ELEVEN BRACELETS
SCREENPLAY BY:
DAHLILAH BERNSTEIN, NICHOLAS GONZALES, PAMELA MONDESI
FADE IN
1 INT. GREEN ROOM — MORNING
The faces of ELEVEN WOMEN are being shown in short intervals on the screen. The women’s raw emotions and expressions are obvious because of the black-and-white/grainy context of the images, while a VoiceOver (CASEY) reads:
CASEY (V.O.)
It was never easy for her, or her, or her, or for
[prolonged pause] any of us.
2 EXT. GARDEN — MORNING
A woman — CASEY — is shown amongst TEN OTHER WOMEN. She speaks sternly, passionately, and confidently.
CASEY
But we made it.
FADE IN (BLACK)
INSERT TITLE CARD: “ELEVEN BRACELETS BY: DAHLILAH BERNSTEIN, NICHOLAS GONZALES, PAMELA MONDESI”
CASEY (V.O.) (FADED/MUFFLED)
Together.
3 EXT. GARDEN — AFTERNOON
A group of ELEVEN WOMEN is seen walking into the garden, they sit down and CASEY starts talking, again. CASEY is seen twiddling with a BRACELET.
CASEY (NERVOUSLY)
I remember it so vividly, just like it was yesterday. Horrible doesn’t even begin to describe it.
4 INT. BEDROOM — NIGHT
CASEY is on her bed. HE is seen towering over her. HE starts hitting her. The PINK BRACELET is visible on her wrist.
CASEY (V.O.) (CHOKED UP)
The physical … the emotional … the unbearable …
5 EXT. GARDEN — AFTERNOON
CASEY is seen again in the garden struggling to speak as she recalls this horrific experience.
CASEY (CRYING PROFUSELY)
(Holding her face) … the seed that never grew.
6 EXT. GARDEN — AFTERNOON
CASEY looks down, adjusts her BRACELET, and looks up around at all the other WOMEN. She pulls out ten BRACELETS. She points to her BRACELET, and starts to hand out the BRACELETS to the women while saying:
CASEY
This is the BRACELET that kept me alive and will be the BRACELET that keeps us together.
FADE IN (BLACK)
INSERT TITLE CARD: “ELEVEN BRACELETS"
BEGIN MONTAGE
7 INT. LAW OFFICE - DAY
CASEY is seen (in slow motion) walking down a hallway in an office. She is seen holding a stack of PAPERS.
CASEY (V.O.)
It’s been six years, and I’m already the best version of myself. I was put on this planet for a purpose…
8 INT. COURT ROOM - DAY
CASEY speaks (in slow motion) at PROSECUTOR TABLE passionately yelling.
CASEY (V.O.)
Everyday, I advocate for women.. Women like me.
9 EXT. BEACH - DUSK
CASEY and WIFE are walking down the beach (in slow motion).
CASEY (V.O.)
I’ve found the love of my life, and I’ve never been happier.
END MONTAGE
10 EXT. GARDEN - DAY
CASEY, now not in (V.O.), says to the group:
CASEY
My past does not define me. It was not the end, but merely the beginning. My name is Casey, and I am a survivor of domestic abuse.
11 INT. GREEN ROOM - DAY
CASEY and JONATHAN (the interviewer) are set up in the green room. JONATHAN is behind the camera. An in-depth interview about CASEY’S experience is being documented.
JONATHAN (V.O.)
Are you comfortable? Do you need some water?
CASEY
(In a happy mood)
I’m good thank you.
JONATHAN (V.O.)
How have you overcome your experience?
CASEY
Well, I decided to use my abse to become something bigger. Something better. Now advocating for other women who are in the same position I was in, I am now at peace.
JONATHAN (V.O.)
Thank you for sharing… your story
FADE OUT.
INSERT: YOUR STORY
BEGIN FLASHBACK
12 EXT. STREET - NIGHT
A woman, BELLA, is seen amongst a crowd of men. She is cleaning her skin and holding a syringe.
BELLA (V.O.)
Murder, greed, crime.
13 INT. AMBULANCE - NIGHT
BELLA is on a STRETCHER in an AMBULANCE. Insert shot on her BRUISED ARM, showing a needlepoint scar.
BELLA (V.O.)
Death, suffering, darkness [muffled]
14 EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY
BELLA is standing alone in a BLACK DRESS over a tombstone readinng “Rest In Peace JESSICA BERNSTEIN” facing away from the camera.
BELLA (V.O.)
(Choked up)
The lessons learned.
15 INT. CHURCH ROOM - DAY
The back of BELLA’S HEAD is being shown. She is amongst CHURCH GOERS in a meeting with a sign reading “NA meeting at Chapel Hill Church 5:30-7:30P.M.”. The ensemble of CHURCH GOERS say:
CHURCH GOERS
(In background)
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things… [fades out].
BELLA (V.O.)
Have been learnt.
END FLASHBACK
16 EXT. GARDEN - DAY
THE WOMEN are seen together in a circle in THE GARDEN. They can be seen wearing BRACELETS. Insert shot, again, on BELLA’S ARM.
BELLA
The scariest moment of my life has brought me here. The last time I broke the skin, my world almost ended.
17 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
BELLA is working as a surgeon, saving someone. A group of surgeons are seen, and they begin to cheer.
BELLA (V.O.)
Now I can cheer, as I save who I was…
18 EXT. GARDEN - DAY
BELLA, CASEY, and the other WOMEN are now holding hands. The faces from the intro are shown and speak:
BELLA
… And praise who I am now.
The WOMEN stand up and join hands
GIRL 1
We are WOMEN.
GIRL 2
We overcome.
GIRL 3
We have no fear.
CASEY
Standing here are eleven women, with eleven beating hearts, eleven stories, and…
FADE OUT
INSERT TITLE CARD: “11 BRACELETS”
CASEY
— Eleven Bracelets.
THE END
Production Title | Director(s) | Cinematographer(s) |
11 Bracelets | Dahlilah Bernstein, Nicholas Gonzales, and Pamela Mondesi | Dahlilah Bernstein and Nicholas Gonzales |
Shot | Scene # | Location | Description | Shot Size | Camera Angle | Movement |
1 | 1 | Int. Green Room | Photo montage of 11 women’s faces | Medium Close-Up | Eye Level | Handheld |
2 | 11 | Int. Green Room | An interviewer is holding the camera, to face Casey, who is being interviewed | Medium | Eye Level | Handheld |
3 | 4 | Int. Bedroom | Flashback to when Casey was being assaulted | Wide | Low | Pan |
4 | 7 | Int. Law Office | Casey walks down an aisle of a law office, showing off her new life | Medium | Hip/Waist Level | Handheld |
5 | 8 | Int. Court Room | Casey is seen at her new job | Medium Close-Up | Eye Level | Handheld |
6 | 13 | Int. Ambulance | Drug abuse is shown on Bella as she rides in an ambulance | Medium | Over the Shoulder | Handheld |
7 | 15 | Int. Church Room | Bella, who suffers from drug abuse, is seen trying to repent her sins at church | Medium Close-Up | Over the Shoulder | Pan |
8 | 17 | Int. Hospital | Bella is seen at her new job, saving someone’s life | Medium | Wide | Handheld |
9 | 2 | Ext. Garden | Casey is shown speaking to a group of women | Medium | Wide | Handheld |
10 | 3 | Ext. Garden | All women are listening to Casey speak and all have their bracelets on | Close-Up | Insert | Handheld |
11 | 5 | Ext. Garden | Casey is seen in garden speaking to women | Medium Close-Up | Eye Level | Handheld |
12 | 6 | Ext. Garden | Casey hands out bracelets to rest of women | Medium Close-Up | Eye Level | Handheld |
13 | 10 | Ext. Garden | Casey speaks to women, emotionally | Medium Close-Up | Eye Level | Handheld |
14 | 16 | Ext. Garden | Bella tells her story to the group | Medium Close-Up | Insert | Handheld |
15 | 18 | Ext. Garden | All women are holding hands as they come together as one | Medium | Wide | Pan |
16 | 9 | Ext. Beach | Casey and her lover are seen walking | Medium | Over the Shoulder | Handheld |
17 | 12 | Ext. Street | Bella’s flashback to drug abuse shows | Medium Close-Up | Insert | Handheld |
18 | 14 | Ext. Graveyard | Bella visits her best friend’s grave, who died from drug abuse | Medium | Wide/Over the Shoulder | Pan |
