SAGE 2.

0
By
Joy Kim

INT. APARTMENT ROOM - MORNING

SAGE MONTEREY, a 20-year-old student attending the
University of Cincinnati, wakes up to her ALARM. She doesnt
budge. After hearing five rings, she reaches over suddenly
and SLAMS the snooze button.
She grabs CLOTHES and plods across the room. We can see
BOOKS and old PHOTOS on her desk. She looks younger and
happy in them.
INT. BATHROOM - MORNING
Sage SPLASHES water from the sink onto her face. She pauses,
expressionless, to look at her reflection in the mirror.
CUT TO
INT. LECTURE HALL - DAY
Sage sits in class, half paying attention. She taps her
pencil. The professor DRONES on about economics, writing on
the board at the front of the room.
PROFESSOR
...now recall that the price
elasticity of demand equals the
percent change of quantity demanded
over the percent change in price.
Here demand is unit elastic...
Sage looks down at her LAPTOP, clicking through internship
applications at consulting firms. She SIGHS, and stumbles
across an internship with a comics publishing company.
Pausing, she opens a desktop folder titled My_Work with
old sketches, clicking on one. A super-heroine that
resembles her pops up on the screen. We see a flick of
regret cross her face. She has not drawn in a long time.
INT. SAGES LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
After a long day of classes, Sage unlocks her door and
tosses her backpack on the couch. She grabs a SNACK BAG and
SWITCHES on the TV. A talk show is on.
TALK SHOW HOST
And now, please welcome our very
special guest, renowned behavioral
theorist, Roger Handel!
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

There is a SMATTERING of applause from the TV. Sage turns

her attention to the screen. She plops down on the couch.
ROGER
(shaking the hosts hand)
Thanks so much for having me again,
Richie.
HOST
My pleasure, Roger. So! I heard you
just came out with a new book.
ROGER
That is correct.
HOST
Could you tell us what its about?
ROGER
Absolutely. So Ive been interested
in the way we perceive our flaws.
Which got me thinking, what would
happen if you met yourself?
Sage rolls her eyes as she grabs a handful of food.
ROGER
(pointing suddenly at camera)
You! Yes, you!
Sage freezes, confused. She waits for the camera to cut to
the audience, revealing the target of his finger, but it
doesnt come. She blinks.
ROGER
Ever wonder what it would be like
to see yourself, in action?
Roger is looking directly at the camera, as though he were
looking at her through the screen. Sage stares nervously.
ROGER
(relaxing)
Seems like a crazy idea, right?
See, sometimes we are blind to our
weaknesses, faults evident to
anyone who isnt us. But if you had
the chance to witness yourself from
the outside, you might become aware
enough to control your alternate
universe, change the course of your
life through decisions. Every small
choice you make may have a big
impact on the future.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.

Sage has lost interest at this point.

SAGE
What a load of bull.
She leaves the room. The TV remains on.
ROGER
Obviously, this isnt possible, but
the idea is to remove yourself in
order to get the whole picture. To
examine ourselves so we can become
exactly who we want to be.
CUT TO
INT. SAGES BEDROOM - MORNING
The alarm GOES OFF. Sage rolls over to see a figure standing
by her bed, torso down, wearing her clothes.
She SCREAMS and springs up in bed, staring at the figures
face, which is Sages own face.
DOPPELGANGER
Morning sunshine!
Sage freezes in horror, eyes widened.
DOPPELGANGER
Something wrong?
Sage doesnt budge.
SAGE
(muttering)
What in theDOPPELGANGER
Oh, Im so sorry! I should have
introduced myself first.
(extending hand)
Im Sage.
SAGE
(laughing in disbelief and
ignoring her hand)
Uh. No. IM Sage.
DOPPELGANGER
No way. Ive never met anyone with
the same name as me!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

SAGE
(warily)
Yeah. Okay. So...Who are you really
and what are you doing in my room!?
Sage the doppelganger looks puzzled, but remains cheerful.
DOPPELGANGER
Im Sage. Like I said. And I live
here. I found you sleeping and I
didnt want to bother you so I just
used the couch last night.
SAGE
(to herself)
Is this a joke? Mom, I swear if you
kept some kind of cliche birth
secret from meDOPPELGANGER
(cheerily)
What was that?
SAGE
(mimickingly sweet)
Nothing.
(stumbling over words)
So, uh, I gotta get to class.
You...what classes do you have
today, uh...Sage?
DOPPELGANGER
Physics then Screenwriting. You
know Sage, its really great to be
back. And Im so glad youve made
yourself at home, but this place
really could use some decoration!
SAGE
Um, okay. We can take care of that
in the evening. So, Ill, uh, see
you later then...Sage.
DOPPELGANGER
Sure thing!
EXT. SAGES APARTMENT - MORNING
Sage rushes out the door to her building, and walks until
she reaches an open lawn. She stops in the middle of the
grass and drops her head back in disbelief.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

SAGE (V.O.)
What. Is. Happening.
She turns to face the building where her next class is.
SAGE (V.O.)
That stupid theorist from that
show, talking about meeting
yourself and crap! Shouldnt have
left it on all night. Maybe this is
happening because Im asleep. Okay.
Yeah. This is just a dream. Wait.
What kind of person goes to class
in her dream? And its actually
pretty cold right now. This feels
real.
(beat)
Fine, on the off chance this is
actually happening, Im just going
to go to class, avoid creepy fake
me, and go back home.
She takes a deep breath and marches off.
EXT. LECTURE HALL - LATE AFTERNOON
Sage exits her last class amongst dozens of other students.
ALEX, Sages best friend, follows close behind.
ALEX
Yo Sage, so are you down for our
first career fair on Saturday?
Probablyll be more fun than a
party.
SAGE
I guess. The whole sucking up to
corporate recruiters in hope of
getting a job thing is kind of
awful, butSuddenly, Sage the doppelganger comes out of nowhere.
DOPPELGANGER
Sage, there you are!
ALEX
Whoa, what the...Sage, youve
literally never mentioned having a
twin before.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

DOPPELGANGER
Hi! Im SSAGE
Ssssssadie! This is my twin, Sadie.
ALEX
Oh. Alex. Nice to meet you.
(to Sage)
But actually, Sage, I didnt even
know you had any siblings.
DOPPELGANGER
I attended prep school in Michigan,
so its been a while since Ive
seen Sage. Relationship with the
parents is pretty strained, so I
can understand if she hasnt said
much about me.
ALEX
(still suspicious)
Oh, sorry to hear. Well, I gotta
run. Sage Ill be over for exam
cram tonight.
SAGE
Fine.
ALEX
Nice meeting you Sadie.
Sage shoots the doppelganger a look as they start heading
back to the apartment.
SAGE
You didnt go to school in
Michigan, did you?
DOPPELGANGER
Actually I did. Interlochen Arts
Academy. Mom and Dad thought I
should pursue my art, which is
great and all, but Im mostly
passionate about drawing comics. I
just got an internship at this
publishing company actually.
Sage stiffens.
SAGE
Thats...awesome. Hey listen, I
forgot that were- Im out of eggs,
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

SAGE (contd)
so Ill see you back home. Im just
going to stop by the store.
DOPPELGANGER
(cheerily)
Okay, cool! See you soon!
Sage watches as Sage the doppelganger strolls away.
INT. SAGES LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Sage returns home with a BAG OF GROCERIES to find the
doppelganger entertaining Alex and some of Sages other
friends, MIMI and HENRIETTA. They LAUGH at a joke the
doppelganger tells as Sage walks in.
SAGE
Whoa, what are you guys doing here?
HENRIETTA
Sage! Alex texted us saying she was
going to your place tonight, so we
tagged along. Sadie let us in.
MIMI
Hope you dont mind, Sage Green.
SAGE
Of course not, its been a while!
Henri, hows the bae?
ALEX
Awful word.
HENRIETTA
The bae is swell.
MIMI
I agree with Alex. Gross word
choice. Stop now.
HENRIETTA
(jokingly)
I do what I want. But yeah anyway,
Alex, we definitely need to check
out that gallery in Eden Park.
SAGE
What gallery?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

MIMI
Sadie was telling us about some
exhibits in the area. Hidden gems,
essentially. Did you know shes
sold some work?
ALEX
Hey Sage, you and Sadie have a lot
in common. Dont you draw some too?
SAGE
Hm? Yeah, I guess.
MIMI
So like, tell us more about
Interlochen, Sadie.
Sage has walked into the kitchen area by now and started
putting groceries away. Alex enters the kitchen.
ALEX
So, Sadies pretty awesome. Shes
like you, but more...
(gesturing in the air)
free.
SAGE
(irritatedly)
Yeah, I get that.
LAUGHTER peals through the living room.
MIMI
(from the other room)
Hey Sage, I think were going to
head out now, its getting late.
SAGE
Oh okay, see you guys later.
ALEX
Im heading out too.
SAGE
I thought we were studying?
ALEX
We still got time, right? One day
more. Procrastination at its
finest.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

SAGE
True. Okay, bye then!
Sage practically ushers the group toward the door and shuts
it. She turns to the doppelganger.
SAGE
Whyd you go along with the lie?
Like, I still dont actually know
why youre here, but you obviously
know that were NOT twins.
DOPPELGANGER
Figured you had a good reason for
it.
SAGE
Do you not realize we look the
same?
DOPPELGANGER
I guess I didnt register that it
was important until you mentioned
it just now.
SAGE
(angrily)
Well, now that youve figured
things out, why dont we start at
the beginning? IM SAGE. Youre not
Sage.
DOPPELGANGER
(still clueless)
I dont see why we cant both be
Sage.
SAGE
Because youre not me, Sage!
Because Im...urgh!
Sage trails off in frustration. She decides to take a
different approach.
SAGE
Whats my laptop password?
DOPPELGANGER
(handing Sage her laptop)
Try mine.
Sage hits the keys hard. It works.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

10.

SAGE
(pauses, infuriated)
You know what, that doesnt prove
anything, youre not me. Youre too
motivated, too cheerful, youre
claiming that Mom and Dad would
have sent you- wait, me- us, to
boarding school in Michigan, and if
you were me, you wouldnt have the
guts to pursue drawing seriously,
let alone show your comics to
anyone.
The doppelganger silently processes this outburst.
DOPPELGANGER
Youre right. I guess Im not you,
Sage.
The doppelganger walks away. Sage takes a moment, then sits
down on the couch still clutching the doppelgangers laptop,
mulling over what happened. Her eye wanders to a folder on
the screen named, Sketches and Works. She clicks on it.
Hundreds of thumbnails litter the screen. Sage clicks
through sketch after brilliant sketch, noticing how closely
they resemble hers, except they are more complete. She comes
to an unfinished sketch. It is the same super-heroine that
Sage had drawn. Sage stops. Her face softens.
INT. SAGES BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING
Sage works through the night, drawing, tearing out sheets
from pads of paper, and coloring intently.
She also studies for the exam. She marks a string of
questions she answered correctly.
She applies for a handful of internships. At the end, she
reaches the application for the publishing company. She
uploads images of the new work she created and hits submit.
A completed sketch of the super-heroine lies on her desk.
INT. SAGES BEDROOM - MORNING
Sage wakes up to light streaming through her window. She
gets up, remembering the doppelganger. She searches the
kitchen, bathroom, and living room.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.

SAGE
Sage?
There is no sign of the doppelganger. Sage returns to her
room, walking slowly to her desk. On the desk lies an
elaborate, colorful sketch of two identical super-heroines
standing together, signed, Sage.