THE SCREENPLAY Watch the Film at YouTube.com/Danielle

STAGES OF EMILY

A Short Film Written by

Danielle Uhlarik

ANIMATION

Hand-drawn animation of a clock over a flash of bright colors - YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN, RED and PURPLE.

EMILY (V.O.)OK, this is hilarious. What if you knew you had forty-eight hours to live?

The hands on the clock slow to a halt as the numbers begin to fall.

EMILY (V.O.)I mean... it’s not that funny. What would you do?

A stick figure girl falls from the sky, helpless.

EMILY (V.O.)Sky diving? Boston Marathon? Oh God, I hate running. Telling Johnny MacIntyre that I didn’t really have a mustache in second grade, that I’m just Mediterranean...

END ANIMATION

FADE IN:

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

EMILY - early 20s, sad, pale and distraught - faces the camera with her eyes tightly closed. She is dressed in a generic hospital gown in front of bright WHITE hospital walls. The light in the room is a harsh fluorescent and not flattering to her already pale face.

Emily has obviously been through a hell of a day, and is hoping that if she doesn’t open her eyes she won’t hear any more words from DR. ANGELA - who stares at her in pity from the background.

DR. ANGELAI’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this. It’s a hard realization to face.

Dr. Angela slips out the door. Emily’s eyes open quickly as the door SLAMS shut.

EMILY (V.O.)Fuck!

OPENING TITLE

To the tune of Lady Danville’s “David.”

FADE IN:

INT. HALLWAY - EMILY’S APARTMENT - MORNING

The music continues as Emily opens her door to greet her giddy, fidgety, squealing bridesmaids. So much girly joy.

Emily puts on a happy face.

EMILY (V.O.)Forty-eight hours. Boo! I should’ve never gone to see her. I’m supposed to be starting a life in two days, not ending one.

The three girls who enter are ANA, 28 - a tall, blonde, caring no bull girl and Emily’s best friend - STEPHANIE, 25, a sweet, slender college friend who crinkles her nose every chance she gets - and JOCELYN, 26 - a curly-haired, overly sassy friend. The greeting is MOS.

EMILY (V.O.)You know what? I’m not going to tell anyone anything. I think that’s a smart idea!

Emily takes a sigh behind the back of her friends and shuts the door.

EMILY (V.O.)I’m just going to live my life as normal.

CUT TO:

INT. EMILY’S KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Emily sits at her kitchen table across from her friends. She’s playing it so happy.

EMILYEverything is really normal.

INSERT:

2.

STAGES PUPPET: “DENIAL” ON YELLOW BACKGROUND

The STAGES PUPPET, a blue Sesame-street-ish puppet, is nonchalant against the background.

STAGES PUPPET Denial.

BACK TO:

INT. EMILY’S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

The room is filled with YELLOW decor.

EMILY POV

JOCELYN Are you dying?

JOCELYN’S POV

EMILY Nooo.

EMILY’S POV

STEPHANIE Is this because your parents hate each other, and you want to bail on the wedding?

STEPHANIE’S POV

EMILY No, I’m a rock star. Everything’s awesome.

EMILY’S POV

ANA Everything is not fine with you, I can tell.

ANA’s POV

EMILYEverything is really normal.

EMILY’S POV

3.

RANDOM GUY You’re anything but normal. You’re actually too curvy to be that short, which eventually will make you look like you own a delicatessen. We all know you can’t do better than this guy, so suck it up and tie it down.

RANDOM GUY’S POV

EMILY Do I know you?

EMILY’S POV

RANDOM GUYNah.

RANDOM GUY’S POV

EMILY Get out of my house.

Random guy walks out.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT - LATER THAT NIGHT

The RED room for the Rehearsal Dinner is filled with excited chatter. Emily sits next to her fiancée - SCOTT, 27 - a bumbling, nervous and scrawny young man. They sit close and clearly are in love. Emily still shows no signs of being nervous or holding a secret. On each side of the table are family and friends, dressed very nicely.

Scott stands, tapping his glass. Everyone quiets down.

SCOTT Emily and I are so blessed that you all could be here tonight. We’re happy to have all of our friends here, and we’re pained to have to invite the rest of you, just because you are family.

Awkward stares.

SCOTT (CONT’D)(even more nervous)

That went better in my head.

4.

EMILY I’m sure.

SCOTT(bumbling)

I’m blessed to have met Emily. And her fam. Really excited to spend the rest of my life with you.

EMILY Awww...

Scott gets down on one knee.

SCOTTAnd...

EMILYNope, that was the end.

SCOTT...I hope that you’ll make me the happiest man in the universe. Of men. If you’ll take my hand in marriage. Again. Say yes, again. Since tomorrow, you know. Emily, will you marry me? Again?

INSERT:

STAGES PUPPET: “ANGER” ON RED BACKGROUND

The Stages Puppet waves his fists.

STAGES PUPPET Anger.

BACK TO:

INT. RESTAURANT - SECONDS LATER

Emily rages and headbutts Scott.

The wall behind her bursts into a bright red hue. Scott falls back and the awkward atmosphere around the table is now covered in shock.

PEARCE, 28, Emily’s brother, nods in excitement.

Scott is not amused. He storms out in embarrassment.

5.

Everyone turns to Emily. She’s sitting at the head of the table, shocked at her own actions. Finally, she taps her glass and stands.

EMILY (nervously laughing)

Re-toast! Hi! Sometimes things don’t go as planned. So just in cast tomorrow, the wedding, doesn’t go as planned, can we make a deal?

Blank stares from around the table. More excited head nodding from Pearce.

EMILY (CONT’D)You forgive me... and I will give you... stuff! Yeah!

INSERT:

STAGES PUPPET: “BARGAINING” ON GREEN BACKGROUND

The Stages Puppet shrugs.

STAGES PUPPETBargaining.

BACK TO:

INT. RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS

Emily paces around the room. She points at her first victim - UNCLE LARRY, 34, a long-time balding man, cautious and very single.

EMILYUncle Larry! You are the cheapest person I know. You can have your wedding gift back!

UNCLE LARRY Those were nice ramekins.

EMILY They’re yours! And for my slooty friends, you can have my brother Pearce. Because most of you, if you haven’t already, really want to sleep with him.

More head nodding from Pearce.

6.

Emily approaches CARLA, 15, a cute family member who takes in the whole scene politely. Emily nervously squeezes her shoulders.

EMILY (CONT’D)Kids love weddings, and they expect to get wasted at weddings, because their families are getting crunked, and no one is paying attention to them, and they are like Oh, man, I want to get drunk right now.

Carla smiles politely.

EMILY (CONT’D)So in case that doesn’t happen, you can drink wine right now.

Emily grabs Carla’s cheeks with one hand and shoves the full wine glass in her mouth with the other hand, like a cat taking its medicine.

EMILY (CONT’D)Doesn’t that taste amazing?

UNCLE LARRYEmily, that isn’t appropriate.

EMILY That isn’t appropriate. Because you’re a kid. So use a straw.

Emily shoves a straw in the wine glass, then shoves that in Carla’s face.

EMILY (CONT’D)OK. Good. We’re all even. This was really good.

She runs out.

Awkward, quiet stares surround the table.

JOCELYNCan someone pass the good cheese?

CUT TO:

INT. RECTORY - THE NEXT MORNING

FR. PICCIO, 45 - a fumbling, quirky Italian priest, sits across from Emily in a BLUE room.

7.

Emily grips a coffee mug with deep sadness. Fr. Piccio is charming, clueless and bubbly, despite the somber atmosphere.

FR. PICCIO I just took an Ambien, so we have about 10 minutes. So, I didn’t expect to see you until next week, for the big day!

EMILY You mean today, right?

FR. PICCIOTomato. Today... toe.

EMILY (choking up)

I’m dying.

INSERT:

STAGES PUPPET: “DEPRESSION” ON BLUE BACKGROUND

The Stages Puppet droops his head.

STAGES PUPPETDepression.

BACK TO:

INT. RECTORY - CONTINUOUS

Emily’s head is down, she’s tearing up.

FR. PICCIOGreat. This is part of my job that I hate. These emotional mysteries that I just can’t figure out. Give me jeopardy. This is the Southern U.S. Practice for catching catfish barehanded.

He slams an imaginary buzzer.

FR. PICCIO (CONT’D)What is noodling?

Emily stares off in depression.

8.

FR. PICCIO (CONT’D)Here’s one I got yesterday. This is the literal Greek translation for euthanasia.

Emily lamely hits an imaginary buzzer.

EMILY What is good death.

FR. PICCIO Oh, well. You saw that episode.

CUT TO:

INT. PARISH BRIDE’S ROOM - LATER THAT MORNING

The three bridesmaids are self-indulgently prepping with lip gloss, blush and last minute touch-ups. They are fully dressed while Emily slouches in a chair. Emily wears a T-shirt that says “Always a Bride, Never a Loser.”

Emily gulps a Bloody Mary loudly, the garnish poking her cheeks.

JOCELYNAre you chugging a Bloody Mary? That’s fricken gross.

EMILY Ughhh! It burns everywhere.

ANAEmily, what’s your deal?

STEPHANIEYou aren’t even dressed yet.

Emily straightens up a bit. This might be the moment she is pulled out of depression.

EMILY You guys. I have to tell you something.

The girls continue prepping.

EMILY (CONT’D)I went for this check-up, totally routine, right? And...

STEPHANIEYou’re prego!

9.

JOCELYNYou’re positivo.

ANA Homo.

EMILY I’m none of those. Actually.

There’s a KNOCK on the door. The girls look O.S.

BRIDESMAIDS Hiiii!

Dr. Angela, in a PURPLE dress, gives a friendly smile to the girls.

DR. ANGELA(to Emily)

Are you-

FLASHBACK TO:

INT. HOSPITAL - 2 DAYS AGO

Emily sits in the hospital with Dr. Angela.

DR. ANGELA-ready?

Emily takes a breath and looks away for a moment, as if searching for an answer.

EMILYI’m not completely ready, but I have to take the plunge sometime.

DR. ANGELAI just wish someone asked me if I was ready before I married your father.

EMILYThat’s a tad dramatic, Mom. You were young. You were in love.

DR. ANGELAMy mother told me I was in love. And I believed her. It screwed up my life. I don’t want to do the same thing to you.

Emily turns away, hurt.

10.

DR. ANGELA (CONT’D)The reality is that you have forty-eight hours to live.

Emily closes her eyes in pain.

DR. ANGELA (CONT’D)I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this. It’s a hard realization to face.

CUT BACK TO:

INT. BRIDE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Emily stares at her mom, digesting the question.

EMILYI’m not ready. I can’t go through with this marriage.

Fast movement around the room as Emily practically falls forward. Dr. Angela embraces her daughter.

DR. ANGELALeave it to me, baby girl. I will take care of everything.

Emily straightens.

EMILY No. I can’t go through with this marriage, unless I have your support.

DR. ANGELAThat’s easy! You don’t.

EMILY I mean, I can’t go through with this marriage happily unless I have your support.

JOCELYN(aside to bridesmaids)

This is like Mad Libs where she adds words that aren’t there.

Emily and Dr. Angela stare intently at each other.

Dr. Angela forcefully grabs a hoodie from the couch - one she needs to yank from underneath Ana.

11.

Dr. Angela dresses Emily, her little girl, with strong purpose.

DR. ANGELAMy Emmies! Why would you want to ruin your life? Learn from my mistakes. You don’t need a man.

EMILY I’m not doing this because I need a man.

ANA(aside to bridesmaids)

Homo.

EMILY I’m doing this because when Scott and I are together, I feel like we make something more. Like one plus one is three.

STEPHANIEPrego!

Dr. Angela zips up the hoodie tightly. She ties a bow snugly around the neck.

DR. ANGELAI thought you were smarter than to believe in fairy tales.

Emily is done with this. She grabs the strings in her mother’s hands, and unties them as her mother is tying them.

After much struggling, Dr. Angela finally lets go and slams her own arms down at her sides.

DR. ANGELA (CONT’D)(shouting)

Fine!

Dr. Angela walks to the doorway just as Fr. Piccio steps across the hallway behind her.

DR. ANGELA (CONT’D)But it’s your life you want to put in jeopardy!

FR. PICCIO(to himself)

I feel like I should get that, but I don’t.

12.

Dr. Angela SLAMS the door shut.

The bridesmaids rush to Emily’s side and start fussing. Ana puts gloss on Emily’s pursed lips. Stephanie mindlessly fluffs Emily’s hair, since it seems to be in reach.

ANAAre you OK? We can go out there and tell everyone to wait.

EMILYPositivo.

INSERT:

STAGES PUPPET: “ACCEPTANCE” ON PURPLE BACKGROUND

The Stages Puppet mugs to the camera.

STAGES PUPPETAcceptance!

BACK TO:

INT. BRIDE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Emily revels in the chick fussing.

EMILYI feel really alive right now. Let’s put my dress on!

The girls perform more synchronized chick fussing.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CHURCH - STEPS - MINUTES LATER

Emily takes a couple moments before the ceremony to recover. She’s dressed in her WHITE wedding dress, relaxing on the steps.

EMILY (V.O.)OK, so fine. I wasn’t actually dying. But it sure as hell felt that way. She tried to stop me from making her mistake, but no one lives life the same way. And not everyone loves the same.

13.

Dr. Angela sits in a parked car in front of the church. The car is not on. Dr. Angela stares, deeply torn, at the steering wheel.

EMILY (V.O.)No one can tell you how to live the life you have left. You just have to live it like you normally would.

Emily squeezes her eyes closed.

When she opens, Dr. Angela is next to her holding a bottle of vodka and two shot glasses.

Emily sits upright, but doesn’t completely let her guard down.

DR. ANGELAI know I was supposed to get you something borrowed.

More mother-daughter stare downs.

DR. ANGELA (CONT’D)But how about something booze?

Dr. Angela holds up the glass.

A half second passes before Emily forgives her mother. She takes the glass.

They toast, drink and look away from each other.

DR. ANGELA (CONT’D)Whew! OK, I can do this.

EMILY(smiling)

I can do this.

Emily helps her mom up from the steps.

EMILY (CONT’D)You’re really proud of me, you know.

Dr. Angela shrugs and refills the shot glasses. The sun beams over the church as Adam Roth’s “Rain on My Parade” plays.

FADE TO BLACK.

THE END

14.

Watch the Film on YouTube!

YouTube.com/Danielle