A cynical actress who resists, then surrenders to the charm of a Jaws-obsessed manipulator, discovers the fantasy he calls love is a trap she must escape — or disappear in his delusion.

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What readers are saying:

"Wow! You hit this one out of the park!"

Blacklist: "The meta elements are well-executed/clever/creative--even right off the bat, in the first act.  This project is consistently unique, and the dark comedy writing is pretty memorable/impressive ... This writer has an engaging/original voice ... professional-level talent ..."

"Your facility with descriptions and the way you choose to lay them out is some of the best I’ve read.  Great opening visuals!  - Totally jump off the page. I really enjoyed the stylistic visual choices ... 

"I'm thirty pages in and you're clearly a writer (which I don't think can be taught, so well done to your parents or god or whatever) ..

"I find your style engaging. Many of the screenplays I read seem to be written as if the events were happening in 'real life', so it was refreshing to read one that felt like an actual movie.  I flew through the first half of the script. Was very tense and exciting and I read 40 pages when I had only planned on reading ten ...

"... you have a great, economical way of conveying universal emotions and gestures in a few simple words. This is difficult to pull off and one of the strengths of the script.  The fourth wall break is dangerous territory, but you pull that off too."

"... a remarkably well-crafted and intelligent script across all its elements. Its deliberate complexity is a strength, making it a challenging but ultimately rewarding piece of storytelling.

SYNOPSIS:

Right Now, Closer Than You Think

Helen speeds across an icy bridge and crashes. She’s ejected and dangles over a ravine. Sam appears, scrambles to help, grabs her hand.

His grip is weak — then he recognizes her face.

She’s his former lover.

His hand slips.

SHOCK CUT:

Back, Eight Years

Helen (25), a sharp, cynical waitress and aspiring actress, moves into a bland suburban apartment complex. Her neighbor Sam (25), a Jaws-obsessed accident investigator, seems shy, harmless — forgettable.

But Sam watches her.

He doesn’t crave affection — he craves possession. It looks like care, but it’s a sticky web. His “meet cute” is offering to fix her flat tire. He deflated it the night before.

When she keeps her distance, he escalates: hires a thug to fake a robbery so he can swoop in as the hero.

He creates fear, then positions himself as the solution.

Sam isn’t courting her — he’s constructing a world she can’t say no to.

He learns she never went to prom. So, he gives her one: candles, music, corsage, the works. She drops her defenses. They become lovers. Helen doesn’t know he’s recording them.

Each day, her choices narrow — until they vanish.

Helen confronts Sam when she uncovers his lies.

Back To The Bridge

Helen dangles — her life in Sam’s hand.

The question isn’t whether he pulls her up.

It’s whether she climbs out.

THE WEIGHT OF EFFORTLESSNESS