I do apologize if this story upload seems insensitive due to the tornado outbreak that occurred in the United States on April 2, 2025. This script was already finished months back, and I just want to upload it because I haven't for so long. If you feel uncomfortable because of what's going on right now, you can turn back and read it later.
I hope everyone is safe and rebuilding goes well. Nothing goes back to normal after a tornado. There's a mental and physical toll. I'm still going through the effects of the tornadoes back in Michigan when I was a kid.
PG-13
-----
EMERGENCY SIRENS CAN BE HEARD.
EXT. MOBILE, ALABAMA, AND OTHER COUNTIES- THE NEXT DAY
AERIAL VIEW OF DAMAGES BROUGHT BY TORNADOES.
JIM (V.O.): The damage has been extensive. Mississippi and Alabama have declared a state of emergency, and a civil warning of falling debris has been issued. There was so much metal, rock, concrete, steel, possessions, including bodies.
CLOSE-UP FOOTAGE OF RESPONDERS AND THE NATIONAL GUARD HELPING SURVIVORS SEARCH THROUGH WRECKAGES.
JIM (CONT’D)(V.O.): Emergency services and the National Guard rushed into impacted areas. Areas that faced the most damage from the violent tornadoes were more focused.
[Beat.]
JIM (CONT’D) (V.O.): 207 tornadoes were recorded, which was a super outbreak for the day itself. The one that touched down in Alabama, extending over five miles, is a record to beat. There is even questioning the size of that thing. The tornado lifted ten minutes after going over the Gulf Of Mexico. As of the moment, over 300 people were confirmed dead. 756 were reported injured, and 75 were reported missing. Locals called it an EF6 tornado since it ripped up basements in some areas and underground storm shelters. Above-ground was a no-go. It was so bad that emergency services had to be alerted to quickly move in to help save as many lives as possible. The National Weather Service is still surveying the damage. It's going to take them a while to give us the full report.
[Beat.]
CAMERA SWITCHES TO JIM AND NORRA IN JIM'S OFFICE AT A WEATHER STATION IN ALABAMA.
INT. JIM'S OFFICE- TWO DAYS LATER
JIM (CONT’D): Norra and I are still processing what happened the other day.
Norra nods in agreement.
NORRA: We had colleagues who were hit by the tornado. We're still trying to find where they are based on their location. They are not the only ones. A lot of people are facing this together, suffering loss and death. It's going to take years to rebuild the cities hit. (pause) As of right now, the state's government is still deciding on what to do during the rebuilding process.
[Beat.]
JIM: We will give more updates over the next couple of days or so. Help contribute to the recovery and hold on. Goodbye, and have a pleasant day.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL- DAY, SAME TIME
MARIA IS IN ESMERALDA'S ICU ROOM, WHILE ELAINE IS IN SASSIERE'S ROOM. ELAINE IS PLAYING AROUND WITH SASSIERE.
INT. ESMERALDA'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Esmeralda has been put under a medically induced coma. She sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury) and a back injury. She collapsed minutes before paramedics arrived. Half of the back of the scalp had to be shaved off for surgery. Her eyes are closed, and she has been intubated.
Maria stays by her side, close to her daughter, holding her hand with a smile.
MARIA: Esmeralda, I'm here. I'm right by your side. I love you! Your dad loves you!
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ESMERALDA'S HOSPITAL ROOM- TWO DAYS LATER
Sassiere is in the room, on crutches. She is now standing by Esmeralda's bedside. Esmeralda is still unconscious.
SASSIERE: Sissy, we can have a movie night together as soon as you get better!
MARIA: Not too loud. Your sister is right next to you.
Sassiere spins around to her mom.
SASSIERE: Mom, I have to yell to wake her up even without a coma.
MARIA: She's probably tired of you trying to wake her up all the time.
SASSIERE: She doesn't even flinch when I go onto her bed to see if she's asleep.
MARIA: Esmera has great acting skills for a sleeping person.
SASSIERE: Or a body at the morgue in a horror movie.
[Beat.]
MARIA: (warning) Sassiere.
SASSIERE: What? She's probably laughing and rolling her eyes inside right now.
MARIA: (sarcastically) Well, she can't do that while she is acting to be asleep.
[Beat.]
MARIA (CONT’D): You're too young to watch horror movies. How did you get them?
Long pause. Sassiere grins.
SASSIERE: Dad has an interesting collection. (clicks tongue) We watched The Autopsy of Jane Doe while you were in Kansas.
[Beat.]
MARIA: Damn it, Treck.
SASSIERE: Why are you swearing? You don't like us doing it. Esmeralda is great at holding promises and not trying to swear in front of me.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ESMERALDA'S HOSPITAL ROOM- THE NEXT DAY
Elaine and Maria are in the room this time. Elaine is standing on the foot of the bed while Maria is slouching in the chair. Status: No change.
ELAINE: Es, I know you want to change things differently. I will accept them. When you wake up, I hope we become friends. Despite our past, I see you as a good person. We'll be at your side once you wake up.
CUT TO:
INT. ESMERALDA'S HOSPITAL ROOM- A WEEK LATER
Esmeralda finally wakes up from her coma. She manages to pull through. Her recovery is still long ways to go. Maria, Elaine, and Sassiere are standing by her beside, excited that she is awake and alert.
FAST FORWARD EFFECT OF ESMERALDA'S HOSPITAL STAY AND REHAB.
Esmeralda woke up without feeling in her hands and feet, unable to move them. She experienced memory issues. She lost parts of her sight and hearing, and can't smell. She also had headaches and dizziness.
Throughout her hospital stay (weeks), Esmeralda gained function over her digits; however, she is in pain while using them. She was more anxious and overstimulated. She can reduce some symptoms with medications and therapy. She did regain her hearing and some of her sight. Her olfactory shows no change.
FADE TO:
INT. JIM'S OFFICE- THREE WEEKS AFTER OUTBREAK
JIM: We got more information about the ruins. The death toll has risen to over 476, which is high. Four of them were storm chasers. Most of the people who were found were dead. The National Weather Service said the Mobile tornado was declared an EF5. (wipes eyes) People are not happy about it. So many buildings vanished off their foundations, and shelters were turned into footballs. Those that have basements were heavily damaged or gone. Flooding didn't help the situation. There was actually someone who tried to hide under an overpass. They became a bullet. We are still studying how a tornado can get so big. In fact, another tornado was an EF5 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. We knew it was going to be a hectic day, and we were never expecting that. Is it a once in a lifetime event, or a warning of what's about to come?
[Beat.]
JIM (CONT’D): As for the situation of Sky and Taylor, both of them died. Taylor's body was found a mile away from her last location. The only way to identify him was by his teeth. As for Sky, she was found, but she succumbed to her injuries in a hospital. (fights back the tears) Sky and Taylor were well-respected in our team- highly energetic, nice, and devoted to the weather.
[Beat.]
JIM (CONT’D): If you wonder where Norra is, she is at her homeland for a break. After what we went through, I don't blame her. She never missed a day, and we witnessed things beyond capacity. (pause) Mississippi and Alabama are now working on reconstruction and memorial services for dead civilians. Thank you to the other states for donating funds, food, and other necessities for their survival. Your help will be cherished. (pause) Jim out.
About the Creator
Ace Melee
-Mainly a horror and fantasy writer.
-I post stories, poetry, and scripts on Vocal. My preferred audience is older teens and adults, but I can adjust for younger teens.
What Nobody Warns You About Growing Up
Nobody warns you that growing up doesn’t happen all at once. There’s no clear moment when childhood ends and adulthood begins. It sneaks up on you quietly, disguised as routine, responsibility, and small decisions that suddenly feel heavy. When we’re young, we imagine growing up as freedom. We think it means staying up late, earning money, making our own choices, and living life on our terms. Adults look powerful from the outside—confident, certain, and in control. What nobody tells you is that most adults are still figuring things out, just like you were, only with higher stakes. One of the first shocks of growing up is realizing that no one is coming to save you. As a child, there is always someone to fix things—parents, teachers, elders. A bad grade can be explained. A mistake can be forgiven easily. But as you grow older, the safety net thins. Mistakes start costing time, money, relationships, and sometimes self-respect. You learn that accountability isn’t just a word; it’s a weight you carry every day. Nobody warns you about how lonely growing up can feel. Even when surrounded by people, there’s a quiet distance that forms. Friends you once spoke to every day slowly drift away. Not because of anger or betrayal, but because life pulls everyone in different directions. Jobs, families, priorities—all rearrange your circle without asking for permission. You stop expecting people to stay forever and start appreciating those who do. Another thing no one talks about is how often you’ll doubt yourself. As a child, you dream without limits. You want to be everything at once—successful, admired, fearless. Growing up introduces comparison. You see others moving faster, earning more, achieving milestones you haven’t reached yet. Social media makes it worse, turning life into a scoreboard you never agreed to play on. You learn that confidence isn’t permanent; it’s something you rebuild again and again. Growing up also teaches you that hard work doesn’t always pay off immediately. You can do everything right and still feel stuck. Effort doesn’t guarantee results, and patience becomes one of the hardest lessons. Nobody warns you how exhausting it is to keep going when motivation fades and only discipline remains. Yet this is where growth actually happens—in the moments when quitting feels easier than continuing. Then there’s the emotional part no one prepares you for. You start seeing your parents as human beings, not just authority figures. You notice their fears, regrets, and limitations. Sometimes you understand them more; sometimes it hurts to realize they didn’t have all the answers either. Growing up often means forgiving people—not because they apologized, but because holding on to resentment is too heavy. You’re also not warned about how your definition of success changes. It stops being about applause and starts becoming about peace. A quiet mind. A stable income. A few people who genuinely care about you. You learn that happiness isn’t loud or dramatic; it’s often found in ordinary moments—coming home tired but safe, laughing at something small, sleeping without anxiety. One of the hardest truths of growing up is learning to let go. Let go of versions of yourself that no longer fit. Let go of people who can’t grow with you. Let go of timelines you once believed were fixed. This letting go feels like loss, even when it’s necessary. Nobody warns you that growth and grief often walk together. Yet, despite all this, growing up gives you something valuable—clarity. You begin to understand your boundaries. You learn when to say no without explaining yourself. You start choosing what matters instead of chasing everything. Strength stops looking like loud confidence and starts looking like quiet resilience. What nobody warns you about growing up is that it will break you in small ways—and rebuild you stronger in others. You’ll lose some innocence but gain wisdom. You’ll trade certainty for understanding. And even on days when you miss the simplicity of who you once were, you’ll realize you’re proud of who you’re becoming. Growing up isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about learning how to keep going, even when you don’t. And maybe that’s the lesson no one warns you about—adulthood isn’t a destination. It’s a continuous act of becoming.
By Hanif Ullah 3 days ago in Fiction
Comments (1)
Continues to be heart-wrenching & heavy. The weight of this is palpable, Ace. I balked when you had the NWS conducting damage assessments. But I looked it up. You did your research.