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INT. BATHROOM (YOUNG BOY’S HOUSE) - DAY - 2007

Young Boy, a short haired scrappy looking 12 year old boy, is home alone. While the shower runs he sits on the toilet seat putting his elbows to his knees and his hands to his face. He looks towards the bathroom door closing it and then opening it again just so he can see some of what’s on the other side. He doesn’t want to feel trapped.

Stepping into the shower, Young Boy stands right under the blistering hot water. He then quickly drops to a squat, heels touching the floor. Around him are plastic covers to his mom’s cheap razors. He plays with them like they’re spaceships in battle.

THUD! Like a deer that can feel the barrel of a hunter's gun, he looks up wide eyed as he hears a car door closing shut outside. Young Boy waits for the second crash. BOOM! His mom slams the door behind her as she arrives home.

Young Boy quickly puts all the razor covers back to the exact location he grabbed them from. He cuts the water, reaches for his towel--His mother stomps up the stairs--, and puts his boxers on.

He pretends to look for something in the cabinet under the sink.

Screaming his name at the top of her lungs, Young Boy’s mother is infuriated.

His mother ferociously punches her way through the door. Letting the door hit Young Boy then grabbing him by his neck and pulling him up straight.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER

(Talking through her

teeth)

You wanna act tough at school getting into fights and shit?! Cursing out your teachers like you’re hard? You’re lucky I’m not your father.

She fills her hand with liquid soap and a bit of water just to make it foamy.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

(Hissing at him)

Open your mouth. O P E N YOUR MOUTH. NOW.

Puckering his mouth shut and breathing through his nose he fights to turn his head.

She grinds at his lips, but he doesn’t budge. She begins putting water and soap into his nose so he has to open his mouth to breathe. After pouring the liquid soap in and swishing it around she shoves a bar of soap into his mouth and makes him bite down. At this point Young Boy has no fight left in him.

She mutters,

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

Let me catch you acting tough again.

She washes her hands and then leaves while Young Boy is collapsed sitting on the floor staring through the tiles with his mouth still full of soap.

She yells from afar,

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

And hurry up. Get ready. We’re going to the fair tonight. I want funnel cake.

INT. 1998 HONDA - SUNSET

Racing down the highway with her friend on speaker phone, Young Boy’s mom puts a CD MIXTAPE of her favorite songs into the player.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER

I know I told her he was in it for the money and now she’s broke again.(THINK FORESHADOWING)

YBM’S FRIEND

(MURMURING AND LAUGHING OVER PHONE)

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER

Mhmm. Yea these little shits never know when enough is enough. You won’t believe the call I got from his school earlier.

YBM’S FRIEND (MURMURING OVER PHONE)

MUSIC BEGINS PLAYING

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER

Yuup.

She skips to the next song.

SONG BEGINS PLAYING

Young Boy’s mother starts humming along. Young Boy skips the song.

With her friend still talking on the phone she glances at him.

She skips two songs to find one she likes again and as it starts to play Young Boy skips it.

She goes back. He skips it. She goes back. He skips it.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

HOLD UP TIFFANY. I’ll call you back.

She reaches over and starts smacking him in the leg, open handed, over and over while driving. When she’s finished she puts the song back on.

He waits a moment then skips it again and laughs a bit. Young Boy’s mother screams.

EXT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL GRASS PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Young Boy steps out of the CAR and into the big grass parking lot. He looks up towards the distance at the bright lights and pretty rides.

EXT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL TICKET MASTER - NIGHT

Young Boy and his mother walk over together and she buys him a few TICKETS from the ticket master. She tells him to go have fun as she’s already walking away towards the food trucks.

He looks back seeing she is already off on her own and he freezes a bit while looking around observing his surroundings. With two hands gripping his TICKETS holding them up near his chest.

EXT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL - NIGHT

After aimlessly walking around for barely anytime at all, Young Boy catches a glimpse of a girl that is being left by her father in the same way he was left by his mother.

Young Boy follows the girl for a bit from a distance.

EXT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL OUTSIDE FERRIS WHEEL - NIGHT

Eventually they end up on the other side of the park in front of the FERRIS WHEEL. Young Boy hurries up to get in line right behind the girl. As they’re in line they look over to where people are getting on. Two people get on each CART.

When they get to the front the girl hands her TICKETS to the worker and gets on. Young Boy follows close behind so it seems like they may be together. Not only does the girl not stop him, she has already sat at the end of the seat as if leaving room for him.

INT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL FERRIS WHEEL - NIGHT

Both of them are sitting with their hands resting on the seat at their sides. Both are looking forward and the girl is putting on a comfortable display swinging her feet gently.

Young Boy on the other hand, cannot help, but divulge his anxiety through every racing glance, tightened muscle, and a face that resembles a mouse’s after the trap comes down on their tail.

The FERRIS WHEEL has already started at this point. It moves slowly.

The girl turns her head to her right a bit, looking out the window.

Young Boy tilts his head a bit and looks towards her as if he’s in trouble. He sees the calmness in the girl and takes a deep breath; calming himself through her presence.

Not really knowing what to say, but wanting to take a chance he says smoothly,

YOUNG BOY (INSERT NAME HERE).

She whispers,

FESTIVAL GIRL

(Low tone, but not full whisper)

Giulia.

As the FERRIS WHEEL begins to bring them higher, the two kids live in silent company while they enjoy the view. They approach the peak height of the ride when it comes to a grinding halt.

They both sort of look around, but not at each other. Young Boy peers over the edge of the CART and slowly snakes back into his seat.

The operator hops on the ride’s PA system

V.O. RIDE OPERATOR

(From the PA system)

Good evening everyone! It seems as though there has been a small jam in the machine! However, have no fear! Should be a quick fix and the wheel will be back up and running in no time!

Young Boy starts breathing a bit heavier in his chest. You can see it, but can’t hear the breathing. Both of them are still sitting with their hands on the seat at their sides.

Young Boy glides his hand across the seat slowly resting his ring and pinky finger over Giulia’s left hand.

Without smiling or changing her facial expression she blushes still kind of looking out the window. Never acknowledging him with her gaze.

Young boy looks straight blushing a bit and sort of wide-eyed with his mouth-tightened. He’s nervous and trying to hide it the best he can while also tightening up as to not upset the delicate creature next to him.

Young Boy glances over to her in a bit of awe and shifts his gaze back forward so as not to stare.

They hold there for a while with his two fingers atop hers.

She doesn’t know exactly whether or not to trust this boy, but she can feel the warmth he has to share in his touch. She feels safe.

After another beat the FERRIS WHEEL starts to clank and sputter until it is moving again.

EXT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL FERRIS WHEEL EXIT PATH - NIGHT

The door to the CART opens and Young Boy gets out first helping Giulia out. He lets go of her hand as they walk down the long exit path.

His mother is already walking towards the machine suspicious that her boy got caught up in this.

When they reach the end his mother grabs his arm and pulls him towards the ticket master with too much force for him to fight. When he whips his head back around to where Giulia was he doesn’t see her. She’s gone.

EXT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL TICKET MASTER - NIGHT

Now standing back behind his mom, Young Boy is stuck holding her PURSE, FUNNEL CAKE, & STUFFED ANIMAL. He watches while his mom argues with the ticket master.

It’s hard to make out what the ticket master is saying as Young Boy is zoned out looking past the fair and through the trees in the distance.

However, his mom can be heard arguing.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER

(A little tipsy and very angry)

My son almost died up there! What do you mean there’s nothing you can do?!

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

HOW DARE YOU accuse me of smelling like alcohol.

Leaning in towards the ticket master’s booth.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

(Speaking quieter through her teeth)

I’m gonna sue you and this shitty fair for every second my son was stranded on that death trap.

She maintains eye contact with the ticket master as she slowly leans back.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

(Speaking up again and gathering herself)

Let’s go (INSERT NAME).

His mother storms off grabbing Young Boy, snapping him back into reality. Being pulled by his right arm with her PURSE still hanging from it. The FUNNEL CAKE with barely two bites taken out in his left hand and the STUFFED ANIMAL pinched in his left armpit.

EXT. ITALIAN FESTIVAL GRASS PARKING LOT - NIGHT

As he’s being dragged through the lot he glances left and catches a glimpse of Giulia.

Her father has an iron grip on her while he opens the back seat of his LIFTED BLACK TRUCK. He aggressively hurries her out of impatience.

Young boy watches on powerlessly catching Giulia’s gaze. She makes a sort of face that whispers “oh well.”

He holds his gaze even after being dragged behind another set of cars and he can no longer see her.

INT. 1998 HONDA - NIGHT

Young Boy and his mother slam the doors shut as they sit into her car. The STUFFED ANIMAL is holding his mom’s PURSE while sitting in the backseat with the SEATBELT on.

Young Boy’s mother is fixing herself in the vanity mirror.

Young Boy sits there with his SEATBELT on. He holds the FUNNEL CAKE with both hands resting on his lap. He stares forward.

YOUNG BOY’S MOTHER

(Fixing her lipstick and hair)

So who was that cute thing you were leaving the ride with?

Young Boy grinds his teeth, tightening his face, and breathes heavily through his nose.

He screams and launches the FUNNEL CAKE into the air not caring where it goes and starts thrashing his arms and legs around. Punching the door and center console. Kicking the glove box and windshield.

YOUNG BOY

(Fuming with rage)

I HATE THE FAIR! I HATE IT! I HATE IT! I H A T E IT. TAKE ME HOME NOW! I’M NEVER COMING BACK HERE EVER AGAIN! T A K E M E HOMMMMMEEEEE!!

His mother is shocked as her anger starts to build; she doesn’t entirely know how to react.

Isaiah Gonzalez's script won third prize in the Annual 2024 Humanities & Sciences Undergraduate Writing Contest. Born and raised in New Jersey, Isaiah is a NYC-based artist, director, and writer who is a thesis film student working in various mediums, exploring his identity, trauma, and the coexistence of the individual and their society. Growing up in a struggling environment with a single mother, Isaiah channels his childhood and emotional healing into each piece.