Somewhere I Belong [Original Screenplay]

Goodbye Memories

 Nicolette packs the car with cardboard boxes of memories she’s had for fifteen years. As she packs, her dad tries starting the uncooperative car with anger. His eyes look tired and careless, and he has a stubby beard growing.

Dad: Stupid, stupid car! (He smacks the steering wheel a couple of times and breathes heavily.)

Nicolette: (sarcastically) Geez Dad, don’t break the car…

Dad: (turns around immediately) OH, LITTLE LOUD MOUTH’S GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?! HOW ABOUT YOU DRIVE TO NEW JERSEY?

Nicolette: (mumbling) I’d rather not…

Dad: DON’T SASS ME, NICOLETTE! I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND YOU TO A BOARDING SCHOOL!

Nicolette: Like you have the money. (She fixes the boxes into place.)

Dad: YOU’RE STILL RUNNING THAT MOUTH OF YOURS?! That’s it… (He steps out of the car and slams the door shut. When Nicolette turns around, he punches her in the stomach.)

Nicolette: (Drops to the ground and holds her stomach, in pain.)

Dad: Don’t talk back! (aggressively demanding) Now stop crying and fix the boxes again.

Nicolette: (weakly talking) But they look fine!

Dad: (Takes one of the boxes and throws it on the ground.) Not anymore. (He returns back to the steering wheel and plays with the ignition.)

Nicolette: (Takes a second to recover and sighs, picking up the boxes. When she was done, she sat down in the passenger seat observing what her father was doing. She saw him struggling, and with one swift movement, started the car.)

Dad: (slowly gazes at Nicolette, then turns around, mad, and grunts.)

Nicolette: (muttering) You’re welcome… (She pulls down the visor to look in the mirror. She finds a bruise on her cheek and gasps. She puts up the visor to prevent from crying in front of her father.)