1

MIRRORS
BY
JANET ADEBIYI-OJO

Email: janet.adebiyi-ojo@hotmail.co.uk
Address:
Oaks Park High School
45-65 Oaks Lane
Newbury Park
Ilford
IG2 7PQ
Mobile number: 07930234845
FADE IN:

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INT: ISABELLAS HOUSE, BEDROOM MORNING
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
My mum always wanted me to do it right, she was the typical Nigerian parent
you know, finish A-Levels and get my degree before I can even think about
getting married or starting a family.
ISABELLA NICHOLS, a 24-year-old African-American woman, dressed in a black
dress and black tights, is in her bedroom, sorting through a box of old
belongings from her adolescent years.
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
Huh, wait, I still have this? Wow, its been a long 8 years. Im still in
shock after all these years that Ive still held on to this little old
thing. I would write anything and everything in there, the good times and
the bad times you know, just memories.
ISABELLA stumbles across her diary that she kept when she was 16 years old
and has a shocked look on her face.
She gets up and slowly walks over to sits down at her table, flicking
through the pages of the diary.
Tears begin to roll down her face as vivid memories of her teenage years
gradually form in her head.
ISABELLA turns the page once more and pauses.
DISSOLVE TO:
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT: ISABELLAS MOTHERS HOUSE, BATHROOM EVENING
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
You know, I always found it hard to believe it when my mum would tell me
that I am beautiful. My step-dad always cussed me, telling me he couldnt
believe I came out of my mum and he was so thankful I wasnt his child.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
ISABELLA is standing in front of the mirror, wrapped in a towel as tears
are rolling down her face. She has a look of disgust on her face and slowly
places her right hand on her cheek and cries even more.

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She sits on the floor and conceals her face into her hands.
END FLASHBACK.
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
Now I see parts of my mum in me, she was always one to hold onto things, I
still cant believe I have this diary after all this time. She used to keep
postcards and letters, as well as collecting the most random things
ISABELLA gets up and walks downstairs to the living room.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT: ISABELLAS HOUSE, LIVING ROOM MIDDAY
ISABELLA is in the living room and is sitting on the sofa, still absorbed
into her teenage diary she discovered earlier on that morning.
As she places the diary onto the table, an object slips out of the diary
and drops onto the floor.
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
I remember my 16th birthday so clearly; I wanted all my close girls to come
and celebrate it with me, but ever since we moved away from Hackney to
Romford it was so hard to see my girls as much as I did back in the day.
Truth be told this gift from mum made up for the disappointment I felt that
day.
ISABELLA picks up the object and realises it is a silver necklace. She
holds her hand open with the necklace placed in the palm of her hands and
just stares at it deeply.
DISSOLVE TO:
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT: ISABELLAS MOTHERS HOUSE, LIVING ROOM EVENING
(Voiceover)

ISABELLA

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When my mum got ill, it was only right that I took on more responsibility.
With my little brother too young to understand and my good-for-nothing
step-dad, it was down to me to keep things going. I honestly gave up
looking for this; Id misplaced it a while back. How was I supposed to look
after myself and the rest of my family when I couldnt even remember where
I had put this?
ISABELLA is cleaning the living room with a dusting cloth. She is polishing
the TV area and as she dusts around the remote controls, she comes across a
necklace.
With an intrigued look on her face, she picks up the object and realises
that it is a necklace that her mother gave her for her 18th birthday.
ISABELLA closes her hand and smiles to herself.
END FLASHBACK.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT: ISABELLAS HOUSE, KITCHEN AFTERNOON
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
Hmm, I dont know what to make for dinner tonight Maybe I should just
for Michael to come home and let him decide what he wants. Im going
tell him all about this diary and this stuff I used to write about. He
probably be just as shocked as I am that after about 8 years, I still
this diary. I wonder what his reaction will be.

wait
to
will
have

ISABELLA walks over to the cupboard, takes out a wine glass and places it
on the counter. She walks over to the fridge and takes out a bottle of
wine.
She pours some into the glass, picks it up and takes a few sips before
putting the wine back into the fridge.
ISABELLA walks out of the kitchen and begins to walk back upstairs to her
bedroom with the wine glass still in her hand.
CUT TO:
INT: ISABELLAS HOUSE, BEDROOM AFTERNOON
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
I honestly didnt think I would have kept so much stuff with me after all
these years. This clear-out was most definitely needed. Well, well, well
look what we have here my old end of term report from Year 13 this will
be an interesting read.

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ISABELLA continues to look through her box of old belongings with an
intrigued look on her face, surprised at the different objects she comes
across.
She continues to sip her wine before placing it on the drawers next to her.
ISABELLA discovers her Year 13 End of Term report. She sits down on the
bed, opens the envelope and begins to read the report.
DISSOLVE TO:
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT: ST. MARYS GIRLS SIXTH FORM COLLEGE, CLASSROOM LUNCHTIME
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
The amount of times I was in this womans office was a joke, and it was
always for the same thing. Isabella youre too loud or Isabella, why you
being so aggressive with your words, calm down! or Isabella, dont kiss
your teeth, its rude! I was certain they all hated me in that school for
sure my head of year did not like me, my form teacher and my subject
teachers no one did.
ISABELLA is sitting in her Head of Years office, waiting for MISS WILLIAMS
to arrive.
MISS WILLIAMS walks into the office with an annoyed look on her face.
ISABELLA doesnt make eye contact with MISS WILLIAMS and doesnt move or
make a sound.
MISS WILLIAMS sits in front of ISABELLA and with her arms folded and does
not look impressed.
MISS WILLIAMS begins to talk to ISABELLA about her attitude and the way she
speaks to the other students and staff members in the school.
ISABELLA attempts to reply to MISS WILLIAMS.
MISS WILLIAMS raises her hand and doesnt give ISABELLA the opportunity to
speak.
ISABELLA has a careless and annoyed look on her face, kisses her teeth.
MISS WILLIAMS begins to shout some more.
ISABELLA stills with her head and hand on the
disregarding everything MISS WILLIAMS is saying to her.
END FLASHBACK.

table,

completely

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DISSOLVE TO:
INT: ISABELLAS HOUSE, BEDROOM LATE AFTERNOON
(Voiceover)
ISABELLA
What a day, who would have thought, 8 years later and I still remember my
adolescent years so vividly; my school life, my home life the whole
thing. Things would have been so different if we never moved house or if
mum didnt get ill. But theres no one to blame life has its ups and
downs, everyone has their own story and I guess this is mine. At the end of
the day, its okay Im okay, Ive always been okay and I always will be.
ISABELLA has nearly finished arranging her belongings into two separate
piles of what she wants to keep and what she wants to throw away.
As she picks up the last object, her old diary, she pauses and is hesitant
with which pile to put it in.
The doorbell RINGS.
ISABELLA throws the diary into the bin bag and gets up.
ISABELLA walks towards the door and begins to walk downstairs.
CUT TO:
ISABELLA
Babe, is that you? Guess what I found today
MICHAEL:
Yeah hun, its me do you mind helping with the shopping?
ISABELLA walks towards the door and opens it.
MICHAEL is kneeling on one knee with a ring in his hand.
CUT TO:
ISABELLA is in shock and smiles uncontrollably.
CUT TO:
MICHAEL
I know this might be a shock to you because weve only known each other for
a year, but I feel the time is just right.

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CUT TO:
ISABELLA is still smiling and covers her face.
CUT TO:
MICHAEL
Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?
CUT TO:
ISABELLA
Of course I will!
MICHAEL gets up and hugs his new fianc.
CUT TO: