Dear Allison
By Andy Brown
The screen is black.
Girl (VO):
Dear Allison, hey you! Haven’t heard from you in forever! We missed you at Christmas. Robert played some songs on the piano and we all sang along. It was a great time. Send us a postcard or something to let us know you’re still alive. Love you!
[Fade in from black]
The screen fades in to show a sunny fall afternoon. There are sounds of nature in the background.
[Int. room with desk]
The camera zooms in on a girls hand writing in a notebook.
Girl (VO):
Dear Allison, hey… we haven’t heard from you in a while, is everything ok? You’re worrying us, Allison. Please come back home. We love you so much.
The camera shows the girl get up and stand before a window. The light silhouettes her and makes it hard for the audience to see what the girl looks like.
[Ext. walkway, park]
The screen changes from the cabin to a walkway outside. It is still sunny out. Camera follows Allison as she walks all by herself. She is looking at the ground.
Jenny:
Allison!
Allison doesn’t look up.
Jenny:
Allison! Wait up!
She runs up and walks beside Allison. Allison doesn’t acknowledge her.
Jenny:
Hey silly! What’s up?
Allison:
Nothing…
Jenny:
I had to tell you as soon as I heard: Miss Beth is going to bring us a cat! I’m so excited! I love kitties and I haven’t held one since…well, I’m so excited.
Allison:
Do you ever talk to Robert?
Jenny:
Robert? You know he’s been dead for years now…
Allison:
I know…I miss him
Jenny:
I know you do…I know
[Fade to black]
Girl (VO):
Dear Allison, Robert’s grown so big! Another year and he’ll be taller than you! He’s doing so good in school. He brought home his report card and he was so excited. He made all ‘A’s! We’re so proud of him. There’s another thing though…his teacher called. She says that he’s having trouble making friends. She thinks he has autism…she gave us the name of a really great child psychiatrist. Pray for him.
[Fade in from black]
[Ext. outside log cabin]
The screen fades in to show a bright summer day. Two girls are running and playing in a large open field and there is a boy sitting at the edge of the porch, looking down.
Girl 1:
I’m going to get you!
The girls run and laugh and play and the boy remains seated without looking up.
Allison:
Robert! Why don’t you come play with us?
Robert remains seated. A car pulls up and a man dressed up pulls a box out of the back seat.
Allison:
Daddy! You’re home! What’s that?
The man bends over with the box and shows the children that insides is a group of kittens.
Father:
I found these little guys on the side of the road. Who would want to get rid of them?
The girls laugh and play with the kittens, but Robert remains seated and looking away. The man approaches with a kitten in hand.
Father:
Robert, do you want to see the kittens? I brought them home for you.
The man hands a kitten to Robert. Robert looks up and smiles. His face lights up and he silently plays with the kitten. He makes no sound.
Girl (VO): Dear Allison, there’s something wrong with Robert. He just stays in his room all the time. He doesn’t talk to anyone. We’re afraid its getting worse. All he does all day is write. He just sits in his room and…and writes. He wont come down for dinner, or anything. We’re worried. We found his journal one day and…you should see the things he writes. We’re worried he’s going to hurt somebody….we’re worried he’s going to hurt himself.
The camera changes to show a grown, 17 or 18 year old Robert seated on his bed, petting a full grown cat. He has in his lap a composition book and a pen in hand. He looks out the window and then writes something in his journal. He pets the cat, then writes something. There’s a knock at the door. Enters his parents. They sit at the edge of the bed.
Mother:
Robert…Robert, there’s something we need to talk about…
Robert looks at her and says nothing.
Father:
Son, we need to talk about…
[Fade to black]
[Fade in from black]
The screen shows the older Robert in the room by himself. It is just a few hours later, night time outside. You see Robert reach into his bedside table and withdraw a handgun. The screen goes black and there is a gunshot.
[Fade to black]
Girl (VO): Dear Allison, we…we had to move out…we had to get away from the memories. We hope you’re enjoying your new life…the doctors are really great out there…we…we love yo--
[Fade in from black]
[Int. Bedroom]
The scene is dark and you see Allison jerk awake in her bed. She rolls over.
[Int. Large visiting room, psychiatric ward]
There are many people of all ages walking around and talking to one another. In the middle of the room sits Allison with a composition book in her arms. A door opens and enters Miss Beth with a cat in her hands. All the people flock over to see the cat, Allison remains seated without looking up.
Woman:
Oh lookie at the kitty. How cute…
Man:
I WANT TO SEE THE KITTY.
Miss Beth approaches Allison.
Beth:
Allison, don’t you want to see the kitty?
Allison turns away.
Beth:
Allison, I brought him over for you…I found him on the side of the road…His name is Robert…
Allison quickly shakes her head and Miss Beth walks away. Allison quickly opens her composition book and begins writing.
Girl (VO): Dear Allison, I miss the way things used to be. Back when it was you and me and Robert. So much has changed…I don’t like change. Sometimes I feel like I don’t know you anymore. You’ve changed…Allison…Allison…pl
The camera zooms in on Allison’s hand as she writes. It zooms in on the page.
Girl (VO):
Please…Love, Allison.
[Fade to black]
[End]
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