The Hunting Trip 
By 
Todd Martin

Copyright (c) 2011 This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author
FADE IN:
EXT. THE WOODS -- NIGHT
We see a man wearing hunting gear and a back pack sitting in a deer stand. This is WALTER. He is a tall, slender man in his mid-fifties with a greying beard. There is a hunting rifle at his side and he is trimming his fingernails with a hunting knife. Sitting beside him is a chubby boy with brown hair who is around nine or ten years old. This is his son Cody, and he is wearing similar hunting gear. Cody is holding a hunting rifle and has a very anxious look on his face.
CODY
When are we going to get to shoot one, Dad?
WALTER
Just be patient, sometimes it takes a little while.
CODY
We've been sitting here forever! I'm ready to bag one!
WALTER
Shhh! Keep it down! If there are some close by you're going to scare them away!
CODY
(Looking a little hurt)
I'm sorry, I'm just excited. I've been looking forward to this all week!
WALTER
(Cracking a smile)
It's OK, I understand. I was the same way when your grandfather took me hunting for the first time too.
CODY
You were?
WALTER
You bet. I don't think I slept a wink the night before.
CODY
Did you get one your first time?
WALTER
I sure did, and it was a big one. He was around 250 pounds at least.
CODY
Cool! You think I'll be able to get one that big?
WALTER
If we see one that big he's all your's.
CODY
Can we mount his head on the wall?
WALTER
I don't know, you know how your mother feels about that. Remember the one I used to have on the wall in the living room that she made me take down? 
CODY
I know, but it would be my first one. I could put it in my room so she wouldn't have to look at it.
WALTER
I'll talk to her but I don't think it'll do any good. You know how she is, once she makes up her mind about something it's pretty hard to get her to change it.
CODY
I know, I know.
WALTER
You don't know what I had to go through to talk her into letting you come with me today. She was pretty against it at first.
CODY
Why didn't she want me to come with you?
WALTER
Come on Cody, don't play innocent with me. You know why.
CODY
(Looking down)
Because of my report card.
WALTER
It wasn't something you could call impressive, now was it?
CODY
It wasn't that bad.
WALTER
It wasn't anything to brag about either. You're failing two classes and just barely passing the others. What's going on? Last year you passed all of your classes with flying colors.
CODY
The classes are just harder this year I guess.
WALTER
I don't think that's it at all. I think you're just not trying as hard as you did last year.
CODY
I'm trying Dad, I really am! I just don't get some of the new stuff, it's a lot harder.
WALTER
I don't buy that for a minute. You've never had the least bit of trouble with any of your classes before. I think you've just gotten lazy, haven't you?
CODY
I'm not lazy! I'm working as hard as I can!
WALTER
I still don't believe you but if that's your story I guess we could always get a tutor to work with you after school.
CODY
Well...maybe I haven't been putting as much effort into school as I should be.
WALTER
That's what I thought. You better get it together by your next report card or this may be the last hunting trip you get to go on for a very long time if your mother has her way.
CODY
I'll do better, I promise.
WALTER
Good.
CODY
(Looking toward the woods)
So you're sure there's some of them around here?
WALTER
They're always here this time of year. As a matter of fact I saw several of them walking up the along the side of the road the other day when I was coming home from work.
CODY
Were any of them big?
WALTER
There was one or two of them that were a pretty decent size. I think...
He stops talking and looks off in the distance.
CODY
What? Do you see one?
WALTER
Shh! Be quiet, we don't want to spoke them.
We see a young man and woman walking through the woods holding hands.
WALTER (CONT'D)
Get your gun ready.
CODY
(Aiming his gun)
Which one should I shoot?
WALTER
Either one, it's your choice.
The man and woman are walking and laughing.
MAN
You ever been skinny dipping before?
WOMAN
No.
MAN
You've led a pretty sheltered life, haven't you?
WOMAN
Smart ass. Are you sure there is a creek out here?
MAN
We're almost there, don't get your panties in an uproar.
WOMAN
I'm not wearing panties.
MAN
Sweet!
WOMAN
There aren't any snakes or leeches in the creek are there?
MAN
No, there's no snakes or leeches.
WALTER
How do you know?
MAN
Just trust me, OK? There's nothing out here that's going to hurt you, I promise.
We hear a gun shot and the woman grabs her stomach then falls to the ground. The man just stands there for a moment looking around in confusion.
MAN (CONT'D)
Oh my God!
He glances down at the woman and then starts to run away. We hear another gun shot and the man is struck in the back of the head. He collapses to the ground and we can see that most of his head is missing.
CODY
Nice shot Dad! You almost blew his head clean off! That was cool!
WALTER
Come on, let's go get a closer look.
They climb down from the deer stand and walk over to where the man and woman are. Walt looks down at the woman and pokes at her with the barrel of his rifle, making her moan.
WOMAN
Please...help...me...
WALTER
She's still alive son, and she's suffering pretty bad. It isn't humane to to leave her like this. Go ahead and finish her off, she needs to be put out of her misery.
CODY
Sure, Dad.
He raises his rifle and points it right at the woman's face.
WOMAN
No...what are you...
He pulls the trigger and the impact makes her head explode. Cody looks at her for a moment and then turns to Walter who has been sprayed with blood.
WALTER
Maybe not so close the next time.
CODY
Sorry.
WALTER
It's OK. Well, you got your first kill, how did it feel?
CODY
Wonderful!
WALTER
I still remember my first one. Believe me you'll never forget it. Now comes the best part.
CODY
What's next?
Walter takes off his back pack and takes a plastic cup from it as Cody looks on. He walks over to the woman's body and gets some of the blood from her wounds into the cup. When he is finished he walks toward Cody and hands the cup to Cody.
WALTER
Here, you earned it.
CODY
(Taking the cup)
What? What do I do?
WALTER
It's a tradition that you drink the blood of your first kill.
CODY
(Smelling it)
I...I don't think I can.
WALTER
Sure you can. My father did it, I did it, and now you'll do it. Don't let me down.
CODY
But...
WALTER
But nothing. I just put a little bit in there. Just turn it up and drink it, it won't hurt you.
Cody puts the cap to his lip and drinks it quickly. When he is finished he drops the cup to the ground and stands there with a disgusted look on his face.
WALTER (CONT'D)
That's my boy. Now that wasn't so bad, was it?
CODY
Yes.
WALTER
OK, I admit that it tastes horrible. I remember when I did it I almost threw up but I somehow managed to keep it down. At least it's over with now.
CODY
Thank God.
WALTER
(Hugging him)
I'm proud of you. Now go have a seat with her and I'll take a few pictures.
CODY
OK.
He rushes over to the woman and poses beside her body as Walter takes a camera out of his backpack.
WALTER
Say cheese!
CODY
Cheese!
Walter snaps a few pictures as Cody smiles.
WALTER
It's too bad we can't send these to the paper. I'd love to see your picture beside the ones of the kids that shot their first deer or caught their first fish.
CODY
I know, everybody at school would be so jealous!
WALTER
Oh well, at least we've got some for the family photo album. You can show them to your son one day.
He puts the camera back in the back pack and pats Cody on the back.
WALTER (CONT'D)
Did you have fun?
CODY
I sure did!
WALTER
Good. Now let's get them back to the truck and get out of here before anyone sees us. When we get back home we'll put them in the deep freeze in the basement. There's enough meat on them to last us a few weeks.
CODY
Later on will you show me how to skin and gut them?
WALTER
Of course. You're going to have to know how to do it because you always have to eat what you kill. It's a sin to kill it and then not eat it if you ask me.
They both grab a body by the legs and start walking away with them.
CODY
Dad?
WALTER
Yes son?
CODY
Can we go hunting again next weekend?
WALTER
We would, but I was planning on taking you fishing then. It's even more fun than hunting.
CODY
Cool.
They walk away, dragging the bodies behind them.
FADE OUT
THE END 

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