California turns blue
685 Words
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ACT III, SCENE I
Setting:
Early morning. The team is gathered outside the apartment complex. Rolling luggage clicks along the pavement. Duffle bags, water bottles, sleepy faces. A few parents are there to see them off. A school minibus waits nearby. The mood is mixed—some excited, others still drained from the boys vs. girls game.
At Rise:
Tyler and Marcus walk side by side, dragging bags. Tyler wears headphones around his neck, but they’re silent.
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MARCUS (yawning):
Man… I swear I closed my eyes for like five minutes last night. That game’s still playing in my head.
TYLER (half-focused):
You missed an open layup in the third. That might be haunting you too.
MARCUS (grinning):
Dude. I got the rebound and put it back in. You’re welcome.
TYLER (mild smile):
Still should’ve made the first one.
(They chuckle. A beat of silence.)
MARCUS (softly):
You thinking about Ava?
TYLER (sighs, looking down):
I don’t know. I mean… yeah. She said “I don’t know.” That’s not a no, right?
MARCUS:
You really like her, huh?
TYLER:
I don’t even know what to call it. We argue. We compete. But when we’re together—it's like something clicks.
(Behind them, a small group of teammates talk in low voices.)
PLAYER 1 (snickering):
Bet he’s gonna FaceTime her the second we land.
PLAYER 2:
Man, they act like they’re in some rom-com. All chemistry class and court side cuddles.
PLAYER 3:
Was she even a real teammate yesterday? She was passing to him more than her own squad.
(Tyler hears this. He freezes mid-step.)
MARCUS:
Yo… ignore them. They’re just being dumb.
TYLER (under his breath):
It’s not even about them.
(He abruptly steps out of line, walking to a different lane beside the parking lot. He stays there alone, waiting for everyone to board the minibus. He keeps checking his phone. No messages.)
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CUT TO: AIRPORT – OUTSIDE TERMINAL
(The team arrives. It’s busy but not chaotic. Tyler sticks close to Marcus but keeps looking over his shoulder. Still no sign of Ava. They line up for bag check.)
COACH DAWSON (clapping hands):
Alright, team! Fifteen minutes until boarding. Make sure your bags are tagged and loaded. Let’s keep it moving.
(Players unload luggage near the cargo cart. A few joke, others take selfies. Tyler moves more quietly, scanning the terminal entrance every few seconds.)
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PARKING AREA – TEN MINUTES LATER
(Marcus and a few others loiter by a small courtyard beside the terminal. Tyler is farther away, pacing alone by a vending machine. He checks his phone again. Nothing. He exhales slowly.)
TYLER (to himself):
Come on, Ava. You said “I don’t know.” Just let it be a yes.
(He stares at the entrance. A family walks in. A businessman with a briefcase. A little girl in a sparkly jacket. No Ava. No one even close.)
(He lowers his head.)
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INTERCOM VOICE (O.S.):
All passengers for Flight 304 to San Diego, please prepare to board. Final boarding in five minutes.
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COACH DAWSON (calling out):
Let’s go! Everybody in—final check before we take off!
(Tyler slowly walks back toward the boarding gate with the others. No smile. No bounce. Just quiet.)
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INT. PLANE – MOMENTS LATER
(Everyone finds their seats. Some players sit in pairs. Tyler sits alone by the window. He leans his elbow on the armrest, cheek resting against his fist, eyes scanning the outside terminal through the glass.)
(He watches as the last few passengers walk up the ramp. Not her. Not even close. The ground crew loads the final cargo.)
(Then, the cabin door shuts with a soft hiss.)
INTERCOM VOICE:
Flight 304 preparing for takeoff. Please fasten your seatbelts and ensure all carry-ons are secured.
(Tyler doesn’t move. He just keeps staring out the window as the plane pulls back from the gate. His reflection is faint in the glass—eyes full of something between hope and hurt.)
(Outside, the terminal slowly disappears from view.)
TYLER (softly, to himself):
Guess you didn’t know after all.
BLACKOUT.
- Writer
