(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)
The Invisible Strings
Written by
Thanh-Truc Nguyen
Copyright (c) 2024
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)
Logline: A 20-year-old girl (Han), who is struggling to make
new music, finds unexpected inspiration from a neighbor
(Quynh) who just moves in within the same apartment to start
her new yet hectic job.
1. INT. HAN'S BEDROOM - DAY
The wall of Han's bedroom is decorated with posters of her
favorite singers, album covers, and other little
inspirational notes being decorated all over the surface.
Laying around are several bottles of alcohol liquid.
Dressed in old clothing and sitting tiredly in front of her
laptop, with a guitar in her left hand and a pen in her
right hand - Han is trying to jot down every single word of
her new song on a paper.
After a while, her eyes squeeze and gaze far off into the
distance. Her mind goes blank and all of a sudden scratch
the paper crazily. A mere black mess in front of her eyes.
She takes a huge sip of alcohol.
2. INT. STAIRCASE IN AN APARTMENT - DAY
Han, dressed in some kind of old boyband t-shirt, is sitting
at the end of the staircase. She tears her hair out and
looks hopelessly at the unfinished music sheet.
Some crowd noise being heard from afar, a group of 4 girls
appear slowly going upstairs and carry two quite big boxes
that contain a lot of household items.
Quynh, dressed in formal clothing, leads the way for her
group upstairs while helping to carry the boxes. One step
upstairs, Quynh stumbles over Han while walking backwards.
Quynh nodes repeatedly to suggest an "apology". Han looks up
and nodes confusingly.
Quynh and her friend group continues walking upstairs. Han
continues looking at the music sheet and zoning out.
Once the group slowly navigate upstairs, Han puts the paper
down and notices a black piece of plastic on the floor in
her eyesight. She approaches and pick its up - a guitar
capo.
She rushes upstairs to find them to return. The moment Han
finds out where Quynh lives, the group closes the door and
their hearty laughter fills the room inside.
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 2.
Han approaches the door and stands outside for a moment,
slowly raising her hand to knock on it. The laughter spreads
louder that pervades outside the room. Hesitating for a
moment, Han puts her hand downs.
BEGIN MONTAGE:
3. INT. STAIRCASE - DAY
Han sits on the staircase, tearing her hair out while
looking helplessly at the music sheet.
CROSS DISSOLVE
Quynh, wearing office clothing, walks upstairs while
answering the phone call.
QUYNH
Hẹn anh thứ bảy này qua lấy đàn bên
em nhé!
4. INT. STAIRCASE - DAY
Han walks downstairs while Quynh walks upstairs, not
catching sights of each other.
5. INT. STAIRCASE - DAY
Han walks downstairs while Han walks downstairs. Moments
after Han casts a look at Quynh, Quynh casts a look at
Han(yet, their eyes do not cross each other).
END MONTAGE
6. INT. STAIRCASE IN AN APARTMENT - DAY
The clock strikes at 5:30 PM
Han walks hurriedly upstairs after collecting her delivery
boxes.
From above, the delighting sounds of the guitar flow down
the staircase. Han is captured by the very playful sounds of
the musical instrument - a sound that she has not heard in a
very long time in this silent apartment and a sound that
might inspire her song writing in the next few days.
Step by step, she walks upstairs slowly to track where the
sound is coming from.
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 3.
The guitar sound is coming through the door that she once
intended to knock on.
At that moment, she hurriedly pulls out a music sheet from
her pocket that is unfinished and messy with her
handwriting.
Slowly she sits down on the staircase. Her hands, while in
harmony and vibing with the guitar tunes, start to jot down
the lyrics and musical notes naturally like never before.
She smiles gently.
Han finally finishes up her music sheet, signing her name
and appearing on her face is a relief.
7. INT. STAIRCASE - DAY
The music from Quynh's room stops playing.
When Han put downs her pen, Quynh opens the door and rushes
downstairs with a guitar on her back.
They encounter one another. Han looks up surprisingly and
grips the music sheet tight in her hands. Quynh casts a
glance at Han, nods slightly as a gesture of greeting.
Han immediately checks her pocket, pulls out the capo and
stands up.
HAN
(timidly reply)
À...bạn ơi! Hôm bữa bê đồ bạn rớt
mất cái này nè.
Han hands it back gently.
Quynh looks a bit surprised, takes it back.
QUYNH
Cảm ơn bạn nha!
Han smiles gently. While they walk downstairs together, a
phone call rings to Quynh.
SOMEBODY
Mình là người hẹn mua cây đàn của
bạn á. Mình sắp tới rồi.
Quynh rushes downstairs. Han hesitates for a while, musters
up all her courage.
(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 4.
HAN
(gaspingly speaking)
Mình muốn cảm ơn bạn...vì tiếng đàn
của bạn mà mình được truyền cảm
hứng rất nhiều để hoàn thành bài
hát này.
Han open ups the music sheet and looks at it briefly yet
adoringly.
Quynh looks stunned, glancing at the guitar behind her back
a bit regretfully.
QUYNH
(hesitantly
speaking)
Ồ...vậy à? Cho mình hỏi tên bạn là
gì được không?
(MUFFLED SOUND
OF THEIR
DIALOGUE)
ZOOM OUT
They chat with one another like two close best friends at
crossroad of the staircase. Their cheerful conversation
permeates the apartment hall.
Moments later, Quynh call backs the buyer of her guitar. She
hangs off the phone. Quynh and Han walk upstairs toward
Quynh's room while chatting with one another.
FADE OUT