Caught in the Storm

Written by Alaejha Thomas

FADE IN:

INT. JAY’S ROOM - DAY

JAY HOPKINS, 17 years old, short brown hair, and freckles, is in his room shoveling books into his backpack. The gray walls are lined with football trophies and posters of sports teams. After he’s done he rushes out of the room.

INT. JAY’S KITCHEN - DAY

Jay walks into the kitchen to find his mom, LAUREN, a pale looking woman with blonde hair sitting at the table and his dad, NATHAN, an average built man with brown hair and glasses serving breakfast. They sit and eat together.

JAY

Mom, dad, can I talk to you?

LAUREN

Of course sweetie! We were just talking about you and how excited we are for football season to start!

JAY

Oh. Well that’s the thing. I don’t want to play football anymore. I want to audition for the musical.

His parents stay silent for a moment and give each other a look. They make their way over to Jay and embrace him.

NATHAN

We would never force you to do something that you don’t want to do.

JAY

I know. You guys were just so excited and I didn’t want to disappoint you.

NATHAN

Nothing you do could ever make us disappointed.

INT. JUNIPER’S ROOM - DAY

JUNIPER PARKE, 17 years old, brown skin, big curly brown hair, and dark eyes is in her room packing up her backpack. The room is a cream color with nothing on the walls except a calendar above her desk.

INT. JUNIPER’S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Juniper hesitantly walks into the living room. Her mom, KOURTNEY, a short, light brown woman with straight hair, is sitting with her dad, RICHARD, a tall, muscular, bald man on the couch watching the news.

JUNIPER

Hey. Can I go to Taliah’s house today?

KOURTNEY

Honey you know how we feel about Taliyah and her way of life.

JUNIPER

That’s not a fair reason.

RICHARD

Juniper. The answer is no.

JUNIPER

But thats not fai-

KOURTNEY

Juniper. Lets not do this. You’re going to be late.

Montage

Jay and his friend SIMON, a pudgy short boy with black hair, are signing up for the musical.

Juniper and Taliyah, a tall girl with golden curls, are signing up for the Gay-Straight Alliance club.

Jay shows his parents the cast list. They give him a hug.

Juniper’s dad is holding up a GSA flyer, yelling at her.

Jay is graduating. He looks out to see his family cheering from the crowd.

Juniper is graduating. She looks out and doesn’t see anyone.

END MONTAGE

EXT. PARK - AFTERNOON

Jay is sitting on a bench talking to Simon, while ROWAN, Jay’s little brother, plays in the park. There’s a faint thunder in the background. They get his brother and walk to the car. Juniper passes them, bumping into Jay. There’s a welt on her cheek and her eyes look swollen. Jay apologizes but Juniper ignores him and keeps walking. He turns to follow but continues to his car instead. She walks towards a bench and lays down.

INT. JAY’S KITCHEN - MORNING

Jay’s family sits at the bar eating breakfast and listening to the morning weather report talk about the upcoming hurricane.

LAUREN

Sweetie, remember to go get toilet paper from the store before 4:30. Jay nods and continues to eat.

EXT. PARK - DAY

Juniper wakes up on the bench. She shivers, her body dripping wet. She lifts her hand to touch her cheek and begins to cry. She grabs her backpack and starts walking.

INT. JAY’S ROOM - DAY

The clock reads 4:05 and Jay is in his room playing a game. He glances at his clock and curses, rushing out the door.

INT. STORE BATHROOM - DAY

Juniper is in the store’s bathroom. She has on dry oversized clothes. She’s holding her soaked clothes under the hand dryer and hangs them on one of the stalls. Then puts her head under the dryer.

INT. STORE - DAY

Jay is rushing through the aisle with headphones in. The shoppers around him are in chaos. He grabs the toilet paper and heads to the back to browse through the albums, ignoring the intercom announcements. The shoppers rush past him, leaving as they are told.

INT. STORE - DAY

A security guard, MARK, a tall man with blond hair, begins checking the aisles. He approaches the back of the store when another guard, JACKSON, a shorter man, stops him.

JACKSON

Hey are you done? The storm is picking up outside.

Mark briefly looks back then nods. The two turn and leave.

INT. STORE - CONTINUOUS

Jay makes his way to the front. The lights go out. He pulls out his phone’s light while walking to the front store. Another beam of light flashes in front of him, coming closer. The lights come back on and he sees the girl from the park. He jumps with a startled look on his face.

JUNIPER

Don’t bother checking. We’re stuck.

Jay’s mouth falls open as he goes to unlock his phone.

JUNIPER (CONT’D)

I already tried, no service.

A loud clap of thunder shakes the building, and the lights flicker. Juniper slightly jumps and looks up.

JUNIPER (CONT’D)

We should get some supplies, then find somewhere to sleep.

Jay nods and follows Juniper through the store. They each grab a flashlight and batteries then go to the outdoor furniture section, grabbing blankets on the way. Jay takes cushions from the other chairs and creates a bed on the floor.

JUNIPER (CONT’D)

I’m Juniper by the way.

JAY

I’m Jay. I think we went to the same school?

JUNIPER

Yep. I saw you in the spring musical. You were pretty good.

JAY

Pretty good? I am the best damn tin man that school will ever see!

Juniper lets out a laugh.

JUNIPER

Athlete turned theatre kid. You’re quite the cliche.

Jay rolls his eyes and throws a pillow at her.

JAY

Shut up!

Juniper giggles and takes the pillow. She lies on her chair and drifts off to sleep.

INT. STORE - NIGHT

Jay’s eating out of a cereal box. There’s a loud clap of thunder and the lights go out again. Juniper wakes up screaming and hyperventilating. Jay turns on his flashlight and looks in her direction. He rushes over to help her calm down and rubs her back until she falls back asleep.

INT. STORE - MORNING

Juniper wakes up first to see Jay laying with his head on her lawn chair. She smiles at him and then ruffles his hair.

JUNIPER

Get up! How could you even sleep like that?

Jay slowly raises his head and shrugs it off. Juniper hands him a small box of cereal and they eat in silence.

JUNIPER (CONT’D)

I’m bored. We should play a game or something.

JAY

We could play two truths and a lie.

Juniper scoffs.

JUNIPER

That’s boring. We should play tag.

JAY

Tag with two people? That’s even worse.

JUNIPER

Fine.

Juniper sticks out her fist.

JUNIPER (CONT’D)

Rock, paper, scissors?

JAY

You’re on.

Juniper picks rock and Jay chooses scissors. Jay puts his head in his hands while Juniper does a mini victory dance. She stands up and taps him on the shoulder and runs away.

JUNIPER

Tag! You’re it!

Jay feigns a hurt expression and then bolts after her.

INT. STORE - LATER

The two sit across from each other eating cereal and playing tic tac toe on a piece of paper.

JAY

Can I ask you something?

JUNIPER

You just did.

Jay lets out a small laugh and throws a piece of cereal at her.

JAY

No something serious.

Juniper nods.

JAY (CONT’D)

Why were you crying that day in the park?

Juniper looks up from the paper then immediately back down.

FLASHBACK:

INT. JUNIPER’S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Juniper walks into the living room, fidgeting with her fingers. Her parents are watching something on the TV.

JUNIPER

Mom. Dad. We need to talk.

RICHARD

If this is about going to that march you can forget it.

KOURTNEY

Why would you want to hang out with those people anyway honey?

JUNIPER

Because, I’m those people.

KOURTNEY

Oh honey don’t be ridiculous.

JUNIPER

I’m gay, mom.

Her mom lets out a sigh as her father makes her way towards her. He looks at her for a second, his face turning up in disgust. He backhands her.

RICHARD

Get out.

END FLASHBACK.

INT. STORE - DAY

Juniper begins to cry. Jay rushes over and starts wiping her tears, embracing her. They sit like that for a while until Juniper pulls away.

JUNIPER

Let’s do something fun. I’m tired of crying.

Jay chuckles and nods. They make their way to the toy section and grab the lightsabers.

JAY

Loser has to buy dinner?

Juniper nods and they begin their duel. They laugh, hitting each other and running around the toy aisles when they start hearing voices.

They drop their sabers and sprint to the front of the store. They are met by the two security officers.

JUNIPER

Oh thank goodness.

JACKSON

What are you guys doing in here?

JAY

We got locked in! Did you guys even check the back of the store and the bathrooms?

Mark’s face turns red as Jackson turns to him.

MARK

I am so sorry. Were you guys ok?

JUNIPER

We’re fine it was only a couple of days. But we did have to open some cereal and water.

JACKSON

Don’t even worry about that. It’ll be coming out of Mark’s paycheck!

Jackson gives mark a stern look as he pats him on the shoulder. Mark lets out a worried laugh.

MARK

I bet your family is worried sick. You guys should go on home.

JACKSON

We’ll take care of everything here.

Juniper and Jay look at them with wide eyes.

JUNIPER

Thank you so much.

EXT. JUNIPER’S HOUSE - DAY

Thank you!

JAY

They stand at the front door. Juniper lets out a deep breath and rings the doorbell. Richard opens the door, his jaw tightens as soon as he sees Juniper.

JUNIPER

I will not change who I am for anyone. And you can’t control me anymore.

Richard clenches his fist stepping towards her. Juniper doesn’t flinch, looking Richard in the eyes. Richard raises his fist slightly and Jay walks up to stand by Juniper’s side. Richard looks between the two and scoffs slamming the door. Jay slings his arm over Juniper’s shoulder and they head back to the car.

INT. JAY'S KITCHEN - DAY

Jay and Juniper walk into the kitchen immediately bombarded by Jay’s parents and brother. They pull Jay into a tight hug leaving Juniper in the corner. Lauren soon pulls her into a hug. Juniper looks at Jay sending him a silent thank you as a tear rolls down her cheek.

Fade out.