Ben wakes up unconscious in a strange land and encounters a nameless man holding a rabbit. The man leads Ben through a series of "challenges" - drinking wine that gives him courage and eating a cake that gives him health. The man then reveals to Ben that he is dead, having died without remembering how. The man says Ben is now on the next stage of life and leaves Ben alone with the rabbit to decide his next step.

1. “BY RABBITS AND WINE”
By
Alec C
Parsonage Barn Lane
Ringwood, BH24 1SE
01425 475000

2. 2
FADE IN:
EXT. COUNTRY PATH – DAY
Open on a close up of the closed eyes of Ben as he lays
unconscious on the ground. Suddenly Ben snaps his eyes open
and let’s out a gasp as he begins to sit up and look around
him at the shaded avenue he finds himself in. Wondering
where he is, he rises to his feet and looks around him.
BEN
Where am I?
Ben is obviously anxious as he holds himself and begins to
tremble slightly as he begins to slowly walk backwards.
BEN
How on earth did I get here?
Ben continues to walk backwards until he bumps into
something fluffy. He turns around to see a tall blonde man
dressed in white holding a rabbit in his hands, he smiles
at ben – ben freaks out.
NAMELESS MAN
Good-morning
BEN
*shrieks*
Ben leaps backwards away from the man, tripping over his
own feet and falling to the ground where he raises his arms
to defend himself as he shuffles along the ground.
BEN
Pl-plea-please don’t hurt me, please!

3. 3
The nameless man just stands motionless with a calm
expression and offers a hand to help ben up. Ben shudders
backwards from his outstretched arm.
NAMELESS MAN
Calm down ben, we are not going to hurt
you. Please, let me help you up.
Ben takes his hands gingerly and begins to stand up, but
keeps his distance from the man.
BEN
Wait, how do you know my name and what do
you mean by we?
NAMELESS MAN
It is the duty of myself and my friend
here to know.
(Gestures towards rabbit)
BEN
W-wait what? (Pause) What do you mean?
(Ben is clearly frustrated)
NAMELESS MAN
Come, your questions will be answered
soon.
SCENE TWO: EXT – COUNTRY PATH
The two men emerge from the dense avenue into a path
passing through the center of a wide open hay meadow, the
Nameless Man leads with Ben following a few paces behind
cautiously.

4. 4
BEN
Can you tell what the hell is going on
now!
The nameless man remains silent, stops and gestures to a
single goblet filled with wine resting on a log surrounded
by wildflowers and grasses.
NAMELESS MAN
Drink
BEN
Piss off
NAMELESS MAN
Don’t worry its completely safe, now
please drink
The nameless man lifts the goblet and passes it ben who
reluctantly takes it from him.
BEN
If you’re lying-
NAMELESS MAN
Please (pause) Drink
(Ben closes his eyes and
slowly takes a small sip of
the liquid)

5. 5
A wave of relief and understanding washes over Ben as he
opens his eyes with, for the first time, a smile on his
face.
BEN
Wow (pause) what was that?!
(The nameless man takes the
goblet from ben and places it
back on the stump)
NAMELESS MAN
Just a little drink to help us on your
journey (pause) now, onto the next
challenge.
BEN
I’m sorry?
NAMELESS MAN
Come on.
The nameless man walks off with ben hesitating for a moment
then continuing to follow him
SCENE THREE: EXT – WOODLAND CLEARING
The duo walk into a woodland clearing in the middle of
which lays a single small cake on a silver platter with a
single cherry resting on top, the nameless man points at
it.

6. 6
BEN
Let me guess, you want me to eat it.
NAMELESS MAN
Correct
BEN
Can I refuse?
NAMELESS MAN
No, not really
Ben walks up to the cake, looks at it for a few seconds,
picks it up then eats it in one mouthful – stuffing it in
his mouth.
BEN
(Chews and swallows the whole
cake with effort)
As the cake slides down bens throat a smile spreads across
his face, growing into an ecstatic grin spreading from ear
to ear.
BEN
(Turns to the nameless man)Ok
that wasn’t that bad – what’s
next?
NAMELESS MAN
(Does not reply and simply stands and
walks away beckoning ben to follow - he
does)

7. 7
The two arrive at a large oak tree, its branches spanning
outwards to create a large area of shade underneath, it has
reached evening and the sun is beginning to set casting the
landscape in pink and orange light. The nameless man stops
and turns to ben with a gaunt expression.
NAMELESS MAN
I am sorry but you are not the sharpest
are you?
BEN
I’m sorry?
NAMELESS MAN
You still do not understand that – that
you are dead
BEN
What?!
Ben takes a step back in shock but remains calm.
NAMELESS MAN
You wake up randomly in a strange land
completely devoid of life apart from a man
and a rabbit and you just go along with
it?
BEN
Well I was too scared to ask any
questions. (pause) So those ‘challenges’
what were those?

8. 8
NAMELESS MAN
The wine gave you courage and allowed you
to accept your fate, the cake gave you
everlasting health.
BEN
So if I am dead, how come I don’t remember
how I died?
NAMELESS MAN
Because it doesn’t matter, you’re on the
next stage of life now – the next of many.
BEN
Well – what’s next?
NAMELESS MAN
That is for you to decide.
The nameless man hands ben the rabbit and the proceeds to
walk behind the tree out of sight
BEN
Wait! Hold up!
Ben walks around to follow the nameless man only to find
that he has disappeared and is now alone, leaving ben and
the rabbit alone.
THE END