Script

The Taxidermist's Son

Written By
Pip Harris

INT. TAXIDERMIST'S LIVING ROOM

A room dimly lit by the glowing embers of a fireplace,
surrounded by many 'sleeping' cats.
ZOOM OUT from the fireplace and PAN around the room. The
room is cluttered with still, posed taxidermy animals.
A man (the TAXIDERMIST) enters the room, holding a stuffed
cat, a large grin on his face, followed closely behind by a
solemn looking BOY, his son.
With a flourish he positions the animal on a stool near the
fireplace. He picks up a notebook from a nearby side table
and flicks through eagerly. We see different headings and
checkboxes of breeds and colour combinations below - Birds,
Snakes, Lizards, Dogs, we stop at Cats, and PAN down the
page, he ticks the last empty box 'white and tabby'. Flick
over a page is about to tick the large checkbox next to
'Collection complete', when he moves his thumb from the
bottom left checkbox, it is not ticked. The TAXIDERMIST
grunts angrily, snaps the book shut and stalks out the room.
The BOY looks around listlessly, with a small sigh he exits.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - OUTSIDE PET SHOP - LATER
Battered car screeches to a halt outside the shop, the
TAXIDERMIST jumps out, impatiently motioning for his son to
follow.
CUT to close up of sons face looking up with a troubled, CUT
to CLOSE UP of petshop front, weary looking birds and small
animals in cages in the window.
CUT TO:
INT. PET SHOP - CONTINUOUS
Focus on the TAXIDERMIST and BOY walking in towards the
desk, TAXIDERMIST has slimy grin on his face, BOY is unsure,
walks away towards a row of puppies in cages.
JUMP CUT TO:
Camera facing the BOYs face smiling at puppies, behind, over
his shoulder show TAXIDERMIST becoming more irate with the
PET SHOP OWNERS.
Hear the tinkle of a bell and slam of the shop door, boy
looks around, looks back, angry looking PET SHOP OWNER CLOSE

UP, shouts at boy to leave.

CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
TAXIDERMIST a sinister grin spreads across his face, he
begins to laugh, the boy looks scared.
CUT TO:
EXT. PET CEMETERY - NIGHT
BOY is protesting, holding a candle and moving his arms
around, TAXIDERMIST standing over a grave, holding a shovel,
trying to read the plaque.
TAXIDERMIST moves onto next one, motions for boy to follow,
he protests again, he is scolded. TAXIDERMIST reads
headstone, lets out a satisfied grunt, begins to dig.
BOY protests again, TAXIDERMIST is angry, shouts, motions
for him to keep the candle up and steady, and puts his
finger to his lips, then goes back to digging. BOY stands
defeated, silently holding up the candle.
FADE IN:
INT. TAXIDERMIST'S LIVING ROOM - THE NEXT DAY
TAXIDERMIST hunched over a map, circling pet cemeteries, BOY
looks at him forlornly, then CUT to him exiting out the back
door.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK YARD - CONTINUOUS
Walking down steps to the courtyard, the boy kicks a small
rock, it skitters across the yard, and suddenly a blur of
orange and grey pounces after it from between the bins. CUT
to CLOSE UP of BOYs face, his eyes widen. He picks up a
stick and tries to shoo the stray cat away, but it pats at
the bouncing tip of the twig. The BOY smiles, the two play.
FADE IN:
EXT. PET CEMETERY - NIGHT
Again the BOY is protesting, again the TAXIDERMIST tells him
to be quiet and hold up the candle while he digs.
CUT TO:

EXT. BACK YARD - NEXT DAY

BOY standing in doorway, looks over his shoulder at the
TAXIDERMIST again hunched over his map, muttering.
He picks up his stick, drags it across the floor and he cat
bounds out. CLOSE UP of smile on boys face.
FADE IN:
EXT. PET CEMETERY - NEXT NIGHT
BOY standing resignedly holding he candle, TAXIDERMIST
motions for him to stand straighter.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK YARD - NEXT DAY
BOY kneeling on the floor, feeding scraps to the stray.
FADE IN:
EXT. PET CEMETERY - NEXT NIGHT
The BOY stands forlornly, defeated, holding up the candle
while the TAXIDERMIST digs irately.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK YARD - NEXT DAY
TAXIDERMIST angrily stomps down the steps, scrunching up the
map. He throws it towards he bins, it bounces off the top
and rolls across the floor. He turns, we hear a skittering,
CLOSE UP of TAXIDERMISTs face, a slow, evil grin spreads
across his face.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK YARD - LATER
BOY runs down steps, holding a chicken leg. He scrapes his
stick across the dirt. Nothing. Again with the stick.
Nothing. He notices his father's scrunched up map. CLOSE UP
of BOYs face, his eyes flash red.
FADE TO BLACK. approx 3 seconds.
INT. BOYS BEDROOM - NIGHT
FADE, centre outward, to BOY sitting in bed reading with the
stray cat next to him. Light source emitting from outside
the shot.

PAN around, to show TAXIDERMIST standing, stuffed, holding

the candle, next to the BOYs bed.
FADE TO BLACK.