kaleidoscope
(extract)1.1 EXT TRAIN STATION EVENING
People passing through the station, trains coming and going. Everything looks like its double or even three times the normal speed. The passengers disembark and push each other to get to their destinations. CASEY (20) steps off the train – she is the only person who seems to be walking at normal speed.
CASEY (VO):
It’s funny how when you’re young, you think the world is perfect.
A young boy runs past CASEY, holding a blue balloon on a string.
CASEY (VO) (Cont’):
It’s amazing, really, to be a kid. You have no worries. You’re invincible. Nothing can go wrong. Then one day…
1.2 INT CASEY’S HOUSE (CASEY’S ROOM) NIGHT
CASEY (7) is sitting in front of a mirror. She reaches out to touch her reflection, eyes wide. As she does, her fingers take on a shining, silver colour, like the mirror. She draws back if burnt.
1.3 EXT TRAIN STATION EVENING
A strong gust of wind blows and the child CASEY (20) has been watching lets go of the balloon. He points and jumps after it, but falls and hurts his knees. CASEY stares at him crying then moves away.
CASEY (VO):
Then one day… you realise that maybe the world isn’t this bright, sunny place. You get used to knowing that someone, somewhere, will hurt you, and you can’t do a thing to avoid it.
As she walks through the crowd, she seems to flicker and change – she is taking on their colours, blending into everything around her.
1.4 EXT SCHOOL GROUNDS DAY
CASEY (12) is sitting on the ground, flower petals scattered around her. She picks up a few and blows them off her palm. They flutter to the ground. There are footsteps coming closer and a shadow stretches over the ground. The petals suddenly scatter as a vague form rises and runs.
1.5 EXT TRAIN STATION EVENING
A soda can is rolling over the platform. Suddenly it stops and is crushed. Slowly, a shoe appears, followed by legs and then the rest of CASEY (20). She looks down at the can before viciously kicking it aside.
CASEY(VO):
There are so many ways of dealing… so many ways to fail…
1.6 INT CASEY’S HOUSE (CASEY’S BEDROOM) NIGHT
A knife clatters to the floor. CASEY (15) raises a hand to the light, showing off the self-inflicted cuts on her arm and watching the blood trickle over the skin. As she fades, it looks like the blood is dripping from nowhere.
1.7 EXT TRAIN STATION EVENING
The platform is emptying, the train doors closing. The train leaves, and over CASEY ’S shoulder a row of tumbledown old houses can be seen.
CASEY (VO):
But sometimes… it’s just easier to hide.