Enthalpy

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First Scene - Excerpt

INT. “LODGEPOLE LANE”, ERSATZ HOME, KITCHEN/DINING ROOM/ENTERANCE - NIGHT

PETRA, 18, is pacing the entranceway to the chalet. The snow falls heavily on the mountain. The divot of snow where the car would normally sit has almost smoothed over.

Inside the house, a table is set for five. Framed pictures in the house show the life of MOTHER (Rin),38, short curled brown hair; Petra, long brown hair that fades to a cool blonde; FINN, 19, long blonde hair, circle glasses with no prescription; VALORI, 14, pink streak in blonde hair, yet to grow out of her scene phase, often the one holding the camera; and WALDEN, 14, sandy hair, the only one without brown eyes, covers his face in most pictures with the closest prop.

Hand-made, self-portrait magnets are stuck on the fridge dated to when each child passed the first grade. The kitchen table is messy with Mother’s papers. Business and legal papers call Mother “Rin Ersatz” while anything from townspeople or family call her Mother. The children have the same last name as Mother, though all are adopted.

FIND FAMILY - INTERACTIVE, CHOICE

-- CALL each of her siblings and Mother.

-- REQUEST A LOCATION from each of them with an app.

-- Petra's PHONE reads Saturday, October 23, 2027.

-- Check the WEATHER.

-- SOCIAL MEDIA, trending topic “Dusk Bowl in Tornado Alley” #DUSKBOWL.

-- TAKE A PICTURE of herself or the snow.

-- Post PICTURE or STATUS.

-- PUT ON MUSIC.

-- CHECK THE PANTRY.

-- PREPARE A MICROWAVE MEAL for herself or everyone.

-- SITS at kitchen table.