Sisters
 
 
 
written by
 
 
Jana Otkovic
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Address
Phone
E-mail
 Diana and Mira are sisters, older and younger
respectively. Mira is ten years old, yet acts significantly
younger. She still plays with toys and sneaks them in school
and her swimming lessons. Diana is nineteen years old, but of
course acts older. She has been taking care of Mira on her
own, as well as working, studying and trying to stay sane.
Diana takes Mira to school every day before going to her own
classes, picks Mira up and takes her to swimming lessons
before heading to work, and picks her up before going home.
Mira is preparing for swim class in the changing room and
Diana is about to leave. Mira stops her and asks what if she
gets her period, like in the book she got for her birthday,
Book Just For Girls. She imagines herself standing in water
as it slowly turns red, and everyone is screaming and running
out. Diana looks at her straight faced and tells her the
chances of that happening are close to zero. She ushers Mira
to the pool and leaves, Mira stands there concerned for a bit
until she sees her friends and forgets what she was worried
about immediately.
The next day Diana is taking Mira to school, and she is
frantically talking about her frustrating swim instructor.
Diana is nodding along. Mira stops talking and complains her
stomach hurts, and Diana reassures her it's just because
she's hungry, and it'll stop after lunch time. Mira goes to
class and clutches her plushie to suppress the pain. Her
teacher scolds her for having a toy and takes it away. Mira
keeps clutching her skirt and then lifts it and looks down,
looks distraught and screams.
Once Diana arrives to school, she finds her sister in the
bathroom, in one of the stalls. She sits down outside of it
and talks to her sister, then slides her new underwear and a
pad, explaining how to put it on. Mira interrupts her and
claims she knows, that she learnt in the book. She emerges
out of the stall and they head home.
They're both sitting in the living room, TV on, Mira
eating ice-cream. Diana is next to her, looking at her
laptop, occasionally chiming in the answers to the game show
they're watching. Mira slowly glances over to Diana and
quickly looks back to the tv when Diana glances back. Mira
stays quiet then finally speaks up and asks when they'll be
going to the lake, to which Diana sighs and says she doesn't
know, without elaborating further.
Mira looks back at the TV for a bit, then asks further.
Diana progressively gets more frustrated, claiming Mira has
no understanding for her and her time, how she's the only one
left to take care of her. Mira tears up and rushes to her
room. Diana rolls her eyes and keeps typing. She hears Mira
crying and closes her laptop.
She approaches Mira's room and opens the door. The inside
is dark and gloomy, like the depth of a pool, with only Mira
visible, sitting on the ground, back turned. Diana enters
into the darkness and sits down behind her. Diana talks to
her and calmly expresses her feelings.
 2.

She asks Mira if she is better now, and if she can give her a
hug. Mira nods and Diana hugs her.
The rooms settles back to normal, the girls getting up
from the ground. Diana asks her if she wants to have dinner
now. They lightheartedly bicker about what to have for
dinner, and head out of the room. END

INT. POOL CHANGING ROOM, DAY

MIRA
But what if!? There's always a
chance
DIANA
I'm sure you'll be alright
Mira (10) is in her swimsuit holding a book. She seems
nervous, standing with her feet inward looking up at her
sister. She stretches her arms out holding the book, the
cover reads "Book for Every Girl"
MIRA
But it says right here! "Girls
usually get their period between
the ages 10 and 13!"
DIANA
Those are just loose statics,
you'll probably get it at thirteen
Diana (20) is looking around making sure everything is where
it should be, checking the time on her phone occasionally and
every once in a while glancing over at Mira
MIRA
But it could be ten!! I'm ten! And
it could be today, now, while I'm
swimming, and what if what if what
if-
The view pans to her head to show a scene she's imagining.
She is standing at the pool by herself, only the sound of
children laughing can be heard in the background. She's
standing nervously at the center of the pool, looking around.
Slowly, the water starts turning red from the edges of the
pool. She squeals quietly and children go from laughing to
screaming, the water splashing around her. The view pans back
to her in the changing room, looking at her sister Diana,
concerned. She is looking back, slightly amused.
DIANA
You're very silly. Go swim.
 3.

MIRA
Okay...
Diana takes the book and ushers Mira to the swimming pool.
She's looking back and around nervously
MIRA'S FRIEND 1
Mira! Over here!
MIRA
(Glances over and smiles)
Okay!
Mira runs to her friends giggling, as if she forgot what she
was worried about in the first place.

EXT. SCHOOL YARD, DAY

Mira and Diana are walking towards Mira's elementary school,
Diana carrying Mira's backpack. Mira is constantly talking
and holding her stuffed bunny.
MIRA
She always says: "fight against the
water, fight it!" And I don't know
how
DIANA
I think she just means swim harder.
MIRA
I swim as hard as I can! And Mrs.
Ignes always says "Mira get a
paddle, Mira stay above water"
Dianas nods along absentmindedly and fidgets with her
jewelry. Mira looks up at her worried
MIRA  (CONT'D)
When we go to the lake, I can show
you I don't need a stupid paddle.
DIANA
(inattentive)
Yeah, sure, but maybe a paddle
isn't so bad, it's like googles,
it's just aid. But it's school time
now, focus on that.
MIRA
Only weak babies need a paddle I'm
not-
 4.

Mira stops walking and holds her stomach and plushie tight.
Diana doesn't notice for a bit then turns around to see Mira
a bit behind.
DIANA
Everything alright Mirmir?
MIRA
Yeah, my stomach hurts, I'm fine
though!
DIANA
(hastily)
Yeah, you'll be fine. You're
probably just hungry, it'll go away
at lunch time.
MIRA
Are you gonna go upstairs with me?
Mira stops in front of the school and Diana hands her her
backpack.
DIANA
Why, you know where it is.
MIRA
I do but... Everyone goes up to the
classroom...
DIANA
(rolls her eyes)
Come on Mira you're a big girl now,
you can handle it on your own
MIRA
But...
DIANA
I'll be late, I'll see you after
school
Diana gives Mira a kiss on the forehead and ushers her into
the building.
MIRA
Mmh.
Mira stands in the hallway looking over to the entrance. The
hall darkens for a bit as if there are rain clouds passing
overhead outside. She sniffles, readjusts her bag and waddles
down the hall. It brightens back up again-
 5.

INT. CLASSROOM, DAY

Mira goes in the classroom and sits down next to her friend,
with her plushie in her lap. He glances over to her and
continues idling. Mira puts her backpack next to her chair
and pulls things out, including a notebook, pencil case, and
her book for girls. She places everything on the desk except
for the book, which is under her desk. The teacher came in
right behind her and already started with the roll call.
TEACHER
Jovan?
CLASSMATE
Here.
TEACHER
Mira?
Mira is busy holding her stomach but quickly raises her hand
for rollcall. The teacher continues listing names. Mira is
squeezing her toy tightly. The teacher finishes.
TEACHER (CONT'D)
Mira, what do you have there?
MIRA
Uhm...
TEACHER
You know the policy.
Her teacher takes the toy away. It seems so tiny in her hand.
TEACHER (CONT'D)
This building is for learning. Your
cute little toys aren't productive
for learning.
She places it by the trashcan and continues teaching. Mira
sits nervously looking over at it, clenching her dress. She
tries to focus on the lesson, on the lights on the ceiling,
anything but the pain in her stomach or the toy by the
trashcan. She bounces in her seat before slowly lifting her
skirt and looking down. She gasps and lets out a scream that
quickly cuts off.

INT. SCHOOL BATHROOM, DAY

DIANA
Mira??
 6.

MIRA
Mmmh.
Diana bursts in through the bathroom door with a messenger
bag, Mira's Plushie sticking out of it. She hears Mira from
one of the stalls and sits on the floor in front of it. She
slides Mira a pad and new underwear.
DIANA
Okay, nothing to be afraid of this
is a normal part of most ladies
lifetimes.
MIRA
I know!
DIANA
Oh, right, well, all you have to do
is open up the-
MIRA
I know how to do it!
DIANA
(under her breath)
Oh.
Mira hums along as she does her business, then emerges from
the stall to see her sister sitting cross-legged on the
floor. She smiles and hands her the bunny plushie.
DIANA (CONT'D)
Alright trooper, lets head home.

INT. LIVING ROOM, EVENING

Diana and Mira are sitting on the couch, watching TV. Diana
has her laptop in her lap and Mira is eating ice-cream. A
gameshow is on.
GAMESHOW HOST
What is the name of the second
longest river in-
DIANA
Denube
GAMESHOW HOST
-Europe
GAMESHOW ATENDEE
Uhhh... I dont know Next question.
 7.

DIANA
Dumbass.
MIRA
Hehe
Mira looks over to her sister nervously. She is typing away
at her computer, and after a bit glances back. Mira quickly
turns her head back towards the TV, pretending like nothing
happened. After some time she looks back at her sister.
MIRA (CONT'D)
Uhm, Deedee?
DIANA
Yep?
MIRA
(looking down at her food)
You said we'd go down to the lake
soon, do you think we could do that
tomorrow?
DIANA
You can't swim on your period and
you have school, you can't skip two
days in a row or I'll have to take
you to a doctor.
MIRA
(furrows brows)
It's Saturday.
DIANA
(looks at the corner of
her screen)
Would you look at that. Still can't
swim
Diana continues typing. Mira debates for a while and chooses
to speak up again.
MIRA
You promised. When are we going?
DIANA
I don't know.
MIRA
Next week?
DIANA
(still looking at screen)
I don't know.
 8.

MIRA
When? I want to know!
DIANA
(slapping her keyboard)
For God's sake Mira I don't know! I
have a job, I have exams, I have to
feed you and unless you plan to get
a job at ten, I'm the only one
providing for this sad excuse for a
family we have!
MIRA
(shifting from frustrated
to sad)
What..?
DIANA
I don't have time to waste on stuff
like that. If you want to go to the
lake so bad go by yourself, I have
better things to do.
Diana looks back at her screen and continues typing. Mira
gets up and runs off to her room, sniffling. She bangs the
door and Diana's looks up at the sound. She rolls her eyes
and continues typing for a bit, with sounds of Mira crying
getting progressively louder. Diana looks up, sighs and
closes her laptop.

INT. MIRA'S ROOM, NIGHT.

Diana knocks on the door. Complete silence
DIANA
Mirmir, can I come in? I'm sorry, I
want to talk to you.
The door slowly opens and Diana carefully walks in. The room
is completely dark with only Mira visible, sitting on the
floor facing away from the door. Diana approaches her slowly
and squats down behind her.
DIANA (CONT'D)
Mirmir, I'm sorry. I know I
promised I'll take you to the lake
but I really don't know when I'll
have the time.
 9.

Mira sniffles. The darkness clears up enough to see Mira and

Diana in a room that seems like the bottom of a pool,
submerged in unreal looking water, bunnies, chalks, sanitary
pads, swim goggles and many other things floating around
them. Neither of them give them any attention, as if they
don't see them at all.
DIANA (CONT'D)
(sighs)
I pr... I'll try my best to take
you next week. As soon as I know
when I have free time we're going
wherever you want.
The scenery remains. The silence lingers for a bit.
DIANA (CONT'D)
And it won't be a waste of time.
I'm sorry I took my work
frustrations out on you, it wont
happen again, I can promise you
that. I love going on walks with
you, it's slow and relaxing. We're
not rushing to get anywhere,
there's no goal, just us.
Mira smiles and the rooms brightens up, slowly setting back
to normal, she turns around to face her sister
DIANA (CONT'D)
Can I hug you Mirmir?
Mira nods and hugs her sister. The room goes back to normal
and the two stand up
DIANA (CONT'D)
Okay, wanna go have dinner?
MIRA
Yeah! But I ate ice cream...
DIANA
Doesn't mean we can't have proper
dinner! We can order something.
MIRA
More ice cream! Yey!
DIANA
Mira, "proper"...
MIRA
Aawh...