305. Through the Wardrobe - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. BEDROOM - DAY


• AMBER sits at her desk staring dreamily out at the beautiful summer day.


• The grass outside the window is an almost artificial deep green and the large oak outside the window sways in the warm breeze.


• The small, sunny bedroom is neatly organized with book-covered shelves and baskets.


• Amber plays with her nose ring, rotating it.


• She stops, hearing a noise, and spins around.


• Her closet door opens slowly and AUGUST, a large, bald, handsome man, dressed in dark pants, a beautifully crafted vest, and an ornate cane in his hand.


• He smiles at her.


• AUGUST
• Hello Amber.


• AMBER
• I was wondering if you would ever show up again. You look the same as you did when I was sixteen.


• AUGUST
• Would you like to come with me? You can stay.


• AMBER
• I thought it was against the rules.


• AUGUST
• Let's say...management had a change of heart in your case.


• AMBER
• I don't know.


• AUGUST
• You've wanted this all your life. Are you really happy here?


• AMBER
• No, but I won't be able to come back, will I?


• August doesn't say anything.


• She looks out the window, then at him and take a deep breath.


• AMBER
• Ok.


• She walks over to him and he extends his hand.


• She grabs it and he pulls her into the closet as the floor drops away beneath them and they fall.


• INT. TUNNEL - INDETERMINATE TIME


• They drop and Amber shouts at the thrill, falling down appears to be a bottomless pit.


• EXT. THE BIG TENT - NIGHT


• The sky opens and the drop into the atmosphere of a strange place, the sky covered in stars.


• Below them is a massive circus tent that stretches across the land as far as they eye can see.


• A hole opens in the top of the tent and they rocket through.


• INT. THE BIG TENT - NIGHT


• The drop into the tent, the ground still far below them, streets, parks, and smaller tents stretching out underneath them.


• They slow and land gently on the ground.


• Dancers and performers swarm...high above, trapeze artists swing towards their locations and dancers glide from red ribbon to red ribbon.


• An acrobat dances gracefully inside a large silver ring that twirls wildly on the dirt floor, the pair of them defying gravity.


• A woman with loose pants and corset-like shirts walks past, casually swinging flaming poi while a monkey sits glumly on her shoulder.


• Amber grins, drinking everything in.


• AMBER
• I can really stay?


• August smiles down at her and nods.


• She grabs him, hugging him tight.


• AMBER
• Thank you.


• She grabs his hand and they walk down the main street.


• August smiles gently, then looks off, his eyes sad.


• INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY


• AMBER lies motionless in a hospital bed, her arms covered with bruises, her face red with welts and lacerations.


• Her MOTHER sits by the bed, holding her hand.


• A DOCTOR walks in and her mother looks at him, hopefully.


• He purses his lips and shakes his head.


• DOCTOR
• I'm sorry, there's very little chance she'll ever wake up.


• Her mother slumps into the chair, never letting go of Amber's hand and looking out the window at the gray sky, as if she could pull hope from the air outside.


• FADE TO BLACK.