MARTIR
Original screenplay for a 3-minute short film about angels titled "Feather Falls".
* Google Docs
FADE IN:
EXT. HEAVEN - CLIFF ABOVE A FOREST - MORNING
A group of younger angels gather by a cliff and look down the forest. The tallest among all of them is a teenage angel named CHIRSE who eyes a toy caught within the leaves below.
CHIRSE
I got it, I got it.
She takes a dive down and manages to grab the toy. The leaves and branches hit her in the way and ruin her momentum and she falls face-down on the forest floor. As she sits up to recover, she notices a feather falling down from above, and realizes it’s hers.
INT. CHIRSE’S ROOM - EVENING
RANKA, an older angel, gently opens the door to CHIRSE’S room and spots her crying.
RANKA
Oh, you poor kid.
BED
RANKA walks over to her bed and sits on the edge of it, waiting for the right time to speak. CHIRSE wipes her nose and holds up the stray feather.
CHIRSE
You’d think I got into some horrible accident or someone had hurt me, but no! This thing is out of my wing because I was being stupid! I’m never flying again.
RANKA
You’re already saying that? It’s not like your life is over.
CHIRSE
Is it already not? If I lost three years of my lifespan over falling over, what more if I become any more reckless...
RANKA
Kid, you’re talking to someone who’s already lost around eleven feathers— which is, I guess around thirty–something years.
CHIRSE
You’re crazy! You sound way too calm about losing that many years.
RANKA
Why shouldn’t I be? Sure, us angels can live up to two-thousand years, but are those years worth living if you’re just afraid to move? Even humans with much shorter lifespans choose to live with thrill. We don’t have to be perfect all the time. Now let’s get you out of here, there’s no use for the rest of those feathers if you can’t fly.
CHIRSE
No way!
EXT. HEAVEN - CLIFF ABOVE A FOREST - EVENING
CHIRSE and RANKA stand before the cliff. CHIRSE seems apprehensive, while RANKA faces her as he approaches the edge.
CHIRSE
There’s no way I’m going back down there.
RANKA
You don’t have to, just—
RANKA accidentally slips off the cliff.
CHIRSE
RANKA— oh my GOD!
CHIRSE closes her eyes shut, lets out an exhale to prepare herself, and dives down to go after him. She braces herself as the branches and leaves hit her, and she manages to grab RANKA just before he hits the ground while hanging from a branch. Unfortunately the branch snaps and the two fall onto the forest floor.
FOREST FLOOR
RANKA
You alright, kid?!
CHIRSE sits up as she clutches her head. The two angels look up to see something fluttering down. CHIRSE squints and realizes it’s a leaf. She falls back down on the forest floor, laughing in relief.
RANKA
Haha, told you there was nothing to worry about. Now let’s get out of here.
CHIRSE nods with a toothy smile on her face, then the two fly out of the forest.
MARTIR
Short story titled "Lying in Between Waves", requested for a magazine about mysticism in Mindanao.
* Google Docs
Seafoam touches Adlaw's bare toes, almost ticklish. She looks over to Rain, who's on the same shore as her, with the waves crashing against her leather boots instead.
Adlaw crouches, barely brushing her fingers over the water. "Horrible time for a red tide, honestly." She lets out a bittersweet laugh. "I really wanted a seafood feast for my birthday. During this visit."
"Well, there's a next time either way." Rain shrugs her shoulders. "... don't you feel cold a bit?"
Adlaw turns to look at her, shaking her head. "It's okay. You know, I've always felt miles better whenever I'm near the sea. It feels like something's protecting me here.
"Never took you to be the spiritual type."
"Thought you'd find it weird," Adlaw says shyly as she stands up. "But it's how I've grown up, so..."
Rain hums, walking over to Adlaw to hand her slippers back. "Where did you say we need to go next?"
Adlaw smiles at her.
Night falls, and Rain looks out the window of Adlaw's childhood home. The beach can be seen from this view, the waves illuminated by the moonlight. Her eyes land on the small group of people convening on the shore. Right in the middle, just before the waves, is an ethereal figure, standing as if about to speak with someone.
"The katalona is going to perform a ritual," Adlaw tells Rain from across the room. It's clear she's seen this many times before, as if it's something now nostalgic to her. "To the sea spirits. A wish for a bountiful harvest. Or fishing, whatever the right terminology."
"I think the terminology is the least of our problems here."
Adlaw chuckles. "You think it's weird?"
An obvious trick question. Rain furrows her eyebrows. "Not one bit, no."
"Not one bit?"
"It's where you came from. It's what you grew up with. No, I don't think it's weird."
Adlaw's caught off guard by Rain's words. A warm smiles creeps up her face.
"Thank you. I'm glad I brought you over."
The seas are finally cleared by the next day, and Adlaw watches Rain taste her favourite dishes.