Trust / Fall

Logline:

A young mother's journey toward devastating accountability after her desperate need for love delivers her son into the hands of a predator—and forces her to make the ultimate sacrifice to set him free.

SYNOPSIS:

TRUST FALL opens with 27-year-old Skylar Corbin in prison scrubs on a city rooftop, speaking to her son Ezra before falling backward in an act she calls her "trust fall"—loving him enough to let go completely.

Five years earlier, pregnant and homeless, Skylar finds refuge with the Whitlows—her abusive ex-boyfriend's parents. They offer genuine love and stability, helping her raise her son Ezra in a safe family environment. But feeling like an outsider, Skylar meets Gavin Wilder, a manipulative predator who presents himself as a sensitive writer drawn to "broken" women.

Despite the Whitlows discovering Gavin's history as a convicted child molester and showing Skylar court documents, she refuses to believe them. Desperate to feel chosen and loved, she leaves with two-year-old Ezra to live with Gavin in his isolated rental house.

The devastating climax comes when Ezra reveals that Gavin has been sexually abusing him. After a violent confrontation and arrest, Skylar loses custody permanently. Ezra returns to the Whitlows, where he heals and thrives.

Five years later, during a prison visit, Ezra shows Skylar a drawing of his family—with her depicted as a figure "behind the window," separated from their happiness. Understanding that her presence would only burden him with reminders of trauma, Skylar makes the ultimate sacrifice of maternal love: removing herself completely from his story so he can be truly free.

A psychological drama about the difference between loving someone for how they make you feel and loving them enough to prioritize their wellbeing above your own existence.

SCRIPT COVERAGE REPORT

Title: TRUST/FALL

Author: David Williamson

Date: May 18, 2025 (Second Draft)

Page Count: 125

Genre: Psychological Drama / Thriller

Logline: After escaping an abusive past, a vulnerable young mother’s desperate need to be loved leads her into the arms of a charismatic predator, forcing her to make the ultimate sacrifice to save her son from the cycle of trauma she has unwittingly perpetuated.

Synopsis

The story opens on a city rooftop where SKYLAR CORBIN (27), in prison scrubs, prepares for a "trust fall" off the edge, a framing device that bookends the script.

We flash back to a year earlier. Skylar, eight months pregnant and living in a women's shelter after leaving her abusive ex, Jace, makes a desperate call to Jace’s parents, GRAHAM (55) and MARIN WHITLOW (52). Despite their son’s actions, they take her in. Skylar is welcomed into their warm, stable suburban home, but she is guarded and unable to accept their kindness, conditioned by a life of trauma to see it as transactional. Marin is kind but wary, while Graham is openly compassionate.

Skylar struggles to adapt. While the Whitlows provide structure and safety, enrolling her in GED classes and therapy, Skylar feels like an outsider, a "charity case." In her GED class, she discovers a talent for writing and a voice she never knew she had. In a support group, she begins to recognize the patterns of abuse in her past. However, her deep-seated feeling of worthlessness and her inadequacy as a new mother to her son, EZRA, make her vulnerable. Compared to Marin, a natural grandmother, Skylar feels like a failure.

Feeling displaced in her own son’s life, Skylar joins a dating app and connects with GAVIN WILDER (35), a handsome, seemingly empathetic writer. Gavin is a master manipulator, preying on her insecurities. He romanticizes her "damage," reframes the Whitlows’ kindness as "control," and positions himself as the only person who sees the "real" her. Skylar, starved for unconditional acceptance, falls for him completely.

She begins a secret relationship with Gavin, pulling away from the Whitlows, missing therapy, and neglecting Ezra, who grows withdrawn. The Whitlows become suspicious and uncover Gavin's past: he is a convicted sex offender. They confront Skylar with the evidence, but she refuses to believe them, choosing Gavin's narrative of persecution over their desperate warnings. In a gut-wrenching scene, she takes Ezra and leaves the only safe home she's ever known to start a new life with Gavin.

Life with Gavin quickly descends into a nightmare. They move to an isolated rural house where Skylar is cut off from everyone. Gavin's charm gives way to chilling control, psychological abuse, and threats. Skylar’s world shrinks, and Ezra becomes a silent, sad child. The horrifying truth is revealed when Ezra confesses that Gavin has been sexually abusing him.

Shattered by the realization that she has delivered her son to a monster, Skylar’s maternal instinct finally overrides her trauma. She plans an escape, but Gavin catches her. A violent confrontation ensues where Gavin reveals the depths of his calculated cruelty. Skylar, fighting for her son for the first time, manages to create a disturbance, and a neighbor calls the police.

In the aftermath, Skylar is in court, now a defendant. For endangering her child, her parental rights are terminated, and Ezra is placed permanently with the Whitlows. In a heartbreaking final goodbye, Skylar sees that Ezra is finally safe, even if it means losing him forever.

Years pass. In prison, Skylar undergoes intense therapy, finally taking responsibility for her choices. She writes hundreds of letters to Ezra she never sends, processing her guilt. Her final act of love is to let him go completely, so he can grow up without the burden of her past.

The story returns to the opening scene on the rooftop. We now understand this is not a flashback, but the story's true ending. Years later, out of prison, Skylar is still haunted by the trauma she caused. Believing her very existence is a threat to Ezra’s peace, she performs her final "trust fall," a suicide she sees as the only way to truly set her son free.

Comments

Concept & Theme

"Trust/Fall" is a harrowing, unflinching, and profoundly moving exploration of trauma, manipulation, and the nature of maternal love. The concept is grounded and terrifyingly plausible, functioning as a cautionary tale about how predators exploit vulnerability. The script’s primary strength is its thematic depth. It masterfully dissects the difference between being needed and being loved, between performative kindness and true sacrifice. The central question—what does it mean to protect a child?—is answered in the most devastating way imaginable. The title itself is a brilliant, multi-layered metaphor that pays off tragically in the final scene.

Plot & Structure

The screenplay is expertly structured. The framing device of the rooftop "trust fall" is initially misleading in the best way, and its re-contextualization at the end is a stunning, gut-punch of a reveal. The narrative is a slow-motion tragedy, meticulously building a sense of dread. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to invest deeply in Skylar's fragile hope before watching it be systematically dismantled.

The plot progresses with a relentless, cause-and-effect logic. Every choice Skylar makes, however flawed, is rooted in her well-established trauma. Key turning points—the support group session, the confrontation with the Whitlows, Ezra's confession—are powerful and shift the narrative's trajectory with significant impact. The third act, from the escape attempt through the courtroom drama and Skylar's time in prison, is a masterclass in emotional and thematic resolution, even as it denies the audience a conventionally happy ending.

Characters

The character work is exceptional across the board.

Skylar Corbin: A brilliantly realized tragic hero. She is not always likable, but she is always understandable. Her deep-seated self-loathing and desperate need for validation make her subsequent choices both frustrating and heartbreakingly inevitable. Her journey from passive victim to an active protector of her son is the core of the film, and her ultimate sacrifice is a testament to the script's powerful character arc. This is a role that would attract an A-list actress seeking a challenging, transformative part.

Gavin Wilder: One of the most chilling and realistic screen villains in recent memory. He is not a monster who lurks in the shadows but one who charms his way into the light. His dialogue is a perfect tapestry of grooming language—love-bombing, gaslighting, and isolating his victim. The script makes it terrifyingly clear how someone like Skylar could fall for him.

Marin & Graham Whitlow: They are the moral center of the story. They represent a flawed but genuine goodness that Skylar is incapable of accepting. They are not one-dimensional saints; their fatigue, frustration, and pain make them feel real. Their unwavering love for Ezra provides the story's only source of light.

Ezra: The innocent heart of the film. His transformation from a happy toddler to a traumatized, quiet child is the tangible, heartbreaking stake of the story. His dialogue is simple, honest, and utterly devastating.

Dialogue & Voiceover

The dialogue is sharp, authentic, and purposeful. Every conversation reveals character and advances the plot. The voiceover is used not as a crutch, but as an essential narrative tool, providing Skylar’s retrospective understanding of events. It creates a powerful dramatic irony, as we hear the voice of the woman who has already processed the tragedy we are watching unfold. This elevates the script from a simple thriller to a profound psychological study.

Marketability & Final Recommendation

This is not a commercial, four-quadrant film. It is a dark, emotionally grueling, and challenging piece of art. Its natural home would be with a distributor like A24, Searchlight Pictures, or a high-end streaming service (HBO, Netflix prestige) known for championing bold, author-driven drama. With the right director and a powerful lead performance, this script has significant awards potential (Oscars, Golden Globes, Independent Spirit Awards).

The material will be triggering for some viewers, and the ending is undeniably bleak. However, its unflinching honesty and thematic resonance make it an important and unforgettable story. The final title cards providing resources for abuse victims are a necessary and responsible addition.

Verdict: RECOMMEND

"Trust/Fall" is an exceptionally crafted screenplay. It is a work of immense power, intelligence, and emotional depth. While its dark subject matter makes it a challenging proposition, its artistic merit is undeniable. This is a script that will haunt the reader long after the final page and has the potential to become a significant, talked-about film.