TITLE: THE BIRTH OF THE PLASTIC
INTRO: THE PERFORMANCE
EXT. NORTH SHORE ELEMENTARY - DROP-OFF LOOP - DAY (YEARS AGO)
The morning sun glints off a fleet of luxury SUVs. JUNE GEORGE (30s) leans out of her silver convertible, looking radiant in a fuzzy pink tracksuit. She has her arm draped tightly around YOUNG REGINA, who looks like a porcelain doll in a yellow sundress.
A group of NORTH SHORE MOMS stand nearby. June ensures they are watching. She pulls Regina into a dramatic, smothering hug.
JUNE (Loudly, for the audience) Have the best day, my little soulmate! Mommy loves you more than calorie-free champagne!
MOM #1 You two are just precious, June. I wish my daughter was my best friend.
JUNE (Winking) It's easy! I'm not a "regular" mom, I'm a cool mom. We don't have secrets, we just have shared bank accounts and matching hair ties! Right, Regina?
YOUNG REGINA (Small voice) Yes, Mommy.
June kisses the top of Regina's head with a loud SMOOCH. The moms wave and walk toward the school entrance.
The second the moms are out of earshot, the warmth vanishes from June's face like a light switch being flicked off. She pushes Regina away from her as if the child is a heavy piece of luggage. She pulls a designer wet-wipe from her glove box and aggressively wipes the "affectionate" kiss off Regina's forehead.
JUNE (Voice like a razor) Your posture was leaning. You looked like you had a spine made of cooked pasta. And don't "correct" me with that mopey face—it's aging for both of us.
YOUNG REGINA I'm sorry, I—
JUNE (Hissing) Go to the playground. If I hear from the teacher that you were playing with "ordinary" children, I'm tossing those full-carb cookies in the disposal and you'll spend your weekend doing Refinement Drills until your toes bleed. Now, smile like you're worth the tuition I pay. Go!
Regina flinches, her eyes dimming, but she immediately forces a wide, "pageant-perfect" smile. She turns and walks toward the playground, her little heart heavy behind the mask.
ACT I: THE GARDEN OF INNOCENCE
EXT. NORTH SHORE ELEMENTARY - PLAYGROUND - DAY (YEARS AGO)
A YOUNG REGINA sits on a bench. She is wearing a bright yellow sundress. She is sharing her lunch—actual, full-carb cookies—with two other girls.
YOUNG GRETCHEN and YOUNG KAREN are leaning in, captivated.
YOUNG REGINA And then, the Prince wakes her up with a kiss, and they move into the castle. My Dad says that when I'm ten, we're going to Disneyworld to see the real castle.
YOUNG GRETCHEN (Eyes wide) The real one? With the turrets?
YOUNG REGINA (Nodding eagerly) I'm going to wear a crown, and we're going to have tea with Cinderella. And you guys are invited. Because you're my best friends.
The three girls pinky-swear. Regina's smile is wide, genuine, and toothy. She is the "Light" of the playground.
ACT II: THE CRACK IN THE PORCELAIN
INT. GEORGE MANSION - LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Regina runs inside, clutching a Disney travel brochure.
YOUNG REGINA Mommy! Look! I picked out the hotel. It has a pool with a mermaid!
JUNE GEORGE is sitting on the white sofa, staring at a self-help GURU on the television. The Guru is shouting: "Control is the only currency! If you aren't the master of your environment, you are the slave!"
June doesn't look at the brochure. She looks at Regina's midsection.
JUNE Mermaids don't have bellies, Regina. You've been eating those cookies again. I saw the crumbs in your bag.
YOUNG REGINA But it's for my birthday! I want to see the Princesses—
JUNE (Standing up, voice like ice) Princesses are for children who want to be saved. We are Georges. We don't wait for a castle; we build one and lock the doors. Disneyworld is a fantasy for losers who can't handle the real world.
June snatches the brochure and drops it into the designer trash can.
JUNE (CONT'D) You're staying home. We're going to spend your birthday doing "Refinement Drills." Since you love "characters" so much, let's start a project. Something to help you see people for what they really are.
ACT III: THE BURN BOOK ORIGIN
INT. REGINA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Regina is sobbing. The Guru's voice from the TV downstairs echoes through the floorboards: "Protect your peace by identifying your enemies..."
Regina reaches under her bed and pulls out a notebook. It's pink. It was supposed to be for her Disney autographs.
She thinks of the girls at school. She thinks of how they looked at her cookies. She thinks of her mom's voice: "Identify the flaws before they use yours against you."
She picks up a red marker. She writes: GRETCHEN WIENERS. Her hand trembles. She remembers Gretchen's smile. But then she hears June's voice: "She only likes you for your cookies. She's a user."
Regina presses the marker down hard. "WANTS TO BE ME. WATCH HER."
She flips the page. KAREN SMITH."TOO STUPID TO BE A THREAT. USEFUL."
ACT IV: THE TRANSFORMATION
EXT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - THE NEXT DAY
Gretchen and Karen run up to Regina, bubbling with excitement.
GRETCHEN Regina! Did your mom say yes? Are we going to the castle?
Regina turns. The "toothy" smile is gone. Her hair is no longer in loose curls; it is pulled back into a sharp, clinical ponytail, so tight it looks painful. She looks like a miniature version of June George, her eyes flat, mirroring the cold marble of her mother's living room.
REGINA (Voice cold, flat) Disneyworld is for stupid little losers, Gretchen. Honestly, it's embarrassing that you even asked.
GRETCHEN (Flinching) Oh. I... I just thought we were best friends—
REGINA Don't think. "Best friends" is a lie people tell so they can use you. It makes your face look crinkly. My mom says you have to be the tower, not the victim. Karen, hold my bag. We're walking to the cafeteria, and you're walking three steps behind me.
KAREN (Confused) Why?
REGINA (Eyes flashing with June's predatory hunger) Because I don't want people thinking I'm part of your... clutter. Besides, I'm the one with the book. And you don't want to be in the book, do you?
Regina looks down the hallway at a group of younger girls giggling over a Disney backpack. Her lip curls in a sneer that looks exactly like June's.
Regina struts down the hallway. Gretchen and Karen exchange a terrified look, then quickly fall into line behind her. The "Best Friends" are gone. The "Minions" have been born.
ACT V: THE ART OF THE OUTCAST
EXT. NORTH SHORE MIDDLE SCHOOL - ART PATIO - DAY (6TH GRADE)
A younger REGINA sits alone at a concrete table. She is trying to draw a princess in a notebook, but she keeps erasing it. Her eyes are red, like she's been crying.
JANIS (11) walks by, carrying a messy tray of charcoal pencils and acrylic paints. She wears a bright, oversized tie-dye shirt. She stops, looking at Regina's paper.
JANIS The chin is too sharp. If you want her to look happy, you have to soften the jaw.
REGINA (Sniffing, defensive) I don't want her to look happy. I want her to look perfect. My mom says if it's not perfect, it's a mistake.
JANIS (Scoffs, sitting down uninvited) Well, your mom sounds like she's never tried to blend colors. Mistakes are where the cool stuff happens. See?
Janis takes a charcoal pencil and adds a soft, messy shadow to Regina's drawing. It suddenly looks "human." Regina's eyes widen.
REGINA (Softly) How did you do that?
JANIS I'm Janis. I don't follow the lines. Following the lines is for people who don't have their own ideas.
REGINA (A small, genuine smile) I'm Regina. I've never been allowed to go outside the lines.
JANIS (Handing her a bright purple marker) Well, Regina, today's your lucky day. This marker is permanent. Want to help me ruin this boring white table with a mural?
Regina looks toward the school windows, as if checking for JUNE, then she grabs the marker with a defiant grin.
REGINA My mom would hate this. Let's do it.
They start drawing a massive, colorful sun on the table together. For the first time, Regina isn't a "Tower"—she's just a girl with a friend.
ACT VII: THE LAST DAY OF COLOR
EXT. NORTH SHORE MIDDLE SCHOOL - DAY (8TH GRADE)
REGINA, GRETCHEN, and KAREN sit on a bench. They look normal—not "The Plastics" yet. JANIS (wearing a colorful, mismatched outfit) sits with them, sketching in a notebook.
JANIS (Smiling) I'm almost done with the mural sketch for your birthday party, Regina. It's got a giant sunshine in the middle.
REGINA (Genuine) I love it, Janis. It's going to be the best pool party ever.
KAREN Is there going to be a taco bar?
REGINA Everything you want, Karen.
KYLE (14, cute and athletic) walks by and winks at Regina. Regina blushes.
JANIS (Frowning) You're doing that face again. You've forgotten about me three times this week to watch him practice baseball.
REGINA It's just a crush, Janis! Don't be so... dramatic.
ACT VIII: THE INDIANA GHOST
EXT. NORTH SHORE MIDDLE SCHOOL - BLEACHERS - AFTERNOON
The sun is beginning to set, casting long shadows over the baseball diamond. The sound of a ball hitting a glove CRACKS in the distance. REGINA sits on the bottom bleacher, her backpack covered in colorful doodles—most of them Janis's work.
KYLE (14) jogs over, wiping sweat from his forehead with his jersey. He looks genuinely sad, his usual confident stride replaced by a heavy slump.
KYLE Hey. I didn't think you'd still be here.
REGINA (Smiling, hopeful) I wouldn't miss the last practice before the weekend. I even brought those blue Gatorades you like.
She holds one out. Kyle takes it, but he doesn't open it. He sits down next to her, leaving a noticeable gap between them.
KYLE Regina... my dad finally got the call. The transfer went through. We're moving.
Regina's smile doesn't drop—it just freezes, looking like a cracked mask.
REGINA (Softly) Moving? Like... across town? Because I can ride my bike to—
KYLE (Shaking his head) Indiana. My dad starts at the new plant on Monday. We're packing the truck tonight.
REGINA Tonight? But... my birthday. The pool party. Janis is making a mural, and Gretchen got those fancy streamers... you were supposed to be there.
KYLE (Looking at his cleats) I know. I tried to ask for one more week, but... I'm sorry, Regina. You're really great. Like, the only "normal" person in this place.
He stands up, looking toward the parking lot where a car honks. He leans in and gives her a quick, shy peck on the cheek. It's the kind of "Disney" moment Regina has dreamed of, but it's flavored with salt.
KYLE (CONT'D) Keep being funny, okay? Don't let this place change you.
Kyle jogs away toward his future. Regina stays on the bleacher, clutching the second Gatorade so hard her knuckles turn white. She looks small against the vast, empty field.
REGINA (A whisper to the wind) I won't. I promise.
ACT IX: THE VELVET CAGE
INT. GEORGE MANSION - KITCHEN - LATER
Regina is showing June the guest list. JUNE (in her athletic set) scans it with a clinical eye. She stops at Janis's name.
JUNE (Voice cold) No. Absolutely not.
REGINA But Mom, Janis is my best friend! She's even designing the decorations—
JUNE (Slamming the list down) She is a punk rebel, Regina. A dark, weird misfit. Look at how she dresses. People like that have bad intentions. They are a disgrace to the image I've built for you.
REGINA She's not dangerous! She's just... an artist.
JUNE (Towering over her) She is a misfit. And if you associate with misfits, you become one. You're grounded. No party. No phone. Go to your room.
June grabs Regina's arm and marches her upstairs. The door CLICKS shut. Regina sinks to the floor, sobbing.
ACT X: THE NEIGHBOR'S MERCY
EXT. GEORGE MANSION - REGINA'S WINDOW - DAY
The afternoon sun is bright, but REGINA'S room is dim. She struggles with the window latch, finally sliding it open. She climbs out the window sliding down through the trellis, her birthday dress snagging on a vine. She slips, landing hard on the grass of the neighboring yard.
MRS. HIGGINS (60s, kind eyes, wearing gardening gloves) drops her trowel in shock.
MRS. HIGGINS Oh, dear! Are you alright? You nearly landed in my petunias!
REGINA (Wiping tears, voice trembling) I'm sorry... I just had to get out. My mom... she locked me in. She's canceling my birthday party because she doesn't like my friends.
MRS. HIGGINS (Her expression softening with a deep, old sadness) I lost my daughter years ago when she was just your age... It's a painful tragedy to see a girl cry on her birthday. It's not right.
She looks toward the local COMMUNITY POOL just down the block, where the sounds of splashing and distant music drift over the fence.
MRS. HIGGINS (CONT'D) Listen, Regina. I have a membership to the community pool. If you can slip out tomorrow afternoon, I'll take you and your friends there myself. I'll throw a party for you.We'll get cake, chips, pizza, cupcakes, tacos, fried chicken, and sodas. Your mother never has to know.
REGINA (A flicker of hope in her eyes) The community pool? But... everyone goes there. What if she sees?
MRS. HIGGINS She's too busy being a "Queen" in that house to look at the rest of us, honey. Tomorrow, you just worry about being a kid
ACT XI: THE FATAL MISUNDERSTANDING
EXT. NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY POOL - DAY (REGINA'S BIRTHDAY)
The Party is in full swing. The pool is crowded and loud. The air smells of chlorine and sunscreen. A lifeguard's WHISTLE screeches in the distance. The party is in full swing at a group of blue picnic tables. GRETCHEN and KAREN were present. They were all laughing, surrounded by the cake, pizza, chips, cupcakes, fried chicken, tacos, and soda Mrs. Higgins provided. Even Regina laughed.
However, as the party goes, the memories of her hardships with her mom still haunt her, but she tried to smile; however, her eyes are constantly darting toward the parking lot, scanning for a familiar Red BMW. Her phone rings loudly inside her bag. It's JANIS.
REGINA (Answering, whispering) Janis?
JANIS (V.O.) Where are you? I'm at the mall and I saw your mom's car at home. Why haven't you called me back?
REGINA (Panicked, seeing June's shadow in the mansion window) Why are you so obsessed with me? I... I can't talk!
JANIS (V.O.) Wait, I hear music. Are you having the party? Why am I not there?
REGINA (Tears in her eyes) No! I mean... I can't invite you! I'll get in trouble!
JANIS (V.O.) You're excluding me? On purpose? Because I'm "weird"?
REGINA (Fear of June winning) Yes! I mean, no! Just... stay away!
Regina hangs up. Minutes later, JANIS appears at the edge of the fence, clutching a handmade gift. She sees the pool party. She sees Regina laughing with the "normal" girls. She feels like a peasant looking at a castle.
ACT XII: THE FALLOUT
INT. GEORGE MANSION - REGINA'S ROOM - LATER
The door bursts open. JUNE storms in. She has just gotten the call from Janis's mother.
JUNE You escaped?! To the neighbor's house? You humiliated me! Janis's mother called me screaming!
REGINA I just wanted a birthday!
JUNE (Squeezing Regina's shoulder) You wanted a misfit at your table. Now the whole town thinks we're like her. You are staying in this room until I say otherwise.
June locks the door. Regina collapses.
ACT XIII: THE RETURN
INT. NORTH SHORE HIGH - COACH CARR'S CLASS IN THE GYM - YEARS LATER
The students are older. REGINA sits at the front, her "Porcelain Mask" fully on. COACH CARR stands at the front of the room, pointing a ruler at a chalkboard covered in terrifying, poorly drawn doodles of monsters.
COACH CARR
...And that is why you never, ever go into the woods after dark! If you do, you will get chicken pox, and you will be eaten by Heffalumps and Woozles! Does everyone understand?
The class stares at him in dead silence.
COACH CARR (CONT'D)
(Sighing)
Good. Now, open your—
The door GROAN AND CREAKS open.
JANIS enters. She looks totally different. Her hair, once soft and natural, is now a harsh, jagged jet-black, hacked into a choppy mess that looks like she did it herself with craft scissors., her clothes consists a heavy combat boots, a shredded flannel, and dark eyeliner which all reveal to be a living embodiment of someone who is already labeled as the Punk Rebel," who completely rejects the "Porcelain" world, and she already looks like she doesn't belong to society. She looks like a peasant who has wandered into a palace—and she doesn't care.
The students whisper. The sound echoes off the high gym ceilings.
KAREN (Whispering) Is that... Janis? She looks so peculiar.
REGINA (Coldly, looking at her reflection) She's just a sly old filthy cunning wolf. Ignore her.
Regina watches Janis walking towards the bleachers of the gym sitting in the back of the room. In her head, Regina remembers the flashback of the community pool and the handmade gift Janis once dropped. For a split second, her hand trembles. Then, she slams the compact shut—shutting the "human" box. The misfit is dead. The Queen is born.