dear evan hansen script

the only part of this book

Dear Evan Hansen

*note: a / means that the line was cut off by the next line
Scene 1: We start on a black screen. Soon social media posts start popping up all around us some with a warming blue glow and others with a harsh red light. Through it we hear a murmuring of clicks, posts, emails being sent, and also faint, indescribable voices. As the posts start to gather, the screen feels more and more claustrophobic. The camera moves forward slowly at first but soon speeds up in an attempt to escape the noise. There is a speck of black in the distance that grows larger and larger until we have escaped the rush. In the darkness is a lone blinking cursor.
Evan: Dear Evan Hansen, …
As he says this the words are typed on the screen revealing our title.
Dear Evan Hansen
Scene 2: [Int. Evan’s Room]
We are now in Evan’s room approaching him slowly from behind. He is at his desk, on his laptop typing mostly with his right hand as his left is stuck in a cast. Evan’s room isn’t like your normal teenager’s dwelling. There are no posters on the wall or figurines on display. It has an empty feel to it.
Evan: (with a feigned optimism) Today is going to be an amazing day, and here’s why. Because today all you have to do is just be yourself.
An abrupt cut to show a front view of Evan. He is visibly nervous while his hands hopelessly try to keep up with the pace of his words.
E: (incredibly fast) But also confident, That’s important. And interesting. Easy to talk to. Approachable. But mostly be yourself. That’s the big, that’s the number one. Be yourself. Be true to yourself.
Cut to a profile view of Evan
E: (faster) Also, though, don’t worry about whether your hands are gonna get sweaty for no reason and you can’t make it stop no matter what you do, because they’re not gonna get sweaty, so I don’t even know why you’re bringing it up, because it’s not gonna happen, because you’re just, all you have to do is be yourself.
Cut to the other side of Evan, slowly pan until were looking at his face from the front again. About 2/3 of the way through the monologue we see Heidi Hansen standing in his open doorway.
E: (fastest) I’m not even going to worry about it, though, because seriously it’s not like, it’s not gonna be like that time you had the perfect chance to introduce yourself to Zoe Murphy at the jazz band concert last year, when you waited afterward to talk to her and tell her how good she was, and you were gonna pretend to be all super casual like you didn’t even know her name, like she would introduce herself and you’d be like, “Wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. Chloe, you said your name was Chloe?” And she’d be, like, “No it’s Zoe, I said Zoe,” and you’d be like, “Oh, see, I thought you said Chloe because I don’t even, I’m very busy with other stuff right now is the thing.” But then you didn’t even end up saying anything to her anyway, because you were scared that your hands were sweaty; which they weren’t that sweaty until you started worrying that they were sweaty, which made them sweaty, so you put them under the hand dryer in the bathroom, but then they were still sweaty, they were just very warm now, as well.
Focus switches to Heidi
Heidi: So, you just decided not to eat last night, huh?
Focus back on Evan. He shuts his laptop quickly
E: Oh um…I wasn’t very hungry…
Heidi approaches Evan from behind. Evan does not turn around. 
H: (concerned) You’re a senior in high school, Evan. You need to be able to order dinner for yourself if I’m at work. You can do it all online now. You don’t have to talk to anyone on the phone. I know you don’t like the phone…
Cut close in on Evan. We should still be able to see Heidi in the background, she doesn’t like what he replies with.
E: (similar the monologue, but with less pep) Okay, but see, that’s not true actually. You have to talk to the delivery person when they come to the door. Then they have to make change. You have to stand there while it’s silent and they’re counting the change and…
Heidi physically turns Evan to face her
H: This is what you’re supposed to working on, Evan. With Dr. Sherman? Talking to people. Engaging with people. Not running away from/ people
E: (actually looking at his mother, faking a smile) /You’re right I’m going to be a lot better.
Heidi feels slightly guilty for what she said. She hugs Evan and he gives a weak attempt back
H: (w/ a practiced positivity) No, I know. I know you are.
She pulls away from Evan and starts to leave.
H: And that’s why I made you an appointment with Dr. Sherman for this afternoon. I’ll pick you up right after school.
E: (slightly defensive) I already have an appointment next week.
H: And I thought maybe you could use something a little sooner.
Evan turns back around in his chair. Heidi hesitates in the doorway and then decides to turn back.
H: (w/ heightened positivity) Hey, have you been writing those letters to yourself? The pep talks? “Dear Evan Hansen. This is going to be a good day and here’s why.” Have you been doing those?
Eye-level shot of Evan with Heidi over his right shoulder, almost like a little angel. He is a little annoyed by this line of questioning.
E: (almost bitter) I started one
H: (as if she’s in a commercial trying to sell these letters) Those letters are important honey. They’re going to help you build your confidence. Seize the day.
E: (exasperated) I guess.
Heidi comes up behind Evan and puts her hands on his shoulders
H: I don’t want another year of you sitting at home on your computer every Friday night, telling me you have no friends.
E: (w/o looking at her) Neither do I.
Anybody Have a Map?
H: Can we try to have an optimistic outlook?
Huh?
Evan walks over to his backpack and starts packing up for school. Heidi follows behind him closely.
Can we buck up just enough
To see… the world won’t fall apart?
Maybe this year we decide
We’re not giving up before we’ve tried
Evan leaves the room.
This year, we make a new start
Heidi drops her optimistic façade. She sees a Sharpie on Evan’s desk and gets an idea. She picks it up and follows Evan out of the room. She catches him packing a lunch.
H: (holding the pen out) Hey, I know- you can go around today and ask the other kids to sign your cast., how about that? That would be the perfect icebreaker, wouldn’t it?
E: (not feeling this idea) Perfect
Evan takes the pen.
H: I’m proud of you already.
E: (disillusioned) Oh…good.
He walks out the door. Heidi follows him, stopping in the doorway. Across the street from the Hansen’s we see a patch of forest.
H: I’ll drive you to school.
E: I can walk.
H: Then, at least, take the bus.
E: (clearly hates the bus) I’ll walk.
Heidi closes the door and then goes to the window to watch Evan walking to school.
H: Another conversation for the scrapbook.
Another stumble as I’m reaching
For the right thing to say.
Well. I’m kinda coming up empty
Can’t find my way to you…
Hard cut as Heidi turns. She walks around the house as she sings, looking at pictures of Evan.
Does anybody have a map?
Anybody maybe happen to know how the hell to do this?
I dunno if you can tell
But this is me just pretending to know