Marcus takes his younger brothers to nursery before school. When he returns to pick them up, he is told that his brother Harrison was picked up by a woman claiming to be his aunt for a dentist appointment. However, Marcus was not informed of this and realizes Harrison has been kidnapped. He panics and searches frantically for Harrison around the nursery with his father while the police are called.

1. WITHOUT A TRACE
[WORKING TITLE]
Written and directed by
Joshua Bailey
May 8th, 2019

2. OVER BLACK - THE SOUND OF AN ALARM GOING OFF
FADE IN:
INT. HOUSE – MORNING
CLOSE UP – MARCUS’ EYES OPEN AS HE SLOWLY WAKES UP
SOUNDS OF CHILDREN PLAYING CAN BE HEARD
VOICE FROM DOWNSTAIRS APPEARS
-MARCUS’ MUM-
Marcus. I need help with the boys!
CAMERA IS NOW POINTING TOWARDS THE WINDOW – MARCUS SITS UP
FROM HIS BED
-MARCUS’MUM-
Marcus!
-MARCUS-
Yawning and visibly tired
Coming! Alexa… wake me up
MUSIC STARTS PLAYING AND SHOWS A MONTAGE OF MARCUS ROUTINE OF
GETTING READY AND IS THEN AGAIN INTERUPTED BY A LOUD VOICE
FROM DOWNSTAIRS
SOMEONE MARCHING UP THE STAIRS IS HEARD AND THEN TE CAMERA
CUTS TO A SHOT OF MARCUS’ MUM WALK IN THE BATHROOM WHILE HE IS
BRUSHING HIS TEETH
-MARCUS’MUM-
Looking distressed
You’re going to have to take the kids again. I haven’t got time to
drop them off I have to leave now
-MARCUS-
Still brushing teeth
Augh but that just makes me late! Why can’t Lisa take them?
-MARCUS’MUM-

3. She’s got work too so you’re going to have to; I need to go to.
Their bags are on the sofa and they need to be there in 20
minutes so don’t take so long in here. Thank you
-MARCUS-
Ah ok fine, but if I get a detention you’re calling up to explain
what happened.
-MARCUS’MUM-
Now relieved
Yes ok. Thank you. Loveyabye.
-MARCUS-
Loveyabye.
CUT TO: MID-SHOT
INT. HOUSE – DOWNSTAIRS
TWO CHILDREN PLAYING DOWNSTAIRS WITH TOYS
MARCUS WALKS PAST THE SHOT TOWARDS THEM HOLDING TWO BAGS AND
PUTS ONE ON EACH CHILDS SHOULDERS
HARRISON THE OLDER OF THE TWO CHILDEN PUTS HIS OWN BAG ON
-HARRISON-
Is it school now?
-MARCUS-
Yeah it’s school now.
-HARRISON-
Do you not have school?
-MARCUS-
Smirking

4. Apparently not now. Come on, let’s go. Come on Thodo
CUT TO: WIDE SHOT
EXT. ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD
MARCUS WALKING WITH HIS BROTHERS HOLDING BOTH HIS HANDS
-MARCUS-
You looking forward to school Thodo?
-THODO-
(Marcus’ youngest brother)
Bah!
-MARCUS-
What about you Harry? What are you going to do today?
-HARRISON-
Looking towards the floor and kicking stones
Umm... Colouring
-MARCUS-
Ah nice, are you going to bring that home for mummy to see
late-
CUT TO: WIDE-SHOT
EXT. ROAD BESIDES THE NURSERY – SUNNY MORNING
MARCUS STOPS SPEAKING AD HE HEARS A DOG BARKING CLOSE TO THEIR
NURSERY. ALL THREE WALK CLOSER AND AS THEY DO MARCUS NOTICES A
LARGE BLACK 4X4 PARKED RIGHT OUTISIDE THE DOORS OF THE
NURSERY.MARCUS HASTILY WALKS PAST TO DROP OFF THE TODDLERS
-MARCUS-

5. Ok. You’ve both got everything. Ah did you enjoy walking with
your brother? Remember to bring the drawing back. Shall Marcus
come pick you up as well?
-HARRISON-
No I want daddy
-THODO-
Bah…
-MARCUS-
Oh. Ok. Well I didn’t want to anyway so that’s good
A WOMAN COMES OUT TO THE NURSERY TO HELP THE BOYS INSIDE SHE
SMILES AT MARCUS AND TAKES HARRISON’S AND THOMAS’ HANDS
-NURSERY WORKER-
Say bye-bye you two
-HARRISON & THOMAS-
Bye-bye/ Bah
-MARCUS-
Alright I’ll see you later. Loveyabye
HARRISON AND THOMAS SHAKE THEIR HANDS MARCUS WAVES AS HIS
BROTHERS WALK INDOORS AND TURN THEIR BACKS. AS HE WALKS AWAY
HE SEES THE BLACK 4X4 START IT’S ENGINE AND WAIT FOR HIM TO
CONTINUE WALKING BEFORE DRIVING AWAY
CUT TO: VERY WIDE SHOT
EXT. MARCUS’SCHOOL – MORNING
THEN CUT TO: CLOSE UP OF A CLOCK ON A WALL ABOUT TO REACH 3:25
ONCE IT DOES AN ALARM IS HEARD AND WE CUT TO A MID-SHOT OF
MARCUS WALKING OUT OF SCHOOL WITH HIS FRIENDS BEN AND OLLIE
-BEN-

6. So when’s your detention?
-MARCUS-
Tomorrow after school.
-BEN-
Ah nice so you can come out now then?
-MARCUS-
Well not necessarily.
-OLLIE-
Snake.
-MARCUS-
Jokingly
I’m sorry I have to pick up my little brothers ok.
-OLLIE-
Still pretty snaky though.
-BEN-
To be fair.
-MARCUS-
Ok well I don’t see it and I’ll be able to after so just text me
yeah?
-BEN & OLLIE-
Nah
-MARCUS-
Dicks. I’ll see you later anyway

7. MARCUS TRAILS OFF TOWARDS THE ROAD TO WAIT TO GET PICKED UP
WHILE BEN AND OLLIE WALK HOME. IN THE DISTANCE HE SEES HIS
DADS CAR DRIVE TOWARDS HIM. HE GETS IN
-MARCUS’ DAD-
How was your day?
-MARCUS-
Sighing
Alright thanks yeah. How was work?
-MARCUS’ DAD-
Mimicking the sigh
Same as always really? Did the boys get to nursery ok?
-MARCUS-
Yeah they were fine. Said they wanted you to pick them up
-MARCUS’ DAD-
Ah well they’re going to get a nice surprise then
-MARCUS-
Let me go get them though, I told them that I was coming as a
joke. So I’ll get them bring them out then they’ll be really
surprised to see you
-MARCUS’ DAD-
Laughing
You really want to get them don’t you?
-MARCUS-
Just thought it would be funny
MARCUS’ DAD LAUGHS AS THEY DRIVE TO GO PICK UP THE CHILDREN.
CUT TO: VERY-WIDE SHOT

8. EXT. NURSERY – AFTERNOON CLOUDY
AS MARCUS AND HIS DAD PULL INTO THE NURSERY PARKING. MARCUS
GETS OUT AT HEADS TOWARDS TO THE BUILDING WHILE HIS DAD SPEAKS
TO THE OTHER PARENTS. THE SAME WOMAN WHO TOOK HIS BROTHERS IN
COMES OUT AGAIN TO SPEAK TO MARCUS.
-NURSERY WORKER-
With a smile on her face
Back for Thomas I see.
-MARCUS-
Awkward laughter
Well, here for both of them technically but Thodo is my favourite.
Thomas sorry, Thodo’s just a little nickname.
THE WOMAN FROM THE NURSERY COLLECTED THOMAS’ THINGS AND GAVE
THEM TO MARCUS. SHE PICKED UP A DRAWING THAT HARRISON WAS
DRAWING EARIER FROM A TABLE NEXT TO A WINDOW
-NURSERY WORKER-
Giggling to herself
Aw that’s cute. Oh I didn’t realise Harrison came back. Probably
to finish off his drawing.
-MARCUS-
I’m sorry? What do you mean?
-NURSERY WORKER-
When Harrison went for his dentist appointment?
-MARCUS-
Looking shocked
He didn’t… he didn’t have one
FEAR FILLS BOTH OF THEIR FACES AS THEY REALISE WHAT HAS
HAPPENED. MARCUS LOOKS DOWN AT HARRISON’S DRAWING AND SEES A

9. PICTURE OF THE TREES AND CAR PARK JUST OUTSIDE THE NURSERY
WITH A LARGE BLACK CAR IN VIEW
-NURSERY WORKER-
It was a woman. A woman came in saying he had the dentist
and he had to leave
MARCUS STARTS TO SHAKE AND STARTS TO GET ANGRY
-MARCUS-
And you just let him go? With no proof?!
-NURSERY WORKER-
She called me. Beforehand. And said she was his auntie and
she’s calling from work so I couldn’t call her back.
-MARCUS-
And that was enough for you?
-NURSERY WORKER-
I’m sorry. I didn’t… she was so convincing. Just let me get the
phone I’ll ring the number back
-MARCUS-
No ring the police! My brother is missing
MARCUS’SHAKING GETS WORSE AND CLENCHES HIS FISTS AS HE RUNS TO
THE DOOR. THE WOMAN RUNS TO THE PHONE BUT TURNS BACK TO MAKE
SURE THE OTHER CHILDREN ARE OK
-NURSERY WORKER-
Ok sir please. Just give me a second I need to check the
children

10. -MARCUS-
And I need my brother!
MARCUS RUNS OUT THE DOOR AND INTO HIS FATHER
-MARCUS’ DAD-
Hey be careful, calm down, why’re you running? Where are the
boys?
-MARCUS-
Harrison!
MARCUS STANDS UP AND RUNS ACROSS THE CAR PARK SHOUTING IT
DIDN’T TAKE LONG BEFORE HIS FATHER KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG. HE
LOOKS AT THE WORKER’S FACE IN HORROR AND JOINS MARCUS IN
ELLING OUT FOR HARRISON
-MARCUS’ DAD-
No no no. Harrison?!
-MARCUS-
Harrison? Harry? Harrison?!
THE CAMERA CHAGES FOCUS BETWEEN MARCUS, HIS FATHER AND THE
OTHER CHILDREN INSIDE LOOKING OUT TE WINDOW AT THEM BOTH
LOOKING FOR HARRISON. HIS FATHER IS LOOKING BEHIND BUSHES
WHILE THE CAMERA AIMS ON MARCUS AND GETS CLOSER. THE LAST
THING THAT IS HEARD IS MARCUS CALLING FOR HIS BROTHER
CUT TO: BLACK
MARCUS’ SHOUTING FADES OUT WITH THE SCREEN
End of Chapter 1