Broth

BROTH LOGLINE: A family trapped in an unending snowstorm must face the unspeakable horrors that each one brings to the table.

FADE IN:

EXT. SMALL HOUSE - WINTER DAY

A small house is blanketed in snow. The drifts reach almost to the roof, and taper off just below the highest window. Dark smoke escapes from an ice-crusted chimney.

Leading from the front door is a narrow path, flanked by ten feet of snow. It ends a few yards past a large woodpile. There are no other houses. It is snowing heavily. Everything is white and the only sound is wind.

INT. NURSERY - DAY

The bedroom is wallpapered with faded circus clowns. A single candle on a small table sheds the only light. The windows are blacked-out from the snow.

A WOMAN stands beside an old crib with missing side gates. She is in her twenties. Her hair is unkempt. She wears no makeup. Tears slide down her face, but she makes no noise. She looks down at a sleeping infant wrapped in a pink blanket. A MAN stands in the doorway. He is muscular with a heavy beard. He looks dead tired. The woman's back is turned to him. She doesn't move.

MAN

Babe?

The woman doesn't react.

MAN (cont'd)

It's ready. Why don't you come downstairs?

WOMAN

What kind of life is this for us?

MAN

The storm will stop soon. It has to, and

that sort of thinking -

The woman barks a brittle laugh. She reaches into the crib, but pulls back her hand at the last instant.

WOMAN

All this weather started with her. Started the

day she was born.

MAN (smiling uncertainty)

You aren't remembering right, baby.

And I think there's about ten thousand

scientists who would disagree.

WOMAN (raising her voice)

I'm not stupid. I know things started to

turn before then. But the snow the real

snow - started the day she was born.

MAN

No. You're not stupid. You're just not

remembering right.

WOMAN (softer)

And the cold.

The man looks exasperated.

MAN

You spend too much time in here.

WOMAN ( whispering to herself)

I like watching her sleep.

MAN

C'mon. Let's eat.

The man turns and leaves without waiting for an answer. The woman lingers by the crib.

WOMAN

I know what I know. And you can't tell

me different.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS DEN - DAY.

The woman and man sit at a small table, each with a bowl of dark broth. There's an old box of oyster crackers on the table. A small fire burns in the fireplace. The man drinks his straight from the bowl. The woman doesn't touch hers.

MAN

This is the last of it. Drink. You need

your strength. And... and it's better hot.

The woman ignores him and stares down at her bowl. After a few moments, the man takes out a small amber bottle of pills and places it on the table.

WOMAN

No.

MAN

Baby, you have to.

The woman slams her hand on the table hard enough to rattle the bowls.

WOMAN ( shouting )

Don't call me that! softer ( No. )

MAN

You're not - Listen. I know how things

look, know how you feel. But you're not

thinking right. What happened before -

The woman stands up abruptly. Her face is flushed, but her voice is quiet.

WOMAN

I said no. There's more than 90 days worth

of snow between us and... and anywhere.

I don't see that changing anytime soon,

do you? So unless you figured out how

to turn snow into baby formula, I need to

keep breastfeeding. No pills.

The man gets up and draws the woman into his arms. She tries to pull away, but finally relents and hugs him back. She sobs softly.

WOMAN (cont'd)

I'm sorry.

MAN

Shh. I know. And I'm sorry. It's harder for

me some days more than others. When I

saw you standing at her crib, I just... I don't

know.

BABY (O.S.) crying

The woman stiffens in the man's arms and pulls away. She smiles at him, putting on a brave face.

MAN

What's wrong?

The woman smiles up at him. She rests a hand against his cheek.

WOMAN

The fire's getting low. We'll need more

wood before tomorrow. You go. I'll clean

up here.

MAN ( Nods. )

I'll do a quick shovel while I'm out there.

Promise me you'll finish your broth.

The woman nods.

MAN (cont'd)

Leave the dishes. I'll take care of them.

WOMAN

Thank you.

The man softly kisses the top of head. He puts on a ski parka, scarf and wool mask. He unlocks a metal floor barricade and opens the front door.

The wind HOWLS briefly until he closes the door. The woman's expression changes to revulsion and she immediately takes her bowl into the kitchen and dumps it in the sink.

BABY (O.S.) crying.

WOMAN

Mommy's coming, sweetheart.

She braces herself on the counter and closes her eyes for a moment. When she opens them, something in the sink grabs her attention. She slowly runs her fingers along the bottom and comes up with a mushy, white pill. Shock and understanding register on her face. She looks at the closed front door, then back at the pill in her hand. She walks slowly to the front door in a daze, and locks it.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE BY THE WOODPILE - DUSK

The wind is howling, and the snow is falling hard. The man takes a few cut logs and starts to turn back to the house. He pauses and looks at the end of the path beyond the woodpile.

There is a piece of pink cloth sticking out from the snow. He walks over, and pushed snow over it with his foot until it disappears, and then walks back to the front door. He kicks gently at the door.

MAN ( shouting)

Honey? Open up.

He kicks at the door again, a little harder.

MAN (cont'd)

Dammit.

He puts the wood on the ground and tries to open the door, finding it locked.

MAN ( raising his voice)

Why's the door's locked?

He bangs on the door with his fists.

MAN (cont'd)

Hey. Open the door!

WOMAN (O.S.)

I know what you did. I saw!

MAN

What's that? Come on, open up!

INT. DEN.

The woman stands at the foot of the stairs, staring at the door. She looks scared and angry.

MAN (O.S)

Open the fucking door!

The woman covers her ears as the man continues to bang on the door.

WOMAN

I know what you did! I saw! I warned you!

Go away!

MAN (O.S.)

You're not thinking right. You don't know

what you're doing. Just let me in, so we

can talk. I can't stay out here, Baby -

WOMAN ( shouting )

Don't call me that! You know I fucking hate

that!

The woman snatches the bottle of pills off the table, walks to the fireplace and grabs an iron poker. The baby continues crying (O.S.)

EXT. OUTSIDE.

The man is clearly freezing. He runs back to the woodpile, grabs the ax, and runs back to the door. He swings the ax at the door.

MAN ( shouting over the wind.)

You're not thinking right. I'm gonna die

out here. You have to let me in.

The man continues to swing the ax, but he's exhausted. His breathing is ragged with the effort.

MAN (cont'd)

Let. Me. In!

He gives one final swing. The ax lodges in the door. He struggles to pull the ax out, but fails. He slides to the ground, sobbing. His back rests against the door.

INT./EXT. - VERTICAL SPLIT SCREEN

The woman sits on the floor, her back rests against the door. The iron poker lies across her lap, and she's holding the pill bottle. The man is outside with his back also against the door. The ax remains wedged in the door above him.

MAN ( teeth chattering )

It's not your fault. This... none of this.

I love you. Let me in. Please. I'm dying.

The woman is crying.

WOMAN

It was us or her. You said. Us or her.

( shouting at the door) I told you!

BABY (O.S.) crying.

The woman opens her eyes and looks up toward the sound of crying, but doesn't get up.

WOMAN

I'm coming, sweetheart.

The man has surrendered. He's too tired to shout.

MAN

We had to. We were starving. Are

starving. You know we had to. Please,

just open the door. You need your

medicine, that's all.

The woman shakes the pill bottle, in mock agreement.

MAN (cont'd)

You're just. . . just having trouble

remembering . . ..

MAN (cont'd) ( barely whispering. )

You. . . we. . . had to. . .

The man's voice trails off. His breathing becomes irregular, small white puffs of smoke pushing out between his lips. Then they stop.

WOMAN

I don't want medicine. I don't want,

don't want to remember. She closes

her eyes.

INT. NURSERY. - SECONDS LATER.

We see the entire, small room. The crib is empty. There are no sounds of crying. There is no baby.

WOMAN (O.S.) (distant and ragged)

Mommy's coming, sweetheart. Mommy's coming. FADE OUT