Episode 1

Alaska, United States...

The fireplace in the living room was burning wood in an effort to warm the space as much as possible, for the cold was severe, and the sound of the howling wind outside was increasingly gaining strength in a terrifying buzz. The television stayed on at low volume on the evening news, broadcasting live the biggest snowstorm of the last twenty years.

Reporter - Ten deaths have been confirmed, mostly on the roads with car and truck spills...

A baby's feeble cry echoes from the bedroom.

Allan - Honey, please!

He lifts the baby into his arms, trying to soothe her with a bottle of warm milk. His eyes showed pure terror and his worry was evident. His cell phone starts to ring.

Allan 📱- Hello! Who is this? What? Yes, I'm her husband.

He exclaimed anxiously, as his eyes welled up with tears, the phone slipping from his hand and shattering on the floor. In desperation, he brings his hand to his head and begins pacing back and forth with his daughter in his arms.

Allan - No, no, no!

He moves towards the window overlooking the street, where all the cars were covered in snow, and the intense blizzard left them stranded, unable to go anywhere. Suddenly, the lights went out, plunging the whole neighborhood into darkness.

Allan - No, this can't be happening!

He kneels on the living room floor near the fireplace and starts crying uncontrollably, joining his daughter Judy's cries. Allan wakes up from the nightmare drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, sits up in bed and turns his face toward the nightstand, noting that it is 5:00 in the morning.

He sighs and lowers his head, closing his eyes; it was yet another night of troubled sleep filled with anguishing nightmares about the day his wife died. Sara had passed away a few years back, due to an accident in the mountains during a fierce snowstorm.

Sara was an elementary school teacher, and on that day, she had been on a field trip with her students in the mountains, sacrificing her own life to save them.

Allan Bradley, 30 years old, father to 4-year-old Judy. He worked as a coastguard rescuing lives, but that was what frustrated him the most, having saved so many lives and yet unable to save his own wife.

He gets up and heads to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, frying some scrambled eggs and making hot chocolate, pouring it into two mugs.

Judy - Daddy?

He looks over.

Allan - Hey sweetheart, you're awake?

Judy - I had a nightmare, daddy!

The little girl stood in the middle of the kitchen rubbing her eyes and with a tear-stained face. Allan takes off his apron and lifts his daughter onto the counter, wiping away her tears with fingers that were already moistening her rosy cheeks due to the cold day's low temperature.

Allan - What happened?

Judy - I dreamed I was alone at home!

Allan - But you're not alone at home!

The little girl lowers her head, looking at her hands.

Allan - Do you want to tell me something, honey?

Judy - I... I miss you, daddy!

Allan - I know I'm not always with you, child! But...

He falls silent.

Judy - Grandma says you work a lot, that's why!

Allan - Yeah... I...

He closes his eyes and inhales deeply, then exhales once again.

Allan - I think I need a vacation!

He picks her up off the counter and places her on the floor.

Allan - Go take a shower and get dressed, you've got school today!

Judy - Today is my ballet presentation, daddy!

Allan - Huh?

The girl stays quiet and makes a sad face then leaves the kitchen and heads down the hall to her room.

Allan - Dang it!

He punches the rustic wooden table in frustration for another oversight, walks to the living room, and picks up Judy's backpack, unzips it, and finds the invitation to the ballet presentation.

Allan - Honey?

The girl doesn't respond, so he decides to go to her.

Allan - Honey, I'll do everything I can to make it!

Judy was sitting on the floor playing with dolls on her room's soft rug.

Judy - Grandma is going too!

Allan - We'll watch your presentation!

With her father's confirmation, the little girl gets excited and stands up, hugging his legs tightly.

Allan - Now let's get ready!

Judy - Yes!

She exclaims, dashing off to the bathroom. Allan gives her a quick bath with warm water and helps her into her clothes, puts on her boots, coat, gloves, and beanie.

Judy - My scarf!

He opens a drawer in the dresser and pulls one out.

Allan - How about this one today?

Judy - No, the pink one with polka dots!

Allan - You really like that one, huh? (laughs)

Judy - Grandma gave it to me!

His phone starts to ring.

Allan - Go have your breakfast; it's on the table!

The girl runs out of the room and sits down at her chair for her hot chocolate and homemade cookies, grabs the remote, and turns on the animated cartoon while she eats.

Allan 📱- Hello, Mom!

Beth 📱- Good morning, son! I wanted to remind you about Judy's ballet presentation; I'd forgotten to tell you.

Allan 📱- Yeah, I found out just in time!

As he talks on the phone, Allan prepares another snack and places it in his daughter's lunch box for her to take to school.

Beth 📱- You're going, aren't you, son? It's later this afternoon!

Allan 📱- Of course, I'll do everything I can to be there in time for the whole performance.

Beth 📱- Please, son! Don't miss it.

Allan 📱- I will be there, Mom!

Beth 📱- Also, don't forget the main thing, next week is her birthday.

Allan 📱- Never! Bye, Mom! I'm running a bit late.

He ends the call and looks at his daughter.

Judy - Why is it always Grandma who picks me up from school?

Allan - Because I'm working, honey. Besides, I drop you off every day, doesn't that count?

The girl smiles, takes another sip of hot chocolate, and returns her attention to the animated cartoon.

Judy - It does!

Allan smiles and kisses the top of his daughter's head, leaves the kitchen, and enters his room to take a shower and get ready, as he senses his day will be busy today.

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