Chapter 4 (Episode I)

**Chapter 4** is the fourth chapter of The White Shapes: Episode I - The Rise of the Shapers. It was written by Donald Newton.

## Plot

Nicole and Chris take a trip to the Emerson field to look for their childhood treasures when they are ambushed by the Shapers.

## Full Chapter

INT. COSGROVE COMMUNITY CENTER - DAY

Mayor Rawlins speaks to a large audience, which includes Clay, Sam, Linda, Bruce, Roger, Marty, Laura, Dani, and Carla.

RAWLINS: The man I have chosen is known to us all. He is the son of a legendary hero to us all. And I believe that he will bring the same great leadership and protection to our city that his father had. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to introduce to you all...the new Sheriff of Cosgrove...Anthony Lopez!

Everyone applauds as Anthony, now wearing the issued SHERIFF'S UNIFORM, steps to the podium. The Mayor and Sheriff shake hands for a moment. Rawlins steps aside to allow the new Sheriff to speak to the audience.

ANTHONY: Good afternoon. I want to thank Mayor Rawlins for this honor. From the moment I witnessed my father becoming sheriff over twenty years ago, I knew that I'd want to follow in his footsteps in becoming a police officer. But I never thought that I'd ever become Sheriff. Especially not this early in my career. I watched my father, during the worst times of our city, as he protected us all from the crimes that plagued this great city. He worked hard to make this a safer community for us all. So as a tribute to my late father, I will dedicate myself to making sure that his hard work stays with us and I will protect this city from whatever threatens us. Rather it being from within Cosgrove or outside of Cosgrove. I will protect this city.

Everyone applauds this speech. Everyone has faith and confidence in their new Sheriff, which helps Anthony feel good about his new job.

INT. FOSTER RESIDENCE - NICOLE'S BEDROOM - DAY

Chris opens his laptop and switches it on. It's taking a while to load, which makes him sigh in frustration. Nicole walks in.

NICOLE: What are you doing, sweetheart?

CHRIS: Well, if the laptop would load fully, I am going to look for the map for Emerson. I had our spot marked on the map.

NICOLE: I thought you still had the original map.

CHRIS: I did. I knew I'd lose it. So not long after I had it marked, I redrew the map, including the mark, on the laptop just in case we lost it. And we did. So I'm hoping that I still have it on here.

Chris goes through several folders until he eventually finds it.

CHRIS: Here it is.

Chris clicks on the map's icon and opens it onto the screen.

CHRIS: Look at that.

NICOLE: Oh, I remember now. It looks the same.

CHRIS: I will print it out and we shall go.

NICOLE: Please.

Chris proceeds to print out the map.

INT. FOSTER RESIDENCE - NICOLE'S BEDROOM - DAY (MOMENTS LATER)

Nicole and Chris are now packing stuff up and getting ready for their "field trip." Nicole has packed up some snacks for them to have.

EXT. FOSTER RESIDENCE - BACKYARD - DAY

Chris, wearing his backpack, walks out of the shed with two shovels.

EXT. FOSTER RESIDENCE - DRIVEWAY - DAY

As Chris is placing the shovels in the trunk of his car, Nicole comes out from the front door with her backpack.

CHRIS: You ready, Nicole?

NICOLE: I am.

CHRIS: Let's hit the road.

The couple get into the car and drive off.

EXT. EMERSON FIELD - DAY

The Emerson Field is a beautiful field of grass. There are trees and woods that surround the entire field. In the middle of the field is a large WATER TOWER.

Coming through a path between the trees is Chris and Nicole. They become so excited upon entering the field. Memories of their childhood hit them.

NICOLE: Oh, my God!

CHRIS: We made it.

NICOLE: It's been so long. But I feel like we're back in our elementary and middle school days.

CHRIS: I feel that, too.

Chris pulls out the printed out map and looks at it.

CHRIS: (pointing at different spots) So we're here and the treasure is...there! I knew it was close by the water tower.

The couple run over towards the water tower and find the spot that they're looking for.

CHRIS: Oh, boy. I just hope nobody has found our treasure in the last ten years.

NICOLE: I hope so, too.

They pull out the shovels from Chris's bag and proceeds to dig up the spot. They dig deeper and deeper to the point that they begin to feel nervous.

CHRIS: Oh, God! Did someone find it?

Suddenly -- BUMP! BUMP! Their shovels hit something.

CHRIS: FOUND IT!

They dig around the box so that they can get a hold of it. Chris and Nicole carefully pick up the box from the sides, pulling it out of the ground and onto the grass.

NICOLE: Oh, I'm so emotional that I could cry.

CHRIS: I just might.

They open the box and find it filled with toys and other items from their childhood.

NICOLE: (emotional) Oh, God!

Nicole picks up a tea cup and begins reminiscing over it.

NICOLE: I remember when my Grandma gave this to me. We use to play tea parties before she passed.

Chris picks up an old action figure that gets him emotional.

CHRIS: I remember that my brother and I use to fight over this all the time. He wanted it so bad. I wasn't going to let him have it. So I hid it in here so that he'd never find it. Of course, we both forgot about it.

Chris and Nicole smile over their cherished treasures that they buried so many years ago.

EXT. EMERSON FIELD - WOODS - DAY

Chris and Nicole carry the box into the backseat of the car.

CHRIS: I am so glad that we finally did this.

NICOLE: Me, too. It's been a good outing for us.

The couple embrace each other and kiss each other.

NICOLE: I love you, Chris.

CHRIS: I love you, Nicole.

Their romantic moment is ruined when they hear FOOTSTEPS coming towards their direction. They turn to where the footsteps are coming from. A look of horror consumes their faces upon finding -- A HERD OF SHAPERS heading in their direction.

CHRIS: What the fuck are those?

The Herd is being led by the BLACK TRENCHCOAT SHAPER from the opening. He sees them and pulls out a knife. This is followed by the other Shapers pulling out sharp and deadly weapons, showing their intent to harm the couple.

NICOLE: We've got to get out of here.

They jump into the car and start driving off.

EXT. EMERSON WOODS - DAY

Chris speeds his car away from where they were, away from the herd.

INT. CHRIS'S CAR - DAY

NICOLE: Those must be those creatures that people have been talking about.

CHRIS: I thought it was just bullshit stuff. That shit is very real.

Before they can get further -- A SECOND HERD APPEARS IN FRONT OF THEM.

CHRIS: Oh, shit.

They look in all direction, behind them, on their right, and left. The herds are coming at them from all direction. They're trapped.

Nicole realizes that there is only way option to escape from them.

NICOLE: Run them over.

Chris nods. He presses on the gas, preparing to speed into the herd coming in front of them.

CHRIS: Fuck you, guys!

Chris slams on the gas -- RUNNING OVER THE HERD!

As Chris continues to speed on forward, away from the herd, Nicole turns back to find, much to her horror and shock, that -- THE HERD GETS RIGHT BACK UP -- Unharmed and unfazed by the hit.

NICOLE: (horrified) Oh, my God!

CHRIS: (turning his head back) What?

Chris sees the very same creatures that he just ran over get back up and still chasing him.

NICOLE: I don't think that hurt them.

Chris turns back to see -- A SHAPE ON THE ROAD. This startles Chris, causing him to swerve and lose control of his car. Chris's car rams into a tree.

INT. CHRIS'S CAR - DAY

The couple have been saved by airbags. But they are still slightly injured.

CHRIS: Are you okay, Nicole?

NICOLE: Yeah. How about you?

CHRIS: Fine.

Chris realizes that his car won't start.

CHRIS: We gotta run.

Chris and Nicole get out of the car.

EXT. EMERSON WOODS - DAY

The couple see the herd coming for them. So they proceed to run into a walking trail. The Shapers follow them.

EXT. EMERSON WOODS - TRAIL - DAY

Chris and Nicole run fast through the woods as the Shapers enters the trail.

NICOLE: They're catching up!

They start running faster. Chris accidentally slips on mud.

CHRIS: SHIT!

Chris falls. Nicole grabs him. But by grabbing her in hopes of breaking his fall, the much stronger Chris accidentally pulls the weaker and smaller Nicole down with him. The couple rolls off the trail and into -- A POOL OF MUD!

Chris and Nicole are covered from head to toe with mud.

CHRIS: Are you okay?

NICOLE: Yeah.

CHRIS: I didn't mean for that to happen.

NICOLE: It's okay.

Chris helps his girlfriend up off the mud and they climb back up on the trail. Upon re-entering the trail, the couple are horrified to find -- THE HERD SURROUNDING THEM.

NICOLE: (panicking) What do we do?

CHRIS: I don't know.

The Shapers start to approach them. Chris and Nicole hold each other tight, expecting their impending doom.

CHRIS: I just want you to know that I love you.

NICOLE: I love you, too, Chris.

A Shaper reaches to their position. The couple closes their eyes with anticipation of their murder. But then -- the Shaper passes them.

They open their eyes to find that the Shapers are looking around for them -- Despite the fact that they are right there.

SHAPERS' POV.

The Shapers are searching for their target. But they don't see them. They see a mass in the middle, which is where the couple are standing. But they don't recognize it as their target or as a threat. In their eyes, it may as well be a tree or a giant rock. But not a human target.

BACK TO SCENE

As the Shapers continue their search for the couple, It finally dawns on Chris and Nicole...

NICOLE: They don't see us.

CHRIS: No...they don't.

NICOLE: How is that possible?

Chris looks his hand, which is still caked in mud. It finally hits him...

CHRIS: It's the mud. They can't see through the mud.

Nicole has a look of relief on her face as she realize that they're somewhat safe at the moment.

We get an ESTABLISHING SHOT above the herd. Chris and Nicole are directly in the middle of this large herd. The mud is saving their lives right now. The Shapers have no idea that they are standing right in the middle of them.

## Trivia

* The first chapter to focus mainly on Nicole and Chris rather Clay.
* The first time a main character encounters a Shaper.