Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Intro to Independent Piece #6
This entire story is true; no exaggerations, just strait facts. It happened close to a year ago, however, and for that some of the dialogue may be a bit off. Nonetheless, the day described in the next few paragraphs still remains one of the greatest memories I hold. It’s something I’ve always wanted to express my thoughts and feelings about, and have never gotten a chance. It remains in conversations between my friends still to this day, and finally the memory can be found in something other than talk between us.
Independent Piece #6
i love mallory.
Bridge
It was easily the hottest day the summer had seen yet. The sun glared down on our shirtless backs as the three of us panted through another game of basketball. Our bodies ached, sweat covered our faces, but still we played on through the afternoon.
This was how we spent most of our summer afternoons – playing at the basketball courts next to the pool until we nearly dropped, then jumping into the pool to cool down, then finally returning home to see what the night held for us. We’d spent the whole summer following this routine, and like anything else, we became bored of it quickly. As we sat at the table staring into the pool and drying off, we started to brainstorm some other, more productive activities to pass the time.
“We could go bowling?” Ryan suggested.
“Yeah right. I suck at bowling. And I have no money,” Jared answered.
“We could go to the movies?” I asked.
“Eh. We did that last night.”
“We could…” My voice trailed off as a brilliant idea came to mind.
“Oh yeah. That sounds like a lot of fun,” Jared answered.
“There’s this old abandoned bridge across the road from Erin’s street. It crosses the reservoir in Katonah. We could go there, chill on the bridge, go swim in the reservoir. At least it’s not a pool.”
“It’s the best idea we’ve had in days. Let’s go,” Jared answered.
“Fine. I’ll drive.”
And with that the three of us piled into Ryan’s blue Dodge Caravan, turned right onto Greenbriar Drive, and headed towards the bridge. We passed the large white sign that read ‘Bridge Closed’ in black letters, and ignored it. We turned left onto Plum Brook Drive, rolled down the street, and stopped at the fence blocking the entrance to the bridge. Simultaneously we opened our car doors, stepped out of the minivan, and climbed over the fence to the bridge.
On either side of the bridge lay scattered dirt, rocks, ferns and bushes. Curious to see how deep the water underneath the bridge was, I worked my way through the brush and found myself standing where the water met the ground. There were fish everywhere in the water, but that didn’t stop me from putting first my feet, then legs, then entire body into the warm water. I pushed myself off the shore and swam to the middle of the reservoir, treading underneath the bridge while Jared and Ryan looked down on me.
“Hold your breath. See how deep it goes!” Jared called to me from atop the bridge.
I didn’t need any more convincing. I took a deep breath and submerged myself in the water. I sunk for several seconds, at least ten, and still met no bottom. I stopped my downward momentum and pushed myself back to the surface of the water.
“Well?” Ryan asked.
“No bottom. At least twenty feet deep.” I answered with a smile.
“Sweet,” Ryan answered. With that he climbed over the railing of the bridge, looked at Jared, then me, and leapt off the rusty railing. In the air he gave out a high pitched battle cry that rang in my ears as my eyes followed him from the bridge to the water. He hit with a splash and returned to the surface seconds later with a grin that filled his entire face.
“How was it?” I asked him, still treading water next to him.
“Amazing. Let’s do it again.”
“I’m in.”
We swam back to shore, climbed the steep hill leading to the bridge, and once again stood looking out onto the water.
“I’m not doing it. My ACL is killing me,” Jared explained to us.
“Yeah, okay. Then at least record us doing it. My camera’s in the car.”
Jared walked to the car and returned to the bridge dangling the camera from his wrist.
“Let’s go together,” I told Ryan.
“Okay. I’m in.”
We climbed up the railing and paused at the top.
“Okay. On my count,” Jared told us. “Three, two, one. Go, go, go!” And with that we leapt from the railing side by side.
It was the greatest feeling in the world. At the height of the jump it felt that for a single second, time had stopped. As I floated through the air at the peak of my jump, it seemed that all in the same instant I was able to look at Jared, back at Ryan, then out over the water. Then it was over. Before I could realize it, the water had met my feet. I closed my eyes and plunged into the warm water and sunk down. We surfaced simultaneously, looked at each other, then looked up towards Jared.
“Perfect.”
We spent the rest of the summer day on the bridge, sitting on the railing, legs dangling, talking. We’d jump off every ten minutes or so, the feeling never getting old or losing its excitement. It became a regular thing, the bridge. We’d go every weekend to hang out, get some sun, and go swimming. Before we knew it the whole crew was there, Jared, Ryan, Liam, Nick, both Alex’s, and me. It became our new rendezvous; we’d meet there almost every day to decide what the rest of the day had in store for us.
And just like that it was gone. As it began to get cooler, and the days shorter, we saw less and less of the bridge, until one day, it was out of our lives completely. We still reminisce, though, of the days spent there, and now that it’s summer once again, it will come alive again soon.
Bridge
It was easily the hottest day the summer had seen yet. The sun glared down on our shirtless backs as the three of us panted through another game of basketball. Our bodies ached, sweat covered our faces, but still we played on through the afternoon.
This was how we spent most of our summer afternoons – playing at the basketball courts next to the pool until we nearly dropped, then jumping into the pool to cool down, then finally returning home to see what the night held for us. We’d spent the whole summer following this routine, and like anything else, we became bored of it quickly. As we sat at the table staring into the pool and drying off, we started to brainstorm some other, more productive activities to pass the time.
“We could go bowling?” Ryan suggested.
“Yeah right. I suck at bowling. And I have no money,” Jared answered.
“We could go to the movies?” I asked.
“Eh. We did that last night.”
“We could…” My voice trailed off as a brilliant idea came to mind.
“Oh yeah. That sounds like a lot of fun,” Jared answered.
“There’s this old abandoned bridge across the road from Erin’s street. It crosses the reservoir in Katonah. We could go there, chill on the bridge, go swim in the reservoir. At least it’s not a pool.”
“It’s the best idea we’ve had in days. Let’s go,” Jared answered.
“Fine. I’ll drive.”
And with that the three of us piled into Ryan’s blue Dodge Caravan, turned right onto Greenbriar Drive, and headed towards the bridge. We passed the large white sign that read ‘Bridge Closed’ in black letters, and ignored it. We turned left onto Plum Brook Drive, rolled down the street, and stopped at the fence blocking the entrance to the bridge. Simultaneously we opened our car doors, stepped out of the minivan, and climbed over the fence to the bridge.
On either side of the bridge lay scattered dirt, rocks, ferns and bushes. Curious to see how deep the water underneath the bridge was, I worked my way through the brush and found myself standing where the water met the ground. There were fish everywhere in the water, but that didn’t stop me from putting first my feet, then legs, then entire body into the warm water. I pushed myself off the shore and swam to the middle of the reservoir, treading underneath the bridge while Jared and Ryan looked down on me.
“Hold your breath. See how deep it goes!” Jared called to me from atop the bridge.
I didn’t need any more convincing. I took a deep breath and submerged myself in the water. I sunk for several seconds, at least ten, and still met no bottom. I stopped my downward momentum and pushed myself back to the surface of the water.
“Well?” Ryan asked.
“No bottom. At least twenty feet deep.” I answered with a smile.
“Sweet,” Ryan answered. With that he climbed over the railing of the bridge, looked at Jared, then me, and leapt off the rusty railing. In the air he gave out a high pitched battle cry that rang in my ears as my eyes followed him from the bridge to the water. He hit with a splash and returned to the surface seconds later with a grin that filled his entire face.
“How was it?” I asked him, still treading water next to him.
“Amazing. Let’s do it again.”
“I’m in.”
We swam back to shore, climbed the steep hill leading to the bridge, and once again stood looking out onto the water.
“I’m not doing it. My ACL is killing me,” Jared explained to us.
“Yeah, okay. Then at least record us doing it. My camera’s in the car.”
Jared walked to the car and returned to the bridge dangling the camera from his wrist.
“Let’s go together,” I told Ryan.
“Okay. I’m in.”
We climbed up the railing and paused at the top.
“Okay. On my count,” Jared told us. “Three, two, one. Go, go, go!” And with that we leapt from the railing side by side.
It was the greatest feeling in the world. At the height of the jump it felt that for a single second, time had stopped. As I floated through the air at the peak of my jump, it seemed that all in the same instant I was able to look at Jared, back at Ryan, then out over the water. Then it was over. Before I could realize it, the water had met my feet. I closed my eyes and plunged into the warm water and sunk down. We surfaced simultaneously, looked at each other, then looked up towards Jared.
“Perfect.”
We spent the rest of the summer day on the bridge, sitting on the railing, legs dangling, talking. We’d jump off every ten minutes or so, the feeling never getting old or losing its excitement. It became a regular thing, the bridge. We’d go every weekend to hang out, get some sun, and go swimming. Before we knew it the whole crew was there, Jared, Ryan, Liam, Nick, both Alex’s, and me. It became our new rendezvous; we’d meet there almost every day to decide what the rest of the day had in store for us.
And just like that it was gone. As it began to get cooler, and the days shorter, we saw less and less of the bridge, until one day, it was out of our lives completely. We still reminisce, though, of the days spent there, and now that it’s summer once again, it will come alive again soon.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Microfiction
Natural Swimmer
“Do they make you a better swimmer?” she asked, pointing out my biggest insecurity in the dim lighting under the cash register of the Hollister at which we both work. I smiled, as if I knew the question was coming, and turned away without responding. It drives me crazy when people ask me that question; it’s the only thing people ask me on the topic. Some variation of how my swimming is affected by the ‘abnormality’, as my AP Biology teacher referred to it as. With or without an answer, the person can surely see how agitated I become by the question and cease talking about it almost immediately.
It is a requirement at Hollister to wear flip flops during the Spring and Summer seasons. Because of my webbed toes, this is an obvious problem. I do it anyway, however, and attract as little attention to my feet as possible. There’s always one keen and observant coworker, though, that notices and questions me. Every time.
My mother never noticed that her toes were slightly webbed until she saw mine shortly after my birth. I know not how someone can spend their entire life oblivious to it, but my mother succeeded. When my younger sister was born, we noticed that her toes were slightly webbed too. But I had it the worst. Between the second and third toes on each foot was skin that shouldn’t be there, connecting both toes together all the way up to the toenail, where they separate into two. I have two bones, two toenails, two virtually normal toes, but the skin in between makes all the difference.
The Hollister manager walked to the cash register to help a customer. When she finished, my coworker politely pointed out to her the abnormality of my feet, and she was eager to see.
The first thing out of her mouth: “Oh my god. Do they make you swim faster?”
“Do they make you a better swimmer?” she asked, pointing out my biggest insecurity in the dim lighting under the cash register of the Hollister at which we both work. I smiled, as if I knew the question was coming, and turned away without responding. It drives me crazy when people ask me that question; it’s the only thing people ask me on the topic. Some variation of how my swimming is affected by the ‘abnormality’, as my AP Biology teacher referred to it as. With or without an answer, the person can surely see how agitated I become by the question and cease talking about it almost immediately.
It is a requirement at Hollister to wear flip flops during the Spring and Summer seasons. Because of my webbed toes, this is an obvious problem. I do it anyway, however, and attract as little attention to my feet as possible. There’s always one keen and observant coworker, though, that notices and questions me. Every time.
My mother never noticed that her toes were slightly webbed until she saw mine shortly after my birth. I know not how someone can spend their entire life oblivious to it, but my mother succeeded. When my younger sister was born, we noticed that her toes were slightly webbed too. But I had it the worst. Between the second and third toes on each foot was skin that shouldn’t be there, connecting both toes together all the way up to the toenail, where they separate into two. I have two bones, two toenails, two virtually normal toes, but the skin in between makes all the difference.
The Hollister manager walked to the cash register to help a customer. When she finished, my coworker politely pointed out to her the abnormality of my feet, and she was eager to see.
The first thing out of her mouth: “Oh my god. Do they make you swim faster?”
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Screenplay
Casting Call
Erik: Johnny Depp (as seen in Platoon)
Jared: Emilio Estevez (as seen in The Breakfast Club)
Alex: Devon Sawa (as seen in Final Destination)
Nick: River Phoenix (as seen in Stand by Me)
SCENE ONE
INT. AUTOMOBILE – NIGHTTIME
EXTREME CLOSE-UP on a young boys face. He is no older than 18. Passing CAR HEADLIGHTS illuminate his face. His expressions show clear anger, fear, and annoyance, all together
NARRATOR [Voiceover]
That’s Jared. We met in the fourth grade and have been best friends ever since. We met Nick and Alex in fifth grade and the four of us have been inseparable since. His parents died three years ago. That’s when his aunt moved in with him. He has no one but Andrea, his girlfriend, and the three of us. We’d do anything for him. He’s too shy, too laid back; that’s his biggest problem. Most of the time it’s either Nick, Alex, or myself that has to take actions for him. Whatever it is.
During voiceover, camera PULLS BACK slowly, revealing PASSENGER SEAT and BACK SEAT. A boy is in the PASSENGER SEAT and two are sitting in the BACK SEAT. All three are smoking CIGARETTES.
JARED
I TOLD YOU GUYS NOT TO DO IT BUT LIKE USUAL YOU DIDN’T LISTEN. YOU NEVER DO. NOW WE’RE ALL DONE.
ERIK (NARRTOR’S VOICE)
OKAY, FIRST OF ALL IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. AND SECOND, WHAT DID YOU WANT US TO DO? WE COULDN’T JUST LET SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN. YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH TOO MUCH SHIT TO GET TREATED LIKE THAT.
NICK
DID YOU WANT HIM TO JUST GET AWAY WITH IT?
JARED
NO. THAT’S NOT THE POINT. YOU GUYS KI –
FROM THE BACK, the last boy, ALEX, interrupts Jared quickly.
ALEX
JARED!
This is all Alex can say. Jared swerves the steering wheel hard to the left. TIRES SCREECH.
Camera switch to OUTSIDE OF CAR. CAR is seen swerving to avoid several deer crossing the road. THE CAR flips and tumbles several times before crashing into a tree and coming to a stop. CAMERA GOES BLACK.
SCENE TWO
Continued BEEPING is heard while the screen is black. Then, OVERWHELMING BRIGHT LIGHT. EXTREME CLOSE-UP on Jared’s face. He is lying in a hospital bed with a pillow under his head. Bruised and bloodied with stitches on one cheek. An OXYGEN MASK is on his face. BEEPING continues. After a few seconds, CAMERA CHANGES to EXTREME CLOSE-UP on Erik’s face. Similar conditions. Then Alex. Then Nick. The BEEPING continues throughout the entire scene. CAMERA GOES BLACK.
SCENE THREE
Black screen.
“SOME HOURS EARLIER” READS ON SCREEN
Bright, sunny day. Birds are chirping as the camera zooms in on an OLD ABANDONED BRIDGE. The bridge is littered with OLD BEER CANS, BOTTLES, and CIGARETTES. The camera stops behind Erik, Nick, and Alex, sitting on the edge of the bridge, legs dangling over the side. It then sweeps around to face the three boys. They hold beers and cigarettes.
NICK
I’M THINKING ABOUT TAKING A RUN AT THAT NEW GIRL, CLAIRE.
ERIK
NO, NO, DON’T. BIG MISTAKE. I’VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCES WITH NEW GIRLS BEFORE, IT’S THE WORST.
ALEX
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
ERIK
SURE I DO. REMEMBER I DATED THAT GIRL BEFORE SHE GOT INTO HER LITTLE CLIQUE? IT WAS THE WORST FEW WEEKS OF MY LIFE. TRUST ME MAN, GIVE HER A MONTH OR SO. LET HER SETTLE DOWN. THEN GO FOR HER.
NICK
YEAH BUT SHE’S BANGIN’. I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN WAIT.
ERIK
SUIT YOURSELF. LET ME GET ANOTHER CIGARETTE?
Erik flicks his cigarette over the ledge of the bridge and into the water.
NICK
YOU GOT IT, PARTNER.
Nick takes out another cigarette, and hands it to Erik. He then looks at Alex and smiles. They both take off their shirts, climb over the railing of the bridge, and leap off. The camera follows them as they soar through the air and splash into the water. It then moves back to Erik, smoking his cigarette. Suddenly he looks to his side. The camera follows his gaze, and Jared is seen walking slowly onto the bridge. As he gets closer, he looks upset. He silently sits next to Erik and looks out into the water.
ERIK
YO.
JARED
HEY.
ERIK
NICK SAYS HE WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT NEW GIRL, CLAIRE. I TOLD HIM NOT TO BUT HE WOULDN’T LISTEN. HE’S AN IDIOT.
Jared does not respond, but just continues to look out through the railing into the water.
ERIK
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
JARED
NOTHING.
ERIK
BULLSHIT. WHAT’S GOING ON?
JARED
ANDREA CHEATED ON ME WITH THAT KID FROM HER SCHOOL. THE ONE I TOLD YOU SHE’S ALWAYS TALKING TO?
ERIK
ARE YOU KIDIDNG ME?
JARED
NO. THEY WERE AT SOME PARTY LAST NIGHT AND SHE WENT BACK TO HIS HOUSE. I JUST FOUND OUT. EVERYONE SAW THEM LEAVING TOGETHER SO I JUST ASKED HER ABOUT IT AND SHE ADMITTED IT. SHE SAID HOW SORRY SHE WAS AND ALL THAT SHIT.
Nick and Alex walk back onto the bridge, sopping wet, smiling. They see Erik and Jared’s faces and their smiles disappear immediately.
JARED
[WHISPERING]
DON’T SAY ANYTHING TO THEM. IT’S EMBARASSING ENOUGH.
ERIK
SURE.
[IN A LOUNDER VOICE, LOOKING AT ALEX AND NICK]
ANDREA CHEATED ON JARED LAST NIGHT. WITH THAT DOUCHEBAG, MATT.
NICK
WHAT?! THAT KID IS SUCH A TOOL. AL, DOESN’T HE WORK WITH YOU AT THE A&P?
ALEX
OH YEAH. HE’S THE WORST. WORKING TONIGHT, ACTUALLY. TILL LIKE MIDNIGHT I THINK.
Erik, Nick, and Alex exchange glances, then all look at Jared with smirks on their faces.
JARED
NO NO NO. I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE THINKING… BUT WHATEVER IT IS JUST DON’T. THIS IS MY PROBLEM – I’LL TAKE CARE OF IT HOW I WANT TO. WHATEVER YOU GUYS DO WILL JUST MESS THIS WHOLE THING UP MORE.
ALEX
OH, I DON’T KNOW, JARED. MAYBE WE’LL JUST WAIT FOR HIM AFTER WORK AND HAVE A LITTLE TALK WIT HIM. NOTHING SERIOUS.
NICK
YEAH. YOU KNOW, JUST SCARE HIM A LITTLE BIT.
JARED
YOU’RE ALL IDIOTS – AND IF YOU DO I WON’T FORGIVE YOU GUYS. I’LL HANDLE IT.
ERIK
JUST LIKE YOU HANDLE EVERTHING ELSE SO PERFECTLY. YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF SO WE’LL DO IT FOR YOU. IT’LL BE FINE, I PROMISE.
Erik then flicks his cigarette, takes off his shirt, and climbs onto the rail of the bridge. He looks at Jared, winks, and then leaps off. The camera follows him until he splashes into the water. CAMERA GOES BLACK.
INT. AUTOMOBILE – NIGHTTIME
EXTREME CLOSE-UP on a young boys face. He is no older than 18. Passing CAR HEADLIGHTS illuminate his face. His expressions show clear anger, fear, and annoyance, all together
NARRATOR [Voiceover]
That’s Jared. We met in the fourth grade and have been best friends ever since. We met Nick and Alex in fifth grade and the four of us have been inseparable since. His parents died three years ago. That’s when his aunt moved in with him. He has no one but Andrea, his girlfriend, and the three of us. We’d do anything for him. He’s too shy, too laid back; that’s his biggest problem. Most of the time it’s either Nick, Alex, or myself that has to take actions for him. Whatever it is.
During voiceover, camera PULLS BACK slowly, revealing PASSENGER SEAT and BACK SEAT. A boy is in the PASSENGER SEAT and two are sitting in the BACK SEAT. All three are smoking CIGARETTES.
JARED
I TOLD YOU GUYS NOT TO DO IT BUT LIKE USUAL YOU DIDN’T LISTEN. YOU NEVER DO. NOW WE’RE ALL DONE.
ERIK (NARRTOR’S VOICE)
OKAY, FIRST OF ALL IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. AND SECOND, WHAT DID YOU WANT US TO DO? WE COULDN’T JUST LET SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN. YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH TOO MUCH SHIT TO GET TREATED LIKE THAT.
NICK
DID YOU WANT HIM TO JUST GET AWAY WITH IT?
JARED
NO. THAT’S NOT THE POINT. YOU GUYS KI –
FROM THE BACK, the last boy, ALEX, interrupts Jared quickly.
ALEX
JARED!
This is all Alex can say. Jared swerves the steering wheel hard to the left. TIRES SCREECH.
Camera switch to OUTSIDE OF CAR. CAR is seen swerving to avoid several deer crossing the road. THE CAR flips and tumbles several times before crashing into a tree and coming to a stop. CAMERA GOES BLACK.
SCENE TWO
Continued BEEPING is heard while the screen is black. Then, OVERWHELMING BRIGHT LIGHT. EXTREME CLOSE-UP on Jared’s face. He is lying in a hospital bed with a pillow under his head. Bruised and bloodied with stitches on one cheek. An OXYGEN MASK is on his face. BEEPING continues. After a few seconds, CAMERA CHANGES to EXTREME CLOSE-UP on Erik’s face. Similar conditions. Then Alex. Then Nick. The BEEPING continues throughout the entire scene. CAMERA GOES BLACK.
SCENE THREE
Black screen.
“SOME HOURS EARLIER” READS ON SCREEN
Bright, sunny day. Birds are chirping as the camera zooms in on an OLD ABANDONED BRIDGE. The bridge is littered with OLD BEER CANS, BOTTLES, and CIGARETTES. The camera stops behind Erik, Nick, and Alex, sitting on the edge of the bridge, legs dangling over the side. It then sweeps around to face the three boys. They hold beers and cigarettes.
NICK
I’M THINKING ABOUT TAKING A RUN AT THAT NEW GIRL, CLAIRE.
ERIK
NO, NO, DON’T. BIG MISTAKE. I’VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCES WITH NEW GIRLS BEFORE, IT’S THE WORST.
ALEX
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
ERIK
SURE I DO. REMEMBER I DATED THAT GIRL BEFORE SHE GOT INTO HER LITTLE CLIQUE? IT WAS THE WORST FEW WEEKS OF MY LIFE. TRUST ME MAN, GIVE HER A MONTH OR SO. LET HER SETTLE DOWN. THEN GO FOR HER.
NICK
YEAH BUT SHE’S BANGIN’. I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN WAIT.
ERIK
SUIT YOURSELF. LET ME GET ANOTHER CIGARETTE?
Erik flicks his cigarette over the ledge of the bridge and into the water.
NICK
YOU GOT IT, PARTNER.
Nick takes out another cigarette, and hands it to Erik. He then looks at Alex and smiles. They both take off their shirts, climb over the railing of the bridge, and leap off. The camera follows them as they soar through the air and splash into the water. It then moves back to Erik, smoking his cigarette. Suddenly he looks to his side. The camera follows his gaze, and Jared is seen walking slowly onto the bridge. As he gets closer, he looks upset. He silently sits next to Erik and looks out into the water.
ERIK
YO.
JARED
HEY.
ERIK
NICK SAYS HE WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT NEW GIRL, CLAIRE. I TOLD HIM NOT TO BUT HE WOULDN’T LISTEN. HE’S AN IDIOT.
Jared does not respond, but just continues to look out through the railing into the water.
ERIK
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
JARED
NOTHING.
ERIK
BULLSHIT. WHAT’S GOING ON?
JARED
ANDREA CHEATED ON ME WITH THAT KID FROM HER SCHOOL. THE ONE I TOLD YOU SHE’S ALWAYS TALKING TO?
ERIK
ARE YOU KIDIDNG ME?
JARED
NO. THEY WERE AT SOME PARTY LAST NIGHT AND SHE WENT BACK TO HIS HOUSE. I JUST FOUND OUT. EVERYONE SAW THEM LEAVING TOGETHER SO I JUST ASKED HER ABOUT IT AND SHE ADMITTED IT. SHE SAID HOW SORRY SHE WAS AND ALL THAT SHIT.
Nick and Alex walk back onto the bridge, sopping wet, smiling. They see Erik and Jared’s faces and their smiles disappear immediately.
JARED
[WHISPERING]
DON’T SAY ANYTHING TO THEM. IT’S EMBARASSING ENOUGH.
ERIK
SURE.
[IN A LOUNDER VOICE, LOOKING AT ALEX AND NICK]
ANDREA CHEATED ON JARED LAST NIGHT. WITH THAT DOUCHEBAG, MATT.
NICK
WHAT?! THAT KID IS SUCH A TOOL. AL, DOESN’T HE WORK WITH YOU AT THE A&P?
ALEX
OH YEAH. HE’S THE WORST. WORKING TONIGHT, ACTUALLY. TILL LIKE MIDNIGHT I THINK.
Erik, Nick, and Alex exchange glances, then all look at Jared with smirks on their faces.
JARED
NO NO NO. I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE THINKING… BUT WHATEVER IT IS JUST DON’T. THIS IS MY PROBLEM – I’LL TAKE CARE OF IT HOW I WANT TO. WHATEVER YOU GUYS DO WILL JUST MESS THIS WHOLE THING UP MORE.
ALEX
OH, I DON’T KNOW, JARED. MAYBE WE’LL JUST WAIT FOR HIM AFTER WORK AND HAVE A LITTLE TALK WIT HIM. NOTHING SERIOUS.
NICK
YEAH. YOU KNOW, JUST SCARE HIM A LITTLE BIT.
JARED
YOU’RE ALL IDIOTS – AND IF YOU DO I WON’T FORGIVE YOU GUYS. I’LL HANDLE IT.
ERIK
JUST LIKE YOU HANDLE EVERTHING ELSE SO PERFECTLY. YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF SO WE’LL DO IT FOR YOU. IT’LL BE FINE, I PROMISE.
Erik then flicks his cigarette, takes off his shirt, and climbs onto the rail of the bridge. He looks at Jared, winks, and then leaps off. The camera follows him until he splashes into the water. CAMERA GOES BLACK.
...
To be continued in an upcoming independent piece.
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