EXT. CABIN - DAY

An old sturdy wooden cabin with dirty windows sits in the forest while rain pours from the sky.

​

INT. CABIN MAIN/KITCHEN ROOM -DAY

A dirty kitchenette with broken cabinets and various litter sits in the back corner.

 

Byron, 20’s, and Ash, 20’s, sit in front of a smoldering brick fireplace. They are carrying serious hiking gear: canteens, a sleeping roll, and a pan each.

 

Old firewood sits next to the fireplace.

​

BYRON

Once the rain quits we can keep moving

​

BYRON cups his hands around his mouth and breathes out loudly with a smile.

​

ASH scowls and shoots him a look.

​

ASH

No, we should keep moving.

​

ASH stomps his feet and rubs his legs.

​

BYRON

We can't turn back now; we've gotten over

halfway to the marker already. You know --

 

Large stomps, a thud, brush rustles from outside.

 

ASH drops his handwarmer and his eyes go wide. He stares at the door.

​

ASH

What was that?

​

BYRON

Probably just a big deer. We were told that

animals can be found in this region.

 

BYRON shrugs.

​

BYRON

Elk, grizzlies, Sarah swore she saw reindeer tracks once.

 

BYRON shoots a look at the door and tosses a log onto the fire.

 

ASH

We should just go back. Who knows what

was out there? How does Sarah really know what's out here?

 

ASH hands shake as he picks up his handwarmer.

 

ASH (CONT'D)

She just started hiking herself like a month ago.

 

Loud thuds make both men jump.

 

ASH

Hear that? It's very close by and we have no idea what that is.

 

ASH looks through both windows and paces across room. His breathing is very quick and shallow.

​

BYRON

Hey, it’ll be alright. I’m sure whatever it was

is moving on now, or at least no threat to us.

 

BYRON tosses another log on the fire, not looking at the door.

 

BYRON

It’s still raining, so why don’t we wait and keep warm for now?

 

BYRON grabs at ASH’s sleeve in an effort to get him to stop.

 

BYRON

Seriously, you need to relax. You'll only --

 

Loud thuds against the door make both characters stop and stare.

 

ASH begins to hyperventilate.

​

ASH

Okay, we really need to leave. Like, now.

We’ll call Sarah from the parking lot when

we get back, but that thing sounded huge!

 

ASH paces faster.

 

BYRON grabs for ASH’s sleeve.

 

BYRON

Ash, please try to stay still. You're just going to tire yourself out.

 

BYRON sits down.

 

BYRON (CONT'D)

As soon as the rain stops we'll head out

and straight for the Meeting Spot.

 

BYRON pats the ground next to him.

 

BYRON (CONT'D)

It's not even noon yet, there's plenty of

daylight left for traveling. We'll

set up a tent further along and be

there in two days tops.

​

ASH shakes his head and hugs his arm.

 

ASH

No, I’m heading back the second this rain

lets up. No matter what it is, if we leave

it alone it won’t bother us.

Heavy steps outside the door make both men freeze and hold their breath.

 

BYRON

Hear that?

 

BYRON points at the door.

 

BYRON (CONT'D)

That sounds big, yes, but it is probably

more afraid of us than we are of it.

 

BYRON covers his face.

​

BYRON (CONT'D)

Elk can get big, moose are bigger, and if

that were a bear it would be trying to get inside.

​

BYRON points to various wrappers at their feet.

 

BYRON (CONT'D)

Let’s clean up our trash now then.

 

ASH

Okay, you’re right. But if it’s a bear then

cleaning up some trash won’t help much.

 

BYRON shrugs.

 

BYRON

Maybe not, but either way we can’t

leave this place a mess. And if it

keeps them from breaking the door

down, then that’s better.

 

Both men pick up trash and stick it in a baggie in the backpacks.

 

BYRON

We should leave as soon as the rain’s clear.

 

ASH shoots BYRON a look.

​

BYRON

Fine, as soon as it’s better.

 

ASH

Thanks.

 

BYRON

I would much rather meet whatever it is in daylight anyway.

 

BYRON looks at the door.

 

BYRON

We can get a good distance away from here

and set up a tent, unless you want to sleep in that.

 

BYRON hooks his thumb over his shoulder towards a doorway with an old bed visible.

 

ASH shakes his head.

 

ASH

I would rather sleep in front of the fire.

 

Loud thuds make both characters jump.

 

ASH looks outside both windows.

​

ASH

The rains already letting off, we should go now.

We’re not even halfway to the meeting spot,

it’ll be quick to just get back to the car,

call the others, and do this a different --

 

ASH falls on his butt at a crack of thunder and BYRON jumps at an intense flash of lightning.

 

A loud bray makes both men flinch; BYRON stumbles against the stack of firewood and scatters it.

 

BYRON

Well, we’re stuck here for now. Let’s get our bags set up.

 

 

INT. CABIN MAIN/KITCHEN ROOM - DAY - LATER

The fire glimmers while both men stretch out on unrolled sleeping bags. Weak daylight filters through both windows.

 

BYRON puts a full bag of trash in his bag.

 

BYRON

We’ve eaten, we’re set up for sleep, and we haven’t heard anything for awhile.

​

BYRON raises an eyebrow at ASH.

 

BYRON

So what do you want to do now?

 

ASH shrugs and stacks the firewood between them.

 

ASH

A game of cards?

 

BYRON grins and raises his eyebrow suggestively at ASH.

 

BYRON

Well, that storm will last all night. There are other things we can do.

 

ASH frowns and shakes his head.

 

ASH

No. Not in this disgusting cabin. I know that Sarah and Lewis --

 

ASH sneers and looks at the fire.

​

ASH

I know they would jump at that chance and talk

about nothing else for days, but let’s not.

 

BYRON shrugs and looks at the floor.

 

BYRON

Just an idea, sorry. Well --

 

BYRON pulls a deck of cards from a pocket.

 

BYRON

Let’s play something. Solitaire?

 

A loud bray makes both men jump. BYRON drops the deck.

 

ASH

So let’s play something quietly for a bit,

but I’m surprised it hasn’t left.

 

BYRON shrugs and collects the cards.

 

BYRON

It’s more scared of us than we are of it,

but it’s also scared of the storm and maybe

the clearing here is safer than the forest.

 

BYRON and ASH play cards.