THE FREAKS CLUB

by Tom Adams & MK Wolfe

SHORT SYNOPSIS

The Freaks Club recounts the story of 18-year-old Anna - a girl suffering from a rare condition that makes her skin appear as fish scales - and her journey to a remote island community to receive experimental treatments for her disease. A new kid in the local school, Anna immediately bonds with the other “freaks” – blind, sassy Cookie, emotionally-damaged Jake, and sweet but hapless Skunk. Once Anna’s “cure” is complete, she is stunned to find she is no longer a “fish” but a real “dish”! The popular kids sweep her away and Anna breaks with the club, but her dream-come-true soon turns into a nightmare. Anna must then discover her own self worth and the value of friendship. She ultimately finds her way back to her own true face and to the friends who, she realizes, she will always need.

DETAILED SYNOPSIS

On the first day of the second semester at Fairbridge Island High School, the students are speculating about the arrival of a new student (“NEW KID”) who they hear is some kind of freak. ANNA, who suffers from a genetic disease giving her “fish-scale” skin, arrives and tolerates their outrage (“Fish Face!” they call her), but soon makes friends with blind COOKIE and total nerd SKUNK. Later, Anna and her father DAVID visit DR. LILY, a geneticist known for her pioneering work in gene replacement therapy. Anna convinces her dad to allow the doctor to experiment on her (“NORMAL”). A few weeks later, Skunk’s brother and Cookie’s best friend, the “nut case” JAKE, arrives unexpectedly, and he and Anna immediately hit it off, to Cookie’s dismay. Jake noticeably avoids any physical contact. The attractive and popular LINDA and ANTHONY stroll by, and Linda taunts the three of them. Anna rises to the challenge, vanquishing Linda with her verbal wit. A new friendship is solidified as Cookie and Jake ask Anna to join the “THE FREAKS CLUB,” and Jake and Anna discover a growing attraction to each other. Meanwhile, David is furious and scared about the side effects of the treatment that leave Anna terribly sick (“NEW KID” Reprise), but he realizes she is determined to go on. A few weeks later, Anna and Cookie, after receiving valentines that are disappointingly NOT from Jake (“WHAT’S INSIDE?”), decide to double date the brothers. When date night arrives (“FIRST DATE”), the couples, including a nervous David and Lily, sing about their anticipation, hopes and fears. On the date, Cookie continues to reject Skunk’s advances. Linda and Anthony appear, taunting Jake so severely that he runs out, followed by a distressed Anna. Cookie causes Linda acute embarrassment, and Linda vows to get revenge. After Linda and Anthony leave, Skunk asks Cookie to the Island Dance, but she explains “there’s someone else.” Cookie goes off to find Jake and Anna, and Skunk is distraught (“FIRST DATE” Reprise). At the same time, Anna shares with Jake her hopes that through the work of Dr. Lily, she will become a normal girl. As they grow closer, Jake reveals to Anna that his severe aversion to human contact is due to the accidental death of his father. Tentatively they join hands, and there is noticeable electricity between them (“YOUR TOUCH”). Jake asks Anna to the Island Dance, and she accepts happily. Distressed, Cookie listens to them from the shadows as Anna and Jake bond deeply. Nearby, Skunk meets up with the popular Anthony, who gives him a few pointers on how to court the female species (“HOW TO GET THE GIRL”). A few days later, Anna has a grotesque nightmare as she heals from the final phase of treatment (“ANNA’S DREAM”), and everyone speculates what will happen if the treatment has worked (“THE BRAND NEW YOU”). At last Dr. Lily reveals the operation is a success! Anna looks normal, and she vows that her life will be completely different. Cookie and Jake are uncomfortable with the new Anna, and Linda swoops in to befriend her (“THE FISH CAN FLY”). Anna is shocked when Linda tells her she is actually pretty, and Anthony is noticeably attracted to her. A few weeks later, all Anna’s friends and family are angry and upset at the changes in her (“LOOK IN THE MIRROR”). Anna and Cookie fight, Cookie’s romantic feelings for Jake are revealed, and Skunk is devastated. The next day Linda confides to Jake and Skunk that they are “IN THE SAME BOAT” – dumped by the ones they love. Anna decides to go to the dance with Anthony, and Jake decides to take Linda. On graduation day, the best friends’ fight continues, and reconciliation seems hopeless as Cookie tells Anna “EVERYTHING’S JAKE.” Later, Anna and David have a terrible argument at home. Anna longs for her one chance at happiness (“NORMAL” Reprise). At the Island Dance that night, Jake cannot accept Anna’s heartfelt apology and goes to find Cookie and Skunk. Anna and Anthony dance, but instead of the magical fantasy she hoped for, Anna feels degraded and depressed by Anthony's superficial advances. She realizes the ugly person she has become, and how much she has hurt those she really loves (“DREAMS COME TRUE”). She can see no way out of her pain, and resolves to go over the railing and into the crashing surf below. Cookie, Jake and Skunk discover her, and try to convince her that she is worthwhile, and that they will always need her (“ALWAYS”). Cookie and Anna reconcile, and Jake asks Anna for a long overdue dance – it is magic. Cookie gives her and Jake her blessing, because at last, she realizes that Skunk is the guy for her. Anna decides to pursue her cure no longer, and although the future is uncertain, the couples accept who they are, and resolve that the Freaks’ Club will live on (“FINALE”).