Scene #1

INT. DAY. - BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP

Opening shot of the store. Small intro credits as we look at different bears and clothes, and any romantic theming in the store.

Slowly, our characters come into view, looking almost like background characters. Appearing in the side of the frame every other shot before we have a back-facing shot of them. With the title screen over their backs.

Title fades, characters step aside as KUMA grabs a bear she likes. She’s trying to build a bear that looks exactly like her boyfriend, TRISTAN. They quarter turn, we see from their mouths down. She shows it to TRISTAN, who smiles and nods his head. They walk off-screen to stuff the bear.

The SALES ASSOCIATE pulls the now-fully-stuffed bear off the pump and hands it to KUMA. We can see the SALES ASSOCIATE’s face as they point to the box of hearts. KUMA gestures for TRISTAN to do the heart tradition. Hesitantly, though with a smile, he does. Following what the SALES ASSOCIATE tells him to do. He stuffs the heart inside the bear, and KUMA takes his hand as the SALES ASSOCIATE sews the bear’s back.

Wide shot, montage with many cuts. KUMA, still only seeing her mouth down, wanders around looking at all the clothes. Sometimes holding them up to TRISTAN. TRISTAN follows her around, also only seeing his mouth down. It becomes clear that she is making a bear meant to look like him. Soon, she dresses the bear, and we get a reveal shot of the final product.

KUMA

Look! He’s perfect! He looks just like you!

We see KUMA name the bear “WILLIAM” and print off his birth certificate. TRISTAN pays for WILLIAM, and they leave the store hand in hand with KUMA cradling WILLIAM.

CUT TO:

Scene #2

INT./EXT. DAY - MANY LOCATIONS - MONTOAGE

KUMA and TRISTAN spend the rest of the day with WILLIAM. They take him shopping, to a museum, to an arcade, to a movie where he gets his own 3D glasses of course, on a walk to dinner, dinner at a cheap restaurant where he gets his own chair, and finally buckle him into the back seat on the car ride home.

CUT TO:

Scene #3

INT. NIGHT - CAR

The three of them arrive back home to KUMA’s apartment. From the perspective of WILLIAM in the backseat, KUMA is delighted and joyful with the day she shared with TRISTAN and TRISTAN nods along. They kiss goodbye and KUMA leaves the car. 

TRISTAN turns to WILLIAM and we see his full face. He is conflicted as he looks at WILLIAM, clearly upset as he knows he is planning to breakup with KUMA. He speaks, the first character to do so.

TRISTAN

 Take care of her for me, okay? I’m sorry… but it’s for the best… 

WILLIAM does not respond; he is a stuffed bear. KUMA opens the backseat car door and unbuckles WILLIAM from his seat. KUMA puts WILLIAM on her hip, allowing WILLIAM to see behind her as they walk away. WILLIAM sees TRISTAN in his car, hunched forward, resting his head on the wheel. He looks up to see WILLIAM, tears running down his face, before he finally drives away. 

CUT TO:

Scene #4

INT. NIGHT - APARTMENT

It is dark in the apartment. Only light is from a lamp, and we only see KUMA’s mouth and torso as she sits on her couch. WILLIAM sits on her lap as she has her phone to her ear. On a call with TRISTAN as they discuss the final details of their breakup. She has tear streaks on her face. Sniffling every now and then with mindless hums.

KUMA

No… no that um… yeah that should be it… No, no I don’t… I don’t want the bracelet back. I just… You’re sure?

There’s silence for a moment. KUMA waits as TRISTAN hesitates. After a moment, he responds that he’s sure. The answer has KUMA struggling to hold back her tears.

KUMA

O-okay… I… Goodbye, I guess… I… I love you.

The line goes flat just before KUMA says “I love you”. KUMA pulls her phone away, looking at the ended call for a moment before looking down at WILLIAM. She sobs into WILLIAM, dropping her phone and crushing him into her chest. She cries for a long while before anger overtakes her.

She tosses WILLIAM onto the couch and stands. Her hands pull at her hair as she paces. She is a mess of sobs and screams and heavy breathing. She feels on the brink of a breakdown, unable to control her breathing and her emotions as the world around her spins. 

KUMA lunges for WILLIAM. Ready to do something aggressive, but when WILLIAM’s form shines in the dim light, the world is still. She pauses in her actions and begins crying once more.

KUMA

Oh… oh gods… what am I doing…

She drops to the ground with WILLIAM in front of her.

KUMA

It’s not your fault, William… It will never be your fault… You just… Fuck… 

WILLIAM falls to the side. KUMA wails in agony on her apartment floor.

FADE TO:

Scene #5

INT. DAY. - BEDROOM

KUMA is collecting things around her room. Collecting all the things TRISTAN gifted her. From trinkets to letters, KUMA tosses them all in a box. WILLIAM sits on her bed. She doesn’t seem to notice him. She leaves the room with the box in her arms. WILLIAM stays on her bed. 

KUMA’s phone pings on her nightstand. Messages flood her screen from friends and family. All saying how TRISTAN is a no good, just like other men, evil demon, scum of the earth. KUMA walks back into her room and glances at the messages. She is clearly upset with the slander TRISTAN has been receiving since the breakup. She shuts her phone off and turns to leave once more, only to notice WILLIAM still sitting on the bed.

They stare at one another. Sadness thick in the air. KUMA eventually sits on the bed across from the bear. She shifts into the natural light from her window, and her face is clear for the first time. Puffy eyes and nose, blurred lip lines, heavy eye bags. She has been crying for many hours now. Most likely days.

KUMA and WILLIAM have a standoff of silent staring. 

KUMA

It’s not your fault… You’re just… the product. 

KUMA runs a hand through her hair. Struggling to keep looking at WILLIAM as tears well up in her eyes again. She looks to her window and finds LEGO flowers she forgot to add to the box.

KUMA

I… I care for you. I really, really do. Just like all the rest. But I…

She looks back at WILLIAM again. Tears properly falling this time. 

KUMA

 It’ll just be hard to hold you in my arms for a little while. I love you. But… the heart that sits inside you.

She points to his chest. 

KUMA

 It’s no longer mine to claim. And my heart aches at the thought. 

KUMA takes WILLIAM gently and stands from her bed. As she moves, her voice plays over.

KUMA

So just know, as you sit on my shelf without my arms around you, do not mistake my distance for distaste. I still love you like a mother her child. Love you and all the love, and memories of us that rest inside you. And, in time I will hold you once more. Like I did before…

WILLIAM sits nicely on the shelf. Kuma takes a step back before reaching out to fix his shirt. She smiles weakly.

KUMA

You look just like him… Isn’t that amazing?

WILLIAM does not respond. KUMA takes his silence as a yes. She squeezes his little stuffed hand once more. 

KUMA

Don’t be ashamed of it, okay? I want you to be just like him. For he is a wonderful person… He’s just… not mine anymore…

She finally pulls away. Whipping the tears from her eyes. She decides to leave the flowers on her window and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. 

Camera looks back to WILLIAM to find him now as a young child holding WILLIAM stuffy in his arms.

END.