$5HG&XS (YHQLQJ 

Written by Devon Menendez

   


OPENING TEXT-- WHITE TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND For those lonely ones. For those dear ones. FADE IN EXT--INT. SUBURBAN HOME. LATE NIGHT Scene 1A We begin low to the damp pavement slowly drifting forward towards the front door. The orange and yellow light from the lamp posts reflect slightly causing a light glow to emit. Gradually from the left we pan up a bit and see a cardboard box containing beer cans and a pair of legs walking up to the opened front door of the house. Outside there are a few people standing around talking and smoking cigarettes. Following the case and the persons legs we enter the home and reveal a lively party setting. We can hear loud music, laughing, talking and the person entering being greeted by people as they go. Quickly they divert and take a hard right out of frame and we center in the middle ground on BOY. Boy is sitting by himself on a small bench in the living room. Its located just south of the general crowded party area in which various men and women are standing around sipping cheap beer and liquor from red, plastic solo cups. Boy is seemingly nursing his drink and has been for the past ten minutes. He glances around and notices varied interesting looking people and can overhear a lot of the conversations going on in the background. Most are school or work related, but dont seem particularly interesting. From the right hand side GIRL appears and plops down next to Boy.

BOY (greeting girl) Hey.

GIRL Hi. (she slowly sips from her red cup)

BOY Hows it going?

GIRL Its going alright. And yourself? (scene cont.) BOY Its going.

GIRL I saw you over here; youre Taylors friend right?

BOY Yep. We work together. Well-- used to work together. He got moved to nights and Im (sigh) stuck on opening shifts.

GIRL (looks at her wrist watch) Wow, then isnt it pass your bedtime?

BOY Oh, I can do that job hungover. Ive done that job hungover.

GIRL (Laughs) Hey whatever works A slight awkward silence begins. Then it draws itself out until another female approaches Girl and greets her. Quickly she stands up and goes with the other girl. Boy remains seated solo again. Music changing displays time passing. Finally he stands up and enters the kitchen area. Several people are standing around talking and the potent smell of marijuana and lighter fluid fills the small space. Boy figures theres no point in going in there unless to simply stand around and fain interest in another college tale involving someone almost failing or delivering advice on what professors

to avoid. He picks up another drink and heads for the door.

CUT TO: EXT. SUBURBAN HOME. NIGHT. SCENE 2A Outside Boy stands nursing the same drink. He glances up at the night sky and studies it. The sky is perfect black. (scene cont.) No stars and the moon is hidden behind think clouds. Leaning against the wall a few feet away appears GIRL again.

GIRL HEY!

BOY Oh, hi. I thought youd taken off.

GIRL No(elongates the word.) Just had to say hi to someone. And then to someone else. And then introduced to a guy who offered to teach me guitar.

BOY (chuckles stupidly) Yeah Im pretty sure Im the only male in there that doesnt play guitar. Or offer to teach people anything.

GIRL I know right!? Is that supposed to be some secret goddamn key to something? Like all girls are incapable of learning on their own so they need a brilliant guy in a knock off Banana Republic shirt to teach them.

BOY Well I believe the thought process is that their

knowledge is the key to unlocking your uhh vagina.

GIRL Blunt, but not false. (sips from her cup) Wanna walk a bit? That bitch is a little too crowded for me.

BOY Sure. CUT TO: EXT. THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NIGHT. SCENE 2B From around the corner Girl and Boy enter from the left.

GIRL (in mid-story) --and she smelled so damn bad all the time.

BOY What, she didnt believe in bathing?

GIRL I guess not, but she always, ALWAYD reeked. So one day she comes by my house, comes inside and Im still getting ready, and--

BOY (interrupts) What were you two doing?

GIRL Uh I dont know I think we were going to the store or a movie I dont know. Seemingly we werent doing anything all that exciting.

BOY Alright, continue.

GIRL So Im in my room and shes standing looking at pictures on the wall so I tell her Ill be right out. She goes outside and I come down the hallway and RIGHT where she was fucking standing right the fuck there it smells like pure shit!

BOY Oh damn

GIRL Or like shit mixed with sweat and wet dog and GIRL (cont.) cigarettes. So I ran and sprayed whatever I could right over that spot until it was gone. I swear to God it was like the nastiest thing Ive ever smelled.

BOY Thats some nasty shit.

GIRL Yeah I wish Taylor was here you know. He had a roommate that well let him tell you. Hes got some pretty nutty stories about his weird ass.

BOY Yeah Ill see

GIRL So what about you?

BOY What?

GIRL What do you do? What do you get into? Hes mentioned you a few times in passing.

BOY (slightly laughs) In passing. Thats pretty much me actually. Im that kind of guy. The one who gets brought up in passing.

GIRL Taylor said you used like to write. Or you liked writing something like that

BOY I used to. Actually I used to do and be a lot of things when I think about it. Now I work a lot.

(scene cont.) GIRL Well what DID you write about?

BOY (sigh) Uh (pause) everything. Pretty much.

GIRL Hmm I see

BOY (stammers in an attempt to respond)

GIRL What stopped you?

BOY Fuck everything? (pause) No no. I dont know; my own personal bullshit probably.

GIRL Somehow I dont think that probably belongs in

that sentence.

BOY (Laughs) That would be accurate I suppose.

GIRL There you go again trying to make it sound less certain. Whats up with that, huh?

BOY (stammers) I-- uhh I dont--

GIRL (interrupts) I swear to God you better not say I dont know. You know. You just want it to be something else. (scene cont.) BOY Yes. Yes you are correct girl Ive just met.

GIRL (Laughs) Alright now that you do have right. Im sorry not quite my place.

BOY Oh no its actually ok. The truth is the truth, right?

GIRL Youre not wrong.

BOY (sigh) You know I really like the old me.

GIRL Ohraw honesty emerges carry on.

BOY I used to be smart. I used to be creative and witty and interesting and funny

GIRL (interrupts) Hey I think youre kind of funny.

BOY Thats just by comparison with everyone else youve met tonight. I just havent offered up my tutoring skills.

GIRL (Laughs) Oh and please dont.

BOY Dont worry Ive no skills for which to tutor you in. (scene cont.) GIRL No skills?! (fake gasps) Stop being so defeated.

BOY No I assure you I am as much as a loser as I claim.

GIRL Do tell.

BOY Alright. I dont have a car.

GIRL Well why not?

BOY Dont have the money. Havent been able to save up anything either and my family doesnt really have the cash to snag me one.

GIRL Oh, poor money management.

BOY YES! That as well. I live basically paycheck to paycheck unless I know something big is coming up in which case I stash some money away.

GIRL So youre not completely incapable of saving; you just do it only when its absolutely necessary.

BOY Yeah something like that. They approach a dimly lit bus stop bench. They take a seat. Facing the road they continue to talk and sip. GIRL So what does all your cash go to?

BOY Bills. Mostly that. And then food and a few minor luxuries and vices.

GIRL Oh

BOY (interrupts) Nothing astounding, just the usual type of stuff.

GIRL So youre not bangin crack rocks like its 1985

is what youre saying.

BOY (Laughs) Yes exactly. (pause) I should also note I live with my ex and --

GIRL (interrupts) Thats right! Taylor said that about you. Man that shits gotta be weird.

BOY No, no, no its okay. Were more like best friends now. Or at least to me. How she sees it fuck if I know. (pause) Most of the time I feel like more of a tolerated burden to her than anything else.

GIRL Whys that?

BOY just do. Im hard to deal with a lot and if shes already troubled shall we say, about something else then Im usually the straw that breaks the camels back. And that never feels good (scene cont.) GIRL Is bringing home new guys or girls a weird thing?

BOY Oh no Im used to her and guys and all that. Wasnt easy at first, but you live with what you have to live with. It makes her happy and thats the main thing.

GIRL And what about you and other girls?

BOY (Laughs slightly) Well thats kind of a non-issue.

GIRL OH! Did you guys break up and you turned to a gay?!

BOY What?!

GIRL Its cool and all I dont really see it in you, but (looks Boy over a bit) hmm I dont know maybe

BOY No! No, I didnt turn gay. It just doesnt work for me like that. Basically I get to play the well informed friend and emotional consultant and thats about it.

GIRL Being in the friend zone doesnt mean anything bad. Guys put way too much stock in that.

BOY Well Id agree, but that story works with a few (scene cont.) BOY (cont.) different women.

GIRL Hmm still against trying the gay thing?

BOY I might have better luck. Both laugh.

GIRL Well you seem like a normal guy just one that needs better planning.

BOY Im pretty sure I had a life development teacher mention that to me in high school.

GIRL Really? What else did they say?

BOY Cant remember. Might be a sign

GIRL (Laughs) Could be. Well shit you dont me to tell you whats up from down. You just have to get it in control.

BOY And then everything else will fall into place?

GIRL Mmm no, but youll probably feel less like a loser and more like I dont know. Someone with the confidence to ask a girl if they want to be taught something. (scene cont.) BOY (Laughs) Maybe maybe.

GIRL No maybes. Just yes or no. (sigh) Youll get it. One of these days you will. (pauses and checks her cell phone) Shit. Ive gotta head back.

BOY What time is it?

GIRL Late. Too fucking late.

BOY Ah. Well this was nice. Different as all hell for me, but nice.

GIRL Yeah it was that. Ill probably see you around sometime.

BOY Probably. Thanks for all that by the way.

GIRL Dont thank me. Just remember this. While both are still seated GIRL disappears while still in frame. Boy remains seated looking at the sky which is now turned to a heavy looking dark blue. Dawn is only a little over an hour away. He seems calm and slightly more eased that he was at the party or even during the conversation. Boy downs the last of the beer in his cup, waits for a moment and then crushes the red, plastic cup in his hand.

SMASH CUT TO BLK: END