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A VIPER

(7-8 min short film screenplay, mystery)

EPISODE 1

FADE IN

EXT. A PATH IN A FOREST - AFTERNOON - A SUMMER DAY

It's a dark coniferous forest with spots of young birches and aspens. A grass-grown path winds among mighty firs. The path's sides are grown with bilberry-bushes and ferns. The defused daylight penetrates through branches of firs forming mysterious shadows on the grass.

Grandfather and his six-year-old grandson, Nicky walks along the path. Their clothes are very simple - waterproofed jackets, baggy trousers and rubber boots. Both carry baskets for berries and mushrooms.

NICKY'S GRANDPA (looking at treetops and screwing up his eyes at the sun): Eh, Nicky-Nicky, we got out too late. The sun is high. Probably all berries have been gathered without us.

NICKY (running to a bilberry-bush): No, look at that, grandpa! There are many berries here.

GRANDPA (smiling ironically): It's not a real bilberry. When we come, you'll see what it's like. Berries are as big as cherries! Eh… really! You'll see!

NICKY (eating berries one by one): You've said that all berries are gathered. But here they grow right along the road. Let's stop here for a while.

GRANDPA (going on): You amaze me. You're so young but always try to find a time to sit or even to lie. When I was like you… (the speech is interrupted)

Nicky runs to grandpa.

GRANDPA (moving aside grandson and looking closer at something on the path): Nu-k, stop… It seems to be a snake.

NICKY (astonishly looking at the snake): Is it real, grandpa? What's its name?

GRANDPA (straightening): It looks like a viper. Er-r… Look how it's sunning here. Br-r! (shaking his head)We should be more careful, Nicky. Look underfoot, when you go.

Nicky tried to sit down near to the snake but grandpa takes his hand and leads him away.

GRANDPA: Too close, Nicky. It can bite.

NICKY (watching the snake): It doesn't move, grandpa. See! Maybe it's died.

GRANDPA (going on farther from the snake): It's having a sunbath so it doesn't move. And better to don't touch it. Let's go. Haven't you seen a viper before?

NICKY (looking back): No, never. I've seen only a grass-snake once. But they're different. This one is spotty.

GRANDPA (carefully walking): Nicky, watch out. Uf-f… Br-r… I could step on it. Br-r-r!

NICKY: Where does it live? Under trees? In holes?

GRANDPA (nodding at the forest): There, in the bog. This year we have awful drought so snakes crawl out everywhere. Damned breed!

NICKY: Can a snake eat a man?

GRANDPA: Not this. It's not a boa. But a viper is a poisonous snake, you should know. So please watch the path. By the way we'll come to our place soon.

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