Destiny

by
Javier Bueno

3658 S. Centinela Ave. (Apt. 3)

Los Angeles, CA 90066

(951) 454-1222
jbueno192@yahoo.com
1 INT. RESTAURANT DINNER TABLE - NIGHT 1

A finished plate of food sits in front of ROB (19) as he

gazes to his left at HANNAH (18) who is eating her food.

In the same booth, JON (18) sitting next to her reads a text
message to STEVEN (19) who is sitting to his left. Steven
eats his fries as he laughs at Jon’s text.

JON
(reading text message)
Get it girl? Real funny. Ha-ha

STEVEN
What the heck does that even mean?

JON
I don’t know!

They laugh.

Hannah looks at Rob’s hands as he fiddles with a napkin. She

looks up at him and smiles.

HANNAH
Why are you staring at me?

ROB
What? I’m not staring.

HANNAH
Yeah, you are.

She looks him in the eyes and smiles.

ROB
Hannah, I’m not staring! ...okay.
Maybe a little-

Jon motions to Rob.

JON
Rob? Steven doesn’t believe me
about almost dating Destiny.

ROB
That was like two years ago!

JON
Still counts.

STEVEN
I still don’t believe you.
 2.

HANNAH
Why not?

STEVEN
I don’t know. Cuz she was my
neighbor growing up. I just can’t
picture her liking this.

Steven motions toward Jon. They all laugh.

JON
What so wrong about being
interested in me? If Destiny was
still alive, I would definitely be
with her.

HANNAH
Jon, shut up.

JON
No, no. Listen...

They all laugh as Jon tries to regain their attention.

2 INT. ROB’S CAR - NIGHT 2

Rob and Hannah stop in front of Hannah’s house. Hannah is

wearing Rob’s jacket.

ROB
So, uhh, do I need to walk you to
your door or anything?

HANNAH
No. You don’t need to.

ROB
Okay.
(smiles)
Just trying to be a gentleman.

HANNAH
Well, thank you.

Hannah puts her hand on Rob’s arm and smiles.

Rob looks down, smiles, and laughs nervously.

HANNAH (CONT’D)
Thanks for driving me home.

ROB
Sure. Anytime.
 3.

Hannah takes off her seat belt and opens the door.

ROB (CONT’D)
Hey...

Hannah turns and looks at him with a hopeful expression.

ROB (CONT’D)
...good night.

HANNAH
(false smile)
Good night, Rob.

Hannah exits and shuts the door.

Rob puts his head on the steering wheel. And exhales loudly.

3 EXT. ROB’S CAR - CONTINUOUS 3

Hannah knocks on the passenger window.

4 INT. ROB’S CAR - CONTINUOUS 4

Rob looks up and lowers the window.

HANNAH
I forgot to give you your sweater.

She tosses the sweater in the passenger seat.

ROB
You know, I’ll probably see you
tomorrow. You could’ve just given
it to me then.

HANNAH
(smiles)
Yeah, I guess. But still.

ROB
(smiles back)
Well, thanks. I’ll see you
tomorrow.

HANNAH
Bye.

Hannah leaves and Rob raises the window. He shakes his head
as he puts the car in drive.
 4.

5 EXT. HANNAH’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS 5

Rob speeds off.

Hannah watches him drive away.

FADE TO BLACK.

6 EXT. SPACE - NIGHT 6

ROB slowly opens his eyes. It’s extremely dark and the air
around him is still and cold.

He reaches and feels around, but finds nothing.

ROB
Hello... Hello!?

Out of the darkness, a FIGURE moves rapidly towards him. He

is unable to see it clearly, but senses movement.

ROB (CONT’D)
Is someone there?

The figure kneels down next to Rob.

DESTINY
(astounded)
You’re awake!

ROB
Where am I? I can’t see anything.

DESTINY
It’s a long story. And don’t worry,
your eyes will adjust.

Rob rubs his eyes. The dark figure stands.

ROB
Why’d you bring me here!? Who Are
you?

DESTINY
I didn’t bring you here. I’m stuck,
just like you.

The figure leans in to get a better look at Rob. His vision

finally clears.

DESTINY (CONT’D)
(smiles)
My name’s Destiny.
 5.

Robs eyes widen as gets a clear view of Destiny’s face.

7 EXT. SPACE - LATER 7

Rob and Destiny sit cross legged as they face each other.

Rob rubs his forehead.

ROB
I still don’t think I understand.

DESTINY
Let me try to explain it like this.
In most religions, in most
churches, they tell you that when
you die, you’ll go to one of two
places. But there’s actually a
third place. Here.

ROB
Well, what is here?

Destiny pauses for a moment to think.

DESTINY
Do you believe in ghosts?

ROB
Yeah, I guess.

DESTINY
Do you ever wonder how they manage
to appear and disappear? How they
have somehow managed to still walk
the earth?

Rob glares at Destiny.

ROB
So, I’m a ghost?

DESTINY
I’m not completely sure. But it’s
the only thing that comes close to
making any sense.

ROB
So, can we like talk with people?
Or go places?
 6.

DESTINY
You can actually, but only if you
have a strong, vivid memory of a
certain location. Here, I’ll show
you.

Destiny grabs Robs hands.

DESTINY (CONT’D)
Close your eyes.

Destiny squeezes her eyes shut to concentrate.

8 EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY 8

Destiny and Rob are sitting on the park grass. They’re still
cross-legged and holding hands.

They open their eyes and see a set of swings.

ROB
Whoa. How’d you do that?

Destiny stands and walks over to a swing. She stops in front

of it.

Rob follows.

ROB (CONT’D)
You okay?

Rob stands behind her.

DESTINY
My dad used to bring me here all
the time. But he stopped when I got
older. This was the only place I
ever really felt happy.

ROB
That’s why you can still come here.
You want to be happy?

Destiny sits on the swing.

DESTINY
Can you push me?

Rob goes behind Destiny’s swing and gently pushes her.

Destiny smiles and quietly laughs as she fights back tears.

Voices are heard getting closer. Rob looks up at them.

 7.

A mother, MAY (30), and her daughter, VALERIE (3), approach

the swings.

May sits at a bench facing the swings and pulls out her
phone. She sees an empty swing gently rocking back and forth.

MAY
Careful on the swings, Valerie.
(she answers her phone)
Hello?

Valerie walks up to Destiny.

VALERIE
Hi. I’m Valerie.

Rob looks at Valerie in astonishment.

DESTINY
(smiles)
Hi, Valerie. I’m Destiny. How are
you?

VALERIE
I’m good. I’m here with my mommy.

DESTINY
She looks very nice. Are you gonna
swing?

Valerie nods happily.

May lowers the phone to her shoulder.

MAY
Valerie. What are you doing?

VALERIE
Talking to my new friend!

May sees Valerie standing in front of an empty swing. She

picks up the phone.

MAY
I’ll meet you there in a few
minutes. Bye.
(she hangs up)
C’mon, Val. We’re gonna go eat with
daddy, then we’ll come back okay.

VALERIE
Okay.
(to Destiny)
Bye!
 8.

She reaches in her pocket and gives something to Destiny.

Valerie smiles.

DESTINY
(smiles)
Bye! It was nice to meet you.

Valerie turns and smiles at Rob too. She waves to him and
runs back to her mom.

They leave.

ROB
So... she can see us.

DESTINY
Yeah.

ROB
How?

DESTINY
A child’s mind isn’t yet clouded
with all the thoughts of religion
and afterlife. They just don’t
know. Their mind is open to
anything.

Rob sees Destiny looking at a small candy in the palm of her

hand.

ROB
Why don’t you leave something here
for your dad?

DESTINY
What?

ROB
Well, that girl just gave you a
candy. Can’t you leave something
here for your dad to find?

DESTINY
I guess I can.

ROB
Then lets do it! Look, you can
leave a note here on the swing.

DESTINY
No.

Rob is taken back by her refusal.

 9.

ROB
No? Why not? Don’t you want to talk
to your parents?

DESTINY
Are you kidding? Of course I do.

ROB
Then do it.

DESTINY
I can’t!

ROB
Why!

DESTINY
(stands from swing)
Because they moved okay! I don’t
know where they went. I don’t know
where I was buried. There’s no way
for me to be somewhere where I can
see them. And even if I do see
them, they probably won’t see me.

Destiny sits back down. Rob sits on the swing next to her.
Destiny avoids eye contact with Rob.

ROB
Sorry.

DESTINY
It’s fine.

Rob puts his hand on Destiny’s hand and smiles at her when
she looks up.

ROB
Can I give this location thing a
shot?

DESTINY
Go ahead.

9 EXT. PLAYGROUND - MOMENTS LATER 9

Destiny and Rob are facing each other on the grass again,
cross-legged, holding hands.

ROB
(to himself)
A vivid memory. A place you really
remember.
 10.

10 EXT. SPACE - NIGHT 10

Rob opens his eyes and sees that he’s back in the dark place.
He looks at Destiny in confusion.

DESTINY
You didn’t focus hard enough.

ROB
You said a vivid memory, right?

DESTINY
It has to be more than just a
memory. Choose a place that’s
special to you. Somewhere you know
you’ll never forget.

ROB
Okay. Let me try again.

Rob shuts his eyes again.

11 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL BLEACHERS - DAY 11

Rob and Destiny open their eyes. Destiny looks around.

DESTINY
Where are we?

ROB
This is my old school.

Rob stands and helps Destiny up. They walk over and sit on a
bench.

DESTINY
What happened here?

ROB
I met this girl here. She tripped
on the steps over there and I
helped her up. She was new here so
I stayed with her. We sat right
here.

DESTINY
What’s her name?

ROB
Hannah.

Rob looks away bashfully.

 11.

ROB (CONT’D)
You know, I’ve liked this girl for
the longest time. But I never did
anything about it. I just figured,
you know, I’ve still got tomorrow.

DESTINY
...why don’t you leave her a note.

ROB
You think she’ll get it?

DESTINY
I’m sure she will.

ROB
I don’t know what I’ll say.

DESTINY
Tell her how you feel. This is
really your last chance to tell her
anything.

Rob searches his pockets and pulls out the diner receipt.
Destiny looks around on the floor and finds a pen. She hands
it to Rob.

DESTINY (CONT’D)
Here.

ROB
Thanks.

Rob begins to write.

12 EXT. SPACE - NIGHT 12

Rob stands a great distance away from Destiny. He fights back

tears.

DESTINY
You can’t stay there forever.

ROB
Why not?

DESTINY
You just can’t. I’ve tried.

Rob turns and faces Destiny.

ROB
How do I know if she gets my note?
 12.

DESTINY
You don’t. You just have to wait
and hope she gets it.

ROB
I don’t want to wait! I want to
talk to her!

DESTINY
You can’t! You’re dead!

Destiny approaches him.

DESTINY (CONT’D)
You had all the time in the world
to let her know how you felt. You
need to realize that that
opportunity is gone.

Rob turns and walks away. He paces a little before finally

sitting down.

Destiny follows and sits next to him.

ROB
Was it easy for you?

DESTINY
(shakes her head)
It’s been over a year and I still
don’t think I’ve really moved on. I
would give anything to have just
one more conversation with my
family.

Rob looks at Destiny. She looks up at him.

DESTINY (CONT’D)
I’d tell each of them how much I
love them.

They both smile and look down.

ROB
Moving on isn’t gonna be easy.
(looks at Destiny)
You think maybe that’s why we’re
still here?

DESTINY
Maybe.

Destiny leans her head on Robs shoulder. He puts his arm

around her.
 13.

They slowly get consumed by darkness.

FADE TO BLACK.

13 OVER BLACK: 13

A phone vibrates a few times before it is answered.

HANNAH (V.O.)
Hello?

JON (V.O.)
Hey, Hannah?

HANNAH (V.O.)
Yeah.

JON (V.O.)
(hesitant)
Umm... Rob’s in the hospital.

14 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL BLEACHERS - DAY 14

The note Rob left for Hannah slowly moves due to the wind.

HANNAH (V.O.)
What?! ...what happened.

JON (V.O.)
He was in a car accident. It was
bad. A drunk driver hit him.

HANNAH (V.O.)
How bad?

Jon doesn’t reply.

HANNAH (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Jon! ...how bad?!

JON (V.O.)
...they did all they could.

Hannah bursts into tears.

The note on the bench flies away, leaving the bench empty.

FADE TO BLACK.
 14.

15 OVER BLACK: 15

JON (V.O.)
(about to cry)
I’m sorry.

END.