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THE GIFT
EXT. FOREST (NIGHT)
LAURA AND CARMILLA ARE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS. IN THE
DISTANCE THE DECORATED LIGHTS OF THE CABIN FLICKER LIKE A
WELCOMING BEACON.
CARMILLA
I don't think your dad likes me very
much.
LAURA
Don't say that, of course he likes
you. He just, he has a funny way of
showing it.
CARMILLA
He doesn't trust me because I'm a
vampire.
LAURA
He doesn't trust anyone, the fact that
you are a vampire and he welcomes you
into our home is kind of a small
miracle.
CARMILLA
Hmm, it's a wonder how normal you
turned out.
LAURA
Hey!
THEY CONTINUE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS. SNOW BEGINS TO FALL,
SLOWLY AT FIRST BUT GETTING MORE INTENSE QUICKLY.
LAURA (CONT'D)
Are you okay Carm? You seem
distracted. Are you sick, or hungry?
Do you want a blood bag?
LAURA RUMMAGES THROUGH HER BACKPACK. THIS TIME SHE CAME
PREPARED: BLOOD PACKS, SNACKS, A MAP, GPS, EXTRA BATTERY FOR
HER PHONE.
CARMILLA
No, I'm okay. I just want today to be
perfect.
A beat.
CARMILLA (CONT'D)
I know how much this day means to you.
LAURA
It will be perfect, trust me. It'll be
a proper Christmas, with gingerbread
cookies, a nice warm fire, hot
chocolate, my dad, our friends, and
gifts, lots and lots of gifts. And no
murder, okay?
CARMILLA
Well, don't look at me, if you'll
recall you're the one who asked me
to...
LAURA (INTERRUPTING)
Could we not joke about murder please?
CARMILLA
Sorry.
THEY WALK THROUGH THE CLEARING. THE CABIN IS DECORATED WITH
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, THERE'S SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CHIMNEY.
LAURA
It's beautiful.
LAURA GRABS CARMILLA'S HAND AND LEADS HER TOWARDS THE CABIN.
HER DAD IS STANDING BY THE DOORWAY, WAITING.
LAURA'S DAD
Hey girls, glad to see you made it out
okay, your friends are here already.
LAURA RUNS TO HER DAD AND HUGS HIM, KISSES HIM ON THE CHEEK.
CARMILLA STANDS AWKWARDLY, WAITING FOR HER INTRODUCTION.
LAURA
I missed you dad.
LAURA'S DAD
I missed you too kiddo. Hello
Carmilla.
HE EXTENDS HIS HAND TO CARMILLA. THEY SHAKE HANDS.
LAURA'S DAD (CONT'D)
Still a vampire?
LAURA
Dad!
CARMILLA
Still a vampire.
CHRISTMAS DAY GOES THROUGH WITHOUT A HITCH, AN ACTUAL
CHRISTMAS FOR THE AGES. THEY EXCHANGE PRESENTS AND WATCH
MOVIES AND IT IS ALL TOO PERFECT, SO MUCH SO THAT LAURA HAS A
FEELING AT THE PIT OF HER STOMACH THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.
SHE'S HER DAD'S DAUGHTER, ALWAYS WORRYING ABOUT SOMETHING.
INT. LAURA'S ROOM
LAURA AND CARMILLA ARE NEAR THE WINDOW AS THE SNOW CONTINUES
TO FALL, OCCASIONALLY HITTING THE WINDOW AND MELTING.
LAURA
Now that we're alone, there's a couple
of things that I forgot to give you
downstairs.
CARMILLA GETS CLOSER TO LAURA.
CARMILLA
I'm listening.
LAURA
No, I mean, like actual presents,
look.
LAURA HANDS CARMILLA A BOX. THE FIRST PRESENT LAURA GIVES
CARMILLA IS A SMALL LEATHER BOUND JOURNAL, WITH A FOUNTAIN
PEN.
LAURA (CONT'D)
So you can write down all of your
adventures.
CARMILLA
Our adventures.
LAURA AND CARMILLA HUG.
LAURA
I'm glad you're here. I can honestly
say this was the best Christmas ever,
don't you think?"
CARMILLA
It was okay.
LAURA
How dare you!
CARMILLA
I kid, you know I kid. My turn.
CARMILLA HANDS LAURA A SMALL BOX.
LAURA
What is it?
CARMILLA
Well open it silly head.
LAURA SHAKES THE BOX AND RUNS HER FINGERS OVER IT. SHE OPENS
IT.
LAURA
A necklace, I love it.
CARMILLA
Open it.
INSIDE IS A PICTURE OF CARMILLA, SMILING.
LAURA
How, when?
CARMILLA
Some things are better left unsaid.
LAURA
My turn again.
CARMILLA
Another gift for me. Truly, you spoil
me darling.
CARMILLA OPENS THE WRAPPING PAPER. INSIDE IS A SMALL PIECE OF
PAPER.
It's a card.
CARMILLA STARTS TO OPEN THE CARD.
LAURA
But before you open it, I kind of have
to set it up.
CARMILLA
Okay.
LAURA
Please don't be upset.
CARMILLA
What is it?
LAURA
You know how you said you didn't have
any family?
CARMILLA
When did I do that? I believe I said
that I haven't seen any of my
relatives in a long time.
LAURA
I found someone. Her name is
Elizabeth, she's a teacher, she's in
her twenties, she lives..."
CARMILLA
Stop, please, I don't want to know.
LAURA
But she's family, aren't you curious?
CARMILLA
Curious about what? What did you think
was going to happen? That I'd show up
at her home, hey I'm your long lost
relative, a 300 year old vampire, nice
to meet you.
LAURA
I thought we could visit her together,
not meet her necessarily, but, I don't
know...
CARMILLA
Stalk her?
LAURA
More like watch her from a distance
without her knowledge.
CARMILLA CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH.
LAURA (CONT'D)
I guess I didn't quite think it
through. I just didn't want you to
think you were all alone.
CARMILLA
I'm not. I have you, you're all I
need.
LAURA
I know, but it's just that, I think
about the future, and I get scared
sometimes. What will happen with us,
you know? Don't you ever think about
that sort of thing?
CARMILLA
I, I don't know. I guess I never
really worry about it. If being stuck
in my own tomb taught me anything is
to appreciate every moment like it
might be your last. Most of my life, I
never really thought I had a future.
Even now, it's hard to believe. It's
too perfect. It feels like a dream
somehow, like if I focus on it too
much I will begin to notice the seams,
and that I'll wake up. Sometimes I
wonder if I am actually still stuck in
that coffin."
LAURA
You don't actually believe that do
you?
CARMILLA
It doesn't matter what I believe,
that's what I'm trying to tell you.
LAURA PUTS THE LOCKET DOWN.
LAURA
What are you saying?
CARMILLA
I'm saying that even if it's just a
dream, all that matters is you,
everything else, it's not important.
LAURA HUGS CARMILLA.
LAURA
I love you.
CARMILLA
I love you too.
CARMILLA PAUSES FOR A MOMENT.
I think it's time for your last
present.
CARMILLA HANDS LAURA A CARD, LAURA READS IT OUT LOUD:
LAURA
To whatever the future holds. I sat
all day writing this thinking of the
right words to say, but what to say
when all I've ever wanted is to be by
your side.
My soul is beyond saving, my heart
beyond repair, but perhaps there's
still yet hope for me if I'm worthy of
your love. I guess there's only one
thing left to say..."
LAURA TURNS THE CARD OVER, IT'S BLANK. SHE LOOKS AT CARMILLA.
LAURA (CONT'D)
Did you run out of space?
CARMILLA IS KNEELING IN FRONT OF LAURA, A RING IN HER HANDS.
CARMILLA
I give myself to you, body and soul,
to do as you will, if you will accept.
I want you to be mine, now and
forever. Laura, will you marry me?