That None Should Perish is a television series that’s like Breaking Bad if it were set in Appalachia, with all the beauty and baggage that comes with the region. The show primarily follows Granny Jo as she finds out that opiate addiction runs a bit closer to home than she previously thought… and she decides to take it into her own God-given hands to heal her daughter (Ruby) and their relationship using any means necessary, whether her girl likes it or not. In order to do what she has to do, she’s going to need the less-than-willing help of her daughter’s drug dealer (Sawyer) and her own old friend (Vern). Drugs aren’t the only sin Ruby’s been indulging in. It is currently in development with Stacey Isom-Campbell as showrunner. This episode, the third in the limited series, was written in collaboration with Olivia Webb.
Below is an excerpt, or you can download the first act here: That None Should Perish Episode 3 Script Sample.
INT. ABANDONED MINE – MORNING
Granny’s presence takes up the entire tunnel into the room where she’s keeping her daughter. In one hand, a lantern; in the other, a jar full of clear liquid, leaves, and red berries.
GRANNY
G’mornin’, Ruby. How ya feelin’?
RUBY
How the hell do you think I’m feeling?
A pained silence. Granny sets her jaw as she sets the lantern on the uneven ground. It casts a strange, harsh light from that angle.
GRANNY
Ya’d best show some respect, girl. Else you’ll come to regret it.
RUBY
(sarcastically)
Oh, I’m so sorry. How the hell do you think I’m feeling, ma’am?
GRANNY
Don’t call me ma’am.
RUBY
What would ya like me ta call ya?
GRANNY
“Mama” seems apt, don’t it?
Ruby feigns contemplation.
RUBY
Nah, I don’t reckon so.
GRANNY
Birthed ya, didn’t I? And put a roof over yer head, fed ya, took care of ya.
Ruby spits at Granny.
RUBY
That don’t make you a mama.
SAWYER enters, looking much improved from when he first broke into Granny’s cabin. He carries a dingy mortar and pestle.
SAWYER
Sorry fer takin’ so long. I brought what ya asked for.
GRANNY
(to Ruby)
Consider yerself lucky. Watch yer tongue.
(to Sawyer)
Thanks, Sawyer. This’ll do nicely.
Granny takes the mortar and pestle.
SAWYER
I’m not interrupting nothin’, am I?
GRANNY
Yer interruption is welcome, this time.
She pours a bit of the berry and moonshine mix into the mortar, then sets the jar down to get to work.
GRANNY
Could yeh watch Ruby for a bit? I’ve got half a mind to smack her.
SAWYER
Yeah, sure.
Granny walks a short distance away, mashing the berries into a paste. She stays within view of her daughter and the former drug dealer. No way in hell is she leaving them alone for a second.
Sawyer desperately tries to avoid eye contact with Ruby, who is doing the exact opposite.
RUBY
Why the hell are ya helping this witch? How do you even know her?
SAWYER
Could you keep your voice down?
(beat)
It’s complicated. Please, just go with it, Rube.
RUBY
What does she got on ya? She caint be threatening to turn ya over to the police. She hates the bastards.
SAWYER
(beat)
It’s none of yer business, but that ain’t it. She helped me get clean.
Granny walks back towards them with the finished mixture as Ruby’s laughter echoes off the walls.
RUBY
Ya been clean before, Bryant. It ain’t that hard to do. Moment she lets you go, you’ll be right back where you were. We both know ain’t no way back from this shit.
SAWYER
No, it ain’t like that–she helped me think clean, too. I ain’t gonna lie to ya, it weren’t pretty. But she helped me, and she can help ya too, if ya let ‘er.
RUBY
Oh, help me? Is that what this is? Sorry, it feels a whole hell of a lot like y’all’re tryna kill me.
GRANNY
The only one here tryna kill yeh is you, Ruby.
Granny mixes the paste a bit more as she approaches Ruby.
GRANNY
If it feels like yer dyin’, it’s only ‘cos yer sin is so deeply entrenched in yer soul. It’ll get better if yeh can fix yer head on straight. “Whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” You oughta thank me. I’m saving yer life and yer soul.
RUBY
I didn’t ask for yer “help.”
GRANNY
Maybe not, but you’ll thank me for it later.
Granny puts a hand to Ruby’s forehead.
GRANNY
Heavens child, yer burnin’ up.
It happens so fast–Granny kneels to apply the paste to her forehead, and Ruby lashes out and strikes the mortar from her hands.
It clatters to the ground, dumping the contents all over the filthy floor and shattering.
For a moment, Granny just stands there, for once speechless. Then…
GRANNY
I know yer gonna apologize fer that.
RUBY
I dunno what gave ya that impression.
GRANNY
(beat)
Maybe the fact that, unless the Lord sends down manna from Heaven, the only way yer ever tastin’ another morsel of food is if I decide ta give one to yeh.
RUBY
I’ll just wait for magic food from the sky, then. I’d sooner rely on a figment of yer imagination than on the kindness of a monster.
GRANNY
(beat)
You’d be wise to come to a better understanding with the Almighty. You keep this up, you’ll be seein’ ‘im soon ‘nough.