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Archie
by Jesse Sigala (jesse_sigala_04@hotmail.com)

Rated: R   Genre: Drama   User Review:
NOT YET
RATED

Self-centered Ben tries little by little to stop his friend Archie from getting together with a 'mystery girl', who appears to not be good for either of them. Any feedback, good or bad, is appreciated. thanks.


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



ARCHIE

FADE IN:

INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
                                                            
A hospital. The waiting room. A man is sitting in one of
the chairs. His clothing is disheveled, stained. His name
is BEN, and he is in his mid-twenties.
                                                            
BEN is in a state of anxiety combined with tiredness. His
face is resting on one of his hands.
                                                            
He looks up when he hears a nurse go by, then looks back
down to the ground.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
To this day, I don't know why I
decided to stay in touch with
Archie.
                                                            
He looks up again, this time to the ceiling.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
What started out as passings by on
the way to class, or nods from
across the room, turned into study
groups or outings with the frat
guys.
                                                            
BEN shakes his head, then scratches the back of his head
while he thinks.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Somehow, it culminated into a
relationsiop that's lasted about
five years now.
                                                            
He looks at the clock on the wall. It shows 2:30 am.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Where has the time gone?
                                                            
He puts a fist under his chin in a thoughtful manner.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Of course, he dropped out to work
on 'personal' projects, which
finally ended up with him having a
job as the janitor to a coffee
shop.
                                                            

2.

He shakes his head again, this time with half a smirk.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Not actually working as a server
or something, mind you, but as a
janitor. I guess he never cared.
It was all the same to him.
                                                            
BEN leans back in his chair, and looks at another MAN
sitting and reading a magazine several seats away.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
I graduated. Got a desk job. Got
a girl. Life was good.
                                                            
BEN looks around to see if there is anything new that
catches his eye.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Even though we went through a lot
of shit together, I wouldn't call
Archie a crutch or anything like
that. He never held me back.
                                                            
He looks up in desperation.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Actually, if anything, I was his
crutch. He needed it though.
                                                            
The MAN reading the magazine gets up and walks away. BEN
watches him leave.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
What was I thinking? I guess I
didn't look ahead to the
consequences.
                                                            
 
INT. A PARK, SEVERAL YEARS AGO - DAY
                                                            
At a park, BEN and ARCHIE are hanging out with FRIENDS. The
scene is silent except for the narrator's voice.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
I have no idea what attracted me
to Archie.
                                                            
BEN and ARCHIE are laughing. Then, someone makes a joke,
and they all laugh except for ARCHIE.
                                                            

3.

                       NARRATOR
He really had no sense of humor,
and couldn't really take a joke.
                                                            
ARCHIE doesn't get the joke, because he is looking around,
blank stare. BEN looks at him with a hint of disgust.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Was it out of guilt, or pity, that
I stayed in touch with him?
                                                            
However, BEN thinks about it, and then puts his arm around
ARCHIE in a playful manner. They both smile.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Its been a belief of mine that a
person can only develop their
personality through hardships, or
at least life changing
experiences. I don't think Archie
really had any of that.
                                                            
 
INT. ARCHIE'S APARTMENT, SEVERAL YEARS AGO - DAY
                                                            
A small apartment. The front door opens, and ARCHIE enters.
He looks around the room, taking it all in. After him, his
COUSIN enters. She walks past and out of frame, ARCHIE
still having a look of wonder on his face.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Archie got an apartment with one
of his few cousins that actually
recognized his existance.
                                                            
He puts his bag down as his COUSIN comes back into frame.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
He had it pretty easy, considering
she rarely stayed at their
apartment, due to her need for
travel.
                                                            
She kisses him on the cheek before she goes to the front
door.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
I guess she had a lot of faith in
ARCHIE, to let him have it
practically all to himself.
                                                            

4.

His COUSIN stops after she opens the door, and turns around.
She digs around in her pockets, pulls out a set of keys,
and tosses them to ARCHIE.
                                                            
ARCHIE catches them. He looks back around the room, then
nods and smiles.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
                                                            
Back at the hospital, BEN tries hard to think. He frowns.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
What was his cousin's name? Oh
well.
                                                            
He puts his hands together, looking down at them.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
He didn’t drive for the longest
time, but over the years we had a
routine established. Since we
lived pretty close to each other,
we would carpool.
                                                            
 
INT. BEN'S WORK - DAY
                                                            
BEN is working at his desk, writing something down on a
report.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
About a month ago, I get a call at
work.
                                                            
The phone rings and BEN looks at it, hesitantly. He slaps
his pen against his desk several times.
                                                            
At the end of the second ring, he picks it up.
                                                            
                       BEN
Compliance and liability.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Its Archie.
                                                            
Over the phone, ARCHIES'S ecstatic voice is heard.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Ben?
                                                            
BEN leans back in his chair, and sighs.
                                                            

5.

                       BEN
Yeah, Archie, what's up? You get
off work early or something?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Ben, I just saw the girl of my
dreams.
                                                            
BEN puts the phone on his shoulder, and tries to go back to
writing.
                                                            
                       BEN
Oh yeah? And how was that?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I couldn’t do anything. I was
stuck in place. It was magical.
Ben, she’s beautiful.
                                                            
Since he can't concentrate, he stops writing and puts the
phone back in his hand.
                                                            
                       BEN
Ok, Arch. Tell me about it when I
pick you up. I’m in the middle of
something right now. Talk to you
later.
                                                            
He puts the phone down. He sighs again, this time relieved.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
It was typical for Archie to
contact me at irregular hours of
the day to tell me something that
happened to him, or something he
saw.
                                                            
BEN looks at his work, which now can be seen to be a
drawing. He finishes a line on the drawing, then turns it
over to reveal a blank report.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
'Important' things.
                                                            
BEN reaches under his desk and pulls out a bag of chips. He
sticks his hand in and pulls some out. He pops one in his
mouth as the scene changes.
                                                            
 
EXT. BEN'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
BEN pulls up to the coffee shop, where ARCHIE is waiting
outside.
                                                            

6.

                       NARRATOR
When I picked him up, he had the
biggest grin on his face I’ve ever
seen. It probably was the last
time I ever saw him do that.
                                                            
He gets in, and smiles big in BEN'S face.
                                                            
                       BEN
What’s with the stupid grin on
your face?
                                                            
ARCHIE continues his smile.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I called you, remember?
                                                            
BEN thinks for a moment, then rolls his eyes.
                                                            
                       BEN
Oh, right. The 'dream girl'. She
hot?
                                                            
BEN starts to drive away.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
You have no idea.
                                                            
BEN shrugs.
                                                            
                       BEN
Good.
                                                            
As BEN is driving, ARCHIE continues to talk. We can see BEN
start to get irritated and try to block out the noise.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
For the next couple weeks, he
wouldn’t stop talking about this
‘mystery girl’. It got pretty
annoying, to tell you the truth.
He didn’t know her name, her job,
or even if she was single.
However, he saw her almost
everyday at the coffee shop. This
obviously was all he needed.
                                                            
 
EXT. BEN'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
The next day, BEN pulls up to the coffee shop, and ARCHIE
ecstatically gets in.
                                                            

7.

                       NARRATOR
At the end of the week, Archie had
gotten his next piece of
information.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Ben, her name is Bridget.
                                                            
BEN is still trying to ignore ARCHIE while looking like he's
paying attention.
                                                            
                       BEN
Who?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
The girl? My dream woman?
                                                            
                       BEN
Oh, right, the one you have been
talking about non-stop for the
last couple weeks.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Yeah. Her.
                                                            
BEN looks up.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Wait. Bridget?
                                                            
                       BEN
What's her last name?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I don't know yet.
                                                            
                       BEN
Did she happen to have a camera
with her?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
      (a little confused)
Yeah, why?
                                                            
                       BEN
What color was it?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
      (getting agitated)
I don't know. I think the body
was black and grey. You know her?
                                                            

8.

                       BEN
No. I mean, I might have seen
her. She's hot, I guess, yeah.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
...Ok.
                                                            
                       BEN
So, yeah, that's cool Archie. Does
that mean you talked to her?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
No, she was on her phone. She had
to identify herself. That's how I
got her name.
                                                            
                       BEN
      (jokingly)
Are you stalking her now or
something?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
No no no. Nothing like that. She
was talking loud, ok?
                                                            
                       BEN
Uh huh. Well, I'll stop being
disappointed in you once you talk
to her.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
That's not fair.
                                                            
                       BEN
Why not?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
You know I can't talk to her.
She's important.
                                                            
                       BEN
      (with hand
       gestures)
As in, so important she's
untouchable?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Yeah, like that.
                                                            
                       BEN
Total bullshit, Archie. No one is
unattainable.
                                                            

9.

                       ARCHIE
No, you don't understand. She's
WAY up there. Plus, I swear, I
have some mental disease or
something. I can't confront total
strangers.
                                                            
                       BEN
Right well, good luck with that.
You’re not going to be completely
happy with yourself until you
actually talk to her.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Just give me some time. I need to
think. Prepare myself.
                                                            
                       BEN
Uh huh. Well, when you get the
balls, let me know what happens,
ok?
                                                            
BEN stops in front of ARCHIE'S house.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Yeah, yeah.
                                                            
ARCHIE opens the door and get out.
                                                            
                       BEN
All right. I'll see you on
Monday.
                                                            
ARCHIE shuts the door, and walks away. BEN puts his head
back againgst the head rest, and sighs.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Bridget. I hoped that wasn't her.
If so, I was in deep shit.
                                                            
 
INT. BEN'S APARTMENT - DAY
                                                            
In BEN'S apartment, BEN is watching T.V., but is not amused.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Same old shit. For some reason,
I'm starting to hate the weekends.
                                                            
Suddenly, LILY enters from another room and crosses the
living room. She is in a bathrobe, and her hair is in a
towel.
                                                            

10.

She walks into the next room, and takes off the robe before
leaving sight.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Let's move on to Lily.
                                                            
BEN looks at her, and smiles.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Talk about an amazing girl. The
things that woman can do.
                                                            
She comes back into the living room, now with a shirt and
underwear on. She is brushing her hair.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Anyway, I met her right after I
graduated. Talk about love at
first sight.
                                                            
LILY stops to stoop over and give BEN a kiss before she goes
back to the room she was just in. BEN leans over to follow
her with his eyes.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
I thought so, at least.
                                                            
He goes back to watching the TV.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
I first saw her working at a
bookstore.
                                                            
BEN shakes his head and takes his eyes off the T.V. long
enough to look at the camera.
                                                            
                       BEN
How stereotypical is that?
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
We got along great, and were
dating within a week.
                                                            
LILY comes back fully dressed, now putting earings on. She
gathers her coat and car keys and waves goodbye to BEN. He
waves, but doesn't move his eyes from the T.V.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
She eventually moved in. I love
it when people have that
'chemistry'. Like Archie and I.
                                                            
 

11.

EXT. ARCHIE'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
ARCHIE pulls up to BEN'S work, and BEN gets in slowly.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
I guess what I said to Archie
previously wasn’t what he wanted
to hear, because he wasn’t very
talkative that next week.
                                                            
ARCHIE starts driving, and the two don't even exchange
glances.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
At the time, I saw it as a relief.
                                                            
BEN looks at ARCHIE out of the corner of his eye.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
It started to seem weird by the
end of the week, so I decided to
ask him about this 'mystery girl'.
                                                            
                       BEN
Hey, Archie, how’s that girl thing
going?
                                                            
Without returning the gaze, ARCHIE replies.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
      (monotone)
It's going.
                                                            
                       BEN
Made any progress?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Not really. Just been watching
and waiting.
                                                            
                       BEN
Uh huh. Well, good luck with
that.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Thanks.
                                                            
 
EXT. ARCHIE'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
Another day, ARCHIE pulls up, and BEN gets in. ARCHIE has a
happier look on his face.
                                                            

12.

                       NARRATOR
Another boring weekend. Then back
to the grindstone. Better this
week though. Archie had some
news. Good, and bad.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Ben, she talked to me today.
                                                            
                       BEN
      (seeming not to
       care)
Oh yeah? How'd that happen?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Well, I just happened to be moping
the floor next to her, and she
asked if I could get her another
mocha. She thought I worked
there!
                                                            
                       BEN
Well...that’s a start, I guess.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Yeah, but I couldn’t really do
that, since I don’t work at the
register and whatnot. But, I got
someone to do it for me without
her looking. When I got it back
to her, she said, ‘thanks!’ with
the biggest smile.
                                                            
                       BEN
Good job, Arch. Now, you need to
take the initiative and talk to
her.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Oh, I don’t know.
                                                            
                       BEN
It’s ok, I know you can do it.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
We'll see.
                                                            
BEN seems to be in a happier mood now.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
I thought he would be on a roll,
that son of a bitch. But, of
course, not.
                                                            
 

13.

EXT. BEN'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
BEN pulls up to the coffee shop, and ARCHIE gets in slowly.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
End of the week. More news, this
time bad. He got in the car with
the saddest look on his face.
                                                            
                       BEN
What happened, Archie? She slap
you or something?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
She’s not single, Ben.
                                                            
BEN is relieved, but does not want to show ARCHIE.
                                                            
                       BEN
What! That’s too bad, Archie. How
did you find this out?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
She was on her phone again. It’s
strange, how whenever I’m cleaning
next to her, something happens. I
think it could be chemistry.
Anyway, I guess she’s on the phone
with one of her friends. She was
practically screaming with glee.
Said something about ‘he proposed
to me today!’, and ‘I knew he
would do it!’ It was very
disappointing.
                                                            
                       BEN
Well my friend, all I can say is
that you just had a bad run of
luck. But hey, there’s always
more fish in the sea.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Thank God she wasn't single. What
a relief.
                                                            
 
INT. BEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
Back in BEN'S apartment.
                                                            
BEN is watching a stand up comic impersonate Arnold
Schwarzenegger on T.V.
                                                            

14.

LILY enters, dressed to impress.
                                                            
                       LILY
Hun, I'm going out with a friend.
I'll see you in a couple hours.
                                                            
BEN is so engaged with his show that he doesn't hear LILY.
                                                            
                       LILY
Ben?
                                                            
He starts, looks at her, and replies.
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah, sure. Go have fun. I'll
see you later tonight.
                                                            
He goes back to his show, and she leaves.
                                                            
 
INT. BEN'S DREAM - DAY
                                                            
BEN finds himself outside a house, on the back porch.
                                                            
He has a confused look on his face. He searches the area,
looking for something.
                                                            
He stands up, and looks behind him.
                                                            
A faceless woman with hair flying in all different
directions is standing right behind him.
                                                            
BEN jumps, and starts running.
                                                            
He is chased through a forest, barely escaping what now
seems to be just a monstrous force.
                                                            
BEN looks behind while he is running and sees nothing. He
turns around to find himself running into quicksand.
                                                            
He fights to get out, but the sand starts pulling him in.
Eventually, BEN'S head is submerged and the last thing to go
under is his hands.
                                                            
Fighting for air, BEN looks up to see the faceless woman
staring him in the face.
                                                            
 
INT. BEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
BEN suddenly wakes up in a cold sweat. He is breathing
heavily.
                                                            

15.

Suddenly he hears a door close. He looks at the alarm clock
and sees it is 2:30 am. He gets up and walks out of his
room.
                                                            
LILY has just entered the apartment, and she is taking off
her coat. BEN enters in his bathrobe, and he leans against
the doorway.
                                                            
                       BEN
You have fun?
                                                            
LILY jumps, and tries to compose herself.
                                                            
                       LILY
Um, yeah. I lost track of time.
Sorry to wake you.
                                                            
BEN yawns, and turns to leave.
                                                            
                       BEN
No problem. I'll see you
tomorrow.
                                                            
                       LILY
All right.
                                                            
As soon as BEN has left the room, LILY lets out a sigh of
exhaustion. She closes her eyes, thinks, and then finishes
putting her stuff away.
                                                            
 
EXT. A PARK - DAY
                                                            
A park. Several people in the background are playing,
enjoying themselves.
                                                            
BEN, LILY, and ARCHIE are all sitting on a blanket, enjoying
a picnic.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
The weekend. Again. A little
more interesting this time. We
went on a picnic Saturday. Took
Archie with us. He wouldn’t have
been such a happy little camper,
if he wasn’t still infatuated with
that bitch.
                                                            
                       LILY
Archie, you’re not eating much.
Have you tried the chicken?
                                                            

16.

                       ARCHIE
Nah. I don’t feel hungry.
                                                            
                       BEN
Shit dude, you haven’t had
anything. Try the potato salad or
something.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I’m going on a diet.
                                                            
                       BEN
All right, suit yourself. You’re
missing out.
                                                            
                       LILY
Why are you going on a diet?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I’m gonna see what I can do to
impress a girl.
                                                            
                       BEN
Oh yeah? Who now?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Same one.
                                                            
                       LILY
Who's that?
                                                            
                       BEN
God dammit, Archie. Didn’t you
already find out she’s engaged or
some shit?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Actually, not anymore.
                                                            
                       LILY
Who is it?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Some girl I met a couple weeks
ago.
                                                            
                       BEN
Some girl he SAW a couple weeks
ago. He hasn't even met her.
                                                            
                       LILY
What's her name?
                                                            

17.

                       ARCHIE
Bridget.
                                                            
                       LILY
Bridget who?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I don't know her last name yet.
                                                            
                       BEN
Thank God. If he knew her last
name he might be looking her up in
the phone book.
                                                            
                       LILY
So, what's the latest?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Well, actually, I had to stop by
the coffee shop to pick something
up, and she was there.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
When is she not there, and when is
he not stalking her?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
And, she was pissed as hell. I’m
kinda interested, so I sit a
couple chairs away. She gets on
her phone, and calls who I guess
was one of her friends. Turns out
she found out he’s cheating on
her. She came home early from
some shindig with her friends,
found him with another chick in
their bed.
                                                            
                       BEN
Shit. So, you plan on getting her
from the rebound, huh?
                                                            
                       LILY
Ben! That’s so mean! Stop!
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Well, if you want to see it that
way, you can.
                                                            
                       BEN
And I will. Well, good luck to
you.
                                                            

18.

                       NARRATOR
I was in a bad mood the rest of
the day.
                                                            
 
EXT. BEN'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
After the picnic, when BEN and LILY get in the car, she
explodes.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Lily chewed me out later.
                                                            
                       LILY
What the hell was that!?
                                                            
                       BEN
What!?
                                                            
                       LILY
Your attitude! You can be so mean
to that guy.
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah? Maybe he needs it.
                                                            
                       LILY
Oh, shut up.
                                                            
                       BEN
He’s got practically no friends,
Lil. And that’s what I do with
all my other friends.
                                                            
                       LILY
Well, fuck that. You need to be
nice to him. We both know he’s
a...
                                                            
She searches for the best word.
                                                            
                       LILY
...fragile person.
                                                            
                       BEN
You mean emotionally fucking
unstable.
                                                            
                       LILY
Stop.
                                                            

19.

                       BEN
Fine, fine. Sorry. I’ll do what
I can.
                                                            
                       LILY
Thank you.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Here I was, thinking this would
all be over, when my girlfriend
has taken sides with my one friend
who's going to hook up with my
enemy.
                                                            
A phone rings. LILY searches around in her pockets. She
finds her phone, and looks at who it is.
                                                            
She looks at BEN, then opens the car door and gets out to
take the call.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
What, she can't even take a call
in front of me now?
                                                            
 
INT. BEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
In the black of night of BEN'S apartment, a phone rings.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Thank God it’s the week now. Work
is pretty much the only thing
stable in my life right now.
Wednesday night, I get a call from
Archie.
                                                            
A light turns on, and BEN reaches over from his bed to get
to the phone.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Ben, you there?
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah, Arch, what’s up? It’s
two-thirty in the morning.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Yeah, sorry. Hey, Bridget will
probably be at the shop about when
you get off for lunch. You wanna
stop by and see her?
                                                            

20.

                       BEN
You know Arch, I don’t think that
would be a good idea. Um, I have
to work into lunch tomorrow.
Packing my own lunch, ya know?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Ok, that’s fine. Maybe another
time.
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah, we’ll see.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Thanks, Ben.
                                                            
                       BEN
I’ll see you tomorrow, Archie.
                                                            
As BEN sets the phone down, LILY wakes up and leans over to
talk to BEN.
                                                            
                       LILY
Who was that?
                                                            
                       BEN
Um...Archie. He wanted to know
something. It’s not important. Go
back to bed.
                                                            
 
EXT. ARCHIE'S CAR - DAY
                                                            
ARCHIE is driving home from work with BEN. BEN searches
through a fast food bag. He pulls out a potato log and
passes it towards ARCHIE.
                                                            
                       BEN
Potato log? They're pretty good.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I'll pass. I don't want to throw
off my diet.
                                                            
                       BEN
Oh, come on, Archie. One measely
innocent potato log isn't gonna
kill you. Diet's aren't
everything, you know. Those lean,
soy, bran things give me the
creeps. Now THIS is a meal.
                                                            

21.

BEN pulls out a burger, and takes a bite.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I hope you know, Ben, that women
are more attracted to leaner, more
fit men.
                                                            
                       BEN
Fuck that! So why is it that I've
got a girlfriend to come home to
every night, while you're still
trying to get action?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Whatever...you just got lucky.
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah? Well my 'luck' keeps me
satisfied every night, and you
like a string bean.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
This is what she would want.
                                                            
                       BEN
What who wants?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Nothing.
                                                            
                       BEN
Come on. Tell me.
                                                            
                       BEN
Oh no, you're not still hooked on
that Bridget chick, are you Arch?
How many times have I told you?
She's not for you, man.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
She's like an angel. Good
looking, smart, talented.
                                                            
                       BEN
Archie, you don't know that.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
I can see it in her eyes, Ben.
                                                            
                       BEN
Shut up. Let me tell you
something.
                                                            

22.

ARCHIE pulls into the driveway of BEN'S apartment.
                                                            
                       BEN
Girls like Bridget aren't for you.
I mean, I've probably got enough
contacts to hook you up if I
wanted, but-
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
WHAT! YOU HAD CONNECTIONS! WHY
DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!
                                                            
                       BEN
It would have been bad for you,
Arch. I don't think you quite
understand what's happened to you
since you first saw her. She's
infested your godamn brain! You
don't deserve someone who does
that too you. And she doesn't
deserve someone who gets dumber
every time he looks, no, thinks,
about her.
                                                            
                       BEN
Anyway, thanks for the ride, man.
                                                            
BEN gets out of the car. ARCHIE looks sad now, and BEN
leans in from the outside.
                                                            
                       BEN
Archie?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Yeah?
                                                            
                       BEN
Think about it.
                                                            
ARCHIE nods, and pulls away. BEN walks to his front door.
                                                            
 
INT. ARCHIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
When ARCHIE arrives home, the first thing we see him do is
look in the mirror.
                                                            
He looks intently at himself. Then nods and leaves the
room.
                                                            
 

23.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
                                                            
The next day, ARCHIE is dressed very nicely as he enters the
coffee shop.
                                                            
He looks around the shop, eventually resting his eyes on
BRIDGET. She is looking innocent, sitting by herself.
                                                            
He shakes his head and hands, trying to relax himself.
                                                            
ARCHIE starts to walk towards her, but stops short. He
shakes his head and continues until he gets to BRIDGET'S
table.
                                                            
He waits until she finally notices his presence, and looks
up.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Can I help you?
                                                            
ARCHIE fidgets, trying to talk. He eventually finds what he
wants to say.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Actually, I was going to ask you
the same thing.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Is that right?
                                                            
ARCHIE sits down, getting more confident.
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Yes.
                                                            
Behind ARCHIE, BEN enters. He looks around and spots the
two. Brigdet also spots BEN.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Ben?
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Oh shit.
                                                            
BRIDGET, totally ignoring ARCHIE, gets up and advances
towards BEN, who is stunned.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Is that you?
                                                            
She grabs BEN'S arms.
                                                            

24.

                       BRIDGET
Oh my gosh, how are you?
                                                            
She hugs him.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
It's been so long! Where have you
been?
                                                            
BEN looks at ARCHIE, who is beginning to show a combination
of fuming and sadness.
                                                            
                       BEN
Around.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Is that right? So, what have you
been up to?
                                                            
ARCHIE slowly gets up, staring evily at BEN.
                                                            
                       BEN
Um, work. Yeah.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Well, I'm still doing my
photojournalism. Keeping busy,
you know.
                                                            
ARCHIE leaves via the back exit to the coffee shop, and BEN
watches him leave. BRIDGET, still enthusiastic and ignorant
of ARCHIE, jumps for joy.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
I can't believe it's you! We
really need to sit down and talk.
                                                            
BRIDGET tries to take hold of BEN'S hand.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
I've really missed you, Ben.
                                                            
BEN slowly pulls his hand away.
                                                            
                       BEN
You know, Bridget, I can't really
do that right now.
                                                            
She grabs hold of his hand again, this time forcefully.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Oh, why not? It could be fun!
                                                            

25.

BEN pries himself from BRIDGET'S grasp, and rushes to follow
ARCHIE.
                                                            
                       BEN
I got to go. Bye.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Wait, Ben! I want to talk to you!
Come back!
                                                            
BEN walks as fast as he can, to get away from BRIDGET as
well as catch up to ARCHIE.
                                                            
 
EXT. BACK OF COFFEE SHOP - DAY
                                                            
BEN exits the coffee shop from the back, and sees ARCHIE
walking slowly away, tie in hand.
                                                            
                       BEN
HEY! ARCHIE!
                                                            
ARCHIE continues walking away, but manages to flip the bird.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Well, shit. That didn't go over
so well.
                                                            
BEN looks at his watch.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Lunch is almost over. Time to go
back to work.
                                                            
BEN sighs, then walks back into the coffee shop.
                                                            
 
INT. BEN'S WORK - DAY
                                                            
Back at BEN'S work, DEAN, his boss, walks over and leans on
the desk.
                                                            
                       DEAN
You have a moment, Ben?
                                                            
BEN leans back in his chair.
                                                            
                       BEN
Sure, Dean, yeah.
                                                            

26.

                       DEAN
Um...I don't know if you've heard,
but the company's going to be
downsizing soon.
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah, something like that.
                                                            
                       DEAN
Well, management has started
putting together a list.
                                                            
BEN shrugs.
                                                            
                       BEN
And?
                                                            
                       DEAN
Of course, they are starting with
the people who aren't doing such a
hot job lately.
                                                            
BEN thinks about what DEAN has just said. He gets up, and
walks towards DEAN.
                                                            
                       BEN
Ah, so, if management - and you
included - think I'm not doing
such a 'hot' job lately, then I'm
going to get laid off. Is this
your way of telling me to leave
early?
                                                            
                       DEAN
No, Ben, I'm just letting you know
ahead of time.
                                                            
BEN stops, and eyes DEAN.
                                                            
                       BEN
Uh huh. Well, thank you, Dean,
for leaving me with this thought
for the weekend. No need to
worry, I'll be out of your hair
come Monday morn.
                                                            
BEN then walks past DEAN.
                                                            
                       BEN
If you will excuse me, I need to
go get some boxes.
                                                            
DEAN yells to BEN as he walks away.
                                                            

27.

                       DEAN
Don't think this was targeted just
at you, Ben.
                                                            
Without stopping, BEN gives DEAN the finger.
                                                            
 
EXT. OUTSIDE BEN'S WORK - DAY
                                                            
As BEN is walking away from work with a box of his
belongings, he gets a call on his cellphone.
                                                            
He fumbles with his stuff and decides to just put the box on
the ground.
                                                            
                       BEN
This is Ben.
                                                            
                       BEN
Hey, Zach. Yeah, I just got off.
                                                            
BEN looks at his watch.
                                                            
                       BEN
Is that right? Tonight? I could
use a beer or two. I'll be over
as soon as I can.
                                                            
 
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
At a house party, BEN, beer in hand, meanders through the
party-goers.
                                                            
He talks to the occasional person, making his way through
the crowds of people.
                                                            
On his way outside, BEN notices a familiar figure sitting on
the couch.
                                                            
ARCHIE is sitting there, drinking hard liquor.
                                                            
                       BEN
ARCHIE? What are you doing here?
                                                            
                       ARCHIE
Get away from me, Ben. You're no
good.
                                                            
                       BEN
What? What do you mean?
                                                            

28.

                       ARCHIE
You know full well what I mean.
Get away from me.
                                                            
BEN is taken aback. He walks away in disbelief, and exits
to the back porch.
                                                            
He slowly walks along the grass, taking in the days events.
Then, he gets a call.
                                                            
                       BEN
Hello?
                                                            
                       LILY
Ben?
                                                            
                       BEN
Lily?
                                                            
                       LILY
Hi.
                                                            
                       BEN
Hi. What's up?
                                                            
                       LILY
I'm just calling to let you know
not to come home tonight.
                                                            
                       BEN
Why not? I can get someone to
drive me.
                                                            
                       LILY
No. I'll be packing
                                                            
                       BEN
Where are you going?
                                                            
                       LILY
Away. I can't live with you any
more Ben.
                                                            
                       BEN
I don't understand.
                                                            
                       LILY
I want out of this relationship. I
can't do this anymore.
                                                            
                       BEN
And you're telling me this now?
                                                            

29.

                       LILY
Ben, I'm sorry.
                                                            
                       BEN
Like hell you are. I thought we
had something?
                                                            
                       LILY
We did. Not any more. Bye Ben.
                                                            
                       BEN
Lily, wait.
                                                            
BEN looks at his phone, seeing he has been disconnected.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
And that was that.
                                                            
                       BEN
Fuck.
                                                            
                       NARRATOR
Where was I? That's right.
Getting wasted.
                                                            
He walks over to where the keg is stored, and is about to
fill his cup when he sees several people from outside
quickly going inside.
                                                            
He rushes to the back door, where several people have
crowded.
                                                            
                       BEN
What happened?
                                                            
                       PARTY-GOER ONE
Looks like someone had a little
too much to drink.
                                                            
PARTY-GOER ONE points at ARCHIE, who has collapsed on the
floor. Two other party-goers are trying to prop him up
against the couch. PARTY-GOER TWO looks up.
                                                            
                       PARTY-GOER TWO
Anyone know this guy?
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah. Me.
                                                            
                       PARTY-GOER TWO
He just collapsed and passed out.
You wanna help?
                                                            

30.

                       BEN
What did he have to drink?
                                                            
PARTY-GOER TWO picks up a bottle of hard liquor that is half
empty.
                                                            
                       PARTY-GOER TWO
This was full when he started
about ten minutes ago.
                                                            
BEN drops to his knees, and examines ARCHIE. He gets up.
                                                            
                       BEN
Don't worry, he'll be fine. He
just has no gag reflexes.
                                                            
                       PARTY-GOER TWO
WHAT!?
                                                            
                       BEN
He had to have surgery a while
back. They had to staple his
stomach or something, so he can't
throw anything up now.
                                                            
                       PARTY-GOER TWO
He needs to go to a hospital.
                                                            
BEN scratches his head.
                                                            
                       BEN
All right, fine. I'll take him.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
                                                            
Here, BEN is sitting in the waiting room of the hospital,
like he was in the beginning. He looks at the clock, and it
reads 2:30 AM.
                                                            
A GIRL walks into the room, looks around, and takes a seat
several chairs away from BEN.
                                                            
She is in tears. She looks at BEN, who is trying to mind
his own business.
                                                            
                       COUSIN
Are you a friend of Archie's?
                                                            
                       BEN
Me? Oh, yeah. I brought him in.
                                                            

31.

                       COUSIN
Thank you. I appreciate it. I
can't believe the people who just
left him for dead. What horrible
people.
                                                            
                       BEN
Yeah. So, how do you know him?
                                                            
ARCHIE'S COUSIN gets up and moves several seats over so she
is sitting right next to BEN.
                                                            
                       COUSIN
Actually, I'm his cousin. He
lives with me.
                                                            
                       BEN
Is that right? So, that means you
live here?
                                                            
BEN starts checking the COUSIN out. He looks her over from
head to toe and back. A DOCTOR enters, and approaches the
two.
                                                            
                       DOCTOR
Excuse me. Are you here on the
behalf of...
                                                            
The DOCTOR checks his papers.
                                                            
                       DOCTOR
Archibald?
                                                            
Both BEN and the COUSIN rise. They look at each other in a
half smile.
                                                            
                       DOCTOR
Looks like your friend was in
serious shape. When he was
brought in, he had a blood alcohol
level of .422, and .5 is lethal.
Another half hour and he would
have died. He hasn't woken up
yet, and I doubt he is going to
wake up anytime soon. I would
give him about eighteen hours.
                                                            
The DOCTOR walks away.
                                                            
                       BEN
Wow. Hey, thanks doc.
                                                            

32.

                       BEN
Well, looks like we have some
time.
                                                            
BEN looks at his watch.
                                                            
                       COUSIN
Yeah. We sure do.
                                                            
                       BEN
Say, what are you doin' now? I
don't know what I'm gonna do for
the next couple hours, but I'm
definitely not going to go to
sleep. You wanna go get a drink
or something?
                                                            
ARCHIE'S COUSIN thinks for a moment, then looks at BEN.
                                                            
                       COUSIN
You know, that actually sounds
really good right now.
                                                            
                       BEN
All right.
                                                            
BEN leads the way and the COUSIN follows. They walk down
the long hospital hallway until they reach the door and go
out of sight.
                                                            


THE END


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