Final Script: "Waiting Room"

Waiting Room

By Sophia Garcia

AICE Media Studies A Level

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Open to SOPHIA on her laptop, typing and clicking sporadically. She looks stressed, and the screen illuminates her face, along with a desk lamp.

SOPHIA (V.O.)

College. College acceptances, applications, the whole shabang. It’s like a never ending countdown. Except this countdown is very real, and approaching very soon, and you’re... alone. You’re alone for all of it. The essay, the tests, the transcript, the courage. It comes from you, and you alone. There might be help, but at the end of the day, your name is the one on the form.

Cut to a recording of confetti of an acceptance letter. SOPHIA is in a different school’s merchandise, looking unkempt. She picks up her phone. On the screen text messages are shown:

• Have you opened your decision?

• Did you get in?

• Any news?

Texts disappear as V.O. starts

SOPHIA (V.O.)

It’s lonely. Feeling alone is isolating, it takes away from the experience of it all. 

SOPHIA gets up from her chair and leaves the room, we enter,

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

SOPHIA turns on the mirror in the bathroom, taking out her toothbrush + paste. The shot changes to one from outside, only capturing the side. 

SOPHIA (V.O)

There’s an uncertainty in knowing how to react. On one hand, it’s an honor. On the other hand, you’ve never known greater anxiety. Who do you turn to? All your friends feel the same fear, anxiety, restlessness. Will they be able to comfort you?

As SOPHIA walks out from the bathroom, the shot cuts to the bedroom, where SOPHIA turns the lights off and gets into bed, with the V.O ending as the lights turn off.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

SOPHIA and SOPHIA’S MOM sit on the couch together, it’s silent save for the sounds of the TV in the back. SOPHIA opens her mouth to say something, but chooses against it. As she’s getting up from the couch, SOPHIA’S MOM starts.

SOPHIA’S MOM

Are you okay?

SOPHIA

(freezing in place)

Yeah. Just... gonna check on something.

SOPHIA’s MOM

Okay. Oh, I’m going to start making lunch soon. I’ll call you for help.

SOPHIA nods and the camera stays on SOPHIA’s MOM as she leaves, a look of worry on her face. CUT to,

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

SOPHIA sinks into her seat, sighing as she opens the laptop. The confetti pops up yet again. She leans back in her chair, looking stressed. As the voiceover starts, she begins to pace the room.

SOPHIA (V.O.)

There’s something people don’t tell you about growing up. As you get older, you build these walls. It’s not something you can control, but rather something you have to fight. To fight it, you have to let people in. To fight it, you have to be vulnerable.

SOPHIA leaves the room, going back to,

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

SOPHIA’s MOM is still on the couch, looking at SOPHIA expectantly. SOPHIA sits next to her once again, fiddling with her hands.

SOPHIA

I want to make you proud. I want to do something good. Something where you won’t have to worry about me, because I’ll have money to take care of myself. Something where I’m comfortable in knowing I’m making a difference.

SOPHIA’s MOM

(nodding, after a beat)

Okay.

SOPHIA

I got my decision for a school yesterday.

SOPHIA’s MOM

The school?

SOPHIA

(shaking head no)

...That’s why I didn’t tell you until now. I’m sorry. 

SOPHIA’s MOM

(shrugging)

You’ll find out from the other one soon enough. I’m proud of you. This is big.

The two hug. The voiceover starts while they’re still hugging, and the two continue to talk but we can’t hear them.

SOPHIA (V.O.)

No one wants to grow up. No one wants to be vulnerable if they don’t have to. But you’ll have to. It’s how life goes. As children, we seek comfort in our parents, our caretakers. We drift apart, and we lose touch. And maybe you don’t connect to them again. Maybe you’re not meant to. But it’s worth it to try, for most of us. And if it isn’t, make a new family.

Cut to...

INT BEDROOM - DAY

SOPHIA sitting at her desk, phone face up on the desk. She picks it up, typing out a message. It comes up on the screen:

“I got in :)”. She stands up and leaves the room.

SOPHIA (V.O.)

It’ll always be scarier to open up. But in the end, isn’t it so much better to have someone beside you in the waiting room?