I'LL BE RIGHT BACK

Written by

Gabriel Belay

gabrielbelay@hotmail.co.uk
FADE IN

EXT. A DESERTED SUBURBAN STREET IN NORTH LONDON - DAY

At first all seems well before you notice the eerie silence,
the sounds that would normally accompany this image the hum
of traffic in the distance ,children laughing ,birds singing,
all signs of life are absent.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

A family of three, worn and lean with hunger. The house is

deserted. Furniture lies splintered and upturned, the
curtains torn the faces of the family that once called the
place home can be seen smiling from behind the broken glass
of the picture frames.

The FATHER (35) carrying his frail WIFE (32) gaunt with
sickness but still beautiful in spite of it within his arms
places her gently on the floor using the assorted pillows and
cushions gathered by their young DAUGHTER (12) to support her
head and back and wraps her in a fleece blanket pulled from
his tattered knapsack.

He places his knapsack on the table and we watch from above

as he neatly lays out what remains within :Two cans of tinned
peaches, seeds wrapped in paper towel and a yellowing plastic
bottle of water.

He brings an almost empty water bottle to her lips and she

thirstily drinks the remaining dregs. He affectionately wipes
the droplets that had trickled down her chin in her haste.

He places a kiss on his wifes forehead as she begins to

drift to sleep. He rises and shoulders his backpack moving
towards his daughter.

FATHER
Ill be right back.

The DAUGHTER looks at the ground, her sadness and worry

evident.

FATHER (CONTD)
(beat)
Ill be right back.

He pulls her into a hug.

They hold each other tight her head buried in his chest as he
soothingly strokes her hair. He breaks away placing a kiss on
her forehead as well.
 2.

He pulls a HUNTING KNIFE from the makeshift sheath sewn into

his belt, and places it in his daughters hand.

With a last glance back at his family he leaves, in search of

any salvageable food and medicine to add to his pitiful
collection of canned peaches and tylenol.

MONTAGE - VARIOUS LOCATIONS

INT. KITCHEN- DAY

The father searches the kitchen its flowered yellow wallpaper

peeling, opening cupboards and drawers finding them all
empty.

EXT. RUNDOWN HOUSE- DAY

The father stands in front of a house a large red x adorns

the front door a sign that the house had already been
searched and nothing of value remains.

INT. BATHROOM

The father stands in front of a mirrored cabinet, cracked and

on its hinges his face drawn and tired staring at himself. He
turns the taps below. Nothing.

INT. KITCHEN CUPBOARD

The FATHER opens the cupboard and stares in. Empty.

END OF MONTAGE.

EXT. PARK- AFTERNOON

Having searched the neighbourhood and found nothing the

father crumples defeated at the roots of a tree its
overhanging branches shading him from the world.

After allowing himself a few moments of self pity he rises,

gathers himself and begins to make his way back the way he
came, before noticing a church in the distance that has been
previously obscured by the sprawl of the tree.

EXT. CHURCH- AFTERNOON

The church is dirty and covered in lewd graffiti, what is

left of the railing fence is now barbed with a vicious
assortment of rusted nails and sharpened kitchen utensils.
 3.

He watches cautiously from across the street, crouching

behind a mail box. Save from the DOZEN ZOMBIES shuffling
aimlessly in the courtyard, it appears to be deserted.

He slices a shallow cut on the calloused palm of his right

hand and begins smearing the blood on the surrounding houses.
At the scent of the blood the zombies begin their frenzied
search for its source.

Seizing the opportunity of now empty courtyard the man dashes

forward, the heavy oak doors CREAK as he pushes them open.

INT. CHURCH NAVE- AFTERNOON

The man stands for a moment taking in the church. Weeping

angels cast in stained glass watch him as he moves forward.

INT. CHURCH CELLAR- AFTERNOON

After his immediate search he enters the cellar, cold and

damp with shelves laden with canned goods, bottles of water
and dried foods. A collection of dirtied sundresses hang on
the damp cellar walls. A pile of mismatched womens jewelry
beneath them.

He begins taking what he needs from the stock.

Before leaving, he bends and pockets an antique broach. A

gift for his wife.

INT. CHURCH NAVE- AFTERNOON

Making his way out of the church he is forced to stop and

hide by the CLINKING of chains. He watches from the pews as
seven men bloated and mean enter the church followed by
mottled zombies led by chains fastened at their necks and
torsos.

They are dragging two bodies, their forms unrecognizable due

to the blood-stained tarp they are wrapped in. Their muffled
CRIES stir the father.

He begins to move forward, his hand falling to the sheath at

his side. Nothing. He tenses his jaw breathes in deeply and
resigns himself to his previous position; hidden in the pews.

He waits until the church is empty and the sound of

CONVERSATION and CHAINS are distant before making his way
back to his family.
 4.

INT. LIVING ROOM- NIGHT

He enters the house it is empty. All traces of his family

gone except a trail of blood leading from the nest he had
made his wife to the now broken door swinging limply on its
hinges. The father falls to his knees as realization dawns.

FADE OUT.