CHANGE, COURAGE, COMMUNICATION

WRITTEN BY

NUOLIN ZHENG

Copyright- 2020
zhengnuo@msu.edu
 2.

FADE IN.

INT. RDF CLASSROOM - NIGHT

As usual, Anna and Irene were in the empty, bright classroom,
writing exercises they seemed never to finish.Suddenly, there
was a knock on the classroom door.It was their classmate, she
asked.
CLASSMATE
Hi, Anna and Irene. You want to
have dinner with everybody tomorrow
night? At McDonald's.
Irene stood up at once. She was very excited, for she missed
her friends very much.She was about to say yes, when she
heard her sister say.
ANNA
Thanks, but I'm afraid we'll have
to spend the same night in the
classroom tomorrow as we did
today.Just do some preview and
review and things like that.

，
CLASSMATE
Ok, It's fine maybe next time.
She closed the door softly.
IRENE
(She shouted)
Anna! I want to go to have dinner
with my friends!
ANNA
Irene, you know what I mean.
Irene threw aside her book. She say.
IRENE
Why do we have to stay in the
classroom and miss out on dinner
when everyone else is having fun
until graduation?
ANNA
(Heave a sigh)
We are good students in the eyes of
our parents and teachers,
Irene.Good students may be doomed
to lose something.
 3.

IRENE
I am so fed up.
Irene rushed out of the classroom.
Anna and Irene are sisters. They will going to the same
university.Sister Anna is a little introverted, not good at
expressing herself, but amiable.Irene is lively and cheerful,
but she often fights with her parents because their parents
make them study every day. Their grades are very good, is the
envy of the students, is the teacher praised the object.But
they always feel as if they have lost a lot of their time
compared to other students.

INT. RDF DORM - NIGHT

Irene went back to the dormitory herself, and after a while
Anna gently opened the door of the dormitory. She said to
Irene as she walked into the dormitory.
ANNA
(shake the bag)
Irene, don't be angry. I bought you
your favorite snack.
Irene sat up in bed.
IRENE
(serious )
Anna, let's go to McDonald's
tomorrow.

Anna was shocked. But in her heart she also wanted to have
dinner with her friends.
ANNA
(hesitating)
But mom and dad--
IRENE
No one will know until we get back!
Anna shook her head.
ANNA
Irene, you were scolded by your
parents the last time you sneaked
out. It's not going to work.
 4.

IRENE
That's because I really want to go
out!And mom and dad just said I
didn't go out with you because it's
not safe to be alone.
ANNA
But that doesn't mean they let us
out.After all, they make us do
different preview and review every
day.
IRENE
I'll go myself. Just stay in the
classroom by yourself, Anna.

INT. MCDONALD'S - THE NEXT NIGHT

Anna still went out with Irene. She worried about her
sister's safety, but also wanted to have dinner with her
classmates.
ANNA
(Talk quietly to Irene)
Are you sure the teacher didn't
notice when we came out?
IRENE
Of course, and no one will tell the
teacher. Enjoy yourself Anna!
Anna and Irene chatted with their classmates and played games
to their hearts' content. They had never been so relaxed.

INT. MCDONALD'S - CONTINUOUS

Everyone has had enough to eat, some people are taking
pictures, some people are chatting.
CLASSMATE
(sudden)
Anyone want to go on a graduation
trip? What about Japan, where we
can go to hot springs!
There was a great deal of interest in the sudden proposal,
and it was considered feasible.As they chatted excitedly
about the trip, Anna and Irene wondered if their parents
would agree.
 5.

IRENE
Anna, hot spring! I really want to
go to Japan.Don't you want to go?
ANNA
Okay, I'll admit it. I'd love to
go, but it's not up to us.

INT. RDF DORM - LATE NIGHT

IRENE
Anna, do you think mom and dad will
approve of our graduation trip?
ANNA
I don't know, Irene. Just go to
bed. We'll go home tomorrow
afternoon. Then we can ask.
IRENE
Anna, maybe we can hide from mom
and dad to--
ANNA
(increase the volume)
Stop! It is impossible. We need
funds, but we have no money.We
can't pack at home without telling
mom and Dad.
Irene turns around and covers her ears, pretending she can't
hear Anna.
ANNA (CONT'D)
It's getting late. Let's get off
the subject and go to bed. Right
now.
Anna watched her sister fall asleep, she closed her eyes
slowly, and fell into a deep sleep.

INT. RDF CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON

Everyone is doing his own thing in the noisy classroom.It's
weekend and parents are on their way to pick up their
children.
 6.

CLASSMATE
(walk onto the podium)
May I have your attention, our
proposal for a graduation trip was
approved by the teacher.We will
plan our schedule together next
week. please go home and ask your
parents for their opinions, but I
think most of them will agree with
this. Good luck!
Cheering from the bottom of the stage, everyone is already
talking about what to play and eat. It also includes Irene.
Anna looks at Irene, who is discussing with her classmates,
and smiles and shakes her head.

INT. RDF CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

Half the people in the classroom had already gone home. Anna
checked the time and was ready to call her mother, who was
coming to pick them up.
ANNA
(take out phone)
Mom, are you almost there?--
Anna gets the answer, hangs up and turns to Irene.
ANNA (CONT'D)
Mother said she would be a little
late, she asked us to do our
homework first.
IRENE
I don't want to do my homework. I
can do it tomorrow.Let's talk about
graduation travel.
Irene takes out her phone and starts searching.
ANNA
Irene, I don't think we'll go.
IRENE
(yell to Anna)
Anna! Don't stop me all the time, I
will ask my mother later, if you
don't want to go, just forget it.
 7.

INT. HOME - EVENING

As soon as Anna got home, she went back to her room and
closed the door.She was very unhappy because her sister
stopped her from talking about her graduation trip while she
was in the car.
MOTHER
What's wrong with Irene? Anna,
could you bring her favorite snacks
to comfort her?
ANNA
Sure! I will.
After ten minutes,Anna pushed open Irene's door.
IRENE
Get out. I don't want to see
anyone.
ANNA
(heave a sigh)
Irene, we can't go on our
graduation trip without telling mom
and Dad. It doesn't make sense.We
want their consent.
IRENE
But I'm afraid they won't let us
go.
ANNA
Me too.
The two sisters are silent for a long time. Irene speaks.
IRENE
I'll ask tomorrow!
ANNA
Are you sure?
IRENE
Yes!

INT. HOME - MORNING

Anna and Irene go to their parents' room after breakfast,
ready to knock the door.
IRENE
Mom, could we come in?
 8.

With permission granted, the two men entered the room

nervously.
FATHER
Girls, anything you want to say?
Anna tugs at Irene's sleeve.
IRENE
Our class is organizing a
graduation trip, probably in a
month.
MOTHER
Then you can learn a little bit
more than others when they are
playing.
IRENE
(with great care )
Mom, I want to go on a graduation
trip.
MOTHER
No, you're too dangerous to be
alone.
IRENE
(impatient)
Our classmates and teachers will be
there too, Anna. Yes, Anna will be
there too!
MOTHER
(surprised)
Anna? Would you like to go?
Anna kept her head down and did not speak.
MOTHER (CONT'D)
Irene!Don't lie.
Anna looked up as if she had made up her mind.
ANNA
Yes, I want to go to the trip!
Their parents looked at each other.
FATHER
But you'll have less time to do
your homework.
 9.

IRENE
I don't care. I'll do it early or
I'll do it later.I need free time
to do what I want!
ANNA
We really want to go travel.
Please.
MOTHER
I always thought it would be better
for you to study longer than
others.
ANNA
Mom, it worked, our grades are
already pretty good.We want to do
something else after study rather
than continue to study after study.
FATHER
Anna, you used to have very few
ideas of your own.Your mother and I
thought you liked the arrangement.
We'll take care of it later.
Mom looks at Irene.
MOTHER
Irene, I don't let you go out
because I'm afraid you'll be in
danger alone, and I'm afraid you
and your sister will have different
academic progress.
Mom and Dad stand up and hug Anna and Irene respectively.
FATHER
I'm sorry, but we were too nervous
about your upcoming college
studies, not considering your
feelings.
MOTHER
Graduation trip, you guys go
together. Have a good time.
Anna and Irene go back to the room. They feel like they've
just had a dream.They looked at each other, then started
screaming and partying.
 10.

IRENE
(self-accusation)
Anna, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have
yelled at you these days.
ANNA
I'm sorry, too.I wanted to go on a
graduation trip too, but I didn't
express it explicitly and I stopped
you before.
IRENE
So should we start searching?
ANNA
Of course!
Anna and Irene sit in front of the computer together,
searching the travel tips of Japan to their heart's content,
preparing to make a plan together with classmates next week.
They finally realized their wish

FADE OUT.