Sophie wakes up her younger sister Daisy early in the morning and tells her they need to leave their family home. She has packed bags prepared. They say goodbye to their parents through a closed door and leave a note. Sophie and Daisy camp out in the basement office of a bombed out museum. After a week, they explore the museum ruins but Sophie senses danger. She finds a group killing a man over food rations. Sophie and Daisy flee the museum with their bags, seeking a new safe place away from the violence.

1. THE LIVES OF WAR- EXCERPT
Written by
Nick Ian Marshall
email: nicholasimarshall@msn.com
May 2nd, 2016

2. RADIO
Reports are coming in of large
military personnel-
INT. MARSON FAMILY HOME, SOPHIE’S BEDROOM- DAWN
A dim lamp shines on maps and travel photos lining the walls
of a bedroom, on open drawers and an emptied closet.
The radio stands on a bedside table, reading 4:45.
RADIO
-entering the Hamilton area,
southbound, nearing the Garden
District. For now power is still-
SOPHIE MARSON, 17, turns the radio OFF.
She lies flat on her made bed BREATHING HEAVILY, eyes closed,
fully clothed in worn blue jeans and a grey hoodie. Her dark
hair is unkept and unwashed.
Sophie opens her eyes, stares at the ceiling for a moment.
The next moment she jumps off and reaches under her bed,
pulling out a tent folded in a bag and a bulky hiking bag.
She throws the tent bag over her shoulder and the hiking bag
on the bed. She UNZIPS IT and checks its contents: packaged
processed food and several bottles of water. Few clothes.
INT. MARSON FAMILY HOME, UPSTAIRS HALLWAY
Sophie closes her door quietly, only the CLICK SOUNDING. She
walks toward another closed door down the hall, light peeking
out at the bottom. The carpeted floor silences her steps.
She hears INAUDIBLE MUTTERING on the other side, a man and a
woman. The woman momentarily raises her voice.
WOMAN
(strained)
-not even a mile away!
Sophie’s head gently falls on the door, eyes shut. After
several moments, she straightens, pulls out a small envelope
from her pocket, and lays it by the carpet.
She turns, with only one glance back, and walks away.

3. INT. MARSON FAMILY HOME, DAISY’S BEDROOM
DAISY MARSON, 9, sleeps peacefully on her side over a made
bed. A blue nightlight casts shadows over her still body, a
dreamcatcher hanging over the bed, and book posters on the
wall. She wears jeans and a purple sweater filled with holes.
A DOOR OPENS, a hand reaches over and caresses her face.
SOPHIE
(softly)
Daisy. Daisy, wake up.
Daisy shutters and slowly wakes up. She turns over to see
Sophie bent over her. Daisy MOANS.
SOPHIE (CONT’D)
We gotta go. Come on.
DAISY
Now?
SOPHIE
Yes, now. You’re packed, right?
Daisy rubs her eyes as she nods.
Sophie pulls out another hiking bag from under Daisy’s bed
and hefts it over her shoulder as the little girl stands on
her bed and pulls down the dreamcatcher.
Daisy then pulls out a tote bag from under the bed, books
poking through its fabric. Sophie spots it apprehensively.
SOPHIE (CONT’D)
Mom said pack light.
DAISY
I did. These are just my favorite.
Daisy stares back, defiant, as she puts the dreamcatcher in
the bag. Sophie SIGHS and gestures towards the door.
SOPHIE
Where’s your letter?
DAISY
On the table... Can we say goodbye?
Sophie looks away as her eye twitches.
SOPHIE
I think Dad still doesn’t want us
to go in there.
2.

4. She leads Daisy out the door.
INT. MARSON FAMILY HOME, FRONT HALL
Twilight shadows of the girls swerve across the wall as they
head downstairs and out the front door just ahead.
Sophie looks back, towards upstairs, before walking out. She
stares longingly, then finally closes the door behind her.
EXT. CITY, GARDEN DISTRICT, TWO RIVERS
A cloudy sky makes the rising sunlight grey over the street.
Sophie guides Daisy by the hand down the sidewalk. They move
further away from the house, not looking back at it.
There are other people carrying large bags and suitcases, a
few into parked cars outside their houses, some going on
foot. They share a glance with the girls, but nobody speaks.
A large plane LANDS somewhere far, but nobody pays attention
to it. It’s only when TWO HELICOPTERS SOAR over the street
that people pause and look up, including the girls.
The helicopters continue on, past the cover of trees in a
gated park square across the street.
DAISY
Were those soldiers?
Sophie stares off at the direction the helicopters went.
SOPHIE
I don’t know.
She turns down the street and continues walking.
EXT. CITY, SUSPENSION BRIDGE- LATER
The grey light, brighter now, reflects off the metal coating
of a suspension bridge over an opaque river. Sophie and Daisy
cross it on a narrow walkway hanging at its side. They keep
their distance from other travelers, ahead and behind.
Far to their right is a cluster of skyscrapers. They stay on
the street leading off the bridge towards smaller buildings,
dark and abandoned.
A LOUD SIREN SOUNDS, causing all the travelers to jump.
3.

5. Sophie starts running to the other side of an intersection,
pulling Daisy with her. They crouch behind a concrete pot of
flowers on the walkway. The siren CONTINUES.
One group BREAKS WINDOWS of a building and hide inside.
Only moments later, Sophie sees a tank ROLLING down the
intersection, from the bridge’s left. A convoy of green
trucks FOLLOWS BEHIND, one of them hoisting the SIREN’S HORN.
The last of the trucks stop in the intersection, unloading
armed soldiers in grey uniforms. The soldiers immediately
begin setting up a blockade around the intersection.
Sophie and Daisy slowly pull back, head away.
EXT. MUSEUM PARK CAMPUS, HILL- LATER
The girls reach the top of a hill, from which they can see a
large museum of classical architecture at the bottom.
Much of the museum’s exterior is destroyed, rubble scattered
on the ground. Daisy stares at it in shock.
SOPHIE
That happened months ago. It should
be safe now.
DAISY
But why did they bomb the museum?
Daisy hears her sister SEETHING.
SOPHIE
Because they could.
EXT. MUSEUM ENTRANCE
Sophie and Daisy walk between towering columns at the front
of the museum, a few only half-standing. The entrance is a
crater, broken glass doors lying away from their frames.
INT. MUSEUM ENTRANCE- GREAT HALL
Sophie guides Daisy through safe passages around the rubble,
over plastered bones of massive animals, fallen from broken
skeletons on stands. They stare at the skeletons
incredulously as they pass.
4.

6. INT. MUSEUM, LOWER FLOOR
The girls climb down stained marble stairs. The basement is
dark. Sophie pulls out a flashlight, CLICKING IT ON.
The ray of light guides them through various water puddles,
broken pipes that protrude through crumbling walls, and glass
cases of taxidermied animals, still intact.
INT. MUSEUM, LOWER FLOOR, OFFICE
Sophie shines the light through a door window into an office.
Empty, all furniture and items where they were left, save for
fallen pebbles and paint chips from decaying foundation.
Sophie OPENS THE DOOR and guides Daisy in.
DAISY
(quiet)
Why do we have to camp in here?
SOPHIE
Cuz it’s harder to spot us in here
if anyone else comes to the museum.
She closes the door behind them, hands Daisy the flashlight,
and starts pulling out the parts of the tent.
SOPHIE (CONT’D)
(smiling at Daisy)
Like when we camped in the Dunes,
remember? - Keep the light on this.
She gestures to the unbuilt tent, and starts to build. Daisy
holds the light firmly and watches, legs together.
DAISY
What about Mom and Dad?
Sophie DROPS one of the poles and looks up.
SOPHIE
What about them?
DAISY
How are they supposed to find us in
here?
The older girl SIGHS.
SOPHIE
I’m gonna check upstairs every
morning. I told them we’d meet them
in the cafe behind the T-Rex.
5.

7. She sees Daisy nod and returns to building the tent.
INT. MUSEUM, TENT- NIGHT
Sophie picks up the flashlight from between two thin sleeping
bags. The light shows Daisy hanging her dreamcatcher with a
knotted string of cloth, then reaching for her bag of books.
SOPHIE
(mocking)
Don’t pick one with big words.
DAISY
You love big words.
Sophie points the light at her own face and sticks her tongue
out. Daisy GIGGLES. When the girl looks back down at her
books, Sophie frowns with anxious eyes.
The light shines on the book Daisy chooses: The Hunger Games.
SOPHIE
Daisy, please. I really don’t think
that’s a good idea-
DAISY
I’m nine! I’m tired of fairy tales.
Besides, I don’t get war. Maybe
this will help.
SOPHIE
(bitingly)
There’s nothing to get.
Daisy gives her another defiant glare. Sophie SIGHS, and
takes the book. After settling into her sleeping bag, she
pulls Daisy closer and wraps her arms around her.
SOPHIE (CONT’D)
‘When I wake up, the other side of
the bed is cold. My fingers stretch
out, seeking Prim's warmth.’
Daisy nudges herself tight and rests her head against
Sophie’s chest.
INT. MUSEUM, SECOND FLOOR EXHIBIT- 1 WEEK LATER
The Sun shines down over a small exhibit room on the top
floor of the museum from a ceiling half-caved in.
6.

8. Sophie and Daisy, in jeans and t-shirts now, ruffle through
artifacts around the ruins of the exhibit. They skip over
bits of glass from broken cases.
SOPHIE (V.O.)
‘Prim's face is as fresh as a
raindrop.’
Daisy picks up a buffalo fish effigy. Sunlight gleams off its
copper surface onto the girl’s face. She smiles.
INT. MUSEUM, LOWER FLOOR, OFFICE- HOURS LATER
Sophie and Daisy empty their bags of their contents. Various
artifacts, some man-made and some animal remains, are
delicately placed next in the space surrounding their tent.
There are other artifacts already collected, lying around.
SOPHIE
I’ll go look for some more
supplies. Stay put. Promise?
Daisy stands up straight and gives Sophie a firm salute.
When she goes into the tent and zips it closed, Sophie
returns to the collection of artifacts they’ve gathered from
various exhibits.
There are many items. She takes just one: an old viking axe.
SOPHIE (V.O.)
‘I protect Prim in every way I
can.’
INT. MUSEUM, FIRST FLOOR, CAFETERIA- MIDDAY
Piles of spoiled food lie around the floor. A glass display
counter stands in the back, the glass mostly shattered.
Sophie stuffs bottles and cans of soda Daisy’s tote bag, the
axe poking out at the top. The water is already gone. She
searches for what bags of chips are left.
She jolts suddenly at the sound of FOOTSTEPS in the distance.
She hides behind a fridge as they come closer, peeking her
head to look.
A BEARDED MAN (MICAH) in jumpers comes in through a broken
door frame. He LAUGHS JOYOUSLY at the sight of food, starts
grabbing what he can fit in a plastic bag and his hands.
7.

9. Sophie watches patiently. She reaches to touch her axe.
Both perk up at MORE FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING, STOMPING to the
door frame. A SCRUFFY MAN (ERIC) in a dirty polo is
accompanied by A WOMAN IN A BIKER JACKET (TONI).
She immediately raises a machete at Micah. The man raises his
hands, holding bags of chips.
Sophie covers her nose and mouth.
ERIC
(calm)
Who the fuck do you think you are?
MICAH
... Micah.
ERIC
And what are you doing here, Micah?
MICAH
I need- food, food. I need food.
ERIC
But that’s our food.
He gestures at the chips a slight gesture of his head.
MICAH
I didn’t steal it. I found it here.
Toni SIGHS IMPATIENTLY.
ERIC
Yes, and we claimed it, last night.
MICAH
‘We?’
ERIC
Yes, ‘we.’ Our group. New tenants.
So you are stealing from us.
Micah’s PANTING GETS LOUDER.
MICAH
But- but it was just laying here-
TONI
Oh, fuck off!! We CLAIMED IT!
ERIC
Doritos are a scarcity these days.
8.

10. Micah’s eyes look at them with pleading desperation.
MICAH
Please... I have kids to feed.
Toni SCOFFS. She and Eric both grin slightly.
ERIC
Not mine.
MICAH
NO! PLEA-
He’s cut off as Toni rushes at him and SLAMS THE MACHETE INTO
HIS SKULL.
Sophie’s WHIMPERING CRIES are muffled by REPEATED CHOPS as
Toni slams the machete down. When she’s finished, it drips
blood onto larger puddles spreading from Micah’s sliced body.
TONI
PHEW! Hehe. You know, the siege
life ain’t as bad as I thought.
Eric CHUCKLES, then turns to her with a serious look.
ERIC
You and Pad scope the place, make
sure no one else is here.
TONI
(nodding)
Yeah.
They both walk out, unfazed by the blood. After a few moments
Sophie stops covering her mouth and EXHALES. She runs out
through a back kitchen.
INT. TENT
Daisy is reading ‘The Hunger Games’ on her own when Sophie
returns, PANTING and RUSHING.
SOPHIE
We’re leaving now. It’s not safe
here. Pack your stuff.
As she says this, Sophie is already stuffing what food and
drink they have into their hiker bags, then starts rolling up
the sleeping bags.
DAISY
What’s wrong?
9.

11. SOPHIE
Just pack your stuff!
The first thing Daisy grabs is the dreamcatcher. Then she
grabs her clothes: one other pair of jeans, a single long
sleeve shirt, and her purple sweater which she puts on over
her white, grimy t-shirt. Sophie puts on her hooded sweater.
Daisy is careful in packing her books.
INT. MUSEUM, LOWER FLOOR
Sophie emerges from the door, shining the flashlight in the
distance towards the marble stairs. Seeing no one, she moves
to allow Daisy to exit the office. She has to stop the girl
from walking towards the stairs.
SOPHIE
(whispering)
No, not that way. I know another
exit.
DAISY
(whispering)
Why are you whispering?
Their whispers ECHO with the sound of WATER DRIPPING in the
open hall. Then they hear RAISED VOICES AND STOMPS from the
stairs.
Sophie shuts off the flashlight, leads them through darkness.
The light from up the stairs reveals two figures, one of them
TONI, a flashlight in one hand and her machete in the other.
Daisy stares off at them as Sophie pulls her in the other
direction.
EXT. MUSEUM, ARTIFACT ENTRANCE- DAY
A massive metal door slides open, letting dim sunlight beam
into the blackness of the museum’s basement.
Sophie BREATHES HEAVILY, winded from prying the door open, as
she checks that the coast is clear before letting Daisy out.
Both girls’ backs are hunched over with the hiker bags. The
bottom hilt of Sophie’s viking axe pokes out through a hole
in the zipper of her bag.
The grey sunlight blinds Daisy momentarily.
10.

12. EXT. MUSEUM PARK CAMPUS, WALKWAY
A small bicycle lies abandoned in the ruined grass. Daisy
glances at it as they stride past.
DAISY
Where are we going?
She struggles to keep up with Sophie’s brisk pace.
SOPHIE
I don’t know. Away from here.
DAISY
Why? And why did we leave the tent?
SOPHIE
We had to.
Daisy pulls back on their held hands and Sophie has to stop.
DAISY
Don’t be- ‘cryptic’- with me. I’m
not a kid anymore.
Frustrated, Sophie kneels to meet Daisy eye to eye.
SOPHIE
Listen to me. I promised Mom and
Dad I would protect you. I found
very bad people in the museum who
would’ve hurt us if we stayed.
DAISY
From the war?
SOPHIE
(head shaking)
Not soldiers. Not militia either I
don’t think. Just bad people.
DAISY
Mom and Dad can’t meet us if they
think we’re at the museum.
SOPHIE
I know.
Sophie clams herself down and looks around, spotting a bus
sign. She turns back to Daisy.
SOPHIE (CONT’D)
Did you bring your sharpie?
11.

13. Daisy nods and is already pulling a black sharpie out of her
tote bag, handing it to Sophie, who UTTERS THANKS. She walks
to the sign and writes on it in big letters: STAY AWAY FROM
MUSEUM! DANGEROUS! Meet us where we celebrated my birthday
last year. -CARMEN SANDIEGO.
SOPHIE (CONT’D)
Okay, let’s go.
DAISY
Who’s Carmen Sandiego?
SOPHIE
They’ll know what it means.
GUNFIRE SOUNDS in the distance. Both girls turn their heads
in the direction of the skyscrapers. It’s far away.
SOPHIE (CONT’D)
Come on.
12.