Hyperhydrosis
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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FADE IN:
INT. CAR-DAY (OCT. 2002)
Bright orange and red leaves fall from trees lining the edge
of the road.
SABRINA, a cute girl with short brown hair and a touch of
masculinity, sits next to BRYAN BODAK as he drives a beat up
station-wagon.
Sabrina reads from a horoscope book in her lap.
SABRINA
Pisceans possess a gentle, patient,
malleable nature. They accept the
people around them and the
circumstances in which they find
themselves though their nature
tends to be too otherworldly for
the practical purposes of living in
this one. They are never
egotistical in their personal
relationships and give more than
they ask from their friends. They
are sexually delicate, in the
extreme almost asexual, and most
Pisceans would want a relationship
in which their partner's mind and
spirit rather than body resonated
with their own.
Sabrina turns to face Bryan, smiling.
SABRINA
That's sweet.
Bryan keeps his eyes on the road only glancing over.
BRYAN
Thanks, it sounds sweet.
BRYAN (VO)
I would sleep with her if she
wanted to but I can't tell if she's
a lesbian. Why can't it just be
simple?
Sweat begins running down the steering wheel from Bryan's
hands, collecting in his lap.
BRYAN
(under his breath) Oh shit!
SABRINA
What's wrong?
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT HOUSE, BATHROOM-DAY (JULY 1988)
Baby Bryan splashes around as his mother, MARILYN, bathes him
in the tub.
BRYAN (VO)
My name's Bryan Bodak.
We hear generic home movie music playing over top.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL, CLASSROOM-DAY (FEB. 1990)
A large old teacher, MRS. LEWIS, points to a map of Michigan
as her class traces their hands on construction paper.
MRS. LEWIS
See how Michigan is shaped like a
mitten? That's because it's
surrounded by water on all three
sides. Does anyone know what that's
called?
Bryan's dirty hand rests, fingers together, on a piece of
paper as he traces around it.
ALICIA raises her hand.
MRS. LEWIS
Yes Alicia?
Bryan looks up.
ALICIA
A peninsula.
MRS. LEWIS
That's right.
Lifting his hand up Bryan realizes he's left a puddle where
Michigan was supposed to be.
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT HOUSE, LIVING ROOM-DAY (MARCH 1990)
RANDY and Bryan play Nintendo together, sitting on the floor
in front of the TV.
Bryan's mother, MARILYN comes running in the room.
MARILYN
Come on you guys we got to get out
of the house!
Randy and Bryan jump up without thinking. Running into the
hallway, they see smoke spilling in from the back-door.
Without even putting on his shoes Bryan runs downstairs and
out the front door of the house.
Standing across the street from the house they watch as smoke
spills out of the windows.
Red lights flash across Bryan's face.
As the water douses the flames Bryan looks at his perspiring
palms.
Slowly Bryan begins walking back toward the house.
MARILYN
Bryan!?
Walking past the firefighters and up to the house, Bryan
lifts his hand and blasts water straight into the camera.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TOWNHOUSE-DAY (SEPT. 2002)
Bryan and JOHN walk out of their place.
JOHN pulls the door shut and takes out his key.
BRYAN
Fuck.
Bryan walks back toward the door.
JOHN
Did you forget something?
BRYAN
No, just a second.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWNHOUSE-DAY (SEPT. 2002)
Bryan walks in and checks all the dials on the stove to make
sure none of them are on before walking back outside.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWNHOUSE-DAY (SEPT. 2002)
Bryan locks the door behind him and they start walking down
the sidewalk.
BRYAN
I've got this weird thing where I
have to check to make sure the
stove's not on.
JOHN
That's like O.C.D.
BRYAN
That's excessive compulsive
behavior, right?
JOHN
Obsessive compulsive disorder.
BRYAN
I thought it was behavior.
JOHN
No, not anymore.
BRYAN
When did they change that?
JOHN
I don't know... What were you
saying about the stove?
BRYAN
Right, when I was in like second
grade our house burnt down because
my mom left the stove on. That's
why I always have to check the it.
JOHN
That sucks. You should have put out
the fire with your sweaty hands.
BRYAN
I'm going to the doctor's again
next week to see if they can do
anything to make it stop... would
you videotape it for me?
JOHN
What? Why do you want to videotape
it?
BRYAN
I thought it might be good to put
in a movie or something, you know?
JOHN
You're an idiot.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR-DAY (APRIL 1990)
Marilyn and Bryan sit in an old blue civic driving through
town.
MARILYN
Bryan... me and your dad are
getting a divorce. That means we
won't be living together anymore.
Marilyn glances over at Bryan.
MARILYN
We'll still both see you though.
Bryan turns from the window, listening to his mom as she
speaks.
BRYAN
Ok.
MARILYN
It's not that I wanted to do this.
It's just he doesn't care what I
think, he's got some master plan
and we're just supposed to follow
it like little tin soldiers. I told
him I didn't want to live in this
town anymore, I'm tired of the
people here. I told him I didn't
want to live in that house eight
years ago but we had to wait until
I burnt it down.
It took us eight years to fix that
place up, for what? Don't end up
like your father Bryan. Don't get
married and if you do, don't have
children.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST-DAY (APRIL 1990)
Marilyn, Bryan, and CARLENE, Bryan's grandma, walk through
the woods behind an apartment building.
They all get together and wave at the camera as home movie
music plays in the background.
BRYAN (V.O.)
My parents never got a divorce so
instead we moved to Pritchard
Estates, an apartment complex, and
I finished second grade.
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT, KITCHEN-DAY (APRIL 1990)
The elevator music continues playing as Bryan and his bald
father, JEFF, walk into their apartment.
Marilyn begins arguing with Jeff and pulls out a kitchen
knife.
Bryan stands next to his dad watching them fight.
Marilyn acts likes she's stabbing herself in the chest but
doesn't cut through the fabric.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL, WAITING ROOM-DAY (NOV. 2002)
Bryan sits anxiously in the waiting room with Jeff.
Both of them are aware of the camera.
BRYAN
(to the camera) Well my hands are
really starting to sweat.
Bryan wipes them off on his pants.
There's an awkward silence. John zooms in and out of Bryan's
hands than face.
JOHN
(making jaws sounds) Dun dun, Dun
dun.
BRYAN
What are you doing?
JOHN
Trust me... this would be a good
thing to put in one of your movies.
It's real!
A nurse, KELLY, calls for Bryan.
BRYAN
Alright, here we go.
Bryan turns to Kelly.
BRYAN
Do you mind if we record the visit
for a school project we're working
on?
Kelly is very nervous on camera.
KELLY
I don't think the doctor should
mind, but I'll ask.
Kelly leads the three guys down the hall and into the
examination room.
KELLY
The doctor will be with you in a
minute.
Kelly closes the door.
John swings the camera over toward Bryan and Jeff.
JOHN
How does a girl that hot work with
skin disorders? I'd be embarrassed
if I had to show her some weird
growth on my skin... or maybe not.
BRYAN
Jesus John!
Jeff smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL, CLASSROOM-DAY (OCT. 1993)
Bryan sits at his desk sticking one hand deep into his pocket
as he stares at his teacher MRS. KRAMER.
A gorgeous bombshell, Mrs. Kramer's thong lines show through
her khakis as she writes on the chalkboard.
BRYAN (VO)
I wish I could have sex with Mrs.
Kramer, but she's your teacher...
Maybe she'd do it?
A gigantic man, MIKE, comes walking in the classroom.
MRS. KRAMER
...so I'd like to introduce you to
my husband, Mr. Kramer.
MIKE
Hi, I'm Mike.
EVERYONE
Hi Mike!
MIKE
Mrs. Kramer probably told you I'm
in the navy seals. Today I'm going
to show you guys a video and talk
to you about what it's like to be a
navy seal.
All the girls in the class look at Mike in awe.
Bryan looks around.
BRYAN (VO)
Maybe I could be a navy seal.
Surprised, Bryan slowly looks down at his pants.
CUT TO:
INT. CRISTA'S HOUSE-DAY (NOV. 1993)
Bryan sits at the piano next to his teacher, CRISTA.
CRISTA
Ok, repeat this section one more
time.
We see a close up of the keys and as Bryan plays he leaves
little puddles everywhere he goes.
CRISTA
Good, could you sit up for a
minute?
Bryan stands up and Crista opens the piano seat pulling out a
red rag which she uses to wipe the keys off with.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL, EXAMINATION ROOM-DAY (NOV. 2002)
The camera zooms in as Bryan tells his story.
BRYAN
Years ago I went to the doctor and
found out I had hyperhydrosis. They
gave me some ointment that I was
supposed to put on at night then
wear gloves to keep it from rubbing
off. All it did was make my hands
tingle the next day. I gave up
after that because I was
embarrassed and sick of doctors.
JOHN
So what is hyperhydrosis?
BRYAN
It's like a really shitty super
power that I don't know how to
control.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL, CLASSROOM-DAY (DEC. 1993)
All the students sit on the floor surrounding Mrs. Kramer as
she talks.
Bryan rests his hands on the floor behind his back.
A girl, TRISHA, comes and sits down next to Bryan.
She leans over and whispers into his ear.
TRISHA
Alicia likes you.
BRYAN (V.O.)
It wasn't until I hit puberty that
it became a real problem.
Pools of sweat form around Bryan's hands.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL, BATHROOM-DAY (DEC. 1993)
Bryan runs into a bathroom stall, hands dripping of sweat,
and lets them drain into the toilet.
Mrs. Kramer slowly comes into the bathroom.
MRS. KRAMER
Bryan, are you ok?
Bryan begins rapping his hands in toilet paper to stop them
from leaking.
BRYAN
Yeah, I'm ok.
MRS. KRAMER
Did you get sick, should I call the
nurse?
BRYAN
Yeah, no, I'm feeling better it's
ok.
MRS. KRAMER
Alright, come back when you're
ready.
Bryan waits for Mrs. Kramer to leave then sits down with the
toilet seat up releasing a sigh of relief.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL, EXAMINATION ROOM-DAY (NOV. 2002)
DR. GALLOWAY enters the room.
DR. GALLOWAY
Bryan Bodak.
BRYAN
Hi.
Dr. Galloway shakes Bryan's hand then politely rubs the sweat
off on his coat before turning toward Jeff.
Jeff reaches out his hand.
JEFF
Jeff, I'm Bryan's father.
DR. GALLOWAY
Good to meet you.
Dr. Galloway turns toward John.
DR. GALLOWAY
And you're the cameraman, for a
school project, is that right?
JOHN
(sarcastically) That's right.
John shakes his hand while continuing to shoot everything
going on.
Dr. Galloway starts flipping through Bryan's file.
DR. GALLOWAY
Alright, let's see what we have
here. It looks like they started
you out on Drysol back in '98 but
obviously that didn't work?
BRYAN
Nope, it just made my hands tingle.
DR. GALLOWAY
Then you came earlier this year and
they gave you a prescription for
Robinul.
BRYAN
It didn't do anything.
DR. GALLOWAY
And then you tried them both
together?
BRYAN
That didn't work either.
DR. GALLOWAY
Well, I only see one or two cases
of hyperhydrosis each year. It's
only found in about one percent of
the population so there isn't much
known about it. We think there's a
connection between hyperhydrosis
and the fight or flight response,
possibly a gene left over from the
caveman days which results in an
extreme reaction to emotional and
psychological stress. Sweating. Why
it would be any benefit to a
caveman I'm not sure. There are a
few options that I know of. One is
botox injections which would mean
using a needle to inject botox into
your palms but that's only
temporary, say a few months.
Another is running an electric
current through your hands but that
treatment is also temporary. The
only other option I know of is
surgery, they have to cut a nerve
near your spine. I've never done
the procedure myself but it sounds
much riskier. Along with serious
pain there is also a chance that
the sweating will just move to a
different region of the body-
called compensatory sweating.
I've had patients pursue the
operation and I can't say I,
personally, would be totally
comfortable with the risks involved
but then again I don't have to live
with hyperhydrosis.
Dr. Lynnburg reaches out and takes a look at Bryan's hands.
DR. GALLOWAY
They appear to be sweating now.
BRYAN
It'll just get worse.
Bryan walks over to the sink and everyone follows.
Bryan puts his hands over the sink and a flood of sweat
begins pouring from them.
DR. GALLOWAY
Oh my god.
CUT TO:
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDINGS-NIGHT (OCT. 2002)
Sabrina holds Bryan's arm as they walk.
Bryan is very careful not to let her near his hands.
BRYAN (V.O.)
God damn, how did you fuck this up?
Bryan and Sabrina turn and walk up to her door.
SABRINA
Ok, well thanks for walking me.
Sabrina catches his hand as she turns.
SABRINA
Your hands are all wet.
BRYAN
Sorry. (beat) Can I kiss you?
Sabrina starts to laugh.
SABRINA
No, I don't think so, tonight's
been interesting.
BRYAN
Ok, bye.
Bryan turns around and walks away.
BRYAN (VO)
Maybe like fine wine you'll get
better with age. Shut up you stupid
fucking loser.
Bryan looks at his hand, clenching his fist as the sweat
slowly stops pouring out.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL, CLASSROOM-DAY (NOV. 1995)
Bryan sits in the back of math class between two cool guys,
JOE and TJ
Joe and TJ keep flicking spit at Bryan with their tongues.
Bryan laughs, acting like he is in on the joke.
Under the desk Bryan's hands rest on his pants which begin to
get soaked.
Bryan lifts his hands up to block the spit but sweat is
dripping off of them so he puts them back down.
The sweat begins dripping from the bottom of Bryan's pants
and Joe and TJ notice.
JOE
Hey Bryan, are you pissing your
pants.
TJ
Did Mommy forget to put your
diapers on?
BRYAN
No.
Bryan lifts his hands up and violently blasts Joe and TJ in
the face sending them flying from their seats into the desks
next to them.
CUT TO:
INT. HOUSE, LIVING ROOM-DAY (FEB. 2003)
Bryan sits at the kitchen table as John videotapes him.
Jeff and Marilyn are in the kitchen talking.
As Bryan talks we hear Marilyn complaining about burning
lasagna.
The fire alarm starts beeping and Jeff goes to turn it off.
JOHN
Well, your not going to be hydro
man anymore.
BRYAN
Nope, I decided I'm going to have
the operation done in Detroit and
they're going to cut a few nerves
that are near my spine and then
it'll be over. I'll be able to
shake people's hands.
Jeff takes the batteries out of the fire alarm as he walks
over next to Bryan.
JEFF
Is there anything you'll miss about
it?
Bryan thinks about it for a minute.
BRYAN
I never had to lick my fingers to
turn the pages of a book.
CUT TO:
INT. HOUSE, KITCHEN-NIGHT (MARCH 2003)
Bryan sits on the kitchen counter talking to Marilyn.
As Bryan talks Marilyn scoops two bowls of ice cream.
BRYAN
There's this girl I like but I
don't know what to do because I
can't touch her without my hands
sweating. I could tell her I have
hyperhydrosis but I don't know
whether she'd laugh at me or not,
which pisses me off. I was talking
about this with John the other day.
Our generation grew up respecting
women because most of our parents
were hippies, right? So now we're a
bunch of docile white men because
we've been told by you guys that
Sean Connery and Humphrey Bogart
are sexist role models. Instead of
being secret agents or undercover
cops we're these sad, shriveled-up,
self-conscious, money grubbing
prunes... but at least we treat
woman with respect, right, or we're
supposed to?
But then you look at the women our
age and a lot of them are these big
slutty airheads who think any guy
that doesn't grab'em and fuck'em
must be gay... which is everything
they want in a man except for the
sex. I know there's always been
ditsy airheads and macho men but
you wanted us to be too many things
at once. We're supposed to be
thoughtful, sensitive liberals at
the same time that we're confident
and masculine. What ended up
happening was all the sensitive
liberals started pumping up what
little masculinity was left in our
culture by becoming big pimpin
thugs on the hunt for some insecure
sexually liberated princess. All
that's left is poppin caps and
smackin bitches and if you're not a
playa you might as well get outta
the game.
Marilyn hands Bryan a bowl of ice cream.
MARILYN
Bryan, you really did turn out to
be a great kid considering what a
couple of fuck ups your parents
were.
BRYAN
You guys were great parents.
MARILYN
I don't know, thanks though.
CUT TO:
EXT. SCHOOL, PLAYGROUND-DAY (MAY 1996)
JESSICA grabs Bryan's hair and swings him in circles finally
throwing him to the ground.
The kids surround Bryan and begin chanting.
KIDS
Freak! Freak! Freak! Freak!
JESSICA
Why don't you do it freak? Come on!
Spray me.
Bryan lies on the ground and doesn't move until they pick him
up and start shoving him around.
The playground teacher watches from the distance but doesn't
do anything.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL, WAITING ROOM-DAY (APRIL 2003)
Bryan and Jeff sit in the waiting room.
Bryan looks nervous.
BRYAN
This is it. I really don't like the
idea of surgery, especially when
they're going to cut nerves near my
spine, but this is what I've been
waiting for.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL-DAY (APRIL 2003)
Now in his hospital gown, Bryan is escorted by a nurse to the
operating room.
They lay Bryan down on a bed and begin preparing him.
JOHN
Good luck.
Bryan gives him the thumbs up.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL, OPERATING ROOM-DAY (APRIL 2003)
We see close-ups of the operation as they make the incision
in his chest and begin operating.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL, WAITING ROOM-DAY (APRIL 2003)
Bryan, still high off the drugs, is being escorted by the
nurse into the waiting room.
JOHN
How did it go?
Bryan just starts laughing as he sits down.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR-DAY (APRIL 2003)
Jeff drives and Bryan sits in the front seat.
John is shooting from the back seat.
BRYAN
My hands aren't sweating.
JEFF
I guess that's the end of your
super powers.
JOHN
What's it like to be normal?
CUT TO:
EXT. HOUSE-DAY (APRIL 2003)
John whips the camera around as Bryan's house burns.
We see Bryan and Jeff trying to figure out what to do.
JEFF
The neighbors called the fire
fighters?!
BRYAN
Is Mom in there?
JEFF
I don't know.
Bryan points his hands toward the flames but nothing happens.
BRYAN
It doesn't work.
Jeff grabs Bryan's hands and tries to help.
BRYAN
I can't!
The camera drops to the ground.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL, BATHROOM-NIGHT (APRIL 2003)
Bryan sits in the shower watching the water fall from his
hands.
CUT TO:
INT. FUNERAL HOME-DAY (MAY 2003)
An urn surrounded with pictures of Marilyn rests on a table
of flowers.
John stands next to Bryan as they look at pictures of
Marilyn.
JOHN
I never knew your Mom was so good
looking when she was young.
Bryan smiles.
John looks at the pictures again as he walks away.
BRYAN (VO)
I'm sorry I had the surgery Mom.
Jeff walks up and puts his arm on Bryan's shoulder for a
moment before turning to talk with a relative.
BRYAN (VO)
That's stupid, why would you care
now. I know you didn't always like
living that much but you were such
a fuckin great person, even my
friends loved you.
Sabrina walks up to Bryan.
SABRINA
I'm very sorry Bryan.
Bryan doesn't look at Sabrina as she gives him a hug.
BRYAN
Thanks.
SABRINA
How are you?
BRYAN
I don't know.
SABRINA
(forceful) I'm sorry.
BRYAN
No. I haven't seen you in a while.
SABRINA
I talked to John, he said you had
surgery.
BRYAN
Yeah.
SABRINA
Is that why water came out of
your...
Bryan looks down at his hand.
BRYAN
It's called hyperhydrosis.
SABRINA
That's a really neat name for a
(thinks) problem.
Bryan turns smiling, finally making eye contact with Sabrina.
BRYAN
It's good to see you.
CUT TO:
EXT. FIELD-EVENING (MAY 2003)
Everyone stands around as they scatter Marilyn's ashes.
CUT TO:
EXT. CAR-EVENING (MAY 2003)
A car rocks back in forth in the funeral home parking lot.
BRYAN (VO)
Please forgive me Mom.
FADE OUT.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.