INT. SHABBY ROOM – DAY
A tiny, shabby room in a 19th-century Irish village. CLARA (16), in a gray-and-white robe shot through with silver threads, MATERIALIZES in the corner like a glitch in reality.
On the bed lies an OLD WOMAN (88). Life leaks out of her in slow
motion. Her SOUL flickers above her chest, unstable, as if it
could slip free any second.
Beside the bed, a GIRL (12) sobs, shoulders shaking. No one
notices Clara.
In Clara’s mind, PROFESSOR ASTER (35) pops up like a mental pop- up ad, lecturing.
PROFESSOR ASTER (V.O.)
This traveler is about to die of
natural causes. All you need is a
gentle nudge, and her soul will follow
you. Clara, you’re at the bottom of
the class. Try not to go soft again.
Clara raises her SCYTHE and GUIDES half of the old woman’s soul
out of her body— Suddenly, with a deafening BANG, the rickety
door is KICKED open. The whole shack shivers. A brutal man “BUTCHER” (35) storms in.
BUTCHER
(laughing)
Hahahahaha! The old hag is finally
dying. My sweet little Mary, you’re
finally going to be my bride!
(to his HENCHMEN)
Take her. Drag her to my room.
HENCHMAN 1 lunges and grabs the girl, MARY (12).
MARY
No! My grandmother… she hasn’t left
yet! At least let me stay with her
now—