Sophia

By
Sunny Davis

Based on a True Story

Draft 1 1/16/18 201-316-7139

Draft 2 1/18/18
Draft 3 2/04/18
Draft 4 2/12/18
Draft 5 3/5/18
1 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
The bedroom is full of warm lighting, candles, calm music,
soft throws, and pillows. SOPHIA, 16 and wearing pajamas,
opens her dresser drawer and grabs a jump rope from it. She
puts her long, curly hair up in a bun. She then leans
against the wall in the corner of her room and moves down to
a sitting position. Sobbing, she loops the rope around her
neck and begins to pull it taut. Her eyes glaze over.
Sophia gasps and opens her eyes. The bedroom is cold and
dull, the candles burnt out. She gets up and puts the jump
rope back in her drawer, turns off the music, and lays in
bed.

2 INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

HELEN, 45+ and Sophia’s mother, is sitting on her computer

in the kitchen playing Farmville. Sophia comes downstairs
with her backpack and sets it down on the ground.
HELEN
Good morning, Sunshine!
SOPHIA
Good morning.
HELEN
How are you?
SOPHIA
Fine.

Sophia sits down at the table, across from Helen, and stares
at her mother. Helen does not look up from her screen.
HELEN
Don’t forget, I’m picking you up
early from school for your
appointment with that new doctor.
SOPHIA
I know.
(beat)
I should get to the bus.

She stands up and grabs her backpack. Helen’s eyes remain

focused on Farmville.
 2.

3 INT. DR. SHAH’S OFFICE - EARLY AFTERNOON

Dr. Shah, 55+, sits in his office chair, turned toward
Sophia. Sophia sits on the couch opposite him, her hands in
her lap. She thinks.

DR. SHAH
Okay, Sophia, have you felt sad
lately?
SOPHIA
Occasionally...
DR. SHAH
Have you had any thoughts of
hurting yourself?

SOPHIA
I always have one image in my mind.
DR. SHAH
What do you mean?

SOPHIA
Oh, I know how I’d do it... is all.
DR. SHAH
And how is that?

SOPHIA
I’d go to a bridge.

4 EXT. BRIDGE - SUNSET

The horizon is lit in the background of the bridge.

SOPHIA (V.O)
It would be during sunset.

Sophia stands on the side of the bridge, head tilted up,

enjoying the breeze as it sweeps her hair back.
SOPHIA (V.O)
The breeze would tickle my skin and
I’d hold my arms up and feel the
wind try to push them back.
She holds her arms out at her sides and smiles slightly.
SOPHIA (V.O)
And I would look out at the horizon
and say goodbye.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 3.

Sophia opens her eyes and stares in front of her.

SOPHIA (V.O)
Then I would turn around and let
gravity do the rest.

She spins around and leans back and off of the bridge.

5 INT. DR. SHAH’S OFFICE - EARLY AFTERNOON

Dr. Shah’s mouth is half open in shock.

SOPHIA
The best part would be feeling my
body hit the water, shattering
every single bone.
(beat)
It’s a beautiful way to go.
DR. SHAH
What do you mean?

SOPHIA
Well-
She sighs.
SOPHIA
It’s...poetic.
(beat)
Plus, dying is hard.
DR. SHAH
How so?

SOPHIA
Most people, when they kill
themselves, they don’t think about
what will happen after they’re
dead. There are just so many
complications. I mean... you have
to think of how people will find
out.
DR. SHAH
Would you write a note?
Sophia laughs.
SOPHIA
Would I? I’ve written twenty-two.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

DR. SHAH
I see. And when was your last
attempt?

SOPHIA
A couple weeks ago.
DR. SHAH
What happened?

SOPHIA
I don’t know. I mean, family stuff.
But it’s not always because of
that.

DR. SHAH
Your family causes you pain?
SOPHIA
Yours doesn’t?

Dr. Shah stares at Sophia.

SOPHIA
I just feel like they don’t care.
DR. SHAH
I’m sure they care about you. But
you said other things make you feel
sad as well? What are those?
SOPHIA
I can’t pinpoint just one thing.
It’s a combination of so many
different things. But at the same
time. It’s nothing.
Dr. Shah nods.

DR. SHAH
What stopped you from hurting
yourself?
SOPHIA
It just... wasn’t right. If I’m
gonna do it, it needs to be the
bridge.
DR. SHAH
Okay. Unfortunately, Sophia, that’s
all the time we have. Thank you for
sharing. You can go wait in the
hallway but can you please send
your mother in?
 5.

6 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Sophia exits the office and stands in front of Helen, who
sits in a chair, playing Candy Crush on her iPhone.
SOPHIA
Your turn.
Helen looks up, startled.
HELEN
Oh, okay.
She gets up and goes inside. Sophia sits down where her
mother was sitting.

7 INT. DR. SHAH’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Dr. Shah and Helen stand in his office.
DR. SHAH
She needs help. I suggest you bring
her to the emergency room so they
can assess her and admit her to a
children’s psychiatric hospital.
HELEN
But she’s fine.

8 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Sophia looks around awkwardly.

9 INT. DR. SHAH’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

DR. SHAH
No, she’s not. I’m going to contact
the ER to let them know you’re
coming.
HELEN
Don’t. I’m not taking her.

Helen’s voice raises.

HELEN
She is perfectly fine. She’s not
crazy.
 6.

10 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Sophia fiddles with her hair.

11 INT. DR. SHAH’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

DR. SHAH
I never said she was crazy.
(Beat)
I didn’t want to have to do this,
but if you don’t take her, I will
have to call child protective
services because she is in danger.

12 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Helen steps out into the hallway, closing the door behind
her. Sophia looks up at her.
HELEN
Let’s go.

Sophia stands.
SOPHIA
Thank goodness. It’s not even
October yet I already have two
essays to write for my AP English
class. Junior year is-
HELEN
We’re not going home.
(Beat)
Dr. Shah thought it would be best
we admit you to the ER. Hopefully
everything will be fine and we can
go home after.

SOPHIA
But I’m okay!
HELEN
No. We have to go.

Helen grabs Sophia’s hand and leads her down the hallway.
SOPHIA (V.O)
By midnight I was brought to a
children’s psychiatric intensive
care unit. A mental institution.
They diagnosed me with major
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 7.

SOPHIA (V.O) (cont’d)

depression disorder, anxiety
disorder, and bipolar disorder.

13 EXT. BRIDGE - SUNSET

SOPHIA (V.O)
As the days passed by, I kept
thinking about going to the bridge.

The horizon is lit in the background of the bridge.

Sophia stands on the side of the bridge, her back to the
water. She tilts her head up and smiles as the breeze sweeps
her hair back.

She begins to lean back and off of the bridge.

SOPHIA (V.O)
And just...ending it all.
A hand grabs her wrist right as she is about to fall.
Sophia’s eyes open wide.
SOPHIA (V.O)
But something stopped me every
time.

14 INT. WHITE ROOM - DAY TIME

Sophia sits against the wall, wearing all black. She stares
blankly straight ahead before beginning to write in her
journal.

SOPHIA (V.O)
When you are depressed, you don’t
always have a reason to feel sad.
You just do. Something in your
brain literally blocks you from
feeling happiness and there is
nothing you can do about it. And
you cry for no reason and you can’t
stop it. And you want to reach out
for help and beg someone to make
you feel better, but nothing makes
it better. You can’t block out the
dark thoughts and you can’t control
your emotions.
(Beat)
That is why self-harm feels so
good. Because it’s the one thing in
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 8.

SOPHIA (V.O) (cont’d)

your life that you feel like you
have control over. And it makes you
feel something other than sad.
Sure, it makes you feel pain. But
it also makes you feel more alive
than you have ever felt.
Jump cut to Sophia laying on the floor, writing in her
journal. Several people, ages 15 to 17, sit around her,
talking and laughing.

SOPHIA (V.O)
A week later, I had a group of
friends. We were the most popular
group in the whole institution.
Everyone wanted to be our friend.
And I was the leader of the group.
We all bonded over our messed up
lives. But everyone who was there
was fucked up. One kid killed his
mom. And when he told me about it,
he laughed.
(Beat)
He was seven.
One by one, each person fades from the frame, leaving Sophia
alone, still writing in her journal.

SOPHIA (V.O)
But they all healed faster than me.
And I was left by myself.
A NURSE enters.

NURSE
Sophia, your parents are here.
Sophia exits, leaving her journal on the ground.

15 INT. DR. SHAH’S OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

DR. SHAH sits at his desk while Helen and GARY, 45+ and
Sophia’s father, sit opposite him. Sophia enters the room
and sits next to her parents.

DR. SHAH
Hello Sophia. How are you today?
SOPHIA
Fine.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

DR. SHAH
Good. Your parents and I were
talking and we think it’s time
you’re released.

HELEN
You’ll be able to come home!
SOPHIA
What? But I like it here now.

GARY
You have to come home sometime.
HELEN
(To Dr. Shah)
Can we have a minute alone with
her?
DR. SHAH
Of course. I’ll be right outside if
you need me.

Dr. Shah steps out of the room.

HELEN
(In a harsh tone)
You have no choice. We are bringing
you home today.

SOPHIA
But why now?
GARY
Because you’ve been here for too
long. This is only a temporary
place.
HELEN
If you want to be committed full
time-
SOPHIA
No!
Sophia begins to sob.

SOPHIA
But-
GARY
They already have you on the
highest dosage of anti-depressants.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 10.

GARY (cont’d)
There isn’t anything else they can
do.
Helen signals Dr. Shah, who comes back in the room and sits
down.
DR. SHAH
Okay. Shall we begin the paperwork?
Sophia sniffles, tears still running down her face.

DR. SHAH
Sophia. In order for this to work,
can you please promise me one
thing?

Sophia wipes a tear away and looks at him.

DR. SHAH
Please promise me you will continue
with the recovery process. No more
attempts. Okay? I believe you can
make it through. Do you believe in
yourself?

16 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Sophia walks into her bedroom, holding a backpack with her

belongings from the hospital. She drops the bag on the
ground and sits on her bed. She seems out of place now; the
whole bedroom seems cold.

SOPHIA (V.O)
Anxiety makes you worry about what
others think about you so much that
you have chest compulsions. And
some days you just can’t leave bed
because you are so worried you will
disappoint everyone. But you don’t
know why. Because everyone keeps
saying they love you. But some
voice deep in your head keeps
telling you that you are worthless.
Everyone says that you are your own
worst critic, but anxiety actually
puts a voice in your head that
tells you from the start that you
are stupid and ugly and fat and
worthless and that will amount to
nothing. And you cancel your plans
because you can’t find something to
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 11.

SOPHIA (V.O) (cont’d)

wear but in reality, you have a
closet full of clothes but no
matter what you wear, that voice
inside your head tells you you’re
ugly and that everyone hates you
and doesn’t even want you at that
party.
She stands up and opens her dresser drawer, grabs the jump
rope and sits back down on the bed with it in her hands. She
stares at it quietly before throwing it across her room
angrily.
SOPHIA (V.O)
Sometimes I find that the voice
even becomes my own. I find myself
talking out loud, telling myself
all these terrible things. I am my
own bully.

17 EXT. BRIDGE - SUNSET

The horizon is lit in the background of the bridge.

Sophia stands on the side of the bridge, head tilted up,
enjoying the breeze as it sweeps her hair back.

She holds her arms out at her sides and smiles slightly.
Sophia opens her eyes and stares in front of her.
She spins around and leans back and off of the bridge but a
hand grabs her and her eyes open wide. She looks around, but
no one is there.

18 INT. DANA’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

Sophia sits on a couch. DANA, 30s and Sophia’s therapist,

sits across from her in a desk chair.
SOPHIA
I got called up on stage and had to
give a speech. But I totally forgot
to write one so I was literally
speechless.
DANA
Wow.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

SOPHIA
Yeah it was a crazy dream. But hey,
I won an Oscar!
DANA
(Joking)
Don’t forget to mention me in your
Oscar speech.
SOPHIA
(Laughing)
I won’t.
DANA
So how’s school?
SOPHIA
It’s all right.
DANA
Are you all caught up on your work?
SOPHIA
Not really. But my teachers are
being really nice about it.
DANA
Is everything okay at home?

SOPHIA
Yeah.
DANA
Remember, this won’t work unless
you talk to me.
SOPHIA
Yeah I know... I just... I hate
talking about all that stuff.

DANA
It’ll get easier with time.
SOPHIA
I had another dream the other
night. I was on the bridge again.

DANA
Wanna tell me about it over a game
of cards?

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 13.

SOPHIA
Sure.

19 INT. BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

Sophia sits on her bed writing in her journal.

SOPHIA (V.O)
I’ve been home for a couple months
now. And I’m done with the partial
program. Now I just see Dana. She’s
the best therapist, way better than
any of the ones in the hospital.
She looks up at the posters on her wall, then goes up to
them and rips them down.

SOPHIA (V.O)
When you are bipolar, one minute
you are on top of the world, you
feel so happy. The next, you drop.
You feel so low that you can’t do
anything. You just want to cancel
all your plans, lay in bed, and
cry. And there’s no reason to be
upset because you just aced your
midterm. But that little voice in
your head, anxiety, it tells you
that you might’ve gotten away with
a good grade this time, but next
time, you are going to fail.
Because you are worthless.

20 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

Helen and Gary stand in the kitchen, Helen tidies up.
HELEN
I’m worried about her.
GARY
She’s fine.
HELEN
But what if they didn’t give her
the right care in the hospital?
GARY
Are you saying I paid five grand
for nothing?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

HELEN
What? No! I just wish there was
something we could do. They were
really harsh at that facility.
(beat)
If I had time, I would’ve done
research. Looked for better
services. But it all happened so
fast.
GARY
I wish there was a cheaper service.
HELEN
Are you not concerned about our
daughter?

Sophia comes downstairs at this point, but hides in the room

next door to listen in on the conversation.
GARY
I am. I just can’t pay other bills
because I’m paying for her hospital
stay.
HELEN
It wasn’t a stay, Gary. She’s sick.
She was in the hospital and there’s
no way around it. You have to
support her.
GARY
I am!

HELEN
No you’re not. When was the last
time you talked to her? Asked her
how she was doing?
GARY
Would you just shut up?! I’m sick
and tired of you saying I’m a bad
parent.
HELEN
I wasn’t say-

GARY
I’m done.
Gary exits. Sophia, upset, runs back upstairs.
 15.

21 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Sophia goes to her dresser and opens the top drawer. She
pulls out a razor blade and sits on the ground, her back to
the wall. She makes a small slit on her left wrist, just
below her veins. It doesn’t bleed too much. She then
continues to cut her wrist and sobs.
SOPHIA (V.O)
I struggle with depression,
anxiety, and bipolar disorder every
day. And it hurts. I am sad because
of a mental illness. And for some
reason, the world invalidates this.
They think there should be a
concrete reason. They don’t
understand that there isn’t always
one. If I had reason, I think it
would be easier. But because there
isn’t one, I am stuck with this
forever. My brain just doesn’t
allow me to feel happiness the
correct way. And the only thing the
doctors say I can do is take so
much medication that yes, I don’t
feel those emotions anymore. Yes, I
don’t feel sad anymore. But I feel
the worst possible thing in the
world: nothing. I have no emotions
when I am on that Prozac. That
Klonopin. That Xanax. I just feel
empty.

After a bit, she stands up, her wrists covered in blood, and
stands in front of her mirror.
SOPHIA (V.O)
But I have to prove everyone wrong.

SOPHIA
(Whispering)
I have to get better.

22 EXT. BRIDGE - SUNDOWN

SOPHIA (V.O)
Every night I have the same dream.
The horizon is lit in the background of the bridge.

Sophia stands on the side of the bridge, her back to the

water. She tilts her head up and smiles as the breeze sweeps
her hair back.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 16.

SOPHIA (V.O)
But... it’s somehow different every
time.
She looks down at the water and then walks away.

SOPHIA (V.O)
And I always remember it so
vividly. Like I was actually there.

23 INT. DANA’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

Sophia and Dana sit opposite each other and play cards.
SOPHIA
When my mom picked me up from
school yesterday, she told me she
kicked my dad out.
DANA
Are you okay?

SOPHIA
Yeah. I saw it coming. He didn’t
treat her right. Either of us,
actually. It was about time.
DANA
Do you have any bad feelings?
SOPHIA
None. I’m actually okay. It’s not
like I saw him much anyway. He
would go to work early in the
morning, then go out with friends
after and would come home late. And
they haven’t even slept in the same
bed since I was in the hospital.
I’m over it.
(beat)
I’m really excited for this summer.
I get to work on my college
applications. I’m trying to get
them done before school starts
again.

DANA
Good!
SOPHIA
Can I ask you a question?
(beat)
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 17.

SOPHIA (cont’d)
Why do you always suggest we play
cards? I’m not against it or
anything. Just curious.

DANA
Well, if you really want to know.
It’s an old therapist trick. For
kids. If a child isn’t opening up
or seems uncomfortable, you play a
game with them. I like cards
because it’s fun and easy to talk
during.
Sophia raises her eyebrows.
SOPHIA
Are you saying I’m a child?
DANA
(Laughing)
No. But it did work. Didn’t it? You
told me about your parents.

Sophia looks down at her hand.

SOPHIA
Yeah. And I won.

She places an ace down on the table over Dana’s queen.

24 INT. DANA’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON 1

Sophia and Dana sit in the same seats as before and play
cards.

25 INT. DANA’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON 2

Sophia and Dana sit in the same seats as before and play
cards.

26 INT. DANA’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON 3

Sophia and Dana sit in the same seats as before and play
cards.
 18.

27 INT. DANA’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON 4

Sophia and Dana sit in the same seats as before and play
cards.

28 INT. DANA’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON 5

Sophia and Dana sit in the same seats as before and play
cards.

Sophia places another card on top of Dana’s card.

SOPHIA
I win again!
DANA
Nice job, Sophia.
Sophia sighs.
DANA
What’s wrong?

SOPHIA
I just... I don’t like my name.
DANA
Why is that?

SOPHIA
I guess it reminds me of everything
that’s happened the past year and a
half.

DANA
Change it then.
SOPHIA
What?

DANA
You’re going to college soon and
it’s a fresh start. Rebrand
yourself.

Sophia thinks for a moment.

SOPHIA
I have always liked the name Sunny.
I was named after my great aunt
Sandra and that was her nickname.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 19.

DANA
So when you go to college, just ask
people to call you that.
SOPHIA
But what if they ask why? I can’t
tell them it’s because my name
reminds me of being in the
hospital.
DANA
You don’t owe them anything. Tell
them what you want. Tell them it’s
because of your aunt.
Sophia ponders.

SOPHIA
I like that idea. I do have
orientation coming up. Maybe I
could try it out then.

29 INT. BARLOW HALL - AFTERNOON

Sophia walks into Barlow hall with her backpack. An
orientation leader sits at a table in the lobby. Sophia
takes a deep breathe before approaching them.

ORIENTATION LEADER
Hi! Welcome to URI! What’s your
name?
SOPHIA
Sophia Davis
The orientation leader makes a mark on her notepad.
ORIENTATION LEADER
Oh! Here you are!

SOPHIA
Um... but can you call me Sunny?
It’s my nickname.
Sophia smiles.

FADE OUT.