Final Contingency

By

Matthew Simpson

Deanfield Ave, Henley-on-Thames RG9 1UH

EXT. FOREST – DAY
Open on a black screen. Radio crackle. Faint sounds of a
helicopter. Patches of audio coming from radio can be
heard. Have some credits and title screen during this.

MAN ON RADIO
(radio effect – patchy - -between static – hard to hear)

We are clear for landing. Positioning asset now. Clear

for extraction.

The radio stops and we hear birds. Close up of man’s face

as he is lying on the forest floor (shot from towards top
of head). His eyes are closed. He begins to stir. We see
a shot a bit higher up, facing the trees. They are out of
focus. The man sits up into centre frame (he sits up into
focus). Shots from further away as he begins looking
around. These wider shots show that he is alone. He wears
a black T-Shirt, camouflage trousers and a jacket. He
looks around with a look of confusion, which then turns
to panic.

MAN
(Calling out to forest)
Hello?

Closer shots, from slightly above. He is disorientated.

MAN
Hello?

The camera spins around him as he yells out.

MAN
Anyone?

The man starts walking, looking around. There is the

distant sound of creatures (wolf howls etc.) When these
happen his head snaps up.

LATER

EXT. FOREST – EVENING

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Man sits in the dark, huddled by a tree. He looks around
before closing his eyes. We see snippets of memories,
surgical equipment, POV of the man. We see him strapped
down to a bed and glimpses of needles. Maybe him
screaming? Or maybe he did it voluntarily? The memories
get worse and louder. Flashing lights?

EXT. FOREST – MORNING

The man’s eyes shoot open, he is breathing heavily. He

sits up and looks around but there is no one else there.
As he stands up to start walking there is a rustle in the
leaves. He whips around, wary. There is a panning shot
around his face as he looks around warily. Suddenly
something tackles him out of frame. They roll around on
the ground so we can’t see who the new arrival is. The
man manages to stand up. The other figure also gets up
(it is Man #2). He lunges at Man #1 who without meaning
to, blocks the attack. They both look surprised and pause
for a second, looking at each other. Then a fight ensues.

Man #1 swipes #2’s left hand away with his right, then
brings his arms up in an ‘x’ to block a downward strike
from #2. #1 then aims a knee at #2’s stomach which forces
him back. #1 then throws a chop at #2 using his right arm
across his body so it comes at #2 from #2’s right. #2
blocks this and #1 goes for the same strike but lower. #2
grabs #1’s arms and spins it high in the air, leaving #1
open. #2 seizes the chance and elbows #1 in the stomach,
which causes him to stumble back. #2 then comes at #1
with a barrage of attacks. First a right hook then a left
hook, which #1 swipes away with his right then left
hands, as he is forced to move backwards. #1 then elbows
#2 in the face with his left arm then throws a high right
hook, which sweeps downwards and misses. #2 takes this
opportunity to land a body shot on #1. #2 then aims a
high right attack which #1 blocks with his left arm. Then
#2 goes for a low body shot with his left hand, which #1
catches with his right. They struggle for a few moments
in this position. #1 then forces them around so he can
jump up and bounce off a tree. This results in both of
them losing their grip and #1 lands a punch on #2 as he
lands. As #2 stumbles back #1 runs at him and throws a
right hook, which #2 swipes away. #2 then sends a right
hook which #1 blocks with his arm on his head, creating a
side block similar to the first block). This is quickly
followed by a left hook from #2 which #1 leans back to
avoid. #1 kicks with his right foot which #2 uses both

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hands to bat away. #2 then lands a right hook on #1’s
face, causing #1 to stumble back. #2 kicks him, forcing
him back into a tree. #2 advances on him, throwing a left
hook which #1 ducks under. With him now crouched low he
tackles #2 at the waist. The camera rotates and follows
them down to the ground. They grapple on the ground. #1
holds his fist high in the air, ready to punch. When he
goes to punch #2 catches his fist. They struggle in his
position for a few moments. Then #2 twists #1’s arm
around into a lock and we hear a crunch. He has broken
his arm. #1 rolls onto the ground in pain. This allows #2
to get above him and raise his fist, though he does not
strike. He looks angry but also lost and scared.

MAN #2
(There is terror in his eyes and voice that he is trying
to hide)
Who the hell are you?!

MAN #1
(Pauses for a second)
I have no idea. Who the hell are you?!

MAN #2
(Loosening his grip)
I-I can’t remember

They both stare at each other for a second. As Man #2’s

grip loosens Man #1 takes the chance to quickly stand up.
He is clutching his broken arm.

MAN #1
Look I don’t know what the hell’s going on here. I’m
tired, scared and I think you broke my arm, so if this is
some kind of sick joke-

MAN #2
(Cutting him off)
It’s not a joke.

MAN #1
How do you know?

MAN #2

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What we just did. How can that be. I don’t remember
learning anything like that.

MAN #1
Yeah, well I don’t remember anything past yesterday
morning.

MAN #2
Wait, you’ve been here since yesterday?

MAN #1
(Nods)
How long have you been here?

MAN #2
I woke up this morning. I – I started panicking – didn’t
know what was going on. It was when I started looking
around that I saw you. You were writhing around and
sweating. At first, I couldn’t even tell you were asleep.

MAN #1
Why did you attack me?

MAN #2
(Pauses for a moment – in thought - shrugs)
Instinct I suppose? I didn’t know what was going on and I
thought you might have some answers. But I was scared
that you might be crazy or something, being out here in
the middle of the woods alone. Thought I’d subdue you
before asking you any questions.

(He looks at his hands – slightly ashamed)

MAN #1
Believe me, I wish I had some answers to give you.

(considers for a moment)

Come on, let’s get moving.

(Man #2 nods in agreement)

EXT. FOREST – AFTERNOON

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The two are walking in the forest, a little way apart.
MAN #1 walks into frame and stops. He looks around,
resting his hand on a tree, then continues. Cut to a
medium shot on MAN #2. He slows down, rubbing his head.
He staggers and places his hand on a tree. Extreme close
up of his eye. As he blinks it cuts to the memory with
the same shot. We see flashes of his past, similar to MAN
#1’s. Surgical equipment. Leaving his family. He yells
out, which plays over the end of the flashbacks and back
to the forest. Shot of MAN #1 whipping around at the
sound and running back to him. He reaches MAN #2 and
shushes him, holding his shoulder, his injured arm
hanging at his side. MAN #2 is still in shock, eyes
glazed over.

MAN #1
(Shaking Man #2 – looking around frantically)
Hey! Hey! Keep it down! We don’t know what else may be
out here.

Man #2 takes deep breaths, wheezing as if he’s been

crying. He falls to his knees. MAN #1 crouches down
beside him.

MAN #1
Ok, we’ll camp here. You just rest ok. I’ll keep watch.

MAN #2 slumps against the tree and looks exhausted and

haunted by what he’s seen. MAN #1 sits facing away from
him, looking out at the trees. There is a moment of
silence between them.

MAN #2
(Faintly – squeezing out the words with effort)
I – I saw…

MAN #1 looks around at him slowly, curious and concerned.

MAN #1
(Contemplates for a moment)
What did you see?

MAN #2
(Takes a moment – almost catching his breath)

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I saw… things… horrible things… they had needles and
people in masks. Blinding lights, noises and… and…

MAN #1
(looking away slightly – at floor)
Pain.

MAN #2
(Sitting up slightly – brows furrowed)
You saw it too?

MAN #1
(picks up a twig and starts fiddling with and examining
it)
Last night. When you saw me writhing in my sleep…

MAN #2
(Sitting up more now – enthused – almost excitable)
You saw the lights?! And you felt the pain?

MAN #1
(throws stick away and sits back)
Could barely focus on anything else it hurt so much.

MAN #2
(Laughing slightly)
It reminded me of when I first fell of my bike…

MAN #1 freezes. He looks around at MAN #2

MAN #1
What did you just say?

MAN #2
(looks up - confused)
I said it was like when…

(realisation dawns on him)

MAN #1
Keep going! What else do you remember?

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MAN #2 screws up his eyes in concentration. After a few
seconds he stops.

MAN #2
I can’t. It’s like I’m hitting a brick wall.

MAN #1
(Looks disappointed – glances around forest – massaging
arm)
Why don’t you sleep on it and see if any more comes back?
I’ll keep watch.

MAN #2
(Considers it – taking a few moments)
Alright then.

(Beat – sees #1 massaging his arm)

How’s your arm?

MAN #1
(looking back at #2)
I think I felt the bone snap during the fight.

MAN #2
Think you’ll be alright to keep watch?

MAN #1
Yeah, I’ll be fine.

MAN #2
Just wake me up so you can get some rest too.

MAN #1 nods then Man #2 lays down against the tree and
closes his eyes.

EXT. FOREST – MORNING

MAN #1 and MAN #2 are sprawled out on the forest floor;

both are asleep. MAN #2 jerks awake and rubs his eyes as
he sits up. He looks around then leans over and nudges
MAN #1. MAN #1 recoils away from MAN #2’s hand in his

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sleep before rubbing his eyes and opening them. He too
sits up.

MAN #1
(gathers his bearings then looks at MAN #2 – he sits back
propped by both his arms behind him)
Sleep well?

MAN #2
As good as I could’ve hoped-

(he trails off distracted by #1’s arm)

Hey! Your arm!

Man #1 stares down at his arm in amazement. He moves it

around, bending it and massaging it again.

MAN #1
How? Yesterday I could barely move it.

MAN #2
Let me see.

Man #1 shuffles over to Man #2 and presents his arm to

him. Man #2 examines it.

MAN #2
Seems pretty normal to me. Hang on.

(Man #2 flips over #1’s wrist. When he does a tattoo is

revealed reading “001”)
What’s this?

Man #1 looks down at it.

MAN #1
I have no idea. Check yours.

Man #2 rotates his own wrist and written there is “002”.

MAN #2
What could it mean?

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Man #1 shrugs, staring at the numbers on #2’s wrist. He
then looks up into #2’s face, worried.

EXT. FOREST – DAY

The two are walking in the forest, once again with a

little distance between them.

MAN #1
(Slows down a bit – in thought – stops – said with
realisation in his voice)
James

MAN #2
(slows to a stop as well - turns – confused)
What?

MAN #1
That was my brother’s name. I think…

MAN #2
(laughs slightly – cocking head – starts walking again)
Hmm… James

MAN #1
(Also continues walking – catching up)
What’s wrong with James?

MAN #2
Nothing, nothing. Just a bit posh that’s all.

MAN #1
You can’t talk! For all we know your name’s…

(tries to think of a name)

Theodore!

Pause for a moment before MAN #2 laughs. MAN #1 watches

him laugh for a few seconds, then joins in. There are a
few moments silence.

MAN #2

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So, James? You really think that’s your brother?

MAN #1
I don’t know. It’s just a name that came to me while I
was trying to remember. And I think it was in my dreams
last night. I think I was screaming it.

MAN #1 has stopped without realising, staring blankly at

the ground – traces of tears in his eyes. MAN #2 has also
come to a stop and is staring at him.

MAN #1
(Snapping out of trance – shaking it off – nervous laugh)
But I never remember my dreams anyway! At least I don’t
think I do.

He starts walking again, past MAN #2. Shot of him walking

out of frame (towards camera) with MAN #2 facing away
from camera, who then turns and looks worriedly in the
direction MAN #1 has just exited.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

The two are walking in the forest again. There is a twig

snap and rustling off in the distance. MAN #1 freezes,
ears pricking up and head snapping up, holding up a hand
to MAN #2, who stops and looks around. They stand on
alert looking around, listening intently. A growling
comes from the left. Shot from behind bushes looking at
them. They both exchange a worried look. There is
growling noises.

MAN #1
Run!

They both sprint off in the opposite direction to the

growl. There are shots tracking them as they run, weaving
between trees. It is implied through this camerawork that
they are incredibly fast. We can only hear growling and
footsteps, but we don’t see their pursuers. (Maybe the
odd glimpse in the background if we can do that). MAN #2
ends up slightly ahead and runs into the barrier. There
is a ripple in the air as he is flung back and falls to
the ground – low angle – slo mo?. MAN #1 comes to a halt
by him, glancing back.

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 MAN #2
(Disorientated – clutching head)
What the-

MAN #1
(Still glancing frantically back towards pursuers)
Are you hurt?

MAN #2
(Shaking his head but with effort)
Nothing I can’t handle.

MAN #1 helps him up then goes over to examine the

barrier. He reaches his hand out and the air ripples once
again.

MAN #1
It’s some kind of barrier…

He looks up and down it, closely examining where his hand

connects with it.

MAN #2
(Pacing – running hands through hair)
So, we’re trapped. We’re screwed. That’s something we
already knew, so I say we get moving before those things

(gesturing back the way they came)

catch up to us!

MAN #1
(He doesn’t move – still examining the barrier – stepping
back to better look – it is invisible/slight glimmer when
not being touched)
Listen.

MAN #2
Listen? Look, we need to go now-

MAN #1
(Holds a hand up and turns to face him)
Listen!

(Pauses – beat)

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What do you hear?

MAN #2 listens for a moment.

MAN #2
Nothing…

MAN #1
Exactly! We outrun them! Whatever they are.

MAN #2
But how? From the sound of them they weren’t a friendly
animal. It sounded like a pack homing in on a kill.

MAN #1
That’s just it! How could we possibly outrun a creature
like that? Unless we were faster than it.

MAN #2
(confused)
What are you saying?

MAN #1
(sighing)
Watch

(He bends down and picks up a stick. He throws it. We see

a shot from over his shoulder as it lands a long way
away. This could be achieve by using a tripod and simple
masking)

MAN #2
Maybe you’re just really good at throwing? You wouldn’t
remember would you?

MAN #1
(Getting closer – piecing things together)
That can’t be it. There’s something going on.

Beat

I don’t think we’re normal.

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 MAN #2
What do you mean? How would you know anyway?! We can’t
remember anything!

MAN #1
Well even if I don’t, from the little I can recall people
can’t just run that fast or fight like we did without
training.

MAN #2
(Beginning to realise)
A-and your arm. It healed so fast! The tattoos! Maybe it
wasn’t a coincidence we both ended up here with no
memory. But, why?

MAN #1
I-I don’t know. Unless we’re…

MAN #2
Unless we’re what?

MAN #1
Don’t you remember? The labs, the needles. Maybe this is
to test out their handiwork.

MAN #2
Us?

MAN #1
(Slightly glazed over – in thought)
The first in a long line.

(beat – looking at #2 now)

That’s what they said. We’re the first.

MAN #2
The first what? A new breed of sprinters?

(gesturing back to where chase happened)

Genetically enhanced athletes?

MAN #1

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(Clutching head – trying to remember – then stares at the
ground, solemn – he looks up at Man #2)
Weapons.

MAN #2
(Staggering back a few paces – in shock)
Weapons?

MAN #1
I-I remember. They needed something. Something stronger
than anyone or anything we’ve seen before.

MAN #2
Why? For what?

MAN #1
In case of an invasion… an invasion Earth wouldn’t be
able to handle…

MAN #2
(Pauses for a moment)
From outside Earth?

Beat

Aliens?

MAN #1
(Looks worriedly at Man #2)
We have to get out of here…

Man #1 turns and runs at the barrier but gets flung back.

MAN #2
It’s not going to work! We can’t get through that!

MAN #1
(Standing back up and walking over to barrier – trying to
prise it open)
Maybe a normal person can’t, but I think we’ve
established we are not that.

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Sounds of growling can be heard in the distance. Man #2
looks around frantically, wishing Man #1 would stop.

MAN #2
Maybe your wrong! Maybe we just got lost and bumped our
heads.

MAN #1
(Still struggling with barrier)
How do you explain the tattoos? And the fight? Did you
learn that?

MAN #2
(Frustrated – almost shouting)
I can’t remember!

The sound of growling grows louder.

MAN #1
Shhhh! Now those things will be back on our tail! Are you
gonna help me or not?

Man #2 begrudgingly trapses over to Man#1 and starts

struggling with the barrier as well. They both heave
while looking around for the creatures, who’s growls can
be heard nearer. Man #2 steps back from barrier and then
runs towards it, jumping forwards. Man #1 takes a step
back to watch as Man #2 disappears behind it. Man #1
takes a look over his shoulder as the growling gets even
closer then runs and jumps through the same place Man#2
did. He too disappears. Cut to black.

Credits

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