Screenplay: SEEN
This is the first 2 pages of my short film screenplay titled Seen. It follows the life of Ara who is struggling with anxiety on a Sunday morning.
Enjoy!
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING
We open on a shot of a bed in a barely lit bedroom, the only
light coming in is from the window. It is the early hours of
the morning and its wintertime so the sun has yet to rise.
The atmosphere of the room is blue. There is movement from
the figure that lies in the bed. A hand rises from underneath
the duvet to put on the bedside lamp and picks up a phone.
ARA
It's 5:30.
She sighs
ARA (CONT’D)
5 hours that's good.
She pulls the duvet down from her face and we see her face
for the first time. There is sadness in her eyes. She lies
still on the bed facing the roof and a couple of minutes
later:
Her chest begins to feel heavy and tight. There is an obvious
discomfort on her face. She begins to breathe heavily. She
drops the phone back on her bedside and places her hand on
her chest trying to control it
ARA (CONT’D)
(she mutters)
But yesterday was good
She closes her eyes and begins to control her breathing,
breathing heavily in and out.
After 2 minutes, her breathing reverts to normal. There is
relief in her eyes but she feels exhausted.
ARA (CONT’D)
Thank God
She turns on her side and faces the window, she lays still
and we see the time pass as the sun comes up and room goes
from being barely lit to being fully lit by the sun. The
atmosphere of the room becomes warmer.
LATER
Her phone rings which breaks the silence and the her dead
gaze.
2.
As she picks up the phone, we see it's her mum calling and
the time is now 8am. She readjusts herself as she pick up the
call.
ARA
Morning Mum
MUM (V.O FROM THE PHONE)
Morning. Are you okay? Did I wake
you?
ARA
Yeah…… No…..why?
MUM (V.O)
You just sound like you just did
ARA
(she sits up turns her
face around and clears
her throat, coughs and
speaks again)
Oh……I'm fine
She changes the conversation
ARA (CONT’D)
So… how was your night?
MUM (V.O)
It was good. I slept well, like a
baby
Ara smiles to her self
MUM (CONT’D)
Just preparing for church. What
about you?
A puzzled look appearson Ara's face, she looks at her phone
to check the time, she chuckles at the passage of time but is
not surprised.
ARA
I haven't even began. I have to do
my devotion first.
MUM (V.O)
Okay, I'll leave you to it then
Have a wonderful day baby
ARA
Thanks Mum. Bye