**INT. LIVING ROOM — NIGHT**
Controllers clicking.
A game blares.
Gio leans forward, locked in.
**GIO**
Bro, I swear y’all allergic to winning.
Vera scrolls on her phone.
**VERA**
I swear y’all play the same brain-dead shit every time.
**GIO**
It’s strategy.
**VERA**
It’s button-mashing with confidence.
Hendrix smirks.
**HENDRIX**
You watching or just hating?
**VERA**
Both.
Summer laughs.
Max doesn’t — he’s watching the screen too closely.
—
Later.
**TRON: LEGACY** plays.
Rain taps the windows.
Some are half asleep already.
■
**BOOM #1**
Not loud.
**Internal.**
Hendrix’s eyes snap open.
The TV loops the same second.
Over.
And over.
No glitch sound.
Just stuck.
Hendrix squints.
**HENDRIX**
Why’s it doing that?
Vera groans, half-asleep.
**VERA**
Turn it off before it kills the TV.
He reaches for the remote—
■
**BOOM #2**
The air **tightens**.
Not pressure on ears.
Pressure on *space*.
Dust near the ceiling stops.
Then—
It **splits**.
Clean, invisible separations pass through it.
Hendrix freezes.
**HENDRIX**
…You feel that?
Vera sits up.
**VERA**
Yeah. I don’t like that.
Silence.
Then—
**One long scratch** at the door.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Vera scoffs, forcing calm.
**VERA**
If that’s another damn dog—
She opens it.
A small dog stands there.
Normal. Panting.
Relief hits too fast.
**HENDRIX**
Told you.
The dog steps inside.
Looks down the hall.
And **runs**.
Gone.
Too fast.
They stare.
■
**BOOM #3**
Everyone wakes.
Max is already standing.
**MAX**
Why is the dust doing that?
The room feels thinner.
Sound dulls.
Like cotton in the ears.
Hendrix steps forward instinctively.
**HENDRIX**
Alright.
Get together — or get behind me.
Before anyone moves—
**Vera steps forward first.**
Not brave.
Defiant.
**VERA**
Nah. We’re not doing this scared.
Her foot comes down—
And the floor **fails to finish existing**.
No crack.
No collapse.
Just **nothing**.
Her weight shifts and she drops half a step into darkness that feels deeper than the house allows.
No scream.
Just shock.
Hendrix lunges.
Grabs her arm.
The darkness doesn’t pull.
It **waits**.
Like it already knows.
Hendrix braces, muscles burning.
For a second, it feels like he’s holding her against *absence*.
**VERA**
Hendrix—
He yanks her back.
They hit the floor hard.
The darkness is gone.
The floor is solid.
Too solid.
Like it was never questioned.
Everyone’s breathing fast.
Nobody speaks.
■
**INTERRUPTION**
A hallway light clicks on.
Footsteps.
Summer’s sister appears, annoyed, half-asleep.
**SISTER**
Why are you all on the floor?
The pressure **drops instantly**.
Dust falls all at once.
Sound snaps back.
The room feels normal.
Too normal.
Vera scrambles up, shaken but alive.
**VERA**
We— nothing. We’re good.
Her sister squints, unconvinced.
**SISTER**
Go to sleep.
She turns the light off.
Walks away.
■
**RELIEF (BRIEF, NECESSARY)**
A beat.
Nervous laughter.
**GIO**
Yeah. Cool.
Never doing that again.
**SUMMER**
We were just tired.
**MAX**
Probably.
They start moving. Sitting. Breathing.
Life resumes.
■
**EERIE BEAT (DO NOT OVERPLAY)**
Hendrix is still on the floor.
Not dramatic.
Just… slower to get up.
He presses his palm lightly against his ribs.
Not pain.
Pressure.
Like something remembers where his arm was.
He notices.
Freezes.
He lowers his hand.
Doesn’t look.
Doesn’t say anything.
Vera glances back.
**VERA**
You good?
Hendrix forces a nod.
**HENDRIX**
## Yeah.
##
## A lie.
##
## Small.
##
## Human.
■
##
**CUT TO THEME**
##
## No sting.
## No jump scare.
##
## Just the feeling:
##
**It didn’t finish.**
City of stonegrove **Day is warm and careless.**
**Night is real and unforgiving.**
The bathroom door is shut.
GIO (O.S.)
Yo—relax, I’m almost done.
Outside the door, HENDRIX leans against the wall, arms crossed. MAX sits on the floor, back to the
wall, scrolling.
HENDRIX
You said that five minutes ago.
GIO (O.S.)
That was a different almost.
MAX
Bro’s got a skincare routine now.
The door cracks open just enough for GIO to stick his head out, toothbrush in his mouth. He flips
them off with one hand.
GIO
(muffled)
Suck my—
The door slams again.
Hendrix smirks despite himself.
Genres:
["Mystery","Thriller","Horror"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Morning Mayhem
INT. UPSTAIRS BATHROOM – SAME TIME
This bathroom is medium-sized, not built for traffic.
SUMMER is at the mirror fixing her hair.
VERA leans against the counter, tying her shoes.
SADIE stands in the doorway, fully ready, keys in hand.
SADIE
Why does this happen every year.
VERA
Because we respect tradition.
SADIE
You respect being late.
She steps in, bumps the counter slightly.
SADIE (CONT’D)
I’m not driving six teenagers to school smelling like panic.
SUMMER
We’re almost done.
Sadie looks at the clock.
She does not believe that.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Morning Rush and Unspoken Worries
INT. KITCHEN – MOMENTS LATER
The house fills with noise.
Backpacks thud. Shoes squeak.
SUMMER’S MOM stands at the counter, coffee in hand, untouched. She’s dressed, composed —
but distant.
MAX notices first.
MAX
(quiet, to Summer)
Your mom good?
Summer hesitates.
Before she answers, VERA clocks it too.
VERA
She looks… tired.
Summer shrugs, like she’s practiced this.
SUMMER
Yeah.
Instead of saying it’s the day we should cut straight to
INT. HALLWAY / FRONT DOOR – CONTINUOUS
Sadie jingles her keys.
SADIE
Alright. Move it, asshats. I’m not missing drop-off traffic for you.
HENDRIX
Can we stop for food?
Sadie gives him a look.
SADIE
Do you have money?
Silence.
SADIE (CONT’D)
Exactly.
They head outside.
■
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Silent Departures and Eerie Discoveries
EXT. DRIVEWAY – MORNING
They load into Sadie’s car.
Summer pauses at the door, glancing back inside.
Her mom stands in the kitchen, watching them leave.
They lock eyes.
A small nod.
The car door shuts.
Engine starts.
As they pull away, Sadie checks the mirror.
Her jaw tightens — just for a moment — then she drives.
Early light. Heavy air empty field until
**Mr. THOMAS REED** walks the fence line behind the school, keys clipped to his belt, coffee
cooling in his hand.
Routine. Unrushed.
He stops.
There’s a **hole in the chain-link fence** — dog-sized.
Clean. Not torn.
Mr Thomas crouches, studies it.
No bent wire.
No disturbed ground.
Just… space.
He leans in.
■
**POV – THROUGH THE HOLE**
The forest beyond.
Dark between trunks.
No movement.
No sound.
■
Mr Thomas straightens.
Looks down the tree line.
Nothing.
He takes a step forward.
The silence deepens — not louder, not heavier.
Just… complete.
Another step.
The trees don’t move.
The world feels smaller.
Then—
**DISTANT VOICES.**
Loud. Messy. Overlapping.
Teen laughter. Someone yelling. Someone cursing.
Elliot blinks, startled.
Turns—
■
**SMASH CUT TO:**
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Echoes of Youth and Solitude
**EXT. SIDEWALK – CONTINUOUS**
**HENDRIX, GIO, MAX, VERA, and SUMMER** walk in a loose pack, backpacks slung, arguing
over each other.
**GIO**
I’m telling you, if the teacher already hates you—
**VERA**
They all hate you.
**GIO**
That’s personal.
**MAX**
It’s earned.
They’re loud. Alive. Unfiltered.
Their voices fill the space.
■
**CUT BACK TO:**
**EXT. FOREST EDGE – SAME TIME**
Mr THOMAS watches them pass.
The noise fades.
He looks back at the hole.
The forest remains still.
Unchanged.
He exhales, unsettled.
Jots something down on a small notepad — doesn’t write much.
Straightens the fence tag.
Walks away.
The hole stays.
**HALLWAY WALK-IN (FIRST DAY ENERGY)**
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Morning Tensions at Stonegrove High
**INT. STONEGROVE HIGH – HALLWAY – MORNING**
Lockers slam. Voices overlap. Shoes squeak on tile.
The group moves together — instinctively.
They slow as schedules come out.
Phones up. Paper folded. Everyone checking.
**MAX**
Alright… I’m stuck with Vera.
**VERA**
Lucky you.
She bumps him with her shoulder.
**VERA (CONT’D)**
Don’t get lost.
**MAX**
I literally can’t. It’s a straight line.
They split off.
**VERA + MAX (CLASS TOGETHER)**
They head down one hallway.
People look at them — not mean, just assessing.
A couple whispers. Someone laughs at something unrelated.
**MAX**
I hate this part.
**VERA**
The people or the building?
**MAX**
Yes.
They disappear into a classroom.
# HENDRIX + SUMMER
# GIO — ALONE
Gio checks his schedule.
Wrong hallway.
He turns.
Almost bumps into—
**MR. THOMAS REED**.
Mid-50s. Maintenance jacket. Keys at his belt.
They stop awkwardly.
**MR. REED**
Watch it.
**GIO**
Sorry—my bad.
Gio moves to step past.
Mr. Reed pauses.
Looks at him for half a beat too long.
Not suspicious.
Not angry.
Just… measuring.
**MR. REED**
You one of the kids who cuts through the back fence?
Gio freezes.
**GIO**
What?
**MR. REED**
(shrugs)
Just asking.
Gio shakes his head.
**GIO**
Nah.
Mr. Reed nods like he believes him.
He doesn’t.
**MR. REED**
Alright. Get to class.
Gio walks off, unsettled.
Mr. Reed watches him go.
Then looks down the hallway toward the exits.
Genres:
["Drama","Teen"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Brotherly Bonds in the Hallway
**INT. STONEGROVE HIGH – MAIN HALL – MORNING**
The hallway opens up here. Wider. Brighter.
Upperclassmen move differently — slower, more confident.
**HENDRIX’S BROTHER** (17–18) leans against a locker with a few teammates. Laughing. Easy.
A couple underclassmen glance at him, then away.
Hendrix and Summer pass.
His brother clocks him instantly.
**BROTHER**
Yo.
Hendrix stops. Summer hangs back half a step.
**HENDRIX**
What’s up?
His brother grins, reaches out, pulls Hendrix into a quick headlock — affectionate, practiced.
**BROTHER**
You survive your last free night?
**HENDRIX**
Barely.
The teammates chuckle.
One of them nods at Summer.
**TEAMMATE**
You in our chem class?
**SUMMER**
Yeah.
**BROTHER**
(to Hendrix)
You walking her?
Hendrix shrugs.
**HENDRIX**
We got the same wing.
The brother clocks that — not teasing, not suspicious.
Just notes it.
**BROTHER**
Cool. Don’t be late.
He lets go.
As Hendrix and Summer walk off—
**BROTHER (CONT’D)**
Oh—and tell Mom I’ll be home late.
Hendrix lifts a hand without turning.
Genres:
["Drama","Teen"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
A Last Chill Day
**EXT. THE LOOP – LATE AFTERNOON**
The sun hangs low.
Heat still clings to everything, but the breeze helps.
The group sprawls out across the grass and curb like they’ve done this a hundred times.
**GIO** lies flat on his back in the grass, tossing a blade of grass straight up, watching it fall.
**VERA** sits cross-legged on the curb, scrolling, barely looking at her phone.
**MAX** leans against his backpack, eyes closed.
**SUMMER** lies on her side, watching clouds move.
**HENDRIX** stands at the edge of the circle, hands in his pockets, just… there.
Quiet, but not awkward.
■
**GIO**
I swear school feels hotter than outside.
**VERA**
That’s because it sucks the life out of you.
**MAX**
I already forgot three people’s names.
**SUMMER**
That’s impressive.
Gio tosses the grass higher.
**GIO**
Bet this is the last chill day for like… months.
No one argues.
A cloud slides over the sun.
The light shifts.
■
**MAX**
(low)
Did anything feel… off today?
Vera sits up halfway.
**VERA**
Don’t.
**MAX**
I’m just—
**HENDRIX**
It’s the first day.
Max exhales, nods.
**MAX**
Yeah.
(beat)
Just… after last night.
He lets it hang.
Gio sits up suddenly.
**GIO**
Alright. If we’re spiraling, we need food.
**VERA**
We’re not spiraling.
**GIO**
We’re pre-spiraling.
Summer rolls onto her back.
**SUMMER**
Strip?
Everyone looks at her.
Hendrix nods once.
**HENDRIX**
Yeah. Strip.
Decision made without ceremony.
They don’t get up right away.
They let the moment stretch.
■
**A CAR PULLS UP**
Sadie’s car rolls to a stop nearby.
She leans out the window.
**SADIE**
Why are all of you horizontal.
**VERA**
We’re recharging.
**SADIE**
You look like roadkill.
Gio grins up at her.
**GIO**
You driving or judging?
**SADIE**
Both.
She checks the time.
**SADIE (CONT’D)**
I’m going home. You guys going to the Strip?
No one answers right away.
Sadie sighs.
**SADIE (CONT’D)**
Alright then.
Text me when you’re there.
She pulls away.
■
**BACK TO THE LOOP**
The car disappears.
The neighborhood hums again.
Cicadas loud.
Wind moves the flowers.
Hendrix finally sits down in the grass.
**HENDRIX**
Alright. Let’s go before it gets dark.
They all sit up at once.
Like muscle memory.
They grab bags. Stand. Move.
■
**HOLD ON THE LOOP**
Empty.
Still warm.
Waiting.
Genres:
["Drama","Teen"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Tension on The Strip
**INT. SADIE’S CAR – LATE AFTERNOON**
Music plays — not loud, not quiet.
Windows down.
Traffic noise mixes in.
The car is full.
**GIO** rides shotgun, drumming on the dash.
**VERA** sits behind him, half on her phone.
**MAX** stares out the window.
**SUMMER** sits next to Hendrix in the back.
**HENDRIX** watches the road ahead, unfocused.
Sadie drives.
No one’s talking yet.
That silence matters.
Sadie exhales through her nose.
**SADIE**
I thought I made it pretty clear I was going home.
No one answers.
**SADIE (CONT’D)**
You guys know I have stuff to do, right?
**VERA**
We know.
**SADIE**
Good. Because I’m not your Uber.
A beat.
**GIO**
You kinda are though.
Sadie shoots him a look.
**SADIE**
Say one more thing.
He shuts up.
The Strip’s glow begins to bleed into the windshield.
Neon flickers at the edges.
Sadie slows the car.
**SADIE (CONT’D)**
Alright. Get your food. Then we’re out.
The group exchanges looks.
Almost all of them look at **Summer**.
She notices.
Hesitates.
**SUMMER**
Can you…
(beat)
Can you stay a little? Or—pick us up later?
Sadie keeps her eyes on the road.
**SADIE**
You’re pushing it.
**SUMMER**
I know.
Another beat.
Sadie sighs — long, tired.
**SADIE**
Text me when you’re ready.
Don’t make it weird.
**GIO**
We’re already weird.
**SADIE**
Then don’t make it worse.
She pulls into a parking spot.
The car idles.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-Age","Slice of Life"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
Dusk at the Strip Mall
**EXT. STRIP / MALL AREA – DUSK**
Neon signs flicker on as daylight fades.
Music leaks from storefronts. People everywhere.
The group walks together, food bags in hand.
Laughing. Talking over each other.
**REPLACEMENT: FOOD BEAT (FRESH, NEUTRAL, REAL)**
**EXT. STRIP / MALL AREA – DUSK**
They stop near a low concrete wall outside a food spot.
Paper bags. Plastic trays. Drinks sweating in the heat.
They eat standing up, sitting half-on the wall, half-off.
**VERA** squints at a receipt.
**VERA**
Why is everything twelve dollars now.
**MAX**
Inflation.
**VERA**
I hate inflation.
**SUMMER**
You hate numbers.
**VERA**
I hate being broke.
That lands.
**GIO** shakes his cup, frowns.
**GIO**
They forgot my straw.
**HENDRIX**
You don’t need one.
**GIO**
That’s not the point.
They laugh — easy, familiar.
**SUMMER**
This is already better than school.
**MAX**
Low bar.
They eat. Talk over each other. Normal noise.
Nothing feels off.
That’s important.
■
**THE SPLIT (UNCHANGED, STILL WORKS)**
Summer glances toward storefronts.
**SUMMER**
I wanna check like… two places.
Vera’s already nodding.
**VERA**
Yeah.
Max gestures down the strip.
**MAX**
We’ll walk.
**GIO**
Kill time.
Hendrix hesitates a beat — then nods.
**HENDRIX**
Meet back here.
They split.
■
**BOYS WALKING – ADJUSTED REACH MOMENT (MORE ABSTRACT)**
They walk. Talk. Pass people.
Mall noise everywhere.
Then—
The **dust is already there**.
Not moving.
Not falling.
Just… suspended.
So subtle it’s almost missable.
Hendrix notices first — not consciously.
He slows.
Max keeps talking, doesn’t notice yet.
The **sound dulls** slightly.
Not silence.
Pressure.
Hendrix stops walking.
Max turns.
**MAX**
You good?
Everything snaps back.
Dust drops.
Noise returns.
Hendrix blinks.
**HENDRIX**
Yeah.
They keep walking.
No one pushes it.
■
**THEY SIT (MARK REVEAL — UNCHANGED, STILL STRONG)**
Hendrix sits on a bench.
Not dramatic. Just needs a second.
Gio frowns.
**GIO**
You sure?
Hendrix exhales.
**HENDRIX**
Last night wasn’t nothing.
He lifts his shirt just enough to show his **mid rib cage**.
Quick.
Unclear.
Wrong.
**MAX**
That wasn’t there this morning.
**HENDRIX**
I know.
Hendrix drops his shirt.
■
**GIRLS INTERRUPT (UNCHANGED)**
Summer and Vera return.
They notice *something* — posture, energy.
**SUMMER**
What’s going on?
**VERA**
What was that?
Hendrix already moving.
**HENDRIX**
Nothing.
They don’t believe him.
But they don’t argue.
They start walking back toward Sadie’s car.
Talking louder now.
Covering it.
——————-
**EPISODE 1 — FINAL SCENE **
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery","Teen"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
The Forest's Grip
**EXT. SCHOOL FENCE / FOREST EDGE – NIGHT**
MR. THOMAS stands there, keys in hand, jacket half-zipped.
Behind him:
the school.
lights.
order.
Ahead of him:
the forest.
still.
too still.
He looks back toward the school.
A long beat.
Then back to the gate.
He exhales—irritated, tired, done with this.
**MR. THOMAS**
(muttering)
Unbelievable.
He crouches, peers through the hole.
Straightens.
Checks his watch.
Shakes his head.
**MR. THOMAS (CONT’D)**
I am not staying late for this.
He steps through.
**INSIDE THE FOREST**
The moment he’s fully past the fence—
**Sound dulls.**
Not gone.
Compressed.
Like cotton in the ears.
He stops walking.
Frowns.
Takes another step.
The ground feels… resistant.
Not soft.
Not sinking.
Just **reluctant**.
He turns back.
The gate is still there.
But farther than it should be.
Not impossible.
Just… wrong.
His irritation hardens into concern.
**MR. THOMAS**
Nope.
He turns fully, starts back—
His foot **doesn’t move**.
He looks down.
His leg is where it should be.
But it won’t lift.
He pulls harder.
Nothing.
His breathing quickens.
**MR. THOMAS (CONT’D)**
Hey—
The word comes out thin.
He braces his hands on his knee, tries to force himself forward.
That’s when the pressure starts.
Not crushing.
Constraining.
Like invisible hands closing around his ribs.
He inhales.
The breath stops halfway.
His eyes widen.
Confusion flashes first.
Then fear.
He reaches into his pocket with shaking fingers.
Pulls out his phone.
Thumb fumbling.
Recording.
**MR. THOMAS (CONT’D)**
(into phone, strained but steady)
Thomas Reed.
I’m— I’m behind the school.
Something’s—
He tries to straighten up.
The pressure increases.
Just enough.
His knees buckle.
He drops to one knee.
Then the other.
The phone slips from his hand, landing face-up in the dirt.
Still recording.
He gasps.
But there’s no room for the air to go.
His chest won’t expand.
His shoulders shake as he tries again.
And again.
Nothing.
Panic sets in now—real, raw.
Not screaming.
Not thrashing.
Just the body realizing it’s being **denied**.
His vision blurs.
He presses a hand to the ground, trying to crawl.
The forest doesn’t move.
It doesn’t need to.
The pressure tightens one last time.
Precise.
Final.
Mr. Thomas exhales—
—and does not inhale again.
■
**AFTER**
The pressure lifts.
Sound returns.
Crickets resume.
Leaves rustle.
Normal.
The phone continues recording for a few seconds longer.
Trees.
Darkness.
Nothing out of place.
Then the screen goes black.
■
## CUT TO BLACK.