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Textbath

Abigail wrote this script to fulfill a class credit in Digital Cinematography.

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Abigail Starr
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33 views

Textbath

Abigail wrote this script to fulfill a class credit in Digital Cinematography.

Uploaded by

Abigail Starr
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TEXTBATH

Abigail Starr

2022
1. INT. BATHROOM - DAY

We move from the bottom of the vanity, to an overflowing


trashcan, to the base of a toilet, to the bathtub. The shot
rotates to follow the edge of the bathtub. The shower curtain
moves periodically. In the distance, we hear voices shouting.
The camera reaches the end of the curtain, revealing a slight
crack between it and the wall. Inside, the camera shows the
top of a small head.

LAILA rolls on to her side in the tub as she turns the page
in her textbook. A close up of the front cover shows the name
of the book: "World War II: A Short History Copyright 2004."
She looks at a map of Germany, marked with stars to indicate
concentration camps. As she studies the map, she's startled
by a loud thud in the distance, and the shouting stops. She
tugs the shower curtain further shut and waits. There's
silence for a few moments, until a knock comes at the front
door. LAILA jumps again. She hears her mother's voice but
can't make out what she says. Then, slow footsteps cross the
downstairs floor. LAILA hears her sister ALLISON say hello,
and her father replies with a grunt of acknowledgement.

ALLISON exchanges muffled words with her mom, then makes her
way up the stairs. LAILA jumps out of the bathtub, yanks the
curtain shut, turns off the light, and leaps into her twin
bed with an Aristocrats bedspread.

FADE TO: BEDROOM

2. INT. BEDROOM - DAY

There's a small knock at the door.


LAILA
(softly)
Come in.

ALLISON enters the room, shutting the door softly behind her.

ALLISON
(forcing a soft smile)
Hey.

The two sit in silence a moment. LAILA continues reading,


while ALLISON looks around the room. Beyond the bed, dresser,
and three knee-high stacks of books, there's not much else.
ALLISON looks to LAILA and smiles softly.

ALLISON
(moving toward the bed)
Whatcha readin?
2.

ALLISON sits on the edge of the bed. LAILA looks up from her
book briefly, then returns to reading.

LAILA
Anne Frank.

ALLISON nods her head in rememberence.

ALLISON
I read that one back in school,
too.

LAILA still stares down at the open book.

LAILA
(softly)
It reminds me of Grandma.

ALLISON shifts and sighs. She looks at the stack of books


again.

ALLISON
Are there any happier books you
could read?

LAILA looks up from her book.

LAILA
(defensively)
Grandma gave me this book, I think
she wanted me to read it, not
ignore it.

ALLISON sighs again and brushes her hair out of her face.

ALLISON
I understand. I just want you to
remember Grandma happy with us, not
sad back then.

LAILA doesn't respond and continues reading. After a few


moments, ALLISON rises from the bed and walks into the
bathroom. LAILA listens to her rustle through the cabinets.
Then, ALLISON quickly pulls back the shower curtain. LAILA
sits up, dropping the book on the floor. ALLISON re-enters
the room, holding the textbook in both hands from the weight
of it.

ALLISON
(sharply)
What is this? And why is it in the
tub?
3.

LAILA stares at ALLISON for a moment, trying to find a reason


to give for the odd material and placement. LAILA relaxes and
sits back on the bed.

LAILA
(quietly)
I got it at the library.

ALLISON
(confused)
When did you go to the library?

LAILA
I walked.

ALLISON
How did you check out a book? Did
you get a library card at school?

LAILA lowers her head in embarrasment.


LAILA
(quiety)
I used Grandma's. I figured it
wouldn't work, but I guess they
hadn't cancelled it yet.

ALLISON stares at LAILA for a moment, then crosses the room


to sit back down on the edge of the bed, putting the book
down beside her. Neither speaks for several minutes.
ALLISON
(empathetically)
Laila, what's going on? Why the
obsession with World War Two? I
mean, I know you've always liked
history but-
LAILA
(interuppting ALLISON)
It reminds of how brave Grandma
was.
ALLISON inhales sharply, then grabs her foot. LAILA begins to
cry, sniffling as her sister rubs her foot.
LAILA
(through sobs)
When the mean people were trying to
hurt the good people, Grandma was
brave. She ran away. I want to be
brave like Grandma.
4.

ALLISON furrows her brow in confustion. ALLISON starts to


speak but is interrupted by the return of shouting
downstairs. ALLISON puts her head in her hands for several
moments and LAILA calms herself.

ALLISON
(quietly, intensely)
Laila, please don't run away. Let
me help you. I planned to move off-
campus at the start of next
semester, and ask you to come stay
with me. There's a lady in the unit
across from mine who homeschools
her daughter. Maybe we could ask if
she'll teach you, too?

LAILA ponders the offer for a few moments.


ALLISON
Until then, I'll come home every
weekend I don't have work.
ALLISON shakes LAILA'S foot gently, offering a weak smile.

LAILA
(eagerly)
Can I bring all of my books?

ALLISON chuckles and nods. LAILA nods back. ALLISON leans on


the floor to pick up the book LAILA dropped.
ALLISON
What do you say we go get you your
own library card?
LAILA jumps out of the bed and slides on her purple tennis
shoes. ALLISON grabs LAILA's hand, and they walk out of the
room.
FADE TO BLACK

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