FOOTLOOSE
BY DEAN PITCHFORD
FADE IN:
INT. CHURCH - DAY
Young people are filing into a church for a funeral. Reverend Shaw MOORE is delivering the eulogy for his son, who has been killed in a car accident. He speaks of the dangers of teenage recklessness and the need for the community to come together to prevent future tragedies.
EXT. CHURCHYARD - DAY
After the funeral, the young people gather outside the church. They are all in mourning, and there is a sense of tension in the air. Suddenly, Ren McCORMACK (17) appears. He is new to town and immediately stands out from the crowd. He is dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and he has a long, shaggy mane of hair.
The young people stare at Ren, and he stares back at them. He can sense their hostility and he knows that he is going to have to work hard to fit in.
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
Ren is walking down the school hallway, trying to find his way to the principal's office. He stops to ask a group of students for directions, but they just look at him blankly. He realizes that he is going to have to find his own way.
INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY
Ren enters the principal's office and introduces himself to Principal WOODS. Principal Woods tells Ren that he has a reputation for being a troublemaker and that he is not going to tolerate any of his antics at this school. He also warns Ren that the town has a strict curfew and that anyone caught out after curfew will be punished.
EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY
Ren is sitting on a bench, feeling lost and alone. He is starting to wonder if he made a mistake in moving to this town. Suddenly, he sees a group of girls walking towards him. The girls are all pretty and popular, and Ren is immediately drawn to them.
The girls stop in front of Ren and introduce themselves. Ren is surprised to learn that they are all friends with his sister, Ariel (15). Ariel is a sweet and innocent girl, and Ren is glad that she has made some friends in this new town.
The girls invite Ren to join them for lunch, and he happily agrees. They sit at a table in the cafeteria and talk about their lives. Ren learns that the girls are all from wealthy families and that they are used to getting what they want.
INT. REN'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Ren is sitting at the kitchen table, talking to his parents. They are worried about him because he has been acting strangely since they moved to town. Ren tries to explain to them that he is just trying to fit in, but they don't understand.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - NIGHT
Ren is walking through the town square when he sees a group of teenagers gathered around a jukebox. They are all dancing and having fun, and Ren wants to join in. However, he is afraid of what his parents will say if they find out that he has been dancing.
Ren stands on the sidelines and watches the teenagers dance. He feels like an outsider, and he longs to be part of the group. Suddenly, Ariel appears. She sees Ren and comes over to him.
Ariel asks Ren why he is not dancing, and he tells her that he is afraid of what his parents will say. Ariel laughs and tells him that his parents won't care. She takes his hand and pulls him onto the dance floor.
Ren and Ariel dance together, and Ren finally feels like he belongs. He has made a new friend, and he is starting to feel like he can finally fit in in this new town.
INT. CHURCH - NIGHT
Ren and Ariel are sitting in the church, listening to a sermon. Reverend Shaw Moore is talking about the importance of