Facade

Story/script by Eun Mi Kim
Kodi Dennison

Story Edited by Aimen Sleiman
Diane Cook

Script Edited by Anthony Egan

1. INT. PRIMARY SCHOOL - CLASSROOM – DAY

A class of FIFTEEN YEAR OLDS listens to a TEACHER (not revealed). At the back of the room is BEDOUR; she looks bored.

She surreptitiously reaches into her school bag. She produces a MANGA COMIC BOOK MAGAZINE and secrets it in her text book.

The comic book cover features an action-packed illustration of AMAZYN, a female warrior character. Attached to the cover is a free gift: SHINY TINTED SUNGLASSES.

Bedour can see her reflection in the sunglasses. With a mischievous expression, she pulls the glasses from the cover and puts them on.

She stares at the cover illustration. The image is moving with a life of its own.

ANGLE ON BEDOUR IN C.U.

2. INT. BEDOUR’S SIMULATED WORLD - DAY

When the camera zooms out from BEDOUR, Bedour has become the Amazyn character holding a sword. She whips it through the air in a demonstration of skill.

A VOICE is heard calling…

VOICE
Bedour… wake up…

Animated Bedour looks confused, looking around.

VOICE
Wake up! WAKE UP!

Animated Bedour runs around her empty animated world, searching for the source of the voice.

BEDOUR
Who’s there..? Where are you..?
(Brandishing the sword)

COME OUT!!!
BEDOUR’S POV reveals BLINKING RED WORDS IN HER VISION:

LOW SCORE. MISSION FAILURE.

BEDOUR looks furious.

3. INT. PRIMARY SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - DAY

The image is in Black and White.

ANGLE PULLS BACK AS…

Bedour screams. She snaps out of it. The TEACHER stares at her with a stern expression.

TEACHER
Wake up!

CHUCKLES from the other students. Bedour looks embarrassed.

4. INT. PRIMARY SCHOOL - PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE — LATER

Bedour is sitting in a chair opposite an annoyed PRINCIPAL. The Principal examines the comic book, shaking his head, annoyed.

PRINCIPAL
Listen to me young lady. When you’re at my school, you play by my rules… You’re here to learn, not to read comic books!

The Principal stands up, moving around the desk.

PRINCIPAL
The world has rules. …And school is my world, so you play by my rules.

He throws the comic book into a garbage bin beside the desk. He leans close to Bedour…

PRINCIPAL
Better get used to it.

The Principal smiles. His teeth are shiny and golden.

PRINCIPAL
Don’t bring this garbage into my world ever again! — Understand..?

Bedour is silent, her eyes locked on his.

PRINCIPAL
I asked you a question. Do you understand me..? — Do you..? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME..?

His last sentence comes out backwards, a garbled mess. A tiny smile writes itself across Bedour’s face. The Principal is infuriated. He thumps the desk, moving about the room, on a tirade. Bedour watches, amused; the Principal’s words make no sense.

Bedour hears ECHOES in her mind: GIGGLING and VOICES in conflict. As they build in intensity, Bedour looks confused, upset, miserable…

RIGHT SIDE VOICES
You’re sick! Face it! Wake up before it’s too late… Open your eyes! WAKE UP!

LEFT SIDE VOICES
You’re not sick! You don’t have to face anything! They’re the ones who have to wake up, not you! …Just close your eyes… close your eyes…

Bedour looks around. The room around her turns dark. A sudden wind builds. Everything is surreal. She looks ill and frightened.

Bedour’s POV BLURS, as the left and right side voices become louder, repeating key phrases… “you’re sick”, “not sick”…

Bedour stares hard at the Principal; his mouth moves in slow-motion, but makes no sense.

Bedour covers her ears and shuts her eyes.
CUT TO:

BLACK.

5. EXT. FIGHTING WITH PRINCIPAL - DAY

Bedour opens her eyes. She’s Amazyn. She faces off against an Principal. They’re both armed with swords, still sheathed.

Bedour’s P.O.V reveals she sees things as a game. On screen data details the Principal’s abilities.

The Principal’s P.O.V shows a similar game-like view: with data regarding Bedour rolling down the screen.

A SPLIT SCREEN VIEW reveals Bedour and the Principal.

SUPER IN MIDDLE OF SCREEN:

BEDOUR VS THE PRINCIPAL

Bedour’s feet carry her slowly towards the principal.

The Principal’s feet carry him slowly towards Bedour.

Bedour and the Principal shoot hard stares at one another, ready for battle.

Bedour slowly draws her sword. The Principal does likewise.

They suddenly engage in battle. Their swords meet in a furious exchange. Bedour gets the upper hand, disarming the Principal; his sword clatters to the ground.

The Principal is wounded and in pain. Bedour grins, keeping an eye on the Principal, walking around him to crouch down and collect his sword. She proudly brandishes a sword in each hand.

Bedour’s game-like POV REVEALS the blinking words:

MISSION COMPLETED: SCORE 45%

Bedour’s face sinks, disappointed, then curls with anger.

BEDOUR
I’m never good enough!

Bedour quick-draws a pistol, points it at the Principal.

ANGLE ON BEDOUR: SHE SHOOTS AND BLOOD SPLATTERS HER FACE.

6. INT. BEDOUR’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
BLACK AND WHITE SCREEN
BEDOUR’S P.O.V

Bedour’s POV as she awakens gasping for breath. Her vision is blurred. She reaches over to her bedside table, searching for something. She finds a glasses case, opens it, but it’s empty.

She hops out of bed and searches through the mess on the floor. She’s looking under the bed, when a GIRL’S VOICE IS HEARD…

NORAH
Looking for these..?

Bedour surfaces from under the bed. She hears a TAPPING SOUND. She looks over to the mirror.

The glasses are hanging perilously over the mirror, frames tapping eerily against the mirrored glass.

Bedour looks confused. She stands stumbles over to retrieve the glasses. As she puts them on…

7. INT. BEDOUR’S BEDROOM – ANIMATED/COLORED - DAY

Bedour’s P.O.V as the room turns animated/COLORED: her vision clears. The room is bright and colorful. She breathes a sigh of relief. She gazes into the mirror, smiling, satisfied.

BEDOUR
Thanks Norah… My dreams are making me crazy.

Bedour takes a deep breath. She straightens her clothes. She looks around; the room is now tidy and ordered.

REVEAL… NORAH, a girl of similar age with a playful expression, sitting on the bed. Bedour, confused, turns back to the mirror to find Norah is reflected in it.
BEDOUR
Norah, you’re crazy —

NORAH
That’s why we’re friends.

Norah flashes a smile at Bedour.
BEDOUR
Norah, you gotta stop popping up like that.
NORAH
(shrugs)
I was only trying to help.

BEDOUR
— I gotta stop playing computer games.

NORAH
Why stop if you enjoy it..?

Bedour looks a little concerned.

BEDOUR
It doesn’t matter. — Let’s go somewhere… Somewhere fun.

They swap excited smiles.

8. INT. CINEMA

Bedour and Norah are seated in similar positions to tail of previous scene). Norah is staring at the screen. Bedour suddenly becomes aware that they’re in another location…

BEDOUR:
Where are we..? What just happened?

NORAH
Shush! The movie’s about to start.

Bedour looks up at the screen.

On screen: A TITLE SEQUENCE — Amazyn defeats VARIOUS ENEMIES with her sword. The sequence ends with main title “AMAZYN VS THE OTHER WORLD”.

Bedour glances at Norah, but she’s entranced by the movie and pays no attention. Bedour returns her gaze to the screen…

9. INT. PRIMARY SCHOOL - TOILET BLOCK — DAY

A SCHOOL GIRL falls to the ground, injured and bleeding.

REVEAL Bedour: she attacks a SECOND SCHOOL GIRL. A blinding flurry of martial arts, as hands and feet send the girl flying to land on the ground beside the first one.

Bedour lock eyes on another target: an ASIAN GIRL. Bedour launches herself, trapping the Asian girl in a corner. Bedour grabs the terrified girl by the throat.

10. EXT. PARK - NIGHT

ANGLE ON C.U. OF A YOUNG WOMAN SCREAMING, STRUGGLING FOR HER LIFE.

Her face whips into view to REVEAL she’s been cut, slashed across the cheek, blood pouring from the wound.

A SLIGHTLY WIDER ANGLE REVEALS the woman is gripped by one hand around the throat; whist another hand wields a knife, slashing at her body.

A SHOCK REVEAL: the attacker is Bedour.

The young woman manages to break free and escapes into the darkness.
CUT TO:

11. INT. PRIMARY SCHOOL - PLAYGROUND — DAY

Bedour is astride a YOUNG GIRL, punching her in the face again and again.
CUT TO:
Later… Bedour brutalizes another young girl, knocking her to the ground and beating her senseless.

12. INT. CINEMA - NIGHT

Bedour turns to Norah who is staring right at her. In the flickering light of the projection, Norah appears somewhat creepy.

NORAH
(An evil smile)
Are you okay..?

Bedour leaps up, hurrying to exit the auditorium.

13. INT. CINEMA - BATHROOM — MOMENTS LATER

Bedour bursts inside; she looks pale, sick, confused, frightened. She’s alone. She makes her way to the sink, turns on a tap, and splashes her face with water.
She stares down at the water disappearing down the plug-hole. She raises her head. A SHOCK REVEAL: reflected in the mirror, Norah is standing behind her.

Bedour looks sickened and ashamed. Norah slaps Bedour across the face, sending her glasses flying. Norah begins to LAUGH… a GIGGLE at first, building into an UNRELENTING CACKLE. Bedour can’t stand it any more and punches the bathroom mirror. It shatters… and, in an instant, Norah is gone.

Bedour drops to her knees, sobbing. Her P.O.V reveals everything is blurred. She fumbles around for her glasses. When she finds them, she discovers one lens is broken.

Bedour puts on what is left of her glasses.

14. INT. BEDOUR’S BEDROOM — DAY

Bedour’s P.O.V REVEALS…

On the floor, an old doll that looks like Norah.

Bedour is physically and mentally exhausted. She clutches at her bed for support as she climbs to her feet. She surveys the room; it looks like a tornado has passed through it. She turns slowly around to face the bedroom mirror.

She can clearly see her real self. She SCREAMS at a revelation…

FADE TO BLACK

ROLL CREDITS.