The afternoon sun filters through the large windows in
classroom 5A. MS. SARAH MURPHY (35, kind eyes, soft spoken)
sits next to a STUDENT, 10.
She listens as he reads a passage while fidgeting with his
pencil. He struggles over the words in his book.
STUDENT
Once upon a time, in a small vil-la-
ge ne-s-tled
MS. MURPHY
(gentle, pointing)
You're almost there! Imagine the
't' is on vacation. Let's break it
down together: nes-led!
STUDENT
Nes-led...like a birdie in its
nest!
MS. MURPHY
Absolutely!
STUDENT
Nes-led between rolling hills and a
spar-kel--ling ...spark--ling
river, lived a...a...
The student looks up, eyes wide with a slight frown.
MS. MURPHY
We’ll take this word slow. It
sounds like Cure-e-us. Curious.
STUDENT
Cure--e--us. Curious.
The student beams.
STUDENT (CONT’D)
...lived a cure-e-us and brave 10-
year-old boy named Timmy.
STUDENT (CONT’D)
He's like me, but I don't have a
lake to play in.
The student looks down, pouting.
STUDENT (CONT’D)
Once, I went to this big shiny
lake! Daddy was catching fish, and
then splash! I fell right in!
MS. MURPHY
Oh no! Did you know how to swim?
The student shakes his head, frowining.
STUDENT
No way! I was super scared, but now
I can...and guess what? I can
splash and swim in that big lake
now!
The student smiles big, eyes twinkling under the fluorescent
lights.
MS. MURPHY
Just imagine all the fun you'll
have now that you've learned to
swim!
Ms. Murphy smiles as she looks up at the clock. She closes
the book on the desk. The student’s smile fades.
MS. MURPHY (CONT’D)
Well, that’s enough for today.
STUDENT
Do I gotta stop?
Md, Murphy nods with a smile.
MS. MURPHY
Time to head home. We’ll work on it
again tomorrow. Deal?
The student nods, quickly packing up his things.
MS. MURPHY (CONT’D)
Good work today.
The student nods again, turns, bolts out the door. Ms. Murphy
watches the door swing shut. SILENCE. She looks around the
classroom at the empty desks; a sweater left on the back of
one of the chairs, an eraser left out, a desk with several
pencils sitting neatly in the pencil slots...SARA LAMBERT’S
desk.
She turns toward the window. A few kids are playing
basketball. She looks toward the benches, two girls are
playing hop scotch and her student, SARA LAMBERT (10) sits
alone, head down. Her hands move fiercely across a
sketchbook.
Ms. Murphy watches Sara for a moment. A school bell RINGS
hallow.
FLASHBACK - SCHOOL YARD - DAY
The bell RINGS loudly. Students jump out of their seats and
rush to the door for recess. Sarah walks slowly out the door.
Someone shoves past her, pushing her out the way. She slowly
walks to a bench, head down. She sits, looking out at the
children playing, a sketchbook in her hand...
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Silent Struggles
INT. CYPRESS ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
Ms. Murphy EXHALES softly, turning from the window. She
gathers her things, her fingers linger on her notebook, faded
doodles cover the front. She picks it up with her phone,
locking the door behind her with a CLICK.
INT. CYPRESS ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - NEXT DAY
The HUM of students SCRIBBLING pencils and SHUFFLING papers
fills the room, blending with the rain HITTING the windows.
Ms. Murphy walks around the classroom, moving between desks,
observing students as they work on a writing assignment.
Ms. Murphy’s eyes linger on Sara, her messy dark brown hair
and brooding eyes, hunched over a blank page. Sara stares
blankly at the paper, pencil in hand...knuckles white.
Ms. Murphy kneels down beside her, voice low.
MS. MURPHY
Sara, everything alright? I noticed
you've been focusing on that page
for quite some time. Are you
feeling a bit stuck on something?
Sara shakes her head, eyes fixed on the paper. A blue
bracelet peeks from her sleeve, next to a scar...old, faded.
Ms. Murphy notices it, hesitates.
MS. MURPHY (V.O.)
(thoughtful)
It's the third time this week!
(MORE)
MS. MURPHY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
She's physically here, but her mind
seems to be elsewhere.
The clock TICKS. Other students’ MUFFLED voices blur into
white NOISE as Sara EXHALES, shaky.
MS. MURPHY
How about writing something that's
‘not’ on the list? Maybe you could
share why you love wearing that
blue bracelet or what your favorite
thing to draw is.
Sara’s hand flies to her wrist, pulling her sleeve down. She
slowly scrawls a single word, ‘Sorry’.
Ms. Murphy’s breath catches.
Ms. Murphy stands up, finishes her walk around the classroom,
returns to her desk. She watches Sara for a moment. Sara
looks down at her paper, her hand moving slow, methodical.
Bell RINGS.
Students erupt into motion. Sara turns the paper upside down
on the desk. Her fingers linger on her desk as she tucks a
single pencil into her backpack. She ambles out the door. Ms.
Murphy watches her go, heart sinking.
MS. MURPHY (V.O.)
Tomorrow’s a new day, and I’ll get
another chance.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Reflections of Loneliness
INT. CYPRESS ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - LATER
Ms. Murphy collects the papers, her fingertips brushing over
the top sheet...Sara’s. She hesitates before continuing
collecting the rest of the papers, carrying the stack to her
desk.
Ms. Murphy grades the papers. The SCRATCH of her pen stops
abruptly on Sara’s paper. She pulls it aside.
Sara’s paper: Just her first name, the word ‘sorry’ and a
crude drawing...a face, mouth downturned, eyes spilling tears
like a broken faucet.
Ma. Murphy’s BREATH catches, her hands tremble as she
carefully sets the paper aside, her eyes linger on the tears.
The classroom fades away...
FLASHBACK - MS. MURPHY’S CHILDHOOD - DAY
Ms. Murphy (10) sits alone at a desk, scribbling a similar
tear-streaked face onto a worksheet. The students around her
CHAT quietly. The teacher walks past without noticing.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Empty Desks and Unspoken Concerns
INT. CYPRESS ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
Ms. Murphy blinks. Her eyes dart to Sara’s empty desk...the
only one with a perfectly aligned chair, a single pencil
laying in the pencil slot.
Ms. Murphy stands, walks to the rain-streaked window. She
gazes at the empty playground then back to Sara’s empty desk.
INT. CYPRESS ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - NEXT DAY
Gray light filters through the rain-streaked windows. Ms.
Murphy hands back the graded papers, her gaze lingering on
Sara’s vacant desk. The chair hasn’t moved, the lone pencil,
untouched.
MRS. TAMMY NICHOLS, (Principal, 60s, warm but no-nonsense)
leans in from the doorway, catching Ms. Murphy’s eye. Ms.
Murphy walks toward her.
MRS. NICHOLS
(quietly)
Just a heads up that Sara is not
here today. This is the third time
she's been away in the past two
weeks.
Ms. Murphy nods, a pained SIGH escapes her mouth. She
clutches Sara’s unclaimed paper.
She turns, walks to the board, her reflection in the rain-
blurred window shows her eyes...glassy, searching.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
A Distressing Collapse
INT. CYPRESS ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON
The students SCREAM and LAUGH as they play in the light
drizzle. The sound MUFFLED as it filters through the window.
Ms. Murphy leans against the sill, smiling and watching the
students run around.
The door CREAKS open.
Ms. Murphy quickly spins. Sara shuffles in, shoulders
hunched, hair messy, eyes glued to the floor.
She silently slides into her chair, hands in her lap. The
playground noise fades, replaced by the low HUM of the
fluorescent lights.
Ms. Murphy’s smile vanishes. She moves to her desk, picks up
Sara’s paper from the day before...the one with the tear-
streaked face. She SWALLOWS hard.
She kneels besides Sara’s desk. The girl’s face is ashen, red-
rimmed eyes stare at her hands. Sara slowly turns her head
toward Ms. Murphy. A lone tear rolls down.
MS. MURPHY
(soft, urgent)
Sara, what happened?
Silence. Sara’s fingers clutch the edge of her desk, knuckles
white. She turns away.
MS. MURPHY (CONT’D)
Sara, are you hurt?
Sara turns slowly. Her eyes wide, pupils dilated, her BREATH
shallow. Her eyes lock onto Ms. Murphy’s. She struggles to
stand...collapses.
THUD.
Ms. Murphy’s breath catches. She yanks her phone from her
pocket, then freezes...
Blood. On Sara’s chair. On Sara’s pants. Streaking down her
pants leg.
MS. MURPHY (CONT’D)
(terrified)
Oh my God.
Ms. Murphy’s hands tremble as she cradles Sara’s head in her
lap. Ms. Murphy’s eyes pool with tears.
The door BANGS open. A STUDENT GASPS, frozen...
STUDENT
What happened....Is she..
MS. MURPHY
(sharp, controlled panic)
Get the principal. Now. Keep
everyone out.
STUDENT
Ye...yes ma’am.
The student stumbles backward, face pale, then bolts. The
door SLAMS shut behind her.
Ms. Murphy presses the phone to her ear, her other hand
brushing Sara’s hair.
MS. MURPHY
(softly)
Hold on, sweetheart.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Frantic Vigil
INT. ROSE VALLEY HOSPITAL - LATER
Fluorescent lights FLICKER overhead, casting a sterile glow.
Ms. Murphy paces the emergency room floor, her shoes
SQUEAKING against the dull linoleum.
MS. MURPHY (V.O.)
(frantic)
What happened to her? How could I
have missed this? Why didn’t I see
it sooner?
Around her, a MOTHER sits near the door, rocking a WAILING
CHILD. An OLD MAN COUGHS into his sleeve, then BLOWS his nose
loudly. A TEENAGE BOY clutches his bleeding hand, his face
pale.
Ms. Murphy stops by a rain-streaked window, squeezing her
eyes shut. She opens her eyes, her reflection stares
back...haunted.
A DOCTOR strides to the front desk. The RECEPTIONIST points
to Ms. Murphy, the doctor approaches.... DR. FABIAN GELLER
(40), his lab coat crisp, his expression unreadable.
DR. GELLER
Ms. Murphy, I am Dr. Geller. I
understand you are Sara’s teacher?
MS. MURPHY
(voice tight)
Yes. Is she...will she be okay?
Dr. Geller hesitates...silent.
DR. GELLER
She’s stable. But she’ll need rest.
Have you contacted her parents?
Ms. Murphy shakes her head.
MS. MURPHY
I don’t have their contact info
yet. Conferences aren’t until next
week.
DR. GELLER
(frowns)
Has she ever collapsed before?
MS. MURPHY
(whispers, more to herself)
God, I hope not.
She shakes her head. Dr. Geller turns to leave...
Ms. Murphy grabs his arm.
MS. MURPHY (CONT’D)
Please. Let me see her.
Dr. Geller studies her...then nods.
DR. GELLER
She’s in Room 2A. Down the hall,
right turn.
MS. MURPHY
Thank you.
Ms. Murphy hurries down the busy corridor. She passes two
police officers walking toward the receptionist’s desk.
The sounds of the hospital assault her:
... A WOMAN WEEPING into her hands.
... A HEART MONITOR’S steady BEEP...BEEP...BEEP
... The SHRILL PAGE of a code blue.
She turns the corner, pushes open the door to Room 2A.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
A Mother's Despair
INT. ROSE VALLEY HOSPITAL - ROOM 2A - CONTINUOUS
Room 2A is shadowed. Weak sunlight filters in through half-
closed blinds. The soft PATTER of rain hits the window.
Ms. Murphy looks at the silent heart monitor. Her eyes linger
on SARA, small, fragile, an IV snaking from her thin, bruised
arm.
Ms. Murphy’s breath catches.
MS. MURPHY (V.O.)
(aching, whisper)
You’re just a kid. What monster did
this to you?
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
A Mother's Promise
INT. ROSE VALLEY HOSPITAL - ROOM 2A - CONTINUOUS
Ms. Murphy pulls up a chair, legs SCRAPING against the
linoleum. She sits next to Sara.
She holds her tiny hand, her gaze tracing the girl’s fragile
form...the too-thin bruised arms, her pale face, the shallow
rise and fall of Sara’s chest as she lies still on the bed,
eyes closed.
The door CREAKS open. Ms. Murphy’s head snaps toward it. A
NURSE steps in, clipboard in hand.
NURSE
(softly)
Excuse me, Ms. Murphy? There’s a
police officer at the front desk.
They’d like to speak to you.
Ms. Murphy’s eyes widen, eyebrows raise. Her grip tightens
around Sara’s thin hand.
NURSE
They didn’t say. But they asked for
you by name.
Ms. Murphy looks back at Sara...still, pale. She hesitates,
leans down.
MS. MURPHY
(whispers)
I’ll be right back.
She straightens, smoothing her wrinkled blouse, and follows
the nurse out. The door CLICKS shut behind her.
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
A Disturbing Revelation
INT. ROSE VALLEY HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Ms. Murphy stands rigid, fingers twisting the hem of her
blouse.
Her eyes dart between the two officers...OFFICER NOLAN (mid
30s, sharp-eyed) and OFFICER BURNHAM (mid 40s, weary, but
attentive). She EXHALES, her hands tremble.
OFFICER BURNHAM
Have you noticed any changes in
Sara’s behavior lately.
Ms. Murphy quickly shakes her head.
MS. MURPHY
She’s always been quiet. Never
complains.
OFFICER BURNHAM
Any contact with parents or
siblings?
Ms. Murphy shakes her head again. Her gaze drops.
MS. MURPHY
Conference is a week away. I’d have
met them then.
Officer Nolan scribbles something on a note pad. Officer
Burnham exchanges a glance with Nolan.
OFFICER BURNHAM
Like the Brooks case?
Nolan eyes lock with Burnham’s. Nolan turns toward Ms.
Murphy.
OFFICER NOLAN
Walk us through what happened
today.
Ms. Murphy SWALLOWS hard. Her hands clench.
MS. MURPHY
Sara came to class during lunch
recess. Just sat there, quietly.
I..I picked up her assignment..
Her VOICE cracks. She presses a hand to her mouth. Her eyes
glisten.
MS. MURPHY (CONT’D)
It...it wasn’t done. Just A face.
Crying.
Ms. Murphy SWALLOWS. Officer Nolan writes something a the
note pad.
OFFICER BURNHAM
Where’s the drawing now?
MS. MURPHY
At...at school. I... I didn’t get
to ask her. She just looked at me,
and...never said a word...
A tear slips free. She doesn’t wipe it away.
MS. MURPHY (CONT’D)
(anguish)
Then she collapsed. There was so
much blood.
Officer Burnham’s jaw tightens. Nolan pockets his notepad.
OFFICER BURNHAM
We’ll need that drawing.
Ma. Murphy nods her head. Burnham hands her a card. Their
fingers brush... Ms. Murphy shivers.
OFFICER BURNHAM (CONT’D)
Call if you think of anything else.
They turn to leave. Ms. Murphy stares at the card. The
hallway hums with distant SIRENS.
Her phone BUZZES. Unknown number. She answers, hesitant.
MS. MURPHY
Hello?
A VOICE, low and familiar...
CALLER
Well. Never thought you’d be the
mom and the teacher...Sarah.
Ms. Murphy’s face turns ashen, her mouth drops. The card
slips from her fingers. She turns toward the entrance, eyes
widen.
The drawing, morphing into the face of a man with dark, cold
eyes...the man walking through the door.
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
A Moment at the Party
BEGIN FLASHBACK - INT. HOUSE PARTY - 10 YRS AGO - NIGHT
The room pulses with bass...heavy MUSIC. LAUGHTER and the
CRACK of pool balls. Sarah (25) in a flowy, yellow sundress,
stands with a group of girls, watching two guys shoot pool.
KAI LAMBERT (26 dark hair, good looking with cocky grin)
sinks a shot. He glances at Sarah. Their eyes lock. Sarah
gives him a shy smile. The girls nudge her shoulder,
GIGGLING. SARAH looks away, cheeks flushed.
SARAH (V.O.)
Popular. Good looking. I thought it
was just a stupid crush...
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Unwanted Advances
EXT. HOUSE PARTY - BACKYARD - POOL AREA - MOMENTS LATER
Sarah and Kai lean against the pool fence. The party MURMURS
behind them. Kai traces her jawline with his thumb.
KAI
You’re different. Prettier, not
like them.
Sarah’s breath hitches. She pulls back...just an inch.
SARAH
I should go back inside.
Kai’s grip tightens on her wrist. He leans in for a kiss, she
pushes him away.
CRASH...a glass shatters inside. Loud LAUGHTER. The sound
jolts Sarah. Kai uses the distraction to pull her closer.
SARAH (V.O.)
Stupid me... Why didn’t I run?
Kai leans in closer, his lips meet hers. She
stiffens...pushes him harder. His smile drops.
- Sarah stumbles back, heel catching on pavement.
- Kai’s hand snagging her dress...fabric RIPS.
- Sarah on the ground, knees scraped, tears streaking
mascara.
- Kai looms over her.
KAI
(cold)
I already apologized, so get over
it.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Choices and Consequences
FLASHBACK - INT. BATHROOM - WEEKS LATER - NIGHT
- Sarah stands in front of the bathroom mirror. Her shaky
hands clutch a pregnancy test. The faucet DRIPS. The result
glares back at her.
SARAH (V.O.)
(numb)
One night. One mistake. I told him
no...Why? Why didn’t I fight
harder?
FLASHBACK - INT. A SMALL DINER - AFTERNOON
The diner is quiet. A few patrons sit quietly, sipping
coffee. A waitress comes to the table, refills Kai’s cup with
hot coffee, steam swirling in the air. A storm rages outside.
Sarah sits stiffly across Kai. His brows are furred and his
nostrils flare.
KAI
What did you think? That I’d marry
you? I’m not giving my life up for
a one-nighter.
Kai smirks, tossing the pregnancy test at Sarah. He stands,
glares at Sarah, storms out. Sarah sits frozen, lips in a
hard line.
FLASHBACK - HOSPITAL MONTAGE
-Sarah lies in the hospital bed, eyes hollow, face pale. A
NURSE wheels in a bassinet.
-Sara turning her head away, fists clenched.
-A pen SCRATCHING on adoption papers echoes in the quiet
room.
SARAH
(barely audible)
I...I couldn’t even look at her.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
Unsettling Reunion
INT. ROSE VALLEY HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS
The fluorescent lights HUM overhead. KAI REED (36, handsome,
a well-dressed pillar of the community) saunters in.
Sarah freezes, her nails dig into her palms. Kai greets the
Officers with effortless charm...his gaze locks onto her. A
slow, venomous smirk. His eyes rake over her.
Sarah stumbles back, her shoes SQUEAKING against the floor.
The OFFICERS stride out. Kai lingers by the doorway, glaring
at Sarah.
FLASHBACK - HOSPITAL - DAY
The afternoon sun shines brightly through the shaded windows.
Kai signs the form. THE HOSPITAL STAFF SOCIAL WORKER looks
over the adoption paperwork. She nods, walks down the hall.
A NURSE walks toward the front desk holding a tiny baby
wrapped in a pink hospital blanket.
NURSE
Mr. Lambert?
Kai stands, the nurse walks toward him, hands the baby to
him. He grins.
KAI
Well, hello.... Sara. You do look
like your mother.
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Emotional Disconnect in Crisis
INT. ROSE VALLEY HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS
The hospital turns to chaos. The speakers BLARE.
PA (O.S.)
Code Blue, Room 217. Code Blue,
Room 217.
The PA fades into white noise.
Kai locks eyes with Sarah. He finally turns away, flicking an
imaginary piece of lint off his sleeve.