Screenplay

The Fire across the Street

By:

Institution:

FADE IN:

INT. BRIGHT LIVING ROOM - DAY

Sitting lazily on the dark couch and seeming drawn to her overgrown fingernails ROSE (13) does not notice that the neighborhood is not silent as it is the norm.

Indistinctive voices of children from the house across the street can be heard but ROSE seems unmoved. The voices become distinctive and ROSE raises her head.

With HASTE, she rises up and does not like what she sees. She does not pay attention to the children voices but to what she sees.

ROSE

She steps closer to her brother sitting and drawn to his newest comic books.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

The neighborhood is no longer silent. Raging fire interrupts the quiet every member of the neighborhood valued. Smoke has begun filling the sky.

INT. BRIGHT LIVING ROOM – DAY

Rose seems ready to do something about the raging fire.

JEAN (17) was Rose’ older brother who was mostly withdrawn and not ready to lend a hand as he held a strong belief that every person should have ways of helping themselves unless they were INCAPACITATED.

For a few years now, Jean always seemed unmoved and did not seem to have an intentions of changing his beliefs. His beliefs and behaviors had made his relationship with Rose to seem broken and unrepairable.

Rose had constantly shown efforts to mend it and make it what it was when they were younger when they could play together take care of each other whether out in the woods or in the backyard.

ROSE

Jean you must see this!

Hey, don’t you want to see this?

Rose pounced. His brother had been looking at his comic books and did not care much about what his sister was doing. Rose at this time had started thinking about what would happen to them now that their parents had gone to England for what they had said was a business trip.

Mr. and Mrs. Stonebridge were successful business people who were able to make a fortune for themselves. This could even be seen in their house that had expensive furniture and jewelry. Their house was one of the big and well-constructed houses in MOUNTAIN HILL suburb that was widely regarded as a dwelling place for successful business people, politicians, and the rich immigrants that created jobs for the city’s poorest.

As ROSE handled her thoughts and failed to conclude what was happening, Jean turned and shouted.

JEAN

Now what again, you coward.

ROSE was not surprised by the words of her brother who was always mean with his words not only for her but also his parents and grandparents that lived around 58 miles in the South East. These are people Jean and Rose interacted with most of their time and their parents had enrolled them to a private school that did not offer much social life.

Actually, both did not have friends they could interact with unless their parents had introduced new families who would come with their teen sons or daughters. This did not happen frequently explaining why the two did not have friends they could usually play or interact with.

Two blocks across the street, a house had caught fire and it seemed big enough to cause an alarm in the quiet neighborhood. By now, Rose had not seen anybody help with putting out the fire and felt that there could more harm that might be caused. She moved closer to her brother with a soft voice told him.

ROSE

Jean do you think we can do something?

Please be a good human just for once, Jean.

Jean seemed glued to his comics he had bought when their parents had took them to a swimming class but they passed by a popular COMIC STORE operated by an old man that had told Jean he had looked like him when he was little. Jean kept quiet and later before bed time told Rose.

JEAN

Do you think I will look like that old man at the comic store when I grow old? Does he even look good?

Though Jean had seen the fire and thought it could do harm, he felt that he and his sister could do nothing about it. He also remembered that their parents had told them in case of fire they should get out of the house as quick as possible and should not go back even if they had forgotten their lives. Mrs. Stonebridge had humor.

At this time, Jean thought whether it made sense for them to run towards a burning house which was already being consumed by daring flames. He also thought they did not have the proper gear and resources for putting out fire. He now stood put his hands on ROSE’ shoulders.

JEAN (CONT’D)

There is no way we can help put out the fire, it is big and we might put ourselves in danger.

ROSE

But there is something we can always do, maybe there are people inside the house that need our help. Jean! Please we can do something about this!

This seemed to get the better of Jean but he was still reserved and not ready to do anything. He paused and seemed to think hard.

ROSE (CONT’D)

You called me a coward, but I am not one. I would always want to help other people bravely. I will always do something.

Tears were now rolling down her cheeks and she had become more disturbed by the fact that they were watching as the fire consumed the house. Jean recollected himself.

JEAN

Sometimes there is nothing you can do and this is what it is! We are just teens who have never put out any fires before can’t you see that Rose.

He was now becoming emotional because he felt that his sister wanted to take up a task that exposed her to risks. If anything happened to Rose their parents could blame Jean and even cancel a vacation they had promised to do two weeks from now.

Jean did not want to happen to his sister as that would mean the vacation would not happen. Also, when getting in or out of the house, he had not seen any children from the burning house which made him certain that there were no children that had been living in the house.

Rose took a few steps back took a deep breath.

ROSE

I must do something about it. I must Jean!

Before she even listened to her brother’s reply, she stormed to her room and wore clothes she felt were heavy enough and could protect her from any effects of the fire. Jean did not like what his sister was up to.

JEAN

I will not let you. Not today sister!

Coming out of her room Rose was fuming, in rage.

ROSE (CONT’D)

What are you going to do? Lock me up?

Jean moved closer to the front door and yelled.

JEAN

You are not leaving this house. It is dangerous can’t you see that?

ROSE

Am not a coward and there is nothing to see Jean! Just let me do this! Just let me!

Jean locked the front door from the inside and stood there looking at his sister as if she was up to something that would ultimately kill her. For around four minutes, both Jean and Rose exchanged words and threatened each other. Jean did not allow her to leave the house when Rose got an idea.

She reached for Jean’s collection of comic books and the gas lighter.

ROSE (CONT’D)

They will go up in frames if you do not let me do something. Make a choice Jean! And do it quick!

He tried to make her understand that the fire had already caused damage and her efforts could absolutely mean nothing. However, Rose still stuck to her initial claim that she could do something about it.

Jean had loved his collection of comic books and was now torn between letting his sister leave or have his comic books go up in flames.

JEAN

Rose my comic books are a no go zone for you and everybody else, please don’t test the limits of my anger.

ROSE

You know what to do to save them! Do it!

Jean seemed extremely angered and moved closer to his sister and gave her the last warning.

JEAN (CONT’D)

You cannot burn my comic books and you are not leaving.

This had a finality tone but Rose was still rebellious and unshaken. She quickly dropped the comic books and the gas lighter and run for the front door but Jean was quick enough and grabbed her.

Jean did not want to lay a hand on his sister. At this moment he was focusing on making sure she did not go out. Rose was angered that her brother made her immobile and she responded by grabbing his neck and unknowingly strangled him.

Jean lost consciousness and fell over. Rose realized that her brother was not well and tried to respond by pumping his chest but it was too late.

ROSE

What now? What…….I am sorry Jean.

In this neighborhood, fire and homicide were reported but nobody ever knew whether the two were related even though they happened at the same time.