dare

by
David Brind

Revision 4/17/2008

Contact:
Chris Till
Creative Artists Agency
162 5th Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
212.277.9000
Alex Lerner
Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment
9744 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310.285.0116

Opening credits begin to come up over the following:

INT. BRYN MAWR PREP SCHOOL - AUDITORIUM - PRE-DAWN
Wood-paneled benches line the room, unevenly matched with the
1980s era wall-to-wall carpeting underfoot. A battered
proscenium stage is bare.
Fluorescent lights switch on with a crackle and the rear
auditorium doors swing open, propped by a blue-suited
JANITOR, who crosses on to the stage.
The lights buzz overhead as the janitor slowly and
deliberately pulls the levered rope that raises the dusty red
curtain.
TITLE CARD: "DARE"
INT. DOCTORS EXAM ROOM - DAY
ALEXA WALKER, dark-haired, 17, and preppy even in a paper
gown, lies back on a slab covered with tissue paper. She
grimaces uncomfortably.
DOCTOR (O.S.)
Almost finished.
Okay.

ALEXA

The sound of a rubber glove snapping off a hand is heard.

DOCTOR
You can sit up.
Alexa sits up and removes her feet from the stirrups of the
examination table.
The DOCTOR, an intelligent-looking woman in her mid-40s
smiles warmly at Alexa.
DOCTOR (CONT'D)
Everything looks perfectly fine.
ALEXA
Are you sure? Because its been
over 2 months. And then it lasted
for almost 2 weeks, and I was
afraid, well not afraid, but you
know, losing all that blood.

2.
DOCTOR
(Smiling gently)
An irregular cycle is very common
in girls of your age. There are a
lot of factors that can contribute
to it...stress is a big one--your
Mom tells me you're quite the
student...Are you under more than
the usual amount of stress?
ALEXA
Um I don't think so. So theres
nothing wrong, or, um abnormal or
anything?
DOCTOR
Well, I would like to put you on a
birth control regimen, the hormones
in it will help to regulate your
period.
The doctor begins to scribble on her prescription pad.
ALEXA
"The pill"?
DOCTOR
Yes. Let's see how you do on it.
(Looking up.)
Alexa? You're not sexually active,
are you?
Alexa reddens and shakes her head.
The doctor smiles and looks back down to her pad.
ALEXA
Um...I'm sorry,
wondering...why
wasn't sexually

(CONT'D)
but I'm just
did you assume I
active?

DOCTOR
Well, I did just perform a pelvic
examination, so physically, you
still have some remainder of the
protective tissue called the...
ALEXA
(Interrupting)
Oh. Right.

3.
DOCTOR
(Pulling down her
glasses.)
Have you had sexual intercourse?
Alexa grits her teeth and shakes her head again. The doctor
smiles at her, continuing to write the prescription.
TITLE CARD UP:

"ALEXA"

BLACK

EXT. BRYN MAWR PREP SCHOOL - MORNING

Alexa walks from the front of the parking lot towards school
holding a book in front of her face. The title is visible:
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
She passes a group of kids mixing and mingling cell phones at
the ready, texting each other before classes begin.
A distinguished looking man, the HEADMASTER, crosses past the
students, admonishing them as he walks.
HEADMASTER
Those phones better be away by 8:30
or theyre mine. Im not kidding
around here people.
A hand intrudes into Alexas reading space as she walks--it
holds a small black tape recorder.
She looks up to see BEN, 17, a dark figure in a black winter
vest over a black hoodie sweatshirt, grinning broadly at her.
ALEXA
Hey! Hold on let me just finish
this.
BEN
You do realize its not cool to be
excited about reading before school
hours.
Ben puts his arm around Alexa and the two walk to the main
area in front of the school.
Built on an old family estate in the Main Line suburbs of
Philadelphia, the school's landscape consists of an enormous
stone mansion bookended by 1970's style geometric classroom
buildings.
Teachers with beat-up briefcases make their way through the
crowds of teens and pre-teens.

4.
As Alexa and Ben walk, a PASSING STUDENTs backpack hits Ben,
causing him to drop his cell phone, keys, and a few books on
the ground.
As Ben and Alexa bend down to gather the fallen items, a
striking tall boy, JOHNNY, 17, with perfectly floppy brown
hair and a disinterested gaze appears above them.
Time seems to freeze as a majority of people in the vicinity
notice his arrival.
Johnny stands still for a moment, listening to his iPod,
until Ben and Alexa notice, gazing up at him. He appears to
tower over them, the bright light of the sun streaking down
from behind his head, making Johnny appear to glow. As Ben
stares in silence, Johnny looks down at him, smirking.
JOHNNY
Morning Light Boy.
Ben is unable to answer. Johnny takes both of them in.
JOHNNY
Not sure if you heard, but bowing
is optional now.
Ben chokes back a response and snatches up his belongings,
speed-walking into the main stone classroom building.
ALEXA
Hey Johnny, you know I tried to
call you last night about running
our lines because were supposed to
be ready to present today...
As Alexa continues to talk from the ground, Johnny begins to
walk away, sauntering off ahead, rocking out to his own
personal soundtrack.
A lone middle-aged school SECRETARY, with a bad dye job and
an aqua turtleneck sweater under an unzipped white parka,
clomps across the campus, delivering folders from one
building to another.
Not looking where he is going, Johnny cuts off the Secretary
in her path, causing her to stumble and fall forward,
dropping her files.
Hey!

SECRETARY

JOHNNY
(Without looking back.)
Sorry.

5.
Watching Johnny disappear, Alexa snaps out of it suddenly,
looking at her watch before rising and dashing off.
The Secretary picks herself up, gathers her files, wipes off
her scraped knees and attempts to regain her confidence. She
wants to cry, but wearily clomps forward, files in hand.
SECRETARY
Fucking brats.
INT. BMPS - DRAMA ROOM - DAY
MS. DAVIS, Bryn Mawr Prep drama teacher, sits at her desk
going over paperwork before class begins.
Ms. Davis has short-cropped hair, long dangly earrings,
glasses, and wears a loose-fitting tie-dyed pantsuit.
Alexa is in mid-sentence hovering over Ms. Davis.
ALEXA
I did call and try to schedule
rehearsal over the weekend, several
times, but he never called me back,
so theres no way I can really be
ready to present today
MS. DAVIS
(Sighing)
Alexa you are the one who demanded
to do Streetcar, against my
better judgment, and if you cant
organize yourself...
ALEXA
I am organized! I mean I did try
but Johnny...
GABBY
(Interrupting)
Excuse me, Ms Davis?
About a dozen or so students have gathered in a circle, some
on stools, some on the floor of the large gray drama room.
Among them is GABBY, olive-skinned with a curvy figure and
dark hair in a short skirt and boots.
Gabby has her hand raised and begins talking as Ms. Davis
looks up.

6.
GABBY
Um, Ms. Davis? I talked to my Mom
and she said to tell you I'm really
not comfortable playing Donna's
girlfriend in some lesbian play.
MS. DAVIS
Well please tell your mother that
"The Children's Hour" is a famous
piece of literature and not some
"lesbian play," so...
Next to Gabby is a rather large, pear-shaped girl, DONNA,
with the demeanor of an old maid who smiles eagerly. Ms.
Davis looks at Donna and raises her eyebrows uncomfortably.
A few kids snicker.
Alexa looks across the circle to Ben, his bangs partially
obscuring his eyes, and the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up
over his face.
MS. DAVIS (CONT'D)
Alexa? You will present today. Now
wheres Johnny?

She is interrupted as the classroom door is thrown open by a

panting Johnny. Even flushed and dishevelled, Johnny exudes
appeal--he is masculine and graceful and beautiful and
aggressive all at once, seemingly without even trying.
JOHNNY
Hey. Yeah sorry, I had detention.
Johnny pushes his hair off his face and hands Ms. Davis a
folded note as Alexa stands awkwardly by her teacher.
MS. DAVIS
Johnny, Grace Matson will be here
in two days. You will not embarrass
me or this school in front of my
only student that ever made it, do
you understand?
JOHNNY
Yeah, okay.
MS. DAVIS
Okay good, now get up. We're
starting with you and Alexa.
Gabby rolls her eyes.

Donna sits up excitedly.

7.
Alexa and Johnny move into the circle, unpacking their
scripts in preparation.
ALEXA
Ms. Davis, is it okay if I tape
record our rehearsal today? So I
can practice the lines in the right
rhythm at home?
Johnny, standing in the open performance space near the
blackboard, stares at her.
MS. DAVIS
Absolutely, Alexa, good idea.
Alexa removes Bens tape recorder from her bag and begins to
set it up on the carpet in front of her as Ms. Davis
continues to talk.
MS. DAVIS
You know, you could stand to take
this seriously, folks. This is a
showcase of scenes from the great
American play book, not some
YouTube skit. And yes kiddos, I
have seen some of your work on
there, so I know what Im talking
about here.
Alexa moves to Johnny, taking him all in as he looks down at
his script. He rises an unfamiliar feeling in her. She
soaks him in, unaware.
Johnny feels her gaze and turns to her.
JOHNNY
(Under his breath)
What the fuck are you looking at?
ALEXA
What? Nothing.
Alexa swallows hard and turns away from Johnny, pretending to
be unfazed. She looks over to Ben, who has been watching the
whole scene.
INT. BMPS - CAFETERIA - DAY
Alexa and Ben sit alone at a table, finished with lunch.
Alexa chews on her nail. Kids meander past them.

8.
Donna , with nothing on her tray but a salad, hard-boiled
egg, and milk carton walks carefully by the pair, balancing
her tray with concentration.
From behind her, Gabby Andreas appears, followed by another
POPULAR GIRL. Gabby holds a script in her hand.
GABBY
Hey Donna, you forgot your script.
Donna turns with a smile. Gabby walks right by her and drops
the script on the ground as she does. Leaning down to get
it, Donna tilts her tray, causing her milk carton to fall.
Nice milk.

GABBY
Mooooooo!

Gabby laughs and walks off.

ALEXA
Hey Ive got it.
Alexa bends down and picks up Donnas script and milk carton,
carefully placing both on her tray. Donna smiles at her,
lips pursed, eyes squinted. Alexa squeezes Donnas shoulder
before returning to her seat at the table.
Ben?

ALEXA

BEN
You didn't suck in rehearsal.
ALEXA
(Scowling)
Thanks.
BEN
Well what do you want me to say?
Alexa thinks for a moment.
ALEXA
I want you to say that I really do
have it in me to be so brilliant
that people will just be, like,
emotionally devastated by my
performance.
Ben stops and turns to Alexa.
BEN
You really do have it in you to
emotionally devastate people.

9.
ALEXA
Uch, forget it, Ben.
They laugh and swing their linked arms.
ALEXA
I think you should pick me up at
6:30 tonight so were not stressed
about being late.
Okay Mom.

BEN

Alexa and Ben stand up from the table.

As they look forward they catch Johnny, sitting at a nearby

table, eyeing them curiously, almost wistfully.
He pushes his hair off of his face, aware now that most of
the room's eyes are on him, including Alexa and Ben's.
A passing SOPHOMORE GIRL with braces holds her mouth open,
agog. Her PIMPLY FRIEND, nudges her, embarrassed.
Ms. Davis appears, walking distractedly towards Alexa.
MS. DAVIS
Alexa, would you stop by classroom
after lunch, I have a few things
for you to do.
ALEXA
Um, sure Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis begins to walk away, and then turns suddenly as if
a lightbulb suddenly exploded.
MS. DAVIS
Oh, and stop by the copy room on
your way and pick up my xeroxes.
Ms. Davis walks away.
BEN
And did you start working for her
part-time for the extra cash or...?
ALEXA
She elected me class assistant.
Don't ask.

10.
They look at the table where Johnny is sitting with sandyhaired popular boy JOSH, 17, Gabby and the Popular Girl--they
all look at Alexa and Ben distastefully.
Alexa walks over to the table, Ben lags behind her.
ALEXA
Uh, excuse me?
Standing in her path directly in front of Johnnys table are
a SOPHOMORE GIRL with braces, her mouth open, agog. Her
PIMPLY FRIEND, nudges her, embarrassed and they scurry away.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Hey Johnny, can I talk to you a
second?
Johnny looks at her blankly.
ALEXA
Is there any way I could get you to
take this seriously?
Josh looks on with interest.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Our scene? Why are you even doing
drama?
JOSH
Cause he got kicked off soccer for
smoking and totaling his car.
Josh chuckles and slaps a jock buddy's hand.
Shut up.

JOHNNY

ALEXA
Look, I know you don't care about
anything but yourself, but this is
important to me.
JOHNNY
You know I don't care about what?
ALEXA
Just learn your lines, okay?
JOHNNY
I don't care if you lick ass in
drama class, but don't pull that
superior shit on me anywhere else.
Okay?

11.
Johnny plugs in his earphones, slapping the hand of a still
chuckling Josh. Johnny looks up to see Ben still standing
behind Alexa and staring at him. Gazing back coolly, Johnny
holds up his middle finger as he bops his head to the music.
Ben and Alexa stand awkwardly apart from the group.
GABBY
(To Alexa, accusingly)
Courtneys not here.
A door at the back of the cafeteria opens, and the blond-head
of 17-year-old COURTNEY pops through, a diamond stud through
her nose, and the remainders of baby fat flattering her
curves.
Yo bitch!

COURTNEY

All of the girls nearby turn simultaneously.

COURTNEY (CONT'D)
Meet me out front at 3 if you want
a ride. I gotta go to art.
The door slams shut, all of the girls look to Alexa.
ALEXA
(looking at Gabby)
I think she meant me.
They stare at her.
INT. COURTNEY'S CAR - DAY
Alexa stares out the window of Courtney's red Jeep Cherokee.
An air freshener in the shape of the Rolling Stones' open
mouth symbol hangs from the rear view mirror.
The click of Courtney pushing in the car's cigarette lighter
is heard. This breaks Alexa's daydream.
ALEXA
Uch, Courtney.
COURTNEY
Please don't be a tightass right
now, okay, I had a really hard day.
Mr. Fogel is freakin' obsessed with
me.
(MORE)

12.
COURTNEY (cont'd)
He kept me after class to discuss
my problems with drawing fruit. I
need to take a mental health day.
ALEXA
(Smirking)
You mean skip school?
COURTNEY
Yeah same difference.
Alexa puts down her window as far as it will go. Courtney
looks at her as she lights the cigarette hanging out of her
mouth.
COURTNEY
What am I gonna wear on Friday?
ALEXA
Whats on Friday?
COURTNEY
(Eyeing her make-up in the
mirror)
Johnnys having people over. Im
going with Gabby and Jenn. I want
to get something new at Urban.
Alexa is silent and looks out the window.
COURTNEY
Lex, do you ever feel like were
twins in some tacky teen movie, and
Im like the crazy cool hot popular
girl and youre like...
ALEXA
(Cutting her off)
No. I dont.
Courtney finds Alexas snappishness somewhat amusing.
COURTNEY
So Gabby said you get to make out
with Johnny Drake.
ALEXA
God she's obsessed with sex...
COURTNEY
Yeah she's a total slut, but
whatever dude, Johnny's hot...you'd
totally fuck him.

13.
ALEXA
No I wouldn't actually. You know he
didnt even call me back about
rehearsing. Hes the worst possible
scene partner.
Courtney glances over concerned.
COURTNEY
Are you on Prozac and not telling
me?
What?

ALEXA

COURTNEY
Your sex drive is seriously
underdeveloped, Lex. That happened
to my Dad...
Well whatever I'd fuck him.
Your Dad?

ALEXA

The girls crack up.

COURTNEY
Eww...you bitch.
Alexa turns and looks out her window as the car accelerates
and passes out of frame.
HARD CUT OUT.
EXT. DOWNTOWN THEATER - NIGHT
Alexa and Ben stand, gathered against the cold, outside the
glass doors of the theater.
Alexa studies her reflection in the shiny glass,
dissatisfied. She smooths her skirt, straightens her gold
Tiffany charm necklace, fiddles with her headband.
ALEXA
Maybe we should just go.
BEN
After you made me wait for 20
minutes? Uh-uh. Youre going up and
introducing yourself when she comes
out. Hey there she is.

14.
Alexa turns and sees GRACE MATSON, a striking actress in her
early thirties, with the remnants of stage make-up and
dressed in a simple black skirt and tank top emerge from the
alley next to the theater.
ALEXA
I don't want her to think I'm a
freak for coming to her show the
night before...
BEN
Listen, did you not once tell me I
should support you in everything
you want to do? This is what you
want to do, so I'm supporting you.
ALEXA
(Takes a deep breath.)
You're right.
Alexa is just steps away from Grace, who stands alone on the
pavement. Gathering her courage, Alexa takes a step forward.
She stands a foot or two away from Grace for several beats,
waiting.
In a burst, a fellow ACTRESS comes out of the alley and joins
Grace on the sidewalk, chatting and laughing as they begin to
walk away down the street.
Alexa stands on the curb, dumbstruck.
her as they watch Grace walk away.

Ben steps up behind

Ben shakes his head at her. Alexa starts pummeling Ben, he

grabs her arms as they both laugh hysterically.
They walk down the street away from the theater, laughing as
they struggle.
Alexa turns and looks back at Grace as she walks away.
INT. ALEXA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
It is the bedroom of a teenage girl as carefully plotted out
by an interior designer. There is a careful balance of pink
and floral with more mature touches of dark wood and mirrors.
Everything is in its place, nothing is wanted for.
On Alexa's vanity is a photo of Alexa and Ben with their
mothers, at the table of a fancy restaurant, toasting. Next
to it, Bens tape recorder, its heads spinning as the tape
plays.

15.
ALEXA (O.S.)
(As Blanche DuBois)
"Don't you come toward me another
step, Stanley, or..."
"Or what?"

JOHNNY (O.S.)

The sound of heavy breathing barely rises over the poor

quality playback of Alexa's tape.
Tight on Alexa's face, flushed and squinting.
She is lying on her bed over a Laura Ashley-type comforter,
masturbating.
ALEXA (O.S.)
"Some awful thing will happen, it
will."
JOHNNY (O.S.)
"Drop the bottle. Drop it...you and
I?...we've had this date with each
other since the beginning..."
Alexa works intently. It looks like she's trying to find the
combination to a safe.
She rolls over, a bit breathless but still unable to orgasm.
She is disappointed and a bit ashamed.
She begins to cry a little, involuntarily.
defective.

She must be

The tape continues to play.

INT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - THE NEXT DAY
The final lines of Alexa and Johnny's "A Streetcar Named
Desire.
ALEXA
(As Blanche DuBois)
Stay back! Dont you come toward
me another step Stanley or Ill...
JOHNNY
(As Stanley Kowalski)
What?
Grace Matson sits in the audience, coffee cup pressed against
her face, looking captivated.

16.
ALEXA
Some awful thing will happen! It
will!
JOHNNY
What are you putting on now?
ALEXA
I warn you, dont, Im in danger!
MS. DAVIS
Lets stop there folks.
The scene ends, mild applause from the other students in the
auditorium.
Grace stands up and walks down the aisle.
step down from the stage to meet her.

Johnny and Alexa

ALEXA
It's an honor to meet you. I saw
your play last night, you were
brilliant.
GRACE
Thanks honey.
(She turns to Johnny.)
Who are you?
JOHNNY
Uh, Johnny.
Hi Johnny.

GRACE

Grace eyes him with desire.

GRACE (CONT'D)
Very nice work up there. Do you
want to act?
JOHNNY
Um, I dunno, maybe...
Alexa's face begins to fall as she listens.
GRACE
You're raw, but you've definitely
got something. Has Davis forced
Stanislavski on you yet? You should
try actually reading it, I bet
youll dig it.

17.
JOHNNY
Uh, yeah okay, thanks.
Alexa is in total shock.
MS. DAVIS
Okay, Donna and Gabby, youre up.
Grace turns away, looking through her bag for something as
she walks up the aisle to her seat.
Alexa bolts after her in a burst.
ALEXA
Grace, er, Ms. Matson?
Grace turns in surprise as Alexa catches up to her.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Is there any way I could talk to
you for a minute after class?
Gabby and Donna, walk up to the stage. Donna has gotten
really into the part and is looking particularly dyke-y.
Gabby eyes her with a mix of disgust and fear.
Grace eyes them both with a grimace before looking back at
Alexa.
INT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Grace stands on the stage with her coffee cup, looking around
the auditorium. Even in her street clothes, as she prowls
across the ragged high school stage, Grace is riveting to
watch, calculating and careful in her gestures.
Behind her, Alexa tentatively waits in the audience.
GRACE
So you think you want to be an
actress.
Grace takes a moment, staring at a nervous Alexa.
GRACE (CONT'D)
Okay so we can go over some basic
stuff, movement, breath...
(smirking)
...your accent...or we can cut the
bullshit and I can tell you how it
really is.

18.

Ummm...

ALEXA

GRACE
Your call. Life lessons with Grace
or teen acting class.
ALEXA
Teen acting class?
GRACE
Great. Life lessons it is. Come up
here and sit down.
Alexa climbs the stairs on to the stage apprehensively and
sits down on the stage floor. Grace studies Alexa in
silence, before cocking her head with a smile.
GRACE (CONT'D)
What exactly was it you were doing
up there?
ALEXA
Well, I was trying to show how
Blanche feels about Stanley...
Uh huh.

GRACE

Alexa's face reddens, as if Grace has just spit on her.

GRACE (CONT'D)
And how does Blanche feel about
Stanley?
ALEXA
She feels...threatened, afraid, but
I think in a certain way she's
still drawn to him. It's like his
brute strength versus her
femininity, like, her powers of
seduction.
GRACE
You're definitely smart, so that's
not the problem. Tell me though
Alexa, have you ever felt
threatened?
ALEXA
I kinda feel threatened right now.

19.
GRACE
Ha, that's good. But no, I mean
have you ever been afraid of being
hurt, destroyed...raped?
No.

ALEXA

GRACE
Have you ever fucked anyone?
ALEXA
Excuse me? That has nothing to
do...
GRACE
(Cutting her off.)
It has everything to do with it.
You shouldn't be playing Blanche
DuBois honey, you're a child.
Acting is not about making up how
you think someone feels. It's about
having something to draw on.
Alexa looks at her blankly.
GRACE (CONT'D)
Feelings? Of your own? Haven't you
ever been hungry for anything?
ALEXA
I'm not sure I know what you mean.
GRACE
Hungry, like wanting something,
needing something so bad you would
do anything to get it?
Alexa stares at Grace, shaken.
GRACE (CONT'D)
Look, life is gonna be easy for
you. You're pretty, you're smart,
you have it real good. Be a doctor.
Or a lawyer. Or even better, marry
one.
Quiet, seething rage begins to escape out of Alexa like air
from a balloon.
ALEXA
You have no fucking idea who I
am...

20.
Alexa is unable to continue and turns her head down, her body
shaking, her hair shaken out of its ponytail.
Alexa's reaction is unexpected. Alexa has affected Grace.
Grace examines Alexa again carefully, some of the aggression,
in Grace's eyes begins to die down. She kneels down until
she is level with Alexa.
GRACE
Remember this...this is what's it
about. Right now. Feeling like you
want to slap the shit out of me.
Alexa looks up at her, face flushed.
GRACE (CONT'D)
You want my advice? I mean my real
advice? Ignore what your parents
and teachers say good smart pretty
prep school girls are supposed to
do. Figure the shit out for
yourself.
Alexa pulls herself together and looks up at Grace.
ALEXA
(Firmly)
I can learn it. Ill start with
that Stanislavski book--whats the
exact title?
Grace looks up to the sky.

This girl just doesn't get it.

GRACE
Honey, nobody in the world can
teach you how to feel. Maybe you
should start with not trying so
hard.
ALEXA
Look you recommended it to Johnny,
if a mindless asshole with a god
complex can get it, trust me, I
can.
GRACE
Is that really all you
see?...Listen, forget about the
scene and just worry about you.
Shake things up a little bit. Do
something you're afraid of...and
fail. Do all that, and if you still
wanna be an actress, god bless you.

21.
Alexa is stunned, speechless.
GRACE (CONT'D)
Class is dismissed.
Grace walks off the stage, down the aisle towards the
entrance to the auditorium.
The auditorium door slams shut as Alexa is left alone.
INT. ALEXA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Alexa sits hunched at the desk in front of her vanity. Her
eyes are swollen, ringed with dark purple. An open notebook
lies before her.
Her ponytail is uneven.
chair.

She slumps forward, dazed, in her

There is a knock at the door.

DEIRDRE (O.S.)
Alexa? Can I come in?
ALEXA
Just a sec.
Alexa pulls her hair out of its lopsided ponytail, and wipes
her face with her sleeve.
DEIRDRE WALKER, 48, a poised if somewhat detached woman with
long dyed brown hair, opens the door carrying a shoebox in
her hand, smiling. As she takes in Alexa, her smile begins
to fade.
DEIRDRE
Are you sick, honey? You look sick.
ALEXA
No I'm fine, just a little tired.
What's up?
DEIRDRE
Well I was just going through my
make-up, cleaning stuff out, old
nail polishes, you know... I was
going to give it to Marva, but I
thought you might like to take a
look.
Yeah sure.

ALEXA

22.
Deirdre places the box on Alexa's vanity.
fingers through Alexa's hair.

She runs her

DEIRDRE
You sure you're okay?
Yup.

ALEXA

Deirdre caresses Alexa's face, then pulls a bottle of pale

pink nail polish from the shoebox.
DEIRDRE
I thought this was a good color for
you.
ALEXA
It's pretty.
DEIRDRE
Isn't it? Delicate, don't you
think?
They look at the colored bottle that Deirdre holds up next to
Alexa's face in the mirror. Alexa forces a smile.
DEIRDRE (CONT'D)
Well, I'll let you get back to
work.
ALEXA
Okay, thanks Mom.
Deirdre turns to go, as she opens the door, a thought strikes
her.
DEIRDRE
Do you want me to give you
something to help you sleep?
No thanks.

ALEXA

DEIRDRE
Im meeting my trainer early
tomorrow so Ill see you at dinner.
Deirdre nods, then leaves Alexa.
Alexa picks up the bottle of pale pink polish. She unscrews
it and paints one nail, carelessly. She examines her work,
holding her pale pink finger up to her face, then tosses the
bottle into the trashcan under her desk.

23.
Alexa peers into the shoebox, pulling out a bottle of dark
red polish. She opens the bottle, the crimson liquid drips
from the brush on to her hand. She moves to wipe it away.
Alexa looks in the mirror again thoughtfully. She dips the
brush into the red polish, removes it, and paints a line
straight across her throat.
INT. ALEXA'S BEDROOM - DAY
Alexa, quilt still over her head, sleeps soundly.
From downstairs, the sound of the front door slamming shut.
DEIRDRE (O.S.)
Alexa? Are you sick? It's 11:30!
Alexa emerges from the quilt and reads the clock: 11:32.
touches the nail polish line on her throat.
Shit.

She

ALEXA

INT. BMPS - HALLWAY - DAY

Alexa, late, walks quickly down a school hallway amongst the
small throng of students making their way between classes.
Wearing a bulky and ugly cable-knit turtleneck sweater, Alexa
chews on a nail as she walks.
Courtney appears from the opposite direction, walking with
Gabby, Josh, and the Popular Girl. She stops short when she
sees Alexa, the others keep on walking.
COURTNEY
Where the hell were you this
morning?
ALEXA
I took a mental health day.
COURTNEY
It's not even lunch. You took a
mental health morning. You're
hilarious, you're even good when
you're being bad. And what is that
sweater you're wearing by the way?
Alexa snaps her head to Courtney.

24.
ALEXA
I don't need shit from you right
now, okay? So just back off.
COURTNEY
Okay you are definitely on some
kind of strange psychotic trip, so
I'm going to pretend that didn't
just happen.
Courtney eyes an approaching Ben as she continues to walk.
COURTNEY
(To Alexa.)
Ill call you tomorrow and give you
all the dirt.
(To Ben.)
Nice hoodie.
Courtney laughs to herself as she stalks off.
and turns back to Ben.

Alexa sighs

BEN
Are we hanging out tonight?
Yeah.

ALEXA

BEN
Wow dont sound so stoked about it.
ALEXA
Sorry, Im just a little out of it.
BEN
What was Courtney flapping about?
ALEXA
I dunno, some party at Johnnys
tonight.
BEN
So freakin status quo.
Alexa looks at Ben oddly and pulls at the sweater tightening
around her neck.
INT. BMPS - GIRLS BATHROOM - DAY
Alexa enters the bathroom and walks up to the mirror. She
pulls down her turtleneck. She has successfully scrubbed
some of the polish off, but her skin is red around it.

25.
She starts picking at it when she hears the door open and
darts quickly into one of the stalls.
Gabby enters and goes to the mirror where she starts to
reapply lip gloss. The door swings open again and slams
quickly shut. Gabby turns to see Josh Baldwin.
JOSH
Damn your ass looks sah-weet in
that skirt.
GABBY
What are you doing Josh? Dont get
me in trouble, I have enough shit
to deal with.
Josh comes up behind Gabby and starts feeling her up a
little.
JOSH
Aw, whats wrong baby?
GABBY
It's so annoying. I have the
scene for drama. It's a joke
Alexa Walker gets to do some
sex scene with Johnny Drake.
girl is confused.

lamest
that
hot
The

JOSH
She needs to be con-fucked.
They laugh. Gabby turns around and kisses Josh.
Josh takes the joke further.
JOSH
And shes always wandering around
with that that creepy Ben kid
looking for Courtney. Im surprised
she hasnt put a GPS up Courtneys
ass.
GABBY
Well when you kiss ass and act
perfect, then you get to do
whatever you want. And I'm sorry
for not wanting to be like Donna's
lesbian girlfriend in front of the
whole school.
JOSH
I know. I mean if you were doing it
with someone hot it would be one
thing, but...

Encouraged,

26.
GABBY
Right?! At least Donna knows she's
an ugly loser. Alexa hides behind
Courtney and thinks the rest of us
dont see that shes still a
fucking freak.
Gabby returns to her make-up. Josh starts kissing her neck
and moves his hand to her boob. She elbows him.
GABBY
Save it for Johnnys. Im going out
first.
Gabby leaves the bathroom. Josh waits a beat, checks his
hair in the mirror, then follows her.
Alexa remains in the stall, her feet visible on the floor.
INT. BMPS - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Alexa leaves the bathroom, walking down the corridor lost in
thought. A few kids pass by.
Ms. Davis appears in a different, brightly colored pantsuit.
MS. DAVIS
Alexa! Where were you during class
this morning, I was counting on you
to make up my rehearsal schedule.
Alexa does not appear to notice her and keeps walking.
MS. DAVIS (CONT'D)
Alexa! Hello? Alexa, I am asking
you where you were!?
Alexa snaps out it.
ALEXA
Jesus, can you not yell in my
fucking face please!
Ms. Davis gasps and looks like she might have a heart attack.
Other kids walk by in shock.
CUT TO:
INT. BMPS - CLASSROOM - DAY
An athletic young male TEACHER sits at a desk grading papers.

27.
A few scattered KIDS sit at desks silently doing work,
staring off into the middle distance, drawing on their arms.
Among them is Johnny, reading a music magazine shoved into a
textbook.
The classroom door opens, and Alexa steps in tentatively.
All the kids look up.
ALEXA
Um, is this detention?
JOHNNY
(Smirking.)
You've gotta be kidding me.
Quiet.

TEACHER

The teacher checks her off of a list.

TEACHER
Have a seat Alexa. No talking. Just
work quietly. Ms. Davis has you
here until 5:00.
Johnny lets out a whistle.
a few away from Johnny.

Alexa sits down at an empty desk

JOHNNY
(Whispering)
Damn look who's been a bad girl.
What'd you do, forget to kiss her
on the ass before you left?
The teacher looks up.
TEACHER
Shh. No talking Johnny.
JOHNNY
Nice sweater by the way.
Johnny gives Alexa his best shit-eating grin.
Unable to retort, Alexa reaches into her bag and pulls out a
book, Stanislavski's "Creating A Role." She removes a
bookmark from about 20 pages in and begins to read.
We read with her, following her gaze along the page.
"The more an actor has observed and known, the greater his
experience, his accumulation of live impressions and
memories, the more subtly will he think and feel..."

28.
Alexa looks up, digesting this.
She turns and stares at Johnny--she stares for so long,
Johnny begins to get weirded out, and looks away.
EXT. ALEXA'S HOUSE - DAY
Alexa, lingers in the stone-walled driveway of her parents'
house. She clutches herself against the cold as she waits.
The sky is darkening rapidly, the air silent save for the
limited sounds of nature in the suburbs.
With an intrusion of brightness and a splash of thrashing
rock music, Courtney's red jeep pulls down the street and
into Alexa's driveway.
Courtney calls out the window, music still blaring.
COURTNEY
Hey, I think I got everything!
Cool.

ALEXA

Courtney turns off the car's ignition and hurls herself out,
laden with an overnight bag, clothes on hangers, a large
drugstore shopping bag.
The girls begin to walk up the driveway towards the house.
COURTNEY
So what's up with wanting to do all
this tonight?
ALEXA
I just feel like it.
Alexa stays focused straight ahead and walks into the house.
EXT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Above a cul-de-sac driveway looms the home of Johnny's
father. A mix of old stone with tons of glass and Asianthemed landscaping.
The muted thumping of rap music and laughter churns from
within.
This is not the overflowing high school party of John Hughes,
but rather a smaller gathering of the select. The group of
cars lining the circle of the driveway reflects this.

29.
Among them sits Courtney's red Jeep.
INT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - INDOOR POOL AREA - NIGHT
Fifteen to twenty kids lounge and meander around a large
indoor swimming pool.
The room housing it is two stories high, all glass, with a
smattering of Japanese statues alongside granite countertops.
The air in the room is wet, heavy. The light from inside the
pool casts a blue glow over the drinking teenagers.
Josh Baldwin chugs a beer as fast he can, cheered on by some
buddies. He finishes, proud, pounding his fist into the air
and kissing the nearby Gabby before looking eagerly over to
Johnny.
JOSH
Yo Johnny, you see that?
Lying on a poolchair, alone at his own party, Johnny raises a
bottle of champagne to Josh, swigging from it.
A girl's hand closes around the bottle's neck, her nails dark
vamp red.
Johnny glances up, caught off guard.
Alexa stands before him. Her hair, newly streaked with
blond, is no longer in a ponytail, but down and falling
around her face. Alexa wears a lacy black slip-dress over a
pair of tight jeans and heels.
Josh, Gabby and the boys look Alexa up and down in surprise
and arousal.
JOHNNY
Jesus. What happened to you?
Alexa grips the bottle firmly and pulls it out of Johnny's
hand, swigging from it heavily, her eyes boring into Johnny's
the entire time. Wiping her mouth off, she hands the bottle
back to Johnny.
Courtney approaches behind her.
COURTNEY
Whoa girl. One new thing at a time.
Courtney smiles at Johnny, taking Alexa's arm and pulling her
away, leaving Johnny stunned.

30.
INT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - INDOOR POOL AREA - NIGHT
Hip-hop music blasts.
Alexa and Courtney stand next to Gabby and Josh and sip
champagne from plastic cups.
The music changes and Courtney screams, loving the song.
grabs Alexa, pulling her into the middle of the room to
dance.

She

Alexa and Courtney dance together seductively, hand in hand,

hair falling over their faces, laughing. Alexa watches
Courtney's freeness with her body, and does her best to match
it. She's a little detached, and it's not just the alcohol.
Courtney continues to dance, twirling around with Alexa,
screaming in glee.
TWO BOYS stand, riveted, watching teenage girl sexuality in
action.
Johnny enters the room, leaning against the doorway, watching
Alexa, holding a champagne bottle.
Alexa notices Johnny's entrance and approaches him.
Hey.
Hey.

ALEXA
JOHNNY

Sexual energy freely passes between the two of them for the
first time. Heightened by the alcohol, they both feel it,
and neither knows quite what to do.
ALEXA
(blurting it out.)
Wanna rehearse?
What?

JOHNNY

ALEXA
Do you want to rehearse?
JOHNNY
Are you kidding?
Alexa reddens.

That's not what Grace would have said.

ALEXA
I just meant...

31.
Alexa stops talking. She takes a deep breath and grabs the
bottle of champagne from Johnny and finishes it.
She turns and slides out of the room.
behind.

Johnny follows quickly

INT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - JOHNNYS BEDROOM - NIGHT

Alexa sits on Johnny's bed staring at him with a burning
intensity.
He stands, still in the doorway.
JOHNNY
Why'd you decide to play dress up
tonight?
Alexa stands and sidles over to Johnny, shutting the door
behind him. She takes his hand deliberately and pulls him
over towards the bed.
Johnny leans in and kisses her.
him with her kiss.

She sucks him in, devouring

Johnny pulls away, grinning.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)
Whoa. Why are you doing this?
Alexa steps out of her jeans and underwear, leaving her only
in the slip-dress. One of Courtney's trademark black push-up
bras is visible as the strap of the slip slides off one
shoulder. Alexa is drunk and a little sloppy.
ALEXA
Because it's about time, don't you
think?
JOHNNY
Whoa whoa, wait, do you seriously
like me, or...
Alexa shoves her hand over Johnny's mouth. Aggression and
rage swirl over her. She pushes her face close into
Johnny's. She pushes him back on to the bed.
Alexa reaches down and undoes his pants, pulling him out of
his boxers.
Holy shit.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)

Alexa eases Johnny into her.

32.
Pain sears into Alexa. It is her first time. She turns her
face away from Johnny, feeling him inside her, burned by the
pain and the sensation. The room swirls around her, forcing
her into the moment.
Johnny moans uncontrollably.
Gathering herself, Alexa begins to fuck Johnny, somewhat
awkwardly at first, trying to figure out the motion.
Eventually she begins controlling the movement, the speed,
the power. Johnny looks up at her helplessly, diluted in a
wash of pleasure.
Alexa looks at Johnny, lost in the act, and sees him
powerless, out of control, childlike as he begins to orgasm.
As Johnny reaches climax, Alexa stares at him curiously--not
sure anymore whether she is smiling, crying, or laughing.
Johnny looks up at her embarrassed and spent. She rolls off
of him and looks up at the ceiling, processing her
experience.
They both lie there for a few moments. Alexa, in her
intoxication, feels a surge of adrenaline, feeling more
powerful than she's ever felt.
Oh shit...

JOHNNY (CONT'D)

ALEXA
Don't worry about it. I'm on the
pill.
Alexa, exhilarated, takes in the moment.
rolls over, blacking out the screen.

After a beat, she

INT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

Ben is perched behind the light booth on the balcony of the
auditorium, his eyes riveted on the stage in wonder.
It is the final moments of the drama showcase. Alexa and
Johnny are on the stage, performing the end of their scene in
the high-school set version of Stanley and Stella's
"Streetcar" apartment.
Alexa, wearing only a black slip, hair down and tousled, eye
make-up smeared, is pressed against Johnny, his taut body
shown off by the dirty wifebeater t-shirt he wears. She
wields a broken bottle.

33.
JOHNNY
(As Stanley)
What did you do that for?
ALEXA
(As Blanche)
So I could twist the broken end in
your face!
JOHNNY
I bet you would do that!
ALEXA
(As Blanche)
I would! I will if you--
JOHNNY
Oh! So you want some rough-house!
All right, lets have some roughhouse!
The sexual chemistry between Alexa and Johnny is palpable.
Only the seats in the balcony are visible, but they are
packed, and the auditorium is thick with tension.
Johnny springs towards Alexa grabbing her wrist, forcing her
to drop the bottle. She falls to her knees.
As Alexa's Blanche gives into Johnny's Stanley, Johnny picks
up Alexa in his arms and carries her to the bed.
Ben's stomach sinks, he is entirely caught up in the drama
unfolding below.
She collapses into his arms, and Johnny lies her down on the
set's makeshift bed, it is covered with a spread of bright
red satin.
Johnny begins to climb on top of Alexa, kissing her hard, as
she makes vain cries from her throat, her last attempt at
protest. The kissing begins to get more intense.
Desire stirs within Ben, adrenaline tingling up his chest and
spine. He is overwhelmed by his own response, his jeans
stiffen rapidly. Ben watches rapturously.
As the action continues, a now uncomfortable audience begins
to titter and squirm.
MS. DAVIS (V.O.)
(Hissing)
Ben! Ben!

34.
Ben turns to barely see a hysterical Ms. Davis motioning to
him from the other side of the balcony.
Embarrassed, Ben quickly brings the lights down on Alexa and
Johnny, still going at it.
As the lights rise back up, they stop, and Alexa lifts
herself up from the bed poised, stalking across the stage,
wiping the lipstick from the corners of her mouth.
A heavy silence hangs over the audience for a few moments, a
few whispers, nervous throat clears, and exhales of breath
all that are heard amongst the crowd.
A lone clap ends the awkwardness, and the entire audience
quickly joins in, relieved of the burden of rampaging teenage
sexuality.
Ben is stunned at Alexa's ease and confidence, the rawness of
sex that she has displayed on stage. She looks drained but
composed, as she glances up at Ben for a moment before moving
to take her bow. Their eyes meet.
Ben, flushed and ashamed of his uncontrolled arousal begins
to straighten up the papers in the booth.
BLACK

TITLE CARD: "BEN"

INT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

Ben speeds around the corner from the backstage area and down
into the empty audience of the theater. He's been shaken and
stirred.
He looks down, wondering if the fading outline in his jeans
is visible. As he does, his bookbag slips, spilling out its
contents on to the floor.
He bends down, flushed, to retrieve his belongings.
Alexa appears from the backstage area, her walk a perfect
imitation of Grace's post-show walk. She heads over to Ben.
Alexa leans down and squeezes Ben's arm. Ben is mortified
that watching her with Johnny turned him on.
Hey.

ALEXA

Ben gives her a weak smile.

35.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Where's Johnny?
BEN
(Snappish)
How should I know?
Alexa looks at him, confused by his tone.
Johnny walks down the aisle from the other direction.
As he approaches Alexa, he gives her a knowing smile. Ben
sees it. The combination of his desire and jealousy begin to
create defensive anger.
Johnny's eyes are riveted on Alexa.
JOHNNY
Wanna hang out at my house?
ALEXA
I'm kinda tired.
Finished packing up his bag, Ben stares longingly at Alexa
and Johnny, feeling outside the circle.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
What are you up to Ben?
Ben is suddenly aware that he has been eyeing Johnny for far
too long.
Johnny smirks. Ben grits his teeth, his hands unwillingly
curling tensely.
BEN
I gotta go home.
Ben hurries off through the doors to the outside.
ALEXA
(Calling after him)
Wait up.
JOHNNY
(Calling also)
Night-night Light Boy.
Alexa jogs after Ben.

36.
INT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - LOBBY - NIGHT
Ben appears through the double doors from the auditorium,
Alexa fast behind him.
Ben!

ALEXA

BEN
(Turning to face her.)
What?
ALEXA
What's wrong with you?
BEN
Me? Nothing!
Beat.

Ben swings the pendulum back, hard.

BEN (CONT'D)
What's wrong with you?
What?

ALEXA

BEN
What are you doing, Alexa? You
ditch me to play with the cool
kids, and a few days later you're
with Johnny?
ALEXA
I'm not with Johnny.
BEN
Well you can't be fucking him. God,
I mean you don't even use tampons.
ALEXA
Why are you being such an asshole?
It has nothing to do with you.
BEN
You can try and play all mature and
worldly, but you're not. You're the
same scared pathetic perfect little
girl.
ALEXA
And you're the same scared pathetic
bitter lonely loser who can't stand
to see me have a life just because
you've never had one.

37.
Ben's eyes well up.
calls after him.

He turns and walks quickly away.

Alexa

ALEXA (CONT'D)
Ben. Don't go like that. Ben!
He ignores her and walks even quicker.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Fine. Fuck you too!
Ben passes a group of the stage crew/tech guys.
boys, skinny and pimply, takes the stage.

One of the

SKINNY BOY
(Fake coughing)
Ecchem, faggot.
The other boys snicker.
Ben walks as fast as he can without actually running.
OMITTED

INT. BEN'S HOUSE - BENS BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ben throws open the door to his darkened room, shutting and
locking it behind him.
He pulls off his hoodie and throws it on the floor. Anxiety
pulses through him. Sensations usually suppressible for him
are raging rampant, his chemistry has been altered.
Standing still for a moment, Ben suddenly angrily rips his
jeans down, masturbating himself aggressively and furiously.
His jaw is clenched, his body shaking, he holds his breath.
With a gasp, Ben begins to breathe again. Heavier and slower
now. He opens his eyes--he is completely awake. He looks in
front of him at a framed photograph of himself and Alexa
grinning at the camera. Next to it, a photo of Ben, Alexa,
Ruth and Deirdre at the table of a fancy restaurant, a green
park behind them out the window, holding glasses high.
CUT TO BLACK.

38.
EXT. BENS HOUSE - DAY
Early on a Saturday morning in Bens modest suburban street.
Sprinklers come up on the lawns.
INT. BEN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Ben blearily limps into the kitchen.
RUTH BERGER, mid-40s, stands on the phone in her bathrobe,
reading glasses perched on her head, and a stack of files on
the table in front of her.
Ben's home, while comfortable, is not at all fancy.
It is the home of two intellectuals, with books everywhere
and lots of piles of papers. Framed prints adorn the walls.
It looks lived in and in need of a good dusting.
Ruth pours herself a mug of tea as she finishes her phone
conversation.
RUTH
(On phone.)
Dont rush to judgment.
(She looks at Ben.)
Its a part of development for
every teenager. Yes, I do
understand and its not a problem.
Okay, talk to you later.
She hangs up the phone and turns to Ben, who looks at her
suspiciously.
Morning.
Morning.

RUTH
BEN

RUTH
Want some tea?
Sure.

BEN

She moves to prepare another mug.

BEN
Mom, please stop trying to
psychoanalyze my adolescence with
your shrink friends.

39.
RUTH
Ben...I was not talking about you.
Believe it or not, you are not all
I think and talk about.
BEN
Couldve fooled me.
RUTH
That was Deirdre Walker on the
phone.
BEN
Isn't it a little early?
RUTH
Apparently Alexa didn't make it
home last night. She spent the
night at some boy's house and just
walked in this morning as if
nothing was out of the ordinary.
BEN
Johnny Drake?
RUTH
Yes. Did you know about it?
No.

BEN

RUTH
(Chuckling)
In a way, it's kind of a relief.
BEN
What do you mean?
RUTH
Every parent wants their kid to
veer from the rules once in a
while. It's a sign of normalcy.
BEN
So being a whore is normal?
Ben!

RUTH

She looks at him hard.

RUTH (CONT'D)
Why are you being so judgmental?

40.
BEN
Mom please.
RUTH
Listen, Deirdre and Doug are going
out of town and they don't feel
comfortable leaving Alexa alone.
Deirdre is completely freaked out
and overreacting, as per usual. So
Alexa's staying with us.
BEN
What? Why didn't you ask me first?
RUTH
Because it's not your decision to
make Ben. And because she's your
oldest friend. Why is it an issue?
BEN
I just don't see why I should
suffer because she can't control
herself.
RUTH
(Harshly.)
You're in high school, for Christ's
sake, it's normal.
A shudder creeps up Ben's chest. There is a hidden meaning
in Ruth's words, and he knows it. Ben rises, drains his mug
of tea, and places it in the sink.
BEN
I'm going to shower.
RUTH
Do you want me to make you
something to eat?
BEN
No. Im going out.
Ben's father, ALAN BERGER, pads into the kitchen with an
empty glass. With his glasses and full beard, Alan looks the
part of the professor that he is. Shorter than Ben, he
reaches up to tousle his son's hair as they cross paths, Ben
on his way out.
Fuck.
Fuck?

RUTH
ALAN

41.

Yes.

RUTH

Alan looks at her for a beat, then nods.

Okay.

ALAN

Alan rubs Ruth shoulders and turns back out of the kitchen
smiling slightly to himself--he knows better than to get into
it.
Ruth looks after Ben, longing to do something to change him,
then gives up, grabs a bag of organic popcorn from the
counter, and shoves a handful in her mouth.
INT. SUBURBAN COFFEE HOUSE - DAY
The coffee house is teeming with patrons.
Mothers seeking caffeine and respite from the cold ply their
children full of sugar. A few grad students sit with their
laptops. Most of the tables are full.
Ben sits alone at a table, sipping a Chai, and reading a
book. Still wearing his vest, his hood pulled over his head,
Ben tries, half-successfully to lose himself in the world of
fiction.
TWO LITTLE BOYS screams loudly, causing Ben to look up.
At the counter, two twin boys dressed alike cling to their
embarrassed SUBURBAN MOM who grabs them sharply and bends
down.
Ben smiles to himself, turning back to his book.
As he does, his gaze meets that of a darkly attractive GRAD
STUDENT sitting at a table across from him, also smiling at
the fracas.
GRAD STUDENT
God please let that never be my
life.
BEN
(blushing)
Ha. Yeah.
Ben laughs and puts his nose back in his book. He can't help
looking back up though, and finds the Grad Student still
looking at him.

42.
GRAD STUDENT
Edith Wharton. School or pleasure?
BEN
School. I mean pleasure. Well
school, but I also really like it.
GRAD STUDENT
(Looking directly into
Ben's eyes)
I'm Nick.
Ben.

BEN

GRAD STUDENT
Nice to meet you Ben.
Nick's gaze lingers on Ben for too long, making Ben feel both
exhilarated and repulsed.
GRAD STUDENT (CONT'D)
Hey I'm here a lot working, we
should...hang out sometime, I could
use a study partner.
BEN
Um yeah, hey it was nice to meet
you, I gotta go, see ya.
Ben bolts from his seat to the door, leaving Nick the grad
student to look after him curiously.
EXT. COFFEE HOUSE/INT. CAR - DAY
Ben walks quickly to his car, unlocking it and throwing his
stuff inside. He sits down in the driver's seat and slams
the door behind him.
From his parking spot he looks into the Starbucks window,
where Nick has returned to his laptop.
Ben feels ashamed and a bit frightened, but doesn't want to
think about why.
He jams the keys into the ignition and starts the car,
reversing into the street.

43.
INT. BMPS - DRAMA ROOM - DAY
Alexa sits in front of a mirror in the corner of the room in
her black slip applying make-up. She carefully draws on
heavy black eyeliner.
Ben stands in the corner of the doorway watching Alexa.
does not appear to see him.

She

Ben watches as Alexa smudges her eyeliner out to the corners

of her eyes. She begins to apply lipliner. She is sullen,
stiller than usual, there is something almost dark in her
demeanor. Without ever shifting her gaze, she suddenly
speaks.
ALEXA
Ben, I'm staying at your house
tonight. So I need a ride home.
Ben is startled.
Whatever.

BEN

Ben turns to leave and bumps into Johnny, the two of them
standing awkwardly close in the doorway.
JOHNNY
What, are you a peeping-Light-Boy
now?
Johnny grins as Ben pushes past him and out the door.
EXT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Ben pushes through the rear stage door of the auditorium.
He takes a deep breath of the icy air and wraps his arms
around him, cold in only his hoodie, as he descends the brick
stairs to the curb.
A cloud of smoke wafts across the staircase wall.
Ben peers over the bricks to see Courtney, sitting
crosslegged on the curb, cigarette in hand.
BEN
What are you doing here?
Courtney starts.

44.
COURTNEY
Jesus Light Boy, what are you, my
social conscience?
BEN
If you're just gonna be a bitch...
He begins to walk away.
COURTNEY
(stopping him)
Don't be so sensitive Light Boy.
Ben looks at her and starts walking again.
COURTNEY (CONT'D)
Oh Jesus. Would you just sit down
Benjamin?
He slowly comes and sinks down next to her.
COURTNEY (CONT'D)
I cant believe I have nothing
better to do then watch Alexa and
Johnny pretend to have sex.
BEN
Alexa has nothing better to do than
pretend, period. Like it means
anything.
COURTNEY
I mean she has been out of her mind
recently. Guess that's what happens
when you discover the power of a
dick.
Ben grins.
BEN
Do you think she ever even
masturbated before this?
COURTNEY
No way.
(She sighs.)
Oh god. This is what it must feel
like in drama crew loserville.
(Glancing up at Ben)
No offense Ben.
BEN
None taken, you chain-smoking slut.

45.
COURTNEY
(Grinning)
You really know how to raise a
girl's spirits.
They both stare off into the parking lot, mutual unhappiness
brimming beneath their sarcasm.
After a few moments, Courtney turns to Ben, speaking in the
softest voice Ben has heard from her.
COURTNEY (CONT'D)
Hey--Don't tell Alexa I said any of
this shit.
Ben turns away and nods.
BEN
Wanna watch from the lighting
booth? Might as well be Queen of
the losers.
Courtney smiles, nodding, and leans her head on Ben's
shoulder.
Something tingles within Ben--the radar of possibility..
INT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - LOBBY - NIGHT
Ben and Courtney sit on a stone bench outside of the
auditorium building, as playgoers pass them by, heading into
the parking lot.
The auditorium doors swing open. Alexa stomps out, closely
followed by Johnny, in mid-sentence.
ALEXA
Johnny, I just wanna go home and
sleep tonight.
He moves closer to her.
JOHNNY
We can do that.
He looks over at Ben and Courtney, totally eavesdropping.
They look away quickly. Ben takes it all in carefully.
Alexa fidgets uncomfortably.
ALEXA
(Softly)
Hey, I got in trouble.
(MORE)

46.
ALEXA (cont'd)
My parents are all freaked. I've
never done...they just got really
mad.
So?

JOHNNY

ALEXA
It's just...I should probably just
go to Ben's and be good tonight,
okay?
JOHNNY
Well what about me?
ALEXA
What do you mean?
JOHNNY
Forget it, never mind.
Johnny begins walking to the door leading outside and exits.
Alexa calls after him.
ALEXA
Can we please talk tomorrow? I'm
just so tired. You know, you missed
a line tonight, you should really
go over the script.
(To Ben.)
Ben are you going home?
Ben stares at her blankly.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Uch, forget it, Courtney, would you
please drive me to Ben's house?
Alexa takes Courtney's hand and walks off.
COURTNEY
Night Ben. I had fun.
Ben smiles as Courtney slaps his hand, eyeing Alexa all the
while. Alexa notices.
ALEXA
Goodnight Ben. I'll be in your
guest room if you decide you want
to be a human being again.
The girls disappear out of the building, swinging their arms
as they walk.

47.
Ben stares after them for a beat before breaking from his and
following outside.
EXT. BMPS - AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
Ben sees Johnny lingering outside of the auditorium.
Hey!

BEN

Johnny turns and catches Ben's gaze.

look away.

This time, Ben does not

BEN (CONT'D)
Do you need a ride?
Johnny considers this for a moment.
EXT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The lights of Ben's car appear through the darkness of the
tree-filled garden. The lights go out, car doors slam, the
two boys enter on the moonlit path.
Johnny leaves Ben standing alone in the dark.
Ben knocks into a recycling bin, a bottle crashes to the
ground, he reaches to pick it up.
The lights in the indoor swimming pool suddenly illuminate,
casting a blue glow over the garden. Ben is momentarily
blinded, then looks up at the lit house.
Johnny appears from the sliding glass back door of the house.
Ben holds the empty champagne bottle up and starts to read
the label.
BEN
This is really expensive.
JOHNNY
(pointing)
There's a whole case of that shit.
Ben crosses over to Johnny and retrieves a full bottle of
champagne from a box under an outdoor bar. Johnny reaches
inside of his bag, then turns back to Ben, looking right into
his eyes.

48.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
"Drop the bottle. Drop it. We've
had this date with each other from
the beginning."
Ben is flustered, he blushes heavily, feeling overwhelmed.
What?

BEN

Johnny pulls out his script.

JOHNNY
That's the line I forgot. You comin
in to piss or what.
Johnny heads to the door.
A loud pop echoes. Johnny turns back to Ben, surprised.
has opened the bottle of champagne.

Ben

BEN
I always wondered what it felt like
to do that.
Ben takes a big swallow, then offers the bottle to Johnny.
Johnny takes the bottle slowly, taking a swig, then passes it
back to Ben.
BEN
I guess we might as well finish the
bottle, right?
Johnny studies Ben.
JOHNNY
Youre a funny kid.
INT. JOHNNYS HOUSE - INDOOR POOL AREA - NIGHT
Ben sits on a lounge chair, holding the bottle of champagne.
He is heavily buzzed.
Johnny lies on an opposite chair.
JOHNNY
Want a cigarette?
No thanks.

BEN

49.
JOHNNY
Didn't think so.
Johnny reaches into his backpack on the floor and pulls out a
pack of Parliaments, lighting one.
Johnny sits up, rips off his t-shirt, throws his jeans on to
the side of the pool, stands up in his boxer briefs, and
jumps into the pool, swimming underwater.
Ben is unbelievably aroused by the imagery of a wet Johnny.
Johnny emerges from underneath the water. He swims towards
Ben, showing off. Johnny takes the champagne and swigs
heavily.
Jump in.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)

Ben gets very nervous.

BEN
Nah it's okay.
JOHNNY
Aww...shy Light Boy. It's okay, you
can stay in the shallow end.
Johnny laughs. Ben looks at Johnny. He takes back the
champagne, gulps a big swallow, hands it to Johnny, and
stands up.
He pulls off his jeans and t-shirt, and pads over to the side
of the pool.
Ben eases himself into the pool.
Johnny throws the soccer ball at Ben, splashing him.
Ben picks up the ball and throws it back hard at Johnny.
Johnny flinches, catching the ball as he is splashed by its
impact, surprised by Ben's returned aggression.
Wary, Johnny takes a long drink of the champagne, and hands
the champagne bottle back to Ben.
Ben raises the bottle in a toast. As Johnny swims away, Ben
watches him, drinking heavily from the bottle.
INT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - INDOOR POOL AREA - NIGHT
The boys relax in the pool, leaning back against the ledge,
laughing.

50.
Ben takes a drag of a cigarette then passes it back to
Johnny. The pack of cigarettes sits on the edge of the pool
behind them.
Two empty bottles of champagne now sit on the lounge chair.
JOHNNY
I can't believe that's your first
cigarette. I'm totally corrupting
you.
BEN
(As he inhales.)
It's kinda cool.
JOHNNY
(Thinking about it.)
All I need is a blowjob and I'd be
totally chilled out. Maybe I should
call Alexa.
BEN
Alexa wants to be alone tonight.
JOHNNY
How do you know?
BEN
She's my friend.
JOHNNY
Yeah your only one. Why's she
friends with you anyway?
BEN
I've known her since I was little.
Have you ever even hooked up with
anyone from school other than her?
Johnny laughs at Ben.
BEN (CONT'D)
It's just...I hear you're all talk.
Johnny is stung, moreso than he should be.
notice.

Ben doesn't

JOHNNY
From who? Nobody talks to you.
Johnny retreats, the edge falling out of his voice.

51.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
Just because I don't wanna date any
of those skanky rich girls...Maybe
I'm just sensitive.
Ben laughs at Johnny.
JOHNNY
Fuck you, you dont know me.
BEN
You dont know me either.
JOHNNY
You can blow me, Light Boy. You
don't know what you're talking
about.
Ben is silent for a moment.
BEN
Whip it out.
Johnny stops and turns to Ben.
JOHNNY
I'm not a fag man.
BEN
Whatever, I'm not the sensitive
one.
JOHNNY
When did you turn into evil Light
Boy?
BEN
When you turned out to be a total
poser.
Johnny looks at Ben as if seeing him for the first time.
JOHNNY
Dude, who the hell are you?
BEN
You gonna do it or not?
Beat.
JOHNNY
You really want it, don't you?

52.
BEN
Maybe you want it and you're scared
to admit it.
JOHNNY
I'm not scared.
So...

BEN

JOHNNY
I don't want anything.
Johnny swims away.

Ben senses he is losing the moment.

BEN
I've never kissed anybody. I'm
about to fucking graduate high
school and I've never even kissed
one person.
Ben fights back the first well of real emotion he's allowed
himself to feel in a long time. Johnny is silent.
JOHNNY
Are you serious?
Ben drinks heavily from the bottle of champagne, his face
flushed.
Johnny eyes him compassionately for a few moments.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
Awww. Never been kissed huh...
c'mere.
Ben is shocked.
Johnny beckons Ben over. Ben slides back into the pool
warily and moves to Johnny. The two boys are silhouetted in
the light emanating from underneath the water.
Johnny grabs Ben's face with his hand, and plants a big wet
noisy kiss on Ben's cheek, his mouth just brushing against
the corner of Ben's lips.
Johnny, pleased with himself, begins to pull away, smiling at
Ben. Deeply stung, Ben stares into Johnny's eyes with
longing.
On impulse, Ben grabs Johnny and begins kissing him.
is resistant at first and pulls back.

Johnny

53.
BEN
I'm sorry. It's just...you're
fucking amazing.
Johnny stares at Ben.
solemn.

He is quiet, thoughtful, almost

After a long moment, Johnny puts his arms around Ben and
pulls him close, holding him.
Ben is overwhelmed, tears unwillingly fall out of the corner
of his eyes.
Ben begins to kiss Johnny's neck sweetly, but in his
drunkenness, the affection quickly dissolves back to lust.
Johnny grabs Ben's shoulders firmly, pushing him away.
JOHNNY
Whoa there.
Johnny turns and walks away from Ben to the steps of the
pool. Dizzy, he sits on the edge, lying back against the
floor, his legs draping over the stairs into the water.
Ben eyes Johnny, still for a moment, before stalking through
the water with determination. Arriving at the steps, Ben
rises out of the water, balancing on his arms, until he is
level with Johnny.
Water drips down from Ben's hair on to his face, on to
Johnny's legs and stomach.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
What are you doing?
BEN
I don't know.
Ben, eyes open, starts kissing down Johnny's stomach.
JOHNNY
Dude wait...wait...
Ben's head disappears below Johnny's stomach as he pulls down
the waistband of Johnny's underwear. Johnny looks down at
Ben, who is all about what he's doing. Johnny shuts his
eyes. His eyeballs roll back into his head and flutter in
pleasure.
FADE TO BLACK.

54.
INT. BEN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Ruth sits at the kitchen table with a mug of tea, hunched
over a stack of folders.
A car door slams outside.

Ruth looks up.

The back door opens and Ben tiptoes into the house.
Hey.

RUTH

Ben starts.
BEN
Jesus. You scared me. What are you
doing up?
RUTH
Waiting for you. It's pretty late.
BEN
Oh yeah, sorry. I was...hanging out
with a friend.
Ruth almost smiles but catches herself, and attempts to play
it off.
RUTH
No problem. Just, next time, you
might want to call if you think
you'll be in past 1.
Uh, okay.

BEN

RUTH
Did you have a good time?
BEN
Actually yeah. I did.
Ruth looks at Ben curiously.
RUTH
Good, that's...good. You seem...
What?

BEN

RUTH
No nothing.

55.
BEN
I seem what??
RUTH
Just...happy, I guess.
BEN
Mom, what did we say about
analysis.
RUTH
I wasn't...Goodnight Ben.
BEN
Goodnight Mom.
Ben starts to head upstairs.
Ruth sits with her mug of tea, and puts a hand over her mouth
to cover a slight smile, before returning to her folders.
INT. BEN'S HOUSE - BENS BEDROOM - NIGHT
Alexa lies in a beanbag chair on Bens floor reading her
Stanislavski book. The bedroom door is open.
She glances at the clock on the night table. It reads 2:34.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs gets closer.
Ben, wobbles down the dark hallway, passing his room by a few
steps.

Ben!
Ben stops.
doorway.

ALEXA
(Hissing)

And slowly retraces his steps, appearing in the

Ben looks shell-shocked, but in the best possible way.

ALEXA (CONT'D)
Where were you?
Ben just smiles at her, beginning to giggle.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Are you drunk?

No.

BEN
(giggling)

56.
ALEXA
What's going on?
Ben crosses into his room and shuts the door behind him.
BEN
If I tell you something, will you
promise not to hate me?
ALEXA
Yes. If you promise to stop hating
me.
Deal...

BEN

A moment of silence.
BEN (CONT'D)
I had my first kiss tonight.
ALEXA
What? With who?
BEN
I also gave my first blowjob.
Alexa sits up, cocking her head, and looking at Ben.
Silent, she returns to her book.
Alexa?

BEN (CONT'D)

She looks up.

BEN (CONT'D)
Do you think I'm disgusting?
Alexa closes her book solemnly and looks up at Ben.
Yes.

ALEXA

Ben looks down, his lip shaking.

to back out towards the doorway.

He nods slowly and begins

ALEXA (CONT'D)
I think it's absolutely disgusting
to give a blowjob on the first
date, Ben, and that's final. You're
a total whore.
Ben looks up surprised, a smile creeping over his face.

57.
BEN
So you don't...
Alexa interrupts him.
ALEXA
Ben... Did you really think I
didn't know?
He just stares at her.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Hey will you scratch my back and
then I'll scratch yours?
Ben slinks over to Alexa's bed. She pats the mattress next
to her, and Ben lies down, absentmindedly reaching up inside
her shirt to scratch her back.
Alexa closes her eyes, enjoying the sensation of Ben's nails
on her back. Ben feels at peace, lying his head down and
shutting his eyes.
Alexa opens her eyes again after a moment.
Ben?
Mmm?

ALEXA (CONT'D)
BEN

ALEXA
Who was it?
No answer.

Ben bites his lip.

Johnny.

BEN

Alexa's back arches.

She turns to look at Ben, astonished.
Ben continues scratching his friend's back, enjoying the
feeling of saying it aloud.
We pull back as Alexa processes this revelation.
TITLE CARD: "JOHNNY"

BLACK

58.
INT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - JOHNNYS BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING
We see the outline of Johnny lying in bed, the sheets tangled
all around him.
In an instant, the alarm on Johnny's cell phone goes off
blaringly with a rap song, the music cutting through the room
like a siren.
We move in to reveal Johnny, already wide awake, purple
circles under his red eyes.
INT. JOHNNY'S CAR/EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - DAY
Johnny, driving a snazzy sportscar that clearly does not
belong to him, waits to turn into the school parking lot. He
extinguishes his cigarette in the overflowing car ashtray,
and fumbles frantically on the passenger side seat, grabbing
a pair of wrap-around sunglasses, and throwing them over his
face.
Johnny's car turns into the parking lot.
lot, Johnny's preferred area, is full.
Fuck.

The rear of the

JOHNNY

He maneuvers his car towards the front of the school, looking

for a spot.
As he passes the front of the school building, Johnny sees a
small group of students seated on the stone benches.
He half-covers his face, uncomfortable with being looked at.
But only two of the students look up, oddly simultaneously.
One is a reading Alexa, seated next to Courtney, who gabs to
a FEW GIRLS next to her. The other is Ben, who sits alone on
an adjacent bench.
Alexa eyes Johnny moodily.
narrowing.

Ben offers a sly smile, eyes

Johnny's head stays focused on his two new friends as his car
glides by.
As his neck stays twisted, compelled by Alexa and Ben, his
SUV plows through some landscaping, completely taking out a
carefully shaped bush before stopping, lightly, against an
evergreen trunk.

59.

Oh shit.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)

From the bench, Alexa grins, covering her mouth with her hand
as she looks down.
Ben bites his lip, pleased with the effect his gaze must have
had on Johnny. Courtney exults.
COURTNEY
Holy shit. You guys, did you see
that?
The kids giggle and start applauding.
Inside the car, Johnny chokes back his gag reflex.
Johnny fantasizes about ditching the car and running away as
fast as he can, but instead shifts the car into reverse,
backs up hard, and takes off, straight out of the parking
lot, and in a dangerous turn back on to the main street.
INT. JOHNNYS HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Johnny enters the house from the front door.
JOHNNY
Iliana? Iliana, Dr. Mohr called
twice, did you get the message?
MEL (O.S.)
Yes John, I did.
MEL, late thirties, blond, and way too hot to be his mother,
steps into the living room. He stops sharply.
JOHNNY
I thought you were in Palm Beach.
MEL
I was. About 4 hours ago. Now I'm
here.
JOHNNY
Where did Iliana go? I've been
sitting here, waiting, for 2 hours,
for my medicine. Dr. Mohr called
and said I needed it.
MEL
Calm down, John. It's her day off.
She left me the message.

60.
Mel puts down her bags and walks off towards the kitchen.
JOHNNY
That's what I'm trying to do Mel,
calm down, so will you give me my
fucking pill?
MEL
(Turning sharply)
Oh for Christ's sake, you have
panic attacks, not cancer.
Johnny winces.

He is in obvious discomfort.

Softening, Mel leaves the room for a minute.

Johnny sits down on a chair and puts his head down between
his knees.
Mel returns, pill in hand, and places it in Johnny's
outstretched palm.
Johnny swallows it dry.
MEL
I brought you water,
Mel hands him a bottle of water.
He gulps down the water, and sits shakily, waiting for the
medicine to take its effect.
Johnny closes his eyes, trying to relax.
his back with her hand to calm him down.
Johnny looks up at her.

Mel begins to rub

Mel stops touching him.

JOHNNY
Where's my Dad?
MEL
(Looking away)
Belgium.
JOHNNY
God, why did you even marry him?
He's never here, what's the point.
MEL
We all make choices, some of us
have to live with them.
JOHNNY
So why don't you just divorce him?

61.
MEL
Because Johnny, not everyone has
the luxury of doing whatever the
hell we want and never suffering
the consequences.
JOHNNY
I thought you and my Dad weren't
gonna call me Johnny anymore.
Thought you said it was a little
boy's name.
We're not.
So?

MEL
JOHNNY

MEL
Maybe you were acting like a little
boy, and I forgot myself.
Mel moves away and picks up the cordless phone.
MEL
Have you been driving your fathers
car? You know youre not supposed
to be driving while youre on
medication.
Ummm, no?

JOHNNY

MEL
No?? I saw the cigarette butts...
Johnny looks at Mel innocently.
MEL (CONT'D)
Alright I'm not dealing with this.
Your father can handle it when he
gets back. I'm hiding the car keys
until then.
JOHNNY
Oh come on no fucking way.
She dangles them from her fist.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
You're not my mother.

62.
MEL
(Smiling coyly)
You're right. Would you like me to
call her?
JOHNNY
I'm going to my room.
MEL
Shh, I'm checking voice mail.
Johnny slumps up and slides out of the living room.
INT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - JOHNNYS BEDROOM - DAY
Johnny sits in his desk chair as old-school hip hop music
grinds in the background.
He rocks back and forth, biting his finger.
The rocking gradually slows, so does his breathing.
We pull back and see Johnny's room in its entirety. There
isn't much there. Huge stacks of CDs line the shelves. A
faded Beastie Boys poster is on the wall.
There are no mirrors. Clothes are scattered on the floor,
the backs of chairs, hanging on hooks on the back of the
door.
In one movement, Johnny pulls on the cords of the Venetian
blinds that keep his room dark.
Outside, the view is all trees, lush pines alongside the
winter branches of elms, oaks, sycamores. Johnny looks at
the branches swaying in the wind.
He picks up his cell phone from his desk and begins to text
message Alexa.
To: Alexa
Can you hang out?
Johnny sits on his bed and waits impatiently tapping his feet
on the floor. After a few moments, his phone chimes.
To: Johnny
Yeah but no car. Stuck at Ben's. Grounded.
Johnny looks up and thinks for a moment.
again right away.

The phone chimes

63.
To: Johnny
P.S. Are you okay?
He types away on his phone.
To: Alexa
Yeah why?
Another moment or two.

His phone chimes again.

To: Johnny
Um, this morning? You, the bush...
Johnny opens up his phone and dials.
Hello?

ALEXA (O.S.)

JOHNNY
Are you sure there's no way you
could pick me up? I really gotta
get out of here.
EXT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - DAY
Johnny sits in the driveway of his house huddled up in his
puffy coat, smoking.
After a few moments, Ben's Honda pull up the circular
driveway.
Ben pulls up directly in front of Johnny, rolling down his
window.
JOHNNY
Why'd it take you so long?
BEN
I had to get gas. Have you been
waiting outside the whole time?
JOHNNY
Yeah.
(Johnny gets up and tries
the door.)
Unlock.
Ben fumbles with the door lock.
over and gives Ben a quick hug.

Johnny gets in and leans

64.
Ben is startled by this gesture and remains still.
uncomfortable--did he fuck up?
We goin?

Johnny is

JOHNNY (CONT'D)

BEN
(Flushed)
Yeah sure.
The window rolls up as the Honda pulls away, leaving Johnny's
driveway glowing red, and then black.
INT. BEN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
The back door opens and Ben leads Johnny into the kitchen of
his house.
Ben?

RUTH (O.S.)

Ben rolls his eyes and sighs.

BEN
No Mom, it's Dick Cheney. He's here
to question your patriotism.
Johnny grins.

Is this what home is supposed to look like?

Johnny surveys the cluttered comfortable home, as Ruth

enters.
RUTH
Ben, will you please...
(Taking in Johnny)
Oh, hello.
JOHNNY
Hey, what's goin on?
BEN
Uh Mom, this is Johnny.
Ruth looks at her guest.
RUTH
Johnny Drake?
Yup.

BEN

Johnny nods, not sure what this woman means.

65.
RUTH
Oh, um, well very nice to meet you
Johnny,
(She extends her hand)
I'm Ruth Berger.
Johnny shakes it, awkwardly.
JOHNNY
Yeah, you too Mrs. Berger.
RUTH
Oh no, it's just Ruth. We're casual
around here. So...
She looks at Johnny and Ben, they make a strange couple.
RUTH (CONT'D)
What are you kids up to?
JOHNNY
Just hanging out...
RUTH
Oh, right, okay, well, help
yourself to snacks and, um...
Ruth is totally unprepared for hosting a playdate.
BEN
Right thanks Mom, we're going
upstairs so...c'mon.
Ben passes by his mother, giving her a sheepish look.
smiles at her genuinely.

Johnny

JOHNNY
Hey really nice to meet you.
RUTH
Yes, you too. Dad and I are going
to watch the new Ken Burns
documentary on the downstairs TV,
if you kids wanna join.
Ruth watches the boys leave.
her again.

Johnny turns back and smiles at

INT. BEN'S HOUSE - STAIRCASE - DAY

Ben takes the stairs a few at a time.

66.
Johnny follows, going one at a time, examining the pictures
on the wall of Ben as a baby, his parents, etc.
BEN
Sorry about that.
JOHNNY
No, she seems really cool.
Ben turns back to look at Johnny strangely. Johnny is
captivated by a picture of a young Ben snuggling on the grass
with Ruth and Alan. Ben and Alexa as babies drooling on a
sofa with their mothers.
BEN
Okay you can stop looking at my
baby pictures.
Sorry.

JOHNNY

BEN
All baby pictures look the same.
Johnny takes his time with the pictures, and follows Ben.
INT. BEN'S HOUSE - BENS BEDROOM - DAY
A put-together Alexa lounges on Bens bed provocatively with
a magazine as Ben and Johnny enter.
Heeeyy!

ALEXA

Alexa gets up and slinks over to Johnny, embracing him and

kissing him on the lips.
Johnny feels really good.
Hi.

JOHNNY

ALEXA
Thanks for picking him up Ben.
(To Johnny)
Wanna see my room? Im staying down
the hall.
Ben shoots Alexa daggers, as she turns on her heel to go.
Hey.

JOHNNY

67.
Alexa turns.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
You guys wanna ***make cookies***?
BEN
With my parents??
Yeah.

JOHNNY

Ben and Alexa look at each other.

INT. BENS HOUSE - DINING ROOM
***Johnny makes cookies with Ruth.
participate.***

Ben and Alexa mildly

CUT TO:

INT. BEN'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

A gravelly documentary voice-over blares out from the old TV
screen.
On the huge worn cream sofa sit Alexa, Ben, and Ruth.
munches her organic popcorn.

Ruth

Alan sits in his La-Z-Boy-esque chair to the side.

Johnny sits on the floor, leaning back against the sofa
between Ben and Alexa.
Neither Ben or Alexa knows what to make of this.
Johnny is in pure bliss.
RUTH
Anybody want some organic popcorn?
JOHNNY
Yeah awesome.
Ruth smiles warmly and passes Johnny the bowl. Alexa grabs a
handful and begins munching. After a moment, she throws a
piece at Ben which hits him in the head.
Ben smiles.

Johnny is amused.

Ben slyly reaches into the bowl, grabs a small handful and
throws it at Alexa. She shrieks.

68.
RUTH

Ben...

Ben immediately throws a piece at Ruth, where it dangles in

her hair. Ruth shakes her head, trying not to smile, as she
smacks Ben lightly in the head.
RUTH
Watch out for these two Johnny,
theyre dangerous.
Johnny laughs. Alexa rests her head on his shoulder.
reaches around Johnny to pat Alexa on the head.

Ben

Johnny feels more at peace than he has in recent memory.

INT. BEN'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Ever-brightening light seeps into the room through faded
gauzy curtains.
Johnny lies unmoved on the floor, a large wet spot present on
the pillow.
In a beat, his eyes open. He is awake, alert, but wellrested and calm. He blinks a few times, taking in his
surroundings, before sitting up and yawning.
He is surprised not to feel horribly after sleeping.
what a calm, ordinary morning must feel like.

This is

Johnny pulls his cell phone out of his jeans pocket.

It reads "7:36."

Johnny's eyes widen.

Oh shit.

JOHNNY

Johnny scrambles for his shoes, grabs his sweatshirt, and

bolts out of the room.
INT. BENS HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Ruth stands at the sink rinsing off strawberries in a
colander.
Johnny's footsteps sound in the hallway.
Ben?

RUTH

Johnny enters the kitchen cautiously.

69.

Uh, no.

JOHNNY

Ruth turns.
RUTH
Oh! Good morning.
Morning.

JOHNNY

Awkward silence.
RUTH
How did you sleep?

JOHNNY
I'm sorry for staying...

RUTH
It's not a problem. Would you like
something to eat?
JOHNNY
I actually...I kind of have a
doctor's appointment this morning.
RUTH
Oh. Okay. Well at least have a
bagel. I'll make it really quick
and you can take it with you.
Ruth turns to toast a bagel.
JOHNNY
Okay...um...is Ben coming down
soon?
RUTH
It's still pretty early. He usually
doesn't leave for school for
another 20 minutes.
JOHNNY
Hmm. Is the train station near
here?
RUTH
Oh, you don't have a car with you.
Johnny shakes his head.
RUTH
Well I'll drive you then.
JOHNNY
Oh no, you don't have to do that.

70.
RUTH
Johnny it's not a problem. I'm a
mother. We're prepared for these
things. I'll finish the bagel, and
then I'll swing you over. Where's
the office?
JOHNNY
In Haverford, off Montgomery.
RUTH
Not a problem. We'll leave in one
minute.
Ruth expertly spreads cream cheese on the toasted bagel.
Johnny watches with wonder. Ruth finishes, wraps it in a
paper napkin, pours orange juice into a plastic cup, and
hands them both to Johnny.
Ready?

RUTH (CONT'D)

Johnny shyly takes the food.

INT. RUTH'S CAR - DAY
Johnny sits in the passenger seat of Ruth's old-model Saab,
silently gnawing on his bagel.
Ruth watches Johnny out of the corner of her eye, waiting for
the moment to make conversation.
RUTH
So Johnny where do you live?
Gladwyne.

JOHNNY

RUTH
Has your family lived there long?
JOHNNY
It's just my Dad. And my stepmom.
RUTH
Oh I see. And your Mom?
Johnny turns and looks out the window.
JOHNNY
What about her?

71.
RUTH
Did..did she pass?
JOHNNY
No. She's alive. I just don't see
her anymore.
RUTH
(Taken aback)
Oh. I'm sorry. When did they
divorce?
JOHNNY
I was two.
(He points.)
It's right up there, on the left.
Ruth pulls over into the lot of the doctors office.
Ruth places a comforting hand on Johnny's shoulder. This
type of affection is a bit foreign to Johnny. He eyes Ruth-can he trust her?
RUTH
That's very difficult.
She smiles reassuringly, but not overbearingly, therapiststyle.
JOHNNY
My Mom is an alcoholic. My Dad left
her and took me. I haven't seen her
in a while.
Beat.
RUTH
(Softly)
You know, even mothers who are
sick, still love their children.
JOHNNY
I doubt that.
RUTH
I'm sure, in her own way, she loves
you.
Johnny turns to Ruth, straight on.
JOHNNY
Sophomore year I spent the weekend
at her apartment in the city. She
came home totally wasted.
(MORE)

72.
JOHNNY (cont'd)
I was asleep on her bed watching
TV. She mistook me for one of her
boyfriends and got on top of me,
naked. I had to fight her off of
me. When she realized who I was,
she ran out of the house in a
bathrobe crying. That was the last
time I saw her.
Ruth tears up.

Johnny looks out the car window.

JOHNNY
(He points.)
I better go in.
Ruth snaps out of it as Johnny gathers his stuff.
RUTH
Whos your doctor?
JOHNNY
Dr. Mohr. Youre a therapist arent
you?
Ruth nods.
RUTH
(Nodding)
Serena Mohr is very good.
JOHNNY
Yeah, my Dad says she's the best.
Hey thanks a lot for the ride.
RUTH
Oh of course. Please.
Johnny spontaneously reaches across the seat and embraces
Ruth. Caught off guard, Ruth quickly hugs him back warmly,
giving him a peck on the head.
Johnny responds with another shy smile.
Well bye.
Ruth nods at him.

JOHNNY

Johnny gets out of the car.

INT. DR. MOHR'S OFFICE - DAY

Johnny is seated in a cushy club chair across from DR. SERENA
MOHR, attractive, 40s, Jewish, unrelenting.

73.
Dr. Mohr maintains eye contact with him. Johnny, silent,
attempts to avoid the effect of her gaze.
JOHNNY
So I think I made a new friend.
Dr. Mohr begins scribbling on her pad.
DR. MOHR
Uh huh. Tell me about him? Her?
JOHNNY
Him. His name's Ben. He's kind of a
loser at school. He gave me a ride
home. We made out in the pool.
Dr. Mohr looks up.
DR. MOHR
Hmm. Can you say more about it?
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
I'm not gay or anything, I don't
think. He was just looking at me in
this way...So I kissed him back.
DR. MOHR
And then what happened?
JOHNNY
Nothing. Thats it.
(Johnny looks away.)
Other than the fact that Alexa was
a bitch a couple days ago. She blew
me off. She just said she couldn't
deal with me, and needed to be
alone.
DR. MOHR
Hmm. That doesnt sound like shes
written you off. Maybe be a little
patient. Sometimes everybody feels
like being alone, right?
Silence for a moment.
JOHNNY
I feel like I'm alone all fucking
day long, at school, at home, in
here, so it's kinda nice not being
alone, you know?

74.
DR. MOHR
(Quietly.)
I do.
JOHNNY
Anyway they're best friends. Alexa.
And Ben. It's cool. How they are
with each other.
Dr. Mohr takes this in.
JOHNNY
Do you think he'll tell her? I
probably shouldn't have kissed him.
DR. MOHR
Why do you say that?
JOHNNY
I don't know. It just felt really
good...to be looked at, like that.
DR. MOHR
Can you say more about that?
Johnny looks up as he thinks.
JOHNNY
It was intense, like not just
looking, but like seeing something,
ya know?
(Trying to laugh it off.)
And then he told me I was amazing.
DR. MOHR
Mmmhmm, well it feels good to hear
somebody say that. What do you
think he meant, that he thought you
were amazing?
Johnny looks directly at her.
JOHNNY
It's probably all bullshit, right?
They don't give a shit about me,
blah blah blah, is that what you're
saying?
DR. MOHR
Not at all. Im asking you Johnny,
what do you think?
Johnny fidgets.

75.
JOHNNY
(He looks right at her.)
I slept really well last night for
the first time in a while. At Ben's
house.
Dr. Mohr scribbles some notes on her pad.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
The three of us hung out. Me, Ben,
Alexa. We watched TV. With his
parents. It was cool.
Johnny unconsciously smiles as he talks about it.
DR. MOHR
And you've been sexual with both of
them?
Yeah, so?

JOHNNY

DR. MOHR
You called them your friends. Is
that how they see you, as a friend?
Or do you think maybe they want
something more from you?
JOHNNY
Look nothing happened. I fell
asleep, they left me alone, and I
actually feel good. God, why are
you trying to make it all fucked
up?
DR. MOHR
I'm not trying to make it all
fucked up. I'm just pointing out
that the dynamic is complicated. We
all have our own desires, our own
agendas. It can be confusing,
trying to figure out if were on
the same page as others, especially
people we care about.
JOHNNY
I finally am feeling kinda good,
and you wanna turn it into shit?
DR. MOHR
I'm just saying it might be worth
it to look at the whole picture.

76.
JOHNNY
So I'm not worth just being
somebody's friend? I'm a piece of
shit and they're just using me.
There is pain in Dr. Mohr's eyes at Johnny's words.
DR. MOHR
I think you know I dont believe
that.
JOHNNY
This is bullshit. Aren't you always
saying I don't let anybody in? You
should be cheering. Your mindfuck
is finally paying off.
She shifts, thinking of how to phrase it.
DR. MOHR
Johnny. Im not claiming to know
how people feel about you, Ben,
Alexa, whomever. Thats not
important to me. All Im interested
in is you--what you feel, what you
think, how you respond. Thats all.
JOHNNY
Were finished.
Dr. Mohr glances at the clock.
DR. MOHR
No we have a few more minutes.
Johnny just looks at her.
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAY
Johnny walks along the side of the busy suburban road as cars
whiz past him on either side. Doctors offices, churches and
temples, and parks mix with family homes on this stretch of
Montgomery.
The wind cuts through Johnny's puffy coat as he trudges
along, lost in thought, mulling over his session.
A passing Ford Explorer slows down as it nears Johnny, its
window lowering.
Yo J.

JOSH (O.S.)

77.
Johnny turns, startled to see Josh Baldwin, his classmate.
JOSH (CONT'D)
It's freezing dude, get in.
Johnny begins to get into the car.
JOSH
Why were you walkin?
No car.

JOHNNY

JOSH
You walk all the way from your
house?
JOHNNY
No dude, I was at the doctor's.
JOSH
Oh cool. You sick or somethin?
Johnny thinks about this.
JOHNNY
Kind of, yeah.
JOSH
Dude that sucks.
Johnny slams the door shut, and Josh pulls off.
EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - DAY
Josh pulls into a parking space in the rear of the parking
lot. He and Johnny alight from the car, Josh pulling his bag
out of the backseat. He notices Johnny is empty-handed.
JOSH
Where's your bag?
JOHNNY
I didn't stay at home last night.
They start to walk towards the front of school.
JOSH
Yo so I hear you're fucking Alexa
Walker. You're the first to hit
that right?

78.
JOHNNY
Don't be an asshole, man.
JOSH
What's the big deal? We talk about
this shit all the time.
JOHNNY
Yeah when we were freshmen maybe.
JOSH
So did you stay at Alexa's last
night or what?
Johnny is silent.

He decides to tell the truth.

JOHNNY
No I stayed at Ben's.
JOSH
Ben Berger??

Yup.

JOHNNY
(Non-reactive)

JOSH
You're kidding, right?
Nope.

JOHNNY

JOSH
Dude--he's a total faggot.
JOHNNY
Don't fucking use that word. It's
offensive.
The boys are close to the front of school. A group of kids,
including Gabby and Ben (sitting alone) await the start of
school. Gabby waves to Josh.
JOSH
(Waving back and glancing
at Ben)
Okay sorry. Whatever, Ben Berger is
a complete loser.
JOHNNY
Ever think maybe you're the loser?
Josh stops.

So does Johnny.

79.

What?

JOSH

JOHNNY
I mean c'mon man, its senior year,
who the fuck are you? You've been
on JV Soccer for 4 years, you're a
freakin average student at best,
you lost your virginity to the
class slut...
JOSH
Nah man Gabby's cool now...
JOHNNY
You're nothing. You're nobody man.
You're gonna go to some huge
school, join a frat, and blend in
with the rest of the useless
motherfuckers.
JOSH
(Trying to laugh it off)
Fuck you, we're the same bro, we
used to be tight...
JOHNNY
Yeah well I don't wanna be like
that. And we were never really
friends man come on, when did we
ever talk about anything real?
JOSH
You're a fag too, aren't you!?
Johnny grabs Josh by the throat, pushing him against a parked
car.
From the stone benches, Gabby stands up.
on curiously.

The other kids look

JOHNNY
If I ever hear you use that word
again, I'll tell Gabby about the
time you dared me to rub my hard-on
against yours in 8th grade.
JOSH
(In pain)
You went with my family on
Christmas vacation two years in a
row. Maybe you didn't think so, but
you were my best friend.

80.
JOHNNY
Yeah well, thanks for the ride.
Johnny walks off. A tearful Josh has a delayed reaction.
JOSH
(Shrieking)
Oh yeah? Well fuck you too, you
ASSHOOOLE!
Johnny heads towards the main school building.
Gabby, who heads over to Josh's parked car.

He passes

GABBY
What was that?
Johnny ignores her and keeps on walking past.
A group of kids, underclassmen, watch him walk, wondering
what just happened, whispering to one another.
Ben looks at Johnny from his seat at the bench.
The world feels like it's creeping in on him. Johnny almost
bumps into the School Secretary, walking with ANOTHER
SECRETARY. He stumbles.
SECRETARY
You need to watch where you're
goin'!
Johnny mumbles and walks away, even faster.
SECRETARY (CONT'D)
You hear me?
She shakes her head, gossiping with her friend about the
fucking brats.
Johnny breaks into a run.
INT. JOHNNYS HOUSE - JOHNNY'S BEDROOM - LATER
Johnny lies curled up on his bed.
twitching.

His eyes wide open, leg

His cell phone chimes.

Johnny jumps for the phone, opening the text message he's
just received.
To: Johnny

81.
From: Courtney
Hey Stud, Luau @ 10. My place. A & B will b there. C.
CUT TO:
EXT. COURTNEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Johnny stands at the front door of Courtney's house
shivering.
He presses the doorbell, which chimes loudly with an oldfashioned ding-dong from within.
A shriek, a giggle, and the sound of approaching footsteps.
The door swings open to reveal Courtney dressed in a red
kimono robe.
Hey.
Entrez.

JOHNNY
COURTNEY

Courtney extends her arm with a flair, ushering Johnny

inside.
INT. COURTNEY'S HOUSE - FOYER - CONTINUOUS
Johnny follows Courtney inside.
JOHNNY
Where are your parents?
COURTNEY
Like they'd really stay in on a
Friday night. They're at some
benefit thing out of town.
Johnny takes in his surroundings.
Courtney's house, though smaller than his or Alexa's, is
ornately furnished. Everything seems to be gold or bronze or
beige. Paintings clutter the walls, exotic tsotchkes line
the tops of tables, shelves.
Courtney walks on her heels somewhat wobbly, foam cushions
between her toes keep her freshly-painted toenails from
smearing.
Lex?

COURTNEY (CONT'D)

82.

Yeah?

ALEXA (O.S.)

COURTNEY
Company! I'm still working on Ben.
(Gesturing to her right)
Go that way.
Courtney toddles up a flight of stairs. Unsure, Johnny heads
to his right down a dimly-lit hallway into a large living
room.
The room is dark, but the small fire from what appears to be
dozens of candles casts an amber, shadowy glow over the showy
room.
Dark red rose petals are scattered across a coffee table
along with a large bowl of strawberries.
Alexa sits on a beige velvet sofa in a long black skirt and
pink tank top, her legs tucked beneath her, her arms
stretched luxuriously out along the top of the sofa.
Her eyes are smoky, her posture relaxed and confident.
ALEXA
Good evening.
Johnny squints his eyes and smiles at her hesitantly.
JOHNNY
What's all this?
ALEXA
What's the matter, don't you like
it?
Johnny is not sure how to answer this question.
A hand grabs his waist from behind.
catch Ben already slinking past.

Johnny turns his head to

Ben, in a wifebeater tee, his normally messy hair all bedheaded out with tons of product, and dark eyeliner rimming
his eyes, raises his eyebrows at Johnny.
Alexa lets out a guffaw from her throat.
Ben?

JOHNNY

ALEXA
What, did you get a Zac Efron
makeover?

83.
BEN
If Courtney can make you sexy, she
can make anyone sexy.
Alexa snarls at Ben.

Ben hisses back at her like a cat.

Johnny sits on the sofa.

almost immediately.

His leg begins bouncing up and down

ALEXA
You'll have to forgive us Johnny,
we started without you.
JOHNNY
(Softly)
It's okay.
BEN
(gazing at Johnny)
It's so cute when you're all shy.
Alexa throws her head back in laughter.
On cue, Courtney enters in a strapless tropical-print dress
that ties around her neck, her hair piled on top of her head,
with one lone braid hanging down by her face, and a plastic
Hawaiian lei around her neck.
She carries a large tray with four huge glasses, overflowing
with pink liquid, fruit, and drink umbrellas.
COURTNEY
Welcome to my luau.
Courtney serves her friends one at a time.
Alexa.

COURTNEY (CONT'D)

Alexa takes her drink, bowing her head to Courtney.

Benjamin.

COURTNEY (CONT'D)

Ben takes his drink. Courtney tousles his hair. Ben looks
up at her with his tongue out, panting like a dog. Alexa
laughs.
COURTNEY (CONT'D)
And last, our celebrated guest, the
object of mutual desire, Monsieur
Jonathan.
Courtney curtsies before Johnny, lowering the tray.

84.
Johnny looks to Ben and Alexa for an explanation. They both
eye him provocatively, in their own way, sipping their
drinks.
Courtney places the tray down on the rose-petaled table,
taking the last drink for herself. Johnny, desperate to feel
a part of the vibe, raises his drink.
JOHNNY
Well...cheers. Here's to good
friends.
Courtney erupts in laughter. Ben chuckles. Alexa, composed,
raises her glass, clinking it against Johnny's.
ALEXA
To good friends.
Ben, quickly clinks against Johnny too.
Cheers.

BEN

Ben and Alexa glance at each other, pausing a moment, before

clinking a little too hard. The dare is on.
INT. COURTNEY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Music continues to play loudly, now rock, the Rolling Stones
perhaps or David Bowie.
A hand pours a liquor bottle into a pitcher of pink liquid
and chopped-up fruit, the clear rum gurgling out like a
fountain.
Courtney spins around, pitcher in hand and trips her way back
to the sofa as we follow behind her.
A slightly loosened-up Johnny slow dances with Alexa even as
the music rocks out. Alexa leans her head against his chest,
and Johnny rubs her bare arm with his hand.
Ben watches, eyes wide, crunching his ice cubes.
Courtney lets out a whoop and refills her own glass first.
COURTNEY
(Sing-song)
My Mai-Tais roooock.
Almost dropping the pitcher, Courtney manages to place it
down on top of a pile of now-wet rose petals.

85.
BEN
Take it easy there Court.
COURTNEY
Oh shut up Light Boy.
BEN
Blow me bitch.
COURTNEY
Isn't that your specialty?
Ben gives her a dirty look. Overhearing, Johnny looks up and
over at Ben.
Alexa pulls herself away from Johnny and refills her own
glass. Ben rises and hops over to Johnny.
BEN
Can I cut in?
JOHNNY
Are you serious?
BEN
What's the matter? I thought you
were sensitive...
Ben takes Alexa's place against Johnny's chest, wrapping
himself around Johnny. Ben loves this feeling in a real way.
Johnny, liking that the edge is temporarily gone in their
interaction, holds Ben comfortingly.
Courtney flops back against some pillows.
COURTNEY
Let's all go swimming. Naked.
ALEXA
No swimming. No swimming pools. And
definitely no champagne.
Johnny tenses up. In bliss, Ben ignores this comment and
crushes into Johnny even tighter.
Courtney sits up quickly. Her make-up is smeared, her face
flushed. She turns her head and looks outside.
COURTNEY
Heeeyyyy! It's snoooowing!
They all look out the window.
from the dark blue sky.

Sure enough, flurries fly down

86.
COURTNEY (CONT'D)
Dance with me in the snooow Lex! I
neeeed to dance in the snow!
ALEXA
It's freezing out Courtney. Come
on, I'll dance with you here.
COURTNEY
Noooooo! In the snoooow! This is
myyy party.
Courtney struggles up and opens a sliding glass door, walking
barefoot outside into the snowy garden.
Courtney begins to twirl in the snow.
Wheeee!

COURTNEY (CONT'D)

Alexa gets up and goes after her.

Oh jeez.

ALEXA

She stops for a second and turns to Ben, still dancing with
Johnny.
ALEXA
Ben, come with me.
Alexa looks at Ben hard. He pulls himself off of Johnny and
slowly walks towards her.
JOHNNY
Hey, is she okay?
Who?
Courtney.

BEN
JOHNNY

BEN
Whatever, she'll be fine.
Ben slaps Johnny's ass and trips towards the doors outside to
Alexa and Courtney.
JOHNNY
Why are you acting all weird?

87.
BEN
(Calling behind him)
What are you talking about?
Ben arrives outside in the snow and lets out a whoop of his
own. Courtney, startled out of her slow dance, seizes Ben's
hand, then Alexa's. The three begin dancing sexily as the
music changes to something darker. Their twisting bodies
spread out in a line as they beckon to Johnny.
Johnny stands in the middle of the living room and watches
them, unsettled, as they're framed by the doorway.
Double double, toil and trouble, the three dark figures dance
together in the snow, each one's eyes smoky.
Courtney suddenly collapses in the snow. Ben laughs
delightedly. Johnny sits down on the sofa, alone once again.
The three return from outside into the living room, where
Courtney immediately falls down on some pillows on the floor.
ALEXA
Oh shit, Courtney?
COURTNEY
What? I'm tootally fine. I just
gotta rest here for a second.
Courtney is down for the count.

Johnny looks up at Alexa.

JOHNNY
(Quietly)
Can we stop now?
Stop what?

ALEXA

JOHNNY
Whatever this is. The games.
ALEXA
Yeah sure. What do you wanna do?
JOHNNY
I dunno, be quiet?
ALEXA
Okay.
(Moving closer)
Wanna go up to Courtney's room.
Yeah sure.

JOHNNY

88.
Ben stealthily moves forward, re-entering himself into the
fray.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
(To Ben)
Wanna go upstairs and chill?
Yes.

BEN

Alexa stares at Ben defiantly before leading the way up.

INT. COURTNEY'S HOUSE - COURTNEYS BEDROOM - NIGHT
Candles burn in Courtney's bedroom. Magazine photo collages,
bangles, and cool charm-like objects abound.
Alexa enters the room first smiling. Laughter from the
hallway as Johnny and Ben follow behind.
Alexa gazes at Johnny. He smiles softly at her. She looks
beautiful in the dim light, much better this way than before.
ALEXA
I'm so tired, I totally need to lie
down.
She moves to the bed and lies down, lounging.
Johnny lies down next to her and snuggles against her.
Ben watches jealously as Alexa begins to rub Johnny's back
strongly.
Ben jumps on to the bed.
BEN
Hey my hands are stronger. I give
better massages.
ALEXA
Ben, why are you talking so loud.
Just relax.
BEN
Don't talk to me like I'm five,
Alexa.
The discord pierces into Johnny. He's had enough. He
uncurls from his fetal-like position against Alexa.

89.
JOHNNY
Stop! Please! Just stop. I don't
know what's going on with you guys,
but can't we just chill, like last
night? Please?
Alexa and Ben look at each other.
BEN
With my parents?
Alexa giggles.
Alexa tickles Johnny's arm as Ben lies back, his hands behind
his head.
Johnny turns over towards Alexa and looks at her, brushing
her hair off her face. He leans in to kiss her. Ben watches
for a moment, then leans back, staring at the ceiling.
In a flash, Courtney falls into the room.
COURTNEY
You motherfuckers! What am I, a
fucking leper?
Johnny and Alexa sit up.
ALEXA
Courtney, whoa, it's okay.
COURTNEY
Don't you fucking tell me it's okay
you uptight bitch. I made you. I
made you both. I mean, look at the
before pictures--they werent
pretty. And you thank me by using
my house, my clothes, my BED to try
and get yourselves laid!
ALEXA
Courtney, come on, you're really
drunk, let's go downstairs.
Alexa moves towards Courtney, taking her arm.
away from her.
COURTNEY
Get the fuck off me. You know I
never told you this, because Im a
nice motherfucker, but I fucked him
first, before either of you.
Ben and Alexa look at her, then Johnny.

Courtney rips

90.
ALEXA
You never told me that.
JOHNNY
It was tenth grade.
COURTNEY
I would say fuck you, but I already
did that Johnny, and it sucked,
just so you know. I felt nothing.
But clearly no one here is thinking
about how I feel so...I'm going
downstairs. I don't wanna see you
again tonight.
ALEXA
Hey Court. Let me help you...
Courtney rages, throwing her arms out wildly.
COURTNEY
That'll be the daaay. When you help
me with anything. Loser.
Courtney falls out of the room.
Shit.

ALEXA

JOHNNY
Maybe you should go after her.
BEN
No, she'll be fine. You heard what
she said.
ALEXA
It's probably better to just let
her sleep it off. She'll forget
about it in the morning.
Alexa climbs over Ben and back on to the bed.
Johnny turns and spoons Alexa. Leaning over him, Ben turns
Johnny's face towards him. Johnny looks into Ben's smudgy
eyes. Ben leans down and tries to kiss him. Johnny stops
him.
JOHNNY
Hey...hold up on that.
BEN
Shhh...S'okay.

91.
Ben leans down and begins kissing Johnny. Johnny, defeated,
lets him. Ben kisses him aggressively, passionately. Johnny
turns away after a moment and goes back to fully spooning
Alexa. Alexa's eyes are open.
Ben turns and spoons Johnny.

The three lie there.

Peace has been restored to Johnny's body and mind.

JOHNNY
Hey whatever happens, I'm really
glad you're my friends.
Ben and Alexa are silent.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
And I love you.
Ben takes Johnny's hand in his.
Johnny.

Alexa pushes Ben off of

ALEXA
Hey Ben. Can I talk to you?
Privately?
Johnny pulls off.
JOHNNY
Everything cool?
BEN
Yeah, give us a sec.
Alexa and Ben slide off the bed and go into Courtney's
bathroom, shutting the door behind them.
Johnny lies on the bed, stretched out, relaxing. He bends
up, looking around him. A photo collage on the wall
intrigues him. He gets up and walks over to it.
Old photos of Courtney and Alexa from middle school, in
Halloween costumes together, playing on the beach, prom
photos.
The sound of Ben and Alexa's voices rise from the bathroom.
Johnny moves towards the bathroom door cautiously, listening.
Slightly muffled, their words are still clear enough to be
understood.
BEN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
You don't even really care about
him.

92.
ALEXA (O.S.)
Oh and you do?
BEN (O.S.)
I don't know... Look, you could
have whatever dumb guy you want.
Why can't you let me have this?
ALEXA (O.S.)
He was my first too you know. And
I'm not done with him.
BEN (O.S.)
Oh yeah, like you really have a
future together.
ALEXA (O.S.)
Shh, keep your voice down.
The words reverberate through Johnny's skull.
even really care about him."

"You don't

Johnny falls back on to the bed. He buries his face in a

pillow. He's nothing. He's nobody. "The object of mutual
desire." "A dumb guy."
The bathroom door opens and Ben and Alexa re-enter the room.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Hey. You okay?
Johnny, rolling over.
Huh, yeah.

JOHNNY

Alexa gets on to the bed.

ALEXA
Awww, sorry for leaving you alone.
Alexa begins kissing him again. Johnny holds back, but Alexa
kisses with force, making him believe it. Johnny opens his
eyes looking into her eyes like a frightened animal. But
Alexa's eyes are closed. He holds on to her tight, willing
the moment of connection not to end, to be real.
Ben gets on to the bed behind Johnny. He's not giving up.
Ben rubs his body against Johnny's back, kissing and licking
his neck.
Johnny likes being between the two.
What about what they said?

Can he believe this?

93.
Still kissing Alexa, Johnny reaches around for Ben's hand.
Ben squeezes Johnny's hand, placing it on his own crotch.
Johnny starts to pull his hand away, but Ben holds it there,
rubbing it against his jeans. Johnny gives in, rubbing Ben's
pants while kissing Alexa.
Alexa takes Johnny's other hand with both of her own and
moves it down, placing it underneath her skirt. Johnny
obliges. Alexa moans. She begins kissing him again.
Ben pulls Johnny's shirt up over his stomach, kissing him.
Ben starts to slowly undo Johnny's belt buckle.
Alexa looks up and sees Ben unbuttoning Johnny's jeans.
Alexa stops kissing Johnny. He opens his eyes up, his face
screwed--he is either in ecstasy or agony.
Alexa's face lines with resentment.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
(Whispering)
I want you to fuck me.
Johnny looks at her passionately, nodding.
Alexa smiles at him.

She sits up, taking his hand.

ALEXA (CONT'D)
(Whispering)
Come on.
She pulls Johnny towards her, interrupting Ben's work. Ben,
disheartened, resorts to pleading, begging, almost crying.
BEN
Johnny I want you to be my first.
JOHNNY
(Softly)
Shhh, it's okay.
ALEXA
Ben, enough.
BEN
(grasping for straws)
I love you Johnny.
ALEXA
Stop it Ben. He's not gay. Just let
it go.

94.
BEN
You stop it Alexa. You've gotten
fucked enough. Leave him alone.
Move on.
ALEXA
You're being disgusting Ben, you
really are. You're acting like a
total faggot.
Standing, she pulls Johnny up roughly.
grabs Johnny's hand.

Ben, also rising,

BEN
Do you even like sex? The play's
over Alexa. You fucked him, the
scene worked. Congratulations. You
can be a great actress now.
JOHNNY
Stop it. Please. It's not like
that.
ALEXA
And you can be a great homo. You're
a child Ben, a baby. Go to college
and be an adolescent for the first
time. I'll be in the real world
when you get out.
JOHNNY
What are you talking about? Aren't
you going to UPenn?
Yes.

BEN

ALEXA
No I deferred. I'm going to New
York next year. I'm going to be an
actress.
BEN
You're going to be a waitress. Your
parents aren't going to give you
shit.
Ben pulls Johnny closer to him.
JOHNNY
New York? I'd totally be into that.
What?

ALEXA

95.
JOHNNY
No seriously. I could get a job or
something, and you could act...
BEN
(Taking Johnny's arm, and
rubbing his back.)
Johnny, just forget about her.
Johnny pulls away, taking Ben by the shoulders and shaking
him gently.
JOHNNY
Ben, you need to settle down,
just...please, okay?
Johnny steps away from Ben, putting physical space between
them. Ben feels it, and takes a few steps backwards. Johnny
moves to Alexa.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
I don't want to go to college
either.
Johnny.

ALEXA

JOHNNY
Let's do this.
(He takes Alexa's hands.)
Let's go to New York together.
Isn't Vassar in New York too? Ben
can come down on the weekends and
we can all be together.
ALEXA
What, one big happy family?
Johnny is silent.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
Oh Johnny no.
Ben watches.

Feeling the outsider all over again.

ALEXA (CONT'D)
Johnny is that what you think this
is?
JOHNNY
It can be. Why not? Start over. Do
it right.

96.
ALEXA
It's not gonna happen.
Why not?

JOHNNY

BEN
(Suddenly and quickly)
Are you deluded or just stupid? She
said she wanted to fuck you, not
marry you.
Ben's words are unexpectedly harsh.
Hey.

Johnny is stung.

JOHNNY

ALEXA
I'm not your girlfriend. Or your
best friend. Jesus, we barely even
really know each other.
JOHNNY
That's not true!
BEN
(gaining momentum)
Yeah it is. What, spending a few
days together suddenly makes us all
happy and in love? What about the
rest of high school, when you
didn't talk to me and treated me
like shit. How many times did you
laugh in my face and call me a
faggot?
Johnny's pulse quickens.
chest.
I never...

His breath becomes shallow in his

JOHNNY

Remembering, Alexa becomes emboldened.

ALEXA
You did. You didn't give a shit
about us. Or anyone. You thought
you were so damn cool.
No...

JOHNNY

BEN
You still don't know us Johnny.

97.
JOHNNY
Ben. Alexa. That's not true. This
is for real. It's not bullshit. We
do care about each other. You're my
friends. I trust you.
Johnny's leg shakes in overtime.
ALEXA
This is all bullshit. High school's
almost over. We're leaving the
shithole suburbs, leaving
Philadelphia, and we probably won't
see each other again for a long
time. So take a good look Johnny.
I'm the good girl whose virginity
you took. And he's the repressed
queer who sucked you off in a
swimming pool.
Johnny's eyes overflow with tears. The voices of Alexa and
Ben sound echo-ey, it is all too much, the feelings come
crashing down around him. Johnny starts gagging, dryheaving.
Johnny?

ALEXA (CONT'D)

BEN
Shit, Johnny, what's wrong?
Johnny stumbles off the bed and into the bathroom. He begins
gagging over the toilet. Alexa and Ben follow him.
BEN (CONT'D)
Are you sick?
JOHNNY
I...can't breathe.
Johnny vomits into the toilet.

Alexa and Ben grimace.

Johnny collapses on to the bathroom floor.

to him, the harshness melting.
BEN
Alexa, call 911.
No.

ALEXA

BEN
What? Get the fucking phone, he's
dying or something!

Ben rushes over

98.
ALEXA
(Quietly)
He's not dying.
What??

BEN

Alexa stands still in the doorway, as Ben crouches down next

to Johnny, about to pat him on the back.
Johnny sobs.
JOHNNY
I trusted you. I trusted you.
Ben rises, unable to act for a moment. Johnny starts to
choke from the tears, saliva running out of his mouth, his
eyes red and swollen, his body convulsing.
Ben and Alexa are astonished.
this to him? To him?

Johnny is broken.

Did they do

Ben covers his mouth and backs out of the bathroom doorway.
On impulse, Alexa pulls the door shut, leaving Johnny, on the
bathroom floor, alone.
BLACK
FADE IN:
INT. LACROIX RESTAURANT AT THE RITTENHOUSE HOTEL - DAY
It is spring time.
One of Philadelphias finest restaurants overlooking tony
Rittenhouse Square.
At a table by the window, Alexa and Ben sit next to each
other uncomfortably.
Alexas hair has returned to its natural brown color and is
pulled back in a loose ponytail. She is dressed
conservatively and wears little make-up. Beside her, Ben is
without his trademark hoodie, in nice pants and a buttondown, but still sporting Black Converse hightops.
A toast.

RUTH

Sitting across from them, Ruth, also dressed up, raises a

champagne glass and looks at them purposefully, rallying a
moment of togetherness. Next to her, Deirdre follows suit.

99.

Hear hear!

DEIRDRE

Alexa and Ben dutifully and somewhat sheepishly lift their

glasses.
RUTH
From nursery school to the
precipice of adulthood. You made it
kids! Alive and kicking. And even
though it may feel like its all
over, I promise you, this is only
the beginning...
DEIRDRE
And to tradition. May we continue
to do this end of school lunch for
at least 4 more years of college.
Cheers!
They clink. Ben and Alexa are the last ones left.
clink, with minimal eye contact.

They

Ruth and Deirdre look at the awkwardness between their

children curiously.
Ruth gives up trying to unite the kids, and gives her full
attention to Deirdre.
Ben and Alexa sip their drinks. Alexa turns to look out at
the green and flowering park outside.
BEN
How are you?
ALEXA
Okay I guess. You?
Alright.

BEN

Silence.
BEN (CONT'D)
Are you excited about Penn?
ALEXA
Yeah. Dad's happy so...
BEN
What are you doing this summer?

100.
ALEXA
I might take a few classes, get a
head start.
BEN
Bury yourself in a book?
ALEXA
(Looking at him)
Something like that. You?
BEN
I'm interning at the PBS station
downtown. Gonna help with tech
stuff...
ALEXA
Behind the scenes?
Ben smiles.
BEN
Something like that.
(Clearing his throat.)
Have you heard anything about...
ALEXA
(Finishing his sentence.)
Johnny? Not really.
(She looks away.)
Courtney said Josh was telling
people he was in some mental
hospital.
BEN
Are you serious?
ALEXA
Its probably bullshit.
BEN
Well he did graduate.
ALEXA
Yeah. In absentia.
Quiet.

Ben raises his water glass.

BEN
Well, to firsts.

He takes a sip and swirls ice cubes around his mouth.

101.

To firsts.

ALEXA

DEIRDRE
Oh damn, Alexa honey, will you go
through a few quarters in my meter?
I completely forgot.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA CITY STREET - DAY
Alexa stands at a parking meter on a small side street,
depositing quarters in front of Deirdres sedan.
She finishes and turns to walk when she notices a tall, very
thin boy sitting on stoop of a building, in front of a
propped open door. He is unshaven, wears a t-shirt and
smokes a cigarette as he sits alone, studying a paper in his
hand. It is Johnny. His strong handsome face is worn and
furrowed. Hardly the sun-god of school mornings.
Alexa stares at him for a few beats.
A horn sounds on the street. As it does Johnny turns. He
sees Alexa. Their eyes meet. Johnny looks tired, gazing at
Alexa with either ambivalence or exhaustion.
Johnny watches her blankly, making no move.
Johnny.
Hey.

Alexa moves to

ALEXA

Johnny nods in recognition, flicking his cigarette into the

street.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
How are you?
Johnny shrugs.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
I wasn't sure...I thought...
She pauses.

Breathes.

Finally speaks without guile.

ALEXA (CONT'D)
I don't know what to say.
Johnny smiles slightly.
JOHNNY
You off to New York?

102.
ALEXA
New Yor...? No.
Another nod and half-smile.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
What about you? Are you...?
JOHNNY
I should probly go back in.
Johnny gets up and turns to go inside.
ALEXA
(Stepping forward)
Johnny, I...
Johnny turns back.
ALEXA (CONT'D)
You look...okay. I guess that's all
I wanted to say.
He looks at her another beat.
From down the street a tall ACTOR, good-looking, mid-20s,
appears, carrying lunch and a script in his hand.
ACTOR
Yo Johnny boy, I think were back
in.
JOHNNY
(Turning)
Yeah cool. Hey I gotta go.
ALEXA
Yeah, see ya.
Johnny returns into the building, shutting the door behind
him. As she does, a sign becomes visible:
ADRIENNE THEATER, EDWARD II Rehearsal downstairs!!
Alexa squints at the hand-lettered sign.
The Actor, lingering outside in the fresh air eyes Alexa
curiously.
ACTOR
You in the ensemble?
ALEXA
What? Oh, um no.

103.
ACTOR
So who are you supposed to be?
EXT. RITTENHOUSE HOTEL - DAY
Ben and Alexa stand in front of the glass doors of the hotel.
Ruth waits in an idling car in the driveway, on her cell
phone.
BEN
Did your Mom park far?
ALEXA
No a couple blocks. You dont have
to wait.
Ben and Alexa stare directly into each others eyes,
connecting for a moment, vulnerable. They both ooze
discomfort. Looking at each other makes it worse.
Alexa...

BEN

Alexa takes a stand, becoming formal once again.

ALEXA
Hey if I don't see you...good luck
at school.
BEN
(Slowly)
Yeah you too.
ALEXA
See ya Ben.
See ya.

BEN

As Ben walks away to Ruths car, he continues to watch her.

We stay on her face, moody and troubled.
Alexa and Ben look at each other, a mixture of anxiety and
weariness passing over their eyes. The pair get into opposite
cars as the screen goes to.
BLACK
END CREDITS.