ABOUT A DRUMMER

LOGLINE: Average teenager Hunter winds up in more trouble than he realizes after taking his first hit of weed, when he inadevertantly disturbs the spirit of former Olympia, Washington resident, Kurt Cobain.

1. FADE IN: EXT. CAMPFIRE PIT - NIGHT A dozen KIDS, virtually identical in their camp t-shirts and ranging in age from 12 to 16, sit around a campfire in a semicircle. On the other side of this group sits COUNSELOR DAVE, a wholesome looking man in his late 20s. COUNSELOR DAVE Okay kiddos, its your last night here at music camp. And as is camp tradition, the last night we spend sitting around the fire, eating marshmallows or smores, play some ditties, and of course... He takes out a flashlight from behind the log he uses as a chair. Dave holds it upright under his chin and turns it on. COUNSELOR DAVE (CONTD) ...ghost stories. Most of the kids give oohs, gasps, and other such noises of anticipated excitement for being scared. One of the older kids, HUNTER, nods off. He leans right and face plants in the chest of an ATTRACTIVE GIRL (16). Hey! ATTRACTIVE GIRL He gives a

She pushes Hunter off, waking him for a moment. grunt of an apology. COUNSELOR DAVE Im sure you all know about the man Ill be telling you about tonight. A rock legend. Kurt Cobain.

Hunter drifts off again, this time falling to his left onto a FAT NERDY KID (14) who is too enthralled with his smore to pay any attention to Hunter. COUNSELOR DAVE (CONTD) As you all know, Kurt abused drugs in his life. And after his unfortunate death, he has sought to teach others of their dangers by haunting fellow musicians who decide to go down that dark path. A soft SNORE comes from Hunter.

2. COUNSELOR DAVE (CONTD) This is the story of one such victim... EXT. CAMP TOOTENPLUK GATE - DAY Minivans, large sedans, and SUVs line up in front of the entrance to the campgrounds, signified by a large, wooden arched sign with the camp name written on it. Hunter, dressed as his more typical whatever appearance popular with teens, heads out towards the vehicles with drumsticks sticking out of his backpack, when the attractive girl from earlier runs up to him. ATTRACTIVE GIRL Hey, Hunter, I know we didnt really get a chance to know each other at camp, and well... She reaches into her pocket and hands him a paper note. ATTRACTIVE GIRL (CONTD) (overly flirty) ...I thought maybe you could come over next Friday? Hunter takes the note and looks at her. He doesnt give much of a reaction, but more like shock than apathy. ATTRACTIVE GIRL (CONTD) (hugs Hunter) Well, I hope to see you there. She lets go and waves to him as she takes off towards a minivan. Hunter hasnt changed at all since he was handed the note. HONK! HONK! In a medium-sized sedan, already filled with three other teens not too far off from Hunters age, is HUNTERS MOM, an average lower-middle class mother of around 40, smoking a cigarette. HUNTERS MOM Hurry your ass up and get in the fucking car! EXT. UPPER-CLASS MCMANSION - EVENING SUPER: Next Friday

3. Hunter RINGS the doorbell. door. The attractive girl opens the

ATTRACTIVE GIRL Hey, ready to go? Oh. HUNTER I thought...

ATTRACTIVE GIRL Yeah, I thought maybe we could hang out with some friends of mine. She gives a smile, which is more than enough to convince Hunter. Okay. HUNTER

INT. DUMPY APARTMENT COMPLEX HALLWAY - EVENING The door swings open. On the other side is MARCUS, a skinny tattooed guy with a six-pack and no shirt on to prove it. With his fingers he signals in Hunter and the attractive girl, by all appearances a fish out of water, but more comfortable with the situation than Hunter. INT. DUMPY APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS The apartment is mostly empty, beyond being filled with the haze of smoke. The kitchen counters are littered with empty bottles of various hard liquors and the living room contains only a television on a stand, a stained couch, radio jamming METAL, and a Playstation. Three other STONERS are there, enjoying their high. Marcus takes a seat on the couch between two of them; the third is on the floor. ATTRACTIVE GIRL So yeah, this is James, Steven, and Tyler. And, of course, Marcus, my boyfriend. Marcus pats his lap, and the attractive girl obeys by taking her seat. HUNTER (to all) Uh... hey.

4. MARCUS So my lady here tells me youre a drummer? Next Tommy Lee, or Dave Grohl, or... (seriously thinks) ...is there another famous drummer? HUNTER Yeah, we dont get much action. MARCUS Dude, man, have a seat, bud. Hunter looks around without turning his head. seats. Floor it is, then. No actual

As he sits, the metal song playing fades out on the radio. RADIO DISC JOCKEY (O.S.) Alright ya freaks, were gonna continue going on strong with our next classic jam, Nirvanas Smells... (accentuated sniffing) ...Like Teen Spirit. The opening riff starts playing. RADIO DISC JOCKEY (CONTD) What does teen spirit smell like? Axe Body Spray? With his head leaning back on the couch, James gives a little too enthusiastic of a laugh. MARCUS Calm down, dude. (to Hunter) So, you wanna get messed up with us, man? Smoke, but different from the pot smoke, comes out of the speakers on the radio. Once out, it forms into the image of Kurt Cobain. HUNTER (nervous) Yeah, sure. Of course. I love smoking up. I do it everyday. James looks forward and notices the specter watching the situation in disgust. He turns pale and starts tapping Marcuss shoulder in panic.

5. MARCUS Dude, what the fuck, man? JAMES Marcus, Kurt Cobain... hes in your living room. MARCUS Yeah, theyre playing Nirvana, dipshit. The ghost, invisible to everyone else, takes a seat on the armrest of the couch immediately next to James, who is staring at Cobain and too shocked to move. Marcus, meanwhile, gets up and grabs a bong and lighter sitting next to the television. Marcus hands them over to Hunter, who holds the bong especially careful. MARCUS (CONTD) (sitting back down) I know its a baby, man, but you can ease up, guy. James, without taking his sight off of Cobain, who is watching Hunter fumble with the bong, whispers to Marcus. JAMES I think he wants some weed, too. Who? MARCUS

JAMES Kurt Cobain. MARCUS Dude, man, will you lay off that shit. Youre going to freak our buddy here. Hunter finally gets everything in place, and tries to take a hit from the bong. Somehow, it still fills with smoke. Cobain shakes his head in disappointment before diving into the head of Marcus, who slightly twitches as an effect. Hunter exhales smoke and coughs. INT. HUNTERS ROOM - DAY The alarm clock BUZZES and changes over to 2:48 PM.

6. The room, adorned with posters of bands, is a mess with clothes strewn about everywhere. The pile of clothes on the bed shakes, and Hunter emerges like a zombie from the grave. INT. KITCHEN - DAY

The zombie-like Hunter walks into the kitchen. He heads immediately to the cupboards and grabs a bowl and some marshmallow-laden cereal. He takes them over to the table and takes a seat. He grabs the box of cereal and begins pouring the contents directly into his mouth. His mom races into the kitchen and grabs a set of keys hanging on the wall. HUNTERS MOM Oh, it lives. Hunter gives a grunt of acknowledgement as he chews. Listen, hours. and his Want to HUNTERS MOM (CONTD) Ill be back in about two I need to take your brother friends to the movies. come?

Hunter grabs the box of cereal and pours more in his mouth, continuing to neglect the bowl in front of him. HUNTERS MOM (CONTD) Alright, Ill take that as a no, then. (yelling to the brother) Move your ass! I want to make sure I have time to get some M&Ms before we get there! She takes off. INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER Hunter sits on the couch watching cartoons when theres a loud KNOCK at the front door. FRONT DOOR Hunter opens it to find Marcus, ever shirtless, standing there. His eyes are pale gray, but this doesnt register with Hunter.

7. MARCUS (possessed voice) Hunter, man, dude, I need a favor. HUNTER Umm... okay. I guess. MARCUS You owe me, guy. I gave you some of the sweetest bud there is. For free, bro. HUNTER Yeah, sure. What you need. MARCUS Alright, look, I need you to take some... stuff... to a friend of mine. HUNTER I guess I can do that. MARCUS Awesome, man. Look, come to my place at three, alright? HUNTER Its three-thirty. Oh. me. MARCUS Then I guess just come with

INT. DUMPY APARTMENT - MARCUSS BEDROOM - LATER Marcus comes out of the closet with a sweater that even grandma would think is ugly and hands it to Hunter. MARCUS (still possessed) I need you to wear this. HUNTER A sweater? Its the middle of July, in Phoenix, and you want me to wear a sweater? MARCUS Yeah, dont worry about it, friend. Your ticket says youre going to Colorado, so theyll just think youre prepared to go skiing, dude.

8. HUNTER Colorado?

Ticket?

MARCUS Right. Yeah. So what I need, buddy, is for you to wear this to the airport, and then youll give it to Carlos. You dont need to fly, man. Just need you to get this past security, amigo. HUNTER Why would anyone care about this sweater? MARCUS Man, dude, its a trip. Marcus laughs at his joke. HUNTER Yeah, whatever. EXT. SKY HARBOR AIRPORT ENTRANCE - DAY Marcus drops Hunter off at the airport. MARCUS (still possessed) Good luck, friend! Hunter gets out of the car. HUNTER Im not your friend, buddy. Hunter walks towards the entrance. Back in the car, the ghost of Kurt Cobain exits Marcuss body. Marcus twitches slightly at the experience. Marcus looks around. MARCUS What the fuck am I doing at the airport? He takes off, and the spirit of Cobain follows Hunter into the terminal.

9. INT. SKY HARBOR AIRPORT ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS Hunter walks into one of the entrances at LAX from the 100plus degree heat outside wearing the hideous sweater thats living up to its name by causing Hunter to sweat like a marathoner. He looks at his watch, 4:36 PM, and then at the line in front of him. He sighs as he wipes sweat from his brow. ONE HOUR LATER Hunter is finally at the front of the line. His eyes are dialated and darting back and forth at everything there is possible to see. POV In the wasteland of the airport, a half-elephant, half-human turns its attention to Hunter. ELEPHANT-MAN Your soul, please. The monster bares its sharp teeth in an evil grin. HUNTER Uhh, I think you need to talk to Jesus about that. NORMAL The TSA AGENT by the metal detectors gives a confused look at Hunter. TSA AGENT So long as you took out your loose change, I think Jesus is fine with you coming on through, son. POV Elephant-man signals Hunter to move forward, but Hunter remains where he stands. ELEPHANT-MAN Look, theres a lot of busy people behind you...

10. Hunter looks behind him at the thousands of people with angel wings waiting with limited patience. He faces back to Elephant-man as Batman approaches. BATMAN Im Batman. Whats the problem? NORMAL Hunter starts convulsing and collapses to the ground. The TSA Agent and his MANAGER, who is next to him, rush over to Hunter. Foam comes out of Hunters mouth... POV Batman kneels down in front of Hunter. BATMAN (CONTD) You cant die on me. Im Batman! NORMAL Hunters body goes limp in the TSA Managers arms. TSA MANAGER Someone call 9-1-1! Hes gone. this? TSA AGENT What could have done

The TSA Manager sniffs Hunters corpse. TSA MANAGER Smells like LSD. TSA AGENT (skeptical) But... Off in the distance, the ghost of Kurt Cobain looks on before the spirits evanescence. EXT. CAMPFIRE PIT - NIGHT Counselor Dave leans forward into the beam of the flashlight.

11. COUNSELOR DAVE Sure enough, the autopsy revealed that the LSD in the sweater seeped into Hunters pores, and the ensuing panic attack from the acid trip caused a heart attack and killed him. The kids all sit leaning forward and wide-eyed. COUNSELOR DAVE (CONTD) So just remember, the next time you find some... whats this? Dave picks up a Ziploc baggie filled with a greenish plant, but obviously not marijuana. COUNSELOR DAVE (CONTD) Yknow, maybe just a little wont cause any trouble. He pulls out the greenish plant, when from the nowhere in particular, the opening riff to Smells Like Teen Spirit begins to play on an acoustic guitar. The kids all SCREAM! From behind the bushes appears COUNSELOR MARY playing guitar. COUNSELOR DAVE (CONTD) Dont worry, kids. Its just Counselor Mary. The kids all give a chuckle, pretending as though they knew it all along. The fat kid from last time is still making the nastiest love-eating to his smore, and not paying attention to Dave or Mary. The seat next to him is completely void of Hunter. THE END