TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️: Does contain suicide and substance abuse.

INT. THE DISMAL VOID - UNKNOWN
FIRST, DARKNESS... hovering in the dismal void.
PERSON POV
Jordan (V.O.): I used to be alive. More alive than I am today. I used to feel something. I used to be happy. I used to have a life and meaning. I used to be someone. (long beat) Wherever you go through with something, there is never any going back. There's no time machine to help you fix what can't be unfixed, but I would if there was a way. I would have never let what happened to me get this bad... but I did.
Jordan stares into the open twilight, floating on air. Then...
INT. HOME — FLASHBACK — DAY
JORDAN ROMERO (18), a plus-sized cutie, lies against the bedroom sheets. Her world spins to a halt in front of her, and then, still.
She pulls herself to the top of the bed and grabs her phone, sitting on the bedside dresser.
Her chubby fingers stretch across the lit-up screen, bouncing from page to page. She flickers through the model photos on a photography page when she spots him. She feels this is the right one. She clicks on his page belonging to NICHOLAS (Nick) GARDNER, a broad boy, muscular, blonde with blue eyes, and pretty to look at. She opens the direct messages and fills in the Text box.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Jordan (V.O.): Hi.
Almost instantly, the boy behind the DM replies.
Nick (V.O.): Who are you?
Jordan (V.O.): I'm Jordan. I'm looking for someone to talk to. I don't have a lot of friends.
Jordan shifts on the bed.
Nick (V.O.): Okay?
Jordan shifts in the bedsheets again.
Nick: So, are you rich or something?
Jordan scowls.
Jordan: What?
Nick: Do you have a lot of money? Are you rich?
Jordan: No, are you? Why would that matter? Do I need to be?
He brings up an unfair point, but instead, three dots hesitantly fill the screen.
Nick: No. It's okay. I was just curious.
Jordan sighs, sitting back.
Jordan: Oh.
INT. ROOM - NIGHT
Jordan's mother, LISA ROMERO, plump and tomboyish, appears in the doorway, taking off her work vest and the bunk-bed under Jordan. Jordan turns her cellphone over and sits up.
Lisa: Who are you talking to?
Jordan: Nobody. It's none of your business.
Lisa huffs.
Lisa: I'm only trying to help.
Lisa walked in and took the bed next to Jordan. The cat, Ms. Kitty, walks around and pounces on the mattress. Lisa pulls out her phone.
INT. HALLWAY CLOSET - NIGHT
TIME LAPSE - ONE WEEK LATER
Jordan stares at the pills in her palm, counting each one. She counts seven before popping them in her mouth and uncomfortably swallows.
Jordan: I'm going for a walk!
Jordan rushes down the hallway to the living room door and leaves. She stands on the porch and checks the time on her iPod before stuffing her earbuds in her ears and wandering past her house into the neighborhood.
Jordan feels dizzy, weaving to the sidewalk, and sits down, her palm pressed against her forehead. Then, she whips out her iPod, texting Nick.
Jordan (V.O.): Hey Nick.
Nick (V.O.): What's up?
Jordan (V.O.): Nothing. Just saying hi.
Nick: I'm busy. I can't talk right now.
Jordan huffs.
Jordan: Right. I'm on a walk right now.
Nick: Cool. Got to go.
Jordan rolls her eyes and shuts off her phone. A wave of nausea hits, and she pukes in the grass next to her. Then, a neighbor walking by with his dog stops and stares. She reluctantly looks at him, wiping vomit from her lips.
Neighbor: Are you okay?
Jordan hesitates.
Jordan: Uh, yeah.
Jordan stands, wipes grass from her butt, and wobbles back home.
INT. HOME - MORNING
A voice echoes in the distance. Lisa calls Jordan's name.
Lisa: Jordan. (beat) Jordan.
The sun pokes through her window as her eyes flutter open. Her head pounds, and she blocks the light with her blankets. She rolls over on the bed, groans, and checks her iPod next to her. The time reads 11 am on Saturday.
Jordan: What?
Lisa: I have to run a few errands.  Want to come?
Jordan sighs.
Jordan: Yeah.
Lisa: Take a shower.
Below, the cat meows, pacing the floor. And barking from Cali is heard from the other room.
Jordan: Ok.
Jordan gets up and climbs down the latter.
INT. HALLWAY - - HOME - - DAY
Jordan looks around. Then, she stuffs pills in her mouth. Suddenly, Jordan's grandmother Gloria and sister Jasmine start arguing in the background.
Gloria (V.O.): I told you, you do that one more time, and I'm packing my shit and leaving.
Jasmine: Oh, sure. You always say that.
Gloria: I'm serious, Jasmine. You guys are going to be living in a hotel.
Jasmine: Yeah, right.
Suddenly a door slams. Jordan jumps.
I/E. CAR - DAY
Jordan waits in the back of a silver Honda Odyssey, listening to music on her iPod. She stares out the window of a busy parking lot. Then, she turns on Instagram. She scrolls through Nicks's pictures and then enters the chat.
Jordan (V.O.): Hey, Nick.
There is dead silence. She waits for a moment before shutting off her phone.
Suddenly the trunk opens, and Jordan jumps, startled. Lisa stuffed her shopping bags in the back and greeted Jordan. Then, she enters the driver's side.
Lisa: I have a few more places to go. Are you even going to come in?
Jordan: No.
Lisa: I don't know why you even bother to come.
Lisa started the car and pulled out.
I/E.  Drive thru lane - Mc. Donald's - noon
Lisa pulls through an Mc. Donald drive-through. Jordan is on Facebook, looking at Nick's posts. Max, a broad boy, jet black hair and brown eyes. He stands with Nick and his friends on a beach. A male Mc. Donald's worker clears his throat in the speaker.
McD's worker: Welcome to Mc. Donalds. How can I help you?
Lisa: I need two orders. I need a cheeseburger, large fries, and a coke for the first order.
McD's Worker: And for the second-order?
Lisa leaned back and tapped Jordan's leg catching her attention. Jordan removes her headphones. Ed Sheeran's "Bloodstream" pours from the headphones.
Jordan: Yeah?
Lisa: What do you want?
Jordan: Uh... (beat) Chicken Nuggets, a large fries, and a large coke.
Lisa turns back to the speaker.
Lisa: I need a ten-piece nugget, a large fries, and a coke.
McD's worker: Would you like the meal?
Lisa: Yea.
McD's worker: $6.33 at the window.
Lisa sighs.
Lisa: And the first order?
McD's worker: Right. $5.40 at the window. Please move forward.
Lisa drives forward to the window. Meanwhile, a text from Nick pops up on Jordan's phone.
Jordan opens Instagram.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Nick (V.O.): Jordan. Do you realize the time difference?
Jordan (V.O.): I want to talk.
Nick (V.O.): I'm not your boyfriend.
Jordan (V.O.): I know.
Nick: I can't cater to you wherever you need it.
Jordan: Have you ever thought about suicide?
Nick: I can't do this, Jordan.
Suddenly Nick blocks Jordan. His account disappears. A single tear drops from Jordan's eye, and Lisa hands Jordan her food.
INT. BEDROOM - - HOME - - NIGHT
Jordan lays In bed. The room spins, and he takes hesitant breaths of air as she stuffs another handful of pills in her mouth and dry swallows.
In the distance, Jasmine laughs in her bedroom. Zachary, Jordan's brother, plays loud YouTube shows on his phone in the kitchen next door.
Jordan gets up and weaves to the door, slamming it shut as the cat watches and meowing loudly.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
TIME-LAPSE - TWO DAYS
Jordan stuffs a handful of pills in her mouth and plucks waffles from the toaster. She takes a bite and suddenly feels nausea but swallows it down. She unlocks her phone and opens Instagram. She's on a new account stalking Nick and his friend Max.
Suddenly Gloria wanders into the kitchen.
Gloria: Did you call your mom?
Jordan: No. Why do I need to?
Gloria: Well, do you know when she'll be home?
Jordan doesn't answer. Gloria groans and waffles on, guiding herself with the walls around her.
Jordan watches a Black and white photo of Nick in a pair of boxers looking seductive.
She shuts down her phone.
Jordan: I'm going for a walk.
Gloria: You better ask your mom.
Jordan: I'm fine, grandma. I don't need to ask her everything.
Jordan walks to the doorway and leaves.
INT. BATHROOM - NOON
Jordan sits on the edge of the bathroom tub, staring down at Nicks's profile with a handful of pills. Suddenly her eyes wander to the shelves where a bottle of rubbing alcohol sits. She walks over, opens her camera, and turns on the video camera. She stuffs the pills in her mouth and swallows them with a gulp of rubbing alcohol. It burns. It's not the worst burn she's tasted, but she chokes and rushes to the toilet, holding back vomit. Then, she turns off the camera. Suddenly, a number appears on her phone.
INT. BEDROOM - NOON
Jordan lays on her bed. Her stomach and walls do somersaults in sync. Her phone rumbles by her bed. It's a caller she doesn't recognize, But she answers it. Nick's deep, panicked male voice screeches through the phone.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Nick (V.O.): Hey, are you okay?
Jordan can barely understand him. She's wasted, but she knows who she's talking to.
Nick: Jordan... (beat ) Jordan!
Jordan: I feel like Tigger.
Nick: Jordan, you scared me. You need help.
Jordan: Weeeeee! I'm ... (beat) I-I'm okay. I promise.
Jordan belches as if she's going to vomit, but she doesn't.
Nick: You sure you're okay?
Jordan: I'm okay.
Nick: Hey, don't do that again. Keep my number on your phone. I have to get back to work.
Jordan: Okey-dokey. (Long beat) Hey, are you—
The phone goes dead, and Jordan lays still on the bed. Her eyes flutter, and she falls asleep.
INT. HOME - NIGHT
Lisa walked into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed.
Lisa: Are you okay?
Jordan: Why wouldn't I be?
Jordan belches.
Lisa: I was just curious.
The cat sits on the edge of Jordan's bed, cleaning herself. Cali lays on mom's bed.
INT. HALLWAY - - HOME - - DAY
Jordan pops another handful of pills on her tongue and swallows. Then, she shuffles to her room. She lays on her bed, and the cat joins her, meowing in her face. Jordan sneezes and pets the cat. Her eyes are bloodshot, and she lies motionless.
She suddenly turns on her music and switches to Instagram, looking through Nick's photos. She texts Nick again on her cellphone.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Jordan: Hey, Nick.
Nick: What?
Long pause.
Jordan: Hey.
Nick: I'm busy.
Jordan turns off her phone. Instead, she pets the cat.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
Jordan walks deep into the neighborhood. She's tired, sweaty, and depressed, but she pushes on listening to music on her phone. She pulls out her phone. The time reads 11 pm. She reaches a park. Then she texts Nick.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Nick: Jordan. It's late. Stop texting me.
Jordan: I want to talk.
Nick: You don't realize, do you? There's a time difference. I have a life. I can't cater to you.
The bushes rustle nearby. Jordan jumps.
Jordan: There's a snake in the bushes. I'm scared.
Nick: Jordan, stop!
Jordan: I'm going to kill myself, Nick.
Nick: Have fun. I can't deal with you.
Jordan shuts off her phone and enters the park. She lays on the grass crying and dizzy from the drugs and walking too far. She texts Lisa.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Jordan: Mom, please come and get me. I can't do this anymore.
Lisa: I can't right now.
Jordan: Why? Nick is being a jerk.
Jordan wipes tears from her eyes.
Lisa: Where are you?
Jordan: The park.
Jordan switches to Nick. She thinks, then starts typing.
Jordan: Please, Nick. Don't do this to me.
Unfortunately, her number is blocked.
Jordan: Nevermind. I'll walk home.
Jordan stands, wiping the dirt from her hoodie, and wobbles off.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Lisa: Are you sure?
Jordan: Yep.
Jordan stands, wiping the dirt from her hoodie, and wobbles off.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
A toilet flushes. Jordan Searches the room for something to drink. Her eyes land on the drain cleaner on the bottom shelf. She thinks and then instead pulls her shirt over her head. She stands there staring at her thick body in the mirror in a bra and panties. A single tear falls from her eyes, and she pulls her panties down.
INT.  Bathroom - moments later
Jordan stands in pajamas standing in the mirror. She watches until her eyes land on the drain cleaner again. Beat. She rushes to the shelf and grabs Drano.
She opens it and smells, nearly vomiting. Then she dumps some in a cap. She stands there for a beat, staring at the liquids before her eyes move to the mirror.
Nicks's voice echoes in her head.
Nick (V.O.): Have fun. I can't deal with you.
She sucks in a sharp breath and drinks, suddenly choking. She rushes to the water cooler in the kitchen, chugging water. Lisa walked by, concerned.
Lisa: Are you okay?
Jordan chugs. The burning makes her choke.
Jordan: No. I'm trying to kill myself.
Suddenly Lisa rushes to the bathroom.
Lisa (yelling): What did you do?!
Jordan: I drank Drano.
Lisa: Dammit, Jordan.
Jordan hovers over the toilet about to vomit while Lisa looks at the bottle.
Lisa: Don't vomit, Jordan.
Jasmine walks by.
Jasmine: What did she do?
Lisa: She drank Drano. Call 911.
Jasmine panics and walks off, calling 911.
SERIES OF QUICK CUTS
Paramedics assist Jordan. Her eyes flutter, and burning gets stronger.
The police panicked, searching for her phone in the other room.
. Jordan is wheeled into an ambulance.
. Jordan stares at her feet, turning blue.
Suddenly everything...
... FADES TO BLACK.
INT. HALLWAY - - HOSPITAL - - NIGHT
Jordan wakes up screaming in pain in a hospital bed. There's a burning feeling in her throat, head, and belly. Everything flashes back in a moment.
SERIES OF QUICK CUT
Jordan leaves the bathroom and runs to the water cooler like it was the last thing YOU could do.
Lisa stands and stares at her from her bedroom in the hallway. Worry flashed her face.
Lisa: Are you okay?
Jordan lays in the ambulance, choking on the liquid acid as she gasps for air.
SMASH TO:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Jordan lays in a bed. An open room. A phone lies next to her, along with a call button. She's exhausted. Her eyes flash to the phone, and Nick is all she can think about. She dials, and his voice appears on the end of the phone—a voicemail.
Nick: Hey, it's Nick. Leave a message.
Jordan: Hey, Nick. It's Jordan. I just wanted to let you know I'm in the hospital, but okay. I drank Drano. It's okay. Okay, bye.
Jordan hangs up the phone.
INT. PSYCH WARD - NIGHT
Jordan is wheeled into a psych ward in a wheelchair. She looks around at the unfamiliar room and steadily gets out of the wheelchair. The nurses come over as she sits at the table.
Nurse 1: Hey. We will go over some paperwork and then take you to your room.
Another nurse holds up a camera.
Nurse 2: We need to take photos for our records.
Jordan: Cool.
She rests into her palm. In the background, a nurse starts cleaning the tables with bleach wipes. The bleach hits Jordan's nostrils, and she hurls all over the floor.
The other nurses look at each other.
Jordan: Sorry.
Jordan wipes her mouth with her wrist.
Nurse 2: Don't worry. We'll clean it up.
SMASH TO:
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
TIME-LAPSE - DAY TWO
A SERIES OF QUICK CUTS:
Jordan Wakes and wanders to the bathroom.
She's in a meeting as the instructor talks about mental illness.
Jordan pushes Salisbury's steak around on her plate.
INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
TIME LAPSE - A WEEK LATER
It's night in her room. Jordan shifts on the bed when a knock on the door startles her. DR. POWERS, a man with a white beard and glasses, stands in the doorway.
Jordan stares, speechless for a moment.
Dr. Powers: You're not gonna do this again, right?
Jordan sighs, thinking for a beat.
Jordan: Nope.
Dr. Powers: Good. You're going home tomorrow.
Jordan (Emotionless): Yay.
Dr. POWERS: Good night.
Jordan: Good night.
Dr. Powers leaves.
INT. HOSPITAL - NOON
Jordan stares at the clock. Her stuff is in a bag. Time ticks away. A nurse comes out and approaches her.
Nurse 3: Your mom's here, Jordan. Are you ready?
Jordan hesitantly sighs.
Jordan: Yeah.
The nurse waves her over to the door.
Nurse 3: Let's go.
The nurse unlocks the door and walks Jordan out.
INT. HOME - NIGHT
Jordan lays in her bed with her iPod. Lisa walked in and lay on her bed in the corner.
Lisa: I think I need to find a therapist for you.
Jordan: Okay?
Jordan checks her phone. She turns on Instagram, and Nick's page is blank. She's been blocked. It makes Jordan mad and sick to her stomach. Instead, she looks at Max, the hot Latino boy she assumes is Nick's twin brother. Then, she shuts off her phone.
INT. HOME - DAY
TIME LAPSE - WEEKS LATER
Jordan checks her surroundings and pops a handful of pills in her mouth.
Jasmine (V.O. YELLING): FUCK YOU. Go away.
Gloria: I am. Don't speak to me ever again.
A door slams, and Gloria exits the room next to Jordan. Jordan jumps.
INT/ EXT. CAR - DAY
Jordan is in the back seat staring out the window. Lisa is driving. She gets a notification on her phone. Jordan checks it. On the screen is Max's name.
Max: Don't talk to me ever again, you freak.
Blocked. His profile goes blank. A single tear drops from jordans cheek.
INT. RAMONA'S OFFICE - - THERAPY ROOM - - DAY
A tall black woman, Ramona, sits in front of Jordan, staring at her.
Ramona: Are you going to talk?
Jordan: I don't know.
Ramona sighs.
Ramona: Your family is tired of your bullshit. I hope you know that. But I think you're right. It's time you step up and go to college.
Jordan: Sure.
A tear runs down Jordan's cheek.
Ramona: Don't start crying, Jordan. You're stronger than this.
Jordan: Are we done? Can we please finish?
Ramona: I wanted to talk to your mom anyway.
Jordan huffs and storms out, crying. She takes a seat on a couch.
Jordan (To Lisa): She wants to talk to you.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
Jordan is walking at a fast pace through the neighborhood. Her heartbeat paces with her steps, and she wobbles a bit, high off of pills.
Neighbors watch but don't say a word. Then, Jordan texts what she assumes is Nick's number but mistakes it for another. A man, SEBASTIAN (Seba), answered. Instead.
Seba (V.O.): Are you okay?
Jordan (V.O.): No.
Seba: And who are you, again.
Jordan (V.O.): Jordan. I was hoping you could look for someone for me. You're in New York, right?
Seba (V.O.): Yeah—
Jordan (V.O.): There are these guys, Nick and Max. They're terrible people, and I wondered if you could kill them.
Seba (V.O.): Why?
Jordan (V.O.): They hurt me.
Jordan starts pacing.
SEBA (V.O.): Okay? I have to go.
Jordan (V.O.): Good night Seba.
Seba (V.O.): Good night Jordan.
Jordan paces down the street.
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - DAY
TIME-LAPSE - A MONTH LATER
Jordan paces down the college path. She spots a building and enters.
Jordan walks into a broad stage. Tons of students sit in the back. She silences her phone and stuffs it in her backpack. Then she wanders over to a seat.
INT. CAR - DAY
Jordan's Aunt, MONICA, focuses on the road while Jordan sits in the passenger seat staring out the window.
Monica: How was school?
Jordan: I don't want to talk.
Monica: Okay. I was just asking.
Jordan watches cars go by. a single tear runs down her cheek.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Jordan lays on her bed, clutching her chest in pain as she cries and screams. In the background, the cat meows loud. Jordan chucks a pillow at the cat, narrowly missing her, and the kitty scurries off. Suddenly Lisa enters the room.
Lisa: I got you a new therapist.
Jordan rolls over.
Jordan: I don't want to talk.
Lisa: You have an appointment on Thursday.
Lisa chucked the pillow back at Jordan and left.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
TIME LAPSE - THURSDAY
Jordan swallows a handful of pills and sips water.
Gloria: You're going to be late for your appointment.
Jordan (Grumpy): I'm leaving.
Jordan walks to the doorway and leaves.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
Jordan gets off the bus. The bud screeches away. She silently curses after realizing she got off at the wrong place. Instead, she trudges on.
INT. THERAPY HOUSE - DAY
Jordan checks in and takes a seat on a chair. She waits. Moments pass, and then a family wanders in. She watches them before the therapist walks out. Jordan stands, and she and the family both freeze.
Therapist: I'm sorry, Jordan. I gave you the wrong time. Come back in two hours.
Jordan groans and storms out down the street.
INT. STARBUCKS - DAY
Jordan sips a chocolate chip shake. She flips through Nick's profile and then texts him.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Jordan (V.O.): Hey. I just wanted to let you know I've decided to run away to New york.
Jordan sucks down the rest of her shake and throws it in the trash. Then, with a hesitant deep breath, she leaves.
EXT. TRAIN/BUS STATION - DAY
Jordan wanders into a parking lot. A man in a minivan pulls in front of her. A sign below the driver's window reads: "FREE RIDES TO THOSE WHO SMILE" with a security camera logo.
Driver: Hey, can I take you somewhere?
She approaches the driver.
Jordan: Can you take me to New York?
Driver: Yeah, sure. Hop in.
Something feels off about him. His hands are shallow, but she can't see his lower half.
Driver: My name is Javier.
Jordan: Jordan.
She shakes his hand. A milky substance on her fingertips. She stares at him before boldly looking into the car while the man plays with himself, a clear boner.
Jordan panics.
Jordan: I-I'm just going to leave.
Jordan starts racing to the buses. The man does a panicked. She quickly hops on a bus and puts money without a word.
Jordan sits in silence as the bus rides on. Then, the bus stops, and Jordan gets on. Los Angeles is just beyond a couple of miles, and so is her mom's work. Jordan is paranoid as she wanders on.
A SERIES OF QUICK CUTS
Suddenly she weaves through neighborhoods.
People stare at her as she bolts.
Jordan chucks her cellphone in a bush.
Then, a man walks out of an apartment, and she gets an idea.
Jordan: Hey, do you have scissors?
Man: Yeah. Wait right there.
Jordan paces outside the guy's house. The man returns with safety scissors. Jordan wastes no time chopping off her blonde roots.
Jordan wanders down LA streets, chopping more and more hair off into a pixie cut.
She makes it to the border of Beverly Hills and takes a seat on business steps.
Suddenly an officer spots her. She stands up and bolts off fast, weaving through neighborhood streets in a panic. Then, she stops to catch her breath.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - - Beverly Hills - - NIGHT
The sunsets. Jordan panics, scared and cold. She wanders up to a door and knocks—the guy answers and yells at her.
Jordan: Please don't call my mom. I'm scared.
Guy: Go away before I call the fucking cops.
Jordan rushes off further down the unfamiliar streets. Suddenly she sees two guys.
Jordan: Please help me.
Jordan shows them she cut her hands from the scissors.
The men rush into the house as Jordan takes a dizzying seat on the sidewalk. She's covered in filth with chopped hair and cuts.
TIME-LAPSE - TEN MINUTES
A cop car pulls up, and two cops get out, walking towards Jordan. Cop one growls, watching her with envious eyes.
Cop 1: What's your name?
Jordan is too scared to talk, so instead, she's silent.
Cop 2: He said, what's your name.
Silence. She plays with the scissors in her pocket—the cops panic.
Cop 1: Okay, empty your pockets.
Jordan throws the scissors and hands Cop 2 her ID.
Cop 2 runs her ID while Cop 1 watches her.
Cop 2: She's a missing person.
Jordan: I don't want to go home.
Cop 1 lightens his tense, angered face.
Cop 1: Your family is worried about you. How old are you?
Cop 2: She's 18.
Cop one glares at him.
Cop 1: Look. Because you're not underage, we don't have to force you to come home, but we can give you a lift.
Jordan is silent, thinking. Then...
Jordan: I want to go home.
Cop 2: Good.
The two cops lead her to the back of the car, and she gets in the back.
INT. HOME - DAY
The two cops pull up in front of Jordan's Home. Jordan anxiously gets out of the car and approaches her house. Her mom rushes out, staring in disbelief at Jordan, covered in filth and a pixie cut.
Cop one rolls down his window.
Cop 1: Stay safe, Jordan.
The cops leave.
Lisa: You scared me. What happened?
Silence. Then Jordan breaks into tears in her mom's arms.
Jordan: This guy almost kidnapped me. He tried to rape me. I'm scared.
Lisa: Take a shower.
Jordan wanders inside.
INT. SCHOOL - DAY
TIME LAPSE - THREE WEEKS - SEPTEMBER
Jordan sits in a biology lab as students pile into class. There's silence as the bell rings and the teacher clears his throat.
Teacher: Welcome to biology 1.0. Your syllabus is on your desk. We WILL be discussing mental health. Tests will be fifty percent of your grade...
The teacher's voice fades. Panic rushes Jordan's heart as she stares blank at the board. Then...
INT. GYM - DAY
Jordan lays flat on a gym floor while students stare at her. A blank expression on her face. They try speaking, but its muffled echoes.
Then, Jordan stands.
Jordan: I'm going to kill myself. Bye.
Jordan stands and races out of the gym.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - - LOS ANGELES - - DAY
Jordan wanders the dangerous streets a mile from the gym as she texts Sebastian.
INTERCUT - TEXT MESSAGE
Jordan: I did it, Seba. I left school. I don't know what to do now. I'm scared.
Seba: Look. I can't help you, but my best advice is for you to go back and get help. You're unstable. I wish you luck. Goodbye Jordan.
Jordan: No. Seba wait.
Silence. Jordan grunts and looks back, wondering whether she should go back. Finally, she starts wandering back to school.
EXT. CAMPUS - NOON
Jordan sits in the back of a cop car on campus.
INT. HALLWAY - - HOME - - DAY
TIME LAPSE - OCTOBER
Jordan stuffs a handful of pills down her throat and enters her bedroom. A sharp knife sits on her dresser. She grabs it and makes a small incision on her wrists before ZACHARY, Jordan's brother, and MAX, a blonde and green-eyed transgender male, his boyfriend, wander the hallway, giggling.
Jordan: Shut. Up.
Max glares at Jordan in the doorway and slams her door. The cat wanders over, meowing loud as Jordan starts sobbing. Jordan pets the cat and sniffles, her asthma settling in from allergies.
Max (In the Distance): Your sister is crazy.
Zachary (V.O.): I know.
Jordan's sobs are louder.
INT. CAR - DAY
Rain pours down on the car as Jordan sits in the back of a PT. Cruiser. She stares out the window watching cars rush by and wishing she could jump out. Suddenly a spider creeps across the window, and her eyes meet as she swiftly unbuckles her seatbelt and flies across the car.
Jordan: Spider!
Lisa: I'm fucking driving. You can't do that shit to me.
Jordan: I'm sorry.
Jordan buckles her seatbelt again and watches the spider dance in the window.
Jordan: Are we going to Liliana's for Halloween?
Lisa: I don't know.
Jordan groans.
Lisa: Tige called. She's worried about you. She said she's not sure if she wants you to come to the premiere this week.
Jordan: Okay?
Lisa groans and focuses on the wet road.
INT. MOVIE PREMIERE - NIGHT
TIME LAPSE - SATURDAY
Cameras flash as Jordan walks into a wide film yard set up for a premiere. Tige walks up to Jordan.
TIGE: Girl, smile! You won.
Jordan: I know.
Tige sighs.
Tige: Then why aren't you happy?
Jordan sighs, staring at Mateus Ward in the background.
Jordan: I am. I'm just going through stuff. (Beat) What happens if I die?
Tige: Let me tell you a story. (hesitant beat) I was at the gym the other day when I noticed this man passed out on one of the pieces of equipment. I asked him if he was alright, and he didn't say anything. When I checked on him, he wasn't breathing.
Jordan's eyes widen.
Jordan: Really?
Tige: Seriously. Sometimes death is sudden like that. It comes when we least expect it. That's why we can't worry about the small stuff. Live your life as if it's the last day.
Jordan sighs.
Jordan: Okay.
Tige: I'm proud of you. I hope you know.
Billy, Jordan's friend, spots her in the distance, calling her name.
Billy: Jordan, come here! We're going to take a group photo.
Jordan looks at Tige.
Tige: Well, go. We'll talk later.
Jordan rolls her eyes and walks off.
INT. SISTERS ROOM - NIGHT
Jordan sits on Jasmine's bed, crying in hysterics. She stuffs a penny in her mouth and swallows. Then a battery. Gulp. Then, a dime.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
TIME LAPSE - A WEEK LATER
Dr. Powers stands in the doorway.
Dr. Powers: It looks like they passed. Are you feeling any better?
Jordan: Yeah. I'm ready to go home. (beat) Please?
Dr. Powers: Well, I'll think about it.
Jordan sighs.
Jordan: Okay.
INT. CAR - DAY
TIME LAPSE - HALLOWEEN DAY
Jordan is dressed in a vampire costume. Her blood-red hair matches the fake blood on her lips as she sits in the back of the odyssey. Lisa pulled off the freeway and took a right into a gas station as the car slowed.
Jordan: Why are we stopping?
Lisa: Well, the car won't start.
Jordan: What?
Lisa sighs trying the ignition again. Nothing.
Jordan: We're almost there? Can't Liliana pick us up or something?
Lisa: I wish, but no. I have to call a tow truck.
Jordan sighs and sits back.
INT. TOW TRUCK - NIGHT
Jordan sits squished in a tow truck between the driver and her mom in a vampire costume. Loud rock plays in the distance. There's absolute silence.
INT. HOME - NIGHT
Jordan walks into the house and beelines for her bed. She stands there staring at a turd on her sheets.
Jordan: What. The. FUCK!
Jordan breaks into tears, throws a pillow at the cat on the other bed, and storms out.
Lisa rounds the corner.
Lisa: What's wrong?
Jordan: The fucking cat shit on my bed.
Jordan grabs a bag of candy and storms into the porch.
SERIES OF QUICK CUTS
Jordan attempts to pass out candy to a couple walking by. They reject.
Jordan tries to give candy to a kid. The dad says no.
She stands on the sidewalk showing candy to cars, but nobody stops.
She chucks a handful at a car rolling by with a family and screams.
Jordan (yelling): Just take the fucking CANDY!!!
Jordan storms down the street and paces back. The family stares before driving off.
INT. RAMONA'S THERAPY ROOM - DAY
TIME LAPSE - DECEMBER
Jordan storms out of therapy in hysterics. She grabs the bathroom key and races to the bathroom.
Jordan sits on the toilet sobbing. Lisa knocks on the door.
Lisa: Are you ready to go home?
Jordan: Leave me alone.
Silence. Suddenly the door unlocks from the other side, and Ramona walks in with Lisa.
Ramona: You're being really selfish right now.
Jordan: Go away!
Ramona chuckles.
Ramona: No. You're lucky you get to go home with your mom. She's tired of your bullshit.
Jordan opens the stall, plugging her ears, and storms past them out of the bathroom.
INT. HOME - NIGHT
Max and Zachary are in the bedroom kissing. Jordan groans from the hallway.
Jordan: Shut up!
Max: You shut up, bitch.
Jordan freezes, anger building. Then she rushes to the kitchen, grabs two steak knives, and rushes to their room.
Jordan: Repeat it, Max. I dare you.
Jordan holds up the steak knives, panting.
Max: WHAT THE FUCK!
There's silence as Jordan stares at them. Then, she chucks the knives to the side, screams, and races away.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Three police officers stand by. Jordan stands against a car handcuffed while Zachary talks to a cop in the distance.
Suddenly Officer JARED, one of the officers taking notes, wanders to Jordan.
JARED: How many knives were there?
Jordan: There were two.
There's silence. Then, he sighs.
JARED: We only found one.
Jordan: There were two.
Jared huffs again. Walk with me.
Jordan follows Jared to the police car. He opens the door, and Jordan slides in.
INT. HOME - DAY
TIME LAPSE - JANUARY
Jordan downs a handful of pills and stares at a photo of Nick. Then, she races to the door on impulse and slams it shut.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
CAMERAS POV
Jordan angrily walks down a street. A clear bottle of soda in her hand and two boxes of sleeping pills.
Jordan (To the Camera): Is this what you wanted? Me to die? (beat) IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?! (Jordan chuckles in hysterics as she wanders into a park. She sits against a bathroom wall and pops open the box, popping a couple of pills from the casing, and takes a swig or soda) You son of a bitches. You got what you wanted.
SERIES OF QUICK CUTS
Jordan pops the last of the pills.
Men and women shield their kids in the background.
Jordan shakily stands and wobbles away.
INT. HOME - NOON
TIME LAPSE - A FEW HOURS
Lisa walks into the room. Jordan lays there in a dizzying haze. The room spins.
Lisa: What did you do?
Jordan's eyes dart, unable to focus.
Jordan: Nothing, just leave me alone.
Lisa leaves the room.
Heartbeats thunder—eye flutter. Suddenly.
Jordan: Mommy! Help! I did something.
Jordan's eyes search the room again in panic. Lisa rushes back. Heartbeats thunder again.
Lisa: What did you do?
Jordan (stuttering): I-I overdosed on sleeping pills.
Lisa: Where's the package?
Jordan tries to sit up but fails as the room spins.
Jordan: I threw it away in the park. Mommy, I'm so sorry.
Lisa sits Jordan up in a panic.
Lisa: Get your shoes. You're going to the hospital.
Jordan wobbly tries to stand but can't.
Jordan: I can't... (beat) I can't walk...
Tears rush down her cheeks.
Lisa: Jordan, I'm not calling an ambulance.
Jordan: You're going to have to.
Jordan tips over on the mattress. Mom helps Jordan to her feet and walks you to the living room the best she can onto the couch.
Jordan: Mommy, am I going to die?
Lisa: I sure hope not.
The room spins. Eyes flutter, and hearts beat. Jordan takes a deep breath and collapses to the floor. Everything...
FADES TO BLACK.
INT. THE DISMAL VOID - UNKNOWN
Darkness engulfs the screen.
Jordan (V.O.): Is this what life is supposed to be life? Are you supposed to feel insane and forget about feeling the deeper you get involved with your existence? Was I supposed to live, or was that just another fluke? Am I in hell right now?
Darkness turns to light. Her vision twists and turns sucked through a bright tunnel, and two sets of brown eyes flicker open and shut. Then...
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
TIME LAPSE - TWO WEEKS
Jordan's eyes flicker, adjusting to the light outside her hospital room. A LADY lays in the bed next to her. A tube sucks snot from her chest. She snorkels as nurses check for a pulse.
Jordan: I-I think she's dead.
Nurses try to wake her, but it's no use. Silence. Jordan stares in horror. Suddenly a rush of nurses and doctors storm the room. They shock the lady's chest. One-two-three. Nothing. One-two-three. Nothing.
Finally...
Doctor: Time of death: Three twenty-four.
Jordan stares in shock. Suddenly she screams, flailing around as a rush of nurses pin her down.
Jordan: Noooo! NOOOOOOO!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Nooooo!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Her eyes flutter as the heart monitor screams in the distance, and she fights. Hospital nurses cover the woman's face and roll her away.
Suddenly, Jordan is now above her body, staring down. Heartbeats thunder. EVERYTHING...
FADES TO BLACK.
INT. DARKNESS - UNKNOWN
JORDAN (V.O.): That moment changed my life forever. I had never been more desperate to get help in my life. It was the itch to feel something again. I didn't need to get better. I craved it.
INT. ROOM - NIGHT
Jordan's pudgy fingers type into the keyboard. She brushes her bangs to the right corner of her face and sighs, hoping for a response. It has been a while since the incident—roughly a year. Not a second passes before a response comes through the other end. 've wasn't expecting anything. She was studying his profile as if it were a bible. Kind of creepy if you think of it.
INTERCUT - - TEXT MESSAGE
Jordan: Hello?
The boy, ARKADA, stubborn and tricky, behind his computer, types back.
Arkada: Who are you?
Jordan adjusts herself on the couch and takes a deep breath.
Jordan: My name is Jordan. I'm kind of looking for a friend. I've been going through a rough time.
Arkada: How so?
Jordan sighs.
Jordan: It's sort of a long story.
Arkada: It's okay.
He sounds soft-spoken. Jordan rolls her eyes anyway and sighs as she leans back against the couch.
Jordan: Are you a boy or a girl?
Arkada: Why does it matter?
Jordan pictures him snarling at her. His voice is deep and raspy.
Jordan: Because I would love to know.
Arkada: Okay? (beat) I'm a boy, and perhaps you're a girl?
Jordan smiles.
Jordan: Yeah.
Jordan blows air from her cheeks as she clears her throat in silence.
Jordan (mocking him): So, your name isn't Nick, right, and you don't happen to have blonde hair and blue eyes?
Jordan pictures a sinister smirk forming on his face as he bites his lower lip.
Arkada: Why would you think that?
Jordan starts to type the words, "I don't know," but she's quickly interrupted.
Arkada: Actually, I have dark hair and brown eyes, if you want to know. Also, you can call me Arkada if you want.
Jordan (Muttering to herself): Alrighty then. So, Arkada... (She takes a breath, drawing shapes on her inner thigh with your index finger. It's been a coping mechanism for her since you were twelve or younger) How old are you? I mean... I'm like 20... I mean... It doesn't matter, sorry.
Jordan sighs, slamming her palm against her forehead. She imagines him rolling his eyes as he grips his device tight in his hand and writes a response.
Arkada: It's okay. I really don't like to talk about that.
Jordan purses her lips and nods in silence. That's fair.
Jordan (Joking): You're totally like eighty, right?
Jordan pictures him laughing nervously.
Arkada: Something like that.
Jordan breathes deep and exhales.
Jordan: I have this really dark sort of story. Something I share with very few people. I died before because I killed myself.
Jordan pictures panic taking refuge in his mind. Fortunately, for her sake, people on Watt-tab were much more friendly than she thought, especially the Christian ones. At least that's what she assumes. However, instead of asking you what happened, he ignores that she told him anything.
Jordan: I can totally see I made you uncomfortable. I will be leaving you... forever that is...
Jordan's eyebrows curl together. Three dots appear on the screen moments later.
Arkada: I like you. You're funny. Unfortunately, I have to go now.
Jordan: Thank you. Good night Arkada.
Jordan sighs.
Arkada: Of course. Sleep sweet and raise anew.
Jordan falls back against her mattress, smirking. She shuts her eyes and falls asleep.
INT. DARKNESS - UNKNOWN
Jordan: We all know; this was just the beginning.
THE END.