Begin Again: A "What If" Black Widow Screenplay

Scene 2: Move In Day

TWO MONTHS LATER

LOCATION: Velaris College; Nat and Yelena's apartment

(FADE IN. NATASHA WALKS UP TO THE DOOR OF THEIR DORM, KEYS IN HAND. SHARES A MEANINGFUL GLANCE WITH YELENA.)

NATASHA:    Here we are now. Time to begin again, moya sestra.

(INSERTS KEYS INTO LOCK, THEIR VERY OWN DORM DOOR UNLOCKS). Normal girl lives, huh?

YELENA:    (TRIES TO ACT COOL BUT IS BOUNCING ON HER TOES WITH EXCITEMENT) I thought today would never come! We finally get to live normal lives.

NATASHA:    (SMIRKS AT SEEING YELENA'S EXCITEMENT. GESTURES HER HAND INTO THE DOORWAY). After you, little der'mo. Our normal lives are right through this door.

YELENA:    (RUNS INTO THE ROOM. DRAGGING HER SUITCASE BEHIND HER). Where's Ma and Dad?

MELINA:    Right here. (MA COMES IN FROM BEHIND THEM).

NATASHA:    (FOLLOWS YELENA IN. GINGERLY SETS HER DUFFEL BAG DOWN ON THE FLOOR OUT OF THE WAY). There the lovebirds are.

ALEXEI:    (CARRYING NATASHA'S SUITCASE. HE HAS TEARS IN HIS EYES, BUT HE IS BOOMING WITH EXCITEMENT). Ah, your very own place, my girls. All grown up. Nice home. (SETS SUITCASE TO SIDE, PLAYFULLY FLOPS ON BOTTOM BUNK AND IT MAKES A VERY LOUD, WARNING CREAKING SOUND).

YELENA:    Uh, Dad? That's my bed and I'd rather you didn't break it.

MELINA:    You want us to unpack with you? Or just drop it off?

NATASHA:    I think Yelena and I want to have a little unpacking party, just the two of us.

ALEXEI:    (GUILTY SMILE. SOFT CHUCKLE).  Ha. Alright I will be careful with your bunk bed. (GETS OFF, BUT SUDDENLY LOOKS A BIT SAD). You want us to leave? Already? But we are not ready to say goodbye.

YELENA:    (SITTING DOWN ON THE EDGE OF HER BED. GROANS AT ALEXEI). Yes. What Natty said. You two promised us you wouldn't get all emotional.

MELINA:    (ALREADY CLOSE TO TEARS AND STARTING TO CRY NOW). My beautiful daughters. All grown up. Leaving nest. Going to college.

NATASHA:    (LOOKS AT YELENA. YELENA TILTS HER HEAD TOWARDS MA. SIGHS. GETS UP AND GOES TO COMFORT MELINA. WRAPS HER ARMS GENTLY AROUND HER). Mom.

ALEXEI:    (OPENS HIS ARMS FOR YELENA TO COME INTO THEM. SHE DOES. HIS SHOULDERS SOFTLY SHAKE AS HE CRIES). Special detka.... Are you sure want to leave us? You . . . can stay with us. No leave.

YELENA:    (HUGGING HIM). Awe Dad. We'll be fine. Natty and I need to do this. We've lived on our own countless times before.

Remember, we have the whole family plan set up. You and Ma know our schedule so you call or FaceTime us whenever we're free. And remember the app? (UNLOCKS HER PHONE AND OPENS THE APP. SHE DOUBLE CLICKS AND EVERYONE'S PHONE LIGHTS UP). You and Ma can let us know how much you miss us through the app. We'll see each other again on Parents day. 8 weeks.

MELINA:    8 weeks? (BURSTS INTO TEARS AGAIN).

ALEXEI:    (NODS, HIS BEARDED CHIN IS TREMBLING. HE'S ACTING LIKE A BIG TEDDY BEAR. PATS YELENA'S BACK). Okay. Check app. Remember app. Family plan. . .(STORING INFORMATION DESPITE BEING ALL EMOTIONAL). Don't forget about us, girls. We love you. (STILL HOLDING YELENA).

NATASHA:    (NOT ACTING TEARFUL LIKE THE PARENTS ARE. GIVES ALEXEI A SIDE HUG). We promise not to forget either of you. You can get a hold of us whenever. Yes, 8 weeks. . .(GRIPS MELINA'S HAND). will be here before you know it. You two stay strong and take care of each other, yeah? We love you too.

MELINA:    We will. (GIVES YELENA A HUG NOW. WHISPERS IN HER EAR).

Yelena. It's me... it's Ma-ma.

YELENA:    Now go, or we'll kick you so hard you'll land in the Sky Red Room again.(PLAYFULLY GUIDES MA AND DAD OUT OF THE DORM AND CLOSES THE DOOR).

ALEXEI: (STILL CRYING AS HE AND MELINA EXIT THE GIRLS' DORM. HE TURNS AROUND, LOOKS STRAIGHT AT THE GIRLS, AND PRESSES HIS FINGERS TO LIPS. BLOWS THEM BOTH A KISS). Ma-ma and Papa proud of you. Love you very much. But we love Yelena more than Floppy Blini Bird. (DOOR CLOSES IN HIS FACE AS HE'S SPEAKING).

NATASHA:    (STANDING WITH HER BACK AGAINST THE DOOR. SNICKERS). Wow. That was predictable.

YELENA:    You know I'm only calling you Floppy Blini Bird now right?

NATASHA:    No, Lena. I am not a Floppy Blini Bird.

YELENA:    Yes you are. I've already changed that to your contact name on my phone.

NATASHA:    (ROLLS HER EYES AND LAUGHS). Of course you did. (TAKES THE BAG FROM YELENA AND WALKS TOWARDS THE DOOR TO THEIR ROOM). Let's get unpacking. Let's start with our room first and work our way out to the rest of the dorm.

(NAT AND YELENA TAKE A FEW BOXES AND PUT THEM IN THEIR ROOM. YELENA STARTS MAKING HER BED AND NAT IS PUTTING BOOKS ON HER BOOKSHELF).

NATASHA: Well, aside from all the crying I think it went well with mom and dad - who's knocking on the door?

YELENA:    Probably our first new friend here. You go get the door.

NATASHA:    On it. (GOES TO THE MAIN DOOR AND OPENS IT. WANDA AND PIETRO ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE. PIETRO IS HOLDING A BASKET OF SNACKS AND WANDA IS HOLDING A DISH OF FOOD).

WANDA:    Nat! Yelena! Congratulations on your new place. We had to stop by.

PIETRO:    I brought you and Yelena a welcome basket. Full of Hungarian snacks. Wanda brought a pot of Paprikash and Paprikás Krumpli (a potato dish since Yelena doesn't eat meat).

YELENA:    You're here!! (RUNS OUT OF THE ROOM AND GIVES WANDA A BIG BEAR HUG). How was your drive up? Are you guys set up? Where are you living? Want to have dinner with us tonight?

WANDA:    (HUGS YELENA TIGHTLY). Our drive was wonderful. It was good sibling time for Pietro and I. We didn't have a-lot to bring so we are already all done moving in and organizing. We live on the opposite end of the hall to you.

PIETRO:    (RESPECTFULLY HUGS YELENA'S SIDE IN A BROTHERLY WAY). We would love to stay for dinner— if it wouldn't be any trouble for you and Natasha.

YELENA:     It wouldn't be at all. You brought us Paprikash and Paprikás Krumpli. That's our dinner! Much better than the ramen I was going to make.

NATASHA:    Of course it wouldn't be any trouble. We're happy you two showed up. Thank you for the sweet gifts and food, guys. (SMILES AT THEM THEN AT YELENA). That sounds great.

WANDA: Steve and Bucky are our next door neighbors so we needed to get away from the noise anyhow. (GIGGLES). They were very loudly playing 1940's music and I could tell they were dancing with each other.

PIETRO:    Those two are weird. No offense.

YELENA:    (CHECKS HER PHONE AND ANSWERS A TEXT). If you all don't mind, I met someone during orientation who'd like to come over tonight. Maybe when the rest of the gang comes?

NATASHA:    That would be fine, sis. No problem. The more the merrier. (SMILES INSISTENTLY).

WANDA:    I would love to meet new people. Pietro starts to smell after a while so I need more friends.

PIETRO:    Hey! Durva. (Rude.)

YELENA:    Come on, let's finish organising our room.

(FADE OUT.)

END OF SCENE #2