Chapter 1
Gabriel: Hey man.
Raphael: Hey… you told her?
Gabriel: I think it’s better if she doesn’t know.
Raphael: Yeah. Let the past be the past.
(Gabriel forces a smile.)
(Door opens. Girls giggling.)
Lili: Hi… babe.
Anna: Hey boys.
Raphael: Hey y’all.
Gabriel: Uh… hi.
(Lili whispers.)
Is everything okay? You both look tense.
Raphael: We were just having drinks while waiting for everyone… and you guys too.
(Gabriel kisses Lili on the hair.)
Gabriel: Don’t overthink. It’s nothing.
Emma: What if we party tonight? My place.
(The boys arrive.)
Leon: What’s up, y’all?
Gabriel: We’re good. Just catching up.
Raphael: Yeah… catching up.
Gabriel: Everyone grab a drink. It’s on me.
(Boys cheer.)
Lili: Gabriel, can we talk? In private?
Gabriel: Yeah… sure.
What’s wrong?
Lili: You told me last week you were with the boys.
But I checked your location… it showed some weird place downtown.
Tell me what’s going on.
Gabriel: (clears throat) Lili, I—
Lili: You what? Speak up.
Gabriel: Me and Raphael decided to visit some new places in the city.
Lili: Then why lie?
Gabriel: I didn’t want you to feel jealous… or left out.
Lili: I just had this feeling…
Gabriel: It’s okay. I should be the one apologizing.
Let’s leave the guys. Just us.
Lili: Okay.
Gabriel : the is , this new restaurant, let's go there.
Lilly: am so sorry, I think I am just assuming stuff.
Gabriel : let it go, don't stress that pretty head of yours.
( lily chuckles softly)
(Soft music plays. Gabriel opens the car door for Lili.)
Lili: Thanks.
Gabriel: Let’s order.
Lili: The usual.
Gabriel: This place is peaceful… and pretty. Just like you.
Lili: Sometimes I feel like you missed your calling.
Gabriel: What do you mean?
Lili: You’re too good with sweet words.
Gabriel: That’s because I’m with a sweet girl. I can’t ignore that.
Lili: Mmm… eat your food.
Gabriel: Are you free tomorrow? 8 p.m. Movie night? That new show?
Lili: Only if you promise to tell me what’s going on.
(A pause.)
Gabriel: Nothing’s going on. But I’ll tell you anything you want to know.
(She smiles… but something in her eyes says she doesn’t fully believe him.)
(Parking lot.)
Gabriel: Home safe, princess. See you tomorrow.
(Phone rings.)
Gabriel: Hey, Raphael.
Raphael: Bro, what happened? I turn around for one second and you’re gone.
Gabriel: Had to distract her… a little.
Raphael: Can I ask you something?
Gabriel: Yeah.
Raphael: Do you love her?
(Silence.)
Gabriel: Of course I do.
Raphael: Then tell her.
Gabriel: No.
Raphael: Just listen to me—
Gabriel: I gotta go. My therapist is calling.
(Click.)
Raphael (quietly): She’s a good girl… she’ll understand.
Gabriel: …mm.
🎬 Movie Night
(Lili’s living room. Lights dim. The TV glow fills the room. A blanket over both of them. A bowl of popcorn between them.)
Lili: Okay, no spoilers. I’ve been waiting all week for this.
Gabriel: Relax. I won’t ruin it.
(She smiles and leans into him. He wraps an arm around her, but his body feels stiff.)
The show starts playing.
Laughter from the screen.
But Gabriel isn’t laughing.
His mind is somewhere else.
His phone vibrates.
He ignores it.
It vibrates again.
Lili glances down.
Lili: You can check it.
Gabriel: It’s nothing.
(Too quick.)
She studies his face.
Lili: You’ve said that a lot lately.
(Silence.)
On the TV, a dramatic scene plays — someone confessing a secret.
Gabriel swallows hard.
His jaw tightens.
Lili: Are you okay?
Gabriel: Yeah.
(Beat.)
Lili: Gabriel…
(He finally looks at her.)
Lili: When you lie, you blink twice before answering.
(He freezes.)
Gabriel: I’m not lying.
His phone lights up again.
This time she sees it.
Dr. Matthews Calling.
The room feels smaller.
The show keeps playing in the background, but neither of them is watching now.
Lili sits up slowly.
Lili: You’re in therapy?
(He says nothing.)
Lili: Why didn’t you tell me?
Gabriel: Because it’s not your problem.
Lili: I didn’t say it was.
(His voice lowers.)
Gabriel: Some things… are better left alone.
Lili: For who?
Silence.
His eyes soften — but there’s fear in them.
Gabriel: You don’t deserve to carry my mess.
(That line hits.)
Lili’s voice gets quieter.
Lili: I don’t want perfect, Gabriel.
I want honest.
Another pause.
He looks like he’s about to speak.
Like he’s about to finally let it out.
But instead—
He grabs the remote.
Turns the TV off.
The room goes quiet.
Gabriel: Can we not do this tonight?
Lili nods slowly.
But her heart sinks.
Because now she knows.
There is something.
And he’s not ready to let her in.
🎬 Movie Night – Continued
The room is quiet.
Lili sits beside him, waiting.
Gabriel stares at the blank TV screen.
His phone lights up again.
He grabs it quickly this time.
He looks at the screen.
His expression shifts.
Tight.
Nervous.
Decided.
Gabriel: I… uh… I forgot.
Lili: Forgot what?
Gabriel: I have to meet someone. I promised earlier.
(Lili’s eyebrows pull together.)
Lili: At 9:30 at night?
Gabriel: It’s important.
Lili: More important than this?
(Silence.)
He stands up.
Avoids her eyes.
Gabriel: It won’t take long.
Lili slowly pulls the blanket off her lap.
Lili: Who are you meeting?
(A beat too long.)
Gabriel: Just… someone from work.
It’s smooth.
Too smooth.
Lili studies him.
Lili: You’re lying again.
He exhales sharply.
Gabriel: Why does everything have to be an interrogation?
(The word hangs in the air.)
Lili’s face falls.
Lili: I’m not interrogating you. I’m trying to understand you.
He softens for half a second.
Almost speaks.
Almost tells her.
Instead—
He grabs his jacket.
Gabriel: I’ll call you later.
He leans in like he’s going to kiss her forehead.
She doesn’t move.
He hesitates.
Then leaves.
The door closes.
Silence.
Lili sits there.
The room feels colder.
🚗 Outside – Parking Lot
Gabriel gets into his car.
Hands shaking slightly.
He dials.
Raphael: That was fast.
Gabriel: I told her I had to meet someone.
Raphael: You left?
Gabriel: Yeah.
Raphael: You can’t keep running like this.
Gabriel: I’m not running.
Raphael: That’s exactly what you’re doing.
(Pause.)
Gabriel: Meet me. The usual place.
🎬 Scene – The Usual Place
(A quiet rooftop overlooking the city. Same place they used to hang out in high school.)
Raphael is already there.
Gabriel walks up, tense.
Raphael: You left her.
Gabriel: I know.
Silence stretches between them.
The city lights flicker below.
Raphael: You saw it in her eyes, didn’t you?
Gabriel doesn’t answer.
Instead, he leans against the railing.
His voice lowers.
Gabriel: Do you ever think about that night?
Raphael stiffens.
He already knows which night.
🕰 Flashback – High School
Raphael leans against the railing.
Raphael: You’re thinking about Louis again, aren’t you?
Gabriel’s jaw tightens.
He doesn’t look at him.
Gabriel: I see his face sometimes.
The rooftop feels colder.
Raphael: It was one moment. One stupid, angry moment.
Gabriel shakes his head.
Gabriel: One moment changed everything.
Silence.
Gabriel: If I didn’t push him—
He can’t finish the sentence.
Raphael steps closer.
Raphael: You were 16. Your head was a mess. Your mom’s scandal was everywhere. You weren’t thinking.
Gabriel: That’s the problem. I wasn’t thinking.
A pause.
Gabriel: And now I sit across from Lili, and she thinks I’m this calm, sweet guy.
He laughs bitterly.
Gabriel: She doesn’t know I almost destroyed someone’s life because I couldn’t control myself.
Raphael watches him carefully.
Raphael: You’ve spent years fixing yourself.
Gabriel: Therapy doesn’t erase what I did.
A long silence.
City lights blinking below.....
🎬 Back to Present
Raphael looks away.
Raphael: We were kids.
Gabriel shakes his head.
Gabriel: I pushed him.
Raphael: You didn’t mean—
Gabriel: I pushed him.
His voice cracks.
Gabriel: And my mom paid it away like it was nothing.
The police investigation “disappeared.”
New house.
New school district.
Fresh start.
But not for Gabriel.
Because guilt doesn’t move houses.
It stays.
Raphael: We promised we’d never talk about it again.
Gabriel: I know.
Raphael: And now?
Gabriel stares at the city.
Gabriel: Now I look at Lili… and I feel like I’m lying just by standing next to her.
A long pause.
Gabriel: She thinks I’m sweet.
She thinks I’m gentle.
She thinks I’m safe.
Raphael’s voice softens.
Raphael: You were 16.
Gabriel: And he never got to turn 17.
Silence.
Heavy.
Gabriel: She doesn’t deserve to love someone like me.
Raphael steps closer.
Raphael: That’s guilt talking. Not truth.
Gabriel exhales slowly.
Gabriel: If she finds out… she’ll see me differently.
Raphael: Maybe.
A beat.
Raphael: Or maybe she’ll see that you’ve spent years punishing yourself.
