excerpt from ” Breath ” written by Chris Hind, story by John Conway
The street is full of life, movement and light. The SOUND of CARS and PEDESTRIANS fill the night. Very quickly the street empties, lights dim and a strong wind begins to blow. The SOUND OF THE HOUNDS approaching.
INT. LINDSAY’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
The SOUND OF THE HOUNDS awakens LINDSAY and he sits up frightened.
LINDSAY
Oh no!
He cowers into the chair and covers his head with his hands as his CAT hisses at the window. Someone RAPS at his courtyard window and the cat stops hissing and begins to purr. Lindsay looks out between his fingers at Nicholas Bell, dressed as a superhero, who presses his face against the glass.
LINDSAY (CONT’D)
You can’t be there – it’s three stories up.
Nicholas invites to Lindsay to come outside with a gesture and then he appears to fall. Lindsay gets up and rushes to the window and sees Nicholas unhurt in the courtyard pretending to fly with his arms outstretched. Nicholas’s cape flutters in the wind and he beckons to Lindsay.
INT. KYLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Kyle is still passed out in the bath as the SOUND OF THE HOUNDS gets louder.
EXT. KYLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Lindsay and Nicholas arrive outside of 816 Jackson. Lindsay looks around anxiously.
LINDSAY
Shit, they’re so close!
What the hell are we doing here?
The HOUNDS appear in the distance as a swirling black mass.
Lindsay knocks on the door and no one answers.He turns to Nicholas but he has vanished.
Lindsay turns back to the door as the SOUND THE HOUNDS increases and he bangs hard on the door.
LINDSAY (CONT’D)
Open up, damn it!
He bangs harder.
LINDSAY (CONT’D)
OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!
The SOUND OF THE HOUNDS gets louder still and Lindsay takes a run at the door, hurts his shoulder, then kicks the door in.
The only light emanates from the open bathroom door and Lindsay finds KYLE passed out in the tub.
Lindsay reaches in and pulls Kyle to his feet and shakes him.
LINDSAY (CONT’D)
WAKE UP, there almost here!
Lindsay slaps Kyle’s face and Kyle starts to come too.
The SOUND OF THE HOUNDS is very loud and their claws make SCRATCHING SOUNDS as they climb the stairs.
KYLE
What the fuck…
Who the hell…
Kyle clues in to the sounds and wakes up.
KYLE (CONT’D)
What”s that noise?
Lindsay and Kyle look each other in the eye.
LINDSAY
I think they’re here for you.
Kyle wanders around thinking and holds his head with his hands.
Lindsay grabs him.
LINDSAY (CONT’D)
How do we get out of here?
Kyle looks to the window and Nicholas Bell smiles back standing on the fire escape.
Kyle grabs a nearby chair and throws it through the closed window with a crash and both men scramble out and start down the fire escape.
The SOUND OF THE HOUNDS TEARING UP THE APARTMENT increases in volume.
EXT. KYLE’S FIRE ESCAPE – NIGHT
KYLE and LINDSAY run down the fire escape and fall frequently due to the unstable ladders.
The SOUND of SCRAMBLING CLAWS ON METAL spurs the two men on and when they reach the bottom they are bruised and bloody.
LINDSAY
Now where?
Kyle looks up and down the alley.
KYLE
Let’s split up to confuse them.
LINDSAY
Good luck.
Lindsay doesn’t wait for a reply and starts to run painfully towards home.