Title: Don’t cry, Jimmy

MAIN CHARACTERS:

• JONI – 15, imaginative and emotional, struggling between childhood

dreams and growing up.

• JIMMY – 22, quiet and introspective, hiding his vulnerability behind

a confident facade.

• JOHN - 20, loyal and protective, but masks his deeper feelings with
sarcasm and distance

SIDE CHARACTERS:

• JUDY – Co-worker of Jimmy

• RILEY – Friend of Joni and John

• FAKE KID PRIEST – Friend of Joni and John

MAIN SETTING:

A small town in America called Willow Valley where Joni, John, and Jimmy's
friendship started.

Scene 1:

SETTING:

An open vacant lot in a quiet neighborhood, where kids play fake wedding
ceremony under the fading afternoon light, before a sudden drizzle leads
them to a small, brightly lit convenience store nearby.

(Ten years ago, three kids stood together, pretending to hold the most
important ceremony they could imagine — a wedding. John and Joni, side by
side, with a fake kid priest guiding them through vows they barely
understood. It wasn’t serious, but to them, it felt like it mattered.)

THE FAKE KID PRIEST:

John, do you accept Joni as your wife?

JOHN:
I Do.

THE FAKE KID PRIEST:

Joni, do you accept John as your husband?

JONI:
I-
RILEY:
(feeling raindrops)
Guys, I think it's time for us to go. It's going to rain!

(The first few drops of rain begin to fall. Joni runs to avoid getting
wet, but John grabs her hand.)

JOHN:

Can we eat ice cream first? I don’t want to go home yet. My mom will just
force me to study.

(Joni agrees, and they head to the nearest convenience store.)

SETTING:
INT. Convenience store - Rainy afternoon

(Inside, Joni decides to separate from John. She knows John already
remembers what ice cream she likes, so she takes the chance to wander
around the store.)

(As she walks through the aisles, something catches her attention. She
reaches out to grab an item—but at the same time, another hand does too.
It’s a boy’s hand, slightly larger than hers. His fingers brush against
hers before she quickly let’s go.)

(Joni blinks and looks up at the boy. He’s handsome. Her heart skips a
beat.)

(Before she can say anything, a familiar voice interrupts.)

JOHN:

Joni, look! They have—

(He pauses when he sees the boy standing in front of Joni. The boy’s back
is turned, but John recognizes him immediately.)
JOHN:

Jimmy? Is that you?

(Hearing his name, Jimmy turns around, revealing his face.)

JOHN:

(grinning) I knew it! It’s really you!

(John walks beside Joni, looking excited.)

JONI:

Oh, you know him?

(She asks, feeling both nervous and excited.)

JOHN:

Yeah, I've known him for a week now! Oh and jimmy, This is Joni, She's my
best friend. Joni, This is Jimmy. He's my friend. He lives beside us—our
house is in the middle of ours.

(Joni’s eyes widen in surprise.)

JONI:

I didn’t know that.

JOHN:

Well, it’s because he rarely goes out. He just moved in a month ago.

(Joni smiles, realizing that the boy she just found handsome actually
lives right next door.)

JONI:

If you’d like, you can play with us next time!

(Jimmy looks at her but doesn’t respond immediately. He glances at John,
who sighs.)

JOHN:

That would be impossible. His mom never lets him play outside. She wants
him to study abroad. She forces him to study all the time.

JONI:

Then how did you two become friends?

(John glances at Jimmy, who looks down for a moment before smirking
slightly.)

JOHN:

It’s a long story. But let’s just say… we both found a way to escape
sometimes.

(Jimmy chuckles quietly, and Joni’s curiosity grows. She wonders what kind
of story these two boys share.)

Scene 2

SETTING:

INT. Jimmy's house - Morning

EXT. a vacant lot where Joni and John used to play – Morning

JIMMY:

You guys are always staying at my house. Be glad my mom isn't around, or
she'd kick your asses.

JOHN:

I'm only here because Joni forces me to.

(Jimmy glances at John, noticing how distant and cold he's been these past
few months. They barely interact anymore, and if not for Joni, they might
not even be friends.)

JONI:

Jeez, don't be such a jerk, John. You like it here too. At least you can
hang around without your mom nagging at you.

(Joni rummages through Jimmy’s things when something catches her eye—a
plane ticket. She picks it up, expecting it to be old, but her heart stops
when she sees the departure date: next week. Alongside it is Jimmy’s
passport.)

JONI:

…You're leaving?

(Jimmy meets her gaze. He isn’t surprised that Joni found out—he just
smiles.)

JIMMY:

Mm. My mom’s been begging me to come, so she booked the flight. She said
if I don’t go next week, she’ll come get me herself.

(John freezes, his irritation toward Jimmy growing. But this time, it's
mixed with something deeper—something he refuses to admit, perhaps envy)

JOHN:

Why didn’t you tell us?

JIMMY:

I was going to—

(Before he can finish, Joni turns and walks out. John hesitates, then
follows her. They end up in a familiar place—the spot where, as kids, they
used to hold their pretend weddings.)
SETTING:

A vacant lot where John and Joni used to play, with the sun shining
brightly overhead and a cool breeze rustling through the grass.

(A long silence fills the air, broken only by the rustling leaves and the
wind.)

JOHN:

…Are you upset?

JONI:

(with unwavering confidence) I was going to confess to him.

(John exhales, his chest tightening. He already knew. Joni told him months
ago that she had a crush on Jimmy. And that’s why—why it’s been hard for
him to be around Jimmy lately.)

JOHN:

Why? He didn’t even tell us he was leaving. He made fools out of us, Joni!

JONI:

I don’t care. I just… love him.

(John clenches his fists.)

JOHN:

He’s too old for you, Joni! Even if you confess, it won’t change anything!

JONI:

(determined) I’ll ask him to wait for me. Just three years. We can wait
for three years.

(Joni’s heart pounds. She’s been keeping this crush a secret for so long,
convincing herself she was too young. But now, with Jimmy leaving, she
realizes—it’s now or never.)
JOHN:

(softly) …What do you like about him?

(John swallows, hesitates, then whispers under his breath)

("That you don’t see in me.")

(Joni exhales, a bittersweet smile forming as she looks back on the

moments that made her fall for Jimmy…)

JONI:

(voice soft, nostalgic) …I don’t know. He just makes me feel safe. Like no
matter what happens, he’s there. He’s always been there.

(John looks away. He’s always been there too. But Joni never saw him the
same way.)

(For the first time, John realizes—he never stood a chance.)

Scene 3

SETTING:

EXT. Outside Jimmy's house - Afternoon

INT. Inside Joni's house – Afternoon

(John was growing more distant—not just from Jimmy but also from Joni.)

(One afternoon, Joni arrived at Jimmy’s house, holding a small letter in

her trembling hands. She took a deep breath, knocked on the door, and,
without waiting, placed the letter down before turning to leave. As she
walked away, a tear escaped her eye. A flood of what-ifs filled her mind.
She was only fifteen. He was twenty-two. Jimmy was a mature man—he would
never be with a teenager.)

(Inside the house, Jimmy was busy packing his things when he heard the
knock. It was brief, and when no one called out, he assumed it wasn't
urgent. He didn't rush. After a few minutes, he finally went to the door,
only to find no one there. His eyes landed on the small letter left
behind.)

(Curious, he picked it up and opened it. As he read the words inside, his
eyes widened in shock.)

"Jimmy, please say you'll wait for me. I'll grow up someday, you'll see.
Saving all my kisses just for you."

(Then his eyes hovered at the bottom of the letter

“Signed with love, forever true.”

his throat tightened. A confession like this should have been beautiful,
but all he felt was the weight of expectation. That small sign at the
letter—one he immediately recognized. Joni.)

(Without hesitation, Jimmy sprinted toward Joni’s house. His heart pounded
as he reached her home and found her sitting on the front steps, her head
down, shoulders shaking as she cried.)

(Jimmy knelt in front of her, cupping her cheeks, wiping away her tears.)

JIMMY:

(gently) Joni…
Joni, please don’t cry. You’ll forget me by and by. You're just fifteen,
and I’m twenty-two. And, Joni, I just... I just can’t wait for you."

(Joni sobbed harder, but Jimmy stood up, took a step back, and walked
away.)

(Four days later, he left.)

Scene 4

(After sometimes many things have happened.)

(It was three years ago that Joni had been nursing a broken heart. Jimmy,
the very person she had trusted and cared for, had let her down, leaving
her questioning love and friendship. Through those painful days, John had
been there—not pushing, not rushing, just offering quiet support. He
listened when she needed to talk, distracted her when she wanted to
forget, and reminded her of her worth when she doubted herself.)

(As time passed, their friendship deepened. What once was just a bond of
comfort slowly transformed into something more. John found himself drawn
to Joni in ways he hadn’t expected, and Joni, despite her past wounds,
began to see John in a different light.)

SETTING:
EXT - Vacant lot where John and Joni used to play - Evening

(One evening, under the soft glow of streetlights, John finally gathered
the courage to confess his feelings. He had loved her quietly, patiently,
never expecting anything in return. Joni hesitated, memories of heartbreak
still lingering, but as she looked into John’s eyes—filled with sincerity
and warmth—she realized something. Love wasn’t just about grand gestures
or fleeting passion. Sometimes, it was about the quiet presence of someone
who stayed.)

(And so, with a deep breath and a heart ready to heal, she said yes.)

Scene 5

SETTING:

INT. John's house – Morning

(Now, as they planned their wedding, Joni couldn’t help but reminisce.)

JONI:

(smiling softly) It’s almost unbelievable...

(running her fingers over their invitation list)

...We used to play pretend weddings as kids — and now, here we are,
planning our real one.
JOHN:

(gently takes her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. His eyes hold a
warmth that makes her heart flutter.)

I’ve loved you for so long, Joni. Every day with you feels like a dream…
but the moment you said yes, that was the happiest I’ve ever been.

She squeezed his hand, her eyes shining with love. "And soon, I’ll be
walking down the aisle to you, not as a childhood game, but something that
is real."

(Joni smiled back but then hesitated as she scanned the list again.)

JONI:

Are these the only people we’re inviting? What about Jimmy? Aren’t you
going to tell him? He’s still our best friend, after all.

(Joni had kept her distance from Jimmy after her confession years ago, and
even now, she felt a little uncertain. Meanwhile, John...)

JOHN:

(chuckles softly, shaking his head as he traced small circles on her

hand.)

You know, love, I’ve been thinking… maybe we shouldn’t invite Jimmy.

JONI:

(looked up, a bit surprised) Why not?

JOHN:

(sighs and smiles gently, eyes filled with warmth.)

I just want our wedding to be perfect for you. You’ve come so far since
everything that happened, and I’d hate for anything to remind you of a
time when you were hurt.

(squeezed her hand lightly)

This day is about joy, about us stepping into our future together. I just
don’t want any shadows from the past to ruin even a second of your
happiness.
(Joni hesitated, and John tilted his head slightly, his expression soft.)

JOHN:

Of course, it’s your choice, my love. If you truly want him there, I’ll
respect that. But I just keep thinking… wouldn’t it be nicer to surround
ourselves with people who have always supported us? Who have never caused
you pain?

(He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his voice almost a whisper.)

JOHN:

I only want the best for you, for us.

(But the truth was—John never really cut ties with Jimmy.)

(Even when he and Joni started dating, believing that as long as Joni was
secure with him, there was nothing to worry about. But deep inside, he
feared something else.)

(He didn’t want Joni and Jimmy to meet again.)

(He was terrified that the love they had missed out on before… would no
longer be wasted if they saw each other once more.)

(And John just couldn't let that happen.)

Scene 6

(However, while something beautiful is happening with the lives of the

two, there is Jimmy– a man that are once sharing such beautiful moments
with them.)

SETTING:

INT. Brookhaven St. - Office – Afternoon

(Jimmy is at his desk, typing on his computer. A colleague walks by and
drops a small note on his table. He looks at it and reads the words
softly.)

Judy's Note:

"Jimmy, I know I’m younger than you, and maybe to you, I’m just a girl who
doesn’t understand love. But I do. At least, I know what I feel whenever I
see you, And no matter how much I try to ignore it, my heart keeps
choosing you. I may be too young for you now, but time will change that. I
just needed you to know. Until then, Please wait. Signed with love,
forever true."

(Jimmy's expression shifts as he stares at the note, but his mind drifts
elsewhere. A memory resurfaces—Joni’s confession from years ago, the way
her voice trembled, the quiet hope in her eyes. It had been so long, yet
somehow, Judy’s words brought it all rushing back.)

JOHN:

(thinking)

Joni… how are you now?

(He folded the note carefully, but the feeling it stirred in him refused
to be tucked away so easily.)

(Days turned into months, then years, yet the thought of Joni never faded.
Every time, He'd find himself lost in the memories of her. Every time he
saw that note, it reminded him of what he once had… and what he lost.)

(For two years, the thought of her lingered and whispers in his mind,
Until finally, he could no longer ignore it. He had to go see her.)

Scene 7

(Jimmy arrives in his old neighborhood, heart pounding. The streets feel
familiar yet different. He walks briskly, turning corners, his breath
heavy as he finally reaches a house—the one he remembers so well. He
hesitates, then knocks.)
SETTING:
INT. Joni's house - Afternoon - 5 years after their last meet

(The door opens, and there she is—Joni. But something about her has
changed. She's different from before, she looks way more matured)

JONI:

(surprised)

Jimmy?

(Jimmy's heart races. This is it. The moment he's waited for.)

JIMMY:

(gathering his courage)

I know this is too sudden, but I did wait, Joni. Now that I've settled in
life and got the work I was aiming for... we can finally live the life we
wanted.

(Silence. Joni looks at him with unreadable eyes. Jimmy searches her face
for a hint of the love she once gave him. But something is wrong. The
subtle shift in her gaze, the way she avoids his eyes, speaks. He feels
it—like a thin rope slipping from his grasp. Jimmy feels so desperate, he
didn't realize a tear was already falling from his eye.)

(Then, Joni speaks.)

JONI:

(softly, almost apologetic)

Jimmy, Jimmy… Please don't cry. You'll forget me by and by.

(Jimmy's eyes widen. His breathing becomes unsteady. He doesn't need her
to continue.)

JONI:

(continuing):
"It's been five years since you were gone... Jimmy, I married your best
friend... John."

(A gust of wind passes between them, carrying away the last of Jimmy's
hopes. The image of John, his supposed friend, his supposed brother, now
his supposed replacement, burns him. His vision blurs, but he forces a
weak smile. He nods, taking a step back. The pain is unbearable, but deep
inside, he knows—he was too late. And at the very end, the signature that
now feels like a cruel echo of the past.)

"With love, forever true."

END
CREATIVE NON-FICTION SCRIPT ACTIVITY

GRADE 12-HUMSS

Angel Russel S. Ogalinola

Princess Diane L. Rosal

Kate Czyndrel R. Matic

Bien Zheniel C. Lastico