Soundtrack of Us
first meet
(The scene opens on a bustling university walkway. Students are rushing between classes, chatting, and scrolling on phones. DAISY, dressed in a bright yellow hoodie, is navigating the crowd, pencil in hand, deeply absorbed in sketching a dynamic city scene in her notepad. CALEB, wearing a dark blue denim jacket, is walking in the opposite direction, eyes glued to his own phone, which displays a complex graph. He has a plain, sturdy pair of earphones plugged in, looking entirely focused on his studies.)
(Daisy turns a corner too sharply, distracted by a particularly interesting lamppost she wants to capture. She doesn't see Caleb. They collide. His phone flies from his hand, and the notepad skips out of hers. The impact causes Caleb’s earphones to pop out and drop to the concrete.)
daisy(fl)
Oh my god! I am so sorry. I was… I was sketching. I didn't even see you. (She instantly starts scrambling for her dropped sketchbook.)
caleb(ml)
(Wincing as he watches his phone slide across the ground. He stoops down quickly to grab it first.) It’s fine. I was looking at data. My fault too
daisy(fl)
Is it okay? Your phone? (She’s gathering her loose pencils.)
caleb(ml)
(Checks the screen, sighs in relief.) Screens not cracked. Just… that sound was heart-stopping.
daisy(fl)
I’m terrible at multi-tasking. Clearly
caleb(ml)
(He sees his earphones lying near her foot, next to her sketchbook. He bends down again.) Okay. Found the wire.
daisy(fl)
Here, let me help. (She also reaches down to help him pick them up. Their hands brush briefly.)
caleb(ml)
Thanks. (He just grabs the cable and quickly retreats.)
daisy(fl)
Sorry again! Totally distracted.
caleb(ml)
No worries. (He nods once and continues his walk, immediately trying to plug the earphones back in as he moves.)
daisy(fl)
(She gathers the rest of her stuff, takes a breath, and starts walking again, pulling out her own, matching pair of earphones and plugging them into her phone, immediately turning on her 'Sunshine Vibe' playlist.) Okay. Deep breaths, Daisy. Back to the beat.
(THIRTY MINUTES LATER. Daisy is now settled at a small, sunny table at 'THE CAFE', which is visible further down the street on the cover art. She’s finally focused on sketching, but the music is wrong. She pauses, looking confused.)
daisy(fl)
(To herself) Wait… why is this playlist so… moody? I thought I picked 'Coffee House Acoustic'.
daisy(fl)
(She taps her screen, but the interface says 'Now Playing: Distorted Reality - Synthwave Masters'. She clicks the next track.)
daisy(fl)
Synthwave? I don’t even like synthwave. It sounds like a migraine. Why is my phone—
daisy(fl)
(She unplugs the jack and plugs it back in. It snaps. She tries again. The music continues, sounding distorted and heavy.)
daisy(fl)
(Frustrated, to the barista) Hey, Sarah? Did you change the cafe playlist to something… angry?
....
No, it’s the same old jazz mix. Why?
daisy(fl)
My earphones are glitching. The audio is all wrong.
daisy(fl)
(Daisy stops and examines the wire. It looks the same. Simple black cable. Then she notices something tiny. A minuscule white scuff near the jack that definitely wasn't on her new pair. Her eyes widen as she remembers the collision on the walkway.)
daisy(fl)
(Gasping) The collision. Oh no.
(FORTY MINUTES LATER. Caleb is sitting in a corner library desk, surrounded by serious research papers. He plugs his earphones in, expecting the complex, dark ambient soundscapes he uses to concentrate. He hits play.)
caleb(ml)
(Instantly recoils. He rips the earphones out of his ears. They land on the desk with a 'click'.) What the—
caleb(ml)
(He stares at his phone, utterly perplexed. The music, still audible, is bouncy, high-tempo pop.)
caleb(ml)
K-Pop? (To himself, with disbelief) My focus playlist is just… gone? I was playing The Sound of Binary Code.
caleb(ml)
(He clicks the next track, hoping it’s a glitch. The song shifts to a bubblegum-pop dance track with loud synths and clapping.)
caleb(ml)
(Closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.) Unbelievable.
caleb(ml)
(He picks up the earphones and examines them. They seem identical to his. Standard. But then, as he runs the wire through his fingers, he stops. His usual cable had a tiny kink from when his cat chewed it. This cable is perfectly straight, except for a minuscule white scuff near the jack. He stops, remembering the girl in the yellow hoodie and the collision.)
caleb(ml)
The sketchpad girl.
(Caleb slams his laptop shut, packs up his notes, and grabs his bag, already calculating the probability of her being in the same location they met.)
(The walkway again, now bathed in the warm, golden light of twilight. Daisy is pacing nervously near the bench where they collided, constantly checking her phone. She keeps looking at the 'wrong' earphones with a mix of horror and guilt.)
daisy(fl)
(To herself) I hope he comes back. What if he just threw them away? He looked so serious. He’s going to think I’m some careless idiot who listens to bubblegum K-Pop.
caleb(ml)
(Caleb appears from around the corner, walking fast, almost marching. He’s scanning the crowd. He spots the yellow hoodie from a distance.)
daisy(fl)
(Sees him coming. She stops pacing and stands straight, clutching his earphones like a shield.) Oh thank goodness.
caleb(ml)
He stops right in front of her, still moving with purpose. He holds up her earphones, and she holds up his.) Are these yours? Because mine definitely do not play K-Pop.
daisy(fl)
(A big smile of relief breaks across her face, contrasting sharply with his exasperated expression.) Yes! Yes, they are. And yours play this weird… static music? Are you… are you okay?
caleb(ml)
It’s a focus playlist. Binary Code. (He manages to keep a straight face, but his voice has a hint of weariness.)
daisy(fl)
Chuckles, slightly embarrassed.) Oh. Sorry. That sounds… intense.
caleb(ml)
It was intense. (He exchanges the earphones with her. The wires almost seem to want to stay tangled.)
daisy(fl)
(Takes hers back, immediately sighing with relief.) I am so sorry. Again. I am officially the worst multi-tasker.
caleb(ml)
Takes his back, carefully inspecting them.) It happens. (His face is less severe now, almost close to a smile.)
daisy(fl)
(Looks at him, still smiling brightly, genuinely.) I’m really glad you came back. What’s your name? I’m Daisy.
caleb(ml)
(He finally lets a tiny, real smile break through. His voice is quieter.) I’m Caleb.
daisy(fl)
Nice to meet you, Caleb. (She holds out a hand.) Maybe we should try not crashing into each other next time.
caleb(ml)
He takes her hand in a brief handshake, looking at her smiling face in the twilight glow.) That seems like a solid strategy, Daisy.
caleb(ml)
He takes her hand in a brief handshake, looking at her smiling face in the twilight glow.) That seems like a solid strategy, Daisy.
(Stands there for a moment, watching her walk away. He puts his earphones back in, and as the dark ambient noise returns, he finds himself looking at his own tiny smile in the black screen of his phone. He plugs his binary code back in, but this time, he walks a little slower.)
(The background noise of the street fades, leaving just the soft, contrasting music of each character playing as they move apart in the evening light.)
breakup
(The scene opens at a grand, marble fountain in the center of a bustling city plaza. CALEB is sitting on the edge, wearing his signature denim jacket and his recovered earphones. He is holding his phone out, meticulously recording the rhythmic splashing of the water for a new track. He looks peaceful, focused. Suddenly, DAISY appears, looking travel-worn but glowing with excitement. She carries a heavy suitcase and a small, handmade gift box.)
daisy(fl)
To herself, panting) Just two more blocks. I can’t believe I’m finally here. City life is so… sweaty.
(She spots the fountain. Her face is flushed from the heat of her journey from the countryside. She walks straight to the edge, oblivious to Caleb’s recording session. She scoops up a handful of water and splashes it directly onto her face, droplets flying everywhere. Some of the water sprays directly onto Caleb’s phone.)
caleb(ml)
(Jumping back, his eyes wide with horror) Hey! Watch it!
daisy(fl)
(Wiping her eyes, blinking at him) Oh! It’s you again! Earphone guy!
caleb(ml)
(Looking disgusted, wiping water off his sleeve) You just ruined the acoustic profile of the entire recording. And you’re… you’re getting the equipment wet.
daisy(fl)
I’m so sorry! I’ve been on a bus for six hours. I just needed to feel human again.
caleb(ml)
This is a fountain, not a bathroom, Daisy.
daisy(fl)
Laughing, still bubbly) A little water never hurt anyone! Here, let me—
(She reaches out to help him wipe the phone with her sleeve, but in her clumsiness, she knocks his hand. The phone slips, bouncing off the marble edge and plunging into the deep basin of the fountain.)
caleb(ml)
(Frozen in shock) My phone. My entire project is on that.
daisy(fl)
(Gasps) Oh no! I got it! I got it!
(Without a second thought, Daisy plunges her arm deep into the cold water. She splashes around wildly, finally grabbing the phone and pulling it out triumphantly.)
daisy(fl)
See? I saved it! It’s—
caleb(ml)
(Reaching for it, voice tight) Give it to me before you drop it again.
daisy(fl)
(Handing it over) It looks fine! It’s water-resistant, right?
caleb(ml)
Checking the buttons) It’s supposed to be, but—
(Suddenly, the fountain’s timer hits the hour mark. A massive jet of water from the center nozzle erupts with a roar. Caleb, seeing it coming, ducks and lunges backward, shielding his phone with his body. Daisy, distracted by his movement, stands perfectly still.)
(The water crashes down. Within a second, Daisy is completely drenched from head to toe. Her hair is plastered to her face, and her yellow hoodie is now several shades darker. Caleb stands two feet away, perfectly dry, clutching his phone.)
caleb(ml)
(Quietly) Sorry. I should have warned you.
daisy(fl)
(Shaking her head like a puppy, spraying more water) It’s okay! Really! It’s actually… kind of refreshing? (She laughs, though it sounds a bit strained now.) I have to go anyway. I’m meeting someone important.
caleb(ml)
(Looking at her drenched state, feeling a flicker of guilt) Do you need a towel? Or… a ride?
daisy(fl)
No time! Love waits for no one! (She grabs her suitcase and starts jogging away, her shoes squelching with every step.) See you around, Caleb!
caleb(ml)
(Watching her go, whispering to himself) You’re a mess, Daisy.
(THIRTY MINUTES LATER. A high-end, modern restaurant. Daisy has tried her best to dry off in a public restroom, but she still looks damp and disheveled. She sits across from a man in a sharp suit: MARK, her long-distance boyfriend of five years. Daisy is beaming, her eyes full of hearts.)
daisy(fl)
Mark! Can you believe it? I finally moved! I have the savings, I have the plan… I even brought the scrapbook of all our old letters from high school. Remember our first dance?
....
Looking uncomfortable, checking his expensive watch) Daisy. You look… wet.
daisy(fl)
Oh, just a fountain accident! Long story. But listen, I found a small apartment near your office. We can finally start looking at rings, just like we planned back in college! I’ve been saving every cent from my art commissions.
daisy(fl)
(Her smile falters just a tiny bit) What? Too fast? We’ve waited five years, Mark! I’m ready to be your wife. I’ve dreamt of this since we were seventeen.
....
Sighing, looking at her with pity rather than love) That’s the problem. We were seventeen. People change, Daisy. I’ve changed.
daisy(fl)
(Her voice trembling) I know! You’re a big city businessman now. And I’m here to support you!
....
No. You don’t understand. I’m getting married in October.
daisy(fl)
(Stares at him, a confused giggle escaping her) What? To me? October is a bit soon for the catering, but—
....
To someone else. Her name is Clara. She’s the daughter of my firm’s partner.
daisy(fl)
(The world goes silent for Daisy. The clinking of silverware and the hum of the restaurant fade away. She feels like she’s back under the fountain, drowning.)
daisy(fl)
Someone… else? But Mark… we were going to build a life. I saved fifty thousand dollars. I worked three jobs for our wedding fund.
....
I never asked you to do that. Look, I don’t like this "small city" version of my life anymore. You’re… you’re too much, Daisy. Too loud, too messy. You don’t fit here.
daisy(fl)
(Tears finally spilling over, mixing with the fountain water still in her hair) I don't fit? I loved you when you had nothing!
....
(Standing up, putting a few bills on the table) Keep the money you saved. Buy yourself a ticket back home. It’s better that way. Goodbye, Daisy.
(Mark walks out without looking back. Daisy sits frozen. Her mind flashes back to high school—to Mark holding her hand under the bleachers, promising that the city would be their kingdom. She remembers every "I love you" sent over text, every late-night call. All of it was a lie.)
suicide
(The scene opens in a lavish, gold-trimmed hotel suite. DAISY is sitting on a plush velvet sofa, surrounded by silver platters of lobster, truffle fries, and decadent chocolate cakes. She looks tiny in the middle of all that luxury, her eyes still red and swollen. She picks up a crystal glass of sparkling juice and stares at it.)
daisy(fl)
(Voice hollow) Fifty thousand dollars. Five years of extra shifts. Five years of skipping vacations. All for a man who didn't even remember my favorite color.
(She takes a massive, ungraceful bite of a chocolate éclair. Tears start rolling down her cheeks again, mixing with the frosting.)
daisy(fl)
To herself, sobbing) I’m going to eat every cent. I’m going to spend it all on expensive pillows and room service until I’m as broke as my heart. Why save for a future that doesn't exist?
(She looks at her reflection in the gilded mirror. She looks exhausted, a mess of smudged mascara and damp hair. She pushes the expensive food away, the smell of the truffle suddenly making her feel sick. The silence of the hotel room is deafening. She grabs her yellow hoodie and her sketchbook, her hands shaking.)
daisy(fl)
I can't stay here. The walls are too quiet.
(Meanwhile, across town, in a dimly lit, high-end music studio. CALEB is sitting stiffly on a leather chair. Across from him is MS. VERA, a sharp-eyed, legendary music manager known for discovering the biggest stars in the city. She is listening to Caleb’s recordings—the fountain sounds, the binary code, the rhythmic city pulses.)
....
(She pulls the headphones off and sighs, looking at Caleb with a mix of pity and boredom.) It’s technically perfect, Caleb. The frequencies are balanced. The recording quality is pristine.
caleb(ml)
(Leaning forward slightly, hope flickering in his eyes) And?
caleb(ml)
(His expression freezes) What do you mean? It’s a study in urban acoustics. It’s the sound of the city’s heart.
....
No, it’s the sound of a machine. There’s no soul here, Caleb. No emotion. Music isn't just about math and perfect pitch. It’s about feeling something. Your music… it’s like a beautiful statue. Cold. Static. I can’t sell "cold."
caleb(ml)
(His jaw tightens) I don't do "emotions." I do precision.
....
Then you’ll never be a great composer. Come back when you’ve actually lived a little. When your heart has actually skipped a beat for something other than a software update.
(Caleb stands up abruptly, grabbing his equipment. He doesn't say a word. He walks out of the studio, the heavy glass doors swinging shut behind him. He steps out into the cool night air, feeling a different kind of emptiness. He’s always been the "genius," the one who was "just right" at everything. To be told he’s "dead" inside… it stings more than he wants to admit.)
(LATE NIGHT. The Great City Bridge. The wind is whipping across the water, and the lights of the skyscrapers reflect in the dark, churning river below. DAISY is standing by the railing, her sketchbook tucked under her arm. She looks down at the water.)
daisy(fl)
(Whispering) It looks so peaceful. No plans. No savings accounts. No Mark. Just… quiet.
(She climbs onto the lower ledge of the railing, her hands gripping the cold metal. She closes her eyes, the wind blowing her hair back. She feels light, like she could just drift away. She leans forward, her heart thumping against her ribs.)
caleb(ml)
(Shouting from the distance) DAISY! STOP!
(Daisy flinches, losing her balance for a second. Before she can move, a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist and yank her backward with such force that they both tumble onto the concrete sidewalk of the bridge.)
caleb(ml)
(Breathing hard, his face pale with fury) Are you INSANE? What is wrong with you?
daisy(fl)
(Staring up at him, shocked) Caleb? What are you doing here?
caleb(ml)
(He stands up and pulls her up by her arms, practically shaking her.) I was walking! I saw a yellow hoodie on the railing! Do you have any idea how high this bridge is? You’d be gone in seconds
daisy(fl)
(Her voice cracks) Maybe that’s the point! Everything I worked for is gone. My five years are gone. My home is gone. I’m just… I’m a mess that doesn't fit anywhere!
caleb(ml)
(Rebuking her, his voice harsh and loud) So you just throw it all away? Because of some guy who wears a cheap suit and a fake smile? You think your life is worth less than a heartbreak?
daisy(fl)
(Sobbing now, her strength leaving her) You don't understand! You have your music, your genius… you’re "just right." I’m just a girl from a small town who failed at everything!
caleb(ml)
(His voice softens, but it’s still firm) I just got told my music is "dead." I just got told I have no soul. We’re both "failures" tonight, Daisy. But I’m not jumping off a bridge about it.
daisy(fl)
(She looks at him, seeing the genuine pain in his eyes. Her legs give out, and she sinks to the ground, burying her face in her hands.) I’m so tired, Caleb. I’m so tired of being brave.
caleb(ml)
(He sighs, the anger leaving him. He looks at her small, shivering form. He turns his back to her and crouches down.)
daisy(fl)
(Sniffling) What?
caleb(ml)
Your shoes are soaked, you’re shaking, and I’m not letting you walk anywhere near a railing again tonight. Get on my back. I’m taking you back to your hotel.
daisy(fl)
(Hesitantly, she leans forward and wraps her arms around his neck. He stands up easily, hoisting her up. She’s surprisingly light.)
(As Caleb walks across the long bridge with Daisy on his back, the city lights blur into a bokeh of colors. Daisy rests her head on his shoulder, her tears soaking into his denim jacket.)
daisy(fl)
(Crying softly) I’m sorry I ruined your recording today.
caleb(ml)
(Walking steadily) I’m not.
caleb(ml)
(He thinks about Ms. Vera’s words—about music needing a heart. He feels the warmth of Daisy’s breath on his neck, the weight of her sadness, the reality of her life.) Maybe the "acoustic profile" needed a little bit of chaos.
daisy(fl)
(She let out a tiny, broken laugh.) I’m definitely chaos.
caleb(ml)
Don't talk. Just breathe.
(They continue in silence. Caleb doesn't tell her that her crying is the most "human" sound he’s heard all day. He doesn't tell her that for a second, when he saw her on that railing, his heart—the one that was supposedly "static"—beat faster than it ever had before. He just carries her through the night, one step at a time, away from the edge.)
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