Sam and Alex
Feby Idrus
SAM AND ALEX
INT. DECORATED BALLROOM - NIGHT
A seventh form formal. Lots of party streamers and black and
silver balloons. A wooden trellis-like ARCHWAY erected at the
ballroom entrance, decorated with fake pink and red roses and
ivy. We’re moving in between many floppy-haired boys in suits
and girls in gowns, dancing and laughing and talking.
CAMERA FINDS SAM (18, plain but has tried hard to look
glamorous, in a PINK POUFFY BALLGOWN), standing by the DRINKS
TABLE. She’s alone, looking around for someone to notice her.
TITLES: SAM AND ALEX
ALEX (O.S.)
Sam?
Enter ALEX -- 18, handsome, in a SLEEK TUX, like he’s stepped
right out of a teen romcom. Sam grins when she sees him.
SAM
Hi Alex.
ALEX
Wow. It is you. I almost didn’t recognise
you. You look amazing.
Sam is pleased and embarrassed. Alex is smitten.
ALEX (CONT’D)
Do you wanna dance?
Alex holds out his hand and Sam takes it. It’s the moment
she’s been waiting for -- the perfect movie moment, when the
plain girl gets the guy.
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Sam and Alex
Feby Idrus
CAMERA PUSHES IN on Sam’s radiantly happy face.
HARD CUT to...
INT. DECORATED BALLROOM - NIGHT
Same setup and shots as before -- as if the film’s restarted.
Again we see Sam in her pink ballgown by the drinks table.
TITLES: SAM AND ALEX
GIRL ALEX (O.S.)
Sam?
SAM
(smiling)
Hi Alex.
Now we see GIRL ALEX -- a girl version of the male Alex from
the previous scene. Girl Alex is also 18, with similar hair
colour and features as the male Alex, wearing a SLINKY BLACK
DRESS. Girl Alex is most boys’ (and some girls’) dream girl.
GIRL ALEX
Wow. I almost didn’t recognise you. You
look soooo nice.
SAM
Thanks. You look really -- um, really -GIRL ALEX
(amused by how flustered Sam is)
I think the word you’re looking for is
‘awesomely hot’.
SAM
That’s two words.
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Sam and Alex
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GIRL ALEX
Not if you say it real fast and string the
words together. ‘Awesomelyhot’.
SAM
(laughing)
‘Awesomelyhot’. You look ‘awesomelyhot’.
Even though Sam is laughing along at Girl Alex’s joke, she
looks at Girl Alex with genuine longing and admiration.
GIRL ALEX
So what are you doing over here by
yourself? Don’t you want to dance?
SAM
(awkward)
Well, yeah, but, you know...
Sam’s unwilling to admit that she’s not dancing because no one
has asked her to dance. Girl Alex slowly realises that anyway.
SAM (CONT’D)
It’s crowded out there. I’ll just wait.
Girl Alex grabs her hand. Sam looks like she’s been struck by
a bolt of lightning.
GIRL ALEX
Come on.
Girl Alex pulls Sam onto the dance floor. They start dancing.
Sam is initially unsure and awkward, but Girl Alex grabs her
hands and cajoles her into dancing more freely.
At first they dance like little girls, clasping hands,
laughing, waving their arms. Then Girl Alex starts twirling
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Sam and Alex
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Sam around ballroom-dancing-style, holding Sam around her
waist. Sam is exhilarated to be so close to Girl Alex.
Then Girl Alex dips Sam. When Sam stands back up, their faces
come close together. Sam impulsively KISSES Alex.
Girl Alex pushes Sam away from her (but NOT STRAIGHT AWAY).
Shocked silence from both of them. Sam is horrified at what
she’s done. Girl Alex is stunned. Girl Alex glances around.
Other people, including three RUGBY HEAD guys, are gawping at
them. The three Rugby Heads snap out of it first. SQUAT RUGBY
HEAD wolf whistles.
TALL RUGBY HEAD
(to Alex)
Did she use tongue?
GREASY RUGBY HEAD waggles his tongue at Alex through his first
two fingers. The three Rugby Heads laugh hysterically.
Girl Alex runs off the dance floor. Sam runs after her.
Sam catches up with Girl Alex underneath the archway at the
ballroom entrance. Sam grabs Girl Alex’s elbow, trying to get
her to turn round. Girl Alex yanks her elbow away from Sam.
SAM
I’m sorry! Please, I’m sorry -GIRL ALEX
What the fuck was that?
SAM
I don’t know -- I’m sorry -GIRL ALEX
Were you trying to humiliate me in there?
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Sam and Alex
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SAM
No, of course not -- just let me explain -Sam once again reaches out to her. Girl Alex again jerks back.
Sam is near tears.
GIRL ALEX
Just -- just stop. Leave me alone.
SAM
But -GIRL ALEX
I said stop! God!
Girl Alex walks out. We see Sam framed by the archway with its
roses and ivy, painted over with warm soft light -- the
perfect romantic setting.
CAMERA PUSHES IN on Sam’s devastated face.
HARD CUT to...
INT. DECORATED BALLROOM - NIGHT
Again, the film restarts. Same set up and shots as before moving through the crowd of dancing teenagers.
CAMERA FINDS GUY SAM (18, similar features as Girl Sam, also
has tried hard to look nice), at the drinks table.
TITLES: SAM AND ALEX
GUY ALEX (O.S.)
Sam?
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Sam and Alex
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GUY SAM
(looking up, smiling)
Hi Alex.
We see Guy Alex from the first scene, in his sleek tux.
GUY ALEX
Look at you, all suited up. Looking good
man.
GUY SAM
Thanks. You too.
Guy Alex moves to stand shoulder to shoulder with Guy Sam. Guy
Sam is noticeably affected by how close Guy Alex is standing.
GUY ALEX
So what are you doing over here by
yourself, Nigel No-mates? Scoping out the
talent?
GUY SAM
Er, yeah.
As before, Guy Sam is trying not to sound like a loser. Guy
Alex sees that Guy Sam is putting on a cool-guy front.
GUY ALEX
You know, if you want to dance, you might
have to, you know, go out there and
actually ask someone yourself.
GUY SAM
Yeah, I know.
GUY ALEX
You can’t just hang back here all your
life.
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Sam and Alex
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GUY SAM
(a little nettled)
Yeah, I know. I just -- I’ll dance later.
GUY ALEX
Who are you waiting for?
GUY SAM
What?
GUY ALEX
Who are you waiting for? I mean, is there
someone you want to ask but you can’t yet?
Guy Sam doesn’t think of something to say fast enough.
GUY ALEX (CONT’D)
Oh my God! There is! Who is it? Is it
Kirsty? She’s been eyeing you up for ages.
GUY SAM
It’s not Kirsty.
GUY ALEX
Then who is it?
GUY SAM
It’s no one, okay? Just leave it alone.
GUY ALEX
Come on! Just tell me!
Guy Sam is stubbornly silent.
GUY ALEX (CONT’D)
Look, just tell me if she’s hot.
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Sam and Alex
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Guy Sam looks at Guy Alex. He’s too close to telling Alex the
truth. Guy Sam walks out of the ballroom.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
A street with old stone buildings, old lampposts giving off
warm yellow light, a starry sky -- a romantic city setting.
Guy Sam marches out of the building, very agitated. Guy Alex
follows Guy Sam out. The Three Rugby Heads are outside the
building too, sharing a hip flask, but neither Guy Sam nor Guy
Alex notice they are there.
GUY ALEX
Look, I’m sorry man. I was just screwing
around. I won’t ask about her again.
Guy Sam can’t hold it in anymore.
GUY SAM
It’s you.
GUY ALEX
What?
GUY SAM
It’s you. It’s you I want to dance with.
Complete shock from Guy Alex. The Rugby Heads, who have
overheard Sam, are staring. Unlike with Girl Sam and Girl
Alex, they’re horrified. Disgusted.
Guy Alex finally notices the Rugby Heads. He’s humiliated to
be seen in this situation. Guy Alex turns to walk back into
the building. Guy Sam, desperate, reaches out and grabs Guy
Alex’s arm. Guy Alex yanks his arm away.
GUY SAM
I’m sorry.
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Sam and Alex
Feby Idrus
GUY ALEX
What the fuck are you doing?
GUY SAM
(trying again to grab Alex)
Just wait, let me -- I’m sorry!
GUY ALEX
(throws off Sam’s hand)
Get off -- Get off me!
(Alex collects himself)
Look, I don’t mind gays. Okay? I really
don’t. But I’m not one of you guys, all
right?
GUY SAM
One of us guys?
GUY ALEX
Yeah, one of you guys.
GUY SAM
What’s that supposed to mean?
GUY ALEX
You know what that means.
GUY SAM
No, actually, I don’t.
GUY ALEX
(hissing)
I’m not a fucking fag, all right?
Pause.
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Sam and Alex
Feby Idrus
Guy Sam is furious and hurt. Can’t believe his dream guy just
called him a fag. Sam loves Alex, but now he also hates him.
GUY SAM
(challenging him)
You sure you’re not a fag?
GUY ALEX
What?
GUY SAM
You sure you’re not a fag? A poof? A cock
sucker?
GUY ALEX
What??
GUY SAM
Cos I saw you looking at me in P.E. the
other day, and I’m pretty sure it’s not
just Kirsty who’s been eyeing me up.
Guy Alex punches Guy Sam full in the face. Guy Sam goes down,
hard. Alex is straightaway on him, viciously pummelling him.
The Three Rugby Heads DO NOTHING. Two TEACHERS rush out and
pull Alex off of Sam, dragging him back into the building.
Alex is yelling and swearing. Sam lies sprawled on the
footpath, sobbing, streaks of warm yellow light lying over
him, the stone buildings behind. It’s not romantic at all.
CAMERA PUSHES IN on Guy Sam’s face. His face is covered with
BLOOD and many CUTS and BRUISES. He is crying.
HOLD on Guy Sam’s bloodied, messed up, devastated face.
Then Guy Sam covers his face with his hands. Hiding his face,
and himself, from view.
THE END.
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