Chaos to Beauty
1. EXT. EMPTY STREET - NIGHT
NARRATOR
Dark, empty street late at night. The lights are flickering and there is an eerie glow coming through dead trees. We see a woman, dirty, battered and bruised. The side of her face is swollen, her nose is bleeding, and she is bare foot running down the street. Periodically looking behind her as she runs
Crying out of breath, feet on gravel, sound of wind through trees
COURTNEY
(out of breath, muttering)
Please, please help…
NARRATOR
She begs, looking to see if anyone is on the road with pleading eyes. Tears streak her face. She glances back to a red car backing out of a driveway, hitting a curb.
Car tires screeching on the road and the thump of tires going over the curb
COURTNEY
Oh fuck, he’s going to see me.
NARRATOR
She begins to run faster, quickly turning down the street. Her feet are bloody, eyes wide with fear. She sees a large RV and quickly dives under it, scrapping her knees as she curls up behind the tire
Footsteps get faster
COURTNEY
(breath becomes heavier and faster
Don’t let him find me… just let him pass
Don’t let him find me… just let him pass
Don’t let him find me… just let him pass
(Breathing pauses, releases breath)
Car passes
2. EXT. STREET - DAY BREAK
NARRATOR
COURTNEY opens her eyes to a dim light, peering out from behind the RV tire. Not seeing the red car, she slowly climbs out leaving blood and old urine behind on the ground. As she stands, scanning left to right down the street as she starts cautiously walking.
COURTNEY
(heavy breathing, stammering)
I should just go back. No one will help me with COVID going on.
3. EXT. STREET - LATE DAY
NARRATOR
COURTNEY walks alone down the street, leaving bloody footprints as she goes.
COURTNEY
I need to just disappear, leave the state, but he said he would find me, hurt my son. I’m his property. I should just go back, but I know he will kill me.
NARRATOR
A dark, older minivan drives down the street. It’s the only car driving on the street and a scared look comes over COURTNEY’s face.
Minivan driving slowly, then stops
COURTNEY
Oh no, his friends found me. It’s over, I give up, I can’t do this.
NARRATOR
As the minivan approaches, COURTNEY gets a better view of the driver. A warm hearted looking, older woman is behind the wheel.
Baby cooing in background
NARRATOR
COURTNEY slowly walks up to the van, the panic fading as she sees the OLDER WOMAN’s face.
OLDER WOMAN
Honey, do you need help?
4. EXT. STREET/MINIVAN- DAY
NARRATOR
COURTNEY, seeing the kindness in the older woman’s eyes begins to sob and walks up to her window. Noticing COURTNEY’s injuries, she opens the door. COURTNEY begins sobbing immediately, falling into the older woman’s arms.
OLDER WOMAN
It’s okay hunny, just come sit down, let’s call your mom. You’re safe now. Put in her number.
Dialing on a phone, ringing, and pick up from other end
OLDER WOMAN
Hi, is this Courtney’s mom? I really think you need to come down here, she’s been assaulted.
MOM
(Inaudible murmuring, phone call ended)
COURTNEY
(sobbing)
OLDER WOMAN
It’s okay hunny, your parents are on their way.
COURTNEY
Okay, I’m sorry. Thank you so much, I didn’t want to bother you.
OLDER WOMAN
Don’t you worry hunny.
NARRATOR
MOM and DAD pull up in their car and get out. COURTNEY’s parents have a shocked look as they see her. They all get back into the car and drive off.
Car arrives, doors open and close, car drives off.
5. INT. CAR, MOVING- DAY
COURTNEY
(shakily, sobbing)
Hi mom, I think I need to call the police.
MOM
I think so too, I don’t think there will be a next time.
NARRATOR
We see COURTNEY looking forward as she catches her reflection in the rear-view mirror for the first time.
COURTNEY
(begins to cry harder)
Mommy, he almost killed me this time.
NARRATOR
As COURTNEY’s parents give her a bit to catch her breath, she examines her injuries in the mirror, stunned she hadn’t felt any of them until now. She pokes at the swelling above her eye, gently touching the discoloration and rests her hand against her jaw. She notices a hand print bruised into her neck.
MOM
(softly)
So, are you finally ready to be down with all this?
COURTNEY
(crying, firm voice)
I don’t want to die, go to the police station.
6. INT. POLICE STATION, EXAMINATION ROOM- NIGHT
Click of camera and sound of flash going off (multiple times)
COP
We should take you to the hospital.
COURTNEY
No, I just want to go home with my mom.
COP
Are you sure?
COURTNEY
(nods her head)
Yes.
7. INT. COURTNEY’S HOME, BASEMENT BEDROOM- DAY
COURTNEY
It’s been over a month, I’m still afraid to leave the basement. I think I need to get help.
MOM
I think that’s a really good idea.
8. EXT. NEW ROADS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - DAY
NARRATOR
COURTNEY, bags in hand, takes a deep breath and walks into New Roads.
COURTNEY
(takes a deep breath)
9. INT. NEW ROADS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ROOM- DAY
NARRATOR
A women’s group meeting, PEER #1 sharing with the group about violence on the news.
PEER #1
…protestors broke out in fights. A woman was injured as she was walking.
COURTNEY
(crying, her breath quickens)
COURTNEY runs out, followed by a STAFF MEMBER.
10. INT. NEW ROADS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, LOUNGE - DAY
COURTNEY
(hyperventilating)
STAFF MEMBER
COURTNEY, wait up…Focus on your breathing. In, 1, 2, 3, 4, out through your mouth… slow.
COURTNEY
(breath slows returns to a normal pace)
11. INT. NEW ROADS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THERAPIST OFFICE - DAY
THERAPIST
(soft spoken, understanding, shows no surprise at what she says)
COURTNEY come in, sit down. With EMDR, we are going to expose you to your trauma memories in a safe environment, using these paddles that vibrate at frequencies to desensitize your brain to those memories.
COURTNEY
But when I talk about it, I hyperventilate and throw up on occasion.
THERAPIST
I think EDMR will help.
12. INT. NEW ROADS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ROOM - DAY
NARRATOR
COURTNEY is in a women’s group meeting with her New Roads peers. It is led by STAFF MEMBER.
STAFF MEMBER
Courtney is going to share her life story with us.
(pause)
Courtney, whenever you’re ready.
COURTNEY
(Her breathing quickens)
I am…
(takes a deep breath)
My life…
STAFF MEMBER
(whispers)
You’ve got this.
COURTNEY
(shakily)
My life wasn’t much different from many others. I am really struggling with what’s going on recently. You all may not know this but the man I was recently seeing became very abusive. He refused to let me leave the basement, kept my clothes from me, made me pee in a jar in the basement. The day I got away, he slammed my head into a wall, breaking my back teeth. I have struggled sharing this story because of how you’d look at me differently.
PEER #1
Nothing you say could ever make us see you differently.
STAFF MEMBER
Any feedback for COURTNEY?
PEER #2
I’m really proud of you. I can see how hard that was for you and I am amazed at how strong you are.
COURTNEY
(crying, taking deep slow breaths)
COURTNEY avoids eye contact but stays seated.
STAFF MEMBER
Okay, let’s vote for COURTNEY to move on to the next phase of her treatment.
Everyone raises their hands.
PEERS
(Murmurs of approval)
STAFF MEMBER
Okay, congratulations you have graduated to the next phase.
The group claps and the meeting ends. They all stand and hug COURTNEY. She smiles at the STAFF MEMBER and takes a deep breath.
13. INT. NEW ROADS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ROOM - DAY
COURTNEY sits at a table, an ornate notebook open. Pencil in hand, she begins to write.
COURTNEY
Dear Chad, I know you’ll never get this letter, but I need to get this out, for me. First off, it’s perverted how much I desperately felt I needed your love, even as the abuse got worse and worse. You would always cry and say it was the last time and that you hated yourself for what you had done. Three months ago, I believed it. My fear of the dark or making a sound began to grow until you almost killed me that night. I know that’s not love. That is control and I don’t need to be afraid anymore. I deserve more. Courtney.
COURTNEY takes the paper out of her notebook.
Ripping paper, deep breath
COURTNEY gets up from the table then walks away, a smile on her face as she joins the others.
PEERS
(greet COURTNEY)