THE DOOR

Written by

Jeremy Engel

Based on, If Any

Address
Phone Number
 1.

The sound of WIND BLOWING over black.

1 EXT. APARTMENT BLOCK - NIGHT 1

FADE IN. The wind blows through a large, half derelict
apartment building.
In the darkness, a disheveled figure drifts through the
shadows, he could be a ragged ghost, or a lithe burglar. He
breathes fast, anxious.
He reaches the heavy wooden front door of an apartment and
lets himself in.

2 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT 2

The figure, NIKOLAI, a young man, his face older than his
years, stands transfixed in the apartment, waiting for his
eyes to adjust to the darkness. He takes in the modest
domestic scene, the table set for dinner, family photos on
the wall, a small pair of boots on the mat by the door.
He takes a large chisel from his pocket and sets to work on
the hinges of the heavy wooden door. His strokes are firm,
strong, determination in his face. A few attempts, then
success. With a heavy CREAK, the door swings down, pivoting
on its lower hinges.
GUARD (O.S.)
(through a loudspeaker)
Halt! Stop! We'll shoot!
NIKOLAI freezes. He holds the door shut, tries to duck down.

Through the cracked window, the beam of a torch cuts through

the darkness, illuminating the photo of a young girl on the
wall. Nikolai shrinks back further.
GUARD (O.S.)
Come out and show yourself or I'll
shoot!
Nikolai breathes heavily. Considers what to do.
Suddenly the window smashes and glass shards scatter
everywhere. The Guard peers in through the broken windowpane,
tries to shine his torch but can't see Nikolai cowering
behind the door.
After a moment, the guard moves on leaving Nikolai in
darkness once again. He sits back and sighs with relief.
 2.

3 EXT. FOREST - NIGHT 3

The door is strapped to the back of a motorcycle which
Nikolai drives through the forest at speed. The engine of the
bike screams as it labours under the weight.
Shadows step out from the forest and watch him drive on
towards the dawn.

NIKOLAI (V.O.)
That day, we didn't just lose a
town, we lost our whole lives. We
left on the third day.
The light bleaches out his image.

4 INT. APARTMENT - DAY 4

Nikolai struggles to squeeze a large cat into a suitcase but
the cat hisses, runs over to LENA, his six-year-old daughter
who picks it up and pets it.
LENA
Misha doesn't want to be squashed
in a suitcase.
NIKOLAI
Then we'll have to leave her.
Lena looks up at him in shock and disbelief.

Anya, Nikolai's young wife packs up their belongings, picking

things up, putting them down again, unsure what to take. The
radio plays in the background.

RADIO ANNOUNCER
Do not take any belongings...leave
everything where it is...it is an
offence to remove any property
whatsoever.
Anya glances at NIKOLAI anxiously. Nikolai kicks the radio
which smashes on the floor, sending the cat scurrying. Lena
runs out after it.
LENA
Misha! Misha come back!

NIKOLAI
Lena - leave it! Come on!

Nikolai grabs the reluctant Lena and tries to drag her out of
the apartment.
 3.

LENA
Misha! We're not leaving Misha!

NIKOLAI
I'll come back for her later.

Lena looks at him with her wide blue eyes.

NIKOLAI
I will.

He takes her hand and leads her out, followed by the

reluctant Anya. The door is slammed shut leaving the cat
alone in the gloom.

5 EXT. TOWN - DAY 5

NIKOLAI, Anya and Lena join a stream of people, laden down

with bags, all walking away from the apartment building. Fine
flakes fall gently through the air.

6 EXT. SNOWY LANDSCAPE - DAY 6

In the far distance, a black train cuts the white snowy
landscape in half, like a pencil drawing a line on a sheet of
paper.
NIKOLAI (V.O.)
Little did we know that everything
we smuggled with us was a time
bomb, slowly ticking. That we had
become time bombs.

7 INT. NEW APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY 7

In a small, cramped apartment, Anya tries to cook dinner
while another family are eating at the table. Lena sits on
the floor, drawing. The door opens and NIKOLAI comes in. Lena
looks up at him.

LENA
Dada, when can we go home?
NIKOLAI frowns, glances at the old woman at the table.

NIKOLAI
This is our home now.

LENA
But you said -
 4.

He goes into the bedroom. Lena glare at the other family,

gets up and follows Nikolai into the bedroom.

8 INT. NEW APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT 8

Nikolai sits on the bed in the cramped bedroom, his head in

his hands. Lena comes in and startles him. He reaches out and
takes her hand.

NIKOLAI
We are the lucky ones, Lena. Come.

He starts to undress her and pulls her long white nightdress

over her.

LENA
When will you get Misha?
NIKOLAI
Soon my darling, soon.
Suddenly he notices a large black spot on her fair, freckled
arm. He looks at it anxiously, tries to hide his fear but she
has already noticed it.

LENA
I'm not going to die dada, I'm
still little.

He settles her in the double bed, then leans down and kisses
her.

NIKOLAI
You'll always be my angel.

He kisses her tenderly and settles her down to sleep. She

closes her eyes. As he looks at her, his eyes fill with
anxiety again. He quickly switches off the bedside light.

9 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY 9

Black boots scrape along a white floor. Skinny, pale legs
stick up from the boots. Nikolai and Anya hold Lena's hands
as they walk up the long white corridor of a pristine
hospital.
Seven little bald girls sit on a bench waiting. They turn
their heads in unison to look at the others as they pass.
Nikolai and Anya share an anxious look. Lena walks on ahead,
oblivious.
 5.

10 INT. DOCTOR’S SURGERY - DAY 10

The doctor examines the large black spot on Lena's arm. Anya
looks out the window. Nikolai sits staring at the floor.

11 INT. NEW APARTMENT - NIGHT 11

Nikolai comes into the makeshift kitchen, starts to take off

his boots. Anya is washing blood from sheets in the sink. She
turns to him.

ANYA
It'd be better for her to die than
to suffer like this.

Nikolai turns away, doesn't want to hear. Anya squeezes the

cloth tight, water spatters into the sink.

ANYA
Or for me to die so that I don't
have to watch any more.
Nikolai has no answer for her.

12 INT. WORKSHOP - NIGHT 12

By the gloomy light of naked light bulb, Nikolai rubs the

intricately carved wooden door. He tidies up some of the
decorative carvings with a sharp knife. His face is full of
pain. He works to keep himself busy.

The first traces of light appear through the window.

RELIGIOUS LEADER (O.S.)

I am the light of the World. Anyone
who follows me will not be walking
in the dark...

13 EXT. APARTMENT - DAY 13

From above we see Lena lying on her back with her eyes
closed. Her head is bald. She has her arms crossed on her
chest and some beads between her fingers.
She is lying on the old wooden door.

The door is being carried by six men who walk away towards
the cemetery.
NIKOLAI (V.O.)
 6.

We put her on the door, the door

that my father was laid out on, the
door that I had to steal from my
own apartment.

Nikolai and Anya follow the funeral procession. Nikolai

reaches out and takes Anya's hand, holds it tight.

NIKOLAI (V.O.)
We didn't just lose a town, we lost
our whole world.

The small procession makes its way through the snow, away
into the distance, as the wind starts to blow and, here and
there, snowflakes drift gently to the ground.

FADE TO BLACK.