I wrote a screenplay:
Fade in:
Int. Schoolyard - day
Open on a fist, poised in midair for a punch. It moves forward slowly and then collides with a boy's face. BEN (13 years old) falls to the ground with a bloody nose.
KEVIN (much larger than Ben) is perched over Ben with a grimace on his face. The frown slowly transforms into a smile.
Kevin
That'll teach you to never
mess with me again. Are you
going to cry?
Ben sits up and stares at Kevin grimly, hiding his pain.
Ben
No.
Kevin
Good. Now have a nice day.
Kevin turns away, laughing.
Ben watches Kevin for a few moments, then begins to sob quietly. Tears pour from his eyes.
Ext. Street Sidewalk- Day
Ben walks home from school, holding his books in one hand, trying to staunch his bloody nose with the other hand. He is still crying softly.
Suddenly he trips and falls, dropping his books.
Ben lies on the ground for a second when he hears a voice.
Angie
Ben? Are you okay?
Ben looks up to see Angie, a girl from his class.
He awkwardly struggles to his feet and runs away from her. He sprints up the walkway towards his house, brushing away tears.
Ext. Ben's house – day
Ben walks in to his house. He hears a commotion coming from the kitchen.
He walks towards the noise. He soon realizes that it is his parents, screaming and arguing with each other.
He slowly walks up the stairs toward his room, trying not to alert them of his presence.
Int. Ben's bedroom
Ben is trying to do his homework, but the commotion downstairs has grown louder.
His parents shout even louder, and Ben stares at his paper, trying to concentrate.
Smash! A plate hits the wall. Ben breaks down in tears and runs out of the room.
He pounds down the stairs.
Ben walks past the kitchen, trying to avoid his screaming parents.
He runs across his living room and exits the front door, slamming it.
Ext. Front Yard - evening
Ben comes out of the front door and walks to the sidewalk.
He stops in his tracks, unsure of where to go.
Suddenly Ben is startled when he sees Angie again.
Angie
Tough day, huh?
Ben nods.
Angie
Me too. Sometimes life is just
too much.
Ben
I'll say. I just feel like I wanna
press an escape button and free
myself from my troubles.
Angie
Follow me.
Ben is confused but he follows her anyway, curious.
Int. Beach – Sunset
Ben is following Angie when they come to a beach. The sunset is beautiful and bright.
Ben
Wow.
Angie smiles and sits down near the water. She looks at Ben.
Angie
Sometimes I just come here to do
what you said, take a break from
life's troubles.
Ben sits down near Angie and stairs at the water. He watches the tide move back and forth, back and forth.
Ben stares at the sunset, mesmerized. A genuine smile spreads across his face.
Ben (Voice Over)
It was then that I found the peace
that I had been missing. This
place was a safe haven in a
treacherous world, a place to
forget about the battles of
life. A sanctuary.
Ben looks at Angie, still smiling.
Ben
Thank you.
Fade to black.
