In the middle of the line stands APRIL (16), spunky with a pair of wiry braces, with her best friend HEATHER (16), sweet and soft spoken.

Transcription

1 INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING The hallway is decked out with posters, the brightest announcing ST. VALENTINE S DAY DANCE TONIGHT. A row of young girls are lined up in front of the lockers, all wearing skirts of various lengths. MRS. HIGGINS (40s), the school secretary, goes down the line, measuring the space between their skirt and knee with a ruler. In the middle of the line stands (16), spunky with a pair of wiry braces, with her best friend (16), sweet and soft spoken. (whispering to Heather) This is so unfair, don t you think? (whispering) Yes, totally... (Beat, Heather thinks for a moment) Wait, what are we talking about? Our kneecaps, Heather! If we were boys, we could show our kneecaps anywhere. But no, we have to cover them so pervy teachers like Mr. Michaels won t get distracted. That s mega gross. My mom always says that an uncovered thigh is shameful, but, I don t know, I ve always enjoyed the light breeze. The two turn to look at Mrs. Higgins, who is still down the line. April turns back to Heather, excited. Heather. Tonight s the night. What, the dance? No--well, yes that s part of it. I m getting my first kiss tonight. I just feel it.

2 2. (excited) How do you know? CUT TO: INT. S BEDROOM - THAT MORNING April springs up from her bed, a glint in her eye. Today s the day I m getting my first kiss! April s mom stirs from the other room. S MOM (O.S.) That s nice, sweetie! CUT BACK TO: INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING It came to me in my dreams last night. I ve been very in tune with my intuition ever since Mercury went out of retrograde. (nodding) You re such a Libra. A girl on the other side of Heather chuckles. The two look at her. DEB (17), grungy and goth, rolls her eyes. DEB First kisses don t matter. The idea of a first-anything is just a myth created by the patriarchy to make you feel incomplete. Oh, I m very complete, Deb, I m just trying to get my mack on at the dance tonight. Heather sighs dreamily. The sweet and tender embrace of two pairs of lips.

3 3. And tongue. Don t forget tongue. My mom says that when two tongues dance, the devil dances as well, but I don t believe her. April looks down the line. (frantic whispering) She s coming, she s coming! The girls hurry to push their skirts closer to their knees. INT. S LOCKER - AFTERNOON April and Heather stand at the open locker, giggling. (16), a quiet boy with braces, approaches the two. April smiles. Hey April, I noticed you skipped Bio yesterday, luckily, I took some notes for you. So... who died this time? My Great Aunt Edna. May she rest in peace. (she takes the notes from him) Now beat it, Isaac. Can t you see Heather and I are conspiring? Right-o! I ll catch you later then! Probably not. Isaac goes to leave, but April grabs his arm. (CONT D) (quieter) Thanks for the notes. Isaac stumbles away. How about Isaac? He seems sweet.

4 4. April turns to see Isaac, stumble and drop all of his books. Our mom s do Cocktail Wednesday s together. They d think we re destined to get married. Heather spots someone else over April s shoulder. April, I ve got it... (beat) Clayton Taylor. April turns to see TAYLOR (17), a big eyed and all around dreamy guy, drinking out of the water fountain. It s as if a choir of angels are singing. April smiles. I would make out with Clayton Taylor s hand if he let me. April turns to Heather and smiles. CUT TO: INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - S LOCKER - LATER Clayton opens his locker and A CARD falls to the ground. He leans down to pick it up. It s an ornate, hand-decorated Valentine s Day card, inscribed with the words in dark ink: (V.O.) Do you like me, yes or no? If yes, ask me to dance tonight. Faithfully yours, April. Clayton looks over both his shoulders. The hallway is empty. INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - THAT NIGHT Girls run around in ruffled dresses and guys dawned in dress shirts loiter around the punchbowl, music pulsing. The dance is in full swing. Mrs. Higgins runs around the dance floor, prying apart couples who are dancing too close. April and Heather are seated in a row of chairs against the wall. A boy comes up and offers Heather his hand. April watches Heather go off and dance, leaving her alone in the seats. A-April? (O.S.)

5 5. April turns to see Clayton, standing in front of her. (CONT D) (extending his hand) Do you wanna dance? April looks at his beautiful hand. She takes his hand and kisses it lightly. Clayton looks confused. I d love to. INT. DANCE FLOOR - CONTINUOUS The moment April and Clayton reach the dance floor, the music fades to a slow love song. Clayton immediately looks awkward. Here. April grabs his hands and puts them on her waist. She wraps her arms around his neck. The two begin to shuffle back and forth. April spots Heather, she gives her a big thumbs up. (CONT D) This is so romantic, don t you think? Oh, uh, yeah. The disco ball makes your eyes look so bright, like the ocean shimmering in the sun. Yeah, yours too. Beat. April has to hold back from rolling her eyes. Thanks... Do you, uh, wanna... Do I wanna...? You know...

6 6. Kiss? Clayton smiles. Yeah. Clayton leans in, but Mrs. Higgins clears her throat before their lips meet. The two pull back to see her standing next to them, her arms crossed. MRS. HIGGINS Excuse me, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Taylor, please tell me, what does that sign over there say? April looks to where she s pointing. A large sign hangs above the punchbowl that states in big block letters NO KISSING. MRS. HIGGINS (CONT D) Now leave a little room for the good lord. Mrs. Higgins pulls them apart, putting two feet of space between them, awkwardly shuffling with their arms fully extended. She shuffles away to another couple. Beat. Clayton licks his lips. April s eyes widen. April pulls back. (leaning in again) Now that she s gone... Oh, uh, I actually don t want to. Kiss you, that is. Well, it s not that I don t want to. You re very good-looking. I actually just don t want to. I m going to sit down. April walks away. Clayton looks around to see if anyone saw, scratching the back of his neck, before walking away. INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - ROW OF SEATS - CONTINUOUS April plops down next to Isaac, who s reading a book. She sighs loudly. Isaac glances at her, but tries to go back to reading. She sighs loudly once more. He puts the book down.

7 7. Are you okay? I thought Valentine s Day was supposed to be romantic. Valentine s Day actually originated in Ancient Rome when men would sacrifice dogs and goats and then whip women with the animal skins, which isn t exactly romantic. April turns to look at Isaac. Her eyes widen. (CONT D) Sorry, I overshare sometimes-- Can I kiss you? (shocked) W-what? If you don t want to... No! I mean, yeah. Yeah, okay. April smiles. The two lean in. It s a nice peck when their lips meet. Until... clink! The two try to pull back, but their braces are locked. (muffled) Ow... don t move. MRS. HIGGINS (O.S.) Ms. Edwards! What did I say? Mrs. Higgins approaches and tries to pull them apart, the two shout in pain. MRS. HIGGINS (CONT D) Oh dear... What have you two done? Mrs. Higgins helps the conjoined two stand and guides them out of the dance. The kids make a pathway on the dance floor for them, staring in shock. Deb, standing in the corner poised to light the cigarette in her lips, drops it in shock.

8 8. Clayton, dancing with another girl, looks dumbfounded. Heather, upon seeing April, begins cheering. (from the crowd) That s my girl! You go, April! The crowd slowly begins to cheer with Heather, awkward at first, but slowly gathering volume. Cheers of Yes, get it! and You go, brace face! can be heard from the crowd. INT. BROOM CLOSET - NIGHT Mrs. Higgins holds both of their heads. MRS. HIGGINS On my count. Three... two... one... Mrs. Higgins pulls them apart. The two shout in pain. CUT TO: EXT. HIGH SCHOOL STEPS - NIGHT April and Isaac are seated on the steps, both holding ICE PACKS over their mouths to ease the pain. A car pulls up. April looks at Isaac. That s my mom. (Beat) Well, I ll see you later-- April, I m so sorry about tonight-- April shushes him. She kisses him on the cheek. She stands. We ll just have to do better next time. Isaac blushes. April walks away, Isaac watches her. He waits for the car to leave before touching his cheek where she kissed him and celebrating. FADE TO BLACK.