FADE IN

INT: COMMUNAL EMPLOYEE BATHROOM IN WOODEN CABIN AT CAMP THUNDERBIRD

Two women and a man murmur early morning conversation.

HEROINE enters, moving slowly and coughing at frequent intervals. Disappears into the toilet stall before emerging to wash her hands. Following a severe bout of coughing:

HEROINE
Hey, Mike? Can you let Kristy know I can’t make it today? I feel like shit.

MIKE (distractedly)
No problem.

HEROINE turns away and places one hand on the doorjamb preparatory to pulling the door open.

CUT TO: HEROINE POV

A ceiling of white drop tiles. Multiple voices clash together, though they sound muddled. The scene gently rotates 45 degrees before stilling. A door slams.

CUT TO: CLOSE-UP OF HEROINE

HEROINE blinks, realizing she’s lying on the floor. Her fingers tap against the tiles for a moment before she looks up into the face of AMY who is cradling her head in her lap.

HEROINE
Amy?

AMY
Don’t move. You passed out. And we think you hit your head on the shelf. Mike went to get the nurse.

HEROINE (visibly confused)
What?

AMY
You passed out. Just hold still.

HEROINE (V.O.)
What is she talking about? I went to my room and got back in bed.

HEROINE
I don’t understand.
(struggles to sit upright)
I was in my room.

AMY (pushing on HEROINE’S shoulders to hold her down)
You passed out. Mike saw you fall in the mirror, and he tried to catch you, but you’d already hit your head on the shelves. You need to stay put until the nurse gets here.

HEROINE (holding back tears)
I didn’t fall. I was in my room. How did I get here?

NURSE arrives, carrying a First Aid Kit with a cell phone pressed to her head. MIKE lurks behind her.

NURSE
She’s awake.

HEROINE
Tell Amy to let me go. I just want to go back to bed.
(intense coughing fit)
My head hurts.

NURSE kneels on the floor, leaning close to check HEROINE’S eyes.

MIKE
I turned away for half a second, and she was on the floor. I couldn’t reach her in time.

NURSE
Have you passed out before, Heroine?

HEROINE
Passed out? No. I don’t understand what this fuss is. My bronchitis is getting worse, so I asked Mike to tell Kristy I can’t work today. Now I’m on the floor.

NURSE (grim)
You do sound terrible. I think you need to go to the ER.

HEROINE laughs and sits up, swatting AMY’S hands away. She rises to her feet as everyone lunges toward her, gasps filling the room.

HEROINE
I don’t need the ER. Just let me go back to bed.

NURSE
You hit your head. You need to see a doctor.

HEROINE
I saw a doctor three days ago, remember? I have bronchitis. Just let me go lay down.

NURSE
I already called 911. The EMTs are on their way.

HEROINE
Then you can tell them you called for no reason.
(presses head against her temple and coughs again)
Please, I feel horrible. Just let me go to bed. Standing is making me nauseous.

NURSE
You’re going to the ER.

HEROINE mumbles incoherently and pushes into the hall before stumbling back to her room. As she moves to open the drawer under her bed, the door opens and AMY steps in.

AMY
It’s not a good idea for you to be alone right now. You passed out and hit your head.

HEROINE (fighting tears)
I hate you guys.

HEROINE pulls on fresh clothes, acutely embarrassed by AMY watching from the door. Collapsing onto her bed, she coughs as a knock sounds on the door. AMY opens it to reveal two EMTs in crisp white uniform shirts.

EMT #1
Which one of you hit your head?

HEROINE
There’s no proof I hit my head. People said “might have.”

AMY (pointing)
She passed out about ten minutes ago. One second she was up and talking, the next she was on the floor. We think she hit her head on the shelves on the way down.

HEROINE (growing increasingly irritated)
No one asked you.

EMT #2
Did you pass out?

HEROINE
No. I asked a co-worker to tell our boss I couldn’t work today because I feel like shit, and then I came back here to go to bed.
(hesitates)
I have no idea how I ended up on the bathroom floor.

AMY
You passed out.

HEROINE (visibly peeved)
Not sure I asked you.

EMT #1 kneels in front of HEROINE, reaching to check her pulse. Behind him, EMT #2 thanks AMY.

EMT #1
Do you have a history of passing out? Any heart conditions?

HEROINE
I have bronchitis. Third time this summer, because of the smoke from the fires. A doctor prescribed a Z-Pack for me three days ago.

EMT #1
But passing out?

HEROINE
I don’t pass out.

EMT #1
Why don’t we go into the ER, just to be sure? Would that be okay?

HEROINE
No.

EMT #1 (visibly startled)
Um.
(looks back at EMT #2)
I think it would be a good idea. People said you hit your head.

HEROINE
I don’t think it’s a good idea.

EMT #2
If you’d like, we can put you on a stretcher to take you to the ambulance.

HEROINE stares from one to the other, gradually losing hope.

HEROINE (mumbles)
I’ll go to the stupid ER.

EMT #2
I’ll get the stretcher.

HEROINE
Like hell you will.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT: AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD BATHROOM, TOWEL ON THE RACK AND BATHMAT IN FRONT OF THE SHOWER; ROOM REMAINS DARK

HEROINE POV

Vague sense of shapes and shadows blur in and out of the shadows. A cat gives a single meow nearby. A blank white ceiling with a bathroom fan comes into focus.

HEROINE (V.O.)
Why am I on the floor?
(touching the cold linoleum beneath her hands)
Wasn’t I in bed?

CUT TO: CLOSE-UP OF HEROINE

HEROINE sits up, reaching to pet the TABBY CAT sitting anxiously beside her.

HEROINE (getting to her feet, absently rubbing the back of her head)
I’m okay, Firefly. I think I’m just more tired than I thought.

HEROINE walks back to her bed, touching the walls and bookshelves in the dark to guide her.

FADE OUT

CUT TO: HEROINE POV

A small trash can spins in a slow circle on its side on the bathroom floor, the bag inside continuing to rustle. The subtle pattern in the bathroom linoleum is visible between HEROINE’S feet despite the darkness. An orange pill bottle rolls off the counter and hits the floor.

HEROINE (V.O.)
What’s going on? Why does my back hurt?

HEROINE pushes herself upright and retrieves the pill bottle, taking a moment to read the label (“Ondansetron”). Rights the trash can, twisting the bag inside to close off the smell of fresh vomit.

TABBY CAT hovers in the entrance to the door, meowing.

HEROINE gets to her feet and splashes water on her face. She fills a small cup with more water and looks at it before wincing and dumping it down the sink. As she stumbles out of the bathroom, she bends to pat the TABBY CAT.

HEROINE
I’m okay, Firefly. It’s just a stomach bug. Thank you for checking on me.

FADE OUT

CUT TO: HEROINE’S POV

The blue walls of the bedroom hallway are painfully bright under the overhead light. TABBY CAT meows nearby. FATHER’S voice is muffled but audible, talking on his phone. His face appears.

FATHER
What’s the house address again?

CUT TO: CLOSE-UP OF HEROINE LYING ON THE GROUND

HEROINE (stumbling over her words and pressing a hand to her forehead)
1234 Street Road. Why do you need the address?

FATHER relays the information to the phone. Hanging up, he kneels beside HEROINE.

FATHER
The ambulance is on the way.

HEROINE (groggy)
What? What ambulance? You’re supposed to be taking me to the ER. I’ve passed out at least twice, and my blood pressure is too low.
(rubs her hands over her face)
Why am I on the floor?

FATHER
You passed out again. I don’t want to risk it happening on the stairs or the way to the car.

HEROINE (struggling to her feet)
I didn’t give you permission to call an ambulance!

FATHER (attempting humor)
Sure you did. When you were lying on the floor, I said, “Tell me no if you don’t want me to call.” You didn’t say anything.

HEROINE (cursing under her breath)
Why did I even bother calling you?

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXT: THE QUEUE OF AN AMUSEMENT PARK TEACUP RIDE

People are dressed in warm clothing against the December chill. Some talk or look at their phones while others chat over steaming cups of hot chocolate or wassail. Holiday decorations cover the ride, vintage Christmas carols playing over the speakers. Children shriek as the ride spins in circles.

HEROINE and HERO stand together in the line, waiting for the next group to be loaded. DRAMATIC WOMAN in front of them talks loudly on her phone.

HEROINE makes a face and unzips her parka, wiping a line of sweat from her forehead.

HEROINE (turning to HERO)
I don’t feel well all of a sudden.

CUT TO: HEROINE POV

Voices raised in alarm clash with each other. A single woman shrieks incoherently nearby. Colors swirl in a slow rotation. HERO calls HEROINE’S name several times, his face fading in and out of view.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

More voices crowd close. An UNKNOWN WOMAN kneels in view, conversing with HERO. In the background, DRAMATIC WOMAN screams for the police to come on her phone. HERO calls HEROINE’S name again, his face coming close.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

The world comes into clear focus again. DRAMATIC WOMAN continues her demands on the phone, shrieking that a woman needs immediate medical attention. Others murmur uncomfortably. HERO shouts at DRAMATIC WOMAN to stop.

CUT TO: CLOSE-UP OF HEROINE LYING PROPPED UP AGAINST HERO’S CHEST

HERO (to DRAMATIC WOMAN)
Shut up! She has a syncopal disorder! She doesn’t need an ambulance. Just give her some space.

HEROINE (looking up at HERO)
Hi.
(glances at the concerned faces of strangers around her)
What happened?

DRAMATIC WOMAN (oblivious)
Yes, we’re in the park. Someone needs to come right now!

HERO (shouting)
She doesn’t need an ambulance!
(turns back to HEROINE)
You passed out a couple times.

HEROINE (confused)
I did?

HERO (nods)
You said you didn’t feel well, and then you went down. I almost didn’t catch you in time.
(lowers voice)
That idiot has been hysterical since the first time, so I think you need to get up, if you can.

HERO helps HEROINE to her feet. UNKNOWN WOMAN smiles nervously but turns back to her group, immediately beginning to gossip. DRAMATIC WOMAN finally pulls her phone from her ear.

HEROINE
This isn’t the most humiliating thing in the world.
(buries her head against HERO’S chest)

DRAMATIC WOMAN (into her phone)
They keep saying she doesn’t need help.

HERO (shouting again)
Because she doesn’t! This happens from time to time, and we know how to take care of it!

HEROINE (mumbling)
Just need to give my system a chance to reset.

DRAMATIC WOMAN huffs and turns back to her phone. RIDE ATTENDANT approaches.

RIDE ATTENDANT
Everything okay? Do I need to put a call in for emergency help?

HERO (holding HEROINE)
No, but thanks. She’ll be all right.

HEROINE (peeking over HERO’S shoulder)
Are we in the next group to ride?

HERO
You are not getting on a ride right now.

HEROINE
But I feel fine now. Reset is good.

HERO (speaking to RIDE ATTENDANT)
Can we just go through to the exit?

RIDE ATTENDANT
No problem.

HEROINE (muttering)
I don’t see the problem. I just want to go on the ride.

HERO
People who pass out don’t get to ride the teacups.

HEROINE
Okay, but what about getting in line for…

HERO
People who pass out don’t get to go on any rides. Discussion over.

Killjoy.
(pauses)
You’re never going to let me forget this, are you?

HERO
Nope.

FADE OUT

ROLL CREDITS