HOW ABOUT WE TRY AGAIN?

Tiffany Yumo
Characters:

Noah: Male. 21. Very emotional with black, medium length hair.
Third-year college student.

Audrey: Female. 21. Sweet town girl with short, brown hair.
Third-year college student with an upbeat personality.

Keila: Female. 19. A mysterious person with short, black hair

that covers her eyes. First-year college student. Audrey's
friend. Lives in the same dorm as Audrey.

Mr. Morgan: Male. 45. Short, balding, brown hair. Teaches the
class Noah and Audrey are in. Casual and friendly to students.
 ACT I

SCENE 1

INT. SCHOOL - 4:15pm

Establishing.

MR. MORGAN has just finished the lesson. NOAH, seated in the last
row desk next to the window. AUDREY, seated in the front row
desk, second from the window. Class has been dismissed.

[Desks are lined up (center stage). Windows (upstage center).

Wall (right stage center)]

(Black out when the curtains rise.)

MR. MORGAN:

So, you two are the last ones? Seems that everyone wanted

to hurry for the party. Are you going to the party?

Miss…?

AUDREY:

(Begins packing up her books)

Audrey, sir. And yes! I really wanted to get out of all of my

class as much as possible to get ready for the party later. I
can't imagine how will my first day of school again would go.

MR. MORGAN:

Sounds like you'll be having fun later. (Slowly

walking towards NOAH) What about you? Are you going to the
Welcome party?
(NOAH shakes his head without looking up and continues scrolling
through his phone)

MR. MORGAN:

It's a welcome party. You should be welcoming our freshmen! You

are a third year, aren't you? Don't you wanna experience the fun
again?

NOAH doesn't pay any attention to MR. MORGAN)

MR. MORGAN:

(Walks in front of the classroom)

I remember the first time going to the welcome party. It was my

first day teaching here. The preparation, the music and fun, and
dancing and singing by the students were fantastic. It's all
worth to remember--

(KEIRA walks in the classroom with a guitar case on her back)

KEIRA:

AUDREY! What's taking you so lo-- Oh. Sorry.

(KEIRA begins to step back out of the classroom slowly)

MR. MORGAN:

(Looks at his watch)

That's alright. You can come in. Class is over. I have to

get to the party right away before my wife gets tired of

waiting. Don't want that to happen.

(KEIRA walks to AUDREY and sits in the seat behind her)

(MR. MORGAN puts his paper into his bag

and walks to the door then stops suddenly)

 MR. MORGAN

(Turns his head)

Oh! Young man, near the window. I'm sorry but what was your name?

NOAH:

NOAH.

(AUDREY stops packing and suddenly looks back at NOAH)

MR. MORGAN:

It was nice to meet you both. See you in class next week.

(MR. MORGAN waves as he exits stage left)

KEIRA:

So, are you ready to partehhhhh?!

AUDREY:

(While still looking at NOAH)

Y-Yeah… Let's go!

(KIERA and AUDREY begin exiting stage left)

(AUDREY stops at the doorway while KEIRA exits)

(AUDREY looks back at NOAH then exits quickly)

NOAH:

(gets up and walks to downstage center)

What's the point of people getting close to people? It's? Well,

it's not like, I want to be alone but getting to know people then
forgetting about them? It's just too much to handle. I think,
this is the only way, isn't it?

(BLACKOUT)

ACT I

SCENE 2

INT.GYMNASIUM – 7:00 pm

Establishing.

KIERA and AUDREY are standing in front of the stands. AUDREY is

holding a pizza box while KEIRA is eating chocolates with one
hand and pockets look stuffed with other candy.

[There are a few stands setup with party games and food along
upstage. Light illuminates from inside the stands.]

AUDREY:

Why am I the one carrying this pizza? You're the one who wanted
this!

KEIRA:

(raises hands with her mouth full)

Jush-pleash-hol-ina-minuch.

AUDREY:

(rolls her eyes)

It's like you came here just for the food, huh.

(KIERA continues eating not hearing AUDREY)

 Ugh! I'm going to dance!

(AUDREY looks at KEIRA eating ferociously)

Just keep doing what you're doing.

(AUDREY walks over to the dance floor and sways to the beat. NOAH
enters stage left and continue walking towards stage right.)

(AUDREY notices NOAH walking in her direction)

(AUDREY stops dancing and stands facing NOAH)

AUDREY:

Oh! Hi, NOAH! You decided to come to the party?

NOAH:

(NOAH stops in front of AUDREY)

Uhm...No. I was just going to my dorm...from class.

AUDREY:

This late? Well, you could hang out us! You know...me and Keira.

(AUDREY jerks her thumb at KEIRA still eating)

NOAH:

No. I'm fine. I don't really wa-

AUDREY:

You will surely love it! Why not try checking out?

NOAH:

No. I really have to go.

(NOAH begins to walk away but AUDREY grabs his wrist)

AUDREY:
 It will be a lot of fun. Come on!

NOAH:

Hey, PLEASE! Why do you try so hard to make me agree?! Do

Do I owe you anything?! ...NO? Then just leave me alone!(snatches

his arm from AUDREY and quickly exits stage right)

AUDREY:

WAIT! NOAH!

(begins to cry)

(KEIRA gets up and walks over to AUDREY)

KEIRA:

(with a lollipop in her mouth)

Wha-wah-thatch-abou

AUDREY:

(wipes her eyes)

I just wanted him to enjoy the night.

(KEIRA looks at where NOAH exited)

KEIRA:

Hmmm… Go ahead and sit down. I'll be right back. I have to get
something from my room.

(AUDREY finds a chair and sits down next to the table.)

(KEIRA exits stage right)

(BLACKOUT)
 ACT I

SCENE 3

EXT. NOAH’S HOUSE (SAME NIGHT) - 7:20pm.

Establishing.

Noah is walking in from stage left and stops in front of the door
on stage left center.

(Two doors next to each other. Stage left center and the other
on-stage right center. In front of the doors, two crowd control
barricades are lined up next to each other, downstage.)

NOAH:

(Leans on the barricade)

I didn't mean to yell. "Hey, I'm the guy who got angry that you
were pretty. Sorry for being such a prick!" Why is she trying to
get there that way?

Near me though? (Thinks) It's not like she's familiar with me.

Well, she's got the wrong idea now... JEEZ!

(NOAH walks to his door slowly and takes out the keys.)

(KEIRA enters the left stage, moving rapidly towards NOAH.NOAH

turns quickly when KEIRA gets close to him.KEIRA pushes NOAH

against his door.)

NOAH:

AW! What the--

KEIRA:
 Why are you being such a bastard to Audrey?!

NOAH:

(looks away)

I told her I didn't want to go to the party, but she kept

pressuring me to come.

KEIRA:

Just let me get this straight. You yelled because she wanted a
good time for you?

(NOAH looks down. Still held against the door)

Look, if you want to feel bad for yourself and be alone, fine,
then! But with you, don't drag others down. You caused a girl too
feel guilty with her self.

(NOAH winces and bites his lip)

You really need to reflect the way you interact with people who
cares about you.

(AUDREY enters stage left. AUDREY stops for a second then rushes
to where KEIRA and NOAH are.)

AUDREY:

KEIRA! Stop! (AUDREY grabs KEIRA's shoulder)

KEIRA:

Remember this!

(KEIRA gives NOAH one final shove. LetS him go.)

(NOAH hits his head on the door and sits down rubbing his head)

AUDREY:

I'm so sor--OH MY GOD! Did she make you bleed?

 (AUDREY points at the back of NOAH's head)

NOAH:

(Waves his hand as a "no")

This is a scar from high school.

(AUDREY touches the back of NOAH's head)

(NOAH flinches a little. AUDREY pulls her hand back)

(NOAH raises his gaze)

(NOAH sees KEIRA and KEIRA shoots NOAH a "look")

NOAH:

It's okay. It just stings a little bit.

AUDREY:

I'm sorry! My hand just moved on its own.

NOAH:

That's fine.

KEIRA:

Well, I have to go back to there. I want to try some more food

they are serving. What about you, Audrey?

AUDREY:

I'm just heading back to our dorm. Do you need any money?

KEIRA:

Nope, I have some extras here! (KEIRA begins

jogging off stage left) SEE YA! (exits)

NOAH:
 Sure, she is something! (chuckles)

AUDREY:

(laughs and helps NOAH stand)

Yeah. Yeah. That is a good way to describe her, I assume.

(AWKWARD SILENCE)

NOAH:

Would you like to come in for coffee or something?

AUDREY:

Are you sure? I thought you had something else to do?

NOAH:

No… Not exactly.

AUDREY:

Okay. Well, I will take you up for your offer.

(AUDREY and NOAH enter through the door)

(BLACK OUT)

ACT I

SCENE 4

INT. NOAH'S ROOM – 8:30 pm.

Establishing.

AUDREY is browsing the books and NOAH is sitting on the bed. Both
of them has a Styrofoam cup in their hand.
(bed is facing downstage right on stage right center. Table is
next to the bed on center stage. A bookshelf is on upstage left.
Door is on downstage right facing offstage.)

AUDREY:

Wow! You have so many books! You have the Sherlock Holmes books?
Oooh! Love the stories these books tell. I used to read them all
over and over when I was in high school.

NOAH:

You can take them. I don't really read them

(AUDREY takes one of the books from the shelf and sits down in
the chair)

NOAH:

I'm sorry about before at the welcome party. It's just… I don't
like getting attached to people.

AUDREY:

"Don’t like getting attached to people”? Why?

NOAH(INSIDE THOUGHT):

I can't talk about myself to her. I don't want any sympathy. Is

there a way to explain why I feel like this without it?

But tell her about the accident? What am I so scared of

Of? Of? If I tell her, will she think differently from me? Think
I'm going crazy? I'm just going to do that. It's just too much
to bottle, and all I'm doing is hurting people by keeping it a
secret.

NOAH:
 Audrey, I-

(notices the book AUDREY is holding, an item sticking out and

takes it out to look at it)

(As NOAH turns it to look at the item, it is a photo of AUDREY

and NOAH)

NOAH:

What… What is this!?

AUDREY:

What’s wrong, Noah?

(NOAH shows AUDREY the photo)

NOAH:

WHY AM I HOLDING A PICTURE OF US? I only met you today.

AUDREY:

Noah…

NOAH:

Audrey, we met for the first time today, right?

(AUDREY says nothing)

RIGHT?

AUDREY:

N-no. (AUDREY takes a deep breath) We met about four years

ago. First year of high school.

NOAH:

What? No. That can’t be. How…?

 AUDREY:

It’s true Noah. We were both born in this same small town.

We went to the same schools. We were both on the track team.

NOAH:

Track team? I don’t even love to run. Why didn't you say anything
when you knew me already?! You pushed me

along thinking you knew nothing about me. Why?!

AUDREY:

It’s a long story. Noah, let me explain.

NOAH:

Please leave. I want to be alone. This is just too much.

AUDREY:

Let me

NOAH:

LEAVE! Please…

(AUDREY gets up, places the book on the chair and exits stage
right through the door)

NOAH:

Why is this actually happening? Finally, it was going well. I was

finally getting used to being once again close to people. Is THIS
happening now? What does "We went to that same school" mean to
her? How could she say that so casually? If we were so close,
wouldn't she know what was going on with me? Getting to know
someone that I ought to know already? It doesn't just make sense!
I no longer know. Perhaps some sleep might help to calm me down,
and I'm going to wake up with answers.

(Laughs awkwardly)

I wish it was that easy…

(lays down in his bed)

(BLACK OUT)

[Lighting (50%) comes up on Noah’s bed]

(NOAH rolls off his bed and hits his head on the table)

(Grabs his head and sits up)

NOAH:

Where am I? (NOAH begins looking around. Frightened) HELLO?

MOM? DAD? ANYONE?

(Full stage lighting)

NOAH:

… Audrey. Audrey? Audrey?

(Knocking)

NOAH:

AUDREY IS THAT YOU? (walks to the door and opens it)

(KEIRA enters through the door, closes the door, and NOAH
stumbles backwards then falls)
 KEIRA:

(Yawning)

What are you screaming about? It’s 2 in the morning.

NOAH:

WHO ARE YOU? WHERE AM I? I’ve got to get out of here!

(gets up quickly and pushes KEIRA out of the way as he runs to

the door and opens it. Stops when he sees AUDREY standing at the
door)

AUDREY:

Noah?

NOAH:

(Scared)

Audrey! Where are we? What’s happening?

(AUDREY walks through the door and pulls NOAH along)

(AUDREY sits, NOAH in the chair and AUDREY sits on the bed)

AUDREY:

Calm down. Now, what do you mean? We’re at your dorm,

remember? I live next to you with Keira and heard you yelling.

NOAH:

Huh? Dorm? No, I was on the bridge right next to our high school.
Please... Why are we here here? Let's go back.

AUDREY:
Noah?… What’s the last thing you remember? Do you remember coming
here? Anything at all about our college?

NOAH:

College? S-Stop playing around. (Awkward Laugh) We only just

graduated last night. How could we already be in college?

KEIRA:

I’m going back to bed. (walks over to AUDREY and whispers)

Sometimes our biggest problems are ourselves. See

ya!

(KEIRA exits through the door)

(NOAH holds the back of his head)

NOAH:

Ouch! What is this?

(rubs the back of his head)

AUDREY:

Noah.(kneels in front of NOAH then grab his hands)

Do you remember the accident that caused that scar to you?

NOAH:

No. Accident? What do you mean? What happened to me?

AUDREY:

I can tell you what I know and what I've seen. It could clear up
a lot.

(BLACKOUT)
 ACT I

SCENE 5

EXT. YEAR 2018 – SCHOOL/GRADUATION DAY 8:00 am

Establising.

Audrey and Noah’s graduation day. The program has ended. They are
in an open area.

(Stage right portion, AUDREY and NOAH stand stage right facing
each other. Both wearing graduation gowns and caps. Center stage
portion, AUDREY is laying on her bed face up in casual clothing.
Stage left portion, NOAH is sitting on the stage left middle wall
in casual clothing.)

AUDREY:

Hey! We finally graduated! Can you believe it? We are finally

finished with high school!

NOAH:

It doesn't really feel anyway. After four years, we're never

going to come back as students. All the great times we've had
here. They're just going to become memories. Like me, I'm always
beating you in our track practice races.

AUDREY:

Don't think now that we're graduating we won't have any more
races, we still have summer and I WILL beat you. That's what you
can bet on!

NOAH:

Yeah, of course. I'll still be faster than you even then.

AUDREY:
 Whatever! (AUDREY pulls out a camera) Let's take a photo
together. It's our graduation, so maybe we have as many photos to
look back at.

(AUDREY holds up the camera and takes a picture)

(AUDREY looks at the picture taken, NOAH peers over)

NOAH:

Looking as good as ever!

AUDREY:

You’re so full of yourself…

NOAH:

I meant you too!

AUDREY:

(Laughs)

Is there something bothering you? You look nervous?

NOAH:

Hmm, I have something to tell you that I've been holding back for
a while.

AUDREY:

What is it?

NOAH:

Audrey, We spent a great deal of time around each other. We've

been on the middle school track team ever since. Walking home
from practice together, helping each other study for tests, and
going to hang out at each other's house. Until a year ago, I
didn't notice these feelings.
 AUDREY:

Feelings?

NOAH:

I love you, Audrey. I love being around you, and for a very long
time, I hope to stay around you. I wanted to get my chest off
this and let you know how I'm feeling. I want to know what you're
feeling towards me. Do you see me as more than just a friend?

AUDREY:

Noah… I'm not sure what to say. I really haven't given much
thought to it. I love to be around you, but... love? What that
feels like, I don't know. Are these feelings of love towards you
or just normal? I need to give more thought to this. Can you wait
for my answer?

NOAH:

Sure. I don't want you to feel it necessary or anything, either.

AUDREY:

Thank you. Could you wait for me tonight at the bridge next to
our house? After I had made my mind. I will be there at 10 to
respond.

NOAH:

All right, I'm going to wait for you there! I've got to get
going, and my parents are waiting, and you know how to make it
there. Later, see you!

(NOAH jogs off stage right)

(BLACKOUT)

INT. AUDREY’S HOUSE – 12:00 am

Establishing.

(FADE IN on center stage portion)

AUDREY:

Well, he loves me. For a while since I came home, I've been
thinking about my feelings and still can't figure myself out. Do
I have him back in love? Is it just that I want him as a friend?
What emotions are these? When he said that he loved me, it made
me feel good, but that's not enough to go on and say it again. He
is an awesome guy. When I am sad, he is always there. Any time
he's around, he can put a smile on my face. When he tries his
best to get me to notice him, this makes me happy. He is so
stiffheaded. All of this, I noticed about him. I feel bubbly
inside when I talk about him. Is it love?

(AUDREY picks up the clock and looks at the time)

My god! I’m late! I'm two hours late... he's not going there at
the bridge, is he? He's pretty hard-headed... Let me just give
him a call, just in case.

(AUDREY takes out her phone and calls)

He’s not answering. Maybe he doesn’t have his phone. I need to

get to the bridge to check him. I don’t want him to get a cold.

(AUDREY runs out stage right)

(BLACKOUT)

EXT. AT THE BRIDGE – 12:15 am

Establishing.

Noah is sitting on the edge of the bridge waiting for Audrey to

arrive.

(FADE IN on stage left portion)

 NOAH:

What a beautiful day! I wonder where Audrey’s right now. She

could just be holding something up. I can't take my word back.
Anyway, she might come here when I leave, and I won't be there
for her. What might she be answering? We've spent so much time
together. If she declines my emotions, would it be okay? Still, I
want her to say "I love you, Noah”. Thinking about that just
makes me smile. Well, to make that happen, waiting is the only
thing I can do. Wait until she has to say what she needs to say.

(Slightly leans back and closes his eyes)

(Lighting flickers like lightning and a car crashes from stage

left onto the bridge where NOAH then goes behind the center
stage.)

(NOAH loses his balance and tries to grab the wall but can’t get
a grip)

(NOAH falls over the wall and yells for a few seconds)

(AUDREY jogs in from stage left onto the bridge)

AUDREY:

(Looking around) Noah! Noah! are you still here!

(A gasping for air is heard)

AUDREY:

What’s that noise?

(AUTDREY looks behind the wall)

AUDREY:

OH MY GOD! NOAH!
 ACT I

SCENE 6

INT. PRESENT (END OF FLASHBACK)- SAME AS ACT 4

Establishing.

AUDREY is sitting on the bed and NOAH is sitting in the chair.

AUDREY is telling NOAH the whole story of the accident.

AUDREY:

... They had to try to bring you back to life, and beat your
heart again after a minute. I knew when I was watching your pulse
on the monitor that I had to leave you alone. If it wasn't for
me, it wouldn't have happened. You wouldn't have been on the
bridge, you wouldn't have forgotten it all, and you wouldn't have
had to go through all that. Without me, you would have had a
normal, happy life. I'm only with you at this college because it
was too late to apply to any other college. I would have
preferred to just let you live your life. To be pleased.

NOAH:

(speechless)

AUDREY:

If you would like to shout at me, go ahead. I deserve that.

(washes her face with both hand and looks down)

NOAH:

That’s terrible! That all happened to me? Because of you?

(AUDREY nods)

(picks up AUDREY’s head to face him)

 NOAH:

This is not because of you. Nobody would have known that this
would happen. That was an accident. It would be a life I wouldn't
want to live if you weren't in my life. The cause of my happiness
is you. None of my emotions were altered. The only thing I've
forgotten about is life in college without you in it... (thinks)
How about we try it again?

AUDREY:

Try it again? What is “it”?

NOAH:

Audrey, I still love you. I'd like to know the answer you got on
graduation night.

AUDREY:

Noah…

NOAH:

I want you at my side, whether I am the old me or the new me.

Even when I lose my memories again, I want to be able to find
you. I'm not sure when they will replace my current memories
again. I could revert at any second. Audrey, I’m not asking for a
life promise or to hold you down so, the answer is up to you.

AUDREY:

My answer... Since graduation night, I've been thinking about my

feelings every day. I always had the same answer that I came up
with on THAT night. I love you, Noah. I don't care if you decide
to back and forget about me, I'm still going to stay in your
life, I'm going to get to know you all over again. That what love
means, I believe. No matter what occurs, you will stay with that
person.

(NOAH embraces AUDREY tightly, putting his head on her shoulder)

NOAH:

Together, we'll get through this. As long as my love for you

still lives inside me, my heart beats, So please help me find it
out when the time comes.

(AUDREY nods)

AUDREY:

OH! I have an idea!

(AUDREY runs out the door)

NOAH:

Huh?

(AUDREY returns after a few seconds with a camera in her hand)

NOAH:

Where did you go?

(AUDREY holds up the camera)

AUDREY:

I got my camera.

NOAH:

What is the camera for? Taking some more pictures?

AUDREY:

No, genious. I’m going to record ourselves talking about “us”.

NOAH:
 Like, how do we date and go to the same college?

AUDREY:

Everything about us. Now come on, get into frame.

(sits on the bed and NOAH sits beside AUDREY)

(BLACKOUT)

ACT I

SCENE 7

INT. NOAH’S HOUSE – 9:00 am

Noah is going to play a video on the television.

NOAH:

So that girl in my class gave me a tv and only one video to

watch? Geez, thanks… (Fiddles with the remote and presses a
button)

(Television plays a video of AUDREY and NOAH)

VIDEO:

AUDREY:

Okay, go.

NOAH:

H-Hey me!

AUDREY:

Hey, Noah!

NOAH:
 What? Did I mess something up?

AUDREY:

I said “Hey Noah!”

NOAH:

Yes, and I answered.

AUDREY:

No, not you! I’m saying “Hey” to your other self.

NOAH:

Ohhh, yeah!

(AUDREY laughs)

AUDREY:

Anyways, to the Noah watching this video you may be wondering “I

don’t remember this”

NOAH (NON-VIDEO):

That’s exactly what I’m wondering.

AUDREY:

Don't worry, that's not you. Well, this is you, but not you,
just like you are now.

NOAH:

She’s trying to say that you and I are the same Noah, some
memories are missing, as you and I know. I've got all the old
memories, but so far I don't remember anything after the
accident. All the post-accident memories you have, but hardly
any of the old ones. So, I'm going to let you know what you're
missing, and Audrey's going to help.
 AUDREY:

Yes, yes! I'm going to help him know if there's anything he's
actually missing, and let you know what I know.

NOAH:

As you are right now Noah, you don't have any connection to
Audrey, and you don't have any recollection of the past. That's
why we were making this video. This video is meant to let you
know about some important events in the past. To get started,
we're going to have to go back to the middle school where we met
Audrey .When we met Audrey (LIGHTS and SOUND starts slowly
FADING OUT) we were both on the track team and we were so
competitive. I think that's exactly what made us get as close as
we are, actually...

(BLACKOUT)

THE END.