!

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Barn Burning!
!
by!
Chloe Burns!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
FADE IN:!

INT. BAR - EVENING!

A young, twenty-something woman, BROOKE, walks through

the bar. We follow her past laughter and clinking
glasses, through different colored lights, towards the
tables sitting in front of the band.!

SUPERIMPOSE: “SUMMER”!

Brooke approaches a table where another young woman,

NICOLE, sits with an empty chair in front of her.!

Brooke sits down and smiles. Nicole smiles back.!

CUT TO:!

INT. BAR - LATER!

Brooke and Nicole sit over drinks, leaned in closer

together, laughing.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! So I’m standing there, completely

! ! ! naked, and the guy doesn’t know

! ! ! what to say!!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! You’re kidding.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! And so I grab the curtain, wrap 

! ! ! it around myself, and say,

! ! ! “Sorry, I couldn’t decide what

! ! ! to wear.”!

Brooke shakes her head and takes a drink.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! That’s it. That wins. Worst

! ! ! first date ever.!

Nicole shrugs.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! We actually had a great time.!

Brooke looks at her, marveling.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I never would’ve gotten through

! ! ! the door.!

Nicole shakes her head and takes Brooke’s hand over the
table. Her sleeve pushes up, revealing a bruise on her
arm.!
 2.

Brooke takes her arm and turns it over, viewing the

bruise.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! What’s this from?!

Nicole pulls her arm away and gives Brooke a frightened

look.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! I slipped in some ice at work,

! ! ! banged it on a table.!

Brooke’s hands recoil off the table.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Jesus, Brooke, haven’t you

! ! ! moved on at all? It’s been

! ! ! over a year since you last

! ! ! saw him and you’re still

! ! ! a watchdog, examining

! ! ! every little thing.!

Brooke’s expression turns defensive and Nicole quickly

backs off.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Which I obviously understand.

! ! ! What that guy did to you…!

A beat of silence. No one needs to repeat what he did.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D) 

! ! ! But come on. Look at you. 

! ! ! Look at us. You’re not gay.

! ! ! You’re not bi.!

Brooke stares off, reluctantly listening as Nicole speaks

the truth.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! When I started dating my new guy

! ! ! you didn’t even blink. And don’t

! ! ! get me wrong, it’s been a lot of

! ! ! fun.!

Another pause.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! But you’re still hiding in the

! ! ! shadows.!

Brooke thinks for a beat.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! The shadows can’t hurt.!
 3.

Nicole shakes her head.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! They can’t love, either.!

Brooke lets this sink in.!

To escape the heaviness of the conversation, Nicole takes

her hand off of Brooke’s and starts pushing her glass
towards the edge of the table.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! You know, Brooke, sometimes 

! ! ! you just need to…!

The glass moves closer to the edge.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Let loose. Do something wild.!

The glass gets even closer and Brooke looks around her,
afraid someone might be watching.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Embrace a little chaos.!

The glass CRASHES to the floor just as a waiter walks by.

He sees the ordeal and stops in his tracks, looking at
Nicole.!

! ! ! ! WAITER

! ! ! What in the hell are you doin?!

Nicole’s demeanor changes from mysterious femme fatal to

embarrassed.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! Oh, god, I’m so sorry.!

The waiter retreats and Brooke holds back laughter.

Nicole gives her a warning glance.!

The waiter returns with a broom and dustpan and starts

sweeping up the mess.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Sorry again, I don’t know

! ! ! what I was thinking.!

The waiter gives her a look.!

! ! ! ! WAITER

! ! ! Mm-hm.!

Brooke again tries not to laugh, looking away with a hand

over her mouth.!
 4.

EXT. DOWNTOWN - MOMENTS LATER!

Brooke and Nicole walk down the sidewalk, which is lit by

the restaurants and stores that are still open. They walk
close together, though not holding hands.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! You’re right. I know I

! ! ! have to move on.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! It’s hard to do. I don’t

! ! ! blame you.!

She brushes a stray hair behind Brooke’s ear.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I just care about you.!

INT. BEDROOM - LATER!

Brooke lays beneath Nicole under the sheets, both of them

nude. Nicole’s hand is hidden under her as she moves back
and forth over Brooke.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I have a guy for you.!

Brooke laughs.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Really.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! He’s really nice, super smart.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Mm-hm.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! Engineering student.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Mm-hm.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! You have a date with him

! ! ! tomorrow.!

Brooke jolts.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! What!!

!
!
 5.

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY!

Brooke, dressed somewhat nice, sits before a boy, JEFF,

close to her age. They sit in polite silence, smiling
back and forth over their menus.!

Brooke nods at Jeff, who nods back, as if they are both

in on something.!

Jeff clears his throat.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! How bout these glasses?!

Brooke stares at him, confused.!

Jeff taps on his water glass.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! Very clean.!

Brooke sighs and sets her menu down on the table.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I can’t do this.!

She gathers her purse from the back of her chair and
moves to stand up.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! It was nice to meet you, 

! ! ! but I have to go.!

Jeff reaches forward and takes her hand before she can
stand up.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Wait!!

Brooke looks at him, waiting for his reason for her to

stay.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! Look, Nicole told me about you.!

Brooke gives him a warning look.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! I just mean… look I don’t care

! ! ! if you don’t want to date me.

! ! ! There’s no pressure.!

Brooke pulls her hand away from his but remains seated.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! There’s always pressure.!
 6.

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Well I don’t want there to be.

! ! ! Just, come on, stay for lunch, 

! ! ! use me for free food and never 

! ! ! call me again. It’s a favor 

! ! ! to Nicole.!

Brooke stares at him for a beat, debating silently.!

Brooke hangs her purse back on her chair and picks up her
menu.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Fine. But I’m getting the

! ! ! lobster.!

Jeff laughs.!

CUT TO:!

INT. RESTAURANT - LATER!

Brooke and Jeff sit in a more comfortable enjoyment,

their meals half-eaten before them - Brooke’s is
distinctly not lobster.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Okay, unpopular opinion:

! ! ! Halloween.!

Jeff nods her along, chewing.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Worst holiday ever.!

Jeff looks at her in shock.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! No!!

Brooke nods.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! If you’re a kid you get your

! ! ! candy stolen, if you’re in college

! ! ! you’re a drunk slutty cop,

! ! ! and if you’re an adult you bear

! ! ! all of the responsibility. It’s

! ! ! just the worst.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! What about the aura? The air of

! ! ! the night? All of the spooky

! ! ! things come out, the monsters

! ! ! and demons.!

Brooke shrugs as she uses her fork to mess with her food.!
 7.

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I think we encounter enough

! ! ! monsters out in the world that

! ! ! we don’t need a night to 

! ! ! celebrate them all.!

Heaviness falls over Jeff as he remembers what Nicole has

told him. He looks sorrowfully at Brooke, who realizes
what she’s said.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Was that too dark?!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Maybe a little.!

Brooke puts her forehead in her hand.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! God, I’m sorry.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! No, no, it’s refreshing.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! No, it’s not, it’s depressing 

! ! ! and brooding and—!

She looks up in realization.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! It’s straight off of a

! ! ! Tumblr blog.!

Jeff and Brooke both laugh.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! But in all seriousness, can

! ! ! I ask you a question? About,

! ! ! you know.!

Brooke’s smile fades.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! What Nicole told me.!

MEMORY FLASH:!

A glass smashes against a wall.!

Blood drips down the side of Brooke’s eye and she

flinches away from a shadow rising towards her face.!

INT. RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke blinks away her memories, but nods Jeff along.!

 8.

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Sure. What do you want to

! ! ! know?!

Jeff shrugs.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! The things she said… what he

! ! ! did to you. I just can’t see

! ! ! you putting up with that.!

Brooke smiles morbidly.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! That’s not a question.!

He opens his mouth to reply but she beats him to it.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I was a different person then.

! ! ! That’s all I can say about it.!

Jeff nods respectfully.!

A waitress walks over and quietly leaves the check on the

table.!

Brooke and Jeff both reach for it and Jeff waves her
away.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Come on, I said I was buying.!

Brooke smiles and lets him take it.!

EXT. PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER!

Jeff stops at a car with Brooke.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! This is me.!

Jeff nods and she turns to face him. They stand together
for a beat.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! There’s a thing tonight… at 

! ! ! the bar.!

Brooke smiles.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! And I know I said you didn’t

! ! ! have to see me again, and I

! ! ! shouldn’t even be asking—!
 9.

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I have a prior commitment

! ! ! tonight.!

Jeff nods.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! But I’d like to see you

! ! ! again.!

Jeff steps closer to her.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! You don’t think I’m some

! ! ! kind of weirdo?!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Oh, I do.!

Jeff laughs.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! But that’s alright.!

Jeff nods and steps away for Brooke to open her car door.
As she steps inside of the car, she says:!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I’ll call you.!

She shuts the door and Jeff leans against it, peering
into the open window.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! I’ll be waiting.!

Brooke smiles up at him.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - NIGHT!

Brooke’s car sits in the parking lot of an apartment

complex. She eats a fast food burger, staring into an
apartment.!

She looks down at a spiral notebook in her lap, where

diligent notes have been taken:!

“April 3rd, new girl over. Leaves at 10:32pm.”!

“April 7th, new girl brings pizza. Leaves at 2am.”!

“April 10th, new girl stays overnight. Old girl has yet
to be seen.”!

“April 11th, old girl comes over, stays overnight.”!

 10.

A car pulls into the lot and parks in front of the

apartment. A girl similar in age to Brooke gets out and
walks up to the door.!

She knocks, and a beat passes. A young man, MARK, opens

the door, and Brooke zeroes in on his face.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Brooke lays on a carpeted floor with Mark on top of
her, his hand over her mouth, her eyes frightened.!
- Glass smashes. A door slams.!
! ! ! ! MARK (O.S.)

! ! ! I’m gonna fucking kill you!!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke snaps out of her memory and watches as the girl

walks into the room with Mark.!

She checks her watch. 8:22. She writes this down in her
notebook.!

CUT TO:!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - LATER!

Brooke sits dozed off in her car. She hears a faint SMASH
and jolts awake, staring into the apartment.!

Through the window, we see Mark and the girl yelling, his
actions clearly violent. He slams his hand on the desk,
moves towards her angrily, throws his hands in the air.!

Brooke looks down and checks the time. 11:43. She writes
in her notebook and pulls out a cheap flip phone.!

Staring into the window, her eyes full of vengeance as

Mark yells on, Brooke dials the phone and puts it to her
ear.!

! ! ! ! OPERATOR (O.S.)

! ! ! Nine-one-one, what’s your

! ! ! emergency?!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Hello, I would like to report a

! ! ! disturbance at the Springhill

! ! ! Apartment Complex off of sixth

! ! ! street.!

! ! ! ! OPERATOR (O.S.)

! ! ! One moment please.!

Brooke stares on with disgust.!

 11.

!
INT. BROOKE’S APARTMENT - LATER!

Brooke walks inside, shedding purse and jacket on her way

into her bedroom.!

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke takes off her pants and climbs into bed, laying
down and staring at the ceiling. She turns off the light
beside her bed, and the room is dark.!

A creak echoes from the corner of her room and she looks
down at the edge of her bed, where a shadow has developed
from the corner of the wall.!

The figure of a man stands in the shadow, silent, still.!

Brooke stares at the man, paralyzed in place.!

The man stands unmoving, but is still clearly present.!

Brooke closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.!

When she opens her eyes, Mark is on top of her, his hand
covering her mouth.!

Brooke struggles underneath him, her eyes wide with fear.!

She reaches over to the lamp and clicks it on.!

As soon as light floods the room, Mark is gone and Brooke

is alone, breathing hard and shaking.!

INT. BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER!

Brooke walks into her bathroom and clicks on the light.!

She stands in front of the mirror, lifts up her shirt

partway, and turns around.!

Three circle-shaped scars lay at the base of her back.

She reaches back and touches them.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Mark lays on top of Brooke, his hand over her mouth.!
- As Brooke sits up from the carpet, she feels bloodied
spots on her bare back.!

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke yanks her shirt back down and goes to the sink.!
 12.

She washes her hands in water and splashes it on her

face.!

She places her shaky hands on the sink and stands in

silence for a beat.!

INT. SANDWICH HUT - DAY!

Brooke stands behind the register wearing a work uniform.

A customer moves out of her way and a new one arrives.
Brooke looks at him, realizes, and smiles.!

Jeff remains straight-faced as he recites:!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Just a turkey-bacon club

! ! ! with chips and a drink.!

He hands her his card.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! If you would, good lady.!

Brooke takes the card, still smiling.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Nicole told you I worked

! ! ! here?!

Jeff looks surprised.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! So you think I came here 

! ! ! to see you, and not for a 

! ! ! frankly underwhelming hot 

! ! ! sandwich?!

He leans on the counter.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! Yes, Nicole told me you

! ! ! worked here. She also

! ! ! told me to wait a few weeks

! ! ! before I started showing up

! ! ! at your work, but I got 

! ! ! impatient.!

Brooke nods as she runs his card. They’re quiet for a

beat.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! So, maybe we could bump

! ! ! into each other again

! ! ! soon. Maybe at a brunch

! ! ! place?!

Brooke smiles and hands him back his card.!

 13.

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Let’s skip that. Go for

! ! ! dinner tonight instead.!

Jeff smiles.!

INT. SANDWICH HUT BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER!

Brooke bursts through the door, locks it behind her, and

takes off her apron. She tosses it into the sink and
leans on the porcelain, steadying herself.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Mark’s lips brush Brooke’s ear.!
! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! You think he could love

! ! ! you?!

INT. SANDWICH HUT BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS!

Mark’s laughter fades away as Brooke stares at herself in

the mirror.!

HALLUCINATION!

Brooke stands silently for a beat before she winds back

and smashes the mirror with her fist.!

Glass splinters and blood runs down her arm. She opens
her shaking hand, examining the damage, her breathing
agitated.!

END HALLUCINATION!

She blinks, and the mirror is back in tact, her hand

clean.!

Brooke sighs and shakes her head. She takes her apron and
re-ties it around her waist, staring at herself in the
mirror.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Keep it the fuck 

! ! ! together, Brooke.!

She ties the knot tightly and breathes forcefully before

she goes to unlock the door.!

MONTAGE - VARIOUS:!

A) INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT - Brooke and Jeff sit over

their meals, talking and laughing.!

B) EXT. PARK - AFTERNOON - Brooke and Jeff walk together

with ice cream cones in hand.!
 14.

C) INT. JEFF’S APARTMENT - EVENING - Brooke and Jeff sit

on the couch watching TV, playfully fighting over the
popcorn bowl.!

END OF MONTAGE!

INT. JEFF’S BEDROOM - EVENING!

Brooke and Jeff both lay naked, covered by sheets, in his

bed. They lay on their sides facing each other. Neither
one has spoken.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! I think you’re a really

! ! ! strong person, you know

! ! ! that?!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Why?!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! To have been through what

! ! ! you went through. I can’t

! ! ! imagine trusting anyone

! ! ! again.!

He pauses for a beat. Brooke stares at him, waiting.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! Nicole said you’d been single

! ! ! for a year. She made it sound 

! ! ! like that was a long time, but

! ! ! I wouldn’t think the least of 

! ! ! you if it’d been ten.!

Brooke considers this and then turns over onto her back,
staring at the ceiling for a beat.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! We used to live out in the 

! ! ! country on a farm. It took

! ! ! an hour to get to school,

! ! ! we had to drive down all these

! ! ! old gravel roads. Along one of

! ! ! the roads was this old abandoned

! ! ! barn.!

Jeff plays with Brooke’s hair, listening while she talks.!

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - MEMORY!

Brooke drives down the road, sunglasses on, her hair

blowing from the wind.!
 15.

! ! ! ! BROOKE (V.O.)

! ! ! I never thought much of it,

! ! ! until everything happened.

! ! ! Sometimes after work, I’d go

! ! ! on these drives through the 

! ! ! country, and I started seeing 

! ! ! it differently. !

Brooke stops her car beside a large, broken-down barn.

She removes her sunglasses and stares at it,
contemplating it like a painting.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! That barn, all those abandoned

! ! ! places, they used to 

! ! ! have life. !

Brooke gets out of her car and walks up to the barn,

looking through the windows and feeling the wood.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! People were there, 

! ! ! and then one day, they up and 

! ! ! left. If someone decided to 

! ! ! come along and fix one of them up, 

! ! ! they’d be in for a hell of a time. 

! ! ! It would be easier to just tear 

! ! ! it down and start over.!

END MEMORY!

INT. JEFF’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke pauses her story for a beat.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! That was how I felt. After I left

! ! ! him. If I were a house, he’d have

! ! ! burned me down and knocked out the

! ! ! windows, then left me for dead on the

! ! ! side of the road.!

Jeff looks at her sympathetically.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! That was what scared me about

! ! ! being with someone again. Not

! ! ! what this new person would do 

! ! ! to me, but what I would have 

! ! ! to recover from myself. I’d 

! ! ! have to tear everything down 

! ! ! and rebuild it from the frame. !

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Some part of you must want to

! ! ! do that anyway, right?!
 16.

Brooke shrugs.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! When you take all of that away…

! ! ! I’m just not sure what’s left.!

Jeff takes her face in his hands, leans in and kisses

her.!

INT. BAR - EVENING!

Nicole and Brooke push through the crowd, drinks in hand,

towards a table.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! So when are we going to double-

! ! ! date?!

They reach their table and drape their jackets and purses
over the backs of their chairs.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! With Jeff and your mysterious

! ! ! new guy.!

They set their drinks on the table and sit down across
from each other.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! So you guys are getting

! ! ! serious, then? Double-

! ! ! dating?!

Brooke shrugs. Nicole shakes her head.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Well we’re trying to take

! ! ! it slow. Come on, you know

! ! ! how I rush into things.!

Brooke grins.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Like hooking up with a

! ! ! new girl at the bar the

! ! ! same night you meet her?

! ! ! That doesn’t sound like

! ! ! you.!

Nicole taps her foot playfully underneath the table.!

 17.

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! I’m trying not to do that

! ! ! this time. Which is why

! ! ! I haven’t told you a thing

! ! ! about him. I want to be

! ! ! sure before I start involving

! ! ! him in things. I haven’t even 

! ! ! let him take me back to his 

! ! ! place yet.!

Brooke shrugs and puts her hands up in surrender.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Fine, fine. We’ll meet him

! ! ! when we meet him.!

Nicole smiles to herself.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! He’s a great guy.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Well I can’t wait.!

EXT. DOWNTOWN - DAY!

Brooke and Jeff window-shop, holding hands and standing

close.!

SUPERIMPOSE: “FALL”!

The couple walks on, blissful and happy.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - EVENING!

Brooke slows down as she peeks out her window towards

Mark’s apartment complex. She moves to put on her
blinker, but as she does, her phone lights up.!

It’s from Jeff: “Can’t wait to see you.”!

Brooke takes her hand away from the turn signal, gives
Mark’s apartment one last glance, and drives away.!

INT. JEFF’S APARTMENT - NIGHT!

Jeff turns over, asleep in bed. He’s alone, but the

sheets are disturbed beside him.!

INT. JEFF’S BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke stands in front of the mirror, gathering herself.!

She turns around to look at the scars on her back.

They’ve faded, but they’re still there.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
 18.

Wet blood stains Brooke’s hand as she takes it away from

her bare, wounded back.!

INT. JEFF’S BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke yanks her hand away from her back and turns on the
sink. She washes her hands, and bends down to wash her
face.!

HALLUCINATION!

When she stands up, Mark stands in the reflection of the

mirror, a vase in his raised hand.!

Brooke screams, covers her eyes, and ducks as Mark hurls

the vase at the wall, glass shattering onto the
countertop.!

She uncovers her eyes and reveals a slice at her eyebrow.

Blood starts to drip down beside her eye, and she looks
up at Mark fearfully.!

Mark stomps over to her, grabs her by her hair, and slams
her head back into the floor.!

END HALLUCINATION!

Brooke squeezes her eyes shut in pain, and when she opens
them, Mark and the broken vase are gone. There is no
blood staining her face.!

Brooke sits on the floor of the bathroom, shuddering

alone.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - NIGHTTIME!

Brooke drives angrily, determinedly, down the empty

street. Orange lights flicker as she moves on.!

EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER!

Brooke’s car sits in the parking lot, dark, still.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke stares ahead, angry with herself for being there.!

Mark’s curtains remain closed. There is no action.!

Brooke continues to stare, willing something to happen.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Come on, you piece of

! ! ! shit. Come on.!

The window remains closed, unwavering.!

 19.

Tears start to build in Brooke’s eyes and spill onto her

cheeks.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! ! (yelling)

! ! ! Do something!!

Brooke slams her palm on her steering wheel. Once, twice.!

She rests her forehead on it, angry with herself.!

Her phone rings and she jumps.!

She shakily puts it to her ear.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Hello?!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (O.S.)

! ! ! Brooke?!

Brooke sits up. Something is wrong in Nicole’s voice.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Nicole? What is it?!

Nicole sniffles on the other end for a beat.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (O.S.)

! ! ! I’m pregnant.!

Brooke looks concerned.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! You’re sure?!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (O.S.)

! ! ! Yes.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Are you going to

! ! ! tell him?!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (O.S.)

! ! ! Should I?!

INT. NICOLE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Nicole sits behind the wheel of a turquoise car,

pregnancy test in one hand, phone in the other.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I’m sitting in my car

! ! ! trying to decide whether

! ! ! or not to go over there.!
 20.

! ! ! ! BROOKE (O.S.)

! ! ! Well what else can you

! ! ! do?!

Nicole shrugs and cries to herself.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! You said he’s a good guy,

! ! ! right?!

Nicole nods.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! I think so.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (O.S.)

! ! ! Do you want me to go

! ! ! with you?!

Nicole shakes her head, sets the pregnancy test in the

passenger seat, and wipes the tears from her eyes.!

She turns the car on.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! No, no it’s fine. I’ll

! ! ! go. !

Nicole starts to drive.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (CONT’D)

! ! Thanks, Brooke.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke nods, phone still to her ear.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Good luck. Call if you

! ! ! need anything. Or I

! ! ! could stay on the line -!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (O.S.)

! ! ! No, my phone’s about to die,

! ! ! that’s okay.!

Brooke nods again.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Alright.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE (O.S.)

! ! ! Thanks, Brooke.!

Brooke hangs up and sits in her car for a beat. She

gathers herself, turns on the car, and pulls out of her
parking spot.!
 21.

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke’s car slowly drives to the entrance of the lot,

where it stops to turn out.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke pulls onto the main street and drives for a beat.!

A pair of headlights flood in, and she passes a car. She

whips her head around. It’s a familiar car. A turquoise
car.!

Brooke watches the car in her rearview mirror.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Nicole…!

The car turns into the apartment complex and Brooke’s

eyes widen with realization.!

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke slams on the breaks and her car SQUEALS to a stop

in the middle of the road.!

A car behind her HONKS its horn and…!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke watches as it swerves past her, the driver yelling

through his window.!

Brooke’s eyes go back to her rearview mirror, where she

watches as Nicole drives through the lot.!

Brooke slams on the gas and drives forward.!

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke pulls a U-turn and flies back to the parking lot,

where she watches Nicole walk towards an apartment door.
Mark’s door.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! No. No, no, no.!

She reaches for her phone, dials, and puts it to her ear.
The door opens and Nicole walks inside.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Nicole, god damnit.!

Brooke angrily throws her phone into the passenger’s

seat.!
 22.

She turns quickly, her tires SQUEALING as she flies into

the parking lot.!

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke stops her car in the middle of the lot and jumps
out of it, leaving her door wide open as she runs towards
Mark’s apartment.!

She reaches the door and moves to pound on it with her

fist, but something stops her.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Glass shatters.!
- Blood runs down the side of Brooke’s face.!
! ! ! ! MARK (O.S.)

! ! ! I’m gonna fucking

! ! ! kill you!!

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS!

Muffled voices rise from inside, Nicole’s followed by

Mark’s.!

Brooke pushes past her memory and starts to pound on the

door.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Nicole! Nicole!!

There are faint footsteps, and then:!

! ! ! ! MARK (O.S.)

! ! ! Don’t you fucking

! ! ! answer that.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Nicole! It’s Brooke!!

INT. MARK’S APARTMENT!

Mark reaches into his bedside drawer and takes out a gun.
He points it at Nicole and shakes his head.!

! ! ! ! NICOLE

! ! ! It’s fine, Brooke!

! ! ! Everything’s fine!!

EXT. MARK’S APARTMENT!

Brooke moves to the window and tries to peer inside, but

can’t see through the drapes.!

The door suddenly opens and Nicole walks out slowly.!

 23.

Brooke, relieved, moves towards her, but Mark’s gun

follows her out. Brooke stops in her tracks.!

Mark sees Brooke, and surprise flickers across his face.

Fear overtakes hers.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Brooke lays on the floor as a boot kicks into her ribs.
Her arms are bent over her head as she yells.!
- There’s a sickening SNAP of her rib and she screams.!
EXT. MARK’S APARTMENT!

Mark grins at Brooke, a sickening smile. This is all

amusement to him.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! Back for more, Brookie?!

She moves to reply, but Mark is finished.!

! ! ! ! MARK (CONT’D)

! ! ! If you move towards us I

! ! ! shoot her in the back of

! ! ! her fucking head. Nicole, 

! ! ! get in the car.!

Tears wet Nicole’s face and she moves for the driver’s
side of her car as Brooke steps back, giving herself
plenty of room from the gun.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Mark, please, leave her-!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! NOT the driver’s side!!

Nicole steps back and moves around to the side door. Mark
turns to Brooke.!

! ! ! ! MARK (CONT’D)

! ! ! You’re lucky I’m so pissed

! ! ! at her that I don’t smash

! ! ! your head through that window.!

Brooke stays firmly in place, eyes burning as Mark ducks

behind the steering wheel of Nicole’s car.!

! ! ! ! MARK (CONT’D)

! ! ! If you call anyone, I’ll

! ! ! kill her.!

He slams the door shut, turns on the car, and slams out
of the parking lot. He CRASHES into the side of Brooke’s
car and she jumps at the startling noise.!
 24.

Nicole’s license plate falls off of the car and onto the
ground, and with the squeal of tires, they’re gone.!

Brooke races to her now crumpled car, turns it on, and

wheels around to follow them.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - MOMENTS LATER!

Brooke drives with her phone to her ear, out on the

highway behind Nicole and Mark.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Jeff, something happened.

! ! ! He has Nicole and I don’t

! ! ! know what to do. Please,

! ! ! please call me back when you

! ! ! get this.!

She hangs up and dials again.!

! ! ! ! OPERATOR (O.S.)

! ! ! Nine-one-one what’s your

! ! ! emergency?!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! There’s a man with a gun,

! ! ! he has a hostage in the car

! ! ! with him. I’m following them

! ! ! headed south on K-Ten.!

! ! ! ! OPERATOR (O.S.)

! ! ! Okay, what’s the plate number?!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! It’s a turquoise car with no

! ! ! plate. Please just send

! ! ! someone.!

! ! ! ! OPERATOR (O.S.)

! ! ! Okay, ma’am, stay on the

! ! ! line with me.!

Brooke’s phone beeps and she glances at it. Low battery.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Damn it.!

Mark and Nicole pull over to the shoulder of the road and
Brooke does the same.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! They’ve pulled over.!

Mark gets out of the car, gun still pointed at Nicole,

and she carefully steps out.!
 25.

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! They’re out of the car.!

! ! ! ! OPERATOR (O.S.)

! ! ! Okay, stay in your vehicle,

! ! ! we’re sending units.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! He’s going to shoot her-!

! ! ! ! OPERATOR (O.S.)

! ! ! Stay inside your vehicle.!

Brooke watches on in horror.!

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS!

Cars fly by as Mark points his gun at Nicole. !

They yell to each other things we can’t hear, and Mark

positions Nicole close to the traffic.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke’s phone beeps once more and dies, and she tosses
it into the passenger’s seat. She throws her door open
and gets out of the car.!

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS!

Mark and Nicole continue to yell, and just as Brooke

moves towards them, Mark shoves Nicole into traffic.!

Brooke screams as there’s a painful THUD, accompanied by

SQUEALING brakes and SHATTERING glass.!

Mark looks over at Brooke, who stares at him in horror.!

He points his gun at her, ducks back inside of Nicole’s

car, and pulls away.!

Brooke’s hands tremble at her mouth, and she rushes over

to the scene of the accident.!

She sees what lays in front of the car, falls to her

knees and wails.!

INT. BACK OF AMBULANCE - LATER!

Brooke sits wrapped in a shock blanket, staring into

space, her face red from crying. Red and blue lights
flash all around her. A police officer stands in front of
her with a notepad.!
 26.

! ! ! ! OFFICER

! ! ! You didn’t recognize the

! ! ! attacker? Was it someone

! ! ! she knew? Maybe they were

! ! ! romantically involved?!

Brooke shakes her head. She’s prepared her statement.!

We see Jeff arriving, pushing past the officers and

paramedics. He glances at the scene and clamps a hand
over his mouth.!

Then, he catches site of Brooke and makes a beeline for

her. As he approaches, he hears Brooke say:!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (O.S.)

! ! ! I have no idea who he was.

! ! ! I was just driving by and

! ! ! happened to see them.!

Jeff, concerned by what he hears, approaches her.!

The officer walks away, her statement in hand, and she

stands up to hug Jeff.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Thank god.!

They pull away and he looks at her.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! What the hell happened

! ! ! to your car? And why did 

! ! ! you tell them you didn’t 

! ! ! know the guy?!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Some idiot backed into

! ! ! it in the parking lot

! ! ! while I was at work. 

! ! ! Hit and run. And I told 

! ! ! them I didn’t know who 

! ! ! he was because I don’t.!

Jeff looks around uncomfortably.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Brooke, the message you 

! ! ! left… you said he has

! ! ! her.!

Brooke nods.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! You’re telling me he

! ! ! isn’t the same guy who…?!
 27.

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I was scared. I just

! ! ! said what came to mind.!

Jeff nods and glances at the crash scene numbly. The

woman driving the van is sobbing, speaking with officers.
The site of impact has been taped off, but blood is
spilled, plainly visible all around it.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Why were you out?!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Couldn’t sleep. I went

! ! ! on a drive.!

Jeff looks at her, suspicious, for a beat.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Can we just leave? Please?!

Jeff nods, his expression fading.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Yeah. Let’s get the hell 

! ! ! out of here.!

BEGIN MONTAGE:!

A) EXT. CEMETERY - DAY - Dressed in black, Brooke and

Jeff stand side-by-side as a casket is lowered into the
ground. Others grieve openly, Jeff included as tears leak
onto his cheeks. But Brooke stares at the casket with a
steely gaze.!

! ! ! ! SINGER

! ! ! Ama-zing Grace! How

! ! ! sweet the sound…!

B) INT. GROCERY STORE - DAY - Brooke grabs two bottles of

wine from a shelf and sets them in her cart.!

! ! ! ! SINGER (V.0.)

! ! ! Tha-at saved a wretch

! ! ! li-ike me!!

C) EXT. CEMETERY - DAY - Brooke watches the casket lower

further, settling in the ground. Her breaths are deep and
shaky.!

! ! ! ! SINGER (CONT’D)

! ! ! I once wa-as lost, but

! ! ! now am found.!

D) INT. BROOKE’S BATHROOM - EVENING - Brooke searches

through her cabinet, reading the labels on prescription
bottles.!
 28.

! ! ! ! SINGER (V.O.)

! ! ! T’was blind, but now I

! ! ! see!!

She settles on one and pulls it from the shelf, shutting

the mirror door.!

E) EXT. CEMETERY - DAY - The first shovels of dirt are

tossed over the casket and the roses that have been laid
on it.!

Brooke avoids the sight, staring around her at the open

landscape instead.!

! ! ! ! SINGER (CONT’D)

! ! ! Was blind… !

F) INT. BROOKE’S APARTMENT - EVENING - Brooke sticks a

lighter and pack of cigarettes in her back jeans pocket.!

G) EXT. CEMETERY - DAY - Brooke takes a final deep breath

as the casket is covered.!

! ! ! ! SINGER (CONT’D)

! ! ! … but now… I see.!

END MONTAGE!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - EVENING!

Brooke drives down the street, a bag of items in the

passenger’s seat beside her.!

Her phone rings and she answers it abruptly.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Jeff, I’m in the middle

! ! ! of something.!

INT. JEFF’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff sits at the kitchen table, thumbnail anxiously in

his teeth, phone to his ear.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Brooke, please come

! ! ! over.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke rolls her eyes in frustration.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (O.S.)

! ! ! Please, you’ve been

! ! ! distant since the 

! ! ! funeral.!
 29.

Brooke pulls off of the main road.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! What? You mean the funeral

! ! ! of my murdered friend?

! ! ! Yeah, I’ve needed a little

! ! ! space.!

INT. JEFF’S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff stands up from the table and starts pacing.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! I’m afraid you’re going

! ! ! to do something. Come on,

! ! ! just come home, please,

! ! ! talk to me about what’s

! ! ! going on.!

INT. BROOKE’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke applies lipstick and mascara as she talks.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I’ll come by in the

! ! ! morning, Jeff, I

! ! ! promise.!

Brooke tucks away the makeup, gathers her bag of items

and gets out of the car.!

EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke, bag in hand, locks her car and puts her keys in
her pocket.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! You don’t need to worry

! ! ! about me.!

INT. JEFF’S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff moves to say something, but Brooke hangs up the

other line. Jeff drops his phone on the counter.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Damnit.!

EXT. MARK’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke stands at the door, smooths her hair, and plasters

a smile on her face.!

She knocks at the door and waits for a beat. The door
opens, and Mark stands on the other side.!

Surprised, he leans on the doorframe.!

 30.

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! Brooke. You’re about

! ! ! the last person I 

! ! ! expected to see.!

Brooke shrugs, still smiling.!

! ! ! ! MARK (CONT’D)

! ! ! I thought for sure you’d

! ! ! told the police something

! ! ! we’d both regret.!

Brooke pushes past Mark into his apartment.!

INT. MARK’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke walks inside and sets the bag on a table.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Seeing you the other day…!

She turns around and leans on the table, cocking her hip
seductively.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! It made me realize

! ! ! everything I’d lost

! ! ! when I left you.!

Mark closes his door and crosses his arms.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! What makes you think

! ! ! I’ll take you back now?!

Brooke’s smile slips.!

! ! ! ! MARK (CONT’D)

! ! ! You abandoned me, 

! ! ! remember?!

Brooke nods earnestly.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! It was the worst mistake

! ! ! I’ve made in my life.!

She reaches into the bag and pulls out two wine glasses.
She smiles innocently.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I’m here to make it up 

! ! ! to you.!

!
!
 31.

INT. JEFF’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff paces back and forth, hand in his hair,

contemplating.!

He spies his keys by the door and sighs to himself.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! God damnit.!

He grabs the keys, throws on a jacket and swings the door

open.!

INT. MARK’S APARTMENT - LATER!

Brooke and Mark sit on the couch, wine glasses half-

empty, laughing.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! We had some crazy

! ! ! times.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! We sure as hell did.!

Brooke sets her glass down on the table and takes Mark’s
hand as she stands up.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I know a place. Come

! ! ! on.!

Mark stands to follow her and she grabs the unopened

bottle of wine.!

She stops just as she gets to the door and leans into
Mark’s chest.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Could you drive? You know

! ! ! how I get after a few 

! ! ! glasses of red.!

Mark smirks and grabs his keys.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! Yes I do.!

INT. JEFF’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff drives around the city, searching for Brooke or her

car. He checks his phone, but there are no notifications.!

INT. MARK’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke sits in the passenger’s seat and Mark behind the

wheel.!
 32.

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Go straight up here.!

Mark looks at her, perplexed.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! You used to drive me

! ! ! crazy, you know that?!

Brooke looks at him, jarred.!

HALLUCINATION!

She leans in close to his ear and screams:!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! That’s because I was

! ! ! the only one who said

! ! ! NO!!

END HALLUCINATION!

Brooke shifts in her seat. She’s said nothing; the world

is silent around them as they drive.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Sometimes love can

! ! ! make a person crazy.!

Mark smiles, reaches over, and cradles her cheek in his

hand.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Glass smashes, and blood trickles down the side of
Brooke’s eye.!

INT. MARK’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke smiles at Mark’s hand on her face and they drive

on.!

EXT. BARN - MOMENTS LATER!

Mark’s car pulls to a stop outside of the barn.!

The two exit the car and Mark looks up at it, intrigued.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! When you said it was 

! ! ! somewhere romantic

! ! ! I was hoping you meant

! ! ! a hotel.!

Brooke laughs.!
 33.

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! I’ve always dreamed

! ! ! of drinking wine in

! ! ! a barn, under the 

! ! ! stars.!

She walks inside with the wine and nods Mark in after
her.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Come on.!

Mark follows her in.!

INT. JEFF’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff spies Brooke’s car in a parking lot.!

He pulls off of the main road and parks beside it. He

looks at the front door and pieces it all together.!

He grabs his phone and starts calling.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Brooke, Brooke come

! ! ! on… What are you doing?!

INT. BARN - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke’s phone rings and she immediately rejects the

call.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! Who’s that?!

Brooke turns off her phone and slides it into her pocket.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! No one important 

! ! ! enough to take me

! ! ! away from this moment.!

She reaches up to Mark, leans in and -!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Mark’s hand is clamped over Brooke’s mouth, her eyes
filled with fear and dread, as he moves back and forth
over her.!

INT. BARN - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke kisses Mark passionately.!

!
!
 34.

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Mark’s hand is still clamped on hard, but Brooke starts
to yell nevertheless, her cries muffled.!

INT. BARN - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke pulls away from Mark, smiling, and he smiles back.!

EXT. MARK’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff stands at the dark window, trying to peek inside.!

He paces back and forth on the sidewalk.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Where would she go…

! ! ! where would she go…

! ! ! where would she-!

He looks up in realization.!

MEMORY FLASH:!
- Jeff plays with Brooke’s hair as they lay in bed,
naked.!

EXT. APARTMENT PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff leaps back into his car and pulls away.!

INT. BARN - LATER!

Brooke and Mark sit cuddled together in a pile of loose

straw. Clearly tipsy, they both laugh and sway as Brooke
takes another swig of wine.!

She squints at something in the corner and Mark follows

her gaze.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! Do you see that?!

Mark stares hard.!

Brooke reaches into her pocket, pulls out a plastic

baggie of crushed-up pill, and slips it into the wine
bottle.!

Mark turns back to look at her and she kisses him on the
cheek.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Gotcha.!

Mark gives her a look and takes the wine bottle.!

 35.

Brooke watches as he eagerly drinks from it, and when he

goes to hand it back, she sets it in the straw beside
her.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I think we’ve had enough 

! ! ! of that, don’t you?!

Mark appears to be about to protest, but Brooke climbs on

top of him before he can.!

Mark smirks and lays down willingly.!

INT. JEFF’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff drives down a country road, squinting all around

him.!

He passes abandoned houses and barns, but he hasn’t

reached the right one yet.!

INT. BARN - CONTINUOUS!

Mark flips Brooke onto her back and lays on top of her.!

Fear strikes her eyes, but she lets him.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! I always liked taking

! ! ! you. Making you mine.!

Brooke attempts a smile and nods.!

Mark grins and kisses her neck.!

! ! ! ! MARK (CONT’D)

! ! ! I always liked it

! ! ! when you tried to

! ! ! stop me.!

Panic grips Brooke and she looks away as Mark tears her
shirt and unbuttons her jeans.!

She looks desperately at the bottle of wine.!

INT. JEFF’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff continues to drive, his search turning frantic.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Brooke, where did

! ! ! you go…!

INT. BARN - MOMENTS LATER!

The effects begin to hit Mark, and he stumbles on his

arms. He falls down beside Brooke, hands trembling.!
 36.

Brooke buttons and zips her jeans back up before she

stands up. Mark looks up at her, fear and anger now
striking him.!

! ! ! ! MARK

! ! ! What the hell did 

! ! ! you do to me?!

Brooke reaches into her back pocket for the lighter and
cigarettes.!

She considers them as she says:!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! You know, Mark, I put

! ! ! up with a lot from you.!

Mark tries to stand up and stumbles, his eyes drooping

closed.!

Brooke walks beside him as he crawls towards the door.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! But you’ve taught me 

! ! ! something very valuable.!

She removes a cigarette and lights it, dropping the

lighter and rest of the carton on the floor. She inhales
the cigarette and breathes smoke as she continues:!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! I only wish I’d learned it

! ! ! sooner.!

She leans down beside him and takes his face in her hand,
keeping him awake as he drifts off to sleep.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Ask me what it is, Mark.!

Mark nods off, unable to speak.!

Brooke puts her face close to his, her lipsticked mouth

brushing his cheek.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Some people are dogs, who 

! ! ! need to be put down.!

She kisses him on the cheek and lets his head thump to
the floor.!

Brooke stands up and drops the cigarette to the piles of

straw.!

The ember burns for a second before flame flickers to

life, catching on the straw.!
 37.

As the fire begins to grow, Brooke walks over to the wine

bottle and pours it out on the floor.!

She walks over to Mark, pouring a wine trail as she goes,

and tucks the bottle into his hand.!

The fire starts to catch and roar around her, and Brooke
walks to the back entrance of the barn, which faces a
low, open meadow.!

EXT. FIELD - CONTINUOUS!

Smoke billows from the windows of the barn as Brooke

walks away, waist-deep in tall grasses.!

INT. JEFF’S CAR - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff spies smoke a few roads over and his face falls.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Brooke!!

He slams on the gas and thunders down the road.!

EXT. BARN - MOMENTS LATER!

Jeff pulls up behind Mark’s car, gets out of his own, and
rushes towards the barn, which is now engulfed in roaring
flames.!

! ! ! ! JEFF (CONT’D)

! ! ! Brooke!!

He races towards the front door.!

EXT. FIELD - CONTINUOUS!

Brooke hears Jeff’s call, faint from where she stands,

and turns to look over her shoulder.!

She spies Jeff’s car and horror grips her.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE

! ! ! No!!

INT. BARN - CONTINUOUS!

Jeff coughs from the smoke, looking through the flames to

try and find Brooke.!

! ! ! ! JEFF

! ! ! Brooke!!

He coughs again and falls to his knees.!

!
 38.

!
BEGIN MONTAGE:!

A) EXT. FIELD - CONTINUOUS - Brooke runs as fast as she

can through the field, whipping past grasses as she runs
towards the barn.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (V.O.)

! ! ! C.S. Lewis is quoted

! ! ! as saying that there

! ! ! is no safe investment.

! ! ! To love at all is to 

! ! ! be vulnerable.!

B) EXT. BARN - CONTINUOUS - Brooke tries to enter through

the back door, but the smoke and flames push her away,
burning at her.!

She screams, trying to see inside.!

She starts crying, wailing.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! If you want to make sure 

! ! ! of keeping your heart 

! ! ! intact, you must give your 

! ! ! heart to no one.!

She falls to her knees, a shrinking silhouette beside the

burning figure of the barn.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! Lock it up safe in the 

! ! ! casket of your selfishness. 

! ! ! But in that casket – safe, 

! ! ! dark, motionless, airless…!

C) INT. BROOKE’S APARTMENT - NIGHT - Brooke, singed

clothes, messed hair, and smeared mascara, walks inside
of her apartment.!

She shuffles numbly through the space.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! … it will begin to change.!

D) INT. BROOKE’S BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS - Brooke removes

her shirt and jeans and starts to wash off her face.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! It will not be broken; 

! ! ! it will become unbreakable, 

! ! ! impenetrable, irredeemable.!

END MONTAGE!
 39.

!
INT. BROOKE’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS !

Brooke crawls into bed and, leaving the covers off of

her, curls into the fetal position.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! The alternative to tragedy, 

! ! ! or at least to the risk of 

! ! ! tragedy, is damnation.!

We see Brooke’s face, no longer afraid or in pain, but

rather sunken in. Numb.!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! The only place outside 

! ! ! Heaven where you can be 

! ! ! perfectly safe from all 

! ! ! the dangers and perturbations 

! ! ! of love…!

CUT TO BLACK:!

! ! ! ! BROOKE (CONT’D)

! ! ! … is Hell.!

! ! ! ! !

!
! ! ! ! THE END