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Obsession · written by Curry Barker · 2026
Scene 43 of 61 · ≈ 4 min on screen · Act two
Bear wishes the woman he loves would love him back. The wish comes true — and her devotion becomes a violence neither of them can stop.
Bear in his comfort zone of quiet, unspoken longing for Nicky, grieving his cat and coached by Ian to stay silent rather than confess.
Bear needs Nicky to love him back, sharpened by trivia night's proximity to her and Ian, and the purchase of the willow as an almost-joke wish object.
Bear breaks the willow and makes the wish, crossing from wanting to actively, magically pursuing Nicky's love.
Bear adapts to Nicky's escalating strangeness, paying the cost of denial and rationalization as the relationship forms under increasingly disturbing terms.
Nicky confesses her love and the relationship becomes real — Bear gets exactly what he wished for, at the exact moment the cracks (the dad lie) start to show.
Bear drives an injured, desperate Nicky away from the party, her expression flickering between affection and panic.
At the hospital, Nicky dances erratically and refuses treatment, and the nurse won't force her under informed consent.
Bear reluctantly lets Nicky hold his hand as he brings her back into his house.
This scene
Bear and Nicky sit at opposite ends of the dinner table. Frustrated, Bear bows his head.
After a moment, Nicky approaches, sitting beside Bear. She gently places her hand on his. He tolerates it briefly before standing up abruptly.
NICKY
Where ya going?
BEAR
I'm just going to the bathroom, Nicky.
NICKY
Can I stand outside?
BEAR
Nicky... why did you do that? Why did you act that way tonight?
NICKY
I know. I said I'm sorry.
BEAR
You're scaring everyone. And you hurt yourself. Look at your face.
NICKY
Bear, I don't know why I did that. I just get nervous. I'm sorry. And I know Sarah likes you.
BEAR
Do you like me?
NICKY
What do you mean? I love you, Bear.
BEAR
No, like... Do you even like me?
Bear's guilt and frustrations fuel his questions.
BEAR (CONT'D)
Are you happy? Is Nicky happy?
Nicky's expression shifts like a robot on default, her smashed-up face adding to the unsettling nature.
NICKY
(robotic)
Yeah, for sure.
Bear's face fills with confusion.
NICKY (CONT'D)
(robotic)
I'm your Freaky Nicky.
Bear recoils, overwhelmed by guilt, and walks away.
NICKY (CONT'D)
Where're you going?
BEAR
NICKY! I'm going to the bathroom! Can I do that? Can I go to the bathroom?!
NICKY
Can you tell me you love me?
A beat.
BEAR
Maybe you should go home tonight.
NICKY
I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME!
BEAR
We only just started dating! We need space!
NICKY
What can I do? Tell me what I should do! Please!
Bear's eyes well up. What happened to his friend? Nicky cries, tears streaking pink over dried blood.
BEAR
Just be normal! Please!
NICKY
(desperate)
I can be normal!
BEAR
Just be Nicky!
NICKY
OK, I'M SORRY! I can be! I can be!
Nicky collapses, sobbing. Her words now sound SO GENUINE, making it hard not to comfort her.
NICKY (CONT'D)
(through the tears)
I can be anything you want me to be.
Bear walks over and holds her.
BEAR
No! Don't say that.
NICKY
I'll be anything you want.
BEAR
No... See! Nicky wouldn't do that. She's confident and knows who she is- I just want you to be Nicky!
NICKY
Okay! Okay, let me be Nicky.
BEAR
You're not being like Nicky!
NICKY
I can be Nicky, I'm sorry. I love you, I'm sorry. I love you.
A beat.
BEAR
But it's not real.
NICKY
What do you mean?!
BEAR
You didn't- It's not, real...
Nicky looks at Bear, her face a mess.
NICKY
(genuine)
I love you in every reality, Bear.
She's CONVINCING. A tear falls from Bear's eye, overwhelmed with guilt.
Suddenly, Nicky jumps up, startling Bear. We see the bottom of Nicky's legs as she removes her pants and panties.
NICKY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Let's fuck, Bear.
BEAR
Huh?
Nicky's bare legs walk off-screen.
NICKY (O.S.)
Come on. Let's fuck, Bear.
Bear glances over to Nicky, now in the hallway leading to the bedroom. She stands half-naked, mostly obscured by shadows.
NICKY (CONT'D)
(emotionless)
I'm normal.
BEAR
What?
NICKY
(emotionless)
Hi, I'm Normal.
BEAR
Nicky, what the hell?
NICKY
Rail me Bear. I'm Normal.
BEAR
That's not normal!
NICKY
What do you want?-
BEAR
I just want you to not act crazy-
NICKY
(robotic)
Well If you loved Nicky the way Nicky was... Nicky wouldn't have changed for you.
She cracks a broken smile through her wounds, TERRIFYING. She moves toward Bear in slow motion, unsettling and inhumane. Her lips don't match her words.
NICKY (CONT'D)
Come on Bear, rail my guts in like Hansel fucks his sister.
BEAR
(scared)
Nicky stop!
She stops.
NICKY
(sweet)
Bear, what's a One Wish Willow?
Nicky smiles; Checkmate.
BEAR
I...I don't know.
NICKY
(emotionless)
Thank you for showing me that I
love you.
She grabs Bear's hand, and he reluctantly follows.
We stay on this empty shot as we hear moaning from the other room grow in intensity.