LOGLINE - LEAH, A 20 YEAR OLD ASPIRING PLUS SIZE ACTRESS IS DESPERATE FOR AN ESCAPE FROM HER ABUSIVE HOME LIFE. ALONE IN A WORLD WHERE SOCIETY VIEWS HER AS 'UGLY' LEAH BATTLES EVERYDAY WITH THE CREEPING ONSET OF DEPRESSION AND BODY IMAGE, FOREVER HOPING THAT HER TALENT WILL OUTWEIGH HER LOOKS. BUT THE WORLD DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY AND SO LEAH IS FORCED TO SUCCUMB TO HER BITTER REALITY, HER CRUEL DRUG ADDICTED MOTHER AND HER BROKEN FRIENDSHIP WITH HER BEST FRIEND, ALL WHILE FALLING DEEPER INTO THE DEPTHS OF SELF LOATHING.


SYNOPSIS - ON A COLD NIGHT IN MARCH, LEAH IS SITTING ALONE AT A TRAIN STATION WAITING FOR HER TRAIN HOME AFTER AN UNSUCESSFUL AUDITION. SHE IS COMPLETLY ALONE ALBEIT FROM THE CRITICAL THOUGHTS SWIRLING IN HER HEAD. SHE FEELS LIKE SHE HAS FAILED. THAT SHE IS WORTHLESS AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES THAT SHE WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH. SHE FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM HER LIFE AND SHE SITS NUMBLY WITH HER HOOD DRAWN UP SMOKING A CIGERETTE, DAY DREAMING OF HOW LIFE COULD BE. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO RETURN BACK TO HER HOME TO FACE THE DRUG ADDLED AND ALCOHOLIC RAGE OF HER MOTHER AND THE TORRENTS OF VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE THAT COMES WITH IT.

LEAH AND HER MOTHER [EMMA] LIVE IN A SHABBY COUNCIL HOUSE. IT'S INTERIOR IS MESSY AND UNCARED FOR, THE FLOORS CARPETED WITH ALCOHOL BOTTLES AND PILL PACKETS. AFTER HER FATHER ABANDONDED LEAH AND HER MOTHER, HE, NOT BEING ABLE TO COPE WITH HIS WIFES ADDICTIONS, LEAH WAS LEFT TO ENDURE THE VENGEFUL WRATH OF EMMAS ANGER. LEAH'S MOTHER CONSTANTLY TAKES OUT HER VITRIOL ON LEAH, BLAMES HER FOR HER HUSBAND ABANDONING HER. EMMA IS ALWAYS BELITTLING LEAH FOR TRYING TO BETTER HERSELF AND FOR TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF, CONSTANTLY RUNNING HER DOWN AND TELLING HER THAT 'SOMEONE AS FAT AS HER' WILL NEVER MAKE IT AS AN ACTRESS.

LEAH'S ONLY CONTACT TO NORALITY IS THROUGH HER FRIENDSHIP WITH HER BEST FRIEND ALLY WHO IS SUPPORTIVE OF LEAH'S DREAMS, BUT EVEN THAT IS STRAINED DUE TO LEAH'S WAVERING MENTAL HEALTH AND STRUGGLES WITH DEPRESSION AND SELF LOATHING. ALLY IS SKINNY AND LEAH IS SECRETLY JEALOUS OF HER, WANTING SO BADLY TO BE AS 'PRETTY' AND 'THIN' AS SHE IS. ALLY CARES DEEPLY FOR LEAH BUT LEAH BEING SO EMOTIONALLY CUT OFF DRIVES A WEDGE BETWEEN THEIR FRIENDSHIP RESUTLING IN LEAH FINDING HERSELF MORE ALONE THAN EVER.

THIS SCRIPT FOCUSES ON THE DECLINE OF MENTAL HEALTH, BODY IMAGE AND HOW EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE AFFECTS A PERSONS ABILITY TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.