The Fault in Our Stars

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Written by

Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber

Based on the novel by

John Green

May 1, 2012

FIRST DRAFT:

HAZEL GRACE LANCASTER (16) lies in the grass, staring up at

the stars. We're CLOSE ON her FACE and we hear:

HAZEL (V.O.)

You have a choice in this world, I

believe, about how to tell sad

stories.

CUT TO a SERIES OF QUICK IMAGES:

- Hazel and the BOY we will come to know as AUGUSTUS "GUS"

WATERS (17) at an outdoor restaurant in some magical place.

[They look very much like the perfect Hollywood couple.]

HAZEL (V.O.)

On the one hand, you can sugar coat

- the way they do in movies and

romance novels.

- "Perfect" Hazel and "Perfect" Gus sit on a BENCH

overlooking an incredible seascape in some foreign country.

She rests her head on his shoulder.

HAZEL (V.O.)

Where villains are vanquished

and... heroes are born and...

- "Perfect" Hazel and "Perfect" Gus kiss in a dark room.

HAZEL (V.O.)

... beautiful people learn

beautiful lessons...

- "Perfect" Hazel and "Perfect" Gus fall onto a bed together.

They look deep into one another's eyes.

HAZEL (V.O.)

... and nothing is too messed up

that can't be fixed with an apology

and a Peter Gabriel song.

BACK TO Hazel on the grass, still watching the stars. Were

those dreams or were they memories? Still unclear.

HAZEL (V.O.)

I like that way as much as the next

girl, believe me. It's just not the

truth.

Hazel closes her eyes.

HAZEL (V.O.)

This is the truth.

And EVERYTHING GOES BLACK. We HEAR:

HAZEL (V.O.)

Sorry.

FADE IN ON:

2.

INT DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY

The real Hazel is no less beautiful than the one we just saw.

HAZEL (V.O.)

Late in the Winter of my 17th

year...

There are, however, some key and obvious differences.

First, you'll notice the OXYGEN TUBE in her nostrils which

help her to breathe.

Second, you'll notice her hair - which we couldn't see in the

grass. It's much shorter than the "Perfect" version, the

result of someone whose head was completely shaved a few

years before.

HAZEL (V.O.)

... my mother decided I was

depressed.

HAZEL:

I'm not depressed.

Hazel's legs dangle over the side of an exam table. Her

mother FRANNIE (early 40s, younger than she feels) explains

to the DOCTOR:

FRANNIE:

... she eats like a bird. She

barely leaves the house,

HAZEL:

I'm not depressed.

FRANNIE:

... she reads the same book over

and over...

DOCTOR:

She's depressed.

HAZEL:

I'm not depressed!

Off her look, CUT TO:

QUICK SEQUENCE, which play over:

HAZEL (V.O.)

The booklets and web sites always

list depression as a side effect of

cancer...

- A SHOPPING MALL. Filled with TEENAGE GIRLS - gossipping,

laughing - being teenage girls, basically. And here's Hazel.

With her Mom. And her oxygen tank. Just another day.

3.

HAZEL (V.O.)

Depression's not a side effect of

cancer...

- HAZEL'S LIVING ROOM. She sits watching game shows in the

middle of the afternoon. Her Mom brings her a sandwich. A

glass of water. And then a whole host of prescription meds.

Hazel eyes them with indifference.

HAZEL (V.O.)

... it's a side effect of dying.

- A STARBUCKS. Hazel sits alone reading a dog-eared, heavily

underlined copy of a novel ("An Imperial Affliction" by Peter

Van Houten). She only looks up when distracted by a squeal of

delight. A YOUNG GUY has lifted a YOUNG GIRL over his

shoulder playfully. He spins her around. Hazel watches a beat

- goes back to the book.

HAZEL (V.O.)

Which is what was happening to me.

And we CUT BACK TO:

INT DOCTOR'S OFFICE - SAME

Frannie continues to talk to the doctor. Hazel continues to

dangle her feet.

FRANNIE:

... some days she won't even get

out of bed.

The Doctor scratches his beard, thinking.

DOCTOR:

I may switch you to Zoloft. Or

Lexapro. And twice a day instead of

once.

HAZEL:

Why stop there?

DOCTOR:

Hmm?

HAZEL:

Keep `em coming. I can take it. I'm

like the Keith Richards of cancer

kids.

The Doctor looks at Frannie who just shakes her head.

DOCTOR:

Have you been going to that Support

Group I suggested?

Instead of answering, Hazel looks at her Mom.

4.

FRANNIE:

She's gone a few times.

HAZEL:

I'm not sure it's for me.

DOCTOR:

If you're depressed --

HAZEL:

(EXASPERATED)

I'm not de--

DOCTOR:

(IGNORING HER)

-- support Groups are a great way

to connect with people who are...

HAZEL:

What?

DOCTOR:

(BEAT)

On the same journey.

HAZEL:

"Journey?" Really?

FRANNIE:

Hazel.

DOCTOR:

Just give it a chance, ok? For me.

Hazel rolls her eyes, knows she's lost this battle.

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