1

SCENE ONE
INT. STAGE - NIGHT
The spotlights beat down onto the clear, empty stage,
illuminating the area in a white glow. Just offstage stands
Ethan Wise, dressed in leather shoes, black formal trousers
and white shirt. He is breathing increasingly faster and
heavier, beads of perspiration beginning to rise on his
forehead. There is little expression on his face, eyes
glazed over looking out onto the lit stage infront.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Light from the early morning sun gently filters through into
the room. Ethan is awake and staring up at the ceiling. His
hair is matted against the top of his forehead, the result
of a disturbed dream. Movement past his open door catches
his attention. A brief flicker of bewilderment crosses over
Ethans face, before softening. He rises and gets out of
bed.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
A girl stands at the counter, putting slices of bread into
the toaster. She too is dressed in casual nightwear. The
kettle is boiling, little wisps of steam floating from the
spout. The table has been laid out for breakfast for two at
each end of the table. Ethan enters the kitchen briskly
heading over to a cupboard. He exchanges a friendly,
familiar smile with the girl at the counter as he takes a
box of cereal and gets milk from the fridge. He sits down at
the table pouring out his meal. As he eats, the noise of the
kettle becomes hyperreal as the boiling intensifies.
PUSH IN
on to Ethans face as he eats. The kettle and the toaster
click off at the same time. Ethan looks sharply over at the
toaster, which has not been used. He looks over at the
kettle which is also off and has no condensation, indicating
it has not recently been boiled. The dishes, mugs and
cutlery from the opposite end of the table are piled up in a
dirtied mess on the side by the kitchen sink. A sombre
realisation creeps over Ethans face and we...
CUT TO:

2.

SCENE TWO
INT. Therapy Room - Day
Ethan is holding a familiar expression of mellow sadness,
though his surroundings have changed to a different room.
There is a sudden snap of fingers.
DR. YATES
Ethan? Are you with me? Youre
safe, just another session ok?
Ethan looks up at the doctor, takes brief note of his
surroundings, ease setting back in.
ETHAN
(Slowly)
Oh, yes. Ok.
DR. YATES
I was asking you why you still hold
responsibility over what happened
to your sister?
ETHAN
She was my kid sister, how can I
not feel guilt?
DR. YATES
(Softly)
This isnt a question of just guilt
though Ethan. Its why you feel so
responsible? You werent at the
wheel, you had no action in what
happened.
He stares for a moment past Dr. Yates before breathing deep
then looking back.
ETHAN
Though she was younger I feel like
I depended on her more. Always
wanting her support. But had I, for
once, chosen to do something alone,
be confident in myself... she would
be...
He stops, fighting hard to not cry, body shaking
uncontrollably. Dr.Yates mumbles comforting words as we...
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3.

SCENE THREE
INT. THEATRE STAGE - NIGHT
Ethan is still staring from the side stage. Then for a
moment, he breaks his gaze, lapsing slightly as he forgets
where he is. Gradually as he looks around, he slowly
recollects where he is. He reaches the inside of his pocket
and pulls out a script from which he begins to rehearse
lines and we...
CUT TO:
INT. HOME - DAY
Ethan and Jean in the living room. Ethan is rehearsing lines
but is struggling to get them right. Jean offers words of
encouragement and he keeps trying.
ETHAN
(Rushed, in a dull tone)
...and yet, though I had proven my
worth, I was still not good enough.
The bosses would not allow a junior
like me to rise so highJEAN
(Laughing)
Stop, stop. Youre speeding. Slow
down dude.
ETHAN
Yeah I know, just a little nervous
about tomorrow.
JEAN
Dont worry about that. For now
its just me ok, Im your audience.
ETHAN
I just want to get this right.
Chill, youre doing fine.
Ethan gets up from the sofa and begins pacing, reciting his
lines. When he turns back to face Jean, she has gone though
he does not react to this in anyway and instead continues
reading out his lines.
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4.

SCENE FOUR
INT. THERAPY ROOM - DAY
Ethan is pacing around the room. Dr Yates looks at him for a
few seconds then finally speaks.
DR. YATES
Why dont we try going over your
lines Ethan?
ETHAN
My lines? I cant remember them.
When I get close to remembering I
just forget again. What good will
trying now do?
DR. YATES
Its better than practicing on your
own, especially when you are not
fully recovered.
Ethan stops pacing, his back turned to Dr. Yates, who waits
patiently for an answer. Finally Ethan turns round.
ETHAN
Alright, well give it a go.
He takes the script out of his pocket and finds one of his
first lines. Clearing his throat, he reads out loud.
ETHAN (contd)
It was my first day working for
Lockton and my eagerness was
shining through.
DR. YATES
Good, say it again.
ETHAN
It was my DR. YATES
Without your script.
Ethan looks quizzically at Dr. Yates before repeating the
line without the script, which he does with a couple of
pauses and stumbles. Dr. Yates and Ethan share a look
together, as Ethan perhaps realises he is not beyond
recovery.

5.

SCENE FIVE
This scene begins with a montage that begins from the end of
the previous, with Ethan practicing his lines with Yates.
The montage will cut back and forth between Ethan practicing
at home and at the Therapy sessions, gradually progressing
for the better, gaining confidence in both himself and his
acting. This is reflected, especially, by seeing Jean less
often when he is at home. As he begins to learn his part
without the help of the script and come to terms with the
absence of his sister, she disappears more often and nearing
the end of the montage does not appear at all. She also
interacts less with Ethan as he becomes more confident,
sometimes sitting away from him or not being addressed as he
acts out his performance. Through this, soft lines of
dialogue between Ethan and Yates and from Ethans script,
can be heard in the audio track and I believe music will be
key here also. The ending of the montage will end with Ethan
happy and relaxed and putting the script away into his
pocket on which we will
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Ethan, now calm and composed. A cue means it is time for him
to go out, and so we track him as he begins to walk out onto
the stage, the light pouring over him as he emerges from the
wing. He glances up, the spotlights blinding in the their
full shine. He continues to move over to his position the
lights gradually fading down. When he arrives at his place,
through the now dimmed lights, he notices Jean sitting in a
row, alone. There is a pause as Ethan momentarily lingers on
her. He closes his eyes, opens them again, and she is gone.
Then inhaling, he starts his monologue, but we...
CUT TO BLACK