UNFINISHED BUSINESS

By
Tayla J. Renaud
REVISED 10-7-2015

1785 Barton Dr
Fairfield, CA 94534
707 386 2271
taylarenaud@gmail.com
Context
The story is set in an apocalyptic, dystopian world

after drinkable water has all run out. The land is dead and
dry from lack of water, but civilization is still advancing;
weapons are used with energy from the sun, creating energy
pulses similar to bullets for guns and swords.
The main character, RIN (think Rose Leslie), has lost
everyone that she cared about from the cruelty of this new
world and has thought it in her best interest to become an
incredibly skilled hunter to avenge her familys death. Rin
has just came from her latest kill in a nearby town and is
making her way towards her new camp where she has found
water.
Passing through an abandoned town, she is stopped by a
girl, KALI (think Nicholas Hoult), who wants her to join her
group to protect them because they have found water (people
will kill for water). She goes back with her because people
from the town found the body of Rins recent target and are
out searching for her. After arriving she is challenged by
the group leader, ERIK (think Liam Neeson).

FADE IN:
EXT. ALLEYWAY- LATE EVENING
RIN saunters down a messy abandoned alleyway, a hood
shadowing her face. Her hand is at her sword hilt and the
other lifts an APPLE that she BITES into.
CUT TO:
EXT. FIELD- LATE EVENING
AROUND THE CORNER there are abandoned buildings. RIN walks
across the street then into a field of dried grass and
weeds, everything dead from long ago.
WIND whips her cape and hair, RIN BITES into APPLE again.
FULL FRONTAL view of RIN walking in the distance, HEAT WAVES
rippling across the ground. The SUN setting behind her.
CUT TO:
EXT. SUBURBAN STREETS- NIGHT
RIN half-runs, half-walks down a small hill and onto a
cracked and eerily silent street.
She makes her way to the back of a house, throwing the eaten
APPLE over her shoulder before walking inside through a
crumbling doorway.
CUT TO:
INT. ABANDONED HOUSE- HALLWAY- NIGHT
Walking through the house, she hesitates and watches for
movement from the corner of her eye, her sword hand grabbing
the handle of the sword.
RIN WHIPS HER HEAD AROUND to find a torn curtain FLAPPING in
the breeze.
RIN SHRUGS and begins to start walking
SOMEONE hurdles into her and knocks her to the ground.
RIN struggles to reach for her sword but the person SMACKS
her hand out of the way and TWISTS them above her head,
pinning them to the ground.
RIN struggles for a moment then shoots her head up and-

CRACK- makes contact with her rivals NOSE.

The enemy staggers backwards and RIN reaches to get her
knuckle knife, twisting from the persons grasp.
Holding their face the attacker tries to attack RIN again,
stopped when RIN locks her arm and sends her FLIPPING to the
ground.
RIN is instantly on top of the attacker and puts her knife
at the attackers throat.
CLOSE UP of RINs face as realization dawns on her.
CLOSE UP of girls face with terror in her eyes for what
will happen next.
RIN picks herself up, sheaths her sword, and turns to walk
out of the house.
KALI leans up on her elbowsKALI
(Frantically)
Wait!
CUT TO:
EXT. SUBURBAN STREETS- NIGHT
RIN speedily walks down the street then after a few blocks
suddenly ducks into an alleyway.
After a few seconds RIN TUGS KALI into the alleyway and
pushes her against the wall, this time her sword is at her
throat.
RIN
(Sternly)
Why are you following me?
KALI
(Stuttering)
I-I was trying to see where y-you were
going I-my group, we found a cave up
ahead, I thought maybe you were following

us.
RIN sheaths her sword and turns towards the nearest fenceRIN
No. Leave me alone.
KALI pushes herself off the wall and holds her hands out to
Rin.
KALI
Wait! Wait, no I mean, youre fighting
skills, theyre... Look I I was hoping
that you would help protect my group
RIN
(Still turned towards fence, sneering)
Well thats a nice notion but I could care
less about you or your group. I prefer to
travel alone.
RIN STRAPS her bag closer to herself and STEPS onto a ledge
of the fence.
KALI takes a step closer, trying to reach out to RIN.
KALI
(Desperately)
No stop! We found water! Weyou can have a
share if you just come back with me.
RIN hesitates and stares at the fence in front of her, her
face saddened.
RIN
(Whispered)
I dont need it. Im fine on my own.
KALI
Please. We can help each other.
In a rush RIN turns to face her, angry.

RIN
Listen, for the last time, I cant do
anything for you! Now go. Away.
She whips around to briskly walk down the street in the
opposite direction. KALI stands behind her looking stricken.
CUT TO:
EXT SURBURBAN STREET- NIGHT
Light comes from behind some walls down the SUBURBAN STREET
from TORCH LIGHTS and ENERGY LIGHTS, along with a SOFT
MURMURING of ANGRY VOICES.
RIN turns to go another direction and finds more TORCH
LIGHTS.
RINs eyes go wide with alarm for a moment and then she
hastily turns on her heel and runs back to the still
stricken KALI.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY- NIGHT
RIN
You know, on second thought, I believe I
will take you up on that offer.
KALIs face lights up-KALI
(Happy, excited)
Truly? Cmon its this way-KALI grabs RINs arm and YANKS her down the street to an
old, burnt building and to-CUT TO:
INT. ABANDONED HOME- LIVING ROOM- NIGHT
An old, burnt down house has a HATCHED DOOR on the floor of
one of the rooms. KALI lifts it up and throws an ENERGY ORB
into it, which then lights the whole cave below.
RIN peers down into the opening, curious. The cave walls

DANCED with BLUE LIGHT.

KALI
You first.
RIN stares menacingly at KALI at the idea. KALI shrugs.
KALI
Suit yourself.
She LEAPS down into the cave with a SWISH.
RIN stares after her for a moment, assessing whether it was
safe to go, then JUMPS down behind her--

CUT TO:
INT. CAVE- NIGHT
--and lands in one fluid movement.
KALI
(Coolly, offering hand out)
My names Kali by the way.
RIN stares at KALIs hand, uninterested. She turns and
starts walking down the cave, looking around her in
wonderment.
RIN
Great.
Excitedly, KALI hurries over to RIN and grabs her arm again
and yanks her down the tunnel.
KALI
(Breathless)
Everyones gonna be so happy
to meet you, Im so excited!
They pass glowing lights throughout the cave. KALI stops
before a wall covered in vines. She brushes them back to
reveal a hidden hole with a ladder leading up to the ceiling
of the cave.
7

KALI
(Still excited)
Alright, so Ill go up first and just
follow behind, and when you get to the top
theres a little wooden door you need to
push open. Okay?
RIN
(Suspiciously)
Okay
They both climb up the ladder, KALI BABBLING OFF SCREEN the
whole way.
A CRESCENT OF YELLOW LIGHT floods over RIN as KALI OPENS the
door and PULLS herself inside.
RIN stops just before the opening and LISTENS. CAUTIOUSLY
she begins to pull herself up and out of the hole.
TRANSITION TO:
INT. REBEL GANG BASE- ENTRANCE TO BASE- NIGHT
RIN is stopped waist high in the entrance by a GUN
positioned at her neck.
MILO (O.S)
(Hostile)
Who (the hell) are you?
CLOSE UP of RIN who rolls her eyes. INTERNAL MONOLOGUE of
course this was going to happen to her, she knew KALI was
setting her up.
KALI is seen BLURRED IN BACKGROUND pleading with the people
in the room as CAMERA FOCUSES on RINs hand snaking down to
reach her sword.
Flat side of another SWORD lightly swings down on her hand,
stopping her. RINs eyes focused on the floor in front of
her, unmoving and alert.
ERIK (OWNER OF SWORD)
I would strongly advice you not to do

that.
KALI
(Outraged)
Everyone stand down! I already told you
she-ERIK
Kali, why did you bring this
CUT TO RIN still gazing at the floor with the SWORD on her
hand and GUN at her neck.
ERIK (CONTD) (O.S)
-scum into our hideaway?
RIN breaks out of her focus from the floor and glances up at
ERIK at the same time as MILO snorts/laughs.
RIN
(Angrily)
Oi!
ERIK (CONTD)
(Still directed at KALI)
You know not to bring outsiders her, you
realize the risk.
KALI shifts in her place, WRINGING her hands behind her
back. She then meets ERIKs scold with confidence.
KALI
Erik, you must see her, shes absolutely
amazing. She can help us with the project,
protect us! She could be the protection
weve been looking for!
ERIK considers KALIs WORDS for a moment and then looks over
at RIN, looking her over.
ERIK
Ill tell you what, Ill strike you a
deal. If she can beat me in a duel, then
9

she can stay. If not well, well discuss

that later.
CUT TO KALIs FACE, her eyes go wide and she immediately
looks over to RIN.
RINs looks as if she were assessing the situation as she
looks over ERIK. (INT MONOLOGUE) He couldnt be that bad
could he?
She looks back and forth between KALI and ERIK for a moment
and then pulls herself the rest of the way out of the hole.
She saunters over to the middle of the room, the rest of the
REBEL GANG creating a circle around her.
RIN
(Confidently)
Well, lets get this party started shall
we?
RIN pulls her SWORD out of its SHEATH, semi-ready position.

TO BE CONTINUED

10

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