Fade in:

MANIPULATION IN RELIGION

1 EXT. SUBURBAN HOME - DAY

WE OPEN in the living room of ANGELS' house when she
is six. It is a family get-together. ANGEL and her
father are sitting on the couch. The TV is playing in
the background. People are around making conversation
amongst themselves. ANGELS father is making weird
faces trying to get her to laugh.

2 EXT. BACKYARD OF SUBURBAN HOME - DAY

It’s daytime and the air is slightly windy outside.
ANGEL is painting outside with her father. They are
making lighthearted glances back and forth with smiles
on their faces. They are happy.

3 EXT. OUTSIDE OF A CHURCH - DAY

Church has started. ANGEL has just arrived at church.
ANGELS' father is now with his wife following a new
religion.

CONTINUED:
Statue of Jesus with his hands clasped in front of a
church.

4 EXT. SUBURBAN HOME - DAY

 Fade in:

ANGEL is arguing with her dad. She is sick of being

forced into religion.

ANGEL
I’m tired of this place! I don’t want to be here
anymore! Take me away from here!

ANGELS FATHER
I can’t she’s my wife. We live together now. You have
to follow the lord just like the rest of us. Her kids
are doing the same as you. You are not going to be
getting special treatment that is unfair. We will be
going to church four times a week and have bible study
two times a week at home. We will all pray before bed,
when we wake up, and when we eat.

5 EXT. OUTSIDE OF A CHURCH - DAY

Church has started. ANGEL has just arrived at church.
This has been a regular thing at this point. ANGELS'
father is now with his wife following a new religion.

CONTINUED:
Statue of Jesus with his hands clasped in front of a
church.

6 EXT. ANGELS ROOM - AFTERNOON

 Fade in:

ANGELS' dad is getting aggressive with her because she

is not being religious enough. She is crying and
yelling at her dad. Her dad is yelling at her back.
Her dad is holding a belt in his hand. He is trying to
scare ANGEL into doing more religious things.

7 EXT. KITCHEN OF SUBURBAN HOME - NIGHT

When ANGELS dad walks away from the room his wife
grabs ANGELS face. She is mad because she feels like
she is competing for her husband's wife.

8 EXT. ANGELS ROOM - NIGHT

ANGEL is sitting in her room talking to her stepsister
about religion and why she doesn’t feel like she’s
doing enough. She is confused because everyone around
her doesn’t have to do all of these insane things just
to prove that they believe in God.
ANGEL
I’m tired of feeling like this. I can’t help but feel
pathetic when I don’t pray enough or read the bible
enough. All I see is my father and your mom arguing
and fighting all the time and then when we slightly
raise our voices we are in the wrong. I’m tired of
being so confused and feeling like God is never going
to answer me just because I’m so confused on what to
believe sometimes. When I pray I feel like I don’t
even know who I’m praying to.

9 EXT. LIVING ROOM OF SUBURBAN HOME - DAY

ANGEL is talking with her father's wife.
 Fade in:

FATHERS WIFE
Your father would be so disappointed in you. You’re
the weak link of us all. You are a bad influence on
all of us, especially my kids. You don’t pray when
you're supposed to, you fall asleep in church, You
don't read the bible.

10 EXT. BATHROOM AT CHURCH - EVENING

ANGEL is staring in the mirror trying to hold in her
emotions from everyone. She is crying and trying to
force a smile on her face.

11 EXT. DINING ROOM OF SUBURBAN HOME - NIGHT

ANGEL is arguing with her father. She is crying and
yelling.
ANGEL
I’ve waited years for you to explain why you randomly
changed all of a sudden and forced me to do so many of
these religious things, all so your wife could be
happy. I’ve waited for you to at least apologize for
making me watch her abuse you. For making me watch her
manipulate you. All I wanted was for you to at least
talk to me because I am still your daughter and even
after all these years of waiting it’s like I still
don’t exist. I’ve tried fixing our relationship but it
seems like you don’t want anything to do with me. Tell
me how you really feel.
 Fade in:

ANGELS FATHER
You know what? I’m tired of raising someone like you.
You're ruining my life. You're an ungrateful brat.
You’re going to go to hell if you keep being like
this. You don’t need to understand. When I tell you to
do things you do them, no questions asked.

12 EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT

ANGEL is running from her house because she is done
watching the domestic abuse and manipulation continue.

CONTINUED:
ANGELS mom finds her down the road after she called
her mom to pick her up. Her mom is crying because she
hates seeing ANGEL go through that even though there
wasn’t much she could do.
13 EXT. DRIVING DOWN WOODSY AREA - DAY
ANGEL is smiling. She is happier now that she doesn't
have to witness abuse, manipulation, and religion. She
is still sad about leaving her father behind in that
situation but is overall happy with her decision. She
feels there was nothing she could do to help her
father so she had to at least keep herself safe. ANGEL
is contempt and at peace now.