A STORY ABOUT LIFE
WRITTEN BY ASH ANWAR
In dedication to the woman who falls in love with me and with whom I will spend the rest of my life. I dream of you every single moment of every single day and it’s amazing how I manage to get anything done.
Ash Anwar [December 2009]
Published by Ash Anwar at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 Ash Anwar
PROLOGUE
SETTING:
The small rural city of Kimberly in southeast British Columbia, Canada, in the late 1990s when the lead-zinc mining industry was still in full flourish and the town was booming with life with tourists. Kimberly, BC was named to be the ‘Bavarian City of the Rockies’ to motorists passing through the region onto the tri-city urban areas of metro-vancouver.
EXT. KIMBERLY SCHOOL
The year is 1997 and it was just another sunny morning in small town of Kimberly, British Columbia. The camera zooms past a newspaper stand which displays the headline ‘Sullivan Mine prospers and attracts more people to Kimberly’. The morning dew glistens in the morning sunlight in front of a large brick building. The bricks are dull red and the building looks slightly aged. There is a playground full of children playing all sorts of games that regular school children play.
DYLAN (VOICE OVER)
The one thing we should know about ourselves is that we all have a story inside of us just waiting to be let out. Each story is special and we all hold it very dear to our hearts. If you haven’t guessed already, this story is called life and it is more complicated, more touching, and more beautifully simple than anything that can ever be written by the greatest story tellers. My story starts in my hometown of Kimberly, a small mining community in the heart of British Columbia and it begins on that day that everyone can remember, the first day of school.
A familiar ringing bell is heard throughout the playground and the children start streaming into the large building. We catch a glimpse of the name of the building, it says in large bronze letters: KIMBERLY SCHOOL. We also see a small dirty pickup truck pull up in front of the school entrance. A couple gets out of the car, followed by a small boy. Another man, around 40-ish years old and bald, goes up to the truck and takes the small boy by the hand. We are not close enough to hear what is happening but we can see this bald man motioning for the couple to walk with him. The woman starts to go but the man grabs her by the arm and motions her back into the truck. He says a few words to the bald man and then he gets into the truck and drives away.
END SCENE.
INT. KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM (JUST AFTER RECESS)
We are inside a typical kindergarten classroom, with the morning light streaming in from large paned glass windows. The calming yellow paint of the walls is barely visible from the myriad of children’s paintings stuck on the walls. There are small tables and chairs all of different colors scattered throughout the room. The room is filled with little children all over the place finger painting new paintings for the teacher to post around the classroom. The camera zooms in onto a small blond Caucasian girl proudly holding her painting up to her teacher, middle aged slim build brunette slightly tanned woman.
TEACHER
Wow, Suzy! This is amazing! This is going right up on the wall! (reaches out and holds up the painting to the classroom) Look class, we have another beautiful painting! And this one is by our very own Suzy!
Suzy returns to hear seat with a big smile on her face. She pulls out another piece of paper and dips her right hand into a pot of orange paint. The teacher begins to look in her desk for some Scotch tape, when she hears a knocking at the door. At the door is the principal, a stocky but friendly looking bald man and next to him stands a small brunette boy. He seems maybe 7 or 8 years old, and is very shy as he is holding the principal’s hand and looking intently at his shoes, which are slightly undone.
PRINCIPAL
Karen, hello Karen. How are you?
TEACHER
Oh hello Patrick. I’m doing well, and the children are drawing such beautiful paintings today (she holds up the painting that she received from Suzy)
PRINCIPAL
Wow, that’s amazing. Don’t you think the painting is amazing, Dylan?
The small boy (DYLAN) looks up gingerly from his feet and slowly looks at the painting. We can see his eyes light up and a small smile forms.
TEACHER
Do you like finger painting, Dylan? (DYLAN nods and takes her hand) Are the parents around, I’d like to see them. And it’ll be good for Dylan to at least see them around since this is his first day. Plus it’ll be rewarding for them.
PRINCIPAL
I’m sorry, Karen. They just dropped him off in the morning. They both seem like very busy folk. It’s not really my place to say but -- (Notices Dylan and says to DYLAN) Why don’t you go play with the children, Dylan? I’m sure you’re anxious to start finger painting.
TEACHER
Yes, Dylan, why don’t you sit right here beside Amber?
Dylan sits on his desk and the teacher hands him a fresh black piece of paper. She heads off outside the classroom with the principal. She seems to have a slightly stern look on her face. Dylan sits still with his hands in his pockets and looks around at the other children seated at the table. They are busy painting, laughing and having fun. The girl (AMBER) sitting beside Dylan first notices that he isn’t doing anything. She has short strawberry blonde hair.
YOUNG AMBER
Don’t you know how to paint?
Dylan looks at her shyly and confused.
YOUNG AMBER
Here, let me show you. You put your hand in here (She grabs Dylan’s hand and pushed it into a small pot of green paint) and then you put your hand here (she pushes Dylan’s hand across the blank paper making a bright streak of green). See it’s easy, except you do it.
Dylan looks at her, smiling and obviously excited to be able to paint. He starts to paint more green lines around the streak of green that Amber helped him paint. Dylan reaches for some yellow paint and accidentally knocks some paint onto Amber’s painting.
YOUNG AMBER
Hey!
Dylan looks at it and using his finger he draws a slightly misshapen yellow circle with a little happy face inside that almost looks like a smiling sun. Ambers beams a radiant smile.
YOUNG AMBER
I wanna do one too! (She grabs some yellow paint and begins to draw on Dylan’s paper. It doesn’t look anything like Dylan’s smiling yellow sun and Dylan smiles)
Amber notices Dylan’s smile and she smiles even brighter. They both begin to feverishly paint all over each other’s paintings, both giggling and laughing.
DYLAN (VOICE OVER)
And that moment to this day is still my most precious memory. Amber and I became the best of friends after that. We would tell each other our closest secrets, we would always know the right things to say to make each other feel better, and together we always brought out the best in ourselves. And we stayed best friends, year after year, no matter what life threw at us. Of course, life is a funny thing. It has its ups, and its downs. I remember when my life started to really go to hell…
END SCENE.
ACT I
EXT. KIMBERLY SCHOOL SOFTBALL FIELD – EARLY MORNING
The sun still hasn’t reached its peak in the sky and is casting long shadows across the field. Everything on the vast field lay serene; the dirt on the pitcher’s mound and around the diamond lay in a perfect shape, as if hiding the years of softball games played on them, and the grass still wet from the first rain of the spring sway silently to an invisible occasional wind. The silence is suddenly broken by two people running through the field. One of them is a slim brunette boy about 17 years old (TEENAGE DYLAN). He is wearing a blue baseball cap and is wearing a light blue softball jersey. The other is a cute girl with long strawberry blonde hair about 15 years old (TEENAGE AMBER) and she is wearing short sunshine yellow skirt that flows in the wind as she runs alongside the boy.
TEENAGE DYLAN
(huffing) Amber, I dunno how you convinced me to wake up so early just so I can run around on the softball field
TEENAGE AMBER
Trust me, Dylan; I’m on the track team. This will improve your running. And I’ve seen you run, you’re pretty pathetic.
TEENAGE DYLAN
Oh thanks a lot, you’re such a great motivator.
TEENAGE AMBER
(laughs) okay, after this last lap we’ll get to throwing, and then you’re hitting, and then –
TEENAGE DYLAN
I’ve been running for 45 minutes, and it’s only like the fourth game. Nobody is expected to great four games into the season.
TEENAGE AMBER
Yeah, but you suck at softball. I’m just trying to help you not suck at tomorrow’s game.
TEENAGE DYLAN
Once again, thank you for your great words of inspiration.
TEENAGE AMBER
I’ll let you rest if you can beat me to home plate (and with that she takes off towards home plate)
TEENAGE DYLAN
Wha— (sees her running, and starts racing her to home plate)
Dylan and Amber both race for home plate. The grass and dirt fly off of Dylan’s cleats as he tries to make up his distance to Amber. We can see Dylan barely beats her there. Dylan bends over with his hands on his knees gasping for air.
TEENAGE AMBER
(huffing) See, you’re getting better. Two weeks ago, you couldn’t have beaten me. (Dylan still gasping for air; She picks up a pair of softball mitts and throws one at Dylan, who fumbles it and it hits the ground) You’re catching game still needs work.
TEENAGE AMBER
So are your parents coming to see you play tomorrow?
TEENAGE DYLAN
Well, my mom is going to be busy at the hospital. She’s a nurse, so it’s really hard for her to leave work. But she made my dad promise to come this time.
TEENAGE AMBER
That’s great.
TEENAGE DYLAN
Yeah…I don’t think my dad really likes me that much…
TEENAGE AMBER
Why not?
TEENAGE DYLAN
He never really talks to me.
TEENAGE AMBER
Well, he’s coming to your game; it shows that he cares right?
TEENAGE DYLAN
No, he’s only coming because my mom made him. They had such a big fight over it yesterday. My mom was shouting and my dad was shouting, I was in my room drawing and trying to ignore them but it wasn’t working. Do your parents fight too?
TEENAGE AMBER
Yeah but not all the time. Usually my dad wants to do something but my mom will disagree and they’ll kinda talk about it.
TEENAGE DYLAN
They don’t shout at each other?
TEENAGE AMBER
(thinks) I don’t think I’ve ever heard them shouting…
TEENAGE DYLAN
Oh… (looks sad)
TEENAGE AMBER
Is something wrong at home?
TEENAGE DYLAN
(She rubs his arm and he slightly winces) No…
TEENAGE AMBER
(Lifts up Dylan’s sleeve) Dylan, you’re hurt-
TEENAGE DYLAN
It’s nothing…I fell and bruised…throw me the ball, Amber.
Dylan picks up the bat and is trying to bunt the ball as Amber throws it at him. Amber is laughing at his several lame attempts at hitting the ball.
END SCENE.
EXT. WALKING THROUGH A TRAIL IN THE TREES
After the workout, Dylan is walking Amber home. She lives relatively close by but they have to walk through a trail in the forest. As they are walking, streaks of sunlight (from the sun which has risen just past its highest peak in the sky) scatter through the tall trees. Birds are singing in the air and there is a very slight occasional wind.
TEENAGE DYLAN
Thanks a lot for helping me out with my game.
TEENAGE AMBER
Can I ask you a favor?
TEENAGE DYLAN
Sure, anything.
TEENAGE AMBER
Please stop thanking me every single day for helping you with your game. Or I’ll have to start thanking you for walking me home after practice every day.
TEENAGE DYLAN
Well you could thank me for walking you home (Amber looks at him in a fake shocked face) You’re welcome (Dylan laughs as Amber punches his softly on the arm)
TEENAGE AMBER
I love walking through this forest. I love hearing all the birds sing and smell the flowers. You must think it’s pretty stupid, huh?
TEENAGE DYLAN
(truthfully) No, not at all.
Amber smiles and grabs Dylan’s hand and rests her head on his shoulder.
TEENAGE AMBER
Finally, someone who understands me (smiles and giggles)
Dylan hesitates for a brief moment but then smiles. She lifts her head and she smiles back at him. They continue to hold hands.
TEENAGE AMBER
Do you ever think about stuff?
TEENAGE DYLAN
Of course I think about stuff, what do you mean?
TEENAGE AMBER
(blushes at her stupid statement) I mean the future.
TEENAGE DYLAN
I dunno, I’ve never really thought too much about it. What about you?
TEENAGE AMBER
I’ve always thought about what it would be like to get out of this town. I’d like to see the world and all the amazing things the travelers passing through the town tell us about.
TEENAGE DYLAN
It all sounds so complicated and mysterious to me. I’m not fond of new things. I’d rather just stay here with the people I know.
TEENAGE AMBER
Ooohh, is there anyone in particular I should know about? Does Dylan have a crush one someone? (giggling)
TEENAGE DYLAN
(hesitates) No…
TEENAGE AMBER
Oh! You do! I can tell! Who is it?
TEENAGE DYLAN
Nobody.
TEENAGE AMBER
You know I can tell whenever you’re lying to me. You start to blush.
TEENAGE DYLAN
(Stammering) No-body, seriously.
They continue on down the path towards Amber’s house holding hands.
END SCENE
EXT. MR. PETERSON’S BOATHOUSE
Just outside of the forest, there is a small lake that runs from Kimberly further into the interior of British Columbia. There is a small cabin located just along the coastline of the lake, with a long wooden pier that extends out into the lake. We can see several rowing boats tied to the wooden pier, bobbing calmly on the lake. As Dylan comes up closer to the boathouse from emerging from the forest, we can see a chubby elderly man (MR. PETERSON) pop his head out. He sees Dylan walking up to the boathouse, smiles and calls to him.
MR. PETERSON
Afternoon to you, Dylan!
TEENAGE DYLAN
Afternoon to you too, Mr. Peterson.
MR. PETERSON
Have you come to rent out one of my row boats again on this lovely day?
TEENAGE DYLAN
Yes, sir, I have.
MR. PETERSON
Well, sure. Take the red one out by the pier (points to a red row boat) My son was just out on the lake earlier (he opens up the door and steps out with a small boy) Say hello to Dylan, Teddy.
The small boy (TEDDY) stays behind his father but smiles and quietly whispers a ‘Hello’
TEENAGE DYLAN
(Smiles back at TEDDY) Hello, Teddy, glad to see you again. He’s getting really big, Mr. Peterson, almost everytime I see him.
MR. PETERSON
Yeah, he’s a fast grower, a fast eater too, it’s no wonder he grows so fast (he disappears inside and then re-emerges with a wooden paddle) Here you go. A word of advice, if you’re looking for something really amazing for your paintings, try staying along the right end of the lake. There’s a slow current that will take you into a little area with overhanging cherry trees. There in full bloom in early spring, and it’s an amazing sight as you’ll see.
TEENAGE DYLAN
Thank you, sir. I’ll have the boat back by this evening.
MR. PETERSON
Take your time, Dylan.
TEENAGE DYLAN
Thank you, sir.
Dylan grabs the paddle from Mr. Peterson and waves goodbye to Teddy, who waves back shyly. Dylan walks down the pier and unties the red row boat and gingerly steps down onto it and begins to paddle away. He turns back and waves goodbye to Mr. Peterson, who waves back at him from the pier.
END SCENE.
EXT. OVERHANGING CHERRY TREES ALONG THE LAKE
The camera is with Dylan as the boat gently floats into the small portion of the lake where there are overhanging cherry trees. We can see them from both sides of the tributary (with the water still deep enough to let a small boat through). The great trees extend over the tributary and cast shadows over it, allowing only small streams of sunlight to reach the water. The cherry trees are in full bloom and filled with small pink cherry petals. The petals leap softly into the air with each invisible breeze and float gently into the water, creating a carpet of pink petals along the surface of the water. Dylan watches this unfold in amazement from the row boat.
END SCENE.
INT. DYLAN’S HOUSE
Dylan opens the door and walks in, he is still smiling from the boat ride earlier. His mother comes out of the kitchen to intercept him in the hallway.
DYLAN’S MOTHER (AMANDA)
(Quietly) Shhh, your father’s asleep. Be careful and don’t wake him. I made you a sandwich, eat it in your room and try not to make any loud sounds. (She hands him a plate with a sandwich)
Dylan takes the plate in one hand, and slowly walks up the stairs. He looks down at his father, who is sleeping passed out in the couch in the living room. There is a half empty beer bottle in his hand, which is just dangling off the edge of the couch and several other empty beer bottles around him on the floor.
END SCENE.
INT. DYLAN’S ROOM
Dylan turns on the light switch as he walks into his room. Dylan’s room is a slight mess, with some clothes scattered along the floor and some on the edge of his bed, although his bed is neatly made up. There is a small telescope just adjacent to the single window, pointed up towards the sky. Adjacent to some astronomy books next to his desk, there is an open sketchbook on the edge of the desk and we can see amazing art sketches of natural landscapes. There are more sketches on the walls except these are in color and some are paintings. We notice a familiar painting taped onto the wall right above his bed: a finger painting, the one with green streaks and a misshapen yellow sun. Dylan puts the sandwich down on his desk and picks up the open sketchbook and flips to a new page. He picks up a few colored pastels/paint brushes and begins to draw out the overhanging cherry tree scene.
He hears a sound from downstairs and freezes. His father is up and we can hear him shouting and his mother is also screaming. All of a sudden we hear a loud crashing sound from downstairs. His mother is screaming a lot more now. Dylan throws his sketchbook onto the bed and runs downstairs and we can still hear the parents shouting and sounds of objects being smashed or thrown.
END SCENE.
EXT. KIMBERLY SCHOOL SOFTBALL FIELD – NEXT DAY LATE AFTERNOON ~5 PM
The sun is shining down on the two teams are out on the softball field. One team is playing the field and they are in red jerseys. The other team is at bat and they are in light blue jerseys. There is a boy at bat and he looks a bit nervous. He is a slim teenage boy who would look out of place playing any kind of sport. He looks up at the score clock and sees that it’s the last inning of the game and the teams are tied with 3 runs each and the opposing team already had one out. The batter looks at the pitcher who looks back menacingly. The boy looks past and sees his teammate on third looking back at him. He is screaming something at him. All of a sudden it seems like the sound of the crowd becomes audible to him.
TEAMMATE ON THIRD
C’mon, Dylan!
TEENAGE DYLAN looks back at the coach who signals him by touching his nose with his index finger. Dylan nods, he understands what that means, and he looks back at the pitcher and raises the bat.
UMPIRE
Play ball!
CATCHER
(Whispers to Dylan) You’re gonna strike out, loser. Two down, just one more to miss…
Dylan pretends to ignore the catcher and focuses on the ball. The pitcher winds up and throws the ball at him. Dylan cradles the bat, predicting its trajectory, and then bunts the ball between the pitcher and first base. Dylan begins to run towards first base, as his teammate runs towards home plate. Unfortunately, the bunt wasn’t great and the pitcher, almost reading the play, steps quickly towards the left to intercept the ball. Swiftly, he picks it up and shovels it towards the catcher who grabs it midair and tag the running player.
UMPIRE
OUT!
Dylan looks back while running to see his teammate being called out. The catcher swings the ball towards first in an attempt to get Dylan out for the double play. The ball flies over Dylan’s head, as his heart drops, as the first baseman opens his glove to catch the ball. Almost by chance, the ball is thrown too high and the first baseman has to jump to reach for the ball and misses. Dylan seizes this opportunity and runs towards second. He can see his coach run off the bench screaming at him to run like he’s never run before. The right outfielder seeing the play develop comes in to try to get Dylan out at second. The right outfielder runs in towards the ball, which sits just maybe 10 feet past first base, picks it up and swings it towards second just as Dylan gets close. Dylan, in a last ditch effort, jumps and slides towards second and reaches it just as the ball is caught by the second baseman. Dylan’s breathes a sigh of relief as the resonating sound of SAFE! and the cheers of the crowd. He gets up and dust his pants.
The second baseman throws the ball back to the pitcher, who still looks menacingly at Dylan. One of this teammates has come up to bat, and the crowd begins to cheer. Dylan edges slightly off second base. The pitcher takes a look at Dylan but decides not to throw to catch him cheating towards third. Instead, the pitcher drives a fast ball towards home plate.
UMPIRE
STEERRR-IIKEEE ONE!
Dylan taps second base with his foot and resumes his position slightly towards third base. Once again, the pitcher looks but decides not to throw towards him to catch him cheating. Dylan looks at his coach and can see him slightly motioning towards him. The pitcher winds up and throws a curve ball, and Dylan takes off. The batter swings but doesn’t make contact with that ball. The catcher grips the ball, rises up to see Dylan running towards third, and hurls the ball towards the third baseman. Dylan, already doing so once before, takes another head first dive towards the base and arrives there just before the ball this time.
UMPIRE
SAFE! He’s safe! (looks back at the pitcher) That’s two strikes, let’s play ball!
The pitcher looks at Dylan, he looks slightly worried, but shakes that look off his face. Dylan looks out into the crowd and sees a familiar face. A cute strawberry blonde teenage girl is sitting not too far away from him, she sees him and smiles and waves back. Dylan smiles back at her. The pitcher looks back at the batter, intently and with increased focus. The pitcher then leans back, winds up, and throws another fast ball towards home plate. The batter swings and crack! He makes contact with the ball and it curves right past Dylan past third base. It’s a low ground ball and Dylan takes off towards home.
The balls rolls around the boards of the left outfield and one of the opposing team players picks it up to throw but it is too late. Dylan has already past home plate and the game is over. The crowd erupts in cheers and Dylan’s teammates engulf him. Dylan escapes his teammates who begin to congratulate the batter whose hit allowed Dylan to reach home plate. He begins to collect his things and walks out of the bench area. Outside is the same girl with strawberry blonde hair that smiled at him earlier. She walks towards him excited with her now long hair waving in the air and gives him a big hug.
TEENAGE AMBER
Wow, that was amazing!
TEENAGE DYLAN
Hey Amber (laughs) Thanks but watch out, I’m a little dirty and I don’t want you to ruin your dress.
TEENAGE AMBER
(Laughs back) Since when am I afraid to get a little messy?