Venice

“It Get’s Better”

EXT. VENICE BEACH - DAY
Ani and her crew are breaking down the set after a photo shoot. Ani sees a young woman staring at her from across the beach. Ani grabs a photo and walks over to the girl.

ANI
Are you interested in photography?

SERINITY
No. Why?

ANI
Because you’ve been watching us shoot all day.

Ari hand Serinity a picture of her watching the two female models.

ANI(CONT’D)
You even got in one of my test shots. You can have it if you want.

SERINITY
Thanks... I’m sorry I’ve just been here thinking about life all day.

ANI
Two days. You were here when I scouted this area yesterday... in the same clothes.

SERINITY
(laughing)
Stalker.

ANI
(laughing)
No... this was my place to think when I was about your age. I noticed you having deep thoughts...

SERINITY
My college roommate found out I was Gay and told the whole campus and it got back to my parents. They are coming to take me home today. Did you think about anything like that when you sat in this spot?

ANI
Yep... When I was 19 there was a guy that liked me since Jr. High. He kept asking me out and since I thought we were friends I told him the real reason I didn’t want to go out with him... because I’m gay. He cussed me out and then went straight to my parents.

SERINITY
What did they do?

ANI
My mother prayed a lot. My father just loved me. I have always been Daddy’s little girl.

SERINITY
So nobody had a problem with it?

ANI
One of my brothers. But he is a story within himself. The most important part is that I liked who I was.

SERINITY
I knew you were gay.

ANI
How?

SERINITY
I saw you and your girlfriend over here yesterday. Is she a model?

ANI
(laughing)
Oh, checking out my girlfriend are you? No. She just looks like a model. So see it gets better. When I was your age I was sitting in this same spot thinking that my life was a mess and now look at me... great job and a girlfriend that looks like a model.

SERINITY
Well, that’s you. I don’t think anything like that will happen to me.

ANI
Have you ever heard of the Trevor Project? Maybe they can help.

SERINITY
They can keep me in school with my girlfriend and make my parents understand?

ANI
Look them up on line. They have 24 hour counselors. They can listen and help you with your problems.

SERINITY
I don’t think that is anyway out of this mess.

ANI
I thought that when I was your age... but it got better... a lot better. The Trevor Project look it up on line.

Ani walks away and Serinity gets a pen out of her bag and writes the words Trevor Project on the back of the photo.

FADE TO BLACK