Preservation

Script Excerpt

EXT. EXTERIOR OF BECKER HOUSE - NIGHT - PAST

A red brick house sits off to the side of a road, guarding
the corner of the street. Its roof is dusted in snow and
smoke pours out of the chimney. A garden of flowers peek out
from beneath their white blanket.

A family is seen through the window, snowflakes falling in
front of the glass. ISABELLE BECKER, a 9-year-old girl with
long blonde hair dressed up like a doll, dances with her
clumsy 5-year-old brother, BILLIE BECKER who giggles
uncontrollably.

Near the fireplace, HUGH BECKER, a middle-aged man wearing a
sweater and glasses, watches his kids dance to the Christmas
music playing from the television.


INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

In the dimly-lit living room, Isabelle and Billie dance
together as Hugh watches.

DOROTHY BECKER bounces into the living room holding a small
present with a smile on her face. Billie and Isabelle stop
dancing once their mother enters the room, curious about what
she’s holding.

                    DOROTHY
          Alright kids. Your dad and I have a
          very special gift that we wanted to
          give to you tonight, on Christmas
          Eve.

                    BILLIE
          (jumping excitedly towards
           Dorothy)
          Mommy, Mommy, can I open it?

                    DOROTHY
          Yes, but you and your sister are
          going to.

                    ISABELLE
          What is it?

                    DOROTHY
          Well, that’s the thing about
          presents. You have to open them to
          find out!

Isabelle drags her brother over to the Christmas tree and the
two of them sit down next to its skirt. Once they’re settled,
Dorothy places the present in front of them.

                    DOROTHY
          Okay, you can open it now.

Isabelle and Billie crowd the present, tearing it open. Now
unwrapped, a cardboard box sits in front of them.

The kids open the box eagerly and hold up the two shirts
packed inside.

One reads, “Big Sister” and the other reads “Big Brother. ”

Isabelle reads her shirt’s words quickly and helps Billie
read his. Billie’s eyebrows furrow as the words begin to make
sense in his mind.

                    BILLIE
          But I’m not a big brother! I’m a
          little brother!

                    ISABELLE
          Wait.
          She looks at her parents.

                    ISABELLE (CONT’D)
                (elated)
          WAIT!

Dorothy nods and smiles.

                    ISABELLE (CONT’D)
          You have another baby in your
          tummy?

                    DOROTHY
          I do!

Isabelle gives Dorothy a big hug while Billie is still
processing the information. Dorothy eyes her son. She kneels
down, getting on his level.

                    DOROTHY (CONT’D)
          Billie sweetie, do you understand
          what that means? You’re going to be
          a big brother!

                    BILLIE
              (lightbulb going off in
               his head)
          Really Mommy? Really?

                    DOROTHY
              (matching his excitement)
          Yes!

                    BILLIE
              (excited)
          A big brother?

Hugh and Dorothy wrap their kids into a big family hug. The
Christmas lights illuminate their joyful faces.

                                                     CUT TO:

INT. - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT - ONE YEAR LATER

Hugh sobs as he holds the cold bodies of Billie, Isabelle,
LILY BECKER, and Dorothy in the hallway. Blood decorates the
wall and floor, evidence of Hugh’s effort to drag them across
the hallway.

Dorothy’s corpse stares up at him with wide eyes. Billie and
Isabelle are slumped in his lap. Lily’s fragile infant body
rests in the crook of his elbow. Each corpse’s neck is red
with blood, a deep cut in each, except Lily’s.

Hugh pulls them together desperately, not wanting to let go.

                    HUGH
              (sobbing)
          No. No. No. Please. No. Come back.
          Please I’m so sorry please come
          back please. Dorothy-

Shock forces him to choke on his words. He wails as he holds
them, rocking back and forth.