Final Draft

GSA

A box full of personal belongings, paperwork and overdue bills lies on the floor. Two hands covered in scratches and cuts, start to dig through the items in the box. The fingers pick up an old photo album covered in dust. The album opens to a picture of a woman in her 40s. She appears in several more of the photos, and is pictured with two children. The page turns and it’s the same picture but the people are older. Below is a photograph of the woman sitting up in bed wearing a black cardigan. Layla, a blonde girl between the ages of 19-21 uses her sleeve to wipe her eyes and nose. She puts down the album and picks up some pills and a bottle of alcohol and starts to drink. Layla throws the bottle to the side and turns to pick up a woman’s cardigan and tentatively unfolds it. She runs her hands over the wool material and brings the fabric to her face and starts to inhale the scent. She quietly sobs into the fabric, rocking slowly back and forth. A knock at the door makes Layla look up. She puts the cardigan down on top of the bottle of alcohol and starts to wipe at her face. She looks over at the box and starts to hide the bills and paperwork under a pillow. A quiet voice from behind the door asks to be let in. Layla ignores the voice and stays seated. There is another knock at the door and the voice becomes louder and more frustrated. Layla gets up off the floor and walks toward the bed. She sits on the bed and covers her ears with her hands. Her fingers dig into her head with force and she squeezes her eyes shut. A door opens and Nial a man between the ages of 20-22 walks into the room and sits at the foot of the bed. Nial stares at the Layla then looks around the room. His eyes settle on the photo album, he picks it up and starts to flick through. Nial smiles and starts to talk about the two of them and their mum in the photographs. Layla stays in the same position and ignores him. Nial goes to put the album down and spots some of the bills; he picks them up and scans through them. A frown appears on his face and he screws the paper up. Nial turns to Layla and asks for an explanation. Nial moves towards Layla, which makes her flinch and lean away from him. Nial looks at Layla with a confused expression. He looks at Layla’s arms and notices faint scars on her wrist under her cardigan. Nial reaches out to touch them, but Layla pulls her arm away and turns her head. She mumbles something quietly and tears start to drip down her face. Nial pulls Layla into a hug, she tries to pull away but then gives in. They pull away from each other and he reaches out to wipe away her tears. Nial keeps his hand on Layla’s cheek and looks at her face. Layla looks up to meet Nial’s gaze. Both start to breathe heavily and Layla swallows and bites her lip. They lean into each other slowly, until their foreheads touch lightly. Nial looks pained and conflicted and shifts uncomfortably. Layla looks down and closes her eyes. Nial continues to breathe heavily as Layla takes in a deep breath. The screen goes black.