<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8885330/>

FADE IN:

`INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY`

**THE SUN**

A WOMAN, dancing in a MAN's arms. She (20s) wears a floral spring dress while he (20s) wears slacks and a t-shirt.

&#x20;                                             BOY (V.O.)

*I remember a time when my mother was truly happy. Nothing in the world compared to the warmth of her radiance.*

She laughs, carefree, as she basks in his love.

Their romantic waltz continues as if they are the only two people in the room.

Pulling back we see:

A baby sits on a blanket spread over the floor. He giggles as he watches his mother intently.

`INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY`

**THE RAIN**

The MAN storms out the front door slamming it behind him.

&#x20;                                                BOY (V.O.)

*And then one day he left. Said he wasn't ready for a family. Said I was an accident. That he tried to make it work.*

The mother sits on the couch trying to cry her lover back. Her face buried in a tissue.

The boy, now 2 years old, stands at her feet, invisible to her.

He clutches a doll for comfort.

&#x20;                                                 BOY (V.O.)

*If he only knew what else he took with him that day.*

The mother's weeping intensifies.

`INT. CHILD'S BEDROOM - DAY`

The boy, now 6 years old, sits at a child's desk. He stares at the surface.

&#x20;                                                  BOY (V.O.)

*Since then, I discovered I have a special gift unlike anything else in this world. A gift that brings light.*

ON THE DESKTOP

A simple drawing of a woman, boy, and house. The boy picks up a coloring pencil.

Draws a RED DRESS on the woman.

He sets down the pencil. Studies the drawing. Decides he likes it. He tapes it on the wall.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings.

`INT. FOYER - DAY`

The mother opens the front door. Her face is heavy with melancholy, her eyes puffy from crying.

She looks down and sees:

A neatly folded RED DRESS.

`INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY`

The mother holds the dress up to her torso. The boy stands by her side anxiously watching her reaction.

The mother's face brightens. She smiles with approval.

&#x20;                                                               MOTHER

*Wow, look at this!*

The boy, relieved, smiles back.

&#x20;                                                               BOY

*It's beautiful mommy. Try it on.*

\*\*

`INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY`

The mother, wearing the RED DRESS, twirls around in front of a mirror. She giggles, carefree once more.

She looks down at her son and offers a warm smile. The boy soaks up the attention.

She looks back at the mirror to study her reflection.

`INT. FOYER - DAY`

The mother opens the front door. She sees pink orchids resting on the step.

&#x20;                                                      BOY (V.O.)

*I've used this gift many times to try and bring back her happiness.*

Now, fast cuts on the step with the mother opening the door to:

\-- A heart-shaped locket

\-- A floral blouse

\-- A puppy

`INT. CHILD'S BEDROOM - DAY`

We slide past the drawings on the wall, each one similar to the next but with one new addition.

Boy and house with the mother:

\-- ...wearing a heart-shape locket

\-- ...wearing a floral blouse

\-- ...near a puppy

`INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY`

The mother sitting on the couch crying. Her face buried in her hands.

A full grown dog walks past a table. Neglected pink orchids resting on top.

&#x20;                                                            BOY (V.O.)

*But no matter how many moments of joy I would bring, they always were short lived. That bottomless despair would return. And our world would return to darkness.*

The boy stands at her feet. Invisible once more.

He looks down, shattered by his mother's sadness.

`INT. CHILD'S BEDROOM - DAY`

The boy, now 10 years old, sits at his desk contemplating.

Before him, a fresh drawing of the mother, boy and house.

A wastebasket is filled with crumpled drawings that didn't make the cut.

&#x20;                                                         BOY (V.O.)

*Then one day I realized that this whole time I've been adding things to enrich my mother's life--*

He reaches for a coloring pencil. HESITATES.

FLASHBACK

\-- The mother laughing and smiling.

\-- The breakup. The lover: "I'm not ready for a family".  Mother and lover coldly look down at the boy.

BACK TO SCENE

&#x20;                                                            BOY (V.O.)

*--When instead, I should have been taking away.*

The boy **moves his reach** from the coloring pencil to an ERASER.

He erases himself from the picture. Hangs it on the wall.

A beat.

He looks at his arm as it disappears.

He, then everything in the room, dissolve into:

A BLINDING LIGHT

`INT. DREAMSCAPE`

**THE STARS**

The mother, dancing in her lover's arms.

Laughing, happy, finally free.

Her face radiates a warmth like the sun.

They spin in an eternal dance through the enchanting brightness.

Pulling back we see:

The boy, in ghost form, watches his mother intently.

&#x20;                                                                                                                 FADE OUT.


A neglected boy uses his unusual talent to bring his despondent mother joy.

The Gift

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