Tainted Love

My first ten pages are attached in PDF format.

TREATMENT

a treatment for a revised screenplay, 4th September 2021

Camryn Chandrruangphen

Logline

As a high school jock comes to terms with his sexuality, he his forced to juggle a newfound attraction, his high school reputation, and his parents’ conditional love. How much will his freedom truly cost?

Characters

Seth – An initially closeted jock whose parents are homophobic. He struggles to come to terms with his sexuality, which leads to outwardly expressed internalised homophobia towards Lucas, his eventual boyfriend.

Lucas – An openly gay photography student. He’s been out to his friends since freshman year. They love him for it. His parents couldn’t be more accepting. But there’s one thing: They hate Seth for bullying their son. Complications ensue.

Leah – Lucas’s best friend in his trio of friends. Her style is just edgy enough to still fit the high school dress code.

Jacob and Mandy – The other two friends in the group.

Mr Torres – Seth’s dad. He believes in manly men, and that traditional gender norms are what is needed to keep society running. Thus, Him at his wife don’t react well to finding out their jock son is gay.

Brady – Seth’s successor as Team Captain. The most threatening jock.

Act 1

CRESTVIEW HIGH HALLWAY/DARKROOM – Lucas hangs photos up to dry in the darkroom. In the hallway, Seth, the “leader” in his friend group of jocks, pushes Lucas hard into his locker. Leah watches from afar. Lucas and Leah have a brief conversation about the incident.

CRESTVIEW HIGH CAFETERIA – Lucas and his friends talk about Seth. Lucas defends Seth after Brady objectifies a girl.

CRESTVIEW HIGH HALLWAY – Seth assaults Lucas. Later, Seth beats him up at Lucas’s locker.

CRESTVIEW HIGH DARKROOM – Seth kisses Lucas.

SETH’S HOUSE – Seth finds dinner in the fridge. His parents aren’t there to eat with him.

BOYS’ LOCKER ROOM – Seth stares at Brady in a towel. Puzzled and embarrassed.

PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE – Seth gets suspended. Leah confronts Principal Michaels.

HOSPITAL – Lucas’s friends visit him in hospital with his parents.

SETH’S BEDROOM – Seth discovers and explores his sexuality. Later, he writes his apology letter to Lucas.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSROOM – Seth tells Lucas he likes him.

FOOTBALL FIELD – Seth and Lucas talk for the first time.

CRESTVIEW HIGH GYM – Seth and Lucas slow dance together. They are secretly recorded by someone standing at the gym door.

Act 2

CRESTVIEW HIGH HALLWAY – Students gather in groups, all watching the video of Seth and Lucas. Leah doesn’t react well to Lucas and Seth being together.

BOYS’ BATHROOM – Seth attempts suicide. Panicked, Lucas calls 911. Later, Lucas rushes out of the stall to hide from Brady.

HOSPITAL – Seth’s parents berate their helpless son. Once they leave, Lucas sneaks in to visit him.

LUCAS’S HOUSE – Lucas tells his parents that he has feelings for Seth. Much like Leah, they don’t react well. Later, in his bedroom, Lucas writes a diary entry about his confusion with Seth.

CRESTVIEW HIGH CAFETERIA – Lucas and his friends hatch a plan to protect Seth from the jocks.

SETH’S HOUSE – In a flashback to Seth’s childhood, Mr Torres displays his homophobia for the for the first time. Later, Seth is ignored and avoided by his parents.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSROOM – Lucas takes pictures of Seth for a school project. Seth has become defensive and reserved. Later, Seth is more open during the second photoshoot. His body position is more relaxed.

Act 3

SETH’S HOUSE – Seth lies to Mr Torres about his sexuality.

CRESTVIEW HIGH HALLWAY - Brady threatens to terrorise Lucas if he brings Seth to prom.

CRESTVIEW HIGH GYM – The students attend their senior prom. Mr Torres is one of the chaperones. As Lucas and Seth slow dance together, Mandy attempts to distract Mr Torres. It works for a while until he sees Seth with Lucas. He drags him outside and starts beating him up while shouting abuse. He leaves when Lucas and his friends show up.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSROOM - In the 3rd and final photoshoot, Lucas and Seth are pictured together, finally happy.

LUCAS’S HOUSE – After the incident at prom, Lucas, his parents, and his friends discuss what to do.

HOSPITAL – Lucas, his parents, and his friends visit Seth in hospital. His face is battered and horribly bruised.

MALL – 2 years later, with Seth’s dad out of prison, Seth can’t reveal his sexuality. He spots Lucas and talks to him briefly. When Seth’s “girlfriend” sees them together, Seth says that Lucas is just an old friend. The pain is visible in both boys’ eyes.