Prom Queens

High School Hallway

ALEX: *gestures to Emily* Can you believe that he actually dates that chick?

SHAWN: Nah, man. I don't know why he hasn't gotten rid of her yet; it was just supposed to be a fling and it's been a year. Like, what does he even see in her?

ALEX: Right?! It's not like she's really that beautiful! I mean she's got that, that -- *pause to gesture at nose*

ALEX & SHAWN: That big nose!

SHAWN: Besides, there's no way she's even a B with them tits, man.

ALEX: Tits? What tits? The only meat she got is on her stomach!

ALEX & SHAWN: *laughter* *Erin and Lucas enter the scene*

ERIN: Hey, girl! Why you so down?

EMILY: Do you hear them over there? They hate me.

ERIN: Oh, don't be so ridiculous. It's okay, you shouldn't worry about them.

LUCAS: Yeah, really. You can't control what they're talking about anyways. I mean, it's not your fault your nose is wide.

ERIN: And it's not like you can afford a nose job or anything.

EMILY: *defeated* You guys, no. Listen to them. *angered* They're sitting around calling me fat and I'm literally only 140 pounds! Like what the hell! And apparently, I was supposed to be a fling! Like what is this!

ERIN: Can I be honest with you, girl?

EMILY: Yeah?

ERIN: I didn't think Cam was gonna keep you around long either. I mean, you don't exactly fit in with his idea of a woman.

EMILY: What does that even mean?!

ERIN: You know... like the seductive blonde with a massive butt and a nonexistent waist. Also, she has her own line of cosmetics and has a side career as a porn star.

LUCAS: *sighs & rolls eyes* You have nothing to worry about. They're just trying to get in your head, but maybe I could give you a little fashion advice to be on the safe side.

ERIN: Ooh! We could be workout buddies!

EMILY: You don't really think Cameron's gonna break up with me because I'm not beautiful enough for him, do you?

LUCAS: I mean, no. No, of course not, honey. He loves you for you. We're just saying, if you want them guys over there to get off your back then you're gonna have to dress up a lil bit. You know, stop looking like a lil farmer girl and put on a mini skirt and some shimmer eye shadow or somethin, that's all.ERIN: Yeah, you guys are gonna go to prom and he's gonna see you all prettied up and he's just fall even more for you and everything will be okay.

EMILY: You've gotta be kidding me.

ERIN: No, really, you've got nothing to worry about. Hey, speaking of prom... can we come over and see your dress? You haven't showed us yet and I, for one, am super excited to know what color you're going for so we can complement each other!

EMILY: *says with resignation* Yeah, sure, that's fine. How about we grab some lunch first though, I'm starving.

LUCAS: *whispers to Erin* Now how is she starving? I saw her eat a whole bowl of carbs at lunch and I ain't eaten solid food in 3 days. We're gonna have to convince her to get a salad or she ain't ever gonna fit in that prom dress.

Emily's Room

EMILY: *excitedly* So, what do you think?

ERIN: *unenthusiastically* It's a little plain, but it's still cute.

LUCAS: No, no, it's very retro with the conservativism around the neckline.

EMILY: Ugh, you guys! You're supposed to be supporting me on this!

LUCAS: *shocked* We are supporting you! We're giving you fashion advice, so your senior prom isn't a flop!

ERIN: Alright, now try the dress with a push-up bra. It'll draw attention to all the right places. And also, do you have any Spanx?

EMILY: Spanx? No, I don't have any Spanx.

ERIN: Okay, I have a few pairs at home, you can borrow one of mine. They'll help you a lot with your figure.

EMILY: *outraged* What's wrong with my figure?!

LUCAS: Nothing, honey, you just need a little more curvature at the waistline to look seductive. Which, let's be honest, is what prom is about.

ERIN: *rolls eyes* You don't need to be seductive to be beautiful at prom, but it's not too late to start doing squats. I've been doing 50 every day before school and I am really starting to see results.

LUCAS: And there is almost nothing makeup can't do. Trust me. Just let me do your makeup for prom and I'll prove it.

EMILY: Guys, this is too difficult. I can't be all this, it's not who I am. I mean shape-wear, makeup, seduction... this isn't me and you guys know this!

ERIN: Of course, it's not who you are. Do you think I just spend hours a day on my makeup because I enjoy doing it? Come on now, I'm not Lucas. I do my makeup constantly so I can get complements from guys at school. I love having all eyes on me. No one would look at me if I didn't do it.

EMILY: *sigh* I know that, Erin. But, you don't really believe that Cameron loves me for who I am?

LUCAS: *shrugs* Not really. He's probably just using you for sex cause that's what men do.

ERIN: Honestly, Em, it wouldn't surprise me if he has any side girls. You're great, but you're just not what guys really want.

EMILY: What about in college? I mean, the freshman fifteen is a real thing! Is he just gonna get rid of me?

LUCAS: Probably.

ERIN: Yes.

EMILY: I'm gonna ask him, I have to know. *begins texting* *pause for text response*

EMILY: Oh my god, you guys were right. Listen to this, 'Don't worry, baby, I'm sure you'll gain weight in all the right places (winking emoji).' I can't believe he'd say something like that.

ERIN: Welcome to men. It's practically their job to objectify, sexualize, and berate women.

EMILY: I don't understand why men think this is some sort of complement! Like what girl wants to hear, 'Oh, the fat will make you sexier because it'll make your boobs bigger?' This is just disgusting. I feel disgusting.

LUCAS: No one is making you follow the norm here, Emily.

EMILY: *voice raising* You don't understand. A woman shouldn't have to work hard to change how she looks to reach this unattainable standard of beauty that doesn't even represent who they are. Everyone seems to have an opinion about my weight, my face, my breasts and quite frankly, it's just not right! Nothing about this is right! Even if I don't change myself, people hate me for not looking 'normal!'

ERIN: Alright, girl, calm down...

EMILY: *firmly* No, Erin, no. I will not calm down. I wanna know why women go on loathing every detail about themselves to impress men who are disgusting by nature because society says we should. I wanna know why men think it is okay to objectify and over sexualize women on a daily basis. We are people, individuals and we deserve to be heard and respected for who we are!

LUCAS: Well if that's how you really feel then maybe you should be an activist.

ERIN: You can't be an activist. You'll get murdered out there. Not to mention, who's going to listen to someone who doesn't meet the social norm? They'll just ignore you because they won't think you're important.

EMILY: I'm gonna get the whole entire school talking, you just wait and see.

Senior Prom

ERIN: *waves excitedly* Hey, Emily! Over here! *Emily approaches Erin*

EMILY: Erin, hi! You look great!

ERIN: Thanks! Can you believe I won prom queen?! All that hard work paid off! Anyways... I'm really surprised you decided to wear that dress still! *disappointed* What happened? Where's Cameron?

EMILY: Oh, I decided about a week ago that I didn't want to go to prom with him anymore. Not after what he said, anyways. I think it's safe to say that the relationship is over. I mean, after all, he did find another date pretty quickly. *shrugs* And if I'm not going to prom with anyone then there's really no point in trying to dress up like something I'm not, is there?

ERIN: *irritated* Girl, I can't believe you did that! This is like the most important day of your high school career and you're spending it... ALONE.

EMILY: I am not alone. There's you and Lucas and your dates that I can socialize with. Don't be so dramatic. *eye roll* Hey, speaking of Lucas, where is he?

ERIN: Man, I don't know. He took off with my date like a half an hour ago. I should probably go find them. Do you mind?

EMILY: *shakes head* Nah, go ahead. I'll be here. *Erin walks away* *Cameron's friends enter*

ALEX: Hey, Emily. Heard you broke up with Cameron?

EMILY: *annoyed* Yep.

ALEX: Now why would you go and do that? No one else is gonna want you.

SHAWN: C'mon Alex, be real. Even he didn't want her.

ALEX: *condescendingly* You know, I came without a date and I am awfully lonely.

EMILY: *exhausted* Get the hell out of here, Alex. I'm tired of your shit.

ALEX: Aw, c'mon baby. Let's dance *grabs Emily's arm firmly*

EMILY: *angrily* Hey, let me go!

ALEX: You're making a big mistake. *pulls her closer* You should be grateful that I'm doing this.

SHAWN: Yeah, Emily. No one ever really wants a flat-chested girl like you. You should take what you can get.

EMILY: *yelling and tugging away* Just leave me alone!

ALEX: Now stop fighting me or I'm gonna -- *Emily knees him in the gut and frees herself*

EMILY: *screaming, drawing the attention of the guests* You bastard! You don't deserve to breathe air! I shouldn't have to deal with disgusting men like you ever, let alone at my senior prom! You have made my life hell here because you think I'm just not pretty enough or whatever, but let me tell you something – you all *gestures around the room* are going to rot in hell for how ugly you people are on the inside! And most especially YOU *points to Alex*

This damned place has ruined me! Over and over I am forced to hear that I am ugly, that I need to have bigger breasts and lose weight and wear makeup and it's not just from men! Even my best friend tells me this and it just crushes me to realize that I can't be accepted here for who I am. Who said that the prom queen needs to be a size 00? Who said that she should be starving herself? Who said she has to wear heels, have unrealistically large breasts, dress like slut, and have a thigh gap that really isn't even humanly possible? We need to be supportive of each other, especially women, because we are only beautiful when we love ourselves and help each other to grow! I don't want to spend the rest of my life hating who I am because society says I should. I may not be a prom queen, but I am a human being just like all of you assholes! *gestures around the room*

I'm not here to make men happy and I'm not here to be treated like a welcome mat by my peers! I think it's long overdue that we make some changes around here. *A brief pause occurs as Emily catches her breath* *the room erupts with applause* *Erin approaches Emily*

ERIN: Here, this is for you. *hold out the queen's tiara to Emily*

EMILY: *repulsive* I don't want your pity crown, Erin.

ERIN: It's not a pity crown. You deserve this. Way more that any of us ever will. Especially me. I never saw how amazing you were and I never really appreciated you, but you're a badass and everything you said; it was right, Em. You deserve to wear this crown because lord knows you're the only real, genuine person here. You're gonna change this world for the better and I already know you've changed me *begins to cry* *Emily flinches*

LUCAS: *quietly* Wear the crown, Em. *Emily places the crown upon her head* *the crowd applauds*

EMILY: Tonight is gonna be the night this school never forgets! *hugs Erin and Lucas* Now, let's dance!