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by Luke (watsonluke88@yahoo.com)

Rated:

Genre: Drama User Review: NOT YET
RATED
Centered around one teenage boy, Michael, Trio tells the story of the evolution of three boys' friendship as it is tested by hardship, jealousy, and life threatening bullies.

FADE IN:

INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY

Camera starts from an ECU on MICHAEL's eyes. Michael is a
tall, reticent, handsome teenage boy who is seeing DR.
PATRICE about his depression. She is a middle-aged woman.
Camera than shows Michael's feet going up and down in an
impatient manner.

DR. PATRICE
(impatiently)
Michael, sit up please you don't
need to lye down.

Michael sits up.

DR. PATRICE
Have you made friends, do you talk
to anyone... Mike?

He shakes his head no and looks down.

DR. PATRICE (O.S.)
Alright, well I'm going to
prescribe you a small dose of
anti-depressants, you'll start out
with Zolaft.

He looks out the window, paying now mind to her.

Beat.

DR. PATRICE
Look, I know you're going through
tough times and adolescence, but
you have got to talk to people.

Michael nods his head.

DR. PATRICE
See you soon, Mike.

He quickly gets up not acknowledging Patrice

INT. JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Michael is by his locker and listening to Tupac.

Michael sees the girl whom he has a crush on, SARAH. She is
a pretty girl who isn't popular but has friends. She's a

sophomore like Michael. They make eye contact, both have
straight faces. Sarah, cringes at Michael, and turns to talk
to a group of friends. The bell rings and Michael walks out
of the school.

CUT TO:

EXT. OUTSIDE BY THE SCHOOL - MOMENTS LATER

Michael has headphones in listening to a 1990s RAP SONG. He
nods his head up and down along to the beat. The song is
playing for the audience to hear. This is normal for Michael
being a huge rap fan.

CUE OPENING CREDITS.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Michael's room has a Tupac poster and that's it, very
boring. He is still listening to music on his bed. It's
Friday night and these are his only plans like every other
weekend.

FADE TO:

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - NIGHT

Michael is pacing around his room listening to Tupac, Kanye
West, Chance the Rapper, etc. This is considered an activity
for him.

Michael's mom, LAUREN, knocks on the door to tell him to
take his anti-depressants, which Michael hates taking.
Lauren is a hard-working woman in her late 40's. She is
wearing a business suit.

He takes his headsets off.

LAUREN
Mikey, can you take your pills
please?

Michael abides and is a bit out of breath from moving around
and pacing. He puts the pill in his mouth and gets a water
bottle.

LAUREN
Let me see, is it still in there?

Michael opens his mouth to show her.

LAUREN
Good. Love you sweetie.

She leaves the room and Michael spits out the pill. He puts
his headset on and continues to pace around listening to
hip-hop.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - LATER

Lauren comes back in the room, Michael is still listening to
music.

LAUREN
You know, it's Friday night. Is
there somebody you could call
or....?

Michael shrugs his shoulders then shakes his head no.

LAUREN
Alright.

Lauren leaves the room. Michael rolls his eyes and continues
to listen to music.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY

Michael is sitting by himself eating lunch. No headset, no
friends, just his thoughts. Michael is certain this is not
how he likes it, he'd prefer to talk to actual people.

INT. CLASSROOM - LATER

All students are talking among themselves while Michael is
alone.

This is how his high school days are. They are like a
continued cycle that never ends. Each day is just as bland
as the last.

EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD - LATER

Michael is alone as usual. He sees Sarah across the
courtyard. They make eye contact like in a clich� rom-com.
However, when he looks at her, she quickly turns away and
talks to her friends, obviously noticing him. She talks to a
good looking BOY, blonde hair, blue eyes obviously flirting.

She laughs. Michael recognizes him to be SAM. The crowd of
people that he's with begins to laugh, Michael assumes he
told a joke. We see the jealousy on his face.

REVERSE ANGLE SHOT ON MICHAEL.

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - MOMENTS LATER

Michael is buying snacks when he sees Sam from the previous
scene.

SAM
You're Mike, aren't you?

            MICHAEL
      (nods head
       awkwardly)
Yeah.

This has been the first time Michael has spoken.

SAM
Sup, man. You're like in all my
classes. You seem pretty cool.

Michael smiles.

SAM
Are you new?

MICHAEL
No. I went to Jefferson last year,
I was in your Algebra class.

SAM
(confused)
Oh.
(Beat.)
You were.

He says "You were" as a statement to assure Michael that he
knew, even though he didn't.

SAM (Cont'd)
You're brother is one of the best
football players.

Michael doesn't answer having heard this many times before.

SAM
I don't play sports myself, I was
just complimenting you... I
mean... Well--

MICHAEL
I get it.

SAM
See ya around.

Sam leaves the store. Michael is left there flattered that
somebody talked to him. He'd be happy if anybody talked to
him. However, he can't help but be jealous of him and sort
of loathe him due to his relationship with Sarah.

EXT. SIDEWALK - MOMENTS LATER

Michael is smiling as he is thinking that somebody finally
spoke to him. He's walking home.

INT. PARTY - DREAM SEQUENCE - NIGHT

Camera starts on an EXTREME CLOSE UP on Michael's eyes which
are closed and ZOOMS slowly out. He opens his eyes. Sarah
can be seen. She is dressed up beautifully. Michael and
Sarah spot each other in the mass amounts of people, nothing
can be heard. Sarah and Mike look at each other for a few
moments. She goes to Michael who is leaning on a window. She
sits on his lap and leans in for a kiss. Before she does so
she pushes Michael out of the window shattering glass. The
camera switches to a BACK VIEW of Michael with glass
shattering around him in slow motion. The camera moves to a
SIDE VIEW of him. Michael is left plummeting two stories
down. It is silent except for high pitch wind. It speeds up.
Before he hits the ground it cuts to....

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM. - CONTINUOUS

Michael is lying on his stomach in his bead. The camera
starts at an ECU of his eyes which has tears in them. He
begins to stare blankly off in space as if he were dead. It
slowly ZOOMS out and we see a SIDE VIEW of his room, vacant
and gloomy. You can hear a TEACHER speak off screen as the
next scene is transitioning.

FADE TO:

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

            TEACHER
      (lecturing
       inaudibly)

As the teacher is lecturing, Michael is looking off into
space and the camera focuses on him. The teacher is a middle
aged woman. The background around him becomes blurry. We see
a destitute look on his face.

Sarah comes into the shot looking directly at the teacher.
The camera is focused on Sarah now.

            TEACHER
      (lecture becomes
       audible)
.....And for this assignment, you
must work in pairs.

Sarah smiles and turns towards Michael. He smiles back but
little did he know, she was smiling at Sam, the guy from the
convenient store.

Sam and Sarah grab a seat together. Michael begins to get a
discouraged look on his face.

He awkwardly looks around the room for a partner. Nobody.
Michael just sits there, doesn't even look at his
assignment.

TEACHER
(to Michael)
Tristan, why don't you work with
Sam and Sarah.

Michael looks confused as to why she called him Tristan but
allowed it. He gets up and plops down at their table.

SAM
What's up, Mike.

Michael shrugs his shoulders.

SARAH (O.S.)
Alright, so I was thinking that
for Lenin's bio, we could write
that he was a Bolshevik leader,
about his birth, just basic stuff
like that.

SAM
Okay.

Michael looks down in despondence, not paying any mind to
what Sarah's saying. He's just looking.... maybe
searching.... searching for a reason as to why Sarah thinks
Michael is simply just another carbon-based life form, and
not... just Michael.

SAM
Mike, do you have any ideas?

Beat.

MICHAEL
Maybe as a fun fact we could put
that Lenin's body is still in
display at Moscow.
(beat)
I, uh learned that from some news
article.

SAM
That sounds good.

Michael, seeming sort of bummed out that Sarah isn't really
acknowledging him, continues to look out to space.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - LATER

Michael is listening to music while bouncing a ball off the
ceiling. He's lying down.

He's listening to an encouraging song.

He is moving his lips along to the song.

LAUREN
(knocks on door)
Here is your pill bottle, I want
you to start taking them by
yourself from now on.

He takes the bottle.

Lauren leaves the room and Michael is sitting upwards on his
bed.

He stands up and throws the pill bottle against the wall.
The pills scatter everywhere. He puts his headphones back on
and proceeds as if nothing happened.

INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY

Michael is sitting on a chair seeming impatient like always
at Dr. Partice's office.

DR. PATRICE
So, what's new?

No answer.

DR. PATRICE
Talked to anybody?

He shrugs his shoulders.

DR. PATRICE
Shrugging your shoulders and
mumbling doesn't really help you,
Mike. You have to learn to
communicate.
(beat)
What have you been up to?

MICHAEL
School, music
(shrugs shoulders).

DR. PATRICE
You paly music?

MICHAEL
Nah, I just listen.

DR. PATRICE
Oh.... Well who do you listen to?

MICHAEL
Rappers. Like Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan,
people like that.

DR. PATRICE (O.S.)
Sounds like you have a good taste
in music.

He shrugs his shoulders again.

DR. PATRICE
Made any friends?

MICHAEL
(pause)
Well there is this one kid, Sam. I
guess he kinda..... I don't know.

DR. PATRICE
Continue, please.

MICHAEL
He's talked to me a few times.

            DR. PATRICE
      (almost
       impatiently)
Like....

MICHAEL
He's..... He's said hi at a
store.... and.... and I worked
with him on some project.

MICHAEL (Cont'd)
(shrugs shoulders)
That's it.

DR. PATRICE
Good.
(looks at clock).
Alright times up you can go.

He storms out of the room without any words.

CUT TO:

INT. JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

There are two students fighting in the hallway. One seems to
be the BULLY, the other the VICTIM. Both strong,
built-looking guys. Crowds of students gather, none help the
victim as he is being punched. Michael is a bystander there.

A blow knocks the victim to the ground. The bully says
nothing.

He proceeds to scoff.

Michael is just standing there, emotionless. He feels no
compulsion to help.

The victim, being slightly built himself, will not take this
and swings for the bully's face.

This blow KNOCKS the bully down.

The two boys then break out into a full fight. Swing after
swing, they nearly smash each other's faces. The victim soon
becomes the victor.

10.

The bully's face is bloody. He looks around the hallway at
the crowds of people, then............ walks away.

The crowd disperses and the so called victim walks away as
well. Michael was the last one that remained and was a bit
startled at the fact that a fight so gory took place at an
otherwise okay school.

CUT TO:

INT. MICHAEL'S KITCHEN - LATER

Michael walks into the shot (coming from school) with both
parents in the kitchen. His brother, JOHN (about 2 years
older than Michael), is also in the shot. JOE, his father,
is wearing a work suit like his wife. He is older than her
and has a receding hairline.

LAUREN
How was school?

Michael doesn't answer.

JOE
(sarcastically)
What you don't know how to talk?

Michael is rapidly looking for food in the pantry.

MICHAEL
(sotto)
Wish I did.

No one could hear that.

LAUREN
(nicely)
Why are you home so late?

MICHAEL
The principal, he needed to
question me.

JOE
Who is he, the FBI? The hell he
question you for?

            MICHAEL
      (not even looking
       at his father)
A fight broke out.

11.

JOE (O.S.)
You were in a fight?

THE CAMERA SHOT IS ON MICHAEL WHEN JOE SPEAKS.

MICHAEL
(pause)
That's not what I said.

MICHAEL (Cont'd)
It was between these to kids.
(sotto)
Hardly even know 'em.

LAUREN
So why'd he want to speak to you?

Michael abruptly leaves.

            MICHAEL
      (while he's
       walking away)
I don't know. Does it matter? You
should ask him that.

JOE
Jesus...
(beat)
I don't know what the hell is
wrong with that kid.

EXT. MICHAEL'S BASKETBALL NET BY HIS HOUSE - LATER

The sun is setting, it's a beautiful sight. Michael is
shooting hoops while listening to music.

He sees a BIG DOG by his neighbor's driveway. This is his
neighbor's dog who frequently gets out. His neighbors could
not care less about their dog. The dog is straggling along
the cul-de-sac.

MICHAEL
(sotto)
Fuckin' dog again.

He approaches the mutt with open arms.

WHOO WHOO.

He whistles to get his attention but he doesn't oblige.

12.

            MICHAEL
      (lunging towards
       him)
Come here, boy!

The dog barks showing its teeth and runs away. Michael
chases him to the end of the street before he can catch him.

EXT. NEIGHBOR'S FRONT DOOR - CONTINUOUS

The camera is following Michael, who is holding the dog by
its collar.

DING DONG. He rings the bell.

A long beat.

He rings again.

An UGLY MAN opens the door. He is about 50 and has a large
potbelly, stereotypical white trash.

UGLY MAN
Yeah?

MICHAEL
You're dog got out again I just
wanted to bring him back.

UGLY MAN
Well, ain't you a hero.
(to dog)
Come, boy.

He motions for the dog to come in. The dog whimpers and
looks up at Michael.

UGLY MAN
Come on, boy. Come on!

MICHAEL
He doesn't want to come in.

UGLY MAN
Yeah, no shit.

Michael, being offended, looks down.

UGLY MAN
(sotto)
Damn dog.

13.

He drags the dog by the collar into the house. He says
nothing else to Michael and slams the door. Michael walks
away. He sees Sam and Sarah talking and walking near his
street.

He follows quietly behind them.

CUT TO:

EXT. BY SAM'S HOUSE - LATER

After Michael followed them for a few moments, they reach
their destination. They seem to be having a good time. Sarah
is laughing at everything he says. This angers Michael.

The two walk into the house while Michael is watching.

SARAH
Ha!Ha! We can't add that in our
project.

Michael was angered that they would work on the biggest
history project of the year without him. He pants in rage
and runs away towards his house.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - LATER

Michael walks in and slams the door shut. He's pissed. He
springs his arm for the wall and it goes straight through.
He made a hole in the wall. His dad hears. You can hear
Joe's footsteps.

SLAM OPEN.

JOE
Not another hole, Mike. Not
another fucking hole!

Joe wipes his sweat of his head.

JOE
I know you're going through the
hardest time of you life but quit
destroying our property! Are you
taking you meds!
(beat)
Huh?

No answer.

14.

JOE
(looking at hole)
Christ.

Lauren walks in.

LAUREN
What happened?

JOE
He put another hole in the wall,
Lauren.

The AUDIO begins to FADE.

Michael's face is still filled with anger and rage. He
doesn't feel remorse, just jealousy of Sam and hatred. One
could not be blamed to despise Michael now.

LAUREN
We wanna help----

JOE
YOU wanna help.

LAUREN
We really do, but you cannot keep
doing this. Enough is enough.
(puts her hands on his shoulders)
Please get help.

These words linger on Michael's mind. He has no idea what to
say to that.

His parents leave

JOE
(to Lauren)
I'm sick of it---

He is cut off by the shutting of the door.

What's really striking is how casually his parents react to
the hole. As if it happens often, which it does.

Michael is panting with rage and pacing around the room. He
hears a KNOCK at the door.

LAUREN
Your dad and I are gonna run some
errands, okay?

15.

She receives no answer and goes away. Michael is still
livid. Being pretty tall and muscular, he looks a bit
intimidating.

            JOE
      (from outside the
       door)
Don't put another hole in my wall,
please!

FADE TO:

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - LATER

Michael is just sitting at his desk staring blankly out in
space.

KNOCK KNOCK. Lauren walks in.

            LAUREN
      (puts her hand on
       his shoulder)
Honey, ya know you can always tell
us what's wrong.

Beat.

MICHAEL
Nothing is wrong.

LAUREN
Well you seemed---

MICHAEL
(screaming)
Nothing is wrong!

Lauren leaves not looking back at her son. She has a
disappointed look on her face.

Michael puts in his headphones to drown out the pain and
just sits there, thinking..... and thinking.

A long beat of him just reflecting while listening to music.

Michael takes his headphones off. He stands up and pants
heavily, trying to hold back anger.

16.

EXT. SIDEWALK - LATER - NIGHT

Michael has his headphones, still ticked off. He's walking,
just walking to burn off steam. He doesn't know where he's
going, he just knows he wants to get the hell out of his
house.

He's listening to a GLOOMY RAP SONG. One that makes you
think. The audience can hear it crystal clear. The camera
angle moves along with the beat in the beginning of the
song. Each beat in the song we get another angle of Michael.
There are houses as he walks along the sidewalk.

After a few beats, he takes his headphones off and the song
stops. Now he is just walking with the night sky in the
background. The camera moves to an ESTABLISHING SHOT of
Michael walking along the sidewalk. It's facing the front of
him. There are trees, stars and houses in the background.
The only noises there are are cricketing bugs and critters.

CUT TO:

EXT. UNKNOWN STREET - LATER

Michael is in a busy road with cars passing by. He's still
burning off steam with an angry, pained look on him. He's
walking on long grass and weeds that go up to his knees,
there is no sidewalk.

A long beat of him simply walking.

A car speeds up really close to him, then stops to the side
of the road. Michael pays them no mind.

VOICE (O.S.)
Michael! Mike!

Michael knows its his DAD'S CAR, he just ignores it. It is a
jet black ford, nice car.

JOE (O.S.)
Michael, just get in the car.

No answer and Michael is still walking, just going around
the car.

His dad backs up the car and jams on his gas pedal nearly
missing Michael, barely.

MICHAEL
(to Joe)
Are you trying to kill me!?

17.

LAUREN
Joseph, what the hell!?

            JOE
      (at the top of his
       lungs)
Get in the goddamned car now!

Michael has no other choice but to oblige.

CUT TO:

INT. JOE'S CAR - MOVING - MOMENTS LATER

There is complete awkward silence in his car.

MICHAEL
Tell me where we're going.

No answer.

LAUREN
Your outbursts has got to---

            JOE
      (to Michael
       finishing
       Lauren's sentence)
Fucking stop.

LAUREN
It's enough, Mike.... What were
you doing walking near an
intersection?

MICHAEL
Burning off steam.

JOE (O.S.)
Didn't you already do that with my
wall?

JOE (Cont'd)
Countless times.

MICHAEL
(ignoring Joe)
I'm just....

JOE
Insane.

18.

LAUREN
Joey!

MICHAEL
(to Joe)
Fuck you!

JOE
Fuck you!

JOE (Cont'd)
You're not wanted in our house,
we're tired of you outrages!

MICHAEL
What a great---

LAUREN
Enough!
(to Joe)
Quit acting like a child! Don't
you see this is how he got like
this.

MICHAEL
Like what?

LAUREN
Like... like you always slamming
on our walls, your depression,
anxiety--

LAUREN (Cont'd)
It's enough, Mike.
(and)
It's enough.

Off Michael looking down in despair.

INT. DR. PATRICE'S OFFICE - LATER

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE ROOM.

Dr. Patrice is crossing her legs with a notepad resting on
her laps. The dysfunctional trio is sitting on a couch.

DR. PATRICE
What's wrong, Michael?

            MICHAEL
What's wrong?
      (and)
There isn't enough time in the
            (MORE)

19.

MICHAEL (cont'd)
world to explain.

He has a slight, sarcastic looking grin on his face that
makes you want to slap it off.

DR. PATRICE
Give me a short synopsis then.

The whole room is silent, even Joe.

MICHAEL
I'm just... There is no easy way
to explain it. No one notices me
and no one cares. When people do
notice me it's to compliment my
brother. Why the hell don't they
tell him? I have no friends, none.
People don't like me and I'm
starting to not like them. If no
one wants to be around me then
what's the point?

Patrice is scribbling all this down in her notepad.

DR. PATRICE
Point of what?

MICHAEL
Of....
(beat)
Of living, I guess.

This suicidal thought scares everybody. Michael is right, if
no one likes you, is it any different that you're gone?

DR. PATRICE
Do you mean killing yourself?

He shrugs his shoulders and looks at his mom, who is crying.

MICHAEL
I'm not trying to get attention,
you told me to speak my mind.

DR. PATRICE
I know, Mike.

Joe seems uncomfortable, not crying, just uncomfortable.
Lauren is crying silently in utter pain.

20.

DR. PATRICE
You said people only talk to you
to compliment your brother, can
you explain that?

MICHAEL
I only know people at this school
'cause of my brother. He plays
football, lots a people like him.
I don't play and no one likes me.
(sotto)
I don't like him.

MICHAEL (Cont'd)
People only seem to talk to me to
acknowledge that I am John's
brother. That's the only reason.
After that, it's like I am just
pure air and everyone walks right
trough me.

DR. PATRICE
Explain how that makes you feel.

MICHAEL
I just did.

DR. PATRICE
No, you said how other people feel
about you, not how you feel.

MICHAEL
Obviously not good.
(beat)
I just want a friend. I'm not a
lone wolf--- I mean I am but I
don't wanna be. It's plain and
simple, I like talking, I just
don't know how to.

DR. PATRICE
You're not explaining how that
makes you feel.

MICHAEL
Not good. There's no other way to
explain it.

DR. PATRICE
Well, dig deep.

MICHAEL
It's not a good feeling!

21.

DR. PATRICE
Okay, well dig a little deeper.
How does it make you feel? Does it
keep you up at night?

MICHAEL
No, I don't really know how it
makes me feel.

DR. PATRICE
Yes you do.

MICHAEL
I don't.

DR. PATRICE
Yes you d---

MICHAEL
For fuck's sake I don't!

LAUREN (O.S.)
Michael!

JOE
This is where we leave.

DR. PATRICE
No, no please.

The most awkward beat you could imagine.

MICHAEL
Do you talk to anybody?

MICHAEL
No.

DR. PATRICE
Have you always been quiet? Did
you talk to anybody in middle
school?

MICHAEL
I did, but I don't really keep in
contact with them.... I.. I don't
want to talk about this.

DR. PATRICE
Alright I understand.

22.

DR. PATRICE
Anything else you'd like to get
off your chest?

No one responds in this beat.

MICHAEL
It'd be better if I had a dad that
helped.

JOE
Mikey, come on.

MICHAEL
Twenty minutes ago you said I'm
not wanted in the house.

JOE
Don't forget what you said.---

DR. PATRICE
Gentlemen.

LAUREN
Patrice, I'm sorry.

DR. PATRICE
No need.
(beat)
(to Mike)

How is your relationship with your
father?

PAN TO:

INT. DR. PATRICE'S DOOR - ZOOMING OUT - CONTINUOUS

It is a COVER SHOT of Dr. Patrice's door. HER NAME is on
the door. There is talking that sounds argumentative behind
those doors.

INT. MICHAEL'S LOCKER - DAY

The camera is inside the locker. We see Michael getting his
things with that usual sad look on him. In the near
distance, there is a GIRL walking towards him. She's around
his age, and very pretty. She approaches him.

GIRL
Hi.

23.

MICHAEL
(awkwardly)
Hi.

GIRL
I had fun last night, Tristan.

MICHAEL
Tristan?... I'm--

GIRL
Oh my god.. I'm sorry I thought
you were someone else.

The girl awkwardly walks away.

MICHAEL
(sotto)
What the fuck?

INT. LUNCHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Michael is getting lunch from the lunch line.

CUT TO:

LUNCH TABLE

He is looking down and eating, obviously thinking about his
encounter with that confused girl. He spots a kid being
picked on and just looks. He does nothing. He just continues
to eat.

INT. SCHOOL BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Michael is walking into the bathroom and goes to the mirror.
The camera is moving and stops when he reaches the mirror.
He looks at his reflection, disgusted with himself. You can
see the tears form. He begins to cry but rather silently. We
just hear sniffles.

A beat of Michael crying.

A BOY walks into the bathroom. This causes Michael to
abruptly stop crying and wipe his eyes. The boy gives
Michael a look and then he goes into a stall.

Beat.

The boy gets out of the stall and washes his hands. Michael
creepily staring at him the whole time. The boy notices him.

24.

THE BOY
You alright, man?

Awkward silence.

MICHAEL
Yeah... yeah I'm good.

Michael, who is washing his hands, recognizes him to be
TRISTAN, the victim who beat the shit out of that bully. He
looks just like Michael, so one would know why that teacher,
and the girl mixed the two of them up. Tristan is still
bruised because of the fight.

MICHAEL
Hey, weren't you in that big
fight?

TRISTAN
(beat)
Yeah.... I was.

Tristan has a grimace on his face while saying this. He is
checking his bruises in the mirror.

TRISTAN
I'm tired of hearing about that
shit, dude. I fought back, so
what?

MICHAEL
I'm... I'm sorry, I just
recognized you is all.

TRISTAN
It's fine, I was just speaking in
general, you know what I mean?

            TRISTAN
      (now looking at
       Michael)
Anyway... are you in any of my
classes?

MICHAEL
Lunch.

TRISTAN
That's what I thought.

Awkward silence because the two have no idea what to say to
each other.

25.

MICHAEL
And.... history.

TRISTAN
Yeah, yeah.

TRISTAN (Cont'd)
Shit, I've got nobody to work with
and we got a big project due soon.
I haven't gotten around to it.

MICHAEL
(assenting)
Yeah.

TRISTAN
Who are you working with?

MICHAEL
Sam and Sarah, ya know 'em.

TRISTAN
Yeah, I know 'em.

Beat.

MICHAEL
Some girl was looking for you.

TRISTAN
Huh? Oh, ha I bet I know who it
is. She got a fat ass?

MICHAEL
Uh...

TRISTAN
(laughing)
Don't answer that. Anyway, thanks
for telling me.

TRISTAN
See you around .... uh?

MICHAEL
Michael.

TRISTAN
See you, Mike.

Michael nods his head to him.

26.

Michael gets a smiling look on his face that tells the
audience how little people notice him. The same face he made
with Sam. Only, Michael isn't jealous of Tristan like he is
of Sam.

Scene 10 and Scene 17 act as introductory scenes for Tristan
and Sam. Scene 10, when Michael is in the convenient store
and sees Sam, and Scene 17, the fight, is for Tristan. They
establish in a nutshell what they're like as people.

INT. PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASSROOM - LATER

Michael is sitting in his desk along with the rest of the
class. A GIRL is by the front of the room presenting. She
sounds nervous and shaky. The entire class is bored. Michael
is resting his head on his hand.

GIRL #2
And uh.... I like to ski in the
winters.... and go to the beach in
the summers. My favorite color is
um purple.

TIMER BEEPS.

TEACHER #2
Thank you, please be seated.

TEACHER #2 (Cont'd)
Up next is
(looks at paper)
Michael.

The whole room is dead silent. Michael seems nervous. He
gets up in a stubborn manner.

MICHAEL
My name is Michael, as previously
stated. Uh, I don't talk much so I
can already tell I won't like this
class.

There are a few chuckles.

MICHAEL (Cont'd)
I have no favorite color. I like
to listen to music, rap mostly,
but I like music in general.
(beat)
I really have summed up everything
there is about me, so...

27.

Michael walks back to his desk.

TEACHER #2 (O.S.)
Wow, okay. Remember, you have to
speak for two minutes straight.

The room is still dead silent.

TEACHER #2
(to class)
How long did you have to prepare
for this presentation?

MICHAEL
A day.

The entire class begins to laugh. Michael is in a state
where he doesn't know if it is socially acceptable for him
to laugh at his own joke, or keep a straight face.

TEACHER #2
Well, for such an easy assignment
you don't need a vast amount of
time.

TEACHER #2
(to class)
This is a Public Speaking class,
students. It is required to take
for one marking period. It counts
toward your GPA just like algebra
or biology. So treat it like that.

This is the first time Michael has gotten any sort of
attention from such a great number of people.

TEACHER #2
Is that everyone?
(no response)
Good.

EXT. OUTSIDE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL - LATER

Michael is walking home. School is out. A group of friends
come into the shot. Tristan and Micheal are among the group.

Sam waves Michael over.

SAM
Hey yo Mike, over here.

28.

Michael looks around hesitant to go over. The camera moves
with Michael as he walks to the group. All are smiling.
LUCAS comes into the shot. He is a few years older than
Mike, and is one of John's football buddies.

LUCAS
So you like rap music?

MICHAEL
Yeah.

LUCAS
(he laughs)
Who's your favorite rapper,
Biggie, Lil' Wayne?

MICHAEL
Don't have one.

LUCAS
Damn, that's too bad.

They're making fun of him, Michael knows it too. He has a
look of slight anger on his face.

They are passing around a vape pen. Someone hands it to
Lucas.

LUCAS
What's your favorite cereal.
(takes a puff from the vape pen).

Sam has a look of sympathy for Michael, while Tristan is
rather apathetic.

MICHAEL
W--What?

'Cuz mine's Fruity Loops.
(emphasis on FRUITY)

He takes another puff from the vape pen and blows the smoke
directly into Mike's eyes, which are burning now.

Michael pushes the guy.

MICHAEL
Fuck's your problem?

29.

LUCAS
I'm sorry I didn't ask you, you
want some?
(handing him the vape pen)

MICHAEL
No, just get the hell away from
me.

He walks off screen. Everyone chuckles, including a couple
of cute girls.

Off Sam's sympathetic face.

INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - LATER

Michael slams the door and throws his book bag. He raises
his fist and punches the wall, right before he does so he
stops himself.

He plops himself on the bed. He's shaking, we can only
assume he's crying.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

He's still lying on his bed face down.

ECU of his eyes wide open..... staring.

INT. SCHOOL GYM - DAY

Michael is sitting on the bleachers along with every
underclassmen in the school. Across, the room is Sarah, whom
Michael is staring at. She catches him staring. Instead of
being creeped out, she waves him over. He goes across the
gym to her, with teenagers chattering up a storm, and
teachers standing with their arms crossed. They are at an
assembly.

When he reaches her, she leans in to kiss him. Right before
she does...

CUT TO:

It was simply a daydream. Sam is sitting next to her and
they kiss. Michael has a jealous look on his face.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL GYM - AFTER ASSEMBLY

30.

Michael is by himself, leaning against the wall in the
gymnasium. Bell rings.

Beat.

He leaves.

INT. HISTORY CLASSROOM - LATER

This is the class where Michael, Sam, and Sarah got into
groups. Michael walks in to see everyone in their groups.
Sam is flirting with Sarah. He looks at them.

TEACHER
Mike, you're late.

MICHAEL
(beat)
Sorry.

He takes a seat at a desk.

TEACHER
You're working with your groups,
it is the final day you get to
work on it in class.

He goes to sit with Sarah and Sam.

TEACHER
(to Michael)
You know what, I'm gonna put you,
Tristan and Sam together. Sarah
can work with those girls.
(pointing to a group of girls)

SARAH
But what about the project we've
been working on.

TEACHER
You can help those girls with
their project. Since Tristan has
nobody to work with, he will work
with Sam and Mike.

Everyone goes to their groups.

TRISTAN
(awkwardly)
Hey...guys.

31.

SAM
We're pretty much done with this
Lenin project.

TRISTAN
Great 'cause I wasn't gonna work
on this in the first place.

SAM
(slams pencil down)
I really don't feel like working
on this. We can just work on it
this Sunday.

TRISTAN
I'm free.

They eye Michael.

MICHAEL
Yeah.

Tristan pulls out his phone.

TRISTAN
Yo, look at this picture.
(shows Sam and they both laugh)

He doesn't show Michael.

TEACHER
Boys, you working?

TRISTAN
You know we're always workin',
Miss B.

TEACHER
Uh-huh.

INT. SAM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

It is Sunday night, the project is do tomorrow. Tristan is
resting his head on the table, Sam is on his phone. Micheal
is staring at the both of them. There is a laptop on the
table.

There is a poster board titled "VLADIMIR I. LENIN" and his
picture.

MICHAEL
Guys, this thing is do tomorrow.

32.

TRISTAN
Wow! He knows how to talk.

Tristan and Sam both laugh, Michael keeps a straight face.

TRISTAN
I'm just kidding.

MICHAEL
We should really finish up.

SAM
I think I know what to put.
(types on laptop)

Tristan leans back on his chair in a sort of lazy manner.

TRISTAN
This project is bullshit, I
fuckin' hate this class.

SAM
(still typing)
Who cares let's just get it done.

Michael is silent this whole time just looking at the two
boys. His eyes follow each boy as they speak.

SAM
Alright just gotta print this last
one.
(and)
Done.
(slams computer)

TRISTAN
Finally.

Sam goes to the printer and gets the paper.

He glues it on the poster.

TRISTAN
So, man, how's your girl.

SAM
She's fine.

TRISTAN
I mean is she cool? Like... did
she give you head yet?

33.

Micheal looks at Sam in that angry, jealous way. Sam looks
right back, uncomfortable to say the answer in front of
Mike.

SAM
(smiles)
None of your business, bro.

TRISTAN
Oh,
(laughs)
that's a yes I know it.

The two laugh, not Michael who is looking at Sam dead in the
eye.

MICHAEL
Yeah it is.

SAM
What?

MICHAEL
Why is it not our business? Just
tell us.

SAM
Damn, okay.
(Tristan and Sam laugh)
No she hasn't.

TRISTAN (O.S.)
Have you even asked?

As Tristan says this, Sam and Michael are looking at each
other.

SAM
Alright, this is getting too much.

TRISTAN
Ahh, you liar I know she has.

SAM
(to Michael)
That kid is an asshole.

MICHAEL
What...oh Mr. Vape. Yeah.

SAM
Sorry I didn't say anything. I
just...

34.

Beat.

SAM
I don't even know the kid, his
name is like Luke or something. He
was just there.

TRISTAN
(giggling)
You're eyes still burn?

MICHAEL
Something of your's is gonna burn
if you keep that up.

TRISTAN
Oh shit, Michael don't mess
around.

The trio laugh. The first time Michael cliques with people.

Laughing stops.

SAM
Damn, you two really do look
alike.

Tristan and Michael look at each other in a serious
demeanor.

TRISTAN
Michael, what's you're number?

Tristan and Sam pull out their phones.

MICHAEL
Uh, 856....437.....2899.

The two punch it into their phone.

TRISTAN
Alright see ya Sam. Later, Mike.

He pats him on the chest as he gets up and leaves. Sam and
Michael wave him goodbye.

Micheal gets up too.

SAM
Later, Mike.

MICHAEL
Bye.

35.

INT. SCHOOL STAIRS - DAY

Michael is walking up the stairs. We see that same guy, "Mr.
Vape", Lucas, who is leaning on the wall in the stairwell.

LUCAS
Hey Mikey.

Michael simply rolls his eyes.

LUCAS
What you don't say hi, alright.

He continues to walk up the stairs and runs across Sarah.
They stumble when they cross each other, both going the same
way. They change direction, bumping into each other again.

She keeps an annoyed look. Michael looks back watching her
go down the stairs. He goes back up.

She meets Sam at the bottom of the stairs.

SAM
Mike, aren't you in my lunch, just
come this way and sit with us.

MICHAEL
Alright.

As he goes down the stairs to follow them we hear Patrice's
voice:

DR. PATRICE (V.O.)
If you had to chose one person
that you would at least consider
an acquaintance, who would it be?

CUT TO:

INT. DR. PATRICE'S OFFICE - DAY

MICHAEL
I guess
(beat)
Sam.

CUT TO:

36.

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY

Sarah, Tristan, Michael, and Sam grab a seat in the
lunchroom.

CUT TO:

INT. DR PATRICE'S OFFICE - DAY

DR. PATRICE
Anyone else?

MICHAEL
Tristan.

CUT TO:

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY

DR. PATRICE (V.O)
Who are Tristan and Sam?

As she says this, they are all laughing, even Michael is
putting on a little laugh.

TRISTAN
(to Sarah)
Then he said, "'Cause mine's
Fruity Loops," and puffs smoke in
his eyes.

CUT TO:

INT. DR. PARTICE'S OFFICE - DAY

MICHAEL
I worked on a project with them.
We sorta hung out from there.

MICHAEL
I just..
(chuckles)
They seem cool.

CUT TO:

37.

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY

MICHAEL (V.O)
Sam and Sarah seem really in love
for two teenagers.

Sam and Sarah are talking to each other and giggling.

MICHAEL (V.O.)
Sarah's Sam's girlfriend.

SARAH
I gotta go, love you.

She leans in for a kiss.

SAM
Love you.
(they kiss)

CUT TO:

INT. DR. PATRICE'S OFFICE - DAY

Michael is twirling his thumbs.

MICHAEL
(looking down)
They do.

DR. PATRICE
Does that bother you?

MICHAEL
No... why would it?

CUT TO:

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY

And thus ends the back and forth sequence. Michael is
sitting now, straight-faced. That jealous look can be seen.

Michael and Sam look each other dead in the eye, each having
a serious look on his face.

38.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Tristan, Michael, and Sam are walking together and talking.
There's a group of JOCKS leaning on some lockers. Lucas is
there.

LUCAS
Yo Mike!

The three friends stop. Michael walks over to them.

LUCAS
Man, if I would have known you
were Johnny's brother, I wouldn't
have picked on you. He's a beast.

MICHAEL
So just 'cause I am the brother of
a popular kid, you don't get to
puff smoke on me. How about not
doing that to anyone?

LUCAS
(scoffs)
I was just giving you a
compliment. I didn't mean to---

SAM
You didn't mean it? Did it just
puff by itself directly on his
eyes, is that it?
(pointing to Mike)
This kid isn't Johnny. So if you
wanna suck Johnny's dick, go to
Johnny, himself.

The three walk away, not looking back.

LUCAS
Sam, you're friends with Mike?
(laughs)
See you love birds later.

Lucas and his squad are out of the shot now.

TRISTAN
Do people always just say dumb
shit to you when you walk around
the halls?

MICHAEL
Yeah.

39.

TRISTAN
You gotta say something, speak up.

SAM
Nah, he's not a talker. We got his
back.
(pats Michael's shoulders)

They leave out the doors to the outside.

EXT. BY THE WOODS - MOMENTS LATER

The three boys are walking to their homes. A car comes into
the shot slowing down when it gets close to them.

            LUCAS
      (yelling from the
       passenger seat)
Hi love birds!

TRISTAN
Fucking dumb asses.

Beat of them walking.

Lucas and his buddies make a U-turn. They stop their car and
get out. They run towards Tristan, Michael, and Sam.

SAM
Oh shit!

The trio run through the woods, all scared shitless.

LUCAS' FRIEND
Where do you think you're going?

The three lose Lucas' squad in the woods.

EXT. BY A FENCE - CONTINUOUS

They're sitting against someone's fence and panting.

TRISTAN
They could probably fucking kill
us.

SAM
I saw on his story Lucas' dad has
a pistol, that's why I said "Oh
shit."

40.

INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - LATER

The boys are walking into the house without saying hi to
Michael's mom. They run upstairs.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

TRISTAN
(looking around)
Nice room.

The thought of his room being nice was laughable.

            TRISTAN
      (pointing to the
       Tupac poster)
Hey, it's Tupac.

There's a knock on the door.

LAUREN
(opens door)
Hi, Mike. Oh, who are they?

Michael shuts the door slightly, obviously embarrassed.

            MICHAEL
      (leaning against
       doorframe)
They're just friends. Sam and
Tristan.

SAM
Sup.

TRISTAN
Hey, Mrs...

LAUREN
Uh, Lauren, sweetie.

MICHAEL
(sotto)
Mom, can you come back a bit
later?

LAUREN
Yeah, yeah. Have fun.

TRISTAN
Oh we will.

41.

Michael shuts the door behind Lauren. He looks at the two
boys, having no idea what to do now. Neither do they.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM- LATER - NIGHT

It's hours later that day. The moon's out and it is a school
night. They are playing poker, sitting on the floor. Tristan
is laying his feet out while looking at his deck of cards
sucking on a lollipop. Sam and Mike are also looking at
their decks.

SAM
I raise that bet by five.
(buts a red chip in the pile)

MICHAEL
I fold.
(sets cards down)

TRISTAN
Alright.
(puts a red chip in the pile)

Tristan and Sam show their cards to the whole crew.
Tristan's has a match of TWO ACES, Sam just has a FOUR and a
SEVEN.

SAM
(slams cards)
Shit!

TRISTAN
Yeah motherfucker! All mine, ha---

KNOCK KNOCK.

LAUREN
(opens door)
Boys, can you keep it down, and no
f bombs.

TRISTAN
Sorry, ma'am.

She leaves.

They wait to make sure she's far enough away.

All three laugh and Tristan celebrates. He puts all the
chips in his pile, emphasizing that he won.

42.

SAM
(to Tristan)
You are the luckiest dumb ass to
walk this earth.

TRISTAN
Luckiest or skillfullest?

SAM
Skillfullest? Are you sure that's
a word, you dumb fuck?
(they all laugh)

OUTSIDE MICHAEL'S DOOR

Lauren is smiling while biting her nails. She is evidently
proud of her son for having social interaction.

INT. MICHAEL'S LOCKER - DAY

Michael is getting things out of his locker. It is another
average school day. He is alone. Sarah walks by him, books
in hand.

SARAH
Hi, Mike.

MICHAEL
H... hey.

A simple "hi" causes Michael to smile and continue to look
back at Sarah as she just walks away. Still smiling, he
walks away and jumps up to hit an exit sign in exult.

INT. SPANISH CLASS - LATER

Michael is tapping his pencil on the table as his teacher,
MRS. HERNANDEZ, explains past-tense conjugation of Spanish
words.

            MRS. HERNANDEZ
      (writing on the
       board)
So, the Ustedes preterite form of
hablar would be hablaron. Como se
dice hablar en ingles?

The entire class looks absolutely bored.

No one answers.

43.

She lets out a loud screech to get everyone's attention. A
few "Jesus Christ"'s here and there. This instantly wakes
them up.

MICHAEL
(from silence)
To talk.

MRS. HERNANDEZ
Muy bien.

She writes this on the board. After she is done, she grabs a
pile of papers.

MRS. HERNANDEZ
Work on this worksheet.
(passes them around)

MICHAEL
Can I go to the bathroom?

MRS. HERNANDEZ
Que?

MICHAEL
Puedo ir al bano?

MRS. HERNANDEZ
Si.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Michael is walking to the bathroom. He has something on his
mind. Something that isn't really making him feel fine.
Possibly jealousy, depression, hormones.

FADE TO BLACK

From black, we hear the sound of water hitting something.

INT. BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

It's Michael pissing. He is alone in the bathroom. Three
boys come in, one of them is Lucas. It may be important to
say that Michael is in a stall, not a urinal.

LUCAS
(to his friend)
Yo, did you see Kayla's nudes?

44.

LUCAS' FRIEND (O.S.)
No, are they nice?

Michael refuses to get out of the stall as this is being
said.

LUCAS (O.S.)
They're alright, I bet she's a
dyke, though.

LUCAS' FRIEND (O.S.)
Yeah, I know she is.

LUCAS
You know who's not a dyke though?
That sophomore, Sarah. You know
her?

LUCAS' FRIEND
What's her last name?

LUCAS
Not sure.

LUCAS (O.S.)
But she has a nice ass. She's
dating Sam, you know him. He's
friends with Johnny's brother.

LUCAS' FRIEND
(laughing)
You mean those kids we chased?

LUCAS
Ha, ha yeah.

They leave. Right after the door shuts there is silence.
Then Michael gets out.

He just looks at the door for a few short beats.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER

Michael is simply walking to his next location alone. We
hear kids chattering, laughter, scolds, and so on.

INT. CAFETERIA - MOMENTS LATER

He walks into the busy lunchroom. He spots his table.

45.

Tristan and Sarah only are sitting there.

TRISTAN
Sup Mike.

Michael grabs a seat.

MICHAEL
Wassup. Where's Sam?

TRISTAN
I don't know, he's not here.

SARAH
He hasn't been answering my calls
or texts. I'm kinda worried about
him, he rarely misses school.

Michael gets a concerned look on his face as he looks at
Sarah.

She gets up.

SARAH
I'm gonna go sit with my friends
over there.

TRISTAN
Oh, what we're not good enough for
you?

SARAH
(laughing)
No.

As she garbs her seat across the room, Michael stares at
her. Tristan is staring at him.

TRISTAN (O.S.)
Do you like her?

MICHAEL
No. That's Sam's girl.

TRISTAN
Mmm, you like her, I can tell.

MICHAEL
Nope.

TRISTAN (O.S.)
Yup.

46.

TRISTAN
Just the way you look at her and
Sam together.

MICHAEL
Tristan---

TRISTAN
I'm a dumb ass but I know people.
(beat)
I know you.

MICHAEL
I don't like her.

A TEACHER passes by to tell students to get their lunch. As
she gives the two the orders, they're staring at each other
in a similar fashion to when Michael looks at Sam with
jealousy.

TEACHER #3
You can go get your lunch.
(they get up)

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - NIGHT

It's Friday night. Michael is lying on his bed, looking at
the ceiling. He has his headphones in and is listening to
some Hip- Hop song.

DING DONG.

Michael takes his earbuds off and gets up.

LAUREN
(from downstairs)
Michael, your friends are here!

FRONT DOOR

Sam and Tristan are on the porch. Tristan is leaning his arm
on the door frame and Sam is standing still.

SAM
Sup, Mike.

TRISTAN
Yo.

MICHAEL
Hey.

47.

Beat.

TRISTAN
You comin'?

Michael gets his shoes on and heads for the door.

LAUREN
Bye, honey.

He shuts the door behind him without saying a word.

BY SAM'S CAR

The boys make their way to Sam's car. It's gray, musty
definitely a high schooler's car.

MICHAEL
(to Sam)
This your car?

SAM
(rubbing it)
Yeah.

MICHAEL
It's nice.

SAM
Yeah.

MICHAEL
Wait, you just got your permit,
right?

SAM
Yeah.

MICHAEL
So are you allowed to drive with
people in it?

SAM
No.
(the boys get in)

INT. SAM'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

In the front passenger seat is Sarah. In the back sits
Tristan and Michael. The car is moving now.

48.

MICHAEL
Uh, where are we going?

SAM
Oh, yeah. This girl invited us to
a party, she said we could bring a
friend.

MICHAEL
Oh.

TRISTAN
It should be good. Wait, who's the
girl again?

SAM
Umm...
(looks at Sarah)

SARAH
Kayla Miller.

TRISTAN
Don't know her, whatever.

Michael looks at Sarah through the mirror for a few beats.
She catches him and he awkwardly looks away.

EXT. KAYLA MILLER'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

ESTABLISHING SHOT.

The four are walking from the car to the porch.

INT. KAYLA MILLER'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

They don't knock, they walk right in. Sarah and KAYLA see
each other and hug, must be friends. The party is typical.
Beer, weed, vape, horny teenagers. Not the safest
environment. Michael gets a feel for the party.

All of them except Michael, move onward.

SAM
(waving to him)
Come on, Mike.

He follows them. This house definitely belongs to an upper
class family, Michael concludes.

49.

Michael spots Lucas. They make eye contact. Hold this shot.
Michael moves forward.

LIVINGROOM

The four go to a huddle of people. There are quite a number
of kids in the huddle. Some are vaping/smoking, others
drinking what is most likely not water, others are just
talking to one another.

SAM
Yo, what's up Alex?
(he handshakes ALEX)

ALEX
What's going on, Sammy? What's up,
Tristan?

They both say hi. Attention goes to Michael, who's standing
silent.

ALEX
Who's he?

SAM
This is Mike. He's a friend of
our's.

ALEX
(knods head)
Wassup, Mike.

MICHAEL
Sup.

After he says this, the topic moves on to something else
completely different. Music blasting, the smell of smoke and
beer is all too much for Michael. He is obviously not the
party type.

EXT. OUTSIDE OF KAYLA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The party is too much for him. He leans against the wall
outside and sighs. It is silent now. Hold the shot of the
pretty night sky.

INT. BACK IN THE LIVINGROOM - MOMENTS LATER

He walks back in and sees the group.

            TRISTAN
      (to Kayla)
Oh, this is Mike. Guess what? He's
single.
            (MORE)

50.

TRISTAN (cont'd)
(he puts his hands on Mike's
shoulders)

The loud music cuts.

LUCAS
Yo! Quiet down!
(beat)
I'd like to welcome everyone to
the house of the beautiful, the
magnificent, Ms. Kayla Miller.
(everyone claps)

Michael spots his brother by Lucas. He sees Mike and says
nothing.

LUCAS
We have a special person in the
house today. Let's welcome
Johnny's little brother, Mike.
(beat of silence)
Yeah, I bet not a lot of people
know him.

SAM
(sotto to Michael)
What the fuck is he doing?

LUCAS
So you can't help but ask, how the
hell he is in the party in the
first place.
(everyone laughs including John)
I mean, I'm not trying to be a
dick but it's like, what are you
doing here dude?

Through the laughter, Sam interrupts him.

SAM
Come on be cool. He's here because
Kayla said he could be.

Instead of Michael's own brother butting in, it's Sam.

LUCAS
(to the party)
Not to mention his boyfriend,
Sammy.

TRISTAN
Yo, enough!

51.

LUCAS
Oh! It's a threesome now?

Tristan walks over to Lucas, and punches him square in the
nose.

LUCAS
Ah! What the fuck!

A fight breaks out among Lucas and his five buddies, and our
three heroes. It's short and is ended by the turning on of
music.

SAM
Come on, we're going.

LUCAS
Awe, don't leave.

INT. SAM'S CAR- MOVING - MOMENTS LATER

The car is silent. No music, no talking.

SARAH
What the fuck, Sammy? Kayla's my
friend.

SAM
We didn't do anything to her, we
beat up that faggot. I wasn't
gonna let Mike take that shit.

SARAH
You're so impulsive.

SAM
Well, Tristan started it.

TRISTAN
I want out of this conversation.

SARAH
Whatever.
(beat)
Kayla said she really liked
Michael, too.

TRISTAN
(to Michael)
Don't worry, you ain't missing
much. I heard she gave a kid mono.

52.

SARAH
Shut up, Tristan.

TRISTAN
(sotto)
She did.

The car screeches to a stop at Michael's house. All except
Sarah say bye.

He walks into his dark house.

INT. MICHAEL'S BATHROOM - LATER

He's looking into the mirror. It's taking everything he has
not to punch the bathroom mirror to shattered bits.

He walks out. Hold the shot in the bathroom. Out of the
blue, a heavy object is flying through the air, and shatters
the mirror. On the throwing end, is Michael.

HIS ROOM

He's panting and pacing out of rage. His dad comes in the
shot.

JOE
The hell's going on?
(leaves to the bathroom)

JOE (O.S.)
Mike!

JOE
What the hell! You fuckin' destroy
my propery again. Get the fuck out
before your mother comes home!
(beat)
Now!

MICHAEL
Where to?

Joe grabs Michael's shirt and punches him in the face,
busting his lips and nose. Blood streams down his face.

JOE
I'm done with your rages! Leave!

JOE (O.S.)
It's all the fucking rap you
listen to!

53.

EXT. OUTSIDE MICHAEL'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

He leaves his house. Bloods on his face and all over his
shirt. He looks at the vacant, eerie road. He walks up it.

EXT. SAM'S PORCH - LATER

DING DONG.

Beat.

Sam answers the door. He looks at Michael, then at his
shirt.

MICHAEL
(crying)
Can I sleep over?

SAM
Yeah, man. Come in, my parents
aren't here.

INT. SAM'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Sarah is sitting on the living room couch which is next to
the front door.

SAM
So, uh, what's the problem? What's
with.... this.
(pointing to his face)

MICHAEL
My dad....

SAM
You're dad did this?

MICHAEL
He... can I just get something to
wash off my face, please.

SAM
Yeah, yeah. Sure

KITCHEN

Sam grabs disinfecting wipes and a towel. He hands it to
Michael.

54.

SAM
Here you go.

Sarah walks in. Sam wipes disinfecting pads on Michael's
face.

MICHAEL
Ow.

SAM
Sorry. I think it'd be better if
you did it yourself.
(handing him the wipes)

He wipes up the blood on his face.

SARAH
Do you want ice?

MICHAEL
Uh, sure.

Sam steps aside. She puts the ice to his face. Hold this
shot.

MICHAEL
Thanks.

SARAH
No problem.

She smiles at Michael. He begins to blush and continues to
put the ice to his face.

SAM
Mike, are you okay?

MICHAEL
Yeah.

SAM
You got a busted face and you're
okay? What the hell's wrong?

MICHAEL
I can't sleep at my house, so I
thought I'd come here. Sorry if
I'm interrupting.

SAM
Nah, man. You're good. You can
sleep on the couch, Sarah and I
will sleep in my room. That okay?

55.

MICHAEL
Yeah.

Sam's room is right next to the couch where Michael will
sleep. They exit the kitchen.

LIVING ROOM

Sarah and Sam leave to their room.

SAM
We'll be in here, Mike.
(closes door)

Silence. He is left to stare at the empty house. He hears
Sarah and Sam laughing and giggling. It's Sarah's laugh that
throws him off. He stops to hear it.

CUT TO:

Michael is lying down on the couch with his eyes wide open.
He hears Sam and Sarah talking. When Sarah giggles, he takes
the pillow to cover his ears.

The door to Sam's room opens. He has his shirt off.

SAM
Oh, sorry Mike.

He runs to the kitchen to get something. Michael doesn't
know what it is, he can only assume. Sam shuts the door
behind him.

CUT TO:

KITCHEN

Michael is getting water. After a few gulps, Sarah comes in.
She gives a little smile. He just looks at her.

SARAH
You need anything?

MICHAEL
No.

She grabs a glass of water too.

SARAH
Sorry about what happened at
Kayla's house.

56.

MICHAEL
It's okay, I'm used to it. That
guy's a jerk.

SARAH
Sam did stick up for you, though.

She gets no reply. Michael just continues to drink water.

Right before Michael is about to say something:

CUT TO:

SAM'S ROOM - MORNING

Michael opens the door to Sam's room. He is asleep there
alone, no Sarah.

INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - LATER

Michael is greeted by no one at his house. It seems empty.
His dad's car is missing.

HIS ROOM

As Michael is going on his bed, there's a knock at the door.
He opens it, and it's Lauren.

LAUREN
Hi, honey. I know what happened
last night. All of it. I'm not mad
about the glass. I'm mad at your
father, he shouldn't have told you
to leave.

MICHAEL
Where is he?

LAUREN
He is out to get breakfast for us.
He really is sorry, Mike.
(beat)
Were you in a fight?
(pointing to his face)

He has no idea what to say. His dad didn't tell her that he
punched their son.

MICHAEL
Yeah.

57.

LAUREN
With who? Where?

MICHAEL
At a party, it was with some jerk.

LAUREN
You were at a party, that's fun.

MICHAEL
Well, it wasn't.

LAUREN
That sucks. I gotta go to work
bye, sweetie.

She leaves. Michael is left baffled that his dad didn't fess
up to the punching of Michael.

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY

Sam, Mike, and Tristan are all sitting down. Sarah is not
there. Sam is crying uncontrollably, Tristan and Michael
have no idea what to do. They don't look sympathetic, just
uncomfortable.

SAM
She didn't tell me what I did. She
just said not to talk to her
anymore.

Beat of him crying.

SAM
I.... I loved her.

TRISTAN
I don't know how you can get this
hooked up on a girl. She's a girl.

Sam continues to cry face-down on the table.

TRISTAN
Sam, no offense you look like a
pussy.

He wipes his eyes. He is just staring down at the table,
addressing no one.

MICHAEL
When did Sarah break up with you?

58.

SAM
The morning after the party.

Tristan laughs.

SAM
Tristan, shut the fuck up!

TRISTAN
Sorry.
(silent laughter)
Come on, Mike I know you think
it's funny.

SAM
I mean I truly loved her. I never
felt that way about someone who
wasn't a family member.

Realizing what he said:

SAM
I mean, I don't love my family
like I do a girlfriend. She's the
only non-related person I've ever
loved.

TRISTAN
Love? Really, Sam?

SAM
Yes.

TRISTAN (O.S.)
You'll get over it.

SAM
Nah. Not over her.

Sarah walks over to throw her trash away, unfortunately
passing our trio.

The three boys stares as she does this, saying nothing.

Sam slams his hands on the table and gets up.

He leaves the lunchroom, slamming the door behind him.

TRISTAN
(softly)
Now that Sarah's free, you think I
should smash her?

59.

Michael looks at him with wide eyes.

TRISTAN
(laughing)
None of you can take a joke.

INT. MICHAEL'S BASEMENT - NIGHT

The three friends are sitting on the couch in Mike's
basement.

Sam is not even paying attention to the movie and is staring
blankly. No expression, he is most likely thinking of his
girlfriend, or ex rather. No one is enjoying themselves.

TRISTAN
This movie's shit.

Michael yawns, and turns off the television.

Sam gets up and looks out the back door.

SAM
She's a fucking bitch!

TRISTAN
Yo, calm down about that.

SAM
(pacing)
Everyday I do everything for her.
I never lie, cheat, talk behind
her back. SHE FUCKING DUMPED ME!

TRISTAN
Sam.
(beat)
Sammy, I know how you feel. We
should do something or go
somewhere to get your mind off
things.

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - LATER

The boys are walking in a candy aisle. They are chuckling.
The clerks get suspicious and keep an eye on them.

They see Lucas and they say nothing to him. He doesn't
acknowledge them, either. Until, he comes back to that candy
aisle.

60.

LUCAS
I could kill you motherfuckers if
I wanted to. I will.

TRISTAN
Like hell you will. Get the fuck
out of our way.

LUCAS
(as he leaves)
Faggot.

In the background, we see Lucas talking to the cashier. We
cannot hear what they are saying, he just points to our
three boys. The boys don't notice.

CASHIER
(walking to them)
Hey boys, I need you to step
outside with me.

SAM
Why?

CASHIER
Do what I say. As far as I'm
concerned, you guys are guilty
until proven innocent. Follow me
outside. Now.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE CONVENIENCE STORE - MOMENTS LATER

Tristan is being frisked.

CASHIER
(to Sam)
Next.

He finds nothing.

CASHIER
(to Michael)
Okay.

He checks every pocket. Including his hood.

CASHIER
Fucking kid. Sorry guys, you did
nothing wrong. Some kid said you
stole something you guys can go.

SAM
Yeah, that kid's a dick.

61.

CASHIER
You guys can go, sorry again.

TRISTAN
Thanks.

EXT. ROAD - MOMENTS LATER

They're walking along the side of the road, no sidewalk.

TRISTAN
Lucas is a fucking dick.

MICHAEL
"I could kill you motherfuckers"
What a tool.

SAM
Lotta assholes in this world
that'll do stuff like that.

MICHAEL
I'll see you guys later.

They say goodbye and Mike exits the shot.

EXT. ROAD - LATER

Mike is walking, alone.

He is approaching his house.

INT. MIKE'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Michael comes in through the door. His brother is getting
water out of the fridge. There is an awkward silence when he
comes in.

JOHN
Where were you?

MICHAEL
With my friends.

JOHN
I said where.

MICHAEL
At the store, around the corner.
Does it matter?

62.

JOHN
Mom is looking for you. She kept
asking me where the hell you were.
What'd you do?

MICHAEL
I have no idea.

A car can be heard in the background in the driveway.

SLAM.

Joe is walking to the front house. He's practically running.

JOE
(opening the door)
Where the fuck were you?

MICHAEL
The corner store. Christ.

JOE
(closely to Mike)
What'd you tell your mother?
What'd you tell her?!

MICHAEL
Nothing.

JOE
What the hell's wrong with her,
then?

MICHAEL
I--- Where is she?

JOE
Johnny go, will ya?
(to Mike)
I know I shouldn't have hit you.
But you realize that if you tell
your mom, she'll flip the hell
out. It'll be too hard on her.
Just don't tell her, drop it. It'd
be best for her.

MICHAEL
I didn't---

Joe grabs his son's shirt.

63.

JOE
Mike...Do you want to see me every
other weekend? Don't fuckin' tell
her.

JOE
Let me see it anyway, how bad is
it?

He grabs Michael's face and inspects his nose and lip. You
can still see it.

JOE
You can barely see it.

He walks away. Michael stares at him as he walks.

INT. MIKE'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

He's sitting on his bed.

He gets up and clenches his fists in rage.

He runs out of his room to go to...

INT. JOE'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Michael storms downstairs to his brother's room. He slams
the door open.

MICHAEL
(yelling)
What the fuck is wrong with your
fiend?

JOE
(from his bed)
What? Get out!

MICHAEL
Lucas? Who the hell is he?

JOHN
He's on my team.

MICHAEL
Tell him to fuck off!

JOHN
What! What is wrong with you?

64.

Michael is about to leave but stops in his tracks when he
hears this. He jumps onto John's bed where he is lying and
punches him square in the jaw. They get up and John pushes
Michael.

We hear someone coming down the stairs.

JOE (O.S.)
Stop! Motherfu---

Joe steps in and throws the boys to the ground.

The boys are panting and sitting on the ground. Mike gets up
and runs outside.

EXT. SIDEWALK - MOMENTS LATER

Mike is panting, with a lip that was busted open again. He
is walking, no shoes on. He then proceeds to sprint. He has
no idea where to, just to burn off steam.

He stops and kneels on the ground. He rests his head on his
knee. He lets out a scream enough to scare every bird within
that square mile off.

Off Michael resting his head on the ground.

INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY

Michael is sitting alone in his usual table. Tristan and Sam
walk in together and grab a seat.

TRISTAN
Sup, Mike.

MICHAEL
Wassup, man.

Sam takes out his lunch bag and begins eating.

Lucas is seen walking in the lunchroom, looking for
something.

Focus on him.

He spots the boys and approaches them.

LUCAS
You faggots think you can say and
do whatever you want. That's not
how it fucking works.

65.

MICHAEL
Fuck off.

LUCAS
What the fuck did you say?! Say it
louder!

MICHAEL
Fuck off.

LUCAS
FUCK YOU!

This scream quiets the entire lunchroom which was previously
filled with chatter.

TEACHER #3
Gentleman, we good?

No one answers. Lucas and Mike hold eye contact, both
furiously looking into one another's eyes.

A JANITOR approaches the table and begins to shove Lucas out
of the cafeteria.

LUCAS
(pushing Janitor)
Fuck off!
(holding eye contact with Michael)

The janitor shoves Lucas towards the door. The room is
focused on him. Other TEACHERS help out. Lucas is gone.

The chatter resumes.

TRISTAN
The hell---

MICHAEL
Don't think abut it.

SAM
Asshole.

There's an awkward silence. Sam just eats his sandwich.

INT. MICHAEL'S LOCKER - LATER

As Michael approaches his locker, he sees BOYS rummage
through it. It's open. He stops. They're either searching
for something or putting something in his book bag.

66.

They spot him.

MICHAEL
Shit!

He turns around and sprints full force the opposite
direction. The boys chase after him. Mike exits the
building.

EXT. BY JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL - CONTINUOUS

Michael runs through the streets, going in front of honking
cars. Then, he runs through woods by his school.

They catch up to him and tackle him to the ground.

            BOY #1
      (puts hands to
       Mike's throat)
I could kill you right now.

MICHAEL
Help!

Beat of Michael struggling as the other boys hold him down.

He breaks free and kicks the boy. He grabs his head and
throws it like a baseball. The boys chase after him.

INT. JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL - MOMENTS LATER

He makes it to the school, not taking his chances, he
continues to jog away from that door.

He stops.

He is panting and has some tears run down his face. There
are no people around. No one knows what just happened.

INT. LUNCHROOM - CONTINUOUS

As he walks in, he looks around. No one notices him. Nobody
knows what just happened.

EXT. MICHAEL'S DRIVEWAY - LATER

He is back from school. He sees his dad who is loading his
car with boxes full of his belongings. Looks like he's
moving.

67.

Joe sees Michael and just grimaces at him.

INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

His mom is in the kitchen when he walks in. She's leaning on
a table with her head down.

MICHAEL
Mom?

LAUREN
What?

MICHAEL
Is dad leaving?

LAUREN
Yeah. For a while, at least.

Hold Mike staring at his mom. She doesn't even look at him.
She just stares at the floor.

DING DONG.

Mike looks at his mom for a beat, and turns to answer the
door.

It's Tristan.

TRISTAN
Yo. Wanna come with me to get Sam?
We can do something.

INT. SAM'S ROOM - LATER

Sam is sitting on his floor, balling his eyes out. There is
a knock on his front door.

He quickly wipes his eyes.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM'S DOORSTEP - SECONDS LATER

SAM
Yeah?

TRISTAN
Hey, wanna do something? You got a
car, let's go somewhere.

68.

INT. SAM'S CAR - MOVING - MOMENTS LATER

There is a pan of the scenery around them. Shops,
restaurants, bus stops.

A ROMANTIC SONG plays on the car radio. It's a song everyone
has heard of.

Tristan begins to hum along, then gradually starts to sing.

He gets louder with his voice and puts his hands on Sam and
Mike's shoulders who are sitting up front. They are
expressionless.

SAM
Shut the fuck up!

TRISTAN
(softly)
Damn.

Beat.

Michael starts to sing along. Sam just side eyes him, Mike
stares back.

Sam laughs, as does Tristan.

Beat.

TRISTAN
Sam.... you over Sarah?

SAM
You kidding? Every time I walk
past her in school she looks at me
like she's never seen me before in
her life. She doesn't even notice
me. It sucks when you watch the
girl you like flirt with other
guys, laugh at their jokes. They
treat you like nothing, you don't
exist.

The same song is still playing.

TRISTAN
Alright this is getting gay now
with this music.

He reaches for the radio and turns it off.

69.

Sam is just driving, it is silent. Tristan is looking out
the window, Michael is looking at Sam.

Sam notices, but doesn't look back.

SAM
Where we going?

MICHAEL
Sarah's house.

The boys look at him in awe.

MICHAEL
We should--- you should sort
things out with her.

Sam shakes his head, contemplating what Mike just said.

He stops the car abruptly and turns around to Sarah's house.

EXT. SARAH'S PORCH - EVENING - LATER

The boys approach her house. They pause at the door. Sam
reaches for the doorbell, but stops. He looks down and takes
a deep breath in.

DING DONG.

Beat.

She answers and looks disturbed when she sees who's at her
doorstep.

SAM
Hey
(beat)
Hey
(gulps)
We, uh, I wanted to come over here
to see how you're doing.

SARAH
Why are they here?
(to Mike)
Why are you here?

Sam turns around to look at Mike. He says nothing.

SAM
It's Friday, I thought you'd want
to do something.

70.

SARAH
Friday night with a jerk doesn't
sound appealing to me.

SAM
Why---
(groans)
How am I a jerk? I've done nothing
wrong.

SARAH
(to Tristan)
You're awfully quiet, is he making
you come here?

TRISTAN
(shakes head)
Mm-mm.

SARAH
(sighs)
So you wanna hang out?
(Sam nods)
I'll get my shoes.

She shuts the door on Sam's face.

INT. SAM'S CAR - MOVING - MOMENTS LATER

Tristan and Sam are in the front seat and Sarah is in the
back with Michael. Sam seems apprehensive. He has both hands
on the wheel.

SAM
Where do you guys wanna go?

TRISTAN
Let's go there.
(points to a restaurant)

INT. UNNAMED RESTAURANT - MOMENTS LATER

They enter in. A HOSTESS greets them.

HOSTESS
How many?

SAM
Four.

CUT TO:

71.

TABLE - LATER

They are eating in silence.

SAM
(clears throat)
Tristan, Mike, can you guys excuse
us for a minute.
(beat)
As in leave.

They leave.

SAM
Sarah, I've tried everything. Tell
me what I did and I'll make it up.
I need to know what I did.

SARAH
I guess it's not what you did,
it's what was said you did.
(beat)

FLASH CUT TO:

INT. SAM'S HOUSE - FLASHBACK SEQUENCE - NIGHT

Mike is about to tell Sarah something. We come back right
before he's about to do so. His busted lip and nose is much
more prominent now, as this is a flashback from when Mike
slept over at Sam's house.

Mike is not looking at Sarah.

SARAH
Sorry about what happened at
Kayla's house.

MICHAEL
It's okay, I'm used to it. That
guy's a jerk.

SARAH
Sam did stick up for you, though.

Michael looks at her, this grabs his attention.

MICHAEL
Yeah, he--- he isn't much better.

SARAH
How?

72.

MICHAEL
He just says stuff.

CUT TO:

INT. UNNAMED RESTAURANT - NIGHT

SAM
What? What stuff do I say?

INT. SAM'S HOUSE - FLASHBACK SEQUENCE - NIGHT

MICHAEL
He says, this is kinda awkward---
how you give him head all the
time. He sorta brags about you
like your his--trophy. He was the
one who beat up Tristan.

SARAH
He's such a fucking liar. I had no
idea he was like that.

CUT TO:

INT. UNNAMED RESTAURANT - NIGHT

SAM
That never happened. Those words
never came from my mouth. And why
would I fight a friend?

SARAH
That's what I thought. I was done
with you after that. So I just
left.

INT. RESTAURANT BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Tristan is pissing, Mike is standing, waiting to leave to
the table.

TRISTAN
(flushes)
Alright, this is taking way to
fucking long let's go.

73.

INT. TABLE - CONTINUOUS

As Tristan and Mike enter, Sam looks from his table to them
with a retributive grimace. He walks towards them.

MICHAEL
Sup, Sam.

Sam pushes Mike to the floor.

Michael recovers from this and has a questioning look on his
face that is wondering why Sam did this.

MICHAEL
Sam, what the f---

Sam pushes Mike and starts kicking him.

The entire restaurant is in shock. They are staring at them.

SAM
I liked you, what did I ever do to
you?

MICHAEL
W--what?

SAM
At first, I was just nice to you
because I felt bad for you. Then I
actually liked you.

Michael takes a beat to look at Sam.

MICHAEL
What? What's going on?

SAM
You know what you told Sarah! How
that ruined me!

MICHAEL
I don't know. I---I'm sorry.

He gets up.

Sam grabs his shirt and prepares for a punch but Sarah steps
in.

SARAH
Stop! Stop! Sam let's just leave.
He's and asshole, let's not make
this worse.

74.

MICHAEL
Asshole?

He pushes Sarah off of him, knocking her to the ground.

Everyone gasps and is staring at him.

HOSTESS
(to Mike)
Leave, sir.
(and)
Leave!

He runs out of the restaurant...

EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS

He is full on sprinting.

He runs to another late night diner.

INT. DINER - CONTINUOUS

He is panting a takes a seat at a booth. He puts his head on
the table, still panting.

A WAITRESS comes to take his order.

WAITRESS
Um, sir. What do you want?

MICHAEL
I
(pant)
don't
(pant)
know.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - LATER

He is resting his head on his knees on the floor and
sobbing.

He leaves his room...

LAUREN'S ROOM

He creeps open the door to see his mom. She is doing the
same as him.

75.

Crying.

He closes the door.

INT. MICHAEL'S LOCKER - DAY

He is getting books out of the locker. He sees Sam walk by.
Sam looks at him with anger and resent. He walks out of the
screen.

INT. CAFETERIA - LATER

When Michael enters, he looks at his normal table. No one is
there.

He sits down.

Sam, Tristan, and Sarah are all sitting at another table,
with other kids.

MICHAEL (V.O.)
And it's all my fault, too.

INT. DR. PATRICE'S OFFICE - DAY

MICHAEL
It's my fault!

MICHAEL
(softly)
It's my fucking fault.

DR. PATRICE
What was running through your
mind? Why did you do it?

Mike doesn't know what to say.

MICHAEL
When I first met Sam, I hated him.
I was jealous. I--I liked his
girlfriend. Love makes you do
stupid things.

DR. PATRICE
Love or jealousy?

MICHAEL
Both, I guess. When she walked in
the kitchen, I just couldn't take
it. I mean, what was so good about
(MORE)

76.

MICHAEL (cont'd)
him and so shitty about me? Why
does she....

DR. PATRICE
Go on.

Beat.

MICHAEL
Love makes you do stupid things.
That's why I hate it. I hate love.

DR. PATRICE
That's odd.

MICHAEL
Love cost me two best friends,
so... in my case it isn't odd.

Another beat.

DR. PATRICE
How are you and you're dad doing?

MICHAEL
My mom and him got a divorce. I
haven't seen him since.

DR. PATRICE
Are you okay with that?

ECU ON MIKE'S FACE.

CUT TO:

INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - LATER

Michael enters the house and goes to...

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Lauren is seen, in straggly clothes obviously depressed and
in destitution.

MICHAEL
Why aren't you at work?

LAUREN
(sniffles)
I took the day off.

77.

MICHAEL
Oh.

INT. MIKE'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

He takes his backpack off and grabs a seat on his bed. He is
looking down, contemplating his actions and how he caused
the ending of his friendship.

His mom's crying can be heard in the background. It is faint
at first but gradually gets louder. This crushes him even
more. He begins to pound his fist on his leg, preventing
himself from crying.

He can't take it anymore.

He gets up and goes to...

INT. HALL BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

He takes a beat to look at himself in the mirror, and opens
the cabinets. He grabs every pill bottle in there and chugs
it.

Tears are flowing down his face as he does this.

After three pill bottles, he goes back to...

INT. HIS ROOM - CONTINUOUS

He sits on his bed. He is crying. His mother's cry and his
can be heard at the same time. He seems to be remorseful
about his decision.

MICHAEL
Mom.
(and)
Mom!

He exits.

INT. HOSPITAL - LATER

Michael, John, and Lauren are rushing to the E.R.

LAUREN
Help! Help!

DOCTORS rush to Michael.

78.

LAUREN
(crying)
I called you, my... my son--

NURSE
It's okay, we got it.

The doctors pull on Mike's arm, trying to rush him to the
hospital room.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Michael is lying on the hospital bed.

The doctors insert a stomach pump into his mouth. He is
struggling and flailing.

DOCTOR
Hold him down!

A NURSE follows the orders.

ECU ON MIKE'S TEAR ON HIS FACE.

He is in utter pain. Not only because of the gastric
pumping, but because of what he is putting his mom through.

We can see stomach acids, digested food, and the pills being
sucked from his stomach all while Michael is awake.

DOCTOR
You're doing great...
(to nurse)
What's his name?

NURSE #2
Mike.

DOCTOR
Mike. Hold still, Mike.

He is gagging.

FLASH TO:

INT. SAM'S CAR - FLASHBACK SEQUENCE - NIGHT

A quick flash of the trio laughing in Sam's car.

79.

FLASH TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - EVENING

He is gagging.

FLASH TO:

INT. CAFETERIA - FLASHBACK SEQUENCE - DAY

Sarah is laughing.

FLASH TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - EVENING

Michael is crying, too now as he is thinking about all the
people who effect his life.

FLASH TO:

INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - FLASHBACK SEQUENCE - NIGHT

Michael's parents, are arguing with Michael. Lauren holds
back Joe from smothering Mike.

CUT TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING

Michael is by himself, lying down with a HOSPITAL GOWN on.
He has an I.V. connected to him to get the proper fluids
back in his body.

He turns to his side to see Sarah.

She grabs his hand.

SARAH
(softly)
We're all here.

THE CAMERA PANS over to everyone: Sam, Tristan, Lauren, Joe,
and John. They all wave.

Sarah along with the rest disappear.

He was imaging it.

80.

He turns over to his other side and curls up into a ball.

His mom enters.

LAUREN
Hi, sweetie. How are you doing?
The doctor said you'll be able to
go home today.

MICHAEL
Hi, mom.

She puts her hand on his.

            LAUREN
      (tears flow down
       her face)
Mikey, I'm so sorry. Is... is it
because of the divorce?

He shakes his head.

MICHAEL
Where's dad?

LAUREN
Business trip. He says he wishes
the best for you.

Michael looks down, Lauren can sense something is seriously
wrong with him.

LAUREN
Why did you do it?

MICHAEL
I couldn't take it anymore.
Everyday I watched people talk
with their friends, talk about
parties, talk about girlfriends,
talk about anything. I did none of
that. I just sat there and
listened. And when I finally got a
chance to...
(shakes head and scoffs)

LAUREN
Everyone goes through that at your
age.

MICHAEL
(pointing to I.V.)
Through this?

81.

She doesn't respond to him.

LAUREN
I love you, Mike.

He waits for her to nearly leave to say..

MICHAEL
Love you. Thanks, mom.

She gives him a confused look.

MICHAEL
I've never said I love you. You
always have, thanks.

LAUREN
Be back soon, sweetie.
(she leaves)

EXT. HOSPITAL PARKING LOT - LATER

John, Lauren, and Michael are packing things in their car.
John approaches Mike.

            JOHN
      (puts hand on
       shoulder)
You alright, Mike?

MICHAEL
Yeah.
(smiles)
Why wouldn't I be?

FADE TO BLACK

FADE BACK IN:

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Michael is a bus boy at this restaurant. He's wearing the
EMPLOYEE UNIFORM.

TITLE:

A FEW MONTHS LATER.

He exits the shot and goes to the kitchen.

Sam, Sarah, and Tristan enter. As they do, they're laughing.

82.

Michael walks into the shot. His eyes and Sam's (who's
sitting down now) meet. Sam stops his conversation, Mike
stops cleaning.

Beat.

A tap on Mike's shoulder stops this.

MANAGER
Once your done cleaning these
tables, clean the staff's room,
okay?

Mike nods his head and looks back over at Sam. He's not
looking, he's talking among his group.

DISSOLVE TO:

Mike is cleaning the front counters, it's nearly empty now.
Except for Sam, Tristan, and Sarah.

They soon get up to leave, too.

When they leave, Mike goes right over to their table to
clean up.

He finds the receipt. It says:

SEE ME OUTSIDE!

The exclamation mark is dotted with a heart, obviously a
girl wrote this.

EXT. PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER

Mike sees no one in the parking lot, so he goes...

EXT. BACK OF THE RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS

He sees Sam standing there. Surprised, he just stares at
him.

SAM
Mike.
(and)
Wh---How you doing?

MICHAEL
Good. And you?

83.

SAM
Good.

MICHAEL
You wrote that note?

SAM
Yeah.

MICHAEL
Your hand writing's a little
feminine, don't you think?

SAM
Oh, ha. I wanted you to think I
was Sarah, else I thought you
wouldn't have come out here.

MICHAEL
Nah, I would've come out here
anyways. How's Sarah doing, I'm
really sorry I pushed her.

SAM
Mike, how the fuck are YOU? I mean
you almost died. We're all
terrified for you.

MICHAEL
Is she really mad at me?

Beat.

SAM
No. No she's okay.

MICHAEL
You okay?

SAM
I was. But you--- when I heard you
were in the hospital, I thought it
was because of me. Was it?

Mike doesn't answer, he continues to look at Sam.

            SAM
      (looking off
       screen)
We want to hang out with you
again, all three of us.

84.

The two aren't facing each other, Sam is looking at the
woods and Mike is facing opposite of him, turning his head
to Sam.

SAM
For the first time ever, Tristan
was serious. He didn't crack one
joke, he almost cried, actually.

MICHAEL
(swallows)
I'm sorry.

SAM
(scoffs)
Mike, you don't gotta be sorry.
You did this to yourself, be sorry
to you.

MICHAEL
I don't wanna feel sorry for
myself.

SAM
(facing Mike now)
Well something's gotta change.
What is it, Mike?

When he says this, Mike's eyes water up. He cannot look at
Sam.

SAM
We wanna hang out with you again,
we do.

MICHAEL
Sam, I-I... I'm moving, tomorrow
actually.

SAM
Where to?

MICHAEL
El Paso, uh, in Texas.

SAM
Glad your just telling me now.
(laughs)

He takes a beat to look at Mike critically.

85.

            SAM
      (pats him on the
       shoulder)
We'll keep in touch.

Sam leaves. Mike turns to watch him walk away.

SAM
We'll keep in touch!

MICHAEL
Yeah! I'll see you!

CLOSE UP ON SAM. He has tears running down his face.

SAM
(sniffs)
You bet!
(softly)
You bet.

Off Sam walking away.

INT. MIKE'S ROOM - LATER

Mike jumps on his bed, not bothering to change from his
uniform. He closes his eyes.

INT. PARTY - DREAM SEQUENCE - NIGHT

This is the same dream from when Sarah pushes Mike out of
the window. Their eyes meet. Sarah now approaches Mike.

Instead of pushing him, she leans in and is about to fulfill
Michael's dream.

She leans in to kiss, but before their lips touch...

FADE OUT.

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