SUGAR

FADE IN:

INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

A group of UNIVERSITY STUDENTS are seated around a large conference table. The room is silent.

EMMA, a pretty young woman, stands uncomfortably in front of the audience. She clutches the pages of her POEM with both hands.

The PROFESSOR is seated at the front of the room. A notepad propped on her knee and pen in hand. She nods at EMMA to begin.

EMMA brings her POEM up in front of her and begins to recite.

EMMA

If love was born in nebulas,

the world was never sweeter;

than when your eyes met mine,-

INT. LIBRARY – DAY – (FLASHBACK)

EMMA is reaching for a BOOK on the topmost shelf. A young man, LUCA, grabs it from behind her. He appraises the title, then hands the BOOK back to EMMA.

LUCA

Chekhov?

EMMA glances self-consciously at LUCA.

EMMA

Yeah, uh, it’s for a class.

LUCA leans on the bookshelf, waiting. EMMA finds herself staring, so she turns to leave. LUCA steps in her way.

LUCA

Not even a thank-you?

EMMA

(stammering)

Oh, right. Thanks, I guess.

LUCA extends his hand smoothly, in a practiced fashion.

LUCA

Luca. Pleasure.

EMMA shakes LUCA’s hand awkwardly.

EMMA

I’m Emma. Hi.

LUCA

(grinning)

Hi, Emma Hi.

INT. CLASSROOM – SAME (PRESENT DAY)

The PROFESSOR stares at EMMA appraisingly.

EMMA continues reading the poem. Her eyes do not leave the page.

EMMA

...and your words leave

honeyed trails down my skin.

INT. ART STUDIO – DAY (FLASHBACK)

A small room is lit brightly with sunlight. EMMA sits in front of an EASEL, her PAINTBRUSH flicking across the canvas. LUCA is seated on the floor beside her.

LUCA

Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?

EMMA’s PAINTBRUSH pauses mid-air. Flustered, she swivels around. Paint splatters across the room, a few drops landing on LUCA’s perfect attire.

EMMA

Really? I mean- no, but- I-

LUCA

(chuckling)

It’s like I’m the only man in this world who can truly see your beauty.

LUCA reaches out to swipe paint off EMMA’s cheek.

LUCA (CONT’D)

It’s true.

EMMA, not knowing what to say, turns back to the easel. She’s blushing.

With EMMA’s back turned, LUCA inspects the paint on his clothes and thumb. We see, in a split second, his eyes narrowing. His upper lip curls.

INT. CLASSROOM – DAY (RETURN TO PRESENT)

EMMA grips the paper tightly as she speaks.

EMMA

...in our clasped hands I’ll

place my heart: yours

to keep and to hold,

EXT. PARK – EVENING – (FLASHBACK)

LUCA and EMMA walk, hand in hand, across a tranquil park. Warm streetlights cast soft shadows. LUCA hums a melody under his breath.

EMMA

Luca?

LUCA

Yes, darling?

EMMA

I’ve heard about this popular club just around the corner.(pause)Want to go check it out?

LUCA’s face darkens with a frown. Seeing his expression, EMMA looks away quickly and fidgets with the ends of her hair.

EMMA (CONT’D)

...nevermind.

LUCA realizes the frown that he’s wearing isn’t pretty. He blinks twice and returns to his usual, kind smile.

LUCA

No, no, that’s not it. (beat) But it’s getting late, and we should head home.

EMMA nods, a little dejected.

LUCA (CONT’D)

Plus, neither of us are dressed for a club.

LUCA gestures to their outfits. EMMA shrugs in agreement, brightening up.

EMMA

That’s...true.

LUCA

How about we just go home, and watch a movie?

EMMA

Okay, sure. We can check it out another night.

LUCA hesitates for a step. His jaw clenches.

LUCA

(a pause)Right.

The two walk for a while without speaking. LUCA appears deep in thought. EMMA swings her arm, the one clasped with LUCA’s. But LUCA doesn’t move his hand along and EMMA stops swinging.

LUCA

(softly) Clubs can be dangerous places, Emma. It might be better if you just didn’t go.(a pause) You know I’m just worried about you, because I love you.(a beat) You love me too, right?

INT. CLASSROOM – SAME (PRESENT DAY)

EMMA’s grip on the POEM continually tightens. Small wrinkles begin to appear on the paper.

EMMA

-this laughter that lingers

with the fragrance of spring...

EXT. BOTANICAL GARDENS – DAY (FLASHBACK)

LUCA and EMMA admire a blossoming tree. Its WHITE FLOWERs drift down to the ground with each passing breeze.

LUCA cups his hands and catches a WHITE FLOWER mid-air. He presents it to EMMA.

LUCA

Here, for you.

EMMA plucks the WHITE FLOWER from LUCA’s fingers, rubbing the supple petals between her fingers.

LUCA

It’s a metaphor, you know.

EMMA

Huh? A metaphor? (teasingly) Why? Because you’ve fallen for me?

LUCA

(solemnly)

I have. But to me, you’re like the flower. That’s the metaphor. I don’t ever want to let you touch the ground. I’ll always catch you when you fall.

EMMA

Always?

LUCA

Always.

EMMA raises a brow light-heartedly. She twirls the WHITE FLOWER in her hand, and throws it upwards. A sudden gust of wind sends it tumbling through the space above their heads.

EMMA

(shouting over the breeze)

And what if I want to be let go? So I can free-fall? It sounds fun! It looks fun too!

LUCA lurches after the WHITE FLOWER, grabbing it from the wind. He returns to face EMMA, WHITE FLOWER clenched tightly in his fist.

EMMA sighs at the sight of the WHITE FLOWER, crushed in LUCA’s palm.

EMMA

You’ve crushed the flower!

LUCA

(solemnly)

With my love.

EMMA thinks about this line. A slight furrow appears between her brows.

EMMA

You’ve destroyed the flower, Luca. That’s not nice...

LUCA

With love.

EMMA

With love?

LUCA nods sincerely.

EMMA touches the wilted petals of the WHITE FLOWER tenderly. She repeats, almost to herself, the same words. But her voice betrays uncertainty.

EMMA (CONT’D)

With love.

EMMA nods, lips pursed. She spreads the deformed petals of the WHITE FLOWER out in her palm.

INT. CLASSROOM – SAME (PRESENT DAY)

EMMA pauses her reading, clearing her throat. The spider-webbing creases on the POEM have grown. She takes a deep breath, and begins again.

EMMA

I give you my being and all

these little pieces of me that

you keep in the pocket

above your left breast.

INT. EMMA’S ROOM – NIGHT – (FLASHBACK)

The bedroom is neat, cozy, tidy. Except for the desk, which is covered in fallen items and overlapping photographs.

LUCA is shouting at EMMA. Cruel, vicious anger warps his face into a snarl.

LUCA

(furious)

What the f*ck is this, Emma?

LUCA waves a PHOTOGRAPH at EMMA, whose eyes are rimmed with red. She shakes her head, hair messy.

EMMA

It’s just a picture, okay? I kept it for the memory!

LUCA

Why the f*ck would you keep a picture of your ex-boyfriend in your dresser drawer, Emma? Why the h*ll?

LUCA advances on EMMA, hands clenching and unclenching.

EMMA

Luca! Come on!

EMMA gestures desperately at the photo, back against the wall.

EMMA (CONT’D)

He and I have been over for a year now! Seriously, what is your problem?! It was a nice photo so I kept it! Is it so wrong to have photos of good memories?

LUCA

Then why are they all of him? Why aren’t there any of us?

EMMA throws her hands up in exasperation.

EMMA

(screaming)

Because we don’t have any! Okay?! You never care about sh*t or take any photos and all you do is-

LUCA slaps EMMA across the face. Hard. The sound rings in the room.

EMMA gasps, bringing her hands to her cheek. Her breaths are shaky.

LUCA raises his hand again, out of instinct, but stops himself.

EMMA grabs the PHOTOGRAPH from LUCA, with an abrupt jerk, and rips it into tiny pieces. Her eyes are filled with tears but none fall.

EMMA

(hissing)

Happy now?

EMMA throws the ripped-up PHOTOGRAPH to the ground forcefully.

LUCA stares at her in shock.

LATER

The room is silent. EMMA sits sullenly on her bed, knees wrapped to her chest. LUCA kneels on the floor, picking up the fragments of the PHOTOGRAPH.

LUCA sits, slowly, on the side of the bed. EMMA turns away.

LUCA offers her what’s left of the PHOTOGRAPH. EMMA ignores him. LUCA stares at the pile of paper for a moment, then slides the pieces into the left breast pocket of his button-up.

LUCA speaks first, cautious and calculated.

LUCA

I overreacted.

EMMA shifts on the bed. She stares at LUCA with tired eyes.

EMMA

So did I. I’m sorry.

LUCA

I shouldn’t have...been so violent.

EMMA

I know.

Both recede back into silence. EMMA waits, expectantly, for an apology. LUCA sighs, and walks to the door. He pauses.

LUCA

I get jealous easily. It’s only because I love you a lot, though. This won’t happen again. I-

LUCA cuts off. He swallows.

EMMA

Yeah?

EMMA stares up at LUCA with bated breath.

LUCA

I- ...I’ll see you tomorrow.

LUCA turns away, opens the door, and leaves. The door swings shut with a loud click.

INT.CLASSROOM – SAME (PRESENT DAY)

EMMA’s fingers curl as she speaks faster, a slight tremor in her voice. The classroom around her blurs.

EMMA

i hope to be caught in your

supernova. bury me in a graveyard

of stars,

INT. STUDY POD – DAY (FLASHBACK)

Laughter and chatter echo within the soundproof glass doors of a study pod. The library is visible through it.

EMMA and two FRIENDS sit across each other, papers and pens strewn around the table in the center of the room.

FRIEND 1

And then, and then, I went up to her and was like- “What do you think you’re doing, b*tch?”

EMMA

No way!

FRIEND 2

Honestly, as you should.

The EMMA and FRIENDS do not notice a person at the door. They collectively jolt at three raps, in succession, on the glass.

EMMA pales when she sees LUCA standing behind the glass. She exhales, steeling herself.

EMMA exits the study pod, pulling LUCA out of her FRIENDs’ sight.

EMMA

(exasperated)

What is it, Luca?

LUCA

Why weren’t you answering my calls or texts?

EMMA

I was busy with coursework and didn’t have time to check my phone.

(beat)

I’m sorry.

LUCA runs his fingers through his hair, grimacing.

LUCA

(pointedly)

You missed the coffee run with my friends.

EMMA

Sorry.

LUCA

You promised to go last week.

EMMA stares halfheartedly at the space behind LUCA’s head. LUCA flashes a scowl. He grabs onto EMMA’s wrist.

LUCA

You can’t just do that. Abandon me. This is a relationship, not a one-sided thing.

EMMA winces as LUCA puts more pressure into his hold on her wrist. It becomes unbearable, and EMMA bites down a cry.

EMMA

(hoarsely)

Luca, stop. Stop. It hurts.

LUCA

Don’t ever do that again, Emma.

LUCA loosens his grip. EMMA snatches back her hand, cradling her wrist.

LUCA stares at EMMA for a few seconds, an unreadable emotion swirling in his eyes.

EMMA flinches as LUCA reaches over. LUCA rests his hand on EMMA’s shoulder.

His nails begin to dig in, but then stop in apparent indecision. LUCA’s eyes soften. He speaks in a sinister, loving tone.

LUCA

You really had me worried there. I love you, darling.

EMMA

(mumbling)

Love you too.

LUCA

(low)

Hmmm? What was that?

EMMA

I love you too.

LUCA tousles EMMA’s hair, and leaves.

LATER

EMMA and FRIENDS have returned to their original position in the study pod. EMMA sits, withdrawn.

FRIEND 1

Emma, you are so frickin’ lucky.

FRIEND 2

Luca is sooo hot. Literally every girl on campus would kill for him. How the h*ll did you score such a catch?

EMMA discreetly adjusts the cuff of her jacket. There’s a dark purple bruise circling her wrist. EMMA winces when her hand brushes the mark.

EMMA

(mirthlessly)

I didn’t. He caught me. Ha.

INT. CLASSROOM – SAME (PRESENT DAY)

EMMA’s words falter. Her hands clench into fists. The crumple of paper is audible. Her bottom lip trembles.

EMMA

the gray sweater

you gave to me on the first

day of fall still around

my shoulders, shoulders

you hold so tight;

EXT. STREET – AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)

Coffee shops line the bustling street. Trees: red, yellow, orange.

LUCA gives an upscale paper bag to EMMA. She pulls out a GRAY SWEATER.

EMMA’s eyes widen as she sees the price tag, still attached to the GRAY SWEATER. She pushes the bag back to LUCA.

LUCA

Don’t worry about it. I have a job too, remember?

EMMA

I will never, in my life, be able to pay this back.

LUCA

Pay me back in love, then.

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Dark, dim lighting- a sinister mix of red and purple. Shadowy.

We see the GRAY SWEATER lying on the ground in a haphazard pile.

LUCA (V.O)

(whispering)

You know I love you more than anything. More than anyone else does.

INT. COFFEE SHOP – AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)

EMMA sits at a table, alone. A CUP OF COFFEE is placed in front of her. The foam on the coffee is in the shape of a heart.

The door rings to signal the entry of a new customer.

LUCA and an UNKNOWN GIRL walk, arms linked, into the shop. They cross EMMA’s line of sight, but she looks blankly past them. She pretends not to see anything, and looks down.

LUCA (V.O)

(echoing)

She’s just a friend, Emma. Calm down. Can’t I have friends?

EMMA

(murmuring)

Just a friend. Just a friend.

EMMA stirs her CUP OF COFFEE, but the heart-shaped foam strangely remains intact. EMMA rubs her eyes.

INT. BEDROOM – SAME NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

The background is a vague blur of dark colors.

LUCA has his hand around EMMA’s neck. Their noses touch.

LUCA

(whispering)

I love you so much, and I give you everything.

INT. CLASSROOM – SAME (PRESENT DAY)

Large creases have formed on the POEM. EMMA reads the last line, toneless. Her hands shake uncontrollably.

EMMA

-my cosmic ashes forming the

rings around your light.

The POEM is pulled so tightly by EMMA that it appears to be on the verge of tearing.

The PROFESSOR begins to clap, and the UNIVERSITY STUDENTS join in.

The scene undulates, the figures of people wavering as if underwater.

When the professor speaks, her voice is muffled.

PROFESSOR

What a wonderful poem, Emma! Certainly an A+ for Emma’s love poem assignment. As you see, class...

INT. BEDROOM – SAME NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

The audio from the previous classroom scene merges into that of this scene. The PROFESSOR’s voice, giving comments, is still audible in the background, but faint.

The scene continues with LUCA choking EMMA.

LUCA

(whispering)

You don’t love me enough. I love you with everything! Everything, Emma. My heart and soul.

LUCA’s hand tightens on EMMA’s neck. His nails break her skin.

LUCA

Do you love me back?

EMMA wheezes, unable to speak properly.

LUCA jerks EMMA’s neck violently.

LUCA

(shouting)

Answer me!

The PROFESSOR's voice regains clarity for a moment:

PROFESSOR (V.O.)

Emma, dear, you really do love this person,-

The PROFESSOR’s voice merges with LUCA’s in eerie dissonance.

LUCA

-don’t you?

EMMA

(choking)

I-

INT. CLASSROOM – SAME (PRESENT DAY)

EMMA still stands at the front of the class. Her hands go limp by her side, the POEM falling to the floor. Her voice continues from the flashback into the current scene.

EMMA

-do.

The scene is once again blurry, as if underwater.

We see EMMA mouth the words onscreen, but we hear her voice from the flashback.

EMMA (V.O)

(choking)

I love you.

EMMA shakes her head, confused.

EMMA’s face is focused for a few seconds. She’s crying, tears trailing down her cheeks. But still she smiles, genuinely.

We hear a small gasp, but EMMA’s face on screen does not move. It is sound from the flashback: as if she is taking her final, asphyxiated, breath.

FADE TO BLACK.

THE END