The ‘Zine

by Lucy Horner
INT – EMMA’S BEDROOM – EVENING

FADE IN

Opens with the Baxter household; Emma’s bedroom. Her curtains

are drawn and the only source of light in the room is from her
bedside lamp, casting a golden hue across that side of the
room. Emma is on her bed, laying on her front with the loud,
rainbow zigzag patterned bedsheets beneath her. She is talking
on the phone, her feet by the headboard, stuck up in the air
with her ankles locked while she uses her elbows to prop
herself up near the foot of the bed. She is writing in her
diary while on the phone.

EMMA
(on the phone)
I appreciate the help, but I don’t need a
boyfriend. Besides, you’d be wasting your time. My
mum would never let me go.

TAYLOR
(on the phone)

Just sneak out.

EMMA

Sneak out? Have you met my mother? She has eyes

and ears everywhere; I’d never get away with it.

TAYLOR
(on the phone)

You need to learn to take more risks, Em.

Otherwise, you’re going to end up alone with loads
of cats.

EMMA

Yeah, well, maybe I will end up alone with

loads of cats. I’m fine with that.

TAYLOR
(on the phone)

Okay, how about this; I know this guy, he’s

really sweet, a total gentleman. How about I arrange
a little blind date for you guys? It could be fun.
 EMMA

Look, Taylor, there’s no point setting me up

with anyone because I already like someone else...

Close up of Emma writing her name with another girl’s name in

a heart in her notebook.

TAYLOR
(on the phone)

(gasps) Who?!

EMMA

I’m not telling you.

TAYLOR
(on the phone)

You can’t just say you like someone and not

tell me who, Emma! That’s just cruel!

EMMA
(chuckles at Taylor’s overdramatic response)

I’m sorry but that’s too bad because-

Emma hears shouting from downstairs and takes the phone away
from her ear with a frown. She then puts the phone back to her
ear and continues talking.

EMMA

Hey, Taylor, I’m gonna have to call you back.

Sounds like World War Three is happening downstairs.

TAYLOR
(on the phone)

Sounds fun. Call me back later, yeah?

EMMA

Yeah, okay, bye.

Emma hangs up the phone and puts it back in its holder. She
slowly gets up from her bed and walks towards her door. As she
opens her bedroom door, the shouts become louder. Cautiously,
makes her way down the stairs and finds her mother and brother
arguing in the kitchen.
 TYLER
(from behind the door)
It’s not mine! I swear!

CAROLINE
(from behind the door)
Don’t lie to me, Tyler! Who else could it be?!

Emma slowly pushes open the kitchen door and her eyes widen
when she sees her mother waving around an adult magazine. Her
magazine.

EMMA
(casually, trying to play it cool)
What’s going on?

Both her mother and brother turn to face Emma. Tyler’s face
resembles an expression of annoyance.

CAROLINE
Nothing, Emma. Go back upstairs. Tyler, will
you please just tell me the truth so we can be over
this?

TYLER
But Mum...

Tyler begins but he then looks at Emma, who is giving him a

pleading look. He then sighs and turns back to their mother.

TYLER
Okay, fine. It’s mine.
(harshly, while looking at Emma)
Happy?

Emma looks away from her brother, guilt coating her face.

CUT TO

INT – THE KITCHEN – NIGHT

Tyler is in the kitchen making a drink when Emma walks in

wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown.

EMMA
(shoving hands into her dressing gown pockets)
How bad?

TYLER
(coldly)
 Grounded for a week.

EMMA
I’m sorry, Ty.

TYLER
(slamming mug on the counter, turning to face
Emma)
I can’t keep covering for you, Emma. It’s not
fair that I keep getting into trouble.

EMMA
I know, I’m sorry!

TYLER
You have to tell her.

EMMA
(violently shaking her head)
Tyler, I can’t. I’m not ready, what if she
doesn’t... I can’t, okay? I can’t tell anyone;
you’ve heard the way people at school talk. Butch,
dyke, lezzer... No one can know, Tyler.

TYLER
(sighs)
I know. Just find a better hiding spot for
those magazines, okay?

EMMA
(nodding)
Noted.

TYLER
(beginning to walk out of the kitchen with his
mug)
Good night.

EMMA
Night

As Tyler leaves the kitchen, Emma leans against the counter

and lets out a sigh, a worried look on her face.