Mirrored - By Faith Tan

Written By: Faith Tan

Category: Screenplay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the dynamic landscape of storytelling, Faith Tan captivates audiences with her screenplay "Mirrored." This gripping entry into the Creative Writing category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 explores complex themes of identity and familial bonds. Faith's narrative weaves a tale of twin sisters bound by a mysterious inheritance, challenging the notions of self and envy, all within an evocative setting.

About the Work

"Mirrored" masterfully delves into the intricate dynamics between twin sisters, Mara and Elise, using a compact mirror as a symbol of their intertwined fates. Through vivid imagery and suspenseful pacing, Faith Tan explores themes of jealousy and self-worth, culminating in a haunting reflection on identity. The screenplay's mood shifts from nostalgic to eerie, keeping readers engaged with its emotional depth and tension.

Mirrored

Original Submission by Faith Tan

Mirrored

Written by Faith Tan

10 June 2025

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1 INT. NAI NAI’S ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK)

A dim, dusty room. Heavy curtains filter the daylight. YOUNG MARA and YOUNG ELISE (8), tiptoe around the room, giggling. Mara picks up a small, antique compact mirror — round, tarnished, its edges carved with Peranakan floral motifs.

YOUNG MARA

Look, Elise! We match!

They both look into the mirror — identical, yet opposites. However, Elise doesn’t pay much attention.

YOUNG ELISE

No, you have that mark on your neck.

Mara self-consciously touches the birthmark. Suddenly, their mother appears in the doorway.

MOTHER

Put that down.

They turn. Mara lowers the mirror, startled. Their mother snatches the mirror from her.

MOTHER

Give it to me. This is not a toy.

She places the mirror in a box and slides it into the drawer.

YOUNG ELISE

Whose was it?

MOTHER

Your Nai Nai’s.

Their mother doesn’t continue. She walks out, leaving the room heavy with silence. Elise follows her while Mara lingers.

YOUNG ELISE

Come Mara! Let’s go!

Mara watches as Elise runs out of the room before turning back and looking at the drawer. She slowly approaches and opens the drawer. She peers in and opens the box, looking into the mirror. It doesn’t show her reflection.

2 INT. SWIMMING COMPLEX – DAY (PRESENT)

Splashes echo as two girls race down opposite lanes.

ELISE (17) hits the wall first, MARA (17) close behind. They turn, eyes locking across the water. One wipes her face with her left hand. The other, her right.

COACH TAN

Elise Zhang. 1:30! Mara Zhang.

1:32! Good job Mara, that’s your PB.

Mara forces a tight smile. It isn’t good enough to be second. Elise swims over and throws her arms around her.

ELISE

Wow! Since when could you swim so well?

Mara lowers her sister back into the water with a small smile.

MARA

(enviously)

Not as good as you though.

As they climb out of the pool, the rest of the team gathers.

TEAMMATE 1

Elise, you were so fast just now!

TEAMMATE 2

Are you sure you aren’t training professionally?

They laugh. Elise basks in their praise as Mara stands aside. Quietly, Mara reaches into her bag and pulls out their grandmother’s compact mirror. She opens it and adjusts her hair. Mara catches sight of her neck in the reflection — a dark birthmark. An imperfection. Elise’s skin is flawless. She snaps the mirror shut.

3a INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Elise and Mara are having dinner with their parents. They are praising Elise for coming in top at school again. Mara sits quietly, pushing her food around. She had done well too, but as usual, had come in second to her sister. Their parents turn to Mara.

MOTHER

(offhandedly)

You should learn a thing or two from your sister. Maybe you can come in first next semester.

Mara clenches her fists and diverts her gaze. Her eyes drift over to a photo on the wall. It’s of her and Elise on their 10th birthday.

3b INT. FUNCTION ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK)

The camera pans over a “Happy Birthday Elise & Mara” sign. All the guests are gathered around Elise as she opens her gifts.

GUEST 1

Elise, show us what you got!

Mara stands slightly apart, holding a new sketchbook. She approaches her mother.

YOUNG MARA

Ma, look what I got—

MOTHER

(Distracted)

Not now darling. Come, let’s take photos first.

She drags Mara into a group photo. Elise front and center, Mara half hidden behind someone. Mara forces a smile, her fingers curling tightly around the sketchbook.

4 INT. SWIMMING COMPLEX - DAY

Mara and Elise reach the pool early. They dump their things down and Elise begins braiding her hair while Mara ties her hair into a bun. She could never figure out how to braid her own hair. Elise jumps into the pool while Mara lingers.

ELISE

Mara! Time me!

MARA

Yeah sure. One sec.

Mara takes out her phone and swipes to the timer.

MARA

3…2…1… Go!

Elise slices through the water — sharp, elegant. Mara watches from the edge. Admiration flickers, then fades to envy. She pulls out the compact mirror. Opens it. Her reflection stares back — the same face as Elise. She holds her gaze.

MARA

(whispering)

I wish I were you.

Her reflection in the mirror distorts eerily and the mirror pulses slightly in her hand. Mara nearly drops the mirror in shock. When she composes herself, the reflection is back to normal. She stares in stunned silence before looking back up. Elise is gone. Mara runs towards the pool.

MARA

Elise? Elise!

Mara jumps in, but there is no sign of Elise. She scrambles out of the pool, screaming.

MARA

Help! Somebody!

Coach Tan and a few other girls rush in.

COACH TAN

Elise what happened?

MARA

I’m not Elise! Elise is gone!

The coach gives her a strange look.

COACH TAN

Elise… What are you talking about?

GIRL 2

Elise there is no one else. You are

the only one here early.

MARA

My sister-

The coach grabs Mara’s shoulders.

COACH TAN

Elise you don’t have a sister.

Mara stares at them, breathing hard. Then-

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

5 INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Mara throws open the front door, still in her swim gear.

MARA

Ma? Pa?

Her parents look up, confused.

MARA

(panicked)

Where’s Elise?

Her parents exchange a glance.

MOTHER

Is this… a joke Elise?

Mara’s breathing picks up. She turns and runs upstairs.

6 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

She frantically scrolls through her phone and rifles through her drawers for photos. Every photo of the two of them has changed. Elise is gone. The compact mirror sits on her desk, closed. Mara grabs the mirror and opens it, looking at her reflection. Her birthmark is gone, the skin on her neck smooth. Flawless.

MARA

(whispering)

Where did you go?

Mara closes the mirror, sitting down at her desk. She picks up a photo of their 10th birthday party. Elise still stands at the center, smiling brightly. Where Mara used to stand is a blurry, distorted figure.

7 INT. CHANGING ROOM – DAY

Mara bursts into the changing room, heading straight for Elise’s locker. She opens the locker, looking for something she could have left behind. Nothing. Frustrated, she slams it shut. Something bangs somewhere nearby. She turns. A trail of wet footprints snakes across the tiles towards a mirror.

Mara follows, kneeling to inspect them. Unnerved, she glances over her shoulder. In the mirror — her reflection stares at her, expressionless. She does a double-take. The reflection is back to normal. Mara stands abruptly and bolts from the room.

8 INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

Mara digs through her things and finds an old photo at the bottom of the compact mirror’s box. Two girls stand side by side — but one face is blurred. There is writing on the back.

GRANDMOTHER (V.O.)

I’m sorry, Jie. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I hope you can forgive me.

9 INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT

The house is quiet. The only light comes from the stove hood. Mara stands by the dining table, holding the compact mirror and an old, weathered photo she’s just found. She stares at it — two young girls, but one face is blurred. She turns to her Mother, who is washing dishes.

MARA

Ma… who are these girls?

Her mother glances over. A pause.

MOTHER

That’s your Nai Nai… and her twin sister.

MARA

Why is one of the faces blurred?

Her mother frowns, drying her hands as she comes over. She takes the photo, studies it quietly.

MOTHER

She never liked talking about it.

Said after a while… no one could

tell them apart. People started

calling her by the wrong name. Even

her own mother.

MARA

(confused, pressing)

What happened to her sister?

Her mother looks away. Lowers her voice.

MOTHER

One day… she was just gone. Nai Nai

said it was a curse. Something about

the mirror. Said it only works on

twins. On jealousy.

Mara stiffens. Her hand trembles slightly.

MARA

The compact mirror?

MOTHER

(quietly)

She told me never to let anyone touch

it. Especially not twins.

Mara’s face twists with fear and understanding. She looks down at the photo again. Her breath catches.

10 INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

Mara lies down on her bed, eyes closed, trying to calm herself. Her breathing slows... then a faint BANG from somewhere in the room. Her eyes snap open. Another BANG, louder this time — coming from the bathroom.

MARA

Hello?

She swings her legs off the bed and stands, hesitant.

11 INT. BATHROOM – NIGHT

Mara pushes the door open. Silence. She exhales and turns on the tap, splashing cold water on her face before leaning heavily against the sink, exhaustion taking over her. When she looks up, her reflection violently slams repeatedly against the glass, screaming, water pooling in her eyes and mouth before running down her face. Mara screams and bolts as the banging continues.

12 INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

Mara bursts in — the room is a mess. Everything is scattered across the floor, soaking wet. The banging and screaming follows her, now seemingly all around. The compact mirror lies on the ground, cracked. She bends down and grabs the mirror.

MARA

(sobbing)

What do you want from me?

A WHISPERED VOICE weaves through the noise.

ELISE (V.O.)

Isn’t this what you wished for?

Mara stands up, shaking her head, clutching the compact mirror to her chest. She turns and runs out of the room.

13 INT. SWIMMING COMPLEX – NIGHT

Mara reaches the edge of the pool and sinks down onto the wet concrete. Tears stream down her face as she looks into the water. She opens the mirror and stares at her cracked reflection.

MARA

(voice breaking)

I’m so sorry... Please come back.

A pale hand breaks the surface of the water and grabs Mara’s wrist, pulling her in. The mirror drops and shatters.

14 INT. NAI NAI’S ROOM – MORNING

The same dimly lit room from childhood. Dust drifts through golden shafts of light. The door creaks open. A girl steps in, holding the cracked compact mirror.

She crosses to the dresser, opening the top drawer and placing the mirror inside.

She pauses. Pulls a faded photo from her pocket. The birthday picture. The space where Mara was is empty, everyone crowded around Elise. She adds it to the drawer before closing it. As she walks away, she braids her hair, revealing smooth, flawless skin.

THE END

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices across genres. It invites participants from around the world to showcase their literary talents in poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing, fostering a global community of writers and readers.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Faith Tan for sharing her evocative screenplay "Mirrored" with us and the audience of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her work not only enriches the competition but also offers profound insights into the themes of identity and familial relationships. We look forward to seeing more of her compelling narratives in the future.

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.