SCREENPLAY - HYDRO

CAMERA INSTRUCTIONS - DIRECTIONS

SHOT DESCRIPTION
Establishing: Sun shimmers across beautiful blue water. Its incredibly
Long shot serene.
RHODES, mid forties and wearing no more than a pair of shorts,
floats on his back across the water. Hes smiling. Hes
peaceful.
Tracking shot Unexpectedly, hes pulled underneath the water violently by an
unknown force. He disappears into darkness.
Rhodes eyes snap open. His head flat against wooden flooring,
Close Up water breaks against his face like a small wave and the smell
of damp wood fills his nostrils. He leaps to his feet,
exaggeratingly gasping for air and whimpering. He steps back
Medium shot from the water, accidentally backing into a large CHEST. It
seems heavy.
Close up of
chest.
POV shot of the Glancing at it, Rhodes scans the small wooden room hes found
room himself in. The room consists of two boarded up windows, where
a small amount of light seeps through the cracks and a wooden
door, that barely a scrape of paint left on it. Its at the
Medium shot opposite side of the large chest. He spots the door and runs
to it.

Medium shot Rhodes exits onto a small deck. He immediately realises hes
on a boat. The boat is old, speckled with rust and chipped
paint. Its flat in most areas. It looks more like an old
pontoon boat. Moonlight shines the area like a spotlight. The
Long shot surrounding is only of darkness, like a never ending abyss.
Grabbing onto a couple of posts either side of him, he stares
Medium shot at the water around him with fear. He suddenly notices
something in front of him. On a small table lies a tape
player. On the player is a sticky note that reads: PLAY ME.
Rhodes grabs the player with caution and clicks the play
Close up button.
Close up of tape VOICE(V.O)
player Good evening, Rhodes.

Close up of face Rhodes is taken aback.

Close up of tape VOICE(CONTD)
player Theres so much I want to say. With so little
time to say it.
Medium shot of The voice is of a man. It is quite husky and monotone, but
Rhodes w/ player Rhodes can sense anger within the voice, like hes annoyed.
Close up of tape VOICE
player Do you remember this voice? Can you believe
this voice hasnt been heard for fifteen years?
Its been that long. Its also been that long
since your fear of water began.
POV shot Rhodes scans the area around the boat. He sees nothing but
darkness. His mind races as the situation appears more and
more inescapable.
POV continues VOICE
Aagghh, you know now dont you. What gave it
away? Was it a faint spark that dug up a memory
buried and long forgotten? Hmm, I think so. I
do think so.
Slow zoom to RHODES
close up (whispered)
Miles?
Close up of tape VOICE(V.O)
player and Let me say this before you start shit, okay? I
Rhodes shaking can be your problem or I can be your solution,
hand Rhodes. But obviously, Im going to make this
as fun as possible - well, for me at least.

Close up He sniggers. Rhodes panics more, he looks

continues behind him. Nothing. He feels as if hes being
watched.
Flips between VOICE(CONTD)
close up of tape Heres the scenario: Youre obviously on a
player and close boat. Thats for sure. The boat sits nicely in
up of Rhodes the center of a large lake nowhere in
face. particular. No one will hear you scream. No one
is near enough.
Close up of Rhodes lips begin to tremble, and his hands become sweaty. He
Rhodes turns to continues to look around, like hes searching for something.
a medium shot Anything. But still, theres nothing.
Close up of tape VOICE(CONTD)
player Now Rhodes, you may have noticed a small hole
in the floor of the room you just awoke in. You
Split screen to may have also noticed the water slowly
room inside the trickling inside the room. Yes, the boat is
boat very slowly sinking Im afraid. But even though
its a well known fact Rhodes McLaughlin is a
massive hydrophobic, it sure as hell aint the
biggest of his problems. Oh no. In that very
same room, Rhodes, being you, you will have
also noticed a large chest lying neatly by the
back wall. And in that chest lies the sweetest
of angels.
Close up turns Rhodes eyes explode. He runs into the room, dropping the tape
into tracking to the floor.
shot
Medium shot Reaching the chest, Rhodes falls to his knees and tries to
open it.
Close up of tape VOICE(V.O)
player on floor Your daughter of six, Rhodes, lies in that box.
Medium shot With no luck of opening it, he begins hitting it and shouting.
He can still hear the tape, taunting him.

Medium shot VOICE(V.O)

continues (sing-song voice)
She cant hear yooou.
Close up of eyes Rhodes eyes sting from the tears forming in his eyes, but
- turns to tries his best not to show weakness, despite feeling
medium shot completely sick to his stomach. Giving up, he runs back to the
player, holding it close to his ear. He can hear his thumping
heart, the pounding making his hands shake, as he desperately
tries to hear every word of the player.
Downwards shot, VOICE(V.O)
looking down She doesnt even realise what situation shes
into water in. Bless her little innocent soul. And yes, by
now youve probably realised the box is well
and truly locked. But all it needs is the twist
of a key. And that my friend is, oh, just a
short dive directly under you at the bottom of
the lake, which is lit dimly for a short time I
might add.

Medium tracking Rhodes exits the room with haste, Almost tripping over his own
shot feet.
Medium shot Standing between the two poles, Rhodes gazes at the water,
turns into POV being gently rocked by the small current. He begins to feel
shot weak on his legs, he cant decide if its because of the
waves, or how scared he is.

Close up of tape VOICE(V.O)

player on floor Sounds easy if you werent completely terrified
of water, I swear.
POV from Rhodes The Voice trails with a snigger. Rhodes looks to the player.
Close up of tape VOICE(V.O)
player Now - Rhodes - is your love strong enough for
this little angel? So much so that youll
confront your biggest fear in order to save
her?
Rhodes POV shot Rhodes turns and looks into the room. He stares at the chest
slowly being covered by water. His breathing becomes more fast
paced, as he begins to panic.
Close up of tape VOICE(V.O)
player Or will the problem finally bury you?
Tracking shot of Rhodes drops the player,and turns to the edge of the small
player hitting deck. He holds his breath, his mind racing - wondering whether
floor. medium hes doing the right thing. He exhales deeply, before diving
shot of Rhodes into the water.
deciding whether
or not to jump
Tracking medium Rhodes swims underneath the boat. He grabs onto a CHAIN
shot leading downward and begins pulling himself down to the bottom
of the lake. Light shines on a small part of the soft muck
below. The light comes from an underwater GLOW STICK.
Rhodes reaches the bottom. In the light, a ROPE sticks up from
the muck. A laminated label on it reads: PULL ME.
Close up of He pulls on it with all his might. His parental instincts
label giving him a burst of adrenaline. Slowly, he begins to reveal
a small TIN BOX. A tin box with a screw top. Rhodes grabs it
and twists off the lid.
Digging his hand in, he pulls out something within his grasp.
Immediately, he pushes himself off the ground and swims
towards the surface of the water.

Close up of
hands
Close up Rhodes head bursts out of the water with a giant gasp of air.
He swims to the boat, noticeably sinking now as the back is
tilted into the lake. The other half has risen, making it a
tough reach for Rhodes to grab the ladder. He does, and
climbs, exhausted, onto the boat.
Medium shot Sliding, with the tilt, into the room, Rhodes makes another
splash hitting the water that has risen almost over the large
chest. He struggles to his feet, grabbing onto the chest, and
places the key into the hole. It unlocks.
Medium shot Rhodes opens up the chest. Water begins flooding into it. Its
completely empty. Rhodes is taken aback.
OTS shot VOICE
Im no monster, Rhodes.

OTS shot Rhodes turns to the door. Standing in its way is a rugged man,
continues, fades his posture stiff. Wearing a thin WET SUIT, his shaggy hair is
into medium shot half wet, half dry. He holds a small metal PISTOL by his side.
of Miles
Shot by shot RHODES
Where is she, Miles?!

MILES
I said Im no monster. Not like you. I could
only punish the unrighteous.

Long shot with Tripping with the constant flowing of water, Rhodes struggles
both in the to stay on his feet. With his body firmly against the door
frame frame and one hand holding above. Miles holds up
confidentially.
Close up RHODES
I-I was scared... My head was everywhere. It
wasnt me back then. Im better now.
 He chokes on his voice, beginning to stutter in fright.
Downwards shot A younger looking Rhodes hangs onto a broken rope bridge for
turns into life. It dangles on a cliff face hanging from above. Violent
tracking shot waves break constantly against him.
going downwards Hanging onto Rhodes leg is a young girl of nine. She clings
onto him as she screams. With the persistent crashing of
water, she barely hangs on.
Above Rhodes is a younger, less rugged looking, Miles. He
hangs tightly from the rope looking below him.
Medium shot MILES (yelling)
Hold on! The rescue teams on their way!
Rhodes! Keep a hold of her!
Medium shot Rhodes looks to him hugging the rope with fear.
angled downwards
Close up angled RHODES
downwards (yelling)
Its gonna break! The ropes gonna break!

MILES
(yelling)
Its not gonna break! Hold on!

The little girl screams louder.

Long shot The rope suddenly jerks. The three of them shake violently.
Close up RHODES (yelling)
Its breaking! Its breaking!
POV Shot Rhodes looks down to the girl. He looks back to Miles who sees
his vile intentions.
Close up MILES(yelling)
Rhodes! The rescue teams on their way! Keep
hold! Rhodes! Keep hold of her!
long shot The rope jerks violently once more. Rhodes screams, looks down
to the girl hanging off his foot. He kicks her. She lets go.
Close up Miles screams to her and without thinking let's go to follow
her. Rhodes looks down as Miles and the girl disappear into
the violent waters below. The rescue team suddenly arrives.
Tracking shot Rhodes seems so happy to see them. Relief painted on his face.

Medium shot
Medium shot The room is filling with water rapidly. The boat is creaking
as it tips further. Rhodes falls back.
Close up MILES
It took me more than a decade for my muscles to
recover. Even now, they arent the way they
used to be.
medium shot Rhodes is almost paralysed with fear against the back wall.
Shot by shot MILES
You knew you killed her. You knew. But I know
why you up and left.
RHODES
Im so sorry, Miles

His voice trails off, as he flinches. Only

expecting the worst.
Close up of MILES
Miles Apology accepted friend. Apology accepted. But
it doesnt omit you from the punishment, Im
afraid. I came here to kill you. The very same
way you killed my daughter. I just wanted to
give you a tiny piece of what I felt when you
booted my daughter to her death. Just a tiny
piece.
Close up of RHODES
Rhodes Dont. Please. Think of my daughter. Shell
have no father.

Close up of gun Miles raises the metal pistol towards Rhodes without a second
 thought.
Close up of MILES
Miles And Im a father without a daughter. Im sure
shell get over it with time.
Tracking shot of He smirks and pulls the trigger. You could tell from the look
dart fired from on his face he had been waiting for this moment for so long. A
gun, to Rhodes red dart flies into the chest of Rhodes He panics, and
chest immediately pulls it out.

close up of dart
in chest

Close up of MILES
Miles Its called paralysis, Rhodes. At least you
wont have to live with it for ten years alone.
Medium shot Rhodes drops the dart. His neck muscles give way on him as do
his other muscles, he becomes limp and rag-doll like, unable
to move.
Close up of MILES (CONTD)
Miles Goodbye friend. May the Heavens have mercy.
Medium shot on The door is slowly shut. Darkness fills the room, as does the
door. impending water rising upwards. Rhodes can be heard grunting
as the water reaches his lips, and then screaming through his
Cuts to close up closed mouth as he gets more and more submerged.
of Rhodes in
water before
fading black
Screaming turns to whimpering.
Black screen
Whimpering turns to choking.

Choking turns to silence.