Reflections in Black and White

INT. BATHROOM - DAY

(We open in a crisp, tiled bathroom. The lighting is dim, casting cold shadows across the walls. Everything around us is in shades of black and white—a surreal blend of sharp contrasts. In the center of the room stands LEO, a teenage male, wearing a black tank top and grey sweatpants. His arms are covered in bloodied cuts, mingling vividly with the monochrome surroundings. He looks into the mirror, anguish etched across his face.)

LEO
(voice trembling)
I hurt myself over the stupidest thing.

(He hesitates, his hands trembling as he dips them into the cool water of the sink, the blood swirling down the drain like a lost part of him.)

LEO(V.O.)
Please, let this water wash it away…

(As he scrubs at the cuts on his arms, the sting of the water only intensifies his emotional pain. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself, leaning closer to the mirror. His reflection shows a battle-worn teenager.)

LEO
(choking on his words)
Why do I keep doing this?

(He wipes his face with his hands, smearing the blood and tears together, an unintentional canvas of despair. In the silence, he starts to cry, his breaths quickening, each gasp for air sounding heavier than the last.)

LEO (V.O.)
I cry, cry, cry.

(He grips the sides of the sink, knuckles turning white. The reflection of his eyes—hollow, lost, searching—stops him cold.)

LEO
(softly, almost to himself)
I just wanted to feel something. Anything.

(There’s a beat, and then he glances away from the mirror, discovering a bottle of liquor on the countertop. It calls out to him.)

LEO (V.O.)
I drink, drink, drink.

(He grabs the bottle and stumbles back, leaning against the wall. The sound of the cap popping open echoed ominously in the bathroom. He takes a swig, wincing as the harsh liquid burns down his throat.)

LEO
(voice hoarse)
It’s just for tonight. Just to forget...

(He starts to sway slightly, a disoriented smile creeping onto his face. The bathroom is spinning with his emotions; shadows flicker and dance on the walls.)

LEO (V.O.)
I cut, cut, cut.

(He drops the bottle, crashing to the floor, the glass shattering into a thousand tiny sparks of light. In a moment driven by anguish, he looks to his arms, where fresh cuts are already healing, but the pain still lingers.)

LEO
(in a whisper)
You’re worthless…

(His voice cracks, full of self-loathing. He picks up a shard of glass, gripping it tightly as he stares into his reflection again, contemplating the part of himself he wishes to erase.)

LEO (V.O.)
I lie, lie, lie.

(In a moment of vulnerability, he drops his head, feeling defeated. The tension in his body eases slightly as he lets the shard fall from his hand, landing harmlessly on the floor.)

LEO
(exhausted)
This isn’t who I am.

(He takes a moment to breathe, feeling anger dissolve into sorrow. Finally, he straightens up and stares deeply into his reflection, searching for hope in the depths of despair.)

LEO (V.O.)
I hurt myself, but I can heal.

(He adjusts his posture, taking a step back. The room seems to regain clarity, the bright contrasts of black and white sharpen—as if his realization is breaking the spell of darkness.)

LEO
(determined)
I don’t want to hurt anymore.

(With newfound resolve, he rushes to the sink, splashing water on his face, cleansing himself of the remnants of his sorrow. He looks into the mirror one last time.)

LEO (V.O.)
Tonight is the night I start again.

(The bathroom transforms, slowly being filled with a softer light, hinting at the dawn of a new day. His reflection, slightly distorted, shows a glimmer of hope buried beneath the pain.)

FADE OUT.

(The sounds of dripping water and his steadying breaths linger as the screen turns black.)

THE END

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