By

Dylan Diveley

FADE IN:

INT. RUSSIAN HISTORY CLASS - DAY

Students trickle in sitting themselves in various spots

throughout the room.

The teacher, who looks like quite a bit like Peter the

Great, stands at the front organizing various papers, as

well as readying the computer.

The hustle in the room dies down as everyone gets out their

various notebooks and laptops. They’re ready for the lesson.

PETER THE GREAT

Alright, practically near start

time, got a lot to cover today.

Hopefully this’ll be an interesting

change up on the usual grim and

depressing fact based lesson, cause

today we’re covering various

Russian myths and folktales.

ALICIA, 21, enters the room calmly. She’s sensually pale,

with piercing blue eyes, and long, thick, wavy, blond

hair. She waves a weak apologetic wave at the teacher as

she sits herself down.

PETER THE GREAT

Punctuality not fitting on your

agenda for the day?

Alicia perks her head up and gives the teacher a squinty

eyed expression.

ALICIA

About a minute hardly counts as

being late, thanks.

The mood of the classroom becomes momentarily awkward as

people try to ignore, while some can’t help but acknowledge,

the growing conflict between Alicia and the teacher.

PETER THE GREAT

Our time here is quite short so

yes, it sort of counts.

ALICIA

Well you’re the one calling me out

and wasting class time, not me. I

was fine with just coming in and

sitting down and getting into it,

but no.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

The teacher tenses his face and erects his body. He stays

silent. He looks away from Alicia.

Alicia raises her eyebrows and gives a victorious

expression.

PETER THE GREAT

Alright, well, as I said, today is

going to be spent looking at

various myths, as well as the role

they play throughout history in

regards to society, politics, and

culture.

Alicia continues to get herself ready as the teacher carries

on. She pulls out her notebook and opens it to a back

section. It’s front pocket is labeled "Russia."

As she goes through it looking for an blank page, we see

countless doodles and drawings surrounding various ACTUAL

notes. The ration between the two is about 10:1.

She writes "MYTHS" on the top of a blank page and positions

herself comfortably in her chair, resting the notebook on

her leg crossed over the other.

The teacher continues talking as Alicia pays dead attention

to him in the front. Her expression isn’t fascinated

however, instead she looks excruciatingly bored.

The sounds of the teacher become hazy as Alicia’s

surrounding environment, both the room and students, begin

to fade out around her. She drifts in and out of the lecture

hearing various, but meaningless names.

Everything becomes dark but the teacher’s sounds carry on

unintelligibly.

WOOOM!

A quiet pulse brings us out of the darkness as Alicia

awakens from a deep sleep.

The class is packing up and some are already out the door.

She looks around, stretching, waking herself back up. After,

she starts to put her stuff away.

PETER THE GREAT

Alicia.

She stops dead and looks up to him. He eyes her casually.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

PETER THE GREAT

Please see me.

She quietly scoffs and rolls her eyes.

ALICIA

(to herself)

Fuuuck.

She stops packing up and makes her way to the front of the

class. Pretty much everyone has left the room by now.

PETER THE GREAT

Surely you need no intro as to why

I’ve called you up here.

She shrugs her shoulders.

PETER THE GREAT

You said you could have just come

in, still tardy, and gone in to the

lesson...that didn’t work out to

well today did it?

ALICIA

No. Guess not.

The teacher stays silent.

ALICIA

Listen, honestly, I’m not trying to

make this something it isn’t. I’m

not trying to disrespect you or the

class or anyone else.

PETER THE GREAT

You have a quite peculiar way of

showing it.

ALICIA

I had no control over the running

of the train today alright, and

last night, lately, I’m dealing

with some things that quite

honestly don’t compare at all in

importance to my classes.

PETER THE GREAT

And you think you’re the only one?

ALICIA

No...but I don’t really care about

others problems just as they don’t

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

ALICIA (cont’d)really care about mine, so... And

besides, I get and respect your

passion for all of this, but this

time is MY money, not yours, so I

think I deserve a little more

freedom in how I choose to spend my

time here.

PETER THE GREAT

You think doing the work is enough?

ALICIA

Yeah, pretty much.

PETER THE GREAT

How sad.

(his voice raises)

So then please tell me WHY, given

that this is your money, your time,

your choice, just why you’re

wasting both mine and your time by

being here?

ALICIA

Don’t get so self-righteous. I’m

only here cause of the credit.

History has never, and will never

be my thing, simple as that. No

matter which one I ended up in for

the credit, I’d be the same. I’m

sorry it had to be you, but the

facts and blah and the blah just

don’t do it for me.

PETER THE GREAT

Interesting. Well, knowing that,

and knowing your genuine lack of

interest in it all, I’d say that

it’s reflecting in your

work...cause if you think that’s

going to be enough to get you

by...well...

ALICIA

Well...well what?!

PETER THE GREAT

Listen, like you said, let’s not

make this anything that it isn’t.

You’re not doing too well, simple

as that. I, am a nice guy, and want

to help you. Now unfortunately

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

PETER THE GREAT (cont’d)there’s very little chance of you

getting anything higher than a C,

and I want you to pass cause if you

don’t then it can reflect poorly on

me, but if it’s the credit you

want, and that’s it, you’ll be

fine. But if you even want that,

you’re going to have to do a bit

more.

ALICIA

(holding back frustration)

Oh my g-, like what?

PETER THE GREAT

Well it’s easy to gauge you’re not

going to be much of fact lover, so

let’s try fiction.

He pulls an antique looking book out of his bag and hands it

to her.

PETER THE GREAT

Even though you fell asleep today,

I think you’ll still find something

quite fun and enjoyable about these

folktales.

She opens it up and examines its contents briefly.

ALICIA

(very dry)

Great.

PETER THE GREAT

Assignment is, read this book,

write a paper.

ALICIA

About?

PETER THE GREAT

Well the myths of course, but, and

just because I want you to leave

this class with something, also put

them into a cultural perspective,

i.e., Russia’s political, societal,

and cultural influence on Russian

myth. And take what you will from

the book, make it an experience

best for you. Everyone reacts

differently.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

Alicia stares blank faced and a little flustered.

ALICIA

Uhhhh, OK.

PETER THE GREAT

Due next class.

ALICIA

OK wow, um, this is my best option?

He just nods.

ALICIA

(unsure)

Alright, well...thanks.

There’s a brief lingering silence as they give each other an

uneasy stare.

PETER THE GREAT

Sure, absolutely, just let me know

if you need help.

ALICIA

Right.

She walks back to her spot, grabs her bag and exits.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Alicia exits the classroom into an empty hallway. She

descends the corridor and halfway down she brings the book

back up and inspects it. She opens its pages again and gives

it a thorough but still casual look through.

As she goes on she wears an expression that says "this isn’t

going to be easy."

She reaches an elevator and presses the button. As she

stands alone she nears the end of the book before slamming

it shut and shoving it uncomfortably in her bag.

The elevator opens, she enters, and the doors shut.

INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY

Elevator doors open and Alicia walks out into a hallway. She

walks to a door, takes out her keys and opens it.

7.

INT. ALICIA’S STUDIO - DAY

She enters her front door at no energetic pace. A cat,

BOOGER SUGAR, comes out from under the bed and rubs itself

on her legs.

She greets and pets the animal with a happy demeanor. It

runs off as Alicia begins to settle in.

SERIES OF SHOTS/ALICIA AROUND THE APARTMENT:

Alicia puts down her bag and goes to start the shower.

She takes off her pants as she goes to the kitchen area. She

grabs a pot and fills it with water, puts it on the stove

and starts the flame.

She approaches her TV and turns it on to a music channel

which she turns up to a decent volume.

She throws her bra and underwear onto the couch as she

enters the shower. She sings to herself as she cleans

hastily.

Her bag on the floor with the myth book just nearly spilling

out.

She exits the shower quickly wrapping a towel around herself

as she walks to the stove with the water just starting to

boil.

She empties a Ramen soup package into the water and leaves

it to cook.

She opens her closet randomly grabbing clothes. She puts

them on.

Her noodles boil, she dumps them out, mixes in the

seasoning, and walks over and settles on the couch in front

of her TV.

END SERIES OF SHOTS.

She sits on the couch slurping down the noodles. She

explores music channels and settles on an ambient station.

She finishes her noodles and lays down to relax.

She notices the book on the floor peeking out of her bag, so

she reaches for it.

Still laying down, the music playing, she opens it again

staying at the beginning.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

She browses the chapters, specifically noting "Ded Moroz",

"Snegurochka", and "Baba Yaga."

She turns the pages further and almost tries to look like

she could be interested.

Like earlier though, her surroundings begin to haze and fade

out. The music adds a drift like quality to it all.

Her eyes begin to close as her arms soon fall to her side,

dropping the book on the floor.

She’s pretty asleep and curls over into the corner.

The book on the floor remains still for few moments before

the pages begin to flip back and forth erratically!

This continues for a couple seconds before they stop

completely, leaving the book halfway open.

And then, ever so subtle, the white color of the pages

begins to spread past the parameters of the book. It reaches

to the floor, pulsing along ever so gracefully as it makes

its way to the walls. Soon, it goes for the bed as the rest

of the studio space is enveloped in a book page white.

The bed is nearly covered as it begins to spread over

Alicia’s legs, then her torso, her neck, and finally all of

her head.

All the color becomes overbearing as everything whites out.

FADE IN FROM WHITE and into a blinding landscape of snow.

EXT. FOREST NEAR VELIKY USTYUG - DAY

It’s a bleak, dreamlike setting, with a rather beautiful

hint of blue. It’s nearly monotone but saved by various and

random glimmers of gold and a heavenly aqua.

The snow is clean and seemingly untouched on the sprawling

fields. More snow blows on via a quiet wind.

A warm and homely cottage is visible through the trees.

Smoke puffs out through the ceiling of the forest coming

from the chimney atop the house.

9.

INT. COTTAGE BEDROOM - DAY

Alicia sleeps, her body bundled close together. Upon close

view it looks like she could just be in the same bed. As she

awakens however it becomes clear that this isn’t her room.

As she gets up her expression backs that statement.

She looks confused and very, very lost. Her expression

transitions to one more comfortable as she just shrugs the

whole thing off.

ALICIA

(to herself, in Russian)

Charming place, good dream.

She lays back down and snuggles with the blanket around her.

She lays for a brief moment before jolting back up! BOOM!

A door from within the room slams open. A woman, MARSHA

dressed in an intricate, silky, blue robe enters at a

flustered pace. There’s a wooden stick in her hand.

All dialogue from here on out is in Russian.

MARSHA

Awake! Move you worthless girl!

She bangs the stick hard on the bed frame.

Alicia bolts up and takes a hazy acknowledgment of the woman

in the room.

ALICIA

(groggy)

Mother, please.

MARSHA

(quick to respond)

I think not! You shall not address

me as such! You know better! Now

move, your father is home bound.

He’ll be here any hour today and

this place is hardly a home.

She whacks the blanket hard with the stick, right over

Alicia’s legs.

ALICIA

Ayy!

Now she really bolts up as she reaches to rub her stinging

legs.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 10.

The stepmother stands in the doorway, emotionless to the

girls pain.

ALICIA

(quiet)

Witch!

MARSHA

If only dear girl, then the wart

you are on myself and your father

would have been long removed. But

just you wait.

ALICIA

YOU just wait! You have no power

over my father. He’s my

sympathizer. You just keep the

sheets warm.

MARSHA

Retched insect! You will be out

soon.

She slams the door leaving Alicia emotional but steadfast.

She leaps out of bed, first taking notice of her bruised

legs. There’s the obvious fresh one as well a few still

healing.

She sucks it up, gets out of bed, and walks to the window.

Outside is frosty. The snow comes down thick but magically

and softly.

She unlatches her window and sticks her hand outside. The

snow settles down upon her palm and doesn’t melt. She

cherishes it.

ALICIA

(with whimsy)

Hello father.

She brings the snow cupped in her hand and applies it to her

bruises.

Marsha’s wooden stick bangs from below.

MARSHA (O.S.)

Hustle!!

Alicia scoffs and gets up.

11.

INT. CABIN LIVING ROOM - DAY

A healthy fire roars beneath the mantle. The place is

cluttered and unkempt.

Marsha sits in a rocker near the window, which is cracked

open a little.

Alicia comes down the stairs and looks around the space. She

breathes in.

ALICIA

So where do I start today?

MARSHA

The woods.

Alicia looks on confused.

ALICIA

The yard has been more than tended

to, I assure you.

MARSHA

Please do not waste my time with

the known facts! I’m sending you to

the woods.

ALICIA

What could possibly be out there?

MARSHA

We must travel to my sister.

Just after, a small bird flies in through the open window

and lands inside the house, resting on the sill. It pecks at

the wood a couple of times.

ALICIA

Bad sign.

Marsha picks the bird up on her finger.

MARSHA

Don’t be so wary.

She brings the bird closer to her, almost looking like she’s

speaking to it, then reaches her arm out the window and lets

it fly away.

MARSHA

Now, get going, move! The day isn’t

everlasting and the sun is gray.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 12.

ALICIA

But why must we travel there?

MARSHA

Curiosity can hurt you.

ALICIA

I’ll grin and bare it.

MARSHA

Oh just never you mind what it’s

for!

Alicia’s expression remains hard.

MARSHA

Let’s just say it’s for you father,

yes? Now let’s move.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

SERIES OF SHOTS/JOURNEY THROUGH THE FOREST:

The two sit in a fancy horse drawn carriage.

It leaves the safety of the warm cottage and ventures deeper

into the woods.

Their journey is silent except for the natural ambience of

the nature around them.

The horses pull on strong, but gradually they lessen their

pace. At the same time, the colors of the forest seem to

become more and more desaturated.

From above, something flies overhead, letting out a soft

cackle. A soft shadow is cast over the carriage and moves

on.

Alicia looks up, not sure if anything was actually there.

She does see however, possibly, the same bird that flew

through the window. It sits perched atop a tree watching as

they go along.

Marsha looks up and gives a reassured smile. There’s

something sadistic in the expression.

END SERIES OF SHOTS as the horses come to a stop. The point

beyond where they stand is particularly unwelcoming. The

forest’s depths continue on, but off to the side is a steep

dirt hill. The horses kick their feet at the ground.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 13.

ALICIA

Why do they stop here?

Marsha removes her hood and speaks coldly.

MARSHA

Not even a stallion takes the risk.

Alicia looks around. She’s clearly unsettled but isn’t sure

by what.

ALICIA

The risk?

Just as she turns back round to Marsha, Marsha leaps at her

with a burlap sack, shoving it down over her head. Alicia

screams and fights to break free but Marsha wraps a rope

tight around the sack and Alicia’s body.

With a swift kick Marsha shoves Alicia over the side of the

carriage and onto the floor. Marsha steps down and walks to

Alicia’s wrapped body, still wiggling and struggling. She

picks her up, holding her by the shoulders.

MARSHA

I’ll tell your father you loved

him.

And then she gives Alicia a strong push as she stumbles and

trips backwards, quickly falling down the dirt hill.

She rolls down violently with no signs of stopping. Marsha

stands atop the hill, emotionless. She turns back to the

carriage and takes off, giving a small smirk as she goes on.

EXT. CREEPY COTTAGE - DAY

BOOM! Alicia lands at the bottom of the hill coming to a

stop with a hard thud.

She lands right next to a distinctive looking house. A small

cottage atop what looks like chicken legs. The trunks

supporting the house spread across the forest floor with

vines.

Alicia remains still but moves slightly despite the pain.

From within the bag she can hear a door opening and

footsteps approaching.

Soon, she’s being picked up again and moved.

14.

INT. CREEPY COTTAGE - DAY

Alicia is shoved down into a chair and the burlap sack is

swiftly removed.

She’s battered looking, but only small nicks and cuts here

and there. She blinks fast adjusting to the new setting.

Everything is hazy and glows with candlelight.

As Alicia comes to, the faint image of a wrinkled hag like

witch comes into focus. It’s getting closer to Alicia.

ALICIA

(mumbling)

Wha..whats..why...

The witch gets closer and becomes much clearer. Alicia

contorts her face.

ALICIA

A-A-Aunt?

The witch pets Alicia’s head.

ALICIA

B-Baba, what’s happening?

BABA

Well hello there sweet child.

Baba gets a wet rag and begins to wipe Alicia down. The

wetness enlivens Alicia a little more. She jolts up.

ALICIA

Stepmother! She, she, dumped me,

tried to kill me.

Baba smiles.

BABA

Oh no, I think it’s quite safe to

assume my sister had no intention

of killing you. She isn’t capable.

ALICIA

But the sack, she kicked me out of

the carriage and left me in the

woods!

BABA

My lonely sister always possessed a

rather cold edge in her attempts at

love.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 15.

She continues to wipe her down removing all traces of blood

and dirt.

BABA

Ah! There we go. Much tastier.

Alicia grabs a small hand mirror near by and brings it up.

She grimaces at the cuts and bruises.

BABA

Don’t you bother yourself with that

now.

(she grabs the mirror and sets

it down)

No cuts will affect your beauty.

Now let’s run you a hot bath.

Uroz!!

A scrawny man, UROZ, comes down the stairs. He’s weak and of

no particular identifiable age.

BABA

Good, Uroz this is Alicia, run her

a hot bath.

ALICIA

You don’t have to, really, my

father is home at any point today

and I really should find him.

BABA

Don’t be foolish, you’re ways a way

from the outskirts, you’d never

make it. Please, stay for

supper...at least.

Baba licks the corner of her lips.

Alicia looks to Baba, seeing something in her eyes. She

looks around the house.

ALICIA

Alright.

BABA

Very good! Now let’s take off that

coat.

16.

INT. BATHROOM - DAY

Uroz and Alicia stand quiet in the bathroom.

Uroz fills a large tub with buckets of hot water. When

finished he gives Alicia a worried look and walks to the

door. He turns around before exiting.

UROZ

Use what you can. Escape.

Alicia lowers her eyebrows and he shuts the door. She stands

still for a moment as she looks around the room. There isn’t

much to it. Just the tub, a window, and vanity type mirror.

She walks over to the window and opens it. She sticks her

head outside and her breath is very visible. She comes back,

shuts it, and walks around the bathtub.

She sticks her hand quickly retracting it.

ALICIA

Oo!

She rubs her hand for a second and sticks it back in the

tub, slowly putting in her whole arm. She adjusts to the

heat.

CUT TO:

Alicia completely submerges herself in the tub, her clothes

are off to the side. She lays stagnant as the steam

surrounds her. She gets lost in the relaxation and starts to

go underwater. She stays under for a while rubbing her

fingers through her hair.

BABA (O.S.)

(distant)

NOOO!!

Alicia jolts up from the scream, her pale skin now a rosy

red.

There’s an argument from somewhere in the house, between

Baba and Uroz. It’s hard to make out.

Alicia tries to listen from the tub but can’t hear much. As

it escalates she grows more curious.

She gets out of the tub and grabs a nearby large towel. She

puts it on and walks to the door.

The argument is becoming more intelligible, but not quite.

Alicia cracks open the door just a smidge and peeks through.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 17.

BABA

You will prepare the meal! I’ve

kept you safe!

UROZ

Please Baba, does this not strike

you as a little too close to the

heart?

BABA

Her? How?! She isn’t blood! Though

she soon will be a part of me.

Alicia looks on unsure of what to think, but she stays on

guard.

BABA

Now go! Prepare the ingredients,

get ready to cook, and I’ll grab

her soon.

Alicia quietly shuts the door in a panic. She looks about

the room again.

Footsteps from downstairs appear to be approaching the

bathroom.

Alicia quickly puts her clothes back on, draping the towel

over her shoulder.

The footsteps grow nearer.

On the vanity mirror table is an elegant hair comb, with

shark points. She grabs and holds it out like a weapon,

slowly getting a way from the door and backing closer to the

window.

The footsteps are nearly at the door as Alicia backs into

the wall next to the window. She looks to it and opens it

quickly.

The footsteps have reached their destination as there’s a

knock on the door, then another.

BABA

Oh niece...

There’s another knock, then another.

In bursts Baba! She notices Alicia absent from the room. She

doesn’t scream however, instead she just smirks and turns to

go back downstairs.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 18.

BABA

Uroz! Ready my mortar.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

Alicia runs fast through the forest at breakneck speed. She

doesn’t look behind. The towel and comb are still with her.

From Baba’s cabin a piercing screech and howl echoes through

the forest.

Alicia runs on and on and on.

Baba’s screeches sing on through the forest, growing louder

and closer.

Their volume and proximity play with Alicia’s head.

She stops abruptly, quickly catching her breath.

The screaming grows close as Alicia looks out into the

forest and into the skies, trying to pinpoint the direction

of the sound. It appears to come from all over.

She takes the towel off her shoulder and sprawls it out on

the ground. She sits next to it bringing her face down close

to the fabric.

She whispers a spell beneath her breath, repeating it with

growing intensity.

Soon the fabric of the towel transforms to a blue, wet

puddle. Alicia looks astonished and stands back up.

She smiles and quickly extends her arms out to her side. At

the same time, the small puddle shoots out in all direction

away from Alicia!

The power of the raging water destroys the bits of the

forest it touches. Baba’s howls are quieted and soon she

screams in agony.

There’s now what looks like a very expansive lake, with a

whole forest still behind Alicia.

She turns and continues to run.

BABA (O.S.)

(whispers)

Smmmmaaaarttt dear nieceee...but

not..quite..enough..

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 19.

Alicia turns back around and still sees the lake, but Baba’s

sadistic cackling soon kicks back in.

Alicia jumps in panic but then stands still.

She still holds the comb in her hands, and looks at it.

She holds it up to the sky like a mighty sword, all the

while whispering another a spell.

She plunges the comb into the ground and nothing happens. It

sticks out of the ground but remains motionless until...

It starts to shake ever so slightly. Alicia runs.

When she’s made it a good distance away the comb explodes

the area around it shooting dirt and roots all over!

Baba’s screams once again turn to agony.

And just right after a plethora of trees begin to emerge

from the ground in all directions. HUGE trees that push the

existing forest out of the way.

They race in the direction of Alicia, booming from the

ground.

From above it’s visible the trees have a formed an extremely

dense covering. Nothing is visible through it all.

With Alicia still running and the trees approaching she

notices the familiar snow covered terrain. She stops.

The growing trees shoot past her leaving her untouched.

Around her they form a thick protection.

BABA (O.S.)

WHERE ARE YOU?? WHEREEEE ARE YOU??

Alicia catches her breath as she leans against a tree. She

smiles and laughs softly at her apparent victory.

Baba’s cackling grows further and further away until all is

completely quiet.

Alicia sits with herself as she admires the forest around

her. She breaths heavy and is extremely tired.

She looks to the snow in the distance and tries to get back

up. She just falls back against the tree.

She tries again but is too weak.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 20.

She gives up and just contours herself to the curve of the

tree. The sun is disappearing, and now the snow from afar

seems to be growing into the forest.

Ever so slowly it looks like Alicia is degenerating. She

gradually becomes fetal against the bark of the tree.

The snow is coming closer as the treetops above become

covered.

Alicia begins to haze out, the surroundings becoming soft

and unidentifiable.

Between each blink things just grow fuzzier.

In between one blink though, and amidst the building snow,

something colorful appears in the distance.

Alicia notices and tries to get up.

The colorful figure gets closer. It looks big and rather

round.

At this point Alicia is out of it.

VOICE

(echoing)

Alicia? Daughter??

Alicia weakly opens her eyes and sees the figure now

standing right next to her.

He’s rather tall and dressed in a beautiful velvety robe

rich with red, gold, and white colors. Atop his head is

matching crown/hat. This is FATHER FROST.

ALICIA

(straining)

F-f-fathh-er?

FATHER FROST

My lovely.

ALICIA

How’d you find me?

He reaches down to pick her up in his large arms. He cradles

her and wraps the hanging of his sleeves over her body.

She looks up to him, still dazed and confused.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 21.

ALICIA

Step. Mother.

He looks down with an earnest look of worry and concern.

FATHER FROST

Shh, let’s go h-

THWACK!!

Father Frost’s body stands completely still holding Alicia.

When she looks back up she sees her father’s head falling

from its neck and down towards her.

His body goes limp, his legs give out and his headless body

drops Alicia to the floor as he collapses back.

Alicia, stricken with panic but still tired crawls backwards

towards a tree and away from the body.

She looks all around trying to figure out what happened.

MARSHA (O.S.)

Oh daughter.

Alicia jolts up. Marsha comes from behind another

tree, bloody bardiche in hand.

She approaches Alicia slowly.

ALICIA

No.

Marsha stands near Alicia’s feet and looks down with a sour

face.

MARSHA

Don’t get a witch to do a woman’s

job.

She brings the ax up and over her head. And without a moment

of hesitation she swings it down to Alicia...

THWACK!

Everything starts to go white as the surroundings begin to

swirl and fade.

22.

INT. ALICIA’S STUDIO - DAY

The white of the previous scene bleeds over into Alicia’s

studio as the book page white again is spread throughout the

room.

It all begins to quickly bleed away and back into the book

on the floor.

Alicia awakens in the same position she fell asleep. She

jolts up and looks around with minor panic.

She adjusts quickly and lays back down. She eyes the book on

the floor and stares intently.

FADE OUT:

ON SCREEN: ONE WEEK LATER.

INT. RUSSIAN HISTORY CLASS - DAY

Just another day. The students come in at the usual pace.

Alicia being one of them.

She walks to the front of the class towards the teacher.

PETER THE GREAT

Ah! Well hello! Fun assignment?

She reaches in her bag and takes out both the book and a

stapled essay. She hands them to him.

ALICIA

Well it didn’t kill me.

The teacher smirks. Alicia smiles back.

ALICIA

Thanks again.

She turns to go sit down.

The teacher holds the book as the class continues to settle

in.

He opens it, lovingly fingering its pages.

He stares happily at its contents as quiet whispers and

screams emit from the book. The pages slightly quiver and

move before the teacher slams it shut.

CUT TO BLACK:

23.

END.