Urgent Patience
EXT. MOUNTAIN HIKING PATH — MORNING
NARRATOR SAM (V.O)
It was during my second year of college when it happened. I had just been offered a record deal with a big name company. It was my dream to make it big in music…it was fate. I had the talent, the skill, and the looks to back it up. I was on my way to the top. My girlfriend, at the time, invited me out for a hike in the mountains. She said, “It was a good way to detox from the city life.” I was fine with going for the hike. I had something I wanted to tell her anyway. I felt that this would be an excellent way to get things off our chest.
The serene beauty of the mountain landscape. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but we can see the rays just peering over the horizon. We see to individuals coming up the path.
SAM, early 20s, wearing some street clothes and black boots. He doesn’t look warm, but he is. Fashionable too.
ROBIN, early 20s, in proper hiking gear. She doesn’t look like she’s planning a small trip. Her bag is large and full of things that a survivor needs.
SAM
Come on, Robin, we’re almost there.
ROBIN
I’m coming, geez. Can’t you be a little more patient?
SAM
I just don’t want to miss it. This is going to be great.
ROBIN
Did you put out the campfire?
SAM
Yeah. Stop being such a worry wort. You’ve asked me that like five times.
ROBIN
I’m just smelling something.
SAM
You’re smelling nature, babe.
ROBIN
Hey, I want to talk about something.
SAM
It can wait till we get to the top.
NARRATOR SAM
We had come to the mountain the night before and camped out halfway up. As much as I didn’t want to admit at the time, I was pretty good at campouts. The only reason why I try yo avoid it is, because it always made brought me back to that old small town I grew up in. Hall-water. Hated the place. Big enough to be called a city but small enough to be a town. They liked it that way, and they wonder why the youth kept leaving.
INTERVIEW MICHAEL
Then why did you accept Robin’s invitation?
NARRATOR SAM
Plenty of reasons. I was…letting her get one in the books. You see, well…We were a band in college, even before that. It’s really how we hooked up.
INTERVIEW MICHAEL
What type of music did you play?
NARRATOR SAM
She brought the indie, and I brought the pop.
EXT. TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN — MORNING
SAM
Boom! Isn’t it amazing? Gawd, that’s one thing, miss, about Hall-Water. The view.
ROBIN
Hey, are you sure-
SAM
Yes, I am a hundred and 600% sure I put out the fire. What’s wrong with you?
ROBIN
Hmph, wrong with me. I guess something is wrong with me.
SAM
What’s up?
ROBIN
Really you’re going play it off like it didn’t happen.
SAM
Oh come on, you’ll get your chances. We still all of our lives ahead of us.
ROBIN
You don’t get it.
SAM
No…I think you don’t get it. I knew this was going to happen. I thought it better if we fight out and move past this. Babe, I’m paving the path for you. All you got to do is follow it.
ROBIN
The holy saint Sam Kennedy paving the way for us sinners.
SAM
If you want to see that way, don’t let me stop you.
ROBIN
Oh, shut up.
SAM
Hey.
Sam steps up close and tries to bring Robin into his arms.
ROBIN
Stop it. Don’t touch me.
SAM
Ugh, gawd you’re being a child.
ROBIN
A child?! Like you have room to talk. We start this band together.
SAM
We start the band to hook up.
ROBIN
No, no, we didn’t. You’re so full of yourself. We start the band because we liked the same music. You’re talented at singing, and I was talented at everything else. The composing, the playing, the editing, everything.
SAM
Babe-
ROBIN
Don’t you babe me. You greed troll.
SAM
That’s a little rude.
ROBIN
Wow. You don’t see anything wrong with this, do you?
SAM
No, I don’t. I wrote the songs. They are my songs. I came up with the band name, so it’s my name. I put in the work, and you piggybacked off my vocals.
ROBIN
You know I thought maybe you won’t be such a dick, but hey my 15 years isn’t enough time to know a person.
SAM
Oh, stop whining. I did this for the both of us. We were bickering back and forth about what songs we wanted to play.
ROBIN
More like you were tired of the music, I was composing.
SAM
Same difference.
ROBIN
But hey, you’re going big now. Famous and be able to hire all the great composures.
SAM
Might just do that.
ROBIN
Go right ahead…Gawd, I’m so stupid. You took full rights of our songs, and of our band name, and you left me with nothing. Sign a contract all by yourself and left me with nothing. I hope you’re happy.
SAM
It’s a cold world babe, but I’m going be to help you get your deal.
ROBIN
No, you’re not. You justing going to use me like you always do. For that inspiration and music.
SAM
but that’s what you’re good for.
ROBIN
You’re beyond saving. I’m dropping out.
SAM
What? You can’t.
ROBIN
I am, and I will. Have fun at the top.
Robin heads back down.
SAM
You can’t leave! I am the one who drove us here.
He pulls out the keys.
SAM
I have the keys. You can’t leave me! This is going to be great for both of us! Hey! Hey! Fire.
A fire starts flaming up in the distance.
SAM
Robin! Hey! Fire! Hey!
CUT TO:
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM — NIGHT
SAM
It hadn’t rain in a couple of weeks. There was a fire ban up, but when you’re young, you’re immortal. Nothing can kill you, and nothing can harm you. The fire lit the forest like a match, and it created a ring around me. I remember seeing Robin just walk into it, not turning back.
A beat…
INTERVIEW MICHAEL
Are you okay?
SAM
Yeah…I miss her. She was right. I was alone at the top, and I lost it all up there.
INTERVIEW MICHAEL
That’s when you fell in, right?
SAM
Yeah, the top of the mountain caved, and I got trapped inside…I wonder if I had treated her better things would be different. I…I had the option of actually adding her to the record deal, but I choose to exclude her. I felt at the time that this was my chance, and if I didn’t take it, I would lose it, and I would never get another chance like that again.
INTERVIEW MICHAEL
That’s how it is when you’re young.
SAM
Mmhmm. There was more chance always more, but I guess…Tch. I’ll never know right. Seeing how there’s nothing left and you’re not even real. Just figment of my imagination.
The Interviewer dissolves, revealing Sam’s real location.
INT. CAVE — NIGHT
There are eyes in the shadows, and the sound of something growling can be heard.
SAM
I hear ya. I guess it’s about that time of the day.
The growling gets louder.
SAM
Patience. It’ll help you one day.
The beasts attack.
