She’s in Love with the Boy
Method acting
The bitter-sweet romantic comedy based on Trisha Yearwood’s hit She’s in Love with the Boy is an exploration of the hopes and dreams of recent high school graduates with no foreseeable future. If you were disappointed that Pretty Woman and Something to Talk About didn’t fully explore their titular depth, this movie is for you.
Starring Shia LaBeouf as Johnnie, China Brezner as Katie, Billy Bob Thornton as “Pa” and John Travolta as “Mama,” She’s in Love with the Boy explores the lighter side of generational rural poverty.
I’ve excerpted as much as I could bear to of the (pretend) working script below. As you’ll see it’s filled with tension, drama, and light-hearted romantic comedy potential.
She’s in Love with the Boy working draft
PA stands in the dusty dooryard of a clapboard-style house. He’s backlit until the headlights of an approaching car reveal his face. He projects resignation. MAMA, in a flowered muumuu, comes out of the house as the car pulls up.
Two youngsters emerge and start kissing their way to the front porch. They are startled by PA.
PA
“Young lady get on into your room while me and junior have a talk.”
Go with your feelings kids!
MAMA (Breaking in)
Don’t lose your temper, it wasn’t very long ago that you yourself was just a hayseed cowboy who didn’t have a row to hoe. My daddy said you wasn’t worth a lick, when it come to brains you got the short end of the stick. But he was wrong and honey you are too. Katie looks at Johnnie like I still look at you. She’s in love with the boy.”
PA
Oh, I know, Mama. Still if I could say a few words to the young man in private, I think it’d be for the best.
MAMA puts her arm around Katie and the two exit through the screen door leaving a bewildered-looking JOHNNIE alone with PA in the grassless dooryard.
JOHNNIE
Sir, before you start I just…
PA (A little Tommy-Lee-Jones-exasperated)
Save it, kid. Everything my wife said was true. But I’ll tell you what, the look? That “luv” look? That’s the same look you can see in the eyes of any hustler in a pool hall just before they double the stakes. Now, I’m not gonna bore you with my would-a-beens. If I hadn’t married Sue Ellen I’d surely be livin’ in a trailer in the swamp like Old Man Newcomb drinkin’ myself into an early grave.
Cut to a long-bearded old man sleeping peacefully if drunkenly on the hood of his Eldorado in front of a rusted-out trailer. Both PA and JOHNNIE snap back from their reverie.
JOHNNIE
But it’s n…
PA
Can’t you hush? Whater you? 16? 17?
JOHNNIE
Twenty-two, sir.
Time ain't been kind to mama.
PA
Jesus. Really? Wow, you ain’t bright. You see, Katie’s a lot like her mama. Looks just like she did at her age. No, really. I expect that woman’s put on ‘bout seven pounds for each of the 17 years we’ve been married. Do you know what seven times 17 is? ‘Course you don’t. But trust me I’m up to a quart of whiskey a night to live up to my marital duties, if you know what I mean.
JOHNNIE shudders
JOHNNIE
But Katie’s young and, man, she just don’t care. She said she’d follow me anywhere.
PA
Well then you must be deaf as well as stupid. She didn’t say anywhere she said everywhere. You know, there was this one time? Me and Katie’s mother were out havin’ a couple of beers, shooting some pool. I left to go to the men’s room and when I came out, there she was in the hall tellin’ me how much she missed me while I was gone.
It got to the point where I had to give up huntin’ because I didn’t trust myself to be armed when she was around. And she was always around. Always. I can’t make it clear enough to you. For the love of God, son.
That’s the meat. The script obviously could use some potatoes, though, and maybe some peas and carrots but that’s not my gig.
Will Johhnie heed Pa’s advice and run or will he end up sharecropping the lower 40 while Katie pumps out babies and eats the pies she bakes daily? Frankly, I’m not all that interested ‘cause I’m not gonna make this movie so it’s up to you.
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