Unspoken By Nick Cahill

FADE IN: INT. DOCTORS OFFICE EXAM ROOM - DAY - 2 YEARS AGO MARTIN, a college-age male, is sitting nervously on the checkup table. He is massaging his throat and waiting on the doctor to return. DOCTOR WILLIS, an older male, enters from the door immediately across from MARTIN, wearing his WHITE COAT and a NEUTRAL EXPRESSION. He is holding a clipboard and prepares to deliver some bad news. He clears his throat. DR. WILLIS Hello Martin, how are you today? MARTIN says nothing, merely looks at the doctor expectantly and then nods. DR. WILLIS Well, as you know, I have your test results right here. MARTIN crosses his arms and frowns, looking impatient. DR. WILLIS (Sighing) I can see you want to get right to the point. Im afraid I have bad news... MARTINs eyes widen in shock, and he tenses up. DR. WILLIS Well, first, a bit of good news. The cancer is completely gone. The operation was a success. MARTIN looks visibly relieved, but leans in to hear the rest. DR. WILLIS (Sadly) ...but your oncologist says it is unlikely that you will ever speak again. The damage to your vocal chords was too great. Im sorry. MARTIN buries his hand in his hands, visibly sobbing but unable to make a sound.

(CONTINUED)

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2.

DR. WILLIS (sitting on the bed alongside Martin, patting his back) Itll be alright. We have a great sign language community here, as well as psychologists to help you deal with the loss of your voice MARTIN looks up at DR. WILLIS, angered. He shoves the doctors hands off of him and storms out the door. INT. DOCTORS OFFICE WAITING ROOM - DAY - 2 YEARS AGO HEATHER, MARTINS GIRLFRIEND, is slumped in a chair, looking worried. She stands up quickly as MARTIN storms out the door. HEATHER (calling after him) Whats wrong?! DR. WILLIS walks out of the EXAMINATION ROOM and walks up to HEATHER DR. WILLIS (Quietly) I need to talk to you about Martins condition. HEATHER Whats wrong with him? DR. WILLIS According to the oncologist... FADE OUT: FADE IN: INT. DOCTORS OFFICE EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY - PRESENT MARTIN is sitting on the examination table, mirroring the setting from 2 years ago. He is massaging his own throat and waiting anxiously on the doctors report. DR. WILLIS comes in the examination room door, followed by HEATHER. He is smiling broadly. DR. WILLIS Your otolaryngologist says its a miracle, but the sounds youve been noticing are indeed symptomatic of (MORE) (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: DR. WILLIS (contd) your vocal chords repairing themselves. HEATHER Does this mean that he can talk again? DR. WILLIS Probably not immediately. His voice will be extremely weak after 2 years of silence. After a year or so of speech therapy he should be almost as good as new. HEATHER (excited, clapping) Did you hear that Martin? Youll be able to talk again!

3.

MARTIN smiles and extends his hand to DR. WILLIS for a handshake. DR. WILLIS meets his hand, shakes, and the two men nod to each other. DR. WILLIS Well then. Ill have my receptionist set your speech therapy appointments up starting next week. Any other questions? MARTIN shakes his head no and shakes the doctors hand again. DR. WILLIS (smiling) Wait here, Ill be back in a few minutes with your therapy schedule. DR. WILLIS exits the room. HEATHER sits down on the exam table next to MARTIN and pulls his arm around her. MARTIN squeezes her tightly for a moment, the begins digging around in his pocket. HEATHER What are you doing? MARTIN fishes out a ringbox and kneels in front of HEATHER. Folded up in the top of the box is a note. HEATHER takes it and begins to read out loud. HEATHER (reading) "Dear Heather. It has been two years, 2 days, 23 hours, and 11 (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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4.

HEATHER (contd) minutes since I lost my voice. I knew right then that my life would never be the same. I thought for sure you would get bored of your fixer-upper boyfriend and move on. But you didnt. You stayed with me faithfully and never once wavered. You learned sign language to communicate with me, you read every note I left and never complained. You were by my side at every doctors appointment and therapy session. You dealt with me on the days where I was sure that I would be better off dead. You dealt with the way I treated you in my depression. Youve seen me at my worst and you always, always gave me your best. Thank you for the last 2 years. I love you. Martin. HEATHER (crying) I love you too Martin. I love you too. MARTIN (rasping, struggling, very quiet, massaging his throat at every ellipsis) Heather... Will you... marry me? HEATHER (hugging Martin, excited, crying) Yes! Of course! MARTIN (smiling broadly, rasping, struggling, very quiet, massaging his throat at every ellipsis) Do you... have any idea... how hard it is... to buy a ring... when you cant... speak? FADE OUT: