Euphoria 2019 Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot Script Teleplay Written by Sam Levinson
Euphoria 2019 Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot Script Teleplay Written by Sam Levinson
Euphoria 2019 Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot Script Teleplay Written by Sam Levinson
"PILOT"
Written by
Sam Levinson
THE CAMERA tilts down and dollies in fast between the legs of
a WOMAN giving birth and -
RUE (V.O.)
I was once happy. Content. Sloshing
around in my own private,
primordial pool. Then one day, for
reasons beyond my control, I was
repeatedly crushed, over and over,
by the cruel cervix of my mother,
Leslie.
WE ENTER:
RUE (V.O.)
I put up a good fight, but I lost.
For the first time, but not the
last.
QUICK DISSOLVE:
WE WATCH the plume of smoke, fire, and debris rain down the
side of the building.
RUE (V.O.)
I was born three days after 9/11.
CUT TO:
BABY RUE, seconds old, her body covered in blood and birth
slime, is lifted towards CAMERA. Her lungs fill with air, and
her eyes blink open.
POV thru the foggy eyes of NEW RUE: A TV SET, mounted on the
wall:
GEORGE W. BUSH
I can hear you!
RESCUE WORKERS
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
A SERIES OF SHOTS:
RUE (V.O.)
My mother and father spent two days
in the hospital, holding me under
the soft glow of the television,
watching those towers fall over,
and over, and over again. Until the
feelings of grief and the chills of
horror gave way to numbness.
BLACK:
RUE (V.O.)
And then, without warning, a white
suburban American middle class
childhood.
THERAPIST
I would say she’s suffering from--
RUE (V.O.)
I wasn’t physically abused.
THERAPIST
Attention Deficit Disorder.
RUE (V.O.)
Never had a shortage of clean
water...
THERAPIST
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
RUE (V.O.)
Wasn’t molested by a family member.
THERAPIST
General Anxiety Disorder.
RUE (V.O.)
And up until that point, hadn’t
experienced any more trauma than
anybody else.
THERAPIST
And possibly Bipolar Disorder.
(a hesitant beat)
But she’s a little young to tell.
RUE (V.O.)
So explain this shit to me--
CUT TO:
LESLIE
It’s just the way your brain was
hard-wired. It’s no big deal,
plenty of great, intelligent,
funny, interesting, and creative
people have struggled with the same
things you struggle with.
RUE
(robotically)
Like who?
LESLIE
Lots of people you like.
RUE
But who?
LESLIE
Well, um...
CUT TO:
LESLIE (V.O.)
Vincent Van Gogh.
LESLIE (V.O.)
Sylvia Plath.
LESLIE (V.O.)
Or even Fiona Apple.
FIONA APPLE
What I want to say is, um,
everybody out there that’s
watching, everybody that’s watching
this world, this world is bullshit.
LESLIE
(cheerfully)
And your favorite, Britney Spears.
CUT TO:
RUE (V.O.)
I don’t remember much between the
ages of 8 and 12. Just that the
world moved fast and my brain moved
slow.
(MORE)
RUE (V.O.)
I’d die.
RUE (V.O.)
It’s not that my medication wasn’t
working properly. It’s that I had
yet to discover it’s full
potential.
CUT TO:
FROM ABOVE: Rue, now 17 years old, sits cross legged in bed.
She looks up at CAMERA. Winks. AND CAMERA DROPS WITH HER as
snorts the crushed Klonopin off her solar system themed
computer case.
SLAM CUT:
RUE (V.O.)
I got my first dick pic at the age
of 9. I hadn’t even held a boy’s
hand.
And WE HOLD on a messy haired teenage boy with his arm slung
around her.
RUE (V.O.)
I had my first kiss at the age of
12 with a boy I didn’t really like,
but I just wanted to get it over
with.
A few more quick photos of said boy and we’re back to rapidly
scanning through her life. Growing up. Drinking a bottle of
wine. More selfies. Sleepless nights. A growing restlessness.
RUE (V.O.)
Two months later some egg on
Twitter threatened to BTK me, which
would have been whatever, but the
night before I watched the Jaycee
Dugard primetime dateline special,
and the combo sent me spiraling
into persistent night terrors for
two months.
RUE (V.O.)
But I’m buoyant and bounced back
and gave four hand jobs in eighth
grade, two blow jobs in ninth, one
of which I was emotionally coerced
into -
AND LIKE MACHINE GUN FIRE. WE CYCLE THROUGH HER PHOTOS. Her
lips. Her mouth. More makeup. More disaffected. Present.
Skirts. Shorts. Bras. Panties. The gap between her legs. The
side of her face that looks best. Her stomach from the front,
the side, standing, laying down, relaxed and sucked in.
RUE (V.O.)
Yo Mark. Go fuck yourself
ANGLE ON: Rue as she does her makeup: k-pop puppy eyes, aegyo
sal, dashes of glitter and bold lipstick.
RUE (V.O.)
And at some point you make a choice
about who you are and what you
want.
RUE (V.O.)
Every mistake, every mis-step,
every dumb decision or dumb fuck.
You own it and wear it like a badge
of honor cause the internet is
forever, and trolls keep receipts.
RUE (V.O.)
So you create your own confidence.
RUE (V.O.)
You piece it together. Out of empty
memes, and hashtags, and central
nervous system depressants… and you
hold your head high ‘cause every
girl’s a queen and every boy
a potential like...
RUE (V.O.)
... and every day a fucking drag.
As WE FOLLOW RUE through her house into the kitchen where her
little sister GEORGIA “GIA”, 13, picks at her eggs and toast
while LESLIE, 40s, argues with her insurance company on the
phone -
GIA
(looking at her phone)
Did you see the video of that
beauty queen who got acid thrown in
her face?
RUE
No.
GIA
It’s pretty fucked up.
RUE
Mom, do you have any tampons?
LESLIE
(to Rue)
In my bathroom. Under the sink.
Rue walks back into her mothers bathroom. A beat. She peers
back toward the kitchen. And then... coughs loudly as she
opens the medicine cabinet. Pulls out a prescription bottle.
RUE (V.O.)
- And thank you to all the suburban
mothers out there for the unending
supply of xanny bars...
RAPID CUTS (x5) as we see RUE cough loudly and open different
medicine cabinets in different bathrooms in different houses.
RUE (V.O.)
- because I get it… Life is cruel
and aimless and there’s no way I
could’ve made it through school or
life or losing my virginity without
dimming the proverbial lights.
RUE (V.O.)
And no matter what the fuck tumblr
says, life is not a Nicholas Sparks
novel, and being a teenager is a
lot of things... but romantic? I
don’t fucking think so.
He turns to Rue.
RANDO FUCKBOI
Did you cum?
RUE
...Yeah.
RANDO FUCKBOI
Forreal?
RUE
...Yeah.
RANDO FUCKBOI
For real, for real?
RUE
...Yeah.
RANDO FUCKBOI
Like hard?
RUE
...Yeah.
RANDO FUCKBOI
Werd. You look like you came hard.
She pockets a few xanny bars, puts the bottle back and
flushes the toilet to mask the sound of the cabinet closing.
RUE
Let’s go, Gia.
FROM BEHIND: Rue holds GIA’S hand as they walk down the
street together.
RUE (V.O.)
And I know it all may seem sad, but
guess what? I didn’t build this
system, nor did I fuck it up.
Rue and Gia walk down the aisle of a school bus and sit in
the back. The bus takes off as the streets bend behind them.
CUT TO:
RUE (V.O.)
I just showed up one day without a
map or a compass or, to be honest,
anyone capable of giving one iota
of good fucking advice.
RUE (V.O.)
But maybe I’m just in a mood… So
here’s a cute video of me learning
how to hula-hoop.
She keeps trying and failing and giggling as her Dad laughs
off camera.
YOUNG RUE
I give up.
RUE’S FATHER
C’mon Rue, don’t give up. You can
do it.
YOUNG RUE
I give up.
RUE’S FATHER
Don’t give up, Rue.
RUE (V.O.)
And if that didn’t cheer you up,
here’s me at a funeral.
RUE (V.O.)
Last week, Nate Jacobs, star
quarterback of the football team,
was found dead in a cornfield off
Route 38...
CUT TO:
As the wind blows through the crops. We see TWO COPS step
into frame and peer down at a bloody and disfigured corpse.
COP
Good God.
SHERIFF
Is that Nate Jacobs?
COP
Beats the holy hell outta me.
SHERIFF
Look at the monogram.
COP
(peers closer)
Good God.
SHERIFF
Coach Barnes ain’t gonna like this
turn of events.
BACK TO:
RUE (V.O.)
Don’t feel bad, Nate Jacobs was a
part time alcoholic, part time
groper, full time fucking asshole.
(a beat)
And if I’m going to be entirely
honest… I’m the one who killed him.
Rue slips under the stands as the CAMERA rises above the
bleachers and we see Rue walking away.
SLAM CUT:
BLACK.
RUE (V.O.)
It all started when Jules moved to
town.
This is basically the world from every John Hughes movie, but
after thirty years of Reaganomics it’s kinda lost it’s
idyllic charm. This is a cough syrup and Ritalin town with
meth on the outskirts, and no family is just coasting.
RUE (V.O.)
I didn’t know her yet but I had
definitely heard about her. Not in
that “ohmigod there’s some new,
edgy transgirl in town” way but
more like...
FEZCO, 21, unkempt with sweet eyes and a blank stare you only
get after attempting to eat a sheet of acid over the course
of one summer:
FEZCO
(monotone)
There’s some new, like edgy
transgirl in town.
RUE
So?
FEZCO
I don’t know. She came in yesterday
all Sailor Moon and shit and I
thought, she looks like someone Rue
would get along with...
RUE (V.O.)
Which was sorta like a dead on
observation for Fezco who’s not
normally revolving in the same
direction as planet earth. Granted
it wasn’t Sailor Moon we’d bond
over...
CUT TO:
NATE
If someone doesn’t speak up, this
bitch is gonna get fucked up!
NATE (CONT’D)
Looks like you’re all on your own.
Jules tries to walk away but Nate grabs her and throws her
back toward the wall -
RUE (V.O.)
It was the fact that she pulled a
motherfucking kitchen knife on Nate
Jacobs.
RUE (V.O.)
But anyway, whatever...
FEZCO (PRELAP)
Yo Rue... you planning on paying
for those Trolli’s?
BACK TO:
FEZCO
No, seriously, you have to pay for
those. We got a security camera
while you were gone.
She turns back and reaches into her jacket and lays both
packs of Trolli Sour Worms on the counter.
FEZCO (CONT’D)
When’d you get back? I thought I’d
never see you again.
RUE
Few weeks ago.
FEZCO
(hesitantly)
And how you feeling?
RUE
Ever since I gave my life over to
my lord and savior, Jesus Christ,
things have been really good.
A long beat.
RUE (CONT’D)
I’m fucking with you, Fez. I’m
still the same misanthropic whore
you’ve always known.
FEZCO
What’s that mean?
RUE
That I hate mankind. And I’m a
whore.
FEZCO
You don’t hate mankind.
RUE
That’s true. But I hate you for not
disagreeing with the whore part.
FEZCO
Well, you’ve had a long life.
She laughs.
RUE
By the way...
(beat)
Is Ashtray in the back?
FEZCO
For real, Rue?
RUE
For real.
RUE (CONT’D)
C’mon Fezco, the world is coming to
an end and I haven’t even graduated
high school.
FEZCO
You still gotta pay for those
Trolli’s...
RUE
Spot me.
ASHTRAY
I thought you were dead.
RUE
And I thought you had Asperger's
until I learned you were just a
prick.
ASHTRAY
I do have Asperger's.
RUE
But you’re still a prick.
ASHTRAY
This a fickle industry. Y’all come
and go. No hard feelings but I’m
just tryna stack enough cash to pay
off my mom’s mortgage and buy a
yacht.
He looks up.
ASHTRAY (CONT’D)
So what you want?
He hands her the baggies and she hands him the cash.
ASHTRAY
You sure you don’t wanna try
nothing new?
RUE
Like what?
ASHTRAY
2C-T-2, 2C-T-7, 5-MeO-DIPT.
RUE
I have zero fuckin’ idea what
you’re talking about.
ASHTRAY
Doesn’t matter. But this shit...
ASHTRAY (CONT’D)
...is fucking lit.
RUE
What is it?
ASHTRAY
N-diisopropyl-5-methoxytryptamine.
ASHTRAY (V.O.)
It’s a fast acting psychedelic.
ANGLE ON: Rue and Jules as they both fly into FRAME on
separate swings at 72fps.
ASHTRAY (V.O.)
Got some similarities to LSD but
with like, key differences. Not as
visual and shit but def a sense
distorter.
ASHTRAY (V.O.)
Lotta auditory hallucinations,
kinda like playing a record at half
speed. And your body goes limp, not
some K-Hole wooden puppet
bullshit...
As they both JUMP OFF the SWING SETS into the AIR. They move
in ULTRA SLOW-MOTION.
ASHTRAY (V.O.)
But more that zero gravity tip you
get from good DMT.
On Ashtray:
ASHTRAY
I don’t know. Shit’s blowing up in
Tampa. And mad people like to fuck
on it.
RUE
(a long beat)
Okay.
RUE (V.O.)
In truth, I didn’t have much of an
issue with Nate until that night. I
mean, I never liked him.
RUE (V.O.)
And once during the freshman
formal, he tried to finger me on
the dance floor without my
permission. But like, that’s
America.
RUE (V.O.)
And if they were throwing an end of
summer party. Of course, I’d
fucking go.
NATE
(yelling)
I’d do it for Rue!
NATE
I’m telling you bro... We’re about
to blow this shit out. The whole
fucking world’s gonna be talking
about how McKay threw the grimiest
motherfucking banger of the summer.
MCKAY
I’m just nervous cause my mom’s got
like real OCD. She’ll notice like
the smallest scratch, or like if
the dishes are in the wrong order.
NATE
Stop being such a faggot. This is
like your last hurrah. Go out like
a motherfucking G.
MCKAY
You think people are excited?
NATE
Fuck yeah, dude. People are hyped
af.
NATE (CONT’D)
Plus, I’mma get savage tonight.
MCKAY
But isn’t Maddy coming?
NATE
I don’t give a fuck. She broke up
with me. I’m a free motherfucking
man. And if she wants to come then
I’mma make her pay.
MCKAY
Dude...
NATE
Forreal. And I’m not fucking with
no basic bitches or some thottie in
a prom dress. I’mma straight seek
out the hottest piece of pussy in
that room and I’mma fucking slay
that bitch. And trust me bro...
I’mma make that shit known.
As they drive, they see JULES, 17, riding her bike home.
She’s in her same white dress as when we first met her.
NATE (CONT’D)
Yo, what the fuck is that?
MCKAY
Some girl on a bike.
NATE
What are you retarded? That’s a
dude.
MCKAY
Really?
NATE
Yeah.
MCKAY
Damn.
NATE
Ride up on this bitch.
MCKAY
Nah c’mon.
NATE
Ride the fuck up.
MCKAY
No, dude. I don’t want to
accidentally hurt him.
NATE
(snaps)
What are you a fucking pussy?
C’mon, have some fucking fun.
Jules panics, veering off the side of the road and crashes
her bike.
MCKAY
Yo dude, you’re a real asshole.
RUE (V.O.)
Jules moved from the city to the
suburbs after her mom and dad got
divorced.
RUE (V.O.)
She doesn’t really like to talk
about it but dads almost never get
full custody so some shit
definitely went down.
She sits in her bedroom and cleans her scrape. The walls are
adorned with fashion editorials and anime cut outs...
RUE (V.O.)
She went to like three weeks of
summer school with Kat, who failed
intro to visual arts.
CUT TO:
KAT, 16, overweight, sharp and witty sits in the back left
and Jules sits in the back right.
CUT TO:
RUE
Now think of all the teachers
you’ve ever had and then rank them
in order of who you’d want to fuck.
(a beat;
(MORE)
RUE (CONT'D)
she lets that sink in)
Mr. Martin is whoever in your
imagination is second to last.
BACK TO:
She taps his profile. And then a NEW MESSAGE from him.
She opens it: My god, you’re perfect and beautiful and how I
do I meet you for a drink?
CUT TO:
MADISON
Do you think my areoles are weird?
KAT
No.
MADISON
But like the edges though?
KAT
No. They’re fine.
MADISON
Fine like they’re kind of weird or
fine like nobody but me would ever
notice what I notice?
BB
Fine like shut the fuck up, Maddie.
MADISON
Ugh, I’m disgusting. I literally
look disgusting.
KAT
You’re trippin, bitch. You need to
like snap the fuck out of this post-
breakup pity party because a)
you’re hot af and b) Nate’s a
fucking loser.
MADISON
He’s not a loser. He’s a dick.
KAT
All dicks are losers.
BB
Look bottom line, you need to walk
into this party tonight like your
pussy costs a million dollars.
MADISON
For real, I’d settle for 50 grand.
KAT
Y’all got high standards. I’d
settle for like 4 corona lights and
non-rapey affection.
A beat.
BB
That’s kinda depressing.
KAT
Everything’s depressing, BB. Even
the things you find uplifting.
MADISON
Ugh, Nate just like totally broke
down my confidence. You know when
someone just constantly criticizes
like everything about you?
BB
That’s like, every guy.
KAT
You just need to catch a dick and
forget your troubles girl.
MADISON
(to Kat)
You just need to catch a dick.
KAT
Oh I haven’t even told you my plan
but it’s amazing. I am going to get
fucking wasted tonight and then
hunt down the most susceptible bruh
bruh I can find, and knock his ass
up in the bushes.
BB
(to Kat)
Remind me again how many guys
you’ve fucked? Oh, and catfishing
doesn’t count.
MADISON
(to BB)
Can you not be a cunt for like 15
seconds?
A knock on the door, Maddy’s Dad, TED, 40s, pokes his head in-
TED
C’mon girls. Dinner’s ready--
MADISON
Dad, stop being a pervert. We’re
literally like all naked.
As Rue rides up, she sees her mom’s car parked out front.
RUE
Fuck.
Rue locks up her bike against a tree and enters her house -
LESLIE
Where were you?
RUE
(a beat)
I went to eat.
LESLIE
I don’t trust you, Rue.
RUE
What do you want me to say?
LESLIE
I want to drug test you.
RUE
Well, unfortunately I just peed.
Rue walks down the hall toward her bedroom as Leslie follows.
She slams the door behind her. ANGLE ON: GIA watching from
down the hall.
LESLIE (O.C.)
(through the door)
Do not slam your door.
RUE
It was an accident!
LESLIE (O.C.)
Well, you’re not leaving this house
until you take a drug test!
RUE
Whatever. I’ve got nothing to hide!
RUE (V.O.)
Now, there’s a few ways to beat a
drug test. The first is simple:
Stop doing drugs. But if you’re in
a bind and totally fucked, you got
a few options. Some better than
others.
RAPID CUTS:
RUE (V.O.)
Option one.
RUE (V.O.)
Niacin. It’s a B vitamin that, like
breaks down fat and chemicals or
whatever. And if you take a lot of
it, like two thousand milligrams
and -
RUE (V.O.)
- chug a few gallons of water. You
can flush your system in two to
three days. The only problem is, it
has a few side effects -
RUE (V.O.)
Skin flushing. Extreme Dizziness.
Vomiting. Rapid heartbeat and -
RUE (V.O.)
Sometimes death. I don’t recommend
it, nor does any legit drug site on
the internet.
RUE (V.O.)
Option Two. Synthetic Urine.
RUE (V.O.)
Yeah fucking right.
Rue lays in bed, trying to think of how to get the fuck out
of this situation.
RUE (V.O.)
Option Three. Get a non-drug-addict
friend to piss for you.
RUE (V.O.)
The only problem is most over the
counter home drug testing kits come
with heat sensor strips that detect
the temperature of your urine. And
if your parents watch you pee, you
can’t do the sink trick.
RUE (V.O.)
So you gotta get it fresh.
RUE
I need a favor from you.
LEXI
I’m in the middle of dinner.
RUE
Like for real, Lexi.
As they enter -
RUE (V.O.)
The side effects of this option?
CUT TO:
LEXI (O.C.)
I’ll be right back with that
eyeliner, Rue.
SUZE
So Rue, how was rehab?
RUE
It was really, really good.
SUZE
How long have you been back?
RUE
Four days.
As Lexi comes back from the bathroom, Rue puts her hand
behind her back. Lexi covertly gives her a bottle of Ocean
Mist nasal spray. And then in front of Suze, in the other
hand, she gives her some eyeliner.
Rue smiles.
CUT TO:
- She looks in the mirror. The hem of her skirt hides it. She
opens her bedroom door.
RUE
(yells out)
Mom, I have to pee!
CUT TO:
RUE (CONT’D)
I wish we could do this in a way
that wasn’t a total invasion of my
privacy.
LESLIE
Well you gave up your right to
privacy after your overdose.
RUE
That was a mistake.
LESLIE
Don’t be flip, Rue. It was the most
frightening thing a mother could
witness.
Rue motions for Leslie to turn around. She does. Rue puts the
cup below her and begins to clench her thighs together,
squeezing the bottle.
LESLIE (CONT’D)
Not to mention Gia. Who absolutely
idolizes you.
RUE
I know, Mom.
LESLIE
To have her find you unconscious -
RUE
(her voice cracks)
Mom, please don’t do this...
CUT TO:
GIA
Rue?
GIA (CONT’D)
Rue?
BACK TO:
RUE (V.O.)
I know a lot of you probably hate
me right now. And I get it.
She looks down at the cup of pee. A long beat. She hands it
to her Mother.
RUE (V.O.)
If I could be a different person, I
promise you I would.
(beat)
(MORE)
As Leslie takes the test strip and plunges it into the cup.
Rue turns to her Mom.
RUE
I’m sorry for slamming the door
earlier.
LESLIE
It’s okay. I forgive you.
A beat. Rue gives her Mom a hug and starts to walk away.
CUT TO:
LIVING ROOM, where her DAD sits on the couch watching TV,
drinking a beer.
JULES’ DAD
Where you going?
JULES
I don’t know, out to a party.
He looks at her.
JULES’ DAD
Are you sure you wanna go out
dressed like that?
JULES
Why?
JULES’ DAD
It’s just a new school, y’know.
Listen, I don’t care how you wanna
dress, it’s just, your old school
was more open to that kinda stuff.
This is kind of a conservative
town, y’know.
JULES
I know.
A beat.
JULES’ DAD
Well, for what it’s worth, you look
nice.
JULES
Thanks, Dad.
She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a PINK WIG. She
puts it on as she grabs her bike and begins to ride through
the streets listening to music.
RUE (V.O.)
Jules told me later what had
happened...
CUT TO:
RUE (V.O.)
And looking back on it. She
probably would have been better off
just going to McKay’s. But...
FROM THE SIDE WE SEE the door open as the light spills out on
Jules’ face.
A beat.
WIDE SHOT DOLLYING IN: From across the parking lot of the
illuminated window. Two silhouettes moving around the room,
circling each other.
CUT TO:
SLAM CUT:
ON NATE, shirtless:
NATE
Cassie’s a whore. Fact.
The other guys start cracking up. As CAMERA WHIPS from face
to face of guys while they pre-game and talk shit.
MCKAY
Nah dude. She’s cool. She’s not
like that.
NATE
Have you seen her slut pages?
MCKAY
No.
JOCKY BRO
They’re wild yo. She’s like a
downright freak.
SKYLAR
Cassie’s on the slut pages? I gotta
see this shit.
MCKAY
What are you even doing outta your
room?
NATE
Cut the kid some slack. No one’s
coming ‘til ten.
MCKAY
All I’m saying is I think you’d dig
Cassie.
NATE
Mckay, bro. She’s a whore. Like
through and through. I’m just tryna
look out for you, fam.
MCKAY
I don’t know what she’s done, or
whatever, but she’s cool. And like
smart. She also like loves cars.
You’d like her. She knows a lot
about cars…
SKYLAR
Dude’s got mad feelings.
JOCKY BRO
For real. McKay’s about to start a
pinterest.
NATE
You don’t know what she’s done...?
NATE (CONT’D)
Aight bro... Let’s take a trip to
the land of shame.
RUE (V.O.)
Here’s the fucking thing that
pisses me off about the world...
RUE
Like every time someone’s shit gets
leaked, whether it’s J Law or
Leslie Jones, the whole world’s
like “if you don’t want it out
there, don’t take nudes in the
first place.” I’m sorry. I know
your generation relied on flowers
and father’s permission, but it’s
2018, and unless you’re Amish,
nudes are the currency of love. So
stop shaming us. Shame the assholes
who create password protected
online directories of naked
underage girls.
RUE (V.O.)
Cassie’s actually super sweet. You
remember like... from earlier -
CASSIE
Rue-Rue pebbles.
RUE
How you been?
SUZE
She’s just being coy. She has a
boyfriend she’s head over heels
for.
CASSIE
Mom, stop being retarded. He’s not
my boyfriend.
SUZE
Oooohkay. Then who was that
handsome young man who came over
for dinner last night?
CASSIE
Ohmigod, Mom.
SUZE
So Rue, how was rehab...
CASSIE
(to her Mom)
You’re the actual worst.
RUE (V.O.)
But anyway back to this bullshit...
NATE, grinning:
NATE
And the Oscar goes to -
CUT TO:
GUY IN VIDEO
You like it when I’m fucking rough
with you?
CASSIE
Yessss... Pleeeeeassse.
BACK TO:
NATE
You want my advice? Fuck her like
the whore she is. Throw her ass
out. And never tell a soul.
RUE (V.O.)
It’s obvious that Nate got in
McKay’s head because Cassie told
Lexi, and Lexi told me, that the
night of the party -
CUT TO:
CASSIE
What?
MCKAY
Nothing.
CASSIE
Why are you staring me at like
that?
MCKAY
I’m sorry, I just sorta spaced out.
Cassie smiles.
MCKAY (CONT’D)
Was I being weird?
CASSIE
No. You were being cute.
A beat.
MCKAY
You’re literally the most beautiful
girl I’ve ever seen.
RUE (V.O.)
- They hooked up.
Cassie and McKay make out on his bed. It’s getting more
intense. Cassie slides his hand from her waist to her bare
thigh. He looks at her. She kisses him. As he reaches under
her skirt and slides her panties off.
She falls on her side as McKay feels how wet she is.
MCKAY
Fuck.
CASSIE
I know.
MCKAY
Are you always this wet?
CASSIE
Kinda... It’s super embarrassing.
CASSIE (CONT’D)
(a long beat)
Does it turn you off?
McKay shakes his head, no. As he reaches into his drawer and
pulls out a condom. Starts to put it on. She watches him, her
breath slowing.
CASSIE (CONT’D)
Stop! Stop! Stop!
WE FREEZE FRAME -
RUE (V.O.)
Now I know this looks disturbing,
but for real, I promise you, this
does not end in a rape.
(beat)
But here’s the thing -
RUE (V.O.)
Everyone on the planet watches
porn. Fact.
RUE (V.O.)
And if were to click on the twenty
most popular videos on Pornhub
right now, this is basically what
you’d see -
RUE (V.O.)
I’m not trying to be sex negative
or anything. I’m just saying -
UNFREEZE FRAME
CASSIE
(freaked out)
Ow, what the fuck, McKay!?
RUE (V.O.)
- this shit isn’t out of fucking
left field.
MCKAY
I’m so sorry, I just thought--
CASSIE
Why would you grab me like that?
MCKAY
I don’t know. I’m sorry. I just
thought you maybe liked it - I
don’t know, I’m really sorry.
CASSIE
I just couldn’t breathe, I didn’t
expect it.
MCKAY
I’m really sorry, Cassie.
CASSIE
Just like, don’t do that again.
MCKAY
I won’t. I promise.
CASSIE
Unless you ask me.
CASSIE (CONT’D)
Or I ask you.
CUT TO:
RUE (V.O.)
Anyway, I was walking to McKay’s
party because I have this rule that
I don’t drink and bike cause like -
- Walks her bike through the streets and slowly falls into a
bush.
CUT TO:
MADISON
Who is that?
KAT
Wait, slow down. Is that Rue?
MADISON
Rue like - didn’t she die?
BB
Okay. Do not freak me out.
KAT
Whaddup Casper?
(As Rue turns)
Need a ride?
CUT TO:
As they drive through the town blasting music. Rue looks out
the window and sees the BEST WESTERN MOTEL as they pass the
motel rooms, glowing from the inside.
CUT TO:
Jules sits on the edge of the bed in her pink wig and skirt.
Her knees fall into one another. A glass of champagne is
handed to her from O.S.
JULES
Thanks.
OLDER MAN
How old are you?
JULES
Twenty-two.
OLDER MAN
Do you live in town?
JULES
(a beat)
No.
(a beat)
I’m just visiting my grandparents.
OLDER MAN
Hmm...
JULES
What about you?
A long beat.
OLDER MAN
You live like this?
JULES
What do you mean?
OLDER MAN
Is this how you look generally?
JULES
I mean... For like the last six
months.
OLDER MAN
You’re beautiful.
JULES
Thank you.
OLDER MAN
I’m envious of your generation. You
know? You guys don’t care as much
about the rules, you know. I think
it’s a good thing.
Jules nods. The OLDER MAN moves closer. He uses his knee to
push Jules’ legs open. He stands over her. Puts his hand
under her chin and lifts her face up:
CUT TO:
RUE (V.O.)
Jules once told me that every night
when she was a kid, like five or
something, she’d lock herself in
the bathroom, get down on her hands
and knees, and pray to God.
OLDER MAN
Spit.
She spits in his hand. JULES takes a deep breath as the OLDER
MAN starts to fuck her.
RUE (V.O.)
She’d pray that when she woke up in
the morning, she’d be 25 years old.
She’d live with her best friend, a
girl. Someone she hadn’t met yet
but someone she knew she’d trust
forever.
RUE (V.O.)
I don’t know why but when she told
me that story I started to cry so
hard that I hyperventilated. Jules
just kept laughing and saying
“What’s wrong?” But I didn’t know.
OLDER MAN
You’re so clean. You don’t know how
rare that is.
CUT TO:
CUT TO BLACK:
RUE (V.O.)
And then, the night got weird.
As she nears the end, she steps onto the left side of the
wall, takes a step or two, and hops back down onto the floor
where the rest of the kids have remained fixed throughout.
RUE (V.O.)
Now, there’s a couple versions of
what happened that night. There’s
the real version and then the
version I told the cops. Now, the
version I told the cops was far
less interesting... because, like
obviously.
RUE (V.O.)
But Nate was fucking on one.
NATE
I wanna see how you move.
NATE
Fuck yeah.
RUE (V.O.)
And in turn, Maddy was fucking on
one.
FROM ABOVE
- toward the SLIDING GLASS DOOR and CAMERA DROPS DOWN BEHIND
MADDY as she steps -
OUTSIDE
- Into the warm night and begins to strip down into her bra
and panties. Everyone in the pool turns and watches as
COLLEGE GUY frantically follows suit, stripping down to his
boxers.
- As MADDY wraps her legs around him, holds his neck and
begins to grind herself into him. She moves her hips around
to the beat of the music as he looks at her, in awe.
COLLEGE GUY
You’re fucking crazy.
MADISON
You think I’m crazy?
COLLEGE GUY
Definitely.
MADISON
What if...?
MADISON (CONT’D)
What if I told you that I wanted
you to fuck me right here, right
now?
RUE (V.O.)
And that’s right about the time
that Jules decided to ghost his
hookup and bike over to McKay’s.
CUT TO:
Jules, in her pink wig, pedals as fast as she can through the
streets.
RUE (V.O.)
Now Jules texted Kat but Kat didn’t
answer because...
CUT TO:
SKYLAR
What’s the deal with your friend.
BB.
KAT
What about her?
SKYLAR
Is she like a prude or is she like
a slut?
KAT
Definitely a slut.
NICK
What about you?
KAT
What about me?
NICK
Are you a slut?
KAT
Yeah, I’m a fucking savage.
He smiles.
NICK
What’s your number?
KAT
Higher than you can count.
NICK
Stop playing, you’re a fuckin’
prude.
RUE (V.O.)
Now Kat wasn’t a prude but she was
a virgin. She told Jules that a
week into summer school and when
Kat saw her reaction -
JULES
(stunned and disturbed)
This isn’t the 80’s bitch. You need
to catch a dick.
BACK TO:
RUE (V.O.)
She was on a mission to enter
Junior year as a woman of
questionable morals.
NICK
Stop playing, you’re a fuckin’
prude.
NICK (CONT’D)
If I were to pull my dick out right
now, would you suck it?
KAT
I don’t know, let me see it.
NICK
I’m not hard yet.
He puts his hand down his pants and starts jacking off under
his clothes as they talk.
NICK (CONT’D)
You’ve probably never sucked a dick
in your life.
KAT
Yeah I have.
We can see that Kat enjoys the back and forth power-play.
SKYLAR
Most girls don’t know how to suck
dick.
KAT
What do you mean?
SKYLAR
They’re too gentle, like they’re
fuckin’ scared of it.
KAT
Not in porn.
NICK
(he smiles)
Exactly. You watch porn?
KAT
Doesn’t everyone?
NICK
Every guy, yeah. But not prudes,
only sluts.
KAT
(with a smile)
Yeah well.
NICK
You know what people always say?
Fat girls give the best head.
CUT TO:
RUE (V.O.)
I was out back talking to Fezco
when Jules arrived.
FEZCO
You know, I try to keep things
straight business, but... When I
saw you come in today the whole
thing made me uneasy.
RUE
Aw, don’t go soft on me Fezco.
FEZCO
Nah, I mean it, Rue. I like you. I
missed you. And that shit at the
beginning of the summer really
scared me.
RUE
Yeah, you and everyone else.
FEZCO
I’m not being flip, Rue. I’ve been
in the drug game for six years and
I’ve seen a bunch of people die.
But none like you.
FEZCO (CONT’D)
I don’t know what the fuck you got
going on inside of you, and I don’t
know how to fix it, but trust me,
this shit ain’t the answer.
RUE
I remember when I was 11 years old -
a month or two after my Dad got
diagnosed… and we got the results
from the prognosis - and it was
really good like 80/20. And we had
a little celebration, ordered a ton
of Chinese food and that night I
was laying in bed between my
parents, and we were watching a
Seinfeld rerun. And suddenly… I
couldn’t breathe. It was like the
world was no longer filled with
oxygen. I was gasping, panicking.
And they called the ambulance. They
thought maybe I had an allergic
reaction, and when I got to the
hospital, they gave me liquid
Valium to calm me down. And I
remember the moment it hit me, I
thought… ‘Oh, this is what I’ve
been searching for. My entire life,
for as long as I can remember.’
Because suddenly the whole world
went quiet and I felt safe in my
own mind.
(a beat)
2 years later, he was gone. My
panic attacks stayed. But I found a
way to live.
RUE (CONT’D)
And will it eventually kill me?...
Probably.
(with a smile)
So you still gonna be my dealer,
Fezco?
He stares at her.
FEZCO
You’re a fuckin’ trip, Rue. And I
am way too high for this
conversation.
RUE (V.O.)
Maybe things would have been
different if I was inside when it
all started, but I wasn’t.
FROM BEHIND: Jules, in her pink wig, looks at the house party
in the distance. It’s lit up. Music echoes. The windows are
fogged up. She looks at her phone. Nervous.
CUT TO:
Jules enters in her pink wig, crop top, torn fishnets, and
smeared mascara.
NATE
Real classy, you fucking whore!
NATE (CONT’D)
You wanna tell me who the fuck you
are?
JULES
I’m Jules, I’m a friend of -
NATE
A friend? You’re not my friend.
(yelling to the Party)
Anyone else here friends with
Jules?
JULES
Look, I’m just minding my own
business. I’m not trying--
NATE
No one who looks like you is
minding their own business. You
want attention. Don’t you?
(she says nothing)
Cause I’ll give you some fucking
attention.
NATE (CONT’D)
Anyone friends with this faggot?
NATE (CONT’D)
If someone doesn’t speak up, this
bitch is gonna get fucked up!
NATE (CONT’D)
Looks like you’re all on your own.
Jules tries to walk away but Nate grabs her and throws her
back against the wall.
NATE (CONT’D)
Dude, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was
just fucking with you, just put the
knife down, dude.
But Jules loses it, all the rage and emotion from the entire
evening pouring out of her.
JULES
You wanna hurt me, huh? You think
you can hurt me?
NATE
What the fuck are you talking
about?
Rue hears the commotion and comes into the kitchen to see
what’s going on. Jules is still holding the knife, screaming.
JULES
You think you can hurt me? Well
guess what, no one can hurt me like
I can hurt myself.
Jules takes the KNIFE and SLICES HER OWN ARM. Blood pours
from her. People begin to freak out.
JULES (CONT’D)
See! I’m fuckin’ invincible!
She bats her arm towards Nate, smearing the blood around the
kitchen.
NATE
You’re a fuckin’ psychopath!
Nate backs off as the fight goes out of her. Jules looks
around at the stunned party. Throws the bloody knife in the
sink.
JULES
By the way, I’m Jules. And I just
moved here.
RUE (V.O.)
I mean, right...?
CUT TO:
As Jules walks out of the party toward her bike, Rue runs out
after her.
RUE
Yo, that was the dopest thing I’ve
ever seen.
JULES
What?
RUE
That was fucking amazing.
JULES
Well, it became a situation where I
knew like, some amount of violence
was going to be done to me. And I
don’t want a fuckin’ broken
cheekbone or some shit.
(then)
So like, whatever. I got a couple
of cuts.
RUE
No I completely understand the
logic behind it, but it’s still
fuckin’ insane…
RUE (CONT’D)
I’m Rue.
JULES
I’m Jules.
RUE
Where you going?
JULES
Home, probably.
RUE
Can I come with you?
Jules smiles.
CUT TO:
Kat exits Skylar’s room and walks down the hall as CAMERA
holds on her face, numb.
MADISON
Where the fuck have you been? You
missed the craziest shit ever -
KAT
Guess who just lost their
virginity?
MADISON
Oh my god, oh my god, with who!?
KAT
I, uh, I think he goes to St.
Mary’s.
MADISON
Oh my god, no way! How was it?
KAT
It was... nice.
MADISON
Aw, my little slut, I’m so proud of
you!
CUT TO:
Rue holds onto Jules as they ride her bike back home. Rue
clings to her, the blood soaking through her shirt and into
her clothes.
Rue and Jules strip out of their bloody clothes and down to
their underwear. Rue begins to bandage her arm.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
Maddy is passed out in her bed next to BB. CAMERA drifts over
to the floor where KAT lays in a makeshift bed of blankets,
scrolling through Skylar and Nick’s instagrams.
CUT TO:
We can see that the Sheriff is at his wits end with Rue.
SHERIFF
Just tell us in a simple
straightforward way what happened
on the night of August 24th.
RUE
Was that the day the mall got shot
up?
SHERIFF
What mall?
RUE
The one in the south, that like,
that white supremacist dude shot
up.
SHERIFF
I don’t know what mall shooting
you’re referring to.
RUE
It was the one that happened the
day of McKay’s party.
SHERIFF
On August 24th?
RUE
I don’t know. It’s not like I’m
forty and keep a day planner.
RUE (V.O.)
So I’ve watched like a lot of true
crime docs and I’m always amazed at
like, how quickly criminals crack.
Like if you’re gonna have the balls
to commit a crime, then you’d think
you’d have the balls to lie about
it. Whatever. Point is - the first
rule of fight club... Don’t trust
the motherfucking cops.
CUT TO:
Nate weaves his car drunkenly down the streets. He gets out.
Drunk. And walks toward the front door of his house.
RUE (V.O.)
Remember when I said things got
weird...?
Nate closes the front door and drops his car keys in the bowl
in the front hall. WE HOLD on A FRAMED PICTURE behind it.
RUE (V.O.)
So yeahhhh...
BACK TO:
SHERIFF
Just tell us what happened the
night of Christopher McKay’s party.
RUE
(hesitates and then:)
Can I be completely honest?
SHERIFF
I hope so -
RUE
I got really fucking high that
night. So I’ll try to tell you what
happened but I can’t like promise
it’s, for real, what actually
happened... You know what I mean?
CUT TO:
Rue leans down and kisses her cheek. Sits up. Looks over her
shoulder, away from us.
RUE
I have an idea...
RUE (CONT’D)
Wanna get high?
END OF PILOT.