Here Come The Archetypes

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In Chapter 2 of FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE, science genius nerd Frankie Stein runs into his next-door neighbor Vita Heck, who invites him to play Dungeons and Dragons later that night. Later on at school, Frankie confides in his best friend Josh Bohner about bringing the dead rat back to life, and that he's got the hots for head cheerleader Shayla Petrie ...


EXT. FRANKIE’S HOUSE - DAY
Frankie comes out the door.
Starts walking over to his car,
a decrepit, old Volkswagon bus.

FEMALE VOICE (O.C.)
Hey, Frankie --

He turns and look, sees --

VITA HECK (17),
his next-door neighbor.
Your classic tomboy.

Hair in a ponytail. Glasses.
Baggy clothes.

Not the stuff of teenage dreams.
But kinda cute if you
squint your eyes.

FRANKIE
Hey, Vita.
What’s up?

VITA
Finally fixed the motherboard.
Got two-hundred screaming gigs of POWER.

FRANKIE
(distracted)
That’s -- great.

He opens the car door.
Gets in.

Starts the engine.
Vita walks over to the car.

VITA
A bunch of us are gonna play
Dungeons and Dragons tonight.
Can I pencil you in as a wizard?

FRANKIE
I haven’t played that
since we were kids --

VITA
I know.
I just thought --

FRANKIE
You ask me every week.
And what do I always say?

VITA
Uh, no -- ?

FRANKIE
Don’t get me wrong.
I really appreciate the invite.
No hard feelings?

VITA
Okay --

He nods.
Puts the car in gear
and drives away.

She watches the car sadly
as it goes down the street.
Sighs.

VITA
I’ve loved you all
these years, Frankie Stein --
and you don’t even know I exist.

EXT. SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
Out of a John Hughes movie.
Old and stately.

Manicured lawn.
Manicured kids from good homes.

The joint’s abuzz with dozens of STUDENTS
on their way to class.

Frankie walks with his friend
JOSH BOHNER (17), small and intense.

JOSH
You mean it WORKED?

FRANKIE
Yeah.
Then the little fucker ran away.

JOSH
Do you realize what this MEANS?

FRANKIE
That I’m a genius?

JOSH
(sees something)
Uh-oh.
Here come the archetypes --

A trio of CHEERLEADERS walk by.
Two scoops of blonde times three.

They glide by the boys.
Bathed in golden sunlight.

Frankie sighs. Stares at --
SHAYLA PETRIE (17), the head cheerleader.

She sees Frankie staring.
Whispers to her friends.
They ERUPT in laughter.

FRANKIE
Shayla Petrie --

JOSH
I can’t believe you have
the hots for her.
She just LAUGHED at you.

FRANKIE
I don’t care.
She’s perfect --

JOSH
Hello?
Reality check?
She’s WAY out of your league.

FRANKIE
(watches her go)
I don’t care --

JOSH
(tugs on his sleeve)
C’mon, we’re gonna be late for chem lab.

They start walking inside.

FRANKIE
I would KILL to be with her.

JOSH
Careful what you wish for --

HIDING BEHIND A NEARBY TREE
We see Vita, watching them.
She shakes her head sadly.

VITA
Shayla Petrie?
She’s the biggest slut in SCHOOL --