Sugar

SUGAR (synopsis)

This is the story of a young boy growing up in the family home where he lived with several generations of family members. One of those family members is an uncle that molests him from the young age of 5 years until 8 years old. The grandmother knew about the abuse but did nothing to stop it, no other family members knew. The uncle eventually goes to prison for this crime but to someone else and the abuse stopped only then. Throughout his childhood, he is told that he apparently has “female” tendencies and would often be described as having a little “sugar”. The young boy grows up confused about his sexuality and has various experiences with both men and women until he realizes that he is indeed gay. He will stay “in the closet” for years until he finally gets the courage to live in his truth.

SUGAR (intro)

First scene: The movie begins with flashbacks of a happy family including the parents and their three sons. The flashbacks are of the good times. The picnics, the family trips, playing games, singing, dancing…. happy times…. nothing but smiles and laughter! {no audio}

Narrated by Max: “This was my life…. Before I went through hell.”

Next scene: Flashbacks play again but of the aftermath of a fatal car accident that took the lives of both of Max’s parents and brothers. The wrecked vehicle, the hospital, the doctors, and nurses performing CPR…. Sad times… nothing but screams and cries! {no audio}

SUGAR

Max is riding silently in the backseat of his grandmothers (Diane) car with tears rolling down his face… he knows that his grandmother is talking but he cannot hear the words coming from her mouth. He is still in a state of disbelief of what just happened. He had not seen his grandmother in a few years as the family was not closely knit. They finally arrive at his grandmother’s house… his new residence.

Diane: Max? Baby? We’re here.

(Max doesn’t move from his seat).

Diane: Max? You’re going to be alright, baby. I’ll get your uncle to help you with your things.

(Max is thinking that he has never met his uncle because he was in prison most of his life).

Uncle Bobby: Hey Max! You remember me? I’m your uncle Bobby. I know you were very young the last time you saw me, but your mom was my favorite little sister. I’ll get your bags. Go ahead on in the house with your grandma.

(Max follows his grandmother in the house…. And it is full of people…. family.)

Diane: (introduces Max to the family).

Max, this will be your room. Bobby’s room is down the hall and my room is on the other side of the house. It’s just the three of us. Everything was packed up from the house and brought here for you.

Max: Thank you, grandma.

Diane: You hungry, baby?

Max: No.

Uncle Bobby: Here you go, Max. I got all of your bags out of the car.

Max: Thank you, Uncle Bobby.

Diane: Why don’t you lie down for a while, Max. Get some rest and you can eat a little later.

(Commotion and chatter can be heard through the walls. Everyone discussing the accident and how sad it is) …

Max awakens from a nightmare, in a cold sweat, about the accident. He is crying, trembling as he relives his losses. He is alone, but he hears the television playing in another room. He lies back down as he remembers where he is….

The next morning…. The smell of breakfast fills the home…

Diane: Max! Bobby! Breakfast is ready!

As Max enters the kitchen, his grandmother and uncle are already seated at the table with a mountain of breakfast food choices.

Diane: Come on in baby, have a seat. Let’s get some food in ya! What do you like to eat for breakfast? I cooked everything.

Max: I’m not hungry.

Uncle Bobby: Boy! You have got to eat something! Gotta keep ya strength up.

Diane: He’s right baby. How about a little orange juice? Maybe some eggs?

Max: Okay. (he doesn’t eat the food, just moves it around the plate).

Diane: We are going to get through this together, baby. (with tears in her eyes).

Max: (silently sobbing).

Diane: Your uncle and I have to go and make the arrangements for the funeral in a few hours. Some of your cousins will be here to keep you company, okay?

Max: Okay, grandma.

A couple of hours later, more family members show up. Max is greeted by some of his cousins. They are playing video games.

Diane: Okay, Max. We will be back in a few. There are some snacks in the kitchen.

Max: Okay.

At the funeral home…. Diane and Bobby make the arrangements for her daughter (Max’s mother), her two grandsons and their father. The funerals will be held together. Diane receives a call from the employer of Max’s dad (Ralph). She will be the beneficiary of his estate.

Bobby: So how much money are we going to get? Maybe I can finally pay off some of this debt.

Diane: No, Bobby. That money is for the funeral services and Max. We must make sure he is well taken care of because we are all he has now. And that is a sad situation for a five-year-old!

(Bobby is disappointed but does not say a word as they drive back home).

A week later is the funeral. It’s a beautiful but sad service. Many people come to offer their condolences and support. Max sits silently sobbing during the entire funeral service. Flashbacks playing in his head repeatedly. He wonders what is going to become of him…

Riding in the car to school….

Uncle Bobby: Hey, Max? How old are you?

Max: Five.

Uncle Bobby: You settling in, okay? You making friends? How about your cousins? Yall getting along?

Max: Yes. Everything’s okay, Uncle Bobby.

Uncle Bobby: Okay, good. You know that we are here for you if you need anything, right?

Max: Yes, Uncle Bobby, I know.

Uncle Bobby: Good, because we love ya little man.

Max: I love you too.

Pulls up to the school….

Uncle Bobby: Have a good day today ya hear?!

Max: Yes, sir.

After school….

Max: Hey, uncle Bobby. Do you think you can help me with my homework?

Uncle Bobby: Aaw man…. I wasn’t too good in school. Lemme have a look at it. Oh nawl, lemme get one of your older cousins to come and help you out.

Cousin Teddy: Hey Max. How’s it going?

Max: Cool.

Cousin Teddy: I came to help you with your homework. Is Uncle Bobby still here?

Max: No. He went to the corner store to get some cigarettes.

Cousin Teddy: Okay. Let’s get started before he gets back.

Max: You got somehere you gotta be?

Cousin Teddy: Yep!

Max: Well alrighty then (laughs).

Dinnertime …..

Diane: How you settling in, baby? Is there anything you need?

Max: No, grandma. I’m okay.

Diane: You know you can talk to me right, baby?

Max: Yes, ma’am.

Diane: I set it up so that you can speak to somebody at your school too if you need it oaky, baby?

Max: Yes, ma’am.

Afterschool one day…. Max is playing a video game. Diane is at work. Uncle Bobby comes from the back room watching him from behind. He says nothing…. Smoking a cigarette.

2 years later….

School boy: pointing at Max…… “Max acts like a girl! Look at the way he walks and talks. It’s just like my sister!”

…The other kids laugh… Max cries…

Conversation with grandma….

Max: Hey, grandma?

Diane: Yes, baby?

Max: The kids pick on me at school. They call me a girl.

Diane: Oh no, baby. Kids can be so cruel. You just ignore them, baby. God sees all.

Max: Can God see Uncle Bobby coming into my room at night too, grandma?

Diane: What are you talking about, baby? Does your uncle come and tuck you in at night?

Max: Yes, ma’am… and …

Uncle Bobby: Hey yall! What yall in here talking about?!

Diane: Nothing much, son. Just chit chatting.

Uncle Bobby: Oh, okay. Max don’t forget to take out the trash.

Later that night….

Diane: Bobby? Max says you tuck him in at night, is that right?

Bobby: Well, yeah. When I lock up at night, I make sure both of yall are safe and sound.

Diane gives Bobby a side eye …

A few days later…

Max: Grandma?

Diane: Yes, baby?

Max: Uncle Bobby hurts me.

Diane: What do you mean baby?

Max: He comes in my room at night and hurts me.

Diane: Well, you just let me handle that, baby. Okay? You hear me?

Max: Yes, grandma.

Diane: Now off to school you go before you miss that bus!

Later that day…

Diane: Now what was it you went to jail for son?

Bobby: Mama, you know what I went to jail for, come on nah. Why you gotta keep reminding me?!

Diane: Because I just had a little chat with Max. And what do you think he told me, Bobby?

Bobby: Oh no mama, I would never do anything like that again!

Diane: You betta not touch him again or it’s gone be some smoke in the city!

Except he did touch him again…. Max just did not say anything. But why would he? Nothing happened when he told the first time…

Another year passes when Max is eight years old. And his uncle is arrested again for sexual assault of a minor...

Max continues through more years of being ridiculed by the other kids about his sexuality as he dates girls trying to prove that he is indeed not gay…

He also knows that the older adults in his family keep saying that he has a little sugar in his tank…

He is now twenty years old when he falls in love with a man….

During a night out on the town with a few friends, Max, meets what he describes as a “beautiful soul, of a man” that he cannot keep his eyes off of …

Max tells his lover about the sexual abuse that he endured from his uncle after the deaths of his family…

They develop a friendship… then a love affair in secret for years until they finally get the nerve to come out of the closet…. The closet they thought they were in but everyone else already knew… And no one knew that Uncle Bobby had also “hurt” cousin Teddy too…