Backwards, Then Forwards | Screenplay
1 INT. HALLWAY WITH ROOMS ON THE SIDE. DAY.
VIOLA wakes up in shock, on a white hallway with doors on the side. MAIYA stands next to her and smiles at her.
MAIYA
There you are.
VIOLA
Where am I?
Viola looks up at Maiya.
VIOLA (CONT’D)
Who are you?
MAIYA
I am the guardian of these doors, of your
memories.
Maiya points to the doors.
VIOLA
What memories?
MAIYA
Why don’t you take a look?
Viola stands up and opens a bit of the closest door, peeks in and shuts it.
VIOLA
Is that…
MAIYA
Yes, that is your first love, Dayna Hester.
VIOLA
What is this?
MAIYA
It is them, as seen through your eyes.
VIOLA
Oh.
Viola opens the door completely to see a white room with DAYNA HESTER running towards her.
DAYNA
Viola! There you are! Come here!
An ice cream stand appears in the room and Viola sees Dayna excitedly get ice cream.
VIOLA
That was our first date.
MAIYA
Yes indeed.
They both look at Dayna who happily waves at Viola and comes towards her.
DAYNA
Come on! It is going to melt!
VIOLA
Just one second!
Dayna leaves.
VIOLA (CONT’D)
So… does she know this is not real?
MAIYA
Well, the representation of her is real. It is
based off what you witnessed and experienced
back then.
VIOLA
Yeah… she was great… but…
Suddenly, the room gets darker.
DAYNA
How dare you go out without me!
Dayna slams her hands on an appeared table and Viola sighs.
VIOLA
She had her issues. We were so young. We used
to think some things were more important than
they actually were.
Viola walks out of the room and closes the door.
MAIYA
So, basically, you get to relive these, and
choose which one is your one.
VIOLA
What? Seriously?
MAIYA
Yes, if you can choose again, who would you
choose?
Viola opens the next door, sees a white room then sees MAYSON MCCORMICK.
MAYSON
Hey, I bought you a new computer.
VIOLA
Oh, really?
MAYSON
You said you wanted it, so I got you one.
VIOLA
Okay, I’ll pay you b…
MAYSON
Don’t worry about it. I have more money than
you, so I can afford to spoil you.
VIOLA
Oh, okay.
Mayson walks away to sit at a desk that appeared.
MAIYA
He seems to be nice to you, but…
VIOLA
Yep.
The room gets darker. Mayson storms at Viola.
MAYSON
My parents won’t like your family. They are
not the same class as mine.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
He thought we lived in completely different
worlds because my parents were blue collared
and his was white collared.
MAYSON
Yes! They won’t like each other! This won’t
work, I’m afraid.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
I also found hints of him flirting and buying
presents for other girls as well.
MAYSON
That’s what rich men do!
VIOLA (TO MAYSON)
That’s what the TV says rich men do! Not all
men cheat on the woman they love! That is
called being a jerk and a cheater!
Mayson walks away and Viola shuts the door.
Viola checks out three more doors and reached the last one.
VIOLA
So, this is the last one.
MAIYA
Yes.
Viola opens the door, and sees NED ROBERTS standing there smiling at her.
VIOLA
Hi.
NED
Hi beautiful.
Ned sits on the other side of an appeared dining table.
NED (CONT’D)
I’m sorry that I didn’t put away the dishes.
I got carried away.
Viola sits at the dining table with him.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
You know, he proposed to me today.
MAIYA
Oh, well, judging by your ring finger, you
didn’t say yes.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
I…I’m just not sure.
Ned smiles at Viola.
NED
No, it is okay. I totally understand. Go have
fun with your friends! I’ll be here. I have
work to do anyways.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
He has his flaws, and despite that, he treats
me well, respects me, and knows who I am. He
lets me be me, trusts me, and loves me.
MAIYA
I know. He is pretty good to you.
Viola smiles at Ned as he walks around and sits at an appeared desk.
The room gets slightly darker.
NED
I just don’t understand why you are mad at me
for such small things. She is just a
colleague. I won’t do anything that will hurt
you.
Ned has tears in his eyes and walks around in frustration.
He sits on an appeared sofa.
MAIYA
Do you remember what you said to him?
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
Yes.
Viola sits down next to Ned.
VIOLA (TO NED)
I love you, and I trust you. I am sorry for
lashing out. I was feeling insecure and
cautious, because I always learned to be.
NED
You don’t have to feel like that. I am here,
now, with you, and there is a reason for that.
I know I am not perfect, but I am trying my
best, for you, for us. Because in my mind, you
are the perfect one for me.
The room gets brighter and whiter again. Viola smiles, stands up and walks out of the room.
MAIYA
You’ve made your choice?
Viola nods.
2 INT. VIOLA AND NED’S BEDROOM. DAY.
Viola opens her eyes and sees Ned sleeping next to her.
She smiles at him and touches his face.
Ned slowly wakes up.
NED
Good morning, Viola. I am sorry that I…
VIOLA
Ned, I do.
NED
Hmm?
VIOLA
I am saying yes.
NED
Oh… Viola.
Ned hugs Viola and Viola smiles.
There’s a twinkle in the light outside their window.
Viola sees it and smiles brightly.
VIOLA wakes up in shock, on a white hallway with doors on the side. MAIYA stands next to her and smiles at her.
MAIYA
There you are.
VIOLA
Where am I?
Viola looks up at Maiya.
VIOLA (CONT’D)
Who are you?
MAIYA
I am the guardian of these doors, of your
memories.
Maiya points to the doors.
VIOLA
What memories?
MAIYA
Why don’t you take a look?
Viola stands up and opens a bit of the closest door, peeks in and shuts it.
VIOLA
Is that…
MAIYA
Yes, that is your first love, Dayna Hester.
VIOLA
What is this?
MAIYA
It is them, as seen through your eyes.
VIOLA
Oh.
Viola opens the door completely to see a white room with DAYNA HESTER running towards her.
DAYNA
Viola! There you are! Come here!
An ice cream stand appears in the room and Viola sees Dayna excitedly get ice cream.
VIOLA
That was our first date.
MAIYA
Yes indeed.
They both look at Dayna who happily waves at Viola and comes towards her.
DAYNA
Come on! It is going to melt!
VIOLA
Just one second!
Dayna leaves.
VIOLA (CONT’D)
So… does she know this is not real?
MAIYA
Well, the representation of her is real. It is
based off what you witnessed and experienced
back then.
VIOLA
Yeah… she was great… but…
Suddenly, the room gets darker.
DAYNA
How dare you go out without me!
Dayna slams her hands on an appeared table and Viola sighs.
VIOLA
She had her issues. We were so young. We used
to think some things were more important than
they actually were.
Viola walks out of the room and closes the door.
MAIYA
So, basically, you get to relive these, and
choose which one is your one.
VIOLA
What? Seriously?
MAIYA
Yes, if you can choose again, who would you
choose?
Viola opens the next door, sees a white room then sees MAYSON MCCORMICK.
MAYSON
Hey, I bought you a new computer.
VIOLA
Oh, really?
MAYSON
You said you wanted it, so I got you one.
VIOLA
Okay, I’ll pay you b…
MAYSON
Don’t worry about it. I have more money than
you, so I can afford to spoil you.
VIOLA
Oh, okay.
Mayson walks away to sit at a desk that appeared.
MAIYA
He seems to be nice to you, but…
VIOLA
Yep.
The room gets darker. Mayson storms at Viola.
MAYSON
My parents won’t like your family. They are
not the same class as mine.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
He thought we lived in completely different
worlds because my parents were blue collared
and his was white collared.
MAYSON
Yes! They won’t like each other! This won’t
work, I’m afraid.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
I also found hints of him flirting and buying
presents for other girls as well.
MAYSON
That’s what rich men do!
VIOLA (TO MAYSON)
That’s what the TV says rich men do! Not all
men cheat on the woman they love! That is
called being a jerk and a cheater!
Mayson walks away and Viola shuts the door.
Viola checks out three more doors and reached the last one.
VIOLA
So, this is the last one.
MAIYA
Yes.
Viola opens the door, and sees NED ROBERTS standing there smiling at her.
VIOLA
Hi.
NED
Hi beautiful.
Ned sits on the other side of an appeared dining table.
NED (CONT’D)
I’m sorry that I didn’t put away the dishes.
I got carried away.
Viola sits at the dining table with him.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
You know, he proposed to me today.
MAIYA
Oh, well, judging by your ring finger, you
didn’t say yes.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
I…I’m just not sure.
Ned smiles at Viola.
NED
No, it is okay. I totally understand. Go have
fun with your friends! I’ll be here. I have
work to do anyways.
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
He has his flaws, and despite that, he treats
me well, respects me, and knows who I am. He
lets me be me, trusts me, and loves me.
MAIYA
I know. He is pretty good to you.
Viola smiles at Ned as he walks around and sits at an appeared desk.
The room gets slightly darker.
NED
I just don’t understand why you are mad at me
for such small things. She is just a
colleague. I won’t do anything that will hurt
you.
Ned has tears in his eyes and walks around in frustration.
He sits on an appeared sofa.
MAIYA
Do you remember what you said to him?
VIOLA (TO MAIYA)
Yes.
Viola sits down next to Ned.
VIOLA (TO NED)
I love you, and I trust you. I am sorry for
lashing out. I was feeling insecure and
cautious, because I always learned to be.
NED
You don’t have to feel like that. I am here,
now, with you, and there is a reason for that.
I know I am not perfect, but I am trying my
best, for you, for us. Because in my mind, you
are the perfect one for me.
The room gets brighter and whiter again. Viola smiles, stands up and walks out of the room.
MAIYA
You’ve made your choice?
Viola nods.
2 INT. VIOLA AND NED’S BEDROOM. DAY.
Viola opens her eyes and sees Ned sleeping next to her.
She smiles at him and touches his face.
Ned slowly wakes up.
NED
Good morning, Viola. I am sorry that I…
VIOLA
Ned, I do.
NED
Hmm?
VIOLA
I am saying yes.
NED
Oh… Viola.
Ned hugs Viola and Viola smiles.
There’s a twinkle in the light outside their window.
Viola sees it and smiles brightly.
THE END
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
©Yolanda Yip (Wintsarye)
Comments
Post a Comment