Heart
and Rebecca.
nagging us about being alone — now
he’ll get all the nagging. (Pause)
Where did they meet?
to talk things over, you know…
thought he would do something like
that.
directly? Right off the bat like that?
Wow, that’s bold. Not something I
could do.
you?
can’t. I know you better than you know
yourself. That’s why I won’t be the
one throwing random ‘why’ questions at
you, trying to make you talk, to
understand what’s going on in the
deepest parts of your brain that
you’re too fucking lazy to dive into
and face. You don’t want to talk about
this? Ok, don’t talk then. I don’t
fucking care. Why would I, right?
than to me. I’m sure you two will have
a great time
get this in return. I must have
deserved it somehow.
KATE
two years, all the therapy, the
waiting, the talking… everything we
went through, together… And I
thought, Okay, Kate, he finally gets
it. He sees what you’ve given. The
worst is behind you.”
celebrate his birthday and he fucking
tries to kill himself.
sound so weird because I don’t have
any clue about football or how to play
it but when I watch Messi… I feel
like this is so easy, man. What he
does, you know. Like, anyone can do
it.
good at it, he makes it seem easy.
huh?
yourself.
key. Why can’t we continue celebrating
my birthday? This is my birthday. What
are we mourning for? Nobody died. We
should celebrate my fucking birthday!
birthday, I think…
I thought she was Ellen.
like, “What the fuck!” (Pause,
laughing) I was so embarrassed. I just
took off. Didn’t even look back.
say anything?
seen me — coffee in one hand, bag in
the other. It was ridiculous.
story, Mr. So-Funny?
funny, or is something like your story
good enough?
was a kid.
neighbor, an old lady, had a rabbit.
His name was Mr. Hopper. He was a
really big rabbit, even bigger than a
Chihuahua. Sometimes she let me hang
out with him in the garden. I didn’t
have many friends. Actually, I didn’t
have any friends so he was my only
friend and I really loved him.
Sometimes he’d fall asleep on my lap
while I rubbed his head, and it was…
a great feeling. Even at that age,
knowing that I could give peace to
someone… Anyway… One day, my dad
got sick. We went to the hospital and,
while sitting in the waiting room,
hours passing by, I finally asked my
mom, “What’s dad’s problem? Why is it
taking so long?” She said, “We need a
new heart for your dad.” I asked, “Can
I give my heart?” because I didn’t
know back then… you know… if you
give your heart, you just die. (He
She said, “No, you’relaughs softly)
too little. Your heart is little.”
Then, I asked, “What about Mr. Hopper?
Can we use his heart? He’s big.” I
think my mom was really emotional at
that moment and just said, “Yes,” to
end the conversation. But that “yes”
was like a green light for me.
I cut the place where I thought his
heart must be.
when I went to her with a piece of Mr.
Hopper, blood everywhere on me, and
said, “Here, Mom, we can save Dad now.
Mr. Hopper gave his heart.”
funny.
leave.
you break up with Rebecca.
pa…
naked, Kate sees the rope hanging down the ceiling again.
spinning, I don’t think I can go to
bed.
cornflakes? I cannot find them.
1 STREET/EXT/NIGHT
Sunset.
Rebecca, Chris, and Kate walk. They have some bags. The camera is behind, following them.
REBECCA
So, what’s the plan?
KATE
There is no plan. We’ll go inside,
open his door, and shout ‘Surprise!’
That’s it.
REBECCA
Hmm.
KATE
(Imitates her) Hmm… (To Chris) Have
you already noticed she can’t do
anything without a plan, Chris? Or are
you still in the phase of ‘This girl
is so pretty, I don’t even care what
she says’.
CHRIS
Second one.(Grinning)
REBECCA
Hey!(Playfully hits Chris’ shoulder)
They enter the apartment building and start climbing the stairs to the first floor and lower their voice.
REBECCA
You could go in first, act like you
just casually dropped by—no birthday
vibes—and then we could jump in and…
They come to the door of Kevin. Kate opens it with her key and makes a shushing gesture.
KATE
Sssh…
As they enter, faint music can be heard coming from Kevin’s room. They walk slowly, exchanging glances, trying not to make a sound. Reaching the door, they take a deep breath, ready for the surprise.
They open the door and shout together, tossing confetti from their bags or blowing party horns.
KATE-REBECCA-CHRIS
Surprise!!!
Kevin is on a chair, about to kill himself with the rope hanging down from the ceiling. Rope is around his neck.
Kevin gets surprised while the smiles on the guests’ faces disappear.
2 KEVIN’S ROOM/INT/NIGHT
Silence.
Kate and Kevin sit on the bed, the air thick with unspoken words. Kate’s eyes drift up to the rope still hanging from the ceiling. Kevin notices, catching her gaze, but when their eyes meet, he quickly looks down, his shame palpable.
Kate opens her mouth, as if to speak. Her mind races, but no words come. She shifts uncomfortably, still staring at Kevin, unsure of what to say or do.
Kevin then glances back at Kate, something stirring in his eyes—almost as if he’s remembered something important.
KEVIN
Who is the guy?
Kate looks confused, her mind still processing everything. She doesn’t respond, unsure of what he means.
KEVIN
I mean, the guy you brought with you
Kate continues to look at him, unable to grasp why this is relevant right after a suicide attempt. She says nothing, still trying to read his expression.
KEVIN
Kate?
Kate blinks, snapping back into the moment.
KATE
He’s… Rebecca’s new boyfriend.
He seems happy, smiling.
KEVIN
Oh really? That’s cool. She was always
Kate forces a smile.
3 LIVING ROOM/INT/NIGHT
Rebecca and Chris sit together. She looks stressed, her hands fidgeting.
CHRIS
Should we leave?
REBECCA
I cannot leave her in this situation.
CHRIS
I thought maybe they’d need some space
She cuts him off.
REBECCA
I just can’t, Chris.
CHRIS
Okay.
Silence.
REBECCA
He was always weird but I never
Chris looks at her, wants to say something but cannot find anything to say.
CHRIS
Yeah…
4 KEVIN’S ROOM/INT/NIGHT
Continuing scene 2, same setup.
KEVIN
So he asked her out to a dinner
Kate is passive-aggressive now. She tries to hold her anger.
KATE
Indeed. You really liked it, didn’t
KEVIN
Yeah.
KATE
And do you enjoy this now?
KEVIN
Enjoy what?
Kate smiles. It is hard for her to keep that anger without reflecting it.
KATE
I won’t play your game, Kevin. I just
Kevin cannot set the eye contact with her
KATE
Do you have anything to say?
Kevin nodes his head as “No”.
KATE
Good, I thought so.
Kate stands up, goes to the door, opens it, and shouts.
KATE
Chris, can you come here please?
Kevin seems confused. Chris comes with the same “confused”face.
CHRIS
Yes?
KATE
Kevin seems to have more to say to you
She leaves. Chris and Kevin look at each other.
5 LIVING ROOM/INT/NIGHT
Kate lays down on the couch, her head on Rebecca’s lap. Rebecca plays with her hair like her mother. The keys of Kevin’s apartment on Kate’s hand, she looks at them. Keychain is in heart shape.
KATE
What did I do wrong, Rebecca?
REBECCA
Nothing.
KATE
I must have done something wrong to
REBECCA
You didn’t do anything wrong!
Silence.
He gave me the keys last week. After
Kate looks at her, smiles.
KATE
Then, I come to his apartment to
6 KEVIN’S ROOM/INT/NIGHT
Kevin and Chris talk.
KEVIN
Don’t get me wrong. I am sure I will
CHRIS
I know, right? Because he is really
KEVIN
Exactly.
CHRIS
Yeah.
Silence. Chris looks at the rope, Kevin catches his look.
KEVIN
Not a perfect birthday celebration,
CHRIS
Well… At least you didn’t kill
Kevin smiles and gets aware of the fact by time. He gets excited while he talks.
KEVIN
Yes! I didn’t kill myself. That’s the
He leaves the room with excitement.
7 LIVING ROOM/INT/NIGHT
Kate and Rebecca sit together in silence. Kevin enters quickly, still riding the energy from his earlier excitement. But when he sees Kate’s and Rebecca’s pained expressions, his excitement falters. He tries to keep up the enthusiasm, but adjusts mid-sentence.
KEVIN
We should celebrate my f…(stops)
Kate and Rebecca look at him, their faces still heavy, making the awkward moment land humorously.
8 LIVING ROOM/INT/NIGHT
All of them play a board game. They drink. Improvised dialogues.
9 LIVING ROOM/INT/NIGHT
All of them play charade. They drink. They are tipsy. Improvised dialogues.
10 LIVING ROOM/INT/NIGHT
They are between being tipsy and drunk. They don’t play, just talk.
REBECCA
Then, I hugged her from behind because
Rebecca laughs, shaking her head at the memory.
REBECCA
She turned around and she looked at me
CHRIS
Wait, you didn’t say sorry? She didn’t
REBECCA
Nope. I just bolted. You should’ve
KEVIN
(Flatly) That is not funny.
That makes Kate laugh.
REBECCA
Oh really? Would you like to tell us a
KEVIN
Hmm… does it have to be actually
REBECCA
Ha-ha-ha. Very funny.
KEVIN
I do have one, actually. From when I
KATE
Tell us.
Kevin takes a deep breath.
KEVIN
When I was around 4, 5… Our
Silence. Kevin smiles. Others are a bit nervous.
KEVIN
I brought him home. I got a knife, and
Silence again. Kevin starts laughing.
KEVIN
You should have seen my mom’s face
Silence. Kevin still laughs.
KEVIN
I see you are not laughing but it was
11 HALL/INT/NIGHT
Kevin and Kate help Rebecca and Chris to leave. They are putting their coat on and wear their shoes.
KATE
You could stay, you didn’t have to
Rebecca comes closer to Kate to hug, almost in whisper.
REBECCA
It’s fine, maybe he’ll open up more.
Kate smiles gently. Kevin fist bumps Chris.
KEVIN
I liked you Chris. Come again, even if
REBECCA
You wish!
They all laugh, and Rebecca and Chris head out the door. Kevin and Kate look each other.
KATE
Well, I would call this a birthday
Kevin cuts her off by kissing her with a big passion. She tries to talk but he doesn’t let her. He is not aggressive and she has no problem with it (No consent issue here!). They walk to Kevin’s room by kissing.
12 KEVIN ROOM/INT/NIGHT
They start to take off their clothes and before they get
KATE
Can you please take this down?
KEVIN
Yeah.
Kate sits on the bed, watching Kevin as he drunkenly tries to position his chair under the rope. His movements are clumsy, and he struggles to place the chair in the right spot, stepping up and down multiple times in frustration. Kate can’t help but laugh.
After a few attempts, Kevin finally manages to put the chair in the correct place. But as he steps up to take the rope down, he loses his balance and tumbles to the floor.
KATE
Oh god!
Kate comes towards him. Kevin is motionless. His eyes are closed.
KATE
Kevin! Are you ok? Kevin!
Kevin opens his eyes.
KEVIN
Can we fuck here? The whole world is
KATE
You asshole! I almost lost my mind.
She lays down next to him. They both look at the rope.
13 KEVIN ROOM/INT/DAY
Kevin sleeps on the bed. He opens his eyes. He sees the keys with heart shape keychain on the bed. He looks at them. He starts crying, silently. He wipes his tears, stands up, and leaves his room with keychain in hand.
14 KITCHEN/INT/DAY
Kevin enters the kitchen, surprised to find Kate rummaging through the cabinets. A bowl with milk sits on the table.
Kate notices the keychain in his hand.
KEVIN
Morning.
KATE
Where the fuck do you hide your
KEVIN
Here.
Kevin walks over and opens a cabinet. He finds the cornflakes hidden behind other items and hands them to her.
KATE
Seriously Kevin? There?
Kevin smiles. Kate pours some cornflakes into her bowl of milk and starts eating. Kevin watches her for a moment.
KEVIN
Do you want to talk?
Kate looks at him, trying to gauge his intention.
KATE
Maybe later, I am eating my breakfast.
KEVIN
Ok.
Silence.
End.
About the Author
Selim Sevim is a Turkish writer based in Sweden. Sevim studied cinema back in Turkey and loves to explore character-driven stories that blend dark comedy with emotional realism. Sevim’s work often focuses on absurd hope, domestic tension, and people who don’t fit in.