SHADOWS PUPPETS

By Shayz

ACT II

FADE IN:

INT. SMALL CARGO SHIP – CORRIDOR – RUNNER’S POV

FULL TILT PANIC: Unsteady, running in boots, heavy breathing. Woman’s hand on the wall—bloody, leaves a print.

Agonized SCREAMS from behind could be male or female.

Spinning around…looking down corridor…hearing FOOTSTEPS. Turning, running again, up steps into-

INT. SMALL CARGO SHIP – KITCHEN – CONTINUING

-stumbles, hits floor hard, WHIMPERS, gets up and runs again. MORE SCREAMS!

Looks back again.

WOMAN (off camera; hoarse whispered voice; sob): Craig!

Looks around kitchen for a weapon, tosses utensils, opens cupboards…finds knife; pretty wimpy, CURSES and tosses knife aside.

Leaves kitchen by another door into-

INT. SMALL CARGO SHIP – CORRIDOR – CONTINUING

-makes a turn and goes up metal stairs—noisy.

INT. SMALL CARGO SHIP – CATWALK – CONTINUING

Coming off the stairs above the open CARGO BAY. LOOKS DOWN: 3 bodies on the floor. Runner takes spiral staircase down to-

INT. SMALL CARGO SHIP – CARGO BAY – CONTINUING

-cargo bay floor.

Touches one body: female—middle age—blood coming from eyes, nose and mouth. WHIMPERS.

Backs away, stumbles, checks the next body: female—young teen, same blood patterns. ANGUISHED CRY. Scrambles to third victim: Male 20’s, also dead in the same fashion.

1ST MAN (OS – calm): There.

LOOKS up at catwalk – SEEING: MAN IN SUIT wearing blue gloves. Stumbles backwards, turns suddenly—

A 2nd MAN IN SUIT with blue gloves is behind her. He holds her by the shoulders.

2ND MAN: It’s time to go home.

WOMAN (off-camera; hoarse whisper): This is my home.

The 1st Man comes down the stairs and joins them.

1ST MAN: She’s confused…been away too long. Don’t you know who you are?

The 2nd Man turns her around and she’s standing in front of a mirror (yeah, out of nowhere). Runner is RIVER!

INT. SERENITY — RIVER’S ROOM — CONTINUING

River’s sleeping and her eyes snap open.

INT. SHUTTLE — CONTINUING

Kayl