Beneath the Surface

Beneath the Surface

Written by

Karina Lim, Jovan Lim, Erica Wee

 Beneath the Surface 1.

1 EXT. SCHOOL - AFTERNOON 1

DILLON OW, 18, is sitting alone, staring at blank space. He

is in school alone, in the afternoon.
Dillon sees a shadow darting across his peripheral vision. He
looks over but the shadow is gone. Dillon is confused and
continues to stare at the place where the shadow was.
A shadow gradually becomes bigger and is casting over Dillon
and he stares into blank space. He notices the shadow and
before he could turn to look at the figure, XAVIER LEE, 18,
the bully, grabs him by the collar and drags him off the
bench and pushes him to the wall.
XAVIER
Eh, loser, why you always by
yourself, your GPA still the same
as the number of friends you have?
Freak. I need my lunch, give it to
me
Xavier reaches for Dillon's pockets. Dillon looks down with
fear in his eyes, trying to resist Xavier. He does not say
anything as he gets pushed and forced into a secluded
staircase.

2 INT. STAIRCASE - AFTERNOON 2

Dillon gets beaten up by Xavier and the sound of pain and
laughter can be heard along with continuous begging to stop.
JUMP CUT TO:

3 INT. DILLON'S HOME - NIGHT 3

Dillon is seen in his room sitting in the dark with only
light from the moon shining into his room to highlight the
tears on his face. He is crying and breaking down but no
sound can be heard.
A black shadow can be seen in the background but it quickly
disappears, suddenly it gets windy and whispers can be heard.
Dillon shuts his eyes and covers his ears.
BEGIN MONTAGE:
Dillon rushes over to his desk
Pick up his sketchbook
Opens his pencil case
 Beneath the Surface 2.

Scribbles vigorously
Whispers are getting louder
More shadows are darting across his walls
The doorbell rings but he continues to scribble
There's a knock on the door
MONTAGE ENDS
Hanna opens the door.
HANNA
Hey, your Mom let me in.
DILLON
Hey.
HANNA
What are you doing?
Dillon shrugs his shoulder, throws the sketchbook onto the
side of the bed and flops on the bed.
Hanna walks over to Dillon and stares at the drawing on
Dillon's sketchbook
HANNA
Mm... What are you feeling now?

DILLON
Everything.

Hanna grabs his arm.

HANNA
Come. Follow me, let's get some
fresh air.

JUMP CUT TO:

4 EXT. PARK - NIGHT 4

In the park, Dillon and Hanna are walking side by side. She
brings him to a pathway and it says "Start here" Dillon looks
confused. Hanna starts jogging and turns around while running
on the spot.
HANNA
You said you were stressed, so
let's go for a run.
 Beneath the Surface 3.

DILLON
I hate running.

HANNA
Yeah? Too bad, let's go.

Dillon sighs and reluctantly and sluggishly starts jogging

towards Hanna.
FADE TO BLACK.

5 INT. ART ROOM - DAY 5

Dillon walks into the art room. Hanna was already in the art
room, painting clouds and skies.
DILLON
Hanna? You didn't tell me you were
coming.
HANNA
Oh hi. I ended early and figured
you'd probably come here after
class, so I decided to drop by and
wait for you here.

DILLON
What are you painting?
HANNA
Clouds and skies. It's really
therapeutic, let me show you!
Hanna is explaining to Dillon as she paints. Behind Hanna, a
slight smile creeps across Dillon's face. He catches himself
smiling and clears his throat, returning back to his neutral
expression.

Dillon picks the paintbrush up and starts painting.

HANNA
So. Are you feeling any better
today?
Dillon looks at Hanna for a second before replying.

DILLON
Yeah, I'm okay.
HANNA
You know I don't believe that
right.
Beneath the Surface 4.

DILLON
I know, then why'd you ask?

HANNA
I want to know what triggered you
that day.

Dillon takes a deep breath and very slowly exhales. He

fidgets with his paintbrush.

DILLON
I don't know...

Hanna looks at Dillon briefly before continuing to paint.

There is a deafening silence in the art room.

Dillon looks at Hanna after a while.

The black shadow dashes across the room behind Hanna. Dillon
is petrified.
He sits there unmoving. His hands start trembling. His lips
start to tremble.

Dillon turns back to his canvas and stares at it again. He

paints something in the bottom right corner of the canvas.

Dillon tries calming his breathing. He puts down his

paintbrush recklessly and looks over his shoulder.

DILLON
I have to go.

Dillon quickly picks up his bag but accidentally knocks down

the canvas.

Dillon runs out of the room.

HANNA
What the hell! Dillon! Dillon!
Where are you going?
Hanna is shocked at what just happened.

Hanna hastily stands up, about to chase after Dillon but

notices his painting - dark skies, as though a storm was
about to come. In the painting, Hanna notices a subtle dark
shadow at the corner and stares.

Hanna runs out to chase after Dillon.

JUMP CUT TO:

 Beneath the Surface 5.

6 INT. SCHOOL TOILET - DAY 6

Dillon rushes into the toilet, stopping abruptly in front of
the mirror and stares.
Dillon touches his eyebags. He traces his cheekbone. His
hands are shaking.

He looks at his hands which are still trembling. He holds

onto his own hands trying to stop them from shaking.

Dillon looks back at the mirror and swallows.

Hanna reaches the toilet and hugs the door, shouting from the
outside.

HANNA
Dillon! Are you okay?

DILLON
What? What?

Dillon continues to break down in the toilet

HANNA
How many fingers do you have? Count
them out loud!

Hanna raises her voice, firm and confident.

DILLON
1! 2! 3!

Dillon struggles to breathe and is hyperventilating. He takes

a while to say out every number. He struggles to swallow
saliva. He breaks out in cold sweat.

DILLON
4! 5! 5!

HANNA
That's right. 5.

Dillon's body starts relaxing a little and his breathing

starts slowing down and stabilizing. He is exhausted.

Hanna is panting a little from the adrenaline.

HANNA
You're okay. Nothing is going to
happen to you.
Both of them are sitting down, legs stretched out and back
leaning against the wall.
 Beneath the Surface 6.

Dillon walks out of the toilet, unable to stand straight and

is struggling to catch his breath.

HANNA
See?
DILLON
Thank you. How did you know?
HANNA
I just do. Let's do something else
tomorrow.

DILLON
Urh. Can I say no?

Hanna shakes her head.

Dillon sits down with Hanna and they accompany each other.

MATCH CUT TO:

7 EXT. EAST COAST PARK - DAY 7

Hanna and Dillon are ready on their bicycles. Hanna turns

around to look at him.

HANNA
Are you ready?

DILLON
Not really, no.

Dillon puts on his helmet.

HANNA
Let's go!

Hanna smiles at Dillon

Dillon cracks a subtle smile

BEGIN MONTAGE:

Hanna and Dillon are cycling

Hanna and Dillon are doing yoga

Hanna and Dillon are playing musical instruments

END MONTAGE

FADE TO BLACK.
 Beneath the Surface 7.

8 INT. ART ROOM - DAY 8

Dillon waits in the room, looking at his hands, hunched over
while sitting on the chair. He is fidgeting with his hands.
Hanna walks in.

HANNA
Hey.
DILLON
Hi.
There is a slight awkward tension between them. Both of them
pick up a canvas and start painting together. Hanna suddenly
stops. She picks up the painting that Dillon had left behind
yesterday and breaks the silence.

HANNA
You wanted to talk about this?
Hanna points to the subtle black shadow in Dillon's painting.

Dillon winces.
DILLON
Shh... He can hear us...

HANNA
Sorry?
Dillon looks around in fear. Hanna looks at him puzzled.

DILLON
He's everywhere I go... He can't
know we are talking about him.
HANNA
Who? He? Who's everywhere?

DILLON
Yea... He appears out of nowhere
and disappears almost
instantly...He stalks me. It's as
if he knows everything about me. He
tells me all the time that
I’m...unlovable and i can't help
but think he's...right.

HANNA
 Beneath the Surface 8.

Hey. Don't you dare say that about

yourself. You are your own person
and you are unique. The world would
have been a worse place without you
in it? You are special alright?
Never let anyone tell you
otherwise.
Dillon stares at the floor, fidgeting with his hands. He
gives a shy glance to Hanna and smiles gently.

Hanna stands up and walks towards Dillon. She puts a hand on

his shoulder.
HANNA
Hey, you know I'm always here for
you, right?
Dillon turns around to face Hanna. He nods with a smile.
HANNA
Oh wow, this is different?

Hanna stares and points at the painting of the sky with

fluffy clouds and large green plain.
DILLON
Yeah, thanks to you.
She smiles and admires the painting Dillon for her.
HANNA
I'll head to the toilet for a bit
first okay?
Hanna stands up and puts her painting back on the easel
before leaving the room.

Hanna looks back again when she is at the door.

Dillon smiles.

9 INT. ART ROOM - DAY 9

Footsteps can be heard coming from the corridor
DILLON
How are you so-
Xavier appears at the door and Dillon is distraught
XAVIER
Beneath the Surface 9.

Ey little bitch doing art ah? Got

so Gu Niang one ah?
Xavier inches closer to Dillon.

DILLON
Leave me alone, it's my artwork.
Dillon's shoulder tenses up.

Xavier is behind Dillon and bends over his shoulder.

Xavier smirks and scoffs
XAVIER
Okay okay, I leave you alone. But
the painting... seems a bit empty
don't you think?
Xavier looks at the canvas, seemingly interested.

XAVIER
Could use a bit of uh.
Xavier proceeds to take the paintbrush, dip it in black paint
and dash it across the canvas

DILLON
No! Stop it! Stop!
Dillon immediately jumps and grabs Xavier's arm.

Xavier growls and pushes Dillon back

XAVIER
Who do you think you are little
bitch?
Xavier continues ruining the painting.
Xavier grabs a scissors.

XAVIER
I think it needs a little realism
to it no?
Xavier stabs the scissors into the canvas at the clouds,
creating holes in the canvas.
DILLON
Stop! Please stop!

Xavier stops and turns to Dillon.

 Beneath the Surface 10.

XAVIER
Whiny ass.

Xavier takes the canvas and shoves it into Dillon. Xavier

walks out of the room. A few seconds later, Hanna walks in to
see Dillon seated on the floor staring at the painting. He
stuffs the painting into his bag before he dashes out of the
room. Hanna calls out to him and chases after him but fails
to catch up.

JUMP CUT TO:

10 EXT. SCHOOL GATE - EVENING 10

Dillon runs out of the school gate and is seen panting. He

looks around and sees bicycles parked outside the school. He
picks one up and starts cycling.

JUMP CUT TO:

11 INT. DILLON’S HOME - EVENING 11

Dillon enters his house and is in obvious distress, he heads

towards his room but stops in his tracks at the piano. He
sits down and tries to start playing it. As he continues, the
notes get heavier until he bangs his hands on the piano and
starts to break down. His phone starts to vibrate and it's a
call from Hanna. He reaches to turn it off, followed by soft
whispers.
FADE OUT.

12 INT. ART ROOM - DAY 12

Dillon walks into the art room and sees Hanna already inside
painting.

Dillon walks over and sits down beside Hanna, by his own
canvas and starts painting too. They don't exchange a glance
or any words.
Dillon hesitates, and opens his mouth but no sound comes out.
He tries again

DILLON
Sorry. I'm sorry for ignoring you
yesterday

There is no reply from Hanna and the room is dead silent.

DILLON
Beneath the Surface 11.

I listened to you. I ran and cycled

home. I even played the piano.

Dillon turns his head to look at Hanna.

Dillon is shocked and confused because Hanna is not there
anymore and is nowhere to be seen.

Dillon stands up, agitated, and looks around the room. He

runs out the door and stands in the middle of the empty
corridor, looking down both sides of it.
Dillon starts panicking and breaking out in cold sweat, hands
shaking and a high pitched ringing is audible. He runs back
to the room.
Dillon stops at the door, looking into the room that was once
filled with paintings, paint cans and a bunch of mess, to the
same room but empty.
A terribly confused and panicked Dillon turns back, looking
at the doorway, wondering what happened.

Dillon turns back once more and there sits a woman in the
centre of the room, on a sofa, looking at Dillon.
Dillon warily walks along the outskirts of the room, hands no
longer shaky.

THERAPIST
Hi Dillon, you're having an episode
again.
Dillon blinks multiple times and brings his arms in front of
him, in a fighting stance.
THERAPIST
You were telling me about some
activities you did yesterday? Mm..
Cycling!
Dillon, still circling the centre of the room, stops and
slowly relaxes his arms.

BEGIN FLASHBACK:
Dillon running in the park by himself
Dillon cycling by himself

Dillon doing yoga by himself

Dillon playing musical instruments by himself
Beneath the Surface 12.

END FLASHBACK

Dillon slowly walks back to his seat on the sofa, hand on his
head, visibly confused what had happened
THERAPIST
Your artworks seem to be changing
quite a bit too, I see a lot more
colours and much less distortion,
this one even has clouds in it!
Dillon lets out a confused smile. The dark shadow can be seen
behind him, briefly moving across the room, the voices are
faint. Dillon leans forward slightly.
FADE OUT.

THE END