Lock-In: A Teen Dramedy (5)
Leah Do you really believe that? Rob (hesitating) I don’t care. Leah You don’t? Rob NO! I’m sick of the games, the “he said this” and all that other BS. How can something that’s between two people involve everybody? Leah This is what happens when you involve your friends…you started this remember? Rob (incredulously) I did this? Fine. If I started it, I don’t have to talk to Zoe, Maryruth, or you. Leah Me? Rob Yes Leah! Because when it comes down to it, you’re just like them, another female waiting for the next piece of gossip. So if it’s screw me then it’s screw you too. Leah turns to leave. Then turns back. Leah I want an apology. Now. Rob Why? So you’ll know we’ll still be friends? (Leah doesn’t respond) Well it seems to be the day where people don’t get what they want. So no I’m not apologizing, if you don’t wanna be my friend than screw it! I don’t care. She turns and leaves. INT. THEATRE (NIGHT) Leah comes through the double-doors to the theatre near tears. Ryan Leah! She stops briefly. Ryan Whatever he said, he didn’t mean it. Leah That doesn’t make it hurt any less. She walks down to where Amy and Mia are sitting, with a group of people. Ryan Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse… At this point he turns in his seat at the back of the theatre and spies Maryruth sitting in the section across from him. The he spies Janni coming over to her. Madonna’s “Don’t Tell Me” begins to play. Ryan Hello. What the hell is this? Janni sits down next to Maryruth. He doesn’t say anything. He just sits, watching Maryruth who has her head buried in her hands. Ryan Waitaminute you guys. I think the Janster is gonna put things right with Maryruth. Get ready for some smooth talking. The camera goes to Jan. Jan Hello Dog. The camera goes back to Ryan. Ryan Then again maybe not. Back to Jan and Maryruth. Maryruth (startled and confused) What?! Jan (deadpan) So many people have called you a bitch tonight, I figured I might as well join in. Maryruth (getting angry) Did you think I enjoyed being called a bitch to my face?! Jan (still deadpan) You misunderstand. I was joking. Maryruth Oh. To prove it to her he flashes her a goofy grin. She laughs. Jan Rough night? Maryruth You’re very perceptive. Jan I try. Maryruth So are you looking to finish the job your friend started? Jan Actually I came to figure out how someone as beautiful and intelligent as you could be the type of person you are? Maryruth seems to be at a loss for words. She stammers. Maryruth I—I don’t understand. Jan Why are you such a bitch to everyone Maryruth? Maryruth (tears coming back) I don’t know. I just…leave me alone. Jan Is it so hard to be honest? Maryruth (after a pause) I just don’t like to seem vulnerable to people. It shows them that they can hurt me. So I figure if I seem strong and people are afraid of me, no one will hurt me. Jan Why’s that? Maryruth I used to watch my sister. She was the same way, and she was really popular. Most people would leave me alone cause I was her sister. When she graduated, I just picked up where she left off. Jan But still, don’t you know that you hurt a lot of people? Maryruth Yeah. I just… I just want to survive high school. Jan I know the feeling. I’ve only been here since last year. Sometimes it gets discouraging, especially when you’re known as “That German kid who doesn’t talk.” Maryruth Well you really don’t talk. Jan (giving her a weird look) That’s because most of the time I don’t have anything to say to people. That’s the way I was brought up. If you don’t have anything to say you don’t have to jabber on like an idiot about nothing. Besides, you just had an encounter with Rob. Did he give you a chance to speak? Maryruth (smiling) No. Jan So now you know my pain. (she laughs) Maryruth You really think I’m beautiful? Jan Of course. I say things I mean, and I don’t say mean things. (she laughs again) Maryruth (playfully) Oh really? The camera goes back to Ryan. Ryan Wow. Who would’ve thought? Janni seems to be setting things right with Maryruth, smooth bastard, but I’ll check back on that later. Right now I’d like to focus on another pair of people at the front of the theatre. The camera goes in for a close-up of Mia and Mike talking and then is right above them on the stage. Mike I’m serious, you were really good. Mia (smiling) Thanks Mike. I was trying to stay in character but I was just so mad at Maryruth. Mike Yeah I could see that, but you pulled it off flawlessly. Mia (laughing) Thanks, but do you think I was too mean to her? Mike No. She had it coming. Mia Yeah but what do you think happened between her and Rob? Mike I dunno and I don’t wanna know. But enough about that, where do you see yourself going with this theatre thing? Mia Well I know it sounds cliché but I want to be an actress. What about you? Mike I just want to get my fine arts credit. Mia (disappointed) Oh. Mike (trying to cover) But that’s just because I’m not a good actor. Mia Have you ever thought about directing? Mike No. Mia You should. Didn’t you block that scene with you Eddie and Josh? Mike (sheepishly) Most of it. Mia See that was good. Movie acting is like blocking for theatre on camera. Mike Never thought of it that way. Mia (playfully) Maybe you should. (They chuckle) Eddie pops in from the exit on the right side near where they are standing. Eddie Mike! We’re gonna go (makes gesture of smoking). You comin’? Mike Yeah. He grabs Mia’s hand and lingers for a few seconds and silently mouths the word “Bye,” she does the same. Then he leaves out with Eddie, who shoots her a look that lets her know how Mike feels about her before letting the door shut. Mia looks happy, then sad. INT. THEATRE—MUSICAL SEQUENCE (NIGHT) Time warps again as the camera goes to the hall clock that reads 10:30. “Don’t Tell Me” is begins to play again. The clock warps to 12:30, as the scene progresses. There are shots of people playing acting games as well as board games. People are sitting in-groups talking, most importantly, Mia, who is surrounded by a group of people. Unlike Rob and Zoe, who sit by themselves. Rob in the back, by himself. Zoe is in the middle, both look depressed. Sarah and Brenna look lost sitting up front, just the two of them, casting looks back at Zoe and Maryruth who is in the back still talking to Janni. These two are happy, laughing and talking. Amy and Leah are talking by Mia, and cast looks back at Rob. Mike, Josh, and Eddie are over in the corner joking and laughing, but Mike and Mia exchange almost secret glances at each other. Close ups of Rob and Zoe as the beat fades out of the song when Maddonna says “Tell me Love isn’t true…” As the song fades out, there are more shots of all people in the theatre. People watching The Breakfast Club, and listening to music and semi-dancing; having fun. The Liefert comes back from where he exited earlier. Liefert Okay folks. I think its time to wrap things up for the night. (an audible groan from the audience) Oh c’mon folks. Listen, you can turn down the music and dim the lights and you guys can watch a movie. No funny business though. There will be none of that. (Eddie and Mike start to play around pretending to be making out) Mike Oh Eddie! Liefert Yeah right. I still have some work to finish, so I’ll be in to check in you all periodically. INT. THEATRE—MUSICAL SEQUENCE (NIGHT) As he leaves, he dims the lights, and someone pauses the movie as everyone gets ready for bed. The sound fades out, and “Scarborough Fair” by Simon and Garfunkel fades in. The new cliques remain as they are. Rob and Zoe sleep alone. A shot of the clock reveals the time, sometime in the morning. There is progression showing everyone finally going to sleep. A split screen shows Zoe and Rob lying awake. Maryruth and Jan sleep next to each other. As the song quiets down you get a shot of mostly everyone down for the count. Eddie and Mike are in a haze of smoke behind the stage curtain. Each begins to hallucinate. Eddie sees Stills, Curran, Lokey, Mike and Josh in Viagra shirts playing “ring around the rosy” (in slow motion) with him in the middle, a crazed expression on his face. Mike sees Mia prancing around on the stage with pixie wings in slow motion. Mia smiles in her sleep. Liefert is sleeping in a chair in his office; a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniel’s on the desk. There are shots of the clock as the night progresses. Janni talks in his sleep, it wakes Maryruth up. She wakes and finds Zoe heading to the lobby. She then watches Rob, watching Zoe, and Leah watching Rob. Zoe goes into the lobby. Rob makes eye contact with Leah and she nods in the direction that Zoe went. Rob smiles at her, and moves toward the lobby himself. Leah sighs, then looks at Maryruth, they look at each other, exchange worried glances, then get up themselves and go to the double doors to watch. They find Ryan already there. INT. THEATRE LOBBY (EARLY MORNING) Zoe is sitting on the same bench used earlier. Rob sits next to her. “Scarborough Fair” fades. A shot of the clock reads 6:30, the sun is coming up. Rob (looking tiredly at her) Hey. Zoe (running her hands through her hair just as tiredly) Hey. A long pause. Rob You said we should talk. Zoe Yeah. Another pause. Rob You want me to go first? Zoe I guess so… Rob (standing up) What the hell are we doing Zoe? Why are you doing this to me? Zoe (standing up as well) What the hell do you want from me? Rob I want you to tell me, once and for all, how you feel about me! Zoe I…I don’t know. Rob That’s BS, and you know it. Zoe I got a question for you. How can you say you love me? How can you know that after two months? That’s impossible. You don’t even know me! Rob You don’t believe me? Zoe Explain it to me. Rob You mean prove it to you. Zoe No I don’t! Goddammit, Rob, I can’t take this. I can’t do this anymore…I just can’t. Rob Then tell me! Zoe How I feel? Rob Yes! Zoe Fine. You wanna know then ask me what you wanna know. Rob I just did! Zoe NO! ASK ME WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW! Rob hesitates. He looks at the floor. Then back at Zoe, in the eye. Rob Do you love me Zoe? Zoe No. Rob exhales. There is a long pause. He sits down again. Rob Well how do you feel about me? Zoe (coming over to him) I like you Rob. You’re a great guy, and you’ve been really sweet to me. I just don’t feel the same way about you that you feel about me. (sits down) Another pause. Rob Okay. I get that you don’t like me, the way I’d like you’d to. But, I’m thinking, maybe we could go out a few times…see where it takes us. I really want this to work because I think you’re great. I love you because you have a great sense of humor, and you’re smart. You’re just everything I ever wanted in a girl. I don’t want to loose you. He takes her hand. There is a very long pause. Zoe I don’t think we should Rob. I like you, but just as a friend. And now, I don’t even think…(shakes her head pulls her hand away) Rob (standing up) Wait a minute. Are you saying that not only do you not want to go out with me, but you don’t want to be friends either? Zoe (near tears) I just don’t wanna hurt you. Rob (getting hysterical) So you’re gonna cut me off completely?! Oh that’s not gonna hurt?! I LOVE YOU GODDAMMIT AND YOU DON’T EVEN WANNA BE MY FRIEND! Zoe (beginning to cry) I’m sorry. Rob (beginning to cry as well) YOU’RE SORRY?! THE HELL WITH YOU! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE DOING THIS TO ME! Zoe It’s better this way! Rob IF YOU THINK THAT’S TRUE… (laughs, is still upset but is angry now) Fine. If you think that’s true…then you’re right. I don’t know you, and I don’t need to be around you anymore. (he points at her) Fuck you Zoe…just…fuck you. INT. THEATRE LOBBY—MUSICAL SEQUENCE (EARLY MORNING) He walks away. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers immediately begins to play. There is no other audio but this song. In the next camera angle he comes through the double doors leading into the main lobby. He goes around the corner. There is a shot of Leah running to meet him. He gets halfway around the corner before he turns and begins to violently bang against the wall. There is a shot of Zoe crying. Then a shot of Ryan and Maryruth as Maryruth comes through the double doors for Zoe. She sits down and Zoe instinctively lays her head down in her lap and continues to cry. Rob bangs at the wall until he collapses onto the floor. Leah comes around the corner and walks over to him. She sits down with him and he puts his head on his shoulder and cries as well. There are memories spread throughout this sequence, especially when Rob is banging on the wall, and when Zoe is crying by herself. A memory of Rob and Zoe talking together. Pieces from the storm scene. Laughing together, the skit they did earlier in the night the memories are good and bad. There are a couple shots of Ryan as he watches. At the end of the song as the lyrics “Any time, she goes away…” are repeated there are shots of Zoe and Rob walking away from each other. First Zoe, in the rainstorm, then Rob walking away during the skit, then Zoe yelling during the previous fight, and finally a slow-motion shot of Zoe walking away after the earlier fight in the hall. As “Ain’t No Sunshine” fades out, the camera goes to the sun as it is rising…then to the clock, which reads, 7:50, the same time as yesterday when Zoe and Rob last fought. INT. THEATRE (MORNING) Time warps to 8:30, then a shot of Ryan, who is trying to sleep but is just lying awake staring at the ceiling. There is a noise from behind the stage curtain; also the lights are on. He gets up to investigate. Amy (from behind the curtain) So how do you feel? Ryan pokes his head through the curtain. Mia (pausing thoughtfully) I feel good. Strong. I think I can take you now. Amy Bring it on girl! I’m waitin for it. They laugh. Ryan enters. Ryan Can I be referee? Amy Hey Ryan. Whatcha doing up so early? Ryan It’s not like I could really sleep anyway. But I thought Eddie, Mike and Josh were sleeping up here? Mia They were but they got up and left like an hour ago. Ryan That’s unusual. Amy Yeah most stoners never get up before 12 on the weekends. Ryan (laughing) So what’re you guys doin up here? Mia Just talkin. Amy Mia and I were just discussing her new status as a badass. Mia (blushing) I’m not a badass. Ryan I meant to talk to you about that last night. That was…unexpected. What happened up there? Mia (throwing up her arms) I dunno! I just kinda lost it for a second. I had had it with taking Maryruth’s abuse. So I flipped out. Ryan For all to see. I’m telling you, all I kept thinking was “I hope the camera got the shot.” Amy Camera? Ryan Nevermind. So how did you feel about it Mia? Mia Reallllly good. I can’t even tell you. I was like ahhhhh. She does a handstand of some kind. As she does, her bottle of pills falls out of her pocket. Amy picks it up. Mia (standing) Oh crap! Amy (reads the label out loud then getting upset) What the hell are these?! Mia Medicine. They look at her. Mia They’re for depression. When I got outta Shepherd Pratt, my parents tried to put me on these pills for depression. But they said it was my choice to take them or not. I told them I’d think about it. Amy But why are you carrying them around with you? Mia Well because lately, I’ve been thinking about taking them. And then tonight…I didn’t know what was going to happen with Maryruth. I brought them just in case. Amy And now? Mia I’m not going to take them. Ryan Are you sure? Mia Yeah, I feel like I finally have some real confidence in myself. I don’t need those. Amy Good. Cause you scared the hell outta me girl. Amy gets up. The two girls embrace. Mia takes the pills from Amy. Ryan What do you think Mike would say if he saw you two now? Mia (playfully shocked) Shut up! Amy He’d probably want to join in. Ryan laughs. Mia You guys suck. Ryan Oh c’mon, admit you like him. Mia He is cute…
Copyright © 2001 Robert G. Hagans |