Threads and Strings

10. Ancestors - Pilot Episode

Jung: Finishing up her last class for university. She still works at that bookstore that Kya used to take her to. She’s been missing her a lot the past few days. 

Lee: I mean, it’s been nearly a decade since her death. And over two decades since Mina’s death, she’s experienced a lot for someone who is barely at the quarter of her life. 

Jung: She reminds me a lot of Mina and Kya. 

Lee: I have been noticing that more and more as she gets older.  

[Scene cuts out the sound showing Jung and Lee continuing their conversation]

[Transition to bookstore with Mina at the register]

Customer 1: Thanks so much, Min. The pre-order list for the new novel must be so long. 

Min: Oh yes, I was hoping to help out with the midnight release event next month. Something to tie me over until the book comes out. 

Customer 1: That is so lucky. I can’t get over the cliff hanger. 

Min: You’re telling me. I’m reading the books to see if I can piece together what might happen next. 

Customer 1: I think I need to do that too. Thanks for the idea, Min. See you next week! 

[Customer 1 leaves the store and Peter enters as he opens his bag]

Peter: Delivery for the book fanatic [Peter hands a drink and pastry to Min]

Min: God, you are a lifesaver. It has been so busy here that I can’t even leave the register. 

Peter: Hey, I’m always down to hang here. So any cute guys come in lately that have caught your attention?

Min: Only cute guys I look for are the ones that come in between these pages. 

Peter: There are two ways I can take that. Your book fanatic side or your hidden sexy side.

Min: [throws a crumpled piece of paper at Peter] You know it’s the book side, you idiot. 

Peter: Ah, but now you’re thinking of your sexy side. So that blind date with the guy from your martial arts class did not go well?

Min: I did not go. He was asking for other girls’ numbers when I saw him last. 

Peter: Good call. 

[Peter and Min continue their conversation and the camera redirects to the door. Enter Lucas and Mariana, holding a list]

Lucas: Mari, come on. This is the last place we should be. Can we just unpack already?

Mariana: You complain too much. We are still waiting for a bunch of stuff to be delivered and it’s not like we have the internet set up yet. [notices that Lucas wandered off to the art section, looking at various writing and drawing implements]

[Camera pans out to show that Lucas, Min, Peter, and Mariana are the only patrons and staff in the store]

Peter: Didn’t you say that it was a busy time right now for the store?

Min: Yeah, I just noticed that too. Wasn’t there a bunch of people in line at the ice cream shop across the street? [Min walked closer to look out the window, noticing an empty street, but a numerous amount of people in the nearby businesses looking out the window]

Peter: What do you see?

Min: I don’t know, but I don’t feel so good. [Min presses her fingers into her left temple and takes out her cell phone]

Peter: Now that you say that, my head is throbbing a bit. 

[Mariana approaches Peter, showing signs of a headache and points to Lucas; exhibiting the same symptoms]

Min: I can’t find anything about -- [Min stops herself from talking as she looks out the window]

Peter: Min?

Min: I don’t know if I’m seeing things, but we need to get to the back of the store now. [yells] GO! [Min pulls Mariana to the back as Peter grabs Lucas through the store]

[Making their way through the store, glass can be seen shattering, shreds of paper being blow to all directions, and screams and loud bangs mixed from the outside]

[All four make it to the back room, Min stopping at the emergency exit]

Peter: Min! Let’s go! 

Min: [motioning Peter to remain quiet] [whispering] Something is out there. It’s from the books from my dad’s study. I’m sure of it.

Peter: Min, this is not funny.

Lucas: Dude, I don’t know how I know this, but we can’t go out there. I don't know how to explain this, but we can’t go out there. 

Mariana: Then what do we do?

[Min takes out her phone and starts a call, lowering the volume]

Min: [whispering tone] Dad, something big is happening downtown. I saw a Shoosuva. [pause] I’m being serious. The bony ridged backs and glowing light from its mouth and belly. It’s --

[Min is interrupted by a loud crash from the front of the store and growling getting closer; Min hung up and made her way closer to the exit]

[Lucas pulls her back to the group and shakes his head; he pointed to the shadow seen under the crack of the door]

Min: [whispering] We have to get out of here. Their tails can paralyze their victims. Whoever is controlling them knows we are powerless. 

[Mariana grabs PVC piping from the corner of the back room; Lucas grabs an ax from the fire extinguisher casing, Min grabs her Swiss Army Knife and a PVC piping, and Peter grabs the fire extinguisher]

[A Shoosuva runs through the back room, revealing the bright sunlight as the wall crumbles]

[The Shoosuva lunges at the group and Lucas swings the ax towards the view of the camera, fade to black]

*

*

The cast closed their scripts and applauded their first table read together. 

Daniel Kim closed their first table read, “Thank you all for being here. What a wonderful and thrilling read through. Your department heads have each planned a little celebration for the beginning of filming. If you are able to go, I know they would love to have you.”

Daniel Henney brought the cast together, “That just got me more excited for filming. Are we ready for our barbecue?”

The four main actors nodded their heads. “Also, please bring your teams along. We would like to get to know them too.”