Pine Rat - Scene 1

EXT. BOSTON COMMON - NIGHT
A couple in their twenties, COLIN and AMANDA, are having a late night picnic on a blanket under a lamppost. It’s summer and they are dressed accordingly. They’ve finished eating and are having a glass of after dinner wine. Amanda looks up at the stars.

AMANDA
It’s such a beautiful night

COLIN
Not as beautiful as you.

Amanda blushes, looks down and swirls her glass of wine.

AMANDA
The wine’s very good.

COLIN
I knew you’d like it. The man at the store said this wine was known for its aphrodisiac qualities.

AMANDA
Well, I do feel good. Too bad there’s all these people around.

COLIN
What people? It’s the middle of the night. No one’s here but us.

Amanda looks around. The park is surprisingly deserted.

AMANDA
You’re right. I know it’s late but where is everyone? I’ve never seen it this deserted before. Maybe we should go.

COLIN
What’s the matter? We’re all alone. Maybe we could...

AMANDA
I don’t know. I just don’t like it. We’re in the middle of the city.

COLIN
What could possibly happen to us? We’re not completely alone.

Colin gestures to a black squirrel that’s carefully approaching them.

AMANDA
(giggling nervously)
I guess you’re right.

COLIN
Of course I am. Now where were we. Right, that wine’s making you feel good. How good?

AMANDA
(coyly)
Very good.

Colin leans over to Amanda and kisses her. He grabs her and they fall onto the blanket, making out. Their kissing is the only sound that can be heard. After a few seconds, a small chittering sound can be heard again. Amanda is startled by it and pushes Colin away.

AMANDA
Did you hear that?

COLIN
Hear what?

AMANDA
I thought I heard something.

COLIN
It’s just the squirrel.

While they have been fooling around, the squirrel has carefully walked up to their blanket. Amanda leans over and looks it in the eye.

AMANDA
Hi there, little fella. He looks hungry.

COLIN
(frustrated)
You can play with that little rat later. The only rodent I’m interested in right now is a little beaver.

Amanda shoots Colin a nasty look then goes back to the squirrel. She takes a scrap of food from the picnic basket and offers it to the squirrel.

AMANDA
Don’t worry, I’m not gonna hurt ya.

At first the squirrel backs off, then it darts forward, incisors bared. It bites Amanda’s finger between the second and third joints and rips the finger off. There is a geyser of blood and the squirrel runs away with its prize. Amanda screams horrifically and stands up, grabbing her injured hand with her other hand, blood still spraying everywhere.

COLIN
What the fuck?

He spins around and sees that he and Amanda are now surrounded by dozens of cute, innocent looking squirrels. The squirrels pause for a moment then charge. The camera pans up slowly before the squirrels reach the couple. All that can be heard is the couple’s terrifying screams and all that can be seen are frequent fountains of blood. Pulling up and back, the first squirrel can now be seen sitting in a tree and nibbling on Amanda’s finger for a few moments. Then moving up through the trees and into the night, the moon can be seen growing larger until it takes up most of the view. From somewhere unseen, a wooden stick is swung at the moon and the moon rings like a gong when it is hit. A few notes or beats of creepy music play and the TITLE CARD is shown on the moon. The TITLE is PINE RAT.

FADE TO BLACK