No Dialogue!

This is what I ended up writing based on the criteria from the last post.

Oliver slumps into his chair with a huff. He grabs the remote and clicks on the television. Samantha enters the room behind him, eyes red, tears ruining her mascara.

She attempts to speak but can’t find the words. She runs out of the room before she loses her composure again.

Oliver stares at the television, unblinking. He cycles through channel after channel. He throws the remote down and walks back to the kitchen.

The remote control hits the table and changes the channel to static “snow”. Oliver doesn’t register the sound.

In the bedroom, Samantha looks down at the two halves of the commemorative plate. The plate reads “To my son, I’ve never been more proud! – Dad”. Her tears flow more freely and drip onto the two halves.

Oliver sweeps up tiny shards of the broken plate. As he empties the dustpan, he notices a drop of blood on the counter.

Samantha is crying very hard. She’s squeezing the halves of the plates. She doesn’t notice the blood running down her palms.

Oliver runs in. He grabs the halves and throws them into the hallway, shattering them beyond repair. He wraps her hands in bandages. They sit on the edge of the bed together.

Oliver embraces his wife.

They cry.