Introduction to my happenstance Raven pilot...
INT. RAVEN’S SOUTH MIAMI, FL LOFT – DAY
INT. RAVEN’S SOUTH MIAMI, FL LOFT – DAY
RAVEN THOMAS (32), a beautiful yet
emotionally distressed interior designer lays in bed. She stares up at the
ceiling as her fiancé JARED (36), a skinny Life Insurance Salesman with a
dimpled chin lays next to her asleep. Raven covers her forehead with her left
hand and counts backward from five. When the sound of her rattling SEVEN AM
alarm jars in, Raven sighs. As Jared shuffles in bed next to her, Raven stares
up at her diamond engagement ring.
JARED
Can you turn that off please?
RAVEN runs her fingers through her
hair and then sighs again. Slamming her hand down on the top of her alarm
clock, Raven pulls her blanket from her and then sits up.
MOVE with Raven as she saunters
into her bathroom. As she stares at herself in her bathroom mirror, Raven wipes
the single tear from her eyelid. Raven then fixes the straps of her silk slip.
When her left hand covers the name LANGSTON tattooed across her shoulder, Raven
stares at her engagement ring again and then trembles.
RAVEN runs the water of her white
Barclay pedestal sink, leans down and then throws a puddle of lukewarm water in
her face. Taking a deep, Raven stands up straight and then jumps when she sees
Jared’s reflection.
JARED
Having a bad morning?
RAVEN
(smiling a fake smile and shrugging her shoulders)
I’m OK, I guess.
Jared turns Raven around, takes hold of Raven’s hand and then
kisses inside of her palm.
JARED
You are still up for this marriage thing right?
Raven
(nodding)
Of course. I wouldn’t have said yes if I wasn’t. Go back to bed.
You know how I hate mornings.
Jared smiles a nervous grin before he and Raven share a kiss.
Jared stares at Raven for a moment while he grazes his fingertips over the back
of her hand. When Raven smiles a nervous grin of her own, Jared kisses inside
her palm once more and then walks back into their bedroom. After Jared slips
back into their bed and then pulls the blanket over his head, Raven turns back
to her reflection and then sighs.
RAVEN
You can do this, Raven. You’re going to be happy as Raven
Thomas-Smith. It has a nice ring to it.
(staring at her engagement ring)
Ring…yeah, nice ring to it.
Sighing again, Raven shuts off the running sink water and then
walks back into her bedroom. When Raven’s phone vibrates across her nightstand,
Raven checks the caller ID and then glances over at Jared. When Jared doesn’t
move, Raven picks up her phone and then slides into her robe.
RAVEN
I’m going to check the mailbox real fast.
Raven doesn’t wait for a response as she quickly walks out of
their bedroom, through their living room and out their front door. Hurriedly
ducking into the quiet stairwell, Raven answers her phone.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Hello?
TONI RICHARDS (31), Raven’s pretty and quirky best friend,
speaks through the phone in a groggy tone.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
Are you in the stairwell again?
RAVEN
(into phone, rolls her eyes)
Where were you last night?
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
At home where I was supposed to be.
RAVEN
(into phone)
What kind of best friend are you?
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
The type that doesn’t involve herself in obvious ploys of last
ditch attempts at making this farce seem real.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Toni, what do you think I’m doing here? Jared and I have been
dating for close to two years now.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
Whose fault is that?
RAVEN
(into phone)
Are you serious right now? I mean, did you seriously miss my
engagement party on purpose. Who does that? I can fire you from your best
friend duties you know. Jared’s sister Cameron has been itching to take your
spot.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, laughs)
You’re not crazy.
RAVEN
(into phone)
I thought I could say the same thing about you but clearly you’re
crazy if you were really sitting on your couch watching reruns of Reno 911.
Anyone who spends their nights watching reruns of Reno 911 in order to miss
their best friend’s engagement party is clearly the crazy one.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
You’re the one hiding in your stairwell just so you can have a
normal conversation with your best friend! Get out of hiding. I know you gave
him some silly excuse to get out of there. What are you supposed to be doing
right now, checking the mail on a Sunday?
RAVEN
(sucks her teeth into the phone)
If you know me so well then you should know how mad I am at you
for missing my engagement party because you have some inexplicable hatred for
my now fiancé.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
I don’t hate him, I hate your relationship. Tell me this, Raven.
If you’re so in love with your new fiancé, why haven’t you covered up the
tattoo yet.
Raven held her hand over the tattoo of Langston’s name and then
chewed on her bottom lip.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, laughs)
Exactly. When you stop lying to yourself, maybe—
RAVEN
(into phone)
He’s dead, Toni! Do you get that? It’s been four years and
Langston isn’t coming back. Am I supposed to create some sort of shrine of my
late husband, sit on my closet floor and rock back and forth while clutching a
picture of him in my hand? He’s dead. I’ve accepted it; I need to move on.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, sighs)
Fine, Raven. Move on.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Don’t say it like that.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, unconvincingly)
No…I’m happy for you. You found someone that made you happy and
I’m happy for you.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Whatever, Toni. We’re planning to have a dinner tomorrow night
in honor of us and—
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
How many parties do you two need to have? You see, it’s when you
do things like this that I question your relationship. Who are you trying to
convince with these obnoxious engagement parties?
RAVEN
(Rolls her eyes, into phone)
Look, I expect you to be there. If for any reason, any reason at
all you don’t show up, don’t bother calling me again.
Raven hangs up the phone and then takes a deep breath. Dropping
her phone into the pocket of her robe, Raven leaves the stairwell and trots
back into her loft. When she enters, she sees Jared standing at the kitchen
counter scrambling a bowl of eggs.
RAVEN
(smiling)
No mail.
As Raven walks toward the bedroom, Jared drops his fork and then
circles around their antique kitchen island to turn Raven around to face him.
JARED
You know you can tell me if you’re not up to this.
RAVEN
(holds Jared’s hands and then kisses his cheek)
I’m ready to remarry.
JARED
Are you sure? Even though you put on a brave face for our guests
yesterday, I heard you crying in the bathroom last night.
RAVEN
(lets Jared’s hands go and frowns)
You heard that?
JARED
Your husband died four years ago. I can understand if you want
to postpone things. I just hope you’re not using this marriage to try to
normalize things. I want this to be right. I love you, Raven. I want to spend
the rest of my life with you. I’m sure of that but I can understand if you’re
not yet.
RAVEN
I’m fine, Jared. I love you too and I’m sure I want to spend the
rest of my life with you too. I also hope to have some eggs before I head to my
office.
JARED smiles reluctantly and then walks back to the kitchen.
Raven rubs the back of her neck as she pulls in her lips. As she stares at the
back of Jared’s back, she wipes away the mate to the single tear that strolled
down her cheek earlier. Taking a deep breath, Raven rubs the area of her tattoo
and then begins to walk back to her bedroom.
JARED
I made the appointment with the dermatologist.
Raven stops walking and attempts to fake a smile as she turns
around to face Jared’s back.
RAVEN
Excuse me?
JARED
Tomorrow. I scheduled it during your lunch break. The doctor
assured me it’s quick, non-invasive and painless.
Realizing that Raven stands behind him in silence, Jared drops
his shoulders and then turns around to face his fiancé.
JARED (CONT’D)
If you expect me to believe you when you tell me that you’re
ready for this, you have to show me that you’re ready to let him go. How do you
think it makes me feel when I have to look at that while I make love to you?
I’ve accepted the fact that I won’t be your first husband even though you’ll be
my first wife. But, if you’re up to setting up a life with me, he can’t come
with us.
Raven continues to smile a strained smile as she raises her
shoulders.
RAVEN
OK, tomorrow at noon. It’s a date!
Jared purses his lips and then nods. When he turns around, Raven
quickly turns around and walks into her bedroom as the flood of tears pour
down. As her knees begin to buckle, Raven darts into her bathroom, closes the
door behind her and then falls to the floor. She covers her mouth as she
whimpers. Raven scratches at her tattoo as she shakes her head and grits her
teeth. Pulling her knees up to her chin, Raven lowers her head between her
knees and then tugs at the roots of her hair. Raven shakes as she taps her feet
on the tile floor.
RAVEN (V.O.)
(whispering)
The car accident was all your fault He’s never coming back.
Why’d you make him drink. He’s never coming back. Everybody blames you. He’s
never coming back. He’s never coming back.
While she trembles, Raven ignores the initial sound of a knock
at the door. Wiping her face and sucking on her bottom lip, Raven stands up and
then turns on the sink water. When the knock continues, Raven takes a deep
breath and then throws a puddle of water in her face.
RAVEN
(voice cracks)
Yes, honey.
JARED
(through the door, filtered)
There’s someone at the door for you.
Raven shuts off the water and then checks her phone. When she
sees Toni’s missed call, she takes another deep breath. Opening the door, Raven
notices the look of distress on Jared’s face—the typical look of distress that
Jared displayed whenever Toni was around.
RAVEN
Is it Toni?
Move with Raven as she walks through their bedroom and then into
their living room. When Raven notices the tall, well-dressed man standing at
her front door, Raven whirls around to face her fiancé.
JARED
He says he’s your husband.
Raven watches Jared’s lips and then closes her eyes. As her
breaths shorten, Raven turns back around to face the tall, broad shouldered man
standing in front of her door. Raven tightens the belt of her silk robe as she
covers her mouth and allows the tears in her eyes to return.
RAVEN
(dropping her hand to her side)
Langston?
LANGSTON THOMAS (32), Raven’s husband stands in front of her
door wearing a white dress shirt and a pair of denim blue jeans. His shoes were
freshly polished and his goatee crisply shaven. As if he’s been alive and well
all those years, Langston smiles warmly at Raven.
RAVEN (CONT’D)
You’re alive?
LANGSTON
(licks his lips and moves closer)
I’m not a ghost, Rave.
RAVEN THOMAS (32), a beautiful yet
emotionally distressed interior designer lays in bed. She stares up at the
ceiling as her fiancé JARED (36), a skinny Life Insurance Salesman with a
dimpled chin lays next to her asleep. Raven covers her forehead with her left
hand and counts backward from five. When the sound of her rattling SEVEN AM
alarm jars in, Raven sighs. As Jared shuffles in bed next to her, Raven stares
up at her diamond engagement ring.
JARED
Can you turn that off please?
RAVEN runs her fingers through her
hair and then sighs again. Slamming her hand down on the top of her alarm
clock, Raven pulls her blanket from her and then sits up.
MOVE with Raven as she saunters
into her bathroom. As she stares at herself in her bathroom mirror, Raven wipes
the single tear from her eyelid. Raven then fixes the straps of her silk slip.
When her left hand covers the name LANGSTON tattooed across her shoulder, Raven
stares at her engagement ring again and then trembles.
RAVEN runs the water of her white
Barclay pedestal sink, leans down and then throws a puddle of lukewarm water in
her face. Taking a deep, Raven stands up straight and then jumps when she sees
Jared’s reflection.
JARED
Having a bad morning?
RAVEN
(smiling a fake smile and shrugging her shoulders)
I’m OK, I guess.
Jared turns Raven around, takes hold of Raven’s hand and then
kisses inside of her palm.
JARED
You are still up for this marriage thing right?
Raven
(nodding)
Of course. I wouldn’t have said yes if I wasn’t. Go back to bed.
You know how I hate mornings.
Jared smiles a nervous grin before he and Raven share a kiss.
Jared stares at Raven for a moment while he grazes his fingertips over the back
of her hand. When Raven smiles a nervous grin of her own, Jared kisses inside
her palm once more and then walks back into their bedroom. After Jared slips
back into their bed and then pulls the blanket over his head, Raven turns back
to her reflection and then sighs.
RAVEN
You can do this, Raven. You’re going to be happy as Raven
Thomas-Smith. It has a nice ring to it.
(staring at her engagement ring)
Ring…yeah, nice ring to it.
Sighing again, Raven shuts off the running sink water and then
walks back into her bedroom. When Raven’s phone vibrates across her nightstand,
Raven checks the caller ID and then glances over at Jared. When Jared doesn’t
move, Raven picks up her phone and then slides into her robe.
RAVEN
I’m going to check the mailbox real fast.
Raven doesn’t wait for a response as she quickly walks out of
their bedroom, through their living room and out their front door. Hurriedly
ducking into the quiet stairwell, Raven answers her phone.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Hello?
TONI RICHARDS (31), Raven’s pretty and quirky best friend,
speaks through the phone in a groggy tone.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
Are you in the stairwell again?
RAVEN
(into phone, rolls her eyes)
Where were you last night?
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
At home where I was supposed to be.
RAVEN
(into phone)
What kind of best friend are you?
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
The type that doesn’t involve herself in obvious ploys of last
ditch attempts at making this farce seem real.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Toni, what do you think I’m doing here? Jared and I have been
dating for close to two years now.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
Whose fault is that?
RAVEN
(into phone)
Are you serious right now? I mean, did you seriously miss my
engagement party on purpose. Who does that? I can fire you from your best
friend duties you know. Jared’s sister Cameron has been itching to take your
spot.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, laughs)
You’re not crazy.
RAVEN
(into phone)
I thought I could say the same thing about you but clearly you’re
crazy if you were really sitting on your couch watching reruns of Reno 911.
Anyone who spends their nights watching reruns of Reno 911 in order to miss
their best friend’s engagement party is clearly the crazy one.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
You’re the one hiding in your stairwell just so you can have a
normal conversation with your best friend! Get out of hiding. I know you gave
him some silly excuse to get out of there. What are you supposed to be doing
right now, checking the mail on a Sunday?
RAVEN
(sucks her teeth into the phone)
If you know me so well then you should know how mad I am at you
for missing my engagement party because you have some inexplicable hatred for
my now fiancé.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
I don’t hate him, I hate your relationship. Tell me this, Raven.
If you’re so in love with your new fiancé, why haven’t you covered up the
tattoo yet.
Raven held her hand over the tattoo of Langston’s name and then
chewed on her bottom lip.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, laughs)
Exactly. When you stop lying to yourself, maybe—
RAVEN
(into phone)
He’s dead, Toni! Do you get that? It’s been four years and
Langston isn’t coming back. Am I supposed to create some sort of shrine of my
late husband, sit on my closet floor and rock back and forth while clutching a
picture of him in my hand? He’s dead. I’ve accepted it; I need to move on.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, sighs)
Fine, Raven. Move on.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Don’t say it like that.
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered, unconvincingly)
No…I’m happy for you. You found someone that made you happy and
I’m happy for you.
RAVEN
(into phone)
Whatever, Toni. We’re planning to have a dinner tomorrow night
in honor of us and—
TONI (V.O.)
(over phone, filtered)
How many parties do you two need to have? You see, it’s when you
do things like this that I question your relationship. Who are you trying to
convince with these obnoxious engagement parties?
RAVEN
(Rolls her eyes, into phone)
Look, I expect you to be there. If for any reason, any reason at
all you don’t show up, don’t bother calling me again.
Raven hangs up the phone and then takes a deep breath. Dropping
her phone into the pocket of her robe, Raven leaves the stairwell and trots
back into her loft. When she enters, she sees Jared standing at the kitchen
counter scrambling a bowl of eggs.
RAVEN
(smiling)
No mail.
As Raven walks toward the bedroom, Jared drops his fork and then
circles around their antique kitchen island to turn Raven around to face him.
JARED
You know you can tell me if you’re not up to this.
RAVEN
(holds Jared’s hands and then kisses his cheek)
I’m ready to remarry.
JARED
Are you sure? Even though you put on a brave face for our guests
yesterday, I heard you crying in the bathroom last night.
RAVEN
(lets Jared’s hands go and frowns)
You heard that?
JARED
Your husband died four years ago. I can understand if you want
to postpone things. I just hope you’re not using this marriage to try to
normalize things. I want this to be right. I love you, Raven. I want to spend
the rest of my life with you. I’m sure of that but I can understand if you’re
not yet.
RAVEN
I’m fine, Jared. I love you too and I’m sure I want to spend the
rest of my life with you too. I also hope to have some eggs before I head to my
office.
JARED smiles reluctantly and then walks back to the kitchen.
Raven rubs the back of her neck as she pulls in her lips. As she stares at the
back of Jared’s back, she wipes away the mate to the single tear that strolled
down her cheek earlier. Taking a deep breath, Raven rubs the area of her tattoo
and then begins to walk back to her bedroom.
JARED
I made the appointment with the dermatologist.
Raven stops walking and attempts to fake a smile as she turns
around to face Jared’s back.
RAVEN
Excuse me?
JARED
Tomorrow. I scheduled it during your lunch break. The doctor
assured me it’s quick, non-invasive and painless.
Realizing that Raven stands behind him in silence, Jared drops
his shoulders and then turns around to face his fiancé.
JARED (CONT’D)
If you expect me to believe you when you tell me that you’re
ready for this, you have to show me that you’re ready to let him go. How do you
think it makes me feel when I have to look at that while I make love to you?
I’ve accepted the fact that I won’t be your first husband even though you’ll be
my first wife. But, if you’re up to setting up a life with me, he can’t come
with us.
Raven continues to smile a strained smile as she raises her
shoulders.
RAVEN
OK, tomorrow at noon. It’s a date!
Jared purses his lips and then nods. When he turns around, Raven
quickly turns around and walks into her bedroom as the flood of tears pour
down. As her knees begin to buckle, Raven darts into her bathroom, closes the
door behind her and then falls to the floor. She covers her mouth as she
whimpers. Raven scratches at her tattoo as she shakes her head and grits her
teeth. Pulling her knees up to her chin, Raven lowers her head between her
knees and then tugs at the roots of her hair. Raven shakes as she taps her feet
on the tile floor.
RAVEN (V.O.)
(whispering)
The car accident was all your fault He’s never coming back.
Why’d you make him drink. He’s never coming back. Everybody blames you. He’s
never coming back. He’s never coming back.
While she trembles, Raven ignores the initial sound of a knock
at the door. Wiping her face and sucking on her bottom lip, Raven stands up and
then turns on the sink water. When the knock continues, Raven takes a deep
breath and then throws a puddle of water in her face.
RAVEN
(voice cracks)
Yes, honey.
JARED
(through the door, filtered)
There’s someone at the door for you.
Raven shuts off the water and then checks her phone. When she
sees Toni’s missed call, she takes another deep breath. Opening the door, Raven
notices the look of distress on Jared’s face—the typical look of distress that
Jared displayed whenever Toni was around.
RAVEN
Is it Toni?
Move with Raven as she walks through their bedroom and then into
their living room. When Raven notices the tall, well-dressed man standing at
her front door, Raven whirls around to face her fiancé.
JARED
He says he’s your husband.
Raven watches Jared’s lips and then closes her eyes. As her
breaths shorten, Raven turns back around to face the tall, broad shouldered man
standing in front of her door. Raven tightens the belt of her silk robe as she
covers her mouth and allows the tears in her eyes to return.
RAVEN
(dropping her hand to her side)
Langston?
LANGSTON THOMAS (32), Raven’s husband stands in front of her
door wearing a white dress shirt and a pair of denim blue jeans. His shoes were
freshly polished and his goatee crisply shaven. As if he’s been alive and well
all those years, Langston smiles warmly at Raven.
RAVEN (CONT’D)
You’re alive?
LANGSTON
(licks his lips and moves closer)
I’m not a ghost, Rave.
