Stories of War: The Foxes

SCENE 1: The Beginning

EXT. The Trenches, Fox side - Day

Sunlight covered the battlefield. Clouds loomed on the horizon. Vultures

roamed the skies waiting for the battle to begin. The stench of bodies

filled the air.

GENTLE BREEZE WHISTLES THROUGH THE TRENCHES

Foxes are lined up in the trenches scanning the horizon for any threats

or hope. Their dead eyes scan the field of dead bodies in hope that this

war will end today, but all they see is death crossing names off from a

list.

Two foxes stood in the trenches with their backs to the dirt, awaiting

their orders to charge the field. The young fox, Newland, clearly

shaking from fear and cold tries to eat a small sandwich provided to

him. The other, a veteran named Arnold, stood still seeming to be

accustomed to the cold wind of death. A true veteran.

Foxes sit on dead stumps cleaning their rifles. The generals’ voice can

be heard throughout the camp. Battle plans are being discussed.

ARNOLD(V.O)

“I remember a time before the war began. I’m probably the only one

left who does. The world used to beautiful before the war, now we’ve

turned it into a wasteland. We used to live in peace among humans and

even after the revolution. We vowed to never become as animal as the

humans were.”

Light rain begins. The rains slowly muddies the trenches. Both foxes

look at their feet entrenched in the mud of the trenches. The mud mixed

with blood deep within the dirt and filth from the desecrated lands.

ARNOLD looked below and saw pieces of a uniform floating in the water.

The fox lifted the garment from the mud.

A name was stitched in the uniform. It was a uniform of a solider from

the Bear regime.

ARNOLD (contin)

(holding the battered uniform)

“Since the war began we’ve convinced ourselves that we’re

doing the right thing. It’s a noble cause.....And now look at us. We’ve

become what we feared. And we’re tearing at the seams fighting this

noble cause.”

ARNOLD looks over to the field. A beautiful land that used to be growing

tress & flowers as far the eye can see. Now, only the dirt and the

bodies remain.

ARNOLD places the uniform gently on the side of the trench. The young

fox glances at the uniform and everything that he’s been taught to hate

about it

ARNOLD (looking at the uniform)

“I once knew a bear family before the war started. Good

hearted family. Strickland was the father’s name and he has a son,

Robert. Once the war started, we split up and I haven’t seen him since.

Robert must’ve been only 2 when this started, but he always had a

bellowing roar that intimidated anyone.”

(turning towards Newland)

“Do you know how this all started? Why we’re fighting the bears?

NEWLAND

“No. I was born into this war. It’s all I know.”

ARNOLD

(looks back at the uniform)

“It all started because someone found a dead fox and a dead bear.

They seemed to have murdered each other. This was 20 years ago.”

FLAPPING of Doves carrying message flew over the trenches toward the

generals.

The soldiers stared at the doves intently, knowing what it meant.

The general’s BOOMING voice could be heard from the trenches.

The dogs of war were loose.

SCENE 2: THE BATTLE

EXT: BATTLEFIELD - Afternoon

The rain has subsided leaving a muddy battlefield with sunlight covering

the entire field. Bullets ZIPPING by hitting everything in their paths.

The foxes and the bears screamed as they charged into battle.

Newland- stumbles his way behind rocks hidden from sight. He noticed the

bravery of his fellow soldiers running into battle, but their faces

filled with fear. He watched as they charged forth into the fight.

The bears massacre them. Their blood paints the rocks, the trees, and

the dirt. He looks away as he sees his comrades attempt to fight back,

but the bears shredded the foxes to pieces. Each scratch. Each cut. Each

scream of terror and agony resonates throughout the battlefield. Soon

all that was left were the growling of bears and the dying breaths of

the foxes. The screams soon died down.

The dirt morphs into the blood red color.

Newland- looks behind noticed the generals staying behind in their

shelters shouting and pointing at other foxes to go forth. The food

surrounding the generals placed for their nourishment.

NEWLAND (to self)

“When did we get all of this food”

The hillside dyed red from the battle as streams of blood continue to

paint the landscape.

Newland- peers over the rocks and sees an older bear with his rifle

pointing at him. Newland, panicking, takes aim and fires, killing the

older bear with one shot. A small explosion occurred by the older bear

when Newland shot him.

The Bears noticed their fallen comrade and scream with rage. They shoot

at Newland & charge towards the cottage.

Newland - ducks behind the rocks and sees a small cottage off to the

side of the battle field. Breathing heavily from his close encounter

with death.

ARNOLD- sees Newland cowering behind the rocks & sees the cottage as

well. Gestures to Newland to go run to the cottage. It’s safer there.

WHIZZ.... whiz... whizz..

A bullet zooms by the Newland’s head. Without looking at who shot,

Newland sprints towards the cottage.

Newland focuses on reaching the cottage. Quick rapid breathes and

strides to reach the home. To safety.

SCENE 3: HOME

INT- COTTAGE - Afternoon

Plain cottage with nothing special to it. Someone lives here. The

furniture well kept and organized. Food still left in the fridge. Some

outside.

Bursting through the door, Newland hides behind the walls of the house.

Struggling to calm his breathing. He sits in silence until his breath

calms.

SCREAMS of battle can be heard a distance away.

Newland hears a familiar voice .

Slowly young fox peers over the edge. Sees Arnold fighting off 3 Bear

soldiers.

The dust kicked up from the battle prevented him from seeing clearly.

Newland- breaks parts of the glass for a clear shot. Aims his gun at one

of the bears. Hands shaking. Wrestling the fear and aims.

MOVEMENTS heard in the house. But the fox pays no attention.

SUDDENLY, a dove flies in front of Newland before he shoots. Newland

shoots blindly. The dove flies away.

Recoil pushes Newland off balance, knocking him to the ground. He rushes

to see the outcome of the shot.

The silhouettes of the 3 bears stood. Arnold’s body lay in the dirt.

Horrified, Newland stood and took aim once more. One of the bears

noticed and shot at Newland’s cottage before Newland could fire.

Newland ducked in fear. The bullet zoomed past hitting the wall behind

him. He heard the rapid feet of the bears approaching the cottage.

The sound of their claws slashing the dirt as they ran towards the

cottage was evident.

Newland ran through the house looking for cover.

MOVMENTS in house become audible to Newland.

He rounds a corner and runs into a bear. Without thinking, he shoots.

He stumbles backward and trips over a projector knocking it to the

ground.

The slide projector turns on. The projector light illuminates the room

BEARS- BURSTING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR

Newland hides underneath furniture. The bear lay slain in front of him.

CLICK. CLICK. The slide projector begins.

BEAR- footsteps are heard. They carefully stepping through the house.

Weapons drawn. Ready to fire at any movement.

Newland can only see their large feet stomping closer towards him. He

hears them speaking.

CLICK.

The Bears notice the slide projector and the images being projected.

They stop and lower their weapons.

CLICK.

Newland slowly moves from beneath the furniture & hides behind a wall.

Takes aim at the bears.

CLICK.

One of the bears hear movement and notice the dead bear on the ground

and falls to his knees.

CLICK.

Newland unlocks the safety of his rifle.

One of the bears hears the click. He looks around nervously. Tries to

alert his friend kneeling on the ground.

CLICK.

Newland peers around the corner and sees the two bears. Giant. Easily

overshadowing him. He draws his rifle and aims.

CLICK.

The kneeling bear sees Newland. Tears in his eyes. Streaming down his

face.

The standing bear draws his weapons.

The projector reaches its last slide. A Blank Slide.

The white screen illuminated the room. Glowing brightly behind the

bears. Casting their figures into silhouettes.

Newland stares into blinding light. He looks away as if a divine figure

stood before him.

The standing bear aims at Newland, but realizes his chamber is empty. He

slowly places his weapon on the ground. Prepares to lunge towards the

intruder.

Newland peers once more into the light and aims at the standing bear.

The bears lunges with his claws traveling directly for Newland’s neck.

Newland fires.

The bear tackles Newland to the ground.

THE END