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FADE IN:
INT. BLACK, ENDLESS ROOM- TIMELESS
In the middle of the room, there are 5 chairs with teenagers filling 4 of them. One is empty. The teenagers are fidgeting with their fingers, bouncing their legs. Each teenager is shown and they are clearly different from each other and uncomfortable. They each have an envelope in their hands but they are unopened.
The door opens and a fifth teenager, ELLIOT (16), is being pushed through the door. Elliot is a quiet and introverted nerd. Anxiety is basically his middle name.
ELLIOT
Wait- Where- hold on-
A door slams behind Elliot. Looking around, Elliot hesitates for a second but then goes to sit in the empty chair. He has the same envelope. As soon as Elliot sits down, a buzzer goes off and a clock appears on the wall. The countdown begins at 10 minutes and decreases.
ELLIOT
(hesitant)
The guard outside told me- he told me to tell you that you can open the envelopes now.
Everyone’s attention turns towards Elliot like they haven’t heard anyone speak in ages. Elliot continues to feel judged by the others and swallows. He spins the envelope in his hands and begins to neatly open it. The group follows his lead and starts to tear the paper.
The group all read their envelopes and look around at each other for help. JASON (17), an overly confident jock, shows clear signs of confusion.
JASON
What the hell does this mean?
CHARLOTTE (16), a pretty and popular girl with a fake face on for her friends, rereads the letter over and over again.
CHARLOTTE
Welcome to the afterlife. You have ten minutes to decide who gets a second chance.
JASON
(annoyed)
I know what it says, I just- don’t get it.
REESE (17), a know it all girl who was destined to be valedictorian, tears up.
REESE
It means we died.
Reese looks around to the other teenagers for hope but they are all stunned as well. RYDER (16), a dark and emotional boy who people don’t try to know, sits there in silence just staring at the note.
CHARLOTTE
What does the second part mean?
The teenagers are silent, still thinking about the first part. They flip the paper around just to make sure they didn’t miss anything.
REESE
We get to decide who gets a second chance at life? I guess that's what it means.
Reese keeps trying to find the deeper meaning to the piece of paper. The rest of the group starts to think.
Elliot
(quietly)
How are we going to decide that? Thats a huge-
JASON
(abrubtly)
Let's go around and say why we deserve it.
No one speaks at first, trying to find a reason to live. Each person looks at someone else to get the conversation going.
JASON
If no one is going to say anything, I’ll go-
REESE
(confidentally)
I’m a straight A student, already committed to Harvard. I have a set future.
CHARLOTTE
My family- my parents and my siblings need me.
JASON
So does my family, you are not that special.
CHARLOTTE
Okay, well then let's just drop everything to save your life-
JASON
(defensivly)
That’s not what I meant.
Charlotte and Jason start to argue, drowning out the noise of anyone else. Elliot and Reese look to each other.
REESE
(loudly)
Excuse me! Please stop, I know emotions are high but time is running out.
Charlotte and Jason stop arguing. Everyone looks to the clock.
CHARLOTTE
Maybe we should go around and say our names and then one reason why we deserve it.
JASON
(mockingly)
What is this, the first day of school? My favorite color is blue!
CHARLOTTE
Please don’t start this again.
JASON
I’m just saying-
They begin to argue again while Ryder rolls his eyes and drops his head back.
REESE
Please, shut up!
Jason and Charlotte stop arguing again.
ELLIOT
(quietly)
I think her idea is a good one.
CHARLOTTE
Thank you, I’m glad someone agrees with me.
JASON
Okay fine. I’m Jason and I need to help my dad run his convenience store so he can feed the rest of my family.
The other teenagers nod in approval and wait for someone to go next.
REESE
Hi everyone, my name is Reese and I deserve a second chance because I am going to work extremely hard to become a lawyer. Also, I have a lot of assets that could be useful back on earth. And-
JASON
That's enough.
Reese shoots Jason a look.
CHARLOTTE
I guess I'll go now. My name’s Charlotte and I need to help my single mother take care of my 3 younger siblings.
Elliot looks to Ryder to go first but his idea is shot down. Elliot takes a deep breath to calm his social anxiety.
ELLIOT
Um- Hi, I’m Elliot and I need a second chance because-
Elliot hesitates while fidgeting with his fingers in his lap. Everyone stares at him.
ELLIOT
I don’t know.
Elliot doesn’t look at the group and just looks at his bouncing leg and fidgeting hands. The group gives him a second to rethink his answer. Elliot wipes his sweaty hands on his pants and then looks to Ryder.
JASON
Okay… moving on. What’s your name?
Jason points his finger to Ryder who has sat in silence the whole time. Ryder continues to just stare and not speak. The rest of the group becomes visibly uncomfortable.
CHARLOTTE
Can you not talk?
Ryder remains silent.
REESE
(pointing to her ears)
Are you deaf?
But still, nothing comes out of his mouth.
JASON
I think we should just- move on.
CHARLOTTE
I think everyone went.
Charlotte looks around to see if she could recall the names of everyone to make sure everyone went.
JASON
What do we do now?
REESE
(confidently)
Let's vote! All those who vote for me say aye. AYE!
Reese raises her hand dramatically but no one answers her and leaves her hanging.
CHARLOTTE
What makes you deserve it more than us?
REESE
I thought my reason from before was pretty convincing. You know, the whole harvard student thing-
JASON
Just because you’re smarter than us doesn’t mean you deserve a second chance.
Everyone nods in agreement and Reese drops her hand.
REESE
Okay then who is going to get a second chance.
Everyone looks around to see if anyone is going to say anything.
CHARLOTTE
What do you think, Elliot?
Elliot looks up from his hands like he hasn't been paying attention.
ELLIOT
Oh um- I don’t know. I don’t have an opinion.
He returns his attention back to his hands so he doesn’t see anyone’s reaction.
REESE
That’s not, not a vote for me.
JASON
(sarcastically)
Well this is working well.
CHARLOTTE
What do you think we should do then, Jason?
JASON
We could do a competition. Whoever wins goes back.
REESE
But then you would win.
JASON
Exactly.
CHARLOTTE
(sarcastically)
That’s so thoughtful of you.
Jason, Charlotte and Reese begin to spitfire ideas of ways they could decide other than voting. A buzzer begins to go off to signal 5 minutes left on the timer but the arguing is too loud. Elliot looks at the clock and realizes the time.
ELLIOT
(hesitant)
Guys? I think you should stop arguing now.
Elliot is ignored by everyone. He looks to Ryder for assurance and Ryder signals him to keep going.
ELLIOT
(a little louder)
Please stop arguing!
Again, he is ignored. He decides to retreat and doesn’t bother them anymore. He looks at Ryder again.
RYDER
(loudly)
Be quiet!
Everyone turns their attention to Ryder who is standing up and is confused. He points to the clock and everyone turns their attention towards it. The buzzer has stopped now.
JASON
Shit, we only have 5 minutes left.
CHARLOTTE
We can see that, Jason, thank you.
Jason rolls his eyes.
REESE
We could vote based on our deaths. Do any of you know how you died?
No one wants to answer. The kids are silent while they all recount their last memories. They look around again waiting for someone to speak.
CHARLOTTE
The last thing I remember was being in a car and my friend was driving me home from a party.
Everyone looks at Charlotte to really make sure they can understand her.
CHARLOTTE
I guess that car didn’t make it to my house… and neither did I.
Everyone is silent as to see who will go next.
JASON
I think I died from alcohol poisoning. But I’m not one hundred percent sure. I just remember drinking after the last game of the season.
Charlotte looks at Jason sympathetically and then she looks to Elliot for him to go next. But before he speaks, he is cut off.
REESE
I actually don’t know how I died. I wasn’t doing anything… illegal.
Charlotte and Jason both roll their eyes.
CHARLOTTE
Elliot? What about you?
Elliot hesitates, almost on the verge of tears. He has been looking down the whole time. He swallows his emotions back.
ELLIOT
(softly)
It doesn’t matter.
CHARLOTTE
Yes it does. Your life matters.
Elliot shakes his head so they can just move on. He doesn’t want people to think that he is more important than them.
CHARLOTTE
Go on. It’s okay.
Everyone’s eyes and ears are on Elliot. He looks up at them with teary eyes.
ELLIOT
(hesitant)
I, uh- might’ve taken one to many pills.
Elliot tries to laugh, he wants to make it seem innocent. It was quiet for a while. No one said a word and Elliot just looked back down. He didn’t say another word but whipped his eyes, showing that he was crying.
JASON
(quietly)
Um- what about you…
RYDER
Ryder.
JASON
What about you, Ryder?
Ryder just shrugs his shoulders but doesn’t answer with words. The group is then quiet again.
REESE
(hesitant but confident)
Should we try the vote again? All those in favor for me-
CHARLOTTE
(angry)
Reese, no one is going to vote for you.
REESE
Hey, my death has been very hard on me.
JASON
Not everything is about you.
Reese gasps and puts her hand over her heart dramatically.
CHARLOTTE
We are all dead. It’s hard on all of us.
JASON
(agitated)
Yeah and at least you don’t have any bad memories from that moment.
REESE
(serious)
Well neither do you two.
Jason and Charlotte stop talking and look at Elliot who is still looking down and not at the group.
Charlotte
(hesitant)
Elliot?
Elliot slowly looks up at Charlotte. His eyes are now red.
CHARLOTTE
Can I ask why?
Elliot nods his head, whips his eyes one last time and sits up a bit straighter.
ELLIOT
(his voice is lower)
In my life- I had a lot of problems with anxiety or whatever… I just wanted relief.
The rest of the group stays quiet, allowing him to continue to speak but giving him time.
ELLIOT
I regret it, I do. But you all deserve to live more than me.
CHARLOTTE
That is not true, Elliot… I will admit, I was a bitch in my life.
JASON
Me too.
Jason and Charlotte look to Reese for her to join in, but she doesn’t catch on. When she turns to look at them she just shrugs her arms and Jason and Charlotte roll their eyes.
ELLIOT
Well, either way, it’s too late now.
CHARLOTTE
It might not be… I vote for Elliot.
Charlotte looks to the other group members. Elliot, shocked, shakes his head with disapproval. Everyone else hesitates.
RYDER
I think I’ll agree with Charlotte on this one… I vote for Elliot.
ELLIOT
Guys, please don’t-
CHARLOTTE
You need to make things right at home, Elliot.
ELLIOT
No, I don’t deserve this… Reese, I vote for Reese.
REESE
Thank you, Elliot. That’s one!
CHARLOTTE
Shut the fuck up, Reese. No one else is voting for you.
Reese drops her head and stays quiet.
ELLIOT
I really appreciate the gesture, but-
JASON
Elliot, I vote for you.
Reese looks at Jason and gives him a mean stare. The clock on the wall starts to buzz and countdown from 1 minute. Reese looks to everyone in the group and sighs.
REESE
(hesitantly)
Fine. I vote for Elliot.
The clock doesn’t stop.
CHARLOTTE
What do we do now?
JASON
I don’t know.
The clock buzzes again, this time there is 30 seconds left.
ELLIOT
(quietly)
I don’t deserve this.
CHARLOTTE
Yes, you do.
The clock buzzes again at 10 seconds. A voice comes from the speaker and starts to announce each second. The kids just look at each other, waiting for the 10 seconds to be up. When they finish, a buzzer goes again.
ANNOUNCER
(robotic)
Will the chosen candidate please step forward.
Elliot hesitates but stands up. The rest of the group stands with him to watch him. Elliot slowly walks towards the wall where the countdown was and a door appears in front of him. The door opens with a bright white light shining into the room.
Elliot looks back to the group who are all pushing him forward. He turns back to the door and hesitates to step in. He turns around one last time.
ELLIOT
Thank you.
Charlotte nodded her head, on the verge of tears. Elliot steps forward into the door and disappears. The door closes behind him and the rest of the group is left alone in the room. They look to each other for what to do next. But all they do is just stare forward.
FADE OUT:
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