The Journey -- A ScreenNovella

CHAPTER 1

AN UNKNOWN LOCATION

ROBERT BURNETT, a man 30 plus years of age, worn clothes, homeless type, opens his eyes; a blur is all he sees. As his eyes come into focus he sees only a light blue haze but nothing more. There are no windows, no doors, no walls, no ceiling, no floor but he is standing. He looks around him, only emptiness. He looks beneath him, he is standing on nothing. He puts one foot in front of the other, then another step...

ROBERT
(whispering)
"What the..."

He continues walking; he begins to tremble with fear, and then stops. His mind returns to a war scene, bullets bombs, terrorist all around him. He is in an Army uniform, fighting for his life. He looks at the death surrounding him. He looks at the blood on his hands, his blood. He shivers, he sees the terrorist attacking him. He closes his eyes...

ROBERT (CONT'D)
"Ok. Ok. I'm not there. I'm not there. I'm here. I'm here. But where's here?"

A sliver of white light catches his eye. He looks at it, stares at it...

ROBERT (CONT'D)
"What the..."

He walks towards the light, it seems so far away, suddenly he is...

OUTSIDE – DAY

The light shines bright, blinding him. Shielding his eyes, they began to adjust to the change of environment. For several moments he lets his sight adjust to his surroundings, and then looks at what surrounds him. There are no buildings, only people, adults and children, different races, men and women, all with a blank look on their face. A man approaches,

ROBERT
"Excuse me..."

The man continues on, ignoring him. Robert looks around and what he sees takes him by surprise. Mountains in the distance seem to move, birds hover in mid-air, not moving, frozen in place. People are walking in a zombie-like state, not seeing, not aware that he exists. He looks up; two big planets fill the sky, one blue with rings, the other a fire red. Daylight but no sun, quietly,

ROBERT (CONT'D)
(quietly, to Himself)
"I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore Toto."

He inventories himself, checking his pockets, he finds his wallet. He opens it and the picture of a beautiful woman, about 18 years of age is still there. He looks at her and smiles. He puts the wallet away, ensuring it is secure in his pocket. He is confused and dazed at the environment he finds himself in. Two children, about 8 years of age, KELLY and MATT TYLER, approach him unseen,

KELLY
(quietly)
"He doesn't look like the others..."

MATT
"Maybe..."

Robert startled by their presence, looks at them,

ROBERT
"Who are you?"

The children shocked, cling to each other scared, backing away from the stranger.

ROBERT (CONT'D)
"It's ok, it's ok, I won't hurt you. I won't hurt you. Do you understand me?"

The children nod, very scared. Robert sits on the ground so that he has to look up at them as he makes no threatening move which would frighten them more.

ROBERT (CONT'D)
"My name's Robert, Robert Burnett. Who are you?"

The girl seems to summon some courage, but still scared,

KELLY
"My name's Kelly... this is my brother Matt...."

ROBERT
"Kelly, Matt. Do you know where we are?"

The children shake their head and their eyes filled with fear.

ROBERT (CONT'D)
"It's a little scary isn't it?"