Sideshow.

Titles song: Sideshow by Blue Magic

Kevin, 16, awkward and shy, lives a very quiet life in a very small redneck milltown, late seventies Pacific Northwest. A preacher’s kid with a younger sister, he already knows he’s gay but is terrified of being discovered, so he opts to try to be invisible and just survive high school under the radar. He’s seen what the town boys do to anyone different––especially sissies––and occasionally he gets targeted, so his head is down.

To Reverend Jones and his mom, Kevin is a good boy, attending the many church functions dutifully. Secretly he escapes through sexual exploration, cruising in the nearby larger towns secretly, navigating an underground subculture through anonymous sex with older boys and men.

Out of the blue a popular cheerleader, Debbie starts to notice him and invites him to help decorate for a school dance with other popular girls. While helping them, in an impulsive moment he loosens up a bit and gets carried away dancing with them. A group of jocks––including his secret crush Clint, and Zach who menaces him––stand in the doorway, taking in the scene. The others all are laughing at Kevin to each other, but Clint just watches.

The young vivacious choir teacher April coaxes him to come out of his shell. His talent for music and his attraction to Clint leads him to think about auditioning for jazz choir. Debbie and he form an unexpected bond. Slowly Kevin’s invisibility cloak is dissolving.

Family life begins to unravel when a secret comes to life, rocking the only stable foundation he’s had so far to count on.

End music: Sideshow by Troye Sivan

EPISODE 01 SOUNDTRACK