The Rewilders Read online

  Cadwraeth Arrives to help

  Just then, a masked man, in an overcoat billowing from the wind, roars in on a noisy motorcycle!

  Whooping and shouting, he intercepts the rhino and aims it toward the forest, like a cowboy rounding up cattle.

  It's Charlie Rath! Disguised!

  Rachel glances back quizzically at the rescuer as she helps people flee the scene, but she doesn't recognize who it is.

  The Airstrike

  Wally tosses a cell phone to Ally. She punches buttons.

  ALLY

  (into phone)

  Minister?! Minister!

  INTERIOR - OFFICE/MINISTER PROCTOR (SAME TIME)

  Proctor leans up close to a television beside his desk. The monitor is visible and depicts the chaos going on.

  PROCTOR

  (into phone)

  I see it, Ally! On television! I've called in an airstrike!

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING BEFORE A FOREST

  ALLY

  Wha... An air... ?! Nooo!

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over phone)

  No, that's what we'll do!

  EXTERIOR - SKIES OVER LONDON (SAME TIME)

  A Harrier Jump Jet is already in flight, its under-wing pods loaded with weapons.

  It careens to the left and then into a steep dive.

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING BEFORE A FOREST

  Ally cowers down beside the truck with the phone, her hand to her ear to shelter from the cacophony all around her.

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over phone)

  These compensation awards are getting too costly. Just take out all of the animals -

  ALLY

  Nooo!

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  And we'll start again tomorrow!

  ALLY

  (pockets phone)

  But, Minister! Arrghh!

  EXTERIOR - HIGH ABOVE CLEARING AND FAR AWAY

  From 5, then 4, then 3 miles off, the Harrier afterburners to the site of the rewilding-gone-awry, in the BACKGROUND.

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING BEFORE A FOREST

  Ally and Wally fly over to Rachel, the rhino still rampaging behind them, the people still fleeing every which way.

  ALLY

  Proctor's called in the air force!

  WALLY

  What?! Is he -

  RACHEL

  Everyone! Run! Fast as you can!

  One of the Technicians mounts the trailer and points a radar scope toward the rampaging rhino.

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING/RHINO RAMPAGING (THROUGH SCOPE)

  Through the scope, the Technician tries to follow the huge, jumping, darting, lurching beast with a red laser dot. The strange masked hero is right alongside, on his motorcycle.

  INTERIOR - HARRIER COCKPIT (TRAVELLING)

  PILOT

  Got a lock! Fire one and two!

  EXTERIOR - HARRIER UNDERCARRIAGE

  Two sleek, finned smart bombs drop away with a whine.

  EXTERIOR - ABOARD THE TRAILER

  The Technician holding the scope slaps the side of his face - mosquito! His hand with the scope moves awry.

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING/RHINO RAMPAGING (THROUGH SCOPE)

  The red laser dot moves off the rhino and starts darting wildly at the trees, at the audience stands (now empty), even as far as the townhouses in the BACKGROUND, and back again.

  EXTERIOR - SKIES ABOVE CLEARING/SMART BOMBS

  The bombs scream to and fro', up and down, accelerating and decelerating, as they try to acquire their target.

  EXTERIOR - ABOARD THE TRAILER/TECHNICIAN TARGETER

  The Technician rubs his fingers together as he analyzes the bug. The scope in his other hand dangles by his side.

  EXTERIOR - SKIES ABOVE CLEARING/SMART BOMBS

  With Bomb Two doing spirals behind it, Bomb One levels off and aims over at the townhouses behind the spectator seats.

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING BEFORE A FOREST

  Back at the clearing, everyone fleeing turns and watches. The brave T.V. cameraman swivels his camera to and fro'.

  Behind the seats, there's a smoke trail toward the first giant spinning wind turbine - and then a mighty explosion.

  INTERIOR - MACGILLVRAY HOUSE/LIVINGROOM (SAME TIME)

  Evey and Harry are on their couch, watching T.V.. They bounce up, the whole residence rattles, and dust rises.

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING BEFORE A FOREST

  Everyone watches, eyes wide, jaws dropped, as the mighty windmill topples, falling, falling, all the way to the spectator seats, crunching, smashing, just missing a house.

  A wave of debris washes the podium into the clearing. The Old Fellow is still seated, a silly smile on his face, as his chair comes to rest with a bump, still upright.

  In the BACKGROUND, led by the mysterious man on the motorcycle, the rhino rumbles off into an orchard away from the forest.

  EXTERIOR - ABOARD THE TRAILER/TECHNICIAN TARGETER

  The Technician's jaw drops. The scope falls from his hands.

  EXTERIOR - FOREST/TARGETING LASER DOT (THROUGH SCOPE)

  From the scope, as it bounces to the platform, the laser dot jiggles, spirals, and finally settles amongst the treetops.

  EXTERIOR - SKIES ABOVE CLEARING/SMART BOMB

  Bomb Two wobbles, stops spinning, and lurches downward.

  EXTERIOR - FOREST/CLEARING

  The trail from Bomb Two streaks into the forest. With a mighty explosion, fires burst out and the great old trees topple, spreading the flames further.

  In the clearing, the brave T.V. cameraman staggers back, appalled, slapping his head at the turn of events.

  INTERIOR - OFFICE/MINISTER PROCTOR (SAME TIME)

  Proctor cups his jaw and sinks back into his chair.

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING BEFORE A FOREST

  With moans and screams still sounding, most spectators have fled. A few lay on the ground, nurses tending to wounds.

  Our Rewilding Team, though, are side-by-side, standing in stunned awe, staring at the carnage and destruction.

  INTERIOR - HARRIER COCKPIT (TRAVELLING)

  The Pilot leans over to his right, looking out the window.

  PILOT

  (into helmet microphone)

  Crikey. Well, that didn't go over too good. Shall we try again?

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over radio)

  No, no, save what you've got left. We have to take care of that other situation in Sussex!

  The pilot shakes his helmeted head and steers hard left.

  PILOT

  (mutters)

  More? Oh, for the love of...

  EXTERIOR - CLEARING BEFORE A FOREST

  Our Rewilding Team continues to stare and slump.

  In the BACKGROUND, the rhino disappears entirely amongst tall grasses, along with the mysterious masked hero.

  RACHEL

  Who was that masked man?

  The immediate area is now completely vacant, except for the other Technicians, now sitting on the back of the trailer with their feet hanging over, their heads sunk down.

  But then, in the BACKGROUND, the second wind turbine, cracked at mid-point, topples into the next, knocking it over, knocking another over, and so on, till all five remaining turbines have collapsed to the earth behind the houses below them.

  But it isn't over yet... Ally's cell phone chirps a ring.

  ALLY

  (weakly, into phone)

  Yeeesssss...

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over phone)

  Ally? Are you okay?

  Ally can only gurgle choked tears. Rachel takes the phone.

  RACHEL

  Minister? We lost the animals!

  INTERIOR - OFFICE/MINISTER PROCTOR (SAME TIME)

  PROCTOR

  Well, never mind that now. We need you back here to consult on the situation in Central Scotland.

  INTERCUT between RACHEL and PROCTOR

  RACHEL

  Scotland?<
br />
  (the Team reacts)

  But Minister! What of the situation here!

  PROCTOR

  No, no, never mind it. There's a swarm of beavers attacking property outside the bog they were released to. We need you there to consult with the British Army.

  RACHEL

  The Army!?

  PROCTOR

  Yes, yes, they're already calling it the Great Beaver War. Shouldn't be much of a contest, really.

  RACHEL

  But sir!

  PROCTOR

  Have to go. Conserving power! For the environment! We only run the communications network four hours per day now. Tootle dee!

  END INTERCUT.

  RACHEL

  But -

  Before he clicks off, Proctor mutters, audible to all:

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over phone)

  We'll win that Conservation Award this month if it's the last thing I do!

  Evey and Harry: Cadwraeth

  INTERIOR - MACGILLVRAY HOUSE - DAY

  Evey's making dinner in the kitchen as the T.V. plays OFF-SCREEN.

  CLOSE-UP - T.V. NEWS REPORT

  NEWS REPORTER (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over T.V.)

  Good news, Glasgowans! The missing cheetah was located and is being returned safely to captivity as we speak!

  EVEY (OFF-SCREEN)

  Oh, bloody good news, that.

  NEWS REPORTER (VOICE-OVER)

  Also today, news of the government coalition of anti-war anarchists, environmentalists and peaceniks falling apart. The Prime Minister says to expect armed conflict as the regular environmentalists take on the militant wings.

  CUT TO tape of a street, a pitched battle between green, gray and blue t-shirted people fighting with slingshots, crossbows and sticks - while regular citizens run for cover.

  Then there's a loud, long toilet flush OFF-SCREEN.

  RETURN TO Harry, as he emerges from the bathroom. He limps over to the couch and flops on.

  HARRY

  Any word of this "Cadwraeth" yet?

  EVEY (OFF-SCREEN)

  No, hon.

  CLOSE-UP - T.V. NEWS REPORTER INTERVIEWING MINISTER PROCTOR

  NEWS REPORTER (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over T.V.)

  Minister, then there's the problem of this "Cadwraeth" figure -

  HARRY (OFF-SCREEN)

  A-ha!

  NEWS REPORTER (VOICE-OVER)

  That Lone Ranger, masked, anti-rewilding character.

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  Oh, "Cadwraeth"? Obviously just some terrorist, now with his gang of followers, marauding around the countryside trapping animals and government representatives, locking them up in cages.

  RETURN TO Harry, wide-eyed, starting to laugh and applaud.

  HARRY

  Locking them up, too?!

  NEWS REPORTER (VOICE-OVER)

  "Cadwraeth." What a malevolent-sounding name, Minister.

  CLOSE-UP - T.V. NEWS REPORTER INTERVIEWING MINISTER PROCTOR

  Videotape plays, now, as Proctor continues.

  PROCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  Mmm, "Cadwraeth". No one's yet figured out what it means.

  Public workers use rollers and green paint to cover up colorful graffiti that smothers a brick wall:

  "Cadwraeth, save us!"

  "Three Cheers for Cadwraeth!"

  RETURN TO SCENE

  Evey arrives and takes wearily to the couch beside Harry.

  HARRY

  What's for supper, Evey?

  EVEY

  Hash. Again. Hey, it's four o'clock, let's watch "Dr. Wobbly, M.D.", okay?

  CLOSE-UP - T.V. SCREEN

  Proctor's goofy smiling face changes to an ancient black & white medical drama, maybe from the 1950's.

  A kindly male doctor stands over a pregnant female patient.

  KINDLY DOCTOR (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over T.V.)

  And what's wrong with you, today?

  The motherly patient swoons melodramatically.

  PREGNANT PATIENT (VOICE-OVER)

  Oh, doctor, I can't explain it. Nothing I do seems to help.

  The Team Switches Sides

  EXTERIOR - STREET/TOWN #1 - DAY

  The Team's green propane-powered pickup meanders through a small town. Roger and Yabby are hunched down in back.

  They pass Charlie's dilapidated home.

  INT. PICKUP - TRAVELLING (SAME TIME)

  As before, Wally drives as Rachel sadly leans her head against her window, with Ally crunched in the middle.

  Rachel peers back at Charlie's house, wondering where he is.

  EXTERIOR - STREET/TOWN #2 - DAY

  They pass a chain gang digging a trench, others in a long food line, and others in a longer queue, looking for jobs.

  EVERYONE IN TRUCK (VOICE-OVER)

  Look at those poor people...

  There are thumps from a far-off artillery battle going on.

  EXTERIOR - STREET/GLASGOW - DAY

  The pickup turns into the laneway at the C.R.A.P. building. The streets are quiet, with very few people walking about.

  The thumps from the battle are a little louder now OFF-SCREEN.

  ALLY (VOICE-OVER)

  Everyone? I've made a decision.

  RACHEL/WALLY/ROGER (VOICE-OVER)

  What, Professor?

  INT. PICKUP - TRAVELLING (SAME TIME)

  ALLY

  Human beings have to live on this planet, too.

  RACHEL/WALLY/ROGER

  Right. Absolutely. I agree.

  In agreement, Yabby simply chatters his teeth.

  The Animals aren't the Biggest Problem

  INTERIOR - GOVERNMENT OFFICE/C.R.A.P. - DAY

  Today, no one's in the front office. No staff. No visiting citizens looking at conservation brochures. Only the canary chirps sweetly from its cage off in the corner.

  A T.V. plays OFF-SCREEN. PAN through toward Ally's office.

  INTERVIEWER (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over T.V.)

  What else, Professor?

  INTERIOR - OFFICE/ALLY GRUBERSTEIN

  The full Team, minus Ally, is crowded into the room, grimly watching her being interviewed.

  ALLY (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over T.V.)

  It could be that the animal kingdom isn't even the basis for the current problems.

  INTERIOR - MACGILLVRAY HOUSE (SAME TIME)

  To the sound of the artillery battles OFF-SCREEN, Evey and Harry sit on their couch watching the very same interview.

  CLOSE-UP - T.V. INTERVIEW CONTINUING

  ALLY (VOICE-OVER)

  (filtered over T.V.)

  A plant reintroduced, merging with genetically-modified plants, became a major food source for rewilded herbivores, which bred more carnivores, and appears to have completely messed up the ecosystem, or spread it where it wasn't previously.

  EVEY (OFF-SCREEN)

  Well, I'm lost. Plants breeding more meat eaters?

  HARRY (OFF-SCREEN)

  It's the fault of those damned activists.

  The T.V. Reporter looks straight into the camera. It's as though he heard Harry's remark!

  INTERVIEWER (VOICE-OVER)

  "Enthusiasts", not "activists"! Please continue, Professor.

  INTERIOR - OFFICE/ALLY GRUBERSTEIN

  We rejoin Rachel, Wally, Roger and Yabby in Glasgow. Rachel has a puppy in her arms, caressing it gently.