【by Cam Reath】
OVER BLACK:
We hear the throaty growl of an engine. Wood cracks between the deep,rhythmic rumbles of firing pistons.
TITLE CARD: KINDLING
FADE IN:
EXT. FOREST – MAIN LOGGING CORRIDOR – DUSK
We push forward through a gaping hallway separating two seas of mossy firs,long pines, and lime-green undergrowth. Twigs litter the muddy floor like the beginnings of a nest for Cessna-sized birds. Gray, waning light barely breaks through the canopy opening.
In the reverse shot: we see SAWYER (mid-20s, pale, messy brown hair,shoulders too broad for his baby face) in the operator’s cabin of a forestry forwarder. He whistles Europe’s “The Final Countdown” as he turns onto a secondary corridor, swinging the tractor’s back into view – four rear wheels,a long trailer, and a claw arm.
An angry, high-pitched buzz grows louder offscreen.
EXT. FOREST – CLEARING’S EDGE – DUSK – CONT.
The forwarder reaches the end of the fresh corridor. Barren trees loom in the distance, a shade of black darker than shadow – they’re burnt.
Two men in orange jackets, JOEL and SAM, slice into trees with chainsaws.Between them, a huge, four-treaded logging harvester cuts down forest with staggering efficiency. It latches its hydraulic appendage to the base of trees, slices, then rings them through its bladed grip, stripping branches like corn off the cob.
Sawyer parks the forwarder behind the harvester, still whistling. He kills the engine and climbs down, checking out the piles of barren trunks he’ll soon need to drive back.
They’re neatly laid out on the shoulder of the clearing like a mass grave.
SAWYER
Guys!
Joel notices Sawyer approaching and sets his chainsaw down. Taking off his helmet and earmuffs, he strolls to the middle of the clearing, followed shortly by Sam.
Joel is in his mid-thirties, heavy-set, with a patchy goatee and a sun-tanned olive complexion. Sam looks about the same age and has a similar complexion, but is taller and skinnier than Joel and grows a full beard.
JOEL
What’s the news kid?
The harvester is still tearing through a meaty pine.
SAWYER
What?!
JOEL
(over his shoulder) C’mon Marty!
The harvester lays down a naked log and shuts off. MARTY (short, wiry, early forties) climbs out.
SAWYER
Boss says we’ve gotta do a few more loads after this one.
The other three men sigh and check out the dirt for a moment.
SAWYER (CONT’D)
He says we need to keep up with equipment costs, yaknow, with all the lost inventory and stuff.
JOEL
Unbelievable.
Joel pulls out a pack of Lucky Strikes and lights one up.
MARTY
Are you sure?
SAWYER
He sounded pretty sure.
JOEL
Jackass.
MARTY
You know that guy from Sierra went missing Tuesday night…
JOEL
We know. Spare us another theory, please.
Bap!
Sam claps once.
SAM
Alright! Let’s get back to it.
JOEL
Why’re you always so ready to do the unfair bullshit, Sam?
SAM
I appreciate what I got. Pay’s proportional. We’re lucky to even be out here in this market.
Marty grumbles in agreement. Joel glares at Sam through a long drag, but nods on the exhale. Everyone returns to their respective machines.
As he revs up his chainsaw, Joel looks back at Sam. From Joel’s POV: we watch Sam play with his wedding band before bending down to pick up his saw.
Sawyer starts whistling “The Final Countdown” from the beginning again.
The camera cranes up above the canopy. The ground slopes and rolls in waves of steadfast wilderness, as green treetops become charcoal. The loggers are nearing the edge of a huge forest fire.
EXT. FOREST – CLEARING’S EDGE – NIGHT
The harvester illuminates a cold semicircle that quickly falls off into crushing darkness. Two small beams wiggle on the night’s border – Sam’s and Joel’s headlamps. The clearing has reached the edge of the burnt zone. Felled logs are piled high. At the edge, only a few living trees obstruct the black wasteland.
Sam trims the low branches of a healthy birch. After he makes two connecting incisions into the trunk, a wedge shape falls out. Sam cuts through the backside to complete the split. The bark cracks and groans.
SAM
Timber!
JOEL (O.S.)
Timber!
Cruuuunch!
The birch reluctantly leans over and plummets to the earth.
Joel works on a smaller tree, leaving only one hand on the saw while he finishes the last cut. He calls out after the tree has begun falling.
JOEL (CONT’D)
Timber!
SAM (O.S.)
Timber!
Cruuunch!
Marty pops out of the harvester, waving at his coworkers.
MARTY
Ears off!
Sam and Joel each slide off an earmuff.
MARTY (CONT’D)
Shouldn’t the kid be back yet?
JOEL
Yeah, he’s taking forever. Probably got the damn forwarder stuck again.
SAM
You think we should go check on him?
MARTY
Yeah.
Sam sets down his saw and starts back down the corridor.
Joel pulls out his cigs and lighter, trying to enjoy an impromptu smoke break until he can’t ignore Marty’s stare any longer.
JOEL
Do I have to?
MARTY
If he’s really stuck, they’re gonna need your help getting unstuck.
JOEL
Fine. But that means leaving you alone out here with that wendigooo.
Joel stretches the last word out with campfire-story emphasis.
MARTY
Just go, ya jackoff.
Joel chuckles as he heads after Sam. He flicks his lit cigarette to the dirt.
MARTY (CONT’D)
I told you to put those out!
EXT. FOREST – MAIN LOGGING CORRIDOR – NIGHT – CONT.
Sam waits for Joel to catch up at the turn onto the main corridor.
JOEL
Don’t feel the need to wait for my fat ass.
SAM
I’d like the company.
JOEL
(mocking)
Aww, were you scared? Don’t worry, I can hold your hand.
SAM
Only if you buy me dinner first.
Joel smirks. You got me.
The two walk in silence for a minute. Twigs and boots crunch underneath. Crickets chirp. The breeze picks up.
Joel rings his hands and glances at Sam a few times. Sam keeps his head forward.
JOEL
So… how’s Alison holding up?
SAM
(a little surprised)
About as well as she can be. Baby’s healthy, almost at thirty weeks. It’s weird, the doctor said he’s growing little hairs now.
JOEL
That’s great. Let’s hope he keeps them better than his old man!
Sam laughs, pulling up his hard hat and stroking his far- receded hairline.
SAM
And that he can grow a better beard than you!
They both laugh. Sam suddenly goes quiet, locked onto something uproad. Joel follows his eyes.
A few hundred meters ahead, there’s a light off in the treeline. Sam and Joelsprint towards it.
EXT. FOREST – LOGGING CORRIDOR SHOULDER – NIGHT – CONT.
JOEL
Kid!
SAM
Sawyer!
The forwarder is off the path, overturned in a mess of trees. Sam runs around to the top side of the operating cabin, then stumbles back at what he sees.
JOEL
What?
Joel rounds the tractor to find the door smashed open and spots of blood leading deeper into the forest.
JOEL (CONT’D)
Fuck! Did a… did a bear get him?
Sam grabs the hair on the back of his head hard.
SAM
Let’s go.
Sam and Joel make eye contact. Joel presses his lips together and nods.
EXT. DENSE FOREST – NIGHT – CONT.
Joel and Sam trek through shrubs and roots.
SAM
Sawyer! You out there?!
Joel pulls a hunter’s knife from his pocket and flips open its serrated edge.
JOEL
Kid!
SAWYER
(in the dark, faint)
Help me! Please! Help! I-
Sawyer’s voice cries out desperately ahead of them.
Sam and Joel speedup, wading through the brush faster.
SAM
We’re coming! Where are you?!
SAWYER
(louder)
Help me! Please! Help! I-
Sam pulls ahead of Joel.
SAM
C’mon Joel!
JOEL
We’re- we’re coming, kid!
SAWYER
(closer)
Help me! Please! Help! I-
Joel slows, stops.
JOEL
Sam, wait!
Sam looks back.
SAM
What? We need to get to him!
JOEL
(stepping to Sam)
Listen! Something’s not right.
For a moment there’s only the sounds of the loggers’ heavy breathing and wind whistling through trees. The crickets have fallen silent.
SAM
Yeah it’s not right! We’re letting that boy die-
SAWYER
Help me! Please! Help! I- Help me! Please! Help! I-
Sam turns to chase Sawyer’s voice, but Joel grabs his shoulder.
JOEL
See?! It’s like a looped recording or something. Like a broken record.
SAM
Let me go!
Something drips onto Sam’s helmet. More drops fall. Joel looks down at his knife – now spattered with blood. He tilts his head back and his eyes shoot open.
JOEL
(pointing to the sky)
Holy fuck…
Sam follows Joel’s trembling finger high into the canopy. Illuminated by their headlamps, Sawyer’s body sways in the wind, impaled on a branch.
Sam retches, fighting the urge to puke.
JOEL (CONT’D)
Run!
Joel and Sam crash back towards the road, even faster than before. Behind them, Sawyer’s disembodied voice calls out for help one more time. All around, branches sway and groan.
As the loggers near the tractor light, a subtle whistle can be heard, fading away.
EXT. FOREST – MAIN LOGGING CORRIDOR – DUSK – CONT.
Joel and Sam pass the overturned forwarder.
Sam turns toward Marty and the clearing, Joel turns the other way. They both double-take at each other’s absence and slide to a stop.
JOEL
Really?!
SAM
We need to get Marty!
JOEL
You need to get home to your wife! Your son.
SAM
Don’t act like you care about them!
JOEL
I do!
SAM
Sure you do.
Sam starts toward the harvester again.
SAM (CONT’D)
Like you care about Marty.
Joel grabs a wad of his jacket, his hand shaking. He runs after Sam.
EXT. FOREST – SECONDARY LOGGING CORRIDOR – DUSK – CONT.
Already gassed, Joel and Sam force their legs to churn in their heavy boots. Joel wheezes louder, though.
SAM
You gotta lay off the cigs man.
JOEL
Screw-
(wheeze)
you.
In the distance, the harvester revs its chainsaw sporadically.
EXT. FOREST – CLEARING’S EDGE – NIGHT – CONT.
Joel and Sam run atop their recent path of destruction. The sounds of theharvester’s saw and hydraulic arm have ceased, leaving only the rhythmic chugging of its idle engine.
Getting closer, we see the harvester’s cabin coated in blood.
SAM
Marty!
Sam jumps on one of the treads and yanks the door open. What’s left of Martylays still, disfigured and torn apart. The far acrylic window is slashed.
Sam retches again, this time puking onto the harvester’s treads.
JOEL
Fuck!
Something whistles from the treeline. It struggles to find its pitch momentarily, then contorts the sound into a piercing rendition of “The Final Countdown.”
Joel pockets his knife.
JOEL (CONT’D)
(out of breath)
We gotta run back.
SAM
(gasping)
I don’t think we’ll make it. We gotta scare that thing off, or fight it!
Joel eyes his chainsaw and presses his lips together hard. The whistling continues.
JOEL
Fine.
Joel marches over to his saw, ripping the pull start and revving the engine to life in one go.
JOEL (CONT’D)
Get in the harvester.
SAM
Sorry Marty…
Sam gingerly pulls on Marty’s arm. He falls apart as he topples out of the driver’s cabin.
The whistling stops, now nearly drowned out by machinery.
VOICE
(as Sawyer)
Help me! Please! Help! I-
Sam rears the hydraulic crane up, ready for combat.
VOICE (CONT’D)
(as Sam and Joel)
Sawyer! Kid! Sawyer! Ki- Sawyer!
The voice swings around, changing positions. A shadowy mass
briefly catches the light.
SAM
Come out, you coward!
Joel and Sam twist their machines in the air, trying to keep them pointed in the voice’s direction.
A large figure darts between trees. We catch more glimpses. It looks slender, fast.
VOICE
(as Marty)
AHHH!
JOEL
COME ON!
The voice goes quiet. Joel fixes his gaze on where he last heard it.
A creature leaps out behind Joel, screeching.
Joel turns, too slow.
The creature knocks Joel to the ground. It stabs his left arm with a knife-like appendage. The thing is earthy, with twisted-root tendons. The creature screams over Joel with a faceless head.
CREATURE
(as Joel)
Run!
THWACK!
The harvester’s crane slams into the creature, catching one of its limbs on a blade.
Vrrrrr!
The harvester swings its arm around fast one way, then back the other – Sam aims to squash the creature against a tree.
The creature, similar to a skinny, botanical gorilla, rips itself free,severing its leg just before impact with a thick birch.
CRACK!
As the harvester reels from the impact, the creature reappears and crawls down the crane towards the cabin.
SAM
Joel, help!
Joel staggers to his feet, freezing as the creature reaches the driver’s compartment.
Joel rubs his ring finger where a wedding band would be. Sam screams.
Joel picks up his chainsaw, turns away, and runs.
Offscreen, Sam’s screams die out.
ALL IN A SNORRICAM SHOT:
We run with Joel, looking at him head-on. He breathes hard and coughs and snivels. Blood streams down his left arm. He drags his chainsaw with his right.
“The Final Countdown” starts again, and the whistle flies ahead of Joel, behind camera. Joel falls to his knees.
JOEL
What do you want?!
CREATURE
(as Sam, rapidly approaching)
Come out you coward!
Joel tries to raise his chainsaw but it’s no use – a trunk- like appendage grabs him across the chest and drags him through the dirt and twigs. Joel yells out nonsense.
After dashing a few dozen meters, the creature launches Joel through the air.
Joel gets serious airtime.
Joel slams into the ground, rolling end over end. The woodland floor turns from soil and needles to dust and ash- he’s now in the fire’s aftermath.
The creature leaps on Joel again.
CUT FROM SNORRICAM SHOT TO REVERSE SHOT:
The creature’s roots and twigs writhe and morph until its blank face resembles Joel’s.
CREATURE (CONT’D)
(as Joel)
COME ON!
Joel glances down. He takes quick sharp breaths.
JOEL
Screw you!
Joel pulls out his hunting knife, embedding it in the creature’s neck. It leaks sap onto Joel.
We track back and tilt down to see that the creature mirrored Joel’s action,shooting a branch through Joel’s neck on the opposite side.
The creature’s face remains like Joel’s but screams in Sam’s voice, the sameway he did when he died. But, as it grows quiet, we hear Sam’s actual last words:
CREATURE
(softly, as Sam)
I love you, Alison.
The creature mimics Joel’s gargled, labored breaths until they synchronize.
Leaves begin sprouting through Joel’s skin.
WE TRACK BACK FURTHER. NOW THE CREATURE AND JOEL ARE IN WIDESHOT.
The creature reaches at its leg; Joel’s free hand reaches into his pocket and pulls out his lighter.
Flick!
We don’t know whether Joel is enacting his own will or the monster’s when he sets the creature ablaze. The flames engulf them both.
FADE OUT
OVER BLACK:
The sound of crackling flames.
THE END.