Cutting little.

INT. LAYTON HIGH SCHOOL. BOYS LOCKER ROOM. DAY.
Two boys, one dark and one fair, lean against lockers clad only in white towels. They are both adolescents but nearly manhood. Many young men scramble around in the background wearing towels. Steam floats around in the room.
WILL
I don't have time for dating, man.
MATT
Dude! You're life is nothing but football and boring shit. You need to live a little, my friend. Get out; experience the world... and the honeys.
Will and Matt both drop their towels and pull on boxers with pants right behind.
WILL
I don't date. Period.
MATTYeah, no shit. When is the last time you left the house? And I don't mean running to the store for your moms.
WILL
Umm… It wasn't that long ago but I'm shy.(Laughs)
You know me. I got plans and I don't want no girl messin' that up.
MATT
I know, man. But plans be damned. We're goin' out. I know a girl.
WILL
(Sarcastic)You know a girl? Besides your girl? And I thought you were whipped.
Matt pulls his shirt over his head.
MATT(Not phased by Will's remarks.)
Yup. Leave it to me.
Will pulls his shirt on and sits to get his shoes on. He ties his laces and stands.
WILL
Don't be dissappointin' me man. I will never forget.
Matt slides his feet into sandals and claps Will's shoulder. He walks out of the locker room. Will watches him and then makes his way to the door.
EXT. LAYTON HIGH SCHOOL. DAY
Matt walks to a group of girls that are hanging by the stairs. Some girls are sitting on the stairs, some standing, talking. A tan skinned girl notices Matt and waves.
VERONICA
Matt. Hi. Is practice over?
Matt walks to her and puts his arm around her waist. He nods to the other girls and pulls the tan skinned girl a little from the group. He turns to her, seriously.
MATT
Yeah, baby girl. Hey, I gotta question for you. You still hang with that girl, you know, the dancer?
VERONICA
Yeah, we still hang out and go to practice together. She is way outta my league though. She's perfect.
MATT
No, girl. You're perfect. Anyways, I was thinking maybe you can call her and ask if she wants to hang out.
VERONICA(Astonished)
With you?
MATT
Roni! You crazy? You're my woman.
(Matt hugs her to his chest and then pushes her away to look her in the face.)
No, for Will. He's lonely and needs to get outta the house. We can double date or something. Movies, bowling, whatever.
VERONICA
You really want this, huh.
MATT
It's for Will. He needs this. The boy is slippin'. All he thinks about id football and I think he’s gonna break if he doesn’t let up a bit.
VERONICA
Okay. I'll see what I can do. See you tonight? I'll call you and see what I come up with.
MATT
Okay. I'll be waitin'.

Veronica kisses Matt and walks back to her group. She is pulling her cell phone out of her purse while Matt walks away. He moves to a car in the parking lot.
EXT. NEWMAN'S BOWLING LANES. LAYTON. EVENING.
Matt and Will walk to the bowling alley as the day is turning to dusk. As they approach, the building two figures that are hard to make out in the pending darkness, wave. The guys walk up to the figures and as they get closer you see it is the two girls. One is Veronica and the other is unknown, the blind date, the dancer.
VERONICA
Hey guys. Took you long enough!
MATT
Girl, don't be bitchin'. Introduce my man here.
VERONICA
Will, nice to see ya, been awhile. So, Jodie, this is Will. Will, this is Jodie. She's my friend from school.
WILL
It's nice to meet you Jodie. A pleasure.
(Will's eyes take in the girl in front of him. Not missing one detail.)
JODIE
It's nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about both of you from Roni.
Matt and Veronica join hands and start walking to the alley front door. That leaves Will and Jodie to follow by themselves behind the other couple.
INT. NEWMAN'S BOWLING ALLEY. EVENING.
Two young male adults and two young female adults enter the bowling alley from a side door. They walk to the register and stop. An employee stands in front of them.
MATT
Hey man. Can you hook us up with a lane?
ALLEY EMPLOYEE
Sure, how many are bowling?Matt turns to the others.
MATT
Ummm.. four. You bowling, right, Jodie?
JODIE
Sure.Matt turns back to the employee and hands him some money. The employee hits a couple of buttons on the register and bends down to find some shoes for them.
ALLEY EMPLOYEE
What size shoes you all want?
JODIE
Eight.
MATT
Twelve and a half.
WILL
Same.
RONI
Eight.
The employee hands places the shoes on the counter as they say the sizes and the young people take their separate shoes. They walk to their lane and sit in the available chairs to put their shoes on.
MATT(Jokingly)
So Jodie, what do you think of Will so far?
RONI(warning)
Matt!!
JODIE(glancing at Will, she turns away quickly.)Well, I don't really know him yet but he is okay so far.
WILL(sarcastic)
Thanks.

A short time later...
Jodie stands before the lane clutching a ball to her chest. She looks nervous.
JODIE
Like this?
She looks to the others who are all reclining in their chairs.
WILL
Yeah, just roll it on down there.
MATT
You've never done this before?
JODIE
No.
She turns forward, bends and releases the ball down the lane. It rolls and rolls before making a resounding clanking sound as it hits the pins. Jodie jumps in the air. The others give a loud yell. She leaps back to her seat.

Later...

Will and Jodie sit side by side in chairs talking intently. Will whispers something in Jodie's ear and she leans back, laughing. Matt and Roni look over at them, look at each other and shrug.
MATT
Look like they are getting along okay.
RONI
I would say so. That's nice. Jodie needs a break.
MATT
Yeah, I hope they can help each other out with that.
MATT
yells to the two "love birds".
You guys up for some food.
WILL(Exuberantly)
Yeah, man. I thought you would never ask!!! Pizza and fries man!
Laughs from Roni and Matt.
RONI
Pizza it is. Is that okay with you, Jodie?
JODIE
Yeah sure.(Flashback for Jodie)
A little girl about six, sits at the table looking forlorn.
MOTHER
Jodie! What did I tell you? If you don't eat your vegetables, then nothing else.Jodie looks up with tears in her eyes.
JODIE
Mom! You promised! You said I could have a sweet cake if I practiced hard for you.
MOTHER
And so you did and so I did but you haven't eaten what I told you too so the deal is off until that happens.
Jodie sits in her chair looking at her mother with tears streaming down her face.Time moves by and it becomes dark in the house. The lights have been all turned off and all are silent, sleeping. A shadow creeps in the night, though. Stealthily down the stairs and to the pantry. The shadow opens the door quietly and a small hand reaches for a box of dessert cakes. Nothing is seen but the sound of cellophane is heard rustling in the darkness.A light suddenly flips on illuminating the darkness and Jodie appears sitting on the floor with wrappers all around her and sweet cakes gone.
MOTHER
Jodie!! What have you done? I have never been more disappointed then right now.
Jodie turns her face and silently cries.
MOTHER
Perhaps it's time you attend that private school we have been talking about.
JODIE
No, Mom! I don't want to go. I want to stay here with you and Mr. Perkins, my bear.
MOTHER
Jodie, it's time for you to put your studies first. If you want to be dancer the you have to apply yourself.Jodie sobs and cries on the floor.
MOTHER
Jodie, Jodie. It won't be that bad. You'll have fun. Wait and see.Jodie gets off the floor and runs upstairs to the bathroom where she is sick.(End flashback)Fade back to bowling alley.
WILL
Jodie? Are you okay?
Jodie visibly starts.
JODIE
Oh yeah I'm okay. I was just thinking about something.
Will continues to peer at her.
WILL
It must not have been too good a memory. You didn't look too happy.
JODIE
Nah, I'm okay now. Let's eat.

A while later, everyone is sitting around the table laughing and having a good time with pizza and fries on their plates in front of them. All are eating except for Jodie who is randomly pushing around the fries and pizza. Every now and then she will break off a piece and stick it is napkin when she is sure no one else is looking. Jodie doesn't see but Will is peering a her from the side of his eyes and he is noticing her unusual habits. He doesn't comment though.The evening is winding down and the couples are done bowling and eating. Will offers to walk Jodie back to school.
WILL
You still hungry. I noticed that you didn't eat much at dinner. Why didn't you tell anyone you didn't like pizza?
JODIE(Shocked)
I didn't think anyone saw me. I didn't say anything because it would have been rude and I barely know all of you. I didn't want to make a bad impression.
WILL
You could have just said. No harm, no foul, girl.
JODIE(smiles at Will)
Thank you for being so understanding and thank you for the great evening. It was fun and I hope we can do it some other time.
WILL(smiles back at Jodie and grabs her hand)
I hope we can too. I have practice on Thursday and Friday nights but football season is over soon and then I have some time free.They continue to walk and stop in front of glass doors that lead to the academy.
WILL
It was a pleasure, Jodie. Here's my number. Call me.
Will scratches a number onto s piece of paper pulled from his pocket and hands it to Jodie, who puts it into her pocket.Will releases her hand and starts to walk away.
JODIE
Hey Will!
He turns back to her.
JODIE
I am very serious about dancing and don't know what kinda time I am going to have for this but I want to try to make it work.
Will grins.
WILL
I just want to date not get married. Give us some time.He turns and walks away. Jodie watches him go.


EXT. CENTRAL PARK. DAY.
Will and Jodie are biking together. Both wear their helmets and they are laughing. Will swerves to mock crash into Jodie, who giggles and swerves away from him.
INT. JOE'S ICE CREAM SHOPPE. EVENING.
Jodie and Will sit in a booth, heads together, eating from the same dish of ice cream.
EXT. FIFTH AVENUE. EVENING.
Jodie and Will walk together holding hands as they peer into shop windows. Jodie points to a skirt hanging in the window and Will makes a face at her. She turns away, laughing.
INT. BALLET ACADEMY. NIGHT.
Jodie walks down the hallway, head down, lollygagging. Her mother is walking towards her at a brisk pace, looking directly at her. Jodie goes to walk by not even noticing her mother. Her mother shoots her hand out and grabs Jodie's arm.
JODIE
Oww.
MOTHER
What are you doing?
JODIE(Startled)
What do you mean?
MOTHER
Lisa said your dancing has been off lately.
JODIE
You talked to my instructors about me?
MOTHER(Angry)
No. They talked to me. She said you had been doing poorly and asked if you were feeling okay.
Jodie looks at the floor, looking guilty.
MOTHER
I know what's going on, Jodie. Don't think I don't see what this boy is doing to your dancing. I know what it feels like to lose everything you have worked for.
JODIE
I'm not going to do that, Mother.
MOTHER
Yes, but not as important as that boy is.
Jodie says nothing to that and her mother stalks off angrily.

Two weeks later…
A group of ballerinas stand huddled together, whispering.
BALLERINA 1
Do you think something is wrong with Jodie?
BALLERINA 2
I don't know. She doesn't look good.
BALLERINA 3
Maybe we should ask her if everything is okay.
BALLERINA 4
She has been pushing herself way too hard lately.
BALLERINA 2
I don't know what she is trying to prove but she is going to make herself sick if she doesn't let up.
They group goes back to silently watching Jodie dance.
JODIE
Come on, Jodie. You can do this.
JODIE
I know you can. This is for all everyone. For Will and Mother and the instructors and even those annoying girls that are watching.
JODIE
You are the best goddamned dancer here and now you can show them.
JODIE
Rub it in.
JODIE
I just don't feel so good all of a sudden.
JODIE
I'm tried and shitty feeling.
BALLERINA 3
(Shocked)Oh my God! Jodie just fell.
BALLERINA 1
Hurry! Someone get a doctor.
They all rush to Jodie's side where she is now lying on the floor. They shake her and call her name.
BALLERINA 2
Jodie! Jodie! Wake up! Call her mom.
Two instructors rush in with the academy's doctor at their heels.
INSTRUCTOR 1
What happened here?
(To the ballerina spectators)
BALLERINA 1
I don't know, sir. We were watching Jodie dance and she just collapsed.
BALLERINA 2
She has been pushing herself sir for the last two weeks.
INSTRUCTOR 2
That's what good dancers do, girls.
INSTRUCTOR 1
Don't worry. We’ll get her set up at the clinic. Go on now.
The instructors and the doctor place Jodie on the gurney that had been wheeled in by a medic. They wheel her out to the waiting ambulance and load her into the doors. The ambulance drives off.
Roni calls Will after she hears about Jodie. News travels fast when it concerns the academy's best dancer.
RONI
Hey it’s me.
WILL
Hey.
RONI
Will, you need to go to the hospital. Jodie’s there. Go now.
WILL
Oh my God! I’m there.
Nothing but the dial tone buzzes in Roni's ear and she hangs up slowly.
EXT. NEW YORK HOSPITAL. EVENING.
Will rushes in the doors and heads straight to the reception desk where he briefly speaks to a woman. He goes to the elevators and to pushes the button for up. Stepping into the elevator, he hits the seventh floor button and rides up. Stepping out of the elevator, he walks to the nurse's station and is stopped in his tracks by someone that looks like an older version of Jodie.
WILL
Hi. You must be Jodie's mom. She has told me so much about you.
MOTHER
Yes, you're Will, I presume. My daughter doesn't have many boyfriends so I assume that's you.
WILL
Yeah that's me. Where's Jodie? What's wrong with her?
MOTHER
She's in room 721. She is very dehydrated and sick.
WILL
Can I see her?
MOTHER
If she wants to see you then yes. I can't say no if she wants to see you.
Will and Mother walk towards the Jodie's room.
Outside the door,
MOTHER
I'll let you have some time.
WILL
Thanks.
He walks into the room and stops dead in his tracks. Jodie is hooked up to many monitors and has lines running from her to machines. She appears to be sleeping but as he approaches the bed, she turns her head and looks at him.
JODIE
What are you doing here?
WILL
I heard you were sick so I came to see you.
JODIE
I don't think you should be here right now.
WILL
What? Why do you say that?
JODIE
I'm sick and this isn’t a good place for you.
WILL
I want to be here with you, Jodie.
Jodie turns her head away and shakes it.
JODIE
Now is just not a good time okay Will?
WILL
I don't understand.
JODIE(Angrily she turns back to him)
No, Will, and you never will. I have bulimia. I throw up everything I eat. Happy now?
WILL(Horrified)
Jodie! Why didn’t you ever tell me? We could have gotten you help.
JODIE
I don't need help. I just need to dance and for you to leave now.
WILL
Jodie, please don't do this.
JODIE
I already have. Goodbye Will.
(She turns her head away again and closes her eyes)

Will slowly turns and walks out of the room.Jodie sheds silent tears for something she doesn't believe she can have.
MOTHER
Goodbye Will.
Will doesn't appear to hear her as he walks slowly down the corridor. He gets on the elevator and goes to the first floor where he walks from the hospital and fades from sight.End of Act 1... Act 2 acceptance.