Principal
You are the…?

Uncle
The uncle, I flew in just last night. What happened?

Principal
Sit down; your nephew injured another one of our students.

Uncle
What happened?

Principal
We aren’t sure. Felix isn’t talking and the boy who was injured is in the hospital right now.

(The uncle gives a sad sigh)

Other students say that the injured student was trying to comfort him and Felix snapped. Normally a fight this severe would result in immediate expulsion, and possible persecution by the victim. No questions. However in my experience I believe that that would only… Make matters worse. There is no protocol for something this measure. Unfortunately there is no actual cure to make everything better. All we can do is give him the time to heal. Which is why the family of the injured student and I have decided to allow Felix to attend this school with no charges brought against him under two conditions: he is given to a psychiatrist with in the next week, and that he is placed in the care of a foster family.

Uncle
I can’t afford professional help.

Principal
The family of the victim offering to pay for everything.

Uncle
That is very gracious of them, but the plan was to bring him back to Florida to live with us. We could watch him there, and he would be with family. That was actually his mothers’ wishes if anything were to happen

Principal
What ever you decide it is imperative that he gets help. He needs some structure in his life again or, I don’t know what will happen. No one is made to endure this kind of stress.

(Scene)

(Uncle enters his car, Felix is already in the passenger seat. They are both bundled up to protect against the falling snow.)

Uncle
Felix, what happened?

(Felix doesn’t respond)

Felix you need to talk to me. Or someone, anyone, but if you keep sulking like this you’ll never get over it.

Felix
Why would god take my mother away?

Uncle
What?

Felix
He said it’s alright. Everything will be alright because god had a plan for my mother and me. What kind of plan would involve murder?

Uncle
I… I don’t know... Listen to me, no matter what everything will be better in time.

Felix
Everything was fine to begin with. Nothing had to change.

Uncle
I’m so sorry Felix. I wish I could tell you why. I wish I could give you a reason, but I can’t.

(Felix starts to cry and falls into uncle)

Why is a very good question god.

(As the camera shows them driving home on a wintery road in silence a voice over sounds.)

Uncle
I’m forced to go home. I’ll be back in a week though. I want everything of yours packed and ready to come to Florida with me. Understand?

Felix
Yes. Uncle?

Uncle
Yes?

Felix
Please be careful.

Uncle
Don’t worry Felix. Nothing will happen. I’ll always be here when you need me.

(Scene)

(Felix appears in an empty room with only a special shining down on him.)

Felix
It seemed as if though time had taken pity on me. That week passed before I could blink. My uncle was a life saver. He came back with a puppy in his arms. A Black lab. As soon as I saw it my heart dropped. I named him Titan because he was most fearless thing I have ever seen. He would run after cats twice his size. Then bark down a mastiff. That crazy dog. She was perfect for me. I pleaded with my uncle to let me stay until the end of the month so I could say goodbye to everyone. He agreed. He even stayed in the house to keep a close eye on me. It was so nice of him. My uncle and aunt never had any kids so I know this was as new for him as it was for me. Somehow, though, it worked. He teased me whenever I smiled. I didn’t mind though, it was a nice change from the pity and fake comfort I was garnering at school. Even from kids I didn’t know. It did help though. I am actually starting to feel better - still crushed though. I just wasn’t crying as much. As time went by, Titian grew; I got older, more mature. I even got a girl friend. My uncle took her to the vet. That was the last I saw of either of them. My girl friend came in to my room and told me that the car last traction and went into on coming traffic.

(Girl is standing at the door of Felix’s room.)

Girl
Felix? Are you ok?

Felix
Is Titan ok?

Girl
(Firmly) Felix you need to snap out of this, you need to be strong, if not for anyone else, do it for your mother. She wouldn’t wa—
Felix
(Screaming)
Is Titan ok!?

Girl
No… They’re both dead.

Felix
(Laughs)

Girl
Felix?

Felix
(Still laughing) we’re all dreaming. Every last one of us… (Tears start to form) and I’m going to prove it.

(Felix stands up holding a gun; he starts to advance towards Girl. Girl is petrified.)

Girl
(Astonished, out of breath) fuck. Felix what are you doing?

Felix
I’m going to wake you up.

Girl
There’s no such fucking thing as waking people up. You live and you die.

Felix
That’s why bad things happen to good people. In dreams nothing makes sense. Anything can happen without reason. (The woman runs down stairs. Felix follows.)

Girl
Life is not a dream; we are all real sentient people.

Felix
Then why is my mother dead? Why? What reason is there to let some bastard kill my mother? How could God let something like that happen? I’m sick of people telling me it’s within god’s plans. (Felix points the gun at the girl) Fuck god.

Girl
Please…

Felix
Dreaming is the only way any of it makes sense.
(Felix brings the gun to his head everything pauses while voice over is going.)

It’s funny; as soon as I pulled the trigger I had an epiphany. Maybe everyone was wrong and god doesn’t have a plan for us. Maybe, we were meant to live our lives with faith that in the end god or something will be waiting for us. Maybe.

(The gun jams and Felix falls to the floor crying)