Faerie Lights

By
Sarah Borja

Film Scenario Writing

Spring 2015

INT. CAR - NIGHT

LISSETTE, 22, is driving her beat-up car on a road through
the woods. She has brown skin and is dressed in cute,
comfortable clothing. PUNK MUSIC BLARES out of her car
speakers, and Lissette SCREAMS AND SINGS along to the song.
She is smiling and LAUGHING to herself. Her car windows are
open, and Lissettes left hand sits outside of the window,
her palms facing the wind.
A phone on the passenger seat lights up. Lissette glances at
the phone. She LOWERS THE MUSIC as she picks up the phone
and holds it in her hand. She bites her lip and drops it
back on the seat. She TURNS THE MUSIC BACK UP and continues
SINGING ALONG TO THE SONG, though she is no longer smiling.
EXT. CLIFF SIDE PLAYGROUND - NIGHT
Lissettes car continues until it reaches a cliff at the end
of the road. The cliff is fenced off, but the fence is
dilapidated and in some places, completely absent.
Nearby, there is an abandoned playground. There is only one
working swing on the swing set, which sways slightly in the
wind. Behind the playground is a forest.
Lissette gets out of the car and SLAMS the door, shoving her
key in her back pocket. A CACAPHONY of crickets CHIRPING
fills the night air. Lissette walks over to one of the gaps
in the fence. She takes a DEEP BREATH and stares down at the
water below as it CRASHES against the rocks.
LISSETTE
Maybe I shouldve left a note.
She shakes her head, then sits down, her feet hanging off
the cliff. A quiet VIBRATION comes from Lissettes pocket.
She pulls out her phone as it lights up with some random
notification.
The phones background is a picture of Lissette kissing
another woman on the cheek.
Lissettes hands tremble as she SMASHES the phone against a
rock, cracking the screen right through the middle.
After a few moments, her head snaps towards the woods. SOFT
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC is coming from somewhere within the
trees. She stands up, wiping her eyes.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.
LISSETTE
Fuck.

She continues listening intently. She looks at her car, then

at the woods again. She bites her lip and rubs her arms. She
walks towards the woods, leaving her cracked phone on the
dirt. Walking past the playground, Lissette sees an old,
tattered "missing child" duct taped to the rusting jungle
gym.
EXT. WOODS - CONTINUOUS
The trees are in full-bloom, but in the nights darkness,
the branches and roots seem to reach towards Lissette. She
stops and waits. The MUSIC is somewhat louder. Other FOREST
SOUNDS are seemingly absent.
Lissette continues walking, touching tree trunks as she
goes.
The MUSIC is nearby. Lissette finds herself in a clearing. A
small, cute coffee shop sits in the middle of the clearing.
It is brightly lit and decorated like something out of a
fairy tale. A sign on the door reads "open" in neat, cursive
handwriting.
Lissette approaches the cafe.
LISSETTE
(sarcastic)
Nope. Nothing weird about this.
She stands in front of the door, scratching at her arm. She
pushes the door open and walks in.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - CONTINUOUS
The interior of the coffee shop is even more adorable than
the outside with ribbon, flowers, and hearts decorating it.
The back of the shop has a counter with dozens of deserts.
Lissette looks around the shop as she walks to the counter.
A bell sits next to a sign that says "Ring for assistance."
Lissette hesitates, but then LAUGHS to herself.
LISSETTE
Whats the worst that could happen?
Someone kills me?
She RINGS THE BELL. A COMMOTION is heard from the backroom.
LOVELYNN, 26, bounces into the room. She is ethnically
ambiguous with brown skin, wearing a floral apron.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.
LOVELYNN
Oh my gosh! A guest! Hello!

She reaches for Lissettes hand, shaking it vigorously.

LISSETTE
Um, hi.
LOVELYNN
(gesturing behind her)
I told you, Willow! I told you
someone would show up!
She turns back around to face Lissette, wearing a huge
smile.
LOVELYNN
Welcome, friend, to Fae Lights
Cafe! My name is Lovelynn, and Ill
be your server today! What can I
get for you?
LISSETTE
Oh, no, Im okay.
LOVELYNN
We have all sorts of cakes! And
brownies, and cookies, or maybe
youd like some ice cream? What
about hot chocolate? With
marshmallows and whipped cream?
Whatever youd like!
Lovelynn hops over the counter and takes Lissettes hand,
dragging her to one of the seats. She pulls the cushioned
chair out and motions for Lissette to sit. She does, looking
bewildered.
LISSETTE
I appreciate your, um, hospitality,
but really, Im fine.
LOVELYNN
We also have danishes, croissants,
quiches, tortes, jelly rolls...
Lovelynn pauses, takes a breath, and looks back.
LOVELYNN
(hollering)
Willow! Stop being rude and get out
here!
She looks back at Lissette, her grin back on her face.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

LOVELYNN
I forgot to mention our cinnamon
buns, macaroons, rice cakes, puff
pastries, tarts...
LISSETTE
Ill just have a water.
LOVELYNN
Oh.
Lovelynn marches towards the back, shoulders hunched.
WILLOW, 23, slinks out of the backroom. She has short,
purple hair, dark skin, and is dressed in somewhat
old-fashioned clothing. She looks similar to the woman from
Lissettes phone.
WILLOW
Now, this is interesting.
Willow walks over to Lissette with a smirk and sits in the
chair facing her. There is a faint shimmering behind her for
a split second. Willow leans in.
WILLOW
Im guessing I have to apologize
for her, right?
Lissette stares at Willow, her mouth agape.
WILLOW
What?
LOVELYNN
Willow, nice of you to join us!
Lovelynn approaches the table holding a strawberry
shortcake, and elaborately decorated cupcake, a few
brownies, and no water. She sees Lissette staring wordlessly
at Willow.
LOVELYNN
I know, shes a looker right?
Lovelynn places the plate of dessert in front of Lissette,
then drapes herself around Willows shoulders and gives her
a kiss on the cheek. Lissette looks down at her lap, her
eyes wide and her mouth twisted into a frown.
LOVELYNN
Ive been asking her to marry me
for decades, but shes so stubborn!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.
LISSETTE
(quiet)
Decades, huh?

Lovelynn LAUGHS LOUDLY and pushes the plate of food closer

to Lissette.
LOVELYNN
Oh, you know.
WILLOW
Nobody wants to hear about our
relationship, Lynn. Youll bore our
guest to death. It wouldnt be the
first time.
Willow winks at Lissette. Lissette stares at her,
transfixed.
LISSETTE
(shaking her head)
Do you guys get a lot of guests?
WILLOW
Lately the only ones who find us
are those who want to. Like you.
LOVELYNN
(sniffling dramatically)
And its not nearly enough! Not
since people stopped coming to the
park.
LISSETTE
It did seem like a weird place for
a playground. Didnt kids used to
disappear off the cliff or
something?
LOVELYNN
It was a beautiful park.
Lissette picks up a fork and starts messing with the cake on
her plate. She brings the fork up to her nose and sniffs a
piece of cake apprehensively, before putting the fork back
down.
WILLOW
(laughing)
Thats funny--Lovelynn does the
same thing. Smelling her food I
mean.
Lissette opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

WILLOW
Jeeze. Why do you keep looking at
me like that?
LISSETTE
Um. Im sorry. You just...look like
someone I know.
LOVELYNN
(giggling)
If thats true, I bet shes super
cute! And Im sure youre madly in
love with her! How precious!
WILLOW
Tone it down, Lynn.
LISSETTE
(after a pause)
I am. Or, I mean. I was. Or I
shouldnt be.
Lissette covers her face with her hands and fidgets in her
seat.
LOVELYNN
(squealing)
Oh my gosh! I knew it! Who wouldnt
love this face.
Lovelynn reaches over and pinches Willows cheeks. Willow
smacks her hand away.
LOVELYNN
You should bring her here, too! It
can be a double date! Ill put out
extra flowers and I can make us the
most beautiful layer cake...
Lovelynns voice TRAILS OFF as she smiles dreamily. Lissette
looks down at the table, frowning.
LISSETTE
Sorry. I cant. Shes...ah.
WILLOW
Oh, I get it now.
LISSETTE
Im sorry?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

WILLOW
Why you want to die. Is it because
of that girl? Or is she one reason
of many?
LISSETTE
W-what are you talking about?
LOVELYNN
Die?
WILLOW
Just look at her.
Lovelynn grabs Lissettes hands, her fingers frantically
feeling Lissettes palms. Pointed ears peak out of her hair.
Both Lissette and Lovelynns faces grow pale.
LOVELYNN
(panicked)
You did! You came here to die!
Theres no reason to kill yourself!
Lissette pulls her hand away.
LISSETTE
Theres no reason to live, either.
Willow SNORTS, but Lovelynn GASPS with horror.
LOVELYNN
Stay here. We can help you. Ill
love you so much.
Lissette stands up.
LISSETTE
Im sorry. I have to go.
She turns around, moving quickly towards the door.
LOVELYNN
(shrieking)
You cant leave!
Lissette jumps, and looks back. Lovelynn smiles widely at
her, her teeth far sharper than before.
LOVELYNN
Stay with us! Willow and I can take
care of you forever! Or, at least
until you die. That wont be too
long for us, so you dont have to
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

LOVELYNN (contd)
worry! We can have so much fun
together!
Lovelynn takes a step towards Lissette; Lissette takes a
step back.
Willow leans back in her chair, looking almost bored.
WILLOW
Is that what you really want, Lynn?
LOVELYNN
Of course! Itll be like having a
baby! As long as you dont kill
this one like before. You can be so
careless.
WILLOW
Careless? Me? Youre the one who-Lissette inches back towards the door,
audible. She reaches for the doorknob,
The walls twist and shrivel, as if the
rotting. Lissette turns around to find
her. She SCREAMS.

her HEARTBEAT
but it melts away.
building itself is
Lovelynn right behind

LOVELYNN
Please dont leave.
Lovelynn is taller and lankier, looming over Lissette. Her
eyes have become a deep black. Lovelynn traces a clawed
finger over Lissettes cheek, leaving a red scratch behind.
The coffee shop melts away, becoming dank, blood-stained,
and filthy. Fly-infested corpses of animals long-dead litter
the ground. On Lissettes plate sits a mangled,
indistinguishable mess of blood and rot.
WILLOW
You werent supposed to see this.
LOVELYNN
But dont you like what I did with
the place? It was very nice, right?
You can stay here, too. I dont
want you to die.
Lissette takes in the horrors, looking around wildly. Her
face is twisted with fear.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

LISSETTE
B-but, what if Willow kills me? You
already said shes done it before.
WILLOW
Excuse me?
LOVELYNN
Willow knows how much it would hurt
me. Shell be careful this time.
WILLOW
Im telling you it wasnt my fault!
LOVELYNN
Oh, please! You know I was there,
right? I saw how you-While the two ARGUE, Lissette slams her body into the door.
She crashes into the ground, picks herself up, and runs off
into the woods. Lovelynn SIGHS.
WILLOW
I hope youre not expecting me to
run after her.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
The woods are dark, even with pale moonlight filtering
through the tree branches. Lissette stumbles her way through
the trees and bushes. Some branches seem to reach for her,
scratching her legs as she runs.
As she makes her way through the woods, leaves CRUNCH under
her feet. Plants RUSTLE as she moves past them. Lissette is
the only source of NOISE in the woods. She looks behind her
and finds nothing but black.
LOVELYNN
Where are you? Youre going to get
lost!
Her voice ECHOES, as if it is all around Lissette.
LOVELYNN
I just want us to be friends.
Please?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

10.

Lissette looks around, then moves even faster. Her foot

stomps into a mud puddle and becomes stuck. Lissette pulls
as hard as she can, but her leg will not budge. Trees sway
towards her, and a single HOOT from an owl can be heard.
LISSETTE
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
LOVELYNN
I wont let you go until you agree
to stay with us.
The wind blows Lissettes hair over her face. Lovelynn
appears in front of her. Lissette looks around wildly, then
puts her hand in her pocket.
LISSETTE
Okay. Ill stay with you. As long
as you want.
LOVELYNN
Forever?
LISSETTE
Sure.
Lovelynn smiles widely, her sharp teeth reflecting the
moonlight.
LOVELYNN
Im so happy! Ill be needing your
name, then.
Lissette whips out her car key, holding it in front of her
like a sword. Lovelynn looks at it, blinks, then BURSTS INTO
LAUGHTER.
LOVELYNN
Oh my gosh, what are you planning
to do with THAT?
Lovelynn reaches to take the key away from Lissette, but her
hand flinches away as soon as she touches it.
LOVELYNN
Iron?
Lissette lunges forward, clasping Lovelynns hand between
her own and the key. Lovelynns eyes widen as she SCREAMS, a
SIZZLING coming from her hand. She tries to shake off
Lissette, but Lissette holds on tightly.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.

LOVELYNN
You bitch!
She slaps Lissette with her free hand, cutting her face.
Lissette still does not let go. With a ROAR, Lovelynn kicks
her hard in the stomach.
Lissette COUGHS and scrambles to her feet, running off.
LOVELYNN
My hand! I cant believe you ruined
my hand! After I was so nice to
you?
Lissette continues to run, but trips on a tree branch,
landing with a CRASH. From the ground, she crawls, moving
her hands deliberately over the dirt.
She finds a hollowed out tree trunk on its side. She crawls
into it, hurrying to cover the entrance with leaves.
She sits in the tree BREATHING HEAVILY.
LOVELYNN
You vile creature!
Her VOICE is MUFFLED AND FARAWAY.
LOVELYNN
I was going to play with you, love
you. But now youve really hurt me.
Lovelynns VOICE is closer now. Lissette covers her mouth.
LOVELYNN
To be fair, I think I really ought
to hurt you too. Burn your hand
like you burned mine, maybe. Or I
could take a finger or five and
stitch together a new hand for me.
What do you think?
Lissette whips her hand away from her face. It appears to be
growing blacker and blacker. She shakes her head and shuts
her eyes. When she opens them again, her hand is back to
normal.
Lovelynns VOICE SOUNDS LIKE ITS RIGHT ON TOP OF LISSETTE.
LOVELYNN
But dont be scared. I wont let
you die. Not yet.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

12.

Lissette listens intently, but she hears nothing for a few

moments. Then, she hears a RUSTLING from somewhere outside.
WILLOW
Whatre you doing? She went that
way, dummy. Youve got a terrible
sense of direction.
LOVELYNN
Oh, what do you know? I heard her
come this way.
WILLOW
I keep telling you to get your big
old ears checked. Here, Ill show
you.
After the VOICES FADE AWAY, Lissette crawls out of the tree
trunk. Her foot drags out a childs shirt, caked with mud
and blood. She shivers, rubs her arms, and makes her way
through the woods.
LISSETTE
(whispering)
Sounds like they went this way...
Maybe Ill just keep walking in the
other direction and see what
happens.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CLIFF SIDE PLAYGROUND - NIGHT
Lissette emerges from the edge of the woods. She looks
around once, then falls to her knees with a SIGH of relief.
WILLOW
Hey, you made it.
Lissette jumps and STIFLES A SCREAM with her hand. Willow is
behind her, glittering dragonfly wings flapping on her back.
WILLOW
Please find your chill. I came to
give you back this.
Willow holds Lissettes car keys with two fingers on the
plastic end. She tosses it over with a look of disgust on
her face.
Lissette stares at her.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

13.

LISSETTE
Where is she?
WILLOW
I told her to go home and fix her
hand. I offered to look for you.
She likes it when Im chivalrous
like that.
LISSETTE
But...Why did you help me?
WILLOW
Should you really be asking that?
LISSETTE
Point taken.
WILLOW
(laughs)
Look. Youd just be a hassle to
have around, okay? And then youd
die. It always happens. Then
Lovelynn would be inconsolable for
half a century and itll be a real
pain. She even said itll hurt her
so much to watch you die. Thats
her problem. She loves everything
too much.
She shrugs.
WILLOW
But I guess I dont want to see her
upset. I love her and all; I
wouldnt have her any other way.
A beat.
WILLOW
But dont tell anyone I said that.
LISSETTE
Uh...I wont. Thank you, I guess.
Willow nods, but looks over Lissettes shoulders at the
playground.
WILLOW
Kids used to play here all the
time. Lovelynn misses them, I
think. Sometimes I do, too.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

14.

Theres a flash of lightning and the loud RUMBLING OF

THUNDER. Rain suddenly pours down, drenching Lissette.
WILLOW
Oh great. Shes crying now. I
better go find her before she
floods the place again. Anyway, go
die if thats what you came here to
do.
Willow turns around and begins to walk into the woods.
LISSETTE
You dont care?
Willow stops and CHUCKLES to herself.
WILLOW
Why would I? Ah, you humans are so
funny, with all that reasons to
live crap. I would have thought
you lot would figure out by now
that no one has a reason to live.
We just do it anyway.
With another CHUCKLE, Willow disappears into the woods, a
trail of purple glimmer behind her.
Lissette gets up and looks up at the sky, the rain beating
against her skin. She LAUGHS, crazed, hysterical, and dances
her way back to her car. She looks back at the cliff, and
walks to where she was sitting before. Her phone, smashed,
still lies on the ground, its notification light blinking.
She kicks it over the edge, LAUGHING so hard that she is
WHEEZING with tears streaming down her face.
LISSETTE
(in between laughter)
Oh, fuck.
She walks to her car, gets in, and turns on the ignition.
The car pulls back and moves back in the direction she came.
END.