#anybodys

TITLE: THE AMERICAN TRAGEDY

SCENE START

EXT. WEST SIDE STREETS - DAY

The crumbling tenements of New York City loom like giants. ANYBODYS (19, hair cropped short, wearing oversized dungarees) shadowboxes against a brick wall. She’s fast, lean, and desperate to be seen.

RIFF (24, leader of the Jets) leans against a lamp post with MOUTHPIECE (20), PETE (15), and BABY JOHN (14).

The Rejection

ANYBODYS (Breathless) I’m fast, Riff. I’m faster than half these punks. Put me in. Give me a patch.

RIFF (Scoffing) Beat it, Anybodys. We’re runnin’ a gang, not a daycare for tomboys.

ANYBODYS I ain’t a girl! I’m a Jet! Why do Pete and Baby John get to wear the colors? They’re practically still in diapers!

PETE (Snickering) ’Cause we’re men, sis. You’re just... an American tragedy in a pair of hand-me-downs.

BABY JOHN Yeah, go home and play with Raven and Annie. Maybe you can teach 'em how to spit.

Anybodys stops shadowboxing. She turns a slow, glacial gaze toward her younger brothers. Her eyes turn to flint. It is a silent, terrifying look that screams: I know where you sleep.

Pete and Baby John instantly shut up, looking at their shoes.

MOUTHPIECE (To Riff) She’s got the stare down, I’ll give her that.

RIFF Stares don’t win rumbles. Go home, Melody—I mean, Anybodys. Go.

INT. GYM - NIGHT

The dance is a blur of mambo and sweat. Anybodys stands on the periphery, her eyes glued to TONY. She straightens her collar, trying to look "cool." Tony walks over, wiping sweat from his forehead.

ANYBODYS (Hopeful) Hey, Tony. You look real good out there. Like a king.

TONY (Grinning, ruffling her hair) Thanks, kid. You’re lookin’ sharp too. You keep an eye on your sisters tonight, okay? You’re a good little sister, Anybodys.

Tony walks off toward Maria. Anybodys’ face falls. To him, she’s just a shadow in the background.

INT. DOC’S DRUGSTORE - LATER

Two hours later. The tension is thick. ICE is heading for the door, looking agitated. VELMA is right on his heels, gesturing wildly.

VELMA ...and another thing, Ice! That greasy bag of fries is gonna slow you down. You need greens! You need to watch your heart!

ICE (Growling) Give it a rest, Velma! I’m goin’ out!

Ice storms out the door. Anybodys, leaning against a pinball machine, pushes off and follows him into the cool night air.

EXT. STREET BEYOND DOC’S - CONTINUOUS

Ice is power-walking. Anybodys trots to keep up.

ANYBODYS Where you goin’, Ice?

ICE (Without looking back) Out. Away from the screeching.

ANYBODYS Can I follow?

Ice stops. He looks at her—really looks at her. He’s the one who rags on her the most, but tonight, he looks tired. He shivers slightly in the wind, then looks at Anybodys’ thin shirt.

ICE It’s freezing, ya nut.

He peels off his heavy Jet jacket and throws it at her. It hits her in the face before she catches it.

ICE Put it on before you turn blue.

Anybodys slides into the jacket. It smells like cigarettes and engine oil. It’s the closest she’s ever felt to being a "Jet." They walk in silence for a block.

ANYBODYS How’d you even get stuck with her? Velma, I mean.

ICE (Sighs) You know how Riff is. He’s been seeing Graziella since the Stone Age. Velma’s her best friend. Velma needed a date so she wouldn't feel like a spare tire, so Riff made me the sacrifice.

ANYBODYS (Rolling her eyes) Riff thinks he’s Cupid with a switchblade.

ICE He thinks he’s doin’ me a favor. Says I need "stability."

They stop near an alleyway. The moonlight hits the brick. Anybodys looks up at Ice. For a second, the bullying stops. The "American Tragedy" label fades. Ice leans in, and for a fleeting, confusing moment, he kisses her.

It’s rough and sudden. Anybodys freezes, her heart hammering against the stolen jacket.

Suddenly, Ice recoils. He shoves her back against the brick wall with a look of pure disgust, as if waking up from a dream.

ICE What am I doin’? You’re a hex, Anybodys. You’re a real witch.

He reaches out and violently snatches his jacket back off her shoulders.

ICE Don’t you ever tell nobody about this. You’re still just a tag-along to me.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH- TELL HIM!

I also love that (I think it’s Diesel) he says

“Leave her alone.”

Reasoning: