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The Brink


"The Brink" is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is completely coincidental.

"The Brink" is the property of author Othy Jones and may not be redistributed or posted without prior written consent.
WARNING:  This short screenplay may be too scary for some young children.
A special thanks to Despina Xidias for the sentence that inspired this short screenplay.

Note:  “The Brink” is a short screenplay that cannot be properly presented in its original form due to the formatting limitations of Facebook.  It has been formatted to fit this medium.



THE BRINK
By Othy Jones


FADE IN:

EXT. ARCTIC OCEAN –DAY

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
She was watching the sun rise,..

A lone WOMAN rests on an island of ice, soaking wet, huddled with her legs pulled into her chest.  The murky grey-blue waters slap against the make-shift shore.  There is nothing else.  Then, daybreak.

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
...savouringe very second from the moment the light broke the horizon until it reached fully above the ocean...

The day does its dance in a time lapse fashion as sunrise gives birth to a new day.  The woman is bundled heavily for warmth.  Warmth does not come to her.  Instead, she shivers.

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
...knowing full well this could be the last sunrise of her life.

The sun shines brightly overhead.

THE SUN CONSUMES THE SCREEN BECOMING THE TITLE CARD IN WHITE TEXT ON THE SKY.

CUT TO:

FLASHBACK:  EXT. FROZEN WASTELAND – NIGHT

A truck-like contraption with tank-style treads, instead of tires, follows behind a caravan of snowmobiles through the Arctic wilderness.

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
She’d lost her entire expedition team...

The strange truck slams into a patch of thin ice.  It struggles to reverse.  One of the snowmobiles stops.  A MAN looks back at the vehicle.  He presses on his horn, signalling to his companions as he circles back towards the quickly sinking truck.

The other snowmobiles follow his lead but it becomes apparent that, not only is the truck lost, but they too are in danger as the cracking ice splinters its way towards them. Two are swallowed whole.  The others zip back the way they were headed.

They are not quick enough.  All of the snowmobiles suddenly vanish though the ice continues to crackle and shatter for miles.

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
...she’d lost her supplies and her hope.

A HAND wrestles itself from the frigid waters clawing for anything as the woman thrashes to the surface, heaving in the cold dark air.

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
She’d contemplated giving up.

The woman finds a slab of ice and, struggling, pulls herself out of the ocean.

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
But she would not give in that easily.  Not after surviving those waters.  You see, she’d tasted death in that moment and decided, if Death wanted to claim her, Death would have to fight.  Be careful what you wish for.

CUT TO:

EXT. INUIT VILLAGE – NIGHT

TWELVE HOURS EARLIER...

Smoke spews form the chimney of the local Inuit community center.  Drumming can be heard from outside where various snowmobiles, trucks with chained tires and other odd vehicles are parked.  A few LOCALS make their way into the building.

INT. COMMUNITY CENTER – NIGHT

Inside, the community center is one large wood paneled room,bustling with life as a group of INUIT MEN beat on their drums to a catchy rhythm as one of their elders, KIRIMA, enters the circle. 

She is adorned with a heavy Cariboo skin parka lined with bushy fur. CHILDREN themselves line the center of a circle and the drumming dies down as she approaches them.

In a far corner, LAUREN, a lone woman in a brown turtleneck, watches the scene unfold.  She is not an Inuit but rather an outsider.

KIRIMA
(to the children)
Who here knows of the Qalupalik?

The children gasp at the mere mention of the word. 

KIRIMA
I see some have.  Who has not?

One brave little GIRL feebly raises her hand.

KIRIMA
Then I will tell you, and you too will fear, as they do.

BABUM!  On cue and all in sync, the men slam their palms against their drums.  The children shriek, the woman in the turtleneck smiles.  The brave girl quickly re-joins her friends as the men beat their drums softly.

KIRIMA
It is well known throughout the frozen north that children must never venture near the shore.

INUIT WOMEN
(hauntingly)
It is known.

KIRIMA
When they do, and no adult is with them, she comes.

INUIT WOMEN
(hauntingly)
She comes.

KIRIMA
From the water she crawls, with her icy green webbed claws. 

CUT TO:

EXT. ARCTIC OCEAN –DUSK

The shivering woman has become frozen with fear as a new threat emerges from the rabid waters around her.  A GREEN WEBBED HAND erupts from the ocean, digging its nails into the surface of the ice island.

The arm struggles to raise its host.

CUT TO:

INT. COMMUNITY CENTER – NIGHT

KIRIMA
Her hair is long, wild, her eyes yellow, blood shot. She has teeth like daggers and it is said she hums when she comes for you.

The women begin to hum as the men give their drums a low rumble.

CUT TO:

EXT. ARCTIC OCEAN –DAY

The QALUPALIK HUMS in rhythm with the Inuit women twelve hours earlier.  It is vile to behold,every trait just as Kirima describes but menacing, slimy and greenish black.

KIRIMA (V.O.)
Those who’ve seen her says she wears duck skin clothes and an amauti to put the children in. 

The Qalupalik slowly advances on the woman whom forces herself backwards by kicking her feet.  Soon she is at the opposite edge of the tiny ice island.

KIRIMA (V.O.)
Some say she steals children because she is lonely. Others say she is hungry and the children keep her young.
                            
CUT TO:

INT. COMMUNITY CENTER – NIGHT

Kirima bends down closer to the children.

KIRIMA
But all agree that Qalupalik takes those children who do not listen to their parents and stray too close to the water’s edge, tempting this human-water creature.
(shouting)
HA!

The brave girl cries out, losing the remains of her bravado.  Kirima smiles, satisfied.

In the back, BRANDON, a thirty-something Inuit with a kind face and strong build approaches Lauren handing her a cup of coffee.

BRANDON
So what’d you think?

LAUREN
Reminds me of a mermaid-yeti love child.

BRANDON
The story of Qalupalik is an old one, but effective.

LAUREN
I’ll remember that during tonight’s expedition.

Lauren sips the coffee gingerly.  She holds it with both hands.

BRANDON
So you and your crew are really going out there tonight, Lauren?

LAUREN
We’ve got to, Brandon. After all, it is why we came up here.

BRANDON
Don’t you ever get bored measuring ice blocks?

LAUREN
They’re ice cores and no, I actually find it kind of fascinating.  The history of our atmosphere recorded away deep in the ice of our polar regions.  They’re practically polar time capsules.

BRANDON
And this data tells you something... meaningful?

LAUREN
You have no idea the impact we humans have had on our environment.

BRANDON
But you work for an oil company-

LAUREN
Energy company.

BRANDON
That mostly produces oil. I don’t get the connection.

LAUREN
I’m a climatologist.  I help my company determine the true weight of our carbon footprint.

BRANDON
So they can dismiss it?

LAUREN
So we can learn from it, geez Brandon.  If you didn’t like what we were doing here,why’d your family agree to put us up?

BRANDON
Our village doesn’t have any lodgings.  You wouldn’t have found any hotels here.  My people mean well.  We like to help out those in need when we can.

LAUREN
(with a hint of sarcasm)
Thanks.

BRANDON
(with a hint of sarcasm)
You’re welcome.

LAUREN
Well, it’s getting pretty late.  I’ve got a lot to do before we ship out.

Lauren bends down to grab a heavy pack of her gear.

BRANDON
Here, let me help you with that.

Brandon bends down to assist but she elbows him away.

LAUREN
Thanks, but I got this.

BRANDON
You shouldn't be lifting such heavy things in your condition.

LAUREN
I’m sorry, my condition?

BRANDON
Your pregnancy.

LAUREN
Preg-?  I am NOT pregnant.

BRANDON
Hey you don’t have to hide it from me.  I've got three sisters.  I know what a pregnant woman looks like.

LAUREN
Well you better go hang around some more because you’re wrong.

BRANDON
Who’s the father?

LAUREN
There isn't a father. You know why?  Because there’s no baby!

BRANDON
Seriously, you don’t know who the father is?

LAUREN
The last guy was...a mistake. It was a one night thing.  But listen to me, there’s nothing to it because I’m NOT pregnant.  I would know if I were pregnant!

BRANDON
Have you ever been pregnant before?

LAUREN
No.

BRANDON
Then how would you know?

LAUREN
I’m going to get going now. Have a good night.

BRANDON
You too, and hey, watch out for that Qalupalik!

CUT TO:

EXT. ARCTIC OCEAN –DAY
The woman’s hood falls back revealing Lauren’s face as she stares back up at the Qalupalik as it approaches.

LAUREN
This isn’t happening.  You’re not real!  You can’t be...real.

The creature continues to hum.  The tune is bizarre; part lullaby, part beehive. 

LAUREN
You’re a delusion!  You’re a hallucination brought on by my hypothermia.

The Qalupalik lunges, Lauren twists away, barely.  She stumbles to her feet but is caught by her heel.  She falls forward, face down into the ice.

LAUREN
(spitting blood)
What do you want from me?

Saying nothing, the Qalupalik rips open Lauren’s parka at her abdomen, exposing her stomach to the climate’s harsh elements.

BRANDON (V.O.)
You shouldn’t be lifting such heavy things in your condition.

LAUREN (V.O.)
I’m sorry, my condition?

BRANDON (V.O.)
Your pregnancy.

The creature raises its right arm for another swipe.

LAUREN
(screaming)
NOOO!

BRANDON
Lauren?  Lauren, it’s me, Brandon.

Lauren, still soaked, still shivering, stares up at Brandon whom has replaced the Qalupalik over her.  She glances down at her exposed stomach.

BRANDON
It’s OK,you’re all right.  But we’ve got to find out about your baby.

LAUREN
Q-Q-Qalup-pali-

BRANDON
(into a walkie-talkie)
I’ve found her but she’s delusional, we need to get her back to the village.  I’ll get her back to shore in my boat.

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
And so, he took Lauren back to his village where she was safe.  Eight months later she delivered me.

GRANDDAUGHTER (V.O.)
What about the Qalupalik, Grammy?

OLD WOMAN (V.O.)
My mother never saw it again.  But that doesn’t mean, she’d never seen it.  Remember that, the next time you go out towards the water’s edge alone.

END

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