1. SCENE 1- PLAYGROUND
FADE FROM BLACK
Late afternoon, exterior of a playground
Mackenzie is on the swing set, swinging as high as possible.
She is joyful and thinking of her past. The swing starts to
accelerate downwards, blowing her hair back. Mackenzie
laughs.
MACKENZIE (VO)
I’ve always loved the feeling like
I was soaring. Like I was a bird or
a superhero that was free to fly
wherever I desired. When I was a
child I would beg my parents to
come to this playground everyday
just so I could play on the swings.
POV of Mackenzie’s husband, Owen, and young daughter, Aubrey
playing on the playground. Their laughter travels across the
park, making Mackenzie smile. She watches them thoughtfully.
MACKENZIE (VO)
Now little Aubrey is going to be
begging me and Owen to bring her
here everyday!
The swing begins to slow as Mackenzie drags her feet in the
dirt. She rests her head against the metal chain.
MACKENZIE (VO)
The amount of joy Owen and Aubrey
bring to my life is indescribable.
Everyday I think back to all the
memories we have created,
treasuring them with all of my
heart.
Mackenzie closes her eyes and the film is transported into
her mind, showing a glimpse of her fondest memories with
Owen and Aubrey.
SCENE 2- MEMORY 1
Exterior of a house, at dusk
Mackenzie and Owen walk up the driveway to the front porch
of Mackenzie’s house holding hands. They look younger, in
their mid-teens.
(CONTINUED)
2. CONTINUED: 2.
OWEN
I had a wonderful time with you
today, Mackenzie.
MACKENZIE
Thank you for a wonderful first
date.
Mackenzie and Owen look at each other longingly for a few
seconds, and then Owen leans in and kisses her. They both
smile. Mackenzie opens the door to the house as Owen makes
his way back down the porch stairs.
As Mackenzie closes the door she leans against it, smiles,
and gently touches her lips. She is overjoyed.
MACKENZIE
My first kiss...
SCENE 3- MEMORY 2
Interior house, afternoon
Mackenzie is in her early 20s now and is in her house,
cleaning. She hears a knock at the door and goes to answer
it. When she opens the door she finds Owen, in his military
uniform, standing in the doorway smiling. She is taken back,
not expecting Owen to be home from Iraq for another couple
months.
MACKENZIE
Oh my god...
Owen takes Mackenzie’s hands, pulling her out to the porch.
They embrace.
OWEN
Oh, my love, I have missed you.
Everyday, every second I spent in
Iraq, there was not a moment that
you weren’t on my mind. All I ever
think about is how I want to spend
the rest of my life with you. You
mean the world to me.
Mackenzie is beginning to get teary-eyed as Owen gets down
on one knee and takes out an engagement ring.
OWEN
Mackenzie Rose Hudson, will you
marry me?
(CONTINUED)
3. CONTINUED: 3.
MACKENZIE
Yes, of course, yes!
Owen slips the ring on her finger, picks her up, spinning
her around and kissing her.
SCENE 5- PLAYGROUND
Mackenzie still sits on the swing with her head against the
chain and she opens her eyes, no longer thinking back to her
memories. Owen and Aubrey are heard playing and laughing in
the distance. Mackenzie gets up from the swing and makes her
way over to Owen and Aubrey.
AUBREY
Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!
Mackenzie hugs Aubrey lovingly.
MACKENZIE
Hi there my little munchkin! Are
you having fun?
AUBREY
Yep, yep! Me loves this park
thiiiiiiis much!
Aubrey extends her arms out to show Mackenzie how much she
loves the park. Mackenzie laughs.
MACKENZIE
That is wonderful Aubrey!
AUBREY
C’mere! Let me show you what me and
daddy do!
Aubrey grabs Mackenzie’s hand, pulling her towards the slide
where Owen is sitting. Owen stands, embracing Mackenzie.
Aubrey plays.
OWEN
Were you having a good time on the
swings, my love?
MACKENZIE
Of course! I love this playground.
Aubrey does too, she told me she
loves it thiiiiiis much!
Mackenzie extends her arms as Aubrey did. Owen laughs.
Aubrey is on top of slide platform.
(CONTINUED)
4. CONTINUED: 4.
AUBREY
Daddy, can we show Mommy what we do
on the slide?
OWEN
Of course little munchkin! Here I
come!
Owen climbs up the slide.
OWEN
Are you ready?
AUBREY
Yep, yep!
They slide down together, Aubrey on Owen’s lap. She is
laughing hysterically. Owen kisses her on the cheek when
they reach the bottom.
AUBREY
Again, again, again!!
There are then multiple shots of Mackenzie, Owen, and Aubrey
playing together. They are a very loving family, not afraid
to show it and are always laughing and having fun. As the
sun begins to set they leave the park. Aubrey is riding on
Owen’s shoulders and Owen and Mackenzie are holding hands.
The color of the shot slowly begins to fade, the camera
getting slightly out of focus, the characters seem to be
walking almost in slow motion. The only shot is of the three
walking away towards a car. There is audio of a car starting
and a thunder storm beginning in the background. It is not
until the shot has completely faded to black that there is
the loud sound of a car crash.
There is then a fast replay of the three memories that
Mackenzie was thinking about on the swing, as if her life is
flashing before her eyes.
The screen goes black again and the sound of sirens begins
to get louder. Everything goes silent for a few seconds and
then all that is heard is Mackenzie’s last breath.
SCENE 6- GRIEVING
Exterior graveyard, day
Mackenzie is sitting on a bench looking at a graveyard. She
is dressed in all black and is crying.
(CONTINUED)
5. CONTINUED: 5.
MACKENZIE (VO)
Owen and Aubrey died that day...
Even to this day I can hear the
doctor’s words echoing in my
head...
TODD (VO)
There was a bad storm last night
and a drunk driver crashed into
your car in a head on
collision. Mackenzie... I am so
sorry, but Owen and Aubrey did not
survive the crash. Owen arrived at
the hospital with you last night,
but as you know Owen had been
previously injured in Iraq when he
was caught in the middle of a bomb.
Those injuries made him weaker and
where he was seated in the car, the
crash was more abrupt, breaking his
neck and spine. We tried everything
we could, but our efforts were
worthless. Aubrey on the other
hand, well Aubrey is so young, it
is so tragic. Aubrey died instantly
from the impact of the crash... I
am so very, very sorry.
MACKENZIE (VO)
It was not until Owen and Aubrey
were being lowered six feet into
the ground that I actually believed
that they were no longer a part of
my life. Every time I close my eyes
I see them.
Mackenzie closes her eyes.
MACKENZIE (VO)
I see Owen kissing me for the first
time. I see Owen proposing to me
after he returned from Iraq. I see
them together, running around and
laughing at the playground. I see
the three of us together, a family
that had promises of forever.
As Mackenzie explains each memory, it is shown as if it is
what she is visualizing in her head. Mackenzie then opens
her eyes. (Close up on her eyes)
(CONTINUED)
