Romeo

My first ten pages are attached in PDF format.

TREATMENT

a treatment for a revised screenplay, 14th January 2022

Camryn Chandrruangphen

Logline

When a naïve art student becomes intrigued by a lonely dancer, he starts to realise just how complex this boy’s life is. Can he ever be ready for that? Façades are never what they seem...

Characters

August – A naïve art student who falls in love with a lonely dancer, Alex. August doesn’t understand what he’s getting himself into by getting involved with Alex.

Alex – The lonely dancer August falls for. His mother died when he was young, so he has no choice but to live with his homophobic father. He dances to forget the pain.

Alex’s Dad – A single dad who becomes pious following the passing of his wife and Alex’s mother. He ingrains what he believes to be God’s stance on homosexuality on his son. He never the impact he’s having on his son.

Alex’s Mom – Died of an unknown illness when Alex was a child. Had she lived to see Alex in his adolescence, she would’ve accepted his sexuality without a doubt.

Gabriel, Cassie, and Eilidh – August’s friends. Eilidh’s mum is religious, so she understands Alex’s struggle and helps his dad understand. Cassie is the most sensible one out of the group. Gabriel is August’s closest friend. They have Art class together.

August’s Mom and Dad – Very supportive of their son’s sexuality. August’s mom is a pre-school teacher and his dad’s a painter.

Act 1

HILLGATE HIGH CLASSROOM - In Math class one day, August becomes impressed and intrigued by Alex, when he confidently answers an equation. Later, August watches as Alex dances in the auditorium. Alex appears serene but expressive, as if he is finally breathing.

ALEX’S HOUSE - We are introduced to Alex’s religious, close-minded dad. Later, Alex hides both his scars as well as his sexuality from him.

DREAMSCAPE – Alex appears to August dancing to James’s Arthur’s “Trainwreck”. In another dreamscape, August searches for Alex. He appears to him sadder, as if the life has drained from his face. There are now the scars from the real world on Alex’s arms.

NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET - Alex’s dad makes him go out to a neighbourhood with LGBTQ+ flags outside some of the houses, to spread the word of God. Alex looks severely uncomfortable during the promotion. The day after, he becomes reclusive.

HILLGATE HIGH DANCE STUDIO - Alex suffers an injury in Dance class due to the stress of his home life.

HAPPY VALLEY CARNIVAL - At a carnival costume party, August gazes at Alex dressed as a prince. He is mesmerised by the radiant vision. During a conversation between the two, Alex becomes defensive after August compliments his dancing.

AUGUST’S BEDROOM - August begins to draw various sketches of Alex’s features. A crown, shoulders, arms, and torsos.

HILLGATE HIGH HALLWAY - When August catches Alex in the hallway, he accidentally pulls Alex’s sleeve up, revealing his arm covered in scars. Later, to win him over, August slips a fully refined portrait of Alex with “Can we start over?” into his locker.

HOSPITAL - In the past, Alex’s mom tells her husband to raise their son with a strong father figure. He misinterprets her only dying wish.

CHURCH - We then see both the religious origins of Alex’s dad, and Alex’s discovery of his sexuality.

Act 2

HILLGATE HIGH BENCHES - Alex begins to mingle with August and his friends. Alex warns August about his dad. Alex lies to his dad because he was with August.

MOVIE THEATRE - The two of them watch “Boy Erased” at the movie theatre. It triggers Alex’s religious trauma.

COFFEE SHOP - In the past, Alex’s parents teach their son that same-sex love is beautiful upon seeing a gay couple in public. In another flashback,

KINDERGARTEN - We see August’s realisation of his feelings towards boys as a young child.

ALEX’S BEDROOM - Alex dances freely in his room before his dad catches him. At school, the friends come up with a plan to change his dad’s views.

PARK - Alex shouts at August because he thinks August wants him to act less broken.

CHURCH - After getting advice from a fellow churchgoer, Alex’s dad drags his son along to a homophobic service. Alex is overwhelmed with trauma. This is the final straw.

AUGUST’S BEDROOM - In the middle of making out, August notices that Alex’s scars have worsened after the service.

Act 3

GROCERY STORE - August gets caught up with Alex’s dad at the grocery store. He tries to conceal his rage and sadness. August lies about the fact that he even knows Alex.

ALEX’S BEDROOM - Alex starts to experience derealisation because of his religious trauma and his overwhelming situation with his dad. He searches up the symptoms. August reads it and rushes to his house to try and save him.

ALEX’S HOUSE - August and his friends go to Alex’s house to try and convince his dad that homosexuality isn’t a sin. Alex’s dad tells his son that that life will being him nothing but pain. Alex sends a final text to Alex. His suicide note. August sees his boyfriend lying unconscious underwater in the bath. After Alex’s death, August goes over to Alex’s house to show his dad the drawings. Alex’s Dad asks to keep the portrait of his son. He searches up LGBTQ+ Christians on the internet to gain understanding. He hangs a rainbow flag on his porch, just like the couples did earlier on in the film.

AUGUST’S BEDROOM – After Alex’s death, August reveals to his mom Alex immortalised in the fully refined drawings he drew of him when he was alive.

CEMETERY - In the Fall, Alex’s dad visits the graves of his wife and son. He sobs quietly after placing flowers at both.

August walks past the dance studio Alex always danced in. He pictures him there, with an outstretched arm. He takes his hand, and they dance together. It’s magic.