A short self-contained film exploring the effectiveness of minimal dialogue.
INT. BEDROOM. EARLY MORNING.
An alarm clock sounds.
Shaking fingers try to find the switch, slipping over the items on the bedside table to find it.
ANYA sits up slowly looking to the empty bed beside her.
Light illuminates the space.
ANYA and WILL lay together, smiling and laughing. Gentle music plays.
The light fades and Will is no longer there.
Anya gets up slowly evidently in pain.
INT. KITCHEN. MORNING.
Anya makes herself a coffee. The kettle whistles for a long time.
Will whistles mimicking the kettle. He wraps his arms around Anya’s waist. She holds his arms, the whistling rising in pitch.
Will is gone as Anya takes the kettle off the stove.
INT. HALLWAY. MORNING.
Anya carefully puts on her coat.
Will is there helping her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
She holds out her hand for her keys and Will is no longer there. She stares at the hallway for a while. She slowly picks her keys up from the table and leaves the house.
EXT. STREET. DAY.
Anya walks through town. Seeing couples all around her. She stares at a couple as they walk by. The man looks like Will. She moves towards them but they sidestep her. Anya looks lost and looks about her before moving on.
EXT. PARK. DAY.
A cyclist goes past Anya and she looks up at the park. Will is sitting on a bench and looks up smiling as she approaches. A group of joggers pass and there is no one there. Anya sits down on the bench, people watching, shivering.
INT. SHOP. DAY.
Anya is working behind the counter. She looks pale and unwell. She sneaks her phone out to check it. No new notifications. She goes back to work.
EXT. RESTAURANT. EVENING.
Anya, shivering, walks past a restaurant. She stops. She turns. She looks into the restaurant through the window. She leans her forehead against the glass. Her hand coming up to rest beside her.
Inside sitting at a table are her and Will. They are talking and laughing. She looks healthier than she does now. A waiter passes by and an empty table is left.
Anya flinches. She pushes herself away with a visible effort and walks away.
INT. HALLWAY. EVENING.
Anya enters the house. It’s dark and cold. She shivers. A lone light is seen under the door of the living room.
INT. LIVING ROOM. EVENING.
It’s a cosy scene. Will and Anya sit on the sofa watching TV. Anya lays in Will’s arms.
A knock at the door takes Anya’s attention and the gloom of the house returns.
Anya stands from an empty sofa.
INT. HALLWAY. EVENING.
Anya opens the door. Police sirens are heard. The blue and red lights flash across her face. The light glares and fades as do the sirens. Her mother, SALLY and father, MIKE stand on the doorstep.
Sally holds out her arms and Anya goes to her. They hug. Sally soothing Anya. Mike places a comforting hand on Anya’s shoulder.
INT. KITCHEN. EVENING.
Anya sits at the kitchen table in comfortable clothing. Sally places a mug of tea next to her. Anya looks up to see Will but he is sullen and barely smiles at her. She looks confused until a hand touches her shoulder. She looks down and back up. Her mother before her instead. She slumps in her chair, upset. Sally sits beside her rubbing her back.
INT. BEDROOM. NIGHT.
Anya lays in bed alone, crying to herself. She looks up and Will is sitting on the end of the bed. His shoulders are slumped and he is holding his head in his hands. She sits up to reach out to him. He moves away from the touch and stands. She falls forward onto the bed and the room is empty.
INT. KITCHEN. DAY.
A cup falls to the floor and smashes. Anya sits on the floor by the broken cup staring at it.
Will starts picking up the pieces. He cuts himself on a shard. He hisses. Anya tries to help him but he refuses her help, annoyed.
ANYA
Please
Will goes to the sink and cleans his hands.
Anya’s hands are under the water and she is cleaning a gash in her own shaking hand.
INT. LIVING ROOM. AFTERNOON.
Anya sits reading a book, her hands shaking badly. The sound of the door slamming is heard. She weakly goes to the window and watches as Will stalks down the street. Her father walks up to the house and sees her in the window. She shrinks back.
INT. LIVING ROOM. EVENING.
Anya lays on the sofa her eyes closed – she looks extremely unwell. Music plays softly. Someone walks into the room. Anya struggles to sit up. Will is leaning against the door frame, his face solemn.
WILL
Anya. Please.
Anya looks as if she will reply but looks away. Will shakes his head and walks away.
Anya slumps. She is startled when her father sits beside her.
MIKE
Anya?
INT. HALLYWAY. EVENING.
Anya stands looking at the front door. It’s open and she shakily walks towards it. Will is in the way glaring at her.
WILL
You need to see a doctor. Please.
Anya rolls her eyes and shakes her head but wobbles on her feet she clutches the wall. Will turns annoyed and slams the door behind him. A car screeching to a stop is heard.
Anya freezes. Her heart accelerating is heard and gets louder. It is all consuming.
ANYA
WILL?!
She tries to get to the front door. The hallway is suddenly silent as hands land on Anya’s shoulders and guide her back to the living room. Her mother and father share worried looks.
INT. LIVING ROOM. EVENING.
There is a knock at the door. Police sirens blare. Anya looks pale and sickly. Sally sits mopping her brow. Anya glances up to the window and sees Will in the window. A POLICE OFFICER knocks on the window to get her attention. She tries to get up. Sally stops her, glancing to the empty window, where Anya is looking. Anya finds a bit of strength and pushes Sally aside, stumbling to the hallway. Sally quickly follows.
INT. HALLWAY. EVENING.
Anya opens the door to empty steps. She glances back to Sally looking sadly her. She looks back and there is the officer standing in front of her. Anya stands in the doorway weakly holding onto the door frame. The officer shakes their head looking grim.
The sound of the police sirens becomes unbearable drowning out any other sound. Anya clutches at the door frame before collapsing. Sally runs forward from behind trying to catch her.
EXT. GRAVEYARD. LATE AFTERNOON.
A small gathering stand around a freshly dug grave. A PRIEST sprinkles dirt on the coffin as it is lowered into the ground.
Anya sits in a wheelchair by the graveside, her parents either side of her. Anya silently cries as a bell tolls in the distance.
INT. HALLWAY. EVENING.
Anya sits in her wheelchair in the doorway of the living room looking at the front door. Mike passes from the kitchen to the living room, glancing sadly in her direction. The grey light in the empty hallway changes to a richer darkness as Will stands by the door looking at her. He looks angry and hurt. He shakes his head and slams the door.
Anya flinches.
The screech of a car stopping suddenly erupts through the quiet space. The hallway dulls to a grey light.
Anya’s face is a picture of distress, tears roll down her cheeks.
The lights of a police car flash underneath the front door. Sirens accompany the lights and crescendo. Anya is evidently panicking.
Anya tries to stand and move towards the door but falls instead.
INT. AMBULANCE. NIGHT.
The police sirens turn into ambulance sirens.
Anya opens her eyes and sees Will sitting beside her. She tries to sit up. She is pushed back down by the paramedic in Will’s place.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM. NIGHT.
Anya lays in bed asleep, hooked up to several machines.
Her parents sit beside her.
Anya wakes up and looks about her. She begins to panic and tries to pull the tubes out of her. Her parents still her hands, making soothing noises.
A figure appears in the doorway. Anya looks hopeful.
ANYA
Will?
They come into the room and it’s a DOCTOR.
The doctor shares a look with the parents.
Anya falls back against her pillows.
The sound of the room and the doctor beginning to talk fades into a low rumble.
Anya turns away shifting in the hospital bed.
Arms snake around her waist. Will rests his head on her shoulder. No one else in the room notices. Anya smiles to herself and closes her eyes. She sighs and all sound fades.
