck they go?
JACK
Oh, shit...
Ivan embarks behind them.
IVAN
You both happy? My turn now...Let's
move. Fast.