Survive: A Screenplay

By Liane Little

How far would you go to escape?
Abuse and the ultimate loss fuel Gretchen to abandon the comfortable life she knows. She finds herself on the edge of a lake, learning to homestead. From finding food to building shelter, she learns how to truly be self-sufficient while protecting herself from her past.
Will such a drastic fresh start be enough for her to heal? To move on? Will it be enough for her to survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Liane Little
• Release date: Jul 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005718978

Liane Little

I'm a writer with a passion for adapting novels into screenplays.

Book preview

Survive

Liane Little

Copyright © 2017 by Liane Little

Published by Liane Little at Smashwords.com, 2021

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

SURVIVE

by

Liane Little

INT. WELL-LIT BATHROOM - day

We see a beautiful bride, GRETCHEN (26), staring at herself nervously in a mirror as she waits for the start of her wedding.

GRETCHEN (V.O.)

This isn’t the first time I’ve stood like this wondering about my future .

MONTAGE:

A) Gretchen finishes her mascara and looks into the bathroom mirror. She’s dressed up, ultra conservatively, and looks hopeful but nervous.

B) In Alec's bathroom, Gretchen looks down at the positive pregnancy test on the counter then into the mirror, taking a deep breath.

C) Gretchen is wearing a hospital gown and is simply staring at her bruised and swollen face in a hospital bathroom mirror.

D) Gretchen stands in front of her bathroom mirror with the door open, showing a large suitcase open on her bed with a pile of clothes in it. Her hair is cut drastically shorter and shaggy.

E) Gretchen is once again bruised, but we see she's harder and has more confidence in herself as she looks into the mirrored wall in an interrogation room.

INT. WELL-LIT BATHROOM - day

In front of yet another mirror, Gretchen pulls a gauzy wedding veil over her face and smiles as she turns away.

GRETCHEN (V.O.)

I hope this is the last.

INT. GRETCHEN’S HALLWAY - evening

Gretchen leaves her bathroom wearing the same outfit and makeup as image one. She takes a deep breath and walks down the hallway, gathering her things, puts on a winter dress coat and leaves out the door.

INT. GRETCHEN’S LIVING ROOM - evening

From the frost-covered window, we see her hug two good friends, PENNY (25) and her boyfriend, CORBEN (28), and get into their car.

EXT. FANCY RESTAURANT SIDEWALK - NIGHT

Gretchen stands before the entrance with Penny and Corben, obviously holding up a blind double date. Gretchen is nervous and fidgeting, snow crunching as she keeps shifting her feet.

GRETCHEN

(worried)

I don’t know why I let you talk me into this. Double dates and online dating are evil. All it does is let the serial killers come out and play.

PENNY

(losing patience)

Alec is not a serial killer! Corben’s known him forever. He’s a good guy. You’re just nervous.

GRETCHEN

(worried)

He might not be a serial killer, but he’s gotta have some sort of weird kink or something. If he’s as hot as you say and he’s made something of himself already... You’re forgetting the kind of guy I usually end up with.

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE STAFF ROOM - afternoon - flashback

Gretchen walks down short hallway laughing with some co-workers. Over Gretchen’s shoulder we see her open the door to see a man her age making out with a younger woman, their clothes and hair in disarray. Gretchen throws her lunch bag at them. She pushes through her co-workers and storms off.

END FLASHBACK

INT. GRETCHEN’S LIVING ROOM - evening - flashback

We follow Gretchen as she gets home from work and walks through her apartment to the living room. She see’s her boyfriend on the couch from the back and walks around with a smile on her face to see him injecting drugs.

END FLASHBACK

INT. A CHRISTMAS PARTY IN A BALLROOM - night - flashback

Gretchen works her way through the party crowd looking for someone. The crowd parts to show the mistletoe with her boyfriend kissing another man passionately. Her face falls and tears fill her eyes.

END FLASHBACK

EXT. FANCY RESTAURANT - NIGHT

CORBEN

(impatient, understanding)

I know you’ve had a hell of a time finding someone, but he really is busy making something of himself and doesn’t have a lot of time to date. Now, stop bitching and get inside. We’re late.

INT. FANCY RESTAURANT - NIGHT

We follow the threesome as they pick their way through the tables filled with customers to the back where ALEC (28), an amazingly hot, well-dressed man stands up from the table to meet them. Gretchen is obviously stunned while Penny and Corben greet him warmly. ALEC looks at Gretchen with a small smile on his face as introductions are made.

PENNY

This is my good friend, Gretchen Miller. It’s my hope that you two will get together and make me an auntie some day. Gretchen, this is Alec Willis.

Gretchen ducks her head, shy and a little intimidated.

ALEC

It’s nice to meet you.

GRETCHEN

You too.

After an awkward second, all of them take a seat and have dinner, Gretchen shy, but obviously trying to be a good date.

Sounds get muddled.

GRETCHEN (V.O.)

(dreamily)

He’s so cute! I can’t believe he’s here with us. I feel like such an ugly slob next to him. He’s going to hate me.

Sounds get clear once again as Gretchen is pulled back into attention by a joke Corben had told and she joins in the laughter with her and Alec sharing a smile together.

EXT. FANCY RESTAURANT - NIGHT

The group is outside after dinner and Alec kisses Gretchen’s hand romantically.

ALEC

I had a great time. I’ll talk to you soon.

GRETCHEN

I did too. And I’m looking forward to it.

Gretchen watches Alec leave then turns to her friends.

CORBEN

So, that wasn’t so bad, was it, Gretch?

GRETCHEN

(hesitant)

No. He seems alright.

CORBEN

Just alright?

Gretchen smiles and fidgets a little.

GRETCHEN

A little more than alright, I guess. We’ll see how it goes...

Gretchen turns and looks to where Alec disappeared from view and smiles as she gets into the car.

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK - morning

Gretchen is walking down the sidewalk with a coffee in one hand, the other holding her cell to her hear.

GRETCHEN

Penny, I think he’s nice and cute and just generally awesome. I just... I don’t have faith that there’s good guys left. Look. I’m at work. We’ll just have to see if he calls, okay? I’ll let you know if