DYLAN’S PERSPECTIVE

EXT. ROADS

Dylan is walking down a road toward a park entrance.

He walks under trees which cast large shadows under the sun.

He keeps walking and spots Adriana leaning against a wall at the park entrance.

She notices him and stands up properly.

ADRIANA (O.S)

Well, who cares if —

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

The gardens are filled with flowers.

Dylan and Adriana are walking down a path.

She gets up onto a short wall, standing above him.

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
— you come across as crazy? Most people are too worried about themselves.

Dylan seems a bit caught off guard by her.

He looks up to her with a slight smirk.

DYLAN
(flirtingly)
You seriously wouldn’t mind people thinking you’re crazy?

Adriana does not respond, she focuses on some flowers in front of her.

Dylan smile lingers for a moment before fading. He now appears uncomfortable and looks away from her.

DYLAN (CONT’D)
Hey uhm, I-I miss you. I know I didn’t reach out and I’m sorry for that but it’s just been a bit difficult.
(now jokingly)
Each time I think about sending you a message, it’s like my body takes a deep breath and doesn’t want to let go.

Adriana still seems distracted by the flowers.

ADRIANA
You should try.

Dylan looks at her confused.

DYLAN
Huh? Try what?

She faces him.

ADRIANA
You should try let go, it’s better that way, or don’t. Either way it’s not the end of the world, it wouldn’t kill you to relax a bit.

Adriana turns away again.

Dylan seems upset by her answer. He thinks to himself.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

They walk down a path. Dylan seems nervous.

DYLAN
Do you miss me?

He’s looking at her but struggling to maintain his focus on her.

She doesn’t notice his nerves.

ADRIANA
(bluntly)
I didn’t really think about you.

Adriana quickly looks towards Dylan, realising her words.

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
I don’t mean that in a bad way, I’ve just been busy. Focused on myself.

DYLAN
Yeah.

Dylan struggles to maintain eye contact. His eyes drift around.

ADRIANA
(flatly)
Sorry I shouldn’t have said that.

DYLAN
No, it’s okay it felt right to say it so you did.

There’s a moment of awkward silence.

They’re still walking. Adriana is looking around at nature while Dylan just looks awkward.

DYLAN (CONT’D)
Would you change everything if you could?

ADRIANA
No, I want this. I want to work for my success and see it through. Don’t you?

Dylan nods but seems slightly upset by her answer.

DYLAN
Yeah, yeah, no I want to do good, just focusing on studying I guess. I do procrastinate more than I probably should.

Adriana nods.

ADRIANA
You are your own labours.

Dylan looks at Adriana. He stops walking. She notices and stops to look at him.

DYLAN
I know you’re here for just a few more days, but could we see each other again?

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

Adriana is crouched down smelling a pod of flowers.

Dylan stands slightly back.

ADRIANA
(slightly annoyed)
The flowers smell dead.

DYLAN
(jokingly)
Give them a chance they’ll come around. You shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss things.

ADRIANA
It just happens naturally.

Adriana stands up straight. She turns around.

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
Hey if we didn’t meet, would you still be here?

DYLAN
Like come here..? Probably yeah. Is that what you meant?

ADRIANA
Yeah, that’s what I meant.

DYLAN
I like it here it’s nice, it’s like you’re here either way.

Adriana doesn’t acknowledge what Dylan just said.

ADRIANA
Hey I got another question.

DYLAN
Yeah?

ADRIANA
Do you believe in reincarnation?

DYLAN
Honestly, I don’t really know. Maybe? I do feel like some people come back, like you feel their presence in a butterfly and then you just know it’s going to be a good day.

Adriana is looking around, she seems distracted.

Dylan watches her.

ADRIANA
I like that. I really like that. I’d want to come back as a butterfly if I could. Just to be able to fly. To be free and let the wind take me wherever it wants to go...

Dylan listens carefully. When she mentions being free he seems upset.

DYLAN
Yeah.

She bends down to another flower and looks at it carefully.

ADRIANA
This one’s like you, it’s fallen over.

Dylan looks hurt.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

They are slowly walking under tree canopy.

Dylan looks toward her.

DYLAN
How much time do you have?

She doesn’t look back to him.

ADRIANA
God I don’t know, a couple hours? My dad wants us to see some family-friends and I can’t be late.

There’s another moment of awkward silence.

DYLAN
If you didn’t move away, do you think we would have stayed together?

She now looks at him curiously.

ADRIANA
Together?

DYLAN
Yeah properly.

Adriana sends out a slight nervous chuckle.

ADRIANA
Trust me you don’t want that. I think we work better as friends and that’s what this needs to be right now.

Adriana walks forward.

Dylan watches as she steps forward. He seems upset.

He walks after her.

He catches up and they walk side by side. Their hands knock against each other.

Dylan reaches out with his index finger, trying to touch Adriana’s hand.

He hesitates.

Dylan pulls his finger back.

They keep walking forward.

FADE OUT.

END

ADRIANA’S PERSPECTIVE

EXT. GARDENS

The trees stand in the sun.

Adriana is looking up at the green leaves. She leans against a wall.

She crosses her feet.

Adriana looks up and sees Dylan walking towards her. She stands up from the wall and smiles.

ADRIANA (O.S)
Well, who cares if —

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

The gardens are filled with flowers.

Adriana and Dylan are walking down a path.

She gets up onto a short wall, standing above him.

ADRIANA
— you come across as crazy? Most people are too worried about themselves.

She is looking down at Dylan. He starts turning around to look at her.

Adriana turns to some flowers and leans into them. She doesn’t see what Dylan is doing.

She focuses on the flowers.

DYLAN
Hey, I know I didn’t really reach out and I’m sorry for that but it’s just been a bit difficult. Each time I think about sending you a message it’s like my body takes a deep breath and doesn’t want to let go.

She looks over at him.

ADRIANA
(genuine)
You should try.

Dylan is looking down at his feet.

DYLAN
Huh? Try what?

Adriana comes down and leans against the wall relaxed. As she speaks she seems more contemplative.

ADRIANA
You should try let go. I think sometimes you need to do uncomfortable things, so if messaging me feels strange then do it anyway, or don’t. Either way it’s not the end of the world, it wouldn’t kill you to relax a bit.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

They walk down a path. Adriana is looking at the flowers, looking at the way the sun beams in-between tree branches.

Dylan surprises her slightly.

DYLAN
Do you think about me?

She looks at him, he is looking down.

ADRIANA
Yeah of course, sometimes I do, but I’ve been busy.

DYLAN
Ah.

Adriana seems regretful.

ADRIANA
Sorry I should’ve said that a bit better.

DYLAN
No, it’s okay it felt right to say it so you did.

They keep walking.

Adriana looks at Dylan, he appears shut off.

DYLAN (CONT’D)
Would you want to change anything?

ADRIANA
Maybe. I definitely have my doubts but I want this. I want to work for my success and see it through. Don’t you?

DYLAN
Yeah I want to do good too. I’m focusing on studying I guess but I procrastinate more than I probably should.

Adriana chuckles.

ADRIANA
(jokingly)
You’re your own labours.
(genuinely)
You don’t need to be so hard on yourself.

Dylan doesn’t look at her.

DYLAN
(flatly)
I’ll try.

Adriana seems slightly off-put by his demeanour.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

Adriana is crouched down smelling a pod of flowers.

Dylan stands slightly back.

Her nose is pressed up against the flower heads.

She gets upset.

ADRIANA
(slightly upset)
The flowers smell dead.

DYLAN
You shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss things.

ADRIANA
(jokingly)
You’re right. It just happens naturally.

Adriana stands up straight and turns to face Dylan.

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
Hey if we didn’t meet, would you still be here?

DYLAN
Like come here..? Probably yeah.

ADRIANA
You know that’s not what I meant.

Adriana keeps looking at Dylan but he looks away.

He does not want to answer the question.

Adriana gets annoyed but shakes it off.

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
Never mind, it’s okay. Hey I got another question.

DYLAN
Yeah?

ADRIANA
Do you believe in reincarnation? Would you want to come back?

DYLAN
Honestly, I don’t really know. Maybe? I do feel like some people come back, like you feel their presence in a butterfly and then you just know it’s going to be a good day.

Adriana looks at Dylan.

DYLAN (CONT’D)
I don’t know if I would want to come back. This feels like a one and done kind of place.

ADRIANA
I’d want to come back as a butterfly if I could. Just to be able to fly. To be free and let the wind take me wherever it wants to go. Would you not want that?

She waits for Dylan’s response but he doesn’t give one.

Adriana sighs slightly.

She notices a flower with a weak stem.

She bends down and looks carefully at the flower.

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
This one’s like you, it’s fallen over but it’s still growing. I love that.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

They are slowly walking under tree canopy.

DYLAN
How much time do you have?

Adriana looks toward Dylan.

He avoids eye contact.

ADRIANA
God I don’t know, a couple hours? My dad wants us to see some family friends and I can’t be late.

She faces forward.

DYLAN
If you didn’t move away, do you think we would have stayed together?

Adriana looks at Dylan confused.

ADRIANA
Together?

DYLAN
Yeah.

Adriana exhales.

ADRIANA
I don’t know about that. I don’t think anything would change. I’ve moved on, I’m happy but I still want the same for you. Like I said before, it’s uncomfortable but you need to get used to letting go.

Dylan nods and walks forward.

Adriana watches as he steps forward, she can tell that wasn’t the response he was looking for.

She walks after him.

She catches up and they walk side by side. Their hands knock against each other.

Dylan pulls his hand back.

Adriana notices and seems uncomfortable.

They keep walking forward.

FADE OUT.

END

(RAFAEL SIMPSON © 2025)