1. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 1
PAGE ONE
1.1 – A house sits in a clearing on a hill, surrounded by a forest. Thick green woods covering low hills
surrounding the home. Trees as far as we can see. The house is a lone outpost, an overlarge log cabin,
thin smoke streaming from a chimney. Grey early morning light casts weak shadows across the
clearing. A figure stands in a first-floor window.
CAPTION (JAKE)
I never imagined I'd make it BACK here.
CAPTION (JAKE)
I don't know where ELSE we'd GO.
1.2 – Angle on the window. JAKE is a lined 35, prematurely aged, beaten by life too hard too soon. He
leans heavily on the windowsill. The kitchen behind him is modern, spacious, but littered with a mix of
kitchen utensils and takeout boxes.
CAPTION (JAKE)
I took JJ out of school for now. He's better off here with ME. And I'M better off up here away
from EVERYONE.
CAPTION (JAKE)
It's only for a little while.
1.3 – Inside the kitchen, behind Jake. He turns around at the sound of his son – JAKE JR, “JJ,” aged
seven – entering with a sleepy shuffle. JJ rubs an eye, yawns.
JAKE
Morning, Junior.
JJ
Morning, Senior.
1.4 – Close profile on Jake, to one side of the panel. This is his one happiness. A soft smile eases the
creases in his face, erasing years. Past him, JJ stands on a chair set against the counter, reaching for
cereal boxes in a cabinet.
CAPTION (JAKE)
This kid.
CAPTION (JAKE)
His MOM taught him that. He asked her what that part of his name MEANT. He hasn't said it
since –
(cont'd next page)

2. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 2
JJ
Dad?
1.5 – Close on JJ. Afraid he made a mistake.
JJ
It's still okay to say that, right?

3. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 3
PAGE TWO
2.1 – Small panel, close on Jake.
2.2 – Jake approaches JJ as he climbs down from the chair, reaching for his dad.
JAKE
Yeah, buddy...
2.3 – Jake holds JJ close. JJ clutches his daddy hard.
JAKE
I'm sure Mom LIKES it.
CAPTION (JAKE)
How can I possibly do this WITHOUT her?
2.4 – Outside, later in the day. Bright and sunny now, cheerful even. The surrounding woods are no less
imposing, but seem more inviting, like an adventure waits within. Jake and JJ run across a clean, well-
kept lawn. JJ wields a long stick like a staff, and Jake crouches low behind him, playing the monster.
CAPTION (JAKE)
This is exactly what I wanted. Forget the world. Leave it all behind.
CAPTION (JAKE)
Try not to miss her so much.
CAPTION (JAKE)
Focus on HIM. He NEEDS you.
2.5 – Jake nearly catches up with with JJ. He makes a face, makes claws with his hands.
JAKE
GROOOOWR
(link)
You're MINE, little human!
2.6 – JJ holds his staff outstretched before him, trying to bar Jake from coming closer.
JJ
You shall never break my magic shield!
(link)
NOW, Jack!

4. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 4
PAGE THREE
3.1 – Jake trips as he lunges for JJ, who steps aside, laughing.
JAKE
Wha – UNF
JJ
HaHA!
3.2 – JJ plants the end of his staff victoriously on Jake's chest.
JJ
The monster is beaten!
JAKE
I am vanquished!
3.3 – Jake starts to get up. JJ looks curiously at him.
JJ
What's “vanquished”?
JAKE
Another way to say BEATEN.
(link)
Who's JACK?
3.4 – JJ points down.
JJ
Just my friend.
(link)
Jack's your SHADOW.
3.5 – Long two-shot of the pair. Jake turns over his shoulder to look at “JACK” on the ground behind
him. The point of JJ's staff sits in the shadow's hand on the ground.
JAKE
Oh yeah?
(link)
Nice to MEET you, JACK.
(cont'd next page)

5. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 5
3.6 – High angle. The pair walk back to the house. Jake's shadow trails long on the ground behind
them. JJ has no shadow.
JAKE
How long has JACK been around, then?
JJ
As long as YOU, Dad. Duh.

6. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 6
PAGE FOUR
4.1 – Close on an internet search bar: TOO OLD FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS AGE? with assorted
results listed just out of view. Jake's on the phone.
JAKE (OP)
Look, I shouldn't have SAID anything.
(link)
We are FINE, Mom. I'm right here talking to YOU and JJ's out PLAYING.
4.2 – Pull back to reveal Jake at his desk, hunched over a book on parenting and a few piled childcare
magazines, each open to a different article. He holds his phone between his shoulder and ear as he
traces a finger beneath a line of the book he's reading.
JAKE
YES, he's in the WOODS. He's SEVEN. SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOYS like to play outside,
sometimes in WOODS. I did, especially when we were HERE.
(link)
WHY didn't you want us to come BACK here?
4.3 – Closer on Jake, but focused more on his shadow on the wall behind him – hunched, like him,
made more imposing by the conjoined shadows from lamps and computers and books.
JAKE
I LIKED it here. JJ does too.
(link)
I never thought it was possible to... go BACK. That's what it FEELS like. Back in TIME. Back
HOME.
(link)
Those FAIRY TALES Dad used to read – GRIMM. And they WERE. But they were
FANTASTIC.
(link)
Remember when we went to CHINCOTEAGUE, and I thought I found a door to ATLANTIS
beneath some rotted, sunken PLANKS just off the PIER? That's what I feel like NOW. Like I'm
living in a story-place. Where you could find something amazing if you only LOOKED the
right way, turned the right corner at the right time...
(link)
Here... I feel YOUNG again. Like MAGIC is back. And I'm not thinking about...
4.4 – Close angle on Jake, head in hands. We can see the forest boundary out the window behind him.
JAKE
...I'm not thinking about the life I'd REALLY like back.
(cont'd next page)

7. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 7
4.5 – Jake looks out the window to see a battered, bleeding JJ exit the woods, stumbling for the house.
JAKE (OP)
Don't worry about us.
(link)
We'll be – FINE...

8. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 8
PAGE FIVE
5.1 – Jake sits alone at the kitchen table, a plated sandwich before him, and another before an empty
chair. His hands are folded beneath his chin. He's anxious.
CAPTION (JAKE)
He comes back to the house LATER and LATER.
CAPTION (JAKE)
Every time now, he's got BRUISES and CUTS that he WON'T explain. Says he's having
ADVENTURES.
5.2 – Close on Jake, his gaze focused out a nearby window, on the forest.
CAPTION (JAKE)
Maybe I gave him TOO MUCH space. We've BARELY talked about his mother. He's straying
FARTHER and FARTHER from me.
CAPTION (JAKE)
What's he thinking? What's he DOING?
5.3 – Jake, framed in the doorway of the house, exiting, silhouetted against the sky.
CAPTION (JAKE)
What's OUT there?
5.4 – Long shot. Jake walks into the forest. It overwhelms his small figure.
5.5 – Jake, walking among the tangled branches and roots, feet tracking along a thin dirt path. He looks
up at the thick Gordian knot of branches above, a natural ceiling closing in. He calls for his son.
JAKE
Junior?
CAPTION (JAKE)
These TREES. I REMEMBER. The soft dirt beneath my feet. Soft light through the canopy...
5.6 – Jake's POV, looking up at the dense canopy... getting denser. More tangled.
CAPTION (JAKE)
...and how quickly that light DISAPPEARS as you GO ON.

9. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 9
PAGE SIX
6.1 – Close on Jake, picking his way between two old, thick oak trunks.
CAPTION (JAKE)
He's LOST. MUST be. The number of times I lost MY way in these woods...
CAPTION (JAKE)
He's alright.
6.2 – Push closer on Jake, turning his head sharply to look over his shoulder.
CAPTION (JAKE)
PLEASE. Please let my son be ALRIGHT.
JACK (OP)
Jake.
6.3 – We look past Jake, in the foreground, at his shadow standing in the air. It's a ragged hole in space,
no face, no distinguishing features. Thin tendrils of darkness snake out of its otherwise human form,
like reality around it has cracked to let it come through. JJ stands at its feet, head bowed. The shadow
lays a dark hand on his shoulder.
JACK
Who are you ASKING?
6.4 – Long shot. Jake takes a hesitant step toward Jack, who outstretches his other hand.
JAKE
Give me my SON.
JACK
He is no more mine to GIVE than he is yours to TAKE.
JAKE
What – what IS this? What ARE you?
6.5 – Close on the shadow, a slow black flame, crackling spacetime around it.
JACK
You LEFT me here, Jake.
(link)
I've been waiting for you to come BACK.

10. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 10
PAGE SEVEN
7.1 – Medium on Jake, kneeling, reaching out for JJ. He's shaking. He's shaken.
JAKE
JJ – can you hear me? Are you ALRIGHT?
(link)
It's gonna be FINE, buddy. Okay? It's gonna be –
JACK (OP)
Your words mean nothing.
7.2 – Close on JJ, eyes shrouded, head bowed, almost enveloped by the crackling shadow around him.
When Jack speaks, it is with JJ's mouth.
JJ/JACK
It is too late for BARGAINS. One has been MADE. Do you FORGET youthful words with
such EASE? Has the PAIN of LIFE FORCED them from your mind? That can be AMENDED.
(link)
MAGIC lies in OLD PLACES, Jake, and the roots of these woods delve DEEP. Once, you
KNEW. And it brought you BACK, now, in your time of TROUBLE.
7.3 – Jake stands before Jack. Their shapes match up almost perfectly, save for the broken halo
surrounding Jack the shadow.
JACK
Have you forgotten the boy who wandered through these trees? Who danced with me over
brook and boulder? Your COMPANION through all things, to whom you confided your
innermost fears and fantasies?
7.4 – Close on Jack. The empty black of his head fills almost the entire panel.
JACK
The boy MISHEARD my NAME, Jake. EVERYTHING casts a SHADOW. It is what you leave
BEHIND. And you left me HERE, WAITING, until the time was right to COLLECT.
(link)
The time is NOW.
(link)
Are you READY to RETURN?
7.5 – Close on Jake. Scared. Unsure.
(cont'd next page)

11. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 11
JAKE
Return? Collect?
(link)
What? To WHERE? I don't understand.
7.6 – Jack walks toward Jake. JJ passes through him, still as the grave, head still bowed.
JACK
MEMORIES have POWER, and that is perhaps the BEST description of what I AM. I am the
PAST ready to RECLAIM you, dear, dear Jake. Your SON is but a MIRROR of what
you could RETURN to.
JAKE (small)
How?
(link)
How could I?

12. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 12
PAGE EIGHT
8.1 – The shadow stops a few feet from Jake, hand outstretched.
JACK
Take your son's PLACE.
(link)
There is no CHANGE without SACRIFICE. No BARGAIN without an EXCHANGE. The boy
is YOUNG and has so little life lived. The WORLD will spin on.
(link)
What do you wish NOW, Jake? That you had not, with the clear eyes of YOUTH, given
yourself this CHANCE? You cannot be as you WERE. You cannot remain as you ARE.
8.2 – Close on Jake, unwilling to face what's before him. Eyes screwed shut, tears gathering. He made
his choice, years ago, and he must live with it.
JACK (OP)
You can BEGIN AGAIN. Start ANEW. Leave LOSS and PAIN behind. The COST is merely
your CHILD. REPLACE him.
(link)
If you do not fulfill the CONTRACT, there are WORSE alternatives.
(link)
Your WIFE has PASSED. Who will MISS him?
8.3 – Small panel, extreme close on Jake's wide, tearing eye.
JAKE (small)
I would.
CAPTION (JAKE)
I REMEMBER.
CAPTION (JAKE)
Imaginary friends. PLAYMATES in the WOODS. PROMISES made. When things were
EASIER. To stay as I WAS.
8.4 – Jake takes Jack's hand.
CAPTION (JAKE)
BETTER than I AM now.
JACK
Replace this LIFE that has FAILED you.
(cont'd next page)

13. What You Leave Behind © Gabe Fremuth 13
8.5 – Close on Jack's grin, white pointed teeth stark against he blackness. An evil smile.
CAPTION (JACK/JAKE)
Replace the life made to replace YOURS.
CAPTION (JACK/JAKE)
RECLAIM what you left behind.
8.6 – Close on JJ's shadowed face. A tear trickles down from shadowed eyes.
CAPTION
It's only a FAIRY TALE.