By: Isabella Nunez
View all Isabella Nunez's works
ACT 1
INT. OFFICE-NIGHT
ASH IS HUNCHED OVER A PIECE OF PAPER FRANTICALLY SCRIBBLING SOMETHING. CAMERA SHOWS THAT PAPER IS TITLED “TRUTH BE TOLD”.
THERE’S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
Ash quickly slides the paper out of view.
ASH
Come in.
MAN ENTERS ROOM
MAN
We need that new song by tomorrow.
Let me remind you that this is
going to be one of the biggest hits
yet, so we need as many subliminal
messages as possible.
ASH
About that… I want this to be my
own song, since it’s my last before
I leave.
MAN
(raises eyebrows)
Excuse me?
ASH
Well you see…I’m sick of it! Sick
of having to write songs to
brainwash teens, sick of faking a
smile in interviews, I’m sick of my
dream being lived out through this
cult! I want no more to do with you
guys!
(Man notices the paper behind her back, snatches it, and
looks at it)
MAN
(mock singing voice)
I’m trapped in
this mess and so are you.
(shoves paper in Ash’s face)
Well? You really thought we’d let
you get away with this song? Well,
if you did, you thought wrong.
Man rips up paper.
ASH
Hey! I worked all night on that!
MAN
Tomorrow night, Ash, I want a brand
new song just the way we like it
And no more talk about leaving,
or..
(Draws finger across neck)
It’s over for you.
MAN EXITS ROOM
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
(Ash is on the phone)
ASH
Juniper listen to me, I can’t tell
you why, or it’d put you in danger,
but I really need to leave Ash
behind me. It’s time I go back to
being normal Ashley.
(Pause)
Yes, I’m leaving my fame! I can’t
take this anymore. There’s
something sick going on here, and I
don’t want to be apart of it. I’m
just saying… if something happens
to me.. look into it.
(Pause)
Don’t call the cops! It won’t do
any good! Juniper? JUNIPER?
ASH PULLS PHONE AWAY FROM HER EAR. THE LOUD BEEP COMING FROM THE PHONE THAT THE CONNECTION WAS CUT. ASH LOOKS AROUND THE KITCHEN FRIGHTENED.
ACT 2
TELEVISION SCREEN – NEWS
NEWS ANCHOR
In other news, Juniper Cloud, best
friend of the hit pop star ‘Ash’,
has gone missing. Eyewitness
reports say they saw her getting in
her car with a huge bag, yet never
coming back.
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM-DAY
ASH IS SITTING ON A COUCH, STARING AT A TELEVISION SCREEN.
NEWS ANCHOR (CONT.)
…police are concluding that the girl has run away-
News Anchor is cut off as Ash turns the TV off.
ASH
Liars. Sick liars! You know what
you did!
(sighs)
And it’s all my fault.
Hand appears on her shoulder and Ash turns around in fright
MR. I
Still thinking about leaving?
Ash stands up quickly and flings his hand off.
ASH
How’d you get in my house?
MR. I
(laughs)
Oh let’s not worry about that now.
You see, my assistant told me about
your plans of, ah yes, ‘exposing
us’ and ‘leaving’. So, I decided
that, yes , you can leave.
ASH
(shocked)
Mr. I? Am I… did I hear correctly?
MR. I
Oh yes, you can go.
Mr. I Takes out cup of what appears to be strangely colored
water.
MR. I (CONT.)
Just drink this and you’ll leave
the industry forever.
ASH
Is that… is that poison?
MR. I
Oh yes. Usually we give it to
unknowing celebrities that have
been misbehaving, but it’s also the
only way out of the business, if
your willing to take up the offer.
Then, we’ll just replace you with
something else, and all will be
well. Go on, take a sip.
ASH
No… no!
Ash runs out of the door before Mr. I has a chance to react
Mr.I pulls out walkie talkie
MR. I
Get her.
Group of people run outside, tazers at ready, but Ash is
already gone.
CUT TO:
INT. FOREST-DAY
Ash is running, then stops to catch her breath
ASH
Damn, why did I have to get caught
up in all this? Now look where it’s
got me.
She takes out her phone and goes to Twitter
ASH (CONT’D)
Well, if I’m going to die, it’s
time for the truth to get out there
once and for all.
As she’s about to type, her phone goes black.
ASH (CONT’D)
What?? No!
(Sighs)
Oh, what am I going to do now?
I’m being chased by my producers,
and the only way I can escape this
whole mess is through death. But,
no, I won’t die! I’m going to help
all these people from being
brainwashed, even if it’s the last
thing I do!
(Pause)
No, it will not be the last thing I
do! I’m going to make it out of
this mess alive, no matter wha-
She’s cut off when she hears a rustle in the leaves behind her.
ASH (CONT’D)
Hello?
SHE STARTS TO STEP BACK AND LOOKS AROUND FEARFULLY, BUT A FIGURE COMES UP BEHIND HER AND COVERS HER MOUTH AS SHE STRUGGLES FRANTICALLY ASH IS DRAGGED AWAY.
ACT 3
INT. DARK WINDOWLESS ROOM
Ash is tied up to a chair, struggling against the ropes.
ASH
Let me out! Let me OUT you little lying-
She’s interrupted as two people open a door on her right. She opens her mouth to yell at them, but they put a finger to
their lips and shine a flashlight on their face.
PHOENIX
Shush! We’re gonna try and break
you out of here ok?
ASH
Wait, aren’t you famous actor-?
Phoenix starts cutting the ropes
PHOENIX
Phoenix yes, but you can call me
Nixel.
NOVA
And aren’t you Ash, famous singer,
announced dead yesterday…
ASH
Announced- announced dead? No, you
must be mistaken, you guys are
dead, Phoenix in a car crash, and
Nova a overdose just earlier this week-
NOVA
Yes, I did stir up some trouble,
and they announced me with the most
insulting death ever. Believe me
when I say, I haven’t taken a
single drug in my life. Oh, and you
can call me Nora, dear.
PHOENIX
So no, we’re very much alive and so
are you, just being held here
against our will. This is what they
do to misbehaving celebrities.
NOVA
Haven’t you noticed how we
celebrities tend to die in threes,
all in the same week? Now, I’d like
to elaborate, but I hear voices. So
follow us!
The three head through the vent.
CUT TO:
INT. PARKING LOT-DAY
THE THREE EXIT A VENT ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, BUT THEN AN ALARM SOUNDS AND THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY SURROUNDED.
PHOENIX
Crap! I knew it wouldn’t be this
easy…
Mr.I comes out to the front of the crowd.
MR. I
Now, whether you died or not was to
be decided on Sunday, but now that
I’m almost certain you’ll stop at
nothing to ‘expose’ us, I guess
we’ll have to make the decision
now.
The entire crowd makes a triangle shape with their hands,
chants something incomprehensible, and Mr.I has them dragged
off as they scream.
Everything goes black
CUT TO:
INT. LIBRARY-DAY
60 YEARS IN THE FUTURE (SUBTITLE)
A OLD WOMAN IS STANDING IN FRONT OF A BLACK SCREEN A GROUP OF TEENS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SCREEN START CLAPPING.
OLD WOMAN
I hope you liked the film kids.
It’s actually quite amazing I
managed to find a laptop and
projector to show you it at all,
they just don’t make technology
like this any more.
TEEN #1
Well it’s lucky you did find them ,
It’s… kind of creepy to see
something from so long ago, but
it’s creepy in a cool way. The film
itself was also a really creative
idea!
MS BENNETT
But this isn’t merely a creative
idea, this is a true story that
took place many years ago. In fact,
the industry is just as corrupted
now as it was back then.
TEEN #2
Wait, you mean to tell me this is
true? I thought we were just
watching a old film!
TEEN #1
Of course not! Because, that’s,
well, Crazy Ms Bennett! The whole
idea is creative, but highly
unrealistic. And even if it was
real, how will the story be told if
Ashley, Nixel, and Nora were all
killed by Mr.I!
MS BENNETT
Well, first off I’d like to say
that I appreciate you using their
real names, not many would, and
whose to say they didn’t escape? Or
if there wasn’t a witness to see
the events unfold?
Teen opens his mouth, but then closes it thoughtfully.
MS BENNETT (CONT’D)
Now, I really must get going. I’ll
see you next week for our analysis
on a video all the way from 2011.
Class gets up and starts to exit, talking among themselves.
Ms Bennett gets up and walks through the back door into the
library parking lot.
Among all the new futuristic cars is a convertible, .that Ms
Bennett walks towards.
In the front seat is a woman around the same age as Ms
Bennett, and in the drivers seat is a old man, also in their
age group.
NORA
(To Ms Bennett)
Hello there Ashley, ready to get
some food down the road?
MS BENNETT
Of course I would, Nora. Nixel, are
we all ready to go?
OLD MAN IN THE FRONT SEAT SMILES AND NODS.
THEY DRIVE OFF DOWN THE ROAD.
THE END