Standoff

Carter is a war veteran living alone in an old house, surrounded by memories and the quiet of a life withdrawn. His grief is raw; he’s lost his son and walks through each day haunted by guilt. One evening, he pens a letter to his estranged wife, ready to surrender to the emptiness he feels. 

Meanwhile, a twelve-year-old girl named Bird witnesses a terrifying scene at a cemetery, an assassin carrying out a murder. She photographs the crime, but the killer, Sade, sees her and chases her through the woods. Terrified and cornered, Bird finds herself at Carter’s front door, seeking shelter. 

When Sade tracks them down, the house becomes a tense battleground. Carter, armed with a single shell and a shotgun, shields Bird, the only innocent life caught in this fury. Upstairs and downstairs, the two men stare each other down through silent halls. Shadows, broken glass, and whispered pleas fill each room as the night stretches on. 

Carter’s grief and regret give him strength. His determination is quiet but unbreakable. He guides Bird through small acts, hiding her film, staying calm, holding the line. As time slips away and the lights waver, the house becomes a test of will, where silence speaks louder than bullets. 

When dawn edges in, the dust settles. Carter, wounded but unbowed, and Bird stand together, changed by fear but not broken.