The Great Chastity Experiment (1985)

Summary

The script follows a series of personal and emotional experiences among a group of high school students navigating relationships, pressures, and self-discovery. At the heart of the story is Nikki, who faces challenges in her romantic relationship with Keith, while trying to balance social expectations and personal growth. A brief experiment with chastity to explore intimacy without sex sparks internal conflicts. As they attempt to get closer, fears of vulnerability and self-doubt surface, revealing the complexities of love, trust, and the struggle to truly understand one another. The story intertwines humor, vulnerability, and the complexities of growing up.

Takeaways

• 😀 A mix-up occurs when drawings from a sex education class are taken, with a request to return them no questions asked.
• 😀 Carl's intramural football practice is canceled until a new goal post is set up.
• 😀 There's a search for Nikki Pat, the editor-in-chief of the Bugle News, with a reward offered for information on her whereabouts.
• 😀 The newspaper office experiences some chaos as the team struggles with page layout and content decisions, highlighting the importance of teamwork.
• 😀 Nikki receives an anonymous letter from Luigi advising chastity, which she later takes on herself, even suggesting it may become a trend.
• 😀 A subplot reveals Nikki and Keith's emotional struggles with their relationship, focusing on the complexities of love and self-discovery during adolescence.
• 😀 Keith and Nikki experiment with chastity as a way to understand their relationship, but they find it challenging to navigate the boundaries.
• 😀 The script explores the difficulty of balancing romantic attraction and personal growth, with a focus on emotional and physical pressures in relationships.
• 😀 Nikki confronts Luigi for his suggestion in the paper, leading to an open discussion about chastity and the pressures of romantic relationships.
• 😀 The script concludes with Nikki and Keith's emotional reconciliation, acknowledging the difficulty of getting close to someone and overcoming fears of vulnerability.

Q & A

What is the initial announcement in the script about?

The initial announcement is about a missing set of drawings from a sex education class, urging the person who took them to return them with no questions asked. It also mentions the cancellation of Carl's intramural football practice due to the need for a new goal post and asks for information on the whereabouts of Nikki, the editor-in-chief of the Bugle News.

What is Luigi's attitude toward Nikki in the script?

Luigi appears to be playful and teasing towards Nikki, especially when he mentions the newspaper. He also makes a remark about her role as editor-in-chief and her possible distractions, indirectly criticizing her involvement with other matters.

What issue is Nikki struggling with in her relationship with Keith?

Nikki is struggling with the pressure and confusion in her relationship with Keith, particularly regarding physical intimacy and the idea of chastity. She is unsure of how to balance her desires with the expectations of her relationship.

Why does Nikki agree to try chastity for a week?

Nikki agrees to try chastity as an experiment suggested by Luigi, which she initially finds absurd but later decides to give it a chance. She is likely seeking clarity and space to figure out her feelings and relationship dynamics.

How does Nikki feel about the concept of sublimation?

Nikki seems intrigued but somewhat skeptical about the idea of sublimation, where one diverts sexual impulses to other activities. She questions whether kissing would be part of sublimation and seems uncertain about how it applies to her relationship with Keith.

What is the significance of the hike Nikki and Keith go on?

The hike represents a moment where Nikki and Keith are trying to spend quality time alone together and connect on a deeper level. It is an opportunity for them to explore their relationship outside of the pressures they face from others.

Why does Keith apologize at the end of the script?

Keith apologizes because he feels that he may have misunderstood Nikki's need for space and may have pressured her unintentionally. He expresses his concern about their relationship and wants to reassure her of his feelings.

What does Nikki realize about intimacy and relationships?

Nikki realizes that getting close to someone emotionally is more challenging than engaging in physical intimacy. She is afraid that by becoming emotionally closer to Keith, he might not like her as much, revealing her own insecurities.

What does Nikki mean when she says she feels like she 'blew it'?

Nikki feels like she made a mistake in their relationship by overthinking things and pulling away when she needed to trust Keith more. She feels guilty for not being more open and vulnerable with him during their time together.

How does the script explore the theme of trust in relationships?

The script delves into trust through Nikki's struggles with opening up emotionally and the pressure to meet expectations in her relationship with Keith. It highlights the difficulty of balancing personal desires and emotional intimacy, as well as the need for trust in navigating these challenges.