(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)

The Road Ahead

Written by

Suzie Perez

Copyright (c) 2022

Draft
5

Contact
srperez@tlu.edu
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)

FADE IN:

INSERT - A silver Mitsubishi outlander starts up from the

driver's perspective. A hand goes to the radio turning it on
and adjusting through stations. A song plays in the
background and two girls start singing to the song being
played. The camera cuts to look out the window catching the
scenery as the driver pulls into a school.

TITLE CARD: "THE ROAD AHEAD"[Song and voices are still

present]

EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - DAY

JANE and CASSANDRA get out of a silver car and start walking
towards the entrance of the school.

JANE
how does it feel to be a freshman?

CASSANDRA
I don’t know how does it feel being a
senior?

JANE
touché.

Both laugh as they open the door walking inside the school.

INT. SCHOOL FOYER - DAY

Jane and Cassandra walks their own separate ways.

INT. SCHOOL MATH CLASSROOM - DAY

Cassandra is sitting in a desk in the middle of a full

classroom.

INT. SCHOOL HISTORY CLASSROOM - DAY

Cassandra is sitting in the back middle in a desk of a full

classroom. Different from the first classroom.

INT. SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASSROOM - DAY

Cassandra is sitting in the middle front row of the desks of

the full classroom different from the first and second
classroom. The teacher walks in and begins to teach. She
looks at the time on the clock as it reads 10:30 AM.
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 2.

The clock speeds up showing the time 11:45. The Bell rings
and the class gets up from their seats with the popcorn
effect.
CASSANDRA
thank god...

INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY

Cassandra walks with a her lunch to a table with her

friends. Cassandra sits at a round table with her friends
ROBERT, KATIE, LINDA, and MADDIE. The friends start
chatting. Cassandra is disconnected from the group while she
is on her phone looking for notifications and eating her
lunch.

ROBERT
Cassy?

CASSANDRA
I’m sorry what

KATIE
We were wondering if you were going
to Jackson’s party tonight?

MADDIE
Wait Jackson the football player?

The girls start to squeal in excitement from hearing the

name.
CASSANDRA
No I think I’m gonna pass I already
see him a lot during cheer practice.

MADDIE
Yeah but you don’t get to talk to him
every day.

CASSANDRA
I'll pass I already have a bunch of
Assignments from just three classes.

KATIE
Please ill help you with them if you
go.

CASSANDRA
I want to get in a not a C.
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 3.

KATIE
I'm smarter than you think but
please!
CASSANDRA
fine I’ll go.

The bell rings for the end of the lunch period.

INT. JACKSON'S HOUSE - NIGHT PARTY MONTAGE:

-- Cassandra and her friends are dancing in the living room

with other people from the party.

--Cassandra drinks a shot after shot

-- Cassandra gets handed a cup of unknown liquid and she

drinks it.

-- A random guy takes her hand leading Cassandra to a

bedroom. with her stumbling.

-- Cassandra tries fighting the guy off but he continues to

rape her.

-- she quickly gets thrown onto the lawn of Katie's house.

INT. JANE'S KITCHEN TEXAS - MORNING

Jane is busy baking cookies in the kitchen. Her sister,

Cassandra, walks in from door S/R worriedly holding a HEB
bag with a used pregnancy test. Cassandra starts to tear up
and looks over at Jane. Jane looks up at Cassandra realizing
she's starting to cry.

(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)

JANE
It...it was positive..? (Cassandra
nods) Get rid of the test before mom
gets back and get ready... we need to
figure out how to help you.

CASSANDRA
(crying)I was stressed and have been
looking into abortions... planned
parenthood can do it. We can stop
by...please?

Jane nods and motions her to go get dressed and Cassandra

leaves through the door S/R.
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 4.

Jane hears the ding, she puts on oven mitts, and pulls the
cookies out of the oven setting them on top of the oven.
While Jane is taking off the oven mitts she overhears the TV
in the living room.
TV NEWS PERSON
The week is filled with rain showers
folks! Now the time has come. The
senate has overturned Row v. Wade,
now the heartbeat ban will go into
full effect. Places like planned
parenthood and the hospital are not
to perform abortions after six weeks.
There is no accept.... (fades out)

As the TV sound fades out Jane drops the oven mitts in

shock. Jane paces back in forth panicking in the kitchen
thinking about how far along Cassandra might be in her
pregnancy. Cassandra walks in through the S/R door dressed
in a plain white t-shirt, jean shorts and tennis shoes. Jane
whips around asking Cassandra a question.

JANE
when was your last period...?

Cassandra counts on her fingers how many weeks its been and
she counts to Eight and shows Jane. Jane starts to cry and
Cassandra gives Jane a confused look. Jane points to the TV
as the TV News person is still going on about the heart beat
ban in Texas. Cassandra stands there in shock and starts to
tear up once again holding her stomach.

LEAVING MONTAGE:

--Jane and Cassandra runs down the hall and into their rooms
--Jane starts packing a backpack of clothes and extra cash
stored in her dresser.

-- Cassandra starts packing a duffel bag of clothes, snacks,

money from her school bag.

(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)

BACK TO LIVING ROOM

EXT. HOUSE DRIVEWAY - MORNING

They hurriedly ran outside and got in the car.

CASSANDRA
Where are we going
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 5.

Jane Starts the car.

JANE
New Mexico
CASSANDRA
Why?

JANE
They are the closest state they'll
help us what about mom and dad? I
texted them Will be staying at
David’s cabin so they'll give us time
to go back-and-forth

Jane grabs her bag from the back and as soon as she sits
back into her seat they are surrounded by cops. Both start
to cry. The cops are yelling at them to get out and put
their hands in the air.

BLACK OUT

END