Behind a Smile

 

“BEHIND A SMILE”

 

Fade In:

 

KAYELL (VO)

“Why am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try? Why am I fighting to live, if I’m just living to die?” Success, freedom, happiness…it all seems impossible when the odds are against you. Especially when no one cares, when there is no one to talk to, when there is no ear to confide in and a shoulder to cry on. Death must be easy, because life is hard; and keeping dreams gets harder the more I strive.

 

                                                           DISSOLVE TO:

 

EXT. PARK – DAY

 

KAYELL LORE, 16, is sitting on a bench along with his friend, JOSEPH ROY, 16. Kayell is leaning forward, his elbows resting on his thighs.

 

KAYELL

                     (almost as if he is talking to himself)

I don’t know what to do anymore. Why can’t people be more like you, not so blind to the truth?

 

Joseph waits patiently for Kayell to continue

 

                              KAYELL

I write everyday, it makes life bearable… but how long? I don’t even know where to start anymore. I have dreams, but what is the use if I can never achieve ‘em. It’s hard to progress when the one person you love is ill and your forced to spend so much of your time to care for her, and so little time to care for yourself. I’m such a mess.

 

JOSEPH

Kay, slow down man, how can I help you when you’re in this state?

 

            KAYELL

I just want a life of a normal teen, you know?

 

            JOSEPH

And what would that be?

 

            KAYELL

Not having so much responsibility on my shoulders…

 

            JOSEPH

Your mom?

 

 

            KAYELL

It just shatters your whole life. I was only thirteen, just entering my teenager years. And now, it’s like; I can’t support her in fighting her disease. Not that she makes it easy for me. She never helps me help her. And her depression, I mean whose fault is it? If I fail in caring for her, then I’m failing myself.

 

            JOSEPH

No, don’t say that, you’re not failing anyone.

 

            KAYELL

And it would be so much easier if people cared. If people took time to stop and ask why? But no, they just look at you, they judge you; they don’t care in understanding a person…first impression is everything. Being shy is so much different than unfriendliness.

 

Joseph remains silent to allow Kayell to let out his emotions.

 

                              KAYELL

If a majority of the people are like the people in our high school, than I don’t know if I want to live to see the future.

 

            JOSEPH

No, no don’t say that… as long as you got one person who supports you, than life is at least bearable. And trust me, I got your back. Besides, I’m sure once you’re out of this school, you will meet a lot of cool people… Just have patience.

 

            KAYELL

Yeah...I don’t even know what I want to do after I graduate.

 

            JOSEPH

Hm, my dad told me once that living life is like writing a story and being stuck in life is like writers block; stop thinking too hard on how to begin and maybe start thinking about the end. What do you want to be in the future? How are you going to be that person? Just work your way up, you know?

                 

Kayell sighs

                              JOSEPH

                  What do you want be?

                 

                              KAYELL

                  Somebody.

 

                              JOSEPH

Kay, man. C`mon… how about writing, eh? How hard can it be to succeed with your talent?

 

KAYELL

Well thanks, that’s very encouraging.

 

JOSEPH

I truly mean that dude…

 

KAYELL

Yeah, writing, it’s the only talent I have. It’s my life.

                              JOSEPH

And if you keep working at it, it could be your future.

 

Kayell stares blankly at the ground

           

            JOSEPH

I know I’m not the best at counselling, but just know you’re not alone, eh?

 

Joseph stands up and takes a book out of his bag, “The Rose that Grew from Concrete”.

                 

                              JOSEPH

Read his poetry, especially the title poem; do some research. This helped me get through the tough times; maybe it’ll help you.

 

Joseph hands him the book. Kayell takes it.

 

                              JOSEPH

                  I’ll see you at school tomorrow.

 

Joseph pats his good friend on the back, as Kayell studies the cover of the book in his hand.

 

                                                         DISSOLVE TO:     

                             

INT.- SCHOOL HALL - DAY

 

Kayell is at his locker, as Joseph approaches him.

 

                              JOSEPH

                  Did you read the poem?

 

                              KAYELL

                  Yeah, thanks.

 

                              JOSEPH

                  Well, waddya think?

 

                              KAYELL

Motivating… But it’s not just the poem. It’s the story behind the poem, the life of the man who wrote it, and the circumstances that this poem was written in. I mean, I thought I had it bad. But my life is like…my life is happy compared to Tupac’s.

 

JOSEPH

And people misunderstood, they saw him as a thug, but what they didn’t see was the sentimental, socially conscious, and passionate writer that Tupac was. He persevered and overcame the odds and the struggle of poverty, to become one of the most influential rappers to have ever lived.

 

KAYELL

Hmm…I really am not alone eh?

 

JOSEPH

Never. Everyone has his or her own struggles.

 

Kayell has no response.

 

JOSEPH

By the way, what ever happened to that screenplay you started working on years back?

 

Kayell

Ah, it’s just sitting there on my computer. Once my mom was diagnosed, I kind of lost touch with everything? But I…heh, what are you hinting at?

 

JOSEPH

Just saying, good romance movies are dead these days. The closest to romance are romance comedies. I think the genre needs to be resurrected.

 

KAYELL

I uhh…I didn’t know you liked romance movies?

 

JOSEPH

Name me a guy who does?

 

Kayell smiles

 

                              JOSEPH

                  Wow, I actually made you smile. How rare is that.

 

                              Kayell

                  I did not smile

 

                              JOSEPH

                  I think I saw it…haha

 

                              KAYELL

As long as my mom remains in her state, I will never be truly happy, a smile is nothing. 

 

            JOSEPH

A smile is a start. Don’t give up on her, eh. Be the rose.

 

                              KAYELL

                  Speaking of which I got to go home.

 

                              JOSEPH

                  Remember what I said, eh?

 

                              KAYELL

                  Yeah, see you. 

 

                                                           DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DAY- HOME

 

MRS. LORE is in the upstairs hallway, struggling to get downstairs. She has sunglasses on, the light hurting her eyes.

 

            MRS. LORE

Kay?…Kayell?

 

Kayell approaches his mom from his room. She reaches out her hand.

 

            KAYELL

Mom, you don’t need me, you can do it yourself, put some effort into it.

 

            MRS. LORE

No.

 

            KAYELL

Mom. I’m not going to help you. C’mon.

 

Kayell walks away, but he stops, and returns to his mom standing in the hallway.

 

                              KAYELL

                  Here

 

He offers her a finger. Mrs. Lore grabs his finger as she is assisted downstairs.

 

                              KAYELL

I don’t know if you realized, but I didn’t even give you my hand, I just gave you a finger, and you walked. A finger! Do you really think I helped?! It was all you. Why can’t you understand that?! You could walk with the right mindset.

 

Mrs. Lore ignores her son. 

                             

KAYELL

(subtle voice)

If you want a better life for yourself, you have to fight. I can’t be there for you always. I know you can do it, I’ve just seen it right now.

 

Mrs. Lore is silent, as she looks at the ground. A tear flows down her cheek, as Kayell walks away.

 

    DISSOLVE TO:           

SERIES OF SHOTS

A.) Kayell is reading “The Rose that Grew from Concrete”,

B.) Kayell is writing,

C.) Kayell is socializing at writing circles.

D.) Kayell is watching his mom walk by herself towards him.

Over the following speech.

                 

KAYELL (VO)

“Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature’s law it learned to walk without having feet”.

 

2pac is the rose that grew from concrete; he did what seemed impossible. He succeeded even though the odds were against him.

 

“Funny it seems, but by keeping it’s dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.”

 

2pac saw a future, and he lived that future until his death, despite the overwhelming criticism and the absence of having an ear to console in.

2pac grew up in a home without a father and a caring mother; the only friends who showed the least bit of love were the thugs in his neighbourhood. 2pacs life, his struggle, was in every way, different than mine. But that is irrelevant; 2pac is living proof that turning dreams into reality is not impossible, in fact far from. It just takes a simple one-word method and that method is called perseverance-never giving up and fighting for what we believe in and love. It is important to put a smile on every morning we wake up and to take the best of what we have to thrive and to achieve.

 

   FADE OUT.

THE END

Reviews

[Frances O'Neill]

This is very nice work! The various scenes as well as the series of shots make it all the more

interesting. One point, shouldn't "Proving nature's law" be "Disproving nature's law."

[Nik Dendera]

Finally! I have read so many pieces that are supposed to be written for the screen and they just don't seem to work.
But this?
Not only do you display an understanding of the media (nice touch adding in camera.shot details), but the storyline was engaging. An excellent piece. May I suggest getting this made into a short?

I'm working on truning one of my novels into a screenplay-feature length. I'll be puttin git up in pieces, maybe if you have time you could comment?