INT. LOVIE'S FORTUNE TELLER TENT – CONTINUOUS

The tent is noticeably cooler than outside. The sounds of the fair became distant. Candles flicker around an old oak table. A small makeshift shelf holds dried herbs, oils, fresh flowers, handmade charms, and a few old photographs.

LOVIE (late 40s), beautiful, curvy, leans back in a wooden chair, completely absorbed in a romance novel. A colorful head wrap keeps most of her braids in place, though a few smaller ones have escaped.

She smiles at something on the page.

NIA

Good book?

Without looking up.

LOVIE

Depends who’s asking.

She folds the page, closes the book, and slides it onto the small shelf behind her.

Only then does she look up.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
I'm cheering for the wrong man.

Nia laughs. Lovie studies her. Her smile lingers, then falters. Recognition.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
Ah. Well now... I know who she is.

Nia glances over her shoulder.

NIA

Who?

Lovie blinks, catching herself.

LOVIE
Come on, sweet girl. Have a seat.

Nia sits, slips a folded ten-dollar bill into the small glass jar on the table.

LOVIE (CONT’D) May I?
Nia nods and places her hands into Lovie's.

NIA
Oh, I thought y’all used tarot cards and bones.

LOVIE
Child, this been in my family for generations. Straight from a Louisiana Voodoo Queen who taught my grandmammy. I don’t need cards.

Lovie closes her eyes.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
Mmm... Independent. Responsible. Hardworking. Way too serious for somebody your age.

Lovie opens one eye.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
Relax, darling. Maybe steal another sip from your friend's little flask.

Nia laughs nervously. Only she and Luella know about Imani’s flask.

LOVIE (CONT’D)

Go to New York. Take your sketchbooks.

Nia's smile fades.

NIA
I didn't tell anybody I got into fashion school.

Nia sits back, stunned. Lovie's expression softens. She's watching something only she can see.

LOVIE
That Texas cowboy outside. Lord have mercy. Wish I was thirty years younger. The wedding. It's beautiful. That man loves you something fierce.

She laughs. A full, joyful laugh.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
That little girl. Lord, she's gonna wear you clean out. Beautiful. Smart. Sassy. And loud.

Nia laughs.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
Just hear that baby out before you start fussing.

The women laugh together.

Three soft taps. TAP. TAP. TAP.

On one of the tent poles. Lovie doesn't even look.

LOVIE (CONT’D)

Come back later.

Nia glances toward the tent flap. Lovie gently rubs her thumbs across the backs of Nia's hands.

Her smile slowly fades. The grip on Nia's hands tightens.

LOVIE (CONT’D)

She's there... but something's covering her. Shadows.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

LOVIE (CONT’D)

I said... come back later.

The vision shifts. Lovie recoils. She gasps. Her eyes fly open.

NIA

You're scaring me.

Lovie studies Nia's face.

LOVIE
Everything I told you is real. Something is trying to stop all of it.

Lovie spits on the floor.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
They are after that baby girl.

Lovie reaches for Nia’s hand again.

LOVIE (CONT’D)
Please. Let me see one more time.

Nia hesitates, then places her hand back into Lovie's. Lovie closes her eyes. The tent becomes unnaturally still.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The tent trembles with each impact.

— END OF SAMPLE —

Love Spell is an original screenplay written by S. J. Robinson.
© 2026 S. J. Robinson. All rights reserved.