Two Lexi's

BLACK SCREEN

KAREN (V.O)

‘Oh Jake,’ Brittney said. ‘We could have had such a fucking good time together.’ Ahead we saw a policeman directing traffic. He raised his hand stopping our Uber. Her body pressed against mine. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Isn’t it pretty to think so’.

FADE IN.

INT. A COLLAGE CLASSROOM. -DAY. The camera stays on SAD LEXI as MR. MARK berates KAREN off screen. SAD LEXI looks sad and dazed but pretty.

MR. MARK (O.S.)

Damn it Karen, that’s plagiarism! You can’t end your short story with the last lines of one of the most famous novels of the 20th century by the 20th century’s most famous American author and think you can get away with it.

KAREN (O.S.)

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

MR. MARK (O.S.)

The Sun Also Rises. Hemmingway. You’ve obviously heard of it.

KAREN (O.S.)

It’s just a coincidence.

MR. MARK (O.S)

Plagiarism gets you an F Karen.

KAREN (O.S)

But that’s not fair! I worked hard on it.

MR. MARK (O.S)

Did you work hard on the ending? Really?

KAREN (O.S)

That’s the hardest part. You can’t give me an F; I’m paying a lot for this education.

MR. MARK (O.S)

Here’s the lesson you or your daddy’s money bought you today: you can’t get far through life being a plagiarist. Out in the real world you pull that shit you’ll get worse then F’s, you’ll lose your job. It’s usually against the law in most States.

KAREN (O.S)

Whatever, it’s just a dumb English elective. Teachers aren’t supposed to curse by the way Mr. Mark.

MR. MARK (O.S)

Okay Lexi, you’re next.

SAD LEXI

(Lexi comes out of her daze a bit. She shuffles papers in front of her nervously)

Um, what?

MR. MARK

Your turn to read your short, short story to the class Lexi. We’re all looking forward to it.

SAD LEXI

Um. Okay.

SAD LEXI reads her short story. She begins reading it with shyness and nervousness yet becomes more bold and emotional as the story continues. As she reads the camera cuts to some aspects of her narration in flashback MONTAGE style.

SAD LEXI (Cont’d)

“Chase the white rabbit, Lexi. Be brave and follow where it leads. It is late and you are late. This is what Lexi tells herself late at nights while she lays in bed thinking of that fateful night. She was ten years old. Her father abused her mother. He gave her black eyes and bruises on her shoulders and back. He was drunk and watched baseball. He hated the world and he hated his wife and he hated his daughter. He hated himself and his life and he blamed his hatred on his wife and his daughter. Lexi’s mother had had enough one night. This is when Lexi was ten years old. Lexi loved Harry Potter, rainbows and baby ducks. She was always afraid. She wished she could be whisked away to a magic school or slide and escape down rainbows or transform herself into a baby duck. Baby ducks have such simple lives. Quack, quack. But her wishes didn’t come true. She froze as her mother stood in the doorway that night, ready to leave. It rained outside. Her mother stretched out her arms in the doorway. “Lexi, we’re leaving,” Lexi’s mother said. “Lexi, come to mommy.” Lexi felt her father’s large fleshy hand flop down heavily on her delicate shoulder. It felt like the hand held her by the throat chocking her so she could not move or breathe. “Come on Lexi,” her mother begged. “We’re leaving this monster; I’ll take you to a land of light, of rainbows and baby ducks and magic. Leave with me.” Lexi could not leave. She felt stuck. “She stays,” her father said. His voice was gruff and angry and drunk. “If I still see your face in five seconds I’ll shoot you between your eyes you bitch,” he said to Lexi’s mother. Lexi’s father held down Lexi with one paw, his other hand held a gun. Lexi’s mother slammed the door and walked away. Lexi stayed. Lexi’s father abused her for years and years and years and years and years. Physical abuse, mental abuse, every kind of abuse. Lexi’s mother never returned. Why won’t you come save me mother, Lexi pleaded into the darkness at nights. Her father had ripped off all of Lexi’s glow in the dark star stickers from her ceiling. He said it’s unhealthy to have those because they may promote false dreams. Lexi thought that her father must have killed her mother and that is why her mother never returned and left her to face the abuses alone all those years, as a child, to a pre teen, to a teen, to whatever it is Lexi is now. A trampled creature with torn wings.

Lexi got a boyfriend once. He emotionally abused her too. They want to get inside your head so that you are forced to think of them. They get a kick out of messing you up and controlling you and making you cry. They enjoy the power trip and the rescuing of their bruised egos which getting inside others heads brings them. Emotional abusers want to make you hate yourself so that they can control you. So that you will never think that you deserve better than them and their abuses which they use to demean you and make you hate yourself. They want to control you and posses power over you and your body. They want to imprison you inside yourself and swallow the key. They are selfish and sick cowards. Lexi tried to escape but the scars are deep and the shadows are long. Lexi wonders if they have succeeded in making her insane. Does she have enough strength on her own not to break or is she already broken?

Lexi heard of a scientific theory of alternate universes and alternate realities. It is a real possibility and mathematically plausible and sound. Every decision we make creates an alternate universe which splits off. In the alternate universe the ramifications of the opposite decisions unwind. Lexi thinks still on that fateful night when her mother escaped her abusive husband. “Come here Lexi,” she hears her mother plead. And Lexi goes with her mother.”

SAD LEXI stops reading. She looks up and bites her lip. A smattering of applause and uncomfortable coughs sound from THE CLASS.

A STUDENT (O.S.)

God she is so weird.

MR. MARK

Thank you for sharing Lexi. That was interesting. A good example of how trauma is best expressed with sparse language. Okay class that’s all the time we have for today. Enjoy your weekends. Get inspired.

INT. THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. –DAY.

The students are leaving the classroom. KAREN passes Lexi.

SAD LEXI

(Shyly)

I liked you’re story Karen.

KAREN and her friend BONNIE spin and face LEXI

KAREN

(Sarcastically)

Be careful with her, she was abused and you know what they say about those who’ve been abused. They become abusers themselves. We best not let her touch us.

BONNIE

Used goods right there everybody. Don’t touch used goods.

SAD LEXI

No, the story wasn’t about me.

KAREN and BONNIE Laugh.

KAREN

You only named the character after yourself. Roll my eyes out of my skull. You could not be more obvious. Poor little Lexi, please pity me.

SAD LEXI

No, I…

BRAYDON approaches.

BRAYDON

Shoo away bitches.

BONNIE

Oh look, the pity trap worked. Now here comes big strong Braydon to rescue poor little Lexi who dreams of rainbows and ducks. God are you still eleven in your head? That’s how you talk.

BRAYDON

I said git.

BONNIE and KAREN turn and leave. KAREN turns as she walks away.

KAREN

Be careful with her Braydon. She’s damaged goods. Abusers pass on their abuse, she’s going to abuse you if you’re not careful.

BRAYDON

You’d think two years after high school that petty mean girl bull shit would go away.

SAD LEXI

Yes.

BRAYDON

So you’re coming with me tonight right? Or Saturday.

SAD LEXI

Coming?

BRAYDON

Two Frat parties, one bon fire at the beach, take your pick, I’ll take you there. You didn’t lose my texts have you?

SAD LEXI

Thank you but no, I can’t.

BRAYDON

Sure you can.

SAD LEXI

I have to study and…

BRAYDON

Look, Lexi. This shy demur girl game you’ve been playing is warring thin. It’s frustrating. You know if you keep insisting on being ignored one day you’ll get your wish. Don’t count on your doll face and killer body guaranteeing you a charmed life when you have the personality of a cold fish.

SAD LEXI

I’m sorry.

BRAYDON

You don’t get lonely? All by yourself all the time?

SAD LEXI

I entertain myself. I talk to myself. I…

BRAYDON

You talk to yourself? Wait, so are you really crazy for real, for real? And not in the good way but the, you know…

SAD LEXI

I’m sorry I have to get to my next class.

MR. MARK opens the classroom door and steps out.

MR. MARK

Lexi, can I see you alone in here for a moment please?

SAD LEXI

I have to get to my next class.

MR. MARK

Now Lexi.

LEXI enters the classroom followed by MR. MARK.

INT. COLLEGE CLASSROOM—DAY

MR. MARK

There’s passion in you Lexi. That’s what we all want, what we all desire, what all the great poets, thinkers and artists aspire to fulfill and release to the world; passion, meaning, beauty, significance. Big themes. But you’ve been steam rolled over, I can tell. You’re dull like a dormant volcano just waiting to explode. Don’t you want to free yourself? Taste thrills? You’ve wasted too much time just waiting; do you want to one day be old and full of regrets and wasted potential?

SAD LEXI

Yes Mr. Mark. I mean, no Mr. Mark.

MR. MARK

You’re clinging your notebook pretty tight against your chest there Lexi. Share with me a poem you wrote in there.

SAD LEXI

I don’t want to. They’re not ready.

MR. MARK violently rips Lexi’s notebook away from her. He turns to a page and hands it back to her.

MR. MARK

Read this.

SAD LEXI

(Reading her poem)

The sun sinks in the sad salty sea/ My tears drip on the shoreline/ If only my misery could sink like the sun and not drown me/ If only I could reclaim time/ A sour note in a flat song/ When and how and where did it all spin so wrong/ My fears swells there is no one kind/ In life is there nowhere to belong/ The moon rises my blood looks blue in the moonshine/ The stars stare down wanting nothing/ A breath of air is gone.

MR MARK slaps the notebook out of Lexi’s hands. It lands on the floor.

MR. MARK

(Said directly and curtly with subtle anger bite)

That’s a crap poem Lexi.

SAD LEXI

I…I know, I told you it wasn’t…

MR. MARK

You wrote about yourself in that short story you shared with the class, didn’t you? Artists have often used misery for inspiration to create art but first real passion and anger must be awakened, squeezed and pressed out. Suffering for your art is a cliché and so is the over romantic English teacher hitting on a naïve young idealistic student but that’s not what I’m doing here. I want to help you. It has to be squeezed and pressed from you, feel the fire, feel the passion. Are you a virgin Lexi?

SAD LEXI

I don’t know…

MR. MARK

What do you mean you don’t know…?

SAD LEXI

Why you would ask me that…

MR. MARK

Your mom didn’t run away did she, she committed suicide. She left you because she hated you, right?

SAD LEXI

(Eyes closed; her voice is louder and emotional)

Why would you say that, why would you ask me that?

MR. MARK grabs Lexi and spins her and presses her against the wall.

MR. MARK

You need to be squeezed and pressed Lexi. Squeezed and pressed.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN.

EXT. UNDER A TREE ON THE CAMPUS SQUAD-DAY

SAD LEXI sits under a tree. She looks disheveled. She’s holding her fist to her lips. She observers around her healthy activities of college students studying, laughing, playing, throwing Frisbees, kissing, etc. A JOYOUS DANCE FLASH MOB breaks out in front of her, dancing and being filmed. Lexi tries to smile and nod to the beats but she breaks down and cries instead. She sees a white rabbit scurry across the green lawn.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. SAD LEXI’S SINGLE DORM ROOM. –NIGHT.

SAD LEXI walks out of the bathroom drying her hair. She flops on her bed on her back and takes her iPhone and places it on her chest. She puts in her ear buds and stares at the glow in the dark star stickers she pasted on her ceiling. A song plays (Something by Grimes: “Reality” perhaps or “You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone).

SAD LEXI

(Muttering to herself)

This is not real, this is not real, this is not real, I am not me, I am not me, this is not real, none of this is happening. I want to kill myself.

THE GLOW IN THE DARK sticker stars fade and drop from the ceiling and fall on her. Her laptop on her desk turns on. SAD LEXI sits up and looks at it. On the laptop screen she sees an image of what appears to be herself. The girl on her laptop screen, HAPPY LEXI, is laughing reacting to something to the left of the laptop camera which is recording her. HAPPY LEXI becomes in near tears and breathless in her laughter. SAD LEXI is perplexed. HAPPY LEXI looks directly into the laptop camera.

HAPPY LEXI

Lexi. Go to the Beach.

EXT. THE BEACH SHORELINE –NIGHT

SAD LEXI walks along the beach shoreline at night. We only hear the ocean roar of the waves. SAD LEXI passes a small but fun and lively beach fire gathering and continues to walk past them. She hums to herself

SAD LEXI

(Hum singing to herself)

Nothing is real, not the moon or the stars or the sea, if nothing is real then I am free, for if nothing is real I can feel nothing, not even me. Numbness is cold but it grows warm, numbness is cold but it grows warm.

SAD LEXI looks up at the sky. She sees massive meteor showers.

SAD LEXI

That’s pretty.

SAD LEXI Continues walking. A white bunny comes and nibbles on her toe. She picks the bunny up. The bunny begins to hiss and screech at her.

SAD LEXI

Oh no, I didn’t mean to hurt you I’m sorry.

SAD LEXI puts the bunny down. The bunny scampers away. She follows with her eyes where the bunny goes. She sees a big bon fire in front of her in front of the ocean. Music starts (Perhaps another Grimes song). She marvels at a girl drenched in glitter dancing around the fire. The dancing girl is HAPPY LEXI. HAPPY LEXI finishes her hypnotic dance and then walks closer towards SAD LEXI. SAD LEXI takes a step back and sucks in her lips. During the following conversation HAPPY LEXI is bubbly and smiling, SAD LEXI appears weighted with sadness and doubts. Both are a bit spacey.

SAD LEXI

Who are you?

HAPPY LEXI

Who are you?

SAD LEXI

I’m Lexi.

HAPPY LEXI

I’m Lexi.

HAPPY LEXI and SAD LEXI raise their arms in mirror image of each other as they examine each other.

SAD LEXI

But you’re beautiful.

HAPPY LEXI

You’re beautiful.

SAD LEXI

I’m not. I have ugly problems. I hate myself.

HAPPY LEXI

I don’t have problems. I love myself.

SAD LEXI

(Absent mindedly)

I remember when I used to be able to get happy. Before things got real bad. I was a kid. How simple it was. Blue sky, bare feet and tickling green grass wet with dew would do it. That would thrill me, make me laugh. Then all turned gray.

HAPPY LEXI

I’m happy and I want to play.

SAD LEXI

I’ve broke and gone insane.

HAPPY LEXI

(Giggling)

So what if I’m insane. Totally bonkers. All the best people are.

SAD LEXI

Where is that line from? Where are you from?

HAPPY LEXI

Where do you want to go?

SAD LEXI

I don’t know.

HAPPY LEXI

Then it doesn’t matter where you’re going does it?

SAD LEXI

The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. That’s where I recognize those quotes. You’ve gone mad Lexi.

HAPPY LEXI

You’re not mad. Your reality is just different than mine.

SAD LEXI

(Spacey, absent mindedly)

Another line from Alice in Wonderland. Alice is sucked down into a world of illogic. She tries to make sense of the world like a child tries to make sense of the world. She tries to straighten the mad scrambled curved lines using her simple child logic but she can’t, she gets too tangled up in them. It’s all too mad. First the execution then the trial then the charge. Off with her head. That’s the lesson. The Caterpillar tells Alice it’s a shame children grow past eight. One of the many hidden death jokes. It’s a shame children can grow old enough to learn that they can’t straighten messy lines, that the world is mad. I’m mad.

HAPPY LEXI

I repeat: you’re not mad. Your reality is just different than mine.

SAD LEXI

What is your reality?

HAPPY LEXI

Come see.

SAD LEXI

(LEXI narrows her eyes and tilts her head)

Come see?

HAPPY LEXI

You will so love mother. I’m so excited for you to see her again.

SAD LEXI

What are you talking about?

HAPPY LEXI

Let me carry your burdens for awhile.

SAD LEXI

What are you talking about? Who are you really and where have you come from? Answer me straight not with Alice in Wonderland riddles.

HAPPY LEXI

I am you if you had gone with mother when she left. Let’s trade places for awhile. I in your reality, you in mine.

SAD LEXI

Impossible.

HAPPY LEXI

Nothing is impossible.

SAD LEXI

This is just a dream.

HAPPY LEXI

Life is but a dream. Merrily, merrily, merrily.

SAD LEXI

It’s worse than you think. What you can imagine. I hurt. So badly. For so long. For so deep. If you knew. What he did to me; what he does to me; what they done to me; what they do to me.

HAPPY LEXI

Let me know. Share your pain. I am here for you.

SAD LEXI

(Beginning to cry)

If you knew you would not want it. I can’t do that to you. You are pretty and happy. I can’t ruin you. I don’t want to ruin you. Just let me die instead.

HAPPY LEXI

The sun sinks in the sad salty sea.

SAD LEXI

My tears drip on the shoreline.

HAPPY LEXI

In life is there nowhere to belong?

SAD LEXI

If only I could reclaim time.

HAPPY LEXI

The moon rises.

SAD LEXI

My blood looks blue in the moonshine.

HAPPY LEXI

The stars stare down wanting everything.

SAD LEXI

A bust of air is gone.

HAPPY LEXI

Don’t cry Lexi. When you cry I cry. You are not alone. I’ll share the burden. I love you. Sleep. When you wake up you will inhabit my reality and I will inhabit your reality. Okay?

SAD LEXI wipes her tears away. She nods. HAPPY LEXI closes her eyes and puts her hand on SAD LEXI’s head. Glitter falls from above covering SAD LEXI. Rain falls on HAPPY LEXI wiping the glitter away. The two girls hug. They release. SAD CASSY sees HAPPY CASSY walk into the ocean. SAD CASSY lies down in the sand and closes her eyes.

FADE TO BLACK.

INT. HAPPY LEXI’S BEDROOM –DAY.

SAD LEXI wakes up in HAPPY LEXI’S bedroom. She looks at star stickers stuck on the ceiling. It takes her a moment but she realizes a different comforter is over her then the one she’s used to. Morning light baths in through the windows.

SAD LEXI

Whose room is this? Where am I? Was last night real? Am I sane yet?

SAD LEXI gets out of bed. She pats herself. She surveys the room. Some posters match the posters in her dorm room, like Audrey Hepburn, black and white New York skyline, some are different. She sees a framed letter for admission to Harvard hanging on her wall. She walks to it and inspects it.

SAD LEXI

What the fuck?

SAD LEXI smiles in disbelief.

Have I died?

LEXI’S MOM (O.S.)

Lexi, you up? Remember we had that mental health fun run this morning.

SAD LEXI

(Alarmed)

Who’s that? Who’s there?

LEXI’S MOM (O.S.)

Honey, are you alright? You sound frantic.

LEXI’S MOM lightly taps on LEXI’s bedroom door.

LEXI’S MOM (Cont’d)

Are you presentable? You have a boy in your room? Is it your fling Braydon, oh sorry if you heard that Braydon, or some other boy, or a girl, I won’t judge. I know this is your off year to explore yourself and save up before you go back to Harvard next semester. Can I come in?

LEXI’S MOM lightly opens the door and peeks in and then enters the bedroom. SAD LEXI stands before her, stunned, breathing heavily.

SAD LEXI

Who… who are you?

LEXI’S MOM tenderly approaches SAD LEXI and gently brushes SAD LEXI’S hair behind her ear.

LEXI’S MOM

Honey, you had a bad dream? I thought you didn’t have those anymore. What’s got you shook dear; you know you can always talk to me.

SAD LEXI

Mom?

LEXI’S MOM

Yes?

SAD LEXI looks her mother up and down with eyes wide with shock and disbelief but appreciation and happiness.

You’re so pretty. You look the same.

LEXI’S MOM

Aw, dear, come here, I’ll hold you, just like when you were little if you need me too. Just let the residue of your bad dream or whatever you were on fade away. Wake up, we’re going running.

SAD LEXI lunges at her mother and wraps her in a strong embrace. LEXI’S MOM is taken aback with surprise but she returns the hug. LEXI’S MOM pats SAD LEXI’S back.

Awe, dear, it’s okay. You took drugs last night didn’t you? Exploring and all that. No matter, I’m not a nark. We’re still going on that charity run though. Come down stairs when you’re ready, there’s orange juice, coffee and I made the French toast with strawberries and powdered sugar that you like.

SAD LEXI

I’ve missed you so much mommy.

LEXI’S MOM

Lexi, you haven’t called me mommy since you were ten years old. Is everything alright honey? You’re crying.

SAD LEXI

“Is that okay? To call you mommy?

LEXI’S MOM

(Stroking Lexi’s hair.)

Of course button. No more of whatever you took before you went to bed last night though.

SAD LEXI

I’m crying from happiness mommy. I didn’t know that was possible before.

LEXI’S MOM

You’re such a sweet, strong, funny silly girl. My brave, fun, intelligent sweet and charming beautiful funny girl. I love you so much.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. SAD LEXI’S DORM ROOM- MORNING.

HAPPY LEXI wakes up in SAD LEXI’S dorm room. She smiles and stretches and energetically jumps out of bed. Some happy sounding pop song plays.

HAPPY LEXI

(Talking to herself; energetic but not manic.)

It worked! I’m so glad. That sad version Lexi needed an escape. New me, new morning, good morning world. Back in collage, good job Lexi. I guess this is the school I end up at if I never applied myself but it’s not bad; it’s cute. Does my fling Braydon go here? Yes he does; I’ll see him on campus. Wait; since this is me if I meditate I should have some of sad Lexi’s feelings and memories. I’ll do that later; she seemed pretty dark, depressed and troubled; not sure I want to swallow all that right now. I’ll look in her closet first; what’s her style? Same as mine?

HAPPY LEXI opens the closet and inspects the cloths. She throws cloths into two piles, one for “gross” one for “cute”.

HAPPY LEXI (Cont’d)

Okay, I made a list of things I wanted to do this week; there’s no reason why I still can’t do them. As well as go to Sad Lexi’s classes, fix her problems, make friends, get Braydon to be my boyfriend in this reality too; wait let me search my mind; Sad Lexi doesn’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend right?

HAPPY LEXI closes her eyes and concentrates. She starts off smiling then winces and makes a face like sucking something sour and shakes her head and sticks out her tongue like spitting out an insect that flew in her mouth. She opens her eyes.

HAPPY LEXI (Cont’d)

Oh god yuck. Okay, she did have a boyfriend but he was straight up trash; not Braydon thankfully. This reality Braydon is still a good guy. He wants to be her boyfriend and she likes him okay but she… hates herself, she doubts she deserves any happiness; doubts all possible happy endings so she never wants to start anything. Poor girl. Her English teacher Mr. Mark, what the fuck dude, no. That’s got to be taken care of. Mean girls at this collage; that’s stupid. This place is really not like Harvard at all, although there are mean stuck up snobs there. Whew. Okay. She has work to do. I still want to do an open mic at a comedy club though. Sad Lexi’s into poetry. Sad poems mostly, which makes sense. Maybe she’ll do a poetry slam or something in my reality. Has she met mom yet? And Audrey? Okay let me check her phone.

HAPPY CASSY see’s an iPhone on the counter and picks it up. She turns it on and scrolls through it.

HAPPY LEXI (Cont’d)

iPhone X same as mine; same apps? Mostly; she has Scrabble Go App, let’s see if she played Quiz in the corner for 70 points, she did. Good job Lexi. Give yourself a high five. Okay, but seriously, first things first.

HAPPY LEXI presses 9-1-1 on the phone.

9-1-1 OPERATOR VOICE

9-1-1 what’s your emergency?

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. LATER MORNING- HAPPY LEXI’S KITCHEN

SAD LEXI and LEXI’S MOTHER sit at a small dining room table. Coffee and orange juice and French toast are on the table. They’ve been eating.

LEXI’S MOM

You know what hun? Let’s skip the charity run this morning. Let’s rest up, huh?

SAD LEXI

Mom, that dream, that nightmare of mine last night, it was. Long.

LEXI’S MOM reaches across the table and holds SAD LEXI’S hand.

LEXI’S MOM

Tell me about it honey. Unload your burdens on me.

SAD LEXI

Mom. Can I talk to you about something serious?

LEXI’S MOM

Of course honey. I’ve told you that you can talk to me about anything. And you always have.

SAD LEXI

Mom. Mommy. Why did you… you didn’t have to… mom… this is hard to talk about.

LEXI’S MOM

Go on.

SAD LEXI

You’ve always loved me right?

LEXI’S MOM

Of course.

SAD LEXI

Then why did you. Or I mean in my dream you. It’s about dad, mom.

LEXI’S MOM.

Oh.

SAD LEXI

That night you left. Or in my dream you left. And you never came back. Why mom? Why did you hate me? Why did you leave me with him? What he did mom, what he did to me.

SAD LEXI starts crying.

LEXI’S MOM

Bade, it was just a dream. A nightmare. I didn’t leave you. I’d never do that.

SAD LEXI

(Talking through heavy breathing and her tears)

It felt real mom I can still feel it, all of it all the time all over me. In my dream I mean but it went on for so long, for so long. I’m sorry mommy I’m sorry I wasn’t good enough for you to want to stay with me, I’m sorry I was ugly mommy.”

LEXI’S MOM

(Tenderly)

Babe, no, stop it, it was a dream, a nightmare; it’s over now. This is my fault; we never spoke about him; you must have bottled it up and it released itself. I thought when we left we could just pretend he never existed and that’d be the end of it. Babe, what did he do to you? He hurt you too?”

SAD LEXI

Mom no, I don’t want to tell you, it’s too horrible, I don’t want you to know, I don’t want you to hate me. You left me with him I was just a kid you left me.

LEXI’S MOM

I’d never leave you. The world would have to melt first.

SAD LEXI

(Regaining some of her composure)

Maybe it has.

LEXI’S MOM

What?

SAD LEXI

Tell me what happened that night. Remind me. Tell me like I didn’t know. You were at the door. He had a gun a on you. Right?

LEXI’S MOM wipes her eyes.

LEXI’S MOM

As LEXI’S MOM speaks an artistic FLASHBACK MONTAGE accompanies her narration

He had a gun on me. I was afraid, sure. It was raining outside. Fittingly. I called his bluff. I marched up to the monster. I said, I’ll be damned if I’m leaving Lexi with you. You’ll have to shoot us both. You don’t think any of our neighbors will hear a gun shot? You don’t think the police will come asking questions? You really that stupid? I reached and grabbed for your hand. And we left. We went to your Aunt Rachel’s house. She’d been demanding that I leave him and call the cops for years. I was afraid to do it. Afraid of him. Of his threats. That night I overcome my fear. Finally. I left, we left, together, and I called the cops. I’ve tried not thinking of him ever since. With some luck and hard work we started a successful boutique business on the beach and have lived happily ever after, except I had less luck with making any new lasting romantic relationship stick; you know all about that; but that’s okay. I’m sorry, we should have... I shouldn’t have let you… bottle up all those feelings about… him.”

SAD LEXI

Did you think about leaving me?

LEXI’S MOM

Babe. You were the one who gave me the strength to leave. I did it for you. For us. And for Audrey.

SAD LEXI

Audrey?

AUDREY, an eleven year old girl, walks into the kitchen.

AUDREY

What the F is up with you two?

LEXI’S MOM

(Deep Sigh)

We were just talking about your biological father honey. He was a monster and broaching the topic is emotionally draining. You were lucky to have never met him.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. SAD CASSY’S DORM ROOM. –DAY

9-1-1 OPERATOR

9-1-1 what’s your emergency?

HAPPY LEXI

Hello, I’d like to report a crime. My name is Lexi Fox, I’m twenty one and my father abused me, physically, sexually and mentally my entire life. I’ve kept journals. I want a restraining order against him while you investigate. I am aware reporting a false allegation to police is a crime, yes ma’am. Yes, I’ll hold.

(Muttering to herself)

I think I’ll make some Cinnamon Buns.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN.

INT. LEXI’S MOTHER’S HOUSE – DAY

Doorbell rings.

LEXI’S MOTHER

Oh no. I called Braydon; I told him you were having some… I thought you were coming off drugs or something, I thought maybe Braydon could help you come down.

SAD LEXI

(Staring at Audrey)

Hi Audrey.

AUDREY

Um hi? Why are you staring at me?

LEXI’S MOM

I’ll just answer the door and tell Braydon that now’s not a good time.

AUDREY

Aw, I like him though, he’s funny. He brings me snacks.

SAD LEXI

It’s alright mom, he can come in.

BRAYDON (O.S.)

Is everything all right in there?

LEXI’S MOM

(Shouting)

Come on in Braydon. The door is open.

BRAYDON enters the kitchen. SAD LEXI stands up and braces herself. She takes a step back. Braydon raises his arms up palms out and lowers his head.

BRAYDON

Whoa. I was going to zoom in for a kiss but it looks like you are not in the mood.

SAD LEXI

Thank you for recognizing that Braydon. You look good.

BRAYDON

Actually I just remembered I hadn’t brushed my teeth yet this morning so that’s probably what you were sensing. Good call.

BRAYDON looks at AUDREY.

BRAYDON (Cont’d)

Hey squirt; I brought you a roll of sweet tarts.

BRAYDON tosses AUDREY a roll of sweet tarts which she catches.

AUDREY

Thanks big bro.

SAD CASEY

(To her mom)

She calls him ‘Big Bro’?

LEXI’S MOM, raises her eyebrows and shrugs.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. COLLEGE CLASSROOM – DAY

HAPPY LEXI sits at her desk smiling. She has a basket of cinnamon rolls in front of her.

HAPPY LEXI

(She maintains a chirpy bubbly demeanor throughout this exchange)

Hey, Bonnie, Karen, can you guys come here please.

BONNIE and KAREN approach HAPPY LEXI’S desk.

KAREN

What’s this Little Red Riding hood shit you’re dressing up as for? What’s in the basket?

HAPPY LEXI

I brought you cinnamon rolls.

HAPPY LEXI takes out two cinnamon rolls and hands them to KAREN and BONNIE

KAREN

What’s this?

BONNIE

Why is this?

HAPPY LEXI

No reason. Just to be nice.

KAREN

Wait a minute. Is this like that movie where the maids shit in pies?

BONNIE

Gross, what movie was that?

KAREN

I don’t remember but I think it won Oscars and stuff. What’s her name was in it.

HAPPY LEXI

The Help from 2011, staring Olivia Spencer and Emma Stone. That was Emma’s big prestige movie after her breakout roles in Easy A and Crazy Stupid Love. Interesting fact, Easy A was a teen based comedy based on The Scarlet Letter: A Romance by Nathanial Hawthorne, published in 1850, which is considered the Moby Dick of American anti slut-shaming literature.

KAREN and BONNIE snort mocking laughter

KAREN

Okay Wiki weirdo. That’s what’s called T.M.I. Too much trivia.

HAPPY LEXI

No I didn’t shit in the cinnamon rolls. Look, the dough is white.

BONNIE

Maybe Lexi shits white bread dough though.

KAREN

And she cum-jizzes sugar frosting.

BONNIE and KAREN laugh. HAPPY LEXI joins their laughter.

KAREN

Why are you even speaking so much? And perky? What happened to you?

HAPPY LEXI

Um, I just had a successful therapy session breakthrough. I decided to try being a different person. You know, to keep from killing myself.

HAPPY LEXI laughs. The other girls don’t.

BONNIE

Again. T.M.T.

BRAYDON approaches the girls.

BRAYDON

Oh wow, cinnamon rolls. Can I have one?

HAPPY LEXI

Of course.

HAPPY LEXI hands BRAYON a cinnamon roll. He takes it and bites.

BRAYDON

Holy shit that’s good. Take a bite mean girls. You’re missing out on life.

BONNIE

I mean… maybe I’ll save it for later. But yeah, sure, thank you Lexi. Look… I feel bad for, you know… acting like a high school mean girl the other day. Old habits. It’s just you’re so pretty even though you hardly even try and you don’t even take advantage of it and it’s just disgusting and not fair.

HAPY LEXI

Stop it Bonnie. You’re gorgeous. You too Karen. And smart.

BRAYDON smirks and shakes his head.

BRAYDON

Girls’ minds and frenemy friendships are as mysterious and fake as their orgasms. I just don’t get it. Moon cycles and crystals and shit.

BRAYDON takes another bite of the cinnamon roll.

KAREN

Cute Braydon

HAPPY LEXI

Braydon, you want to understand women, just think of us as men if men were smart.

BONNIE and KAREN genuinely laugh at HAPPY LEXI’S joke. BRAYDON tips his role at them and smiles.

BRAYDON

Cute.

BONNIE

Seriously though, can you imagine if girls had dicks too? The world would be 50% dumber than it already is.

BRADYON

(Dryly)

Good one.

HAPPY LEXI

Some species of amphibians have evolved into being able to self inseminate themselves. The change is happening at an alarming rate.

BRAYDON

(To HAPPY LEXI)

I’m sorry; you look familiar, have we met? I’m Braydon, your former stalker and sometimes fried.

BONNIE

Lexi’s trying on a new personality. She spouts useless trivia now. And she bakes.

HAPPY LEXI

Same personality as before. Just with rocket boosters. And cinnamon rolls.

KAREN

She had a therapy session breakthrough

BRAYDON

Good for you Lexi. That’s Great. I mean it.

HAPPY LEXI

Look, Braydon. Sorry I ghosted you. It’s just…

BRAYDON

No, it’s alright. No explanation necessary. It’s good to see you smiling.

HAPPY LEXI

When’s the next beach bonfire party?

BRAYDON

I… I can arrange one tonight. I’ll pick you up.

MR. MARK walks into the classroom.

MR. MARK (O.S.)

Sorry I’m late. I smelled cinnamon buns in the hallway and through I had stumbled into heaven and got disoriented.

HAPPY LEXI’S FACE SCOWLS

MR. MARK

Lexi, did you make these? You leave one for me?

HAPPY LEXI changes her scowl into a fake smile.

HAPPY LEXI

Of course Mr. Marks. I sure did.

HAPPY LEXI pulls out a cinnamon role from her basket. The cinnamon roll dough is brown.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

EXT. BEACH –DAY

SAD LEXI and her younger sister AUDREY walk along the beach. They’re holding and eating snow cones. They pass beach scenes while they talk: people flying kites, walking dogs.

AUDREY

You and mom never talked about dad before. You refused to tell me anything about him. Why?

SAD LEXI

Abusers they want to… like drill a hole in your head and put a chunk of themselves’ inside you.

AUDREY

Gross, not literally I hope.

SAD LEXI lightly chuckles.

SAD LEXI

No. But they want to control you, take away your power so that they can feel more powerful. It’s an ego trip thing for them because they hate themselves and they’re pathetic. It starts to feel like even thinking about them gives them something they want which they don’t deserve. The best way to stop thinking of someone is to stop talking about them. Right now, for the first time in my life, I feel like I’ve finally escaped him. I’m finally free. In my dream he let me go to college but his hold on me always squeezed. For the first time, it’s like, I can think clearly.

AUDREY

Is that true about not speaking of something makes it go away? Like in Harry Potter they can’t say ‘Voldermort’ yet he comes back. Harry says to say his name to stop the fear of him. Don’t these things need to be explored and resolved and that’s when you can begin to wash it all away and move on?

SAD LEXI

How’d you get so smart?

AUDREY

(Shrugs)

I don’t know, reading Harry Potter? Or… was dad smart? It’s just… the weird thing I’m dealing with is, like, we’re all in search of who we are, our identities, especially girls around my age. And I feel like I’m missing a big puzzle piece by not knowing anything about my biological dad. It’s totally freaky that he’s a monster. Was he all bad? Did he have a mental disease? Like, you’re smart, and no offense to mom but… well you’re smarter than she is about a lot of stuff.

SAD LEXI

No one is all bad all the time. Except for Hitler and whoever started the fashion trend that women’s cloths can’t have real pockets.

AUDREY

Right? Do they want us to carry our phones in our mouths?

SAD LEXI

That ‘they’re nice sometimes’ thing is what the abused use to justify being abused. Like, good and bad can even out somehow. But it doesn’t work that way. If a person saves a grandma from being hit by a speeding car that doesn’t give him a right to then push a kid over a highway bridge.

AUDREY

Good metaphor.

SAD LEXI

Here’s what I think of your identity Audrey. You’re cool, smart, funny and a good hang.

AUDREY

Am I pretty like you? Will I be?

SAD LEXI

Society makes young girls feel like the only and most important contribution they can offer society is their rank on some mans idea of beauty scale.

AUDREY

Yeah, I know that feminist talk.

SAD LEXI

It’s true though. It’s your power and people will try and abuse it and take it for themselves.

AUDREY

Yeah, I know, mom already gave me the ‘don’t text a picture of your boobs to boys, even if they threaten and manipulate you with threats of being unpopular’ talk.

SAD LEXI

Good. Mom’s good. Don’t ever let anyone push you into doing something you don’t want to do. Don’t let them shame you for your choices or for doing what makes you feel good either, as long as it’s ethical. That’s also a form of abuse.

AUDREY

(Giggling)

This is a weird conversation. I missed you when you went to Harvard. I’m glad you came back and I’ll miss you again when you go.

SAD LEXI

Do I sound like myself to you? Now? Is this how I usually talk?

AUDREY

Weird question, but sure. Do you feel different?

SAD LEXI

(A bit spaced out)

I… yeah, I do. Like I said before, I feel like chains have been lifted. I can think more clearly like a heavy fog is lifted. Like I’m giving you advice as if I’m in a position to do so, having it all figured out and conquered. It’s weird; I’ve always wanted a little sister like you. I always wanted to have a conversation like this. Are you real?

AUDREY

(Laughing)

I’m pretty sure. Are you in my dream or am I in your dream?

SAD LEXI

Good one. Is that line from “Alice in Wonderland”? I can’t remember.

AUDREY

I don’t know where I got it from. You’re funny.

SAD LEXI

Am I? I checked what I wrote down in my calendar and it said I’m performing at an open mic comedy club? No way am I doing that.

AUDREY

I thought you were taking time off from school to try new adventures, new things. You said you wanted to help yourself.

SAD LEXI

I did? I said that? To you?

AUDREY

I believe so.

SAD LEXI

How about a poetry reading at a Beatnik café somewhere with a small audience. You could go to that where as you couldn’t go to a comedy club.

AUDREY

(Laughs)

Yes. I’d go for that.

SAD LEXI

I’m so looking forward to girl’s family fun day tomorrow with mom. Universal Studios, City Walk. Or maybe Disneyland, you feel like Disneyland or Universal? Lego Land?

AUDREY

(Giggling)

Anything. Braydon’s coming too right?

SAD LEXI

(Teasingly)

Yeah, I guess, since you’re so in love with him. It’s weird, I have a boyfriend? And he’s not a jerk? How’d that happen?

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. COLLEGE CLASSROOM – DAY.

HAPPY LEXI and MR. MARK stand alone facing each other in the classroom.

MR. MARK

Look, Lexi, what happened the other day. You have to know I was just trying to help you. You have so much potential but it’s just frustrating how you just waste it. I just felt like you needed some rattling to help you wake up. With your talent and the way you look; that body of yours.

HAPPY LEXI

(Scowling)

What’d you do Mr. Mark? You mean when you grabbed my throat and my breast and slammed me against the wall. And put your tongue on me while I cried stop. That what you’re talking about Mr. Mark?

MR. MARK

Lexi, come on. All poets get a bit carried away with their passion sometimes. Look at the history; look at the relationship between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. All geniuses are a little mad.

HAPPY LEXI

What you did was not a fucking poem and you, low tier raggedy teacher are no genius.

MR. MARK

(Eyebrows raised: defensive)

Well what I did obviously worked. There’s that spark I’ve always wanted to see from you. So, you’re welcome.

HAPPY LEXI

(Incredulously)

You’re Welcome? You’re fucking kidding me. You left bruises on my neck you dumb ugly old piece of shit of a man. After I told the whole class my father abused me, you react by abusing me. What kind of monster does that?

MR. MARK.

I don’t see any bruises.

HAPPY LEXI

I took pictures. They’re on my phone.

MR. MARKS

(Warily)

What are you going to do with them Lexi?

HAPPY LEXI

You know what else is on my phone?

HAPPY LEXI pulls out her phone from her pocket.

HAPPY LEXI (Cont’d.)

This entire conversation. I just taped your confession.

MR. MARK

Lexi, give me your phone.

HAPPY LEXI

No. Your life is over. Your job, your marriage, hopefully your freedom so you can’t prey on girls anymore.

MR. MARK lunges at HAPPY LEXI and tussles with her trying to force the phone from her hands.

HAPPY LEXI

I was going to kill myself that night you abused me you bastard and you try to get me to thank you, go to hell, go to hell!

MR. MARKS

I should have full on raped you, you bitch.

HAPPY LEXI squirms away. She’s panting. She’s holding her phone out pointing it at him like it’s a gun. MR. MARK puts his hand over his face and sighs.

MR. MARKS (Cont’d.)

I’m sorry Lexi, I shouldn’t have said that. You’re right about everything. Look, I’ll resign okay; you’ll never see me again. Just, don’t. Just please why ruin my life beyond that.

HAPPY LEXI

(Scowling)

Because I can MR. MARKS. And that’s what you and people like you deserve. To have your lives ruined, not our lives. Your lives.

MR. MARK lunges at Lexi trying to take her phone again but less aggressively, knowing he is beat.

MR. MARK

Lexi, no don’t, I have kids, I’ll lose custody of my kids. They need a dad.

HAPPY LEXI

(Shouting)

You are not going to guilt me Mr. Mark. That’s not going to work! You did something wrong, you! Not me. You!

MR. MARKS

Lexi hand over your phone or I’m going to break your fucking wrists. And worse.

HAPPY LEXI

It’s live streaming dumb fuck. Right now, everything you just said and are doing. It’s live on the internet; once on the internet always on the internet. You’re over.

MR. MARK relents and let’s go of her. Lexi Squirms away. MR. MARK falls on his knees, puts his hands over his eyes and screams. Lexi kicks him in the ribs, flips her hair and walks out the door.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN: CALIFORNIA AMUSMENT PARK – DAY.

MONTAGE SET TO FUN MUSIC OF SAD LEXI, LEXI’S MOM, AUDREY AND BRAYDON HAVING FUN AT THE AMUSMENT PARK. LAUGHS, SMILES, BRIGHT COLORS, HUGS, ROLLAR COASTERS, ETC.

EXT. BEACH- NIGHT.

HAPPY LEXI and BRAYDON sit near a fire along the beach shoreline. “You Might As Well Face It” by Tame Impala plays on a speaker propped up against driftwood (or some other introspective song). Bottles of beer and bags of Marshmallows are by them. There are signs others were at this “party” but now it’s just these two.

HAPPY LEXI

(Looking out at the ocean with a spacey expression)

I can’t believe this is real.

BRAYDON

(Looking intently at HAPPY LEXI)

Me either. It’s so pretty. You’re so pretty. Miracles exist.

HAPPY LEXI

I felt it. The depressed me had a fun day with mom and Audrey. I felt it. Good for her.

BRAYDON

Huh?

HAPPY LEXI snaps out of her dazed spell, makes eye contact with Braydon and holds up a bottle of beer to him.

HAPPY LEXI

Sorry. Drunky, Drunky.

BRAYDON

Are you afraid of getting older?

HAPPY LEXI

(Note: she’s not ‘all perky at all times’.)

Not really. Surveys show that life satisfaction generally improves with age, as backwards as we now think of that. The happiest are in their 60s and 70s. I don’t get it honestly but maybe I kind of do. Not as much bull shit superficiality. Less to care about over what people think of you; that has to be freeing in a way. Knowing no one wants to fuck you. I mean that in the literal sense; of course people are always going to fuck with your mind and wallet and your emotions; try to take advantage. People are scum. Or, not most people, but too many of them anyways too much of the time.

BRAYDON

That’s true. That answer was comforting and depressing Lexi.

LEXI LAUGHS.

HAPPY LEXI

“Do I contradict myself? Then I contradict myself. I contain multitudes.”

BRAYDON

Lexi with the Walt Whitman drop. Nicely done.

HAPPY LEXI

Okay, a happy thing and a disturbing thing again about getting old. Happy: senior discounts. Disturbing: by the time we’re eighty Florida will be underwater and the whole Southwest States will literally be too hot for life. The kids around then are going to hate us so much.

BRAYDON

Maybe there’s a super genius baby being born right now who will invent fusion energy, suck out all the CO2 in the atmosphere and send it to Mars; put global warming on Mars instead of here. Maybe Elon Musk and Grimes baby will do that.

HAPPY LEXI

Maybe Elon Musk and Grimes have already moved to Mars and are there right now.

BRAYDON LAUGHS

BRAYDON

Not really romantic topics. Earth melting. Economic inequalities. The end of human civilization. Killer wasps. Puts you in the mood huh?

HAPPY LEXI

No, it’s good to talk about sometimes. It’s real. Reality can be depressing but it’s refreshing. And that’s nice. Delusion has its uses. Gives us needed escapes.

BRAYDON

It helps us fall in love.

HAPPY LEXI

Reality is refreshing. Like Yeats said: Beauty is truth, truth is beauty. That is all you need know.

BRAYDON

That’s a nice line. That’s the thing right, nice moments? Like now. Music. Dreams. Nature. Beauty. You. Holy hell, you Lexi. Now is nice. Better then nice, looking at you. Being with you. And now is all there is. I’m sorry; I know that’s sappy and too strong as this is just our first real date. But I can’t help it. The pleasure buzz you give me, it never left since I first saw you. If you don’t mind me trying to wax poetic. Getting drunk sappy but I swear I mean all of it.

HAPPY LEXI

Please do go on.

BRAYDON

It’s like you’re an entire ocean that swells inside me. The wave’s pound against all my senses, the tides with the pull of the moon, the vibrations ripple continent to continent, touching everything with the pure perfect power of your beauty. It’s weird, but it’s like, this isn’t our first date.

HAPPY LEXI

(Smiling)

Thank you. That’s sweet. I wish the other Lexi heard you say that.

BRAYDON

Who?

HAPPY LEXI

The Lexi before what Bonnie and Karen called my ‘personality change’. She was never allowed to feel good.

BRAYDON

Isn’t living great? There’s always the potential for moments like this. Of feeling good. Nice moments. Even among all the swirling bull shit and hate. We can create beauty. Always, no matter how many years pass. The potential of a nice moment arising never leaves and it’s always exciting. That, above all, is what makes life worth putting up with.

HAPPY LEXI and BRAYDON look at each other and kiss.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. A HIP CAFÉ – DAY.

SAD LEXI, BRAYDON and AUDREY are in a hip café (could be a Barnes and Noble Starbucks or something cooler) sitting in an audience of poet hipsters. A microphone is set up in a stage area. SAD LEXI gets up and to the microphone and looks at the smattering of people (Around 15-23). She clears her throat.

SAD LEXI

(Nervously)

I’m going to recite…

HECKLER (O.S.)

Who are you?

SAD LEXI

Huh? Oh, I’m Lexi? Lexi Fox?

HECKLER

You don’t know who you are?

SAD LEXI

(Giggles)

Oh, okay. I’m Lexi Fox. Sad Lexi in Happy Lexi’s alternate reality.

A SMATTERING of hipster laughs and claps sounds

SAD LEXI (Cont’d)

(Muttering)

Oh, I shouldn’t have said that out loud. That’s sounds crazy. Just an inside joke. Okay, anyways, I’m Lexi and I’m going to recite “Wild Nights- Wild Nights, poem 249” by Emily Dickenson.

Wild Nights-Wild Nights/ Were I with thee/ Wild Nights should be/ Our luxury!/ Futile—the winds/ To a heart in port--/ Done with the compass/ Done with the chart!/ Rowing in Eden--/ Ah, the sea!/ Might I moor—Tonight/ In thee!

SAD LEXI finishes and smiles in reception to the applause.

HECKLER

Plagiarism! That’s an Emily Dickson poem!

AUDREY (O.S.)

Yeah, she said that already dumb shit now shut up there’s not supposed to be hecklers at poetry readings.

AUDIENCE claps.

HECKLER

Sorry, I didn’t hear you at the first. Please continue.

SAD LEXI

Um, okay. The next one, I quote an Emily poem and then add to it.

Emily: “To make a prairie a clover and one bee/ One clover and a bee/ And revelry/ The revelry alone will do/ If bees are few.”/ I wonder if that’s true. And where my prairie lay. And if all is needed to make it bloom/ is enough imagination, self love and play.

THE AUDIENCE claps. SAD LEXI smiles.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. CAFÉ-DAY

SAD LEXI, AUDREY and BRAYDON sit at a table in the café.

BRAYDON

You did awesome. That was so cool to see.

BRAYDON leans to kiss SAD LEXI’S cheek but she politely pulls away.

AUDREY

I liked that ‘Wild Nights’ poem but I have no idea what it means.

SAD LEXI

To me it means wanting to let your hair down, unbridle yourself…

AUDREY

What does that mean?

SAD LEXI

Like, break free of the chains that hold you down and scold you for what you want to do. For wanting to go wild. Throw away maps and plans and surrender to the moment, the passion.

BRAYDON

(Raises eyebrows)

You go wild?

AUDREY

I could tell stories.

BRAYDON

You could? So could I actually but… Won’t.

SAD LEXI

Letting go of the handle bars during the descents on the roller coasters yesterday was pretty wild.

BRAYDON

(Laughs)

Next step is snorting crack off hooker’s backs.

AUDREY laughs. BRAYDON cringes.

BRAYDON (Cont’d)

Aw geeze, sorry, little girl ears in the vicinity.

AUDREY

Why’d you pick that poem to recite?

SAD LEXI

The thought of reciting poetry publically terrified me. I know that sounds super lame to most people, but doing that was my first step into getting into a ‘wild night’ type of being. Daring, dangerous, brave bold. Again, lame I know: no one thinks ‘Emily Dickenson’ and then thinks like, wild orgy party.

BRAYDON

You’re so cool, smart and funny. What’s that inside joke between you and Audrey? About sad Lexi and happy Lexi world?

AUDREY

I thought that was an inside joke between Lexi and Braydon.

SAD LEXI

An inside joke between me and myself. I’m weird. I’ll embrace it.

BRAYDON

So cool.

AUDREY

Why didn’t you recite more of your own stuff?

SAD LEXI

I… well… in that long nightmare I had a few nights ago, that person who was abused wrote lots of poems. That was sad Lexi. I can’t seem to find the notebooks here, although I haven’t looked real hard. They were all depressing though.

AUDREY

Maybe I can find them. I want to do this again and do a reading of my own. Go wild.

SAD LEXI

(Laughing)

Go wild.

BRAYDON

Wild enough for another date? Later night? A proper date, we lose the kid.

AUDREY

Hey!

BRAYDON

Something cheap, like miniature golf, then expensive like… fancy sushi. Expensive for college students anyways.

SAD LEXI

I’d love that.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. COMEDY CLUB – DAY

HAPPY LEXI, BRAYDON, KAREN and BONNIE are at a comedy club open mic night.

COMEDY CLUB M.C.

Alright, our next performer says here that she’s a Harvard student who went on a bender and woke up here. She says she’s going to go with the flow. Okay then. Let’s give it up for Lexi.

HAPPY LEXI confidently saunters on the stage to applause and stands before the microphone.

HECKLER

Take off your top.

HAPPY LEXI

(With quick reaction sarcastic comedic timing)

Someone want to cut that guys dick off and stuff it up his own ass please.

AUDIENCE LAUGHS.

HAPPY LEXI (Cont’d)

Seriously, fuck you Mr. Misogynist heckler guy.

COMEDY CLUB SECURITY comes and forcibly removes the HECKLER.

HECKLER

I was kidding. I thought this was a comedy club.

HAPPY LEXI

That’s right, it’s a comedy club not a titty bar. You took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. I don’t know what that means, that’s just a fun word to say. Albuquerque. Meth. No but seriously, fuck that guy. Could you imagine if girls just randomly ran up to dudes while drooling at the mouth and yelled “show me your balls! They’re so saggy and wrinkly and hairy I wanna see your balls!”

AUDIENCE LAUGHS.

Of course, nine out of ten guys would just say, okay and whip it out. After a day of girls shouting ‘show me your balls’ to guys, every guy would be wearing crotch less jeans with their balls hanging out. See, they wouldn’t pull out their dicks because they’d be too distracted by that. Every guy would stop looking at girls, at stop signs, at nature, they’d just be staring at each other’s dicks all day with their phones in one hand and measuring sticks in the other, sizing each other up, having dick off length contests, just everywhere you’d go. Nothing would get done. Or… the world would be saved? Men, just get out of the way, measure each other’s dicks, let women run the world for once, world peace and free tampons for everyone, here we come.

AUDIENCE CHERS.

Easy applause line but I’ll take it, thank you. Actually, come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea, right? Fashion designers get on that, crotch-less jeans for dudes to show off their dicks. And while you’re at it, fashion designers, can you put some pockets on some dresses for us ladies.

AUDIENCE LAUGHS AND CHEERS.

Thank you, I just whipped that out, that wasn’t even in my joke book. Not as good as my tits, I’ll admit, but it got a laugh and applause. Thank you.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN. INT. LEXI’S MOM’S LIVING ROOM – DAY.

Audrey walks in the front door.

LEXI’S MOM

So how did the poetry reading go?

AUDREY

It was really cool. Lexi and Braydon are so cute together.

LEXI’S MOM

Where did they go?

AUDREY

Lexi dropped me off. She went to go buy a dress. She and Braydon are going on a date tonight.

LEXI’S MOM

Good for them. Good for her. She’s returning to herself.

AUDREY

What do you mean?

LEXI’S MOM

Ever since she woke up from that nightmare. About… him. Your father. It’s like there’s been a dark cloud hanging over her. And have you noticed she’s been different around Braydon too? Stiff, standoffish.

AUDREY

After her poetry reading Braydon reached to try and kiss her cheek but she pulled away.

LEXI’S MOM

Is that so? Well, I can’t say it upsets me terribly. Honestly, she’s better than him, and I think deep down they both know it. She’s going back to Harvard in the fall after all, what’s he going to do? Pickup basketball is not a profession. Still, he is handsome.

AUDREY

Mom.

LEXI’S MOM

Well am I wrong?

AUDREY

I’m going to go upstairs.

AUDREY goes upstairs. She passes Lexi’s room. The door is open a crack. She goes into Lexi’s room. She snoops around. She opens a drawer. She finds a notebook titled “poems”. She flips through the pages. Words like “Misery,” “Abuse” “Death” and “Suicide” are seen.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

EXT. COMEDY CLUB PARKING LOT – NIGHT. BONNIE, KAREN and HAPPY LEXI are waiting by the door.

HAPPY LEXI

Do either you have a vibrator?

BONNIE and KAREN reach into their purses and pull out vibrators. HAPPY LEXI smiles and inspects them and chooses one and puts it in her purse.

HAPPY LEXI (Cont’d)

Braydon’s still in the bathroom right? He didn’t see

BONNIE

That’s not for Braydon too?

HAPPY LEXI

We’re not even a real couple yet in this timeline are we?

KAREN

You and your jokes. You were good tonight.

HAPPY LEXI

(Mostly muttering to herself)

Although he did basically say he loved me last night.

KAREN

He what?

BONNIE

No surprise really. What’d you say.

HAPPY LEXI

We were both a little buzzed. I was thinking of someone else.

KAREN

Who?

HAPPY LEXI

Someone who I want to help out tonight.

BONNIE

With the vibrator?

KAREN

Holy shit you are kinky.

HAPPY LEXI

I don’t think she’s ever had an orgasm. Not one that counts anyways.

BONNIE

You’re kidding; how old is she?

HAPPY LEXI

My age.

KAREN

Tragic. More common that we think probably. Do we know her?

HAPPY LEXI

I don’t think so. Not really.

BONNIE

Well you’re just a saint. I’ve never been to a ‘give a girl her first orgasm’ party before. I didn’t even know those were things. Honestly I wouldn’t mind seeing how it goes down.

KAREN

I haven’t done a good deed in awhile. I’m game too.

HAPPY LEXI

(Giggles)

No, thanks. It’s not like that.

BONNIE

Classier and more intimate with just two. I can respect that.

FADE TO BLACK.

INT. SAD LEXI’S DORM ROOM – NIGHT

HAPPY LEXI climbs into her bed holding a vibrator and slips under the covers.

HAPPY LEXI

(Talking to herself)

Okay Sad Lexi time to get happy. Let’s go. Lip quivering, eye watering, body convulsing, leg shaking orgasm. Let’s blow her mind. So good she almost becomes an addict.

HAPPY LEXI begins maneuvering rhythmically, closing her eyes, smiling. The camera stays on her face.

HAPPY LEXI

(Cont’d)

The sexist muscle is the brain. Fantasy, here we go.

AS HAPPY CASSY makes a fantasy list, talking clearly but rapidly, pictures and ideas of what she’s saying (some abstract) flash on the screen.

HAPPY LEXI

(Cont’d)

Unicorns, Hogwarts, rainbows, I’m riding a dolphin bare back nude being chased by a pirate ship full of oily nude dirty Johnny Depp’s: All the Chris’s except that one bare knuckle brawl for the right to take me; they begin a new contest who can tickle me hardest with the tips of their hard dicks; Carry Grant spanks me in a movie my performance is so good they give me an Oscar that’s a vibrator; Michael Jordan is photographing me for Sport Illustrated Swimsuit, oops a wind blows my bikini off, he slam dunks his tongue deep in me.

Hole in one Lexi.

HAPPY LEXI hums and moans and bits her lip and squirms having a good time, etc.

EXT. MINI GOLF COURT –NIGHT

HARD CUT to footage of a miniature golf ball traveling through the course and landing in the hole.

HAPPY LEXI and BRAYDON, holding miniature golf clubs, high five in celebration. HAPPY LEXI begins having an orgasm. She has to lean against the mini light house. The other surrounding golfers (no kids) stop and stare at her in amazement. Braydon doesn’t know what to do. HAPPY LEXI finishes. Some of those who watched clap.

GOLFER ONE

Why don’t you ever do that to me?

GOLFER TWO

Did she just give birth?

GOLFER THREE

I think she just got pregnant by Immaculate Conception.

GOLFER FOUR

Does that mean we have to worship her? Build a shrine here now?

GOLFER FIVE

I’ll never look at this miniature golf course the same way again.

BRAYDON

Do you want to skip sushi and maybe go…

SAD LEXI

(Vigorously shakes her head yes).

Yes. I want to feel that again. Right away as soon as possible.

SAD LEXI and BRAYDON take hands and sprint away to the parking lot.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. SAD LEXI’S DORM ROOM—NIGHT. HAPPY LEXI is laying in bed, eyes open, listening to “Norman Fucking Rockwell” by Lana Del Rey, looking at the glow in the dark stars on her ceiling. Mysterious glitter begins to waft down on her. HAPPY LEXI hears a girl’s voice whisper:

GIRLS VOICE

(V.O)

Is this ash or is it snow? Or is it the broken stars faded glow?

HAPPY LEXI

Who said that?

HAPPY LEXI hears a knock on her door. She gets up and opens her door. BRAYDON is in the doorway wearing a suite and holding a rose.

BRAYDON

I couldn’t stand it Lexi. I didn’t want this to end. I never want it to end with you. I want to be with you forever. You’re the only thing that matters.

HAPPY LEXI

What day is it? I’ve lost track of time.

BRAYDON

Who cares? All we have is now. Can I come in?

HAPPY LEXI nods.

HAPPY LEXI

How long is forever? Sometimes just one second.

HAPPY LEXI and BRAYDON kiss. They pull back and stare at each other with intensity.

BRAYDON

I love you.

MONTAGE OF TASTEFUL BUT INTENSE SEX SCENE SET TO THE MUSIC. KEEP THIS NOT BEYOND R RATED AND WITH A FEMALE PERSPECTIVE.

EXT. BEACH. NIGHT. SAD LEXI and BRAYDON sit together. Her head rests on his shoulder. Lana Del Rey’s “Venice Bitch” plays.

SAD LEXI

(Dreamily)

What day is it? I’ve lost track of time.

BRAYDON

Who cares?

THEY KISS

SAD LEXI

I didn’t know that was even possible. To feel that way.

BRAYDON

You left me speechless. Lexi?

SAD LEXI

Yes?

BRAYDON

When I first saw you it’s like you turned on a switch inside me that powers all the pleasure senses in my brain. Just this constant wonderful happy hum that lets me ignore all the ugly shit in the world. You’re just, it’s like, I don’t even understand how you’re possible.

SAD LEXI

Thanks. She is better than I gave her credit for I think. She’s nice to me.

BRAYDON

The thing that makes it great is the intensity in the moments with you. But I know it can’t last.

SAD LEXI

If can’t?

BRAYDON

Infatuation, love, it’s literally like a drug. The same pleasure senses of the brain light up when in love that they do when taking heroine. But it wears off. I don’t want it to with you. I don’t want to remember you as something that ‘wore off’. I want to remember you as you were today; how you make me feel right now, at the apex.

SAD LEXI

What are you saying?

BRAYDON

You know how you love something? Really love something? You sacrifice for it. You do what’s best for it even if it hurts you. You let it go.

SAD LEXI

That’s a cliché Braydon. A really lazy one.

BRAYDON

We both knew what this was. Who you are, who I am. You don’t need me. Harvard, architecture, you’ll go build monuments admired forever. I can’t go there with you. I don’t want to be your dumb mistake that held you back from reaching your potential.

SAD LEXI

Talk to me straight.

BRAYDON

We both know you’re smart enough to know what I’m saying.

SAD LEXI

Fuck, marry or kill. That game. I’m just the girl you wanted to fuck and then fuck with. Use to toss away. Just like everyone else.

BRAYDON

Everyone else? Lexi, don’t make this hard. Don’t be bitter. When I think of you for the rest of my life I’ll get that tingle of good feeling kick run down my spine making me smile. That’s how I want to leave you, how I want to remember you.

SAD LEXI

You’re not being caring or selfless at all. You want to hurt me before I could hurt you. That’s not love Braydon. That’s not brave. That’s being a sick coward. You make me feel good for the first time in my life, lift me up into the sky to just drop me. Why? How could you?

BRAYDON

See, then there’s stuff like that Lexi; you’ve become so weird lately.

SAD LEXI

Weird how?

BRAYDON

It used to be my favorite thing to make you laugh. That’s become harder the last few days. You’re more insular.

SAD LEXI

Have you considered, just for a second, maybe that’s because I could be going through something unpleasant?

BRAYDON

But you’re perfect.

SAD LEXI

I’m not. You pretend I am because it makes you feel better to believe that. The moment things get ‘a little weird’ you bail on me. Coward. That’s not love. Tell me whatever you want, tell yourself whatever you want, but that’s not love.

BRAYDON

Back to reality.

SAD LEXI

Back to reality.

SAD LEXI and BRAYDON stew in silence for a moment while the music plays.

BRAYDON

Hey, I still want to go to the next poetry reading. Audrey told me she wants me to come; she’s performing her own poems, right? She’s so cool.

SAD LEXI shakes her head.

SAD LEXI

No.

BRAYDON gets up and walks away. SAD LEXI stays seated in the sand. She looks up. Light glitter falls over her. She holds out her hand and catches it in her palm.

SAD LEXI

(Cont’d)

Is this ash or is it snow? Or is it the broken stars faded glow?

A white rabbit hops past SAD LEXI. She watches it curiously with wet eyes.

SAD LEXI

(Cont’d)

I’m late. “I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” An “Alice in Wonderland” quote. “How long is forever? Sometimes just one second.” Also a quote from Alice. He told me he’d love me forever. The world is mad.

GIRLS VOICE (O.S.)

No one will ever love you Lexi.

SAD LEXI

Who are you?

GIRLS VOICE (O.S.)

Who are you?

SAD LEXI

The girl no one will ever love. Nothing can change that. The sadness chases me and finds me no matter where or how I try to escape. You can’t escape yourself any more than you can escape your own blood. “Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

GIRL’S VOICE (V.O)

The sad salty sea. My tears on the shoreline. My blood looks blue in the moonshine. The stars stare down wanting nothing. The stars stare down wanting everything. A burst of air is gone.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. SUPERMARKET – DAY

HAPPY LEXI, BONNIE and KAREN are strolling the supermarket isles in preparation for a party.

BONNIE

You wrecked my vibrator by the way.

HAPPY LEXI?

Did I?

BONNIE

Yeah, when you gave it back it was shaking still. But weird thing its batteries were out. You totally destroyed the poor thing. I don’t think it’s going to recover. You hurt it so bad it won’t stop quivering.

HAPPY LEXI

(Laughs)

I’ll get you a new one.

KAREN

You don’t have your own?

HAPPY LEXI

(Laughs)

I broke it.

BONNIE

You know, who knew you were so cool? You slay’d at the comedy club. That takes guts.

KAREN

For real impressive.

BONNIE

Now not only are you going to parties you’re helping prep them. Talk about a transformation.

KAREN

For real, it’s a trip. Like, how long ago was it? A week ago? Everyone literally thought you were going to kill yourself.

HAPPY LEXI

Did they?

BONNIE

There may have been a betting pool on it.

KAREN

Bonnie, you can’t say that.

HAPPY LEXI

Don’t sweat it. You can’t go back to yesterday because you were a different person then. Just look forward. We’re all just players strutting on a stage for an hour then we’re heard from no more. We’re wrapped up in tales told by idiots full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

KAREN

That was kind of deep. You just come up with that?

BONNIE

She’s quoting Shakespeare idiot. Macbeth.

HAPPY LEXI

Not a direct quote, which is really bad actually with Shakespeare if this were a class or something; have to get all the words perfect to fit the iambic pentameter. The first part was from “Alice in Wonderland.”

KAREN

But whoa, hold up, how have we not even talked about what you did to Mr. Mike though?

BONNIE

Oh my god, seriously.

HAPPY LEXI

(Shrugs)

He did it to himself. I just hit record on my iPhone.

BONNIE

Legendary. That’s really what made you hero legend forever. They should build a statue on campus of you holding up his severed balls.

HAPPY LEXI

(Laughs)

Yeah.

KAREN

But seriously, what happened to you though?

HAPPY LEXI

It’s hard to explain. I think the best way is like, you’re in free fall plunging to your death after jumping off a bridge and then in mid air you realize you want to live. You want it so badly that you can break the laws of physics to get it. I think that’s it simply. I broke up because I wanted to live and what lifted from the broken pieces was a new person.

BONNIE

Well live it up Lexi, live it up.

KAREN

What about you and Braydon? You guys an exclusive item now already?

HAPPY LEXI

Yeah, it’s really good. In this timeline we’re really good. It’s kind of weird because it’s just sort of starting even though we both say it feels like we’ve known each other for so much longer. But it’s good. Almost perfect. I’m happy.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN

INT. CAFÉ. – DAY.

AUDREY sits on a chair facing the audience waiting her turn to recite poems. She smiles and waves at SAD LEXI and LEXI’S MOM who are in the audience, sitting together at a table.

LEXI’S MOM

How’d it happen that my two daughters became Beatniks?

SAD LEXI forces a laugh.

LEXI’S MOM

Thanks again for bringing me flowers at the store Lexi. It was a really sweet surprise. Not even Mother’s Day, just a random nice gesture. You’re a sweet girl.

SAD LEXI

It’s not your fault mom. I should have spent more time with you while I was here.

LEXI’S MOM

Oh, you have a busy life. I was wary at first but I’m glad you decided to take that time off from Harvard. What’s not my fault?

SAD LEXI

How I turned out.

LEXI’S MOM

(Lightly laughs)

I hope it’s a little my fault at least.

SAD LEXI

The bad parts I mean.

LEXI’S MOM

What bad parts honey? What are you talking about? Did you have another bad dream? Did something happen between you and Braydon?

SAD LEXI

I shouldn’t have come here.

LEXI’S MOM

Audrey appreciates the support. Why, did something bad here happen to you? Is it brining up bad memories? Did you have another bad dream last night?

SAD LEXI

Audrey has been asking about dad. What if she contacts him? Asks him to come here.

LEXI’S MOM

She wouldn’t do that. I’ll talk to her just in case.

SAD LEXI

(Spacey)

I put bad ideas into her head. Bad things will happen to her because of me. Because I came here where I’m not supposed to be. If we love someone we make sacrifices for them.

LEXI’S MOM

Stop it Lexi, you’re beginning to scare me a little bit. We’ll talk about it later okay?

SAD LEXI

(Smiles at her mother)

I’m sorry mom; I didn’t mean to make you feel weird. You’re right. Just the aftershocks of another bad dream. Do you believe if you love something you sacrifice for it?

LEXI’S MOM

Of course honey. You know I’d do anything for you. Are you sure you’re alright to be alone in the house tonight? You can maybe go with Audrey to her friends sleep over; I’m sure they’d love to have you. Or I can cancel my date.

SAD LEXI

(Smiles)

Don’t be silly mom. Of course I’ll be fine; I have lived on my own before, you know. I’m just being all Beatnik-y; I got caught up in the atmosphere. I’m sorry.

LEXI’S MOM

Oh, it’s Audrey’s turn.

AUDREY steps up to the microphone in front of the small café audience.

AUDREY

My name is Audrey Fox. I’m going to be reciting from “Macbeth” and then two originals: “He wouldn’t let me” and “Faded.”

HECKLER (O.S.)

When reciting Shakespeare you need to include the Act and stanza numbers.

(AUDIENCE MEMBER)

Shut up.

AUDREY

(Clears her throat and reads)

Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow, / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day/ To the last syllable of recorded time, /And all our yesterday’s have lighted fools/ The way to dusty death. / Out, out brief candle!/ Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/ That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/ And then is heard no more: It is a tale/ Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/ Signifying nothing.

AUDIENCE politely claps. AUDREY smiles and then pulls out the notebook she found in Lexi’s room.

THE CAMERA stays on SAD LEXI’S face as Audrey reads the next poems. Lexi’s face turns from proud older sister to shaken and disturbed during the reading. A tear falls from SAD LEXI’S cheek as Audrey reads the last words of the poems.

AUDREY (V.O)

(Cont’d)

I wanted to feel good. / But he wouldn’t let me. / I wanted to wish that I could. / But he wouldn’t let me. / I wanted to breathe my own breath./ But he wouldn’t let me./ I wanted to live instead of wanting death./ But he wouldn’t let me./ He knocked on my door while I danced./ Dreaming to escape./ He knocked me on my floor./ And I bled from his hate./ I screamed silently dying daily inside./ I wanted to run escape and hide./ But he wouldn’t let me.

Is this ash or is it snow?/ Or is it the stars faded glow?/ Or is it all the same?/ Does my blood beat hot or cold?/ If hot I live, if cold I can feel no more pain./ When I was a child I dreamed./ That I could be anything./ A ballerina, a rainbow, a baby duck./ Maybe I was crazy./ I thought they’d know I was more than just an object to fuck./ Maybe that thought was lazy./ I cast wishes down bottomless wells./ I cast wishes up to new bursting stars./ I wanted heaven and I got hell./ I wanted the beauty of Venus I got splashed by the blood of Mars./ I turn my head up to the sky./ The stars stare down and fall to ash./ If I feel nothing then I die./ Then maybe I’ll find peace at last.

FADE OUT

FADE IN.

INT. INSIDE A DRIVING CAR –NIGHT.

HAPPY LEXI and BRAYDON are riding in a car, Braydon driving.

BRAYDON

So you ready for some fun? Live it up. No fear of missing out. Party.

HAPPY LEXI

(A bit spacey)

You know I have a little sister?

BRAYDON

I didn’t know that. That’s cool.

HAPPY LEXI

Yeah, she’s super great. Funny and cute. You two would get along; she likes big goofy guys.

BRAYDON

(Laughs)

I’ll take that as a compliment.

HAPPY LEXI

That’s how it was meant to be taken. I’ve missed her since I came here.

BRAYDON

You haven’t visited home?

HAPPY LEXI

I hope she’s alright.

BRAYDON

Why wouldn’t she be?

HAPPY LEXI

Are you familiar with depression?

BRAYDON

A bit of a Debbie Downer talk on the way to a party Lexi.

HAPPY LEXI

(Laughs)

I promise I’ll get back in the mood; get you in the mood. All it takes is one song, one dance, and I’m there. Indulge me for a second?

BRAYDON

Sure. I mean, sure, I don’t think I’ve personally ever had it like, diagnosed with it. Has to be more than just sad for a few days because your sports team lost or your girlfriend dumped you, right? Like, sad for a week or weeks or something. Like, not just a mood but so severe the whole world looks different. Grayer. Duller. And you become like a mirror to this gray world you see; the two blend into one basically making you feel erased. Faded. And then that’s when the real pain starts. Because, as a human, you can’t stop your heart from pumping blood or your brain from thinking, from your senses to feel. So it’s confusing because you think you should feel nothing yet you’re feeling something anyways, and all that something is, is pain. Not physical pain but something much worse that doesn’t feel like it can heal as easily or quickly. It actually feels like it can never heal; that to heal it would take being able to change the whole world. Bring the colors back. And who can do that? No one can do that. Then that just compounds the hopelessness and despair and it’s just this downward vortex. Holy shit Lexi; I don’t know how that spilled out of me. Being around you makes me wax poetic I guess. But yeah, sure, everyone knows somebody who’s had it. Or has it.

HAPPY LEXI

That was good Braydon. I think you nailed it. If I tried to add to it I think I’d just ruin it and sound stupid.

HAPPY LEXI laughs.

BRAYDON

It’s impossible to be depressed or lonely around you though. You’re like, twelve people into one; holy shit I messed that up that sounds like you have multiple personalities. Let me try that compliment again. It’s like, when you leave the room the whole party is dead because you bring… Oh never mind, I’ll workshop it.

HAPPY LEXI

(Laughs)

I think you’re thinking of a Hemmingway quote from “The Sun Also Rises.” I can’t remember it exactly but it’s something like, Lady Brett Ashley leaves the table and the table feels half as empty as before. The most famous quote is when Bill asks Mike “how did you go bankrupt” and Mike answers “gradually then suddenly.” That’s been used to explain how all sorts of things happen since, from falling in love to losing your mind. “Gradually then suddenly”.

BRAYDON

In other words, you’re special. You bring more, you are more. You’re simply better. Move better, look better, talk better, dance better. You’re funny, you’re smart, you’re driven. You’re the one eyes are pulled to.

HAPPY LEXI

It’s not true though. No one person can ‘cure’ depression any more than a person can stop a hurricane from hitting or an earthquake striking. It’s biological. An act of nature.

BRAYDON

Anyway, we’re getting close to the party house. We need to change the mood. Just a song and a dance can do it huh?

HAPPY LEXI

Put something on.

BRAYDON plays an upbeat cool happy song that he and HAPPY LEXI sing and dance along with, enjoying it.

FADE TO BLACK

INT. LEXI’S MOM’S HOUSE –NIGHT.

SAD LEXI stands in front of the front door staring at it wearing a white gown. She’s holding a kitchen knife at her side. She’s alone in the house. She stands still and stiff as if waiting for someone to knock on the door.

MONTAGE of HAPPY LEXI having fun at the party interspaced with cuts to SAD LEXI standing stiff and alone staring at the closed door in front of her.

INT. LEXI’S MOM’S HOUSE-NIGHT

SAD LEXI

He murdered me a long time ago. My soul. He told me it was never about me. Remember when it said that? As if it didn’t matter what he did to me as long as he killed my soul before my body. They say when you die all your endorphins are released at once and flood your brain. That’s why you feel good for a moment; that whole light at the end of the tunnel thing. That’s all this was. An illusion. Getting to see mom. Having a little sister. Having a nice boyfriend for a short time. Feeling good for a moment. Living outside the cage he put me in for once. But then it ends. Alice wakes up. It was all a dream. Nothing is real. Reality returns.

SAD LEXI walks up the carpeted stairs. She’s still holding the knife. She walks into the hallway BATHROOM. She starts to fill the tub with water. “POINT THAT THING SOMEWHERE ELSE” by THE CLEAN plays. While the song plays artistic shots of red diffusing through water are intercut between scenes of HAPPLY LEXI dancing.

EXT. HOUSE PARTY/SWIMMING POOL-NIGHT.

HAPPY CASSY is in the pool. She notices blood leaking from wrists. She quickly leaps out of the pool and wraps a towel over her arm. She runs into the house.

INT. HOUSE PARTY –NIGHT

HAPPY LEXI runs up to the stairs and into a hallway bathroom and slams the door. She looks at herself in the mirror. She’s panicked. She takes the towels off her wrists and sees them covered in blood. She’s leaking blood on the floor. She looks in the mirror with urgent horror and sadness.

HAPPY LEXI

(Crying)

Lexi what are you doing? Can you hear me? Stop it Lexi! Stop it! I love you, why are you doing this, stop it, don’t do this to yourself, do you hear me, stop it! You’re going to make it, you’re going to survive, everything is going to be okay. Lexi, I love you, I want to live, I want you to live, you want to live, stop it!

HAPPY CASSY falls to her knees crying. She slumps on her side.

A KNOCK ON THE BATHROOM DOOR

BRAYDON (V.O)

Lexi? Are you okay? Lexi? Can you hear me? Lexi, what happened? Are you okay?

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. AMBULANCE- NIGHT.

LEXI is strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance. Her mouth and nose are covered in an oxygen mask and her heart is being monitored.

LEXI (V.O)

Oh Lexi. We could have had such a damn good time together. Ahead was a mounted policeman directing traffic at an intersection where there had been a crash. The ambulance slowed suddenly pressing Lexi against me. Yes, Lexi said. Isn’t it pretty to think so.

DELETE FOREVER by Grimes begins to play.

FADE TO BLACK

END