FADE IN:

We see morning light pour in a skylight, camera swings down

to reveal...

INT. BEDROOM - 7:30

Camera pans to the foot of a bed where we see someone just

waking up. There’s an alarm clock that begins to go off. A
hand slips out from under the covers to turn off the alarm
and reveals TAYLOR 17, stretching like a Disney Princess,
happy as can be. There’s an orange cat sleeping peacefully
sleeping near him. He gets out of bed, looks at his
pajamas, snaps his fingers,and he dons a very nice getup.
He takes a few steps to put on his backpack,then he pops
some headphones in and plays some very happy jam.

INT. HALLWAY 7:35

Taylor knocks on the door and it opens to reveals a bright

light. Glitter and a wall of smoke pour from the doorway to
reveal VICTORIA, 15, getting ready for the day. They both
stand looking in front of the mirror trading novel good
morning BS. Victoria is applying makeup with plenty of
ease. Taylor brushes his hair and somehow it falls
perfectly in place. They smile at each other with stunning
white teeth. Taylor runs down the stairs to

INT. KITCHEN 7:50

BRIDGET 39, pouring herself a cup of coffee. She seems

fairly well put together. Taylor pulls up next to her and
we notice their coffee is made the exact same way

BRIDGET: How ya feeling today kid?

TAYLOR: Pretty good, How about you?

BRIDGET: Better hearing that! *kiss on the

cheek* have a good day at school!

TAYLOR: Thanks, love you!

Taylor bounces out of the kitchen to the front door,

notices the three dogs laying on the couch, and pops out
the door to…

EXT. FRONT LAWN 8:00

The front lawn is lush, filled with green grass, bright

blue sky, and at the curb waiting in a tiny, white, clean
car; driver AMBER 18, and backseat passenger MEKHI 16.
Taylor gets in the car and notices the extra coffee sitting Commented [1]: ummm add a monologue throughout
in the cup holder this ENGAGE the reader
 Taylor: Awe, you didn’t have to
get me one

AMBER: It’s all good, we scammed

it anyways

Mekhi: Well then I’ll take it

Taylor: can we go? We’re going to

be late

They begin to drive to school, same song playing,

everything seems well

Taylor: (as an internal monologue) I

complain too much. Not quite sure why, my
family’s great, my friends actually tolerate
me…

Pulling into the school parking lot, we can

see a flock of students, all in bright
colors. Cut to Taylor in the passenger seat
staring off, as this goes, his smile
diminishes to a half-smile, and a tinge of
sadness hits his eyes

Taylor: So yeah, I shouldn’t complain.

Except I have on big problem.
CUT TO:
INT. PSYCHIATRISTS OFFICE - MORNING

Taylor: I have depression?!

Camera cuts to Taylor’s face in the office, eyes are full

of shock, we can see his worst fear has come true. His hair
is slightly askew, teeth are noticeably yellow, and his
clothes look like it’s his laundry day: baggy sweatshirt
and dark jeans. This switch should feel humorous and be
juxtaposed with the cool lighting in the room. In the shot
after, we see Taylor sitting in the corner, away from the
light coming in the window. A PSYCHIATRIST is on the other
side of the shot, in full light, holding a clipboard with
scribbles all the way down

Bridget: … dammit

Psychiatrist: Now, I know this may seem scary, but-

Bridget: Is there any way he could be on the same

medication as me (Taylor gives a look)
Psychiatrist: Prozac? Well we would be able to try it, but
if that doesn’t work, we’ll have to cycle through a few
medications
Bridget: Those would be?

Psychiatrist: (begins listing off a ridiculous amount of

antidepressants, fading out as Taylor begins to drift off
CUT TO:
INT. PHARMACY - AFTERNOON

Pharmacist: Hello! Picking up today?

Taylor: yup, 3-31-99

Pharmacist: okie dokie, be right back

Taylor: *I swear to god happy people are out to piss me

off. “Oh look at me, I produce serotonin hahaha” yeah fuck
off Janet.

Pharmacist: looks like this is your first time with these,

know how to take them?

Taylor: yeah, swallow *stupid bitch*

CUT TO:

EXT. PARKING LOT - AFTERNOON

Every single car on this lot is bright, vibrant, there are

families laughing in the distance

Taylor: When you’re told you were born to be broken, your

reality snaps. My mind isn’t even my own. I mean, no one
here is really surprised. (He stops, looks over his
shoulder to see a young boy crying on a bed underneath a
pine tree on the other side of the lot. It’s him as a young
child) I used to cry over fucking everything. I’ve been
naturally sad ever since I was a child. Guess I’ve felt
everything in my entire body. If I was sad, my bones would
quake. If I was happy, the world became brighter. Whoever
said this was both a blessing and a curse really felt the
need to @ me.

He finally reaches his mother’s car. A light blue 2008

Camry. The blue contrasts with all the vibrant cars
surrounding it. Inside, Bridget is waiting for him, visibly
crushed at how her son has taken the news. There’s a brief
silence

Bridget: Hey kid, I promise this isn’t the end of the

world. It all gets better. We’ll fix you up.

Taylor: *fucking when?* I know

With a sigh of defeat, Bridget turns on the car, she turns

on Taylor Swift. Cut to the windshield looking in. They
both are trying to escape what’s transpired over the day.
The camera begins to zoom on Taylor’s face, the same
technique used for the previous school scene. This time,
he’s broken. The music fades out, we hear a repetitive
beeping in the distance, getting closer

Taylor: *Life isn’t perfect I guess, so you make the most

of what you have. You pretend like everything is a dream.
Except, that’s all it is. A dream.*
CUT TO:
INT. TAYLOR'S BEDROOM - MORNING (8:23)

When Taylor blinks, immediate cut to his sleeping face. The

alarm clock is going off, piercingly loud. He slams the
alarm clock off, but he notices the time.

Taylor: oh SHIT!

This entire sequence in the house is done in one take. The

light is much cooler than the “perfect morning*. He gets
out of bed. Running around like maniac, putting on clothes
that have been scattered on the floor. These clothes have a
noticeable amount of cat hair on his jeans. He doesn’t
change his pajama shirt; an oversized Star Wars t-shirt. He
throws on a jean jacket, shoves his school supplies into
his bag, and runs into the hallway. He doesn’t even knock
on the bathroom door. opening it, a cloud of smoke pours
out the doorway to reveal Victoria, vaping until kingdom
come.

Victoria: what the hell! Can’t you knock?!

Taylor: don’t have time sweaty

He tries to brush his bed hair down to very little success.

He grabs two medication bottles and takes out two pills.

Taylor: *you know what’s awesome about being depressed? (he

cuts his pill in half without batting an eyelash) You cut
pills like a drug lord.

He begins to brush his teeth, pinching at a bit of weight

on his tummy. He runs down the stairs and turns. Bridget is
in the kitchen, she looks like she just woke up too. Hair
in the a frizzed up bun, wearing a pink and black bathrobe,
exhausted looking.

Bridget: morning sweetie, how ya feeling?

Taylor: Well I don’t want to kill myself so that’s a good

start!

Bridget: Taylor please be serious

Taylor: (insincerely) Yes mother, the sun doth shine on my

broken heart
Bridget: God you’re such a shit, get to school.

Taylor: um, can I get some coffee?

Bridget you don’t have the time. Go.

Taylor & Bridget: (mockingly) love you! Mean it!

He spits his toothpaste into the kitchen sink, runs towards

the door. He looks at his toothbrush and he throws it up
the stairs, narrowly missing Victoria. It’s a real shit
day, cloudy skies, the grass has dry spots, and He runs to
Amber’s car. Opening the door, an empty coffee cup falls
out. This car is disgusting, but nobody finds a problem
with it.

Amber: hey biiiiitch

Mekhi: jesus what took you so long

Taylor: I had a dream I was getting plowed.

Mekhi: mood

Amber: alright kids, we’re gonna be like 5 minutes late,

mama needs coffee

Taylor: is it even worth going then?

Amber: probably not no.

Taylor: hey giggles

Mekhi: yeah?

Taylor: Let me get a vegetarian breakfast.

Mekhi: it’s 8:30 in the morning

Taylor: yeah we’re getting a late start

Amber: I swear to god if I don’t get some I will freak

Taylor begins to shuffle in the back seat, trying to fix

his “breakfast” They pull up to a coffee shop

Amber: 3 large James Dean's please.

Taylor: oh fuck i forgot cash

Amber: you stupid idiot.

Taylor: spot you later?

Amber: whatever

They sip their bougie, too expensive energy drinks and pull
into the school Taylor is still fiddling in the back with
Mekhi. Once they pull in, Taylor turns around, a pretty
little pipe with the fattest bowl of weed is in his hand.

Taylor: yessssss

He begins to smoke it, not realizing that he has lit the

entire bowl and snapped it.

Mekhi: TAYLOR YOU JACKASS

Amber: what the fuc-

Taylor: ah chill tf out *Okay maybe that was a dick move,

but oh god will it be worth it. You know, if I get hazy
enough, sometimes it feels like I can take on anything. The
world is mine for the taking…

Amber: Are you fucking monologuing again?

Taylor: leave me alone

As they exit the car, we see the parking lot is filled with
dreary looking cars and kids alike. Things look pretty
shit.

EXT. SCHOOL HALLWAY

Taylor: and welcome to the shittiest school on Earth.

Filled to the brim with apathy and stupidity. (notices the
principal, Dr. DAN. Taylor attempts to dodge him)

Dan: Hey hey! How’s it going

Taylor: just fine Dan.

Principal: That’s doctor!

Taylor: *until he shoves a thermometer up my rectum, like
hell I’m calling him doctor.* (he notices a couple making
out) *ew, love. Not like I hate it, just mad unlucky. First
guy I ever told I loved responded to me “yeah I’m with
someone else” funny right?

Amber: you coming?

Taylor: sorry, I was monologuing about my trauma

Amber rolls her eyes, clearly something she’s heard before.

INT. CLASSROOM - 9:32

MRS. C 34, an English teacher who is clearly very
passionate about the subject. She tolerates their tardiness
because of both Amber and Taylor’s decent work in the
class.

Mrs C: Ah, double trouble, thanks for joining us

Amber: Thanks for having us.

Mrs. C: Alright, Hamlet. Who can tell me about…

Taylor: Ah Hamlet. Flat fucking crazy son of a bitch. Maybe

that’s why I “get” him. Someone who’s just as broken as I
am. Poor sucker lost his father, basically lost his mom AND
uncle. Then, his love Ophelia also went crazy and killed
herself because she thought he was that into her. God, what
a mood. Speaking of whiny, hopeless romantics on the verge
of suicide, where’s a man that’s as perfect and crazy as
me?

Mrs C: That’s exactly right. And to wrap up class, I hear

we may actually be featuring Hamlet this spring.

Taylor looks up, everyone looks at him for a response.

Taylor: actually, we’re in rehearsal right now, we audition

for the spring show date in December.

The bell tolls 3 times on C, and as we hear that…

CUT TO:

INT. CHOIR ROOM - 10:00

We hear a boisterous C major chord from what looks to be a

squad of the super dedicated choir kids. Everyone is either
chatting or harmonizing. There’s a few boys in the back
trying to sing a rock song together. They are… abysmal.
Taylor begins to grab a chair, looks over towards his
section, and notices a blonde tenor at the piano
harmonizing with the group. This boy glances over and
smiles at Taylor. Taylor makes a larger smile than we’ve
seen him this morning.

Taylor: God he’s so cute.

Kate: then why don’t you just ask him out?

Taylor: are you kidding? No way he’s into dudes.

Kate: never know until you try

Taylor: *yeah right, who wants a broken mess like me*

Kate: anyways, lunch today?

Taylor: can’t I’ve got a date

As they all open their music, he takes a deep breath, looks

over at the tenor boy and sees that he’s eyeing him. He
looks ahead, smiles, and they begin to sing

EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - NOON

Taylor begins to walk towards a car at the back of the lot,

there's a huge smile on Taylor’s face, he’s meeting someone
he’s been dying to see.

Taylor: “Drum roll please (a drum roll is heard in the

distance) and without further ado: my best friend Michelle”
(as he says this, we see MICHELLE 17 standing at her car.
Metal music begins to play as he gets in the car.) My best
friend from 13, she knows me better than I know myself and
I wouldn’t have it any other way. I still remember the day
we met

The camera begins to pan around Michelle until we see a

younger version of herself. Eating lunch alone in what
looks to be a shitty cafeteria. A young Taylor approaches
her.

Taylor: Hey

Michelle: Hey

Taylor: Do you like Britney Spears *I was going through a

phase*

Michelle: Yeah, she’s alright.

Taylor: *And from that day forth, a bond that could never
be broken was made.”

We have a spinning montage of them on what looks to be

Michelle’s bed. They are eating dried, creamy chicken
ramen, drinking “natural” mountain dew and watching reruns
of South Park. These are kids who are together against the
world. The camera begins to pan around them once more,
fading back into the car.

Taylor: *the coolest people you’ll ever meet*

The two sit in the parking lot of the school, eating

McDonalds.

Michelle: Dugan, what the hell are you doing?

Taylor: hunting for some dick.

Michelle: oh my god, speaking of dick…

She is clearly someone Taylor admire a ton, he focuses on
her words, vicariously living

Taylor: holy shit.

Michelle: what?

Taylor: remember that guy I was telling you about.

Michelle: the one from the choir?

Taylor: YES

Michelle: what about him?

Taylor: WE JUST MATCHED

Michelle: ooooooh biiiiitch go after it.

Taylor: um, fucking how?

Michelle: come on, you’re adorable, there’s no way he’d say

no!

Taylor: I do have rehearsal with the men’s section later.

But what do I say?

Michelle: Well…

We have a parody montage of him learning the ropes of

getting a man. He’s completely out of his element, but
thankfully, Michelle is a sage at getting men. She’s
gorgeous, everything that Taylor wants to be. Strong,
confident, has her shit together.
Michelle: you’re ready.
CUT TO:
INT. PRACTICE ROOM - AFTERNOON

The only people that showed up are Taylor and the tenor.
Taylor is at the piano, the tenor is singing, they blend
together wonderfully. When they’re finished, there’s a bit
of an awkward silence

Taylor: So, any questions?

Tenor: uh no not really.

Taylor: alrighty well, I think that’s it.

As the tenor begins to leave…

Taylor: uh wait

Tenor: hm?
Taylor: I was wondering, if you wanted, um would you
possibly want to go out sometime?

Tenor: (thinks) yeah, that’d be fun

Taylor: (in disbelief) Really? I mean, here’s my number

Tenor: Okay I’ll shoot you a text.

Taylor: alright. Hey, use that wisely now

Tenor: (smiling) Will do.

Taylor: Ho.ly.Shit.

Super romantic music flourishes as Taylor blushes at this

weirdly amazing moment
CUT TO:
INT. LITTLE THEATRE - 5:00

The music continues into the next scene as a group of

student come out on stage to this music. It’s the rehearsal
for Hamlet and nobody looks enthused to be there

Zoe: (Hamlet monologue, it’s horrendously overacted and

everyone is wondering what’s happening)

In the house, we see Taylor and MICHAEL 17, sitting on a

worn out, red sofa.

Taylor: (softly to Michael) Oh jesus christ. Okay everyone!

Cut, cut. Alright everyone, let’s take dinner. Try and grab
some coffee *and some fucking emotions* (To Michael) I have
no idea what I’m gonna do.

Michael: yeah…

Taylor: That was…

Michael: bad?

Taylor: downright abysmal Michael!!! And I have to meet

with smith soon.

Michael: already?

Taylor: of course! The school is out to get this place!

Michael: you’re overthinking this, we just started

rehearsing, they’ll be fine

As Taylor looks to Michael for reassurance, we here the

theatre doors open. TREY 16, comes in with a bag of
McDonalds
Trey: Hello snakes.

Taylor: *fucking christ not you* Hello to you too! *you

fucking rat*

Tyler: How is this meandering rehearsal going?

Taylor: Quite well thanks for asking (he gives Michael a

dirty look)