Christian Varela Expósito

Act 1: The Return The episode begins on a sunny spring morning. Christian gets off a bus in Madrid. He breathes deeply. The air is soft. Trees are blooming.

Christian (to himself): "Madrid. I'm back."

He takes his bag. He walks through the streets. He recognizes the places. He smiles.

He arrives at Las Encinas. The school is there, imposing, intimidating. He hesitates. He enters.

He runs into Samuel in the hallway.

Samuel (stunned): "Christian?"

Christian (smiling): "Hey, Samu."

Samuel: "You're alive?"

Christian: "Apparently."

Samuel: "But… you were in Switzerland. We thought…"

Christian: "That I was dead? I almost was. But I'm too stubborn to die."

Samuel hugs him. They stay there, looking at each other.

Christian: "Did you miss me?"

Samuel: "A lot."

Christian: "Me too."

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Act 2: The Reunion with Carla Christian crosses the courtyard. He sees Carla. She is alone, sitting on a bench. He approaches.

Carla (looking up): "Christian?"

Christian: "Hey, Carla."

Carla: "You came back?"

Christian: "Yes."

Carla: "Why?"

Christian: "Because I missed Madrid. Because I missed my friends. Because I have scores to settle."

Carla: "Scores?"

Christian: "With you. You used me, Carla. You played with me. And then, you left me to die."

Carla: "It's not what you think."

Christian: "It's exactly what I think. But I'm not here for revenge. I'm here to turn the page."

Carla: "Can you?"

Christian: "Spring helps me."

Carla: "You're different."

Christian: "I almost died. That changes people."

He leaves. Carla stays there, frozen.

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Act 3: The Confrontation with Guzmán Christian runs into Guzmán in the courtyard.

Guzmán: "Christian. I thought you were dead."

Christian: "I see that would have suited you."

Guzmán: "Don't be stupid."

Christian: "I'm not stupid. I'm a scholarship student. That's the same thing to you."

Guzmán: "You haven't changed."

Christian: "Yes, I have. Before, I was afraid of you. Now, I don't care."

Guzmán: "You should be afraid."

Christian: "Why? Because you'll hit me? Because your father will buy me? Because your sister is dead?"

Guzmán (furious): "Don't talk about her."

Christian: "I'm not talking about her. I'm talking about you. You're angry, Guzmán. But your anger doesn't solve anything."

Guzmán: "You know what? Forget it."

He leaves. Christian stays there, calm.

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Act 4: The Conversation with Samuel Christian meets Samuel in their usual spot, near the soccer field.

Samuel: "Did you see Carla?"

Christian: "Yes."

Samuel: "Did it go well?"

Christian: "No. But it had to be done."

Samuel: "Did you love her?"

Christian: "I don't know. I thought I did. But she used me. So maybe I just loved the idea of her."

Samuel: "I understand."

Christian: "Were you used too?"

Samuel: "By Carla too. And by others."

Christian: "That makes two of us."

Samuel: "That makes two of us."

They clink water bottles.

Christian: "Any news from Nano?"

Samuel: "He's in prison. He's okay. He wants us to help him get out."

Christian: "We'll help him."

Samuel: "How?"

Christian: "I don't know yet. But we'll find a way."

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Act 5: The Spring Party Valerio organizes a party to celebrate spring. Christian is invited. He hesitates to go, but Samuel pushes him.

Samuel: "Come on, Christian. It'll do you good."

Christian: "I'm not in the mood for a party."

Samuel: "That's exactly why you need to come."

He agrees. At the party, he sees many familiar faces. Carla, Polo, Guzmán, Lu, Ander, Valerio, Ari, Patrick, Mencía.

He sits off to the side. A girl approaches. It's Rebe (Rebecca de Bormujo).

Rebe: "Are you new?"

Christian: "No. I'm old."

Rebe: "I've never seen you."

Christian: "I was in Switzerland."

Rebe: "In Switzerland? Why?"

Christian: "To heal."

Rebe: "Heal from what?"

Christian: "From almost dying."

Rebe (smiling): "You're weird."

Christian: "I'm Christian."

Rebe: "I'm Rebe."

Christian: "Nice to meet you, Rebe."

They talk all night. Christian laughs. For the first time in a long time, he laughs.

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Act 6: The Crisis At the end of the party, Christian is drunk. He is sitting on the ground, leaning against a wall. Rebe finds him.

Rebe: "Christian, are you okay?"

Christian: "No. I'm not okay."

Rebe: "Why are you drinking so much?"

Christian: "To forget."

Rebe: "Forget what?"

Christian: "Carla. Polo. The car. The hospital. The loneliness. Everything."

Rebe (sitting next to him): "You'll never forget, Christian. But you can learn to live with it."

Christian: "What if I don't want to live with it?"

Rebe: "Then you'll suffer. But that's your choice."

Christian: "Why are you so hard on me?"

Rebe: "Because I like you. And friendship is sometimes hard."

Christian: "We just met tonight."

Rebe: "That's enough."

Christian: "You're weird."

Rebe: "I'm Rebe."

Christian (smiling): "Nice to meet you, Rebe."

They stay there, in silence, supporting each other.

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Act 7: The Resolution The next day, Christian wakes up with a headache. He leaves his house. The sun is shining. Trees are blooming.

He goes to school. He runs into Rebe in the hallway.

Rebe: "You look rough."

Christian: "I am rough."

Rebe: "Do you want to get a coffee?"

Christian: "Why?"

Rebe: "Because I want to talk to you. Without alcohol."

Christian (smiling): "Okay."

They leave together. They walk through the flowering streets of Madrid. Spring is everywhere.

Christian: "Rebe, I don't know what I want to do with my life. I don't know where I'm going. But I know I don't want to be afraid anymore."

Rebe: "Me neither."

Christian: "So where do we start?"

Rebe: "With a coffee. And after that, we'll see."

They enter a café. They sit face to face. Spring comes in through the window.

Christian (quietly, to himself): "Let's start over."

End of episode.

Dialogue 1 – Christian and Carla (the goodbye) Carla: "Christian, I'm sorry."

Christian: "Sorry for what?"

Carla: "For what I did to you. For using you."

Christian: "Too late for apologies, Carla."

Carla: "I know."

Christian: "You know, I almost died because of you. Not directly. But because of your world. Your lies."

Carla: "I didn't want that to happen."

Christian: "You didn't want it, but you let it happen."

Carla: "I'm sorry."

Christian: "I don't hate you, Carla. I'm just tired."

Carla: "Tired of what?"

Christian: "Of you. Of your world. Of everything."

Carla: "What are you going to do now?"

Christian: "Live. For real."

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Dialogue 2 – Christian and Guzmán (the confrontation) Guzmán: "You should leave, Christian."

Christian: "Why?"

Guzmán: "Because you don't belong here."

Christian: "Where do I belong?"

Guzmán: "Not at Las Encinas."

Christian: "Because I'm poor? Because I'm a scholarship student?"

Guzmán: "Because you're a danger."

Christian: "A danger? Me? I almost died, Guzmán. You're the danger. You and your anger."

Guzmán: "Don't talk to me like that."

Christian: "Why? Because you're rich? Because your father has power?"

Guzmán: "Because I'm your friend."

Christian (silence): "You're not anymore."

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Dialogue 3 – Christian and Rebe (the meeting) Rebe: "You look lost."

Christian: "I am lost."

Rebe: "Lost where?"

Christian: "In my head."

Rebe: "That's a dangerous place."

Christian: "I know."

Rebe: "Do you want to talk about it?"

Christian: "No."

Rebe: "I'll stay here, then."

Christian: "Why?"

Rebe: "Because you look like you need someone."

Christian: "I don't need anyone."

Rebe: "Liar."

Christian (smiling): "Maybe."

Rebe: "My name is Rebe."

Christian: "Christian."

Rebe: "Nice to meet you, Christian."

Christian: "Nice to meet you, Rebe."

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･

Dialogue 4 – Christian to himself (final monologue) Christian (alone in his room, looking out the window): "19 years old. I'm 19, and I just did the hardest thing of my life. Not surviving the accident. Not facing Carla. Accepting to be happy."

(He smiles.)

Christian: "I met Rebe. She's weird, blunt, but sincere. She looks at me like I'm normal. That's all I want. To be normal."

(He looks at the sky. Spring is there. Trees are blooming.)

Christian: "Maybe that's what spring is. Accepting that we have the right to be happy. Accepting that we have the right to live. Accepting that we have the right to love."

(He takes his coat. He leaves.)

Christian: "Good night, past. Hello, spring."