Youthful Mistakes

YOUTHFUL MISTAKES
by
W. Bill Snyder
Inspired by true events
Revisions by
W. Bill Snyder)
Current Revisions by
W. Bill Snyder 11/26/09
FADE IN:
INT. FUNERAL PARLOR - NIGHT
Flowers fill the room. Mourners file past a casket.
BILL SNYDER, 21, stands and cries in front of the casket. A

poster beside the casket reads "JOSEPH, WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE
YOU, MOM AND DAD". JOSEPH'S MOM wears a blue bracelet with
a "Hope" charm. She passes one to Bill from a basket of
bracelets. Bill looks at it and puts it on.
Bill hugs Joseph's Mom and walks back to a seat beside

KENNY SMITH, 22. A PRIEST stands up and speaks.
PRIEST
Today we gather to say goodbye to
our brother Joseph, taken from us
unexpectedly. Let us pray for his
welcoming love from Jesus Christ.
Bill leans over to Kenny. They whisper.
BILL
Where are they?
KENNY
Who ever knows, with Kevin?
BILL
Friends should pay their respects.
So do they know who was driving?
KENNY
Some kid who just got his license
and was at a party before he got
behind the wheel. His BAC was
three times the legal limit.
BILL
I say we make him pay.
KENNY
Good luck. He's in custody and
he's looking at twenty for
manslaughter.
BILL
He deserves every day. I hope
prison serves him well.
(CONTINUED)
2.
CONTINUED:
Bill plays with his bracelet. His hands seize up and he

grips the bracelet so tightly it breaks. The beads spill
all over. Loudly. Everyone looks at Bill.
Joseph's Mom passes Bill another bracelet. The Priest

coughs.
PRIEST
We will now end the service and
let any of you say your last
goodbyes.
Everyone stands and walks off to the side. They line up to

pay their last respects. Bill hugs Joseph's Mom.
JOSEPH'S MOM
I wish your mother and father
could have seen this. How you are
with us, and being there for Joe.
Bill, overcome, hugs her.
EXT. BILL'S HOUSE - MORNING
1980 suburban look and perfectly kept lawn. A 2004 Blazer

sits in the driveway. A SKATEBOARD KID sails up and down
the street, stops in Bill's driveway, soars back into the
street.
INT. BILL'S LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Tapestries cover the walls. A breakfast bar opens on to the

kitchen. Bill smokes a cigarette and does an e-quiz on the
computer. He presses a few keys.
BILL
Electrosynthesis of potassium
manganate produces what? Answer A,
potassium permaganate.
A cheery sound file plays on the computer and Bill grins.

He plays with his blue bracelet.
Kenny peers out the window at his car. He gets up and

checks on it throughout the scene.
BILL
You all right, man? You're all
buggy, like you can't sit still.
(CONTINUED)
3.
CONTINUED:
KENNY
Some creep dinged my car last week
and it hasn't run right since.
That'd be all I need.
BILL
I'm talking about Joe's service.
You all right from that?
KENNY
Joe's mom is always cute. The way
she talks about our parents. "Your
muddah. Your fathah."
Bill laughs.
KENNY
(beat)
My muddah and fathah have no clue
Joe died. They're in the ashram
for eight months.
BILL
Seriously, you all right?
KENNY
I hope they max out the little
creep's time in prison.
(beat)
Not to change the subject, but you
interested in taking a yoga class?
BILL
Money's kind of tight now. Why?
Kenny gives Bill a pamphlet on yoga classes.
KENNY
You can help me set up and the
class is free. Space is available.
BILL
Didn't you start that class two
weeks ago?
Bill types on his laptop.
BILL (CONT’D)
Hey Kenny, relax. No cars have
ever been stolen on this block.
(CONTINUED)
4.
CONTINUED: (2)
KENNY
I just had a lot of work done on
the car and you said there has
been some cars getting keyed at
night.
BILL
It's broad daylight, buddy.
Kenny walks over and sits on the couch. Bill plays with a
slip of paper with "Melissa (917) 699-0335". Kenny grabs
it, looks at it and throws it back to Bill.
KENNY
That girl from the other night?
BILL
Yea. I got her digits.
KENNY
She's kinda cosmic, isn't she?
Going for the cosmic chicks, huh?
BILL
She's different, she's got a lot
of insights.
Kenny walks over and opens the door. Bill reaches for the
soda. His hand freezes up. He can't move.
KENNY
You're shot, man. What I can't
figure out is why you have a date
and I, again, am going to spend
Friday night without a date.
Bill struggles. His hand trembles and he knocks over the

glass. Kenny hears and runs back. He picks up Bill's soda
and mops up the spill.
KENNY
Now you're all buggy.
But he's sympathetic.
BILL
You should see what your ex is
doing tonight.
He tries to get up from the sofa.
(CONTINUED)
5.
CONTINUED: (3)
KENNY
The last time I spent a Friday
night with her, it was nothing,
but beers and drama. I like calm
and collected in people.
(beat)
Let me get you a soda.
Kenny walks toward the kitchen. The swoosh of the

skateboard makes him stop in front of the door. He shakes
his fist.
KENNY
Hey, skate punk! Touch my car and
you'll be eating that skateboard!
EXT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S FRONT PORCH - MORNING
DENNIS O'BRIAN, 22, reads a "new classic" of literature.

Something from Oprah's Book Club.
DENNIS
I can't believe the garbage they
put out in novels nowadays. This
one's not half-bad though.
KEVIN O'BRIAN, 24, short, Dennis's older brother, plunks

down next to Dennis. He chugs from a beer throughout the
scene.
KEVIN
Whacha reading there?
DENNIS
I was going to say another piece
of garbage but this is okay.
KEVIN
Why are you reading at nine in the
morning? When's the last time you
played the guitar?
DENNIS
Mom sent me the book.
KEVIN
No wonder it's garbage.
DENNIS
Hey. The question is, why are you
drinking at nine in the morning?
(CONTINUED)
6.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
The earlier, the better.
DENNIS
We'll see if your liver agrees.
KEVIN
I just drink early on weekends.
And sometimes during the week.
Just a way of coping with Joe's
death.
Dennis, nose still in his book, rises and walks to the

door.
DENNIS
And you don't see a problem with
that. It fizzes me. You might as
well chug-a-lug liquid Drano.
Can't you wait for the night to
drink?
KEVIN
Nah, it's too far away. I'm just
pre-gaming for the night.
DENNIS
Yeah, if you can stay awake into
the evening. You were asleep on
the way back from the funeral
home.
KEVIN
That's how I deal. Just gotta be
all ampered up and not pass out.
DENNIS
Let's see, nine in the morning.
Eight o'clock is hours away. Good
luck. Let me know how that one
works out for you.
INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - MORNING
Bill rolls up his sleeve. DOCTOR WU injects him with an

ampoule from a package marked "Zofran".
BILL
Those needles are clean, right?
DOCTOR WU injects a second ampoule from a package marked

"Betaseron". Bill lifts his arms as if riding a roller
coaster and does "the Wave".
(CONTINUED)
7.
CONTINUED:
BILL
Holy shneets, those shots are
kicking ass and taking names!
DOCTOR WU
Soon you can probably ask me for
medical Mary Jane.
BILL
Not even.
Doctor Wu picks up on a cue in Bill's voice.
DOCTOR WU
When did you stop smoking it?
Bill avoids the question.
BILL
I won't get flu-y tonight, will I?
DOCTOR WU
There's always that chance. Why?
You have big plans?
BILL
I'll let you know.
INT. KENNY'S YOGA CENTER - DAY
Kenny leads a yoga class. There are barely half a dozen

people there.
KENNY
And into the downward dog...
INT. BILL'S LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Bill vacuums with difficulty. He moves furniture. The

vacuum sucks up a piece of paper and stalls.
Bill pulls the paper out of the vacuum. He examines it and

sees it's an old Jim Beam label.
The doorbell rings. Bill, still holding the label, answers

the door and sees Dennis outside. Bill gets a guarded look.
BILL
Hey, Dennis. What's up? It's kind
of early.
(CONTINUED)
8.
CONTINUED:
DENNIS
Yea, I know. My brother's already
pounding beers and I don't feel
like being around that.
BILL
Yea sure, come on in.
Dennis moves past Bill.
DENNIS
I came 'cause I know beer is not
your scene. Is it cool to hang
here until he passes out?
Bill shows Dennis the Jim Beam label.
BILL
Yea. Accentuate the positive, man.
I'm telling you, this month, I'm
celebrating two years sober.
DENNIS
That's an accomplishment. Does it
break your ass?
Bill doesn't answer. He turns on the vacuum and finishes

the room. during:
DENNIS (CONT’D)
Whoa, clean and sober.
BILL
Why didn't you and Kevin come to
the service last night?
DENNIS
We said goodbye during the day. I
know it's Joe, but I can only take
so much.
Dennis jumps out of the way as Bill runs the vacuum.
BILL
Guess you're right. Would you
believe the little shit driver
wanted to come to the service! Pay
his respects.
DENNIS
That's some audacity for you
there!
(CONTINUED)
9.
CONTINUED: (2)
BILL
I guess he's guilt-ridden. I mean,
can you blame him? He killed
someone driving hammered.
DENNIS
I just hope Kevin gets the message
and reacts calm and collected?.
Dennis turns on the TV. News footage shows POLICE hauling

the DRUNK DRIVER KID, 17, away from two wrecked cars. The
Drunk Driver Kid sobs as he watches EMTs futilely try to
revive the battered and lifeless JOSEPH.
BILL
Maybe I should talk to him.
DENNIS
Someone should.
BILL
I'll swing by before my date.
Bill rips up the Jim Beam label and throws it away.
INT. BARBERSHOP - DAY
BARBER FRANCIS, rough hands, trims Bill's hair with perfect

precision. In the chair Bill looks like he's about eight.
BARBER FRANCIS
Ah, you don't take care of this. A
mutt looks better.
BILL
I am a mutt.
BARBER FRANCIS
Your father, he had such hair. The
kids today don't know from hair.
BILL
I have a hard time.
BARBER FRANCIS
What's hard?
BILL
I don't always...care about my
hair.
And Braber Francis expects this.
(CONTINUED)
10.
CONTINUED:
BARBER FRANCIS
Now you do, because why? I tell
you. She don't want hair worse
than a mutt's. Better she marry a
mutt.
And Bill laughs.
BARBER FRANCIS
Good hair, you can forgive
anything.
BILL
Anything?
Barber Francis holds up a mirror to the back of Bill's

head.
BARBER FRANCIS
Now you don't look like a
hangover.
And this is funny to Bill. He laughs, pained.
INT. KEVIN'S ROOM - AFTERNOON
Kevin has graduated to drinking out of a flask of whiskey.

His bedroom is covered wall to wall with posters of rock
bands and a tapestry. Knock on the door.
BILL
Hey, man, you in there? You home?
Another knock. Kevin closes the flask and stashes it under

the bed.
KEVIN
You might as well come in.
Bill strides inside. He's dressed in a sharp suit and

slacks, a "date outfit". He carries a miniature vase of
flowers.
KEVIN
Those for me?
BILL
How's it goin', protozoan?
Kevin nervously moves around the room, opening and closing

drawers, looking under the bed, checking the closet.
(CONTINUED)
11.
CONTINUED:
BILL
I'm good, thanks for asking.
What's the good word? Thought it
was cool to just walk in.
KEVIN
It's cool. It's going. Just
adjusting with everything.
Bill looks unsettled by Kevin's frenetic activity.
KEVIN
Is that a new suit? That's a new
suit. You want to see mine? I wore
it yesterday.
He pulls open the closet and takes out a suit.
BILL
I didn't get to see it 'cause you
weren't at the night service. Why
didn't you come for Joe?
KEVIN
My suit is wasted. Look at the
sleeves. Like an old man's.
BILL
You should've---
KEVIN
But everybody else there, now,
they were worse. You have to look
like you cared about the dead
person.
Bill, impatient, grabs Kevin's suit and hangs it up..
KEVIN
Hey, hey.
Bill drops his flowers. Kevin catches them.
KEVIN
I can't stand the smell of these.
Like the grave, only amplified.
Bill sniffs. The open flask spills out a bit of whiskey and
Bill smells it. Familiar. Tempting.
BILL
No, sweet.
(CONTINUED)
12.
CONTINUED: (2)
Kevin throws the flowers back. Bill grabs for them, misses,
stoops to pick them up and sees the flask under the bed. He
reacts, disturbed.
BILL
Look, man...
Kevin runs over to the bed.
KEVIN
What, are you my probation
officer?
BILL
I think you've been hitting the
booze too much.
Bill blinks and sways, losing his balance. He shuts his

eyes -- he can't see.
KEVIN
Everyone is so concerned about me.
Don't you people have better
things to do? Look at you.
Bill shakes his head and opens his eyes. He glances under
the bed -- the flask is gone.
KEVIN
Look, you obviously have somewhere
you want to be.
Bill looks at his watch and reacts to the time -- he's

late.
BILL
I don't want to go to another
funeral for one of my best
friends.
KEVIN
Listen, I don't drive for that
reason. I like to live. I'm having
too good of a time in life to lose
it. I'm fine. I just take a few
drinks to relax.
BILL
I'm sure that's what that little
shit was thinking before he got
behind the wheel of his car.
Kevin walks to his closet.
(CONTINUED)
13.
CONTINUED: (3)
KEVIN
Look man, I'm fine. When I have
something important to do, I stay
sober. So I got it handled. You
worry about yourself.
Kevin rearranges his closet as Bill looks at him in

disbelief. Bill clutches the flowers.
Kevin secretly puts the flask in his suit pocket.
EXT. MELISSA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Bill rings the doorbell of an old Victorian style house.

The door opens and a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd jump
on Bill. He jumps back and lets them lick his hand. They
growl.
MELISSA PAGANO, 22, in control, dressed to the nines, snaps

her fingers and the dogs retreat.
MELISSA
I couldn't contain them any more
and I thought you weren't coming.
BILL
You need help with those pooches?
MELISSA
My dad likes big dogs.
Bill hands her the somewhat battered vase of flowers. She

softens a bit. She snaps her fingers and the dogs trot
outside. Docile as lambs.
MELISSA
Would you mind taking them out?
Bill snaps his fingers the way Melissa did. The dogs run
out on the lawn. Bill chases after them, his gait awkward.
He shuffles and stumbles.
MELISSA
Are you okay?
BILL
Just trying to keep up.
The dogs sense weakness and charge Bill. Melissa snaps her
fingers and the dogs settle down.
BILL
Go potty. Just do it.
(CONTINUED)
14.
CONTINUED:
The dogs do their thing.
MELISSA
Got anything major planned
tonight?
BILL
Dinner and a movie.
Melissa and Bill get both dogs in the house.
MELISSA
What movie?
BILL
"Kissing Ben"?
MELISSA
I'm not a chick-flick girl.
BILL
"The Jupiter Deception"?
MELISSA
I love sci-fi.
INT. KEVIN'S BASEMENT -- NIGHT
Kevin, already toasted, plays "beer pong" with MADISON, a

preppy girl who's slumming. Madison hits a ping-pong ball
into Kevin's plastic cup of beer. Kevin fishes the ball out
and drinks. He serves.
Madison hits the ball back. Back, forth, back forth. Ball
lands in Kevin's drink.
MADISON
Hey, tryin'a hog it all?
Serve. Bounce.
Bounce. Kevin hits hard. Splash in Madison's drink. She

chugs with the ball still in the drink.
KEVIN
Posifuckingtively bad.
Serve. Back, forth, back, forth. Kevin drinks.
MADISON
Didn't even get in.
Serve.
(CONTINUED)
15.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
You are my kind of girl.
INT. KENNY'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Kenny burns candles and incense as Bill greets him.
KENNY
Don't you have a job and a life?
BILL
Remember, I have MS? I'm on
disability. I have nothing better
to do. I have no life.
Kenny sits yoga-style on the floor.
KENNY
You should ask for a life for
Christmas. If you don't receive
lumps of coal.
BILL
If you break my balls enough,
maybe they'll become diamonds.
Listen, I wanted to talk to you
about...
KENNY
I'm just kidding with you.
BILL
Guess what I did last night.
KENNY
You got laid, didn't you?
Bill walks over and sits next to Kenny.
KENNY
Could I have some space? If you
sit any closer, we'd be dating.
Bill moves further away from Kenny.
BILL
Sorry man, but I went out with
that girl Melissa.
KENNY
Like I said, you got laid.
(CONTINUED)
16.
CONTINUED:
Bill rises with difficulty and reaches for the newspaper on

the coffee table.
BILL
Na, man. We just had dinner, and
then a movie, and then we talked
all night. I think she's the one.
Kenny shuts his eyes and makes the namaste gesture over his
heart. He goes through yoga asanas.
KENNY
You say that about every girl.
What about that girl from the
coffee shop the other day? You
got her number and started talking
about a future with her. Kids and
all.
Bill lights up a cigarette.
BILL
She knows Jen. Your Jen.
KENNY
Not my lady any more. So this
girl's a party girl.
BILL
Na, man.
KENNY
Then how does she know Jen?
BILL
They go to the same gym.
KENNY
Word up, she's a party girl.
BILL
I'm here for something else.
KENNY
I'm all out of drugs.
BILL
Kevin.
KENNY
What new drama does he have going?
(CONTINUED)
17.
CONTINUED: (2)
BILL
It's his drinking. He's like
drinking all day, everyday, and I
think it's getting out of hand.
Kenny loses his balance and falls on his head. Bill comes
and helps him up, with difficulty. Kenny rubs his head and
helps Bill get into a modified "cobbler pose". Bill sits
cross-legged on two chairs.
KENNY
This one is really good for MS.
What does Dennis say?
BILL
Dennis can't talk to him.
Bill holds the pose and does the exercise. Kenny helps him
do another. Then, Kenny sits quietly and meditates for a
moment. The phone rings. Kenny doesn't answer.
KENNY
Well, he's got to. No wonder he
didn't show up for Joe.
Bill looks at the phone. The caller ID says "Bernini, Jen".

Kenny's oblivious.
BILL
I reminded him about Joe, but he
wasn't listening. He's using that
for an excuse to be a lush.
Wouldn't be surprised if he's into
the drug scene.
KENNY
You think?
(beat)
Do you miss it?
BILL
Now, that's insulting. Do you?
KENNY
Take your arm back a little more.
BILL
How much do I owe you?
KENNY
Just tell your cosmic chick and
all her friends about the class.
(CONTINUED)
18.
CONTINUED: (3)
BILL
Remember when Jen used to do yoga?
INT. BILL'S BEDROOM
Bill groans and grunts as he tries to lift his rigid body

out of bed. His elbows and knees are locked. He glances
over at the clock. 8:30 a.m. The phone rings.
BILL
Shit, Dennis, I'm coming.
The answering machine kicks in.
OFFICE MANAGER'S VOICE

Good morning, this is Rowena
calling from Dr. Wu's office. Your
medical bill is overdue. If you'd
like to make arrangements for a
repayment plan, please call us.
This is exactly what Bill didn't need to hear. With great

pain, he struggles to sit up. He reaches for a glass of
water by his bedside and drinks.
Bill holds the glass at arms length -- in the light, it

looks like beer. He closes his eyes and takes a sip. Water.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
The coffee shop is filled with PATRONS. Bill, Kenny, Dennis

and a hungover Kevin settle at the coffee shop. Bill takes
a bunch of pills with his water.
KEVIN
We always come later to avoid all
these losers.
DENNIS
Figured we'd get you before you
started pre-gaming...
KEVIN
Ah, man, not that again...
KENNY
Your drinking...
KEVIN
Bill, when's the last time you
scored? I got this money baby,
Mad...that's her name, honest.
(CONTINUED)
19.
CONTINUED:
Dennis sips his coffee.
BILL
You had that flask last night.
KEVIN
What flask? You were comatose. You
imagined things.
DENNIS
Then I did too. I heard you down
in the basement, man. Heavy
partying.
KEVIN
In my defense, not all the time.
Bill leans forward in his chair.
BILL
Yea, man, all you do is drink.
KEVIN
Of all the people preaching
sobriety, it's Mister Be Sober.
Why don't you try AA yourself?
Kenny takes a look around and leans into Bill.
KENNY
(low tone)
Na, man! It's you and your
frigging drinking. Try looking at
yourself and stop worrying about
others. It's getting pretty lame
carrying you home almost every
night.
Kevin leans back in his chair, stunned. Dennis gathers his

strength and faces his brother.
DENNIS
There's only three ways you can go
if you keep this up. Lockup, the
looney bin, or...
And he leaves the third way unspoken.
KEVIN
I guess I'll lay off the booze for
awhile. Find another way to deal
with losing Joe. I don't want to
dramatize anyone's life.
(CONTINUED)
20.
CONTINUED: (2)
BILL
How are you going to do that?
Kevin looks directly at Dennis.
KEVIN
I'm gonna need your help for once.
That stings Dennis.
DENNIS
What's that supposed to mean? You
know you can count on me.
BILL
Me too. My job is to get you
sober.
KEVIN
No offense, Bill, but I need
someone able-bodied for this.
Bill's face registers hurt.
DENNIS
We better get you cleaned up
before Mom comes.
KEVIN
Shit, Mom? What'd you tell her?
DENNIS
It's not because of you. The home
thought it would be good for her.
KEVIN
Yea, right. They just can't stand
her either.
BILL
Is your mom any better?
Dennis shrugs. Bill looks at him sympathetically.
INT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Dennis throws five empty bottles in the garbage after

pouring them out into the sink.
DENNIS
Could you have any more liquor?
(CONTINUED)
21.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
I warned you.
EXT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S HOUSE
Dennis hauls the garbage bag filled with bottles to the

curb. A NEIGHBOR LADY stares at him and he smiles,
embarrassed.
INT. VESTIBULE OF GRACE CHURCH - DAY
Bill, wearing a "Volunteer" pin, sits and hands out prayer

cards to CHURCHGOERS.
CHURCHGOER
Why St. Jude?
BILL
Hope of the Hopeless, Pray for me.
INT. KEVIN'S ROOM
Kevin hides one bottle each of Gin, Vodka, Jack Daniels,

and Bourbon under his bed. He pulls out a book of Charles
Bukowski's poetry as Dennis searches the room.
KEVIN
Now here's a musician.
DENNIS
How many more do you have?
KEVIN
I think that was it. I don't think
there's any other bottles.
DENNIS
No more Jack or Gin laying around
the house or your room?
Kevin walks over to the garbage bag and throws an empty

bottle inside. He makes sure Dennis sees him.
KEVIN
I believe we got it all.
DENNIS
Good, 'cause your eyes are
jaundice-y. There's this
specialist...
(CONTINUED)
22.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
Giving up the sauce, I'll get my
health back.
Dennis goes to sit on the bed but Kevin stops him.
KEVIN
What's that doctor's number?
DENNIS
I'll make an appointment for you.
(beat)
Otherwise, I'd have to order a new
burial suit. Yours stinks.
The black humor works. Both brothers grin.
INT. CAFE - NIGHT
Bill shakes rain off his coat all over Melissa's Greek
salad. She takes a scarf from the shopping bags piled
around her.
BILL
Any longer out there and I'd be
taking my second shower of the
day.
Melissa tosses him the scarf--expensive-looking wool.
MELISSA
My God, you're drenched. I'll give
you a ride back.
BILL
I won't melt, it's just three
blocks away.
Bill orders coffee from the counter. He clutches the coffee

and stumbles getting across the floor.
Melissa leaps up and takes the coffee from him. Bill

blushes slightly as he sits down with his coffee.
MELISSA
So you're on a special diet
tonight, just like the other
night?
BILL
I'm not really up for eating.
Bill takes a sip from his ice water.
(CONTINUED)
23.
CONTINUED:
MELISSA
So my friend Aaron calls today
after being MIA two years to ask
for money.
BILL
Did you set the dogs on him?
MELISSA
Total wet-brain. He could be
another Ken Burns, but he needs
gas money to go to work at the
Fotomat.
BILL
How long did you date?
Melissa gives him a look.
BILL
Your eyes are like Kenny's when he
talks about Jen.
MELISSA
He was always on her back, right?
BILL
Does she still drink?
MELISSA
Aaron and I were engaged. Till he
set both of us on fire.
An awkward beat.
BILL
Look over there, that's the most
massive burger ever. I'll get one.
The ice is broken. Melissa laughs.
MELISSA
No way you can eat all that.
BILL
Watch me.
INT. KENNY'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
Kenny chain-smokes and wolfs down an enormous banana split.

He offers some to Bill. Bill shakes his head.
(CONTINUED)
24.
CONTINUED:
KENNY
Do you ever sleep? Do you ever
eat?
Kenny stubs out his cigarette in his ice cream bowl.
BILL
Isn't breathing important in yoga?
KENNY
Gotta have at least one bad habit.
Seriously, do you ever eat?
BILL
Scarfed down a burger at Moe's
with Melissa. The cheese is the
bomb.
Kenny downs a can of soda.
KENNY
Freshly fuckin' A! Did ya get
laid?
Kenny goes to the fridge and gets another soda.
BILL
You getting any? You always max
out on the sugar before you see
Jen.
KENNY
Hey, was that my car alarm?
BILL
You guys doing dinner and a movie?
KENNY
You never take my car seriously.
Bill gives him a look. Kenny opens the kitchen door.
KENNY
We're going to the White Hills.
BILL
Uh-oh. I know what that means.
(beat)
Stop checking your car. Jen was
there for you with Joe...
(CONTINUED)
25.
CONTINUED: (2)
KENNY
Joe and Jen. Do not go there.
Kenny runs outside. Bill stares after him, perplexed.
EXT. THE WHITE HILLS/KENNY'S CAR - NIGHT
Kenny and JEN BERNINI, 23, sit on the hood of Kenny's car
and look at the sand dunes. Kenny lights a smoke and drinks
soda.
JEN
So it's been awhile since we've
been here.
KENNY
Yea, we spoke about taking a
break.
JEN
About that, I was thinking that we
can take a break from the break.
EXT. DENNIS'S FRONT PORCH - NIGHT
Bill, frustrated, shouts into the phone as Dennis plays

guitar. MRS. (KATHLEEN) O'BRIAN, looks older than her
years, suffers from Alzheimer's, disheveled, with a medical
ID tag on her dress, brushes Dennis's hair.
MRS. O'BRIAN
...and that book will change your
life, I'm telling you.
BILL
...been trying to talk to someone
all day.
MRS. O'BRIAN
Does your friend still have
cancer?
BILL
Check barely covers my bills...I
at least need it sent on time.
MRS. O'BRIAN
Doesn't he have a house?
DENNIS
He's here in case I need to yell
at the government about his MS.
(CONTINUED)
26.
CONTINUED:
MRS. O'BRIAN
Where's your brother?
BILL
What? The check is on hold?
MRS. O'BRIAN
The music's so loud.
Dennis puts down his guitar and goes inside.
INT. JEN'S CAR
Kenny opens the window and flicks ashes from his cigarette
out the window. He turns away, cold. Jen cracks open a
beer.
KENNY
What, you wanna get back together?
JEN
The way you were, right after we
heard about Joe, made me miss you.
Kenny plays it cool.
KENNY
It did, my lady? Malady? Ma'lady?
JEN
(laughs)
And so does your wackness. I wanna
be your biznitch again.
KENNY
(re: Jen's beer)
You know that's not what I'm
about.
Jen looks at Kenny in shock.
JEN
I remember that's what you were
about. What are you, born-again?
KENNY
Look, I'm finished with living by
the bottle and you should think
about doing the same. Life's not
about junking and drunking.
JEN
It's only one beer, just for fun.
(CONTINUED)
27.
CONTINUED:
KENNY
Until the next beer and the next
beer and the next beer. Ask Joe.
JEN
How dare you.
KENNY
I don't need to end up like Kevin.
JEN
You know, people find different
ways to deal with tragedy.
KENNY
So what's your excuse?
She moves about on Kenny's hood.
KENNY
Don't scratch my paint.
JEN
Well, this has been fun, but I
think it's time to call it a
night.
KENNY
I'll drop you off 'cause you might
get killed otherwise.
JEN
Fine! It's better this way.
EXT. DENNIS'S FRONT PORCH
Madison stumbles up the steps with two beers and a ping-

pong ball. She giggles. Mrs. O'Brian glares at her.
MADISON
Yoo-hoo, Ping-Pong Stud!
BILL
...what should I do, get a loan?
Madison heads for the door. Mrs. O'Brian and Bill block
her.
Dennis runs out, hands thrown up. Madison waves at him

flirtatiously and tosses him a beer.
MADISON
Bud Light for a hot musician.
(CONTINUED)
28.
CONTINUED:
Dennis pops open the beer. Mrs. O'Brien gives him a "look".
MRS. O'BRIAN
Where is your brother?
BILL
(into phone)
Yea, I'll speak to your
supervisor!
Bill hangs up.
MADISON
So not a party house.
BILL
Can I call you a cab?
But Madison staggers off. Mrs O'Brian looks at Dennis.
BILL
Dennis, the chick knew you like
your special Bud Lights. Lay off.
Dennis puts the beer down. In the driveway, Kenny gets out
of his car, still pissed.
BILL
So? The date?
Kenny gives Dennis a look.
DENNIS
What?
INT. THE BACK ROOM BAR - NIGHT
Kevin slams down an empty shot glass next to five empty

ones.
KEVIN
Yo John, another round.
JOHN brings him a beer and a shot of Jack Daniels.
JOHN
Y'know your tab is growing.
Kevin takes out a wad of money.
KEVIN
I'll pay it up and start a new
one.
(CONTINUED)
29.
CONTINUED:
Bill and Kenny enter and see Kevin. They approach him.
Kevin stands up and walks to the jukebox to choose some

songs to go along with his drinking. Kenny and Bill
intercept him.
KEVIN
Any requests?
BILL
What's this, Last Stop Boozeville?
KEVIN
I'm only stopping in for a drink.
KENNY
When are you going to learn?
Drinks and you don't mix.
Bill takes Kevin's arm. Kevin selects a song and stands up

on the pool table. The song starts.
KEVIN
Hey Bill, you know this one.
Dennis used to cover it. When he
was cool.
KENNY
Every time your ass is in hot
water, you're drunk.
Kevin uses his beer as a microphone.
KEVIN
(sings)
My ex-friend, don't let your smug
smile hit you on the way out...
BILL
The hell do you think we're here
talking to you? Get your shit
together and let's go.
KEVIN
What I need is for you not to come
in here and embarrass me.
Kevin brays out the song. Bill and Kenny try to pull him
off the pool table.
Kevin hits them with the pool cue. Bill throws him off the
pool table. Kevin glares at them, throws his beer at them,
and marches out.
(CONTINUED)
30.
CONTINUED: (2)
A police siren O.S. makes Bill and Kenny run like hell.
INT. HOLDING TANK - NIGHT
Kevin on the phone.
DENNIS'S VOICE
Do you mind telling me why you're
calling from the eighth precinct?
Kevin's silent.
DENNIS'S VOICE
You could plead insanity. 'Cause
that's what you're doing. Getting
tanked over and over again and
thinking you won't have a
hangover.
KEVIN
I don't need a lecture, asshole!
He sobs.
DENNIS'S VOICE
Oh man. I'm coming.
INT. COURTROOM CORRIDOR - DAY
Kevin sits in handcuffs with five other DWI GUYS.
BAILIFF
Calling case number one five
three. The people against Kevin
O'Brian for driving while
intoxicated.
INT. COURTROOM
Kevin and his PUBLIC DEFENDER stand before the JUDGE, who
stares at him, stern. Bill and Dennis watch, concerned,
from the spectator seats.
KEVIN
I apologize for this offense. I
promise I won't do it again.
JUDGE
Do you know how often we hear that
in this courtroom?
Bill nods and holds his bracelet -- he's heard this before.
(CONTINUED)
31.
CONTINUED:
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Your honor, my client claims post-
traumatic stress disorder after
his friend was killed.
JUDGE
I don't care if he has ADD.
KEVIN
I promise I will go straight. My
friend was killed by a driver.
JUDGE
Everyone who is arrested for drunk
driving says they will go on the
straight and narrow path and three
months later, they're back in my
courtroom for the same charges.
(beat)
Or for vehicular manslaughter.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
When he makes bail, he will enter
a detox and a treatment facility.
JUDGE
Five thousand dollars' bail. Cash.
Dennis reacts, stunned.
JUDGE
Cash or bond. I'm ordering you to
enter a facility for drugs and
alcohol. In three months, I expect
to see you back here with
documentation.
Until then, this case is adjourned.
KEVIN
Thank you, Your Honor.
JUDGE
I order you to abstain from
alcohol. If I see you here because
of drinking, you will do jail
time.
KEVIN
I state my word that I will go on
the straight and narrow path.
32.
INT. COURT CLERK'S OFFICE
Kevin, Bill and Dennis together. They ante up money.
DENNIS
We're short eleven hundred bucks.
Mom said---
KEVIN
I'd rather stay in the slammer.
DENNIS
It's not too late.
Bill gives them a hundred-dollar bill.
BILL
Kenny chipped in a hundred.
Everyone looks at Bill. He checks his wallet.
BILL
I don't have that much here.
His phone rings. The display says "M Pagano". The CLERK
glares and points to the "No Cell Phones" sign.
BILL (CONT’D)
I'll hook you up with whatever you
need to get to rehab.
INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY
Bill buys a Brewski Brew. Beer cans and specials on twelve-

packs surround him.
Three Brewski Brews beers dance. Their caps pop off halfway
and begn to sing.
BREWSKI BREWS BEER 1

When you're late for a date...

Your buds are losers you hate...

When life gives you the blues...
BREWSKI BREWS BEERS

Try Brewski Brews!
(CONTINUED)
33.
CONTINUED:
Bill shuts his ears. He buys a bag of peanuts and chews

them. So loud he can't hear. Bill pants. Thirsty. He
snatches a six-pack of soda from a display and pays for it.
The CASHIER turns up the volume on the TV behind the

counter. The TV shows a ocmmercial with the three Brewski
Brews bbeer bottles singing.
CASHIER
Man, I love that commercial.
Bill bags the beer and cracks open a soda.
INT. BANK - DAY
Bill struggles to sign a withdrawal slip. He writes

"$1,000" and hands it to the TELLER. The TELLER squints at
it.
TELLER
How much do you want?
Bill points to the number. The Teller gives a head shake

and squints, unable to read Bill's writing.
BILL
A thousand dollars.
The Teller glances at a computer screen.
TELLER
Well, it's been nice having you as
a customer.
BILL
What?
TELLER
That closes out your account.
The Teller says this a little too loudly. Everyone stares.
Bill hides his face as he forks over the contents of his

wallet and writes a deposit slip. He hands it to the
Teller. The Teller takes the deposit slip and goes in the
back.
Melissa storms into the bank and stares at Bill. He waves.

Melissa looks at him skeptically.
The Teller gives Bill a thousand dollars.
(CONTINUED)
34.
CONTINUED:
TELLER (CONT’D)
Small bills okay?
EXT. BANK - DAY
Bill and Melissa on the street.
MELISSA
No wonder you never eat. You have
money problems.
BILL
Listen, I'm sorry about lunch.
Melissa hesitates...
MELISSA
Are you on drugs? Are you
drinking?
Bill stops dead. Melissa reaches out for his hand and grabs
it. A tremor goes through his arm.
MELISSA (CONT’D)
You can't walk straight, and my
God, your hand shakes...
BILL
That's because of you.
For a moment, Melissa softens...
MELISSA
I can't date another wet-brain.
BILL
I have M.S.
Melissa's silent.
BILL
Multiple sclerosis.
MELISSA
Oh God, why didn't you tell me?
BILL
I hate to do this to you, but can
we make it an early dinner?
(beat)
I'll cook for you.
And Melissa's moved.
(CONTINUED)
35.
CONTINUED:
MELISSA
Can you? Cook?
BILL
Four-bean chili. Say six-thirty?
Melissa smiles and nods.
INT. COURT CLERK'S OFFICE
Dennis and Kevin sit on a bench.
DENNIS
Whatever happened to you giving up
the booze? This is your life. You
keep this up, who knows how much
longer you'll have a life.
KEVIN
I'm allowed one fuck-up, so shut
up. If it'll make you happy, I'll
go to rehab right after detox.
DENNIS
Maybe you should make the best of
it. Learn something about yourself
and how you've taken all of us
hostage with your drinking.
KEVIN
Fine, I'll do it. Will Mom be gone
when I get out?
Dennis can't answer.
KEVIN
Then rehab sounds like heaven.
Bill hurries inside the court clerk's office and hands

Kevin the money.
BILL
We can take him to the hospital
here. Their detox center is good.
DENNIS
Can you drive? I'm just a little
low on gas.
BILL
Sure, no problem.
Kevin looks at Bill, embarrassed.
(CONTINUED)
36.
CONTINUED:
DENNIS
I believe you have something to
say to Bill.
KEVIN
What do you wear to detox?
DENNIS
I meant "thank you".
BILL
(looks at Kevin)
Wear whatever you'd wear to clean
out your garage.
EXT. BEACH - DAY
It's one of those locals-only beaches -- you'd never find

it if you didn't live here. The Statue of Liberty is in
the distance. Jen and Melissa relax together.
Jen drinks a Jack and coke in a soda bottle. She lets out a
small burp and she adjusts her bikini top.
MELISSA
Frickin' Lady Liberty's blushing.
JEN
So how was Bill the other night?
MELISSA
If you mean that we spent the
night together in the same bed,
then fantastic. If you're talking
about did we have sex, then no,
but if we did, I don't kiss and
tell.
JEN
Oh, come on, chica! You're never
this way with any other guy!
(beat)
Does Bill still have the dizzies?
MELISSA
Dizzies?
JEN
From MS. He's on disability.
MELISSA
How long has he had it?
(CONTINUED)
37.
CONTINUED:
JEN
He said the worst part is feeling
every day like he just drank three
bottles of Jack Daniels.
MELISSA
You'd know.
JEN
What?
MELISSA
I said we should double with Bill
and Kenny.
JEN
Kenny hasn't made one move on me
and suddenly he's bitching up a
storm about my drinking.
MELISSA
I don't think he's that far off.
JEN
Just because Aaron was a jerk when
he drank...
MELISSA
I still love you anyway,
girlfriend. So, no chance of a
second chance with him?
JEN
Well, since he's the born again
sober man, then no.
She checks her phone and makes a call when Melissa isn't
looking. A text message comes in: "got your sweet stuff
need a fix meet me".
INT. CLUB - AFTERNOON
A slick-looking METH DEALER approaches Jen, who's now alone

(without Melissa) drinking a whiskey straight up.
METH DEALER
Hey, Little Miss Muffet.
JEN
Hey. You got the sugar?
METH DEALER
Depends on what you got.
(CONTINUED)
38.
CONTINUED:
The Meth Dealer paws Jen. Jen makes out with him.
INT. KEVIN'S ROOM - AFTERNOON
Kenny bursts into Kevin's room as Bill, Dennis and Kevin

throw a bunch of clothes in a duffel bag.
KENNY
Heard we were having us a send-
off.
KEVIN
You could have brought strippers.
KENNY
You pull this off, man, I'll take
you to every titty bar in town.
Kevin stuffs a shirt in the duffel bag.
BILL
Just do right. That's all I ask
and you don't have to pay me back.
KENNY
Whoa. Is that a Superman shirt?
BILL
Hey, Kenny, maybe you should show
Kevin some yoga. Worked for my MS.
KEVIN
What, some swami shit?
KENNY
Never mind.
KEVIN
If you have that swami Jedi woo-
woo going on, why do you always
have fire ants in your pants?
MRS. O'BRIAN
Kevin? Kevin? You can't stay in
there the rest of your life!
Kevin throws a bunch of magazines into the duffel bag and

zips it up.
KEVIN
Let's go.
(CONTINUED)
39.
CONTINUED:
DENNIS
Don't be childish.
The brothers stare each other down. Bill steps in.
BILL
What do you say we get a move on
before all the beds are gone?
Kenny's cell phone rings. He looks at it and gets a worried

look on his face.
BILL
Go ahead, talk to Jen.
KENNY
It's not Jen.
KEVIN
When a guy looks like that, it's
usually because of a skirt.
KENNY
As Buddha would say, fuck off,
man.
KEVIN
I'd like to see your point of view
only I can't get my head that far
up my ass.
Mrs. O'Brian bursts into the room. She and Kevin stare at
each other. An undercurrent between them.
MRS. O'BRIAN
What in the world happened to you?
KEVIN
Dennis shouldn't be reading, he
should be playing guitar!
He walks right past Mrs. O'Brian. She catches his arm and
hugs him, hard. The others stand around for an awkward
beat. Kevin pushes away from Mrs. O'Brian.
KEVIN
God, let's go.
BILL
Bye, Mrs. O'Brian. We'll take care
of him.
(CONTINUED)
40.
CONTINUED: (2)
Kenny's phone continues to ring as the four walk out of the

room. Mrs. O'Brian stares at her son's bedroom.
INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT
Bill, Kenny, and Dennis sit in the ER chairs. Kevin,

nervous, paces back and forth.
BILL
Look at that kid. How old do you
think she is?
KENNY
I dunno...six or seven.
BILL
She's got a chemo scarf on.
DENNIS
Now that's just wrong.
BILL
Didn't Jen work with kids in the
Oncology floor?
Kenny ignores Bill.
KEVIN
She's in here and she didn't do
anything. I'm in here...we ought
to trade places.
KENNY
It won't be that bad. Like a
vacation. Only in the hospital.
With no beach.
KEVIN STOPS DEAD
KEVIN
Oh, so, wise Swami, you've been
through this before.
Kevin sits down next to Bill.
BILL
It's tough in the beginning, but
as time passes, it gets easier.
Kevin leans in towards Bill.
KEVIN
Are there a lot of people in
there?
(CONTINUED)
41.
CONTINUED:
BILL
Yea, sure, it's detox.
KEVIN
(low tone)
No, I mean crazy-ass down on their
luck weirdos?
BILL
(low tone)
Look, go in my car. I picked up a
beer for you.
Kevin gives him a funny look. Bill hands Kevin his car
keys.
BILL
(low tone)
Look, it's under my seat. You'll
get a bed faster if you have some
booze in your system.
Kevin stands up.
KEVIN
Hey guys, I got to go to the car
for my smokes. I'll be back.
KENNY
You're coming back because if you
make a run for it I'll kick your
ass. We're here already.
KEVIN
Relax.
DENNIS
All right, but hurry back.
KEVIN
Dennis, we've been here all day.
I'll only be like five minutes.
Dennis, Kenny and Bill watch the television.
INT. BILL'S CAR - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Kevin cracks open the beer and begins to chug it.
He then breaks out a vial of cocaine. He lines up four fat

rails as wide and long as a cigar.
(CONTINUED)
42.
CONTINUED:
He snorts all four lines quickly and heavy. He looks in the

mirror checking his nose. A little blood flows out and down
his nose onto his upper lip.
Kevin wipes his nose and chugs the beer until there is
nothing left.
EXT. CLUB - NIGHT
Meth pipes litter the parking lot. Jen, high on meth, does
a hyper-happy dance on top of the cars.
INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
The detox counselor, JIM CLANCY, enters the waiting room

and looks down at his clipboard.
Bill smiles at him in recognition.
BILL
Looking chipper, Jim.
JIM
You too, buddy. I think. So which
one of your friends is Kevin?
Dennis rises to his feet.
DENNIS
He went out to the car to get his
cigarettes. He'll be back in a
sec.
JIM
All right. I'll be back in a
jiffy.
(beat)
Bill, you should know there's no
smoking in detox.
Jim leaves and everyone looks at Bill.
BILL
Thought it might have changed.
Kevin re-enters the ER waiting room. He lets out a loud

belch, sniffs and drools.
KEVIN
Got my smokes. I'm ready.
Dennis sees cocaine powder on Kevin's nose.
(CONTINUED)
43.
CONTINUED:
DENNIS
What's wrong with you? What did
you really go and do?
BILL
Sorry Dennis, but that's my fault.
I bought a beer for Kevin earlier.
Dennis faces off against Bill.
DENNIS
Are you out of your bleeping mind?
BILL
Look, man. I know he'll have an
easier time getting a bed if he
has alcohol in his system.
DENNIS
With a chaser of rat poison!
Jim enters the waiting room and sniffs Kevin's breath. He

notices the cocaine on Kevin's nose.
JIM
You must be Kevin. Had a beer
before you came in here?
KEVIN
And a little coke. You are
posifuckingtively good.
Jim takes Kevin's arm.
Bill looks at Dennis: I told you so.
Kevin and Dennis exchange glances. Jim looks at Dennis.
JIM
Family?
DENNIS
Almost all I've got.
JIM
He's in good hands.
Jim walks off with Kevin. Dennis looks at Bill for a beat.
DENNIS
Can we visit?
(CONTINUED)
44.
CONTINUED: (2)
BILL
Sorry, not until he's in rehab.
But we can call.
DENNIS
You break the news to my mom.
Bill sways dizzily.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Jim closes the curtain around one of the hospital beds.
Kevin sits on the bed and hugs himself. Jim takes Kevin's
temperature and blood pressure.
JIM
Your blood pressure's 120 over 80
and you don't have a fever.
KEVIN
We've been here all day. Waiting
for someone to do my intake and
you came along. Guess we lucked
out.
JIM WRITES ON HIS CLIPBOARD
JIM
You're doubly lucky, then. You get
to go through twenty-four-hour
observation with me.
KEVIN
For drinking a beer?
JIM
And the cocaine. We have to look
out for the safety of the other
patients. How do I know you've had
only one beer?
Kevin looks through his pockets and takes out his

cigarettes.
KEVIN
So what's the smoke breaks like?
JIM
Bill didn't tell you?
Kevin shakes his head. Jim takes the cigarettes from Kevin.
(CONTINUED)
45.
CONTINUED:
JIM
There is no smoking.
KEVIN
I'm going to kill that guy!
JIM
What other drugs have you done?
KEVIN
What? The intake form only asked
about alcohol.
Jim looks at the clipboard and shakes his head. He sees

that Kevin has written, "Just Say No" on the section,
"Please list all the drugs you have taken."
JIM
So then I'm asking you.
Kevin decides to let it rip.
KEVIN
Everything. You name it. MDMA,
vike's, perk's, oxycontins, XTC,
the whole deal.
JIM
Not before you came here, of
course.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE DETOX UNIT
Jim inserts a keycard in the lock of a door marked "Detox

Unit". Kevin jumps as he hears screams from the door across
the hall. The door is marked "Psychiatric Ward".
The door buzzes open. Kevin stands outside for a moment.

Not sure if he wants to do this. Jim gives him a nudge.
INT. TWENTY FOUR HOUR OBSERVATION ROOM - NIGHT
The observation room looks like a white-walled cage with

everything padded. Kevin, in full withdrawal mode, kicks
the chair in the room.
The door opens. Kevin lunges for it. A hand drops a tray of
food on the floor and shuts the door.
46.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Dennis and Mrs. O'Brian eat in silence. Dennis slides a

pill across the table. Mrs. O'Brian tries to take it and
spits it out. Dennis pushes it toward her again.
INT. VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Kenny eats a salad. He's more alone than anyone ought to

be. His phone rings. He picks up.
KENNY
Hey, Jen.
INT. BILL'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
Melissa polishes off a bowl of four-bean chili.
MELISSA
Why didn't you tell me? I could
have helped you.
BILL
Chili hot enough for you?
MELISSA
Smokin'.
She coughs and reaches for soda.
BILL
You know, if you wanted to have a
beer sometimes, I'm okay with
that.
MELISSA
That's nice, but I want to know,
why didn't you tell me? I had to
hear it from Jen.
BILL
Jen? What did she...
MELISSA
We are so not talking about Jen's
drama right now.
Melissa picks up her dish and goes over to the sink.
BILL
Just leave it. I'm not helpless
just because I can't keep up with
your big-ass dogs!
(CONTINUED)
47.
CONTINUED:
Melissa softens and comes back to the table. She takes

Bill's hand in hers.
MELISSA
I like you a lot, Bill.
BILL
But?
MELISSA
But you have to be honest with me.
BILL
You know how much I struggled with
those dogs?
(beat)
That's what it's like in my body
every day.
And Melissa's touched.
MELISSA
I can walk the dogs. I've been
doing it all my life. My dad can't
even handle them with his trick
shoulder. He loves them though.
BILL
Can you walk the dogs and wipe
oatmeal off my chin?
MELISSA
At the same time? Maybe not.
There's conviction in her tone and Bill hears it. He goes

to the cabinet and takes out a whole battery of pills. He
shows her the pills.
Melissa's jaw hits the floor. Bill looks at her. Daring

her.Melissa puts her arms around him and holds him.
BILL
Someday, if I'm in a
wheelchair...maybe we can hook the
dogs up to it and I can go,
"Mush!"
Melissa leans in and they kiss.
MELISSA
Where do you get your strenght?
(CONTINUED)
48.
CONTINUED: (2)
BILL
Tell all your friends, Tuesday
afternoons at the Yoga Center.
INT. VESTIBULE OF GRACE CHURCH - DAY
Bill hands out the prayer cards. Melissa helps him. The
same Churchgoer stops by the table and hands Bill a small
pile of dollar bills. Bill tries to hand it back.
CHURCHGOER
(re: Melissa)
Take her someplace nice.
The Churchgoer walks past Bill.
MELISSA
I think she likes you.
They giggle as they put the money in the donation box.
INT. DISABILITY OFFICE - DAY
Bill, in a workout outfit, picks up his disability check.

Melissa is with him, also in a workout outfit.
INT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Mrs. O'Brian watches an "Oprah"-like talk show.
A chorus line of Alzheimer's medication sits on the able:

Aricept, Namenda, Exelon.
Dennis looks at them all in silence. He pushes one pill

bottle and they all fall like dominoes.
INT. DOCTORS' VIEWING ROOM - DAY
Jim and a DETOX DOCTOR observe Kevin through a window.
INT. TWENTY FOUR HOUR OBSERVATION ROOM - MORNING
Kevin eats the food and grimaces -- hospital food. Kevin

plays an imaginary guitar and sings.
KEVIN
In a white room with pudding,
looks like snot from snorting
coke...need a little blue pill to
help my head, this ain't no joke.
Kevin sings at the top of his lungs.
(CONTINUED)
49.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN (CONT’D)
I said, this ain't no joke, I need
a toke!
Kevin rocks out and flips out like a heavy metal singer.
KEVIN (CONT’D)
No jokium! Need a tokium! Need a
pill, I'm ill! I hate you, Bill!
He wears himself out and flops on his bed.
KEVIN (CONT’D)
Om...Swami, help me...
INT. YOGA CLASS - DAY
Kenny and his class warm up.
Bill, Jen and Melissa come through the door with ten
FRIENDS. They all sign up on the sign-up sheet and pay
their money. Jen moves a bit hyper.
Kenny's floored. Melissa smiles at him. Bill goes to pay

but Kenny stops him and shakes his head. Bill struggles
with himself. Kenny stares him down. Bill blinks. Kenny
grins.
KENNY
Everyone grab a spot.
Bill, Jen, Melissa and their friends unroll their mats.
Kenny switches on music and gets in a basic yoga pose. Jen

moves with grace. Kenny can't take his eyes off Jen.
KENNY (CONT’D)
Everyone soften your gaze.
MELISSA
Excuse me?
JEN
Just let your vision go. Relax
your eyes and face.
Melissa tries it. Jen twitches. She can't concentrate.
EXT. YOGA CENTER - DAY
Everyone leaves. Bill watches Jen and Kenny. Kenny gives

him a look. Bill and Melissa stroll off together. Kenny
locks up the yoga center. Jen taps him on the shoulder.
(CONTINUED)
50.
CONTINUED:
JEN
Wish you'd said something about
needing more students.
KENNY
People are cutting back.
JEN
Or maybe you're too proud to ask
for help.
KENNY
One thing yoga does is, you don't
have to get drunk to feel bliss.
JEN
Do not start that again, Mr.
Soften-Your-Gaze.
She gets in his face.
JEN (CONT’D)
You had three people in there
before we showed up. Nobody,
Nobody and Nobody. At least this
way you can make your rent.
KENNY
Like we were ever concerned with
that before. And Bill and his
chick are the ones who...
Jen climbs on Kenny's car.
JEN
Hey look, I'm on Kenny's car!
KENNY
Hey. I lost my home because we
were drugging and that car was my
home!
Jen, stunned, gets down off his car. Kenny looks in her
eyes and smells her mouth.
KENNY (CONT’D)
Just for your information, I
already have one friend in
detox...
Jen breaks down in tears.
(CONTINUED)
51.
CONTINUED: (2)
JEN
And another dead. I know!
Kenny can't stand to see her cry. He puts his arms around
her and holds her.
KENNY
Fuck it, Buddha said we're all
fucked up.
JEN
Everyone enjoyed class.
KENNY
Thanks.
EXT. JEN'S HOUSE - DAY
The Meth Dealer loiters outside and leers at Jen as she

comes up the walk. Jen hesitates.
METH DEALER
Who wants seconds on my dick?
He opens his jacket and shows her a meth pipe. Jen walks,
jittery, up to her front walk.
JEN
I'm trying...I'm trying yoga.
METH DEALER
I got your bliss here.
And Jen gets a whiff. She reaches for the meth pipe.
INT. BILL'S KITCHEN - LATER
Bill on the phone. He takes some kind of "superfood" juice.
BILL
Yea, I'm good at selling. I'll
take the nine to twelve shift to
start.
INT. COUNSELING ROOM - MORNING
Kevin, arms crossed, sits next to ANDY, a take-charge girl.

They flirt with their eyes. JUDY plays with her iPod.
JUDY
Are you all listening to Eckhart
Tolle? The Secret?
(CONTINUED)
52.
CONTINUED:
ANDY
Come on, we know you have an all-
Metallica playlist.
JUDY
I have to get through my addiction
by focusing on the present moment
and thinking good thoughts.
KEVIN
Yea, well, living in the present
is what got most of us here.
Jim addresses Kevin.
JIM
Let's talk about the future. Are
you going straight to rehab?
KEVIN
Yea, Ways to Help. My friends are
bringing me there.
JUDY
Are these good influences? Are
they good friends?
KEVIN
They brought me here.
ANDY
I bet you're going for the first
piece of ass you can find.
KEVIN
Aren't you in the wrong room for
sex therapy?
The group laughs at the joke.
JIM
What are you going to do, Kevin?
Kevin's silent.
ANDY
You should come out to
Brownington, where I am. We should
hang. You're only thirty minutes
from me.
(CONTINUED)
53.
CONTINUED: (2)
KEVIN
Thanks, but with the stories you
tell me about your family, I'd
rather stay home.
The clock on the wall chimes twelve o'clock.
JIM
We'll meet back here after lunch.
The group stands up and crosses arms across each other's

shoulders. They close with a prayer.
INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - LUNCH
Doctor Wu examines Bill. Kenny and Melissa sit like a

cheering section. Dr. Wu shakes his head.
DOCTOR WU
You're getting worse.
BILL
How can you tell?
DOCTOR WU
Your latest test results.
BILL
It's stress.
DOCTOR WU
I think it's time to try an
experimental drug.
BILL
My disability prob'ly won't pay.
MELISSA
What is it?
Doctor Wu gives him a stack of forms.
DOCTOR WU
This is a new drug trial, a six-
month study with an annual follow-
up for five years afterwards.
KENNY
He's been doing good with yoga.
(CONTINUED)
54.
CONTINUED:
BILL
I couldn't get out of bed for
three days after class. Much less
to do my job.
Bill looks at Melissa. She's torn, but...
MELISSA
What's the alternative, Doctor?
Bill reads through the forms.
DOCTOR WU
It won't be pretty.
Bill signs the forms and hands them back to Doctor Wu.
BILL
When do I start?
Dr. Wu gives him a pack of ampoules labeled "Tranzon" and a

supply of needles.
DOCTOR WU
A thirty-day supply to begin with.
Weekly monitoring.
KENNY
Before he turns into Frankenbill,
we have to take someone somewhere.
Bill shakes hands with Doctor Wu.
BILL
Tomorrow work for you, Doc?
EXT. COLLEGE LECTURE HALL - DAY
Melissa kisses Bill and gets out of his car as her friends
wait outside a lecture hall.
MELISSA
You should come back to college.
BILL
E-learning's all I can handle.
MELISSA
Maybe you can audit.
Bill nods and smiles.

55.
INT. CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON
Melissa takes an exam next to Jen. Jen picks at her skin

and "tweaks". She scribbles all over her exam. The
PROFESSOR walks by Jen and looks at her exam.
PROFESSOR
Twenty minutes.
Jen tosses her exam on the floor. Melissa looks concerned.

The Professor picks up the exam. It makes no sense.
JEN
Stop busting my ass!
The Professor marks the test with a huge "F".
INT. DINING HALL - AFTERNOON
Kevin and Andy are eating lunch.
ANDY
So what are you going to do?
KEVIN
Probably sleep in my own bed and
wake up whenever.
Andy slides a phone number across the table.
ANDY
Be sure you call me.
Kevin takes a sip from his soda. Some soda falls out the
corner of his mouth.
KEVIN
Yea, maybe I will, to find out
whether all the stories were true.
ANDY
Well, you'll have to come and
visit to find out.
KEVIN
When they letting you go home?
ANDY
Two months. You'll probably have a
girlfriend by then.
KEVIN
Yeah.
(CONTINUED)
56.
CONTINUED:
Bill, Kenny, Dennis and Mrs. O'Brian walk into the

cafeteria.
Kevin smiles at his friends, but looks away from his

mother. He writes his phone number and e-mail on a napkin
and gives it to Andy.
EXT. BILL'S CAR - LATER
Bill, Kenny, Mrs. O'Brian, Dennis, and Kevin stand

awkwardly outside Bill's car. Kevin clearly is not thrilled
to have his mother around.
INT. BILL'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
Bill concentrates on the road.
BILL
What did you learn, Kev?
From the backseat of the Jeep, Kevin leans forward.
KEVIN
The one thing I learned is it
sucks not smoking. Anyone have a
smoke? They threw out my
cigarettes.
MRS. O'BRIAN
Better you don't smoke.
KEVIN
Thanks a lot, Mrs. Marlboro Man.
(to Bill)
She had a three-pack-a-day habit.
MRS. O'BRIAN
I never smoked in my life. That
was your father.
KEVIN
Yeah, not that I'd know.
Bill passes a cigarette and a lighter back to Kevin. Kevin

takes it and lights it up.
MRS. O'BRIAN
Listen, Bull...
KEVIN
Bill.
(CONTINUED)
57.
CONTINUED:
MRS. O'BRIAN
I appreciate all you've done for
my sons, but...
KEVIN
At least he was here for me!
BILL
Pipe down, Kev.
Kevin finishes his cigarette and flicks it out the window.
KEVIN
If you want to give me advice,
tell me how I survive rehab.
DENNIS
You make a go of this and we'll
start playing music together
again.
KENNY
There, now you got some
motivation.
KEVIN
What's going on with Jen? What
about you, Bill? That's my
motivation. Seeing my friends get
action finally.
BILL/KENNY
Then don't screw it up for us.
Kevin laughs, but the mood doesn't last...
MRS. O'BRIAN
I don't want you boys playing
music! You're just babies.
Kevin shuts down. Dennis looks at both of them, torn.
Bill puts the car in park and turns off the ignition.
MRS. O'BRIAN (CONT’D)

I can't believe you're going to
college here, Kevin. It's a dump.
I wanted you to go to Columbia.
KEVIN
Have fun with Dennis, Ma.
Kevin gets out of the car.
(CONTINUED)
58.
CONTINUED: (2)
MRS. O'BRIAN
It seems a little early for him to
be going to college. It's summer.
BILL
He'll be head of his class.
Bill's phone rings. He answers.
MELISSA'S VOICE
One good turn deserves another.
I'm worried about Jen.
Off Bill's face...
INT. WAYS TO HELP REHAB RECEPTION -- MOMENTS LATER
Kevin waits and fills out forms. Jim from detox walks out.
Kevin does a double take.
JIM
Hi, I've been waiting for you.
KEVIN
What? You got a thing for me?
JIM
I'm going to be your counselor.
KEVIN
Bill had fucking diddly squat to
do with this, right?.
Jim grins. Kevin's got his number.
JIM
You got friends in high places.
INT. SMOKING AREA - MOMENTS LATER.
Kevin smokes. Jim bums a cigarette from him and they smoke.
JIM (CONT’D)
Figured this place is your style.
KEVIN
It might as well be you. I was
trying to fit twenty pounds of
shit into a five pound bag. You
helped.
(CONTINUED)
59.
CONTINUED:
JIM
That's my gift. Anything special
we can work on?
KEVIN
Well there's some rage issues.
Abandonment shit. Abuse issues.
JIM
What kind of abuse?
This is difficult for Kevin, but he gathers courage.
KEVIN
My mom had a friend who used to
fuck with me when I was younger.
Jim's face is kind, but...
JIM
You let Andy go on about her
issues and you said zip.
KEVIN
Andy's got it a lot worse.
JIM
That doesn't make your demon any
less of a son-of-a-bitch.
KEVIN
So it explains how screwed-up I
am.
JIM
Yes, it's the "why". The question
is the "how". What you do now.
INT. KEVIN'S REHAB ROOM
Kevin places his bag on his bed. DOOZER, a recovering

addict, lies on his bed playing a clarinet. Kevin turns on
Jim.
KEVIN
I have a roommate? You remember
when I talked about sharing a room
with someone else. That was why I
didn't have a roommate in detox.
(beat)
Besides, if he does that all
day...
(CONTINUED)
60.
CONTINUED:
JIM
I thought you were a musician.
KEVIN
That isn't my kind of music.
JIM
I think you and Doozer will be
helpful to each other. Get
unpacked and come to my office
afterwards.
Jim exits Kevin's room. Doozer plays the clarinet louder.
INT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S FRONT PORCH - NIGHT
Kenny helps Mrs. O'Brian do yoga. She struggles with it.
INT. BILL'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
Bill injects himself with Tranzon and shudders all over.
INT. BILL'S BEDROOM - LATER
Bill tosses on the bed, completely ill. Melissa holds him.
INT. JEN'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
CARD: "10 DAYS"
It's late into the night. Jen's living room is ultra-

modern, hip and cool. A kids' drawing titled "Cancer Heart"
hangs on the wall.
The group is Jen, Bill, Kenny, Dennis and Melissa. Everyone

except Jen drinks soda. Jen pounds back beers. She picks at
a sore on her arm that she hides with her sleeve.
JEN
(slurring)
Join me, Billy, because I know
Kenny won't.
Bill twitches and looks slightly greenish. Different

twitches than Jen does on meth, but weird all the same.
BILL
Pass.
JEN
Fine. How about you, Melissa?
(CONTINUED)
61.
CONTINUED:
MELISSA
I don't want to be like you. Drunk
and embarrassing.
BILL
Maybe we can have an intervention.
Like on TV.
Jen trips, falls, and knocks over her drink.
DENNIS
Geez-o-rama, is Kevin going to
have a new roommate?
INT. SMOKING AREA - NIGHT
Doozer plays the clarinet at the entrance to the smoking

area. Kevin smokes. Jim sits with Kevin.
KEVIN
I got the freaking clarinet in
after-school band. I wanted the
guitar. My mom's friend Harold was
the teacher. Easy to get what I
wanted, right?
Doozer plays some kind of Wagnerian music.
KEVIN (CONT’D)
You ever notice how the clarinet
looks like a penis? That's why I
like the guitar.
JIM
What does a beer bottle look like?
KEVIN
A teat. A glass teat.
JIM
So are you close to that when you
drink? To intimacy with someone?
KEVIN
Let me tell you something, man,
every single one of my friends is
single. Except maybe Bill. But
definitely my brother. We're
alone.
Everyone as before.
(CONTINUED)
62.
CONTINUED:
DENNIS
...so Mom's not improving and I
hope Kev will be in a better frame
of mind because she'll have to
live with us.
Everyone makes noises of sympathy. Jen flirts with Dennis.
JEN
So, caring for Mom, that's why
you're alone, musician hunk?
DENNIS
I need to find a girl. Know
anyone?
JEN
Yeah, my roommate. She just broke
up with her boyfriend.
Bill looks at the drawing.
BILL
Jen, at the hospital and in the
park there was this girl, chemo
wig...big pink earrings.
JEN
Yeah, yeah, blah, they're all
cute.
BILL
She said she'd give anything for
the life you're throwing away.
JEN
She can have it.
Jen stumbles over and sits next to Kenny. Kenny leans in

inches from her left ear.
KENNY
(low tone)
You should really relax on the
booze. Look at you. You can't even
maintain your balance.
JEN
I was doing just fine when I was
balancing on your balls.
Everyone looks at Kenny, then at Jen,
(CONTINUED)
63.
CONTINUED: (2)
JEN (CONT’D)
Save your drama, you bitches!
Don't kill my buzz.
Jen stands up. She can barely keep her balance. She falls
to the ground.
Bill and Dennis walk over and help her get up. Bill
stumbles and his body goes all funky. His eyes roll back.
Kenny swoops in and helps Dennis get Melissa to the couch.
KENNY
You should really lay off the
booze! Look at you! And I'm
suppose to get back together with
you! Thanks, but I think I'll
pass!
Kenny gets up and storms out of the room.
Jen hides her hair with her face and runs out. Melissa
looks at Bill.
MELISSA
What in creation is going on with
you? Are you okay?
Bill starts to puke. Dennis grabs Jen's glass and helps

Bill throw up in it.
BILL
Go with Jen.
And Melissa's torn. Dennis gives her the "go ahead" look.
Melissa rushes out after Jen.
INT. YOGA CENTER - DAY
Bill struggles to complete a downward dog pose. He looks

wretched. The three other students from Kenny's first class
look at him. Clearly uncomfortable.
Kenny looks at them sadly as he does a modified cobra pose

for Bill.
KENNY
Soften your gaze.
EXT. WAYS TO HELP REHAB - DAY
(CONTINUED)
64.
CONTINUED:
CARD: "45 DAYS"
Kevin has grown a beard. He waits outside the treatment

center. Bill, looking even more ill, gets out of his car.
He is alone. He takes Kevin's duffel and walks with even
more difficulty than before. He looks nauseated.
KEVIN
Where's the rest of the guys?
Where's my brother?
INT. BILL'S CAR
Bill begins to drive off. The blue bracelet hangs on his

rearview mirror.
BILL
They said they would meet you at
your house. They had to take care
of a few things before you got
home. So how was it?
Kevin opens the window and lights a cigarette.
KEVIN
It was alright.
BILL
What were some of the things you
got to learn?
KEVIN
I hate clarinet music.
Bill tries to keep it together and stay well. He hums

"Omm". Kevin hums "Omm".
BILL
Anything else?
KEVIN
No offense, but I'll save that for
my sponsor. If I ever get one.
They come to a red light.
BILL
What do you mean? What I learned
from rehab was you get one right
after you get out.
Kevin flicks his cigarette out the window and opens a soda.
(CONTINUED)
65.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
I know you do, but I don't have
any plans to go to a meeting.
Bill doesn't like this.
BILL
Isn't that what the judge said?
KEVIN
Hey man, I agreed to detox and
rehab. That was all. So why aren't
the guys here?
BILL
Hope you know what you're doing.
Kevin begins to fumble with the radio.
BILL (CONT’D)
Let's see. Jail time hanging over
your head. If that's not a
motivation, I don't know what is.
Bill swallows and gags. He brakes and his foot slips. The
car skids forward. A car honks outside.
KEVIN
Hey man, stop beating the horse's
carcass and focus on the road.
Bill brakes again, successfully.
BILL
Look man, I made a promise to
myself and the others. How about
getting some respect for yourself?
You have a lot to lose.
KEVIN
Dude, I'm single. I live with
Dennis. I had a crappy part-time
job. What's to lose? You've been
in my shoes, don't come Holy Joe.
Silence from Bill.
KEVIN (CONT’D)
It's just an expression.
Bill touches the blue bracelet. He pulls the car over

abruptly and opens the driver's side door.
(CONTINUED)
66.
CONTINUED: (2)
KEVIN (CONT’D)
WTF, man?
And Bill pukes out the driver side door.
KEVIN (CONT’D)
And you want to lecture me???
Bill looks at him.
BILL
Don't break my balls.
Kevin hands Bill a soda.
KEVIN
You'll get dehydrated.
BILL
New meds.
INT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Dennis fusses over the living room. He moves a lamp from

one coffee table to another. Kenny helps.
KENNY
All this energy just for Kevin?
DENNIS
He was a clean freak. Is Jen okay?
KENNY
Wouldn't know. Melissa's checking.
DENNIS
She was pretty hairy that night.
You should call.
KENNY
Why? She's worse than your
brother.
Dennis doesn't like this.
DENNIS
From what I heard about your yoga
class, she...
KENNY
Bill helped me out.
(CONTINUED)
67.
CONTINUED:
Mrs. O'Brian totters into the room. She carries a

cigarette. The first time we've seen her smoke.
She wanders around the room. Kenny waves at her.
Dennis vacuums a small area of ashes. He finishes.
DENNIS
It's like these ashes. Maybe it'll
be the same with Jen and Kevin.
KENNY
I wouldn't be so sure, dude.
Dennis turns around. The pile of ashes is still on the

floor. Dennis vacuums it again.
DENNIS
You should call her.
KENNY
Why not.
Dennis sees the same pile of ashes. He freaks. Kenny points

behind him.
Mrs. O'Brian flicks ashes off her cigarette. She sets the
lamp on fire. Kenny throws soda on the lamp and puts it
out.
Dennis looks like he's in agony. He crushes Mrs. O'Brian's

cigarette. She slaps him.
MRS. O'BRIAN
Don't you dare control me, Harold!
DENNIS
Mom...you threw Harold out years
ago. Kevin and I were kids.
MRS. O'BRIAN
Who's Harold?
DENNIS
Your ex-boyfriend.
Mrs. O'Brian's face shows she doesn't remember. Maybe she

doesn't even remember who Kevin is. Dennis looks like his
heart's breaking.
Kenny takes Mrs. O'Brian by the arm. Dennis hides his face
and storms out.
(CONTINUED)
68.
CONTINUED: (2)
Bill and Kevin walk in. Mrs. O'Brian smiles at them.
MRS. O'BRIAN
What can I do for you? Who are
you?
And Kevin drops his duffel bag.
BILL
I'm Bill. I've brought Kevin home.
INT. KEVIN'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Dennis vacuums under the bed. The vacuum clinks against

something. Dennis pulls the vacuum out and sticks his hand
under the bed. He knows what he'll find. He pulls out a
full bottle of Jack Daniels.
INT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S LIVING ROOM
Mrs. O'Brian lies on the sofa. Passed out. Dennis waves the
Jack Daniels bottle in Kevin's face.
BILL
Let's just cool down.
DENNIS
Excuse me, but you gave my brother
beer before detox!
BILL
He's going to the Grace Church to
sign up for AA. Right now. I'll
sponsor him.
(beat)
Right?
Kevin nods. He and Kevin go over to Mrs. O'Brian. Dennis

tries to rouse her. He looks at Kevin and gestures wildly
at the phone.
DENNIS
Call 911!
Kevin looks at his mother. She is completely still. Kevin

picks up the phone.
KEVIN
She's not gonna die before I get a
chance to confront my issues.
69.
INT. HOSPICE ROOM - NIGHT
A HOSPICE NURSE writes on a pad as Dennis and Kevin keep

watch over Mrs. O'Brian. She opens her eyes and smiles at
them. Kevin turns away.
MRS. O'BRIAN
I'm sorry you don't like Harold.
He'd love to take you to the park.
Kevin screams. A primal scream of rage.

Awww, my little boy. Mommy's here.
She looks at the Hospice Nurse and glares at her.

Who the hell are you? Get out of
my home. You're scaring my
children.
A moment of decision for Kevin. He walks over to his mother

and takes her hand. He puts his head on her chest and
cries.
The Hospice Worker takes Kevin's arm.
HOSPICE WORKER
She's Stage Four.
DENNIS
No kidding.
HOSPICE WORKER
Have you tried Aricept?
Dennis shakes his head.
DENNIS
Nothing worked.
The Hospice Worker nods compassionately.
HOSPICE WORKER
All we can do is make her
comfortable.
DENNIS
How long?
HOSPICE WORKER
Hard to say. Maybe months at most.
70.
INT. HOSPICE COMMON ROOM - NIGHT
Bill and Kenny play cards with two OLD DUFFERS. Dennis and
Kevin walk into the room. Bill and the Old Duffers look up.
Dennis's and Kevin's faces tell the story.
Dennis sits down by Bill.
DENNIS
Deal us in.
BILL
Deuces and aces are wild.
INT. JEN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The Meth Dealer has sex with Jen while she's in the grip of
an O.D. There are meth sores all over her body. The phone
rings. It rings. The answering machine picks up.
JEN'S FATHER'S VOICE

Jennifer. Maybe you could talk
some sense into your mother. If
you call me back.
And Jen wakes up.
JEN
Daddy?
METH DEALER
Daddy's here.
JEN'S FATHER'S VOICE

We're getting divorced to get away
from each other and yet we're on
the phone to each other every day.
Talking about you. Make it stop.
The Meth Dealer has an orgasm. His primal yell drowns out
the phone. The phone rings again. The display name says
"Kenny Smith". The phone stops ringing.
Anther ring. This time the display says "Melissa Pagano".
Jen passes out from her O.D.
INT. JEN'S KITCHEN - MORNING
Jen wakes up half-naked as a cat washes her face. A

NEIGHBOR LADY looks down at Jen with a newspaper in her
hand.
(CONTINUED)
71.
CONTINUED:
NEIGHBOR LADY
Newspapers are blocking your front
door. Are you dead or alive?
And Jen groans.
INT. HOSPICE COMMON ROOM - NIGHT
The common room is deserted. Bill turns on his portable CD

player, low. Kenny reads magazines. Kevin and Dennis are
sitting around the card table playing Texas Hold 'Em.
DENNIS
Kenny, you've been on break for
the last twelve hands. In or out?
Kenny walks back to the table as Bill puts on a CD.
KENNY
Your mom's asleep.
DENNIS
Yea, I know.
Dennis's and Kevin's voices wail from the CD player.
DENNIS'S VOICE
We're the Poor Christian...
KEVIN'S VOICE
Poor excuses for sons...
DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S VOICES

Poor Man's Salvation Brothers!
Dennis's and Kevin's voices belt out a song. Dennis gets up

and goes to shut it off.
KEVIN
Don't.
DENNIS
We sound terrible.
KEVIN
Who cares?
Bill sits in his seat.
BILL
It's Texas Hold 'Em. It's been
that game all night.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
72.
CONTINUED:
BILL (CONT'D)
Pay attention, man. I'm only
breaking your balls.
Dennis deals the cards.
KENNY
Yeah, and I twist yours every
Tuesday morning.
(beat)
So Kevin, how's it been? You going
to those meetings? Any cool
chicks?
Kevin looks at his hand. He takes a drink from his soda.
KEVIN
I was s'posed to go to one
tonight.
Bill and Kenny exchange a glance...
Jen is sitting in her living room drinking. She's half-

naked again with meth sores all over and the start of "meth
mouth". She finishes smoking a hit of meth.
The Meth Dealer, clearly at home, chows down on an enormous

pizza with all the toppings and drinks beer.
Jen picks up the newspaper.
JEN
Tranzon re...recalled. Tranzon. I
know about that. It's...
And she can't think. She looks at the cancer drawing and is
seized by fury. She pulls the drawing down and rips it
apart. She throws down the meth pipe.
Melissa storms into the living room and sees the Meth
Dealer. Sizes him up in an instant. She picks up the phone.
MELISSA
You have two seconds to get out
before I call the cops.
METH DEALER
Blow me, honey.
And Melissa dials 911.
(CONTINUED)
73.
CONTINUED:
MELISSA
Hello?
The Meth Dealer looks at Jen. Jen grabs the phone out of
Melissa's hand. Violently. She slurs into it.
JEN
Everything's fine.
She hangs up. Melissa reaches for her cell phone. Jen hits
at her. Melissa grabs her and dials the cell phone. She
looks at the Meth Dealer.
MELISSA
Out. Before I cut you.
INT. HOSPICE COMMON ROOM
Kenny razzes Kevin but there's an edge to it.
KENNY
Your bum hand is showing, man.
KEVIN
When's the last time we all hung
out together playing cards?
KENNY
So what?
KEVIN
Screw you. I met a cool chick at
the last meeting. Her name's Andy.
Dennis looks at Kevin and grins.
DENNIS
Andy. Nice.
KENNY
Oh yeah? What's that short for?
KEVIN
Short for "And I'm getting laid".
How about you?
Kenny throws down his hand. Straight flush.
BILL
Kevin's had, what, a six-pack of
sodas? That's a record.
(CONTINUED)
74.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
Yea, I'll have to piss like
Seabiscuit in a minute.
Bill's cell phone vibrates.
INT. JEN'S LIVING ROOM
The Meth Dealer lunges for Jen and Melissa whistles.
Melissa's huge dogs run in, snarling and snapping. They see
the Meth Dealer and go into attack mode. They charge.
The Meth Dealer freaks and runs for the door.
METH DEALER
(to Jen)
You still owe me a grade-A fuck!
The dogs chase him out of the house.
Melissa holds Jen and dials a number.
MELISSA
Bill? Have you got Kevin?
(beat)
Can Kenny keep it together or do
you have to leave him home?
(beat)
Because she doesn't need a
lecture.
Jen falls out of Melissa's arms and sinks to the floor. She
picks up the torn pieces of the cancer drawing. She weeps.
Melissa hangs up her phone. She helps Jen to her feet. She
sits her down onto the couch. She touches Jen's meth sores.
MELISSA (CONT’D)
Look Jen, you need help. Maybe
detox isn't such a bad idea.
JEN
I have too much going on.
MELISSA
Like what?
Jen reaches for a half-filled, bottle of Captain Morgan's.
Melissa grabs the bottle and the meth pipe.
(CONTINUED)
75.
CONTINUED:
JEN
(crying)
I don't know what to do.
MELISSA
Bill's coming.
Jen sits and weeps away her drunkenness and meth high.
EXT. JEN'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Jen leans on Bill and Kevin as they support her. Jen is a

complete mess. Kevin looks at her and sees his future
staring back at him.
Bill and Kevin help Jen to Bill's car. Melissa carries a

duffel bag out the door and locks Jen's house.
At Bill's car, Melissa gives Kevin a hug and kiss hello.
Kenny's car drives up and down the street.
INT. BILL'S CAR - NIGHT
Bill drives. The blue bracelet as usual is on his wrist.

Melissa sits beside him. Jen's in the back with Kevin. She
leans against him.
JEN
You know it's bad when you look at
a kid hooked up to a billion IVs
and you think, god, they've got it
so easy. Isn't that sick?
Bill squeezes Melissa's hand.
JEN (CONT’D)
I OD'd a week ago.
Kevin and Melissa look at her.
MELISSA
If I see that lowlife drug pusher
again, my dogs are primed to kill.
BILL
I've got a baseball bat.
KEVIN
Melissa's more of a badass than
you, Bill.
(CONTINUED)
76.
CONTINUED:
JEN
Real she-man.
(beat)
I think I took that stuff from the
newspaper.
BILL
What stuff?
Jen thinks about it.
JEN
Tran...Tran...can't remember.
KEVIN
You have the sweet kiss of death
breath and you reek of Jack.
JEN
Melissa's not a wet-brain.
BILL
(to Kevin)
Her boyfriend had problems.
KEVIN
It's different when sex is
involved. Ask Kenny.
JEN
Do you have a cigarette?
Kevin fumbles for one out of his pack.
BILL
There's no smoking in detox.
Smoking in rehab.
Melissa rolls down the window.
MELISSA
She should quit anyway.
Kevin gives Jen a cigarette. Jen lights it.
JEN
God. The way you look at me.
KEVIN
What?
(CONTINUED)
77.
CONTINUED: (2)
JEN
Kenny never looked at me that way,
and he was my best thing ever.
Kenny prays as he and Dennis clean. Melissa's dogs growl.
DENNIS
They should hire Bill as a detox
recruiter. He could be like the
Donald Trump of detox.
KENNY
Namo Amida Butsu.
DENNIS
He's not looking so great though.
I mean beyond the MS.
KENNY
Namo Amida Butsu.
EXT. JEN'S HOUSE -- NIGHT
The scuzzy Meth Dealer, on his cell phone, watches Jen's

house. He sees Kenny through the window.
METH DEALER
Fuck me, I'm keeping the gold
coming out of that skank's ass.
He listens and smokes a cigarette.
METH DEALER (CONT’D)

Fucking A. People'll only stick
their neck out for you up to a
point, and when it gets tough,
it's welcome to the jungle.
INT. JEN'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
Dennis picks up the newspaper Jen discarded. He sees the

headline about Tranzon.
DENNIS
Holy shit, what new medicine is
Bill on?
Off Kenny's reaction...

78.
INT. BILL'S CAR
Kevin tries to comfort Jen. She weeps.
KEVIN
Kenny's not so great...
BILL
Shut it, Kev!
JEN
There was this one time on Fire
Island. We drank so much the beach
turned into gold silk, and then we
made gold silk love.
BILL
And you want that every time you
have the booze.
JEN
I don't know how to have it any
other way.
KEVIN
Are you going to give her a beer?
Melissa looks at Bill.
MELISSA
I must have a banana in my ear. I
don't think I heard that right.
KEVIN
He gave me a beer so I'd have a
better time getting a bed.
MELISSA
I don't think that will be a
problem! She's coming down off
meth and a bender.
JEN
Oooh, someone's not getting any
tonight. But that's not unusual,
right? I mean...
MELISSA
Quiet down, Jen.
JEN
You guys haven't done anything,
right? Platonic?
(CONTINUED)
79.
CONTINUED:
Bill looks humiliated.
KEVIN
(to Melissa)
She drinks and you have diarrhea
of the mouth.
Bill's phone rings. He hits "Speakerphone".
KENNY'S VOICE
Frankenbill...Stop the Tranzon.
And Bill has a seizure. He slumps over the wheel.
Melissa's quick. She grabs the wheel and steers.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
The car careens. Traffic honks. The car barrels across

lanes onto the shoulder of the road and skids to a stop.
EXT. BILL'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
Melissa jumps out of the passenger side. Kevin jumps out of

the backseat.
It takes a bit, but they get Bill out of the driver's seat.
Melissa gets in the driver's seat.
Kevin walks with Bill. Bill's a dead weight. Kevin slaps

him. Bill, punch-drunk, slaps back. Kevin hits him again.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
One or two cars pull over by the side of the road.

MOTORISTS get out of their cars and talk on their cell
phones.
EXT. BILL'S CAR
Kevin pours soda into Bill's mouth. Bill wakes up as if

from death. Bill stares at Kevin. Kevin helps him back to
the car and they get inside.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Bill's car cures back on the road away from the Motorists,
who wave excitedly and stare.
INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT
Kevin and Melissa hold Jen's arms.
(CONTINUED)
80.
CONTINUED:
ER NURSES push Bill on a gurney. He points at Jen.
BILL
Remember, they're all there for
the same reason you are!
He says this a little too loud and Jen hides her face. One
of the ER Nurses sees her.
ER NURSE
Oh my God, Jen Bernini! You get in
a fight with an eighteen-wheeler?
JEN
Murray, take care of my friend,
will you? He's tweaking.
ER NURSE
Ohhhh....
MELISSA
On recalled meds.
BILL
Need to be with you, Jen...let's
talk to Jim.
Melissa goes over and kisses Bill on the forehead.
MELISSA
Take care of yourself for a
change.
She marches off. The ER Nurses wheel Bill off. Bill looks
back at Melissa.
INT. ER - NIGHT
Bill wakes up as DR. TAMI KELLY monitors his vitals.
TAMI
Goddamnit, they let Doctor "Woo-
Woo" Wu use the boy as a guinea
pig? Tranzon didn't even pass the
double-blind tests.
Bill's EKG spikes erratically.
TAMI (CONT’D)
Hang on, boy.
BILL
Potassium permaganate.
(CONTINUED)
81.
CONTINUED:
He fingers the blue bracelet. The ER Nurse tries to remove

it. Bill clamps down on it and won't let go.
Tami shakes his head at the ER Nurse.
Bill stares off into space.
EXT. HOSPITAL ER PARKING LOT - DAY
Kenny and Dennis exit the hospital with Melissa and Kevin.
Melissa hugs them both.
The Meth Dealer watches them from an open car window.
Kenny gets in Bill's car with Melissa.
The Meth Dealer waits until the friends drive off. He

cruises after them.
EXT. YOGA CENTER - DAY
Melissa helps Kenny open the doors and pick up trash

outside.
A telephoto lens disappears into the Meth Dealer's car

window across the parking lot. Kenny sees the car and
waves. The car drives off.
MELISSA
Oh well, it's early yet.
INT. COUNSELING ROOM
Jim sits with Jen. Andy's running the group as usual. Judy
has a copy of the latest hit spiritual book. Jen touches
her meth sores. They're almost healed.
JIM
It's very common, Jen. It's the
saint paradox. The Preacher's Kid.
ANDY
Yeah, they're the ones that need
saving. Right, honey?
JEN
So what's your excuse?
The entire group ooohs.
(CONTINUED)
82.
CONTINUED:
ANDY
You don't like other women, do
you? Or maybe you're a closet
lez.
JEN
Jim, help me.
ANDY
Jim, help me.
JIM
Break for lunch.
Everyone gets up and leaves. Andy loiters. Jim points to

the door. Jen smiles at Jim.
Jim hands Jen a fresh cancer drawing signed "Rachel".
JIM (CONT’D)
You're a special woman.
Jen looks at the drawing and nearly breaks down.
JEN
I heard Andy gets out today.
JIM
Yes.
JEN
Good.
Jim watches her leave.
INT. JEN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
A fresh cancer drawing hangs on Jen's wall. Jen and Bill

help each other into the living room.
Kenny, Kevin, Dennis and Melissa clap.
KENNY
Welcome home, children!
Kevin's on soda duty. He passes around cans.
JEN
I'm going to drink a tub of soda.
Kevin's phone pings. He checks it.
(CONTINUED)
83.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
E-reminder from my court officer.
I should drink a lake of soda.
It'd be easier to piss in that
cup.
Bill can barely talk. He's silent as everyone drinks soda.
Dennis picks up his guitar.
BILL
Yea, let's rock!
Melissa holds Bill's hand as Kevin jumps up on Jen's coffee

table with his guitar.
DENNIS
KEVIN
DENNIS AND KEVIN

Dennis and Kevin sing. The group grooves to the music.

Melissa coaxes Bill to his feet and they dance.
Dennis and Kevin finish. Everyone claps.
Jen runs through the room.
JEN
It's not you. All that soda went
right through me.
INT. JEN'S BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Jen walks over to the toilet. She reaches behind the

toilet. She pulls out a small bottle of vodka.
She opens the mini bottle and begins chugging straight out
of the bottle. She puts the bottle back behind the toilet.
She walks over to the sink. Brushes teeth. Chugs mouthwash.

Drinks down the rest of her soda.
EXT. JEN'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Kevin smokes and talks on the phone.
(CONTINUED)
84.
CONTINUED:
KEVIN
No, it's cool. Can you just tell
Andy I called?
The voice on the other end drowns Kevin out.
KEVIN (CONT’D)
Never mind! I'll e-mail her.
And he does exactly that on his phone while talking.
INT. JEN'S KITCHEN
Melissa and Bill stack empty soda cans. Bill clumsily

knocks them over. Melissa re-stacks them.
MELISSA
I'm glad you're better.
BILL
I break balls and mine are made of
jello. So's my junk.
Melissa puts her arms around him.
MELISSA
No one's got harder ones than you.
No one fights harder than you.
(beat)
Your drink of choice is pride.
BILL
Oh, is that why we're platonic?
Melissa kisses him. The kiss heats up.
A scream from the other room. Dennis bursts in and takes in

the scene too late.
DENNIS
Sorry...
(beat)
But it's Mom.
BILL
We'll just...
Bill looks at him.
DENNIS
You run around in haloes, it's no
wonder you get sick.
(CONTINUED)
85.
CONTINUED:
BILL
Haloes?
MELISSA
Circles.
DENNIS
(a dismissal)
Later, man.
Dennis leaves.
Bill looks at Melissa. She opens her arms. He goes back

into them. They kiss.
KENNY
More soda, m'lady?
Jen laughs. Kenny opens the soda can and it squirts all
over.
KENNY (CONT’D)
Shit...premature carbonation.
And Jen laughs again.
KENNY (CONT’D)
There was a scuzzy guy around
here. Melissa said.
JEN
Forget it. I am.
There's vulnerability in her tone and Kenny hears it. He

cuddles her.
INT. DOCTOR WU'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Doctor Wu and Tami are arguing as Bill injects himself with

Zofrans. Kenny's with him.
DOCTOR WU BILL
Clinical trials were safe... I turned into Frankenbill.
TAMI BILL
They rushed it to market! Zofrans are taking names
Unlike the tried and true today!
drugs.
(CONTINUED)
86.
CONTINUED:
DOCTOR WU KENNY
We found traces of alcohol in Are you freaking kidding me?
the blood. Bill, are you
still sober?
TAMI KENNY
How do you know those traces I say he goes holistic. No
weren't a by-product of your drugs.
miracle drug?
The two doctors argue with Kenny.
Bill grabs a hypodermic of Interferon and brandishes it. He

pretends to stick it in his arm.
Everyone stops arguing. Bill throws the hypodermic down.
BILL
Doc, thank you for your time.
INT. BILL'S HOUSE - MORNING
Bill on the phone. He reads text off a Web site.
BILL
I hear you when you say you don't
want to try some quack stuff.
Bill listens.
BILL (CONT’D)
I almost died, ma'am. How's that
for a sales pitch?
Silence. Then, Bill listens again.
BILL (CONT’D)
I know. Better living through
chemistry. But EnerCleanse is all
natural. Do you know about ions?
Bill listens and grins.
BILL (CONT’D)
No free trial, no monthly charges.
Just try it once.
(beat)
Great.
87.
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
Kenny, Kevin, Dennis, Bill and Melissa gather by a simple

grave as the Priest recites a prayer. Jen's absence is
obvious to the group of friends.
PRIEST
...and give your child Kathleen
O'Brian the peace that only comes
from being with You.
Kevin and Dennis pray together.
ALL
Amen.
KENNY
Namo Amida Butsu.
BILL
Peace.
(to Melissa)
Where's Jen?
MELISSA
She said she had a meeting.
BILL
We're near Grace Church anyway...
INT. JEN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Jen has the lights dimmed and the shades half-drawn. Drunk,
she walks over to the window and takes a look out. Nobody.
Jen pours a Jim Beam and soda. She leans back, taking a
large chug from her drink. She finishes the whole drink.
Mix Jim Beam and soda. Drink. Repeat. Stumble and fall.
Jen gets up and walks over to the mirror. Swaying back and
forth, she grabs the mirror with both hands.
JEN
(slurring)
You are the shit! And that's it!
Jen throws the mirror down and turns on the television. She
sways back and forth until she gets to the couch.
88.
INT. MELISSA'S CAR - DAY
Melissa is driving and talking on her cell using a

Bluetooth. Bill is with her.
MELISSA
Jen honey...there is no meeting
today. Did you get mixed up?
JEN'S VOICE
(slurring)
I got mixed drinks...Who's this?
Melissa slams on the brakes. Bill's hands start to shake.
EXT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S FRONT PORCH - DAY
Dennis and Kevin are sitting on the bench on the front

porch. Kevin has the book Dennis was reading.
DENNIS
So the meetings are helping?
KEVIN
A lot more than sitting around
here thinking about reading Mom's
books.
He looks at his meeting list.
KEVIN (CONT’D)
I was going to go to my home group
later tonight. Wanna go?
DENNIS
I'm going to go through Mom's
things. And maybe play the guitar
till I go in to work.
KEVIN
Good. I'm going to see if they
found a cure yet.
DENNIS
They have a cure for alcoholism?
KEVIN
It's a joke. We only say that just
to go to another meeting.
INT. JEN'S BEDROOM - DAY
Jen frantically tosses her room while on the phone.
(CONTINUED)
89.
CONTINUED:
MELISSA'S VOICE
Guess you didn't learn anything
from detox! Did you?!
Jen throws her clothes on the floor.
JEN
You're like one of those
counselors. Trust me, I'm fine.
Few drinks, tops.
BILL'S VOICE
I thought you went in there for
help? Not to dry out for ten days.
JEN
Shut up, Platonic Bill!
Jen looks out the window at her car.
BILL'S VOICE
You can push me all you want but
at least we can rock and roll.
We're coming for you.
JEN
I dare you!
EXT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S FRONT PORCH
Kevin stands up. He puts his meeting list in his back

pocket. Kevin approaches his car. He opens the driver's
door side.
KEVIN
I should be back before you leave.
Dennis walks up to Kevin and gives him a hug.
DENNIS
I'm really proud of you. You're
doing the right thing.
Kevin hugs him back.
KEVIN
I know man. And that's the plan.
Just to do right. I just want to
not rely on the bottle.
DENNIS
Later.
(CONTINUED)
90.
CONTINUED:
Kevin tries his car. He gets out as Kenny pulls up. Kenny
gets out.
KEVIN
Piece of shit!
KENNY
We should just all give up on our
cars. We'd save the planet and
we'd save stress.
KEVIN
And how would we get around
exactly?
KENNY
We could all get mechanized like
in Japan. Robot wheels and jet
packs.
Kevin laughs, happy.
KEVIN
You are so full of it. I gotta get
to my meeting.
DENNIS
I'll drop you.
KENNY
Nah, I will. God knows I have
nothing else better on offer.
KEVIN
Shit, man, you're buggy about your
car. I wouldn't dare.
KENNY
What's it matter?
Dennis picks up on something in Kenny.
DENNIS
Spill it, man. You didn't come
here just to hang out.
KENNY
Hey, Kev, those titty bars are
calling your name.
KEVIN
Man, you need it more than me.
(CONTINUED)
91.
CONTINUED: (2)
But this time he's sincere. A look of respect between Kenny

and Kevin.
Kenny gets a phone call on his cell and he answers. He

listens in utter amazement.
Kenny looks at Kevin and throws Kevin the keys to his car.
Kevin catches them and looks at them, aware of what this
means. Dennis watches, amazed.
Kenny grabs Dennis's arm.
KENNY
I need backup. Let's take your
ride.
DENNIS
You got it.
INT. JEN'S KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
Jen tosses the kitchen and throws an empty cigarette pack

into the garbage can in the corner.
MELISSA'S VOICE
I'm driving you straight back to
detox. And rehab.
JEN
Oh shit, not without my smokes.
BILL'S VOICE
We'll get you some on the way.
Pack a year's worth of stuff.
INT. MELISSA'S CAR - NIGHT
Melissa gives Bill a look as they both talk into the phone
on speaker.
MELISSA
It doesn't sound like you need any
beer for a bed.
It's a challenge and Bill hears it.
BILL
We'll be there in ten.
92.
EXT. YOGA CENTER - NIGHT
The place is completely trashed. Windows broken. Door

smashed in. Someone has gone to town on it. Two police cars
stand watch over the place.
INT. YOGA CENTER - NIGHT
Kenny and Dennis pick through the damage inside --

thousands of dollars' worth. Dennis talks into his phone.
DENNIS
Thanks, Officer.
Kenny cradles a stone Buddha's severed head in his hands.
Dennis hangs up.
Something heavy flies through the air -- Kenny's bank box.

It hits Dennis in the chest.
The Meth Dealer leaps out and clobbers Kenny.
Kenny glares at the Meth Dealer. The Meth Dealer pulls a

knife. Uh-oh.
INT. GRACE CHURCH BASEMENT - DAY
Kevin hugs Andy as AA MEMBERS drink coffee and share

stories.
KEVIN
There's no AA in Brownington?
ANDY
Needed to get the hell out.
They look at each other with their eyes sparking. There's

an obvious attraction here.
KEVIN
Wanna go back to my place and I'll
play my brother's guitar?
ANDY
If Santana was asking, sure.
KEVIN
I can play Santana.
ANDY
Musicians are so hot.
(CONTINUED)
93.
CONTINUED:
A snatch of CHOIR MUSIC comes through the vent. Kevin and

Andy smile.
ANDY (CONT’D)
Now that's cheesy.
KEVIN
Spoken like an ex-Catholic.
ANDY
Do I have it tattooed on my
forehead? Or did the horns give it
away?
KEVIN
It is cheesy.
ANDY
Totally.
But they smile.
INT. MELISSA'S CAR - NIGHT
Melissa and Bill are driving. Bill, on the phone, gestures

for her to turn around.
MELISSA
What's going on?
INTERCUT WITH:
Kenny screams into the phone as the Meth Dealer comes at

him. Kenny is battered and bruised. Dennis crouches.
KENNY
We forgot Melissa's dogs and we
need them, man!
MELISSA
What's that about my dogs?
BILL
Kenny, Jen needs us...
The Meth Dealer screams close to Kenny's ear.
METH DEALER
Put down the phone and die, you
pussy!
(CONTINUED)
94.
CONTINUED:
Melissa recognizes the voice.
MELISSA
Oh my God...
KENNY
Where are the fucking police?
Melissa brakes at an intersection. No red light and the

rain hides the street signs. Bill and Melissa look at each
other.
BILL
Let's get your dogs.
MELISSA
We promised Jen.
BILL
She'll need them too.
INT. JEN'S KITCHEN
Jen looks at the clock and then eyes the key rack on the
wall. Should she or shouldn't she? She picks up the car
keys. Puts them back. Takes them again.
EXT. JEN'S HOUSE
Jen slips on the pavement. She falls on her ass. She gets
up laughing at herself a little.
EXT. RAINY ROAD - NIGHT
Jen's car swerving. She's coming down the road like a bat
out of hell.
INT. KENNY'S CAR - NIGHT
Kevin is driving as Grace Church disappears out hte back

window. Andy sticks her arm out the passenger window. She
laughs as she tries to catch the breeze. Kevin changes the
radio from a talk-radio station to alternative rock.
ANDY
Aren't you going to impress me
with your demo CD?
KEVIN
Nah.
(CONTINUED)
95.
CONTINUED:
ANDY
Aw. Then what'll you use to get me
into bed?
KEVIN
I want to see what it feels like
off the booze.
Andy reaches for his hand.
INT. JEN'S CAR -- MOMENTS LATER
Jen changes the CD. She rubs her eyes.
EXT. JEN'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Melissa's car speeds away from Jen's house.
Jen's car skids over the solid yellow divider lines.
Kevin's car drives straight for Jen's car. There's a sense

of fate about this.
INT. KENNY'S CAR - NIGHT
One minute, Kevin and Andy are laughing. The next, oncoming
lights blind them,
ANDY
Jesus...
Kevin, horrified, spins the steering wheel like mad trying

to move the car.
The passenger side of Jen's car hits Kevin head on. Another
car slams into both cars and crushes Andy's side.
All hell breaks loose and cars grind to a halt.
INT./EXT. KENNY'S CAR -- MOMENTS LATER
Broken glass cuts Kevin to shreds. The dashboard crushes

his chest. He coughs and breathes. Barely alive. His body
is nothing but injuries.
Andy is not so fortunate. Her head is cracked open and she

slumps back in her seat. Dead upon impact.
96.
Bill releases Melissa's dogs as an armed POLICE SQUAD

storms the Yoga Center.
INT. YOGA CENTER - MOMENTS LATER
Dogs and police pin the Meth Dealer. He's screwed and he
knows it. In one last swipe he cuts one of the dogs' ears.
The dog whines in pain. Bill leaps on the Meth Dealer.
Police hold Bill back, but he still smashes the Meth

Dealer's face as the other dog bites the Meth Dealer.
Bill, Kenny and Dennis finish giving statements to the

Police Squad. Kenny tends to Melissa's dog.
POLICE SQUAD RADIO

Dispatch. 11-80. Two vehicles
Three blocks from Grace Church.
OFFICER SULLIVAN'S VOICE

Copy. I'm headed there now.
BILL
11-80?
POLICE SQUAD OFFICER

Traffic accident, serious injury.
Dennis and Bill look at each other, freaked.
KENNY
Grace Church?
BILL
Will you be okay with the police?
KENNY
I'll be fine when I give Jen hell.
POLICE SQUAD OFFICER

Would this Jen be willing to turn
evidence against her pusher?
KENNY
You got me.
BILL
Get the pooch to a vet or Melissa
will kill me.
(CONTINUED)
97.
CONTINUED:
Bill and Dennis race to Dennis's car.
INT./EXT. JEN'S CAR
Police sirens echo through the broken windshield. Jen jolts

awake and spits out glass fragments.
Jen opens the door. She winces but her injuries aren't as
sever as Kevin's. She crawls out of the car.
EXT. KENNY'S CAR
Jen approaches the driver's side of the other car. She

collapses to her knees when she sees Kevin. Her expression
says everything.
Jen gets to her feet and reaches through the windshield.

Glass cuts her. She feels Kevin. He moans. He looks at her.
Perhaps he sees her. Maybe not. He shuts his eyes.
Comatose.
Jen looks into the passenger side and sees Andy's cracked
skull. She recognizes Andy's face.
She reaches inside the broken window and gently touches

Andy's brain. Jen recoils and screams.
EXT. ACCIDENT SCENE - NIGHT
Kenny's car -- his pride and joy -- is totally destroyed.
Three police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance surround

the scene.
Police, firefighters and EMTs free Kevin and Andy from the
wreck. Kevin is unconscious.
EMTs gently load Kevin on stretcher.
Police put Andy into a body bag.
The ambulance drives off.
Jen wanders around the scene. EMT HARRIS escorts her to the
ambulance. She cries the whole way.
A cell phone rings faintly in the wreckage.
INT. AMBULANCE - NIGHT
The ambulance sits idle. EMT Harris tries to restrain Jen

as she claws the air.
(CONTINUED)
98.
CONTINUED:
EMT HARRIS
Easy, easy.
She smells Jen's breath.
EMT HARRIS (CONT’D)

How much did you have to drink?
JEN
Where's Kevin?
EMT HARRIS
The other driver?
JEN
Fuck, yes!
EMT HARRIS
I'll ask the police.
EMT Harris exits the ambulance.
JEN
All right, I'll be here.
INT. AMBULANCE - MOMENTS LATER
OFFICER SULLIVAN gives Jen a breathalyzer.
OFFICER SULLIVAN
Blow into this for me.
Jen huffs into the breathalyzer. She has trouble breathing.
Officer Sullivan takes the breathalyzer and reads the

results.
OFFICER SULLIVAN (CONT’D)

BAC 2.9. Jesus. What did you do,
drink the town dry?
JEN
Where's Kevin?
OFFICER SULLIVAN
This is serious, young lady. This
was a fatal crash.
(beat)
You have the right to remain
silent.
Jen breaks down completely and drowns him out.

99.
INT. ROOM 216 - NIGHT
Jen awakes handcuffed to the bed with an IV in her veins.
Jen begins sobering up from the IV she has inserted in to

her arm.
Beep-beep-beep. Jen looks over to the next bed. Kevin lies

in a coma with tubes and wires keeping him alive. This is
Jen's nightmare.
JEN
What did I do? I didn't mean for
this to happen Kevin. You got to
make it through. You're strong and
a fighter. Don't give up.
Jen looks at the vitals monitor, notices, and hears a slow

heartbeat on the machine. Jen turns away in tears.
JEN (CONT’D)
I am so done with the shit. Please
make it through this Kevin. I'm
sorry.
Tami looks up from the vitals monitor.
TAMI
Hi, I'm Doctor Tami Kelly. How are
you feeling?
Jen sobs.
TAMI (CONT’D)
(re: Kevin)
Friend of yours?
Jen shifts around in her bed with her hand cuffed to the
railing. Tami observes her while cjecking the charts.
JEN
I thought I was all right to
drive.
TAMI
You had a blood alcohol content
more than double the legal limit.
JEN
I was just going to get
cigarettes.
Tami doesn't like this.
(CONTINUED)
100.
CONTINUED:
TAMI
And you couldn't have walked to
the store? Why did you feel that
you were able to drive with a
belly full of Jack Daniels?
Jen turns to the side.
JEN
All I care about is my friend
making it through this.
TAMI
Just say a prayer for him.
Tami walks back over to Kevin's bed and checks him.
JEN
Should you be doing that? He's in
a coma. How the hell can you tell
he's back to life if he can't even
open his eyes?
Jen sits looking at her friend and her mistake.
JEN (CONT’D)
I need to use the phone.
TAMI
In a bit.
JEN
I'm not going anywhere, okay? His
brother...Oh God.
Tami sees the remorse on Jen's face.
TAMI
I'll use my cell. What's the
number?
And Jen steels herself.
JEN
You're going to need to call a lot
of people.
INT./EXT. DENNIS'S CAR - NIGHT
Dennis and Bill drive. Flashing lights fill the windshield.

Dennis brakes as Officer Sullivan waves.
Bill rolls down the window.
(CONTINUED)
101.
CONTINUED:
BILL
Officer, what happened?
Officer Sullivan steps aside. Bill and Dennis see what's

left of Kenny's and Jen's cars. They both get looks of
horror on their faces.
OFFICER SULLIVAN
You'll have to take another route.
BILL
Are they at the hospital?
OFFICER SULLIVAN
You know them?
Bill looks at Dennis. They're both at a loss.
OFFICER SULLIVAN (CONT’D)

I'll escort you. I have to go and
monitor the offender.
Melissa's car pulls up to the scene as Dennis throws

himself over the hood of Kenny's car. Bill pulls him back.
INT. ROOM 216
Bill, Melissa, Dennis and Kenny pray around Kevin's

bedside.
Officer Sullivan watches over Jen. She cries as she looks

at her friends.
Kenny breaks from the circle and faces off against Jen.
KENNY
Now do you think your drinking is
out of hand? Nice moves, genius!
JEN
You know, I have injuries too.
Dennis lunges for her. Officer Sullivan bars the way.
DENNIS
(to Jen)
Are you in a fucking coma?
Dead silence.
BILL
Youthful mistakes.
(CONTINUED)
102.
CONTINUED:
JEN
What the hell does that mean?
DENNIS
Why don't you ask the bitch in the
bed there?
Jen is too ashamed to look at him.
KENNY
I hope you do time, Jen!
JEN
Are you fucking going to let him
talk to me that way, Melissa?
Melissa has nothing to say.
BILL
Youthful mistakes.
Kevin stops breathing and "codes". Doctors scramble.

Kevin's dead. Dennis howls.
The gloves are off. Officer Sullivan blocks Kenny, Dennis

and Bill as they charge at Jen.
INT. BILL'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Melissa can barely look at Bill as they lie in bed.
BILL
If only I...
MELISSA
Shhhh.
BILL
You think that, too!
Bill turns away with a guilty look.
INT. YOGA CENTER - MORNING
Kenny fills out insurance forms. A sign on the door says

"CLOSED FOR REPAIRS". Kenny checks his cash flow on his
laptop. Big minuses.
INT. ROOM 216 - MORNING
Dennis sits in the room where his brother died and plays
his guitar. Mournful sounds.
(CONTINUED)
103.
CONTINUED:
Jen gets ready to be discharged. She dresses in an orange

jumpsuit behind a curtain with Tami watching.
Dennis plays his guitar ever louder. Jen breaks down and
has a royal screaming fit.
Officer Sullivan escorts Dennis from the room. Tami pulls

back the curtain. Jen nods thanks.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
Tami comforts Dennis.
DENNIS
We should just send her to the
morgue!
TAMI
For your brother's sake, channel
your anger.
DENNIS
Channel? I'm so sick of New Age.
I went to help out the peace and
love movement and look what
happened.
He stalks down the corridor.
INT. THE CHURCH - DAY
Kevin's body lays still. Surrounded with flowers and two

large pictures. The same Priest officiates.
Bill and Melissa pass out blue bracelets, then take a seat.
PRIEST
We are here to remember our son
and brother Kevin. He was taken
from us at an early time in his
life. Truly all things are vanity.
Life is but a shadow and a dream.
Bill struggles to stay upright in the pew. Kenny and

Melissa support Dennis.
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
Bill kneels by the grave with a red rose and drops it in.
(CONTINUED)
104.
CONTINUED:
PRIEST
Now Kevin has found peace...Kevin
has escaped corruption...he has
passed from life to death...Glory
to Thee, O Lord.
INT. BILL'S BEDROOM - AFTERNOON
An empty pack of EnerCleanse beside Bill's bed.
Bill can't even move. He throws up and moves his arm to try
to clean up. The pain is too great. He grimaces and lies in
his own vomit.
Melissa comes in. Her dog, ear bandaged, follows her, head
down. It licks the vomit off Bill. Melissa takes over.
Melissa comes in and cleanses the vomit off him. That's

enough for Bill. He struggles to sit up.
MELISSA
God, you've been outtie for four
frickin' days...
And we can see her worry. Bill is indeed still "outtie".
BILL
You like outtie space...
Melissa pushes Bill up with all her strength. He's almost

sitting up. He tries to stay up but can't. Melissa helps
him up again. Bill groans. Melissa stops. Bill reads her
face.
BILL (CONT’D)
Don't cry.
Melissa can't help it. She does. Great big sobs. She picks
up her cell phone and dials.
MELISSA
(through tears)
Dr. Kelly...yes, I know...no, I
don't give a fuck about Jen right
now...Yes, it's Bill.
She listens. Bill's only good for a couple of tears. He

looks at Melissa and stops crying.
MELISSA (CONT’D)
Thank you.
(CONTINUED)
105.
CONTINUED:
She drops the phone and puts her arms around ill. He can
only move one hand to hold her. They stay locked together.
Bill gazes over her shoulder and recoils at what he sees. A

Brewski Brews bottle sits glowing on his dresser.
INT. ROOM 324 - NIGHT
Bill drinks a cup of fruit punch as he sits in a hospital

bed. He can barely manage it. His food tray sits untouched.
Tami monitors him.
BILL
It's good you sent Melissa home.
TAMI
Why? So you can suffer alone?
BILL
So she can rest.
TAMI
And you?
BILL
Is there alcohol in this?
Tami looks dumbfounded.
BILL (CONT’D)
Did someone put alcohol in this?
TAMI
This is a hospital.
Bill pours the punch on the floor.
BILL
No, this is a hooch den!
Tami prepares an IV.
TAMI
Thanks to the controlled substance
you were using, you're dehydrated.
BILL
I don't take drugs.
TAMI
Just because they call it an
herbal supplement doesn't make it
legal. It''s been banned.
(CONTINUED)
106.
CONTINUED:
Tami hooks Bill up to the IV.
BILL
I want out of here! Have to be
there to help Dennis.
Tami won't let him go.
TAMI
You've been admitted for a month
and I recommend hospice.
BILL
I'm not dying.
EXT. HOSPITAL MAIN PARKING LOT - DAY
Hospital nurses push Bill in a wheelchair. He does indeed

look as if he's dying.
A DRUNK WOMAN exits her car. The nurses watch as a hospice

van rolls up.
Bill grabs the Drunk Woman's sleeve.
DRUNK WOMAN
Lay off, Charlie.
BILL
Going to detox?
DRUNK WOMAN
Fuck your father.
Bill smells her breath. He looks in her eyes and weakens.

He looks at her socks.
BILL
They'll search those the minute
you go inside. You get court-
ordered to be here?
DRUNK WOMAN
Yeah.
BILL
That'll be a violation. Trust
me...I've been around. They'll
send you to jail.
The Drunk Woman looks like she believes him. She unrolls
the socks to reveal a second pair. In-between the socks are
little bottles of alcohol.
(CONTINUED)
107.
CONTINUED:
BILL (CONT’D)
I'm here to help.
INT. JAIL CELL - AFTERNOON
Jen is truly alone. She sits in a corner while two TOUGH

GIRLS stake out their territory wit their fists and a
SCARED GIRL cries. Jen picks at the old meth sore on her
arm.
INT. COURTROOM - AFTERNOON
Kenny's on the witness stand as the same Public Defender in

Kevin's case questions him.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
You testified that the defendant
was motivated by revenge.
KENNY
Yes, because we tried to stop him
from selling to my ex-girlfriend,
Jen Bernini.
A murmur in the courtroom as spectators recognize the name.

The following dialogue happens very fast.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
The same Jen Bernini who was just
arrested for killing two people,
one of them your friend, while
driving drunk?
PROSECUTOR
Objection!
KENNY
It doesn't change what he did.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Sold drugs to an addict? Why are
you protecting her, Mr. Smith?
PROSECUTOR
Objection! Move to strike.
KENNY
I'm not!
PUBLIC DEFENDER
It seems to me you are.
(CONTINUED)
108.
CONTINUED:
KENNY
I hate that bitch!
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Sounds like you're the one who
wants revenge.
The same Judge from Kevin's case bangs his gavel, hard.
Kenny shuts up.
JUDGE
Objection sustained. Jury will
please disregard that nonsense.
Mr. Smith, please control
yourself.
But the Jury looks at Kenny with doubt. Kenny looks at the
judge. Pleading.
JUDGE (CONT’D)
I'm well aware that not everyone
who tries to go clean succeeds. We
have to honor Kevin O'Brian.
(beat)
Jury will disregard that too.
But Kenny and the jury are moved.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
No further questions.
PROSECUTOR
Your Honor, the defense wanted to
call Bill Snyder to the stand, but
he's still in the hospital.
JUDGE
When is he expected to be out?
PROSECUTOR
We don't know.
JUDGE
Ever hear of videotape
depositions? I won't delay this
trial beyond next week.
PROSECUTOR
Understood, Your Honor.
KENNY
I'll go with you, Madam
Prosecutor.
109.
INT. HOSPICE ROOM - AFTERNOON
A wheelchair sits by the bed. Bill lines up the bottles of

alcohol under the covers. His blue drunk driving bracelet
sits on the nightstand.
Dennis pats Bill on the shoulder.
DENNIS
I have to go see the prosecutor.
BILL
You'll come back tonight, right?
We can play cards.
DENNIS
Tomorrow.
And Bill looks hurt. Dennis pats him again and leaves.
INT. HOSPICE ROOM - LATER
Bill wakes up and reaches for his bracelet. It's not there.
He rings the nurse button. The Hospice Worker comes in.
BILL
Someone stole my bracelet.
HOSPICE WORKER
No one did.
BILL
Don't lie to me!
He sits up in the bed and yelps in pain. He looks behind

him. The broken string and blue beads lie scattered in the
bed. He gathers up the pieces.
BILL (CONT’D)
(to Hospice Worker)
Sorry.
The Hospice Worker leaves.
Bill drops the beads in the wastebasket by the bed.
Jim emerges from the shadows.
BILL (CONT’D)
Jesus, you scared me.
(CONTINUED)
110.
CONTINUED:
JIM
You're a walking nightmare.
BILL
Nice way to talk to me.
JIM
Where's your sobriety coin?
BILL
Is that why you think I'm in here?
JIM
Just checking.
With one hand Bill shows him the drunk driving bracelet.
JIM (CONT’D)
Your other hand hurt?
Bill pulls out his other hand - no alcohol. Jim sits on the
bed. Bill tries to read his body language.
BILL
Kevin kept his side of the street
clean. So did Kenny.
JIM
Is Kenny dying now?
BILL
I don't know.
(off Jim's look)
How's life on the ward?
JIM
The same.
(beat)
I'm a realist.
BILL
So am I.
Melissa comes in with cans of soda.
BILL (CONT’D)
That isn't my brand.
MELISSA
It's all I could get. I had to
visit Jen. Bail was denied.
This is painful for her.
(CONTINUED)
111.
CONTINUED: (2)
BILL
You visited that bitch?
MELISSA
She's got no one...
BILL
Meanwhile I didn't have soda.
Melissa tosses the soda cans on the bed. They just miss
knocking against the alcohol bottles. Bill sweats.
Jim presses the nurse call button.
JIM
Once you're out of here, I'll have
you readmitted. For as long as we
can keep you.
BILL
I'm not drinking!
JIM
You have that look.
BILL
What, you can haul me into rehab
just for thinking about it?
JIM
Are you?
BILL
I'm sick!
MELISSA
Oh, now you play that card. Who
are you trying to convince?
BILL
Who are you to judge me? I just
lost half my friends to the
bottle.
MELISSA
So did I!
BILL
I have so many fricking chemicals
in my body that I should be in a
toxic waste drum.
Melissa looks at him, pissed.
(CONTINUED)
112.
CONTINUED: (3)
MELISSA
In other words, you're a wet-
brain.
The worst thing she could have said.
Bill manages to get out of bed carrying the sheet with the
bottles wrapped inside. He hauls himself into the
wheelchair by the bed and zips out of the room.
EXT. GRACE CHURCH - NIGHT
Bill, still wrapped in the sheet, waits by the door and

watches churchgoers enter. He doesn't go in.
Bill wheels himself through the debris like a crazy guy. He

nearly runs down Kenny, who's pissed.
KENNY
Where the hell have you been? I've
been calling for hours.
Kenny takes a look at Bill.
KENNY (CONT’D)
God. Look at you.
BILL
Don't you mean Buddha?
KENNY
We need you to give a deposition.
BILL
Not for Jen.
Kenny sifts through the wreckage.
KENNY
No, for me. For my justice.
BILL
Sorry. No can do.
And both are shocked to hear that.
KENNY
What did I just hear?
(CONTINUED)
113.
CONTINUED:
He pulls the sheet off Bill and Bill goes crashing to the
floor. Kenny bends to pick him up and stops.
The liquor bottles roll across the trashed floor.
Kenny looks at them. He looks at Bill.
BILL
Aren't you going to pour them out
and have Buddha bless them?
KENNY
One day a man crossed a bridge on
some urgent business. He stopped
on the bridge when he spotted
another man with a rope. The man
with the rope said, "Would you
hold the other end of my rope?"
Bill picks himself up and crawls into the wheelchair. rolls

away from Kenny.
KENNY (CONT’D)
The first man was in a hurry but
he took the end of the rope. The
second man jumped off the bridge,
so the first man had to hold on to
keep the first man from falling to
his death.
BILL
I'll do your goddamn deposition.
Bill rolls away from Kenny.
KENNY
The second man asked him to hold
the rope, and asked him to keep
holding it. But he had a life and
a girl waiting for him.
BILL
Ten minutes. If we hadn't been
here that night...Kevin would be
alive.
He rolls across the floor and his chair hits the Buddha
head. He zones out for a moment. Then swerves and rolls on.
Kenny's cell phone rings.

114.
EXT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S FRONT PORCH - NIGHT
Dennis plays his guitar as Bill wheels up the drive.
DENNIS
Dude, I would have driven you
home.
BILL
I'm not sure where home is.
Dennis's phone rings. He answers.
DENNIS
Hi...yea, he's here...what?
Bill turns away. Dennis thrusts the phone at him. Bill

listens. He reacts to the sound of Melissa's voice.
BILL
Yeah. I'm staying here tonight.
Dennis gets a look on his face.
BILL (CONT’D)
I'm fine. If I'm not fine in the
morning, I'll probably be dead.
Dennis takes the phone from Bill.
DENNIS
He's going back to the hospital.
See you there.
Dennis hangs up.
BILL
You owe me.
DENNIS
I know.
BILL
You owe me!
Dennis grabs the wheelchair handles.
DENNIS
Let's get you in the car.
Bill notices something move in the doorway.
(CONTINUED)
115.
CONTINUED:
BILL
Who the hell is spying on me?
Tami comes out in street clothes. She looks slightly

disheveled and not at all like a doctor.
BILL (CONT’D)
Well, hooray, Dennis.
DENNIS
You think you're the only pain-
body on the planet?
Bill can't argue.
BILL
I guess I'll go home.
DENNIS
Go ahead.
TAMI
Do I have to get a court order?
Bill maneuvers himself away.
BILL
Tell Melissa she's better off.
Tami dials her cell phone.
EXT. MELISSA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Melissa sits outside her house and studies. The door opens.
MELISSA'S FATHER stands at the doorway. He looks lost and
careworn, older than fifty.
The dogs bark and try to push their way past him.
Melissa's Father bravely struggles with them.
Melissa looks at him with love. Her phone rings. She

answers while helping her father.
DENNIS'S VOICE
You're better off without Bill.
Melissa, floored, gets knocked down by the dogs as they

race outside. She holds the phone.
MELISSA
Where is he?
(CONTINUED)
116.
CONTINUED:
DENNIS'S VOICE
Hold on...Tami just got a tip.
INT. JAIL ENTRANCE - MORNING
Bill waits in a long line of VISITORS. He signs a form. He

passes through the metal detector. He gets patted down.
A GUARD studies a Missing Person fax with Bill's picture on

it. He jumps up to grab Bill but Bill's already gone.
INT. VISITATION AREA - MORNING
Jen sinks into a chair behind a plate glass window with a

slit. She stares at Bill and lights up a cigarette.
JEN
Come to save me?
BILL
No.
JEN
Good. I have cirrhosis of the
liver, did you know that? Maybe
cancer if I'm lucky.
BILL
Melissa's been by.
JEN
I told her to go away too. You and
me, we don't deserve anyone.
BILL
Finally got past denial, huh?
JEN
I mean we don't need anyone.
Jen's got the upper hand and she relishes it.
JEN (CONT’D)
Say, "Bless me, Father, for I have
sinned." Come on.
Bill's silent. Jen finishes her smoke.
JEN (CONT’D)
Say it.
Another prisoner moves into the window next to Jen's. It's

the Drunk Driver Kid from the TV.
(CONTINUED)
117.
CONTINUED:
Bill leaps up.
The Drunk Driver Kid goes back through the security door.
BILL
Come back, you!
JEN
I'm here.
Bill, upset, presses against the glass.
BILL
Do you ever think of Joe?
JEN
Fuck you, how could I not remember
him dying?
BILL
I mean do you ever think of Joe?
JEN
Youthful mistakes.
Jen blinks back tears.
JEN (CONT’D)
Why the hell did you come here?
Bill can't answer her.
JEN (CONT’D)
You more than any of them could
have made it.
BILL
Could have?
JEN
Say it.
And Bill gets out of his wheelchair. He kneels.
BILL
Bless me, Father,
(beat)
For I have sinned.
Jen looks at him with pity and compassion.
JEN
I always liked you, Bill.
(CONTINUED)
118.
CONTINUED: (2)
And she smiles winningly.
Melissa comes out of the shadows and plants herself in

front of the glass.
JEN (CONT’D)
Sweet, sweet Mel.
Melissa shows her three cancer drawings and tosses them in

the air like confetti.
MELISSA
Get up, Bill.
Bill struggles to get up. Melissa puts her arms on him and
helps him into the chair.
The Guards and Tami rush in and surround Bill.
JEN
It's no use.
Melissa gives her a look.
JEN (CONT’D)
Savior Melissa. How many times do
people have to disappoint you?
MELISSA
This is the last time for you.
Bill gets a panicked look as Tami chains herself to his

arm. The Guards bring out their tasers.
TAMI
The judge is working on that court
order. You'll be committed. The
doctors, the headshrinks, they'll
all decide your health.
Another guard brings Kenny and Dennis in. Bill's aware of

his audience. Kenny ignores Jen.
MELISSA
I need some help with my pooches.
BILL
Can we have a moment alone?
GUARD
Not permitted.
(CONTINUED)
119.
CONTINUED: (3)
BILL
One minute.
GUARD
I'm warning you...
Bill turns his chair toward Melissa. He lifts himself up

just a little.
The Guards Taser Bill and everyone scatters from shock.
Bill convulses. He's in extreme pain.
KENNY
What the hell are you thinking?
JEN
He was coming to me...
KENNY
Get out of here!
Everyone rallies around Bill.
INT. TWENTY FOUR HOUR OBSERVATION ROOM - NIGHT
Bill awakes in his worst nightmare. He screams and can

barely move his body.
Jim kneels beside him as he lies on the bed.
JIM
You couldn't move the last time
either and you didn't have MS.
BILL
(he does)
I didn't remember.
JIM
Of course you do.
BILL
I'm not gonna be like this
forever.
JIM
That's up to you.
BILL
I wanted a minute alone with her.
(CONTINUED)
120.
CONTINUED:
JIM
You can have that.
BILL
I didn't drink.
JIM
I believe you.
BILL
Why?
JIM
You didn't go to a bar, you went
into the mouth of Hell.
BILL
Then why am I here?
JIM
Object lesson.
BILL
Am I committed?
JIM
Hold out your arm.
Bill does. He closes his eyes. Jim puts something on Bill's

arm and something in his hand.
Bill smiles and opens his eyes. He plays with the blue
bracelet and holds his two-year sobriety coin.
JIM (CONT’D)
It still counts.
BILL
Do I have to fight to get a bed?
JIM
You're going to the hospice.
BILL
Something I have to do first.
JIM
What?
BILL
Live.
121.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
Bill on the witness stand. His wheelchair sits beside him.

Kenny and the Meth Dealer watch Bill.
Bill points at the Meth Dealer.
BILL
That's him.
INT. VISITATION AREA - DAY
Kenny and Dennis sit across from Jen.
JEN
So this is, what, karma?
KENNY
Listen. I'm done hating.
JEN
Good on you.
KENNY
But I need a favor.
JEN
What?
KENNY
You tried to help me. So help me,
help me, or I'll give one hell of
a speech at your sentencing.
Jen looks at him.
JEN
If you'd been this confident
before, I wouldn't have had a
chance with you.
KENNY
And you wouldn't have screwed Joe.
Dennis just stares at her. Jen tries to move her handcuffed

hands and she cries.
JEN
What do I have to do?
INT. COURTROOM - LATER
Jen testifies against the Meth Dealer.
(CONTINUED)
122.
CONTINUED:
PROSECUTOR
You have balls, Ms. Bernini.
JEN
(under her breath)
And a reduced sentence.
PROSECUTOR
(low)
Not by much.
(loud)
Would the court reporter please
read back yesterday's transcript.
INT. COURTROOM CORRIDOR
Dennis intimidates Kenny.
DENNIS
A deal? With her?
KENNY
One year off her sentence. Trust
me, it won't help much.
Dennis launches himself at Kenny. Kenny grabs him and hugs

him hard. Dennis struggles.
DENNIS
What if I just go for a beer? What
if I just screw the world?
KENNY
Dennis becomes calm and still.
DENNIS
DENNIS AND KENNY

And everything is okay. Arm in arm, they walk down the

corridor to the soda machine.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
Kenny waits as the Jury Foreman rises.
JURY FOREMAN
Guilty.
(CONTINUED)
123.
CONTINUED:
Kenny grins.
JURY FOREMAN(CONT’D)
But we'd like to recommend
leniency because of Jen Bernini.
JUDGE
I decide on sentencing, and you
were told to disregard!
METH DEALER
It's her fault!
The Judge bangs the gavel, pissed. Kenny grins.
KENNY
(to Meth Dealer)
I'll see you in court.
INT. HOSPICE ROOM - DAY
Bill plays cards with Kenny and Dennis. Kenny eats a big
bowl of ice cream.
KENNY
When are they letting you out?
BILL
When I'm healthy. What are you
going to do, Kenny?
KENNY
I got plans.
He chows down on his ice cream.
BILL
Romantic?
KENNY
Not telling. When you were in
there, did you see the little
bastard who killed Joe?
Bill lays down his cards. Straight flush.
Kenny folds.
Dennis gets a shit-eating grin and plunks down a royal

flush.
BILL
You still seeing Dr. Kelly?
(CONTINUED)
124.
CONTINUED:
DENNIS
Maybe. You look healthy. You want
to move in with me?
KENNY
Or me.
BILL
When you're late for a date...
Your buds are losers you hate...
When life gives you the blues...
DENNIS
You suck!
But they all laugh.
INT. HOSPICE COMMON ROOM - DAY
Bill plays cards and counsels families. Melissa watches

silently. Bill senses her presence and looks up. She
smiles.
INT. HOSPICE ROOM - NIGHT
Bill and Melissa hold each other.
MELISSA
Spill.
BILL
What?
MELISSA
Why you wanted one minute.
BILL
To ask you if you could possibly
live with a wet-brain like me.
MELISSA
If with anyone. But my Dad...
BILL
I'll help him.
MELISSA
How?
BILL
I know what he feels.
(beat)
I'm sorry for my drug of choice.
(CONTINUED)
125.
CONTINUED:
Melissa kisses Bill.
MELISSA
Forgive?
BILL
Ask me after we hook your dogs up
to my chair.
Melissa laughs softly and kisses him.
EXT. HOSPICE - DAY
Bill, in his wheelchair, waits outside.
Melissa pulls up in her car and gets out. She opens the
driver's side backseat door. The dogs leap out.
Melissa and Bill tie the dogs' leashes to Bill's chair.

Melissa gives the dogs a signal.
The dogs surge forward and pull Bill through the parking
lot. It's a wild ride and he cheers.
Melissa watches with love. Then, she runs after Bill as

we...
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END.

Youthful Mistakes

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Youthful Mistakes

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YOUTHFUL MISTAKES

Inspired by true events

INT. FUNERAL PARLOR - NIGHT

Flowers fill the room. Mourners file past a casket.

BILL SNYDER, 21, stands and cries in front of the casket. A

Bill hugs Joseph's Mom and walks back to a seat beside

Bill leans over to Kenny. They whisper.

Bill plays with his bracelet. His hands seize up and he

Joseph's Mom passes Bill another bracelet. The Priest

Everyone stands and walks off to the side. They line up to

Bill, overcome, hugs her.

EXT. BILL'S HOUSE - MORNING

1980 suburban look and perfectly kept lawn. A 2004 Blazer

INT. BILL'S LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Tapestries cover the walls. A breakfast bar opens on to the

A cheery sound file plays on the computer and Bill grins.

Kenny peers out the window at his car. He gets up and

Kenny gives Bill a pamphlet on yoga classes.

Bill types on his laptop.

Bill struggles. His hand trembles and he knocks over the

But he's sympathetic.

He tries to get up from the sofa.

Kenny walks toward the kitchen. The swoosh of the

EXT. DENNIS'S AND KEVIN'S FRONT PORCH - MORNING

DENNIS O'BRIAN, 22, reads a "new classic" of literature.

KEVIN O'BRIAN, 24, short, Dennis's older brother, plunks

Dennis, nose still in his book, rises and walks to the

INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - MORNING

Bill rolls up his sleeve. DOCTOR WU injects him with an

DOCTOR WU injects a second ampoule from a package marked

Doctor Wu picks up on a cue in Bill's voice.

Bill avoids the question.

INT. KENNY'S YOGA CENTER - DAY

Kenny leads a yoga class. There are barely half a dozen

INT. BILL'S LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Bill vacuums with difficulty. He moves furniture. The

Bill pulls the paper out of the vacuum. He examines it and

The doorbell rings. Bill, still holding the label, answers

Dennis moves past Bill.

Bill shows Dennis the Jim Beam label.

Bill doesn't answer. He turns on the vacuum and finishes

Dennis jumps out of the way as Bill runs the vacuum.

Dennis turns on the TV. News footage shows POLICE hauling

Bill rips up the Jim Beam label and throws it away.

INT. BARBERSHOP - DAY

BARBER FRANCIS, rough hands, trims Bill's hair with perfect

And Braber Francis expects this.

And Bill laughs.

Barber Francis holds up a mirror to the back of Bill's

And this is funny to Bill. He laughs, pained.

INT. KEVIN'S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Kevin has graduated to drinking out of a flask of whiskey.

Another knock. Kevin closes the flask and stashes it under

Bill strides inside. He's dressed in a sharp suit and

Kevin nervously moves around the room, opening and closing

Bill looks unsettled by Kevin's frenetic activity.

He pulls open the closet and takes out a suit.

Bill, impatient, grabs Kevin's suit and hangs it up..

Bill drops his flowers. Kevin catches them.

Kevin runs over to the bed.

Bill blinks and sways, losing his balance. He shuts his

Bill looks at his watch and reacts to the time -- he's

Kevin walks to his closet.

Kevin rearranges his closet as Bill looks at him in