Lovely Doomsday - By Nicholas Jullian De Leon
Written By: Nicholas Jullian De Leon
Category: Script Writing
Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026
Nicholas Jullian De Leon, writing under the name "Lovely Doomsday," presents a captivating script for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 organized by Hashtag Kalakar. With a backdrop of an impending apocalypse, this creative piece delves into familial dynamics and personal revelations. A humorous yet poignant exploration of a family's last days, "Lovely Doomsday" mixes satire with heartfelt moments, showcasing De Leon's unique narrative style and thematic focus on human relationships and existential themes.
About the Work
"Lovely Doomsday" is a satirical yet introspective script that navigates the complexities of family life amidst an apocalyptic setting. The narrative cleverly combines humor and drama, capturing the surreal nature of ordinary life disrupted by extraordinary circumstances. With vivid imagery and sharp dialogue, De Leon crafts a compelling story that challenges characters’ perceptions and relationships, ultimately reflecting on themes of resilience and acceptance in the face of inevitable change.
Lovely Doomsday
Original Submission by Nicholas Jullian De Leon
Page |
Lovely Doomsday
Written By
N.J. De Leon
This short story is the confidential and proprietary property of CREATIVEINSANITY ENTERTAINMENTTM. No portion of it may be performed, distributed, reproduced, used, quoted, or published without prior written approved permission.
1. INT. CAFÉ – DAWN
Voices offscreen mockingly dub over a picture-perfect FAMILY of four in matching white pajamas having breakfast, talking but out of range.
BOY (O.S.)
(dubbing the dad)
Family, you’ve stood by me through life which’s why I’m leaving for the circus.
(dubbing the mom)
Finally, I can marry my white lover.
GIRL (O.S.)
(dubbing the son)
I got the teacher pregnant.
BOY (O.S.)
(dubbing the mom)
You too?
The son and dad high-five.
The dub voices snickers along with a voice of an older man.
BOY (O.S.)
I’m gonna go to the C.R.
The perfect family continue talking.
MAN (O.S.)
(dubbing the daughter)
I have… uh, made a… um, new honors.
Focusing from foreground to background, shows a cheery father in yellow/blue clothes and an angsty tween daughter in a pink/blue onesie.
MAN
(dubbing the dad)
Gagawa ako ng… isang doomsday bunker para sa atin.
GIRL
(to her dad)
What does that mean? Dad, you don’t have to—
MAN
(to his daughter)
Come on, Frederica.
The sourpuss daughter: FREDERICA MENDOZA head shakes “no”, and continues her sudoku puzzle in her tablet. They resume eating their waffles in silence. The bugger dad: GOTTFRIED MENDOZA receives food from the jaded waiter.
GOTTFRIED
(to the waiter)
Salamat. Magandang araw.
WAITER
Don’t tell me what to do.
Gottfried’s stung by that but pushes it down to feel better. He stares back at the ideal family in yearning for what they have. An hour horn siren wails outside.
SUPER: “I. CONQUEST”
FREDERICA
(looks out the window)
There’s mom.
The mother in teal sportwear enters all tired from a long jog but still hyperactive, hopping around. Gottfried offers her orange juice and Frederica gives her breakfast sandwich. The oddball mother: JEAN-PAULA MENDOZA she tries taking a family selfie but Frederica hides her face.
JEAN-PAULA
Wait, where’s Al?
CUT TO:
2. INT. CAFÉ, MEN’S ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Two generic teens comb their basic hair down.
TEEN #1
Gagawin ko na, lalapit lang ako sa kanya at hahalikan ko siya.
A toilet flush is heard.
TEEN #2 (CONT’D)
Ayos, kaibigan.
In the background, a tall-hair boy in red athleisure steps out of a stall with a sly smile.
TEEN #1 (CONT’D)
Hindi ako mamamatay na birhen.
BURSTS of toilet water explodes and rains on them, the two run but the maverick: ALBERTO MENDOZA remains smiling.
ALBERTO
(enthusiastic)
~CHERRY BOMB.
CUT TO:
3. EXT. PLAZA – MORNING
The Mendoza family speedwalk out of the café with Alberto giggling. Going through the street riddled with litter.
GOTTFRIED (CONT’D)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, sorry.
They pass by graffiti over Closure Day posters saying “LAHAY AY PANTAY KAPAG SILA AY PATAY NA!” They enter their minivan but Alberto goes in the luggage compartment with unemployment boxes.
Driving by a large politician banner ad quoting “We Will Survive.” With graffiti responding “Fallacy.” They stop at a redlight. A street salesman walks close and offers them lemons.
GOTTFRIED (CONT’D)
What was that about?
ALBERTO
Uh… an anti-capitalist statement, pop.
(to his sister)
That makes sense, right, Rica?
Frederica just shrugs.
He rolls up his window. Jean-Paula rolls it back.
JEAN-PAULA (CONT’D)
Ooh, lemons.
ALBERTO
LEMONS.
Jean-Paula takes the lemons inside.
GOTTFRIED (CONT’D)
J.P., hindi. Paparangalan mo siya ng—
Alberto pays from the backseat window with a thousand pesos. Jean-Paula resumes driving. The salesman runs happy.
GOTTFRIED (CONT’D)
(to his son)
-Wait, how much did you…? Alberto!
CUT TO:
4. INT. HOME – LATER
They return to their middle-class house. Frederica carries the lemons to the kitchen.
JEAN-PAULA
(to her husband)
Walang saysay na parusahan siya kahit na, Fried.
GOTTFRIED
Sige.
(to the kids)
Alberto, go bathe, we’re going out again soon.
FREDERICA
Going where?
GOTTFRIED
A happy surprise. And change into the dress. The cute pink one.
Frederica’s blood boils as she walks upstairs with Alberto.
Jean-Paula multitasks swiftly in making lemonade and reheat a platter of BBQ from the fridge without breaking a sweat.
CUT TO:
MONTAGE:
* In Alberto’s systematically-organized bedroom, full of pop culture décor: a large Pink Floyd Dark of The Moon. He checks a long, far from finished absurd bucket list (like “42. Perform heart surgery”) before making a bath.
* In Frederica’s pink pastel bedroom, surrounded with honor certificates, math awards, and typical girlie items but made to be edgy: her dollhouse with a red door painted black. She hums while writing down a to-do list of rewatching Your Lie in April and playing Animal Crossing, and others. She looks distastefully at the pink dress.
* Conventional family portraits of the family years ago. Especially with their TITO MARCUS in his mansion. They tower above Gottfried texting, pacing, and waiting in the hall.
* He hears squeals from the door in the hall. Jean-Paula steps out of that room.
JEAN-PAULA
Wala na namang mainit na tubig.
* Alberto shrieks from feeling the surprise ice cold shower but switches up to laughter from the sensational freezing water in his bathroom, but switches up to laughter from the sensational freezing water. He exits the bathroom but notices his wardrobe open, he opens and confused to see his color-coordinated closet’s missing some black shirts.
Gottfried walks down ready in his yellow & blue resort wear, looking like a very tall kid. Still texting.
JEAN-PAULA (CONT’D)
Fried, nakita mo ba yung isa sa mga eyeshadow stick ko?
GOTTFRIED
Hindi ko—
Startled and slips on the last step from seeing his young daughter unrecognizable on the sofa, dressed for her first day in her emo phase with the black/blue Black Sabbath shirt & a lot of eyeshadow. Frederica looks back at him with arms crossed, waiting for condescension.
GOTTFRIED
I thought you-you’ll wear the dress?
FREDERICA
I tried. Too tight
Gottfried takes a deep inhale for patience.
JUMP CUT TO:
5. INT. MINIVAN – MOMENTS LATER
Alberto-in a yin & yang t-shirt under a red button shirt with black stripes-waits then sees his dad and sister enter, but surprised about her new look with his shirt but also now has the pink dress underneath and all grumpy.
ALBERTO
(smirks) (to his sister)
What up, Pageninetynine.
Jean-Paula enters the front seat dressed as a teal 1990s bohemian with rose-tinted sunglasses, holding a thermos of lemonade. Gottfried starts the car.
JEAN-PAULA (CONT’D)
Wow, don’t we all look cute. Rica, how avant-garde. That’s the word, right?
Alberto gives the OK gesture.
JEAN-PAULA
(excited)
Oh, let’s take a picture.
From the phone camera, everyone gets ready with a smile, Alberto makes a convincing fake face but Frederica’s struggling.
GOTTFRIED
Frederica, smile properly.
FREDERICA
(making wacky smiles)
It’s not that easy.
GOTTFRIED
(condescending)
Yes, it is. Like this.
He smiles an example. Frederica gives a big, tight, and ridiculous smile. Jean-Paula takes the selfies.
CUT TO:
6. INT. MINIVAN, VIGAN CITY – MOMENTS LATER
Driving down town, Frederica scrolls through a series of international news reels about looting riots, purges, and storming capitals.
ALBERTO
Yo, Cap’n Jazz, whaddya like about Black Sabbath.
FREDERICA
(distracted from her tablet)
Uh, they made War Pigs. It’s a good anti-war song.
ALBERTO
What war?
FREDERICA
Uh… Iran.
ALBERTO
Iran!? It’s the Vietnam war. Three favorite albums, go. Hell, It’d be good to play while storming the White House.
FREDERICA
Hey, I can’t remember all the things you used to rant about.
She looks out and notices they’re close to the city exit.
FREDERICA (CONT’D)
(to parents)
Wait! Are we going to…? ~Noooooooooo!
Jean-Paula looks at Gottfried with sly excitement.
JEAN-PAULA
~Surprise! We think it’s about time we all spend quality time. And I mean all.
ALBERTO
(to his mom)
Uh… OK, ma?
She pulls out a laminated itinerary paper and gives it to the kids. They see it plans out the whole day and the next few days, including the day the world ends.
GOTTFRIED (O.S.) (CONT’D)
(driving)
I prepared an itinerary for all the good times we’re going to have. But let’s get everybody before we do.
FREDERICA
(reads the itinerary)
None of these are a happy surprise.
GOTTFRIED
Don’t be like that Frederica. In these hopeless times, the best thing we can do is together as pamilya.
FREDERICA
You stole that line from that lifetime movie.
ALBERTO
(reading from the itinerary)
“Hold hands with our feet on the ocean—"
(to his dad)
-THE BEACH?! Wait, all of them end at the beach…! Pop!
Frederica can’t put her frustration from that info into words, so Alberto gives her a seat pillow to scream in.
JUMP CUT TO:
7. INT. MINIVAN, BANTAY – MOMENTS LATER
SUPER: “II. WAR”
As the sun burns brighter, Frederica stares out the window at Bantay. Passing by chaos, sorrow, and a bunch of emo people. Alberto does the same, seeing the homeless with signs that read “We told you so.” All while Jean-Paula blasts nineties Filipino songs. Gottfried looks at them from the rear-view mirror, worried, while on the phone.
ASSISTANT (O.S.)
(voice message)
Naabot mo si Kapitan Marcus Abad. Alam mo na ang gagawin.
Jean-Paula’s also worried & holds his arm for reassurance, he nods in determination, and gets a “fun” idea. He whispers it into her ear, she smiles in agreement, and inserts an old CD. Blasting ‘Despacito’ by Fonsi & Yankee from the radio and they start jamming.
Frederica & Alberto slowly turn to them in disbelief, shock, and annoyance.
GOTTFRIED
Come on, kids. Sing-a-long.
ALBERTO
Do y’all understand the lyrics.
Jean-Paula sings off-key, she makes Alberto sing but off-track, and Frederica just lip-syncs the irritating lyrics.
GOTTFRIED
Come on, Frederica, it’s your favorite.
FREDERICA
Years ago.
JEAN-PAULA
(looks at the road)
Alright, let’s spend time just us four first. We’re goin’ to Church.
ALBERTO
But I’m bi.
JEAN-PAULA
We’re not goin’ to Church.
GOTTFRIED
We’re just going to the Bantay Watch Tower and maybe attend the sermon like old times.
FREDERICA
(to her dad)
There’re an infinite number of better things we can be doing.
ALBERTO
(to his dad)
Yeah, pop. Like—
(reads from his bucket list)
“-Give someone cancer. Cure that person’s cancer. Go singin’ in the rain.”
JEAN-PAULA
What are you two, atheists now?
ALBERTO
(to his mom)
Ew, that’d be exhausting.
CUT TO:
8. EXT. PARISH OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO – CONTINUOUS
They drive into the parking lot of the Church covered in blue propaganda banners about “The Rapture” with people under umbrellas as the sun oppresses them.
GOTTFRIED (O.S.) (CONT’D)
No bellyaching, from you.
MATCH CUT TO:
9. EXT. PARISH OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO – LATER
The hour horn siren wails, they drive off immediately before the zealots march out of the Church in a riot.
CUT TO:
10. INT. MINIVAN, BANTAY – CONTINUOUS
The family are weirded-out by what happened.
ALBERTO (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Well at least we learned something.
Jean-Paula turns to her son and sees him happily wearing purple lilies behind his ears.
ALBERTO
I can rock these lilies!
CUT TO:
11. INT. MINIVAN, SAN ILDEFONSO – LATER
They’re close to Tito Marcus’ community. Gottfried-in the front seat-looks through the group photos in the Bantay Watch Tower but Frederica gives the goofiest fake smiles.
GOTTFRIED
Frederica, please smile properly these are for memories we’re making, our last memor—
Frederica just mutes him in her head.
They arrive at Tito Marcus’ mansion but are surprised to see that her brother’s large lawn turned into a charity event, with a banner saying it’s hosted by Marcus’ family.
12. EXT. SAN ILDEFONSO, MARCUS’ CHARITY – NOON
As the wind blows strong, they walk through all confused, pondering about why they’re donating their all their wealthy possessions to all their neighbors.
Jean-Paula sees her brother managing the furniture area.
JEAN-PAULA
Hey, there’s Marcus
(gives Alberto her lemonade) (runs to Marcus up the hill)
YO, ~BROTHA.
GOTTFRIED
(to his wife)
We’ll go look for the cousins.
The walk in the opposite direction to the clothes donation area where the BITTER COUSINS work in. However, Frederica refuses to walk forward when they’re dad’s pushing them.
FREDERICA (CONT’D)
Dad, to save time, I’m gonna spill the beans: I never liked talking to people and we’d rather stay indoors.
GOTTFRIED
(pushing his kids)
They are your cousins. They love you and you love them. So go be happy together.
JEAN-PAULA (O.S.)
ANO ANG KAHULUGAN NITO?
They hear Jean-Paula arguing with Marcus so Gottfried just pats the kids’ backs to continue as he goes help his wife. So, they’re awkwardly standing in front of the cousins.
ALBERTO
(to the cousins)
So, did y’all have Closure Day in school?
COUSIN #1
Oo, naghayag kami ng aming pag-ibig—
Frederica immediately bails. Alberto offers them lemonade.
CUT TO:
13. INT. MANSION – CONTINUOUS
Frederica locks herself inside the mansion, gawking at how white and nearly empty it is, like her. She sits by the window, and watches on her tablet a video essay on nihilism.
CUT TO:
14. EXT. MARCUS’ CHARITY – CONTINUOUS (INTERCUT)
Gottfried runs up in the middle of an argument but they keep walk and talk around fast, and tries to keep up with them.
JEAN-PAULA
(to her husband)
Sabi mo, nakuha niya ang imbitasyon.
GOTTFRIED
Nag-iwan ako sa kanya ng mensahe.
MARCUS
Kung gusto mong magkasama tayo, tulungan mo akong ibigay ang mga Volvos ko.
JEAN-PAULA
(to Marcus)
Ano bang nangyayari dito? Ayos ka lang? I mean, nagagalit ka tuwing hinahawakan ko ang pagkain mo.
MARCUS
(sarcastic)
Ngayon na sinabi mo. Baka pwede kong iwanan ang aking mga responsibilidad para magdusa ang mga taong ito, at mag-enjoy.
CUT TO:
15. EXT. CLOTHES AREA, MARCUS’ CHARITY – CONTINUOUS
Alberto sits in a battery powered massage chair as the cousins get annoyed as they donate their teal outfits.
ALBERTO
Yeah, we just threw a Molotov cocktails. I gave a vitiligo girl a pot of lilies, don’t why. It wasn’t a love confession just thought it’d be nice.
COUSIN #1
Pakisabi sa Tagalog. Kumukonekta tayo sa kung sino tayo
ALBERTO
Didn’t get that. Ever wonder how you want to go out. Most would want to die holding hands on the beach. But here’s I’m gonna go out, not with a bang but with… I have no idea.
COUSIN #2
(leaning close to Alberto’s face)
Mayroon akong ideya. Narito ang aking pangwakas na salita, paano kung alisin mo ang nakakainis mong American accent bago tayo magdugo ng ilong sa ating mahalagang cashmere na hindi tayo pinapayagang mamatay dito!
ALBERTO
… Eh?
JUMP CUT TO:
16. EXT. MARCUS’ CHARITY – CONTINUOUS
They argue until they stop near the front of the mansion.
GOTTFRIED
So, paano naman ang huling araw ng mundo? In these hopeless times, the best thing we can do is together as pamilya.
Marcus reacts befuddled from that last sentence.
MARCUS
Oh sige, baka sundan ko ang yapak mo at balewalain ang bayanihan para hindi nila maramdaman na mayaman sila upang hatulan tayo ni Allah na hindi karapat-dapat sa muling pagkabuhay, at mabulok bilang makasariling tao.Tama ba, Jean-Paula?
They both get their feelings stung by that but Gottfried pushes it down hard.
GOTTFRIED
Hoy, huwag mo siyang kausapin nang ganyan.
Marcus just walks away.
GOTTFRIED
(to his wife)
Oh, sino ba ang kailangan siya. At sinabi ba niya ang Allah? Tch. J.P.?
She lets herself feel miserable from what her brother said, the person who has known her from birth. She just stares at her feet.
GOTTFRIED (CONT’D)
J.P.? Hey, huwag kang mag-alala, alam ko namang baliw siya.
(loving)
Dagdag pa, mas maraming BBQ para sa Muffin ko—
Furniture breaking can be heard from a far. He sees Alberto running away from the cousins. He runs to him, leaving his wife there, still miserable into the abyss.
Frederica walks towards her from the mansion behind her.
FREDERICA
(to her mom) (awkward)
I, uh, heard all that. That must be awful.
JEAN-PAULA
You understood that?
FREDERICA
No. But I understood the feelings there.
JEAN-PAULA
(removes rose-tinted sunglasses)
Rica, am I… really… selfish?
For once it’s the adult in need of support from the child. Frederica has to think of something on the spot.
FREDERICA
I, erm, don’t… uh, I don’t want to change… I don’t want to change how you feel. … But that moment won’t matter anyway. And, uh, you can… be a better version of that?
She gets a bit embarrassed and runs back to the minivan. Jean-Paula follows and reflects on what her daughter said.
CUT TO:
17. INT. MINIVAN, SAN ILDEFONSO – NOON
SUPER: “III. FAMINE”
An hour horn wails louder, Jean-Paula takes the wheel while her husband and son-who’s a bit roughed up-lightly bicker.
ALBERTO (CONT’D)
(fixes his hair and flower)
I don’t know, pop. I don’t usually question the stranger things that happen.
GOTTFRIED
You’re lucky they were giving it away.
FREDERICA
(to her brother)
Hey. How’d the other guy look?
Alberto makes a zombie face of the cousin and the siblings fist bump & snicker. Gottfried goes back on the phone.
ALBERTO
(to his pop)
So, pop, who are we going to?
FREDERICA
I’m hangry.
GOTTFRIED
We’ll eat a lot at the beach.
FREDERICA
Do we really have to?
ALBERTO
Yeah, I hate it too.
GOTTFRIED
Why? All our best memories are there.
FREDERICA
(sarcastic)
Yeah, of sunburns and saltwater in my eyes.
ALBERTO
Pop, how about we hang out in Jollibee every day instead? They’re giving free spaghetti. It’s on my bucket list.
GOTTFRIED
Let me see that.
(yanks the list) (speed reads)
Alberto, this is silly, there’s no way I can let you pet a lion. And we’re not involved in any.
ALBERTO
We can all do it together, pop.
(to his sister)
Rites of Spring, what’s on your list.
FREDERICA
I just want to watch my show by myself.
GOTTFRIED
No. You shouldn’t. Listen, I don’t think we need a reminder of how—
Frederica just mutes him in her head, again.
JEAN-PAULA
(to her husband)
Uh, Fried? Don’t you think they might want some time for themselves?
GOTTFRIED
(to his wife)
Heh?! J.P., anong sinasabi mo? Akala ko ba tayo ay isang koponan?
Frederica takes Alberto into a private conversation while their parents talk.
FREDERICA
Listen, no offense to—
(realized)
--Actually, yes offense to dad. How were you able to survive him when you were…
(gesturing to herself)
This.
ALBERTO
Hmmm. A part of me accepts him as he is, the other parts are confused. You’ll get over it…
GOTTFRIED
(to everyone)
Ridiculous, we’re going to the beach and that’s final.
CUT TO:
18. EXT. THE BEACH – LATER
As the sky’s all yellow, they arrive and walk across the beach with sand in their feet, yet there seems to be more litter than sand.
Alberto carries all of the food, Frederica holds on the lemonade, Gottfried wears his wife’s rose-tinted sunglasses but Jean-Paula is worried about her husband.
They walk to the nipa hut, the three react to the landscape for what it truly is, and find it a bit gross. Alberto notices two dogs digging a hole together and adores them.
However, they notice a bunch of emo people (young and old) making a bonfire. Frederica stares at them but her dad makes her turn away and enter the hut.
CUT TO:
19. INT. NIPA HUT – CONTINUOUS
The inside is very sandy but Jean-Paula & Alberto make the most of it while Gottfried tries cleaning it up. He tries getting everyone for another selfie. Until they hear the emo people play sad improv music.
JEAN-PAULA
Dramatic much?
GOTTFRIED
No! Their ruining the mood.
(exits the hut)
Come on, J.P.!
The parents go to confront the goths, so Frederica continues watching her nihilism essay while eating a stick of BBQ, next to her brother observing the dogs outside.
FREDERICA
Are we having fun yet?
ALBERTO
Mmmmm.
(hears the video essay)
Seriously, Rica, why ya wearin’ my shirt?
FREDERICA
You gonna lecture me on it.
Alberto shakes his head “no” and crosses his heart.
FREDERICA
(takes a deep breath) (watches the dogs with her brother)
When you were away in college, I moved up another grade & put into AP Calculus, so mom & dad celebrated with a pool party. I was so proud of the idea of going abroad before hitting double digits. Yet, out of the blue, we get presidential alerts and breaking news about the apocalypse, with 0% survival rating. And you know how I reacted-I tried drowning in the deep end, ‘cause no matter what, my dreams are unreachable. They didn’t notice.
CUT TO:
20. EXT. THE BEACH – CONTINUOUS
As the weather turns grey, the parents lecture the goth but can’t be heard.
FREDERICA (O.S.) (CONT’D)
After a while, eh. My favorite waffles didn’t taste the same, I skipped Closure Day. And I hate that you all act like you don’t want to drown in the abyss.
CUT TO:
21. INT. NIPA HUT – CONTINUOUS
Alberto stares at the dogs to reflect before responding.
ALBERTO
Nah, we’re all in the abyss, difference’s you’re looking down. I’m swimming around.
GOTTFRIED
Come on, kids. Let’s go have selfie by the water
ALBERTO
What about the bunch of emo people?
JEAN-PAULA (O.S.)
YOU WANT TO FIGHT!
GOTTFRIED
Your mother’s handling it.
ALBERTO
Sure…
He leaves the hut to help his mom.
GOTTFRIED
I guess it’s just you and me, Frederica.
Gottfried drags her daughter by the arm outside.
CUT TO:
22. EXT. THE BEACH – CONTINUOUS
A storm’s a brewing. In the foreground, Alberto & Jean-Paula argue with but are bullied by a bunch of emo people. Focusing more on the far, far background, Gottfried and Frederica are going to have a selfie.
From the phone camera, he smiles with desperation in his eyes but his daughter refuses to smile.
GOTTFRIED
Frederica, smile!
FREDERICA
I don’t want to.
GOTTFRIED
Why?!
FREDERICA
You can’t change how I feel.
GOTTFRIED
(furious)
WHY ARE YOU SO F***ING NEGATIVE ALL THE TIME!
Rain pours down rapidly, Frederica doesn’t give an answer, then quietly retreats to the ocean.
GOTTFRIED
(panicking) (runs after her)
FREDERICA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!
FREDERICA
(drowning)
I HAVE NO IDEA—-
Gottfried swims after her but the waves but can’t keep up.
JEAN-PAULA
(looks over)
OH, MY GOODNESS!
(runs to the ocean)
Frederica bails and walks back up to shore on the other side. The parents quickly go to her, her mother holds onto her.
GOTTFRIED
(worried)
Frederica, please tell me what’s going on! Just tell me what’s bothering you and I’ll fix it.
Frederica gives him the hard stare and points at him as the problem. He gets stung again but it’s bigger than anything, so he breaks down on his knees, on her level.
GOTTFRIED
(wheezing)
I’m sorry… I’m sorry. Sorry I don’t know how to make you happy anymore.
(crying)
she sees the man whom she’s only seen happy or mad finally let himself out, a side she’s never seen, and feels… bad. All she can and know what to do is place her hand on his shoulder.
FREDERICA
You don’t have to keep looking up in the abyss.
Jean-Paula tries to console him too but they don’t try cheering him up.
Jean-Paula looks in front of her and stares, Frederica notices her and does the same, Gottfried sees what they’re staring at.
Alberto minding his own beeswax performing the Gene Kelly Singin’ In The Rain dance with a bright red umbrella and notice the emo people are gone. They’re mesmerized by how he’s totally in bliss.
ALBERTO
(notices his family) (stops)
What’s wrong?
CUT TO:
23. INT. HOME – LATER
SUPER: “IV. END”
MONTAGE:
* Someone sings a cover of ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles over the sequence. They return home and sit in the dinner table all wet, eating their picnic food straight out of platter. While talking & listening to each other.
* The next day, they watch Frederica play Animal Crossing on the living room TV, and each of them take their turn, not grasping the gameplay and can’t succeed in tasks.
* Then they play the board game Go but none of them can beat Frederica, until she lost to her mom.
* Lastly, they watch episodes of Your Lie in April together, her dad has differing thoughts on it but doesn’t bother.
* The next day, Jean-Paula leads Gottfried and Alberto in a Yoga session while Frederica’s more focused on the TV with her show, but Gottfried falls and tips over Alberto, they laugh.
* Next, she taste-tests a bunch of lemon-based meals everyone made. She reacts to them in solidarity but everyone immediately likes hers more.
* While jogging by the neighborhood, she tosses plastic bags of money to the poor in their neighborhood with everyone else doing it and are tired.
* The next day, Gottfried finally sets his feet on the water and watches the sunset with his family but feels unsatisfied, the kids still have neutral faces, especially Frederica with her arms crossed.
* They visit the graves of Gottfried’s parents, lighting candles and perform a prayer.
* He ends the day with everyone watching an American movie together without explanation and question.
* The next day, they walk around the plaza and Alberto starts yelling whatever’s on his mind in public
ALBERTO
(enthusiastic)
KOKOMO! ULTIMATUM!
* The family starts following along, not understanding it but accepts it.
JEAN-PAULA (CONT’D)
BAHALA NA!
FREDERICA
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN!
GOTTFRIED
CHEEZE WEEZE!
* Alberto does freestyle Mads Mikkelsen-inspired dancing on the concert stage of the plaza park alone, showing God how thankful he is to be alive today. His family cheers while everybody just stares.
He finishes dancing all satisfied.
GOTTFRIED
Hindi ko talaga maintindihan lahat ito.
JEAN-PAULA
Baka hindi na natin kailangan.
GOTTFRIED
(to his son)
So… What now?
ALBERTO
(looks at his bucket list)
I don’t know. Everything?
Frederica point at one item on the list they can try.
CUT TO:
24. INT. KARAOKE ROOM – LATER
It’s revealed that Frederica’s the one singing throughout the sequence. The family finally watches her sing in front of them and cheer while Alberto performs the back-up vocals.
The karaoke monitor shows a beach as the family fell asleep close together in harmony on the sofa as the changing-neon lights shine each of their respective colors (red, yellow, blue, pink, and teal) on them.
FLASH CUT TO WHITE:
The End
About the Competition
The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating the art of storytelling and poetry. This competition invites writers from around the world to showcase their talents and creativity, offering a global stage for diverse voices and perspectives. It highlights the importance of cultural exchange through literature and creative expression.
Thank you, Nicholas Jullian De Leon, for your intriguing submission, "Lovely Doomsday," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your unique narrative and insightful exploration of family dynamics amidst chaos offer a refreshing perspective. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to more of your creative endeavors.
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.
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