In Our Dreams

Written by Cari Stewart

Warning – This review contains spoilers.

In Our Dreams follows Dennis and Caroline, a couple whose love has endured for decades, now facing their most difficult challenge yet—Caroline’s battle with cancer. As her condition worsens and she becomes bedridden, Dennis steps in as her full-time caregiver, determined to keep the magic of their love alive. Whether he’s holding her up and dancing in their waking hours or meeting her on the dance floor in their dreams, Dennis won’t let Caroline’s illness stop them from sharing those intimate moments. Inspired by a true story, this screenplay dives deep into themes of devotion, love, and the emotional impact of terminal illness.

The story really moved me. It’s a heartfelt exploration of the lengths someone will go to for their loved one, even when faced with the inevitability of loss. The moments where Dennis recreates the dances they used to share, even as Caroline’s body weakens, are particularly poignant. While the script is emotionally rich and easy to follow, I do think its heavy tone might make it difficult for some audiences during a table read. It leans into the melancholic, with only brief moments of hope and lightness in the dream sequences. That said, anyone who has experienced caregiving or the loss of a loved one will likely find this story deeply resonant.

From a technical perspective, the screenplay is well-formatted, and I didn’t encounter any major issues with structure. However, there were some minor grammar and punctuation mistakes, like overuse of commas and a few repeated words. These are easily fixable, and they don’t detract too much from the readability of the script. The pacing is well-done, moving smoothly between dream sequences and the more somber moments in Dennis and Caroline’s reality. I really appreciated the way the dream scenes added depth to their relationship, offering a glimpse into the joy they shared before Caroline’s illness.

One thing that stood out to me though is how Dennis and Caroline are written as being in their 50s, but their behavior and dialogue feel more suited to a much older couple, perhaps in their 70s or 80s. Their interactions don’t quite fit the typical profile of Gen Xers, and it threw me off a bit. If this were set as a period piece, it might make more sense, but as a modern drama, I think that aspect could be reworked to better reflect their generation.

In Our Dreams is a touching, emotionally rich screenplay that delves into the struggles of caregiving and the endurance of love through life’s hardest challenges. I believe those who appreciate heartfelt, character-driven stories will find this one particularly moving.