Underwater

By

Sean Elwood

© Copyright 2006

elwood_sean@yahoo.com

This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.

EXT. BOAT DOCK – DAY

The sun is beginning to set, casting a fiery glow in the oncoming night sky. The stars begin to peek through the fading sunlight and create a scene you’d see during Christmas time, with every house decorated with Christmas lights.

The waves crash on shore, soothing to the human ear, along with the sound of squawking seagulls and chirping crickets that hide in the field grass near the beach.

Boats tied up to the dock creak as the waves rock them back and forth, pushing them up against the docks where rubber tires keep them from scraping the paint off the boats.

ETHAN ROCKSIDE (22), sits at the edge of the dock with his feet in the water. He’s physically fit with short, blonde hair spiked up in a surfer’s fashion, wearing a gray muscle shirt and a Hawaiian swimming suit.

Next to him, with her feet in the water also, is NATALIE BLAIR (22), with a model body and flowing brown hair and the brightest green eyes you’d see.

They’re holding hands, splashing water out in front of them, throwing tiny pieces of bread and French fries into the water and watching the fish suck them beneath the surface.

Natalie giggles as the fish nibble at her toes and realize it’s not their type of food, and swim down to the bottom of the sea floor.

ETHAN
(Has speech problems)
So I was wondering if you wanted to join me and my family on our boat trip tomorrow.

NATALIE
Where are you all going?

ETHAN
We’re just going out a few miles off-shore.

NATALIE
I don’t know, Ethan. I have homework and my parents are real strict——

ETHAN
Please, Natalie. It’s going to be real fun.

NATALIE
(In consideration)
Well...

ETHAN
Please?

NATALIE
I guess I could take a break from college, if I’m able to convince my parents.

ETHAN
Good. We’re going to have lots of fun because——

NATALIE
I know, I know, ‘cause it’s always a party when Ethan’s there. Come here.

They kiss on the lips and snuggle up close together. Ethan rubs her arm, but both are startled when ZACK ROCKSIDE (20) jumps up behind them, screaming in their ears. His long, brown hair blows in his face in the evening breeze.

ZACK
(Pulling both back)
Don’t fall in!

Natalie screams and Ethan grabs onto a wooden post that helps keep the dock up, accidentally knocking his trays of fries into the water. Dozens of fish come up and begin feasting on their greasy meal.

NATALIE
Zack! Fuck off!

ETHAN
What the hell we’re you thinkin’, bitch?!

ZACK
B-b-but...! Relax I’m just messin’ around. No reason to get all angry.

ETHAN
What do you want?

ZACK
Mom wants you to come home. Besides, the carnival is almost closed.

ETHAN
Why did she send you to come tell us that?

ZACK
She tried calling you, but she said you wouldn’t answer.

Ethan pulls out his cell phone and smacks his forehead. He presses a button and his cell phone lights up, playing the “start-up” tone.

ETHAN
It was turned off.

ZACK
Thanks a lot. I had to drive thirty minutes out just to tell you Mom wanted you to come home. A waste of my time.

NATALIE
(Standing up)
Look, next time if this happens, just have her call me. She has my cell phone number, right?

ETHAN
Just tell her we’ll be home in a little bit.

ZACK
(Walking away)
Whatever.
(Turning around)
Oh, and by the way, we’re leaving at ten o’ clock tomorrow morning so she wants you to get to bed early.

ETHAN
Uh-huh.

Zack walks off and Ethan and Natalie slowly follow, holding hands.

NATALIE
So tomorrow morning, ten o’ clock?

ETHAN
I guess so. Just call me when you ask your parents and tell me what’s going on.

NATALIE
Will do.

She looks up at the now lighted up Ferris wheel and smiles, her eyes glowing.

NATALIE
It’s so beautiful.

ETHAN
(Looking up)
You want to go on it one last time?

NATALIE
Only if you want to.

ETHAN
Natalie, I will do anything for you.

They kiss again, and he takes her to the entrance of the Ferris wheel, getting in the back of line.

EXT. FERRIS WHEEL – DAY

The ride begins moving with Ethan and Natalie sitting in their seat, looking around them as they begin to ascend towards the sky.

They face out towards the entrance, and luckily enough, it stops at the top. Natalie looks down, seeing a few passengers getting out and more people get in. She looks back out at the ocean.

The sun begins to set quickly, and the light fades even faster. The sky is multicolored, as if painted by God himself. The few clouds in the sky glow a golden yellow.

ETHAN
It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

NATALIE
It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, Ethan. It’s perfect.

ETHAN
Then I guess this is the perfect time to ask.

NATALIE
To ask...?

Ethan pulls out a small, black case from his swimming suit pocket and holds it out in front of Natalie. Her eyes widen and her jaw drops.

He opens the case, revealing a large, beautiful diamond sitting on an incredibly shiny ring.

ETHAN
(Nervous)
Natalie...Will you m-m——

NATALIE
Oh, yes, Ethan! Yes!

Ethan quickly closes the case as Natalie completely tackles him in their seat, kissing him passionately. Tear cascade down her cheeks and she watches Ethan take the ring out of the case and gently slips it onto her finger.

She looks at it in awe and stares back at Ethan. He wipes away her tears and they kiss again as they descend back downwards just like the sun sets beneath the surface.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. BEDROOM – DAY

Ethan gets dressed in long, khaki jeans and a white shirt, stuffing sunscreen and his swimming suit in a small backpack along with his MP3 player.

Zack walks in, hanging his head through the doorway. Ethan looks up at him while he throws his backpack over him.

ZACK
Mom says you have to eat before we leave. We’re leaving in about 45 minutes.

ETHAN
All right.

Before Zack leaves, Ethan calls for him.

ETHAN (CONT’D)
Hey, did Mom ask why I was home later than she wanted me to be?

ZACK
Nah, she didn’t really worry about it. ‘As long as he came home,’ she said...What were you two doing while you were there?

ETHAN
Nothing out of the ordinary.

ZACK
Come on, tell me.

ETHAN
I don’t have to tell you anything.

The doorbell rings. Zack looks behind him and Ethan looks over Zack’s shoulder.

ETHAN (CONT’D)
That’s probably Natalie.

Zack moves out of the way as Ethan exits the bedroom. He sighs as he follows Ethan up the stairs.

INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

DIANE ROCKSIDE (44), short, highlighted hair and nice body for her age, stands at the stove, cooking sausages and scrambled eggs. KYLE ROCKSIDE (46), unshaven with a goatee, and very tall, walks towards the front door.

Ethan and Zack walk into the living room, but Ethan quickly runs up to the front door.

ETHAN
Here Dad, I’ll get it. It’s Natalie.

KYLE
Oh I didn’t know she was coming.

DIANE
Aye, I forgot to tell you, Ethan and Heather invited a friend to come along with us.

KYLE
Why doesn’t anyone tell me this kind of stuff right when they are informed about it?

ZACK
Chill Dad, we have enough room in the boat.

KYLE
Yeah...I just have to be prepared when Stacey gets on it.

DIANE
Where is that girl anyways?
(Yelling downstairs)
Heather!

HEATHER (O.S.)
I’m coming Mom!

Ethan and Natalie enter the kitchen. Ethan steals one of the rolls that were sitting on a paper towel and sits down at the table. Natalie sets her bag down.

DIANE
Ethan! We’re eating in a few minutes.

NATALIE
Oh here, Mrs. Rockside, I’ll help.

DIANE
Thanks, Natalie.

HEATHER (17), her black tied up in a bun, wearing black sunglasses, and dressed in a bikini with shorts on, walks up the stairs. She carries a bag over her shoulder and sets it down next to Natalie’s bag.

HEATHER
Hey Natalie.

NATALIE
(Taking out plates)
Hey Heather.

DIANE
Honey, when’s Crystal getting here?

Heather sits down.

HEATHER
(Tired and irritated)
I don’t know, Mom. Soon?

DIANE
Sorry, I was just asking...
(To Natalie)
You hungry?

NATALIE
Oh, no thanks, I ate before I got here.

KYLE
You sure? I hear she makes the best eggs in the house.

DIANE
(Embarrassed)
Stop it.

HEATHER
Dad, she’s the only who actually makes the food.

DIANE
I know, where would you all be without me?
(Puts food on plates)
All right! Breakfast is served. Come and get it.

Ethan walks up to Natalie and puts his arm around her, kissing her on her forehead.

ETHAN
You sure you don’t want anything to eat?

NATALIE
Yeah, I’m fine. Really.

DIANE
Well, don’t worry, we’ve packed a lot of snacks for today’s boat ride.

ZACK
Great, hopefully this time we actually have good food.

KYLE
She only made you eat healthy because she loves you, Zackary.

DIANE
Heather come get some food.

HEATHER
I’m not hungry.

DIANE
Well you’re still going to eat breakfast so get over here and grab a plate.

HEATHER
Mom, I’m not hungry, and when I am, I’ll just have some of the snacks you packed us.

ETHAN
Hey can we please not fight again? Every day...

The doorbell rings. Heather gets up from her chair.

HEATHER
That’s Crystal.

EXT. FRONT DOOR – DAY

Heather runs up to the door and opens it up. Standing in front of her is OFFICER CARTER. Heather’s smile fades.

HEATHER
Hi, Officer Carter.

OFFICER CARTER
Hey, Heather, is you’re dad here?

HEATHER
He’s busy.

OFFICER CARTER
Oh, okay, well I was wondering if you’ve seen this boy.

He hands her a photograph.

INSERT PHOTOGRAPH

It’s a picture of a boy of about 8 years of age. He smiles happily with his hair combed over to the side and dressed in a cheesy striped collared shirt and khaki pants.

OFFICER CARTER (O.S.)
He disappeared when he was swimming in the sea the other day.

EXT. FRONT DOOR – DAY

Heather hands him the photograph.

HEATHER
Haven’t seen him.

OFFICER CARTER
His names Gregory Walsh. Can you call us if you find him?

HEATHER
(Uncertain)
Sure...

OFFICER
Thanks. Tell your dad that we need him at the office tomorrow.

HEATHER
All right...

The officer nods and walks away back to his patrol car. While he walks down the pathway, he passes CRYSTAL BATH (17), skinny, blonde, and dressed the same way as Heather with a small bag on her back. Crystal watches the cop go to his patrol car and heads up to the front porch.

CRYSTAL
They catch you smoking pot?

HEATHER
You wish, biatch. We’re eating breakfast.

CRYSTAL
Great, I’m starving.

INT. KITCHEN – DAY

Heather and Crystal enter.

DIANE
Hey Crystal. You hungry?

CRYSTAL
Yeah of course. What are you making?

DIANE
Eggs, sausage, and rolls.

CRYSTAL
Sounds delicious. All right if I have a plate?

DIANE
Be my guest. Oh and I was also wondering if you and Heather wanted to trade lives for a while? You know, become my daughter?

Everyone laughs except for Heather. She slumps back down in her chair and looks at the comics section of the newspaper.

DIANE
We’re leaving in about twenty minutes so hurry up and finish eating so we can get going.

HEATHER
Oh, Dad, Mr. Carter was at the door. He wanted to tell you that you have to work tomorrow.

KYLE
What? I’m supposed to have Monday through Wednesday off.

HEATHER
Well it looks like your plans have changed, huh?

INT. LARGE VAN – DAY

Kyle drives, while Diane sits in the passenger seat. In the back, Crystal and Heather sit together, looking at magazines, while Zack sits by the window, staring out and view the scenery. In the very back, Ethan and Natalie cuddle up next to each other, Ethan’s arms around her.

CRYSTAL
Why do all of these guys have to be so hot?

HEATHER
Why can’t they live here?

ZACK
Why can’t you two shut up?

HEATHER
(Jokingly)
Oh come on, Zack, we know you love these guys too. I mean, just look at this one with his shirt off!

She holds up the magazine to his face. He doesn’t look at it.

ZACK
Oh yeah I want to spill my jizz all over them.

DIANE
Zack!

CRYSTAL
Oh my God that was probably the grossest thing I’ve heard!

HEATHER
You think it’s gross? That came from my brother!

DIANE
And I expect him to never say that again.

HEATHER
No wonder you can’t have a girlfriend for more than one week——you’re disgusting! Why would a girl want to be with you?

ZACK
Well just look at it this way, Heather: Girls have the right to be ugly, but I’m afraid you’ve abused the privilege.

Natalie and Ethan laugh at Heather and Zack’s cheesy comebacks.

ETHAN
Don’t worry. They’ll stop in a little bit.

NATALIE
I know what you mean. My little brother and sister fight every single day, so I’m used to it.

ETHAN
I just don’t want my family’s arguments to get in the way of our boat trip.

NATALIE
I just want to know, though, when are we going to tell them about us?

Ethan looks up and sees Heather and Crystal slapping Zack with their magazines and Diane and Kyle having their own little conversation.

ETHAN
We’ll tell them later.

EXT. LARGE VAN – DAY

The van remains on one road, heading towards the large ocean. Right on the beach of the ocean is a small town filled with shops and restaurants.

INT. TOWN – DAY

Kyle pulls the van up into the parking lot of a small fishing shop.

INT. LARGE VAN – DAY

HEATHER
We’re not going fishing again, are we?

DIANE
You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Chill...

Everybody gets out of the van.

EXT. LARGE VAN – DAY

Zack stretches once he steps out, but Crystal and Heather push him out of the way to make room for getting out of the vehicle. Ethan and Natalie get out and hug, walking into the store hand in hand.

INT. BAIT STORE – DAY

Kyle and Diane look at the different types of bait while Zack looks at the different fishing magazines sitting on a large shelf. Crystal and Heather walk up to a TV hanging in the corner of the store, on the news channel.

A NEWS REPORTER sits at a desk, papers scattered in front of him and he stares at the camera, giving his report.

NEWS REPORTER
Sun bathers at Long Beach have found a severed foot that had washed upon shore earlier this morning at about 7:30 AM. The local police had taken it back for further studying and had come to the conclusion of it being the foot of a female of about 37-years-old. The woman’s foot had been severed in a way of being sawed apart, and the local police claim it to be a shark attack. No other remains have been found and the beach has been closed for the safety of the citizens until further notice.

Heather sighs.

CRYSTAL
Great, we’re going out and there’s a shark on the loose. Ask your dad if he can by a harpoon gun, just in case.

HEATHER
Crystal, sharks are just another fish in the sea. Think of it being a wasp: you don’t bother it and it won’t bother you.

CRYSTAL
Yeah that is until it comes up and pulls you beneath the surface. I’ve seen Jaws, I know what they can do.

Zack eavesdrops on them from the other side of the magazine rack.

HEATHER
That was just a movie, Crystal. It was fiction, and sharks just don’t randomly come up to someone and kill them for the hell of it.

ZACK
(Coming around magazine rack)
Yeah, sharks are just animals, just as we are. You’re more likely to get struck by lightning or die from a bee sting than get killed by a shark. What’s the worry for?

CRYSTAL
Okay, okay, sorry if I overreacted, I just don’t want to die before I turn 18. Sheesh.

ZACK
Besides, the only reason why they attack us because we splash around like idiotic seals. They normally don’t like the taste of us, but once in a while, they might come and take a nip at us, just to see how tender we are.

HEATHER
Zack stop it.

ZACK
What I’m just stating facts.

CRYSTAL
How did you get to know so much about sharks anyways?

ZACK
When you want to be a marine biologist, you have to actually know how to be one.

In the back of the store, Ethan and Natalie look at fishing poles, but don’t give any consideration into buying one.

NATALIE
We have to think of a day to not only tell your parents, but mine too.

ETHAN
When will you think the time will be right?

NATALIE
I don’t know. Maybe in a few days...Friday, for instance.

ETHAN
I don’t even know if your dad even likes me.

NATALIE
He treats you like you’re his only son, how is that “not liking” you?

ETHAN
I don’t know. I guess some guys get kind of nervous when it comes to this sort of thing.

NATALIE
Well don’t worry, my dad loves you and you and I both know it. So, Friday?

ETHAN
Deal. Friday it is.

NATALIE
See, you and I are perfect for each other. We agree on everything.

They begin kissing.

ZACK (O.S.)
And when that happens, things get fucked up.

ETHAN
How long have you been listening to us?

ZACK
Don’t worry I didn’t hear anything.

NATALIE
(Smiling)
Yeah whatever.

She smacks Zack upside the head and they walk away, Zack standing in his spot with his arms out.

ZACK
What was that for?

EXT. LARGE VAN – DAY

Kyle slips the bait box in the back along with the fishing poles as everyone begins getting in. He closes the back gate of the van and looks around, rubbing his neck.

INT. LARGE VAN – DAY

Kyle starts the van and pulls out of the parking lot. Everybody is sitting in their same spot.

ETHAN
How long are we going to be out there again?

KYLE
Until the evening. So I hope you all are ready for a fun day.

Everybody remains quiet. The sound of sirens fades in. Kyle looks in his rearview and side view mirrors and pulls to the right along with everybody else on the road.

Zooming past them, a large, white ambulance with its red lights flashing and the sirens blasting through the open windows of the van.

They drive along the road next to the beach where the waves crash on shore: a surfer’s delight.

Ethan looks out his window and sees the ambulance on the beach.

EXT. BEACH – DAY

Paramedics have a man on a stretcher. His lower half of his body is covered by a white sheet, most of it stained by dark red blood.

The paramedics load him into the vehicle and they shut the door, zooming off the beach with their sirens blaring out again.

INT. LARGE VAN – DAY

Ethan watches the ambulance pass by again, and continues watching the ocean again, with more caution this time.

EXT. MARINA – DAY

Boats sit in their designated spots at the marina, creaking and bumping up against the wooden and concrete docks. Seagulls sit upon the railings of staircases and on the sails of boats.

A few children throw a few pieces of food up into the air, where the seagulls fly down and swallow the food, swooping back up into the sky.

The seven walk down the dock towards a group of yachts. They reach theirs and begin climbing aboard, immediately setting their things down. At the bow of the boat, a name is printed in large, blue letters reads: Reina Del Mar.

Ethan helps Natalie on the boat and then helps Diane. Heather and Crystal hand Diane their bags and she sets them down at inside the yacht.

Kyle gets in and puts the key into ignition as Zack and Ethan begin untying the yacht. He starts the boat and begins backing out, getting out without a problem. They pull out of the marina and head out into the open ocean.

EXT. BAY – DAY

Two small, wooden boats sits near the bay where a MAN sits against the edge of one of them, listening to the radio and reads a magazine. A fishing pole sits at the edge of the boat.

NEWS REPORTER
(Filtered)
Long Beach has been closed do to reports of shark attacks. Until further notice, Long Beach will continue to stay closed.

MAN
(Not looking up)
God damn it.

The boat rocks in the water. Suddenly, there is a soft bump beneath it. The man looks around and over the edge, seeing nothing. He continues reading.

The man’s fishing pole begins to bend, and the reel begins spinning. The man doesn’t hear it and continues reading. The reeling gets louder. The man hears it and looks at his pole, the bend getting bigger.

He stands up and picks the pole up, slowly pulling his fish back in. He lifts the pole up and a large fish hangs at the end of the line, thrashing about and shaking violently.

About a foot away from the boat, bubbles begin to rise, getting bigger and bigger. There is another bump against the boat, and the man turns around, setting his pole back on the edge, the fish still stuck, but splashing in the water.

He looks over the edge and sees the bubbles. He stands up, trying to keep his balance to the rocking boat. The bubbles continue to get bigger, and suddenly, a SCUBA DIVER pops up from the surface, startling the man.

MAN
Jesus Christ! You scared the shit out of me!

SCUBA DIVER
Yeah, go cry to your momma. We have to move to another spot, this one’s empty.

MAN
Where’s Jonah?

SCUBA DIVER
He’s still down there. I told him to come back up, I don’t know where the hell he is.

MAN
Well you guys have to be careful. The news people said there’s a shark on the loose in these waters.

ENTITY’S POV

The creature moves towards the tiny boat and the scuba diver, still sitting in the water. The creature gets closer and closer, and finally reaches the scuba diver.

EXT. BAY – DAY

The scuba diver turns around and gasps. It’s JONAH! He pulls his goggles off and throws them into the boat.

SCUBA DIVER
Damn it, Jonah! Where the hell were you?

JONAH
I was just checking around to make sure we didn’t miss anything.

MAN
We’re moving to another spot, so get in the boat.

JONAH
We’re leaving already——?

Jonah is suddenly sucked underwater, huge bubbles blasting up out of the water. Water sprays into the boat and the man stumbles back, catching himself at the edge of the boat. The scuba diver stares in terror.

SCUBA DIVER
Jonah?

MAN
What the hell is going on? This ain’t another prank you’re pullin’ on me is it?

SCUBA DIVER
No, man, I swear! Jonah!

Jonah’s body pops up from the water a few feet away. His body floats there, face down. The man walks to the front of the boat, trying to grab Jonah.

MAN
Jonah, I swear, anymore of your shit and I’ll kill you.

Once the man gets a closer look, he realizes that Jonah’s lower half is missing, blood pouring out into the water! The man’s eyes go wide and he stumbles away from the front, his whole body shaking.

SCUBA DIVER
What is it? Is he all right?

MAN
(Terrified)
Get out of the water.

SCUBA DIVER
Jonah, quit that nonsense!

MAN
Get out of the damn water!

SCUBA DIVER
Why?

Suddenly, a huge Great White Shark, no more than 20 feet long, jumps out of the water, grasping what’s left of Jonah’s body in its mouth, and falling back in, creating a huge splash.

The man falls back and the scuba diver freaks, grabbing onto the edge of the boat.

SCUBA DIVER
Get me out of the water! Get me out!

The man grabs the scuba diver and begins pulling him out of the water, but the scuba diver’s wet suit is slippery. He accidentally drops him in the water, but quickly grabs his arms again, pulling him back up.

SCUBA DIVER
Get me out!

MAN
(Hopeless)
No!

The shark comes up, swallowing the scuba diver, chomping down at his chest. The scuba diver screams in pain as blood begins to mix in with the ocean water.

The shark chomps down again, and blood pours from the scuba diver’s mouth. The man continues to pull, but looses grip and lets go, flying to the other side of the boat.

The scuba diver begins being thrown about as the shark shakes his body from side to side violently, blood flinging everywhere. The shark begins chewing and swallowing while shaking violently, and decapitates the scuba diver.

His head flies through the air, flying over the man. Blood sprays on the man’s face and body and he screams in fear as the shark disappears underwater.

The man sits there, whimpering and crying, holding his hands up to his face. He gets up and grabs the anchor and begins pulling it up from the bottom. He begins to hyperventilate as he continues pulling it up...

...just as the shark comes back up out of the water. The man’s head and chest area get lost in the shark’s mouth, and the shark brings his jaws together, its teeth sinking into the man’s body.

The man screams in agony and the shark begins shaking him side to side, the man’s feet dangling and kicking about. The shark chomps down harder, creating a sickening crunch and the man’s screams come to an immediate stop, blood splashing on the white wood of the small boat.

The shark goes back underwater, taking the man’s body with it. All becomes silent except for the far away sounds of the crashing waves and squawking seagulls as the boats begins getting carried off out towards the open ocean.

The rope holding the two boats together had been broken apart.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

The water sparkles in the bright sunlight and the yacht comes to a stop. Kyle turns the boat off and Ethan shoves a large anchor off the edge. It splashes into the water and sinks to the bottom.

KYLE
Anybody up for scuba diving?

CRYSTAL
What if we don’t know how to?

KYLE
We have snorkeling equipment if you want to snorkel.

CRYSTAL
I think I’ll stick with that.

ZACK
Oh come on, Crystal. Don’t want to risk getting the bends?

CRYSTAL
Drop dead, Zack.

DIANE
(Getting equipment ready)
Hey, kids, this is supposed to be a fun day.

CRYSTAL
Sorry Mrs. Rockside.

ZACK
Sorry, Mom.

Kyle gets some fishing poles ready to be used, tying the hooks to the line. A seagull swoops down at him, squawking.

Kyle gets startled and jams the hook into his hand. He yelps and looks at his hand.

KYLE
Damn it!

DIANE
You okay, honey?

KYLE
Damn seagulls...

He pulls the hook out of his hand, blood slinging off the hook.

UNDERWATER

The few drops of blood splashing into the water...

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Diane walks up to Kyle. She sees his bloody hand.

DIANE
Oh, are you okay? Do we have bandages?

KYLE
(Pulling bandages from his pocket)
Yeah, I have some right here.
(Relieved)
I’m just glad it wasn’t rusted.

Kyle wraps his hand with the bandages and tapes it to his hand with waterproof tape. He continues tying hooks to the lines of the fishing poles.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan and Natalie lie on a small bed.

NATALIE
(Jokingly)
What are your parents going to think when they catch us in this bed together?

ETHAN
Very funny. We’re going snorkeling out-outside. You want to come?

NATALIE
Sure! I’ve never actually gone snorkeling before.

ETHAN
You haven’t? And you’ve been living next to the ocean your whole life?

NATALIE
I never really was interested in it, but I don’t want to be the only one who doesn’t go into the water today.

ETHAN
Then let’s go. I’ll show you how to do it.

NATALIE
What’s there to show? It looks easy enough.

Ethan looks at Natalie and smiles.

ETHAN
You’re right. It’s pretty much the easiest thing to do in the water.

NATALIE
Then let’s go have some fun.

Natalie begins walking towards the stairs.

ETHAN
(Stopping her)
Wait. Give me a kiss first.

They give each other a peck on the lips when Diane walks in.

DIANE
Hey you lovebirds, are you coming in the water or what?

ETHAN
(Embarrassed)
Yes Mom, we’re coming.

DIANE
The snorkel stuff is at the back of the boat.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Kyle has his scuba equipment on, sticking the mouthpiece in his mouth. He sits at the edge of the boat and falls into the water backwards, splashing some water on Crystal and Heather. They jump back, their hands up in the air.

The two get their snorkeling equipment on and slowly getting in the water, complaining how cold the water is. Zack sneaks up behind Heather as she is getting in and pushes her in. She screams and falls in.

Ethan and Natalie come up from inside the yacht. Ethan sees Zack laughing at Heather as she comes up out of the water.

HEATHER
Zack I told you not to push me in!

ZACK
Sorry I couldn’t resist.

ETHAN
Here let me help you, little bro.

Ethan picks him up and tosses him into the water. Heather and Crystal laugh at Zack.

ZACK
Ethan what the hell!?

ETHAN
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Zack splashes Ethan and Natalie. They laugh playfully and run to the front of the boat. Zack turns to Heather and Crystal.

CRYSTAL
Aw, did you get your favorite shirt wet?

HEATHER
Beware of Karma, Zack!

Zack splashes them. They cover their faces, trying to splash back, but it’s no use.

UNDERWATER

Kyle swims to the ocean floor, the bubbles fluttering up towards the surface. He feels the reefs and watches the colorful tropical fish glide past him. He pulls out a waterproof camera and begins taking pictures of the beautiful scenery.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Natalie takes her shirt and shorts off, showing a sexy body in a bikini. Ethan whistles to her, and she gives him a playful glare. They put on their flippers and snorkel masks.

Natalie jumps in first. Ethan is about to get in when something catches his eye. Far off in the distance, large, angry clouds look as if they’re headed their way.

But the rest around them is sunny and cloudless. Natalie interrupts Ethan’s thoughts.

NATALIE
Ethan? Ethan come on in!

Ethan looks away from the clouds and climbs over the metal railings, jumping into the water, breaking the surface.

UNDERWATER

Natalie and Ethan take a breath from their snorkels and swim underwater, beneath the boat. They meet up with Crystal and Heather, who are staying at the surface, looking down at the bottom of the seafloor.

Zack swims down to the bottom of the floor and looks at a few shells, setting them back down once he’s finished with them.

Diane, in scuba gear, swims away from the group, feeling the coral and reefs. She looks back and doesn’t see anybody else. She looks around, trying to find the faintest figure.

Nothing.

Near her, something moves! She catches the creature move next to the rocks. Cautiously and curiously, she swims towards it, moving slowly.

There’s nothing there. Just rocks covered with coral and algae. She takes a closer look. Suddenly, an octopus camouflaged with the same color and texture as the rocks jumps out at her.

She swims back, watching it glide away from her, landing on another rock. It disappears immediately, invisible to the human eye as it camouflages itself back onto a rock.

Crystal and Heather point out various fish that swim past them, and a few linger around them, studying them. Crystal tries touching one of the fish, but it darts back and forth, scared and confused.

Kyle motions Ethan and Natalie to go underwater, pointing at his camera. They take a breath and go under, holding hands and trying to smile, though their snorkels get in the way.

Kyle takes a snapshot and nods, giving a thumbs up sign. They swim back up to the surface.

EXT. YACHT - DAY

ETHAN
Dad, there’s a storm coming our ay.

KYLE
How far away?

ETHAN
I don’t know. It’s over there.

Kyle looks past Ethan and sees the dark, angry clouds. Lightning now shoots downward from them.

KYLE
It’s only a few miles away. We’ll be able to stay here for a few more hours and if it gets any closer, we’ll head in.

ETHAN
Okay.

Kyle goes back underwater.

ETHAN (CONT’D)
I’m going to go back on the boat for a minute to get a snack. You want anything?

NATALIE
No thanks, I’m fine, babe.

ETHAN
You sure?

NATALIE
Yeah I’m sure. I’m going to stay here for a while longer, look at the reefs for another moment.

ETHAN
Okay.

Natalie puts her goggles back on and puts the snorkel back in her mouth. She takes a breath and goes underwater. Ethan swims to the boat and climbs up a small ladder.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan walks in, drying himself off and throwing the towel on the small bed in the corner. He opens up a cabinet and looks at the snacks his mom had made for them.

He takes out a bag of chips and rips them open, putting a few in his mouth as he walks back up the stairs.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

He walks out of the yacht and climbs up the ladder to the upper deck. He looks out over the sea. He looks back at where land is: it’s so far away, the buildings are barely visible.

He looks the other way towards the open sea. The ocean stretches on for miles and miles, going on forever. Ethan climbs down the ladder from the upper level and walks to the front of the boat where his snorkel equipment is.

As he picks up his flippers, he looks out, and sees an object in the distance. It’s a white, square-ish object, floating towards the yacht.

Ethan looks closer, and as the object becomes more detailed, it turns out to be a small, white boat.

The same boat from the man and scuba divers.

As the boat nears the yacht, Ethan leans over the railing, looking in. He gasps when he sees the blood sprayed on the white boards.

He backs away a little bit, dropping his chips and flippers. One of his flippers bounces off the edge of the yacht, falling into the boat.

He climbs over the railings, gripping tightly to them. Hanging from it, he leans forward, trying to grab his flipper.

Just as he grabs the flipper, the 20 foot Great White Shark crashes through the bottom of the boat, snapping it in half like a twig.

Ethan screams the shark comes inches from grabbing his hand. He drops the flipper and jumps over the railing, slipping, but catching himself.

The shark disappears underwater as Ethan runs down the yacht towards the stern. Running into the back railing, he screams out to the rest of the group:

ETHAN
SH-SH-SH—! TH-THER’S A—!

He can’t spit it out. His speech problems mixed with fear becomes difficult. Natalie, her head sticking out of the water, turns to him.

NATALIE
What is it, baby?

ETHAN
SH—SH-SHARK!!!

Natalie’s jaw drops, her eyes wide in fear. She looks around her, trying to find any sign of a dorsal fin piercing out of the water. She turns to Heather and Crystal, who are only a few feet from her.

ETHAN (O.S.)
Get out of the water!

Natalie fiercely swims towards Crystal and Heather, grabbing them. They lift their heads out of the water, taking off their goggles.

HEATHER
What’s wrong, Natalie?

NATALIE
Get out! Get out of the water!

CRYSTAL
Why?

ETHAN (O.S.)
Shark!

NATALIE
Go!

Ethan pressures Crystal and Heather to swim faster toward him as he looks around, trying to find out where the shark went.

Natalie looks for Zack, Kyle, and Diane. They’re nowhere to be found. She puts her goggles on and goes underwater, looking for them.

Below her is Kyle. She swims down towards him, tapping him on the shoulder when she reaches him. He turns around and sees her panicked face.

Calmly, he swims back up slowly. Natalie reaches the surface before him and continues looking around for the shark. Kyle comes up and takes out his mouthpiece.

KYLE
Are you okay?

NATALIE
(Screaming)
There’s a shark in the water! We have to get out!

KYLE
A shark!?

NATALIE
Get out!

KYLE
Where are Zack and Diane?!

Zack pops out from the water next to the stern of the yacht.

ETHAN
Zack, get out of the water now!

ZACK
Why? What’s wrong?

ETHAN
There’s a-a-a——

ZACK
Whoa, Ethan, you’re going to have to calm down. Try and talk as well as you can.

HEATHER
Zack there’s a shark in the water! Get out!

ZACK
Guys why are you freaking out? It won’t hurt us, it’s probably more afraid of us than we are of it.

ETHAN
No, Zack, this shark is big! Get out of the water!
(Screaming out)
Natalie!

ZACK
How big?

Coming out of nowhere, the shark shoots through the water right behind Zack, clipping onto his leg. Zack gets pulled into the water, but Ethan quickly grabs his hand.

Zack screams as the shark begins yanking on his leg, blood pouring into the water.

Yards from the yacht, Natalie watches in horror as she sees the shark for the first time. She sees the blood bubbling up from Zack’s leg as the shark tears it apart.

CRYSTAL
Oh my God!

HEATHER
Zack! Get him out!!

The shark lets go of Zack’s leg, slipping back underwater. Ethan pulls Zack up, his leg mutilated by the shark’s teeth.

Heather looks in the shark’s direction.

HEATHER
Ethan it’s heading for Mom and Dad.

Natalie begins swimming towards the yacht, looking under the water every few seconds. The shark’s dorsal fin splits through the surface of the water, heading right for her.

She screams trying to get out of its way, but it follows her every moves. The shark opens its mouth, ready to swallow Natalie whole. She holds her hands out in front of her, crying out.

ETHAN
Natalie! NO!

The shark comes up against her, her hand hitting one of its eyes. The shark quickly reacts, jerking away from her. Its tail hits her, smacking her in the head, pushing her back, and knocking her out.

Ethan screams and dives into the water, leaving Crystal and Heather with the bleeding Zack.

UNDERWATER

Kyle swims over to Diane who is still looking at the coral. He grabs her and she turns around, startled. He motions her to go back up, and she nods, but her eyes get wide, pointing behind him.

He turns around and sees the Great White swimming towards them, mouth open, the upper jaw coming down.

Kyle pushes Diane out of the way, pulling out a large knife from his vest. He holds the knife out, jamming the knife into the shark’s underbelly.

The shark growls reacting violently, turning around and swimming off into the darkness. Diane and Kyle quickly swim up, popping up out of the surface.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan swims up to the unconscious Natalie. He grabs her and begins swimming back towards the back of the yacht.

HEATHER
Swim! Mom, Dad, swim!!

CRYSTAL
The bleeding isn’t stopping!

HEATHER
We have to get him to a hospital, quick!

Ethan pushes Natalie towards the ladder where Heather grabs her and begins pulling her up onto the boat. Ethan climbs out, falling next to Natalie. He picks her up and drags her away from the edge.

ETHAN
Mom and Dad are too far away, Heather! You have to get them before it does!

HEATHER
But I don’t have a lot of experience! Dad hasn’t taught me the full lesson——!

ETHAN
Just do it!

Heather quickly climbs up the ladder to the upper level, turning the keys and starting the boat. Ethan quickly pulls the anchor up. He picks Natalie up and carries her inside the yacht.

Out in the water, Kyle and Diane see the yacht driving away.

DIANE
What are they doing!?

The boat begins turning around, heading for them. Kyle and Diane embrace, but yards away from them, the dorsal fin comes back out of the water, heading in their direction.

DIANE
Kyle! Kyle it’s coming back!

KYLE
Jesus! Swim, Diane, go!

Heather slows the yacht down as she gets near her parents. Kyle pushes Diane onto the ladder, pushing her up onto the boat.

The shark whips around the boat, rubbing up against the bottom of it. Kyle slips and falls back into the water. Diane turns around and tries grabbing him, but the shark bumps into the boat, knocking her over.

Crystal falls back and lands against the railing, hitting her head hard on the metal, but still conscious. Kyle begins pulling himself back up, the shark only feet away from him.

The shark jumps out of the water, chomping down on the ladder just as Kyle jumps onto the boat floor. The shark thrashes about, bending the metal ladder as if it were a paperclip.

Heather, on reaction, pushes the speed throttle forward, the yacht shooting forward. The yacht becomes uncontrollable, swerving left and right. Heather tries regaining control, but is unable to.

She points the yacht in the direction towards high reefs and the yacht runs into it, jamming itself into the rocks and coral. The back of the yacht pops out of the water, swings to the left, and lands back in the water.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan and Natalie fly towards the back of the room. Every loose object flies towards the back, along with food and fishing rods. The tiny bed lifts up off the floor and slams back down.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Crystal slams against the ladder that leads up to the upper level as Zack’s body slides into the room where Ethan and Natalie are, bumping down the stairs.

Kyle and Diane slide towards the bow of the yacht on the slippery floor and Heather flips over the dashboard controls, hanging onto the railing in front of her.

Everything becomes silent, and smoke billows out from various places. Underwater, the metal ladder the shark had ripped off sinks to the bottom, hitting the ocean floor and creating a cloud of sand.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan quickly gets up from the floor, picking up Natalie’s still unconscious body. He sets her on the bed gently, rubbing his head and looking at the mess around him.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Heather pulls herself up from the railing and back onto the upper level, whimpering. She quickly descends down the ladder where Crystal stands up, rubbing her head. Crystal winces in pain as she brings her bloody hand down from the back of her head.

Kyle and Diane slowly get up and walk towards the stern.

KYLE
Is everyone okay!?

HEATHER
Crystal’s bleeding.

DIANE
Where’s Zack?

INT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan runs up to Zack. He looks at his torn up leg and gasps, getting back up and searching through the cabinets. He finds some beach towels and brings them to Zack, wrapping his bite wound up.

ETHAN
Mom!

Diane walks down the stairs and sees the pool of blood around Zack’s legs. She kneels down next to him.

DIANE
Oh my God what happened to him!?

ETHAN
His leg, it got his leg.

DIANE
Oh my God...my baby...

ETHAN
We have to get him to a hospital.

DIANE
Help me carry him up outside.

They pick him. Zack screams in pain as they lift him off the ground, but his screams soon turn into whimpers. Ethan looks back at Natalie as he walks up the stairs, a concerned look in his eyes. 

EXT. YACHT – DAY

KYLE
(Inspecting Crystal)
We have a first aid kit, right?

DIANE
(Setting Zack down)
We need to get Zack to a hospital.

KYLE
Why? What happened?

DIANE
That shark bit his leg. He’s bleeding pretty bad!

KYLE
Shit. Shit, shit, shit...

Kyle begins climbing up the ladder.

ZACK
Mom...

Diane kneels back down to Zack.

DIANE
It’s going to be okay, baby, we’re going to get you out of here. We’re——

ZACK
It hurts...

Diane is terrified of Zack’s pain.

DIANE
I know it does. We’re going to get you to the hospital and we’re going to make it better.

Kyle climbs down the stairs with a flare gun.

DIANE
What are we going to do?

KYLE
The boat’s dead. We’re stuck here.

DIANE
Oh God...

Heather stands at the bow, looking over the railing and out towards the ocean. She looks towards land, at the almost invisible buildings.

Ethan walks up next to her and looks out towards the sea, watching the large clouds roll closer to them.

HEATHER
It’s all my fault...

ETHAN
No it’s not, Heather. It’s nobody’s fault.

HEATHER
No it is! I was the one who got us stranded here, I’m the one who caused all of this.

ETHAN
Don’t blame yourself, Heather. It’s that God damn fish’s fault.

HEATHER
Why is it after us? Why us? What did we ever do to it?

Ethan remains silent. Heather begins crying. Ethan comforts her by holding her close to him, caressing her hair.

ETHAN
We’re going to make it out. Zack’s going to be fine.

EXT. YACHT – LATER

Kyle inspects the motor of the boat while Diane tends to Crystal’s head. Heather walks out from inside of the yacht.

HEATHER
Zack’s inside. Natalie’s still unconscious, but she’s doing fine.

ETHAN
Dad, the storm’s getting closer.

KYLE
(Angry)
Ethan I know!
(Trying to calm down)
I’m...I’m trying to do something about it.

The area becomes silent.

UNDERWATER

The yacht’s jammed into large, jagged rocks. Parts of the sharp, jagged edges begin digging into the bottom of the boat.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Natalie and Zack lie in the same bed. Next to the bed, water begins spraying out onto the floor, but unnoticeable.

Natalie’s eyes slowly open, her eyelids fluttering as she gets used to the light. She shoots up, gasping. She looks at Zack whose eyes are closed. She overlooks his body and sees his leg, wrapped with the beach towels and dry blood stains his legs.

QUICK FLASHES

NATALIE’S POV

The shark comes out of the water, latching onto Zack’s leg.

Her hand hit’s the shark’s eye, the tail whipping her in the face.

INT. YACHT

She shivers, wrapping her arms around her.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Crystal sits as far from the water as possible, hugging her legs. Heather walks up next to her, sighing, and sitting down, putting her arm over Crystal.

CRYSTAL
And he said they don’t like the taste of us...

Heather looks at Crystal and sniffs, resting her head on her shoulder. They stare out at the bright, sparkling water. But soon, the sparkles go away as clouds cover up the shining sun, turning the sky into a gray, dark world.

Lightning rips through the sky, and thunder soon roars through the clouds, making the boat tremble.

KYLE
The storm’s just going to make things worse. Come on, let’s get inside.

Nobody moves.

KYLE
Now!

Everyone is started by Kyle’s raging voice. Heather helps Crystal up and they walk into the yacht. Ethan and Diane walk in together, as Kyle watches the rain slowly come in.

He walks into the yacht, and when he disappears into the dark room, a dorsal fin comes out through the water, creating a circle around the boat.

The storm begins creating large waves, and they crash up against the boat.

UNDERWATER

The waves pushing up against the boat cause the rocks to dig deeper into the hull of the boat.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan turns on a lamp, lighting up the room. Diane begins picking up the food and drinks from the floor, putting them inside the cabinets.

Heather sits in a chair and Crystal sits at the end of the bed. Ethan grabs Natalie and holds her against him, closing his eyes. Diane caresses Zack’s hair and pats his arm. Kyle has taken his wetsuit off and is dressed in a shirt and swimming suit.

DIANE
How are you feeling, sweetie?

ZACK
The pain’s getting worse.

DIANE
(To Kyle)
Do we have any Advil?

KYLE
(Irritated)
I don’t know, Diane. How the hell should I know?!

The boat begins rocking due to the waves outside, and everyone hangs onto something, listening to the boat creaking.

The boat soon stops shaking, and everyone calms back down. Crystal turns to Zack.

CRYSTAL
Zack, you’re the shark expert. What do we need to do to keep it away?

HEATHER
Not now, Crystal. Just...not now.

CRYSTAL
He’s the only one that might actually save our asses. There has to be a way to keep it from killing us.

Heather shakes her head. Everyone looks at Zack.

ZACK
(Wincing at his leg)
Sharks are territorial animals. Whenever they feel threatened, they try and defend themselves from their predators.

ETHAN
So we could be in its territory? That’s it?

ZACK
I don’t know. Sometimes people don’t know why they attack. But to keep a shark away from attacking you, you can either hit it in its nose, eyes, or gills.

NATALIE
That’s what I did when it was coming for me. I hit it in its eye and that’s way it swam away.

HEATHER
Why is it still after us then? Natalie hurt it, wouldn’t you think it would leave us alone?

ZACK
Well, either this shark is really protective about its territory, or maybe it’s going on a full killing spree, killing and eating anything in its path.

HEATHER
That’s probably why there have been so many shark attacks lately. You think this is the one that’s been attacking everyone lately?

ZACK
Sharks also attack because they confuse you with something else. From a shark’s point of view, a surfer can look like a seal. 

FLASHBACK

Ethan is looking out the window of the van. He sees the ambulance on the beach, and their lifting up a surfer onto a stretcher.

FLASH

UNDERWATER/SHARK’S POV

The surfer paddles out towards the large waves, his silhouette looking like a seal.

INT. YACHT

ZACK (CONT’D)
If you’re swimming, your splashing can sound like a weak and dying fish. That’s why you shouldn’t go swimming near someone who’s fishing.

FLASHBACK

The man in the tiny, white boat picks up his fishing pole. He then sets it back down, leaving the fish hanging at the end of the line, letting it splash in the water.

INT. YACHT

The boat shakes a little, and more and more water from the hole that rocks made begins entering the yacht.

ZACK (CONT’D)
But sharks are mostly attracted to blood. One can smell a drop of blood from a mile away.

FLASHBACK

Kyle yanks the hook out of his hand, the blood slinging through the air and landing in the water.

UNDERWATER

CLOSE UP

The blood spreads out through the water.

Move behind the boat at high speed about a third of the mile through the water to where the shark whips around, facing towards the direction of the boat.

The shark stops for a moment, moving its nose through the water, as if it’s sniffing like a human would. It begins swimming towards the direction of the boat.

INT. YACHT

Kyle looks at his bandaged hand. Dry blood stains the bottom of it, but is still visible. Heather looks at her father’s hand.

HEATHER
Dad, what happened to your hand?

KYLE
(Breathing deeply)
I got myself while getting the hooks onto the line. Nothing serious...

HEATHER
Are you sure there wasn’t any blood soaking through the bandage that got in the water?

KYLE
It’s pretty thick, Heather, I’m sure I didn’t get any blood in the water when I got in.

Natalie takes in a deep breath and stares at everyone else. She looks down on the floor and sees a tiny puddle of water.

CRYSTAL
How can we be too sure?

ETHAN
Look, maybe there’s something underwater around us that attracted the shark.

DIANE
Well whatever it is, this storm isn’t making it any better.

Thunder rumble through the boat, filling in the silence. Kyle sets the flare gun on the counter next to the sink. He rubs his forehead and sits on the counter.

CRYSTAL
So...How long is this storm going to last?

ETHAN
It looked pretty big from far away.

The inside of the yacht becomes quiet again.

HEATHER
(Breaking the silence)
We’re not going to get out of here, are we?

Everyone looks at Heather, not saying a word.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

A huge wave crashes into the yacht, washing everything on the deck off into the water. The wave pushes the yacht into the rocks.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Everyone flies to one side, screaming as they fly into the wall. Zack falls to the ground, where an oxygen tank falls onto his injured leg. He cries out in pain as his wound begins bleed profusely again.

As the wave pushes the yacht into the rocks, one of the jagged rocks punches a huge hole into the already forming crack, splashing water into the boat. The flare gun slides into the sink and water begins to fill up.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

The waves turn the boat in a different position, having it hanging off the rocks, the bow facing towards open water. The water begins getting sucked into the boat, and the yacht begins to sink.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Blood begins mixing around in the water in the yacht from Zack’s wound. Ethan picks him up and tries putting him back on the bed.

KYLE
Get out on to the deck! Get out of here!

DIANE
What about Zack?

KYLE
Carry him up!

Kyle guides Heather and Crystal up the stairs towards the deck, while Natalie, Ethan, and Diane pick Ethan up. Water continues to poor into the yacht.

UNDERWATER

The bow becomes almost completely underwater, but is stopped by lower rocks. The weight of the boat begins to form cracks in the rocks...

INT. YACHT – DAY

The water is almost up to their waist as they carry Ethan up the stairs, but the water has stop flowing in.

DIANE
Shit!

ETHAN
What?

DIANE
The flare gun! We forgot the flare gun!

NATALIE
I’ll go get it. You go on ahead.

Diane takes Natalie’s place and they continue up the stairs.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

The rain is pouring down on everyone. Kyle, Heather, and Crystal are on the upper level. Kyle looks down as Diane and Ethan appear outside, holding Zack.

KYLE
Where’s Natalie?!

DIANE
She’s getting the flare gun! Help us get Zack up!

INT. YACHT – DAY

Natalie wades through the water, struggling through the floating debris, searching the counter that is close to being underwater—but it’s not there.

She looks in the sink and sees the gun bouncing around due to the waves hitting the boat. She is about to grab it when another wave hits the boat, violently shaking the yacht, and causing her to slip and fall into the water.

INT. YACHT – UNDERWATER

She falls to the bottom, creating a struggle while she fights free from floating sheets from the bed. Untangling herself, she faces the hole.

Suddenly, the head of the Great White barges through the hole, bumping into Natalie.

INT. YACHT

She comes up, screaming.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan and Diane hear Natalie’s screams.

ETHAN
Natalie!

Ethan lets go of Zack and jumps off the ladder. Diane and Kyle continue to pull Zack up.

DIANE
Ethan!

INT. YACHT – DAY

The shark tries pushing itself through the hole, splashing water everywhere. Natalie tries getting away but her foot is caught between the bars of the metal bedpost.

The shark continues to squeeze itself in, getting closer and closer to Natalie’s trapped leg.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Another large wave crashes into the boat, knocking Crystal over the railings and into the water.

HEATHER
Crystal!!

Crystal falls into the water.

INT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan falls back due to the wave and lands next to the shark, quickly swimming away from it. The shark suddenly stops thrashing around and sinks out of the hole, swimming away.

The inside becomes quiet, and Ethan jumps up, pulling Natalie’s foot out from between the bars. They quickly run through the water towards the stairs.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

HEATHER
Crystal!

UNDERWATER

Crystal thrashes around, the bubbles around her swirling in all directions. Behind her, the silhouette of the shark glides past.

EXT. YACHT

Crystal pops above the surface, coughing and wheezing, crying, but unable to tell except for the frown upon her face.

Kyle and Heather jump down the ladder, while Diane stays with Zack on the upper level. Natalie and Ethan run out, the rain spraying in their face.

Lightning tears through the sky, lighting it up.

Crystal begins swimming towards the sunken yacht, but the current is too strong, keeping her in one place.

KYLE
Come on, Crystal! Swim!

HEATHER
Swim! Hurry!

CRYSTAL
I can’t!

Ethan grabs a safety float from the side of the yacht and quickly connects the rope to a hook built into the side of the inner tube. He runs to the side and throws it over, landing it next to Crystal.

She grabs hold of it, hanging on tight, keeping her eyes closed. Ethan, Heather, and Kyle pull her in against the strong current. As she reaches the side, Natalie pulls her up, helping her up from under the railing.

Pulling one leg over the side of the boat, and leaving one hanging over the edge, but not touching the water, Heather grabs Crystal and hugs her tightly. Kyle kneels down next to her.

KYLE
Are you okay?

CRYSTAL
(Panting)
Yeah...
(Deep breath)
You saved my life——

The shark jumps out of the water, swallowing Crystal’s leg (the one hanging over the edge), and pulling her back. She screams and wraps her arms around Kyle’s leg, pulling him to the ground.

He lands on the floor hard, hitting his head and busting it open. Blood washes off the deck and into the ocean water. Crystal screams as she is being pulled in. Her other leg gets on the opposite side of a metal pole to support the railing, and the shark happens to swallow that leg also.

The metal support post begins to jam into her underside as the shark continues to rip her legs apart and pull her into the water.

Heather, Natalie, and Ethan try pulling her back, but the shark is too strong. Diane can’t help but watch, freaking out.

The shark continues to push forward and pull back, jamming the metal post harder into her underside. Crystal is screaming in pain and in fear as her friends try pulling her away from death. But it’s no use, the shark is too strong.

CRYSTAL
God get me out of here, please! I don’t want to die——!

The shark uses all of its strength and pulls her into the water, but with the metal support post in the way, her body is sliced in half vertically, blood spraying on the yacht, in the water, and on the three’s legs and arms.

The three fly back, screaming at what they just saw. Ethan flies into his dad, pushing him towards the edge. The deck is slippery, which causes Kyle to fall into the water, floating there like a dead man.

HEATHER
Crystal!!!

The three stare at the metal support post and the blood surrounding it. It soon disappears as the rain washes it away.

UNDERWATER

The shark rips Crystal’s decapitated body apart, limps and chunks of flesh floating in the water. Half of Crystal’s head sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where tiny fish pop out of their shelter and begin nipping at her flesh.

The shark finishes chomping down on what’s left of Crystal and swims forward, looking up at the water. Even though it’s dark, it can still see a faint shadow of Kyle’s unconscious body.

EXT. YACHT

Heather whines and gasps, slowly bringing her knees up to her chest, staring at the blood washing down from her arms. Her whines and gasps turn into cries of help and fear.

DIANE
Kyle! He’s in the water!

Ethan turns around and sees his dad’s body slowly floating past the yacht.

SHARK’S POV

It moves over and under rocks and rock arches, gliding through seaweed, and then spinning around, looking up, and facing the yacht where, next to it, floats Kyle.

EXT. YACHT

Ethan ducks under the railings and reaches out for his dad, but he is too far away. He reaches out further and almost grabs his shirt.

SHARK’S POV

The shark continues moving across the ocean floor, looking up once in a while, looking at Kyle’s body.

EXT. YACHT

Ethan captures Kyle’s shirt and begins dragging him in just when...

SHARK’S POV

...The shark begins swimming upward, towards the surface, towards Kyle...

EXT. YACHT

Ethan pulls his dad up, struggling. He finally pulls him out when the shark bursts through the water, startling Ethan and making him fall back.

The shark engulfs the yachts propellers and begins chewing on them, the sound of bending metal louder than the pounding rain on the yacht deck.

CUT TO BLACK

FADE IN

The clouds are dissipating, and the sun begins to shine again. The water becomes calm and the boat becomes silent and still, almost eerie.

Everyone is on the upper level: Natalie and Ethan sitting on the dashboard with Kyle laying on it, Heather in the captain’s seat, and Diane sitting on the floor next to Zack.

Zack’s physical appearance has changed: his face is paler, there are black rings around his eyes, and his hands and legs are shaking as if he were cold.

Diane sniffs, her nose red and puffy, as she rubs her fingers through Zack’s hair.

NATALIE
Anybody know what time it is?

HEATHER
Why does it matter?

NATALIE
It matters because we need to get off this rock and get some help before nightfall comes. We have two injured people and one person is already dead.

HEATHER
Don’t you think I already fucking know that!? I saw her die right in front of my eyes! We all did! Why the hell do we need help?

DIANE
(Softly)
Heather——

HEATHER
The day isn’t even over! When do you think someone is going to notice we’re gone!? That...FISH is going to get us all killed! We’re all going to die.

ETHAN
Look don’t say that, Heather.

NATALIE
Yeah, we’re going to make it out of here.

HEATHER
Yeah? And what about Crystal?

Silence. A seagull flies off in the distance.

HEATHER (CONT’D)
What are we going to tell her parents?

Heather stands up and storms off the upper level, fiercely climbing down the ladder and walking to the bow of the boat where she folds her arms and watches the falling sun.

DIANE
(Crying and staring forward as if hypnotized)
Ethan?

ETHAN
Uh huh?

DIANE
How much water do we have left?

ETHAN
I don’t know.

DIANE
What about food-wise?

ETHAN
I...I don’t know.

Kyle gargles, but doesn’t wake up.

ZACK
If you still want to know, it’s 5:30...

EXT. YACHT – NIGHT

The stars are shining with the moon, lighting up the sky and creating an infinite distance when looking outwards towards the ocean.

An airliner flies 35,000 feet above the surface of the earth, the lights flashing and the engines creating a loud roar, disappearing into the darkness as it flies away.

Natalie and Ethan lie at the bow of the boat, while Heather lies at the stern, still awake, and Diane sleeps in the captain’s seat. Zack lies with Heather, asleep also, and Kyle still sits at the dashboard.

NATALIE
Why must life seem so short when you don’t pay attention to it?

Ethan remains silent.

NATALIE (CONT’D)
And then finally when you do pay attention, it’s too late?

She sits up and faces Ethan.

NATALIE (CONT’D)
What exactly goes through your mind when you know your life is in danger?

ETHAN
(In consideration)
I guess I always think about the past, present, and the future. What happened back then, or what might happen in a few minutes. How it’s going to end...What about you?

NATALIE
Kind of what you said. I think about all the important things that have happened in my life. I think about the people around me, and what they would become if I all of a sudden died or became extremely sick...I just never knew it would come to this so fast.

ETHAN
Apparently you haven’t been paying much attention to life.

This brings a slight smile to Natalie. She takes in a deep breath and slowly lets it out, grabbing Ethan’s hand and holding it in hers.

They kiss, clinging onto each other. A tear rolls down Natalie’s cheek, and the moment is broken by Heather’s presence.

HEATHER (O.S.)
You two couldn’t sleep either?

The two look up.

NATALIE
How’s Zack?

HEATHER
He was finally able to fall asleep, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last.

ETHAN
I’ll go stay with on him.

Ethan gets up and walks to the stern of the yacht, Heather and Natalie watching him disappear.

NATALIE
You two get a long real well.

HEATHER
With him in college, we don’t see each other much. I miss him more often.
(Beat)
Plus, when he was 14 and going into high school, a lot of people made fun of him, you know, for his speech problems. Zack didn’t care, he was a bitch when he was young, but I looked after him. Him and I bonded well, and we’d always talk, and I helped him feel better...I helped him to be able to ignore it.

NATALIE
That was really nice of you, Heather. If only my siblings did that for me. We never really get along often, and when we do, it only lasts a few minutes.

Heather sighs.

HEATHER (CONT’D)
You think she’s still here?

NATALIE
Who?

HEATHER
Crystal. You think her spirit is still with us, watching us?

Natalie is heart broken. She remains quiet.

HEATHER (CONT’D)
She was my friend. Someone I hung out with all the time.

NATALIE
I’ve lost friends before too...

HEATHER
Yeah? Did you watch them die right in front of you? Did you see them get killed by a fucking shark?

NATALIE
(Teary-eyed)
No, but I have lost a friend due to cancer. And let me tell you this, it’s way fucking worse than getting killed by a shark.

Heather looks around, sniffing.

NATALIE (CONT’D)
(Still teary-eyed)
I had to spend every day like it was my friend’s last, visiting her, talking to her, and waiting painfully for the day she died. The worse feeling is knowing the day your friend was going to pass away, watching the days go by every time you woke up.

A tear rolls down her cheek.

NATALIE (CONT’D)
This is just another cycle of life and death. We all have to die, it just depends on fate or death or whoever the hell decides when it’s time to end life...

HEATHER
Well you know what? Fuck death or the grim reaper!
(Deep breath)
I’m just scared...

NATALIE
It’s okay to be afraid...

HEATHER
I’m just scared that I know when I’m going to die... Because I know that we aren’t getting off this rock alive.

Heather lies down and faces away from Natalie. Natalie stares at Heather, in deep thought. She lies down too.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. YACHT – DAY

The sun is blaring down on the family, but the ocean is calm and a light breeze washes over the group. Natalie sits up, rubbing her eyes, very sunburned.

She shakes Heather, waking her up.

HEATHER
(Dazed)
Yeah? What?

Natalie stands up and walks over to the back of the yacht. Ethan and Zack are still asleep. A horn blows up in the distance.

Natalie turns around and sees another boat off in the distance, coming towards them. She stares at it for a minute, and then smiles, jumping in the air and waving her hands.

NATALIE
Here! Over here! Help!

Natalie’s yells for help wake everyone else up. Ethan sits up and Diane looks over the edge of the upper level. She looks out at the boat and smiles, and begins to cry.

Heather stands at the railings, relieved, sobbing to herself.

CUT TO:

The people in the other boat help Zack across, lying him down at the front on the cushioned seats. They then help Kyle, still unconscious, across.

DIANE
(Being helped across)
You saved us...

Natalie and Ethan hug, smiling and watching Heather get from the yacht to the other boat. Ethan gently pushes Natalie forward.

Natalie steps to the edge of the yacht, grabbing the other boatman’s hand. As she steps across, the shark jumps out of the water, snatching Natalie.

CUT TO:

Natalie wakes up with a jolt, gasping. The sun shines down on the yacht, and she looks around, hyperventilating. She looks down at Heather who is still asleep. She puts her hands to her face and begins sobbing quietly to herself.

INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT – DAY

Phones ring constantly as officers walk back and forth, arguing with each other.

Officer Carter sits at his desk, writing something down on a piece of paper. He looks at his watch and sighs. Another officer walks by and Carter stands up.

OFFICER CARTER
Hey have you seen Kyle today?

OFFICER
No I haven’t seen him at all. He hasn’t called us today, either.

OFFICER CARTER
Have you tried calling him?

OFFICER
Both his home phone and cell phone. Nothing.

OFFICER CARTER
All right, thanks.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

Officer Carter stands in front of the Rockside house next to his patrol car. He sighs and walks up to the front door, knocking on it. When nobody answers, he knocks again, waiting for someone to open the door.

He walks around to the side where the garage door is located. It’s still shut, no boat, no other cars.

EXT. NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE – DAY

He knocks on their next door neighbor’s door, waiting patiently. MARY BAXTER opens the front door, leaving the screen door shut.

MARY
Hello.

OFFICER CARTER
Hi, there, I was wondering if you could tell me if the people next door to you came home last night?

MARY
The Rocksides?

OFFICER CARTER
Yes.

MARY
No, I didn’t see them pull into their driveway. If they were home, their boat would be sitting in their driveway.

OFFICER CARTER
That’s what I thought. Thank you.

Officer Carter begins to leave.

MARY
Is there some sort of problem?

OFFICER CARTER
They went out to sea earlier yesterday. Mr. Rockside was supposed to come in today, but he didn’t even call in.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

BUMP! The boat jolts...and it isn’t because of the waves. Natalie shoots up again, looking around her. Silence.

BUMP! Ethan wakes up, and Zack’s eyelids flutter as he tries to figure what is happening. Ethan slowly stands up.

BUMP! Diane sits up from the chair, looking around the yacht, trying to spot any shadows in the water. She looks over at the front of the boat and sees a tiny dingy, white and wooden, the second boat that the man and scuba divers were using.

DIANE
A boat...A boat!

ETHAN
What?

Diane grabs Kyle from the dashboard and begins sliding him down the ladder, Ethan grabbing his legs. She picks Kyle up by the arms and Ethan grabs his legs, and they carry him to the bow.

NATALIE
Where did it come from?

DIANE
It doesn’t matter. Just get Kyle and Zack in there and Ethan, you go with them, take them to a hospital, and get help.

ETHAN
Wait, Mom——

DIANE
There are oars in there. Do you have enough strength to paddle back?

ETHAN
Yeah, but——

DIANE
Get your father in.

Diane steps into the dingy and reaches up for Kyle as Ethan, dazed, lowers him down with Natalie’s help.

DIANE
Careful now.

She sets Kyle down on the floor of the dingy on his back.

DIANE
Now Zack.

ETHAN
Mom, wait, this boat came from nowhere——

DIANE
It’s our only way out of here, Ethan. Now go get Zack.

Ethan shuffles uncomfortably and is about to turn around to get Zack when the shark busts through the bottom of the boat. Diane screams and jumps up, grabbing the railing. Ethan and Natalie scream and begin to help Diane up over the railing as Heather stays back, gasping and screaming.

The shark busts a small hole in the bottom of the dingy, grabbing Kyle’s unconscious body, though Kyle’s body is too small for the hole.

The shark begins moving up and down, forcing Kyle’s body through the hole, snapping his back in half, creating a loud, bone snapping sound. Kyle goes limp and his whole body gets folded in half like a piece of paper, slipping through the hole where the shark begins to tear him apart.

Heather falls back and screams, tears pouring from her eyes. She turns around and runs to the back as Natalie and Ethan try and get Diane over the railing.

DIANE
My hands are slipping!

NATALIE
I can’t get her over!

Diane struggles to get over, but she is unable to. Ethan and Natalie use their strength to pull her up, but it takes a lot.

UNDERWATER

The shark finishes off the last of Kyle, swimming around the debris of the dingy, and heading for the stern.

The Great White turns around and heads straight towards the back at full speed, bumping into it.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

The force of the hit knocks Ethan over the railings and into the water, but Diane is able to hold on. Heather and Zack slide back into the railings, but hold on.

UNDERWATER

The rocks underneath the boat dig into the hull, creating huge gashes.

INT. YACHT 

Bubbles rise in the water and the yacht fills up more. The yacht begins pointing downwards. The rocks dig into the gas tank, splitting it open, letting water in and gas out.

The gas begins spreading out through the water.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan splashes out of the water, swimming towards the bow and trying to jump up and grab the railings.

DIANE
Ethan! Get out of the water!

ETHAN
I can’t get up!

Diane holds out her hand.

DIANE
Come on, grab my hand!

UNDERWATER

The shark heads for the bow.

EXT. YACHT

Ethan grabs Diane’s hand, but their grasp slips.

ETHAN
I’m slipping!

He grabs her hand again. This time, they hold it.

UNDERWATER

The shark heads downwards, swimming on the ocean floor.

EXT. YACHT

Ethan pulls himself up and grabs the railing, struggling to get up. Diane helps push as she hangs on, but it only helps a little.

The shark comes up to the surface, its dorsal fin splitting through the glassy surface, heading for the two dangling pieces of bait.

The shark approaches and lifts it head out of the water. Ethan lifts his legs up, kicking the animal in the nose. The shark growls and jerks back, splashing back into the water.

Ethan pulls himself into the boat and quickly gets up to help Diane. They begin pulling her up.

DIANE
Kyle...

ETHAN
I’m so sorry Mom...

DIANE
(Crying)
Kyle!

They pull Diane up from underneath the railings and she falls to the ground. Ethan and Natalie try and lift her up, but she makes her body go limp.

DIANE
No...!

Natalie steps back, crying. Ethan kneels down next to Diane and hugs her.

In the back, Heather peers from behind the ladder, tears still coming down her face. She looks away and falls against the ladder, sliding down and sitting on the floor of the yacht.

ZACK
...Dad...?

Heather nods, bawling.

As Diane and Ethan cry together, Natalie looks up and out towards the water. The dorsal fin returns to the surface, coming towards the boat.

NATALIE
Get away from the edge!

Ethan looks up at Natalie just as the shark jumps out of the water again, chomping down on Diane’s foot. She screams as she gets pulled back towards the edge, but Ethan and Natalie quickly grab her.

Heather hears their screams and stands up, running towards the bow. She sees Diane in distress and runs over to them, trying to pull Diane away from the shark.

Diane’s legs disappear in the dark abyss of the animal’s gullet, blood running down her legs and soaking into her clothes.

HEATHER
Mom!!

The shark chomps down, disconnecting Diane’s legs from the rest of her body. Blood sprays on Heather, Ethan, and Natalie as they fall back with Diane in their hands.

CUT TO BLACK

HEATHER (O.S.)
(Crying)
No!!

ETHAN (O.S.)
Get the towels!

HEATHER (O.S.)
Mom...

ETHAN (O.S.)
...Stop the bleeding——

FADE IN

EXT. YACHT

Diane lies on her back, her arms spread out and blood profusely gushing from her legs, creating a huge pool of red liquid that pours off into the ocean water.

Natalie brings towels to Ethan and they begin wrapping it around Diane’s stubs, pushing down on her injuries.

Diane wheezes as she stays conscious, her arms shaking as she reaches down towards her legs, but Ethan moves them away, crying.

ETHAN
No, Mom, keep your arms above you...

DIANE
Kyle...

ETHAN
Mom just stay awake for us...
(Frustrated)
Just stay awake!
(Slamming his fist)
I can’t get this tied around her leg! I can’t stop the bleeding!

NATALIE
Ethan calm down!

ETHAN
Calm down? How can I calm the fuck down when my Mom is bleeding to death!?

Diane begins coughing, and a drip of slobber rolls down from the corner of her mouth.

Heather grabs Ethan, holding him close to him. He buries his face into her shoulder, gripping her arms.

HEATHER
(Shaky voice)
I’m here for you, Ethan...Mom’s going to be okay.

Heather looks away as Natalie watches her comfort him.

FLASHBACK

EXT. YACHT

HEATHER
...but I looked after him. Him and I bonded well, and we’d always talk, and I helped him feel better...I helped him to be able to ignore it.

BACK TO SCENE

Natalie’s bottom lip quivers and she looks at Diane who stares up into space. She crawls over to Diane, moving her head so she can look at Natalie’s face.

NATALIE
We’re going to get you out of here, Mrs. Rockside, I——

DIANE
Please, Natalie...Call me Diane...

NATALIE
What?

DIANE
I know about you and Ethan, and I had a hunch that you two were going to get married sooner or later.

Natalie is speechless. Her eyes well up with tears.

DIANE (CONT’D)
I’m so proud of you two...I always knew you two were the perfect couple...
(Coughing)
I love Ethan so much...And I want you to take real good care of him, Natalie...

NATALIE
Mrs. Rockside, please, don’t say that...

DIANE
Make sure Zack doesn’t do any more crazy things and take care of Heather...

NATALIE
Mr. Rockside, we’re getting you out of here no matter what...

DIANE
But I’m so close, Natalie...I can almost touch it...

Natalie can’t take it. She turns away, wiping the tears from her eyes.

DIANE (CONT’D)
Tell them I love them, Natalie, will you?

NATALIE
I will, Mrs. Rockside...

DIANE
I told you to call me Diane now, Natalie...You’re family now...

Diane takes a breath. Her last one. Her eyes slowly flutter and her eyes roll back a little. Her eyelids drop and her hand gives one last twitch before everything becomes still.

Natalie doesn’t know what to do. She stares at Diane, a blank expression on her face, but tears still forming in her eyes.

She sits up and turns to Heather and Ethan. They’re at the front of the boat, holding each other. Natalie turns back and looks at Diane one more time.

She grabs a large beach towel and covers Diane’s body, slowly sliding away, hugging her legs, and breathing deeply. Each breath has a bit of shakiness in it.

EXT. OCEAN – DAY

Officer Carter starts a patrol boat with the same officer from the police station.

OFFICER CARTER
You sent out the helicopter, right?

OFFICER
Yes sir.

OFFICER CARTER
Where are the other patrol boats?

OFFICER
Each patrol boat is going to be 5 miles apart to cover more water.

Officer Carter backs the patrol boat out from the docks. He speeds off towards the open ocean.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Heather leans against the wall of the upper level, her legs spread out in front of her, looking away from her mother’s body.

She turns her head, looking back at the lumps underneath the beach towel. One of the lumps move. Heather sits up, alert.

The same lump moves again, twitching. A hand creeps out from underneath the towels, clawing at the floor of the boat. Heather jumps up and runs to her mother. She slowly lifts the towel away from Diane’s face, revealing a somewhat healthy face.

Heather begins hyperventilating as her mother’s hand slowly glides along Heather’s cheeks. She wipes away a tear coming from Heather’s eyes and brings her hand to her chest.

HEATHER
M...Mom?

DIANE
(Wheezing)
I...Love...You...

Heather takes Diane’s hand and squeezes it tightly.

NATALIE (O.S.)
Heather?

Heather spins around, screaming. Natalie kneels down and grabs Heather, trying to control her. Heather trashes around, her arms flying in the air. Natalie finally shushes her.

NATALIE
What were you doing?

HEATHER
She was talking to me...

Natalie looks behind Heather and sees Diane’s pale face, her eyes closed and her mouth open just a bit, dry slobber staining the corner of her mouth.

NATALIE
Oh my God...
(Holding Heather)
We have to get you out of the heat, Heather.

HEATHER
But my mom...

NATALIE
It’s the heat, it’s making you see things...

Natalie picks Heather up, still holding her. Heather turns around and reaches for her dead mother, crying, but Natalie holds her back.

HEATHER
But my——

NATALIE
She’s not here anymore, Heather, she——

HEATHER
Don’t say that——!

NATALIE
Heather, she’s gone!

Zack runs his fingers through his hair, covering his ears and keeping his eyes shut tight.

NATALIE (CONT’D)
And she isn’t coming back!
(Pause)
I’m so sorry...

Heather shakes herself free, infuriated.

HEATHER
Let me go!

She stumbles towards the railings of the boat, the top half of her body over the railing, parallel to the water. She slowly lifts herself up, tears still coming down her face. Ethan walks out from inside the yacht.

ETHAN
I couldn’t find the flare...gun...Heather what are you doing?

NATALIE
Get away from the railing, Heather.

HEATHER
Why? What more can that damn fish do to us now?

NATALIE
Heather, your mom told me to take care of you. I need you to get away——

HEATHER
My mom said that? Why should it matter?! She’s dead! It doesn’t serve a purpose! Because we’re stuck here and there is no help coming!

ETHAN
And what about me? Natalie may not be able to help you, but I need you to help me. You were always there for me, and I want it to stay that way!

NATALIE
Please get away from the railing! You may feel guilty for all of this, but it isn’t your fault! It’s none of ours! And if you get over that railing right now and get yourself killed, you’re going to make us feel guilty...and that’s going to make everything worse...

HEATHER
(Sliding down to a sitting position)
I don’t know what to do...! This thing is making us go insane!

Ethan and Natalie sigh in relief, their shoulders dropping. They run to Heather and kneel down next to her.

ETHAN
It’s okay! It’s okay! The good thing is that we’re still here and being here gives us a better chance of surviving...

Natalie stands up and looks over the railing into the water. In the water, another liquid is visible, but only a bit. Gas.

Ethan helps Heather up and they walk away from the railing slowly. Ethan looks back at Diane, the towel still not covering her face. He closes his eyes and looks at Natalie, who is still looking over the railing.

ETHAN
Natalie...

Natalie doesn’t turn around.

ETHAN (CONT’D)
Natalie can you get the towel?

SPLASH!

The shark comes out of the water, decapitating Natalie. Her body flies back and slides across the slipper deck of the boat. Ethan is too shocked to scream, as Heather jumps back.

Natalie’s body comes to a stop next to Zack. He screams a little bit of blood squirts out from the severed veins of Natalie’s neck, a little bit squirting on him. He struggles to get away, cringing at the body and his leg.

Ethan falls to the floor, unable to look away from his dead girlfriend’s body. Her arms twitch, but soon come to a complete stop, the blood running off into the water.

UNDERWATER

The shark rams into the back side of the yacht, pushing it into the rocks and over a tiny cliff. The rocks dig into the hull, cutting deeper into the gashes.

The back of the yacht slips off the edge of the rocks, falling over the cliff, filling up the inside of the yacht. The bow of the boat remains on the rocks, jammed between a crevasse in the reef.

EXT. YACHT

Natalie’s headless body slides towards the edge, but Ethan jumps and grabs her leg, keeping her body from going over the edge. Diane’s body slides to the side, but stops due to the wall of the upper level.

Water begins to get closer to the deck, and Zack pulls himself up, crawling towards Ethan and Heather.

HEATHER
What are we going to do?!

Heather stands up and tries pulling Ethan up, but he won’t budge.

HEATHER
Ethan!

ETHAN
Natalie...

HEATHER
Ethan! The boat is beginning to sink! We need to do something now!

ETHAN
But what about...?

HEATHER
She’s gone! Just like Crystal! Just like Mom and Dad and soon we are if we don’t think up something to save us!

Ethan doesn’t move or say anything.

HEATHER (CONT’D)
Ethan, I’m here for you! I’ve promised you that and I’m sticking to it! Just like you said...

Ethan looks up at Heather.

HEATHER (CONT’D)
What are we going to do?

He stands up.

ETHAN
What else can we do?

UNDERWATER

The shark rams into the boat again.

EXT. YACHT

Ethan flies over the railing and into the water. Heather screams, jumping in for him. Zack scrambles about, trying not to slide into the water.

He crawls over to the stairs that lead into the yacht.

UNDERWATER

Ethan sinks, his arms and legs thrashing through the water. He look up and sees Heather swimming towards him. She reaches for him, but they’re still too far apart.

He looks in front of him and sees the shark turning around and swimming towards them. Heather grabs him, but he pushes her out of the way, the shark scraping its teeth against his leg, ripping his swimming suit.

He screams underwater, bubbles blowing from his mouth, and he quickly pulls himself up towards the surface. Heather follows, trying to pull herself up as quickly as possible.

EXT. YACHT

Ethan pops out of the surface. Heather comes out of the water next to him, gasping for air. But they’re far from the boat.

ETHAN
A current must have pushed us out!

ZACK
Ethan! Swim! It’s coming for you two!

They turn around and see the sharks fin poking out of the water, followed by the tail pushing the animal towards them.

ETHAN
Swim!

HEATHER
(Having trouble)
I can’t...!

ETHAN
Come on!

Zack clings to the yacht as he tries to stand up, wincing at the pain.

He takes a step to his right, slipping on the water, falling down the stairs.

INT. YACHT

He falls into the water, much higher than before. Blood from his leg slowly bleeds through the towel and into the water, mixing in with it.

He comes out of the surface and gasps, trying to swim, but his leg makes him incapable of doing so.

EXT. YACHT

UNDERWATER

The shark swims beneath Ethan and Heather, completely ignoring them, and swims towards the boat.

EXT. YACHT

The back of the boat goes beneath the surface, pouring onto the deck. The water washes over Natalie’s body, her body floating on the surface and away from the boat.

INT. YACHT

The boat creaks as it sinks, and Zack sniffs the air, scrunching up is nose.

ZACK
Gas...?

Water begins pouring down the stairs and into the yacht where Zack is. He begins paddling towards the stairs when the shark swims out of the water and sticks its head into the entrance of the yacht, shaking its head about, snapping at Zack.

He falls back and into the water, kicking around and pushing debris out of his way. The shark continues to squeeze through the entrance, getting further and further inside.

Zack opens his eyes and pushes objects out of his way, trying to get a clear view. On the floor is the flare gun, floating only a few centimeters off the floor.

He grabs it, holding it in his hands and struggling to get back up towards the surface. He climbs onto the bed and stands up with a limp. He looks at the flare gun, keeping his distance from the shark.

EXT. YACHT

Ethan and Heather stop swimming, watching the shark trying to get in the yacht, the boat sinking slowly.

HEATHER
Zack!

INT. YACHT

The shark squeezes through a bit more, feet from Zack.

ZACK
Oh shit!

He looks at the flare gun once more, up against the wall, taking deep breaths. He looks over at the side of the yacht.

On the wall: a rack where three oxygen tanks sit halfway in the water.

Zack smiles at the shark.

ZACK
Hey, take a fucking bite out of this!

With his good leg, he lifts his foot up, kicking the animal in the nose with immense force. The shark splashes around, moving backwards slowly.

Zack jumps into the water, sticking his arm out of the water, pointing the up at the ceiling. He pulls the trigger, the flare pouncing off the ceiling and into the water, igniting the gas.

The fire heats up the oxygen tanks, building up the pressure. The fire engulfs the interior of the yacht.

EXT. YACHT

KABOOM!

A large fireball flies up into the air. Ethan and Heather scream and duck underwater, debris shooting into the water like bullets. Only the bow of the boat remains intact.

Wood, plastic, and other objects fly through the air and land in the water, and soon, smoke billows into the blue sky.

EXT. OCEAN – DAY

Officer Carter and the other officer hear the explosion. They turn their heads to the sound and see the fireball float into the air and the gray smoke turn the blue sky dark.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Ethan and Heather stare at the floating object on fire, stunned.

HEATHER
Zack...

ETHAN
Come on...

They begin swimming towards the rocks near the burning boat, climbing onto them and sitting down, the water only coming up to their waist.

They sit there, catching their breath and recollecting their thoughts. The two begin to chuckle quietly, but soon, their quiet laughter turns into soft crying. They wrap their arms around each other, holding each other tight.

HEATHER
We did it...

ETHAN
Yeah...We did...

Heather wipes her nose and looks behind her. In the distance, she sees Officer Carter’s boat. She gasps and turns her whole body around.

HEATHER
(Standing up)
Ethan...Ethan, look!

Ethan turns around and sees the boat. Flabbergasted, he stands up, too. They both begin to wave their arms, too happy to speak.

They jump up and down, embracing each other. They let go and turn back to the boat, waving their hands again.

Behind them, the great white, now severely burnt and muscle showing, jumps out of the water, snatching Heather’s legs and pulling her down. Her head hits the jagged rocks, killing her instantly, her skull shattered and blood flowing from her nose and eyes and the main wound.

Ethan falls back into the water as Heather is dragged underwater and devoured.

UNDERWATER

Ethan swims away from the rocks, and all becomes silent. He looks around, too afraid to go up to the surface. He begins swimming further away from the rocks when the shadow of the shark is visible coming around the reef.

The shark comes near him, its mouth open, ready to eat. Ethan lifts his foot up and kicks the shark in the eye. It jerks, swimming away from him. Near Ethan, stuck on a rock, is his father’s wetsuit, the oxygen tank still on it.

He swims over to it, taking the tank off the suit and sticking the mouthpiece in his mouth, breathing hard. He looks around, his vision blurry, but sees nothing moving.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Officer Carter stops his patrol boat next to the burning yacht.

OFFICER
What the hell do you think happened?

OFFICER CARTER
God knows what...That’s their boat...

OFFICER
How do you know?

OFFICER CARTER
The name: “Reina Del Mar”...That’s Kyle’s boat.

OFFICER
Fuck...

OFFICER CARTER
(Looking around)
Hello!? Is anybody out here!?

The ocean is quiet. Nothing but the crackling of the fire and the sound of the water splashing against the boat.

OFFICER
The boat just caught on fire. If anyone was in there, they’re gone. I’m sorry...

Officer Carter shakes his head.

OFFICER CARTER
They could have escaped the boat before it caught fire. They could still be out there.

OFFICER
I’ll radio them.
(Into walkie-talkie)
This is Officer Barnes. We’re going to be searching for a few more hours, and if we don’t find anything, we’ll head in.

OFFICER CARTER
Come on, let’s keep looking.

UNDERWATER

Ethan swims up towards the surface, his oxygen level on low. He hits the bottom of the patrol boat, feeling around for a way out from under it.

EXT. YACHT – DAY

Officer Carter sits down on one of the seats as the other officer sits in the captain’s seat. Officer Carter hears the bumping from underneath the boat and sits up a little, looking around.

OFFICER CARTER
You hear that?

OFFICER
It’s probably just the rocks.

UNDERWATER

Ethan swims to the back of the boat.

EXT. YACHT

The officer grabs the keys and begins to turn them.

UNDERWATER

Ethan swims beneath the propellers.

EXT. YACHT

The officer turns the keys, starting the engine. He pushes the throttle forward almost all the way.

UNDERWATER

The propellers spin, sucking Ethan’s head into them, blood exploding into the water, his head being jolted around as the propellers rips his head apart. His head gets caught in the propellers and he begins to get dragged along by the boat.

EXT. YACHT

Officer Carter sees the blood flowing outwards away from the engine.

OFFICER CARTER
Stop the boat! Stop the boat!

The officer turns the boat off. Officer Carter inches near the motor, looking over the edge. Blood bubbles up and Officer Carter looks closer.

Ethan’s body pops up, his head torn to shreds, and bits of flesh and brain float near the surface. Tiny fish come up and begin feeding on his body.

OFFICER CARTER
Holy shit...

OFFICER
What is it, Carter?

Officer continues to stare at the body, shocked. The fish feeding on Ethan’s dead body disperse quickly, darting in all directions.

Something scared them.

Officer Carter stands up, still looking at the body. He looks up and around the boat, and out towards sea.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

TITLE CARD: One month later.

EXT. OCEAN – DAY

UNDERWATER

SHARK’S POV

The shark speeds underwater, swimming around rocks and getting closer to the surface.

It surfaces, and in it’s direction, a metropolis. A thriving city with dozens of skyscrapers. And on the coastline is a popular tourist attraction, with thousands of people on the beach and in the water.

Behind the shark is a smaller Great White.

A baby.

CUT TO BLACK

THE END