For I Have Been

Written By
Saturn Medrano

INT. OLIVES HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - PRESENT

The living room is large, and in the middle sits an olive
green couch. A TV set plays in the background, black and
white. There is no wall to separate the living room from the
kitchen.
OLIVE'S MOTHER, wearing a sundress with an apron, quickly
chops vegetables in the kitchen. One of the cabinets in the
kitchen is mismatched, not matching the others in color or
in style.
OLIVE, 15, lays on the green couch, staring up at the
ceiling. Her arms are crossed over her chest, in typical
funeral fashion. Her eyes are wide, and every minute or so
they blink slowly.
The television's volume increases and the NEWSWOMAN'S words
can barely be made out ...
NEWSWOMAN (V.O.)
-- yesterday at 8:00 PM. Very
little is known at the time,
however -Olive's nose twitches and she sighs, turning over onto her
side to stare out the large window.
NEWSWOMAN (V.O.)
--will miss the beloved local actor
turned Hollywood movie star-EXT. OLIVE'S BACKYARD - CONTINUOUS
The outside of the house is neat, with hedges shaped into
various animals, even in the backyard. The house itself is
pale lime, with yellow trimming. A high fence separates the
huge lot from the neighbors
Through the large sliding window, Olive can be seen staring
outside with a blank expression.
Over the fence, a few hands shoot up, holding cameras and
snapping photos.
Olive raises her middle finger to the cameras.
EXT. PARK - THREE YEARS EARLIER
It's the weekend, meaning the park is packed. In the middle
of some large city, the park has few trees but lots of
attractions: a shiny playground for kids, newly painted
black benches for adults, and a running trail.

NATHAN, 33, holds a frisbee in his hands. He's wearing a

hoodie and basketball shorts with glasses on. The hoodie is
pulled over his head, masking his face. He's talking lowly
on a phone.
Olive, 12 years old at this time, walks beside Nathan,
wearing the exact same outfit as him, with her hands in her
pocket.
Nathan ends his phone call and turns to face Olive. He
stuffs his phone into his pocket.
Olive stops and stares at the frisbee in Nathan's hand.
NATHAN
There are two ways to play frisbee:
for fun, and for real.
He stares down at the short girl.
Olive nods her head with complete seriousness, not taking
her eyes off the frisbee. She moves her legs shoulder width
apart, about to pounce.
For a moment Nathan keeps his composure before bursting out
laughing.
NATHAN
I knew you'd take this seriously,
but I didn't think it'd be this
bad.
Olive furrows her eyebrows then looks up at Nathan.
OLIVE
This isn't serious?
NATHAN
Not in the least.
Nathan swings the frisbee on the tip of his finger and
shifts his weight to one leg.
NATHAN
This is a fun day. No competitive
sports.
OLIVE
Mother says there's no such thing
as non competitive sports. That
they're for losers who can't win.

NATHAN
Well, not exactly.
He leans in close, looking around as if to make sure no one
is listening.
NATHAN
Some sports are actually fun.
He laughs and tosses the frisbee in the air a couple of
times.
A WOMAN in her early 20s, dressed in work out clothes, turns
at the sound of Nathan's laugh. She tilts her head to the
side, contemplating the sound of his voice.
NATHAN
That's what today's going to be
about: fun.
He stops walking near the woman and she begins to stretch,
listening as Nathan talk.
Olive opens her mouth to speak, but Nathan interrupts.
NATHAN
Which means no points, no rules, no
thinking-OLIVE
This doesn't seem like fun to me.
NATHAN
That comes with effort. If you
don't try it, how do you know you
won't like it?
OLIVE
It's a waste of time. We could be
doing other things while you're
visiting. You told me you've never
been to the museum.
NATHAN
Why would I want to spend my fun
time with my daughter going to a
lousy museum? Nope. We're doing
something that involves some sort
of throwing objects in the air and
maybe falling onto the ground a
lot.
Olive hesitates.

OLIVE
But won't this take a while? Mother
said to be back by...
Nathan shakes his head then moves back a few feet to give
them space to catch the frisbee.
NATHAN
I'll deal with your mom.
Olive gives him a skeptical look.
OLIVE
She's very insistent.
The woman sits on a bench, pretending to scroll through her
phone as she watches the father and daughter play frisbee.
INT. OLIVE'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - PRESENT
The kitchen is clean and matches the exterior paint job of
the house, all vibrant colors. Olive's mother is still
chopping vegetables.
Olive walks up behind her mother and peeks over her
shoulder, watching her mother's chopping.
Olive's mother is completely calm, but her face is turned
away from the camera's taking photos through the living room
window.
A huge bowl of tomatoes and carrots sits next to her, filled
to the top.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
Be a dear and give me a kiss for
the cameras, dear.
Olive kisses her mother's cheek with no emotion, her lips
barely touching her cheek.
Olive's mother frowns and continues to chop vegetables.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
I hope you're more convincing
later, love. I should cut some
onions now. They'll help the tear
flows, won't they? Remember to
practice piano. Play something sad,
would you? That'll hit them hard.
Olive rolls her eyes and opens the freezer, taking out a tub
of ice cream.

OLIVE'S MOTHER
What are you getting, dear? Is it
healthy? You still have to keep in
shape for your tournament. Speaking
of which, we can use your father to
our advantage. Dedicate the
tournament to him or something.
Olive grabs a bowl out of the cupboard and scoops ice cream
into it, using her fingers.
OLIVE
It's ice cream, Mother. Chocolate.
Olive's mother freezes for a moment and then opens the
mismatched cabinet.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
(to herself)
For heaven's sake. Got to get this
replaced once and for all.
She removes another bowl from the cabinet and sets it on the
counter.She quickly slides all the cut food on the cutting
board and dumps them into the new bowl.
She breathes in deeply before starting to fake sob, causing
huge grossly fraud tears to roll down her face.
She turns to face Olive, making sure the camera's from
outside catch her crying.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
Dear, of course. You're grieving.
Go sit on the couch. Give me a hug
first.
Olive scoffs and grabs the bowl exiting the kitchen, leaving
her mother alone with her arms outstretched.
INT. OLIVE'S HOUSE - FRONT DOOR- THREE YEARS AGO
The front door is made of a huge crystal panel with dark
wood surrounding it. The main passage ways leads to a
hallway, down which we can see an earlier version of the
kitchen, with all the cabinets perfectly matching
Nathan and Olive burst through the front door, laughing and
quickly shutting the door behind them.
NATHAN
That was close. Jesus Christ, I
thought my disguise was genius.

OLIVE
It was. Until she asked your name
and you hesitated.
NATHAN
I wanted to give a cool fake name!
OLIVE
Wellington Mississippi Ramsey is a
cool name?
NATHAN
Mississippi sounds foreign and
dangerous.
Olive laughs so hard she has to lean against the door to
catch her breath.
OLIVE
It's a sinkhole in the middle of
the US.
Nathan shrugs and kicks off his shoes into the middle of the
passageway.
Olive stares down at the shoes and then kicks hers off too,
enjoying the freedom.
NATHAN
Never been. Sounds foreign.
OLIVE
We should go. Next time you're
between movies.
Nathan hesitates.
NATHAN
There's a few coming up back to
back -Olive's smile falls and Nathan takes notice.
NATHAN
But I'll see what I can do. Now go
find your mother.
A grunt emerges from somewhere in the living room area.
OLIVE'S MOTHER (O.S.)
It's almost 8. You were supposed to
be back by 5.

Olive's mother enters the hallway, with her hands on her

hips.
NATHAN
We got caught up in all the fun.
Nathan takes an umbrella out of a pot next to the door.
NATHAN
Come now, evil dragon. You'll be
slaaaaayed-Olive's mother shrieks in anger and Olive laughs.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
You think this is a joke? You come
to this household after being gone
for several months and you -OLIVE
--Mother-OLIVE'S MOTHER
--think that you can take your
daughter out late into the evening
and then insult me?
Olive's mother tenses up, ready to hit Nathan.
OLIVE
Mother, please. It was my fault. I
lost track of tiNATHAN
It was all fun, darling. She can
practice any other day of the damn
week-OLIVE'S MOTHER
She cannot! She has to be perfect
for her next recital. Not that
you'll be there to notice but-Nathan walks to the kitchen, the umbrella still in hand.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
Don't you dare walk away from me!
Olive's mother exits to the kitchen with Olive in tow.
INT. OLIVE'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Nathan digs through the fridge, ignoring his wife's frantic

shrieks. The light overhead swings slightly.

OLIVE'S MOTHER
Nathan! Look at me!
Nathan emerges from the fridge, an apple in his hand.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
You animal. Listen to me! Listen to
me or leave this hou-NATHAN
When did you get so uptight? Hey,
Olive, throw this to me.
He tosses the apple at Olive, who fumbles a bit but catches
it.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
What on Earth do you think you're-With a swift movement, Olive throws the apple at Nathan who
stands ready with the umbrella cocked back.
He hits the apple like a baseball, sending it flying into
the hinge of the cabinet, causing it to tilt.
Nathan bursts out laughing and Olive nervously giggles.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
NATHAN! HOW DARE YOU-The cabinet falls onto the counter and bounces onto the
floor. It cracks and lays broken on the floor.
Olive stops laughing, but Nathan laughs even harder.
NATHAN
I didn't think that'd happen. Well,
I did expect it to fly out the
window. That would've been a lot
cooler I suppose. I'll get that
fixed.
OLIVE'S MOTHER
The nerve!
Seething, Olive's mother exits the kitchen.
The front door can be heard opening and closing.
Nathan stops laughing.

NATHAN
Oh come on, darling.
OLIVE
Should we...
She gestures at the the direction her mother left.
Nathan crouches down onto the floor to pick up the pieces of
the cabinet.
NATHAN
Nah, I'll talk to her later.
He picks up all the pieces and holds them in his hands.
NATHAN
Come on, kiddo. Let's go find a
replacement for this trash.
He walks to the trashcan and throws the pieces away.
Olive looks up at Nathan. He exits the kitchen and she
shakes her head with a smile on her face.
OLIVE
All right.
EXT. OLIVE'S HOUSE - BACKYARD- PRESENT DAY
Olive exits the house with the bowl of ice cream in her
hand.
She sets the bowl down on the grass by a patio chair before
walking to the faucet for the hose and turning it on. She
grabs the hose and waits before it gets a powerful stream.
She walks back to the lawn chair and sits down, putting the
bowl on her lap. With one hand she scoops ice cream into her
mouth, and with the other she aims the hose so that the
water hits the people on the other side of the fence.
A couple of people scream but Olive continues to eat her ice
cream.