Reality
By Andy Brown
Scene 1--Int. Bedroom--Morning
The alarm clock goes off waking Ed. He reaches over and groans while he hits the clock. It reads “9:45”. He slowly gets up and gets ready. There are several shots of him getting in the shower, shaving, brushing his teeth. Finally the last thing the camera sees is him reaching for an orange bottle with a white top. He produces a small white capsule from it and swallows it whole without water.
[Fade to black]
Scene 2--Ext. Bus Stop--Later that morning
[Fade in from black]
The scene opens showing the two main characters, Ed and Dean, standing at a bus stop all alone. There is no one around. The two are best friends. Dean is the up-beat happy friend who is soon to be engaged. Ed is more depressed because of the recent break up with his wife. There is a gentle breeze in the background.
[Ed] Man, I cant believe you talked me into this. I should’ve stayed home. This is a HUGE waste of time. I’ve got work tomorrow and there’s so much I need to catch up on.
[Dean] Relax. You needed some time away from the old place. This will help cheer you up. You’ve been down ever since you and Molly broke up.
[Ed] I know, man. It’s been really tough. I just…
Ed reaches into his pocket and produces the small orange bottle with the white top. He produces a small white tablet and takes it whole without water.
[Dean] Dude, maybe you should lay off of those. You’ve been hitting them awful hard.
[Ed] Lay off! I think I can tell for myself when I’ve taken too much. Let’s just focus on the damn day, alright?
They sit for moments in silence before the bus finally arrives. On the front the bus reads “To: 12 Hearts”. The bus lets out a low hiss and the doors open. The two step inside. Ed looks about the passengers. None of them look up or recognize them. The driver doesn’t even turn around. The two head to the back of the bus and sit in the very back row. Ed sits by the window. The two sit quietly on the bus. There are no sounds except for the hum of the engine. Finally, out the window, the camera shows a magnificent crimson gate with golden letters atop that read “12 Hearts Amusement Park”. The bus comes to a slow halt and everybody aboard gets up without saying anything and enters the park. Ed sighs and mutters to himself.
[Dean] C’mon!
Scene 3--Ext. 12 Hearts Amusement Park--Later that morning/early in the day
The camera cuts to show the boys in line for a rollercoaster. Ed fidgets nervously.
[Ed] I just don’t know, man. I thought things were going so good. Me and Molly had been together for so many years. What? Eight years? God, seems like forever. We had so many memories.
[Dean] I know it, man.
[Ed] And we were so close, you know? I mean I felt like I could tell her anything. She knew everything about me!
Ed begins to cry.
[Dean] C’mon, bro, its okay. Hey, we’re going to have a great time today, aight? Park today, bar tonight, what do you say? On me.
[Ed] Aight. I don’t know though…I’m not so sure about this ride. I don’t really have a high tolerance for rollarcoasters…
[Fade to black]
Scene 4--Ext. Park bench--Later
Ed is laying on the bench, head in Dean’s lap. Dean is panicking. Ed is pale in the face.
[Ed] Ugh…I never should’ve went on there, man. I told you I wasn’t cool on rollarcoasters…
[Dean] I know man, we don’t got to do anything you don’t want to do today. It’s your day, bro. All you.
Dean looks around and sees a sign that reads “Fortune Teller, Palm Readings, Tarot Cards” with an arrow underneath.
[Dean] Hey man, I’ve got an idea, let’s get your fortune told. See into the future and see if you’ll get laid tonight. Huh? What do you say?
[Ed] I don’t know, man…I don’t like the sound of it. Lets just go home. I’m not feeling so good…
[Dean] Dude, c’mon. Let’s go!
Dean lifts Ed up and pulls him to the small hut that reads “Fortune Telling” at the top. Outside of the hut, there are two girls. One is a pale white girl, short in height. The other is an even shorter tan girl with dark hair. They are around twenty years of age.
[Dean] Hey ladies, in line for the fortune telling?
[Blonde] (Giggles) Yeah, me and my friend saw it and had to try it. I read in my horoscope today that I would meet a tall, mysterious man…I wanted to see if it would come true…
[Dean] (Laughs) Well, let me introduce us: I’m Dean and this is my best friend Ed. (Turns to Ed) Say hello to the nice ladies, Ed.
Ed looks away.
[Dark-haired girl] Aw, he’s shy! Hey Ed! Ed shys away.
[Dean] You’ll have to excuse him ladies. He just broke up with his girl. He’s a little down. I brought him here to cheer him up.
The girls are impressed at the sound of this. They begin to fawn over Dean.
[Blonde] You’re such a good friend.
[Dark-hair] And a nice guy.
[Blonde] And handsome!
The girls giggle at this. Dean laughs along with them. He continues to flirt until he finally puts his arm around the girls.
[Dean] C’mon, Ed. It’s our turn. Let’s take these beautiful ladies in with us. (Turns to girls) We can get our fortunes read at the same time. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet some hot girls tonight…oops! Too late!
Ed rolls his eyes and the girls giggle. They all enter the small hut.
Scene 5--Int. Fortune Teller’s Hut--Midday
Dean and the girls enter first followed by Ed. He squints as he enters. It’s dark on the inside. There are purple curtains lined with silver stars over the windows. The walls are lined with tapestries. There are assorted knick-knacks laying about the bookshelves: a skull, a collection of incense, etc. In the center of the room is a small round table with a crystal ball in the center. Before the table lay three pillows. Dean and the two girls sit at the two pillows. Ed stands in the back, hunched over from the low ceiling. The fortune teller emerges from a bead curtain hanging in the doorway on the other side of the table.
[Fortune Teller] Welcome! Welcome. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I see that you’ve all settled in. My name is Xavia and welcome, once again, to my humble abode.
The girls are delighted with the sight of the Xavia, the fortune teller. She is a withered old black woman. She is adorned in a traditional looking African garment. There are several silver chains strung about her neck. She sits opposite them on a small pillow. When she talks, Ed rolls his eyes and takes another of his white pills.
[Xavia] Let’s begin with introducing ourselves, shall we? What are your names?
The characters one-by-one all introduce themselves. Ed says nothing.
[Xavia] Ed…Ed, you’ve been taking your medication recently, haven’t you?
Ed is shocked that the fortune teller knows his name without him introducing himself.
[Ed] What? How did you know my name? How did you know that?
[Dean] C’mon, man, she’s the fortune teller, she knows everything. Duh.
[Xavia] I’ve been watching you for quite some time, Ed.
[Ed] What? Watching me?
[Xavia]In my crystal ball, of course.
Ed looks at Dean. Dean is preoccupied with flirting with the ladies.
[Xavia] It’s been difficult, hasn’t it? Living without Molly?
[Ed] What? How do you know about her? This is really starting to freak me out.
[Xavia] I’ve read the cards. See this one? Shows a great loss. See this one? Shows a great struggle. And this one? Death.
[Ed] I think it’s time to go. Dean?
Ed looks to where Dean and the girls were sitting. They disappeared.
[Ed] Dean? Dean!
[Xavia] You’ve been taking your medication, haven’t you, Ed?
[Ed] Dean! Dean!
[Xavia] Maybe you should lay off of it. You’ve been taking quite a bit.
[Ed]Dean!
Scene 6--Int. Bedroom--Morning
The alarm goes off waking Ed. The camera shows that it is the same as it was at the beginning. Ed gets up. There are a series of shots of Ed showering, shaving, and getting ready. Finally, when he reaches for his pills, he finds a different bottle in its place. Ed begins to look around for his orange bottle. When he doesn’t find it he looks at the white bottle. There are no words on it except “Take one”. Ed opens it and takes the pill on the inside. He finishes by washing his face. When he looks up he doesn’t see his reflection in the mirror, but a skeleton in its place. He jumps but then looks at the mirror again. He sees his reflection this time. He sighs in relief.
[Fade to black]Scene 7--Ext. Bus Stop--Later that morning
The scene is the same as it was before. The bus pulls up and lets out a long hiss. The front reads “To: 12 Hearts.” The doors open and the two enter. Ed looks at the passengers and jumps, letting out a yell. He sees that the passengers are all skeletons. Dean looks at him.
[Dean] What’s wrong, bro? The bus ain’t going to wait forever.
[Ed]The…the…(points to a lady in the front row)
Ed looks back and sees that the passengers are normal. They still do not pay any attention to him.
Scene 7--Ext./Int. Hospital--Later
The bus pulls up and stops. The two get off. The camera pans to show them before a large hospital. There are letters along the top of the building that read “12 Hearts General Hospital”. Camera cuts to Int. Waiting room. Dean approaches the front desk. There is a blonde haired girl and a dark skinned, dark haired girl. They giggle and wave to Dean. Cuts to Int. Doctor’s office.
[Dean] Doctor, I’m worried it’s getting worse. He’s begun to say something about skeletons, now.
[Doctor] Has he been taking his medication? (Turns to Ed) Have you been taking your medication? I’ve been watching you for quite sometime, now.
[Ed] What? How do you know my name?
[Doctor] I’m afraid he’s hallucinating. We can try something else and see if it works.
[Ed] What? Dean? Dean, where did you go? Dean, I don’t like it here. Dean, I want to go home.
[Fade to black][End]
