Pariah Page #4

ALIKE:

Yeah, okay!

AUDREY:

And tie your head up.

Alike snags a satin headscarf from the nightstand and slaps

it around her head.

AUDREY(CONT’D)

It’s your head. And you really

should wash your face, too.

ALIKE:

I don’t have on make-up.

AUDREY:

Wash your face anyway.

ALIKE:

Mom. I’m seventeen years old,

please don’t talk to me like-

AUDREY:

Watch your tone.

(Beat)

Well, it’s your skin.

Audrey leaves. Alike is still. She listens for the door to

her parent’s room to shut before snatching off the scarf and

storming to the bathroom.

11 INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT 11

Alike turns on the faucet, wets the soap and puts it back in

the dish, wets her wash cloth and puts it back on the rack.

She plops down on the toilet and looks up. A crucifix frowns

down at her from the wall.

11.

She averts her eyes and stands to leave.

AUDREY (O.S.)

Did you brush your teeth?

Alike wets her toothbrush and throws it back into the holder.

AUDREY (O.S.)

Lee?

Alike squeezes out a dollop of toothpaste and smears a little

around the sink. She stares at her reflection.

AUDREY (O.S.)

Lee?

Alike flicks water droplets at the mirror for good measure.

ALIKE:

Yes, mom.

12 EXT. SCHOOL - MORNING 12

Alike, bundled in an oversized hoodie edges up to the

perimeter of campus and waits against a bus shelter. STUDENTS

horseplay and mill about the entrance in groups, chugging

their morning Fantas and munching on snack cakes. The school

bell rings and the lawn slowly empties into the building.

Alike shifts her weight and checks her watch as the last

STRAGGLERS finally trickle in. She yanks her hoodie tighter

and launches across the lawn and into the building.

13 INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING 13

A second school bell sounds and the din of slamming lockers

and jubilant chatter dies to a hush as students shuffle into

classrooms. Alike cracks the back stairwell door and peeks

out into the mostly empty hallway before tearing for the

bathroom. One last straggler BINA, a 17 year-old girl with

mature, but down-to-earth good looks rushes past Alike. The

two exchange a brief, confused look then mutually dismiss

each other as they hurry in opposite directions.

14 INT. SCHOOL BATHROOM - MORNING 14

Alike hurtles into the handicapped stall and snaps it shut

behind her. She rips off her hoodie and the “girly” shirt

beneath and flings them to the floor. She pulls out a pair of

wife-beaters from her bag and pulls them over her head. She

unwads a polo shirt and yanks it over her head.

12.

She stares at her reflection in the window and tries

unsuccessfully to smooth her shirt. Her eyes scour her

reflection again and again for any imperfections. She spots

the earrings and yanks them out of her ears. The late bell

beckons and Alike stuffs her “feminine” clothes into her

backpack and bolts.

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