Fade In:

INT. SCHOOL - AFTERNOON

SAMMY, 7, and his mother NOUR, 33, speed-walk down a vacant hallway.

Nour pulls Sammy as they go, a wrapped tray in the other hand.

Nour mumbles to herself.

NOUR

(in Arabic)

4A...4A--where is this 4A?

She finally stumbles upon it. She pats her hair down and checks her breath.

INT. CLASSROOM -- AFTERNOON

Groups of parents stand around large foldout tables laid out with similar looking trays of food.

Nour scans the room looking for a familiar face. She lands on a Mom she recognizes and heads for her, dragging Sammy along.

Nour enthusiastically greets Nancy in broken English.

NOUR

Nancy!

She sets the tray on the table.

NANCY

Hi!

NANCY, 36, holds a faux smile as her eyes move down to Sammy.

NOUR

I’m Nour, Sammy’s mom. Nancy nods, pretending to recall.

NANCY

Right!

The two share an awkward laugh.

NANCY (CONT'D)

Typically, we don’t bring the kids to the parents’ potluck.

Nancy bends down to Sammy’s level.

NANCY (CONT'D)

But I think we can make an exception for you Sammy.

Nour realizes her mistake.

NOUR

Ahhh, I didn’t realize-

NANCY

No, we’re happy to have the both of you.

She seats Sammy at a vacant table with a juice box.

INT. CLASSROOM -- LATER

Sammy watches the parents interact.

Nour and Nancy unwrap Nour’s contribution: dolma. Nour waits for Nancy’s reaction.

NANCY

Wow.

Nour introduces it excitedly.

NOUR

Dolma...grape leaves.

NANCY

Whatever it is, it looks... interesting.

She picks up the tray and places it at an empty table. Nour’s enthusiasm fades.

Sammy gets out of his seat, throwing the juicebox at a trash can and making it.

He looks around the room to see if anybody noticed his perfect shot.

Nour is standing with a group, trying to be a part of the conversation. Her laughs are delayed and confused, following the groups.

INT. HALLWAY -- CONTINUOUS

Sammy steps out of the classroom into the empty hallway.

He makes his way past the identical blue doors, reaching the last one.

Sammy puts his face against the door’s glass.

The dim, unrenovated room is largely empty except for a rabbit cage and a fish tank in the corner.

Sammy and the rabbit meet eyes. He taps on the door, gradually getting louder and louder.

A firm hand grabs his wrist mid-knock.

Nancy looks at him with disapproving eyes. Sammy yanks his hand back, but her iron grasp keeps him there.

INT. CAR--NIGHT

CLOSE ON: tray of untouched dolma.

Sammy sits in the back watching Nour mumble to herself as she drives.

NOUR

Parents’ potluck...parents’ pot luck...parents’ potluck.

A red light. Nour turns to the backseat.

NOUR (CONT'D)

(sarcastically in Arabic) How pitiful.

INT. SCHOOL FRONT -- DAY

Nour sits in her car waiting for Sammy.

In front of the school entrance, she sees Nancy load the rabbit cage into her SUV. A group of kids stand behind her waving goodbye, some look upset.

Nour gets out of her car and makes her way to Nancy’s.

NOUR

(enthusiastically)

Hi Nancy! It’s Nour, Samm- Nancy pushes her sunglasses to her head.

Nancy matches Nour’s enthusiasm the best she can.

NANCY

Yes! I think they just got out.

NOUR

You’re taking it.

NANCY

Just for the weekend.

NOUR

So any of us can bring him home?

Nancy nods.

Nour ponders the idea.

NOUR (CONT'D)

What about next weekend?

NANCY

Well I wouldn’t really know, but I’m sure someone in the office could tell you.

Nour stands frozen, this is her and Sammy’s chance to be a part of something.

Nancy shuts the trunk, and drives off. Nour snaps out of it. Nancy’s long gone.

NOUR

Thank you!!!

INT. APARTMENT -- DAY

Sammy sits in front of the cage, his face pressed against the bars.

The rabbit moves aimlessly.

Sammy takes a leaf of lettuce and holds it in front of the rabbit’s mouth. It doesn’t bite.

He turns to the window. On the balcony across, a man sits with his dog.

NOUR (O.S.)

Yulla Sammy!

Sammy turns in the direction of his mother’s voice and then back to the rabbit.

He drops the leaf of lettuce into the cage and lifts it. With his elbow, he slides the balcony doors open and sets the cage down outside.

INT. GROCERY STORE -- DAY

Sammy sits in the larger part of a store cart, the part you’re not supposed to sit in.

Nour hands him items, which he tosses in the cart.

EXT. CAR -- DAY

Sun floods the car. Nour folds out the car’s visor.

Sammy puts his hand in front of his face, blocking the harsh rays. He lowers it then raises it, repeating the action multiple times.

Gulp.

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT - AFTERNOON STATIC ONE SHOT:

Sammy and Nour enter the apartment. Nour heads to the kitchen with bags.

Sammy makes a beeline to the balcony door and slides it open. He stands over the cage.

After some time, Nour joins Sammy on the balcony, standing in front of him.

We don’t see her reaction. A pregnant pause.

She pushes the cage with her foot.

A loud RATTLE sound, followed by another silence. Nour exits.

Sammy’s eyes stay on the rabbit.

She returns with a point and shoot, the flash breaks his reverie.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR - AFTERNOON

Nour mumbles to herself.

NOUR

(in Arabic)

What will they think of us...I’m to blame...

INT. PET STORE -- DUSK

Five Rabbits hop around in an especially small pen.

Standing over it, Sammy points to one identical to the deceased.

Nour shakes her head.

NOUR

(whispering in Arabic) It’s giving the evil eye

Nour points to another, very different looking bunny.

INT. PET STORE -- DUSK

A CLERK, 19, rings the two up. He recites his lines.

CLERK

Will you be needing housing, pellets or litter?

NOUR

No we’ve got plenty at home...he has a brother...

INT. CAR -- NIGHT

Sammy sits beside a cardboard carrier, putting his eye up to one of the air holes. The rabbit moves around startled by the bumpy ride.

INT. APARTMENT -- NIGHT

Sammy and Nour wash lettuce.

Sammy takes a leaf and holds it to the rabbits mouth, it nibbles on it.

Nour grabs his ear playfully.

NOUR

We did it habibi.

She grins with pride. Sammy turns to her.

Nour's smile fades.

He studies her for a moment then points a finger directed at her face.

SAMMY

(in Arabic) The evil eye.

She slaps him without hesitation.

INT. BEDROOM HEIGHTENED REALITY:

National Arab Orchestra - Treasures of the East plays over: Sammy Dresses for school.

INT. CAR

Nour mumbles to herself, the caged rabbit in the passenger seat.

Sammy sits behind.

INT. CLASSROOM

A group of moms, including Nancy, stand around Nour, the center of attention. They comment and laugh at whatever it is that she’s saying, one of them claps.

Sammy’s classmates stand giggling around the new rabbit. Sammy watches in horror.

END OF HEIGHTENED REALITY:

END.

Martin Matar's script won first prize in the Ninth Annual Humanities and Sciences Writing Contest. Here's what judges Mark Curley and Xan Price had to say about this prize-winning entry: "With wry humor and psychological intensity, it tells the story of seven year old Sammy and his mother, Nour, as they navigate the confusing customs of a typical American school community. While Nour perseveres in the struggle to become part of this new world, Sammy discovers an unexpected source of evil.