a literary journal

SCRIPT

Ballare

TW: depression/eating disorders/body shaming

INT. BATHROOM - DAY 

A small family bathroom. Grey light from the narrow window highlights the clutter of bottles and toothbrushes arranged on the bath ledge and sink. 

GEMMA (10 years old) sits on the floor, her back against the door. She wears a jumper and leggings. 

She holds a battered smartphone close to her face.  

She’s watching a video tutorial showing a variety of ballet positions. 

GEMMA’s eyes move across the screen, taking in the movement. 

The ballerina in the video demonstrates a Développé Croisé Devant. 

HOWARD (7 years old) is knocking on the other side of the bathroom door. 

HOWARD (O.S.) 

Gemma! 

He’s shouting, but GEMMA ignores him, pressing her back more forcefully against the door. 

The knocking sound stops. 

GEMMA skips back through the video to the Développé Croisé Devant position and pauses. 

She gets up and balances the phone on the bathroom sink. 

GEMMA tries to imitate the ballerina’s pose. Her arms rise elegantly as she straightens her back and raises her right leg high. 

Her foot hits the wall, but she is a perfect mirror image of the ballerina, with the same posture and grace. 

She keeps her head high, but her eyes dart between the video and the bathroom mirror. 

HOWARD (O.S.) (CONT’D) 

Gemma!

HOWARD is rattling the door handle. 

GEMMA loses her balance, and her leg crashes into the sink.  She sighs.

GEMMA 

What! 

HOWARD doesn’t reply. 

She takes the phone from the sink and hides it up her jumper sleeve. 

She unlocks the door, and HOWARD bursts in. 

GEMMA (CONT’D) 

(frustrated)

What?

HOWARD 

You’re taking too long! 

GEMMA glares at him.  

She pushes past him. 

HOWARD glares back at her. 

INT. UPSTAIRS LANDING - DAY 

A narrow landing, the same grey light enters through the window blinds in slits. 

GEMMA stalks off to her bedroom. 

INT. GEMMA AND HOWARD’S BEDROOM - DAY 

A messy shared bedroom. Two beds are pushed up against opposite walls. One side of the room is decorated purple with pictures of pop stars and fantasy movie posters. A pile of books sits next to the bed. The other side is painted blue and is overflowing with plastic toys and game console accessories. A chest of drawers stands in the middle. 

GEMMA closes the door behind her.  

She takes a chair from a small desk on the purple side of the room. The desk surface is littered with hair bands and notebooks.

She wedges the chair under the door handle. 

GEMMA takes the phone out of her sleeve and props it on the desk. 

She tries to imitate the Développé Croisé Devant again but her foot hits the chest of drawers. 

The sound of HELEN (42) shouting from downstairs echoes through the door. 

HELEN (O.S.) 

Gemma! Howard! Have you Seen my phone? 

GEMMA lowers her leg and quickly takes the phone from the desk. 

She deletes the search history on the video app. 

She takes the chair away from the door handle and opens the door. 

INT. LANDING - DAY 

GEMMA leaves her bedroom, phone in hand. 

GEMMA 

Got it! Found it in Howard’s bed! 

She runs to the stairs. 

INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY 

A busy supermarket. Groups of SHOPPERS pace the aisles impatiently. 

HELEN, GEMMA, and HOWARD are at the checkout.  

GEMMA is helping HELEN pack various food items into shopping bags. HOWARD swings on the trolley handle. 

They finish packing, and HELEN reaches for her handbag. She takes out an old purse and unzips it. 

MAISIE, the supermarket cashier, clicks on her screen and turns to HELEN. 

MAISIE 

That’s £72.80. 

HELEN looks at the cash register screen with alarm. 

HELEN 

What? 

MAISIE looks at her boredly.  

MAISIE 

That alright, madam? 

HELEN looks worried. She looks at the queue of SHOPPERS  behind her, waiting to have their shopping scanned. Some of them are tapping their feet or looking at their watches. 

HELEN looks into her purse and flicks through banknotes. She doesn’t have enough. 

She looks back at MAISIE. 

HELEN 

Yeah... sorry, it just took me by surprise... I haven’t got all my cash on me. 

GEMMA is looking worriedly at HELEN. 

HOWARD swings on the trolley, oblivious. His shoes are squeaking loudly on the floor. 

HELEN turns to GEMMA. 

HELEN (CONT’D) 

Can you take Howard to the photo booth or something? 

GEMMA takes HOWARD by the hand, and they walk over to the photo booth near the supermarket entrance. 

GEMMA looks at HELEN over her shoulder. 

HELEN turns back to MAISIE. 

HELEN (CONT’D) 

Look, can I hand some things back? 

MAISIE nods. 

HELEN begins taking sausages, fruit juice, jam, and other items from her bag. 

MAISIE scans them back through the till and places them in a pile on the side of the conveyor belt. 

HELEN watches the price on the cash register screen decrease. HOWARD is spinning around happily on the photo booth stool. 

GEMMA wanders away from him towards a display of leaflets advertising tourist activities and local businesses. 

She finds one titled “Miss Ruby’s School for Dance.”  

She turns around so her back is facing HELEN, who is still handing back items. 

GEMMA picks up the leaflet quickly and starts reading. HELEN stops handing back food items. 

The price on the cash register screen reads £48.20. 

HELEN hands over £50 in notes to MAISIE, who gives her the change.  

HELEN flashes an embarrassed smile at the waiting customers, then turns to take her trolley. 

She calls to GEMMA. 

HELEN (CONT’D) 

GEMMA! Come on. 

GEMMA jumps and quickly scrunches up the dance school leaflet she was reading.  

She stuffs it into her jumper sleeve and goes to help HELEN  with the trolley. 

INT. HALLWAY - DAY 

A narrow downstairs hall with photos of GEMMA and HOWARD at various ages hung on the walls. 

HELEN and GEMMA carry the shopping through to the kitchen. HOWARD goes into the living room. 

INT. KITCHEN - DAY 

GEMMA starts to help HELEN unpack the food items. 

HELEN 

Don’t worry about that. I’ll do it. 

GEMMA doesn’t argue. 

HELEN gestures to her handbag. 

HELEN (CONT’D) 

Hang this on the stairs for me, please? 

GEMMA takes the bag.  

INT. HALLWAY - DAY 

GEMMA walks towards the staircase and looks behind her into the kitchen.  

HELEN is focused on unpacking the food items. GEMMA reaches into the handbag and takes out HELEN’s PHONE. 

She hides it in her sleeve and hangs the bag on the stair bannister. 

She runs up the stairs. 

INT. GEMMA AND HOWARD’S BEDROOM - DAY 

GEMMA wedges the chair back under the door handle. She has HELEN’s phone in her hand. 

She takes out the scrunched dance leaflet and smoothes it out. 

She turns it over. It reads “single ballet classes £5 for under 12-year olds” alongside the address of the dance school. 

GEMMA types the address into the phone’s map app. She activates the walking setting and clicks “directions.” 

The screen shows the estimated walking time as 48 minutes. 

GEMMA takes a notebook and pen from her desk and starts copying down the directions from the phone. 

The sound of the front door being unlocked downstairs resonates throughout the room. 

PAUL (42) shouts from downstairs. 

PAUL 

Hello? 

GEMMA shouts back. 

GEMMA 

Dad? Down in a sec! 

She quickly finishes copying down the information and then deletes the search history on the map app. 

GEMMA tears the page out of her notebook and stuffs it with the leaflet under her mattress.  

She leaves the phone on HOWARD’s bed, takes the chair away from the door, and leaves the room. 

Sounds of her running downstairs. 

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT 

GEMMA, HOWARD, HELEN, and PAUL are eating a dinner of spaghetti bolognese at the table. 

HOWARD is grimacing and playing with his food. 

HOWARD 

This tastes weird. 

HELEN 

I made it with Quorn this time. It’s good for you. 

HOWARD 

I don’t like it. 

HELEN  

Well, what else are you going to eat then? 

HOWARD glares at his bowl. 

GEMMA looks up at PAUL and HELEN.  

They both look tired. 

GEMMA clenches her fist in her lap under the table.  She breathes in and out. 

GEMMA 

I wanted to talk to you both about something. 

PAUL and HELEN look up at GEMMA, alarmed. 

GEMMA breathes again and continues. 

GEMMA (CONT’D) 

I’ve found somewhere that does ballet lessons. 

HELEN sighs. 

HELEN 

I thought we’d been over this.  

GEMMA 

I know you don’t like it, but I  really do. The place is only a short walk away... I could go on my own after school. I really want to try it. 

GEMMA looks at HELEN, hope and desperation in her eyes. 

HELEN 

Gemma, I don’t want to go through all this again. 

GEMMA 

Mum, please, I think I might actually be ok at it. 

PAUL smiles sadly. 

HELEN 

Gemma, I’m not having this. What does it even cost? 

GEMMA 

It’s less than Howard’s rugby! 

GEMMA is getting frustrated. 

HELEN sighs. 

HELEN 

I know it’s difficult to understand, but dance isn’t what you think it is - 

GEMMA begins to shout. 

GEMMA 

You don’t understand - 

HELEN’s anger is rising. She raises her voice. 

HELEN 

Don’t shout! 

GEMMA 

You don’t care about me. You don’t care about what I want - 

HELEN 

Enough! I’m not having all that old-fashioned dance crap brought into my house!  

HOWARD is watching the argument wide-eyed. 

PAUL 

Helen - 

GEMMA 

- It’s not crap! It’s - 

HELEN 

- I’m not letting you go to some patriarchal institution that treats girls like animals! I won’t do it! 

GEMMA 

It’s not like that! It’s not like the way it was when you were a dancer! Things are - 

HELEN 

Listen to me! I don’t want my daughter to be body-shamed and bullied! I don’t want you going through that. 

GEMMA 

Mum! 

PAUL 

Helen -  

HELEN turns to PAUL. 

HELEN 

- No! I don’t want her becoming depressed or developing some bloody eating disorder from a place like that! It’s not worth it! 

GEMMA gets up from the table and leaves the kitchen. 

The sounds of GEMMA stomping up the stairs and slamming her bedroom door reverberate through the room. 

HELEN sighs and puts her head in her hands. 

PAUL puts a hand on her shoulder. 

He turns to HOWARD. 

PAUL 

Howard, why don’t you go and see what’s on tele? 

HOWARD leaves the room looking shocked. 

PAUL turns to HELEN. 

PAUL (CONT’D) 

You could just be honest with her. We’re gonna have to tell them both at some point. 

HELEN begins to cry into her hands. 

HELEN 

I can’t bear it. 

PAUL 

I know... I know... but things will get better. 

The sound of the television echoes through the wall. 

HELEN 

I can’t... Howard will have to stop rugby. What are we going to do about Christmas? 

PAUL 

We’ll be alright. I can move some money around... We’ll be alright. 

HELEN breathes deeply. 

HELEN 

What did they say today? 

PAUL sighs. 

PAUL 

There’s nothing above minimum wage. 

HELEN sighs into her hands. 

PAUL (CONT’D) 

Something will come up soon. It has to... 

HELEN rests her head on PAUL’s shoulder. 

INT. GEMMA AND HOWARD’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 

GEMMA is lying on her bed facing the wall. Her eyes are closed, and her face is tear-streaked. 

She opens her eyes. 

She reaches underneath her mattress and takes out the dance leaflet and notepaper. 

She stares at the images of the dancers on the leaflet. A look of determination replaces her sad expression. 

INT. LANDING - NIGHT 

The sound of the television comes from downstairs. GEMMA tip-toes across the landing. 

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT 

GEMMA slowly tip-toes down the stairs. 

Her eyes are on HELEN’s handbag, which still hangs on the bottom bannister. 

She pauses halfway down the stairs and peers through the doors in the hall. 

The kitchen is empty.  

Noise comes through the open living room door. 

Through it, GEMMA sees HOWARD, PAUL, and HELEN sitting together on the sofa watching television. Their backs are directly opposite the staircase in the hall. 

GEMMA steps down another stair, keeping her eyes on HOWARD,  HELEN, and PAUL. 

GEMMA steps down again, and the stair creaks. 

She freezes. 

HELEN’s head turns slightly. 

GEMMA breathes in and out. 

HELEN looks back at the television. 

GEMMA takes two more steps, pauses, then two more. 

She has reached the bottom. 

GEMMA keeps her eyes on HOWARD, HELEN, and PAUL as she opens  HELEN’s handbag. 

She reaches in and takes out HELEN’s purse. 

Suddenly, the closing titles of the television programme blast through the hall. 

PAUL’s voice sounds over the television. 

GEMMA freezes again, panic on her face. 

PAUL (O.S.) 

Right. Bedtime. 

PAUL gets up from the sofa.  

His shadow moves across the hall. 

GEMMA crouches by the stairs. 

HOWARD (O.S.) 

Please, just one more. It’s the weekend! 

PAUL (O.S.) 

It’s late now. Come on... 

HOWARD (O.S.) 

Please! 

The sounds of PAUL chuckling. 

The opening titles of the television programme sound. PAUL’s shadow moves again, then becomes still. 

GEMMA breathes in and out. 

She unzips the purse with trembling hands and counts out £5  in coins. 

She grips the money in her palm and zips the purse back up. The sound of PAUL’s voice echoes again.  

GEMMA stops. 

PAUL (O.S.) 

I’m just gonna make a cuppa. Want one? 

GEMMA frantically stuffs the purse back in the handbag. 

HELEN (O.S.) 

I’m fine. 

GEMMA leaps up the stairs as quietly as she can, taking three at a time. 

PAUL emerges from the living room. 

INT. GEMMA AND HOWARD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 

GEMMA enters the room, panting. 

She shuts the door behind her and looks at the money in her hand. 

She smiles. 

EXT. SUBURBAN STREETS - DAY 

GEMMA, wearing a shabby school uniform, walks quickly along the pavement. 

She holds the notepaper with her handwritten directions in one hand. On her back is her school rucksack. 

EXT. DUAL CARRIAGEWAY - DAY 

Lorries and cars speed past, making GEMMA’s hair fly. 

She crosses the busy road at the traffic lights, glancing at the notepaper to check she’s on the right street. 

EXT. MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBOURHOOD - DAY 

GEMMA walks along streets with large, three-storey houses. She glances up at them with interest. 

EXT. MISS RUBY’S SCHOOL FOR DANCE - DAY 

A wide brick building with large, frosted glass windows and  an automatic door. A sign on the wall reads “Miss Ruby’s  School for Dance.” 

GEMMA looks up at the building in awe. Her face is red, and she’s sweating from the walk. 

The street is busy with PARENTS leading their CHILDREN into the building. 

All the CHILDREN are wearing white leotards, tights, leg warmers, and branded cardigans with “Miss Ruby’s School for  Dance” embroidered on the back. They each carry dance bags on their shoulders. 

Some of the CHILDREN stare at GEMMA. 

They look her up and down, taking in her school uniform. They whisper and giggle to each other. 

GEMMA stands on the opposite side of the road, watching them. She balls her hands into fists.  

She breathes in and out. 

She follows them through the door.