For those who don’t know, I’ve written a small handful of scripts over the years. There was “No Boundaries” (co-written by my good friend Preston Gondolf when we were 15), a high school comedy about two friends who have their falling out mid-talent show. This one never got filmed.

Then there was “Movie: the Movie,” which wasn’t a script so much as a rough outline that myself and a group of friend improvised our ways through.

After that was “Friends Without Benefits,” an anti-romantic comedy about a group of incels who (rightfully) don’t get the girl at the end of their journey of absolutely no personal growth.

From there, there were a few that I wrote that didn’t get made, like “Average Joe,” the tale of a man without superpowers living in a world of powers who decides to be a hero. I really liked that one. There was also “Never Mind the Plot Holes,” an incredibly meta story of a group of filmmakers taken out by their own creations.

Finally, I got back into actually making movies when I wrote and directed “Bark Moon Dogs,” a super dark comedy about a group of friends who are all paranoid that a super dumb video they made years ago would come back to haunt them, so they all turn on and eventually kill one another.

Then in late 2019 I began writing another movie. Unlike all the others, this one would be taken a smidge more seriously. It was still going to be a comedy, but I’d tackle more complicated emotions and a more dramatic subject matter: the death of a friend. I finished it earlier this year and was ready to get to work on filming it… but then a pandemic hit. I’ve sat on this script for two years now, and I’ve shared it with some friends already, but now I want to share it with everyone. I really hoped I would get to make this, and with each passing month, I feel like I’m not going to…. so I may as well share this with you all. So, without further adieu, here’s “Lost in Yesterday,” or at least the current draft, as I’m always updating it.

Lost in Yesterday
(Draft #4)
Written By
Tyler Boydston

Logo and credits play over a black background as music plays. We then cut to: SAM, a tall man with bedhead and an indie aesthetic, then to PETE, a short, squat man with a constant 5 o’clock shadow and a dad look complete with khaki shorts and polo, then to JASON, a thin bearded man barely holding it together at least seven beers in. All three are popping off the tops of beer bottles. And then, finally, we pan to AJ, a clean-cut, well put-together man who is somehow friends with all of them, twisting off the cap of a water bottle. The title appears on screen as we finally see all four of them in the same shot… all at a bar together. SAM lifts up his drink for a toast.

SAM
To friends… and getting them all in the same room.

The other three all lift up their drinks and speak in unison.

SAM AJ PETE JASON
To friends!

JASON sloppily pushes himself away from the bar, beer bottle still in hand.

JASON
You guys know where the pisser is?

AJ doesn’t, but looks around. SAM points to the opposite side of the building and JASON begins to stumble away. SAM and PETE eyeball AJ, neither up to the task of babysitting their friend.

PETE
I already have to look after a kid all the time at home… I’d rather not have to do it here, too.
AJ’s glance then turns to SAM.

AJ
And Sam, do you have an excuse?

SAM
Yeah… I just flat out don’t want to.

AJ
I’m already DD for you guys.

PETE
If I absolutely must I can-

JASON wanders back into frame.

JASON
AJ can you help me get my zipper undone?

SAM
Seems like he has a favorite.

AJ reluctantly gets up and walks off with JASON, leaving PETE and SAM alone at the bar.

PETE
I’ve got to get home after this.

SAM nods.

SAM
Same here. Glad AJ was able to make it up today. Plus we got Jason out from whatever rock he’s been under the past few weeks.

PETE nods.

PETE
What’s been up with him, anyway?

SAM
It’s always something.

SAM notices something off screen.

SAM
Oh shit.

PETE starts to look in the direction that SAM is to try to figure out what he’s looking at.

PETE
I must be missing something.

SAM points off in the distance. We then see what he sees, a beautiful woman in her late 20s wearing a nice dress on what is probably the first true night on the town she’s had in a while. She’s sitting at a table with another woman. She’s smiling but it’s obviously fake. Her name: CAROLINE. We then return to PETE and SAM, where PETE gets up and begins to walk to the other side of the bar, SAM following behind him.

PETE
Caroline!

CAROLINE looks up, and looks truly happy to see the two. She gets out of her seat and then hugs PETE, and then SAM as he walks up.

CAROLINE
What are the two of you doing here?

SAM
Well… we, like you, and I feel like half of our graduating class, all decided to move up to this city in particular when we got out of high school, and out of that half… about half of us have stayed here since.

CAROLINE glares.

PETE
She’s talking about this bar.

SAM
I know what she means, Pete.

PETE
To answer your question: we’re just out here with the guys.

SAM
Which brings up a good point. Jason’s here.

CAROLINE
Oh. Well, he should be fine. We haven’t seen each other in months. Plus, we ended things on good terms.

SAM
You know how he is when he gets drunk, though.

CAROLINE
How many beers has he had?

PETE
We think it’s just seven.

CAROLINE
So I still have time to get out of here is what you’re saying?

SAM
Just barely.

CAROLINE
Alright. I’ll just pay my tab and get going. It was good seeing you two, though. We should try to catch up some time when Jason’s not getting drunk.

PETE
When is he not?

CAROLINE
Fair. Just hit me up when he’s not around, I suppose.

CAROLINE waves to the two, looks at her friend, who also gets up, and they walk off. SAM eyeballs the table and then sits down at it. PETE follows suit.

SAM
I am glad Jason came out today… even if that meant we had to scare Caroline off.

PETE
Me too. It feels like we all see each other less and less these days.

SAM
True. But at least the four of us are still tight. I wonder what the rest of the guys from the old crew are doing these days…. It’d be nice to get the whole, whole gang back together.

PETE
I’d be down. Only problem is everyone else lives so far away these days. Only reason we see AJ is because he’s an hour away… and willing to make the drive.

SAM sighs.

SAM
So how are Jane and Penny? I didn’t really get a chance to talk to them when we were at your place earlier.

PETE
They’re good. Penny’s getting into anything and everything she can get her hands on. And I feel like she’s learning so much now. I really have to watch my mouth around her.

SAM
You’ll have to tell them I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk…. OH! I forgot to give you something.
SAM digs into his pockets and pulls out a small, three-inch tall children’s book and hands it to PETE.

SAM
I got this for Penny. I thought she might like it.

PETE puts his hand on SAM’s shoulder….

PETE
Thanks, man. She’ll love it.

SAM, looking uncomfortable, pushes PETE’S hand off.

SAM
You’re getting too touchy again.

PETE waves off the suggestion.

PETE
Pfffffffft. We’ve been friends since we were five. A hand on a shoulder isn’t too touchy after 23 years.

SAM
It’s still too touchy.

SAM cracks a smile.

PETE
You’re an asshole.

SAM
I’m your asshole.

PETE stares at him, a slightly uneasy look on his face.

PETE
I think it might be loud enough in here that hopefully no one just heard that.

SAM
Ok. That didn’t come out all that great. Anyways… How long do you think it’s going to take him to get out of there? It’s getting late. I need to get some sleep tonight, because I have a date tomorrow.

PETE
A date?

SAM
Yeah. A date.

PETE (seemingly more interested than the first time)
A date, you say? Tell me more.

SAM chuckles and writes off PETE’s question with a wave of the hand.
Fade to black. Movie title appears on screen.
Fade into a grocery store parking lot. It’s early evening. AJ is taking a shopping cart to his car and opening the trunk when he hears someone say his name.

ALICE (V.O.)
AJ? How are you doing?

He whips around to see ALICE DEAKINS, a former classmate of his, purse around her shoulder, on her way into the store. She flashes her usual toothy smile. Like AJ, she still lives in their hometown. They run into each other every once in a while, and he’s annoyed every time. ALICE means well, but can come off as a little annoying.

AJ (through a fake smile)
Hey Alice. How are you doing?

ALICE
I’m great. Haven’t seen you in… how long has it been?

AJ
Been a few months, probably.

ALICE
That long, huh?

AJ (annoyed)
Yeah.

ALICE
Are you still working at the paper?

AJ
Yeah. Still there.

ALICE
How long have you been there, now?

AJ
Been about four years.

ALICE
You still writing?

AJ (sarcastically)
Yup. That is what I do at my job. What about you?

ALICE (defensive)
What about me?

AJ
What are… you doing these days?

ALICE
Oh, I’m a stay at home mom.

AJ
Good for you.

AJ puts the last of his groceries into his trunk and closes it.

AJ
I’ve got to get going. You take care.

ALICE
It was good seeing you! Am I going to see you next weeke-

AJ’s car door slams closed and he starts the car.

Int. newspaper office. AJ grabs paper off of a printer and walks across the room to sit down at his desk, which is littered with paper. He sits across from ALLAN, a man roughly the same age as him who seems at least a couple of years behind him in terms of responsibility.

ALLAN
Dude, this week has been killer.

AJ
That it has.

ALLAN
It’s almost like, you know, we’ve gone through four whole days of work so far this week.

AJ
Yeah…. That’s because we have.

ALLAN
I mean it, man. It’s almost like we worked a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and now Thursday.

AJ
That’s… because…. wait, are you messing with me right now?

ALLAN
I don’t know what you’re talking about.

AJ
That makes two of us.

ALLAN
So are you going up for the news editor position?

AJ looks around the room as if to find who ALLAN is talking to, points to himself and mouths “Me?”

AJ
Am I going for the position? No. No way in hell.

ALLAN
Why not? You’ve been here longer than me and the other writers.

AJ
Just because I’ve been here a while doesn’t mean I want to do it.

ALLAN
I’m just sayin’… you could do it.

AJ
I don’t want to, though. That’s responsibility I’m not ready for.

A woman about 10 years older than AJ, AVA JAMESON, walks into the room. She looks like she could easily be related to PETE (because they’re siblings), but unlike her brother, she’s well put-together.

AVA
AJ, can I talk to you in my office for a moment?

AJ (nervously)
Sure, Ava.

Int. AVA’s office. It’s the size of a child’s bedroom, with a couple of framed degrees on the wall as well as photos of family members on a shelf nearby. On her desk sits a family portrait of her, her parents and her younger brother, PETE. AJ sits in a small chair across from her.

AJ
Is this about the new editor position? Because I’m not that interested.

AVA
No. It’s… I wish it was about that. And what do you mean you’re not interested? Anyway, I saw something come across my email a minute ago. I didn’t know if you saw it and I wanted to be the one to tell you so you didn’t come across it the same way I did.

AJ
What is it?

AVA
We got an email from highway patrol… one of their crash reports. It’s… Sam’s dead.
AVA continues talking, but we now see her from AJ’s perspective, and all the sound gets muffled as she continues, saying:

AVA
I know you were close to him. I just wanted you to hear it from me.

We then see AJ, his attention turning to the ground, and then back up to AVA, nearly in tears.

AJ
You’re… you’re lying.

AVA
I wish I was. I haven’t told Pete yet. I thought maybe-

AJ
Sam’s not dead.

AVA
I’m so sorry, AJ.

AJ’s eyes dart around the room. He’s trying to get his mind on anything other than this. But after a moment he realizes he has to confront the situation head-on.

AJ
I’ll tell him.

Fade into the inside of PETE’s home. He’s in his daughter’s room. There are stuffed toys scattered everywhere. PETE’s holding his daughter PENNY, now nearly two years old, as he grabs a handful of diapers and stuffs them in her diaper bag. His wife JANE can be heard in the background.

JANE (V.O.)
Don’t forget to put a change of clothes in there!

JANE then walks into the room and grabs an outfit out of a dresser drawer and carefully places it into the diaper bag.

PETE
I could have done that.

JANE
Last time you dropped her off at the sitter’s, she didn’t have one of these and she covered herself in her food…. which, as you know, is not ideal. It’s actually awful.

PETE
I’ve only forgotten it once.

JANE gives him a telling smile.

JANE
You’ve only forgotten a change of clothes once. Before that, it was…

PETE waves his free hand at her.

PETE
I know. The bottle back when she used that. Her rattle before that, and there was also that one time I left one diaper for a whole afternoon… but the less said about that, the better. I won’t forget anything this time. Promise.

JANE gives him a kiss on the cheek and starts to walk off.

JANE
You better.

PETE smiles and grabs the diaper bag with his free hand and starts to walk out of the room when his phone rings. He drops the bag onto a chair in the living room and instantly begins searching around the room for the phone. JANE walks up and grabs PENNY and then PETE starts throwing pillows off of the couch in his efforts to find the phone. He then removes a couch cushion.

PETE
Crap.

He realizes what he has to do. PETE jams his arm into the side of the couch until everything up to his elbow can’t be seen. He then jerks his arm out of the couch, holding his phone. He looks back at PENNY, who smiles.

PETE
Hello?

There’s a pause as you faintly hear the person on the other end of the phone. PETE pulls himself up onto his feet.

A.J. (V.O.)
Pete?

PETE
A.J… you okay, man?

A.J. (V.O.)
Not really….

PETE
What’s….?

We can’t hear A.J. this time, but we know what he’s said. PETE’s expression turns from concern to sadness. He walks over to the kitchen table and sinks down on one of the chair. A million things are going through his mind all at the same time. After a few moments, you can hear A.J. on the other side of the phone.

A.J. (V.O.)
Pete? Pete, you still there?

PETE takes a moment to get his thoughts together.

PETE
Yeah. Yeah. What happened?

A.J. (V.O.)
Car crash. You okay, man?

PETE
I’m…. yeah. Yeah, I’m…. No, I’m not. Hey, can I call you back?

A.J. (V.O.)
Yeah, man. I just wanted to tell you. His folks said the funeral’s going to be Sunday if you wanted to come down.

PETE
Yeah. It’s gonna be back home? I’ll… I’ll see you there, man. How are you holding up?

Silence for a beat.

PETE
I know, man. We’ll get through this together. Talk to you in a bit.

PETE hangs up. JANE walks back into the room, holding PENNY, and notices the look on PETE’s face.

JANE
What’s wrong? And what did you do to the couch?

We cut to close-ups of people’s hands in their laps as they sit through an AA meeting. We zoom out to see a room full of chairs arranged in a circle. JASON is sitting among them, quiet as one person is giving their story. TAD, a kindly looking older gentleman looks over at him. JASON seems tired. JASON is, at this point in his life, always tired.

TAD
Jason, you didn’t speak last week. Would you like to introduce yourself to everyone now?
JASON looks around, debating on what he wants to say. Two other AA members on the other side of the room make snide remarks to one another, which the camera focuses on.

AA MEMBER#1
I bet you anything he just got dumped.

AA MEMBER#2
I swear, that’s how all of these kids start nowaday. When we started you had to…

JASON stands up and stares the two of them down.

JASON
No, I did not just get dumped… and I’m probably just a couple years younger than you if that. I’m here because I’m ordered by the court to be. I hate that I’m here just as much as you guys do, I assume. Sure, my drinking has ended a couple of relationships, but that’s not what brings me here. I just… happened to pass out in one person’s yard a couple weeks back, and then the police came.

TAD
And?

JASON
And? I’m an alcoholic. That what you want me to say? Well, at the very least the court thinks I am.

TAD
Thanks for sharing your story, Jason. We’re glad you’re here.

Ext. AA building. Night. JASON walks along with everyone else out of the building. TAD walks up beside him and taps on his shoulder. JASON turns to talk to him as everyone else gets into their cars and leaves.

TAD
I’m going to need you to take this seriously, Jason.

JASON
I am.

TAD
That’s not what it looked like in there. I’m here to help you. You just need to understand why you’re here first.

JASON
Look, I don’t want to be here. I didn’t do anything wrong.

TAD reaches into a napsack he has with him and gives JASON a card.

TAD
We all have a reason to be here. Feel free to call me if you feel like drinking. I know how bad the urge is. Take care, brother.

JASON takes the card, gives TAD a nod and walks away. His phone goes off as he nears his car. JASON gets into his car as he answers it.

JASON
Hello? A.J.?

JASON sits in the car in silence for a few moments, realization dawning on his face as A.J. tells him what happened. Finally, he speaks.

JASON
When’s the funeral?

JASON pulls his sun visor down in his car, and grabs a photo that was attached to it. It’s a photo taken about a year beforehand of him, AJ, PETE and SAM. He looks at it longingly.

JASON
I’ll be there. Does Pete know yet?

Int. PETE’s home. He’s finishing packing while JANE watches, holding PENNY.

PETE
Funeral’s Sunday. The visitation is tomorrow and then I’ll be back probably Sunday night… It should be a pretty simple and quick trip.

JANE,
I could go with you if you want.

PETE
It’s fine. Jason and A.J. will be there… I think they’ll keep my mind off it a little bit at least. Plus, when was the last time we were all together back home?

PETE gives JANE and PENNY both a kiss on the forehead and then heads out the front door before walking back in for a moment with a knowing smile.

PETE
Y’all be good.

PETE exits the house.

Ext. A.J.’s home. Day. A.J. has a nice home for a man on a reporter’s budget, and even has a two-car garage. He stands out in his driveway, waiting. JASON pulls up and gets out of his beat-up car. The two embrace.

JASON
How’ve you been, punk?

Their embrace ends.

A.J.
As good as I can be, all things considered.

JASON
We just waiting on Pete?

A.J.
Yeah. But he’s not staying at my place… think he’s staying at his parents’ house.
Ext. Jameson household. Daytime. PETE pulls up and gets out of a newer but still obviously used car, grabbing his suitcase from the trunk. He stops outside, staring at his parents’ home and taking it all in. It’s a nice, red-brick home with a well-kept, large front lawn. In the past few years, he’s only come back home for the holidays, and this is the first time he’s seen the house without Christmas decorations since he was in college. The camera follows him as he goes up to the door and knocks. His dad, FRED, a bald man who looks very much like an older version of PETE, answers the door and welcomes his son in with a hug.
We then cut to the inside of the home as PETE walks to a room in the back.

PETE
You guys haven’t done anything too crazy to my old room, have you?

FRED
Nothing too crazy, no…

PETE stops to stare at a picture of himself hanging up in the hallway. In the picture he’s five years old. He chuckles, then opens the door next to the picture. Inside, he sees his dad has made it into his second bedroom. Pictures of his golfing trips are up on the wall as well as a couple of racks of golf balls. PETE sets down his suitcase on the bed and looks around.

PETE
I guess I wouldn’t call this too crazy, no.

FRED inches his way into the room.

FRED
How long are you going to be down?

PETE
Just a few days. I’ll mainly be with A.J. and Jason, so you’ll barely notice me here.
PETE unzips his briefcase and begins unloading a few essential items like his toothbrush and toothpaste.

FRED
You know you’re always welcome to stay a little longer. We’ve missed having you around. Plus, I know your sister said she wanted to see you while you’re here.

PETE
I know. I haven’t seen Ava in months… but I don’t know if I’m going to have time.

FRED
Hopefully you’ll find some time. If you need anything, holler at me or your mom.

PETE
Will do.

Int. A.J.’s house. It’s as nice inside as it is outside, but is noticeably missing anything that would make it a home. Sure, there’s furniture, but there are no personal touches anywhere. A.J. sits on a couch in the living room while JASON sits in a recliner a few feet away, both with a beer in hand. A knock is heard at the front door, and A.J. opens it to let PETE in.

JASON
It’s about time you got here.

PETE notices the beer in JASON’s hand and tries to hide his judgment, but it flashes across his face for a moment.

PETE
Oh, I had to stop by and see the parents first. So… what are you guys up to?
Both shrug. PETE’s eyes focus again on the beer in JASON’s hand.

PETE
You’ve almost downed that beer.

JASON
What? I’ve been nursing this thing for the past fifteen minutes.

PETE
I know that.

JASON
You literally just walked in. You okay, man?

PETE walks across the room and sits down on the couch next to AJ.

PETE
Yeah. Are you?

JASON (confused)
Yeah…

A.J. interrupts in order to break the tension.

A.J.
How long has it been since either of you have been back here?

PETE and JASON stare at each other and then answer at the same time.

JASON PETE
Three years. Last Christmas.

A.J.
I think it’s time we all headed back out to some of our old haunts.

PETE
Don’t take me out to those scary-ass woods again, man. That place was scary as shit… during the day time.

JASON
What, are you a chicken?

JASON proceeds to do his best Tommy Wiseau chicken impression, which PETE pushes back with his own before responding legitimately.

PETE
No I am not a chicken. It’s just that, you know, I found a used needle out there the first time we went, and I don’t necessarily want to get some disease and/or die. I have a daughter to think about.

A.J.
I wasn’t actually thinking about the woods… especially because someone was found murdered out there last year.

JASON
No shit?

A.J.
It was all over the news.

JASON
I don’t pay attention to the news down here.

PETE
You know what? I did see that, now that I think about it…. And Jason, you wanted to go out there?

JASON
Never said that. Just thought it was funny that you were scared to go.

PETE
Looks like I had reason to not want to-

A.J.
No, you guys. We’re not going there. I was thinking we could go back to the old park we used to hang out at in high school.

PETE
That makes me wonder… you think anyone from our old group is gonna be down here for the funeral? I haven’t heard from any of those guys… other than you two and Sam, of course…. since, what? 2012?

The other two are quiet for a moment. PETE realizes why. He, like the other two, looks solemn.

PETE
Should we… talk about Sam?

A.J.
We’ve been trying our best not to, honestly.

JASON (somber)
A.J., you want to take us to that park?

Ext. Park. Daytime. The three are at a park that was recently remodeled. No wood, no wood chips… nothing dangerous of any kind. Most of the structures are made of rubber or plastic. JASON and PETE both look disgusted. All three are standing at a distance from the park.

JASON
What the shit is this? Where’s all the dangerous stuff from when we were kids?

PETE
Where’s the tire swing?

PETE wanders off into the park, clearly in search of the tire swing that is no longer there.

A.J.
They tore all of that down ages ago. Replaced it with this. Better yet, they have disc golf around here now, too.

JASON (mockingly)
“Better yet?” Disc golf sucks. Why would they add that here?

A.J.
What? It got really popular a few years back. So, they added I guess what you’d call the ‘holes’ for disc golf…

JASON
I don’t see a single person playing it right now.

A.J.
…and they added some out by the lake, too, to capitalize on the…

JASON
Not a single soul, really.

A.J.
…popularity of the sport. But I don’t really play.

PETE wanders back.

PETE
The tire swing… it’s gone.

He then notices something off in the distance.

PETE
Wait, they have disc golf here now!? That’s awesome!

He wanders off yet again.

JASON
Well, we lost Pete… again.

PETE (from off camera)
Too bad I left my discs back home!

A.J. and JASON both crack a smile and follow after him.

A.J. (to JASON)
You remember what we have out here, right?

JASON
Do you seriously think that thing is still out here after all this time?

A.J. nods.

JASON
Well…. you remember these things better than I do. Lead the way.

A.J. walks past PETE, and JASON follows him. PETE, realizing just where they are going, does the same.

PETE
Wait, are you guys seriously after…?

A.J. approaches an old trash can and then puts his hand in the dirt next to it. He digs away for a moment, and then, struggling, pulls something out. It’s a small lunchbox. He stands back up with the lunchbox in his hands.

JASON
How the hell? We barely buried that thing.

PETE
None of us wanted to dig it up… why should anyone else want to dig it up?

We cut to the three of them in AJ’s car. AJ is in the driver’s seat, PETE in the front passenger seat and JASON in the back. AJ carefully opens the lunchbox. He pulls out an old Star Wars action figure and hands it to PETE.

PETE
I haven’t seen this Boba Fett since I was 15.

To JASON, AJ hands him a cigarette.

JASON
I really wonder if this thing is still good…

He glances at it and thinks better of it, setting it down.

AJ then pulls out a Weird Al cassette.

PETE
Was that Sam’s?

AJ shakes his head.

AJ
No. This one’s mine. Sam left this.

AJ pulls out another cassette. This one is blank.

JASON
What the hell is that?

AJ
Way back before podcasts were a thing, we made some attempt at one. Freshman year of high school.

JASON
I don’t remember it.

PETE
It was just the three of us. I think it was before you were really part of the group, Jason. But anyways… good luck finding a cassette player these days.

AJ
I have one at home. Not sure if it still works, but I’ve got it.

Someone raps on the back driver’s side window of the car and PETE freaks out and accidentally throws his Boba Fett at the window. Then he stops and realizes, along with JASON and A.J., who is on the outside. It’s LEAH DRAKE, someone none of them have seen since high school. She was always a preppy girl, and was constantly in some leadership position in the school. She still looks as well-groomed as she always did. Her fiancé, DAN FRENCH, a muscular square-jawed man in his late 20s, walks up behind her.

DAN
Hey guys!

PETE
Leah!?

JASON
Dan!?!?

LEAH
Hey guys. Surprised to see you all here this weekend…. Hey, can you roll the window d-

A.J. puts the car into drive, puts the pedal to the metal and drives off. The camera focuses on LEAH and DAN as they stare at the car.

DAN
What the hell was that?

LEAH
I have no clue. I literally just saw A.J. the other day and he seemed really chill.

We cut back to the inside of A.J.’s car as he continues to drive. PETE throws his seatbelt on.

PETE
What are you doing, you mad man?

A.J.
I’m just… getting us away from those assholes, is all.

JASON
Thanks man.

Int. A.J.’s house. PETE is pacing around. A.J. is sitting on the floor with an old boombox, and JASON is sitting on a chair not too far away from him.

PETE
Well?

AJ
I think I have it working.

AJ presses play. A booming voice, that of a young PETE is heard.

YOUNG PETE (V.O.)
And it has a giant penis!

AJ scrambles to lower the volume as PETE stops pacing, turns around and looks at the boombox, mildly embarrassed of his younger self.

JASON, still sitting down, cracks a grin.

JASON
This is everything I had hoped it would be.

JASON walks over to the boombox and turns the volume back up, allowing us to join back into the conversation a little bit further in.

YOUNG SAM (V.O.)
Yeah I can think of a better topic: let’s talk about Pete’s love life.

Adult PETE looks exasperated.

YOUNG PETE (V.O.)
Let’s not and say we didn’t.

ADULT PETE
Agreed!

YOUNG A.J. (V.O.)
Not to be rude, but what love life?

YOUNG SAM (V.O.)
You still got the hots for Tiffany?

JASON perks up.

JASON
You had a thing for Tiffany?

PETE walks up to the boombox and turns it off.

PETE
Yeah. A lifetime ago.

A.J.
It was pretty much throughout most of high school.

JASON
Wow. The weird girl, right?

PETE
She’s not weird.

JASON
She may not have been in high school… but she got weird.

PETE
Her best friend died. She kinda just shut off.

JASON
Are we shut off?

PETE
No, but…

AJ
Alright, guys. I’m gonna go put this boombox up. Maybe we’ll listen to the rest of it some other time?

AJ gets up off of the floor and grabs the boombox.

PETE
Can I not be around for the next time? I kind of hate my own voice… and myself when I was 15, now that I think about it.

AJ starts to walk off to another room.

JASON
Why did you speed off earlier?

A.J. stops in his tracks, but doesn’t turn around to face his friends.

A.J.
I told you, to get away from them.

PETE
They weren’t doing anything to us, man.

JASON
I for one am glad you drove off. Dan’s an asshole.

AJ then walks off to the next room. You can hear some rustling as he puts up the boombox, leaving his two friends behind in the living room.

PETE
Dan wasn’t too bad.

JASON
Look. I never really talked about it back in high school, but Dan French is the biggest douche bag known to man.

A.J. walks back into the living room and sits down on the couch, looking at JASON and waving him on to continue his story.

JASON
He used to always pick on me. Him and his friends. He’d give me titty-twisters, sack taps.. he slapped me and gave me swirlies. It started in middle school, and then it just continued on into high school. You know, he would always push me into dirt, and then he’d say something like, “Eat dirt you-“

JASON mouths one last word but doesn’t say it.

PETE
He’d say what?

JASON
He’d call me a f…. He’d call me a… it’s a homophobic slur that starts with an F.

A.J.
Oh, that’s awful.

PETE
Yeah, you don’t say that. Like, I know this was ten years ago, but I think we all agreed by that point that you don’t say it, right?

JASON
Anyways, I haven’t seen him since senior year. Seeing him today was… I don’t know. I always told myself I’d get back at him some day, and then I’d say his phrase back at him.

PETE A.J.
Maybe you shouldn’t. I don’t think that’d be a good idea.

JASON
Yeah, probably not.

PETE looks down at his phone and notices the time.

PETE
I’ve got to call back at the house. I’ll be right back.

PETE steps out of the front door.
Ext. AJ’s home. Late afternoon. PETE waits for a moment as the phone rings. JANE picks up.
Int. PETE and JANE’s home. Afternoon.

JANE
Hey there. Are you doing okay?

Ext. AJ’s home. Afternoon.

PETE
Yeah. I’m fine. Jason and AJ are alright. As alright as we can all be, I suppose.

JANE
How are your parents?

Pause.

PETE
They’re okay.

JANE (annoyed)
Have you actually talked to them?

PETE
Yeah. Not for long. Kinda left my stuff there and came over here.

JANE
You need to actually see them. You and I both know we’re only ever down there for Christmas these days.

PETE
I know.

Pause.

PETE
I’m sure I’ll see them in the morning.

JANE
For how long?

PETE
I don’t know. The guys have a few things planned, plus the visitation at the funeral home is tomorrow, so probably not long.

JANE
Alright.

PETE
I love you.

JANE
I.. I love you too. Say hi to your parents for me.

PETE
Will do. Can I say hi to Penny before I go?

JANE
Hey Penny. Dad wants to say hi.

PETE suddenly just hears a deafening scream on the other end of the phone.

PETE
I love you too baby girl! I’ll let you go.

JANE (shouting over the scream)
We love you too daddy!

PETE hangs up the phone and goes back inside.

Int. AJ’s home. Late afternoon. PETE, A.J. and JASON sit on the couch, with JASON flipping through channels.

PETE
You guys hungry for food? I’m legitimately starvin’ like Marvin.

JASON
Who the hell is Marvin, anyway?

PETE
I dunno. Marvin Gay? Marvin, the guy who got shot in the head in “Pulp Fiction?” I know he got his food taken by Samuel L. Jackson in that movie.

AJ
You’re thinking of Brett.

PETE
No, he interrupted Marvin’s food, too… and then John Travolta shot him.

Pause.

JASON
Yeah… let’s go get food.

Ext. Parking Lot. Late afternoon. The three pull up in AJ’s car. There’s a group of teenagers tossing a football around in the background but aside from them, not many cars parked nearby. As the three get out of the car, the football the teens are playing with comes out of the background and into the foreground, hitting PETE in the head, then falling to his feet. He grabs it and looks over.

PETE
You guys playing catch? You mind if I throw one?

Two of the teens walk up to him.

TEEN #1 (annoyed)
Can we just get our ball back?

PETE
I can toss it to you. Go long!

PETE acts like he’s about to throw it off in the distance. The teens look annoyed and move closer in.

TEEN #2
Just give us our ball back you fat fucking fogie!

PETE looks defeated, his smile drooping… but, he’s still holding on to the ball.

PETE
What’s a fogie?

TEEN #2 comes over and wrestles the ball away. He and his friend then walk away as the camera lingers on an unreasonably sad PETE.

TEEN #1 (V.O.)
I’m tired of all these old people in town lately.

AJ walks up to PETE and puts his arm around his shoulder.

AJ
I am sincerely sorry about that…. you fogie.

AJ cracks a smile. PETE throws AJ’s arm off his shoulder, jokingly, but still upset.

PETE
Shut up. You’re the… fogie… whatever the hell that means.

JASON
You want to go tell ’em off?

PETE seems encouraged by this. He whips around in the direction of the teens and shouts.

PETE
Hey! You guys are mean, and I hope you know that that’s not nice… and…

The teens start laughing.

PETE
And you shouldn’t act that way, because I’m really sensitive! And that… that hurt my feelings…

JASON rushes up to PETE and starts walking him away to the restaurant quickly as the teens laugh even harder.

JASON
No no no no no no no no let’s go inside.

Int. Restaurant. The three sit in a booth in a dimly lit building (the owners say the lighting is a style choice and NOT, I repeat NOT to save money). They’re eating burgers, all silent. PETE and AJ are on one side (with PETE up against the wall) and JASON alone on the other. After a beat, PETE breaks the silence.

PETE
So, those kids were assholes.

JASON
Yeah…. Man, you really pussed out back there?

AJ
Can we not say that? It’s 2020. Calling someone a pussy is so… outdated and wrong… and weird, too.

JASON’s face contorts as he debates on arguing, but decides against it.
PETE takes a huge bite of his burger and after swallowing it down, looks at his friends.

PETE
This is the first time I’ve eaten here since high school. Four of us used to come here all the time.

The mood among the four of them changes. They’ve all avoided talking about SAM this whole time, but now it’s hard to get him off their minds.

AJ
I miss him.

JASON
It hasn’t really… sunk in yet. I’m a little bit worried about the funeral. Then it’ll really hit.

PETE
I hope the rest of the guys are able to make it down. I know we haven’t seen all of them in years, but… it’d be nice, ya know?

JASON
Most of them moved out of state. There’s a reason it’s been just the four of us since college.

AJ
Not just the four of us. Kevin and Steve are still around.

JASON
When was the last time we saw them?

AJ
I literally hung out with them a month ago.

JASON
Well… I haven’t. So… there.

PETE
I stand to believe that Darren might come down. He and Sam were pretty close.

JASON
Yeah…. do you remember we used to slap the shit out of Darren in our old videos, right?

PETE
Yeah. He might not want to come down. Jerry might make it, though.

AJ
I haven’t seen him since he left for New York.

PETE
He’s doing all right up there.

JASON
You seen him?

PETE
No, but we still keep in touch.

JASON
Well, text him and ask if he’s coming down. You do know he hasn’t come back to this godforsaken state since he left it, right? His parents don’t even live here anymore… just like mine.

JASON says that last part with a bit of pride. He, like PETE, doesn’t really like his hometown. Unlike PETE, he really has no reason to visit anymore.

PETE
What about Jon?

JASON
In Wisconsin? That cheese-eating bastard is not making it.

AJ
Brandon?

JASON
Doesn’t even live in the U.S…. right?

PETE (questioningly)
I think he’s back… but I’m not really sure.

AJ
What about Tarah?

JASON
She’s…. she’s…. I don’t know where she is.

Then a voice is heard from behind him.

TARAH (V.O.)
She’s right here.

TARAH, a brunette with a bright smile and dressed in even brighter colors, grabs a chair and sits down right next to JASON, forcing him nearer to the wall. She’s a happy-go-lucky sort, and a breath of fresh air for a table of sad sacks.

TARAH
I’m surprised to see the three of you here.

PETE
Tarah! We were just talking about you. Haven’t seen you in a bit. What have you been up to?

TARAH
Traveling. But I had to make it down for this weekend.

AJ
That’s… fair.

JASON
So… you know?

TARAH looks confused.

TARAH
Yeah. I thought everyone knew our class reunion was this weekend.

JASON and PETE’s jaws drop. AJ feigns surprise.

JASON
I’m sorry, but did you say our reunion?

TARAH
Yeah… What were you guys talking about?

AJ takes a serious tone as he puts his hand on TARAH’s. The two lock eyes.

AJ
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Sam died.

TARAH is hit with this information like a freight train.

TARAH
Sam? Sam’s dead?

AJ
Happened this past week. Funeral is Sunday.

TARAH
I… I didn’t know. I’ll be there.

PETE and JASON also lock eyes.

JASON
She said reunion, right?

PETE
Yeah. I thought we had avoided it. Why would they have the reunion in the summer?

JASON
No you idiot. These things are always in the summer.

PETE
How would you know? I’ve never been to a reunion before?

TARAH
How did he die?

AJ
Car crash. Visitation is at the funeral home tomorrow… if you’d want to go with us.

JASON
I’ve never been to one, either, but a summer reunion just makes sense.

PETE
We don’t have to go. Just because we’re in town doesn’t mean we have to go.

TARAH
I’m so sorry. Have you talked to his parents yet?

AJ
No. I think we’ll see them when we go to the visitation, though.

TARAH
I feel absolutely horrible for them.

JASON then pokes his head into TARAH and AJ’s conversation.

JASON
Hey Tarah, by chance, when is the reunion?

TARAH
Tomorrow.

JASON
Good. Then we can avoid them. We’ll just stay indoors aside from the visitation, and we’ll be good. I can’t run into Dan again.

PETE
Well, it’s not like I want to run into any of our old classmates, either.

JASON
Maybe we should get out of here, then.

PETE
Why? This place is safe, man. We’re not going to-

JASON points behind PETE. PETE turns around and locks eyes with JACK RENNER, a former football player and still just as good looking as he was in high school. He has a classic, square-jaw beauty. He was always a ladies’ man, and completely full of himself in school. He gets up and walks over to them as PETE looks away, boring holes into the wall with his eyes. Finally, JACK reaches them, standing over their table.

JACK
Pete? Is that you?

PETE whips around, putting on the fakest of all smiles.

PETE
Yup! Is that Jack Renner I see? You haven’t aged a day.

JACK
And you have aged…. far more than ten years, pal.

PETE
I know, right? Fatherhood does that to you, I suppose.

JACK
Really? I have three kids.

PETE
Oh my god.

JACK
You guys going to the reunion tomorrow?

TARAH places her hand on PETE’s.

TARAH
I was just asking them the same thing.

She then looks to JASON and AJ before turning to JACK.

TARAH
It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. How are you holding up?

JACK
Better than this guy, apparently.

TARAH
So guys… are you going?

Int. Car. Early evening. AJ, JASON and PETE are sitting in the car, driving away.

JASON
Why did you have to say we were going?!?

AJ
I thought it’d get ’em off our back for a minute. We don’t have to go, you know.

PETE
I don’t want to deal with that. You saw that in there, right? I’ve aged horribly. I look like a washed up turd. Jack’s still hot. He’s so hot that it hurts me… it hurts my feelings, honestly.

JASON
We’re not going. I can’t run in to Dan again.

PETE
Dan? You’re worried about Dan when a hunk like Jack is just hanging out there, flaunting how hot he is and how not I am?

AJ
That sentence didn’t make any sense.

The car pulls into AJ’s driveway and the three get out, continuing their conversation as they walk to the front door.

JASON
No, I don’t want to run into Dan, because he used to make my life a living hell. I’m sorry, Pete.
AJ opens the door, but turns around before walking in.

AJ
Maybe we could go. Tarah’s going to be there.

He then walks through the doorway, his friends following as he continues.

AJ
Last time we saw her before tonight was seven years ago. It’d be nice to actually stop and talk to her.

JASON
No! We can’t go to that reunion. The plan is we just avoid the reunion and after tomorrow, we’re done having to worry about it. Sorry if you don’t see her, man.

AJ places his keys down on the countertop.

AJ
Well, I’ll see her either way. She’s hanging out with us tomorrow.

PETE
You mean I have to face her again even after my cowardly exit?

PETE sits down. AJ walks up to him and puts his hand on his shoulder.

AJ
Yeah. Besides, we were all cowardly. And c’mon, Pete. You can avoid Jack at the reunion. You enjoyed seeing Tarah tonight. Maybe a couple of our other friends will be there tomorrow, too.

PETE
I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing Dave if he’s there.

AJ
That’s the spirit.

JASON
Do you guys hear yourselves? I’m going to grab a drink.

JASON storms out of the house, leaving PETE and AJ behind. PETE looks genuinely concerned. AJ, not so much.

PETE
Should we go after him or….?

They hear an engine revving in the background, and then a car taking off.

AJ
If you want to. We can take my car.

Ext. Bar. Night. JASON gets out of his car which is parked outside a seedy-looking bar. He starts walking to the entrance when AJ rolls up next to him, passenger side window rolled down, and PETE shouts at him, stopping JASON in his tracks.

PETE
Hey, man, you want to go back over to AJ’s?

JASON
Not particularly.

AJ
We can go in the bar with you. I’m just gonna find a parking spot fir-

PETE whips around to AJ.

PETE (quietly)
No we’re not!

AJ
What?

JASON
You guys okay over there?

PETE whips back around to face JASON.

PETE
Hold on one sec!

Pause. PETE realizes something, chuckles, then says to JASON:

PETE
I just realized… I’m hanging out the passenger side of my best friend’s ride, trying to holler at you.

JASON looks amused momentarily, then annoyed when he realizes the implication.

JASON
Does that mean I’m a scrub in this situation?

Pause.

PETE
I… hold on.

PETE whips back around to AJ as we close up on him. He’s speaking even quieter this time, trying to not be heard by JASON.

PETE
Jason’s got a bit of a drinking problem.

AJ
Yeah. And? We’ve known this.

PETE
Yeah, but… you remember when we went drinking a couple weeks ago and he disappeared?

AJ
Yeah… Did… did something happen? Because I got ahold of him the next day and he seemed fine.

PETE
Well, he’s not.

AJ
Well, what are we supposed to do? I’m not going to just grab drinks out of his hand. He’s a grown adult.

PETE, frustrated, opens the car door and gets out, walking past JASON and standing in the doorway of the bar.

PETE
I’m not going to let you do it, man.

JASON (frustrated)
Just… get out of the way, man.

PETE
Nope. Hey AJ, go park the car and come help me.

AJ’s car can be heard driving further away before his car door can be heard opening and closing. He then appears back in frame as JASON stands, patiently, waiting for PETE to walk away.

JASON
Why are you blocking the door?

PETE
Because… if you go in there, who’s to say that one of our old classmates won’t be in there as well? You said it yourself that we want to avoid them, right?

JASON
Riiight. So can I just grab a six pack from the gas station or something?

PETE thinks about this for a moment.

PETE
Nah. Probably shouldn’t.

JASON
Why, man?

The door of the bar opens, and a man and his girlfriend try to step out, only to be blocked by PETE, who turns his head around as far as he can to look at them and apologize.

PETE
Sorry, I’m trying to help my friend.

Then he mouths the phrase “He has a drinking problem” to the pair before turning back around. The couple at the door stare as the friends deal with one another.

PETE
Let’s go back to AJ’s, man.

AJ reaches them.

AJ
Jase, come on back. This weekend’s going to be rough. We can stop by and grab a beer on the way back to my place.

AJ and PETE exchange glances. JASON turns around, tears in his eyes to AJ.

JASON
I miss him, man. I can’t deal with this sober.

AJ hugs him tight.

AJ
I know. We’re here for you.

JASON
I normally just drink when I’m feeling like this.

PETE steps away from the door and the couple behind him get out. He also hugs JASON, but from behind.

PETE
We can all go talk about it. God knows we’ve been avoiding that since we got here.

JASON
Can you guys maybe stop hugging me now?

PETE and AJ let go.

JASON
Let’s go.

They start to walk away but the sound of a man with a heavy southern accent stops them. His name is COREY.

COREY
Pete?! Is that you!?

COREY walks into frame up to the three of them. PETE is confused. He doesn’t know who this guy is. COREY looks exactly like what you would expect from the voice. He’s wearing a wifebeater, has his hair in a buzzcut and looks like he’s got chewing tobacco stored in one of his cheeks. He reaches out to shake PETE’s hand. PETE extends his hand slowly, carefully, and COREY pulls it, going in for a hug. COREY then turns to AJ and shakes his hand, too, but this time he doesn’t go for the hug.

COREY
Good to see you, A.J.

AJ (also confused)
Good seeing you too, man.

COREY then sets his focus back to PETE.

COREY
I ain’t seen you since high school!

PETE
Yeah… man… it has been a while.

COREY can tell that PETE doesn’t remember him.

COREY
You don’t recognize me, do you?

PETE shakes his head and throws up his hands.

PETE
You got me! I’m sorry, man.

COREY
It’s Corey! From band.

PETE clearly still doesn’t know who he is, but nods reluctantly.

COREY
You talk to Trevor lately?

PETE looks confused. He doesn’t know who Trevor is, either. He shakes his head.

PETE
Can’t say that I have.

COREY
Well you should probably hit him up. He’s got kidney failure. Not sure how long he’s got left.

JASON
Oh my god. That’s horrible.

COREY turns his attention to JASON for a moment.

COREY
I know, right?

COREY then turns back to PETE.

COREY
Anyway, I’m sure he’s wanting to hear from you, man. Do you have his number?

PETE
Y- yeah.

COREY
Good, man.

They then hear a woman calling from off in the distance.

WOMAN (V.O.)
Corey! We’ve got to go!

COREY
I’ll be right there!

He turns back around to PETE.

COREY
I gotta get going. You know how it is. Drug court.

PETE
Yeah, man…. because I know about that stuff.

COREY shakes AJ’s hand again and wanders off.

PETE turns around to AJ.

PETE
Who the hell was that?

AJ (nonchalant)
Corey.

PETE
That doesn’t explain anything. How do you know him?

AJ
Me? Oh, I thought you knew him.

Ext. A.J.’s house. Night. AJ’s car is parked outside and JASON’s pulls up right behind him. They all get out of the cars: JASON from his, AJ and PETE from the other. JASON’s holding a six pack of beer in one hand. PETE yawns. AJ and JASON get up on AJ’s front porch while PETE lingers behind near the car.

PETE
It’s getting a bit late for me. I’m probably going to head back to my parents’ house.

JASON
We all doing breakfast in the morning?

PETE shrugs.

PETE
I don’t see why not.

AJ
I’ll text you in the morning. Get some rest.

PETE turns to leave while JASON and AJ turn to each other.

JASON
Want to do what we did at every sleepover in high school?

AJ’s eyes light up.

Int. AJ’s house. Night. The two sit in front of the TV, eating ice cream and watching the keyboard cat video on Youtube.

Ext. PETE’s parents’ house. Night. PETE’s car is parked out in the street in front of the house. He gets out to see his sister AVA sitting in the back of their dad’s pick-up truck in the driveway, looking as if she’s waiting for him. PETE approaches.

PETE
Hey sis. What brings you here?

AVA
I knew you’d be here today. Plus Dad texted me earlier. Said you seemed distant.

PETE (defensive)
I am not distant. And since when does Dad text?

AVA pats the space on the truck bed next to her, gesturing for PETE to sit down. He does.

PETE
So, I’m distant?

AVA
Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard. Plus, when were you going to tell me you were in town?

PETE looks off in the distance, bites his lip… avoiding the question momentarily, then finally chimes up and looks over at his sister.

PETE
I was going to get a hold of you.

AVA (sarcastically)
Sure. I really believe that.

Pause.

AVA
You know, Mom and Dad haven’t seen you since Christmas?

PETE
Well they can come up and visit any time.

AVA
You know that works both ways, right? Anyways, Dad said they’d be cooking up burgers for lunch tomorrow and they wanted me to tell you-

PETE
I can’t.

AVA
Come on, Pete. Why?

PETE launches himself off of the truck bed and begins to walk away but turns back to face AVA.

PETE
I have plans in the morning, sis.

AVA
Can you not just have one meal with us?

PETE
Sorry, sis.

PETE shrugs.

PETE
Sunday? Before I head out?

PETE turns back around and starts to walk away, but AVA runs up to him and begins to pat his butt.

PETE
What the hell!?!

AVA
You have dirt all on your pants!

PETE
You’re not my mom!

Int. PETE’s parents’ home. Day. Living room. His mom, RENAE, is making breakfast while FRED reads the newspaper. PETE stumbles in, hair messy, wearing pajamas and rubbing his eyes.

RENAE
Good morning, hun. This is the first time I’ve seen you since you got here. How are you holding up?

PETE
Hey mom… I’m… uh… all right, I suppose. All things considered.

PETE rummages through the cabinets until he finds a glass and fills it up with water.

RENAE
You want breakfast? I’ve got bacon, sausage and eggs.

PETE’s eyes grow wide. His eyes point to the exit.

PETE
That sounds good… but I’m supposed to meet the guys up for breakfast.

RENAE looks over at FRED, annoyed and trying to get him to interject. She clears her throat.

FRED
Pete, why don’t you sit down?

RENAE
You can always eat twice.

PETE begins to back away, slowly.

PETE
I’m gonna go hop in the shower…

PETE leaves the room as his parents look on. His dad grabs a piece of bacon off a plate that RENAE is holding and bites into it.

Int. Restaurant. AJ and JASON are sitting at a table. PETE walks in as the guys wave him to the table. He sits down with them and grabs a menu.

PETE
What’s the plan today?

JASON
They’re having visitation for Sam until 2 today. I was telling AJ we should head that way once we’re out.

PETE almost doesn’t want to go. If he can avoid addressing SAM for another day, that would be best for him. He doesn’t know if he can handle it. Reluctant, he nods.

PETE
Yeah. Sounds good.

AJ
I think Tarah’s going as well.

JASON
We barely saw her last night.

AJ
Her and I have been texting since then.

JASON
Alright.

AJ
There’s also the reunion tonight. Tarah said she’s going, so we wouldn’t be alone.

JASON (adamantly)
I’m not going.

PETE
I wouldn’t be opposed, I guess, but if Jason doesn’t feel up to it, I don’t see why I’d go.

AJ
I’m just throwing it out there. It’s apparently going down at the convention center.

JASON
Did Tarah tell you that, too?

PETE’s stomach suddenly turns sour. An uneasy look appears on his face as he leans in to his friends at the table.

PETE
I’ve got to go to the bathroom. AJ, could you be my lookout? This place has a stall bathroom and I really need peace when I… you know. Just… make sure no one goes in there?

AJ
Yeah, man. I guess so.

The two of them get up from the table, leaving JASON behind. Once alone, a waitress walks up to him.

WAITRESS
Are you ready to order?

JASON
Ummm… both other guys who are with me just went to the bathroom. One’s taking a shit and the other is on guard duty because he’s afraid people will smell his poop in a public setting or hear him pooping. And Pete always takes too long in the bathroom.

The WAITRESS looks at him, taken aback by all the information he just dished out.

WAITRESS
So, do you want to order now?

Ext. Restaurant. The guys walk out toward their cars.

AJ
The funeral home is just down the street.

PETE
Yeah, about that…. We don’t have to go to the visitation, you guys.

JASON
We’re all down here for Sam, man. We can’t just not go.

PETE
I don’t know if I’m ready to see him, though.

AJ walks up to PETE and hugs him. PETE, uneasy, does NOT hug back.

AJ
That’s ok.

AJ backs away.

AJ
If you don’t feel comfortable with it, that’s fine. If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to.

JASON
I’m still going.

PETE
I can go. I just… I don’t know. I’m being dumb, I guess. I’ll go.

AJ
You want to ride with us over there?

PETE shrugs, and they all three get in AJ’s car.

Int. Funeral home. NINA and DAVID STOCKWELL, SAM’s grieving parents, are sitting in a room near an urn as someone giving their condolences is leaving. They are now the only two people in the room… until JASON, PETE and AJ walk in. JASON immediately locks eyes with them.

JASON
Mrs. Stockwell…

He hugs her and then turns to DAVID, and shakes his hand.

JASON
Mr. Stockwell…. I’m so sorry.

AJ follows suit. PETE lingers behind the two.

AJ
How are you two holding up?

NINA
We’re just…

She pats at her face with a tissue. DAVID finishes her sentence for her.

DAVID
We’re just trying to make it through the next couple of days.

NINA suddenly notices PETE.

NINA
I almost didn’t see you there, Pete. I’m glad you could make it.

PETE moves over and hugs her.

PETE
I’m glad to see you two….

He shakes DAVID’s hand.

PETE
I just wish it were under better circumstances.

DAVID
Sam was just talking about you guys the other day. I hope you know just how much you all meant to him.

AJ
He meant the world to us, too.

DAVID
Sam said he was planning on going to the movies with you guys the night he…

AJ
Oh, I don’t think I was invited. I do still live down here and whatnot.

JASON
I don’t think I was either.

All eyes then drift to PETE, who is silent for moment.

PETE
Maybe he went with someone else? He went to the movies all the time. I can only get out of the house every so often, really.

DAVID
I may have misremembered.

PETE
That’s okay.

NINA
Pete, could we ask you all a big favor? Sam would have wanted you to speak at his funeral. I’d ask the three of you to be pall bearers, but…

NINA gestures toward the urn.

NINA
He wanted to be cremated. It’s probably for the best.

PETE nods and puts his hand on NINA’s shoulder.

PETE
Anything for Sam. He was a great guy. Sure, he gave me crap all the time… but I knew he was always going to be there for me. He was the best friend anyone could have…

AJ and JASON look over, jokingly giving PETE a glare.

PETE
No offense to him, guys. If he was on your side, you knew you were gonna be okay. He was the meanest, best person I’ll ever know.

PETE then turns his attention back to NINA

PETE
I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. But the three of us are going to be there tomorrow by his side so we can say our goodbyes.

DAVID hugs PETE.

Int. AJ’s house. It’s still early in the day. While we see that the other two are sitting in the living room watching Youtube videos, AJ is getting ready to go out in the other room. He walks back into the living room and makes an announcement.

AJ
Hey, I’m going to have to get out of here for a little bit. I’ll be back.

JASON
Where are you going? You leaving wasn’t on the itinerary for today.

AJ
Hardy har.

PETE
You going to meet up with Tarah?

AJ
No. I just… I have to go do something. And even if I was meeting up with Tarah, that wouldn’t be for you to know.

JASON
What is that supposed to mean?

PETE
We can go with you.

AJ
You don’t have to. Seriously.

JASON
Nah. This weekend it’s the three of us. We’ll go along.

AJ looks nervous.

AJ
You sure?

JASON and PETE
Yeah.

Ext. Convention center. AJ’s car pulls up. AJ, in the driver’s seat, looks nervous. PETE and JASON are both looking ahead at their destination, JASON furious and PETE shocked, but, for the most part, willing to go with it. JASON in the passenger seat turns over to AJ.

JASON
This is our reunion.

AJ
Not yet. We’re here to help set up for it so it can happen later.

JASON
You mean to tell me you’re helping with the setup for it? Did Tarah talk you in to this?

AJ
If you must know, Tarah had nothing to do with this.

PETE
This is crazy. What do we have to help set up?

JASON
Nothing. We’re not setting up shit. AJ, have you known about this reunion the whole time?

AJ is quiet.

JASON (increasingly angrier)
You’ve known this whole time and didn’t say anything to us? You could have just warned us, man. We would’ve waited to come down.

PETE
I’m… honestly okay with this. I know I said last night I didn’t want to see our classmates… but there are more people from school that I got along with than I didn’t.

JASON
I disagree. Our class was full of assholes.

AJ opens his car door and gets out. PETE follows while JASON stays in the car, arms crossed, refusing to come out. AJ’s phone goes off as they’re walking up to the building. He answers it while PETE stands beside him.

AJ
Hello? Uh huh. Uh huh. Okay. Yeah. Where? All right. See you there.

AJ hangs up the phone and looks at PETE.

AJ
Looks like there’s a change of plans.

PETE
What kind of change?

Ext. Church. Day. It’s a much smaller venue than expected. There’s still room for quite a few people, but it looks nowhere near the size of the previous location. AJ and PETE are standing in the doorway, both looking disgusted.

AJ
Why here?

LEAH walks up, arms full of party supplies.

LEAH (frustrated)
They double-booked the convention center.

AJ
What? What else is going on over there?

LEAH
I don’t know. Some midget wrestling thing, I think.

PETE
I think they prefer to be called little people.

LEAH looks annoyed.

LEAH
I’m not calling them midgets. The event is literally called midget wrestling. That’s the way they marketed it.

PETE
I was just saying.

LEAH
Well, if you’re going to get mad at someone for using that word, get mad at the midgets.

PETE
Again, that’s probably not – you know what? It’s fine.

LEAH then turns to AJ.

LEAH
Didn’t you say Jason was in town hanging out with you guys, too?

AJ
Yeah. He’s out in the car.

Ext. Church parking lot. Day. We see JASON in the passenger seat of the car, listening to pop music, looking annoyed, before we cut back to the inside of the venue again.

AJ
So what all can we help you with?

LEAH
Well, aside from me, it’s just Gina…. so, everything?

She motions over to GINA, a woman with her hair put up in a ponytail and dressed as if she’s about to play softball. GINA was a preppy girl at school but has since dropped the whole charade.

LEAH
We just need to get a few signs and streamers up, get the punch out. I think that’s in the back of my car in a cooler… and put tablecloths on the tables as well as the centerpieces. We have more than we need since we THOUGHT we were going to have a bigger venue. Just get to what you can.

AJ and PETE look at each other then back to LEAH. PETE seems slightly hesitant while AJ is still gung-ho about the whole thing.

AJ PETE
Sounds good.

PETE
Should I go grab Jason and see if he wants to help?

AJ looks out the window, then back at PETE.

AJ
No. He looks a bit busy.

Cut back to JASON in the car. The same pop song is playing, but this time he is jamming out to it.
We then cut back to AJ and PETE, now sped up along to music, putting up decorations, and at one point dancing on a table in reference to “The Breakfast Club,” and then we pan over to see LEAH and GINA at normal speed, staring at them in disbelief.

GINA
How are they so quick? Is this natural?

The camera then pans back to AJ and PETE as they are setting up the punch. Then they move to putting the tablecloths on as the camera pans over to show JASON walk in, pour something into the punch bowl, and then leave. The camera pans back to AJ and PETE as they put the last of the centerpieces on the tables, and the song ends (as does the fast motion) and the two high five. They then walk over to LEAH and GINA.

PETE
Anything else we can do?

LEAH
Nope. That’s it.

GINA
I still want to know how you guys just did that. I was working hard and got maybe half of what you guys did done at the same time.

LEAH
The reunion’s in just three hours. You guys go home, get ready and we’ll see you then. I’ve already posted on Facebook to let everyone know where this thing is going to be.

AJ
Sounds good!

Int. AJ’s home. AJ is throwing on a nice button-up shirt. PETE is holding up two…. one white and one blue.

PETE
I brought both of these with me for the funeral… one as a back-up. Which one should I go with?

AJ
Maybe go with the blue one for tonight. The white one is obviously better for a funeral.

PETE nods and lifts up the blue shirt with one hand while lowering the white shirt with the other.

PETE
That makes sense. Hey Jase, what are you wearing to the reunion?

JASON is sitting on the couch, staring into space.

AJ
Jase?

JASON gets up.

JASON
I’m not going to the reunion. I don’t know why you guys are. I told you about Dan! Him and his friends made my life a living hell back in school. I hated it… and Sam was the first person to make me actually feel like I was wanted. He introduced me to you guys and I felt like I had a new lease on life. Now, he’s gone and you two just want to bring me right back where you found me? No. Not doing it.

PETE steps forward and puts his hand on JASON’s shoulder.

PETE
I’m sorry man. You know we’ll be by your side every step of the way. We’re not abandoning you tonight.

JASON brushes PETE’s hand off of his shoulder.

JASON
No. I’m not going. I don’t care. I’ll stay here if I have to.

AJ
We will both be by your side.

Beat.
AJ’s phone goes off. He picks it up and answers.

AJ
Yeah? Tarah?! Hey, how are you doing? Uh huh. Yeah. Okay. See you then.

AJ then turns to the two of them.

AJ
I’m afraid I have to abandon you. I’ll see you two at the reunion?

PETE JASON
Yeah. No.

AJ
Alrighty then.

AJ grabs his keys and heads out the door, leaving PETE and JASON standing there in silence.

JASON
Are you really going to that thing?

PETE
Yeah, man. I don’t see the harm in it. Look, I know how Dan and them treated you years ago, but that was back in school. We’re all adults now. I’m sure he’s moved past things and won’t be such a dick. He’ll probably leave you alone.

JASON
I’m not going. Go without me. I’ll see you when it’s over.

PETE
If you don’t go, I don’t go. Simple as that.

JASON
Don’t put you going on me. That’s bullshit and you know it.

PETE
I’m sorry. See, the reunion doesn’t mean all that much to me. Now, to AJ, I can tell it means a lot, but me? I wasn’t planning on coming down here for that. If I don’t go, I don’t go. So, what do you say?

Ext. TARAH’s parents’ home. It’s a nice, upper-middle class home with a two-car garage and a lawn that’s well taken care of. AJ’s car is parked out front. He walks up to and then knocks on the front door. TARAH answers.

TARAH
AJ!

She practically jumps into his arms with a hug.

AJ
It’s…. good to see you, too.

TARAH finally lets go and backs away ever so slightly. She still has a wide smile on her face.

TARAH
You want to come in for a minute?

AJ
Yeah. Sure.

AJ follows TARAH into her parents’ home, going through the living room and to the kitchen. TARAH gestures for him to sit down at the table. He does. She still stands.

TARAH
I’m going to go finish getting ready real quick. It is okay that I ride with you to the reunion, right?

AJ
Yeah. Of course.

TARAH
Jason and Pete aren’t mad?

AJ
Jason’s always mad. And Pete’s fine. You know him. He’s pretty much cool with anything and everything.

TARAH
True. Is his wife coming down at all this weekend?

AJ
No. She and Penny are staying home. They didn’t think the baby could really handle being down here through all this. She hasn’t really been away from home overnight before, even if she’s with her parents.

TARAH
Wait… you’re telling me Pete’s a dad? Pete? Like, the guy who would strip down to his underwear at parties for a joke? Pete? The guy who shaved his eyebrows in middle school just because he could? That Pete?

AJ
One and the same. How did you miss that he’s a dad?

TARAH
Unlike you and everyone else, I’ve avoided Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Reddit, Instagram, Snapchat, Zynga, Tumblr, FetLife, Pinterest, LiveJournal, Friendster, Bebo and any other social media site people have used over the years.

AJ
No one’s used MySpace since 2008, so you’re not alone in that one at least.

TARAH
Why is MySpace the one you latched onto there?

Beat.

TARAH
But anyways, when you’re on the road, you don’t really pay attention to what’s going on back home.

AJ
Do you still consider this place home?

TARAH finally sits down next to AJ.

TARAH
Yeah. It’ll always be home. I come back here every so often. No offense that I haven’t reached out when I have been back. I’m mainly just visiting family and then I’m gone.

AJ
How do you do it? Just travel everywhere?

TARAH
I’m a photographer. I go around, get pictures, send them to whoever wants them the most, and then I move on. It’s not always glamorous.

AJ
It sounds great.

TARAH
It is… for the most part. You’re the first person aside from my family and publishers I’ve had a legitimate conversation with in six years.

AJ
I’m sorry if my conversation sucks. I usually find myself talking about movies or comic books. I’m not great with current events. I dread politics.

TARAH’s smile slightly fades.

TARAH
I don’t like politics either. I wasn’t even in the country for the 2016 election.

Beat.

TARAH
I’m going to go get ready.

TARAH gets up and starts to walk off, and runs into her brother CHAD who is heading AJ’s way. CHAD is the definition of a good ol’ boy. He’s dressed like one of the Dukes of Hazzard and even looks like he may have dip in his mouth (but he doesn’t because that’s gross, and he’s really just storing gum in his cheek for… some reason only he knows). CHAD is a country boy, and a little bit bigger (in height and muscle… plus he’s two years older than AJ and TARAH).

TARAH
Hey. Didn’t realize you were here, too.

CHAD
I just wanted to see you before you went off to that reunion.

TARAH
I’m just going to get ready then I’ll be off that way. Do you remember AJ? He’s in the kitchen.

CHAD
Is he really?

CHAD then heads straight to the kitchen as TARAH walks off. He sits down next to AJ.

CHAD
Hey man. Haven’t seen you in years.

Beat.

CHAD
How have you been?

AJ (nervously)
I’m good, man.

Int. AJ’s house. Day. PETE is in the bathroom with the door open, finishing the final touches of getting ready by brushing his hair in the mirror. JASON appears behind him, wearing a polo, jeans and an unenthused look on his face.

JASON (annoyed)
Okay. I’m ready.

PETE whips around.

PETE
You want to go?!

JASON
Yeah. Now wipe that smirk off your face before I change my mind.

PETE does just that and puts a fake stern look on his face.

PETE
I will take you along with me, but only if you wish to go.

JASON
Are we taking my car or yours?

Int. TARAH’s parents’ home. CHAD and AJ are still sitting at the table together. AJ looks nervous and avoids eye contact. CHAD realizes this and just continues to dig further.

CHAD
So, what are you doing over here?

AJ
TARAH invited me. We’re going to go to the reunion together.

CHAD
Got any plans afterward?

AJ
Nope. Just going to give TARAH a ride back here, and then go back to my home. Probably go to sleep from there.

CHAD
You don’t want to hang out with my sister afterward?

AJ
I mean, I could…

CHAD then breaks into a smile. AJ finally turns toward him after realizing what’s going on.

CHAD
Dude. I’m joking with you. You’re fine. If Tarah wants to go to this with anyone, that’s for her to decide.

AJ sighs and relaxes a little, but you can tell he’s still a bit tense, as if he doesn’t quite buy it. Suddenly, they both hear “Bicycle” by Queen playing from the other room. AJ’s face lights up.

AJ
She’s got good taste.

CHAD
Okay, I was starting to warm up to you and then you said that. “Bicycle” is one of Queen’s worst songs. Period. End of sentence.

AJ
I’d argue that its campiness is what makes it great.

CHAD
Okay, hold on… Is it your favorite Queen song?

AJ
No. Not by a long shot. They have plenty of other, better songs. I just happen to like this one, too. That’s all.

CHAD
All right. What is your favorite Queen song, then?

AJ
“I Want to Break Free.”

CHAD
And why is that?

AJ
I don’t know. It resonates with me in some weird way. You?

CHAD
“Radio Gaga.” It’s a classic. Of course there’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but I feel like that’s too easy of an answer.

AJ
It surprises me that you listen to Queen at all.

CHAD
What? You think I listen to country?

AJ
Honestly? Yeah.

CHAD
The only country I listen to is Garth Brooks… and a little bit of Big N’ Rich.

AJ
Does that even count, though?

CHAD
I’d argue that it’s pop country.

AJ
All country music these days is pop country, though. Country as a singular genre is dead.

CHAD
I’ll have to give you that one.

Beat.
CHAD leans in, and quietly adds:

CHAD
Please treat my sister well. Tonight means the world to her.

AJ looks a bit more serious.

AJ (nervously)
Of course. I want her to have a good time.

CHAD
No, I mean it. She’s had a rough go of it the last couple years.

AJ
What happened?

CHAD
I don’t know if it’s okay for me to even be talking about it, but when she was on an assignment overseas she… she saw some shit.

The music in the background goes quiet. CHAD, who is still leaned in pretty close, backs away from AJ, aware that TARAH is now entering the room. She’s wearing a nice dress and her wide smile is back on her face.

TARAH
You ready?

Int. The reunion. LEAH and DAN are sitting, waiting for the first people to get there. LEAH looks impatient. DAN stands behind her, seemingly nonchalant.

DAN
There’s no need to worry. This thing isn’t even set to start for another five minutes. People will get here when they get here.

LEAH
Yeah, but surely someone would have shown up early, right?

The doorknob begins to turn. LEAH looks thrilled. The door opens and GINA walks in. LEAH’s excitement leaves her face entirely.

GINA
What? Not excited to see me?

LEAH
I am, I was just thinking other people should start to show up soon?

GINA
You know, despite popular opinion, I am other people.

The doorknob begins to turn again. The excitement on LEAH’s face immediately returns. JACK RENNER and his wife CLAIRE walk in. CLAIRE is obviously not from the small town, and looks more prepared for the Met Gala with her fancy dress than she is a high school reunion. A look of fixed disgust rests on her face… mainly because she’s just now seeing her husband’s hometown for the first time in all its glory.

JACK
I expected to see more people here.

CLAIRE
We are a few minutes early, I suppose… but isn’t your class pretty small?

LEAH
We actually had a class of more than 200.

CLAIRE
That’s pretty small.

LEAH
For a college, maybe, but –

GINA wraps her hand around LEAH’s arm as she realizes LEAH moving closer into CLAIRE.

GINA (whispers)
She’s not worth it.

JACK
Alright.

Beat.

JACK
Where’s the booze?

LEAH points toward the punch bowl. Near it is a cooler. JACK turns his sights to DAN.

JACK
You want some, man?

DAN
I’m trying not to drink these days. I’ll grab some punch, though, I suppose.

JACK and DAN head over toward the drinks, leaving their significant others behind. GINA introduces herself, putting her hand out.

GINA
You must be Jack’s wife?

CLAIRE just looks down at GINA’s hand, and then up to her face. Her look of disgust seems to only be worse now.

CLAIRE
For the time being.

Beat. LEAH and GINA stare at each other awkwardly before LEAH turns her attention back to CLAIRE.

LEAH
Have you been down here before?

CLAIRE
To your hometown or to… this place?

CLAIRE wildly gestures to all of the decorations that LEAH and GINA worked tirelessly on. LEAH was originally just annoyed, but now CLAIRE’s made it personal.

LEAH
Well… I was talking about the town. But these decorations are fine, I can assure you.

GINA, still right behind LEAH, looks very much like she dreads what’s coming next. She knows LEAH won’t let this go.

CLAIRE
Yeah, these are fine for a high school reunion, I suppose.

LEAH (defensive)
What’s that supposed to mean?

GINA
This IS a high school reunion, so I’m sure that’s-

CLAIRE
It’s nothing fancy.

LEAH
But there are table covers!

GINA then steps out from behind LEAH to introduce herself.

GINA
Hi. I’m Gina. Sorry for my friend. So, is this your first time down here?

CLAIRE
No, actually. We come down here for Christmas. But this is the first time I’ve really had to spend time down here for more than a few hours. It’s a bit… I don’t know the word.

GINA (under her breath)
Don’t say trashy, don’t say trashy, don’t say…

CLAIRE
Homely?

LEAH
You’re homely!

Ext. Parking lot. AJ and TARAH pull up in AJ’s car. AJ looks at the small amount of cars in the parking lot.

AJ
Maybe we wait a minute to go in?

TARAH
Why?

AJ
It might be a little awkward if we go in there and there are only three or four other people here.

TARAH
Let’s just wait until a couple more people go in, then.

PETE’s car then pulls up. Him and JASON look at the small amount of cars in the parking lot.

JASON
Maybe we wait a minute to go in.

PETE
Why?

JASON
It might be a little awkward if we go in there and there are only three or four other people here.

PETE
Let’s just wait until a couple more people go in, then.

A couple more cars pull into the parking lot, and a few more people get out and then walk into the reunion. PETE looks back at JASON. JASON points at one of the people walking in.

JASON
Is that Janet?

PETE
Her? Yeah…. wait, isn’t she the girl who accidentally sent you nudes when we were in college?

JASON
Yeah. You know, I’ll never understand why people want to send each other pictures of their buttholes.

PETE
Weird. Does she know she sent those to you?

JASON
No. Deleted them as soon as I saw them. I just… man, it’s a butthole. What am I supposed to do with that information?

PETE (uncomfortable)
I… I really don’t know… Can we go in now?

JASON shrugs.

JASON
I don’t see why not.

The two of them get out of the car and begin to walk toward the building as TARAH and AJ in the background also get out of their car and walk up to them.

AJ
Hey guys!

PETE and JASON turn around. AJ comes running up. TARAH walks slowly behind him.

AJ
Sorry I lied to you guys about the reunion.

JASON
You didn’t lie to us. To lie you would have to say something.

AJ
Fair point. Either way, I’m glad you guys both decided to come.

TARAH
So, should we go ahead and head in?

PETE
I don’t see why not.

The four walk in together and see there are only ten people inside.

TARAH
I’m sure more people are going to be here soon.

The door opens behind them and a couple more people walk in, including CAROLINE, a former scene girl who has cleaned up her look… turning instead into a hipster. She’s also JASON’s high school sweetheart. She bumps into JASON as she tries to walk past him. He turns around and notices her.

JASON
Oh! Sorry Caroline. Didn’t see you there. Go ahead.

JASON extends his arms out ahead of him to tell CAROLINE to move onward.

CAROLINE
Oh. Hi there, Jase. Thanks.

CAROLINE walks past him and locks eyes with PETE, mouths “thank you,” and walks off. JASON spots this and turns to him, eyebrows raised.

JASON
What was that?

PETE
Nothing. Anyways, we should probably start talking to people I suppose. Anyone want some punch?

JASON’s eyes grow wide.

JASON
No!

PETE
Jase, you okay?

JASON
Yeah. Just…. I dunno, maybe just don’t drink the punch or whatever. Looks like they did a bad job of mixing it.

PETE
What’s your deal, man?

JASON
No deal. Just… just don’t drink it. Don’t ask.

PETE
Oh… kay. If you say so, man.

PETE begins walking around, exchanging pleasantries with people, leaving AJ, TARAH and JASON behind. The camera slowly zooms in on JASON’s face.

JASON
You know what? Pete said he wouldn’t abandon me tonight, yet here we are… again.

The camera pans out, revealing that TARAH has also abandoned him. A.J. still stands next to him.

JASON
Well, at least you’re here.

AJ
I’m going to go over there.

AJ slinks off.

JASON
Typical.Well, at least now no one’s going to judge me.

JASON walks over to where the drinks are. He grabs a can of beer, opens it, starts drinking, and, still drinking, reaches down and grabs another can.
AJ and TARAH sit down at a table together, talking, when CAROLINE sits down next to them.

CAROLINE
I didn’t think Jason was going to make it here tonight.

TARAH
Why not?

CAROLINE
Because it’s Jason. He hates people.

AJ
We may have convinced him.

CAROLINE
How?

AJ
I don’t know. Pete did it.

CAROLINE
Does Pete have his baby girl with him?! She looks so cute in the pictures I’ve seen.

TARAH
Her and Jane are back home.

CAROLINE
And why is that?

AJ
He didn’t know the reunion was this weekend.

CAROLINE
Then why is he here?

Cut to PETE wandering over to the punch. He looks at it, then looks back over at JASON, who is sitting at a table by himself with two empty beer cans next to him and another beer can in his hand, then back to the punch. He shakes his head, then looks over at the cooler nearby full of beer. He grabs one, opens it and starts drinking. Unfortunately, he catches JACK’s gaze.

JACK
Hey Pete. You kind of ran off last time I saw you. You doing okay?

PETE
Yeahhhhhh man. I’m fine.

DAN walks past PETE and puts some punch in his glass and starts drinking it. PETE’s eyes focus in on DAN as he follows the whole process with unease.

JACK
You seem really uptight.

PETE
What can I say? High blood pressure.

JACK
I wouldn’t know anything about that.

PETE
Yeah, man. I know. ‘Cause you’re hot and don’t have any problems.

JACK
My wife just served me with divorce papers, actually.

PETE stands there, not saying anything, nervous, as JACK’s demeanor changes from cocky assuredness to sadness with the flick of a switch. Suddenly we hear the voice of COREY from the other side of the reunion.

COREY
Is that Pete Jameson?!? Buddy, I ain’t seen you since yesterday!

PETE points over to COREY.

PETE
I’ve…. got to go talk to my friend.

PETE walks off and grabs COREY, moving to the other side of the reunion so he can get as far away from JACK as he can.

COREY
What are you doing, buddy?

PETE
Shut up and just walk!

The two walk right past JASON, who is still sitting by himself. CAROLINE sits down next to him.

CAROLINE
So, how have you been? I haven’t heard from you in years.

JASON
I’m okay.

CAROLINE
Are you going to AA?

JASON
Why in the hell is that a topic of discussion lately?

CAROLINE
I know someone who’s in there with you.

JASON
You do know one of those ‘A’s stands for ‘anonymous,’ right?

CAROLINE
I just wanted to say, if you want to talk, I’m here to listen. Plus, you know, you’re surrounded by beer.

JASON
I don’t need to talk about it. I don’t… need your help or anyone else’s, okay?

CAROLINE
Just… know that I’m here for you, alright?

JASON
I- okay? Are you just going to grab drinks out of my hand? Are you a licensed therapist?

CAROLINE snatches the beer out of JASON’s hand. He looks furious. She stands (or at least sits, firm).
We then see AJ and TARAH. AJ gets up from the table and looks at TARAH.

AJ
I’m going to grab a drink. Do you want anything?

TARAH
I would take some punch… but I was a bit weirded out by Jason a minute ago. Is there anything else over there? I could go for some water if they have it.

AJ
Sure thing.

AJ walks off, and LEAH and GINA sit down next to TARAH, continuing a conversation they’ve obviously been having for a while.

LEAH
I just don’t think it’s that great. I’ve seen a bit of it, but it seems too.. CW-ish?

TARAH’s interest is piqued.

TARAH
What are you talking about?

GINA
“Supergirl.” Have you watched it?

TARAH
A little bit, yeah.

ALICE DEAKINS walks by and hears the conversation, pulls up a chair and sits down.

ALICE
What about “Supergirl?”

GINA
We were talking about whether that show is a good representation of feminism or not.

TARAH
Well, I’d have to say it is great that there is a female superhero show, but I’m not sure if it’s truly the best representation of feminism.

LEAH
It’s on CW. It’s not like the show is anything but unnecessary drama and occasional action. There’s nothing feminist about it other than it has a woman at the forefront.

ALICE
Yeah, but the main character is fighting adversity at every turn. So, I would say it’s a strong, feminist show.

GINA
Yeah, but it’s also pandering. I’d rather have something be truly empowering than pandering. The show makes a big deal out of her being a woman at every point, but it never just stops that and lets her just be a hero. I’d argue focusing on the fact that she’s a woman makes it not feminist. It’s all counter-intuitive.

JACK walks up to the table.

JACK
What are all you gorgeous ladies talking about?

GINA
Cute boys. Like Ryan Gosling.

LEAH
Yeah, this whole conversation would definitely not pass the Bechdel test.

JACK pulls up a chair and sits down, interested.

JACK
Ryan Gosling, you say?

ALICE
Yeah. And Timothee Chalomet.

JACK suddenly looks disgusted and gets up.

JACK
I’ll see myself out.

JACK walks away. ALICE looks around the table.

ALICE
Chalomet gets them every time.

We cut to COREY talking PETE’s ear off. AJ can be seen in the background returning to the table and giving TARAH her water.

COREY
And he didn’t make it, man. Told you, kidney failure.

PETE
Yeah, you did. Hey, so how do we know each other? I really don’t remember you in school.

COREY
Ouch, man. I was in band, remember?

PETE
Yeah, you told me that. I wasn’t in band, though, so I don’t know how that helps me at all.

COREY
Yeah, but I was.

PETE
That’s not really connecting any dots for me. Were we in a class together?

COREY
I sat in the back of Coach Greg’s history class.

PETE
Who the hell is Coach Greg?

COREY
Football coach. History teacher.

PETE
Never even heard of him, and I went to football games.

COREY looks defeated. There are a few moments of silence between him and PETE as, in the background we see LEAH, GINA and ALICE get up from the table suddenly after the sound of a glass breaking.

LEAH (in the distance)
That’s gonna stain!

COREY
I’m gonna go grab some punch. I’ll… I’ll talk to you later.

PETE suddenly feels guilty.

PETE
I’ll go grab some punch with you. I didn’t mean to be such a dillhole.

We cut back to AJ and TARAH sitting at a table, now alone.

AJ
So, you just go wherever you want to? Do you drive, or…?

TARAH
I fly here and there, but for the most part, I travel in an RV. It gets me from point A to point B. So, what are you doing these days?

AJ
I’m a reporter for the paper here in town.

TARAH
Really? You know, I could use a reporter going along with me for a lot of the things I do.

AJ
Really?

TARAH
Yeah!

AJ
Y’know, they’re looking for a news editor at the paper…

TARAH
Are you going for it?

AJ
No.

TARAH
Why not?

AJ
I don’t feel right… staying there.

TARAH
You want to get out of here?

AJ
Tarah, that’s a little forward, don’t you think?

TARAH
Not here, silly. This town.

AJ
Thought about it.

TARAH
Why not?

AJ looks at her for a moment, afraid to admit that he’s just afraid to leave. He shrugs. We get a shot of the two of them, and the camera then pans over to JASON and CAROLINE.

CAROLINE
You know we were at the same bar a couple of weeks back.

JASON
Really? Did you see me?

CAROLINE
No. A couple of people told me they spotted you.

JASON
Who?

CAROLINE
You know I’m friends with your friends, right? You even introduced me to your college buddies back in the day, too?

JASON
You still talk to them?

CAROLINE
All the time. We play D&D.

JASON
They told me they stopped playing.

CAROLINE
They lied. They just didn’t like the way you played.

JASON
What do you mean, the way I played?

CAROLINE
You created a rogue who was 4,000 pounds and had difficulty moving around and breathing.

JASON (enthusiastically defensive)
Little Bitch brightened up every campaign we played!

CAROLINE
And he also slowed down or ruined campaigns.

JASON (sarcastic, and slightly angry)
Get the hell out of here.

CAROLINE
Okay, but remember, if you need help-

JASON
Get the hell away!

CAROLINE gets up and walks away. JASON breathes a sigh of relief, gets up to follow after her, but realizes that DAN is walking toward him from the other side of the room.

JASON (under his breath)
Shit.

DAN
Jason, Jason, Jason… I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while.

JASON
You have?

DAN
Yes. Yes, I have.

Cut to PETE and COREY at the punch bowl. COREY grabs some punch, and PETE follows him, putting some into a cup. COREY drinks his, and, just before PETE is set to drink his, he thinks twice and sets it down, then walks off. COREY looks back at him, confused.

COREY
Where are you going, buddy?

PETE sits down at a table by himself. He looks over to see AJ and TARAH deep in conversation and smiles. He then looks over to see DAN and JASON. He debates on whether to walk over to help, but a hand is placed on his. He looks up. It’s TIFFANY BLACK, a knowing, genuine smile on her face.

TIFFANY
How are you feeling?

PETE
Tiffany? Tiffany Black?

TIFFANY
That’s me.

PETE
How are YOU feeling?

TIFFANY
Not like a damn recluse, I’ll tell you that.

PETE tries to hide his surprise, but TIFFANY notices it.

TIFFANY
I know what people say about me. It’s not true. You know, when Jenny died, I went through hell.

PETE
I meant to see how you were holding up after the funeral-

TIFFANY
It’s okay. Life happened. I thank you for showing up back then, though. It meant the world to me.

PETE
I should have kept in touch, though.

TIFFANY
You’ve been busy. Stop apologizing. How are YOU doing? I know you and Sam were attached at the hip, just like Jen and I.

PETE
Jen and me.

TIFFANY
You can’t stop being a grammar Nazi, even now?

PETE
Sorry.

TIFFANY
Again. Stop apologizing.

PETE
Sorry. I’ll stop.

TIFFANY
I’m not going to say it again. But how are you handling it?

PETE
The best I can… I think my sense of humor’s the only thing keeping me afloat aside from AJ and Jason, and even then…. You see them, right?

Beat.

PETE
I just… I miss Sam. A lot. He was the best damn friend a guy could have, and I took him for granted when he was here.

A couple tears start coming down on PETE’s face.

PETE
Does it ever get easier?

TIFFANY
I’d love to say it does. It gets more manageable, I think. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her, and the hurt is still there, but… it’s different.

PETE
How’s that?

TIFFANY
I know she would want me to live. Sam would want you to do the same.

The two hug. When they pull away, PETE begins to look around the room.

TIFFANY
What’s up?

PETE
I gotta take a crap. You know were the bathroom is?

TIFFANY (disgusted)
Like, right this very second?

PETE
Yeah. I have a sensitive stomach.

TIFFANY
It’s over there.

TIFFANY points to a hallway that starts at the other end of the room. PETE stands up and starts to head toward the other side of the room, but turns back to her.

PETE
This is gonna sound weird, but could you make sure no one else goes in there?

TIFFANY
No!

We cut to JASON and DAN. JASON is backed into a wall now. DAN is holding a cup full of punch that he slowly nurses during their conversation.

DAN
You know, I’ve been thinking…. and I’m not proud of the person I was back in school. I was mean. Maybe it’s just that so much time has passed, maybe it’s the fact that I have a daughter now…

JASON (surprised)
You…. you have a daughter?

DAN pulls out his phone and shows off a photo of him and his daughter, both with big smiles spread across their faces.

DAN
Yeah. This is her.

JASON
That’s…. really cute.

DAN sips his punch before he responds.

DAN
Thanks. But anyway, maybe it’s just that I’m now starting to see some of my negative qualities reflected on her, but I realize I was a big jerk to you when we were in school. I wish I could take back all of what I did to you. I wish there was something I could do that would make it better or anything like that. I just want to say I’m sorry. I know that’s not much.

JASON looks conflicted. DAN’s drinking the spiked punch, so he’s got his comeuppance right around the corner, but now JASON’s not so sure it’s deserved.

DAN
So anyway…. Are we good, man?

JASON begins scanning the room and sees several people drinking the punch. He’s nervous now. It was one thing to spike the punch, but actually seeing the side effects would be something else… and he hadn’t given it much thought. DAN’s smile starts to fade.

DAN
Is it getting hot in here?

JASON tries to brush this off.

JASON
No…. I’m…. I’m good.

DAN
You sure?

The look on DAN’s face worsens. His stomach sours.

DAN
I’m… I’m not feeling so good, man.

JASON
Yeah?

JASON finally gains some confidence back. He’s about to see his old bully get his comeuppance. At what cost? He doesn’t care. His voice becomes louder and more confident as he speaks.

JASON
It’s almost like someone put laxatives in the punch or something…

DAN realizes what’s happened. He looks angry, and grabs at JASON’s shirt collar, essentially using it as a support to hold himself up.

DAN
Why would you do this to me?

Loud noises start coming from DAN’s stomach. He’s about to poop in his pants, and he knows it.

DAN
WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!

JASON pushes him off. This is his moment. The next thing he says is pretty much to reassure himself that what he did was right.

JASON
You- you deserve this! You’re a bad person!

We cut back to PETE. Music is now playing over the scene. PETE starts to walk toward AJ but realizes just how deep in conversation he is with TARAH, so he backs away… and almost goes to JASON, as well, but notices DAN on the ground. He then runs off across a makeshift dance floor with only two people on it, into the hallway and to the bathroom. We see the bathroom door close behind him. We cut back to AJ and TARAH. TARAH stands up, walks to the dance floor that PETE ran across, puts her hand out to AJ, and he gets up and starts dancing with her. DAN, meanwhile, picks himself up off the ground and begins running toward the restroom. The camera, after following him part of the way, pans around the room to show a handful of other people holding their stomachs, the laxatives taking hold. They all start running toward the restrooms as well. We see people who were near JASON and DAN a moment ago turning toward JASON in disgust. We see PETE on the toilet, then a shot from inside the restroom as DAN, followed by three other people, rush in. We see PETE looking horrified, still on the toilet. We see AJ and TARAH continue dancing. A smile spreads across TARAH’s face. She’s happy. We see JASON start walking away from the wall, and start walking in AJ’s direction. He’s going to try to get to his friend so they can get out of there. We see one person banging on the bathroom stall that PETE is sitting in. We see PETE, nearly sobbing on a toilet. JASON appears between TARAH and AJ, grabs AJ’s arm and begins running toward the door, TARAH running behind them. PETE walks out of the bathroom stall as one of the people who drank the spiked punch jumps in, not even closing the door behind himself. PETE frantically washes his hands, looking over his shoulders behind him as he does. He runs out, sees JASON, TARAH and AJ, and runs toward them and then alongside them as they run to the exit. The four get out the door and into the parking lot. The music stops.
Outside the venue and in the parking lot, PETE stops for a breather, panting. AJ and TARAH look equally furious as JASON starts walking toward their car. When PETE comes back up, he looks shellshocked.

AJ
What the hell was that?!

JASON
Someone had to show those assholes what for. I’m just mad it had to be me.

PETE looks over at JASON, furious.

PETE
I’m sorry, so you decided to roofie them?

JASON
Do you know what a roofie is?

AJ
He ‘ex-laxed’ them.

JASON
It wasn’t ExLax, you guys, it was an off-brand-

AJ
I don’t care what it was!

PETE
Why did you have to ExLax them? Couldn’t you have just thrown a freaking pie? That’s revenge enough without causing major problems!

JASON
No one throws pies anymore! It’s not the 1930s, you fogie!

PETE
I still don’t know what that word means!

TARAH
Guys, we need to get out of here before everyone else comes out. Jason kind of just ruined everything. Also, Pete… yeah, pies are incredibly out-dated, and I really don’t think anyone actually does that in real life.

PETE
But they threw pies in the “Fight for Your Right to Party” video!

TARAH
…which came out in the 80s. And even then, the joke was that people don’t throw pies.

PETE
Fine. Besides, this is all beside the point. People had to smell and hear my bowel movement, you guys. You know what? That’s it!

PETE rolls up his sleeves and puts his hands up awkwardly into fists, flailing his arms around as he does so, staring at JASON.

JASON
What… what are you doing?

PETE
I’m gonna fight you! Put your hands up and fight me!

AJ
Pete, you look like you have no clue what you’re doing.

PETE
I’m sorry I’ve never been in a fight before!

PETE swings at JASON, who dodges, and then punches PETE in the face. PETE stumbles backward a bit and then falls down.

JASON
What in the hell is your problem? Why are you guys mad at me?

TARAH walks up to him and slaps him in the face and then turns back to AJ.

TARAH
We should go.

She then turns back to face JASON.

TARAH
If I were you, I would get as far away from here as possible. I guarantee everyone inside is furious.

AJ slightly waves to his two friends as he and TARAH walk to the car and then drive off. JASON looks down at PETE.

JASON
I’m sorry, bud.

PETE, still on the ground, looks up at him.

PETE
I don’t give a shit.

JASON
You did a minute ago.

PETE
Hardy har.

The door to the venue opens up. Their classmates stumble out, zombie-like, all gunning for the two of them and getting in the way of their car. JASON and PETE slowly back away.

PETE
What do we do?

JASON
Pray to God.

PETE
Aren’t you an atheist?

JASON
Yeah… Look if I’m about to die, I want to at least give the big guy a shot.

A van then pulls up. Two old friends of the guys, KEVIN and STEVE, appear in the window, KEVIN behind the wheel.

STEVE
Come with me if you want to live!

Beat. STEVE cracks a smile.

STEVE
I’ve always wanted to say that.

JASON
Where the hell did you guys come from?

KEVIN
Did you not hear him? Get in!

JASON and PETE whip around to see that the door has opened again, and DAN along with a few more classmates, are beginning to shuffle toward them. JASON and PETE jump into the van, which speeds off.

STEVE (V.O.)
Seriously, am I wasting “Terminator” references on you guys?

Int. KEVIN and STEVE’s house. Night.
KEVIN, STEVE, JASON and PETE are sitting down around a table, drinking. KEVIN is the more slobbish of the two friends, unshaved with longer hair and a t-shirt and shorts. STEVE looks a bit more polished. Facial hair kept nice and even, hair slick and wearing a considerably nicer get-up than his counterpart. Their house looks like an obvious collaboration between the two. There are a handful of things on the walls. It’s a bit messy, but there are pockets around the house that are well-kept. As the four sit drinking, PETE still eyeballs JASON, two drinks in, with contempt.

PETE
So AJ called you guys? When?

PETE’s line of sight changes to KEVIN and STEVE mid-question.

KEVIN
I think it was right after you guys got to the reunion, honestly. He said you both seemed miserable.

KEVIN gets up to grab another beer.

PETE
I wasn’t miserable.

JASON
You were stuck talking to that one guy…. what’s his name? Cody?

PETE
Corey.

STEVE
Who’s Corey?

PETE
I don’t know. He recognizes me…. but I legitimately don’t think I’ve ever seen him before this weekend.

KEVIN
So, what do you guys want to do? Either of you want another beer?

PETE motions that he’s good. JASON holds up a finger. KEVIN grabs two beers: one for him and one for JASON.

JASON
Thanks. And, preferably not see any of those assholes again.

KEVIN
You guys want to play cards?

PETE
Like Old Maid?

KEVIN
No. Magic.

STEVE grabs out a box of cards and showcases them.

STEVE
The Gathering.

JASON
I’m good.

STEVE
We could always play Mario Kart.

PETE
And have Kevin kick my ass again? Not so fast, sir.

KEVIN
We don’t have to do anything. We could just hang out. It has been quite a while since I’ve seen either of you. Pete, I hear you’re a dad now?

PETE
Yeah. It’s crazy, really.

JASON
So what have the two of you been up to?

STEVE
We live together. I work down the road at the steel mill, Kevin’s working there, too.

JASON
Really?

STEVE suppresses a smile.

STEVE
Pfft. Of course not. I work in I.T.

KEVIN
And I actually do work at the steel mill!

Beat.

KEVIN
Nah. That’s still a lie. I work with him.

PETE
Cool.

KEVIN
So how are your folks doing?

PETE
They’re okay.

KEVIN
What have they been up to lately?

PETE starts to answer then stops.

JASON
It’s okay to say you haven’t talked to them.

PETE
Hey. Don’t try to throw me under the bus, pal. It’s not like you’re a saint.

JASON
At least I’m not pretending to be one, asshole.

PETE
Go drink some more, you alcoholic prick.

STEVE
Hey, maybe you guys don’t do this here?

JASON puts his arm up, silencing STEVE.

JASON
No. That’s fine. Let’s do this here.

STEVE
I’d really rather you guys n-

JASON stands up.

JASON
Yeah. I have a problem. Yeah, I passed out in someone’s front yard and got arrested for public intox. But I’ve been to AA.

PETE
It didn’t stop you from drinking all weekend.

JASON
Piss off! At least I’m trying to be better.

PETE
How?

JASON
Clearly I have a drinking problem. And clearly you have a problem, too. But unlike mine, which is… in the process of being fixed more or less, you don’t seem to be trying to solve yours. Go talk to your parents, man.

PETE
I’m sorry.

JASON
What was that?

PETE
I’m sorry, okay!

STEVE
Are you guys okay?

KEVIN
We can leave if you want us to.

STEVE turns to him, bewildered.

STEVE
Dude, this is our house.

KEVIN
I’m just trying to be helpful.

JASON
No. I think we’re done. Anyway… so, AJ called you earlier? What’d he say?

STEVE
Said you guys might need us. Told us to be on stand by across the street…. so, we did as we were told.

KEVIN
I assume you guys really mucked things up.

PETE
Yeah. Genius over here-

PETE motions toward JASON.

PETE (contd)
-he made some people poop in their pants.

KEVIN
That’s pretty great.

PETE
It’s great until you have to deal with the aftermath. And the smell.

JASON (defensive)
We got out of there.

PETE turns to face JASON.

PETE
I’m never going to be able to use a public toilet ever again. I’ve been psychologically damaged beyond all doubt.

JASON
Maybe this will help you poop in public.

PETE
I think it’s done quite the opposite.

PETE then turns back to STEVE and KEVIN.

PETE
But I thank the two of you for being there for the two of us. That was nice of you and really thoughtful of A.J. We should probably tell him thank you ourselves.

STEVE
Where did he go, anyway? We saw him leave with somebody.

Int. TARAH’s parents’ home, evening. TARAH and AJ walk in, both giggling.

TARAH
I know what Jason did was awful, but it was kind of funny seeing Dan have to run for the bathroom in front of everyone.

A.J.
It was…

The smile fades from AJ’s face.

A.J. (contd)
…but I have to face a couple of those people every time I go to the store.

TARAH’s smile follows suit.

TARAH
I’m sorry. You know, going back to what we were talking about earlier… this might me a good reason for you to just pack up and move away.

A.J. shrugs.

A.J.
I guess.

TARAH
You never told me why you haven’t left.

A.J.
I… I don’t know. Every time I think about it, something comes up.

TARAH
Like what?

A.J.
Well, the promotion at my job…

TARAH
The one that you said you’re not going for? That one?

A.J. deflates. He looks down at his feet.

A.J.
Yeah.

TARAH
Then what’s keeping you here?

A.J. looks up at her, struggling for an answer.

A.J.
I’m worried.

TARAH
About what?

A.J.
Leaving. What’s out there for me?

TARAH puts an arm around A.J.

TARAH
You won’t know until you go out there.

AJ
Going out there scares me. I’ve always known this life.

Beat.

AJ
You want to know something weird?

TARAH
What?

AJ
This is the first Saturday night in a long time where I’m not… just… sad.

TARAH
What about a Saturday night would make you sad?

AJ
Back in high school, all the guys would hang out on Saturdays. Saturday night, we’d all part ways. And then I was left to myself. And I would think to myself… it’s just me, now… and I don’t really like me. Then in college, even though we didn’t live in the same town, we’d all get together on Saturdays. The same thing. Now we’re adults and we don’t see each other as much, but it’s still Saturdays. And at the end of the night, it’s always the same thing.

TARAH
There’s no need to be sad. It’s not just you right now… and even if it was, I think you’re great. You really do need to get away. You’ll never know who you truly are unless you get away from what you’ve known. Trust me. I’ve found plenty of great things out and about.. and I discovered things about myself that I never would have if I stayed here.

AJ
Like what?

TARAH
I found adventure, and found that I love adventure, and being able to just move around. There are a lot of beautiful sights out there.

AJ
Doesn’t it get to be a bit much, though?

TARAH
It can.

AJ
Your brother earlier said you had a bit of a rough time a while back… I’m not trying to pry or anything, but you seem to be handling it well. Are you?

TARAH
What did he tell you?

AJ
Not much more than that, really. So, I have no clue what he’s talking about.

TARAH
I’ve been overseas. Been to some really rough areas. You see things that people aren’t meant to see. And a couple months ago, I saw some really bad stuff… but I’m here now.

TARAH’s smile starts to come back. She can’t be brought down. Not for long, at least.

AJ
You don’t have to say anymore if you don’t want to.

TARAH
I’ve seen a lot of things while taking pictures. But I’ve told myself to maybe take it easy for the time being… Maybe I don’t go to some of the scarier places out there.

AJ holds her.

AJ
I’m sorry.

AJ kisses her forehead. TARAH looks up at him. A tear is streaking down her face.

TARAH
I love you.

AJ, caught off guard, takes a moment to respond.

AJ
I… I love you too. I loved you back in high school. I really wish I had said that before.

TARAH
I knew.

AJ
You did… and you didn’t say anything?

TARAH cracks a smile.

Ext. PETE’s parents’ home. Night. STEVE and KEVIN’s van pulls up to the house and PETE gets out and waves goodbye.

PETE
I’ll see you guys tomorrow, right?

STEVE and KEVIN, both in the front seats, nod. JASON, looking like he’s ashamed of himself for what transpired that night, gives a slight smile and wave to PETE from the back seat. PETE turns to him before they drive off.

PETE
Just… do better next time. Like, our 20 year reunion, I suppose.
The van backs out of the driveway and heads off. PETE walks inside to see his dad sitting in a chair, lamp turned on next to him, with no other lights on.

PETE
Jesus dad! Were you waiting up for me?!

FRED
Yeah.

FRED gets up from the chair and gives his son a hug.

FRED
I just wanted to see how everything went.

PETE starts to realize just how much of a dick he’s been to his dad as he stays in his dad’s embrace for a moment. Then FRED lets go.

PETE
It… was awful.

FRED
Then let’s talk about it.

The scene cuts to the kitchen, FRED listening intently, coffee cup in hand, as PETE finishes his story.

PETE
And then they brought me here.

FRED
So you mean to tell me that Jason spiked the punch with Ex-Lax?

PETE
It wasn’t the brand name laxative, but basically, yeah.

FRED
And… you have a fear of public bathrooms? How long has that been going on?

PETE
My whole life, really.

FRED
I’ve never known.

PETE
I never really talked to you about it.

FRED (slightly disgusted)
You know I’ll always hear you out… even if it’s about that.

PETE
I know. Thanks, Dad. I swear next time I come down I’ll actually spend time with you guys… and I’ll try my best to come down at a time that’s not Christmas or a funeral or something like that.

FRED
That’d be nice.

PETE then hugs his dad.

Ext. Night. AJ’s house. KEVIN’s van is outside. JASON steps out and into the driveway, looking around. A.J.’s car is nowhere to be found.

KEVIN
You sure you want us to leave you here?

JASON
Yeah. AJ should be here in just a few minutes.

KEVIN
We can stay if you want us to. Or you can just come crash at our place.

STEVE
Or we could just leave you.

KEVIN
Don’t undermine me in front of him!

STEVE
I’m just saying. Obviously he wants us to leave him here.

JASON
You guys can go, I really don’t-

STEVE
You heard him!

STEVE rolls the window up in the van. KEVIN looks at JASON, shrugs, and then drives off.
JASON looks around and pulls out his phone. He pulls up AJ’s number and calls. It rings and then goes to voicemail. He then texts him “Hey, I’m at your place. You going to be here soon?” And waits. He then tries to call again.

Int. TARAH’s parents’ home. Night. We see AJ’s phone on a table. It goes off. The camera pans out to show AJ and TARAH staring at the phone.

TARAH
You don’t have to get that.

AJ
Oh I didn’t plan on it. Not at all.

AJ hits ignore.

Ext. AJ’s house. Night. JASON stands outside. He gets on the porch and sits down.

JASON
Maybe this is what I deserve.

JASON scrolls down on the contact list on his phone. He sees TAD’s name and number in there, hesitates and looks around a moment before finally deciding to call. The phone rings three times before TAD answers.

Int. TAD’s house night. He’s lying in bed, having just been woken up, and appears to have just grabbed his phone off of the nightstand next to him.

TAD
Hello? Who is this?

JASON
This is Tad, right?

TAD
Right.

JASON
It’s Jason. From AA.

TAD
Oh. Hi, Jason. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. It’s really late. Everything okay?

JASON
I slipped today. Had a few beers.

TAD
I hate to hear that, buddy. You’re not driving, are you?

JASON
No. I had a friend drop me off.

TAD
That’s good.

JASON
Why do I keep messing this stuff up? I really pissed off my friends today.

TAD
What did you do?

JASON
I spiked the punch with laxatives at my high school reunion.

TAD
That’s… not great, to be honest. Why’d you do that?

JASON
I hated my old classmates. Thought that would be funny.

TAD
I think I’m preaching to the choir right now, but you can’t do that.

JASON
I know that! I’m sorry.

TAD
You don’t have to be sorry. You just have to not do it again. You backslid today. But just keep trying to move forward. You can’t beat yourself up too much.

JASON
I’ll come back to the meeting next week.

TAD
Good. We missed you at the last meeting. Just keep yourself honest, Jason. And feel free to call me any time. I’ll always answer. Now, remember that every day is a chance to start over again. You slipped today. You can choose to not drink again tomorrow.

JASON
Thanks. Now go get some rest.

JASON hangs up the phone. He looks around to see if AJ is heading back. Music plays as we see PETE lying down in bed at his parents’ home, TARAH and AJ sitting on a couch, watching TV and laughing, only to pan over and show CHAD staring at them. We then see JASON lying down in his car outside AJ’s house as he tries to sleep. Eventually, AJ’s car pulls up at the house, shining JASON in light. A very tired JASON looks up and then gets out of his car. AJ then walks up to the door, a pep in his step. JASON catches up to him, furious.

JASON
Where were you all night?

AJ
Hello to you as well.

JASON
Well, mister?

AJ (a bit playful now)
You’re not my real dad.

AJ opens the front door and walks in. JASON steps in behind him.

JASON
What did you do with Tarah?

To this, AJ finally blows a fuse, whipping around from putting his wallet down on the table.

AJ
Tarah and I just hung out, watched a movie together, talked for a little bit… Not like it’s any of your business, though! Aren’t I allowed to just be happy?

JASON
I’m- You know, I can just-

AJ
You ruined my night. Tarah saved it. I was looking forward to seeing everyone again, but now I don’t know if I can look any of our classmates in the eyes after what you did.

JASON
I’ll just leave-

AJ
No. Stay here. Just know that I’m annoyed. I’m allowed to be. I’m going to bed.

JASON tries to say something, but AJ puts a hand up, letting him know he won’t be hearing it, and goes to his room, shutting the door behind him. JASON sits down on the couch.
Int. PETE’s parents’ home. Morning. PETE walks into the kitchen. His parents are eating breakfast. He walks up to them, and hugs RENAE as she’s sitting at the table.

RENAE
What’s gotten into you?

PETE lets go, then pulls up a chair next to his parents.

PETE
I’m sorry I’ve been distant since I’ve been back.

His parents stare at him.

PETE
Okay. For the past few years. But that’s going to change. Is it okay if I eat with you?

FRED extends his arms in a welcoming gesture. PETE gives his parents a smile.
Int. AJ’s house. JASON wakes up from his spot on the couch and begins looking around. He then sees a note on the table. He picks it up and reads it. It reads:
“Gone to TARAH’s. See you at the church at 2.” JASON puts the note down, nearly in tears. He’s pushed away a good friend. He pulls out his phone and dials a number.

Int. Restaurant, morning. CAROLINE sits at a booth in the same restaurant where JASON had dinner with his friends the first night he was in town. JASON walks in and sits down across from her.

CAROLINE
So…?

JASON
So…. I guess I need help.

CAROLINE’s eyes light up.

CAROLINE
I know an AA group here that can-

JASON
No, not with that. I am an alcoholic. I know that. I started going to AA a while back. But I push people away. I’m sure you noticed.

CAROLINE (sarcastically)
What? Noooo.

JASON
So what do I need to do?

CAROLINE
I’m assuming this is related to you making a bunch of people shit their pants last night?

JASON
A little bit, yeah. How did everything go after we left, by the way?

CAROLINE pauses for a moment. We then flash back to the night before, and see the van with JASON and PETE in it driving off as everyone else from their graduating class stays behind. The camera takes us from the parking lot where most of the angry classmates are to the inside of the building, where CAROLINE is sitting along with TIFFANY, who is laughing hysterically.

CAROLINE
I really don’t see what’s so funny.

TIFFANY points to DAN FRENCH, walking back into the room with a very obvious shit stain on the back of his pants.

TIFFANY
All of these assholes made fun of us in high school.

CAROLINE
They didn’t make fun of me.

TIFFANY
Yeah, they did.

CAROLINE
They… ?

TIFFANY
But now… look at ’em.

DAN’s not the only one. The rest of the classmates all walk back into the room. They all look equal parts disgusted and ashamed. None of them can look each other in the eyes.

TIFFANY
He finally knocked them down a peg.

We can see the other classmates from across the room… they go from disgusted… to cracking jokes and laughing. We then move in closer. JACK looks at CLAIRE, who laughs at him at first, but then gets on the dance floor with him. We then flash forward to most of the classmates together on the dance floor, having a great time, with CAROLINE in the middle, clearly smelling all of the shit that is still very much in everyone’s pants.

Int. Restaurant, day. We see JASON and CAROLINE sitting there, CAROLINE obviously having just finished her story.

JASON
So… they just… had fun?

CAROLINE
Yeah. Oh, and it smelled like shit. Like, the entire time.

JASON
Well, obviously. But you mean I didn’t ruin the night?

CAROLINE
You put a wrench in the plans, clearly… but all of those guys had such huge egos… and then they shit their pants, and it all just… went away. I wish the smell could have, too. I’m still smelling it. Yes, I’m still on that, but if you had just been there, you would have realized just how disgusting it was and I swear to god it was everywhere.

JASON
So I’m not the worst?

CAROLINE
Oh no, you’re most definitely the worst, but you didn’t ruin the night. Not for everyone, at least. From what I heard, AJ and Tarah were furious.

JASON
They were. And that brings me back to my initial point.

CAROLINE
Apologize to them. Like, legitimately apologize. None of that “I’m sorry if I offended you” shit. That’s not an apology. That’s just trying to take the blame off of yourself.

JASON
I’ve never “I’m sorry if I offended you” anybody.

CAROLINE
You kinda have, though.

JASON
Name one instance.

CAROLINE
When you told that joke about black midgets.

JASON
Name two instances.

CAROLINE
The tweet about the tsunami.

JASON
Name three-

CAROLINE
That half-nude photo of yourself that you posted on Facebook that my mom saw back in high school.

JASON (deflated)
I guess we don’t realize our patterns until they’re laid out in front of us like this.

CAROLINE
Exactly. So apologize. You have to see them at the funeral. Make good with them before you guys bury your friend.

JASON
We won’t be burying him, though… He’s in an urn already.

Int. PETE’s parents’ home. PETE is looking in the mirror, dressed in a suit, and trying to put on his tie and having trouble. His dad, FRED, walks up to him.

FRED
Need help?

PETE
Yeah. I haven’t had to put one of these on in ages.

FRED
What do you wear at work?

PETE
Usually a polo. Or a button-up shirt with no tie.

FRED properly puts on PETE’s tie. PETE then looks him in the eye.

PETE
I don’t know if I’m ready for this, Dad.

FRED
That’s ok.

PETE
It’s gonna… it’s gonna feel real now, isn’t it?

FRED nods. There’s a moment of silence.

PETE
How do I look?

FRED
You look ready.

FRED hugs his son.

Ext. Church. AJ and TARAH walk up, hand in hand, dressed in black. AJ looks at the double door entrance, wanting to go in but wanting even more to just stay away. TARAH grips his hand tighter. We see her give him a loving look, letting him know it’s going to be okay. He reaches for the doorknob.

SAM (V.O.)
So, who’s your favorite porn star?

We flash back to AJ, SAM and PETE sitting in PETE’s living room. SAM and PETE both have a beer in hand. AJ is walking in from the kitchen with an apple. It’s two years ago.

AJ
You don’t just ask that.

SAM
Why not?

AJ
Because people don’t have a favorite porn star.

SAM
Yeah. Maybe so. Alright then, on to another hot topic… Would you rather stick your dick in a bear trap or a bee hive?

AJ
I don’t have to answer that.

SAM
Why not?

AJ
I wouldn’t stick it in either.

SAM
You have to pick one.

AJ
No I don’t.

AJ sits down on a couch next to PETE.

SAM
Okay. Gun to your head. You have to pick one or you die. Which one?

AJ
I choose death.

SAM
That’s not an option.

AJ
You literally just told me it is.

SAM
Fine. Pete…. bear trap or bee hive?

PETE
Bee hive.

SAM
You’ve been thinking about this, haven’t you?

PETE
Well, if it’s a bear trap, I pretty much am guaranteed to lose it. Bee hive… it may get stung a bunch, but it’s still there.

SAM
Do you really want yours to still be there? You already have one kid on the way… it’s not like you’re going to need it again.

PETE
Hey! I resent that.

SAM
So, anyways…back to my original question: favorite pornstar. AJ?

AJ
Wouldn’t it be a bit too weird to know pornstar names?

SAM
No. Why?

AJ
Wouldn’t that mean that you watch porn far too much?

SAM
Or… think of it this way: wouldn’t you want to know the name of a person you have sex with?

AJ nods.

SAM
And if you’re masturbating to a pornstar, isn’t that basically the same thing? So, really, you’re a slut if you don’t know her name.

AJ
That doesn-

SAM
Sorry. Air-tight logic. Now, Pete? Your turn.

PETE
Brandy.

SAM
Brandy what?

PETE
I don’t know her last name. The one with the big boobs.

A visibly pregnant JANE walks into the room.

JANE
What’s going on in here?

JANE sits down on the couch next to PETE.

AJ
We’re talking about porn.

JANE then, as quickly as she can, stands back up.

JANE
All right, I’ll just.. I’ll leave you guys be.

SAM waves to her as she leaves.

SAM
It was good seeing you, Jane.

JANE (sweetly)
Be sure to stop by more often, Sam.

JANE exits the room.
SAM turns his attention back to PETE.

SAM
So, you don’t know her last name?

PETE
It’s Collinsworth. There you go. So who’s your favorite porn star then?

SAM
I don’t have one. Knowing their names means you watch too much porn.

AJ laughs.
Cut back to AJ opening the church door and walking in, the door shutting behind him. The camera pans back to reveal PETE standing there, now in the same position. He reaches for the handle.

PETE (V.O.)
So, who’s the lucky lady?

Int. Bar. Night. We see PETE and SAM sitting at a table in the bar in a continuation of the opening of the film.

SAM
Shut up.

PETE
No, I deserve to know who you’re dating. We’ve known each other for decades. You can’t hide every girlfriend from me.

SAM
I’ve managed to hide Stacy from you for five months now. I can keep it going even longer.

PETE
What the hell?!

SAM
Yeah. I didn’t want to jinx it.

PETE
But you’re okay with jinxing it now?

SAM
Well, I’m a bit more confident that everything is good to go now. That’s why I’m saying something.

PETE
So what makes now any different than a week ago? Month ago? Five months ago, even?

SAM reaches into his pocket and pulls out a case for a ring.

PETE
Holy shit. Are you serious? Wait… have you told the other guys?

SAM
Hell no.

PETE
Why not tell them?

SAM
I will in due time. I want you to be my best man.

PETE
Are you serious? When can I meet her?

SAM
Well, I wanted to hold off on you meeting her. Remember when you scared off AJ’s last girlfriend?

PETE
She shouldn’t have shit on “Ghostbusters.” Anyways, are you going to tell the other guys?

SAM
Yeah. I’m going to tell them after I ask her, but I just wanted you to – oh, they’re coming back!
SAM quickly grabs the ring back as AJ walks up to them, seemingly frustrated.

AJ
Jason left with a bunch of girls.

SAM
And?

AJ
Dude is super plastered right now. And I have no clue who those girls are… you guys should be just as worried about this as I am!

PETE and SAM jump up. PETE slightly stumbles in doing so.

SAM
What direction did he go?

We cut back to PETE in the present. He opens the door of the church and walks in.
JASON’s car pulls up in front of the church and he gets out. Once near the entrance to the church, he stops.

JASON (V.O.)
Thanks, man.

Ext. Police station. Morning. JASON is walking alongside SAM to SAM’s car. JASON’s wearing the same clothes from the opening scene of the film.

SAM
It’s not a problem, man. Get in.

JASON and SAM both get into the car. SAM turns it on. There’s a moment of silence between the pair that SAM breaks.

SAM
So, do you want to tell me what happened last night?

JASON
I screwed up. Went out with some girls and cops woke me up in someone’s front yard… and then I got taken here. Anyways… how much money do I owe you now?

SAM waves a hand, dismissing the question.

SAM
You owe me nothing. Just… don’t tell anyone I did this for you. They’ll think I’ve gone soft. Now, what really happened?

JASON debates on sharing his story. After a few moments, he finally does so.

JASON
I saw Caroline at the bar last night.

SAM
Oh. We were trying to hide her from you.

JASON
Damn. Really?

SAM
Yeah.

JASON
Well, after that, I decided I should chat up a girl at the bar… Her and I have run into each other a couple of times before. She invited me to a party at a friend’s place. I went. On the car ride there, her and her friends all showed me their boobs.

SAM
So where did it all go wrong?

JASON (using finger quotes)
When we got to the ‘party.’

SAM
What do you mean?

JASON
It was me, this girl and her two friends, and two guys. The girl who invited me kept giving me beers, and the last thing I remember was her and everyone else going off to different bed rooms and leaving me alone in the kitchen… surrounded by beer. Then I was in the front yard… surrounded by cops. You know they told me I have to go to AA?

SAM puts his hand on JASON’s shoulder. JASON eyeballs the hand, but doesn’t brush it off.

JASON
Pete’s rubbing off on you.

SAM
I love you, man. You’re more powerful than you think. You just had a bad night… maybe several bad nights, but you’re strong. And, AA might just be the best thing for you right now. You’ll get through it stronger than before. Now, let’s get you home.

Ext. Church. Day. JASON now walks into the church, but this time, the camera actually follows him in. Just outside the sanctuary, PETE, TARAH and AJ are standing in silence. JASON approaches them.

JASON
Gentlemen. Lady.

PETE
Hey, Jase.

TARAH
How are you holding up?

JASON
As good as I can. Are you all-

JASON gestures wildly.

JASON (contd)
-Okay?

TARAH, AJ and PETE nod. AJ avoids eye contact with JASON.

JASON
I’m sorry. To all three of you. Last night was… all my fault.

AJ TARAH PETE (in unison)
It was.

JASON’s look of guilt increases. AJ finally locks eyes with him and walks up to him.

AJ
But thank you for apologizing. I don’t want to keep being mad at you. We’re here to bury Sam. The least we can do today is all get along.

PETE
He would’ve wanted us to not hate each other.

TARAH
Actually he probably would’ve delighted in seeing you all tear each other apart.

AJ
Now that I think about it… Sam would’ve loved seeing all of our classmates shit themselves.

JASON
Yeah…He was kind of a dick.

PETE
A bit dickish.

AJ
He had the qualities of a person who is a dick.

JANE (V.O.)
It’s okay to call him a dick. He was. But… he was your dick.

PETE whips around to see JANE standing there.

JANE
Okay. That came out weird.

PETE
Honey.

PETE hugs JANE tight. They then part.

PETE
Where’s Penny?

JANE
She’s at your parents’ house. Did you really think I wasn’t going to be here today?

PETE
I don’t know what I was thinking.

JANE
I can’t not be by your side today. I know you have your friends, but you need all the help you can get right now. Plus, I heard Jason made everyone shit their pants?

JASON
How the hell did you hear about it?

JANE
First off, the phrase “how the hell” being uttered in a church is probably a sin. Second, do you think my husband wouldn’t text me about it at the very least? Also, it’s all anyone on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are even talking about right now.

TARAH
I hate to interrupt, but first off, hi, I’m Tarah.

TARAH reaches out a hand. JANE takes it.

JANE
I’m Jane. Nice to meet you.

TARAH
Nice to meet you, too. Second, should we all head in?

PETE
Oh, yeah. Where should we sit?

SAM’s dad DAVID walks up and puts his hands on PETE and AJ’s shoulders.

DAVID
You guys can sit behind me and Nina. You’re all family to us. You might as well sit with us, too.

DAVID then turns to JASON.

DAVID
And I heard about last night. Sam would’ve thought that was hilarious.

JASON looks dumbfounded.

DAVID
What? It’s all anyone on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram are talking about right now… and there’s a viral video of a man eating his own head.

DAVID then walks into the sanctuary. TARAH and JANE begin walking in after him, until JANE notices PETE, AJ and JASON aren’t moving.

JANE
You coming?

PETE
Yeah. Give us a moment. You two go ahead and go in.

JANE and TARAH walk in, leaving the three friends standing there.

JASON
Everything okay? You trying to figure out how a man ate his own head, too?

PETE
It’s not that. It’s just…I was supposed to go to the movies with Sam that night. The night he died.

AJ and JASON
We know.

PETE
You… you do?

AJ
Yeah. The moment his dad said someone was supposed to go to the movies with him, I figured it was you .

AJ then turns to JASON.

AJ
I assume you figured it out at the same time?

JASON
Actually no. Sam texted me that day and asked if I could go with him because you ditched him. So I’ve known a bit longer, I suppose.

JASON points to PETE.

JASON (contd)
I wasn’t able to make it, either.. but how great that he let me know I was his back-up plan.

PETE
So you guys aren’t mad at me?

AJ
Why would we be? His crash wasn’t your fault.

JASON
Love you, man.

JASON goes in to hug PETE, and AJ then joins in.

Cut to the inside of the sanctuary. We can see the three of them walk in and sit next to TARAH and JANE, just behind SAM’s parents. DAVID walks up to the front.

DAVID
Thank you all so much for joining me to celebrate the life of my son, Sam. He was lucky to have the friends he did in life. We appreciated every second we had with him. From the moment he was born through his school years… being his father was the best thing I’ve ever done with my life. As many of you know, he was blessed to have many great friends, as well…

PETE, staring at the ground, trying not to look up and suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, starts to break down crying.

DAVID (contd)
One of them is Pete Jameson. They’ve been causing me problems together since they were five.

DAVID cracks a smile.

DAVID (contd)
Pete, would you be kind enough to come up here and say a few words about Sam?

The camera closes in on PETE’s face as he stands up, tears streaming down. Into the frame we then suddenly see a hand appear on his shoulder. He turns around as the camera zooms out, revealing not just STEVE, whose hand is on his shoulder, and not just him and KEVIN, but their entire high school friend group are all standing behind him, all there to celebrate their friend’s life. PETE turns around and hugs STEVE, crying into his shoulder before finally turning around. PETE slowly walks up to the front as DAVID takes his seat. PETE stands up at the podium, looking across the room. He pulls out a piece of paper.

PETE (jokingly)
I’m not good at memorizing lines.

He unfolds the paper and looks down.

PETE
Sam was… the funniest person I knew. He lit up a room. I won’t tell you he was the best friend a guy could ever have… that much I already know, but he would also give you hell all the time. He made fun of me, and everyone you see standing over there-

PETE gestures toward the group of friends in the first two rows.

PETE (contd)
-all the time. And as much as he would give us hell, he was also our fiercest defender. And, more than anything, he was our brother. I met him when we were five, and we never turned our backs on each other from that point. We did everything together… and I really don’t know what I’m going to do now.

The camera pans over all of the friends looking solemn. We then cut back to PETE, who tosses his notes aside.

PETE (contd)
I don’t need these to talk about Sam. I have decades’ worth of thoughts about him built up. We pulled together a ragtag group of misfits when we were in middle school. We became a family. And I know all of them will be there for me moving forward, but Sam… Sam was my rock. He was someone I could talk to, joke around with… someone who taught me to be okay with who I am. And he was a bit of an asshole. I know I should probably not say that word in a church but he was my asshole. Okay, that sounds weird, but whatever. And there’s… not going to be another person like him. Ever.

The camera pans over the crowd of people as PETE pauses for a moment.

PETE (contd)
But that fierce, defensive quality… and the ability to make fun of his closest friends in a way that stung but could also make you laugh… well, that rubbed off on all of us. Sam’s going to live on through all of us as long as we continue to let him.

Ext. Church. We can see a crowd of people outside getting into their cars and leaving… and then a group of about 10 people walk outside. It’s PETE, JANE, TARAH, AJ, JASON and all of their old friends. A woman walks up to PETE and taps him on his shoulder.

STACY
Pete, right?

PETE turns around to see STACY, a woman in her mid-20s with mascara running, but a slight smile on her face. PETE can instantly tell who she must be.

PETE
I am. And you must be Stacy.

STACY
I am.

PETE
I’ve heard about you.

STACY
Only good things, hopefully.

PETE
I don’t mean to sound rude, but I only just heard about you from Sam recently. He liked to hide his girlfriends from all of us. Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on “Ghostbusters?” The original one, not any of the others.

STACY
Oh, you’re that friend. And, I was going to see if you all wanted to go out to eat together. I’m not from here, and I just wanted to spend some time with Sam’s friends… Get to see why he bragged about you guys so much.

JASON
He…. he bragged about us? Are you sure you’re talking about Sam?

STACY
Yeah, I’m pretty sure.

A lanky man in all black, BRANDON, leans forward from the group of friends with a hand extended.

BRANDON
Should we get Dennys? By the way, hi, I’m Brandon.

STACY shakes his hand. JON, a classically handsome man, also pops out from the group.

JON
I’m Jon. And IHOP’s better.

STEVE
I’m Steve and IHOP sucks. Waffle House is amazing.

KEVIN
Hi, I’m Kevin and Waffle House can eat my ass. Jimmy’s Egg is where it’s at.

AJ
You guys haven’t said a damn thing this whole time and now you’re gonna argue breakfast places?

AJ then turns to STACY.

AJ
Also, I’m AJ.

JASON
Hi. Jason.

TARAH (waves)
Tarah. And that’s Pete’s wife, Jane.

JANE waves.

STACY
Nice to meet you all. Um, AJ, right?

AJ
Yes?

STACY
What does AJ stand for?

AJ looks over at JASON. Both then look over at STACY.

AJ JASON (in unison)
Another Jason.

STACY looks puzzled.

AJ
My name is also Jason… and, well, I’ve been going by this name for over a decade.

STACY.
Huh. Weird.

TARAH
Yeah…Now let’s figure out food and go grab something.

Int. Restaurant. A waitress waiting to take people to their tables sees the large group of friends walk in the door. JASON steps forward.

WAITRESS
How many?

JASON looks back and doesn’t bother to count, because this is his response:

JASON
Table for… a lot.

We cut to all of them at a long table together. PETE and JANE are in the middle on one side, with JON right next to PETE and STACY across from him. AJ and JASON are on opposite sides of the table from one another.

JON (to PETE)
So, you’re a dad now?

PETE nods.

JON
That is absolutely shocking. I’m not trying to be mean, but you’re the kid who used IcyHot to-

PETE
We don’t need to bring that up in front of decent people.

PETE motions toward his wife behind him.

JON
I’m just saying. I know that was really painful. I’m not trying to say that you’re too stupid to have kids, but that I’m surprised you can after that, is all.

AJ (to BRANDON)
So what are you doing these days?

BRANDON
I was in the Peace Corps in Africa until three months ago.

AJ
Where are you staying these days then?

BRANDON
Here in town.

AJ
You mean you haven’t say hi for three months?

BRANDON
I… I was busy.

STACY
You’re Brandon, right?

BRANDON turns in her direction

BRANDON
Yeah.

STACY
Sorry. Still trying to get all the names down. Sam told me about you. He convinced you to call your high school crush and tell her you were pooping?

BRANDON
Yeah. He told me to tell her I was stuck in the McDonald’s bathroom and there was no toilet paper…. and ask her to bring me some.

STACY
And… you did it?

STACY laughs, BRANDON looks embarrassed and the rest of the table is all smiles.

PETE
So, a while back, Sam asked me if I was a Seinfeld guy or a Friends guy. Said it was a test of character. Did he ever give you the same question?

STACY
No, he didn’t. But Friends all the way.

PETE
That’s unfortunate. I was starting to like you.

PETE gives STACY a knowing smirk.

STACY
So, you must be a Seinfeld guy?

PETE
Obviously.

KEVIN
I was always a Street Sharks guy, myself.

The table erupts into laughter. STEVE begins launching into questions about Street Sharks and how it compares to Friends and Seinfeld as everyone else loses it. PETE looks over at STACY, and, for a split second, he sees SAM in her place.

Ext. Restaurant. PETE, JANE, AJ, TARAH and JASON stand outside, saying goodbye to the others as they all get in their cars. After their old friends all leave, JANE starts to head out.

JANE
I’m going to go grab Penny from your parents’. It’s going to be a long car ride home. You coming back tonight?

PETE
Yeah. I’m going to stick around just another hour or two then head back.

JANE gets in her car and drives off. TARAH starts to get to her car, too, with AJ following behind.

TARAH
I’ll meet you back at your place in a bit. Just text me when you’re ready.

AJ
Will do.

AJ closes the door of TARAH’s car for her. She drives off, leaving AJ, PETE and JASON behind. AJ turns around to face them.

AJ
So, I guess I should probably tell you guys… I’m leaving with Tarah when she heads out.

JASON
What?

AJ
She wants a journalist with her. We’ll tag-team freelance jobs. It means she won’t be off on her own in the shit, and it also means I won’t be here.

PETE
That’s… excellent, my friend. Where are you guys going, then?

AJ
Wherever the road.. or skies… or seas take us, really.

JASON
Does that mean you’re gone? Like, gone-gone, like she was?

AJ
Basically. We talked about it last night… then again this morning. I think this is the best thing for me.

JASON, teary-eyed, goes in to hug AJ.

JASON
Don’t leave, man.

AJ
Man, Pete’s really rubbing off on you.

They part. PETE stares at AJ, also holding back tears.

PETE
Am I really that touchy? Oh, what the hell.

PETE then hugs AJ tight, holding him close for a few moments before letting go.

PETE
I’m proud of you.

JASON
So… this is the last time we’re all three hanging out for a while?

AJ
Yeah. Geez, when you put it like that, I sound like a dick.

PETE JASON
You’re not. Yeah.

AJ (sarcastically)
Good talk.

JASON
So… if this is the last time we’re all hanging out, I think there’s something we should do before we part ways.

PETE
I have something I kind of want to do before we leave, too.

JASON
Let’s do your thing first, then.

Ext. Parking Lot. The teenagers from earlier in the film who bullied PETE are standing outside of their cars, goofing off. A car can be heard pulling up to them, and as it rolls up, you can hear the sounds of “Fight for Your Right” by the Beastie Boys playing… and a pie is thrown out the window, hitting one of the teens in the face before the car drives off. His friend laughs at him, and then you can hear the sound of the car pulling back around, Beastie Boys still blaring, as PETE yells out.

PETE
Pie number two, bitch!

A second pie flies out of the car, hitting a second teenager in the face. The camera lingers on the two pie victims for a moment until the scene smash cuts to the inside of JASON’s car. JASON is in the driver’s seat, AJ in the passenger seat and PETE in the back, rolling back in from tossing the pie and laughing hysterically with his two good friends.

Ext. Park. JASON, PETE and AJ walk up to the spot where they earlier found their keepsake lunch box. JASON gets down on his knees and digs a hole and sets the box down in it. He looks back up at PETE and AJ.

JASON
You guys are sure you’re okay with me doing this?

Both nod.

JASON pulls out the photograph of him, AJ, PETE and SAM and places it in the box. They then place the cassette tapes, the cigarette and the Boba Fett back in the box and shut it. JASON then puts dirt back on top and stands up.

JASON
We all agree we’re coming back here in ten years and opening that back up, right?

AJ
I’ll make sure to come back.

PETE
Me too.

Beat.

PETE
Well… I guess it’s time to head back home.

AJ
Goodbye, man.

PETE
It’s not goodbye. It’s “I’ll see you later.”

JASON (to AJ)
We’re always a phone call away. Or a text.

PETE
Or a Facebook message.

JASON
Or a group text.

PETE
Or a DM on Twitter.

JASON
Or whatever else the kids are doing these days.

The three give one another a knowing smile. They may be parting ways, but they’ll always be in each other’s lives, and they know that.

JASON (V.O.)
Hi, I’m Jason.

Int. AA meeting. Night. JASON is now standing up in the middle of the circle in AA, surrounded by others.

A.A. group in unison:
Hi, Jason.

JASON
It’s going to take me a long time to get used to that. But hi, I’m Jason. I passed out in someone’s yard a few weeks back and was told that I had to come here after the police found me and I… may or may not have tried to fight them off. And I hated that I had to come here. But I went back home last week, and saw that I need to get better. And I can get better. I guess we don’t see our patterns until they’re laid out in front of us. But thankfully I have support from good friends… and I actually want to get sober, now. I’ve been sober for exactly one week… and plan on many more weeks to come.

Music starts to play over the end of JASON’s speech. We see PETE calling his sister AVA while at home, and see him Facetime with her while holding his daughter PENNY. We then cut to AJ’s home. Boxes are packed. It looks like he’s fully prepared to leave. We see him and TARAH picking up boxes and placing the last ones in the back of a car. They walk back in, AJ turns off the living room light, and the two then grab each other’s hand as they look around… then TARAH leads him out the door. We then see JASON at dinner with CAROLINE. Finally, we cut to PETE’s parents’ home from the outside. PETE, JANE and PENNY walk up and PETE knocks on the door. FRED and NINA open it and welcome them in. After PETE and his family step in, the door closes behind them. End credits roll.

“The Simpsons” – it’s a show I’ve talked about a lot recently. I did, after all, write three whole blog posts in recent weeks talking about the show’s first three seasons.
You may be wondering why it’s taken me so long to write a blog post about the fourth. Well, I decided to do things a little bit different this time, and instead talk about seasons four and five together. The two go hand-in-hand in terms of showcasing some of the show’s best moments. Seasons four and five are when “The Simpsons” truly became “The Simpsons.” It’s when the show stopped being similar to all the sitcoms it lampooned and instead took full advantage of the fact that it’s a cartoon. It’s when the jokes became a bit funnier, when situations became zanier and when the show really hit its stride.

Today, instead of listing out my favorite five episodes of each season, I’m going to talk about one episode from each, and detail how it’s representative of the season as a whole. But before I do that, I will talk about a few of the other moments that really stood out: finally getting to hear Maggie’s first word (and Homer leaving the room right before she says it) in “Lisa’s First Word,” Homer’s bitter feud with Barney over their snow plow businesses in “Mr. Plow,” Homer’s trip to space with Buzz Aldrin when he accidentally lets a whole bunch of ants loose in “Deep Space Homer” (“And I for one welcome our new insect overlords”) and the trial for Homer Simpson’s soul after he sells it for a donut in “Treehouse of Horror IV…” and then eventually he becomes one.

Now, onto the two episodes that I thought were not just the best of each season, but also reflective of the writing for the seasons as a whole.

“Marge Vs. The Monorail”

This season four episode tops many fans’ lists as one of the best episodes of the show, and it’s easy to see why. This episode was written by Conan O’Brien during his short tenure on the show and it’s stacked with jokes. If one doesn’t land, another one is right behind it and will knock you out of the park. Seriously, if you don’t laugh at Homer’s “I call the big one bitey” or the fact that a scientist pivotal to the plot stops for a haircut on his way to save the day, then I don’t know what to tell you… other than, maybe watch a different show.

If you haven’t seen this episode, it’s all about a monorail that’s pitched to the people of Springfield in a song and dance number by a conman voiced to perfection by the late great Phil Hartman. The song he sings is indeed catchy, and it’s easy to see how a town like Springfield, which has already been shown to have mob mentality, would eat it up.

This episode also features a couple of guest stars. Of course there’s Phil Hartman who I mentioned just a moment ago, and there’s also Leonard Nimoy. Seasons four and five saw plenty of guest stars… something the show would be well-known for as it went along. In these two seasons alone there were: Jon Lovitz, Bob Hope, Tom Jones, Adam West, Linda Ronstadt, Brooke Shields, George Harrison, The Ramones, David Crosby, James Brown and James Woods just to name a few. The season finale of season four, “Krusty Gets Cancelled,” features Elizabeth Taylor, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Barry White, Johnny Carson, Luke Perry and Bette Midler… in just one episode!

Okay, that weird tangent is over.
What this episode does best is fully display all of the main characters. Marge is against the monorail because she wants to see the town’s money go toward fixing up Main Street. Homer sees the monorail as a career opportunity and gets hired on as the monorail’s conductor. Bart helps Homer train to be a conductor. Lisa is initially against the monorail until Hartman’s conman character talks to her like an adult and makes her feel smart, conning her into being on his side and showing just how great he is at it.
But at the same time, this episode does something I talked about briefly earlier: it realizes that the show is a cartoon. Take for example how Homer saves the day. When the monorail breaks and it won’t stop, he has to use an anchor, which takes out a big chunk of roads as it glides along and then, ultimately, it gets sunk into a giant donut. There’s also a great visual gag early on in the episode involving a truck full of popcorn that I really wish I could find video of to put in here.
Season four as a whole saw the show getting sillier and sillier. There’s a whole episode in this season about the town’s annual “Whacking Day,” which sees everyone brandish clubs and chase snakes into the center of town before they whack them to death. It’s a bizare concept that in the show’s first three seasons wouldn’t have played the same way. That’s the beauty of season four: it went in a weird direction, but it worked.

“Cape Feare”

Just like the previous episode, this one is full of laughs. Season five in general is full of laughs, with some great episodes throughout. With that said, it was easy to pick this as my favorite.
“Cape Feare” brings back Sideshow Bob, the delightfully evil character voiced by Kelsey Grammer, who just wants to kill Bart. While Sideshow Bob’s first couple of episodes were good, this is the one that raised the bar.
One thing this episode does really well is the way it uses references to tell the story. When this episode first premiered in 1993, Martin Scorsese’s remake of “Cape Fear” was pretty well known, and to put Sideshow Bob in the place of Robert De Niro’s Max Cady makes a lot of sense. Whereas Cady is out for revenge when he gets out of prison, so is Bob. The many allusions to the film throughout the episode are done jokingly, but they’re also used to help move the story along. They’re not just references for the sake of references, which I think is the problem with a lot of humor today. And these kind of references can be seen throughout season five (and season four as well).

For example, there’s the ending of “Lady Bouvier’s Lover,” in which Abe Simpson stops Jacqueline Bouvier from marrying Mr. Burns, and they then take off in an homage to “The Graduate.” Speaking of Mr. Burns, he features in a lot of different references. I mean, there’s an episode called “Rosebud” that’s all about him finding the teddy bear he had as a child after all these years… and that’s just one of MAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNY references to “Citizen Kane” that involve Mr. Burns. He’s also seen in a Hannibal Lecter-inspired mask in the previously mentioned “Marge Vs. The Monorail.” All of the references are used in ways to move the story along and are essential to the story without detracting from it.
“Cape Feare” also has one of my favorite “Simpsons” moments:

So, there you have it. Seasons four and five of one of my favorite shows. They’re both excellent. Right now I’m only two episodes into season six, but based on those and my recollection of the season’s 25 episodes, I’m in for a treat. Seriously, the first two episodes are full of laughs.
I’ll see you all in a week or two when I talk more about that. Until then, take care, and be good to each other.

Here we are again. I’m still working from home and spending a lot of my spare time away from work watching “The Simpsons.” In such a short amount of time, I’ve already made it through the first three seasons. And just like the first two, I’m going to ramble a bit about the third.

Season three sees Al Jean and Mike Reiss take over as showrunners, and already you can see some differences.
While I don’t think season three is quite as strong as the second, its highest highs are absolutely brilliant. This season showcases a sense of humor that is far more bizarre and crazy than what came before, and while there isn’t as much sentiment to be seen this season, there are a couple of really rich character moments.
So, what were the highlights of season three? Let’s look at my five favorite episodes of the season.

“Lisa’s Pony”

This is all about just how far Homer is willing to go to make Lisa happy… after he makes her miserable. When he fails to get her a saxophone reed in time for the school talent show (he decides to stop by the bar and grab a beer first), Homer decides to make it up to Lisa by finally buying her the pony she’s always wanted. The only problem? It costs a lot to keep a pony, so Homer has to get a second job… working overnights at the Kwik-E-Mart. This episode does have a bit of the sentiment that was seen more throughout the first two seasons, but only in small doses. It also has some really funny bits, including Apu’s line about Homer at the very end when he finally quits: “He stole, he slept, he was rude to the customers. There goes the best employee a convenience store ever had.”

“Flaming Moe’s”

When Homer makes a mixed drink and gives it to Moe, Moe takes the credit for it when he sells it to customers and it becomes really popular. It results in Moe’s bar becoming an attraction for celebrities… and Homer feeling ripped off. This is one of the first episodes I can recall to feature big-name celebrities (we’ll get to a couple more in just a moment). The celebrities this time around? Aerosmith! Moe’s rise and fall is great to watch, and the reveal once the secret ingredient gets out to the public is one of the funniest episode endings in the show.

“Treehouse of Horror II”

It’s no secret that the annual Halloween episodes of “The Simpsons” are some of my favorites. While I absolutely loved the first “Treehouse of Horror” in season two, I find this one to be a lot funnier and more absurd. There are three short stories this time around, including Bart as the reality-bending child based on a “Twilight Zone” episode, Homer getting his brain put into a robot by Mr. Burns to create the ultimate employee, and a take on the classic monkey’s paw story. Each segment has one hilarious twist after another, including Ned Flanders making the monkey’s paw work in his favor after it causes misery for the Simpsons.

“Stark Raving Dad”

This episode may not have aged well given it’s about Michael Jackson, but it’s one that is absolutely hilarious if you try to avoid the person featured. It starts when Homer is institutionalized because he wears a pink shirt to work, and while in an institution he meets a fat white guy claiming to be Michael Jackson (who was actually voiced by the king of pop). When Homer gets out, he brings Michael Jackson with him, and Jackson then helps Bart write Lisa a song to celebrate her birthday. It’s got all the zaniness that the best Simpsons episodes have while also having heart. It’s also one of the few episodes I can think of that shows the genuinely good-natured brother-sister relationship between Bart and Lisa. Side note: if you’re looking for this episode on digital, you won’t find it. The showrunners took it offline after last year’s “Finding Neverland” documentary. The only reason I watched it is because I own the seasons on DVD.

“Homer at the Bat”

This is absolutely the funniest episode of the show so far through my rewatch. The guys at the nuclear power plant are supposed to go against the employees of a fellow power plant, and Mr. Burns has placed a big bet on the game. So, he employs nine Major League Baseball players to take the spots of Homer and his co-workers. The comedy really comes from the misfortunes that befall the nine MLB players that results in Homer finally getting to play in the big game. It’s absurd and it’s hilarious, and a real sign of just how crazy the show would become over the next few years.
Overall season three was a pretty solid run. Aside from the above listed episodes, there are some really great character moments, including Flanders opening up his store for left-handers and watching it crash and burn in “When Flanders Failed,” seeing Homer’s brother Herb come back out on top in “Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes?” and the excellent return of Sideshow Bob in “Black Widower.” Season three is a fun one, even if it’s not quite as great as the amazing second season.

“The Simpsons.” I talked about it last week, I’m talking about it today, and I’m probably going to talk about it from here on out… until I decide not to, at least.
Recently I told you all about how I started watching the show from its first season, and last time I was on here, I did a quick review of that. So now it’s time to talk about season two… and boy, is there a big difference between the two.

Whereas the animation in season one was still a bit primitive and the characters weren’t quite themselves, season two sees a complete shift. Everything is pretty much as you remember it: Homer’s an idiot, Bart is causing trouble left and right, and pretty most of the regulars of Springfield that you remember are on full display.
Like last time, I’m going to talk about some of my favorite episodes, but I plan on going a bit more in depth on them this time around than last.

“Old Money”

This one is all about Abe “Grandpa” Simpson falling in love with someone at his nursing home. When she dies, she leaves him a bunch of money that he then has to decide what to do with. This is the first time we really get to follow Abe in an episode, and it’s a genuinely good episode. It’s no secret that my favorite episodes of this show are all the more emotional episodes, and seeing Abe deal with the death of someone he truly cared about is great. Add on to that Lisa’s speech to her grandfather and the reveal of what he decided to use the money on, and this is one of the better episodes of the season.

“A Car in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish”

This is the first episode to really focus on a character who’s not a member of the Simpsons clan… It’s all about C. Montgomery Burns. And it’s full of “Citizen Kane” references. The episode follows Burns’ campaign for governor of… whatever state Springfield is in, and the only reason he’s doing that is because otherwise he’d have to spend money on making improvements to the power plant. The episode is one of the show’s funniest, and has one of my favorite, yet most blasphemous, lines. It also has a great third act twist.

“Bart Vs. Thanksgiving”

This is not just a funny episode, but also one that’s good at pulling at the heartstrings. When Bart ruins Lisa’s centerpiece for the Thanksgiving meal, instead of apologizing, he takes off running from the Simpsons house. From there, he eats dinner with the homeless and begins to realize just how good he has it. While the episode has a lot to say about how the homeless are treated, it also manages to be a really funny episode on top of that. The extremely meta Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade joke is also one of my favorite jokes from the first two seasons.

“Lisa’s Substitute”

Lisa is my favorite character, and this episode really cements that. When Lisa’s teacher is out for the foreseeable future over an illness, a substitute comes in and quickly wins Lisa over. But then, the teacher comes back and the first positive male role model Lisa has really had (aside from Bleedin’ Gums Murphy, that is) is gone. The substitute in question is easily likeable and you can tell how Lisa would attach to him. The scene towards the end when Lisa has to say goodbye chokes me up every time I see it.

“One Fish Two Fish Blowfish Blue Fish”

Like I said earlier, the episodes that pull on the heartstrings really get me, and this is one of the best of those… and one of my favorite episodes of the series as a whole (though ask me about that later when I’ve rewatched most of the series). This follows Homer after he eats what he thinks is the poisonous part of a blowfish and thinks he only has 24 hours to live. The episode’s all about what he chooses to do with his last hours. That of course brings out some of the series’ saddest moments, and seeing Homer truly want to spend time with family is great. It makes up for a lot of the dumber Homer moments the show would later go on to make.
There are also a couple of lesser episodes in the season, with the last two or three episodes not really measuring up to what came before it. Other highlights in season two  include a stellar re-telling of Poe’s “The Raven” in the show’s first “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween episode, a squirrel based on Marge getting descimated in an Itchy & Scratchy episode in “Itchy & Scratchy & Marge” and Homer accidentally jumping Springfield Gorge in “Bart the Daredevil.”
Overall, season two is a great improvement over the first, and the show really becomes what we all remember it as with these 22 episodes.
I’ll see you all on the other side of season three!

You’ve probably seen an episode of “The Simpsons” by now. If you haven’t, you’ve probably heard a joke from the show or you know someone who is an avid fan. It’s hard to have escaped the show in its more than three decades on air.

I grew up watching the show, buying the DVD sets and I’ve seen so many of the episodes two, three, four or even more times, and a lot of them have never gotten old to me. But it’s been a few years now since I’ve watched a full episode, and, with everything shut down these days, I decided it’s time to go back to the well and try to watch as much of the show as I can. And, as I go along, I’m going to be documenting the changes in the show, and I’ll also be reviewing the seasons, too.
Tonight I finished season one. It’s a short 13 episodes compared to the 20+ episodes a season that every season past it would be, and there’s a lot to unpack here.
Season one of “The Simpsons” is a bit rough around the edges, and the animation isn’t much to be proud of, but a lot of the humor here really holds up (including Bart’s many prank calls to Moe, plus the Krusty heart attack moment in “Krusty Gets Busted”). You can tell that the show is slowly but surely coming together to become what we would know it as. Most of the characters don’t look, sound or even act like we remember (Moe has black hair, Barney has yellow hair, Homer seems more stern than stupid, Flanders’ religion isn’t mentioned or even hinted at, etc., etc.). The first “D’oh!” doesn’t show up until seven episodes in… which is also the first time Bart says “Don’t have a cow, man.” The show isn’t quite “The Simpsons” that we know, but is closer to the “Tracey Ullman Show” sketches from the 80s that featured very primitive versions of the characters.

Even the opening credits of the show is similar, yet very different from what we all remember.
But, like I said, it’s funny.
Some highlights this season include “Krusty Gets Busted,” which introduces everyone to Sideshow Bob in a mystery surrounding a Kwik-E-Mart robbery, Bart going to war against the bully Nelson in “Bart the General,” Maggie befriending a group of bears out in the wilderness in “The Call of the Simpsons,” and my favorite episode of the season: “Moaning Lisa,” which focuses on Lisa feeling depressed and really trying to find something that makes her feel whole… jazz. That episode above all showcases the heart of the show. A lot of people forget how emotional and wholesome the show could be at times, and as we go through the show, we’ll definitely hit on a few more of those touching moments (I’m already crying thinking about the ending of season six’s “And Maggie Makes Three”).

While season one isn’t the best that “The Simpsons” has to offer, it still holds up, and it makes me excited to rewatch the next few seasons.
I hope you’ll all join me on this crazy adventure.

2018 was a great year for film. We got a lot of great dramas, horror films and superhero flicks. There were some fantastic movies from first-time directors while returning favorites knocked it out of the park. Going to the movies became a weekly thing for me this summer while I tried to review films on television, something that I honestly bumbled through at first but have really come to love doing, and I hope everyone at home does, too.

There was something for everyone this year.
I somehow managed to see 73 movies that came out this year, and while there were a couple of stinkers (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” were two of the most disappointing films I’ve ever seen in a theater), I was thankful enough to have seen a lot of fantastic movies along the way. I won’t bore you with recounting all of them here, but before I get into my top 10, here are a few honorable mentions that I think people just need to go ahead and check out:
Creed II
First Man
American Animals
Annihilation
You Were Never Really Here
Black Panther
The Death of Stalin
The Kindergarten Teacher
Kin
Ralph Breaks the Internet
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Paddington 2
Apostle
Ghost Stories
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Hearts Beat Loud
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
Isle of Dogs
Game Night
Deadpool 2
Upgrade

Now, on to the top 10:

10. “Avengers: Infinity War”

This was the movie we had all been waiting for. It’s the culmination of 10 years of story-telling from Marvel Studios, and combined characters from all of their previous movies. It had the potential to be the biggest mess put to film, but, just like “The Avengers” and “Captain America: Civil War” before it, they proved me wrong. The Russo Brothers, who previous worked on the aforementioned “Civil War,” did a great job of balancing a fully-loaded cast , while never making it seem like anyone got shortchanged. And the key to that was giving the bulk of the story over to the villain, Thanos.
But not only does this movie manage to balance a story, it also wows the audience at just about every turn. With every set piece and every bit of dialogue between characters you never thought would meet each other before…. this movie kept me entertained during its 150 minute runtime, and that 2 and a half hours hasn’t scared me away from already watching it four times this year. This is a fantastic film and I can’t wait to see what the creators have in store for next year’s “Endgame.”

9. “Searching”

Now switching gears from a huge-budget film to something on a much smaller scale, “Searching” was a movie that, based on the trailers, looked just like a gimmick. The whole movie takes place on computer and phone screens, and that initially put me off the film.
But then, when I finally got around to seeing it, it surprised me at how natural it all felt. It never felt gimmicky at all.
Add to that the fact that the movie actually has a really interesting story that goes through plenty of twists and turns and constantly had me on the edge of my seat, and you have a winner. John Cho, who most people know from the “Harold and Kumar” series, shines as a father trying not only to find out where his daughter is, but also just who she is.
I also feel like at this point that I need to let you know that this movie’s first ten minutes are equivalent to the first ten minutes from the movie “Up.” It’s emotionally devastating, and serves to really get you acquainted with the characters and storytelling method. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, I highly recommend getting around to it.

8. “BlackkKlansman”

I’m going to be honest here and say that unfortunately, I haven’t seen that many Spike Lee movies up to this point. I really need to change that, and honestly, being that I’m a film buff, I’m really surprised at myself, too. But I’m glad I got around to seeing this.
While I don’t know much about the true-life story “BlackkKlansman” is based on, so I can’t judge this for accuracy, the movie does a great job of being a dark comedy that really tackles racism. Even though it takes place in the past, a lot of the themes brought up in this film are maybe more relevant now than they were when this movie took place. No where is that more evident than in the final scene of this movie, which I won’t spoil…. but I will say that it takes you from laughing at the idiocy of racists to being absolutely horrified by it instead.
This is a movie that will make you laugh, cry and really, more than anything, I hope it will make people think.

7. “Eighth Grade”

Writer/Director Bo Burnham has long been a favorite of mine as a stand-up comedian. He’s funny, talented and a demented genius. So, when I found out he was set to make his debut as a filmmaker this year, it’s needless to say that I was intrigued. And what he churned out ended up being so completely different than anything I was expecting from him, while being a perfect fit for his sensibilities.
“Eighth Grade” manages to do what no other film about teenagers has done before: it feels real. It doesn’t look at middle school as a magical time, but rather the awkward mess that we all honestly remember. The fact that no big name celebrities pop up in it only helps to add to just how genuine the movie feels.
This is also the first movie to really tackle what it’s like to be a kid growing up in the age of social media.
While this is rated R, I honestly feel like this should be required viewing for teenagers. Look at this and hopefully you can learn from it.

6. “Blindspotting”

This was a movie that came out of nowhere to completely wow me this year. Written by one of the original Broadway cast members of “Hamilton” and featuring some bits of beat poetry that I for some reason didn’t expect (but fit perfectly), this movie focuses on a man days away from being done with probation when he witnesses an officer-involved shooting.
It tackles a lot of big problems we see in society these days in ways that I wouldn’t expect, and it manages to shock and surprise throughout. To be honest, this movie had me on edge more than any other movie this year, and that includes the horror films I checked out, too.
I want to rave more about this movie, but I feel like I can’t out of fear of spoiling any of the really great scenes (but please, if you’ve seen this movie, talk to me about it, because I want to get into spoilers).

5. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

I’ve been a Spider-Man fan since as long as I’ve been making memories. I watched the 90s cartoon growing up, loved the Tobey Maguire films and then proceeded to consume all things Spider-Man well into adulthood, so this movie was obviously right up my alley.
I think the fact that we finally got a movie focusing on Miles Morales’ Spider-Man was enough to pique my interest. Add to that the fact that the creative team behind “The Lego Movie” was involved and that we were going to see the alternate universe versions of the character, and I was completely on board.
This movie manages to be fun from beginning to end, and not just that…. it also hits every emotional beat I would hope for in a film. While there are plenty of characters on screen, this is very much Miles’ film, and that shows. The relationship between him and his father, as well as the relationships he has with his uncle and Peter Parker are all well executed. The film’s villain is even given a pretty impressive backstory even if Kingpin doesn’t get that much time on screen.
There’s also plenty of little easter eggs for Spider-Man fans to catch throughout the film, as well as a really impressive post-credits scene that you need to stay behind to watch. It was so funny that I was crying laughing.
I loved this film and can’t wait to re-watch it.

4. “Hereditary”

Horror has had quite the resurgence in recent years. With films like “Get Out” and “Don’t Breathe,” I think new life has been breathed into the genre, and this year’s “Hereditary” only serves to further prove that.
This movie seems like the horror films of the 70s, and that’s a good thing. It’s a slow burn horror that allows you to really get to know the characters before all the truly horrific stuff starts to happen. In fact, the family drama aspect of the film is really strong, and I feel like if the movie hadn’t delivered on the scares, I still would have put it high on my list.
Toni Collette is perfect in this movie, and I’m honestly going to be sad come Oscar time when she’s not even nominated for best actress. She puts her heart and soul into this film and does a great job as a mother and daughter in mourning.
Perhaps it’s just how great the dramatic aspects of this movie are that make the horror elements shine even more. Once this movie starts to rev up the creep factor, it goes from great to amazing. This is another one that is well worth the watch.

3. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

I’ve talked quite a bit about this movie to anyone who would listen in person, and there’s an obvious reason why: it’s brilliant. A friend of mine said shortly after this came out that “it’s not a question of did you cry during the film, but how many times did you cry?” And that absolutely fits. This is a great documentary about a fantastic human being that reminds us all that, despite how dark things get out in the world, there is still hope. Some people are still decent and want to help others.
What this documentary does so well is tell the story of Fred Rogers and not just make him seem like some mythical being.
This is a sweet movie that people of all ages should watch, whether or not they ever grew up with Mr. Rogers.

2. “Sorry to Bother You”

I don’t know if I can fully explain this movie, and I’m not sure if I really even want to try.
Director Boots Riley’s directorial debut is something to behold, and, even if it didn’t click with everybody (I knew quite a few people left bewildered by it), it’s still such a refreshing and different film that is so different from everything Hollywood is dishing out these days.
This movie has a lot to say about our society and where it’s going, and it’s saying so much that I didn’t catch every thing it was saying, but it’s a movie that’s worth one, two or at least three re-watches to really pick up on everything, and that’s something I truly appreciate.
It also has a weird sense of what I’ll call magical realism. This movie takes place in an alternate timeline, and while it starts out seeming like a heightened version of our reality, it becomes something far more by the end.
Speaking of the ending, I won’t get into spoilers here, but the last act of this movie is incredibly divisive. If you don’t end up liking the twist that takes place 2/3 of the way into this, it’s probably best to turn the movie off, but, if you’re willing to go into some incredibly weird territory, you’ll be rewarded with one of my favorite movies of the year.

1. “Roma”

Alfonso Cuaron is a great director who manages to surprise with every film he does. I was first introduced to him when he took over the reins of the “Harry Potter” franchise with the third (and arguably best) installment. After that, he did the wonderful “Children of Men” and followed that up with “Gravity.” Then, this year, he released “Roma” on Netflix… and it may be his best film to date.
“Roma” follows a maid to a family in Mexico City in the early 1970s, and really the whole plotline centers around her getting pregnant and then the father taking off the moment he finds out he’s going to be a dad. It doesn’t sound incredibly riveting on paper, but this movie managed to be one of the most heartbreaking and at the same time beautiful films I’ve seen in ages.
The movie starts off slow, but after you’ve come to know the characters, it really sets off and never really stops. Cuaron uses long takes to guide you through some of the biggest moments in these characters’ lives, and each one of those long takes is instantly memorable.
“Roma” is a film that will stick with me for a long time to come.

 

And there you have it. Those are my favorite films of 2018. I hope that 2019 brings us a lot of great films, and to all of you reading this, I hope it brings you happiness.

Happy new year!