THE PROPOSAL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
FADE IN — MOUNTAIN RESORT
The sky burns orange over a remote mountain resort.
A long road disappears behind the trees.
Three friends stand beside a parked SUV.
Anthony keeps checking something inside his jacket.
Tonight is supposed to be perfect.
But none of them knows what is coming.
INT. RESORT CABIN — EVENING
Warm lights fill the wooden cabin.
Music plays softly.
Dinesha looks through photographs from their trip.
Shayla sits silently near the window.
ANTHONY
“Maybe I am hiding something.”
SHAYLA
“I think I already know.”
Silence fills the room.
EXT. RESORT TERRACE — NIGHT
The mountains are almost completely dark.
Tiny lights shimmer below.
Anthony leads Dinesha outside.
He takes a deep breath.
DINESHA
“Why are you so nervous?”
ANTHONY
“Because I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
Anthony reaches inside his jacket…
THE INTERRUPTION
“DON’T.”
Anthony freezes.
Dinesha turns around.
Shayla stands several feet away, visibly distressed.
SHAYLA
“Don’t do it.”
ANTHONY
“Shayla…”
SHAYLA
“If you propose to her, I don’t know what I’ll do to myself.”
Everyone suddenly realizes how serious the situation has become.
THE ARGUMENT
DINESHA
“Anthony doesn’t belong to you.”
SHAYLA
“You don’t understand.”
ANTHONY
“I’m still going to marry Dinesha.”
Shayla’s eyes fill with tears.
Dinesha’s anger slowly turns into concern.
DINESHA
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
For the first time, nobody is arguing anymore.
THE CRISIS
Anthony keeps his distance and speaks calmly.
A resort employee calls for emergency assistance.
ANTHONY
“You’re not alone right now.”
SHAYLA
“I don’t know how to ask for help.”
ANTHONY
“Then don’t ask. Let us ask for you.”
Slowly, Shayla steps away from danger.
The people around her help her through the crisis.
But the night is far from over.
INT. HOSPITAL — LATE NIGHT
Fluorescent lights fill the quiet hallway.
Anthony sits alone, still holding the velvet ring box.
DINESHA
“You were going to propose tonight.”
ANTHONY
“I was.”
DINESHA
“Do you still want to?”
ANTHONY
“More than anything.”
THE DOCTOR
A doctor exits Shayla’s room.
Anthony immediately stands.
ANTHONY
“How is she?”
The doctor explains that Shayla is physically stable
but needs immediate mental-health support and should not
be left alone.
Anthony looks through the glass window.
THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
Suddenly, a nurse rushes into Shayla’s room.
Doctors move quickly.
Anthony and Dinesha stare through the glass.
Shayla slowly looks toward Anthony.
DINESHA
“What did she say?”
ANTHONY
“I don’t know.”
Shayla moves her lips again.
This time, Anthony understands.
“I SAW SOMEONE OUTSIDE.”
Anthony slowly turns toward the dark hospital window.
Nothing is there.
Or so it seems.
A SHADOW MOVES BEHIND THE GLASS.
Anthony’s face tightens.
Dinesha grabs his arm.
DINESHA
“Anthony…”
Anthony looks back toward the window.
The shadow is gone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
WHO WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL?
WHAT DID SHAYLA SEE?
AND WHY DID THE SHADOW DISAPPEAR?
