But you'll be excitd to hear that I won't be "rethinking" Endless Love, except thinking, maybe, about why Martin Hewit disappeared. I'd still like to see him in a boys locker room! Wait, that didn't sound right...
INT. BOYS LOCKER ROOM -DAY
Duckie is sitting on the bench between the rows of lockers in his gym clothes. He takes off his t-shirt and wipes his armpits and sniffs the shirt and shrugs. Boys in various states of undress are coming from or heading to the showers. Blane turns the corner and stops short when he sees Duckie. He knows Duckie is Andie's friend and he knows Duckie doesn't like him. But he tries anyways, as he opens his locker.
BLANE
(To Duckie) Hey...
DUCKIE
Hey.
BLANE
You're really good with the b-ball.
DUCKIE
You mean the basket ball?
BLANE
Yeah. Couple of times it was nothing but net, man.
DUCKIE
Does that surprise you?
BLANE
I--well, no. I just meant that--
DUCKIE
Look. Please don't try to be nice to me. It won't work.
Duckie rises from the bench and takes his shorts off. He's standing there in a jock and Chuck Taylors. Blane looks at him a little longer than he should; and now he really is suprised. Duckie is usually under twenty layers of clothing. Who knew "all that" was under there? Blane looks away.
BLANE
Sorry. I'll just shut up.
Two boys come into the space. They are perfect physical specimens with even more perfect hair. The first boy, ALAN, 17 sits.
ALAN
Hey Blane.
BLANE
Hi.
The second boy, JOSH, 17 opens his locker and looks at himself in the mirror.
JOSH
(To Alan) You have chem with Steff, right?
ALAN
Yeah, fifth period.
JOSH
I heard he asked that girl to the prom; the one who's always in the crazy dresses and funky hats...
ALAN
Yeah, she's his partner. She's quiet but she's actually really cute. What's her name?
JOSH
Sandy or Candy or something?
Blane and Duckie exchange a glance. Blane storms off.
CUT TO:
INT. LOCKER ROOM SHOWER AREA -DAY
Blane, still dressed, comes charging into the area, his head turning left and right. He spots Steff in the showers and rushes towards him. Steff is talking to another BOY who montions towards Blane. Steff turns and looks Blane up and down.
STEFF
(Smiling, not understanding) Hey Blane. You know, most people usually do this part in their birthday suit.
BLANE
Did you ask Andie Walsh to the prom?
STEFF
Blane, this isn't really the time or place--
BLANE
Just answer the question.
STEFF
Yes. Yes I did. Benny has--
BLANE
I don't care about Benny. Why? Why did you ask Andie?
STEFF
Well, not that it's your business; but she hasn't given me an answer--
BLANE
But it is my goddamn business Steff. I told you I liked her.
STEFF
Well, if we waited for you to make a move, Hamlet, she'd be a sophomore in college.
He LAUGHS and some of the other boys join him.
STEFF
(To Blane) You're all wet my friend.
BLANE
You're not my friend.
Blane pushes Steff agressively, and stands his ground. Steff has placed the final straw in their relationship and knows it; and knows Blane wants a fight. Steff assumes a boxing stance.
STEFF
Blane, you know I'm the club champ. You don't want to do this.
Blane doesn't answer and charges at Steff, nearly taking him down. CRIES of "A FIGHT!" "FIGHT" and the SHOUTS of excited boys ring out through the locker room. Duckie, now dressed, looks up and sees other boys running towards the showers. He drops his book bag and goes to see.
CUT TO:
INT. SHOWERS -DAY
Blane is a lover, not a fighter and he's really no match for Steff. Steff is more or less holding him off. but he's also on a tile floor with running water, and is thusly more concerned with not falling. He pushes Blane who reels backwards and slips. He goes down. Steff stands over him and offers him a hand up but Blane, now as much emabarrassed as enraged, lunges for Steffs legs. Steff goes down and Blane stradles him, getting in several blows, enough to draw blood.
STEFF
Thanks Blane, now I'm gonna get athlete's foot of the ass.
Blane gets in another punch. Steff is over it. He pushes Blane off and his pals help him up. Blane comes at him again and this time Steff puts an end to it with a precise left hook. Blane falls backwards dazed, nearly cracking his head on the floor.
ALAN
Here comes Coach!
Once the boys hear this, most of them go scampering back to their lockers. Steff tries one last time to make amends.
STEFF
Is this settled?
Blane doesn't answer. Steff strides off. Blane, now soaked to the skin, GROANS. Maybe he's really hurt. Duckie goes into the shower and kneels next to Blane.
DUCKIE
Are you okay?
BLANE
Kay-oh'd maybe...
Duckie helps him to his feet as the ATHLETIC COACH comes into the area. He is COACH HARRIS, 40ish.
COACH HARRIS
What the hell is this?
Boys are milling around. Nobody speaks. The coach turns to Steff, who is toweling off like nothing happened.
COACH HARRIS
(To Steff) I know you had something to do with this, McKee.
STEFF
You would be wrong coach.
COACH HARRIS
Then why is your nose bleeding?
Steff touches his finger to his nostril and looks at the blood. He shrugs.
STEFF
The air is really dry in here?
COACH HARRIS
The three of you get dressed and come to my office.
He shakes his head and walks off. The three boys look at one another.
CUT TO:
INT. COACH HARRIS' OFFICE -DAY
Steff, Blane and Duckie, looking like three bedgraggled hunting dogs are standing in front of Harris' desk.
COACH HARRIS
Who started it?
He is met with silence.
COACH
I'd put money on it that it was you, McKee. And McDonagh why are you even here? Why did you decide not to skip class today?
BLANE
I--
COACH
Your father may have the electrical contract for this school; but this is the last time I'm looking the other way. I have a good mind to--
DUCKIE
It was me Coach. I started the fight.
Coach Harris looks at him, incredulous.
COACH
You really expect me to believe that, Dale?
How about James Wolk as "Coach Harris"? I know he'd get me to P.E.! Perfect attendance. Extra Credit even. Did somebody say "ball boy." Stop. Stop, Chris.
Well, he said I was staring at his body and called me "queer."
Harris considers this a moment and looks at Steff.
STEFF
("Taking the win") I never used that word, Sir; but he was staring at me...(gestures to his personhood)...I mean, come on, right?
Steff takes his cigarettes out and puts one between his lips. The coach stands and steps in front of Steff. Steff offers him a smoke and matches. With amazing speed, Harris decigarettes Steff and tosses them on his desk. He turns to Blane.
COACH HARRIS
And how were you involved in this?
STEFF
Blane came to my defense when Luckie here tried to touch me in my bathing suit area.
The coach looks from one to the other. He doesn't even want to know if any of it's true. He SIGHS.
COACH
McDonagh, McKee, if either of you infracts one more rule, there will be repercussions. And it looks like you're actually going to be issued a cap and gown this year Mr. McKee. Congratulations.
STEFF
Thank you, from the bottom of--
COACH
Get out. Both of you. Philip stay.
Blane and Steff leave. Coach turns to Duckie.
COACH
Is any of this true?
DUCKIE
Yeah. It happened.
COACH
Uh-huh. By the way; why didn't I know you were so good at basket ball? You could've--
DUCKIE
You never asked.
COACH
(SIGHS again) Go. And close the door.
Duckie leaves, closing the door. Coach looks down, considers, picks up the cigarette and lights it.
CUT TO:
INT. LOCKER ROOM -DAY
Duckie is zipping up his book bag. Blane steps around a locker. They are alone.
BLANE
Thanks for that. I owe you one.
DUCKIE
Really?
BLANE
Yeah.
DUCKIE
Then stay away from Andie.
BLANE
Come on, that's not fair--
Duckie pushes past him. Blane stops him with a hand on the shoulder.
BLANE
Can we talk about it?
DUCKIE
(Considers) Yeah. Meet me tonight at Cats.*
BLANE
When?
DUCKIE
Midnight. Or do you have a curfew?
Duckie jerks his shoulder away and is gone. But he's forgotten a book. Blane picks it up from the bottm of the locker. It's a small journal, decorated with band stickers: The Smiths, Pretenders, The Cure etc. The hand written title reads: POEMS/LYRICS. Blane slips it into his jacket pocket and heads out.
*The club in the movie is not named in the script I read. It's just called "Club." In the finished film, I'm pretty sure there is a sign above the door that says "Cats" or "Cat Club" or something like that. I'll have to look at the movie again.
CFR 1/4/25