INOCULUM First Draft 6th November

7/24/2019 INOCULUM First Draft 6th November

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INOCULUM

Written by

Mark Cooper

First Draft 6/11/2015


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INT. A DOCTORS OFFICE. DAYTIME

A doctors office, small and confined. Blinds are drawn and weare greeted by the face of DOCTOR HUGHES. Gray haired, andsteely eyed, he has an expression of bewilderment on hisface, a prominent frown, squinting slightly behind his thick

spectacles. We see he is examining the arm of a young girl;ABIGAIL, which is covered in a deep-red blistered rash.DELANEY and DOUGLAS are also sat in the Doctors Office, sheleaning back in her chair with her arms neatly folded, himleaning forward with the same look of concern as HUGHES asthey survey the festering rash on ABIGAILs arm. ABIGAIL isseated next to her father, with DELANEY seated next to him.

DOUGLASSo its definitely not gangrene?

DOCTOR HUGHES rolls ABIGAILs sleeve down and takes his

spectacles off before wiping his brow and flipping throughABIGAILs medical file.

DOCTOR HUGHESIm afraid not. Ive never seenanything like Abigails rashbefore. Its advancing faster thananything Ive ever seen.

DOCTOR HUGHES produces another medical file from his desk.The name reads; DOUGLAS REED.

DOCTOR HUGHES (CONTD)Ive also checked your medicalhistory, Douglas, as well as your

wifes history before she passedaway...

He is interrupted abruptly by DELANEY.

DELANEYPrevious wife.

DOCTOR HUGHES glances at DELANEY.

DOCTOR HUGHESIm sorry?

DELANEY holds up her hand to show DOCTOR HUGHES her weddingring. DOUGLAS nervously clears his throat.

DOUGLASDoctor, this is Delaney. My new

wife.

DELANEY (HAPPILLY)Four months today!

DOCTOR HUGHES first looks quite confused, then quickly feignsa smile.


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DOCTOR HUGHESOh, I see- you remarried! Myapologies.

ABIGAILAm I going to be okay?

DOCTOR HUGHES suddenly turns his attention to ABIGAIL who hasbegun to lose her patience.

DOCTOR HUGHESIn all honesty we are very limitedto how we can treat this kind ofcondition. Id strongly adviseprivate healthcare.

DOUGLAS expression suddenly changes to a look of panic, likea deer caught in the headlights.

DOUGLASBut were struggling as it is. Imbetween jobs right now.

ABIGAILShe could always get a job.

ABIGAIL nods towards DELANEY.

DOUGLASAbigail!

ABIGAILWhat? She could!

There is a brief moment of awkward silence as DOCTOR HUGHESfumbles with some papers on his desk before coughingnervously. The attention is brought back to him. He speaks ina concerned tone.

DOCTOR HUGHESI understand the situation withfinancing, but I must stress howserious this condition is. From the

test we conducted on the skinsample we took previously, it seemslike Abigails skin is breakingdown at a cellular level.

DELANEYWell, what does that mean?

DOCTOR HUGHES gaze moves from each member of the family ashe speaks.

DOCTOR HUGHES

The cells in Abigails body aredestroying themselves.

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(MORE)


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The lesions have spread from thewrist to the upper arm, and withoutresponse to the antibiotics weprescribed, Im afraid theres avery real possibility thatamputation may be the preferred

option.

ABIGAILWhat?

Panic washes over Abigail as the colour drains from her face.

DOUGLASAmputation?

ABIGAILIm losing my arm?!

DOCTOR HUGHESThats if this disease hasntalready entered other parts of thebody. Im afraid without responseto the antibiotics...

ABIGAILNo! There has to be something otherthan that.

After a moment of deliberation, DOCTOR HUGHES produces abusiness card from his pocket.

DOCTOR HUGHESThere is this, if youre willing toundergo clinical trials.

DOUGLAS takes the card and sees that it is emblazoned withthe logo of the pharmaceutical company OmegaPharm.

DOUGLASOmegaPharm? Whats this?

DOCTOR HUGHES

It a pharmaceutical company thatspecializes in the production ofexperimental antibiotics andvaccinations for diseases affectingthe body at a cellular level.

DOUGLASSo what will they do? Use mydaughter as a guinea pig orsomething?

DOCTOR HUGHES

Not at all. Its very humane, andit could be a solution to yourfinancing problem.

3.

DOCTOR HUGHES (CONT'D)

(MORE)


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Theyre much better equipped therethan we are here.

ABIGAIL takes the card from her father. And stares at theOmegaPharm logo. After a brief silence.

ABIGAILCan they help me?

DOCTOR HUGHES smiles reassuringly.

DOCTOR HUGHESIm sure they can.

ABIGAIL turns to her father, awaiting his response.

DOUGLASI think you should give it a shot.

ABIGAIL smiles half-heartedly, before looking back down atthe card.

ABIGAILI think so too. Mum would have atleast wanted me to try.

Focus shifts from ABIGAIL to DELANEY, who looks annoyed atthis remark.

DOCTOR HUGHESThere is a condition though.

DOUGLASWhat kind of condition?

DOCTOR HUGHESOmegaPharm likes to make thefindings of its research publicfor educational purposes. Its alloutlined on their website.

ABIGAILI just want to get better.

DELANEYWe ALL want her to get better.

She feigns a smile.

EXT. THE OMEGAPHARM LABORATORY- DAYTIME

We are greeted by a large, clinical looking building. Whiteand sterile, it is emblazoned with the OmegaPharm logo, muchlike the business card ABIGAIL received.

4.

DOCTOR HUGHES (CONT'D)


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INT. THE OMEGAPHARM LABORATORY- DAYTIME

The interior is very much like the exterior. Sparkling white,with many laboratory utensils dotted around the area.Microscopes line one side, along with an impressive array ofpetri-dishes. In one area of the room, two scientists are

huddled discussing something, and in another area sitsABIGAIL. After a brief moment, one of the scientists, a young

man in a bright white lab coat, short cropped hair and anoptimistic smile ends his conversation and walks over toABIGAIL. We see his name badge reads CRAIG MANNING,FRCS.

CRAIGWell, the sample we took from thearm definitely shows signs ofNecrosis. But its reacting very

well to our vaccine.

He smiles warmly.

CRAIG (CONTD)We think it may be time to try itout. Shall we?

ABIGAIL takes a deep breath and nods.

ABIGAILWell, theres no going back nowright?

They begin to walk to another room. The voices of ABIGAIL andCRAIG fade away as they leave.

ABIGAIL (CONTD)How big is the needle?

EXT. THE OMEGAPHARM LABORATORY PARKING LOT- DAYTIME

DOUGLAS and DELANEY are sat in their car in the laboratoryparking lot having a heated conversation.

DELANEY

I just dont get why she had tobring her mother up. That was ashot at me! And that thing about meand work...

DOUGLASIve told you before, she just

misses her mum. I do too. Butyoure here now, we get that.

DOUGLAS turns to DELANEY and begins to speak calmly.

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DOUGLAS (CONTD)I just wish youd both just getalong. Especially because shessick at the moment.

DELANEY laughs sarcastically.

DELANEYOh shes sick. Its always abouther.

DOUGLASShes my daughter, what do you want

me to do?

DELANEY looks at her feet, frowning.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)

This isnt a competition you know.I love you both equally- and yourea great mother.

DELANEYBut Ill never be her real motherthough, will I?

She sighs and stares out of her passenger window.

INT. ABIGAILS BEDROOM- NIGHTTIME.

ABIGAIL lies asleep in bed. We see that she has a circularplaster (the kind applied after an injection) on her arm. APOTTED PLANT is stood on the desk a little way from the bed.

FADE TO BLACK

INT. ABIGAILS BEDROOM- DAYTIME.

We see the POTTED PLANT once again, but this time it haswilted terribly and is clearly dead. ABIGAIL, now dressed andpreparing for her day picks the plant up and leaves her

bedroom.

INT. THE REED HOUSE KITCHEN- DAYTIME.

ABIGAIL enters the kitchen where DOUGLAS and DELANEY are.DOUGLAS is sat eating a bowl of cereal, while DELANEY isstood by the kitchen sink, looking at another potted plant onthe windowsill that is also dead.

DOUGLASMorning.

ABIGAIL places the plant on the kitchen table and takes aseat. DOUGLAS sees the plant.

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DOUGLAS (CONTD)Wow, what happened to that?

ABIGAILI dont know, I woke up and it wasall dead. Im pretty sure it was

fine yesterday.

DELANEYThats strange, this ones deadtoo.

She holds up the potted plant that was stood on thewindowsill.

DOUGLASProbably greenfly or something.

DOUGLAS returns to his cereal. DELANEY puts the plant back onthe windowsill and stands by the sink, arms folded neatlywith an expression of confusion.

DELANEYIts just weird though. I went tofeed the fish earlier and one ofthose was dead too.

ABIGAILOh no, which one?

DELANEYThe Karp.

DOUGLASSpooky.

He stands up promptly wiping the remains of his meal from hismouth with his sleeve.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)Right, I have to get going anyway-

work stuff.

He grabs his coat which was draped over the back of his chairand puts it on.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)Ill see you both later.

He leaves the room and after a brief moment we hear the frontdoor slam shut. There is a brief awkward silence betweenABIGAIL and DELANEY.

DELANEYTheres more cereal in the

cupboard.

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As DELANEY is about to leave, ABIGAIL notices a strangeblotchy rash that has begun to develop on DELANEYs arm.

ABIGAILWhat happened to your arm?

DELANEY looks down at her arm and pulls her sleeve down tocover it.

DELANEYNothing. Make sure you clean upafter yourself.

She then leaves the room without another word.

INT. THE OMEGAPHARM LABORATORY- DAYTIME

Back at the OmegaPharm Laboratory CRAIG and the otherscientist are once again working. One of them is working onone side of the laboratory, while CRAIG is inspecting a petri-dish under a microscope on the other side. CRAIG, raising hishead from working with the microscope, frowns.

CRAIGHave you been messing with thesample we took from the Necrosispatient?

The SCIENTIST on the other side of the room looks confused.

SCIENTISTNo. Why?

CRAIG goes back to inspecting the microscope.

CRAIGWell, come here and tell me whatyou see.

The SCIENTIST abandons his work and strides over to themicroscope. He takes a look. We see an enhanced image of acollection of cells.

SCIENTISTLooks like a collection of bloodcells. And... Wait...

He makes an adjustment to the microscope. Which revealsanother, different cell.

SCIENTIST (CONTD)What kind of cell is that?

They look at each other.

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CRAIGI dont know. But it definitely

wasnt there earlier.

INT. THE REED HOUSE KITCHEN- DAYTIME.

Back at the REED family home, DELANEY enters the kitchen. Shenotices that the kitchen table is littered with dirty bowlsand cutlery from the meal the family ate earlier. She letsout an exaggerated sigh. Before stacking the bowls up andbringing them through to the kitchen. As she does so, sheyells to Abigail, who is presumably upstairs.

DELANEYAbigail! I thought I told you to...

Her voice trails off, and her expression changes from

annoyance to surprise as she spots something out of thekitchen window in the back yard. ABIGAIL rushes into thekitchen.

ABIGAILSorry, I was just...

She too spots the thing DELANEY is looking at, and her eyesbecome wide with shock.

EXT. THE REED HOUSE BACK GARDEN- DAYTIME

DELANEY and ABIGAIL are stood in their back garden,surrounded by seemingly endless amounts of dead birds, all of

which seem to be rotting slowly. DELANEY steps forward andkneels down to examine one.

ABIGAILWhy are they so...

DELANEYRotten? I dont know...

She stands back up and steps back towards the house and

ABIGAIL.

EXT. A PARKING LOT- DAY

DOUGLAS parks up in his car and just as he is about to getout, his phone begins to ring. He answers.

CRAIG (OS)Hello, is this Mr. Reed?

DOUGLAS

Speaking.

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CRAIG (OS)Hello, were calling fromOmegaPharm, and were just callingto inform you that theres beensome... complications with yourdaughters blood sample we took.

DOUGLAS begins to look agitated.

DOUGLASWhat kind of complications?

On the other end of the phone, CRAIG begins to sound nervous.Knowing he has screwed up., a thousand thoughts racingthrough his mind.

CRAIGWell... we found cells in her

sample that just dont belong. Wethink there may have been a mistakein the laboratory and we need a newsample to work with.

DOUGLAS agitation quickly fades.

DOUGLASSo one of you guys messed somethingup?

CRAIGWell not... messed up per say, but

we would like for your daughter toreturn so we can take a new sample.

DOUGLAS begins to laugh sarcastically.

DOUGLASUnbelievable. I knew we shouldnthave relied on you people!

He puts the phone down and throws it onto the seat next tohim before getting out the car.

INT. THE OMEGAPHARM LABORATORY

CRAIG slams the phone onto his work-top before taking a deepbreath and another look into the microscope. We see that theblood cells from earlier have been joined by many otherdifferent kinds of cells, and the rate they being joined bynew cells is increasing.

CRAIGMy god...

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EXT. THE REED HOUSE BACK GARDEN- DAY TIME

DOUGLAS and ABIGAIL are in the back garden. DOUGLAS wearsplastic gloves as he picks up the last of the dead birds andplaces it into a large black bin bag. As he finishes, helifts the bag over his head like a trophy.

DOUGLASWell, thats dinner sorted!

ABIGAILThats gross, Dad.

INT. THE REED HOUSE- BATHROOM- DAY TIME

The bathroom of the Reed family home. DELANEY is alone,inspecting the rash ABIGAIL pointed out earlier. She applies

some cream to it, which stings her. She winces in pain. Sherolls down her sleeve. As she does so, her mobile phonebegins to ring. She takes the phone out, but doesntrecognise the number. She answers. It is CRAIG fromOmegaPharm.

CRAIGIs this Delaney Reed?

DELANEYYes, who is this?

CRAIGIm calling from OmegaPharm, wetreated Abigail yesterday?

DELANEY takes a seat on the side of the bath, and with herfree hand, begins to scratch at the rash she has recently goton her arm.

DELANEYYes, I remember.

CRAIGWe contacted your husband a while

ago regarding some problems wethink need addressing. A...Possible side effect of the drug weadministered.

DELANEY suddenly stops scratching.

DELANEYSide effect?

INT. OMEGAPHARM LABORATORY- DAYTIME

DELANEY is stood in the OMEGAPHARM laboratory with CRAIG. Heshows is holding a tablet computer.

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CRAIGAs you can see, the blood cellsseem to be... attracting the cellsof other things in the vicinity.Effectively stealing them.

He shows her an image of a group of blood cells.

DELANEYWhat is that?

CRAIGThese are Abigails blood cellsseveral minutes after we injectedher.

He scrolls to another image on the tablet. This image showsthe blood cells, but they are now shown with several other

cells too.

CRAIG (CONTD)And these are Abigails blood cells

when I checked them this morning.

He points to the image.

CRAIG (CONTD)They seem to have been joined bysome other cells. I found these outto be plant cells, and this one isa keratinocyte cell- a type of skincell. And it isnt Abigails.

He puts the tablet down. And picks up a bunch of papers thatwere lying on the desk next to him.

DELANEYWhat are you saying?

CRAIGIm saying that there seems to be avery real possibility that theinjection we administered has

somehow caused Abigail to absorbthe living cells of things aroundher. Possibly to repair the damagecaused by the Necrosis she wasdiagnosed with.

He flicks through the papers.

CRAIG (CONTD)We really need for you to bringAbigail back to us for testing assoon as possible. This could have

disastrous effects on the health ofthe people around her if leftuntreated.

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He leans closer to DELANEY.

CRAIG (CONTD)Has anything abnormal beenhappening to you lately?

INT. THE REED FAMILY HOME- BATHROOM- NIGHTTIME

DELANEY once again takes a look at the rash on her arm. Ithas spread even further than before, and become a deep redcolour. It looks almost festering. She grits her teeth andapplies some more of the same cream, but this time it is sopainful she lets out an audible yelp of pain.

DOUGLAS (O.S)You alright Delaney?

After a brief moment gripping her arm and gritting her teethto bare the pain, DELANEY replies in a pained voice.

DELANEYYes... Yeah Im okay...

She pulls her sleeve down and rubs the area, wincing as shedoes so. She then produces a brush, and whilst looking in thebathroom mirror, begins to brush her hair. However when sheinspects the brush after, she notices an usually large amountof hair has been pulled out by the brush. Gasping, sheinspects her scalp briefly in the mirror before rushing outthe bathroom to the downstairs where DOUGLAS and ABIGAIL aresat watching television.

INT. THE REED FAMILY HOME- LIVING ROOM- NIGHTTIME

The living room is relatively dark, lit only by the lightcoming from the kitchen and the ambience of the television,

which casts a moving light all over the room. ABIGAIL andDOUGLAS occupy one of the rooms sofas. DELANEY rushes inclutching the brush, which still has her hair attached.

DELANEY

Look at this! She thrusts the brushinto DOUGLAS chest.

ABIGAIL, upon seeing the mass of hair in the brush clasps herhand over her mouth as if stifling a laugh.

DELANEY (CONTD)What? Do you think this is funny!?

ABIGAILs expression immediately changes to that of surpriseand worry at DELANEYs sudden outburst.

DOUGLASWoah, hang on a sec, whatshappening? Why are you shouting?

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DELANEY snatches the brush back from DOUGLAS.

DELANEYMy hair Doug! Im losing my fuckinghair! And look-

She rolls her sleeve up to show ABIGAIL and DOUGLAS the rashthat has been developing on her arm.

DELANEY (CONTD)Ive had this for a couple of daysnow. Look at it! Its just likethose guys at the lab said!

DOUGLAS immediately stands and takes DELANEY by the shouldersin an attempt to calm her.

DOUGLAS

Delaney! You need to calm down,seriously. Im sure that its juststress. Youre stressed thats all.We all are!

Still holding DELANEY by her shoulders, DOUGLAS maneuvers herinto the seat where he was just sat.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)Why dont you just relax, and Illgo make you a cup of tea, okay?

DELANEY suddenly stands back up.

DELANEYI dont WANT a cup of tea! I WANTyou to actually listen!

She points at ABIGAIL.

DELANEY (CONTD)SHE is making me ill. I dont knowhow, but she is! That guy at thelab said so!

ABIGAIL begins to laugh at what she considers to be aridiculous situation.

ABIGAILYoure probably just allergic tosomething, its not my fault. Itsprobably that cream you always use.

DELANEY bends down to speak to ABIGAIL on her level. Andgrowls;

DELANEY

Im not allergic to anything!

DOUGLAS grabs DELANEY again.

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DOUGLASLook, Delaney, Im sick of hearingabout this. Abigail doesnt needthe stress, and neither do I rightnow.

He maneuvers her over to the living room door and turns herto face him because looking straight into her eyes andtalking to her like she was a small child.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)You need to get some sleep. Youlook exhausted. Go to bed. If youfeel the same in a few days, welltake you to see Doctor Hughes,okay?

Without a word, DELANEY ascends the stairs to the upper part

of the house. When she is out of sight, DOUGLAS turns toABIGAIL who is seated on the couch.

ABIGAILWhat was that all about?

DOUGLAS shakes his head slowly and goes to rejoin ABIGAIL onthe sofa to watch television.

FADE TO BLACK

INT. ABIGAILS BEDROOM-DAYTIME

A NEWS REPORT can be heard over various scenes.

NEWS REPORTER (O.S.)And now todays main story- chaosin the Kent area as hundreds areadmitted to Hospital afterdeveloping strange lesionsseemingly overnight. Residents havetaken to online social media tovent their frustration at anovercrowded health-care system,

with many blaming an influx ofillegal immigrants for the lack ofhospital space. The epidemic- which

many speculate to be a new, unknowndisease brought to the UK fromoverseas has been shown to begradually spreading from the Kentarea outwards. A recent rise in thedeath of the local wildlife andsmall pets such as cats and dogshas also been reported, and isbeing related to the epidemic. The

Department of Health has yet tocomment.

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ABIGAIL is lying on her bed using her laptop. She is viewinga news article about a recent outbreak of an apparentepidemic in the local area, where people are developingsimilar rashes to DELANEY. Some have even been hospitalized.We see rapid shots of quotes and key-words from the article,HUNDREDS TAKEN ILL. HOSPITALS OVERRUN. AND INCURABLE?

being just a few. She looks down at her previously affectedarm, which is now completely fine.

EXT. A STREET. DAYTIME

DOUGLAS is behind the wheel of his car driving. He drivespast a group of pedestrians, one of which is gaunt-faced,covered in strange red blotchy red markings and is stumblingaround uncontrollably. He falls to the ground and the otherpedestrians crowd around him to help him up. One of whichproduces a mobile phone to call an ambulance. DOUGLAS drives

by slowly with a look of concern and confusion beforecontinuing his journey.

INT. A CAFE- DAYTIME

A Cafe. A tired looking waitress pours a coffee for a personseated at one of the tables. As she does so, we see the tableoccupants name badge on the table. It is the badge belongingto CRAIG MANNING. Once she has finished pouring the coffee,the waitress- with a weak smile, leaves. We see CRAIG, thistime dressed as though he has just recently left the workplace, his tie loose around his neck, one of his shirtsleeves rolled up slightly and unkempt. He features thetypical signs of stress, as though he has not slept forseveral days. CRAIG is watching the news report on a tabletcomputer. When the report comes to an end, he shuts it off,and with a look of solemn contemplation, he grabs his badgeand leaves the cafe quickly, leaving his coffee behind.

INT. THE REED FAMILY HOME- KITCHEN- NIGHT

DELANEY and DOUGLAS are sat eating dinner. DELANEY looksincredibly ill, and is now wearing a hat, to hide the fact

she is losing her hair. While DOUGLAS shovels his food intohis mouth at a pace, DELANEY simply stares at hers insilence. After several seconds, DOUGLAS notices. He smilescrookedly.

DOUGLASThe dinners not THAT bad DELANEY.

She doesnt respond and instead stares at DOUGLAS blankly. Hesighs and puts his fork down.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)

Look, I can see youre not sleepingwell...

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He is immediately cut off by DELANEY who growls her sentencewithout taking her eyes off of DOUGLAS.

DELANEYI slept just fine. Its Abigailthats the problem.

DOUGLAS leans back in his chair and crosses his arms.

DOUGLASReally? This again.

DELANEY is the first to raise her voice.

DELANEYYES. This again! I was perfectlyfine until Abigail got that shot,and now all of a sudden me- and a

bunch of other people if youhavent noticed, are getting ill!

DOUGLAS chuckles and shakes his head.

DOUGLASThis is insane. This is obviouslyjust stress talking.

DELANEYIt isnt fucking stress!

After a brief silence, DOUGLAS leans forward over the tabletowards DELANEY and becomes serious.

DOUGLASAll I know is, my daughters notsick anymore. You can go see thedoctor tomorrow. Maybe you can getthe same injection Abigail got.

DELANEY cuts DOUGLAS off before he can fully finish speaking.

DELANEYI dont want that injection. Its

that injection that makes you likeher. It makes you like a leech,taking everything from everyoneelse!

A brief pause.

DELANEY (CONTD)This needs to stop, Doug. Just letthe scientists help...

DOUGLAS slams his fist on the table rattling the plates and

cutlery as he does so.

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DOUGLASNO!

He stands and turns away from DELANEY, wiping his forehead.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)

Nobody is taking my daughter. Thoseguys have no idea what the helltheyre doing, theyll probably endup killing her...

DELANEYWell maybe they should!

DOUGLAS face drops. He cant believe what hes just heard.

DELANEY (CONTD)Its just a matter of time before

someone dies Doug! Before she killssomeone...

DOUGLAS points and growls, his face showing immediate signsof pent up rage. His visage slowly becoming red as hestruggles to hold in his emotion.

DOUGLASShut up. Just. Shut. Up.

He leaves the room quickly.

DELANEYDoug!

The front door slams. DELANEY is left alone at the kitchentable, staring at the food before her, unmoving. We see thatABIGAIL is stood out of sight holding a glass of water. Sheseems to have heard everything.

INT. THE REED FAMILY HOME- ABIGAILS ROOM- NIGHTTIME

ABIGAIL is sat once again reading news articles on herlaptop, her eyes stained with tears. She sees that someone

who was hospitalized has indeed died. The events that haveoccurred so far relating to her being the cause of peoplegetting ill swirl around in her head, and she slowly reachesfor a packet of paracetamol, before closing her bedroom door.She empties around 20 into her hand, and swallows them oneafter another. She then sits on her bed for a moment. Shesuddenly comes to the realization of what she has just done,and rushes to the bathroom, before forcing herself to be sickdown the toilet. DELANEY walks by and sees what is happening.Rather than helping though, she walks by and takes a quicklook into ABIGAILs bedroom. She spots the empty paracetamolpackets littering the floor. Looking back in the direction of

the bathroom and hearing ABIGAIL gagging once again, DELANEYleaves the scene expressionless.

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FADE TO BLACK

INT. THE REED FAMILY HOME - KITCHEN

DELANEY is washing the plates that were on the table

previously. We see DELANEY from the point of view of somebodyoutside the house, looking in through the window. DELANEY atthis point is cleaning a large kitchen knife. Suddenly theperson outside produces a hammer and cracks the windowattempting to break in. This causes DELANEY to jump in shock,cutting herself on the knife. She drops the knife in thesink, and rushes to the source of the noise, clasping herhand, which by now is pouring with blood. She notices the

window is damaged.

DELANEYFucking kids...

She wrenches the door open and begins to yell.

DELANEY (CONTD)I thought we told you...

She is suddenly grabbed by the person that cracked thewindow, a masked man wearing dark clothing, as he tries toforce himself into the house. The sound of the strugglealerts ABIGAIL who comes running down the stairs. She screamsupon seeing what is happening. The masked man, spottingABIGAIL, immediately tries to go after her, but is dragged tothe ground by DELANEY. He drops the hammer on the ground, andthere is a struggle between DELANEY and the masked man toreach it. As this is happening, abigail rushes into thekitchen and finds the knife that DELANEY was cleaning earlierstill in the sink.

As DELANEY struggles on the floor with the home invader, shemanages to tear his mask off, revealing it to be none otherthan CRAIG MANNING. The two pause their struggle for a momentout of pure shock, when ABIGAIL returns with the kitchenknife. She brandishes it towards CRAIG.

ABIGAIL

Get out! Get out now!

CRAIG holds his hands up, his face twisted with surprise. Hewasnt expecting to be overpowered so easily. He slowlystands from a kneeling position and backs out of the frontdoor. He trips over a plant pot by the door, which shattersbefore springing away. DELANEY immediately jumps to her feet,and slams the door shut. She then locks it. She breathesheavily, clutching her side with pain as she looks atABIGAIL, who is still holding the knife.

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EXT. OUTSIDE THE REED HOUSE- APPROACHING NIGHTTIME

DOUGLAS is walking home from his walk, and is passed byCRAIG, who sprints past him. DOUGLAS does a double take,recognizing the runner. He continues to walk down the streetuntil he reaches his house. When he does he notices a large

crack in one of the windows of the house. He doesnt take hiseyes off of it, and as he briskly walks towards the frontdoor, he notices that the plant pot by the door has beensmashed.

INT. INSIDE THE REED HOUSE- APPROACHING NIGHTTIME

DOUGLAS quickly flings the front door open and then noticesthat there are specks of blood on the floor by the door. Hisexpression turns to panic as he remembers DELANEY suggestingthat he let the scientists kill ABIGAIL.

DOUGLASDelaney?!

He rushes into the living and scans the area, looking for anyclues.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)Abigail?!

DELANEY enters the room from the kitchen, and DOUGLASimmediately grabs her by the arms before she can even sayanything.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)Where is she? What have you done?!

He shakes her. DELANEY tries to speak but is immediately cutoff by DOUGLAS before she can even begin.

DOUGLAS (CONTD)Wheres Abigail?!

Suddenly DOUGLAS notices the bloody bandage he is gripping,which is wrapped around DELANEYs hand. Focus moves from thebandage to DELANEYs face, which is contorted with terror and

pain from DOUGLASs grip on her bandage.

ABIGAIL (OS) (SHAKING)...Dad?

DOUGLAS turns his head and it is revealed that ABIGAIL isstanding on the stairs behind him. Her face is a picture ofpure shock at what she is seeing. DOUGLAS opens his mouth tosay something- anything, but the words simply wont come. Hisdaughter has seen him at his very worst. After a brief momentof silence, DELANEY snatches herself from DOUGLAS grasp.This knocks him back into reality and he turns back to

DELANEY to speak, but before he can, DELANEY cuts him off.

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DELANEY (SHRILLY)I didnt do anything! I was in thekitchen (PAUSE) I was in thekitchen HIDING because someonetried to get into the house!

DOUGLAS turns to face ABIGAIL, who quickly heads upstairs.

DELANEY (CONTD)Doug! Fucking listen to me! Someonetried getting in here! They want tohurt us! They want to get her!

She points upwards referencing ABIGAIL.

DELANEY (CONTD)Weve waited too long already! Sheneeds to (pause) she needs to be

stopped!

There is a brief moment of silence.

DOUGLASYou just need to give it time...

Tears begin to form in the eyes of DELANEY as she laughssarcastically.

DELANEYWe dont have anymore time, Doug!

DELANEY pulls up her sleeve, revealing that the rash she hadpreviously has become much worse, blistered and bloody,before holding it up right in DOUGLAS face, shrillycontinuing.

DELANEY (CONTD)This is getting worse!

She points to her eye, which is now fully white. She almostlacks a pupil.

DELANEY (CONTD)

Look at me! Im falling apart!

She pulls her sleeve back down.

DELANEY (CONTD)Were going to die Doug. Were allgoing to fucking die, and its allHER fault!

As DELANEY begins to cry wildly, DOUGLAS moves forward andembraces her. After a moment, he speaks.

DOUGLASI dont care about the others, justus.

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Slowly, DELANEY pulls away from DOUGLAS.

DELANEYThats the problem. You dont care.

She looks DOUGLAS dead in the eyes.

DELANEY (CONTD)And my problem is I cared too much.

She pushes DOUGLAS aside and heads towards the coat-hook,where she takes her coat and begins to put it on. DOUGLASbegins to follow her.

DOUGLASDelaney I didnt mean...

DELANEY (SHAKING)

Im done Douglas. Im just done. Ifyou want to wait around here, andpretend everythings fine, whileeveryone else rots away like(pauses) like fucking corpses, youdo that by yourself!

DELANEY swings the front door open, takes her wedding ringoff and throws it on the ground in front of DOUGLAS. Sheslams the door behind her.

DOUGLAS is left standing in the hallway alone, shouldershunched as he stares at the ring on the ground before him.Focus shifts from DOUGLAS face to ABIGAIL, who was sat atthe top of the stairs watching the events unfold. As DOUGLASbends to pick the ring up, she quickly rushes upstairs andinto the bedroom to see DELANEY who is walking off up thestreet.

OUTSIDE, DELANEY stops to take one last look at her formerhome, and spots ABIGAIL watching her from the window,expressionless. Teary eyed, DELANEY mouths the words; You

won, before slowly turning and continuing her journey up thestreet. ABIGAIL slowly closes the curtains.

FADE TO BLACK

INT. THE REED HOUSE LIVING ROOM- NIGHT

DOUGLAS is sat in almost near darkness. A news broadcast isplaying in which a government representative stood at apodium in a conference is discussing the recent strangeillness that has been spreading. The TV casts an eerie glowall around the room, but he pays no attention to it. Instead,he toys with DELANEYs wedding ring, deep in thought. Hesuddenly rises from the sofa where he was sat and proceeds to

leave the living room and goes upstairs.

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INT. THE REED HOUSE, ABIGAILS BEDROOM- NIGHT

Quietly, DOUGLAS enters ABIGAILs bedroom. She is asleep inher bed. DOUGLAS walks over to her bed and takes a seat on itnext to her. He finds it hard to look at her there. Heslowly, and deliberately reaches for one of the pillows

placed on her bed and leans over her, seemingly about tosmother his daughter. As he is mere inches away from doing sohowever, he freezes as he contemplates what he is about todo.

CUT TO BLACK

EXT. A PARK- EARLY MORNING.

The park is deathly silent with no sign of anyone beingaround, not even the usual early-morning dog-walkers. DOUGLAS

enters, his face gaunt and solemn, his movements forced, ashe shuffles into view. He approaches a bench and slumps intoit. He cups his head in his hands. From head on, the cameraslowly ZOOMS into DOUGLAS, as he slowly raises his head,blood trickling from his nose.

CUT TO BLACK

23.

INOCULUM First Draft 6th November

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Transcript of INOCULUM First Draft 6th November