'Self-Conclusion' - Screenplay Competition

Self-Conclusion

Written By Sunday Banks

EXT. Oceanside cliff - day

Max (22) sits along the cliffs edge tossing rocks. He closes his eyes and lays back.

EXT. beach - day

Emily (19) walks along the beach. Tears fall from her eyes. She looks up at the cliffside. She wipes the tears from her eyes.

EXT. OCEANSIDE CLIFF - DAY

Emily walks along the cliff. Shocked to see Max lounging across its edge.

EMILY

Excuse me.

Max stirs in his sleep. Emily asks a little louder.

EMILY

Excuse me.

Max sits up, dumbfounded by her presence at 'his' spot.

EMILY

Wouldn't it be much more relaxing if you know you took that lounging elsewhere, like your home?

MAX

No.

EMILY

Please.

MAX

This is my home. May I be of some service? I'll give you a tour.

EMILY

Really. You're kind of in my way.

MAX

From?

EMILY

I was..

MAX

You were?

EMILY

Its none of your business.

MAX

Haha. Wow. Stunning as you are. I don't think you realize what you're saying, or who you're saying it to.

EMILY

What is that supposed to mean? You don't even know me!

MAX

I don't. But I'd like to change that soon. I'd like to help you.

Emily stares out into the ocean.

EMILY

That's sweet. But its not that easy. Its not that simple. It's complicated.

MAX

What isn't these days? I understand that I'm this complete stranger, you happened onto as you were.. But trust me, I'm a great listener. And I understand complicated. Its the easy things that complex me.

Emily glances at Max. He is staring at her awaiting her reply.

EMILY

I have nowhere to go.

MAX

You can come with me.

Emily lights a cigarette.

MAX

You know you really shouldn't-

Emily glares at Max.

EMILY

Give me a break.

Emily stares back into the ocean.

EMILY

The people that have meant the most to me in my life, have turned their backs on me.

MAX

Family issues?

EMILY

Just to start it.

MAX

Well I have forever and eternity.

Emily lays back and closes her eyes. Max watches.

EMILY

When I was 16. I thought I was in love. But by the time I realized I wasn't the damage was already done. My parents paid for the abortion. They told me they still loved me. And to not make such a stupid decision ever again. But of course it became stupid decision after stupid decision. Then again. I thought I was in love. The real thing. Engaged and all. My parents didn't like this. They didn't like him. And I knew they no longer loved me. They were sick of me. Of my problems, so they kicked me out. For good. But I was pregnant and we were ready to start our own family and get married. So we moved in together. A few months later, we.. I.. lost the baby. And that tore us. He no longer wanted to marry me. He no longer loved me. This morning he threw all my things out of the house. He told me not to come back. 

Emily takes one last drag of her cigarette then flicks the butt off the cliff.

MAX

My heart is with you. Completely. But should this prick really justify your -

EMILY

He's not justifying anything. Tell me how am I supposed to seize this day when everything, all feelings and emotions, inside of me has died.

MAX

Trust me. I know. I know what you're going through. And this is not the way to handle it. Come get a cup of coffee with me. We can talk.

EMILY

You're crazy. And you can't possibly understand.

MAX

I'm not trying to sugarcoat this and tell you life isn't going to get tough sometimes. But listen I could stand here all night trying to convince you, but what good would that do? I'm asking you, I'm asking you this once more. Will you come with me?

EMILY

Fine. I'll get a cup of coffee with you. We can talk. You can try to prove to me why, why I should stay. But I swear to god if you break me, I will jump. I will march myself right back these cliffs, and you'll never see me again.

MAX

Believe me when I say understand.

EMILY

How could you?

MAX

Just minutes before you got here, I was going to jump too.