Shooting script

Nema is sitting on the floor against a wall in a dark room, staring unseeingly at the door. (Mid shot). She is in a dream-like state. Eventually she falls asleep and we see her thoughts as she is dreaming. She hears a knock at the door, opens it (Medium close up) and sees her best friend Azia standing there. (Over the shoulder shot.) They hug (two shot) then have a conversation in which Nema discovers that something is wrong.

Nema: (Narration) I sat staring at the door for a long time after she left. I was not aware of the passing of time; minutes melted into hours and I had not moved or broken my trance. Inside my head, my mind was replaying the scene that made me this way, the scene that would or could never repeat itself, because she was not coming back.

Nema: What’s wrong? (Medium close up).

Azia shakes head. (Medium close up).

Nema: (Urgently) What's happened?

Azia: (Whispers) I'm sorry... (Close up Azia/POV shot focusing behind Nema).

PAUSE: 5 SECONDS

Azia: (Takes deep breath, gets grip on self) Nema… this is so hard for me to say – I don’t know how—

Nema: (Abruptly) Just say it, Azia, please! (Mid shot).

Azia: This will be the last time you ever see me. (Close up).

PAUSE: 3 SECONDS.

Azia: (Says nothing. Looks distressed. Two shot.)

Nema: (Stands as though struggling to breathe; shocked) What? (Over the shoulder shot).

Why? What's going on? Please,  tell me what's going on! (Medium close up.)

Azia: I... (gasps) I have to go!

I'm so sorry, but Nema - remember this: you are never alone.

(Fade to black)

Nema: (Narration - opens eyes, gets up and walks across room. She lights a candle and watches as it casts shadows on the wall.) I awoke to silence. It was familiar to me now, the sound of the emptiness, just as my heart reflected. Somehow, I knew life would go on, but I didn't know how to begin. I didn't even know I was supposed to feel this way - surely it was not possible to get so attached to a friend, someone I had met minimal times in my life, but still had somehow become the centre of my existence. She belonged in my life, and now life without her would be intolerable.

(Shadows break away from wall and run towards her - blows out candle - room goes into darkness.) (Wide shot.)