Nesting Doll - Script

FADE IN:

INT. TOY STORE - TOY CARVER'S SHOP - DAWN

We see a door being lit up from the outside, indicating that we are in a room. The door has a rough glass texture, so the window is not clear.

We see what looks to be a NESTING DOLL sitting in the dark. It's silhouetted by the light in the hallway.

TITLE text

Through the door window, we see a figure and we can hear him mumble. We hear keys dropping to the ground, and the silhouette figure bends down and picking it up. The figure continues to mumble.

The figure opens the door and the TITLE text fades away.

The figure turns on the light still mumbling to himself. He goes around the room getting himself ready for the day. We get a glimpse of some of the toys he has on his shelves - clogs, tops, carved animals, toy trains, etc.

TOYMAKER, a mid 70-80 year old man. White fluffy beard that isn't long, but covers the entirety of the lower half of his face. He's tall and skinny, and his eyes looks tired. And he always looks grumpy.

Toymaker approach the nesting doll and picks it up. We see that the nesting doll looks very similar to the Toymaker. Toymaker opens the doll and we see that the doll is empty. Toymaker is confused. He starts searching around his shop, looking under the table, under chairs, under other toys.

We hear the shop bell from outside. Confused, Toymaker tucks the doll in his apron and leaves to open his store.

INT. TOY STORE - FRONT OF THE SHOP - DAY

With toy placed at his counter, we see a MONTAGE of Toymaker setting up his store - Toymaker raising heavy grate of the shop window. Wipes down the window. Adjusting some toys on the shelves. Then plops himself at the front counter with a grumpy tired look as he waits for customers.

After a little later in the day, we hear the doorbell ring and see a LITTLE GIRL with an oddly familiar looking shape.

Toymaker is looking at this little girl and realizes that her form looks like the form of his nesting doll. Toymaker rubs his eyes.

LITTLE GIRL is just a normal girl bundled up in winter coats. She has a breathing tube on her face indicating that she's sick.

Little girl approaches Toymaker's doll and is about to pick it up when the Toymaker pulls it away from her.

Little girl pulls out a doll that is one size smaller than the Toymakers doll. It looks to be handcrafted, and looks like the little girl. Toymaker is confused.

Little girl points at Toymaker's doll indicating that she wants his doll. Toymaker shakes his head and points at the little girls' doll indicating that he wants her doll. This goes back and forth a while.

He then opens his doll to show the little girl that his is empty. Little girl looks at her doll and her face softens. Little girl then offers her doll to the Toymaker. Toymaker is confused but his face softens.

Toymaker shakes his head, takes the little girls doll and puts it in his doll and hands it back to the little girl. Little girl is confused but then smiles.

Fade to black to next day.

INT. TOY STORE - TOY CARVER'S SHOP - DAY

Toymaker is in the back working on polishing a toy.

He then hears the shop bell ring. Curious, the Toymaker sees who it is.

INT. TOY STORE - FRONT OF THE SHOP - DAY

Toymaker approaches the counter and leans over to see the little girl from yesterday.

Little girl smiles looking up at Toymaker. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a nesting doll that looks like the doll the Toymaker gave to her yesterday, but more hand carved.

Toymaker puts a hand up and shakes his head indicating that he doesn't want the doll back. Little girl shakes her head and opens up the doll. Inside, is a doll that looks like the Toymaker.

Toymaker is confused. Little girl then pulls out the actual nesting doll he gave her yesterday and opens it up to show the dolls inside that looks like her.

Toymaker is still confused. Little girl hands Toymaker the doll she made for him.

Toymaker's face softens, then smiles.

FADE OUT: