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1.INT. THEATER STAGE. NIGHT

In a high school theater, students from the drama club are sitting for the table read. They are reading aloud from scripts for the play "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare. DARIA, a 16- year old girl, plays Viola. Other drama students play Olivia and other characters. They all stumble a little over their lines, as this is the first read-through/rehearsal.

OLIVIA

Stay, I prithee, tell me what thou

thinkest of me.

DARIA

That you do think you are not what

you are.

JANE, another 16-year old student, and Daria's best friend,is sitting on the edge of the stage near the wings sketching in a notebook. She watches Daria, smiling.

OLIVIA

If I think so, I think the same of

you.

DARIA

Then think you right, I am not what

I am.

OLIVIA

I would you were as I would have

you be!

The DIRECTOR interrupts Daria's next line.

DIRECTOR

Good job with the text, you two.

Before we end today, I want to

announce something, we are going to

have a kiss scene in the second

scene, between Viola and the Duke.

Daria looks shocked. Students titter.

DIRECTOR (CONT’D)

Shhh!Relax, Daria. We aren't going

to run it until you're both

completely comfortable with your

lines.

The director turns their attention to the whole room.

Daria exchange a glance with Jane and makes a pained expression. Jane responds to her by acting like she is killed.

DIRECTOR (CONT'D)

And I expect everyone to be mature

and act professionally about this,

okay?

2.INT.WARDROBE.NIGHT.

Jane finished Olivia's measurements and wrote them down in a notebook alongside the measurements of everyone in the cast. The notebook is adorned with sketches and drawings of costumes, and clippings of clothes from magazines - Jane is clearly the costume designer/dresser of the play. Daria sits aside with a frown on her face.

Jane walks over and straightens her body to measure her head for a hat.

DARIA

Ugh, I can't believe my first kiss

will be Daniel Mou le.

JANE

This is the 15th time you said

that.

DARIA

Just kill me.

JANE

That tends to happen when you're

playing the main character.

DARIA

This was a mistake.

I kinda wish I'd never auditioned.

JANE

Oh shut up.

Jane is on her knees in front of Daria, measuring her waist. She stops and looks up at Daria.

JANE (CONT’D)

You're going to be great.

Daria bites her lip. She's genuinely scared.

Jane stands up, her hands still on Daria's waist, and very

seriously looks into Daria's eyes.

JANE (CONT’D)

(with a dramatic tone)

Most radiant, exquisite, and

unmatchable beauty.

Daria giggles and pretends to hit her. They run out of the classroom, playing and fooling around.

3.EXT. STREET.LATE AFTERNOON.

Daria and Jane walk home. The night is cold and they are

bundled up.

JANE

You should find someone else to

kiss first. For practice.

DARIA

(sarcastically)

With Who？Maybe my little Bella?

JANE

Well, not with that attitude.

DARIA

Sorry. I'm just a bit freaked about

this whole play...

The kiss scene, the spotlight and

so many lines to remember.

Jane looks serious. They stop.

JANE

I'll help you.

DARIA

What do you mean?

Daria looks uncertainly at Jane. Jane's face is hard to read. She bites her lip, looking at Jane expectantly.

There is a flicker of disappointment in Jane's eyes.

JANE

I mean, the lines.

You need someone to practice with,

right? I volunteer.

DARIA

Oh, ok, thanks. I wasn't- never

mind.

They say goodnight and Daria heads inside.

4.INT.WARDROBE/VANITY MIRROR.DAY

Daria is sitting at a table in the wardrobe that Jane has set up as a makeup/costume counter. Daria is running her

monologue as Jane holds up different fake mustaches to her face, scrutinizing which one to use.

DARIA

-methought her eyes had lost her

tongue, for she did speak in starts

distractedly-she loves me,

methought her tongue, no...

Daria tries to look at her page to get the lines right

JANE

Hold still.

DARIA

-methought her eyes had lost her

tongue for she did speak in starts

distractedly, she loves me.

Jane grabs her face and holds it in place as she works with the mustache.

JANE

"she loves me sure" you keep

dropping the "sure"

DARIA

Speak in starts distractedly, she

loves me sure -

BRIAN, one of Daria's cast mates, wearing yellow ribboned stockings approaches to talk to Jane.

BRIAN

Hey Jane!

Jane barely responds, she's too focused on her work on Daria's face.

BRIAN (CONT’D)

Just wanted to say, um, these

yellow stockings are hilarious.

Really great idea.

JANE

Not my idea, Brian. Literally what

Shakespeare described in the

script.

Brian looks a little deflated.

BRIAN

Oh, yeah, well, you did a great job

with them.

There is an awkward beat. Jane ignores him. He leaves.

DARIA

He has such a crush on you.

Jane shrugs.

JANE

He's not my type.

DARIA

Artistic and sweet isn't your type?

Since when?

Jane is suddenly shy.

JANE

Since I started liking someone

else.

DARIA

Excuse me? What?

Jane is suddenly busy with her pencil sharpener or some other makeup tool

DARIA (CONT’D)

You like someone? And you didn't

tell me? Who is it?!

JANE

I- it's not-

DARIA

Jane!

JANE

I wasn't- It's just that- don't, I

don't, oh whoops I need to sharpen

this excuse me.

Jane hurries away. Daria is gobsmacked. She has never seen her friend lost for words before. Absentmindedly she looks at the script and read her lines

DARIA

For she did speak in starts

distractedly... Daria's eyes widen.

DARIA (CONT’D)

...she loves me, sure.

5.EXT. STREET. NIGHT.

Walking home, Jane is reading from a script, trying to keep Daria focused on running lines.

DARIA

Is it Jack from your Algebra class?

JANE

Ew, he still picks his nose. Come

on, focus "How does he love me"

DARIA

"With adorations, fertile tears,

with groans that thunder love, with

sighs of fire". Ooh! Is it Simon?

JANE

The guy with the Pokemon lunchbox?

Seriously? I'm offended.

DARIA

Well you could make this all a lot

easier by just fessing up and

telling me.

JANE

I've decided boys are immature

gross.

Daria looks at her curiously. What does she mean by that?

JANE (CONT’D)

Now, come on. "but yet I cannot

love him, he might have took his

answer long ago"

Daria sighs. They continue walking.

DARIA

"If I did love you in my master's

flame/with such a suffering, such a

deadly life-"

They arrive at Daria's home. Daria motions goodnight. Daria turns to go inside. Jane, not looking at the script, stops her with lines from the play.

JANE

Stay, I prithee, tell me what thou

thinkest of me.

Daria looks at her seriously, sensing that this is more than just running lines.

DARIA

That you do think you are not what

you are.

JANE

If I think so, I think the same of

you.

DARIA

Then think you right, I am not what

I am.

JANE

I would you were, as I would have

you be.

Jane's eyes are vulnerable. Daria looks at her as understanding dawns. She slowly smiles at Jane. It seems at first as though it will be a slow-motion, sweet moment of unspoken understanding and mutual love...If this was a cartoon, there would be pink bubbles floating around. Then

Daria's smile swiftly becomes too big and too bright and her voice is too loud and all the bubbles pop as she says:

DARIA

Well, g'night! Thanks for your help

with lines!

She affectionately punches Jane in the shoulder, in a "buddy buddy" gesture. Or maybe gives her overly enthusiastic finger guns. It's weird. Jane looks confused. Daria turns to go inside. As soon as her face is turned from Jane it becomes an agony of "what the hell did I just do??". Jane is left standing with a hurt look on her face as well. It is awkward and confusing for everyone.

6.INT. DARIA’S ROOM. NIGHT

Daria's room is small, but warmly and exquisitely decorated. There are photographs of her and Jane, an old friendship bracelet, half of a best friends locket, etc...signs that they've been friends a long time. She sits on the sofa, a little dazed.

She opens her phone and googles "how to kiss". She finds an

article with detailed instructions. She carefully holds up

her hand, making a fist (in the same way an amateur puppeteer would make a mouth between their thumb and forefinger) checking and comparing her technique with the illustration in the article. When she has made a satisfactory mouth, she closes her eyes and leans in for the kiss. Suddenly, her hand is Jane. They kiss tenderly. Daria's eyes fly open in shock. She is kissing her hand - Jane is nowhere in sight. Daria pushes her hand away from her face with a startled yelp. What??

7.INT. HIGH SCHOOL THEATER. NIGHT.

The set is finished, the actors are in full costume. it's tech rehearsal. Daria is onstage. Jane is busy in the wings,fussing with costume adjustments.

DARIA

Poor lady, she were better love a

dream. Disguise, I see-

She looks into the wings. Jane is nowhere to be seen. Daria

stumbles.

DARIA (CONT’D)

thou...thou art wicked. No, Thou

art a wicked...witch? Sighing, the

director calls out.

DIRECTOR

We have to move on. Tonight's the

night, guys, can't put it off any

longer. We have to run the kissing

scene.

Daria looks ill.

DARIA

Um, can I, can we take a quick

break?

The director sighs and waves her hand. Daria runs into the

wings.

INT. THEATER. PROPS ROOM    8                              

Daria races into a dark corner of the wings, on the verge of a panic attack. She trips and falls, gasping for air. She curls into a ball. A hand appears and rubs her back. It's Jane. She comforts Daria, whispering "you're okay" until her breathing slows. Her panic under control, Daria finally makes eye contact. She is a sweaty mess.

They stare at each other, Jane kisses Daria softly, with

Daria's eyes widened and her whole body tensed.The kiss is

cut short by the director calling everyone back to places.

Daria pushes Jane away and runs out of the prop room. Daria

walks out onstage with a thoughtful look on her face.

INT.IN FRONT OF MIRROR. THEATER.             9

Jane is gently using a q-tip to peel away the spirit gum of Daria's mustache. She sneaks a look at Daria's eyes, but Daria is avoiding eye contact. There is no talk, no giggles.

EXT STREET                       10

The girls walk home. It's a little awkward.

JANE

So, how was it?

DARIA

How was what?

eyes.

JANE

Jane rolls kiss, dummy.

Daria hesitates.

DARIA

Um...

JANE

With Daniel, I mean.

DARIA

Oh! Um, it was...kinda sloppy, I

guess.

Jane screws up her nose.

JANE

Ew.

DARIA

I kinda liked it.

Jane looks disappointed.

JANE

Oh.

DARIA

I think I like kissing boys.

JANE

...ok.

DARIA

So.

JANE

So.

DARIA

Um.

JANE

Hey. It's cool. It was just

practice. I couldn't let Daniel

take your kissing virginity, right?

DARIA

Right. Are we cool?

JANE

Totally! Of course!

They hug. Daria's face is hesitant. Jane looks sad, but plasters a smile on her face as they pull away from each other.

INT. DARIA'S ROOM. NIGHT.                11

Daria throws down her bag on the sofa in a panic.Did she just mess up her friendship forever? She sees the photo of her and Jane. She grabs it, looking at it wildly. Tries to take deep steady breaths. Closes her eyes. A flash of kissing Jane. Eyes open. Ragged breaths. Clutches her stomach. Oh god. Retches into her trash can. Curls up on the bed, clutching the trashcan.

INT. THEATER. ONSTAGE.                 12

The play is in full swing. The audience is full. DARIA is up to her ring speech. She holds her hat in her hands.

DARIA

I left no ring with her, what means

this lady? Fortune forbid my

outside have not charmed her!

She stops. Horrified. She's gone up on her line. Completely

forgot it.

DARIA (CONT’D)

For-fortune forbid my outside have

not charmed her!

Nope. Nothing. Fuck. It's getting awkward. The audience is

starting to guess she's stuck. Daria looks around in a panic and catches Jane waving to her from the wings. Jane points to the hat in Daria's hands and mouths "look" Daria

surreptitiously looks inside the hat and sees that Jane has

written her monologue inside it. Daria glances at the next

line and it all comes back to her in a rush. She continues

the monologue fearlessly:

DARIA (CONT’D)

She made good view of me; indeed,

so much, that sure methought her

eyes had lost her tongue for she

did speak in starts distractedly-

The audience laughs at her self-aware wink. In the wings,

Jane watches her friend bring the house down and beams.

INT. THEATER. WINGS                   13

Curtain call. Daria runs into the wings and hugs Jane

fiercely.

THE END.

Jialin Yu’s script won first prize in the 2024 Humanities & Sciences Undergraduate Writing Contest. Jialin graduated from SVA in 2024 with a degree in Film Directing. The script REHEARSAL has already been turned into a short film, contact me

at jyu47@sva.edu to see it.