Is Anybody Out There!

by Gordon Milburn

  REWIND:

  Rising slightly off her haunches, Jemma retrieves a box of matches from her back pocket.

  Breathing calmly, Jemma fidgets with the box of matches, momentarily.

  DAD

  Hey Jemma. What you doing?

  The handycam falls over, Jemma’s only partially in shot. Instead we see the sun going down, the jerrycan and Dad’s feet.

  JEMMA

  Making a statement.

  There’s a pause as Dad thinks.

  DAD

  I miss her to.

  Jemma begins to sob.

  Dad crouches down, his back filling the shot, from Jemma’s handycam.

  DAD

  Feel like a swim?

  The gasps of breath breaking the sobs, acknowledges the question.

  Two sets of footprints head towards the water.

  Dad spoons water over Jemma’s hair one cupped handful at a time.

  FADE TO BLACK.

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