Held by Xavierie Mbangtang (c)2015 Pilot (5min series)
INT. BRUNLEY RESIDENCE: BEDROOM- NIGHT BRUNLEY shuffles in bed, stops and then opens her eyes. She stares into the cieling, a tear drop falls down her eyes and she quickly wipes it away. V.O 'That's how you stay alive. When it hurts so much you can't breathe, that's how you survive. By remembering that one day, somehow, impossibly, you won't feel this way. It won't hurt this much.' She turns to her side, tugs on her blanket and tears continue to pour from her eyes. She sighs, sits up right and reaches for the box of cleenex on her table side. She composes herself, gets out of bed and strolls to the bathroom in the room.she strips off her clothing, enters the shower, turns the knob and stand still with her head bent over, as the water merges with her tears and pours over her. ERIC V.O Dear Julie, these are the hardest words I've ever written, and I could never say in person. Julie runs her hand through her hair, slicking it back and away from her face. Julie exhales. ERIC V.O I've done my best but... ERIC V.O I'm leaving you. And I could never tell you why. Julie runs her hands over her body, slowly opens her eyes and turns the knob to stop the water. INT. BRUNLEY RESIDENCE:KITCHEN- DAY FADE OUT Julie is pouring her chocolate muffin batter into the baking tray carefully. Her door bell rings and she empties the batter from the bowl in a haste before she goes to the door. She looks through the peep hole and sees a familiar face. She flips her hair back and opens the door instantaneously. Holland! THIRD smiles with his eyes as she gives way to let him in. She closes the door slowly behind him. What are you doing here?
2. He looks at her with compassion. I came to check up on you. She sighed and turned her back towards him as she ventured into the kitchen area. She takes the muffin tin, she prepped and pops it into the oven. Eric didn't die,he left. I'm okay. Julie grabbed her batter bowl and dumped it into the sink. (sympathetically) It hurts all the same. I wouldn't know. But I'm doing fine. Zoe tells me she hears you crying at night.i imagine it to be true. The look on Julie's face softens up at the mention of her daughter 'Zoe'. I ask you to pick her up from school not be her counsel. I'm not. But unlike you Jules, there are people in this world who go through difficult times and like like to unload. You'd be suprised by how many people out there like to listen. I don't want somebody to listen, I want to be saved. You never say it... (beat) She says you have sad dreams... Julie looks away from Holland. CTD And that's why you cry at night. Julie turns her back from Holland and walks back to the sink. She begins to wash the bowl, afraid to look at him.
3. CTD Jules, no one expects you to be okay... Everyone I'm in debted to expects me to be okay: My landlord,the electric and water company company, the health insurance company, the telephone company, the cable company, Marge's university, Zoe's school, the grocery stores and clothing departments- they expect me to be okay! I have to take care of this family and I don't have enough! I_ have_to_ be _okay! Julie's hands are shaking vigorously. She drops the bowl and bends her head, covering her eyes with her hand. Holland steps forward to comfort her but she moves away. (teary eyed) I don't know what to do or where to start and I feel trapped in a vacuum. You could start with your friends- I can't ask my friends to compensate for me having a husband who's an asscrown. What if I offered? I can't take your money- Then consider it an unconditional loan. I just need to figure this out- But you don't have to do it alone Jules! I want to help you, not many people in your situation have many people who would. And it breaks my heart seeing you put on a mask for the world but your eyes tell a different story. Even Zoe can see right through it.
4. I'm being brave for all of us Holland! Allow us to be brave for you too. I have to look at my kids and tell them we have to move out of the house, switch schools or even tell Marge she has to drop out because we can't afford anything! (crying) I have to break the news because some son of a bitch, said he'd done his best and walked away. I have to watch them suffer through this! That's my cross to carry! No one's else's bravery could make it any easier. Then let me just help you- (hysterical) I stood by him Holland! Thick and thin! I was there for all of it. Even though he betrayed me, he was condescending and he never helped me with any of my pursuits to help the kids. I stood there. (tears are coming down furiously) I married a selfish man, and everybody knew it, my own children saw it. But I defended him, always! And he would tell me shit like I could never leave him because I needed him and say anything he could to make me feel inferior. He was right; he had the money, everything we had and ever owned was under his name. But that's not why I stayed... You stayed for the k- (wiping her eyes) I didn't give up on him! When he lost everything after the accident, I cried for him because I knew how much his work and all that he built meant to him. I cried everyday for him, praying that he would be okay! (MORE)
5. (cont'd) (tears running down fiercely) I was afraid for him! I was afraid,he would make and enemy of life and that would be the end... I couldn't see life do to him what he chose to be doing to me- I couldn't see him broken. (softly) We had children to take care of, only one of us could suffer. Holland steps forward desperate to hold her but she steps backwards. But once he conquered the adversary and pulled through physiotherapy, he forgot about the person standing beside him, collecting the stones and taking the punches through his recovery process. (exhales) But I didn't give up on him... You're a stron- Still, nothing changed. And it hurt because I look like the fool! Now he packs up and leaves because his overwhelmed with how much his family depends on him. And he can't say it! Because he knows his screwed up! I have to pick up the pieces but I don't know how.i have nothing- Jules! You have an army out there who would line up and fight for you if you just gave us the word. You don't have to do this alone... But it's still a lonely journey. You and everybody else don't have to wake up to my problem. I have to face it in the morning, deal with it during the day and allow it take me to sleep at night. I have to relive the same restless twenty four hours, go through the same pain and the only difference are its levels. (MORE)
6. (cont'd) (wipes her tears) Clearly, today's a bad day! (looks to him) I just want it to change Holland. I've been wanting it to change for so long but I feel held. Holland moves in without hesitation and embraces her in a hug. (whisper) They say that's how you survive the trauma. Not by knowing it will be alright but by having no other choice. She holds onto him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. He can feel her shaking with intensity in his arms and he kisses her head and tightens her grip over her. V.O Life is a tragedy, if given the chance- mourn it!