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The Breaking Point (Short)
by Richard Sharp (rsharp9@gmail.com)

Rated: G   Genre: Teen Movies   User Review:
NOT YET
RATED

The story of Survival and belonging


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



THE BREAKING POINT (SHORT)

FADE IN:

INT. RILEY'S BEDROOM - DAY
                                                            
The alarm starts beeping. Riley reaches over to turn it off.
He pulls the covers off and sits up. He gets up and walks to
the bathroom. As he walks the camera catches the shelves
full of trophies.
                                                            
                                         BATHROOM
                                                            
Riley looks at himself in the mirror. Trying to wake himself
up for school.
                                                            
                       RILEY (v.o.)
Every morning, I ask myself what
is my purpose?
                                                            
Riley turns the faucet on and splashes his face with water.
                                                            
 
INT. MEGAN'S ROOM - DAY
                                                            
Megan is getting up out of bed. As she walks by the camera
catches all her death metal posters. She puts on clothes and
walks to the bathroom.
                                                            
                                         BATHROOM
                                                            
She starts putting the heavy eye liner and black lipstick.
                                                            
                       MEGAN (v.o.)
Is it simply just to go to school
and get a job? Or is it more?
                                                            
 
INT. RILEY'S KITCHEN - DAY
                                                            
Riley's dad is plating eggs and toast. Riley walks in and
sits down.
                                                            
                       RILEY
Good Morning
                                                            
                       DAD
Good Morning. Here you go. Eat up.
      (Handing the plate
       of food to him)
Big track meet coming up. We have
to have you ready and it starts
            (MORE)

2.

                       DAD (cont'd)
with a good breakfast.
                                                            
                       RILEY
      (distracted)
Thanks, dad
                                                            
 
INT. MEGAN'S KITCHEN - DAY
                                                            
Megan walks into the kitchen and sees a note. It says "Gone
to work, mom". Megan grabs some cereal and a bowl from the
cupboard. She pours the cereal into the bowl and pulls out a
notebook and pen. She takes one bite of the cereal and
starts drawing in the notebook.
                                                            
 
EXT. KELLY'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
Riley knocks on her door. Kelly opens it and walks out. She
reaches over and gives him a peck kiss.
                                                            
                       RILEY
Ready?
                                                            
                       KELLY
      (to Riley)
Yeah
      (to the hallway)
Bye, Mom!
                                                            
They hold hands walking to the car. Riley opens the door for
her like a gentleman. Kelly gets in and Riley closes it.
                                                            
 
EXT. MEGAN'S APARTMENT COMPLEX - DAY
                                                            
She walks outside and starts walking to school alone.
                                                            
 
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
                                                            
Ryan is standing at Riley's locker when Riley and Kelly walk
up.
                                                            
                       RYAN
I got the answers to the Physics
test today.
                                                            
                       KELLY
That's good, cause I didn't study
at all last night.
                                                            

3.

                       RILEY
Don't worry I don't need them.
                                                            
                       RYAN
You sure, man?
                                                            
                       RILEY
Yea, I stayed up late last night
studying for it.
                                                            
                       KELLY
you, studying? What has gotten
into you?
                                                            
                       RILEY
Nothing, sometimes I actually just
like to be be prepare for tests.
Life isn't all about sports and
all that.
                                                            
                       RYAN
      (hands the sheet
       to Kelly)
alright, bro, whatever. Anyway I
gotta head out. I hear Mrs.
Thompson is a lil' bitchy today
and I can't afford to be late
again.
                                                            
                       RILEY
      (punches knuckles
       with ryan)
alright man, see ya at lunch
                                                            
                                         TO MEGAN
                                                            
Megan is seen walking down the same hallway. Her sketch book
in hand. Ryan is quickly walking by and accidentally bumps
into her. She drops the sketch book. Ryan doesn't stop he
just keeps walking as if nothing happens.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
I'm sor
      (looks up)
ry.
                                                            
No one is there. She grabs her book and walks to her locker.
The camera catches someone in front of her waving. She has
look of excitement on her face, until someone walks in front
of her waving back. The two go off chatting and Megan is
alone. She clutches her backpack and notebook and goes to
class.
                                                            
 

4.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
                                                            
The Teacher is standing in front of the class.
                                                            
                       TEACHER
Can anyone tell me one book
written by Robert Louis Stevenson?
                                                            
The classroom sits quietly. Riley hesitantly raises his
hand.
                                                            
                       TEACHER
No, Riley you may not use the
restroom right now.
                                                            
                       RILEY
It's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
                                                            
                       TEACHER
Wow! Riley good job. Do you know
what it's about?
                                                            
Everyone except megan turns to look at Riley. They are
waiting for his answer
                                                            
                       RILEY
Yes, It is about two forces
struggling inside one man and his
fight to separate and control
them.
                                                            
Riley slouches down, but secretly smiling. He looks around
to see if anyone is watching him still. He pans across Megan
and see her drawing something. Megan tears the page out of
book and crumples it up. Times passes until the class is
over. Megan gets up and throws the the crumpled ball away.
Riley waits and walks over to the trash can and picks up the
ball and opens it up.
                                                            
THE DRAWING
                                                            
It is a drawing of a young man surrounded by people
cheering. The young man seems happy, but the thought bubble
above his head says "Do they really know me?" The young man
after reading his thought seems alone.
                                                            
Riley folds up the paper and puts it in his backpack. He
rushes out of the door to find her. The hallway is packed
and she is no where in sight.
                                                            
 

5.

EXT. TRACK - DAY
                                                            
Riley runs a sprint and Ryan is there taking time with the
stopwatch.
                                                            
                       RYAN
Are you ok?
                                                            
                       RILEY
Why, not a good time?
                                                            
                       RYAN
No, you picked up half a second
                                                            
                       RILEY
I don't know man, I just can't
focus.
                                                            
                       RYAN
      (sarcastically)
I knew studying would do it. It's
never good when an athlete and
book go together.
                                                            
                       RILEY
      (smiles)
Thats not it. I don't know... I
found this drawing today. Anyway I
haven't been able to find the girl
who drew it all day.
                                                            
                       RYAN
Well it isn't like she can just
disappear on us.
                                                            
                       RILEY
You would think that, but everyone
I talked to doesn't know her.
                                                            
                       RYAN
Don't worry about it. Look, just
give me one more good run and we
will go look for her together.
                                                            
                                         BLEACHERS
                                                            
Megan walks up the bleachers and sits down. She pulls out a
cigarette and lights it. She pulls a book and starts writing
something.
                                                            
                                         TRACK
                                                            

6.

Riley lowers his head and then looks up. He pans around and
sees Megan sitting on the bleachers.
                                                            
                       RILEY
Sorry man, We will just have to do
it later. I gotta go.
                                                            
He runs to his backpack and heads up the bleachers.
                                                            
                                         BLEACHERS
                                                            
Megan's writing hand is shaking. Then an uncrumpled piece of
paper is handed to her. She looks up.
                                                            
                       RILEY
I think... I think you dropped
this earlier.
                                                            
Megan holds it and looks at him.
                                                            
                       RILEY
It's really good. (beat) I'm Riley
by the way.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
Megan
                                                            
                       RILEY
You know you shouldn't smoke.
(Beat) It's bad for your health.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
Well I will certainly think about
it.
                                                            
                       RYAN
      (over on the track)
Hey Riley! We gotta go man.
                                                            
                       RILEY
Well I have to go, but don't stop
drawing. I would love to see more.
                                                            
Riley leaves. Megan throws the cigerette down. She starts to
tear up the page. She crumples it up into a ball and looks
up at the sky. Smiling with tears of joy.
                                                            
 
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
                                                            
Riley, Ryan, and Kelly are walking together. Riley sees
Megan.
                                                            

7.

                       RILEY
Hey, I will be right back.
                                                            
He leaves and walks over to Megan.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
Hold out your hand.
                                                            
                       RILEY
Why?
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (softly)
Just do it, please.
                                                            
Riley holds out his hand. Megan drops a single bullet into
it. Riley is shocked at what he sees. Megan starts to tear
up. Riley closes his hand and slips the bullet in his
pocket. The look of fear in his eyes. He hesitantly pushes
the hair behind her ears and hugs her.
                                                            
                       RILEY
      (Crippled by
       overwhelming
       emotion)
Don't worry
                                                            
Riley and Megan walk over to Kelly and Ryan.
                                                            
                       RILEY
      (to Kelly and Ryan)
I would like you to meet a very
important person of mine. She will
be joining us from now on.
                                                            
The camera zooms with Riley with his arm about Kelly. Ryan
is talking and everyone is having a good time.
                                                            
BLACK SCREEN
                                                            
                       MEGAN (v.o.)
Once I knew only darkness and
stillness...my life was without
past or future...but a little word
from the fingers of another fell
into my hand that clutched at
emptiness, and my heart leaped to
the rapture of living by Helen
Keller
                                                            


FADE OUT.


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