Introspection

written by

Mia Nieves

Address
Phone
E-mail

Act 1
EXT. THE WOODS IN DAYTIME

CLOSE UP ON BUSHES/ TREES

A person zooms past and the leaves RUSTLE as they run.

LONG SHOT
The main character is running through the woods, and
the camera is following them.

The main character's friend is also running, but they are

in a completely different area of the woods trying to
contact the main character on their phone.

MAIN CHARACTER'S FRIEND

Come on. Pick up. Please don't do
anything stupid.
The main character's friend keeps running, and they
pass yellow flowers.

CLOSE UP ON YELLOW FLOWERS

The main character is slowing down. They see a desirable
spot near the water, and they walk up to it.

Main character creeps closer to the edge of the water. The

main character takes a long paus. They close their eyes and
take a deep inhale as they prepare to jump, when an old
man's voice interrupts.

OLD MAN
Am I interrupting?
Main character jumps with fear, and inches away from
the edge.

OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT

The main character looks back to see the old man leaning
in with curiosity.

OLD MAN (CONT'D)

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare
you.
Main character gives out an irritated sigh
2.

OLD MAN (CONT'D)

 Be careful around the edge. You
might fall.

MEDIUM SHOT
The main character looks down at the water, and

SIGHS. CLOSE UP OF WATER

MEDIUM SHOT OF MAIN CHARACTER

I know. MAIN CHARACTER

MEDIUM SHOT OF OLD MAN

OLD MAN
Is something troubling you?
MAIN CHARACTER
(Like a whisper)
Yeah

The old man sits on the dirt and pats his hand on the
dirt next to him, gesturing for the main character to
sit with him.

The main character hesitates before slowly walking up to

him and sitting beside him.

MAIN CHARACTER (CONT'D)

What're you doing out here?
OLD MAN
I suppose you could say... I'm
stuck.
MAIN CHARACTER
What do you mean?
OLD MAN
It's... difficult to explain.
MAIN CHARACTER
Who are you?
3.

OLD MAN
 I don't quite know. I never got to
figure that out. Humans are too
complex to define in words
MAIN CHARACTER
I meant, what is your name, but I
guess that works too.
OLD MAN
Who are you?
MAIN CHARACTER
I don't know either. I'm just
confused... and sad... and angry...
and tired. So tired.
The old man lets out a HMMM as he validates the
main character's statement.

OLD MAN
Do you want to talk about what's
troubling you?
MAIN CHARACTER
I don't know. It feels kinda weird
talking about my problems with an
old guy I found in the woods.
The old man lets out a little chuckle
OLD MAN
I understand. Just know that I'm
here to listen, so you can stay as
long as you need.
The old man leans back and looks out onto the water,
taking in its tranquility. The main character notices him
doing this, and does the same. The old man slowly closes
his eyes and slowly inhales.

MAIN CHARACTER
Do you think there's an afterlife?
The old man opens his eyes and looks at the main character.
MAIN CHARACTER (CONT'D)
And if there is, do you think it's
better than the life we live here
on Earth?
OLD MAN
That's a difficult question.
4.
The main character sighs, and leans forward.
MAIN CHARACTER
I never asked for any of this. None
of us did. We were just plopped on
this planet without rhyme or
reason. Without purpose, or morals.
We live our lives, looking for
purpose, and the meaning of life
,but is there a meaning? Why can't
we live happily in blissful
ignorance? Why can't we just be
happy living off instinct. Why do
we have to waste our lives asking
ourselves such complex questions?
The main character pauses and gets up to the edge again,
and looks out onto the water. The old man slowly follows.

MAIN CHARACTER (CONT'D)

To be... or not to be...
OLD MAN
That is the question.
MAIN CHARACTER
Consciousness makes cowards of us
all.
OLD MAN
I think I know what's on your mind.
And I think I know how to answer
your question.
The main character looks at the old man in confusion. The
old man walks behind the main character. The main character
turns around to face him. Now the main character's back is
to the water, and they're facing each other.
Act 2
The old man suddenly pushes the main character, but
still holds their collar.

The main character is terrified by the old mans action,

and flinches. They are now leaning over the edge. The
main character grabs the old mans hand in a panic. With
fear in their eyes, they ask.

MAIN CHARACTER
Woah, Are you crazy? What are you
doing?
OLD MAN
 I'm answering your question.
5.

The old man pulls the main character away from the edge.
Now the main character is scared and creeps away from the
old man. The old man slowly follows the main character
until he's about a foot away. His eyes are full of solace.

OLD MAN (CONT'D)

You don't want to die...... You
just don't want to live like this
anymore.
The main character looks at him with surprise.
OLD MAN (CONT'D)
You've been hurt, and you want the
pain to stop. But, I can tell you
with certainty, that this isn't the
solution. You can't always run away
from your problems... It's not
healthy.
The main character looks at the water again, and is
now getting visibly sad.

MAIN CHARACTER
All I want is to be happy.
OLD MAN
I know. But, this won't make you
happy. I would know.
The old man looks off to the side at something out of
frame. The main character looks in the same direction, and
sees something in the distance. The main character walks
towards it. The object is a wooden cross with a picture of
the old man on it.

OLD MAN (CONT'D)

Don't do what I did.
Their eyes widen. The main character is confused and a
little scared. The main character goes to turn around
suddenly, but the old man is gone.

LONG SHOT
The main character looks around in all directions looking
for the old man. The main character's breathing is a little
fast, but they slow it down.
6.
 CLOSE UP
They walk up to the water once again, but instead of
creeping up to the edge, they get down close to the water,
and look at their reflection. They touch the water.

FADE TO BLACK
FADE BACK TO WOODEN CROSS

CLOSE UP OF THE WOODEN CROSS

Footsteps can be heard in the distance. The wooden cross
now has a yellow flower in front of it.

CUT TO / PAN TO
The main character is walking back the way they came.
FADE TO
BLACK

*Post credit scene*

Cut to

Main character’s friend is still trying to call the main

character. They are still obviously lost. They are sitting
on the ground, tired, and filthy

Main character’s friend

Hey… I’m still out here. Please pick up your

phone. On the bright side, I made a frog friend.
His name is Frogbert.

Main character’s friend hangs up the phone, and starts

waving their feet, and playing with Frogbert in their hands

Main character’s friend

Do you know where my friend is?

Main character’s friend looks at the frog as if they’re

expecting a response.

MEDIUM SHOT

The main character’s friend looks straight into the camera

MAIN CHARACTER’s FRIEND (cont’d)

(like Dora the Explorer)

Do you know where my friend is?.......

LONG PAUSE

MAIN CHARACTER’s FRIEND (cont’d)

No?! Me neither! Let’s go find my friend! VAMONOS!

LET'S GO!

The main character’s friend skips across the screen.

Cut to black

THE END