The spirits of children who were killed in a school shooting gather in the cafeteria to discuss their circumstances. Originally written for an NYC Midnight contest.
FADE IN:
INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA – NIGHT
The cafeteria is sealed off with yellow police tape. It's a mess, with chairs and tables overturned and scattered.
There are blood pools in various areas of the room. Three children, all age 12, are standing in the middle of the cafeteria.
Ethan is a thin, blond boy with very white skin. Emma is an olive-skinned Hispanic girl. Jacob is a chubby, dark-haired boy.
ETHAN
This is where it happened.
EMMA
I never saw it coming.
JACOB
I did see it coming.
Ethan and Emma listen intently.
JACOB (CONT'D)
It was like it was happening in slow motion.
He turns his head toward the main cafeteria door.
JACOB (CONT'D)
Slow motion. He walked through the cafeteria door. I saw it swing open and then close behind him, and he was there. I saw the gun in his left hand. It was pointing toward the floor as he came in, but then he raised it and pointed it at me. I was frozen, couldn't move. I looked right into the barrel of the gun and watched it fire. Flames came out of the barrel. I could see them. I could feel them!
(takes a beat)
Then I couldn't see or feel anything.
Ethan and Emma recoil in horror. We now see that Jacob has bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.
EMMA
Oh, Jacob, that sounds terrifying!
Jacob looks at Emma intently and raises his index finger to the bullet wound.
JACOB
He got me right between the eyes.
He pauses for a moment, staring blankly.
JACOB (CONT'D)
I wasn't even supposed to be in school today.
Jacob and Emma look at him curiously.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SMALL APARTMENT – DAY
Jacob is with his mother, Pam, 35, who is in bed and looks run down. A baby is crying in another room. Pam coughs.
PAM
Thanks for taking such good care of your baby sister for me, Jacob, but Aunt Diane is coming over, so you can go to school after all.
Jacob looks at his mother lovingly.
JACOB
Of course, mama. I can stay if you need me to.
PAM
No, you go. School is important. You'll never amount to anything…
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA – NIGHT
JACOB
…if you don't go to school.
The three children look at each other silently, then burst into laughter. The laughter dies quickly.
JACOB (CONT'D)
So much for that…
Emma is staring blankly at the wall.
ETHAN
Yeah…
They stand quietly for a moment. Emma walks closer to the boys.
EMMA
My whole life was planned out. I loved animals. I was going to be a veterinarian.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. VETERINARIAN'S OFFICE – DAY
On the wall is a diploma for a doctorate in veterinary medicine. The name on it is Emma Lopez. The date on the diploma is January 16, 2031.
Dr. Lopez, 35, wearing a white lab coat, is an easily identifiable version of her 12-year-old self. She's standing over a black Labrador retriever. The dog's owner, 54-year-old Sarah, is standing there, too, smiling.
SARAH
Dr. Lopez, I don't know what we'd have done without you.
The dog's tail is wagging. Dr. Lopez smiles and her face morphs…
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA – NIGHT
…back to her 12-year-old self in the school cafeteria.
EMMA
I was going to be a veterinarian.
Ethan puts his hand gently on Emma's shoulder. They look into each other's eyes.
ETHAN
You would have been a great vet, Emma.
The children stand silently for a few moments. A toad, visible through a window, croaks loudly outside and startles them into laughter.
JACOB
Sounds like he agrees!
EMMA
That's good luck in some cultures!
This makes them laugh even harder. As their laughter subsides, the toad hops into a shaft of moonlight, stops for a couple seconds, then hops out of sight.
ETHAN
(sing-songy)
"I am a little toad,
hopping down the road. Just listen to my song. I sleep all winter long.
When spring comes I peep out, and then I jump about.
And now I catch a…"
The cafeteria door's opening makes Ethan stop abruptly. All the children look toward the door.
A 12-year-old boy is standing there. He is thin and blond with very white skin. He has a pistol in his left hand. His arms are hanging by his sides, and his head is hanging down.
JACOB
Is that…?
EMMA
Adam?
Adam looks up. His sad eyes address each of the other children individually, first Jacob, then Emma, and finally Ethan.
Ethan walks toward Adam, who has a bullet hole in his left temple. Adam looks up as his twin brother approaches.
ADAM
I'm…
Ethan holds his hand up.
ETHAN
I know… We know.
Ethan is standing next to his brother now. They look back toward the other two children.
JACOB
It wasn't your fault.
EMMA
We don't blame you.
Adam drops the gun, and it clatters to the floor.
ETHAN
Dad kept it around for protection.
Adam looks at the other children.
ADAM
I needed help. I know that now. Too late.
(takes a beat)
I'm … so very sorry.
EMMA
We know.
JACOB
We don't blame you.
ETHAN
Dad kept it around for protection.
Jacob and Emma walk toward the twins. All the children join hands in a circle around the gun and hang their heads.
FADE OUT.
THE END