A love of lies.
1. AMIRA'S HOUSE.DAY.
It is 2005 and today is just like any other day for Amira Scott. Her husband of 3 years, Ivan, is traveling to Shanghai on business.
(camera zooms into photo’s plastered over the refrigerator showing their intimate relationship. Ivans’ itinerary revealing his flight number is hanging as well.)
They own a company together, and have become business partners, best friends, and have vowed to love each other for life. Amira is listening to the news as she is cooking, as an alert flashes regarding a plane crash in the mid- Atlantic. She drops the chopping knife. It is Ivan's flight that has gone down.
2.FUNERAL. DAY.
It is a week after Ivan's plane that was en route to Shanghai, plummeted over the Atlantic. Amira made arrangements for the funeral, and is standing around the casket, surrounded by Ivan's loved ones.
Charlie is standing next to Amira, arms around her shoulders, and rubbing her back.
Amira picks at her bandaged fingers.
CHARLIE
(placing hands on the small of Amira's back)
I promised Ivan, that if it was the last thing I ever did,I would keep you safe. I am going to keep that promise-- forever.
Amira wipes tears from her face, and throws a flower onto his casket.
AMIRA
Rest in peace, my love.
(interlaces her fingers with Charlie's)
Charlie and Amira slowly back away from the empty casket. They both take one glance back, and push this image into the very backs of their minds.
3. CHARLIE'S HOUSE.NIGHT.
Months have gone by, and Charlie and Amira have started forming a relationship. Since the day of the funeral, they have been inseparable. Amira is only happy when she is in Charlie's presence. She has become very quiet, sensitive, and sticks close to home at all times.
Charlie is conflicted, but knows that if he leaves Amira, she will crumble. The only way to protect her, is by loving her.
In the background, the television is on the news station, and a news reporter rumbles to life with breaking news.
The remains of flight 182 have been found. All of the passengers were uncovered, except for one man, by the name of Ivan Scott.
Charlie is in the living room, roughing around with his Rottweiler when he hears the television come to life. He stops dead in his tracks.
Amira walks in from the kitchen.
AMIRA
Hey lover, guess what I am thinking we do tonight??
(Charlie is unresponsive,and Amira notices his pale white face)
Babe... whats going on! You look like you have seen a ghost!
Just as Amira says this, she whips around, and see's her husband's face on the television. MISSING PERSON is flashing under his name, next to pictures of the uncovered plane.
Amira gasps, runs to the bathroom, and vomits.
4.AMIRA'S CAR. DAY.
Amira has become increasingly anxious and restless as the days go on since the uncovering of flight 182. She has not been eating, and Charlie is worried for her health.
Today is a good day for her. She is driving home from a long day furniture shopping with Charlie, at ease listening to John Lennon on the radio.
(She sways to the music)
Charlie bites his nails nervously, and wonders if he should tell Amira about the letter Ivan handed him before he departed for Shanghai. It has been bothering him for weeks, but he hasn't had the courage to speak up to fragile Amira.
(flashes back to months before to this happening at the airport)
CHARLIE
Amir....
(his voice trails off)
Amira flashes her gleaming smile in his direction. The light hits her brown locks, bringing forth the hints of golden strands in her hair.
Charlie doesn't want to finish his sentence. He does not hide his emotions well and Amira knows he is uneasy with something.
AMIRA
Why have you been so weird all week!
(she frowns, and lowers her voice)
You know I have been trying to push everything into the back of my mind. He is gone. He has been gone, and is never coming back. I don't care what anyone says.
CHARLIE
(A tear forms in the corner of Charlie's eye)
There is something you need to know.
5.ABANDONED WAREHOUSE ON ROUTE 66. NIGHT.
Charlie has taken Amira to the place that Ivan told Charlie to take his wife to, in the letter he handed him at the airport prior to his departure.
(camera close up to the letter, in Ivan’s distinctive script, to the part which reads, “Bring her to this place.”)
There are 4 fingerprint security locks on the door. Charlie places his hand on the scanner and the door pops open.
Amira stops suddenly and jolts up.
AMIRA
I refuse to go any further Charlie. You tell me what the rest of that letter said!!
Charlie whips around, takes out the crumpled letter and shows Amira the blood-stained finger print insignia on the bottom.
CHARLIE
Ivan swore on his life that the day you found out about this place, would be over his death bed.
Charlie grabs Amira's hand, leads her into a chain-linked elevator, and steps into the darkness.
6.CREEPY ELEVATOR. NIGHT.
Amira is overcome with the scent of cigars and hard liquor as the elevator travels to the highest floor. She shields her eyes from the smokiness. It hits the highest level on the number pad, but continues on.
AMIRA
How long will we be in this thing? What are we, going in the sky or something?
Suddenly, the scent changed into deep roses, and a hint of rosemary. Amira sniffs the air, felt herself become dizzy, and suddenly started getting increasingly warmer. She felt her cheeks flush, and took off her sweater.
CHARLIE
More like Cloud 9......
Amira looks at Charlie with bulging eyes. (Written text on screen). Was it the Cloud 9? She had only heard rumors. Faint stories. Scary stories even. Only time will tell what her story would be.
Fade out.
