MAIN SCENE SCRIPT:

LOCATION: FAKE FRIEND’S HOUSE, THE NIGHT OF THE BIG HOUSE PARTY

CHARACTERS PRESENT:

EVAN, GHOST OF PRESENT, GHOST OF FUTURE, JOHNNY, JOHNNY’S GIRLFRIEND – HEATHER, EVAN’S MOTHER, & OTHER HIGH SCHOOLERS

EVENT SUMMARY: GHOST OF PRESENT HAS BROUGHT EVAN TO THE PARTY TO REVEAL TO HIM THAT HIS SUPPOSED FRIENDS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HIS LATENESS AND TRASH TALKING HIM AND HIS DEAD FRIEND, MARLEY.

EVAN BECOMES OVERWHELMED AND ANGERED BY WHAT HE HEARS AND ASKS TO LEAVE. THE GHOST OF PRESENT CACKLES AND TELLS HIM TO JUST RELAX BEFORE SHOVING MORE DRUGS AT HIM. THIS CAUSES EVAN TO EXPERIENCE SENSORY OVERLOAD. LIGHTS FLASH AND MUSIC BLARES, PRESENT CACKLES AS EVAN LOSES BALANCE AND FALLS INTO THE POOL OUTSIDE OF HIS FRIEND’S HOUSE.

EVAN EMERGES FROM THE POOL. IT IS PITCH BLACK AND INSTEAD OF BEING AT HIS FRIEND’S HOUSE, HE FINDS HIMSELF OUTSIDE OF HIS NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE. EVAN BELIEVES THE WHOLE TRIP TO BE OVER.

HIS NEIGHBOR’S LIGHTS TURN ON AND EVAN PANICKEDLY CRAWLS OUT OF THE POOL AND RUNS TO HIS HOME.

EVAN ENTERS HIS BACKDOOR AT THE SAME TIME AS HIS MOTHER IS ENTERING THE FRONT DOOR CALLING HIS NAME. HE ATTEMPTS TO AVOID HER BY CLIMBING THE STAIRS TO HIS ROOM AND CALLING OUT THAT HE WILL BE DOWN IN A MOMENT, BUT SHE SEEMS TO IGNORE HIM AND CLIMB THE STAIRS AFTER HIM.

WHEN EVAN ENTERS HIS ROOM AND SLAMS HIS DOOR, THE CALLS OF HIS MOTHER ECHOING BEHIND HIM, A FIGURE GARBED FULLY IN BLACK STANDS COMPLETELY STILL IN THE WINDOW. THE CURTAINS OF THE OPEN WINDOW BEHIND HER FLOWING WITH THE WIND. EVAN INQUIRES TO WHO THE FIGURE IS, BUT SHE SAYS NOTHING.

THE FIGURE, GHOST OF FUTURE, SLOWLY RAISES HER ARM TO POINT BEHIND HIM TO THE DOOR OF HIS ROOM. EVAN HEARS HIS MOTHER SCREAM. HE TURNS AND EXITS THE ROOM, CALLING FOR HIS MOTHER, TO FIND HER WEEPING AND WAILING OVER SOMETHING IN THE HALL BATHROOM. EVAN SEES HIS OWN FOOT LAYING OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THE BATHROOM AND REALIZES THAT THE TRIP IS NOT OVER. THIS IS THE FUTURE. HE IS DEAD AND HIS MOTHER IS WEEPING OVER HIS BODY.

HE RUNS BACK TO HIS ROOM AND DEMANDS FUTURE TO TAKE HIM BACK TO HIS LIFE, SCREAMING THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO DIE. HE PLEADS WITH HER ON HIS KNEES, BUT SHE ONLY LOOKS AT HIM WITH A COLD AND ALOOF GLARE.

IN AN INSTANT, EVAN FINDS HIMSELF NO LONGER IN HIS HOUSE. HE IS INSTEAD OUTSIDE MARLEY’S OLD HOME, HOLDING MARLEY’S FAVORITE RECORD. HE IS STILL WEEPING, BUT UPON REALIZING THAT HE IS BACK TO THE PRESENT AND SUN IS BREAKING OVER THE TREES, HE IS OVERCOME WITH LAUGHTER. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER. 

DIALOGUE & CUES:

EVAN & PRESENT ARRIVE AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE LARGE VERANDA DOORS TO THE LIVING ROOM; THEY STOP JUST OUTSIDE THE OPEN DOORWAY.

EVAN: HEY, GU-

(HE IS INTERRUPTED BY PRESENT SHOOSHING HIM AND HOLDING HIM AT THE DOOR)

PRESENT: UH AH AH! I DON’T THINK SO, HONEY. THEY CAN’T HEAR YOU AND I DEFINITELY DIDN’T BRING YOU BACK HERE TO HELP YOU SOCIALIZE. HOW BOUT YOU JUST LISTEN AND LEARN. (SHE PATS HIS FACE BEFORE FORCIBLY TURNING IT TO THE SCENE UNFOLDING INSIDE)

JOHNNY & COMPANY ARE CROWDED AROUND THE MAIN COUCH IN THE LIVING ROOM;

FOOTBALLER #1:

(LEANING AGAINST THE FIREPLACE WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND UNDER HIS ARM)

DUDE, WHERE THE FUCK IS EVAN?!? HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE LIKE AN HOUR AGO! I’M TRYING TO GET REAL LUCKY TONIGHT AND HE PROMISED ME AND MY GIRL AN EXTRA SPECIAL HIGH. (MAKES A SUGGESTIVE LOOK AT HIS GIRLFRIEND, SHE GIGGLES, THEN HE TURNS BACK TO JOHNNY WITH AN IRRITATED SNEER.)

IT’S JUST LIKE THE LOSER TO DITCH. WHEN WE SEE HIM TOMORROW, WE BETTER REMIND HIM OF HIS PLACE. (MAKES A FIST PUNCHING MOTION.)

JOHNNY:

(SEATED ON THE COUCH WITH HIS ARM AROUND HEATHER AND CHEAP SOLO CUP IN HIS HAND)

*SCOFFS* FUCKED IF I KNOW WHERE HE IS! WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE, HIS KEEPER? HE’S PROBABLY AT HOME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AND JERKING OFF, THAT OR STILL HIGH UP ON RAINBOW ROAD BEHIND THE BLEACHERS WHERE I LEFT HIM EARLIER. (LAUGHTER)

HEATHER:

(LOUDLY POPPING GUM AND TEXTING ON HER PINK NOKIA PHONE)

WHY DO YOU STILL KEEP THAT FREAK AROUND ANYWAY? JESS TOTALLY HAS A FRIEND THAT HAS A COUSIN THAT COULD GET THE SAME STUFF. I’M SICKING OF HAVING TO FLIRT AND PLAY NICE WITH THAT TWERP. YOU SHOULD DITCH HIM, JOHNNY. IT’S TOTES NOT WORTH IT.

JOHNNY:

I KNOW, BABE. YOU KNOW I ONLY KEEP HIM AROUND FOR HIS SUPPLY. I’LL DITCH HIM THE FIRST SIGN OF SOMETHING BETTER. I ONLY KEEP HIM AROUND OUT OF PITY. I MEAN THAT KID IS SO DESPERATE.

FOOTBALLER #2:

YO, JOHNNY! HASN’T IT ALMOST BEEN A YEAR SINCE THAT OTHER FREAK’S DEATH? DUDE’S PROBABLY AT HOME WEEPING INTO A PRINGLES CAN AND LISTENING TO SOME OF THAT EMO GREEN DAY SHIT.

HEATHER:

(LAUGHS AND CONTINUES TYPING DISINTERESTEDLY)

OH MY GOD, THING #2! I’D FORGOTTEN ABOUT ALL THAT SHIT. DID YOU HEAR THAT STUPID CHARITY DRIVE THEIR DOING TOMORROW? WHAT A JOKE! THE KID WAS SOOO CREEPY.

JOHNNY: YEAH, I GUESS IT HAS. WHAT A FUCKING LOSER. LITTLE SHIT STRAIGHT UP KILLED HIMSELF. HOW PATHETIC CAN YOU GET?!?

(EVERYONE LAUGHS)

PRESENT: WOW! REAL CATCHES YOU GOT THERE. THEY SPEAK REAL HIGHLY OF YOU.

EVAN:

(ANGRY AND ON THE VERGE OF TEARS)

SHUT THE HELL UP! ALL THAT SHIT THEY SAID ABOUT ME?!? ALL THEY SAID ABOUT…

(PRESENT RAISES HER EYEBROWS AS EVAN TRAILS OFF)

HOW COULD THEY? AFTER EVERYTHING I’VE DONE. EVERYTHING I GAVE UP! EVERYONE I GAVE UP… I’M GONNA TEACH THEM. GET OUT OF MY WAY.

PRESENT: I DON’T THINK SO, ROCKY. NOT ONLY WOULD THEY KNOCK YOU OUT IN THE FIRST ROUND, BUT I THINK YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH EDUCATING FROM ME TONIGHT. WHY DON’T WE JUST HAVE SOME FUN INSTEAD? (SHE STARTS TO GET REALLY CLOSE TO HIM.)

EVAN: WHAT THE HELL?!? NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! I HAVE TO-

(PRESENT SHOVES A VIAL OF POWDER UNDER EVAN’S NOSE AND FORCES HIM TO BREATH IT IN)

PRESENT: THERE WE GO! RELAX, FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT, AND JUST ENJOY THE RIDE.

(EVAN SUDDENLY BECOMES OVERWHELMED BY THE LIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND VOICES AROUND HIM.)

~

LIGHTS ARE FLASHING, MUSIC IS BLARING, AND BOTH CLOSE AND FAR AWAY FROM HIM, THERE IS LAUGHING. PRESENT IS NEXT TO HIM, CACKLING HYSTERICALLY.

EVAN ATTEMPTS TO COVER HIS EARS AND MOVE AWAY, BUT HE TRIPS OVER A BOTTLE AND FALLS BACKWARDS. INTO HIS FRIEND’S POOL.

UNDERNEATH THE WATER, EVAN FEELS LOST IN HIS THOUGHTS AS THE MUTED SOUND AND LIGHTS FADE.

~

EVAN SURFACES FROM THE POOL WITH A LARGE GASP FOR BREATH. HE LOOKS AROUND AND FINDS HIMSELF NOWHERE NEAR HIS FRIEND’S HOUSE. INSTEAD HE IS IN HIS NEIGHBOR’S BACKYARD POOL. HE LOOKS AROUND AND SPOTS NO ONE.

EVAN: UMMM… HEY? PSYCHO SPIRIT LADY? WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?

JUST THEN, THE LIGHT OF HIS NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE TURN ON. IN A PANIC, EVAN SCRAMBLES OUT OF THE POOL AND BOOKS IT BACK TO HIS OWN YARD.

EVAN MAKES HIS WAY INTO HIS HOUSE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR AND SHAKES HIS HEAD AS IF TO CLEAR IT.

EVAN: THANK GOD THAT’S OVER.

(HE SIGHS AND ATTEMPTS TO COLLECT HIMSELF)

HE HEARS HIS MOTHER’S KEYS JINGLING IN THE FRONT DOOR AND SPRINTS UP THE STAIRS TO HIS ROOM IN ORDER TO AVOID HER SEEING HIM SOAKING WET AND SHIVERING.HE ENTERS HIS ROOM AND CLOSES THE DOOR LIGHTLY BEHIND HIM.

EVAN’S MOM:

(SHE SHOUTS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS)

EVAN? ARE YOU HOME? I GRABBED SOME TAKEAWAY ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK! IT’S AL’S! YOUR FAVORITE!

EVAN: SURE, MOM! I’LL BE RIGHT DOWN. DON’T BOTHER COMING UP. I’LL BE RIGHT DOWN!

EVAN’S MOM:

(PROCEEDING UP THE STAIRS AS IF SHE HASN’T HEARD HIM)

EVAN? ARE YOU HOME? *PAUSE* EVAN, SWEETIE, ARE YOU THERE?

EVAN:

(FRANTICALLY TRYING TO CHANGE OUT OF HIS WET CLOTHING)

I SAID I’LL BE RIGHT DOWN!

SUDDENLY, EVAN’S MUSIC BEGINS TO PLAY ACROSS THE ROOM.

EVAN THEN TURNS AND SPOTS A DARK FIGURE STANDING STATUE STILL IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM, THE CURTAINS BILLOWING FROM THE OPEN WINDOW BEHIND HER. SHE IS STARING COLDLY INTO HIS EYES.

EVAN: WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?

THE FIGURE IGNORES HIM, DOING NOTHIN BUT RAISING HER ARM AND POINTING TO THE DOOR BEHIND HIM, WHERE EVAN CAN STILL HEAR HIS MOTHER CALLING FOR HIM.

EVAN’S MOM NOW REACHES THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.

EVAN’S MOM: EVAN?!? SWEETIE?!?

(SHE NOTICES A FOOT STICKING OUT FROM THE CORNER OF THE BATHROOM AND APPROACHES THE ROOM WITH BARELY CONCEALED FEAR.)

AS EVAN’S MOM TURNS FULLY PUSHES OPEN THE DOOR TO THE BATHROOM AND SEES THE CONTENTS OF THE ROOM. EVAN IS THERE DEAD. HE HAS BEEN DEAD FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SHE SCREAMS AND SLOWLY STARTS WEEPING AS SHE SLIDES TO THE FLOOR AGAINST THE WALL AT HER BACK.

EVAN RIPS THE DOOR TO HIS ROOM OPEN AND SEES HIS MOTHER SOBBING. HE IS CONFUSED.

EVAN: MOM, WHAT’S WRONG?

(THEN ALSO SEES THE FOOT AND APPROACHES THE DOORWAY, BEFORE GASPING AND ALSO FALLING BACK TO REST AGAINST THE WALL BEHIND HIM.)

HIS MOTHER REMAINS SOBBING AS SHE PULLS OUT HER PHONE AND DIALS 911.

EVAN’S MOM:

(HER VOICE IS QUIVERING AND QUAKING AS THE OPERATOR PICKS UP AT THE OTHER END OF THE LINE)

MY SON IS DEAD. *HER VOICE BREAKS AND SHE COMPLETELY CRUMBLES* MY SON IS DEAD! HE’S OVERDOSED ON SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW AND HE’S DEAD!

(SHE DROPS THE PHONE AND SIMPLY CURLS UP TO CRY.)

EVAN REMAINS LOOKING AT HIS OWN BODY FOR A FEW MORE MOMENTS IN PURE SHOCK AND HORROR BEFORE BOLTING UP AND SPRINTING BACK TO HIS ROOM.

HE SEES FUTURE STANDING IN THE SAME PLACE. AS IF SHE HAD NOT REGISTERED ANY OF THE PREVIOUS EVENTS AND COULDN’T HEAR EVAN’S MOTHER SOBBING FROM THE HALLWAY. EVAN IS NOW SOBBING WHEN HE STARTS TO YELL.

EVAN: YOU! YOU CAN FIX THIS! YOU’RE LIKE THE OTHERS, RIGHT?!? YOU CAN FIX THIS?!? PLEASE! PLEASE, TELL ME YOU CAN FIX THIS! I’M NOT DEAD! I CAN’T DIE! I CAN’T LEAVE MY MOM LIKE THIS!

(FUTURE CONTINUES TO LOOK ON COLD AND APATHETIC TO EVAN’S PLEADING)

PLEASE!!! TELL ME I CAN FIX THIS! THIS IS NOT MY FUTURE! I’M NOT THAT GUY! I WON’T BE THAT GUY! PLEASE! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!

FUTURE’S GAZE FALLS TO THE FLOOR AS HER EYES CLOSE. EVANS BLINKS. THEN EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.

~

EVAN OPENS HIS EYES AND FINDS THAT HE IS NO LONGER IN HIS BEDROOM AND FUTURE HAS DISAPPEARED.

HE IS NOW ON HIS KNEES IN MARLEY’S FRONT YARD, SHOES AND CLOTHES DIRTY AND LOOKING WORSE FOR WEAR. TEARS ARE STILL STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE. HE LOOKS DOWN TO SEE MARLEY’S FAVORITE RECORD (OR MAYBE A PHOTO OF MARLEY FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY) GRIPPED TIGHT IN HIS HANDS. AS HE STAYS THERE AND HEARS THE CRICKETS CHIRP AND SEES THE SUN RISING OVER THE TREES, HE BEGINS TO LAUGH AND HIS TEARS START ANEW, THIS TIME WITH JOY. HE HUGS THE RECORD TO HIMSELF AND HAS A MOMENT OF PURE ELATION AS HE REALIZES THAT HE HAS A NEW CHANCE AT LIFE, A CHANCE THAT MARLEY NEVER GOT, AND A CHANCE THAT HE WILL CHERISH.