SCENE 1 — ISAIAH’S HOUSE — DAY

Warm afternoon light enters through the windows.

Isaiah sits quietly at the edge of the sofa, staring at his phone. His expression is serious. He looks at a message from Mariah, then takes a deep breath.

He knows what he wants.

He wants Mariah to come and stay with him.

But there is one problem.

He needs money for her ticket.

Isaiah gets up and walks toward his uncle, who is sitting nearby.

ISAIAH

Uncle, can I talk to you about something?

His uncle looks up.

UNCLE

Of course. What happened?

Isaiah hesitates for a moment before explaining.

ISAIAH

I want to bring Mariah here. I want her to come stay with me. But I need some money to get her ticket.

His uncle studies Isaiah’s face.

UNCLE

How much do you need?

Isaiah tells him the amount.

His uncle thinks for a moment.

Isaiah waits nervously.

ISAIAH

I promise I’ll use it only for the ticket. I really want to bring her here.

His uncle sees how serious Isaiah is.

After a moment, he reaches for his wallet.

UNCLE

All right. I’ll help you.

Isaiah’s expression immediately changes.

Relief fills his face.

ISAIAH

Thank you, Uncle. I really appreciate it.

His uncle hands him the money.

Isaiah carefully takes it and counts it.

Everything is there.

His eyes brighten with hope.

UNCLE

Be careful with that money.

Isaiah nods.

ISAIAH

I will. I’m going straight to get the ticket.

His uncle gives him a final look.

UNCLE

Then don’t waste any time.

Isaiah puts the money safely away.

He grabs his phone and heads toward the door.

SCENE 2 — OUTSIDE ISAIAH’S HOUSE — DAY

Isaiah steps outside.

The street is busy with ordinary afternoon activity.

He checks his phone again.

Mariah’s name is still on the screen.

Isaiah smiles slightly.

ISAIAH

Mariah, I’m coming.

He starts walking toward the ticket office.

His steps are quick.

For the first time that day, he feels like everything might finally work out.

SCENE 3 — CITY STREET — DAY

Isaiah walks along the sidewalk.

He keeps one hand close to the money in his pocket.

He looks around occasionally.

His mind is already imagining Mariah arriving.

He pictures meeting her.

He pictures telling her that he finally made it possible for her to come.

Isaiah takes out his phone and starts typing a message.

Before he can finish, he notices two young men standing farther ahead.

They are watching him.

Isaiah slows down.

The two men begin walking in his direction.

His expression changes.

He puts his phone away.

The street suddenly feels quieter.

SCENE 4 — QUIET SIDE STREET — DAY

Isaiah continues walking.

The two men move closer.

Isaiah looks behind him.

No one is close enough to help.

He turns forward again.

One of the men steps into his path.

ISAIAH

Excuse me. I need to get through.

The second man moves closer.

Isaiah becomes nervous.

ISAIAH

What do you want?

The situation escalates quickly.

Isaiah tries to move away, but the two men stop him.

He attempts to protect himself and get away.

A brief struggle follows.

Isaiah falls to the ground.

His phone slips from his hand.

The money is taken from him.

Isaiah looks up in shock.

ISAIAH

Please! That money is for Mariah’s ticket!

But the two men turn and run.

Isaiah tries to get back on his feet.

He watches helplessly as they disappear down the street.

His expression is devastated.

SCENE 5 — SIDE STREET — MOMENTS LATER

Isaiah sits on the ground for a moment, breathing heavily.

He checks his pockets.

The money is gone.

His hands tremble.

He looks toward the direction where the two men disappeared.

Nothing.

Isaiah slowly picks up his phone.

The screen is still working.

He opens Mariah’s contact.

His finger hovers over the call button.

He wants to call her.

But he doesn’t know what to say.

He lowers the phone.

ISAIAH

How am I supposed to tell her?

He looks down.

The excitement he had earlier is gone.

All that remains is disappointment.

SCENE 6 — ISAIAH’S HOUSE — LATER

The front door opens.

Isaiah walks inside slowly.

His uncle immediately notices that something is wrong.

UNCLE

Isaiah?

Isaiah doesn’t answer.

His uncle stands up.

UNCLE

What happened?

Isaiah looks at him.

His eyes are filled with frustration.

ISAIAH

Uncle… I lost the money.

His uncle is stunned.

UNCLE

What do you mean, you lost it?

Isaiah takes a breath.

ISAIAH

Two men stopped me on the way. They took the money and ran.

His uncle looks concerned.

UNCLE

Are you hurt?

Isaiah shakes his head.

ISAIAH

I’m okay.

His uncle walks closer.

UNCLE

Forget the money for a moment. Are you sure you’re all right?

Isaiah nods.

But his face shows how upset he is.

ISAIAH

That money was supposed to buy Mariah’s ticket.

His uncle understands.

Isaiah sits down.

ISAIAH

I was so happy. I thought everything was finally going to work out.

His uncle sits beside him.

UNCLE

Sometimes things don’t happen the way we expect.

Isaiah looks at him.

ISAIAH

But I promised Mariah.

UNCLE

You can still try again.

Isaiah remains silent.

SCENE 7 — ISAIAH’S ROOM — EVENING

The room is quiet.

Isaiah sits on his bed with his phone in his hand.

Mariah’s contact is open.

He finally presses CALL.

The phone rings.

Isaiah waits.

Mariah answers.

MARIAH

Hello?

Isaiah pauses.

He struggles to find the right words.

MARIAH

Isaiah? Are you there?

ISAIAH

Yeah. I’m here.

There is a long silence.

MARIAH

What happened?

Isaiah looks down.

ISAIAH

I was going to get your ticket today.

Mariah listens.

ISAIAH

My uncle gave me the money. I was on my way to get it…

He stops.

His voice becomes quieter.

ISAIAH

But two guys stopped me.

Mariah becomes concerned.

MARIAH

What happened?

ISAIAH

They took the money.

Silence fills the call.

MARIAH

Isaiah…

ISAIAH

I’m sorry.

MARIAH

Are you okay?

Isaiah nods even though she cannot see him.

ISAIAH

Yeah. I’m okay.

MARIAH

That’s what matters.

Isaiah closes his eyes.

ISAIAH

I really wanted you to come.

MARIAH

I know.

Her voice is gentle.

MARIAH

We’ll figure something out.

Isaiah looks at the phone.

For the first time since the incident, his expression softens.

ISAIAH

I promise I’ll keep trying.

MARIAH

I believe you.

The call continues quietly.

SCENE 8 — ISAIAH’S HOUSE — NIGHT

The house is quiet now.

Isaiah sits with his uncle in the living room.

The mood is calmer.

His uncle places a hand on Isaiah’s shoulder.

UNCLE

You shouldn’t blame yourself for what happened.

Isaiah looks at the floor.

ISAIAH

I keep thinking that maybe I should have been more careful.

UNCLE

You can’t change what happened.

A pause.

UNCLE

But you can decide what you do next.

Isaiah looks up.

His uncle continues.

UNCLE

If bringing Mariah here is important to you, find another way.

Isaiah nods slowly.

ISAIAH

I will.

He looks determined again.

SCENE 9 — ISAIAH’S ROOM — LATE NIGHT

Isaiah sits at his desk.

A notebook lies open in front of him.

He begins writing down ideas.

He checks ticket prices on his phone.

He calculates what he needs.

The road ahead will not be easy.

But he refuses to give up.

His phone suddenly lights up.

A message from Mariah.

Isaiah reads it.

A small smile appears on his face.

He types a reply.

ISAIAH

I’m not giving up. I’ll find a way.

He places the phone beside him.

Isaiah looks through the window.

The city lights shine in the distance.

His expression is tired, but determined.

SCENE 10 — ISAIAH’S HOUSE — NEXT MORNING

Morning sunlight fills the room.

Isaiah wakes up early.

He gets dressed and prepares for the day.

His uncle watches him from the doorway.

UNCLE

You’re up early.

Isaiah smiles.

ISAIAH

I have things to take care of.

His uncle nods.

UNCLE

Good.

Isaiah grabs his phone.

He looks at Mariah’s picture on the screen.

ISAIAH

This time, I’ll be more careful.

He walks toward the door.

His uncle calls after him.

UNCLE

Isaiah!

Isaiah turns.

UNCLE

Take care of yourself.

Isaiah nods.

ISAIAH

I will.

He steps outside.

The door closes behind him.

SCENE 11 — CITY STREET — MORNING

Isaiah walks down the street.

The morning is brighter than the day before.

He moves with purpose.

The setback still weighs on his mind.

But it hasn’t defeated him.

He takes out his phone and calls Mariah.

ISAIAH

Mariah, I’m going to make this happen.

He listens.

A smile slowly appears.

ISAIAH

No matter how long it takes.

Isaiah continues walking.

The camera slowly pulls back as he disappears into the busy city.

His journey is far from over.

But he has made his decision.

He will keep moving forward.

FADE OUT.