— interlude ii. ☆

     Shot of the Harrington's backyard. A party is in full swing. The house is filled with people, clearly, teenagers, and many of them spill out onto the backyard as You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive blares from every angle. Everyone is dressed up for a formal event. Prom.

     Someone jumps into the pool, and...

INT. HARRINGTON HOUSE — KITCHEN — NIGHT

     It cuts to alcohol being poured into a bowl of red liquid. STEVE is holding the bottle. He greets people as they pass and thanks them for coming, a smile on his face. Clearly, he was dressed to impress earlier that night, but now he's discarded his blazer and disheveled his hair, taking on a typical "STEVE" look.

     Pan over to the stairs. A banner is hung over the balcony that reads, "HAPPY PROM". STEVE made it and you can tell.

     Further into the house, GEN stands with her back to the wall in the sunroom, more tipsy than most people at the party. She watches NANCY and JONATHAN from behind the glass of the doors as someone from her class drones on in her ear. They're dancing. GEN longs to be in his place. She sighs heavily and chugs down the last of her drink from her red solo cup as fast as she can.

     Pan back over to the kitchen. STEVE is chatting with VICKI CARMICHAEL. She twirls her hair between her fingers.

VICKI
And like – – that's why I'm, like, totally confused. Tina said we could hang out this summer, then apparently she's going to Hawaii or whatever.

STEVE
Uh-huh.

     He's barely listening. His eyes keep wandering around the room as if he's searching for somebody.

VICKI
So, now I'm going to be all alone in the house for most of the summer.

STEVE
Right. Right.

VICKI
... Without my parents.

     Cut to the front door. It's as if spotlights were placed on it and the world slows to a stop. ANGIE walks in, still in her prom dress much like the rest of the attendees. She looks around aimlessly.

     STEVE comes back to reality when VICKI waves a hand in front of his face. His gaping mouth closes.

VICKI
Without my parents.

STEVE
Yeah, yeah. No parents. Give me a second.

     VICKI begins to protest, but before she can get a word in he brushes past her and bee-lines toward the girl who gained his entire attention. ANGIE. She looks exceptionally pretty that night and the dumbfounded look on STEVE's face says that he sees it, too. She beams when she sees him approach her.

ANGIE
Sorry I'm late, I couldn't find my shoes and I had to get gas and it's like, dark and – –

STEVE
It – – It's fine. You're fine. No, no, not like – – you're more than fine. Good. Great, even.

ANGIE
You clean up nice, too.

     He lets out a breath.

STEVE
Thanks.

     ANGIE looks around the house as STEVE watches her carefully.

STEVE CONT.
I didn't see you the entire prom.

ANGIE
I know. Heather was dragging the whole cheer team around for pictures after her "big Prom Queen win". I wasn't even doing anything. Just... standing in the back.

STEVE
If it makes you feel any better, she ditched me the second the Prom King and Queen dance ended to suck face with Hargrove under the bleachers.

     ANGIE barely suppresses a frown.

STEVE CONT.
But – – now the important party's started.

ANGIE
Right...

STEVE
I mean, it's not every day you get the chance to dance with the Prom King.

ANGIE
I forgot I was such a lowly peasant. I agreed to this, when...?

STEVE
Now.

ANGIE
Oh-ho-ho. I see.

     STEVE's grin is too much to turn down. ANGIE holds her hand out for him to grab.

ANGIE CONT.
Lead me to the dance floor, Prom King.

EXT. HARRINGTON HOUSE — PATIO — NIGHT

     He takes her hand and leads her out to the patio where it's quieter, most people that were out there have dispersed inside while the remaining ones converse softly. The song changes to Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues as they situate themselves on the concrete. ANGIE's hand falls on the curve of his neck. STEVE places his hands around her waist. It's silent for a long time while they dance together. They're hazy. Warm. Happy.

     ANGIE looks up at the golden patio lights hung above them. She gets a nostalgic look on her face and STEVE seems to read it like a book. He thinks the same thing as she does.

STEVE
I thought I'd pay homage to, y'know, the first party I threw.

ANGIE
Try not to fall into the pool this time.

STEVE
Yeah. Thanks for that. Wasn't really on my bucket list but I'll keep it in mind.

     She laughs. Silence falls over them again.

ANGIE
Do you remember when we met?

STEVE
Uh, duh? Do I know who the president is? It was the best day of my life.

ANGIE
Oh, please. You asked me about my Blondie shirt and backed up straight into your pool. No way that makes the best day of your life.

STEVE
I tripped.

ANGIE
You walked in! I swear to God.

STEVE
I'll let you have this.

ANGIE
C'mon. You know I'm right.

STEVE
No, see, I'm letting you have this. Letting.

ANGIE
I'm honored to be allowed to be right by Steve Harrington.

STEVE
Now you get it.

ANGIE
Sure. Sure.

      She pauses, hesitant.

ANGIE CONT.
You know, back then, I used to have the biggest crush on you.

     His breath hitches.

STEVE
You did?

ANGIE
Yeah. I mean, how could I not? You're like, a total dreamboat.

STEVE
I was a douche. Like, mega-ultra-douche-of-all-douches-douche to everyone.

ANGIE
Not to me. Not you.

     ANGIE seems to gauge his reaction. STEVE is encaptivated. He can't seem to think of anything besides her. Even though she's speaking of the past, he can't help but feel like she's also speaking to him. Present him.

     She snaps him back to reality.

ANGIE
Um... do I have something on my face?

STEVE
No, no. It's just...

     There's a very long pause. ANGIE looks at him expectantly, almost impatiently. He can't seem to form the words he wants. Crush. Like. Love. Kiss. STEVE doesn't know what to say, what to do.

     Suddenly, he grabs her hand from his neck and vocalizes with the music. He uses her hand like a microphone. ANGIE jolts in surprise, the actions confuse her, but she laughs loudly.

STEVE CONT.
– – 'Cause I love you. Yes, I love you. Oh, how I love you!

     ANGIE's body is jostled with his dramatic singing. He brings her hand around her head, twirling her. They both stop dancing to cackle.

ANGIE
I didn't know Ray Thomas was attending your party.

STEVE
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.

ANGIE
Impressive.

     She tilts her head at him. His hand lingers on hers before he lets go.

ANGIE CONT.
Was that really what you were thinking about, though?

     STEVE seems taken aback for a moment. He fumbles over himself. There are several choices he could make, and he wants to make the right one. The music fades into the background.

STEVE
No – – no, no. I, uh... just thinking about after school. After we graduate.

ANGIE
Didn't you apply to that ice cream place?

STEVE
Yeah, yeah. I mean – –

     He chuckles.

STEVE CONT.
After that. After-after school.

     His smile drops. He is unhappy with the place he's at in his life right now. Every class he's skipped to make out with someone, every failed test that he didn't really care about, not when his world consisted of monsters and nightmares, bad grades, and missed volunteer work; every failure as a teenager has left him as a clueless adult.

ANGIE
Oh.

     Oh. ANGIE is also lost. After the death of her brother and the loss of her arm, her dreams were flipped on their heads. College was fast approaching, but once that was over?

     Nothing.

     She purses her lips. Her future, STEVE's future. It was going to be what they made it, even if neither of them knew what that meant at the moment.

ANGIE CONT.
We should get rich. Like, self-made.

STEVE
Huh?

ANGIE
Think about it. I'll get a degree and have the knowledge, you'll have the charm. Ergo...

STEVE
We get rich.

ANGIE
Yep. Pretty good, right? Besides the fact that we might end up as mega-capitalists or something, but, y'know.

STEVE
Psh, who cares about that?

     She laughs.

ANGIE
I do. Well, so, get this, once I get rich I'm gonna get a nice apartment, right?

STEVE
Uh-huh.

ANGIE
But then, I'm also gonna buy a lakehouse. In... I dunno. Michigan? No, Wisconsin. The cheese.

STEVE
Can't forget the cheese.

ANGIE
Yes. Yes! And every summer me and my kids, and the party, and you, and Nancy and Gen and Jonathan – – we're all gonna go up there and it'll be like a movie every single year, y'know? Then, I'll make sure my kids are annoying little trust fund babies, then the last of it'll get donated or whatever. The money I make every day should be enough to cover living expenses.

     STEVE is dumbfounded, he becomes hyper-aware of her hands brushing against his neck and he loves it. He loves her. Everything from the soles of her shoes to the crown of her head. Everything inside, the heart, the mind, the things she kept buried underneath. His entire mind races: ANGIE, ANGIE, ANGIE. He gets a sudden rush of confidence. Nothing else matters but them.

STEVE
That's... that sounds perfect, Ange.

     His voice lowers.

STEVE CONT.
You're...

ANGIE
Hm?

STEVE
You – – when I said that the day I fell in the pool was the best day of my life, do you know why?

ANGIE
No.

     ANGIE smiles in confusion. STEVE's hand hovers from the side of her cheek to her shoulder, then back down to his side.

STEVE
It's because I met you.

ANGIE
Steve...

STEVE
I'm serious, Ange.

     They stare at each other in silence. Suddenly, the music becomes glaringly loud. The world is spinning, but it revolves around them. Each has its own gravitational pull and it becomes harder and harder to resist with every passing moment. STEVE sucks in a shaky breath.

STEVE CONT.
What I'm trying to say, is – –

     SHRIEK!

     A scream echoes from the side of the house and then shouts. Many people are heard. ANGIE's attention is immediately grabbed and STEVE shuts his eyes and sighs.

TOMMY H
She's trying to fucking kill him!

EXT. HARRINGTON HOUSE — DRIVEWAY — NIGHT

     Shot of the crowd. Shot from GEN's point of view. JONATHAN is on the pavement being pummeled. He is trying to fight back but the speed and vigor of GEN's hits are too much for him to do anything about. Her ears are ringing. His ears are ringing. Everyone is screaming, some cheering, some in fear.

     BAM! BAM! BAM! Shot from JONATHAN's point of view. Everything is hazy and it's clear he won't make it out of this fight completely conscious. He sees NANCY watching them with her hands over her mouth. He tries a little harder to fight back.

     STEVE shoves through the crowd, and ANGIE follows closely behind him.

STEVE
Woah, woah, woah, back up! Out of my way! Holy sh – –

     He takes a step back in hesitation and glances at NANCY.

STEVE CONT.
Volkova, he's down!

     Suddenly, he grabs her by her torso and she thrashes, trying to get a shot on STEVE, now. She's visibly intoxicated.

GEN
Fucker! Motherfucker! Let me go!

STEVE
He's down, okay?

GEN
He's a fucking pervert!

     People begin to disperse as STEVE shoos the crowd and lets go of GEN. Several people rush over to check on JONATHAN, ANGIE included.

STEVE
What?

GEN
The fucking pictures! Of...

     She trails off to avoid the remaining crowd from hearing.

STEVE
You just found out about that now?

GEN
Yes! I'm going to wring him by his neck, I swear to – – Fuck!

     GEN shrieks and stumbles over herself.

STEVE
You gotta take a few minutes to calm – –

GEN
– – What? Calm down? I can't!

     A few people help JONATHAN get inside, ANGIE included. From out of the shot, NANCY stands in front of GEN. She scowls.

NANCY
Gen.

GEN
What do you – –? Nancy.

NANCY
Over here. Now.

     Surprisingly, like someone sedated the GEN that just beat JONATHAN into oblivion, she follows NANCY to a more secluded area of the driveway. She looks like a guilty dog.

     NANCY crosses her arms.

NANCY CONT.
What the hell, Gen?

GEN
I don't know.

NANCY
You don't know?

GEN
He took pictures of you.

NANCY
I know.

GEN
Why didn't you tell me?

NANCY
Because I knew you would do this! I... I can't do... this anymore. I can't put up with it.

GEN
What?

     She stays silent. GEN feels a lump form in her throat. It weighs down her entire body like a boulder.

GEN
No...

     NANCY doesn't respond. She looks away, her eyes glassy.

GEN
No, I'm sorry.

     No response.

GEN
I'm sorry, truly. I didn't mean to – – I wasn't thinking. But, Jonathan, he – –

NANCY
I'm not mad at him, that's what matters. He's my boyfriend. We've talked about this before.

GEN
Really? Like you're talking to me right now?

NANCY
That's none of your business, Gen.

     She scoffs in disbelief, a sardonic smile graces her lips for a moment.

NANCY CONT.
None of this is your business. Maybe if you spent half of the energy that you do hating him looking around, you'd finally find someone who cares just that much about your problems, just... leave it before you hurt someone else.

     The words cut deep and GEN barely forms a coherent thought for a few seconds. She holds back tears. From what? The loss of a friend. Ultimate rejection. Humiliation. The list could go on for miles. Her eyes close.

GEN
I'm sorry.

     She pauses.

GEN CONT.
I just care about you. I worry.

NANCY
I never asked you to do that – – If you care this much, then act like it. Don't talk to me until you fix your attitude, please. For everyone's sake.

GEN
Nancy...

     NANCY doesn't offer a second glance as she walks away from her, tears in her own eyes.

     Silence. Shot of GEN watching NANCY as she leaves. She squats down with her knees to her chest and her face in her hands covering her eyes. Her back shakes. She's trying not to cry, but she doesn't know why. There isn't much of a reputation to uphold, anyway.

     She takes a moment to catch her breath and looks up. STEVE is standing in front of her. Loitering. He looks like he wants to say something.

STEVE
Hey...

GEN
What do you want?

STEVE
Are you okay?

     GEN stands up and wipes her face.

GEN
I'm fine.

STEVE
Look...

     He glances around.

STEVE CONT.
Don't, uh, don't waste your flowers on that relationship.

GEN
What the hell are you talking about?

STEVE
Are you serious?

     She stares at him, clueless.

STEVE CONT.
On the train tracks, you... You know what – – bottom line is, I get it. I know you feel like shit right now. Bullshit. But, sometimes you need a big wake-up call – – a thump to the head – – to be better.

GEN
This feels like a sledgehammer to my exposed brain.

     He chuckles humorlessly.

STEVE
Yeah. Yeah. It's going to feel like that for a while. Just give it some time to mull over and heal.

GEN
Thanks.

STEVE
It's nothing. I can drive you home if you need it. Ange is sleeping over, so.

GEN
Did you do the whole ask her out and kiss her thing?

     STEVE chokes on his own breath and looks behind him. He grabs her by the back of her collar and starts walking towards his car. He hisses through his teeth.

STEVE
Can you talk any louder? No, Volkova. I didn't get the chance because someone – – you – – attacked Jonathan. How did... How did you even find out about that?

GEN
Dustin told Will and Will told me.

STEVE
I'm going to kill Henderson.

GEN
Sorry about ruining it.

STEVE
It's – –

     He sighs and opens the passenger door.

STEVE CONT.
It's fine. I don't know if I'm sure anymore, anyway. Get in the car before someone calls the cops on you, you look like you just killed someone.

GEN
Hopper wouldn't care.

STEVE
My parents would. A party is one thing, but the cops? No dice. Completely different.

GEN
I wouldn't mind apologizing to your mom.

STEVE
Ugh.

     He shoves her into the car and she stumbles onto the seat. GEN flails drunkenly.

     A zoom out from the car as the doors shut and it starts. It peels out of the driveway. The buzz of the night is gone, melancholy replaces it; failed romance, the danger of love, but everyone is together. Everyone has someone.

     The night is alive and breathing.

PRETTY SICK
girlpools / 2023