A/N: Esme/Earnest's story has always kind of crushed me. I imagine that she/he would run the local AA meetings, but I don't know…

One other thing: I personally am not Jewish (I'm actually an atheist), and I didn't know what to do with the wedding vows. I went with the only ones I know, but if someone wants to call me out, you're completely free to do so. Actually, that would be helpful.

Also: possible trigger warning!

EXT. MEADOW, COLUMBUS, OH, 1911 – SUNRISE

A grassy meadow sits with several trees in their midst. Teen Earnest climbs a tree, sweat covering his brow. Text on screen reads:

Earnest Arthur Platt

Columbus, OH

1911

Earnest reaches the top of the tree, and, holding onto a branch, he looks out at the sunrise. Earnest readjusts his grip, then slips and falls to the ground with a YELP.

EXT. HOSPITAL – DAY

Trees surround the small hospital. Teen Earnest and Carine, who's in her nurse uniform, walk out of the hospital. Teen Earnest has a cast on his left leg and crutches under his armpits.

TEEN EARNEST
You're sure? You're one hundred percent, truly, genuinely sure?

CARINE
Yes. You'll be perfectly fine.

TEEN EARNEST
All right. I'll trust you.

Carine walks back inside.

INT. MONASTARY, 1918

The pews are filled with the FAMILY MEMBERS of EARNEST PLATT and CHARLOTTE EVENSON, who stand in front of a RABBI. Earnest is a fatherly and very sweet person. He has short, caramel-colored hair and wears a suit. Charlotte has long, dark hair, and wears a white wedding dress. Text on screen reads:

1918

RABBI
Do you, Charlotte, take this man, Earnest, to be your husband?

CHARLOTTE
I do.

RABBI
And do you, Earnest, take this woman, Charlotte, to be your wife?

EARNEST
I do.

RABBI
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

Earnest kisses Charlotte softly. She throws her arms around his neck. They pull away and turn to their family.

INT. LIVING ROOM, PLATT HOUSE, 1919

A couch sits in the small room. Charlotte lays on the couch, heavily pregnant, and drinking from a bottle of whiskey. Earnest enters, sees Charlotte, then rushes over and grabs the bottle from her hands./p

EARNEST
What are you doing? It's not good for you or the baby.

CHARLOTTE
(slurring)
I don't care.

EARNEST
Are you drunk?

Earnest sits down. Charlotte falls asleep; Earnest doesn't notice.

EARNEST (CONT'D)
Charlotte, love, I just want you to be healthy and safe, all right?

Earnest notices that Charlotte fell asleep and pulls a blanket over her. He exits the room.

INT. KITCHEN

The kitchen is small, with a fridge and sink. Earnest enters and pours the bottle of whiskey down the sink. He throws the empty bottle in the bin.

INT. LIVING ROOM, 1921

A menorah sits on the mantel. A crib sits in the corner. Earnest sits on the couch, holding GRACE in his arms, who's a two-year-old girl with dark hair. Charlotte sits next to them, skittish in her dress. Text reads on screen:

1921

CHARLOTTE
I'll be right back.

Charlotte stands and walks to the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN

Charlotte enters and grabs a chair from the corner of the room. She places it in front of a counter and stands up on it. Charlotte opens a cabinet and reaches to the top shelf, where a bottle of alcohol sits. Earnest enters, holding Grace. He rushes over to her and pulls her arm down.

EARNEST
Charlotte!

CHARLOTTE
No! I need it, Earnest!

EARNEST
No, you don't, love.

Earnest helps Charlotte down from the chair then closes the cabinet door. Charlotte glares at him.

EARNEST (CONT'D)
Charlotte, you're an alcoholic. You need help.

CHARLOTTE
No, I don't.

EARNEST
Yes, you do! You're getting help.

CHARLOTTE
No. I don't need help.

Charlotte pushes past Earnest. He follows her.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Charlotte storms into the room and grabs her coat from the couch. Earnest follows her and places Grace in the crib.

EARNEST
Charlotte, just wait a second.

CHARLOTTE
No! I will not wait a second!

Charlotte puts her coat on and grabs Grace from the crib.

EARNEST
Where are you going?

CHARLOTTE
I can't take this anymore.

Charlotte carries Grace out of the house.

EXT. PLATT HOUSE – DAY

The house sits in the suburbs, a car parked in front. Charlotte carries Grace out and gets in the car. She pulls away from the house. Earnest goes outside and watches as she drives away. Eventually, he walks back inside.

EXT. PLATT HOUSE – NIGHT

A police cruiser pulls up to the curb and a POLICE OFFICER gets out. He knocks on the door.

INT. FRONT ROOM

Earnest opens the door to see the Officer standing there.

EARNEST
Hello. Can I help you?

OFFICER
Earnest Platt?

EARNEST
Yes. Please, come in.

Earnest waves the Officer in. After the Officer enters, Earnest closes the door.

EARNEST (CONT'D)
Did something happen?

OFFICER
We found your wife and daughter on the side of the road.

EARNEST
What do you mean, you found them?

OFFICER
I'm sorry, sir, but...they're dead.

Earnest collapses onto the couch.

EARNEST
She was drunk, wasn't she?

OFFICER
We presume so.

EXT. SIDEWALK – NIGHT

Earnest walks down the sidewalk, nervous.

EXT. CLIFF – NIGHT

A street sits behind the cliff. Earnest stands on the edge, peering over.

EARNEST (V.O.)
I had nothing. There was nothing in this world for me.

A car passes by leisurely. It stops, and a young couple, a MAN and WOMAN, get out.

MAN
Are you all right? Sir?

Earnest sighs and steps off the cliff. The woman and man gasp in shock.

EXT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT [ESTABLISHING]

The hospital sits silent in the night.

INT. HALLWAY

Carine walks down the hall in her uniform. She catches a scent, then turns into a pair of double doors labeled "Morgue." After a beat, she walks back into the hall. A NURSE walks down the hall.

CARINE
Why is that patient in there? He should be in surgery.

NURSE
It's too late to save him.

CARINE
Oh. All right.

The Nurse continues to walk down the hall. Carine turns and rushes into the morgue.

INT. MORGUE

The room is filled with sterilized equipment. A metal tray sits in the middle of the room. Earnest lays on it, bleeding and in clear pain. Carine walks up to him and takes his face in her hands.

CARINE
You're going to be all right. I promise.

INT. BEDROOM, CARINE EDYTHE'S HOUSE

Earnest lays on a bed, writhing in pain with his teeth clenched together. Carine sits in a chair by his side. Edythe enters, her eyes gold. She puts her hands on Carine's shoulders.

EDYTHE
How is he?

CARINE
He's going to be okay. You know, I keep telling myself that, but I mean...

Carine looks up at Edythe. Edythe laughs softly.

EDYTHE
I've never been in that kind of situation.

CARINE
Oh, come on! You're a beautiful girl, you've had to...

EDYTHE
Sorry.

Earnest opens his eyes, which are red, and moves away from Edythe and Carine. Carine looks back at him.

CARINE
Hi. I'm Carine, and this is my daughter, Edythe. Now let me explain –

EDYTHE
You're a vampire.
(to Carine)
I'm going to the library.

Carine drops her head.

INT. HALLWAY, ROCHESTER, NY, 1929

The hall is brightly lit and carpeted, but short. Edythe storms down the hallway, followed by Carine and a gold-eyed Earnest. Text on screen reads:

Rochester, NY

1929

EARNEST
Edythe, wait.

EDYTHE
No! I can't take this anymore. I can't take this idea that I have to be limited because of your beliefs. I have to leave. I have to get out of here.

EARNEST
No –

CARINE
We'll miss you.

Edythe exits quickly.

EARNEST
What? Carine.

CARINE
It's her decision. And we'll respect that no matter what.

Carine turns and realizes that Edythe's gone. She makes a choking sound, then collapses into Earnest's arms. He holds her tightly.

EARNEST
It's going to be all right. She'll come back.

Earnest kisses Carine's forehead.

EXT. STREETS, NEW YORK CITY, 1931 – NIGHT

Edythe walks down the sidewalk, agitated, and her eyes a deep red. Text on screen reads:

New York City

1931

Edythe catches a scent, then turns down an alleyway, smiling.

EXT. ALLEYWAY – NIGHT

A VICTIM walks down the alley. She is a young woman in high fashion clothing. The CRIMINAL stalks behind her, a hat shadowing his face. Edythe walks behind him.

CRIMINAL
(to Victim)
Hey, princess!

Edythe runs [inhuman speed] in front of Criminal so that he has to stop.

CRIMINAL (CONT'D)
(to Edythe)
Well hello, beautiful.

EDYTHE
(seductive)
Hi.

Edythe presses herself against Criminal, who smiles. Edythe brushes her cheek against his, then bites his neck. He SCREAMS.

INT. LIVING ROOM, ROCHESTER, NY

Earnest sits on the couch, reading. Carine walks in the room, in her nurse uniform. She sits down next to Earnest, pulling her legs up next to her. Earnest looks up nervously.

EARNEST
What?

Carine leans in and kisses Earnest carefully. After she pulls away, he looks at her, astonished. Carine and Earnest kiss again, more passionately this time. Earnest drops his book to the ground and wraps his arms around her waist. The doorbell RINGS. Carine and Earnest pull away and look toward the door.

EARNEST (CONT'D)
Are you kidding me?

CARINE
I'll get it.

Earnest lets Carine up. She walks over to the front door and opens it. Edythe stands on the other side, sheepish.

CARINE
Edythe!

EARNEST
Edythe?

Earnest stands and walks over to the door. He puts his arm around Carine's waist.

EDYTHE
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Carine pulls Edythe into a tight hug. Earnest closes the door and hugs both of them.

EDYTHE (CONT'D)
Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry –

CARINE
Shh. Everything's all right now.

Carine smiles at Earnest, who smiles back.

EDYTHE
You do remember that I can read minds, right? I know that you're smiling at each other, and I know what I interrupted. Why do you think I interrupted in the first place?

Carine and Earnest laugh.

EARNEST
We're just happy you're back.

A/N: Another one done. So, I actually wrote the entirety of Origins before Midnight Sun came out, so I just worked with what I had for the whole Edythe rebellion thing.