FROZEN YOGURT

Written By

Zachary J. Donnenberg
 1

INT. FACTORY FUEL – DUSK

We see BLACK. LUKE, JACKSON, and MIKE all holler over each
other. They are playfully arguing. We hear LUKE’s voice
above the rest.

LUKE
(o.s., louder than the rest)
All I’m saying – all I’m saying is –

We see the scene. LUKE stands on the bar counter, FACTORY

FUEL’s signage lighting the scene behind him. He towers
comically over his friends. JUNIOR wipes down the barista’s
counter while JACKSON and MIKE engage LUKE head on.

LUKE
(cont’d)
All I’m saying, Jackson, is if God
is real, then who invented math?

JACKSON and MIKE stop talking. LUKE stands over them like a
mad preacher. He sees his friends are confused. They are
absorbing the ridiculousness of his question.

JACKSON
What?

LUKE
Who invented math?

JACKSON contemplates even entertaining the hypothetical. He

sighs.

LUKE
(excitedly)
Who invented math, Jackson? Was it
God? Did God invent math, Jackson?

JACKSON
(flustered)
I don’t know. Sure, Luke! Sure.

MIKE
Is this gonna be more or less convincing
than your ‘if God was real, he’d have
taught you how to swim’ argument?
 2

LUKE
Shut up and listen. So if God invented
math, can math exist without God?

JACKSON
I guess not, no.

LUKE
But if God didn’t exist, there would
be zero gods. Zero is a –

INT. LUKE’S CAR – NIGHT

Cold silence.

Parked outside Factory Fuel, LUKE struggles to steady his

hands as he smokes a cigarette in his car. The car, old and
mile-worn both inside and out, runs muted. The driver-side
window is rolled down just enough to air the smoke out.

The parking lot beyond Luke’s car is empty. Luke is both

angry at and ashamed of his performance tonight. Somehow,
he always manages to be an asshole when he means to be
sincere. Luke checks his phone – nothing. He takes a long
drag.

EXT. LUKE’S PARENTS’ HOUSE – FOLLOWING MORNING

LUKE lives in a sun-aged colonial home. The lawn is unkept.

We hear Luke speak.

LUKE
(o.s., on the phone)
I’m sorry. No, really, I am.

INT. LUKE’s BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS

LUKE continues speaking on the phone. Wearing pajamas, he

sits on his unmade futon shirtless with bed head.
Everything is blue and brown.
 3

LUKE
(cont’d)
Last night was supposed to be your
special thing and I – I just – I don’t
know, man, I feel like I ruined it.

LUKE listens to the response on the other line. We cannot

hear it.

LUKE
(cont’d)
I know, but you’re leaving and I –

LUKE listens again.

LUKE
(cont’d)
I just don’t know when I’ll see you
again.

LUKE lowers the phone from his ear. The phone displays his
home screen – the call was faked. Luke stares at his phone
before opening iMessage. He contemplates sending Jackson a
text.

Luke’s thumbs dance above the touchscreen keyboard. Unable

to muster the confidence to reach out, he shakes his head
and gets up from the futon.

INT. LUKE’S BATHROOM – HOUR LATER

Steam rises from behind the shower curtain as LUKE takes a

hot shower. The bathroom is stagnant, yellow like a smoker.
Luke’s phone sits on the sink counter.

Luke’s phone vibrates, but he does not hear it. Luke

continues to shower as it vibrates against the countertop.
Eventually, though, Luke bursts from the shower curtain to
grab his phone.

LUKE
(answering the phone)
Hey. Right now?
 4

EXT. JACKSON’s HOUSE – MIDDAY

LUKE parks his car on the street. JACKSON’s house is pure

Americana – it epitomizes the middle class, both in its
mediocrity and its security. The home looks comfortable.
The summer day is as quiet as winter.

Luke opens his car door. We first see a cigarette in his

hand. We follow it upward as he brings it to his face and
exits his car. Luke takes a long draw and a longer exhale
as he makes his way toward the fence gate barring the
outside world – and Luke – from Jackson’s backyard. We
trail from behind Luke’s center of gravity.

He flicks his cigarette. The commotion of Luke’s friends

grows louder and louder as Luke approaches. He gently
unlocks and opens the gate, hesitating before entering the
scene.

EXT. JACKSON’S BACKYARD – CONTINUOUS

LUKE closes the gate behind him. We hear indiscernible

laughter and banter from the deck, where MIKE, JUNIOR,
JACKSON, and Jackson’s GIRLFRIEND, JACKIE, hang out in a
circle. Everyone is casually drinking.

Luke walks up the wooden steps. His feet land heavy and
loud. As we watch from behind, we can physically feel Luke
enter the engagement. Normally, Luke is a stone thrown in a
pond. But now, he feels like a pebble tossed in the ocean.

LUKE
(raising his arms, confident)
Missed me that much, huh?

Jackson pivots to Luke and gives him a tight hug. He

visibly reacts to the cigarette smell clinging to Luke’s
clothes.

JACKSON
Flight cancelled. Hailstorm’s got
Seattle backed against the ropes.
 5

JACKIE
(sits down beside Jackson)
Perfect weather for our housewarming
party. Oh well.

MIKE
And now he’s forced to have one more
night with the boys, just like God
intended.

Mike turns his attention to Luke. He stands as he speaks

and clearly drank more than everyone else. Mike always
lacked self control.

MIKE
(cont’d)
And don’t think I forgot about you, cock-
lord. Giving Jackson a hug and not me,
your ol’ pal Mike. Get over here, bastard!

Mike tumbles into Luke’s arms. Junior chuckles at Mike’s

clumsiness.

JUNIOR
You alright there, Mike?

MIKE
(making his way back to his seat)
Just dandy, thanks for asking.

Mike collapses into his char. Luke sits down and joins the
group. He looks to Jackson.

JACKSON
Booked a new flight for tomorrow, though.
We should be fine.

MIKE
(o.s., drunkenly)
Leaving Jersey like a lion on the lamb.

Jackson immediately dismisses Mike’s rambling.

JACKSON
So yeah, one last day before we leave.
 6

MIKE
(o.s.)
Good ol’ “Blue Balls” Jackson.

JACKSON
(to Luke)
Flight’s at like five a.m., which blows,
but whatever.

Jackson stands up, turning his focus from Luke to the crowd
of friends. He mantles the posture of a king.

JACKSON
Now listen, fellas – now that we’re all
here, it’s time to get down to business.
All the crying, the ‘oh I’m never gonna
see you again’ pussy shit? That was for
yesterday. Today, I want to have fun.
Like we used to.

Everyone nods their heads in agreement. They’re all excited

to have one last hoorah with their best friend.

JACKSON (cont.)
Here’s what I’m thinking. The four of us.
The train trestle in Clinton. Bathing
suits. We’re jumping into the river just
like old times, boys!

Mike and Junior cheer. We watch Luke’s reaction as Jackson

speaks. His expression sours from anticipation to utter
despair. Luke cannot swim. Jackson and the others continue
to talk rowdily, but Luke’s head drowns out the sounds.

This is Luke’s final chance to spend time with his best

friend. His heart anchors down his lungs.

JUNIOR
(muffled, unheard by Luke)
You gonna be alright Luke? Luke? Luke!

Luke snaps out of his shellshock.

LUKE
What?
 7

JUNIOR
I asked if you’re going to be alright.

Luke struggles to lie. All he has to say is yes. All he has

to do is follow his friends. All he has to do is swim. The
pause is palpable.

MIKE
(interrupts)
You gonna let your blue balls dangle
out your swim trunks, there, Jackson?

LUKE
Me? You should be worrying about him.

EXT. JACKSON’s FRONTYARD – CONTINUOUS

LUKE walks at the back of the pack. JACKSON, MIKE, JUNIOR,

and JACKIE all banter on their way to their cars. Luke’s
posture reeks of discomfort. We hover just behind Luke’s
sunken shoulders.

The walk to Luke’s car is long, but not as seemingly never-

ending as when he arrived. This is Luke’s do-or-die moment.
He has to go. He can’t. But he must. Swim. Float. Survive.

Luke’s friends gather around their cars. Luke diverts away

from them toward his own car, parked behind the others.

LUKE
(shouting to his friends)
Gotta go home and grab my bathing suit!

Luke collapses into the driver seat of his car.

INT. LUKE’S CAR – CONTINUOUS

LUKE stares through his steering wheel. He’s has to go

through with this. He tries to think of some way out.

LUKE
(mumbling)
Why do we have to jump off a fucking
bridge?
 8

After a brief pause, Luke snaps to attention. An idea. He

slaps his steering wheel.

LUKE (cont.)
(normal volume)
Why do we have to –

Luke scrambles to pull his phone out of his pocket. He

opens his message thread with Jackson. He types.

LUKE (cont.)
(sounding out his message as he types)
Hey, do we have to do the trestle?
You know I can’t –

Luke stops typing and lowers his phone. He pulls out his
box of cigarettes; as he draws a boge, he looks at his
friends. They are still bantering outside their cars. Luke
tucks his cigarettes back in his pocket. They don’t know he
smokes.

Luke shifts his car into Drive and steers onto the road. He
looks over as he passes his friends behind him.

INT. LUKE’S CAR – 20 MINUTES LATER

We focus on LUKE’s left hand as he drives. He holds a half-

smoked cigarette.

We see Luke proper. He leans forward as he drives.

LUKE
(pretending to speak to Jackson)
Hey, do we have to jump the trestle?
You know I –

Jump cut. Luke is practicing his lines.

(cont.)
Hey, do we have to do the river? You
guys know I can’t –

Jump cut.
 9

(cont.)
I don’t really feel like swimming
today. Can’t we just chill at Factory
Fuel again?

Jump cut. Luke drags his cigarette.

LUKE
(cont.)
Sorry guys, something came up. I
can’t hang out at the trestle tonight.

Luke slaps the steering wheel with his palm over and over
again. He pulls into a parking lot to his right.

(cont.)
Fuck!

STORE PARKING LOT – MOMENTS LATER

We see LUKE’S CAR parked outside a cheap general store.

LUKE rushes awkwardly from the entrance carrying a brand-
new bathing suit. He enters his car and slams the door
shut.

LUKE’S CAR – MOMENTS LATER

Driving his car, LUKE draws a cigarette and lights it. He

takes an initial, deep drag and puts away his lighter. We
see the car’s clock. It is some time between 12 and 3.

LUKE
(cigarette in his mouth)
God damn it. God fucking damn it.

Luke looks to the passenger seat as if someone is sitting

there.

(cont.; mocking Mike smarmily)

‘Why didn’t God teach you how to swim’
Shut up!
 10

INT. LUKE’S BEDROOM – 20 MINUTES LATER

Before entering the scene, we briefly pause at the house’s

exterior. The juxtaposition between Luke’s anxiousness and
the rest of the world’s tranquility is clear.

In LUKE’s bedroom, Luke stares down the bathing suit tossed

on his futon. The stare down pivots back and forth. We can
almost visualize the tumbleweeds bumbling between them.
Through the silence is an uncomfortable tension.

Luke extends his arm toward the bathing suit. He’s going to
put it on. He’s going to drive to the trestle. He’s going
to swim.

Luke’s phone rings. He stops his arm dead in its tracks. He

reveals his phone from his pocket – it’s JACKSON. Luke
stares at his phone. It rings for an uncomfortably long
time, but eventually it stops.

The phone’s clock reiterates the time – between 12 and 3.

Frustrated with himself, Luke throws the bathing suit

across his room and collapses onto the futon. His phone
rings again. Luke lays down and covers his head with his
pillow, trying to drown out the sound.

When the ringing stops, Luke doesn’t move. He eventually

falls asleep.

INT. LUKE’s BEDROOM – EVENING

LUKE awakens hours later. The lighting in his bedroom is

much warmer than before, making the change in time
apparent. Luke first wakes up groggily, until his phone
dings. A text message. Luke snaps awake and shuffles for
his phone.

He has three missed calls and six unread texts from JUNIOR
and JACKSON. Junior asks if Luke is okay. Jackson accuses
him of ditching. The phone’s clock reads between 5:30 and
6:30pm.

LUKE
(under his breath)
Shit.
 11

Luke opens his message thread with Jackson. He sent five of

the six unread texts. Yo where you at? Hello? We’re waiting
for you. Did you ditch us? Alright. Later.

(cont.; under his breath)

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Luke struggles to respond to Jackson. He attempts two

different messages but erases them after the first few
words.

Luke looks over at the bathing suit. It hangs off the lid
of his garbage can.

Luke marches from his room to his car, bathing suit thrown
over his shoulder. He enters his car and drives off.
Throughout all this, we hear Luke speak. He is leaving
Jackson a voicemail.

LUKE
(voiceover)
Hey, Jackson. Sorry I couldn’t make
it. Long story. Won’t bore you with
all the details. But, uh, I still
really want to hang out before you
leave.

We watch Luke drive, simultaneously determined and nervous.

We still hear Luke’s voicemail.

(cont.)
I’m on my way to get some frozen
yogurt. Know Yo Fro Yo in Jefferson.
Let’s meet up! If you can’t, that’s
cool, too. So, uh, yeah. See ya there.

EXT. KNOW YO FRO YO – JUST BEFORE SUNSET

LUKE sits at a bench, bowl of frozen yogurt in hand. The

setting sun paints the brick wall behind him. His foot
shakes. He sits alone.

We watch from across the street as Luke cranes his neck,

searching for JACKSON. Luke is out of place. Our view does
not change. He is alone with his back against the wall,
eating his frozen yogurt and waiting for his best friend.
 12

Jackson is the soldier shipping off to war. From this

distance, we can just barely notice Luke’s food is melting.
Jackson isn’t coming.

Luke lights a cigarette. After he exhales and the smoke

dissipates, Jackson enters from screen right - bowl of
frozen yogurt in hand.

JACKSON
(standing above Luke)
Since when do you smoke?

Luke looks away, hesitant to answer. He raises the bathing

suit from his lap, a proverbial olive branch.

LUKE
I didn’t ditch.

Jackson doesn’t respond. They both eat from their bowls.

(cont.)
I’m sorry.

Jackson once again is silent. For a moment, Luke thinks

they have become strangers. Jackson lets out a deep sigh.

JACKSON
(contemplative)
Zero is a quantity.

LUKE
What?

JACKSON
That’s what you said last night,
right? When you jumped on the
counter like a spider monkey?

LUKE
(chuckles, embarrassed)
Yeah.

JACKSON
Not a bad point. You almost had me
there. You missed it. Mike sobered
up by the time we got there but
you know how he is.
 13

JACKSON
(cont.)
First jump, fuckin’ wiped out flat
on his stomach.
(claps)
Bam! You should’ve heard it.

LUKE
(recoiling from the story)
Oh my god!

JACKSON
(laughing)
Right? It was great. He waddled out
of the water holding his gut, he was
like, ‘oh, oh, my fuckin’ stomach’.

LUKE
Ugh, I would’ve thrown up.

JACKSON
Imagine how he felt, all that beer
inside him. He probably wanted to!

They share another brief pause.

(cont.)
See, we’ve got nothing to worry
about. We’ll still talk. Still pick
on each other. I’ll still be on
Discord. We can FaceTime, Skype,
whatever you want. Just because
I won’t be here, doesn’t mean I’m
I’m not here.

Jackson reclines in his chair, scraping the bottom of his

bowl.

(cont.)
That’s why you almost had me, but
you couldn’t convince me.

Jackson eats his last spoonful of frozen yogurt. Luke

laughs off Jackson’s wisdom, but we can see it hit his
core. The sun sets. We are strangers. We walk away.