Grief Insomnia

By
Madison Baer

Madison Baer
250076@pcti.mobi
973-905-1080
1 INT. CLASSROOM - MORNING 1
 2.

RYAN,16 A sleep-deprived, usually energetic teen, is sitting in class.

WS of Ryan sitting at his desk, falling asleep. *** The teacher looks over at him, concerned.

(WS) The bell rings and other students start to leave the class.

TEACHER
Alright, make sure you guys get
the homework done by tonight.

(MS) Ryan starts to get up from his desk and walk.

TEACHER
(MS)
Hey, Ryan, stay back
for a second, please.

(MWS) Ryan looks up at the teacher before he stops walking, adjusting his bag. The teacher
leans against the desk as he looks over at Ryan.

TEACHER
(MS) Coach Anderson is
wondering when you’re
coming back to play.

(MCU) Ryan looks down, not replying.

TEACHER (VO)
Do you know when you’ll be back?

(MS of them both) Ryan thinks about an answer.

RYAN
I’m not ready.

(ECU of Teacher) He sighs and looks at Ryan.

TEACHER
I think it would be good
for you to get back in to
play-
 3.

RYAN
(Annoyed)(ECU)
-I’m not ready.

(WS) Ryan starts to walk out of the classroom. The teacher turns to him.

TEACHER
Ryan-

Ryans leaves the room. The teacher sighs and looks down.

2 INT. HALLWAY - MORNING 3

Dolly out of (MWS) Ryan walking forwards in the hallway. He’s listening to music, still
severely tired, walking a little unsteady and slow.

JARED, Ryan’s best friend, excitedly walks up to Ryan from behind, hitting his backpack. (MS)
Ryan looks over and takes one of his earbuds out of his ears.

JARED
Hey, Ryan.

(WS) Ryan looks over at Jared as they walk together.

RYAN
(Tired)
Hey.

JARED
You okay?

RYAN
(Dishonest)
Yeah.

Jared looks at Ryan, concerned.

JARED
Are you still coming on the field trip?
You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.
 4.

RYAN
It’s fine. I’m still going.

Jared squeezes Ryan’s shoulder before walking ahead, and turning around so he walks backward,
facing Ryan.

JARED
(WS facing Friend #1)
It’ll be fun……if we can
make it to the bus on time.

Jared signals for Ryan to speed up. (MCU) Ryan sighs before following.

3 INT. BUS - MORNING 4

WS of the classmates fooling around and having fun in the bus while Ryan has his earbuds in
and is resting his head against the window, looking outside.

MS of Ryan and Jared in the seat together. Jared is talking to Megan, a friend of theirs, who’s
sitting in the seat next to them. (MWS of Jared and Megan) She looks over at Ryan, then back at
Jared, giving him a concerned look.

MEGAN
(Whispering)(MCU)
I’m worried about him.

JARED
(Whispering)(MCU)
Yeah, me too. He hasn’t really opened
up to me much since it happened.

MEGAN
(Whispering)(MCU)
Yeah, that’s also why I’m worried.
You’re his best friend, and he still
can’t open up to you about it after a month.

(OTS) Megan looks at Ryan.

 5.

MEGAN
(Whispering)(OTS->MCU)
It looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks.
And he barely touches his food at lunch.

JARED
(Whispering)(MS)
His mom was his best friend. Losing her
was like losing everything to him.

Jared looks back at Ryan, then at the floor.

JARED
(CONTINUED)
He needs help, but I don’t know if he wants it.

MEGAN
(Whispering)(MCU)
I don’t know, but I hate seeing him suffer.
His grades are slipping a lot. I mean the
teachers have been lenient with him, but
he’s still not getting grades like he used to.

JARED
(Whispering)(MCU)
I don’t want to, but I might have
(CONTINUED)
to reach out to his dad.

MEGAN
(Whispering)(MCU)
Maybe in a little bit. Give him more time.

JARED
(Whispering)(MCU)
Okay.

(MS of Jared with Megan in the background) Jared and Megan look at Ryan before sighing.

4 EXT. PATH IN WOODS - MORNING 5

 6.

WS of a group walking down a path. Ryan is a little farther back than the rest of them. Megan
and Jared both look back at Ryan, then at each other. (Dolly out MWS) Ryan walks, a little
unsteady. (CU) He blinks hard. He shakes his head as if it hurts. His walking gets even more
unsteady. The voices of the group start to feel faded.

(WS) Jared looks at Ryan, concerned.

JARED
(POV)(faded)
Ryan, you okay?

(CU following Ryan’s movements) Ryan falls to the ground.

JARED (VO)
(faded)
Ryan!

Jared, Megan, and the rest of the group runs over to Ryan.

(FADE OUT)
5 EXT. PATH IN WOODS - MORNING 6

(FADE IN)

(MS) Ryan starts to wake up. He’s leaning against a tree. The voice of a student and the nurse
are fading in. (Ryan’s POV of the friend and nurse). The nurse is kneeling down in front of
Ryan, and Jared is standing next to her. The rest of the group is talking in the background,
worried.

JARED (VO)
(Concerned)
I don’t think he’s slept
a lot since his mom died...
That’s probably why he
passed out.

NURSE
When did she die?

RYAN
(MS of the three of them)
 7.

A month ago.

(MS) The nurse and JARED look over at Ryan, happy that he’s awake.

NURSE
Ryan, is this the first time
you’ve passed out before?

RYAN
(OTS)
No.

NURSE
(MS)
Ryan, I called your dad.
He’s on-

RYAN
(Defensive)(MS)
-You called my dad??

NURSE
(Hesitant)(MS of both of them)
You need help, Ryan.

Ryan shakes his head and starts to stand up.

NURSE
(Scared) (MS)
Ryan!

(WS) Ryan starts to fall again, but Jared catches him first.

JARED
(Concerned)(MS of them both)
Ryan, please.

RYAN
(Denying)
I’m fine.
 8.

JARED
No, you’re not, and stop saying you are.

(WS) Ryan tries to walk away, but Jared holds his arm.

JARED
(CONTINUED)(MCU)
Ryan, you’re not sleeping and you’re barely
eating anything.

(MS) Ryan looks at Jared, still wanting to walk away, but then he slowly gives up and starts
crying. Jared pulls him into a hug, and Ryan hugs him back, crying.

JARED
(Concerned)(MCU)
I just want to help.

RYAN
(Accepting)(MCU)
I know.. I’m sorry.

(WS) They break the hug, and Jared looks at Ryan as Ryan wipes his tears.

JARED
(Reassuring)
You don’t have to be sorry, I get it.
Just please talk to me. I got your back, Ry.

RYAN
(MS)
I got your back, too.

(WS) Megan starts walking over towards them.

(Pedestal up) Megan hugs Ryan.

MEGAN
I’m glad you’re okay.

(Tilt up to the sky)

 9.

TITLE: Grief Insomnia

(FADE OUT)

Credits