Doctorate

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DOCTORATE

Written by Otmanon

INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT The room is a large rectangular studio divided into different sections: kitchen, dining room, living room, and finally, bedroom. A WOMAN gets up from bed and runs silently out of the room. JASON MCCARTHUR, 20, university student, rises from the covers, waken from her departure. Slowly, he gets up, scratches his chest and pauses. He walks around, looking for something to do. He ends up heading to the couch in front of the TV. He sits arms wrapped around knees in a ball on his large dark sofa in the division that is his living room. He turns on the TV and changes the channel. Attentively, he watches a TV show. Jason laughs out loud, presumably at a joke mentioned in the show. He looks around, expecting to see somebody laughing as well. A few turns of the head, and once again, he faces the TV, saddened. On his kitchen counter: Pictures, medals, letters. The pictures include numerous snapshots of a girl accompanied with two younger boys; presumably twin brothers with an older sister. Another picture shows Jason holding another girl in his arms. They look quite happy. The last series of pictures capture moments from glorious basketball games, a basement filled with friends playing pool, and a shot of Jason leaning down over a chair, playing guitar. We are brutally brought back to the sad, lonely image of Jason sitting on his sofa. He did not change position. From the window, the sky changes color indicating daybreak. As it gets lighter outside Jason stays curled up in a ball. An alarm BEEPS from his night stand. He slowly gets up, gets to his night stand and turns off the alarm.

2.

He wobbles lazily to the kitchen and fixes himself some cereal. The bag of cereal RUSTLES, interrupting the painful silence. Jason sits down and slowly munches on his cereal. He raises the bowl to his mouth and drinks the remaining milk. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - MORNING Our lone wolf walks out of the building, a laptop bag hanging from his shoulder. The street is surrounded by tall apartment buildings, and apart from Jason, it appears deserted. He turns around and sees a HOMELESS MAN still sleeping at the edge of a sidewalk. He tosses him a dollar and walks on. The homeless man wakes up briefly and puts the dollar in his pocket. He immediately returns to his slumber. EXT. CAFETERIA - DAY The cafeteria is a large room with a few restaurants on both its right and left sides. The center has a conglomerate of students sitting in tables, eating, studying, socializing. Jason walks in, cutting through crowds. He heads for a restaurant. The cashier is an old lady. OLD LADY Hello, what can I get you? JASON Two pizzas please. OLD LADY For breakfast? JASON For lunch. OLD LADY At nine thirty AM?

3.

JASON I mean breakfast. OLD LADY What kind do you want? JASON What? OLD LADY Hun, what kind do you want? Jason, dazed, looks up at the boards behind the cashier. He reads the menu quickly. JASON Uh... cheese. I think. OLD LADY You sure? JASON Yeah. OLD LADY That’ll be four dollars and fifteen cents. Jason pulls out spare change from his pocket. He has a five dolalr bill. JASON Dammit, I don’t... He reaches around his other pockets. JASON (CONT’D) ...sorry... just a sec... A patient customer behind him: PATIENT CUSTOMER Sir, here’s a dollar. JASON Uh... I only need fifteen cents so I can... He pulls out twenty five cents and hands it to the customer. JASON (CONT’D) ... So you take that, I’ll take that... (To the Cashier) (MORE)

4. JASON (CONT’D) Here’s five dollars and fifty cents.

CASHIER Actually that’s six dollars... And we only needed four dollars and fifteen cents... JASON Oh... sorry I must have misheard... He turns around to the customer and apologizes. JASON (CONT’D) Sorry...here you go... (He hands the customer two quarters he pulls out from his pocket) That’s yours too then... The cashier hands him his two cheese pizzas. JASON (CONT’D) Thank you. Sorry. He walks away, trying to find a table. The customer and the cashier look at him walking away... bewildered. Jason finds a seat. He leans down, pulling his laptop bag off his shoulder and placing his pizzas safely on the side. He takes out his laptop and starts typing slowly and unenthusiastically. A FRIEND surprises him. His face lights up immediately. FRIEND Hey. JASON Oh Hi. FRIEND Jason, right? JASON Yeah, Louis? We met the other day at Andrew’s. LOUIS Yeah we did. How’s it going?

5.

JASON Okay... one day at a time... you know... so what are you up to? LOUIS Just grabbed breakfast, now I’m going to my class. JASON What are you studying? LOUIS Oh, I’m in history actually. JASON Yeah. FRIEND So... going to Andrew’s tonight? JASON Yeah, definitely. Hey how’s your sister? The guy tenses up. He leans down, whispering threateningly in Jason’s ear. FRIEND What the hell are you talking about. JASON Was she notFRIEND Why would you bring that up in a place like here. JASON I’m sorry, I-I didn’t... FRIEND You ever talk to me about her, in a public place, if you even mention her... He gestures a fist with his hand. JASON I’m sorry. FRIEND I got to get to class.

6.

JASON Bye. The friend leaves, kicking a table in frustration on his way out. Jason sits there looking at his screen. He gets a notification indicating an e-mail. COMPUTER SCREEN: He opens it. It’s last week’s assignment. He scrolls down and finds his name. Next to it, the number 92. He opens another e-mail. Another assignment. 95. A third e-mail. 97. He goes on Facebook. He checks for any new notifications. A picture of his ex-girlfriend. A picture of the basement in which the pool party was going on from before. Filled with people. Not him. He goes on his page and clicks on the siblings section. He clicks on a name: ELLE MCCARTHUR. She appears a few years older than before. On her wall, a selfie of her and her friends. Then another with her and both of their twin brothers. He opens another e-mail. Another assignment. 95. A message is received from a girl called HOLLY WINSTEN. HOLLY WINSTEN Hey, did you get your mark back? JASON Yeah... 95. After a few seconds of seeing “Holly is typing...” Holly answers. HOLLY WINSTEN You’re so smart! JASON Thanks... HOLLY WINSTEN See you at Andrew’s?

7.

JASON Yeah! Bye. He closes his laptop, packs it, gets up and walks out of the cafeteria, leaving his uneaten pizza behind. EXT. CAMPUS - DAY Jason walks through the campus. He makes his way to his apartment building. The homeless man from before is still there, eying him intently. Jason walks in. In fifteen minutes, he comes back out again holding an extra pair of clothes. He leaves, nodding his head at the homeless man. EXT. DOWNTOWN - DAY Jason makes his way through human infested streets. Everybody else is walking with at least one other person. A Costco appears at the corner of the street. He enters. INT. COSTCO - DAY He heads straight to a changing room. He emerges again in his red and white uniform. He proceeds to the cash registers. ANDREW, 23, another Costco employee greets him. ANDREW Hey dude. JASON Andrew. How’s it going. ANDREW Not as great as you! JASON Haha, yeah... why?

8.

ANDREW Jesus man, I didn’t think you had it in you. JASON Well... here I am. ANDREW Well, anyway, see you tonight right? JASON Sure! Andrew gives him a punch and trots away. He goes back to a cash register, opens it and yells: ANDREW Next! Jason resumes the march to his own cash register. EXT. COSTCO - NOON Jason walks out of the Costco, hot dog and uniform in hand. He rushes to his apartment, attempting eating his hot dog while its contents spilled all over the ground. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY Jason walks out of his building grasping a different ensemble of clothes. The homeless man is still staring. INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY Ten players are rushing up and down the court, playing basketball. One is a girl, it’s Holly Winsten, from the earlier Facebook conversation. The rest are guys of various physical traits and ages. One is Jason. He`s dribbling up the court. Expertly performs an ankle breaker crossover. The man guarding him falls in embarrassment.

9.

Jason backs up, wide open, and takes a three pointer. The ball hits the outside of the rim. A bell RINGS, indicating the end of the game. His teammates look slightly disappointed. JASON Sorry... guys... Everybody makes their way to the locker room. Once the crowd disperses, Holly runs up behind him, giving him a slap in the ass. HOLLY WINSTEN You didn’t tell me you were coming today! JASON I... forgot. Sorry! HOLLY WINSTEN Well, I’m leaving. See you at Andrew’s tonight, right? JASON Yah. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT Jason walks out of his apartment building. He says hi to the homeless man still sitting there. He makes his way to Andrew’s. EXT. ANDREW’S - NIGHT A somewhat isolated house. All the lights are on, music raging out. Jason walks in. INT. ANDREW’S - NIGHT Everybody greets him with a cheer. ANDREW Hey! You made it! Everybody, Jason’s in the house! A second cheer.

10.

ANDREW (CONT’D) Are you pumped? JASON Always. For what? ANDREW Tonight. Kidding! You got anything to do tomorrow? JASON Well... the usual. ANDREW Good so you can stay up with us. We have huge plans. TEAMMATE 2 Hey, hey, hey. My boy, Jason. JASON Hi. TEAMMATE 2 (Staring at Holly across the room) See that Jason? She’s all yours. She’s been checking you out everytime she gets the chance! JASON Thanks. TEAMMATE 2 Well what are you still doin here? Get on it. JASON Later, maybe. LOUIS I bet you could... season her taco... if you know what I mean? ANDREW Jesus Louis what the hell is wrong with you Louis. LOUIS Sorry, I’m kidding. Just kidding.

11.

ANDREW Ah, guys. Jason’s got this. Nothing to worry about. The party goes on, songs change from upbeat to pure dubstep and then move on to classic rock. Jason wanders through the party, alone despite everybody attempting to starting a conversation with him. Jason blows them all off and ends up in the corner of the room. Andrew pulls him aside and hands him a bag. The contents are wrapped in paper towels. ANDREW (CONT’D) Use it wisely. You deserve it. No charge. JASON ...Thanks. Andrew walks away, giving him a wink. Jason walks to a corner, leans on a table, and rolls himself a joint. He stays alone in the corner for some time, puffing away. Holly Winsten breaks away from her group of friends and slowly makes her way to Jason’s side. HOLLY WINSTEN Hey, you! JASON Hey. HOLLY WINSTEN How’s it going? JASON Alright... An awkward silence. HOLLY WINSTEN So...Wazzaaap? JASON Nuthing. You? HOLLY WINSTEN Well I was just having fun!

12.

JASON (laughs) That’s funny. HOLLY WINSTEN (Bites her lip, sensually) Wanna share some of that? JASON Oh... Yeah! Sure. He hands her the bag. JASON (CONT’D) Oh, sorry, Do you know how toHOLLY WINSTEN Oh no, I’m fine! She rolls herself a joint. She notices Jason struggling with it. HOLLY WINSTEN (CONT’D) Here... let me... She helps him out. Both jsut stand there, awkwardly smoking away. HOLLY WINSTEN (CONT’D) So... wanna go to your apartment? Rock street, right? JASON Um... yeah, sure. Party looks dead anyway. The party itself is still rocking with energy. The two make their way outside. EXT. ANDREW’S - NIGHT HOLLY WINSTEN Are you from here? JASON No. HOLLY WINSTEN Where? JASON It’s a small city in the north of Canada.

13.

HOLLY WINSTEN Oh yeah...I suck at geography... JASON Most people here do, yeah. HOLLY WINSTEN So you miss it there? JASON Yeah. HOLLY WINSTEN Oh yeah? You left some people back there. JASON ...yes... a few friends and family. An awkward silence as they walk on. JASON (CONT’D) Back home, at night I’d wake up and call my friend Tristan. He’d come over and we’d make sandwiches and then go outside and find people to mess around with. One time we smashed a brick through our teacher’s window. HOLLY WINSTEN Oh yeah! As they walk on, Jason becomes focused on reciting his nostalgic stories. Holly is obviously uninterested. JASON My twin brothers would sometimes speak at the same time. Most of what they say is a star wars reference but still... it was pretty creepy ‘cus they look exactly the same. Holly rolls her eyes, and sighs quietly. HOLLY WINSTEN Hmm. JASON But I do miss my sister alot too. She’s four years younger than me. Wants to be an actress. She loves Marilyn Monroe. (MORE)

14. JASON (CONT'D) We’d go on a Marilyn Monroe movie marathon every year on Christmas. I didn’t like ‘em so much, but... what are ya gonna do?

HOLLY WINSTEN I dunno... haha. She laughs awkwardly. They make it to Rock Street. EXT. ROCK STREET - NIGHT JASON Now it’s Just behind this building here... They see the homeless man cuddled up in a ball, sleeping. Jason reaches for some change in his pockets. JASON (CONT’D) Ah shoot. I don’t have much. Do you have anything? HOLLY WINSTEN (Trashy white girl-like) Uhh... For him? No. JASON ...really...? Jason opens the door to his building. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT Right when they enter the apartment, Holly throws herself at him. Wraps her arms around him and kisses him. JASON Whoa... HOLLY WINSTEN You said you broke up with your girlfriend right? JASON Yup, all good. HOLLY WINSTEN I’d hate to be a home-wrecker.

15.

JASON Not much of a home to wreck. She resumes her courting. They start taking their clothes off. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - 30 MINUTES LATER Both are laying in bed. Jason seems to be dosing off. Holly is still wide awake, though. After a few seconds she gets up and starts putting on her clothes. JASON You’re leaving. A statement. HOLLY WINSTEN (Fakely) Yeah... talk to you later okay? ...Let’s do this again sometime. It was fun. JASON Yeah, sure. Holly leaves. Once again Jason is left alone in his apartment. He puts on some clothes and walks to the sofa. Turns on the TV. A Marilyn Munroe movie. He bends into a ball, arms wrapped around knees like before. His mouth is quivering of cold. He separates his hands from his legs and hugs himself for warmth. He changes the channel. It’s Star Wars. JASON (CONT’D) Oh. Wow. Changes again. His two younger twin brothers fighting. Channel changes. His sister, flashing a smile. JASON (CONT’D) What the... He keeps zipping through the channels: His friends in a basement playing pool.

16.

His ex-girlfriend under the covers. His ex-girlfriend with some other guy. Him making a diving catch for a football. Him stealing a basketball from an opponent. He turns off the T.V. and walks around his apartment, rubbing his arms. After circling his studio a few times, he ends up in the kitchen and, like before, fixes himself some cereal. Bowl in hand, he resumes circling. This time, he ends up in front of his giant window by his bed. Slowly eating the cereal, he stares down. The homeless man is sitting on the sidewalk opposite to the apartment. He’s shivering from the cold as well. After a few seconds of staring, Jason makes his way outside. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT Jason exits the building, still holding his cereal. Tired, he faces the homeless man. JASON You. Come on up. The man doesn’t answer and continues his cycle of dozing off and shuddering. JASON (CONT’D) Let’s go. It’s cold out here. HOMELESS MAN Go away. Jason gets close. He sees that the man is bleeding from his shoulder and his left eye area. JASON ...what happened... come upstairs, I can get you fixed up. The man still refuses, but Jason insists. JASON (CONT’D) Up. Let’s go. Come on.

17.

Finally, the man complies. He slowly stands up. We see that he is quite tall as well. At least 6 feet. He had a short dirty beard, but the rest of his features were smudged out and indistinguishable because of dirt marks around his face. He staggers over to Jason, who leads the way. INT. APARTMENT BUILDING, HALLWAY - NIGHT JASON I’m Jason, by the way. The man doesn’t reply at first, but after a few seconds: MAN Josh... Roberts JASON Robert? JOSH No. Josh. Josh Roberts. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT JASON Okay, so this is where I live. Josh remains silent. JASON (CONT’D) So, you can sleep on the bed, I’ll sleep on the couch... Josh heads to the couch, dazed. JASON (CONT’D) Or you can have the couJosh heads for the bed. JASON (CONT’D) Or, whatever, take the bed. JOSH (a few moments later) You sure?

18.

JASON Yeah. I like the couch better anyway. Josh heads for the bed. Before he manages to sit down: JASON (CONT’D) You want some cereal? Josh shakes his head and slips under the covers. JASON (CONT’D) Good night. JOSH Hey, uh... JASON Sorry? JOSH Nothing... JASON Well, good night. Jason turns off the lights and heads for the couch. He sleeps without a blanket, but he sleeps nonetheless. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - DAY Jason wakes up. He checks Josh’s bed. He’s not there. He looks at the bathroom. Steam is flowing upwards through the sliver at the bottom of the door. After adjusting his ears, Jason hears the sound of RUNNING WATER. Reassured, he makes his way to the kitchen and fills a bowl with cereal. Josh emerges from the bathroom door, steam following him. JASON Morning. JOSH ...Just took a shower.

19.

JASON I see... cool! Got all the blood off? JOSH Yeah. Now that he’s clean and shaven, we can see Josh is a man in his mid forties with dark hair, thick eyebrows and a strong jaw. He looks tough, his eyes and eyebrows twisted into a stern look. JASON So today, I’ve got done. I usually go cafeteria and work assignments... And to get some work to Campus on my stuff...

No answer. Josh turns around and pulls out a shirt from under the bed and struggles to put his shirt on. He has several scars across his back, the freshest one being on his shoulder. JASON (CONT’D) ...what... happenned last night? Why were you bleeding? No answer. JASON (CONT’D) Anyways, after that, I go to work at the CostcoJOSH You work at Costco? JASON ...yes? No answer. JASON (CONT’D) And then I’ll go to the gym. I’ll get back around five. Still not a peep from Josh. JASON (CONT’D) You wanna come with?

20.

GUY ... yes... INT. CAFETERIA - DAY Josh watches as Jason once again messes up his pizza order terribly. Once Jason gets his three pieces of pizza, he hands one to Josh and together, they find a seat. JASON Fun, fun, fun. Next we go to Costco. INT. COSTCO - DAY Josh walks around the crowded aisles of costco. He looks over at Jason, who is standing behind a table, giving free food samples to everybody. He leans over the table, reaching over it to give a sample to a customer. He spills the contents of the sample all over the customer’s shirt. JASON Oh, sorry, sorry. Let me just... clean that up for you. GUY This was a brand new shirt! My wife got it forJASON I am so sorry, sir... I don’t... I can’t... I’m sorry... I’m very clumsy. GUY I can see that! JASON Let me make it up to you. Find a shirt here, buy it. Any shirt. It’s on me!

21.

INT. GYMNASIUM - NIGHT Jason is shooting a basketball. He misses, runs for the rebound, shoots again, misses again. The gym is almost empty. There is Jason, Josh and one other person. The other person is practicing on the other net, at the other side of the gym. From what we see, he hits every shot. Jason passes the ball to Josh. JASON Come on, take a shot. Josh dribbles the ball slowly, getting warmed up. He raises it, preparing his shot. JASON (CONT’D) Yeah you wanna hold your hands so that your elbow points to the net. And bend your knees slightly because it helps with balance and flow. Josh shoots and hits it. He passes it to Jason again, who takes his time. Jason takes his own advice from before and misses. He seems kinda rattled. JOSH What time is it? JASON 8 o’clock, why? JOSH I’m getting tired. JASON Oh, well, if you want you can walk back home, I need to stay here and practice a bit. Okay> JOSH Kay.

22.

INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT The door opens. Jason enters, sweaty. He turns on the lights and sees Josh sleeping in his bed. He quickly turns them off and heads for the couch, still fully clothed. He falls in total exhaustion. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - MORNING Jason wakes up. Slowly, he stretches. He looks back and notices Josh isn’t in bed. He looks around and finds him sitting next to the kitchen counter. Josh waves good morning at him. JOSH Mornin’ JASON -Hi. JOSH Hey there. You had a nice sleep? JASON It was... okay... JOSH Just okay? That’s too bad. JASON Yeah. JOSH Well don’t just lie there! Get some breakfast. JASON Oh okay, yeah. JOSH I just wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. Was rude, ungrateful. You invited me in and didn’t even get a thank you in return.

23.

JASON Oh, no. It’s no problem, really. His voice is rough and strong. JOSH Still. You did me a favour. It was cold that night too. JASON Yeah... JOSH Why’d you do it? JASON I dunno. JOSH So you invite random men to your home every day? JASON No... JOSH Well whatever it was. Thank you. Jason finally stands up. He makes his way to the kitchen counter. In front of Josh, Jason notices two guns. His eyes frown in confusion and curiosity. JASON ...No problem. JOSH Oh, yes it is. JASON What? JOSH A problem. JASON (Glances at the two guns) ...why? JOSH You don’t know who I am, do you?

24.

JASON Josh Roberts? JOSH Jacob Robinson. JASON Jacob? JACOB Derek. JASON Who are you? JOSH You don’t want to know. JASON What should I call you, then? JOSH Call me Guy. JASON Guy? GUY As in... that cool guy. JASON I see. Sure. Guy. An short silence. JASON (CONT’D) You want cereal, guy? GUY Sure. Jason fills up a bowl and grabs some milk. GUY (CONT’D) What do you do all day; all days you have free, that is? JASON I dunno. Hang out. GUY Friends?

25.

JASON Yeah. GUY And you play basketball. JASON Mhm...Well I got a scholarship for it, yeah. GUY Scholarship! Wow. What do you study. JASON Nothing. Theories and stuff... GUY Nothing? JASON Well, yeah. But nothing interesting.Why all the questions? GUY Figuring you out. JASON Not much to figure out. GUY There’s alot to figure out. JASON Like what. GUY Why’d you invite me in? JASON You looked like you needed some help! GUY You got friends, you’re great at basketball. Girls aren’t a problem either I saw you last night and the one before that. Great apartment too. Sounds to me like you’re living the life, why’d you invite me in?

26.

JASON (Curt) Well I’m not “living the life”. GUY Why? JASON I don’t know. Who the hell do you think you are? GUY (With a smile) Don’t you remember? I’m Guy. Short silence. Guy takes his first spoonful of cereal. He grimaces. Jason observes, anger rising. GUY (CONT’D) Soggy. JASON (Unapologetic) Sorry. GUY My fault. A slight pause while Jason puts away the cereal. GUY (CONT’D) You from Canada? JASON Yeah. GUY Huh. JASON Why do you have two guns? GUY Oh, oh-ho. I can see how this might look...umm... JASON Does it have anything to do with why you were bleeding last night? GUY Yeah.

27.

JASON What did you do today? GUY I Hunted. JASON Hunted what? GUY Hunted who? Thieves and robbers. JASON The ones that beat you up? GUY The ones who stole my record. JASON Record? WhA washing machine BEEPS in the distance, indicating the end of a cycle. JASON (CONT’D) Sorry just a sec. Jason walks to a small cupboard on the side of a wall. He opens it, revealing a washing machine fitting tightly into the narrow closet. He takes out a wet costco uniform, and hangs them on the closet door to dry. GUY Costco. JASON What? GUY Your job. You work at Costco. JASON I do. GUY Met my wife there. JASON The one downtown? GUY Yep.

28.

JASON When? GUY About five years ago. JASON Wasn’t there yet. GUY Didn’t think so. (Beat) Julianne. A moment of silence. Jason pulls out the laundry and sets it to dry nearby. He silently analyzes Guy. GUY (CONT’D) (chuckling with himself) So many women out there, Jason. They will tear you apart. The key is to find the right one. Jason sits down on his couch, looking at Guy from across the room. GUY (CONT’D) You ever had a girlfriend? JASON Yeah. GUY Break up? JASON Yeah. You? GUY -I...Yeah...She was too good for me. She... (chuckles) She would try to- ah whatever, anyways, you know when you know. He catches himself before revealing too much. JASON What happened? GUY She came to her senses and left me. Yup. Four months ago. (MORE)

29. GUY (CONT'D) It’s what happens when you don’t meet ‘em halfway.

JASON I’m sorry. GUY Not your fault, Jason. Only mine. JASON Why are you out in the streets? GUY Didn’t feel like doing anything else. Quiet. GUY (CONT’D) Yup, our first date was at Costco. JASON The cafeteria? GUY (Smiling, now) Nope. The free food samples. JASON Very romantic. GUY We’d walk around the store, hunting ‘em. The best was when they gave out... uh, whatcha-ma-call it... Butter chicken. JASON Oh yeah. GUY Yeah, we’d love those. Once we’d get our first sample we’d go to the clothing section... put some new clothes on and get some more. Employees had no idea. JASON (Joking) Ah, we know about people like you. Won’t happen again, I guarantee that. Silence.

30.

GUY (Mumblimg) Yup, won’t happen again. Anyways, I’m off. JASON Where? GUY Gotta get some more hunting done. JASON You’ll be back? GUY If I don’t die out there. JASON (chuckes) Sure...Bye then. GUY See you soon. Jason, walks out, picking up both guns on the way. He closes the door behind him. FADE TO BLACK. EXT. RANDOM STREET - DAY The street is rather large, filled with cars and small shops and stores. Jason is walking, earbuds jammed in his ears, blasting music. He strolls along casually. In front of him, a girl is walking too, talking on the phone. Both walk on, Jason behind the girl. She briefly turns around and notices him. They keep walking, and she notices he’s still behind her. Jason remains indifferent. Soon, the girl starts getting creeped out. She suddenly spins around and walks the other way, checking if he’d follow. He doesn’t and everything is fine. Distraught, she whispers on the phone:

31.

GIRL Yeah, sorry... this creep who was following me... Jason walks on, oblivious. He makes his way to a bus stop. He waits a few minutes, checks his watch and the bus appears. He goes in. INT. BUS - DAY The bus is fairly crowded. Jason is sitting peacefully at the back of the bus. After a few seconds, he notices the same girl from before, sitting at the other end of the bus. She keeps staring at him, scared. Finally, the bus comes to a stop. Jason gets up to leave, and so does the girl. EXT. STREET - DAY They stand on the sidewalk, both waiting for oncoming traffic to pass by so they could cross the street. Unfortunately, Jason has to walk the same direction as her. He two keep up this awkward walk. They end up walking behind a shady store in an alley, both taking the same shortcut. She checks behind her, sure enough, Jason’s still there. She sprints away. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - DAY Jason enters. Guy is once again sitting in front of the counter. GUY How was today? JASON Same... only, I think I creeped out this one girl. GUY We all do.

32.

JASON Yeah. How was your hunt. GUY Unfruitful. Jason sits down on his couch. To his side, he notices bubble wrap. He picks it up and starts popping them. JASON I used to do this all the time with Elle. GUY Elle? JASON Yeah, my sister. At night, when we couldn’t sleep, we’d just sit on the couch and pop some bubbles... you have any family Guy? GUY Not anymore. They all left me. Or died. JASON Sorry to hear that. GUY Yeah... (Nods to a picture) That her? JASON Yup. Silence. GUY Listen, I’m gonna die, Jason. JASON What? GUY I’m gonna die. JASON When? GUY (Laughs) When? You excited?

33.

JASON No, I mean... how do you know? GUY I fucked over a ton of people, Jason. JASON What people? GUY Bad people, good people. Does it matter? Everybody’s the same when it comes to betrayal. JASON So... these guys will kill you... They want to kill you? GUY They’ll just keep hiring guys until one of ‘em finally kills me. And it will happen. JASON ... who are you? GUY I’m a dead man walking. JASON ...Why are you telling me this now? GUY There’s one right now, about to come in. Immediately, the front door opens. A man enters, his weapon drawn. Upon seeing Guy, the man becomes furious. He SHOOTS with a silencer, but Guy and Jason jump out of the way and take cover behind the sofa. JASON What the fuck? Why didn’t you tell me this before? GUY I didn’t want to scare you... JASON Well mission accomplished.

34.

The man approaches the couch. Guy slides away, aiming his gun at the intruder. He fires. Chest shot, right in the heart. GUY Sorry, Frank. FRANK Screw... you. Frank collapses. JASON You know him!? GUY They’re all called Frank. JASON Okay, tell me, clearly please. Who are you and what do you do. GUY I do a lot of stuff. JASON Fuck! Like what? GUY Politics. JASON Politics? GUY Drugs... JASON What? GUY Guns... a lot of stuff. JASON ...Explain... what just happened.. GUY Once Julie left me, I broke. I just took off. Left all of these guys behind. They counted on me for everything but I just upped and left. I had one thing in mind... JASON What? What was it?

35.

GUY I know I screwed up. Okay! I know that. JASON Yeah! Looks like you did! GUY But... before I die, I need to give Julie something, a last present kinda. You know, show her that I do care. JASON What? GUY I know she would never forgive me, but just one last thing to remember me by. JASON What? GUY I got her a vinyl record. When we first met. My favorite album. JASON Right, the record. What about it? GUY I wanted to give her something nice. JASON Well, did you give it to her? GUY No. JASON Why the hell not? GUY I was worried she might not like it. JASON Are you kidding me...

36.

GUY Well... I ended up keeping it from her for the rest of our relationship. JASON The record? GUY Yeah. JASON So what’s the problem? GUY Those dickless pieces of shit stole it from me. JASON The hitmen? GUY No. A gang. The other night, they must’ve recognized me from somewhere, gave me a good beating and took everything I had on me. JASON So what now? Guy stares at Jason for a while. Frank still lying on the floor, deceased. GUY Wanna help me steal it back? JASON No. GUY Jason, I need this. I can’t do it alone. JASON You can’t ask me this. Decent people don’t ask this. GUY Jason... Before I die... Before one of these guys end my life, I need to give her the record. Guy’s face is torn and sincere, his eyes big and begging.

37.

Jason stares around the room. He sees a picture of his family and his friends back home. JASON ... I don’t know what I’m doing. GUY Yeah? JASON Okay. Okay, I’ll help you. Asshole. GUY Thanks. Sorry. JASON Let’s get to it. What’s our plan? GUY Well, I have no clue where the guys that took my record hang out, so we’re gonna have to camp out here until we see ‘em again. Then, we’ll follow them and checkout their hideout. Sound good? JASON Sure, whatever you say. GUY This could even be fun. They both sit down on the couch, having nothing to do. Jason starts popping some of his bubbles again. GUY (CONT’D) So... wanna... go to the gym or something? JASON Yeah sure. They both get up and reach for their coats. JASON (CONT’D) (Pointing at the body of Frank) What about this guy. GUY Ah, we can leave him there for a few hours.

38.

JASON If you say so. INT. GYMNASIUM - EVENING Guy and Jason are alone in the gym, lazily shooting hoops. JASON I don’t only play basketball. In high school, I was pretty good at football too. GUY You probably had the girls fighting over you. JASON (Chuckles) At one point, yeaha. GUY Just pick one and grab her. It’s what I used to do. JASON You had girls fighting over you? GUY You can bet your right hand they were. JASON Nice. GUY What happened to your girlfriend? JASON Well... we’re so far away. We tried to make it work the first year... just grew apart. GUY Where you from again? JASON Canada. GUY That’s right! Jason takes a shot and misses.

39.

GUY (CONT’D) (Jokingly) You got a scholarship for basketball. Jason look worried. JASON I don’t know what’s going on... GUY It’s fine, you just have to focus. Guy grabs the basketball and takes a shot. It goes. EXT. DARK STREETS - NIGHT Jason and Guy are walking home. GUY So how long you been all by your lonesome? JASON Well, three years now. GUY Since you came here? JASON Yeah. GUY Who do you miss the most? JASON ...my sister... GUY How old is she? JASON Fourteen, fifteen now, I think. GUY Cute. JASON Yeah, she just got a boyfriend actually. GUY Oh, right on. You know him?

40.

JASON No. Chad Melo... his name is... Chad Melo. The both chuckle at the name. Suddenly, Guy stops, dead in his tracks. GUY There they are, assholes. He points at a group of people walking down another street. The pair start following them at a reasonable distance. Speed-walking in long coats, both look like the perfect pair of sick pedophile rapists. Jason suddenly notices a girl walking in front of them. It’s the girl from the other day. She stares back at them, obviously recognizing Jason, terrified. JASON Dammit. GUY What? JASON The girl. She speedwalks away as quickly as possible. GIRL (Shouting back at them) Stop following me creeps! Hellllp! The gang Jason and Guy were actually following turn around. Guy and Jason jump into an intersecting street. They wait a few seconds for the gang to resume, then turn back around and continue hunting the record stealing rogues. Out of the darkness, by two dumpsters on the edge of the street, two figures stride out. Both run for Guy, but when Jason steps in the way, they have to take hi down as well. They keep hitting, punching, kicking. Jason manages to slip out. The two now focus on hitting Guy.

41.

A few drops of blood splatter against the cold hard concrete of the ground. Jason comes back to his senses. He sees Guy struggling between the two hitmen and he joins in again, except this time, fully aware of the attackers’ presence. Jason grabs one guy’s shoulder, turns him around and punches him in the face. He pushes him against a wall and holds him up, giving him a final strike in the nose. The man falls, unconscious. By then, Guy manages to repress his aggressor. on him, knees holding down his elbows. GUY Frank! Dammit, who sent you? MAN A friend. GUY I don’t have any friends. He finds a rock nearby and raises it, planning on smashing it on the man’s face. He brings it down. Jason grabs his arm, stopping him. JASON Don’t. Guy lets the rock go. Instead, he punches the man twice in the face, knocking him unconscious. JASON (CONT’D) Shit! That was rough. GUY It was rough? Why would it be rough on you? JASON What are you talking about? GUY You just blacked out for a minute in the corner over there. I had to take care of both these amateurs by myself. (MORE) He’s sitting

42. GUY (CONT'D) The only thing you did was stopped me from smashing Frank’s face in.

JASON What? I tookGUY These guys have about a minute to get to. Run. Both hightail it down the street. They arrive at the next intersection and look all three ways for the gang. JASON We lost those guys. GUY Figured. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT The two guys enter. JASON Why didn’t they have weapons. GUY ...They’re just amateurs. Probably recognized my face and tried to get us for the money. Both sit down on the couch at the same time. GUY (CONT’D) Fuck... I need that record, Jason. I need that vinyl. JASON We need a plan, for next time... Both sit there, quietly. Jason starts popping bubbles from the bubble wrap. GUY Turn on the TV. Jason grabs the remote and turns it on. A random corny TV commercial. GUY (CONT’D) I always wanted to buy one of those...

43.

A few seconds. GUY (CONT’D) What am I saying? Julie always wanted to buy one of those. JASON ...why? Guy turns to him, a angry, thunderous look in his eyes. GUY What the hell kind of question is that? JASON I- I don’t know... a normal... one? GUY Sometimes people just want things! Doesn’t matter why they want it, sometimes they just do. JASON Ah, I see. GUY No you don’t, you don’t see shit. JASON What are we even arguing about, Guy? GUY I want cereal. JASON Okay, I’ll get you some. While Jason gets up, Guy changes the channel to a news network. NEWS ANCHOR ...the series of murders are spread out around both cities, making it impossible to track where the murder himself lives. JASON The cine-killer... Canada’s dark spot... You heard of him? GUY I know him. I know them...

44.

JASON What? GUY I know who it is. JASON Are you kidding? How? GUY Don’t ask. JASON Well tell the police! Guy scoffs at his suggestion. GUY Let him be. He’s having a blast. JASON Killing a bunch of innocent people! How can you... GUY Oh please. We killed Frank. He points to the dead body of Frank. GUY (CONT’D) Nobody’s innocent. JASON I didn’t kill Frank, you did. GUY You let me kill Frank, therefore you might as well have killed him yourself. JASON Well not all people deserve to die. GUY We all deserve to die. JASON How can you say that! Not everybody. GUY Oh, yeah? Name one person.

45.

JASON I don’t deserve to die! You don’t deserve to dieGUY Oh plJASON My sister doesn’t deserve to die... she saved a dog once! (He struggles trying to find more examples) Julianne wouldn’t deserve to die. Does she? Your angel? Jason hands him the bowl of cereal. GUY Okay, not everybody deserves to die. JASON So what now? GUY Sorry, still not gonna turn them in. They helped me once, won’t betray them too. JASON Who are you? GUY Does it matter? All I want is my record. JASON And we’ll get it. We’ll get it... just... why do you want it so much? GUY (Curt and angry) I don’t know. It would be sweet. She might even like me better after that. I don’t know, it’ll change something! JASON Okay, okay... sorry... GUY I’ve been meaning to ask you. Do you have any hot sauce?

46.

JASON ... what? No. GUY Can you go get me some? JASON No, I won’t get you someGUY C’mon, Jason... I’ll take care of him for you. Once again they stare at the dead body of Frank. JASON ... how? GUY You gotta stop asking questions. JASON ... whatever. GUY Just go get me some hot sauce. I need to make out a plan. JASON We can do that together! Wait forGUY No. I’ll do it. JASON Fine. I’ll go get your hot sauce. Guy’s face smoothens, and he returns to his more joyous self. GUY Thank you, darlin’. Jason splits. Shoving a five dollar bill in his pocket. JASON (Under his breath) I dont’t get it. He walks out the door, but reaches back in for an umbrella. JASON (CONT’D) In case of rain.

47.

GUY Godspeed, gentleman. Once again, Jason walks out. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT Jason rushes through the wetness of the outside. Everybody is scurrying off in pairs. Not Jason. He makes his way to a first convenience store. INT. PATEL STORE - NIGHT Jason looks around the store, looking for the hot sauce. He asks the clerk, an Indian man in his fourties. JASON Do you have any hot sauce? CLERK Hot sauce? JASON Yes, hot. (He demonstrates by breathing in and out real hard) Do you have some? CLERK OH, hot sauce. Sure, sure. He points to a bottle of ketchup, signaling Jason to bring it to him. He does. The clerk puts it in a microwave behind him. and microwaves it for 30 seconds. Longest thirty seconds of life. Microwave BEEPS, clerk takes out the ketchup. CLERK (CONT’D) Hot sauce, three fiddy. JASON How much? CLERK Three fiddy.

48.

JASON ... three fiddy it is. Jason gives him the money, takes the hot ketchup, and is on his merry way. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Jason makes his way to his building again, lonely under his umbrella. He tries to open the door but can’t. He reaches for his pocket, feels nothing, then calls his apartment. Guy picks up. GUY Ye-hello, Jason’s apartment. JASON Guy, it’s Jason. Let me in. I forgot my key. GUY You get the hot sauce? JASON Of sorts... GUY Whatsat mean? JASON Yes, I got your goddamn hot sauce, now let me in. GUY In a little second. He hangs up, leaving Jason in the rainy night. After a few seconds, a girl walks by, about to enter the building. Jason doesn’t recognize her until she turns around. JASON Um, excuse mThe girl immediately recognizes him, and him her. GIRL Why are you following me? I’m gonna call the cops.

49.

She runs away, taking her phone out of her pocket. JASON (Shouting after her) No, you don’t understand... wait! But it was too late, the girl was already a large distance away, shouting on the phone. Jason calls his apartment again. Guy picks up. JASON (CONT’D) Guy. Cops are coming for me. Please, let me up. GUY Come on up, then. Jason waits for the BUZZ as he opens the door.. The girl does not take not of his disappearance. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT Jason enters. JASON What the hell? Why wouldn’t you let me in? GUY I was thinking. JASON About a plan? GUY Not a very sophisticated one, but a plan nonetheless. Did you get the hot sauce? JASON (Revealing his purchase) Of sorts... GUY That’ll have to do. JASON What are you gonna use it for? GUY Look...

50.

Guy reaches into the fridge, takes out some leftover chicken. Opens the container, squeezes Ketchup out of the bottle, and starts eating. JASON ...you’re starting to get on my nerves, Guy. GUY Why not tell me to leave? JASON (Rolling his eyes) What did you do with “Frank”? GUY Not telling you. Could put you in danger. JASON Oh, ‘cus I’m not already. GUY No. You’re not. They’ll only shoot you if you physically start fighting them. JASON I did! GUY No you didn’t! You blacked out! JASON I don’t believe it. GUY It doesn’t matter, Anyways, They don’t know you... don’t worry. You’re still safe. Once we’re done I’ll leave and you’ll be the happiest person in the world. JASON I hope so. GUY So, we’re gonna have you “join” the gang. Undercover operation. JASON Whatever happened to no danger?

51.

GUY It won’t be dangerous. I’m telling you, don’t worry... (Slight pause) I recognized one of the members. I found out where he lives. Tomorrow we follow him wherever he goes and you’ll introduce yourself. JASON Who is he? GUY The guy? Frank. JASON Again? How many Franks do you know? GUY Only one. They’re all the same. JASON How do you know this one? GUY I met him a while back. I know where he lives. JASON (Sighs) What do I say? GUY To them? JASON Yeah. GUY Whatever you feel like. They won’t care. So long as they see a lonely, trashy white guy, I think you’re in. Your basketball skills might even help. JASON I don’t want to anymore. GUY Now, c’mon. We’re almost done. JASON I’m going to bed.

52.

GUY Goodnight. We have a long day tomorrow. JASON Enjoy your chicken with ketchup. GUY Hot sauce! JASON Night! Jason falls on the couch, exhausted, pulling the sheets over him in one fluid motion. EXT. HOTEL - DAY A sunny day. People are strolling down the streets, shopping, eating, hanging out. A slightly overweight white man walks out of the hotel. Jason and Guy are sitting on bench overlooking the entire building. GUY That’s him. Frank. EXT. STREETS - DAY The man walks through the crowded downtown streets. Guy and Jason tail him. JASON How come you don’t know them? GUY What do you mean? JASON Why’d they beat you up and take your record if you don’t know them? Why didn’t they just kill you for the money? GUY My departure may have created some ripples in the business... alot of people recognize me that I don’t know.

53.

JASON You’re famous? GUY To some people. Not to you. JASON How many people recognize you? GUY (Thinks about it for a while, then scoffs) Alot. JASON So you are famous! GUY Fame isn’t important. Everything worth fighting for comes from... (He holds his hand to his heart) ...the inside. I learned that lesson a little too late, unfortunately. JASON Okay, but... Why didn’t they try kill you? everybody else is... and these guys obviously had the chance... GUY While they probably hate my guts... my guess is they were told specifically not to. JASON Why? GUY I don’t know. But I’m grateful for it. Maybe they were told to leave it to the pros. Maybe somebody wanted me alive. JASON Those were pros? Pretty easy to defeat. GUY No. Those were the amateurs. I said that before. (MORE)

54. GUY (CONT'D) The pros’ll take longer to come. But trust me, they’ll come.

JASON Just make sure they don’t get to my place. GUY Don’t worry, this should only take a few days. JASON A few days? I thought it would only be one. GUY Depends. You have to get close enough to the record so that you can take it without anyone noticing. JASON There’s another thing, why would they take your record? GUY I have no clue, I’m pissed off though, so if that was their goal... mission accomplished. JASON Guy, I don’t wanna do this anymore. GUY No, Jason. You’ll do it. I can’t. JASON This has got to be the dumbest plan ever. What if I get caught? GUY Then they’ll kick you out. No big deal. JASON This is going to fail. GUY Look. I don’t want you to black out on me again. I need your full focus and dedication Jason. Let go of everything else and focus on the task at hand. Okay?

55.

The bald man enters a sushi restaurant. They follow. JASON Yeah, yeah. GUY You go in alone. They’re probably meeting there. You know the plan. Just introduce yourself. Not your real name. JASON Okay. Okay. I’m... Cedric. GUY Cedric? JASON Yeah. I could be a Cedric. Right? GUY Whatever you want, just go. INT. SUSHI SHOP - DAY Jason enters cautiously. He looks around slowly. He sees a couple on a date, three girls gossiping, and finally... a group of guys. Among them, overweight baldy Frank. A waitress greets Jason. JASON Uh, just one please. Can I sit there? He points to at table with a good view of the table full of gangsters. WAITRESS (Thick japanese accent) Of course. I’ll bring menu. JASON (Muttering, under his breath) Gangsters... at a sushi shop. He looks out of the window. He sees Guy. Guy motions him to get things going.

56.

Jason takes a few deep breaths. He reluctantly gets up and heads to The Table. Gaining confidence with each step, Jason gets in character. He finally makes it, standing awkwardly in front of five guys staring at him. After a few seconds: JASON (CONT’D) Hello, guys. I’m Cedric... Wussup. Nobody says anything for a few seconds. Finally one of them, a leader, talks. TURK Hey, Cedric. In sync, the rest mutter the same response. TURK (CONT’D) What can we do for you? He has messy stubble, But a nice inviting smile. That was unexpected. JASON Uhh... hey- Can I join you guys... or whatever... y’know. A small moment of silence. TURK Sure. Join us. BEN, a short stocky man, looks outraged at this decision. BEN What are you thinking? He can’t comeTURK I make the rules here, okay Ben? Not you. Now just to be clear here... (He turns to Jason) when you say join us, you mean what I think you mean... right? They make eye contact. They understand each other. The apparent leader motions Jason to sit down. Jason awkwardly does so.

57.

TURK (CONT’D) So I’m Turk, (Points at Ben) This here’s Ben, then there’s Frank... and that Jasper. (He points at the last guy) He doesn’t talk much. After a few seconds of silence, they all resume conversation. FRANK So, like I was saying before... the nigger turns around and spits on me... Okay? And then I say to his friend. “Uh, you should control your monkey here sir!” They all erupt in laughter. Jason looks confused, but fakely joins along. TURK You did not! FRANK (still laughing) I did, I did. A waitress brings over three plates of sushi. TURK Goddamn it, woman, I didn’t order this crap! I said dynamite roll. Dynamite. D-Y-N-A-M-I-T-E! WAITRESS (In a thick japanese accent) Oh, sorry, sorry. TURK Goddamn immigrants... The gang lets out a weak burst of laughter. TURK (CONT’D) Why do they come here? Don’t even speak the goddamn fucking language... they only complain. “Oh, we want, rights, we want freedom,” Jason looks startled. A “did he just say that” look.

58.

FRANK And they take all the jobs too! As if they have anything to complain about. The last member of the group sits out of the conversation, never saying anything, just listening. TURK Exactly. They’re everywhere. Everywhere. Have you ever turned your head around the street and NOT seen any shit-bag indians or any colored folk. Too many, simply too many. FRANK You heard of Governer Leo? There’s somebody who’s got some common sense. TURK Amen. I mean, every sushi shop, not a single decent person ever comes to help. All these non-english speaking foreigners... A short silence, giving a small window of opportunity for Jason to chime in. JASON Why don’t you just not go to sushi shops? Everybody stares at him for a while. TURK Because I fucking love sushi, Cedric. The Turk starts laughing. Jason looks uncomfortable. TURK (CONT’D) You guys wanna leave? Tired of these... yellow turds. Turk stands up. He punches the plate of sushi, flipping it across the room. They walk out, without paying for anything. Jason gives a short, apologetic look to the waitress.

59.

EXT. STREETS - DAY Jason looks over and sees Guy hidden in the corner. He mouths: JASON Oh. My. God. Jason follows the group around different places, suffering through slurs of racist comments. TURK I seperate people depending on two criteria, Cedric. There are those who do, and those who think about doing. You understand? Jason nods his head. Turk turns around, facing him directly. TURK (CONT’D) I’m one of those who do. I don’t know why I do things, I do them for the simple reason that they give me pleasure. I’m a simple man. (He points at Jason) The question is though... wha kind of guy are you. They start walking along again. TURK (CONT’D) Very rarely do you find a person who can perform a practice and who can understand the entire theories behind it... but every now and then... you find one... They walk by a homeless man, with a penny-filled bowl next to him. Turk kicks it far away, sending all the change flying down the street. TURK (CONT’D) See that was fun, so I did that. So Ced, what kind of guy are you? JASON Uh... I don’t think I know yet... Turk stares him straight in the eyes for a second. TURK That’s cool. Take your time. You just have to find yourself.

60.

The homeless man has managed to get the majority of his pennies back into the bowl. Turk notices this and kicks the bowl again, sending change flying even further down the street. He smiles, maliciously. TURK (CONT’D) Let’s go have some fun now, okay? INT. BOWLING ALLEY - DAY Dimly lit, overcrowded and smoky. The bowling alley resonates with human life. Through the crowd, Turk and his racist gang of four make their way to a bowling lane. Their opponents are sitting on a bench to the right of the lane. They stand up and extend their hands, a handshake for good luck. One of them is black. Turk makes it look like he’s going for a handshake with the black guy, but he ends up smacking his hand away, giving him the finger. The black guy looks at his friends, confused. They all brush it off. As the game progresses, Turk gets a few strikes. When he does, he jumps up, does a victory dance and walks up to the black guy. Turk bends over and slaps his own butt, then jumps up with a WHOOP and finishes by slapping the black guy in the face. This is when everybody loses it. Both gangs stand up and get in a fight. Jason doesn’t know what to do and stays awkwardly by the sidelines. In the middle of the already overcrowded bowling center, both groups jump at each other, ready to fight. INT. BURGER PLACE - DAY Turk and his gang are leaning over the counter, giving their order to an indian teenager.

61.

They’re a little bloodied up from their fight earlier, but apart from that they’re all fine, even Jason. Turk wears a mischievious smile on his face as he says his order. INDIAN BOY That’ll be thirty dollars and fifty cents please. TURK (Mocking the boy) That’ll be thirty dollars and fifty cents please. (Winks) I’ll wait till the food gets here. INDIAN BOY (Uncertain) Sure. Finally the food does get there. The Indian boy picks up the tray and hands it to Turk. Turk takes it, looks at it for a second and in one slowmotion dramatic moment, he chucks it right back at the Indian boy. Ketchup and lettuce stick to the poor boy’s face, and his clothes are littered with cheese, fries and a pickles. EXT. MOVIE THEATRE - NIGHT An isolated, shady street. An open door at the right releases a ray of light, lightening up a strip of asphalt. The gang walks in a straight line, perpendicular to the wide asphalt street. TURK I’m telling you, guys. Once Asians make up over fifty percent of America... that’s when it’ll all end. BEN What’ll end? TURK The world, life as we know it. Fucking judgement day man. God bless. May He watch over us.

62.

All mutter a little prayer to the Lord. At this point Jason looks like he’s losing it. They all walk into the theatre. INT. MOVIE THEATRE - NIGHT Movie posters line both sides of the walls. At the end of the atrium, another set of glass doors. A larger room can be seen behind the doors, with a few tables and a large staircase. They walk through the second set of doors. TURK (To Jason) We like to spend the rest of the night in here. Watch a bunch o’ movies. They’re different every night. JASON C-cool. TURK A few other people hang out here... it’s cool. It’s very cool... (In a whisper) Some of them look like they’re up to some illegal business, but we don’t like to bother them. Some coloured folk, we don’t mess with. He nods his head in the direction of another group. This one looks like an actual threatening gangster mob. TURK (CONT’D) They live here, I think. That’s their boss. A man stands alone on the second floor next to the end of the staircase, puffing away on a lit cigarette. TURK (CONT’D) So, without further ado, let’s go! They climb up the stairs quietly, brushing past the smoker. All avoid eye contact. The gangster boss shifts his gaze right at Jason, who ignores it.

63.

The second floor is basically one large hallway. At the end, there is one large door that leads to the showroom. Turk trots forward, taking the very first step in the showroom. He is followed by his group. They walk together and sit down in the middle row, right in the center. After a few moments, the other group joins them, the smoker leads them to the very first row. Every member of the other group leans back, without saying a word, bend their neck, and look up at the big black screen. The film begins. LATER After an intense couple of hours watching the movie, Turk’s gang walk out, looking blown away and excited. Jason’s sweating like a pig, anxious to get out. TURK Goddamn! What?! Halfway through that blew my mind. FRANK When I saw the necklace I knew they wouldn’t just leave it there... I called it. Turk slaps Jason on the shoulder. TURK Jesus, Cedric you’re sweating like a pig! That scare you? JASON No, no... I’m good... TURK Well, get ready ‘cus we’re about to go for round two. I’m hungry. They walk to the other end of the hall, behind which a cashier stands, bored. TURK (CONT’D) Get me some nachos please. CASHIER You got it.

64.

TURK I love this place. I love the food. I love the people. BEN Don’t we all. FRANK Yes we all love it here. Turk takes his nachos. The group of five make their way downstairs, and take a seat at a table. Jasper gets up quietly and zips off. BEN Where’s he headed? TURK Washroom probably. So Ced, did you figure out what’s you’re deal then? JASON My deal? TURK Everybody’s got a deal. What defines you. JASON I don’t know. TURK Hey, we’re all friends here. Just asking. You’ll find it someday. JASON Okay. TURK I used to have trouble finding what I wanted to do in life. JASON Cool. TURK Wanna know what I did? JASON What’s that?

65.

TURK I stopped thinking so much! Seriously you gotta ease up! Let go of everything, go with the flow. Look where it got me. Turk leans back and spreads his arms, demonstrating his happiness and his friends. JASON Interesting... I’ll think about it. Turk takes a big bite of nachos. The CRUNCH fills the emptiness of silence. Jason takes a deep breath, and leans in to the table, putting on his most serious face. JASON (CONT’D) By the way guys... TURK Yeah? JASON I’ve been looking for a record... you guys didn’t happen to find one or anything... lately... did you? Turk looks at Frank. Frank looks at Ben, who in turn looks at Turk. After a short but intense moment, Turk chips in: TURK No, I don’t believe we have. Why? JASON Oh, it’s just... a friend of mine lost... it’s nothing, I’m just wondering. Ben and Frank look unsettled. Turk is completely unbothered. TURK Nope, I don’t believe we have. Who’s this friend? JASON Oh, his name is uh... Frank actually.

66.

FRANK Oh! I love meeting other Franks... I say, hi, my name’s Frank... and then they say... my name’s Frank too. It’s alot of fun. JASON Yeah... I’m sure he’d love to meet you too. TURK Well guys... after this round... I’ll have to call it a day. FRANK Really? JASON (Surprised) It’s only six thirty. TURK And the movie still has an hour left to it. JASON So seven thirty. You go home at seven thirty? TURK You’re surprised? JASON No, it’s just I joined you guys after seeing you the other night at like... 2 am. Ben and Frank look really unsettled. TURK Really? You saw me at two A.M.? JASON Well... TURK Cus’ that’s not possible. JASON Well I guess not you specifically... but I do remember seeing... uh...Frank. Everybody gets serious. Turk furrows his brow.

67.

FRANK No way, man... you’re just dreaming. TURK (Strictly) What? JASON (Uncertain) Sorry... I don’t know... is there a problem? TURK Yeah. Frank can’t be out after 10. He has a condition, right Frank? FRANK (Obviously lying) Yeah, it’s not true. TURK Tell me where you saw him. FRANK He didn’t! He didn’t see me. JASON I’m sorry... I think Johnson and Brock. TURK Johnson and Brock! Oh, Frank. Turk pulls out a gun from the inside of his jacket. He points it right at Frank. Ben is watching this exchange nonchalantly. TURK (CONT’D) You fucking traitor. He points his gun right at Frank’s sweaty bald forehead. FRANK Turk... I didn’t... I wasn’t. TURK How could you... just lie like that? DIDN”T YOUR MOM TEACH YOU MANNERS! FRANK No... yes... she did.

68.

TURK How long’s this been going on. FRANK It hasn’tTURK DON’T YOU LIE TO ME! I know you’re lying. You lie to me once more and you’ll earn yourself a bullet. 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Jason is completely stupefied. Turk cocks his pistol. FRANK Okay, okay. It was... ever since I joined... TURK Ever since you joined! Oh, god. What about... dammit! FRANK I was sent to keep an eye on you. Daddy Ray didn’t want any trouble withTURK Oh Raymond! He’s behind this! You’re telling me not a single moment we had together was real? FRANK Only at first Turk... but then... I... you’re great Turk... TURK NO! FRANK This guy Ced’s lying to you as well, Turk. The record he just talked aboutTURK Ced? JASON What? N-no! My friend actually lost his record!

69.

TURK You’re trying to break us all up? Is that it Frank? IS THAT IT? FRANK If you don’t wanna hear the truth... TURK Dammit! (He drops his head for a second, in desperation) CEDRIC! You too? Turk pulls out another gun, this time he points it at Jason, who stares at it, open-mouthed . JASON What... no... Behind Turk, Ben pulls out his own gun and points it at Turk. Turk sees this, and his mouth opens in surprise and outraged. TURK YOU TOO, BEN! FUCK! What about our good times! What about that Asian family we stole from! Or those black muggers we killed! Are you guys even... do you guys not even... hate black people? BEN Sorry Turk. Turk shifts the gun he was aiming at Jason, and now aims it at Ben. TURK Perks of having two guns. At this moment, Jasper comes back from the washroom. He analyzes the situation, and pulls out a gun of his own. TURK (CONT’D) Jasper, if you ain’t a traitor, aim that gun at Cedric! Jasper obediently does so. TURK (CONT’D) Well, well, well, looks like we’ve got you all cornered.

70.

FRANK Turk, please. Turk pulls the trigger, a bullet enters Frank’s forehead, dead center. He falls backwards on his chair. Jason stands up, shocked. Ben lets out a wail. BEN Nnnnooo FRANK! At this moment, three gangsters run down the stairs, pulling out their own weapons. BEN (CONT’D) FINALLY! Two aim and immediately shoot Turk, who in turn shoots Ben. Jasper pulls his trigger, narrowly missing Jason, only to receive two bullets to the chest by the remaining assassin. The three newcomers look around for any new foes, then aim all three of their guns at Jason. Jason immediately raises his hands, surrendering. ASSASSIN 1 Who are you? JASON I’m... Cedric. The three lean in and whisper something Jason can’t quite make out. One of the two doors bursts open. Entering the room in a fury, Guy, holding one pistol in each hand. Before the three assassins come to their senses, Guy shoots and kills two of them. The rest of his bullets miss the last one, who takes refuge behind a fallen table. JASON (CONT’D) Guy! What do we do? GUY You need to go upstairs. JASON What? GUY GO UPSTAIRS! That’s where the record is.

71.

JASON No way. The last assassin gets up and fires. Jason ducks behind a larger metal table. When the GUNFIRE ceases, Jason peaks out. Guy disappeared, it’s just him and the last assassin. The assassin gets up again... and gets shot by an unseen new opponent. JASON (CONT’D) ...Hello? Guy? Jason shakes his head, looking for whoever shot the last of the assassins. Jason cautiously gets up and runs to the front doors, trying to get out. They’re locked. JASON (CONT’D) Shit. Dammit. GUY! Looking for an exit, He climbs up the stairs as fast as he can, at the end of the hallway where the food bar is, he sees a window. He runs as fast as he can for it. A leg comes out from the side of the hallway and trips him. He flies, landing on his chest and gliding on the floor until coming to a stop. The tripper reveals himself. It’s a tall dark man. MAN Come. The man picks him up and leads him to a room at the very same end of the hallway. He drops him at the doorframe and waits outside. MAN (CONT’D) Go in. Jason complies cautiously. INT. RAYMOND’S LAIR - CONTINUOUS The door opens to reveal a short hallway, packed with people.

72.

Everybody shuffles around to clear up a narrow passage Jason can navigate through. Finally, at the end of the hallway, Jason turns a corner and sees the actual room. It’s small and square. RAYMOND, the boss from before, is sitting behind a table located in the center of the room. Behind him, a bookshelf. Goons and followers circle his desk. A fit man, not handsome, but strong and dark skinned: Raymond. RAYMOND Hey, hey, hey. Cedric, isn’t it? Come, join us. One of Raymond’s goons pulls out a chair and positions it facing the table. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Is everything alright? We heard a bit of a commotion out there... JASON Uh, yes everything’s... fine. RAYMOND That was a pretty heavy movie wasn’t it? JASON The movie? Uh, yes... it was. Plenty of, uh, psychological themes, I can look into... once I’m back home. RAYMOND Where do you live? JASON (In panic) Uh-C-Canada. RAYMOND Canada! Place’s been all over the news... they find that sicko movie killer? JASON Uh, no... I don’t think so. After a pause.

73.

RAYMOND You know who I am? JASON No. GOON He’s Raymond. RAYMOND I’m Raymond. JASON H-hi, Raymond. RAYMOND Yeah, after a movie like that we like to come up here, sit down and just think about it. Could help you, I think, sweatin’ like a pig. JASON I see... yeah. Thinking... uh, thinking’s good. RAYMOND (Blowing smoke) Thinking’s... great. He blows smoke rings from his mouth. One conveniently circles a location of the bookshelf behind Raymond. Jason focuses on it. He sees a record. The record. Raymond wobbles around on his chair, turning to see what Jason was gazing at. RAYMOND (CONT’D) That’s a gift from an old friend of mine. JASON Oh, yeah? RAYMOND Let’s call him Romeo. JASON Romeo? RAYMOND He was... you know the story, he fell in love with this girl, yaddyyaddy-ya. Drama, tears, smiles. (MORE)

74. RAYMOND (CONT'D) Whatever. They do have one difference.

JASON What’s that? RAYMOND This guy didn’t kill himself, No, no. Ruined the whole goddamn ending. JASON You like Shakespeare? RAYMOND (Angrily) I like Romeo and Juliet. His tone commands Jason to remain silent. Raymond leans back and pulls back his coat, revealing a gun. Jason exhausted, tenses up. He tries to not make a big deal out of it. He looks at the record again. RAYMOND (CONT’D) What are you doing with those bastards down there? JASON Sorry, what? RAYMOND Those racist assholes, down there. Are you a racist asshole, Cedric? JASON No. RAYMOND No, what? JASON I am not a racist... asshole. RAYMOND Good! Then what are you doing with them? Enjoying their company? JASON ...uh, I’m... uh... they’re helping me with my courses... In uni...

75.

RAYMOND Ahh! A student! What courses? JASON (Losing confidence with every sentence) Eh, just stuff about theories and stuff. Yeah, yeah, I met them... and I said hey I need some help... right I’m taking French on the side...and I say I need some help in french... and they said they were good in French, the bald one said he... uh... said he spoke it fluently... RAYMOND You mean Frank? JASON Yeah. RAYMOND Frank’s my old high school friend. JASON Oh. RAYMOND Frank doesn’t know french. Dead silence. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Cedric, I’m gonna ask you one last time, okay? Just once more. JASON O-okay. RAYMOND (Standing up, leaning over the table) What were you doing with those... racist fucks downstairs!? JASON I don’t know... I didn’t have much else to do. RAYMOND What?

76.

JASON Uh, I saw them at a sushi shop. They looked like they were having fun. I joined them. I was bored... RAYMOND You’re bored? JASON Y-yes? RAYMOND Well heck, Cedric, you could have told us! We’re fun too! You can be our friend! Plus, we’re not racist. JASON (With the fakest expression)s Oh, can I? His eyes darts to the record on the bookshelf. Then, to Raymond’s gun. Raymond’s hands are now wrapped around Jason’s neck, choking him. The crowd around them backs up. RAYMOND What do you see? A record? Why do you see it? Jason’s face reddens, a vein on his neck grows as he starts running out of air. His eyes open wide in fear. RAYMOND (CONT’D) I know. I know why. He let’s go of him. Jason falls clutching his neck. Raymond gets up and grabs him by the arm. He drags Jason through the hallway, down the stairs, past the atrium and into the shady outside. On the way there: RAYMOND (CONT’D) I know who sent you. I know he sent you. I know why he sent you. Tell him if he wants his music back, all he’s gotta do is come talk to an old friend. Okay, you tell him that.

77.

EXT. MOVIE THEATRE Still clutching him by the arm, Raymond starts shouting in the street. RAYMOND Romeo, O Romeo. Where art thou... Or Wherefore art thou, who gives a shit! Come talk to me when you’re ready to deal the dice. He slaps Jason in the right cheek and sends him on his way. Jason runs away, back home. Raymond walks back in the theatre, his gang surrounding him. RAYMOND (CONT’D) (To one of his goons) You. Follow him. Find out who he is. Discreetly. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT Jason is running frantically towards his building. In front, waiting for him; Guy, displeased. JASON Did-did you see what happened? GUY I heard the last bit. JASON How’d you get here so fast? GUY I walked. JASON Let’s go in. GUY Were you followed? JASON No! Let’s go in. They both walk into the building.

78.

INT. JASON’S APARTMENT They enter quietly. Guy’s face is twisted in a stern, angry manner. JASON I saw the record, by the way. GUY Good job. JASON That guy you said you recognized turned out to be a double agent working for the other... Raymond I’m pretty sure. Guy does not respond. JASON (CONT’D) How’d you know him? Nevermind. Why would you leave me alone, asshole? No answer. JASON (CONT’D) At least you shot the last guy. GUY I didn’t. JASON Then who did? No answer. JASON (CONT’D) Want to know what happened in the room? GUY Go ahead. JASON I was trying to find a way out, and then some guy tripped me. He brought me in Raymond’s... lair I guess. You know him? Upon hearing the name, Guy smashes his fist on the counter, then brushes his hair with both his hands. JASON (CONT’D) I guess you do. Who is he?

79.

GUY Yes. JASON How? Guy is too deep in thought to process his question. JASON (CONT’D) Somehow he knew I was with you. GUY You gave yourself away. JASON No. I didn’t. GUY Yeah you did. You gave yourself away, it’s simple. JASON But I do know where the record is. GUY That doesn’t matter, we can’t get it. JASON Well, maybe you could go and talk to him. GUY Shut up. JASON I’m just trying to help. GUY Well you’re not. You failed. Good job. JASON Hey, that-s easy for you to say, I’ve never been involved in anything remotely close to what I had to do there. GUY ... can’t believe I trusted you... to carry outJASON Hey, listen, I tried.

80.

You you You and

GUY need to focus. Look around you, can’t handle this entire world. need to let go of everything just FOCUS!

JASON I was your only hope and I knew what I had to do... I just couldn’t do it... I’mGUY You can’t DO anything, all you do is think about it, you can’t actually DO it, it’s not ENOUGH, Jason. You need to start DOING. JASON What are you talking about... GUY All I hear is: oh my sister used to this, my brother used to that.... You need to stop thinking about them and just FOCUS on performing the task at hand! JASON What? GUY You can’t function Jason, you can’t because you’re too caught up in your perfect high school life. You can’t even order pizza for god’s sake! JASON All I know is you asked me to do it and I tried. GUY You clearly didn’t try hard enough. Otherwise my fucking record would be on this counter right now. JASON Shut up, Guy. Just shut up. Why do you need this one specific record anyway, can’t you just buy another one?

81.

GUY (Raises his voice to a shout) Buy a new one? NO! I can’t fucking buy a goddamn new record. This is the one that matters, this is the only one. JASON (Calmly) Guy, stop yelling at me please, stoGUY It’s ruined, the whole thing... now, I’m gonna die, unforgiven byJASON Unforgiven by Julianne? I don’t see why she’d forgive you. Right now, I can understand perfectly why she left you in the first place. Guy starts pacing around the room, infuriated, clutching his hands into fists and running them through his hair. JASON (CONT’D) Getting everybody else to do your dirty work. Overreacting when they do it incorrectly. GUY Jason, stop. JASON And never attempting to understand others. I mean, the very first day, I showed you kindness, maybe even I saved your life... I wake up the very next day, you’re taking a shower, like what the hell? Who does that? You shaved with god knows who’s razor, invite all these hitmen and kill them in my house and then send me on some dumdbstupid ass errand for hot sauce, never explaining yourself, never telling the truth. Why would she forgive you, Guy? Huh? You can’t just bring her a record and expect everything to be all fine and dandy, you need to prove yourself. I have no clue why she’d ever accept your apologies, I definitely wouldn’t.

82.

Guy lets out a shout and punches Jason in the nose, making him fall backwards on the floor. Blood starts flowing into his mouth and chin. He slowly gets back up. GUY ... fuck... Jason. I don’t know... JASON Get out. GUY No, Jason, I’mJASON Get the fuck out of my house. I can’t remember why I let you in, anyways. GUY Jason. Don’t do this, I need you. JASON I don’t care, Guy. I honestly don’t. Just go. The two stand there in silence for a second. Guy turns around and walks out the door. Once outside of the apartment, he turns back around to say something, but Jason slams the door in his face. GUY ... I’m sorry. INT. APATMENT BUILDING HALLWAY - NIGHT Exactly at this moment, the girl from earlier walks down the stairs, helping an elderly woman do the same thing. They see Guy, leaning on the door, depressed. As they walk by: GIRL She’s too good for you. ELDERLY WOMAN Asshole. They go on their merry way.

83.

Guy just stands there, leaning on the door for a few seconds. Then he turns around and leaves. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT Jason is looking into the peephole of the door. He sees Guy leave. He turns around, noticing that he left a stain of blood on the door as well as a few walls. He goes to his food cupboard, opens it and gets some cereal. He then sits down on the couch, eating his cereal, face still bloody. Once again, a small cloud of sunlight starts appearing in the horizon, through the window. Dawn is coming. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - DAY Morning is everywhere. Jason is once again sitting coiled up in a ball on his sofa. Except this time, his clothes are bloody. He goes to the washroom. As soon as he opens it, he grimaces in disgust at the pungent odor. He opens the shower curtains and sees the dead body of the hitman named Frank. JASON No place else to hide it... Jason exits his bathroom, closing the door behind him. He puts on a sweater, swings his laptop bag over his shoulder and walks out the apartment, planning on carrying out a normal day. EXT. CAMPUS - DAY It starts to rain, luckily Jason’s prepared. He pulls out an umbrella and resumes his journey. Once again he navigates the wet streets, alone. People stare at him as he walks by.

84.

He makes his way to the university cafeteria. INT. CAFETERIA - DAY Jason walks up to the pizza pizza counter. A new cashier awaits his order. JASON Um... Two slices of cheese pizza please... with garlic sauce. CASHIER Okay, that’ll be four twenty nine please. Jason pulls out from his pocket and counts exactly four dollars and fifty cents. CASHIER (CONT’D) Eleven cents is your change... JASON Keep it. He takes his pizza and sauce and walks away. Jason finds a nearby table, takes a seat, places his pizza on the side, and whips out his laptop. He stares blankly at his laptop screen. He starts typing the word “facebook” in the search bar, but he stops himself before pressing enter. He closes his laptop. Louis walks by and does a double-take, realizing it’s his good bud Jason. LOUIS Hey, Jason. How’s it goin;, didn’t see ya these past few days. JASON Oh really? Yeah, I’ve been busy. LOUIS Jeez... is that blood? JASON Oh, this? Yeah.

85.

LOUIS How’d it happen? JASON Got in a fight. LOUIS (Cracking up a smile) You win? JASON No. LOUIS It happens, man. Well nice seeing ya, you coming to Andrew’s tonight? JASON Andrew’s? Tonight... no. I don’t think I can. LOUIS Ah, too bad. Right, well, take it easy Jason. Don’t study too hard. JASON Bye. See you at Andrew’s right? LOUIS Yeah, right. EXT. STREET - DAY Guy is also frantically walking through the rain. He does not have an umbrella though. His pace is fast, and he knocks into a few people as he walks. He turns a corner and he finds himself in front of the movie theatre. He waits a second, hesitating, but decides against it. He turns around again, more frustrated than before. EXT. BUS STOP - DAY Jason is waiting at the bus stop. The girl approaches the very same bus stop. They stand next to each other, waiting for the bus in the rain.

86.

She shivers, not having an umbrella to protect her from the rain.. Jason looks around, everybody has an umbrella buddy, sharing their umbrella with them. He decides to do the same. He leans over, extends his arm and covers both the girl and him under the protection of the umbrella. GIRL Thanks. She looks at him and recognizes him. This time, she doesn’t freak out. GIRL (CONT’D) Hi. I’m Julia. JASON (Recognizing her, fearful) Hey. JULIA (With a smile) I think we’ve met. JASON Yeah, we did. Just yesterday we saw each other. JULIA Pleasant, wasn’t it? JASON Just to reassure you, I wasn’t following you those... just freak coincidences. By the way I live in that building too, you know. Apartment 5. JULIA I figured... I just got a little paranoid... we live in the same building you know? JASON Huh. The bus arrives, putting the conversation to temporary hiatus.

87.

INT. BUS - DAY Upon entering the bus, Julia lights up. JULIA Apartment five! I remember last night... walked by with my grandmother and saw some guy there! JASON (Remembering) Oh yeah! You did... JULIA He was waiting at your door... (Realization crosses her face) ...wait a second, are you gay? (Looks at his bloody clothes) Oh my goodness and he beats you too? I was gonna call the cops on him, I swear. I know somebody you shJASON No, no. It’s nothing like that. Thanks for the concern though. I’m not gay. JULIA I’m sorry. I get a little too... into it sometimes. JASON No problem... I appreciate your concern. JULIA You go to college here? JASON Yeah. University. JULIA Oh, yeah. Me too. What do you study? JASON Nothing fun. Doctorate. JULIA Oh yeah, a phd in Nothing fun?

88.

Jason smiles at her joke. JASON Where are you from? JULIA Minnesota, why? JASON You miss it there? JULIA So much, you wouldn’t believe. I live with my grandma here... yeah, she’s not doing too well. JASON I’m sorry to hear that. They look down, quietly. JULIA Where are you from? JASON Oh, uh, Canada. JULIA Oh, a Canadian, eh? He chuckles, and they stop talking. Awkward: JASON So listen... wanna come over sometime... to apartment 5? JULIA I’d love to. BUt... I have so much work, and the rest of the time, I have to take care of my grandma. JASON Oh, well... that’s okay... JULIA I only get home till like ten, at which point I have to eat, shower... you get the gist... JASON Oh, well come down whenever you like. I can’t usually sleep so my door’s always open.

89.

JULIA I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. The bus stops, Julia stands up preparing to get off. JULIA (CONT’D) Aren’t you coming? JASON No, sorry, I gotta go to work. JULIA Where do you work? JASON Costco. JULIA Costco! Fun! Julia gets off the bus. She waves “bye” as she exits. EXT. STREETS - DAY Guy is leaning over a stone wall, holding a piece of cardboard for refuge from the rain. A pedestrian walks past him, innocently. Totally out of the blue, the guy turns around and attempts to stab Guy with the point of his umbrella aimed at his skull. Guy, obviously cautious of these surprise sneak attacks, dodges the umbrella easily. What he did not expect was the man pulling a knife from his belt and slashing him in the belly. Before he acknowledges pain, Guy grabs the guys knife-holding hand and bends it so far backwards a sick CRACK is heard, Guy manages to hold him down with one knee and an arm, and with the other he drives the knife through the man’s chest. Slowly, Guy stands up. He walks away, clutching his belly, blood dripping out of his shirt. He looks behind him and sees three people speedwalking in his general direction. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON Jason sits in his kitchen counter, eating cereal. He gets a phone call.

90.

JASON Who’s this? MOTHER Jason, it’s me. JASON Oh, hi mom. How’s it going? MOTHER Did you sister contact you recently? JASON No. Why? MOTHER (Voice breaks) She’s not here, we can’t find her anywhere! EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING STREET- AFTERNOON Guy is speed-walking down the street, clutching his tummy, looking cautiously around him for moredanger. The three guys come running behind him, he notices them and attempts trotting away, pathetically. He gets in front of Jason’s apartment building and clicks on the button that says room 5. GUY C’mon, Jason. Please. The three hitmen are catching up. Guy buzzes the apartment more frantically. All are within ten feet, holding knives. Guy manages to fight off the first, but the second drives a knife through his shoulder. The third slowly makes his way behind Guy, preparing the fatal blow. Guy finds himself on his knees, knife around his neck, cold steal kissing the scalding skin. BANG, Jason knocks the Hitman down with a slab of wood, he falls to the ground.

91.

A second comes towards him, ready to strike but he slaps him across the face with the same piece of wood. The third ,that Guy fought off before, gets up only to be kicked unconscious in the back of the head by Guy. The two take their adversaries’s daze and confusion to their advantage and flee. EXT. DOWNTOWN STREETS - AFTERNOON The streets are packed. They automatically blend in with the crowd. Jason pulls out the knife from Guy’s shoulder. GUY Couldn’t you come earlier? JASON Shut up, you’re still not forgiven. GUY Why did you help me, then? Jason slaps him. People watch. JASON My sister’s missing. GUY I’m sorry. JASON I’m pretty sure she was kidnapped... by Raymond. GUY Oh. Why’d he do that? JASON To get to me. GUY Why’d he want to get to you? JASON I dunno! He figures if he gets to me he gets to you. GUY Well, was he right?

92.

JASON He sure as hell better be. GUY What do you want me to do? JASON I want you and I to go in that theatre and find out what the fuck happened to Elle! GUY (Scoffing) Is that your sister’s name? Elle? JASON It’s better than Julianne. GUY Fuck off. JASON Stop joking about this shit asshole! GUY I’m sorry. But no. I can’t go in there. JASON Yes you can. You will go there. My sister has nothing to do with this. She doesn’t deserve to suffer because of you. I do not deserve to suffer because of you. GUY Jason, they’ll kill me. Right when I walk through those doors. Besides, you’re the one that fucked up, all you needed to do was not blow your cover. JASON I don’t think so, they won’t kill you. GUY You don’t think so? Why? JASON Well, if they went through so much trouble just to get you... they wouldn’t kill you. I think.

93.

GUY Oh, you think! JASON Yes! I think! GUY Look, Jason the only reason why I would ever go through those doors is to get my record to my wife. JASON Well we don’t know what they want, maybe you could strike... a deal. GUY A deal? What kind of deal would that be? I get to live, I get the record, you get to live, you get your sister? Nice little paradise world you live in, isn’t it? JASON Well if one of us lives than we can bring each other’s stuff to safety. I’ll deliver the record to your wife. If I die, get my sister to safety. GUY If I die... you’ll deliver it to her? Wow, thanks. Warms my heart. JASON Well what would you rather do? She can still forgive you if you die. Isn’t that what you wanted? GUY It’s not that simple. JASON Well then what, then? Guy doesn’t answer. JASON (CONT’D) What then? GUY I don’t know! I’d rather keep my life, thank you very much.

94.

JASON Would you? You said so yourself you’re gonna die soon. From the looks of it you don’t have much time left anyway. Guy hesitates a moment. JASON (CONT’D) What’s your life worth? Another moment. GUY Shit, kid. I suppose you’re right. JASON ... Sorry. GUY Nah, I needed to hear that. JASON So what then? GUY Let’s go to the theatre! We’ll see what happens. JASON Best shot we have, right? GUY Best shot we got. EXT. MOVIE THEATRE - AFTERNOON Both are standing facing the theatre directly. JASON Tell me, Guy. GUY What. JASON Who are you? GUY Why?

95.

JASON Well, you’re the only friend I have in this city. I don’t know anything about you. I don’t even know if Guy is your real name. GUY Jason, you’re the one person who knows everything about me. Silence, both stare at the theatre. GUY (CONT’D) Shall we go in? Jason takes a deep breath. JASON Fine. They both open the doors to the theatre. INT. MOVIE THEATRE - AFTERNOON GUY I wish I had hot sauce right now. JASON Why? GUY Love hot sauce. They find themselves in the main hall of the small theatre, movie posters lining the walls. Raymond appears on the other end, arms outstretched. RAYMOND AH, my dear long lost friend. He walks up to Guy and attempts to hug him. Guy dodges it. Raymond is saddened. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Well I missed you my friend... I’m sorry to see you don’t feel the same way. GUY Cut the shit Raymond. We need to talk.

96.

Raymond’s gang appears at a distance behind them. Raymond notices Guy’s gaze and follows it. RAYMOND Ah, can’t you see how much I’ve grown? I got thirty people now! Guy keeps his silence, though he does look less confident than before. RAYMOND (CONT’D) And all of them guys! Look at it. Look at ‘em! Goddamn Sausage fest isn’t it? WE NEED SOME GIRLS UP IN HERE. Still, Guy stays quiet. RAYMOND (CONT’D) (Sighs) Anyway. I see you brought Cedric, uh, I mean Jason with you. How would you lads like to come to my office to discuss... our... business? GUY We’d like it very much, Ray. Thank you. Raymond leads them up a flight of stairs, through a hallway and into the small room Jason was invited to before. Raymond assumes his seat. Guy looks over at the record, still on the bookshelf behind him. RAYMOND So. Jason... uh, McCarthur I think it was... how much do you know about me and... whatever this man goes by these days... Jason shifts his gaze from Raymond to Guy, and back to Raymond. JASON Nothing... I don’t know anything. RAYMOND Good! Storytime.

97.

GUY Raymond, enough of thisRAYMOND Tut-tut. I think it is in everyone’s best interest for our mutually acquainted friend here to know all the facts before he makes an opinion about all this. Guy resigns. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Frank! Bring in the girl! FRANK (O.S.) Got it! Raymond takes this opportunity to clearly analyse Guy. RAYMOND You’ve grown! No answer. Footsteps are heard approaching, a person seems to be struggling against Frank’s burly body. Frank appears, holding a handcuffed and gagged Elle. Jason bites down hard, his jaw muscles visibly moving. He restrains himself. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Come! Put her on my lap. Elle is carried to Raymond’s lap, still struggling. Raymond holds her down. Once she stops twitching and squirming around, she looks at the people around her. Her eyes widen when she recognizes her brother. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Thank goodness we’re not the only ones after you. It would have taken us ages to get to her. Guy looks at Jason, concerned. GUY What do you want, Raymond? Raymond pulls out a switchblade.

98.

RAYMOND I want to play a game okay? Everybody tenses up. Jason looks like he’s about to blow. Raymond places the switchblade on the inside of Elle’s elbow. RAYMOND (CONT’D) I’m gonna start a story, you’re gonna finish. If you finish it incorrectly... (He looks at Elle) It would be rather unpleasent. Elle trembles in fear, shivering, terrified. GUY (Eyes of steel) Go. RAYMOND Good! Once upon a time, I was young... and fun... and friendly... and nice. This man here, was my best friend weren’t you? GUY Yes. RAYMOND What was your name back then? Harrison? Chester? Doesn’t matter. After years of childish fantasies of girls and SEX... (Large emphasis on the sex, shouting it out) I got myself a girlfriend! Guy looks down at his knees. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Oh, and we were so perfect for each other, so perfect oh my goodness. Guy, tell us how perfect we were. GUY (Reluctantly) ...She would talk, you would talk, you’d laugh... you’d cry. He sinks momentarily into the memories he was describing, but he comes back to reality when a fly lands on his cheek.

99.

He swats it, slapping himself in the process. He gives it no more mind. RAYMOND And then you come in. My best friend. My “Wingman”. What a wingman he was, quite formidable I must say. Describe how good of a friend you were! GUY ... I would give him advice about helping her out, I would... tell him what to tell her sometimes... Raymond drives the knife through her skin and pulls on it. A thin line of blood appears, Elle lets out a stiffled wail. Blood poors from the cut in her arm. Jason clutches his chair’s armrest. It splinters under his might. RAYMOND Unfortunately that wasn’t the answer we were looking for. JASON Shit. Jason, I ended up killing their relationship. RAYMOND (Pressing the blade on her arm once again) ..and...? GUY I ended up... asking her out. RAYMOND And...? GUY She became... my... girlfriend. RAYMOND Ah, yes, my heart was broken. It was shattered. But... I couldn’t stay mad at my best friend. What did I do at that point? GUY He... forgave me.

100.

RAYMOND I forgave him. I had to. We’d known each other for years, we lived together. I had to forgive. We grew up, him with her and me alone... maturing. Blossoming. I watched as she fell head over heels for this man, this simple man, this jackass who treated her only a fraction as well as I did. I heard them fight once. I did. (He looks at Guy, expectingly) What did you do to her? Tell our friend Jason here he’s curious. Jason looks at Guy in confusion and curiosity. GUY I...I...lost control. Raymond isn’t satisfied yet. GUY (CONT’D) I drank... and I... Raymond pushes the blade harder, Elle shivers. JASON What did you do, spit it out? GUY I beat her. RAYMOND He hit her. He BEAT her. But she forgave him. And all was good, so he kept doing it again and again... but she forgave him so all was good. Guy is hiding his face with his hand. Ashamed of himself. He lets out a sigh of pain as the described memories were projected in his mind once again. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Just betrayal after betrayal wasn’t it? You came home drunk, high, cheated on her, I even saw him stealing from her wallet at one point. Guy has a tear rolling down his cheek.

101.

Raymond pushes down on the blade and pulls, another stream of blood escapes. GUY Why? RAYMOND I remember that record... that was the one you got for her on her birthday. You were afraid she wouldn’t like it... I have no idea why. Ended up never giving it to her. Why did you care about whether she liked it or not? I’m the one who tried so hard, did all the effort... to keep her from going batshit crazy from depression... I even brought her on a romantic date at costco the other day... I think the night before she finally got to her senses. GUY Stop. Jason looks at Guy, his expression unsure. RAYMOND Still after all this... nothing hurt me more than you turning your back on me. Nothing. After everything I’d done for you. Everything I forgave you for, everything I sacrificed... you just run away forever, my business was in ruins you know that? We’re bankrupt. And now here I am. Look at me, king of the lower city drug dealers. This is where we find ourselves. No Julie, no friends, no money... no honour. Just corrupt. I think that’s an accurate way of describing our situation, don’t you? Guy is finished, he’s still bleeding from his shoulder and his belly but now he finally looks tired. JASON I came for my sister. RAYMOND Hey Harry!

102.

HARRY (O.S.) Yeah? RAYMOND Come up here! Harry appears in the doorframe. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Now, Jason, if you’d kindly allow Harry here to escort you outside. JASON What about my sister? RAYMOND Her fate lies entirely on this man’s hands. There’s nothing you can do about it. Harry pulls out a gun and points it at Jason. HARRY And I want no trouble, sugar. Understand? RAYMOND Thank you Harry. HARRY No problem Raymond. Harry grabs Jason and pulls him outside. Raymond, Guy, and Elle remain in the room. GUY ... I’m sorry. RAYMOND I killed your daughter. Guy just looks shocked. Beyond words. GUY ...when....? RAYMOND One... two... months ago. I was beginning to think you were dead, but then I saw you on the streets. What were you doing there? Why didn’t you just go to her.

103.

GUY ... I don’t know. RAYMOND I know. You wanted to be caught, didn’t you? You wanted to prove yourself. He brings the record down from the bookshelf. RAYMOND (CONT’D) Now, what to do of this... little piece of gold. GUY Give it to Jason. He’ll get it to Julie. You can kill me. RAYMOND No! That’s no fun, c’mon. GUY I’m sorry. RAYMOND It’s a good thing I’m not the only guy you pissed off... I needed help to get her in. GUY You said that already. What do you want. RAYMOND A little bit of revenge, a little bit of fun. 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 EXT. MOVIE THEATRE - NIGHT Jason is frantically pacing up and down the segment of sidewalk in front of the theatre. He tries to get in, but two of Raymond’s men hold the door closed.

104.

INT. MOVIE THEATRE - NIGHT RAYMOND We can make a deal! How does that sound, friend? GUY What is it? RAYMOND Option number one: I destroy the record, mow you down with my .44. I let the girl go. She and Jason can run away back home to Canada like the happy people you and I used to be. GUY Option two? RAYMOND Option two: You take the record, walk away. I blow a bullet through her head and chuck her body out for her brother to weep over on the street. I then let you go, free to do anything you like before all the other dicks you pissed off get to you and kill you. Guy thinks. RAYMOND (CONT’D) By all means, take your time. GUY Don’t do this Raymond. Don’t do it, I beg you. She and Jason have nothing to do with this. RAYMOND Exactly. A few more seconds of intense thinking. RAYMOND (CONT’D) If you choose the latter, I can even get you some hot sauce. How does that sound. He looks at Elle, eyes pleading for mercy. Her spirit, broken. After a few seconds:

105.

GUY Let her go. RAYMOND Are you sure? GUY Yes. Let her go. RAYMOND Okay, then. He reaches for the keys and unlocks her handcuffs. He takes off her gag, and hugs her. RAYMOND (CONT’D) I’m gonna miss you, honey. Too bad you can’t stick around. He slaps her in the ass and sends her on the way outside. She flashes a look of gratitude and guilt at Guy. Raymond reaches for the record. GUY Please, Raymond... you have no idea how sorry... Raymond holds the record in his two hands. He puts it in an envelope and CRUSHES it. As the SHATTER is heard, Guy falls to his knees. Raymond chucks the envelope out of the open window at the end of his office. It lands next to Jason and Elle who are too busy hugging each other in the rain to notice anything. Guy heads for the window and looks out, searching for the record. RAYMOND Now this. He pulls out his gun and SHOOTS Guy four times in the back. Guy falls out the window, into the rainy outside street. He lands with a THUMP in front of Jason and Elle.

106.

EXT. MOVIE THEATRE - NIGHT Rain keeps falling, and Guy is laying on the ground, motionless. Blood is spewing from most areas of his torso. Both Jason and Elle stare at him in shock. Miraculously, he starts moving. Ever so slowly. He reaches for the envelope in front of him and attempts picking it up. He grabs the wrong end and all the broken pieces of the record fall out. He GRUNTS in frustration. Jason rushes to his side. JASON Holy shit. Holy shit. Guy picks up a large piece of the record and clutches it with all his might. Jason picks him up. JASON (CONT’D) Elle, what do I do? Elle is awe-struck, unable to muster the focus required for any form of speech. Coming to her senses: ELLE We need to get him to a hospital! In the lowest whisper: GUY No. Julie... Julie. JASON Okay, okay we’ll get you to Julie, don’t you worry Guy. We’ll get you to- We need a car, Elle, do you know how we can get a car? Without thinking, Elle walks over to a nearby parked car and cracks the window. The ALARM goes off. JASON (CONT’D) Dammit Elle! Now what?

107.

ELLE I can do this. She enters the car. Within a few seconds, the alarm goes off. A few more seconds, the car starts. JASON How did you do that? ELLE I learned stuff back home... JASON No kidding. He shoves Guy in the backseat and opens the door to the front. Elle rides shotgun. JASON (CONT’D) Okay, Guy. I need you to focus now. Tell me where Julie lives. Okay? Tell me where she lives. After a moment of uncertainty: GUY (Gasping, Hyperventilating) 820... Lakewood... Crescent... JASON 820 Lakewood crescent. Look that up Elle. ELLE I am! I am! Drive! Jason starts driving and pulls into a larger, more crowded street. JASON Stay with me, Guy. We’ll get you to your Julia, just stay with us. Guy grunts. EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT It stopped raining but it’s still dark outside. The GPS brought them to a more rural part of town.

108.

JASON Are you sure you gave us the right address, it doesn’t seem very... They see a street sign that says “Lakewood Crescent - Right”. JASON (CONT’D) Sorry. I can’t wait to meet her, Guy. I’m sure she’s gorgeous. Guy grunts. JASON (CONT’D) C’mon, almost there. They find number 820. And pull into the driveway. GUY First row... Second right... JASON First row what? Jason parks the car and immediately gets out. He runs across the driveway, trying to locate the house of this Julianne. He sees nothing but a large grass field. JASON (CONT’D) Where is it? Where theHe turns around and sees it. A humongous graveyard. EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT The discovery tumbles down on him, and he looks in pity at the broken man laying in the back of this stolen car. ELLE C’mon, let’s go. They pull Guy out and rush towards the Graveyard, holding him up. They look for Julianne’s grave. The first row, second one to the right. The grave reads simply: “Juliet” Guy sees it.

109.

GUY There... There... They lay him down in front of Juliettes grave. From his pocket he pulls out the shard from the broken record. GUY (CONT’D) Go... Go... leave. JASON Are you sure? GUY Leave. JASON You’ll die... GUY I... would... anyways. JASON I’m sorry. GUY Just... Guy uses his last bit of strength to brak the record piece in half. He hands one half to Jason. Heavy, Jason brings Elle back to the car, leaving Guy sprawled out in front of his ex-wife’s grave in the peaceful darkness of night. They enter the car. After a few seconds of deep reflection, Jason turns on the radio. Jason takes a deep sigh. RADIO ANNOUNCER NASA scientist, James Rockwell, spotted an asteroid in the sky moving straight for earth. The size and exact shape of this asteroid is not yet determined but it is calculated that it will make contact within the next two years... JASON Look at that. We all would’ve died anyway. Elle seems unsure what to say to comfort your brother.

110.

ELLE I missed you. JASON Missed you too. ELLE What now? JASON Now? I bring you to the airport, get you a flight back home. Mom’ll be worried sick. ELLE You think? JASON Just don’t tell her about all this. ELLE What do I say? JASON Tell her... you needed to crash here for a few days or something... ELLE ...okay... JASON I’m sorry you had to live through that. Come back again, for a regular visit next time... Elle remains silent. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT Having dropped off his sister at the airport and sent her on her merry way back home, Jason is now, once again, coiled up in a ball on his sofa. He gets up and makes himself a bowl of cereal. CRUNCH, SLURP. He walks around the apartment a few times. He gets a text from Holly Winsten. HOLLY WINSTEN (Via text) Wanna hang out tonight, cutie?

111.

He ignores it and does a few more laps around his apartment. Finally he looks out the window, where he saw Guy laying only a week ago. After a few seconds of nostalgia, a girl walks in his field of view. It’s Julia, from earlier. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT She walks to the front door of the apartment building and fumbles with her keys. She mutters a curse when she realizes she’s missing the keys to the building. She buzzes apartment 5. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - DAY A loud buzz fills the room. Jason goes up to the intercom, curious. JASON Hello? JULIA Hey, it’s Julia. From earlier? JASON Yeah? It’s Jason. JULIA I know. I left the keys to my apartment somewhere, can you please let me in? JASON Uh, sure. Come on up. He presses a button on the intercom. After a few seconds, Jason runs to the washroom, bears through the pungent odor of Frank’s body and brushes his hair and teeth. He changes out of his bloody clothes and puts on some deodorant. Upon finishing, he waits patiently on the couch.

112.

After an unbearable couple of seconds, finally, a doorbell RINGS through the entire apartment. CUT TO BLACK:

THE END

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