SEQUENCE: NEW BEGINNING

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. BEACH – SUNSET

Waves rush gently over sand. Golden light spills across the horizon.

SFX: A distant, ethereal melody begins to play.

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS – SUNSET

A car winds through the hills.

Sunlight flickers across the windshield.

Top down.

Wind in her hair.

Light dancing on their faces.

INT. MOVING CAR – SUNSET

CLOSE-UP – FROM BEHIND

LILY leans back in the passenger seat, sunglasses on.

She turns, reaches out — fingers through WILLIAM’s hair.

CLOSE-UP – WILLIAM

A quiet smile grows. Peace. Softness.

EXT. MID-CENTURY HOUSE – SUNSET

The car pulls into a driveway nestled in the hills.

Across the street, THOMAS leans on his own car — waiting, calm.

INT. CAR – CONTINUOUS

They spot him.

Their smiles bloom — warm, familiar, home-shaped.

EXT. DRIVEWAY – CONTINUOUS

Doors open.

WILLIAM
So this is it.

THOMAS
Told you I'd find the one.

They meet halfway — a brief, effortless shoulder clap.

He nods toward Lily.

THOMAS
Hey, Lil.

LILY
(smiling)
Hey.

They head up the steps — easy. Light.

THOMAS
Get ready.
This place felt like
it was waiting for you.

He opens the door.

INT. MID-CENTURY HOUSE – ENTRYWAY – CONTINUOUS

Wooden paneling. Amber light. Stillness.

INT. LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS

LILY steps in. Stops cold.

The sunlight hits her face. Curtains breathe in the breeze.

SAME ANGLE. SAME FRAMING.

It perfectly mirrors her vision from Scene: The Knowing.

For a moment — time folds.

She’s here — and she was here all along.

CLOSE-UP – HER FACE

Caught breath. Wide eyes. The recognition floods her.

LILY
(softly, to herself)
This is it...

CLOSE-UP – WILLIAM

Smiling. Just happy she sees it.

CLOSE-UP – THOMAS

Calm. Still. Observing something fall into place.

THOMAS
(subtle nod)
I guess we lock that in?

PROFILE SHOT – ALL THREE

Framed in one quiet line.

WILLIAM
(to her, gently)
Yeah. Let’s look around.

He wraps his arm around her. They walk toward the wide glass doors.

ZOOM OUT – LIVING ROOM

The house glows gold. Their figures drift forward — slow and small in the frame.

THOMAS stays behind.

Watches them for a beat.

Then softly, he closes the door.

FADE OUT.

MONTAGE - LOVE IN MOTION L.A.

INT. HOUSE – EARLY MORNING

Soft light through sheer curtains.

William wakes — the space beside him empty.

Barefoot, he walks through the quiet house.

He finds her by the window — robe on, coffee in hand — watching fog roll over the hills.

She turns.

Smiles. Says nothing.

He wraps his arms around her from behind.

They stay like that.

Still. Holding the stillness.

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

CLOSE-UP – RECORD PLAYER

Lily places a vinyl.

“Unchained Melody” begins.

WIDE SHOT

William sits on the floor, back against the couch.

A half-empty glass of wine by his side.

Lily walks over — barefoot, playful.

She tugs his hand.

He resists.

She tugs again — smiling.

He gives in.

They dance.

Not steps. Just presence.

EXT. GARDEN – DAY

Lily waters the plants. Humming.

Sunlight filters through the trees. The world is soft.

William leans in the doorway, arms crossed.

LILY
(cheeky)
You’re gonna just stand there?
Or help me out?

Before he can answer—

She SPLASHES him with the hose.

WILLIAM
(startled gasp)
Oh come on—

LILY
(grinning)
Oops.

He walks toward her — slow, mock-menacing.

LILY
Oh no. No no no—

She BOLTS.

He CHASES.

Around the garden — laughter, petals flying.

He grabs the hose.

WILLIAM
You asked for this!

Water everywhere.

They collapse into the grass — soaked, breathless.

LILY
(teasing)
This counts as your contribution to gardening, right?

They laugh.

Forehead to forehead.

Still glowing.

INT. MUSIC ROOM – LATE AFTERNOON

William’s lost in rhythm — headphones on.

Soft piano loops build beneath his fingers.

Lily watches from the doorway.

Silent.

Her smile fades — just slightly.

She glances toward the office.

HER POV:

– A blank page.

– A daisy, wilting.

– A scarf on the chair.

She hesitates.

Then steps back — out of frame.

We hold on the typewriter.

Just a beat too long.

EXT. AUTUMN’S PEAK – SUNSET

Pink sky. Hazy horizon.

WIDE FROM BEHIND:

William and Lily sit on a bench, side by side.

Small against the sky.

CLOSE-UP – THEIR FACES

Her head on his shoulder.

No words. Just breath.

Just being.

EXT. GARDEN – DAY

Lily stands in the grass.

CLOSE-UPS:

She smells a daisy — eyes closed.

NOTE: Framing identical to the vision from “The Knowing” — but this time, it’s a daisy. Not a lily.

She sways.

Then dances — slow, free, glowing.

The sun pours through her hair.

Her white dress moves like light.

From behind: William lifts a vintage camera.

Click.

She turns toward him — not surprised.

Like she knew.

SEQUENCE: THE GIFT

INT. LA HOUSE – MORNING LIGHT

Soft sunlight spills across the kitchen.

The window’s open — curtains breathing gently in the breeze.

Birdsong filters in. The air feels light.

WILLIAM At the stove. Barefoot. T-shirt and boxers.

Humming quietly as he cooks breakfast.

LILY shuffles in, still waking. Hair messy.

She stops in the doorway — surprised.

LILY
(half-asleep)
Wait... you’re already up?

WILLIAM
(smiling without turning)
Took you long enough.

She stares at him a second.

Then abruptly turns and dashes out of the room.

WILLIAM
(calling after her, confused)
What did I say?

She rushes back in — beaming now — something hidden behind her back.

She stops in front of him, eyes glowing.

LILY
Okay. Hands.

WILLIAM
(laughing)
What is this, a hostage situation?

LILY
Worse.
(beat)
Birthday surprise.

He holds out his hands — smirking, mock-bracing for impact.

She pulls out a small box.

LILY
I couldn’t wait till tonight.

She places it in his hands.

He unwraps it slowly.

Lifts the lid.

Stillness.

He doesn’t speak. Doesn’t move.

CLOSE-UP – HIS HANDS

Inside, a sleek, black fountain pen rests on velvet. Light glints across a subtle engraving:

"IT HAD TO BE YOU."

He stares at it.

Silent. The air shifts.

His fingers hover, then gently trace the engraving — once, twice.

A breath catches in his throat.

CLOSE-UP – HIS FACE

Something in him breaks.

Just slightly.

His jaw tightens — eyes glinting.

His expression folds in on itself.

He clutches the pen like it’s something holy.

Like it’s something he’s been waiting to find again without knowing.

WILLIAM
(soft)
Lil...
(beat)
How did you...?

She doesn’t answer. She doesn’t need to.

She steps in, melts into his chest.

He wraps an arm around her, eyes still fixed on the pen.

LILY
You better write something good with it.

He lets out a breath — shaky, quiet.

Still staring.

He lowers his forehead to hers.

Eyes closed.

A long, silent beat.

[published 5/7/2025]
>>signal sent