Bruises All Over - By Mico Austria

Written By: Mico Austria

Category: Script Writing

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In Mico Austria's powerful script "Bruises All Over," submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, readers are invited into a poignant narrative of struggle and resilience. As an entry in the Creative Writing category, Austria's work delves into the harsh realities of bullying and the complex journey toward personal redemption. With a script that is as raw as it is compelling, this piece stands out for its emotional depth and vivid storytelling.

About the Work

"Bruises All Over" weaves a narrative rich in emotional complexity and visceral imagery. Through the lens of a young boy named Julian, Mico Austria explores themes of bullying, personal growth, and the quest for strength. The script's vivid scenes and authentic dialogues bring to life Julian's tumultuous journey from victimhood to empowerment. This creative piece captures the reader's attention with its intense mood and a narrative style that is both evocative and thought-provoking.

Bruises All Over

Original Submission by Mico Austria

Bruises All Over

Draft 1

For the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition - Entry 1 written by

Mico 'Mikoyasumi' Austria

Phone: +65 97203230

E-mail: m.blade9889@gmail.com

TITLE CARD: "2010"

WOMAN (O.S.)

(Filipino accent)

Hoy! Julian! Kain na! (Oi! Julian!

dinner's ready!)

A beat.

Knock, knock, knock.

INT. JULIAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

The door creaks open.

At the far corner, sitting by his desk, is JULIAN (10, M). Motionless. Shrunken.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (32, F) stands by his door, struggling to find the right words to comfort him. But before long, she tiptoes in, careful not to alert him. She tiptoes until she is right beside him.

He sits still, manually controlling his breathing. Breathe in. Breathe out. Rise of his shoulders. And down. All the while, he stares out at that blank night sky and not at his notes-riddled textbook.

She kneels down.

JULIAN'S MOTHER

(gentle)

Anak (Son)... You tell me now.

Who's been bullying you?

He jolts awake.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (CONT'D)

Your teacher called me. Told me

you...

He can't look away from the replaying nightmare.

INT. JULIAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, CANTEEN - MORNING (FLASHBACK)

Julian, in his ironed all-white uniform, buys his Milo and is about to walk off, but gets caught by them.

BULLY #1

Hey Julian! Where're you going?

2.

One of the three boys wraps his arms around Julian's neck. Julian tries to wiggle out, but gets tugged back in. Under his breath, stuttering:

JULIAN

Back to class. I'm going back.

BULLY #2

Too early lah! Come, come play ah!

He dares not to meet their eyes. He hates to.

INT. JULIAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, TOILET - MOMENTS LATER BAM.

Julian crashes to the floor. He's trying to snap out of this nauseating, crashing ache. He gags, as he defends his stomach with a miserably lanky arm.

One of them strolls to his side

THUNK. A kick straight to his abdomen.

His fingernails pierce his stomach. He grits, trying to stifle his groans. Another kick is coming

Someone's phone alarm rings off.

BULLY #1

And time! Let's see...

The other two help him up, but locks him by the arms. The torturer lifts his shirt up.

Black-and-blue-and-red all over his upper torso.

BULLY #2

Solid! Now you're more like a man!

He snaps his fingers at his accomplices.

BULLY #2 (CONT'D)

Please! Reward this man.

His supporters release him and gets two bottles of Ice Lemon Tea off-screen, as Julian collapses back to the floor. As they set the bottles next to him, the three begin their exit.

BULLY #1

Same time next week, can?

3.

It hurts to breathe. It hurts to cry, but he's doing anything to try to drown out their haunting laughter.

INT. JULIAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT (BACK TO PRESENT)

His mother bangs the table and springs to her feet.

JULIAN'S MOTHER

You tell me now! Who did it?!

She grasps him by the wrist.

He wiggles out and leans away. Hyperventilating, his eyes dart between her eyes and her hand.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (CONT'D)

'Sus, Mari, 'Oseph. You don't want

to tell me? Fine! But at least

defend yourself!? It's okay to

fight! Your dad...

She stops.

He's trying to toughen up, but tears keep streaming.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (CONT'D)

... Do you hate them?

He nods.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (CONT'D)

Is it because they remind you of

your dad?

He nods again.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (CONT'D)

... You need to be a big man. For

me, okay? For me. Please. I hate

seeing you cry.

She begin leaving.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Stop crying. Kain na (let's eat).

Upon those words, his face distorts. He's disgusted. He's afraid. He's angry.

INT. JULIAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, TOILET - MORNING

BAM.

4.

He crashes to the floor, but without rest, the other two forces him back up to his feet.

BULLY #2

Aiyoooo... Who told you to defend

yourself? Mommy?

Julian glares straight at him.

BULLY #2 (CONT'D)

Angry, is it?!

BAM. Uppercut to his stomach. But he's not buckling down. His eyes are still staring straight into his soul.

BAM. Another one. But he's flashing his fangs, trying to wiggle out. The other two are struggling to hold him back.

BULLY #2 (CONT'D)

Your mother so stupid! Defend for

wha

Cross (straight right-hand punch) straight to his jaw. The bully sprawls to the floor, knocked out cold.

One of them sprints out, scrambling, cursing as he cries for help. The last bully tugs against Julian's arm.

BAM. Another cross, to his jaw.

The remaining bully crashes against the wall behind him, trying to stay standing. Julian tugs him by the hair and smashes his head against the nearest sink.

He wails, but Julian lifts him back up. Cross.

His bully, on his ass, begs. For forgiveness. For mercy. For anything of a respite. Julian straddles on top and tugs him up by the collar, readying him for his comeuppance. He raises his hand

JULIAN!

TEACHER (O.S.)

He freezes. At the doorway, he sees his teacher with the cowardly bully.

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

5.

MEDIUM SHOT ZOOMING IN ON JULIAN

His mother and the principal are discussing about the situation, but they're muffled, blurry, far, far away.

Julian sits next to his mother, but he's in another world, smiling, chest puffed up with a triumphant look in his eyes. Sure, at times, his mother spares some attention to scold him. But he doesn't care.

He won. That's all that matters to him.

TIME SKIP MONTAGE:

(Julian progressively gets older with each scene.)

INT. BOXING GYM - EVENING

By the ringside, his COACH (41, M) helps Julian with his handwraps and gloves. His mother records from the side.

The coach raises his right mitt. Calls a '2'. As Julian punches, thunder shudders through the gym.

He calls it again. And again, thunder.

EXT. NEARBY PARK - DEAD MORNING

Julian sets down his skipping ropes and begins jogging.

Afterwards, he shadowboxes some combination. It's still amateurish, but his form's sharpening.

EXT. WOODLANDS INTERCHANGE - AFTERNOON

Julian steps between his polytechnic clique and a shrinking violet hiding in her hoodie. Before long, the clique leaves them alone with some 'tsks'.

ADRIANA, who is leaning against the wall, legs wobbly, struggles to straighten up.

Julian offers a hand. She studies his hand like a wounded prey.

INT. MCDONALD'S - EVENING (CONTINUOUS)

He's yapping about something over dinner. He's muted, talking with his hands, swinging his arms around with such fervour. Adriana laughs and is much more relaxed.

6.

INT. BEDOK SPORT HALL - EARLY AFTERNOON

At the centre of the boxing ring, the umpire raises the victor's hand. The crowd roars, some chanting out his name. The victor bows to each of the judges and shakes gloves with his opponent.

Julian is hollering for him as Adriana laughs whilst hugging him from behind, head resting against his back.

But for a moment, Julian stops and soaks it in. The victor, standing amongst them all, in all his glory... 'Mesmerised' is slightly off-the-mark for what he's feeling. Maybe, 'entranced'.

He batters his eyes and smirks at himself over the possibility.

INT. JULIAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

But as he lies down on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind pitches the dream over and over again.

Vivid memories of his childhood bullies beating him is entwined with him standing tall and proud in that boxing ring.

In some reiterations, his bullies are sprawled and bloodied all over on the canvas. In others, just him. Maybe some bruises here and there along his face, but standing up there, fists raised up underneath the glimmering spotlight...

He makes his mind up.

INT. BOXING GYM - MORNING

His coach keeps rejecting him. He's walking away from the starstruck kid, but tailing him is the starstuck poster boy wannabe. And he's not letting up.

He runs his hands against his face, sighs and locks eyes with him. He's muted, but mouths, "Fine."

CUT TO BLACK.

END MONTAGE

TITLE CARD: "2020"

7.

UMPIRE (V.O.)

And now, in the red corner,

representing Maverick Boxing Club,

debuting his first bout...

INT. BEDOK SPORT HALL - AFTERNOON

Spotlight.

By the runway from the locker rooms, it's him. Bouncing. Showboating. Raring to go.

UMPIRE (V.O.)

Julian Ramos!

In full red boxing attire, he shadowboxes as he strides down the runway with his coach and team.

He gets up the ring, slips through the ropes, climbs up a post and roars to the audience. In return, a few awkward laughs and some claps.

At the far back is his mother recording and cheering. He points straight at her and gives a big hoo-hah.

The umpire calls them to the centre of the ring, him and his opponent FAIZAL (23, M). He runs through the rules, but Julian instead is glaring through his opponent's soul.

The umpire finishes and returns them to their corners.

The bell rings. They both rush forward to take control of the centre.

Faizal smiles and offers a fist bump. Julian squints.

JULIAN (V.O.)

I tell you how many times already?!

INT. MAVERICK BOXING GYM - MORNING (FLASHBACK)

Julian marches from the heavy bags, across the entire gym, straight to a scrawny, shorter boxer: WEN ROU (19, M). As if he's talking to a child:

JULIAN

When delivering a hook to the body

Julian faces his heavy bag, slips down to the left side and hooks from an angle where the liver is meant to be. Perfect form.

8.

JULIAN (CONT'D)

Shift your weight back from lead to

rear leg. You're pulling back to

create the torque. Can?!

Wen Rou nods to his advice and offers a fist bump.

INT. BEDOK SPORT HALL - CONTINUOUS

WEN ROU (V.O.)

It's all good. Thanks, man.

Julian slaps away Faizal's friendly gesture.

With that, the fight begins proper.

Julian rushes in. Tries to pepper Faizal with straights over and over.

But his opponent's slippery. He's skipping around, gliding along the ropes, slipping, ducking and weaving all around.

Julian swings a left hook to cut him off.

Faizal pulls back. Counters with a cross to Julian's jaw. He stumbles back. Grits down.

JULIAN

Eh, come on lah, bro!

He backs off and invites Faizal to take the centre. Faizal does close in, but keeps the wide distance between them.

Julian groans, steps in

INT. NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, STUDY LOUNGE - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

He's disheveled, drained and typing away. As his eyes remain glued on his essay, his hands try to fish for his coffee, shuffling through his stacks of scientific journals and notebooks.

His phone lights up. It's a call from Adriana. He picks up:

JULIAN

(dead exhausted)

Ye, babe?

ADRIANA

Heyyyy~ Just wanna check in on you.

9.

JULIAN

What's wrong?

ADRIANA

Oh. Nothing. It's just... Anyways,

I know you're busy. I wanna check

if you've booked for next

Tuesday's.

Panicking, he checks his online calendar. A block denoting "Training" stretches over two weeks.

ADRIANA (CONT'D)

You know, for our anniversary. I

really can't wait. I bought you

something you'd really love.

He couldn't believe he forgot.

JULIAN

About that...

He's thinking of how to phrase it better.

JULIAN (CONT'D)

Can we push it back by two weeks? I

have an upcoming bootcamp for the

match I told you about, and it'd

mean the whole world to me.

The AC units continue humming.

JULIAN (CONT'D)

Babe, I know it sounds

She hangs up.

INT. JULIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - LATER

He's hardly eating his late supper at the dining table. His eyes flutter over his meal and his sleeping phone.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (O.S.)

Anak (Son), what's wrong?

Age hasn't been kind to her. She leans against her crutch and quakes as she takes her seat.

Nothing.

JULIAN

10.

JULIAN'S MOTHER

You can tell me if something's

troubling you.

JULIAN

It's nothing. Just tired.

JULIAN'S MOTHER

'Sus Mari 'Oseph. Always tired.

You're still so young! How can you

be tired? And you're a full-grown

man now.

His eyes waver back to his phone. Nothing.

His mother pats him on the head.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (CONT'D)

You grow up too fast.

He really wants to stab himself with his fork.

Ring ring. He checks his phone

INT. BEDOK SPORT HALL - PRESENT

Both boxers return to their corners. Faizal in high spirits, and Julian kicking dirt around.

His corner sits him down and refreshes him. His coach stands before him.

COACH

Why aren't you listening?! I've

been calling combos.

JULIAN

It's fine. Look at him!

He points at Faizal listening to his coach. Julian's coach smacks his head.

COACH

Your ego's getting way too much.

You think you can beat him without

my help?!

Julian stares him down instead. His coach gives up on him.

COACH (CONT'D)

Listen! He keeps staying outside,

so don't rush in!

(MORE)

11.

COACH (CONT'D)

Catch his jab, weave! Or stay out.

Don't let him body-jab you for

free.

Ring ring. Julian gets up as his corner and coach slips back to ring side.

Round 2 is underway.

Same strategy as the prior round. Julian in the centre, Faizal along the ropes. Julian peppers with jabs, Faizal slips.

But before long, Julian steps on his foot. Quick jab-cross. Faizal high-guards, but is pushed against the ropes.

Julian removes his foot. Swipes down Faizal's left glove. Cross.

Faizal wobbles to the side, trying to run away. Left hook from Julian, cutting him off from escaping. Light cross to keep in the corner.

Liver shot.

Faizal's down to his knees. The umpire pushes Julian back.

Julian climbs up his corner and showboats, basking underneath the spotlight.

N o t h i n g.

His mother is terrified of the monster she calls her 'son'.

He's looking around. Everyone's looking away. He looks back at Faizal

INT. BOXING GYM, BOXING RING - AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)

Wen Rou is writhing on the canvas, grimacing, coiling, clutching his stomach. Fellow boxers are taking off his headgear and mouthguard.

At the opposite corner, Julian is blanking out, confused on why he's seeing his primary school self on the floor.

One of the boxers aiding Wen Rou barks:

BOXER #1

What is wrong with you?!

He snaps out of it:

12.

JULIAN

(stuttering)

I'm helping him become a stronger

man!

All eyes are on him.

JULIAN (CONT'D)

(guilty)

I mean, look at him...

INT. BOXING GYM, RINGSIDE - LATER (FLASHBACK)

Alone, Julian is on the benches slumping forward. His coach is towering over him.

COACH

This is the last time I'm covering

up for you. One more time, and

you're out.

He walks off. Julian looks outside the window at the piercing sunset.

ADRIANA (V.O.)

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT YOU!

EXT. VOID DECK - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

It's a screaming match between them.

A large cup of bubble tea is spilled all across the floor.

JULIAN

I already said I'm sorry! Why won't you forgive me? I promised I'll make it up

I'm busy! Why won't you do it? I'm always responsible for everything!

ADRIANA

You promised. You promised that you'll take care of our anniversary. And what the fuck did you do? What the fuck is wrong with you?!

See! It's always about you! Always wanting me to give chance! How many more lah, hah?! If your mom isn't so fucking stupid, she'd see who the fuck you are now!

Julian sees his primary school bullies.

13.

BULLY #2 (V.O.)

Your mother so stupid! Defend for

what?

His bully laughs.

Cross

He stops.

It's inches away from her.

She falls to her knees and bawls. She tries to plug her flooding tears with her palms, but cries on and on.

He tries to help her up

ADRIANA

GET AWAY FROM ME.

She shoves him away. She squirms and crawls on all fours, before getting back up to her feet. She wobbles back to her elevator, and that is the last time he sees her.

The winds whistle.

JULIAN'S MOTHER (V.O.)

It's never too late to start again.

Julian curses at the winds and crosses at a nearby pillar

INT. BEDOK SPORT HALL - PRESENT

As the umpire counts to '9', Faizal manages to get back up. The audience cheers on. Some of his friends chant his name. People join in. 'Faizal! Faizal! Faizal!'

Julian's panting, eyeing him down. He needs to cut him down.

As soon as the umpire continues the fight, Julian barrages. Feint Jab, Cross to the body, Left Hook to his chin.

Faizal's down.

The umpire flings his body over Faizal and waves off the fight.

Julian shoves him aside.

And there he is, before Faizal. The magnanimous hulk, nothing more than a dark silhouette drowning underneath the spotlight.

14.

BAM. Punts straight to Faizal's stomach. And again. And again. And aga

Faizal's coach clocks him straight in the face.

Julian's down on the canvas. On his back, he admires the spotlights above.

INT. JULIAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

He's lying on his bed, but he's reading through his text to Adriana. One whole apology note as thick as a thesis.

His thumb hovers the 'Send' button.

A beat.

Instead, he selects it all and deletes.

INT. BEDOK SPORT HALL - CONTINUOUS

BIRD'S EYE SHOT SPIRALLING TOWARDS JULIAN

All the chaos around him is muffled and blurred out. The medics are shuffling to aid Faizal; wailing's coming from somewhere - a woman's; his coach is looming over him, berating him, before completely giving up on him.

There's a ringing. It's sharp. Gnawing. Festering.

All this, and he's looking at the spotlights above, pacing his breath.

His primary school self - bruised, battered, and struggling to get up - stands up and looks down on him.

The child's afraid of him.

He runs away.

Julian reaches out, shedding a tear, begging him to stay under his breath.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in literature. This competition provides writers worldwide with the opportunity to showcase their creative talents and explore deep, meaningful themes through poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing. As a respected event in the literary community, it fosters a rich environment for artistic expression and innovation.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mico Austria for sharing "Bruises All Over" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Mico's script is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to evoke empathy and reflection. We appreciate the courage and creativity that went into crafting this compelling piece.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.