Title: Loose Threads
Author: Test Script

====

apartment - morning

NADIA wakes up on the couch. Still in yesterday's clothes. Her phone buzzes on the coffee table — 14 missed calls.

She ignores it and walks to the kitchen.

NADIA
(to herself)
Not today.

She opens the fridge. Empty except for a bottle of hot sauce.

INT GROCERY STORE DAY

Nadia pushes a cart through fluorescent aisles. She looks half-asleep. Her phone rings again. She silences it.

at the checkout, TOMMY (20s, works here, knows everybody) scans her items.

TOMMY
You look rough.

NADIA
Didn't sleep.

TOMMY
Your brother was in here earlier looking for you.

Nadia freezes.

NADIA
What did you tell him?

TOMMY
Nothing. I don't get involved.

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

Nadia loads groceries into her car. A beat-up sedan is parked three spaces away. DEREK (30s, her brother, intense) leans against it.

DEREK
We need to talk.

NADIA
No we don't.

DEREK
It's about the house.

NADIA
I said no.

She gets in her car and drives away. Derek watches her go.

nadia's apartment - night

Nadia sits at her kitchen table eating cereal. A KNOCK at the door. She doesn't move. Another KNOCK.

MRS. PETROV (O.S.)
Nadia, I know you're in there. I can hear the television.

Nadia mutes the TV and stays quiet.

MRS. PETROV (O.S.)
Your rent is late again, dear.

NADIA
(calling out)
I'll have it Friday!

MRS. PETROV (O.S.)
That's what you said last Friday.

Silence. Footsteps recede.

EXT. BUS STOP - EARLY MORNING

Nadia waits at a bus stop, duffel bag at her feet. The sun is barely up. Nobody else around.

Her phone rings. She looks at the screen — "DEREK." She answers.

NADIA
What.

DEREK (V.O.)
The lawyer says we have to both sign or we lose everything.

NADIA
Maybe we should lose everything.

DEREK (V.O.)
You don't mean that.

NADIA
Don't tell me what I mean.

She hangs up. The bus arrives. She boards.

INT - BUS - MORNING

Nadia sits in the back. PASSENGER (elderly woman) across the aisle knits something blue.

PASSENGER
Going far?

NADIA
Hopefully.

The bus pulls away.

EXT GAS STATION - AFTERNOON

The bus has stopped. Passengers mill around. Nadia buys a sandwich from a vending machine and sits on the curb.

Her phone has 3 new texts from Derek. She reads them:

"Please just call me"
"This isn't about us this is about mom's house"
"Nadia"

She types: "I need a few days." Sends it.

.FLASHBACK - INT. FAMILY HOUSE - KITCHEN - YEARS AGO

Young NADIA (12) and young DEREK (16) sit at the kitchen table. Their MOTHER sets plates in front of them.

MOTHER
Eat your dinner before it gets cold.

YOUNG DEREK
Mom, can I go to Tyler's after?

MOTHER
After you clean your room.

YOUNG NADIA
His room is disgusting.

YOUNG DEREK
Shut up.

MOTHER
Both of you. Eat.

A normal evening. Nothing special. Everything special.

INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Cheap. Clean enough. Nadia drops her duffel on the bed and lies down without undressing.

She stares at the ceiling for a long time.

Then she calls Derek.

DEREK (V.O.)
Nadia?

NADIA
Tell the lawyer I'll sign.

DEREK (V.O.)
Really?

NADIA
But I want to go through the house first. Before they clear it.

DEREK (V.O.)
...okay. Yeah. We can do that.

NADIA
I'll be back Thursday.

DEREK (V.O.)
Okay. Drive safe. Or... bus safe. Whatever.

NADIA
(almost smiling)
Goodnight, Derek.

She hangs up. Closes her eyes.

> FADE OUT.