Into the Abyss
Genre: Sci-Fi Drama/Thriller
FADE IN:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD GRAVEYARD - NIGHT
Wide shot: A serene night, the moon hangs high, bright and full. DMYTRO (10), a cheerful boy with a wild imagination, stands among the gravestones, peering up at the moon. He hums a tune, innocence radiating from him.
DMYTRO
(looking up)
Why do you look so big tonight, Moon? What secrets do you hide?
Suddenly, the moon darkens, its glow flickering eerily. Dmytro squints, disbelief covering his face.
CLOSE ON: THE MOON
In a flash, the moon EXPLODES into shards, collapsing into a BLACK HOLE. Dmytro gasps, wide-eyed.
DMYTRO
(panicking)
No! No! No!
EXT. DMYTRO’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Dmytro stumbles home, bursting through the door.
DMYTRO
(screaming)
Mom! Dad! It’s the Moon! It’s gone! There’s a black hole!
INT. DMYTRO’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
RUSLAN (15), Dmytro’s teenage brother, and KURYWA (8), his younger sister, appear, curiosity mixed with concern. MOM and DAD rush in from the kitchen.
MOM
What are you talking about, sweetheart?
DMYTRO
The moon! It turned dark and then—bang! Gone! We need to go!
DAD frowns, glancing outside at the sky, Anxiety sprouting as he sees a flash of celestial debris whirling around in the atmosphere.
DAD
Prepare supplies! We may have to leave!
EXT. FRONT YARD - MOMENTS LATER
Families pour out of houses, PANIC rising as people look to the sky. The black hole begins to pull planets closer, animals scatter, and children cry.
KURYWA
(crying)
What’s happening?
RUSLAN
(reassuring)
It’s okay, Kurywa! We’ll figure this out!
Shouting erupts as scattered discussions of safety ring out in the night air.
INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT
The family hides in the dark, hearing DISTANT SCREAMS, FOOTSTEPS, and CRIES. Flickering emergency lights paint the room in an eerie glow.
MOM
(whispering)
Stay quiet, everyone!
Dmytro hugs Kurywa tightly, fear mingling with resolve as they huddle together. The basement is cluttered—drawings, notes strewn around.
DAD
(breathing heavily)
We need to understand what’s happening. I’ll look at the news.
He rushes up the steps, examining a battered old radio. Static fills the air, mixed with frags of voices—urgent updates about the black hole, lost satellites, and emergency protocols.
RUSLAN
(turning to Dmytro)
What did you see?
DMYTRO
(quavering)
I saw the moon turn dark. Something is pulling everything in.
They remain silent, tension building as outside noises grow louder. Dmytro clenches his fist, determination overriding his boiling fear.
MONTAGE: 10 YEARS LATER
*1. The family, now living in a deteriorated underground hideout, surrounded by makeshift supplies. The basement is dark and cold, a far cry from the warmth of their former home.
2. Dmytro, now 20 with GREYED HAIR, frantically searches through old books and electronic circuit boards. He’s trying to piece together remnants of long-abandoned technology, sifting through yellowed diagrams detailed in crayon, along with his worn-out childhood sketches of rockets.
3. The walls are plastered with old newspaper clippings—photos of life before, of families wrestling with the surreal happenings across the globe, and of anxiously penned “theories” by those who tried to explain the sudden climate change, earthquakes, and crashing celestial bodies.
4. Ruslan, now 25, and Kurywa, 18, reminisce about the outside world, building an imaginary picture of landscapes that once bloomed in vibrant colors, their voices tinged with sadness and nostalgia. They share stories of laughter, fighting games, and secrets exchanged under the stars, their eyes shimmering with bittersweet fondness.
5. Despite the decay surrounding them, remnants of hope weave through the current reality. They construct toys from refuse, pretending their lives were still normal, allowing little moments of joy to blossom amidst the despair.
INT. BASEMENT - ONE EVENING
Dmytro stands over a chalkboard filled with equations, his brow furrowed in concentration. He is determined, calculating and recalibrating his designs.
DMYTRO
(to himself)
We can’t stay here forever. I have to get us out of this mess.
He traces his fingers over a diagram of the solar system. His eyes narrow as he points to the black hole, deep in thought.
KURYWA
(trembling, peering through the crack at the top of the basement door)
What if we never make it?
Dmytro kneels beside him, lifting his chin. He smiles softly, trying to instill hope in his younger brother whilst feeling the tender weight of reality pressing harshly against their shoulders.
DMYTRO
It’ll be okay, Kurywa. I promise. We have to be brave, like the heroes in our stories.
Kurywa grins tentatively, yet the shadow of doubt lingers in his bright eyes.
EXT. BASEMENT ENTRANCE - DAYS LATER
Dmytro meticulously lays down ROCKET PARTS with trembling hands, pieces suited just right. Struggling with gravity and the idea of the universe above, he reflects on their design—a compilation of ambition cloaked in rust.
RUSLAN
(nervously, folding his arms)
What if it doesn’t work? If we go up there and it’s worse than here…
DMYTRO
It will work! I built it for us! We’ll find safety!
Dmytro stands tall, embracing the frame of a leader he’s become; burdened but driven, despite the odds stacked against them. The unwavering faith in his voice manages to ignite a spark of courage in Ruslan, each delicate expression shaping their close-knit connection.
INT. ROCKET - DAY OF LAUNCH
The family gathers inside the cramped rocket—seatbelts pulled tight. Kurywa grips his parents’ hands, eyes filled with a mix of fear and awe.
DMYTRO
(breathes in deeply)
Hold on, everyone!
He pushes the button, WHOOSHING sounds erupt. The rocket shakes violently—thrusters firing with a furious roar. MOM and DAD hold close, protecting their terrified children like falcons guarding their young against the approaching storm.
EXT. OUTSIDE ROCKET - CONTINUOUS
From the vantage point outside, the rocket shakes violently as it ascends towards the dark, looming threat; the black hole looms larger, its gaping maw inked against the star-speckled sky.
DMYTRO
(shouting over the noise)
We can’t let the black hole take us!
The rocket navigates through a storm of brilliant lights, sparks flying as they race towards the vast unknown. The atmosphere begins to shimmer with an ethereal glow—light bending under forces waiting to be uncovered.
SPACE - MOMENTS LATER
The rocket spins wildly as they near the BLACK HOLE. Dmytro’s wristwatch blinks erratically, his heart pitter-pattering like a drum. He turns to Kurywa, whose wide eyes mirror unadulterated fear.
DMYTRO
(strained yet adamant)
We can’t let it take us!
Suddenly—
INT. ROCKET - MOMENTS LATER
An ALARM blares. Dmytro grits his teeth, struggling against the thrumming control panel amid alarms and flashes of red lighting the small cockpit.
DMYTRO
(shouting above the clamor)
Everyone, brace yourselves!
With a frantic push, he manages to steer the rocket. The black hole fiercely pulls them toward its event horizon as the interior rattles ominously. Their voices resonate more strongly amid the chaos, an echo of familial love unbridled by the phantasmagoric storm surrounding them.
EXT. SPACE - AFTER SOME TIME
The rocket is caught abruptly in the treacherous grasp of the black hole’s event horizon. Dmytro’s voice shakes as he tries to steady the ship. Stars twist and contort around them like cosmic serpents, a kaleidoscope of splintered realities.
DMYTRO
Hold on! I’m not letting go!
He furiously slams buttons, and for a brief moment, the gravitational pull lessens, a glimmer of hope igniting in their hearts.
FLASH WHITE - SPACE NEXT TO SATURN
Dmytro comes to, floating unconscious. He is gently pulled, light beams down upon him like a celestial spirit imparting a second chance. The shadows of tragedy glimpsed and grappled with before have faded into minuscule threads.
EXT. NEAR SATURN - MOMENTS LATER
An UNKNOWN FIGURE, shimmering in futuristic garb, appears, pulling him safely from the clutches of the void. The figure radiates warmth, shimmering with possibility.
UNKNOWN FIGURE (V.O.)
(gentle yet powerful)
You’re safe now, little one.
Dmytro awakens inside a futuristic vessel, surrounded by cutting-edge technology, his family beside him, building bridges anew. The blind desperation of survival melds with the shimmering strands of destiny.
INT. UNKNOWN VESSEL - CONTINUOUS
Dmytro blinks, bewildered, as an older version of Kurywa (40), now a STRONG MAN, staring back at him in awe, a glimmer of surprise lights his face.
KURYWA (40)
(smiling through unshed tears)
You saved us, brother… although we thought it was another nightmare for so long.
Dmytro’s heart aches; memories of fleeting moments play in his mind—the laughter they shared flickering like stars, efforts made yet rendered by time—grief wraps their reunion tightly as they know they’ve crossed boundaries irrevocably.
DMYTRO
(constricted, broken voice)
I’m sorry for leaving… I thought I could save us from the dark.
KURYWA (40)
(placing his hand on Dmytro’s shoulder, eyes resolute)
The important thing is that you’re back, and we can still change our fate together.
Dmytro meets Kurywa’s gaze, understanding flashing between them; time may have tested them, but it could not sever the unbreakable bond forged by love and struggles endured. Looking around at the ship’s advanced control panel lights, they begin to understand the potential they possess—the shimmering timeline unveiling their choices.
INT. UNKNOWN VESSEL - STRATEGY ROOM
The ship’s cockpit becomes a detailed strategy room. Neobright screens display distress signals—future versions of their family amidst chaos. Threads of time woven together appear as holographic displays, each revealing fragments of futures that could intertwine with their present.
KURYWA (40)
(scrolling through data)
We’ve been lost for ages! Fading in time… Maybe the black hole holds answers.
DMYTRO
(eyes fervent)
If we stabilize the reactor, we can channel energy from the black hole in a synchronized manner… Access those lost connections, bend the temporal waves.
Kurywa absorbs his older brother’s seriousness, flecks of sunlight falling upon their bittersweet knowledge, and the unknown prospect of reclaiming the life they fought for.
KURYWA (40)
While we engage with this cosmic force’s tears, we must align with the harmonics of its gravity… but that could change everything.
The energy fields around the black hole flicker brightly, vibrant paths beckoning them like whispers of lost voices. Pulses of anticipation fill the atmosphere as songs from intertwined pasts resonate through the fabric of existence.
DMYTRO
(passionate, yet aware)
We could unlock our timelines… Our family… but we have to be precise. One miscalculation, and we could end up—
KURYWA
(interrupting, urgency piercing his voice)
I know what you mean. The alternative is unbearable.
With unwavering resolve, Dmytro and Kurywa grasp their shared future with fierce determination, noting each precious moment between them—the intensity of family. They scan the colorful waves of time, their hands trembling yet resolute.
EXT. BLACK HOLE - MOMENTS LATER
With their connection to the universe alive between them, the brothers activate the ship’s LAST RESORT mechanism; the ship prepares for the ultimate gamble, their hopes intertwined within cosmic stitches.
KURYWA (40)
(yelling, igniting the panel)
Now! Engage the retrofitting system!
DMYTRO
(passion swelling)
For Mom and Dad, for us!
The ship glows intensely, vibrating under the ripple of cosmic forces as they work side by side, establishing a synchronized melody with the vibrations of loss and rebirth. Their devotion to one another harmonizes with the time streams erupting around them.
SPACE - TIME DISTORTION
They are engulfed in a flash of light, the force encapsulating them with every heartbeat, every thread they desperately cling to; whispers and memories swirl around them, binding their fates. Together, they focus on precious family moments confined within frozen time—laughter and love flooding them anew.
DMYTRO
(shouting over the roar of reality unraveling)
Close your eyes!
As the vortex engulfs them, they encounter visions of their lives—moments encountered before intertwining into the light. They cling to each other’s arms, knowing that they are rewriting their narrative together amid swirling storms of destiny.
INT. FAMILY LIVING ROOM - DAY
The scene shifts abruptly to a bright sunny morning. Dmytro and Kurywa stand outside, gazing at their family home—simple, profound, yet filled with warmth and familiarity.
Kurywa hangs back, incredulous at the reality blossoming before him, colors vivid and scents sweet, and Dmytro rushes ahead, filled with anticipation.
DMYTRO
Shall we?
With a sense of trepidation, they turn to each other, both breathing heavily but increasingly hopeful. They can hear their parents in the kitchen, laughter mingling with the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked breakfast—a normalcy almost unfathomable.
KURYWA
(dreamlike, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity)
Did we… did it work?
DMYTRO
(smiling through the joy and tears of gratitude)
We made it back!
Eagerly, the brothers race into the house, the warmth of their past enveloping them like an embrace, a long-lost symphony coming home.
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Their MOM and DAD are preparing breakfast, blissfully unaware of the trials nearly tearing their family apart. Dmytro’s voice cracks; he takes a brave step forward, pure joy flooding him as they step through the doorway—all memories and regrets melting away in the overwhelming warmth of home.
DMYTRO
Mom! Dad!
They turn, confusion morphing into disbelief before recognition dawns, followed swiftly by waves of overwhelming happiness. Dmytro and Kurywa step closer through tears of joy; their parents’ arms open wide, smiles bursting forth like rays of sunshine amidst a storm.
MOM
(shocked, eyes misty)
Dmytro? Kurywa? You’re back—
They embrace the boys tightly, laughter filling the kitchen like a soothing balm—while warmth blankets their hearts, healing the wounds of the harrowing past.
INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER
The family gathers for dinner in the evening light, the walls echo with warmth, each subtle glance a stitch binding them back together. They marvel over tales of their time apart, laughter and tears weaving an intricate tapestry of their history.
DAD
At the height of the chaos, I thought we would never see each other again. The uncertainty had become so stark…
RUSLAN
(leaning in)
But we’re here now. Together!
The moment is punctuated with Dad pause, suddenly somber, eyes shifting to the distant moon outside the window—still bright, overshadowed by the chaos and darkness that once loomed above.
MOM
(gently)
What matters is that we survived, and whatever darkness may come again, we’ll face it as a family.
Dmytro glances outside, momentarily caught in nostalgia, thoughts swirling back to the vortex—the binding threads of loss and hope.
EXT. BACKYARD - DUSK
Dmytro wanders out, standing in the backyard, gazing up at the stars that now seem more brilliant than ever. Memories flash like shooting stars, threading through his mind. The dark shadows don’t linger here—he doesn’t want to forget. The black hole remains, yet it feels like a distant history rather than an impending doom now.
Slowly, Kurywa joins him, standing shoulder to shoulder. The bond sealed tightly in resilience as they breathe in the tranquility.
KURYWA
(breaking the silence)
What will we do next?
DMYTRO
(inspired, eyes gleaming)
We rebuild. We embrace every second. And we never lose sight of the stories we carry with us.
Dmytro’s voice steadies with conviction, a newfound sense of purpose illuminating the night—a belief that from any darkness, light can emerge.
MONTAGE – REBUILDING LIFE
- 1. The family works together, turning the ruin into warmth, hands united in creation and laughter as they clear the rubble.
- 2. Dmytro stands over a workbench while Kurywa learns engineering fundamentals by his side, their fingers cloaked in soot and grease but shining with hope.
- 3. Ruslan helps Kurywa embrace his artistic inclinations, painting their shared dreams on cardboard as memories of living swirl between them—transforming darkness into light.
- 4. Their parents help organize community events, spilling over joys and sorrows in shared experiences, engaging local families in conversations laden with emotions and rebuilding trust in the whispers of the past.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
*As night descends once again, the family gathers for movie night, laughter ringing loudly, the choices of unwinding becoming a collective sanctuary.
KURYWA
(cheerful, flicking through options)
Let’s watch that solar system documentary!
The screen illuminates with stunning visuals of planets and stars as their parents walk in, settling together, arms wrapped lovingly around the children.
DAD
(smiling softly)
These moments are the essence of why we fought. Nothing holds more power than the love we maintain.
Dmytro gazes at the monitors where scenes of space flash across their faces, juxtaposed with their laughter ringing in harmony—a gentle reminder to carry the love wherever they journey.
FADE OUT:
Text on the screen: “The bonds forged in love can withstand even the tests of time—embrace your reality.”
As the credits roll, the film resonates with questions about the very nature of existence and the power relationships hold, painstakingly weaving through each family member’s perspective—a true tapestry of strength and love.
Through each character—the innocent Dmytro who forged the path, the nurturing MOM embodying resilience, the brave Kurywa always promising hope, and even the sometimes distant yet pivotal DAD—every viewer can find symbols representing relationships, fueled by the power of love transcending mere mortal comprehension.
The power of familial love can conquer time’s distance and the chaos lurking in the abyss. “Into the Abyss” concludes with a lingering reminder that connection is forever, and the light will always guide them back home—their roots entwined like the stars sprinkled across the vast expanse above.