Tattooed Across the Soul 
By Lexi LaJoice 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACT THREE 
 
SCENE ONE 
 
 
FADE IN: 
INT. LOCATION #5 - MORNING 
 
LOCATION - BELLE’S HOUSE: Scene enters on Belle getting dressed. She 
brushes her teeth, does her makeup and hair, and spends a minute staring 
at herself in the mirror. She adjusts her shirt, tucks her hair behind her 
ears, and takes a deep breath. She looks into her own eyes with fear, but 
determination to not give up.  
 
LOCATION - MASON’S HOUSE: Scene cuts to Mason, who is also getting ready, 
he retapes his tattoo and does the same things as Belle to get ready, except 
when he looks in the mirror he looks happy and excited for the day to come.  
 
LOCATION - WEDDING VENUE: Mason is seen bringing boxes of decorations 
into the room, while Belle is covering tables. Mason looks at her 
contently and concerned. He sets the last few boxes down and makes his way 
over to her. 
 
MASON:​ Good morning lovely.  
 
Belle shudders, keeps her eye contact on Mason’s shirt button and 
struggles to keep her face happy looking. 
 
BELLE:​ Good morning Mason.  
 
 MASON:​ Well that’s not quite the “good morning” I was looking for.  
 
He chuckles, but sees that Belle is still not lightening up.  
 
MASON: ​Are you alright sweetheart? Do you need to take a break? We can go 
get some breakfast and just chill out for an hour? This decorating can 
wait. We have lots of help.  
 
BELLE: ​No, things need to be done. There is no time for stopping. 
 
She continues to adjust the table clothes into their places. 
BELLE: ​I’m okay Mason really. I will be okay. I’m just a little on edge.  
 
MASON: ​A little? 
 
BELLE: ​Okay, maybe a little more than a little.  
 
She laughs once. 
 
BELLE: ​I just can’t get my mind off of that stupid tattoo. No matter how hard 
I try I just can’t stop thinking of what kind of mistake we might be making 
by leaving it all taped up.  
 
Mason looks at his shoes for a moment and then looks up to his fiance. 
 
MASON: ​Belle I can’t tell you enough how much it won’t change anything. 
Taking the tape off of this tattoo will not change how I feel about you. I 
love you with all my heart and I don’t want this stupid tattoo to define 
how I should feel about you once we’re husband and wife. I want us to be 
happy together, forever, and for the rest of our lives and that’s what 
should matter right now. We should be happy! We’re getting married 
tomorrow! Tomorrow Belle! You will be my wife tomorrow! 
 
He grabs her hands and moves them with his words. Belle looks skeptical 
 
BELLE: ​Mason, I see what you’re saying and I know that you are the one that 
I want to be with for the rest of my life. I know. I know. I know that it’s you 
Mason. I know. And as much as I have been trying to ignore it, it’s not just 
the tattoo that has been bothering me.  
  
She rubs the back of her neck and lets go of Mason’s hands. 
 
BELLE: ​There’s this girl.  
 
Mason’s eyebrows knit together. 
 
Belle: ​There’s this girl that I have seen you with several times. Almost 
once a week I’ll walk to work and see you with her in this coffee shop near 
my office. I know that there is nothing that you would ever do to hurt me, 
but I can’t help but think that this girl means something to you.  
Mason holds his forehead and laughs. Belle looks confused. 
 
Mason: ​Belle, I’ve been working on a wedding gift for you and I’ve been 
trying to keep it a secret so you’d be even more surprised but at this point 
it seems my cover has been blown. The woman was just helping me plan and 
go through with my idea. She was just a stepping stone along the path my 
dear.  
 
Belle heaves a sigh of relief and takes Mason’s hands again. 
 
Belle: ​Thank god. Now let’s get ready for this wedding.  
 
She returns to placing the table cloths.  
 
SCENE TWO 
 
LOCATION - DRESSING ROOM: The girls are getting ready, doing each other’s 
makeup and hair, and getting into their dresses. One of Belle’s friends, 
Monica, is doing her hair and talking to her through the mirror. 
 
MONICA: ​Belle don’t even stress okay? You’re about to get married for 
Chrissake, to a wonderful man I might add. You shouldn’t be worried about 
something that can’t be changed.  
 
JENNY (A BRIDESMAID): ​Yeah Belle, this can’t actually be something you’re 
worrying about these days. I’d be stressed about the floral arrangements or 
if my dress has been steamed, not what my husband’s tattoo says.  
 
The girls laugh for a moment, but return to seriousness when they realize 
Belle is not laughing. She is sitting straight up in her chair, staring 
straight at herself in the mirror, not affected by anyone’s words.  
 
MONICA: ​Belle? Are you okay? 
 
Belle takes a deep breath. 
 
BELLE: ​I-I’m fine. Just fine.  
 
She cracked the smallest smile, but it was enough for the whole room to 
erupt in whoops and yells, which made Belle start to laugh.  
 
SCENE THREE 
 
LOCATION - THE WEDDING VENUE CEREMONY 
Belle is waiting outside the chapel in a separate area. She is having a pep 
talk with Monica. Belle is pacing the room while Monica is trying to calm 
her down.  
 
MONICA: ​Belle 
 
Belle is still pacing and breathing very deeply. 
 
MONICA: ​Belle 
 
Monica grabs at Belle, but Belle swats her away and keeps pacing. 
 
MONICA: ​BELLE! 
 
Belle stops in her tracks suddenly and yells out at Monica angrily. 
 
BELLE: ​What! What is it Monica! Can’t you see I’m trying to keep myself from 
going insane! 
 
Monica goes silent for a moment. 
 
MONICA: ​They’re almost ready for you Belle. You’ll go out after me.  
 
 Monica enters the church. The music gets louder as the door opens and it 
pounds in Belle’s ears. She covers them and shuts her eyes tightly. She sits 
on the ground, her dress enveloping her body, pulling her knees to her 
chest and rocking herself until the music softened. Her father bent down 
and gently rubbed her back, whispered in her ear, and lifted her up onto 
her feet. They slowly walked into the church. Belle looks left and right, 
seeing all these people, tears filling her eyes, holding tightly to her 
father. She looks toward the altar and sees Mason. As soon as she sees him 
all dressed up in his suit, with tears in his eyes, and a genuine smile on 
his face, she smiles and lets herself laugh once. Her face is now content as 
she reaches Mason’s open arms. Her father kisses her on her cheek and lets 
her go. She accompanies Mason at the altar. They turn to the priest.  
 
PRIEST: ​We are gathered here today to join the hearts of Mason and Belle 
for all eternity. ​Do you both pledge to share your lives openly with one 
another, and  
to speak the truth in love?​ ​Do you promise to honor and tenderly  
care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand  
together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs for all  
the days of your lives?  
 
Belle looks into Mason’s eyes and sees that she is in the right place. She 
smiles and touches Mason’s face.  
 
Belle: ​I do. 
 
A tear floats down Mason’s face with a smile. 
 
Mason: ​I do.  
 
​PRIEST: ​Do you pledge to share your love and the joys of your marriage 
with all those around you, so that they may learn from your love and be  
encouraged to grow in their own lives? 
 
They both sound confident in their answer. 
 
BELLE AND MASON: ​We do.  
 
PRIEST: ​Mason, you may now state your vows as you place the ring on Belle’s 
finger.  
 
Mason takes the ring from his pocket and begins to place it on Belle’s 
finger, smiling all the way. 
 
MASON: ​Before I met you Belle I never knew there was a such a thing as 
loving someone more than anything. I had always loved my mother and 
father like the ten commandments told me, but I didn’t think I could love 
someone as much as I love you until that day we met. From the moment you 
said your name to me, I knew that I would be with you for the rest of my 
life. I knew that I could never part from your ocean eyes that light up the 
heavens. I knew that I could never part from the nights under the stars, 
just basking in your presence. I knew I could never part from your gentle 
touch, from your hand finding mine, like it always does. I knew you were 
the one for me and I knew it from the very beginning. Belle on this very 
important day in our lives, I have done something so important for the 
both of us that, deep down I know…  
 
Mason takes off his tux and pulls down the sleeve where his tattoo would 
be.  
 
MASON: ​… deep down I know that this was what both of us needed.  
 
There was no tattoo. There was nothing under his sleeve. Everyone gasped. 
Belle lifted her hand to her mouth and began to sob.  
 
MASON: ​I removed the one thing keeping me from you. Now we can write our 
own story and forge our own path the way we want to. Not the way a tattoo 
depicts.  
 
Mason took Belle’s hand and looked into her crying eyes.  
 
MASON: ​I love you so much Belle and marrying you is the only thing I’ve 
ever wanted in this world.  
 
Mason wipes away a tear.  
 
PRIEST: ​Belle? Your vows. 
  
Belle takes the ring from Monica behind her and slides it on Mason’s 
finger.  
 
BELLE: ​I have no idea how I am supposed to top that.  
 
She laughed along with her audience.  
 
BELLE: ​I can’t even explain to you how long I have wanted to find the one. I 
spent my whole life dreaming of a man who would swoop in and take me in 
his arms and now I don’t think I would want anyone else. You brighten my 
days with your smile. You bring me joy on the days I can’t hold onto. You 
opened my heart to a love I never thought I’d know, and there was always 
something different about our love. Our love isn’t about the flowers, or 
the extravagant dates, or the money we spend on each other, it’s about the 
simplicity. Me with you and the way we both feel about each other is what 
makes our love different. I see your soul when I look into your eyes and 
your soul is tightly tied to mine and that’s the way I always want it to be. 
And you know what? Even if that tattoo said something absolutely terrible 
about our marriage, I still would have married you, and I still would’ve 
loved you. Through all eternity.  
 
PRIEST: ​Mason, repeat after me.  
 
Mason nods 
 
PRIEST: ​I Mason,  
 
MASON: ​I Mason, 
 
PRIEST: ​promise to love and support you Belle and live each day  
with kindness, understanding, truth, humor, and passion.  
 
MASON: ​promise to love and support you Belle and live each day  
with kindness, understanding, truth, humor, and passion.  
 
PRIEST:​ With this I thee wed. 
 
MASON: ​With this I thee wed. 
  
Belle says this as well. They look into each other’s eyes very contently, 
still holding each other’s hands.  
 
PRIEST: ​Mason, I know you’ve been waiting quite some time for this.  
 
The priest winks and Mason and the crowd let out a chuckle. 
 
PRIEST: ​You may kiss your bride. 
 
Mason kisses Belle. And he kisses her again. And again. And the crowd 
cheers and whoops. They stop kissing and Belle tears up, still standing in 
front of the altar. 
 
BELLE: ​Mason, my husband, there is only one thing I could ask of my other 
half on our beautiful wedding day… 
Mason nods and waits for her answer.  
 
BELLE: ​What did the tattoo say love? 
 
Mason looks at her without a doubt.  
 
Mason: ​Forever. 
 
They both smile, and kiss again with the crowd still cheering and then run 
down the aisle with hands in the air. 
 
End.