This document is a screenplay summary for an unspoken drama. It describes a traumatic event where Jamie witnesses his father David kill his mother Cindy during a domestic dispute. Jamie is then nonverbal and diagnosed with selective mutism. Three months later, Jamie is adjusting to a new home and school with his sister Mya and aunt Rachel. He begins to learn sign language and makes a friend. Mya also joins the soccer team at her new high school. The screenplay explores Jamie and Mya coping after their mother's death.

1. UNSPOKEN
Written by
Chrysta Morris

2. COLD OPEN
INT. WRITE HOUSE - EVENING
JAMIE,8, is peeking around the corner. CINDY, female late
30s, and DAVID, male early 40s, are yelling in the kitchen.
CINDY
You shouldn’t be here.
DAVID
(words slightly slurred)
I’ll go wherever I damn well
please.
CINDY
I told you that it’s over. Now get
the hell out of my house!
David slaps Cindy across the face. Jamie lets out a small
gasp, and both adults turn in his direction.
CINDY (CONT'D)
(holding her cheek)
Jamie baby I told you to stay in
your room! Go back up this instant!
JAMIE
But mom--
CINDY
Now Jamie.
Jamie looks at David one last time and then at his mom, and
runs back up the stairs.
INT. JAMIE’S BEDROOM - EVENING
Jamie runs into his room closing and locking the door behind
him. He runs to his make shift fort in the corner and tries
to control his heavy breathing as the yelling resumes.
CINDY (O.S.)
Now get the hell out of my house
before I call the cops.
DAVID (O.S.)
I don’t know who you think you’re
talking to.
Jamie hears a small click from downstairs.
CINDY (O.S.)
(sobbing)
David... Please... What are you
doing?!
DAVID (O.S.)
If I can’t have you, no one can.

3. 2.
CINDY (O.S.)
David. No. Plea--
A loud gunshot is heard and Jamie holds his breath. The door
slams not long after. Jamie has silent tears stream down his
cheeks.
INT. JAMIE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Someone finds Jamie and calls out to him with no response. He
is pulled out of the fort and carried out of the house.
INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
MYA, mid-teens, rushes towards the hospital service desk.
MYA
Where is he?! Where is my brother?!
NURSE
What’s the name?
MYA
Jamie Write. I’m his sister Mya.
NURSE
(sadly)
He is in room 402. All the way down
on the right.
Mya runs down the hall and sees OFFICER PIKE standing outside
the room. He stops her before she can go in.
OFFICER PIKE
What is your relation to the boy?
MYA
I’m his sister, Mya. Please, what
happened?
OFFICER PIKE
We don’t have all the information
yet, but Mya your mom was hurt and
she didn’t make it. I am so sorry
for your loss.
Tears started to stream down Mya’s face.
MYA
(shakily)
And Jamie?
OFFICER PIKE
Is alive with no injuries. As for
details of what happened, we don’t
know. Jamie won’t speak to me or
the doctor. We have no way of
knowing just how much he may have
seen or heard.
2.

4. 3.
MYA
Can I see him?
OFFICER PIKE
Of course.
The officer moves out of the way and Mya opens the door.
Jamie is laying on his side facing away from the door.
MYA
(softly)
Jamie?
Jamie gives no reaction. Mya walks to the other side of the
bed to see his face, and he looks up at her with bloodshot
eyes.
MYA (CONT'D)
Jamie I--
Jamie looks away from Mya and flips over in the hospital bed
to face away from her.
INT. PSYCHIATRIST OFFICE - DAY
Mya and AUNT RACHEL, early 30s, are talking to a
PSYCHIATRIST.
PSYCHIATRIST
After a few exercises, and of what
I know about the trauma Jamie has
recently dealt with, I believe
Jamie has selective mutism.
AUNT RACHEL
Is that common in children?
PSYCHIATRIST
No, but when someone goes through
as traumatic a situation as Jamie
has or worse, your mind will often
find a defense mechanism to deal
with what has happened. His has
simply chosen that the best defense
is to not speak.
MYA
Will he ever talk again?
PSYCHIATRIST
It’s possible, but that is up to
him. For now, I would say just
communicate with him as best you
can, and don’t try to force him to
speak. He will talk when he is
ready.
END COLD OPEN
ACT ONE
3.

5. 4.
INT. NEW WRITE HOUSE - DAY
3 MONTHS LATER; Jamie walks into the kitchen where Mya and
Aunt Rachel are sitting at the table.
AUNT RACHEL
Hey bud, I made breakfast! Help
yourself to whatever you like.
Jamie takes a seat and grabs a couple things from the table.
MYA
Are you excited about your first
day at the new school?
Jamie gives no reaction.
MYA (CONT'D)
Well I’m a little nervous, but it’s
exciting! New school, new people,
don’t you think?
Jamie gives no response and finishes what he is eating
quickly. He gets up to grab his backpack.
MYA (CONT'D)
(calling out to Jamie)
Do you want me to walk you to the
bus--
Jamie slams the door behind him. Mya lets out a deep breath.
AUNT RACHEL
Oh honey, it’ll be okay, he’ll come
around.
Mya gives a little nod.
MYA
I should go too. First day and all.
Mya gets up to grab her backpack. She goes to open the door.
AUNT RACHEL
Good luck honey.
Mya gives a small forced smile then walks out the door.
INT. BUS - DAY
Jamie gets onto the bus, and there are no open seats. He
finds LUCAS, a boy appearing to have oversized earbuds in his
ears. Lucas looks up and pulls his backpack into his lap to
let Jamie sit. Jamie gives a small smile and sits.
LUCAS
Hi, I’m Lucas.
Jamie pulls out a paper and writes his name for Lucas to see.
4.

6. 5.
LUCAS (CONT'D)
Nice to meet you Jamie.
End Act One
ACT TWO
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
BEN, late 30s, walks to the front desk of a police station.
BEN
Hi, can I speak to whoever is in
charge of the Write House case?
INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY
Jamie is standing in the front of his new classroom looking
down at his feet next to his teacher MRS. PARKER.
MRS. PARKER
A new student is joining us today!
This is Jamie Write! Why don’t you
say hi Jamie?
Jamie continues to look down at his feet.
MRS. PARKER (CONT'D)
O-ok, well Jamie there is an open
desk in the back. Why don’t you go
take a seat.
Students murmur as Jamie makes his way to his desk.
MRS. PARKER (CONT'D)
Everyone quiet down. Today we are
going to talk about...
Jamie pulls out his notebook and pencil to draw, tuning out
the class entirely.
INT. HIGHSCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE- DAY
Mya is sitting across from the SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Alright hun, what was the name
again?
MYA
Mya Write.
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
(scanning the computer
screen)
Alright... ah! Here we are!
The counselor pauses while looking at the computer.
5.

7. 6.
SCHOOL COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
Oh dear, you’re the Write girl. I’m
so sorry for your loss.
Mya shifts around uncomfortably in her seat.
MYA
Thank you.
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
I hope this new school will give
you a fresh start. It says here you
were on the soccer team at your
last school! We happen to be
holding tryouts for our soccer team
tomorrow if you’re interested.
The school counselor places a flier in front of Mya.
MYA
Thank you.
Mya stares at the flier as she waits for the counselor to
give her the rest of her paperwork. The counselor hands her a
folder and Mya exits the office.
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Mya hands Aunt Rachel the flier for the try outs.
AUNT RACHEL
That’s fantastic! Are you going?
MYA
I don’t know. I don’t think so.
AUNT RACHEL
But why not? Don’t you love soccer?
MYA
Because... I can’t not be here for
Jamie. Not again.
AUNT RACHEL
Mya. What happened to your mom and
Jamie was not your fault.
MYA
But it feels like it is! Because
while Jamie was home experiencing
the worst moments of his life, I
was at fucking soccer practice. And
no doubt that’s how Jamie sees it!
Jamie then comes through the door with his head hanging down.
He starts to walk towards the stairs.
MYA (CONT'D)
(enthusiastically)
Hey buddy! How was your first day?
6.

8. 7.
Jamie sulks up the stairs with no response. Mya gives Aunt
Rachel a look, and Aunt Rachel just looks away and sighs.
END ACT TWO
ACT THREE
INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY
Jamie is at his desk doodling in his notebook. A teacher,
MRS. DIANA, female mid 30s, approaches his desk.
MRS. DIANA
Hi Jamie! My name is Mrs. Diana.
Can you come with me really quick?
You can bring your stuff with you.
Jamie nods. He follows her to a new classroom where there are
a few kids in groups and some doing things on their own.
MRS. DIANA (CONT'D)
You can sit wherever you like. This
classroom is for students who like
to learn and do things a little
differently.
Jamie sits in the corner by himself and continues his
drawings. He glances up and sees Lucas with Mrs. Diana doing
hand motions back and forth. Lucas looks up and sees Jamie.
Jamie gives a little wave. Lucas smiles and walks over to
Jamie and Mrs. Diana follows.
MRS. DIANA (CONT'D)
Hi Jamie! It looks like you and
Lucas have already met?
Jamie gives a little nod. He looks back at the teacher with a
curious look and makes a hand motion like they were doing.
MRS. DIANA (CONT'D)
Oh! Have you ever heard of sign
language?
Jamie shakes his head.
MRS. DIANA (CONT'D)
Lucas can’t hear so instead we talk
with our hands. Do you want to try?
Mrs. Diana hands him a paper with the American Sign Language
Alphabet on it.
MRS. DIANA (CONT'D)
Just do your best to keep up and
stop me if you need to ok?
Jamie nods and tries to follow along as she slowly does the
alphabet with her hands.
7.

9. 8.
EXT. SOCCER FIELD - DAY
Mya is sitting on the bleachers watching the soccer tryouts.
She shakes her head and steps off the bleachers and around
the corner to leave. She runs straight into someone and
almost falls back, but the person catches her arm. She is
face to face with SAM, mid teens and in a football uniform.
SAM
Woah, I am so sorry. Are you okay?
MYA
I’m fine thanks don’t worry about
it.
Mya starts to leave the field again.
SAM
Hey where are you going? Tryouts
are that way.
MYA
I changed my mind. I think it’s a
mistake.
SAM
Well mistake or not, you’re already
here so why not go for it anyway?
He starts to turn around and run back to the field but stops
before going around the corner.
SAM (CONT'D)
Good luck!
Mya watches as he heads back to the field.
END ACT THREE
ACT FOUR:
INT. HOUSE - EVENING
Jamie is showing Aunt Rachel his paper that the teacher gave
him and showing how far he has come already.
AUNT RACHEL
That is wonderful Jamie! You’ve
already learned so much so fast.
Jamie gives Aunt Rachel a genuine smile and says thank you in
sign language. They both look up as Mya walks in the door.
AUNT RACHEL (CONT'D)
You’re home late. Did you decided
to go to tryouts after all?
MYA
Yes. I made the team!
8.

10. 9.
AUNT RACHEL
That’s fantastic! Jamie has some
news to share to! Don’t you Jamie?
Mya and Aunt Rachel both look to Jamie with smiles, but Jamie
is looking down and away from both of them.
MYA
Jamie?
Jamie stands up abruptly and starts to run out of the room.
MYA (CONT'D)
Jamie wait please!
Just as Jamie gets to the stairs, there is a knock at the
door. Aunt Rachel walks to the front with Mya behind her and
opens the door. Officer Pike is there with Ben standing
behind him.
END ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE
INT. HOUSE - EVENING
Jamie stays by the stairs, but listens to the conversation.
MYA
What the hell is he doing here?
BEN
Mya I--
MYA
Don’t fucking talk to me.
Officer Pike pauses.
OFFICER PIKE
May we come in?
MYA
YOU can. HE can stay outside.
Aunt Rachel lets Officer Pike in and Mya slams the door in
Ben’s face. They all take a seat except Jamie who stays
listening by the stairs.
MYA (CONT'D)
Why is he here?
OFFICER PIKE
Your father saw in the news what
happened to your mom, and he
reached out about the case and
about you and Jamie.
MYA
Have you found David yet?
9.

11. 10.
OFFICER PIKE
No, we’re still searching for him.
MYA
So let me get this straight. My
mom’s killer is still out there,
and you brought my dad here to
what? Pretend like he cares about
us and didn’t walk out on me and my
brother as kids.
OFFICER PIKE
He wants to talk to you and Jamie.
And... He has petitioned for
custody of you both.
AUNT RACHEL
Their mom made it clear in her will
if anything were to happen to her,
I would become their guardian.
OFFICER PIKE
I understand, but the law states if
the parent with primary custody
dies, the surviving parent has a
right to petition the court for
custody regardless of any will made
by the custodial parent.
MYA
He can go right ahead and fuck
himself. I’ll never go with him.
OFFICER PIKE
You are of legal age make that
decision. As for Jamie, he is still
young, and his dad still has rights
to see him and possibly gain
custody of him if the courts deem
him fit to parent.
MYA
That is outrageous. This isn’t
right! Jamie would never want to--
Jamie makes his way to the middle of the room and puts the
piece of paper with the alphabet in front of Mya and Aunt
Rachel. Slowly he signs out I W-A-N-T T-O.
MYA (CONT'D)
But Jamie--
Jamie gives Mya a hard look that makes her stop. Jamie signs
to her Y-O-U-R F-A-U-L-T. Jamie then looks back to Officer
Pike and nods his head. Mya remains quiet as tears run down
her cheeks.
END OF SHOW
10.