FADE IN.
EXT. TURNPIKE - NIGHT
A couple hundred feet off the highway turnpike, in a grassy open field, a tent lies beneath the stars.
A small isolated fire illuminates the small campsite, AIDEN and VALERY lying on the ground.
SUPER: SPRING
Aiden pokes at the fire, making it glow brighter for a moment. They both hold cans of food and forks sitting inside them.
VALERY
I used to do this all the time when I was a kid. My parents would take me out to the woods and pitch a tent, build a fire, cook something in a Dutch oven. We'd stay up so late into the night and watch the stars.
Aiden leans back, listening intently.
VALERY
I love the stars. I love how they twinkle, how they make little stories in the sky. I love stars.
She smiles at Aiden.
HARD CUT.
EXT. RESEARCH FACILITY - DAY
AIDEN lays face down on the ground, his face covered in grass.
He's unconscious.
Behind him, a large building burns in a giant ball of hot flames.
His eyes slowly flutter open as he pulls himself to his knees. He looks back at the burning building.
He begins to cry.
HARD CUT.
EXT. TURNPIKE - MORNING
A small pot bubbles as it boils, and AIDEN takes the boiling pot and pours it slowly into a mug covered with a paper filter over it.
It begins steaming.
He takes a long sniff.
He's sitting in front of the tent, around a small fire.
The zipper to the tent unzips and VALERY crawls out.
AIDEN
Good morning.
VALERY
I smelled coffee. Are you making coffee?
She puts on a jacket and sits next to him as he hands her a steaming mug.
AIDEN
Manually dripped. All we got is black.
She takes a sip and closes her eyes.
VALERY
I haven't had coffee in so long. Where'd you get it?
Aiden pulls out a red tub of coffee grounds.
AIDEN
Found it on the last scavenge.
VALERY
I love coffee. I used to drink it everyday.
Aiden takes a sip of his mug.
AIDEN
Not too bad. Used to do this for a while but couldn't find any.
She leans her head against his shoulder.
The sun is barely peaking over the horizon, giving the world a dim glow.
AIDEN
Are you ready for today?
VALERY
The first circle, right?
AIDEN
Yeah, it's the research facility or something. If we get moving soon we'll get there in an hour or so.
HARD CUT.
EXT. RESEARCH FACILITY - DAY
AIDEN and VALERY stand at the gate of the research center.
YOU ARE READING
Aiden's World
General FictionAiden Blair survives on his own in a seemingly abandoned world. All he knows is he needs to reach the sea. ((At some points in the story, you will see "IM" next to Aiden's speaking parts. This is "Inner Monologue" a tool to see what Aiden's thinking...
