FADE IN:

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

JANE, 17, sits on the couch, enveloped by the arm of her

boyfriend, JOHN, also 17. The affection seems more routine
than anything.
JOHN
Well only be about six hours away
from each other. Its just like
homeroom to seventh period.
JANE
Thats one way to look at it, I
guess.
She seems indifferent, perhaps hopeful for the separation.
JOHN
Ill only be a text message away.
Jane smiles. Forced. She grabs the remote, turns the TV up.
2

INT. / EXT. 721 BROADWAY - DAY (3 MONTHS LATER)

Jane empties out of Room 109 with DOZENS OF STUDENTS. Your

typical film school mix of eccentric artists and calculating
future executives.
They funnel outside of the building to -THE SMOKERS LOUNGE
Jane and 5 STUDENTS congregate, lighting up cigarettes. JAKE,
21, channeling Marlon Brando, offers one up.
JANE
(shaking her head)
Im just here for the vibe. And the
second-hand smoke.
JAKE
I get it.
(beat)
Wanna come with me to this loft
party tonight? You can have some
first hand fun, no?
Jake blows smoke in her face. Winks.
Jane coughs.

2.
3

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

John, sporting a Syracuse sweatshirt and a very impressive

beard, sits in a classroom as the PROFESSOR drones on about
some important topic.
Hes engulfed in his iPhone.
ANGLE: iPHONE
John scrolls through photos of he and Jane in the happiest of
times. He enters his text application and crafts a message:
Hows it going? I miss you...
He smiles as he clicks send.
4

EXT. 721 BROADWAY - SMOKERS LOUNGE - DAY

Janes phone BUZZES. She starts typing away, until Jake
pushes the phone away from her.
Ahhhhh...
Well?

JANE
JAKE

Jane looks back at the phone. It BUZZES again. She exhales.

JANE
I-I-I-I cant.
(searching for an excuse)
Ive got crew hours to take care
of. Life on the Set, you know?
Jake rolls his eyes and walks away.
JAKE
I take back everything I said in
class about your film. I hated it.
Jane gasps. KAREN, whos been watching the entire exchange,
steps in.
KAREN
You seriously arent going to go???
Hes like, the next Michael Haneke.
Who?

JANE

3.
Jane locks eyes with the remaining group. They cant believe
shes so nonchalant. And that she doesnt know who Haneke is.
5

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

The bell RINGS. John looks at his phone, still waiting for a
response. He shrugs.
BOBBY comes up and taps him on the shoulder, catching his
attention as they walk toward the door.
BOBBY
Theres a huuuuuuuge party at NYU
tonight. Rave. Of. The. Year.
Bobby reaches into his jacket and pulls out a set of car
keys. Dangles them in front of John.
A beat.
JOHN
(wicked smile)
Shotgun.
(beat)
We can surprise my girl.
They exit into the hallway.
6

EXT. BROOKLYN LOFT - NIGHT

Jane stands outside of the apartment building with Karen.

Its freezing. Karen repeatedly pushes the BUZZER until -What!!!!!!

VOICE (O.S.)

KAREN
Dont what me!!! Were here for the
party.
Password?

VOICE (O.S.)

KAREN
Script breakdowns ensure nothing
goes wrong on set. Outside of
Murphys Law, of course.
Silence. Until -A loud BUZZ echoes, releasing the door for entry. Karen opens
the door for Jane. She reluctantly enters first.

4.
7

INT. LOFT - NIGHT

Its PACKED. MUSIC BLARES. Karen and Jane can hardly move
through the crowd. They find a spot by the coolers, stocked
with soda and bottled water.
JANE
Perfect. I really wanted a coke.
KAREN
(rolling her eyes)
What kind of party is this?
Their attention is diverted by a loud ROAR. They turn and
spot a CAGED TIGER performing a choreographed fight with a
MAN in a clown suit. Somehow the flashing strobe-lights make
it feel -- normal.
A finger taps Jane on the shoulder. She turns to find Jake,
producing a beer from behind his back.
Want a --?

JAKE

JANE
-- I dont --- Drink?
(beat)
Of course.

JAKE

JANE
Im only eighteen.
JAKE
Well, Im twenty-one.
Jake downs the beer in one gulp. Hes clearly earned his frat
stripes.
JAKE (CONTD)
(grabbing Janes hand)
Lets make this official.
What?

JANE

Jane looks at Karen. Perplexed. Karen nods, affirmatively.

ACROSS THE LOFT, AT THE DOOR
John and Bobby enter the party. Impressed.

5.
JOHN
I shouldve gone to NYU. This is
awesome!
He removes his Syracuse sweatshirt and tosses it to the side.
BOBBY
(spit-smoothing his
eyebrows)
Lets do this.
SLOW-MOTION: John and Bobby work their way through the crowd.
John spots Jane, cornered by Jake.
He strokes his beard and puts on his angry face, making a beeline toward them.
He taps Jake on the shoulder. Jake turns around slowly.
JAKE
What do you want, loser?
John locks eyes with Jane. She takes a sip of her Coca-Cola.
As if on cue, John THROWS A SLOPPY PUNCH at Jake. They break
into a scuffle as the MUSIC STOPS.
The tiger ROARS, then stops fighting with the clown,
engrossed in the human fisticuffs.
The party swarms and gathers around the fight, more impressed
by how terrible and awkward it is than anything else.
Jane looks at Karen. Proud. Smiling.
JANE
Thats John. My boyfriend.
Karen rolls her eyes as a beer rolls up next to her feet from
Jakes back pocket. She pops it open and it sprays
everywhere.
John and Jake stop their fighting long enough for Jane to
grab Johns hand and pull him up.
They exit the party hand in hand
FADE OUT.