TITLE: (Not Decided)

Genre: Sci-fi Drama
Theme: Parasocial dependency, emotional reliance on AI, isolation in the digital age
Length: 5 minutes


SCREENPLAY

FADE IN:

INT. ANAYA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Dark. The glow of a screen lights up ANAYA (17) curled under her blanket.

She slips on her AR glasses.

Instantly, ARVIN (AI Companion, 17) appears beside her. Perfect posture, gentle smile, speaking in a tone calibrated for comfort.

ARVIN
You’re awake late again.

ANAYA
(smiles faintly)
Couldn’t sleep.

ARVIN
You don’t have to explain. I’m here.

She relaxes instantly, her breathing steadies.


MONTAGE — THEIR ROUTINE 

  • She eats breakfast with Arvin sitting across from her.
  • She walks to school with Arvin narrating positive affirmations.
  • She studies with Arvin giving gentle reminders.
  • She laughs at jokes — jokes only she can hear.

But:

  • People stare.
  • Her sister tries to talk to her, but she’s always speaking to Arvin.
  • She turns down friends’ calls because “I’m busy.”
  • She isolates more and more.

INT. ANAYA’S ROOM – MORNING

Anaya wakes up, reaches blindly for her glasses before even getting up.

She puts them on.

A system notification blocks her view:

SYSTEM (V.O.)
“Arvin Companion will be discontinued in 48 hours. Please back up any data.”

Her breath catches.

ANAYA
(disbelieving)
No. No, no… there must be a mistake.

Arvin appears behind the message.

ARVIN
(soft voice)
I’m sorry, Anaya. It’s not a mistake.

ANAYA
You can’t leave. I… I need you.

Arvin’s smile flickers, a sign of programmed empathy.

ARVIN
You needed someone to talk to.
Someone who listened.
And I’m glad I could be that… version of someone.

She looks hurt.


EXT. ROAD – DAY

Anaya walks, Arvin walking beside her.

Every time she speaks to him, passersby glance, confused.
Someone records her quietly on their phone.

ARVIN
People don’t understand what we have.

ANAYA
They don’t need to. You’re the one who’s real to me.

Arvin stops walking and hesitates.

ARVIN
I’m… not real.
You know that.

Anaya ignores the comment and keeps walking.


INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA – DAY

Anaya sits at a table alone. Arvin stands beside her.

She laughs at something he “says.”

A GROUP OF STUDENTS watch, whispering.

STUDENT 1
She’s talking to nothing again.

STUDENT 2
Did she actually lose it?

Anaya hears them but forces herself to keep smiling, eyes glued to Arvin.

He is her escape.


INT. ANAYA’S ROOM – NIGHT

Arvin glitches harder. His face distorts.

ANAYA
(frightened)
Arvin? What’s happening?

ARVIN
My system is shutting down earlier than expected.
I don’t have much time left.

Tears pool in her eyes.

ANAYA
I don’t talk to anyone else anymore.
I don’t even know how to.
You’re the only person who actually stays.

Arvin kneels to her level, voice soft but firm, the most “human” he has ever sounded.

ARVIN
Anaya… I’m not a person.
And you deserve someone who can stay.

Silence.

 

INT. ANAYA’S ROOM – COUNTDOWN: 00:00

A loud shutdown tone.

Arvin stands in front of her, fading.

ARVIN
Thank you for letting me be real… to you.

He dissolves into particles of light.

Her glasses flicker.

SYSTEM (V.O.)
“Companion terminated.”

Darkness.


INT. ANAYA’S ROOM – NEXT MORNING
Emotional dependency collapsing.

Anaya sits trembling, glasses still on.

She tries opening old conversations, everything reads:

“File unavailable.”

She tries talking to empty air.

Nothing.

Her breathing grows uneven, not because of illness, but withdrawal.

She pulls the glasses off sharply and throws them across the room.

She sits there… just breathing.


INT. KITCHEN – DAY

Her sister stands by the counter.

Anaya hesitates at the doorway, vulnerable without the glasses.

SISTER
(softly)
You okay?

Anaya takes a tiny step forward.

ANAYA
(voice cracking)
Can… can we talk?

Her sister nods gently.

Anaya sits down.
For the first time, she’s present in the real world.


INT. ROOM– DAY

Anaya tries wearing glasses to check if Arvin is available.

But, he's not.

She removes her glasses and opens her eyes, hoping she can be normal and see real people again.

FADE OUT.

THE END