Starvation Heights the beginning

FADE IN:
EXT: TRAMWELL HOUSE 1903/ BACKYARD – DAY
ROSE HADLEY, 20, runs from the back of a large Victorian house, down the stairs, and across the lawn. Two gaunt WOMEN PATIENTS watch her run by but say nothing.
Rose’s face reflects terror as she reaches the edge of the grounds and then desperately looks for a place to hide. She runs toward ten-foot high blackberry bushes.
Rose ducks behind the largest bush and tries to crawl inside but the bushes rip at long floral-print dress. She tugs to get lace loose and the vines scratch her skin, leaving bloody trails.
She is crying and breathing heavy.
TANITH (O.S.)
Rose–you know you need to come back to us.
Rose shakes her head even though she is alone and as tears streak through the dirt on her face.
TELFORD
There you are.
TELFORD TRAMWELL, 49, is a large, looming man in a gray suit that matches the skies. He suddenly appears behind Rose and grabs for her under the vines.
She twists and then scrambles away as more blackberries gouge her face and hands. She pushes free of the bushes and runs.
ROSE
No! Stay away from me.
Telford, in a large stride easily catches her and knocks her to the ground. He flips Rose to her back.
She struggles under his weight as he leans down inches from her face.
TELFORD
You need to come back so sister can make you better.
ROSE
Please–just let me go. I don’t want to be here anymore.
TELFORD
What about Grace? You said that you’d never leave your sister. She would be all by herself? You know you wouldn’t do that.
Rose blinks back tears, but then she stops struggling. Resigned.
Telford brushes a hand over her cheek.
TELFORD (CONT’D)
Too bad I have to take you right back. You’re such a pretty little thing even with your battle wounds.
Rose silently looks up at him. Telford dabs drops of blood off her face and then licks it off his finger.
TELFORD (CONT’D)
Sweet–like copper pennies.
Telford gets off of her and yanks her to her feet.
He easily takes her wrists with one of his hands and pulls her. Rose stumbles alongside of him. He drags her across the lawn to the base of the back steps where his sister, TANITH, waits at the top.
TANITH, 50’s, a stark woman who wears her frown like a smile. Her stiff, plain black dress brushes the porch boards when she moves.
TANITH
Bring her inside.
INT: TRAMWELL HOUSE – DAY
Rose struggles to keep up with Telford who still holds her wrists and drags her as they follow Tanith through the house.
ROSE
Help me!
Several PATIENTS watch but say and do nothing.
One patient returns to her needlepoint ignoring what’s happening.
The house is decorated in a homey style of the times and in sharp contrast to Rose’s cries.
Above the fireplace is a plaque that reads: Strong Body-Strong Mind.
Rose pleads as Telford drags her along.
ROSE (CONT’D)
(screaming)
Where’s Grace?
The three of them reach stairs that lead to a basement level.
ROSE (CONT’D)
Where’s my sister!
Telford points down the stairs as Tanith calmly lights a lantern.
TELFORD
Grace is waiting.
The stairs CREAK under their shared weight as the three of them descend into the darkness. Tanith raises the lantern which gives off a dim light to light the path ahead.
Tanith moves forward and unlocks a heavy wooden door at the edge of the basement with a large skeleton key from her pocket, and then presses it open.
She lifts the lantern higher to illuminate the inside.
INT: BASEMENT ROOM – DAY
GRACE HADLEY, 19, is strapped with a belt to a wooden chair. It’s a belt that most could easily escape from, but in Grace’s weakened state, it’s impossible.
Grace’s pale, thin form is ghostly white and gaunt. She blinks against the light.
Grace struggles when she sees Tanith enter the room, but then her eyes widen when she sees her sister.
ROSE
Grace!
Rose runs to her sister and drops in front of her to embrace her. A gag in Grace’s mouth keeps her silent.
TANITH
Now that the reunion is over.
Tanith points and Telford grabs Rose and pulls her away.
TANITH (CONT’D)
You must understand that your actions must be accounted for.
Rose nods.
ROSE
I understand. Please, let Grace go free.
Tanith gives a thin smile.
TANITH
I can’t do that. You are both guilty of your sins. Your sister is feeble and for some reason is not responding to treatment like she should.
Tanith lifts a jug with a tube leading from it. He strips the gag from Grace’s mouth and places the tube in her mouth. She is too frail to struggle.
ROSE
No! Stop! If this is punishment for what I did, punish me, not her.
TANITH
You still don’t understand do you? Silly girl. We are all here for a higher purpose. You are strong and only the strongest survive.
Rose fights to reach her sister but is held in place by Telford.
Tanith tips the jug of liquid. Grace chokes as she tries to swallow but the liquid pours out the sides of her mouth and soaks the front of her dress.
ROSE
What is that? Please! Don’t poison her because of me!
TANITH
Poison? We would never poison anyone. This is an elixir to heal Grace’s weakness.
Tanith pours more and Grace gags. Finally Tanith stops.
TANITH (CONT’D)
There, that should help the disease.
Tanith steps back and places the jug and hose on the dirt floor. She looks at Grace and shakes her head with a disgusted expression.
TANITH (CONT’D)
Weak–I hate weak.
Telford pushes Rose to the floor. She scrambles to her feet and rushes to Grace. Rose unbuckles the straps holding Grace to the chair and her sister slumps into her arms.
Rose pulls her against her and Grace and Rose drop to the floor.
Tanith raises her lantern to light the room one last time.
TANITH (CONT’D)
Rose, I want you to think about what you did. We can’t have any more of your folderol.
As the door closes the light disappears leaving the two girls blackness.
ROSE (O.S.)
I’m here. You don’t need to be scared. I won’t leave you again.
Grace sobs the the dark.
The door opens again and Grace and Rose squint at the light. This time it’s only Telford back-lit in the doorway.
TELFORD
You don’t want to be here in the dark. I’ll help you.
He enters the room.
TELFORD (CONT’D)
(to Rose)
You’re such a pretty thing.
ANGLE: Telford’s back and shoulders as he walks into the basement room and closes the door.
ROSE SCREAMS.