EXT. ROADS

Dylan is walking down the road, coming into a park.

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

He keeps walking and spots Adriana leaning against a wall.

She notices him and stands up properly.

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
I don’t think I would mind being crazy if I cared less about what people thought of me.

Dylan seems a bit caught off guard by her. He looks up to her.

DYLAN
Since when were you crazy?

Adriana shrugs. She leans into some flowers.

Dylan is nervous, he isn’t looking at 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 difficult. Each time I think about doing something it’s like my body takes a deep breath and doesn’t let it out.

Adriana still seems distracted by the flowers.

ADRIANA
Doing what?

Dylan looks at her.

DYLAN
Huh? Oh, doing anything. So I just don’t do much anymore.

But she isn’t looking at him.

DYLAN (CONT’D)
It’s easier that way, don’t you think?

She comes down next to him.

ADRIANA
God, I don’t really know. Wouldn’t it be hard either way?

Dylan 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 seems indifferent.

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

ADRIANA
Sorry I shouldn’t have said that.

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

ADRIANA
Thanks...

There’s a moment of silence. They’re still walking.

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
I miss talking to you. I just keep myself busy. I’ve got work and school. This and that. I wish I had more time but that’s my life right now.

There’s another short silence.

DYLAN
Would you change everything if you could?

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

DYLAN
I do. It’s hard. I can’t say I don’t have doubts. I feel like I work against myself more than life works against me.

Adriana chuckles.

ADRIANA
(jokingly)
You’re your own labours.

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

DYLAN
Before you go. Can 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
(jokingly)
You’re right. 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
Hey I got another question.

DYLAN
Shoot.

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
Yeah.

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

ADRIANA
This one’s fallen over but it’s still growing.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

They are slowly walking under tree canopy.

Dylan looks toward her.

DYLAN
How long do you have?

She doesn’t look back to him.

ADRIANA
God I don’t know, a couple hours maybe but then I definitely have to go.

DYLAN
If you didn’t have to go, d’you think we’d be able to get together.

She now looks at him.

ADRIANA
Together?

DYLAN
Yeah properly.

Adriana sends out a slight nervous chuckle.

ADRIANA
Trust me you don’t want that. I don’t think I’m the one for you. I’d only let you down.

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 wrap it around hers.

Angela hesitates.

Dylan moves his hand over hers. Angela guides his fingers between hers and their fingers interlock.

They keep walking forward.

CUT TO:

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.

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
I don’t think I would mind being crazy if I cared less about what people thought of me.

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. It’s been a bit hard to do things. Each time I think about doing something it’s like my body takes a deep breath and doesn’t let it out.

She looks over at him.

ADRIANA
Doing what?

Dylan is looking down at his feet.

DYLAN
Anything. It’s easier that way, don’t you think?

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

ADRIANA
It’s not easy to let go especially when you’re expecting to hold your breath. You know if you hold it in you’ll live. If you let go it’s uncertain. It’s uncomfortable. But honestly so is holding your breath. It may seem comfortable at first but you’ll notice your lungs tense up.

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
I tried hard not to. I don’t mean that in a bad way, I’ve just been busy. Focused on myself.

DYLAN
Ah.

Adriana seems regretful.

ADRIANA
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 silence. They’re still walking.

ADRIANA
I do miss you. It’s just easier to pretend nothing’s changed when I keep myself busy. I’ve got work and school. This and that. I wish I had more time but that’s my life right now.

There’s another short silence.

DYLAN
Would you change everything if you could?

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
I guess. It’s hard. I feel like I work against myself more than life works against me.

Adriana chuckles.

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

Dylan looks at her. He smiles slightly.

DYLAN
I’ll try.

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
(jokingly)
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
That’s not what I meant.

Adriana turns around, bringing her focus back to the flowers.

DYLAN
What do you mean then?

ADRIANA
Never mind, it’s okay. Hey I got another question.

DYLAN
Shoot.

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

Dylan is looking at her, then starts looking around.

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.

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...

She turns around noticing another flower.

DYLAN
Yeah.

She bends down and looks carefully at the flower.

ADRIANA
This one’s fallen over but it’s still growing. I love that.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDENS

They are slowly walking under tree canopy.

DYLAN
How long do you have?

Adriana looks toward Dylan, he is looking at her but is eyes tear away.

ADRIANA
God I don’t know, I want to stay a couple hours but then I probably have to go.

She faces forward.

DYLAN
If you stayed longer d’you think we’d be able to get together.

Adriana looks at Dylan confused.

ADRIANA
Together?

DYLAN
Yeah.

Adriana lets out a slightly sigh, sounding upset.

ADRIANA
I don’t know about that. I’d want to try but I think I’ll only let you down.

Dylan nods and walks forward.

Adriana watches as he steps forward, she seems upset.

She walks after him.

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

Angela reaches out with her pinkie, trying to wrap it around his.

Dylan hesitates.

Angela moves her hand over his.

Dylan guides her fingers between his and their fingers interlock.

They keep walking forward.

FADE OUT.

END

(RAFAEL SIMPSON © 2025)