Remenants By Nathan Maynard

INT. UN CONFERENCE - DAY A meeting of the United Nations. Delegates from around the globe are gathered around the room. Among them is NARRATOR, 30s, junior delegate from the United States. While the rest of the delegates in the room chat, Josh sits straight up in his seat, staring ahead with a blank, soulless look on his face. NARRATOR(V.O) (monotone) The United Nations. The pinnacle of human unity. Josh watches two delegates chatting with cheesy, phony smiles on their faces. When one delegate turns away, the other subtly grabs his coffee cup, looks around to check that nobodys watching, and spits in it. NARRATOR(V.O) The pinnacle of human deception. On the stage at the front of the room, a SPEAKER walks on and stands at the podium. NARRATOR(V.O) Four years of Harvard Law, four years of undergrad, hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition. Now Im here. At the grand empty committee. People die of AIDS, we talk about it, people die of starvation, we discuss what we could do if we gave a shit, people are slaughtered by war lords, we discuss the possible future ramifications and consequences of...whatever. Then we break for lunch and hundreds of people die while we dine on five star meals. Its fine. The delegate in front of Josh sips his spit coffee. NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) Well talk about it. The speaker on stage clears his throat, and the room quiets. SPEAKER Ladies and gentleman, we are at a crossroads.

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NARRATOR(V.O) Speech starter template number forty-two. SPEAKER Mankind is complacent on this issue, but it must be addressed. We have consistently pushed it aside, but now, the issue of global climate change is at our doorstep. NARRATOR(V.O) The one hundred and twelfth speech on climate change. Ive been counting. Sanctions will be placed, restrictions made, new laws proposed. SPEAKER If we fail to act-NARRATOR(V.O) Joe Smith is still going to drive his Hummer a hundred yards down the street. We stay on the Narrators face. SPEAKER (O.S.) --we will fail to survive. SMASH CUT TO: EXT. WASTELAND - AFTERNOON A flat, gray, misty wasteland. The Narrator face remains in the same position on screen, only the background has changed. Despite his surroundings, his face is somewhat lighter. NARRATOR(V.O) Turns out speech one hundred and twelve was the one that counted. Unfortunately, the rest of us were too busy planning bake sales for SARS to listen. Cut back to show the narrator, sitting on a log around a small fire in the middle of the field, eating from a can.

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NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) Within five years of that speech we were out of oil. Eight years, and society had totally collapsed. BANG! We hear a gunshot ring out. The Narrator perks up. NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) Eight and a half years, there was no humanity left in people. He douses the fire with some water from a canteen. NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) Survival of the fittest was once again the way of life. Murder, looting, rape, cannibalism, it was all the norm now. He picks up his bag and starts moving low and quickly. EXT. FIELD - LATER POV through a sniper rifle scope on a malnourished deer, grazing on what little grass there is in the field. NARRATOR(V.O) Despite all we have lost... BANG! The deer drops dead. Cut back to the narrator, holding the gun. NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) I have found more than I ever could have hoped for before. DEER CARCASS The narrator pulls out a buck knife and stabs it into the deer to skin it. NARRATOR(V.O) I am free.

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INT. CAVE - NIGHT The narrator lies beside a fire with his head on his bag. NARRATOR(V.O) When you have nothing to protect you from others, and nothing to distract you from yourself, you realize who you truly are, you accept it, or you die. He rolls over on his back and puts his hands behind his head. NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) Ive never been happier. And Ive never felt more human. A whimper in the darkness. The narrator sits up, grabs his gun from beside him and points it towards the shadows. A YOUNG GIRL emerges from them. She is tattered an dirty, her eyes are as wide as a does. He lowers his gun. NARRATOR Hey. Come here. The girl inches forward, barely. NARRATOR (contd) Are you hungry? I have food. This brings her closer. NARRATOR (contd) Whats your name? GIRL (Quiet as a mouse) Bella. NARRATOR Hi, Bella. BELLA Hi. Can I have some food? The narrator grabs a plate with some of the cooked dear meat on it. NARRATOR Here you go.

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Bella walks to him and takes it. She eats with her hands as fast as she can. NARRATOR (contd) Youre gonna be okay. INT. CAVE - MORNING The Narrator stands watch over a still sleeping Bella, a content look on his face. NARRATOR(V.O) Bella fell asleep curled up next to me. She said her parents were killed about a month ago. How shes been able to survive on her own this long I will never know. He moves to the mouth of the cave. We focus on his front. NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) When society is no longer there to shield you from yourselves, you know for sure where your humanity lies. If we can retain basic decency, then theres a chance we can rebuild. Better this time. Acting, instead of just talking. This girl gives me hope for myself. The narrator suddenly opens his mouth in a sudden shock, then falls forward. Revealing behind him Bella. We see the narrator has a knife in his back. He watches, struggling to breathe, as Bella takes his food and bad and leaves without looking back. NARRATOR(V.O) (contd) There are always two sides to humanity. We drift out of the cave, leaving the narrator to die, END