"FRIENDSHIP" Script
(An hour and a half, anti-child abuse independent film project I wrote, produced, edited and directed through the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies Intensive Film Program, as part of my multimedia Master’s thesis at the Catholic University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. By doing this project, I was able to dig deeper into my own repressed memories of child abuse, and redeem, transform and express them through a profound and life-changing creative experience which I found not only therapeutic, but also intellectually fulfilling and spiritually uplifting. WARNING: Because of its adult content and subject matter, this script is intended for mature readers only—18 years old & above.)
Synopsis
Nick, Debbie and Alicia have been friends since grade school. Nick marries Debbie after being rejected by his fiancee Alicia who decided to become a nun after college to find meaning in her life. Alicia leaves the convent unfulfilled after 10 years and decides to reclaim Nick to fill the void within her, even though she knows that he is already married to her best friend and they have a 9 year old son, Josh. Nick succumbs to Alicia's seduction but is overcome by remorse afterwards, and resolves not to be unfaithful again. However, Debbie finds out Nick’s infidelity, feels betrayed by her husband, confronts and leaves him with a divorce threat. Then, she humiliates and threatens Alicia in front of her colleagues. Alicia retreats and fasts in her bedroom on Good Friday, wears her nun's dress and prostrates herself in front of her makeshift altar. Debbie, who goes to church to attend the Passion Service, is moved by the priest's homily about love and forgiveness and leaves the church to find Nick. Alicia, on the other hand, hears her phone ring, picks it up, suddenly regains her repressed memory of child abuse, breaks down while confronting her uncle/abuser, then leaves her apartment to find Nick and Debbie, and ask for their forgiveness. Meanwhile, Nick feels Jesus’ real presence while wrapping up his film shoot of the last scenes of the Second Coming of Christ and sees Debbie and Alicia coming up to him from a distance. Finally, the three friends are reunited and hug each other with tears of joy and forgiveness, while the crowd applauds thinking that they’re just rehearsing a scene.
Characters
1. Nick--struggling actor caught between his love for wife Debbie and unrequited desire for college sweetheart Alicia, his childhood friends
2. Debbie--Nick's wife, a real estate agent, and Alicia's best friend
3. Alicia--Nick's college fiancee who left him for the convent, came back, and is now teaching philosophy at NYU
4. Father Ken--Nick's college buddy and present confidant
5. Josh--Nick and Debbie's 9 year old son
6. Thelma--Debbie's mom who left philandering husband before she was born
7-8 Alicia's parents
9-10 Alicia's uncle & aunt
11-17 Alicia's students
18-19 Alicia's faculty members
20-25 Film crew
26-27 Debbie's clients
28-29 Bartender & customer
30-40 Dancers & musicians
41-42 Josh’s classmates
43-44 Young Debbie, & Alicia (9 years old)
45-47 Middle school aged Nick, Debbie & Alicia (13 years old)
48-50 High school aged Nick, Debbie & Alicia ((17 years old)
51 Principal
52 Waiter
53 Alicia's nephew (2 years old)
54 Sister Fides
55-56 Librarian & patron
57 IRS Agent
58 Flower Vendor
59 Newborn Josh
60 Risen Christ
Synopsis
Nick, Debbie and Alicia have been friends since grade school. Nick marries Debbie after being rejected by his fiancee Alicia who decided to become a nun after college to find meaning in her life. Alicia leaves the convent unfulfilled after 10 years and decides to reclaim Nick to fill the void within her, even though she knows that he is already married to her best friend and they have a 9 year old son, Josh. Nick succumbs to Alicia's seduction but is overcome by remorse afterwards, and resolves not to be unfaithful again. However, Debbie finds out Nick’s infidelity, feels betrayed by her husband, confronts and leaves him with a divorce threat. Then, she humiliates and threatens Alicia in front of her colleagues. Alicia retreats and fasts in her bedroom on Good Friday, wears her nun's dress and prostrates herself in front of her makeshift altar. Debbie, who goes to church to attend the Passion Service, is moved by the priest's homily about love and forgiveness and leaves the church to find Nick. Alicia, on the other hand, hears her phone ring, picks it up, suddenly regains her repressed memory of child abuse, breaks down while confronting her uncle/abuser, then leaves her apartment to find Nick and Debbie, and ask for their forgiveness. Meanwhile, Nick feels Jesus’ real presence while wrapping up his film shoot of the last scenes of the Second Coming of Christ and sees Debbie and Alicia coming up to him from a distance. Finally, the three friends are reunited and hug each other with tears of joy and forgiveness, while the crowd applauds thinking that they’re just rehearsing a scene.
Characters
1. Nick--struggling actor caught between his love for wife Debbie and unrequited desire for college sweetheart Alicia, his childhood friends
2. Debbie--Nick's wife, a real estate agent, and Alicia's best friend
3. Alicia--Nick's college fiancee who left him for the convent, came back, and is now teaching philosophy at NYU
4. Father Ken--Nick's college buddy and present confidant
5. Josh--Nick and Debbie's 9 year old son
6. Thelma--Debbie's mom who left philandering husband before she was born
7-8 Alicia's parents
9-10 Alicia's uncle & aunt
11-17 Alicia's students
18-19 Alicia's faculty members
20-25 Film crew
26-27 Debbie's clients
28-29 Bartender & customer
30-40 Dancers & musicians
41-42 Josh’s classmates
43-44 Young Debbie, & Alicia (9 years old)
45-47 Middle school aged Nick, Debbie & Alicia (13 years old)
48-50 High school aged Nick, Debbie & Alicia ((17 years old)
51 Principal
52 Waiter
53 Alicia's nephew (2 years old)
54 Sister Fides
55-56 Librarian & patron
57 IRS Agent
58 Flower Vendor
59 Newborn Josh
60 Risen Christ
The "Friendship" script document and file in this website are the properties of Oscar Diaz Ocampo, and in accordance with U.S. and international copyright laws, may not be reproduced, distributed or used without the expressed written consent of Oscar Diaz Ocampo.
"FRIENDSHIP" Script
A copy of the "Friendship" script will be e-mailed to you within 48 hours of purchase. All proceeds will go to Catholic Charities Fund for Abused Children. Thank you.
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