Whatever Happened to Amanda

Amanda is a budding writer with a full novel manuscript. She attends a writer's group meeting for the group she set up and meets Francis, who gives her a vibe she doesn't like. After a slightly disjointed conversation that heightens her dislike of Francis, she goes to the toilet before the other group members arrive. She hopes that Mable is not there tonight and that it will be her night to present her manuscript without Mable making it about herself, as she usually does. When Amanda arrives with her manuscript in hand, nobody acknowledges her except for Francis, who mouths the words "I'm Sorry." She sits at the back of the group feeling deflated. The co-founder, David, stands up and gestures for silence as he has an announcement to make. Amanda is avidly staring at David, but Mable stares straight through her, seemingly oblivious. David announces that Amanda died from a heart attack a couple of nights ago, just after she completed the manuscript. He holds up an exact copy of her manuscript in the same pink folder and advises that he will edit and publish the book posthumously, with all proceeds going to the family. Amanda is stunned and initially thinks it's a prank, but then she remembers the feeling of her heart stopping and her daughter rushing in to see if she is okay. Francis moves over toward her, and despite her desire to leave, he stops her. David asks if anyone wants to say something, and to Amanda's surprise, Mable, someone she didn't get along with very well, speaks affectionately of Amanda's memory and alludes to the strained relationship they had. She compliments Amanda for always challenging her and making her a better writer. Finally, Francis grabs her hand and asks if she is okay to leave, and she agrees. They walk out of the meeting and head to a bright room, where Amanda and Francis have a conversation. She remembers an old boyfriend named Frank from her past and learns from Francis that he ended up committing suicide after they split and that Francis now helps troubled souls cross to the other side.