FOR THE FIRST TIME
Written by RosariFashion Institute of Technology
Prof. Ben Meyer
EXT. EDEN’S LAKE - NIGHT
EVANGELINE (18) is in a RED SEQUIN GOWN, and TUXEDO JACKET, and GABRIEL (18) is in a SUIT. They sit together at their romantic picnic on the dock. Evangeline is on guard with Gabriel since they haven’t been alone together in a while. Gabriel acts as if nothing bad happened.
GABRIEL
Ev, look, at this.
He shows her his phone screen. STEVE, a tall scrawny teenage boy wearing a white suit and a PROM KING SASH is doing a KEG STAND.
EVANGELINE (laughs)
I can’t believe Mr.Prom King is going to Brown. Man has been faded every day since 7th grade.
GABRIEL
I can believe his daddy’s money already got him into the worst frat and their year’s supply of stiizys.
They both laugh.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
So how do you like dinner so far?
EVANGELINE
It’s good. Glad there’s no peanut sauce this time, I forgot my EpiPen.
GABRIEL
In my defense, you didn’t tell me you had a nut allergy. At least the adrenaline jolted you back to life, Frankenstein’s monster.
EVANGELINE
Because it’s embarrassing!
GABRIEL
It is embarrassing, weakling, but seeing you puff up was hella funny.
They both laugh.
EVANGELINE
Thanks for this, by the way. This is way better than my birthday with my mother. Can’t wait to leave her dusty ass.
GABRIEL
Can’t believe you’re going across the country for school without me. (Laughs for a moment)
Promise to visit me at least?
EVANGELINE
If you’re not “deer hunting” in the woods or with your new hoes, maybe.
Gabriel rolls his eyes.
GABRIEL
Now close your eyes, I have a surprise.
Evangeline shuts her eyes. Gabriel pulls a cake from the picnic basket while Evangeline stares at the water. He places a “1” candle and an “8” candle next to each other and quickly lights the wick. Struggling, he burns his fingers. He presents it to Evangeline.
EVANGELINE
(under her breath)
It smells like burnt human f-
GABRIEL
Make a wish.
Evangeline looks up and smiles. She gathers sand from the dock with her hand and sprinkles it over the cake to put out the fire. Gabriel is weirded out. He puts the cake back in the basket.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
So what did you wish for?
EVANGELINE
If I tell you it won’t come true.
GABRIEL
Was it for me to kiss you?
They lean in and make out. Slowly Evangeline places her hand on his crotch. Evangeline subtly pushes him off.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. Let’s just... keep going.
They make out again. Evangeline takes off her jacket and tries to unbuckle his pants. Gabriel pulls back and sits in a hook position.
EVANGELINE
I’m sorry, is it me?
GABRIEL
It’s just... I wish you liked me, genuinely.
EVANGELINE (in disbelief)
Oh... but I do. I just thought you only trying to hook up this whole time.
GABRIEL
No. I mean, yeah but-
EVANGELINE
Is there more that you want to be?
GABRIEL
Yes, Evangeline, there is.
He stands up.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
Evangeline, I’ve liked you since freshman year, I just never had the balls to ask you til recently. I know it’s wrong to date since you’re leaving, but I want us to work for the remaining time we got. I want to take it slow even though we’re in a rush. I just want to be with you.
EVANGELINE (blushing and nervous)
Aw, Gabriel. I’m sorry I’m coming on too strong.
He sits next to her. He places his hand on top of hers.
GABRIEL
I don’t want our first time to be our last encounter. I like you too much.
EVANGELINE
I like you too much too.
GABRIEL
Plus, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.
EVANGELINE
Mhmm... Yeah, sure.
Evangeline pulls his face in to kiss him, he gets on top of her. The wind through the thick trees mixes with their heavy breathing. Footsteps crunch leaves in the distance.
Evangeline and Gabriel stop and prop up.
GABRIEL
What was that?
He gets up and takes baby steps toward the sound.
GABRIEL (CONT’D) (soft shout)
Hey! Who’s there?
Gabriel’s worried face stares at Evangeline.
Evangeline’s face is flushed, terrified; she knows what is about to happen.
CUTS TO BLACK.
Ow!
GABRIEL (V.O.)
EXT. CAVE BONFIRE - NIGHT
FADE IN:
Gabriel regains consciousness. He finds himself tied to a wooden post.
His blurry vision focuses on the burgundy hooded figure burning palo santo in front of him. Soon he recognizes a familiar face.
GABRIEL
Pri- Principal B! What are you?
What is happening?
LILITH
Hello, Mr. Hopkins. Welcome to your first and last Pure Body and Soul Ceremony. And Principal B is my day name. My real name is Lilith.
Gabriel looks at the 20-person cult in burgundy hoods, heavily decorated altar, and his feet.
GABRIEL
WHY?! Why me?!
LILITH
Because our little spy found new bait.
Lilith points to a hooded figure escorted by two other hooded figures. They unveil themselves.
GABRIEL
Evangeline?! Wait... is Principal B-
LILITH
Her mother? Yes, yes I am. B stands for Blackwell like Evangeline Blackwell. Smart of you to connect the dots.
GABRIEL
Jesus Christ. What- what are you going to do to me?
LILITH
Simple. A new woman must sacrifice a virgin for eternal beauty and spread his ashes on the altar candles to ignite the spell. The flames reach the new moon and start a new chapter for the lady as well as her sisters.
GABRIEL
How do you know I’m a virgin?
LILITH
I’ve seen the way you talk to girls compared to your friends. You have no game.
EVANGELINE
Mom!
LILITH
What, it’s the truth!
EVANGELINE
Gabriel, I was hoping to do this after graduation away from the high school drama. To be honest, I don’t know how my mother found us. I guess the time is now.
LILITH
I made Peggy confess.
She points to another hooded figure. Peggy slowly walks up and takes off her hood.
PEGGY
Hey Lin.
EVANGELINE
Peggy! I thought you were going to cover for me!
PEGGY
I’m sorry, Lin, but your mom came by to drop off your Epipen and she saw you weren’t there.
Lilith turns to Evangeline.
LILITH
How dare sneak off with a boy, child! During your most fertile years? Do you want to be a pregnant college dropout and waste your life?
EVANGELINE
Relax, we used protection! You know I am smarter than that!
LILITH
He’s a Hopkins, Evangeline! Do you know who he is the offspring of? Matthew Hopkins, witch hunter! He’s been tracking your history!
EVANGELINE (in shock)
Is that true, Gabe?
GABRIEL
My family carries the legacy, but I’m ending it, I swear!
LILITH
Enough! You’re wasting time! Make me proud for once by killing the boy!
THREE SYNCHRONIZED CLAPS begin the ceremony. The cult circles around Gabriel, Lilith, Evangeline, and the altar. They move in a counterclockwise direction, chanting “No god or man can be as beautiful as I am”.
Evangeline sets up at the altar. She throws her corsage and his boutonniere over a candle flame and lets it burn in a bowl. She is focused
GABRIEL
Ev! You don’t have to do this!
Lilith hands Evangeline a knife and a lit-up torch. Evangeline walks slowly towards Gabriel.
Evangeline is face-to-face with her lover, dead serious.
EVANGELINE
I’m not doing this! Just cause you had lame relationships doesn’t mean you have to ruin my good ones! Guess what, Mom? You can’t kill him. Because he is not a virgin! We were each other’s first, so ha!
LILITH
(disgusted)
No, impossible! (change of tone)
And outside? Have some class!
EVANGELINE
It only lasted a minute.
PEGGY
Ha! Loser can’t last long.
GABRIEL
Hey! And um... Evangeline... I lied to you again. You weren’t my first.
EVANGELINE
Wh- what? Then... who was?
GABRIEL
Ummm... Nevaeh Schaeffer. Two years ago.
EVANGELINE (devastated)
What? Nevaeh Schaeffer? My mortal enemy? You, bastard!
Evangeline swiftly slices Gabriel’s cheek, only cutting the epidermis. Gabriel shrieks in pain.
LILITH
I told you so, should’ve never been with a boy to begin with. Now continue the ceremony!
THREE SYNCHRONIZED CLAPS restart the ceremony and everyone chants. Gabriel and Evangeline have a stare-down.
GABRIEL
Evangeline! Please, that was the past! I love you now!
EVANGELINE
No god or man can be as beautiful as I am!
His face accepts defeat. She “stabs him”. The knife tangled between the rope, she drags the knife down to cut him loose. Gabriel breathes heavily.
EVANGELINE (CONT’D) (whispers)
I love you too.
Evangeline turns to the cult and her mother. She throws the torch towards the altar, setting it on fire. Cult members go batshit crazy and rush in the other direction.
LILITH
No!!!! What have you done?
Evangeline runs to Gabriel, removes the rope entirely, and helps him out of the trap. She sets him free and gestures for him to get a head start. Gabriel runs in the opposite direction. The cult members try to salvage the altar.
Evangeline rams her mother against the wooden post and stabs her deep that the knife carves into the post. She stabs her so deeply. Lilith is stuck.
LILITH (CONT’D)
How dare you resent me child, a mother and daughter should be close! I would never pick a man over you like my mother did!
EVANGELINE
I’m choosing myself, and I chose Boston U... To be away from you forever!
Evangeline rips off the GOLD HEART-SHAPED LIGHTER NECKLACE from her mother’s neck and drops it at Lilith’s feet.
Lilith is ON FIRE, screaming in pain. Yet her skin is not melting, her hair is perfectly still. The knife deep in her abdomen is not even bleeding. It is almost like the fire and knife are invisible.
Evangeline removes her robe and walks away, holding back tears.
Peggy watches her escape.
PEGGY
Fly, lovebirds, fly!
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
CUT TO:
Evangeline is lost in the woods. She screams Gabriel’s name as she runs.
GABRIEL (O.S.) (distant)
Ev!
EVANGELINE
Gabriel! Gabri-
Gabriel runs and hugs her from behind. Evangeline is startled but hugs him back.
EVANGELINE (CONT’D) (crying) You waited.
GABRIEL
Of course, I’m not leaving you. Let’s get out of here.
Gabriel collapses on the floor from exhaustion.
EVANGELINE
No no no!
Evangeline rummages through her purse and pulls out her EPIPEN. She injects him; Gabriel gasps hard for air and gets back on his feet.
Gabriel and Evangeline run through the woods and reach Gabriel’s 1954 CHEVY 3100. They get in the car and start the engine. The headlines flash and a figure is hovering over the hood. Gabriel and Evangeline scream.
This entity has the palest, most wrinkled skin, white as snow tailbone-length hair, and a figure down to the bone. Blood drops from its mouth, eyes, and fingertips. Its BLUE EYES stare at them, and Evangeline recognizes them.
EVANGELINE (CONT’D) Mom?
LILITH
Grow... Up... My Child...
Lilith collapses, her body stretched out a few feet from the car.
Gabriel and Evangeline sit in silence, in shock. Gabriel puts the car in drive and drives off.
FADE TO:
I/E. CHEVY 3100/ OPEN ROAD - NIGHT
They drive under a starry night. Gabriel’s left hand is on the stirring wheel and his right holding Evangeline’s hand.