INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING
The kind of place with mismatched mugs and a giant chalkboard
menu. Cozy. Crowded. The hiss of milk steaming blends with
the hum of caffeinated chatter.
LEXIE (late 20s) moves through the space like choreography.
Neat sweater, nice jeans. Her eyes flick around, calculating.
Cool, composed, practiced.
She dodges a backpack, swerves around a laptop cord, and
reaches the counter just as her name is called.
BARISTA
Lexie? Oat milk flat white to go?
LEXIE
(to herself)
Right on time.
She offers a quick, polite smile and grabs her drink. She
turns.
And a TODDLER, wild and sticky-fingered, dashes directly into
her path. They collide.
Hot coffee splashes out of the lid, a large, dark stain
blooming across the front of her neat sweater.
A sharp inhale. Her jaw sets. She flattens her expression
into a mask of polite neutrality as the TODDLER’S MOTHER
rushes over.
TODDLER’S MOTHER
Oh my gosh, I am so, so sorry!
LEXIE
It’s fine. Really.
Her smile is tight. She closes her eyes.
REWIND
The hum of the cafe deepens and reverses. The folk music
warps. The moment reverses: the coffee leaps back into her
cup. The toddler glides backward.
A wave of vertigo hits her. She opens her eyes, blinking
hard. Her left eye twitches, a tiny, involuntary spasm. She
presses her knuckle to it.
RESET
The normal cafe sounds snap back into place.
Lexie stands at the counter, cup in had. She anticipates the
toddler’s path, sidestepping a half-second before the
collision. Perfect.
But her new position puts her directly in the path of a GUY
juggling two coffees and a croissant. He bumps her arm, hard.
Her entire coffee spills down her front. Much worse than
before.
GUY
Oh, man, I’m so sorry. Let me buy
you another one.
LEXIE
No. It’s okay. I have to go.
Her voice is strained. She can’t look at him. Humiliation
burns on her cheeks. She squeezes her eyes shut again, her
knuckles white around the empty cup.
REWIND
The world lurches backward, more violently this time. The
sounds are a distorted groan.
Lexie’s head jerks back. She winces, her hand flying to her
temple as if struck by a sudden migraine.
RESET
She’s at the counter. The world is sharp, almost too bright.
A beat. She gives a subtle, reflexive sniff, her nose
wrinkling for a fraction of a second. A flicker of confusion
crosses her face before she dismisses it.
She grabs her cup.
Without a single wasted motion, she sidesteps the toddler,
pivots around the guy, and heads straight for the exit. A
flawless path.
The guy calls after her.
GUY
Hey, you’ve got good timing.
LEXIE
Just lucky.
She doesn’t turn. Doesn’t smile. She pushes through the door
and escapes outside.
EXT. ALLEY - CONTINUOUS
Lexie leans against the brick wall, hidden from the street.
Her composure shatters. She trembles, gasping for air.
She brings a shaky hand to her face. She touches her nostril.
Her fingers come away with stained with a thin trickle of
blood.
She pulls out her phone, flips it to the black screen, and
checks her reflection. No more blood.
She takes a deep breath, resets her shoulders, and forces the
mask of calm back into place. In control.
She walks away, leaving the empty alley behind.
Genres:
["Drama","Character Study"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Designing Under Pressure
INT. LEXIE’S OFFICE - DAY
Sunlight casts tidy stripes across a curated workspace.
Succulents, minimalistic art, color-coded notebooks.
Lexie wears a headset, her posture perfect. Her monitor is a
hive of windows, but her focus is on one: a Zoom call with
NAOMI MCKAY.
NAOMI (V.O.)
We just want something fresh. No
florals. Clean, minimal, but still
feminine.
Lexie starts to speak, but her eyes flick to a Slack
notification from MARK, flashing in the corner: “need your Q3
numbers ASAP.”
LEXIE
Right. I love that balance. Studio
14 has always had a really bold,
botanical-
NAOMI (V.O.)
-Botanical? Lexie, that doesn’t
sound like us at all.
Naomi’s voice is sharp, laced with disappointment. The
professional warmth is gone.
NAOMI (V.O.)
I need a partner who understands
the brand implicitly.
The unspoken threat hangs in the air for a beat.
Lexie’s smile is frozen. A grimace of pain flashes across her
face. She squeezes her eyes shut.
REWIND
Naomi’s correction unwinds. Mark’s Slack ping echoes
backwards into silence. The visual distortion is quicker, but
Lexie flinches as if from a sharp noise.
RESET
Everything snaps back into place. Lexie blinks, her eyes
struggling to focus for a beat.
NAOMI (V.O.)
...Clean, minimal, but still
feminine.
Slack pings again, but Lexie ignores it. She opens her mouth
to reply, confident.
LEXIE
I hear a move toward
something...bota-
She cuts herself off. A flicker of sheer panic in her eyes.
She closes her mouth, jaw tight. A tiny, almost imperceptible
shake of her head, as if clearing a fog.
She takes a sharp, steadying breath. She re-engages, her
focus now fiercely intense.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
A move toward something more
essential. Evolving your serene,
tonal aesthetic into a form that’s
purer, but still retains its
warmth.
NAOMI (V.O.)
Yes. “Essential.” That’s the
language I’ve been trying to find.
Exactly. Send me the preliminary
board by the end of day tomorrow.
The Zoom window closes.
Lexie lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Her
whole body slumps, the perfect posture gone.
She digs the heel of her hand into her temple.
On the screen, Mark’s Slack message glows, unanswered. A
moment later, a second message appears below it: “?”
Lexie tilts her head back against the headrest, closing her
eyes.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Data Discrepancies and Tensions
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER
Sleek, sterile. Laptops open. VINCE (mid-50s) sits at the
head of the table. Lexie sits midway down.
Mark (30s), polished and confident, stands by a large screen
displaying a graph.
MARK
...and as you can see, our referral
numbers, which dipped in July,
started trending back up in August
after we rolled out the new
onboarding protocols.
Lexie frowns, flipping a page in her packet. The numbers
don’t match the screen.
She glances at Vince, who nods along, accepting the data.
Her jaw tightens. Her eyes start to close, but stop. Her hand
drifts up, fingers ghosting over her nostril for a split
second.
Her hand under the table clenches into a white-knuckle fist.
Her tension is palpable.
She forces the fist to uncurl, finger by finger. She takes a
slow, steadying breath.
She tries to catch Mark’s eye, giving a slight shake of her
head. He either doesn’t see her or ignores her, turning back
to the screen.
MARK (CONT’D)
So we’ll be doubling down on the
August protocols for Q4.
LEXIE
Mark, apologies for interrupting.
Could you clarify that August data
point? My packet seems to show a
dip on page seven.
The confident flow of the room stops. Pages rustle. Mark
freezes, his smile strained. He flips through his own packet,
color rising on his neck.
Vince finds the page.
VINCE
She’s right. Mark, these numbers
are inverted. Good catch, Lexie. A
decision based on the wrong data
would have been costly.
MARK
Well. Thank you, Lexie, for your
meticulous clarification. As I was
saying, we’ll now move onto
retention...
As the presentation continues, Lexie glances up. Mark’s
looking at Vince, who’s nodding along, but the set of his jaw
is pure ice.
The meeting wraps. Vince give Lexie an appreciative nod on
his way out.
Lexie gathers her things, relieved. But then she sees Mark
across the room talking to another colleague, DAVID. Mark
says something, then gestures subtly with his head toward
Lexie. David glances over, his expression coolly dismissive.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Tension in the Hallway
INT. OFFICE HALLWAY - LATER
Lexie walks briskly down the hallway, her heels clicking with
purpose.
MARK (O.S.)
Lexie. Got a second?
She stops. Takes a breath, setting her expression to neutral
before turning. Mark stands a few feet away, arms crossed, a
placid smile on his face that doesn’t reach his eyes.
MARK (CONT’D)
That was a bold move in there.
Catching that in front of Vince.
Very...visible.
LEXIE
The data was wrong, Mark. That’s
not a “move,” it’s a fact.
MARK
Whatever you say. Just be careful.
Team players are the ones who last
here.
As he speaks, Lexie flinches as the world around her
distorts.
The fluorescent lights above hum, buzzing loudly in her ears.
Her eyes lose focus as the hallway behind Mark seems to
stretch, her vision tunneling slightly.
She digs her nails into her palms, grounding herself. With
visible effort, she forces her eyes to refocus on his. Her
jaw is set like stone.
LEXIE
The slide was wrong. That’s all.
He gives a sharp, humorless chuckle.
MARK
Well. Good talk.
He walks off.
The moment he’s gone, Lexie’s facade crumbles. She stumbles
back, bracing herself against the wall with a shaky hand.
Her left eye twitches, violently. She presses her hand
against it, wincing. Her other hand comes up to pinch the
bridge of her nose, her head bowed.
She lowers her hands. Once of them is trembling
uncontrollably. She stares at it for a moment, then clenches
it into a fist to make it stop.
She takes a single, ragged breath before pushing off the wall
and walking away.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
A Moment of Rewind
INT. LEXIE’S APARTMENT - EVENING
A small space, quiet and still. A single lamp casts long
shadows. The only sound is the low hum of the refrigerator.
On the windowsill, a succulent is beginning to wilt.
Lexie, barefoot in leggings and an overside sweater, leans
against the counter. Her thumb scrolls absently through her
phone. A flash of bright, happy faces.
She stops on one image: a couple baking cookies, faces dusted
with flour and joy. She stares for a beat too long.
The microwave beeps. She pulls out a plate of reheated pasta
and sits at her sparse table. Takes one bite. Pushes the
plate aside.
Her phone buzzes. A text from OLIVIA: “You still coming
tonight?”
Lexie stares at the message. Her fingers hover, then type:
“Not feeling great. Next time?”
She hits SEND.
A beat.
Her phone buzzes again. Another text from Olivia: “Don't do
this again, Lex. You promised.”
A pang of guilt flashes across Lexie’s face. She looks around
her empty, silent apartment.
She squeezes her eyes shut, knuckles white around the phone.
REWIND
The effect is different this time. Sluggish. Tired. The hum
of the refrigerator groans as it reverses. The buzz of the
text feels distant. It takes visible effort from her.
RESET
The quiet hum of the apartment returns.
Lexie slumps against the table, a wave of exhaustion washing
over her. She presses her hand to her temple.
She picks up the phone slowly. Olivia’s first text is back on
the screen: “You still coming tonight?”
She types slowly, deliberately: “On my way. Save me a glass
of wine.”
She hits send. She pushes herself up from the table, moving
as if through water. She catches sight of the wilting plant
on her windowsill.
She takes a step toward the sink, but has to brace herself on
the counter as a wave of dizziness hits her.
She gives the dying plant one last look, then turns and walks
out of the kitchen.
Genres:
["Drama","Psychological"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Facing the Jazz: Lexie's Resolve
EXT. COMMUNITY CENTER - NIGHT
A modest brick building. Warm light and the muffled sound of
a live jazz quartet spill onto the sidewalk. String lights
sway gently overhead.
Lexie stands just outside the entrance, looking elegant but
fragile.
Through the wide glass doors, she sees them: a cluster of
polished, confident people laughing effortlessly.
She goes to smooth the front of her dress, but her hand
trembles. She quickly hides the trembling hand in the folds
of her coat, taking a half-step into the shadows.
Just as she’s about to turn, she pulls out her phone, as if
desperate for an escape. The screen illuminates her text
conversation with Olivia.
Lexie stares at the words. As she reads them, her other hand
instinctively goes to her temple. A muscle in her jaw
tightens.
A beat.
She lowers her hand. The hesitation in her eyes is replaced
by a look of grim determination.
She takes one deliberate breath and pockets the phone.
LEXIE
She needs you here.
Genres:
["Drama","Psychological Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Navigating Social Currents
INT. COMMUNITY CENTER - NIGHT
A cozy, bohemian gathering. The room buzzes with chatter over
the sound of a live jazz quartet.
Lexie enters and freezes just inside the door, a ship lost in
a sea of people. Her eyes scan the room.
Across the way, OLIVIA (late 20s), tired but radiant in a
flowy wrap dress, spots her. Juggling a clipboard and on her
phone, she gives Lexie a grateful, “get over here now” wave.
Lexie navigates the crowd. As she approaches, Olivia is
finishing up her call.
OLIVIA
No, “double-booked” is not an
answer I can accept two months out.
Call me back.
Olivia hangs up and gives Lexie a quick, one-armed hug.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
You came. I was starting to lose
hope.
LEXIE
Rude.
OLIVIA
Just statistically accurate. But
seriously, thank you. I know this
isn’t your scene.
She leads Lexie toward the wine table, her thumb furiously
tapping out a text. She hands Lexie a glass of wine. Lexie
takes it with both hands to steady a faint tremor.
LEXIE
You okay?
OLIVIA
We’re almost out of Chardonnay. The
slideshow is frozen on a blurry
photo. And the venue for the winter
gala just canceled on us.
She lets out a stressed laugh, finally pocketing her phone.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
I just wanted tonight to be
perfect, you know? To show everyone
their work matters.
LEXIE
What can I do?
OLIVIA
Honestly? Nothing. I don’t need a
problem-solver. I just need my
friend. Please, just stay.
Lexie gives a small, supportive smile.
LEXIE
I can do that.
Her eyes drift around the room as Olivia is pulled away by a
question. She overhears a nearby conversation.
WOMAN 1
...he really helped me with one of
my students.
WOMAN 2
I told Olivia she should ask Aaron
to lead the next training. He’s
just so genuine.
Lexie’s eyes snap toward the conversation. She takes a sip of
wine, her gaze zeroing in on the group. Her grip tightens on
the stem of her glass.
She approaches the trio of women.
LEXIE
Excuse me, sorry to interrupt. I
overheard you talking about the
tutor training. I was thinking of
volunteering.
The women turn to her, their expressions warm.
WOMAN 1
Oh, that’s wonderful! We always
need more tutors.
BEGIN MONTAGE
A rapid, draining sequence of Lexie trying to perfect this
single conversation:
-One of the women asks Lexie what she does for a living. She
gives a clipped, technical answer about brand strategy. Their
eyes glaze over.
REWIND - A harsh, quick sound. Lexie winces, her eye
twitches.
-She tries again, this time with a self-deprecating joke
about marketing that doesn’t land. Awkward silence.
REWIND - The sound is more distorted. A wave of dizziness
makes Lexie sway.
-She finally nails it. She’s charming, engaging, and asks
them thoughtful questions about their own experiences. They
are all laughing, fully engaged.
END MONTAGE
Lexie excuses herself from the now-successful conversation,
her social smile plastered on her face.
The smile vanishes the second her back is turned. She moves
away from the crowd, her reflection in a dark window catching
her eye.
The effort is written all over her face. Dark circles have
started to bloom under her eyes. Her skin looks pale and waxy
under the warm party lights.
INT. COMMUNITY CENTER - MOMENTS LATER
Lexie leans against the wall near a display of kids’ art,
trying to look casual, trying to catch her breath. Alone.
AARON (O.S.)
Hiding?
Lexie turns, startled. AARON (30s, rumpled and easy-going)
stands there holding a half-eaten brownie.
LEXIE
What? No. Just admiring the art.
AARON
Are you a “refrigerator” or a
“framed” kind of person? For kid’s
art. Says a lot about a person.
Lexie’s mask slips.
LEXIE
Honestly? I’d probably put it in a
drawer. I don’t like clutter.
The moment the words are out, she freezes. Panic flashes in
her eyes.
Aaron just looks at her, a beat of quiet consideration.
Lexie’s face flushes. Her eyes squeeze shut.
REWIND
The sound is violent. The jazz music slurs into a harsh
discordant clang. Lexie grits her teeth, a bead of sweat
trickling down her temple.
RESET
The smooth jazz snaps back into place. Aaron is looking at
her expectantly.
AARON
...it says a lot about a person.
A short beat while Lexie struggles to even out her breathing.
Then she forces a warm, practiced smile.
LEXIE
Definitely framed. You have to
honor the artist’s intention,
right?
Aaron laughs, but tilts his head, studying her.
AARON
Huh. For a second, I thought you
were going to say something else.
Lexie’s smile tightens.
LEXIE
Just collecting my thoughts. This
is a lot of sensory input for a
Tuesday.
AARON
Tell me about it. I’ve been making
small talk for two hours. I don’t
think I have any talk left in me.
Just big, awkward silence.
He takes a bite of his brownie.
AARON (CONT’D)
I’m Aaron, by the way.
LEXIE
Lexie.
AARON
So, Lexie. You a friend of the
program? Or just a big fan of
lukewarm chardonnay and silent
auctions?
LEXIE
Friend of Olivia’s. I’m
contractually obligated to be here.
AARON
I’m one of the tutors. I’m
contractually obligated to eat at
least three of these brownies.
He gestures with the napkin. She laughs.
AARON (CONT’D)
There it is. I was wondering.
LEXIE
Wondering what?
AARON
You seemed calibrated. Now you just
seem real. It’s more relatable.
Before Lexie can respond, Olivia appears, looking frazzled.
OLIVIA
Aaron! My hero. Can you help me
with the slideshow? It’s frozen on
a picture of a six-year-old holding
a book upside down.
AARON
(to Olivia)
Yeah, no problem. I’m on it.
(to Lexie)
Well. This might be forward...but
I’d rather not leave our next
meeting up to contractual
obligations. Could I get your
number?
Olivia’s eyes go wide. A huge grin spreads across her face.
She looks back and forth between them, practically vibrating
with excitement but forcing herself to stay quiet.
Lexie hesitates for a second, then nods.
LEXIE
Okay. Sure.
He hands her his phone. She types in her number as Olivia
does a silent cheer behind Aaron.
AARON
I promise our first date won’t
involve a silent auction. Unless
you’re into that.
He gives her a final, charming smile. Olivia practically
pushes him toward the slideshow.
OLIVIA
Great! Slideshow. Now.
As they walk away, Olivia throws an “Oh my god!” look back at
Lexie over her shoulder.
Lexie watches him go, her practiced smile replaced with
uncertainty. She touches her fingers to her temple as her
left eye twitches again.
A moment later, Olivia practically sprints back over, leaving
Aaron to deal with the slideshow. She grabs Lexie by the
arms, her voice a fierce whisper.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
What was that?
LEXIE
You literally just saw all of it.
OLIVIA
I leave you alone for an hour and
you pull a charming, handsome man?
Who are you right now?
LEXIE
Who I am is tired. I’m going home.
OLIVIA
Fine. Go home. But we are talking
about this later!
Olivia gives her a quick, ecstatic hug then heads back to
Aaron.
Lexie stands there for a moment. A tiny smile touches her
lips. It vanishes as her eye twitches again rapidly.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Psychological"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Morning Struggles
INT. LEXIE'S APARTMENT - MORNING
Soft, muted light. The clock on the stove says 7:25.
Lexie shuffles into the kitchen, wrapped in a sweatshirt that
swallows her. Her hair is a mess. Dark circles hang under her
eyes.
She fills the kettle and sets it on the stove, her movements
slow and weary.
As she leans against the counter, her left eye gives a
violent, stuttering twitch. She presses her hand against it,
wincing.
Her phone lights up with a text notification from Mark. She
glances at it, her jaw tightens, and she immediately presses
the side button, turning the screen off.
The kettle screams.
She moves to make coffee, her hands visibly unsteady. As she
scoops the coffee beans into the grinder, a small cascade of
them spills across the counter.
She stares at the mess. Her eyes squeeze shut. There’s a
faint high-pitched tone.
She opens her eyes, lets out a long, resigned sigh, and
simply brushes some of the spilled beans into the sink. She
proceeds to make her coffee with the remaining beans.
She pours a cup, adds oat milk, and leans against the messy
counter. She takes a sip.
Her phone buzzes again. She picks it up. A notification from
Olivia: “September Fundraiser” photos.
Then a text, also from Olivia: “Thanks again for coming last
night! I really appreciate you.”
Lexie allows a tiny, tired smile. Her phone buzzes again.
Another text from Olivia: “But we HAVE to talk about Aaron!”
Lexie reads the text, her smile fading. She takes another sip
of her coffee, staring at the spilled beans she didn’t clean
up, and leaves the message unanswered.
Genres:
["Drama","Psychological Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
Embracing the Mess
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK - EARLY EVENING
A quiet, tree-lined street. Dappled sunlight. Lexie and
Olivia walk side-by-side, an easy rhythm to their steps.
OLIVIA
If one more person emails me about
the gala venue, I’m faking my own
death and moving to Aruba.
LEXIE
You’d be bored in a week.
OLIVIA
Probably. Hey, speaking of the
gala, would you be willing to work
your calligraphy magic on the
invitations again this year?
Everyone loved them last time.
LEXIE
Of course. You don’t even have to
ask.
They turn a corner and stop. Sprawled across the sidewalk is
a huge, chaotic, and vibrantly colored chalk drawing. A messy
masterpiece of dragons, rainbows, and abstract swirls.
OLIVIA
Anyway. Enough about my problems.
Has he texted yet?
Lexie stares down at the drawing.
LEXIE
Yes. He texted.
OLIVIA
And? When’s the date? Can I veto
your outfit if it’s sad?
LEXIE
Drinks. Tomorrow. And my clothes
are not sad.
(a beat)
I just - what if it’s awful? What
if the person he met at the
fundraiser wasn’t me? It felt like
a magic trick. What happens when he
meets the real, boring me?
Olivia stops her. She gestures down at the colorful chaos at
their feet.
OLIVIA
Do you see this? It’s messy, and
it’s chaotic, and it’s real. That’s
what makes it interesting. Not the
perfect, boring, clean sidewalk
next to it.
She meets Lexie’s eyes.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
The “real you” is the one he saw
hiding in a corner and asked out.
Just be your weird, overthinking,
secretly funny self. If he can’t
hang, he’s an idiot.
Lexie says nothing. Olivia gives her shoulder a squeeze and
starts walking again.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
Come on. My complaining quota is
only half-full.
Lexie doesn’t follow immediately. She lingers, looking down
at the chalk drawing.
Then, in a tiny, almost imperceptible act, she smudges a
smear of bright pink chalk with the toe of her sneaker,
making it just a bit messier.
Then she walks on to catch up with Olivia.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
The Weight of Perfection
INT. LEXIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
A quiet room soaked in warm lamplight.
A mug of tea steams beside a pristine pad of ivory paper, a
bottle of black ink, and a slender calligraphy pen.
Lexie sits at the desk, focused.
She gently straightens a small, framed photo on her desk: a
picture of her as a child, holding a calligraphy certificate
between two impeccably dressed, smiling parents.
She dips the nib into the ink. Begins to write. Slow,
deliberate strokes.
She finishes the line: You do not have to be good.
She exhales, leaning in to inspect her work. Her eyes fix on
the second “o” in good. It dips too low. The loop is off-
kilter.
Her fingers twitch. She closes her eyes.
REWIND
The gentle scratch of the pen reverses. Lexie winces, rubbing
her eyes as the world resets.
RESET
She dips the pen again. Starts over. This time, the entire
line slants slightly downward.
Her hand, holding the pen, tightens into a white-knuckled
grip. It lifts an inch off the desk as if she’s about to
throw it, then she slams it back down, rattling the ink
bottle.
She forces herself to take a breath.
REWIND
The sound is harsher. The tap of the nib echoes. She grabs
her temple, gasping in sudden pain.
RESET
She picks up the pen. Her hand is now visibly trembling.
She uses her other hand to steady her writing wrist.
She starts to write, but the tremor is too strong. The “g”
becomes an uneven, heavy blotch of ink.
She drops the pen. It clatters onto the desk.
She looks from the ruined page to her own trembling hand. Her
expression is one of utter disgust.
Slowly, deliberately, she takes the paper. Her hands crumple
it into a tight, hateful ball. She shoves it in a drawer.
Slams the pen, ink, and pad in after it.
She closes the drawer with a loud thud.
She leans back, her breathing shallow and fast. Her eyes
glisten.
The silence is broken by her phone buzzing on her desk. A
calendar reminder: “Tomorrow: Drinks with Aaron. 8 pm.”
Her breath catches in her throat. Her eye twitches, a
violent, uncontrollable spasm. She presses the heel of her
hand to her face, staring at the screen.
Genres:
["Drama","Psychological"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
A Night of Connection
INT. SMALL BAR - EVENING
A cozy, dimly lit booth tucked near the back. Amber light
glows above. A low hum of conversation swirls around the
room, clinking glasses and quiet laughter.
Lexie and Aaron sit across from each other, half-empty drinks
between them. There’s a quiet comfort in their posture.
Relaxed, leaning slightly in.
AARON
So what do you do when you’re not
supporting Olivia’s world-saving
enterprises?
LEXIE
I help brands sound like they have
their act together. Strategist,
mostly copy.
AARON
Ah. A professional sense-maker.
LEXIE
Basically. And it is as exhausting
as it sounds.
AARON
I teach high school English. My
entire job is trying to convince
teenagers that a metaphor isn’t a
type of dinosaur. I get
‘exhausting.’
They share a genuine laugh. He leans forward slightly.
AARON (CONT’D)
Can I ask you something about the
fundraiser?
Lexie tenses, just a little. She grips her glass.
LEXIE
Shoot.
AARON
When I asked you about the kids
art. For a split second, you looked
like you’d just touched an electric
fence. And then, poof, it was gone,
and you gave this perfect answer.
Lexie’s smile falters. Her hand under the table clenches into
a fist. She forces a breezy laugh, trying to maintain her
composure.
LEXIE
It’s a high-pressure question. The
fate of imaginary children’s art is
a heavy burden.
Aaron smiles, but he doesn’t let it go. He just watches her,
his gaze kind but unwavering.
AARON
That’s a good line. But it’s not
what I saw.
A long beat of silence. Lexie’s eyes dart away from his,
scanning the bar, looking for the waitress, an escape. His
gaze is still on her when her eyes return to his.
She looks down at her drink, breaking the eye contact. Her
fist under the table slowly unclenches.
LEXIE
I get overwhelmed. Sometimes. In
crowds.
She glances up at him.
He just nods. A small, easy smile on his lips.
AARON
Yeah, me too. Especially when the
brownies run out.
A wave of relief washes over Lexie’s face.
AARON (CONT’D)
Okay, now a serious question.
What’s the worst date you’ve ever
been on?
LEXIE
Ugh, no, that’s how you ruin a good
first date, by summoning the ghosts
of the terrible ones.
Aaron shakes his head empathetically.
AARON
I disagree. You learn the most from
disaster.
LEXIE
Fine. I once went out with a guy
who spent the entire evening
talking about his kombucha start up
and his mother’s aura. He referred
to himself as a “water sign in a
fire world.”
She rolls her eyes.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
He tried to teach me deep breathing
exercises between courses.
AARON
Oh my god. But why?
LEXIE
Your guess is as good as mine.
They both laugh as they finish their drinks.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
This was nice.
AARON
Yeah. It was.
(beat)
I’d really like to do this again.
Lexie smiles.
LEXIE
Yeah. I’d like that too.
AARON
Okay, good. I’ll go settle up.
He slides out of the booth and heads to the bar. Lexie lets
out a slow breath.
Aaron returns, shrugging on his coat.
AARON (CONT’D)
Ready? I’ll walk you out.
She starts to protest. Then stops and nods instead.
She slides out of the booth and shrugs on her jacket.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
A Walk in the Park: Laughter and Embarrassment
EXT. PARK PATH - DAY
A tree-lined path. Dappled sunlight. Lexie and Aaron walk, a
comfortable ease between them.
AARON
...and then the squirrel just looks
at me, like I owe it money, and
snatches the entire bagel right out
of my hand.
Lexie lets out an unguarded laugh that ends in a loud snort.
She cuts off instantly. Her hand flies to her mouth, her body
frozen. Her eyes are wide, locked on his face. Her other
hand, out of his sight, clenches into a white-knuckled fist.
But Aaron is grinning, completely charmed.
AARON (CONT’D)
That was an excellent snort. Ten
out of ten.
Lexie lets out a slow, shaky breath she was holding. Her
tense shoulders drop. The fist at her side unclenches. A
smile spreads across her face.
LEXIE
And you just let the squirrel win?
I would have fought it.
She turns to him, her posture now open and confident.
Her foot catches on an uneven patch of pavement and she
stumbles forward, arms flailing. A small gasp escapes her.
She catches herself, but her face flushes a deep red. She
won’t meet Aaron’s eyes staring instead at the ground.
AARON
Whoa, you good?
Her eyes squeeze shut.
REWIND
Her gasp warps and reverses. Her stumble unwinds in a flash
of flailing limbs.
RESET
The park snaps back to normal, a few steps before the uneven
patch.
AARON (CONT’D)
...snatches the entire bagel right
out of my hand!
Lexie, concentrating on the ground in front of her, doesn’t
laugh this time. She glides over the uneven spot without
breaking stride.
LEXIE
And you just let it win? I would
have fought it.
AARON
I bet you would have.
She smiles at him, but it’s a little tight. She brings a hand
to her temple, wincing slightly as she rubs it.
AARON (CONT’D)
You okay? You keep doing that.
Lexie drops her hand instantly, her smile becoming brighter,
more forced.
LEXIE
Oh, yeah, just a headache. Too much
screen time at work.
AARON
Or maybe you’re just feeling the
trauma of my squirrel heist. Come
on, I’ll buy you a pastry to
recover.
He puts a gentle hand on her back, his expression full of
concern.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Psychological"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
A Dash of Chaos
INT. AARON'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Warm, lived-in chaos. Cookbooks scattered, dishes are piled
near the sink, but it feels like a home. Aaron is at the
stove. Lexie is attempting to chop vegetables.
Her knife slips.
A piece of chopped green pepper flies across the room,
landing with a soft thwack against the wall.
A beat of horrified silence. Lexie’s eyes snap shut.
The hum of the kitchen instantly warps and deepens. The world
goes soft at the edges.
But through the distorted sound, a voice cuts through,
muffled but clear.
AARON (V.O.)
Seasoning the walls. Bold choice.
Inside the rewind-state, Lexie’s pained expression falters. A
flicker of confusion.
Her eyes fly open.
The world snaps back into focus with a sharp inhale from her.
She sees Aaron pluck the piece of pepper from the wall and
pop it in his mouth.
She stares, mouth agape. A surprised, delighted laugh escapes
her.
AARON
What? A little chaos is good for
the soul. Builds character.
Her laughter grows louder.
Genres:
["Romantic Comedy","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
The Bookstore Paradox
INT. BOOKSTORE - AFTERNOON
Light pours through tall windows. Lexie and Aaron browse
lazily, hands trailing over spines.
AARON
How do you decide what to buy in a
place like this?
LEXIE
I smell the pages.
AARON
You’re serious?
Lexie shrugs.
LEXIE
Books that smell like no one’s ever
touched them more than once? Pass.
But the ones that have been read
time and time again? You can smell
that.
A slow grin spreads across his face.
AARON
That is the weirdest, most romantic
thing I’ve ever heard.
He holds up a book.
AARON (CONT’D)
You read this?
Lexie frowns at the cover and tilts her head.
LEXIE
I think I started it? I couldn’t
really get into it.
Aaron’s face falls with disappointment.
AARON
Oh, man, I loved it. Okay, well,
what about this one?
He grabs another book.
LEXIE
Hated it. The protagonist was just
so whiny.
AARON
Really? See, I thought the way he
dealt with his family was
incredible.
Lexie’s smile is now a tight, panicked mask. She closes her
eyes.
REWIND
The sound of their entire conversation warps violently. The
world lurches. Lexie stumbles, gripping a bookshelf to stay
upright. A faint, high-pitched ringing starts in her ears.
RESET
The bookstore snaps back into place. Lexie blinks hard,
shaking her head imperceptibly. The ringing is still there.
Aaron is holding up the first book.
AARON (CONT’D)
You read this?
Lexie puts on a warm, confident smile.
LEXIE
Loved it. Messed me up in the best
way.
AARON
Right? The ending was just...what
about this one?
He holds up the second book.
LEXIE
The way he dealt with his family
was incredible.
Aaron stops. His smile vanishes. He tilts his head slightly,
his brow furrowed, and just watches her for a long beat.
AARON
It’s like you can read my mind. We
haven’t disagreed on a single
thing. Is there anything we don’t
have in common?
Lexie can’t meet his gaze. She fumbles with a book, her hands
trembling slight.
LEXIE
We haven’t talked about tax policy
yet.
Aaron lets out a short laugh, but his smile doesn’t return.
He continues to watch her, his expression puzzled, as she
flips through a book without really seeing it.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Awkward Beginnings
INT. LEXIE’S BEDROOM - EVENING
The room glows in the soft amber light of a bedside lamp.
Lexie and Aaron enter, holding hands, with soft, awkward
laughter.
They kiss, slow and searching. It’s clumsy. A missed angle, a
bump of noses.
Her fingers catch in the fabric of his shirt, holding on just
enough to keep him close.
He eases her toward the bed, lips never leaving hers. The
mattress presses against the backs of her knees. She lets
herself sink down.
They find a rhythm, but it’s awkward. Bodies adjusting, knees
knocking.
Lexie flinches at the clumsiness. Her jaw tightens. She
squeezes her eyes shut.
The world begins to warp. The soft rustle of fabric distorts,
the ambient sounds of the room stretching and fading.
But her hand is flat against his chest. And as the other
sounds fall away, one sound rises to take their place.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
The fast, nervous beat of his heart.
A beat. Her expression, even with her eyes closed, softens.
Her eyes fly open. The world snaps back into focus.
She’s still in the tangled, awkward moment. She looks at him,
and he looks back, just as breathless, just as vulnerable.
A slow smile spreads across her face. Seeing her smile, he
smiles back.
He leans down and kisses again. And this time, they find
their rhythm.
Her hand is in his hair. His mouth brushes along her jaw.
Legs tangled together.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
A Moment of Realization
INT. LEXIE'S BEDROOM - LATER
Lexie and Aaron lie tangled together in the quiet glow of the
bedside lamp. The only sound is the soft, steady rhythm of
Aaron’s breathing as he sleeps.
Lexie stares at the ceiling, a small, slow smile touching her
lips.
Her fingers tentatively drift up to her temple, almost
hesitant to touch it. Her brow is slightly furrowed in
anticipation.
She touches the skin lightly.
A beat.
Her fingers trace the spot.
The furrow on her brow smooths out. Her expression shifts
from apprehension to quiet wonder.
The small smile on her face deepens, spreading into a look of
profound, quiet relief. A single happy tear escapes the
corner of her eye, tracing a slow path toward her hairline.
She looks at Aaron sleeping beside her.
LEXIE
(to herself)
Real.
She lets out a long, contented breath and closes her eyes.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Morning Whispers
INT. LEXIE’S BEDROOM - MORNING
Sunlight streams into the room, illuminating dust motes
dancing in the air. Clothes from last night are draped over a
chair. Two empty wine glasses sit on the nightstand.
Lexie is awake, lying on her side, watching Aaron sleep. She
looks peaceful.
He stirs, blinking his eyes open. He smiles when he sees her.
AARON
Morning.
LEXIE
Morning.
AARON
I had a dream we were professional
ballroom dancers.
She laughs.
LEXIE
Speak for yourself, I’m the epitome
of grace.
He leans in and kisses her, soft and slow.
As he pulls away, her fingers reflexively drift up toward her
temple.
She catches herself midway. A small, self-aware smile touches
her lips as she lets her hand fall away.
AARON
I’m thinking we should make
pancakes. You in?
LEXIE
Absolutely.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Pancake Perfection
INT. LEXIE’S KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
Lexie is in Aaron’s shirt, which hangs down almost to her
knees. Aaron is just in jeans. A mellow indie playlist hums.
Flour is dusted on the counter.
Aaron stands at the stove, a spatula in hand. Lexie grabs a
sponge and starts compulsively wiping up the spilled flour.
Aaron glances over.
AARON
Hey. Leave that. You need to
witness this.
She continues wiping. He watches her for a beat, a knowing
look on his face.
AARON (CONT’D)
Seriously. It’s part of the
experience. Get over here.
Lexie looks up, startled. She reluctantly drops the sponge
and steps over to the stove.
AARON (CONT’D)
The secret to the perfect flip is
all about confidence. You can’t
hesitate.
He takes a deep breath, bends his knees slightly. He flips
the pancake.
It’s a complete disaster. It folds in on itself, a mangled,
half-cooked mess.
Lexie’s smile freezes. Her hands clench, fingers twitching.
The edges of her vision blur. The sound of the sizzling pan
distorts into a low hum
Aaron’s voice cuts through the haze.
AARON (V.O.)
Well.
The sound snaps back to normal. Lexie blinks.
Aaron is just staring at the mangled pancake, poking it with
his spatula.
AARON
So, confidence is overrated. This
one’s a deconstructed pancake. It’s
very avant-garde.
He scrapes the mess onto a plate and grins at her, completely
unbothered.
Lexie looks from his easy, unembarrassed smile back to the
imperfect pancake. A laugh escapes her. The twitching in her
hand stops.
She playfully grabs two forks and hands one to him. Just as
she’s about to take a bite, Aaron reaches out and puts a
small dab of flour on her nose. She stops, surprised.
AARON (CONT’D)
Perfect.
She laughs again, shaking her head as she wipes at her nose.
Genres:
["Romance","Comedy","Slice of Life"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Reflections of Anxiety
INT. LEXIE'S APARTMENT - DAY
A few hours later. The apartment is clean again, sunlight
streaming in.
Lexie catches her reflection in the dark screen of the TV.
She sees the faint smudge of flour still on the tip of her
nose. She laughs softly to herself, then wipes it away.
As the last trace of the happy mess vanishes, so does her
smile, replaced by her usual placid neutrality.
Her phone buzzes. It’s Olivia. Lexie answers, her smile
returning a little.
LEXIE
Hey.
OLIVIA (V.O.)
Do not “hey” me. You have a
permanent rosy glow, don’t you?
Spill. I’m living vicariously.
LEXIE
It was easy.
OLIVIA (V.O.)
Easy? Lex, you haven’t brought a
guy home in ever. I’m officially
demanding a group hang. I know
Tutor Aaron, but I need to vet
Boyfriend Aaron. It’s my sacred
best friend duty. Dinner next week?
Lexie’s smile vanishes instantly. She stops pacing. Her eyes
dart around the room. They land on a single, barely visible
water ring on her coffee table.
There’s a faint, high-pitched tone in the air. Her hand
twitches.
LEXIE
Oh. Um. Yeah, maybe. I’ll ask him.
OLIVIA (V.O.)
Great! It’ll be perfect.
(a beat)
Lex? You okay? You got quiet.
Lexie grabs a cloth and begins to obsessively polish the
stain, her movements sharp and frantic. She forces a bright,
brittle voice.
LEXIE
Yeah! Sorry, just saw something.
It’ll be perfect.
She stares at her own distorted reflection in the polished
surface of the table.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Awkward Interruptions and Flamingo Tales
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
A trendy, cozy booth. Lexie, Aaron, and Olivia are seated. An
easy rapport flows between Aaron and Olivia.
OLIVIA
We got the first round of funding!
AARON
No way! Does that mean we can
finally replace the world’s saddest
coffeemaker?
OLIVIA
It’s priority number one. We’re
moving up in the world.
They both laugh.
AARON
Seriously, that’s great news. And
not just about the coffeemaker,
although Henderson will be
thrilled. You know how he gets
about the Keurig.
OLIVIA
Oh, I know. Last week he told me it
was an “affront to the bean.”
Lexie smiles along, but she’s clearly on the outside. She
shreds the label of her beer bottle.
She closes her eyes.
REWIND
The conversation reverses with a faint, high-pitched tone.
Lexie winces.
RESET
AARON
Henderson will be thrilled. You
know how he gets about the Keurig.
Lexie jumps in, a little too eagerly.
LEXIE
Let me guess. He calls it an
“affront to the bean,” right?
Aaron and Olivia stare at her. Olivia’s smile fades, replaced
by a flicker of confusion and a hint of suspicion.
OLIVIA
Yeah. That’s exactly what he said.
Did I tell you that already?
LEXIE
No, I just-
She trails off. The silence is thick with awkwardness.
Lexie’s face flushes, and she sinks in her seat, utterly
defeated.
She stares down at her plate, meticulously separating the
peas from the carrots with her fork.
Aaron glances from Olivia to Lexie, his smile fading as he
sees Lexie’s distress.
AARON
Hey. We’re being those people. I’m
so sorry.
OLIVIA
Oh my god, we are. New rule: no
more shop talk.
AARON
(to Lexie)
Tell us the most interesting thing
about your week so far. Non-work
related.
Lexie looks up, surprised and grateful. A smile touches her
lips.
LEXIE
Well, on Monday, my neighbor put a
single, life-sized flamingo lawn
ornament in the building entrance.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
Decisions and Reflections
INT. LEXIE'S OFFICE - DAY
Lexie sits at her desk, phone in hand, staring at Aaron’s
name in her contacts. Her finger hovers over his name for a
moment, but she doesn’t click on it.
After a long moment, she puts the phone face down on her desk
with a frustrated sigh. She stands and walks out of the room.
INT. OFFICE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Lexie walks down the hallway, her pace brisk, almost frantic.
As she passes Mark’s office, she hears his voice through the
slightly open door.
MARK (O.S.)
No, I know the payment is late. I’m
working on it.
Lexie slows her pace, stopping just past the door, hidden
from his line of sight.
MARK (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Yes, I know how much USC costs,
honey. We’ll figure it out.
She hears the sharp click of his phone dropping onto his
desk, followed by a frustrated sigh.
Lexie stands there for a long moment, completely still. Her
shoulders, already tense, seem to tighten even more. She
presses her lips together.
She turns and walks back the way she came.
INT. LEXIE'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Lexie returns to her desk. She looks at her computer screen,
full of work. Then at her phone.
She picks it up. Her fingers move with purpose. She finds
Aaron’s contact and types out a message, then puts the phone
down.
INT. AARON'S APARTMENT - LATE AFTERNOON
Aaron sits on his couch, a red pen in hand, a stack of
student essays on the coffee table. He looks thoughtful, a
little distant, staring at a page without really seeing it.
His phone buzzes on the table. He glances at it. A text from
Lexie: “Can we talk?”
He texts back immediately: “Of course. Park by your place in
an hour?”
His phone buzzes again: “See you then.”
He puts down the phone and rubs his face.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
A Walk in the Park
EXT. PARK - DAY
Leaves crunch underfoot. Lexie and Aaron walk along a quiet
path, a slight distance between them. Lexie’s hands are
shoved in her pockets.
LEXIE
I’m sorry about last night. I made
things awkward.
AARON
You didn’t. We were ignoring you
and that’s on us.
LEXIE
But I...
She stops walking, turning toward him.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
I felt like I was failing a test I
didn’t study for. So I cheated.
As she says “cheated”, she winces, but tries to hide it.
AARON
The first time I led a parent-
teacher conference, I wrote notes
on my hand. It was so sweaty it
smeared into an ink blob. I get it.
We all have our tricks to pass the
test.
He gestures to a nearby bench. They sit. He looks at her, his
expression kind, but serious.
AARON (CONT’D)
So, the person I met at the
fundraiser, the one who looked
terrified when I asked about kids’
art and the person in your kitchen
who was laughing so hard at my
pancake disaster. Am I ever going
to know which one is going to show
up?
Lexie reacts as if he’d struck her. She physically recoils, a
sharp, audible intake of breath.
She can’t hold his gaze. She breaks eye contact, looking down
at her own hands in her lap.
AARON (CONT’D)
You know what? Forget it. Bad
question. Let’s do something where
we don’t have to talk at all.
Bowling. Mini-golf. Something with
a little friendly competition.
Lexie looks up, a grateful smile forming.
LEXIE
That sounds fun.
AARON
I should warn you, I can be
competitive.
She laughs, shaking her head.
LEXIE
It’s on.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Strikes and Secrets
INT. BOWLING ALLEY - NIGHT
A lively bowling alley, a cacophony of crashing pins, arcade
jingles, and 80s rock music. Neon lights flash.
Lexie and Aaron are laughing at their mutually terrible
scores. Aaron puts a ridiculous spin on his ball. It hooks
dramatically and slams into the gutter.
AARON
Sabotage! The lane is tilted.
Lexie laughs, stepping up. She gives the ball a careless
shove. It wobbles down the lane and by a complete fluke, hits
the center pin perfectly. All ten pins explode.
Aaron stares, his jaw agape. He erupts in a massive cheer.
AARON (CONT’D)
Whoa! Where did that come from?
That was amazing!
He runs over and gives her a huge high-five. Lexie takes a
little bow, pleased.
But as Aaron walks back to take his turn, the jokey vibe
shifts. He picks up his ball with new focus, his expression
now one of intense concentration. He’s not laughing anymore.
Lexie watches him, her own smile fading as she frowns.
She closes her eyes.
REWIND
A sharp, quick hiss as the crack of the strike reverse. Lexie
winces as her left eye gives a violent twitch.
RESET
Lexie is at the line again, rolling the ball with the same
carefree motion. At the last second, she gives it a tiny,
almost imperceptible nudge to the left.
The ball veers off. Gutter.
Aaron breaks into laughter. Lexie turns, forcing a laugh
along with him.
LEXIE
I think you’re right. The lane is
tilted.
AARON
Okay, thank god. For a second
there, I thought I was going to
have to actually try.
Lexie’s eyes tighten and her jaw clenches. Her posture is
tight. Aaron’s smile fades as he studies her face.
AARON (CONT’D)
Hey. You sure you’re okay? Your
headache back?
Her forced smile falters for a split second. She quickly
plasters it back on, brighter this time.
LEXIE
Oh, yeah, just a little. It’s fine.
Aaron holds her gaze for a beat longer, his brow furrowed
slightly. He doesn’t look convinced. Then he gives a small
nod and turns to grab his ball.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Tension and Time: A Branding Battle
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING
A whiteboard is covered in scribbles about Studio 14. Lexie,
Mark, TESS (30s, lead creative), and the rest of the strategy
team are gathered.
Lexie stands near the screen, calm and focused.
TESS
...on the copy side, are we
thinking more word-play or should
we keep it grounded?
LEXIE
Definitely grounded. Clarity first,
then charm. Naomi kept referencing
Scandinavian editorial vibes. Tonal
contrast, clean lines, but with
warmth.
Mark, spinning a pen, smirks.
MARK
If we go too minimalist, we’re
gonna end up sounding like every
clean beauty brand in the world.
Just saying. Naomi also mentioned
“emotion.” We might be
underdelivering.
LEXIE
I think the emotion comes through
in restraint-
MARK
- so another “beige wellness
goddess” brand. Got it.
Tess looks down at her notebook, her confidence clearly
shaken. Another TEAM MEMBER starts doodling, disengaged.
Lexie’s eyes dart between them.
Her jaw ticks. She closes her eyes.
REWIND
The entire exchange warps violently. The sound is a
discordance of reversed voices and shuffling papers. Lexie
braces herself against the table as the world resets.
RESET
TESS
...or should we keep it grounded?
Lexie steps forward and nods.
LEXIE
Grounded. But with a clear strategy
for the emotional component. We
need to be precise so we don’t end
up sound like every other clean
beauty brand out there.
MARK
Right. Just as long as we’re not
doing another-
LEXIE
-”beige wellness goddess” brand? We
won’t be.
She looks directly at Mark, a challenge in her eyes. He is
stunned to silence.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
That’s why the emotion comes from
precision, not overt sentiment.
It’s personal and trustworthy. We
pull in Naomi’s language about
softness, but we frame it with
clarity. That’s how we
differentiate.
The team nods, impressed. Tess looks relieved. Mark is
seething.
Lexie sways slightly, gripping the edge of the laptop stand
to keep upright. The room tilts for a split second.
She powers through the rest of the presentation, but her hand
trembles as she reaches for her water. Her eye twitches,
once, twice.
As everyone gathers their things, Mark lingers he approaches
her, his voice low and venomous.
MARK
That was quite a performance. You
enjoy making me look like an idiot?
LEXIE
I was making a point.
MARK
Some of us are trying to get
traction in this company. Vince
told me that if I didn’t-
He stops short, a flash of genuine panic in his eyes before
he papers it over.
MARK (CONT’D)
Never mind. Just give other people
a chance every once in a while.
He turns and strides out.
Lexie watches him go, then drops into a chair, pressing her
hands into her temples.
Genres:
["Drama","Workplace"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
Unspoken Tensions
INT. LEXIE'S OFFICE - LATER
Lexie types at her desk. Mark appears in her doorway. He
doesn’t enter, just leans on the frame, not quite looking at
her.
MARK
Hey.
Lexie looks up, her hands still on the keyboard, wary.
LEXIE
Mark.
MARK
Listen, about in there...
He starts to speak, then closes his mouth. He looks at the
floor, then finally meets her gaze. His usual smirk is gone.
MARK (CONT’D)
Vince is looking to downsize the
team. He told me last week that if
I didn’t start showing more
leadership, I’d be on the list. I
have a kid starting college next
year. I can’t lose this job.
He delivers it flatly.
Lexie’s wary posture softens. She leans forward slightly in
her chair, her hands falling away from her keyboard.
A long, uncomfortable silence. Lexie’s eyes are wide,
unfocused. She’s completely still.
Then something shifts. Her eyes focus. Her posture
straightens, becoming more upright, more professional.
LEXIE
The Studio 14 presentation, the
data on the landing page variants.
I can walk you through it. We can
prep for the next meeting with
Vince together.
Mark just stares at her, his mouth slightly agape. A flicker
of hope crosses his face for a split second. Then it’s gone.
He lets out a short, sharp scoff and shakes his head. He
straightens up from the doorframe, his jaw setting back into
a hard line.
MARK
Right. Sure. Good talk.
He turns and walks off without another word. Lexie watches
him go, then looks down at her hands.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Fractured Connection
INT. LEXIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Dim lighting. Rain taps gently against the window. Lexie and
Aaron sit tucked close on the couch. A nearly empty bottle of
wine on the coffee table.
AARON
You ever feel like there’s this
version of you that people like
more than the real one?
Lexie glances at him.
LEXIE
Depends on the people.
He gives her a small smile.
AARON
Sometimes I feel like I’m playing a
part. Friendly, chill, dependable,
but I’m so in my head. I worry I’m
wasting time. Like I’m floating
through it instead of doing
something that matters.
Lexie watches him, completely still.
AARON (CONT’D)
I don’t say that out loud usually.
People get uncomfortable when you
say stuff like that.
He looks at her. The TV drones on.
Lexie leans toward him.
LEXIE
I get it. Sometimes I feel like if
I stopped managing everything -
myself, other people, how I’m
perceived, I’d just disappear.
They hold each other’s gaze for a moment.
Lexie gives a tiny shake of her head. Closes her eyes.
REWIND
The sound of rain and the TV distort into a harsh, grinding
noise. Lexie lets out a sharp gasp, her whole body jolting
for a second.
RESET
The room is quiet again. Aaron is looking at her. Lexie is
pale, her breathing shallow.
AARON
I don’t say that out loud usually.
People get uncomfortable when you
say stuff like that.
She hesitates. She looks away for a second, then puts on a
gentle, placating smile.
LEXIE
I think everyone feels like that
sometimes.
Aaron’s expression falters. The light in his eyes dims. He
looks away from her, toward the TV. He gives a small, hollow
laugh that has no humor in it.
AARON
Yeah. Guess you’re right.
He gently pulls his arm from around her, shifting his weight.
A small, but definite space now exists between them on the
couch.
Lexie watches him turn away. She stares at the new distance
between them. A single tear escapes the corner of her eye and
traces a slow path down her temple.
At her side, her hand clenches in a tight fist.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Unspoken Struggles
INT. OLIVIA’S KITCHEN - LATE AFTERNOON
Warm light glows through the windows. A pot simmers gently on
the stove.
At the kitchen island, Olivia sits on a stool, hunched over
her laptop. Her brow is furrowed as she scrolls through a
contract on her screen.
Lexie leans against the counter, wineglass in hand.
OLIVIA
So. You’re happy?
Her eyes don’t leave her laptop.
LEXIE
I am. It’s easy with him.
OLIVIA
Is it?
She finally stops scrolling on her laptop and lets out a
quiet, frustrated sigh, then closes it. She stands from the
stool and turns her full attention to Lexie.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
You just seem quiet about it. And
you look tired. Like, really tired.
LEXIE
I’m just busy at work.
OLIVIA
Are you? Lex, I know you. I know
how hard it is for you to let
people see the real, unfiltered
stuff. I’m just asking if it’s
actually easy, or if you’re working
overtime to make it look easy.
Lexie sets her glass down with a quiet clink. She grabs a
sponge and starts wiping down the countertop, avoiding
Olivia’s gaze.
LEXIE
You’re reading into it.
OLIVIA
Am I?
Lexie opens her mouth to protest, but stops. Her eyes start
to close, but she catches herself. Her eyes snap back open.
LEXIE
I’m happy. Can’t you just be happy
for me?
OLIVIA
Of course I can. But not if the
cost is you white-knuckling your
way through it.
LEXIE
I’m not white-knuckling anything!
Maybe you could just trust me to
handle my own life for once!
Her anger causes her hand to shake. She knocks over her wine
glass, a splash of red spilling across the white countertop.
They both stare at the mess. A horrified look on Lexie’s face
as the wine creeps towards Olivia’s laptop.
Olivia simply grabs some paper towels and wordlessly hands
them to her, then moves her computer. Lexie starts mopping up
the wine. Olivia watches her for a beat.
OLIVIA
It’s just a spill, Lex. It’s okay.
Lexie scrubs at the counter more aggressively, as if trying
to erase an invisible stain.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
Have you ever thought about talking
to someone?
LEXIE
I’m fine.
Olivia flinches. She turns back to the stove.
OLIVIA
Okay.
Lexie stands there, her knuckles white on the paper towel.
Her expression is a mask of control, but her eyes glisten.
The timer on the stove beeps, soft and distant, and Lexie
flinches almost imperceptibly.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
Shared Vulnerabilities
INT. AARON’S APARTMENT - LATE AFTERNOON
Aaron opens the door to Lexie. A beat of quiet silence.
He offers a small, hesitant smile. She returns one.
AARON
Hey.
LEXIE
Hey.
He steps aside. She walks in, her hands shoved in her
pockets, and stops just inside the doorway, her posture a
little stiff.
AARON
Sorry, it’s getting a little
chaotic in here. I got a new
bookshelf and I haven’t quite found
the time to finish putting it
together.
Lexie scans the room. She gives a small, polite smile that
doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
LEXIE
It’s nice.
Another beat of awkward silence. Aaron gives a tight, polite
smile back and turns away.
AARON
You want something to drink? Tea?
LEXIE
Tea’s good.
As Aaron heads to the kitchen, Lexie drifts towards a
bulletin board, her fingers brushing an envelope with “2030”
scrawled across it. He returns with two mugs.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
What’s this?
AARON
My accountability system.
LEXIE
For what?
AARON
Future me is supposed to open it in
a few years and see if I followed
through on anything I said I would.
LEXIE
Well, obviously I want to know
more.
He hesitates, not meeting her eyes.
AARON
I’ll give you one. Finish writing
an album.
Lexie looks from the letter to him.
LEXIE
You’re a musician?
He nods towards a guitar leaning against the partially
finished bookshelf.
AARON
Used to be. Got pretty serious
about it for a while. Then I played
this open mic night, thought my new
song was the best thing I’d ever
written. Halfway through, I look up
and see the entire audience having
conversations and not listening at
all.
He shrugs.
AARON (CONT’D)
It completely broke me. I packed up
the guitar that night and barely
touched it for years.
(MORE)
AARON (CONT’D)
Figured it was better to be the guy
who used to play music than the guy
who was failing at it.
LEXIE
So what changed?
AARON
Honestly? You. The way you approach
things. There’s this focus, this
passion you have. Even when it’s
something frustrating. It reminded
me what I was missing. So I started
writing again.
He says it with a small, hopeful smile. Lexie looks at him. A
long beat passes.
Lexie bites her lip, then takes a small breath.
LEXIE
Calligraphy.
He looks at her, tilting his head slightly.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
I practice calligraphy. I did the
invitations for the literacy
program gala last year and Olivia
asked me to do them again this
year.
AARON
No way. Those were incredible.
(a beat)
It’s the same struggle, right?
You’re trying to get every letter
perfect, and I’m trying to get
every note right.
A smile spreads across her face.
LEXIE
Yeah. It’s exactly the same
struggle.
AARON
Luckily, I don’t plan on going
anywhere. So we have time.
Lexie’s smile falters for just a fraction of a second. She
looks away her jaw tight.
She takes a quiet breath, then steps closer, leaning into
him. He wraps his arm around her.
LEXIE
Me neither.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Crafting Connections
INT. BREWERY - EARLY EVENING
A warm, low-key craft brewery with a lively atmosphere.
Lexie lingers half a step behind Aaron as they approach a
group of three friends: JAMES (chill and a little snarky) and
MAYA (sharp-eyed and warm).
Aaron greets them with easy hugs.
AARON
Hey, guys. This is Lexie.
Lexie gives a small wave, a practiced smile.
LEXIE
Hi.
MAYA
The mysterious girlfriend does
exist.
JAMES
We had a bet and I lost five bucks.
Lexie laughs, and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
LEXIE
I guess I better be extra charming
to make up for it.
JAMES
The bar’s low, don’t worry. This
guy usually has terrible taste.
AARON
Hey!
Everyone laughs. Maya leans in with a warm smile.
MAYA
Okay, she’s funny. She can stay.
Across the table, Aaron catches her eye and gives her a
proud, happy smile. She returns it.
MAYA (CONT’D)
So, Aaron says you’re in branding?
LEXIE
Yeah, brand strategy. It’s mostly
helping companies define who they
are and how to express it clearly.
JAMES
That sounds fake.
The table goes quiet. Lexie laughs, but it’s too big, too
loud. An overcompensation.
LEXIE
Honestly? It is a little fake. I
mean, I just rearrange words until
they sound important...
Her voice trails off as James and Maya just stare at her,
confused. She closes her eyes.
REWIND
The sound warp is sharp and fast. She winces and lets out a
sharp gasp.
RESET
The brewery’s lively hum returns.
JAMES
That sounds fake.
LEXIE
Totally. But they pay me to pretend
it’s real, so here we are.
The table erupts in laughter. James raises his glass to her.
Lexie smiles with the group, but her brow furrows in a sharp
wince of pain again. She has to look away, bringing her beer
bottle to her lips to hide a grimace.
Aaron turns his focus from the group to just Lexie. His smile
fades, his expression shifting from amusement to concern. He
leans in, voice low.
AARON
Hey. We don’t have to be here. If
this is too much, we can just go.
Lexie looks at him, surprised. She forces a small, tight
smile.
LEXIE
I’m fine. This is fun.
Aaron holds her gaze for a beat longer, then nods. He gives
her hand a quick supportive squeeze under the table before
turning back to the group.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
Fractured Time
INT. BREWERY RESTROOM - LATER
The sound of the brewery is a muffled, distant drone. Lexie
leans over the sink, splashing cold water on her face. Her
hands shake lightly.
She dabs at her face with a paper towel and leans into the
mirror. She sees it: a frantic, stuttering twitch at the
corner of her eye.
She glares at her reflection, her jaw tight.
She closes her eyes.
The familiar rewind sounds begins to build...then it sputters
and fizzles out like a dying spark.
Her eyes snap open. She looks in the mirror. The twitch is
still there. A look of disbelief crosses her face.
Her expression hardens. She tries again, concentrating, her
knuckles white as she grips the edge of the sink. She
squeezes her eyes shut.
The rewind sound strains, whining at a high pitch for a split
second before cutting off with a sickening click.
She opens her eyes. The twitch gives a single, violent spasm.
A horrified whisper escapes her lips.
LEXIE
No.
As she stares at her reflection, a small trickle of blood
escapes her nose.
The muffled laughter from the brewery seems to fade into
absolute silence, replaced by the blood pounding in her ears.
She recoils from the mirror as if her own reflection burned
her, stumbling back a step, her hand flying to her nose.
Genres:
["Drama","Psychological"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Moments of Vulnerability
INT. BREWERY HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
The sound of the brewery is a muffled, distant drone. Lexie
steps out of the restroom, her face pale. Aaron is waiting
for her.
AARON
Hey. You okay?
Lexie forces a soft smile.
LEXIE
Yeah. Just loud in there.
He studies her, his expression full of concern.
AARON
They like you. You don’t have to
try so hard, you know.
Her forced smile vanishes completely. Her face crumples, her
chest hitching with a sharp, quiet breath. Her eyes glisten,
her mouth parting as if to speak.
Aaron sees it. His expression softens. He takes a half-step
closer.
Just then, a loud burst of laughter erupts from the brewery.
Lexie flinches at the sound, as if caught. The vulnerability
on her face vanishes, replaced by a panicked effort to regain
control. She visibly swallows, forcing the words down.
It takes a beat for to reconstruct her smile, and when it
appears, it’s brittle and wistful.
LEXIE
I’m just trying to keep up.
Aaron doesn’t say anything. He just slowly reaches for her
hand.
She grips it like a lifeline.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Silent Confessions
INT. LEXIE’S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT
Low light. Post-intimacy haze. Sheets tangled on the bed.
Lexie lies on her side, facing Aaron. He’s drowsy, hair
mussed, hand resting on her arm.
AARON
You’re quiet.
LEXIE
Just thinking.
His eyes are half-closed with sleep, but he’s still looking
at her.
Lexie’s fingers curl together between them. She takes a
small, nervous breath.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
My parents got divorced right after
I left for college.
Aaron’s eyes open fully. He shifts his weight to face her
more directly, fully present.
AARON
Oh. I’m sorry, Lexie.
Lexie’s hand clenches into a fist.
Aaron gently lays his fingers over hers. She slowly
unclenches her fist.
LEXIE
They told me not even a month after
I moved into my dorm. Said they
didn’t want to tell me until I was
settled.
AARON
That’s a lot to carry by yourself
in a new place.
Lexie shrugs, a tight, pained gesture.
LEXIE
I think they only stayed together
because of me. And once I wasn’t
there to fix things anymore, there
was nothing left.
A single tear escapes and traces a slow path down her temple.
She keeps her eyes on the ceiling.
Aaron watches her for a beat.
AARON
You’re stronger than you think you
are.
She finally meets his eyes.
He leans in, kisses her forehead.
AARON (CONT’D)
And you don’t have to face things
alone now.
He shifts closer, arm pulling her in. His breathing slows, as
he falls asleep.
Lexie stays still. Eyes open, staring up at the ceiling in
the dark as the faint sound of crickets begins to fade in,
almost imperceptibly.
FLASHBACK TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Echoes of Childhood
EXT. PARK - AFTERNOON
Summer sunlight dapples the grass, the sound of children in
the distance.
YOUNG LEXIE (7) scrambles halfway up a sturdy oak tree. She
looks down, laughing, full of fearless joy.
Until her foot slips.
A sharp crack as a branch gives way.
She hits the ground. Hard. The world goes dark.
EXT. PARK - MOMENTS LATER
Young Lexie’s eyes flutter open. Her FATHER crouches beside
her, his face pale. Her MOTHER rushes over, her expression a
mask of panic and anger.
CATHERINE
I told you not to let her climb
that high, David.
DAVID
She’s a kid, Catherine, they climb.
You can’t keep her in bubble wrap.
CATHERINE
I can when you’re on your phone and
not paying attention.
Young Lexie looks from Catherine’s furious face to David’s
defensive one.
Her gaze then drops down to a bloody scrape on her arm. She
stares at the injury.
She makes herself as small as possible, curling in on
herself. She squeezes her eyes shut, and a single tear
escapes.
REWIND
A child’s panicked heartbeat thunders. The world shatters
like a broken mirror, and David and Catherine’s angry voices
reverse in an inhuman shriek.
RESET
The world snaps back into place with a sickening thud.
Back in the tree. Young Lexie gasps. She looks down at the
ground, terrified.
This time, she climbs slowly down, meticulously checking
every handhold. Careful. Precise. Perfect.
When her feet touch the ground, she looks over.
Her parents are on a picnic blanket, laughing together, the
picture of perfect domestic bliss.
Young Lexie stares at them for a moment.
She walks toward them, hesitant at first, then quicker,
breaking into a run. Their laughter seems to echo, growing
warmer, then more distant as it slowly fades out.
BACK TO PRESENT
INT. LEXIE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Lexie lies on her back now. Aaron’s arm still across her, his
breathing deep and even.
Her eyes stay open, fixed on the ceiling. Unblinking.
She slowly brings her hand to her chest, right over her
heart. She takes one deep, shuddering breath.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
A Walk Through Shadows
EXT. PARK PATH - NIGHT
A nearly empty park, lit by spaced-out lampposts. Crickets
hum in the background.
Lexie and Aaron walk side by side, their pace unhurried.
LEXIE
Can I ask you something
hypothetically?
AARON
Sure, hit me.
She keeps her eyes on the path.
LEXIE
If you could rewind time, just a
little. Fix stuff. Say things
better. Avoid awkward moments.
Would you?
Aaron chuckles, shaking his head.
AARON
God, no. Can you imagine? Nothing I
do would ever be good enough again.
I’d rather be the guy who says the
stupid thing and owns it than
whatever’s left after you edit all
the humanity out.
Lexie stops walking. Her arms wrap around her middle, as if
she’s been punched in the gut.
Aaron keeps talking, a few steps ahead, not yet noticing
she’s stopped.
AARON (CONT’D)
Mistakes suck. But they’re human.
Real. If I know someone’s being
real with me, even when it’s messy,
I trust that way more than someone
who always says the right thing at
the right time.
He turns back, smiling, and sees her standing there, a
silhouette under a distant lamppost.
AARON (CONT’D)
Hey.
He walks back to her, still smiling. He nudges her arm
playfully.
AARON (CONT’D)
Why? You planning on building a
time machine?
Lexie tries to laugh, but the sound that comes out is a
choked, breathless gasp.
Her face is a mask of pain. Aaron’s smile vanishes, replaced
by concern.
LEXIE
Not exactly.
She takes a deep, shuddering breath and forces herself to
start walking again, her gaze fixed on the ground.
Aaron watches her go for a beat, his playful mood completely
gone, before following her.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
High Stakes in the Office
INT. VINCE’S OFFICE - MORNING
Sleek and professional looking. Vince sits behind a large
desk. Lexie sits opposite, her posture straight.
VINCE
I just got off the phone with
Naomi. She’s thrilled with the
initial direction. Good work.
LEXIE
Thank you. I think we’re in a great
place.
VINCE
We are.
He pauses, then leans forward.
VINCE (CONT’D)
Which is why I need to be clear.
Studio 14 isn’t just another
client. Landing them would be a
massive win for the agency.
Transformative.
Lexie nods.
LEXIE
I understand.
VINCE
The presentation next week, it
needs to be flawless. Mark is
hungry, and he’s good. But I gave
this to you for a reason. Don’t
make me regret it.
LEXIE
You won’t.
VINCE
Good. Because a win like this gets
people noticed. It gets people
promoted.
He looks directly at her, holding her a gaze for a beat
longer than is comfortable. Then he turns back to his
computer and clicks his mouse.
Lexie stands, nods again, and walks out.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
Balancing Work and Play
INT. LEXIE'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON
Muted light filters in through half-closed blinds. Lexie sits
at her desk, typing furiously.
Her phone buzzes. A text from Aaron: “Spontaneous bowling
rematch tonight? Loser buys drinks.”
Lexie smiles at her phone, but then looks from it to her
computer screen. The smile fades.
She types back: “Can’t tonight. :( Buried in work.”
She hits send.
A beat.
Three dots appear, then vanish. Then he responds: “Ah,
bummer. Raincheck then.”
She flinches slightly. Her eyes squeeze shut and her
breathing becomes shallow and fast.
The familiar, distorted hum of a rewind begins to build.
But then, the frantic energy on her face goes still. Her
eyelids flutter slightly. Her shallow breathing slows,
becomes more measured.
Her jaw sets.
With her eyes still closed, she takes a single, slow, deep
breath. In and out.
Her eyes open.
She picks up the phone again and responds: “Sorry to be a
bummer! Definitely raincheck.”
She hits send. A moment later, he replies: No worries. Get
your work done. We’ll celebrate your freedom tomorrow!”
She lets out a long sigh, the tension visibly releasing from
her shoulders.
She smiles as she puts the phone down gently on the desk.
Then she turns back to her computer.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
A Moment at the Market
EXT. FARMER’S MARKET - DAY
Bustling, chaotic, and vibrant. Aaron navigates the crowd
easily. Lexie walks beside him, but her eyes are on her
phone, scrolling through work emails. Her brow is furrowed.
Aaron gently takes the phone from her hand and slips it not
his own pocket.
AARON
Nope. No work allowed.
LEXIE
I just need to-
AARON
You need to be here with me. Come
on.
He pulls her toward a bakery stand with a long line. Aaron
steps right up to the table.
AARON (CONT’D)
Hey, do you still have those-
VENDOR
Line’s back there, man.
Aaron looks behind him and gives a sheepish, unbothered grin.
AARON
Oh, wow. Sorry. My bad.
He steps back without a fuss, and he and Lexie get in the
back of the line. She stares at him, a look of baffled wonder
on her face.
LEXIE
You didn’t even flinch.
AARON
I mean, I did cut the line. Seems
fair to be called out.
LEXIE
But you didn’t apologize a hundred
times.
(MORE)
LEXIE (CONT’D)
You didn’t look like you wanted to
dissolve into the pavement. How
does that not just eat at you?
He thinks for a second, then smiles.
AARON
The first time I ever played a song
I wrote at an open mic, I messed up
a chord in the first ten seconds.
Completely spiraled. For the whole
rest of the song, all I could think
about what that one bad note. I was
so stiff and panicked. Afterwards,
this old guy came up and said,
“man, I think there’s a great song
in there, but you sang like you
were being audited.”
He laughs.
AARON (CONT’D)
I just figured it’s better to live
with the bad note than to mess up
the whole song.
Lexie stares at him, then slowly, she nods. Her hand reaches
out, almost unconsciously, and her fingers gently brush
against his.
He smiles down at her and enfolds her hand in his.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama","Slice of Life"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Cooking Chaos and Connection
INT. AARON’S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Lexie stands at the stove, stirring a pot of sauce. Another
pasta water bubbles on the next burner.
Aaron stands at the counter, meticulously grating a block of
Parmesan cheese.
AARON
My grandmother had a rule. If the
cheese doesn’t come in a giant,
unwieldy triangle that you could
use as a doorstep, it’s not real
cheese.
LEXIE
Your grandmother was correct.
AARON
She also believed that the secret
to a good sauce was singing to it.
You’re not singing.
LEXIE
And you’re not grating fast enough.
We have a serious cheese deficit
happening over there.
Her phone, sitting on the counter, buzzes. She picks it up. A
Slack notification from Mark. Her smile vanishes immediately.
AARON
Hey. No work. Remember?
She puts the phone down, but she’s clearly distracted as she
stirs the sauce again.
AARON (CONT’D)
Anyway, grating cheese is an art,
not a race. You can’t rush...
He trails off, sniffing the air.
AARON (CONT’D)
The garlic bread.
Lexie’s eyes go wide. She yanks the oven door open. A small
plume of smoke escapes.
She pulls out the baking sheet. The garlic bread is blackened
on top.
Instantly, the smoke alarm shrieks, a piercing, relentless
sound.
Lexie flinches violently, her whole body going rigid.
Her eyes squeeze shut, her knuckles white on the oven mitt.
The sound of the alarm begins to warp and distort, but
doesn’t deepen
A muscle in her jaw works, her body trembling with effort.
She takes one deep, shuddering breath.
On her exhale, the warping sound sputters and dies.
She opens her eyes.
Through the haze, she sees Aaron calmly waving a dish towel
under the smoke detector. The shrieking stops.
Silence rushes in. He turns back to her, coughing once from
the smoke, a grin on his face.
AARON (CONT’D)
Well, we definitely killed all the
vampires in a five-block radius.
Lexie stares at the burnt bread, then at his easy, smiling
face. A shaky exhale escapes her, which then turns into a
laugh.
LEXIE
I was just going for a smoky,
rustic flavor profile.
Aaron picks up a knife and carefully scrapes the blackened
layer off a slice, revealing perfectly toasted bread
underneath.
AARON
Still good. Just needed a little
help.
He holds it out to her. Lexie looks from the salvaged bread
to his face.
LEXIE
Yeah. I guess it did.
Genres:
["Romantic Comedy","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Tension in the Conference Room
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING
On the screen, a presentation is glowing. NAOMI (late 30s,
sharp but approachable) sits at one end with Vince. Mark
leans back in his chair.
Lexie stands at the head of the table.
LEXIE
So, for the brand voice, we’re
focusing on authority without
condescension. You want your
audience to feel guided. Confident
in choosing you.
She clicks the remote. Nothing.
Clicks again. Still nothing.
She takes a small, deliberate breath and forces a
professional smile.
MARK
Battery’s probably dead. Here.
He swivels toward her laptop and taps the keyboard.
The next slide pops up.
Lexie gives him a tight smile.
LEXIE
Thanks.
But before she can continue, Mark leans forward, addressing
Naomi directly.
MARK
And that restraint Lexie built is
the perfect launchpad for the
emotional hook that you mentioned.
We can capture that with the before-
and-after visuals.
He flashes a collaborative smile between Naomi and Lexie.
Vince smiles nods, impressed. Lexie’s jaw tightens.
Naomi jots a note, then looks up. She glances from Mark’s
eager, forward-leaning posture to Lexie’s tense, silent one.
NAOMI
And how does that emotional hook
track with the minimalist voice you
established, Lexie?
Lexie looks at Naomi, surprised for a second. The tension in
her shoulders eases. She takes a breath, then gives Naomi a
small, grateful nod.
LEXIE
It tracks perfectly. The emotion
comes from the user’s
transformation, not our language.
We show the results, we don’t
describe the feeling. Less is more.
Naomi nods, satisfied. Mark’s smile evaporates.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
(to Mark)
Next slide, please.
Mark’s jaw tightens. He hits the key. The slide advances.
Lexie’s grip on the now useless remote tightens until her
knuckles are white. She looks at Vince, who is smiling,
oblivious.
She takes a slow breath, and consciously forces her clenched
hand to relax, placing the remote on the table.
Genres:
["Drama","Professional"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
Reflections of Exhaustion
INT. OFFICE BATHROOM - LATER
The only sound is the bathroom fan’s low, steady hum.
Lexie leans heavily against the sink, her head bowed,
gripping the porcelain as if her life depended on it. Her
shoulders tremble slightly. She takes a few deep, shaky
breaths.
She finally lifts her head to face her reflection. She looks
pale. Exhausted.
Her hands grip the sink tighter, knuckles white. Her eyes
squeeze shut.
A beat of intense silence.
She opens her eyes and splashes cold water on her face. As
she dabs her face dry, she sees her eye give a faint, weary
twitch.
She stops. Leans closer to the mirror, looking directly at
the twitch. Her expression is impassive. She just watches for
a long beat.
She lets out a small, humorless puff of air.
She takes one final deep breath, straightens her shoulders,
and walks out of the bathroom.
Genres:
["Drama","Psychological"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
Silent Struggles
INT. LEXIE'S OFFICE - LATER
Lexie types at her desk, focus tight. A shadow falls across
her desk. Vince stands in the doorway.
VINCE
Got a minute?
She swivels her chair toward him.
LEXIE
Yeah.
VINCE
Hell of a meeting. The way you and
Mark played off each other for
Naomi was smart. And that before-
and-after idea you had? Genius.
(MORE)
VINCE (CONT’D)
You could see the lightbulb go on
for her.
Lexie gives a tiny, almost imperceptible shake of her head.
Her mouth opens, as if to speak. Her hand on the desk
clenches into a fist.
A long, tense beat.
Slowly, she closes her mouth. Her fist on the desk unclenches
slowly.
VINCE (CONT’D)
You were saying?
LEXIE
Glad it came through.
VINCE
It did. You really showed some
great composure in there. You’re a
real asset here.
He walks away.
Lexie stares at the screen for a moment.
A long, slow, weighted breath escapes her.
Her shoulders slump forward.
She leans over her desk, pressing the heels of her hands hard
into her closed eyes.
She holds the position for a long beat.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
Unspoken Tensions
INT. COFFEE SHOP - LATE AFTERNOON
Lexie and Aaron sit by the window. He’s talking, animated.
She stirs her coffee, slow, methodical circles, her shoulders
slumped.
AARON
...I keep telling him, “your first
draft isn’t supposed to be perfect.
It’s just supposed to be real.” You
know?
Lexie doesn’t look up from her cup.
LEXIE
Yeah.
Aaron’s smile fades. He watches her for a beat.
AARON
Hey. What’s wrong?
She looks up, startled, and puts on a tight smile.
LEXIE
Nothing. I’m fine. Just thinking
about work stuff.
Aaron lets out a quiet sigh of frustration. He leans forward,
his gaze direct and unflinching.
AARON
No, you’re not fine. You’re doing
it again. Shutting down. Just talk
to me, Lexie.
Lexie’s gaze drops back to her coffee cup. Under the table,
her other hand picks frantically at the seam of her jeans.
Her jaw works silently.
She opens her mouth, but only a tiny, choked sound escapes.
Her eyes squeeze shut. Her hand clenches into a fist.
A long beat.
Slowly, her fist uncurls. She takes a shaky breath and opens
her eyes.
She finally looks at him and gives a tiny, helpless shake of
her head.
Aaron watches her. The warmth in his expression fades. He
lets out a quiet sigh and leans back in his chair, creating
space between them.
He breaks eye contact, looking out the window.
AARON (CONT’D)
Okay.
He picks up his coffee as Lexie stares out the window.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
A Moment of Connection
INT. LEXIE'S OFFICE - DAY
Lexie stares blankly at her computer screen, a half-written
email staring back at her.
Her phone buzzes on the desk. The screen lights up with a
text from Aaron.
She stares at it for a long beat.
Then finally she takes a small, sharp breath and picks the
phone up and opens the message.
Aaron: “Hey, sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have pushed.”
Her shoulders slump in relief.
Her thumbs move over the screen as she responds: “Thank you.”
She hits send and watches the screen.
A moment later, his response comes in: “Always. :)”
She smiles at the phone for a moment, then places it down on
her desk.
Then turns back to her computer and finishes her email.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
A Night of Invitations and Accidents
INT. LEXIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Muted lamplight. A movie flickers on the tv.
Lexie sits cross-legged on the floor in front of her coffee
table, phone in her hand.
On the screen, a message thread with Olivia is pulled up.
Lexie types: “Hey, Olivia! Was thinking it’s time that my
friends and Aaron’s friends co-mingle. You free Friday?”
She frowns at her phone and sits up straighter.
LEXIE
Co-mingle?
She shuts her eyes for just a second. She shakes her head and
opens her eyes. Her gaze lands on a framed photo on the TV
stand: a simple, happy snapshot of her and Aaron laughing.
She takes a breath.
Her thumbs fly across the screen: “Are you free Friday night?
We’re getting dinner with some of Aaron’s friends. Want to
come?”
She immediately hits send.
Then she exhales sharply and drops the phone on the coffee
table like it burned her.
She stands abruptly and walks into the adjoining kitchen.
She glances at the half-dead plant on her windowsill, then
open the fridge and takes out a water pitcher. She waters the
plant, then places the pitcher on the counter.
She goes to the cupboard, grabs a glass. Places it too close
to the edge of the counter. As she turns to grab the pitcher,
her hip bumps the glass.
Clink. Crash. Shattered on the floor.
Lexie freezes. She stares at the mess of glass. Her breath
hitches. Her body tenses, her hands clenching into fists at
her sides.
A long, silent beat.
She lets out a long, weary, shuddering sigh.
Her phone vibrates on the coffee table in the living room.
She looks from the broken glass on the floor toward the sound
of the phone.
She carefully steps around the glass, walks back into the
living room, and picks up the phone.
A response from Olivia: “Absolutely! I’d love to come!”
Lexie’s shoulders drop.
She lets out a long, quiet breath, somewhere between a laugh
and a sigh, and smiles.
She lowers the phone and looks back at the broken glass
glittering on the kitchen floor.
She walks back into the kitchen, gets a dustpan and broom
from a utility closet and then crouches to the floor to begin
the slow, methodical work of cleaning up the mess.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
A Night of Laughter and Unease
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Warm, ambient glow. A bustling hum of voices and clinking
silverware. Two tables pushed together. Half-eaten appetizers
and glasses of wine scattered across the surface.
Lexie, Aaron, James, Maya, and Olivia are mid-conversation.
Relaxed but animated.
JAMES
So, how do you two know each other?
OLIVIA
Lex and I go way back. We survived
sharing a bathroom with eight other
girls our freshmen year of college.
I’ve seen her cry over a font
choice on a term paper. It’s a deep
bond.
Lexie’s smile freezes. She lets out a laugh that sounds like
a choked cough. Under the table, her hands begin twisting a
cocktail napkin into a shredded, damp mess.
LEXIE
Wow, okay. Throwback to my most
neurotic moments. Thanks, Liv.
OLIVIA
Oh, come on, it’s funny! You used
to re-do your class schedule if the
margins were off by a millimeter.
Lexie’s leg begins to bounce frantically under the table. Her
eyes squeeze shut for a split second, her jaw tight.
She forces her eyes back open as the faint, high-pitched
sound of a rewind activates.
Her leg bounces against Aaron’s and he looks at her, his
smile fading. He gives her knee a gentle squeeze under the
table.
Lexie gives him a brittle smile and turns back to the group.
LEXIE
I’ve since learned to embrace a
more rustic approach to margins.
The group laughs. But Aaron doesn’t look away from her, his
expression concerned.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
Overwhelmed at Dinner
INT. RESTAURANT - LATER
Plates of entrees now fill the table. Conversation flows.
Lexie laughs along, but her eyes flicker between speakers,
her focus just a little too intense.
MAYA
Lexie, worst client brief you’ve
ever gotten. Go.
LEXIE
“Make it feel like outer space, but
grounded.”
JAMES
What does that even mean?
LEXIE
I just started talking about stars
and rocks and they loved it.
The group laughs.
MAYA
So, you two. Are we talking, like,
long-term vibes here?
Lexie freezes mid-sip, the wine glass trembling in her hand.
Aaron glances at her, then back at Maya, smiling.
AARON
I mean, I’d like to think so. I
want to see where this goes.
Lexie forces a bright smile.
LEXIE
Same. Definitely same.
Maya raises her glass.
MAYA
To “same.”
Everyone raises glasses. Aaron touches his glass to Lexie’s
with a warm smile.
Lexie clinks along, but the sounds of the restaurant are
starting to blur. The happy chatter of the other tables, the
clinking glasses, it all blurs together into a dull,
overwhelming roar, as if she’s underwater.
The string lights seem to burn a little too bright, almost
painful.
She brings her wine glass to her lips, taking a long sip, her
knuckles white around the stem.
Aaron leans closer to her, his voice low.
AARON
Lexie. You with me?
She turns to him, but her eyes seem to look right through
him. She gives a tiny, helpless shake of her head.
Aaron’s smile vanishes completely. He reaches over, gently
touching the back of her hand.
AARON (CONT’D)
Hey.
The roaring sound recedes. The lights go back to normal.
Lexie looks at him, dazed and disoriented. The rest of the
table is oblivious, still laughing.
LEXIE
Sorry.
He looks at her, concerned and confused. He gives her hand a
gentle squeeze before letting go.
Lexie pulls her hand back into her lap, her face pale.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
Panic at Dessert
INT. RESTAURANT - EVEN LATER
Dessert arrives. The group is loose, content.
Lexie stares blankly at the slice of cake in front of her,
not eating it.
Aaron’s arm rests along the back of her chair, his fingers
idly stroking her upper arm.
MAYA
Lexie, pass me a spoon?
Lexie startles, then reaches across the table to hand Maya
the spoon. Her elbow nudges her water glass.
Slam. Splash. Ice water spills across the table, soaking
Olivia’s sleeve.
Lexie freezes. Her breath hitches. The laughter of the group
cuts off.
OLIVIA
Hey, it’s fine. It’s just water.
Don’t worry.
JAMES
She’s sabotaging dessert.
Unforgiveable.
Laughter around the table.
Lexie’s eyes squeeze shut. The sound of the restaurant begins
to warp and reverse.
Her hands fly to her temples, fingers digging in. A pained,
choked grunt escapes her lips.
The warping sound cuts off abruptly. She forces her eyes
open. The water is still there.
AARON
Lexie? You all right?
She looks up at him, her eyes wide with a wild, panicked look
LEXIE
I need more napkins.
She turns and flees, stumbling once as she pushes her way
through the crowded restaurant. She leaves the group staring
after her in stunned, horrified silence.
Aaron watches her go, his face a mask of deep concern.
Genres:
["Drama","Psychological Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
Confrontation and Collapse
INT. LEXIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The door clicks shut.
Lexie tosses her bag onto the console table, the sound sharp
in the silence.
Aaron shrugs out of his coat and sits on the couch.
Lexie remains standing, pacing to the opposite end of the
room, posture rigid.
AARON
Okay, are you going to talk to me?
LEXIE
There’s nothing to talk about.
AARON
Lexie, you spilled a glass of water
and looked like the world was
ending. I’m worried about you.
LEXIE
I was embarrassed. It’s fine.
AARON
But it’s not fine! This is what
happens.
(MORE)
AARON (CONT’D)
We get close and then you just
disappear. And I don’t know who I’m
talking to anymore.
Lexie whips around to face him, her arms crossed defensively.
AARON (CONT’D)
It’s like you’re standing right
here, but you’re not. There’s no
music.
She recoils as if struck. Her voice rises.
LEXIE
That’s not fair! I make an effort.
I try to be someone you and your
friends might actually like. I’m
sorry if that’s not enough for you!
Aaron stands, stepping towards her. His voice is pleading.
AARON
But you don’t have to, Lexie! Don’t
you get it? I want your bad days. I
want your weird jokes. I want the
person who is a mess and gets
embarrassed and spills things.
He reaches for her, but stops himself, his hand hovering in
the empty space between them.
AARON (CONT’D)
I want the real, human person I
know is in there, not the person
you think I want.
LEXIE
You think you want that. But you
don’t. That person is a mess. A
failure. And I will not be her. Not
for you. Not for anyone.
Aaron stares at her. The anger and frustration drain from his
shoulders. He just looks tired. Defeated. He lets his hand
drop.
AARON
I can’t get through, can I?
She just stares back, jaw tight, saying nothing.
He nods slowly.
AARON (CONT’D)
Okay. When you want to be real with
me, let me know.
He grabs his jacket and walks out.
The door clicks shut. The sound hangs in the empty space.
Lexie’s rigid posture holds for a moment, then shatters.
A choked sob escapes her. She crumples onto the couch,
pulling her knees to her chest.
INT. LEXIE’S BEDROOM - LATER
Lexie lies fully dressed on top of the covers. The room is
dark except for faint streetlight spilling through the
blinds.
A clock ticks. Loud in the silence. Steady. Unstoppable.
Outside, a horn blares, distant.
She stares at the ceiling, unmoving. Squeezes her eyes shut.
We hear a faint, distorted echo of Aaron’s voice: “whatever’s
left after you edit all the humanity out.”
The clock continues to tick on.
Her eyes open.
She lets out a single, shuddering breath, then rolls to her
side and hugs a pillow to her chest.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
Facing the Blank Page
INT. LEXIE'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON
Lexie sits at her desk, staring at her computer screen. A
blank email glows back at her, Aaron’s name in the recipient
field. The cursor blinks in the body of the email.
Her hands rest on the keyboard, but she doesn’t type. Her
eyes are red-rimmed, her posture slumped.
A shadow falls across her desk. Mark leans in the doorway.
MARK
Vince wants the updated campaign
drafts by two.
Lexie doesn’t look up. She just nods.
LEXIE
They’ll be ready.
Mark’s smug expression falters. He hesitates, his tone
shifting from demanding to curious.
MARK
You okay? You look like someone
just ran over your dog.
Lexie unsuccessfully attempts to smile.
LEXIE
Just a tough day.
Mark watches her for a beat longer.
MARK
Yeah. Well. For what it’s worth,
it’s almost a relief. You always
manage to make it look effortless.
It’s not exactly easy working with
someone who’s flawless all the
time.
Lexie freezes. Her head snaps up to look at him, her eyes
wide.
She lets out a short, sharp, humorless laugh.
LEXIE
It’s not a luxury.
MARK
Seems like one from here.
He lingers for a second longer, then walks away.
Lexie stares at her screen. At the blinking cursor on the
blank email still addressed to Aaron.
With a sharp, decisive click, she deletes the blank email
draft.
She pulls the Studio 14 campaign file front and center. Her
posture straightens as her expression becomes one of pure
concentration. Her fingers fly across the keyboard, building
walls of perfect, precise copy.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
51 -
Silent Withdrawal
INT. LEXIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The apartment is still and dark, lit only by the faint,
shifting glow of a muted TV. Takeout containers litter the
coffee table next to an empty wine bottle.
Lexie lies on the couch, curled in a fetal position, still in
her clothes from work.
Her phone, face down on the floor buzzes. Then buzzes again.
Slowly, her arm extends from under the blanket. She picks it
up. The screen is bright in the dark room. Two missed calls
from Aaron.
And a new text from Olivia: “Lex, please just let me know
you’re okay.”
Lexie stares at the message. Her thumb hovers over the
keyboard, but she doesn’t type.
Instead, she opens her photo gallery. She scrolls through a
folder labeled ‘Aaron.’ A montage of their time together:
laughing in the park, the disastrous pancake, the bowling
alley. A stream of perfect, happy moments.
Her thumb stops over the “Delete Album” button. She holds it
there fora long, agonizing beat.
She locks the phone. Her hand lets it go. It clatters softly
on the floor.
She pushes herself up, her movements heavy. She walks into
the kitchen.
The succulent on her windowsill is now completely brown and
dead.
She looks at it for a moment. Then, with a quiet finality,
she picks up the small pot and drops it directly into the
trash can.
She returns to the couch, pulls the blanket up, and disappers
under it.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
Breaking Down Walls
EXT. PARK - AFTERNOON
A gray, overcast day.
Aaron sits on a park bench. He stares out at nothing.
Olivia approaches, talking on the phone. As she approaches,
Aaron stands.
OLIVIA
Listen, the grant doesn’t cover
shoddy work. I need a new estimate
by five.
She hangs up, then turns her attention to Aaron.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
Your text sounded bad. Is she okay?
Have you talked to her?
AARON
No, I-I walked out the other night.
And she hasn’t responded since.
Olivia’s expression hardens. Protective.
OLIVIA
What happened?
AARON
We had a fight. I told her it felt
like I was dating a ghost. Every
time I get close, she puts up this
perfect, polished wall.
Olivia sighs as they start to walk.
OLIVIA
The “perfect” wall. Yeah. That’s
been there for a long time.
Ahead of them, a parent is pushing his young daughter on a
swing. The girl is laughing, carefree. Olivia stops walking,
her gaze fixed on them.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
When we were in college, her
parents’ divorce was bad. Really
bad. And she decided it was her job
to be the easy one. The perfect
daughter who didn’t cause any more
trouble.
She watches the father give the girl another big push on the
swing.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
She told me once she felt like if
she had just been better, she could
have held it all together for them.
Aaron looks from Olivia to the father and daughter on the
swing set. He lets out a quiet breath.
AARON
So she’s not trying to be perfect
for me. She’s trying to be perfect
so I won’t leave.
Olivia just looks at him and nods.
AARON (CONT’D)
Thank you.
He turns and strides away, his pace more urgent now, pulling
his phone from his pocket as he goes.
Oliva watches him leave, a hopeful smile on her face.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
Opening Up
INT. LEXIE’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Lexie is curled on the couch, wrapped in the blanket.
A soft knock on the door. She doesn’t move.
Another knock, gentle but firm.
Slowly, she unwraps herself from the blanket.
She shuffles to the door and opens it.
Aaron stands there. He looks at her for a moment, taking in
her appearance: tired, puffy eyes, rumpled clothes.
AARON
Hey.
She just stares at him.
AARON (CONT’D)
Can I come in?
She hesitates, then gives a tiny weary nod and steps back.
He steps inside, his eyes briefly scanning the messy room
before he turns his attention back to her.
AARON (CONT’D)
I spoke with Olivia.
Lexie flinches, her arms immediately crossing over her chest.
LEXIE
Whatever she said-
AARON
She helped me understand some
things. About your parents. About
the pressure you’ve been under.
It’s not about me, is it?
He takes a careful step closer, holding out up his hands in a
sign of truce.
AARON (CONT’D)
This isn’t me leaving.
LEXIE
But you did leave.
Her defensive posture crumbles. Her eyes well up.
AARON
I was hurt. And I needed time to
think. But I came back. Fights get
messy sometimes, Lexie. That
doesn’t mean it’s the end.
LEXIE
But what if I don’t know how to be
messy? What if all I know is how to
make it look easy?
AARON
I know. But that’s not the person I
fell for. I fell for the girl who
smells the pages of old books. Who
laughs at my stupid stories.
He takes a slow step closer, his face a mix of sadness and
empathy.
AARON (CONT’D)
That’s the person I want to know.
The one who’s scared and doesn’t
have all the answers. Let me see
her.
LEXIE
But I’m so afraid you won’t like
her.
AARON
You don’t get to decide that for
me. Just let me in.
He takes the final step to her and rests his hand gently on
her arm.
AARON (CONT’D)
Can you try?
She looks down at his hand on her arm, and then up at his
face.
A long, shuddering breath escapes her.
LEXIE
I can try.
AARON
Okay.
He smiles, faint, relieved.
AARON (CONT’D)
That’s all I’m asking for.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
54 -
Embracing Imperfections
INT. BAR - LATE EVENING
Low light, the faint hum of music under the soft clink of
glasses. A few scattered patrons murmur at their tables. The
bartender wipes down the counter.
Lexie and Olivia sit at the far end of the bar, each with a
half-finished drink.
Lexie’s fingers trace lazy circles on the rim of her glass.
LEXIE
He told me he talked to you. So
thank you.
OLIVIA
I’m your best friend. I have a
vested interest in you not self-
destructing with the first good guy
you’ve met.
Lexie lets out a small laugh.
LEXIE
I told him. Not everything. But
enough. That it’s all been a
performance. That I’m terrified of
being a mess. And he’s still here.
Lexie pulls at the cocktail napkin in front of her, tearing
off tiny pieces.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
But now I actually have to do it.
Be the real person. And I have no
idea who she is. What if she’s just
disappointing?
Olivia reaches out and stills Lexie’s fidgeting hand with her
own.
OLIVIA
I’m sorry if I pushed too hard in
my kitchen the other day. Sometimes
I forget that not everything is a
problem that needs to be solved.
LEXIE
It’s okay.
OLIVIA
You remember in college, you had
that art history textbook you were
obsessed with? The one with the
coffee stain on the cover and the
corners of some pages torn off?
Lexie gives her a confused look.
LEXIE
Vaguely. Yeah.
OLIVIA
You loved that book because it was
a mess. You said you could feel all
the people who had it before you.
You said that’s what made it real.
Lexie looks down at her hands.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
He’s not asking for perfect, Lex.
He’s asking for the version with
the coffee stains.
Lexie gives Olivia a teary-eyed smile. She raises her glass.
LEXIE
To coffee stains.
Olivia clinks her glass against Lexie’s.
OLIVIA
To coffee stains.
They drink, laughing.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
55 -
A Moment of Impact
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
Lexie and Aaron stroll hand-in-hand, their steps in sync.
Lexie is holding a brand new, healthy potted succulent.
AARON
This has been good lately. You seem
like you’ve stopped holding your
breath.
LEXIE
I think I have.
He slides an arm around her waist as they stop at a corner,
waiting for the light.
AARON
You gonna stop being such a control
freak?
Lexie laughs.
LEXIE
Never. But I’m trying to tone it
down.
The light changes. They step into the crosswalk. Just as they
do, a car down the block turns the corner, it’s tires
squealing slightly.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
You’d be surprised at how hard that
is for me-
SCREECH. HONK.
Headlights explode across them.
Aaron shoves her sideways. She crashes to the pavement, skin
scraping.
The succulent pot shatters, dirt and plant spilling across
the asphalt.
Silence.
Then shouting. Footsteps.
She pushes up, dazed, bleeding.
A few feet away, Aaron is crumpled on the asphalt. Still.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
No.
She scrambles to him. She touches his face.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
You’re okay. You’re okay.
He’s breathing. Barely. His eyes flutter open, unfocused.
AARON
Lex...
His eyes close. He goes still.
LEXIE
No. No. This is not how this ends.
Her tears fall fast onto his still face. Her whole body is
trembling. Her expression is horrified. Then it hardens into
a look of grim resolve.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
I can fix this.
She leans down, kisses his forehead.
Then her eyes squeeze shut. Her face contorts with immense
strain
REWIND
The violent sound of the crash reverses on itself. The world
begins to blur and pull back.
But then, a voice cuts through the chaos in her mind.
AARON (V.O.)
I’d rather be the guy who says the
stupid thing and owns it than
whatever’s left after you edit all
the humanity out.
The rewind sound stutters. A choked sob escapes Lexie’s lips.
With a final, agonizing gasp, she forces her eyes open.
The rewind stops. The world snaps back into place. Aaron is
still on the ground.
A torrent of blood runs from her nose, but she ignores it.
She grabs Aaron’s hand, holding it tight. She leans close to
his ear, her voice shaking, but clear.
LEXIE
Aaron, stay with me. Just stay with
me. Help is coming.
She looks up, her eyes locking with the bystander on the
phone.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
Are they close? The ambulance, are
they close?
The bystander nods frantically, as the distant wail of a
siren echoes closer.
Lexie turns back to Aaron, squeezing his hand.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
56 -
Quiet Recovery
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
Sunlight streams through the window of a sterile hospital
room. The steady, rhythmic beep of a heart monitor is the
only sound.
Aaron lies in the bed. He has a cast on his leg, propped up
on pillows. His face is bruised, but his eyes are open and
clear.
On the beside table, next to a plastic pitcher of water, sits
a small, brand new potted succulent. Healthy and green.
Lexie is asleep in the chair beside the bed, her head slumped
at an awkward angle, her hand holding his.
Aaron watches her for a long moment, a soft, tired smile on
his face. He gently squeezes her hand.
Her eyes flutter open. She straightens up, blinking.
LEXIE
Hey.
AARON
Hey.
LEXIE
You need anything? Water?
He nods slightly.
She reaches for the plastic pitcher and a cup.
As she pours, a little water sloshes over the side of the cup
onto the table.
She stops. Stares at the spill for a half-second.
Then she simply puts the pitcher down, grabs a handful of
tissues from a box, and calmly wipes up the mess.
She hands Aaron the cup of water.
He takes it, but he’s not looking at the glass. He’s looking
at her.
Lexie looks back at him. A smile on her face.
AARON
You know, I think I finally have an
ending for that song I’ve been
working on. It’s a little messy,
but it’s honest.
LEXIE
I’d love to hear it sometime.
He squeezes her hand.
AARON
You will.
She rests her head along the edge of his bed, her hand still
in his. They just sit together in the quiet room.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
57 -
A Sip of Confusion
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY - A FEW MONTHS LATER
Bright, bustling, and chaotic.
Lexie and Aaron are at the counter, laughing as the
coffeeshop employees work on making coffees.
A barista places a coffee down on the counter.
BARISTA
Carmel latte for Jessica!
Lexie, still laughing with Aaron, turns and grabs the drink.
LEXIE
Thanks!
She takes a big sip.
Her entire body recoils. A small, involuntary shudder runs
through her. Her face contorts in to a wince.
She freezes. JESSICA is standing right there, looking from
Lexie’s hand to the empty spot on the counter. The barista is
staring at her. The other people waiting stare at her.
Her hand clenches slightly at her side.
Aaron stops laughing, watching her.
A beat.
And then Lexie just looks at the cup in her hand, at
Jessica’s baffled face, and lets out a laugh.
LEXIE (CONT’D)
(to Jessica)
Oh my god. I am so, so sorry. I
think I just drank your coffee.
Aaron tries not to laugh and fails. Jessica laughs too.
JESSICA
It happens!
LEXIE
Can I please buy her a new one?
The barista smiles and nods.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
58 -
A Supportive Moment
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
Lexie and Aaron exit the coffee shop onto the sunny sidewalk,
hand-in-hand, holding coffees.
AARON
So, I booked the studio time.
LEXIE
Yeah? How does it feel?
AARON
Terrifying. It will probably take
me all day to record one line.
He looks at her, a playful grin on his face. She laughs.
LEXIE
It’s better live with the bad note
than to miss the whole song.
Aaron stops, stunned for a second, then his grin widens. He
leans in and kisses her.
They pull apart and walk off down the street together.
FADE OUT.