INT: SCHOOL LIBRARY- DAY

HAZEL ROSE sits, her face sunken into The Catcher In The
Rye, her eyes on SCARLETT BELL across from her. Hazel stares
at her with great intensity. Her eyes fixed in fascination.

HAZEL (V.O)
She's beautiful but her smudged
makeup and dirty finger nails spoke
a different story.

WE SEE DAMON AND SCARLETT LAUGHING WITH THEIR PEERS.
CLOSE ON: A BRIGHT RED SUCK MARK ON DAMON'S NECK

HAZEL (V.O)
(continuing)
She couldn't hide those red, hazy
eyes. I always thought she had been
crying but then she'd say-

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY-

Scarlett surrounded by her "friends" and Damon sliding his hands down her waist. Scarlett stares off into space allowing his hand to travel further.
SCARLETT
(Emotionless)
Gee, I sure am happy

INT. PRESENT DAY- LIBRARY

HAZEL (V.O)
(continuing)
Funny thing, she never smiled

SCARLETT suddenly emerges from her table and saunters over to a shelf of books. She sits with her back against the shelf and opens a brown journal from her book bag

CLOSE UP: AN OLD WHITE DAISY TAPED TO THE PAGE AND A VINTAGE LOOKING PHOTOGRAPH OF A BLOND WOMAN AT THE BEACH.
Scarlett's eyes start to well.

CUT TO
EX: Backyard Night- Flashback
Scarlett, age five sits on a swing rocking lightly. A woman lightly writing a purple “A” on her hand.

Woman
Remember, you'll always be mommy's
little angel.
CUT TO
INT- LIBRARY DAY (continuing)

CLOSE ON: A SMALL PURPLE "A" WRITTEN ON HER INNER WRIST
CUT TO
HAZEL gazes at SCARLETT. She stuffs her book back into her bag and approaches her. She quietly looks over SACRLETT'S shoulder reading the journal

CLOSE UP: A black and white picture of child eating ice cream. The words under it reads: Scarlett, My little angel's fifth birthday. April 18th, 2001
HAZEL
(Smiling)
Happy birthday

Startled, Scarlett quickly shuts her book

SCARLETT
Who are you?
She wipes her fallen tears.
HAZEL
Hazel-

SCARLETT
What are you doing over here? What
do you want?

HAZEL
I... you just look like you need a
Friend

Beat. A mischievous grin creeps over SCARLETT'S face. She nods in
Approval
SCARLETT
You're pretty. Now sit.

CUT TO: MONTAGE OF HAZEL AND SCARLETT TOGETHER IN AND
OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. Hazel sits quietly with SCARLETT and her friends as they laugh. SCARLETT grabs HAZEL'S notebook and begins to copy her homework. SCARLETT leans against HAZEL'S locker staring up at the ceiling saying
SCARLETT
Gee, I sure am happy.






CUT TO
INT: SCARLETT'S BEDROOM- SATURDAY

Scarlett's room is unlike any other teenager's room, bare,
cold, and temporary. No posters of her favorite boy band, no stuffed animals, no books or anything that could prove human life actually existed here. Scarlett lies with her back sprawled out on the floor while her legs were hitched up on the edge of the bed. Her hair scatters around her. Hazel reads from her geometry homework. Scarlett stares at the ceiling.

SCARLETT
This blows.
INSERT: RED HEEL. SCARLETT throws her heel and it knocks the paper right out of Hazel's hand.
HAZEL
Hey!

SCARLETT rips open her dresser drawer and pulls out a pack
of cigarettes. She doesn't light it but still keeps it in
her mouth.
CLOSE ON: A PURPLE "A" WRITTEN ON THE BOX
CUT TO:
SCARLETT STARING OUT HER WINDOW AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
SCARLETT
What's the point of it anyway? When
are we ever going to use this crap?
It's not like anyone would even care
what I do with my life anyhow

Hazel stares at her curiously.
HAZEL
(quietly)
Scarlett... are you okay?
Beat.
SCARLETT
(smiling)
Oh darling... I'm destroyed

Scarlett turns around and starts toward the door.

SCARLETT
(continuing)
I'm making waffles... or I'm getting
a gun to kill myself. Haven't
decided yet.

She walks off. Hazel remains on the bed, worry written on her
face. She stands from the bed, wandering around the room. She stops in her tracks
INSERT: Journal. HAZEL looks over her shoulder before opening the journal. We see an aged picture of a little girl in a puffy white church dress. Her hair, blonde like Scarlett's, was in two pigtails held together by two purple bows.

CLOSE UP: The word under the picture reads: To my little angel. Love Mommy
The door bursts open as Scarlett returns in a panic

SCARLETT
Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. He's here
Scarlett paces
HAZEL
(quickly closing the book)
What? Who?

SCARLETT
My step father. You have to go.
You have to go NOW.
I didn't think he would be home so
soon.

Hazel obeys, startled. She packs her things into her book
bag and heads for the door but Scarlett stops her.

SCARLETT
No! The window. Come on

Scarlett rushes her and pushes her toward the window.
CUT TO
On to the grassy area. We hear the sound of the front door open and heavy boots walk through the living room. We hear the baritone boom of a menacing deep voice.
MAN
Scarlett!?

SCARLETT
(Nervously)
Oh man, GO!

She pushes HAZEL further out the window, tears threatening her eyes. By the time HAZEL was already outside the man had burst into Scarlett's room yelling something unclear, face angry. He grabs a fist full of her hair.
MAN
Where is it? I know you have it

SCARLETT
Please- Please stop. I don’t-
CUT TO
HAZEL DUCKING DOWN UNDER THE WINDOW
WE SEE HAZEL'S FACE AFTER WITNESSING THIS. WE HEAR THE
TERRIBLE CRIES COMING FROM SCARLETT THEN THE CRACKING OF A BELT
HITTING SKIN.







FADE TO BLACK.
INT- HAZEL'S BED ROOM THE NEXT NIGHT.

Hazel sits with her phone in her lap, expecting a call. Her phone begins to buzz
HAZEL
Scarlett? Oh goodness,
I've been trying to call you since
yesterday but-

SCARLETT (O.S)
Have you ever been to a party?

HAZEL
Huh?

SCARLETT (O.S)
Party. P-a-r-t-y. Party. Ever been
to one?

HAZEL
I just... I've never been to a
party. I heard that's where they
do...
(whispering)
like, hardcore drugs. The big stuff.

Beat. Scarlett's end of the phone bursts with laughter

SCARLETT (O.S)
Oh yeah, we just sit in a giant
circle and do Meth. Jeez, Hazel do
you live under a rock?
Get dressed. I'll be there in fifteen
CUT TO SCENE

INT: DAMON'S LIVING ROOM
The room was smoky. We hear the loud thump of the house music. About fifteen people scatter around the house smoking, drinking or sneaking off into the back rooms. HAZEL sits on the leather, brown couch with her fingers twirling in her lap.

SCARLETT steps out from the backroom yelling, but we can’t make out what she is saying. Damon walks out. SCARLETT’S fist slams into his bare chest. From the same room a dark haired girl draped in a long white t-shirt emerges. She tucks herself behind Damon, shielding herself from SCARLETT’S angry fists. DAMON calmly leans down and whispers something into her ear, SCARLETT freezes. Her jaw tightens and she SMACKS him across the face. The sound breaks through the music. She storms off screen
Damon leads the dark haired girl back into the dark room.
CUT TO
HAZEL looks back and forth from the room and the front door. She rises from the couch and races toward the door.

Ex: FRONT PORCH NIGHT
HAZEL stops in her tracks.

PAN OVER: The empty front yard.
CLOSE UP: AN “A” CARVED INTO A SILVER CONVERTABLE
Cut To
EX: Street Night
Hazel stands, her hands deep in her pockets, face red.
CUT TO
A small brick house. The stairs cracked and the grass unkept.
Close UP: The red front door slightly open. HAZEL'S hand slowly opens the door.
SMASH CUT TO
INT: LIVING ROOM NIGHT:
PAN OVER Unkept living room. We hear the whistle of the heater. Two blue cotton couches sit on either side of the room facing each other. A brown coffee table covered in the scattered cigarette ashes. Chip bags litter the floor. HAZEL walks further into the house. A chip bag crunches under her foot.
CUT TO
INT: Kitchen
Hazel wanders into the kitchen. Scarlett sits with her legs cross at the wooden kitchen table, her face deep in her brown journal.
Hazel
Scarlett?
SCARLETT'S head pops up and her feet fall to the ground.
SCARLETT
Hazel? You shouldn't be here.

Hazel
You left the party so quickly.
I just thought you might need-

Scarlett stands and walks menacingly toward HAZEL

SCARLETT
Stop that. I don't need any ones pity.
So you can just go-
We hear the sound of the door opens. HAZEL and SCARLETT'S eyes flash toward the back door.
CUT TO
The front slowly opening. In walks SCARLETT'S step father. His eyes immediately narrow.
SCARLETT
She- she was just leaving Dale.
I promise
She grabs a hold of HAZEL'S shoulder, pushing her lightly away from the kitchen. SCARLETT freezes, and follows DALE’S gaze to the journal. Beat. SCARLETT leaps toward it but DALE was too fast. He plucks the journal from the table and holds it up. He tosses his large jacket to the side.
DALE
What the hell is this?

SCARLETT
I-

DALE
I thought I got rid of this.
Scarlett swallows

SCARLETT
It belongs to me
Dale steps forward, towering over SCARLETT
DALE
No! This belonged to your mother.
The women you killed remember?

SCARLETT
(Voice cracking)
I did not kill her-

DALE
You couldn't live without your little doll.
So you made your mother drive in the pouring rain when she couldn’t see a damn thing
DALE grows angrier
DALE
(Spitting at her)
and guess what
You got your doll and
lost your own mother!

SCARLETT
Shut up, shut up!

She covers her ears with her hands.

DALE
It's your fault. Now let her go

DALE rips the pages of the journal. Each crumble at his feet

SCARLETT
(crying hysterically)
Stop it!

With all the pages completely ripped out he throws the journal to the floor and walks off screen. SCARLETT stares then storms out the door, cold faced.
CUT To
INT: Back Yard- Night
SCARLETT sits on the rusted swing, swinging slowly. HAZEL sits beside her on the identical swing, still. SCARLETT pulls a cigarette out of her bra and holds it in her mouth.

SCARLETT
This world is cruel.

SCARLETT pulls lighter out of her pocket and lights her cigarette. The smoke blows, disappearing into the cool night air. Beat. HAZEL watches her, mouth unable to move after witnessing yet another episode in her self-destructive life.

SCARLETT
Gee, I sure am happy

She collapses into her hands sobbing. HAZEL wraps her arms around her and begins to rock despite getting soaked with tears. She rubs SCARLETT'S back.

SCARLETT
(Between sobs)
I'm your angel... I'm your little angel.

CLOSE ON: A purple "A" written on the side of the swing frame
FADE TO BLACK
INT: HAZEL'S BEDROOM- NIGHT

We hear a loud buzz sound and Hazel's eyes flutter open.

INSERT: CELL PHONE
CLOSE ON: SCARLETT'S name appears on the screen. Hazel puts
the phone to her ear.
SCARLETT (O.S)
(Sloppily)
Ello?

SCARLETT'S voice was slurred as if she had been drinking

SCARLETT (O.S)
You know... I never wanted to be
your friend

We hear the sound of loud car horns flying by.
HAZEL
(Slowly sitting up)
Where are you-?

SCARLETT (O.S)
I wanted to show you the world you
thought you knew. That's what you
wanted right? The popularity. You
never wanted to be my friend

Beat







SCARLETT (O.S)
And now you see it’s crap. The money,
the boys, the happiness. It's all an
illusion. A masquerade.

There was another loud car horn and then everything goes
quiet.


SCARLETT (O.S)
Everyone has scars Hazel.
Some people are just better at hiding them

The phone goes dead.

CUT TO
INT: School- Monday Morning Montage

Hazel walks toward Scarlett's locker but no one was there.
Some of her friends brush by her locker completely oblivious
to the absence of their friend. Scarlett's seat sat empty in
the class room. DAMON walks past her locker holding hands
with a new blond girl. He doesn't even glance at SCARLETT'S
locker or HAZEL as he brushes by. He smiles at his new
girlfriends as she rants on about her outfit of the day

EXT: STREET- THE NEXT DAY

Police cars line the edge of a wooded area. Officers stomp
deep in the tall grass. One red faced officer talks on the
phone with tears welling his eyes.
CUT TO:
HAZEL STARING AT THE CHAOS. CURIOSITY WRITTEN ON HER
FACE.
CUT TO:
HAZEL'S MOTHER, ALSO AN OFFICER APPROACHING HER. HAZEL FOLLOWS.

HAZEL
Mom, what happened ?
Beat
HAZEL
Mom?...

CLOSE ON: HAZEL'S MOTHER'S FACE. WE NOW SEE SHE HAS RED,
TEARY EYES. SHE RUBS HER HANDS TOGETHER AND LOOKS INTO
HAZEL'S EYES.
MOM
Hazel...a body was found....

CUT TO: A LARGE TREE DEEP IN THE WOODS. A FEW OFFICERS WALK
BY.

CLOSE ON: An "A" carved deep into the tree.
FADE TO BLACK