【作者简介】
戏剧构作和编剧，来自中国北京，现居纽约。戏剧作品曾在美国的National Sawfust, Tank, Chain和上海Young剧场演出，剧本即将于《中国作家》出版。她正在哥伦比亚大学攻读戏剧构作硕士学位。
【故事梗概】
年轻的电影导演Lilian在美国追求电影梦的时候，面临意想不到的打击——她的O1签证被拒，这使她无法继续留在美国完成首部电影的制作。陷入绝境的她向她的律师寻求帮助，却得知目前唯一的解决办法是结婚。为实现梦想，Lilian决定在走出律所后嫁给她第一个遇见的人，意外认识了James，一个神秘的男子，Lilian以为他只是一个普通人，但是他实际上是律所的合伙人。他为了解决律所的问题，决定和他结婚。在这个过程中，两人从陌生到慢慢建立信任，过程中充满了误解与挑战，不仅要面对婚姻的真实性质，还要对抗社会的偏见、家庭的压力，以及娱乐行业中的不公平规则。这是一个关于梦想、爱情与个人成长的故事，展现了坚持与信念在追逐理想中的重要性。
Episode 1: The Unexpected Proposal
INT. LILIAN'S APARTMENT - DAY
In a small and nice apartment, we can see a lot of film posters on the wall. There is a young girl
LILIAN, in her late 20s sitting behind her desk. She is working on the film script.
LILIAN sits at her small desk, her fingers tapping anxiously on her laptop keyboard as she
waits for a webpage to load. The screen finally displays a message from USCIS: “O1B Visa
Rejected.”
LILIAN
(in disbelief)
What? No, this can't be right. I just... I just renewed it.
SARAH, LILIAN’s friend rushed into the room.
SARAH
How is it? Did they approve you?
LILIAN
They didn’t. They rejected me.
SARAH
What? This can’t be right. You got so many awards for your short film. You are the best director
I know. How can they do that to you?
LILIAN
I have no idea. There must be something wrong. I have to go. I have to find my lawyer.
LILIAN rushes out of the room.
CUT TO:
INT. Simons & Fichter LAW FIRM conference room- DAY
A disheveled PARALEGAL rushes into a conference room, interrupting a meeting.
PARALEGAL
(urgent)
Mr. Thompson, there's a client here who insists on speaking with someone immediately.
LILIAN
Please, I need to speak with someone about my visa status. It's a mistake, a huge mistake!
CUT TO:
INT. Simons & Fichter LAW FIRM office - DAY
LILIAN
So you are saying that you mistook my documents with another person? And I can’t ever
submit it again?
LAWYER
I am deeply sorry Madame. But there is nothing I can do right now.
LILIAN
I saved money for 2 years to pay your fees and all you said to me is everything is gone.
LAWYER
We can return all the fees but there is nothing else that I can do.
LILIAN
What do you mean? I just got the funding for my first feature and I have to make it. It’s my
dream! I can’t leave this country. I need it. I will do anything to make the film.
LAWYER
Or, there is one thing you can do?
Episode 2
INT. LAW FIRM outside- DAY
LILIAN is sitting on the steps of the law firm.
CUT TO FLASHBACK:
LAWYER
What you can do is to get married. That’s your last hope.
LILIAN looks up to the sky.
LILIAN
But who shall I get married?
CUT TO FLASHBACK:
LILIAN MOM
If you can’t decide anything, let the fate guide you. They know what’s the best for you.
LILIAN
I will marry the first man I see when I open my eyes.
LILIAN closes her eyes and counts.
LILIAN
3 2 1
JAMES is coming back into the office. He wears gym clothes.
LILIAN sees him.
JAMES looks confused.
JAMES
Are you ok?
LILIAN looks at him.
LILIAN
Good. You don’t look like a lawyer.
Episode 3
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Lilian and James sit across from each other, the tension palpable. The sound of espresso
machines and clinking cups fills the air.
LILIAN
(blurting out)
Will you marry me?
JAMES
(He is drinking coffee and he starts coughing)
I'm sorry, what did you just say?
LILIAN
(urgent)
It's the only way I can stay. Please, just hear me out. There is nothing I can do. Are you also
looking for immigration lawyer in that law firm. Please don’t go! They mistook my documents
and now I can never apply for O1 visa again. I mean that’s my only way.
JAMES
They mistook your visa?
LILIAN
Yes! You are not a client, aren’t you?
JAMES
The law firm.(he thinks) Oh noo. I am just a passenger.
LILIAN
I trusted them because they told me it was one of the biggest law firm. But they didn’t do
anything! I am an artist and I need the visa to work. I mean if I can’t fix it or get married so I can
stay, I will have to post it on social media so everyone knows.
JAMES
Oh don’t! I mean. It won’t be good to expose the lawyers, isn’t it?
LILIAN
Well. I kind of have to. You are Americans, right? I don’t have the courage to propose and get
rejected twice a day. So if you don’t accept this, I guess I can only sue the law firm.
JAMES
I do.
Episode 4
INT. JAMES'S OFFICE - DAY
JAMES leans back in his chair. Joe, the partner of the law firm sits opposite to him.
JAMES
I told you not to accept so many cases.
JOE
Are you seriously getting married?
JAMES
I am marrying for the sake of the company!
JOE
I also did it for the sake of the company. I am not you, born into a billionaire family and never
have to worry about money again. I started this law firm just for money. If they want to buy my
service, I will let them. This is just one small mistake. I mean. You can let her sue us. She can’t
win. How can you win a law firm in the court? She will goes back to where she comes from. I
am doing this for our company and also for the country. Gettingr rid of all these immigrants.
JAMES
You can’t do this. This will only destroy the reputations for our law firm.
JOE
Well. She is just a small artist. They are doing nothing for the society. It’s just a small case. We
get hundreds of them every day. It’s ok if we make a mistake.
JAMES leaves the room.
JOE
You are not in love with her, aren’t you?
Episode 5
INT. LILIAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
LILIAN sits at her desk, pen in hand, staring at a marriage application. The room is dimly lit,
casting long shadows across the floor.
SARAH
So you are getting married, for real?
LILIAN
For real.
SARAH
So who is him? I mean. You haven’t dated anyone after Tim.
LILIAN looks at her.
SARAH
I am sorry. I shouldn’t bring that up.
LILIAN
I don’t know. Actually.
SARAH
You don’t know his name?
LILIAN
I haven’t asked. I just got his number. He told me to call him when I want to get married.
SARAH
What does he do?
LILIAN
I don’t know. Maybe a tennis player. He was wearing the sportsuit when I saw him.
SARAH
Oh shit.
LILIAN
What?
SARAH
You sure he is real. Or you are just dreaming?
LILIAN
He is real!
SARAH
You sure you wanna marry someone you don’t love? I mean. You are supposed to be a feminist.
LILIAN
(whispers)
I can do this. I am still a feminist. So I can do this. For my dream, I can do this.
SARAH
Only for your dream? But you can’t lie to the immigration officer. You have to make it real.
LILIAN
What do you mean?
SARAH
I mean. Real real.
