tc2x12
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. GARRETON ACADEMY - MORNING
It's barely past dawn. By all appearances, the place isn't
even open yet.
A car pulls up out front. The driver's side window rolls
down and CAROLINE MORGAN peers out.
CAROLINE
Are you sure it's today?
The back door swings open, revealing a peppy VI MORGAN
(perhaps too peppy for such an early start). She hops out.
VI
Maybe they already left.
SHANE EVANS slides out of the car behind Vi. He moves
around to the boot, opens it, and removes two large
backpacks.
SHANE
The buses always park around the
back.
He hands one of the backpacks to Vi.
CAROLINE
Well, I can drive you around if
you --
VI
No!
(beat)
We have to get used to the...
She heaves her backpack on with some effort.
VI (CONT'D)
... Heavy lifting.
CAROLINE
I promise I won't get out of the
car, Vi.
VI
(reassuring)
Mum, I don't have a problem with
you driving us to school in your
pajamas.
CAROLINE
As long as nobody sees me?
Vi sighs. She motions to Caroline, the top part of her blue
fuzzy dressing gown visible over the window.
VI
You can still tell.
Caroline rolls her eyes. Teenagers.
CAROLINE
Alright, then. Have a good time.
VI
We will.
CAROLINE
Bye! Love you!
She pulls away, leaving Vi and Shane alone. Shane waves to
the retreating car.
SHANE
Love you, too!
Vi whacks him in the chest.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Ow! What was that for?
VI
Just because you've got multiple
girls drooling over you, doesn't
mean my mother is interested.
Vi walks away, towards the back of the school.
As Shane picks up his backpack, he looks confused and a
little intrigued.
SHANE
What do you mean "multiple"?
He sets off after her.
EXT. GARRETON ACADEMY - CAR PARK - MORNING
Two travel coaches idle in the middle of the empty lot. A
few TEACHERS, MR. PARKER among them, try to wrangle the
swarm of STUDENTS.
As Vi and Shane approach the group, Vi can't help but skip
a little with excitement. As she does, she winces.
VI
Okay, no fast movements while
wearing bag. Check.
SHANE
How much did you pack, anyway?
This is a wilderness retreat, not
the apocalypse.
VI
I want to be prepared.
SHANE
For an assignment, you mean?
VI
Hell no. I'm prepared for normal.
I have my hiking outfit and my
sitting around the campfire
outfit, my impromptu food fight
outfit, my --
SHANE
When did you turn into your
sister?
Vi doesn't hear him, having spotted ERIN FOWLER ahead of
them in the crowd. Shane rolls his eyes.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Oh. I see. Does there happen to
be a "tricking the boy of your
dreams into telling you he loves
you" outfit in there?
VI
That's called being naked.
Shane's eyes go wide. He clears his throat, suddenly
uncomfortable. Vi grins.
VI (CONT'D)
You're so easy.
She quickens her pace and joins the rest of the students.
Sidling up the Erin, they smile at each other a little
shyly - the awkwardness of their talk still fresh.
Shane hangs back, not particularly wanting to join them. He
spots GWEN HART at the front of the group, talking to some
friends.
He steels himself, takes a few deep breaths and starts
towards her.
MR. PARKER
Okay, everybody listen up!
Shane's forced to stop. Reluctantly, he steps up beside Vi
and Erin who have turned their attention to Mr. Parker.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
Seating arrangements have already
been made.
Collective GROANS from the students.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
Oh, calm down. It's not that bad.
He checks over a clipboard.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
If you're in homeroom one through
twenty - bus one. Homeroom twenty
one through forty - bus two.
Students start to drift to their respective buses. Erin
turns to Vi. He shrugs, disappointed.
ERIN
Guess I'll see you at the other
end.
Vi smiles sadly.
VI
Yeah. Bye.
Erin moves off. Vi turns to Shane, annoyed.
VI (CONT'D)
This sucks!
Shane watches as Gwen heads over to the first bus. He takes
Vi's arm and pulls her way, over to bus two.
SHANE
Yeah, tell me about it.
They dump their bags by the luggage compartment and climb
on board.
INT. BUS - MORNING - NOT MOVING
Vi and Shane settle into two seats. Shane by the window, Vi
by the aisle.
Mr. Parker follows the last stragglers on board, ticking
off names on the clipboard.
VI
It'll be okay, though. I mean,
we'll still get to spend plenty
of time together. There's a whole
week. A whole week of just me and
Erin... re-connecting.
She glances at Shane who stares out of the window, trying
to get a look at the other bus.
With a HISS, the bus doors close. The ENGINE RUMBLES.
MR. PARKER
Here we go!
People CHEER as the bus starts moving...
... And promptly jerks to a stop!
Mr. Parker stands and heads down to the front. Students
crane their necks, trying to see what's going on. A beat.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
Violet Morgan?
Vi raises her eyebrows. She looks to Shane. He shrugs.
Slowly, Vi stands and heads down the aisle. Dozens of eyes
follow her every step. She grows nervous.
Reaching the front, she looks to Mr. Parker. He nods to the
door. Vi comes down the steps.
Outside, ANDREW FRIAR smiles sheepishly up at her from the
pavement. He holds out a piece of paper.
ANDREW
Have a good trip.
Vi begrudgingly takes her assignment, her eyes narrowed
into a glare. The doors HISS closed.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. BUS - DAY - MOVING
"E35". That's all that's printed on the small slip of paper
Vi holds in her hands.
She and Shane stare down at it, both trying to come to some
sort of reasonable explanation.
VI
Part of me wants to make a
comment about how stupidly vague
this is.
SHANE
And the other part is telling you
to shut up because you should be
used to it by now?
VI
Exactly.
Shane looks up and out of the window. The town of Garreton
speeds by them, just a blur.
SHANE
Maybe it's a highway or
something.
VI
Or a bingo number.
SHANE
Yeeeeahhhh...
VI
Hey, you don't know how weird
this job can get.
(beat)
Or, I guess you do now.
(then)
Have I told you how glad I am
that they didn't suck out your
memory?
SHANE
Not recently.
Vi scrunches up the paper and shoves it into the seat
pocket in front of her.
VI
Stuff it. Like I'm going to be
able to do anything until I get
back anyway.
She settles back in her seat. Looking ahead, she sees Mr.
Parker sitting in a seat up the front. He has a map spread
out over his lap.
With a heavy, mournful sigh, she grabs the assignment paper
from the seat pocket and stands.
SHANE
What're you doing?
Vi ignores him. She walks down the aisle, catching the
attention of BIANCA PARRY. Bianca sits in the seat behind
her and Shane, listening to her ipod.
Vi reaches Mr. Parker.
MR. PARKER
Vi, you're not allowed to be up
while the bus is moving.
VI
I know, I know. I'm sorry but...
She points to the map.
VI (CONT'D)
Can I borrow that?
MR. PARKER
What? Why?
Vi thinks for a moment.
VI
Where in Garreton is Carmen San
Diego?
Vi gives him a sweet, hopeful smile.
INT. BUS - MOMENTS LATER - MOVING
Vi collapses back into her seat, clutching Mr. Parker's
map. She spreads it open.
SHANE
Vi, seriously...
She checks the assignment sheet again. E35.
Vi looks to the side of the map and finds the letter "E".
Trailing her finger along the top, she locates the number
"35".
VI
Geography, my dear Watson.
She drags her fingers over the page, lining up the number
and the letter. She lands on a small square set amongst the
vast expanse of green forest.
Tiny words beside it read: "Ranger Station".
SHANE
You have to go there?
VI
Looks like.
SHANE
Vi, we're staying...
He unfolds the map further and points to a spot a huge
distance from the ranger station.
SHANE (CONT'D)
... There!
VI
I can make it.
SHANE
Without anyone noticing that
you've mysteriously disappeared?
Vi takes a wary pause.
VI
Tell them a dingo ate me.
Shane gives her a "you can't be serious" look.
VI (CONT'D)
I'll figure something out.
She sighs and slumps down in her seat.
EXT. NATIONAL PARK - VISITOR CENTRE - DAY
A wooden sign reads, "Welcome to Garreton National Park
Visitor Centre".
Moving UP and OVER this, we see the two buses parked in
front of a large wooden building.
The Students already have their bags. They stand in a
group, listening to Mr. Parker.
MR. PARKER
... And this building behind me
is the dining hall.
He points to a dirt track running up beside it.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
Up this path are the cabins. Boys
cabins on the left, girls on the
right. The shower block is
between them.
He flips open his clipboard.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
Here are your room assignments.
The group lets out a loud, disappointed GROAN.
INT. VISITOR CENTRE - CABIN - DAY
Vi enters, lugging her heavy backpack. She's the first one
to arrive.
The room is small, with two sets of bunk beds on either
side and a dresser between them.
She chooses one of the bottom bunks and heaves her bag onto
it.
She turns to look out of the window. It shows a
breathtaking view of the valley - gorgeous green trees, the
sparkle of a river in the distance.
There's a soft KNOCK on the door. Vi turns.
Erin smiles shyly from the doorway.
ERIN
Anyone else in?
Vi shakes her head.
VI
I'm bunking with the "artistic"
types. They've basically stopped
to take moody black and white
photos of everything they see on
the way up here.
Erin starts to walks towards her.
ERIN
Maybe get a few poems in?
VI
Yeah.
Standing close together now, they share a smile. They lean
in for a kiss --
MR. PARKER (O.S.)
Morgan!
They leap apart. Mr. Parker stands in the doorway.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
No boys allowed. You're on lunch
duty.
ERIN
Mr. Parker, Vi didn't ask me in.
I'll do lunch duty.
Mr. Parker taps his clipboard.
MR. PARKER
It's not a punishment, Erin.
She's on the list.
He jerks his thumb over his shoulder.
MR. PARKER (CONT'D)
Now, get out!
INT. VISITOR CENTER - DINING HALL - DAY
Vi, wearing a hair net, apron and gloves, stands behind a
counter. As each student passes her, she places a bread
roll onto their plate.
Shane appears.
SHANE
(excited)
Hey, Vi!
She hands him a roll.
VI
(bored)
Hey.
Shane doesn't move. Students are forced to step around him.
SHANE
I have a plan.
Vi's eyes go wide. She leans towards him, her voice low.
VI
Say it louder, why don't you?
SHANE
Sorry.
She steps away from the counter, forgetting her lunch
duties. Shane darts around the counter and hovers by her
side.
SHANE (CONT'D)
I've got this.
He pulls a sheet of paper from his pocket.
SHANE (CONT'D)
I got it from Mr. Parker's
clipboard when he wasn't looking.
It's the group lists for
tomorrow.
VI
So?
Vi takes Shane's roll. She takes a bite.
SHANE
Group one leaves really early for
canoeing. You're in group two.
They sleep in for a bit, then
head off to archery.
VI
(mouth full)
Still not seeing your brilliant
plan here, Shane.
SHANE
The groups are split all day. We
erase your name from the group
two list...
Vi smiles.
VI
So they think I'm off canoeing...
SHANE
... And the other group thinks
you're playing bows and arrows.
(then)
We just might make it back before
they notice.
Vi stops, confused.
VI
What do you mean "we"?
SHANE
I'm coming with you, obviously.
VI
But --
SHANE
What would you do if you fell off
a cliff? Or you got bit by
something poisonous? Or --
VI
Yeah, I get it. No more death
scenarios, thanks.
She takes a deep breath.
VI (CONT'D)
So... Sunrise?
Shane nods.
SHANE
Sunrise.
He steps back around the counter, grabs a second roll and
walks away.
We FOLLOW him briefly, before stopping on Bianca who waits
patiently in the lunch line. She watches him as he passes.
EXT. VISITOR CENTRE - MORNING
The golden sun breaks over the mountain crest, piercing the
dusty grey of morning.
CRANING DOWN, Vi stands out the front of the dining hall.
She tugs her jacket tighter around her, trying to fight off
the morning chill.
We're TIGHT ON Vi now. She stares out into the forest,
anxious to get moving.
A hand lightly touches her shoulder. Vi whirls around.
VI
(quiet)
About time! Thought you'd never --
Erin, dressed for a day of roughing it outdoors, looks
surprised - but not more so than Vi, herself.
VI (CONT'D)
Erin!
ERIN
Was just coming to see you.
VI
Really? Why?
He looks down at his feet and kicks the dirt a little,
embarrassed.
ERIN
Thought we could watch the sun
come up together.
Vi's face lights up.
BIANCA (O.S.)
Well, I wasn't quite expecting
this but okay...
They turn to see Bianca emerging from the path beside the
dining hall. She stops and props a foot up on a log - tying
her shoelaces.
ERIN
(annoyed)
Bianca, what are you doing here?
BIANCA
I could ask you two the same
question.
She straightens up and places a hand on her hip.
The door to the dining hall opens. Shane emerges, tucking
some last minute supplies into a small backpack.
He looks up and freezes. He opens his mouth, about to
speak, when Gwen charges around the corner of the building!
She whacks him on the back of the head and Shane - so
startled by this - stumbles forward, falling down the porch
steps and landing on the dusty ground.
Gwen marches after him. She clutches a piece of paper in
her hand.
GWEN
What the hell were you thinking,
Evans?! Are you insane or are you
just stupid?!
Gwen looks up and notices the others for the first time.
GWEN (CONT'D)
All of you? You're all going?
Vi looks down at Shane, eyebrows raised in annoyance. Shane
grins sheepishly.
SHANE
I had to tell someone. What if we
both died?
Vi shakes her head in disbelief. Shane climbs to his feet.
Bianca reaches over and takes the note from Gwen.
GWEN
He snuck into my room and left it
on my pillow this morning.
BIANCA
(reads)
"Vi and I are going on a hike. If
we're not back in twenty-four
hours, please send a rescue party
or at least tell Mr. Parker.
Thanks heaps - Shane".
She looks between Shane and Vi in disbelief.
BIANCA (CONT'D)
A hike? Are you guys serious?
(beat)
I can't believe I woke up early
for this.
She thinks for a moment. Then, she turns on her heel and
starts for the path to the cabins.
BIANCA (CONT'D)
Well, at least I can still get
you in trouble.
VI
Wait!
Bianca pauses and turns back. Vi's mind is obviously
racing, trying to think of what to say next.
VI (CONT'D)
Don't you... want a... share of
the prize money?
BIANCA
Prize money? What are you talking
about?
Vi grows more confident as she continues.
VI
There's this... rare species of
bird. It lives here. In the
national park. Specifically, in
this little spot right by the
ranger station.
GWEN
Pfft! I've never heard of a --
VI
It's rare! Like... so rare that a
picture of one is worth, I don't
know, five thousand dollars?
Shane nods.
SHANE
At least.
VI
And there's five of us.
(beat; to Bianca)
You do the very easy math.
Bianca narrows her eyes...
EXT. NATIONAL PARK - MORNING
Bianca treks up a slope. Gwen and Erin follow behind.
Finally, Vi and Shane trail last. She looks to him, her
face grave.
VI
We are so screwed.
Shane's expression tells us that he agrees. They exit
frame.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. NATIONAL PARK - LATER
The sun's higher in the sky now. They've been on the move
for a little while.
Gwen studies the map while she walks. She stumbles on a
rock --
-- And is caught by Shane, who grabs her arm.
GWEN
Thanks.
Shane gives her a smile.
ERIN (O.S.)
Hey, guys!
Vi, Bianca, Gwen and Shane look up ahead.
Erin stands at the top of a rise. He beckons them over,
then promptly steps back and disappears.
EXT. NATIONAL PARK - ROAD - DAY
The gang emerge from the treeline and stop by a road.
Erin grins and motions to a car, idling nearby. The shape
of the male DRIVER can be seen through the window.
VI
What's this?
Erin shrugs.
ERIN
Less time spent walking. Come on!
He starts for the car. Vi looks back at the others. They
look tired already - sweat shining on their faces.
Vi turns back and reluctantly follows Erin to the car.
INT. CAR - DAY - NOT MOVING
The gang settles in - Erin in the front passenger seat,
Shane and Vi in the back window seats, Bianca in the middle
and Gwen half sitting on Shane's lap.
Vi closes her eyes and takes a deep, calming breath. This
is definitely not going to plan.
DRIVER
(American accent)
So, where are you kids headed?
Vi opens her eyes, looking to the driver. She's about to
answer his question but something stops her. She recognises
him.
KIERAN JAMES adjusts his baseball cap.
He looks nice. He looks harmless. Vi, her eyes narrowed in
suspicion, knows better.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.