Steph

Written by Oksana Prysiazhniuk

 zastavskaya3011@ukr.net
+38 067 483 49 97
Machtova str. 22-136, Odesa, 65049, Ukraine

TREATMENT OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPT
STEPH
by OKSANA PRYSYAZHNYUK
1
Events begin in 2025. A little girl, Steph (10), takes a big stage
with a small inner monologue, from which we learn that her dream -
to sing from the stage - has come true. She starts singing the
Ukrainian song "Shchedryk", known worldwide under the name "Carol
of the Bells", in a stunning voice.
Actions transfer to Ukraine in 2022. Steph lives with her mother,
MARIA (35), in Mariupol. Steph was approved for the leading role
in the film. The following day, she and her mother are supposed to
go to the capital of Ukraine for filming.
Maria packs up the bags. Steph sees her mother packing her new
blue coat into a suitcase, and she wants to put it on right away.
Maria does not allow that because it is too cold. She assures her
daughter that she will have an opportunity to wear it. Steph tries
to make herself a sandwich in the kitchen and cuts her finger. The
sight of blood causes her panic and fear, and she loses
consciousness. Maria helps her daughter. Steph admits that she is
terrified of blood.
Then Maria and Steph go to school. Steph warmly meets her friends
and cheerfully talks about the upcoming filming, about the fact
that her character is a little girl who sings "Shchedryk" instead
of praying and thus tries to save everyone.
From Maria's conversation with YULIA (35), the mother of Steph's
friend, we learn that Steph is to play the leading role in the
film about the Second World War but does not understand the whole
tragedy of the scenario and takes everything lightly.
The girls ask if Steph is afraid of explosions, but she replies
that war only happens in films. Next, Steph cheerfully talks about
the costumes in which she will perform her role.
Then Steph and her mother go to Maria's father, ANDREW (65) - a
former Soviet Union soldier and Putin supporter. He does not like
that his granddaughter will perform a role in a historical film.
He scolds the Ukrainian authorities and believes Ukraine is an
artificially created state. Maria argues with her father. Being
cheerful and friendly, Steph tries to protect her mother and
explain the historical truth to her grandfather. She does it in a
childish, naive manner and without anger.
After visiting Andrew, Steph walks around the city with her
mother. It is evident they have excellent and trusting relations.
In the evening, Steph and Maria dream aloud about the future
before going to bed. Steph admits that she fears explosions, but
Maria assures her they will not be real. Steph says that tomorrow
will be the happiest day of her life.
In the morning, Steph is awakened by explosions. She believes she
dreamed of them because they talked about the war. Confused, Maria
runs into the room, announcing that the war has begun. Maria
2
cannot help herself and does not understand what to do next. Steph
tries to console her mother, assuring her that war happens only in
films and asks when they will go to the filming. Maria gets even
more confused.
Meanwhile, martial law is being declared on TV, and people are
being asked to stay indoors. Steph is surprised and asks her
mother what "martial law" means. Their conversation is interrupted
by the doorbell.
Andrew comes by. He joyfully declares that it will all be over
soon. Steph understands this in her way. She is happy and dreams
out loud that they will be able to go to Kyiv for filming. Andrew
interrupts her and says that the Ukrainian government is over,
that the Russians will soon release everyone, and that he is glad
that his granddaughter will not act in a Ukrainian film and sing a
"terrible" song. Maria quarrels. Andrew says he will be grateful
to the Russians for re-educating her and Steph. After that, he
leaves.
Steph once again comforts her mother and offers to imagine that
she is ill and, therefore, cannot go out. They look at Steph's
childhood photos and recall exciting moments. Before going to
sleep, Steph and Maria dream again. Steph suddenly asks about what
will happen when she dies and if it will always be dark then.
Maria is frightened by such questions and assures that the war
will end quickly. Steph admits that she often thinks about this.
Maria says it will be light and comfortable, but it will not be
soon: first Steph will play the leading role in the movie, and
then she will grow up and become a famous singer and actress.
The following day, Steph wakes up in a good mood and listens to
the silence. She approaches the window and sees NIKA (8), her
friend, on the swing. Steph rejoices and runs to Maria. She
joyfully announces that the war is over because there are no
bombings, and Nika is outside. Maria replies that they will also
go out now because they must go to the store for groceries.
Steph and Maria go out into the yard. There is no one on the
swing. Steph becomes upset.
Steph and Maria head to the store.
There is panic in the store - people are buying food and water.
Maria manages to purchase food but does not get water.
On the way back from the store, Steph looks around - at the
passers-by, who look calm, at the beautiful houses and rejoices.
She is sure that the war is over.
Suddenly, a loud explosion can be heard. A huge black column of
smoke rises in the distance. Maria pulls Steph to the wall of the
house. All the passers-by run in different directions in fear. A
second explosion can be heard, followed by a third.
3
Maria and Steph crouch by the wall of the house. Frightened people
keep running past them.
The street becomes empty. Steph sits still and stares at the black
smoke with a frozen gaze.
There is silence. Maria takes Steph's hand. They quickly head down
the street.
When Maria and Steph approach their house, they notice Nika's
grandfather's car is parked in the yard. Nika and her grandmother
are standing next to it.
Steph sees them, rejoices and runs to Nika. The girls hug.
Yulia and her father come out of the house. They pull some
suitcases and put them into the car’s trunk, but it is too full to
fit in another one. Yulia pulls out a large water bottle and
finally notices Maria. She says that her husband called her and
ordered her to leave because it was dangerous to stay in the city.
She advises Maria to get ready to leave quickly. Maria takes her
words as an invitation to go with them. But Yulia says they have
no room because of the things. She calls Nika, gives Maria the
water bottle that did not fit in the trunk and advises her to
contact Andrew, who also has a car.
The departure of Nika's family scares Maria. She and Steph head to
Andrew. Maria is very nervous. Steph does not understand what is
happening but does not ask unnecessary questions.
Andrew meets his daughter and granddaughter calmly. He refuses
Maria's request to take her and Steph outside the city urgently
and says the Russians will never bomb the civilian population,
only military facilities. Maria shouts at her father and says she
will go by train. Andrew is angry and announces that the railroad
will definitely be fired upon to prevent Ukrainian troops from
reaching the city. He assures his daughter that better times will
come with the arrival of the Russian army. Maria once again
quarrels with her father.
On the way home, seeing her mother's condition, Steph reassures
her that her grandfather is their family, and loves them, so he
cannot lie that the Russians will not bomb the civilian
population.
In the evening of the same day, when Steph and Maria are at home,
the bombing begins.
The light goes out. The walls creak. Dishes fall and break. Steph
covers her ears with her hands. Maria rushes to her and knocks her
to the floor.
There is silence. Maria calms Steph down, but the girl cannot come
to her senses for a long time.
4
At night, when Steph is heading to the toilet in complete
darkness, she hears her mother's conversation with her friend IRA
(35). Maria cries and asks her friend to talk to her husband and
ask him to help them leave the city.
Steph returns to her room and turns to the sky, asking for help to
end the war.
After the bombing, not only the light but also the water
disappears in the house. Steph finds it out in the morning. Maria
fetches rainwater from the street. Steph decides to help her
mother when she gets another portion of water.
She gets dressed and runs outside. It is raining. People stand in
line with empty buckets and bottles and fetch water flowing from
the drainpipes.
It starts snowing.
Steph walks away a little, reaches a small meadow, spreads her
arms and dances dreamily.
People admire Steph's dance.
Maria distracts herself from admiring Steph's dance and sets up a
bucket so that snow would fall into it.
At home, Maria melts the snow to prepare food. Steph is surprised
by all this because earlier, her mother said one could not eat
snow. Maria then asked Steph to spread the bed in the bathroom
because the neighbours told her that it would be safe to sleep in
the bathroom.
Steph and Maria are lying in the bathroom, tightly pressed to each
other at night. Explosions can be heard very close.
The walls crack louder with each explosion. Steph shudders and
clings tighter to Maria. She asks if now they will always eat snow
and sleep in the bathroom. Maria answers that she will think of
something, and they will leave.
In the morning, VLAD (40), Ira's husband, comes to Maria's
apartment and says that today there will be a "green corridor"
through which they will be able to leave the city. He asks to
write the word "Children" on paper if possible.
Maria and Steph pack up quickly. Maria manages to write "Children"
on two sheets of paper.
While Maria puts the suitcases in the car, Steph helps Ira tape
the inscription "Children" to the windshield. She asks why this is
necessary, and Ira answers so that the Russians do not shoot.
In convoy with other cars, Vlad’s car reaches the Ukrainian
checkpoint. The Ukrainian servicemen explain that there is no
"green corridor", but people do not believe it, and two vehicles
5
break through the roadblock. They are instantly bombed. The
Russian military begins mass shelling. Some cars explode.
Maria pulls Steph out of the car, throws her to the ground and
covers her with herself. Rockets whistle over their heads. Panic
sets in - people jump out of vehicles. Everyone falls to the
ground.
Vlad's car is hit by several bullets that damage its body. The
vehicle itself remains intact. After the shelling, the surviving
cars with the inscription "Children" slowly return to Mariupol.
There are dead people and burning cars on the side of the road.
Maria snuggles Steph, so she does not see the horror outside the
car window.
Maria and Steph return to their apartment. Maria drags her
suitcase wearily and sits down on the floor. Steph asks her how
the Russians could bomb when all the cars had the words "Children"
on them. Maria does not have time to answer anything as a new
bombardment begins - explosions can be heard very close by, and
the house opposite is on fire.
Maria and Steph run to the basement.
The basement is full of people. Maria and Steph sit down on the
floor. Steph notices the fear of people and remembers a similar
scene from the film script she was supposed to play. Steph asks
her mother to announce her performance to support people. Maria
fulfils her request. Steph sings "Shchedryk". Her charming voice
calms people down.
At this very moment, a rocket hits the roof of their house. As
Steph sings, missiles hit other places in the city.
After the silence sets in, Maria and Steph return to the
apartment. There is broken glass, shattered ceilings, walls, and
furniture everywhere. While Maria is packing warm things, Steph
puts on a new blue coat. Maria notices this and scolds her. Steph
replies that she will grow up while the war lasts and will never
wear it. Maria can hardly hold back her tears. She does not have
time to answer because the explosions can be heard again.
Maria and Steph run to the basement.
In the morning, the house residents prepare food using a fire in
the yard. Steph and a neighbouring boy collect brushwood. Then she
carefully puts the brush into the fire her mother uses to cook
food. Maria praises Steph for her help and asks her to stay there
and wait until she brings water. But Steph replies she will go
with her and runs to the basement. In the meantime, Ira approaches
Maria and promises to finish cooking.
6
Steph comes out, dressed in a blue coat that suits her incredibly
well. Maria worries that she will get cold, but Steph replies that
she put two sweaters on. She also wears a warm pink hat.
Steph and Maria head towards the exit from the yard and meet Vlad.
He smiles contentedly and calls for Maria. Steph hears him say he
has found a man who will lead them at night-time through paths
known only to him, where there are no Russian troops. That man
demands a thousand dollars for this service. Maria does not have
the entire amount, but Vlad promises to help because he also
decides to leave the city with his family.
In a good mood, Maria and Steph approach the well, where a stocky
man draws water and pours it into buckets people set up. While
they are standing in line, Maria notices that Steph is cold.
Therefore, she removes her warm yellow scarf from her neck and
throws it on Steph's back.
After getting some water, Maria and Steph head to their house.
They walk down the street – there are broken cars, glass, pipes,
and broken things from apartments everywhere. Many houses are
black from fires and dilapidated.
Steph looks around - she is depressed. Maria notices this and
tries to r somehow up, so she offers to go through Steph's
favourite square.
Almost nothing was damaged on the square. Steph jumps merrily,
imagining the figurines that were once created here with a laser
show. Maria puts the bucket on the ground and admires her
daughter.
Steph's mood improves. Maria and Steph head to their house. Steph
is glad there are no more shootings and suggests dreaming. They
dream of how the war will end, how their home will be renovated,
how they will go to Kyiv, and how Steph will grow up, become a
singer and sing on the big stage.
Steph does not have time to finish the sentence as the shelling
begins - shells fly all around.
Maria and Steph start running, but the full bucket slows them
down. Maria leaves the bucket. They keep running.
Suddenly, a shell fragment hits Maria in the back. She stops and
falls to the ground. Steph also stops and looks at Maria. She
leans over her mother.
People pass them by. Nobody pays attention. Fragments of shells
continue to fall to the ground one by one.
Maria looks at the blue sky with her eyes wide open. Steph does
not understand that her mother has died, shakes her hand, and
tries to lift Maria, but she cannot do anything. Steph cries
bitterly and sits down next to the dead Maria.
7
Blood flows from under Maria's back onto the white snow. Steph
hugs her mother with both arms.
The shelling ends. There is silence.
Steph lies down next to Maria and continues holding her hand.
Steph thinks her mother is injured, so she talks to her as if she
was alive and continues dreaming.
VIRA (50) - Andrew's neighbour - walks past Steph. She looks at
Maria and Steph, recognises them, and is horrified. Vira covers
her mouth with her hand and runs after Andrew, sobbing. Andrew and
Vira come running. Andrew stops by the dead Maria and cannot
believe his daughter was killed. He looks closely at Steph and
sees that she is alive. Steph looks at Andrew and rejoices. She
asks to take her mother to the hospital. Andrew kneels before
Maria. Vira attempts to take Steph away. Steph leans back and
calls her mother.
During the day, Andrew walks down the street, holding the dead
Maria wrapped in a sheet in his arms. Steph and Vira follow him.
They approach a large ditch. Men throw the bodies of murdered
people into this ditch because there is no way to bury them in the
cemetery. Maria's body is thrown into the ditch in front of
Steph's eyes. Steph screams and tries to get into the moat too.
Some men and Vira restrain her.
At Andrew's house, Steph accuses him of her mother´s death. Andrew
is guiltily silent. Vira offers to take Steph to her place of work
- to the children's department of the hospital because there is
heating, light and water, which are no longer available in the
apartments around the city. But there is no heating in the
children's ward, so Vira takes Steph to the maternity hospital in
the same territory as the children's hospital.
Thus, Steph finds herself in a minor ward with OLYA (25) –
pregnant in the last month. Steph silently lies down without even
undressing. She covers herself with a blanket and cries bitterly.
In the morning, Steph is awakened by the sounds of explosions. She
gets out from under the blanket and looks around in fear. Olya
calmly explains that no one hits the red cross. Steph angrily
replies that the Russians hit everything. Olya treats Steph with
food and tries to remember from where she knows the girl’s face.
She remembers hearing Steph singing beautifully in the bomb
shelter. Steph replies that she will not sing anymore because her
mother was killed yesterday and she doesn't need anything without
her.
Meanwhile, Russian bombers fly to the hospital and drop bombs
directly on the red cross.
8
There is an explosion in the ward. Glass shards fly out of the
windows and hit Olya's stomach. A blood stain instantly appears on
her pyjamas, and she bends over in pain.
A part of the ceiling falls next to Steph, and the wall with the
neighbouring ward collapses. A dead woman's body can be seen
there.
Screams, moans, and cries can be heard from the corridor. Steph
runs up to Olya and drags her to the exit. The exit from the ward
is blocked from the side of the aisle. Steph knocks on the door to
get out and tries to break the door, but she cannot do anything.
Steph manages to crawl through the hole in the door. She drags
Olya along. One of the protruding boards scratches Steph's face,
but she does not notice the pain. Steph calls for help, but
doctors and nurses are helping the other wounded.
Steph manages to drag Olya to the stairs. Olya loses
consciousness. A DOCTOR (30) comes to the rescue. He picks up Olya
in his arms and carries her to the basement. Steph follows them.
A part of the basement has also been destroyed. Debris from walls,
furniture, and ceiling are lying everywhere. The doctor takes Olya
behind the screen. There is an improvised operating room. He puts
Olya on the operating table and examines her.
Steph sits in a corner and watches what is happening in fear.
Tears roll from her eyes. She wipes them away and rubs the blood
on her face.
While the nurse is anaesthetising Olya, the doctor approaches
Steph. He looks at her face and asks what is wrong with her. But
Steph is silent because of shock. The doctor examines her and then
uses hydrogen peroxide to wash the blood off her face and hands.
He tells her not to be afraid - this is someone else's blood.
Steph replies that she is no longer afraid of blood because she is
used to it.
The doctor asks her to go behind the screen.
Steph comes out, sits on the floor and covers her face with her
hands. Next to her are women with babies in their arms and
pregnant women. Children's cries, women's screams and moans can be
heard everywhere.
Meanwhile, Andrew runs to the hospital yard. The hospital yard has
been destroyed. Trees have been uprooted or broken. Broken
windows, fragments of walls and roofs are everywhere. The dead
people lie on the ground. The wounded are being helped.
Andrew runs around looking for Steph. He asks one of the nurses
about Vira and learns that a bomb hit her office, killing everyone
there.
9
Andrew clenches his fists, shakes them in the air and curses
Russians.
Steph sits in the basement corner until the doctor approaches her
and calls her after the screen. He brings her to Olya because he
believes that Olya is her mother.
Olya turns to Steph in a weak voice and says that her child has
died. Then she asks Steph to sing because people need to hear her
voice. She dies after these words. The nurse asks Steph to leave.
Steph slowly heads to Andrew's house while he walks in the other
direction with a gun.
Steph approaches her grandfather's apartment and knocks on the
door, but the neighbour informs her that he has gone somewhere,
probably to the Russians, because he has been waiting for them.
The bombing begins. People run to the basement, while Steph comes
out and walks toward her house. People carrying things in their
hands and pushing carts with children run past her. Everyone
bypasses Steph.
In front of Steph's eyes, the rocket hits the house a great
distance from her. There is a powerful explosion. Stones and rebar
fly away from it.
Steph raises her head to the sky and sees a plane flying low with
visible red stars on its wings. She waits for the plane to
disappear and continues on her way.
Steph approaches her house. It is almost destroyed and black with
smoke. Instead of windows, there are blackened cavities.
Steph notices that the swing on the playground between two houses
has survived. She walks to the swing and sees the bread the pigeon
did not eat. Steph picks up the bread and takes some snow in her
hand. She sits on the swing, soaks the loaf in snow, eats it and
eats snow.
Having finished eating the bread, Steph freezes and looks at her
house. She rolls slowly on the swing, looking thoughtfully at her
former home.
A military vehicle passes by. Two people are inside - ROMAN (25)
and MYKHALYCH (50), dressed in the uniform of the Ukrainian army.
They notice Steph's figure and decide to check who it is.
Roman approaches Steph and asks her where she lives. She points in
the direction of the destroyed house. Then he asks if she has
relatives. Steph shakes her head in denial. Roman takes her hand
and leads her to the car. Because they are running late, they
decide to bring Steph to their base.
10
Steph is being fed at the military base. She gets warm. Mykhalych
and Roman talk to her. Roman announces that he will take her to
the police the following day. Steph asks them to let her stay to
support the military. Roman is surprised by this. Steph then
demonstrates how she can help by singing "Shchedryk". Her voice
enchants all the service members.
Russian tanks break into the city to Steph's singing. Ukrainian
soldiers, including her grandfather Andrew, join the battle. He is
killed in action.
The Ukrainian military leaves after receiving a notification about
the Russian breakthrough. Only the guards remain.
Steph goes to bed and instantly falls asleep.
In the morning, Steph is woken up by voices. She wakes up and sees
the soldiers tired after the battle. Steph learns about
Mykhalych's death and cries. Roman announces that she will be
taken to a drama theatre where the townspeople whose houses have
been bombed live. They are waiting for the "green corridor".
Roman brings Steph to the lobby of the drama theatre. It is full
of people – they are sitting, lying next to each other on
mattresses, in rows, just on the floor. There is a din of
children's cries mixed with the voices of adults.
KATYA (30) approaches them. Roman is upset and asks Katya where
Steph can stay. Katya replies that Steph will live with her in a
dressing room. Steph warmly says goodbye to Roman, and he promises
to find her after the war and take her to his mother.
Katya brings Steph to the dressing room. Steph smiles for the
first time after her mother's death, looking at the dresses and
hats.
Katya notices Steph's dirty coat and scarf and offers to clean
them. Steph agrees. Katya temporarily gives Steph Gerda's fur coat
and a hat from The Snow Queen.
In the morning, buses stand not far from the theatre. Each bus has
a piece of paper with the inscription "Children" attached to the
window.
Children of all ages play in the theatre yard. Steph, dressed in a
white fur coat and a white hat, stands alone and sadly watches
them.
Steph's attention is drawn to an ELDERLY MAN who has spread out a
stencil near the side entrance and is drawing the word "CHILDREN"
with white paint. Steph wonders why he does this. He answers that
the inscription should be visible from above so that they are not
bombed. Steph offers her help. She helps the man to draw letters
on the asphalt.
11
The following day, Steph wakes up in the dressing room. Katya
brings a washed coat and scarf in a transparent cellophane bag.
Steph rejoices and, after Katya leaves, puts things to herself and
dances. She tries putting on the coat but looks at her watch and
realises she is late for breakfast. Steph takes a mug and a bowl
in one hand and the coat with the scarf in the other - and hurries
to the field kitchen for food.
A Russian bomber is visible in the sky. It flies up to the drama
theatre. From a height, the inscriptions "CHILDREN" are clearly
visible on both sides of the theatre.
Steph barely approaches the field kitchen when an explosion goes
off. She crouches on the floor, drops the package and the bowl
with the cup, and covers her ears. A man falls on her, covering
her with his body.
People shout. Glass, bricks, and pieces of walls fly all around.
People fall on each other.
The theatre building has split in two as a result of the
airstrike. Military, firefighters and medics conduct rescue
operations. Many people are saved.
Steph climbs out from under the dead man's body with her last
strength. She is smeared in his blood. Steph looks around. There
are dead people everywhere. The girl tries to make her way to the
exit. The exit is completely blocked. She sits in the dark and
listens carefully. Steph hears the rescuer's voice from afar. He
says there is no one else alive, and the search must be ended.
Steph screams that she is alive. Nobody can hear her.
Roman is sitting next to the rescuer. He blames himself for
Steph's death.
Steph screams again, but no one outside can hear her. Then she
starts singing "Shchedryk".
Roman listens and hears Steph's voice from afar. He rejoices.
Steph sings with the last of her strength. Roman and the rescuer
rake up the debris and go to Steph's singing.
Roman shines with a flashlight. Steph drops her coat and runs to
him. He picks her up in his arms and snuggles her. She confesses
that she knew he would save her.
In the morning, Roman takes Steph to a bus. She is wearing a clean
blue coat, and her head is not covered with anything - her hair is
neatly combed. Steph is holding two packages. She gives one of
them to Katya - it contains Gerda's costume, and the other has her
scarf and some food.
12
Steph bids Roman a warm farewell. He asks a TEACHER (50), who
accompanies the children, to send him an SMS when they arrive in
Kyiv. His mother will come for Steph.
The bus leaves. Steph gets cold and puts on Maria's yellow scarf.
The bus stops at a Russian checkpoint. Some RUSSIAN SOLDIERS enter
the bus. They take out all children over 14 years old and adults,
undress everyone in the cold and conduct an examination.
Other Russian soldiers are checking things on the bus, ignoring
the children. One of these soldiers walks past Steph but suddenly
turns and examines her clothes. Without explaining anything, he
pulls a frightened girl out of the bus. On the street, he declares
that Steph is a Nazi because she is dressed in the colours of the
Ukrainian flag. The teacher tries to stand up for Steph but is
killed.
Steph breaks free and runs to the forest. The Russian soldiers
shoot at her and call it a safari. They wound Steph, and when they
approach her and see that she is alive, they drag her into a
nearby house.
There, three Russian soldiers rape Steph. We cannot see it, but we
understand it. The Russians have fun and call it re-education.
Steph is still alive. We see her lying on a bed in her blue coat.
There is a shot. Blood slowly spills over her coat.
We see the big concert stage again. Steph, the angel, addresses
the listeners and says she was killed only because she is
Ukrainian, so she will never go on stage and sing. Steph asks to
remember her.
THE END

Awards Won

New York International Film Awards  - winner in two categories: «Best War Script» and «Best Drama Script »
Best Script Award - London - winner «Best War Screenplay»
Amsterdam International Film Festival 2022 - winner «Best Feature Screenplay»
WRPNSC - «RHODIUM  Winner 2022»
Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards - Semi-Finalist
Scriptation - Quarter Finalist 2022 (the competition has not finished yet).