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Family Forever
PROLOGUE
A Picture of an elderly man and woman are sitting on the
table.
Camera dolly's fast in ward toward frame.
The sound of a semi-trucks horn is heard. A quick flash. and
the frame is destroyed.
FADE TO: Out of focus man walks into focus.
Chris stands on the steps looking at the church a funeral
was just held in. His tie is untied and he looks like he had
a long day.
WIDE SHOT SHOWS HIM ON STEPS AND CHURCH IN FRONT OF HIM.
He walks into the church grabbing the guest book and walks
further into the church. He sees Amanda sitting in a pew
looking at the statues and glass of the church. He walks
down the isle and sits across from her.
CHRIS
Are you okay?
Amanda ignores him and walks away. Chris follows behind.
CUT TO:
SCENE 1 - REUNION
INT. APARTMENT
camera pans in through apartment as Chris & Amanda enter.
Chris carries a box labeled "Victor's Things"
Chris sets the box on the ground and looks around at the
tight apartment. He turns to Amanda.
CHRIS
Can you believe mom and dad lived
here?
He looks around the apartment.
CHRIS
I mean it's mom and dad... they
strived to be rich. Yet they
started here. We have to live here
to get the inheritance they left
us.
He turns to Amanda who stares at Chris.
CHRIS
Look. I know you aren't used to
having me around, but...
She interrupts him.
AMANDA
Don't even...
She walks away.
SCENE 2 - DINNER CONVERSATION
Cut to: int. Later, Evening
Chris is making dinner.
CHRIS
Hey Amanda it's almost ready!
He doesn't hear a reply so he turns the burner on low and
goes into the living room. Amanda sits on the couch holding
Her mom's wrist watch.
CHRIS
Dad's gift for her 50th birthday.
She still wore it even after the
clock stopped ticking...
Amanda puts the watch in her pocket and turns away from
Chris.
CHRIS
Amanda. I know that this is tough
for you. It's tough for me to.
AMANDA
IT WASN'T SO TOUGH FOR YOU TO LEAVE
THOUGH WAS IT? NO.
She pauses and stares at him. Chris doesn't reply.
AMANDA
I thought so.
She gets up and goes to walk out of the room. He stops her.
CHRIS
You're wrong. It was tough for me.
Why else do you think I left?
Amanda walks out of the room.
SCENE 3 - REMEMBER WHEN?
EXT. PORCH, NIGHT
Chris sits on the porch, He drinks out of a cup. Behind
Chris we see Amanda walking past, She stops and looks out
the door toward chris. She walks forward to chris sitting on
the porch. She comes out onto the porch.
Camera follows Amanda walking to sit in the chair beside
chris.
CHRIS
Do you remember the time Dad went
out and bought a dog. He came back
with the dog that was like 16 years
old it practically p***** air.
Amanda starts to smile and chris smiles as well.
CHRIS
Or even better the time when we had
a house party and he was drunk had
to p***. Everyone was in the
bathroom so instead of going out
into the woods or whatever he
p***** out the top window on to our
guests...
Amanda laughs
AMANDA
and the guy goes "There's not even
a cloud in the sky."
They both bust out with laughter.
AMANDA
You weren't here when Dad wanted to
surprise mom and he wanted to cook
dinner and by his definition of
cook it meant...
Chris says the line with her.
CHRIS & AMANDA
Putting it in the microwave.
AMANDA
Well he burnt it and almost set the
house on fire.
Chris looks at her with surprise.
CHRIS
What happened after that?
AMANDA
He had to go out get a new
microwave that had to look
identical to the first one, get
take out, put it on plates and
acted like he made it himself.
Chris starts laughing.
AMANDA
Oh and he didn't get away with it.
CHRIS
Why?
AMANDA
Mom opened the lid of the garbage
can.
CHRIS
Dad left it right on top.
Amanda and Chris laugh together for the first time in years.
They pause and stare out into the street.
AMANDA
Do you remember when Dad found out
mom was cheating on him?...
Chris takes a moment.
CHRIS
Yeah... Or when dad came home drunk
because he couldn't handle the
constant fighting so he hit her.
AMANDA
I stayed in your room that night...
They look at each other.
AMANDA
Why did you leave?
CHRIS
I couldn't handle mom and dad
always fighting.
AMANDA
But you left me.
CHRIS
I'll never forgive myself for that.
And I don't expect you to forgive
me either.
AMANDA
I didn't expect to either. But I
just did...
Chris and Amanda smile at each other.
CHRIS
I love you sis...
AMANDA
I love you...
Chris and Amanda look at the street and take a moment.
FADE TO:
SCENE 4 - BACK TO NORMAL
EXT: DRIVING IN A CAR SINGING SONGS TOGETHER. AS DIFFERENT
MUSIC PLAYS.
MONTAGE SCENE OF THEM BONDING & DOING STUFF TOGETHER.
1. They watch movies - They are watching "With Held" - Funny
throw in
2. They play card games, Chess.
3. They sit talking.
4. They pick on each other.
5. They look through old pictures together, Watching home
movies.
SCENE 5 - THE LETTER
CUT: AMANDA SEES MOM'S OLD SUITCASE. SHE OPENS IT SEEING
NOTHING MUCH.
Amanda opens the hidden flap and there is a hidden pouch.
Inside the pouch is a pair of earrings and a letter that
says "Mom and Dad"
She opens it and reads the letter. Chris walks in the room.
CHRIS
Hey what's that?
He sees the letter.
CHRIS
Where did you get that?
Amanda stands up.
AMANDA
Why the h*** would you ever say
this to them...
CHRIS
I regret what I wrote... I regret
ever saying any of that to them.
AMANDA
YOU TOLD THEM YOU WISHED THEY WOULD
JUST DROP DEAD!
Chris hangs his head in disappointment.
CHRIS
I made mistakes in my life.
AMANDA
Yeah... everyone has. But saying
stuff like this to the people who
put you on this earth? People who
raised you. Fed you. Changed your
diapers. Clothed you.
CHRIS
I GET IT! I F***** UP! WHAT ELSE
CAN I SAY ABOUT IT AMANDA?
AMANDA
NOTHING MUCH! THEY DROPPED DEAD
JUST LIKE YOU ASKED OF THEM!
CHRIS
AS SOON AS I SENT THAT I COULDN'T
TAKE IT BACK. IT'S NOT LIKE A TEXT
WHERE YOU SEND IT AND CAN SAY
"OOPS. DIDN'T MEAN TO SEND THAT."
AMANDA
YOU STILL SENT IT!
CHRIS
Yeah I did! I sent that. The single
worst thing I have ever written.
AMANDA
but why chris?
Chris takes a moment. He turns around.
AMANDA
CHRIS?
CHRIS
BECAUSE FAMILY IS SUPPOSED TO BE
FOREVER!
There's a moment of silence between the two. Amanda backs
down a little bit.
CHRIS
Family is forever. Mom and Dad were
supposed to prove that.
AMANDA
they are dead... Death happens..
CHRIS
It's not their death! It's their
marriage. It's their fighting. It's
how they couldn't get along with
the rest of the family. They
isolated our relationship with our
family. We never went anywhere on
the holidays or saw grandma or
grandpa any of our aunts or uncles.
We were the black sheep that
followed our parents.
Amanda realizes this.
CHRIS
I left because I needed to get
away. I'm sorry I left you. I had
to get the f*** away from them. I
needed to go and do the things I
wanted to do. I don't regret that.
I wanted to take you with me but
mom and dad would never have that
happen.
Amanda sits down.
CHRIS
I understand how hard it was for
you to stay with them.
AMANDA
Did you leave because you didn't
love me?
CHRIS
Are you kidding?
Amanda looks up to him.
CHRIS
Amanda, you're my sister. I will
love you unconditionally forever.
whether I am 600,000 miles away or
standing right in front of you like
I am now. I will always love you.
We may have lost mom and dad. But
in the course of losing them we
found each other. I never want to
lose you again.
Amanda takes a moment and looks back up at Chris.
AMANDA
You won't.
Chris looks at her.
AMANDA
Like you said. Family's forever.
She gets up and they hug.
FADE TO:
SCENE 6 - BEGIN AGAIN
INT. BOXES ARE PACKED AND THEY ARE GETTING READY TO LEAVE.
Chris walks into the room.
CHRIS
Are you ready?
AMANDA
I was starting to like it here.
CHRIS
Yeah, Me too.
They get the last box and go to walk out of the Apartment.
CHRIS
So I got a question for you.
AMANDA
Yeah?
CHRIS
Would you want to live with me out
in LA?
Amanda is shocked but happy.
AMANDA
Chris! Yes! Of Course!
She Hugs him. She lets go.
CHRIS
I figured you'd get a new start. I
have plenty of room. You can find a
really good college to go to.
Amanda smiles.
AMANDA
I would love to.
Chris smiles. They walk out of the house together.
Over Top: Camera Pans over as Chris & Amanda get in the car
and drive off.
Music Plays and Chris's voice comes over the screen.
CHRIS (V.O.)
Dear mom and Dad. I know I haven't
been the best kid in the world and
I accept that.
As he speaks we see Chris and Amanda Pull up to a cemetery.
Chris Gets out.
S.M. - Chris walks toward the Cemetery.
CHRIS (V.O.)
But I am writing to tell you both
that I am sorry for what I have
ever done to the both of you. I can
never take back what I said, that I
regret.
S.M. - HE PULLS OUT A LETTER FROM HIS POCKET AS HE WALKS.
CHRIS (V.O.)
I regret that you both died without
us being as close as we should of
been. I however don't regret that
in your death I found something I
once lost.
S.M. - AMANDA ROLLS DOWN THE WINDOW OF THE CAR AND LOOKS
OUT.
CHRIS (V.O.)
Amanda. We have regained what we
both had lost. I'm just sorry it
didn't happen when you two were
alive.
S.M. - CHRIS GETS TO THE GRAVE AND SETS THE LETTER DOWN.
CHRIS (V.O.)
I hope you two will be able to read
this wherever you are. Amanda is
moving to L.A. with me, and for the
first time in my life, I'm excited
about change. You two are the
reason I'm on this earth, and I can
never thank you enough.
S.M. - PAN UP TO CHRIS WHO IS CROUCHED. IN THE BACKGROUND WE
SEE AMANDA.
CHRIS (V.O.)
We all know that sometimes life
hurts a lot worse than death.
Chris stands up and walks toward the edge of the cemetery
overlooking the city. Amanda walks up to him.
AMANDA
We have to get going, We might miss
the flight.
Chris nods his head to Amanda who starts to walk away.
CAMERA PANS TO HIS FACE AS SHE WALKS AWAY FROM HIM.
CHRIS (V.O.)
But maybe that's a good thing.
Chris smiles and turns away walking toward the car.
FADE TO BLACK.
END.
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This story is about an estranged brother and sister who try to reconnect after their parents tragic death. This has been filmed and is will be released to an audience on May 2nd 2015.