Begin Again: A "What If" Black Widow Screenplay

Scene 1: Begin Again

BEGIN AGAIN SCENE #1

SIX MONTHS POST VORMIR

(FADE IN. NATASHA IS SITTING IN THE CEMETERY AT DUSK, LEANING AGAINST HER OWN "GRAVE" WHERE SHE IS SUPPOSEDLY MEANT TO BE. NATASHA DONS SOME MENACING BRUISES ON HER FACE, NECK, HEAD. THERE IS A MASSIVE, BUT HEALING SCAR STRETCHING FROM THE BASE OF HER HAIR ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LENGTH OF HER NECK. ALL REMAINING INJURIES CLEARLY ACQUIRED FROM FATEFUL DAY AT VORMIR OR FROM THE AFTERMATH OF IT. SHE IS CASUALLY WATCHING FIREFLIES. SHE INHALES THE CRISP EVENING AIR. VEHICLE APPROACHES, AUDIBLE).

NATASHA: (MUTTERS IN RUSSIAN UNDER HER BREATH) Der'mo...

(HYPER AWARE OF HER SURROUNDINGS. NO LONGER WATCHING BUGS, INSTINCTIVELY PLACING A HAND ON GUN IN HER LEG HOLSTER)

Knew I shouldn't have come here.

(SWIFTLY AND SILENTLY MOVES, CONCEALING HERSELF BEHIND A TREE RIGHT NEXT TO GRAVE)

(YELENA ENTERS LOOKING ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED. YOU CAN TELL SHE'S BEEN CRYING. SHE HOLDS THE LEASH OF A SMALL MALTIPOO. IN HER OTHER HAND ARE YELLOW FLOWERS. SHE GOES UP TO THE GRAVE AND SETS THE FLOWERS DOWN BESIDE IT. SHE KNEELS DOWN).

YELENA: Natty, my life is an absolute shitshow without you. I feel like I've lost a piece of my soul. So much has happened since you've been gone. (DOES HER WHISTLE CALL . . . NO RESPONSE. STARTS CRYING).

(REMAINING BEHIND TREE, NATASHA PEEKS OUT AND SEES HER VERY OWN SISTER. WATCHES SILENTLY. HER HEART SHATTERS AT THE SIGHT OF YELENA LIKE THIS. HESITATES, TAKING DEEP BREATH. FINALLY DECIDES TO WHISTLE HER TONE BACK AFTER A MINUTE OF SILENCE. TAKES HAND OFF GUN, COMES OUT FROM BEHIND TREE. DELICATELY PLACES A GENTLE HAND ON YELENA'S SHOULDER FROM BEHIND)

NATASHA: (SOFT, BUT SHOCKED TONE) S-sestra? Yelena... (WHISTLES HER OWN CALL AGAIN, SOFTLY INTO HER EAR)

YELENA: (WHIRLS AROUND. GUN ALREADY POSITIONED, AIMED AT NAT). Can you see I'm grieving here? I have no time for Black Widow impersonators.

NATASHA: (HOLDS HANDS UP TO SHOW SHE IS NOT A THREAT. SPEAKS IN AN EVEN, GENTLE TONE TO PLACATE YELENA- AND HER OWN EMOTIONS)

(IN RUSSIAN) Moya sestra...

(NOT ALLOWING HERSELF TO CRY)

...eto Natty...

Я здесь. (I'm here.)

(INSTEAD OF GOING FOR HER GUN TO TAKE IT AWAY, CAUTIOUSLY WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND HER SISTER. BUMPS HER WAIST ON LEFT SIDE, ACCIDENTALLY FEELING SOMETHING STRANGE THAT WAS NEVER THERE BEFORE).

YELENA: (SLOWLY PUTS THE GUN DOWN). Is it really you? How? This has to be a dream. (NAT HUGS HER TIGHTER. YELENA LETS HER HUG HER - GUN FALLS TO THE GROUND).

How could you leave me? Do you not care about me at all so you had to go splat off chertov space cliff? (SQUIRMS AWAY) No. I can't do this. (GRABS BELLA'S LEASH AND BEGINS TO WALK AWAY)

NATASHA: (HURT BY THIS, BUT UNDERSTANDS. DOESN'T SHOW THE PANG OF HURT AND GUILT COURSING THROUGH HER. FOLLOWS YELENA, GETS IN YELENA'S PASSENGER SEAT BEFORE SHE CAN STOP HER)

How I got here doesn't matter. What matters is that you aren't alone. I'm back for you and I'm never leaving your side. This isn't about me now. It's about you. (GENTLY AND SNEAKILY TAKES YELENA'S KEYS AWAY) Hey...

YELENA: (EXASPERATED) What?

NATASHA: (VOICE BREAKING) I'm... I'm so sorry, Yelena... (LOOKS UNLIKE SHE HAS EVER LOOKED BEFORE. VULNERABLE. GLANCES INTO HER SISTER'S EYES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER SIX MONTHS)