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Obsession · written by Curry Barker · 2026
Scene 47 of 61 · ≈ 5 min on screen
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.
In the dead of night, Nicky whispers that she isn't really asleep-Nicky and begs Bear to kill her, saying she's never truly been with him, but he leaves the room instead of answering.
Bear quietly puts his shoes on and slips out of the house without waking her.
Bear arrives at an empty Franklin Park parking lot and gets into Sarah's waiting SUV.
This scene
Sarah and Bear sit in the car. Sarah, in a purple flower dress, her tattoos accentuated by the soft lighting. The car is slightly filled with smoke, enhancing the intimate vibe.
BEAR
I didn't know you still did this.
SARAH
Did what?
BEAR
Parked at Franklin and chilled.
SARAH
Well, I don't really do this
anymore... So what the fuck is up
with Nicky?
Sarah takes a drag.
BEAR
Well...
Bear's stumped.
BEAR (CONT'D)
She hasn't told many people this...
but her dad's dying. So... I think
she just is going through a lot.
SARAH
Jesus Christ. Isn't she like not
close with him at all?
BEAR
No, they're close now... So, it's
painful...
SARAH
I thought she hated her dad.
BEAR
Nope... She doesn't.
Lying through his teeth.
SARAH
Well, look, I know she and I aren't
close anymore, but I do hope she
figures it out. She seems pretty
fucked up. I also don't think it's
right that she's leaning on you.
A beat.
BEAR
What do you mean?
SARAH
Well, she's going through something
very heavy, and she's totally
relying on you. That's not healthy
at all. Especially because her and-
BEAR
I don't mind being there for her-
SARAH
But that's not your responsibility.
okay for her to take advantage of
you.
A beat.
BEAR
(confused)
She's not taking advantage of me.
Sarah's eyes have a secret.
SARAH
(changing the subject)
Hey, so I um, I got my letter.
BEAR
You got your letter from Luther?
Bear picks up a letter on the dash of the car.
SARAH
Yep. My last chance. I figured we
could open it together?
BEAR
Oh shit!
SARAH
If I get in, I can work on my sketches, make'em better. Open up my own shop. Maybe my dad will let me tattoo "successful daughter" where his hair is supposed to start.
Bear laughs.
BEAR
Can I pay you to do that?
Sarah laughs.
SARAH
We'll take him in his sleep.
BEAR
(playful)
I got sleeping pills in my pocket. We could do this tonight.
They laugh until it dies down.
BEAR (CONT'D)
So, do you wanna open this thing or?
SARAH
I do.
Bear hands it to Sarah.
SARAH (CONT'D)
I just, I need to tell you some things.
BEAR
Ok.
She fidgets and sighs, working up the nerve.
SARAH
I really do like you Bear... And I don't think you should be with Nicky.
Bear sits with this.
BEAR
Ok... why?
SARAH
I promised Ian I wouldn't tell you this.
BEAR
What are you talking about?
SARAH
(ashamed)
Nicky and Ian have been hooking up on and off for like 2 years. It's super chill, and not romantic, and Ian really does care about you, Bear. But a few weeks ago, Ian cut things off with Nicky, and she was acting so weird, we thought she was just dating you to get back at Ian-
Not far behind Sarah, we see NICKY running head-first into the driver-side window. Glass shatters. Nicky wedges a BRICK against the steering wheel, then grabs Sarah by the hair, relentlessly smashing her face in. Each blow triggers the horn, caving Sarah's SKULL deeper inside out.
Bear, in TOTAL SHOCK, presses himself against the passenger door. Nicky, without looking up, STOPS. Her hair, covered in brain matter, obscures her face as she breathes deeply.
NICKY
I'm sorry you had to see that, but it's kinda your fault.
Bear dares not speak. Nicky keeps her head down.
NICKY (CONT'D)
My heart took a path I never chose. Just remember that.
BLOOD runs down her forehead from the window's impact.
NICKY (CONT'D)
(crying)
You wanted this, but I'm so glad you did. I'm so glad you did, baby. Thank you.
Bear, paralyzed by shock, incapable of a retort. She advances to his side of the car, wrenches the door open. Bear recoils, instinctively bracing for a imminent burst of violence.
NICKY (CONT'D)
No, no, no, no. It's okay. I'm so glad you did, baby. I'm so happy I'm yours.
Bear breaks down, crying. Nicky holds him.
NICKY (CONT'D)
(consoling)
Oh, no no no baby. It's okay, baby. I've got you, that's all that matters. We need each other... We need each other and there is an after, Sarah is fine. I know baby... I'm sorry. And you know what? I'm going to help you.
BEAR
No. No no no no no.
NICKY
Yes baby, you're gonna have to help me get rid of her, baby-
BEAR
(groaning)
No no no no no.
NICKY
Honey, this is your fault. I'm sorry but Sarah is your fault, but I'm gonna- you know what? I'm gonna help you fix this. Okay? I'm here for you. We can fix this, baby. I forgive you, I won't hold it against you, but we have to get rid of her, okay?
Nicky pulls back from Bear, locking eyes. Bear, drenched in Sarah's blood.
NICKY (CONT'D)
Shake your head "Yes."
Bear cries and shakes his head "No."
NICKY (CONT'D)
We have to get rid of this tiny, gross body. Yes, yes, yes.
Bear continues to shake his head.
NICKY (CONT'D)
Nod your head "Yes."
Bear, realizing he has no choice, nods yes.