The Dark side of Genius

We have Liah in a therapy session. She has been having problems and the therapist is trying to get to the bottom of it. It's been weeks and they're not having much success at all so the therapist asks if she has told them everything? If there's something they're holding back on.

Therapist

Liah. It's been weeks now and we're not making any breakthrough. This happens I know but I can't help feeling that you're holding something back. Something crucial.

Liah looks away from the therapist and gives her reply

Liah

I've told you everything.

Therapist

Are you sure?

Pause

Therapist

Is there anything that, for example, you're trying to protect another?

Or maybe something that you feel guilty about?

There is silence for a long while. The patient says nothing.

Therapist

Well?

Liah replies in anger

Liah

I said no

Therapist

if it's a no then why so angry?

If anything that would suggest to me that you've got something to hide.

Liah

Well you think you're so damn clever don't you?

Therapist

Liah I'm not here to compete with you I'm here to help you. To get you back on track. To get you happy again.

Liah

Well maybe, just maybe i don't want to be happy. Have you thought about that?

Therapist

Yes.
Yes I have and I don't believe that you would want to be unhappy unless there is something causing that unhappines.

Liah stares blankly trying to hold back tears. She holds this for a little while.

Liah

I promised myself I would never speak about it

Therapist

Why?

Liah

It's my secret. My shame. If people found out I don't know what would happen.

Therapist

Liah, you know that as a professional I offer full confidentiality

Liah

How can I trust that?

Therapist

You have my assurance, it is in fact in writing.

Liah

I kind of, don't trust anyone

Therapist

Liah, there's a reason you are here. We need to process whatever is causing the problems. We cannot progress if you don't reveal.

Liah

I could tell you, but if I do I think you'll regret hearing it.

Therapist

Liah please

Liah

ok, but I warned you.
It happened last year.

pause

Therapist

Go on

Liah

I'm passionate about acting. I was part of a performing arts school and they were doing an original production called QuarterVille. The lead role of Lucia, I believed was made for me.

I practiced so much. I knew the role inside out. I learned every song.

Long pause.

Therapist

And

Liah

I felt I'd done amazing at the audition. I thought "This was my moment".
When they called us to announce the casting result and in particular the moment they announced who got the role of Lucia my heart dropped. It wasn't me. It went to a friend of mine. She was a great person and very talented but I was angry, so angry.

Therapist

Did you show that anger.

Liah

No. The exact opposite. I showed how happy I was for her. Congratulated her.

We see the flash back where Liah goes and speaks to Nadia, the girl who got the role of Lucia. 

Nadia

Oh Lia, I can't believe it. I thought the role was yours. I'm so sorry

Liah

Nadia. Don't be stupid I'm so happy for you. You're going to smash it. 

We're back in the therapists office

Liah

Inside I was about to explode. I held it back. That is until I got home and I cried and cried until the tears dried up. And when they did, irrational thoughts started going through my head.

Therapist

What thoughts.

Liah

Revenge. Nadia had done nothing wrong and yet I wanted revenge.

Therapist

Did you plan your revenge.

Liah

Yes

Therapist

What was it?

Liah

I came up with a brilliant idea. One that meant that no one would suspect me.

Therapist

ok

Liah

You see I have a talent that no one knew about. I can mimik anyone's handwriting. Nadia's was particularly unique. 

Therapist

What did you do?

Liah

I wrote a note to Tom the chap who got the lead role of Kalogeros. I wrote the note in Nadia's handwriting making out I'm her. I then slipped it into his locker early one morning.

Flash back. We see Tom going to his locker and the note falling on the floor. He picks it up. Opens it and starts reading. We hear it, however, in Nadia's voice.

"Dear Tom
Just a quick note to say congratulations on getting the role of Kalogeros. I'll be honest I don't think it's a surprise that we got the main roles cause the rest of the cast are pretty...

Actually, let's just say they're pretty poor.

If you're up for it I'd love to meet you in private to discuss the roles

Message me back

Nadia x

P.S. Please keep this note to yourself.

Liah

Tom had a girlfriend so I knew this  would cause problems as would the bit I wrote about the rest of the cast.
I have to say, I think my plan was brilliant. This would have repercussions to Nadia and no one would suspect me. And, as it proved it worked out brilliantly.

Therapist

Really? If that's the case then why are you here?

Leah breaks down in tears. The therapist  hands her a tissue

Liah

I am a casualty of my plans brilliant success.

Therapist

So it worked very well. I know that so far. Did you do anything else.

Liah

No. I didn't need to. The knock on effect of my note was spectacular.

Therapist

What happened?

Liah

The evening after Tom read the note Nadia went out to meet friends. Before she got to them she came accross Tom, his girlfriend and a few of the others.

We now enter into a flashback of the event. Tom, his girlfriend Rhea and a few of the cast are hanging around outside chatting about the note that Tom found in his lock when Nadia turns up on her way to see friends.

Jonas

Nadia really needs knocking down a peg or two. 

Peter

Yeah she must think she's oscar material. 

Jonas

Talk of the devil

We see Nadia walk past and stop

Nadia

oh hi.

Tom

Oh hi Nadia

Rhea speaks very sarcasticaly

Rhea

Oh how lovely of you to come and say hello to us

Nadia's puzzled at the sarcasm

Nadia

Is something wrong?

Rhea turns to the others to see their reactions

Rhea

The audacity she has honestly. Kills me.

Nadia

i said what's wrong?

Rhea

you know perfectly well what you did

Tom

Rhea you said you wouldn't say anything

Rhea

You really think I was going to keep it as secret that she said to you 'I'd like to meet up with you in private. What do you think that means?

Tom looks worried for what is to come

Jonas

So Nadia, you think we're all rubbish actors?

Peter

Only you and Tom are any good Ay?

Nadia

I don't know what you guys are talking about

Rhea

No of course you don't. Well how about I hit you with the proof

Rhea hands her the note

Nadia

Wow that does look like my handwriting.

Jonas

Well I've got to hand it to you Nadia, you are proving that you are a good actress

Tom

A good liar

Nadia

No no no. That was not written by me

Rhea pushes Nadia as she speaks

Rhea

Don't you dare insult our intelligence

Nadia pushes her back

Nadia

You're doing that yourself and don't you dare push me

Rhea loses it and grabs a an implement and is about to hit Nadia when Tom steps in and grabs her Rhea's arm holding the makeshift weapon

Tom

No Rhea

He turns to Nadia

Tom

I would run if I were you. I can only hold her so long.

Nadia runs and runs and runs (we film her very upset running.)
We see Rhea break free from Tom and run, then the others run after her.
Nadia keeps looking back and sees Rhea running behind her.
We then see Nadia run into the road. We hear the car screeching to a halt and then see Rhea and all the others at the side of the road looking shocked.

We return to the therapists room

Therapist

Was Nadia alright?

Liah shakes her head (if we're going incognito we'll just see the back of her head).

The therapist hands her a tissue

Liah

That was never in my plan. It was never meant to be like that. I wanted to hurt her but not like that.

Therapist

Did anyone get in trouble for it.

Liah

Rhea and Tom both were found guilty of manslaughter. The driver, I heard, is suffering from PTSD.

The therapist is speechless and is in shock

Liah

So. Now you know. Other than me you're the only one who knows.
You assured me of your confidentiality

Are you going to make me feel better now that I've revealed my secret and released my supressed emotions?
Or are you going to hand me in and my life even worse?

We end with a close up of the therapist who doesn't know what to do. Torn between doing one right thing again doing a totally different right thing.

Idea

1 Liah tells the other cast members how she's critisizing their acting and singing

2 She's get very cocky about getting the roles. She plays humble in front of others but she's been going on about being the best.

3 Liah mimicks Nadia's unique handwriting. She writes a fake note to Tom who has been given the lead role of Kalogeros. The note suggests that she (Nadia) and Tom are head and shoulders above the rest, that in fact the others are rather poor so no wonder they got the role. She asks please keep this note to yourself (Liah Knows that he won't). In fact, she asks, let me know if you'd like to meet to discuss our roles in private. 
Having done this, Liah succeeds in seperating herself from everything going on. No one suspects her.

Liah -  Rebecca

Lead character who's receiving therapy

Therapist - Scot

Trying to help Liah

Tom  -  Isaac

Got the lead role of Kalogeros in the musical QuarterVille

Nadia - Tahlia

Got the lead role of Lucia in the musical QuarterVille

Rhea - Isabelle 

The girlfriend of Tom

Jonas - Izak

One of the cast members who is there on the night of the attack

Peter - James

Another of the cast members who is there on the night of the attack

 

Possibly Bethany Linch* to play Liah. I'm told she's a very good actress but Isaac forgot to ask her

Tarnia. Isaac recomends Zara

 

Isaac's not totally sure that that's her surname

film club
	Thursday 2 nov	Thursday 9 nov
Lee	No	YES	No
James	yes	No	No
izak	No	yes	Yes
isaac	yes	yes	Yes
Elisha	yes	No	No
Julia	yes	yes	Yes
Rebecca			Yes
student teachers